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=Lesson 1: The Nature of the Force= (By Sam)(ael) (Return to Lessons) (Return to Teachings)

Is the force real? Is it fiction? Or possibly intriguing fact just on the edge of current human understanding? As you read my lessons please understand that what I am teaching is not accepted science. But I have experienced it myself and spent a long time applying what I have learned gaining much knowledge of the workings of the force. What I teach is possibly controversial. I will be teaching you how to do something the world doesn’t really believe in yet. Opening your mind to some principles of the universe both ancient and new. However I will only be teaching what I personally know to be true. Any theories I have will be presented as such for your own evaluation and thought. I have spent over ten years as a Force user and I have achieved the rank of Master twice in that Time. My objective in these Lessons is to teach you how to do your own work with the force, and toward that end I will be vindicated in your own experiences and progress.

The force is energy. In the plainest simplicity it is energy. The force is an energy field created by life that encompasses the entire universe like an ocean in which all we know floats. The force holds the universe together generating all of the ‘laws’ of nature we know of like gravity, distance, and substance. We will discuss the nature of reality later.
 * What is the force?**

The force is generated by life and the two coexist closely in a symbiotic relationship. Both benefit from their relationship. The force helps us to survive and guides us on our way, and we produce the force as we go about our lives. This is one reason why Jediism believes so strongly in the value of life.
 * The force and life**

All substance is an expression of energy. When you break down matter to it’s most basic forms it has become energy and for that reason is the force a part of everything. Also for that reason is the force such a valuable ally. Heat, Electricity, spiritual energy, Mystic energy, and bioelectricity are all expressions of energy. It is my personal theory that the force is the finest energy in the universe (at least that we can currently comprehend) and that through it we have the keys to all power and abilities beyond our current understanding.
 * The nature of reality**

Even emotions and thoughts are things. This is what makes sensing the thoughts of others possible. Though they are subtle energies, like the force they are energy. As we learn to control our thoughts and emotions we gain more control over the way things currently are. If you have ever read or learned about the laws of attraction where visualizing thing can bring them into your life you might gain some understanding as to why that is by understanding that even thought is as real as any chair or table, only made of more subtle materials. This is why all Life Philosophies that embrace the existence of the force have careful thought and emotional control principles. Though methods vary, all are created and used with the understanding that thoughts and emotions are real things, and with them reality is created. If thought is real than you should consider how much stronger belief is. Many teachings are designed to open your beliefs to a larger world.
 * Thought and emotions are things**

Now that you understand that thought and emotion are real things you also learn how a force user can ‘use’ the force. This energy that flows through all things and is generated by life can be directed by thought and personal discipline to do great things. Increase healing, Sense your surroundings, and even perform such feats as Telekinesis. The masters of the force may even be able to gain such a knowledge of the force that one day they may create with it. Our understanding of the force is childish at first, for it is as vast and enshrouded as all of reality.
 * Using the force**

Now there is a reason that Jedi tend to call the force an ally and Sith tend to call it a tool. This may simply be a separation of philosophies, but it’s implications are profound. Does the force truly have a personality? Does it have desires and a will of it’s own? On this point I cannot give you an absolute answer. I think I know but I am too wise to think I cannot be easily mistaken about something this hard to understand. So let us examine the facts and you may view the conclusions of others and choose for yourself. When Jedi Speak of the ‘will’ of the force they are talking about a tendency of the force to do certain things. Over long years Jedi have learned that when following the hints and guidance of the force it has not lead to random ends. Following the ‘will’ or direction of the force does not work like flipping a coin, and some ‘chance’ when related to the force is not left up to chance. When we talk about tendencies and chances in regard to the force we are referring to how a force user tends to survive through the most insane circumstances when they are relying purely on the force’s guidance. How the force will lead a Jedi to a situation at just the perfect time such as at the exact moment a person needs something or right when a person is being robbed, or exactly when a door is left open for the first time in years. Though hard to get a grip on the subtle directions of the force have convinced most Jedi that there is a purpose to the guidance beyond survival and sometimes beyond their understanding of good and evil. Sometimes the force directs certain individuals into one specific undertaking whether or not they try to avoid it. Other times when a Jedi ignores a prompting it fits seamlessly into the ‘plan’. When we talk about the will of the force we are talking about something we can faintly see but o not understand. All we know is that the force tends toward preservation of life and somehow the individual and communal ‘destiny’ of things are sometimes more than they seem. Jedi also respect the force and treat its use as one’s relationship with a friend whereas others regard it only as a tool. Some indeed believe that powers gained from the force are not it’s greatest function and that the will of the force itself is leading toward something truly great and that listening to and following the will of the force is the greatest use of a Jedi. Others believe that the will of the force is God and that the force is either His power or an energy subject to His will. Personally I believe that the force like life itself has certain tendencies. I think like any person it can only take so much abusive use but will blossom if you use respect and diplomacy. I also believe that the force is a natural force of the universe and that God could control it, but the tendencies of the force are similar to the communal will of all life. Some of its actions are for the greater good but at the same time, each individual is cared for as that individual would care for themselves. Additionally if we all communally knew everything on some subconscious level connected by the force We might not understand what was in our best interests until the end and that would create the mystery of the force.
 * Personality of the force**

Finally, the force is not understood completely. The more we learn, the more we find out how little we know. An infinite mystery as large as everything because it encompasses all. Here however are a few principles of the force that have been gleaned by myself and others.
 * Paradoxes of the force**

Sometimes the force is backwards. In order to gain command of the force for instance sometimes you must surrender to it. In order to reach out with it sometimes you must reach inside yourself (or at least it feels like that is what you are doing). Sometimes in order to understand something you must purposely misunderstand it. This kind of reversed logic tends to come up in the force so as you learn how to do things, remember that sometimes you must do the opposite of what logic would tell you to. My thought on this are that the entire universe is somehow contained in every particle that makes it up. Like the universe is contained in every particle of sand and every piece IS the whole. In those terms in order to reach out you would simply need to reach in. The other examples of reversed logic however are beyond my full understanding besides the fact that my most profound solutions tend to come from answering the problem backwards. Instead of getting rid of unwanted guests I invite them adamantly and they go away. Weird.
 * The backwards reflection of the force**

Like the wise man says, treat others how you would be treated. It turns out that since thoughts are things, every bad thought you send out, and every bad feeling comes back to you. So in order to be happy you might just HAVE to be the source of other’s happiness. The same goes for your relationship with the force. This parallel can even be applied well to Sith Philosophy. Since they tend to gain their strength from controversy and conflict inflicting it carelessly (or precisely) on others would only serve to bring strengthening opposition to themselves and in exchange for biting every bullet they are absolutely free to do what they want. It all depends upon your perspective, but the tendency for a life philosophy to succeed is that it will only succeed if it can survive the test of this philosophy.
 * The Mirror of the force**

The force is a bigger concept than the mind can hold in some ways. An ant would not understand the concept of a glass dish, but if it were the size of a human it might. Some problems you cannot understand by viewing only a piece. In the same way we do not understand some of the things that come with the force. For instance if there is ANY size in the universe, there is EVERY size in the universe. This is why the whole universe would theoretically have Infinite size, and yet be contained in every infinitely small particle at the same time. Wrap your mind around that thought and you will wonder if you ever knew anything about life for sure.
 * Infiniteness of understanding**

Lesson 1: The Nature of the force Lesson 2: Feeling the force Lesson 3: Gaining Control Lesson 4: Why we Meditate Lesson 5: Using the force Lesson 6: Insights
 * __Lessons__**:

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