To Be a Jedi: Part 2

Much of this really concerns a certain psychological outlook. But even so, the Jedi Order has seen fit to forbid romantic attachments. Whatever its merits, it does seem to have a rather difficult time adapting to new situations, such as the arrival of the Chosen One, or the possibility that the Sith have returned. The Jedi Temple itself resembles an ivory tower, and the knights within often confuse knowledge with wisdom, and apparently are doing some clinging of their own, erecting statues and graven images of Jedi long since past.

In the end, the question needs to be asked whether or not forbidding Jedi to experience deeply personal love is actually a wise thing. There is something slightly disheartening about this to me, perhaps because it seems more about solidifying the Jedi organization than anything to do with the Force. After all, though Anakin and Padme do love one another as individuals, the ultimate aim of sexual intimacy as well as marriage is to transcend duality and achieve union where there was once separateness. This is the goal of most religious exercises as well.

There is a well-known story about the nineteenth century Indian sage Sri Ramakrishna in which a woman came to him, terribly distraught because she found herself unable to love God. And of course, in Hindu devotion, or "bhakti," God is the whole, the totality of all that's known and not-known. Ramakrishna replied by asking her if there was anything that she did love, and she spoke of her love for her little nephew. And even though this was but a very focused particular, he told her that her love and service to her nephew were her ways of loving and serving God.

If this is permissable in such an instance, why would it not be in the days of the Old Republic? Regardless of the Jedi Order's codes and councils, Anakin obviously finds a powerful illumination in Padme, and one that clearly flourishes all the more in unrequited negation. Perhaps things would have gone much more smoothly had it been recognized that his service in the Force is at least partly manifested in his love for her.

Part 3 will be available on October 29

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