[FMAT] The Jedi Code [Open to Jedi]

[WolfMortum]

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The Silver Rest,​

Kashyyyk Temple of the Silver Jedi Order.​

This thread is open to all Jedi Characters.​

[member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Boo Heavenshield"] | [member="Jerek Zenduu"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"]​

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It was the first time that Veiere Arenais has stepped foot into a classroom environment in years, the room seemingly glowing from the ambient light fueled by the Holo-Consoles at each desk for the students of the Temple to make use of in their studies. In most situations, Veiere would have chosen a far more open spot where he could sit the group down in a circle so that no one had their backs to another, but this would have to do for the time being as he was still adjusting to life within the Silver Rest, and still often got himself lost somehow.

He had arrived earlier for once, however, wanting to make sure he knew what he was doing before the Students would start arriving at the designated hour. Standing behind the raised terminal, Veiere cast a glance to the rest of the room briefly imagining the pressure of it being filled with younger prospects. The last time he had done this sort of thing was back on the Praxeum Vessel he had commissioned for his own organization back when he used to watch over them all. Compared to those sorts of pressures, the responsibility today would be significantly less stressful than back in those days.

The subject for his first class was conveniently the first thing that all Jedi Students should be taught. The precepts of the Jedi Code, those first five lines, moral ground rules and so much more written between the lines...It would be the type of lesson that required the students to engage and share their perspectives with the others for cooperative learning; and yes, he too would share his understanding on the first section of the Jedi Code. Depending on how it all went, he would consider moving on to the tenets, the guidelines and finally the attributes.

 

[Elizabeth Skywalker]

Be good, do good and ask good questions... it was a small mantra that the Altisian's shared. Living on their island away from the galaxy. The children of the jedi had well refined their teaching... staying to the code as opposed to changing it to fit in new perspectives... helped that isolationist jedi who moved around the galaxy into older ruins from different groups were able to conceal themselves thanks to friends and techniques. THen war had come and instead of continuing to move when Belsavis was attacked they had remained hidden not leaving until discovered by Sorel Crieff the grandmaster at the time of the silver jedi and her good friend Orihime.

It had been a bit of a shock but Elizabeth and Morrigan had gone out into the galaxy to learn from the silver jedi... they interacted with few of the jedi preferring to stay quiet and to the side. THeir own missions to keep their island protected and people safe. Her shoes going across the floor of the halls that she had gotten from Kiriko. Saber on her waist gleaming silver metal with a grooved grip that was biometrically locked to her hands. The bow crafted to replace the Corelian bow they had gotten from an ancestor was sleek and designed to collapse so it could fit comfortably on her hip near the jedi field kit.

THen she was going through the doors and looked at who was there, her eyes focusing and coming up as the teenager didn't speak just slid into a seat and kept her senses focused around the room. Feeling everything she could and rolling the force off of her in waves to test the waters and detect new force signatures coming within range. A great technique for the jungles here or at home and she could tell force signatures from the feeling that it brought to the back of her mind. She looked at the man who was leading the class and raised an eyebrow but mostly allowed herself to come off as friendly... maybe... she wasn't entirely certain if she looked friendly.

 

[Ravenfire]

Tom stood near the front of the room. After the whole thing with the vampires and finding his brother he decided he needed to focus more on assisting the Silvers where he could when he could. Learning properly about their Jedi Code couldn't hurt in anyway. He looked over the room of bright students. He spotted one he had contacted to be his apprentice [member="Cyrus Nova"] he nodded to the young man. They would begin training soon enough but first he would need to brush up on his knowledge of the code.

He was a little surprised when [member="Veiere Arenais"] he had heard and acknowledged what had happened on commenor which had nearly sent him off the edge especially since it came to him shortly after he had been freed from the vampires who had effectively changed his biology to be like them. But [member="Mykes Taff"] had been strong and kept him light enough to find more reasons to remain on this side of the force. He nodded to the man. He assumed since Kay had effectively abdicated that he would have been in charge but perhaps commenor had lost all faith in the Arenais clan. He would ask after the session after all he needed the knowledge that was about to be told.

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

It was weird seeing the ex-king of Commenor around Silver Rest, every time she saw him Asaraa remembered the first time she'd seen him on board his flagship. The man who had done the impossible, who had pulled together the alliance that had driven the Sith from Commnor. It was an intimidating first impression, she'd seen the man around since but first impressions were always the most difficult to move past, and that impression was more telling than most. She'd met him since, but there was something about dating his son that had always left her a little nervous in the man's presence, and now he was hosting a class on the nature of the force and what it meant to be a Jedi.

Not all that long ago she'd had a very interesting meeting with Kyoko Ike, discussing their own differences in training and the way they approached the force. In a larger group there must be so many more options, so many other people who saw things in a different way from her and the masters she'd trained under. The pink-haired Jedi nodded at the room, slipping in through the door to settle into a seat, by the wall. The set up reminded her a little of the old lessons when she'd been a youngling, all those years go, a time when she'd been far more naive and her understanding of the galaxy had been stunted. She'd seen so much since then that she thought she might have a little more of a grip on what the force meant to her, what it meant to her to be a Jedi, but last time she'd had this discussion with Josh he'd managed to turn her idea of the world right around. So, who knew what views they might hear today.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

Last she met [member="Veiere Arenais"], it was a few years ago, before she could even re-join the Order in the first place, much less be seated in the Assembly. Sure there are a few things she is grateful for, such as the tolerance for late entrants like herself, but she has realized that [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] was there, too. However, she didn't know a whole lot about [member="Tom Taff"]. But presumably each and every attendee would have something to contribute to a discussion on the Jedi Code. But there were some major changes to the power structure on Commenor last she heard about those. Mind you, unlike Asa and Tom, she didn't take part in the whole Commenor saga directly. She still had some to learn, but sometimes there are tradeoffs to make in learning. One just can't learn everything, she admits as much. Yet, it was likely that nobody will get the same learning from today's seminar in her view. There were so many views on the Code, she couldn't wade through all of them that she knew of, and there could still be more views to learn about and from, today or at a later date.

 

[WolfMortum]

Veiere smiled to each and every Student as they entered the Classroom and moved to take their desired seats, looking ahead to him in preparation for the lesson. It was an encouraging turn out. Their numbers were few, but honestly he was relieved to see that there were people interested in participating at all. Doing a quick head count, he looked to each of them and recognized a couple among the group; at the end of each lesson, Veiere would typically write up a report in his personal holo-net journal to keep track of the lessons he was providing.

"Greetings everyone" he spoke up, recognizing that it was time to begin as everyone had found their seats; "And welcome to Force Mastery and Theory, one of the modules of practice that was once taught to me as a youngling, and one I've carried with me into today's lesson. As you will have read on the comport (SJO Holo-net Site), today's subject is going to be going over the Jedi Code" he grinned, taking note of their reactions and facial expressions to determine whether they were feeling eager, nervous or disillusioned to the subject.

"The Code of the Order is divided into four categories. the Precepts, the Tenets, the Guidelines and the Attributes" much of the Galaxy didn't understand this, and common knowledge typically started and ended with the Precepts. "Our lesson today will be an engaging one, and your task or overall goal is to come away from this class with new insight on the Code. I will be expecting everyone to give their views on the Jedi Code, but remember that we are all different and here within my lessons, there is to be no scrutiny".

"So then, can anyone explain to the class about the Precepts? The first category of the Code and the most popular section".

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Tom Taff"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"]​

 

[Elizabeth Skywalker]

She didn't need to look around, extending out her senses as she felt the others join she kept her eyes focused on the one bringing them all here and when he spoke she let her face remain neutral. Slipping into a more reserved position. This class was in session and she was here to learn, both what the others thought and what this one thought. 'Interesting' She was looking at it and the older version of the code... before it was refined to become something that was brought to the foundation to the Altisians but they accepted it. Learning how to accept emotions and not be ruled by them was a part of growing up. She wasn't sure what to say but she had some thoughts.

"Emotion yet peace." She spoke, her voice soft but there was an edge. Master Jarl had taught her it. A means to ensure that she could be heard over the commotion of the island and crowds. Raging storms, feral creatures or Binky... Binky was the most dangerous of all but few knew about. "For the children of the jedi we are taught that emotions exist. That they are not to be feared but being ruled by them is dangerous. Acknowledge them but do not let them rule you, find inner peace so you can accept them. We are taught to be auto-didactic and polymorphic. Learning from everything and improving outselves. It is why when Grandmaster Crief found us master Jarl sent me and The Daughter of the house of Jeth."

She remained in her seat but straightened her back a little hands on the desk, eyes focused and senses expanded outwards. She was searching without looking to read the surface, brush along and pick up the smallest thoughts. "Our dead return to the force but the dynasties they leave behind, the life and light of the force is something we honor."

 

[Jerek Zenduu]

The hard-backed seat was not the most comfortable for the lean teenager, not having his own cushioning was a serious downside to both his adolescent metabolism and his own physical fitness. Jerek tried to resist shifting in the seat, telling himself that any relief would only be temporary, it would just be easier to try focusing on something else. Or someone else.

If only Allya were here today.

She had declined his offer to join him in the class, Jerek remembered her saying something about doing training with someone else. Asaraa, perhaps? No, Asaraa was here in the classroom today. He had just accepted it at face value before, but now that the other students were filing in, Jerek wondered if it had just been an excuse to avoid being around so many Jedi learners like himself. Perhaps it was the subject matter at hand, his girlfriend was an unapologetic darksider, and for so many Jedi that simply meant Sith. Having a Sith in a discussion about the Jedi Code would be...

...well, Jerek had gotten [member="Micah"] to come along, so he was about to see for himself.

It had been so long since Jerek had reviewed the Jedi Code in its entirety. He knew its teachings, the padawan had been a studious youngling and a voracious learner, but studying the Code and applying the Code were two very different affairs. Jerek's former Master Beck had his own code he had lived by, a simplified version of the precepts, that Jerek had tried to follow in his own life. Peace over anger. Honor over hate. Strength over fear. It was a simple mantra, and like the Jedi Code it didn't cover every situation. It was just a place from which to start.

Jerek finally found something to focus on as Master [member="Veiere Arenais"], the now-former King of Commenor, began his lesson. The dramatic announcement of the lesson's subject matter didn't really surprise him, it's how the class had been listed on the comport in the first place. Instead, the padawan was at the ready, feeling relaxed and just a little bit excited for the class to begin. He was starting to feel more comfortable with returning to being a full time student again.

As another student took the time to answer regarding the first precept, Jerek decided to speak up about the second. "Ignorance, yet knowledge," he began, quoting the second line of the original Jedi Code. "There is so much to the universe, and we only know just a fraction of it all. We shouldn't be content to remain ignorant in the face of something more to learn, but we also have to recognize the limits in ourselves. There will always be something we are ignorant of, to learn more about it is a blessing, but ignorance itself isn't a curse."

There was so much more Jerek wanted to say about it, but he had learned not to ramble so much in class when he was younger. Besides, he had been away from the Silver Jedi for a while —indeed, he was a complete newcomer to the Silver Rest on Kashyyyk— and the boy didn't want to come off as a know-it-all. Instead, he sat back in his seat, waiting for someone else to speak, or for Master Arenais to react to his contribution.

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Tom Taff"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"]​

 

[Cyrus Nova]

Nova had not learned much about the galaxy growing up on Tatooine, scavenging. Everyone in the room seemed to treat the instructor with a reverence and air of respect befit for royalty. The padawan knew he probably should know who more about the older man, but you don't hear lots of news out in the sand. He had been explained the Jedi code, but only briefly. Everyone of the others in the room must have been better acquainted with the code. He debated speaking up and sharing his thoughts, and for the first time in a long time he hesitated. Something in the back of his mind spoke up. It was something about the grandness of it all, and the honor of the Jedi surrounding him.

Suddenly the galaxy seemed whole lot bigger, and he spoke, with a calmness about his words, "Passion, yet serenity. It means being the master of your emotions, while allowing them to guide your instinct. Without facing your emotions they will little by little come to rule you.

Cyrus quickly glanced at his new master, [member="Tom Taff"]. He then looked down at his hands, not really used to sharing his thoughts so openly. Growing up never had he imagined being whisked away to distant planets by the Jedi order. Training came easy to Nova, but studying had never been his strong suit. For once it was just nice being a part of something real.

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] | [member="Tom Taff"] | [member="Jerek Zenduu"]

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

"Ignorance, yet knowledge. Yes, it is true that we know a very tiny fraction at most of what there is to know, yes we still have opportunities to learn, but there comes a point where one may as well have to choose between opportunities to learn. I accepted long ago that knowing everything is impossible, so the ability to determine what to learn and what not to learn is crucial. That said, don't dismiss a source of information without first assessing the reliability, if that's feasible. One more thing related to this precept: if there is one thing I'm grateful for, as far as Jedi-hood is concerned, is the possibility for a person to enter the Jedi path at any age in today's environment. Often people who enter later in life carry with them knowledge and expertise that Jedi wouldn't otherwise be able to develop"

There is no emotion, there is peace, there is no ignorance, there is knowledge, there is no passiobn, there is serenity, there is no chaos, there is harmony, there is no death, there is the Force. Yes, she knew about the flaws of the Jedi during the Clone Wars: no-attachment rules being one of the main issues, but also the Order of the era was intellectually barren in comparison to today. The latter also led the Order to take on too many duties they were unable to assume. Sure enough, today, there are other flaws, and people like [member="Jerek Zenduu"], [member="Asaraa Vaashe"], [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] or even [member="Tom Taff"], would know about, and [member="Veiere Arenais"], too. And maybe even [member="Cyrus Nova"]. But there was one thing that seemed to be a new observation on the topic of there is no emotion, there is peace. Some Jedi seemed to imply that attachments are a one-way street for alignment change but she knew that love could bring people from light to dark and in reverse, too. That was one thing she knew many Jedi would overlook, just as much as the impact of late entrants.

"Emotion, yet peace. I know that often people are led to believe that emotional attachments, romance or otherwise, can lead someone to the dark side, but from my experience, it can lead someone to change alignments, in either direction"

 

[WolfMortum]

"Emotion yet peace. For the children of the jedi we are taught that emotions exist. That they are not to be feared but being ruled by them is dangerous. Acknowledge them but do not let them rule you, find inner peace so you can accept them. We are taught to be auto-didactic and polymorphic. Learning from everything and improving ourselves. It is why when Grandmaster Crief found us master Jarl sent me and The Daughter of the house of Jeth".

[member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] spoke up first, she and her students were listed on the screen in front of him. Amusingly, Veiere hadn't asked for the theory behind the precepts, but rather meant if any of the students could simply recite the five lines. Apparently he wasn't clear enough, though he wasn't disappointed at all, as she weren't the only one to share her perspective. Regardless, she had spoken the correct first line and showed her experience on the subject.

"Ignorance, yet knowledge. There is so much to the universe, and we only know just a fraction of it all. We shouldn't be content to remain ignorant in the face of something more to learn, but we also have to recognize the limits in ourselves. There will always be something we are ignorant of, to learn more about it is a blessing, but ignorance itself isn't a curse".

[member="Jerek Zenduu"] spoke up after Elizabeth had fallen quiet, soon reciting the second line as well as his perspective; apparently the girl had started a chain reaction which caused Veiere to grin to himself as he listened. Veiere almost interrupted him until the last four or five words had been spoken, convincing him otherwise. It was true in his mind, there were always certain things that shouldn't be learned. Abilities of the Dark-side of the Force for example.

"Passion, yet serenity. It means being the master of your emotions, while allowing them to guide your instinct. Without facing your emotions they will little by little come to rule you".

Came the voice of [member="Cyrus Nova"], seemingly a man of few words compared to his peers but not wrong in his summary of the precept. There was much more detail he could have gone into on the line, but that wasn't his responsibility to teach, it was Veiere's, and much to his delight.

"Ignorance, yet knowledge. Yes, it is true that we know a very tiny fraction at most of what there is to know, yes we still have opportunities to learn, but there comes a point where one may as well have to choose between opportunities to learn. I accepted long ago that knowing everything is impossible, so the ability to determine what to learn and what not to learn is crucial. That said, don't dismiss a source of information without first assessing the reliability, if that's feasible. One more thing related to this precept: if there is one thing I'm grateful for, as far as Jedi-hood is concerned, is the possibility for a person to enter the Jedi path at any age in today's environment. Often people who enter later in life carry with them knowledge and expertise that Jedi wouldn't otherwise be able to develop.

Emotion, yet peace. I know that often people are led to believe that emotional attachments, romance or otherwise, can lead someone to the dark side, but from my experience, it can lead someone to change alignments, in either direction".

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] brought the focus of the class back upon the second of the precepts first, Veiere turning to listen to what she had to say. The choice to revert back rather than continuing forward with two remaining lines, suggested that ignorance and knowledge were two rather pivotal points in her perspective; perhaps offering a bit of further insight into her character, followed by the first line soon after.

"All very good answers" Veiere smiled to them all, "and none of them incorrect" he added encouragingly. "The brilliant thing about these five seemingly simple lines as that much of their meaning is open to interpretation. If someone thinks differently than you do, it doesn't necessarily make them wrong. You might say this is just another perspective to learn from...-That is unless you're talking to a Sith..." the last of his words was obviously a joke, and at the very least, Veiere got a chuckle out of it before moving on.

"Emotion, yet Peace. Ignorance, yet Knowledge. Passion, yet Serenity. Chaos, yet Harmony. Death, yet the Force" he recited each line, one after the other as the students hadn't mentioned the final two. "You've all proven that you have a good deal of practice on the subject, and I must apologize as I meant to simply ask for the precepts on their own. However! I'm very encouraged by what you've all shown me, which may make the start of this lesson a little dull...-But we're going to focus on each of the precepts, one at a time" he smiled. His right hand swept across the screen of the mentors station, and the large holo-screen behind him against the wall came to life. Emotion, yet Peace displayed in bold for all of them to read.

"A couple of you have pointed it out already, but yes it's important that we acknowledge our feelings and learn to keep ourselves in check at all times!" Veiere's tone was raised to cover the class-room yet it was also positive and encouraging, enthusiastic even as he stood in a place of learning and loved it. "A lot of people think this is easy at first...-But between all of us here, even Master's struggle with this. I should know" he grinned and gave the group a playful wink.

"Truly though, our feelings like being angry at someone can lead us to make mistakes. They influence our actions, like when you're attracted to somebody, you're going to be much more likely to prioritize them over your duty or responsibility to others".

 

[Asaraa Vaashe]

The young Knight raised her hand, a pensive look on her face, as she bit down on her lip. "It's true that some emotions can lead to the dark side, can lead to you loosing control. We've all heard the stories, or seen how it can go wrong, its something that's been drilled into us from a really young age. But that's not entirely true is it? It you have something you want to protect doesn't that make you work harder? You may prioritise them, but having them nearby, having them in your head, that's not always a bad thing. If I've got someone I care about with me, or waiting for me, then I'd work that little bit harder, try that little bit more."

Asaraa knew this ran counter to the standard teaching of the Jedi Code, but she'd seen how having Jason around had made Josh realise that he was needed, had pushed him to come home after every mission, how even for herself, having Caedyn had helped her from being pushed over the edge by the Sith, all things that she knew couldn't have happened if the Jedi code was treated as a unmoving precept. "You said that we should learn to keep our emotions in check," the pink-haired Jedi nodded at Veiere, "but I'd argue that sometimes, those positive emotions, and even negative emotions have a place. If I was faced with losing someone I loved I know I'd be more willing to work just that little bit harder, push on to protect them, or to come home to them."

[member="Veiere Arenais"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Cyrus Nova"] | [member="Jerek Zenduu"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"]

 

[Sebastian Nadav]

"The Jedi Code is cryptic," Sebastian spoke quietly amid the lull that had followed the young knight's question. He didn't recognize her...or indeed many of the people gathered in the room. It was the first time he had set foot in a Jedi facility in many, many years. It felt strange to have returned to the roll of a Jedi Master after having spent so long in the fringes of society guiding the Order's direction from the shadows. Strange, but not bad. It was a core duty of a Jedi to pass on what they had learned, both taught and through experience. Overt time all those who came to know the Force shaped their own understanding and their own perception of it.

Sebastian was old, older than many who still walked these halls and over the century and a half of life he had been given he had seen many young Jedi fall to darkness trying to keep themselves rigidly adhered to the code as they had been taught it. They knew the words but they had not internalized it. Sebastian wondered idly what the master leading the class would think of this strange and unexpected interruption by a Master many had considered dead for years. "To know the words is one thing. To act in accordance with them is another. However to fully understand what the Code gives us is another thing all together."

Sebastian stepped fully into the room and wandered down the rows of seats, taking up a position by a table a couple rows back from the front of the room. He pulled out a chair, orienting it so he could see everyone in the room as he leaned forward, his forearms resting against the top of his legs. He spoke with quiet intensity. "The Code is a guide. It is everything that we stand by and for. It speaks to something much more than the conflicting principals it indicates. Within the lines, there is true meaning. It speaks to balance within one's self. We must know ourselves, or limitations and our flaws. We must know that sometimes doing what is right is not always what is good."

He looked at the young knight who had asked such an important question. "To be devoid of emotion is to be dead. We're alive and with that comes all manner of things...emotions, feelings and attachments first among them. It's not bad to feel anger or fear. They're part of you. The trouble comes when you use those emotions in a way that crosses the values of our order. What I mean by that is: say you see someone murder someone. You are angry and disgusted. You have the ability to use the Force to reach out and stop their heart. Anger makes you want to reach out and stop their heart with the Force. Fear makes you want to turn and run and use the Force to save only yourself. That is raw emotion. The Code gives us what we need to be Jedi by showing us that to everything there are two sides.

"In the scenario I was just describing, there is another way. You are angry and the Force is alive within you. But you keep it there, you use it within yourself to be faster, stronger so that you can overpower the murderer and leave them to face the consequences of their actions. Emotion, yet Peace. Do you understand?"

Veiere Arenais | Jessica Med-Beq | Cyrus Nova | Jerek Zenduu | Elizabeth Skywalker
Asaraa Vaashe

OOC: Sorry about the beast of a post y'all. I just came back recently and this seemed as good a thread as any to start writing again. If it causes issues just let me know and I'll delete!

 

[Elizabeth Skywalker]

She listened to the others and still didn't turn her head to see them. Remaining where she was in the seat but listening to all of them. "Why?" She spoke looking at the jedi master who had spoken about putting one you cared about ahead of others. "Why would it be such? To prioritize one because of an attachment is selfish as master Jarl would say. We are jedi, we are meant to be good, preform good acts for the galaxy and ask good questions." She finally relaxed for a moment letting her head tilt to the side and the small pop pop pop before she continued. "It is selfish for me to put someone above another just because I know them." She straightened back up bringing her hands up in front of her to lean against them a little. She had listened to some of the others and while she didn't want to argue she was getting a feel for them. Unsure how many had been raised within the jedi or how they came to be.

 

[Jessica Med-Beq]

"You must also know which emotions are appropriate to rely on and when. You can feel emotions, just that going overboard with any given emotion can be a problem. Also, poor knowledge of the self can be problematic since keeping one's emotions in check becomes much harder: one can be driven by emotions to do things they cannot accomplish"

For every Jedi that had high self-awareness, there were those Jedi whose arrogance was borne from a low self-awareness. But as [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] would know, Jessica doesn't usually feel emotions overly strongly: that's why she doesn't seem to struggle from emotional issues that much. And yet [member="Sebastian Nadav"] had a point: to be devoid of emotion is to be dead. Dead from a certain point of view, but if one was biologically unable to feel emotion because of, say, a neurological disease (which was the most common case of how someone can become emotion-less), and still be alive, in her mind, it just doesn't add up. Yet, [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] was still somehow reasoning as if attachments were a hazard to be afraid of. Since one couldn't possibly know everyone else, there came a point where attachments were more likely to form especially if you worked with a certain set of people for a significant amount of time. She eagerly awaited what would [member="Tom Taff"], [member="Jerek Zenduu"] or even [member="Cyrus Nova"] have to say about the theme of the moment as outlined by [member="Veiere Arenais"], emotion, yet peace.

"That said, the impact of attachments can be kept under control if you can keep your emotional feelings in check"

 

[WolfMortum]

"Pay attention to my word use here..." Veiere cautioned the group of them, raising a hand in gesture for them all to pause and reflect a moment; "To keep something in check, is not to bury or be rid of it. It means to regulate or to mediate" he explained with a gentle air about himself. Perhaps in the past, he might have been a bit more strict on the old code and it's purpose, though in today's galaxy much had changed since those old ideals had been within the Order's doctrine. It wasn't difficult to recognize [member="Asaraa Vaashe"], the pink haired young woman whom dated his Son, Caedyn. She of course knowing Veiere's family and his personal attachments to his children and his wife, thus making her questions most interesting. "If I wished for all of you to act as droids, I'd have said 'There is no Emotion, There is Peace'.." He grinned faintly, for he was certain they'd recognize the distinction between the two variations of the precept.

"A very long time ago now, the Jedi Order once sought to discourage as much emotional attachment as possible. This was long before all of our time, here" the old republic and documented histories found only in the archives of the Order these days, clearly something had gone very wrong, given how history portrayed their 'disappearance' around the time of the first Galactic Empire. "It could be that eventually someone thought as you do now, for whatever reasons, the Jedi Code changed and adapted to a more present day understanding. Our emotions are part of us, part of our body and mind all of which was created, and breathes through the will of the Force. It is who we are" he took a moment to look across the room, acknowledging the presence of [member="Sebastian Nadav"] who had spoken his mind just prior.

"Now...-Some of you might know that I'm a married man. I've a Son, and a Daughter. Two step-children beyond that. I'm a compassionate and caring man, at least I like to think so..." He chuckled quietly under his breath, soon to go on. "I am a man with emotions, all the same as anyone else here on Kashyyyk, and all across the Galaxy. This doesn't make me a bad Jedi...-But there are circumstances that arise in life, especially in my time, where I've had to put those that I love behind me, in favor for the greater good...", it was difficult not to let [member="Kay Arenais"] flood his thoughts for her current situation, locked up somewhere in a maximum security prison, charged with a triple homicide. It wasn't a subject he would open up about to the students present, yet the fact was that if he wasn't able to restrain himself at times, life would look very very differently, today.

"Whether your emotions, your feelings feel good or bad...-You need to maintain a clear and open mind, to be able to determine when they might get in the way of doing the right thing, both out in the field or even here within the Temple walls. Love and happiness are great feelings, but too much of a good thing can blind us to what's happening around us, with our peers or the greater galaxy..." his gaze once again swept the room and he decided to pose a question requiring a bit of imagination to prove his point. "Can anyone think of an example where good feelings could cause you to make a mistake? It doesn't always occur, but it's all very possible and has happened to me, many times before".

[member="Cyrus Nova"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] | [member="Sebastian Nadav"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

 

[Sor-Jan Xantha]

Spoiler: OOC Note

Entering upon invitation from [member="Veiere Arenais"] .

The Dark Kitten of the Sith was presently situated in [member="Jerek Zenduu"]'s lap.

The seats of these chairs were both hard and uncomfortable, which was tolerable even if not desirable. Was that just the result of someone saving on ordering school equipment for austerity's sake? Or some intentional piece of personal discomfort for the sake of satiating the Jedi's self-abasement sense of asceticism? Whatever the case, the boy's feet did not reach the floor when seated. And that embarrassment was simply unacceptable.

He was a Sith. He had to represent Emperor Carnifex from a position of strength. And also a position of more cushioning. So, the boy had squeezed into Jerek's lap. Not only was the Jedi adequately cushioned, but also apportioned so that he worked as a booster seat that allowed the kitten to reach more of the available desk space. This allowed the Sith to spread out his journal, which was heavily dog-eared and bookmarked, with pages annotated in the margins with notations.

He'd copied down the Jedi Code on one page and was referring to it, even as he had a datapad open and was taking notes as the various people spoke. [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] espoused the centrality of control, which the instructor then further elaborated on. His views on attachment were interesting in that they addressed one of the kitten's more common criticisms of the Jedi religious dogma, but the boy was rather eager to get back to the rather astute observation and challenge that had been posed by [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] regarding personal preference, or even bias.

The child's cat ears perked up slightly, as his hand went up quietly. Politely waiting for the right moment in which to be acknowledged and speak, the Cathar's amber eyes looked over at Veiere as the boy said, "Excuse me, Master Arenais, but, as interesting as all of this is, it should be noted that you proceed from a flawed premise. Peace is a lie. Our emotions are volatile, fickle, and powerful. The notion that we control them is a facade. We don't control our emotions, merely our actions."

 

[WolfMortum]

"Peace is a lie. Our emotions are volatile, fickle, and powerful".​

​

Veiere's gaze shifted over to that of [member="Micah"] whom seemed to be seated upon the lap of [member="Jerek Zenduu"]. Usually, he would have given the others the time and opportunity to give their own thoughts and responses to the Cathar, however he recognized the first four words immediately, and those that followed came from the same rhetoric that the Sith were known for believing in. To be frank, Veiere hadn't expected the company of one so afar from the teachings and views of the Jedi Order, however, this was a room of knowledge and education, and these were things that Veiere believed all deserved the opportunity to learn and expand their minds with. Especially those misguided by the ideologies of the Sith Empire.

"The notion that we control them is a facade. ​

We don't control our emotions, merely our actions".​

​

"Fortunately my young Cathar friend, the Jedi train their students in exercises that are purposed for exactly that reason. With a little time and commitment, an open mind and a bit of personal growth, you too could learn to mediate your emotions as the Jedi have practiced for centuries before us all here" he smiled, glancing to all of the students in the room so that they would know their instructors stance on the Cathar's views did not indeed coincide with his beliefs. Veiere had instead put it down to a lack of experience, and too much of Micah's faith and time dedicated to the teachings and practices of the Dark-Side of the Force.

"If you would like, I can certainly organize for you to be given the opportunity to speak with one of my fellow Masters of the Order. You might find that we have quite the depth of knowledge to set you on the right path" he concluded, turning back to look to the Cathar and glancing briefly to Jerek himself, curious to note whether or not he agreed with Micah's views.

[member="Cyrus Nova"] | [member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] | [member="Sebastian Nadav"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"]​

 

[Ravenfire]

Tom listened intently to all the conversations going on. It was an interesting forum of ideas about the Jedi Code. He had actually never heard it before only his fathers one which was very much different and still what he practices today. It went along the lines of this:

​

Flowing through all, there is balance​

There is No Peace, Without Passion to Create​

There is No Passion, Without Peace to Guide it​

Knowledge Stagnates Without, the Strength to Act​

Power Blinds Without, The Serenity to See​

There is Freedom In, Life​

There is Purpose In, Death​

The Force Is all Things And, I am the Force​

Snapping back to he heard the last point about peace being a lie and nodded as master [member="Veiere Arenais"] responded to it however he felt the need to continue the conversation on this topic. "There is no passion without peace to guide it. [member="Micah"] your way of thinking while interesting is somewhat flawed as you believe you can control your actions however I personally know of several who gave their lives over to their emotions, myself included for a brief instant. It was how I originally lost my left eye to a Sith Lord who was attempting to kill me. He is now long gone but the lesson remains. I would lose everything if I should completely give into my emotions however they still need to be present."

He would turn to Veiere again "The greater good is not always the correct path master no matter what you think. I know of a time when my father was alive when you went dark in the belief it was for the greater good. I have killed politicians, destroyed sanctuaries and toppled rebellions for various greater goods. I remember the Galactic Alliance burning my home within the forests of Myrkr for the greater good. I doubt their is any true greater good as it depends on your fame of reference. Take the Vampires that genetically changed me to be one of them. It was for their greater good that I became this way so I would lead them. Greater good is something people hide behind so they don't have to look dirty. Because A sith's greater good will always be different to your or even my greater good."

Tom would finally sigh. "Personally as long as people are happy and healthy I don't care what it takes to keep that peace, Just don't hide yourself behind a greater good when they are in trouble or you may one day find their knife in your back." He would then wait to see what would be said about his thoughts.

​

 

[Jerek Zenduu]

Emotion, yet peace.

It was such a simple phrase to misunderstand. Listening to the responses by others in the classroom, Jerek realized just how nuanced this complex little phrase was. He could understand why Master Beck had chosen to focus instead on peace over anger, that was a more tangible construct to decipher. Being able to hold the simultaneous ideas in his head, emotion, yet peace, despite them seeming contradictory, it was a calamitous task even for a teenage boy. The padawan had assumed it was something he could eventually conquer as he grew older, but learning that even masters struggled with it was a shock. Was the Jedi way doomed to a lifetime of trial?

Jerek wrestled with this proposition as the discussion continued, finding himself nodding in deep agreement with the input Asaraa offered about attachments. His thoughts easily drifted to Allya, and how much more motivated he had become to finish his training, to grow stronger and more skilled so that his girlfriend would feel him worthy of being her equal. So that he could provide the kind of protection and support that she deserved as well. If this stood in contradiction to the Jedi way, then Jerek was more lost than ever before.

His worry was assuaged by the comforting words of Master [member="Veiere Arenais"]. It resonated with his own feelings, that his own attachments had not felt as unnatural or easy to dismiss as forbidden. It felt natural, it felt right. To accept it as the will of the Force, this was an understanding that brought peace to the shaggy-haired youth. He could happily acknowledge a struggle to remain objective alongside his attachment than to choose one over the other. That was a trial Jerek would willingly accept.

One of many he would surely face.

In this case, Jerek faced the back of one such trial's head, the Cathar boy seated on his lap. [member="Micah"] spoke up, challenging Master Arenais and the precepts at the core of the Jedi Code itself. He wasn't surprised at the words, Micah's upbringing as a Sith was one of the reasons Jerek had requested to bring him today, hoping the kitten could learn from the wisdom of the Jedi. To believe that peace was a lie, that there could be no order in the universe...it was a grim view that seemed only as a self-serving rationalization for Sith to wreak havok and destruction upon the galaxy.

Jerek spoke when he could offer his own input, "You're right, Micah, that we only control our own actions. We can't always control our emotions, they are there and they will always be there. To deny them is to deny what makes us living beings. But that doesn't mean we have to follow their course as a diktat, or allow our emotions to make choices for us. We can learn to acknowledge them and respect them as valid feelings," Jerek spoke easily from recent practice in that very measure, "but we can still choose to act differently. We can choose to be on the path of the light, even if our emotions would prefer to lead us otherwise."

[member="Jessica Med-Beq"] | [member="Asaraa Vaashe"] | [member="Tom Taff"] | [member="Elizabeth Skywalker"] | [member="Cyrus Nova"] | [member="Sebastian Nadav"]​