Jedi Philosophy is a practical philosophy for life inspired by the archetype Jedi characters in the Star Wars Fiction.
Jedi Philosophy is not a Fan Based ideology or a alternative new age religion. There is no specific doctrine or dogma attached. Jedi Philosophy is a simple and pragmatic way of living life in accordance with your own personal values. The Jedi Code provides a point of reference:
The Jedi Code
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
A Holistic Lifestyle
Jedi Philosophy emphasizes a holistic approach to life. Each person is made up of body, mind, emotion and soul. Therefore being Jedi approaches each element of the person in equal portion. That is, in Jedi Training there is usually components of:
- Meditation
- Physical Training
- Martial Arts
- Study and Application
- Mindfulness
To be Jedi is to embrace the whole and train the Body, Mind, Heart and Soul.
Jedi is a Verb
Being Jedi is about action, not appearances. In order to consider one’s self Jedi one must act that way consistently in all of their affairs.
How do you imagine a Jedi would act if you met one in the street? Would that person be polite, attentive, calm and friendly? Would that person keep a level head when things became stressful? Would he or she show compassion to others as well as empathy? I believe a Jedi would also be attentive of their manners and their appearance as well as their personal health. A Jedi would also be active in the community and help out where he or she is able to.
No one introduces themselves as a Jedi and expects to be taken seriously. However one can be Jedi as much as someone can choose to practice Stoicism, Taoism, Zen, Humanism, Epicureanism or Atheism. It is a Philosophy for Life, not a title or a badge.
The Daily Practices
In order to assist in personal growth and development, Jedi Philosophy recommends a set of five daily practices. The amount of time and effort you will apply to each will depend on you but even moderate daily practice will bring about results. Practices such as Awareness and Diplomacy can be incorporated as part of your daily activities and interaction with others. The goal is to develop virtue and self sustaining habit over time.
Self Discipline relates to doing what you have committed yourself to.
The Five Daily Practices are:
- Physical Exercise
- Meditation
- Awareness
- Diplomacy
- Self Discipline
The Jedi Goals
Real World Jedi do not exist as part of an organization. There is no recognized Jedi Order. You will not find a group of people calling themselves Jedi walking the halls of the United Nations or brokering for peace in the Middle East.
Real World Jedi however have goals. The premise is that through self betterment, we arrive at world betterment. If I become a better person and try to help people or the environment, in a small way I am also making the world a better place.
Each Jedi must determine what his is her values are and then act consistently in accordance with those values. They then determine how they want to contribute to the lives of others, what their cause is, what their mission in life is.
The Jedi Goals are:
- Train Diligently
- Render Aid
- Provide Support
- Defend those in Need
- Study the Force
The Jedi Circle
The Jedi Circle provides a framework for students of Jedi Philosophy. Practiced consistently through training, the Jedi Circle will lead to improved physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
Further Reading
Jedi Philosophy is evolving as it expands and is embraced by more and more people accepting it as a philosophy for Life.
There are few books on Jedi Philosophy and the web has some material. The web site Jedi Living provides references and training as well as an active online Forum that discusses the Philosophy and shares the experiences of people applying the principles in their lives.
Other online groups exist as well representing the three main branches of the Jedi Community.
The following books are available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon:
Trout K (2020) (Opie McLeod). The Situational Jedi: A Jediism Guide for Life. Amazon. Here.
Trout K (Opie McLeod) (2018). Jediism Explained. Amazon. Here
Trout K (2013) (Opie McLeod). The Jedi Religion (The Jedi Academy Online Presents: Book 3). Amazon. Here.
Trout K (Opie McLeod) (2013). The Jedi Circle: Jedi Philosophy for Everyday Life. Amazon. Here
Trout K (Opie McLeod) (2013). Exploring the Jedi Lifestyle (The Jedi Academy Online Presents: Book 1). Amazon. Here
Bird, C (2018). Your First Step Into a Larger World: An Introduction to Walking the Jedi Path. Amazon. Here.