Thou Shalt Not Kill … A Dilemma

RIP 11.12.13
Kitten on my doorstep
Cold and in tears
Soaked in blood
In pain and in fear
Oh who did this to you?
To the vet, let’s go
Broken leg, punctured abdomen
Doc said you are meant to go
My turn in tears
I wanted to save you
What should I do?
Death let it not be so
Ultrasound reveals
Ruptured bladder
That you are alive
It’s a wonder
My choice, your life
Sleep now or suffer more
Hush Kitty hush
To God, forevermore
*****************************************************

It was not the first time I tried to save an animal. But it was the first time I had to make the call.

When I first found Kitty, there was diluted blood all over. Not the thick fresh blood kind. So I thought it was just some blood diluted by water or rain and it’s nothing serious. I gave it water but it wasn’t interested. It was in so much pain it didn’t bother to mew or cry till I washed it to try and find the wound. There was no wound. Only diluted blood oozing out of an orifice that I assumed to be her vagina.

I had a tough time when the vet said that by his experience the kitten can’t be saved. Broken hind leg and the orifice is not her vagina. It was probably caused by a vehicle running over the kitten such that the pressure forced open a tiny orifice in the lower abdomen…

I had to compose myself. I really thought I could save a life here. Fated as it was that she came to my doorstep. But I can’t end a life based on a doc’s visual inspection and examination. So I paid for the ultrasound scan. Doc was right. The kitten had internal injuries. Ruptured bladder. That explains the diluted blood. Probably blood and urine. I can’t imagine how much pain Kitty had to go through. She looks to be just a few weeks old …

I thought I can face death without fear and in peace. I thought I could accept death and impermanence.

It was not an easy decision to make. I know life is precious. I know pain is real. I know my decision determines whether Kitty lives or not, whether she continues to suffer or not. It’s a decision not many would want to make. It’s a decision many couldn’t make.

“Thou shalt not kill”
Famous Commandment. 1 of the 10 handed by God to Moses. “You Shall Not Kill”.
In Buddhism, one of the precepts (the first) says that “I shall undertake to abstain from killing”.
On these words, laws have been written and arguments fought.

Euthanasia, or assisted killing is a divisive issue in many places. It is legal for animals but in many places illegal if practised on a human. But I’m not a lawyer and I’m not going to discuss the legality of euthanasia.

Kitty’s appearance surfaced a question –
How steadfastly (rigidly) should a believer follow the words of God?
or How rigidly should we follow the letter of our faith’s doctrines?

I have sworn the Buddhist 5 Precepts and if I don’t remember all 10 of the Commandments, I remember “Thou shalt not kill”. I have never been one to follow blindly. It is said that the Buddha advocated to never follow nor believe blindly. I have always tried to interpret the spirit and context of the words of God, of Buddha, of Prophets, religious figures and leaders, etc. When we understand the context when the words were spoken, we shall understand the spirit of the pronouncements of wisdom.

A man may have spoken “I love you” or even “I love you forever” to his lover. And yet, when the relationship does not work out, should the woman hold him to his words … forever? Should an ex-lover hold her lover’s promise of “I love you” forever and demand that the man divorce his now-wedded wife on the basis of such words and promises of a time past? Can we understand that the man meant those words at the very moment of love when he declared such to his love? Have you ever declared “I’ll never …” and yet find yourself breaking that vow/promise due to new insight or perception? These questions are meant for us to ponder on the validity of pronouncements made, on their context and applicability.

What do you think is the spirit of “Thou shalt not kill” ?
To me, Compassion. For life. For living beings. For all who live, for all that live deserve to live. Compassion means wishing that no other being have to suffer. And death is usually seen as the ultimate suffering that is accompanied with pain and even fear. And yet, we also know very well, pain is suffering and that pain can be unbearable.

And hence, I made the decision to put Kitty to sleep. With someone hushing her to God, in love and in peace. The alternative was to futilely try to extend her life for a few more days, in pain and of suffering.

I hope that if “Thou shalt not kill” ever cause a moral dilemma to anyone, let them get the spirit of the words. And that is .. compassion.

RIP Kitty 11.12.13.
– See more at: https://www.cordyket.com/2013/12/16/httpunityisinfinity-blogspot-com201312thou-shalt-not-kill-html/#sthash.hqDaxLJT.dpuf