Projects/Service

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.

Projects/Service

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:

	When talking to others, get them to talk about what interests them, rather than just talking to them. This is a basic sales technique, and a good communication technique, period.
	Flyers are best for posting on community bulletin boards and such, while business cards are best for handing out to people as they pass. Cards are more apt to be accepted as they are easily put into a pocket, billfold, pocketbook or backpack. Be sure to have a web-site URL and/or other contact information on the card along with a tag line that peeks interest and encourages one to go to the site or investigate further.
	Have a vision for what you want to accomplish, but don't become overly attached to results. Being too attached to results can get frustrating because it is often hard to see your impact right away. You might be doing much more good than you know, even if the results are delayed for weeks months or years.
	Visualize success in your efforts, take action, and observe the results objectively. Learn from your experience and keep at it, tweaking methods based on what you have learned.
	Relax, have fun and enjoy life! - This is contagious, and why not bring joy to the process?

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

• The Maryland Jedi Order is a circle with no strong leader.

• Jedi recognize seven major problem areas in the world: War, Poverty, Crime, Disease, Hatred, Violence, and Environmental Deprivation.

• We are open and affirming. Our order does not emphasize religion in the traditional sense, and as such, we welcome persons of all traditions, beliefs and religious affiliations. Intolerance will not be tolerated among our group. We only ask that efforts and actions be of a positive nature; not destructive. Although this may be subjective, it is a guideline that can be followed. For example, we do not condemn fighting back if attacked personally or nationally.

• Jedi recognize that outer pollution and conflict is ultimately caused by inner pollution and conflict. So it is the cause of each Jedi to foster inner peace and joy first and to help facilitate these qualities in others and society secondly.

• We encourage and support the individual efforts of our members in working towards their personal goals, from budgeting and savings accounts to marathons and charity fundraising events, and shall have collective activities and goals that members may consider participating in.

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

A current topic for discussion is: "What are the major factors contributing to global warming? What can be done about the problem?" Is global warming the correct term for the changes our Earth is going through? How can a Jedi help regarding global warming/climate change?

Dealing with Sith ~ With the exception of a physical assault, etc., there is an old saying: "What is the sound of one hand clapping?" Meaning that to start something, it takes two. If someone wants to start something (a dispute or argument) and they are ignored, it is like trying to clap with one hand; it goes nowhere :)

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."