Does a dog have Buddha nature?

The tiny chihuahua who thinks he’s a Buddhist monk!

Animal of pray….

I found three different articles with the above headlines. They all are talking about a small Chihuahua by the name of Conan. He is a long-haired black and white dog who lives at a Buddhist temple in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

Conan has learnt how to offer prayers in the temple. He looks really cute standing on his hind legs and having his front paws folded in prayer position. He sits next to his master, Joei Yoshikuni, the temple’s priest.

When Conan was 5 months old, his master taught him the prayer position, bribing him with a treat. It only took a few days for the cute Chihuahua to learn the position.

Word about the praying dog quickly spread. He became known all over the world. More and more people started attending the temple. The priest is especially pleased that a lot of younger people are finding their way to the temple and learn about the particular form of Zen Buddhism offered.

“Zazen will help you to seek the true self by emptying your self-consciousness and judgmental thinking,” said Yoshikuni’s father, Jogen Yoshikuni, the chief priest.

Sitting straight and pressing your hands together is a posture to symbolize humbling yourself and meditating to see things with your mind’s eye, he said.

The chief priest said he is pleased to see Conan following the teaching - in form, at least.” (quote is from an article by Chiyomi Sumida Stars and Stripes Scene, Sunday, April 20, 2008 - you can also find some cute photos there!)

Conan most probably has his mind on his treats and not the spiritual path! Now he puts himself into the “prayer” position in front of the visitors and is richly rewarded!

Here is a link to another article with photos: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/03/24/1386137-dog-prays-at-japanese-zen-temple

I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did.

Connie,

Your Yoga Partner

from

www.yogainahurry.com