On June 4, Golden Year 3 (2006), initiates from Bangkok Center went to see Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yannasampanno Forest Monastery (Tiger Temple) in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. In this temple, there are various wild animals including tigers which are known to be fierce but can coexist with people without hurting them. The tigers live within the temple area but within this area is a forest. They are not caged and are free to live close to nature. The monks in the temple and some local volunteers take care of the tigers.

The tigers of that temple have been there since just after they were born. Their parents were killed by animal hunters and luckily the local villagers found them. They went from place to place to find a home for them, but no one dared to take in the little tigers. Finally when they came to this forest monastery, the Abbot Pra Archarn Phusit (Chan) welcomed the little orphans out of compassion and saved them from certain death. There are 18 boy scouts under the Abbots loving care and these boys care for and feed the tigers instant foods and milk as they do not hunt for themselves.

Everyday there are a lot of foreign tourists who come to touch and have their photo taken with the tigers. The tigers have a lovely manner and will not harm the tourists. The temple Abbot now has a “New Home for the Tigers” project. It is for 30 farm areas, to give the tigers more free open natural space, so they are not so confined. Here the animals will be trained to take care of themselves but will be protected from animal hunters. We asked the Abbot and the monks who take care of the tigers how they can stay with these wild animals without being hurt. They said that they stay with “love and kindness.” From this we came to realize that even fierce animals can acknowledge and be touched by true love.

For more information please visit at:http://www.tigertemple.org

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