If anyone has any comments or additions I would love to hear them

[RO1234]

J

This is a treatise on the concept of the Jedi in the Twenty First century. I am writing this as a free write to understand my own feelings toward a philosophical way of life which's validity continues to be called into question given that it's origin is from that of fiction. A life path is in need of a much more serious foundation in order to be held unwaveringly.

Mental abilities vary from human to human. They range from over active to nearly nonexistent. Some exhibit abilities some consider paranormal, while still others can out-perform some of the worlds best computers. It is the interest of some groups to put these uniquenesses to use through cultivation and collaboration with the like minded. However, what they chose to concern themselves and their efforts with vary greatly upon the individual and their environment.

Intelligence and psychic ability: motivation and physical ability: these and more are at the center of the Jedi phenomenon experienced globally since the advent of the Star Wars Saga.

Motivation may be necessary to address in the beginning due to how critical it's involvement is in the overall understanding of this phenomenon. Motivation in this instance refers both to the grander reference point of the righteous warrior and archetype and the subtler aspects that effect individual preference in path. (See Light and Dark side)

Throughout history, individuals have found their way into situations where they alone stood as protectorate of peace and justice, preventing directly the occurrence of suffering and atrocity. These individuals had either trained for much of their lives for these rolls or spontaneously fulfilled a void created by a situation of which they were a part. Either way, hero's exist, today just as they have over time. This larger perspective of the hero in story and real live, is one explanation behind the influence the Jedi of the Star Wars saga has had on certain human beings.

Nextly, addressing psychic ability seems inherently important for those who may not be particularly familiar with the concept. In this case, all that can really be said without going extremely deep into a subject that ranges from various theories on cognition and physiology to modern discoveries in quantum physics and the makeup of the universe, is that some individuals feel definite fluctuations in their environment, their knowledge of which unexplainable, that give them special insight into their surroundings that for the most part is not felt or ignored by other humans.

Intelligence and physical ability are probably the most debated aspects of this group. The needed level of proficiency in these fields vary greatly between its self proclaimed members, with little to no consensus between them on the importance of either. In large part this is due to the various forms in which a warrior or "hero" may fulfill that role. This has brought rise to numerous attempts to categorize and even specify requirements for various paths.



That's all I got so far:)

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

Excellent start. I would like to comment on a couple points you made:


Nextly, addressing psychic ability seems inherently important for those who may not be particularly familiar with the concept. In this case, all that can really be said without going extremely deep into a subject that ranges from various theories on cognition and physiology to modern discoveries in quantum physics and the makeup of the universe, is that some individuals feel definite fluctuations in their environment, their knowledge of which unexplainable, that give them special insight into their surroundings that for the most part is not felt or ignored by other humans.
A colleague of mine and I were just discussing something very similar to your thought here. He asserted that human beings were more intuitive and sensitive to things in the environment than they give themselves credit for, and he attributed this to why so many people attest to having such broad-ranging spiritual experiences throughout history. He proposed that what most would believe to be a "spiritual" experience is merely a state of heightened awareness (typically dormant) brought on by some external or internal event. Either way, I agree with you that many people don't feel it or ignore it completely and until we learn more about the inner workings of the mind, we can only speculate as to the mind's psychic ability potential.

Intelligence and physical ability are probably the most debated aspects of this group. The needed level of proficiency in these fields vary greatly between its self proclaimed members, with little to no consensus between them on the importance of either. In large part this is due to the various forms in which a warrior or "hero" may fulfill that role. This has brought rise to numerous attempts to categorize and even specify requirements for various paths.
I was going to start a thread earlier today about this topic until I read this post. With so many people nowadays that follow the Jedi path, the questions in my mind arise: How do I know myself to be a Jedi? By what definition am I considered to be a Jedi? What criteria is there to be Jedi, or is there no standard at all? Is following the Jedi Code the only requirement or should there be a standardized training program of philosophy, spirituality and physical fitness?

I have been on a couple websites that define Jediism and Jedi Realists, but there isn't any clear consensus. Is it because there is no defined path for a Jedi, that we go where the will of the Force directs? I would think for the Jedi/Jediism/Jedi Realist movement to go forward, we would need a standard framework from which to build on. I feel that what we have now is too vague and scattered to be taken seriously by mainstream society.


Good work on the write-up. Please keep us updated!

[RyuJin]

i have seen this exact same post before elsewhere....word for word even....it took christianity nearly a thousand years to become what it has been for the past thousand years, before then it was just a collection of varied stories and accounts that kept changing with regions and cultures...even then it still splintered into many variations...from judeaism came christianity, from christianity came presbetyrian, episcopalian, mormon, baptist, southern baptist, and about a million other variations each with different views and requirements but all at the very core the same...it's the same with jedi/jediism/jedi realist each path has different views however if you look at the very core they all share the same concepts....

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

i have seen this exact same post before elsewhere....word for word even....
Where did you see it and who posted it?

from judeaism came christianity, from christianity came presbetyrian, episcopalian, mormon, baptist, southern baptist, and about a million other variations each with different views and requirements but all at the very core the same...it's the same with jedi/jediism/jedi realist each path has different views however if you look at the very core they all share the same concepts....
The religions you bring up do share a common belief because they can all agree on the core of the subject matter.

Since I'm new in the Jedi community I'll ask this question: what core concepts do Jedi/Jediism/Jedi Realists all agree on?

[RyuJin]

i believe it was on templeofthejediorder.com and it was posted by the same name there.
Jedi Believe:

In the inherent worth of every person. People are worthy of respect, support, and caring simply because they are human.

In working towards a culture that is relatively free of discrimination on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, national origin, degree of ability, age, etc.

In the sanctity of the human person. We oppose the use of torture and cruel or unusual punishment including the death penalty.1

In the importance of democracy within religious, political and other structures.

In the separation of church and state; and the freedoms of speech, association, and expression.2
That the systems of truth in the field of morals, ethics, and religious belief that we have studied are not absolute: they vary by culture, by religion, and over time.

In the generally positive influence that most religions have had on their followers and on society.3

In the importance of individual believers determining evil influences and policies within their chosen faith group, and advocate for their correction.4

In the importance of education. We believe that people are not truly educated unless they have studied at least the world's major religions and ethical systems. They need to learn of the good and bad impacts they have had on society.

In a just society with laws grounded in reason, compassion, health and human rights and in which fears and prejudices have no part.

Footnotes, mainly about exceptions:
1 However, like the rest of North American society, we have not been able to reach a consensus about when human life, in the form of a spermatozoon and an ovum, becomes a human person deserving civil rights.

2 However we have not been able to reach a consensus about the age at which an individual should fully enjoy these freedoms. We also recognize that some of these freedoms should have limits. For example, we do not feel that, in most cases, parents should be allowed to let their children die if medical treatment will assure a cure. We do not feel that individuals should be free to advocate genocide or yell "fire" in a crowded theatre.

3 Exceptions are a handful of destructive cults which have had an overall negative effect.

4 They need to understand the religious sources that inspired Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, and Mother Teresa to commit their life to the alleviation of human suffering. But they also need to learn the shadow side of religion: how religious beliefs have contributed to hatred, intolerance, oppression, discrimination, as well as mass murders and genocides in such places as Nazi Germany, Bosnia, East Timor, Kosovo, Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Sudan and countless other countries.

[RyuJin]

The Jedi Creed
I Believe in The Living Force Of Creation;
I am a Jedi, an instrument of peace;
Where there is hatred I shall bring love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.

I am a Jedi.
I shall never seek so much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
In pardoning that we are pardoned;
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.

The Living Force Of Creation is always with me; I am a Jedi.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I'm not a member of that board.

I've seen the Jedi Creed before. is that all there is for one to be considered a Jedi, following this creed? Or is there some other requirements/paths to follow?

The post of what Jedi Believe looks like it was copied and pasted from somewhere. It come from templeofthejedi.com too? I think I have seen it before also!

[RyuJin]

yeah it's easier for me to do that then type the whole thing up, there's more to it then just that....templeofthejediorder.com templeofthejediforce.com jedipraxeum.com jedichurch.uk all have the same info posted but there are alot more sites with it as well.

[RyuJin]

if you go to templeofthejediorder.com click on where it says temple doctrine and creed and you'll see the bulk of what is the central core of jedi, this info will be essentially the same on nearly all jedi sites, the exceptions being sith or similar opposing views.

in time all jedi sites will eventually become uniform then branches will develop again just like any religion/philosophical lifestyle

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

if you go to templeofthejediorder.com click on where it says temple doctrine and creed and you'll see the bulk of what is the central core of jedi, this info will be essentially the same on nearly all jedi sites, the exceptions being sith or similar opposing views.
That's where I saw it, jedichurch. Thanks for that!

in time all jedi sites will eventually become uniform then branches will develop again just like any religion/philosophical lifestyle
You're probably right. I just see a lot of 'discussion' around the 'net about what a true Jedi is and that gets me to thinking about these fundamental questions.

Thanks for your insight!

[RyuJin]

thinking and questioning is always good
my psychology professor used to always tell us: believe none of what you hear, half of what you see, and question everything...
i always make it a point to question everything and do my own research on things in order to come to a logical conclusion.
my mom never forced me to go to church, instead she suggested that i search around and do some studying before deciding on what to believe. martial arts led me to zen, a friends father led me to jediism and i've been one ever since (20 years now)

[RyuJin]

very good.

i look at it this way: what matters most is what your intention is, if you do a "necessary evil" that serves a greater good then you've done nothing wrong. sometimes you have to do bad in order to serve good. to me a jedi is one who puts others before themself but not at the expense of themself. self sacrifice is the ultimate gift of good, but it should be for the right reason...the jedi code if you follow it strictly/literally condemns killing, however if the death is caused to save a life and you have remorse for it then you haven't really violated the code since your intention was to save life and that was the only way to do so.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

No offense taken, and I certainly don't want to offend or make a mountain out of a mole hill.

This brings to front a question that Sensei Kim is always asking me:

Is it so important to have a definition that would define what we should be like to acquire the title of Jedi or is it only important that we aspire to be Jedi-like?
The problem that develops is that people that claim to be Jedi don't know what that actually means. There are many definitions out there, but with no consensus on what a Jedi is or isn't, how can one answer the question, 'how do you know yourself to be a Jedi?'.

A definition would say that a Jedi is this and this and this but not this and not this and not this.

Is every situation concrete or do we ebb and flow with each situation as the need is founded?

If we say that the Jedi should not kill and killing is your only option in a given situation, do you go with the definition of what a Jedi is and remain a Jedi or do you do what is the best option which is opposite what a Jedi is?

Should the Jedi also be limited by a definition?
A definition would in no way limit a person on the Jedi Path. It would serve as a foundation and an indication that one is actually on the Path.

Would it not be better for those who want to aspire to be like the Jedi to study all that they feel should be studied in order to reach that end rather than have a definition that states that a Jedi is this or that and studies this or that, limiting what the person needs to study in order to be a Jedi?
I think the Jedi would be best served by having a basic course of instruction or training so that all people who study are on the same page with the Jedi way of life. This in no way limits what a Jedi chooses to study during or after.

Maybe the better way to rephrase Sensei Kim's question is as follows: Are you here in the Jedi community to gain the title of Jedi for which a definition is needed or are you really here to better yourself irregardless of what title you acquire?
I think there are very few people who come here seeking a title. Maybe I'm naive, but I would venture that most were Jedi before coming here and they are drawn here because we share common ground. A definition is just a means to facilitate understanding among societies and the various Jedi spread out across the globe.

Maybe I'm giving this too much thought. Thanks for your insight!

[RyuJin]

another way of looking at it could be: in christianity one can do many christian things but not embrace the christian name,or god and would therefore not be a christian. likewise one can follow the path of a jedi without taking the name of jedi, and would therefore not be jedi...in those examples one would have to embrace not only the ideals of the chosen path but the name as well...
what makes one a jedi? the only true answer must be found within oneself

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I believe, though, that what is being needed here is a set of standards, not a definition. What Ro-Ha Til'leto is asking for is not really a definition.
I agree, there does need to be a set standard, and that standard would define the basic parameters of being a Jedi.

[Andy]

in ky we have open requirements not set standards that are the same for everyone

[jdmcowan]

It seems that first we need to answer the question of whether "Jedi" is a banner to follow, a club to join, or a title to award. I claim that in the fiction, Jedi is more like a club whose requirements must be met before you can join and "knight" and "master" are titles to award. But without a way to enforce limited use of the word Jedi amongst fans, Jedi can be no more than a banner to follow. But perhaps for this real world that can be enough.

Jeremy

[Andy]

Thats why we have the chapters right? To provide people with the group. Once a part of the group, titles and positions come as needed or merit dictates.

I think of it as an organization like the Knights of Columbus. Ours is not faith specific. Ours is also more based off of the contributions of the individual knight to his or her community rather than that of the group as a whole to the community. Each knight a pillar to their community, when there are enough knights together in one place, with their combined personal strength, they can hold any weight.

[RyuJin]

when i was trained, there was only the original trilogy, no books, comics, games, or cartoons,so there was much less dogma to being a jedi. my initial training actually began before return of the jedi released...my initial training consisted of saber skills...then a few years later i had found a master to train with. he used what i call the dogma of threes:
three tenets of a jedi: strength, intelligence, wisdom
three aspects of a jedi: body, mind, spirit
three tools of a jedi: skill, patience, reason
three opponents of a jedi: anger, ignorance, desire

this was essentially the core of what i was taught. during the three years he trained me we had many discussions on what to learn once i was on my own. in the end it was decided that whatever i learned, i was meant to learn. everything happens for a reason. i have long since continued adding to that core dogma i learned long ago, but never altering it since it's a really good beginning point.

[Andy]

Thats why in my chapter we have broad requirements and leave them up to the individual to complete the specifics of them as best they can. If they have physical limitations they are not held to the same level as others, but they are not given an opt out either. Jedi should not neglect an area of study.

[RyuJin]

that is why there are so many types of jedi. not every jedi will be skilled with defense, or knowledge, or communication, etc.
one should identify their strengths and weaknesses, develop their strengths, improve their weaknesses or find a way to compensate for their weaknesses utilizing their strengths.
oftentimes you'll find a way to take a weakness and turn it into another strength.
for example i have a neurological condition called "duane's syndrome" where the 6th nerve cluster does not fully develop properly causing(typically) the left eye not to be able to turn to the left because the nerve never gets connected to the muscle. often this condition is paired with deafness on the same side, diplopia(double vision), or blindness. the form i have is the rarest(less then 1% of people with d.s. have it) i have no other condition other then not being able to turn my left eye to the left. perfect 20/20 vision, no color blindness, no deafness(i actually have exceptional hearing according to all my tests) no diplopia. ordinarily i should have a reduced field of vision(by about 10-15 degrees) on my left side i have the full field of vision and on my right i have an additional 15 degrees. along with this i have learned how to view 2 directions at the same time and be able to comprehend both images seperately, so i can look left with my right eye while my left eye stays forward and i have no problems with what i see...basically taking a weakness and making a strength.

all jedi should be able to do something like that. turn a weakness into a strength. being a jedi is like putting on clothes fresh from the dryer, it makes you all warm and snuggly.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I received my training at Jedi Religion. There it was a balance between the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects. They didn't really have directives of how to do that, though, so you were pretty much on your own. What they wanted to see was improvement. They didn't require martial arts but they did require that you improve on yourself physically. I lost 100 pounds while at Jedi Religion. The same with the other aspects. They wanted to see improvement.
I have not been to the JR community, but that's awesome that you made such incredible progress! I wonder about those who are new to the Path but lack as much self-motivation? How many of them were/are left by the way-side because they had no clear directives? How many of them could have benefited, like yourself, but instead left the training because of no clear direction?

The trouble with standards is that there will be good people left out of the community if they don't meet one of the standards. I will use an example here: If martial arts is considered a standard, then those with physical limitations, such as myself, may be unable to call themselves a Jedi because they will not meet that standard (unless you count Tai Chi as a martial art, which it is). This is one of the reasons that I don't like standards.

In the same manner, if you set standards for Jedi, for every Jedi that can meet those standards, there is probably 10 people in the community who would like to be a Jedi and would make very good Jedi except for one standard that they cannot meet because of some physical condition. So, in the end, the community loses.
Physical training should be a requirement for any Jedi, or any person for that matter. A healthy body is key to long life, who doesn't want that? As a martial artist, I do advocate that some form of martial arts training be required in addition to the study of philosophy, spirituality and community service. There is a great deal of emphasis placed on training the mind, but very little on training the body and it's an imbalance that needs to be addressed. A simple set of standards would do that very thing.

To quote another member, martial arts provides for many of their Jedi training needs in one place; physical, mental and emotional discipline, physical exercise, and allows for one to socialize with other like-minded people in the process. What other activity or training provides the same?

We all have our ideas of what we would like in regards to being a Jedi. I know that I do! There are many people in the Jedi community who have been here a long, long time. I would hate to see any one of them be eliminated from being a Jedi because of standards that required martial arts or other such things that they are not capable of fulfilling.
No one is advocating eliminating anybody from anything. I'm of the opinion that the martial arts should be at the core of any Jedi's training. I'm not saying one needs to be UFC champion, a ninja or even a black belt. I saying that some active physical training could serve to reinforce their mental disciplines.

Martial arts training is one avenue to self-improvement on both the physical and mental level. The Jedi Code dictates that one uses there power to defend and protect and one should seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training. In my opinion, martial arts training allows for exactly that.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

Thats why in my chapter we have broad requirements and leave them up to the individual to complete the specifics of them as best they can. If they have physical limitations they are not held to the same level as others, but they are not given an opt out either. Jedi should not neglect an area of study.
Could you elaborate on the requirements at your Chapter?

[Andy]

Could you elaborate on the requirements at your Chapter?

Sure, i have them posted at my little chapter group page. I will give you a copy paste here so people dont have to go lookin for it. I put them up a few hours ago here actually.

A member of the KY group needs to show evidence of the following:

Mental Training - A member needs to pursue continuing education. They are expected to pursue academic mastery in their chosen field. If a person cannot afford enrollment or needs to postpone enrollment that is fine as long as they are raising funds to achieve this end. There is no time limit to this end, this is a lifestyle choice and as long as they have dedicated themselves to their own continued education, that is enough.

While as a group, we do not have a reading requirement, we have a book share program. A jedi will lend out any book they possess to another jedi free of charge. It is like a decentralized library.

Physical Training - A member needs to maintain a healthy physical lifestyle. A Jedi is expected to participate in a sport. What that sport is does not matter as long as it raises their heart rate for at least 30 minutes twice a week. Examples include: Soccer, Running, Biking, Swimming, Fencing, Power Walking, Baseball etc...

Spiritual Training - A member is required to participate in what ever spiritual training suits them. All a Jedi needs believe is that there is a higher power or energy, which we call the Force, and that this spiritual energy can be interacted with. A jedi can fulfill any number of religious obligations becasue all the jedi religion provides is a framework, but does not provide a more substantial connection to that force. Many jedi adopt a Taoist view of the force, practice buddhist or zazen meditation or treats the force as a deity or deities. According to Joseph Campbell's Masks of God, all of these aspects allude to the one spiritual god energy. It is a jedi's responsibility to explore and connect to this Force in the best way for them.

Martial Training - A member is required to participate in a martial art. The physical benefits are easily apparent, but a practitioner is also granted focus, reflexes, stamina and some believe a connection to the Force. The Art may be Hard or Soft. Not every jedi is drawn to the same applications of the Arts. Tai Chi, while not combat oriented, still offers the benefits of martial study. All jedi should understand L.I.N.E. training and understand the concepts of appropriate force and escalation. All jedi, if not taught in their martial art, should understand how to get out of a few common holds and grabs, as well as how to strike soft points on the body of their attacker to deter an attack.

Community Service and Emergency Response - A member is required to serve their community in what ever means suits their personality best. If that means volunteering with the poor and needy, they may go to the soup kitchen, or goodwill. If they want something hands on there is the humane society, scouting, etc... If they are inclined to serve in an official capacity, there are volunteer rescue squads, fire departments and the national guard. A jedi should serve as best they can.

All Jedi should be certified to provide first aid, CPR and use an AED.

After a jedi is given the responsibility of knighthood, their charge is to be a resource to their community. They should be ordained to preform marriages. If there is a disaster, a jedi should be able to OFFICIALLY and LEGALLY respond. If there is a person who has a broken bone or laceration, a jedi should be able to respond with first aid. My point being, a jedi should be able to respond to any number of abnormal situations.

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

A final thought before I bury it:

Yes, I don't socialize with people who are martial artists. Instead, I socialize with people who make a difference in the lives of others.
Do you feel that martial artists don't make a difference in the lives of those they teach? Have you had a negative experience with martial artists or the arts in the past?


-Andy: That's a pretty detailed framework. Thanks for posting it!

I appreciate all the input from everyone. So many points of view, there is much to be considered. Very enlightening this has been. Thank you all!

[Ro-Ha Til'leto]

I appreciate you sharing your experiences. I wish you all the best with your Tai Chi training and your continuation on the Path.

[RyuJin]

it's the old high school clique cliche...the intellectuals feel that knowledge is most important, the jocks feel that athletics is most important, the hippies feel that spirituality is most important...in truth all three are equally important every jedi should have a balance of each...it has been shown that intelligence does not always mean wisdom, nor does strength mean power...the amount of physical activity required for a jedi is relative to the particular jedi, as is the amount of knowledge one possesses....in high school i didn't fit into any social clique yet had friends within all social cliques, because i saw worth in all of them. i didn't realize just how many people i actually knew by name until my junior year when i was announced for the homecoming peprally. i played football, took weightlifting, and studied martial arts after school so i had friends in those groups. i accelled in academics graduating with a 4.0 my senior year and a cumulative 3.58 for all 4 years so i had friends in the academic groups, i was open minded and had friends that were wiccans, even holy rollers...throughout my 20years as a jedi i've always strived to keep balance between all 3 aspects...

to put a tombstone on that poor horse a jedi should do some physical training relative to their own abilities, a jedi should seek out as much knowledge as possible to make better decisions, a jedi should also be able to focus internally on the spiritual self or else there can be no overall growth.

R.I.P. poor dead horse

[Moonshadow]

I have to agree with a lot of what RyuJin said above. For me, the Jedi path is all about growing internally, improving oneself, and finding balance. From the very beginning, the Jedi path has always been about three things: 1) Connection to a Universal Oneness 2) Striving towards self-actualization and 3) Helping others. Everything else I’ve explored related to the Jedi path have simply been tools to work towards those three things.

I’m not thrilled with all the generalizations made that all martial artists think martial arts is the most central thing to the Jedi path or that all intellectuals feel that knowledge is the most important thing. It’s really very much like what RyuJin wrote in his above clique cliché quote and I very much dislike being thrown into that cliché, and really cliques in general. Like him, I can relate to all three categories yet don’t subscribe to any one. Although intellectual development, physical advancement, and spirituality are all important to my path as a Jedi, they are all only small parts of the whole and not one of those aspects can describe me completely in themselves.

For example, I’ve been studying martial arts on and off since elementary school to the present. Although I don’t really consider myself a martial artist because I still feel I have much further to grow and it is only one aspect of my path, martial arts has still been incredibly central to my path as a Jedi and to who I am as a person. Yet despite my deep involvement with that aspect of the path, I do not feel in any way that martial arts should be a requirement for the Jedi.

The same could be said for intellectualism. Education is also incredibly important to me. It was almost my primary focus for over 20 years of my life. Even after graduating with an advanced degree, I still spend the majority of my time taking courses, classes, and workshops to expand my knowledge base and am considering one day getting a third degree, this time in acupuncture. Even still, I don’t consider myself an intellectual or a scholar. Again, all these things are just tools on my path to strive for the 3 things that the Jedi path means to me: 1) Connection 2) Self -development and 3) Service. And despite how important education is to me, I would never push that belief on anyone else. Speaking from personal experience, academic achievements and school are just one way to access a bunch of useless information unless you know how to apply it. There are many people I know who I consider true scholars despite the difference in our educational backgrounds because they actually absorb and apply everything they learn to such a great degree that I can only hope to strive for. College also isn’t for everyone. I lucked out with scholarships, but not everyone can afford it. Sometimes life circumstances, time, money, families, etc, also get in the way. And school also isn’t the only way to learn. Some people are disciplined enough to teach themselves, and others are more experiential learners than book learners. What’s important is that people simply keep learning.

As for spirituality, for the Jedi path there is the Force and people can connect to that in whatever way they wish. For some people it’s through religion, for some people it’s through philosophy, and for others through science. Although the Jedi path is a deeply spiritual one for me, I don’t believe that it has to be that way for everyone. As long as each Jedi can find his or her own connection to the Force, and through that to the rest of the Universe, I feel that is the most important element.

For me, the following description from the Star Wars fiction is what best describes the Jedi path to me. I like it because it describes the essence of being a Jedi while leaving the individual path up to the individual.

Jedi are the guardians of peace in the galaxy.
Jedi use their powers to defend and to protect.
Jedi respect all life, in any form.
Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of the galaxy.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.

I believe the above is what makes up the core of being a Jedi and everything else is just extra, (although it would be nice if it mentioned the Force somewhere in there). It states Jedi must use their powers to defend and protect, but no where does it mention needing to be a martial artist. It says Jedi must seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training, but no where does it mention higher education. Those things are just tools. The focus of the above guidelines is on the Jedi’s role, not on how the Jedi is supposed to be able to fulfill that role. Since we don’t have a Council or Temple to help guide us, I believe how the Jedi chooses to fulfill that role should be left up to the individual Jedi.

I think when most people think of the Jedi, they automatically think of the more martial Jedi Knights since those are the Jedi primarily represented in the movies. The Jedi Knights aren’t the only Jedi, though. Relating the Jedi path to a college degree, there are many different aspects of the Jedi path and therefore many majors a person can choose from.

Just as a Biology major would be required to take Bio101, if someone were to major in becoming a Jedi Knight, then they would definitely be required to take martial arts and self-defense classes. But at the same time, if someone were to major in Healing, then their course requirements would be more along the lines of anatomy, herbal medicine, and energy healing. And a Jedi Scholar would be required to study things such as metaphysics and history. Yet even with all the different majors, every college still has basic core requirements that need to be met. Force 101, Ethics 101, Jedi Core 101, Meditation 101, etc. In addition, even though I don’t feel that martial arts should be a requirement for all majors, I still feel that it is important that every Jedi still strive to develop themselves physically and to be able to defend themselves and others (even if it’s through words and actions rather than actual physicality). Therefore, I think all Jedi should still be required to take at least a few credits in some sort of elective phys ed course (even if it’s just one in basic body awareness) and some sort of class in how to respond to physical confrontations as part of their core requirements. Almost anything can be adapted to anyone of any physical ability in that case, (after all, even the fictional Jedi had to adapt their training to different species), and people can then be free to choose the majors and specializations that they can personally excel in.

When it comes down to it, the Jedi path is really about balance, continually working towards self improvement, and using whatever assets you have to fulfill the role of a Jedi.

--Moonshadow

[Moonshadow]

:)

--Moonshadow

[RyuJin]

i'm actually trying to draw up a design for a training temple, that would have a training hall, a council chamber which would be designed so that other jedi could view the council and speak out much like a debate hall,it would also have meditation chambers, a library, and classes so that more jedi could come and train...the hardest part would be to get the finances to do such a thing....i'm still trying to figure that out.