Everywhere in the world, we can observe and be touched by acts of kindness. People from all walks of life, faiths, and cultures extend themselves beyond the call of duty to help others unconditionally. Through their noble deeds, humanity as a whole is elevated.

To commend virtuous actions and encourage more people to be inspired by their examples, Supreme Master Ching Hai has lovingly created a series of awards, including the Shining World Leadership Award, Shining World Compassion Award, Shining World Hero and Heroine Awards, Shining World Honesty Award, Shining World Protection Award, Shining World Intelligence Award, and Shining World Inventor Award, to recognize some of the most exemplary, generous, caring, and courageous people who walk amongst us.

In the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, also known as the Old Testament of the Holy Bible, a prophesy describes a future era when animals such as the wolf and leopard would hunt no longer. The lion, for example, would eat straw like the bullock. Should all humans cease to take the lives of animals for food as well, would this affect other species’ behavior? In a videoconference with our Association members in Seoul, South Korea, Supreme Master Ching Hai graciously answered this question.

It was like that in the long distant past. Now, if all the human beings become vegetarian, then the whole atmosphere of the Earth will change. The magnetic field will change. The destiny of all inhabitants will change for the better. And the animals will also stop eating meat. And truly the lambs will lay at the side of the lions as it is mentioned in the Bible, if all people turn to vegetarianism.

Remember Yogananda’s book, “The Autobiography of a Yogi?” He recounted the lion that didn’t eat meat at all. She even refused meat when somebody offered it to her, because she stayed with her master who was a yogi and who was a vegetarian. So, if more people are vegetarian, the atmosphere will change into a higher level of compassion and love, then the animals will also be affected and they will change their nature. That day might come soon.

Our program today features Jazzy, a caring Rottweiler in Canada who adopted three orphaned kittens and received the Shining World Compassion Award from Supreme Master Ching Hai. In recent years, more and more accounts of extraordinary relationships between animals of different species have appeared in newspapers, magazines, TV as well as on the Internet.

Inspired by Jazzy, we first highlight a few brief stories that epitomize true love between different, but equally noble animals. The loving ties between the gentle beings are true examples of friendship, harmony and goodwill.

Baby elephant Themba was deeply saddened when he lost his mother. The veterinarians of the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, Themba’s home in southwestern South Africa, became very worried as there was no one to feed or take care of him, so they moved him to the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa’s Eastern Cape region. There Themba met someone who would soon become his fast friend for life, Albert the sheep!

The two now constantly explore their home at the center for hours on end. Dr Johan Joubert, the Center’s wildlife director says, “'Albert copies everything Themba does. In fact, they have almost the exact same diet. Albert is the first sheep I have ever seen eat a thorny acacia bush.” What a terrific pair!

At Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, Florida, USA three year old Bea the Giraffe and ten year old Wilma the Ostrich, are turning heads as their long necks intertwine in loving caresses. The pair found each other on the sanctuary’s 26 hectare “Serengeti Plain,” which is filled with African wildlife including zebras, rhinos, elephants and birds.

Bea loves licking and kissing Wilma who apparently enjoys every second of the attention. According to park rangers, the pair very much enjoy spending time with each other, leaving us to assume that it can only be love that has brought them together so. Jason Green the park’s assistant curator said: “Giraffes and ostriches are both naturally curious animals, too, and they don't shy away from checking each other out.”

Our next story is about a deer and cat in Oregon, USA, who have become good friends and neighbors. They appear to be beautifully at peace and content together, totally trusting and caring for one another. Another special relationship is one between a very cute kitten and a vibrant, multicolored parakeet. It is truly heartwarming to see a cat and bird so happy together. Truly all beings are the expression of love!

In Caney, Kansas, USA the owners of a nature reserve, Tom and Allie Harvey, have had the wonderful opportunity to witness firsthand a beautiful interspecies relationship blossom between three Bengal tiger cubs and their canine companion Isabella the Golden Retriever. The Harveys adopted Nasira Anjika, and Sidani, shortly after their birth, as they could not remain with their mother. Almost immediately, Isabella took on the role of surrogate mother and nursed and licked them as though they were her own children.

Speaking of Isabella’s maternal instincts, Mr. Harvey says: “She’s actually just been a miracle.” While growing up, the cubs enjoyed chewing on toys and exchanging playful bites while pouncing and wrestling with each other as well as with Isabella. Despite their love to continuously explore the world around them, they also enjoyed cuddling and could fall asleep anywhere including on top of Isabella! These lovely stories are just a glimpse of the magnificent loving nature of Heaven’s wondrous creations.

After these messages, we’ll soon return and learn about the selfless, softhearted Jazzy, the canine recipient of the Shining World Compassion Award. Please stay tuned to Supreme Master Television.

Welcome back to the Shining World Compassion Award series on Supreme Master Television. We now celebrate the motherly love of Jazzy, a young Rottweiler, for three kittens. On the evening of July 3, 2009, Ashley Hood of Hants County, Nova Scotia, Canada made a discovery in a barn near her home.

I found three abandoned kittens in an old barn. I took the kittens and brought them home. And I had been syringe feeding them with just the recipe that the veterinarian gave me to kind of duplicate the mother's milk.

Jazzy, a 10-month old Rottweiler and canine companion of the Hoods, decided she would be the one to raise the kitties.

Jazzy took them and was really protective over them and my husband came down the stairs one day and she was standing guard over these kittens and all of a sudden they were hers. So she laid there and let them nuzzle into her and nuzzle her into her belly and all of a sudden they started trying to nurse off her.

So we just let it happen. I thought it was kind of cute and Jazzy liked it. She’d let them nurse off her and licked them and wash them and everything.

Ashley Hood was amazed by Jazzy’s act of kindness, but she never thought Jazzy could really nurse the kittens until a few days later, when they stopped taking feedings from her. It turned out Jazzy was producing milk and nourishing the young felines! In utter surprise and awe, Ashley called the vet and told them about the miraculous event.

She wasn't pregnant and she was only 10 months old. So she had never had a litter of puppies or anything like that. So I didn't know whether there was something wrong. So I called them and they just kind of laughed about it and said, "No, it's fine, it's unusual but it's fine and if she wants to be their mom, then go ahead and let her".

She was so protective over them all the time. If one would walk away from her, she would go over to it and lick it and clean it up and everything. So she really was their mom.

They grew and in the few days or about a week that she was feeding them, they grew and they got more active.

Shortly after completing her life’s noble mission of nurturing the three vulnerable kittens, Jazzy passed away due to an illness. Touched by Jazzy’s unconditional motherly love and altruistic spirit, she was awarded the Shining World Compassion Award posthumously by Supreme Master Ching Hai along with 1000 Canadian dollars.

On behalf of Supreme Master Ching Hai, our Canadian Association members presented the splendid crystal Award plaque to Ashley Hood which reads: In Honor and Loving Memory of Beloved Jazzy In Recognition of Pure-hearted Boundless Love, Gentle Kindness and Nurturing Maternal Instincts Compassionately Nursing Another Species as Your Own With Compliments and Gratitude for Your Perfect Example of the Divine Power And Intelligence of Animals

The following is an excerpt from a heartfelt letter Supreme Master Ching Hai sent to Ms. Hood, which accompanied the Award:

Dear Ms. Hood, It was with much sadness that I heard about the passing away of your beloved family companion, Jazzy, the Rottweiler. In her honour, we would like to present to her the "Shining World Compassion Award." This Award is presented in recognition of her outstanding love, self-sacrifice and humility as she demonstrated to our world how gentle pure love conquers all obstacles when she unconditionally and selflessly rendered her maternal nurturing ability to attend to the needs of another species...

Her short stay had served its purpose, inspiring humankind with her heavenly boundless love so pure and filled with such greatness that it has left us all with a perfect example of the Divine power and intelligence of animals. We are deeply moved and touched by her benevolence. On behalf of our entire Association and all our members, please convey our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathy to all your family.

May God bless and provide you with the strength to overcome your loss of Big Mama Jazzy the "soft" Rottweiler who has made a difference by changing the world's perception of the human-like love animals possess. With Great Honor, Love and Blessings, The Supreme Master Ching Hai

Finally, Ms. Hood was given a number of Supreme Master Ching Hai’s DVDs and books including the international #1 bestselling books, “The Birds in My Life,” “The Dogs in My Life,” and “The Noble Wilds.”

Thank you Supreme Master Ching Hai for all of your wonderful gifts. Jazzy's memory is really honored and it was really nice of you. Thank you very much.

We once again salute Jazzy the Rottweiler for her exemplary motherhood and devotion to others during her lifetime. She was a true model of selflessness and caring and will always be remembered.

Graceful viewers, thank you for joining us today for this edition of the Shining World Compassion Award series. Coming up next is Enlightening Entertainment after Noteworthy News. May Divine beauty always surround all beings on our planet.