Thailand is one of the most devoutly Buddhist countries in the world.Their national religion is Theravada Buddhism which is practised by more than 95% of all Thais.
Theravada means literally ‘the Teaching of the Elders’ or ‘the Ancient Teaching’ and is the oldest surviving Buddhist school.
Today Theravada Buddhists number over 100 million worldwide. Buddhism does not accept animals were created by someone for humans; if we animals were created for humans then it could follow that humans were also created for animals since there are some animals which eat human flesh.
Buddhists are encouraged to love all living beings and not to restrict their love only to human beings. They aim to practice loving kindness towards every living being. The Buddha's advice is that is not right for us to take away the life of any living being since every living being has a right to exist.
Us animals also experience fear and pain. It is wrong to take away our lives. You should not misuse your intelligence and strength to destroy animals even though we may sometimes be a nuisanc. Animals need your compassion and understanding. Every living being is contributing something to maintain this world. It is unfair for you to deprive them of their living rights.
TaTa used to have a Birman cat called Crumble. A long time ago high in the mountains in one temple there lived Buddhist monks who worshipped Tsun-Kuankse a goddess with sapphire-coloured eyes.
They believed souls settled in other essences and then were sent back to the temple in the form of a white cat with golden eyes. Monks looked after them with tenderness, esteemed and protected them. In a temple there was a gold statue of the goddess to which monks worshipped.
Once the temple was attacked by robbers who wanted to steal a statue of the goddess. The shock caused the oldest monk to die. Suddenly Moon’s favourite cat jumped onto Moon’s chest and the cat’s fur began to change colour and his eyes turn blue.
His paws remained snow-white as a token of cleanliness, sanctity and innocence of soul of the monk. After seven days and lamenting the death of Moon, Sihn the cat died and took the soul of Moon to paradise.
From that time if the cat in monastery Lao-Tsun dies, it means that the soul of the monk released forever and has found the place in heaven. But if anyone kills such a cat or is cruel to it they will never be released into paradise.
