I was surprised to read in The Dharma of Star Wars that Luke demonstrated wisdom in Return of the Jedi. I mean I was “surprised,” but not surprised. The book’s author Matthew Bortolin provides an insight into Luke that I had failed to recognize.
Luke’s never been a favorite character for me in the Star Wars saga. To me, he’s only had moments where I’ve really enjoyed his character. However, it was refreshing to read this interpretation of Luke so I could watch the saga from a different perspective.
Wisdom and Compassion Defined
The Dharma path in Buddhism is similar to the way of the Jedi; it’s the path of understanding and love. When this path is walked, the two greatest human qualities are developed: wisdom (understanding) and compassion (love). If we reflect like Yoda and be mindful like Qui-Gon, then wisdom may result of our meditative contemplation. Wisdom frees us from the ignorance of the dark side. Compassion is unconditional love, having no expectations and does not have strings attached to it. However, unless wisdom and compassion are developed equally, compassion only without wisdom can produce “a kind-hearted fool like Jar Jar Binks; while a strong mind without compassion can produce a heartless manipulator like Jabba the Hut.
Recognizing Suffering
Luke exemplifies wisdom and compassion even better than Obi-Wan in Return of the Jedi. Luke’s Jedi mastery is demonstrated as he allows himself to be vulnerable to suffering. In doing so, he discovers inner strength greater than any Jedi of his time or the previous era. After his confrontation with Darth Vadar in Empire Strikes Back, Luke knows good still remains in his father. Obi-Wan, on the other hand, can’t see this as he describes Vadar as “more machine than man, twisted and evil.” Obi-Wan fails to recognize how Vadar is suffering from his own acts. Luke sees past this veil, feeling that his father has not forgotten himself and needs only to be offered understanding and compassion in order to return to his true self.
Offering Wisdom and Compassion
Luke feels compelled to rescue his father in Return of the Jedi. He tells Leia, ‘There is good in him, I felt it. He won’t turn me over to the Emperor. I can save him. I can turn him back to the good side. I have to try.” By offering understanding and compassion, Luke direct Darth Vadar back to himself, to look deeply into his own nature as he asks his father to “search your feelings, Father…I feel the conflict within you. Let go of your hate.” It’s Vadar’s attachment to hatred, hatred for himself and for his crimes that perpetuates his suffering. Luke can’t turn Vadar to the good side, but only offer compassionate support and wise advice. It’s up to Vadar to remove the shroud of ignorance. Luke simply directs Vadar back to himself, to search his feelings, to investigate his own mind by discovering the truth that it’s not too late for him to get out of the dark side. “This is the Jedi way, and it is also the Dharma way.”
Tempted by the Dark Side of the Force
According to Bortolin, “there is no more compassionate act that one person can do for another than offer oneself in order to free another from misery. Luke tried time and again to escape Vadar’s efforts. During their final duel, Vadar feels Luke’s weakness of his love for his sister, Leia, then threatens to turn her to the dark side. As we remember, Luke loses his composure, attacks his father, cutting his father’s hand off above the wrist. The Emperor cackles, telling Luke that hate has made him strong and to “take your father’s place at my side.”
Luke sees that, just like his father, he becomes ensnared by hate. If Luke kills Vadar, he won’t destroy the evil that consume Anakin Skywalker, but only replace it with a new evil–the evil of Luke Skywalker. At that moment, Luke replies “Never. I’ll never turn to the dark side.” Luke does what his father could not do, transcend suffering. His wisdom parts the shroud of ignorance, showing him that the dark side cannot save his friends or give him power to rule the galaxy. Accepting this, Luke is able to let go of hate, becoming wise and compassionate.
Suffering’s a Good Thing?
“Luke’s actions show us that ultimately the good side of the Force is stronger than the dark side. The good side is stronger, because it includes the dark side. Without suffering, there can be no wisdom. When we suffer, when we mindfully investigate our suffering, we learn from it. By looking deeply into our own suffering, we understand life; it’s how we develop wisdom. With wisdom comes compassion, because we can recognize the way things are. This is how we bring balance into our lives.”
Balance is brought back to the Force, when Vadar defeats the Emperor and removes the dark side from the galaxy. But true inner balance comes earlier when Vadar learns from Luke’s wisdom and compassion as he embraces suffering within himself, understands it, and releases its causes. Anakin’s choice to finally face the dark side within him frees him from it and opens his heart to compassion. “To be in the grips of suffering is to be out of balance, but the practice of recognizing and investigating pain brings harmony to the Force and reveals the presence of nirvana.”
Anakin’s Journey
Anakin has always been one of my favorites in the Star Wars saga, because of his full range of life experiences. Anakin goes from being a sweet, selfless child to an arrogant, temperamental young man, to an evil man consumed by the dark side. In his life Anakin, “he has loved people, at times he has hated himself, he sought the approval of his teachers, he selflessly tried to help others, he made mistakes, and he intentionally committed crimes of ignorance and of wickedness. But in the end he finds freedom from the dark side.” The lesson of Anakin’s experience teaches us that anyone can find freedom in love compassion, and understanding.
Synchronicity: Meaningful Coincidence
The Dharma of Star Wars has reintroduced me back to Buddhism at a time when I’m ready to reinvestigate what drives me to do the things that I do. Reading this book, this week has allowed me to process my feelings of attachment to certain things and how to let go of my frustration with things that I cannot control. I certainly won’t master Buddhist principles overnight; however, it gives me the framework from which to start.
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