The Block

Some times my Sgt Martinez comes out. My wife often reminds me when he’s welcome - needed or needs to go to parade rest which for most of the world means to shut up and put your hands behind your back and your jabber zipped. My military background is no secret. For a very long time I was the one who worked extra or was the one who volunteered for not everything but for the good stuff. Schools and extra training was a privilege for me so... the day I learned all the Army instructors were looking for was what they were telling and instructing you to do, you guessed it- I began to excel not only in status but in rank. The day I got my stripes was a strange day. It happened. The only thing that changed was now- more was expected from me - from more people. It was easy to keep track of myself - I was only one- but when more people were added to the equation, it wasn’t the same.
I love the Hero’s journey. I’m a fan. Humanity in story form. For me it’s something I can and do connect to. To share our story’s and find the common theme or bond or connection, that’s - for me- the difference. The day I got my stripes - it’s not that I wasn’t ready, truthfully it’s that there was more added that I wasn’t aware of. I find a lot of similarities when I see the Hero’s journey from those who share.
There may come a time when you get the job or the position or the responsibility or even ... the Title! Tah- dah!!! Something in life will come and not from any thing bad or malice but you will find out - when you get it - there’s gunna be things , you won’t know. Be human. That’s ok. Know that as your Pastor I can encourage you to be wise and understand this. New spot means new everything. Be ready and don’t quit. Your there because - well you can, so now... can. As modern day Jeddist our roots come from Myth and imagination. What we can apply and create today- can be a great way to grow by word of mouth. Yea it may be old school, But having good council is sometimes better than good friends. Take it from this old soldier, those moments in life and in the story’s when the main character or hero of the story finds they are given the task or the opportunity to lead, it usually happens and most times it to the hero to try to figure out how to balance it. Most the time they do. It may take some time but for the most part, the hero can figure it out. I tell my own family story’s of The Native American Rabbit who always did things more than once till he figured out finally how the last try as a reminder- may not happen the first time bit you’ll get it.
So, from that old man inside who’s survived long enough to turn back and say- hey here’s some advice - your the hero - you’ll figure it out. You may have help. I don’t know how, but you can. I do believe in you. Some of the tales we share- are some of the best storys I know. How you DID make it. How you are here - NOW. May we continue to share the good stuff. May the Force be with you every where we share seek and serve it. Keep sharing! Don’t quit. Keep writing your story. Being a modern day Jeddist is a privilege for me, you all make it real. You put real faces on real life.

Pastor Carlos

Monday bump

Your Code

When you're all alone, your code(s) will stand. When you have nothing else, your code(s) will be the proverbial light or direction you can choose. When no one's looking... your code(s) is. What's in a code? Some codes are written on walls and on paper and in cyberspace and even real books. Some codes are passed. We as Jedi have a code.

The Jedi Code comes in two versions which are different ways of understanding the same teaching.

Emotion, yet Peace. There is no Emotion, there is Peace.
Ignorance, yet Knowledge. There is no Ignorance, there is Knowledge.
Passion, yet Serenity. There is no Passion, there is Serenity.
Chaos, yet Harmony. There is no Chaos, there is Harmony.
Death, yet the Force. There is no Death, there is the Force.
by Greg Costikyan

That's not the only one out there. So many ideas and codes out there it would seem kinda -silly- to just have ONE. We are human first, and all from different places and ideas and faiths and practices. Different codes. The ideas we remind ourselves of when we forget or need reminder can probably make a list so long... it would take years to get 'em all in one place. Luckily we don't have to. Choose your codes and live by em. Memorize them. Practice them. Truthfully, its those codes of ethics or code of conduct or that code of honor that makes you - you or the mix of those present.

CODES
If ya don't got em - I encourage you ...get em! Its really up to you.
May the force be with you this week and we all seek, share and serve the Force.
Pastor Carlos

Death/eternity/consciousness

I want to share some thoughts about death, which suddenly appeared while I was read a book Thelema,
(where was something about fest of death, thus celebration of death).

Celebration of death, which is nearly everywhere around the world (except Hindu and Buddhist religious countries) perceived like something inappropriate.
Though death is something absolutely natural, I see the most frequent problem with it, that most people connecting it with pain, which is wrongly perceived.
The ageing is one thing, but death itself isn´t painful. (it´s like switch on/switch off the bulb).

However, it isn´t the main thing I was going to talk about.

What came to my mind related with fest of death is, that in our society with death of close people are related emotions like sad, anger, frustration, you know.
Lot of negative emotions, which are basically selfish < and nothing more.
(I have absolutely nothing against selfishness, but mostly this fact is overlooked)

• I loved that person so much - what will miss are that emotions which raised everytime when two persons were together
• He/She will miss me - you see in this statement, that you are - what matters most.
• We spent so much wonderful years, which can not continue in future - in fact the energy and emotions as well, but it´s all about you.

I quess that Mark Twain was right, when he said in one of his work - What is man? - that he/she is mere selfish jerk.

There yet one thing I want to mention in relation with death.
And that is soul - which in religion context is - personality, desires, values etc...
Which are frequently discussed around the death and afterlife.
However I think that it isn´t the true case why are people concerned about death.
Because personality, desires and values are in fact created after birth and thus created by external influences.
The real case, why are people concernined about death is fact, that with it, they lose their consciousness, thus fact that they exist at the moment.
(which is of course related with personality, desires and so on). But real fear is connected only just with absence of consciousness.

What a time to be here.
This morning I awoke to a meditation in my heart and in my mind from what I can only claim as the Force. I had been thinking and hoping for today’s message here on the block. Here we go.

Did you know that presently ...
In this Temple there are new people every day logging in and signing up -( from membership affairs and faithful service ) ever day new people make accounts to the point - I can’t keep up with them weekly. This is a great thing.
This holiday season - the founder is and may post a sermon for the Temple.
Currently there are Pilars of our temple coming back on a regular basis. In my past experience there was one Pastor and a few clergy members - today you have people from the beginning of the actual Temple it self 13 14 years ago here now present - willing to serve and share. We have today the opportunity to speak directly to our past - presently.
We are currently filling this place with people from every walk of life. Look around - yea we argue and bicker but that’s what family do- we get there - together. Transparency is a action more than a request now . Knights are organizing and returning - clergy are as well. New blood is filling our veins. This whole place is as alive as I have seen it with minimal efforts.
As young Anikin would say ...
It’s working ! It’s working !!!!!
So I leave y’all with this this Monday and this holiday season- happily holidays and May the Force continue to be with you as we all continue to seek serve and share it!

Thank you brother, very nicely worded. May the Force be with you and all of us

Today is Monday. Last one for the year.
Ive heard this year has already started for some people and a lot of folks have said this will be a strange year all together. I’ve even heard it said if 2020 ain’t started for you yet your behind. For me and my family , 2020 is already a strange beast. Lots of cultivating things we’ve planted this year. Nothing big or huge but it’s obvious. Those thing we have planted- whether we think good or bad - things will start to germ. This week and this year think about that - be on the lookout for what ya planted !
May the Force be with you always Jedi !

Today is Monday- again So here we go!

This is a excerpt from the Shepard’s journal or A Jeddist book of change. Soon to be published
One-
...” As a human and as a chosen Jeddist, we all have the privilege where and what we title “The Force.” It CAN be the idea or/and the ebb and flow or the way or the practice - either for character, guidance, or even lead. Some parts we may not ever be able to. That’s ok too. No one Force May be like the other. Simply put, the Force is the way we freely and actually choose to merit. By this, it will never be the same. Our beginnings and creation CAN depend on the choice to seek that which can’t be named and experienced fully. These are steps toward understanding. “

What say you?
Something to think about this week.
Feel free to post comments or encouragement or ideas any time- all are welcome.
May the Force be with y’all!

i dunno. im having second thoughts.
this is meant for all, but really just to carlos.
its good that the temple encourages and tolerates thoughts, and i like that patience and time is built in. these are good things.
i am beginning to think that i do not belong here.
every question is met with question. never a solution.
its ok to question, its good, i believe.
but really, some things are stupid. what is right and what is wrong?
who decides?
i mean, this question is way older than buddhist philosophy.
and the answer is fairly clear.
you eat what you need to eat when hungry.
you dont kill for fun when you are not hungry.
nobody needs to be taught this.
its pretty clear.
there is no interpretation.
zero is null is nothing.
and somebody will say, well on this or that....
good for you.
i like the ringing tone of water in glasses too.
but to say, well that is not music, or it is...i mean, im just out of patience.
what is good and what is bad...well, if you dont know that running over a baby and a mother in a crosswalk is bad - its sort of a stupid question isnt it?
of course its bad!
i just dont fit here.
i wish you all the best, but im sorta on the leaving side also.
skyyrm is pretty smart. he had practical replies, stuff you can use.
carlos, very supportive.
elizabeth, likewise.
i wish no harm to anyone, and success...to well, you know who you are.
asking questions is good. to do so with no answers volunteered is useless.
dont give me a problem without also offering a solution.
sorry if this sounded harsh, but im sorta sick of defending myself and being forced to justify fairly clear issues.
it is not the jedi way.
if you find a lack of merit in my questions, without offering thoughts in return - YOU lack merit.

A Lot of what we do here is self reflective. When I first started here it pissed me off so much I couldn't get a strait answer from any one during my beginnings here. That's what self reflective means sometimes- asking ourselves these type of questions and finding out the answers, not for some one else but for ourselves. As a modern day Jeddist we can choose so much even our own definitions.

Some people don't belong here as much as some find a home. Some would say " Every Action has an Equal and Opposite reaction"- I'm gunna add the word "somewhere" here to help me explain that for every person who finds a home somewhere one finds themselves home sick or lost. For every win, there may be a loss and for every down there can be a up. Same can be said of this life. There are some who wont understand this Modern day Jedi ism and there are some who will find it like good dirt. It may take some one seconds to accept things then again there may be some who take more than one or two trys. What ever the case - keep seeking. if ya need anything feel free to drop me a line , my in box is almost always open.

Merit is sometimes where we can lay it. That's some days the point that can keep or free. May the Force you seek find you in every place you look for it and may it find you where you don't look for it, may it continue to be with you.

Feel free to personalize your journal with your own thoughts on things and feelings of such ideas as this. Use your recourses as you see fit but there are some who leave here and never come back AND those who come back and share. Today will be one of those days some will leave and some will find a home depending on that self reflective spirit.

I personally find it very comforting that people are encouraged to think for themselves here. I find it much more alarming when religious groups, websites etc. claim that they have straight answers to existential questions.

Taking care of yourself

This day in age , in the real world - “ off the line” We can experience that we don’t talk about. One of those things is fatigue. Physical and mental fatigue is real. With modern day Jeddist, it seems a lot at what we look at or hear or surf - or the places we go or visit or sit - what we see and experience can mount up. It’s part of the gig I think. We care in our own ways. Each heart represented here has a special way we care. Each “tank” in our life’s of care can be emptied by some times just - TIME. Some moments spent can be due to situations but some times we can be out of care or out of kindness. Character can be spent. I’ll say that so we can read it again and it’s said again. Character can be spent.
Soooo....
Sometimes, taking care of yourself can mean admitting you’re out of “care gas” or as my wife so kindly and eloquently puts it “she’s out of -cares- to give.”

Spiritual fatigue is real. So is mental and physical fatigue. We can be aware and even —- —- —- adjust - combat- help - create - a new breath of fresh air.
When I get salty or run out of “ stuff “to give - I need a refill. My tanks go empty.
As Pastor I encourage every one to check your tanks often. Check em on Monday’s - hint hint! Smiley face.

Figure out what fills your love tanks and your care tanks and your any tank that has gone empty when ya find it. It’s easy to eat a bag of chips and some food to juice ya up when your hungry - how about other parts? What do you REALLY do to fill your empty tanks ?

Post here if you like or in your journal’s.

All my heart - refilling the tanks , Pastor Carlos.

Totally agree, this is one of very important point nowadays.
Self-care to recharge our energy and love, because of modern age.

I noticed few things related with modern age and technology.
1) people becomes impatient.
2) people loses interest.
Both caused by technology, because just when you look at the social media what people do, you will see many people just swiping short posts, and when is happen that the post is much longer then ordinary , they refuse to read because it requires patience and attention - which is diffused by many "same valuable posts."

This is just one thing the second is that the social media posts everything from large amount of different areas and force you to interest about everything, what goes hand in hand with lack of deep interest in anything.
Remember, If everything is important, then nothing really is.

Self-care is need to practise everytime, for me it is drawing with music, because it bringing me focus, patient happiness because my mind get dissapeare into activity I am doing.
Which reminds me that I didn't do that long time.

The right song some days can set things.


Impatience is key variance at our home. I pride our family on being smart... only problem is we have to teach patience ALONG side good character.
Good points of “return” or reset can help. When interest is lost or forgotten or just ... ran out - a good personal reminder can help us - like words from ourself for ourself.

music has immense power, more for some than for others.
what tips what techniques can be used? so many, but how to know? all come with a disclaimer....
often, chocolate can do it for me! but alas, temporary joy....
so, what about this idea to help muddy the waters.
NOT my original idea, but i feel it has great promised when mixed with meditation.
write a note to yourself on a calendar.
it can be weeks, or months, or years even.
or all of the above...days you could do also, there are no real rules..but it takes time for rules to manifest themselves.
so im sure someone will get all legal rather than metaphysical and point out that i said there are no rules, yet wait for them to manifest.
if this is you - stop typing! you clearly dont get my point. and im not going to rephrase it!
so, write a note to yourself. its time travel in a way...
here you are today...where do you see yourself in 2 months?
new challenges? fears conquered? new fears to fight?
but this trick only works if you can THEN at your future self write back to you...
"well, yes, i am fine. you see you had very little to worry about, but it looked insurmountable to you then! it went fine...im here to let you know its all going to be ok."
stuff like that. run with it. or dont....

Here is something to think about this week as you live this week with a modern day Jeddist glow..
This is taken from one of my favorites called... "Wabi Sabi Simple" by Richard R. Powell - worth a look lol

There's no denying most of my basics were from, what people call, a witch doctor. Can't claim what's not true. My great grandmother was it, my love and my teaching Witch. My family religion was Catholic. When, years later, I got saved in a non-denominational church. I went to Bible school in Pensacola, Florida USA- then met my first wife and became a spirit filled Pentecostal. After a very bad break up and years of wandering, I wonder no more. After so much time and much self-reflecting, I realized I've been a modern day Jeddist this entire time...
Everything has led me here. Every path, every thing I would call "mistake," led me here to where I am sitting today. Makes me smile. Growing up, you could catch me fighting or mowing yards or even cooking BB! somewhere but what you could also find me doing was walking with my Great Grandma. One day, she had me sit in a -" monte'" which is pronounced -mon- th- e- like month just exaggerated... any how its a field where it wasn't large like maybe 2 or three plots left abandon and run down. After a while they become holes with no one living in 'em and eventually even the squatters let it fall. She sat down and begin to sing about the sky - mmmmmm that lady could sing and hum at the same time- and I asked her one day... "Nat, how do you do that"... she knew what i was asking and instructed me to lay down this way... the song she sang lost me in between her words and melody and what exactly she was saying. (I didn't grow up speaking Spanish and I still don't well but I could tell what she was saying from the inside.) Then, I was reading this book to my 6 year old boy and wife and low and behold...here's what I wanna share with my Temple this MONDAY!!!

How to lie in a field ( I am paraphrasing )

Pick the right clothes
Look around the ground and make a space.
Find East and West- point yourself as a needle- choose your direction and position accordingly as well as arm and leg positions.
If you sleep - that's okay, rest.
Breathe the air near you
Physically feel the ground under you, you are a passenger like everything else.
Feel your weight and presence on the ground. Be with the vegetation and landscape equally.
Think about how still you can be and how you are still moving through space as equally as everything else around you.
Think of the dirt and rocks. All of what ya know...
Listen...what is currently present- acknowledge it with you by sound.
Understand your not standing and feel the freedom of that. You are at the rest position

This is taken from Richard R. Powell's "Wabi Sabi Simple" and from my very own life. Funny how years later I found what we were doing in the field so many years ago...

Hi Temple

The use of the word “I.”

When I am doing some reflection - a Jedi teaching comes to mind.
#4

The word “I” has often helped me personally when dealing in communication and in learning. Today I -publicly as a member in the Temple and clergy -I have a question- in a self reflective setting isn’t the use of the “I “ word needed ? More often ? Less often? Where’s the line of balance you Jedi got? Chat with me a bit?

Is it fair to use words like- us- and -them -and -we - when discerning things we personally find out? Why can’t we say “I” or “I did “more often than “ well, we all live in a place where ...” some of just ... don’t. Can our “sword” or “saber” shine just as bright as a actual light when we use our words? Looking forward to what this brings

Please post recommendations definitions anything as far as resources you got - my tables round - have a seat and share !!

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/open-discussions/123524-the-use-of-the-i-statement#349313

Share !

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PY_kd46RfVE&feature=youtu.be


Not mine nor the Temples and link may be broken later but I saw this the other day. Worth sharing. Hit me hard- hope it helps.
Pastor Carlos

Our lines

As a Jeddist I’m always looking for connections. Real ones. Some days it’s not an easy task. Seeking out that connection isn’t the same as knowing what and where it is. Two different birds. I often wonder sometimes and tell myself “is my Jediism making me a jerk - does it help me get closer to my own personal and spiritual goals?” As humans , we can evaluate our self’s as often as we like. As modern day Jediist- it’s our privilege to add the Force to things but are we better or even more free with all the labels we add on? I’ve seen some lines drawn in the sand I could never cross. That’s ok too but what happens when ya start noticing that your lines are keeping more than freeing? It can and will happen. Be smart and think about some identifications and some labels for ourselfs - do they keep or free ya? I know the day may come when my modern day Jediism MAY grow to be something I don’t want anymore or that begins to harm me or others ... that’s a possibility too so today - Monday - I encourage you Jeddist to examine yourself and our own lines - what are they making ? Something to think about this week my Temple.
Pastor Carlos

really liked this one.