Jedi:principles

Snide Guide version.

It was said that the Jedi keep these principles:

1. Minimize interference, yet serve innocents in need.
2. Serve the principles of State, yet stay independent.

These are contradictory, so how does an apprentice handle these?

Table of Contents Crucibles Enemies Allies Path Conclusion

Crucibles

The Jedi are honed through the crucibles offered by the universe itself. These crucibles are like giant megaliths that hold all of the forces of the universe. They collectively could be called "the Tyrant". The Tyrant controls who lives and who dies. It is the worthy opponent which changes a person from a regular schmoe into a Jedi.

Enemies

The universe is ready to pounce on you at any moment: a media device looking to get your attention, a person wanting what's in your wallet, a dog licking your hand. All these things can drop your awareness down until you are vulnerable. The forces of death eat your life force from there.

There are only two "enemies".

• Inattentiveness: You're walking about, minding your own business. Suddenly a radio comes on and jolts you out of your passivity. This is the shock of the first enemy: you weren't aware of your surroundings. You're walking around again, but this time crossing a stream. The current is swift. You take a step and slip on a rock and get all wet. You didn't keep your awareness of your full body and got blind-sided again. Hidden gotcha: clarity without connection. Path: Control and Discipline.
• Ego: You're getting high up on the path. People look up to you. Your station is secure. If you get fooled by these false gains, you'll quickly be cut down to size, for the Force is larger than any Man and greater. Hidden gotcha: success. Path: Forebearance and Timing.

As you can see, lack of awareness is an enemy of the Jedi. Those who fail the first become clowns--they never gain the Knowledge to become a true Master. Those who fail the second simply die: death ultimately takes them, for the success was not universal.

Allies

Yet how do they do so in contradiction. Re-arrange these principles like a crucible:

• Compassion\Awareness: Serve innocents vs. Keep things as you found them
• Knowledge\Spontanaeity: Serve the principles of State (justice) vs. maintain freedom from State (liberty)
• DreamingReverance\Unattached: Revere the Transcendental vs. Worship Nothing
• Stalking GOD\Force: There is a GOD vs. There is no GOD.

How the Jedi answer these dilemmas defines the Jedi herself. (Note to self: presently, I'm at worship nothing, but know there is a GOD.... hmmm. 16 different configuations, traditional Jedi, Sith (config: ASUF), Scholar, Politician (?KUG), Anarchist, Monk (ASR?),)

Path

That creates four foci: Humanity, Civilization, Nature, Divine. How will you relate to these personal and impersonal forces? How you move in between these things defines who you are -- at each moment, for each will remember the choice.

Conclusion

Defeat the first enemy and you become a master, a Buddhist-level.
Defeat the second enemy and you become a friend of all Life.
Both, and you are a Jedi, now on the path to fulfilling the desires of the Force and reaching for immortality.

\\...May the Force be with you.\\