In commemoration of the 21st anniversary of the enthronement of Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo on September 24, we are presenting testimonials from Jetsunma’s students about her impact on their lives.

Part 4

I could continue – tell you of the miracle small dog who barely survived the Hurricane, and upon picking her up – Jetsunma realized she had given up hope. This is a dog I noticed among 130 other dogs, and she was completely SHUT DOWN. She would not eat, walk, poop, sniff. She sat in her pen and stared blankly into some unknown darkness.

I moved her to a quieter place away from the noise of all the other dogs and pointed her out to one of the lama’s attendants simply so somebody other than me knew there was a dog that seemed so lost and sad.

The next day, Jetsunma had an interview with the Arizona Republic to discuss why we Buddhists had converted our retreat center into this pet refugee camp for Katrina survivors. During that interview, I happened to look down from the upper runs of the dog pens and saw Jetsunma lovingly holding the dog that I was so worried about. I almost burst into tears, knowing about the rarity of that type of direct connection to a being recognized as a reincarnate lama. As I observed this scene, my heart opened to the miracle of this one dog – who through a horrible storm, met with a being so rare as Jetsunma. As I turned to continue feeding the hundreds of other dogs, the lama’s attendant appeared next to me and pointed to the dog that Jetsunma had held in her arms only moments ago…

“Jetsunma says that dog has all but given up hope, she is overwhelmed and shut down. She needs to be taken inside and we have to find her a home quickly.”  Without thinking twice I said “please, let me take her in!”

Challenge after challenge, this dog, who we named Joy as an aspirational name at the time, has become the embodiment of that word. She has been a trooper through awful medical needs and still wags her tail and looks so lovingly at John and I every day with her one good eye. She finally not only stopped growling at Sarah every day but became a loving little sister to her. She is my second child and both Sarah and Joy were gifts from the miracle of our connection to Jetsunma Ahkon Lhamo.

John and I had separated as a couple long before the Hurricane. And once again, by introducing a dog into our care – Jetsunma was about to bring John and I together again!

I have therefore seen with my own eyes all the miraculous proof I need that not only has this teacher provided the nuts and bolts of the unbroken lineage of accomplishment through the Palyul lineage, but the daily application of compassion in our very American lives. The miracle of kindness is something that she not only teaches, but lives – with every fiber of her being.