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Lecture IX

How should I learn?
Lightside@forceacademy.com

There are various options open to students wishing to learn as much as possible about the ways of the Jedi. Remember that it is better to be an intellegent, wise student who learns much, than a Padawan that learns little. The amount of your own personal learning depends on how much you put into it, and the choices that you make.

The first option is to train alone. Personally, I believe that all students should go through this period to begin with for at least a few weeks. Sometimes less, sometimes more. Begin the self-training phase of your learnings by reading all the lectures (You are now, ja?) as well as the other postings around the board. There is much to be learned from others, even if it does not seem so on first glance. This is also a lesson in patience and self control. All too often I see young students who are in a rush to be trained personally...sometimes, however, this is not always the best thing...you must take time on your own to truly decide which branch of the Force you wish to follow...Light, Shadow, or Dark.

The second is to be trained without a title. This is the second step, which I am also highly in favor of. I have regular Email and chat communications with a number of students who are not my Padawan or Apprentices...but I do answer their questions, and help to guide them. It is a branch off of the self-teaching phase, because you are still teaching yourself, but you are gaining the help of a Master or Knight. This process does do other things however...in addition to helping you to continue your studies, you will build up a repoire with the Master. When he or she is ready to take a Padawan, they will already know of you, and will likely have kept up to date on your postings, etc. By this, you better your chances at getting a Master...also, you enhance your own personal training. Soon, the Force Academy will institute a training system, where we will appoint trainers to work with students, in an effort to increase the education levels across the board. When this comes into effect, it is heavily recommended...it is a great starting point for students who are looking for a personalized education into the ways of the Force.

The third is to become an apprentice. There have been some questions raised about the number of apprentices, what makes an apprentice, etc. Personally, I define "apprentice" as a student that is specially taken to be trained under a high degree of intensity, as one of many. An apprentice is is no way the same as a Padawan. The reason for this is that apprentices get a lower degree of attention from the Master, and is thus less "connected". Personally, I do take apprentices...but only in special cases. My Padawan, Serena, was promoted to Knight, but had her title also changed from Padawan to Apprentice, so that I may continue to teach her, without violating the rules of her training. For me, Apprentices are to be taken with the utmost care, because it is the same as having a child...albeit one of many. When I consider taking an apprentice, I will generally spend a great deal of time studying the student, and gauging their connection with the Force, as well as proficiency in other areas. Apprentices are multi-directional...you may be an apprentice before you are a Padawan, and you may be a Padawan before you are an apprentice. But to those students who are considering becoming an apprentice to a Master, do your research, and make sure that it's what you want. One thing that you may wish to do is ask how many apprentices the Master already has...that way, you can better gauge how much personal attention you will be able to recieve. Personally, I feel that maximum number of apprentices that any Master at the present time should have is 4...there is simply no need for more...but that's an issue open to personal interpretation.

The Fourth area is becoming a Padawan. To be a Padawan is a special thing...it is defined by a student being officially named as a Master's Padawan Learner, and recieving the highest quality of personal instruction available. The steps above are the best way to become a Padawan...learn on your own, then email a Master with any questions you may have, or you may want to introduce yourself. The phrase "The Master will find the student, when the student is ready" is especially true here. Masters do not generally answer to "I wish to be a Padawan" postings. In my case, weeks or Months of research go into finding a proper student.

The best advice that I can give is to learn as much as you can from the board, post wisely, and make sure to have a good time with everyone else. Regardless of who your Master is, how much you learn really does depend on you. We're all part of a great board, and it's important that we all gain the most from it!

JediKnightG
PradseLost@aol.com

Characteristics of Force Adepts
Lightside@forceacademy.com

The following post is courtesy of one of the Jedi Knights on the Council, Ellen Merritt, and thus I give her credit for it...good lecture, Ellen: To all those who read this, remember that the lecture is made out of general characteristics, never absolutes, because there are exceptions to every rule. This does provide a rough outline for the different kinds of personalities inherent in the different Force Adepts, as well as a guide for new students to study which particular branches of the Force fit them best, at a personal level. So to continue with Ellen's Lecture:

JEDI - CHARACTERISTICS, MISSION AND PURPOSE
The Light path is the most limited, but also the most powerful, available to a Jedi. It is the responsibility of Light Jedi to use their abilities to make their corner of the world a better place, to improve the quality of life for others whenever and wherever possible, and to bring love, compassion, peace and harmony to their environment and to the world. Light Jedi may only use the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. Anger, fear and aggression have no place in the heart of a Light Jedi. These lead to the dark side of the Force. Light Jedi develop their abilities through discipline, patience, study and practice of meditation and Light side techniques. The ultimate goal for a Light Jedi is peace. The Light side tends to attract the philosophers, thinkers and teachers, although there are these elements in the other paths as well.

SHADOW JEDI - CHARACTERISTICS, MISSION AND PURPOSE
Shadow Jedi are the pragmatists among Force users. A Shadow Jedi's philosophy can generally be summed up as follows: "The end justifies the means". Balance is the ultimate goal for a Shadow Jedi. They use both dark and light Force techniques to achieve the desired result, whichever proves more effective. To a Shadow Jedi, there is no such thing as Dark side and Light side, as this conflict is seen as an archetypal holdover from various mythologies, and an unnecessarily limiting influence on Force use.

Shadow Jedi tend to be atheists, or hold to some philosophy that does not include a deity or deities. They tend to focus exclusively on the present, dealing with the here and now, and solving present problems, largely regardless of past influences or future consequences. Problem-solving motivates their actions. While immediate gratification may be welcome, it does not serve as the sole guideline for their actions. Shadow Jedi tend to be highly practical, free-spirited, and relatively free of unwanted emotions (such as guilt or anger). Shadow Jedi tend to be the most tolerant of the three groups of Force users, since Dark and Light are equal in their eyes, and indeed, the Shadow Jedi sees elements of both good and evil within each Jedi. Unlike Dark and Light, however, the Shadow seeks to reconcile these elements, not defeat one over the other. Shadow Jedi are primarily people of action, not philosophy, and accept what is. "There is no why." The Shadow side attracts Force users from both sides, as many Force users find Dark and Light to be too confining for their needs, and unsatisfactory paths in their individual journeys.

DARK JEDI - CHARACTERISTICS, MISSION AND PURPOSE
The dark path is the quickest and easiest to master, and hence the most tempting for anyone with Jedi potential. Whereas Light Jedi tend to be philosophers and Shadow Jedi tend to be pragmatists, Dark Jedi tend to be warriors. Anger, fear, aggression and hatred fuel their power and abilities, and are seen to be Dark virtues. Power and dominance is the ultimate goal of the Dark Jedi.

Dark Jedi tend to focus on the past, especially focusing on the events in their lives which have led them to feel anger, fear, aggression and hatred. These feelings are rehashed, renewed, refined and amplified in order to fill them with the desired emotions necessary for conquest. They are driven solely by instinct, using their desires and purposes as their only guideline for action. Dark Jedi seek immediate gratification for its own sake.

The Dark path, while the quickest to master and perhaps the brightest-burning, is quickest to extinguish. It seeks to consume its user, either from within as dark emotions wither the spirit, or from without, as other Dark Jedi seek to destroy him/her and absorb his/her power for their own. Dark Jedi tend, as a result, to love danger, "live on the edge", and seek action over reason or negotiation. The Dark side tends to be attractive to the angry, bitter, impatient, impulsive, disillusioned, confused and ambitious among Force users.

CHANGING PATHS
Each Force adept must choose his/her path in the Force as a part of the individual Force journey. While this choice is usually made with much study and forethought, many Jedi trainees find during the course of their training that their chosen path does not entirely fit their needs. Hence, it becomes necessary for them to change paths. While this is possible at any time for any path, it is never easy, and may carry inherent risks. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Dark Jedi who wishes to turn to the Light side. Often, this decision is plagued by guilt, doubt, fear and outright terror, depending upon how deeply this Jedi has delved into the Dark side. His/her life may well be in danger (as if it were not before!), but with the understanding and support of friends and colleagues from either Shadow, Light or a combination of both, a Dark Jedi may be redeemed.

Ellen Merrit
EdmRead@aol.com

JediKnightG
PradseLost@aol.com