During our walk towards the Fishermans Wharf at Dan-Shui we befriended a puppy. Assuming he was without a home, since he smelled of trash and there were numerous other dogs strays in the area, we encouraged him to travel with us along the shore. With little encouragement he followed us for about a half mile, where we stopped at a seafood restaurant. I waited outsided, while Anna bought a piece of bread and some water. This commotion attracted a few larger dogs, affflicted with sores and open wounds. Watching these animals reminded me of a passage from The Path to Enlightenment by the Dalai Lama:



“It is said that Asanga, dissatisfied with his understanding of the Sutras on the Perfection of Wisdom, entered into an intensive meditation retreat that continued for twelve years. The retreat, however, was without success and, frustrated with disappointment, he gave up and left. On the wayside he encountered a half-dead bitch ridden with worms. Great compassion arose within him and he decided to remove the worms. To avoid harming the worms, he cut a strip of flesh from his body in which to put them. Suddenly the bitch transformed into the Bodhisattva Maitreya, and the purposes of Asanga’s retreat were fulfilled. Based on his vision of Maitreya, Asanga later wrote down The Ornament of Clear Comprehension, an elucidation and abridgement of all the vast doctrines concerning the paths, practices and stages found in the Sutras on the Perfection of Wisdom.” (41-42)