The Jedi Creed *** “I am a Jedi, and 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; 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; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life The force is always with me, for I am a Jedi.” *** What does this mean to you? For me (all of this is my interpretation and thoughts, I am just a learner and thus do not lecture!) the Jedi Creed is an important reminder in the more mundane situations of life. Jedi defend and protect against physical threats and injustice, and yet we are also meant to be instruments of peace. In everyday conversation and whenever communicating with or being in the presence of other people I remind myself that regardless of what I face, whether this is negative or positive; it does not take away my duty as a Jedi learner nor excuse me when I walk astray. When you speak of love, kindness, forgiveness, clemency and tolerance, some might feel tempted to compare you to 60s hippies. Why is that? We can act when there is need for defense and yet be kind, tolerant people who treat others well, and who seek to unite rather than divide. I cannot control other people nor should I be able to. All I can do is better myself; to ensure that what I give and project is good and follow the duty I have as a Jedi learner. I would defend someone with my life if I had to, but I would rather inspire peace than go to war. In these mundane situations often we’ll be faced with small challenges. Seemingly irrelevant in the big picture, but action breeds habit. The Jedi Creed does not tell me to accept injustice and ignore defense, however it does tell me that when communicating with other people that I act according to what the path demands; a beacon of light and an instrument of peace. Let go of slights and insults, let go of frustration and resentment. Seek to understand, rather than simply be understood. Lighten dark corners whenever I can. The Creed tells me how to behave when facing opposition and darkness. Together the Jedi Creed and the Jedi Vow of defense give a rather specific description of our duty as Jedi, both in mundane everyday situations, and the less mundane situations. We must defend and protect and yet also keep in mind our duty towards peace and light. This is how I see it. So I defend when it is needed and yet keep in mind while at it how I should act and speak in order to prosper peace. An example valid for me is LGBT causes. I am an LGBT advocate, meaning when I see messages and attitudes that might cause great harm I react to these. However I ensure that I react to this in a way that is still polite, kind and understanding. I present a different view and the potential consequences of the harmful message, but I do not go to war. I do not insult the religion or person of whomever is contributing to spreading the harmful message. I weigh my words as carefully as possible to open a dialogue without myself causing harm to whomever I am attempting to carry this dialogue with. Darkness in these situations is not best fought with additional darkness, as the Jedi Creed states indirectly. I see it as part of my duty to defend that I do not keep quiet when I see something that is dangerous to the point where it could cost a life. At the same time I do not assume that the person is aware of or intends to cause harm. And it is not my place to force through a message; all I hope for is to plant a seed of light. What do you guys think of the Jedi Creed? What does it make you feel? What does it mean to you?
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 10:34:22 +0000
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