Have you ever had an event or experience that has changed your life? 

Life passes down great experiences to all of us. Sometimes these experiences go much more than just 

memory, they go into teachings. By living through these experiences, we gain a great amount of  

wisdom.  

There are many different experiences in life that have changed a part of me as a person. But, nothing so  

profoundly changed my views and outlook on life like rescuing a pigeon. Chris. 

Last year, I found myself in Nepal during lockdown, but it was not the only unexpected  

experience that happened to me. While helping feeds the animals around the stupa I saw this     

tiny little ball of feathers in very bad shape fighting for his life after falling too soon from his nest. 

Against all odds he survived with the help, support and prayers of many friends and strangers as well.  

This rescue mission was supposed to be a short one, helping him to recover but life had other plans. Even    

though he is healthy now, he is unable to fly due to his head injury, which means that he cannot be  

released and a decision had to be made.  

Today, after a long journey of 2 planes, 1 boat, lots of documents and amazing people helping us along  

the way, we are back in France, where a new happy life for the both of us has started.  

This experience not only opened my eyes but also helped me start to understand not just with my head  

but also with my heart what the word ‘compassion’ means.  I have always thought of myself as an animal   

lover and I am. But how many times did I go around the stupa and saw those beings, those pigeons? Did I  

ever actually take the time to really look at them? Before Chris, not really. Never. 

There is a big difference between understanding something and realizing something. By helping Chris, He   

helped me realized something that I have heard and been taught over and over during many dharma  

teachings: that Loving Kindness and Compassion towards all sentient beings is really the root to benefit  

all beings equally. 

~Coralie Marie Francoise Maurel Santini (TTP student)