The Moken

The Moken are called the “sea gypsies of the Andaman Sea”. They have lived for centuries as a seminomadic group living on boats or stilted dwellings on islands off the coast of Thailand and Burma. What makes them so interesting is what we and our children and youth can learn from them.

Scientific Research

Studies have been done of this culture's children who have shown incredible underwater vision. One study done by Anna Gislen, of Sweden’s Lund University, showed underwater vision twice as sharp as European children. The difference is in the way these people are able to adapt their eyes to an underwater environment.

It has been found that European children can be trained to increase their underwater vision. What we are looking at here is an example of the incredible adaptive powers of the body. There are many powers and strengths that we have not even begun to tap, and many health challenges that we have the power to correct.

Inner Knowing

When the tsunami hit Asia in 2004 they intuitively knew it was coming. Just as animals began to act strangely and head for higher ground, they also fled to higher ground well before the first wave hit, while taking many grateful tourists with them.

The Moken also live totally in the present. They have no words for “when”, “want”, or “take”. They do not accumulate things, and have no words for “hello” or “goodbye”. There are no greetings. You arrive, spend a few minutes or a few years and then leave. You are either here or not here. There’s no concept of time. And they also have no word for “worry”.

Dr. Narumon Hinshiranan is an anthropologist who speaks the Moken language, and is considered an expert of their culture. They are one of the last sea tribes of Thailand that follow a traditional lifestyle. Jacques Ivanoff, a French anthropologist, has lived with the Mokens on and off for over twenty (20) years, and has written several books about them.

Problem-Solving

Basically what we have here is an excellent example of a group of people who are able to tap many of their inner talents and skills, because they are without the limiting beliefs and concepts that we naturally buy into. More and more research is being done in neuroscience and quantum physics scientifically proving that the brain is much more flexible and malleable than was once thought. Change is definitely possible.

No matter what our current circumstances, we have the innate ability and power to make positive change. It’s critical that we role model and assist our children in learning about their true potential. This particular culture is just one of many true life examples of our creativeness and abilities.

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SBI!