Moor
Evil and the Dark Side
Greetings,
In my time at the FA I have read many posts from members of the dark side and others as well, craving to find the correct interpendence between the lore of the dark side and what mankind has come to know as the forces and morality of evil.
I have never commented this search among the knowledge seekers, for not all knowledge is a gift when simply passed on to a younger generation. Some discoveries of truth grow fruits of far greater vigor, than any passed knowledge could hope to seed. But the young have turned to the leaders of the Dark Council to inspire their search and perchance share enlightment with them. In the thread of this discussion, the opinion of the presumed knights of the Krath is growing into an assumption of fact that can lead the mindful away from the initial connection of these two dogmas.
Let us begin and examine the nature of the force.
In these explanation, the shadows shall be removed, in order for us to bring the nature of the force closer to the known model of good and evil.
The force is around us and penetrates us. It is what sheds life onto the new born of man and beast and what brings death to these beings when their time has come. The currents of these misty waters are always in motion. And as such they bring the motion of constant change. The forebringing of the new and the destruction of the old is the wholeness of the cycle that we have come to call the essence of the force.
Yet, the force shows two sides to its inherent nature. As we see in the world and environment around us, there are the two major forces, in the sense of pattern and destiny, to be seen. The forces of creation and the forces of destruction.
Let us look at the light side of the force in nature. The currents dedicated to this stream bring life in the manifold of known and unknown existences. It brings life to man, to beast and to nature. As men are born and grow old, so do the trees and green of our childhood grow in strength and beauty. The current of the light side brings the desire in living beings to uphold life. And as such, the wolf takes care of the others in his pack, as do the birds take care of their young and the men and women take care of their children. It shows an essence of protection for the living and of harmony for the cultures and subcultures, the family and friends. These are the currents of creation and protection.
Yet, how could nature survive if all were only to grow? If everything was to spread in an eternal current of life force? Quickly would a species, be it sentient or not, over crowd its nishe in a global environment and the extinction of this species would be an inevitable result. Be it for the mere reason of overpopulation. Be it for the reason of the weak failing to lead the strong. It would be a horrid utopia of a world without rules.
And here the currents of the dark side emerge. Every life that is lived must come to an end. Every tree that grows must eventually die to make room for the next. Death and destruction are the patterns of the dark side. The necessity to take away where something has been given. Yet this task needs rules and arguments when to act and when not. A mindless extinction of life at a whim would bring no stability to an existing environment. As such rules must be determined. Rules that secure not only the further existence of a species but also their improvement, lest they die in weakness at any given time.
The force has decided on these rules. As we see in nature the rule of a given life span has been impressed on us. And the rules of the strong has been implemented into all genetic roots.
A being is given life, but may only remain among its kind as long as it does not weaken either the species nor the coming generations of that species. And by abiding these rules do all living being find themselves in a permanent struggle for survival. A struggle against their brothers, sisters, friends and enemies. For only the strongest may survive if the next generation is to improve the essence of that species.
As a young jedi begins his path through the currents of the force, the first of tasks is to recognize the currents that exist and their meaning. These two main currents can be quickly identified, by the mindful student, as the strongest of all motion within the force. Although the jedi is a living being and carries both of these currents within his heart, will his knowledge and understanding of the force only grow if he can dedicate himself to the study of one component.
I have seen many jedis and seekers pass through the halls of the force academy. I have seen many who try to study the force by engaging an infinate amount of details within the force. Always spending little time with one detail and often even switching components at random in the illusion that seeing all the animals in a zoo would explain to him what nature is.
But to receive power and insight from within the force, you must be able to look past what you see. No matter how adept you are or how intelligent, you could spend your entire mortal existence studying one detail without ever completely understanding its nature in the woven pattern of all things. Therefore the mindful student must decide to find the detail with the strongest motion. For anything that lives, including the force and its currents, can be much more easily understood if it is in motion. For in this motion can you see its goals, necessities, behavior, strengths and weaknesses. The greater the motion, the more is to be seen and learned in a smaller amount of time than if it were simply a static picture.
On these grounds does the student recognize the glory and beauty of these two major currents. And in the hopes and desire to rise above the mortality of the own limited existence does the heart of passion throw itself into the current to be carried or washed away. For this is the path of the courageous.
Watching two currents simultaneously is a difficult task. Similar as if you studied the behavior of flowers and humans at the same time. Although some quick parallels could be drawn, would you miss the wealth of detail in your grasp and fail to understand the basic nature of one, for only trying to understand the interaction of the two.
So a decision must be made. Which component to study of the two? Since it is a long term investment, at least to those serious of intent, the student will choose the current closer to his own nature, in the correct assumption that the similarity will quicken the understanding of that path.
As the young apprentice begins his studies of the chosen current, will he begin to devise all details of behavior and intention, of strengths and weaknesses, in the attempt to understand the slow, rolling movement of the misty waves.
As his understanding of the initial pattern of his component grows, he will gain the insight to past and future behavior. He will see the similarities between the current and the world as we know it. Wisdom is gained as the behavior of man and nature is more and more understood as the parallel to the eternal current of his side. Granted, that his horizon will be limited at the same time, for his insight and wisdom will grow on the topics inherent to the nature of the current. Tactics are slowly understood, the goal of all life. And as the understanding and insight is drawn, so are the powers over the self. What is a man or a women but an equal extension of the currents of the force? While not only watching the environment around oneself to gain insight, the environment of the self, within the body, mind and spirit become a primary goal. For where can the lecture be completely understood if not within the smallest unit of existence, the living being of the self as the key to seeing and grasping the pattern of time.
As such the powers of the force unfold within the self. As the insight and understanding grows, so do the powers of the force within. Again here, the powers of the chosen current are the powers emerging, for the self in mind and spirit constantly continues to grow closer with the chosen current in the eternal search for merging the two in a moment of complete understanding. That is the goal. Yet, the path to that goal is the way.
As the student defines his world view ever more after the model of the current, as a foundation of a deeper truth, so will his attitudes and opinions change, for he himself is in a state of constant change. The essence of the force current grows stronger within that individual, as the two grow closer on the path of the one.
Not last, will the behavior, as an extension of attitude and opinion grow closer to the current. A student of the light will come to understand the life giving and protecting influences among men and in his heart. The harmony of being in a community of many, as a guardian of utopia, will bring him the enlightment to act and lead men if these men chose to acknowledge the necessity of that path.
A student of the dark side will come to understand the necessity of death. The need for destruction and the highest principle of the strong existing among the leaders of mankind as a species to be brought into a new generation of strength and benefit for the genetic substance of our entire existence.
So far, these principles seem easy to understand. A basic grasp of the pattern of the two currents is given to nearly every mortal being. Yet, to follow these directives as these directives dictate all mankind to follow by choice as passive or active members. So is the upholding of the lore of a current a task best left to a machine.
A machine would define its priorities in opinion, behavior, and example and follow them to the letter. It would monotonously carry out the task it has brought upon itself to bear and would always keep a distance between its own programming and the set porogatives.
But man is no machine. Man is a being with emotions.
As the student follows his path, as he comes to follow the lore of his current in word, thought and task, will he begin to 'feel' the truth and merit of the wisdom given to him. He will 'be inclined' to emotionally relate to his quest and path. Is it not his right to do so? As a man who stands forth among many. As a man who dares lead a life of mortality yet crave for immortal knowledge?
As the principles of the chosen current draw closer and closer to becoming the principle of the self, does the continuous reward of truth and power result in a belief in the authenticity of his way as one of the ways of coming closer to the secrets of the universe. What begins as an example of a possible behavior pattern, turns into belief, as that mans stands tall accompanied by the elements of nature heeding the call of the force within him, does he rise to become something else, a true protector of the lore presented to him.
And as the principles turn into belief so does passion of his heart cross his path. What was mere knowledge is now a way. Perhaps not a way for all, but a chosen way by the self. What began as 'following devised instructions' now turns into 'being' in the heart, the body, the mind, the spirit and the soul. For a jedi not only 'does' but especially 'is'. And this feeling of being grows as life steps forward from the grey tones of ignorance and passivity and sheds its colors onto the soul of the new born protector.
A jedi, aiming to 'give' and to 'protect' life, the community and the moment, the present, will change from following abstract principles to being the bringer and protector. And in this mortality that gives him passion is the base for the transformation complete. For a man who aims and does all that can be seen as good, seen in the sense that his and any given psyche would translate the physical stimulus to these actions in emotions of love, of caring and caressing ones environment is what finally makes a jedi of the light side, in his own heart, a protector of good. And thus is the transformation complete.
A student of the dark, following the principles of death and destruction, following perhaps to begin a set of logical evaluations, follows on a path parallel to the light. He believes in the lore of the strong. He does all in his power to become the strongest his mortal limits will allow, for only if he follows his own principles can he dare speak to others of the principles he follows, if he wishes to convert or convince others. The dark side of the force hears his call for power and sees his course of action. It watches, in silence, as the student throws himself into the dark current to understand all there is to know. To gain insight, to find parallels to devise the strategy of the past and future, to know how, when and why nature takes its next action in the manifold of instruments among the legions of species.
The principles of the dark soon become his own. Devotion and mindfulness to logical objectives carves his path. The powers emerge and he may use them to follow the principles of the force and to 'be' as the light jedi strains to absorb the essence of life. The dark student will smite his enemies and convert the weak and strong. He will rise in power to achieve further power, for the strong must lead the species into a beneficial next generation.
Yet, here, too, does passion cross the heart. Where once logical evaluations stood, grows the passion of belief, for powers and knowledge, understanding is revealed and his craving and tasks are rewarded. Where belief stands in acting and being, so does passion fulfill the metamorphosis of mortality. A man doing deeds emotionally registered by his own body and mind as acts of evil, with the given desire to enjoy ones own existence, finally becomes a man of evil. For passion leads him on the road of mortality to emotionally embracing the principles he acts and lives by. The dark jedi is born.
This is the path that only the strongest in devotion can follow. Waisted is the time of humans wishing to receive power and insight by ordering them via catalog. No reward awaits those who merely dabble, who pretend, who perhaps believe what they pretend. This is why a student must go deep within himself to find if his heart carries the weight to follow with such devotion that all else matters not.
When considering the question now, whether the light and dark have to do with good and evil, a new questions arise. Is this connection intended, or is it a flaw or our own mortality? When considering this question, consider the inspiration of my words:
Do we feel and combine principle with belief and emotion, because of our flawed mortality, or is it intended as we ourselves are a species and child of the force.
On 05/23/2000 5:36:00 PM, Malacchi Cayuse wrote: (...) When it comes to meditating, #3 states, that you "draw an emotion of pure evil from the second heart". Must the aura be "evil"?
For a dark sider who wishes to embrace the possibilities of limitless knowledge and power it is important to embrace the dark side. In my opinion, you will never be able to successfully finish on that path if you deny emotion to pass your heart. The aspects you study are those of the dark side. That your body and mind will one day translate these objectives as evil is no reason for shame. For you are definitely a part of the force, and are possibly only able to follow this path because of your own mortality.
(...) My question is: may I rather, in evil's stead, harness my anger (and hatred, let's not forget that bad boy) to accomplish whatever is at hand?
If you feel more comfortable with these lesser emotions, then continue using them. If these emotions should change one day, then do not allow guilt to destroy your intention.
On the topic of 'raising negative emotions from certain pictures or people far away from the moment':
You wish to do that which mortals are not intended to do. You wish to understand what is being held back for you once you achieve death. To break down the barriers of your mortality, to strengthen the connection between yourself and the dark side, it is necessary to go to the extremes, on the emotional and mental scale. The point is, you need these dark emotions to increase your connection and insight. If you garner them from certain 'pictures' or from the moment is of little concern. Important is to be able to call them quickly in a needed situation for they are the current your consciousness rides on into the deeper realms of immortal tasks. Granted, that often used pictures will steadily lose their effect. But then you will have to simply seek out new ones.
On the topic of: 'Pretending to be evil'
If you concur with my opinion and suggestions, if you also see evil as an emotion of greater motion than anger or hate, then strive to manifest this emotion in your heart. Evil, is no relativity of man. It is a fixed emotion, implanted on your genetic code. We all know how fear, sadness, and pride feel. All humans recognize these emotions without anyone being able to show them which is which. And as such we have an emotion of evil, deep within your mind and body. Try to achieve this emotion. At the beginning your logic, or relativity, your mortal philosophies will stand in the way of defining that emotion. But remember who you are and what you do and do not forget to enjoy being and doing, for otherwise you are merely punishing yourself and will find no insight or wisdom within the force. Your passion will make way for evil. For the decisions of your body and mind of what evil is, will be enrichend by the element of spirit and your connection to the dark side. You will find what you seek if you have the courage to find it.
Will a dark jedi move more quickly along the path of the dark side if he aims for evil instead of following basic principles?
I think yes. For deriving a deeper connection to the dark side is a matter of strengthening your intuition and emotional scale. The faster you condition or attune yourself to enjoying, being and following, the faster will the dark side react to your beckoning. When you are attuned with the force will all knowledge pass through you. If that can be achieved in life is a matter of little concern. We learn what we can and act along the limits of our mortality. Less more can be expected.
Lecture #4 talks about "diving into" someone but I'm unclear as to how this is actually done. I've yet to reach the state where I've a palpable aura about me but I'd rather have the knowledge of how things are done before jumping headlong into something.
In the end, you will have to decide if you can trust your intuition. If you feel unprepared then prepare yourself. If you feel prepared but hesitate, then you are touched by the cold hand of fear. If you truly wish to stand as a symbol of the dark side and a protector of its lore, then you must act after what you learn.
When it comes to a physical confrontation, I was taught that one must never enter combat in a state of anger for it clouds the mind.
A wrong assumption is, that a skillless individual can pick up a sword and kill a hundred men, just because of his anger.
If your skill is good, then the dark side can carry you to being an inch better. You must try and learn to attune yourself for the dark side by carrying the darkness and hatred within you. Yet, you must flow with the force, body, mind and spirit. Your spirit is filled with hate and attunes you to the powers of survival. Your body carries out the commands given by mind and spirit to smite your foe. Yet the mind must be concentrated on carrying out the movements as you learned it. As such it will, not hold against, but with the spirit to merge into one and thus will victory be yours to cherish.
be mindful,
Darth Moor