Light or Shadow?

That is an awesome picture.

I'm sure Doragon Reklaw (now Khaos of the Sith?) appreciates the credit.

Different people entirely. Doragon Reklaw goes by a different name now.

And that is?

Regardless....

A good saying is a good saying....

As I was waking, this thread popped back into my head....

When I joined, there were few senior embers active...

No knights or apprentices... Br. John and GM Kana Seiko Haruki were the only people keeping this site moving... edit: so it appeared to me, although, Im sure the other members were just the quiet members like we still have on the Council...

This thread was started about "what color we were", a touch debated in forums accross the internet... Then, in a latter post wediscussed our evolution as Jedi...

We here at TOTJO have evolved past the "color difference"...

The majority of us here could care less if a person is light/dark, or Jedi/Sith...

What we do care about is the intelligence behind the screen name...

We will continue to have this discussion for a long time to come... But, it is fruitless... Everyone "wants to know who they are", would like to, and are trying to, "define" or "find" themselves...

Looking for "enlightenment"...

We learn in our lessons here how this dividing of the human race has not benefitted us as a species... Well, actually, the division has helped further our evolution, but at the cost of our forgetting our kinship to the earth, and each other...

We all agree that we are not perfect...

But hanging out on internet forums is helping... With the mental... Not the physical....

V-Tog and i were discussing clearance for working with children, too long ago... Background clearance that the government does to be a teacher... A good thing for a youth advisor, which I am, but have never pondered getting cleared to do... I have been wondering how to do it... I am going to be making calls soon, I have an idea where to start....

The first aid and CPR brought up in this thread, are also great ideas, and i agree it is important for ALL people to know... I still wouldn't require it of Jedi though....

We, here at TOTJO, overall, recognize our differences and embrace them... You focus on what you think is important... And once qualified by TOTJO standards (not a hard thing to do), then offer support for it here....

We all became Jedi because something was missing... We didn't like others telling us how to define ourselves....

And evident from this thread, we still don't....

Jestor wrote: Everyone "wants to know who they are", would like to, and are trying to, "define" or "find" themselves...

I know who I am, don't need to find myself.

Jestor wrote: Looking for "enlightenment"...

I don't care for enlightenment, it's overrated and keeps you from really experiencing life.

Jestor wrote: We learn in our lessons here how this dividing of the human race has not benefitted us as a species... Well, actually, the division has helped further our evolution, but at the cost of our forgetting our kinship to the earth, and each other...

Division has also helped establish a great deal of good. I wouldn't let a psychologist perform surgery on me.

Believe it or not, one of the most inspiring things I've ever witnessed was the communication between spiritual leaders of varying faiths. The respect between them for their dedication and movement towards the same goals (improving the world around them through their traditions) was the most wonderful thing I ever witnessed. They recognized the differences between them, and each of those people encouraged their followers to find what worked for them best. They also let them know when they weren't aligned with their tradition. By telling them that they were not really living the life that they thought they were, the individual was released from the chains of that tradition and were able to grow the direction that best benefited them- and sometimes that meant following another path entirely.

Those were the types of teachers I'd love to see the Jedi get one day. The ones that have such a deep respect for their tradition and others that they can help someone find the path which is best for them while still turning out Jedi better than even themselves. So far, I've found two that are there, and two that are almost there (both happen to be really good friends). Those four are the people I look at and say "That is the sort of Jedi I want to be".

Jestor wrote: But hanging out on internet forums is helping... With the mental... Not the physical....

I can't disagree with this statement. It would be rather difficult to use the internet to physically travel. lol.

Jestor wrote: The first aid and CPR brought up in this thread, are also great ideas, and i agree it is important for ALL people to know... I still wouldn't require it of Jedi though....

I would, if for no other reason than the fact that even if you are in situation where you can't do anything physically, you can direct someone on how to preform first aide. It helps give you the confidence to move in the middle of a crisis because you have a base knowledge of what to do, rather than letting your mind rush through scenarios before you can get your legs to move. You don't feel helpless to a situation.

We, here at TOTJO, overall, recognize our differences and embrace them... You focus on what you think is important... And once qualified by TOTJO standards (not a hard thing to do), then offer support for it here....

Jestor wrote: We all became Jedi because something was missing... We didn't like others telling us how to define ourselves....

Actually, no, I don't mind people defining who I am. And I, in fact, prefer that those who do know the philosophy and path hold me accountable for walking my path. It re-enforces the fact that the path is suppose to be upheld, walked and continually cultivated.

But that's just me.

Alethea Thompson wrote:

Jestor wrote: Everyone "wants to know who they are", would like to, and are trying to, "define" or "find" themselves...

I know who I am, don't need to find myself.

Me too... So I guess I'll stop trying post in this thread...

Jestor wrote: Looking for "enlightenment"...

I don't care for enlightenment, it's overrated and keeps you from really experiencing life.

Really? You have already found it then? I am still looking... lol...

Jestor wrote: We learn in our lessons here how this dividing of the human race has not benefitted us as a species... Well, actually, the division has helped further our evolution, but at the cost of our forgetting our kinship to the earth, and each other...

Division has also helped establish a great deal of good. I wouldn't let a psychologist perform surgery on me.

As I had said...

Believe it or not, one of the most inspiring things I've ever witnessed was the communication between spiritual leaders of varying faiths. The respect between them for their dedication and movement towards the same goals (improving the world around them through their traditions) was the most wonderful thing I ever witnessed. They recognized the differences between them, and each of those people encouraged their followers to find what worked for them best. They also let them know when they weren't aligned with their tradition. By telling them that they were not really living the life that they thought they were, the individual was released from the chains of that tradition and were able to grow the direction that best benefited them- and sometimes that meant following another path entirely.

Those were the types of teachers I'd love to see the Jedi get one day. The ones that have such a deep respect for their tradition and others that they can help someone find the path which is best for them while still turning out Jedi better than even themselves. So far, I've found two that are there, and two that are almost there (both happen to be really good friends). Those four are the people I look at and say "That is the sort of Jedi I want to be".

I can understand that.. Sounds wonderful..

Jestor wrote: The first aid and CPR brought up in this thread, are also great ideas, and i agree it is important for ALL people to know... I still wouldn't require it of Jedi though....

I would, if for no other reason than the fact that even if you are in situation where you can't do anything physically, you can direct someone on how to preform first aide. It helps give you the confidence to move in the middle of a crisis because you have a base knowledge of what to do, rather than letting your mind rush through scenarios before you can get your legs to move. You don't feel helpless to a situation.

Jestor wrote: We, here at TOTJO, overall, recognize our differences and embrace them... You focus on what you think is important... And once qualified by TOTJO standards (not a hard thing to do), then offer support for it here....

We all became Jedi because something was missing... We didn't like others telling us how to define ourselves....

Actually, no, I don't mind people defining who I am. And I, in fact, prefer that those who do know the philosophy and path hold me accountable for walking my path. It re-enforces the fact that the path is suppose to be upheld, walked and continually cultivated.

But that's just me.

I dont mind it either... They are just words... Call me what you will... If I am engaged in the conversation, I will defend my position....

But, when that someone tries to get me to think the same way, and I dont, I have to disagree...

Anyone can, and will define anything they want... In anyway they want...

However, earlier, I showed you a picture of myself, showing what makes me a Jedi, to me...

And you were not satisfied with that answer... So, you keep trying to pigeon hole me, light/dark... When, I keep telling you, I have moved past the labels, and it is merely myself...

Im not a Jedi because of what you say, or how you define it...

I am because of what I say, and how I define it...

Hmmm, maybe I should just butt out, and let someone else gop for a while...

I gotta get caught up on my TOTJO related work... lol...:lol:

Actually, no, I don't mind people defining who I am. And I, in fact, prefer that those who do know the philosophy and path hold me accountable for walking my path. It re-enforces the fact that the path is suppose to be upheld, walked and continually cultivated.

But that's just me.

You do not stand alone.

The only reason I didn't like the answer, is because I hold you as one of those people on my list of "Jedi", and know you can make a better description

I just am really stuck on this topic...

lol, forgive me, my brain wont stop thinking about it... lol...

You know, as I was away, I got to thinking about what you are saying...

You keep saying to be a Jedi...

After further consideration, I think this is what I would refer to as a TOTJO Knight...

I have three apprentices... All in better shape than myself...

One does the P90X... The other two are in the Army still...

So, one check each for their Body training...

Then, they are all working on the mental side...

One check each for the mental side...

Now, I can speak for every apprentice here, nor every knight, nor every master...

But, I would be willing to bet, that any of our members above apprentice, have had the extra training to which you refer... Prolly not all, but neither have all of the us completed the Initiates Program in its current shape, but, as we built it, and continue to modify, we still covered the material...

So, the further we exist, the longer we survive, the more we will grow in this direction...

One of our current apprentices, went from "doin yoga years ago" to now helping teach (if I remember right)...

Any can call themselves a Jedi... Look at all those independents who do... and merely because they want to be cool...

It takes dedication to be a Knight.... This, Alethea, is what you are, you are a knight (at a minimum)...

Dont you think?