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Buddhist Tiger Temple finally shut down.
Cinorjer
Veteran
Posting this as an update without much comment because we've discussed this Thailand temple in the past. To me, it sounds like something that started off as a compassionate attempt to actually help the local tiger population was hijacked as more and more money got involved and the tourists started flocking to the place. It happens, even to Buddhists.
The authorities finally got a court order allowing them access and they found out, no surprise, some of the monks really were selling tiger parts on the black market. I guess the temptation was just too great and too much money could be made. But it's closed down now.
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/06/thai-tiger-temple-monk-caught-fleeing-with-skins-and-fangs/
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Comments
Ah ha! Mara Lucifers pet hell cats will be dining on roast monk parts. They will be pleased. Yum.
Every little helps.
They are transferring them to nearby breeding centers? does that mean something different in Asian culture versus here? Because that doesn't sound much more pleasant than what they were experiencing otherwise. I hope they will have a sanctuary rather than being bred...
So sad. Glad that they are closing it down.
I was thinking of getting a pet....
Netflix had a movie about this, I think it was called The Tiger and The Monk or something like that.
I read that the tigers are being transferred to a sanctuary. The adult tigers would not survive for a day in the wild.
Such a clear presentation for everyone that no amount of shaven heads, robes or a spiritual show, ameliorates the consequences of avarice.
@silver- Yes! There was a doc about this on Netflix. It may yet be there. Wasn't long ago I saw it myself. What is shown on said Doc is really interesting and exhilarating...that being said, this whole thing is just incredibly sad to me. I mean, such gorgeous, graceful cats as these should be protected....... It's always hard to say whether the black market goods were taken from already dead or dying creatures, or whether the cats were killed for the sake of Capitalism. It's SO unconscionable... Like @Cinorjer says... Humans have these faults no matter what set of beliefs they profess to carry.
I may sound naive to say this, but I really hope this tragedy arose from a desire not to waste useful parts of a beloved animal... like making buttons from deer antlers & needles from bones... like tanning hide for clothing in a responsible way. I am definitely a pacifist, but I understand the reasonable (if done correctly) usage of natural animal products for every day products and medicines...... BUT.... forcing the sale of such items at a premium just for money's sake.... isn't that why these creatures were in the temples to begin with? To protect them??
To @RuddyDuck9 -- If it doesn't show up on the free Netflix movies, you can do a search for it. It truly was a fascinating little movie. It's there - I just did a search.
From other articles, these are temporary housings for the tigers to put them someplace safe while they arrange to ship them all over the world to zoos and other sanctuaries that will take them.
That sounds racist.
Oh, please....
Different cultures have different attitudes to the welfare, well-being and importance of animals, both domestic and wild.
The Chinese for example, have an annual festival where they catch alleged stray dogs, and cook them alive, because they believe it's ok to do so.
In the uk, this is considered a barbaric outrage.
In China not many people really care.
is it racist of the UK to campaign to have this practice outlawed?
In the book 'Empty Cloud' a wild tiger comes for dharma ... Wonderful book about a relatively modern teacher.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsu_Yun
Some Buddhist 'saints', just advanced peace generators really, do effect wildlife. Sadly these tiger abusing monks are no exemplars. Booh! Hiss!
LOL @Swaroop No, I was asking if there was a difference in the definition of the words. As in the term "breeding center" might mean something entirely different in another country compared to where I live. It had nothing to do with race whatsoever. Just linguistics.
In the town I grew up in, a Chinese take-away was prosecuted for serving up alsatian curry. I wrote a poem about it:
Greyhounds are fast
Greyhounds can hurry
Which is how they avoid
Being in Chinese Curry.
Alsations are fierce
And bark loudly too
Which is how they avoid
Being in vindaloo.