First off, I am honored to be allowed to post with such wise individuals like yourselves. Now to the post... Control- What is control? In the case applicable to the Jedi, it is one's ability to control one's self. As a shadow Jedi, you must learn control. That sounds like a very odd statement, in fact, it sounds so simple that it doesn't need to be said. On the contrary, there is a lot to be said for control. Each area of the Force has different needs as far as control is concerned. I'll start with the Dark Side. If you choose the Dark Side, you must deal with control on two levels. As a Dark Sider, you have self-ambitious goals that require you to be in control of all situations at all times. This a natural Dark urge in all things that the other sides of the Force must keep in check. Also, at an emotional level, a Dark Sider needs to exert NO control. That way your emotions can guide you in your Dark path. If you are a member of the Light Side, then you have to use control in a number of ways. You need to stay in control of your emotions 100%. Otherwise you are essentially a fallen Light Jedi because your emotions have interrupted your means of self-control. As a Light Jedi, you must never let emotions control you. At all times the Light Jedi must remain in control of the situation, however, this is a different kind of situation control than the Dark Side's need to control a situation. For the Light, this means that you are in control so that you are ready to assist at all times. These also seem like they are the same, but the essential principles behind them are not. Then we come to the Shadow Jedi, as a Shadow Jedi you must exert the most control of all, though we naturally function as a balance of the two, it is the precision of the balance that is difficult. As a Shadow Sider, you must control both Light and Dark urges and apply them as you see fit. This is much harder than the later because it entails COMPLETE control over yourself so that you can achieve the true balance which the Shadow Side is known. It is a difficult task to learn the appropriate control for the individual, but it is a task on must preform to further themselves in their learning. Once you have made this decision you are ready to begin learning the sense of control which each faction of the Force must learn. It is a long difficult journey. I wish you all luck. May the Force be with you.
(Commentary: I know this post isn't as much a moral lesson, but it more entails understanding details and processes. I believe that the simple things, like control, are what make good posts, not only the giant universal concepts. I know you all understand this, that's why your here ;), but I'm writing this like it's being read by everyone. Most people speak of the large topics and over look the details. The details are what create the large topics. So I feel it is most helpful to others to make them think about such things. Well... that's enough babel from me. ;) )
-Tarjin Quai
Hmm.. .so you see control rather like keeping a grip on yourself, and not letting anything go where you don't want to? and not being "dark" or " light"?
You are very correct. That IS a lot of work. In essence, everything you see about yourself has to be modified, made neutral, made to balance out.
( gets tired thinking about it) I am a bit confused by just WHAT you are intending on controlling. Do you speak of intentions? Emotions? Goals? Reactions?
It sounds as if you would totally remake yourself into another image, using your control. Is that your intention? If so... why ? Why would you want to be anything other than yourself?
One thing Shinobi might tell you is that the Shadow path is a Path of Acceptance.Be careful that in "controlling yourself" you are not rejecting your own self... which in the end.. is ALL you have.
Mea'lorgharra
To answer your questions...
The control I speak of is the thing that an individual uses when gaining control one's self for any purpose. Actually, in the sense I am using it, it's more in a moral/spiritual/mental way. I am not intending to control anything, I am commenting on the way we function, the actual means by which one disciplines him/herself. As for wanting to be another, this I do not. For that is in no way my intention. However, if one were to wish to do that... using such controls in an extreme degree would produce such results. And to clarify on the Shadow Side usages... The control which a Shadow Sider would use is merely the control of when to use what emotion/feeling/force at the appropriate time. I would just like to reiterate, that I do not suggest one should try to bottle themselves up like a genie in a bottle, but merely to point out processes by which things occur. Which could be anything, though, once again, I am referring to a more spiritual/mental/moral level. I hope that I have answered your questions. If you have any more, or would like more clarification, I am more than willing to explain further on the subject.
-Tarjin Quai
So, wait..a shadow sider has control over what emotion to use in a given situation..ummm..wouldn't that be a falsehood in the sense that you are denying your natural reaction? How is this better then ignoring or cultivating the emotion? Isn't that more dangerous on the reaction point of view?
Sauron
Hmm
I am curious as to why you think that Dark Siders have no emotional control. Although we use our emotions to benefit us. Letting them run rampant is no more beneficial to us than it would be to those of the other paths.
Darth Taranis/Lord Paimon
Well, I'm glad my post is such a popular topic. Ok, first Sauron, as I understand it, it is not "natural reaction" which we use as Shadow Jedi. It is the one the individual sees fit to use. Now I know Force Master is not a Shadow Jedi, however he is still wise in the ways of the Force, is he not? I say this merely because I wish to quote him in his statement, "Moreover Shadow Side Force users adapt their Force ability to the situation they are in." That of course is from the introductory page of the Shadow Side from the ForceAcademy.com site. That is how I learned it, and how I live it, and how the Force functions within me accordingly. Now one can debate this, because the Force can't simply be boiled down to one statement. However, to explain it in simplistic terms, which is one of my goals as a poster, it makes concepts more graspable to initiates. Why ignore or cultivate? In some emotions this is practical(ie: love, friendship, hatred, etc.), but in most one must make these decisions as one sees fit in a given situation. Ponder this. As far as dangerous? Well, one should consider the dangers involved of course, but any danger is self caused, and you are aware of it. Is that not better than not knowing wether harm will come to you or not? I'll use a simple example. Let's say you say something without thinking. That is a "natural urge" caused by your personality. Let's say this offends someone. Would not "control" be applicable in such a situation? I hope that I didn't miss anything. Darth Taranis, I still believe my statement to be without error, as a Dark Jedi, do you not have the Force guide you in all of your actions according to your emotions? That is a key idea of the Dark Side as I know it, however, I may be able to be faulted here, for I am in no way adept in the Arts of the Dark Side. Rage is a key emotion of the Dark Side, if you follow an urge of rage, it seems to me that 100% of the time you will be merely obeying your Dark path. MTFBWY.
Pew! That's a mouthful! ;)
-Tarjin Quai
> it is not "natural reaction" which we use > as Shadow Jedi. It is the one the individual > sees fit to use.
This could be just me...but I have always used my natural reaction. It is what I have always found fit to use. If I did not use my natural reaction then I would be denying myself, something which I could never do.
However I can see something else in this point. As we emerge from societies structure and mannerisms it is hard to see what is our natural reaction. There is so much that we have had thrust upon us which we must first free ourselves from. In a situation where such factors become relevant, we might just have to control ourselves to react, think or feel in the way which we find true to ourselves. Once you free yourself and become a true master of the shadows you will no longer need this control as what you do will be nothing but that which is true. Control is of relevance to the learner in that sense, however even after a master needs not use it to keep themselves true...it is still of relevance. A master cannot forget about these things simply because they have surpassed them, how effective would they then be at teaching someone else, someone who still needs that control?
Just a few points to mull over..
Take Care and be mindful
Colin
I think you have a lot more to learn about the dark side before you can define its Key principles. For one dark Jedi use there emotions as tools to benefit them along the path. Anger, Hate, Rage, tend to make one delusional if they are not tempered with Mindfulness. Above all a Dark Jedi seeks control and power letting his emotions run rampant would deny him both.
Darth Taranis/Lord Paimon
Darth Taranis, I shall keep you knowledge in mind. Thank you for the correction, as I said, I am non to knowledgeable on the concepts of the Dark Side. Collin, as one trains using the controls, it becomes second nature and eventually appears to disappear. However, it seems that many perceive the Force in different ways... so there is really no right answer.
May the Force be with you.
-Tarjin Quai
Yes, many good points made here, I think. Personally I often use my natural reaction but in some situations I don't. Sometimes a friend may be in a situation where the only way to get them out of it is to hurt them and if they stay in it they will be hurt a lot more. In that case it's hard to do it but sometimes the thing you should do is cause that pain to knock them out, that, for me, is far from a natural reaction.
Rogue Ace
Denying natural reaction is only a negative thing, if you are honestly not recognizing it.
Shadow Jedi talent lies in the ability to neutralize any given emotion. To detach, they learn this ability not through strict code of conduct, but through acceptance of all that is natural, once you accept it, you can begin to control it, not so much you dominating it, as it working with you.
We can display the proper emotions at the proper time, but if we do not hold with honesty to ourselves we drift away from who we are and we lose what makes us Shadow's in the first place, both realms must be paid equal attention.
Shinobi