Since the PT, many scenes in the OT have become so much more meaningful, even scenes that were plenty important to begin with. One in particular for me is in ESB when Yoda and Ben are pleading with Luke not to leave Dagobah and thereby cut short his Jedi training. "This is a dangerous time for you", Ben says, while Yoda adds that only a fully trained Knight can ever hope to survive against the Sith.

So we know that Luke's training is "incomplete". Nevertheless, he does go to Bespin, confronts Vader, loses a hand, and learns the horrible truth that Ben used his "certain point of view" to obscure. When Luke returns to Yoda in ROTJ, Yoda is distressed that Luke did not complete his training. But he does tell him, "already know you, that which you need". So Luke has had training, should have had more, but has enough to confront Vader, and confront him he will.

Now my question today is: When you think of Luke's training, what do you think he learned? Before the PT, if you asked me that question I would have said he learned physical skills, proficiency with the lightsaber, greater ability to use the Force to manipulate objects, aspects of the light side, avoidance of the dark side, things like that. But what about this? What about the training that both Yoda and Obi-Wan had received from Qui-Gon? The ability to become one with the Force at death and yet retain cohesiveness and a singular consciousness. Yeah, I'm talking about "Blue Ghost" training. What about that? Did Yoda or Ben ever teach Luke anything about that? I wonder...

In all six films, we know of four Jedi who transcend in this manner into the Force. The first, Qui-Gon, does not disappear, and never appears on screen in a ghost-like form. Luke, as far as we know, knows nothing of Qui-Gon Ginn. But we, the viewers, after the PT, know that it is Qui-Gon who learns this skill and passes it on.

The second Jedi to "cheat" death in this way is Obi-Wan Kenobi, on the first Death Star. This is Luke's first experience of this phenomenon, and notice his reaction: shock, confusion, and dismay as he sits forlorn in the Millenium Falcon. Luke doesn't differentiate Ben's death from those of his aunt and uncle- to him Ben is just gone.

Later, Ben's voice guides Luke in the cockpit of his X-wing. No doubt he finds this strange (I hear dead people), but Luke listens, follows Ben's advice, and with the Force as his ally, destroys the Imperial battle station.

On Hoth, a new experience. Ben appears to Luke in a corporal form. Now here's how we see what a trusting soul Luke is, in paraphrase: R2, we're going to Dagobah. Why? Because my dead Jedi Master appeared to me as a ghost and told me to go there. Ho-hum...

My point is that I used to take it for granted that Luke wasn't surprised by these experiences, but he must have been. He couldn't think they were routine! Dead people didn't usually come back as ghosts in the GFFA! Not that I've seen any in our galaxy either, but you know what I'm saying...

Now back to the training. Are we sure that Luke never knew about this life in the hereafter? Is it not reasonable to expect that he might have asked Yoda about this on Dagobah? Moreover, given that Yoda and Ben had been "in training" themselves for some twenty years in this matter, wouldn't this skill have been something you'd put to the top of this list when it came time to train the new hope for the Jedi? Eureka! I think so! In fact, I think for the rest of the saga to make sense, Luke must have been given some understanding of this great mystery. With your continued forbearance...

Luke is there when the third Jedi transcends. Yoda fades away in his hut on Dagobah after uttering the words, "There is another Skywalker..." Notice his reaction this time- not the same deep sadness as the loss of Ben. I would characterize it as more of a sad acceptance, based upon something he didn't have at Ben's death- understanding. In fact, he rather calmly goes outside and finds himself begins talking to Ben the ghost again. Ho-hum? Not exactly.

Luke knew. He had to.

Because he's the one there on the second Death Star, to help the fourth Jedi take that last great step.

Anakin, a captive of the dark side as Darth Vader, had never learned of the transition to the light that Qui-Gon had found. The memorable booted toe that, in puzzlement, probed the empty robes of Ben Kenobi, belonged to him. Yet, we are told that he fades into the Force at death, becoming one with the Light. Only the armor of Vader is left for the funeral pyre.

Luke, I believe, loved his father and wanted nothing more than to have a relationship with him for the rest of their lives, but that future was not to be. When he again, accepts the inevitable, I would like to think that there was comfort for him in knowing that Anakin could live on, in the Force, and that they could speak and relate, much as he and Ben had done. I would also like to think that as Luke bows his head at the feet of Anakin's lifeless body, that in the midst of his sadness he reaches out through the Force to help Anakin along. That he guides his father into the Light, if you will.

"No more training do you require. Already know you, that which you need."

Yes, I think so. Yes I do.

Fellow bloggers, these thoughts are humbly offerred. Yours are earnestly desired and eagerly anticipated....

MTFBWY