Jedi Master Thompson's Holocron

Holocron: 04 - The Cost In Doing The Right Thing!

Master Thompson — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 22:29:22 +0000

“You’re in a park having lunch and you notice a small child wandering around aimlessly, confused and upset. You watch to see if a parent or guardian approaches the child and after several minutes you realize there is no parent or guardian. Concerned you get up from where your parked or sitting and approach the child. You ask he or she in your warmest and most compassionate voice, “are you alright sweet heart?” The child looks up at you with a red face full of tears and anguish, doesn’t seem to be able to speak out of fear. You ask, “where is your mom and dad?” You look around to see if anyone notices you speaking to what might be their child or family member and again…nothing. You ask some people that are jogging and walking in the park if the child looks familiar. You get a negative from everyone you ask so then you extend your hand to the child offer he or she take it so you can walk them around a bit to the parked cars. (OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULD ASK FOR PROOF THE CHILD IS THEIRS SHOULD SOMEONE TRY AND CLAIM HE OR SHE!) Again, nothing…nervous and concerned for this child you bend down to meet his or her eyes and say, “baby…I’m going to call a Police Officer, will you sit with me and have some lunch while we wait?” Again the child says nothing but you can tell by the child’s body language he or she will go with you. You return to where you were sitting and you offer your lunch to the child which he or she eats which might indicate that the child hasn’t eating some time.”
The officer arrives and takes a statement and when the officer tries to take the child, he or she begins to cry. You offer the child to go with the officer and the child beings to relax. You sit and stay with the child for the rest of the day while the officer researches the child’s identity and attempts to track down the child’s parents. Lets give this a good, happy ending thats not too descriptive shall we? Lets say the officer tracks down the parents and there is some elaborate but plausible reasoning why their young child was found wondering by his or herself in a public park for hours with no food or water to be discovered by a perfect stranger that happened to be a moral and sound measurement of character.”

Here, you did right! You didn’t think about it; you didn’t weigh options or outcomes…pro’s and con’s, your love and compassion took over and you did what was moral and right! You sacrificed your lunch-time, your moment of personal relaxation and the rest of your day for a lost and scared child and because of this, you were able to reunite the child with his or her parents without further issue or even tragedy.

In our lives, doing the right thing is not always so easy. Doing the right thing might mean there will be a great cost to you and yours or others. Reputations; social standings, wealth and status, institutional paradigms that have been handed down and accepted for century’s are all at the mercy of the outcome assigned to one “doing the right thing”.

POPES, KINGS/QUEENS & PRESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CONFLICTED AND HAVE CHOSEN UNWISELY WHEN WEIGHING THE COST OF DOING THE RIGHT THING!

The situation of the child was an easy one for a principled, ethical and most moral person of character to prosecute. There was only you and the child. There was very little cost to your personal currency you had to consider in helping this child. You a grown adult that can take care of yourself if you were to become lost and this child who can not take care of his or herself if remained lost. Simple math here with few variables; however as our lives become more complex, the arithmetic in our lives becomes more complex. Doing what is right my have costs considered and not considered.

Is it so easy of a question to ask it in one word - WHY?

Why when a culture thousands of miles away accepts (and I say accept because though it does on and the government my condemn it…its still going on) the systematic rape and torture of her women by her militia’s and military goes virtually not addressed and recognized for the horror that it is? Why is doing the right thing here not so easy? To rape and or accept the rape of a woman is to rape your mother; your sisters, your daughters and every other woman you know. Rape; humiliate and torture a woman is to destroy another human beings spirit, mind and body and for what?

Control? Sex? Hatred? Other?

The world knows the horrors being done in other countries and knows just what the right thing to do is but…can’t and won’t in many cases act for many, many reasons.

Here in America there are woman and children that are going hungry. Women like your girlfriend, wife or mother. Children like you nephew and nieces, sons and daughters that are at this moment being victimized and brutalized in the most inconceivable and horrid ways unimaginable! Yet we know this…as a culture but we do very little when as a collective we can do MUCH!

Why is this?

“Things are not so cut and dry, not so easy. Considerations need to be weighed, options assessed.”

At the cost of another human beings humanity?

When clergy find themselves weighing the cost in doing the right thing for the institution of faith their members represent because they’ve horribly violated the sanctity of trust of their flocks and obligations to their Deity. The best they can come up with is a multi-million dollar emotional band-aid to easy a life time of suffering and turmoil for those violated and for those that love them?

When a CEO and CFO of a corporation trusted to manage your money for retirement cooks its books and plans to blow out the company to prevent the discovery of fraud and both profit from this action in excess of their corporate parachute which guarantees an unreasonable personal financial settlement…gets away with it by way of a GOVERNMENTAL BAIL OUT!

What was the math Congress used to weigh the cost to profit benefit in doing the right thing I wonder?

You are Jedi - Doing the right thing comes first without comment, question or debate! You must do what must be done and there will be times in which the ends may seem to out-weigh means just a tad then that will be another element to reconcile because to a Jedi, there is no such thing as good to evil cost benefit approach! There are times when action and or words may not be the proper choice but never both at the same time. There is always something we can do! There is always a choice to be made and inaction is not one of them!

I think it was Thomas Jefferson that said: “If I must chose between peace and righteousness, then I chose righteousness!”

Me?

I remember a summer day years ago while during my lunch break I spotted a child in a park alone and terrified. I seldom to never lose sleep over the choices I make when doing the right thing!

The Power Of Fear…

Master Thompson — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:59:17 +0000

Fear can be upsetting and debilitating, but as some will most certainly advocate…it has its uses. When do you use fear or does fear use you? When you speak and act from a place from within you filled with doubt and fear are these actions yours or are these the actions of your subconscious immediately moving into first position to protect you? As Jedi we are taught, trained to recognize fear and release so that it doesn’t become a problem for us and those around us but…more and more, I see that we of all people must revisit these teachings on a regular basis. We as Jedi adopt a often maintain an independent method when it comes to negotiating emotions and feelings. Often we do this to our own detriment.

We all loose our way, even Jedi.

People as a whole must train themselves to analyze the moment (Mindful Awareness). Ask yourself the questions: “how do I feel?” “why do I feel this way and what is the cause?” “what steps can I take to be sure this doesn’t become a problem?” Sometimes it is not only “you” that must solve a problem, often times you must enlist your friends and loved ones. Especially loved ones. Doubt and fear is inherent in human beings and the mind makes things worse by a factor of 10 because the mind finds ways to rationalize and/or validate doubt and fear. When you exeperience fear and doubt…stop and reflect…consider and ask youself why, what and how. You don’t want to say or do something you will regret.

Should mindful awareness fail you at that moment…too much emotion, meditate if you. If you can not meditate at that moment…call a friend or a loved one and talk about it!

Holocron: 03 - The Here and Now.

Master Thompson — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:38:31 +0000

It is as inherent as thinking negatively first before thinking with positivity, when considering making a choice to act. We always consider the future when contemplating to act or not to act. Do you know not understand that the future is constantly shifting based on how you negotiate the here and now?

“If we are to truly alive we must touch life deeply within the here and now because THERE IS NO LIFE OUTSIDE OF THIS MOMENT!” - Matthew Bortolin

We have issues and concerns every day in which we consider how might be the best means to negotiate these…we immediately dwell on the negative, then we constantly worry about what future reprocutions of what our potential actions with manifest. One doesn’t need to be a Jedi but just a responsible human being to consider the potential fall out of his or her actions. Only by way of deep mindfulness; open awareness & the weighing all the aspects and variables of your problem’s situation, you then arive to a set of conceivable and acceptable options. Some options might be harsh and abrasive, others might be subtle and smooth, while other are a balance of both but all options might not be liked or even respected by those involved. Heck, your mindfulness may lead you to the conclusion to not act at all.

But, if you must act…

You must choose an option and stay a course an accept all things the fruit of your deliberations and your actions will eventually manifest. The stress of having TO DO, always transitions to thoughts of acceptance or rejection by those that will be affected by your choice which then the mind begins to manifest the actual reactions by those impacted by your choice.

You see the negative in arguments and action thus you see a future YOU CREATE not a future that will be. Then you begin to reformulate your counter arguments and actions all the while your mind is producing impressions and images of again, the agreements and actions of those that will be affected by your choices. Its a circle of fear and negativity. In essence; you have seen a glimpse, a what if, not the future and so your choice becomes not what is best for you and those around you…it becomes a mission to sell a product.

All because what? “I can see it now, I know what he, she or they are going to think, say or do.”

You have a situation to negotiate so you consider and contemplate. You arive at options in which you may consider and contemplate some more. You weigh all variables and aspects and you then trim the list of options to a select few. You probe the acceptance or rejection of these and explore the who, what, where, when and why…and, you choose - then leave it there!

You choose and you remain steadfast and resolute however flexible and open to discussion but you take a side, make a choice and accept all that is to come with that choice.

“Difficult to see, always in motion the future is”. - Jedi Grand Master Yoda

Always in motion the future is was because he was observing it. Once you observe something you in effect change the very thing you are observing in some way shape or form. The past is gone, the future has not yet arrived so you must consider and act in the here and now.

Holocron 02: Emotional Vampirism

Master Thompson — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 03:16:13 +0000

We must be wary…we must always guard against “Emotional Vampires”. What is an emotional vampires? Emotional Vampirism is the act of manipulating another into an intense desired emotional state; such as love, passion, anger, in order to absorb the resulting emotional energy.

We all do this to each other in some way or form never really realizing we do it.

We may not intend to do it but it happens a lot in the course of a given day. There are those we know and love, we care for when they are sad and down in which this might happen.

Children to do this to their parents.
Lovers to do this to lovers.
Friends will do this to friends.

Then there are others that are out there; others that engage in interaction with us for the intent of initiating this practice. These are people that purposefully engage in this practice which is dangerous, extremely dangerous to our path and well being.

We as Jedi consider the circle a most important and sacred symbol. The circle represents full and complete wholeness and when two or more are dwell within the circle for mutual benefit, this is what Master Kenobi called “the symbiotic circle” which is the natural circle of interaction between ALL things living or inanimate. These people that manipulate us in such a way that we produce energy so that they might feed upon it, feasting on our portion of the Force is nothing short of a parasite to a host. They are essentially feeding on us!

We must extend our awareness and be mindful in all dialog and interaction. We must immediately spot the signs of Emotional Vampirism so that we can break the connection. If we do not do this the we become drained emotional, mentally and physically. This is fertile ground for the agents of evil. The shadows of the Dark Side will flourish on this most fertile ground.

An emotional vampire will share and will sympathize/empathize; we will offer understanding, wellness and peace, they will feed off of it dragging more energy from you. As the exchange continues with no positive resolution, you think you must work harder to sense, feel and understand their pain and hurt when the only purpose is to draw more energy out of you so that they might gorge themselves. Their insatiable appetite can not be satisfied. They hunger and consume and consume some more.

Soon you become tired and irritable and impatient. You begin to become sad as you experience both their suffering and depletion of your own fortitude and will. You become angry but not just for them, but because of them and when the connection is broken your standing square in the center of valley of the Darkness and despair. There is now sadness; doubt, fear, anger, aggression and despair are now in the place where peace, harmony and serenity once was and why? Because an emotional vampire drained your light and replaced it with darkness.

I’ve been meaning to discuss this topic for sometime. I actually found some interesting tell signs of the common personality traits that are synonymous with Emotional Vampirism. - Jedi Master Thompson

________________________________________________________

The Narcissistic Vampire Checklist

True or false? Score one point for each true answer.

1. THIS PERSON HAS ACHIEVED MORE THAN MOST PEOPLE HIS OR HER AGE.

2. THIS PERSON IS FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT HE OR SHE IS BETTER, SMARTER, OR MORE TALENTED THAN OTHER PEOPLE.

3. THIS PERSON LOVES COMPETITION, BUT IS A POOR LOSER.

4. THIS PERSON HAS FANTASIES OF DOING SOMETHING GREAT OR BEING FAMOUS, AND OFTEN EXPECTS TO BE TREATED AS IF THESE FANTASIES HAD ALREADY COME TRUE.

5. THIS PERSON HAS VERY LITTLE INTEREST IN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE THINKING OR FEELING, UNLESS HE OR SHE WANTS SOMETHING FROM THEM.

6. THIS PERSON IS A NAME DROPPER.

7. TO THIS PERSON IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LIVE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND ASSOCIATE WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

8. THIS PERSON TAKES ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE HIS OR HER OWN GOALS.

9. THIS PERSON USUALLY MANAGES TO BE IN A CATEGORY BY HIM OR HERSELF.

10. THIS PERSON OFTEN FEELS PUT UPON WHEN ASKED TO TAKE CARE OF HIS OR HER RESPONSIBILITIES TO FAMILY, FRIENDS, OR WORK GROUP.

11. THIS PERSON REGULARLY DISREGARDS RULES OR EXPECTS THEM TO BE CHANGED BECAUSE HE OR SHE IS IN SOME WAY SPECIAL.

12. THIS PERSON BECOMES IRRITATED WHEN OTHER PEOPLE DON’T AUTOMATICALLY DO WHAT HE OR SHE WANTS THEM TO DO, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR NOT COMPLYING.

13. THIS PERSON REVIEWS SPORTS, ART, AND LITERATURE BY TELLING YOU WHAT HE OR SHE WOULD HAVE DONE INSTEAD.

14. THIS PERSON THINKS MOST CRITICISMS OF HIM OR HER ARE MOTIVATED BY JEALOUSY.

15. THIS PERSON REGARDS ANYTHING SHORT OF WORSHIP TO BE REJECTION.

16. THIS PERSON SUFFERS FROM A CONGENITAL INABILITY TO RECOGNIZE HIS OR HER OWN MISTAKES. ON THE RARE OCCASIONS THAT THIS PERSON DOES RECOGNIZE A MISTAKE, EVEN THE SLIGHTEST ERROR CAN PRECIPITATE A MAJOR DEPRESSION.

17. THIS PERSON OFTEN EXPLAINS WHY PEOPLE WHO ARE BETTER KNOWN THAN HE OR SHE IS NOT REALLY ALL THAT GREAT.

18. THIS PERSON OFTEN COMPLAINS OF BEING MISTREATED OR MISUNDERSTOOD.

19. PEOPLE EITHER LOVE OR HATE THIS PERSON.

20. DESPITE THIS PERSON’S OVERLY HIGH OPINION OF HIM OR HERSELF, HE OR SHE IS REALLY QUITE INTELLIGENT AND TALENTED.

Scoring: Five or more true answers qualifies the person as a Narcissistic Emotional Vampire, though not necessarily for a diagnosis of Narcissistic Personality. If the person scores higher than ten, and is not a member of the royal family, be careful that you aren’t mistaken for one of the servants.

By ALBERT J. BERNSTEIN, Ph.D.

The DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder are: (don’t try this at home, folks):

A pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, lack of empathy, as indicated by at least five of the following:

1. a grandiose sense of self-importance

2. is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

3. believes that he or she is “special” and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions)

4. requires excessive admiration

5. has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favourable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations

6. is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends

7. lacks empathy and is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others

8. is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her

9. shows arrogant, haughty behaviours or attitudes

Source Material: http://www.angelfire.com/zine2/narcissi … klist.html

Force Unification: Balance

Master Thompson — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:51:45 +0000

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”?

Jedi Mala Meditation Mantra’s…

Master Thompson — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:44:10 +0000

Ashla Topic JEDI MALA BEADS seems to have sparked serious interesting in using MALA’s (and/or to compliment) for Jedi meditation regiments and routines. Mala beads are highly effective in helping to establish discipline; technique, besides benefiting from the beads spiritual properties when you dedicate the time and energy to use them properly. Here are some recommended Jedi Mantra’s for your use with your Mala.

(THE FOLLOWING ARE PART OF JEDI FLOW - THE FLOW OF WISDOM)

The Jedi Code:

There is no emotion, there is only peace.
There is no ignorance, there is only knowledge.
There is no passion, there is only serenity.
There is no chaos, there is only harmony.
There is no death, there is only the Force.

Mantra’s On Worthy Conduct

Mantra (1):
O Apprentice, the way of mindfulness is a difficult one.
Commit yourself completely. Always remain diligent
because the path of practice is narrow and continuously
assailed by the energies of the Dark Side.

Mantra (2):
Who is better protected: a Jedi with a legion of his/her fellow
Knights as his/her side, surrounded by a the enemy or one who
conducts his/herself with honesty and kindness, whose behavior
is upright, and whose thoughts are lovingly directed toward all life
is better protected because he or she has guarded his/herself
against the internal armies of the Dark Side that assail his or her mind.
Mantra (3):
Apprentice, it is best not to speak, to tell others
how they should live, let your life be your teaching.

Mantra (4):
Self-pride is a complex that eats the heart and mind of all, including the Jedi.
If you think you are greater than other life forms, equal to other beings, or
less than other beings you have succumbed to self-pride. Guard against
these three complexes night an day.

Mantra (5):
The greatest of all Jedi is not the one who defeats a thousand opponents;
he or she is the one that triumphs over his/herself. Without patience one
cannot truly call them self a student of the Jedi Way. Develop your patience
make impulse and whim as common to you as honesty and morality.

Mantra (6)
Do not abandon these who are suffering. Do no close your eyes
to those in pain. Commit yourself to finding ways to be with those
who are gripped by the Dark Side, so that you can understand their
situation deeply and help relieve them of their anguish.

Mantra (7):
Be an inspiration to your fellow beings. Carry yourself with grace and kindness.
Do not allow arrogance to distinguish you like fools in martial attire, draped with
emblems and medals. A Jedi should wear the simple cloak, tunic and boots of
his or her order with humility. When those who avoide the Jedi Way, pursuiing
only what is pleasant, attached to the senses, see one conducted so, they will
experience their loss and lament their ways.

Mantra (8):
Young pupil always remember; where there is anger, offer kindness.
Where there is selfishness, offer generosity.
Where there is despair, offer hope.
Where there are lies, offer truth.
Where there is injury, offer forgiveness.
Where there is sorrow, offer joy.
Where there is hatred, offer love.
Where there is evil offer goodness.

Mantra’s For Attachment & Desire

Mantra (1):
Beware of the binding passion of attachment. For a being that is
attached to his or her body, his or her thoughts, his or her feelings,
beliefs, perceptions, or consciousness is imprisoned and can never
know true freedom.

Mantra (2):
To commit to the Jedi Wayis to give selfish desires and to live for the
benefit of all beings.

Mantra (3):
The Jedi that arises with oily pleasure offers fleeting benefits and little
sweetness. It is fruit that quickly becomes bitter and over time poisons
the one who easts it. The joy that arises with equanimity, that is free
from attachment to sensual desires, is sweet and nourishing. Its benefits
are profound and ever present. Look carefully, young one at that objects
you desire. Are they truly what you believe them to be? What resides in
them that does not reside else where? What do they hold that cannot
be found in every element of creation?

Mantra (4):
Ambition and desire lead to the Dark Side. Be wise apprentice, there is no
happiness like the happiness of having few desires.

Mantra’s For Compassion

Mantra (1):
A Jedi who is worthy keeps compassion foremost in his or her thoughts.
His or her compassion extends to all beings in creation. With an open
and loving heart, he or she directs these thoughts for their universal benefit.

Mantra’s For Finitude of Life

Mantra (1):
The eyes are the tools of deception that conjure the illusion of death.
Look! See! There is no death, young Jedi, except that which exists in
the mind shrouded by the Dark Side.

Mantra (2):
Remember; death lurks around every corner, and it cannot be bargained
with. Knowing this, if you are wise, you will put ass all quarrels.

Mantra (3):
Life is precious to all beings. All beings fear death. Knowing this, young Jedi
and caring for other as you care for yourself, do not eager to deal out death.

Mantra (4):
You can not escape Death, young Jedi. Death, not just the corporeal body,
but all of manifestations of the mind, is inevitable. It is the way of all tings,
it is “the way of the Force!”

Mantra (5):
When someone is dying of thirst it is too late to dig a well. If you wait until
you are upon your deathbed to practice the Jedi Way it will be too late.
Death will not wait a moment longer it is ready. Do not be lazy, O Learner,
be steadfast for a serious deeply committed is steadfast.

Mantra (6):
Life is impermanence. All things are subject to change, and nothin can last
forever. Look at your hand, young Jedi, and ask youself, “whose hand is this?”
Can your hand correctly be called “yours?” Or is itthe hand of your mother,
the and of your father? Reflect on the impermanent nature of your hand
the hand that you once sucked in your mothers womb.

Mantra’s Against The Dark Side

Mantra (1):
A Jedi who is ruled by anger, by hatred, by jealousy, by desire
is bound to the Dark Side.

Mantra (2):
A Jedi who harbors resentment and holds on to the thought, “he or she was
cruel to me and showed me no respect,” nourishes the Dar Side energy of
hatred in his or herself. A Jedi who lets go of resentment and releases his
or her damaged ego uproots hatred from his or herself.

Mantra (3):
Ignorance is the path to the Dark Side. One who is practicing the Jedi Way
must always keep his or her mind open. he or she must observe, listen, and
learn. The truth is found in the most unlikely places.

Mantra (4):
Like the General that heads the army, thought is the vanguard of all action.
If your thoughts are influenced by the Dark Side, your actions will be evil.
Observe your thoughts carefully, for they may be leading you down the path
of the Dark Side.

Mantra (5):
Anger Is the powerful emotion of the Dark Side. It can destroy harmony and lead
to argument, conflict, and even death. When anger arises in you do not give
in to it. Remain Mindful, observing the anger, but not acting upon it. If you
Believe someone else is the cause of your anger, look at that the person
compassionately - they may be trapped in the Dark Side.

Mantra (6):
Hatred cannot defeat hatred Jedi Learner. It hatred is directed toward
you combat it with kindness. That is the only way to defeat hatred.

Mantra’s For Wise Action

Mantra (1):
Before you act, young Jedi, you must reflect. Reflect unwisely and troubles
follow as surely as a moth floats toward a flame. Reflect wisely and troubles
are like a shadow in the void of space, unseen and unfelt.

Mantra (2):
When acting always ask yourself, “does this action support my true happiness
and the true happiness of others? Does this action support my aspiration to
transform the energies of the Dark Side within me?” If you can answer YES to
these questions then you may be sure your action is worthy of the Jedi Way.

Mantra (3):
O Apprentice, you inherit the results of your actions in your body, speech and
mind. The ground you stand on today was produced by your actions of yesterday.
Actions of worthy conduct produce a stable foundation. Unworthy actions produce
a path strewn with boulders and pitfalls.

Mantra’s For the Mind

Mantra (1):
Control the mind! Hold it like a cup of water in the hand - still and calm.

Mantra (2):
If you are not aware of your mind, young Jedi, you cannot know it.
if you do not know your mind, you cannot care for it. If you do not
care for your mind, you cannot nourish it and grow in wisdom.

Mantra (3):
O Jedi Learner, you must tame the mind like a handler tames the wild.
As an untamed wild can bit and gore so too can the untamed mind arouse
thoughts of ignorance, selfish desire, and delusion that bite and gore the spirit.

Mantra (4):
O Apprentice, you must recognize and abandon the impurities of your mind,
the impurities of anger, hatred, aggression, fear, despair, avarice, superfluous,
desire, obstinacy, arrogance, and jealousy. When you are able to abandon the
afflictions of the mind you will find serenity and happiness.

Mantra’s For Mindfulness

Mantra (1):
Whether sitting, standing, walking, or lying down, be mindful day and and and night
of your bodily position and actions. Whether pleasant, neutral, or unpleasant, be
mindful day and night of your feelings. Whether kind, impartial, or cruel, be mindful
day and night of your thoughts. Whether focused, ambivalent, or dispersed be mindful
day and night of your state of mind.

Mantra (2):
Harmony arises when there is balance. Balance arises when there is equanimity.
Equanimity is the fruit of mindfulness and patience. Take your time, young Jedi,
perform every action with complete awareness, and harmony will be your reward.

Mantra (3):
Attention to the moment reveals what is hidden. With mindfulness of the
“living Force” it is possible to know what is unknown.

Mantra (4):
Mindfulness is the way of observing that the past no longer exists and the
future has not yet arrived. It is the way of dwelling peacefully in the present
moment, free from both desire and aversion. To live in mindfulness is to be free
of anxieties, regrets, desires and fears.

Mantra (5):
Focus on what you are doing. Concentration should be fully directed on the
object of your inquiry, the object of your task like a focused beam of light.

Mantra’s For Time

Mantra (1):
Always in motion the future is because it is unborn, unsubstantial. It is merely
an image, like a hologram of a living being. We can no more touch and feel the future
than we can touch and feel a hologram. The future, then, is unreal because it is not
present. Only the present is real, only this moment is alive!

Mantra (2):
When considering the past or the future, young Jedi, be mindful of the present.
Ifwhile considering the past, you become caught in the past, lost in your past or
enslaved by the past, then you have forgotten yourself in the present. If while
considering the future, or enslaved by the future, then you have forgotten
yourself in the present. Conversely, when you considering the past, if you do no
become caught lost or enslaved by the past, then yo have remained mindful of the
present. And if when considering the future, you do not become caught, lost or
enslaved by the future, thenyou have remained mindful of the present.

Mantra’s For Wisdom

Mantra (1):
A Jedi ought to choose words carefully and intelligently. A single word of wisdom
says more then a thousand words spoken idly. Thoroughly listen and reflect.
The words you utter can have a profound impact on the listener. Will they
bring peace or will they cause harm?

Mantra (2):
Wisdom exists when you understand something and recognize that you
understand it, and you recognize that you do not understand it. That is wisdom.

Mantra (3):
O Jedi Learner, do not cling to views or bind yourself to ideology. The
knowledge you now have is not changeless, absolute truth. Truth is found in
observation of life and is continuously learned and relearned. Be open to
the experiences and insights of others, do not remain fixed to a single point of view.

Mantra (4):
Release all holds on doctrine or dogma, even Jedi
ones and you will be counted among the wise!

Source Material: The Dharma of Star Wars - By Matthey Bortolin

Master Jedi vs. Darth Real

Master Thompson — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:16:15 +0000

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!!!

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!!!

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!!!

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.

“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!

Holocron: 01 - About Your Jedi Holocron

Master Thompson — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:56:51 +0000

According to the fiction, a Jedi HOLOCRON was a crystal cube sized to be held in one hand in which the Jedi (as well as the Sith) used to store and archive various types of Data. Information such as records on the universe and technology, teachings learned and insights gained and/or just the daily laments while on the path of The Jedi Way.

We do not have palm sized crystal cubes for you but we do have Word Press. At the level of Ashla Jedi Apprentice Level 3, every student will be required to keep a personal Holocron while in training here at Ashla Knights. Every student is to make at least one entry a week that is to include the following:

(A) Titles are to always read: HOLOCRON 01: (- numbered entry) PERSONAL or ACADEMICS & TRAINING

(B) You are to see that your entries have the “basics”. Example click here: THE BASICS

(C) When writing about academics and training include what lectures and assignments stand out and how they effect you and describe any experiences, images & events that stand out in your mind that seem to relate to your understanding of the lecture or assignment.