Trans-species kindness
T read that the Dali Lama was asked how best to raise a child and his response: teach kindness to insects and the rest will follow. Once again, it was Jazz Fest and as happens every year at this time in New Orleans it’s love bug mating season. And the LaLa was filled with love bugs in media res – in the middle of life, death, mating – there are dead bugs everywhere and bugs hanging on for dear life and I am trying to be compassionate as I don’t set out to kill bugs but I have swept up, flushed, washed down the drain, and flicked off about one thousand love bug pairs.
However, when I opened the cleaning cabinet and saw a roach the size of a coffee cup, I immediately snuffed its life out with a giant wad of paper towels. I think the Dali was referring to a perfect world where you and bugs can co-exist. Love bug infestation – a big roach – mosquitoes – fleas – don’t make for harmonious companions.