YODA - MY GURU: DO OR DO NOT, THERE IS NO TRY

I have read many times over about how people believe Yoda's statement of "Do or Do not, there is no Try." is a discouraging statement. That it means to do something or give up. I am posting this to state that it is 100% Encouraging to the highest degree.
  Let's think about the statement..  Do or Do not. When you try something lets say for example a piece of food, are you actually trying it?  No.  You are tasting it, as in eating it. It doesn't matter if you spit it out or not. It's already happened and the taste is in your mouth and memory. You did it, that is an action of Doing something. So in essence you are DO-ing, not trying.
 Another example, When you say you will "Give something a try..", are you actually just trying?  No, you are doing whatever it was you thought you were trying. I'll give riding a bike a try? You either ride the bike or you fall off.  Now the end result of that DO-ing will either be a success or failure.   Which in the end are the only 2 options as a result. You either Like the food you are tasting or not. You succeed in climbing the hill or not. You succeed in doing the homework or not.  You succeed in the science experiment or not. You succeed in your trial run of the new car you develop or not. You succeed in your first screening of the feature film you made or not. On and on in every aspect of activity you do in life.
 Yoda is simply posing the statement in a manner of Trial and Error. You either succeed or you don't. So you do it again and either Succeed or Fail. And again and again and again...  With Everything in life you either give up or continue working till success.  This can be applied to all things in life, especially life itself. You can live(Do) or Die(Do not) there is no Try.
 The key to the statement isn't to give up without making the attempt. The point is to go all in on what you are going to do. Don't say try because that means you aren't giving it your best shot and anticipating failure. Just be sure when you start that you don't stop. You keep "DO-ing" till you succeed. Failure doesn't mean stop, it just means you keep going till you finish. The same principle is used in The Scientific Method. You go through the process of discovery and if you don't succeed you start over again. The science experiment succeeds or fails, you start from the beginning again till you find the answer.
 Which brings us to the statement that follows.."Size Matters Not." In the move of "EMPIRE STRIKES BACK" Luke fails to lift His X-Wing out of the swamp. He states "I can't. It's to big". Yoda not missing a beat replies, "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you? Hmm?" After Yoda lifts the ship out of the swamp. Luke goes up to him and says,"I don't believe it." Yoda responds with,"That is why you fail."
    It doesn't matter how big a failure it is after you start. It doesn't matter the size of the opponents or struggle you face when you do what you are doing. You keep moving forward till you succeed. For in this statement, the only thing holding you back, is you. You start the journey, it's your responsibility to finish it. To pick yourself back up after you fall and keep going.

Yoda My GURU

The Theology of Yoda. Religion in Thought, Mind and Choice.

I've always looked at Yoda as the old wise-man from the films I saw as a kid. As I have grown older I realized that there is some truth to the statements that were made in George Lucas' films of Intergalactic War and Religious beliefs. There are many ways to interpret what is being said. Though many would want you to read the bible or listen the theological views about what is actually being said, I've learned that not everything that people study is interpreted the same way.
  We all see things the way we want to see them and that doesn't mean we are wrong or evil for seeing it that way. Though choosing to think that your version is the only truth and persecute anyone else who thinks differently is the wrong way. No one ever thinks the same way as anyone else. Some may believe in the same thing but the way they interpret it and act on it will differ dramatically.  Some may not even believe what they are told because they feel they need to learn it in their own way, or find the truth behind it.

  I think it's one of the truest form of Free Will. Even when we are told something that is absolutely true, we still want to search for more to find out if it really is true. I have been Catholic since I was baptized as a baby. Throughout my time with the religion I have had encounters with other people and religious orders that don't believe the exact same thing I do. Many in my own church don't believe in the teachings of Catholicism the same way I do. I don't think they are wrong or misinterpreting it. I honestly think they are just as right as I am. But what I do have a problem is when they try and force their beliefs on someone else.
  Religion and faith are just as much a choice of turning left or right on a road. You can believe in something and follow the path that is set before you, but no one says you have to believe it the same as everyone else. You have a choice in how you act and interpret what your religion teaches.  Now some might say I'm talking Heresy,  but that is their opinion.  I can think and believe in whatever I want and that is mine to choose. No one can make me believe in something. I can even say I believe in something  that someone tells me to believe and not actually believe it.  I'm not saying that I do, but I have the choice to do so.

  In a manner of speaking Yoda points this out in his statement  in the film "The Empire Strikes Back" of  "No, Try Not. Do or Do Not, There is no Try".  This can be interpreted as many things. But one is that don't do something unless you believe you can. This is then solidified when Yoda lifts the ship when Luke couldn't. Luke then approaches Yoda saying..." I don't....I don't believe it." Yoda responds with, "That is why you fail." When looking at it from a view of choice, Luke choose not to completely believe that he could lift the ship. He gave into his fear of failing in the task, which was the result.  If you choose to believe in something, you need to go in to that believe with commitment. Otherwise you won't find what you're looking for.
  You can see aspects of this in every day life. If you want to do something but you don't go into it with all your ability, you probably won't get the satisfaction that you thought you would.  From as simple as putting a model together, or playing a video game, to planning a wedding , a charity event or your professional career. You can't just put in the bare-minimum effort and expect it to work out exactly as you want.  You have to commit yourself into that task till it is completed. Only by placing yourself all the way forward behind what you want, will you succeed.  It comes down to making the choice of "Do or Do Not".

  In another way, you can look at Yoda's view of  "Fear leads to Anger, Anger Leads to Hate, Hate leads to Suffering." as a statement of religious views.  Many people don't believe in what other people believe in. Because of this fear and resentment can form for other religions because people are content with what is being taught about life. Because of this fear and doubt that ones religions isn't giving them the satisfaction that another's religion is can lead to anger that they are being cheated or that everything they believe in is false. This aspect can fester and people begin to show aggression against those people that believe differently then them. They can think, 'Why are they so content? Why don't I feel that content with what I have been taught? Why is it so easy for them?'  This can then manifest as Hatred for the religion and the people who follow it. Hatred can spread to others and fighting can start both in words and in physical violence. Finally becoming suffering on both sides. Both sides give into the fear, anger, and hatred of the other religious beliefs and they all suffer because of it.
  Once again there is always a choice in how you feel about things.  If you choose to fear something because it is different or isn't how you see it should be, then you can't see everything about it.  Don't instantly judge something without taking a good look at it, especially when dealing with interpreting what someone says and what someone believes. You have a choice to see things as they are and not as someone else sees them. Instead of following the crowd in what they see, look at it yourself and try to see what it actually is. Curiosity has always been one of the strongest drives for human beings. Discovery of new and different things is the corner stone of our society. We choose to go out and explore what is the world around us and find out for ourselves what is going on.  You can listen to what other people say, but that doesn't mean you have to believe it. You have that choice.

 Just like what I'm saying in this blog. It is just my opinion. I'm not saying I'm right and you have to believe what I say. I could be wrong and mis-interpreting all of it. But that is your choice, just as mine was to post this online for everyone to see and get the opinions of them. I'm not giving into the fear of rejection and criticism. I'm embracing it for the benefit of learning and experiencing life.


Lead Well, but Yoda was Wrong | Richard Burkey:

'via Blog this'

Yoda's Wisdom for Your Walk