As I watched the three-part "Malevolence" story, I recalled something the Buddha said, "All beings fear death." Accepting this and keeping it in mind is the foundation of compassion. The "Malevolence" story arc seems to focus on this very point. The Jedi compassion and respect for others' lives, including the lives of farmed clones, is contrasted with the callous disregard for life exhibited by the Separatist leaders. While Dooku and Grievous treat everyone and everything as a means to their diabolical ends, the Jedi elevate their manufactured soldiers above their own desires and fears. While Grievous goes out of his way to leave no survivors; the Jedi risk their lives to save a few stranded clones. While the Separatists show no mercy, targeting the injured and dying; the Jedi put the highest premium on life.

"We're just clones, sir," said a Republic soldier. "We're meant to be expendable."

"Not to me," responded Jedi Master Plo Koon. And he went on, "I value your life more than finding that weapon."

That's quite a statement by Master Plo for he is tasked with finding and destroying "that weapon"--the Separatist ship Malevolence and its ruinous ion cannons. To raze that ship would mean saving countless lives and possibly bringing the war to a quicker end. Why wouldn't he sacrifice the lives of a few to attain such a noble goal?

I like to look at what heroes do and compare their actions to my own. Would I be as magnanimous as Plo Koon were I in his situation? Would I take the time to settle another person's worried mind with the Malevolence lurking and my life at the edge of a knife? I am not so sure.

When I think about the times I am focused on completing a task--even a mundane task, not one as taxing as Master Plo's--I see that I lack the grace and patience with others that I see displayed in my Jedi heroes. I don't take the time to think of others as they do. In fact, people become obstacles to me, roadblocks that prevent me from doing what I want to do. For example, if I go to the grocery store after a long day at work, I want to get in and out and home as quickly as possible. I rush through the store barely side-stepping other patrons in my haste to get around them, I grow annoyed with browsers mindlessly clogging up aisles and I barely acknowledge the cashier as I swipe my card and bolt out the door. No I don't need any help out, thank you!

Not very Jedi-like. Not at all.

When I stop and think about the other people in the store, I of course realize they have homes to get back to as well. They have loved ones and plans of their own. They are not in my way anymore than I am in theirs. We are simply together at a busy time. And when conditions are crowded, we have to cooperate or matters will be worse. In this way, I relate with others and through relating I see our common bond, I see them not as obstacles, but human beings with value far above a few minutes of saved time.

"Clones, you may be," Yoda said in Ambush, "but the Force resides in all life forms."

There is something that connects us all. Something that we all share. Perhaps, it's the Force like Yoda says. I don't know, but whatever it is, it's not mystical or weird. It's just our basic commonality, our humanity. That's why, while I was watching the "Malevolence" stories, I thought of that simple statement of the Buddha, "All beings fear death." On that level, at the very least, we are connected. Remembering that we are connected, that we are similar down to the core of our beings, fosters compassion in us. This compassion means we treat others with greater respect, patience and understanding. We don't force ourselves to do these things, they just happen naturally when we remember how similar we all are, when we make the effort to relate to each other.

I know that's what the Jedi do and it is something I strive to do as well.