Murphy...the guru in fur

On Tuesday January 12th around noon, my best friend of 14 years took his final Samadhi (final rest).  Murphy, my dog taught me kindness and patience like no other.  From the first days of his puppy hood until an hour before his death he would not stop barking or asking for treats.  It's just what he did.  I remember when we first saw him in the pet store (it was before the animal rescue days), he was the cutest thing ever and so quiet and so sweet!  No training required...until we brought him home.  There was no amount of walking, running, playing, looking at him that I could do to appease him.  It was never enough attention and I was the worst dog parent because all I ever did was hold him, carry him around, and spoil him.  He was so freaking cute!  

He was also my constant companion and saw me through the birth of my 2 kids, through 2 deployments, and countless other times of begin alone with the kids while my husband was away.  He was there by my side when I looked and felt my worst and when I looked and felt my best.  He barked me out of bad moods and sadness, and barked me into irritation and anger and then into the present moment with him.  

His barking was his way of telling me to just be here now, with him and no one else but present nonetheless.  Murphy made a name for himself all across the country.  Everywhere we lived people knew Murphy because when people came over he had to be a part of all of it by you guessed it, barking! THE ENTIRE TIME!...until he got tired.  

I will give him some credit, when he got a little older and my kids were really young he knew to be quiet from time to time while they were napping or in bed, as long as he was near me.  

Murphy also loved nature, specifically rocks in bodies of water.  There was just something about fishing for rocks that he loved.  He would dunk his entire head under water to grab the biggest rock just to come up for air and to drop it again, kick it, and find it again.  However, he could not swim and was more of a deer jumping in water type of dog if you can imagine a deer jumping in water, or maybe more of a kangaroo?  

We did rescue Ruby our Boston Terrier when Murphy was about 5 or 6 years old.  Ruby was a disaster, literally the worst rescue in a group of 300 dogs.  They told me I could give her back if need be and that she would never be able to live in the house.  They also waived the$300 adoption fee and told me she liked cheese and other dogs and sent me on my way.  So she got Murphy and cheese!  I deemed Murphy a Saint the day we brought Ruby home.  She was literally attached to him from that point on, literally would walk under him would lay on top of him or curl right up next to him by his side or under his chin and he just went with it.  He never lost his patience with her BUT if a dog could roll their eyes Murphy would have looked like he had a twitch from rolling his eyes so much at her.  

Murphy took Ruby under his wing, or hind leg, or neck and taught her how to accept love and you guessed again...how to bark, beg for treats, and be generally annoying.  Although she has been very quiet since Tuesday.  

Murphy was my son's first friend and first broken heart. He was my daughters protector. He was my constant.  My heart hurt on Tuesday when he took his Maha Samadhi.  I can't squeeze his face anymore, or hug him, or hear him bark, or cry to him, or meditate with him, or feed him toast, watermelon, and tomatoes anymore, or play with him, or anything that requires being in the body.  

At the time of Murphy's euthanization and earlier that day when he was struggling to breathe I silently sang the Gayatri Mantra, the oldest prayer in existence and a blessing as people or animals pass on.

“OM BUHR, BHUVA, SWAHA
OM TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YONAHA PRACHODAYAT”

We meditate on the glory of the Creator;
Who has created the Universe;
Who is worthy of Worship;
Who is the embodiment of Knowledge and Light;
Who is the remover of  Ignorance;
May our hearts be opened enlighten our Intellect.

When his heart was about to stop beating I closed my eyes, the light was shining brightly into the room and all I visualized was Murphy young and free again.  I felt his soul leave his body.  

I sent a silent blessing of an easy and guided passing and asked that he be greeted by loved ones.

My heart was so sad and heavy.  When I awoke on Wednesday that same feeling remained.  I decided to talk to Murphy and ask him to teach me how to heal from this.  Within a few hours I felt lighter and thought about the yogic ways in which to open our hearts to the ever present love that surrounds us both seen and unseen.  When I looked into my heart I could, in my minds eye, see him in my heart.  That is where he lives, blissful and free.  The guru with fur that symbolizes unconditional love, loyalty, patience, and kindness.