The Block

    “8. Humility - Our perpetual trial is humility. We understand our agency is not solely from us, but through us: it is of The Force. In feeling The Force in ourselves, we see It in everyone and everything.”  

Jedi are not individualists. We strive to understand our thoughts, feelings and will. We cultivate an understanding of these things. Reflection can be the time we realize where our will and that of others conflict or align.  What we look for or try to cultivate is not ours. We believe in the Force. The Force is not our thoughts, feelings or will. This connection does not come from us.   In this, you may get lost. Expect to not understand everything the first time. What dwells within us, is not us. It is not our own feelings, nor is it our own thoughts and it is not our own will. It is the return that everything returns to.   We all want to be a part of something. We all want to experience life.  This is a part of our will. Humility is a balance we can have. It can be learned and taught but it must begin with us. We must have examples.

One of many, is the story of Daedalus, the architect, and his son, Icarus.    At a young age I met someone who taught me a great deal, but who was never actually a teacher of mine. He was the hall monitor at my school, and a self-proclaimed misfit. That is where we interacted. There is where the story of Daedalus and Icarus was planted. I would hear him tell me often, "go to class Icarus.” or “don't fly too high this weekend Icarus”. It upset me so much that I grew to dislike mythology at a young age. There was always some mystery or some secret that everyone was not telling me. As the years went on, my understanding and references to the Greek myths grew. I found others who knew much more than me. He started in me what now cannot be quenched. I learned more from these myths than just bedtime stories. In the collection of the human possibility, dwells a hubris we can take the time to understand.  Daedalus was an architect. A good one as well. He could make anything and they often asked him to do just that. Poseidon gave King Minos a gift. A white bull for sacrifice. What a gift. Instead of using it, he kept it for himself and committed another bull for the sacrifice. Poseidon was upset and cursed his wife to lust for the bull rather than her husband. In this state, she asked the architect for aid in her desires. He did. He constructed a wooden cow for her and she conceived a son. It was half man, half beast; and it wreaked havoc on all the land of Crete. King Minos, disgusted and ashamed, ordered a prison be built for this monster, a maze, from which he could not escape and Daedalus was there to create such a device. During this time, Theseus walks into the scene and falls in love with King Minos’ daughter, Ariadne. Theseus volunteers to take someone's place, as one of the sacrifices to the beast. With the instructions given to him by Ariadne from the architect, “Always go forwards, always down, and never left or right", and a ball of yarn; he entered the labyrinth. At the heart of the maze is where the fight takes place and the monster is slain. Theseus, victorious, leaves Crete with the King’s daughter.  Knowing that Theseus was only successful due to instructions from the architect, King Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his son, Icarus, in a tower. The King was afraid he knew too much. Daedalus, determined to be free, constructed wings that he strapped to his and Icarus’ arms and together, they escaped from the tower. His instructions to his son, “while in flight, do not fly too high or too low”. Forgetting the warning Icarus flies too close to the sun and melts the wax holding the wings together, to which he falls and drowns. Daedalus lands safely on an island and in grief he names the ocean after his son.   

There are times I remind myself of Icarus and of Daedalus. We have these great things in the Force. Yet, when we act, we think we wield or are in charge of everything in the moment, we can even forget the warnings.    There is a level of pride and flow in the experience that we can easily get caught up in. We have this treasure but it is not from us. We do not wield it. We cannot claim ownership.  Our pride and humility are two things we take into consideration when developing our understanding.   We think, we feel and we act.  Give your pride and humility your present attention.   Ask questions, journal your findings.    There is a hubris that dwells in us. There is a pride that comes with what we understand. It is natural but it can also be a danger.  It is when it comes in excess, it can become dangerous and even blinding. To dwell in abandon is menacing.    “Jedi practise non-attachment, maintaining an awareness that the cycles of creativity and renewal in the Force give rise to phenomena as others pass away.”    Know what you are attached to and how. Practice non-attachment.   The Force is the center flow. It is the center connection. We return to its flow. We enter here. In this idea or flow, we have no control over it. This flow is not mine, nor is it yours. It connects all living things. It connects religions, myths, and even people who will never meet.    

Let it go.  

 There is no authority in this flow I can harbor or claim. Do not claim any of the flow. We cannot. It is not our thoughts, feelings or will.  Over time or even instantly, something happens to us.    Complacency happens and pride. Complacency is not of the present moment. For me, little grows while I am complacent.    "A trait more common among Jedi, too sure of themselves, even the older, more experienced ones." Yoda  No one uses the Force. We can be instruments. It is through us, it flows. It is not us.        “8. Humility - Our perpetual trial is humility. We understand our agency is not solely from us, but through us: it is of The Force. In feeling The Force in ourselves, we see It in everyone and everything.”   I hope each Maxim comes with its own weight of thought. Keep in mind, we are to take this with us. Take this with you as you start the week or the day. Having Maxims helps. Remember, we are not in charge or we do not wield anything. It can flow through us.   

Good morning.

Today's subject is what is meditation and contemplation?

Jedi teaching 2 states that , "To be in balance, the Jedi practise clarity of mind. Aware that representations of the world can cloud our understanding, the Jedi centre their awareness through the practice of meditation and contemplation. "

What is the difference in contemplation and meditation?

Think about this, can anyone say, "When I began to meditate and give myself the time to do it, I started knowing exactly what I know now." Meditation is a time needed practice. It does take some time to practice it.

Meditation is about letting go of things

Contemplation is about lingering on thoughts.

Meditation can be used to cultivate a nonjudgmental awareness of things.

One of the goals of contemplation is to explore a topic in more feeling or depth.

We are reminded that we need both.

There are MANY examples of meditation that are not meditation but actually contemplation.

When we think out this, how often do we actually meditate?

One idea is to keep thinking and the other is to stop thinking. To think and let a few things go. The idea is to feel and understand our feelings.


" I most definitely should more often but sometimes it's hard to find the time." 

It is

Each of these two examples takes MIND TIME.
Thinking time.
Make time to think.
You will not regret it.
That is kind of the idea; to know we need that span of time.

If left alone, the natural way of things is often to not make the time for thinking. We just act.

This" Just act" does come from somewhere. For me, it was taught very subtlety.

Everything I was taught growing up was to act or fake it till you make it.

That is the available opposite of contemplation and meditation.




There were two monks sitting together in a meditation session. One monk looks over at the other in their robes and crossed legs and says... THIS is it? to which the other replies, yup, THIS is it.

Guest Timotheus
"A warrior acts, a fool only reacts"


Even then, there are levels of what we think a warrior is. There is this idea that exist, we are all warriors, but we rarely understand it. We, tend to want some grand big thing when in reality, its just the silence in the sea of tranquility we all spend time in.

We all want to experience life.

There is a need we all have that is all on its own.
Our ego wants to be the main focus point. 

The present moment is a gift. In the present moment, every living thing is connected.

True meditation dwells in the present moment and is just as fleeting.


Contemplation gets called meditation all too often.

Structured thought or moderated guides is not meditation.

If I were to tell you how, it would nullify it. Is that not weird?

But that is what we are subject to.

That's why it is so important to know what we do. We call it meditation most time, but our actions are contemplation.
We pick subjects and "flows" or forms of contemplation.
Here is the fun part as well, one can turn into the other. Meditation can turn into contemplation as contemplation can turn to meditation.
It is very possible we can begin meditation through contemplation.

It is my hope we know the difference. That is all.


Contemplation seems more enlightening after meditation.


I like to use tools that are clean and intact. I often forget tools in the rain, or I misplace them.

This causes them to need time before I use them.

Dust off the tools you have.

Dust off your meditation and your contemplation, like tools of thought, feeling and will.

Maintain them.

Know which is which and how to use them.

I often use the metaphor," Put this in your pipe and smoke it," or " add this fire to your hearth"

The idea is to let things have their time and space.

Think.

Yes

Practice meditation for letting things go.

Journal

Journal your findings. Journaling IS contemplation.

Journaling is a secret to life.

Thinking and understanding what we write is contemplation. The result of this action is Meditation.

I recommend every Jedi and every person take the time to understand which you do more often than the other.

In contemplation, we find understanding. It is exciting but it is also inside.

If it has methods, it is meant to lead to a place where we can understand we have no need of it.

Find it, so we can release it.

Authority is needed till we develop past it.

This goes for meditation and contemplation.

Think, do not think. Balance. This is where it exist.

And the goal is to develop past it

Meditation can be done anywhere and everywhere.


It does take time to get it going and it does take time to get past a few things we think we know.

The idea is to practice often and MAKE the time for it so one day, it will be welcome on its own.

It does manifest itself but so does joy and pain. Be careful what we call meditation and contemplation.

It is an aid to us but be careful what is available. Just think about it. If it involves thought and is led, it is contemplation. It is not that hard.


So contemplate contemplation? 


Ha!

Yea, it does sound like that.

But that is the idea.

Practice.

The more we practice, the more we frequent things, the more they become a part of us.

The more we let go, the easier it becomes.

We have to practice letting go.
Think and let meditation take its course. Give it the space.
The idea is to be genuine. Be genuine in what you do.
Understand what and why we do these things. In that, we find each other.
I hope this is a small encouragement to take the time to know what we actually do. Do we meditate and let the connection of all living things connect us or do we WANT this feeling and fake it?
There is a huge wave of Kayfabe meditation out there.
Check your own plate or your own connections.

Do we know the difference when you do it?

Do we know the difference? Do we take the time for it?


May the Force be with you this Monday. I am here all day via DM.



" Meditation is to be aware of every thought and every feeling, never to say it is right or wrong but just to watch it and move with it. In that watching you begin to understand the whole movement of thought and feeling and out of this awareness comes silence. Silence put together by thought is stagnation, is dead, but the silence that comes when thought has understood its own beginnings, the nature of itself, understood how all thought is never free but always old. This silence is meditation in which the meditator is entirely absent for the mind has emptied itself of the past. In the understanding of meditation there is love, love is not the product of the systems of habits of following a method. Love cannot be cultivated by thought." Freedom from the Known, Jiddu Krishnamurti


"Meditation demands a astonishingly alert mind: meditation is the understanding of the totality of life in which every form of fragmentation has ceased. Meditation is not control of thought, for when thought is controlled, it breeds conflict in the mind, but when you understand the structure and origin of thought, then thought will not interfere. That very structure of thinking is its own discipline which is meditation." Jiddu Krishnamurti

Message #💆│pastors-room
 

    Agency - Jedi are active in the world, acting as people of thought, and thinking like people of action. Be aware that beliefs become thoughts, thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become values, and values determine destiny.

As a noun, the state of being active, usually in the service of a goal, or of having the power and capability to produce an effect or exert influence is an agency. 

With this Maxim comes the reminder of our Tenants. We have three. Here is where they can become a guide.
 
Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing.

Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand.


Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment.


Our development of this flow, creates our agency.

In this flow, you can find our beliefs become thoughts. 
Our thoughts become words.
Words become actions. 
Actions become habits. 
Habit's become values.
Values determine our destiny. 

There is a progression to this. 


I recommend we take the time to understand this flow of progression. If nothing else, give it a place to flow in our thought, feeling and will.

To see this is to have a small glimpse into the progression of this type of flow. 

My encouragement and my reminder is this Maxim we have. Make the effort to give it some space. It is still fairly new. We are thought, feeling and will and in these parts of us, place our agency here.
 
Reflection time.

Where do we get our believes from? Did we learn them or were they given to us? Are our beliefs, our own? 
Our thoughts, words, actions, habits, values are all connected to our destiny and in a the way that each of them influence one another.


Give these connections the time they need. 
Journal your findings. Find those you trust to talk with about these things. Use your mentors. Taking this time for development creates a new flow. Give the flow its space. 


May the Force be with you this week.
Pastor Carlos

Good day and time zone Jedi

May the Force be with you, wherever you may be

Let us begin todays Monday morning session.

Our Maxims take a bit to study so as you do, as we study them, I want to give a bit of encouragement today.

Let us visit a nautical term.

The term is "wake".

In boating, there is a term that is worthy of sharing.

Wake.

What is the wake I speak of? 

The wake in boating refers to the series of waves that trail behind a boat as it moves through the water.

"The surface disruption created by the vessel's forward movement.
The disturbance of water left behind by a boat as it moves through the water.
The wake can be visibly seen as a V-shaped pattern that extends outward from the rear of the boat."

Depending on the experience and the quality, each person who navigates life's paths, can have a wake coming off the boat. Our wake here is the waves that come after we have showed up or are present.

The effects of our actions can be seen.

In life, we can see the actions of our experiences in our wake. We can see where we influence and affect others in or movements of life.

Most time, I say "reflect," but this time I am reminding everyone that your actions have effect.

There is no doubt that any action we take has an equal and opposite reaction.

The evidence of our actions is in our wake.

Take some time to look around and see. Meditate and contemplate on things. Who and where does the influence of YOU dwell? Who do you come across or where does your wake go?

What type of influence are you having?

We are all connected, every living thing.

Our "wake" crosses many people and places.

This Monday, start the week with me metaphorically in the water.

Look back at what your actions are creating.

Check your wake.

There are some places in the world and in the water that ask you watch your wake or even the dreaded NO WAKE ZONE. It happens like that in life as well.

When we are present, we also leave evidence of our presence. Our wake matters some days.

The reason for this type of encouragement today is simple, we do many things in life. Everything is in motion.

We are in motion, even if we do not acknowledge it.

Where does your wake go? What is displaced or the evidence of you being present?

Be wise not to just go full throttle and as they say" Open it up." Take some time to focus and understand we influence much. Like waves, our actions reach others.

Some of us make waves and some of us are in the wake of others.

I am LIVE today

So, feel free to bring your questions, comments concerns and cares. (edited)

Check your wake, Jedi.

Check how you are influencing others.

Look back a bit.

I know I get caught up with things and with life. I need reminders to stop some days. Take this reminder to check behind you in your wake and see what is actually going on.

Check on your path, people and projects.

Realize how we are connected. Are others drowning or skiing? Is it fun or fear?

You are the coxswain of the crew. The crew meaning your life here.

You are the one who has the hands on the helm.

Check your wake.

May the Force be with you today and this week

"Ideas have been far more important to us than actions, ideas so cleverly expressed in books by the intellectual field. The more cunning, the more subtle those ideas are, the more we worship them and the books that contain them."  Jiddu Krishnamurti Freedom from the Known,

"Thought is crooked because it can invent anything and see things that are not there. It can perform the most extraordinary tricks, and therefore it cannot be depended on. But if you understand the whole structure of how you think, why you think, the words you use, the way you behave in your daily life, the way you talk to people, the way you treat people, the way you walk, the way you eat- if you are aware of these things then your mind will not deceive you , then there is nothing to be deceived." Jiddu Krishnamurti Same chapter (13) of Freedom from the Known 

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/library

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B-8thoRKsrBh4uYhsqnk-fRydzDksvmN/view
Google Docs
Freedom_from_the_Known.pdf


Good day and morning Jedi - wherever you may be today
We are LIVE today so if you have any questions or comments, feel free to do so.
This bit is taken from Freedom from the Known by Jiddu Knrishnamurti
It is located in our library.

Today's topic is THOUGHT

PLEASE take the time to think about how you think.

Where does our thought take us? Where does it come from? Where does it begin? 

" It is really interesting to watch the observation of ones own thinking, just to observe how one thinks, where the reaction we call thinking, springs from." Jiddu Krishnamurti



It is good to think about thinking.

It develops thinking.

The thing I want to share today is this, THINK. Contemplate.

Think about how we think,

How do we think? Did we learn that from someone or somewhere?

I have a small section of "How the human brain works" in our library.

It is important.

To understand the basics...

...is all we ask some days. To be aware of what is present. 

"A new fact cannot be seen by thought. It can be understood LATER by thought, verbally, but the understanding of a new fact is not really a thought."  Jiddu

There are times we will not understand things. That's ok.

It does take time and space for some ideas to grow.

I know I forget this often.

The Hero often forgets. Joseph Campbell.

Joseph Campbell also reminds us that "Not all who hesitate are lost."

This Monday- how do you think? Why? We can learn how these things happen and why. Take the time for them. Who/What influences your thoughts? 

It matters how and what you think. Do you know where your thoughts begin? Do you know how to plant new thoughts and maintain old ones? How do we get new thoughts? 

Agency - Jedi are active in the world, acting as people of thought, and thinking like people of action. Be aware that beliefs become thoughts, thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become values, and values determine destiny.


How do we get new thoughts? By examining our beliefs.

Examine your beliefs.

So, this Monday- Take the time to examine your thought proses. It is important.

Check

Any questions?
May the Force be with you.
Pastor Carlos

Capability - The Force does not ask of our ability, only our availability. In opening to The Force, Its capabilities flow through us. Indeed, clear intention is not enough, Jedi do.

This is for the Monday thoughts but what do Jedi do? See you here.

Master Rev. Carlos (Pastor) — Today at 5:28 AM
Good day Jedi everywhere

Monday Morning Maxim today. "Capability - The Force does not ask of our ability, only our availability. In opening to The Force, Its capabilities flow through us. Indeed, clear intention is not enough, Jedi do." (edited)

Good day Jedi everywhere

It is time

We are LIVE and ready for this week with a new Maxim.

Jedi do.

This line got my thought, feelings and will going.

What do the Jedi....do?

Now, we are not cinematic Jedi.

Just so you hear or read it... here we go

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine

In this section, there is a list of teaching we have.
We do not float or shoot lightning from our fingers.
We live in the ordinary world.

The ordinary world is not so ordinary when you take the time to understand you and the world around you.

So what do the Jedi , do?

I am glad you asked.

In the Teachings is what we strive to do.

Here is what I mean.


The first and foremost service a Jedi performs is devotion to our learning.
Jedi maintain a clarity of awareness .
We feel the Force.
Jedi practise clarity of mind.
We practise non-attachment.
Jedi comprehend that we are beings of thought, feeling, and will.
We practise humility.
Jedi foster an acceptance of limitations.
We practise patience.
Jedi maintain integrity.
We practise living in universal compassion
Jedi bring only so much love, pardon, faith, hope, clarity, and joy as is necessary to restore the dynamic equilibrium in our phenomenal environment.
We cultivate empathy.
Jedi seek to return balance to that which has become tumultuous.
Jedi realise that all phenomena, including that of life itself, arise from and dissolve back into the cycles of creation and renewal of the Force.
Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most sincere soul.

These are taken from our 16 teachings.

If you think about it and give what Jedi do some time, you may realize that we are never still or have plenty to do.

How do we do all these things and still find a balance?
I will tell you truthfully, if you think you can take all these things on one full swoop, like me, you are sadly mistaken.
There is no way we can take all of this on, is there?
As with any journey, it can begin with one step at a time.
Read all the teachings together. Keep them somewhere you can reference them. Some people write them down, some do a weekly thing.
The idea is to plant these "seeds" where you can.
These 16 teaching can be like seeds of thought.

Each of them has their own merit and their own flow. Each path is tied into one another in a way that can seem freeing or controlling.

In the vast idea that there is plenty to do, take the time to connect to one another. Take the time to check on your own path and learning.

Know your limits. This includes learning as well and our own understand of things. Some days,  I do not understand things in its whole or in the present moment. That is ok.

We do not have to know everything all the time.

Some days we must do nothing.

What do Jedi do? Well now, that is up to you.

Isn't it?

So today, I want to remind every Jedi, what do you do? Why? We can know.

Be present

Present is best. 

The Force works through us. Through us.

Capability - The Force does not ask of our ability, only our availability. In opening to The Force, Its capabilities flow through us. Indeed, clear intention is not enough, Jedi do.

Any questions, concerns or comments? Feel free to do so here.
May the Force be with you 
Pastor Carlos

The world seems to be in chaos

How much control do you really have right now in this moment?

Today Meditation is the Maxim on Self-Control.



Let us begin




Good day Jedi everywhere
May the Force be with you

I would like to give some encouragement to every Jedi available. The encouragement is you.

Self-Control - To control intention, the Jedi use The Force to tame the passions. In self-control lies the seed of freedom. We work to control our passions, lest someone exploit us through them.


Self-control is a vital aspect of human behavior that allows individuals to regulate their actions, resist temptations, and achieve long-term goals. It is linked to numerous positive outcomes in life, including better health, higher academic and professional achievements, and improved personal relationships.




One of the biggest reminders in the Jedi world is the warning of exploitation.




To use something in a way that helps you or to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage. The White Knight is often easily blinded. It is really easy to defend your own circle or ideas. Protection is automatic but that is where we find the dilemma. This happens. is our warning and our reminder.




Want better health or a way to cultivate development? Get some self-control. Do you know your limits and triggers? What are they and where do they come from? This is why we meet.




Reflection can bring these types of things to light or to the surface.




There are many ways to pay attention to self-control.




Here are some ways I have found to be effective ways to practice self-control. 

* Know your habits.
Do you have any automatic responses?

*Create a physical fitness routine. Start one or develop one - small then routine like. Get into THAT habit.
 One that fits you specifically, make it fun and challenging.

* Mind what influences you.
 Do you understand your influences and their origins?


* Know and -write your responses to the things you want to change.
Give time and effort to this. Actually, write it down. It helps.

* Change your environment small or large.
What are you "IN?" Where do you go? What is your circle of people and influence?

* Find the values and goals you want.
Do you know what you want and do not want? This is that moment to find out., Take the time for it. Give it space.


* Choose things you can accomplish.
This is so important. If it is in the realm of human possibility, it can be done.


* Use the wisdom you have gained. The valuable stuff, the good stuff.
Do you know what is worthy of your path or not? Organize your own " life library" or all the information you have handy and available.




Self-control is universal and needed in this crazy world. It would seem the world is in chaos and in disorder. This may be the case for each of us at times in our paths, but self-control is a tool we can all have and use for our daily life's.



Self-Control - To control intention, the Jedi use The Force to tame the passions. In self-control lies the seed of freedom. We work to control our passions, lest someone exploit us through them.


Any questions, comments or concerns?
I am available today and this week for anyone able and willing.
May the Force be with you this week Jedi.
Pastor Carlos

There is a character in life and in story that is worth taking some time to understand.

With understanding can come peace.

It is my hope that each Jedi has a part or shares in some form of peace.

Wherever and whatever part of life you are in right now.

The White Knight is very real and very important to understand.

Zeal and Zest become quite a bit of the focus at times in life.

This happens and the White Knight is here.

I will give you an example of a White Knight. Harvey Dent in the Batman sagas is the White Knight in the Gotham world before his choices change him to a menace.

The White Knight is easily blinded.

Why is that?

This is something we often forget. That and the Hero often forgets.

Yes, and good day Timotheus

Guest Timotheus — Today at 6:08 AM
Good day Pastor 

@Guest Timotheus
An example of how even the best of us can be corrupted

In our own search and display for zest and zeal, we can be blinded.

Light can blind as well as show. Understanding can take time and its never certain the amount of time one needs to find it.

It differs from person to person but it is a benefit when we find it. One of the understandings we can share is that of the zeal or the want to be a light or a shining example of what can be. Enter the White Knight, stage right. There is a danger to oversharing and over origination and over protection.

. Often times the White Knight can be easily identified and just as easily manipulated. Take some time to find your favorite White Knight in any story and see how easily you can spot their weakness.

What are the soft spots or the attachments the villains or others use to manipulate the hero or the Knight? Where is the White Knight blinded?

Each person can be blinded by others or even by our own self.

It is not until the thought, feeling and will of the Knight or main character changes that they can purify themselves. This purification can happen when we realize our limitations. The hero can become the villain at the same time they defend.

This is the danger. One of many.

Inaction is the hardest thing for me to think on but I tell you, it works. The flow of life happens and often as Jedi we seek the Force in every connection we have. In this flow, the ebbs happen. Every "White Knight" can shine so bright that things begin to become blurry.

Tao Te Ching - Lao Tzu - chapter 12

The five colours blind the eye.
The five tones deafen the ear.
The five flavours dull the taste.
Racing and hunting madden the mind.
Precious things lead one astray.

Therefore the sage is guided by what he feels and not by what he sees.
He lets go of that and chooses this.

" Jedi feel the Force. We are aware of its omnipresence and its flow. We endeavour to live in balance with it as it manifests in all worldly phenomena, the dynamic equilibrium of its flow which transcends space-time from the smallest quark to the greatest expanse of the cosmos. Living in balance with The Force is the core value of a Jedi.  "

What are some feelings and objectives a White Knight can possess? If you interview one in any story or in real life, what would be the answer?
What is the focus of the White Knight? Where will they be tempted or tried or when does a change of heart happen? Do they give in or do they become something else? What is the White Knight a pathway to? What does a white knight become after each trial or tribulation or contact?
Is there more than just the entry level Knight?
There is a point of a story where the main character decides their side of the fight or to fight at all. The stand is taken and the focus is reset.  After getting into the thick of things, life tends to give us the moments to think about a few things.

Our brain does it one way or another. The reset of our banner s or our choices happen in life. They even happen during the fight. One change I hope happens is the one of to abstain from any judgment from one another. There can come a time in one's path, we see so much more, we can adjust. This adjustment can be more attention or less attention. It is my hope that the attention we as Knights can give each other and to our own paths is enough to realize when we defend, we also become the antagonist as well. We are not called to react more than we are called to think. It is the hope of every Knight, this thought process yields results. The more we take time to think rather than act, the more understanding we can receive.

What is your understanding of the White Knight in literature and in reflection? How easily blinded are we, full of defense and training and zeal that we so easily become the aggressor? What are the dangers to becoming a White Knight?
This is where I leave you on a Monday. The White Knight. Take some time to think about it. Are you playing the part?  What's next?

May the Force be with you all,
Pastor Carlos 

Good day and morning Jedi everywhere

May the Force be with you, wherever you may be at the moment.

Today's meditation is taken from the book called Freedom from the known by Jiddu Krishnamirti.


Do you see the state of affairs the world is in?

Guest Timotheus — Today at 6:05 AM
Indeed

"But what can a human being do - what can you and I do - to create a
completely different society? We are asking ourselves a very serious question. Is
there anything to be done at all? What can we do?" Jiddu K.

What can a Jedi do in times of turmoil and unrest?
When times get hard, be present and be faithful and loyal.
Be loyal!
Be faithful.
The meditation part is this, what does your loyalty entail? What do we get when YOU show up? This is not for competing or ridicule but identification.
What is loyalty? What is faithfulness?  These are the things I hope we can fall on when things are at some dire perspective or need attention. Be faithful to your causes.
Loyalty is valued.
You can build on it.
Most of us seek out faithfulness in some shape or form.
I would like to take this time to share with you a few things to help grow your loyalty or faithfulness.

* Show appreciation
* Be supportive
* Keep your word- ration it out.
* Honor your connections and relationships.
* Be honest.
* Practice removing our own concerns from situations.
* Address problems differently

During time of difficulty and confusion, it is nice to be able to rely on things.
Sometimes, it is the individual's presence that makes the difference. Did anyone show up? How they showed up matters as well.
The most powerful resource we can give one another is our presence. With that comes everything else. LOL
So, this Monday, I remind all Jedi what you can do when things go crazy, or things need someone faithful or present.

Be faithful.

Be present.

In the vernacular of the street, " Do you boo, all day." I do not mean that in a disrespectful way but as a reminder to be what you are now. Be faithful to your Codes and YOU. The world needs people who are faithful and loyal. Period. Stand for something so others can count on you. Stand in the present moment and you will be all the help you can be.
I see people being people. That's the idea. In times of need, someone has a helicopter and is transporting medications to hospitals. We need drivers. The world needs support and help, not heroes.
Find a way to support.
Be loyal to your cause.

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, " Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." Fred Rogers.

In times of trouble, you can look at the upset or look for the helpers. Be faithful to your word. Stand where you can, not where you cannot, in your spot, not someone else's.  

Be well and May the Force be with you all.
Pastor Carlos

May the Force be with you all, where ever you may be.

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine

Here is a link to the Doctrine - the Teaching and Tenets so you can review them when you like

As Levar Burden used to say back in the day, "Don't take my word for it."

Thanks for taking time today

Today is a good day

I am glad I get to be with such people with such a focus.

Today I want to get to some "meat and potatoes. "

If you sit and think about things, about the Force and what we do, we are not individualist. We do not seek our own understanding of things as the answer for things, we seek to understand our own understandings. This changes things.

I will give you something from our doctrine to think about today- 4 teachings and the Tenets

1 Jedi feel the Force. We are aware of its omnipresence and its flow. We endeavor to live in balance with it as it manifests in all worldly phenomena, the dynamic equilibrium of its flow which transcends space-time from the smallest quark to the greatest expanse of the cosmos. a Jedi.

We feel what is not us.

2 - To be in balance, the Jedi practise clarity of mind. Aware that representations of the world can cloud our understanding, the Jedi centre their awareness through the practice of meditation and contemplation.

Here in teaching 2, we are reminded that it is our understanding and representations that can cloud things.

3 Jedi maintain a clarity of awareness that all events are interconnected. The balance of the Force is a flowing continuum; it flows around us and through us, allowing us to adapt to change arising in its eternal cycles of creation and renewal.

Guest Timotheus — Today at 6:07 AM
What does it mean by representations?

Master Rev. Carlos (Pastor) — Today at 6:07 AM
Good question
What is our representation of things?

What do you think?
This is why reflection can be helpful and dangerous all at the same time.

Reflection is how we find things out

Perspectives and thought can come from understanding

Guest Silverwolfnightwolven — Today at 6:10 AM
....and keeping an open mind of all possibilies.



Our Agency - Jedi are active in the world, acting as people of thought, and thinking like people of action. Be aware that beliefs become thoughts, thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits, habits become values, and values determine destiny.

Our Maxim on Agency is a reminder of the flow of things

The exhibit in which we show our understanding and express it can be our representations of what we believe or understand.

Reflection can reveal how we think or why we think things.

This, understanding this type of things is not seeking out our own understandings as the answers to everything.

Jedi teaching 4 reminds us that "Jedi practise non-attachment, maintaining an awareness that the cycles of creativity and renewal in the Force give rise to phenomena as others pass away. "

The cycles of the Force are not our own construction.

Don't take credit for something you did not do or cannot create 

The reflective questions today I want to share are these... Do we think we can control the Force or wield it outside of the cinema screen? Is that the way it works in the ordinary world?

One of the things I keep in mind is that I will never know everything. What I know now, is only a fraction of what is available.

In the beginning I thought I knew what the Force was. I had every piece of statement ever written about the Force from movies to individuals.

Guest Silverwolfnightwolven — Today at 6:20 AM
not in the way of cinema, no.  My connection to the force is through nature; weather, animals... I can sense a deer before it shows itself,


Acquire information. Yes. Think on it. Contemplate the ideas or idea you have learned.


But we all know that connection is not up to us, and we will never ever fully understand this.

The more we spend time in it, the more we understand. That is pretty clear.

This is an example of how things work with everything, the more you spend time with it the more you will understand it. You may even hate/ love it increasingly.

For some reason, I learned to be full of zeal when I find something new.

I am still unlearning this. It may take a lifetime to unlearn but I think there are some things worth unlearning.

Our Tenets help here as well.

Focus

Knowledge

Wisdom 

Guest Silverwolfnightwolven — Today at 6:23 AM
I didn't used to understand it, then i researched it, and learned deer is my spirit animal ( for those that believe in that kind of thing) that is why i have a connection specifically to deer

Focus is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your mind into what you are doing.

Knowledge can be acquired by focusing on the task at hand.

Wisdom is the sound application of accrued knowledge and experience through patient, good judgment.

Use these reminders of what we can do to create a new idea or a new practice.  Unlearning things can be difficult because most time we need a mentor, friend or someone OUT of our own circles of thoughts and understanding to show us a new idea.

One of the other things we can unlearn as well is the idea that there is only ONE answer to things. (edited)

I had to break this.

For me, it was a old Army and self-sufficient idea I learned from growing up on my own.

One way or no way

That is never true if you sit and think.

If it is in the realm of human possibility, it can be done.

This is a very powerful and dangerous idea.

Think about this, the good stuff. There are things worth taking the extra time to understand.

We are one of those things.

Understand where YOU and where your ideas come from.

It helps.

Something happened to me when the word "Instrumental" hit my thought, feeling and will.

My brain my heart and my soul caught fire somehow. There was zeal instantly
I had to be mindful of it.

The Force is not of us.

Like that natural connection does not come from me but I get to enter into it.

The Force is the same way.

The more we "force" the Force, the less the Force is present.

It is my hope that we take the time to understand the Force and us.

They are two different things and worth the time.

Our representation of things is key. What creates our representations of things? This is what I am taking away today.


@Guest Silverwolfnightwolven

"....and keeping an open mind of all possibilies"


A closed mind knows what it knows and cannot learn more. A full cup cannot be filled.

Monday, pour your mental cup out and get some more.

Give the old mental cup a good "flick and swish." Give it a good rinse as well if it needs it. 

4 Jedi practise non-attachment, maintaining an awareness that the cycles of creativity and renewal in the Force give rise to phenomena as others pass away.

Feel free to use any mental picture of a cup of tea or old coffee ready to be pitched.

" the cycles of creativity and renewal in the Force ...not by us "

I hope this is a small or large enough reminder of what we strive for as Jedi and people.

I used to be a old disk jockey in the late 90's and early 2000's.

Remember to be instrumental, not the DJ. The Force doesn't need another DJ. What we need in the world are those who can be instrumental to the Force. There is the difference. A huge difference.

ANy questions, comments or concerns? 
May the Force be with you all, 
Pastor Calros

Capability - The Force does not ask of our ability, only our availability. In opening to The Force, Its capabilities flow through us. Indeed, clear intention is not enough, Jedi do.

https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/doctrine

Let us start Monday and this week opening a can of worms. 
We are Jedi
We believe in the Force.


One of the things we also share is the fact that we believe that the Force connects all living things and we also believe in the inherent worth of all living things.

The Force does not ask for our ability...

Why is that? Why does the Force not know what I can do? Doesn't the Force know how vital I AM ?  This is said jokingly. 

But this is the very idea that is dangerous and almost menacing.

To be available is to be in the present moment.

Most times, what we think is not what is present.

Humans have a hard time dwelling in the present moment.
We always think about the future or the past.

It takes active practice.

So today, I wish to share this idea, Jedi are not individualist or even individuals. If it is the Force and the understanding we seek, then it is not us or our own understanding we seek.

We do not seek, us.
We do not seek our own way.
We strive to understand our thought, feeling and will. Jedi teaching 5
We strive.
Something happens when we try to learn what humility and selfless is on our own, without aid from the outside.

This day in age, we have heard so many things about doing your own thing or that it is ok to be yourself. It is. I encourage people to understand who they are.

Do you know what is present when you are present?

Do you know the level of love and mercy and hate and pain that is you? Do you understand, you?

What can happen is we begin to try.

There is nothing wrong with our try's.

We have a saying on the farm, no one tries harder than we do. But this is a dangerous thought, really.

9 times out  of ten, I am going to muddle something.

It is ok.

The idea is to take some time to understand what we really do here as Jedi.

"  In opening to The Force, Its capabilities flow through us."
We are Instrumental.

When this word hit my mind, heart and will, it changed me. Instrumental. 

How does one be instrumental to the Force?
Here is where we all enter.
We can have every intention to do "good" or well enough. Our intentions can be helpful even.

But as a living thing connected to everything that lives, my own thoughts, feelings and will are but a small part of the entire flow.
So why is it that we think we know it all and are better suited to understand what, "everybody " needs??
This is a dangerous spot to dwell, when we think we wield the Force. When this happens, it ceases to be the Force, and it becomes a force of our own.

Most days, our clear intention or our own will can become what hinders the natural flow of things
.
Rather than a flow, we can become the obstruction in the flow.
It happens all the time.


To be present is the way to be more than what we think our clear intention is.
What is the selfless path one can take?
Where does sacrifice and bliss enter a Jedi's life? What is sacrifice and bliss?
​Selfless can be described as the quality of thinking more about the needs, happiness, etc. of other people than about your own
It can be - less selfish. Less full of one's ego.

One of the best examples of selfless I have is to take a cup and dump it out. The wanting to fill it is what can be unlearned. We, with a full cup, can be the same as an empty cup. Be with the cup.

Our own ego is the hardest thing to understand.

When we begin to understand this, we can see it.

When we see it, realize it is not the Force.
Know the Force does not want to do what you want. Thankfully, the Force does not want what I want this morning.
It is not as selfish as I am
There is no intention like I have.

My encouragement to every Jedi is to be present. In this moment, you can be instrumental. Or you could just get in the way and call it the Force.
This happens.
Jedi do.
Jedi do what?


Remove your intention and understand it, when you do, you will realize it is not the Force. There will be a quiet silence when this happens. Take it.

To force one's presence or ideas is where we know we do not want to be. To force the Force to our limits is not of the Force. The only way the Force reaches all is some days to remove myself from the equation. Then I am instrumental to those present.

Capability - The Force does not ask of our ability, only our availability. In opening to The Force, it's capabilities flow through us. Indeed, clear intention is not enough, Jedi do.

May the Force be with you all,
Pastor Carlos

Great sermon, thank you. we have a similar hermetic concept - following your true will, or THE WILL - thank you for this master pastor. 
be instrumental 

Discretion - For the Jedi, discretion is the better part of valor. Indeed, agency without discretion comes invariably to a tragic end. True wisdom is found in knowing when to raise the eyebrow, rather than the voice or the sword.
The line comes from Shakespeare’s play, Henry IV Part 1, Act V Scene 4

Good morning Jedi everywhere

May the Force be with you all, wherever you may be.

Today is Monday and the start of a new week for some.

I always recommend, if you like, wake up, have something to drink hot or cold and read in the mornings.

If you pray, I do not, but if you do, morning time is a good time to start off the day.

The beginning of the day is best to start the day.

Start your day how you see fit but do have a place to start.

As Jedi, we do not pray to the Force.

Think, contemplate.


To be in balance, the Jedi practise clarity of mind. Aware that representations of the world can cloud our understanding, the Jedi centre their awareness through the practice of meditation and contemplation.

Teaching 2

Meditation and contemplation is our goal.
You would be foolish to act like a hero if it is going to disadvantage you and it’s better to stop yourself if an action you would like to take is going to hurt you.
There is a warning in the tales we relay to one another.
There is a reason for such elaborate stories and myth we share.
"Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future" "but not at the expense of the moment."
This is a quote from the Phantom Menace.
It is one of the first lines in the movie.
Discretion is said to be: 
The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. It has the meaning of acting on one's own authority and judgment.
The freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation.
This is the better part of valor.
Discernment is the ability to see and understand people, things, or situations clearly and intelligently: an act of perceiving or discerning something 
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different.
Distinguish the difference.
Discernment can be cultivated.
It can be developed.
It can be practiced by practicing it.

One of my own and a big block in the road is one's path is often the idea of our own discernment.
Find someone you know who can distinguish the differences. 

Here in lays the dilemma of the modern time.
How does one who seeks, find what they need?
How do we find the differences in discernment if we do not know there is ever a need?
We will not.
This is a danger in never asking for aid or help.

ENTER THE MENTOR (Stage right, or left)

One of the things a mentor can help us is to see what is not, us.

They can get us out of our own boxes of thought or trains of flow.

Intentionally. Mentors do this,

Willingly or unknowingly, this is the flow of things often.


We want to be able to see the bigger picture. 
To be able to distinguish the bigger picture.

Often times we seek the "Elixir" from one another. What is the elixir, you have it I know it!

One of the elixirs in life is discernment.

There is a recipe or a formula normally we seek and then, the form is left behind to find exactly what we seek.

We know when understanding is present.

This takes very little practice to notice.

But we can tell when it is present.

Find the honor or the discernment you would like to learn.

One of the symbols of this is our plastic representation of a light saber. The sword.

No weapon or symbol is quite like the sword in a way that it has the standing potential to reveal what type of honor is present, if any.

So today, I ask all Jedi everywhere, do we have discernment? Do we have the space for it or are we working on it right now? 

Is there someone training us or is it one of our own focuses? Do we strive to understand what we are doing? Do we know anyone who has this certain elixir in life?
Do we, have it?

Can we share it, and will others take it? hmm ?

I hope that this time together pokes your thoughts, feeling and will a bit.

Discretion - For the Jedi, discretion is the better part of valor. Indeed, agency without discretion comes invariably to a tragic end. True wisdom is found in knowing when to raise the eyebrow, rather than the voice or the sword.

Any questions or comments?
Find someone who has what you seek or want to cultivate.
Know what you want to seek.
Discretion is a key idea to the Jedi and to the human being.

How do you tell the difference with everything?

Practice and find those who act differently.
Otherwise, it's just the same thing all the time.
I am here to answer any questions or gripes, complains or just to chat.
Discretion is advised during the holidays. 
May the Force be with you all -
Pastor Carlos

Fairness - The ability to rise above prejudice, all virtue is summed up in fairness. Indeed, lack of fairness is essentially a mark of weakness.

What is fairness?
What is our concept or what we know of fairness? 
To a Jedi, what is fair mean?

Definition: impartial and just, without favoritism or discrimination.

Can we make choices without favoritism or discrimination? Do we know anyone like this? 

Favoritism is defined as the practice of giving unfair preferential treatment to one person or group at the expense of another.

Can/do we recognize and understand the difference between one thing and another?
Presently, we live in a climate where it is easy to bunch things up in smaller groups to keep track of. It is much more common to go with the flow than take the time to understand things.

But this is our reminder.

What is the level of fairness you give?
Can the level of fairness you know presently, be changed?

I can share with you this, I often side or go with the ideas that suite me or I understand well enough. I normally do not go with something I do not understand.
The reminder today is to check what and who we are giving our " FAIR SHARE " to.
What is fair in our own vocabulary and how do we use it?
Do we understand it enough to adjust where we need it?
How do we adjust our own ideas of fairness?
Find example of the fairness you seek.
Can we ever reach a place where everything is fair and without blame or intention?
To every Jedi here today and for those who will be joining later, check what you think is fair.
Is it? Has time passed by and things changed?

Has your idea or level of fairness changed since you first began your journey? Have you developed your own understanding of fairness at all?

Have you taken the time to talk to a mentor about it and better yet, do you know anyone who exhibits this elixir of fairness?

I encourage every Jedi to take the time to contemplate our Maxims. They can begin a train of thought or action that will not be quenched or can grow to ideas we did not know were capable.

As we put these in our thoughts, feelings, and will, they WILL change us. 
Examining our own value of fairness, changes the landscape of our path. It can.
What do you think is fair? Is it? By which standards or who taught you that was fair?
Is fairness always equal? Is it always equal in portion of events?
I know, as a child, I understood that I was under the impression, nothing was fair. I was taught this by my parents and mentors, unaware.
One thing I have learned as a Jedi is that everything is in motion. Nothing is still or stale. Life has a flow, always.
Some days the flow of things can collect or even over accumulate.

This is why it is so important to grow and learn. Ask questions of those who are your mentors.
Think about this, can we give out our thoughts, feeling and will without our self-interest, favoritism or prejudice?

This is where I leave you.
I hope that the idea of our own value of fairness can be developed into so much more than what we know.
Check on your value of fairness.
Have a working understanding of it.
We live in a world and a time where there is so much "I" or ego centered moments in life.
Let us change a few outcomes from what we are prone to seeing and add the Force to things and to our life.
Add the Force to your idea of fairness.
Is what you think fair is, actually without prejudice, self-interest or favoritism?

It is still in the realm of human possibility for me to understand further what true fairness is. Some days, true fairness is NOT what I want to see.
Let us think on these things. Our fairness or what we think is fair in our path, where does that come from? Can we ever develop the ability to develop our own concept of fairness?
If you ever want to chat about your own ideas of fairness, I am here on a DM or here in this space.
Is what we think "fair" is truly fair and to whom or what? Are we in the way to a level of intrusion on the idea of fair?
Something to think about, are we fair as Jedi, as who we are? Wherever we are?
May the Force be with you this week and today
Pastor Carlos

Charity - In brightening everything on which it shines, Charity is love in action. We live on what we are given but build our lives on what we give.
Good day Jedi everywhere
It is time for Monday morning Meditations!

Todays Meditation is the reminder to think on the 15th Maxim. Charity.

Some people translate and define charity.

I found a few definitions, just for the occasion.

Now, I do not do this to define the word or say" This is what it means and nothing else!" NO

This is never the meaning of why I use definitions of words in explanations or conversation.

Definitions are a good starting point.

So that being said, Charity can be an organization set up to provide help and raise money for those in need:

Charity can also mean the voluntary time giving of help, to those in need:

Charity is the voluntary provision of assistance to those in need regardless of value of assistance.

Here is another part of charity as well. Charity can also mean the kindness and tolerance in judging others.

Good day Jedi everywhere!

Charity has a very WIDE range of usage. 

Back in my youth, I thought charity was a "Church Word" and only existed in religion.

Boy was I in for some "learning" and " unlearning."

Guest DaniellaHayes — Today at 6:03 AM
I often quote the "You must unlearn what you have learned" because of similar thoughts


You are so on it! That phrase is one of the hardest things I have had to understand. What is unlearnable and what is not.

What can I adjust or cultivate and into what?

This is a very important question to ask oneself.

Charity - In brightening everything on which it shines, Charity is love in action. We live on what we are given but build our lives on what we give.

 
According to this reminder, there is darkness in the world. There is a very automatic selfishness that exist when we begin this journey. We find it in each of us. We all have it. Charity is a way to see things in this darkness.

Charity is sometimes the focus on  the "not me but others" and the "need of others."

Now, a very clear-cut caution, you can care and give too much.

Compassion fatigue is a very real thing.

It can kill you. No joke.

Guest DaniellaHayes — Today at 6:06 AM
I was about to say, there is a balance there. I work with multiple charity organizations, and I find that I have to remember to take time for myself.


That is a great fire to return to.

I light that fire often

but then, how do we grow charity or the understanding of it?

Why even worry about charity?

Why even worry?

It is the worry part we must be careful of as well.

Worry can lead us into places we may need help out of.

I will tell you, looking out for old "number one" is the opposite of charity.

Charity can come in so many different levels in life.

It does.

It comes from everywhere.

It can come from anywhere

The most explained part I am used to is money so let's get that out of the way. 

A form of charity is to give money or credits where some do not have.

Some pay bills or other things as such. 

Some just flat out give money and say," use it how you see fit."

We have bills as a Temple. We take money. We say thank you.

The love of things can be a hindrance, and money is one thing everyone gets preached at in media or in religion and even the news.

Money money money money

ok - so give money to those who do not have it.

There is a common and general " Don't be greedy" that is around everyone most time. Most time.

But this is a good reminder as well, don't be greedy.

This is from my own reflections, but this is what I was spoon fed and thought charity was:
Giving money to people, places or originations that have a current need or a way to pay. To fit a bill. To pay the debt you do not owe.

Yes, this is part but only one part. Charity can also mean our actions with each other in our thoughts, feelings and will.


Give accommodation in these three spaces of your life for charity.

Apply and see how charity can change the way we think, feel and even "will" things.

Watch how it changes entire worlds and circles of influences.

Your circles. 

Watch how it changes your world.

Be carful, such things bring about change. If you are not ready, don't do it.

I will give a quick example.

Applying charity to each other can change the dynamic of things.

Where are the dark spots in our path?

One of the lights that can be given is, well, charity.

Check your proverbial "charity light."

Is it on? Does it work? Is it even functioning?

Charity is the volunteered provisions we give to one another.

There are dark places and even unknown places in life.

We all have them

Shed some light, some actual light.

Charity - In brightening everything on which it shines. Charity is love in action. We live on what we are given but build our lives on what we give.

Ever wonder what "light" we can shine? This is one of the lights we can shine.

And it is not limited to just currency.

Give charity in your thought.

Give charity in your feelings.

Give charity to your will.

Give charity to each other.

Charity moves mountains and life's when we give it to one another and null the judgments between us.

Thank you for the time to share a Maxim.

Guest DaniellaHayes — Today at 6:25 AM
Thank you for your thoughts on this. It's a good thing to remember. 
When you mentioned other ways for charity, my first thought was time and energy. I volunteer with a group that gives clothes, food, and hygiene products to homeless people. I also work with one where we do minor car repairs for people who can't afford them. Stuff like lights and fluid top offs.
In both of those I don't give money, I only volunteer my time and energy.

Master Rev. Carlos (Pastor) — Today at 6:26 AM
Nice, I will tell you the truth. If it were not for some ones mercy or charity some days, I would have been found myself without a paddle and up a creek so many times.

Charity can be a glue for humanity.

Guest DaniellaHayes — Today at 6:29 AM
I do find that it's easy to get lost in the work and forget to balance things, and burnout is a thing. Sometimes though it's easy to tip the balance scales too far in the other direction. It takes time to get better at balancing.

Master Rev. Carlos (Pastor) — Today at 6:31 AM
When everything is in motion, balance can be difficult to maintain. Which balance is the one you need? Which is the one we are currently in need of time with? This is why reflection is needed. This is why it is important to know who your mentors are as well.

To find one who has the elixir of charity is not a easy task.

I am grateful for those who take the time for these things and to be able to express them.

Guest DaniellaHayes —
I am too. I have been helped plenty, and I like to help where I can.

Master Rev. Carlos (Pastor) — 
The hope is that I can give charity as freely as I can give money.

The hope is we all have some degree of charity in us and not just in the money part.

I am an old restaurant owner and an old bartender, I tip. It comes with all the math.

Thats not what I am talking about.

It is the seeing of the need.

AND what to do with that "need."

If we are not careful, it can drain and tear down as much as it can build up.

There is a healthy degree of charity we can find.

We can maintain healthy levels and degrees of these things as well.

My encouragement today, on a Monday, is to know what level you are at in your own understanding of charity.

Where does it take you and what do you shine when you shine THIS light on others?

Without charity, there is darkness, think about that.

May the Force be with you all today and this week. I am here all day via DM if you have a need or invitations to a party or a dance.

Pastor Carlos

Good day Jedi everywhere

Compassion - Via compassion, The Force exhibits its true power. In seeking peace for others we practice compassion, in seeking peace for ourselves we practice compassion.

Good day Jedi everywhere

Todays chit chat or meditation is on COMPASSION 

Compassion - Via compassion, The Force exhibits its true power. In seeking peace for others we practice compassion, in seeking peace for ourselves we practice compassion.

Compassion seems to be the focus lately in the news and the world or better yet, the lack of it.

Compassion is a complex construct that involves cognitive, emotional, and behavioral components. It involves recognizing suffering in others (or us) and feeling motivated to alleviate that suffering

Compassion acknowledges the indifference to charitable appeals on behalf of those who are suffering, experienced as a result of the frequency or number of such appeals. Compassion fatigue is a form of stress or tension that arises from frequent contact with traumatized people, where we become preoccupied with the suffering or pain of others. It describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others, often through experiences of stress or trauma.

We can care so much that we can become indifferent to what is present.

Why doesn't compassion come automatically? Does it? If compassion comes automatically, where does it come or stem from?

Where does this want to help everyone come from?

Upon reflection, I have found my own thoughts of compassion come from what others have preached and taught me. 

We are often led by example and knowing this, I encourage every Jedi to examine your theory or practice of compassion.


Who or what is our example of compassion with the Force?

Where do we find examples of the compassion we are talking about?

Do you know anyone who ACTS with compassion? For that matter and for reflections, do we know anyone without compassion? What are the levels that exist with compassion?

So, my recommendation for meditation this Monday is this- find compassion in your path. Identify it. Are we lacking compassion? What are the levels that it exists? 

Is our compassion for one another or is it wanting attention from one another?

Compassion fatigue is a form of stress or tension that arises from frequent contact with traumatized people, where we become preoccupied with the suffering or pain of others. It describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others, often through experiences of stress or trauma.

This is very real and can even harm those who do not take notice.

You can care too much. Everyone says just give a hoot but I say, give a hoot about what you care about.

Take time for those things and check to see if you are being blinded or begin to show signs of compassion fatigue


**   If you think you need professional help, by all means please seek professional help. Thats is what they are for and if you have need, seek them out. We are not professional caretakers in any compacity here, just volunteers. If you need help, seek it out.

Help and therapy is out there.

What is the cost of caring? Ever think about this?
Caring cost.

Do you know what it cost?

For those who like videos and TED talks ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-4m35Gixno&t=13s
YouTube
TEDx Talks
Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? | Juliette Watt ...

Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? | Juliette Watt | TEDxFargo - YouTube


"You will start to take on some of the symptoms as if they were your own."

This is a huge warning for us as humans. We can care for one another.

So, I hope, with this reminder, Compassion - Via compassion, The Force exhibits its true power. In seeking peace for others we practice compassion, in seeking peace for ourselves we practice compassion.


If you have a need, PLEASE feel free to hit me up or DM me if you have any questions comments or concerns. It is important to understand our own levels of care and concern for one another.

What we need and what we give.

It is my hope that we take time for ideas like this.

Know your limits, Jedi have limits.

When those limits are reached, what then?

Teaching 12 reminds us that unconditional love and compassion are central in the life of the Jedi. Where imbalance arises, we bring only so much love, pardon, faith, hope, clarity, and joy as is necessary to restore the dynamic equilibrium in our phenomenal environment.

There are imbalances in LOVE - PARDON - FAITH - HOPE - CLARITY and JOY.

When we find these, take some time to understand them.

Ask around.

Ask a mentor.

Compassion is something we can understand much more than just blindly.

May the Force be with you all this week.
Pastor Carlos 

Thank you pastor, compassion flows not only from the recognition of suffering but from the strength to act with love and balance.
'The great compassion knows no bounds, for it flows like water, meeting the needs of all.' - Guanyin saying according to the internets

In caring, remember to replenish your own wellspring!

If at any time anyone has questions, comments or concerns, feel free to join in.

Monday Morning Meditations can be a time you can plant new seeds in new spaces

Here is one for all of us.

Empathetic Joy - The necessary counterbalance to compassion, empathetic joy prevents the waters of compassion from draining away. We aim to feel the joy of others just as keenly as their pain.

The Empathy Joy hypothesis states that people who help others in need, experience positive feelings associated with the altruistic behavior.

Helping others is a reward in itself because it brings happiness and joy when committing a helping behavior

Empathic joy is a term that refers to feeling joy or happiness as someone else experiences it. It is characterized by empathy and involves understanding and sharing the joy of others.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It involves vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.

This is where the video goes

What empathy is and is not | Empathy vs. Sympathy | Marshall Rosenberg - YouTube


YouTube
Giraffe NVC
What empathy is and is not | Empathy vs. Sympathy | Marshall Rosenberg


Modern Phycology reminds us when expressing sympathy and empathy, it's important to be heartfelt and truthful.

This is where we find the differences between most many things. Are things done heartfelt and truthful?

There are times we can act that are not heartfelt and truthful.

Here lies the dilly. Here is where we can find conflict.

Can we act without condemnation or justification toward one another and everything?

Can we be free from our own condemnation?

Free from our own justification?

We can become this or strive for the understanding. It actually happens.

Often. Still. Today.

Reflection can give space for how to understand which is which and do we understand these things better.

Understanding these things, without our own judgment and condemnation present, there lies the heartfelt and truthful.

Will we ever reach that point?

The result of such things, cultivates a flow of learning and understanding that is given to us in this present moment. Yes.

After all that, there is a joy that comes from all of this present. We can share in it. The focus can often be this experience and that is what can infect it.

We can often try to " force "the moment. Pun intended.


Do not.

This is what I share with you today. Do not try to make these moments happen. When this happens, we lose the organic, central, flow we share. We can lose what comes next. 

When we understand more, we become instrumental to the flow of the Force. We do not wield it as some would say but it does flow THROUGH us but is not us.

"We aim to feel the joy of others just as keenly as their pain."

Schadenfreude is the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, pain, suffering, or humiliation of another.

This is not what I am talking about.

This is the counterattack for what we mean here or what is contrary.

It is easy and for some, very automatic at times to revel in others misfortune. I used to do it all the time.

This is what I want to warn every Jedi about.

" As, on the one hand, it is certain that we all address some such request to the state, and, on the other hand, it is a well-established fact that the state cannot procure satisfaction for some without adding to the labor of others, while awaiting another definition of the state, I believe myself entitled to give my own here. Who knows if it will not carry off the prize? Here it is: The state is the great fictitious entity by which everyone seeks to live at the expense of everyone else." 

Frédéric Bastiat 

You cannot live at the expense of others too long.

Finding pleasure in another person’s good fortune is what social scientists call “freudenfreude,” a term (inspired by the German word for “joy”) that describes the bliss we feel when someone else succeeds, even if it doesn’t directly involve us.

This is what is also available.

This is very real and can very easily be spoiled by aggression, rivalry and even our sense of justice.

Today, take the time to see that there is a difference in how and why we do things. It is important to take time to understand these things.

" If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than you are now." ― Albert Einstein

Empathetic Joy - The necessary counterbalance to compassion, empathetic joy prevents the waters of compassion from draining away. We aim to feel the joy of others just as keenly as their pain.

It is time

Good day Jedi everywhere and Happy Monday

As you start your week, I hope you are well, and this time can be used to grow something new or water an old thought.

Maxim 18 De-escalation - Between uncontrolled escalation and passivity, there is a demanding path of responsibility that we follow. Whenever we perceive monsters, we should see to it we do not become monsters ourselves.

De-escalation

Here are a few definitions so we are on the same page.    De-escalate: reduce the intensity of (a conflict or potentially violent situation

De-escalation refers to the process of reducing the intensity of a conflict or potentially volatile situation. It is aimed at calmly communicating with an agitated person to understand, manage, and resolve their concerns, preventing escalation into more aggressive or harmful actions

The idea here is to decrease conflict or undo the actions that will lead to more or intensify the situation.

Is this so hard to understand and why is that?

For me, after reflection, I noticed that my initial reactions and what I was raised or trained to do was not de-escalation but more of a escalation of conflict and events.

I did the opposite of what was reminded here we can experience. In this action, I pressed and tried to overdo things to find some sort of control.

The more I try to control things, the less I realize I have control over things.

This is a very real reminder that we do not just let the wheel of life go or give it up to someone else. We can change a few of these things we have been taught and have learned. Here are three good ways to pay attention to this.

Present yourself as non-threatening. 

This one breaks me daily.

One of the biggest things I had to work on for my own path was to look like I was no longer the problem. Present yourself as not a threat. This does a number on a person. Most times we do not see ourselves as the threat or as the one who instigates things most time. I was always taught to be the "go getter" or the trend setter. The exact opposite can be done.

This takes practice to do and identify.

Practice listening better. 

From experience, most time the reason things escalate is because I do not or did not understand what was present and it is my interpretation that can change the course and flow of actions.

We can change the tones of our spaces. Oh yes. This is the reminder. We can be very instrumental at this point in time. Take a class or two on listening, they have those. We could all use better listening skills. Find and build them.

Be aware of your surroundings.


There are days where some energy cannot be matched. There are some days where we invite things in our life's by where we go or who or what we frequent. Be aware of this. Strife does come and exist.

Have the effort and space to see it and understand it. Where do you go and who do you hang around as far as where things in our path get more worry some or troubling?

Here are three areas we can watch and cultivate.

Somedays we want to not take things too far or to any extreme. Some days, we want to find peace and better environments. Find them or cultivate them. Be the change you want to see, and I promise you, you will not be the same.

Try De-escalation. Try to undo a few "automatics" in our paths.

It takes practice. Be a bringer of things, like someone who understand when things are needed. We need more of those type of people. Those who can bring joy, pardon, faith, hope and light because it is present.

This present, changes the world not making things more intense or even more extreme.

This is how we change the world.

De-escalation - Between uncontrolled escalation and passivity, there is a demanding path of responsibility that we follow. Whenever we perceive monsters, we should see to it we do not become monsters ourselves.

By not becoming like everything or everyone else.

Any questions, comment or concerns? I am here all day.

May the Force be with you all this week and happy holidays to those who observe them this season.

Good day Jedi everywhere and May the Force be with you all today and wherever you may be.

War

We are at a time in our life's where we may see many more days of fighting and maybe even much more war on a larger scale. This can be frightening. Times seem out of control. 

I have come to a conclusion in my life. Because there is violence in the world, there is violence in me.

Is it possible to irradicate violence in me?

Most of us accept this life of violence and hurt as the normal. 
What we see and hear and what is frequent, often gets the "normal" tag in our everyday.

After living though war and rumors of war, we have built barriers between us for fear of harm or hurt to our own being and each other.

Can you see it in you?

Can you see it in me?

Take time with me to un-condition your mind today.

The Creed
I am a Jedi, 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;
And 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 with me always, for I am a Jedi.

Say it today.

Remind yourself of what we share.

This is our Creed. Our statement of beliefs.

In it, it tells us many secrets. One of them is how to remind ourselves of what we believe.

To be instrumental, we are reminded that where we find things like hatred, injury, doubt, despair, darkness and sadness, which exist, we must be the keepers of things like love, pardon, faith, hope, light and joy.

There is a peace when one keeps things like these handy. Today's reminder is that of our Creed.

In this world of war and rumors of war, what is the opposite of that?

This list is not subject to just what we understand. Some days, we may not understand how keeping pardon handy or keeping an extra measure of what is suggested can make any difference. During this season, here is our reminder of what we hold dear and what connects us.

Take time to understand more.
There are things and those we do not.

Take time to love more. 
There are those in our path who are unlovable. That is where love is needed.

Take time to give more.
We are naturally born and taught to think about our own being. Give some space. Give to those in need or to the takers.

Take time to give pardon where it is needed.
This means finding where it hurts or where the attention is needed. Those who need pardon are the ones who have offended us.


Tired of the random or general hate?

Tired of all the hurt, harm and injury?

Tired of all the doubt out there for everything?

Tired of all the despair?

Tired of all the darkness and sadness?

Be the one who has what is needed when it is needed.

This will take practice because no one deed, or one action is ever the same. Every act is connected in so many ways, we may never see the end result of some things. The impact truly does travel further than we can reach most days when we release it.

This is the seed of what we do. Our Creed can be our seed. No one can ever tell us what the end result is, but I will tell you this, adding things like this can change everything we know and are told is normal.

During this time of season, Brother John our founder, will pardon or forgive some one of something, sometimes without telling others. If you are aware of this, it no longer comes as a surprise around this season.

Sit and think and see where things are needed this season. What is needed? Give the space of thinking on these things and for the space to develop our own being.

Our CREED.  What can we do as people?

Remember we have reminders.

One of the best reminders I can give one is this, the hero often forgets. Holidays are no exception. Remind yourself of what connects us.

Remember your Creed this holiday and during times of war. The time is upon us.

I hope this helps.

May the Force be with you all this season, whatever season it finds you in.

Pastor Carlos