Jedi Master Thompson’s Holocron

A Jedi is described as one who walks in the Light Side of the Force. Often times this is interpreted as one who is an optimist; a pacifist and empathist whom under the pavilion absolute goodness, righteousness and justice, crusades for all that is understand and embraced as moral and principled.

From my point of view, this is incorrect.

If this assumption is to stand as the definition of a Jedi, then in order to achieve this end, one would have to adopt and embrace a rationality and functionality that would conflict with the said definition. You can not not achieve peace, serenity, harmony and calm be simply meditating on it. It helps…but it is not how things work in life. In order to achieve the order of things one must walk the line of “interpretation and opinion” or chaos if you will.

Many Masters teach (which they should) the subtleties of the Force by way of the hard absolutes of what is considered Light Side dogma. Well…thats fine, but you as a Master and or Instructor must teach the other point of view as well. You must expose your students to the Dark Side for only though adversity and challenge are we tested and found either lacking or true. Even if we are found lacking…there is a constructive and most positive truth there. You can not provide a lecture and a scripture that says; say, do and do not and expect your students and Jedi to blindly trust and follow your wisdom.   A Jedi can be heavy in understanding on one concept but should be introduced to the other concept so as to help he or she negotiate the natural state of chaotic emotions, thinking and action within or around the Jedi.

The Dark Side and the Light Side are phrases that describe parts of a whole. The Force knows no distinction. Sure, anything that produces energy produces waist or matter. Is this the Light and Dark Side of the Force? Is the energy production the Light Side and the expelled matter the Dark Side or vise versa? No it is neither. When a Jedi seeks to bring peace, serenity, harmony and calm he or she does so not by the will of the Light Side of the Force, but by the interpretation of his or her understanding and/or sense of right and wrong. The Light and Dark Side of the force like an object…become corrupted up on observation and interference.

In physics; an object at rest will stay at rest until disturbed, (OR OBSERVED) after which that previous state of rest can never be recaptured. Observing or communing with the Force is the same thing.

Meaning: As soon the Jedi observes or communes with the perfect state that is the Unified Force, he or she has inadvertently corrupted it by way of his or her own observation’s. He or she has decided upon Light or Dark Side and he or she has provided the interpretation of that observation by way of individual character and virtue if any.

If you have read the fiction, it is because of this the many wars between the Jedi and Sith have been waged. It is also because of this that so many Jedi have fallen due to confusion… fear, doubt and anger.

To be a Jedi in the real world means to call for hope and optimism but to stand ready to receive and deliver bad news. A Jedi calls for non-violent solutions and advocates dialog and negotiation. However sometimes fighting is required to get to that position and/or to maintain it. A Jedi seeks to ease pain and suffering but he or she need not experience it first hand to understand it. Often times we can’t comprehend the level of pain and suffering one is experiencing so we feel we should remain silent and step away. That is wrong. We should be there to explore that pain and suffering as best we can so as to provide the appropriate and measured assistance and response.

Jedi is supposed to stand for peace, serenity, harmony and calm. Herold right and just, champion the weak and defend the innocent. Yes…however to achieve this, a Jedi must possess the means in which to bring peace and harmony to the weak and innocent. You can not do this if you have only one perspective as your guide while on your path.

At the end of the day the question should not be…”did I walk in the light today”? The question should be…”did walk with balance today”?

The Jedi Master is the highest rank a Jedi can obtain in the real world. Yes there are Grand Masters running around out there, but…well…anyway. The Rank of the Jedi Master is reserved for those who have shown exceptional devotion, understanding, command and skill in the Jedi Way and the ways of the Force throughout their lives.

Question(s): Do you think someone logs on to a web community like this and then becomes a Jedi Master like…putting on a suit and going off to work in the morning? Do you think a Jedi Master…no…any Jedi wakes up and goes to school or work for some hours then comes home and becomes his/her true self?

Answer: The Jedi and the practice of the Jedi Way is a 100% 24/7/365 philosophy and discipline of living! PERIOD!

Let’s take me for discussion as I do not wish to alienate anyone in the community. “Master Thompson, do you live your life as Jedi Master on and off line?”

Answer: I TRY MY VERY BEST!!!

* I wake up a Jedi with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.
* I negotiate the day as a Jedi with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.
* I end my day as a Jedi with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.

Question(s): “Master Thompson do you stray off message, off path? Do you get tempted to take shortcuts and do things that might be considered off code and beneath the Jedi Way?”

Answer: I TRY MY VERY BEST TO NOT, BUT YES!!!

* I make huge mistakes but with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.
* I do dumb things and make bad choices but with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.
* I have moments of doubt and fear but with the Jedi Way in my heart, mind and soul.

Question(s): “Master Thompson, do you think you truly embody the essence and core of a Jedi Master? Do you think you are fit to lead and teach?”

Answer: I TRULY & SINCERELY TRY MY BEST AND HOPE I AM FOUND WORTHY TO DO SO!!!

* I am not perfect and I do not know everything and sometimes ask for help.
* I rely on others when I find myself woefully out of my depth or range of understanding.
* I take nothing for granted, I assume very little and give to try my very best to abolish my weakness’ and faults or at the very least keep them under control.

Question(s): “Well Master Thompson; it sounds like you are human. It sounds like you are nothing great or considerable in the way of being a Great Man or Great Jedi!”

Answer: I live my by the code of the Jedi. I find my wisdom and insight in the tenets of the Jedi Way. I implement the teachings and I have learned and experienced in my life which is of sound moral and ethical fiber not because I fear the unknown when I leave this life, because I choose to.

Earlier in my life I could never understand why the faithful did what they did, said what they said and then underscored it with their blind belief and faith in something unseen, not felt or heard. I used to cringe when people would say things that put fate and destiny in the hands of an almighty, omnipotent being or essence. How people could negotiate their lives based on the words and teachings from a book and stories subjected of such literary abuse it was criminal to even publish; read or adopt such things…knowing much had been omitted, doctored, accidentally or purposefully mistranslated.

I was ignorant and I now see that Faith in something…anything is that powerful and essential to the human spirit!

“To live life hostage to fear and doubt is the most crippling and debilitating experience a human being can endure. It permeates into all levels of consciousness and being until all you know is fear and doubt.” Before I came to my discipline I made choices. Just like anyone else…choices that were good and bad. Choices I both benefited and suffered from. I was once held hostage to worry, doubt and fear and I acted and reacted based on these and like everyone else I still do at times.

However now…as I put my faith in what I know and trust I make my choices and I SELDOM LOOK BACK, GOOD OR BAD WITH REGRET and my being a willing prisoner to Darth Real has ended. What must be done…will be done. I am human and like every other human I want to be accepted, loved and respected, Jedi or not this is an .125 of our very core. Is this a weakness, is this a weak flank for Darth Real to exploit? Sure it is. I am a man of the world and I will make my choices and I will do what must be done because that is what a Jedi does. I admit and embrace my weakness’ and look to those trusted and honored to assist me! Where I am weak, another is strong and where I fail another succeeds!

Embarrassment; pain, anger and suffering will come from the choices and decisions I make but embarrassment is the conformation of being off message and path. Pain and anger are the offspring of doubt and fear - doubt and fear can not thrive if you are already held hostage to them. YOU have to choose and decide to give them dominion over your life, you let them in. Darth Real…his power comes from YOU! Confront them head on…expose the naked reality of a the situation and trust that the fiber that is inside of you and trust those around you for YOU KNOW they will sustain and support you, giving you the energy, love and respect.

I’m nothing wonderful to script in the annals of the most noted or honored. Especially when so many men; women and children on the face the the Earth that “endure” they prove their greatness in some measure, while even momentary and quickly fleeting, they are acts grand enough to eclipse even the boldest & brightest of deeds

I do the best I can and I don’t have regrets for doing…the best I can. I sleep at night with clear conscious, light heart and soft spirit. I will never be the most popular or loved person in my life, but I will be the best person I can be IN my life. Darth Real doesn’t care about my present or future. Darth Real doesn’t care about my well being or social stability. Darth Real exists only to challenge and disrupt, to embarrass and hurt, to inflict pain an suffering for that is the role of life…to the corrupter of wills and spirits. A Jedi knows this and accepts this. He/she does not despair, a Jedi meets the challenge and fulfills his/her obligations to living and walking the path. Darkness dwells only until light is shined, obstacles removed, truths are revealed…confronted, choices and decisions made.

* A Jedi makes hard choices.
* A Jedi Makes uncomfortable decisions.
* A Jedi walks with truth and integrity.
* A Jedi never gives fear and doubt their due.
* A Jedi does what must be done and accepts the outcome good or bad and moves on.
* A Jedi in the end when all else has failed he/she, returns to the heart of his/her path.

“You must ask yourself to do something…you think, you can not” - Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn

I carry the title Jedi because I have made the deepest, personal commitment to myself to and to the Jedi Way. To walk the path trying and striving to be the best person I can be. I carry the title Jedi Master because I accept truth, and right no matter how ugly things my be or get. I accept responsibility and consequence without fear or anger. I do not pass blame and I do not point a finger. I step forward do what must be done, to make the hard choices and decisions and accept what will be.

I; Derek M. Thompson, Jedi Master asks myself every day…to do something I think I can not.

Thank you Hubba Bubba!