Wednesday, January 5, 2011

What is the Force?


"The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi
"The Force is a river from which many can drink, and the training of the Jedi is not the only cup which can catch it."
―Luke Skywalker
 
The Force is a metaphysical, binding, and ubiquitous power that hold enormous importance for both the Jedi and non Jedi alike. The Force is viewed in many different aspects, including, but not limited to, the light side, the Dark Side, the Unifying Force, and the Living Force. The first two aspects are concerned with the moral compass of the Force, as manifested by the conduct and emotions of living creatures who are themselves part of the fabric of the Force. The light side of the Force is the facet aligned with compassion, selflessness, self-knowledge and enlightenment, healing, mercy and benevolence, while the dark side of the Force is the element aligned with hatred, fear, covetousness, anger, aggression, jealousy and malevolence. The latter two aspects are defined by prominent Jedi philosophies: The Unifying Force essentially embraces space and time in its entirety while the Living Force deals with the energy of living things. Though the Force is categorized in this way, there are no specific abilities or powers that are only usable by a follower of a different path of the Force; the Force partially exists inside the life forms that use it, and draws energy from their emotions.
Some beings, believe that the dark side of the Force is more powerful than the light, though it was possible that the dark side is just more tempting to those who use it (or desire to use it). Others think of the Force as an entity capable of intelligent thought, almost as a sort of deity.

Though the Force is thought to flow through every living thing, its power can only be harnessed by beings described as "Force-Sensitive". Force-sensitive beings are able to tap into the Force to perform acts of great skill and agility as well as control and shape the world around them. Sometimes this ability was described as having a strong Force "aura".
  
The Living Force
"The ways of the Living Force are beyond our understanding... But fear not. You are in the hands of something much greater and much better than you can imagine."
-Qui Gon Jinn

The Living Force is a view on the Force, accepted by the majority of Jedi. The Living Force is thought to be present in all living organisms, surrounding and penetrating them, thus making all living things connected by it. The Jedi believing in the Living Force rely on their instincts and are attuned to other living beings around them. They are mindful of the future and the possible consequences of their actions, but remained focused on the present. The Living Force is viewed as having both the light and the dark side. The Jedi always have to be mindful of their actions to avoid the temptations of the dark side. Proponents of the Living Force view, espoused a philosophy of "living in the moment," relied heavily on their instincts and concentrated more on sensitivity to living things, rather than fulfilling destiny, which was one of the main tenets of the Unifying Force philosophy.

The Unifying Force


"Jedi refer to the ‘light side’ and the ‘dark side’, but really, these are only words, and the Force is beyond words. It is not evil, just as it isn’t good—it's simply what it is."
―Barriss Offee
The concept of the Unifying Force finds fewer supporters within the Jedi Order than the Living Force. The concept of the Unifying Force is that the Force is a single entity and has neither a light nor the dark side. Some view the Unifying Force as a deity that neither has sides nor chooses them, treating all beings equally. Followers of the Unifying Force always keep their eyes open for future possibilities. In the end, it often results in them trying to fulfill a destiny rather than focusing on here and now, as the Living Force supporter would do. Visions of the future are of particular significance to Unifying Force supporters. Many of the Jedi hold a philosophy focused on the flow of time as a whole, ignoring primary use of the Living Force: The Present. Some claim that there was only one Force: the only difference worthy of note was that those on the Dark Side saw the Force as a means to an end while the Jedi saw it as an end in itself. This view was also supported the philosophy "the Force was everything, and everything was the Force"; that the Force did not have sides and never took sides.

Potentium
The Potentium view of the Force, not to be confused with the Unifying Force, is considered heresy by the Jedi Order . While similar to the Unifying Force, which suggests that there is only one Force that did not take sides, the Potentium view states that the Force and the galaxy in general are inherently good. According to this belief, the so-called dark side is not made up of specific "parts" or "abilities" of the Force: as espoused by the Light Side, it exists inside the life form which uses it, made from their emotions. By that standard, and unlike the Light Side, all Potentium followers can perform any action and use the Force in any way the see fit, as long as the intention behind it is good. In contrast, the Old Jedi Order acknowledged the existence of Potentium, but made it clear that it was subverting of the Jedi teaching and a way to misguide people to the dark side, or a means to serve it. 

 The Light Side of the Force
The light side of the Force, also commonly known as the Ashla or simply the Force, was the side of the Force aligned with honesty, compassion, mercy, self-sacrifice, and other positive emotions. For the most part, the Jedi simply referred to this as the Force.

Definition


"It is simple enough to know the light. A Jedi must feel the tension between the two sides of the Force; in himself, and in the universe."
―Thon


"Attachment is forbidden; possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is essential to a Jedi's life."
―Anakin Skywalker
The light side of the Force is aligned with happiness, joy, love, and benevolence, which some believe nurtures the light side and provides insight into its ethical uses. It is generally concerned with the ideas of good, generosity, healing, and wisdom, as opposed to evil, harm, and hasty judgment. In order to achieve harmony with the light side of the Force, its practitioners will often meditate to clear themselves of emotion; particularly negative emotions such as aggression, anger, and hatred, since these were shown to open a Jedi to the possibility of acceptance of the dark side.
Strangely enough, and despite obvious contradictions, the light side is treated as both a semi-intelligent entity with definite intentions and a non-sentient essence of good. Which view is embraced is a personal decision. According to the self-aware interpretation, the light side is held to actively influence events to the degree that some Jedi think of themselves as mere "tools" of the Force. Though this implies a lack of choice regarding an individual's fate, the Jedi, as leading proponents of the light side, insist that it is, rather, "the ultimate free will." This they explain as being because the Force (at least the light side) does not compel anyone. A destiny can be accepted or spurned. And all choices along the way are free to make.
Since Ashla is also the name of the Force itself, before referring only to the light side, it could mean that the light side is also the "normal" nature of the Force.




Characteristics of light side users


"How am I to know the good side from the bad?" "You will know, when you are calm. At peace, passive."
―Luke Skywalker and Yoda
Most beings who have used the light side of the Force have known its calming abilities. The Jedi try to maintain calm at all times, even in situations which would normally cause intense stress. They have the ability to calm animals, including people, and increase morale using only their minds. Almost every lightsider feels the tempting call of the dark side of the Force at some time or another, but most use the light side's abilities to restore their normal tranquility.

Dark side of the Force


"Evil began in a time before recorded history, when magicians made themselves into kings…and gods…using the powers 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 the entire world. Those who mastered dark power became dark power. They unleashed destruction, for no other reason for selfish gain. They despoiled nations…destroyed whole civilizations. Some of them, I am ashamed to say, were Jedi."
-Ood Gnar
 
The Dark Side is the antithesis of the Light.  I will not expound more on this, for one needs only look at the state of the world to know many have embraced the Dark Side.

Following the code


"The Jedi shackle themselves in chains of obedience: obedience to the Jedi Council; obedience to their Masters; obedience to the Republic. Those who follow the light side even believe they must submit themselves to the Force. They are merely instruments of its will, slaves to a greater good."
―Darth Bane, comparing the Jedi Code to the Sith Code

Self-discipline

Self-discipline is one of the key concepts of Jedi behavior, and Jedi Padawans are taught this from a very early age. The lessons started off similar to what might be taught to an ordinary student; however, as the student progresses, so do the complexity of the lessons.
Conquer Arrogance


"The acceptance of others is not a guarantee. Like everyone else, a Jedi is accepted or not based on his behavior. The Jedi who believes that he is more important than others only demonstrates that his opinion is to be ignored."
―Dooku
Jedi are required to learn that, although they are able to use the Force, they were no better than those who could not. Jedi are taught that they are only Jedi because someone has taken the trouble to teach them, not because they were superior to others, and that a Jedi Master is only a Jedi Master because he has disregarded his own sense of self-importance and embraced the will of the Force.
Conquer Overconfidence


"Overconfident thinking is flawed because the Jedi does not take all possibilities into account. He may understand the task at hand, the support of his fellows, and the ramifications of his success, and he may have even planned for unanticipated factors—but he has failed to understand his own capabilities. He has planned only for success, because he has concluded that there can be no failure. Every Jedi, in every task, should prepare for the possibility of failure."
―Vodo Bass
Many young Jedi students, while learning the ways of the Force, begin to believe that they can accomplish anything. Many young Jedi have died taking on tasks that were far too difficult for them, not realizing that the Force is only truly limitless to those who have limitless understanding.
Conquer Defeatism


"Try not! Do, or do not. There is no try."
―Yoda
Young Jedi also learn that defeatism is just as dangerous as overconfidence. Although it might seem contradictory to the goals of conquering overconfidence, a Jedi will first plan for success, then for failure. Jedi who only plan for failure expect to lose, and usually only use minimal effort—enough to say that they have tried.

Conquer Stubbornness


"Do not see a fight as a choice between winning and losing. Every fight can have many, many outcomes. When you concentrate solely on winning—in fighting as in everything else—you sully your victory. Winning becomes worse than losing. It is better to lose than to win badly. And it is always better to end a fight peacefully than to win or lose"
―Repka De
Jedi should always be ready to accept defeat if the cost of winning is greater than the cost of losing. Jedi are taught that it was always best to end things peacefully than to win or lose.

Conquer Recklessness


"Learn to recognize when speed is not important. Race when being first is important; move at your own pace at all other times. It is not necessary to always strike the first blow, to provide the first solution, or to reach a goal before anyone else does. In fact, it is sometimes vital to strike the last blow, to give the final answer, or to arrive after everyone else."
―Wiwa
Many young Jedi lacking in self-restraint are eager to plunge straight into battle. They perceive a goal and rush towards it, without any consideration for unseen dangers or other options. And so Jedi are taught that speed does not necessarily lead to success.

Conquer Curiosity


"Use the Force to satisfy the will of the Force—not to satisfy your own curiosity."
―Odan-Urr
Many inexperienced Force-sensitives use the Force to satisfy their curiosity, probing into the business of others. Intruding give the clear message that the Jedi felt they were above others' privacy. Jedi are taught that although using the Force to discreetly uncover the secrets of others may be occasionally necessary, it should never become a matter of course, as it would cause great distrust of the Jedi in general.

Conquer Aggression


"A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack."
―Yoda
A sizable number of Jedi, in training, confuse the meanings of attack, defense and aggression. Thus Jedi are taught that it was possible for a Jedi to strike without aggression, so long as they acted without recklessness, hatred or anger. A Jedi is permitted to kill in self-defense—only if there was no other option. However, Jedi instructors teach their students that killing, no matter what the circumstances, is not to become commonplace. To conquer aggression, even in combat, a Jedi must explore every other option, including surrender, before resorting to using lethal force. Jedi who depended on murder were close to the Dark Side of the Force

Conquer External Loyalties


"A Jedi is a Jedi, first and foremost, and only. For a Jedi to divide his attention between the will of the Force and the will of others is to invite disaster."
―Hoche Trit
Each Jedi is expected to remove as many external distractions from his or her life as possible. Jedi are forbidden from taking a political appointment or to accept monetary gifts. They are taught that their loyalty is to be to the Jedi Order and its teachings and nothing else.

Conquer Materialism


"I wear my robe so that I am warm; I train my body so that I am safe; and I keep enough money for my next meal, so that I am not hungry. If the Force wants me to have more, it finds a way of letting me know."
―Kagoro
Jedi are forbidden from keeping more than a few essential belongings. There are two reasons for this; first because they distracted a Jedi from the Force, and second because, as they emerge through the ranks, Jedi were required to leave for missions with extremely short notice, and so having many objects was a burden. It was rare for a Jedi to possess more than they could carry on their person at one time.

Responsibility

Once a Jedi has mastered self-discipline, they can begin to accept responsibility for their actions. Jedi who shunned responsibility are never trained, and Jedi who embrace it are never denied training.

Practice Honesty


"Let there be truth between your heart and the Force. All else is transitory."
―Surenit Kil'Qyi
Honesty is the first responsibility that aspiring Jedi are taught. Jedi are permitted to stretch the truth if the situation required it of them, however this was to be done as sparingly as possible. An honest Jedi is always truthful with himself, his Master, and the Council.

Honor Your Promises


"Deliver more than you promise. The best way to be always certain of this is to deliver much, even when you promise nothing."
―Tho-Mes Drei
Jedi are taught that if they make a promise, they should always be prepared to keep it, or else to make amends. Thus, a Jedi should never have make a promise he or she is not certain they could keep. Jedi are encouraged to consult their Master before making a promise.
Honor Your Padawan


"Good call, my young Padawan."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi to his Padawan Anakin Skywalker
A Jedi Master is required to know that he must treat his Padawan with respect. He should never reprimand his Padawan in public, nor punish his Padawan for disagreeing with him. On the other hand, a Master should praise his Padawan, especially in the presence of others. This builds the Padawan's confidence, and strengthens the bond between Master and apprentice.[1]

Honor Your Master


"I'm sorry for my behavior, Master. It’s not my place to disagree with you about the boy. And I am grateful you think I'm ready to take the trials."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi to Qui-Gon Jinn
By the same token, Padawans are expected to show great respect to their Masters, especially in front of others. Padawans are taught never to disagree with their Masters to the point of argument, and that when they are in discussion with others, Padawans should only address their Masters when they had been addressed themselves. This spares the Master having to apologize for his Padawan's behavior. For the Master is responsible for all his Padawan's actions

Honor the Jedi Council


"Now must I keep the word I made when only a Jedi Knight I was—a promotion this is not."
―Master Yoda after being invited to join the Jedi High Council
Although the Jedi High Council is the ultimate authority of the Jedi Order, it is not possible for the High Councilors to be everywhere at once. Therefore, when the Council send a Jedi on a mission, the Jedi speaks for and is a representative of the Jedi Council. The Council is forced to answer for the Jedi's words and answers, and so the Jedi has to be careful not to put the Council in a difficult position, as to do so would be to show terrible disrespect for the Council.

Honor The Jedi Order


"When a Jedi behaves badly in public, an observer might think, 'If this Jedi is a representative of the whole Order, then plainly no Jedi is worth respect.' On meeting a second Jedi, who behaves better than the first, that same person might think, 'Does this say that half the Jedi are good, and half bad?' On meeting a third Jedi, who behaves as well as the second, the person thinks, 'Was the first Jedi an exception, then?' In this way, only by the good behavior of several Jedi can the public be certain that the poor behavior of one Jedi was unusual. Thus, it takes many Jedi to undo the mistakes of one."
―Odan-Urr
Every action a Jedi make reflects on the Order. Good deeds boost the Order's reputation, but poor behavior sometimes causes incurable damage. Jedi are taught to remember that each person they meet might not have set eyes upon a Jedi before, and that the acts of the particular Jedi that person would influence their perception of the Jedi Order as a whole. 

Honor the Law
 
One of the most important roles of the Jedi is to protect the peace and justice, and so no Jedi was above the law. Jedi were expected to follow the law the same as they expect others to. Jedi are permitted to break laws, but only when it is required, and only if they are willing to suffer the consequences...

Honor Life


"Listen to the Force, Cade. A Jedi's first concern is to preserve life."
―Kol Skywalker
Jedi are expected never to commit murder, for any reason. However, if confronted with a life-or-death struggle, a Jedi is permitted to kill to defend themselves. This act is not encouraged, as ending life violently strengthens the dark side; however, if the act is justified—if it saved others' lives, then the light side was equally strengthened. Jedi are also expected to think of those they have killed, and to think of the suffering caused by their deaths. A Jedi who does not care about his victims was on the path to the Dark Side.

Public service

Although the Jedi exist to serve the Force, they serve the public interest. If Jedi were unable to use the Force, they would continue to serve, because that was their duty. The fact that the Force is real, and that the Jedi are its most prolific and devoted practitioners, only strengthens their resolve to use it for good.


Render Aid
 Jedi are obliged to help those in need of aid whenever possible, and are expected to be able to prioritize quickly. Jedi are taught that while saving one life was important, saving many lives is even more so. This principle does not mean a Jedi has to abandon other goals in every circumstance, but merely that a Jedi must do his or her best to make sure that they aid those who were most in need of assistance.

Defend The Weak
 Similarly, a Jedi is expected to defend the weak from those who oppress them, ranging from small-scale suffering at the hands of an individual to large-scale enslavement of entire communities. However, Jedi are taught to remember that all may not be as it seems, and that they should respect other cultures, even if they clash with a Jedi's moral or ethical code. Jedi are also warned not to act in areas out of their jurisdiction, and to always consider the consequences of their actions.

Provide Support
At times, it is necessary for a Jedi to stand aside and let other people defend the weak, even if the Jedi feels that they could do a superior job. Jedi are taught that they should assist by word or action as required by the situation, offering advice when requested, warning when necessary, and arguing only when reason failed. Jedi should remember that they wield the marvelous tool of the Force, and that they should be prepared to use it only for good.

Miscellaneous tenets

Here can be read a number of miscellaneous tenets which are not mentioned in the Code, but should be known for all Jedi.

  • The Jedi are the guardians of civilization, yet do not allow civilization to destroy needlessly.
  • A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for aggression or personal gain.
    • A Jedi does not act for personal power.
    • Jedi respect each other, and all other life forms.
    • Jedi must put the needs of the community above the needs of individuals.
    • A Jedi must protect the weak and defenseless from evil.
    • Jedi must always cooperate in battle or crisis.
    • Jedi must not have wants; self-reliance must be shown.
    • A Jedi will use only the appropriate force to subdue an opponent.
    • A Jedi will not take revenge.
    • A Jedi does not cling to the past, or look to far into the future. The present moment is always the most important.
    • A Jedi takes no pleasure in combat. 
    • A Jedi keeps the peace.
    • A Jedi never argues based on emotion only based on logic.
    • A Jedi will never break an oath.

The Jedi Code Explained

  • There is no emotion, there is peace

    • There is no ignorance, there is knowledge


    • There is no passion, there is serenity
      This tenet is more than a repetition of the first. It refers more directly to situations of extreme stress in which a Jedi might be tempted to react strongly, or be so focused on the task and not the goal. That a Jedi must strike only in defense is an expression of this tenet, keeping all other options open. While emotions and intuition must be understood and utilized in a Jedi's daily life, they must be checked, lest the Jedi act rashly and lose objectivity. Passionate use of power leads to the Dark Side. A Jedi must always act with a calm hand and an even temper. "when in doubt, stay your hand", observing each situation as clearly as the Force sees it, not clouded with unbridled passion.

    • There is no chaos, there is harmony

      • There is no death, there is the Force



The Jedi Code

One of the key portions of the Code was a five-line mantra. Several versions of the mantra exist, though the original version was:
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force.
Thus refined version was perhaps the best known:
There is no emotion, there is peace.
There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.
There is no passion, there is serenity.
(There is no chaos, there is harmony.)(*)
There is no death, there is the Force.
—The Jedi Code (Based on the meditations of Odan-Urr)
(*)The fourth line "There is no chaos, there is harmony," is removed in some Jedi texts.

The keys of the Code of the Jedi are an important part of our philosophy. Whoever wants to accomplish themselves in Jediism should thrive to apply its keys in daily life.
We call them keys, not rules. The keys are meant to inspire and guide. We do not believe in someone having power over someone else, thus, not even our institution can have power over its members, nor a code have power over your mind. Respect all life; This is the way of the Force.
Have faith in the Force, and it will be with you.

13 keys of
The Code of the Jedi

1 – Cultivate the Force
Everyday, take a moment to absorb yourself in the Force.

2 – Take shelter in the Force
Whenever you feel trialed, take refuge in the Force. Seek out reasonable solutions, handle your responsibilities, and have faith in the Force.

3 – Expand within the Force
See beyond your senses, perceive beyond the physical realm. Pay attention to what flows within the Force. The Force is everywhere, in everything.

4 – Give room to the Force
Reserve a small space, somewhere discreet, where you can let the Force inspire you. Be it an altar, a wall of symbolic traits, or a specific sitting area, find a place for your human senses to contemplate representations of the Force.

5 – Act with the Force
Whatever you do, do it with the Force. Keep the Force in your mind, in your heart, and in your body. Do not allow yourself to think that you are acting alone.

6 – Have faith in the Force
Let the Force guide your actions. Let your will become the will of the Force. Let the will of the Force become your will. Trust your intuition, and have faith in the Force.

7 – Hold high moral principles
Seek integrity in your own behavior. Be virtuous. Have humility, yet strength. Have a sense of justice, yet with compassion. Do not request virtue from others, only from yourself. Those are the principles of a Master of the Force.

8 – Emancipate yourself in the Force
Practice an activity that implicates the Force (martial arts, qi-gong, creative arts…)

9 – Accept the mystery of the Force
The Force works in a wonderful yet mysterious manner. Accept your actual state of being, and yet keep working at bettering yourself. Have faith in the Force.

10 – Study the Force
Find ways to feel the Force, do not limit yourself to understand it. Study the Force through experience as much as through intellectual comprehension.

11 – Promote the Force
Not your organization, not your beliefs, not even Jediism, but promote the Force itself, silently, through your actions and your daily life. Talk about Jediism only when appropriate, and only to those who wish to ear about it.

12 – Incarnate the Force
Be mindful of every moment, here and now. Focus on the present more than on the past or the future. Be prudent enough to plan ahead, yet detached enough not to expect your plan to work out. Have faith in the Force.

13 – Respect, Protect and Preserve all life. 
The 13th key is the one of hundreds more.
Cultivate your interpretation of the 13th key. 

What is this blog?

This blog is a manual on the Religion of the Force in George Lucas Star Wars Universe. 
May the Force be with you,
Manu