Pascal Fauliot

> CONTE DES SAGES ALCHIMISTES, de Pascal Fauliot - 2023 - Seuil - 230 p. - 21,50 €. — Pascal Fauliot explore, dans ce nouveau volume de la collection, la thématique de l’alchimie, du Moyen Âge à nos jours, en passant par le temps fort de la Renaissance. Il nous fait (re)découvrir les mystérieux symboles inscrits dans les pierres des cathédrales, sur les blasons, dans les contes merveilleux, les légendes initiatiques ou encore de la mythologie hindoue, nous conduit sur les traces de ceux qui ont souhaité un jour trouver l’élixir de jeunesse et influencer la chimie moderne, et nous livre les plus grands secrets de célèbres alchimistes comme Nicolas Flamel ou Diane de Poitiers.
—3e millénaire, (148), Été 2023… (mere)

> RÉSUMÉ. — Ce recueil de contes zen, avec de nombreux inédits en français, nous livre ici une anthologie sans précédent. Inspirés des diverses versions écrites ou orales, ces récits sont revisités avec un éclairage nouveau et mis en résonance avec des poèmes qui en approfondissent le sens. Avec son talent de conteur et une connaissance vécue de son sujet, l'auteur fait revivre ces histoires porteuses d'une sagesse et d'un humour revigorants, donne de l'étoffe à ces personnages, célèbres ou méconnus, en remontant aux sources les plus authentiques et en les replaçant dans leur contexte historique.

On y fréquente avec bonheur des figures emblématiques de patriarches chinois ou de grands maîtres japonais iconoclastes comme Ikkyû et Hakuin qui défrayèrent la chronique et surent redonner sa vitalité originelle à un zen décadent, mais aussi des artistes, des samouraïs, de singulières aubergistes et même une courtisane des plus surprenantes. Ces histoires mettent en scène les principes essentiels et la saveur incomparable du zen pour témoigner d'un chemin qui mène au-delà des limitations du mental et de l'égo, pour goûter aux fruits de l'Eveil dont le nectar est la Compassion.

Elles illustrent aussi l'influence du zen dans les arts martiaux, la poésie, la peinture, la cérémonie du thé. Enfin, la richesse de l'iconographie, en parfaite correspondance avec le texte, contribue à nous immerger dans cet univers fascinant.… (mere)

Rrëfenja të të urtëve japonezë sjellin takime paradoksale dhe të mençura mes samurajëve dhe murgjve, mjeshtërve të çajit ose të arteve marciale, piktorëve dhe poetëve, njerëzve të famshëm dhe atyre anonimë. Tridhjetë e tre rrëfenja, njëherazi edhe mësime të çmuara jete, të cilat na mësojnë të shohim përtej sipërfaqes dhe anëve të jashtme, të stërvitim durimin, harmoninë, paqen dhe dhembshurinë. Ashtu si librat e tjerë të këtij koleksioni, në këtë libër teksti hyn në bisedë me imazhet që janë marrë nga botime, piktura zen dhe kaligrafi të tjera për të na zhytur kështu në botën legjendare japoneze… (mere)

from cover

True martial arats should never be confused with simple combat techniques. Rather, martial arts are a way that an individual, after a long and difficult apprenticeship, can gain a profound understanding of the true nature of reality and one's place in it. Over time the apprentice discovers the laws governing the subtle forces of life and realizes that their mastery is only possible after one has mastered oneself. 'He who has mastered the Art doesn't use his sword: he compels his adversary to kill himself.' This quote from renowned sword master Tajima no Kami perfectly expresses the paradoxical nature of martial arts teachings in China and Japan. These teaching stories are not moral fables; in fact they have nothing to prove. Their purpose is actually to insprire questions and insights that will aid the student to achieve self-realization.

Most of the stories in this book are based on actual events in the lives of martial arts teachers who have achieved legendary status. The almost superhuman abilities of some of the masters described here are evidence of the secret powers that can be wielded by those whose martial arts training is not simply the learning of phyysical techniques but involves mastering subtle energies of the mind and body. Master of the art of archery Kenzo Awa could hit the center of a target even when shooting in total darkness. Assailants of Tai chi master Yang Lu Chan found their blows did more damage to themselves than to their would-be victim. By reading-and comprehending-the tales in this book, we can acquire the same essential knowledge that these masters had-that extraordinary forces are within the grasp of those who have achieved inner peace and self-mastery.

Contents

Preface by Michel Random
1 The Message of the Stories
2 On the Threshold of the Mystery-The invisible target; The sixth sense; Bokuden and his three sons; The warrior's eye; Infallible concentration; The incredibale power of Chi; The secret of proficiency; The magic coat; Like sword maker, like sword
3 Confronting the Mountain-Nots so stupid; An accelerated teaching; The thief of knowledge; The master of the three peaks; The Image of Asari
4 The Snare of Appearances-The old warrior's wager; The law of balance; The dreadful secret of the little Bonze; The champion and the master; A time bomb
5 The Great Test-The fissure; In the hands of fate; The condemned man; A master with no technique; The tea master and the ronin; At the edge of the abyss
6 Lessons of the Zen masters-At the gate of heaven; From the hand of the master; An original form of conversion; The test; The archer and the monk
7 Winning without fighting-Humor, the wise man's weapon; The school of unarmed combat; Three flies; The disarmed assassin; A convincing demonstration; The heart of the willow; Letting the rooster mature
8 The Ultimate Secret-The look of disillusionment; The teachings of the venerable cat… (mere)