'Jatukham' cookies mock amulet craze

By PONGKAN CHONGCHAIHAN & CHINNAWAT SINGHA

Phra Payom Kalayano, the well-known abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, is selling edible ''Jatukham'' (four-bite) cookies to ridicule the public craze for Jatukarm Ramathep talismans. The senior monk yesterday introduced his new Jatukham cookies of the ''Chukkhid 4 Kham Ruay Khot'' (Bear in mind four bites and you will become super rich) model :p at his temple in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district. Packed in aluminium boxes, the cookies are sold in sets of four for 60 baht. Each cookie measures 6cm in diameter. The top is stamped with the word ''Jatukham'' and coated with a thin gold leaf. The other side carries the words Ou Ar Ka Sa and the signature of Phra Phayom.

Phra Payom Kalayano, the well-known abbot of Wat Suan Kaew, is selling edible ''Jatukham'' (four-bite) cookies to ridicule the public craze for Jatukarm Ramathep talismans. The senior monk yesterday introduced his new Jatukham cookies of the ''Chukkhid 4 Kham Ruay Khot'' (Bear in mind four bites and you will become super rich) model :p at his temple in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district. Packed in aluminium boxes, the cookies are sold in sets of four for 60 baht. Each cookie measures 6cm in diameter. The top is stamped with the word ''Jatukham'' and coated with a thin gold leaf. The other side carries the words Ou Ar Ka Sa and the signature of Phra Phayom.

Phra Payom Kalayano mockingly shows his edible "Jatukham" (four-bite) cookies.

The monk said Ou Ar Ka Sa is a magic spell - the core principles given by the Lord Buddha to bring forth wealth. Ou means diligence in earning a living and performing duties. Ar means saving money or assets that are acquired lawfully. Ka means associating with good and moral people. Sa means leading life simply and modestly. The abbot said the craze for the Jatukarm Ramathep amulets drove him to produce the cookies. He did not want to see Thai Buddhists blindly follow superstition and crave the amulets while ignoring the Lord Buddha's teachings.The monk said there had been hundreds of models of Jatukarm Ramathep talismans produced over the past few months, but the Ruay Maimee Hedpol (rich without reasons) model made him want to do something to remind Thais of Buddhist teachings. He conceded his efforts to bring the Lord Buddha's teachings closer to people are often not successful because many Thais are superstitious.Meanwhile, a senior monk in Phitsanulok province is being investigated over alleged irregularities in the production of Jatukarm Ramathep amulets.Phra Mahaniphon Chonthawathee, abbot of Wat Thepkunchorn in Muang district, is under investigation after refusing to let a temple committee examine the financial books. He has been barred from conducting religious activities outside the temple pending the probe.

articles source http://www.bangkokpost.net