A part of the sermon

By Venerable Luangta Maha Bua Yannasampanno

given to laymen

at Wat Pa Baan Taad Forest Monastery(Udornthani)

13 th September 2006

 

“……There had been many offerings of land made to me. But I couldn’t take them because of this, to find a responsible person for the monastery, making it a useful place. After receiving, I have to find the Abbot of the monks. For example, Wat Acharn Chia Forest Monastery at Pathumthani, the land was offered. Then, Acharn Chia was invited, and he accepted so that was Wat Pa Phurithatta Forest Monastery. For Wat Pa Luangta Bua ( Tiger Temple ), ‘Than Chan (the Abbot-Pra Acharn Chan)’ was invited.

‘Than Chan (the Abbot-Pra Acharn Chan)’ is kind to animals. Animals come down from the mountain to the monastery to find food, like domestic animals. It’s like that at Wat Pa Luangta Bua ( Tiger Temple ). In the morning, hundreds of boars, peacocks come down. They are all fed. After that, they go up the mountain. They will come again in the evening. Foods are always provided for them, so they can come anytime.

Than Chan (the Abbot-Pra Acharn Chan) can get along with tigers. Now there are 9-10 tigers staying with him at Tiger Temple . He fed all animals even tigers. This is the power of compassion. That donated land is accepted by me then invited Than Chan and he accepted. So, the monastery has become a feeding place for animals. All those animals from the mountain have become domestic animals. They are not afraid due to the power of compassion.

Hundreds of boars come down in the morning. Foods are provided for them. After being fed, they go up the mountain. It is the same to peacocks. Wat Pa Luangta Bua ( Tiger Temple ) is a feeding place for animals. Than Chan (the Abbot-Pra Acharn Chan) can get along with animals. He is kind to them. There might have no praying, only busy with the animals. The monastery is full of animals, bulls, buffaloes, tigers, which, have become friends.

At first, these bulls and buffaloes would run away when seeing tigers. The tigers would chase them, jumping on their backs. It was just to play. Tigers teased buffaloes. Buffaloes were frightened to death. It was funny. They didn’t do any harm, no biting, no scratching. Now, they can live together, tigers and buffaloes. This is the power of compassion.”