Spiritual Health Bolstering Rituals in Lanna Traditions

Abstract

Background and objective (s): With the rapid socioeconomic changes, the yearly number of psychiatric patients has increased. According to folk wisdom, in old-time Thai society a mentally sick person would be cared for through rituals performed as a social activity to enhance their spirit and health. This research aimed to acquire knowledge and understanding about spiritual health bolstering rituals in Lanna culture in order to promote, conserve and develop these folk rituals as a means to tackle mental health problems and enhance the spiritual health of people in present-day society.

Methodology: This was qualitative research. The primary document study included palm-leaf manuscripts, folding-book manuscripts made with mulberry paper and religious literature. The fieldwork involved observation, individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The principle of triangulation in qualitative research was used to ensure the reliability of information, the compatibility of concepts and theories to explain the situations, as well as the consistency among various study results. An analysis was then performed using the above information for further discussion, conclusion and recommendations.

Main result: The synthesis of information from ancient documents reveals that spiritual health-bolstering rituals in Lanna traditions comprise five main components: (1) a ritual director or the ritualist, (2) a sick person, (3) a spell-like verbal expression, (4) ritual tools/ offerings, and (5) ritual procedures. The rituals convey the ideology and beliefs about the Traiphum, or three-world universe in Buddhism, and reflect the invocations for supernatural
powers to protect and heal the sick person. The rituals for preventing ill fortune include Song Khrau, Song Thaen and Song Chon. Those for warding off physical or mental disorders of a sick person caused by the ill act of a “ghost” involve body language expressing the shortening, sweeping away and removal of the illness. Another common ritual is the soulrestoring ceremony, used to invite the wandering soul of the sick person back to his body, which is attended by persons wishing to give him moral support. The efficacy of Lanna folk rituals in healing depends on the personal beliefs, faith and experience of the sick person regarding supernatural powers. Presently, many Lanna communities still use such traditional folk rituals, along with hospital treatments, to strengthen the physical and mental health
of sick people so they can live normal lives.

Relevance to Thai Studies: This study compiled information from ancient documents involving Buddhist ideology and folk beliefs that have shaped spiritual health bolstering rituals in Lanna, with the purpose of helping to conserve such rituals and promote the role of local elderly in performing the rituals and teaching the practice. The study findings can be applied for comparative analysis of spiritual health bolstering rituals across ethnic Tai-Thai groups in different geographic regions.

Conclusion: Spiritual health bolstering rituals should be fostered to become a sustainable healing practice in the local community. These folk rituals can be considered cultural capital to be used for mental illness prevention and treatment and as a part of tourism and educational activities, which can help improve the life quality of people in local community and society at large.