-Prologue-
The ancient stage is set. The delicate scent of jasmine, lotus blossom and other oriental fragrances drifts soothingly through the warm candlelit main hall of the Wat, the temple. Inside are highly trained Chang, elephant warrior monks of the Tinju order, kneeling with their foreheads touching the marble floor, arms extended in front of them. They are deep in meditation and await the moment, like crouching lions waiting for the scent of their prey.
Situated in dense jungle and surrounded by jungle-encased mountains, this Wat was said to be around 2000 years old and built by monks in Salaburi, which was a remote village, just a short distance away from the small south eastern Thai/Cambodian border town of Pong-Nam-Rom. The Wat was small by temple standards, with gleaming domes and arches, covered in gold leaf and it had skilfully carved statues that depicted Buddha’s journey through life, both as a prince and a pauper.
The Wat was built against a mountain to the rear of the village. The meticulously maintained Wat had a large door at the front, a small door at the rear, and a door at the side leading to a meditation room. The exterior of this small, windowless room, had mosaic tiles formed into murals that depicted a nobleman on a horse, smiling down upon a poor, decrepit individual. It was believed this was the moment when Prince Siddhartha Gautama decided to give up his earthly possessions and begin his journey to enlightenment, eventually becoming known as ‘Buddha’ and entering Nirvana, heaven, whilst still alive.
Inside the meditation room was; an embalmed corpse laid out on a stone slab, a foetus in a glass jar, preserved in a clear liquid made from the bark of a local tree, and a skeleton. The monks entered this room for intense meditation on the journey through life and to reflect on birth, death, and the afterlife. Cut into one wall was an entrance with a small tunnel, which led to a large cave, and a heavy golden gate that covered the cave’s mouth.
One hooded monk stood guard on either side of the gate. Each carried a small bow and quiver filled with menacing arrows. The handles of their sheathed swords sparkled, even through the dim light. This cave housed the teachings of the Lord Buddha and the Wat’s most valuable possession...four Pre-molars, wisdom teeth of the Holy Buddha, kept in a golden box, about the size of a matchbox and adorned with rubies and sapphires from the nearby mines of Chantaburi.
The inner chamber of the main temple was basic, with large, smooth marble pillars set on either side of a three-metre wide aisle. Small mats were placed on the marble floor to the side of the aisle for the monks to pray, receive teachings, and meditate. Outside the main temple was the monk’s living quarters and large arenas where they would learn fighting skills, both with and without weapons. Although the weapons were ancient, in trained Tinju hands they proved to be as deadly as any modern-day weapon. Handed down from generation to generation, the monks’ skills as great warriors, in all forms of combat were legendary. The early kings of Siam, which has been known as Thailand since 11 May 1949, used Tinju monks as bodyguards and assassins throughout the centuries.
Due to inhospitable terrain, humidity, and many biting insects, the approach to the village was difficult. With no roads or visible tracks, the only people with the knowledge to find their way were the villagers and monks. Through this anonymity, the village and Wat remained unhindered for millennia. Using knowledge passed down through the ages, they farmed the land, tended their cattle, and survived on medicines provided by the many trees and plants found in the surrounding forest. They were totally self-sufficient and had no need for the trappings or indulgences of the outside world that had long since forgotten them.
The monks, all males, were chosen before birth. When a Tinju monk died, the next first-born son of a villager became his replacement. It was believed that he was the reincarnation of the deceased Tinju. At just one day old, the infant was taken to the temple. There he would remain for the rest of his life, never knowing his real parents or family. The infant would be taken care of, taught, and nurtured by the other monks. For the boy’s family it was a great honour to have a son who was Tinju because they were known for their great wisdom and kindness in their search for enlightenment. They were born Tinju and died Tinju.
There were currently 75 monks. The youngest was two years old, and the eldest was 86. For the monks of the Tinju order, it was their credo to guard the sacred relic. Active duty started at the age of ten, and continued throughout their lives until they were around 70 years old. They retired from active service and, except for the ‘Prime Master’, lived the reminder of their lives as elder monks, undertaking teaching and guidance for the young monks.
A Siamese trader and emissary to the King, acquired the holy remnants of Prince Siddharthra Gautama over 500 years after his death, about the same time Christ was born. At the time, it was widely believed that any ruler who worshipped the relics of Buddha would be given the power to command and rule wisely. The trader brought the relics to Siam from China after searching for 20 years, but he was well rewarded for his endeavour. They were presented to King Bumnalonkorn of Siam who had a golden box encrusted with locally mined rubies and sapphires made to house the relics.
In order to keep them safe, he needed the most highly trained Chang, elephant warriors from the Kingdom to guard them with their lives. After many months of fierce gladiatorial competitions, 50 of the country’s best warriors were chosen, along with 25 of the holiest Buddhist teachers. With their hair and eyebrows shaved, and bedecked in the traditional bright orange robes with the addition of a red sash, the Tinju monks were created. Their role was to guard the holy relics and every year, on the King’s birthday, to escort the relic to the Imperial Palace so that the King could ask for continued wisdom to rule.
The King chose a site in the heart of a jungle. He named it Salaburi and brought in artisans from all over the Kingdom to build the Wat. Taking 12 years to construct, it was built next to a cave in one of the nearby mountain and was made secure with gates and booby traps. The boxed relics were then placed into a small gold statue of Buddha. The key was given to one holy man, who was then given the title Prime Master.’ Only he knew the booby traps, and only he could hold the key. People from all over the kingdom...families of builders, carpenters, teachers, doctors and farmers, were selected and came in to take care of the new monks and made up the population of Salaburi village. A new civilisation was created, cut off from the outside world and it developed with its own culture.
Apart from the King, his Chief of the Palace Guards, the head of the *Temple of the Emerald Buddha at the Imperial Palace, and the Tinju, nobody else is aware of the existence of the holy relic. The Chief of the Palace Guards had the responsibility of transporting the Tinju to and from the palace. Large army transports would be driven to Pong-Nam-Rom. The monk’s would be waiting, and get into the vehicles, and proceed to the Imperial Palace in Bangkok. The monks would then disembark and enter the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, forming rows on either side of the aisle.
The Prime Master would walk over to the Emerald Buddha, remove the golden box from his robe, and place it at the foot of the Buddha. He would then pray alone for several moments before joining the other monks to await the King’s arrival.
In Salaburi, two hooded monks guarded the remnants 24 hours a day. The relics were only removed prior to the current monarch’s birthday, in time to transport them to the Imperial Palace. When the Imperial Palace was located in the former capital of Chiang Mai, the journey took weeks. After its relocation to Bangkok, it still took several days before the introduction of motor vehicles. Now the journey was only a five-hour drive. The monks removed the relics the day before in order to perform their own ritual at their Salaburi Wat, the “Ceremony of the Great Journey”. This was the greatest day in the monk’s year, as it meant the next day they would be going to the Imperial Palace and meeting their beloved monarch, King Bhumipol Adulyadej the Great of the Chakri House, whose birthday falls on the fifth of December.
Khun Somchay had been Prime Master of the Tinju for four years. Now 58 years of age, he had the strength of a lion and the speed of a striking snake. His mentor, the former Prime Master, Khun Vitchae, had handed over the honour to Somchay, after losing his sight and being unable to perform his duties.
Within the Tinju society, monks ranked in order from Novice, to Warrior, to Master, with only one nominated as Prime Master. Although Somchay was not the eldest Master, his merit and courage had convinced his peers that he was the right man for the job.
Somchay now stood in front of the large golden statue of Buddha, situated at the rear of the Tinju temple. The statue, approximately 20’ tall, was of the Buddha sitting in a cross-legged lotus position with open hands and smiling face as he looked down at everyone below. In the statue’s hands lay the small matchbox-sized gold and jewel encrusted box containing the sacred relic, which had been ceremoniously brought from the guarded cave several hours earlier. Somchay, his head bowed and hands in the Wai position, chanted a prayer for enlightenment, wisdom and courage. His chanting continued for several minutes, and then he fell silent.
The two hooded monks who stood on either side of the statue lit more of the heavily-scented essence sticks, positioned around the statue in small sand traps. This took several minutes and, as small wisps of smoke started emanating from the sticks, the air started to fill with a fragrant, earthy aroma. After all 30 sticks were lit. Somchay took the small box from the statue’s hands and turned to face the prone monks. He held the box high above his head and uttered a command in an ancient Siamese dialect, lost to the world except for those in this holy place. The monks now sat and looked at the holy box and, in a singular crescendo, praised the Lord Buddha so loudly that it seemed to resonate in Nirvana. This carried on for several minutes, all in perfect tone, perfect pitch, and perfect unison.
Somchay was first to notice the change in the aroma surrounding the temple. Somchay’s sense of smell, as that of all Tinju monks, was honed to be the same as a hunting or prey, animal. The fragrant aroma of the incense had been replaced by something that he’d come across before. It was similar to the sweet, nutty smell given off by the cakes at the village bakery. . . . almonds. However, he knew this was not cake. It was something more modern and, his senses told him, far more sinister. The wispy curls of smoke now turned into large plumes. Somchay shouted out and clasped the box to his body. The other monks were now on their feet, hurrying toward Somchay. The hooded monk, standing to the right of the statue, thought he saw the monk to his left side putting on a black mask, but he ignored this and went to protect his master. Confusion reigned as, one by one; the monks fell unconscious to the floor. Somchay fell against the statue, and the holy box tumbled from of his hand. He looked up at the smiling face of Buddha, the last face he was to see in this life. The smoke filled the temple and, as each monk collapsed with confusion etched upon their faces, surrendered to this mortal coil and dispatched to their nirvana.
One figure still standing was a hooded monk, who quietly walked through the smoke to the lifeless body of the dead Prime Master. He bent down, retrieved the holy jewelled box and placed it in a small pocket inside his tunic. He looked through the smoke at the blurred orange-clad figures of the monks, now either dead, or writhing and convulsing on the marble floor. One monk, in particular, caught his gaze, and he stared for several moments until the monk’s body ceased all movement. Slowly, but purposely, he then made his way to the back entrance of the temple where, once outside, he removed his S-16 respirator and took a gulp of fresh air. He removed his robes, stood in his camouflage under garment, and picked up the remainder of the cyanide flares. “I do not to want to leave any evidence,” he thought. He bundled up his robe into a crude rucksack and tied that, along with his deadly evidence to his back. He took a last deep breath and ran off toward the jungle.
The back door of the temple was left ajar, and a faint cough was followed by a dull thud, as the other hooded monk came stumbling through. He had used his robe to filter some of the gas and held his breath as the deadly cyanide billowed out around him. Somehow, he’d found the strength to run out of the gas stream into the fresh air, letting out his breath in a loud, throaty roar and inhaling deeply, he filled his lungs with air. Still wheezing, he bent over and vomited. He turned his head and caught a glimpse of a figure running into the distance and then disappearing into the jungle. He collapsed, unconscious.
*The ‘Emerald Buddha’ is a large gold coloured statue of a sitting Buddha approximately 50 feet high. On its head is a carved emerald, approximately 4 inches high with the effigy of Buddha carved into it. This is mounted in a small gold and glass case. The Thais regard this as the holiest Buddha in Thailand. It is open to the public, as are some other parts of the Imperial Palace.