Thai Temple Dogs Join Monk on His Daily Alms Collection

TaiwanPlus News

A Buddhist monk in Thailand’s Pathum Thani province has gone viral for his daily alms collection route along the Chao Phraya River, accompanied by a pack of loyal temple dogs. What started with one abandoned dog at Wat Chin Wararam has grown into a group of more than 20, with about a dozen joining the monk’s morning boat ride each day.  The centuries-old Theravada Buddhist tradition of giving alms allows worshippers to gain merit by offering food to monks. Locals say the orderly and affectionate dogs have brought joy and comfort to the ritual, especially during stressful global times. The monk says the dogs even know how to swim after a few playful tumbles into the river.

Transcript

00:01A Buddhist monk cruises down Thailand's Chagpraya River on a long-tailed boat.

00:06His daily alms collection, an otherwise common sight in rural Thailand,

00:10if not for the crew of canines in tow.

00:17What began as a single abandoned temple dog is now a beloved spectacle in Patum Thani.

00:24It started because people abandoned dogs here.

00:27Originally, there was only one.

00:29Then they bred, and people kept dropping off more, so we just kept taking care of them.

00:34Now they follow me everywhere because we normally sleep in the same room,

00:37and when I get up in the morning to go on the alms round, they bark and follow along.

00:41So they've been following me ever since.

00:44The giving of alms has been practiced since the Sukho Thai period,

00:48around 700 years ago in what is now Thailand.

00:52The daily practice allows lay people to gain merit by offering alms,

00:56often prepared food to monks, who, under Theravada Buddhist tradition,

01:01do not handle money or cook for themselves.

01:05The first time I came to make offerings, I saw Luampur leading the dogs onto the boat.

01:10Oh wow, they walked in a line. It was so adorable.

01:15After I made my offering, I was waiting to give the offering dedicated to the monks.

01:19And Luampur came back around again.

01:22Then the dogs jumped back onto the boat in such an orderly and cute way.

01:26It just felt good. It really healed my heart.

01:32Local worshippers say Vodagos have added meaning to their daily act of making offerings.

01:39Right now, there are so many stressful things.

01:42The economy, wars, the global situation.

01:45But just waking up and coming to see Luampur and the dogs boarding the boat with him,

01:50it lifts my heart.

01:52It gives me the strength to get through all the difficulties.

01:54The strength to work and get through each day.

02:00The abbot and his dogs are making waves beyond the Chao Praia,

02:03going viral with many on social media asking,

02:06what happens if one falls overboard?

02:09There have been a couple of times they were playing and fell into the water.

02:13They were just playing around and teasing one another, but they can swim.

02:17About a dozen of Abbot Chamnan's 20 or so temple dogs join his morning alms row,

02:22helping to keep ancient traditions alive and bringing moments of pause to worshippers along the way.

02:29Leon Lian and Bryn Thomas for Taiwan Plus.

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