Integrated Human Energy Framework
HEAL. EVOLVE. ALIGN. SHINE
Perception vs.
Sight
Life creates extraordinary
moments where learning is put into action.
This was after my training and
learning in Aiki, and the wisdom I received from my masters, back home in Sri
Lanka. I was working for an alternative visual media organisation dedicated to
creating awareness about peace and reconciliation. It was neither an easy time
nor an easy task. My country was going through three decades of ethnic
conflict, with deep divisions and politics benefiting the most from the
situation. Anyone who spoke about peace was often labelled either a traitor or
a terrorist.
It was during this time that a
major political protest was organised by the opposition party. The protest was
strategically planned so that thousands of people would enter the capital
simultaneously through several major entry points. The ruling party had
prepared extensive security arrangements to prevent anyone from entering.
Barricades, batons, riot police, guns, and tear gas were all in place. The
media were positioned across the various entry points, ready to capture the
unfolding events.
Then there was my team and me,
determined to bring the uncensored reality to the people, free from political
influence or any other force that sought to suppress peace.
We were there. The protesters
stood behind the barricades, roaring and shouting as they demanded entry into
the capital. I wondered why none of the media were on the protesters' side,
interviewing them or covering their perspective. Everyone was standing safely
behind the barricades alongside the security forces.
"What kind of cowards hide
behind the barricades, protected by the security forces?" Those were the
thoughts running through my mind, and my team felt the same.
We managed to move to the
protesters' side, capturing interviews and filming from every possible angle.
Suddenly, everything changed. The protesters surged forward, breaking through
the barricades with overwhelming force. We were caught in the middle. We had no
idea how to get out, where to move, or, most importantly, how to avoid being
trampled as the crowd turned violent. Interestingly, one of our biggest
concerns was not only saving ourselves but also protecting our expensive video
equipment.
The next moment, the security
forces reacted. Tear gas was fired, followed by riot-control guns using rubber
bullets. Then came the shields, batons, and the full force of the riot police.
That was the moment.
I finally understood why all the
other media crews had stayed behind the security barriers with the security
forces. The only foolish and ignorant ones were my team and me, who had
willingly placed ourselves in the middle of danger.
I HAD FORGOTTEN THE MOST
IMPORTANT TEACHING.
"Perception vs.
Sight"
To be Continued……
Master the Principle of "Perception vs. Sight"
Musashi wrote that you must
make your perception (Kan) strong and your visual sight (Ken) weak.
Sight (Ken): Looking only at what is directly in front of you (the opponent's sword, or today's urgent email). It makes you reactive.
Perception (Kan): Seeing the entire environment, underlying trends, and subtle movements without staring at them directly.
Budo Habit: Peripheral
Training
Practice softening your gaze
during sparring. Do not look at your opponent’s fists; look at their collarbone
or central axis. This allows your peripheral vision to catch any movement
instantly, giving you more time to react smoothly.
Leadership Habit: Look for
Root Causes
When a problem arises, do not
just fix the surface issue. Look at the systemic chain reaction that allowed it
to happen. Train yourself to see the "why" behind the metric, not
just the metric itself.
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