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Wisdom for Jedi Teachers
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Wisdom for Jedi Teachers An individual who decides to take on a Force student must tread carefully. The responsibilities associated with such a position may not become apparent until it is too late. An instructor must constantly watch for pupils with a propensity for seeking the easy path to power, who do not possess the will to resist the temptations of the dark side. Empowering such weak souls can have dangerous consequences --- for both the instructor and the universe as a whole. All Force teachers develop a permanent relationship with their students --- the Jedi Way demands it. If a Jedi turns to the dark side, the Jedi's instructor must expend every effort to return them to the light, or to destroy them if efforts to severe the dark side's grip fails. The taint of darkness does not easily wash away, and cannot be hidden. Any Jedi who commits an act of evil should know to expect a visit from a former mentor in the near future. You must examine everything about a person before you consider teaching them. Go and see them assess what sort of a person they are. Find out what they are like. Annoy them, and then study what they say and whether they get angry and whether they are arrogant. It is only after testing a person well that you can know whether you can teach them. Training Jedi is a most rewarding pursuit, but one ringed with unseen perils. Never, oh master Jedi; rest easy when your pupil begins to grow anxious to learn at a pace greater than that which you have set for him. Such impatience is natural in the young and inexperienced, and a commendable trait in a student. But it also signals a time when the pupil is most open to the temptation of stepping onto the broad path of instant gratification and easy advancement that leads to the dark side. Beware, Jedi Master, lest through carelessness and inattention you loose on the universe a monster... Jedi training must proceed at a slow pace. Too much power gathered too quickly can corrupt even the most selfless and devout apprentice Jedi. A Jedi student must be properly humble in his powers, and mature enough to embrace the tremendous responsibility that comes with wielding the Force. A student impatient with the slow pace of tutorship, a gifted student eager to dispense with "pointless exercises" and embrace the "true" powers of the Force misses the entire point of being a Jedi. The Jedi does not crave power, but seeks to serve others, without the expectation of becoming "great in the Force." The true Jedi is cautious, and reluctant to learn too much to quickly. Overeager students run a fearful risk of opening themselves up to the temptations of taking the deceptively easy path of the dark side. Whatever the teacher teaches, it will add up to only one quarter of the student's knowledge. A quarter he derives from his own personal interest, and from hard work; a quarter comes from the Force, and the final quarter comes in his old age from his own personal experiences. Those who come to learn from you have already made a decision to explore a new life. You need to let them do that. You need to challenge them, and challenges aren't just those involved with their skills. You must also challenge their characters. Some students will fail, and if they don't learn how to deal with failure, if they don't have the spine to recover from it, you should not teach them. The path to the dark side is not one found by failure at a skill. But by failure of the character. At times, a Jedi may wish to use the Force in a way not explicitly covered by what he is being taught. Feel free to allow this. If the proposed attempt is consistent with the spirit of what he has been taught. Experienced Jedi, especially have learned to subtly alter the Force at a subconscious level, enabling them to extrapolate from the rigid parameters normally followed during training. Only certain individuals can recognize the Force for what it is. They will no doubt be mercilessly labeled: charlatans, fakers, mystics --- and worse. Even fewer can make use of it. As it is usually beyond their control, it frequently will be too powerful for them. Their fellows --- and worse will often times misunderstand them, because of this. Among those who learn to manipulate the Force, the Jedi is but one path. Each Jedi relates to the Force in a different way, drawing upon a wide variety of powers --- different manifestations of how the Jedi can manipulate his own internal Force and the Force of the universe around him. Students of the Force can learn to slow or stop their own life functions, accomplish physical tasks that others would consider impossible, and even move physical objects by the power of the mind alone. Others beside the Jedi know how to manipulate the Force. They often attribute their powers to different sources --- magic, shamanism, religion, meditation, ancestor worship, or any of a million other forms of insight --- but through whatever means, they are using this mystic energy to change the world around them for better or worse. Most people outside the Jedi Way think that the Master is the highest level, the mark of an "expert" but this is not at all true. While Master means one has worked hard, and is good, this rank is only the first level out of many more levels. Master means that the student has learned the basics well, is a serious student, and is now ready to learn what being a Jedi is really all about. It is during the next ten, twenty, or thirty years as they progress that they truly earn this title. In the Jedi Way as in all things, there is no end to training. One can always learn more. If the Jedi would guide the people, He must serve with humility. If he would lead them, He must follow behind. A Jedi teacher will seldom take on more then one pupil at a time, but some instructors will accept several students at once. When training students test them to find out where they are sufficient and where they are lacking. The master teaches the student. There are twelve lessons; each of them is an accepted truth. Follow the heart. There are no secrets. Laugh at the cleverness of the darkness and the darkness will defeat itself. Death is nothing to one who does not fear death. Love, in the pain of its loss, is finally gained, for the first time. You, yourself, are your only teacher. Kindness is cruelty, cruelty is kindness. Stop for charity, no matter what the cost, and there will be benefit instead of cost. It does not matter for whom. It has all happened before. Everyone and no one has been here before, and no matter how obscure it may seem to you, "the universe is ... unfolding as it should," or more precisely, as it cannot help but do. There are no prizes worth having. vThe ultimate quest has no ending, and that fact is what gives the quest its ultimate value. Tie two birds together and they can fly, if they become one. If you take on too much without a solid foundation, you will eventually be drained, leaving you with embarrassment and bad luck. Understanding how people can be manipulated through emotions, for example, is as useful for those who wish to avoid this as it is for those who wish to practice it. A Jedi should have three treasures that he keeps and prizes: one is kindness, second is frugality, and third is not presuming to take precedence over others. By kindness one can be brave, by frugality one can reach out, and by not presuming to take precedence one can survive effectively. If one gives up kindness and courage, gives up frugality and breadth, and gives up humility for aggressiveness, one will die. The exercise of kindness in battle leads to victory, the exercise of kindness in defense leads to security. FALLEN JEDI The fallen Jedi is a tragic figure. Once a paragon of virtue, he or she has turned from the Jedi Code to pursue other goals. Though not necessarily an evil person, the fallen Jedi found the code too limiting or unrealistic, or perhaps didn't have the dedication to continue his or her studies. Chose your students wisely else you create one of these tragic figures. A Jedi teacher encourages meditation and forethought, as well as strict observance of the Jedi Way in his students. As well as encouraging them to be mindful of the future, to open their minds to the countless possibilities that each action engenders, and to see which are the most likely to serve the greater good. Many cultures have different understandings of the workings of the Force; "Witches", "Monks" and "Mystics" are but three such groups. Some ways of knowing the Force are different but no less noble or "good" than the Jedi Way, while others are clearly more neutral or even evil in intent. Because of the unique ways in which each of these viewpoints manipulates the Force, their skills and powers can vary dramatically. Here are a few points to consider when studying them. That way's rules, skills and powers. Because of different perspectives, each "Way of knowing the Force" may have different Force skills and powers. Some methods use radically different skills and powers --- you consider all these rules. How does the student gain skills and powers. Is there a set ritual or training regime to educate students. Some ways may use academies, while others may emphasize a close student and master relationship. Still others ways of the Force may be known only through meditation, myths, hidden writings or ancient rituals. What standards are the students expected to adhere to. Some methods of knowing the Force require students and practitioners to adhere to a strict code of conduct. Other methods may offer the student a great deal of personal freedom. What are the methods rules. What are the punishments for disobeying the rules --- will the student be cast out, not be taught new skills and powers ... or will the student face involuntary servitude, and imprisonment or worse. The definitions of "good" and "evil" vary from culture to culture ... although the rules of the Force do not. Some ways of knowing the Force may be rooted in the dark side, requiring a student to commit evil to progress in his studies. The student, due to her culture, may accept these teachings as "perfectly natural," yet they will still drive the student to the brink of the dark side. When confronted with this moral challenge, those who are strong in the light side may be forced to leave the discipline and seek out another method of mastering the Force. The Jedi Way is a rich tradition, certainly deep enough and wide enough to be approached and interpreted from a number of perspectives and still "survive" the translation into other fields of knowledge with many of its central tenets intact --- assuming, of course, that the translator approaches his task with integrity and thoroughness. Strength is not just a matter of extensive territory and a large population, victory is not just a matter of efficient armaments, security is not just a matter of high walls, authority is not just a matter of strict orders and frequent punishments. Those who establish a viable organization will survive. Even if they are small, while those who establish a moribund organization will perish even if they are large. You must be careful whom you teach the Jedi Arts to. For this art cannot be given to those who will use it bully other people. The Jedi arts are for those of good character who will protect people from evildoers. In fact, if the student does not have the right attitude, you could teach them for the rest of your life and theirs, and they still would not comprehend it. Give your students certain exercises to make them healthier and stronger, telling them they cannot become spiritually strong if they are physically weak. Students should do supplementary exercises like running to increase their breathing powers and leg strength. They should do plenty of stretching to give them flexibility, making movement easier and lessening the chance of injury. They should do weight training to increase their strength, lifting light weights many times in a row. Weight training should not be confused with weight lifting --- lifting hundreds of pounds at one time; or with muscle building --- lifting weights to develop muscles primarily for looks. The way of a Jedi Master must be in harmonizing people. When people are in harmony, they will not fight against each other, without being exhorted to do so. If the Masters and Knights are suspicious of each other, others will not join their group; if loyal advice is not heard, small minds will talk and criticize in secret. When hypocrisy sprouts, even if you have the wisdom of the most ancient Jedi you could not convince even one person, let alone a crowd of them. When it comes to establishing rules and regulations, everyone, high and low, should be treated alike. It is for sure, on the very coldest day of the year, when there is frost on the ground and a good strong wind that the instructor takes the students outside to train. For those who don't mind the cold there is always summer training. On a hundred-degree day in august, when people are too hot even to walk down the street, the Jedi students are taken for a run outside, farther then they have ever run in their lives, and then brought back to the training hall to work out some more --- with the windows closed. To the outsider this looks like madness, but important lessons are being taught. Much to their surprise the students survive, and learn that not only did they not get terrible colds or frostbite in winter, or pass out and melt into puddles in summer, but also they even felt good after the workouts. What students learn from this is not that their teacher is cruel, but rather that their own bodies and minds can do much more than they ever dreamed possible. They learn that most limits they put on themselves were just made up in their own heads, and are not real at all. The Jedi, like anything else, have to constantly improve from generation to generation, or from moment to moment, for that matter; not because "new" is better, but because each moment has left its mark on the next so that we need not repeat the same mistakes and inadequacies, and so that we can change with the changes. Tradition has much to teach us. However, it must serve our needs and not become our master. The Jedi is a forever-growing art. It will always have room for improvement. It is vital that dedicated individuals and collective groups continue to expand and spread their knowledge for the furtherance of the art, rather than wasting energy and effort contending with the accomplishments of the past or protecting the status quo through the repression of original thought. Training methods and techniques are not carved in stone. There is still something left to be said by us latter-day mortals. This is not to say that the last word has been spoken in regard to the traditional approaches to the Jedi Way. We are not about to reject the old Masters. What is needed is a reawakening of lost ideals and natural principles, coupled with radical new techniques and procedures. There exists, engraved within the collective unconscious of the human race, forgotten knowledge always ready to surface into the conscious. All we need do is tap into our own inner selves through techniques, which are readily available to us. Artificial lifestyles and arrogance have caused us to lose touch with the ancient wisdoms. Fear and complacency keep us from breaking free. Knowledge and wisdom do not come from man's distorted intellect but through our ability to discover and accept the natural and simple truth of our place in the universe. The Jedi as a concept and an idea never ceases to evolve. It continues to grow, expand and mature. It can only germinate in a vessel of experience, warmed with the spirit of innovation, encouraged by faithful enthusiasm, dedication and commitment. Nothing begets one; one begets two; two begets three; three begets all things. All things are backed by the darkness and faced by the light, and harmonized by the Force. What others teach, I also teach: The daring and violent do not die a natural death. This (maxim) I shall regard as my instructor. How can a Jedi see straight, when he does not even see himself and the darkness he unconsciously carries with him into all his dealings. Suffering accepted, darkness recognized, and sorrows understood are great assets to the authentic life of the spirit. Composure, serenity, and the authentic psychic strength all arise from the recognition and acceptance of the reality of evil and darkness, and not from their denial due to false optimism. From the ancient mythologies of the world, to the more modern religions, there has existed the notion that there is a "dark side" to all things. Wherever there is light, there is also shadow. And each of us has a dark side. But what is this dark side in each of us? And how does it relate to the Jedi? The dark side of any person is comprised of those qualities that he or she considers negative. These negative parts of our selves are usually those parts that do not coincide with how we would like to think of ourselves. And these unacceptable aspects of our being are pushed out of awareness, or repressed. They become unconscious, and so we are no longer aware of them. With our negative and inferior qualities repressed, it would seem we would be done with them. But this is not the case. Even potentially positive aspects are transformed when they are repressed. In other words, the moment we fail to acknowledge certain aspects of ourselves they become negatively charged. And the process does not end there, either. What is repressed, and no longer attributed to ourselves, is projected and experienced as a part of others. Indeed, we will never find our dark sides if we look inside ourselves. We find them when we look at others and experience types of people whom we have strong negative reactions to. Of course, most people are not interested in discovering their own dark sides. They are only interested in making sure they are right and others are wrong. As Jedi we must avoid this. It takes tremendous courage to face our own dark side, to admit that we have qualities of being that we wish we were free from, to acknowledge our inferior sides. We all want to be strong, powerful, and secure, not the opposite. But the way of the Jedi is not found by ignoring our weaknesses, but by seeking them out, working with them, and "correcting" them. It is inherent in human nature that whatever is "different" is feared. Although this comes from our distant past, and is "designed" to aid our survival. It has persisted as a fundamental aspect of human psychology. In order to understand the Force. You must first understand what the Force is. The Force is the energy, which fills the universe. There are three general types of Force Energy. The Universal Force, The Living Force and Personal Force energy. The Universal Force controls and affects all things. The Living Force affects all living things within the Universal Force. It is influenced and controlled by the Universal Force. The Personal Force affects the living thing that creates it. Both the Universal Force and the Living Force influence it. Since the Personal Force is part of both the Living and the Universal Forces, you must adjust yourself, to fit more smoothly into the natural cycle they follow. When training students. This is an important concept to pass on to them. Since the Universal Force has within it the Living Force. And with in the Universal and Living Force lives man with his Personal Force. Their actions affect all three. The ultimate goal and purpose of the Jedi way is to find a peaceful and natural state. In order to reach this goal you must first understand your body and how it works within the Force. This state makes it possible for you to find the origin of your life, and to combine your Personal Force with that of the Living Force and through it with that of the Universal Force. As well as focusing both of them through you. You should do your best to spread the ideas. What do you care if they are not accepted? It is not for you to force others to accept. But for you to offer the way. If you begin to teach a man who is not deeply concerned or determined to find out the truth, you should try and stimulate his thinking, by offering one-forth of what he seeks to learn. If the man does not go back and reflect and think out the implications in the remaining three-fourths for himself, he is not serious about learning. For everyone called to teach there are seven cardinal directions to be attend to: Cultivating their personal conduct. Honouring worthy men. Cherishing affection for, and doing their duty toward, their family. Showing respect to those who taught them. Identifying themselves with the lessons to be taught. Encouraging the introduction of all useful arts. Taking interest in the welfare of their students. A wise teacher constantly goes over what he has learned; in doing so he gains some new knowledge each time. For one who goes over what he has already learned and gains new understanding from it is worthy to be a teacher. Whenever walking in a company of three, you can always find a teacher among them (Or one who has something to teach you). Select a good person and follow his example, or see a bad person and correct such things in yourself. When you find a person worthy to talk to and fail to talk to him, you have lost your man. When you find a man unworthy to talk to and you talk to him, you have lost (wasted) your words. A wise man neither loses his man, nor loses his words. THE IDEAL TEACHER The principles of teaching Jedi are as follows: first, prevention, or preventing of bad habits before they arise. Secondly, timeliness, or giving the students things when they are ready for them. Thirdly, order, or teaching the different subjects in proper sequence. Fourthly, mutual stimulation, or letting the students learn from each other. On the other hand, to forbid them after they have already acquired bad habits would seem to make everything go against their grain and efforts at correction would be without success. To teach them after the young age is past would make the learning difficult. To fail to teach the different lessons in their proper order would bring chaos in their studies, without good results. To study a subject all alone without others would make a student to narrow in scope, lacking in general knowledge. Bad company would encourage them to go against their teachers and bad pastimes would cause them to neglect their studies. These six things cause the breakdown of Jedi Learning. Therefore in his teaching the Jedi Master guides his students but does not pull them along; he urges them to go forward and does not suppress them; he opens the way, but does not take them to the place. Guiding without pulling makes the process of learning easy; and opening the way without leading the students to the place makes them think for themselves. Now if the process of learning is made gentle and easy for them and the students are encouraged to think for themselves, we may call the man a good teacher. There are four common errors in education, which the teacher must beware of. Some students try to learn too much or too many subjects, some learn too little or too few subjects, some learn things too easily and some are too easily discouraged. These four things show that individuals differ in their mental endowments, and only through knowledge of the different endowments each has can the teacher correct their mistakes. A teacher is but a man who tries to bring out the good and remedy the weakness of his students. At some inconceivably prior point in the distant past, the undifferentiated primordial unity which preceded the formation of stars and planets and all the various elements and energies of the universe was rent asunder to produce two polar forces that set in motion the ceaseless flux of creation. Known by most as the "Big Bang". The two came to be known as light and dark, and the polarity to which they gave rise, and which in turn gave birth to everything in the universe, is called the "Great principle of Light and Dark". Cultivating spiritual virtues such as wisdom, compassion, patience and tolerance is every bit as important in the Jedi Way as cultivating physical strength, health, and power, for without the virtues of spirit, the power of the Force is easily bent towards dark purposes by the fickle. The end result of all Dark applications of the Force is the loss of power, erosion of health, foreshortening of life and ultimately exclusion from the higher realms of existence after death. The reason for this is quite clear: besides nurturing the energies required for life and promoting longevity of the physical body, the Jedi Way also opens a gate to the infinitely powerful forces of the universe and establishes a direct link between the personal energy field of the individual practitioner and the universal energy fields of the universe and all creation. Anyone who tries to harness this power without respecting the wisdom and compassion with which it is inseparably linked at the source of creation is truly 'playing with fire' and is very likely to get badly burned. In human life, most people enslave their minds and spend their energies to serve their bodies and satisfy their desires, thereby 'mistaking the servant for the master'. In the higher orders of the universe which life reflects, spirit is the master, and energy is the tool through which spirit expresses itself creatively in material form. In order to harness the power of the Force for the benefit of humanity, human beings must pattern their bodies as well as their minds on the universal order of creation reflected in nature and the cosmos and known as the Force, for this is the context in which human life evolved. When practicing the Jedi Way, one must learn to balance physical health and vitality with spiritual awareness and virtue, for that is the one and only way the Force works. Important Points to Teach a Student Centering Exercises: Unless a student has already awakened Force abilities within himself or herself, a Jedi Teacher should focus most early instruction on meditation techniques to overcome fear and resist impulses to act in anger. Force Training: The Knowledgeable teacher instructs students in the ways of the Force. In doing so the teacher helps them understand their own natural abilities as well as what Force skills work best with those abilities in mind. Combat Training: Jedi Teachers should focus their instruction in this area on hand-to-hand and melee combat styles that allow a student to subdue opponents, as well as styles that lend themselves to augmentation by the Force. History and Philosophy: This should be a major part on any Jedi's education. All teachers should focus on the academic side of the Jedi Tradition as well as the combative side. If there is one thing all Jedi teachers should drive home to their students, it is this: "A Jedi seldom starts a fight, but he usually finishes it". This statement should be issued in context with the Jedi Code, which calls for Jedi, When it is appropriate to meet force with equal force and to fight defensively while turning the attacks of enemies back upon themselves. When people see some things as beautiful, other things become ugly. When people see some things as good, other things become bad. The Jedi Teacher acts without doing anything and teaches without saying anything. Things arise and the Teacher lets them come; things disappear and the Teacher lets them go. The Teacher has but doesn't possess, acts but doesn't expect. When His work is done, He forgets it. That is why it lasts forever. The Force is like a well: used but never used up. It is like the volume of outer space: filled with infinite possibilities. The Force doesn't have sides; It prefers neither the Jedi or the Sith It is the Master who knows dark and light; And uses the Force as he feels he must to serve the Light. The Force is like a bellows: it is empty yet infinitely capable. The more you use it, the more it produces; the more you talk of it, the less you understand. The Jedi stays behind; that is why he is ahead. He is detached from all things; that is why he is one with them. Because he has let go of himself, he is perfectly fulfilled. Do your work, then step back. The is the only path to serenity. Success is as dangerous as failure. Hope is as hollow as fear. What does it mean that success is a dangerous as failure? Whether you go up the mountian or down it, you can still fall. When you stand with your two feet on the ground, you will always keep your balance. What does it mean that hope is as hollow as fear? Hope and fear are both phantoms that arise from thinking of the self. When we don't see the self as self, what do we have to fear? The Jedi Master doesn't seek fulfillment. Not seeking, not expecting, he is present, and can welcome all things. The Master keeps his mind always at one with the Force; that is what gives him his radiance. The Force is ungraspable. How can his mind be at one with it? Because he doesn't cling to ideas. Since before time and space were, the Force is. It is beyond is and is not. How do I know this is true? I look inside myself and see. The Jedi Master, by residing in the Force, sets an example for all beings. Because he doesn't display himself, people can see his light. Because he has nothing to prove, people can trust his words. Because he doesn't know who he is, people recognize themselves in him. Because he has no goal in mind, everything he does succeeds. When the ancient Masters said, "If you want to be given everything, give everything up," they weren't using empty phrases. Express yourself completely, then keep quiet. Be like the forces of nature: when it blows, there is only wind; when it rains, there is only rain; when the clouds pass, the sun shines through. If you open yourself to the Force, you are at one with the Force and you can embody it completely. If you open yourself to insight, you are at one with insight and you can use it completely. If you open yourself to loss, you are at one with loss and you can accept it completely. Open yourself to the Force, then trust your natural responses; and everything will fall into place. The Jedi is available to all people and doesn't reject anyone. He is ready to use all situations and doesn't waste anything. This is called embodying the light. The Jedi does his job and then stops. He understands that the galaxy is forever out of control, and that trying to dominate events goes against the current of the Force. Because he believes in himself, he doesn't try to convince others. Because he is content with himself, he doesn't need others' approval. Because he accepts himself, the whole world accepts him. Weapons are the tools of fear; a decent creature will avoid them except in the direst necessity and, if compelled, will use them only with the utmost restraint. Peace is his highest value. If the peace has been shattered, how can he be content? His enemies are not demons, but living beings like himself. He doesn't wish them personal harm. Nor does he rejoice in victory. How could he rejoice in victory and delight in the slaughter of life? He enters a battle gravely, with sorrow and with great compassion, as if he were attending a funeral. The Force flows everywhere. All things are born from it, yet it doesn't create them. It pours itself into its work, yet it makes no claim. It nourishes infinite worlds, yet it doesn't hold on to them. Since it is merged with all things and hidden in their hearts, it can be called humble. Since all things vanish into it and it alone endures, it can be called great. It isn't aware of its greatness; thus it is truly great. The Jedi doesn't try to be powerful; Thus he is truly powerful. The ordinary Being keeps reaching for power; thus he never has enough. The Jedi does nothing, yet he leaves nothing undone. The ordinary Being is always doing things, yet many more are left to be done. The Jedi views the parts with compassion, because he understands the whole. His constant practice is humility. He doesn't glitter like a jewel but lets himself be shaped by the Force, as rugged and common as stone. Ordinary men hate solitude. But the Jedi makes use of it, embracing his aloneness, realizing he is one with the whole galaxy. Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way. The Master allows things to happen. He shapes events as they come. He steps out of the way and lets the Force speak for itself. The Master's mind is like space. People don't understand him. They look to him and wait. He treats them like his own children. The Master gives himself up to whatever the moment brings. He knows that he is going to die, and he has nothing left to hold on to: no illusions in his mind, no resistances in his body. He doesn't think about his actions; they flow from the core of his being. He holds nothing back from life; therefore he is ready for death, as a creature ready for sleep after a good day's work. The Master's power is like this. He lets all things come and go effortlessly, without desire. He never expects results; thus he is never disappointed. He is never disappointed; thus his spirit never grows old. Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Force. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself. The Master is content to serve as an example and not to impose his will. He is pointed, but doesn't pierce. Straightforward, but supple. A Jedi does what he must: When he makes a mistake, he realizes it. Having realized it, he admits it. Having admitted it, he corrects it. He considers those who point out his faults as his most benevolent teachers. He thinks of his enemy as the shadow that he himself casts. The Master never reaches for the great; thus He achieves greatness. When He runs into a difficulty, He stops and gives himself to it. He doesn't cling to his own comfort; thus problems are no problem for him. The Master takes action by letting things take their course. He remains as calm at the end as at the beginning. He has nothing, thus has nothing to lose. What he desires is non-desire; what he learns is to unlearn. He simply reminds people of who they have always been. He cares about nothing but the Force. Thus he can care for all things. The Masters don't try to educate the people, but kindly teach them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. Some say that Jedi teaching is nonsense. Others call it lofty but impractical. But to those who have looked inside themselves, this nonsense makes perfect sense. And to those who put it into practice, this loftiness has roots that go deep. The Jedi have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and in thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world. The Master remains serene in the midst of sorrow. Evil cannot enter his heart. Because he is calm, he is people's greatest help. Failure is an opportunity. If you blame someone else, there is no end to the blame. Therefore the Master fulfills his own obligations and corrects his own mistakes. He does what he needs to do and demands nothing of others. True words aren't eloquent; eloquent words aren't true. Wise men don't need to prove their point; men who need to prove their point aren't wise. The Master has no possessions. The more he does for others, the happier he is. The more he gives to others, the wealthier he is.

Traditional Views The Force is to be used to save lives, not to take lives. The Force should never be used for personal gain. Every Jedi has a voice in making decisions for the group. The Jedi should work to support and maintain the government - but not at the expense of Jedi ideals. If the Jedi are called upon to fight, they will defend the helpless without hatred, anger, or thoughts of revenge. No matter whether a group be of Good or Bad intentions. It will decline when it's time has come. If one tries to keep it from going to ruin at that time, it will have an unsightly finish. If one thinks that the time has come, it is best to let it go down with good grace. Doing so, he may even cuase it to be maintained. "It isn't my responsibility how the Knowledge is used... I was just a teacher. I just passed the knowledge along." This is a very dangerous thought for a teacher to hold... As a Jedi one needs to remember that the knowledge they pass on to others... could be used by those of ill intent in ways it should not be used... It is better to never teach others... then to teach one who will mis-use what you have passed on to them. A Jedi's training is far different from the classroom experience, relying much more on personal instruction that emphasized a one-on-one imparting of expectations and the more informal "tricks of the trade." It is assumed that basic skills are already on the road to development, and it becomes the role of the Master to provide subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) support and guidance. It requires the stern observation of a master that educates not by carrying the student to a goal, but by leading him down the road to mastery. A good instructor will almost willfully ignore the student and his or her improvement. And though immense progress might be made within a short period of time, the student begins to expect praise and adulation. But it is better to give modest praise and save greater accolades for much later down the line when it truly becomes clear that the student has made a full commitment to learning the art. So until then, a grunt or a frown is the student's only praise. The Masters are profound and subtle. Their wisdom is unfathomable. There is no way to describe it; all we can describe is their appearance. They are careful as someone crossing an iced-over stream. Alert as a warrior in enemy territory. Courteous as a guest. Fluid as melting ice. Shapable as a block of wood. Receptive as a valley. Clear as a glass of water. The Potentium Heresy As Jedi learn more about the Force, they frequently form their own theories about how and why it works. They question how, if the Force creates and sustains life, it can have a dark side. Some arrive at the conclusion that the Force is not divided into dark and light - that there is only the Force, and that it's energy is inherently postive, despite the use to which it is sometimes put. Those who believe in this thoery feel that no "dark side" waits to corrupt them for daring to explore the limits of the Force any more then monsters wait under their beds to devour them as children. To them, the Jedi theory of the Force is just one way to percieve this potent life-energy, and the training and discipline the Jedi employ to reinforce their perspective only serves to justify the existance of the Jedi Order. Seeking another answer, these self-styled philosophers relabel the Force something that fits their perceptions of it- "The Potentium" is just one example - and attempt to explore their philsophy as far as possiable. Some come perilously close to the dark side before they return back from the brink. These "heresies" are fortunatley rare, for, if unchecked, they can produce dangerously powerful darksiders. Sadly, those who follow this line of resoning straight to the darkside rarely percieve the danger, believing that they are making new discovers that the Jedi are afriad to explore. Some come back from the dark side willingly when they see the error of their ways. Some refuse to renounce their mistaken beliefs and must be exiled to a place they can do no harm, Some few must be, regrettably destroyed. The core of this theory asserts that there is no distinction between the light side and the dark side. It claims that both aspects of the Force are the same energy viewed from different perspectives. It's adherents theorize that using darkside powers in the service of good still serves the cause of good, and doing so cannot actually lead a person to want to use the Force for evil. They question why using a sword to strike down an opponent is any different from using the Force to choke the breath out of someone. What they fail to see - and what Jedi so diligently try to establish - is that being a Jedi is not about exploring the limits of the Force, but using what is already known to protect peace and justice. Jedi students should concentrate on learning how to use the Force, and leave careful exploration to the Jedi Masters. Jedi Training Fully training a Jedi takes many years, from the first, halting lesson in feeling the Force's power to standing before the council as a Jedi Knight. The journey is sometimes harsh and certainly never easy, since each student learns in his own time, and some lessons can be quite painful. The good teacher adapts to his student's pace and strikes a balance between compassion and discipline. No two Jedi Teachers train apprentices in precisely the same way, nor does a single Jedi Teacher teach two different students the same lesson the same way, in the same order, and with the same expectations. Jedi Teachers from different areas have radically different approaches, brought about by their circumstances. Some train multiple students, some train only a single student. Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses. The Learning Process Jedi training has changed and evolved since it first came into existance and will and must continue to do so. Training is at times very formal. With large classes of Force senstive students learning under the tutalage of a single Master before being accepted as a padawan by a Knight and privately trained. It is at times very unformal with the student being trained privately through his entire learning process by one teacher. At other times it is even haphazard with the student learning much on his own with only brief periods of training under a teacher. Regardless of how it is done. The first and most critical lesson involves sensing how the Force interacts with the Universe. For most students, this is a question of exploring their sensitivity to the Force, of expanding their awareness to detect more then what their senses show them. The next lessons in the Jedi arts are extensions of the first lesson. Every Jedi student needs to learn how to use the Force responsibly and to avoid the temptations of the dark side. Putting the Force into the hands of someone with a weak grasp of morality and ethics is a recipe for disaster, and the Jedi have a responsibility to the Universe not to let students stray down the dark path. The Jedi seek to instill a sense of duty and honor in their students by teaching them about the way of the Jedi Knights, through stories of heroic Jedi of the past and through discussion of the Jedi Code. This basic training in Jedi Philsophy allows a Jedi to know what is expected of him and helps steer him from the dark path. Physical conditiong and self-defense exercises go hand-in-hand with this early training. Using the Force can be physically taxing, and being a Jedi Knight can sometimes be outright exhausting. A Jedi builds up his endurance and coordination through a rigoruos physical regimen. Self-Defense lessons are a major part of the exercises, since a Jedi, with or without formal training, frequently comes in conflict with scounddrels and ne'er-do-wells of the world. The self-defense drills begin with simple hand-to-hand techniques and usually culminate in practice with a sword and other weapons( Guns and other hand hels weapons). Depending on the Teacher, the interval between stages of training can be brief. Throughout the learning process, a Jedi student learns to cast aside his preconceived notions of how the Universe functions, to see the flow of the Force and understand how it influences everyday life - to "unlearn what he has learned." Jedi Teachers should foster intuitive thinking, since it encourages students to experiance the world around them through their feelings rather than through their senses, which can be deceived. The Jedi believe that the entire experience of being a Jedi leads up to the goal of becoming closer tot he Force. The sooner a Jedi begins to explore the mysteries of the force, the more they discover. Padawan Training Once a Jedi Teacher takes on an apprenctice (known as a Padawan now) The Teacher becomes solely responsible for the students welfare and education. A Jedi teacher can never take this descion lightly. He is effectively adopting a child (regardless of the apprentice's actual age) and must train the apprentice not only in the mysteries of the Force but also in day-to day life as an adult and a Force user. For this reason, a Jedi without clear sense of self-identity makes a poor Teacher. Many factors influence the selection of an apprentice. First the Teacher needs to be aware of the student's personality. Since the Teacher intends to spend the next several years of his life with the Padawan, radically different personalitity types could interfere with the training process. The Teacher must be comfortable with the apprentice's needs. If the apprentice requires special attention and the Teacher is not willing or able to provide it, both suffer as a result. Conversely, a Teacher should not choose an apprentice who offers no challanges at all. The Teacher learns from the experience of teaching an apprentice. A Jedi apprentice learns the lessons he needs to know to become a Jedi Knight. Obviously, the Teacher must continue the student's training in how to use the Force, a lesson that goes on for almost the entire duration of the apprenticeship. The Teacher must also teach the apprentice how to wield the Force as a Jedi. Knowing when and how to use the Force is vital to a Jedi's devlopment. The Teacher teaches appropriate use by discussion and demonstration. The Teacher explains the history of the Jedi and it's members, supplementing those lessons with examples. The Trials of Knighthood When the apprentice has sufficent experiance and knowledge as a Jedi, having proven himself able to wield the Force he can attempt to become a Jedi Knight. Regardless of the time and place, the effort always involves tests, and they can be formal or informal depending on who oversee's the trials. They can be as simple as the Teacher observing his apprentice's progress, or as complex as a council of Jedi Teachers conducting extensive interviews and perhaps assigning a quest of some kind. The overall purpose of the trials is meant to answer one question. Becuase a Jedi Knight is now technically qualified to instruct an apprentice of his own, does the Jedi Order trust the canidate to do so? If the answer is no, then the Jedi is probably not yet qualified to become a Jedi Knight. If the answer is always no, then the apprentice's Teacher has in some way failed to properly prepare the apprentice, and the apprentice needs retraining. The basic elements of the test include facility with the Force, knowledge of the Jedi Code, Weapon Proficiency, self-defense capability, sound (and swift) judgement, and most important, the ability to carry out a task without their Teacher's assistance or intervention. Faliure in any part indicates that the apprentice is not yet ready to be a Jedi Knight. No two trials are exactly alike. They are tailoried to the individual Jedi to ensure that the Jedi does not simply rely on his strengths while avoiding his weaknesses. The trials might take hours, days, or weeks, and include travel to sevreal locations. Jedi can even forego some of the tests at the discretion of the Teacher or Teachers admininstering the test, if the Jedi has at some point succeeded at a much more difficult task of the same type. Successfully passing the trials might call for a ceremony of some kind, or a Teacher might simply pat his apprentice on the back and send him on his way. In any case, the Jedi Knight is now ready to make her way alone in the galaxy, serving peace and justice in the name of the Jedi Order. The Jedi Trials A Jedi might be asked to undertake one or all of the following trials in order to become a Jedi Knight. Facility with the Force The Jedi Apprentice must perform relatively simple tasks related to the three main aspects of the Force (Alter Control and Sense) to prove his ability to wield the Force in all it's forms. These tests could be anthing from guessing an image the testers are thinking of to moving an object. Or meditating for an hour amid a massaive amount of distractions. Knowledge of the Jedi Code The most common version of this test is a series of questions posed to the Jedi at intervals throught the trials. These include interpretations of the Jedi Code, lessons learned from Jedi history and lore, and discerning actual Jedi lore from an erroneous tale made up by the tester. This test confirms the apprentice's knowledge base. A Jedi Knight performs best if he does not let erroneous information cloud his perception of the Jedi Way. Weapon Proficiency A Jedi's proficiency with a weapon is often tested with a duel or required demonstration of their skill. If a Jedi doesn't use a weapon this test is often ignored. Though the Jedi must still prove his ability to defend himself against others who do use them. Self-Defense Capability Becuase all Jedi are required to defend the helpless, they must first be able to defend themselves. Exactly how a Jedi accomplishes this is unimportant as long as the Jedi does not call on the darkside. The Teachers administering the test ensures that the Jedi's abilities are stretched to their limit. This method intends not only to prove the the Jedi can defend himself but also determines whether the Jedi can change tactics quickly when his favored method of self-defense fails him. Thus, this test can take various forms, including being attacked by machines, animals, and the very person the Jedi is suppossed to protect. The Teacher who gives the test always monitors the candidate, since the point of the test is to prove the Jedi's ability for self-defense. If the Jedi goes on the offensive without provocation, he has failed the test. The Teacher ensures that any such failures don't spin out of control. Sound Judgment The measure of a Jedi's ability to make reasoned descions in a short span of time is perhaps second in importance only to his ability to make those descions without his Teacher's prompting. This test determines the Jedi's capacity for perceiving and resolving dilemmas without undue meditation, or, conversely, without enough meditation. This test can come in multiple parts. For example one method is for each Jedi Teacher present to pose an ethical question to a Jedi seeking knighthood, one after another, in quick succession. The Jedi's test was not only to resolve the questions (once they have all been asked), but to do so in the order of importance. In general, though, the Teacher presents a conundrum - perhaps one with real consequences, should such a test present itself - and then awaits a response. An incorrect answer is, of course, a faliure. So is the correct answer, if to long in coming. The Teacher never tells the Jedi how long he has to answer the question, becuase identifying the immediacy of a problem is an important step in solving it. Solo Mission The last part of any Jedi's trials to become a Jedi Knight is a solo task undertaken without the apprentice's Teacher. If a Jedi has failed any previous test, he may not undertake this task. The purpose of this test is twofold. First, the Jedi needs ro learn how to undertake tasks as a Jedi Knight. Second, it answers the important question of whether the apprentice can function as a Jedi, accomplish tasks, serve peace and justice as well as the needs of the order, and operate without direct supervision and without disgracing the Order. The Jedi's success or faliure is important, but how the Jedi handles the situation in either event is the most telling indicator of his readiness for the autonomy that Knighthood brings. A JediKnight must be able to adapt his plans to changing situations, to conquer fear and overcome personal opinion, to determine the will of the Force, and to carry out the tasks assigned to him without undue hesitation or dissembling. Failing any of that, the Jedi Knight must be willing to take responsibility for his actions (or inactions) and to make amends if possiable. Jedi who fail to complete their taks can still be awarded the mantel of Jedi Knight becuase they took the initiative to salvage the situation, sometimes even achieving a result greater than the scope of their task. Some Jedi apprentices who accomplish a significant task on their own are awarded the title of Jedi Knight even if they have not been charged with a solo mission. A Jedi's Solo Mission is never commonplace, though an unwise apprentice might mistake it for such. It always involves a short journey to seprate the apprentice from the Teacher's aid and reinforce the notion that the apprentice is on his own. It also includes a tangible mesure of success, such as delivering or retriving a person or item, or facilitating a specific resolution to a given dispute. Danger of some kind is always a factor, though the threat is not necessarily to the Jedi. Of course, the mission includes an element of uncertainty. The Knight candidate faces seeminly insurmountable odds, frustrating rejection, insidious temptation, philosophical ambiguity, or perhaps a sudden redefinition of the mission's parameters.