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:

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Yoda's Wisdom for Your Walk

me and me time

Is it weird that I like spending time alone?

I love spending time with my girlfriend, my family and the few times I can be with my friends, but every once in a while I enjoy spending a day or two just with myself. Like recently, it's the week after New Years, my girlfriend is back at work and I have 2 days before we are back from Hiatus.  I had somethings I could do with my time off, but I decided to just do nothing. Well not really nothing, but in a sense I just did stuff that passed time. I did some cleaning, I watched a lot of recorded TV and movies and generally laid around my condo and relaxed. Tracked friends through Facebook and played a few video games. I did go out and run a few errands but generally I didn't do much.
  Is that really so bad? I don't do it very often but it happens sometimes during the month when I have a break from work or time becomes available that I had things planned for and it falls through.  It doesn't seem like it but for some reason I tend to feel like it is a bad thing.

 Maybe I'm just nuts or something but is it so wrong to enjoy some ME time? Is it wrong for me to be with myself?

  The truth is I have spent a lot of time by myself. Longer then I think most people do, but it's almost like a blanket that I wrap myself in once and a while.  I'm not totally afraid of the world and need to hide away from it all the time, but I do have to say that once in a while it is so nice to just push the world out of my life and just be me. Is it wrong to be selfish like that?

 I'm not even sure why I'm writing about this but I just needed to say it.
  Which brings up another thing.  I talk to myself.  Now don't judge me right away. Because we all talk to ourselves. Whether we know it or not we do.  I just choose to do it outside of my head.  Honestly it helps me keep my thoughts clear and allows me to speak my mind on something without worrying about being judged.  I see it as a way to vocalize my thoughts so that if I decide to speak about something in public, i've actually rehearsed it.  Many times I have entered a conversation and thought I knew what I was saying and ended up stumbled over the words on the way out and sounding stupid.  When I talk about the subject with myself, I'm preparing for the time when I might actually be speaking to someone and I can confidently and passionately speak my mind. I know it sounds just as crazy as I'm typing it. LOL! But I can honestly and proudly say it helps.  Hey, it hasn't failed me yet so I will keep doing it until it does.

 Well,  I'm going to finish watching "Parenthood"on my DVR.  And that's another story.

The Human Race - 2010

 So, what have we to say for ourselves?

  Now me being one of the Gen-X'ers and a Sci-Fi geek/freak, I'm both happy and sad with the progression of the human race thus far in development.

 First lets go over the negatives and then the positives.

  Negative Developments of the Human Race as of 2010;

To start, we are still using the combustion engine.  This one device was the crown jewel of it's time when it was first developed back in the 1800's.  Technology has advanced so much that we are actually using technology that is superior in every way to the combustion engine inside the vehicles they power.  If you are using a MP3 player or a Cell phone in your car, you have a technology that could easily have replaced the combustion engine with either of these two devices.  Yet we still rely on the engine for most of our transportation needs.  Alternate forms of energy have been available for over 30 years. Yet we still use a polluting, dangerous, 2 century old technology that should have been replaced 40-50 years ago. Now the unfortunate thing is that the combustion engine isn't to blame for this situation because we now come to one of the other flaws of the human race. The use of fossil and natural fuels. Honestly renewable and reusable energy sources have been available for 30 years, all of which are available now and could be used by everyone, yet the human race chooses not to.  We use these fuel sources because our societies have chosen to stick with the ones that are supposedly "old and reliable".   

  Now in regards to the society of the human race, the same problem occurs. The "Old and Reliable" passion exists in that you need to develop and work to the benefit of yourself and your personal family members rather then the community around you.  And if another has a status of higher or more "well-off", then you are required if not encouraged to take it away from that person and make it yours. Now granted it has come a long way but in more way's then one it still exists. In the development of the human race this was originally the format of land ownership, but now the land isn't the only thing that is owned. Now it is more along the lines of ownership of materials and the companies that they are built around.  Mergers of major corporations and integrations of smaller businesses are the "land" items now. Technology has been a driving force in this particular development and over the years, massive fortunes have been made and people have suffered greatly because of these transactions.  Use of the stock market is both seen as a sledgehammer of divinity and also a opportunity of great fortune and wealth. But in more ways than one it depends greatly in your knowledge of the world and of how the system works.
   What is truly unfortunate about this is that the educational systems in place to prepare generations to handle this information and what need to be done, is not being taught properly.  For all the money and power being used to develop companies and services for people, the most needed service of educating our children and the generations after us is not being considered a high priority. What's worse is the teachers who are passionate about their work and want more than anything to educate children to fulfill their dreams and aspirations are treated poorly and receive almost no respect for the work they do. They are penalized for trying to do what many parents fail to do and are then punished because parents are unwilling to accept responsibility for the way their children are raised at home. 

  In the end, even with all the developments and advancements we have made, generations of human beings will be unable to support themselves in the world we have created because we are not doing what we are supposed to do, which is making the world better and stronger for the next generations after us.  In the end, we will not see the future. Only our Children will and if we don't leave a world that they can live in, then our race dies with us.


Positive Developments of the Human Race as of 2010;
  Now for the good stuff.  Over the last 50 years there have been major developments in technology that have helped with the solving of many of the BIG questions of our time and of all time.  Technology has been the bain and benefactor of our species for a long time.  The true test of our time is to make technology a aid for our people and making it possible for all human beings to connect and share our combined knowledge and ablities with everyone in the world. 
  Computer technology is probably one of the greatest imporvements that the human race has developed. We have in less than 70 years developed systems of communication that can now, through programing and world wide web-networks, allow people from thousands of miles away to communicate and connect as our great grandfathers could only dream of.
  One of the biggest and greatest creations is the cellular phone and our developments that have come from it.  Thought to be a device that only the truly wealthy could own, over the last 15 years more people are talking on cell phones and communicating with people that normally it would cost a small fortune to speak with. 
  These devices are only the smallest of technological developments the human race has achieved. Vehicular developments have finally broken the stratosphere beyond government restrictions as companies are now able to develop spacecraft capable of breaking earths atmosphere and traveling across the planet now in minutes that would usually take hrs by normal airplanes.   Along the ground, automotive technology is finally embracing non-combustable engines and the use of Hybrid and Electric powered engines are now available to the public. Though currently at a higher price then economy vehiclesthey are becoming available for lower price seeking consumers.
   Recycling technologies are now available to take mass quantities of materials and re-using them on the consumer market. Landfills are beginning to lessen their loads as the use of  home-bassed compost bins. People are able to re-use un-eaten foods as fertalizer for home gardens. It is hoped that soon all food and waste sources will recycleable once the technology is fully finished and made available to the market.
  
In order for the pros and cons of the human race to finally become equal, we have a lot of work to do.  I want more than anything that when I leave this mortal realm to know that I earned my place in it, but that the generations after me don't suffer from my mistakes.  I don't make the rules of the world, but I want to help correct what those rules don't protect.  This isn't my world, it's OUR world and more importantly it's THE FUTURE'S world.  We have to protect it and strengthen it, if future generations are going to be able to enjoy what we have available to us now.