My friend, and first Jedi Mentor, Jesse bendyn wrote the following code, and his understanding of said code for Tenebrae Surgunt:
Tenebrae Surgunt uses a modified version of the "There is no emotion" Jedi Code. The High Council is aware that there are many Jedi Codes out there and that experienced Jedi may have been exposed to others that they like. However, the code that we use here is the code you will be held to in terms of conduct. If you are found in violation of our code while here, there will be consequences. Any other code may also be followed, but it must be followed in addition to TS' code.
Control emotion to bring peace.
Gain knowledge to overcome ignorance.
Temper passion to gain serenity.
Death is not the end of life.
Line by line explanation of the Code
Control emotion to bring peace
Jedi are human. Every human feels emotions are Jedi are not exceptions. Jedi at TS are in fact encouraged to feel their emotions, since compassion and kindness are central to our teachings. What we seek to discourage is extreme emotions, both positive and negative. Extreme happiness can lead to detachment and arrogance as quickly as extreme pride can. What we seek here is a balance. Not too much positive and not too much negative. Negative emotions cannot defeated, they will come back. It is the nature of the universe. What matters is what we do with those emotions. Do we let them have free reign inside us, or do we address ourselves to them? As Jedi we must face all our emotions and accept them, not just our positive but our negative as well. Only when they are balanced can we in fact become balanced. Balance brings peace to the soul.
Gain knowledge to overcome ignorance
It is part of the human spirit to be curious. Even non-humans (such as animals, other kinds of beings) are found to have some degree of curiosity. It is curiosity that leads to new knowledge and new knowledge that leads to wisdom. Seeking knowledge helps a Jedi to understand all perspectives and points of view in a given situation. Perhaps the Jedi has been in the shoes of one or more parties. Knowledge is a tool by which we can better perceive and understand the universe around us. Though seeking knowledge is not without its risks. A Jedi risks everything he or she already knows when they seek new truth. New truths sometimes falsify older knowledge that we only thought was true. A Jedi must never be afraid of stepping beyond and leaving behind a piece of knowledge. However, the Jedi must be very careful when doing this. He or she must be absolutely certain that this new knowledge is true. Anyways check before you step, and look before you leap. Also, there is some knowledge that is dangerous to know. When facing something you think might be dangerous, seeking out a Knight or High Council member for guidance is highly recommended. A Jedi should never be afraid or ashamed to ask for help.
Temper passion to gain serenity
Passion is the will that drives us, the fire within our hearts. It is the steel of our tenacity and toughness. But as with emotion, the key is not extreme amounts, but balance. Use that fire to melt that steel into a keen sword, and you will find yourself powerful, yet able to rest. Extreme toughness can make your hard, solid, unmoving. It can cause fear as well. Many beings become too hard when they have been through great times of trial or pain and suffering. Usually the fire inside is diminished or even gone completely. Re-awakening this fire inside and restoring it to the same strength as the steel will ensure balance and serenity. It is the same with extreme will. Extremely willful individuals will have a hard time resting and listening to others. In this case meditation is the best answer. If you can willfully calm your fires and gain some bit of wisdom to give your convictions a stable grounding, you will find yourself much more at peace, and much harder to push off your path. Sadly sometimes for some individuals bad consequences are required to bring the "steel" out of them. It is all an individual basis and it is all by choice. We can all choose to improve, or the universe can choose for us and teach us the hard way.
Death is not the end of life
New students may see the prospect of life after death to be a baseless belief in the sea of a factual universe. If you find yourself tending to agree with that, then part of following our Code is to accept such a belief as one of your own. However, in time and training you may begin to see this line a bit differently, as a statement of fact. Now, we all have to make some sort of "leap of faith" to get anywhere in the universe. We make the "leap" that our perceptions are true for the most part. AS a Jedi you will learn to expand your perceptions and awaken a "sixth sense" in a manner of speaking. This is your ability to sense and use the Force. With time and training, you may begin to shift from belief, to assertion. This part of the training of every Jedi here at TS.
Chronologically the Tenebrae Surgunt (TS) code was the second Jedi code I abided by. I would like to think that it shaped how I later viewed the No/Is Code. In many ways; my talk of accepting, rather than dismissing emotion, and tempering passion into something useful comes from these teachings. The most attentive of readers will recognise elements of this code in the Guidance Mantra. The Guidance Mantra is indeed derived from this Code, and one can hopefully see the evolution of logic from one version to the next:
Accept emotion to bring peace.
Seek knowledge to challenge ignorance.
Temper passions to find harmony.
Death is not the end of life.
In many ways; the mantra is a logical conclusion to the philosophy espoused by the TS Code. However, we have sought to better clarify the actual meaning, and our modern approach by changing some words. Thank you for your time dear reader, and I hope this provides food for thought for those who are looking to participate in the course on the Code, as well as those simply exploring the Jedi Code for its own sake.