Last night, when I was about mid way through my sit, Mumbles the cat came to join me.

That's an unusual fact in itself, since I sit on the 3rd floor of the house and she rarely ventures further from the comforts of the 1st floor--plus, she's a very big girl, and that's a lot of exercise.  

So I considered her visit a rare treat.

She looked at me, meowed, and wandered around the room, finally climbing onto the couch where I sat.  She climbed to the back of the couch and I could feel her settling in directly behind my head.

She nestled her nose into my hair and snuffled a bit, and where she touched me, I felt a little flower burst into bloom! 

Opening, opening, opening.

The sun, the rain, the earth!

My scalp tingled.

She pulled her nose away and settled in further.

I could hear her breathing, and then I just felt her there behind me, a beautiful Bodhisattva lending me her support and Loving Kindness.

Every breath a Metta chant!

When I finished my sit, I looked at her and bowed.  I offered her the Nembusu, and she offered me a Silent Meow.

She jumped down off the couch, regarding me as I blew out the candle and removed my mala.

I thought she looked like a little Buddhist Priest in her black robes, with a white Rakusu, and little white stockings, stylish.

Laughing, I went back to the evening.  She followed me.

Namu Amida Butsu!