The Force
chapter n°8
There are three subgroups into which we categorise the Force in order to make it a little easier to swallow, as it were. Since this is such a huge topic, it's necessary to make some small points like this in order to enable a student to understand the Force and the way in which it affects the Universe and, indeed, everything contained therein. There are three categories here, going from least to most:
Personal Force --> Living Force --> Unified Force
Personal Force
The Personal or Individual Force is the life energy contained within the body of any organism at any singular point in time - if you will, it is the energy you require to continue to survive and be maintained in a physical (and more than likely, a psychological) state of existence. Every individual has their own personal energy, which is in itself the smallest division of life energy within the Universe. Essentially, this is Personal Force.
Now, Personal Force, as a general rule, does not remain the same throughout the existence of an individual. Like Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, it is exchanged and converted constantly with the energy around you - if your body is injured, life energy is used to repair your cells (to a certain extent at least), but, if you remember the first law of Thermodynamics, this energy is converted, not destroyed. As you use energy and convert it, clearly the energy you have used needs to be replaced in that the energy you have used is no longer within your individual system. It has passed outside of yourself into the environment around you, in various forms. Essentially, then, this energy will be replaced from an external source, that which we call the Living Force. I'll come back to that momentarily.
The most important academic observation made about Personal Force is that it is at this stage and this one alone that we find and can identify the beginnings of an apparent duality to the Force. Since this energy is in itself contained within your system, it is the most impressionable of all forms of life energy - and you impress upon this through your thoughts and through your emotions. Since, however, this energy does not remain contained within your body permanently, this becomes the most basic and natural form of individual energy projection - wherein that as energy that was maintained as Personal Force within your body leaves it, the impressions you have made upon it will begin to effect the energy flow around you. This is agreed upon by almost every single Vitalist theory - but if you have time, I recommend you read James Redfield's Celestine Prophecy for more on how such energy affects the world around you as a result of individual impressions upon it.
In order to give this further consideration, however, we need to consider the next form of the Force - the Living Force.
Living Force
The Living Force is the sum of all the personal Force in existence. Though they are of course all one and the same thing in the macroscopic view, we break it down into these two in order to work both on the effects individuals can have on the Force, and the ways in which you can apply a use of the Force. Hence, we tend to consider the Personal Force as being the most basic and normative of applicative systems, since it is easier to manipulate your own personal energies than to manipulate energy across a wider spectrum.
It is here where we find an overall picture of the so-called duality of the Force. Since people leave their own positive and/or negative impressions upon their individual energies, when this is collected together in sum total, you inevitably get positive energy, negative energy and neutral energy. Here we find the Light and the Dark sides – but these are not as major as they seem. Though both do have their influences, since a person surrounded by negative energy will inevitably absorb some of it themselves, which creates a change in their own physical and psychological make-up – and such is the effect of the duality. However, the influences created by these impressions on the Force are not as profound as they would seem – the affect they have on any individual is done by choice as opposed to by being ‘corrupted’ or some such term. With control, and a little self-discipline, people can learn to ascertain the influences of living force energy, and therefore to make their own choices regarding it’s influence.
On a base level, it is of course possible that the Living Force can affect a person based on positive or negative impressions, but at the level of the Unifying Force, good and evil, positive and negative become irrelevant. If you act as a student of the Living Force, the aspects are more your forte. Still, in order to give you more of an idea as to how this relates, I first ought to talk about the Unifying Force.
Unifying Force
The Unifying Force, also Unified or Universal Force, is the universal level of the Force. It is the sum of the Living Force – that which exists as the sum of all life energy in existence at any one point in time, and all the other forms of energy in the Universe. Since forms of energy change from one to another with extreme ease, it seems logical that all forms are connected in some way. And this is the Unifying Force – Life Energy as it fits alongside all other energies.
Here, the Force becomes neutral. There is no good, no evil. No positive, no negative. And, above all, the Unifying Force is completely timeless. It encompasses all states, all forms, all energies. It is, essentially, the underlying system of the Universe. That might sound a little preposterous, but if you think about it, energy is required to perform every single process or function of the Universe. For a star to engage in nuclear fusion, for planets to orbit around those stars – all of these processes require energy. And since energy cannot be destroyed, only converted, the Unifying Force is, logically, a force of the Universe.
However, the ramifications of this particular observation serve to create significant problems for many Jedi Realists, certainly on an ethical level. The Unifying Force has no sides, and thus in itself has no particular basis upon which one following it can necessarily adhere to – with the Living Force, where it is possible to extrapolate dualistic concepts like Good and Evil if you are that way inclined, you are granted a basis of action by the definitions produced as a result of such concepts – within the Unifying Force, such a thing is not possible. Allow me to elaborate on this a little further.
At the level of Personal Force, the influence of that particular energy on an individual is literally the result of their actions, not the possible cause or influence upon which their actions are based. An individual may use their energy as they see fit, and they create impressions upon their own personal energy based upon their thoughts and feelings – the results of their actions and reactions to the world around them. As a result, we may consider the Personal Force to be the singular domain of the individual – it is the individual who influences it, directs it and uses it for their purposes.
As we move on to the Living Force, we come across the point wherein the energy is capable of affecting the actions of an individual. The impressions generated by the positive and negative thoughts and feelings of an individual at the level of the Personal Force become more manifest as these individual quantities of personal energy are collated as the Living Force. While it is true to say that the energy of an individual is under their control, it is not logical to suggest that this energy can have no exerted effect upon anyone else since, as I’ve already maintained, the personal energy of an individual is not restricted to their own bodies, but is constantly changed and shared with all life as part of the Living Force.
As a result of the positive and negative influences on the Living Force’s collective energies, it is possible to see a dualistic system emerging – we have the basic level of positive and negative, from which people can extrapolate Good and Evil, and similar such ideas which maintain the dual position.What is Jedi?
The word jedi in itself means "bringer of light" ( ancient language: grandfather ). Think about it for a little. From this meaning one with clear understanding can derive the rest of the jedi ideals.
Jedi live a life dedicated to self-improvement( of mind, body and spirit), discovery of the energies of the universe, and being a bringer of light. It means to be a physical guardian and caretaker. It also means to maintain good natured energy within and without.
This is the basics of being a jedi.
Further on we follow a certain manner in our endeavors. This manner has been crystallized in a code like form called Jedi Creed. It is the ideals of jedi. Thus it descibes the "how?' of the basics of jedi:
Emotion yet peace
Knowledge not ignorancy
Wisdom not fanaticism
Harmony not chaos
Passion yet serenity
Detachment not obsession
Positive not negative
Silence not chatter
Freedom not indulgence
The Force not illusion
To read about what it all means see to Jedi Creed. The Creed you see here is just one way to write the jedi ideals down.
Everything else in our lives flows from these jedi ideals which each jedi has written into one form of code or other.
From this code comes another one which can be said to be a code of conduct or simply
Jedi Code
Jedi are guardians of peace
Jedi use their powers to defend and protect
Jedi respect all life in any form
Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them, for the good of all.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.
It is also a collection of ideals and thus describes even further the way of jediCompiled by Jedi Simon Foundation. Jediway Multiversal Language Research Department.
Learn, Practice, Be. May the Force be with you. Things can only get better.
The Jedi Q
Chapter 9 : DT Strain and Jedi Simon
There are groups of Star Wars fans who take inspiration from the fictional Jedi of these films in their own philosophic lives. While they don’t expect to be wielding lightsabers and cruising the galaxy, they note the many real-world philosophies that have influenced Lucas’ portrayal of the Jedi. These fans call themselves “Jedi Realists” and see the Jedi identifier as useful to them as they explore a wide variety of those real life philosophies and religions which seem to be “Jedi-like” in nature. While I don't consider myself a 'Jedi Realist' per se, I sympathize with their willingness to learn about a wide variety of real life philosophies, and enjoy supporting them with occasional posts on their forums. I am, however, a big Star Wars fan.
The Jedi Q is a collection of quotes from the Star Wars films designed to assist and guide Jedi Realists as they consider the world’s philosophies and religions, and compare them to the fictional concept of Jedi philosophy. It has been compiled by carefully combing through all six films. The quotes are from the completed film versions as found on the Special Edition wide-screen DVD releases: Episode I (2001 DVD release), Episode II (2002 release), Episode III (2005 release), and Episodes IV-VI (2004 release).
In Christianity, a current theory of biblical scholars is that Mark and another gospel which we don't have (called "Q"), were the two source documents for the books of Matthew and Luke, which sought to reconcile the two. Mark and Q would then be the most proto-original source material on the teachings of Jesus.
In the reconstruction of the Gospel Q, scholars looked at what was in the other books and tried to backtrack which materials likely came from Q, compiling them together. It is believed that, unlike Mark, Q was not a narrative, but rather a collection of sayings (it is called the "Gospel sayings Q").
When you read the reconstruction of the Christian Gospel Q, it has a lot of skips and gaps (...) where further information is unknown. In other words, they sought to only present what was known, not "fill in the gaps" or elaborate. It is this work which has inspired the name of the “Jedi Q”.
In the case of the “Jedi Q”, I first assume the fictional Jedi of the Star Wars films would have had a fully robust philosophy, only a small part of which we saw on screen. Then, like archaeologists, Jedi Realists can use Jedi Q to attempt to reconstruct what that philosophy could have been. As with reconstructing a broken vase where one only has some of the pieces, one first has to figure out what pieces one has and where they go before filling in the gaps.
In the following I have taken every quotation spoken about the Force, the Jedi, or other philosophic points spoken by the characters. The quotes are those which center on the Jedi lifestyle and philosophy, even if spoken by other characters.
You'll notice many omissions which may be surprising. This is because quotes that refer only to fictional-world Jedi and plot points of the film have been left out (such as "he is the chosen one" and the business about midi-chlorians, for example). The document features only exact quotes, with a minimum of gap-filling, interpretation, or elaboration. A few exceptions are with some notes where there might be question as to the reason for inclusion of the quote.
The quotes are presented sequentially, in fictional-universe chronological order. I have also made an effort to simplify where the concept or philosophy was made over a number of exchanges, so as not to present a conversation format. For example, Yoda tells Qui-Gon that he already has an apprentice and can't take another, then Mace Windu adds that it's against the code. Because this being against the code is the critical information for our purposes, I quoted only Mace and added what he was referring to in brackets.
There have also been omissions when exact repetitions appear from the same person in the same film, such as when Obi-Wan tells Anakin in Episode II to be mindful of his thoughts, and later tells him the same thing, adding, “they betray you”. In such a case only the latter instance was included.
Lastly, I have not just included anything said by any Jedi, regardless of its subject matter. For example, one might be able to infer some sort of philosophic outlook by Qui-Gon saying, "These Federation types are cowards. The negotiations will be short" but there is really nothing in there that is directly stating a general philosophy, so it was omitted as a mere plot-related quote.
Jedi Realists might consider this collection as an inspirational starting point, or a “core canon” on the Force and the Jedi. An “expanded canon” might be another document others may choose to build, which would follow the same methods and structure as this one, but include quotes from the Star Wars novels and other “Expanded Universe” sources.
EPISODE I
1:1
Don’t center on your anxieties... Keep your concentration here and now where it belongs.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:2
...I should be mindful of the future.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
1:3
[Be mindful of the future] but not at the expense of the moment. Be mindful of the Living Force...
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:4
The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:5
You and the Naboo form a symbiant circle. What happens to one of you will affect the other.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
1:6
There’s always a bigger fish.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:7
Don’t worry, the Force will guide us.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:8
...Maxi big the Force.
-- Jar Jar Binks
1:9
I wish that were so [that no one can kill a Jedi].
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:10
Greed can be a powerful ally.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:11
He can see things before they happen. That’s why he appears to have such quick reflexes. It’s a Jedi trait.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:12
Concentrate on the moment. Feel, don’t think. Use your instincts.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:13
May the Force be with you.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn (and many others)
1:14
Whenever you gamble... eventually you lose.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:15
Nothing happens by accident.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:16
Training to become a Jedi is not an easy challenge, and even if you succeed, it’s a hard life.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:17
You can’t stop the change, any more than you can stop the suns from setting.
-- Schmi Skywalker
1:18
Don’t look back.
-- Schmi Skywalker
1:19
Hard to see the dark side is.
-- Yoda
1:20
I shall do what I must...
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:21
Be mindful of your feelings.
-- Mace Windu
1:22
Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.
-- Yoda
1:23
The code forbids it [taking on a second apprentice while already having one].
-- Mace Windu
1:24
Always remember, your focus determines your reality.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:25
...I can only protect you. I can’t fight a war for you.
-- Qui-Gon Jinn
1:26
Always two [Sith] there are; no more, no less... a Master and an Apprentice.
-- Yoda
EPISODE II
2:1
The dark side clouds everything...
-- Yoda
2:2
Dreams pass in time.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
2:3
Be mindful of your thoughts... they betray you.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
2:4
...[politicians] are not to be trusted.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
2:5
It is my experience that Senators focus only on pleasing those who fund their campaigns, and they’re in no means scared of forgetting the niceties of democracy in order to get those funds.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
[note: 2:4 and 2:5 are questionable as to their relevance to Jedi philosophy. They may only represent Obi-Wan Kenobi’s personal views. They were included, however, because they deal with the general topic of politics and power, of which the Jedi would no doubt have positions on.]
2:6
Patience. Use the Force. Think.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
2:7
[Arrogance is] a flaw more and more common among Jedi. Too sure of themselves they are. Even the older, more experienced ones.
-- Yoda
2:8
Attachment is forbidden [to a Jedi]. Possession is forbidden. Compassion... is central to a Jedi’s life.
-- Anakin Skywalker
[note: In 2:8, Anakin’s caveat on compassion, “which I would define as unconditional love” was removed because it was something Anakin specifically said was his own personal definition, as opposed to the Jedi Order’s. The rest of the quote seems to be addressing Jedi philosophy.]
2:9
Reach out. Sense the Force around you. Use your feelings you must.
-- Yoda
2:10
Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.
-- Yoda
2:11
Do not assume anything... clear your mind must be.
-- Yoda
2:12
Lies, deceit, creating mistrust are his ways [the ways of those who join the dark side] now.
-- Yoda
EPISODE III
3:1
...Sith Lords are our specialty.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
3:2
...Twice the pride, double the fall.
-- Darth Tyranus
3:3
...[killing an unarmed prisoner] is not the Jedi way.
-- Anakin Skywalker
3:4
Careful you must be when sensing the future... the fear of loss is a path to the dark side.
-- Yoda
3:5
Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not.
-- Yoda
3:6
Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed that is... Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.
-- Yoda
3:7
All who gain power are afraid to lose it...
-- Darth Sidious
3:8
The Jedi use their power for good.
-- Anakin Skywalker
3:9
The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think inwards, only about themselves... The Jedi are selfless. They only care about others.
-- Anakin Skywalker
3:10
My allegiance is to the Republic, to democracy.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
3:11
Only a Sith deals in absolutes.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
3:12
Your arrogance blinds you...
-- Darth Sidious
3:13
...faith in the dark side of the Force [is misplaced].
-- Yoda
EPISODE IV
4:1
For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:2
Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:3
The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It’s an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:4
You must do what you feel is right, of course.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:5
The ability to destroy a planet is insignificant next to the power of the Force.
-- Darth Vader
4:6
The Force can have a strong influence on the weak minded.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:7
Remember, a Jedi can feel the Force flowing through him.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:8
[The Force] partially [controls your actions], but it also obeys your commands.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:9
...let go of your conscious self and act on instinct.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:10
Your eyes can deceive you; don’t trust them... Stretch out with your feelings.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:11
In my experience there’s no such thing as luck.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:12
You’ve taken your first step into a larger world.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:13
...there are alternatives to fighting.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:14
Who’s the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows it?
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:15
If you strike me down I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:16
Use the Force... Let go...
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
4:17
Remember, the Force will be with you always.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
EPISODE V
5:1
War does not make one great.
-- Yoda
5:2
A Jedi must have the deepest commitment... the most serious mind.
-- Yoda
5:3
Adventure... excitement... a Jedi craves not these things.
-- Yoda
5:4
A Jedi’s strength flows from the Force.
-- Yoda
5:5
...beware the dark side: anger, fear, aggression. The dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow; quick to join you in a fight. But once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will.
-- Yoda
[note: Yoda seems to believe in the above that the dark side will “forever” dominate one’s destiny without hope of redemption. While we might use Yoda’s words as a prime example of Jedi philosophy in most cases, one might note here that this particular point was refuted in the overall hopeful message of the Star Wars films. Other than that, the surrounding elements concerning the dark side in the above quote are likely to be valid.]
5:6
No [the dark side is not stronger]; quicker, easier, more seductive.
-- Yoda
5:7
You will know [the good side from the bad] when you are calm, at peace, passive.
-- Yoda
5:8
A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense; never for attack.
-- Yoda
5:9
There is no why.
-- Yoda
5:10
[The large and the small are] no different; only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.
-- Yoda
5:11
Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.
-- Yoda
5:12
Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you? And well you should not, for my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it; makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us.
-- Yoda
5:13
Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere...
-- Yoda
5:14
That [because you don’t believe] is why you fail.
-- Yoda
5:15
Through the Force, things you will see; other places: the future, the past, old friends long gone.
-- Yoda
5:16
Control, control! You must learn control!
-- Yoda
5:17
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
5:18
...if you choose the quick and easy path... you will become an agent of evil.
-- Yoda
5:19
...don’t give in to hate. That leads to the dark side.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
5:20
Mind what you have learned. Save you it can.
-- Yoda
EPISODE VI
6:1
Soon will I rest, yes. Forever sleep. Earned it I have.
-- Yoda
6:2
Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong [to not die]. Twilight is upon me and soon, night must fall. That is the way of things, the way of the Force.
-- Yoda
6:3
...you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
6:4
You cannot escape your destiny.
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
6:5
Bury your feelings deep down... they do you credit, but they could be made to serve [evil].
-- Obi-Wan Kenobi
[note: 6:4 and 6:5 refer in some way to a specific matter on which Obi-Wan was eventually proven wrong. This may or may not modify the truth of the core message contained in these two quotes.]
6:6
You don’t know the power of the dark side. I must obey my master.
-- Darth Vader
[note: This being designed as a guide to Jedi philosophy, Sith expounding on their beliefs in the superiority of the dark side have been rejected and excluded from this collection as inaccurate. However 6:6 has been included because of the ironic juxtaposition of the two sentences, the first alleging the ultimate power of the dark side and the second confessing powerlessness from a self proclaimed dark side user.]
6:7
...let go of your hate.
-- Luke Skywalker
6:8
Your overconfidence is your weakness.
-- Luke Skywalker
6:9
Your thoughts betray you.
-- Luke Skywalker (and later Darth Vader)
6:10
I’ll never turn to the dark side... I am a Jedi...
-- Luke Skywalker
6:11
You already have [saved me].
-- Anakin Skywalker
DT Strain, Jedi SimonCompiled by Jedi Simon Foundation. Jediway Multiversal Language Research Department.
Learn, Practice, Be. May the Force be with you. Things can only get better.