Mónika Karsai, the blond Thai

Euan mama titka

When I first looked into her eyes I knew: despite of the blondness, the look is of an eastern person. Later on it turned out to be true, the eye really is the mirror of the soul.

When did you first feel that you have something to do with the “East” and why Thailand?

Even as a child I used to annoy my parents by sitting down in lotus position, saying “only if I’ll meet the Dalai Lama” whenever I was in a tight squeeze. I had no idea who he was. But it’s a fact that from time to time I felt this incredible urge to get to the fabulous East, to “Paradise on Earth”. I’ll be forever grateful to my former companion that I was able to get to the “Land of smiles”. My first visit was a half-year long trip. I got massaged every day, until I suckled in the vibes of Thai massage, the metta, also known as “loving kindness”. It determined my past seven years and it’s still not over…

Eventually why did you start learning?

The answer might sound strange: I was going with the flow. I liked that they are not only kneading the surface and as a results changed started happening in my body. I got to know myself better by it. I can control and dominate my body. I learned to understand that pain is not always bad. It’s rather a warning, help in avoiding bigger problems. Pain indicates if somewhere energy is blocked. It was crediting that after the first half-year my allergy, anemia, low blood pressure was gone and my spine became straight. Medical documents stated that I’m perfectly healthy too.

How did you find your master?

She found me. My master, Mommy Oen took me as her own daughter and transferred her knowledge. Because of her I learned how to feel people, massage based upon experience, without words. I learned foot massage, traditional Thai healing massage and several therapies in Bangkok at the masters of the Vat Po temple. They heal based on where the pain is, this is what their therapy is based on. I became an “honorary Thai”, so I could learn among the locals. If one walks the right path, luck follows. One of my fellow students, a multiple Thai box champion copied me secret books from the King’s library. They took me to the royal family’s monk, who blessed me, my diplomas and sticks. This the Dalai Lama did too, with an encouraging smile on his face. These experiences and the success in healing give my strength and faith…

I guess learning can never be finished, but you are already teaching too!

I have students, but I’m teaching on a private university as well.

My first students were Thai people. With them it’s easier. They lack doubt, but have humility and respect. They don’t ask unnecessary questions, they accept that massage not only about them. They know that they can only build on a strong basis. They don’t want everything at once. They give things time, unlike us farangs (“strangers”). I myself look for new masters each and every year. I got to a tiny hospital, even secret for the Thais,, where they heal with massage and the potion of various herbs and animals.

What do the Thais know that Europeans don’t?

They’re different. They don’t overcomplicate things, they act upon their instincts. They accept their faith and believe in karma. On the surface they are very open, but they are actually very distant. For them love is responsibility, thus it’s difficult to get into their hearts. Children are loved by everyone unconditionally. The little ones are in constant physical contact with the adults. They are massaged, cuddled, whoever the child belongs to. The elderly are respected because of their age, experience and wisdom. They seek their advice in important matters.

You and your life changed while you were there. For this, apart from studying, extraordinary experiences probably contributed…

I’ve been touched by the “winds of death” several times. Thanks to these experiences I live my destiny more intensively. My first conscious transcendental experience was sixteen years ago, on the teaching of Lopön Tsetsu Rinpocse. It was fantastic to see my body from the outside, just like in near-death situations. A ten-day Vipassana-retreat in Thailand, in a Buddhist monastery brought radical change in my life. Here I experienced the true “here and now” feeling. This is no surprise when you sleep on the floor, you cannot look into the eyes of others or communicate, you just meditate (sitting, standing, walking). What we think makes us happy here is just an illusion. These only seem important to us because of socialization. I sat down and took account of my life. On a piece of paper I wrote what I’m good at, what experiences I have, what I know and who are that ones that could help me with this. Then last September I just had to fulfill my wildest dream, a massage center acknowledged by doctors as well.

Do you have a feeling that you belong there? That you lived there earlier?

Yes. It’s strange when someone meets familiar-unfamiliar surroundings. You feel like you’ve been there before, you somehow feel at home, even if it’s not rational. This could be the much talked-about déjà vu feeling. But it was the Thai people who first put in in words, that I “returned”.

How does healing and sex get separated in massage, since what first comes to one’ s mind when hearing about Thai massage is something erotic?

We work on the energetic system, so the two things could be associated with each other. Sexus is a form of energy flow as well, thus it’s also suitable for dealing with potency problems, as during the massage energy blocks are dissolved.

Many often say that an inconceivable miracle lies in the art of Thai massage…

For some it’s the greatest miracle to get rid of an asthma that embittered their life. For others it’s yet only having a child naturally after several years of trying. Some float in uncertainty after an accident or a serious surgery, not knowing whether they’ll become a whole human again. My dearest case was a skull fractured young man, whom I was massaging in the intensive care. Soon he left on his own two feet and now he’s a human full of value. He even had a child since then. Nowadays mysterious immune diseases. Young people, seemingly without any reason suffer from pain in their joints. Artists cannot work and create because their sudden disabilities. Thanks to massage, now they are capable of that. I experienced the biggest success in musculoskeletal diseases, mostly the “spinal ones”.

What else is missing from your happiness?

When I was little I always used to say that my life will only have a meaning if I do something for humanity that lasts. I haven’t given that up ever since. I’m busy working on it: dispelling misconceptions, introducing this magnificent, ancient tradition to people. With teaching, this circle constantly grows. I believe in prevention. It would be good if this became a tradition here too, that people pay attention to each other, they devote a little time at least to their closest surrounding and perhaps instead of staring at TV advertisements, massage the aching neck or back of their loved ones a bit.

I found my place. I’m dealing with what I’m best at. I’m helping people. I love my work and I’m happy. Sicknesses are results of unprocessed events, psychological injuries, the lack of detected love and affection.

Judit Barkó