See Phueng by Luang Phor Thap of Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng Part 1

See Phueng by Luang Phor Thap of Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng
Part 1: The Legend of Thailand’s Best Enchanted Lip Balm

 

 

See Pheung

is perhaps one of the most renowned examples of enchanted lip balm to have ever emerged from Thailand. Known for its arcane properties, it is made up of a secretive blend of ingredients chosen for the magical properties they imbue.

 

The green ‘See Phueng Khiaw’

made by Luang Phor Thap of Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng, Rayong province, is considered the most alluring example of the genre. Luang Phor Tim of Wat Lahanrai, himself a famous Khun Paen amulet craftsman, was a good friend of Luang Phor Thap. They would often participate in each other’s consecration ceremonies.

 

 

In this feature, we will explore the wonders of Luang Phor Thap’s See Pheung balm, its proper care, and use, as well as how to recognize the genuine artifact.

The history of See Phueng of Luang Phor Thap

Luang Phor Thap was ordained at Wat Na Ta Khwan

temple and began studying enchantments under Luang Phor Mak of Wat Na Ta Khwan temple and Luang Pu Yaew of Wat Pradu temple, a specialist in Metta Mahaniyom and Yant Pat Bok (unable to find details). He later hiked to Cambodia and Myanmar, supposedly to retrieve herbs according to a recipe from Luang Pu Yaew of Wat Pradu temple. These herbs were dried and mixed to form See Phueng, in accordance with ancient methods for Metta Mahaniyom.

 

His See Phueng creations are characterized according to three main eras:

1. The early balm: See Phueng Dam

 

This version of the balm was said to have been created during the later part of B.E.24xx (no exact year can be traced but before the year 1951). During this time, Luang Phor Thap had not yet become the abbot of Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng temple. Phra Kreung and See Phueng were created to raise funds for the temple.

The See Pheung of that era was dark brown, but the villagers commonly referred to it as See Pheung Dam

(black lip balm). He distributed it to devotees and common folk alike, instructing them in its proper use, and cautioning them to use the balm for morally upright pursuits. Despite his warnings, however, many did not.

 

The turning point was when a crippled man living near Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng temple, who lived in poverty with 6 wives, was much envied by people who knew him. This miracle was attributed to the powers of See Phueng Dam.

These accounts made Luang Phor Thap uneasy. He worried that if he continued to distribute See Phueng Dam, its rapidly-ballooning value would cause people to fight over it, bringing vexation and turmoil from the pangs of desire, then blessings or assistance.

He made a decision to stop making See Phueng Dam and discarded the rest. See Pheung Dam is therefore much rarer in modern times because it was only distributed to a few people.

 

2. The Second Era: See Phueng Khao

The second batch of See Pheung, a yellowish-white concoction, was crafted after Luang Phor Thap rose to the post of abbot at Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng temple, around B.E2494 (1951). This was around the time that he also began to craft his tiger tooth amulets.

The See Phueng was intended to be handed out along with the tiger tooth amulets, enhancing their Maha Amnaj (power), Metta Mahaniyom, and Saneh.

After Luang Phor Thap completed the amulets, the next step was to turn them loose in the forest, and hope that they would return. As the story goes, once the right spells were invoked, the amulets would turn into spirit-tigers and run wild through the trees, only returning to heed the call of their master. Unfortunately, none of the tigers returned.

Believing that the consecration had failed, Luang Phor Thap abandoned the process and distributed the small quantity of balm that he had made, on its own.

3. Third era balm: See Phueng Khiaw

 

This batch of the balm is believed to have first been made sometime around B.E.2498 (1955) and incorporated many sacred objects that Luang Phor Thap has painstakingly collected over two years. The resulting balm was emerald-green in colour.

 

 

The Secret Ingredient

The knowledge of See Phueng is believed to have originated from Kru Phu

of Ubon Ratchathani Province. The process of making it is not that different from other sacred powders such as Phatamang, Ittijay, Trinisinghe and Wicha Lob Phong (read our article with regards to this arcane knowledge in Thai).

 

Leaves, flowers, fruits, wood, and roots from various plants are crushed into powder and formed into chalk. This chalk is then used to write spells, in the form of arcane letters or geometric designs. The residue is swept up and stored for use.

The scarcity of the required ingredients, along with the complexity of the rituals and incantations, tests a practitioner’s perseverance and makes the process very tedious.

See Pheung however, involves one very important step, that distinguishes it from other powders.

As the final step of the process, “Mai Yaeng Yae”

(also known as “Mai Yae Yae”) or “Mai Kai Kook” sticks are used to stir the concoction, turning it into a wax. The Mai Yaeng Yae is a very rare plant, and Luang Phor Thap took almost 4 years to locate it.

 

“Mai Kai Kook” is on a whole other level, only available through sheer provenance, luck, or chance. The consecrator must be a witness to the following sequence of events:

First, a rooster must be observed pecking at a piece of wood, producing a “Kook Kook” sound. The noise should mimic the sound of the rooster searching for food, and attract the attention of a curious hen.

When the hen arrives on the scene, the rooster should jump on the hen and mate with her. This causes said piece of wood to be paranormally imbued with lust, desire, and reproductive energy. This turns an ordinary piece of wood into the coveted “Mai Kai Kook”.

 

It is said that Luang Phor Thap would store his See Phueng Khiaw

in an olden-style jar with a cover, where it would spontaneously grow in quantity in accordance with the mystical energies of specific days. Sometimes the See Phueng would even threaten to brim through the cover, appearing as a honeycomb structure, similar to Betel pepper flowers. The disciples of Wat Krabok Khuen Phueng temple would often collect this surplus with rolled-up palm leaves, and this balm was considered especially effective. Accounts of this practice were given by Chareun, a close disciple of Luang Phor Thap.

 

 

In the next part of this article, we will explore the mystical benefits of See Pheung and various methods for using it effectively.