Lastly we can look into how buddhism is utilized in George Lucas’s Star Wars. Buddhism
also dates back to a preA.D. Asia, where Siddhartha Gotama lived. Buddhism came about
when Siddhartha discovered that happiness is not achieved through personal possession. In his
journey Siddhartha developed the 4 Noble Truths, the precepts, and the ideals which create
Buddhism. To many buddhism is a way of life, or a philosophy. Mainly what is found in Star
Wars is evidence that the Jedi knights believed in the third Noble truth. This noble truth is based
around the premise that we must learn to live in the current time period. The noble truth
basically states that if one is able to remove the desires for the world, including ill will and
ignorance, then they will reach a great height in happiness known as a supreme happiness.
This is known as enlightenment or coming to Nirvana. The jedi similarly believe that if you are
able to cut the ties around you then you will become one with the Force, and will ultimately co
exist in the light side of the force. If you follow the Jedi way then you are able to help eliminate
the suffering of this world. Even though it is from the second trilogy (IIII) Yoda depicts the Jedi’s
belief in this realm. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVJyf5yKxuo
The advice given by Yoda that I believe can be relevant to modern living is that we must understand that all life will come to an end, and that we need not excessively mourn of those who will pass on before us. There is solace in the fact that when they have gone on we have no factual information stating that there is suffering past death, and that there is a definite suffering which exists on this Earth. I would not advise everyone to let go of all that we hold in this world as many extremists would or the Jedi Knights must do, but I would say that we should not cling to the things of this world which will have no relevance to us when our time comes. I believe that to be a cornerstone for contentment in this life.
The advice given by Yoda that I believe can be relevant to modern living is that we must understand that all life will come to an end, and that we need not excessively mourn of those who will pass on before us. There is solace in the fact that when they have gone on we have no factual information stating that there is suffering past death, and that there is a definite suffering which exists on this Earth. I would not advise everyone to let go of all that we hold in this world as many extremists would or the Jedi Knights must do, but I would say that we should not cling to the things of this world which will have no relevance to us when our time comes. I believe that to be a cornerstone for contentment in this life.
"we should not cling to the things of this world which will have no relevance to us when our time comes." To the contrary, the things and people of this world who survive each of us have all the relevance in the world, to a meaningful but finite life. Check out Samuel Scheffler's "The Afterlife" and let me know what you think.
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