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Wisdom for Jedi
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In this dangerous era, a Jedi must always be prepared for conflict.... To know where evil grows and permit it to flourish is to accept responsibility for all that follows. Sometimes you have to listen to the silence. And give yourself the time to understand. There is a thing inherent and natural, which existed before heaven and earth. Motionless and fathomless, it stands alone and never changes; it pervades everywhere and never becomes exhausted. It may be regarded as the creator of the universe. I do not know its name, I call it the Force, and I name it as supreme... Don't you know that if you do evil, evil will come back to you? Out of the Great Void came the universe, its galaxies, star systems, and suns. Everything that exists, and will ever exist, was spawned from the primordial plasma of time's beginning. Over billions of years planets formed and life arose through a steady progression of increasingly complex organisms. Woven into and intertwined with all of this --- from the smallest molecule to the largest star --- was the Force. As civilizations grew upon these newly formed planets --- newly formed on a celestial time scale, that is --- They began to sense, if only subconsciously at first, this mystical energy. Over the millennia the Force has been called by an uncountable number of names: The Unity, the Way, the Power, Magic. All hint at one aspect or another of the Force's all-encompassing presence, but none completely reflect its true nature. And perhaps none shall, for the Force defies explanation. At times it seems dualistic, yet it has no separate components. Most prominent among the contradictions is the fact that the Force has two aspects, the light and the dark, yet without one the other would cease to exist. For most people these concepts hang well out of reach, celestial nonsense better left unconsidered. But for the select few, the Force is everything. The Jedi is a vessel for the channeling of the positive energies of the Force. This power is not something that is derived or conjured, however, but ever present in the universe. Jedi minstrels, a group known for its epic storytelling. The minstrels prefer to weave their tales as if the occurrences were happening at that moment of the recounting. The truth or falsity of any individual event will forever remain a mystery. Jedi stand for peace; they must use their weapons only as a last resort. Concentrate, Feel the Force flow. Not outside or inside, but part of all. Through the Force you may see many things. It reaches across time and space. Other places, the future, the past. Old friends long gone. Size does not matter. A Jedi seeks not to know the answers, but to understand the questions. To know is not what is important to a Jedi. Even to learn is not important. What is important is to study. There is a tale among us, a legend preserved by the old tellers from the farthest distance of our past ... It is said that upon the edge of the Earth at the end of time stands a lone man who holds the meaning of it all ... It is said that he has mastered all skill and prowess that we desire, all restraint and calm, and has become perfection --- passion and mastery like onto the poised grandeur of mountains. And it is said, should ever one of us seek him out ... and contest with him, we will learn the measure of our worth, in defeat or triumph. Therefore we are a seeking people. In each heart among us beats a yearning for this test and the knowledge it offers. Yet the path, which leads to him, is unknown, has never been known. It is said that this path must not be known --- that it may only be found by one who knows without knowledge and has not come seeking the thing he seeks. You are that one. The Force is a Jedi's ally, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. We are luminous beings ... not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. Don't give into hate. That leads to the dark side. We cling to many truths; most depend greatly on our own point of view. If you do not believe you will succeed. You will fail. Fear and confusion are some of the weapons of the Dark side. A Jedi must learn to sense the tension between the light and the dark. You must remain strong in your commitment. You must preserver, and you must always embrace the light side. Do not believe that you can experiment with the darkness and come away unscathed. The taint of the dark side will remain with you forever after, and the temptations to use that evil power will come all that more often and all that more strongly. I say these things not to scare you, nor to dissuade you from your training. On the Contrary, I wish only to make you stronger in the light by offering you the knowledge that so many before you spent their lives discovering. Remember that knowledge and the Force will always be your shield against the darkness. Do not resist the Role the Force wishes you to play, for things are not always what they seem. A Jedi must rely on introspection to discover his destiny rather then on outside intervention. A Jedi who tries with all his being never fails. It is the Jedi who gives up that fails --- Fails not only himself, but the Force as well. When you demand something of the Force. Then by your own actions, you have proven that you are not ready to commune with the Force. One must surrender oneself to the Force and allow it to decide your destiny. There is no difficulty. There is only Effort. He who knows others is wise; He who knows himself is enlightened. He who conquers others is strong; He who conquers himself is mighty. He who knows contentment is rich. He who keeps on his course with energy has will. He who does not deviate from his proper place will long endure. He who may die but not perish has longevity. The Force is our power and our ally; The Force has always been with us. That is its nature. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the universe together. Those who become sensitive to its presence can learn to use it .... For good or for evil. Every action, every seemingly insignificant effort --- no matter the source --- influenced the future, intertwining and building upon one other to create a new state of the universe, which lasted in such equilibrium for less then a moment, when it is shattered by the next series of actions. A Jedi must learn many things among these things are the skills needed to control one's own inner Force. A Jedi with these skills learns mastery over the functions of his body and harmony with nature. A Jedi must also learn the skills needed to sense the Force in other things beyond the Jedi's own body. The Jedi learns to feel the bonds that connect all living things; this gives the Jedi the ability to understand how all things are interconnected. A Jedi must also learn the skills need to change the distribution and nature of the Force. A Jedi must learn how to move things with their mind, help others control their own Force, or change the Force in the Jedi's own Body, As well as change the perceptions of others and make them come to incorrect conclusions. Serenity allows a Jedi to view the universe in its true form rather then in the shaded perceptions that most others see it in. A wise man always walks with his head bowed. Evil began in a time before recorded history, when magicians made themselves into kings ... and gods ... using the power of the dark side of the Force. The weak-minded have ever been ready to obey one who wields great power. Those who learned the powers of the dark side were quick to exploit this weakness --- to make war. Again and again the dark side has surged forth, like a storm ... devouring whole nations and entire civilizations. Those who mastered dark power became dark power. They unleashed destruction, for no other reason then selfish gain. Some of them, I am ashamed to say, were Jedi. The penetrating light dissolves the dark. The gentle wind disperses the gathering clouds, leaving the sky clear and serene. The tiny soft roots of the wood pierce the hardest rock, breaking up those dark intrigues, which shun the light of day. All the while, the whispering music of the wind, and the gradual uncurling of the leaves produce tranquility and peace, appearing soft, gentle, unthreatening. The results of gentle penetration by the wind are less striking then the effects of aggressive force, but more enduring and more complete. This principle, wielded by a Jedi, is powerful and irresistible. In this age of conflict, law and order is often enforced by those who fight only for pay, or by those who are willing to seek justice through force.... Even after you have mastered the basic tenets of the Jedi Way, and you have learned many of its techniques, you have only taken the smallest of steps into a greater world. Much remains for you to experience. The Force possesses many subtleties that hide from the uninitiated, revealing themselves only after years of practice. These will come in time, but you must at least begin to prepare yourself for this part of the journey. One of the most important concepts to assimilate concerns the difference between the light and the dark aspects of the Force. Many foolishly believe that each is immediately recognizable. Here the light there the dark. But it is not so. The two have no separation --- you should not consider them distinct entities. What links these two sides of the force is a nebulous area of gray wherein the allegiance of any given person is not immediately apparent. The light and the dark stand at opposite ends of the spectrum, as beacons respectively. But the multitudes of people lie somewhere in the center, some leaning toward the light, others falling toward the dark. These are the people who must be protected, who must be shown compassion and understanding, who must be guided to the light. These are the people who can be brought together beneath our luminescent banner to help us defeat the dark side. A Jedi should realize that no one species be it humans or another is more important then any other. The world and the universe thrives on diversity; nature is but an amalgam of elements randomly assembled into finite entities, people, creatures, and objects that quickly fade and rise again in new forms. This concept, then, is the heart of all. It is the central tenet required to understand the universe. All is one, and one, therefore is all. Duality does not exist in this statement. This is how you must think. This is what guides you, what tells you how to conduct yourself. This is the Force, the energy that lives in everything, that is existence itself --- You must concentrate on gaining understanding in this concept. It may seem impossible. Many Jedi, even some of the greatest Masters, will devote years to this very issue. Do not give up. Some Jedi can actually speak with animals, forming a bond with them that can often be unnerving to those who can't. The Jedi is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees. The hard and strong will fall. The soft and weak will overcome. The truth often sounds paradoxical. So-called "sentience" does not equate with importance in the structure of nature. All creatures --- no matter their size, no matter their intelligence, no matter their station --- all beings in this universe have the same impact on this very moment. If a ladybug in Vermont flaps its wings, a star two dozen light-years away may erupt in a spectacular supernova. This is how closely bound all entities are. Remember what you have heard so many times before: the Force penetrates all existence and links it together, making every element dependent on every other element. You must bear this concept in mind whenever you come to a crossroads. Let this understanding guide you; let the Force grant you the wisdom to choose the correct path. Though what is about to be said may seem obvious at first, listen closely for the true meaning behind and within the words. Somewhere therein lies important understanding. As civilization advances, its technology becomes more intricate, enabling sentient life to break through one boundary after another. First learning to traverse the world on beasts. But eventually each society develops machines that can propel its members over land and liquid, or high above the planets surface through the atmosphere. These vessels now bring members of those civilizations together into a single community, where ideas and beliefs may be shared. Unfortunately, so, to, does war erupt between some that would never have meet had they remained confined to their native lands. Notice that technology in itself does not possess good or evil. It does not have a light or dark nature. Those who use these devices may cause a vehicle, a ship, or even a weapon to seem to belong to one side of the Force or the other, but rarely do these items contain such an essence. This distinction is one of the keys to unlocking the secret of existence; remember it well. A Jedi always takes advantage of the tools at hand. The ways of the dark side are often subtle and deceptive, so those who cling to the light must constantly be on guard. Many technological devices can aid in this task, especially those involving communication and healing. There are weapons, as well --- but these must be used only in times of dire need when lives hang in the balance and the Jedi must engage in battle to stave off the dark side. As a Jedi you may be appointed the guardian of a system. Anyone of the countless systems in use. To effectively watch over your charge, you must understand it, as well as its history and its functions. You must come to know the systems as well as you know yourself. If not, your efforts will be wasted. So how are you to know which system to research? Study them all. While a Jedi may be a force for peace he must remain vigilant against evil.... Many people who do not take the time to investigate it thoroughly too often reject the Jedi Way, all to quickly. Its growth-orientation, instinct-to-spirit spectrum, and transpersonal nature earn it instant dismissal because it is seen as "too mystical" or "The foolish fancy of those who are to heavily influenced by a series of films." Also the fact that it is a tradition that must be experienced --- it cannot be learned from books. Cause many who are unwillingly to take the leap required of them to realizing this psychology in their lives frequently attack it in word and print with remarkable lack of understanding. The Jedi have been, and continue to be, widely misunderstood and viciously attacked due to their insights into the nature of reality and their creativity. It is one of those unfortunate facts of life that insight and creativity have never been welcomed by societies at large; the majority of people seem to prefer, instead, theories and lifestyles that imprison them. It is easier to live within the dictates of someone else's philosophy than live with the fear incurred through developing freedom, individuality, and personal wisdom. The more you rely on technology to do the work for you, the farther you get from the essence of the creative power of your own channeled intentions. Be aware that technology can blind you to perceptions of broader realities. As a Jedi you must learn to control your emotions. This does not mean to ignore them. On the contrary, you should make certain to understand how you are feeling at all times. Your task is to observe these thoughts and emotions, not to blindly act on them. Step back for a moment from the cage that is your corporeal existence. Enter the vastness of the Force, where all beings and objects exist as one. There you will discover the answers to all your queries, where you will find guidance, where you will finally recognize your role in the universe. Throughout the adventures of your limited life you must always come to this place to find the true path, the way of light. Few beings receive the Force's call to join the Jedi, this band of scholars, healers, and warriors. And of those who begin the journey, only a dedicated few eventually become full-fledged Jedi. Premonitions and Visions: Some Jedi experience premonitions, dreams and visions. Sometimes these events seem to be little more than random, impressionistic images, but at other times they are crystal clear glimpses of past, present, or possible future events. There will be much debate as to the cause of these phenomena --- perhaps it's the Jedi's subconscious at work, or perhaps it's simply a different way of sensing tremors in the Force --- but these occurrences can warn a Jedi of impending danger or summon the Jedi to "crisis areas" where their unique abilities are needed. The Jedi Way is more then just a system of techniques for controlling, sensing, and altering the Force. It is a philosophy of existence in which the individual sees his true nature as a part of a larger whole. The Jedi seeks to live in harmony with the universe, focusing on discipline and awareness to reach his goal. Many are the temptations to grasp at ephemeral equilibriums, to create conflict between nature and the mind, to fall onto easier paths. This the Jedi strives to avoid at all costs, no matter how dear. A Jedi should focus his efforts on creating harmony between all beings. They detest violence of any sort; reluctantly engaging in combat only after all other attempts at conflict resolution have failed. A Jedi must always act from a position of peace and understanding, never out of fear or anger. Using the Force for selfish purposes --- self-gain, egotism, even convenience --- crosses the boundary between the light and the dark sides. A Jedi must not allow evil to take place once they become aware of its working. To remain aloof in situations where a Jedi's intervention would prevent the dark side from attaining another foothold is the same as helping it do so. A Jedi must constantly be wary of his path, making certain he does not stray toward the dark side, but remains firm in the light. While the dark side does not outclass the light side in any way, it does offer a seemingly quicker --- yet more costly --- path to power. The dark side thrives on black thoughts, words, and actions, inducing beings to engage in such wickedness in exchange for ability to wield the Force to commit subsequent evil acts. Often the darkness manifests itself in a subtle way to mask its presence from an individual as it coaxes him to stray further from the light. Only after the being has performed the act does the dark side reveal itself, pointing out how simple and easy power comes to those who fulfill its wishes. With such black-hearted deeds, the being steps further down the path to full immersion in the dark side, losing most of his former self in the process. Remember we ALL have darkness within us. It is what makes us living beings, bound by the Force. We can never brush that darkness away. It is within us always. We can only learn to control it, like a dangerous beast that must be kept upon a chain. The first goal of a Jedi is to maintain order and further the cause of peace.... Being a Jedi will not be an easy thing.... Though the very name conjures images of gallant heroism, Jedi themselves do what they must for the good of all life. Neither embracing adventure nor avoiding it, Jedi bring peace and justice wherever beings have lost their way. Jedi wield the energy they call the Force. They use it to perceive and affect the world around them in ways incomprehensible to others. The Jedi should be a defender and protector of justice. By his example, belief in the Force will be accepted if not always understood. There are some beings attuned to the Force. Whether they understand it or not, they can feel the Force flowing through them. Of those that are sensitive to the Force, Any who study it's ways can learn to manipulate its energy. The Jedi fall into this category, using their knowledge of the Force to give them their powers. But they are not the only ones. Understanding of the Force manifests in many ways. Even those who don't believe in the Force and aren't particularly attuned to its flow can call upon the Force without understanding what they are doing. When a stroke of amazing luck occurs, or fate seems to be on their side and helps them accomplish a difficult objective, it is the force coming to their aid. A Jedi is aware, but he does not waste time in mindless contemplation. When action is required, a Jedi Acts. It is a foolish Jedi who thinks he has the strength of character to walk the path of the dark side and not be touched by it; that he can use the power of the dark side for the benefit of the universe. The deep subconscious of a Force-sensitive person is shielded by a protective barrier, which prevents another Force wielder from penetrating his or her inner mind. This shield pushes violently back at the intruder. This "shield" is an involuntary defense mechanism maintained by every Force-sensitive person. The magnitude of the backlash generated by the shield depends on the person's strength in the Force. The dark side philosophy is very different from the Jedi Code. Whereas a Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, a dark side user uses the Force to bend the universe to his will. The Jedi manipulates the Force passively, while in a state of calm and control. The dark side user gives himself over to his passions, and channels the Force by harnessing the power of anger, fear, hate, love, and jealousy. To use any dark side power is to relinquish any claim to call oneself a Jedi. Even the minor powers of the dark side are extremely dangerous for Jedi to use. Since they lead to the darkness. While it is true that a Jedi uses his power only for defense, never for attack, it is equally true that a Jedi must nevertheless prepare with great vigilance, for only the Force knows when you may face your greatest battle. The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together. The mysterious energy field known as the Force permeates the universe. It is created by life, found everywhere, a part of everything. It lies beyond that which can normally be perceived, yet a few beings know how to feel its ebb and flow. With practice and study, Jedi learn to manipulate that energy, gaining control over life, thought and matter. The Force is the foundation of the beliefs of the Jedi. A Jedi's aim is not to encourage fighting but to minimize it and curtail it. A Jedi who kills innocent people, causes unnecessary or gratuitous injury, or uses the Force while angry or hateful is already well on his path to being a servant of the dark side. The Force is an essential part of nature --- like energy or matter --- but it has yet to be quantified and analyzed. The Force is not to be understood in the same manner as the physical qualities of the universe. The laws of physics are observable; technology is predictable and readily controlled. The Force is neither controlled nor controlling --- it is a part of life itself; asking if it controls or can be controlled is like asking if a person controls his component cells or if they control him. It is not known whether the Force has always been, came about as life evolved into intelligence, or if it coerced the evolution of intelligence. To the Jedi, it does not matter. It's enough to know that the Force is. Even those who don't believe in the Force can unconsciously manipulate it and be manipulated by it. They may not be truly "Sensitive" to its flow, but they still call upon the Force without even realizing. These people seem to have an almost unnatural ability to accomplish their objectives, whether their intent is good or evil, or somewhere in between. The skeptical call it luck. The unbelievers may call it destiny or fate. It is the Force. A Call to Action: A Jedi cannot allow evil to occur by inaction --- A Jedi who voluntarily stands by and allows evil to be committed is encouraging the forces of darkness. Jedi are bound by the actions of those around them. It is not acceptable for a Jedi to associate with those who willfully commit evil. When a Jedi is confronted by a situation where evil is being committed, the Jedi must act to prevent that evil. There are a variety of means at the Jedi's disposal --- persuasion, creating a distraction, armed action or simple mind tricks --- but intervention is necessary. Tremors in the Force: The Jedi lives in harmony with the Force, sensing its flow, drawing upon its energies ... and sometimes perceiving "disturbances" and "presences" in that flow. The actions of others can cause disturbances in the Force. A lone individual's impression might be like a candle flickering in the wind, while a great tragedy or act of great good may be like a sudden burst of lightning. Those who manipulate the Force often and with great power shine like the light of a sun. Each time a Jedi draws on the Force, there is a slight tremor as the Force is subtly altered. If the Force is used sparingly and with harmony in the natural order of things, such tremors are slight and barely detectable even at close ranges. Those who frequently use the Force cause many, many tremors. When the Force is relied upon --- used constantly to bend the universe to fit the will of the user --- such tremors may be great enough that Jedi even at great distances may detect them. Those who use the Force as a crude instrument of power are very likely to come to the attention of others. New Jedi students are particularly likely to be detected. In their desire to master their powers, they often manipulate the Force ... yet their dabbling, if to frequent, draw the attentions of other nearby Force-users. The dark side is perhaps the greatest threat a Jedi can face. It's always lurking in the shadows, a quick and easy temptation for an undisciplined Jedi filled with anger and frustration. The Jedi must be honorable and noble since Force-sensitives who act ambiguously are easily corrupted to the dark side. A Jedi does not grasp at power. A Jedi is not a dominator, nor an oppressor. To grasp for power is to abandon the ways of the Force. Such a one ceases to know the Force, except in his dark side. To grasp at power is to take up the path that leads to destruction. The Dominator is the enemy, yes. But the Jedi does not use the dark side of the dominator against him. Thinking is closer to trying then doing. Changing the future has got to require action, not just planning for action. While a Jedi acts in defense and not out of aggression, that doesn't mean aggressively putting a defense into place is bad. Everyone is equal because the Force is in everyone. Jedi should not reject or look down or up to anyone because of social class, race, and creed because these things are artificial and because they stop the Jedi from seeing others as the Force sees them. In all matters success depends on preparation; without preparation there will always be failure. When what is to be said is previously determined, there will be no difficulty determined, there will be no occasion for vexation. When general principles are previously determined there will be no perplexity to know what to do. MAKING THE WILL SINCERE What is meant by "making the will sincere" is that one should not deceive oneself. This sincerity should be like the sincerity with which we dislike a bad smell or love what is beautiful. This is called satisfying your own conscience. Therefore a Jedi is watchful over himself even when he is alone. People usually lose their sense of judgment toward those whom they love, toward those whom they despise or dislike, toward those whom they fear, toward those whom they pity and towards those whom they pamper or are proud of. Therefore, there are few people in this world who can see the bad in those whom they like and see the good in those whom they dislike. As Jedi we seek to overcome these habits in ourselves. Thus seeing the truth in all people. A Jedi first searches himself before he demands it of others, and makes sure first that he himself is not a transgressor before he finds transgressions in others. Jedi should try to avoid completely four things: Arbitrariness of opinion, dogmatism, narrow-mindedness and egotism. It is difficult to see examples of true Jedi. Everybody errs a little on the side of his weakness. Therefore it is easy for others to point out the shortcomings of those who follow the Jedi way. Then it is to point out their good qualities. Humility is near to moral discipline; simplicity of character is near to the Jedi Way; and loyalty is near to sincerity of heart. If a man will carefully cultivate these things in his conduct, he may still err a little, but he won't be far from the standard of the Jedi Way. For with humility or pious attitude, a man seldom commits errors; with sincerity of heart, a man is generally reliable; and with simplicity of character, he is usually generous. You will seldom make a mistake if you use these points to begin from. A Jedi has no worry and no fear. For if he looks within himself and is sure that he has done right in all things, what does he have to fear or worry about? A Jedi should be ashamed if his words are better then his actions. If you have the insight to perceive a truth, but not the wisdom to keep to it, you will lose it again, though you have discovered it.