Meditation and Cats: A Reflection

Hello, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to be taught extra about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

I’ve lived with a number of Zen masters—all of them cats. 

Apocryphal tales about cats in delusion, faith, and historical past abound. However one factor all of them agree on: cats are masters on the artwork of zen and meditation. With a mixture of zoomies, thrown in for good measure. And take a look at at your individual detriment to disregard a cat one, as even monks aren’t proof against their allure, although they might strive… as proven on this endearing video of a cat trying to get a monk’s attention.

As a light-hearted look this week on the varied methods through which cats assist us mirror, meditate, and mirror on ourselves, let’s take a look at meditation and cats, from varied views of tradition and society.

Meditation refers to varied practices that target integrating thoughts and physique for varied functions. Meditations will be to calm, improve general well-being, or improve focus, to call a couple of functions. Each non secular and non-religious types exist.

The apply is believed to originate within the ancient Vedic times of India. Meditation encompassed one of many modalities of Ayurveda (Science of Life), which was a complete well being care information. However fashionable meditation is now embraced in lots of Western international locations, in varied types similar to true meditation, together with fashionable spins together with mindfulness, chilly water swimming, yoga retreats, and gong baths, to call a couple of.

Traditionally, earlier than it was fashionable, a lot of meditation was related to faith, or holistic practices. Quite a lot of religions embody meditation, and plenty of of those have fascinating tales about cats.

Islam is one such faith. One story, with various variations, regards the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was mentioned that his favourite cat Muezza fell asleep on the sleeve of his prayer gown. When Muhammad awoke to attend prayer, however discovered Muezza sleeping on the sleeve of his gown. He reduce off the sleeve, relatively than disturb his beloved sleeping cat. Anecdotally, even at present it’s mentioned that if you happen to like cats, you have to be a believer, in some type.

Buddhism is one other faith well-known for its conventional model of meditation. And there’s no higher place to expertise Buddhism than in Southeast Asian international locations similar to Thailand, the place cats most positively take heart stage.

In Thailand, thriller and faith abound. In lots of houses, prominently displayed within the yard, are ornate, beautiful, spirit homes. Roadside shrines are additionally fashionable, adorned with choices, typically in purple, to the deities. A favourite is purple Fanta, however different meals and drinks is not going to go amiss. Stray cats are well-tolerated and infrequently present in temples (wats) and shrines. The temple grounds are sometimes adorned with cats in varied phases of their very own feline types of meditation: sleeping, consuming, considering. Gold-gilded statues of Buddha are regularly adorned with purple drinks, garlands, candles… and cats.

Cats and Trendy Meditation

Meditation is usually a method for individuals to lower stress. The science of pet possession, whereas an evolving analysis space, has been proven in some research to perform most of the similar issues: probably lowered blood pressure and danger of heart problems, and improved mental health, amongst others. In a way, cats are their very own type of meditation, as being round them offers many of the same benefits.

If nothing else, cats are, because the quote at first of this text alludes, zen masters, they’re both consuming, sleeping, or transitioning between the 2. They aren’t consuming whereas on smartphones out at a flowery restaurant; they aren’t watching TV whereas doing homework, they usually definitely aren’t shoveling meals whereas sitting at their desk. So, what higher strategy to apply mindfulness, than to easily flip off the TV, and spend a while enjoying along with your cat. And even napping- I promise, they received’t thoughts!