Learning Unconditional Love from Animals ~ Dr. Will Tuttle

[Carolyn Bailey]

Learning Unconditional Love from Animals

Written by Dr. Will Tuttle

About a week ago, after giving a lecture at the Loving Hut vegan restaurant in Alhambra, CA, I had the opportunity to hear a remarkable story from Annie, an effervescent woman who works part-time at the restaurant. I hope that we can learn from the example that she related to me.

Back in 1979, Annie Han Phan decided, along with thousands of other Vietnamese from the south central part of her country, to flee the chaotic and dangerous post-war conditions and make her way by boat to Hong Kong. She was able to secure a place in an overcrowded boat carrying 180 of her fellow Vietnamese. The journey was treacherous and arduous, and she often doubted if they could possibly reach their destination alive, especially since no one in the boat was good at navigation.

After several weeks, disaster struck. A powerful storm overturned their boat, and damaged it so severely that it was broken in several places. Fortunately, everyone was able to hang on to the swamped craft and survive the storm, but after many hours of being in the water their energy was drained and they were chilled to the bone. She told me that she and her fellow passengers were “waiting to die,” and that they were also praying intensely for help. Being completely alone in the vast ocean surrounding them, their chances of survival seemed bleak.

Suddenly and inexplicably, the boat started moving and then it stabilized for the first time since the storm. To their amazement, they realized that four whales now surrounded them.     

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Dr. Will Tuttle, an educator, author, pianist, and composer, presents 150 lectures, workshops, and concerts yearly throughout North America and Europe. Author of the acclaimed best-seller, The World Peace Diet, he is a recipient of the Peace Abbey’s Courage of Conscience Award, and is the co-founder of Circle of Compassion ministry. A vegan since 1980, he is a Dharma Master in the Zen tradition, and has created eight CD albums of uplifting original piano music.