Eyeshield 21 (TAO-wenty One)

Enlightened by the philosophy that is depicted in 'Animes' (hand-made or computer animated productions of a certain tale) which was tackled by a philosophy teacher of mine in his discussion about the idea of abandoning one's prejudices' that was encapsulated in a fighting scene in the Anime: "Rurouni Kenshin", I have decided to somehow share my personal interpretation of the Anime: Eyeshield 21, which entails a story of a young student, Sena Kobayakawa, of the Deimon High School who was forcefully recruited (because of his indubitable swiftness and astonishing rate of speed) to play as a 'running back' of their school's American football team, the Deimon Devil Bats. He was actually a timid high school student who didn't have any idea how fast he could run. After being coerced to play, he was disguised with a green 'eyeshield', a gear attached to the helmet that is used to protect the eyes, which gave the said tale a mysterious catch.

Sena, or Eyeshield 21, then faced a lot of illustrious opponents in his pursuit of winning the cup. In the duration of his games, he became famous for having few, yet incredible techniques in running off the ball to a 'touchdown'. One of this techniques (or powers) is the Devil Bat Ghost. 

The Devil Bat Ghost: one of his primal techniques in going through the opponent to bring forth a magnificent touchdown. Such technique was characterized as the act of going through the opponent, without actually reducing speed, which involves no touching. It's like a 'ghost' tendency; to pass through something without even really 'passing' at all, as if there were no obstructions ahead. Although, he actually just change his direction in accordance to an imaginary line that depicts a free space where he could run through in. Nevertheless, because of such speed of him, it appeared to be as if he was just a 'ghost' passing through the opponent, as if the latter was not there to impede his way.

Here's a photo of the Devil Bat Ghost

Well, if we are to take a look at it deeply, such idea of the Devil Bat Ghost as passing through without really even passing through (because there is no such thing to be passed on), is quite analogous to the Taoist's idea of action through non-action. To be able to pursue one's purpose without actually even doing anything at all; to not to carry out some other businesses aside from one's very purpose (by nature). As how it was said in a work of Chuang Tzu about the "Cutting up an ox": "I see nothing with the eye. My whole being apprehends. My senses are idle. The spirit is free to work without plan, follows its own instinct guided by a natural line. By the secret opening , the hidden space, my cleaver finds its own way. I cut through no joint, chop no bone". 

From such nothingness then; from such empty space provided, Sena was able then to run off, to open a cut, passing through his opponents. Like a cleaver, without touching a bone, nor a joint (the opponents themselves), he will be able to slice a way through the barricade. Nevertheless, conclusively, that is the Way of Tao; to cut, without really 'cutting', to act, without really 'acting'.