A couple of questions...

If you were to name a teaching that was closest to Jedi, which teaching would that be? Why?

How are the Jedi teachings unique? How many practicing Jedi walk this planet?

Respectfully,

Darshan

I moved this, as the other thread was more specifcally tlking about the history of TOTJO...

However...

1. Personally, the teaching I would say, is the "Golden Rule"...

"Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you"

I want people to respect my sexual preference, so I will respect theirs...

I want folks to not push their religious beliefs on me, so I will not push mine on them...

I want the freedom to think as I wish, so I will not restrict the right of others to think as they will...

Etc...

2. The Jedi teachings are not unique...

3. Who can say?

It is good to see you made it here...

Any questions, please ask...

Good luck, and enjoy your adventure...

Go with the flow.

Live and let live.

Don't sweat the small stuff.....it's all small stuff.

Know thyself.

Everything & everyone is connecteted.

Peace

I think the Jedi teachings can best be expressed in a song:

Masters and councilors, I am confused on the topic of being in a relationship. I know Jedi should not form attachments, but is ceremonially pronouncing love for another anything like that? Basically I want to know if one can be a Jedi and still date/ marry?

I am married as are others. Having a loving relationship with someone is not the same as forming unhealthy attachments that would stunt spiritual growth, especially attachments to material things. It doesn't mean you can't have relationships or own anything. And it doesn't have to be people or things. You can form unhealthy attachments to ideals and beliefs as well. Most wars throughout history have been fought over attachments to certain beliefs and ideals.

One other thing to consider - all things have a natural lifespan and this includes relationships. When someone dies, or a partnership breaks down, it is usual (and healthy!) to release our feelings through expressions of grief. But holding onto that person long after their time has gone is not good for us. Clinging to friendships and relationships that should have been let go, pining for the dead to the extent that we are not able to live our own lives, continuing to pursue habits and practices that we know are bad for us.... all of these are the kind of attachments that are talked about.

Love is a wondrous thing and takes many forms. I personally don't see these as attachments, more as shared moments of joy.

Attachment is mindless; love is mindful.

Thank you. These are both very wise responses

NO !!! YOU MUST BE CELIBATE - NEVER TOUCH NOR LOOK AT ANYONE - AND MIND YOUR THOUGHTS !!!

:laugh:

- oooh ! if that were the case, we would be so screwed !

The Jedi are Love ... and yes, we love fully and very deeply.

Yet, we are called to wisdom about it. Love is not a thought, it is neither desire nor possession. Love is not jealous. It is not an agreement. It is abandon, it is giving of one's self without the expectation of recompense. It is neither by Reason nor is it reasonable ... When it is genuine, it is intensely spiritual.

Does this help ?

Wow, I must compliment the wisdom of the answers I've received

Even in the Lore, we find that the attachment rule is "silly".

It helps cause the demise of the universe. Anakin was constantly being told that he couldn't love... Look how that turned out.

But, look to the New Jedi Order, and we see that they were encouraged to love.

And a Jedi Knight was forced to kill her Sith brother... that didn't work out so well either. :laugh: :whistle:

Marijuana, B&D, and S&M Jedi wedding ceremony... just a thought.

Attachment to material goods seems to be the main issue that people have. I love my car, my house, my tv, my iPhone, and I'm willing to murder other people or watch them die so I can keep it. I turn a blind eye to child slave labour so I can have a microsoft mouse for a little less money.

StudentOfTheForce wrote: Masters and councilors, I am confused on the topic of being in a relationship. I know Jedi should not form attachments, but is ceremonially pronouncing love for another anything like that? Basically I want to know if one can be a Jedi and still date/ marry?

"Obsessive/unhealthy attachments" are what we are wanting to avoid... In my opinion...

My wife, kids, family, phone, house, car, TOTJO, martial arts, and a whole lot more.... lol...

The inanimate objects are the easiest (should be) to let go...

Then, choices would have to be made...

I love my daughter, but, I had to divorce her mom.... For my mental health....

Long story... lol, aren't they all when of this type?

When an attachment forces a "questionable" decision....

A decision that would seem counter to "normal" thought processes....

That "normal" thoughts might deem as detrimental to the well being of something or "someone"...

Then it becomes "unhealthy" or "obsessive" attachment....

And should be avoided....

Jestor wrote: I had to divorce her mom.... For my mental health....

I know that feeling Master J

Of all the lessons I have learned here, the one that rings loudest for me is this:

Be who you want to be.

There are steps to this lesson, like knowing who you are and understanding your potential, but this lesson is the most important to me.

Now, as for marriage, entering into marriage usually is a very emotion-filled adventure. Instead of thinking marriage as the ultimate attachment, think of it as finding a person to share the adventure of life with, and enjoying that adventure together. The emotion that can come from marriage is the result of what you put into it. Like everything, garbage in equals garbage out.

In the end, it all goes back to the lesson above. If you choose to marry or not because that is who you want to be, good for you! Understand yourself, know what you want in life, and then GO GET IT!

Alexandre Orion wrote: NO !!! YOU MUST BE CELIBATE - NEVER TOUCH NOR LOOK AT ANYONE - AND MIND YOUR THOUGHTS !!!

:laugh:

- oooh ! if that were the case, we would be so screwed !

I don't want to seem disrespectful by arguing with you as a Councillor and I am aware that the part of your post which I quoted is meant ironical. However, I do have to disagree with you if what you are saying is that being celibate (out of religious or spiritual motives) is generally bad or "inferior" when compared with being in a relationship. The No-attachment rule of the "old" Jedi Order in the movies has it value because it enables the Jedi to remain free to serve the Force in a very special way and the people which need his/her assistance. In my opinion, it is exactly the love for Padme which turned Anakin to the Dark Side. Had he followed his oath and not entered into a relationship with her, Palplatine wouldn't have been able to manipulate him to such an extent. As is seen in the end of Episode III, his love for Padme ultimately leads to hate and to his falling prey to the Dark Side.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that relationships are bad and we should all be celibate, I'm just arguing that there are two sides to the coin here and that it is a very complex and difficult topic to which there is no easy answer.

In real life by the way, I know quite a few (Catholic) priests and monks/sisters who live in celibacy and they are (mostly) happy and content with it because they say it "frees them up" and enables them to focus their attention on serving God and their fellow men.

Quick note: Jedi were/are not celibate. In Star Wars I mean. It is something many fiction writers miss unfortunately.
But Lucas revealed that despite their monastic regime, Jedi were permitted to have sex.
"Jedi Knights aren't celibate - the thing that is forbidden is attachments - and possessive relationships."
George Lucas Interview May 2002 - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1989505.stm

Second Note: It wasn't Anakin's love, but his fear of loss. It was his possessiveness and greed. His lack of trust and communication. He didn't trust Obi-Wan would understand his position. He didn't want to have to chose between being a Jedi and having a family. And instead of confronting this problem, he ran from it. His fall, if you can call it that, was not a by-product of love. Lust, Greed, Guilt, Lying, Vanity, but not Love. If he truly loved Padme he would have been more than willing to give up the Jedi Life in order to save her.
It is also a lesson in self-fulfilling prophecy. By trying to run from it he created it. There is no magic solution. Sometimes you just have to man up and accept the consequences of your actions. You have to make a choice.

Anyhow. Sexual Well-Being is an important factor to consider in one's personal well-being. But if we are to look at the fiction - then do note Jedi were allowed to have sex. And anyone who has looked into the subject understands sex has very clear biochemical effects. Which can be very beneficial. But just like spiritual well-being, there is no one size fits all answer. So there is the other side of the coin for you.

Thankfully us actual Jedi do not have such restrictions. And we must deal with the juggling act of relationships and living as a Jedi. But the lesson of Anakin can help us in that. Communication - Trust - Openness - Willing to Own Up to Our Choices and Mistakes - Understanding that not making a choice is still making a choice. So on and so forth we see exactly what not to do. Actually adhere to the Jedi Path.

I'm just wondering why more people don't use the chat?