The New Monk of the Tiger-Temple
Tau sat down to have lunch with his new master, the abbot, Phra Acham Phuis (Chan) of the Temple he was now a member of. They sat on a fallen log in the fresh air. Tau was being taught the ways of the monastery by his new master and during the break for lunch, as a welcome, the abbot allowed him to eat outside. The young monk had just arrived the day before, having dreamt of wanting to join a monastery although he knew the sacrifices he had to make, such as the giving up the pleasures of everyday life. He also shaved his head and wore traditional robes like the other monks. It was the first time he was living away from his parents at the age of 19. It was his desire to live life by himself. He was perhaps the eldest person to enrol to become a monk since the normal age for doing so was normally 6 or 7. He was studying for a degree in Biology because he was passionate about animals and their way of life. His favourite animal was the tiger and he hoped to work with these big cats a...