Learning to let goThis week we are investigating the placement of Buddhist philosophy in Star Wars!

Learning to let go

This week we are investigating the placement of Buddhist philosophy in Star Wars! And soon we will release a full article.

Until then here is something to consider.

InThe Empire Strikes Back(1980) Luke Skywalker fails his initial training with Yoda on swamp-planet Dagobah. In a vision Luke sees himself in the helmet of Darth Vader (pictured). What does this vision mean?

Answer: Yes, Vader is a source of evil in the galaxy but Luke is too fixated on killing him; he becomes his suffering. Vader is the poster-boy for the dark side. He embodies giving into desire. To avoid this path and eliminate suffering in his own life—and find enlightenment—Luke has to extinguish his immediate human desire to kill Vader and find greater answers: he must resist what feels right now and transcendentally adhere to the will of the Force. Only then will he become strong enough to bring about the return of the Jedi Order.

In the end Luke tries to save Vader.

Can you let go, too? The dark side is always alluring—not just in a galaxy far, far away but here on Earth.

May the Force be with you.