Lessons From the Wisdom of Yoda
This Yoda character turned out to be a very wise Jedi Master. He first appeared in the original Star Wars trilogy, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and is destined to train Luke Skywalker in the ways of the Jedi. Yoda dies in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, when he is 900 years old.Yoda is portrayed as a very wise and certainly the most powerful Jedi Master in the Star Wars universe. The way he speaks reminds me of a Zen Monk teaching a lesson to a young apprentice, where the words are mixed up and somewhat backwards, and you must ponder the meaning in order for it to become clear.
Lessons From the Wisdom of Yoda
"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."
Meaning: All negative emotions are a result of fear. Understanding what you are afraid of is where you begin to conquer fear, and therefore anger and hate. Look at the things you hate, at the things that make you angry... and ask yourself why. It will always lead back to a lack of understanding, and in turn fear, of the unknown. Push through the fear and you will discover a well of peace and understanding.
"No! Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try."
Meaning: How often have we all said "I'll try" when asked to do something? But the fact is, either you will do it... or you won't. There really is no "trying" as Yoda has pointed out. Either you will pick up that spoon... or you won't. Either you will make that phone call... or you won't. Either you will learn that computer program... or you won't. There is no "in between" which "trying" implies. (Note: This is probably the most recognized and famous Yoda saying.)
"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship."
Meaning: Energy is everywhere. We are made of energy (scientifically proven, by the way). And energy can not be created, nor can it be destroyed. Thoughts are also energy. Learn to use the energy that is within you and around you.
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is."
Meaning: Part of this takes us back to the whole energy thing. Your soul is energy - and cannot be destroyed. It always "is." When you mourn someone who is gone, you are holding an attachment to them... as if they are a possession that should not have "left you." Let them go. Let things that have passed go. You can not change it.
"[Luke:] I can't believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail."
Meaning: There is a saying so many of us often state: "I'll believe it when I see it." Unfortunately, you usually don't see it when you think this way. It's the opposite that actually works. You need to "believe it and then you will see it." Look around you. Everything that you see that's been created didn't exist at one point in time. Someone had to have a vision of it, believe they could produce it, then set to work making it happen. They believed it first... then worked at it until they succeeded.
"Named must your fear be before banish it you can."
Meaning: Understand your fear, then the fear will disappear. Question why you have that fear. Where did it come from? In other words, don't try to conquer it, but shine a light on it and examine it closely.
"Always in motion is the future."
Meaning: Nothing ever stands still. Everything is always changing... always. You can try to imagine some future event, but by the time that "future" appears as now, it has changed because other factors have affected it.
"You will find only what you bring in."
Meaning: The answers are within you, not "out there." Listen, learn, open your mind to new possibilities and new beliefs. Then seek the answers from inside your being, not externally.
"So certain are you. Always with you it cannot be done. Hear you nothing that I say?"
Meaning: There are many people who believe something can't be done... until someone else actually goes and does it. Can you be absolutely, 100% certain that it can't be done? Just because you believe you can't do it, doesn't mean someone else won't be able to accomplish it. Maybe you should try changing your thinking and listen to the people who believe that you CAN do it.
"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."
Meaning: When you let go of fear, especially if you fear to loose possessions or people, then your soul becomes free and unburdened. Life becomes peaceful, calm and joyful for you are no longer driving yourself crazy with worry about loosing it.
"Careful you must be when sensing the future, Anakin. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side."
Meaning: When we become too caught up about worries of what the future may hold, we forget to live in the present. Fear and worry of the future brings on depression, frustration, anger, and other dark thoughts. In truth, the future rarely happens as we imagine it to be.
"If no mistake have you made, yet losing you are ... a different game you should play."
Meaning: Stop doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results! Look for a different solution. Try something that you haven't tried before.
"But when the day comes that even old Yoda does not learn something from his students-then truly, he shall be a teacher no more."
Meaning: No matter how smart you may think you are, you will always have more to learn. And sometimes the best teachers come from unexpected sources.
"Honor life by living, Padawan. Killing honors only death: only the dark side."
Meaning: Live life today! Don't hide away from the world. Try new things, meet new people. You only ever have THIS moment to live... so live it well.
"To be Jedi is to face the truth, and choose. Give off light, or darkness, Padawan. Be a candle, or the night, Padawan: but choose!"
Meaning: Every moment is a decision. Even if you decide to do nothing, you've made a decision (to do nothing). So be aware, you are ALWAYS deciding, whether you think you are or not. So why not make a conscious choice and follow it through?
posted by blogger @ 11:59 AM
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