Sumudu Mahatheri – aka ‘Cat’ (or ‘Catty’) is/was a 22-year-old black feline, who passed away on 18th Jan 2024. She was a loving and loved member of our little community at Viveka Hermitage.
She first entered Jayasara’s orbit at Dhammasara nuns’ monastery, Western Australia, in early 2003 when she was unceremoniously ‘dumped’ in the bush and made her way to the monastery. She was adopted by the nuns’ community and proceeded to live a life devoted to deep samadhi and relaxation. She was first named ‘Ebony’, but was later given the Pali name ‘Sumudu’, meaning ‘very soft, gentle, flexible’.
Following a bad ear infection and a botched veterinary procedure, Sumudu was rendered totally deaf. She coped well with this karmic unfolding though, and continued to live a life of relaxation and ease in various monastic settings. After moving to Viveka Hermitage she was given the name ‘Cat’ by Jayasāra and Jitindriyā as it became clear that her identification with labels and names was lessening. Though her big heart of purring love and contented presence grew ever-more deep.