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highest rank: the metaphysical knowledge; edge from the perspectives of Guénon and

and it is through the writings of René Guénon, why it is transmitted through a specific man-
a French perennial philosopher who was born ner; followed by the differentiation of tradi-
in 1886, that this paper bases its metaphysi- tional knowledge from religion and scientific

cal source. On his writings, Guénon attempted knowledge; to finally, comprehend why Thai
to show how traditional wisdom differs from practitioners of traditional arts pay respect to
rational scientific thought, and from religious those who have gone before - the Wai Khru.

thought as it is understood especially in the The philosophical analysis requires both
West. He attempted to show the dignity of primary and secondary sources. The primary

traditional thought on its own terms and show source is the first book written by René
the poverty of rational thinking that aban- Guénon, Introduction to the Study of the
dons its traditional wisdom. Hindu Doctrines, together with his Perspec-

Accordingly, using a thesis research tives on Initiation. Even though the title of
çRené Guénon on the Realization of Tradi- the book says ùHindu Doctrinesû, this book is

tional Knowledge: an Application to the Wai suitable to any traditional doctrine, as Guénon,
Khru in the Thai Tradition of Modern Timesé, in the forward, writes çthis book might just
the purpose of this study is to show the chal- as well as serve as a key to the understand-

lenges that Thai traditional medical knowl- ing of any of the traditional doctrines, or of
[2]
edge is facing since the modernization of the them allé . The secondary sources include
world; and through the perspectives of works from other philosophers and scholars

Guénon, to understand how the Wai Khru that contribute to the understanding of
rituals contribute for the preservation of Thai Guénonûs point of view, such as Frithjof
traditional medical wisdom. Because when Schuon and Philip Sherrard.

these rituals are forgotten or diminished, the Considering that this paper applies
integrity of the traditional knowledge is un- Guénonûs perspectives to the Wai Khru in

der threat. Thai tradition and the researcher is not Thai,
to complete the study, this paper is based on
Methodology
the knowledge earned from field researches,

To approach the meaning and contri- which the researcher attended Wai Khru
bution of the Wai Khru for the preservation of events in different educational fields in Thai-

the wisdom within Thai traditional medicine, land, throughout the years of 2015-2017. In-
it is first necessary to study traditional knowl- terviews with traditional doctors, teachers,