Imagine flock of sheep herded by their shepherd. Suddenly, their shepherd was caught in an untimely death, what do you think will happen to the flock of sheep? That's what 47 Ronin's major theme. It will lead us to the path of the Ronin, which means a Samurai without master. Some become mercenaries, some were able to adapt to their new environment, but some were brave enough to march to death following their master.

47 Ronin can be summarized by these virtues: Patience, Loyalty, Bravery, and Honor. It can be further summarized to one word, "DISCIPLINE". The 47 Ronin authored by John Allyn follows the life of samurai, its nature, way of life, its humanity and integrity. The book was written in a very compelling way that I forgot that these are based on true story and a famous play in Japan. The book teaches us the importance and significance of delayed gratification, waiting for proper timing and a very discipline mind despite conflicting interest. Ordinary people will think that the path they choose is the path to self-destruction, but because of their loyalty, and honor to their chosen profession, the path is not self-destruction but to only to accomplished their mission.



The book gives us a glimpse of the unshakable discipline of Japanese people, their belief in the system and order, the honor code and a like. This simply reminds me that somehow, the Confucian theory really helped shape one's country.  

I recommend this book for those who are facing trials and starting to lose faith at the first struck of misery. This will give you some enlightenment, I hope.  But more than reading this, I'm looking forward watching it in the big screen, although, I think they made some modification to accommodate Keanu Reeves, because nowhere in the book I read a character named Kai, it is Oishi who lead the other Ronin in the fight. Anyway, here's the trailer for the film.


47 Ronin will be in cinemas, I guess for the Philippine audience, this January 2014. :) 

While browsing IMDb.com I came across the film Garden State. It's a 2004 film starred by Natalie Portman and Zach Braff. It's rated 7.6 stars so I downloaded it in a "file-sharing site" which according to my professor in Intellectual Property law is "legal" or is clothed to be "legal". LOL. Whatever means I used in getting a copy of this film is not important what matters is I got a copy in dvdrip. The movie is well..not about the vegetables nor plants! Sorry for trying to be humorous. (insert rolling eyes)  

The film follows Andrew Largeman who went home after 13 years (Oh wait 9 years? Whatever!) to attend the funeral of her mother whom he have not seen since he left home. He is in garden state, well actually garden state was not defined but I guess it's about a state of being caught in the middle of something searching for something like a home or something you can connect to, but actually there is none and it was like a state of being numb without feelings without anything. Whew! That was really wordful for a definition! Anyway, so going back to Largeman, he was in a garden state, he can't feel anything, he can't even cry for God sake! He was like a living dead. Then came Sam (portrayed by Natalie Portman) whom he met in a hospital while he was waiting for his appointment with a neurologist recommended by his father. Sam played mysterious, but it was later on the bluff was discovered, she told him that she is liar and its just a facade to cover up her own wound. She is epileptic.

Anyway, what I liked about the film is the story line itself mirroring the reality and discovering that living is really quite painful sometimes. Like what normal people are feeling about life, whether they acknowledge it or deny it. We are all in search of that infinite abyss. The idea of discovering something, of making a mark, and proving ourselves that somehow causes unhappiness to some people. But at the end of the day, it really does not matter, because it is all EGO. I am personally guilty of this, because we all felt that we are ought to leave make a mark in this world and somewhere, somehow we are like in search of something we do not know that frustrates us, for what?.. nothing! So it is helpful to know that while we are all searching for infinite abyss, we should still get hold of the things that are important. Things that are already within our reach like family, friends..., we should not succumb to the darkness of infinite abyss or else we will also be in garden state with nothing to hold unto,connected to none. Now, it make sense to me the dialogue of Largeman about having lost connection and not finding home because he lose the string going back home, searching for something in the infinite abyss. It's a reminder that while we are pursuing things we thought that are important, we should not forget to tend to our 'home' where we are connected, it's a piece of string that we should not let go no matter what or we will lose everything. 

Ok, so since I was really infected by this film, let me share some viral lines from the movie. 

From Albert: 

From Andrew Largeman: 

You'll see when you move out. It just sort of happens one day, one day and it's just gone. And you can never get it back. It's like you get homesick for a place that doesn't exist. I don't know maybe it's like this rite of passage, you know. You won't have this feeling again until you create a new idea of home for yourself, you know, for your kids, for the family you start. It's like a cycle or something. I miss the idea of it. Maybe that's all family really is. A group of people who miss the same imaginary place.

Photo credit: http://www.buzzfeed.com/louispeitzman/garden-state-quotes-that-seemed-more-profound-in-high-school

I don't know where I got this quote, I wonder if it's from Legally blonde or I scribble it myself, but for some strange reason I found it while cleaning and doing inventory of my books. 

I (or we) know this for a fact,but it feels good to be reminded of these virtues (oftentimes taken for granted) which are key to success, I believe, if we truly understand the meaning of it. As they say, the simple solutions are the easiest one, we just want to make things complicated (Whut??!). I plan to make these as my major theme for 2014. (Another whertt?) For this year, I will not make any list whatsoever, maybe I'll just glance on some list I made few years back which were not accomplished but I will not really compel myself in pursuing it. This year, I will be open to anything, whatever life would lead me to. 

Speaking of which, I just watch some random films and read two (2) books, and I'm done with 47 ronin (which surprisingly also talks about patience). Out of the random films I watched, I love the Garden State the most. Others are just silly shit films that were very random by James Franco, Jonah Hill, Seth Rogens and their gang. I kinda relate with Andrew Largeman in the film (played by Zach Braff). I agree with the major theme of the film that all the people are searching for infinite abyss... that we want to discover something new, something unique or rather the idea of discovering something new, but at the end of the day, we just want to look for that imaginary place, where we can connect to others, and will make us connected. I don't know. 

Well anyway, enough of this crazy shit blurting. I just want to welcome 2014.