A Fall Tradition, Annual Blessing Of The Animals At The Buddhist Center
Last month the monks of the Do Ngak Kunphen Ling Tibetan Buddhist Center for Universal Peace (DNKL) in Redding held their annual Blessing Of The Animals at the Center on Putnam Park Rd., Redding a tradition which began more than a decade ago.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
About 70-80 people ore more attend each year to seek the blessing from the monks, waiting patiently in line with a variety of dogs and cats, even several horses and even a pair of beautiful parakeets
There are various Animal Blessings held each year in Fairfield County but none are quite like the Buddhist blessing in Redding which has been held for more than a decade. Fall is the time when many Animal Blessings are held. Christian churches host theirs around October 4th which is the celebration of the Feast Of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Catholic Franciscan Order and the Catholic Patron Saint of animals, ecology and the environment.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Horse people will look at this photo and notice something unusual. Whenever horses are standing on a nice field of grass, they will spend every minute grazing. For the last several years, as the monks begin their prayer program all of the horses simply raise their heads and stand quietly. Horse owners here notice that and cannot help wondering if the spirituality of the event has some unknown effect.
The large audience made themselves comfortable, either in seats or sitting or on the grass as the DNKL Monks spoke to describe Buddhist Animal Blessings and describe how the program would proceed.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
The monks begin the sequence of prayers with each reading different prayers. From left to right, is Lobsang Nyima, a monk from Sri Lanka, venerable Kurunegoda Dhammaloka Thero, a Theravada which is the oldest surviving school of Buddhism, visiting monk Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Jampa, holder of three major seats of highest Buddhist study, roughly equivalent to a PhD level of study, Geshe Lobsang Dhargey, Geshe Gelek Choedup and at the end, Lobsang Sherab and Geshe Gelek Choedup.
The monks and nun recite a series of prayers in Tibetan and then in English. One of those prayers say in part:
Please always bestow fortune and blessing to these animals,
and always be their protectors and saviors.
Always conquer their enemies, and always bestow liberation on them-
Liberate them from illness, untimely death, negative karma and the chain of suffering
and liberate them from the miserable circumstances that lack leisure and opportunity.
Monk Lobsang Nyima sprinkles blessed water with a peacock feather on one of the Icelandic horses who come to the Blessing each year from Jibe-iT a family farm nearby in Redding. Next, Ani Lobsang Tendrol, a Buddhist nun places a wrapped object called a a Compassion Sutra on the animal's head and prayers are placed on the head as a transmission to the animal.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Pet parents, friends and visitors at the event love capturing so many of the animals as they are blessed.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Above, left, Sara brought here 7 year old Great Dane, Krueger back for a blessing. She last brough Krueger as a puppy when he was nine months old. Several children, relatives of the Monks also received blessings. Bottom, the Monks are clearly joyful as they greet each owner and show some love for their precious pets after they have received the blessings.
Always a favorite part of the day, especially for the children is a visit with goats who come from Jibe-iT farm. This is a rare opportunity to pet and feed these charming creatures. The farm hosts goat yoga which has become very popular in the last few years.
All of the DNKL monks and visiting monks from around the area pause for photos at the conclusion of the event.
The Dogs Are Coming! The Dogs Are Coming! Thursday, October 1st, Compo Beach Becomes A Dog’s Playground Again
Scenes like this captured in October, 2025 will be relived again by doggie friends, both old and new beginning on Thursday October 1st., 2026 until March 31st, 2027.
File photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.
The big day dog owners and their four-legged besties have been waiting for has finally arrived! There will be lots of splashing, chasing of sticks and toys and each other as every day becomes a great day.
File photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.
The Westport Parks & Recreation Department reminds residents and visitors of the regulations which will be in effect for Compo Beach visiting canines.
Animal Control Enforcement and Leash Restriction:
Dogs are prohibited from the Pavilion, playground and walkways.
All dogs must be leashed in all areas of the park except in the designated off leash area of the beach south of the Pavilion, including South Beach. Off leash regulations are posted at the entrance to the off leash area.
You are required by law to pick up your dog’s feces.
Violation of the above regulations subject to a fine of $77.00
Additionally, animals are not permitted on Town athletic fields or playgrounds at any time, in accordance with Westport Parks and Recreation Department Rules and Regulations. This policy helps protect public safety, support athletic programs, and maintain field conditions. While animals are welcome in surrounding areas, owners are encouraged to keep them leashed near these facilities.
Because Luciano Park is made up entirely of an athletic field and playground, animals are prohibited from the entire park.File photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocalPress.
Staples Field Hockey Romps Over Danbury With 9-0 Shutout
Wreckers Varsity Field Hockey came home from Danbury on Wednesday with a dominant performance. Standout Senior Daisy Hackett found the net twice and added an assist.
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Scoring one goal each were Emilie Russell, Quinn Lopatin, Ava Pattinson, Leya Chaves, Izzie Schmeiser, Chloe Smith and Olivia Lambert.
Adding assists were Maya Fridman, Ava Pattinson, Solane Dearborn.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Fifth Straight Shut-Out For Staples Boys Soccer!
Wreckers Boys Soccer continues to dominate the FCIAC West division with their 5-0 record, leading Greenwich which is 4-0-1. In a very physical game where the Danbury Hatters fought tooth-and-nail for 80 minutes, the Wreckers held on to a 1-lead in the first half and left the pitch victorious.
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
Second year Head Coach Liam Witham has to be pleased with his team so far this season. Witham told WestportLocalPress, saying, "Another good win today as we came away with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Danbury. I thought we played well overall and created a couple of really good chances that could have made it 2-0 and given us a little more breathing room. Credit to Danbury though they played very well, made things difficult for us, and pushed us right until the end. The goal came from Adrian, who produced a really good finish after a great assist from Noah, while Zach Delman made a couple of important saves when we needed him."
Coach Witham continued, "The standout performance for me today was Ciaran Kennedy. He’s new to the varsity group, came in at outside back, and was absolutely brilliant. A big shoutout also has to go to the entire back line and the work the whole team is doing defensively. Five games, five wins, five clean sheets. We know there’s still plenty to improve on, particularly being more clinical with our chances, but we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season."
Photos By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.
To see more photos of this big win and to support Staples Sports on WestportLocalPress, contact the photographer J.C. Martin at: admanjcm@yahoo.com
