Lesson 7
…To fall prey to the Dark Side
The Jedi are the defenders of life. In turn, they are the protectors of the Force, for life spawned the Force. The Jedi use the Force to defend life, as well as use the Force to defend the Force. A Jedi must hold the most serious mind, the strongest will, and the undying will to help all living things. All Jedi have an obligation to both themselves and all life on Earth.
The Jedi must also put their heart and soul into everything they do, or they are not true Jedi. A true Jedi worries not with titles1, levels of training2, or the advancement of their peers3. They must worry only of their training4. I will explain…
An apprentice or Padawan Learner will eventually earn the title of Knight. But, one of the most important things an apprentice or Padawan Learner MUST learn is that titles are of no concern. When one becomes so obsessed with their title, they tend to exaggerate it, and loose their humbleness. To do that is to fall prey to the Dark Side.
The level of training that an apprentice or Padawan Learner receives is the level they require in the eyes of their teacher. If they have no teacher, then they should not be learning. Although, some do, and they do not realize they progress too quickly, that is when they fall prey to the Dark Side.
If one of your peers advances faster then you in some area of the Force, or even all areas, you should not rush your training to the point you loose yourself in envy of your peers. IF your peers advance faster then you, do not worry, they may have more talent in the particular fields in which they excel. If you loose yourself in envy and eventually, hate, of your peers, you fall prey to the Dark Side.
When I say worry only on their training, I mean worry not about trivial things until which time you are skilled enough to do so. When you choose to leave your training to do something you are not ready for, you loose the advantage of ability, and you run into problems you cannot handle. When you do that, you inadvertently look for easier ways of doing things. To do this is, also, to fall prey to the Dark Side.
I say this to you now, not to scare you or punish you for one reason or another, but to warn you. Heed this warning, and stay true to the Light.
Good luck, and May the Force be with you all.
--Master Walker