Approved Lore The Way of the Light Hand- An Overview & Compendium

[Tiland Kortun]

OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION

• Intent: Create an IC source and repository of information on the Way of the Light Hand
• Image Credit: N/A
• Canon: No
• Links: Circle of the Light Hand
• Permissions: N/A (All my original work)

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Media Name: The Path of the Light Hand
• Format: Holobook
• Distribution: Scattered- primarily in the Outer Rim, especially among locations associated with the Jedi and Jedi Academy Network
• Length: Medium
• Description: Tiland knew he wouldn't live forever and that his teachings would be lost eventually if they were not put down and preserved for future generations. As a result, he created a collection of holoboks collecting his teachings, his methods, and his skills, before depositing them in the Jedi archives around the Outer Rim, where they would find themselves of the most value.

SOCIAL INFORMATION

• Author: Tiland Kortun
• Publisher: Self
• Reception: Little known, but recognized amongst the Outer Rim Jedi communities, especially those whose histories derive from the New Jedi Order of the Galactic Alliance that merged into the Outer Planet Alliance. Some know it among the Jedi of the Core, especially the ones who travel and have extensive connections to the Outer Rim. Otherwise, only scholars of Jedi lore and sects know of it.

FORMAT INFORMATION
-Standard Datacron

CONTENT INFORMATION
1. Philosophy, Purpose, and Code of the Light Hand

Path of the Light Hand:
1. All living beings are the Force, embodied. Respect them, for we are all the same.
2. To slay another causes disharmony in the Force and it is harmony within the Force that is the ultimate purpose in life.
3. Only the Force can be relied upon and we must be prepared to act with nothing but the Force and our selves.
4. The hand is the way that the Force allows us to aid others, so it must be held lightly, ready to either aid another, or defend others against oppression, and to return to being the aiding hand as soon as the threat lifts.
5. We can neither change nor control anything but ourselves and even this itself is a life-long process, but it must be striven for regardless.
6. Mastery over the self is the first step in the process of achieving harmony with the Force.

The hand of a Jedi must be held lightly, quick to open in an offer of aid, slow to close into a fist, and quicker still to offer reconciliation. This is the essence of the Way of the Light Hand. It is for this reason that the emblem is an open palm at the center of a circle, quartered by a cross. Each line of the center represents one of the four foundations of the self- the body, the mind, the spirit, and relationships with others. Surrounding these and keeping them safe is the outer Circle, representing the Force itself. It holds all four together, and by extension, is what holds a person's self together. Only when all are in harmony can mastery over self be accomplished, and by that, harmony with the Living and Universal Force, which is the purpose of life.

Operating primarily in the backwater, forgotten worlds of the Outer Rim, they rarely journey into the Core and Midrim, areas that are already decently governed and guarded by governments. Instead, the Circle focuses on the citizens and settlers of the far-flung regions of the galaxy. In many ways, they are the monastic counterparts to the Judges of the Outer Planet Alliance. Dedicated to contemplation, meditation, and reflection, the members of the Circle are known for being primarily quiet, gentle individuals that nobody would ever imagine bringing down a slave ring with nothing but their bare hands.

Indeed, the Circle views life as a process of growing self-mastery and understanding of the Force, derived from Tiland's experience as an Anzati Jedi striving to overcome the darkness within his own DNA code. Abandoning the physical nature of life in favor of the spiritual is not an easy process, but one necessary to finding harmony with the Force. With that in mind, they focus their Force training on the Control and Sense aspect of the Force, especially the abilities that exercised control over the Jedi's own body, and those that redirected the Force to strengthen. Rarely will they instruct in lightsaber forms, preferring to rely on simpler, less noticeable tools. As far as traditional understanding of the Jedi go, followers of the Way most often tend to be closely associated with Jedi Consulars. Mystics, sages, seers, and others who embrace the spiritual and esoteric side of the Force, they develop both themselves and their capabilities in the Force in ways that are unique to themselves, implementing herbs, teas, calligraphic art forms, and other modes of self-expression into their meditation, along with the martial arts.

2. The Force and the Way of the Light Hand
-Overview and Instruction of useful Force skills:
Foundational Skills- Moving Meditation, Tutaminis, Curata Salvo, Altus Sopor
Intermediate Skills: Alchaka, Art of Movement, Breath Control, Force Healing
Advanced Skills: Force Body, Force Weapon, Force Light

What must be understood about the Jedi Code is that it is not to be taken literally. Such interpretations have done great ill in leading to misunderstandings of the Code, the Jedi, and what it is we truly believe. When we say there is no emotion, there is peace, we do not teach the suppression or quelling of emotion. Rather, we teach the importance and not letting emotions control us or our decision making. To have emotion is to be alive, to be sentient, it is a good thing. But they can be destructive when left uncontrolled. Instead, we must learn to be in harmony with our own emotions- aware of them, recognizing them, expressing them, and letting them pass in a healthy, non-destructive manner. Embrace your emotions and then let them go. To be a Jedi is to seek balance amongst living things, to foster the well-being of life, and preserve it, because we are all united and connected. Perhaps this is best expression of the Code-
Emotion, yet peace.
Ignorance, yet knowledge.
Passion, yet serenity.
Chaos, yet harmony.
Death, yet the Force

Life is a paradox. The Force is a paradox. Finding harmony means coming to accept the nature of the paradox and finding inner peace within that paradox, accepting both contradictory aspects at once, and not striving to change them. We are cyclical. We are born, we live, we die, and in all this, we both sustain and are sustained by the Force.

It guides us. Trust your instincts and go where it tells you. Exist in the moment and deep within the flow of the Force, letting it guide your choices, your actions, even your movements. We are fish in the stream of the Force. To seek the Dark Side is to try and change the course of the stream, regardless of the cost for the rest. It emphasizes the self above collective harmony, power above freedom, and cannot accept the paradoxes of reality. Sith and Dark Jedi do no fight against others, but other reality itself. Such is not the way of the Jedi, nor the Light Hand.

3. Way of the Light Hand
1. Physical Conditioning, foundational elements, high-percentage maneuvers
2. Assessment of the various styles that go into the Way of the Light Hand, their focuses, strengths, weaknesses, and interaction between them.
3. Combining styles to match personal goals, limitations, and strengths.
4. Non-lethal maneuvers
5. Drills at novice, adept, and master level of difficulty
6. Training duels.
7. Methods & Philosophy of training.
8. Using the Way of the Light Hand as personal development in Force-sensitivity and personal discipline.
9. Adaptability
10. Tests assessing skill for promotion from novice to adept to master.


HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Jedi Master Tiland Kortun has spent centuries studying the paths of the Jedi, mysteries of the Force, and the equally esoteric field of unarmed and nonlethal combat. He's studied the assassination-oriented techniques of the Anzati, the anti-Jedi style of Teras Kasi, the Echani art, as well as the combat techniques of the Mandalorians, as well as Zama-shiwo, k'Jatari, and Tae-Jitsu. With further research into the Force traditions of Matukai and Force Warriors, he created his own tradition hybridizing the teachings of the Jedi Order with these various other sects, creating a style specifically for Jedi, but applicable to non-Force sensitives, with some possibility of raising someone to a weak Force sensitivity over the course many years of training.

Eschewing the use of the lightsaber, Tiland chose instead to teach unarmed and simple weapon combat, himself choosing to use the quarterstaff and barehanded. Over his course of time with the Galactic Alliance and Outer Planets Alliance/Outer Rim Coalition, Tiland taught a handful of students the basis to give them a foundation in the philosophy, although as of yet, no one has pursued the path to becoming Adept, let alone Mastery. As a result, Tiland created the holobooks to preserve his teaching and ensure that Jedi in generations to come would have access to his experience and philosophy.

 

[Zak Dymo]

Tiland Kortun

I'll be doing this review for you. There are just a few things that I see before we can stamp and move this.

1. Links

Links: Circle of the Light Hand

This link appears to be broken, as it does not lead anywhere. It looks as though its a copy-paste of a sentence rather than an actual URL.

2. Missing Template Field.
In the OOC section, you are missing Permissions. Please include this, even if N/A

Please tag me when you have completed your edits.

 

[Tiland Kortun]

Zak Dymo

Edits made!

 

[Zak Dymo]

Tiland Kortun

Approved.