Lesson 2: Emotional Control

by: Jedi Knight/Jedi Teacher Jonathan Tapp

"Control, control, you must learn control."--Jedi Master Yoda

The Force thrives on balance. The conflicts between the Light and Dark Jedi are as a chemical reaction—they try to reach balance through reaction. Ideally, the Force has an equal balance of Light and Dark, white and black, yin and yang. One cannot exist without the other.

Some Light Jedi see their mission as a purge of the Dark Jedi. They say that they would gladly strike down and Dark Jedi they come across. This is not the way of the Light. The Jedi only fights when there is no other alternative. Let us ponder a hypothetical situation. A Light Jedi was walking down the street when he sees a known Dark Jedi in mortal danger. What does the Jedi do? Do they let their enemy perish and thus eliminate a threat to life? Or do they save their enemy and risk allowing the Dark Jedi to run free and take more life? The Jedi code is to preserve all life. The Jedi is not judge, jury, and executioner. One must respect the Dark and learn from it.

So how does the Light Jedi treat the Dark? As an equal but an opposite. Then what is the difference between a Dark Jedi and a Light Jedi? The Dark Jedi took the easy route to power. Nobody decides to be a Dark Jedi because they wish to destroy and maim and kill. They become a Dark Jedi because it is an easy route to power; a shortcut.

A Dark Jedi is just as human as a Light Jedi. The Dark Jedi merely allows the power to overcome them and they lose control. It is this that leads to destruction and death. Respect the Dark Side, but respect it as you would respect a cobra. Seek to understand it, to find its strengths and weaknesses. But be aware of the harm that can come from it.