The first dog in my life was fictional hero of Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild”. Buck was his name. In that wonderful story, Jack Thornton, saves Buck from being beaten to death and becomes his friend and master. I had read the translated version of the book umpteen times. That book came along with a few other good books, as a gift from winning a quiz competition conducted by. Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad. . And the picture of Buck, half St. Bernard and half sheep dog was etched in my memory as carved in stone. Thanks to Jack London who was great storyteller. Much later, in 2020, a Hollywood movie was released with. Harrison Ford as Jack. Thornton. The movie was quite good. Still the novel was greater. Maybe I would have read it too many times during a very impressionable age of young mind.
During my childhood days in Thenkara, we (Sasi, Sandhya and myself) had adopted an Indian mongrel and named him Jackie. HE was a wonderful dog with a great temperament. I can still recall the majestic way that dog used to rest on one of pillars of our gate and just gazing at the road. Once that dog was passed away, there wasn’t any other dog in our life. When I got married to Thara, they had a photo album with full of pictures of their pet dogs. And later though Rishi and. Manu wanted to bring in a pet, Thara vetoed it saying, confining a dog to an apartment is like putting them in a prison. Also, in her considered view, the tiled floor does not suit dogs.
Since Jan 2023, i started going to Little Flower Zendo regularly, every month. In Little flower Zendo, there was a half-tamed street dog. Maybe she was a cross from one of the estate guard dogs, she had a majestic look and behaved like a hound. She was adopted by a long-time resident of Zendo from Delhi, Tithy. Tithy is a great dog lover, and she took care of Jackie Mu very royally and most lovingly and compassionately. Like Joy Adamson taking care of the Lioness Elsa. Dog food and snacks, to bed and blanket and regular Vet visits, Regular baths and even a medicine kit. As we used to go to Zendo room for our early morning Zazen, it was quite a sight, when the Doggie used to walk around with blanket on. She used to look for people , to help her with taking off the blanket.
The dog had many names Jackie, Laddo etc. And we added the surname Mu to her name, when we ordered a name plate for her. Mu is the most important Zen Koan.
That was the first Koan in the collection of Koan book named. “The Gateless Gate”. Though the “Sound of one hand clapping” seems to be more popular, and most quoted in articles about Zen and Koan. In my view, Mu is the most important. It goes like this. The 8th century Chinese Zen Master, whose Japanese name is Jôshû, is asked by a monk whether or not a dog has the Buddha nature. He replies with one syllable, one ideograph, Mu (無) which can mean “nothing.””A monk asked Jôshû in all earnestness, ‘Does a dog have Buddha nature or not?’ Jôshû said, ‘Mu!’. Without a doubt, Jackie Mu had it. Buddha nature. .
Without a doubt she was one of the wisest and smartest canines I knew. Better than Jack London’s Buck. Out of the 15 odd rooms in Zendo, she knew which door to knock at for food. Whom to be friendly with and who should be kept away.
And Jackie Mu was my morning walk guide.
Her eager head will pop up in the verandah , the moment Zendo bells rings for the Zazen end. And at 730 am sharp, the moment our breakfast used to finish, she used to be ready for her morning walk. The stretching was her order for us to be ready for the walk.
knew the way from. Little Flower Zendo to Bodhi zendo, a good 3.5 km through the main ghatt road and estate roads and used to lead me. She used to run quite ahead. And then wait at a curve or turning, looking back for me to catch up with her. And the on the way back, we used to stop at the roadside tea stall Surya just opposite to the St. Thomas Church, For r my tea and biscuits for her.
After Tithy went back to Delhi, for quite a few days Jackie Mu acted as if she is lost her way in this world. Never even cookies and sacks used to appeal so much. There was quite a bit of pressure from others to keep the dog out of the Zendo. According to them, she became a bit more aggressive. May be the doggie started feeling less cared. And Fr. AMA told me as I come only for a week in a month, there is no one else who can take care of her. And at 89, he is too old. Still, whenever I used to land at the Zendo, after every 3 weeks, her overjoyed reception said it all. During my short stay, she used to shift her place at the zendo, whichever floor and room wherever I used to stay. And she kind started to follow me wherever I go. And Fr. Ama did see quite a few times our morning walk routine, he chose not to mention about it to me again.
Some time back, at 9 : 37 pm, as I was penning my daily 3 blessings in my note book before I hit the bed, got this WhatsApp message. “Vishy, I was just informed that Jackie Mu passed away yesterday. I am so sorry. I don’t have more details.” And when I called up Zendo, they told me, she came to Zendo today afternoon, there was blood oozing out from her nose. She lied down in her favourite place just outside the meditation hall near that Buddha Statue and peacefully breathed her last.
I kind of felt a pang in my heart. Last time I felt that way was when my ex-Boss SMR had passed away. As if some part deep within you dies down. And I just wrote this note as a tribute to one of the pals I had in my life. Who taught me the answer to the Koan “Mu” from. The Gateless Gate. As i understand, Mahayana Buddhism does not believe in a nonchanging, soul per se. And I am sure, Jackie Mu would have left it behind at the Zendo for us, even if she had one.
On. 20 July next Saturday morning, when i will be getting down the steep numberless steps to Zendo, i will miss the overjoyed welcome party of wet nose and holy presence of unconditional love from Buddha Nature. 🙁