…and great wisdom from Yoda this is.
Yes, there’s a lot we can learn from everyone’s favourite old timer.
Yoda is the philosopher-warrior-teacher-guru of Star Wars, who coaches young Luke Skywalker through the frustrating experience of learning to become a Jedi and use the Force.
For me, using the force is similar to understanding prana in yoga, or chi, or using hypnosis and mindfulness to clear the mind of noise. If we direct our energies towards that which we want, rather than focusing on our fears and anger, it opens up a world of possibility.
Yoda knows that if you want to achieve something, you must first believe that you can.
These are some of my favourite examples of his philosophy and teachings:
“Do or do not… There is no try.”
“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”
Already know you that which you need.
The dark side clouds everything. Impossible to see the future is.
“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.”
“Luminous beings are we…not this crude matter.”
“Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away… to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless.”
“Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.”
“Always pass on what you have learned.”
“Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will.”
“Yes, a Jedi’s strength flows from the Force. But beware of the dark side. Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they. Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight. If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny, consume you it will, as it did Obi-Wan’s apprentice.”
“Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them do not. Miss them do not. Attachment leads to jealously. The shadow of greed, that is.”
“Always in motion is the future.”
“To answer power with power, the Jedi way this is not. In this war, a danger there is, of losing who we are.”
Happy Star Wars Day, young Jedis, and May the fourth be with you!
Emma x
Seymour Wellbeing 