Hormat

  In the Adat of Hormat

  copyright 1993 Chas Clements

As a student of Silat;

  Who is your teacher?

Well kids, first –he is a hell of a fighting man, you give him respect because you have no choice – to associate with him is to show respect for the danger of him.

In addition, he is a man that has learned something that you don’t know; how to save your life and the life of your loved ones. That knowledge has come at a cost that you don’t have to pay, men died to learn the knowledge that is given to you and conserve it for you.

Your loyalty to him extends to his family, his lineage, his home, his reputation, his time and effort with you.

Why do you give him respect?

Because he has taken time out of his life to help you save yours. There is nothing in your life that is as important as what he teaches you, because, without his teaching everything that you have and are is in hazard.

He not only owes you nothing, you may be a thief or a bandit, a coward or a fascist. He owes the rest of us that he screens his student and that he takes responsibility for him.

For compassionate love of his fellowman, your teacher has accepted the hazards of teaching, the responsibility of teaching and a responsibility to history for your actions in the Pai.

What is his gift?

First, it is Trust. He trusts that you will not embarrass he and his associates. This terrible craft that we do is fraught with pitfalls for the practitioner without deep character values. When we teach this intimate moral and philosophical activity, we want the student to act in the best interests of humanity and society.

Secondly he gives you the gifts of knowledge bought with blood. Men have died learning the body of knowledge to which you now have access. Our secrets, bought with blood are not for sale for money or power. It is your character and commitment that is required. The money just keeps the lights on.

Thirdly, he entrusts the safety of his family and friends to you by sharing with you the secrets that keep them safe.

What do you owe for that?

The deep gratitude for the gift of life, pain, intimacy and trust, example, history & tradition. You owe the gifts of comfort, security, assistance, support, consideration.

When you see something that needs being done, Do It ! Make it look easy. That is the style of a man and a martial artist. Any man who has progressed enough to have something to teach to you has accumulated injuries, pain, enemies, memories; don’t require that he carry you in addition to all the rest of it. Some things are beneath his notice- nothing should be beneath yours. The least student owes the carrying and cleaning; the senior owes the conservation of the masters time and effort with the administration of the group.

In the Family/Village systems, the leading practitioner didn’t charge his neighbors for helping them to learn the Silat used for their common defence. The masters’ retirement plan was to grow old with his family and friends. In America, no such security exists. As a student in America, it is incumbent upon you to be the good neighbor. If cash is your only commodity, spend some! If you are a carpenter, get to it! If you fix cars, fix one, now. Do not mistake that this knowledge has ever been ‘free’, it is not free. It calls a feeling of gratitude and a responsibility to discharge that obligation.

You owe the effort to learn and practice what he teaches; you must be on time for class, if he calls you to be somewhere- be there! A teacher is measured by the quality of student that he produces. If you are a man of honor and integrity, of discipline and dignity, you owe your teacher for that example.