My Sak Yant

I got my first tattoo back in ’95 and I always knew that I wanted something else.  I just could find anything that called to me…  The years passed and I sort of stopped searching.

I had always admired the Sak Yants, but didn’t really know how I was going to go about getting one. It’s isn’t like you can roll into your neighborhood tattoo artist and get one.

My buddy DiiMak committed and got a very nice Sak Yant by Ajarn Lao, of Bangkapong. Diimak initially found out about Ajarn Lao through Soren Mongkongtong and the Nugget’s NTG crew.

I went back on a very short trip a few weeks ago intent on getting one.  I’ve put together a 10 min clip of my experience.

Sak Yan or Yantra tattooing is a form of sacred tattooing practiced predominantly in SouthEast Asia.  Sak Yant are typically done by Monks and Brahmin Priests.  Devotees of Yantra believe that the Yantra are imbued with powers for protection.

The yantras are made up of a melange of sacred geometry, Pali , Khmer text and various elements of the Ramakien.  While being tattooed you are asked to clear your mind, and to recite a mantra used to “open the channels” allowing you to be charged with powers.

video seems to be falling over quite a bit, if it’s failing to load… you can watch it here

I tried explaining this on camera, but I was quite nervous… the anticipation of being jabbed by a giant needle was beginning to unravel me.

In the west, Tattoos are a form of adornment, and self expression.  The point of the tattoo is to get something you like.  With Yantra, it’s almost the opposite.  You figure out what form of protection you need or want and then you get the corresponding Yantra regardless of size and shape.

I had gone with the intention of getting one Yantra on my chest, when consulting with Ajarn Lao, he said no.  That it was going to be a waste of canvas… that he was going to give me two and they would be on my arms…  there you go.

The Yantras took about 10 min. or less per arm… which was good because I find the hand work more painful than a traditional electric needle.

To end the ritual Ajarn closes off the ritual by sealing in the power.  He traces and writes on your back with a sharp (didn’t get the name) object.  You can see from the gallery pics it leaves a temporary welt on your back.

Payment for his work comes in a form of Donation.  The donation should be just painful enough.   So it should be so inexpensive as to be easy, and shouldn’t be so expensive that would cause you to much of a financial burden.

If you guys are interested, I would suggest you contact Khun Suriya and tell him I sent you.  He’ll drive you out to Ajarn Lao’s which is considerably off the beaten path.  It’s a little over an hour to reach Bangkapong which is on the way to Chonburi.

Khun Suriya can speak English and can help you with communicating with Ajarn Lao doesn’t speak a lick of English.

Khun Suriya will pick you up from your hotel take you out Ajarn Lao’s wait for you and bring you back.   I can’t guarantee prices but it should be around 2,500-3000 baht for his time.

You can reach him by dialing +66 0866115973.

A Sak Yant isn’t for everyone… but if this is something that calls to you, be my guest.  I’m hooked and I’m already thinking about getting another one on my trip back in December.  Ajarn Lao expressed interest in coming out to London to do some work.  I’d be happy to arrange it if there was some interest.

Special Thanks:  Special thanks goes out to my boy DiiMak for helping to arrange this trip, and for being the impromptu MyMuayThai camera man and post production company!

You can read about Ajarn Lao here:

www.arjahnlao.com

49/2 moo 2 Banpee-Noi, Bangbor, Samutprakan

arjahnlao@thailmail.com