Feeling the Force
by: Jedi Kidohdin
Yoda: "You must feel the Force around you. Here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere. Yes, even between the land and the ship." Episode V
Obi-Wan: "Let go of your conscious self and act on instinct. Stretch out with your feelings." Episode IV
Comments: A big part of being Jedi is 'feeling' the Force. But what do they mean by "feel" the Force? I think the best definition of "feel" comes from the Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language: To be aware of; To experience; To be affected by.
Jedi "feel" the Force. Jedi are aware of It. When Jedi "let go" of their conscious selves (mind and thoughts) and act on instinct (Zanshin), the Force is there with them. It was always there with us, but It was blocked out by our incessive thinking and our busy minds. Stop the ripples on the pond and you can see the bottom, but the ripples usually block our view. The ripples are incessive thinking, an over active mind that won't be still.
The Force is a higher dimention of reality that is hidden from the mundane world, but Its not hidden from the Jedi. Jedi believe in It; Jedi try to feel It; Jedi try to be in contact with It. Jedi make the effort to still the mind and to feel the Living Force. MTFBWY! -JK
To study Zen means to study one's self. To study one's self means to forget one's self. To forget one's self means to be in harmony with everything that surrounds you. -Zen Master Dogen (1200 AD to 1253 AD)
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