This essay is from paraquem
Published on October 7, 2001

George Lucas & Carlos Castaneda in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

• Introduction
• A definite influence
• Basic commonalities, clear differences
• Yoda, the shaman
• Mystical initiation
• "Do or do not ... there is no try"
• "Remember your failure at the tree"
• Gaining an ally, and the Trials
• "Luminous beings are we ... not this crude matter"
• Fortuitous meetings in the Star Wars saga
• Disappearing Jedi (and the relevance of lineage)
• Jar Jar Binks, vegetation spirits and re:birth
• Summary

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"Do or do not ... there is no try"

Gary Kurtz describes this line as being " ... a very Zen concept", so a comparison with Castaneda is obviously not going to be exclusive - however, this is reflective of the practice found in Castaneda’s books of "being impeccable". Essentially, these two phrases are saying the same thing - that the Jedi or man of knowledge does not have the luxury of second-guessing themselves. A man of knowledge is guided by death, in that each moment is considered as the last. Therefore any action must be absolute and carried out impeccably. It would appear that this attitude translates across to the Jedi also.

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