The Block

Kobos wrote: Im taking a foul mouthed, recovering alcoholic, martial arts practicing, skater, flunkie/barely get by young man and carving him into someone who might help put some sense, knowledge and love in the minds that will be the voices of the future. I'm trying anyway We can judge it once it's done and six feet deep .

I’ve seen that guy - and let me tell you - I like him.
We all create somthing new and the goal for a lot of us is that. I am glad your still around so I can explain to my son “that pine tree is still standing !” Right next to the cedar!
All my heart brother !

If I may, and I mean no disrespect, we cannot change anything outside of ourselves. We provide the tools, and set the example, but only they can make the change. It has to be their choice, or no change made will be permanent..


Just a thought..

zeroequalsone wrote: If I may, and I mean no disrespect, we cannot change anything outside of ourselves. We provide the tools, and set the example, but only they can make the change. It has to be their choice, or no change made will be permanent..


Just a thought..

Great thought brother bear !
Change in a Jedi setting comes from us inside - it is said “we are the piece and the artist “ I often say we are the ship the wind and the sails as well as the water.

Something I picked up from Dr. Stavish...

We are the scientist, the laboratory, and the experiment...

Dr. Bear,

You are quite correct. There is no need to be so formal! I love when others share their perspectives and well I am an high school educator dis-respect has a whole different meaning to me . I will however, ask; How we may decide what is in or outside us? I know others are not inside me, I may influence or set an example, when working with students I use stories of me from my past to help some hopefully avoid the problems I had, however, whether they choose to listen or better yet understand is on them. Sometimes that even haunts me, that I am not doing enough for some of them, but I am only a human. On, the non people note though I will use my garden as an example. My garden was simply a flat, naked level area of clay in a backyard. I disliked it being empty and dead. After a year of telling myself I would do it later, I finally built some small retaining beds from bricks (ghetto looking at best lol, 4x4's are coming when I get to cutting them). Anyways lol, the new soil I put in them allowed new plants (carrots, sun flowers and broccoli) to begin growing. Because of that work to manipulate the area (the land) outside of me, I have made my garden part of me, and in this I maintain it as I would my body and my mind. This perspective can be applied to many things. In fact I use this same rational when it comes to cleaning my sparring armor and bokken, (yes I literally clean a wooden practice sword before putting it in it's scabbard on my stand with my sharp blade). When I have these inanimate objects on they become part of me and in that way they should be maintained. Those parts I can control and hopefully as you said some others will follow suit at the Dojo, it would make sparring smell much nicer

Much Love,
Kobos

Ps. Carlos I never have the words to say how much, I respect your kindness and what it means to me my friend, I hope the son is well, he will grow to be an awesome little man, I could tell quite quickly when he was bowling. It is good to talk again my brother.

In one sense, there is no inside or outside of anything since we are all individual threads in the fabric of the force.
However, in the sense of limited human conscience, what is inside is what we can directly affect, what is outside is what we can affect tangentially.
Every manifestation has its own consciousness and its own place and purpose according to the force. So it would violate other's free will to 'force' (lol) our will on any manifestation outside of ourselves. The only option that is in line with the principles of the force is to provide the tools, set the example, and encourage, but if you don't want other's will imposed on you, then you must afford the same courtesy.
The force shows us what is going on inside of us by reflecting back to us what we put out.

Absolutely agree with everything there. There is fine line between "force" and influence that's for sure a key. I can't force the garden to grow but I can ensure it has the right conditions and protections for it to grow.

I use to say, you can't push a river, (sorry River).

And everything develops and grows exactly as it should according to the flow of the force.

Even our attempts to 'help'' are more of an exercise in our own development. We learn patience, compassion, love...

So you see, the more we help those around us, successful or not, we are actually teaching ourselves.

So, how we help, determines how we learn and grow. Try to 'force'' (someone stop me, I can't help it) the change and we cause resistance, and we hinder our own development. Teach, or guide with impatience, or without compassion, same result.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the force builds the question and answer into the same matrix.

It's beautiful..

Today is my
Birthday !!!
39 years is far not enough time to spend on this earth with such wonderful people and especially to spend a total of over 4 years with the people in this temple. I’ve learned so much just sitting next to y’all- I’d do it again!
It’s my tradition to pass on some birthday wisdoms and since it's mine - well- here ya go.
What - how and when are - what I found - the three most important words we as a Jedi could ask before our action. What we do- how we do it - and when we do it - can create and destroy ...
so - my Temple - keep this in mind this week - the what - how- and when can be a maker or a breaker for a modern day Jeddist. Have those answers ready. Take some time to have them chosen and ready.

From this old Jedi love y’all! All y’all!

Happy Birthday Brother!

Very happy birthday to you my friend!

I’m a thrift shopper by —- habit. My choice. Being from the street - and how I was raised I never had a library in my home. Never had the need or the want. Wasn’t in the mix of the grand scheme of things ya know. Now , the library is a room that gets frequently muddled -fuddled dirtied - used- slept in - played in- vacuumed and often than not - gets quite some use. As life happens, I search for things and usually find them at these thrift or resale shops. Here more recently now that I have sat down and penned the things I’m actually looking for. So - for instance when I pass by the - one Dr Seuss boom I’m lack My I will know - “grab the lady Godiva book” There are days I score stacks of similar authors or similar subjects.
I can tell you the vast majority of religions and how they practice and believe as well as how to take apart any type of car or truck thanks to a handy dandy book.

My library reminds me of life——how we can ignore it as I did at a blank time in my life or we can fill it as I am currently in the prosesss of. Our choice of subjects , authorizes , subjects and quantity is to us in love as humans to fill it with what we choose or like. $$$$$ We can EVEN get rid of a few , consolidate and upgrade versions of we like on said subjects in our own life’s. It take the want to and the practice. That’s all. What you got on your life shelf ? Is it dusty ? Is it lacking ? U wish there was more of somthing in your life ? Hit the road and search for it - seek and you WILL find - learn all you can ! Keep anything you want - we are human we have that right . Fill your life library.
Go —- do some searching -
Come back and share what u found !
We are all about sharing with one another - never tearing down or arguing - share - sooooo , Happy seeking and may the force you seek - find you as you seek it !

It’s a late Monday night and I’m sitting in my living room with the most wonderful people watching the most wonderful movie having the most wonderful time.
Being a Jedi or choosing to identify as one has given me the ability to become what I am. It has enabled me to freely choose what I am doing - right now.
Have you had that opportunity in your life ? Have you experience that freedom and pride ? Not a boastful harmful type but the satisfying type ? You can. If you choose to. Has your choices made you - right now - cynical and grouchy or some one you don’t like or some one you do? Can you enjoy your life right now? You can. If you choose to. Jedi ism doesn’t do it for you ... ... sometimes it’s just the ability to free yourself to be - yourself. The wind to your sails while you sail along- the pot to your Mac n cheese - the player to your favriot movie - the stitch - to your favriot blanket. It’s some times not the direct why, but , it can be the lead to the joy and the light we choose or find that makes the big diffrence.
Somthing to think about .
May the force be with y’all!

Something to think about ...

Every week I like to post things here of encouragment and foward thinking as well as every day Jediism. Real life aplications. Last week I had nothing. Couldn’t scrape the barell, couldn’t think of a thing to post. So I didn’t. This will happen. Some days you won’t have a thing to post or add. Some days you won’t have anything to add. That’s ok! Some days the minister needs ministering. Some days the leaders need leading. Some days the week is so heavy and stressful it seems like nothing can go right. This is life , real life. I encourage you as a real life Jeddist to be aware of this. It happens to every single one of us. Be ready. Be wise. It is said the wise when lost will seek the aid of those around them. Who do you got in your corner when your out of gass? Who do you have when all seems lost? What type of people do you frequent? Can you count on them to act or act up? These are questions every person should be able to answer for them selfs. What’s in your corner when you’ve retreated ? Somthing to think about this week Jedi. When push comes to shove - where do you fall? Where do you lay your sword down and retake or recharge or just take a break? You have the right to choose. Do you come back weak or - ready to continue the path. ? Are you encouraged or discouraged after you back up a bit ?
Make the adjustment if you need, and remember - your never alone here in this Temple!
May the Force we share - seek- and serve be with y’all.

When I was younger, I always understood taking a break as accepting defeat. I believed by force of will alone everything is possible, saw my will as a whip to force myself to press on. With the years I came to the understanding of a simple truth: Theres is a body with its own needs, your mind, which needs time to process, your spirit, which tries to advise you by the way you feel...once existence is less like a singular thing, but more like a state - consisting of many political parties, governors, ministers and whatnot. And your will is the president. Its your choice if the head of your state is a tyrant or not

Rest is a necessary part of being. I know me personally I love to retreat to myself and hide in processes I can repeat with out much thought. It's what I have been doing when I get that feeling. So, as I have been thinking on what you said this week; I noticed an ideal I hold myself for now after a lot of happenings earlier this year.

I have to stop the tunnel vision that stops me from realizing I do have a corner with people there and even when it seems like I can't take the time, I can because, I may be in my ring fighting by myself against the problems that come with life but I have some damn good coaches there I just have to find away to get back there, even if it means crawling back after a beating, inside knowing they will get me up on that stool and ready for the next round.

I hope this finds you well my friends. My inbox is always open.

Much Love, Peace and Respect,
Kobos

By Virtue

Some have 3, some have 4, some have 7, some find 9, some have 10, some have 12 and some have more. Some say there are 52 basic virtues we can have. There are books crammed full of different ways to create and find virtue. On this earth, it is seen as wise in any walk or path to find and cultivate virtue. Vice can be said - is the opposite. Something to think about ... How do the things you do everyday - blossom? What is their result? Are we cultivating virtue or vice? Do we even realize some actions - some music- some books- some things- some ideas - can create one or the other? This week I hope you join me in the seeking and planting of virtue rather than vice - in that connection of seeking virtue - we can share - that Force. We can be connected by our actions - not by our labels. May the Force continue to find us all as we seek it !

A boy was told a story and asked ...” the miner chips the mountains treasure and sells his findings to the world. Which would you rather be - the mountain - being sold and mined or the miner selling and receiving wealth? The boy said I would rather be the miner. The story continues with the man telling the boy - now ... the sun , shines bright and gives no rest for the miner working. Which would you be - the sun or the miner? The boy answer - awww that’s easy , I wanna be the sun. The man says - but now - come the clouds to block the sun and it’s power and hide it from the world. Which would you rather be? The boy says - the clouds ! Now - the man smiles and say- the clouds build and storm and blow wind and the mountain can not be moved standing talll and sure - which would you be? The boy giggeles and says I would much like to be the mountain now.”

Life is full of choices. Each moment is worth the next and each choice can be changed -
Funny how some choices come back to the beginning hu? A circle of life type of things hu? Some choices we make we must go thru the cycle of life or time so to speak. Stand firm in your choices and learn from them. Take strength on knowing the next one may be a step up or - a step thru - think about that Jedi this week and I hope as you seek it - the Force find y’all.

I like to post on Mondays but there are some Mondays that are so full , I gotta post it on a Tuesday.

I meet many who say “ I wish I could find peace.” Here’s a little way you can practice and find it.

Take a moment to sit down with a piece of scratch paper - post it’s- anything you can write on. Now think- in real life - what gives you peace. Where do you actually find it? What do you do that gives you actual peace. Write it down - separately. Have a few of them. Think - what brings you peace. Place them in a jar or container all togeather - when the time comes - walk to the jar or container and pull one out - and tell yourself how to find peace when ya need it. Be truthful so when the time comes, ya can’t really argue with yourself! You know you better than me. Fill your container with any thing you like that you find peaceful. Then ... use it !
I know this is at the bottom as my signature but I feel like it meeds to be said,

Build, not tear down.
Nosce te ipsum

Force continue to find those who seek it !

Why me?

Ever asked that question? Ever wonder why exactly things happen to us the way they do? Something to think about this week is this, in the ebb and flow of things - we as modern day Jeddist believe in the Force. We believe in many different definitions of the Force as well. We come from many different styles of practice and faiths as well. There’s an old saying ...” as it rains there’s no use to complain”
Often times it’s easy to complain or object to things that upset us or throw us off our groove. It’s easy to ask why me. Been there- done that! Remember Jedi - things sometimes happen because it’s time - like rain or snow or time to eat. There is a cycle of life some days we have no control over. As is life. Take a few moments to think and to try to be prepared. Be ready for the rain. It may wash a few things out but it can also recharge a thirsty ground and bring bits of new hope where there wasn’t before.