STRAY DOGS IN TIBET, INDIA AND NEPAL (PDF-1897)

Something that you might not see unless you choose to see or want to see is the massive amount of stray and unwanted dogs in third-world countries, especially around monasteries. People know that the Buddhist monks would never harm an animal and probably would try to feed them if they could. I have told this story somewhere before: In the very early morning, around dawn, at Samye Monastery in Tibet (said to be the first monastery in Tibet), there was a dog experience to be had. Samye is only accessible by climbing mountains or taking a 1.5 mile boat trip across the Tsangpo River. We had done that and were staying in the tiny village surrounding Samye. We had to bring out own cook as there was nowhere to eat, although “having your own cook” sounds a lot fancier that it was, but that is another story.