In Praise of Selectivity: Syncretic Jediism

Adder I feel the same way both about the symbols as far as physical emblems and motions. Adapting them does seem to add a extra variables into play when explaining or researching at times.

Actually, a unique thing I made up, is I do associate to a lightsaber (cringe) is to work on bringing it into lucid dreaming. In an effort to explore the usefulness of lucid dreaming as a conjunct to waking awareness, I needed some way to connect through the fluid flow of dreams to relate to the outside world, most importantly by bodies own senses. So what it does is becomes a signal device to train oneself to have in ones hands in dreams, or at least able to be summoned (which other uses eg self defence in the dream etc but that is beside the point). The trick is then to let the blade color be variable, and to use waking meditation to associate colors to particular states of physical duress.

So the saber becomes a sign post to the lucid dreamer about when to stop lucid dreaming, and let the body take over as it might need to wake up for some reason. It's a work in a progress... but it's an interesting 'skillful means'!

As cringeworthy as a lightsaber might seem, yes it does play a role in my path, I'll admit it :silly:

Topic moved to Open Discussions forum....

Metaphor is a form of symbolic language. Metaphor is an essential element of human language. We can neither think or speak without metaphor. Metaphor is not a superfluous poetic additive to dress up what is ordinary but is rather present in the very way we think and speak.

There are a variety of symbols / metaphors that appear in how we write and think about Jediism. One example is the Path. Our learning is metaphorized as occurring in a sequence with one object of knowledge following another in time. Learning is a path and the quality of this experience is metaphorized as a Journey, that is, our decision to learn is intentional with landmarks along the way (lessons, objects of learning) and a destination (finishing the program, becoming an Apprentice). This way of thinking is not simply an analogy, learning is like a path and our education is like a journey. The way we think and communicate about learning is that it is not only 'like' a path, it is a path; our learning is not 'like' a journey, it is a journey. The metaphorical quality in which we think about life and learning is that it is a path. There are other metaphors for learning, such as, light or vision; these too are metaphors and are essential our way of thinking. But essential is not necessary. We can learn to think in alternative metaphors. To know how one thinks precedes (appears earlier on the path) knowing how to think in a new and different way (thinking is a 'way'). To think Jedi requires one to be aware of their metaphors and the symbolic manner in which they conceptualize their experiences in the world.

Alan wrote: One example is the Path. Our learning is metaphorized as occurring in a sequence with one object of knowledge following another in time. (finishing the program, becoming an Apprentice). This way of thinking is not simply an analogy, learning is like a path and our education is like a journey. There are other metaphors for learning, such as, light or vision; these too are metaphors and are essential our way of thinking. But essential is not necessary.

• How can something that is essential, be not needed? Do you have a example of a not required essential thing?
• If one does not understand metaphor, how does one know he or she learns from it?

~ Aqua

Adder wrote: Actually, a unique thing I made up, is I do associate to a lightsaber (cringe) is to work on bringing it into lucid dreaming. In an effort to explore the usefulness of lucid dreaming as a conjunct to waking awareness, I needed some way to connect through the fluid flow of dreams to relate to the outside world, most importantly by bodies own senses. So what it does is becomes a signal device to train oneself to have in ones hands in dreams, or at least able to be summoned (which other uses eg self defence in the dream etc but that is beside the point). The trick is then to let the blade color be variable, and to use waking meditation to associate colors to particular states of physical duress.

So the saber becomes a sign post to the lucid dreamer about when to stop lucid dreaming, and let the body take over as it might need to wake up for some reason. It's a work in a progress... but it's an interesting 'skillful means'!

As cringeworthy as a lightsaber might seem, yes it does play a role in my path, I'll admit it :silly:

Some one if you can please add if you have the knowledge but I learned from a Egyptian how to do this. It is very ...direct and difficult. Worth the very time used to learn. I have forgotten the name and the idea, I wish I could remember lol
A actual sword was vibrating in my dream while I slept and he seemed to be there in my dreams. Helped me learn a lot! ALOT!

carlos.martinez3 wrote: Some one if you can please add if you have the knowledge but I learned from a Egyptian how to do this. It is very ...direct and difficult. Worth the very time used to learn. I have forgotten the name and the idea, I wish I could remember lol
A actual sword was vibrating in my dream while I slept and he seemed to be there in my dreams. Helped me learn a lot! ALOT!

Not sure about Egyptian, but I started when I read the 1989 November issue of OMNI .



I did a short write up at this page in my journal (Knights area). It is for me part of the Tibetan Six Yogas of Naropa and/or the Six Yogas of Niguma.

"The essence of a metaphor is understanding and experiencing one kind of thing in terms of another."

Metaphors We Live By by George Lakoff and Mark Johnson.

For example: argument is war.
This is how we metaphorically talk about arguments.

• Arguments are won.
• There is a strategy used in arguments to ensure victory.
• Facts are ammunition.
• "Her criticisms were on target."

We conceptualize arguments in the language of conflict/war. It isn't necessary to use this metaphor to describe argument. Argument could just as easily be described by another metaphor, perhaps in terms of construction, or painting.