Measure of Focus

Its been awhile since I've watched this show, the 'Last Samurai'.
Just caught it on channel 5.

I remembered watching a few years back, maybe during my year 1
or 2 of uni. It made an impression then. Of honor, of men fighting for a purpose.

Now as I look at it again, similar feelings are once again stirred, but the
perspectives have changed somewhat. Men fighting over things they can't change.
Choosing to die then to be able to negotiate. But that's how men are, aren't they?

The lack of ability to truely communicate.

But i still admired the people in the show. Admired the rendition of the focus and
clarity of what they wanted in life. Of late, it's been on my mind, this whole concept
of focus and purpose. And watching it being played out in the movie, just drew me
closer to the characters, especially Kasumoto and Algren.

They were sure of how they wanted to live.... and die. Perhaps it wasn't a one off thing,
that caused them to want to die that way, but rather the circumstances that they've
chosen. A lifetime of learning to be a warrior. A lifetime of facing their fears.
For it was also said, by the little boy (Taka's Son) that he was afraid, and so was Tom Cruise.

This brings me to the issue of fear. In our current day situation, what are the fears that
we're learning to face up to? Have we ever faced up to them? What are the chances that
we will rather run then to bite down on our lips and to face up to the challenges?

Is that why we have so much irresponsibility these days? In areas of relationships,
of friendships, of our dealings with our families and even our careers? We have so much
fear even in academic areas, which is so evident during exam periods.

Never before, has the human race, have so much more to hide behind. So much more to
cover up with; SMS, MSN, Emails, Phone calls, etc.
Where's the value of face-to-face human interactions?

Even where there's such chances for interractions, it's mostly marred by influences by
dramas shown on TV. Where's the real essence of wanting to just communicate with another
person? Perhaps as one grows older, this isn't so apparent, but just thinking and looking back,
I remembered the past of how people around me communicated, being so influcenced by
shows such as 'Friends'.

I'm not too sure how it is like now, but looking at how some kids greet each other theses days,
it seems to be non-existant.

Seeing all these from this context, isn't it little wonder, that we do not really know how to
handle so many issues these days? That running away seems so easy to do.
Constantly living under this bondage of fear. Not daring to truely live, but to take upon
an image of how one should live, in the light of how others think?

Which brings me to impressions. Where i do think that stereotyping is more prevalent then we'd like to think. And when coming to certain sensitive issues, we'd rather leave it to some preconcieved conclusions others have decided upon rather then finding out for ourselves what the issue itself really is pertaining to.

Perhaps i'm treding on some sensitive areas here, but there's this issue to do with religion. And for my particular example, Christianity. Some people would rather they live and stay happy, but to what ends does happy mean? People seem to have this image they'd like to follow don't they?
To be happy, not to think alot and just live. But to me it's the same as not living. For what's the purpose in that? What is being happy?

To think is not the same as analytical thinking or some 'deep' thoughts that many like to put it. It's about finding your true purpose in life! About knowing why you're here, what you're going to do now with your life so that you can get to where you might want to be in 5-10 years time. Its about being fully aware, so that you can truely live.

Too often, I hear that it's too tiring to think and face such issues.... It is. But isn't it a struggle worth going through? We can admire men in the movies, or should I say, great men of the past and wonder how'd they got there. Well, for one, they thought alot, they thought about their purpose and meaning of life. They've formed a strong world view in their inner minds and an almost sure path that they'd have to take.

So the question is, are you up to it? To really start questioning all the doubts in your life, to stop living under the complaints of others and to really take responsibility for where you are in life. Things such as religion, careers, dreams. They matter to every human being. Do not try to push it away saying that there's no need for it...

And talking about religion, I see a divide, a side of the world that says it has no need for religion. And their arguement is that of people misusing it for terrorism, controlling others for own benefit, etc. The devil's good at these... making people distrustful of thinking about religious stuff. Thinking that it only causes wars and strife. But it is true, religion at least from my Christian context, it is a war. A spiritual battle that's going on all the time between God and the devil, a battle for the mind of individuals like you and me.

Of which I'm reminded of a certain story:
" There used to be certain kingdom that had a tyrrant for a ruler, the original king had gone missing and people were suffering under the current ruler. They were crying out for a saviour.
But life wasn't too horrible that they couldn't survive, for they adapted to whatever conditions the tyrant put them through.

One day, the King came back and with his army, engaged in an all out war against the tyrant, and after a long battle, emerged victorious and went about to set his people free, to enable them to live fully. However the Tyrant, managed to escape and went into exile.

However, the Kingdom was large and the population spread out sparsely. Many still didn't hear of the victory of the King and still lived their lives under the rule of the tyrant who still manages to exact quite an influence over a large part of the kingdom.

Therefore the King, gathering his trusted advisors and those who have seen the battle and told them to go throughout the Kingdom, declearing this good news; that they have been set free. That the tyrany no longer has under authority over them.

Many people came to hear of the news, some believed and took on the responsibility to spread the others while most didn't believe it, probably due to fear of punishment by the tyrant or a lack of desire to want change...."

This Story is in essence, the 'good news' of the Christian message that's being spread. A story of salvation, to us who have been trapped in the dark. In the dark pits of our minds. If only we'd just be willing to open up and to really listen to what's being said. Do not make conclusions based on the people alone, but hear the message.

To really live, without fears. To know our purpose. To live knowing how to love and be loved. If one were to closely scrutinise the teachings of the world today, how does it help to free us from our bondages of fear in our lives? Instead it only entrenches us more into the depths of darkness. And when we're in darkness not knowing what is light at all, how can we say that it doesn't exist based on what we see alone? That's where faith comes in...