The Jedi are selfless

[Fiach Dubh]

“If you would just follow the Code, you would be on the Council.”
― Obi-Wan Kenobi, to Qui-Gon Jinn

Fiach had just finished her morning run though the jungle. She was an early bird and seemed to rely on less sleep than the average Padawan. She saw the exercise as serving many uses. It kept her fit for a start – and always ran in her robes, given the need to run won’t always afford you the chance to change into something more comfortable and some running shoes. Next, she used to it practice her Jedi skills, more often than not basic powers, enhancing her speed or leaping a greater distance. Thirdly, she used the time to reflect on things she’d learned the day before. To look at the wisdom from different angles, to better understand not just what was said, but what was meant. Often there was a second, deeper meaning, and Fiach found the runs the best way to see these subliminal messages. Often the teachers were so inscrutable, it took up to a week to decipher what the true learning was meant to be. At least for Fiach that was.

Today she was turning over something that had been troubling her for a few weeks. The teachings of the Jedi were not optional and although freedom of thought was encouraged in terms of helping the Padawan to better understand teachings, the fact that no other student had questioned the lesson suggested to Fiach that she was alone in her thoughts. Had she misunderstood? Had everyone else misunderstood? Was she wrong not to have asked then and there? Usually, a day or so of reflection whilst running resolved the issue. But here she was, fifteen days later and no closer to an answer that satisfied her inner turmoil.

She sat on a tree stump near the temple and took out a flask. It contained her usual breakfast – a high-protein and slow energy release drink, the consistency of oatmeal. To her, this was fuel and saw no point in looking for food that was pretty to look at or tasted particularly special.

She closed her eyes and contemplated the knotty problem she’d not been able to resolve on her run. If the Code forbade Jedi from forming attachments, such as marriage, and other specific, individual bonds, such as family and romantic love – how did they end up here, given the role Ben Solo played in overcoming Palpatine?

It was still early and her first lesson would not start for another hour, so she decided to use the time to meditate and reflect. She was sure that was what her Master would recommend.

@Oren Zapan

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

To be back home, among friends and family, within the natural depths of the untouched world, Oren hadn't been aware at just how lucky that the Jedi were. He had been far and wide the past few months, away from his normal teaching duties, and instead focused on the charitable efforts that the Jedi code discusses. He had seen many worlds, many people, planets, adventures and events. He was grateful to feel the vibrancy that the force provided, but he saw and experienced many hardships.

It had been several days since his recovery, and the Jedi Knight was still getting used to the cybernetic replacement that connected to his right forearm. The morning was cool, but he knew that it would only grow hotter as the day progressed and instead opted for a beige short sleeve tunic, his right hand and forearm was covered in a thick brown glove. He still had his facial markings that made up his unknown race, but his once pristine face had now the remnants of scratches across the left side.

Crude matter, the real gift is the force. He thought to himself as he peered down to the gloved arm. Now wasn't the time, as he rounded the corner he would see her sitting before him. He knew little of the girl or her training, but today would be a perfect opportunity to speak and to aid the next generation of Jedi. "The masters said you were looking for some guidance?" He'd ask in a soft tone.

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach had sensed someone approaching. Or maybe she simply heard his footsteps? It was sometimes hard to tell where the Force giving you signs ended and your natural senses began. Either way, she was not shocked by the stranger’s presence and so looked up at him as he approached and smiled her ubiquitous smile.

As he spoke, she cocked her head slightly to one side. Was what was troubling her so apparent? Maybe not to the average person she surmised but maybe to a parent. But then she was amongst Jedi and she’d come to learn swiftly that the usual rules went out of the window. She also appreciated there was no point in looking to hide your thoughts or tell a lie (not that Fiach believed in falsehoods anyway) and so sighed softly and began.

“Guidance?” she started, deliberating over the word as if savouring a fine wine. “Yes, that sounds right. I understand what the Jedi Code says, and I understand the Jedi Order’s history, but I am having difficulty reconciling the two.”

She shifted on tree stump she was sitting on, to get a little more comfortable. “Through history, it appears Jedi were not allowed to form relationships of a romantic nature. Yet Princess Leia and Han Solo were Ben Solo’s parents. And if he hadn’t have existed, Rey Skywalker would not have defeated Darth Sidious.”

She paused before continuing. “So, is the basis of our current Order wholly down to someone not following the rules?”

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren's brow raised slightly as he watched the young woman begin to speak, proposing the philosophies of the force, the nature of Han Solo and Leia Organa, Ben's sacrifice and relationship with Rey. Quite heavy for such an early morning. He thought to himself with a chuckle as he motioned to sit down beside the girl. His brown eyes would float along the canopy, watching the rainbow colored birds floating through the soft morning breeze.

"You would be correct, about the Old Jedi Order." He would say with a gentle smile, "They were taken as children and raised within the order, the only relationships they had were that of the Jedi themselves." He would sigh, "I believe that throughout history, it is said that the Jedi have fallen within themselves, that others have given into their passions, and so the order naturally had taken a dogmatic stance."

He wasn't familiar with the subject, but only what little information that Luke had written about, "Lord Vader was said to have fallen to the darkside out of jealousy and attachment, an attachment that the Jedi of old forbade. By denying the right to feel and accept our emotions, to feel human, the Jedi did not have ways to handle these newfound urges."

He would peer towards the young girl, "I suppose, things naturally swing like a pendulum really. The old Jedi were stoic and emotionless, and now we have accepted that we form bonds and relationships." His eyes would narrow, "I suppose things will remain this way until inevitably one of our own falls to the dark side of the force and then the Order and those in it will have to look to our teachings to see where we failed." The thought of such a thing occurring scared him deeply, "But, truth be told, I believe that while we all hold a portion in someone falling or being lead astray, it is ultimately their own actions that lead them to it and it is the action of Vader saving Luke, Luke nearly striking Ben, and Rey forgiving Ben, that the fate of the galaxy seems to rest on. Small gestures, that ripple through the galaxy. It's okay to have emotions to feel love or to be loved, just don't let it consume you and don't let it fester possession. Accept it for what it is, enjoy it, and understand the shortcomings and you will never be lead astray." He would run a hand through his hair, realizing that he was rambling about philosophy to a teenage girl, "Sorry.." The markings on his face would glow with emotion.

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach remained still as the Jedi Knight took up a position beside her. He chuckled softly and she wondered to what end. Was it a mocking sound, due to amusement at her thoughts. Or was it a perplexed noise, to reflect the challenge of the question. As ever, Fiach withheld an opinion and waited for the facts to present themselves.

She saw his eyes take in their surroundings but her gaze did not waver from his face. She found staring into someone’s eyes awkward and tended to look at the bridge of the nose.

And she listened as he repeated what she knew of the history of the Order. She knew of famous Jedi that almost left the Order to follow their heart – but chose not to. And then he spoke of the Skywalkers. Much had been written and – in her belief – speculated about why Anakin became Darth Vader. And how it was the love and attachment for his son that turned him back from the dark-side.

He picked out the relevant aspect that had both helped define her thoughts and troubled her in equal measures.

“The teachings aren’t muddled,” she began in reply, “but I cannot say they are really clear. I know the saying that only the Sith deal in absolutes, but I prefer to work with clear guidelines. We are told to uphold the law – and the law is invariably definitive. Yet when it comes to being a Jedi, the rules seem less like rules and more like suggestions. And I don’t want to misinterpret anything.”

“You see,” she sat forward now, her voice rising in volume ever so slightly, “I believe people have emotions. It is part of being alive. So we cannot deny a Jedi having them. It would be like saying a Bantha isn’t allowed to eat vegetation. What we can legislate for is what we do with those emotions. To save a loved one at the expense of saving many. To make a decision based upon emotions that flies in the face of logic and what represents the greater good.”

She paused and sat back. “Do my thoughts make sense?”

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren's would place a gentle hand on the girl's shoulder, "So curious for your age," he'd smile, "I'm wondering if you are secretly a council member. It's nice, many of my students simply consume without ever really sitting back and contemplating the musings of the Jedi, the Force, our actions...all of it." He'd pull his hand away, focusing on the gentle breeze of the canopy.

"You would be correct, I often find myself wondering about the code, the details of it. It's quite vague, but I've come to find that it's supposed to be a self exploration. The code is what you make of it, these are only the simple guiding truths. When you feel nothing, there is peace. All around us there is life, the force. When we pass, our energy fades, but life continues."

He was still trying to process it all himself, "In times of need, a decision between love and the good of many is a tough choice. Ideally, we would never want to be in the position." He'd smile, "To say one life is worth more than another is ultimately a path that will leave you broken. If I was in that situation, I would try to save as many people as I could. We must protect the weak, and help the poor. We are only extensions of the force and there is no shame in failing to save everyone." He'd sigh, "Does that make sense to you?"

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach’s nose wrinkled momentarily. Was age a factor when it came to curiosity? Was there some bell-curve she hadn’t encountered? For her part, she’d always asked questions – it was why she was good at fixing things. She enjoyed taking them apart, repairing or improving them, and then putting them back together. The fact they were inanimate was an additional plus. No emotions or inference to comprehend.

She presumed the Council comment was banter. She was hardly an expert on the subject – but she’d been around enough of it since she’d been here to start to pick up on it. The trouble was, when it came to the Force, anything was possible, so separating sarcasm and humour from fact was harder than at home.

“I see it as a Padawan’s duty to question. Not from a perspective of challenge for challenge sake, but to gain a better understanding. To separate fact from opinion. Much of what we’re taught is based upon faith and that has been hard for me. I like facts,” she added, as if it needed to be said.

“And, so often I find that an answer isn’t an answer but a new question. For example, if the Code is about self-exploration, that suggests it means something slightly different for each of us. Which may be right, and knowing so would help me better understand if there is a definitive destination I seek, or merely guidance down a path.”

“So,” she sat forward again, “your words are helpful. And even if they don’t provide closure, they help me along the road to becoming a Jedi. For I’d save the many over the few. That makes sense. But what if the few represent a greater potential for good in the galaxy? For example, saving three Jedi over four store-keepers. And that’s not a slight on people who work in shops. Four lives weigh more than three, but the impact three Jedi would have in the next ten years versus the store-keepers? Is that part of the equation?”

The earnest look on her face showed she cared deeply about the conundrum and might serve as a warning that each answer would simply create a new opportunity to quiz the Knight.

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

She did bring up a few good points, they were trained to question to contemplate the force, but it seemed that in the chaos of daily life it would often get difficult to sit back and think, to clear our minds and focus on the things we've experienced and how it had shaped our lives. "Truth be told, we never stop learning. You will always find new questions, new lessons, failures and accomplishments." He would think back to his own life.

Truth be told, he had done a lot of good and a lot of bad. He had failed his first student, lashed out in anger and destroyed any relationship they had. No one was perfect, if they were they would be one with the force. He would turn towards the girl, his brown eyes locking with her lavender eyes. "The Force is not like a droid or a part, it can't be quantified or analyzed. There are some truths, yes. But, it's greater than that, it's life itself, and death. Movement and stillness, chaos and harmony. In due time, I believe you will come to be a great Jedi, one that surpasses even myself. You are thoughtful, curious, and observant. I feel peace radiating from you, it's a good quality to have."

He'd turn his attention towards the mud below. contemplating her scenario. "I believe that you walk down a dangerous path when you compare the good or the bad of an individual person. You do what you can and you live with the actions you've done, looking into the future or contemplating what someone may or may not do is a slippery path that could lead to the darkside or cause you to save neither." He'd flex his robotic hand, "Yes, they are Jedi, but what if the men you save become the Three Lords of The Sith, that destroy our Order?" He'd pause, letting the words settle for a moment, "What if the woman you saved turns out to do nothing, but her son or daughter that she births goes on to become a Grand Master of our very order?" He'd raise a brow slightly.

Hopefully, these scenarios would help instill the idea that it was a dangerous game, "We can't predict the future, and to do so would mean that we are putting a value on the force that I believe we don't have."

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach nodded at the concept of lifelong learning. It was something she believed in before she joined the Order and — given how much there was to learn — she expected she could spend a lifetime studying and still only know a fragment of what was possible.

“Learning from books is easy. At least for me. Learning from experience is harder I find. But infinitely more rewarding. The challenge for me is that, repairing things can be trial and error, but it’s clear when you’ve made the right decision. With life-based choices, you might never know if you did the right or the wrong thing.” She shrugged. “But my parents used to say that was life — and so I had better get used to it. They said if a decision felt right in my heart, it was probably the right one.”

She continued to listen and take in the Knight’s wisdom. The she smiled. “On one hand, it is good to hear that my thoughts are not unique to me. But on the other, I wish you’d had concrete answers. But I understand why you haven’t.”

“And I suspect I am overthinking some things. It can be a weakness of mine. I am better off continuing to study, to reflect on what is shared with me and making a decision that feels right. I am learning to trust the Force and I suspect it won’t steer me wrong.”

Keen to continue the dialogue, she added, “Is there any specific advice you’d share with a Padawan? Any do’s or don’ts? Maybe even a Force power you think I should focus on?”

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren couldn't help but see himself in the girl, the way she carried herself, it seemed she was most likely the only child--or he was projecting. When he arrived all those years ago, it seemed he knew nothing about interaction or life, everything had been mining and surviving to the next day. Life was hard, it would throw nearly anything at you, you're bound to make mistakes, but to him it was always about learning from them.

"Facts are important, but they mean little if we can't apply them to our daily lives. You're correct, follow your heart and the force and it will get you to the right decision. Sometimes things will happen, learn from them, failing is the greatest teacher you can have. My only advice that I can give to you is, to be yourself. Find friends in the order, with the force, with it all. Be open minded and don't shut yourself away from others and if you make a mistake, learn from it and mend it as soon as possible," he'd sigh as his voice cracked, "When I became a knight, my master was diagnosed with a critical illness. They said his body was twisted and bloated, in my fear I couldn't see him and so I never went to him in his last moments." He'd gulp, "I took it out on my first student, lashing out at him and tearing our relationship apart. We've only just begun to amend things, but don't wait..don't be like me." His mind would shift to Byron.

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach knew — or at least believed — that to learn properly, you needed many reference points. One book or one teacher gave you a single perspective. Yes, it might be the correct one, but how would you know? So, she looked to gain as many insights on every subject as she could. Then, by comparing and contrasting what she’d heard, she could piece together what she was as the truth. The challenge withe the Force was that in many ways the advice was subjective. But, she surmised, you could only work with what you had.

“Be myself,” she echoed. “That’s what my parents always say. In fact, when I was coming here, their only wish was that I became the best Jedi I would be. Not to judge myself against others, but measure my progress against what I am and should be capable of.”

“And I concur on your views on failure — how it merely shows how something doesn’t work. It does not define us, but rather guides us. I appreciate your openness and honesty. And I will do my utmost to walk the right path and serve the Jedi as best I can.”

Another question came unbidden from her tongue, clearly bypassing her conscious brain. “Who decides who we serve? Who says what causes we see are just.”

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren would nod, taking in her words. "Being yourself is the only thing that you can do. We all have our path and to compare our progress is futile. We will learn when we learn and we will grow when we are ready, but that can only happen when you open yourself up to experiences." The Jedi would smile as he stood up, and paced around the little cove.

It seemed he was being tested in all of his convictions today, "A Jedi, I suppose serves to protect the weak and the innocent." He would sigh, tilting his head, "Though no where in the code does it state that we must. I believe the correct descision comes when someone makes a decision with little emotion, as I said earlier. Defend the weak, help the poor, feed the hungry. These are the simple truths that I believe all Jedi should focus on, everything else matters little."

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach was hardly a reed — something that blows in whatever direction the wind took her. Yes, she was open-minded, but she also had her own mind and built up a body of evidence before forming an opinion.

Oren’s words, therefore, were comforting in the sense that they echoed her own beliefs and therefore validated her thought process. She sat even further forward, at times not breathing as she looked to ensure she heard not only what was said, but what was meant. Inference was not something Fiach did, and so she had to listen carefully to pick up inflections in the spoken voice that might indicate something other than what was said. Sarcasm was something she could pick up easily now, but subtler audible closed were much harder to discern.

Of course, to Fiach, she was merely sharing some of the countless questions she had ready to share with anyone she thought useful to gain an opinion from. She did not see the rat-a-tat firing of queries as intimidating or challenging.

“Simple truths,” she echoed — as was her way. “I shall use that wisdom to guide my decisions.” She sighed audibly and looked up to the treetops before returning her gaze to the Jedi Knight.

“I have heard the Jedi Code identified as a set of rules that governs Jedi behaviour. But others have described them as guidance — which falls short of a rule. I would very much like to hear your interpretation.”

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren would peer towards the girl with a raised brow, "The code is our rules, they are the underlying belief that defines a Jedi." He would cross his arms as he looked across towards the girl, "Emotion, yet peace--a Jedi is human, but they will never allow themselves to become just a facet of one emotion. Ignorance, yet knowledge--it is impossible to know everything in the galaxy, but we can choose to accept and understand truths that we learn, we don't deny the way the galaxy works or the things we learn. Passion, yet serenity: A Jedi like all mortal beings have things they care about, relationships, hobbies, causes--but they never let these things control or define themselves as a person. Chaos, yet harmony: in all of the motion, expansion, in it all is the core aspect of living life and the force, a harmony that all of these little moving parts makes up our galaxy and ourselves. Lastly, death, yet the force: we all will die, but within us, our actions will cause ripples throughout the force, our legacy will carry on by the things we pass down to others and when we rejoin with the force our spirit becomes one with the living force that is found within us all."

He would take a deep breath, hoping that all of that made sense, "These are the core tenants and the rules that a Jedi should live by, these things define us, they are our underlying rules that build our belief system."

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach listened intently. The Code was the things she'd studied most and had been spoken about by more teachers than any other - but its true meaning was still somewhat elusive. Like fish in a stream. You could see them but try picking one out of the water.

She nodded as he recited the Code and explained his understanding of each line. It was as she understood and believed. Yet part of her - a part that refused to budge - was less sure these were rules. Or rather, they didn't give clear enough guidance to be used on a day to day basis when faced with a difficult decision.

"I suspect wisdom comes with age and by definition deeper understanding. By use of and reference to the Code I mean. I shall continue to meditate and use the Code when making any decision that troubles me. For I trust in the Force and believe it will never let me down. I might fail myself even, but the Force? It will be my compass. I appreciate your sage advice on this matter."

It was clear more questions were keen to be shared judging by the expression on Fiach's face. "Are the Sith evil, or is it their objectives that are wrong. What I mean is, could there ever be a good Sith - at least in theory."

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

Oren would kneel down beside the child, tilting his head as his words came out in an inquisitive manner, "Did Kylo Ren return to the light and become Ben Solo? Did Darth Vader return to the light and become Anakin Skywalker hmm?" The answer was clear, "Just as you or I can fall to the darkside, there are those who still can be redeemed, brought back to the light, though in doing so they would openly face the trials of their crimes." He'd sigh as he thought about it all.

"Let's look at our religions from a higher perspective. The sith or darkside in its purest form are inhumane," he would hold out his hand, "They represent the idea of master morality, the idea of imposing one's will on another for the sake of power. A path to the darkside is often started with good intentions, a spark of emotional human passion, that slowly consumes you. Their self control slowly withers away until they are paranoid of everything and everyone. They often fell to the darkside for a humane reason, but in it they lost the very thing they sought to protect."

He would sigh as he hoped his words came across clearly, "The lightside of the force or the Jedi of old and even our own tenant today, can be argued as anti-life, though this more often relies on the old code. Children were taken from their parents and forced to grow up among Jedi, and taught to hold no emotions, and in the purest form they were taught to sacrifice themselves, that death means little to a Jedi because only the force matters. When Jedi like Anakin came around he did not have the skills needed to deal with his emotions nor did the masters, so he fell and destroyed the order of old, and the cycle of light and dark continued."

"We are humane Jedi, ones with attachments, this makes us more susceptible to the darkside, but I often question this myself. I believe that it comes down to the person and their ability to control their emotions and reason with the things occurring around them. And just because someone falls or fails does not mean they are truly gone, Ben and Anakin proved this, but it requires the person to make that decision for them, and if they can't, I believe we have a moral obligation for the greater galaxy to prevent them from causing harm."

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

"My reading has shown me that rarely do evil people believe they are evil. They see themselves as just and good and others - that oppose them - as misguided. Statistically crime is lower in oppressive regimes. But does that make the end justified in the means? That is now a moral dilemma and where I know I must focus my energy to become a better judge of right and wrong more instinctively."

She sighed audibly and momentarily closed her eyes. "These things are not where I am most comfortable but I am sure the Force will guide me if I allow it." She then turned to the Knight once more.

"I appreciate I have taken a lot of your time and have one more question, if you'll permit. What is the Order's greatest challenge? Is it the rumours of a return of the Dark side, or is it winning over the galaxy to understand we're not the monsters the Emperor painted us to be? Or is it that we are so few and our challenges are so many? Or is it all of them, or something else? I am not looking for a definitive answer here, but rather an appreciation of our future...of my potential path."

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Truly Wonderful the Mind of a Child is... - Yoda​

"Is crime truly lower though?" He would ask with a raised brow, "What if those in power use their legal means for genocide, stiffling of privacy and life? We would consider a lowly street criminal a thug and a villain, yet when one is in a position of power, whether that is office or corporate life--we consider it part of a 'civilized' society. Only through action and experience will you learn to gauge right or wrong."

He would lean back as he pondered her last question, "The darkness will always be there, I believe it is every Jedi's biggest challenge is to not be tempted by the intoxicating sway that darkside has over us. It whispers to you, to me, to almost all of us. By fighting that, we can continue to find ourselves within the light and to properly stand against injustice of any kind...Does that make sense? Others will always have an opinion on you, on us. We are not rulers, we are simply followers of the force, sworn by duty to help the sick and the poor. Live a simple life of charity and compassion and you will never be misguided. I wish you the best, and I will be watching your career with great interest."

As the girl would finish her last response, he would begin to descend past her and onward to an adjacent temple. Hopefully his answers provided her with the comfort that she needed and would be the seeds to allow her to grow into the best Jedi she could become.

tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach considered the Knight's words. "Yes, I would say that crime statistics are lower in oppressive regimes - where the punishments are greater and invariably excessive. And I am not saying that is a good thing - merely a fact. I could never justify the extreme measures of the old Empire just to deliver better crime figures, it was merely another example of the conflict between statistics and judgement. The former relies on data and is transparent - but also often useless. The latter is born of data turned to information turned to knowledge and finally wisdom. Much more opaque - entirely useful and much harder to see."

"And I trust the Force to show me the wisdom to know what is the right path."

With this she bowed to the Knight as he made to leave. "Many thanks, and may the Force be with you," she said and closed her eyes to contemplate what she'd heard.