PATH OF THE JEDI

TABLE OF CONTENTS

What is it to be Jedi?............................................................................. 3
Why follow the Path of the Jedi?........................................................... 3
What do Jedi believe?............................................................................ 4
JEDI CODE…………………………………………………………… 5
3 JEDI TENANTS……………………………………………………..6
JEDI CREED…………………………………………………………..7
JEDI MAXIMS……………………………………………………….. 8
JEDI TEACHINGS…………………………………………………… 12
THE FORCE………………………………………………………….. 15
SUFFERING………………………………………………………….. 16
DEALING WITH FAILURE…………………………………………. 19
PURPOSE…………………………………………………………….. 22
DIPLOMACY………………………………………………………… 23
Fundamental Techniques For Handling People………………… 23
Six Ways To Make People Like You…………………………… 25
How To Win People To Your Way Of Thinking………………. 27
Being a Leader: Changing subordinates attitudes and behavior... 29
STRATEGIES FOR THE BATTLE………………………………… 39
PHYSICAL COMBAT……………………………………………….. 36
MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATION…………………………. 49
POINTS FOR REFLECTION……………………………………….. 52

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 What is it to be Jedi?

The word ‘Jedi’ is derived from the Japanese word “jidaigeki”, which
translates as “period drama” (specifically samurai TV series). Jedi
follow a warrior ethos of honor that’s similar to the samurai of old. To
be Jedi, is many things. It means having love and compassion for all
living things, to include your enemies; constantly seeking self-
improvement while acknowledging your faults; becoming an instrument
of peace and seeking harmony in the world around you; remaining in
control of your emotions and never using anger or fear as a basis for
decision making. Self-help is fundamental for all Jedi, and the Path of
the Jedi offers applied living techniques to encourage personal growth
and development, but at its core, the Path of the Jedi is about helping
and relieving the suffering of others. A Jedi is prepared to defend the
vulnerable and defenseless at all times.

Why follow the Path of the Jedi?

The Jedi religion is an inspiration and a way of life for many people
throughout the world who take on the mantle of Jedi. Jedi apply the
principles, ideals, philosophies and teachings of the Jedi in a practical
manner within their lives. Real Jedi do not worship George Lucas or Star
Wars or anything of the sort. The Jedi Path is not based in fiction, but
accepts myth as a sometimes more practical means of conveying
philosophies applicable to real life. The Jedi religion created by George
Lucas was based on many religions such as Taoism and Buddhism. It
was created by Lucas by pruning the parts of these religions that didn’t
fit his needs for his movies. But this is where the similarity and link to
the movie franchise stops. Jedi do not generally believe that the force
can be manipulated, do not think light sabers are real, and do not revere
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Yoda or Luke Skywalker as real or pertinent in any manner. Many
people have become disillusioned with mainstream religions. Almost all
religions were adopted hundreds or thousands of years ago when
societies held different beliefs and moral standards than today. Just read
the Jewish Torah or the Christian Old Testament to observe these
differences. In those days of brutal wars and constant physical struggles,
those texts instructed a scorched earth policy where, at times, the society
was expected to completely wipe out all living creatures in an enemy
city; sometimes instructing that all males were to be killed and the
women were to be taken as spoils of war. Homosexuals were to be
scorned or killed. Anyone that attempted to convert believers away from
their god was to be put to death. In today’s society, these beliefs are
unacceptable. There comes a time when a new system of belief is needed
that comports with current moral acceptance and technological
advancements. The Path of the Jedi is such a system. It embraces
technology and upholds the current moral standards of the day. The Path
of the Jedi is compatible with other religions and hundreds of thousands
of Jedi that are Christian, Buddhist, Islamic, Wicca, Atheist and a
myriad of other religions have registered as Jedi since 2007.In 2015 the
U.S. government gave its first tax exempt status to a Jedi temple based
in Texas. In itself, the Path of the Jedi is arguably not a religion as it
does not worship a deity. However, it does not deny the possibility that a
deity exists. It is a philosophical road map that leads to a life of serenity,
service, love, compassion, and helping your fellow man.

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 What do Jedi believe?

Jedi Believe:
In the Force, and in the inherent worth of all life within it.
In the sanctity of the human person. They oppose the use of torture and
cruel or unusual punishment, including the death penalty.
In a society governed by laws grounded in reason and compassion, not
in fear or prejudice.
In a society that does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation
or circumstances of birth such as gender, ethnicity and national origin.
In the ethic of reciprocity, and how moral concepts are not absolute but
vary by culture, religion and over time.
In the positive influence of spiritual growth and awareness on society.
In the importance of freedom of conscience and self-determination
within religious, political and other structures.
In the separation of religion and government and the freedoms of
speech, association and expression.

JEDI CODE
There is no emotion; there is peace
There is no ignorance; there is knowledge
There is no passion; there is serenity
There is no chaos; there is harmony
There is no death; there is the force

Jedi are the guardians of peace.

Jedi use their abilities to defend and protect, never to attack.
Jedi respect all life, in any form.
Jedi serve others rather than ruling over them.
Jedi seek to improve themselves through knowledge and training.

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Contrary to what it appears at first glance, the first section of the Jedi
Code is not an absolute constant. Jedi recognize that emotion, ignorance,
passion, and chaos exist. The code exemplifies the struggle to eliminate
each from one’s life and decision making process.
Peace can be attained by removing the cloud of emotion from our
actions and thoughts.
Ignorance and the folly that follows it can be eliminated by the gaining
of knowledge.
Serenity can be attained through friendliness and goodwill towards all
creation, compassion, joy, indifference and non-attachment to both
pleasure and pain, virtue and vice.
Chaos in one’s mind and life is alleviated by creating harmony both in
the mind and in one’s surroundings.

3 JEDI TENANTS

WISDOM is the intelligent application of accrued knowledge and

experience through patient, good judgment.

KNOWLEDGE can be acquired by instruction, study, research, and

focusing on the task at hand.

FOCUS is the art of pruning the irrelevant and pouring the best of your
mind into what you are doing.

By focusing on whatever task is at hand, Jedi gain knowledge in

whatever they seeks. Once a Jedi is fully knowledgeable on a subject,
only then can they make a wise decision on a matter. Every situation
should be faced with these tenants in mind. Failure to observe these
tenants can result in failure of the task.

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 JEDI CREED

I am a Jedi, an instrument of peace;

Where there is hatred I shall bring love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy;

I am a Jedi.
I shall never seek so much to be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
For it is in loving that we are loved;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life
The force is with me always for I am Jedi.

The Jedi creed embodies the purpose of a Jedi’s life. It is to put away
one’s own selfish needs and focus on helping others. It’s only through a
realization that the self is a part of a greater whole, that Jedi can begin to
let go of the self and care for those around them. A Jedi strives to be
content in whatever situation they find themselves in, appreciating the
light rather than languishing on the dark. In this, they can bring light to
those around them.

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 JEDI MAXIMS

Prowess: To seek excellence in all endeavors

A Jedi strives to acquire greater skill and expertise in all things so it may
be used in the greater good. This requires discipline, patience, and
practice.

Justice: To always seek the path of light

Justice requires a Jedi to protect the weak. Though a Jedi should not
subjectively judge others, justice sometimes calls for them to objectively
pass judgment according to a set of values to decide how to react.

Loyalty: To remain true to those who rely on you

A Jedi must remain true to their own teachings as well as the individuals
and organizations that have placed their trust in them. They must never
flippantly change alliances or turn their back on those that they’ve sworn
to protect.

Defense: To defend those who cannot defend themselves

A Jedi must always defend the weak and defenseless. This is central to
the core of a Jedi’s purpose for existence.

Courage: To have the will

Doing the right thing often leads to choosing the difficult path. Jedi know
they must choose the side of light. They know that the weak they have
sworn to protect often stand alone. Jedi must put aside fear, regret, and
uncertainty. Even in the face of certain defeat, a Jedi must have the
courage to continue to fight to the end.

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Faith: To trust in the ways of the force
What will be, will be. Jedi do not dwell on that which cannot be changed.
This does not mean to practice non-involvement. Jedi fight to change the
world for good but mustn’t languish on that which they are unable to
change.

Humility: To accept the ego for what it is

Jedi do not boast of their accomplishments or abilities. They remain
humble and choose to raise others up above themselves.

Fearlessness: To have no self-imposed limits

Fear prevents clear thought and the accomplishment of one’s duties. Jedi
must let go of fear and have faith in the force and their training. Fear is a
dangerous emotion. It leads to anger, hatred, and ultimately suffering.

Nobility: To act with honor

Jedi do not engage in petty, mean, or dubious activities. Be mindful that
your actions can influence others in unintended ways.

Pure Motive: To act with motive and purpose

Without a sound motive and purpose, action has no meaning. And without
that motive being pure, action has a higher potential to be influence by the
dark side.

Discipline: To let the self be the sole master of the self

A Jedi’s mind must be structured, peaceful, and unencumbered by
emotion, physical state, or external stimuli.

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Focus: To select what matters most
Jedi always focus on the task at hand. They must be aware of the past and
knowledgeable of its affect on the present. They must be mindful of the
present’s impact on the future. Every action is the drop of a pebble in a
pond. The results of the ripple can be unpredictable and far reaching. But
they must not let fear of past or future take focus from the now.

Discretion: To become invisible

There is a time and place for all things. Jedi are mindful when interfering
in other’s affairs. They must be careful when supporting or opposing
individuals or organizations because their hidden intents can lead a well
meaning Jedi to make decisions that inadvertently harm the innocent.

Honesty: Avoid lies

Jedi must always be honest with themselves and others.

Training: To know one’s ignorance

Jedi know that there is always something more to learn. Training is
critical to being able to operate under stressful situations. In the context
of battle, when the mind is clouded by the fight, it inevitably falls back
on training to ensure victory.

Morality: To know the danger of belief

Jedi must learn to be mindful of how contradicting beliefs can lead to
conflicts. They must step away from the subjectivity of opinion in favor
of the peace of objectivity. For those that follow a specific religion such
as Christianity or Islam, this is paramount. Society’s view of “right” and
“wrong” changes with time. Example: 2,500 years ago Judaism viewed
adultery with such strong disdain that it was not considered murder to
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end the lives of a an adulterer. Today it is most certainly murder in
almost all societies. A non-secular Jedi must learn to separate true
morality from their learned belief system.

Conflict: To know when to fight

A Jedi never blindly enters conflict and always does so for the greater
good. Jedi must be mindful of all aspects of a conflict before engaging.
There are numerous factors that must be considered, including enemy
strengths/weaknesses, ramifications of involvement, the enemy’s
intentions, etc.

Intervention: To know when not to act

Jedi must be aware that inaction can have as great an impact as action.
To be a victor is also taking that victory from those you protect. The best
way for the weak to find confidence in themselves is to defeat a bully or
tyrant. In robbing someone of victory, a Jedi can potentially rob them of
confidence and ability to defend themselves in the future. Intervene only
when absolutely necessary.

Meditation: To exercise the mind

Through regular meditation, Jedi examine their motivations and are
certain that they are not allowing emotion, ignorance, or passion to
intrude upon them. Meditation is a regular part of a Jedi’s day.

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 JEDI TEACHINGS

1. Jedi are in touch with the force. They are open to spiritual awareness
and keep their minds in tune with the beauty of the world. They are
forever learning and open their minds to experiences and knowledge
of themselves and others.

2. Jedi maintain a clear mind; which can be achieved through

meditation and contemplation. Their minds can become unduly
troubled and concerned with the happenings of the world. Jedi must
work on overcoming their individual issues through training and
diligence.

3. Jedi are aware of future impacts of their actions and inactions but
live and focus on the now. They let themselves flow like water
through the events around them. They embrace the ever changing
and fluid world, adapting and changing as it does.

4. Jedi are wary of attachments, both material and personal. The

obsessions over possessions and people create the fear of losing
those possessions and relationships which can cause themselves to be
trapped in a state of depressions and loss. Fear of loss can lead to
anger, hatred, and suffering

5. Jedi understand that well-being consists of the physical, the mental,

and the spiritual. They train each to ensure they remain capable of
performing their duties to the best of their ability.

6. Jedi use their skill to the best of their ability. They do not use their
knowledge and skill to boast or be prideful. They are mindful of the
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 ego and mindful of their actions, exercising wisdom and humility.
They remain open to teach others that wish to learn the Path of the
Jedi.

7. Jedi understand their limitations. They recognize and take

responsibility for their failures and develop a level of modesty about
them. Jedi respect the rights of others to disagree and understand that
they themselves are not perfect.

8. Jedi are patient. Jedi work on training themselves not to precipitate

events around them but let them flow like water. They train to act
with a conscience state of calm. No actions should ever be based on
emotion.

9. Jedi have integrity. They are authentic to what they believe and are
open, honest, and true to their purpose and their minds. Jedi do not
lie, cheat, or steal. If a mistake is made, a They must take
responsibility for their actions.

10. Jedi serve in many ways. Each action performed, no matter the scale,
can influence the world. With this in mind they perform each action
with peace, caring, love, compassion, and humility. So it is that each
Jedi improves the world with each deed they perform.

11. Jedi are mindful of their thoughts. They recognize the beauty in
others and provide help to those who come seeking it. Through their
actions, Jedi strengthen not only themselves but their communities.

12. Jedi believe that love and compassion are central to their lives. They
must love and care for each other as they must love and care for
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 themselves; by doing this, they envelope all life in the positivity of
their actions and thoughts. Jedi are providers and beacons of hope.

13. Jedi cultivate empathy. They try to view things from another’s
perspective. They provide the confidence people need when talking
through their difficulties and they share their learning with those who
would benefit.

14. Jedi are the guardians of peace. They believe in helping all those that
are in need, whatever the form, to the best of their ability.

15. Jedi believe in eternal life through the force. They do not become
obsessed in morning those who pass. Jedi may grieve at their passing
but are content, knowing that they will forever be a part of the force
and so always a part of us.

16. Jedi make a commitment to their cause and to humanity. The ideals,
philosophies, and practices define the Path of the Jedi. They take
action on this path for self-improvement and to help others.

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 THE FORCE

The term “Force” finds its origins in the use by cinematographer

Roman Kroitor in 21-87 (1963), in which Kroitor says, "Many people
feel that in the contemplation of nature and in communication with other
living things, they become aware of some kind of force, or something,
behind this apparent mask which we see in front of us, and they call it
“God". The underlying sentiment is universal and similar phrases have
been used extensively by many different people for the last 13,000 years.
Jedi believe in an all-powerful life energy called the Force. It connects
all living things in the universe together. What the force is, varies upon
the perception of the individual Jedi. All Jedi generally agree that it is
the part of you that thinks, feels, loves, dreams, and is separate from
your body. It’s the “spiritual” part of a being. Other philosophies call it
the Chi or Ki. Contrary to popular belief, Jedi do not generally believe
that the Force outside of their bodies can be manipulated to move
objects or control others. The Force is composed of a Light side and a
Dark side much like the Chinese Yin and Yang. Where the philosophy
of the force differs from Yin and Yang is that the Chinese philosophy
does not link a “good” or “evil” component to either. The Jedi
philosophy of the force, however, does. Nothing is absolute when it
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comes to the light vs dark. All actions have components of both. But in
deciding whether an action is guided by the light side or dark side, one
must look to the intent behind the action.

Light side:
The light side of the Force is the side aligned with honesty,
compassion, mercy, self-sacrifice, and other positive emotions. One who
uses the light side will never draw a weapon on an enemy in fear or
anger and will always strive to stay calm in any situation. Many who
used the light side meditate to help maintain that inner control.
Dark Side:
The Dark side is aligned with emotions such as fear, anger, hatred,
and aggression. These emotions are self-serving. This path is easily
followed by the selfish individual that seeks power and control. It has a
highly corrupting nature. Those that follow this path seek to acquire as
much power as possible by any means necessary, and are not afraid to
use underhanded tactics to get what they want.

SUFFERING

One of a Jedi’s purposes is to lessen the suffering in the world. But

first a Jedi must learn how to lessen the suffering within them self. A
Jedi attempts to live in the experience of wisdom, unaffected by the
emotion of desire, anger, greed, infatuation, pride, and malice. First, they
must be able to identify the source of the emotional suffering / sorrow /
unhappiness. Suffering generally has five causes: ignorance (lack of
wisdom and understanding), egoism (pride), attachment, aversion, and
fear of death and clinging to life. The first two are intellectual defects,
the next two emotional, and the last instinctual. They may be hidden,

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latent, attenuated or highly active. From these arise desire. Desires that
are unfulfilled sow the seeds of sorrow.

Ignorance is a fertile ground in which afflictions can grow, making

life hell. One faces the unknown when there is ignorance. This not
knowing can cause fear, anger, hatred, and suffering. This is the basis of
the line in the creed: There is no ignorance; there is knowledge. This is
not a statement that ignorance doesn’t exist, but that a Jedi constantly
seeks knowledge and realizes the dangers of ignorance. Think about the
things that you fear and it’s likely that the reason is because you don’t
know the outcome or what to expect in the situation. Eliminate the
ignorance, eliminate the fear.

Pride or egoism is when you think you’re better than others or more
deserving of something than you actually are. Perhaps jealousy or anger
has crept into your life. Examine the source of it without the subjectivity
of your emotions and prejudices. You’ll find that you’ve had your ego
hurt, feel more deserving than another, or some other underlying cause.
Once the cause and the unfulfilled desire is discovered, it can be
combated in your mind until the effects are minimized.

Attachment is a relationship between man and matter, and may be

inherited or acquired. Attachment causes one to encourage and gratify
desires. The real danger of attachment lies in the fear of loss. Fear of
losing a loved one can cause great anxiety and anger. Anger leads to
hatred; hatred to suffering. This suffering, and the dark components
linked to it, can be alleviated by non-attachment. Non-attachment is the
deliberate process of drawing away from attachment and personal
affliction, in which, neither binding oneself to duty nor cutting oneself
off from it, one gladly helps all, near or far, friend or foe. Non-
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attachment does not mean drawing inwards and shutting oneself off, but
involves carrying out one’s responsibilities without incurring obligation
or inviting expectation. Detachment brings discernment: seeing each and
every thing or being as it is, in its purity, without bias or self-interest.

Aversion is the innate dislike and avoidance of something. When

desires are not gratified, frustration and sorrow give rise to this
alienation or hatred. Most aversions can be traced to fear, ignorance, or
prejudice. A Jedi must learn to identify these aversions and make a
conscious effort to minimize them. We must learn to face our fears and
problems rather than running from them. Once confronted, these
aversions hold much less control over us.

The desire to live forever and preserve one’s individual self is natural.
Freedom from such attachment to life is very difficult for even the
wisest of erudite and scholarly person to achieve. A Jedi must learn to
meditate and contemplate on their death. Death is the only guarantee that
we have in life. All that have come before us are a testament to this. It
should be embraced if not only for the simple reason that fear will not
stop the fact that we all die. Though we cannot decide whether we die,
we can decide how we face it. Jedi must learn to face certain death with
dignity and acceptance. Some Jedi are secular and may believe that there
is nothing after death; others may believe in an afterlife. But no matter
your belief, whatever faces us after death is beyond our control;
whatever will be, will be. Therefore, fear of it serves no purpose but to
cause yourself suffering.

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 DEALING WITH FAILURE

The difference between someone who quits after failure and someone
who achieves after failure is their perception of and response to the
failure. A Jedi must learn to change the way they perceive failure in their
own mind. The following are a few rules to be mindful of after failure:

Do not blame others; take responsibility

Do not repeat the same mistakes; learn and change your actions.
Do not expect to never fail again; know that failure is a part of progress
Do not accept tradition blindly; challenge outdated assumptions
Do not become limited by past mistakes; take new risks
Do not think “I’m a failure”; believe something simply didn’t work
Do not quit; persevere

Change your perception of failure

One of the greatest problems that people have with failure is that they
are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as
failures. Instead, one needs to keep the bigger picture in mind. There are
6 truths about failure that a Jedi must learn to perceive.

1. Failure is not avoidable. All humans make mistakes

2. Failure is not an event, just as success is not a destination. Success is a

process and failure is the same. No one can conclude that they have
failed until their last breath is drawn. Until then, they’re still in process.

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3. Failure is subjective. You are the only one who can really label what
you do as a failure. Your perception of and response to your mistakes
determine whether your actions are failures.

4. Failure is not the enemy. People who see failure as the enemy are
captive to those who conquer it. One who never makes a mistake takes
orders from one who does.

5. Failure is not irreversible. Everything that happens – whether good or

bad – is one small step in the process of living.

6. Failure is not a stigma. Mistakes are not permanent markers. Defeat

may serve as well as victory to “shake the soul and let the glory out”.
When you make mistakes, don’t let them get you down. Make each
failure a step to success.

Change your perception of adversity

When a Jedi is faced with adversity, they should not shrink from it
but welcome it with open arms. There are benefits of adversity that must
be perceived. Adversity breeds resilience, promotes wisdom and
maturity, pushes the envelope of accepted performance, provides greater
opportunities, prompts innovation and motivates.

Jedi must learn to step back from the negative circumstances facing
them and objectively discover their positive benefits. This is almost
always true; one simply must be willing to look for the benefits of the
adversity and not take it too personally.

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 Be mindful that life isn’t fair and it isn’t going to be fair. Do not
snivel and whine, wishing that adversity hadn’t come to your. This
won’t make things any easier for you. In fact, it might make it harder.
Your circumstances and your contentment are unrelated. It’s all about
your attitude and your attitude about it is completely your choice.

Take a risk without fear of failure

Do not fear taking risks. Risk must be evaluated not by the fear it
generates in you or the probability of success, but the value of the goal.
The reality is that everything in life is risky. If you want to avoid all risk,
then don’t:
Ride in an automobile – they cause 20% of all fatal accidents
Travel by air, rail, or water – 16% of accidents
Walk in the street – 15% of accidents
Stay home – 17% of accidents

In life, there are no safe places or risk-free activities. Security is

mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of
men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long
run than outright exposure.

Do not have a fear of risk or fail to live life to its fullest. To do so will
only foster regret. Regret for the things we’ve done can be tempered by
time; it’s the regret for the things we did not do that can be inconsolable.
If you take risks and fail, you’ll have fewer regrets than if you do
nothing and fail.

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 To minimize the suffering one feels, they must become dispassionate
towards pleasures and pains. Jedi use the practice of mediation and
contemplation to attain freedom and beatitude. As with all things, this is
double edged. Though one may eliminate suffering through absolute
dispassion, they may also eliminate joy. By completely eliminating
desires, one can eliminate their own hopes and purpose for life. Desire is
the fuel of life, without it nothing can be achieved. It is the selfish desire
that must be suppressed. The key is to find that balance that brings the
most joy and the least suffering.

PURPOSE

More than anything else, having a sense of purpose keeps a person

going in the midst of adversity. It is the fuel that powers persistence.
Philosophers and religious leaders have debated the meaning of life for
millennia. Billions of people have wondered at one time or another what
their purpose on earth is. Though some Jedi believe that their
independent religions define their purpose, secular Jedi don’t have this
guidance. This shouldn’t be a source of sorrow however. At its base, the
purpose of life is to give life purpose; the meaning of life is to find life’s
meaning. This is to say that one must look no further than themselves to
find the meaning of their life. They need only to decide it for
themselves. Discover the cure for cancer, defend the weak, end hunger
for children, help the homeless, or all of the above and more? This
purpose can change even as the circumstances in your life change. Do
not languish over what your purpose for existence is. Instead rejoice in
the freedom of choosing that for yourself. This allows you to define the
direction of your life in your own terms.

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 DIPLOMACY

One of the most important skills that a Jedi can possess is their ability
to manipulate situations through the use of diplomacy. Physical
aggression should only be used as a last resort and it’s critical that a Jedi
be able to talk their way out of nearly any situation before it turns
violent. While people can be unpredictable and difficult to manipulate at
times, there are a set of guidelines that will assist a Jedi in his quest for
diplomacy. These techniques and guidelines are an adaptation from Dale
Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People.

Fundamental Techniques For Handling People

1. Don’t criticize, condemn or complain

When we attempt to use criticism to win an argument, to make a point,
or to incite change, we are taking two steps backward. Using criticism
causes people to be defensive and when another is defensive, there is
little you can say to break through the barriers they've raised. Not only
should you not criticize, condemn or complain about the person you are
speaking with, but you should refrain from doing so about others as
well. When you complain about others, there’s no reason for the person
you are dealing with to believe that you wont do the same to them when
they aren’t around. This results in a breakdown in trust and prevents
them from dropping their guard with you. If you act honorably with
people and show respect toward them and others it will be a lot easier to
gain trust and manipulate a situation. A Jedi must remember to calm
them self before communicating to another. Stop worrying about who is
right and get on with the work of making the world better.

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2. Give honest and sincere appreciation
We are all united by one single desire: to be valued by another. If you
aim to bring someone to the side of light, repeatedly pointing out his rap
sheet will do little good. Instead, begin to remind them of what he could
be; not with hypothetical hype, but with their own history of goodness,
of success, of insight, even if only a brief history. It will give cause to
awaken the light inside of them. They could begin to see what they can
still be, despite what has been. When we treat man as he is, we make
him worse than he is; when we treat him as if he already were what he
potentially could be, we make him what he should be. The one who
speaks in a spirit of respectful, unhyperbolic affirmation will always
have more influence over people influence more people than the one
who communicates in criticism, condemnation, and condescension.

3. Arouse in the other person an eager want

Influencing others is not a matter of outsmarting them. It is a matter of
discerning what they truly want and offering it to them in a mutually
beneficial package. Changing someone is difficult unless they desire
change. True change is born of an interpersonal reach that takes hold of
the deepest part of an individual. A Jedi must learn to identify another's
core desire and nurture this interpersonal reach to attain it. Be mindful
that no one does anything for truly selfless motives. You must offer
them something that fosters a true desire to do whatever it is you ask of
them. Think about what this person would have to gain from doing what
you want and go from there. Center your negotiations around how they
will be benefited, not the benefit to others.

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 Six Ways To Make People Like You

1. Become genuinely interested in other people

Our biggest struggle is selfishness, the single greatest deterrent to amity.
It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the
greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is
from such individuals that all human failures spring. A self-centered life
is the most problematic life one can live. A life lived in constant
interpersonal struggle. This is a lonely and shallow life. Though self-
interest in its purest form is part of human nature, a Jedi must be able to
recognize this and set it aside for the greater good of humanity. When
you show interest in other people, they are naturally more likely to warm
up to you. Ask questions or do research on someone prior to contact and
attempt to find what it is that they enjoy or find important. If you can
show interest in these same issues it will be able to open a dialogue with
someone that flows effortlessly.

2. Smile
This rule may seem simple but its one of the easiest to follow and the
benefit is immense. By smiling, you show someone that your intentions
are good and that you aren’t a threat. Smiling can disarm a hostile
opponent and move an altercation from one of violence to one of
negotiation. Humor in conjunction with a smile can be a powerful
combination to diffuse a potentially volatile situation. And remember
while dealing with others that seem never to smile that none needs a
smile so much as he who has no more to give.

25
3. Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and
most important sound in any language
There is power in a person's name. More than a word, it is a verbal
symbol of something much deeper and more meaningful. It is the
sweetest and most important sound in any language. Saying someone’s
name while talking to them causes them to open up to you. This, in
conjunction with physical contact, can be powerful. A simple hand on
the shoulder and beginning a sentence with their name can be enough to
end potential hostility.

4. Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves

There are two types of people in a conversation. Those who patiently
listen to the other person; and those who can’t wait to interject their
thoughts and personal experiences. The former listens intently to what
the other has to say, caring about the thoughts and feelings that are being
shared. The latter is impatient and isn’t really listening to the other
person as they have no care for anything but themselves. The power of
listening is the power to change hearts and minds. More consequently, it
is the power of giving people what they most desire - to be heard and
understood. Who can resist being around a person who suspends his
thoughts in order to value yours?
A Jedi must be the one that listens and has empathy for the other person.
By encouraging others to talk about themselves, trust is fostered. If you
allow someone to talk about themselves and show genuine interest
without interruption, that person will enjoy the conversation and in turn
enjoy your company. It’s almost illusion as they aren’t so much enjoying
your company as they’re enjoying hearing them self talk about them
self.

26
5. Talk in terms of the other person’s interests
When it comes to mattering to others, you must first discuss what
matters to them. Assume all else will fall on deaf ears. Once you know
what matters to others through a practice of longer listening, you can
then truly engage them by putting such matters at the forefront of your
interactions. By keeping the conversation interesting to the other person,
you keep them engaged. Keeping them engaged is key to winning their
trust and moving them toward your goals.

6. Make the other person feel important and do it sincerely

One of the deepest urges in human nature is the craving to feel
appreciated. We all want the approval of those with whom you come in
contact. We want recognition of our true worth. We want a feeling that
we’re important in our little world. We don’t want to listen to cheap,
insincere flattery, but crave sincere appreciation. When dealing with
people, little phrases such as “I’m sorry to trouble you”, “Would you be
so kind as to --?”, “Would you mind?”, and “Thank you.” Can bring joy
to others. Consequently it can also preemptively disarm people and
make them more susceptible to suggestion.

How To Win People To Your Way Of Thinking

1. The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it

When attempting to diffuse a situation, there is no winning an argument.
Even if all facts are on your side and you actually win, the other party is
likely to feel animosity and anger that they were wrong. So, even in
winning, the goal of swaying someone to your way of thinking has
failed. The only way to truly win is to avoid the argument altogether. If
the conversation moves toward argument, use the other teachings by

27
smiling, listening to the other person’s concerns, try to see things from
their position, keep composure, and guide the argument to a discussion.

2. Show respect for the other person’s opinion. Never say “You’re
wrong”
Negotiations become more productive when each party acknowledges
that the other may have legitimate concerns. A Jedi must be mindful that
a belief that they have more knowledge than another can close their
minds to the possibilities that exist outside the knowledge they bring to
the table. All effective problem solving and dispute resolution begins
with an emptying of the mind - of what we know or what we think we
should know. By approaching a conversation with a blank slate, we take
a humbler and more honest approach. We acknowledge the possibility
that we may not know all the facts and that we may not in fact be the
only one who is right. Always default to diplomacy. Admit that you may
be wrong. Concede that the other person may be right. Be agreeable.
Ask questions. And above all, consider the situation from the other's
perspective and show that person respect. Telling people they are wrong
will only earn you enemies.

3. If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically

If you find that you have misstated something or were outright wrong,
don’t try to justify your reasons in the mistake. Admit openly that you
were wrong. It is far better that you control the news before it is spread.
By attempting to conceal your own faults, you call your integrity into
question and muddy any faith and trust that may have been had in your
arguments. If we know we are going to be rebuked anyhow, isn't it better
to beat the other person to the punch? Any fool can defend a mistake,
and most fools do, but admitting your mistake raises you above the pack.

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4. Begin in a friendly way
We are more inclined to agree with another person or see things from
their perspective when we have friendly feelings toward them. This is a
natural part of human nature and was recognized over 2,500 years ago
by a Greek slave named Aesop. In one of his fables, he wrote of a
quarrel between the sun and wind about which was the stronger. The
wind said “I’ll prove I am. See the old man down there with the coat? I
bet I can get his coat off him quicker than you can.” So the sun went
behind a cloud,, and the wind blew until it was almost a tornado, but the
harder it blew, the tighter the old man clutched his coat to him. Finally,
the wind calmed down and gave up, and then the sun came out from
behind the cloud and smiled kindly on the old man. Presently, he
mopped his brow and pulled off his coat. The sun then told the wind that
gentleness and friendliness were always stronger than furry and force.
The opening of a discussion can be the most critical. It sets the tone for
the entirety. If you approach someone with hostility, you will likely be
met with hostility in return. This makes it that much harder to win the
other person over because his guard is up.

5. Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately

The skillful negotiator gets, at the outset, a number of “Yes” responses.
This sets the psychological process of the listeners moving in the
affirmative direction. It is like the movement of a billiard ball. Propel in
one direction, and it takes some force to deflect it; far more force to send
it back in the opposite direction. When a person says no and really
means it, a physiological cascade of reactions is taking place that is
putting the person in a defensive position, ready to withdraw. But when
this same person says yes and really means it, they are in a position of
acceptance, of openness, of moving forward. So the more yeses you can
get at the outset of an interaction, even if they have little to do with the
29
ultimate proposal, the more likely you are to put the person in a mood to
agree with you along the way. This can be accomplished by asking
questions such as: "We both want to resolve this peacefully, right?" or
"You want to be respected, don't you?".

6. Let the other person do a great deal of the talking

Don’t try to talk the other person to the point that they stop listening. Get
them talking and let them keep talking. Pose questions or make
suggestions that get them moving in the direction that you want and then
listen. Often times, you’ll hear information that will allow you to
manipulate their thoughts or find contradictions in their logic. When you
do, call them into question and then listen once again.

7. Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers
Don’t you have much more faith in ideas that you discover for yourself
than in ideas that are handed to you on a silver platter? If so, isn’t it bad
judgment to try to ram your opinions down the throats of other people?
Isn’t it wiser to make suggestions - and let the other person think out the
conclusion? Don’t be forceful when attempting to interject an idea into
someone’s thoughts. Ask questions, guide the conversation toward your
goals, let the other person talk, and look for statements that conform
with your goals. Once a conclusion can be drawn, ask a question such as
“So, what you’re saying is…? I think that’s a great idea”.

8. Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view
It’s difficult to deal with someone if you can’t understand where they’re
coming from. A Jedi must be able to remove the subjectivity of their
own opinion and look at things objectively. You may find that there is
merit in the opinion of others or you may find that there is a flaw in their

30
logic that can be exploited. Either way, nothing bad comes from seeing
things from another perspective.

9. Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and desires

Remember that other people may be totally wrong. But they don’t think
so. Don’t condemn them. Any fool can do that. Try to understand them.
Only wise, tolerant, exceptional people even try to do that. There is a
reason why the other person thinks and acts as he does. Ferret out that
reason - and you have the key to their actions, perhaps their personality.
When dealing with a person, always ask yourself, "How would I feel,
how would I react, if I were in their shoes?" Most people are merely
looking for somebody who will listen to them and be sympathetic with
their plight, regardless of how large or small their woes. If you can do
that for another, you are giving them a gift that will brighten their day.
When talking to others, don’t discount the other person’s ideas and
desires. Show true caring and sympathy. It can’t be expected that
another person will care about our own ideas and desires unless we’re
willing to do so first. And showing an attitude of dismissal toward
another is a certain way of being dismissed ourselves.

10. Appeal to the nobler motives

We all crave transcendence - to be part of something bigger than
ourselves, to be meaningful to the world and the people within it, to have
it said of us that we rose above, took a stand, reached beyond, and did
what was right and honorable and true. Few would refute that there is
something noble and redeemable in everyone. In most people, they are
the heroes of their own stories. Even in those that don’t consider
themselves heroes normally believe that they are good people. Appeal to
the side that values honesty and fairness. This is especially useful when
outnumbered and overwhelmed with no clear way to victory. A skillful
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Jedi can negotiate a fair fight, non-violent surrender, or a complete cease
of hostilities.

11. Dramatize your ideas

Don’t simply state your ideas and facts in a mundane manner. Make
your ideas larger than life and use illustrations that dramatize those
ideas. For example, instead of making a flat statement that: “Murder is
wrong.”, one could say: “What would happen if society considered
murder acceptable? Anarchy would reign and the most ruthless among
us would dominate the weak? All semblance of society as we know it
would crumble into chaos and the world that we desire would cease.” By
dramatizing, you provoke thought from the other person and let them put
the idea into a context from your point of view.

12. Throw down a challenge

Some people think that competition is a dirty word. It isn’t. Competition
is one of the most compelling realities of the natural world. Competition
is necessary to keep us striving. As iron sharpens iron, so too does one
man sharpen another. Skillfully presented, a challenge can be difficult to
deny. This doesn’t have to be done in an aggressive manner but can be a
type of encouragement. Teddy Roosevelt was a sickly child that had life-
threatening asthma that caused labored breathing and a weak heart.
When he was twelve, his father said “Theodore, you have the mind but
you have not the body, and without the help of the body the mind cannot
go as far as it should. You must make your body. It’s hard drudgery to
make one’s body, but I know you will do it.” Over the next years of his
life, Teddy strenuously exercised. As his strength grew, so did his
boldness and daring. He plunged into icy rivers and climbed seven
mountains. He eventually became president of the United States, in part
due to the challenge of his father.
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 Being a Leader: Changing subordinates attitudes and behavior

There may be times that a Jedi must find allies to resolve a situation.
Without the benefits of a military structure and laws in which to ensure
obedience, a Jedi will have to foster a genuine desire in others to be
followed. Under these circumstances, normal military bearing and
conduct with subordinates will not be effective. The following 7
principles are tailored for such circumstances.

1. Begin with honest appreciation

When it’s necessary to give corrective criticism about a subordinate’s
conduct, always begin with honest and genuine appreciation; the
receiver will be more amenable to your ideas and less defensive or
resistant. First, the praise must be genuine and heartfelt. Second, you
must be able to create a smooth flow from point to point. Third, offer
constructive advice rather than criticism following the praise. If a
subordinate feels like you don’t appreciate what they do good, they may
stop trying to do good altogether.

2. Call attention to peoples mistakes indirectly

You don’t always have to meet another’s mistakes head on. They can be
mentioned in a round-about manner during normal conversation. Don’t
be afraid to call attention to your own mistakes if it relates to what you
are attempting to correct in the other person. Calling attention to one’s
mistakes indirectly works wonders with sensitive people who may resent
bitterly any direct criticism.

3. Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person
People generally do not want to follow someone that’s arrogant and fails
to recognize their own mistakes. But if you call attention to your own
33
mistakes before criticizing others, they can see that you recognize your
mistakes and they’re more likely to respect you for it. No one expects us
to be right all the time. But when you’re wrong, they certainly expect
you to own up to it. In that sense, being wrong is an opportunity to show
what kind of person and leader you are. How well you own up to your
mistakes makes a bigger impression than how you revel in your success.
When we talk about our mistakes, it makes us human. It becomes easier
for people to relate to us. They feel we understand their perspective
better. And in this mental space, they are more open to our advice.
Admitting one’s mistakes, even when one hasn’t corrected them, can
help convince somebody to change their behavior.

4. Ask questions instead of giving orders

Simply put, people don’t like to be ordered around. Don’t give direct
orders that may alienate subordinates when it’s possible to nurture a self
desire within the other person through asking questions. Asking
questions not only makes an order more palatable and reduces
resentment; it often stimulates creativity and innovation in solving the
problem at hand. Example: instead of ordering “Go fix that fence”, ask
“Does the fence need to be fixed? Do you mind fixing it?”. This reduces
the animosity felt when ordered to do something by one that has no
official authority over them.

5. Let the other person save face

Despite a leader’s best efforts, those in his care will fail. And he will
fail. Recognizing this and the inherit benefits failure may present can
help us learn how to help others come through it and land positively and
securely on the opposite shore. Great leaders tap the creative and
innovative power of their teams by helping them save face before
they’ve even failed. A primary difference between ordinary and
34
extraordinary people is how they perceive and respond to failure. Even if
the other person is wrong, we only destroy ego by causing someone to
lose face. We do nothing to change his or her behavior.

6. Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement.

Be “hearty in you approbation and lavish in your praise”. One of the
basic psychological tenets of human behavior is that we persist in
behaviors for which we are praised; those behaviors that are not
positively recognized are likely to fall by the wayside.

7. Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to

Leaders often find that people live up to our expectations of them, no
matter how diminished those expectations are. If a man feels
unimportant or disrespected, he will have little motivation for improving
himself. So why not create a vision of him that embodies everything you
know he’s capable of achieving, as well as everything you don’t know
about his possibilities. You will rarely be disappointed.

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 PHYSICAL COMBAT

There are times when diplomacy breaks down and all effort to resolve
a conflict peacefully is met with rejection. This is when a Jedi has no
choice but to fight; light heartedly referred to as “aggressive
negotiations”. Jedi are by no means pacifists and are expected to meet
force with force. Sometimes the only way to defend the innocent from
violence is through equal or greater violence.

First let’s deal with the sensible bit, pretty much every self defense
expert or martial artist will tell you if you are able to maneuver away
from a situation without using physical force then do so. Even a
seasoned martial artist or self defense guru knows that this is always the
best and safest outcome. Far too often a macho pride/ego takes over and
people decide to commit violence on one another. A Jedi must never act
on emotions and should avoid violence. The only exception to this rule
should be if you or someone else is in immediate danger.
Most self-defense focused martial arts will cover topics such as
controlling distance and de-escalation which are great ways to ensure
self-protection. It’s important to be aware of your environment and the
potential that the assailant will be joined by accomplices so always try
and have an escape route in mind.
Unfortunately, in life no matter how much you may want to avoid a
conflict there may come a time where the other person is so hell-bent on
fighting that you have no other option but to fight. It is for these
situations that a Jedi must be prepared and trained for combat. The
question then is “What’s the most effective martial art?” There is no
simple answer to this question. First, you must be aware that in a high-
stress situation where the adrenaline starts pumping and the heart starts
36
racing, you want to have a set of skills that can be easily implemented.
No amount of training will truly prepare you for this moment regardless
of how much sparring, pressure testing, and drilling you do. So it’s
important that you learn a simple set of skills that aren’t complex.
All hand-to-hand combat takes place in three separate areas/ranges.
Each one takes a certain set of skills to be successful in. The First is
medium/striking range. This is where a fight normally starts, whether
with a sucker punch or verbal confrontation. In this range boxing, tae
kwon do, or other striking arts are effective. Someone trained in a
striking art would want to control the range and stop the opponent from
closing in to a grapple. By remaining on your feet and out of a grapple,
if you identify multiple attackers you can exit a situation quickly.
The next is close/grappling range. This is where the combatants close
to a clench when one party reaches out and takes hold of the other. Judo,
or wrestling practitioners excel at this range. The objective at this range
is to use knees and elbows for striking while trying to gain an advantage
of balance to throw, takedown, or use joint locks submit the opponent.
From this distance the fight typically ends up on the ground or breaking
apart back to medium/striking range
The last, and worst possible outcome in a fight, is to end up in a
ground fight. As the name suggests, it involves getting the attacker to the
ground utilizing ground fighting techniques like those taught in Brazilian
jiu-jitsu. Sometimes an attacker will attempt to take the fight to the floor
straight away and you will have no choice but to fight on the ground.
Options from here can include striking, controlling the attacker with
joint locks, and chokes. Being on the ground while facing an unknown
number of attackers can make a bad situation worse. The object is to get
back on your feet as fast as possible. Staying on the ground is only an
37
option when there is a single attacker. The likelihood of a fight ending
up on the ground is high so it would be foolish to neglect training in this
area.
Overall, there are many good martial arts that you can train in to use
to defend yourself and others. You need to pick the one that is best for
you. It is important to make sure that you take into account your weight,
height, strength, and background with whatever martial art you choose.
As a Jedi you also want to make sure that you can successfully win
while doing the least amount of harm to the other person.
Jedi must have the discipline to work hard and practice the techniques
they learn. Focus on using your best physical strengths and your best
mental strengths to take down your opponent and come out on top.
Mental strengths such as controlling your fear can be just as important as
physical strengths when it comes to physical combat. Therefore,
following the Jedi teachings of controlling emotions not only helps with
every day life but with combat situations as well.

38
 STRATEGIES FOR COMBAT

Jedi do not have the luxury of using underhanded techniques to win

confrontations. This does not mean that they cannot use deception but
they cannot think first and foremost of their own interests and needs. A
Jedi must take into account all aspects of a situation and consider the
ripple effect of their actions. Jedi must learn to be strategic warriors on
and off the battlefield. They must learn to hone their minds as well as
their bodies in preparation for conflict.

Perhaps the greatest strategist of all time was Tsun Tzu, the author of
the ancient Chinese classic The Art of War written in the 4th century.
Almost all strategies used over the following centuries are found in his
book. But what connects them and constitutes the art of war itself, in
Tsun Tzu’s eyes, is the ideal of winning without bloodshed. By playing
on the psychological weaknesses of the opponent, by maneuvering him
into precarious positions, by inducing feelings of frustration and
confusion, a strategist can get the other side to break down mentally
before surrendering physically. In this manner a battle can be won at a
lower cost to both sides. The strategies that succeed in war are based on
timeless psychology.

A Jedi must remain supremely rational and emotionally balanced,

striving to win with minimal bloodshed. As mentioned, a Jedi must not
use underhanded techniques or sacrifice the innocent to win. If it comes
to a decision where a Jedi must choose to take the life of an innocent or
to die themselves, then it should not be considered a choice. Jedi accept
death as a possibility in defending the weak. To succumb to fear is to
succumb to the dark side. The only outcome that’s possible by
succumbing to the dark side is suffering; The suffering of the innocent.
39
Jedi choose to suffer so that others may not. This is true love for all
mankind. Though Jedi remain noble through conflict, others do not.
Therefore, it’s important to be mindful that the opponent will be unfair,
ruthless, and take advantage of your honor and fairness. Avoid these
pitfalls. Though there is no code or creed that could prepare one for all
situations, remember to act without emotion and for reasons that support
compassion. Any action that is based on emotions or causes suffering
begins a path to the dark side.

There is no Emotion; There is Peace

To be successful in both life and the battlefield, a Jedi must look at

things as they are, not as their emotions have clouded them. This is
codified in the first line of the Jedi Code. Emotion must be recognized
and suppressed before making decisions. Fear will cause an
overestimation of the enemy and result in being too defensive. Anger
and impatience can cause you to be drawn into rash actions that will
limit options. Overconfidence can cause you to go too far. Love and
affection can blind you to the treacherous maneuvers of those that are
supposed allies. Even the slightest encroachment of these emotions can
alter the way you perceive events. Jedi must acknowledge that the cloud
of emotion is inevitable in order to be prepared for it and compensate.
When you have success, be extraordinarily weary. When you are angry,
take no action. When fearful, realize that the dangers you face will be
exaggerated in your mind.

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 Look past the false exterior

It is inevitable that people lie to get what they want. Do not take what
people say at face value. Look instead at what they’ve done; deeds don’t
lie. Presume the actions of others as an attempt to gain advantage and
victory. Apply this logic to yourself as well and identify what you could
have done differently in your failures. Do not place blame on others for
your own failures.

Depend on yourself

Everything in life can be taken away from you and often is at one
time or another. But if your mind is armed with the knowledge of war
and conflict, no power can take that away. In the middle of a crisis, your
mind will find its way to the right solution. As Tsun Tzu says “Being
unconquerable lies with yourself.” Do not place so much reliance on
others that you’re unable to function or complete your goals if others
were to fail in upholding your expectations of them.

Think of the big picture

Don’t get into the habit of looking only at short term goals. Rise
above the battlefield and assess what the long term goals are and how to
best attain them. Instead of fighting reactively on the tactical level, fight
preemptively on the strategic level. Use the Jedi tenants to focus on the
problem, gain knowledge about it, and then make wise choices that
resolve the issue. This technique can cause violent interaction to be
circumvented altogether or at least present options that would allow for
the least amount of bloodshed possible.

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 Declare war on yourself

Every day you face battles. That is the reality of life for all creatures
and their struggle to survive. But the greatest battle of all is with
yourself; your weaknesses, your emotions, your lack of resolutions and
seeing things through to the end. You must declare an unceasing war on
yourself. Challenges should be welcomed to better hone your skills and
gain experience. Instead of oppressing doubts and fears, a Jedi must face
them down. Self improvement is at the forefront of the mind of any Jedi
and only constant practice and challenges will lead them there.

Do not fall into the rut of tradition

What limits individuals and nations alike is the inability to confront

reality; to see things for what they are. As we grow older, we become
more rooted in the past. Habit takes over. Something that has worked for
us before becomes doctrine, a shell to protect us from reality. Repetition
replaces creativity. Do not assume that what worked before will work
today. Cut yourself lose from the past and open your eyes to the present.
The greatest strategists stand out not because they have more knowledge
but because they are able, then necessary, to drop their preconceived
notions and focus intensely on the present moment.

Do not lose your presence of mind

In the heat of battle, the mind tends to lose its balance. Too many
things confront you at the same time. There’s a danger of responding
emotionally with fear, depression, or frustration. It is vital to keep your
presence of mind; maintaining your mental powers whatever the
circumstances. You must actively resist the emotional pull of the
42
moment. Stay decisive and confident no matter what hits you. Make the
mind tougher by exposing it to adversity. Learn to detach yourself from
the chaos of the battlefield. One of the greatest weaknesses in the heat of
battle is losing heart and doubting oneself. Understand that the untrained
mind is weaker than emotions. What best equips you to cope with
emotions in the heat of battle is internal discipline and toughness. No
one can teach you this skill. It cannot be learned by reading about it.
Like any discipline, it can only come through practice, experience, and
even suffering. It is acquired through adversity; trial and error. By
exposing yourself to situations that cause anxiety and fear, you train
yourself to deal with it. Facing your fears is paramount in developing
presence of mind.

Defensive warfare

Jedi are peacekeepers and do not generally attempt to initiate conflict

on either a small or large scale. This often places them in a defensive
position. For a Jedi, the ability to fight defensively, to let others make
the first move and then wait for their own mistakes to defeat them, is a
crucial skill to develop. To fight this way, a Jedi must be able to utilize
deception. By seeming weaker than they are, they can draw an opponent
into an ill advised attack. By seeming stronger than they are, an
opponent can be deterred from attacking. In defensive warfare, you must
leverage your weaknesses and limitations into victory. The following is
the basic art of defensive warfare.

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Selective fighting strategy

We all have limits of our skills. Danger comes by trying to surpass

our limits. Jedi must know their limits and not overextend themselves. If
battle can’t be avoided, get them to fight on your terms, aim at their
weaknesses and make it costly for them to fight you. Wear them down
while fighting with perfect economy. An exhausted opponent that’s
frustrated from throwing punches that he cannot land will soon make
mistakes and open himself up to counterattack. At that point, a vicious
counterattack should be waged until victory or withdrawal can be
achieved.

Counterattack strategy

Moving first and initiating the attack van often put you at a
disadvantage by exposing strategy and limiting options. Instead, hold
back and let the other side attack first, giving you the flexibility to
counterattack however you choose. If your opponent is aggressive, bait
them into a rash attack that leaves them in a weak position. Learn to use
their impatience and eagerness to get at you as a way to get them off
balance and bring them down. In difficult moments, do not despair or
retreat; any situation can be turned around. If you learn how to hold back
and wait for a counterattack, weakness can become strength. The first
step to mastering the counterattack is to master oneself and the tendency
to grow emotional in conflict. By being patient and devoid of emotion,
you can save your energy for the right moment, take advantage of the
opponent’s mistakes, and think clearly in difficult situations. You will
see opportunities for counterattack where others see only surrender. The
key is staying calm while your opponent gets frustrated and irritable.
The counterattack is a particularly effective strategy against someone
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who is especially aggressive by nature; a “barbarian” type person. Do
not be intimidated by these types. They are, in fact, weak and are easily
swayed and deceived. The trick is to goad them by playing weak or
stupid while dangling the prospect of easy victory in front of them. Look
for the emotion that they are least able to manage and use it to have your
opponent lay themselves open to your counterattack.

Be mindful that a counterattack strategy cannot be applied in every

situation. There will be times where it is better to gain initiative yourself,
gaining control by putting your opponent on the defensive before they
have time to think. If the opponent is too smart to lose patience and
attack or the stakes are too high to wait, go on the offensive.

Threatening presence strategy

The best way to fight off aggressors is to keep them from attacking in
the first place. To accomplish this, one must create an impression of
being more powerful than they are. Build up a reputation which makes
others think that fighting you is not worth it. Make others uncertain if
they can defeat you. If an opponent is never sure what messing with you
will cost, they will not want to find out.

Reverse intimidation strategy

Inevitably, Jedi will find themselves facing people who are more
aggressive than they are; crafty, ruthless people that are determined to
get what they want. Fighting them head on can be foolish because
fighting is what they’re good at and they’re unscrupulous to boot. Trying
to fend them off by giving them part of what they’re after or otherwise
pleasing or appeasing them is a recipe for disaster. This shows only
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weakness, inviting more threats and attacks. Instead of trying to avoid
conflict or whining about the injustice of it all, use reverse intimidation.
This art of deterrence rests on 3 basic facts about was and human nature.

1. People are more likely to attack you if they see you as weak or
vulnerable.

2. They cannot know for sure that you’re weak. They depend on the
signs you give out through your behavior both present and past.

3. They are after easy victories, quick and bloodless. That is why they
prey on the vulnerable and weak.

Deterrence is simply a matter of turning this dynamic around, altering

any perception of yourself as weak and naïve and sending a message that
battle with you will not be as easy as they had thought. The essence of
this strategy is to make the opponent know that he may win, but you will
make him pay for each victory. You make him understand that every
time he bothers you, he can expect damage, even if on a smaller scale.
The only way to make you stop attacking in your irritating fashion is for
him to stop attacking you. The following are 4 basic methods of
deterrence and reverse intimidation. They can all be used in offensive
warfare but are particularly effective in defense; for moments when you
find yourself vulnerable and under attack.

1. Surprise with a bold maneuver

The best way to hide your weakness and bluff an opponent into attack is
to take some unexpected, bold, risky action. Perhaps they thought you
were vulnerable and now you’re acting as someone who is fearless and
confident. This will have two positive effects. First, they will tend to
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think your move is backed by something real. They won’t imagine that
you’d be foolish enough to do something audacious just for effect.
Second, they will start to see strengths and threats in you that they
hadn’t imagined.

2. Reverse the threat

If your opponents see you as someone to be pushed around, turn the
tables with a sudden move, however small, designed to scare them. Find
a vulnerable spot in their character and exploit it. If this infuriates them
into attack, back off a moment and then hit them again when they’re not
expecting it. Show them that you’re not afraid of them and you’re
capable of a ruthlessness they hadn’t seen in you.

3. Seem unpredictable and irrational

In this instance you do something suggesting a slightly suicidal streak as
if you felt that you had nothing to lose. You show that you’re ready to
take your enemies down with you. To defeat you would be costly and
possibly self destructive. This will make fighting you very unattractive.
Crazy opponents are terrifying. No one likes fighting opponents that are
unpredictable and have nothing to lose.

4. Play on people’s natural paranoia

Instead of threatening your opponents openly, you take action that is
indirect and makes them think. This might involve using a “go between”
to send them a message. To tell some disturbing story of what you are
capable of. Or maybe let them overhear something that would give them
cause for concern. Making your opponents think you are planning a
counter move is more effective than telling them yourself. Make a threat
and you may have to live up to it. But making them think you are
working against them covertly is another story. The more veiled menace
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and uncertainty you generate, the more their imaginations will run away
with them and the more dangerous an attack on you will seem.

Non-engagement strategy

Retreat in the face of a strong enemy is a sign not of weakness but of

strength. By resisting the temptation to respond to an aggressor, you buy
yourself valuable time to recover, think, and gain perspective. Let the
enemy advance. By refusing to fight or by simply parrying their blows,
you infuriate them and feed their arrogance. They will soon overextend
themselves and start making mistakes. Sometimes you can accomplish
much by doing nothing. Be mindful that retreat is never an end in itself.
At some point you have to fight when pursued. If you don’t, retreat is
more accurately called surrender.

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 MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATION

Jedi find emotional balance and objective solutions to problems

through meditation and contemplation. These are an important part of
any Jedi’s search for self-improvement. Contemplation is the careful
study and reflection of an issue. First, ensure that emotional bias is
minimized through meditation. Clear your mind of all subjective thought
and prejudices concerning the matter. Then begin analyzing with
objectivity and logic. Through objective analysis, devoid of emotions, a
Jedi can look at a problem from an unorthodox angle and make
decisions that are based on reason and wisdom.

There are many methods to meditation. The only thing that

determines if you are doing it right is what your reason and aim for it is
and if your method is successfully achieving it. However, the traditional
aim of meditation is most often misunderstood in that people think the
goal is supposed to be achieving a no thought mind, and then they
realize they cannot adequately accomplish such a thing. What the
tradition actually is, is not a no-thought state of mind but a state of mind
where you let your thoughts run as they will but you disconnect your
immersion of them in order to observe them at an objective distance and
without judgment. Through practice, you will find yourself being pulled
back into immersion of the thoughts and the idea is to gently pull
yourself back out of it and continue observing it objectively.

One method of achieving this is to imagine each thought as a cloud

floating above your head. It arrives, floats by, and then leaves. One after
another. A different scene to use could be a stream of water with Lilly
pads each carrying a thought floating by down the stream. If you find
yourself pulled into a thought, you can use something such as your
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breath to put your focus back onto as a pull-line. Other things can be a
phrase that reminds you to be lucid, or the sensation of your feet on the
floor or some other sense.

The benefits of this meditative exercise is that you are training your
mind to be able to function through the day, through situations without
letting worry and anxiety wisk you away so much, letting you have
better focus on what is most important during the present moment.

Meditation basics
Most meditations begin by sitting in a quiet place, closing the eyes,
calming the mind, and focusing on the breath. But there’s more to
meditating than sitting quietly and breathing. When we meditate, we are
essentially cultivating awareness and compassion; we are training the
mind to stop being easily distracted and instead be more focused in the
present moment. Using the breath as our anchor in the moment, we
simply sit and gradually learn to let thoughts and feelings come and go.
Of course, it’s completely normal when we start to meditate for the
mind to jump all over the place. The mind’s nature is to think, so it’s
going to think — meditation is not about stopping thoughts. We sit and
practice to observe our thinking without getting caught up in our
thoughts and emotions. We learn to tame this restlessness by developing
awareness for those moments when our attention has wandered off. Each
time we notice we’re distracted, we build our awareness, and we bring
our attention back to the breath. Through the process of meditation, the
mind becomes more comfortable with this idea of sitting still, and we
can begin to learn how to integrate the qualities experienced during
meditation practice — calmness, focus, compassion, mindfulness — into
the rest of our day.
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 How to start meditating
Step 1: Decide on a time and place that works for you. Research shows
that it’s easiest to create a new habit when we do it at the “same time,
same place” every day. Just don’t over think it: The best time to
meditate is really whenever you can best prioritize it. And the best place
to meditate? Wherever you can be comfortable and minimally distracted.
Step 2: Decide on an amount of time to meditate. Particularly for
beginners, starting with small, manageable chunks of time — for
example, 3-, 5-, or 10-minute sessions — is key, so you can build up
your practice and find your sweet spot. The most important thing is to
decide on an amount of time that is effective, but also feels achievable
so you continue to do it each day.
Step 3: Make sure you’re sitting comfortably. Sit with your legs and
arms uncrossed, feet flat on the floor, and hands resting on your lap or
by your side. Keep your back straight, but not too tense.
Step 4: Close your eyes and sit a moment. Don’t worry about your
thoughts or breath.

Step 5: Start taking slow breaths. You should exhale and inhale slowly
to the point where you naturally feel its time to breathe in or out.

Step 6: When a thought enters your mind, simply think of it as a passing

cloud and let it leave your mind. Consider each thought as a cloud
passing by. Let it pass and refocus on your breath. The point of the
exercise is to keep your mind in the now. Don’t worry about the future
or think of the past.

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 POINTS FOR REFLECTION

If you always do what you’ve always done; you’ll always get what
you’ve always gotten

A man is not defeated by his opponents but by himself

Errors become mistakes when we perceive them and respond to them

incorrectly. Mistakes become failures when we continually respond to
them incorrectly.

Easy is the path to wisdom for those not blinded by themselves

The best confidence builder is experience

Ignore your instincts at your own peril

Most powerful is he who can control his own power

The winding path to peace is always a worthy one, regardless of how

many turns it takes

Fail with honor rather than succeed by fraud

Greed and fear of loss are the roots that lead to the tree of evil

Arrogance diminishes wisdom

Truth enlightens the mind but won’t always bring happiness to your
heart

Fear is a disease; hope is its only cure

Compromise is a virtue to be cultivated, not a weakness to be despised

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Believe in yourself or no one else will

Attachment is not compassion

If you ignore the past, you jeopardize the future

Fear not the future, weep not for the past

Searching for the truth is easy. Accepting the truth is hard

A wise leader knows when to follow

The path to the dark side may bring great power, but not loyalty

The future has many paths – choose wisely

Failing to plan is a plan for failure

Truth can strike down the spectre of fear

The swiftest path to destruction is through vengeance

He who surrenders hope, surrenders life

He who seeks to control fate shall never find peace

Adaptation is key to survival

To resist the influence of others, knowledge of oneself is most important

There are none as deaf as those who do not want to hear

Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is

Deal with the faults of others as gently as your own

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He who has a why to live can bear the almost any how

One should speak little with others and much with oneself

The wise do as much as they should, not as much as they can

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