Sometimes a bunny quote is enough. Sometimes it is not.
A number of Buddhist meditation practices have influenced Bunny Buddhism over the years. Today, I would like to share with you an article I recently wrote for elephant journal called “Tonglen: 4 Steps to Finding Compassion for Strangers.”
Why read the article? Because, as every bunny knows, it’s hard to find compassion in confined spaces.
Thank you to Vanilla Beer for today’s stunning photo of Alex the bunny. Sometimes we need our alone time, but Alex makes a good argument for hopping out of our caves and into the world!
Every so often, someone will tweet something to @BunnyBuddhism that really catches my eye. Most frequently, it is either an adorable photo of a bunny or else it is some kind of bunny artwork. This week, I was struck by a comic featuring a Bunny Buddhism quote, thanks to @BearAndInk:
It is always interesting to me to see @BunnyBuddhism tweets finding new homes and being used in new ways. When I tweet a certain message, I of course have some idea of what it means to me. Even more interesting, though, is the way the same words might affect someone else. It never in a million years would have occurred to me to do a Bunny Buddhism comic, and yet here one was, suddenly appearing in my feed.
A bunny must learn a new way to think before he can learn a new way to hop.
— Bunny Buddhism (@bunnybuddhism) May 11, 2014
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Are you an artist or illustrator? Why not try your hand at featuring a bunny quote in your work? Tweet your artwork to @BunnyBuddhism for a chance to be featured on BunnyBuddhism.com!
Thank you to Kate L. and her beautiful lop, Scamp, for this lovely moment of bunniness. If only we could all be as wise as Scamp!
Today’s feature bun is sharing bunniness with us from across the bridge. Thank you to Gabby for the beautiful photo of Two Feathers. Binky free, Two Feathers!
Want to see your bunny featured with a Bunny Buddhism quote? Here’s how:
Don’t forget to include your bun’s name, your name, and your Facebook or Twitter name if you would like to be tagged or mentioned.
Today’s moment of bunniness features lovely Ginger, who appears to be experiencing a bunny awakening. Thank you to Jim Dukes for this amazing photo!
Yesterday, I learned that this tiny bundle of bunny joy departed this world before he was even given a name. I hope his loving human can take comfort in knowing she supported him in his time of need and cared for him in the best way she could. May his brief but powerful offering of bunniness remain with you always.
Did you ever have a security blanket? Or maybe a favorite childhood toy you could turn to for comfort no matter how lousy you felt? Was there somewhere you could go to feel completely safe?
As a child, I always had something soft to hold or hug and feel comforted. For a while, it was a favorite blanket. After that, it was stuffed animals. And then, whenever I could, I turned to bunnies.
When I held or watched a bunny, even the most miserable day would fade away until all that existed in the world was that bunny. I imagine the feeling I got was akin to what many people experience when taking in the grandeur of nature – a beautiful, sweeping calm. For some reason, nature and I don’t always get along. So, for me – it’s bunnies.
For many years, my little sister had a bunny named Jazzy (a.k.a. Jazzy Bunny). Often, I would find myself feeling crowded or ignored in a house full of family members who all had similar interests that were worlds away from my own. I knew they loved me and meant well – it’s just that the majority opinion always won, and I was the minority. So, I would turn to Jazzy for like-minded company.
At the time, I thought of it as an escape. I would find a quiet space and hold Jazzy until I felt myself becoming calmer. Spending time with Jazzy was more fulfilling than dealing with crowds of people and listening to conversations that didn’t involve me. Whether I was holding and petting him or just watching him hop and twitch his little nose, something about those moments just felt right.
When I met the man who is now my husband, it didn’t take him long to see how important bunnies were to me. For our first Valentine’s Day, he took me to a local animal shelter and let me pick out my bunny Valentine gift. This, I believe, was the first moment I felt certain this was a man who understood me, cared deeply for me and wanted me to be happy.
For a while, I had a beautiful, fuzzy little blood pressure-reducing companion named Lloyd. I spent hours and hours watching him flop, hop and binky. I delighted in holding him, watching him explore, feeling him nudge my hand to demand more pets and listening to the munching noises he made while he ate.
Years later, I realized something about all those wonderful bunny-watching moments. I felt calm in those moments not because I had escaped from the world but because I had experienced each moment mindfully. I was living in the present, taking in every blink, sniff and ear twitch of the bunny life – satisfied to be exactly where I was.
Most of the time, it is difficult for me to become absorbed in the present moment. But when it comes to bunnies, it’s the most natural thing in the world.
There’s a familiar Zen proverb that says, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I have found this to be true for me on many occasions and in many ways. And, on at least two of those occasions, my teacher was a bunny.
A true teacher helps you to see the bunny inside yourself.
— Bunny Buddhism (@bunnybuddhism) April 9, 2012
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Has a bunny touched your life? Has a teacher come into your life in unexpected form? I would love to hear your story!
Thank you to Nancy M. for this triple dose of bunniness from Sunshine, Joy and Star. I hope you and the buns are enjoying your copy of Bunny Buddhism: Hopping Along the Path to Enlightenment!
For those of you who still haven’t achieved bunniness, perhaps you’d like to enter the Good Reads Book Giveaway before May 28, 2014 to win one of 20 free copies of the Bunny Buddhism book!
Yesterday, I learned the sad news that one of our recent Bunny Buddhism feature bunnies, George, has passed on. Readers may remember his previous appearance on Facebook:
While this may be a very difficult time for George’s humans, Lorissa and family, they still have the benefit of knowing he brought a great deal of light into their lives. Here’s one more quote photo of George, in hopes that it will bring a smile even as they mourn their loss.
And, finally, some words of wisdom from the early days of Bunny Buddhism.
I am a sad bunny today, but I know my sadness will return to bunniness, just as a wave returns to the sea.
— Bunny Buddhism (@bunnybuddhism) August 6, 2010
//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
May you to take the time to mourn your loss and find the strength to keep your hearts open to the bunniness yet to come.