Degrees,
Examinations & Master’s Degreees
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Information: The
English translation was made by a French
speaking person (but passionate by Sarbacana).
So we would like to apologize for the
mistakes… If something is not clear,
do not hesitate to send a mail. We will
do our best to answer your questions. Dojo
Sarbacana
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If it only consisted of blowing darts with a piece of pipe to verify someone’s
skill in the target’s mirror… The initiation
wouldn’t take long time. Some hours could
be enough to gratify ego.
But the Sarbacana’s Way explore a completely different track. In fact,
to reach the target isn’t the first aim. This
breath school invites the attention to make
a “somersault” (galipette
in French)… Therefore attention is at the
other “pipe’s” end; the one turned towards
the “shooter”. In this way, placing aim “here”
- at the blower’s side - and not “there” -
at the target’s side - demonstrates that we
have a prodigious instrument directly connected
with the breath’s intelligence, and the hara’s intelligence. That will allow to visit and to develop all the aspects
of these subtle intelligences… Explore with
breath the more sharpened states of attention
and intuition... Test out the fact that lâcher prise (in French) and decision can
become one and only one phenomenon. Live the
Zen in action.
Realize with its breath this perfect symbiosis between meditation and action
is one of the sarbacane’s
(blowpipe) purposes that can take all the
life…
In the state of mind of the Sarbacana’s Way, competition is nonsense, because
it only concerns the ego’s development. That’s
why, in its essence, Sarbacana doesn’t need
to award degrees to the pupils. Because of
all the parameters, at each “breath throw”
the Sarbacanaka
knows exactly where he is, deeply inside,
and even who he is. The right gesture is the confirmation and it’s
enough in itself.
That’s why, originally, we didn’t need to establish some kind of proofs
“seen from outside”, because what we aim at
it’s “ourselves”… “To be”.
This part of us knows exactly what happened and doesn’t need agreement.
Medals and degrees will be awarded by life,
at each moment, precisely in the quality of
living this moment.
However, at the prospect of this discipline’s growth and duration, and
for the same reasons of quality and authenticity,
we have been obliged to establish qualification’s
degrees to certify that those who want to
transmit the Sarbacana’s Way have the right
qualifications and master’s degree.
We have taken the same principle of “Dan” existing in the Japanese martial
arts (this classification is clear internationally)
and more precisely degrees in use in Kyudo
(Japanese traditional
archery, also called “stand up Zen” (Ritsu
Zen), the nearest discipline of Sarbacana
which is also a “stand up Zen”).
Degrees
from 1st to 10th Dan
From 5th Dan, we have the ability to teach Sarbacana (as in
Japan, where one’s considered as a Master
from 7th Dan). In Kyudo, there
are three Master’s degrees for teachers: 5th
Dan (“Renshi” Master’s degree), 6th &
7th Dan (“Kyoshi” Master’s degree), 8th Dan (“Hanshi” Master’s degree). Japanese Masters have compared this graduation to our License, Master
and Doctorate scholar’s system. Sarbacana
keep up and will keep up these same notions.
(Hoping
that Sarbacana’s Way, which is not concerned
by the competition’s motivations, won’t be,
in future, diverted from its spirit as sometimes
nowadays Kyudo in Japan, where we can assist
to pure competition)
Michel-Laurent
Dioptaz
For the Dan’s practical exam, we present 1 complet katasarbacana
– a flight of 7 arrows (voiles).
And, from the 3rd Dan: a questionnaire + presentation-resolution
of transparadoxical
koan.
The Dan achievements are at present appreciated and given by Michel-Laurent
Dioptaz (Sarbacana’s Master-founder) in harmony with his more graduated students. In the absence of M.L. Dioptaz,
the jury will be composed as follow:
·
1st to 3rd Dan: in front
of jury with 3 jurors 5th or 6th
Dan.
·
4th Dan: in front of 4 jurors 5th
or 6th Dan (with agreement of
3 jurors).
·
5th and 6th Dan: in front
of 5 jurors 6th or 7th
Dan (with agreement of 4 jurors).
·
7th Dan and more: in front of 7 jurors
8th Dan (with agreement of 5
jurors).
As for Kyudo, the first Dan won’t be presented before 48 lessons or +/-
10 sessions (week-ends) = 20 days of practice.
It needs 4 or 5 years of practice to become
a Sarbacana’s teacher (5th Dan).
A candidate who presents for the first time
an exam after several years of practice can
“jump” degrees.
CRITERIONS SELECTED TO GET DAN
For a great part, maturation’s criterions in Sarbacana’s Way
are easily visible from outside for people,
even not initiated, as they open widely attention
& receptivity. In fact, energy “spring”
from the face’s center so this one reflects,
just an instant, the breath’s spirit, the
state of mind, the kind of energy that the
mouth let express.
Each type of breath will modulate the face’s expression, breaking the mask…
The time of a flash, eyes shine truly and
it’s impossible to cheat. The presence’s quality
is clearly evident.
(This type of
exam is so “merciless” that it will be very
useful not to delude oneself in the practice
of other awakening’s activities. Just to point
out and avoid the “drunkenness” inducted by
the states of mind “sacred-sweet” often considered
as “The Aim”, though they don’t resist when
they are confronted to the in daily life.)
(Some
expressions in the criterions presented here
are a little bit abstract for non-practicing
people. But Sarbacana belongs to trans-paradoxical
techniques. Therefore paradoxes can be lived
by Sarbacanaka (practicing people). So commentaries
will maybe appear obscure. Don’t consider
that as “intellectualism”. It’s only the description
of an experimental reality.)
The Kata is integrated, within its form and fluidity of breath. The practicing
has already “sampled” several nuances of Ki
and some acute moments by the vacuity way.
To make a decision with the hara (belly) is
more and more frequent. He (or she) can realize
his (or her) own harmonious Voiles (arrows). At this level, the pupil
has contacted the Sarbacana’s spirit. He knows
deeply that it’s not a “darts play” with the
mouth. As for the practicing of others Do (Way), the acquisition of black belt
is the “real beginning”.
The Kata moves subtly in attention’s phases and nuances of breath &
Ki.
The abdominal breathing is fully activated.
Trans-paradoxical intelligence is opening,
while concentration without concentration
is awakening. The practicing realizes oftener
“breath’s throw” with a non-competitor &
non-predator Ki. He (or she) is able to let
the Phi
“float” on the breath’s basis and to
place his kinesthetic perceptions in his eyes.
Basis of previous Dan are well known. The Kata is completely made with
a kind of attention "lignes
d’évidences" “(term corresponding
at an attention’s frequency specific in trans-paradoxical
intelligence). Body & mind are articulated
exactly at the same place. Peripheral vision
is fully activated. Competitor Ki is abandoned
during practice. Presentation-resolutions
of trans-paradoxical
koans.
(and
http://transparadox.com)
The Kata is fully integrated in its form & spirit. The body gesture
& the spirit are totally realized in attention’s
mode "lignes de conscience"
(“conscionness lines”). Sarbacanaka is able
to focalize his “defocalization”. The decision
making by “lâcher
prise” is activated. The “non-doing” way became pragmatic.
Practicing needs & likes a regular training
(daily if possible). The target results are
now taken into consideration. Presentation-resolution
of trans-paradoxical koans with induction
of surrounding void.
The Sarbacana’s spirit revealed can be inducted. Capacities of transmitting
experience by empathy. Practicing is able
to perceive Ki nuances with the others sarbacanakas.
He can read again, accompany and induce the
Sarbacana’s Way frequencies till the 5th
Dan.
The target results are now taken into consideration. Presentation-resolution
of trans-paradoxical koans with “words”.
The attention opening goes on after the 5th Dan. Perception’s
doors are more and more simple and expanding…
But we enter now in a master’s level impossible
to describe with words. It would be non-comprehensible
for people who don’t practice.
In what we are living we cross several paradoxes layers that would destroy
any speech. Conscience levels and attention
frequencies reached & activated at this
moment are named "les
lignes de sens" (“sense lines”).
For Sarbacana, the aim of Dan is not to reward ego, but to certificate
and preserve the authenticity of the Sarbacana’s
Way, by a transmission between those who mastered
it and those who are acquiring it.
Therefore M.L. Dioptaz (as sculptor & goldsmith
master) has created a specific symbolic for this school;
a poetical protocol that put in relief this
notion of “transmission” and crystallized
it physically and spiritually.
It takes the form
of a bronze disc. This unique shape for each
sarbacanaka will emerge from the master &
pupil’s meeting.
Wax to sculpt has to be kneaded in a disc shape (4.5 cm, approximately) by the master. An empty
space is created in the centre (in
fact, the substance is there only to frame
this empty space. The symbol & the school’s
spirit are relied to this emptiness; this
centre vacuum). Master & pupil stand face to face and join each finger in the empty
centre of the disc (they begin with the little
fingers to finish by thumbs). At the same time, they immortalize
their fingerprints
in the wax all around. At the end, they sign
and engrave their own side. After all, the
wax is dated then cast in bronze. A melting
very precise that will crystallize and immortalize
the memory-signature of the fingerprints.
Little by little, according to the personal progression, each new Dan,
represented by a number, is printed in the
metal then certified by the school’s official
stamp (nowadays, M.L.
Dioptaz goldsmith’s stamp).
The braid to suspend this disc at the bell is realized by the pupil himself
with different colors threads. He chooses
his own interaction between colors.
In spirit, we are close to the “Kesa” notion in Zen, as symbol of transmission
from master to disciple.