The George Lucas Star Wars films have been the most impactful in my journey to inner strength, wisdom, and understanding of the forces impacting us in our daily lives. I remember being in elementary school when the Phantom Menace came out. Although I was but a youngling at the time, I knew in my being there was something profoundly special about Star Wars as a narrative series. Fans out there know that the six episodes in their entirety center around Anakin Skywalker and his descent to Darth Vader and ultimate full-circle return to Anakin Skywalker. We meet him as a young boy, a slave on a planet outside of Republic influence. Qui-Gon Jinn, a somewhat rebellious but strongly grounded Jedi Knight senses something impeccably special about Anakin: he is the one the prophecy speaks of.

The Reluctance of the Council

One way to view the Jedi Council is that they are a collective embodiment of wisdom.

“For over a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic. Before the dark times, before the Empire.”

Obi-Wan Kenobi – Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

The council may in fact have been sensing its own demise at the discovery of Anakin Skywalker. A boy instilled with great fear and instability.

When he enters the chambers, they question and test him and ultimately decide to abstain from his training. Qui-Gon rebels and insists Anakin must be trained. This decision sets in motion the future destruction of the Republic as we know Anakin becomes Darth Vader just two episodes later.

Concept of Attachments

The Jedi Council forbids attachments. Buddhist motifs run through the saga and we will see more of this in later episodes. In this episode, the council points out Anakin’s thoughts as they dwell on his mother. While they are unaware of his budding attachment to Padme, this would be something else to be leery of. Anakin immediately attaches to Qui-Gon, who dies later on. Anakin has many instances of traumatic attachments and losses that sew seeds of fear, anger, and aggression. All aspects of the dark side that the Jedi guard against in their teachings and practices.

Presence of Mind

The “Duel of the Fates” as it is so often referred to, is a lightsaber battle between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul on the planet Naboo that the separatists attack. Anakin remains in a cockpit, as instructed, and flies up into space accidentally. While the two Jedi battle the Sith Maul, Naboo’s defensemen attempt to seize the Viceroy and force negotiation to remove the threat to their planet.

During the lightsaber battle, Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul duel as Obi-Wan Kenobi gets trapped behind multiple red forcefield screens away from them. Darth Maul and Qui-Gon are separated by just one forcefield screen and they need to pause the fight until the screens subside. Qui-Gon Jinn does something very important here. He collects himself. In Star Wars, the Jedi are always being tested to give into anger, aggression, the desire to violently harm and attack rather than to defend and seek knowledge. Qui-Gon Jinn steadies himself prior to reengaging in the duel. However, his efforts are not enough to save his life and he is killed by Darth Maul. The lesson here is not that presence will always save your life, rather that it will give you the best chance and, more importantly, prevents you from suffering a fate worse than death itself.

The Importance of Acceptance

Obi-Wan Kenobi acts much like Darth Maul in this fight. He shows tell tale signs of impatience, anxiety, and eagerness to be in another moment. This is amplified after he witnesses Qui Gon’s death. One of the most vital lessons in the Star Wars series is to be present.

“Don’t center on your anxieties Obi-Wan, keep your concentration here and now where it belongs.”

Qui-Gon Jinn – Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Qui-Gon says this at the beginning of the film and it is something that Obi-Wan struggles to do after he sees his master fall. Of course, the ideals that the Jedi adhere to require inordinately high levels of consciousness. To even approach these concepts and apply them to your daily life is a feat worthy of recognition and gratitude. Obi-Wan Kenobi ventures into the dangerous realm of anger. He begins fighting like Darth Maul, aggressively, with vengeance, hatred, and anger. It leaves him dangling over a pit and he must elevate himself to have a chance at winning the battle. Obi-Wan regains his composure, summons his master’s lightsaber and finishes off his opponent.

As if witnessing and accepting the death of his beloved master wasn’t enough, Obi-Wan Kenobi must accept a new challenge: rising from apprentice to master and training the boy he also senses is dangerous. At this point in the story we can see that Anakin too is struggling to accept many things.

• Leaving his mother
• The loss of Qui-Gon Jinn
• Obi-Wan Kenobi as his master (he knows he doesn’t trust him)
• His budding attachment to Padme

In my next post I will dive in to Episode II: Attack of the Clones. Thank you for reading and please comment, share, and subscribe.

Questions for the Reader

1. What is your main takeaway from Episode I?
2. Do you see yourself in the dark side as it manifests itself in Obi-Wan and/or Anakin?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the Fear -> Anger -> Hate -> Suffering path?