Thread: A True Master

That's definitely true - we could all only hope to live fulfilling lives, and we could all use a lesson from a guy like that...

However, there is a certain inner peace you can get from running yourself to exhaustion, then throwing strikes at the bags and thai pads, only to completely exhaust yourself with sit-ups, push-ups, and more exercise. Most of the people in our Muay Thai classes have never been in a fight and have no intention of going into the ring, but still keep coming back because it is one of the best physical workouts you can get.

Please don't hurt me for slightly disagreeing

PS - Chalambok - Everyone on the forum mentions that you have a lot experience and knowledge of tradition. I posted a question a month or two ago asking if there was any significance to the color of the mongkon/armbands, and got no response (assuming because no one else knew)...do you know if the color of the mongkon/armbands hold any special meaning??

Okay, I was lying.....No, just kidding. Still know the guy. About the color of the armbands, I am not sure there is any significance at all. I have heard numerous times about how they should be made from the hem of your mother's dress, so I just assumed they might be of every color. But I will ask everyone I know, and report back.

A good question about the significance of the adornments! This should have a thread of its own... but anyhoo.

I too am rather curious about the mongkong, in particular. I remember reading somewhere that it originated from the Muay Cheuk (sp?) days, and it was actually a snake. The fighters would apparently force the snakes tail down its own throat forming a circle. The shape is known as the "Ouroboros". IIRC, if the mongkong was knocked off, the fighters would stop and allow for the re-affixing of the mongkong. As far as the significance... I haven't the fogiest. I am no Buddhist scholar, (though I have lived in a Buddhist society for quite some time now), and I believe it may have something to do with continuity. The ourobors traditionally symbolizes a continuim, or return to center, which would jive well with Buddhist doctrine. The snake bit is from a book, and I unfortunately cannot source it, as for I can't remember... bummer. Maybe "A Living Legacy"???

I have heard many other things about the mongkong, and am wondering how many are true. There seems to be very little written about this kind of thing, and I'm wondering if that is because of how much tradition differs across the country. I would like to go to the University here in Chiang Mai and read up on it, but I doubt there would be anything in english... and learning to read thai is none to easy...

Some of the things I remember is that:

1) The mongkongs are blessed by local monks in an important ceremony. I have heard that the bigger (perhaps read "more traditional camps") would have the priests write little prayers and sutras written on tiny cotton strips, that would be woven into the actual mongkong.

2) The mongkong is to be blessed at 7 different temples. I think one of the trainers mentioned this here, but I have never heard this before... interesting though.

3) Women are not to touch the mongkong. If they do, all the blessings are washed away.

There's more, but this is all I can remember, and I'm paying by the minute.

D