Question for Cat Lovers: Is Vanity a Path to Enlightenment?
Throughout history, people have both worshipped and hated cats. It appears that cats can cause powerful positive emotions as well as negative ones.
This being said, while surfing the internet the other day, I was rather excited to run across a blog on the Internet titled, "The Progressive Egyptian" devoted to the celebration of modern life and preparation for the cats' inevitable return to power.
It seems I am not alone in my worship of the cat.
In fact, I consider myself one who venerates and adore the feline species. I am drawn to cats not only for their beauty and grace, but because they are so darned honest. Cats always tell us "like it is", and I have yet to meet a "two faced" kitty. In fact, I think of cats as spiritual beings who have a great deal to teach us about unconditional love, gentleness and peaceful coexistence.
My husband and I are blessed to share our home and heart with Hush Puppy, a nine year old lilac point Oriental Shorthair who is extremely intelligent who teaches us how to live in moment. The only thing that bothers him are sudden, unexpected loud noises, which sends him flying through the house in an eye blink moving in a mauve colored blur. But after a few moments of self-composure, he comes back to join us, curling up, purring his heart out.
In fact, since most of the time he so very emotionally well- balanced, we consider him to be a feline bodhisattva; one whose essence is enlightenment. This is a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others. The bodhisattva is a being worshipped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism.
Hush Puppy Admiring Himself
However, Hush Puppy while a truly enlightened kitty has one major flaw; he is vain. We are not sure why he seems to get so much pleasure from sitting in front of our bedroom mirror, sometimes for several minutes appearing to admire himself. My husband refers to it as "voguing", but I am not so sure that this is what he is really doing. I suspect that his apparent self-adoration may be vanity, but purrhaps this behavior has a deeper meaning. It is indeed a mystery to me.
When he catches us watching him, he immediately turns away from the mirror and walks away. At first I thought this was a coincidence, but after observing his behavior several times, I had to believe that he was embarrassed and became very shy. Of course we enjoy the degree of his apparent self love, and make no judgment. But it may be that he is giving us the opportunity to learn about acceptance and compassion, or he is mirroring his love back to us.
What do you think? Do cats actually do see their reflection in mirrors? Leave a comment with your ideas and experiences.
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Comments (6)
Vicki April 16, 2009 1:53 PM
Too cute. I believe that most all animals, given the chance love to look at their reflections. I am not sure they know that it is themselves or they are looking at or another animal. There is a Clydesdale horse just down the road from us adopted from Budweiser. They have a large pond in their pasture. The owner told me that when they first got him he saw his reflection in the pond and jumped three feet in the air. They said it was just too funny. So I really think that most animals are surprised to see something of their own likeness in a mirror, or some sort of reflective device.
Amy April 16, 2009 2:50 PM
I don't have mirrors within reach of the critters in my house. But I imagine that if I did they would be fascinated by the reflection they might see. I do know that in the past when I did have a mirror low enough it most likely was a shocked reaction, like who is invading my territory. After that they couldn't be bothered any more. But they enjoy chasing their shadow when the sun shines in the house.
Cheryl G April 16, 2009 4:22 PM
Koko just told me, as he was looking into the mirror at himself, that he can in fact see his beautiful image. What a shame it would be if they couldn't. :>)
Donna April 16, 2009 5:17 PM
When they're kittens you know they think their reflecttion in the mirror is different kitten as they scamper in back of the mirror to find him.
As they get older, or as they see their reflection AS WELL AS OURS in the mirror at the same time, they, I think eventually figure out the mirror idea.
I've caught Mouse looking at himself quite often...while a mixed breed he has a tremendous amount of oriental in him...he's long, lanky, spunky, with those huge ears, very high prounounced cheekbones and huge eyes.
Being on vacation this week, it suddenly dawned on me that any time I sat down ANYWHERE, there he was, right on top of me. Ditto at hight. If I roll over, he just waits until I settle down again, then get back on top of me to sleep. He's becoming a LITTLE agressive with the other cats though...so I'm watching him. He's a smart little booger...you yell MOUSE! NO! and he stops in his tracks.
Cats...gotta love 'em!
Iniki April 16, 2009 7:34 PM
Oh how I wish all cats were like this. Of all the cats I have lived with and loved all fit this description save one. Dweezle Joe Bob Bubba is by far the meanest most nasty cat I have ever met. He was a rescue that was born here in our home. He had one other sibling who was lovable and sweet. She found a forever home. Dweezle, however, is a terrible cat. He will sweetly beg for attention but beware. He will bite to the bone if you pet him more than one or two times. He is a bully and just plain down right mean. We all love him even though he is so unlovable. He does however stare at his reflection. As a kitten he would try to beat up the kitten in the mirror. Now I honestly think he knows that the image is him and he preens in front of the bathroom mirror. Many of other cats will sit and stare at their selves too. One cat will sit and stare at his image in a low hanging picture frame. He sees his reflection in the glass.
Hush Puppy is just exploring his inner chi. What a handsome young man he is too.
Ruth from England April 17, 2009 12:04 PM
I must have been an Egyptian in a past life as I have worshipped cats for the whole of this life.I'd gladly have shaved my eyebrows off in mourning for the loss of the beautiful cats I have had in my life who are with me no more .The 2 we have now, are my sun moon and stars !
One of our boyz,Jozef, always looks behind the mirror when he sees his reflection,but Walter takes no notice of his own reflection at all. Strange, wonderful,intruiging creatures !! I just love all cats to bits !!!
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