General Instructions
1. Cultivate Pure, Positive Intentions
- a) For Buddhists: recite refuge, bodhichitta and four immeasurables prayer
- b) Create altruistic motivations from the heart
- i) good health, longevity and ultimate liberation from all sufferings for all beings
- ii) in addition, any specific beings like Dalai Lama or others of great benefit to others, benefactors
- iii) and those with terminal illness.
2. Choose Beings to Protect
- a) It is best to save human life and especially someone that is of great benefit to others.
- b) If saving animals:
- i) don’t choose animals that are enemies of each other to release at the same time
- ii) choose those that are in immediate danger of dying or being killed – e.g. bait
- iii) release animals into nature where they will survive – e.g. their natural habitat
- iv) best is to liberate animals that you can adopt and care for, that way they don’t have to kill to survive, and that causes you to accumulate positive karma every time you care for and feed them.
3. Bless the Animals to be Benefited
- a) Everyone gathered can recite mantras especially “Om Mani Padme Hum”
- b) Everyone either blows afterwards directly on animals or into the body of water that will be poured onto them as a blessing or into which the animals will then be placed.
4. While leading or carrying the animals to be released, circumambulate an Altar with Sacred Objects Such as Blessed Stupas and Statues of Enlightened Beings
- a) the more animals benefited, the better
- b) the more sacred objects, the better
- c) as you circumambulate think that you are giving all these many beings causes for higher, favorable rebirth and ultimate enlightenment
For example:
The purpose of my life is to free all sentient beings from all their sufferings and bring them to enlightenment, therefore, I must achieve enlightenment. It is for this reason, for the benefit of all sentient beings, that I am going to do these circumambulations. Each circumambulation is for every single sentient being.*
*Liberating Animals and Other Ways to Benefit Them, FPMT, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, 2005, p. 48.
- d) recite mantras as you circumambulate
- e) have many people participate so the animals and humans benefit from circumambulating (going around a holy place or object).
5. Dedicate the Merit
Similar to point 1., this act seals the virtue (good in the beginning, middle and end!).
Simple Formal Buddhist Dedication Example
By this merit, may all attain omniscience. May it defeat the enemy, wrong-doing. From the stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death (the ocean of samsara), may I free all beings.
By this virtue, may all beings perfect the accumulations of merit and wisdom, and thereby achieve the two genuine kayas (form bodies) arising from merit and wisdom.
Dedication Song
May we live long and be free of illness, enjoy freedoms, great resources and happiness. Next life may we meet in the pure realms. May we always practice Dharma {wisdom and compassionate action} and benefit beings!
Learn More
For further inspiration, see Ways to Practice Life-Release and Buddhist Practice of Life-Release.
