135/The Sentient World of Animals/Inspiration from Raising Fish

Of all hobbies, raising fish was a hobby that always seemed most unlikely to occur to me, so I do not know how the idea popped into my head. But when it did, I thought it was a good one, and I bought some tropical fish to begin my new pastime. I did not know at the time, however, that it could bring about an enlightening experience.

I could tell that starting out as an amateur fish keeper was challenging, but through much trial and error, I finally managed to succeed. Now, as I watch my fish in their aquarium, they often swim gregariously in groups with their own species, seem to enjoy chasing one another and frolicking in the water, and mind you, even welcome the hand that feeds them! When night falls, they rest on the pebbles at the bottom of the aquarium, totally oblivious to the environment. It occurs to me that fish too live in communities even though they are among the smaller species in the animal kingdom. They breed, they mingle, they express special affection, they move in fleets, they have moods, and they even sleep.

I have read no books on fish and have little knowledge about their lives. To me, fish had always been just an item for the dining table. After all, we have been taught through generations that fish is just a dish. Although I gave up eating fish for spiritual cultivation after being initiated by Master seven years ago, this concept remained deep-rooted in my mind. After some period of keeping fish, however, I now understand how the idea to begin this hobby came about. With Master's blessings, it has been a way of clearing the roots of my misconceptions and ignorance.

Now, each day, as I watch my pet fish swimming in their aquarium, I realize that there is little difference between humans and fish. We follow the same life pattern as fish do, only in different forms. We simply "swim" in a bigger space, where repetition of life's routine is the norm, confinement is within the physical boundaries of a home, and physical existence is ephemeral.

Keeping fish as pets has also helped me realize that, like humans, animals have the right to live. Their existence should not be denied. As the highest of all creatures, human beings should thus treat animals with benevolence and kindness. Only by protecting all lives on this planet can we truly contribute to world peace.