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STAR WARS

or A few good thoughts in George Lucas’ movies

(October 22, 2007)

I. The Phantom Menace

Qui-gon: Keep your concentration here and now, where it belongs!

Obi-wan: But Master Yoda says I should be mindful of the future.

Qui-gon: Remember, concentrate on the moment. Feel, don't think. Trust your instincts.

*

The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.

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There's always a bigger fish.

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The Force will guide us.

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Never look back!

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Yoda: Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

*

Qui-gon: Remember: Your focus determines your reality.

I have nothing to add to the wise phrases of the Jedi Masters. They are simple, and summarize everything that can help to develop a Master’s apprentice.


II. Attack of the Clones

Yoda: The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.

*

Obi-wan: You are focusing on the negative, Anakin. Be mindful of your thoughts!
Be mindful of your thoughts Anakin. They'll betray you.

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Anakin: Sometimes we must let go of our pride and do what is requested of us.

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Padmé: All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow.

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Dex: Wisdom is more important than knowledge.

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Anakin: Mind reading works only on the weak minded.


Well, for the latter finding we can see a lot of examples in many scenes of the movie.

In Episode I, Qui-gon fails to influence the ‘Fly-like’ creature to take dataries. Since Anakin’s keeper has a strong personality, he cannot be influenced this way. The situation is different with the drug peddler; Obi Wan can easily talk him out of selling his products. Mind manipulation works excellent on a weaker character.

Fortunately the Jedi never influence others’ minds for their own sake, but always in the interest of higher purposes. Of course it is quite hard to decide where the boundaries are; were the higher interest starts. This is why the basic principle of becoming a Jedi Knight is to be completely free of gratuitous thoughts. But not only thoughts must to be controlled, feelings also.

Is it not Dear Reader, what Angels try to communicate through me?

Right decisions can only be made with a pure heart and mind. Therefore it is very dangerous, if someone turns to the occult teachings because he or she wants to excel, and handles inferiority complexes this way.

I confess that, I have possessed Episode III for months until I finally brought myself to watch it. At that time, I had some hot-headed, arrogant acquaintances like Anakin, having some extra abilities completely useless, because they had no idea of respect for others. They always had indoctrinated me like Anakin did to Amidala in Episode II.

Anakin, who immediately noticed obstinacy and disobedience in others, which of course he wanted to correct immediately, but has seen these traits in himself as a virtue.

Well, as I mentioned, sometimes I also have things to do with Anakin like youngsters who I am not willing to help to reach their full potential, because their behavior clearly shows they are already on the dark side.

Fortunately good ones come to me also, ones like Obi-wan or Amidala with gentle energies whose purpose is not to have power over others, but helping to the best of their abilities.


III. The Revenge of the Sith

Count Dooku: Twice the pride...double the fall.

*

Yoda: Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side

*

Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not.

Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

In this part, the disconcerted Anakin calming dictatorial ideas is called for patience by the Jedi Masters while the Chancellor is always tempting him. Well, this is a completely normal phenomenon. The positive side does not flatter, only gives warnings, encourages development and teaches patience. Those would like to become one of them need to undertake these from their free will.

The dark side is always tempting, putting his victims above the universe. It promises almighty power while making dependents and slaves of those choosing this path, and continuously collects the debts from those who have used its help.

In contrast, the other side’s nature is helping. It is not the reward or the possession that motivates a Jedi to help others.


IV. The New Hope

Fear sustains order.

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A dog fight is not the way forward.

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Obi-wan: The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.

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Princess Leia: The more you tighten your grip, the more star systems will slip through your fingers

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Obi-wan: Your eyes can deceive you, don't trust them.


V. The Empire Strikes Back

Yoda: Jedi's strength flows from the Force.

*

But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will!

*

Luke: Is the dark side stronger?

Yoda: No, no, no. Quicker, easier, more seductive…

Luke: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?

Yoda: You will know... when you are calm, at peace, passive.

*

Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.

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Luke: I don’t believe it.!

Yoda: That is why you fail.

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Yoda: Always in motion is the future.

. *

Obi-wan: Don't give in to hate – that leads to the dark side!

The Dark Lord is using one of the favorite strategies of the dark side with the Skywalkers when working to incite father and son against each other. Usually this is the only, but most successful tactic of the conquerors of the negative side: creating confusion, criticizing, to disparage, to call a coward, or tuning the loving parties against one another. Then he can sit back comfortably; the induced passion will do the dirty work for him.

Their methods are insidious, dishonest, but due to the fallibility of humans they are rather successful. Darkness is fighting with these tools also even when creating contrasts among the various spiritual teachings. The Good indeed looks for the common platform.


VI. The Return of the Jedi

Yoda: If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.

*

Obi-wan: You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

*

The Emperor: I can feel your anger. With each passing moment you make yourself more my servant.

These three quotes could be a brief summary of the work. Specifically, these sentences are the most important messages of the movie.

Yoda’s or Obi-wan’s words help a great deal during my work. When someone judges me, it does not touch me, because I know that I don’t fit in the person’s worldview, or limits, so he or she puts an "outsider" label on me, i.e. I represent the other side in this person’s eyes.

I represent many times and many kinds of ‘other’ sides, but because they cannot move me from my peace of mind so presumably (at least I hope) I am not controlled by the dark side.

Of course the other side is continuously trying to attempt me also, like everyone, but I can choose where I commit myself from my free will, and decide where my place is. Since it is not my intention to exercise power, rather giving help, the dark side has no chance on me.

Unfortunately, there was no era when it was popular to stand on the good side. It was always the other side having more followers due to the simple fact Yoda also points out: it is a simpler, easier accessible, and more tempting way.

The good side does not make a boast of being GOOD, since this is its natural way of being. No rewarding, no praise are given - what Anakin complains about - since goodness is not considered as heroism, rather the natural way of being. No Jedi would expect to glorify his actions, like no one would expect glory for breathing right.

The actions of those on the right side beat together with the heart of the Almighty because they only let the living force flow. They do not want to dominate, to hinder, or to yoke, they respect the "All Existing".

Well, for the other side - by nature - it is almost impossible.

I missed from the movie though that the Jedi Knights didn’t rush to help Anakin when he was in trouble, but as a matter of fact, there is a universal rule that the good only intervenes if it is asked to do so.

I was totally impressed by the movie, anyway. The story is a colorful, almost banal conflict between the good and the dark side. Actually, this is the null-story of existence, since either on our planet, or anywhere in the galaxy, conflict is the driving force: a continuous fight, a constant struggle between the two sides.

In the story, however, there are still open doors. I sincerely hope that in the next three episodes even more exciting things will be reviled. For me, the case of the midi-chlorians with Anakin is a central issue. When I first saw Qiu-gon examining the midi-chlorian level in Anakin’s blood, I felt certain that these midi-chlorians are the worldly OD energy, the terrestrial counterparts of the life-force in a galaxy faraway.

OD is the energy on Earth essential for survival. All living, existing things contain it, it occurs in the blood of humans and animals.

When a spirit being wants to manifest on our earthly plane of existence, it needs to possess this energy, without it, indeed, it is not noticeable to the ones living here. It is the task of the Mediums to ensure OD energy to the spirit beings intending to manifest.

The demonic forces are fed from the energies of fear, so anybody with a troubled state of mind or under the influence of alcohol or drug addiction can find them.

The midi-chlorians according to the movie can be compared to vital force. They are a group, cannot be divided into individuals. They are like the Holy Spirit for us. It is not a single being, but a group of beings. Although we use the name in singular, but in the movie this similar energy-group is talked about in plural. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, while Anakin by the midi-chlorians on Tatooin.

I hope in episode VII.-VIII.-IX we can learn more about them, as well as how Qui-gon has found the way back from death and how he gave this information to Obi-wan. (Maybe there will be an episode IV/B also...! I would be very happy.)

In any event I think of George Lucas often and keep sending him the message that midi-chlorians, midi-chlorians, midi-chlorians.