Anime Lectio: Ranking of Kings

                                                           1. Why do Anime Lectio? 

Anime Lectio is a time for us to stop and take a breath. Between work, activities, family life, and social media, our minds are always moving. We rarely take time to contemplate and ask, why am I watching this anime? What’s the point of all this? And, how is this making me feel? 

2. Put away all distractions 

(phones, work, etc.)

We are so enslaved to things that stimulate our minds. Let this be a moment for us to free our minds, look inside of ourselves, and be at peace.

3. Deep Breathing

Take several deep breaths. Let your mind relax. If you’ve had any questions, desires, or struggles that you’ve been hiding or stuffing away, let them rise up to the surface. 

4. Open yourself to God’s Presence

Remember God places all our thoughts and desires inside of us, and He uses them to draw us closer to Himself. God gives us a community to help us understand who we are and what He is calling us to do. The faces of other people you know and don't know are like signs of God’s presence.  

5. Think About What’s on Your Mind in Relation to the Anime

Think about what’s been on your mind in relation to the anime.  The following is an example of such thoughts written by me.  

A balance of strength and power is important for everyone, but in different ways. For example, if you're someone who leads people in a position of authority, then power and strength in an equal amount is needed in order to lead properly. Too much strength and not enough power, or too much power and not enough strength, with this leadership can result in not wanting and/or needing anyone else's help, which isn't how leadership works. This is true in any kind of leadership position, as well as anything else that requires a balance of strength and power.

6. Brief and written explanation of the anime

Pay attention to how the brief and written explanation of the anime seen on this blog, or seeing the anime for yourself since that's better than any explanation, might “speak” to you or shed light on the things that have been on your minds.

The anime series Ranking of Kings starts with a tiny, deaf-mute prince who's one of the weakest, if not the weakest, person in his world. How he's seen and what people think of him divides his kingdom as some people are for him becoming king, including his father, the current king, and a shadow that befriends this tiny, deaf-mute prince, while others aren't for it at all. When the time to name a new king comes, the brother of the tiny, deaf-mute prince is chosen to be the next king, despite the old king wanting his other son to be the next king. The tiny, deaf-mute prince then ends up going on an adventure in order to figure out how to get stronger and with the help of his shadow friend, finds a way to do that when they end up in the Underworld. Not only does the tiny, deaf-mute prince become stronger, but he's now the world's strongest thanks to the training he receives in the Underworld. The strength of this tiny, deaf-mute prince is then needed back in his kingdom, which is under the threat of invading powers. After using his new strength to deal with this threat, everyone in the kingdom acknowledges that this tiny, deaf-mute prince should be king, which he is for a while. However, because of this, his shadow friend leaves, thinking he's not worthy to be the new king's friend, but the new king gives up being king in order to be with his friend and go on adventures with him again, which is what makes him happy.

7.  Reflect on the anime

Has this brief and written explanation of the anime shed any light on what's been on your minds?  The following is an example of a reflection on the anime from me.

In the second opening of the anime Ranking of Kings, the lyrics talk about the differences between strength and power and that both are equally important instead of having one without the other. This idea is also seen in the anime and is also an idea that I had in mind when writing a reflection recently about what I think my monastic community needs in its next abbot, or leader of the community, as we prepare to elect a new abbot soon. I think that a balance of strength and power would be important for this leader not only now, but at all times, which should also be true for any leader. Other things, like happiness, meaning do what makes you happy (Does this person want to be the leader? Would it make him happy? Would he be happy doing it?) are also important for not just you, but everyone else too.

8. Final Prayer

Please voice any prayer intentions for friends, family, or people around the world that relate to this anime.  The following is an example written by me.

Let us pray that we can see a balance of strength and power, as well as other things like happiness, in the people around us, especially the people in positions of leadership.