Collected essays, parables, and works of Joda Sett

On the Nature of Love


Love is a challenging concept to put into exact words, or to get an accurate measure of. Merriam-Webster defines it as follows:
• a feeling of strong or constant affection for a person
• : attraction that includes sexual desire : the strong affection felt by people who have a romantic relationship
• : a person you love in a romantic way
Right away, you may note that all of these definitions denote the positive or constructive aspects of love. As we all are taught, everything has both a creative and destructive aspect inherent in the nature of its existence. Therefore, in this essay, I will offer up not only the constructive qualities of love (affection, attention, compassion), but also some of its more destructive qualities (obsession, passion, compulsion) as well.
In my observations thus far, I have come to conclude that the most universal and fundamental emotion of all living things is love. Love in the sense of caring and compassion for your family, offspring, or friends. There are very few instances that we know of to date in nature where this cannot be observed. We, as sentient beings, care for and nurture our children, both blood related and adopted. Of course, there are a small number of people that have children and show little or no compassion or care whatsoever. I have found that such persons are exceptions more so than the rule. Going further, this sense of compassion and caring extends beyond blood relations and the family unit to other people. The notion of brotherly love has been observed for eons throughout a wide array of cultures and social backgrounds. We feel compassion for a complete stranger somewhere on the other side of the planet when disaster strikes them and their loved ones. We pray for them. We donate to their cause and recovery. I’ve seen active duty service members come to the call of a homeless veteran and get them assistance and a place in a local shelter. I have witnessed the more fortunate giving food and clothing to the poverty-stricken in rural and repressed regions.
The most prominent example of love in its form of affection is that which exists between a couple said to be in love with one another. They resonate on a deep level that goes well beyond that initial phase of physical attraction. There is a level of mutual adoration and respect that is shared equally between them. A question that gets asked often, and I had once myself, is “how do I know when he/she is the one?” The best description to explain this that I have found is in the nature of harmonic resonance. Harmonic resonance is a natural acoustical phenomenon that occurs when one tuning fork which has been struck is brought into close proximity to another tuning fork of the same note and the fork at rest begins to resonate. When you are around that person and your spirit or entire being resonates in that same manner, you will know that you have found your other half.
Attention can also be considered a form of love. Devoting your undivided time and attention to someone shows not only a level of respect, but it can also reflect your care and compassion for that individual. My own children are never happier than when I give them my undivided time and attention. Their faces light up and I can sense that their days are brighter because of this experience.
As I mentioned, love also has a more destructive nature that we should be aware of as well. A person can take a hobby to its extreme, allowing it to become an obsession. There are numerous examples of this, but some of the following examples will serve to illustrate the point. One beer can be enjoyable and relaxing. One can take the time to appreciate the craftsmanship and time that it took to create the flavor profile and aromatics. A person could grow to love a particular brand or brew of beer. When this love becomes extreme and moves into the realm of obsession, the former qualities of its love degrade. One drink becomes two, which becomes ten a day, which leads to a dependency that one can’t live without. This same obsessive dependency can be observed in many things: video gaming, reading, exercise, and eating.
In a similar fashion, your passion for a person or subject can go from a productive realm into one of a destructive nature if you allow it to consume your thoughts and life. A person could be very animated and devout to an ideal or belief, but if this is taken to extremes, it could lead to arguments and dissent. Compulsion is another example of how love can manifest itself in a destructive manner. It is closely related to addiction in the sense that you have the uncontrollable urge to engage in the obsessive activity or substance. Compulsion is the subconscious manifestation of a negative love or addiction.
Understanding this duality and nature of love helps us in our awareness of self and others. We can also use such knowledge to create further constructive discourse on the topic and grow as Jedi.

Distant Horizons

Shonah approached her master with confident steps. The sage sat in his study, hunched over one of his many thick tomes.

"Master?"

He raised a brow over the rim of his spectacles.

She took his cue and strode to the corner of his desk. "I have some questions."

"Concerning what, Shonah?"

She drew in a deep lungful of air and quieted her nerves. "Love and the nature of the Force, Master Rodan."

He leaned back in his rickety chair and smiled. "Go on."

She sighed. "I understand that there are the Unifying Force, the Living Force, and the Cosmic Force, but I don't understand why all three are necessary."

Rodan stroked his light brown beard. "And love?"

She felt the blood rush to her youthful cheeks. "I-I think I've found the one, but how can I be sure, Master?"

Rodan bobbed his head of chestnut hair in understanding. "Come, Shonah."

"Where are we going?"

He gathered his cloak and waved her out the door. "To find the answers to your questions."

They traveled on the road for three days, stopping at every town, indulging in the local inns and culture, and chatting up the farmers. With each passing visit, Rodan sensed his apprentice growing more frustrated.

"The food and music is not to your liking, Shonah?"

She lowered her eyes to the sandy path ahead. "Of course, master. It's just --"

"Our destination is very important, Shonah, but our journey will teach us far more."

The next day, the duo reached the shoreline. Warm salty breezes cleared their weary senses.

Rodan's gaze scanned the horizon. "Tell me what you see."

"The skies, the sea, and a storm rolling in, master."

He nodded. "True."

She turned to him, wearing a perplexed expression. "What is it that I'm supposed to see?"

"Look deeper, Shonah."

They sat for a long time as the distant thunderheads picked up steam on their approach.

She lowered her head in defeat. "I don't understand, master. Could you please explain?"

"Of course, he said. Rodan pointed out across the ocean. "The sea is comprised of water, yes?"

She nodded.

"What is water made of?"

"Molecules of hydrogen and oxygen, master."

He nodded. "Very good. Those atoms are like the Unifying Force. They are present in both the rain and the sea."

Her eyes lit up. "And the rain is like the Living Force?"

"Well done, apprentice. Yes. In the sea, it is. The sun evaporates it in its throes of death and its essence transcends to the skies as vapor."

"And then, it returns back to the sea as rain!"

"Well done," Rodan said. "The Cosmic Force is like and endless sea, combining space and time."

Shonah's mouth hung agape.

"There's one more lesson to be learned from the beach, Shonah."

Her youthful stare remained transfixed on the gathering storm.

"What do you think the sky sees when she looks into the ocean?"

Shonah's brows furrowed. "Water, fish, animals?"

He chuckled and crossed his legs. "Expand your vision out wider. She sees her reflection in the water -- her other self."

Shonah listened and understood.

"One can't live without the other, Shonah. Their relationship is a married pair. The sky gives him nourishment and longevity. In return he gives her energy, support, and resources filling her."

"What about the Earth, master?" She swept her bangs from her face. "Who is it married to?"

"In a sense, we are married to nature and it to us. We are dependent on one another." Rodan shrugged. "It's been a rather abusive relationship in the past, but they've been in couple's therapy for a while and things are looking up."

Shonah giggled.

"That is how you'll know if he's the one. You will see your other spiritual self within him."

"Thank you, Master Rodan."

He patted her on the shoulder and stood. "Of course. Come, we should get in before that storm hits."

Simple Gifts

Another breath
The way the clouds area set ablaze at sunrise
The warmth of my daughter’s lips on my cheek

A clear summer night
Getting lost in the sea of stars to Holst’s “The Planets”
The aroma of an open fire

Dogwoods in bloom
A rainbow of blossoms in the orchards
Fresh honey

Crisp autumn air
A hayride to the pumpkin patch through a colorful forest
The bountiful harvest lay out on the dinner table

Dancing flakes, drifting to a blanket of white
The piercing winter winds
The soft glow of lights on the tree

A serene sunset
The way the beams glisten upon the distant leaves
The softness of my furry companion’s coat against me

On Family

In this day and age, a clear understanding on a personal level of what family means seems more needed than ever. At first glance, the textbook definitions seem both familiar and clear:
1.
a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
o a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage.
"friends and family can provide support"
synonyms: relatives, relations, kin, next of kin, kinsfolk, kindred, one's (own) flesh and blood, nearest and dearest, people, connections; More
extended family, in-laws;
clan, tribe;
informalfolks
"I met his family"
o the children of a person or couple.
synonyms: children, little ones, youngsters; More
offspring, progeny, descendants, scions, heirs;
a brood;
issue;
informalkids, kiddies, tots
o a person or people related to one and so to be treated with a special loyalty or intimacy.
"I could not turn him away, for he was family"
o a group of people united in criminal activity.
o Biology
a principal taxonomic category that ranks above genus and below order, usually ending in -idae (in zoology) or -aceae (in botany).
2.
all the descendants of a common ancestor.

The common understanding of family for me has always been my parents, my sibling, and our extended blood relations. We share a common gene set, lineage, and character traits that make us closer knit by force. We rely and depend on one another for our sustenance and survival. There were some hard times that my family and I fell into during my childhood. Aunt, uncles, and grandparents all stepped up and helped in whatever ways that they could. That’s what family meant to me growing up.

These days, I have a refined understanding of what a family is and can be. It not only encompasses the storied traditional concepts, but has grown to include many other interpretations. It’s a group of like-minded people that share the common interest in caring, providing for, and protecting one another. The notion of family for me today includes pets. Of course, I considered my childhood pets as siblings back in the day, but I didn’t know entirely why. I cared for them, helped bathe them, feed them, and played with them all of the time. The concept was always there; I just didn’t make the philosophical connection at that time. Family goes much farther and deeper than blood relationships. In fact, blood relations have little to do with the concept. There are plenty of families consisting of non-blood relations that share more love and caring than families that do. It seems to depend more on the individuals within each family unit more so than whether or not those individuals share the same lineage.

Family, as it relates to the Jedi, is in a similar vein of thought to me. Whether or not each of us feels like a temple functions like a family unit depends greatly on the individual’s point of view – and their own personal understanding of what defines a family to them.

On Justice

This single word has caused more misunderstandings, bloodshed, war, and destruction than any other in the history of humankind. One side feels that they have been unfairly treated. Thus, that side seeks recompense to balance out the scales. The other side then feels slighted because they had only acted according to their laws in the first place. Words and sanctions lead to deeper discord and distrust. Anger leads to aggression and hostilities. Before you know it, people die for semantics.

The Merriam-Webster definition of justice is: the process or result of using laws to fairly judge and punish crimes and criminals. While this explanation is very true, it’s also the point of contention. We, as civilized societies, create laws and enforce them to ensure that peace and fairness can be enjoyed by all that adhere to said laws. One could argue whether or not a system of laws is even necessary in a given society. Anarchists might suggest that people will do the right thing by one another with or without the intervention of an outside authority. In a perfect system of society, this may hold true. All it takes is one human being only a human to throw a wrench into this lawless structure to cause huge issues. Let’s say that Joe and Angie are neighbors living in an anarchical society. Joe’s family comes on hard times, and he decides to take some of the food from Angie’s outdoor freezer. Since there are now laws against this, Joe is free to do so. Angie could say, “That’s just fine. Take what you need from me, and I’ll do the same if my family needs to in the future.” Given our human nature, it’s more likely that she might get frustrated and feel like Joe had stolen what was rightfully hers to begin with. They now must decide amongst themselves how to remedy this situation. In both Joe’s and Angie’s minds, a form of personal justice must play out. They must both weight what is right and fair by their own standards and act accordingly.

In that example lies the nugget that causes many problems in our world today. We say that we stand for justice, but justice by whose standards and laws? What might pass as acceptable in on society might be a crime in another. As Jedi, we want to uphold justice. We must ask ourselves those questions when faced with a dispute in which we are asked to mediate. What are the accepted laws for both sides? By which set of laws will you weigh what is just? It seems to me that, in some cases, we will be able to reach a mediation that is reasonable for all involved. Other situations will result in one side leaving still feeling slighted by the process.

On Art

To pinpoint the true nature of what constitutes art or an art form is no less tricky than attempting to travel through time. The concept of what constitutes being art is so subjective that it almost comes down to an individual bias. What one person considers to be artistic another may see as randomness.

The textbook definitions of art are as follows:

1. skill acquired by experience, study, or observation <the art of making friends>
2. 2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : liberal arts b archaic : learning, scholarship
3. 3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill <the art of organ building>
4. 4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : fine arts (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art
5. 5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful
6. 6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

As you can see, art comes in a variety of forms and flavors. The majority of people when they hear the word art go first to paintings, drawings, music, and theater. This falls under the fourth iteration of the definition: something requiring a conscious use of skill and creativity in its production. Even within this single iteration, there is a lot of subjectivity. One might prefer pastoral scenes to cubism and thus, think less of (or even outright reject) cubism as an art form. What constitutes a work of art? Is it the skillful use of a brushstroke, the elegant application of prose, a novel use of harmony and dissonance?

Other iterations of the definition interest me more. Art’s first iteration may apply to our Jedi Path. We must acquire particular skills and training to become Knights and Masters. To achieve these levels in the Path requires a certain level of experience, study, observation, learning, and scholarship. As such, the argument could be made for a system of faith being an art form as much as a philosophy. While philosophy is lumped into the liberal arts in most institutions, it tends to be overlooked when one mentions the word art. Beyond the learning aspects of Jediism, it also has creative aesthetics such as stories, poetry, jewelry, engravings, drawings, etc. that make it an art form on several levels.

Shine

It’ll be a better day tomorrow
The sun’s light will lay bright upon your face
Its rays will cut your shades of sorrow
And lift your spirit right outa this place

If you don’t feel alive
Like it’s tearing you up inside
You may lift your eyes to find
I still think you shine

Sometimes, the pain is overbearing
Feels like the fight is just too much
Some days it seems like no one’s caring
When all you needed was someone’s touch

Don’t let it drag you down
Get up – stand your ground
And when you look to me you’ll find
I still think you shine

You still can shine
Yeah, you will shine

The Nature of Beauty

In beauty, I walk.
With beauty before me, I walk.
With beauty behind me, I walk.
With beauty above me, I walk.
With beauty below me, I walk.
With beauty all around me, I walk.
With beauty within me, I walk.
It is finished in beauty.
-- Navajo Pollen Path Chant

There is said to beauty in all things, and I wholeheartedly agree. But, what is beauty? How objective or subjective is it? Merriam-Webster defines beauty as:

1. the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit : loveliness
2. a beautiful person or thing; especially : a beautiful woman
3. a particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality

The first interpretation of this word lends us a handful of clues to its nature. The quality or qualities of someone or something that pleases you can be beautiful. A person who goes out of their way to help others is said to be a beautiful person. Someone who possesses an above average intellect is said to have a beautiful mind. We can’t deny our natural animal instincts in this endeavor either. A physically attractive individual is also very beautiful, but their beauty to others may be debatable. The importance lies, I believe, in the personal truth that they are beautiful to you.

It can also be said that someone or something that reflects the true nature of the Force in them is beautiful. A work of art or pieces of poetry can, indeed, possess the capability of lifting your mind and sense of spirit to a higher harmony and understanding. In reading several of Lao Tzu’s sonnets in the Tao Te Ching, you can uncover a depth and breadth of work that exalts both the mind and spirit. You can peer into the works of Rembrandt and discover grace and excellence in his craft and technique. Where then can we find the beauty in all things around us?

The Navajo, like their other Native brethren, are very in tune with nature and their environment. The fiery colors of a sunrise exalts their spirits. The winding river and the curves of the natural rock spires fill them with a sense of awe and wonder. A simple walk through the forest reveals the beauty in Mother Nature’s design. In examining the leaves and branches of a mighty oak tree, you will find that no two leaves are exactly identical. Yet, all of this massive complexity was derived from a simple acorn. The bird’s song from high in the boughs, the grace and elegance of the stag in the meadow – all of these things reflected the beautiful designs of a power greater than us. It is because of these ideas that Native Americans hold nature as a higher power over man than the other way around, as we think of it. When we take the time to stop and smell the roses, we will begin to experience the first steps on walking the Pollen Path as well.

A Blessing

When there is hopelessness,
May the Force bring you comfort
Where there is fear,
May the Force bring courage

Where there is disdain,
May the Force bring humility
When there is solitude
May the Force bring you fellowship

Where there is emptiness,
May the Force show you purpose
Wherever your life may lead you,
May the Force be with you always