There are some movies I watch multiple times – whenever they show up on TV. One of them happens to be the 2010 version of The Karate Kid, featuring Jackie Chan (as Mr.Han) and Jaden Smith ( as Dre Parker). And the fact that one of my favourite scenes is the ‘snake woman’ is only a coincidence, and nothing to do with my alleged (by Cyn) affection for snake scenes in movies. 😀 Actually the part that interests me is the conversation after. (do not quote this line out of context)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inZWX5ipBZU&feature=related
Dre: “She was doing the Cobra thing. She was like…(makes movements)… copying the snake. And it was like… right here, and she was like…”
Han: “You did not watch closely enough, Xiao Dre… It was the snake that was copying the woman.”
Dre: “What? I don’t get it.”
Han: “Look.” (points at pool of drinking water) What do you see?”
Dre:“Me, well my reflection.”
Han:“Yes. (whirls water). Now, what do you see?”
Dre:“It’s blurry.”
Han:“Yes. That woman was like still water. Quiet and calm. In here (puts hand on the head) and in here (puts hand on the heart) .
Dre: “So, the snake reflects her action like still water. Like a mirror?”
Han: “Yes.”
Dre: “So, she controlled the snake by doing nothing?”
Han: “Being still and doing nothing… are two very different things.
(via)
The conversation interests me because the snake’s behaviour is typically the way I react to events and people that life throws at me. The aspiration is to have the clear and calm mind that will allow me to change the relationship equation. It’s an extremely difficult task, thanks to stimuli received from all around, especially social platforms. The real time knee jerk reactions characteristic of ‘social media’ also start influencing the way I make decisions even when they are not involved.
It’ would probably be easy if I just closed myself to these stimuli, but that’s not really practical, or the best way. The better, and more difficult way, is to be there, and yet, not allow it to affect what I am and do. As John Wooden said, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” That’s something I am trying not to forget, even as I try to make the character as objective as possible. It’s ironic that the platforms which started out (for me) as places to express myself are now trying to ‘force’ me to conform, to become part of cliques, or maybe that’s just the way it’s supposed to work when networks become media.
until next time, character limits 🙂
Er.. ok…