SHICHIDAN "The sum of its parts is greater than the whole." * A Shichidan possesses many qualities. They are Professor's, Leader's, Master's, and they are Mysterious. While there are many characteristics that define them, one can never be pigeon-holed. As with all things in nature their essence is rare and beautiful, defying explanation. It just is! For a Shichidan to just "be" is not enough though, they must adhere to a strict code and path, and this fine line will lead them to elite experiences and insights, well worth the discipline. A Professor is "one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill."** This is a simple explanation that really does not encompass the role of a Hikari Ryuza Ryu Professor. In the broadest sense a Professor helps their students on their quest of self discovery, while furthering their own. This is only authentic if the Professor has done the work first. Physically, Mentally, Spiritually, they have suffered the trials and errors, spilled the blood and tears, asked the toughest questions and sat in quiet meditation until the answers came. They know their Self and they can guide their student to know this ultimate intimacy also. They accomplish this by giving them tools and showing them the correct usage. While the student is gaining proficiency with their tools, the Professor is stretching their mind to look in uncharted directions and view things from new perspectives. This can be extremely challenging on both sides. The student is apt to resist this to some degree because it is completely foreign to them and the unknown can be frightening, but if they care they will persevere. The Professor must intrinsically understand how far they can push their student without breaking their spirit, and there is no room for error! From the very beginning the student is given direct experiences with what their potential is and can become. The Professor can share this with them because they have already been there, and are still moving forward. Excitement builds as proficiency, perspectives and potential grows and yet Professor continues to expose the student's weaknesses so they may be understood and developed into strengths. A Professor's life is all about their students, but in order to be a great Professor they must constantly educate and challenge themselves, so they will have more to offer. They must be a living example of the love of learning! An Inspiration! A Role Model! A Natural Leader! A true leader leads because people want to follow them, not because the leader wants people to follow. Why do they want to follow? POWER! Power comes from strength. Whether it be physical strength, mental strength, or spiritual strength, nothing can be accomplished without strength. It should not be worshipped; it should be worked -employed to the highest benefit of all involved. Shichidan's are strong leaders, but they should have a few other qualities sprinkled into the mix to make them dynamic and righteous - Passion, Charisma, Integrity, Resolve, and a Warm Heart. Those all sound good, don't they? Why - Yes they do! They're necessities. Passion is like fuel, it drives. Charisma is what attracts us, it is magnetic. Integrity is to act in adherence to moral and ethical principles. It is the little angel on your shoulder that always wins. The concrete that holds it all together is Resolve - incorruptible certainty. And without a Warm Heart what is it all worth? Love. Compassion. That is the truest of all Leaders. A Leader must have convictions in all of these things. They must have Faith. Their knowing is without tangible proof. Faith is what separates the genuine luminaries from the charlatans. Imagine never having a need to put on airs because you stand solid in the understanding that everything is contained within you, and that you are connected to the universe. You are the Universe! Coming to this realization requires much Mastery over yourself, which does not happen all at once, but in degrees over time. Mastery is a long and hard path of discipline and perseverance. For a considerable period efforts feel forced and inefficient, but you must push forward until you become fluent. At this juncture efforts will feel natural, and thoughts and actions will be seamless in execution. This is a being that exudes subtlety in motion. The Master is consciously creating themselves, moment to moment, from their waking thought to their last memory before drifting into the dark of the day. Even then they design their destiny in their dreams. Each day they seize the opportunity to mold their destiny as one does with good clay. They are intentionally creating their self and their environment by visualizing their goal in its completion. From there they must nurture this perfect picture until it actualizes. They must believe they are already there, not that they will get there eventually, but that they are there now. A thought by itself is not too convincing, but inject some feeling into it and you can charge it right up, making it easier to believe because you can now feel the reality of it. If you were an Actor needing to cry for a scene, you could conjure up a sad memory to bring about the flow of tears. The feeling coupled with the right thought can bring about the experience in the moment. This sounds easy enough, yet it can be a difficult process because of self doubt. That is why it is so vital to stay close by your teacher, who believes in you and can spark that light in you to burn. The difference between a White Belt and a Black Belt is their experience. You could say a Master is a professional student. Due to their training they have educated their body and mind to a state of "muscle memory" or trained reflexes. The Yudansha's brain has literally been hard-wired to process more efficiently. Every time a thought or action is repeated the neural connection is strengthened until it becomes permanently linked, making the thought to action process synonymous. And because Yudansha's are so nosey about Everything, new neural associations are always being made. The neural network becomes streamlined making the Yudansha a quick study. When learning something new they can adapt more readily from the control they have over their mind and body (will power), and their "I Can" attitude. A Black Belt does not accept failure because they are a constant work in progress. Being a constant work in progress I can attest to a Shichidan's quest for solutions. One of my greatest puzzles thus far has been developing Mystery. Yudansha's have a mystique, Shichidan's exponentially so. Mystique is a synchronous blending of opposites. One feels the yin and yang being in their presence. Perhaps, a sense of something they're just unable to put their finger on, assuredly unusual nonetheless. There is a harmony in mystery. Even though opposites share the same space they do not destroy one another. When a Shichidan moves it is graceful, but powerful. They can gesture with subtlety and yet project intensity. They possess a raw animal magnetism, and still they are wise. Their compassion is not without a stern hand. Their unpredictable nature definitely makes them a wild ride to tool around with, but their dependable side proves them a solid source of confidence and comfort. They are simple and yet complex. This picture of Mystery so aptly describes my teacher from the first moment I met him. He has always had an air of mystery, and it is him that I have built my understanding of the mystique of Yudansha upon, though personally I feel I lack in this department. When I spoke to my teacher about the Mystique of Yudansha, he said only "We are Spiritual Beings having a Human Experience." To truly live in this reality 24 hours a day, everyday, without getting caught up in the distractions of the mundane world is enlightenment. It is all in where you put your focus. I believe it is accurate to say that most people, without giving it much thought, accept that they are Human Beings having a Spiritual Experience occasionally. Dreadful, Boring, Unfulfilling! This is not the life for a Shichidan. Somewhere in-between, on the journey to enlightenment, one finds that with daily progress, however small, they are better for it. They are a more open-minded being. All experiences can be enlightening to a person, but Yudansha's without a doubt are more so than the average bear. They have a Secret! A secret that only comes about from having consciously and willfully walked through the fire to become Yudansha. This experience changes them forever. When orchestrated correctly it metamorphosis's them. Enhanced freedom, truth, responsibility, awareness. A Black Belt opens a door inside them to a new reality. Whether they choose to further venture into this foreign passage is a decision that only they can make. Do they hear the Silent Flute? If they do, they must have courage and shine their light into the unknown, making it up as they go. This lifestyle creates multidimensionality. As a result of years of fearless dedication to self discovery and improvement a Yudansha develops countless facets to their persona. Typically, one would not realize this about Yudansha until spending many years with them, for they would not needlessly reveal all the layers of their skin just for the sake of it. Black Belts act upon situations based on necessity. In this way energy is not wasted. At the appropriate times a Shichidan must reveal dimensions of their self to properly guide their student. The display is for the benefit of the student and not the teacher, although both should grow. As a Shichidan I continue to rise each morning excited to stretch myself as a Professor, a Leader, a Master, and a Mystery. I never reach the goals fast enough, but I become a little closer to them everyday. Not forgetting to enjoy the journey I've embarked upon and committed to in my soul, as Yudansha - thanks to my Omni Love who rescued me from the shadows and threw my soul into the light. Humbly,
Respectfully, ©
2010 Dr. Crimi |