The Spiritual Healing of Traditional Thailand

C. Pierce Salguero is a nationally accredited teacher of traditional Thai massage and herbal medicine, and a member of the Shivagokomarpaj Institute (Thailand's most prestigious massage school), the Association of Northern Thai Medicine, the American Herbalists Guild, and the Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. His institution, the Tao Mountain School of Traditional Thai Massage and Herbal Medicine, is accredited by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Articles he has written on the subject of traditional Thai medicine have appeared in magazines and newspapers nationally and internationally, and his web site (www.taomountain.org) is one of the most popular sites on the internet for Thai massage information and resources. Pierce has degrees in Anthropology and East Asian Studies from the University of Virginia. From 1997 to 2001, he studied Thai massage and traditional herbalism under Lek Chaiya, Baan Nit, the Shivagakomarpaj Traditional Medicine Hospital, and other renowned schools in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He taught courses on traditional massage and herbal medicine at the Shivagakomarpaj Institute in Chiang Mai, and from his home in a near-by village. In September of 2001, Pierce moved to the Charlottesville, Virginia. He founded the Tao Mountain School, which offers Basic, Advanced, and Teacher Training courses in the Shivago Lineage of Thai Massage. He also teaches Thai massage at the Virginia School of Massage in Charlottesville, VA, the Baltimore School of Massage, and at the BSM's satellite campus in York, PA. Pierce is also currently working on a Ph.D. in the History of Asian Medicine at the Johns Hopkins medical school.

Introduction An explanation of Thai medical theory, which blends therapies for the physical, energetic, and mental/spiritual selves. It is discussed how these three fit together in Thailand, India, and China, and the author puts forward a holistic proposal for integrating these therapies in Western medicine. 1. Thai Buddhism This chapter introduces the basics of Thai Buddhism: a brief historical discussion, followed by sections on Thai temples, basics of philosophy, Buddhism and society, and contemporary practice. 2. Buddhist Meditation This chapter begins by explaining mindfulness meditation, a standard practice in Thai Buddhism. The second meditation introduced is loving-kindness meditation, a Thai practice to generate feelings of compassion toward one's self and all beings. Both basic meditations are presented with a commentary on their role in Thai healing practices, and illustrated with images from Thai monasteries and temples. 3. The Thai Altar Step-by-step instructions on how to set up and maintain a Thai Buddhist altar, from selecting the right statues, to arranging them properly on the altar, to guidelines for setting up a meditation space. 4. The Father Doctor Jivaka An introduction to Jivaka and his role as the Father Doctor of Thai medicine and a symbol for compassionate loving-kindness. This is followed by instructions for one of the central ceremonies of Thai healing: the wai khru, or "honoring Jivaka." This chapter is illustrated with images from Thai massage hospitals and statues of Jivaka, as well as many diagrams to assist in setting up the altar. 5. The Thai Spirit World This chapter introduces the shamanic and animist practices of Thailand, including a discussion of the Thai belief in souls and spirits, and instructions for the tham khwan ceremony, or the "binding of the soul" to bid someone good luck. Presented with photos of soul-doctors, spirit mediums, and other non-Buddhist spiritual practices. 6.Mystical Symbolism This chapter begins by featuring Thai amulets, used by healers to concentrate their spiritual powers. This is followed by a discussion of the production of yan, or mystical symbols for health and protection. Illustrated with striking photos of amulets, yan and "magical tattoos." 7. Wat Pho: Royal Temple of Thai Medicine The Wat Pho temple is the official seat of Thai medicine and the location for the most famous artifacts: A brief history of the facility, with many images from the temple, including statues and tablets depicting Thai acupressure, massage, herbal medicine, and yoga. 8. Chiang Mai: Center of Traditional Thai Healing Chiang Mai, a beautiful mountain city, is the cultural center of Thai healing. This chapter includes an overview of the city's role in traditional medicine today, and pays special attention to the Shivagakomarpaj Traditional Medicine Hospital, the most prestigious facility of its kind in the country. A biography of the director of this facility, Ajahn Sintorn, is provided, with the story of the founding of his hospital. This chapter is illustrated with photography from Chiang Mai, with a focus on northern Thai culture.