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may not be attached to the traditional rites recites the Wai Khru chants. These chants

and the importance that these rites plays on stand for auditory symbols - considered as
traditional knowledge. However, it was iden- very important for the transmission of tradi-
tified that a standard version of the tradi- tional knowledge. Similar as the ùmantrasû

tional Wai Khru, called in Thai phithi wai explained by Guénon, these chants are
khru (æ‘∏’‰À«â§√Ÿ), or ùceremonyû as Guénonûs ùvivifiedû by the presence of spiritual influ-
would define, could be a way to preserve and ences whose vehicle it is uniquely destined

safeguard the traditional aspects of the Wai to be. Those who did not know the chants,
Khru, as well as the other two points (initia- or who were not able to learn it, have the

tion and traditional teaching) that have been chance to get to know it and to pronounce
compromised since the modernization of the the words correctly. In agreement, Komson
world. But the question to be answered is states that çthe spelling of the words in the

how can this ceremony preserve the tradi- chants are very important, and in many cases
tional medical knowledge? This question is the chants are very long, which makes diffi-
[16]
answered by the following thought. cult to remember all the words correctlyé .
Even though a ceremony is considered Another important moment at the ceremony,
by Guénon a human production and artifi- is when the senior khru(s) give blessings to

cial, based on the analysis of this research, participants and anoint the three spots on
thanks to this human creation, and all its stan- the individualûs forehead. Analyzing these
dardization, some aspects of Thai traditional three spots in a metaphysical perspective,

medical knowledge could be preserved it. this might be considered as the initiation of
Some wai khru ceremonies, might be staged the student to the traditional wisdom, be-
as a kind of çeventé to satisfy the demands of cause it leads to the path of the realization of

the modern world, others might be completely traditional knowledge.
standardized, but, they all remain as a way Therefore, at the modern times, grant-

to once a year, gather teachers, practitioners ing the annual wai khru ceremony, those who
and students, to pay grateful respect to mas- were not initiated, or who had not experi-
ters and teachers of the Thai traditional medi- enced the traditional teaching, have the op-

cine wisdom. portunity to be initiated and experience the
Taking the given example of the wai relationship between teacher and student, as

khru ceremony held at the Ministry of Public well as receive the traditional transmission
Health, it was asserted that the elder teacher of knowledge. The wai khru ceremony is a