Commitment

Yoda: A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. -Episode I and Episode V

This is interesting because Yoda said the exact same quote in both Episode’s I and V. In Episode I, he was talking to young Anakin. In Episode V he was talking to Luke. What does Yoda mean when he says “The deepest commitment” and “the most serious mind”? I think it’s about a Jedi’s general approach to life.

The dictionary says that commitment is: The act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself; a pledge, promise, obligation, involvement or engagement. Yoda is saying: be committed, don’t give up, apply yourself, stick with it. Jedis must have discipline when they under take a course of action. Without discipline nothing is accomplished. We have to apply ourselves in all the endeavors that we undertake.

A ‘serious mind’ means a Jedi should have a serious and realistic view of the world. A Jedi should not try to run away from reality through drugs or alcohol, but should face the world bravely. We have to look at the facts. We have to size up the world for what it is, without rose colored glasses. We have to wake up and smell the coffee. We have to ask ourselves questions like; What is reality? Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? Why is the world like it is? Just being in the world prompts many such questions to a serious seeker of the truth. Without a serious and sober approach to the truth, a Jedi can’t meditate, contemplate or know himself/herself.

It doesn’t mean that Jedis aren’t allowed to have fun and joke around. Even Yoda joked around with Luke and Obi-Wan. We have to keep our sense of humor too. I would say, ‘balance in all things’. We should have a balance between seriousness, fun, work, contemplation & meditation, family or social life, working out, practicing martial arts, and everything else. We have to live in the world and be Jedis too. May the Force be with you!

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