“Sine Quo Non” is a phrase derived from my years (1985 to 1989) at Seton Hall University School Of Law (Newark, NJ). Sine quo non is a latin phrase that refers to “an indispensable and essential action or ingredient” or “without which (there is) nothing.”
Sine quo non provides a restatement of the importance of Sanchin. Thus, it is an excellent platform upon which to base a Sanchin Pilgrimage.
The goal of the Sine Quo Non Sanchin Pilgrimage is to acknowledge and appreciate that without the three battles of Sanchin, our lives would not be possible. The three battles of Sanchin to which I refer to are the fundamental battles set forth in my Sanchin book and DVD, to wit: breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind. Sine quo non also refers to the advanced three battles encompassing our multi-state of existence (See Endnote # 1).
You are cordially invited to perform the
SINE QUO NON SANCHIN PILGRIMAGE
Remember, the group dynamic is not fulfilled by all of us being geographically present, rather, it is fulfilled by each of us performing Sanchin in the proscribed manner.
Session Parameters: (Those readers that know my “Holy Trinity” of Kata, please see Endnote # 2)
Date: The week of Monday April 29th, 2013;
Time: either first activity in the morning or the last activity at the end of the day. Even better, perform Sanchin at both times;
Location: preferably an outdoor location;
Salient Points:
- As you perform Sanchin, remember and embrace the simple fact that without the fundamental three battles (breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind), you would not exist;
- Without the three battles, you would not live, therefore, your life is, in fact, the synchronization of the three battles. Thus, life is Sanchin and Sanchin is life;
- Appreciate the frailty of life during your performance and seek to embrace the beauty of life throughout your day;
- For those that understand the advanced three battles reflected in Endnote # 1, exist in each of the three states of being throughout the day;
- The last requirement of this Sanchin Pilgrimage is to remain in an enraptured physical, spiritual and metaphysical state throughout the day by way of the concept of “Zanshin” (the “remaining mind” which is discussed in my Sanchin DVD and Book).
You may wish to not only perform the Sanchin Pilgrimage as scheduled, but may also revisit the specific pilgrimage and allow Sanchin to unlock the cage imposed upon your by the drama of daily life. Do this as an integral part of your regular Sanchin practice.
In closing, I remain, the three battles of Sanchin
Sensei John Szmitkowski
ENDNOTES:
(For Martial Artists desiring an enhanced kata experience, please visit Sensei John’s Kata Laboratory using this convenient link: http://defeliceryu.com/2013/04/24/announcing-an-intriguing-new-category/
1. A complete discussion of the advanced three battles of Sanchin – the three levels, or states, of multi-existence is contained in my aforementioned book; however, for the novice, these three battles of Sanchin are the physical state, the spiritual state and the metaphysical state. For those familiar with my dissertation on maintaining and synchronizing these three states, you should incorporate same into this Sanchin Pilgrimage. For those not familiar with these states, perform the pilgrimage using the fundamental battles of breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind.
2. For those readers that know what I call the “Holy Trinity” of kata, Sanchin, Seienchin and Spuarunpei (Pechurin), I would suggest the following performance parameters:
- First act in the morning, with the rising sun, perform Sanchin as an ode to the physical aspect of life, namely breathing, bodily movement and state-of-mind”;
- At mid-day, perform Seienchin as a reminder of the spiritual nature of life and the duality of same symbolized by the affect of “calm in the storm, storm in the calm”;
- The very last act of the day, under the awe-inspiring night sky, “pray” with Suparunpei (Pechurin) as emblematic of a desire to appreciate the metaphysical aspect of life; the eternal interconnectivity we have with all that surrounds us.
For video of the above kata in natural surrounds, please use the following links:
Sanchin In The Snow (with winter poems) link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_PucjutET4 also Sanchin (Shobu version) with vultures, link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf8dlXsBnoI
Seienchin In An Evening Thunderstorm, Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2ptj157tBg
Suparunpei in the Atlantic Ocean (Cape Cod, MA) link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g97IwNv4How
Sensei John is now on Facebook, under the user name – FLY FISHING DOJO, you are invited to send a Facebook friend request.
For more on either Sanchin Kata as meditation or my new book on Sanchin Kata, please feel free to visit the “Sanchin Book” page of this weblog, or my website WWW.Dynamic-Meditation.Com.
You may wish to view my blog dedicated to the interrelationship between martial arts protocol & ideology to fly-fishing and fishing in general by clicking WWW.FlyFishingDojo.Com
You may also wish to view the Goshin-Do Karate-Do blog at WWW.DeFeliceRyu.com
Esoteric Kata 
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