Temple dog (หมาวัด [măa wát])
"What is the Temple dog?"
Temple dogs are the dogs living in the temple. In Thailand, the temple (วัด [wat]) commonly is the place which is for the 4 types of men to living in.
1. Monk (พระ [prá])
2. Samanera (สามเณร [săam nayn])
3. Nun (ชี [chee])
4. Monk's attendant (เด็กวัด [dèk wát])
As Thai have known well, the temple is not only for a place for monk, Buddhism activity, but also is the animal sanctuary area (เขตอภัยทาน [Khet a-phaithan]); the area that is prohibited people hurt animals.
People can see several kinds of animals in the temple like cat, dog, bird, hen, fish-in the pond, in the canal or river if that temple land bordering on it.
In some temples, you could see also turtle, cow, buffalo, goose, turkey, and rarely you will see crocodile, tiger, rabbit.
What kind of animal can you see the most in the temple?
Can you find it out?
Yes, you are correct, your answer is the cat. Nope, I’m just kidding! The absolute right answer is the dog.
Where do those animals come from?
They are mostly from home’s folks who live in the same area or village of the Temple, taking them from their home and throw away in the area of the temple.
Why do they (folks) do just like that?
Because, well, I really don’t know why they do like that. I think they do it because they relies their dogs will be look after by monks well,- monks are believed by Buddhist folks, 92% of Thailand population, having benevolence, loving-kindness,…
Additionally, those dogs will have enough food and shelter while they live in the new place in peace (temple).
Do monks cook for their own meal?
No, they don’t have any cooking stove.
Why do monks have food to eat and share with animals?
Almost foods, sweets, fruits and even the eight necessities of a Buddhist monk- monk's suit, robe, sarong, extra robe,..are from folks who believe in the monks.
Local people prepare food and give to the monks and the samaneras. In every early morning, monks, samaneras and monk's attendant walk to the village ask for alms (บิณฑบาท [bì-ná-tá-bàat])
Though the Buddhist religious rules, monks and samaneras are not permitted to ask for anything, yet, the folks commonly give good food and so on to them. They believe all the great things they give (to monks) and then they will get in a return in the next life.
Monks and samaneras eat only 2 meals a day, early morning after come back from asking for alms and at noon-before midday. There will be some foodstuffs left over every day. These stuffs will be passed to animals which are living in the temple.
SHELTER:
Almost every temple in Thailand has a large land area. Therefore, in their(folks) view, the dogs and other animals will certainly have shelter to sleep and protect them against sun, wind and rain.
It’s right, the most animals which stay in the same roof of monks have food to eat and place to sleep at night. Yet, afterward, no one has never thought what else happen to their lives.
How do the dogs live to the fate? No one checks their health, that’s why you can see many temple dogs get canine leprosy. How do you ignore what you have seen this issue?!?!
No people have wondered who can give dogs birth control! It’s more than I can say and see how lots of dogs giving their new family members, when I just pass some temples and find right over there a pack of dogs lie along the fence of the monk’s house.
They deliver new birth naturally, thus, their pack are grown up and up rapidly. If you visit any temple, don’t forget to count the dogs around there. I bet you will have to see at least 3-4 dogs each and or up to a hundred in the place somewhere they (Temple dogs) are on the wrong side of heaven.
This issue is absolutely against Samuel Beckett’s quote; “They give birth astride a grave, the light gleams an instant, then it's night once more”
Written by: Michael Leng,
