Buddhist Tattoos

[JimmyTheMook]

I went to see Ajarn Noo a year ago, but was turned off by the rudeness of the people there, very unexpected in Thailand. The building was filled with advertising posters and standups for the movie with Ajarn Noo's sak yant in it. They said they wouldn't touch me for less than 30,000 baht, and criticized my existing work in a less than nice manner. I bowed politely and left, glad not to take part in their money making enterprise, and glad not to have that energy inflicted on my body. I see Thai people with the five fingers from Ajarn Noo, but I think now it has become a symbol of wealth, of the ability of the person to afford the high prices he charges, rather than the animist religious symbol it started as.

Great Post , Ajarn Noo has lost all credibility amongst even the Thai people for his greed.

Many now just refer to him as Ajarn Micky Mouse.

[theplatypus7]

Does anyone know about the safety of the sak yant? More specifically, is it a sterilized process? And am I at risk of any diseases eg hepatitis B if I get a traditional sak yant tattoo?

[rgs2001uk]

^, all tattoo's carry a risk of infection, read the following.

http://www.everytattoo.com/healthrisks.shtml

[theplatypus7]

Thanks. I understand these risks. But how do you ensure the needles they are using are sterile?

[camerata]

but said that the precepts are meant to show respect and honor, rather than to be interpreted literally. Whether I walked under a clothesline or not was not as important as if I showed my body respect and honored the symbols placed upon it. I found this to be a clear and refreshing interpretation of the true spirit of the precepts, rather than a list of arbitrary rules to be followed or I would be damned, or risk retribution.

It's not a Buddhist interpretation, though, and the precepts aren't arbitrary and aren't rules. The idea of the precepts is to aid mental cultivation - in other words, to become a better person (in this life). Honoring one's body sounds more like a traditional notion. For example, the meditation master Ajahn Chah had most of his teeth (including many good ones) removed simply because having them fixed all the time was a distraction. He felt no attachment to them at all. He also didn't bother with medication for malaria and other fevers - he "took care" of them with his mind. He didn't honor his body in any way because he wasn't attached to it.

I've heard many of the monks and ajahns in Thailand say their tattoos won't work (i.e. offer protection etc) unless you keep the precepts. Since no one ever keeps the precepts perfectly, it provides the perfect excuse as to why the tattoos fail to provide the wearer protection later on. You could say that tattoos - like amulets - are a "skillful means" used by some monks to get people to keep the precepts.

[camerata]

Does anyone know about the safety of the sak yant? More specifically, is it a sterilized process? And am I at risk of any diseases eg hepatitis B if I get a traditional sak yant tattoo?

If you are living in SE Asia, it's a good idea to get vaccinated against Hep B anyway, although you can't do much about Hep C or HIV.

[megaira]

HI,everybody

I am living in Koh Tao for now. Do you know where is the closest wat that I can go and have a sak-yan tattoo? I want to have one with a scheme I have of phra mae torani. Do you think that is possible? Thnx

[megaira]

HI,everybody

I am living in Koh Tao for now. Do you know where is the closest wat that I can go and have a sak-yan tattoo? I want to have one with a scheme I have of phra mae torani. Do you think that is possible? Thnx

Doesn't anyone know? When I say the closest wat I am not talking around the island but even in the nearby provinces

[sabaijai]

I wish I could help. Temple tattoos seem more common in central, northeastern and northern Thailand than in the south. I have a hunch, though, that asking around in Nakhon Si Thammarat, you might be directed to a temple tattoo artist.

[megaira]

I wish I could help. Temple tattoos seem more common in central, northeastern and northern Thailand than in the south. I have a hunch, though, that asking around in Nakhon Si Thammarat, you might be directed to a temple tattoo artist.

Thanx a lot. I will try that. :-)

[mickjn]

[attac

hment=103286:062_1_800x600.jpg]

[sabaijai]

Ajarn Phu Ruesi Sompit?

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^

Picture 1 above.

Why is the Thai and the English not the same?

What I mean is the written English isnt a translation of the Thai written below it which reads different to whats written in English.

[sabaijai]

^^^^

Picture 1 above.

Why is the Thai and the English not the same?

What I mean is the written English isnt a translation of the Thai written below it which reads different to whats written in English.

My guess is that the Romanised syllables represent the actual sak yan runes (abbreviated syllables) while the Thai words below - Pali/Sanskrit rendered as Thai - are the katha (verses) that go with the sak yan.

[mickjn]

I do not know much about I was only the victim but I was told the words or something like that is a monks dialect

[j1122]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The nine Spikes in the middle on the nape of his neck, are called Yant Gao Yord ( Nine Spires Yanthra), Yanthra, or Yant, in Thai language, means a geometrical design with magical Powers to protect it's wearer.The Nine Spires are actually Nine Buddhas with Nine sacred "Unaloem" (the squiggly spiral that shoots straight upwards above the Buddhas head.

Hi Spencer,

mine has 11 spikes. Done by a Cambodian monk in Malaysia.

[sabaijai]

The nine Spikes in the middle on the nape of his neck, are called Yant Gao Yord ( Nine Spires Yanthra), Yanthra, or Yant, in Thai language, means a geometrical design with magical Powers to protect it's wearer.The Nine Spires are actually Nine Buddhas with Nine sacred "Unaloem" (the squiggly spiral that shoots straight upwards above the Buddhas head.

Hi Spencer,

mine has 11 spikes. Done by a Cambodian monk in Malaysia.

You also see such designs with 3, 5 and 7 peaks.

[BiteMe]

Pardon me for a noob to ask about Sak Yant tattoo after i've saw spencer website. Is there any specific tattoo for love or good luck, example Mahaa Sanaeh (love & attraction) and Chok Laap (for Luck)?

[sabaijai]

Pardon me for a noob to ask about Sak Yant tattoo after i've saw spencer website. Is there any specific tattoo for love or good luck, example Mahaa Sanaeh (love & attraction) and Chok Laap (for Luck)?

There are many designs for each. Some are unique to specific sak yan masters. Best thing is to visit a master or three and have a look at their design books.

[benster168]

Hi all

I'm going to bangkok and planning to receive a sak yant tattoo from a monk named Hlwong Pi Pant in early Feb 2010. However, there have been conflicting reports regarding about his where about. Some said that he is still at Wat Bang Phra at Nakorn pathom province while others claimed that he is now at Wat Koh poon in Ang Tong province. Can someone kindly advise me on this and the cost involved in receiving a sak yant from him? Thxs very much.

[sabaijai]

If you tried to pronounce his name using 'Hlwong Pi Pant' as a starting point, I'm quite sure no Thai would understand you. That's a very unorthodox transliteration for that monk's name -- typical Spencer

In standard translits like you would see on most street signs and documentation it would be Luang Pee or Luang Phi (Venerable Elder Brother) Pan. No /t// at the end.

I suggest you have someone call the phone numbers at each of the two monasteries. Spencer's website has the numbers.

[thailandfaq]

If you tried to pronounce his name using 'Hlwong Pi Pant' as a starting point, I'm quite sure no Thai would understand you. That's a very unorthodox transliteration for that monk's name -- typical Spencer

In standard translits like you would see on most street signs and documentation it would be Luang Pee or Luang Phi (Venerable Elder Brother) Pan. No /t// at the end.

I suggest you have someone call the phone numbers at each of the two monasteries. Spencer's website has the numbers.

there is a tablink for Luang Phee Pant on that website that has a google maps insertwith the exact location of his whereabouts

it is under a tab called "samnak sak"

just go to the main homepage url of that website, and add this to the adress

/samnak-sak-yant/hlwong-pi-pant-wat-koh-poon

scroll down the page and you will find a google map already zoomed in on maximum zoom and a flag pointing to the exact position.. you can zoom out to see where this is in relation to the highway. I am sure there is a way to even print this out and show to taxi , but don't ask me how to do this.

as to the spelling of Luang Phee Pan - i agree with Sabaijai that the spelling by Spencer is unorthodox, but looking at it in Thai (หลวง พี่ พันธ์), i must admit that Spencer's spelling is more true to the way that his name is spelled in Thai

หลวง = h+l+w+ng hlwng

พี่= p+ long i vowel

พันธ์ = p+a+n+t (silent)

hlwng pii pan(t) would perhaps be the real letter for letter transliteration is we want to be sticklers

But as all people who are fluent in Thai language know - it is in principle impossible to accurately transliterate Thai into Roman letters, as some of those letters just dont really have an accurate way to describe them

For K sounds we have k and g

they have ก ,ข ,(ข-ขวด), ค ,(ค-คน), and ฆ, (sorry my keyboard doesnt have these two letters in brackets so i used the other way to indicate them by name)

how can we indicate 6 kinds of K when we only have a g and a k?

as to the d and t sounds

ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ด ต ถ ท ธ That makes ten d and t sounds

how are we going to indicate them with our poxy 2 letters?

we can indicate a silent letter with brackets as in Pan(t)

even we have silent consonants (as in the k in the word knee)

Luang Pee is more phonetic which is probably the best for non thai readers to pronounce, as Sabaijai says.

But if we talk about transliteration, then i have to agree with the unorthodox Spencer version as being more close to home.

Edited January 28, 2010 by thailandfaq

[benster168]

If you tried to pronounce his name using 'Hlwong Pi Pant' as a starting point, I'm quite sure no Thai would understand you. That's a very unorthodox transliteration for that monk's name -- typical Spencer

In standard translits like you would see on most street signs and documentation it would be Luang Pee or Luang Phi (Venerable Elder Brother) Pan. No /t// at the end.

I suggest you have someone call the phone numbers at each of the two monasteries. Spencer's website has the numbers.

If you tried to pronounce his name using 'Hlwong Pi Pant' as a starting point, I'm quite sure no Thai would understand you. That's a very unorthodox transliteration for that monk's name -- typical Spencer

In standard translits like you would see on most street signs and documentation it would be Luang Pee or Luang Phi (Venerable Elder Brother) Pan. No /t// at the end.

I suggest you have someone call the phone numbers at each of the two monasteries. Spencer's website has the numbers.

there is a tablink for Luang Phee Pant on that website that has a google maps insertwith the exact location of his whereabouts

it is under a tab called "samnak sak"

just go to the main homepage url of that website, and add this to the adress

/samnak-sak-yant/hlwong-pi-pant-wat-koh-poon

scroll down the page and you will find a google map already zoomed in on maximum zoom and a flag pointing to the exact position.. you can zoom out to see where this is in relation to the highway. I am sure there is a way to even print this out and show to taxi , but don't ask me how to do this.

as to the spelling of Luang Phee Pan - i agree with Sabaijai that the spelling by Spencer is unorthodox, but looking at it in Thai (หลวง พี่ พันธ์), i must admit that Spencer's spelling is more true to the way that his name is spelled in Thai

หลวง = h+l+w+ng hlwng

พี่= p+ long i vowel

พันธ์ = p+a+n+t (silent)

hlwng pii pan(t) would perhaps be the real letter for letter transliteration is we want to be sticklers

But as all people who are fluent in Thai language know - it is in principle impossible to accurately transliterate Thai into Roman letters, as some of those letters just dont really have an accurate way to describe them

For K sounds we have k and g

they have ก ,ข ,(ข-ขวด), ค ,(ค-คน), and ฆ, (sorry my keyboard doesnt have these two letters in brackets so i used the other way to indicate them by name)

how can we indicate 6 kinds of K when we only have a g and a k?

as to the d and t sounds

ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ด ต ถ ท ธ That makes ten d and t sounds

how are we going to indicate them with our poxy 2 letters?

we can indicate a silent letter with brackets as in Pan(t)

even we have silent consonants (as in the k in the word knee)

Luang Pee is more phonetic which is probably the best for non thai readers to pronounce, as Sabaijai says.

But if we talk about transliteration, then i have to agree with the unorthodox Spencer version as being more close to home.

Hi thailandfaq and sabaijai

First of all, I would like to thank you guys for taking time to reply my enquiry. From your posts, I assume the proper way to address the master in thai is by refering him as luang pee pan(t)? Please correct me if I'm wrong. By the way, do you guys happen to know the proper way to address him along with his full name( if you guys know his full name) in thai? In the first place, I was under the impression( scantly info gathered at online webites that master actual name is called hlwong pi pant). Please kindly excuse me if I had shown any disrepect in any way, no offense meant.

I found that the thai way to pronounce (Luang pee pan or Luang phee pan) is pretty similar to the chinese language pronunciation of the word.( I can speak/write mandarin) and a huge difference if the words were to pronounce as Hlwong pi pant (thai-english). Will you guys be kind enough to write out his full name with title in Thai language for me( easy for the local to read when I show them).

With regards to the conflicting reports regarding about the current where about of Luang that I have gathered, I have based some of them on this site called sak-yant.com. However, the navigation on that site is not very user friendly with scantly information scattered all around. I managed to gather Wat Bang Phra address and phone number( wonder if it still a working number) but only scantly different wat koh poon address ( with some infos stated that its located at singburi province , others infos stated that its located at ang tong province, very scantly and confusing informations. I wondered which is the correct one).

As I cant read thai, I can't based my reserch on the thai language website where I believed more accurate up to date infos are. I could not find the wat koh poon number on any english site either. If it's possible to trouble you guys to help me to get the wat koh poon number? At least with both the wat number, I can get someone ( maybe from my hotel guest reception officer to call the temple) to locate the actual where about of luang phee pan and the actual address of the 2 temples.

I'll also like to apologise for any inconveniences that may have cost you guys. Please at least do allow me to buy u guys a drink/dinner if you guys are in BKK. (FYI, I will be in BKK for 4 days from 8Feb).

Ority, thanks very much for your kind assistance in advance and I await for your reply.

regards

[sabaijai]

If you tried to pronounce his name using 'Hlwong Pi Pant' as a starting point, I'm quite sure no Thai would understand you. That's a very unorthodox transliteration for that monk's name -- typical Spencer

In standard translits like you would see on most street signs and documentation it would be Luang Pee or Luang Phi (Venerable Elder Brother) Pan. No /t// at the end.

I suggest you have someone call the phone numbers at each of the two monasteries. Spencer's website has the numbers.

there is a tablink for Luang Phee Pant on that website that has a google maps insertwith the exact location of his whereabouts

it is under a tab called "samnak sak"

just go to the main homepage url of that website, and add this to the adress

/samnak-sak-yant/hlwong-pi-pant-wat-koh-poon

scroll down the page and you will find a google map already zoomed in on maximum zoom and a flag pointing to the exact position.. you can zoom out to see where this is in relation to the highway. I am sure there is a way to even print this out and show to taxi , but don't ask me how to do this.

as to the spelling of Luang Phee Pan - i agree with Sabaijai that the spelling by Spencer is unorthodox, but looking at it in Thai (หลวง พี่ พันธ์), i must admit that Spencer's spelling is more true to the way that his name is spelled in Thai

หลวง = h+l+w+ng hlwng

พี่= p+ long i vowel

พันธ์ = p+a+n+t (silent)

hlwng pii pan(t) would perhaps be the real letter for letter transliteration is we want to be sticklers

But as all people who are fluent in Thai language know - it is in principle impossible to accurately transliterate Thai into Roman letters, as some of those letters just dont really have an accurate way to describe them

For K sounds we have k and g

they have ก ,ข ,(ข-ขวด), ค ,(ค-คน), and ฆ, (sorry my keyboard doesnt have these two letters in brackets so i used the other way to indicate them by name)

how can we indicate 6 kinds of K when we only have a g and a k?

as to the d and t sounds

ฎ ฏ ฐ ฑ ฒ ด ต ถ ท ธ That makes ten d and t sounds

how are we going to indicate them with our poxy 2 letters?

we can indicate a silent letter with brackets as in Pan(t)

even we have silent consonants (as in the k in the word knee)

Luang Pee is more phonetic which is probably the best for non thai readers to pronounce, as Sabaijai says.

But if we talk about transliteration, then i have to agree with the unorthodox Spencer version as being more close to home.

I understand his rationale but it will be understood only by those who read Thai script -- in which case no transliteration is necessary. Better to follow the standard system in Thailand, RTGS (even if not followed 100%). At any rate this is a subject best addressed in the Thai Language subforum. For people who don't read Thai script, an attempt at a phonetic spelling is more useful. I was only try to help the member find the tattoo artist

[sabaijai]

Benster, which Thai language website are you referring to? It would help me write out the full name for you if I had a more complete reference.

[rgs2001uk]

Benster, which Thai language website are you referring to? It would help me write out the full name for you if I had a more complete reference.

Ok, I will give this a go.

หลวงพี่พันธ์

Luang Pee Pan Pan, or sometimes heard as Long by those who dont know the correction way to pronounce it.

Dont have the inclanation for a full Thai lesson, however briefly the first letter, is called a hor heep in the Thai language, it is not pronounced, but serves only to change the tone of the next letter, the lor ling, this will dictate the tone used to pronounce the word.

The last letter, a tor tong has a grammar mark above it, a garand, this means the letter is not pronounced, and probably indicates the name comes from a language other than Thai, Pali/Sanskrit in origin.

When addressing the monk, Long Pee is acceptable, no need to add the name.

หลวง Luang

พี่ Pee

พันธ์ Pan

From reading the website, it would appear that the monk first trained at Wat Bang Pra Temple in Nakorn Chaysri, Nakorn Pathom some 25 years ago.

The monk now appears to be resident at the following address,

อาจารย์สักยันต์

Ajarn Sak Yan

หลวงพี่พันธ์

Luang Pee Pan

วัดโคปูน

Wat Ko Phoon

ต. บ้านหมอ

Tamboon(Sub District). Ban Mor

อ.ไชโย

Amphur(District). Chai Yo

จ. อ่างทอง

Jangwat (Area). Ang Tong

อย่าลืมไปนมัสการท่านอาจารย์หลวงพี่พันธ์ ณ วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย จ.อ่างทอง – ห่างจากไชโยแค่5กิโลเมตรนะครับ

Above he is talking about some Tatto festival, อย่าลืมไป, means dont forget to go, หลวงพี่พันธ์, as prviously translated, the name of the monk, วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย จ.อ่างทอง, as translated above, the name of the temple and its location, ห่างจากไชโยแค่5กิโลเมตร, give this to a taxi driver or motorcyle taxi, it is directions in how to get to the temple from the town of Chai Yo, 5กิโลเมตร, 5 kilometeres.

Not mentiones above, I believe this temple is located in the Sing Buri province of Thailand

Copied from the website is the following,

Adress to give to Taxi

หลวงพี่พันธ์วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย อ่างทอง (อยู่ห่างจากเมืองไชโยสัก 5 กิโลเมตร แท็กซี่ถามหาวัดโคปูนที่ไชโยครับ)

The taxi driver will understand, I have already explained/translated previously.

Sorry my head is nipping now, and dont know what else benster wants.

[benster168]

Benster, which Thai language website are you referring to? It would help me write out the full name for you if I had a more complete reference.

Benster, which Thai language website are you referring to? It would help me write out the full name for you if I had a more complete reference.

Ok, I will give this a go.

หลวงพี่พันธ์

Luang Pee Pan Pan, or sometimes heard as Long by those who dont know the correction way to pronounce it.

Dont have the inclanation for a full Thai lesson, however briefly the first letter, is called a hor heep in the Thai language, it is not pronounced, but serves only to change the tone of the next letter, the lor ling, this will dictate the tone used to pronounce the word.

The last letter, a tor tong has a grammar mark above it, a garand, this means the letter is not pronounced, and probably indicates the name comes from a language other than Thai, Pali/Sanskrit in origin.

When addressing the monk, Long Pee is acceptable, no need to add the name.

หลวง Luang

พี่ Pee

พันธ์ Pan

From reading the website, it would appear that the monk first trained at Wat Bang Pra Temple in Nakorn Chaysri, Nakorn Pathom some 25 years ago.

The monk now appears to be resident at the following address,

อาจารย์สักยันต์

Ajarn Sak Yan

หลวงพี่พันธ์

Luang Pee Pan

วัดโคปูน

Wat Ko Phoon

ต. บ้านหมอ

Tamboon(Sub District). Ban Mor

อ.ไชโย

Amphur(District). Chai Yo

จ. อ่างทอง

Jangwat (Area). Ang Tong

อย่าลืมไปนมัสการท่านอาจารย์หลวงพี่พันธ์ ณ วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย จ.อ่างทอง – ห่างจากไชโยแค่5กิโลเมตรนะครับ

Above he is talking about some Tatto festival, อย่าลืมไป, means dont forget to go, หลวงพี่พันธ์, as prviously translated, the name of the monk, วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย จ.อ่างทอง, as translated above, the name of the temple and its location, ห่างจากไชโยแค่5กิโลเมตร, give this to a taxi driver or motorcyle taxi, it is directions in how to get to the temple from the town of Chai Yo, 5กิโลเมตร, 5 kilometeres.

Not mentiones above, I believe this temple is located in the Sing Buri province of Thailand

Copied from the website is the following,

Adress to give to Taxi

หลวงพี่พันธ์วัดโคปูน อ.ไชโย อ่างทอง (อยู่ห่างจากเมืองไชโยสัก 5 กิโลเมตร แท็กซี่ถามหาวัดโคปูนที่ไชโยครับ)

The taxi driver will understand, I have already explained/translated previously.

Sorry my head is nipping now, and dont know what else benster wants.

hello guys

Thank you for making time to reply me. To RGS 2001 uk, thanks for the translation, I 've a better picture now. I reckon the place that I need to travel to find him will be at wat ko poon. However on the sak-yant.com website, there is no phone number listed. I'm wondering will there be any phone number listed if anyone were to google search for the temple under thai language? Anyway, no worries, if there isn't any number that I can get hold of, I guess I'll just have to try my luck and see if there's any fate between me and the master. Once again, I 'll like to let u guys know that I'm grateful for the help that you guys 'd rendered me and I appricate what you guys have done here. Meanwhile , have a great week ahead.

Best regards

[eurasianthai]

My wife has a Buddhist tatoo on her back, a very recent and very expensive one.

But I won't show any picture yet.

Is this one a Buddhist tatoo?

[rgs2001uk]

Benster,

I tried a google search in the Thai language, try for yourself, copy and paste the following into google,

วัดโคปูน

Plenty of hits on google, but nowhere could I find a phone number listed for this temple.

Gave up after reading the first page of google hits.

I have managed to locate this temple on a google map, to get there, take the north road out of Bangkok, you want to be on the Bang Pa In road, then take the turn off for Ayuttaya, carry on on the Asia highway past Ayuttaya. Stay on highway 32 until you reach Ang Tong, stay on highway 32 and go through Chaiyarit and keep heading north drive through Chai Yo and keep heading north drive through Chaiyaphum, Wat Ko Phoon is located on the left hand side of highway 32 on the bank of the river before you reach Ban Mor.

It is only visible when you have google maps on the 1000 ft 500 m scale.

This should take about 2 hours to reach from Bangkok, allow for 2 1/2 hours depending on where you start from in Bangkok and trying to find the temple at the other end.

[benster168]

Benster,

I tried a google search in the Thai language, try for yourself, copy and paste the following into google,

วัดโคปูน

Plenty of hits on google, but nowhere could I find a phone number listed for this temple.

Gave up after reading the first page of google hits.

I have managed to locate this temple on a google map, to get there, take the north road out of Bangkok, you want to be on the Bang Pa In road, then take the turn off for Ayuttaya, carry on on the Asia highway past Ayuttaya. Stay on highway 32 until you reach Ang Tong, stay on highway 32 and go through Chaiyarit and keep heading north drive through Chai Yo and keep heading north drive through Chaiyaphum, Wat Ko Phoon is located on the left hand side of highway 32 on the bank of the river before you reach Ban Mor.

It is only visible when you have google maps on the 1000 ft 500 m scale.

This should take about 2 hours to reach from Bangkok, allow for 2 1/2 hours depending on where you start from in Bangkok and trying to find the temple at the other end.

Good day RGS2001UK

You certainly didn't have to go thru all this trouble in helping me to google for the number.... but please know how much I appreciate that you did. Once again, thank you so much for making time to reply me and sharing of the information. I guess I will be fine with that.

Cheers

B.Rgds