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A person asked recently, "What is the end goal of this movement?"
The answer is abundantly clear: Illumination. Inner growth, Peace that comes from inner resolution and deepened understanding. A theology that embraces what we consider to be the golden thread of universal truth that runs through every major religion and theology. A means to promote inner and world peace. A path that can lead to the Light, embraced by many on differing levels of commitment and devotion, whether within our organization, or following other religions and incorporating Jedi beliefs into their own theological cup.
Buildings are just that: buildings, Believers truly carry the teachings of Jediism in their hearts - the true inner temple. Whether or not buildings are constructed to house communities wishing to worship, exercising their freedom of religion on the faith of their choice will be up to the collective destinies of each free will choice to serve in way that is most appropriate to them.
For now the basic direction we have received is to construct and follow a feasible guide, or code, with which to honour and serve the Light, true to the ways of Jediism, of which this code is based.
It is not the intention of our organization to be yet another container for a whole of creation, yet another paradigm which limits the true release of the Force, and interfere with the soul becoming One with the Will of the Force. That is counterproductive and would not allow the growth of the theology of Jediism. We offer an alternative to the many religions and philosophical movements that are available, and it is our solemn belief that Jediism is soon forming into a viable religion and inner faith to lead those willing to submit themselves firmly upon the path of knowledge to what we call a spiritual renaissance which can take the Jedi much higher into the world of spirit and embrace much higher truths than any that were ever conjured up from the science fiction series.
The journey we call life is a vast array of perpetual challenges. Souls choose their own particular destiny and path by the alliances they keep. We believe that Jediism CAN offer the soul a viable religion in which to serve the Light, and it is to that end that we serve and pay homage to, embraced by the following Jedi Code:
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21 Maxims of the Jediism Code
I. Prowess
To seek excellence in all endeavors expected of a Jedi Knight, martial and otherwise, seeking strength to be used in the service of justice, rather than in personal aggrandizement. A Jedi strives to excel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually, and can put these in motion instantly. This requires discipline, patience and perfect practice, for a Jedi is always mindful of what lies behind and what lies ahead, and prepares for the encounter with his destiny. A Jedi Knight engages in the battle to be victorious - on whatever front he is faced with in the modern world.
II. Justice
Seek always the path of 'right', unencumbered by bias or personal interest. Recognize that the sword of justice can be a terrible thing, so it must be tempered by humanity and mercy. If the 'right' you see agrees with others, and you seek it out without bending to the temptation for expediency, then you will earn renown beyond measure. Meditate often upon the Force as a means to discern justice, as well as discerning both good and evil.
III. Loyalty
Be known for unwavering commitment to the people and ideals you choose to live by. There are many places where compromise is expected; loyalty is not amongst them. Jedi can exist in this universe because the Force exists. But the Jedi Order needs more: it requires loyalty. It goes without saying that Jedi should be loyal to one another. They should not squabble or fight. More importantly, though, each Jedi should be aware that he must act in accordance with the wishes of his Master, who must in turn act in accordance with the wishes of the Jedi Council. This is not a question of seniority, but rather of understanding the will of the Force, and in this regard, the members of the Jedi Council are wise council indeed.
IV. Defense
The ideal Jedi Knight is sworn by oath to defend the Light.. Seek always to defend your nation, your family, and those to whom you believe worthy of loyalty.
V. Courage
Being a Jedi Knight often means choosing the more difficult path, the personally expensive one. Be prepared to make personal sacrifices in service of the precepts and people you value. At the same time, a Jedi Knight should seek wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie. Seek the truth whenever possible, but remember to temper justice with mercy, or the pure truth can bring grief. However, it must also be noted that to a Jedi, to be brave in battle proves nothing, as bravery itself proves nothing. A Jedi should be prepared to put aside fear, regret, and uncertainty and either act, retreat, surrender or perish.
VI. Faith
A Jedi Knight must have faith in his beliefs, for faith roots him and gives hope against the despair that human failings create. A Jedi's strength flows from the Force. A Jedi's faith is in the Light, and to the One from which it emanates, as his guidance, as his path, as his friend, and as his destiny. The path of Jedi is a path of inner illumination and the conquering of the lesser self, that the Greater Inner Self, better known as Jedi, may in turn take dominion over the life purpose and destiny of the Outer Self, or Jedi, who resides in the physical.
VII. Humility
Value first the contributions of others; do not boast of your own accomplishments, let others do this for you. Tell the deeds of others before your own, according them the renown rightfully earned through virtuous deeds. In this way the office of Jedi Knighthood is well done and glorified, helping not only the gentle spoken of but also all who call themselves Jedi Knights.
VIII. Fearlessness
Fear leads to the Darkside. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering. There is so much superstition and hypocrisy around that one is afraid even to do the right thing. But if one gives way to fear, even truth will have to be suppressed. The golden rule is to act fearlessly upon what one believes to be right. Fearlessness does not mean arrogance or aggressiveness. That in itself is a sign of fear. Fearlessness presupposes calmness and peace of mind. For this, it is necessary to have a living faith in the Light. He who has awakened his spirit to the Light is free from fear. Fear lies in illusions in the mind. Listen always to the still small voice within - commune within by meditation, both moving and sitting still. Practice courage until it becomes who you are. Practice equinimity, which is to experience changes and be unmoved - a mountain of being remains unmoved. When fear is displaced within, ALWAY replace it with Light. Nature abhors a vacuum.
IX. Nobility
Seek great stature of character by holding to the virtues and duties of a Jedi Knight, realizing that though the ideals cannot be reached, the quality of striving towards them ennobles the spirit, growing the character from dust towards the heavens. Nobility also has the tendency to influence others, offering a compelling example of what can be done in the service of rightness.
X. Franchise
Seek to emulate everything here as sincerely as possible, not for the reason of personal gain but because it is right. Do not restrict your exploration to a small world, but seek to infuse every aspect of your life with these qualities. Should you succeed in even a tiny measure then you will be well remembered for your quality and virtue. Using the Force for selfish purposes --- self-gain, egotism, even convenience --- crosses the boundary between the light and the dark sides.
XI. Pure Motive
It is true that actions speak louder than words. However, behind every action is motive and a purpose. Without a sound motive and purpose, action has no meaning, no destination, and lacks a foundation. Action without motive and purpose does nothing other than to move for the sake of moving, beating the air to appear to doing something, when in fact is doing nothing, the proverbial spinning wheels in the mud. A Jedi moves with the Force. He meditates upon the Will of the Force. A Jedi's actions are firmly based upon a deep motivation to serve the Force of Light, and is deeply rooted in purpose. There is no wasted movement, or the need for action when none is required, for to a Jedi, action means nothing without a pure motive, or a sound purpose.
XII. Discipline
A Jedi's mind is a calm ocean, like a sea of glass. He realizes that it is in conquering the tides of the emotions as well as reactions to stimulus that allows the Jedi to be victorious in all things, for he is chalice for the Force, an extension of the Will of the Force. This inner stillness requires much discipline: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. A Jedi by nature is highly disciplined in all levels of his being, that in the fiery moment where the Force must be released to defend self or others who deserve that loyalty, the action is a clear extension of many years of training and inner discipline.
XIII. Focus
A Jedi Knight's focus is in the moment, in the now, realizing that the stylus of time cuts in the present, and that history is perpetually in the making. A Jedi Knight realizes that past is important, as well as the future, working to develop the spiritual faculties to perceive and discern such, but not at the expense of the present, of the here and now.
XIV. Discretion
It is sometimes necessary for a Jedi to practice discretion. Jedis do not actively interfere with the lives of the common people. Jedi stand for order and justice; however, Jedis prioritize and streamline their involvement, and do not allow the misdeeds of the few to interfere with the conscious direction received as to the Will of the Force and how their office as Jedi helps brings these into fruition. The goal of the Jedi should be to create and preserve an atmosphere where justice can flourish, rather than try to create justice themselves. A byword of Jedi could be, "I may not always agree with your choices, but I will defend your right to choose with my very life."
XV. Meditation
"Every Jedi should spend time meditating each day on the will of the Force. The reason for this is simple: if one has unwittingly acted contrary to the will of the Force, recognising the mistake soon after may still give one time to make amends." By regularly examining one's own motivations, a Jedi could be certain that she was not allowing emotion, ignorance, or passion to intrude upon their clarity. A Jedi who has no time to meditate may more easily become lost. More to the point, a Jedi who refuses to meditate may already know that her motivations are not pure, and is thus lying to herself. "The Jedi who heeds not the counsel of the Force, to the Dark Side listens." Because a Jedi is an integral component of the Light side, it is therefore a prudent practice for the Jedi to also meditate upon the luminous essence of being (the inner light) at least once a day, which purifies the mind, motives and direction.
XVI. Training
A Jedi's training in the Force never ends. A wise Jedi should strive to remember that there is always something more to learn about the Force. The Force reveals itself to those who have the desire and knowledge to see it, and merely heeding the Force's will is much the same as looking at an elephant's toe and saying: "Now I understand elephants." To continue to grow, a Jedi should train each day.
XVII. Integrity
A Jedi's responsibility to the Force is to be honest with himself. As long as the Jedi is not acting for his own self-interest and observes the Code, he is obeying the will of the Force. A Jedi can and should offer advice to those who need it. From a certain point of view, a Jedi is not being dishonest if he allows people to believe what they wish to believe. It is not incumbent upon the Jedi to convince anyone to follow his advice. When a Jedi is serving the Force, he may allow others to believe what they will, as long as he does so with a righteous aim. Do not confuse this with "moral flexibility." A Jedi does what needs to be done. But also remember that a Jedi is not above the law.
XVIII. Morality
Jedi Knights practice noninterference with differing cultures and while Jedi can bring or restore order and justice, they do not themselves sit in judgment of others as a rule. Judgment leads to vengeance, and vengeance leads to the Dark Side.Therefore, as a rule, Jedis are not enforcers of morality per se. However, at the same time, while not judges, Jedi can be mediators. It is a role they are suited for, and one that works in accordance with the Force since mediation leads to balance.
XIX. Engaging in Conflict
Conflict is a fact of life in the galaxy for far too many beings, and no Jedi can hope to remain apart from it. But a Jedi need not embrace conflict. "If a weapon you show, 'A warrior am I!' you say. And who is best must all other warriors know of you." So, to avoid unnecessary fighting, a Jedi should not advertise his skill. But when is it necessary to actively engage in conflict? The Force will show a Jedi when he has no other options, and a wise Jedi trusts the Force in this regard.
XX. Intervention
A Jedi Knight must not allow evil to take place once they become aware of its working. To remain aloof in situations where a Jedi's intervention would prevent the dark side from attaining another foothold is the same as helping it do so. This a Jedi Knight must never do. A True Jedi Knight must constantly be wary of his path, making certain he does not stray toward the dark side, but remains firm in the light. Therefore, when the situation warrants it, the Jedi acts as an extension of the Will of the Force, and is therefore sponsored and backed by that Will.
XXI. Harmonizing
The Path of the Jedi Knight is more than just a system of techniques for controlling, sensing, and altering the Force. It is a deep spiritual ideology of existence, a deeply meaningful and moving panoramic journey and path of the soul and spirit to fully embrace the Light, in which the individual sees his true nature as a part of a larger whole, and claims his own rightful place in the symbiotic whole of the way of things. A Jedi seeks to live in harmony with the universe, focusing on the most serious and intent discipline and gained spherical awareness to reach his goal. There are inherent temptations that seem to create conflict between nature and the mind, which mistakenly urge the Jedi to fall onto easier paths. This the Jedi strives to avoid at all costs, no matter how dear or how tempting. A Jedi should focus his efforts on creating harmony between all beings. They detest violence of any sort; and reluctantly engage in resolving in combat as a last resort when other attempts at conflict resolution have failed.
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Jedi's Vow: "I am Jedi in my heart, and I am Jedi in my mind, Jedi in my soul, Jedi in my spirit, and Jedi in all that I do. I choose the path of Jedi as a way and means to the Light, to illumination. inner peace, calmness and resolution of spirit, and my profound allegiance to the Light. I vow to uphold the sayings here, and hereby devote my life to the cause of Jedi, on this day and date, ______________, that I in turn may earn the right to be called a true Jedi Knight, and will defend and honor the Light for which I serve."
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Jediism Maxims: When Engaging in Conflict
1. Conquer the self and you will conquer the opponent.��
2. The mind unmoved by external distraction produces physical mobility.
3. Mental bearing (calmness), not skill, is the sign of a matured Jedi, who is neither pompous nor arrogant
4. Conquering evil, not the opponent, is the essence of a Jedi victory.�
5. An unpolished crystal does not shine; an undisciplined Jedi does not have brilliance. A Jedi should cultivate his mind.
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A Higher Commitment to a Higher Order
Order of Jedi Priests Commitment:
On this day and date, __________, I, __________ choose to follow the path of the Jedi Knights, to embrace it with all my heart, to serve it and uphold its tenets, that I myself may be counted among the faithful and true.
I recognize the Force as being the golden thread of Light that ties together the truths of every major religion, philosophy, and meditative path. My quest is for illumination, and my service is to the Light side of the Force, the good, of which the Light comprises and which I fully embrace, uphold, serve and defend.
My path is not for personal gain, but for the Collective Will of the Force, of which I am a part. The path of Jedi is not a path of egotism, but through surrender to the Light Side of the Force, I in turn become strong with it.
Balance of the Force does not include attempts to simultaneously serve good and evil. I renounce my allegiance to the Dark Side and the collective evil thereof. I obey the laws of the land. If I disagree with any of them, I can therefore choose to enact lawful means to change them through gaining public support and through legislation - never through violence or breaking laws "for the greater good." Harming others to support a mindset of this kind breaks the code of conduct, and is grounds for termination and banishment from our bands.
I will never use what I have learned through the Jediism to harm others. If I am forced to defend myself, I shall, yet I acknowledge that the way of the Force is to defend - NEVER to attack. Altercations and violent misuse of the Force that compromise the tenets of this code can be contested in conference with the High Council, but it will be the final decision of the High Council as to any formal reprimand and/or banishment. I will never use the skills and knowledge of the Light Side to later serve the darkness. This betrayal of confidence shall insure banishment and the stripping of any title, rank or recognition. It is the highest form of dishonour.
I recognize and accept that a true Jedi will always strive to exercise tolerance and discourage fanaticism. I accept that social bigotry is a form of fanaticism - fanaticism is born of fear, "fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering." Although I do not necessarily condon or condemn other religions or diverse lifestyles, I do hereby renounce bigotry and fanaticism, which I recognize is based on hate. I abhor terrorism, hate crimes, the violation of women, murder, and robbery. I agree that murder is the highest crime. I choose to serve the Light - not the Darkness which promote such in the mind and heart of the perpetrators who do such heinous and cowardly acts.
The Ways of the Light Side of the Force are Light, compassion, honor, humility, courage, and loyalty to the cause of Light. I choose this path and serve it with all my heart, mind and soul. My allegiance is to the Light.
If recommended by the High Council, I will submit to a teacher which the Council endorses to learn of the Ways of the Force, to become a Jedi Knight and uphold the tenets of my organization.
� 2001 Jediism Organization. All rights reserved
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