Ok, to introduce myself: I consider myself a Jedi. This is not a joke, an internet hoax, or a cheap trick to get a laugh. This is truthfully a belief that I hold.
Perhaps a short introduction to the concept is in store. For more information, the link at the bottom will lead you to all the information you probably need.
The concept is to apply JedI ideals as seen in a fictional "universe" called Star Wars. The fiction includes 6 movies, more books than I care to count (let alone read), and comic books. It applies the concept of the force, a code, and hopefully later on: an "Order". It can be seen many ways and includes a few different aspects: a belief system, an organized religion, and/or a way of life.
The way of life includes many things. These are the things you do. It includes martial arts, general physical fitness, meditation, academics. These train your mind, body and spirit (the totality of ones being) and together balance your lifestyle to be a better overall human being. Besides training yourself, you must apply that training to better the world around you. A Jedi's role in bettering the world is through conflict resolution. Now, I should probably dispel the idea that this means vigilantism per say. I see it more as working through the existing peace keeping forces around the world: Armed Forces or Police. Although this is true, a Jedi can help out in many ways and should do whatever they can given the circumstances of their environment.
The belief system aspect is the belief in the Force. There are many views on this represented. Some would say that it is everything and encompasses everything. It could be seen as the primal force or in other words, the proverbial "gear" that drives the universe and causes what is here to be. It could be seen as ki (chi), prana, orgone, and for others even God (with the specific ideas behind those words). The movies refer to a "will of the force". So, perhaps it is God-like with motives, thoughts, etc. Another conception that is out there is that the will of the force is derived from the collective consciousness of all living things. It is made up of the will, hopes, dreams, desires, fears of every plant, animal, fungi, bacterium or protist. The force, for intellectual purposes, might be broken down into other forces. For instance: the Universal Force, the Living Force, and the Personal Force.
The Jedi Order aspect of the Jedi (organized religion/philosophy) is not fully developed as of yet. There are attempts though, and there have been attempts in the past. There is a non-profit organization out there, and a few different councils. I will just describe the Jedi Order in theory though, and theorize based off of the fictional modal.
The ranks that are used are (in fiction at least): Padawan, Jedi Knight and Jedi Master. I think of these as the following: A Padawan is one learning the way of life, and is not yet ready for the activities and responsibilities of Jedi-hood. A Jedi Knight is one trained to a degree of professional skills. A Jedi Master is one learned enough to preserve the way of life (to serve on the council, or to take on a Padawan or teaching job and teach others the path). The council, made up of a sub-set of the "Masters" is the decision making body of the group.
As of right now, most activity is over the internet. The Jedi are few and far between, and what I would call true Jedi (don't just pay lip service or declare oneself a Jedi) are even farther apart (if there is even a person worthy of the title as of know). There have been offline meetings, and offline activity in general to a small degree (all relative of course). So, this Jedi Order is not exactly in existence. It would though include offline person-person "real-life" training in an organized training regimen, a Head-Quarters for Council meetings, local "chapters", etc. These are just my tentative musings though.
If there are any questions, feel free to ask. I will try to get you an answer (if not from me, then from one of my colleagues)
Go to this for more information.
http://www.jediresourcecenter.org/website/news.php
It has a links page....
Perhaps a short introduction to the concept is in store. For more information, the link at the bottom will lead you to all the information you probably need.
The concept is to apply JedI ideals as seen in a fictional "universe" called Star Wars. The fiction includes 6 movies, more books than I care to count (let alone read), and comic books. It applies the concept of the force, a code, and hopefully later on: an "Order". It can be seen many ways and includes a few different aspects: a belief system, an organized religion, and/or a way of life.
The way of life includes many things. These are the things you do. It includes martial arts, general physical fitness, meditation, academics. These train your mind, body and spirit (the totality of ones being) and together balance your lifestyle to be a better overall human being. Besides training yourself, you must apply that training to better the world around you. A Jedi's role in bettering the world is through conflict resolution. Now, I should probably dispel the idea that this means vigilantism per say. I see it more as working through the existing peace keeping forces around the world: Armed Forces or Police. Although this is true, a Jedi can help out in many ways and should do whatever they can given the circumstances of their environment.
The belief system aspect is the belief in the Force. There are many views on this represented. Some would say that it is everything and encompasses everything. It could be seen as the primal force or in other words, the proverbial "gear" that drives the universe and causes what is here to be. It could be seen as ki (chi), prana, orgone, and for others even God (with the specific ideas behind those words). The movies refer to a "will of the force". So, perhaps it is God-like with motives, thoughts, etc. Another conception that is out there is that the will of the force is derived from the collective consciousness of all living things. It is made up of the will, hopes, dreams, desires, fears of every plant, animal, fungi, bacterium or protist. The force, for intellectual purposes, might be broken down into other forces. For instance: the Universal Force, the Living Force, and the Personal Force.
The Jedi Order aspect of the Jedi (organized religion/philosophy) is not fully developed as of yet. There are attempts though, and there have been attempts in the past. There is a non-profit organization out there, and a few different councils. I will just describe the Jedi Order in theory though, and theorize based off of the fictional modal.
The ranks that are used are (in fiction at least): Padawan, Jedi Knight and Jedi Master. I think of these as the following: A Padawan is one learning the way of life, and is not yet ready for the activities and responsibilities of Jedi-hood. A Jedi Knight is one trained to a degree of professional skills. A Jedi Master is one learned enough to preserve the way of life (to serve on the council, or to take on a Padawan or teaching job and teach others the path). The council, made up of a sub-set of the "Masters" is the decision making body of the group.
As of right now, most activity is over the internet. The Jedi are few and far between, and what I would call true Jedi (don't just pay lip service or declare oneself a Jedi) are even farther apart (if there is even a person worthy of the title as of know). There have been offline meetings, and offline activity in general to a small degree (all relative of course). So, this Jedi Order is not exactly in existence. It would though include offline person-person "real-life" training in an organized training regimen, a Head-Quarters for Council meetings, local "chapters", etc. These are just my tentative musings though.
If there are any questions, feel free to ask. I will try to get you an answer (if not from me, then from one of my colleagues)
Go to this for more information.
http://www.jediresourcecenter.org/website/news.php
It has a links page....
