Mind Body & Soul
Pancha Tanmantra
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The deep rich tones of the five element mantra - an ode to contemplation and purification - herald the beginning of a unique martial arts class. A gift from the Sri Vijaya Buddhist lineage, pancha tanmantra, meaning the five subtle seeds of life, was initially practised by monks, warriors and the Indonesian Royal Family.
In the early 1980s it stepped out to embrace a wider following. The seeds have spread to many parts of the world and today pancha tanmantra, cousin to Shaolin kung-fu of China, can be practised by anyone, regardless of race or creed, who has the dedication and spirit to rise through the dans.
After the mantra is sung, it's time for a thorough stretch and aerobic warm-up. Contemporary western music gets the blood pumping and bodies warm. Push-ups are a sure-fire way to raise energy levels.
But soon, it's back to more traditional endeavours. Students of pancha tanmantra learn about the five elements - fire, water, metal, wood and earth - and how these relate to the physical body. This is the very same concept that informs traditional Oriental medicine. This is a healing martial art.
Each exercise the students do relates to one of these elements and tones the associated organs in the body. In the past, you could not be a pancha tanmantra practitioner without holding a degree in healing or medicine.
Students say they have experienced profound healing by practising this martial art. Painful backs and arthritic joints no longer pose a problem for students who have put the time into learning the tradition.
Beginning students learn twelve exercises pertaining to the five elements.
These students are not beginners. They have worked hard to earn the right to perform the mandala, which is a soft dance-like movement meditation.
It incorporates all the movements of the five elements learned at the beginners level. These students are well versed in the subtleties of the soft flowing mandala. The subtle movements of the mandala will encourage chi flow through the meridians, nourishing and toning the organs of the body.
These senior students are practising advanced 'tiger form' to hone their single-pointed focus and awareness. Unlike soft forms, hard forms deplete energy from the meridians. It's a good way for students to ground excess energy.
Gerrard O'Riley, known as Pendekar Sadharakitha, and his students are grateful to the grandmaster of the tradition, His Eminence Prince Ratu Pandji Pandita of Bali, for making the generous decision to share his family's secret with the ailing world.
Pancha tanmantra was born of an empire that lasted longer than the Roman but with one major difference - the Sri Vijaya Buddhist Empire did not indulge in war. Perhaps the world can begin healing by sharing the wisdom of pancha tanmantra.
