Buddhist Puppy Prays With Monks

The newest acolyte at a temple on an outlying South Korea island is a dog who has learned to sit, stay and perform Buddhist prayer rituals alongside the monks.

Monks at Buljang Temple on Chindo island off the south-west coast says the stray, called "Hama", now joins them at prayer.

Hama - Korean for hippopotamus - follows monks into the temple and bows in the same manner for prayer.

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.

Hama is one of a traditional Korean breed called chindo, which originated on the island.