Post by Admin on Jan 24, 2016 13:47:35 GMT 7
Khun Chang Khun Paen is an 18th century epic poem and one of the most important works in Thai literature. It is from this strory of a tragic love triangle that we first introduced to Khun Paen and Guamn Thong.
Unfortunately most of the deeper commentary and analysis can only be found in the Thai language, evidenced by the fact much of what is written about this popular legend is often nothing more than a brief summary. Little has been written in English about the relevance of this account and its characters to the modern Buddhism era and more importantly how it equates to magic and the how it equates to the history of mankind and magic
The issue is further compounded by cut and paste plagiarism that has perpetuated and propogated concepts that are either inaccurate or misrepresentative of the true meaning and values within the larger context of the legend. This in most part is due to the fact that many of the popular channels of information tend to concentrate on a all but a few verses of the entire poem. This somewhat limited source is not a good basis on which to develop deeper or original thought.
The newly initiated are unable to distinguish fact from fiction and more often than not false expectations are developed which ultimately result in disappointment and disenchantment.
Amulets, charms and talismans feature heavily in the daily lives of Thai Buddhists, and many including Khun Paen and Guman Thong possess Buddhist parallels that have long been lost to the modern generation and it is these basic concepts that this website will attempt to redress.
For others, the world of magic, and alchemy is often overlooked and ignored, discarded and hidden like a polyester leisure suit. We are all too enlightened to have ever believed in anything so stupid or dangerous.
But think again, the story of magic, an important element of this epic, is also the story of mankind, the story of humanity, the embodiment of natural law. It is filled with hope and ecstasy, failure and despair. It is the greedy and self centered search for power and a spiritual striving for transcendence and a glimpse of the very person of God.
The legend of Khun Paen and Guman Thong is far more relevant today than at any other time throughout the entire history of the human race and it encompasses virtually every aspect of what we are and yet to become.
Unfortunately most of the deeper commentary and analysis can only be found in the Thai language, evidenced by the fact much of what is written about this popular legend is often nothing more than a brief summary. Little has been written in English about the relevance of this account and its characters to the modern Buddhism era and more importantly how it equates to magic and the how it equates to the history of mankind and magic
The issue is further compounded by cut and paste plagiarism that has perpetuated and propogated concepts that are either inaccurate or misrepresentative of the true meaning and values within the larger context of the legend. This in most part is due to the fact that many of the popular channels of information tend to concentrate on a all but a few verses of the entire poem. This somewhat limited source is not a good basis on which to develop deeper or original thought.
The newly initiated are unable to distinguish fact from fiction and more often than not false expectations are developed which ultimately result in disappointment and disenchantment.
Amulets, charms and talismans feature heavily in the daily lives of Thai Buddhists, and many including Khun Paen and Guman Thong possess Buddhist parallels that have long been lost to the modern generation and it is these basic concepts that this website will attempt to redress.
For others, the world of magic, and alchemy is often overlooked and ignored, discarded and hidden like a polyester leisure suit. We are all too enlightened to have ever believed in anything so stupid or dangerous.
But think again, the story of magic, an important element of this epic, is also the story of mankind, the story of humanity, the embodiment of natural law. It is filled with hope and ecstasy, failure and despair. It is the greedy and self centered search for power and a spiritual striving for transcendence and a glimpse of the very person of God.
The legend of Khun Paen and Guman Thong is far more relevant today than at any other time throughout the entire history of the human race and it encompasses virtually every aspect of what we are and yet to become.