A. Can you yourself go to Heaven? If you know clearly whether or not you will go to heaven, the answer to your question will work itself out. What you should be committed to at this moment is realising what Heaven is, that is, what it is like and where it is. This is because Heaven belongs to those who can recognise it. The Sutras say that if you attain enlightenment, the whole universe attains enlightenment along with you. In other words, when you can go to Heaven, all other things can also enter Heaven along with you. If you do hope animals go to Heaven, you yourself, first of all, should go to Heaven.
Student: “Are you in Heaven now?”
Master: “Why don’t you know where I am while you are with me now?”
Student: “I still don’t know where you are.”
Master: “If you don’t know where I am, it means that you are not where I am.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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