The Block

This is the clergy section for spiritual guidance and help . As a minister this is my attempt to minister. Feel free to create a forum or a topic of your choice . Feel free to respond as you like , the hope is you receive encouragment and help from the stories lessons and ideas shared here .

celebrate your differences - no contest you build and support

Encouragment


A common pitfall in modern Jedi ism today is the attempt to undefine and unjustify another jedis path with only our own personal definitions.
That is never Jedi-isms goal.
This can be a prime path that leads to stagnation in ones path.
This way, this light , this idea , this road, (call it what you like) CAN often lead to little or no growth. It can often keep a Jedi from compassion and dim the light of learn.

My encouragment : keep this in your heart and remember it. Jedi believe In the Force, and in the inherent worth of ALL life within it. Every one ! That's you !
May the Force be with y'all as y'all seek it , as we ALL seek it !

What causes us as Jedi to NOT learn. Ever wonder ? For each of us our paths are difrent as well as our answers and with this question , for each of us or answers will differ. They have to. What keeps you from learning? Identify ( without attachment if you can for a bit)

For me , myself , the fact that time was an issue, this got me to thinking ... hmmm
If I wanted to learn more I needed TIME to actually do it . Time management kept me from physically learning. I should say the lack of time management . Lol during the IP we come first hand with this . How to include all this new stuff in an already full schedule or an already existing schedule . Each of us figure out eventually how to add extra things into our time . Meditation is what we all have as a focus in the begining and as we progress , this one things seems to be one of the chief things that suffers in our path as we begin. Might not be for everyone but I lay this at your feet... time management can benifit us in so many ways. It can be a start to the open door we some times need to give ourself the ..."push" we need.
Feel free to comment to or add to this simple truth ... learning can some times be re primed by simple time management .
Force be with you and may We find the tools we need , to be better Jedi and better humans , right where we look!

From my own experience, what keeps us from learning are two things:

1. having a feeling of superiority (one-upmanship, whatever you want to call it) towards others. This will lead to complacency - or even the idea that one doesn't have to learn as one already is the perfect (Jedi, person, awesome dude etc.). This also has to do with the idea that once they've reached a certain rank (e.g. Jedi Knight) or have done this or that that others found great, people start thinking that they've learned everything there is. Now it's time to stuff it down other people's throats and bully people whom they believe are less than perfect (Jedi, for example).

2. Not realising that learning never stops. Especially those who feel they're great and superior are the ones that have the most to learn. Ignorance, yet knowledge - it's one of the most important building blocks of our faith, yet there are people here and elsewhere who believe that doesn't not apply to them, that their opinion has more weight than that of others etc. Not realising that learning is a process that continues from birth to death, is that second factor.

Cyan Sarden wrote: From my own experience, what keeps us from learning are two things:

1. having a feeling of superiority (one-upmanship, whatever you want to call it) towards others. This will lead to complacency - or even the idea that one doesn't have to learn as one already is the perfect (Jedi, person, awesome dude etc.). This also has to do with the idea that once they've reached a certain rank (e.g. Jedi Knight) or have done this or that that others found great, people start thinking that they've learned everything there is. Now it's time to stuff it down other people's throats and bully people whom they believe are less than perfect (Jedi, for example).

2. Not realising that learning never stops. Especially those who feel they're great and superior are the ones that have the most to learn. Ignorance, yet knowledge - it's one of the most important building blocks of our faith, yet there are people here and elsewhere who believe that doesn't not apply to them, that their opinion has more weight than that of others etc. Not realising that learning is a process that continues from birth to death, is that second factor.

That second one , learning never stops . lol it's easy your a teacher ! Jk jk jk , for the common folk I never really had any one ever tell me this. Eventually I just stopped looking . Complacency does stagnate often. As does arguing and trying to make one self up... al re time , as in I gotta be the one right all the time , quibbling as I count it can lead to circles of dizzy non learning . Good stuff Peter ! Good stuff.
Constant re - reminders help too lol like this! Thank your cyan! Encompassing with those who have the same focus seem to help too hu?

Excerpt from my own Jedi bible still in rough draft form:

The Force
Who's Force ? Which force ?
As a Jedi and a actual human who lives in the real world with actual people ... you know on earth not movies or la la land ...
we beilieve in the Force. As individuals we CAN and have the right to define , in our own life's and paths , what is the Force is to us. A common holding and teaching is the Force CAN be accepted and identified as and power - flow- ebb-light-Any way- any idea - any thing ... that can or can not be side ed- seen or defined named or classified and or explained yet, we as Jedi - in our own path, notice the presence and or influence of it and is normally not ourselfs. The Force is what we see and observe and deem as the Force .
Now, This leaves the definition pretty open to the availability and possibilities of one or many difrent identifications. Yes! Love hate fear hope , these are also avalible forces that can be considered as well. With this wide range of avalibility one may and often it is asked - can there be multiples . That answer is to you alone . You are the one who defines your own path and your own force in your path. Your choosing is to you alone. You as a human as a Jedi , a real one, can identify your own Force . ...
That leads me to this
Jedi believe in the inherit worth of all ... even their definition of the force and their choices of path or paths taken.
Somthimg to think about this week my real life Jedi .

End of line

So Jedi , real Jedi, actual Jedi, if no one told you and you didn't know well...
now, you know!


May the Force we seek , find you where we seek it ! Right there !

Thank you Master, well written. I think it‘s very important for each of us to have a definition of what the „Force“ is and means to them. It creates trust and a feeling of safety knowing where once‘s religious beliefs are situated.

Bump

Self paced path
self paced life
self paced joy

It is said in many difrent ways :
Give fish - feed today, teach to fish - feed for ever.
This wonderful place on-line we call a community and the Temple has many difrent views - all good for learning and teaching , passing and sharing and all worth trying . No one will or can tell you which is right for your spacific need. ( I won't and be cautious on those who say so as absolute , not only here but in the real world) You have that right as a human and as a heart that is worth as much as my very own , to make your own choice.
Now, this place has a self paced idea it shares in the IP

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/initiateprogramme

and also in our Apprenticeship and our seminary and in our further learning here. To be quite frank, when I first started here, I shared a frustration common to the others and common to those currently going thru the self paced courses and lessons. The frustration I personally had was a simple one , I wanted to do my lessons , all of them , it was my goal. I didn't have the time or the avalibility to give the time to them like I wanted. Somthing new was added to my already full and working plate. It was , to me, frustrating and upsetting . Many of us will face this in our path here . Count on it friends and fellow Jedi, but your not alone. The idea is a very simple one once you see it . One of many things this place CAN teach and reveal is ...To learn means you might have to make time , new time , new time assessment : you gotta make a spot for it . New things mean just that , new . In the real world - to learn new things we may have to make time to find them and learn them. Seems easy enough yet it's frustrating - flat out . How do I read this or watch this video between groceries and pick ups drop offs and actual life?
My encouragment - life is ... self paced as this place. It's just an example of what CAN be done. Once we begin to get less upset or out of focus and begin to realize ... you personally just have to make time in your schedule - yours , as the way --- YOU learn.
This is hard for some and others it's too easy.we all learn difrently . This simple basic idea is so benifishal in the long run.
Some may have to re learn to learn - some may have to un learn - some may just have to plug in and play ... what ever the case what ever the part - this can help us begin the learn again or begin "the more learning path".
When we see in this light - this way - when you share this idea with us --- you CAN realize ... joy is and CAN be a self paced path as well.

Insert what is needed - when it's needed - when YOU think it's needed !

Happy seeking and may the Force we seek find us in the seek ... on that path ... the "during" / right there , may it find you and be with y'all!!! (Us)

I am a hobbit Trekkie narnian army medic VET potter coast guard rescue
Swimmer 5 year high school graduate, San Antonio street fighter, greater 48 resident; Texan by choice, hat tippin, tea sippin, door holdin, rule maker, law breaker, speed limits driver, star gazer, dream chaser, book reader, lover, hater, Dorito junkie, pot supporter (not smoker YET!) Buddhist, Taoist, half oceanic, half Chicano, all Jedi and everything in between.



If ever you would like to make a list of everything you are feel free to post it here. That is one thing the Temple can do, is validate.
We are not in the business of denying any one and any ones faith . On the contrary - we say yes! Yes you are ! Yes you can be . Yes you are right . So in that light what are you - what type of Jedi are you friends ? I had fun pen ning this little list that is no means at full length . Some day I will list it in full but you get the point right ? I hope so - Jedi are smart , that's on of the many reasons I like y'all as continue to serve each and every one of y'all here in this great place .
Force be with us as we ALL seek the Force !
Carlos Jedi Knight and clergy

Bump

The ZAX
By Dr Sues (c)1961
This is a Martinez family favriot . Thought ide share as it's one of the more famious shorts ! You can it in The Sneetches and other stories on line - Barnes n Noble - Amazon - any children's resale or book resale shops - I suggest finding a copy ! Now - to the tale !!!!

The ZAX - one day, while making tracks in the prairie of prax, came a North going ZAX and a South going ZAX. And it happened that both of them came to a place where they bumped. There they stood. Foot to foot. Face to face. " look here , now!" The North going ZAX said. " I say! You are blocking My path. You are right in my way. I'm a north going ZAX and I always go north. Get out of my way, now, and let me go forth ! " " Who's in whose way? " snapped the south going ZAX. " I always go south , making south going tracks. So your in my way! And I ask you to move and let me go south in my south going grove. " Then the North going ZAX puffed up his chest with pride," I never," he said, " take a step to one side. And I'll prove to you that I won't change my ways if I have to keep standing here 59 days" " And I'll prove to you ," yelled the south going ZAX, " that I can stand here in the prairie of Prax for 59 years! For I live by a rule that I learned as a boy back at south going school, never budge! That's my rule. Never budge in the least! Not and inch to the west! Not a inch to the east! I'll stay here , not budging ! I can and I will if it makes you and me and the whole world stand still!"

Well... of course the world didn't stand still. The world grew. In a couple of years the new highway came through. And they built it right over those two stubborn ZAX and left them standing in budged in their tracks.
End of line
May we find the Force we seek and not be un movable - un teachable - un learnable and some times un lovable with the light of a ZAX. Smile temple- life is sometimes that easy , not all the time but sometimes .... just and inch ... yea !

A bump

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/sermons/2415-carlos-2

Carlos, I'm here to meet you at the block. You are a wonderful example of a person whose sole focus is to build them up. Thank you for being a piece of the puzzle that helps me do what needs to be done in this world. Your positivity just shines through. Have a Fantastic Friday!

thomaswfaulkner wrote: Carlos, I'm here to meet you at the block. You are a wonderful example of a person whose sole focus is to build them up. Thank you for being a piece of the puzzle that helps me do what needs to be done in this world. Your positivity just shines through. Have a Fantastic Friday!

You are so very welcome friend ...as iron sharpens iron as some say ... we share stories and ideas and ways and lights and paths and roads and eventually we lead to the same few - the main is that we treat one another like human beings. Jedi.- the label that can remove all labels. May you join me in the new year and may we have a stronger walk togeather here as well as the Temple but truly in our every day real world life.
If change happens inside , the ones who benifit- outside - are the ones who are directly in front of us. Maybthe Force we share seek and serve find us both as we seek it ! See ya next Monday !

Happy holidays and turn of time y'all!
What a Monday . I find my new addition and current family at a Bob Evens waiting for New Years breakfast ! That's total of 4 for our new family , no longer little. I often read my son as many stories and myths from as many places I can. I wish my dad would have read me them but that's neither here nor there - I am here now and I not only fill my shoes -I pick my boot- so to speak. We read from Grimms tales and this one stuck out the other day. Ide like to share it with y'all

A merchant had done good bismess at the fair; he had sold his wares, and lined his money bags with gold and silver. Then he wanted to travel homewards, and be in his own house by night fall. So , he packed his horse with the money and rode away.
At noon he rested in a town, and when he wanted to go further the stable boy brought out his horse and said ," a nail is wanting sir in the shoe if it's hind foot." " Let it be wantin " answered the merchant ; " the shoe will certainly stay on the six miles I still have to go, I am in a hurry"
In the afternoon, when he once more alighted and had his horse fed, the stable boy went into the room with him and said," a shoe is missing from your horses hind foot, shall I take him to the blacksmith?" "Let it still be wanting " answered the man; " the horse can hold out for the couple of miles that remain. I am in haste."
He rode forth , but before long the horse began to limp. It had not limped long before it began to stumble and it had not stumbled long before it fell down and broke its leg. Teerxhant was forced to leave the horse where it was, and unbuckle the trunk , take it on his back , and go home on foot. And there he did not arrive untill quite late at night. " and that un lucky nail ," said he to himself," has caused all this disaster."


Make haste slowly

Make haste slowly ---- this one simple story and moral seems to be the hardest things to do for me. I think Grimm says " think about the future" quite often in his stories or just "think bro" ( bro added for my own mind )
The story is called " The nail" it's a short story by Jakob and Wilhelm. I have the complete collection which i recommend any parent have for - day time night time or any time story time.
What do you think ? Peace and the Force be with y'all!!

somthing to think about this week if you like ...
When your tank runs out , where do you find your resolve ? Where do you find your focus?
It is said ... to know others takes wisdom : my add( not knowledge)
Knowing yourself is wise.
Mastering others takes strength : my add ( not want )
Mastering yourself is power : My add ( for ourself to use not others.)
Knowing when is enough is rich.
Steadfast is the heart that seeks - he who stays endures : my add ( this is where experience points are gotten learned and earned)
To die but not perish is to be eternally present .
Book of change 33 my own personal version

To do ... to be in it - to go thru life is some times where we flex and learn. In the seek if it ... what ever we seek - it's in the prosess we gain. The experience points we get ... those never go away. We pass those by simply getting em.
By simply "enduring it" or living it. We can't get out of living but we can let it beat us and sway and break us or ---- DALING!!! Get some experience points!
Get some Jedi and ... save em pass them and be glad you got em!
Love ya temple ! All y'all!
Carlos Jedi Knight Clergy councilor