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ritual and symbolic act of initiation consti- hicle of spiritual influences, as well as means

tutes a ùsecond birthû for the man who is to of teaching. They serve as support to achieve
receive the teaching through a regular realization of traditional knowledge. Through
[2]
transmissioné . It shall be explained that the performance of rites and the use of symbols,
term ùspiritual fatherhoodû used by Guénon, the individual is able to maintain the link to
stands for ùancestorû, ç ùspiritual fatherhoodû the chain, which was made on the day of his
which is the name given to a teacher by the initiation.

Hindus and which also bears the secondary The combination of these three points
[2]
meaning of ùancestorû ç . composes the most accurate transmission of
(2) Traditional teaching: it is the rela- traditional knowledge, which guarantees the
tionship between teacher and student, where perpetuation of a knowledge that cannot be
the transmission of knowledge is accom- structured in a standard and scientific way,

plished orally. Oral transmission does not only because this knowledge of metaphysical or-
apply ùvocalû transmission, it implies things der is indefinable.

from day-by-day, things that are not found in Since traditional knowledge was dis-
books or scriptures, based on the experience cussed, the study may move to the analysis
of the teacher. Books or scriptures are con- of Thai traditional medicine wisdom, in which

sidered limited knowledge, because they are the Wai Khru participates considerably to the
records of the knowledge that used to be transmission and dissemination of the Thai
transmitted orally. Therefore, oral transmis- wisdom.

sion guarantees the perpetuation of a knowl-
4. Thai Traditional medicine as
edge not structure by modern science. The
metaphysical
relationship between master and pupil is very
important for those who learn traditional At this stage the reader has already a
knowledge; not only by the fact that the clear understanding on tradition of a meta-

teacher instructs the student on the tradi- physical order, and how the traditional knowl-
tional knowledge, but also because the rela- edge should be transmitted in order to main-
tionship is spiritual, similar as parent and tain its accuracy. Through the next analyses,

child, and teacher is considered as a ùsecond and applying the viewpoint of Guénon to the
father/motherû. Thai traditional medical knowledge, the study

(3) Performance of rites and the use of will show that this traditional knowledge is
symbols: rites and symbols are used as ve- metaphysical, because ùtheoryû and ùpracticeû