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.
Tender-hearted,
nine-year-old
Clayton Williams
of Texas, USA
risked his own life
to save the life
of a neighbor’s kitten.
The story begins when
Clayton heard the cries
of the young cat stuck
high in a backyard tree.
And although the kitten
was precariously perched
on a limb some 35 feet
or 10 meters
above the ground,
Clayton did not hesitate
to try rescuing her.
When I saw the cat, I
climbed up a different tree
to see if I could reach her
from that tree.
But I couldn’t.
So I climbed back down
and climbed up the tree
she was in.
I got to the limb,
(but she) kept going
to the back of the limb.
I did not want
to go anywhere else.
I wanted to stay right there.
While reaching
for the kitten,
Clayton suddenly began
to lose his grip on the limb.
My left arm had slipped.
I was only holding on
with my right arm.
I kept trying to reach her.
But (I had) to reach up
and grab, because
this hand was slipping.
But before I could,
that’s when I fell.
The cat had gone to the
very end of the limb and
he was reaching for her
as she backed off the limb
and fell.
And then he turned to see
where she was at,
and his hand slipped off.
And he was trying
to grab back on.
And the other hand
ended up slipping too
and he ended up falling
backwards from the tree.
He fell feet first
on his left side.
When he hit the ground,
he fell backwards.
So, that’s how
he broke his ribs
and his shoulder blades
falling backwards.
And he apparently
didn’t hit any of the limbs
on the way down,
which was a miracle
in itself because
it could have caused
head and neck injuries.
Although severely injured,
Clayton was conscious
and heroically struggled
to get the kitten
to his house.
He picked the cat up
in his mouth
because he could only
move his right arm,
because his arm
was broken so badly.
(I couldn’t use it.)
He army-crawled
on his right side
with the cat in his mouth.
And I was like shocked
that that he had
put the cat in his mouth
to come home.
Clayton’s mother, who
was tidying up the house,
had been unaware of
the desperate situation
outside.
I really didn’t know
he was even outside
when he fell, because
I was dealing with
the household, trying
to get it cleaned up.
I had actually thought
it was the dog
at the front door whining.
When I opened the door,
Clayton was
at the bottom of the steps.
Despite
just having undergone
a highly traumatic event,
Clayton’s first concern
was still
the kitten’s well-being.
I went to stand him up
and the whole time
he was yelling, “I want
to take the cat to the vet.
I want to take the cat
to the vet.”
So I picked up the kitten
and put her
in a safe part of the yard
and told him, “Right now
the kitten is okay.
We’re going to take you
to the hospital.”
After being reassured
that the precious kitten
was safe, Clayton was
finally willing to have
his own injuries treated.
I could see that
something was wrong.
And it didn’t register
in my mind
how bad everything was.
It just was my baby
did not look like my baby.
So, I drove to the hospital
and I carried him
because by that time
he was going in and out
of consciousness.
The brave little
nine-year old then
underwent major surgery
for eight-and-a-half hours.
He came out
of the surgery,
everything was fine.
We got to his room and he
refused pain medications,
he wouldn’t take them.
After a long hospital stay,
Clayton finally
returned home.
And despite
his own condition,
Clayton’s first concern
was finding out
how the kitten was doing.
What made Clayton
so determined
to save a cat who lived
in a neighbor’s house?
Because she was a baby.
And I got to
pet her on the back steps.
She was a little nice cat.
Clayton’s father
is a Native American
or member of a people
indigenous
to the United States,
and his respect and love
for animals has deeply
influenced his family.
We think that
the animals are souls,
they have spirits.
And everybody on Earth
and everything on Earth
is tied together.
And so we treat
the animals the way
we want to be treated.
Each one of us has
a purpose and a point
to be here on Earth.
And the animals
are our friends.
They are here
to make us feel better.
Because, Lord knows,
we may come back
then maybe as a cat or a dog.
I see a house
full of animals;
you have dogs and cats
(Yes, sir.) and birds.
(Yes, sir.) Alright.
Can you talk a little bit
about your relationship
with the animals around?
What do you think about
having all these animals?
Do you like it?
It’s very fun to
play with them and stuff.
Supreme Master Ching Hai
was touched to tears
upon hearing of
Clayton’s selfless deed,
and honored him
with the Shining World
Hero Award, along with
toys for the kitten
and US$4,000
to help Clayton
in whatever way he needs.
She also conveyed her
many hugs and kisses
for Clayton, saying that
she loves him so much
and is so proud of him too.
Our local
Association members
presented the Award
and gifts to Clayton
on behalf of
Supreme Master Ching Hai.
Supreme Master Ching Hai
also sent Clayton
the following lovely letter.
Dear Clayton,
It is with much pleasure
and gratitude
that we present to you
the “Shining World
Hero Award.”
This Award is presented
in recognition of your
extraordinary courage and
fearless outlook on life,
enabling you to achieve
what others
can only dream.
Your daring feat
of rescue and
remarkable selflessness
has inspired humanity
to greater heights.
Who would have thought
a nine year-old boy
and feline could cause
so much sensation!
Yet that’s exactly what
you have done, Clayton.
When you heard
piteous meows coming
from a kitten in a tree,
crying for a knight
to save her,
you did not hesitate
to climb up to comfort
the distressed feline.
Once on the limb however,
you and the kitten
fell to the ground.
Although you had broken
more than a dozen bones,
you were still
focused solely
on saving the little cat,
who you noticed
was not moving.
With great
nurturing concern, holding
the kitten in your mouth,
you army-crawled
some 35 feet to the house
and told your mom
you wanted to
take the kitten to the vet.
Realizing the severity
of your injuries,
mom immediately
took you to the hospital.
There it was discovered
that not only had
you broken your arm,
but also 16 other bones on
the left side of your body.
Even after surgery, you
refused pain medication,
and thankfully
are now at home,
recovering with kitty.
Clayton, we are touched
by your selfless actions
and devotion
to the tiny feline, and
amazed how your love
for another being
could take you
beyond the limitations
of the human body.
May you soon be restored
to vibrant good health
through your love for all
of God’s creations.
For your
outstanding bravery
and act of sacrifice,
for your exemplary
display of love in action,
and for being a dedicated
and compassionate
role model, we hereby
applaud and celebrate
the heroic deeds of
brave-hearted Superboy.
You’ve got a new name.
Superboy!
This is Clayton Williams,
right over here.
Let’s give him a hand!
He was telling his teacher,
and his teacher came up
to me and she goes,
“I heard Clayton’s getting
a superhero award.”
I was like, “No!
No, no, no, no.
It’s an award for
what he did this summer.”
She’s like,
“That’s a superhero to me.”
So Clayton, we’d like
to give you this check
for US$4,000.
Thank you.
Among the other gifts
the “Superboy” received
was a beautiful, crystal
Shining World Hero
plaque,
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
#1 international
bestsellers,
“The Birds In My Life,”
“The Dogs In My Life”
and the “Noble Wilds,”
a special t-shirt
with the word “HERO”
emblazoned on the front,
and some of
Supreme Master Ching Hai’s
DVDs and CDs.
And we also
have some books here.
(Look at that one.)
This one is
“The Noble Wilds.”
Oh, how pretty, look.
All the ducks. I’ll hold this.
And here’s the Award.
Thank you.
(There you go).
How does
Clayton’s mother feel
about her son’s
extraordinary courage in
rescuing the little kitten?
I am
very, very proud of him.
Not many people
would save a stray cat
and especially
go to those lengths.
And my son is
the most special little boy
I’ve ever met.
And I am very, very lucky
to be his mom.
Is there anything
you want to say
to Master Ching Hai?
I am grateful.
I am so thankful
for all the wonderful gifts
she has shown my son.
And all the wonderful
things that she has given
my child and my family.
And for somebody else
to tell me
they are proud of my son
for what my son did,
it makes me
very, very grateful.
I am very grateful
that she actually showed
the thoughtfulness
that she showed.
I am glad
somebody else realizes
what a special child I have.
Thank you.
Clayton Williams,
we sincerely thank you
for providing the world
with a wonderful example
of altruism
in risking your own life
to safeguard
a helpless kitten.
May you swiftly regain
full, vibrant health and
continue to be a noble
protector of animals.
Marvelous viewers,
thank you
for your company
on today’s program.
Enlightening Entertainment
is up next after
Noteworthy News.
May courage and wisdom
always guide our lives.