Question
I am afraid I may one day find myself at odds with my profession. I am 27 and
a dog trainer. I fell into this field at 14,
probably because of my parents’ divorce, which I think also
prompted a search for spiritual development. I discovered
Buddhism and Zen a year ago, and I am coming to the conclusion that the
coercion used to get an animal to work might
hold back my spiritual growth. I would like your opinion on
training animals “that serve human beings.”
Anonymous
Answer from Master Kosen
Certainly not. Moreover, it is a wonderful profession that can teach you a great deal about yourself.
Don’t we have to train our own inner animal? And it is very useful today, when dangerous dogs are an issue and many dogs are abandoned because people do not know how to control them.
You will continue, and perhaps even advance the profession with new methods. I wish you good luck.
Kosen