The Jedi Code
Since the Jedi communities began to blossom out on the great Internet, there have been countless variations and interpretations of the Jedi Code. The Jedi Code can be seen in many ways, yet it has never been, and never will be, an absolute governing functionary of the Light Jedi. These 4 lines are written interpretations of the Ideals that the light community sees within the members of the order. A few lines can, and should, never replace the Jedi’s heart and dedication to the path he has chosen for himself. Attempting to convey the passion to their path; the commitment, the strength and resolve which is in each of the Jedi can never be done. The Code is simply a reflection of the ideals the Light Jedi holds in their heart and mind.
There is no emotion – there is peace
As has been stated on countless ocassions, the Jedi are “famous” for their emotional self-control. But are they truly in such a control as to never feeling, never experiencing or acting on their emotions? Jedi is part of the Star Wars terminology, which for some of us provide a great deal of perception and behavioural filters in our life. Unlike the Jedi taken from the movies, the real life adept does not generally have the benefit of many years of training in an academy, a temple, a convent, or other environment that allows them the practice and discipline for total emotional self control. In real life, those who become Jedi grow up in many different places. Big cities, small villages, or out in the middle of nowhere. Emotions can be a blessing as well as a curse, depending on what we are feeling – and how capable we are of handling them.
While good and bad are not universal concepts, some emotions such as anger, hatred, fear and jelousy can be viewed as negative if allowed to flow rampant. At times, if allowed, they take the better of us, leaving us out of control of how we chose to express them. All by themselves, emotions are not bad. They are signals and reactions to stimulation that we all experience. Physical pain signals injury. Emotional pain shows there is something that is weighing us down, for whatever underlying reason. Emotions and feelings are there for a reason, and always have. They are not simply awesome or horrible at times, but part of the entire human experience. Something that seems to be a popular notion is that Jedi cannot, or rather are not to feel anger or love.
Anger, and love, are beautiful emotions in their own right. They carry important messages and experiences that can help us grow as human beings. Remember, we are Jedi realists, not role playing Jedi who believe we are able to live our real life lifes as the Knights of the old republic. We become angry when we see injustices. We fall in love at times, almost losing ourselves in both emotions. Neither are inherantly good or bad. What does matter, what does truly matter, is how we chose to respond to these emotions. As a Jedi, if you are angered, do you lash out with your frustration in completely uncontrolled manner – and quite possibly cause much more damage to a situation? Strong emotions have a very nasty habit of clouding our judgment. Or better phrased; changing our point of reference or perspective on matters at hand.
When the jedi’s mind is clear from being influenced by his emotions, one can act calmly. One can look at the situation at hand, and beyond the situations outermost surface, and make decisions that will help resolve the situation in the best positive way possible. It’s a difficult thing distinguishing the emotions involved in situations, to tell apart ones own personal feelings from what is really necessary or appropiate to feel. Anger for example can come from the awareness injustice has been made, and instead of letting that anger take control over the Jedis actions – that Anger can be made to strive toward a positive outcome. With time, awareness of how and when certain emotions arises, one learns to see what are real triggers.
Which ones are the important emotions, and which ones are simply reactions that can be dealt with swiftly. Deeper underlying emotions are powerful things, and should never be underestimated. The first reaction of a Light Jedi student may be to supress these emotions, thinking they will serve no good. This can be done, but is a dangerous thing and can lead to mental instability. Emotions are not always reactions to external stimulation from the world around us, or the perception thereof. Often emotions are internal stressreleases, dealing with wide variety of underlying causes. Repressed memories, bad memories, situations the jedi has bad memories from, or something else that needs to come to expression.
There is no ignorance – There is knowledge
After emotional awareness and management skills, the Jedi are also renowned for their understanding of the complexity of situations, how different threads weave together to form the situations they are facing in their own lives, as well as others. The Jedi, from the movies, have a clear mandate: Guardians of peace and justice throughout the galaxy”. If we flip it around a bit to fit into the Jedi realist movement, we see that people have different focuses of studies. Some people focus on force abilities ranging from healing, to telekinesis, telepathy, astral projection, shamanism and so much more. The Jedi taken from the movies take the time to study situations carefully, consulting the great archives on coruscant.
In our everyday life, both as humans and as Jedi – we will face a vast variety of situations. Some are very simple dealing with where others are more complex, more difficult to see through to see all the connections. There are times we are mediators, peacemakers. At times such as those it is very important to understand the situation. To understand how people behave, what certain emotions do to them, why they act the way they do, and the consequences of the actions. When people are cornerd they lie, they cheat and they try to make their way out of it. Some resolve to extreme measures where others break down and instead spill their guts. Other people push the blame of something transpired onto another person. Either on purpose, or honestly. At these times we need to know the circumstances.
A Jedi always keeps an open mind, carefully listening to what is being said, but also much to how things are being said. While this goes into the territory of behavioural psychology, people shift their voices and act differently when they are not telling the entire truth, or when they are trying to hide something. The Jedi listens. Observes. Is careful in his observations, to see what are emotional constructs. To see if people are trying to get something out of the situation at hand.
OK, so far i’ve been going over the Jedis interaction with other people. But there is something else that is so much more important to the Jedi, becuase without it – he cannot truly be of assistance to those he has dedicated himself to aid at times. Himself. The path of the Jedi, and the second line of the Code, is knowledge. All human beings are made up of many different aspects. If looking at these aspects from an emotional & mental perspective, one realizes that all humans have emotional and mental patterns which they appreciate and dislike. I have them. You have them. They have them *points at everyone else*
Being a Jedi means understanding yourself, your emotional and mental thought patterns. To through self understanding and analasys come to an understanding of what are productive and constructive patterns that will help you achieve your goals both as a Jedi, and in other areas of your life. Some patterns are self destructive and need to be dissolved, to be broken down and transmuted into positive ones that are nurturing instead of destructive.
This is a difficult thing in a Jedis practice, to reach inside oneself and bring out the difficult and painful things that we are all carrying inside. It needs to be brought out into the open for examination. Doing this will hurt, and in some ways be very frightening.
When one begins to understand ones own inner mechanics, it does not mean you automaticaly understand how everyone in the world functions, or how the world itself works. But it does mean you have taken a deep and very intimate step toward understanding yourself.
“And the truth shall set you free”
There is no passion – There is serenity
This line works further with “There is no emotion – there is peace” line, which discusses how powerful emotions can make it difficult for a Jedi to maintain perspective on the issues at hand, narrowing down their frame of reference due to the emotional attachment that can come with it. Passion also deals with powerful emotions, and can refer to a wide range of emotions. Hate, Anger, Love, Obsession.
When we feel strong emotions, it is difficult to remain objective. Especially is it difficult to remain detached when people or situations we are extremely fond of, are in situations that is challenging and difficult on many levels. Love for example can make it very difficult for a person to stand by and watch while a loved one is going through a difficult time, and is suffering becuase of it.
Detachment is very important to learn for the Jedi adept. It allows us to experience the emotions themselves without letting them guide our actions. There are times when we must look the other way and let people go through difficult times, in order for them to learn their lessons in life. We cannot do this for people, as much as we would like to believe that we are doing the right thing. Lessons in life are there to be learned by everyone. We cant learn them for someone.
Just as that is the case, so is it with anger and hatred. These dark emotions are so easy to get attached to becuase when those are experienced they seem to give the person fuel, an incredibly inner strength – but after which one feels empty. It gives a momentarily energy booster, and power to continue on when things are difficult.
When the Jedi can look the other way, he learns to not rely on his emotions to decide things. He has become the concious choice of all his actions. He can let go of the emotional impulses that comes with powerful emotions, and instead of relying on them reach an inner place of peace, from which he operates.
There is no death – There is the Force
Assuming you have seen the starwars movies, have you ever seen a Jedi hesitate to act even in the most dangerous of circumstances, where the risk of getting killed seemed to be extremely high? The Jedi realist doesn’t go out looking for trouble in the real world, nor are we any form of vigilantes but it is important to keep in mind that a Jedi acts without fear. Without fear for many things, including death.
If looking from a scientific perspective, we are all composed of energy in one form or another. Although i’m personaly not well versed in physics, it is common knowledge that energy can never be destroyed. Only transformed into another state of existance, of shape and with different properties. When you walk out the door in the morning, ready to take on the world, you are taking the risk that you will die today. You could cross the street, get hit by a car and die instantly. Or, a tile from your roof could slide down and hit you right on your head and you’re dead.
It is such a reassurance to think that life is neat and orderly, that we will die safe and comfortable in a warm bed somewhere. Or as some feel to be more suitable to their own preference. In the line of duty, or sacrificing themselves in some way to save another life. But in the end, even as Jedi, we have no control whatsoever over how we, in the end, are going to move on to the next level of existance. I have no intention of pushing my own spiritual beliefs onto anyone, so take the philosophy for what it can offer and discard that which you feel is not for you.
When we wake up in the morning, we are welcomed to a new and bright day. A new day with new options, new possibilities for growth and success in life. But also to a risk of dying. Death is all around us, and is for many people a most uncomfortable thing to think about and even worse to be spoken about out aloud.
“It’s the circle of life….” ~ Lion King
We are born, we live, we die. As Jedi, we live with the ever present currents of the force, directing us, and the universe. How can we expect to act in ways that allows for the greatest possible results, if we are afraid of acting? IF we are afraid, we lose so much of such a preciously allotted time in our lives. Fearing to die hampers us, it makes us doubt ourselves, and in ways make us so much lesser then who we are. Being afraid of death is not cowardice. It is to realize that one has certain personal doubts about what lies in the hereafter.
Accept that you are alive, right now, and that some day it will end. Live your life to the very fullest, and by accepting that someday that time will come, and you will find peace. Peace without being troubled by worrying thoughts of when it will happen.
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Road of the Jedi
As Jedi are portrayed in the trilogy, they are spiritual warriors. Guardians of peace and Justice throughout the galaxy, guardians of morality and political stability. But what is the road of the jedi? Is it one of fictious journeys, lightsaber battles, determining the future of the entire galaxy? Do we wield the force in such a way, we can achieve anything we want, that we have the power to crush, to destroy, to build, to grow, to make a difference?
We are the guardians of what, exactly? An inner spiritual journey? Yes, but so much more then “just” that. The Jedi share within their group certain ideals and values, that bind this group together. Peace, tranquility, acceptance, openmindness, awareness and knowledge. Each and one of the Jedi are walking a path that is the same within the group. But at the same time, the Jedi stands on his own. As part of an online community, we stand together through words on a computer screen, but when we log off from the FA, then what? Then we are on our own, becuase we make choices all the time of who we wish to be.
When it all comes down to it, we don’t have a Jedi Temple. We don’t have a meeting place in real life, as in the books or movies. Our journey is one of choices. No masters, no knights, no padawans or adepts are perfect in any way. We all fall at times, hurting in some way. But sometimes success or failure, though it shouldnt necessarily be seen as either, isnt what matters.
What matters is that there is a choice. That there is a decision to follow a path, to be someone. I have chosen to be a light jedi. Or as it is at its very core, i have chosen to be that which the Light order stands for. Jedi, Sith, Shadows, Failure, Success, are all words trying to convey a line of thinking – a philosophy. But does it reflect who I am? Who you are? Does it tell others who we are? Not necessarily, but it gives a vague description of what the collective ideals stand for, once it is defined. If i call myself Jedi, what does that one word tell? In itself, nothing, to an outsider But if i say i am a seeker of answers, of peace, and acceptance? Those are also words but more descriptive. Point being, a Jedi is so much more then a single word (Jedi) or slightly longer definition, Light Jedi.
” Therefore the Master acts without doing anything
and teaches without saying anything.” ~ Tao, Chapter 2, S. Mitchell translation
Who we as Jedi truly are, are not defined through words becuase in the end they mean little to nothing, nor are we in need for personal recognition or reassurance through a name of fiction, but instead we let our words and actions speak for themselves. Actions speak so much louder then words, no matter how loudly spoken.
“There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path” – Matrix
The Jedi is a path of decision making, hardship and in times doubt in the chosen path and doubt in ones own ability to journey this path. We are also guardians of peace, in all its forms. We search for the inner peace. To accept the currents of the force around us, to bend with the winds without breaking, to let go of the things that can’t be held on to. We search for outer peace through our words, through our actions and our decisions. All things connected, who we chose to be at the end of the day, reflects outwards. Like throwing a stone into a pond, creating ripples through life.
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Human spirits
As Darkness falls around us
There we stand, bright in light of who we are
As cold winds blow in from the vast oceans
There we stand, tendering the fires to help keep warm
As hearts tremble with pain, from life
There we stand, ready to support and help to continue
As ignorance grows over these lands
There we stand, in honesty and light sharing, what we know
As doubts surrounds us like a shroud of night
There we stand, to help you through.
As fear takes hold of your heart
There we stand, standing with you til the end
As battle rages around you
There we stand, side by side
We are Jedi.
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Jedi as spiritual bandaid
Looking out into a, at times, seemingly dark and cold world, the first instinct of the Jedi is to be of assistance to those who need it. People are dying, raped, murdered, abused, alone, cold and frightened, and in pain. It is not in our nature to simply stand by, no words spoken. No actions taken.
To use an analogy, the Jedi are spiritual bandaids. At times we are called upon to simply offer a listening ear, sometimes the actions asked from us are more of hands-on nature such as verbaly or physicaly defending oneself or another person. These are good things, and in line with the Light Jedi philosophy. But at what point do we begin causing more damage then really help out? An action can have the purest of intentions, to help someone overcome hardships in their lives, yet cause so much more damage then one could possibly imagine at first.
Life goes in many ways, for which nobody is ever truly prepared. One can prepared ones whole life for one moment in time, and find himself completely lacking once that moment appears. These are challenges brought before us, by whatever one choses to believe in. Divine providence, fate, luck/bad luck, the force, god, the first cause etc. But in the end, no matter by what name, face or image you put to the origin of the hardship – that is exactly what it is. An obstacle. It is an obsticle there, for a reason. As most Jedi through their training have come to sense in some way, few if no things happen by accident. At this point i am having trouble generalizing, or writing in such a way to appeal to as many people as possible, without giving myself to much leeway to step on peoples spiritual toes – and if i do that, then my apologies.
So, at the very core of difficult things that happens, that is what it is. A difficult matter. An obstacle. A bump in the road, that we as Jedi need to learn how to overcome. There is no going around if we chose to call ourselves Jedi. We are spiritual warriors. When one steps around one bump, one will find the next one even deeper becuase of the lost lessons of the first one. By our own hardships and obstacles in life, we grow. We grow in our resolve. In our peace, becoming more prepared for similar and new situations in the future. We learn how to deal with them in a calm manner, emotionaly balanced, and become more able to help other people in similar situations.
But bandaids can be tricky. If you are in a busaccident, and a number are greatly injured, and a few are suffering mostly from cuts and bruises, where do you put your efforts into? Helping the severely injured, to increase their chances to survive? As Spiritual bandaids, there are times, when we must look beyond our emotional reactions to people. We wish to help. To be there. But at times, that can be the worst thing we could do. To work against a person. Just as we need to overcome our own challenges in life, so is it needed for others to do just the same. If we take it upon ourselves, to do the work for another person – from the spiritual perspective, the impact and depth of that lesson will be lost to them. We grow stronger, while that person loses a great deal of what life had to offer at that moment.
Life does not offer simple good things. It offers bad things as well. And when given something, one shouldnt scoff it and throw it away. By taking on burdons of other people, they lose their opportunity to live, to grow and learn. And what when the next challenge presents itself? Then they will be less prepared.
We are not here to do other peoples work in life. We are here to support, to guide, but not to do it for them. Also there is another lesson in being a spiritual bandaid, as a Jedi. One needs to learn an acceptance, no matter how difficult it is, to seperate what is ones responsibility. What one is obligated, or feel obligated, to deal with from anothers life. Understanding where the line goes between ones own problems, and being problems of another person, is essential to be a light jedi – for it will help keep ones peace. To see beyond ones emotions, and what is truly there. Be yourself. And let people be themselves.
Connected through the force, everything is. But sometimes one needs to learn how to define the boundaries. Where to cut oneself lose from the pains and hardships of others, and simply be there. As LJK Kirwan once told me; “What is within your skin, is under your control. What’s outside of you, isnt”.
Be Light. Be Jedi.
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Jedi and Identity
For some time now, i have been meditating on the meaning of Identity, and what it truly means to me – how it affects who i am, or more accurately my perception of the self. Unfortunately the question “who are you?” most often recieves the answer “I’m [insert name]”. But is that all that there is to who we are, as individuals?
To the world, i am:
A student of anthropology, a friend, a brother, a son, a human being, a coffee drinker, oversleeper, renter of an apartment, a studentloan reciver and so many more things.
To myself, i am:
A healer, a friend, a traveller, a success, a failure, a promise, a lie, a blessing, a curse, a student, and so much more.
In the end, what are these words? That’s exactly what they are. Words. Simple, linguistic, intertranslateable words from culture to culture, language to language. These words may hold so many different values and associations that in the end, there’s even less point in looking at them.
So..if i say that i am, a brother (which i am). Does that define me, does that give me an identity? No, it doesn’t. Simply becuase brother is but a word, a definition of a state of being or a title. It shows a part of my role in the family tree, but not who i am as a person. Instead one needs to look beyond the written letter or uttered word.
Identity can’t be spoken. It cant be written. It is a state of being, of self perception and awareness. The emotional experience and self perception i have through my experiences, are of an inner nature. While it can be attempted to be expressed through words, it loses so much of the true meaning. Much as Pruysers psychology modell.
One can also look at Immanuel Kants idea of that the real world can’t be touched. Perhaps the Inner world of people manifest itself in some ways, but some aspects such as identity are locked away in the hearts of people?
Another example; A scientist calculates the distance between earth and the moon. Are the numbers the actual distance, or just an image (image = title/word)?
What can be expressed isnt always what truly is.
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