The Power of Sak Yant
For this episode, I flew to Bangkok to discover the mystery behind the Sak Yant (spiritual tattoo). My mission was to learn more about the purpose of the sak yant and the spiritual power it offers its bearer.
I first met with Ajarn Noo Kampai, a prominent sak yant master who shot to fame for giving Angelina Jolie her first sak yant. He told me that the tradition of sak yant has existed for more than 100 years. Initially, it was tattooed on Thai warriors during the war as a form of protection and also to intimidate enemies. Today, however, the purpose of sak yant has changed. People get sak yants for their well-being, wealth, health and to help themselves become better individuals.
Ajarn Noo giving one of his students a sak yant
Ajarn Noo explained that sak yants are not limited to just a specific group of people; people from all walks of life can get one regardless if they are good or bad. However, what is important is that once a person has a sak yant tattooed on his body, he has to turn over a new leaf for the better. If he does not, the blessings and powers of the sak yant will cease to exist.
Ajarn Noo added that the powerful blessings of the sak yant are a manifestation of his practice based on his faith, and it is his blessings that give his students the power. In order for the power to remain with the students, they have to respect the Buddha, their parents and be a good person.
I observed that many of Ajarn Noo’s students turned up on his Guru Day celebrations to pay their respects to him, to ‘recharge’ their tattoos and receive more blessings. Some of them even went into a “trance” state, which purifies the sins that they have committed after receiving their sak yants. I also learned that each sak yant master has his own design which he uniquely enhances with his own power.
Next on my journey, I visited Ajarn Matt, from France, who is building his own sak yant museum to preserve the evolving tradition of these ancient spiritual tattoos. Ajarn Matt’s fascination with the tradition began many years ago when he read an article about the sak yant in a French magazine. The article inspired him deeply and he travelled to Bangkok soon after to receive his first sak yant.
Ajar Matt explained that most people who receive sak yants are in need of something
Ajarn Matt told me that most people who receive sak yants are in need of something – friendship, love, money, self-confidence, power and so on. Ajarn Matt also told me that people would sometimes get sak yants with images of animals in order to gain the energy and positive traits of that particular animal — for example, a person who gets a tiger sak yant would be seeking self-confidence, respect and authority.
He added that by tradition, the master chooses the sak yant for the student. However, these days many students already know what they want and so the masters will just discuss and advise on the advantages and disadvantages of a particular sak yant with them. According to Ajarn Matt, the pain that the student experiences when receiving his sak yant is part of the spiritual journey as it teaches patience and forbearance.
I later discovered that Ajarn Matt’s wife – Ajarn Rung – is also a sak yant master after being influenced by her husband. She told me that she initially didn’t know much about sak yants but after accompanying Ajarn Matt to meet many masters, she became more interested in it and the benefit it can bring to people.
Wat Bang Phra, located about 50 kilometres to the west of Bangkok, is famous for its protection tattoos
On the next leg of my journey, I visited Wat Bang Phra, a temple famous for its protection tattoos, located about 50 kilometres to the west of Bangkok. Here, the body of the late Luong Phor Pern, a prominent sak yant master, is preserved. Luong Phor Pern was famous for reintroducing sak yant through his leaping tiger tattoo and the gao yord (nine spires that are tattooed at the nape of the neck).
Luong Phor Pern, the prominent sak yant master
Here, I met with Khun Pathun, who was Luong Phor Pern’s assistant for 40 years. He told me that Luong Phor Pern’s remains are still in good condition because of the power of his spiritual practice, his faith in the Buddha and because he was a kind and compassionate man.
I also spoke to another sak yant master, Ajarn Thoy, who told me that sak yant can also be a form of consolation and support for people when things go wrong in their lives. He went on to say that the power of the sak yant will only remain if the student remains true to their vows. Firstly, the student has to be loyal and obey his parents, and he has to respect his masters and his master’s masters.
Abiding by these rules is crucial for the sak yant to be effective. Ajarn Thoy added that when the students believe in him and his prayers, they will be “activated” to receive a universal energy that allows them to go into a state of trance.
A student of Ajarn Thoy goes into a state of trance to receive the universal energy and ‘recharge’ his sak yant
From speaking to these sak yant masters, I came to realise that the power of this spiritual tattoo arises from one’s faith in his master, a belief in divine forces and also from keeping the vows of being a good person. However, there are still those who believe that the power of the sak yant only comes from the master and the power of his lineage.
I used to wonder why people would want to go through so much pain to receive a sak yant but now I understand more – every sak yant has a meaning and every sak yant has a relationship with the master. A sak yant represents vows and commitments, blessings, kindness and love. It is a spiritual method to help someone become a better person.
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In Tibetan Buddhist tradition, there is Oracle monk who can take trance of enlightened deities; in Thai Buddhist tradition, they have the Sak Yant tradition. I have always been wondering why some people tattooed prayer/mantra on their bodies? What is the purpose of it?
Sak Yant is a spiritual tattoo, it has some kind of spiritual power. Therefore, it has to be done by trained masters. Sak Yant tradition was practiced since more than 100 years ago, it used to be tattooed on Thai warriors for protection but now people tattoo Sak Yant for protection, wealth, health and to help them become a better person.
In order for the Sak Yant to shows its spiritual power, the person who has the tattoo have to promise to change for the better, they have to be loyal to their parents and their masters and the masters of the masters. This is very similar to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it is said the attainments come from the Gurus, therefore we have to devote to our Gurus. Sak Yant is not to give power to people to do bad things, it is to give protection to people who keep the vows and loyal to the parents and masters. This is the basic principle of Buddhism, not to harm people and live our lives with good virtues.
Sak Yant in Thailand is tattoos imbued with both spiritual and superstitious. They are believed to hold magic power that gives protection, health, wealth, good luck and become a better person. In order to sustain blessings and divine forces of the sak yant, ones must have faith towards his/her master and holding vows to be a better person. As for now modern days especially Westerners, sak yant is an artwork inked on the skin that looks stylish and bringing good luck.
This is a very interesting article. I thought that tattoo is only for artistic reason, I don’t even know that tattoo was done for spiritual reason. From this article, other than learning about Sak Yant, I’ve also learnt that we should loyal and obey to our parents, and respect our teacher.
Thank You Rinpoche for sharing tis article. ….
谢谢仁波切和丽金的分享。
其实在马来西亚这类的纹身- Sak Yant 对大家也是不陌生，我们的家人或朋友或许都会有这类的纹身。 只是我们并不了解其中含义。
虽然Sak Yant 是有一些特定的力量， 不过如果纹了 Sak Yant 的人对父母、师父或是佛不敬，
Sak Yant 都发挥不了他的功效。 因为Sak Yant 的力量还是建立在特定的戒律和对师父的依止心。
在藏传佛教中也有一些雷同之处。 在藏传佛教里， 我们视师为佛， 而且我们的佛法、加持和成就都是源自我们的上师。 如果我们与上师的三昧耶清净， 上师所用过的一些物品， 比如僧袍、头发都可以是加持我们的来源。
以我自己的立场来说， 我自己是不会纹Sak Yant。 我尊重这个传承， 不过我已经遇到我的上师， 有上师的教导对我来说已经是最大的加持。
谢谢
This is a very interesting research on Power of Sak Yant. When i see people wearing tattoo, i always thought that they might associate with some “negative” works. As times goes by, i thought it is just a fashion and it looks cool.
From this episode, i have learned that Sak Yant is something serious and spiritual. The first things the receiver must have believe in the power of the master and have strong guru devotion. This is something new to me, as i thought also Guru Devotion only appear in Tibetan Buddhism, but, i have learned it is not just Tibetan Buddhism, it is in other tradition too.
Interesting article on Sak Yant. I’ve seen this type of tattoo on people but always wonder why they have it which is some form or prayer or mantra on their body and what was significance. It is always interesting to learn about religion’s background. In summary Sak Yant is a practise that emphasis on Guru Devotion, follow the Buddha’s teaching, respecting parents and be good to everyone.
This is a very interesting article, and it reminds of the guru and student relationships in Tibetan Buddhism. We relied so much on the Guru for teachings and the dharma, it is wise of us to give total and utter respect to our teachers. Also reminds me of the imagery of Setrap, Setrap’s horse there is a knot within the length of the tail, and that represents vows. Setrap will not help us to do more negative actions.
Little did I know that every yant has meaning and the power that comes with it. There’s one thing that is good about Sak Yant is teaching the disciples to be good, to honour their parents and the lineage gurus and that’s more than enough to make them a better person, although I’m not fully convinced on how this will bring them to Buddhahood as Buddhism is more than that. Every faith has their own practices and the best I can do is to respect.
Thank you Li Kim for bringing this topic up here in the blog.
Interesting to know about the spiritual tattoo, Sat Yank from Thailand which can bring blessing and protection to the students with the condition of the students have to respect Buddha, their parents, become good person and hold on to their vows sincerely. This is another method to guide the lay practitioners and students to be spiritually motivated and be mindful with their body, speech and mind in order not to commit negativity or else, the spiritual tattoo will not work on them. There are many kinds of spiritual practices in this world but all of them have a common purpose that is to guide their practitioners and students to become better persons and bring benefits to others with kindness, patience, compassion and selflessness. May religious freedom will prevail forever.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
I don’t think this is somewhat related to Buddhism, because Buddhism is not hurting our body to become a better person, it is the Buddha’s teaching that we learn to transform our mind to be a better person, this is more like Thai’s cultural practice just like every other culture like Taoism, etc. But what I like about this is it emphasize about following guru instructions, to be good to our parents, to the people around us, to do good and not to harm, in Taoism is also the same, although most of it work based on working towards fulfilling our wishes like wanting a better life, career, relationship, strike lottery, etc, at least they are all teaching us to be a good person.
I look bit scary in this video when seeing the people taking trance (don’t know they are taking trance of what entity), but well, I can’t say much as I don’t know their culture, but at least I respect what they are emphasizing of. It is always great and beneficial to learn something new from different country and different culture, at least now I know more about what is this Tattooing about as I have been wondering since I heard about it many years ago and seen all these tattooing, initially I thought it is only about just giving blessing, but it is something more than that.
SaK Yank is not base from Buddhism belieave, however seeing this tradition at Thailand has popular using spiritual tatoo to gain protection, wealth and luck over hundred ago. I understand mantra has their own power, when tatoo it on human body, it can bless the person body for protection. It quit similar like taoism drawing the talesment on paper and wear it to get blessing.
Is interesting how the monk and lay master using Sak Yank to tatoo it to bless people. When people request for tatoo must have faith and holding some kind of vow, plus must have revotion toward to their master. Then the spiritual tatoo will enhant the power for the power of mantra to get protection and wealth.
Sak Yant is only about 100 years history. Hence it is not from the Buddha himself yet it is practiced widely in Thailand. People who have Sak Yant gained their power or wishes only if they are a good person. The student and guru relationship is extremely important as the blessings and power of Sak Yant must come from the guru. It reminded me of Dorje Shugden practice which is always being introduced by the holy masters and gurus to the students to help them with their dharma journey to be smooth. Dorje Shugden always instructed by the guru to take care for his students. students have to have strong guru devotion and clean samaya in order to have full blessings.
Thailand is a blessed country where her people have religious practice. They can choose their faith and believe.
Recall back, my first impression when I saw a Sak Yant tattoo on my friend’s relative was related to gangsterism. Little knowledge I know about this traditional spiritual tattoo then. What I understand after reading Sak Yant is one of good practice for self improvement like to be a good person, an obedient child to parents, kindness, tolerance, respect to others which I think what make Thailand a wonderful place is the people attitude of showing respect and humbleness.
Thank you Li Kim for sharing this informative article.
in one hand, sak yant is good that the person need to hold vows which is helping the person to be a better person. At the other hand is why need to go through all the pain to become a better person, just because of the power provided by the sak yant. However how can a man already has his habit such like always not respect the parent can be changed so fast. And therefore after the sak yant they may immediately break the vows and was that mean the sak yant bring no more power to them after gone through so much pain.
The Thais are generally religious people of the Buddhist faith, and the Thais have old cultures and traditions that are still alive today. I respect not only the Thais but everyone’s religious and spiritual faith. I would not and should not judge it good or bad of other religions because I do not understand them. Each person has the right to their religious and spiritual practice, no other person or government has to say so otherwise. All religions teach loving kindness, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, patience, generosity, integrity among other good practices. If humans can practice these virtues then this world would be a much better place to live in.
It’s interesting to know about this spiritual tattoo tradition. Every place will have their own unique tradition in their spirituality. In this case in order for the tattoo to be effective one should hold their commitment such as vows, have strong faith in their master, be respectful to their parents and etc. From this article we can see most people are seeking for mundane help which is quite common but what most important is how one would be able to transform their mind for better and ultimately achieve liberation from suffering. Not sure how spiritual tattoo able to lead one into that path but one should able to examine themselves for any positive changes especially becoming more compassionate.
Thanks a lot to Li Kim for this interesting article and video for exploring another type of unique spiritual tradition.
Even if given the chance to do a sak yant, I don’t think I will do it. I just think that tattooing some holy images and words on the body is not appropriate. What I find fascinating is when they take trance of the images that they tattooed to get the blessings. Most of those sak yants are connected to nature, wouldn’t it also mean practicing shamanism?
But the advantage is that they keep the vows although I also believe that they can do those without the tattoos. In Buddhism, we are taught those ‘vows’ so that we can be a better person.
I have always heard the Thais have unusual practices, but never expected something like this extraordinary. Thank you Li Kim for sharing this interesting topic.
Sak Yant , as a spiritual tattoo, appears to be ‘peculiar’ to Thailand. The tattoo is imbued with the spiritual power of protection and blessings that stem from the fact that this tattoo is carved on a student by his spiritual master, who is normally a Buddhist monk(an Ajarn). With the blessings coming from a monk , a sangha, who holds his monk vows steadfastly, the spiritual protection is thus undeniably powerful. This coupled with the fact that the person with the tattoo has to be loyal and devoted to his Master, keep his commitments , as well as spiritually turn over a new leaf elevates the sak yant to a transcendental spiritual experience. It’s like you are taking a spiritual journey to be a better and kinder person with your Master (the one who carves you the tattoo on you) as your guide.
This is a really interesting write up because it is amazing to bring an ancient art, Sak Yant and Buddhist spirituality together. In order to receive the benefit of Sak Yant, the bearer must be committed to the vows that come with the Sak Yant. Thank you for this sharing.
Wow …..something new to me. Before I read this interesting article I knew very little about this traditional Sak Yant .To me its all about tattoos but did not know there is every meaning behind it, a story, or moment in time attached to them. Incredible it seem that Sak Yant tattoos have been around for over 2000 years and is done by a Buddhist monk or ajarn with a metal rod. The Yant tattoos have developed over the centuries under the influence of several different religious. Interesting…… I have seem people with all these tattoos before just wondering why do they go through so much pain to have it done.
Now I know ,so they have their reasons to do it as it represents vows and commitments, blessings, kindness and love. It is a spiritual method to help someone become a better person.
Thank you Phng Li Kim for sharing this interesting article which I do enjoyed reading and watching the video too.