Negativity and the Path

It has become an increasingly-common occurrence that individuals on this forum set out to quash negativity. And, in an increasingly-ironic fashion, those people use negativity to shame such negativity. To point out, for example, that a "rant" thread doesn't belong in a Jedi Temple is a personal opinion, not everyone will share. To rant, repeatedly, about the existence of such a thread is an object lesson in the true nature of negativity: it always exists. Even in those who try to stamp it out.

To suggest that negativity is not wanted, desired, necessary, or natural to the Jedi path is to fundamentally misunderstand the nature of duality or the cathartic aims that such exercises warrant. There is a time for everything under heaven; a time for joy and a time to weep. To deny the transition is to ignore the necessity of these mutually-dependent opposite forces and strip away any framework or frame of reference for practical applications of the Jedi path to everyday life.

Negativity is part of live. Ranting in a thread is more suited than rants running wild on the forums everywhere.. If the rant thread would be gone I would not miss it. But I can not think about any negativity it has brought for the temple. What are the consequences if this topic would be gone?

~ Aqua

Negative does not equal evil. Ask an Electrician.

i find it depressing that so many people are unable to glean the message because they dont like the tone

I rather like that thread:

1. it's amusing.

2. it shows that none of us (even those we respect the most) is flawless yet.

3. what better way to regain perspective than to blow it out somewhere? it's better than doing it at the person you're really mad at

4. it gives the negativity that is natural to everyone from time to time a place to be, rather than it just rearing its head everywhere in the forum xD

If I had to choose between the two, I'd choose being positive because it feels more productive, but that doesn't mean there isn't a place for both. You have to critique a thing before you can start fixing it!

Negativity is a fact of life. To quote that wonderful piece of wisdom. "Shit happens"

Its not about squashing anything, because to deny a negative feeling or experience is delusional. The concern that I and others have over that thread is about focus.... and attachment.



and PS. its meant to be ironic. Makes me giggle.

Actually, I'm all for the rant thread ... Like I said at its inception, 'tis like our version of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

It would just be nice if we could post something that we are grateful about - no matter how small - in that dedicated thread whenever we have had to rant. If you ask the same electrician, he'll tell you that the negative doesn't go anywhere without the positive ... If we really want that thread to work, we should probably close the circuit rather than short the circuit.

It feels as though we would be wiser to seek balance, not to quash negativity. And even a 'relative' balance is better than toppling over ....

I did not give attention to grateful thread before today. At all. Thank you, Alexandre, for pointing out.

Constructive: personally, I'll keep an eye on my balance now. Ratio of rant thread posts to grateful thread posts is a good index.

I don't know if it was done on purpose or not, but in episode II, Attack of the Clones, you have a very important moment that foretells the fall of the Jedi Order:

Padme: To be angry is to be human.
Anakin: I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this.

Thinking that we are somehow superior or immune to negative emotions is the fastest way to becoming a slave to our dark side. Darkness is created when we refuse to know ourselves.

About the ranting topic, never used it ever.. I enjoy grateful topics, Alexandre, but I always feel so difficult to be grateful about even the smallest things in a topic far away from the action... I rather keep my gratefulness with me to say it directly to a person, rather than to put in in a thread, no offence for your point of view of course. :blush:
I find it unique to read people their problems trough the rant tread though. It shapes the way we understand each other.

Seeing how I am often perceived as and arguably are in many cases rather negative myself, yet on the other hand having stayed out of particularly the rant thread until now, my opinion may be biased irrespective of where I lean. That being disclaimed, I do sympathize with both sides here. Yes, on the other hand, blowing off steam (:silly:) is important and helpful and natural, but when the discussion becomes about what is or isn't Jedi, there are understandings under which to oppose critical or indeed outright negative expressions gets rather intuitive.
The embrace of conflict as means for improvement, the embrace of our natural urges and emotions and outbursts thereof as a means of maintaining balance are, both in the fiction and to different extents in the real world also, closer to being hallmarks of Sith philosophy, if any. Now, there is nothing wrong with that, and I imagine that most who will cry about how negative someone is being for not pretending to be happy when they are in fact frustrated, are seldom deep understanders of matters Sith or Jedi, fictional or real, or are good at discerning what aspects of which are actually helpful things to be adopting for oneself... Nonetheless, the objection that some things shrugged off as negativity - whether they are that or not - are arguably somewhat out of place in a Jedi's path or Temple, is not illegitimate across the board and should, time permitting, be observed case by case.

The art of knowing when negative is positive, and positive is negative :pinch:
Perhaps that is the art of discernment!?

Negativity, there is no where more needed of positive than when we reach that point. I don't seek out negative but do not run from it. Rather ,
I take time to add the chance to add the positive . No fair saying I need to be more positive but never add anything positive when it's needed. Often times when given negativity , the opposite can be given with better result than adding ore negative. I think of times like that as a oppertunity to practice my positive. Stretch the old JEDI bones and teachings lol . When I do that or see that way negativity doesn't seem so bad but actually a moment to look forward and prepare for .

Steamboat starts a thread about the health benefits of letting off steam, and I'm unsure whether this is genuine medical advice or just an elaborate fart joke :laugh:

ren wrote: Steamboat starts a thread about the health benefits of letting off steam, and I'm unsure whether this is genuine medical advice or just an elaborate fart joke :laugh:

My deepest apologies for my provoking question :blush: Did not expect to change the whole topic with it..

As a frequent user of the rant thread I can tell you I'd much rather someone see the negativity and get myself a chance to express something that I'm struggling with, than keep it in and keep others happy.
Sometimes just writing down how I feel relieves a lot of the burden.
Negativity has a place.

maybe it's the fact it's called a "rant thread"? which is often associated with whining. Where as the intention was "expression". The thing is that there is no difference to really make but sometimes language can be a barrier, and from reading the thread, myself, that is the conclusion I drew from the disagreement. Whining, bitching, ranting etc can be unhealthy. Though the thread was an invitation to do that, I got the sense it was also an invitation to express feelings that maybe people didn't feel free to express. After coming out of a "young love" engagement which ended really badly, I never spoke about it, and I can see how much that really hurt and weighed me down.

Which is also why I agree with the idea of posting in the gratitude thread because the one thing that kept me sane was that though I my engagement was over and I felt really alone, remembering I had friends and family there and things to do with my life, motivated me and made it so much easier to get up every morning.

Balance is best, and that's impossible without negativity.

As someone who has occasionally used the rant thread, I have to say that I think I still believe it's a great idea. Venting can be very beneficial and I personally rely on it (not necessarily the thread, but venting in general). That said: I think Alexandre is making a great point: keeping a balance is a good thing - so having a rant / venting moment followed by taking the time to express one's gratitude is a great exercise. I'll try to express gratitude in the respective thread whenever I post in the rants thread from now on

Nothing wrong with a little rant now and then... as said below, it's all about balance.

Repetition is a cornerstone of training.

That includes our perspective.