The Maxims and Voting Season

Hello! As I was reading through the 21 Maxims, I found one that I would like some clarification on.

Discretion: To Become Invisible
A Jedi knows there is a time and place for all things. They do not actively interfere in worldly affairs and refrain from overtly supporting or opposing other individuals or organizations.

What line is crossed for one to "overtly support or oppose", especially in this voting season (or are politics not the focus of this maxim)? If someone could help me understand this particular piece, it would be much appreciated.

Best Wishes,

Alyssa

Now... I personally have issue with some of this maxim (I may have even posted about it before) because I think Jedi should support organisations which they truly believe in.. and sometimes this does mean being visible.

I would take this maxim therefore to mean that you shouldn't do anything, support anyone etc. for exposure simply for yourself. You're not supporting, for example, "Tom Cruise for President" because it makes you look good, or because you get something out of it. Jedi don't need to be in the forefront to support organisations to do good.. sometimes in fact being visible could harm an organisation or cause instead of help it.

I think I understand better now. The overt display would be more of a spectacle rather than just a strong conviction. Thanks, Edan!

There are times to speak up, and there are times to remain silent...

But, you are the one that decides which is which....

Personally, I wouldn't interpret it as saying that you shouldn't ever pick a side, as it were...more that publicly championing a cause is potentially problematic.

The way I see it is that we shouldn't try to influence or manipulate the thinking of others...they are more than capable of making up their own minds and don't need us to be telling them who or what to support. Just because we particularly like or approve of something or someone out there, it doesn't necessarily make it the right option for everyone else, and so we have to be careful not to confuse our personal opinion with 'the greater good', if you see what I mean...

That's just one possible interpretation...I'm sure others will have a different understanding. Hope that helps!

And, just to add...you are of course perfectly allowed to disagree with parts of our doctrine. If you find it problematic, I'd suggest focusing on the idea of 'discretion' and forming your own interpretation of what that would entail.

These posts reminded me a lot about the attached picture. Social media really makes the idea of this maxim more prominent.

My thoughts and perspective would fall under the general philosophy that if you don't support something benevolent, you are allowing for that which is malevolent by default of such inactivity.

The only thing I would recommend is to seek as much viable information as possible for the purpose of establishing what it is that you will support. There are multitudes of "interest groups" that present information only if it suits their purpose / desires. It is the responsibility of those seeking the knowledge to be as well informed in every regard in order to rationally deduce the truths one seeks (to the greatest extent one can do so) and rend a legitimate action.

After I wrote this response, I was reminded by a bit of philosophy I personally believe to be true:

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
--Edmund Burke

If you examine our mythology, Jedi have always come to choose a side in times where it is most needed, and often quite visible as well. If you look at the Clone Wars myth, the Jedi very clearly chose to support the Republic and even became commanders on the front lines. In the older mythology, Ben Kenobi and Luke both are obvious supporters of the Rebellion and actively fight in the war.

To look at this in our terms, it is not un-Jedi to publicly throw our support behind a cause that is true to the ways of our Temple. Whether it is political, social, environmental, etc..., I believe that the Jedi should demonstrate their support for issues of justice.

I have a little different up-take on the Maxims. But then, I'm weird ...

Discretion : The Jedi cares not for prestige nor recognition ; acting as an agent of the Force, doing only what works present themselves as right in the clarity of stillness, the Jedi may act without 'doing' and the flow continues undisturbed.

Jace Cortana wrote: If you examine our mythology, Jedi have always come to choose a side in times where it is most needed, and often quite visible as well. If you look at the Clone Wars myth, the Jedi very clearly chose to support the Republic and even became commanders on the front lines. In the older mythology, Ben Kenobi and Luke both are obvious supporters of the Rebellion and actively fight in the war.

To look at this in our terms, it is not un-Jedi to publicly throw our support behind a cause that is true to the ways of our Temple. Whether it is political, social, environmental, etc..., I believe that the Jedi should demonstrate their support for issues of justice.

With respect... we do not follow the fiction with regards to how our doctrine is understood..

But I don't necessarily disagree with your second paragraph.

Yes, the way I see it you can support a candidate, but do not try to convince others to do so unless they specifically ask your opinion. I openly support a candidate, and will openly tell anyone who asks what it is, but I don't try to push that view upon my peers.

Every Jedi has their own interpretation of Maxims. Some don't give em any value.
The value mostly falls on the individual. The teachings and Maxims are taken from every where. They help the Jedi to keep focus. That one in paticular to me has been a great help with the ego. New years night I sat with my little brother and gave him his annual new years advice. "You really don't need attention " was what he got. We hope that things are done for the reasons not malicious. " good" you could say.

I've always seen it more as saying Jedi as a group shouldn't support a particular cause or candidate since we are a varied group with varied opinions and needs. We don't want to tell other Jedi who they should or shouldn't support just because they (the person doing the supporting) are a Jedi. Each person is allowed to support whomever they will.

Basically, I can vote for any candidate but there shouldn't be a "Jedi for [candidate]!" sign anywhere.

And what Edan said about not being to visible and doing it just for exposure.

I think it's related to chapters 5 and 13 of the Tao Te Ching, where the sage is told not to interfere in foreign affairs, he must be impartial and keep a low profile. That doesn't mean not to vote or not to share your opinion when asked, but not to try and force your own thoughts on others.

It's about not losing your independance. To each new alliance there is a new antagonism. Don't reveal anything if you don't need to. Why put huge boards on your lawn when a quick chat with someone's campaign manager will yield significantly better results?
it's also about supporting ideas and not people/groups. In representative democracy you have no choice but support people/groups instead of ideas, or not support anything at all.
When voting, the greatest dilemma really should be whether any candidate deserves to be given that kind of power. Then I'd look at whether the candidates are people who keep their word, and what kind of tactics they employ. Treat politicians like enemies: choose the enemy you know best. At least you'll know what's coming.

this maxim should be read together with conflict and intervention because wu-wei.