“YOUR FOCUS DETERMINES YOUR REALITY! - this you have heard?! Many have heard of late….. Heard perhaps you have, but practice it you do? A Jedi lives by this -, as should you! (he thumps his gimmer stick firmly on floor) Come, to the dining room we go!” the green diminutive Jedi Master practically scolded me with, springing up and out of the council chair with amazing speed.
With a start I jumped to my feet. Yes, of course I had heard that! As had everyone where I lived, in the last year or so! I just could not believe that Master YODA had! What did he do - dress up in disguise and go the movies at the MALL!?! On Earth? In my time period? This makes no sense at all to me as I follow him down the hallway. I try to be careful not to step on the small one's heels - I cannot imagine how a tall Qui-Gon Jinn could ever have managed to walk at Yoda's pace!
Eventually we wound our way through an absolutly convoluted maze of hallways and elevators, to come to a large open set of doors from which beyond came the sounds of a most earthly nature - a CAFETERIA? The Jedi Temple has a cafeteria? Oh well I think to myself, as Yoda nudges me along to the left in front of him. I quickly notice that this line is NOT the one full of giggling and restless Padawans and young knights. Several of those nearby notice me, and nod politely with a mildly curious look for just a moment. They are definitely older, and each wears a cloak of dark chocolate brown.
In moments we are seated at the farthest table near the windows that overlook the now glowing city below. Although the table is long and could easily seat 8, we two are the only ones at it. To the side and behind us are many, many other tables though, again all occupied by the ones in the chocolate cloaks, a few with a younger one by their side. I barely even notice what I am eating. I guess it wasn’t TOO bad, but the room’s other occupants were much more the focus of my attention!
At least they were until one very, very tall and broad shouldered form in a dark cloak came over, casually setting his tray down beside Master Yoda with a sigh and slight toss of the silver streaked hair that hung over his shoulders from behind.
“Do you mind if I join you, my Master?” that so-deep voice asked politely, and Yoda shook his head without even looking up.
“Not at all Qui-Gon.” He said casually as he considered the one’s tray with a raised eyebrow. Gracefully the tall Jedi swept his cloak behind him and sat, settling himself with the napkin and pouring himself a glass of water from the nearby pitcher in the center of the table. I watched - no I stared - as he drank nearly the whole glass at once and refilled it.
“Qui-Gon Jinn, this is my newest enrollee in the Force 101 class.” Yoda said simply, and the man smiled at me politely with a nod of his head.
“It is a pleasure to meet my Master’s new students. You will enjoy the class.” He said and I swallowed hard and nodded, feeling my cheeks redden.
“Came via one of those websites this one did.”Yoda remarked, and now I felt my ears burn as well, as the Jedi gave me a rather amused look and nodded.
“You needn’t be embarrassed my friend…. It is an honor for me to have inspired so many.” He said reassuringly, even as I felt the wave of comfort already coming to engulf me. I risked a small smile at him.
“I can guarantee that no one who does them ever thinks YOU see them!” I blurted out, half wincing at my own bluntness, and now he chuckled softly and even Yoda smiled and nodded.
“Well…. Very - creative - I must say some of them are my Padawan…”Yoda observed as if teasing, and now it was the Jedi’s turn to redden slightly.
“I am only human Master…. Perhaps some of them just sense that more strongly than they do the mythological figure of me. It is the energy that counts… not what they would have me say or do. You must admit - some of the sites have enough ‘energy’ invested in them to run all of Coruscant!” he countered mildly and Yoda half snorted as he nodded and seemed very amused.
“What good does the energy do for here? Or does it?” I asked curiously and Yoda shook his head with a mysterious look.
“A subject that is for one of the class sessions. Wait you must for now. For now… get acquainted we will.” He said, ignoring my own raised eyebrow, which made the big Jedi smile more fully at me over his tray.
Before I even knew it, dinner was over and back through the maze of hallways we went. I got to see for myself how the tall Jedi Master did indeed reduce his steps to match those of his ancient greenish Master! Finally, after a confusing set of turns and elevators, we came to a long hallway where at the almost end was a door of blue with a plaque beside it that read “Jinn, QG.” I almost held my breath for the first full minute as I just surveyed the room.
Before me stretched a large common room with a fireplace that crackled merrily, a desk on which sat a version of a computer I guessed, stood to the right of it. On the left was a set of transparent doors that led to a balcony beyond… while before the fire was a large, worn chair, and a very long and overstuffed couch of deep blue. Plants hung in macramé yarn netting before the window over the desk, and stood at all heights in planters before part of the balcony doors.
The lights were already on, casting a warm glow that flowed over the wall to ceiling bookcase that ran all the way to the balcony doors, each and every shelf full of books, datapads, rocks, electronic parts, birds’ nests, seashells, holovid photographs, and a vast assortment of odds and ends.
“Please, look around if you’d like-“ our host invited as he headed into the kitchen to the left, where soon there came the sound of water running into a kettle. Master Yoda smiled at the look on my face as from the back bedroom area strolled an enormous white cat, curious as to who should be visiting.
“This just has to be a dream. I’ve been reading WAY too much fanfiction I would say!” I think to myself - half glumly, and Yoda laughed softly as he settled himself on the couch and the cat hopped up to have an ear rubbed.
“Would you hang this up for me please? There’s a hook by the door-“ Qui-Gon said casually as he handed me his Jedi Cloak and disappeared into the back room on the left. I gulped, truly amazed beyond words at the object draped so casually over my arm. The scents of cinnamon and spice seemed to waft from it. I have to admit, I did pet it as I took it to the wall and VERY carefully hung it on the hook I found there.
“Master Yoda… please tell me… I’m dreaming this - I have to be.” I said as I returned to the couch, just as the Jedi returned as well, now divest of his heavy belt and thick outer tunic. Yoda smiled at me patiently.
“A story I will tell you, young learner.” He started, as now Qui-Gon Jinn settled peacefully down into the worn chair by the fire. Clad in just his dark brown leggings, thick socks and the white under tunic, his hair now down and loose, I had to fight to pay attention to the ancient one.
“2 Padawans there were… equal in skill, age, training… in use of the Force… in all ways the same. Send them I did to the same planet, but on opposite sides of it. Tell them to gather herbs for the healers I did. Herbs I knew did not grow there. Call me they did. ‘Master - there are none to be found they reported.’ Told them I did - go further out - out into the mountains… and so they did. For 2 weeks I let them wander around in the wilds, the mud, the dark…. Very little supplies did they have… dangerous wildlife did they encounter… Finally, let them come home I did, after discouraged they had become.” He said, and the Jedi in the chair smiled with a soft sigh and amused look at his ancient master.
“Stood before the council did the first one alone. Told us he did of how difficult this task had been - how impossible it was…. So many difficulties… so many lacks… so many problems… a failure he did feel he was… apologize he did many times. Then, the second we did call before us, also alone. Stood before us he did as well… told he did of his difficulties… the lacks… the problems… but, he did not apologize. A great adventure he thought of it as - despite the aspect of failure. He volunteered to return… or go even elsewhere if we so asked. Now… why did the Council let the second one take the trials of knighthood 2 weeks later, but not the first?” Master Yoda asked of me, and I smiled.
“Because he did not give up.” I answered quickly, and Yoda smiled.
“Close you are indeed learner. They had both become discouraged and had given up… But, while the first had failed - all he saw in the experience was failure. So for him it was one. But, for the second Padawan… yes, he too had failed… but to him, it was a learning experience… he may have given up on the task itself - but he had not let the lesson overcome his spirit. Anyone is capable of failure - it is moving past failure that is so difficult for so many humans. Dwell on failures! They do tend to fixate on the negative! Both Padawans had the same discouraging experience of failure. But while to one it became a lesson in failure, for the other it became a lesson in how to face a challenge and not achieve it. There is a difference.” He said softly. I frowned mildly to myself, and Qui-Gon smiled just a little bit.
“Many things in life will not be pleasant or encouraging for you. There are for all of us. If you focus on the parts and things you cannot do, the rules you do not like, the people who are not agreeable, the money you do not have…. Forever will you be unhappy and finding things to apologize for and regret. If, on the other hand, you focus on what you DID learn, and how the lesson can BE accepted, and then moved PAST… you allow for growth to happen. Both Padawans had the same failure… but for one - he focused on only the aspect of failure. That failure stayed with him for a long time. The other learned failure as well, but found the road past it.” Qui-Gon said, and I half smiled.
“Sounds like a saying we have at home - for every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.” I observed and he nodded with a mild shrug.
“Sometimes - there is no silver lining to be found - or not the time to do so then. If one focuses on one’s lacks and unsatisfied wants and such - that is what you will always have in life. Life very rarely satisfies all of anyone’s wants… If you accept that and go on… In time you may find another way around - or at least leave that behind and grow past it. Even if you never have anymore than the other kind of person does - to you, your life will seem better, more satisfying. Not because you had more, but because of what you focused on. You will see what you choose to in the end.” He said, and I nodded, then frowned some.
“So… Your focus determines your reality…." I said, and the Jedi seemed pleased as he nodded. I sighed at Master Yoda.
"So, this IS just a dream?” I asked unhappily, and Yoda smiled warmly.
“Suppose a dream this is… is what you might learn worth less because of it? Is the warmth and friendship here - less warming than when you dream of a friend you know in your real world? Mysterious are the ways of the Force, and of the Universe my young one…. If you allow yourself to be open to the Force and to learning while in a dream…. Is that focused time less well spent? If you find friends here who’s company you enjoy… are they less of a friend? Is the comfort and companionship less because the memory comes to you through a dream? We are not real in your world. Here, we are indeed.” The wizened one observed thoughtfully, and I considered his words carefully.
I glanced over at Qui-Gon to find him smiling at me encouragingly. He certainly looked real to me. My stomach certainly felt really full…. The warmth of the fire in the room felt truly warm…. Here I could have experiences and lessons not possible in my real world. If you are open to learning the lessons, isn’t that better? How could it not be?
Yoda chuckled softly. “Your focus does indeed determine your reality, young learner. To you - for this moment - we ARE real! In the flash of an eye - together we can be. Now…. think on these questions you will, as your first ‘homework’ assignment…..
1. If a lesson is learned through a dream experience - is it less valuable to the learner?
2. How has your focus in the past, shaped your reality?
3. Do you tend to focus on failure, as the first Padawan in the story… or do you tend to accept the lessons and grow from them and move past, as did the second?
4. Pick 3 issues/situations in your life now. Write out the positive and negative points of view for each of these situations.
5. Give an example of a situation where a person would prefer to see only failure, rather than moving past it. Does fear play a part in such a choice?
Just then, the tea kettle in the kitchen began to whistle sharply and loudly, startling us all.
“Can I help?” I asked Qui-Gon as he got up, leaving the cat in the chair, and he smiled warmly as he nodded. I followed him into the kitchen with its white tiled floor, white cabinet doors and white appliances.
“Is there an Obi-Wan here?” I asked shyly, and he grinned, with a deep chuckle. “Oh yes, he too has ones that seek him for ‘dream teaching’.” He said and I couldn’t help but smile.
“We must get to be annoying I would think…” I observed apologetically, and he considered me, cocking his head to one side, with a look to those eyes so blue that made my insides feel all fuzzy and warm.
“I AM a teacher, as you surely know…. To be such is an honor. To be such to so many, is an even greater honor. I follow and gladly serve the will of the Force - and I enjoy what I do. I truly AM of the Living Force… ALL learning and growth delights me.” He said sincerely, tossing his head to clear his eyes of the loosened cascade of hair… and I had to fight the urge to just hug him right then and there! If this was a dream - I prayed the power would go off and my alarm clock would NEVER ring!
TBC….
Look For - "First Meditations" @ http://www.geocities.com/jinnaraq/philosophy.html
"The Living Side of the Force"
"The Unifying Side of the Force"
"Size Matters Not"
"Happiness is…"
"Believing is Seeing"
"Energy Applications"
