About This Teaching
A practitioner who spreads loving-kindness to the animals around the house asks about sometimes sensing what the animals feel. For example, when the two dogs at home are afraid, the questioner feels that fear too and becomes uncomfortable.
Ajahn Dtun says that whether the animals receive the mettā or not is their matter. It is good simply to spread mettā every day, developing in one's own heart the wish to extend goodwill and loving-kindness to all beings and all animals. As for sensing the dogs' fear, such feelings are sometimes right and sometimes wrong and cannot be relied on, so do not pay much attention to them. If the animals are frightened and that makes you frightened or uncomfortable too, that is wrong. Just extend mettā to them, whether they receive it or not and whether you can help them or not, and have equanimity (upekkhā).