| Jedi are peacemaker's, protectors, and respecters of life in the world/universe. We strive to serve rather than rule. Self and societal improvement are our cause. We recognize and accept that people have different views of life, faith, and meaning. |
|
Leveraging efforts when facilitating societal change By Master Zindel For greater success in recruiting and making positive changes in your community and world, identify areas that could be called "arteries." These are pressure points, or in political terms, swing states. This could mean identifying an area where their is a great need for change, and concentrating efforts there, or identifying the type of person who would be receptive to a particular cause. It might mean identifying a place where there are many such people or an area known as a trend setter (Celebrities often have trend setting power, as well). By such discerning, recruiting efforts and action measures can be leveraged for better success. Here are some other tips:
The Assist Card is a new program for the Maryland Jedi Order. This idea was handed down to us by the Order of the Jedi, Canada. An assist card is a calling card which we would leave anonymously after performing some form of community service. For an example of an assist card go to: http://www.marylandjedi.org/assistcard.htm We will be developing one specifically for the Maryland Jedi Order and hope to have them available soon.
Proposed Goals and Ideals for the
Jedi Order
11/27/08 ~ Thanksgiving thoughts - A Meditation on World Peace:
I wonder what would happen if world leaders dwelled on questions of how to get along with other nations at least as much as their dwelling on how to defend and advance their interests - would not peace have a better chance? Asking questions over and over again, always results in getting an answer. Our leaders need to ask themselves the right questions, and then demand answers from themselves and their people. That is one thing I have dwelled on recently.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
--Master Zindel
Mastery for a Jedi - A Meditation on Self Improvement and Creating a Better Life: In order to create and bring lasting fulfillment in my life, I need to create/remember the skills to live in the now, to be fully present within myself always. As I do this, all lasting change will come to me automatically. I will no longer be controlled by my egoic mind and trapped by the illusion of time, continuously repenting the past and mulling the future. I will enjoy the experience of pure being and can live by the middle way, neither trying to completely deny my physical body and world, nor shunning my spiritual, un-manifested reality of being God/Spirit/Light/Life/Force. As this happens, everything I could possibly want and things I didn’t know I wanted will be realized in my life. Some things I thought I wanted will no longer hold any appeal to me. My life will turn from a dull agitated series of habitual running from this thing to that thing, never being satisfied and being tormented by compulsive thinking, to a life of wholeness, joy and satisfaction. This is all I really need to have happen in my life, although it isn’t completely easy to bring myself to this point of living in the here and now 100%. This is called the awakened state or enlightenment or salvation if you will. All else will fall into place quickly and easily as this happens. I will have lasting fulfillment in my life, as I will be fully in touch with the being of life; I will be Life/Divinity/Force itself, at one with all life, dwelling in the realm of pure Spirit. How do I make this happen in my life? Easier Said than Done... I can begin to accomplish this by practicing being body conscious by focusing on my physical body and the body within – the spiritual body or light body. Remember that the body is a thin vale through which I can experience the divine whole that is my true self. Practice meditation every day or as often as possible. Observe what my thoughts are and remember that past and future do not exist; only the now exists. Learn to control the mind, not the reverse. Observe my inner feelings often, and what is going on inside me. When I am waiting in line or in traffic, focus on my inner self and enjoy just being. --Master Zindel Source Material: A few of the ides in this meditation are derived from Eckhart Tolle's, "The Power of Now."
© 2009 by the Maryland Jedi Order
|