(Translation)

Sermon by Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno

A part of the sermon to laymen at Wat Pa Ban Taad

On 1st October 2001

"….On arrival ( Bangkok ), the next morning food was brought to tigers, 2 thousand sacks of rice, 12 kilo per sack, all were given to the monastery ( Tiger Temple ), for the boars on the mountain. The monastery is next to the mountain. When it’s the time, they come down to eat.

This is the trust of animals due to Dhamma. They are wild animals but how can they become familiar with monks, think about that. About 300 boars, little one coming with their mom. They will be waiting, when monks finish their meals, food will be distributed to all of them. This time I asked in details about the rice given to animals. Than Chan (Pra Acharn Chan-the Abbot) said that they cook rice in about 6 pots, 6 big pots each day for giving out to 300 boars and hundreds of peacocks. Once having finished their eating, they behave as wild animals that they all gradually go up to the mountain except the ones that are fed in the monastery. They don't bother anyone, same as peacocks. In the morning when they are hungry they will come down.

I asked Than Chan (the abbot) about the poisoning of tiger . He told me in details. Oh! Such a sorrow and pity on the evil mind of mankind almost unbearable. How they keep on doing such worst and dishonest things. We all know the ground but don’t want to take any action just to prevent them from getting in. One tiger died. After that, we must take the full prevention. This is greed, greed to become rich, greed for self, endlessly. This passion destroys a lot of beings. The more ones get, the more ones desire like flame added on fuel…"