Home STAR WARS: The Big Picture STAR WARS: Episode III Other

The Jedi are based on the yogic tradition which is to deny yourself of pleasures and meditate to obtain enlightenment. Even by Episode I, the Jedi are corrupt since they are involved with controlling politics. The church is definitely running the galaxy. Instead of teaching detachment, the Jedi are fighting to maintain power, which Anakin notices. In most Hindu or Buddhist traditions they usually walk away from the world and focus on transcendence to leave this plane of existence and merge with the Force. Once religion gets into politics both are corrupted. The goal of religion is about cleansing the soul and the afterlife and merging with the Force. The goal in politics is to make a better life for the citizens of your country (in this case galaxy). When these two goals are mixed, both lose their original purpose; and you get a cesspool and corruption.

The Jedi were also wrong on how they treated Anakin from when they first met. The council gives Anakin the hot seat while in the middle of the circle when Anakin was only ten years old. They also set up Qui-Gon to get killed. This is made obvious by the fact that Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon were sent to deal with Maul as only two Jedi, but many were sent to rescue Obi-Wan when on Geonosis. The Jedi neglected to go back for Anakin's mother so she died as a consequence. Anakin surely noticed this. Obi-Wan's constant nagging also contributed to Anakin learning to hate the Jedi and especially Obi-Wan.

Another point on the Jedi is Mace says a critical statement as to their position in relation to the Force. Mace says to Yoda, "Our ability to use the Force has diminished." What Mace is saying is that our lamp stand has been removed. In all religions if the Force itself takes away your powers and turns off the faucet, so to speak, this proceeds grave judgement against that individual or organization. The Force itself is siding with Palpatine and later Vader with him. Esoterically, this says volumes!

The Jedi are the organized religion of that galaxy as much as the Christian church (both Catholics and Protestants) is to this one (earth). There is a reason why Karl Marx said that organized religion is the opiate of the people and the arm of the oppressor. How does this work? As long as people believe this religion stuff from church they put up with all sorts of privations in waiting for the reward after death. The capitalists (Trade Federation) uses this so they can make money while the people just suffer, starve, and have no health care. The Jedi perform the function of oppressor of that galaxy as much as the church oppresses us on earth in defence of capital and profits.

There is no wonder that Palpatine is seen as a savior from the oppressive Jedi and Trade Federation. That is how the Russians in 1917 saw Lenin. Lenin freed Russia from Rasputin (Their Jedi) and the Tsar (their lousy government that was corrupt and letting the church have too much power).