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Crouching Tigers

There's strength in stillness and magic in motion. So proved Masters of Shaolin, says SHONALI MUTHALALY

THE WHEEL of life moves in mysterious ways.

In the case of the Shaolin monks, China's celebrated soldier monks, the past 1,500 years have taken them a full circle — geographically, at least.

According to Shaolin legend, in 375 AD, the son of the King of Kancheepuram, Prince Bodhitara, who chose the Buddhist `path of enlightenment', spent 40 years studying martial arts such as Vajramushti and Kalarippayat in India. He eventually came to be known as Bodhi Dharma, meaning Truth.

When he was 61 years old, he decided to travel to China to teach and ended up at the Shaolin temple in China's Henan Province. According to Paul Wake, tour manager for the soldier monks (who perform all over the world), when Bodhi Dharma realised that the Shaolin monks of that time were weak and unhealthy, and thus unable to defend themselves, he decided to teach them a new form of fighting. So, after nine years of immobile meditation - all done facing a wall of a cave - he taught them Shaolin Gong Fu. (Today known as Kung Fu across the world.)

Since Shaolin was rich in both land and property, they had to learn to protect themselves from the steady stream of marauders that beat a path to their temple. But since they were monks, they were forbidden from carrying weapons, or being aggressors.

Story behind the soldiers

Naturally, the story of `the gentle soldier monks,' who protected themselves with basic farming tools and bare hands captured imaginations across the world. So, of course, Hollywood stepped in. Then came Jet Li and Jackie Chan, using dramatic excerpts from Shaolin Kung Fu in their fight sequences. Super stardom followed, along with performances at City Hall and cable television. The shy Shaolin monks became celebrities.

As a result, today, Shaolin is synonymous with more than just the astounding feats of strength and remarkably untouched inner peace that all its monks display. (Traits that need over ten hours of intensive training everyday for fifteen years to develop) It also draws T-shirt vendors, video game pirates, champagne and caviar audiences and droves of Nikon toting tourists.

But then, that's the wheel of life. Change.

Monks weave magic: suspended in air. Pics by S. R. Raghunathan

Except that, "inside Shaolin," says Shifu Shi Yanzi, a 34th Generation Master of Shaolin Gong Fu, "it's just the same." Small soldier monks still come for admission at the age of three. And, in China, there are thousands of little boys who dream of becoming soldier monks, and heroes.

"People are drawn because this way of life gives you a path to being in control of yourself - physically and spiritually - even though it is difficult," Shifu Shi Yanzi says. "The monks manage to blend this incredible peacefulness with their art," adds Paul. "They're very religious people with incredible strength and power. But they're also extremely gentle."

New bar and restaurant

That was evident at their show, staged at the Taj Connemara to commemorate the opening of its new bar, Distil, and pan Asian restaurant, Hip Asia. The fascinating `wheel of life' performance showed how much strength there can be in stillness, as a group of monks - including one adorable eight year old — whirled, kicked and fought each other, adopting various animal stances, from those of the powerful eagle to the brawny tiger.

"Training begins with monks standing on their heads for hours, just to concentrate," says Paul, trying to explain how they attain their almost-super human powers. "Kung Fu changes your body in very dramatic ways. It becomes like a steel jacket... Impenetrable." Although the Taj show was strictly performance Kung Fu, it clearly came from years of hard work. "True Kung Fu's not so pretty," says Paul. "But behind each performance, there's a great depth of skill, and knowledge."

"It's difficult, yes," says Shifu Shi Yanzi, "But you keep going because you want it. It's in your blood. To purify yourself, you need to go through fire — like gold." He adds, "People don't understand how we can be monks, and do martial arts. But monks are quiet. And martial arts are quiet as well. You need to concentrate. Because, if you make a mistake, you kill someone."

Walking a tightrope between staging commercial shows — which raise money for the temple — and keeping to the Shaolin ideals, has been becoming increasingly tough over the years. "Now, people are trying to cash in on the Shaolin name," says Paul. After a survey revealed that more than a 100 items, including beer and furniture, are being sold as `Shaolin' products, the temple has been working to protect its name and make Shaolin a world heritage site.

To the monks, the show at the Taj is especially significant because it brings Shaolin to India, strangely enough, for the first time. "It's good to be here," smiles Shifu Shi Yanzi, "To the place where it all began."

Want to fight like them?