THE JEDI CODE

[ALMIGHTY ALICE]

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

What does this all mean?

There is no emotion, there is peace.

Many younger members of the Order misinterpret this to mean one must become a soulless being devoid of emotion. Emotion is a natural part of living, and not something one should ever try to remove. Rather, emotion is something to be considered, understood, and then put aside, rather than used. For dangerous emotions can be, able to sway the hearts and minds of those who let it run rampant within them. Jedi's are allowed to feel; they are not to let these feelings disrupt their thoughts. This tenet could be rearranged to more clearly mean; Emotion cannot take away my peace.

There is no ignorance, there is knowledge.

This tenet is a reminder to the Order of how important knowledge is, and how equally important it is to remain unbiased of such knowledge. Similarly, knowledge can come from anywhere, and no knowledge should be discredited for any reason. Quite simply, one must open their mind to perceive the entirety of their situation in the grandest scope possible, filtering out as little as possible. "Feel, don't think."

There is no passion, there is serenity.

This tenet is more than a repetition of the first. It refers more to situations of extreme stress where a Jedi might be tempted to react strongly, or tunnel vision to something that is not their goal. That a Jedi must draw his weapon only in defense is an expression of this tenet, as a Jedi should aim to keep as many options open as possible. While emotions and intuition must be understood and utilized in a Jedi's daily life, they must be checked, lest the Jedi act rashly and lose objectivity. A Jedi must always act with a calm hand and an even temper. "When in doubt, stay your hand", observing each situation as clearly as the Force sees it, not clouded with unbridled passion.

There is no chaos, there is harmony.

This reflects the Jedi's view upon the Galaxy in a much more religious approach. Many would view the Galaxy and the events there-in as a chaotic mass of events and actions, but a well trained Jedi able to see how connected everything is to anything. This mentality also serves to deflect from the darker side of life, such as failures and tragedies. Jedi's do not deny that they happen; rather, accept that they are a natural part of life that must be overcome, not dwelt upon.

There is no death, there is the Force.

Arguably one of the most important tenets, for it teaches the cycle of life and the importance of embracing all its aspects. That death is not the end, nor is it to be feared. Individuals should accept death as just another step in their journey through the Force, for one becomes more interconnected with everything living. It's also important to note that, unlike the other tenets, 'death' and 'the Force' are not total opposites, but unalike pairs, such as corruption and purity, or life and death. Pairs that must exist together for the sake of life to exist. As such, death must exist for life to exist, and with it, the Force.

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