Lesson 5 – Part 4: Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension – Living the Teachings Daily
Original journal entry from July 24, 2025 – Response to Lesson 5: Introduction to Religion (Part 4: Doctrinal and Philosophical Dimension). This was my reflection on how the Jedi teachings have become practical guides in daily life — choosing relationship over being right, mastering before advancing, de-escalating, living humbly without titles, and affirming identity as “I am a Jedi.”
The main benefit that I have gained so far in studying the doctrinal and philosophical principles of Jediism is that I think about different aspects of them throughout my day and find ways to apply them to everyday situations. For example, one that has been on my mind for a few days lately is #12 Discretion, from The 21 Maxims, “knowing when to raise the eyebrow, rather than the voice or the sword.” Do I want to be right or do I want a good relationship? That is the question I ask myself sometimes. Is this a battle worth fighting or can we just agree to disagree?
But it’s not always that simple and it’s a lifelong learning process that I can get better at over time. Sometimes it’s necessary to raise the voice because what’s happening is not OK and healthy boundaries need to be set. For me, those are the only two options that have ever been necessary. I don’t think that I’ve ever gotten to the point where I had to raise the sword, like, only a physically violent solution could be found for the situation. I try to de-escalate whenever possible, searching for a peaceful resolution. However, IF someone ever broke into my home and threatened my family, the voice would likely not be enough and the sword (more like a bullet) will be the only option.
Learning is a big one for me too. From The 16 Teachings, #10 is often on my mind because I love learning and uncovering new truths, “The first and foremost service a Jedi performs is devotion to our learning.” The tricky thing for me is that I can often pick up new things relatively easily. Some call that beginners luck when I’m playing a game, for example. I say tricky because I have to force myself to master the new thing before moving on to something more complex without building a foundation first. And of course, learning from mistakes. If I can pick up things quickly and don’t make any mistakes right at the beginning, how will I know some of the pitfalls others struggle with? I need to learn what mistakes can be made and learn from them.
The doctrine carries a fair amount of areas that address humility. I love the simplicity of the Jedi doctrine and philosophical principles because they encourage a humble lifestyle where titles and levels can be there within the community for organizational purposes but don’t have to show up in everyday life. There is no need to be haughty or brag about having achieved some revered title, but rather it is to live in such a way and interact with those who are in my life with the maturity that would come with someone who has worked towards and achieved such a title.
A Meditation for Jedi brings that out for me. It speaks of a person who lives the Jedi doctrine and the philosophical principles humbly and dedicated. It is a heart attitude and an inner working that is manifested on the outside. There is no need to tell anyone my rank or all the degrees I’ve earned (unless they REALLY want to know). What should suffice is the statement, “I am a Jedi, an instrument of peace. The force is with me always, for I am a Jedi.”
Umalohókan
House of Twin Suns
TM: Carlos Martinez
"You don't have to see the whole staircase just to take the first step."
(Signature links to IP Journal, Apprentice Journal, A.div Journal, and Degree Tracker omitted for brevity — these were forum navigation links at the time.)
The following user(s) said Thank You: RosalynJ
Looking back now: This entry shows how the doctrinal and philosophical teachings had become practical filters for daily decisions — discretion in relationships, devotion to mastery and learning, humility without titles, and a simple affirmation of identity. It felt like the program had fully moved from study to lived reality.