Lorayne carried Emma, her 18 year old Calico cat, in a cat carrier over her shoulder. She wore a bright peach colored sleeveless shirt and white knickers with opened toed sandals that had a large turquoise stone between her toes. In the crook of her elbow was an extravagant and very large bouquet of different types of red flowers. Around her neck was a thin silk white scarf, a kata. The late August sun had set. Humidity hung in the air making Lorayne’s long hair fall into waves down her back. She waited outside the Berkeley Shamabhala Center for Guru Chokling Rinpoche to arrive. As it was typical of most Tibetan masters, time was irrelevant in the scheme of things to them. Nearly all of his followers had already gathered in the large hall two stories up, but a handful of dedicated disciples, and his attendant monks, had waited outside for him. He was nearly 2 hours late.

Guru Chokling Rinpoche had visited several American cities and given public talks on ‘The Great “I”’ and ‘Meditation and Happiness’ that summer. Tonight, he would give the Kurukulle empowerment to those who had already taken their Buddhist vows and who practiced Vajrayana Buddhism. Guru Chokling Rinpoche was a terton, or great treasure revealer, a direct emanation of the extraordinary Indian Guru Padmasambhava, principal co-founder of the Buddhist tradition in Tibet. The transmissions given by Guru Rinpoche were from an ancient lineage of Esoteric Buddhist yoga teachings. In this line of Tibetan Buddhism, it’s believed that the teaching will not work unless the transmission is given from an authentic guru. Lorayne felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him over 20 years ago in Vancouver, Canada. She knew there must be some karmic connection and her interest in that particular lineage of Buddhism. She did not know it then, but she thought now that maybe it had something to do with her future work with Lucy.

Lorayne peeked inside Emma’s cat carrier that she had covered with a towel so that she wouldn’t be frightened. Emma seemed alert and resting comfortably. She thought maybe it was because she had treated Emma with kindness for her entire life that Emma was unafraid with her, even in a strange setting.

A few moments later two small black Jetta’s arrived one right behind the other. In the first car, a red robbed monk quickly got out of the back seat and went to the passenger’s side door. He opened the door and Guru Rinpoche’s wife stepped onto the pavement and looked at the small crowd with a glowing smile. She wore bright, colorful clothes but was not dressed in any traditional Tibetan garments. The car left and the second car pulled up immediately and the monk opened the passenger’s side door again. This time Guru Chokling Rinpoche stepped out and the monk then opened the rear door. Guru Rinpoche’s teenager daughter stepped out. She wore a colorful outfit and was dressed as any clean-cut, female American teenager would be. Lorayne and the monks quickly made a a half circle around Guru Rinpoche, who was then given a kata by each person, one by one, which he placed around their neck as a blessing. After the greetings Guru Rinpoche and all of his attending monks hustled up two flights of stairs, energetically lifting their robes from around their feet as they climbed. The small crowd followed behind them, but at a much slower pace.

Lorayne walked up the stairs to the large meeting hall and saw around fifty people gathered there. She wondered why more had not turned out to see this great master. She went into a smaller room and waited there with a few monks who smiled at her as she entered. She sat Emma down on the couch beside her and then sat down herself, laying the large bouquet across her lap. She noticed that she was the only one who had brought flowers for Guru Rinpoche. His door was open, and in the small adjacent room, she could see Guru Rinpoche making preparations to give the Kurukulle empowerment to his followers that night. She looked away and gave more attention to Emma fearing she was somehow peaking in on a private ceremony. At the same time she wondered why she was being allowed to see it. She had received many oral transmissions from Guru Rinpoche over the years and wished that she was able to see him more often. She missed him and their discussions. She had learned so much from him. Unfortunately, his visits to the United States had become fewer and she had rarely left the United States to visit him at his monastery in Nepal since the birth of Lucy.

She was happy to be granted a private audience with her root guru . Few Americans knew they could ask for such a meeting. Those that were granted permission were allowed a limited time alone with him, and sometimes the time was even refused. A meeting with a reincarnated master was always considered an auspicious meeting for the guest and a karmic event for both of them.

Lorayne had planned her questions to Guru Rinpoche very carefully in advance. She had written them on a small piece of paper which she had folded and slipped into her back pocket, just in case she had become overwhelmed by the joy of being in his presence, and lost track of her thoughts. She knew that he may not answer any one of them. But she hoped, since all her questions really had to do with the nature of Lucy, she prayed, that he might have a reply for her.

Emma was a calm cat and didn’t stir in her carrier. Lorayne uncovered the bag a bit again, stuck her hand inside and pet Emma’s small head. She was curled up in a ball and sound asleep, but she responded with the affectionate purrs and head-butts she had shown her since she was a kitten, only with less energy then she had when she was younger. Lorayne studied and practiced Vajrayana Buddhism, and to it’s faithful it’s believed that animals were once humans. Believing this, Lorayne had always been gentle to Emma, and had in fact talked to Emma as if she had been able to understand English. She prayed that Emma once again be reborn into a human form. She knew that being born into a human body was Emma’s best chance to escape the wheel of karma, samsara, of suffering. She thought about the fate of Lucy. She zipped up Emma’s bag and covered it with the towel again.

One of the monks approached Lorayne, “Guru Chokling Rinpoche is ready to see you now,” he said and motioned with his hand to follow him.

Lorayne grabbed Emma’s bag and followed the monk to the doorway leading into the room where her Guru sat. Lorayne presented Guru Rinpoche with the bouquet of red flowers, which the monk then promptly took from him. She sat Emma on the floor beside her. She came before her Guru, brought her gently folded hands to her forehead in prayer mode, then to her throat, then to her heart, and finally knelt in a full prostration in front of him with her forehead touching the carpet. She repeated this three times. The third time he patted her shoulder while in prostration.

“Please, sit,” he said and smiled at her and motioned with an open palm towards the small padded footstool directly beside him.

The monk closed the door sealing them in privacy. She smiled at her guru and sat down, then unzipped the front of Emma’s carrier. “Guru Rinpoche, I ask you to please bless me, and my cat Emma, with your phurbu.”

He smiled and nodded at her, then withdrew an ancient, ceremonial dagger from beneath his robe. Lorayne bowed her head before him, and he held the phurbu to her forehead while reciting a Tibetan prayer out loud. When he was finished she bent down, uncovered Emma who was now awake, and unzipped her bag.

“What is your cat’s name?” He said looking at Emma.

“This is Emma. She’s very ill,” Lorayne answered.

He stuck his hand inside the bag and pet her head while smiling and making little cooing noises to her. She responded to them looking into his eyes. He then placed the phurbu on her forehead and repeated the same prayer out loud. When he was finished, he tapped Emma’s head with his fingers.

“Master Rinpoche, I have a few questions,” Lorayne said delicately.

“Yes,” he said and nodded his head, as he continued to coo and play with Emma.

Lorayne lifted Emma out of the bag and he motioned to have Emma sit on his lap. She sat Emma on his lap and he stroked her. “It’s actually about the nature of the animal soul. I mean, what makes the human soul different from the animal’s. Why was Emma born into the body of a cat, instead of that of a human?”

He sat back a little on his stool and his face became serious. He shook his finger in the air but not at her. “There is a very simple answer for this in Buddhism. When you understand the nature of karma.”

“I thought I understood it, but maybe I don’t fully.”

He leaned forward again towards Lorayne. Emma enjoyed sitting on his lap. “We believe that all beings have the Buddha Nature within our souls.” He pointed his finger to the side of his head. “It’s in the purest depth of the mind, and hidden, an immortal potency.” He motioned to Emma with an open palm. Even your cat, can awaken and become a Buddha.”

Lorayne shifted position on her stool. “She can become a Buddha in this lifetime, after being a cat?”

He puckered his lips a little, in argument, “An animal is limited by their physical features. They have limitations. Do you understand why a person is born into the animal realm?”

“Well, something is not right with the person’s soul, right?” Lorayne looked at Emma and scratched behind Emma’s ears.

“To be born into the animal body is to be born into the world of suffering,” He said and stroked Emma’s long flank.

“But humans suffer too, so I don’t understand, I guess.” She said as she leaned back and pushed her hair behind her ear.

“Yes, of course, all sentient beings feel. So animals can feel happy or sad, and can be hurt too. But animals are ruled by their instinct. So this is their emotions. They do repetitive actions based on what they remember feeling. Of course we humans are emotional creatures too, and a lot will act the same as an animal, even in a human body.” He said to her.

“Oh I’m starting to see this a little more clearly now,” she said and sat up.

He smiled and said, “Humans can control their emotions, if they learn how. This is one of the great benefits of meditation. A human can tame their own mind. Animals do not think about how they act in this way. With meditation, one can let go of worldly aspirations, and it can bring you happiness. Some relief from this world of suffering for awhile.”

“Yes, I know, I need to meditate more often,” she looked to the ground a bit embarrassed.

Guru Rinpoche put Emma down on the floor and she sniffed around the corners of the room. “In the animal realm, the animal is either predator or prey. The plant eater must forage for his food, and lives in fear of being eaten by another animal. Meat eating animals in the wild, they will die if they don’t kill. These animals are trapped in ignorance. They act how they feel. It may or may not be a good choice. Do you see?”

“Yes, I do.” She shook her head and looked at Emma in the corner. She motioned to her with her hand and Emma came promptly and sat on Lorayne’s lap.

“Now, what are the main reasons a human soul takes on an animal body, or becomes an animal soul?” He asked her.

Lorayane twists her lips to one side and looked up, “I’m not sure.”

Just then, one of Guru Rinpoche’s attendant monks opened the door and entered. Lorayne had become so engrossed in her conversation with her guru that she had forgotten about his followers outside the tiny room, also waiting for his attention. He went to Guru Rinpoche and spoke softly in Tibetan into his ear. Guru Rinpoche answered him in Tibetan. Both of them shook and nod their heads at one another. Some agreement has been reached. Lorayne wondered if she has taken up too much of her guru’s time. The monk looked at Lorayne and smiled. He turned and left, closing the door behind him.

Guru Rinpoche turned back to her, “Just a little bit more, eh?”

“Sure, yes, I’m sorry if I’m taking up too much time.” She turned to Guru Rinpoche. “I’m grateful for the time you’ve give me. I feel very lucky that I am able to see you again. It’s been so many years.”

Guru Rinpoche smiled at her, “Not to worry. To your question,” he held up two fingers, “There are two main reasons for a human to be born into the animal body. One is ignorance,” he pulled his finger back towards his chest, “the other is hatred,” he pulled his second finger back towards his chest.

“Thank you Guru Rinpoche. I so much appreciate your answers to my questions,” she said joyfully.

Guru Rinpoche chuckled and said, “You’re prepared. That is good.”

Lorayne laughed a bit nervously and replied, “This may seem like a very odd one, but, what if the DNA was that of an animal, but the body looked like that of a human? Would that,” she paused not knowing what to call Lucy, “being have an animal or human soul?” She squinted her eyes, thinking he might rebuke the question. She worried she might annoy him.

He nodded his head understanding the question, and stroked his chin. “I’ve already given you the answer.” He laughed again.

She took that as a cue that it was his final answer for her. She stood up and put Emma back into her bag and zipped it up. “You did? Oh no, I don’t think I understand it.” She looked nervous and frowned, fearing she might not get to learn what she needed to know.

“The being is born into an animal body, you said. It has animal DNA, correct?” He tilted his head at her.

“Yes, that’s right. The being has animal DNA but looks completely human.”

“OK. What does this have to do with?” He said perplexed.

“Well,” she laughed a little, “I want to know if an animal loves the same way as a human can love a person. Is there anything different?”

“Ah, OK. I understand now.” He nodded to her. “The animal in a human looking body will still carry some negative attitudes. They will still have some ignorance, or hatred.”

Lorayne was still confused. “But can the being love?”

The monk attendant entered the room again. Lorayne saw another person standing behind him at the doorway. Another person wanting answers about the questions of life. It must be Guru Rinpoche’s next guest, she thought. The monk said something in Tibetan to Guru Rinpoche and he answered him back.

The monk looked at Lorayane, “Guru Rinpoche says it is time to go.”

Lorayne picked up her bag and placed the strap over her shoulder. Emma fit snuggly under her arm. “I thank you for your time, Guru Rinpoche. I hope that I will be able to see you sooner next time. I hope that not so much time passes between us again.” She walked towards the door to leave the room.

Guru Rinpoche turned to her, she stopped, and he said, “Under the context you described, the animal that looks human can be very loving and loyal to her lover, without any question. She can be one hundred percent obedient. But this obedience is a sign of ignorance. It’s a sign of a soul still in defilement. Would you call obedience to another, true love?” As she left the room he handed her some pills in a small packet, and what looked to be a charm.

“Thank you,” She smiled with gratitude, “You’ve given me my answer.”

He grinned widely at her and then shooed her away with his hand.