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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:41:54 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 5 – Jediism Essays
The Force There are many different, and personal, views of The Force. What is The Force to you? What connection, if any, do you feel you have to it?
To me the term “The Force” is simply a poetic label we assign to the emotion we feel and the beauty we derive from our connection to each other.
For some this connection might be interpreted as supernatural in the idea that “The Force” is an esoteric or otherwise subtle energy field that is outside the 4 quantum forces of nature and is an emergent property of physical life itself. This would be analogous to our consciousness being an emergent property of the function of our physical brains. Something not quite fully explained by science. This falls completely into the realm of faith however.
For others this connection is interpreted in a more natural form within the laws of the universe. Those aspects being the very idea that we are all evolved from a single ancient form of life that emerged from a set of elements created out of the same stardust that emerged into existence in a single event called the big bang. We are literally the stuff of stars and the ratios of elements we find in the universe are the same ratios we find in ourselves. There is something we find beautiful in that.
No matter what form you ascribe to, all existence is energy and energy is just energy. It has no opinions and it is not aware of itself nor does it feel. It is us as humans that feel. We too are not good or bad but simply human. And in that we are capable of good or evil acts. It is not the energy that is light or dark. It is the way it is used by us as humans. Energy in this sense can either be that esoteric energy above that some draw a strength from either imagined or real through faith or it can be simply the fuel we derive from the food we ate that allows us to move and interact with this corporeal world.
Even the matter of our bodies is just a form of energy. These are the things that connect us and for some of us we find great majesty in that. An awe and a wonder that deeply moves us. It is not a logical thing but one of deep emotion. The particular terms and descriptions we use to describe these emotions we feel for this connection make up our mythology. And the poetic label of the central theme of this mythology we call “The Force”. And because we are pack creatures and derive pleasure in shared experience we come together to celebrate and share these emotions and we call it our spirituality.
I think for me “The Force” is a little bit mystical and a little bit natural. I find a reverence in the idea that not only all forms of life but all things that exist, have ever existed or will ever exist are all made of the same star dust and we are all on this journey together, no matter where that may lead. It is from these easily defined physical properties that something magical emerges. Our experiences and our emotions and our consciousness are an emergent property of these corporeal states and it is something that cannot be quantified or defined in words. It can only be experienced, for us as humans in the human condition.
It has been said that all the moments each of us experience in our lives are destined to be lost like tears in the rain. But I think not, for not only are we the authors of the tears but we are the tears themselves, just as we are also the rain. For me, this is “The Force”.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:42:38 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 6 – Jediism Essays
The Force and Jediism When you see the word Force, you’ll undoubtedly think of Jediism. What comes to your mind, in relation to Jediism, when you hear the word Force?
As I’m thinking about this question, for me, neither one of those terms nor the relationship between them is as important as what those things represent. When I hear the term Jedi or “The Force” (in the context of spirituality) I associate the first (Jediism) with a specific doctrine that had been built around the second (The Force) which really represents the underlying truth of our existence and the unanswerable questions of reality. In other words Jediism is a single interpretation of the truth of the “Divine” that Jedi refer to as “The Force”. But the names we assign to these concepts are not nearly as important as the idea that we recognize the existence of this truth we call “The Force” (no matter what that may actually be) and try to honor our personal interpretations of that truth in some meaningful way through the doctrines of the tradition we have named Jediism and apply that to our life.
The true underlying nature of reality is something that is transcendent and indescribable. However that does not stop us as humans from trying to quantify and classify it. Humans have made attempts to describe this concept in an unimaginable myriad of descriptions depicting the basic connectedness of all things for as long as they have been self-aware. The stuff of star dust, an energy field created by all life, God and Goddess are all terms that have been used to describe this otherwise indescribable conception. But these descriptions all fail miserably so instead we resort to corporeal metaphors for a reality unconfined by those terms. We assign this divine magnificence characteristics and personifications and even embodiments, all of which vary greatly from individual to individual because they are all based on our personal experiences and its limited capacity to interpret an unanswerable question.
In this process those of similar mind will seek each other out and begin to find comfort in one another. As social creatures, humans find safety in numbers and will begin to form communities surrounding similar experiences and the shared belief systems that emerge from them. These groups write doctrines summarizing those beliefs. These doctrines describe the group’s interpretation of the nature of the divine and they ascribe rules and appropriate ways to interact with their limited interpretations of an otherwise universal and infinite truth. They create titles for themselves and begin to identify themselves collectively with a group name. Christian, Pagan, Witch and Jedi are but a few examples of these. These groups various beliefs, rituals and personal flavorings about the nature and truth of the Divine vary drastically from tradition to tradition. This is because the true nature of our existence, the Universal Divine, can never be described in its entirety. The individual doctrines and traditions that are created are built around different facets of an otherwise indescribable and transcendent idea.
The universal Divine is the fabric of reality. It is all things, has been all things and will be all things. It is the structure of the universe and it is the glue that holds that structure together and it is the creator of that structure. Human emotion carries the ability for us to glimpse this truth but in our limited existence we can never experience the totality of this truth. So we are left with inadequate compartmentalized interpretations of specific aspects of something that is otherwise interminably vast and universally unknowable. For us “Jedi” is simply the term we use to identify ourselves to others of like mind that share a common doctrine of interpretation of this underlying fabric of our existence. And for us “The Force” is the term we use to describe this transcendent aspect of reality that binds and connects us all – the Universal Divine.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:43:11 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 7 – Jediism Essays
A Healthy Body and Mind Many people believe that a healthy body breeds a healthy mind. How much importance do you place on keeping your body, as well as your mind, in shape? Does one take precedence over the other? How do you think keeping your body in shape might help you on your Jedi path?
I place a great deal of importance in the balance of all things in my life and thus I find an equal importance in the balance of keeping not only a healthy mind and body but spirit as well. Of course the question then rises as to what exactly one means by keeping these things “in shape”.
For the body I think this question can be easily answered. Being in shape when it comes to the body equates to being healthy. Healthy is something that can be measured and quantified by a doctor. Keeping the body healthy takes a multifaceted approach. Exercise, Diet and abstinence of abuse are all aspects of keeping the body healthy. The body is a machine and it needs to be “run” through exercise which lowers blood pressure, decreases cholesterol, reduces fat, adds muscle and improves cardiovascular function. The body also needs the correct fuel in the foods we eat to accomplish these things. And finally we should not abuse the body; “over revving it” so to speak by smoking, over eating or drinking. When done correctly all these things keep the body running smoothly and free of gunk. It gives us the energy and stamina we need to complete any task in life we decide to undertake.
When it comes to the mind this question gets a bit trickier. What is a healthy mind? How do you make a mind healthy? Some might say that continual learning makes a healthy mind while others might say that it is the emotional state one is in that makes a healthy mind. This also leaves us with the question of mind body association. Is the mind and body one thing or is the mind separate from the body? Does one affect the other? These are questions that have tormented philosophers for centuries since René Descartes suggested that mind was separate from the body and the pineal gland of the brain was the place where mind interacted with body.
Regardless of one’s view on the issue of mind body, we can agree that in some aspect our cognitive, perceptual and emotional faculties - our sense of self - are nestled in some capacity within the neurons of our brains. We also know that exercise not only causes changes in the body but also reduces stress, anxiety and depression and allows us to maintain focus and to think clearly. So if exercise can have lasting effects on the mind, then exercise must also affect the brain.
It stands to reason that these physical and psychological states give rise to a strong and healthy spirit. When we feel good physically and emotionally we have a higher confidence and that is something we desire. It drives our will to keep those things. The spirit is our source of will. It is what drives us to do more and be more and push ourselves further. This feeds back into the cycle of self-improvement; exercise, eating well, studying harder, making that effort to change some aspect of self. It is this interconnected internal cycle that drives the rhythm of our lives. If one aspect fails to perform then the machine breaks down and does not function to maximum capacity.
When enacted correctly, this process allows us to evolve as individuals. To grow and to learn and to experience the way we were meant to in a never ending spiral upward. So yes keeping a healthy body through exercise is very important and it is a critical part in keeping a healthy mind as well as a healthy spirit. No one aspect takes precedence over another as they are all equally as important.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:43:46 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 8 – Jediism EssaysCult, the WordThe word 'cult' gets thrown around a lot in a negative light. What does the word actually mean? Does Jediism, in your view, fit into the definition of ‘cult’? If so by how much?A cult is a religious or social group with socially deviant or novel beliefs and practices. Of course what one means by deviant or novel will vary greatly from definition to definition. Because of this, whether any one group's beliefs and practices are sufficiently deviant or novel to be deemed as a cult is open for debate. This makes a precise definition of the word cult challenging. The word "cult" in modern society has become controversial because it is more often than not used in a pejorative sense to facilitate “ad hominem” attacks against groups with doctrines or practices that others may consider outside the norm. This has led to the formation of Anti-cult watch groups, which began to form in the early 70’s. They began to better quantify exactly what a cult was by identifying subversive behaviors. These organizations often act on behalf of relatives of converts who did not believe their loved ones could have altered their lives so drastically by their own free will. Practices such as kidnapping, brainwashing, psychological abuse, sexual abuse, criminal activity, and mass suicide have become aspects of what identifies an organization as a Cult. The down side to this is that society begins to see any religious group as culturally deviant because of practices that could only be implied no matter how peaceful or law abiding the organization may be. Because of this it is extremely important to carefully evaluate any organization before becoming involved with it. In my own personal practice as a Pagan there have been those that have created templates to follow when considering joining a potential group. Isaac Bonewitts is one of the most famous; link below. www.neopagan.net/ABCDEF.htmlBecause the definition of the word Cult is so fluid, it is difficult to say whether or not Jediism can be classified as a cult. Does Jediism contain beliefs or practices that could be considered deviant or novel? Well to some that answer would definitely be yes, but to others no. Does Jediism engage in aberrant or criminal behavior? Well I guarantee the fear mongers out there could find reason to say yes. “They are brainwashing all those poor innocent kids to follow an imaginary religion so they can suck them into their web of corruption!” Either that or just deciding it’s all a complete waste of time and energy and therefore useless or we have all been lied to by “the Devil”, who created Jediism as a cult, and we are going to hell! People come up with the craziest ideas. In the end we each have to decide for ourselves whether anything we’re involved with is having a positive or negative impact in our lives. In the end it comes down to fear. Fear is a powerful tool. It can be used for coercion in the most sinister ways. If we evaluate ourselves and we find we live in fear of any organization or person or situation on a daily basis it’s a pretty good bet that you are in a position that is not constructive. Even if one is incapable of breaking away from that due to its paralyzing effects (as many in cults or even abusive relationships experience), they still know that their lives are not healthy. Fear of loss many times outweighs fear of a situation. In the end fear is what we can each use to gauge our lives. Am I “afraid” as a Jedi? No I am not!
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:44:19 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 9 – Jediism Essays
Letting Go of the Past We teach that it is important for a Jedi to let go of the past and to not dwell on it. We need to remember that things gone by can no longer be changed. What do you think this means? How and where does this teaching tie into acceptance, acknowledgement and forgiveness? Why do you think this might be important for a Jedi?
We can never let go of the past. It is an integral part of us. The pain and joy, triumphs and defeats, loss and attainment of our past are all tools that we use to define who we are. It is in the way we use these tools that we shape our own present and future. We have the choice every day to take these tools and use them to build something dark and brooding or angry and resentful or we can use them to build something that is strong and steadfast, balanced and self-reflective. It is not the shedding or letting go of our past that we need to focus on but rather the constructive utilization and affirmative incorporation of our past that we should strive for.
It’s about whether we ignore our past or face it. In this process we can either use it to hone us or allow pain and fear to define us. Will we accept our past for what it is, learn from it and integrate it or will we fight it and deny it? Will we allow it to change us for the better or will we allow it to haunt us through fear or anger or resentment? It’s ok to feel these darker emotions but we also must understand that we cannot just let them continue on forever or bury them and ignore them. Over time we need to face each one and process it. Convert it to something constructive and then incorporate that as a part of our character and experience and wisdom.
This goes for positive past experiences as well; those things in our lives that we have done well or found great joy or pleasure in. We can let these things begin to rule our lives. We need to take away a certain amount of humility in all things we do. We can’t let these things turn into hubris, overconfidence or arrogance. As soon as we do this, life has a funny way of slapping our hand. In all things we should find the balance. There is something to be taken away and learned for any negative experience and there is something to be left behind for any positive experience.
It is about knowing the past and embracing it and being accepting of what has come before. We need to understand that everything in our lives is there for a reason; acknowledging that fact and processing that information. Then forgiving where necessary or maintaining an attitude of self-effacement where it is required, but never forgetting. Then taking those things and using them to build a better “you” in every aspect of your life. This is the meaning of the spiral of life.
Everything repeats in this universe, the orbits of the planets, the seasons in a year, the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth – all cycle endlessly. What we must do in this cycle is strive to move ever upwards and not get stuck in the groove of an endlessly repeating rut. We do this as a function of time. We experience things linearly so that we can process events and use them to spiral upward in a cycle of growth. Failing to recognize this and ignoring our past or not processing the past events in our lives or letting those events sent us spiraling downward into a pit of self-pity or resentment, fear or anger dooms us to the rut.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:44:57 GMT
Lesson 8 – Essay 10 – Jediism Essays
The Sword The sword has been used symbolically throughout history. What has its symbolism throughout history been? How does this relate to Jedi, Jediism and the fictional lightsaber?
Many different paths can be taken when talking about the symbology of the sword. For example in the bible one of Jesus' most controversial statements "I came not to bring peace, but to bring a sword" has many interpretations. The question comes up as to whether it is a literal sword or a figurative one (a metaphor). There are different interpretations as to the nature of the sword he talks about even today! Some interpret it literally to mean the use of violence (possibly with a sword which was a common weapon in those days) will only result in oneself facing violence.
This is a literal interpretation. Others interpret the sword he speaks of symbolically to mean "division". Those who believe in Jesus will be divided or separated from those who don't. The sword plays as a metaphor in this regard. In other parts of Christianity the sword deals with protection, righteousness, and justice. We see the sword (often flaming) blocking the gates of Eden as a sign of protection - only the pure of heart may enter.
As a Celtic symbol, the sword is associated with Nuada, the first king of Tuatha De Danann. It is among the four Celtic treasures of sword, stone, spear and cauldron. Nuada was associated with the underwater realm. Archeologists have found many ancient Celtic swords under water. These are thought to be offerings to Nuada made by ancient Celts honoring their forebear. This is a powerful statement as the Celt’s considered their sword to be an extension of their vitality.
The swords of the Congo tribe in Central Africa are deeply symbolic of transition. Specifically, we see the quillon’s (cross guard on the hilt) of their swords were designed so that one side turned heavenward and the other side turned earthward. This is a symbolic representation of the powerful connection between sky and earth, and further solidifying the symbolism of life and death. In Chinese symbolism dreams of swords indicate birth gender. And in the symbolic language of the Tarot, swords represent the realm of the mind, specifically the navigation of thought.
Freud would have us believe the sword in our dreams is a phallic symbol. But Freud isn't the only one who recognized male gender issues in sword symbolism. Arthurian studies draw gender correlations between Excalibur representing male (phallic) principles and its insertion into the stone - the stone being symbolic of the female (vaginal) principle. As a masculine principle, the sword is the active force, the driving feature and the conquering element of existence. The sheath in which the sword is housed is considered the feminine principle representing the passive force, the protective feature and the nutritive/supportive element of existence.
Double edged swords give us symbolism of duality of nature and the dual powers of manifestation as a synthesis of contrasts. Here we find creation as well as destruction, life and death all represented by the sword. Even sword making itself is an ancient and honorable craft which utilizes the four ancient elements of the universe. Fire, Water, Air, and Earth are all involved with the birthing of the sword and as such we can incorporate symbolism of unity, balance, totality and creativity with the meaning of swords.
In my personal experience the sword has great meaning both physically and symbolically. Marines have the distinction today of carrying the oldest weapons still in service in the United States Armed Forces, the Sword. They represent the Marine Corps' rich heritage as America's original defenders. Marine Officers still carry the Mameluke sword, given to them by a Mameluke Chieftain in North Africa in recognition of the historic battle of Tripoli. This was the Marine Corps' first battle on foreign soil. A Marine NCO also carries the M1859 Sword in recognition of their leadership in combat.
Because of what the sword represents to me personally and to my ancestors I have taken up the practice of the sword myself as I follow this path. I do this so that I may spend time in contemplation of its deeply rich history and profound symbolic significance. I have begun training with a Haidong Kumdo Sword master. What is even more amazing about this training is that he does this with Light Sabers. I have found a new form of focus and meditation in this martial art as well as a new and exciting exercise and a way to connect with this deeply symbolic object.
So what does all this mean to a Jedi? Well that is a question I cannot answer for anyone but myself. Each of us has to glean our own meaning from the things in our lives we find a spiritual or symbolic meaning in. For me, to take up the sword (or Light Saber), does not mean I will be battling Sith one day. In fact I abhor the connection between my spirituality and a commercial movie franchise. I don’t mind the few common terms we use so much because for me they are just words to represent a deeper concept. However I do hate the idea that many cannot describe their spirituality without referring to this movie or that movie or how a character resolved some situation there within. I would much rather hear real life accounts and experiences and personal epiphanies.
In any case these symbols themselves we use in reality and the words we use to represent otherwise undefinable concepts should not be the focus of our journey. It’s what those things infer that we should seek. We need to dive beneath the surface and strive for that place where symbols and words are themselves meaningless. For me the Light Saber is just another tool I use to focus my thoughts. It’s merely a symbol that I can use to help me find connection with that place inside where self and universe meet. That is the quarry I endlessly pursue and while “tools” such as the light saber are nice to help “get me there”, they are not required to accomplish my goals.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:48:10 GMT
ADVANCED INITIATE PROGRAM
Lesson One For your first lesson, please post in your IP journal and take your time to really think about it: Please tell me why you want to be a knight? What is it you want out of an apprenticeship? How will they help you in your life?
Why do I want to be a Jedi Knight?
A lot of times people covet this title or that title but they don't want to do the work required to get that title. Instead they seek out some path of least resistance and pay some money to someone that claims the authority to bestow that title and suddenly they are a High Priest or some other such title that they flaunt around and say “look at me” I’m such and such. They consider it some fashion statement or badge of importance they can use to impress others but they really have no idea what it actually means to be what it is they are claiming to be.
For me the work is the reward, not the title. Our spiritual journey in search of even a glimpse of some form of universal enlightenment in the pursuit of self-knowledge never ends. It’s a grueling, all-consuming pursuit of seeking out the holes and misconceptions in our spiritual selves. It is a never ending task of filling in those holes in our own personal belief system or digging up previous holes and refilling them with new stuff. Any titles that are earned along the way are just a consequence of that work, not the focus of it.
I pursue knowledge and focus and wisdom. I do not pursue titles. I crave the experience of doing the work necessary to carve out just a tiny bit more understanding into what it means to be a part of this vast incomprehensible universe, to experience that connection with all things, to understand what it is to be a part of something so much greater than I can even begin to fathom. I want to live life, try everything, never be afraid to be vulnerable or open but always be strong enough to be there for others when they reach out in pain or need.
I want to share this journey with others. I want to have that deep, meaningful connection that can only be felt between master and apprentice. I want to learn things I never knew existed and delve deeper into the mysteries of life than I ever thought possible. I want to take such joy and delight in this process that nothing but pure ecstasy is the result. That is not to say that I think this journey is only about the delights of life. I don’t expect it to be nor would I find any value in it if it was. For me, to share in the joys OR the sorrows of life hold no distinction to me. It is in the sharing alone that I find value. I want the experience of surmounting this hard work. That is what I want out of apprenticeship.
I want to take these experiences and this knowledge and this wisdom that is imparted to me and share it with others that come after me. If we can’t pass these things on to our up and coming generations the journey becomes meaningless. It is the dance of the perfect spiral of life – inception, birth, life, death and rebirth. This is what is significant. That spiral is for all, not any one individual. It is the accumulation of the collective consciousness that is the soul of the universe and if we can’t share our selves with that we are doomed to hopelessness.
If you want to call me a Jedi Knight because of these things, then so be it. A title is just a name that we assign to identify a particular aspect of our lives. In the end the title is inconsequential. It is the thing it represents that is important. A desire and an awareness… a deep reverence for the comradeship I feel for my brothers and sisters in this life’s journey, my kindred spirits. The energy of the journey and our emotional connection to the lives we encounter are the focus. The title is just a mundane working of the corporeal. It is simply a way to distinguish one thing from another that in the end is really just one thing – meaningful, passionate, empathetic connection, a place where the lines of individuality no longer hold any meaning.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:48:52 GMT
ADVANCED INITIATE PROGRAM Lesson TwoPlease pick a sermon from the temple Please tell me what it was about? Why did you choose it and what did you learn?I picked the sermon by Edan called “Walking Your Own Path” www.templeofthejediorder.org/sermons/2177-walking-your-own-pathThis sermon was about walking a path of your own choosing and not trying to confirm to what others thought you should be doing or trying to fit into some cultural or spiritual norm defined by others. It’s about taking pride in what you believe and never having to be ashamed just because others may not feel the same way. We should never let others dictate to us how we should act or what we should believe or what practices we should undertake. I loved this sermon because it reinforced for me the reason I came here. To study in my own way and take from the training what I believed was relevant and never having to swallow the beliefs or practices or rituals of another. I have been in that place before under another master it was not a place that was sustainable. Here I can believe what I like and yet still be an accepted member of this place. We are united in our diversity. I had actually read through several of the sermons before coming across this one. In fact I had gone through every one on the site and read over 20 of them in detail. I was becoming a bit discouraged with the idea that I may not be able to complete this lesson because I was just not finding anything that was speaking to me in a positive way. I came across many sermons where I found myself vehemently opposed to the teaching within. Others seemed to hold no magic or any meaning that spoke to me in any significant way. Many of the sermons seemed to take a very Christian tone. Others were of a guiding energy we needed to trust in or some self-aware essence that seemed capable of pre-determining our actions for the greater good. None of these concepts are models that I accept or recognize in my life so it was quite refreshing to come across this sermon. I have a very secure and refined set of beliefs that have come from 30 years of deep study into my spiritual essence. While the details have changed and the understanding has evolved over the years, the bedrock of those principles and beliefs remains solidly within me. It is something that I find comfort in and it is one of the reasons I so enjoy this place because I can believe what I want and still be a part of something with others that may not necessarily believe those same things. Thank you Edan!
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:49:44 GMT
ADVANCED INITIATE PROGRAM
Lesson Three Pick a chapter from the power of now. What chapter did you choose? What was it about? Why did you choose it and what did you learn that you can use in your life?
I picked the introduction and chapter one from the book “The Power of Now”. In the opening of Eckhart Tolle’s book “The Power of Now” He speaks about a transformation he went through at age 29 which revealed to him many great truths about the nature of our existence. One of the first things he speaks about is the idea that all religions are actually forms of one great spiritual teaching. But they have become so overlaid with extraneous matter that their spiritual essence has become almost completely obscured so their deeper meaning is no longer recognized and their transformative power is lost. He claims that his book is a restatement of that one timeless spiritual teaching. I think I would beg to differ. If this deep underlying single teaching existed then why has there always been and continues to be so much inter-religious violence in the world? Why have we as a species failed to come to any sort of consensus on this “truth”?
He goes on to speak further that this incident showed him that we are made up of two separate entities. The first being “Mind” and the second he calls “Being”. He states that at the core of our essence we are all one, we are “Being”. Being is Deity and Deity is everything. “Mind” on the other hand, is something separate from “Being”. Mind is a discretely possessing entity of incessant “thinking” that gives us a sense of individuality. It is this screen of thought that gives us the illusion of separateness which we interpret as “Self”. It separates us from “Being”.
This seems nothing less than a way of restating the Christian view of religious duality - good vs evil contained within oneself. It depicts the idea that we need to shed or deny or shun the evil in favor of the good. Tolle states at one point that we do not use our minds, instead our minds use or control us. It seems he is implying some sort of demonic possession. We are victims of the mind demon! This seems a ridiculous concept. It is through mind that I interact with my environment and connect with others. It is how I protect myself and sustain myself. It is not an evil possessing entity. It is that element of myself that enables me to be aware of the world, to have experiences, to feel and to be conscious.
Tolle goes on to say that Mind includes emotion. Emotion arises at the place where mind and body meet. He states that all emotions are modifications of one primordial undifferentiated emotion that has its origin in the loss of awareness of who you are beyond form. This brings a sense of fear and a deep feeling of abandonment and incompleteness or pain. The mind fights to remove this pain which is the reason for its incessant activity. But the best the mind can ever do is to cover it for a bit because mind is an intrinsic part of the problem. So you will never be free of this pain until you cease to derive your sense of self from identification with “Mind”.
Tolle speaks about having the experience of freeing himself from Mind. He states that he became an observer of Mind. What seems to have taken place is he simply blocked off his emotion and then he spent 2 years wandering park benches in a seemingly “self-imposed” bliss. He was completely disconnected not only from what he calls ‘Mind” but also from everyone and everything else around him. In effect he demonized his emotions and then disconnected from them which in turn disconnected him from everything else in reality!
Tolle states that emotions are subject to duality and thus have opposites. For example pleasure is just part of the alternating cycle of pain/pleasure. Humans have been in the grip of pain since they fell from the state of grace and entered the realm of time and “Mind” and lost awareness of “Being”. But Tolle never defines what this “state of Grace” is or how we could have fallen from it? Is he implying we were we cast out or Eden or otherwise separated from ‘Being’ as some sort of judgment or punishment? This seems another thinly veiled reference to the original sin of Christianity. He goes on to say that because of this event we as humans start to perceive ourselves as meaningless fragments in an alien universe unconnected to the source or to each other. Pain arises because of this. Our desires, our cravings are the “Mind” seeking salvation or fulfillment in external things and in the future as a substitute for the joy of experiencing “Being”. As long as we are “Mind” we become those cravings, needs, wants and attachments. We spend our time searching for happiness in external things while never realizing true joy is derived from within.
I don’t agree with this at all. It is through emotion, through pain… and joy that we find connection, not in spite of it. We need to embrace our emotional selves. It is these tools that give us our connection in this corporeal realm where we are forced to experience reality as a conglomeration of individual components. We can unite as human beings and feel a sense of connection to all life, everything in existence for that matter, through these mechanisms. We use emotion to express empathy and compassion while gaining great satisfaction in the process. Tolle seems to be saying that we were cast out of “the whole” and this caused pain and our goal is to abandon this reality and this realities devil in “Mind” and return to “Being”.
Tolle Goes on to state that in order to free ourselves from the possession of ‘Mind” we need to begin to realize that we are not this entity. We are not the thinker. When we realize this we can begin to observe this entity. We start watching the thinker and this causes a higher level of consciousness to become activated. In this process you come to the realization there is a vast realm of intelligence beyond thought. By watching the thinker we listen to our inner dialogue with objectivity, and impartially never judging or taking it seriously. When you do this the thought becomes powerless over you and subsides.
Once again, I think Tolle got it backwards. In this reality in which we exist we are not by any means “one” except in the sense that we are from the same stardust, formed from the same elements and evolved from the same beginnings of life from the same ocean on the same planet that revolves around a single sun. I’m an individual in the idea that my consciousness is unique in the universe and it was created at the moment of my conception and will cease to exist at the moment of my demise. That energy that was me will go into a million other forms of matter for a million other purposes up to and possibly including new consciousness. However “I” as an individual will never exist again.
Just as I am one in this sense I am also an individual “form” or manifestation of a greater whole. For me I call this Goddess or Force. This is the vast realm of intelligence Tolle speaks of. In the end everything is just energy. Energy is just another term for Goddess or Force or Tolle’s “Being”. We are both individuals and an individual form of the whole. We are the universes will to experience itself. It’s this duality of our existence that is the gift of this will and no part of it should be denied or sectioned off. In fact it is by design that we exist as we do and it is not something to “escape” from but something to embrace.
Tolle states that freeing ourselves from the possession of mind is the end of compulsive thinking. These dismissed thoughts begin to form gaps. Over time the gaps get bigger and bigger until a natural state of still oneness with “Being” emerges. As these gaps grow, pure states of being like Love, Joy and Peace emerge. These states of being are not emotions and have no opposite. They arise from beyond mind. You go into a state of “no-mind” a state of pure consciousness. This is enlightenment – a state of wholeness of being. Enlightenment is an end to suffering. We come to the understanding that it was not through the mind or thinking that the miracle of life on earth or your body was created and is being sustained. There is clearly an intelligence at work that is far greater than mind. How else can a cell contain enough instructional dna to fill 600,000 pages.
This last line is simply an assertion of ignorance. He can’t come up with a better explanation for the existence of the reality he perceives so he employs a God of the gaps explanation. Considering his earlier references to Christianity I can take this only one way. He is touting the idea of Intelligent Design. I don’t believe there exists a conscious entity somewhere within or without the universe that has created all that we see. Instead we are a manifestation of the unconscious will of the universe to experience what it is to be conscious. We are Goddess or The Force as is everything. There is no separate intelligence apart from that.
The problem I have with Tolle’s philosophy is the same issue I have with Buddhism in general. It advocates a disconnection from responsibility. Tolle refused to take responsibility for his emotional self and the result is a complete disconnection from reality. By design we are supposed to have extremely active minds. It is what has allowed us to gain survival advantage and to thrive as a species, to experience emotion and feel connection to one another. If we are to just “exist in the now” as Tolle states, and just be happy in each moment with who we are and the state of our existence, why should we ever be motivated to do anything productive or spend any effort to improve ourselves or our surroundings or help any others in any way? It seems this is the way Tolle lived for 2 years on a park bench. It does not bode well for our ability to protect or take care of ourselves, our planet or others in need.
The peace Tolle advocates seems to come from formlessness and a loss of individual identity by suppressing emotion and rational thought. I just can’t get behind this concept. It is just so much New Age meaningless Fluff. Instead I feel we are perfect in our imperfection. Our design in this realm is perfectly suited as the consciousness of Goddess (or the Force). We possess the perfect set of faculties to accomplish this and we should not deny any of them. We need to embrace these things and explore these things and utilize these things. Emotion, pain and pleasure are all to the benefit of the collective consciousness of Goddess or the Force, or whatever you want to call it. To deny those things is to deny our purpose. To deny those things is to deny the very thing that makes us human.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:50:35 GMT
ADVANCED INITIATE PROGRAM
Lesson Four Choose a chapter from the book “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu. What was it about? Why did you choose it? What did you learn from it that you will use in life?
The “Art of War” is an ancient book on Military Strategy that was written sometime around the 5th century BC by a Chinese military strategist and general named Sun Tzu. It is commonly thought of as a definitive work on military strategy and tactics but over the centuries has also been applied to other areas including business tactics and legal strategies as well as mastering personal challenges and accomplishing goals in one’s life. Instead of picking one chapter from the book I went ahead and read the entire book for this lesson.
The “Art of War” is composed of 13 concise chapters. Each is devoted to a different aspect of warfare. These aspects begin in chapter one with Planning. It speaks of five fundamental factors consisting of “Way, Seasons, Terrain, Leadership and Management”. By assessing these areas a commander can calculate the chance for victory over his enemy. From there it moves on to the challenges of waging war. It discusses the idea that wars should be something fought swiftly and decisively in order to limit cost to the state. It defines the idea that an armies source of strength is in its unity and not its size. The book moves on to describe the importance of being able to defend a position until such time as a worthy commander can find the opportunity to advance on the enemy while denying those same opportunities to his enemy. Momentum is a powerful tool in this. Opportunities come from openings in the environment caused by an enemy’s weakness in a given area.
It goes on to explain the dangers of direct conflict but how to prevail in those situations where there may be no choice but to engage. It stresses the need for flexibility in the tactics and maneuvers of an army engaged in battle as well as the different situations, terrains and territories in which an army may find itself and how to respond to those. It focuses on being ever vigilant and constantly evaluating others intentions. It goes on to discuss types of terrain and ranges as areas of resistance and types of positions that emerge from those. In that context it discusses common situations and stages of a campaign and the specific resources that a commander may need to successfully conquer them. Finally it deals with the use of weapons, particularly fire, and types of targets as well as the importance of having reliable and solid sources of information, including the use of spies, and intelligence and the strategies to best manage that data.
A common theme though out the book is one of ultimate responsibility in an army’s commanders. Sun States: “Now an army is exposed to six several calamities, not arising from natural causes, but from faults for which the general is responsible. These are: Flight; insubordination; collapse; ruin; disorganization; rout”. Sun Tzu is direct in his assessments. Common themes in the book include the ideas that allowing for introspection or gray area in decision making are not attributes that make a strong leader. A leader’s decisions must be swift and final with no room for the display of remorse or weakness. He’s decisive, unwavering and blunt but fair and willing to take responsibility for sacrifice. This is what wins Battles.
Over the centuries many others have come to incorporate these principles into other areas of life. These areas range from business to professional to personal, just to name a few. In the end what I take from the book is that the “The Art of War” is a book about creativity, perseverance, leadership, prudence, teamwork, fearlessness and passion. All are extremely important principles that we must use in our lives if we are to overcome the obstacles, issues and problems presented before us. These are character traits within that we must nurture, practice and master. Sun States: If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.
I was reminded of the qualities of the Dark Triad when reading through this book. The Dark Triad is a set of three personality traits that on the surface seem to have a negative connotation but when looked at objectively take on a different light. The three traits are Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy. While these traits can be used to willfully manipulate people for personal gain, when used with a positive approach they can be utilized to make one an excellent negotiator, display a high level of charm or display a great deal of ambition. Whether they are used for the greater good or for personal gain is highly dependent on the individual in question but when used in balance and reserve with other character traits they can be positively beneficial.
I think all aspects of our personality are necessary aspects that we should utilize for the well-being of the whole. To me there are no “Dark Side” traits, only traits that we can use in a negative or self-serving or unproductive manner. These include what one would typically call positive traits as well. Love can be used to manipulate just as easily as psychopathy. I think this book speaks to that. War in and of itself is a nasty business. But the tools and skills and traits we use to wage war are the same ones we use to take on any aspect of our lives. That’s what has made this book so timeless.
It’s recognizing in ourselves the potential for both Good and Evil but also recognizing the fact that we are not slaves to either one. We have a choice every second of every day. That choice we make is one that can only be judged by ourselves as to whether it was the right one or the wrong one. But as we make those choices we must also understand that each one carries consequences either within ourselves or in the societies and communities we exist in. Whether those consequences are positive or negative can be a subjective thing as well. As long as we are willing to accept the consequences for those choices and have no remorse for the decisions we have made then who is to say what is right or wrong? Were those choices meant to be or not? Was Judas choice to betray Jesus and thus facilitating Jesus path to martyrdom a good choice or an evil choice?
Sun States: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt; if you know Heaven and know Earth, you may make your victory complete.” This book is not a book that you will read one time and discover all the answers to solve all your problems, nor is it one that you will be able to refer to in the heat of the moment to fix an issue. One could take a lifetime learning the hidden nuances of this books wisdom. However what it does speak to quite clearly to me are the ideas that there will never be clear cut and concise answers to any situation. Instead we must constantly use a combination of a proven set of methods in concert with unorthodox or extraordinary means to accomplish goals or successfully navigate problems in life. The second we find ourselves “flat footed” and unaware is the second we find ourselves in trouble.
This is not always about strategy or doing battle either. It is about building character and negotiating win-win scenarios whenever possible. Sun States: “Hence to fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.” To me this simply means that in any situation we find ourselves in, we are also presented with an endless array of possible options for action or inaction. But it is the type of character we display in those situations that is more essential than the strategies we deploy because it is who we are that will drive the measures we undertake.
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Post by Kyrin Wyldstar on Jun 13, 2018 22:51:18 GMT
ADVANCED INITIATE PROGRAM
Lesson Five 1) Speak about yourself. What makes you who you are? What would you perceive to be your ‘strengths’ and ‘weaknesses’? 2a) What were the main lessons that you took away from the Initiate’s Programme? 2b) What have you done in the way of training since completing the Initiate’s Programme? (If nothing, just be honest and put nothing – it’s not a problem!) 3) What are your hopes and expectations for this apprenticeship? 4) Do you consider yourself to have any areas of ‘strength’ or ‘weakness’ within Jediism? Are there any areas that you would like to develop your expertise in or are there any areas that you are less comfortable in that you would particularly like to work on and develop? 5) What are your biggest hopes and dreams in life? 6) What are your biggest fears in life?
Who I am is made up of everything that has come before me. I am part my ancestry, part my experiences, part my genetic makeup, part my knowledge, part the beginnings of the universe. I am part of the formation of this galaxy, the birth of our star and the origination of life on our planet. In all that vast expanse of time and space and creation I am unique. Everything in this universe has been set in motion for one thing. The culmination of who I am. In fact every form that has lived or will ever live is unique in this same way and no two will ever be alike.
We as individuals mourn for the loss of other lives close to us because “who” we are and “what” we feel connects us to them. This is a single attribute that we all share. The threads of that local web spans out through time and space to connect us all. In fact everything in this existence is woven together into one living, breathing, growing, evolving, infinitely beautiful dance of never ending creation. That is who I am, who we all are in fact; unique expressions of a living breathing reality with the will and courage to experience itself through individual forms. All life is sacred. I find this concept so amazing and powerful and special. I marvel at the idea that others fail to comprehend this or have little regard or respect for this simple truth.
For me this awareness facilitates a reverence for all life and an appreciation for the limited time I have in this cycle of life. It gives me a passion to want to live life to the fullest, try everything, experience as many new things as possible, to never stop learning and gaining wisdom and it gives me a desire to pass these things on to those who come after me. Of course I have fears and strengths and weaknesses just like any other. And I could spend time in dry dictation listing those and explaining why they are there or what I have done to overcome them. But that is not who I am. Those things are just who I am at any one moment in time. But that moment is fleeting and I am constantly changing. I am never the exact same make up from moment to moment. I am the journey of this life, not its individual moments or component aspects. That’s who I am.
In this journey we encounter a myriad of others that enter or leave our lives in a constant ebb and flow. We are gifted to experience the joys and pains of life with each one in turn. I have had other mentors before. I spent time with a Wiccan High priest and nearly 6 years studying under a Dianic Witch. In those relationships I learned more about my personal spirituality and what it means to truly be a child of this universe than I ever thought possible. But the most important thing I learned was the idea that no matter how much we think we know, we can always learn something new about ourselves and what we believe. It is so important to take every opportunity for growth and that is why I have come here to the temple.
I have spent a lifetime in this pursuit, always pushing myself deeper. In this search I have come to understand that I have profoundly rooted beliefs concerning this existence we all enjoy. I can look back at writings I did 20 years ago and see the seeds of what I still believe today in them. I have a strong belief in the energy of nature as the sacred feminine and a deep reverence in the natural cycles of birth, life and death. I have a deep reverence for the vast reaches and incomprehensible workings of this universe. I want to continue to explore these things as well as any others that strike my fancy as I travel this path. I love philosophy and I know that in these pursuits there are no answers but what we ourselves come to find comfort in. But for me it is not the pursuit of the answer that drives me. It is the pursuit of the questions! That is a pursuit that should never end.
These concepts were reinforced for me throughout the initiate program. Since leaving my last training master I had been struggling with my identity. I put so much of whom I was into that group that when that season ended I lost much of myself for a while. As I said, I have always had a very strong set of core beliefs but it is easy to mingle those with others you are intimate with. That sort of interaction serves as a vehicle for growth but when those things are ripped away they can also take parts of your identity with it. It takes constant vigilance and self-examination and evaluation to keep those times in your life from devastating you. We must constantly be aware of the fact that outside influences affect us and change us. We take those things and incorporate them into our beings but they are not who we are or what we know to be true. Those things can only come from within.
What I found in the end was those parts of my life I had taken from others were not really mine at all. They were just covering up deeper questions I still had not even realized were there, let alone had come to terms with. The apprentice program helped me to not only realize some of those questions but also discover that all the answers are within and our spirituality is not about a set of doctrines but a way of life that comes from deep down inside. I found that, even though it’s frightening at times, it’s ok to shed the things in our lives that no longer work for us because new things are on the horizon, better things. Campbell was probably the most profound part of the training for me. He taught me that myth and ritual and spirituality are deeply intertwined. And it’s ok to take those elements and use them in our attempts to describe that which is indescribable. But just because we use them in our lives does not mean we have to take them literally. They are not meant to be taken literally because they represent questions that we may never be able to answer. But we can use the metaphor of those concepts to explore and thus deepen our spiritual understanding of ourselves.
What I would like to get out of apprenticeship is the opportunity to continue that journey and to gain a deeper comprehension of myself. I would like the chance to further evolve my views and opinions on life and the mystical workings of the universe. Beyond that I do not put any goals in that pursuit because I don’t think our paths should be goal oriented. It is the journey and the discovery of rabbit trails on the path you never knew existed but non-the-less are just as fascinating to explore. That is what is important. What I hope to get out of a relationship with a mentor is a shared experience, basically an opportunity to walk that path with someone of like mind, if even for a little while. My expectation is for each of us to challenge the other in ways we never imagined. The role of Mentor is one of guidance and teaching but in that role there is ample opportunity for growth I think. Of course the role of apprentice is one of learning but each of us also has knowledge that we can impart to each other.
And I will be honest – my relationships with previous mentors did not end as I had hoped they would. Politics and egos sometimes get in the way of things. But it is because of these experiences that I have found myself in a place where I have a strong grasp on what I want out of a mentor today. We learn not only from the pleasures and loves and joys of life but the sorrows and pain and hurts as well! In a master I want someone of similar interests and philosophy as well as similar spiritual leanings. Beyond that I just want to share the journey of discovery and exploration – no other goals or expectations are necessary. This is not something I enter into lightly for it is something that will profoundly change me – it already has in fact.
Quite honestly I came here not expecting to find what I have. But I was challenged in the IP in ways I never expected. Since I have completed the IP I have continued in the Advanced IP as well as talked with other Knights and explored other training at the temple. I have considered the clergy program. And while I am still not sure that clergy is the right step for me I have actually started to study the lessons there on my own. My biggest hope in this, as in life, is to never be afraid to take every opportunity to challenge myself; to never be to prideful or two ignorant or to prejudiced to miss some amazing opportunity because I was short sited in one area or another. I want to slide into the grave completely spent and worn out but having maximized my limited time on this earth. That is my greatest source of inspiration and not having achieved that is my greatest fear.
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