I attended a Buddhist Lent ceremony at a very old, important Wat in Lamphun Province years ago. My father-in-law was still alive, but very old and in poor health. With great effort, he came to the ceremony. He was an important person in the community and a benefactor of the Wat. His attendance gave the ceremony added importance.

There was a phalanx of monks in attendance along with many people from the community. The Wat was adorned with flowers everywhere. An important occassion to be sure. As everyone kneeled and chanted, I notice an old dog wander into the Wat. This old dog was so mangy you could all but hear the fleas buzzing around him from 100 yards away. The old dog casually walked by the phalanx of chanting monks, past the worshippers (some of them quite important community members) and plopped down right in front of the alter! I waited for someone to shoo the dog out.

But no one gave the old dog the slightest attention. After all, as I found out later, the dog had as much right to be there as anyone else.

No, dogs don’t find heaven. But they are way ahead of us in finding Nirvana.