I almost didn't write this. It came to me while reading this blog by misspadme link but then another blog by Ki-Aaron-Mundi link_2 expanding on the same subject was written just following it. I worried the two together discussed too much of a similar subject line and mine would be superfluos. I decided however that my idea was narrow enough to be it's own thought. I invite you to read the others if you have not. Both are excellent blogs.

The views of the afterlife of the Jedi were in sharp contrast to that of Sith. At least when considering Yoda/Obi-wan and Sidious/Vader. It seems to come down to their concepts of the afterlife and the physical world. Which is life and which is death?

The Jedi had little interest in the physical (at least in theory). They were tuned to the all of the Force. This life is not reality but an illusion masking their true nature. Upon death they simply make a transition out of the illusion and return to their true state of being. They don't mourn this transition but instead honor it. Obi-wan and Yoda were both at peace with the inevitable. They knew they couldn't escape it nor did they want to. It was and of itself another state of being. So not only was life an illusion but the concept of death was also.

The Sith on the other hand spent their lives in fear of death. The held on to the material universe with all their might. Maybe they had no confidence of an afterlife or maybe they feared of retribution there. It would be speculative to say what they thought of it. They accumulated whatever they could and hoarded it. Power lay within the here and now. Palpatine and Anakin wanted life to keep going for themselves and those around them (not to mention taking it away as if true power lay in the ability to give or take away life). They used the force but yet hid from it. This is why the Sith failed in my opinion. Eternal life happened because of death not isolated from it.

Vader at least realized this in the end and lost his fear of death. He found peace in his actions, embracing death and life. For the first time understanding the force and calming the turbulent waters within himself and not to fear any longer. Death is not good or evil. It just is