BANGKOK (Reuters) – A Thai temple cat’s bid for affection during five-hour-long New Year prayers was enough to test the patience of a Buddhist monk as he tried to maintain his chanting concentration.
Video of the saffron-robed monk gently trying to push away the cat that crawled into his lap has delighted Thais who viewed the footage on a temple follower’s Facebook page.
Respect for all living beings is a key tenet of Buddhism, practised by about 95% of Thailand’s population.
After several attempts to repel the cat – who climbed up his saffron-coloured robe, kneaded his shoulder and blocked the view to his scripture book – the monk finally gave up and started petting the furry intruder.
“I was trying to read the book. But I was more focused on the cat,” said the 25-year-monk, who uses the monastic name Luang Pi Komkrit Taechachoto.
The cat’s antics also drew a stern side-eye from a more senior monk seated adjacent to it at Wat Udomrangsi, a temple on the outskirts…
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