I was given his ashes four days later, in a sturdy, handsome, lustrous wooden box, with bright brass hardware. He was a big boy. It was fittingly quite heavy. Despite that, it was insubstantial.
This box and its contents was all that was left of him, after over twelve years. He was reduced to a hefty sack of ashes.
He would protect our backyard from crows, rabbits, deer, bears, opossum and, of course, squirrels. But not for the last couple of years, because he could not see them, and so he didn't chase them. He could sense when they were there, and he’d strain to look, to seek them out earnestly. But he found only confusion.
I dispersed his ashes around the perimeter of our backyard, moving Widdershins1, the direction of release, giving him one last opportunity to guard the yard. As I did so, I chanted "Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō"2 and "Om, Mani Padme Hum,"3 alternating them.
Goodbye old buddy, old pal. Until we meet again.
I dispersed his ashes around the perimeter of our backyard, moving Widdershins1, the direction of release, giving him one last opportunity to guard the yard. As I did so, I chanted "Nam Myōhō Renge Kyō"2 and "Om, Mani Padme Hum,"3 alternating them.
Goodbye old buddy, old pal. Until we meet again.
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdershins
2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namu_My%C5%8Dh%C5%8D_Renge_Ky%C5%8D
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum
