Just as She was about to start work She checked Her email only to find one from the very elegant and quite feline Vivian French. We are hoping that it does not give Her too many ideas, but are all amazed and astonished by the photographs of tigers and monks. Viv's email reads-
This is extraordinary
The tiger temple in Thailand is a place where an extraordinary bond between man and the world's biggest cats has been formed. The tigers here are so peaceful its almost as if they have accepted Buddhism as their religion. In fact, they even sit for the meditating sessions with the monks and kneel down in front of them as it they are the gurus. The tigers are so docile that the monks have to sometimes train them to fight otherwise they would lose all their power of self protection.
The link started in 1999 when a sick baby tiger, orphaned after poachers shot its mother, was brought to the monks. Within a few years several other tiger cubs similarly orphaned by poachers had arrived. The most amazing thing is none of the cubs turned out ferocious on growing up. The monks believe that these tigers are none other than the former Buddhist disciples who have taken rebirth in the same place.
The tigers live in a temple in Thailand at a place called Kanchanaburi and there are pictures of them all over the web, and videos on youtube, and you can see more photos here
This is extraordinary
The tiger temple in Thailand is a place where an extraordinary bond between man and the world's biggest cats has been formed. The tigers here are so peaceful its almost as if they have accepted Buddhism as their religion. In fact, they even sit for the meditating sessions with the monks and kneel down in front of them as it they are the gurus. The tigers are so docile that the monks have to sometimes train them to fight otherwise they would lose all their power of self protection.
The link started in 1999 when a sick baby tiger, orphaned after poachers shot its mother, was brought to the monks. Within a few years several other tiger cubs similarly orphaned by poachers had arrived. The most amazing thing is none of the cubs turned out ferocious on growing up. The monks believe that these tigers are none other than the former Buddhist disciples who have taken rebirth in the same place.
The tigers live in a temple in Thailand at a place called Kanchanaburi and there are pictures of them all over the web, and videos on youtube, and you can see more photos here
Oh, how achingly wonderful! Big, beautiful and ginger too. I wish I could be reincarnated as a buddhist monk in that temple!
ReplyDeleteFrom the small gingers to the big gingers!! They are quite beautiful, but having human ideas plonked on them is a bit much.
ReplyDeleteThey are just tigers. I am not sure I like the fact that they are kept in cages and taken for walkies. Cats need to be free to roam, not stuffed in cages.
amazing and beautiful - though animals capacity for loyalty, trust and peace does not altogether surprise, I think they are better at it than some people.
ReplyDeleteWow!!! Fantastic, Jackie. thanks for sharing this with us. Maggie xx
ReplyDeleteMonks training tigers to fight! Oh, you couldn't make it up...
ReplyDeleteI have been to the tiger temple and up close to the tigers. It wasn't until a day or so later that I fully realised I'd been so close to unrestrained wild animals. My thoughts then were 'what was I thinking' - seriously though it was an amazing experience.
ReplyDeletePeople say the tigers are semi-wild when in fact they are wild animals who are used to close human contact. My understanding is that once the temple has raised enough money to develop an island as a safe haven the close up and personal tiger experience will cease.
Pearl
Amazing! What wonderful Ginger Cats!
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteHow sad hunters are killing tigers, and intriguing that the monks are caring for some of the orphans.
I hope the tigers continue to find a safe home there.