Ants Testing Nonviolence Of Buddhist Monks

Buddhist monks, who are bound by faith to nonviolence, are grappling with how to rid a temple of a severe ant infestation without killing the insects.

Stinging red ants have plagued the Malaysian temple in for over a year, causing one worshipper to be bitten so badly last month that he had to receive hospital treatment.

A temple disciple tried using a vacuum cleaner to gather up the ants before freeing them in a nearby forest, but the method failed to purge the insects.

"We haven't found a solution so far", a temple volunteer said. "Nothing has worked".

The temple's chief monk, Boon Keng, was quoted by a local newspaper saying that the monks had to "respect other living things" in the temple.

"When an ant drops on you, you must not flick it away or blow on it", he said. "If you do, it will bite to hold on. You just have to shake it off".

The temple has also had to put up a sign that reads: "Beware poisonous ants. Do not sit under the tree".

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