By A Buddhist temple on Jindo Island in southwestern Korea has a new unlikely convert, a dog:
Hama — Korean for hippopotamus — follows monks into the temple and bows in the same manner for prayer, a temple official said. Some local Buddhists, who believe in reincarnation, are wondering what Hama may have been in a past life.
“Since about a month ago, when the monks were performing a ceremony paying respect to Buddha, they were joined by this one-year-old dog,” the official said by telephone.
Hama is one of a traditional Korean breed called chindo, which originated on the island.
Hama’s exploits have made the national news in South Korea and attracted a lot of curious onlookers to the temple, where about 30 other stray dogs live.
“The dog bows just like a monk,” said college student Park Sang-jin, who visited the temple after hearing about Hama.
