Intangible Values of the Keris - a short commentary

Salam hormat and greetings noble folks.

As a Malay, the keris is very close and very dear to me. I received my first real keris when I was still a teenager. I began reading up on the keris and sat with elders to learn more about this noble blade. Nonetheless, one statement from my late Guru stuck with me: The keris is just a symbol (Keris ni lambang jaa). It took me some 20 years to explore and discover what he meant by these words.

The keris is made up of three main parts: hulu (hilt), bilah (blade) and sarung (sheath). This relates directly with the concept of zahir (physical) and batin (spiritual) or syariat and hakikat in Islam. The hulu and sarung are the physical aspects (body) of the keris, while the blade is the spiritual aspect (soul) of the keris. 

When sheathed, one can only see the hulu and sarung of the keris. The hilt design is very distinct and unique to specific locations and origins. It is basically the identity card of old, and the design and material used for the hulu also reflects the status of the owner. The sampir or cross piece of the sarung is shaped like a ship, reflecting on the maritime nature of the Malay peoples. This "ship" also carries different identities according to various locations of the wearer. A Kedah sampir is different from a Perak one, and a Minang sampir is distinct from one originating in Palembang. Hulu and sarung also have specific designs that are compatible with one another. This combination also carries a specific meaning. The hilt symbolises a man riding on his ship (sampir).

The blade (bilah) is the soul of the keris. As with our soul, it is contained within the body (sarung). In olden days, the blade is hardly shown to the public as it represented the personality (and secrets) of the wearer. It is a very personal and private matter. That is why the blade is always kept hidden unless it is really necessary. The number of lok, type of pamor (if present), length of the blade, presence or absence od certain features, all carry a specific meaning. On a quantum level, these characteristics send out a specific message to the Universe, to God. It is essentially a prayer. Nothing to do with supernatural beings that are sometimes associated with the keris.

What I have written above is just a cursory explanation of the intangible values of the keris. The symbolism is very deep-rooted in Islam and Malay culture. An understanding of sufism could help one to further understand the hidden meanings behind the symbolism of the keris. This is the cultural communication that is an integral part of the Malay civilization. A unique, unwritten language that could only be understood by someone within that culture. This is why "Malay" is based on culture and not just genetics or geaneology.

(This article refers specifically to keris culture other than that of Javanese, Balinese and the like. I am referring to keris identified as "keris Melayu", which includes the tajong and penyalang. Also not included in this discussion are the keris sundang.)

#keris #meaningofthekeris #quantum #culturalheritage #culturalcommunication #malay

The Healing Sword

The sword has been with mankind for thousands of years. Although it is better known as a weapon of war, the sword plays other significant roles in human civilization as well. A sword is a status symbol held in high esteem by many cultures around the world. In some cultures, the sword is a religious icon, a sacred relic that is cherished and even worshipped. However, in this article I would like to look at the sword as a tool for healing the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the human self.

To wield a sword is not simply swinging around a bar of sharpened steel. As the saying goes, a sword requires years of training and conditioning to master. Perhaps this is why the sword is in a class of its own in the armouries of many civilizations. But other than to save one's life in battle, and to "stick the pointy end into the other guy", what does swordsmanship offer in terms of healing?

To quote from experience, my spouse had numbness in her fingers and discomfort in her arms and shoulders before she picked up the sword. Now, according to her, her fingers are no longer numb and her arms and shoulders are better from practicing sword exercises and routines. A student of mine used to have severe back ache and could hardly walk before joining our swordsmanship class. Miraculously, he was able to walk just after attending the first class! Swordsmanship has a lot to offer in terms of physical fitness. We found out that the movements in the art of the sword actually helps the body to realign itself and gets the blood running properly.

Mentally, a swordsman needs to be sharp, stable and aware of their opponents and surroundings. The sword provides mental conditioning to those who practice it on a regular basis. Concentration is of the utmost importance in swordsmanship. If you get distracted for one moment, you will get into trouble. One also needs a sharp mind to handle such a sharp blade. A sword is practically a two and a half feet long razor blade. Someone with a dull mind will definitely cut themselves with it. Swordsmanship also trains your brain to make split-second decisions and "flex the grey muscle". 

The third element in the art of the sword is the spiritual component. Musashi wrote his treatise, The Book of Five Rings, based on five elements: fire, water, wind, earth and void. To him, the void is the nothingness in which nothing exists. A state of emptiness in the mind when the swordsman thinks of nothing but to make the perfect cut. In my interpretation, the void represents the state of denial. A state of affirming there is no God but Allah. In sufi traditions, this means to deny the existence of everything else but God. Everything is just an illusion, and that we need to see past this. Possessions, money, wealth, cars, power, partners are all illusions in that they are not eternal. One needs to get past all these to be in the presence of God.

It is this spiritual healing that is the cornerstone of swordsmanship. The ultimate aim of the swordsman. For when the spirit is healed, the mind and body follows. The sword teaches one to focus on balance and understand the interconnection between all things. That everything is energy, frequency, just quantum particles that exist in the endless wisdom of The One. This is the Way.

Silat and the Keris (part 2)

Metalworking is by no means an easy task. Bladesmiths in the olden days were given high status by Kings and honoured in their courts. These artists of iron and steel were often called "master" and were considered magicians of metal craft. They were able to turn iron ore into finely crafted works of art. In the olden days, as it is now, the master bladesmith works with several other artists to produce one fine blade. There are smelters who prepare the steel, the blank makers who craft the initial form of the weapon, the bladesmith who forms the blank into a serviceable blade, the hilt and scabbard makers and the artists making the fittings.

Traditionally before starting the forging work, the master bladesmith would recite prayers asking for the blade to be blessed, and for safety during the forging process. He would also include the wishes of the future owner of the blade. A bladesmith not only makes the blade, but give the blade "life". Every strike of the hammer would have been followed by a specific citation or incantation. A blade often takes time to complete, and some very special blades take years to come into existence. 

Forging a blade is not like rolling dough for roti canai or sewing clothes. The smith works with five elements: wind, water, air, earth and fire to produce a fine blade that represents the soul of its future owner. Sometimes, the smith selects specific days or times during which he will work on the blade. There were stories that only a single strike of the hammer was allowed on a specific night to work on a blade. One needs to understand that with every strike of the hammer, a part of the smith is lost in the blade. A smith will pour his heart and soul into his creation as the prospective owner's life may depend on it. It is a sacrifice that all master smiths have to make. This is not Forged In Fire. This is REAL.

From a quantum point of view, the smith sends out positive vibrations to the universe, and by controlling the vibes that he sends out, he will receive the required vibes in return. This is why a smith selects the best and most suitable time for them to work. Some work in the day, some work at night. Some work on certains days, or during certain periods of the selected day. What I am imparting is actually a closely guarded secret amongst smiths, but I feel that the public needs to know In order to clear the air on why some blades take longer to make than others.

Everything in the Universe happens when there is synchronicity and balance. A smith knows best how and when to forge the ideal blade. If something is off, they would often delay the work to wait for the opportune moment. Blades forged not according to this formula are often "soulless" and "empty" and may even be harmful to the user. As such, clients of the respective smiths - those who understand, anyway - will never ask a smith when his blade will be completed. Some even say it's a taboo. A blade will be done once it is done. This point is also to illustrate that both parties were to exercise patience. Patience is the key to everything. 

Let me illustrate a case example. This was an actual event that happened to me. I commissioned another smith to traditionally forge a parang lading according to the specifications that I provided. I told the smith that this blade was to be "weaponised". Initially, he suggested a combination of different types of steel for the blade and several different materials for the hilt. As time went, the smith kept updating me (sometimes I would just say hi to him as a polite reminder). The materials that he suggested for the blade and hilt were changed several times because the smith "did not feel right about it". This went on for about a year. I understood the smith's processes so I just let him work. He is an artist, after all. Praise be to God, the parang lading was completed on the day of Arafah, on the eve of Eidul Adha. Such an auspicious date! And the moment the blade was handed to me, it gave me goosebumps. It felt perfect. Just the right weight, just the right balance. Even though the final product did not match my initial design, the smith managed to make it even better. I love that blade so much!

The same goes for keris and sword blades. Whenever these blades are "weaponised", it would be improper for the client to badger the smith into pushing him to finish off the weapon as soon as possible. And further adding insult to injury when the smith was labelled as a scammer and a fraud because he took too long to deliver. In Islam, we refer to this as qada' and qadar, fate and destiny. And patience is another key ingredient. This concept ties in closely to the quantum theory in science. If you push it, it will not turn out the way you would have wanted it. Just go with the flow and you will receive what you wished for... God provides us with what we need, not what we want. 

May Peace be with us all. This is the Way.

Silat and the Keris (part 1)

When we talk about silat, the keris would be inevitably mentioned. What is the keris and why is it so important to silat practitioners? This can be a very long and complex topic. There are many theories and opinions on the matter. In my understanding, the keris is a symbol and pride of the Malay people. It is part of our culture and costume. Prior to the 1800s, every adult Malay male would have had a keris tucked into his sash. It was never regarded as a weapon but as part of our daily dress. A keris represented the identity of its wearer. Nonetheless, it was Raffle's intervention in the 19th century that caused the keris to be designated as a dangerous weapon. He banned the wearing of the keris. Thousands of keris were either confiscated, hidden or destroyed.

There is no reason to fear the keris. Like the Japanese katana, it is an exquisite work of art. Every keris is unique and no two blades are the same. As unique as a person's fingerprint or DNA. For this reason, the keris represented its wearer - it was a sign of where they came from,  their social standing and even their personality traits. In a way, the keris was it's wearer's twin. In modern times, a keris could be likened to an identification card or personal document. Everything about the owner could be found embedded in the likeness of a keris.

The keris has a deep spiritual connection with its wearer, and by spiritual connection, I did not simply mean a supernatural one! Every blade was custom made to cater to the needs of a specific person. Some keris were made as a companion, some were made for trade while others were made for war. It may seem that the keris was regarded as a talisman (which is not permitted in Islam), but in truth, the making of a keris had very close ties to the quantum theory.

The combination of steel, wood and other materials resonated with the spirit of the wearer. A good keris will give out positive vibes to its wearer. The pamor or damascene patterns resulting from the pattern welding process also resonated certain energies that promote certain qualities towards the wearer and their audience. This reaction occurs on an atomic level. Materials such as gold, silver and brass added into the blade is said to have specific effects. 

One may wonder, how does this work? Imagine how certain events or situations can effect the psychological state and well-being of the people involved. Every object send unseen signals that can be felt on a cellular level and this in turn affects the individual involved. A keris works in the same way. Each blade has a personality of its own, and as such it emanated different signals towards the wearer and the public. Upon looking at a keris, a person subconsciously received signals - or quantum waves - that will affect their course of action. Some keris instill fear in those who behold them, some awe, not to mention affection and majesty. 

This is only a small part of the "magic" of the keris as a cultural icon and identity of the Malays, and of silat in general. The keris is a cultural object that could be used as a weapon, only when it was truly necessary. It was a deterrent to conflict. The mere angle at which the keris hilt was pointing could decide between life or death, war or peace...

This is the Way. May peace be upon us all...