Conclusion Lessons for Staying True to the Jedi Code
Over the millennia since the founding of the Order, Jedi Masters have recognized that there are number of conclusions a Jedi can reach before situations are thrust upon them. A Jedi who understands these conclusions will, when called upon to make a quick decision, already know the will of the Force.
The following nine part series is transcribed from the WotC Star Wars RPG.
"Every Jedi should spend time meditating each day on the will of the
Force. The reason for this is simple: if one has unwittingly acted
contrary to the will of the Force, recognizing the mistake soon after
may still give one time to make amends." - Master Odan-Urr
What Master Odan-Urr left unsaid was that by regularly examining one's
own motivations, a Jedi could be certain that she was not allowing
emotion, ignorance, or passion to intrude upon her clarity. A Jedi who
has no time to meditate may more easily become lost. More to the point,
a Jedi who refuses to meditate may already know that her motivations are
not pure, and is thus lying to herself. As Master Yoda once said: "The
Jedi who heeds not the counsel of the Force, to the dark side listens."
"A Jedi's training in the Force never ends." - Master Vodo Siosk-Baas
A wise Jedi should strive to remember that there is always something
more to learn about the Force. The Force reveals itself to those who
have the desire and knowledge to see it, and merely heeding the Force's
will is much the same as looking at a bantha's toe and saying: "Now I
understand banthas." To continue to grow, a Jedi should train each day.
Jedi can exist in this universe because the Force exists. But a Jedi
Order needs more: it requires loyalty. It goes without saying that
Jedi should be loyal to one another. They should not squabble or
fight. More importantly, though, each Jedi should be aware that he must
act in accordance with the wishes of his Master, who must in turn act in
accordance with the wishes of the Jedi Council. This is not a question
of seniority, but rather of understanding the will of the Force, and in
this regard, the members of the Jedi Council are the recognized experts.
A Jedi's responsibility to the Force is to be honest with himself. So
long as the Jedi is not acting for his own self-interest and observes
the Code, he is obeying the will of the Force. Master Odan-Urr lamented
the misperceptions of those who believed that the Jedi should be morally
superior: "Many feel that a Jedi should be scrupulously honest, never
taking advantage, and never withholding information. This is nonsense."
A Jedi can and should offer advice to those who need it. From a certain
point of view, a Jedi is not being dishonest if he allows people to
believe what they wish to believe. It is incumbent upon the Jedi to
convince anyone to follow his advice.
When a Jedi is serving the Force, he may employ deception, subterfuge,
misdirection, and even fraud, if he does so with a righteous aim.
Although most sentient beings have a distaste for such practices, the
Force is without emotions.
But take note - do not confuse this with "moral flexibility." (see the
next conclusion on morality) A Jedi does what needs to be done. But
also remember that a Jedi is not above the law.
The most dangerous - and debated - words ever uttered by a Jedi Master
are: "A Jedi is not a creature of morals." This statement has
unfortunately been translated, often by Jedi, to mean a Jedi can do no
wrong.
What it actually means is that Jedi are not enforcers of morality.
While Jedi can bring or restore order and justice, they cannot
themselves sit in judgement of others. There are two reasons for this.
First, the galaxy is a vast place, full of cultures that no one Jedi can
completely understand. One famous story tells how a Jedi learned that a
companion had been devoured by a cannibalistic Colicoids. When asked
why the Jedi later bargained with the very same beings for starship
components, she responded: "Because eating the flesh of sentient beings
is not forbidden by the Jedi Code - but to Colicoids not eating the
flesh of sentient beings is considered a sign of insanity."
This Jedi recognized that punishing the Colicoids for following their
nature would be acting out of emotion and ignorance. Similarly, not
procuring a badly needed engine part would have been punishing herself
out of guilt.
The second reason is that judgement leads to vengeance, and vengeance
leads to the dark side. This is easy to understand, though not easy to
practice. Should a known murderer be allowed to go free? Should a man
intent on murder be killed? To answer either question, a Jedi must
first know the will of the Force. Neither decision can be made hastily,
except where lives are threatened by inaction.
At the same time, while not judges, Jedi can be mediators. It is a role
they are suited for, and one that works in accord with the Force since
mediation leads to balance.
"The galaxy will live in tranquility if certain matters are a bit
overlooked or left unheard." - Master Odan-Urr
Though Master Odan-Urr believed in justice, he also understood that is
was sometimes necessary for a Jedi to practice discretion. Some have
seen this as a sign of a Jedi partisanship. Others, particularly law
enforcement agencies, believe that Jedi ignore small crimes in order to
apprehend greater criminals. Obviously neither is true.
The truth is that Jedi Knights are suffered throughout the
galaxy-despite their facility with the Force. This is because they do
not actively interfere with the lives of the common people. Jedi stand
for order and justice, and these qualities do not begin with the
misdeeds of a few. The goal of the Jedi should be to create and
preserve an atmosphere where justice can flourish, rather than to try to
create justice themselves."
Master Yoda often said that, should the Republic ever challenge the Jedi
Order's right to exist, the support of the common citizen would see them
through: "If fear us they do, help us they will not. If hate us they
do, hunt us they will."
"To be brave in battle proves nothing. Bravery itself proves nothing.
A Jedi should be prepared to put aside fear, regret, and uncertainty and
either fight, run, surrender, or die." - Master Odan-Urr
Younger Jedi commonly mistake bravery as the opposite of fear. Since
fear leads to the dark side, they reason bravery is armor against the
dark side. This isn't so. If a Jedi is mindful of the will of the
Force, he will know whether to stand his ground, or flee, or even to
offer truce. Remember that bravery itself is an emotion, and a Jedi
should be at peace - even in the midst of war.
"If a Jedi ignites his lightsaber, he must be ready to take a life. If
he is not so prepared, he must keep his weapon at his side."
- Master Odan-Urr
Conflict is a fact of life in the galaxy for far too many beings, and no
Jedi can hope to remain apart from it. But Jedi need not embrace
conflict. As Master Yoda teaches: "If a weapon you show, "A warrior am
I!' you say. And who is best must all other warriors know of you." So,
to avoid unnecessary fighting, a Jedi should not advertise his skill.
But when is it necessary to fight? The Force will show a Jedi when he
has no other options, and a wise Jedi trusts the Force in this regard.
When fighting, is it necessary to use one's lightsaber? The answer is
no, A lightsaber is an intimidating weapon - but it is not a tool of
intimidation. This is what Odan-Urr meant. Do not use a lightsaber to
create fear in an opponent. Use it to end a fight as quickly and
mercifully as possible. If it means destroying a foe so be it. But if
a Jedi can end a fight without killing an opponent, so much the better.
The best Jedi can avert injury altogether, with only a word.
In the past, some Jedi have taken this to mean that they should carry a
second less deadly weapon. There is no such thing. If a weapon cannot
kill, it is not truly a weapon.
While a blaster can let a Jedi attack from a distance, it is just as
effective - and more keeping with the Jedi Code - to use the Force
instead.
"Do not come to rely on the Force to the detriment of your other senses
and abilities." - Master Odan-Urr
While not part of Odan-Urr's Jedi Code commentary, this bit of wisdom
from the Jedi Master is often added to any instruction using his words
and methods. It warns Jedi students to develop their other talents and
abilities, to not rely solely on the Force. To use the Force to
accomplish every mundane task is to trivialize it. Using the Force
isn't the only solution to every problem; sometimes, it isn't even the
best solution. That is where a Jedi's other skills and talents come
in. Jedi training consists of many exercises; mastering the Force is
only apart of that training. The student also learns to run, jump,
climb, fight, swim, and think. These exercises could be made easier by
using the Force, but this would be a detriment of the Jedi's overall
experience. A Jedi needs to learn his capabilities without the Force so
that he can truly know himself and also understand what those without
the Force are capable of accomplishing.
Using the Force because it is convenient, even when other methods might
be more sensible, falls dangerously close to the dark side. It is only
one step removed from using the Force to achieve personal wealth and
power, and that is definitely a corruption of the Force.
This concludes the nine part series on Conclusion Lessons for Staying
True to the Jedi Code.