Millennial legend: the powerful connection between Buddha and cats

For Buddhism, cats represent spirituality. They are enlightened beings that transmit calm and harmony. For this reason, it is often said that those who do not relate well with their unconscious will never fully connect with a cat, nor will they understand its mysteries.

The truth is that no one is surprised to know that the figure of these animals is linked to Buddhism. So much so that In Thailand there is a beautiful legend that has transcended time to turn cats into beings of peace, and intimate union, in many temples in Asian countries.

It is because of that It is very common to see cats dozing in sanctuariescurled up in the lap of the multiple Buddha figures that line the gardens and temples.

It is often said that having a dog is enjoying the most faithful companion that can exist. something totally true. Nevertheless, Whoever knows the character of a cat feels that the connection is more intimate and deeperHence, various Buddhist monks such as Master Hsing Yun speak of the healing power of this animal. We invite you to discover it with us.

Buddha and the cat

A Buddhist legend tells that a cat fell asleep on Buddha’s robe. The latter decided not to disturb his peaceful sleep and, to continue with his activities, he cut the piece of cloth around the feline so he could get up without interrupting his rest.

From this moment on, and according to the Buddhist legend about cats, the cat began to be part of Buddhist meditations. The teacher who made the feline begin to be part of these meetings one day passed away.

After wondering which path to follow, his successor allowed the cat to continue accompanying them in their Zen Buddhism classes and meditations. This story began to spread to the temples of the region and, by the time the cat died, many temples had already adopted these animals as meditation companions.

Even, scientific treatises were written that proved that the presence of the cat increased the concentration of the human being. This is how this Buddhist legend about cats originated.

However, things would not go so well for the felines. Well, some time later, the teacher who took on the role of Buddha was allergic to cats. So he removed the cat from its role as companion.

It was in this period that treatises that spoke of the importance of Zen Buddhism began to become popular, without the need to have a cat in meditations. It took a few centuries for the cat to finally be able to reclaim its lost position and be present again in the home of Buddhism.

A Buddhist legend about cats originating in Thailand

First of all, we have to know something important. Buddhism is not organized in a vertical hierarchy, religious authority rests on sacred texts, but there is great flexibility in its own approaches. The legend that we are going to show you has its roots in a specific school: in Theravada Buddhism, or Buddhism of the lineage of the ancients.

It was in Thailand, and within this context, that it was written The book of cat poems, or the Tamra Maew, preserved today in the National Library of Bangkok as a treasure. In his ancient papyri a charming story could be read that said that When a person had reached the highest levels of spirituality and died, their soul was peacefully united with the body of a cat.

Life could then be very short or whatever feline longevity would allow, but when the end came, the soul knew it would ascend to an illuminated plane. In turn, the Thai people of that time, knowing this belief, also carried out another curious practice…

When a family member died, they were buried in a crypt along with a live cat.. The crypt always had a hole through which the animal could come out, and when it did, they assumed that the soul of the loved one was already inside that noble cat… In this way, it achieved freedom and that path of calm and spirituality capable of preparing that soul for the subsequent path towards ascension.

Cats and spirituality

They say that cats are like little meditative monks capable of bringing harmony to a home.. For the Buddhist order of Fo Guang Shan, for example, they are like people who have already achieved enlightenment.

Cats are free beings. They drink when they are thirsty, eat when they are hungry, sleep when they feel sleepy and do what needs to be done at any given moment without needing to please anyone.They are not carried away by their ego. And something special about these animals, according to this branch of Buddhism, is that they learned to feel the man from very distant eras in time, however, people have not yet learned to feel the cat in the present.They are loyal, faithful and affectionate. But their displays of affection are intimate and subtle, and yet tremendously deep. Only those who know how to delve into her interior, with respect and dedication, will enjoy her unbreakable love. People who are unequal or who often raise their voices to shout will never be liked.

Unique animals

In conclusion, We know that it is not necessary to resort to Buddhist texts to understand that cats are special. Their gazes transport us to introspective universes, with their strange postures they invite us to practice yoga, they are an example of elegance and balance…

We love them and even worship them. and, although they believe themselves to be true gods, perhaps remembering their days in Ancient Egypt, it is something that we allow them with pride.

We all have our own stories with these animals, unforgettable moments that have allowed us to enjoy small moments full of magic and authenticity. Those that surely served as inspiration to weave this beautiful Buddhist legend that was printed in ink, paper and mysticism. The same one that we wanted to share with you today in our space.

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