Jedi Code - Part 3
I love many people. I love doing/performing some of my favorite activities like juggling, and writing. I could say I have a passion for some of these. But, the Code says, "There is no passion ~ there is serenity." What to do?
The point of view of the Code, to me, suggests being out-of-control with one's passions. In the film Somewhere In Time, a character asks, "Excess within control?" In my life as an amateur juggler, this line of the Code means: Love what you do, and do well at it. But, do not practice to the point that you're "useless" for anything else... or become obsessive and exclude the rest of life's details from your awareness.
If a Jedi has a zest for life, but has self-control in that zeal, we think the Jedi is in a serene state of being. Focused, yet aware. Love tempered with awareness beyond the self's needs. Thus, a Jedi can show/live by a life of compassion - that being of a free giving of self.
The third approach one might take is working from the point of view that the Code is a step ladder. Accepting or controlling passion leads to serenity inorder to bring resolution toward the 4th pillar of the Jedi Code. Living for the day (or rather, living as if this was the first day of your life), but with the acceptance that this existence is but a step in our journey.
I completely agree that the focus is on "desire" rather than a sense of passionate love only. Yet, those two can be intertwined as well. Desire itself comes in many forms... a desire for love, money, status, knowledge, control, etc, etc. I hoped in my initial post just to touch on this from a couple of points of view rather than ramble the "whole" gamut.
It's interesting as a side-note, though, in Star Warsian point of view how they range on the love/marriage issue. In the Jedi Apprentice novels, Qui-Gon and Tahl are ready to enter into a life-bond. Yet, from what we've seen of Ep II, the posters for the movie read: "A Jedi shall not know... fear, hatred... or love." Interesting how it changes in Lucasfilm land.