Jedi and Sith

**Star Wars** is a space opera media franchise, centered on a film series created by George Lucas. It depicts the adventures of various characters "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away". These movies revolve around the rise and fall of a corrupt empire, and how a spiritual essence called the force ties into this. The force is associated with in-movie religions known as the jedi and the sith.

The jedi and sith are the monastic groups from the star wars movies that represent light and dark aspects of the spiritual essence that in the movies is referred to as the force. The jedi collectively are known as the jedi order. Though the idea of their ethics when referred to in real life is often called jediism.

Megaten references the idea of the jedi and sith a great deal in SMTIV, although there are a few other references in other games. For more info on some of the other references, see the movie and literature references page.

## The Jedi

**The Jedi,** known
collectively as **the jedi order** are the main
protagonists in the Star Wars universe. They are depicted as an
ancient monastic, academic, meritocratic and paramilitary
organization whose origin dates back to 25,000 years before the
beginning of the movies. Their beliefs and abilities revolve around a
concept called the force, which is an underlying spiritual network
that binds all that exists. The teachings of the jedi are often
called the jedi way or the jedi code.

The force is seen as having both light
and dark aspects, with the jedi tending to use exclusively abilities
that are in tune with the light side. The jedi's practices revolve
around serenity and detachment, with their focus revolving around the
diminishing of the self for the benefit of the whole, being defenders
of the helpless. The dark side in contrast is associated with
aggression, passion and selfishness, and the benefit of the self –
All things that the jedi see as an issue to feed. The jedi train
specific people who have the ability to make use of the force, which
in movie tends to work very similar to the idea of psychic powers,
though with a more religious tone.

The jedi are noticeably influenced by
various real world religions. One inspiration obviously being taoism.
In taoism, the tao is a universal process that binds the world, and
which has dual aspects seen as yin and yang aspects. The tension
between yin and yang creates “qi” (pronounced “chee” and
sometimes transliterated as “chi”) or life energy. Qi is found in
all things, but particularly living creatures. The manipulation of qi
is at the root of many traditional Chinese practices including
acupuncture, feng shui and tai chi. According to legend, command of
qi flow (as practiced by “qigong” masters) brings many mystical
powers similar to those of the Jedi, such as the ability to move
objects with the mind. In the movies, the name of Jedi Master
“Qui-Gon Jin” is probably a deliberate reference to “qi gong.”
However, in taoism, unlike in star wars, yin and yang, despite being
associated with better and worse properties are not necessarily
associated with good and evil as such.

Another thing associated with the jedi
is trusting intuitions, and needing to hone them such that they can
be trusted in situations where there is no time to think. This calls
taoism again to mind in its idea of naturalness or spontaneity, which
is the idea of a practice becoming so natural to one that one does
not need to think to do it. This is also associated with zen due to
its influence from taoism.

The binary nature of the force, and it
being the center of a struggle between good and evil that revolves
around spiritual powers resembles the abrahamic idea of ethics and
light and dark powers, but even more closely the zoroastrian, in
which the dark side is not seen as inherently under the power of the
light, but as a true cosmic struggle. So from the offset, the
worldview of star wars is seen as a synthesis of eastern and western
ideas. Which is reflected in the aesthetic of the jedu themselves,
since their underlying outfits look heavily eastern, but are covered
in brown robes that resemble western monks. They also have prophecies
which call christianity to mind, with anakin being depicted as born
of a virgin in the stories, and being seen as the chosen one.

Another major source of the Jedi Way is
Buddhism, specifically Zen, a variant found largely in Japan. As with
most forms of Buddhism, Zen preaches “non-attachment,” the
letting go of emotional bonds to people, places and things. The
ultimate goal is to reach a selfless state of dispassionate
compassion for all living things. The movies even show directly this
jedi aspect, with them talking about not beint attached multiple
times in the movies. And this goal is undertaken not for the sake of
apathy, but for universal compassion. Yoda as a character is based on
the zen stereotypes of monks teaching lessons in surreal ways, often
which involve hitting students with sticks at times. Buddhist monks
were also known at times to train as warriors, as the jedi are shown
in-movie as a synthesis of religious and military group. The jedi
also heavily focus on meditation in a similar way to buddhist
monastic practices. Likewise, similar to zen it emphasize students
needing to train under a specific teacher.

Something common to many eastern
religions in general is the emphasis on one-ness or unity. The jedi
focus on unity with the force, identifying with it in the larger
sense, in terms of diminishing of the self. In contrast, the sith do
not seek to exist in tune with the force, but rather to bind it to
their will. As such, while sith may live a lot longer, jedi's unity
with the force allows ones who are skilled enough to appear as a
force ghost after death, communicating with those who are alive.
Although that was an ability not realized until the time of the
movies, despite them being in existence for a long time.

The jedi also stress the focus on the
present moment. To keep your focus on what you need to do now, rather
than to be stuck in the future or past. This shows up in a lot of
philosophies and religions to different extents. In addition their
focus on calmness also calls buddhism to mind, being similar to the
buddhist idea of upekkha. Though stoicism may also be a basis. The
jedi are also depicted as pacifistic, with their code revolving
around the idea of defense, and fighting only when necessary. The
jedi are also associated with patience, and the idea of timeliness,
saying that you often need to wait for the proper time to do things.

Although the jedi and the light side of
the force are generally associated with goodness in the series, and
the dark side with evil, sometimes the question comes up of whether
the jedi and their focus goes a little too far. For instance, in the
prequel movies, the Jedi Council comes across as cold and uncaring,
–a fact which drives Anakin into the more hot-blooded arms of the
Dark Side. Attachment is presented as the enemy at times, such as
anakin's attachment to his wife, but the question is raised then as
to whether it was the attachment that was an issue, or whether in
part it was the lack of attachment that the jedi emphasized so much
that was not fit for anakin's situation, driving him away to an
opposing extreme. In return of the jedi, the question is raised as to
whether luke was fully embodying the jedi teachings, or expanding on
them, allowing attachment to his love of his father.

Jedi are also shown as believing in
democracy, and thinking that power should be in the hands of the
people. Though they also think that in specific situations, someone
may be called to bring things back to order, and for a smaller group
of jedi to go up against corrupt governmental structures.

One reason that the jedi have
inspirations from so many religions is that the force in-movie, and
the jedi as a whole is meant to be ambiguous spiritually. It was
designed in the plot to appeal to people of many religions, calling
the idea of spirituality to mind, but being vague enough that it can
be considered inspiring by different people. And to inspire the idea
of spirituality as a positive force that has practical uses.

In terms of megaten, there are
obviously a lot of comparisons to be drawn between the jedi and the
law side. Something that SMTIV does explicitly. While this influence
may not have been as direct in the earlier games, in SMTIV the
samurai are shown designed to look heavily like luke skywalker's
outfit from IV, and have swords that resemble lightsabers. And the
black samurai is shown to call darth vader to mind. Note that
although the samurai are not depicted as monks themselves, they are
associated with and take orders from a monastic organization, in
keeping with the typing of jedi to monasticism.

As far as the parallels to jedi that
the messians have, there are many. For starters, the worldview in
megaten tends to resemvle that of star wars somewhat. Namely that
there is an abstract all powerful force (in the axiom) that has both
light and dark aspects in reality. And they see their job as fighting
for the light side against the dark. Like the jedi, this worldview is
shown to be based heavily on taoism, although the focus for them is
shifted to one that is closer to good and evil. So like the jedi they
share this influence that sounds taoic, but with an abrahamic slant.

Also like the jedi, the law side is
shown to emphasize peace, serenity, and self sacrifice, as well as
focusing on the bigger picture or the greater good rather than
yourself. Their opponents, like the opponents of the jedi in contrast
are shown to emphasize war and aggression, and to want their own
interests to be fulfilled. This also ties to the law side's focus on
the big picture, and being part of something bigger, whereas chaos in
contrast focuses on its own interests. Notably, law's emphasis on
dispassion only became so pronounced in the later games, which means
that it may be a direct inspiration from star wars, rather than them
merely making the comparison after the fact.

The law side is also shown to emphasize
pacifism, being willing to fight when necessary, but desiring that it
not be necessary. And while they want power to be in the hands of the
people, are willing to have specific individuals go against the
existing government structures to have this happen. Which calls to
mind how the angels set up the new world, but ultimately law endings
are shown to be about the people not being directly ruled.

One minor disconnect between the jedi
and the law side is not necessarily a difference in content so much
as focus. While the jedi include the concept of taoist naturalness in
their practices, in megaten that is associated more with the gaians,
and the law side is associated more with cold calculated thinking.
This does not mean that they don't act intuitively, but that they
actively encourage the cold long term calculative planning that the
taoist tone seems to not overly emphasize. And of course, the law
side in-game is more interested in spreading their tone to the world
at large, whereas the jedi on a galactic scale are only really trying
to preserve galactic peace. Although both groups realize that those
who are not inner members will not be as deep into the idea.

Like the jedi in the movies, one
question that comes up is whether their focus is too absolute. In the
same way that the movies question whether the jedi are not too
detached or too cold, the megaten games question whether the law side
is not too cold also. And whether a slightly more balanced approach
is not what is necessary. The main character in IV being designed to look like luke may be a double aspect here, splitting the idea of the jedi between him and law in general.

Aesthetically, the law side is shown to
have some overlaps with the jedi as well. For instance, the jedi wear
white robes (with brown over them) and have blue or green lightsabers
usually. And the law side in-game is associated with the colors blue
and white. In contrast the sith are associated with black and red.
Which is also what the gaians, the enemies of jedi are associated
with.

## The Sith

**The Sith**, collectively
known as the **Sith Order**, was an ancient organization of dark
side Force users. Emerging as a divergent faction of the ancient Jedi
Order, the Sith became mortal enemies of the Jedi and fought against
them in numerous wars. The Sith were devoted to the dark side of the
Force and enlisted its aid in gaining power and control over the
galaxy. Constant infighting within the Sith led to the destruction of
the ancient order, and its sole survivor, Darth Bane, enacted the
Rule of Two, which held that only two people could be core sith
members at a time. After a thousand years of peace under the Galactic
Republic, the dormant Sith would come to briefly control the galaxy
once again through the Galactic Empire when Darth Sidious, the new
Galactic Emperor, implemented the thousand year plot of revenge and
return to power. While the sith refers to a specific group of dark
side users, the term **dark jedi** can also be used more generally
to one who follows similar dark side philosophy.

The sith in many ways are the opposite
of the jedi, using the dark side of the force as their power. Instead
of serenity they emphasize passion, emotion, and one's own interests.
Instead of seeking to be in tune with the force, they seek to bind it
to their will. In contrast to the jedi's pacifistic nature, the sith
will not only attack first, but based on their interests, do so
unprovoked, or as a show of power. They rely on their passion for
their strength, with new sith often being unable to control their
anger, though skilled ones can focus it deliberately. While jedi use
power to accomplish tasks, the sith seek power for its own sake.

The sith followed a code that encouraged the strong to destroy the
weak, and insisted on the importance of struggling and striving. The
relationship between a Sith Master and their apprentice was not one
of trust; Indeed, both the master and the apprentice constantly
searched for any sign of weakness in the other, for a weak master
deserved to be overthrown by their pupil, just as a weak pupil
deserved to be replaced by a worthier, more powerful recruit. This
philosophy was embraced by the Sith, who saw it as a way to purify
the weak and remain as strong as possible.

The gaians in megaten are obviously -at
least of IV where the black samurais is designed to look like vader-
inspired somewhat by the sith. Like the sith they rely on passion for
their strength, believe in the necessity of strife, and believe in
unprovoked attacks. Like the sith the colors they use are black and
red, and they are invited even to fight among themselves, in order to
have only the strongest of their organization survive. Unlike the
sith however this infighting did not reduce them down to nearly
nothing, and they found a balance which allows it to happen just
enough that it does not reduce their numbers too drastically. As
such, in some ways they are simialr to the idea of dark jedi as a
whole, rather than merely the sith, who was only one group of dark
jedi. Note how even the name black samurai sounds like an inversion of the light oriented group similar to how dark jedi are often called.

Like the sith they seek to take power
by force, and exert their power across the world. With the strong
dominating the week being seen as not only natural, but as good, and
the right of the strong. Also, like the sith they have aesthetics of
a dark version of eastern religion. With the sith having black robes
similar to the jedis' white ones. Darth vader also wears a helmet
meant to call samurai helmets to mind, similar to chaos hero in SMTI.
In-universe, the sith are also shown to be in the weaker position
relative to jedi, and as breaking out to obtain power and revenge.
Which is the same position the gaians and messians are in. Although
the gaians and messians in many of the games are not shown as ancient
organizations, but as new ones that developed from older religions.
Though many of the spiritual beings in them are ancient. Note how walter turning to the side of lilith in Iv also calls to mind a jedi falling to the dark side a bit.

One main difference of course is that
while sith are depicted as outright evil, the gaians in-game are
shown in a marginally more positive light, sometimes depicted as
having a point, and potentially being someone that can be sided with.
And since the gaians emphasize chaos, it is possible that they would
see the empire as too static. Since while in SMTI they are shown
supporting nationalism, they might see it as getting too orderly if
it were to become all-encompassing.

One last point is that in iva,
vishnu-flynn appears in a form that is obviously meant to call the
sith to mind. However, despite this he bears no real resemblance to
their ideology, being closer to that of the law side. This form
seeming to represent more that krishna took over flynn's body, who
has the samurai uniform based on the jedi. And so depicting it
looking more like a sith is implying a twisting of flynn's will.

## Other

**Gray jedi** refer to force users
that show up in many star wars side stories who uses both light side
and dark side abilities. Gray jedi are seen as accepting that passion
and attachments have their place, but believe that they should be
limited to prevent one going over entirely to the dark side. And in
many ways are between the jedi and sith ethically, although due to
how evil the sith are, are often seen as closer to jedi.

Obviously one can equate this to the
neutral side in megaten, although unlike law and chaos, it is not
clear how directly inspired by this concept neutral is. While the
neutral side in megaten does tap into the seeming question of whether
the dispassion of law / jedi goes too far, gray jedi are of course a
more obscure thing in side stories, and so not necessarily a main
basis. Despite this, the idea of gray jedi is tapping into a question
that exists in the main movies. Like gray jedi, neutral questions
whether law, despite being associated with qualities that on the
surface are normally labeled as good does not have aspects that go
too far.

Like the gray jedi, neutral is not so
much entirely rejecting the things that compose law and chaos, but
rather seeking to make use of both of them. This brings it back
closer to a taoic bent, since it brings it closer to the idea of
balance, rather than the jedi's emphasis on the light side.

Note that gray jedi are not necessarily
people who are associated with the jedi religion in particular. It
can be any neutral force user.

**Non force users**. An interesting
point also made in star wars is that non force users sometimes doubt
that the force even exists, such as han solo in a new hope. While
there is not much to make of this, one thing to note is that similar
to jedi and sith, in megaten the law and chaos forces are strongly
associated with the light and dark aspects of the great will, and
have a strongly theistic image. While neutral tends to come off less
religious as a whole, sometimes having figures who do not even
reference or aknowledge it. (though some do). Which is in keeping
with some of the more ambiguous neutral figures in star wars who do
not care about the concepts of the light or dark sides.

**Other**. Note that while the
stories tend to focus mostly on the jedi and sith, there are implied
to be other religions that involve force usage. Similar to how in
megaten while messians and gaians take center stage, other smaller
religions that are not necessarily directly affiliated are implied to
exist.

## The Force

**The Force** is described as obi
wan a kind of energy field that is both in a sense created by, and
which connects all living things in the galaxy. The force is a
spiritual essence that can be manipulated by beings that are attuned
to it, often granting them special abilities. Although what makes
them as such is ambiguous. The force is sometimes referred to in
different ways. The Living Force represented the energies of all
living things, and those energies were fed into the Cosmic Force that
bound reality together. This implies that while the force is effected
by existing beings, that the term creation refers to their influence.
But that it did indeed exist before life.

The force however has multiple aspects,
containing both good and evil. The light side of the Force is the
facet aligned with compassion, selflessness, self-knowledge and
enlightenment, healing, mercy and benevolence, while the dark side of
the Force is the element aligned with hatred, fear, covetousness,
anger, aggression, jealousy and malevolence. Some beings,
particularly the Sith, believed that the dark side of the Force was
more powerful than the light, though it was possible that the dark
side was just more tempting to those who used it (or desired to use
it). This is similar to taoism, in which the tao has the dual aspects
of yin and yang within it, however, unlike taoism, here the light and
dark aspects are more directly associated with good and evil.
Although purged from the final script, in the original drafts the
light side was called the **ashla**, and the dark side the **bogan**.

In terms of religious content, the
force tends to be seen as a divine essence by those who are aware of
it. Although what its nature is as such is not entirely known.
Although certain jedi can manifest through it after death as force
ghosts, there isn't necessarily a direct indication that it itself is
an intelligent being as such. However, the force is seen as capable
of taking actions that while they imply design may not be based on
direct intelligence, but rather a mystical abstract will. As such, it
is seen as closer to the idea of the tao, being the summation of all
things in a mystical light, and their overall flow, rather than as a
sentient god. Although some episodes of the show imply that something
similar to gods exists within it.

The idea of the force was designed to be ambiguous on purpose, to be
able to be seen as a kind of generic concept that people from
different religions could see as related to their own ideas. This is
one reason why the inspirations for it in the movies come from so
many sources. George Lucas created the concept of the Force to
address character and plot developments in Star Wars (1977). He also
wanted to "awaken a certain kind of spirituality" in young
audiences, suggesting a belief in God without endorsing any specific
religion. He developed the Force as a nondenominational religious
concept, "distill[ed from] the essence of all religions",
premised on the existence of God and distinct ideas of good and evil.
Lucas said that there is a conscious choice between good and bad, and
"the world works better if you're on the good side". Lucas
said that the more detail he articulated about the Force and how it
works, the more it took away from its core meaning. Namely to suggest
the idea of spirituality. Something that elucidating on too much
would make it seem more grounded in practical effects.

A quote from george lucas says: "The
act of living generates a force field, an energy. That energy
surrounds us; when we die, that energy joins with all the other
energy. There is a giant mass of energy in the universe that has a
good side and a bad side. We are part of the Force because we
generate the power that makes the Force live. When we die, we become
part of that Force, so we never really die; we continue as part of
the Force." This is in keeping with some eastern ideas, often
ones about reincarnation, although reincarnation is not a major
message of star wars. Notably, megaten views its depiction of reality
similarly.

Lucas used the term *the Force* to
"echo" its use by cinematographer Roman Kroitor in 21-87
(1963), in which Kroiter says, "Many people feel that in the
contemplation of nature and in communication with other living
things, they become aware of some kind of force, or something, behind
this apparent mask which we see in front of us, and they call it
God". Although Lucas had Kroitor's line in mind specifically,
Lucas said the underlying sentiment is universal and that "similar
phrases have been used extensively by many different people for the
last 13,000 years".

It has also been quoted that George
Lucas' study of Carlos Castañeda's books, which followed Mexican
Native American teachings, may have helped to lead to Yoda's
description of the Force as an energy force that emanates from all
beings luminous in appearance. Carlos Castañeda's studies stated
that we are all luminous "eggs" with "lines of power"
that stretch from our bodies and connect us to the overlying "force
of nature" that exists in our universe according to ancient
Native American Shamanistic tradition. Only those trained in the
tradition of the correct Native American traditions allow users to
"see" the human's true nature as luminous "eggs"
not the "crude matter" we all exist as.

In terms of megaten, while IV does
equate law and chaos to jedi and sith, it does not directly equate
anything to the force in particular. Despite this however, there is
intuitive reason for doing so with the axiom. Namely that the axiom
in-game is likewise based on taoist ideas of being an abstract
summation of the spiritual force in reality, but which has both a
light and dark aspect. And so the opposing sides in-game both
directly still reference it and draw on it as a spiritual basis, but
they do so for different aspects of it as it is multifaceted. And so
comparison of the in-game religions and their ideas with the idea of
the force gives context for how exactly they view the world. Since
the in-game sides of course are all somewhat aware of the great will,
and that it has light and dark aspects. But what they each focus on
is a little different.

Obviously, like the force, the great
will is not depicted as an entity in particular, though the way it is
referred to does imply the vague existence of it taking actions and
having a mystical will. As such, it ties to a more abstract
pantheistic vision, similar to how the force is seen. Though in
megaten, polytheistic gods are still seen as existing. But are viewed
as less absolute than gods generally were in the past.

Similar to the force of course, the
great will is ambiguous, and meant to be distilled from the essence
of many religions. Spiritually, what its implications are are left
ambiguous, meant to be interpreted in the light of many different
religions, similar to the force in star wars. One difference however,
is that while star wars clearly delineates the dark side as evil, in
megaten it is more ambiguous, with there being no obvious choice
between good and evil, but it existing in an overall mor morally
ambiguous story.