spaf.gatech@UDel-Relay@sri-unix (12/11/82)
From: the soapbox of Gene Spafford <spaf.gatech@UDel-Relay>
Well, if I apply a little deduction based on my knowledge of Zen
and what I've seen in the movies, I'd say that Luke failed in a
couple of ways.
Failure #1 was his taking his weapons into the cave with him. A proper
Jedi would be one who realizes that the power comes from within
himself, and that mastery comes from using the Force (something
associated with living matter) and not using some lifeless device.
A number of the martial arts disdain the use of weapons for the same
general reason. If one believes in the Force, one does not need a
weapon for you *are* the weapon.
Failure #2 was that Luke attacked first. Again, most martial arts
(the ones that are firmly rooted in Zen and not Westernized sport versions)
seem to stress defense rather than offense. (If you've had training
in one of these, please don't engage me in a discussion of "offense as
defense" and so on, I know about it.) Luke gave in to anger and to
fear and attacked. In fact, the image of Darth was symbolically
a manifestation of Luke's fears of the evil place.
Failure #3 was that Luke failed to listen to Yoda. Yoda said that he
would not need weapons, but Luke did not listen. When Yoda was
reminding Luke of his "failure" in the cave, it was because
Luke was once again ignoring Yoda's advice.
I'm not sure how many philosophers are out there, but I'd like to suggest
that the "Force" is more derived from the Tao than from Zen. It
is something that one should follow, it guides from within and without.
Perhaps even more significant, Luke is able to sense a "wrongness"
in the Force, and Yoda talks of strong evil. No one senses
"good," however. I would submit that straying from the Force (Way, Tao)
is a definite wrong, but following the proper way simply results
in a sort of null-state (natural state) that cannot be detected.
That's why Luke doesn't detect Yoda as being the master teacher, and
why Darth would not notice a true master if he was standing next
to one (Bobba Fett?). That's another reason why Yoda says not
to use the Force in anger --- someone using the Force can be detected
while someone not using it is "invisible." Far better to let
your opponents underestimate you and then let their attack be their
own undoing.
Think you that Vader or Luke really need light sabers? Vader
has killed with the Force yet not touched his victims. Vader has
also flung large objects about with the force. Luke has learned to
move himself and objects, and Yoda can move an entire spaceship.
Vader can kill with the dark side of the Force because he causes
panic and fear in his victims and they feed the very force (Force)
that kills them. From a philosophical point of view, I'd bet
that the climactic battle does not have the Jedi/Luke/Other
winning by their mastery of any weapon. Instead, Darth will
defeat himself by making a mistake, or he and the emperor will
destroy each other in a excessive display of bad vibes.
Now for a quiz:
1) Is there deep meaning hidden in the story or are we creating
profound interpretations from fluff?
2) Does anyone really doubt that Good triumphs, Evil gets its
justly earned defeat, and Lucasfilms makes another bundle?
3) Darth Vader is really:
a) Luke's father b) Luke's mother
c) James Watt d) Judge Crater
e) none of the above
4) The other hope is Bob Hope who is entertaining the rebel troops
when his ship is captured by Darth. Bob's jokes just slay Darth.
5) Obi Wan got that first name growing up in Mayberry, RFD.
(think about it)
6) Darth was going to lobotomize Han, but felt it was beneath him.
Even the great Vader would not stupe Solo.
Force sure, force sure,
Genemcewan (12/14/82)
#R:rocheste:-31200:uiucdcs:12500011:000:156 uiucdcs!mcewan Dec 14 12:37:00 1982 If light sabers are powered by the force, this points to Han as the other, since he's the only non-jedi seen to use a light saber. Personally, I doubt it.
stevea (12/18/82)
#R:rocheste:-31200:uiucdcs:12500015:000:266
uiucdcs!stevea Dec 17 15:54:00 1982
The scene with the unused blaster was in "A Splinter of the
Mind's Eye" by Alan Dean Foster. This was a pretty useless
and farfetched sequel that came out about 1-1/2 - 2 years after
SW.
Steve Alexander (...!pur-ee!uiucdcs!stevea)