Light or Shadow?

That's favoritism, and its illegal!

Andy Spalding wrote: One must confront and overcome their dark side. The dark side of ourselves is not taboo and to be avoided. That is what leads to the wash of superficial weak lightsiders in the community right now, they are told to avoid the dark side at all costs.

It is easy to never fall when you have never been tried. Do as William says, learn about your darker side and overcome it if you want to be a light sider.

Luke did it metaphorically in the cave on dagobah. AND he even failed.

This guy actually has the right idea, and I'm not just saying that because he agreed with me. Rather than have a verbal pissing contest with the resident darksiders, learn from them. The truly wise man can find lessons from all manner of men, for all manner of men have all manner of experiences and abilities.

^^ Yes, we are proud to have Andy on the team.

The iPad I am using is the first one to ever be used in Japan (we got it the day it came out in America, and then left for Tokyo a few hours later)...that's the only thing that makes this iPad 1 special.

Lol, it's not favoritism, it's a challenge

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"2) Jestor, what your telling me is that this community is merely a Force Realist order, and not a Jedi Order. That's fine, FA is a Force Realist board with three different "orders" within it. So I don't have a problem with it, however, I want to hear how YOU (as a person) are a Jedi. No blanket statements, tell me how Jestor is a Jedi. ^^"

A Jedi is a Jedi because of their actions. Their deeds define what others label them as. The observer by witnessing the deeds decides if that person meets their personal belief of what a Jedi is. We can each call ourselves whatever we wish, but that title/label is only true to your Self. Others see something different when they look at you and that may or may not agree with what you label yourself as.

I am a Jedi Knight at the Temple of the Jedi Order because I took a Vow before my fellow Jedi that I chose to walk the Jedi Path, professed my allegiance to the Force, uphold the teachings and devote my life to walk the Path of a Jedi. And I walk that Path as I vowed I would.

“This above all: To thine own self be true.”

Other people will decide whether I am a Jedi or not by their observations of my actions and deeds.

I'm a Dark Aspect Apprentice and Sith Initiate at the Temple of the Jedi Order because I seek to learn more about the community and the people within it because there are lessons to be learned everywhere.

YAY!!!! Now I definitely know I'll recognize you when we meet (which will hopefully be soon, still need to talk with someone about getting a room to teach my class in Chicago come November-I'd love to have you there for the meet up)^^ (also, as a side note- Althea is the name that Callista used for a long time. Specifically Kara Althea. It's not that I don't like the name, but I don't feel I have reached the point where I can call myself a healer [which is what Althea means in Greek]. Alethea, however, is derived from the Greek name/word Alethiea- which means truth and was a goddess that helped people with their memory problems....oddly enough...I'm the most forgetful person I know...*hangs head* I blame it on the absence of the "i" in the name, lol)

Karn, that's a much better statement. Let me post what I did at the FA not long ago- perhaps this will help get the ball rolling:

What Makes You A.... wrote: I could tell you that I am Christian. But that doesn't make me Christian- not really. After I tell you that I am Christian, I could go further to say "I believe in the 10 Commandments, that Jesus is my savior, that he died on the cross for my sins, that you should practice communion at least once a year, etc"- this doesn't make me a Christian either. To tell you that I follow the Ten Commandments, pray daily and try to live my life in accordance with Christ's teachings is really a cop out answer as well.

So what makes me a Christian?

It's not church (I don't really attend, the closest church I can get along with costs me a full tank of gas to get to). It's how I live each moment, using it to glorify God by:

Being a good Samaritan when the opportunity arises.
Teaching others how to live in the world around them.
Becoming aware of the times when I falter from the ten commandments, recognizing them, making the correction and learning to overcome the obstacle that got me there in the first place.
Constantly learning how to place my faith in God.
Sowing seeds about God's word when I am meant to teach (and that one can be a very difficult task to discern).
Seeking understanding of God's Word, so that I can actively work to cultivate it.

So what about you, what are some of the things that make you a (insert word here)?

ALthough unjedi-like deeds show someone is not a jedi (or at least, not a very good one), I don't think a Jedi is defined by his actions, but by his beliefs. (i speak of jedi as in jediist).

A christian is someone who will normally believe in the christian god, in jesus being their savior, in the moral values of the bible, etc. Same goes for Jedi. Observance of the Force and belief in the validity of Jedi values.

"ALthough unjedi-like deeds show someone is not a jedi (or at least, not a very good one), I don't think a Jedi is defined by his actions, but by his beliefs. (i speak of jedi as in jediist).

A christian is someone who will normally believe in the christian god, in jesus being their savior, in the moral values of the bible, etc. Same goes for Jedi. Observance of the Force and belief in the validity of Jedi values."

Beliefs and actions should be synonymous. Or we would hope. Practice what you preach or walking the Path of a Jedi. If someone believes in the moral values of the Bible I would hope they would follow those values and let those values guide their deeds and actions in their day to day life.

Alethea, I really like this part of what you had posted: “Becoming aware of the times when I falter from the ten commandments, recognizing them, making the correction and learning to overcome the obstacle that got me there in the first place.” So many forget to do this part.

FraterDavid wrote: Hello, Master Jedi. I am honored by your response.

Jestor wrote:

Not true, we still love you...

I look forward to seeing how long that remains true...

Always and forever...

There are many people with whom I do not see eye to eye...

My biological sister, for example... I can barely tolerate her, but I do, because she is my sister, biologically, and throught the Force...

Disagreement does not mean dis-love... lol...

FraterDavid wrote:

Well said, and while many of us agree, its still opinion...
Everything is.....

However, I must respectfully disagree on the last two parts of your statement above.

We give words concrete meanings to increase the power of their use in our lives and thinking. Lax use of language leads to little in the way of inner transformation.

Lax meaning? Maybe just different understandings... They lead to most disagreements... Then, people get all indignant, thinking that they are talking about different things... When really it is the same object seen from different perspectives...

This is why words are sloppy... Especially English...

We keep making new words to try to communicate... And not just for the discussion of new things and ideas...

Look at olde english versus modern english...

FraterDavid wrote: Whenever you utter a word, whether you realize it or not, you are creating a field of attention within which consciousness is temporarily concentrated or "fenced" to facilitate organization, discernment, and resultant harmonious understanding. If that field of attention consists of nothing but chaos and ambiguity, then how is that in any way useful, except as an example of what to avoid? And how is such an assertion merely my opinion? It's how language has worked on a basic level since its inception. Prove me wrong.

Secondly, not everything is opinion. I am very surprised to see you assert otherwise. I would be willing to agree that everything is faith in the Force (the subject of a different discussion altogether), but not opinion. Quite a few things in life are a matter of verifiable fact, otherwise there would be no science and no reliably getting things done on a daily basis.

So far, science has observed things they way they are...

They have found patterns, and possibilites...

Just like the old facts, "earth is flat", "we will never fly", "that the Great Wall of China is the only human-made object visible from the Moon", these facts of science today are current observations...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_common_misconceptions#History

I stated my opinion, prove my opinion wrong...

My job isnt to convince you of anything...

It is to be the best me I can be...

To put it a different way, try walking in on the love of your life cheating on you, and tell me that your heartbreak and grief are merely your opinion. Try getting mugged and tell me your bruises and empty wallet are merely your opinions. Construing these events as negative would be opinion, but not the visceral realities of their occurrence.

Im something of a "word-twister"... So I apologize...

How would you feel about the love of my life cheating on me? Would it break your heart? I doubt it, even if you were to sympathize with me...

It is only my opinion it is a heartbreaking time... And, then only if I am concerned with the "self'... Even if you agree with me, it only means we share an opinion...

When I discovered my ex was cheating on me, I was of course, distraught... However, I quickly realized it was also my way out of a bad relationship... So did much of my family...

It was a personal fact that it was heartbreaking... Much like my belief in the Force...

And "heartbreaking" is not a physical description of the emotion... Someone else might have just said "sad"... You say, "You know what I meant", they say, "Yes, I know how I define 'heartbreaking', and apparently, we have different definitions..."

A personal fact, is an opinion...

The mugging is more tangible... Something physical to see and partake in...

Is it still a mugging if I give him my money freely?

I am finding it tougher to discuss this one... lol, I will have to get back on you to this one.. :laugh:

I realize the seriousness of making any statement and saying it's not just opinion. I did not do it lightly (no pun intended), nor do I intend to make a habit of it.

The particular statement of mine in question was not opinion but mysterium -- that which must be experienced in order to be understood. To those who have not yet had an experience, any perspectives attendant to that experience can seem inseparable from opinion.

Then again... I suppose any of the Admins here, experience notwithstanding, have a responsibility not to contribute to an atmosphere that would decrease membership by its specificity. To become consciously One with the Force, or in other words, to see Reality as it truly is (whatever that may be in the moment), we must first burn away the seeds of illusion.

David, I truly enjoy conversation.... Or, maybe it is the sound of my own voice... lol, either way, judging by that picture, it cant be my looks... lololol....

Have you ever heard the mathematical expression that, "if one part is false, the rest is called into question"?

Well, my sense have been fooled...

Magicians have fooled my eyes...

Hypnosis has fooled my sense of smell....

As two of my senses have been duped, so must all that my senses be called into question... As well as my thoughts on that information...

++++++++++
I agree that this physical world that we experience exists, what is the choice?

Sit in the dark, and wait for me to cease to exist?

lol...