Why are you here?

I have some questions of my own if I may? Please consider them as sincere questions in which I wonder about but don't know the answers to...

What are we expecting this temple to be in terms of what we go through around here?

Is the temple meant to be a void of personal challenges and situations, where we log on and everybody is always expected to be well collected, mature, zenful, and worthy of "high examples" at all times?

Or ought we to allow personal fallings/failings that come with being human, given that we support each other in learning from them constructively? Should the trails and tribulations in our natural lives (both on the individual level and on the larger community level) expected (or not) to be included as part of the things we experience and discuss as Jedi here?

When we log onto the site and see each other making threads about these kinds of issues and struggling with them, what is it that we are seeing? Are we seeing people being "unJedi-like" or are they being "human beings growing as Jedi through their trials and tribulations"?

I initially came here out of curiosity. I stayed and followed the IP and stuff to see where it led. I don't follow it anymore. I stay because there are a few people that I rather enjoy talking with. The forum discussions are sometimes interesting. Sometimes. It can get repetitive, though. This place has stagnated, from my perspective. So, I'm here for those few people I talk with. What more can I say?

Proteus wrote: I have some questions of my own if I may? Please consider them as sincere questions in which I wonder about but don't know the answers to...

What are we expecting this temple to be in terms of what we go through around here?

Is the temple meant to be a void of personal challenges and situations, where we log on and everybody is always expected to be well collected, mature, zenful, and worthy of "high examples" at all times?

Or ought we to allow personal fallings/failings that come with being human, given that we support each other in learning from them constructively? Should the trails and tribulations in our natural lives (both on the individual level and on the larger community level) expected (or not) to be included as part of the things we experience and discuss as Jedi here?

When we log onto the site and see each other making threads about these kinds of issues and struggling with them, what is it that we are seeing? Are we seeing people being "unJedi-like" or are they being "human beings growing as Jedi through their trials and tribulations"?

Great questions, Proteus. I don't think anyone expects this Temple to always be well collected, mature, and zenful, but I do believe that we should expect ourselves to maintain a standard for how we react to our moments of failing/falling. This is a place for challenge and growth, so there will be times when we butt heads about issues or become frustrated with each other. There will also be times when we forget that not everyone is at the same place along their path. This is okay, and I would go further by saying it is desired, so long as we don't allow the tribulations to take precedent over the training.

Cabur Senaar wrote: So, why do we settle for less?

Why do you feel we (or you) settle for less? For myself I never settle for less. I find this place to be exactly what I require it to be anytime I require it. This is also not the only "place" that I seek these things. We can find ourselves engaged in any number of other pursuits that would provide the same fulfillment. This is not the only game in town, so to speak, and it is also not one that needs to be, or should be, pursued with exclusivity. It is my (each of ours) responsibility to make this so - the idea that we fulfill ourselves every day no matter what we find ourselves engaged in. If you find yourself "settling for less" then maybe its not the place that is the issue but yourself.

Why do we settle for less

As we stumble,
in the dark
only beacons of light
in your eyes
lead me into
your warm embrace

Exposed
Imperfect
Vulnerable

Alive for the first time

Senan wrote: but I do believe that we should expect ourselves to maintain a standard for how we react to our moments of failing/falling.

I agree. I asked these questions because it makes me wonder if our expectations of people here influence our reactions. I don't think this is necessarily a matter of "lowered expectations", as much as "learning the nature and consequences of our expectations". If we log into the temple with the mindset that everyone really ought to be great jedi, then our reaction when we aren't will be negative. Some will indeed say "I don't expect everyone to be perfect", but I tend to get the impression that many don't completely believe that. Wishful thinking happens.

I am here to see that I am not the only one who is going through a hero's journey. When I see others who struggle just as I do, I learn that my falterings aren't as bad as I tend to want to tell myself they are (with the delusion that everyone else around me has it figured out, when they don't). If I had no indication that shortcomings are as common and expected as they are, I would feel little to no faith and thus motivation that I can grow through it.

I originally came here out of curiosity, I am part of a spiritual organization and we were discussing modern religions. I became interested and fascinated as many of the beliefs here were also shared my own personal practices. Even though I see Jediism more as a lifestyle than a religion, it doesn't change that after 2 years here, I still believe in what the Jedi stand for and in the people I have met.

It is also nice to have a group of like-minded people here to be with.

Senan wrote: but I do believe that we should expect ourselves to maintain a standard for how we react to our moments of failing/falling.

I think this is important. There are some moments here where I see people guided more by their reactions and initial feelings than their wisdom, which I know they possess. We should hold ourselves to a higher standard, not because we aren't going to fail but because we are striving to be our True Self. Many are here to change themselves, well that is work and sometimes hard work. We are going to fall from time to time, but we have to get back on our feet a little stronger every time.

I came here searching for a sense of belonging and out of a sense of curiosity. My late grandmother loved Star Wars, I wasn't much of a fan (I am now) but checked out this site one day when I missed her particularly strongly.

I had come out as transgender and half my family disowned me. Being plagued by repeated visits to the isolation unit (I have an under developed immune system) at the hospitals... It all made me feel really lonely and unwanted. I also felt disconnected to the religion I was raised in due to my family rejection of me. So I reached out to google and experimented a few different religions and online communities and 1-2 years later, I ended up here.