| Lop Buri: Tai Bueng Turn to 'Mother Egg' For Guidance | |||
| UPDATE : 2 February 2010 | |||
Eighty-six-year-old Lamoon Poonlam carefully stands an egg vertically on a tiny mound of rice grains, which sit upon a narrow, curved strip of bamboo with some string tied between one end and the other, resembling a bow (from a bow and arrow). This procedure takes place on a large, round tray made of woven bamboo, which is also filled with grains of rice. Once properly settled, Lamoon lifts the device up with one hand, using the string, which makes it resemble an egg sitting on a swing. At this point, she begins to greet mae khai ('mother egg'), which plays the role of the fortune teller in this process. A quest for answers Lamoon then asks mae khai some of the questions posed by her visitor, 62-year-old Suwannee (name changed to protect her identity), regarding a decades-long stomach problem. Lamoon asks mae khai whether or not Suwannee's problem would eventually go away. The egg remains still, which Lamoon explains to Suwannee means that the problem is likely to persist. Next up, Lamoon asks mae khai whether or not the problem could worsen and become a more serious illness. Again, the egg remains still, so Lamoon explains to Suwannee that this could be interpreted to mean that the health problem isn’t serious, but that she should still be even more careful when it comes to her diet and eating habits. During a 20-minute session, the device in Lamoon's hands responds with a 'yes' by making a movement and 'no' by remaining still. Lamoon thanks mae khai and says a form of farewell, putting the device down to indicate that Suwanee's fortune telling session has come to an end. Living in hope Lamoon has been carrying out this practice in Khok Saloong, a subdistrict of Lop Buri's Phatthana Nikhom district, since 1964. Khok Saloong's population is almost entirely composed of people from the Tai Bueng ethnic group. This practice has managed to survive since it has been passed down from one generation to the next. “Mae khai helps people to prepare their minds for future happenings,” says Lamoon. According to Lamoon, mae khai is simply an egg, which gains a form of supernatural power when used in the ritual. To conduct the ritual, the inquirer must bring along their own egg together with some rice grains, betel nuts and a small amount of money. Lamoon says that questions for mae khai can vary greatly. Some people, like Suwanee, wish to gain an insight into something relating to their health status, while others are more interested in the possible outcomes of a job application or an application for a course of study. Women may wish to check on their chances of conceiving, while other men or women may wish to check on the chance of retrieving a lost item, or even the chance of meeting a long lost friend or relative. However, mae khai will not respond to questions considered to be 'non ethical', to questions that do not relate to the inquirer's own business, or that concern things located far beyond the immediate environs. Success story According to Lamoon, one of her recent predictions led to a successful conclusion. She explained how a woman in the village who had lost her purse approached her to ask mae khai whether or not she would get it back. Apparently the egg moved forwards and backwards a few times, which Lamoon interpreted as meaning that the woman would indeed retrieve the missing purse.
Lamoon says that all the predictions pass through mae khai. It’s the personal judgment of the inquirers as to whether or not they decide to believe in the alleged supernatural powers. Some inquirers return to see Lamoon regardless of the accuracy of mae khai’s predictions, she says. Prateep Onsaloong, deputy chief executive of Khok Saloong Subdistrict Administrative Organization, says that the villagers still retain a strong belief in animism. He says the residents of Khok Saloong still pay their respects to the village’s deities and guardian spirits. Evidence of these ancestral beliefs can be seen in several old homes, where the residents maintain a shelf on the wall for the building's spirit. On a larger scale, villagers hold an annual festival, during which they pay homage to Poh Luang Phet, the village's guardian spirit. According to Prateep, while villagers are familiar with more modern ways, their beliefs in animism are deep rooted. Many younger members of the community, for example, still visit moh boon khai in a bid to predict the outcomes of work or study-related issues. “Moh boon khai helps provide people with some relief from their worries,” according to Prateep. “For us, moh boon khai can heal our minds.” He says there are four moh boon khai located in the village, all of whom are elderly women. They retain their ways according to Buddhist precepts by paying tribute to their masters, who would pass on their knowledge during future predictions. Villagers consider these elderly women to be decent and respectable people. Phuthorn Bhumadhon, a historian and retired lecturer from Lop Buri’s Thepsatri Rajabhat University, says the ritual performed by moh boon khai represents another form of psychological counseling service, which shares the same purpose as building or rebuilding people’s mental strength.
These days, Lamoon says she welcomes several visitors almost every day. She says that people who visit her always come with their worries and she always wants to ease their concerns. Lamoon says that no matter what mae khai predicts, she always ensures that she has some cheerful and encouraging words for the inquirer. “With my own words, I always encourage people to do good things or try to correct previous wrongdoings,” Lamoon says. “I believe and want them to believe that the good causes of their acts will certainly yield better results sooner or later in their lives.” | |||
Friday, February 5, 2010
Lop Buri: Tai Bueng Turn to 'Mother Egg' For Guidance
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment