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Unraveling the Mystery of the Sith (R.I.P.)
date posted: Oct 27, 2005 8:38 AM  |  updated: Oct 27, 2005 1:28 PM
The Balance of the Force
The Force had existed as something of mystery to both the Jedi and Sith, even after centuries of studying and learning from it. How was this mystical entity brought out of balance? Had the Darkside been so twisted and perverted that the very fabric of the Force became unbalanced? Or had the Jedi grown so complacent in their rigid code that they failed to understand the emotions that fueled the very Force they sought to understand? Perhaps both of these events were crucial to bringing the Force out of balance, and bringing forth the need for one who could change that.


"Difficult to see the Darkside is..."


The Sith had quietly prepared the revenge they hoped to one day unleash upon the Jedi, using their own dark powers to cloud all that was around them. Palpatine, as Sith Lord, manipulated events with precision; twisting the powers of the Darkside to his will. Could the growing influence of the Darkside account for such an imbalance? Evil had existed for years undetected, slowly drawing its plans together even as the Jedi found themselves unable to sense its presence. Perhaps the strength of this evil, the way in which the Darkside was slowly gaining power, had somehow twisted the Force out of its true and proper balance. It can be concluded that Darkside will always exist, the opposite of the light, but if that power is tapped and used in such a powerful way... the delicate balance will no longer exist. As the end game of Palpatine's Plan approached, his manipulation of the Darkside would only grow stronger, further upsetting the balance that was intended to exist within the Force.


"Too sure of themselves... even the older, more experienced ones."


If the tapping of the Darkside and the manipulation of its hateful energies had upset the delicate balance of the Force, then the complacency of the Jedi could have played some part as well. How long had the Jedi studied and contemplated the existence of the Force? How long had they gathered such incredible knowledge, yet still failed to see and understand the true nature that drove the Force? Compassion, selflessness, sacrifice and love were all vital emotions that fueled the fabric of the Force... yet the Jedi had lost touch with them, too enamored with their own strict discipline. To given to the Code that had been built around the Jedi Order, turning them away from the inherent strengths that were woven in the Lightside of the Force. The Sith did not turn themselves from the emotions that were vital to the Darkside, long had they immersed themselves in hate, anger and aggression... using them to connect with the dark powers that they desired. But if the Jedi failed to understand the necessity of emotions, (the opposite of the Sith's passions) then how could the delicate balance of the Force ever hope to be restored?

The Force was meant to exist in harmony, opposite emotions that drove the opposing sides of its nature. Left to its own, the Force would not turn upon itself... for that to happen one must manipulate an opposing aspect within the Force, drawing it into domination upon the other. It can then be said that neither side was meant to dominate the other, but as long as the Sith lived they would continue to tap into the hate and aggression of the Darkside... placing that harmony into jeopardy. The Jedi had failed to understand the mysteries of the Lightside and by their own fault, failed to contemplate how delicate such an understanding was. They had lost their own connection with the Force, and were unaware of the growing influence the Darkside was now gaining.

The discovery by Qui-Gon of the path towards immortality was perhaps the first step on the long road to bringing the Force back into balance. To finally achieve this though, one final act was needed... the Chosen One must rise up and bring down the Sith that had twisted the Darkside for their own hateful needs. The twisting and manipulation of the Darkside by the Sith would need to be stopped, and only the Chosen One was destined to do so. When Anakin Skywalker, with the help of his son, threw down the Sith Lord that had tapped the Darkside for so long, the balance of the Force was at last achieved. As the Jedi had finally divined the true nature of the Force, the hope of restoring the delicate balance finally returned. Both sides of the Force could now exist in harmony as perfect opposites... neither side neglected or twisted by hate or complacency.

  Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 8:59 AM
Can opposite forces exist in harmony? I've been involved in a few tug-of-wars in my life and I can't recall any of them being harmonious. Generally speaking, they are usually filled with struggle, frustration, and pain, as one side attempts to gain control of the other.
If one simply refuses to play, an unbalanced 'Force' is inevitable. Pushing and pulling (i.e. struggle and sacrifice) from both sides are necessary components for balance to be maintained. What does that say about dark and light or good and bad? For my part, I believe the Force is in balance following ROTJ, pulled equally between the forces of light and darkness, but forever in jeopardy of being beyond its center.
  MF_Luder24
Unraveling the Mystery of the Sith (R.I.P.)
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 10:15 AM
I would like to think that both certainly can exist in harmony, isn't that where we get the idea of yin and yang? Where the harmony is broken is when someone tries to pull one side in domination over the other. (the Sith were playing this role) Harmony doesn't equate both sides struggling against eachother, the Force on its own does not attack itself... it is the Sith that takes and controls one aspect of that great mystery... using it for their own ends. Left to its own, the Force exists in a sense of equality... with both light and dark existing side by side. At least, that's how I interpret it.
  Senator Soph-ia
Updates from the Senate Floor
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 10:24 AM
Question: Is the force really in "balance" at the end of ROTJ? Are Sith required to maintain balance? Or is only evil itself required? Maybe only our day-to-day struggles of choice are required? Is it the serpent in the garden all over again?

I like some of the comments about the Jedi losing touch with the value of emotion. It's Anakin's emotion for his son that cause him to defeat Sidious in ROTJ. I think Anakin was a little bit right in this all along -- why can't the Jedi love? have fun? etc.? b/c the code had become too strict, as you say. Or maybe it's just the price of selflessness. Sorry. . .think I'm getting onto another topic. . .
  Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 11:15 AM
Sometimes I get a bit too cheeky for my own good... Your points are well taken MF_Luder24
  MF_Luder24
Unraveling the Mystery of the Sith (R.I.P.)
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 11:28 AM
I think the point to make is that even without the Sith, the Darkside will still exist. It is a part of the Force just as the Lightside, neither requires a Sith or Jedi for their own existence. That alone can perhaps be defined as balance. Yet when the Sith began to manipulate the Darkside of the Force, and draw upon its strengths for their own ends, thus began the Force being drawn out of balance. At least, that would be my own opinion.
  Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 11:38 AM
I concur. It was the use (and abuse) of the Force that caused the so-called 'unbalance' in the Force. Left alone, this mystical 'energy field created by all living things' would not be unlike an ecosystem that is able to maintain a balance between creation and destruction like a volcanic eruption that at once destroys life while in it's wake promotes it by creating new land and enriching the soil or how about the ebb and flow of the tides.
  Senator Soph-ia
Updates from the Senate Floor
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 12:11 PM
Sounds like maybe we're all in agreement here. I agree that it is the darkside that "pulls" things out of balance. The darkside is full of desire; the need for ownership. The darkside can't sit & wait (eg, Darth Maul and Qui Gon waiting to battle in TPM). Yoda was right when he told Anakin that his desire to possess Padme was what was troubling him. He needed to let go. If he had, maybe things would have been different. If he hadn't followed Mace to Palp's office when told to stay behind, things would've been different. The darkside pulls. It can't wait or bide it's time. It's arrogance assures it that it is right. You're right MF Luder24-dark and light both always exist, but Jedi & Sith are irrelevant to that existence.
  Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Oct 27, 2005 12:53 PM
The beauty of 'the chosen' one, in my opinion, is that he would fulfill the prophecy under either guise, Jedi or Sith. How you ask? Anakin was troubled by many things and for many reasons fell under the influence of Palpatine. Had this not happened, I'm sure Anakin would still have shaken up the Jedi (possibly causing a split between old-school Jedi, like Mace, and new-school, like Qui-Gon, because of how he felt about the Order's current structure and restrictions) which might have also had a cleansing (if not violent) effect on the Jedi and the Force, again bringing balance.
  Grand Admiral Veers0
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 2:27 AM
The balance of the Force has been a tricky business ever since Qui-Gon mentioned the prophecy. While I am sure ther is an answer, I think all the mention of prophecy and balance was merely a metaphor: the Jedi strived for so long to understand the Force that it blinded them to its true meaning. Once they rejected regular ideas, when they trusted in the will of the Force, Luke was thrust in to their hands, able to defeat the Sith and the Force once again found balance
  SlaveoftheForce
Enter the 36th Chamber
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 7:20 PM
Interesting... If we were to take into accound the most similar earthly tradition to light/dark sides of the Force we'd have Taoism and the yin-yang school of thought. If we look in Lao Tzi's Tao Teh Ching we find some interesting statements, such as: When everyone knows beauty is beauty, this is bad. When everyone knows good is good, this is not good. So being and nonbeing produce each other, long and short shape each other, high and low contrast with each other, before and after go along with each other. Each compliments the other. Dark and Light, both must exist in order for them to be known, indeed, both must exist in order for the Force to be known. However, when all things are in balance, nothing is out of its place.
  SlaveoftheForce
Enter the 36th Chamber
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 7:25 PM
In truth, I'd say that the Force becomes imbalanced due to many things. Not the least of which is when the Senate basically stops looking to the Jedi Order as their example of moral guidance, the Jedi Order essentially being all sages. You certainly can't blame Palpatine for it all, he took advantage of the already existing corruption in the Senate... kind of like how Satan takes advantage of moral faults in individuals to tempt them.
  SlaveoftheForce
Enter the 36th Chamber
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 7:25 PM
Check this out from Tao Teh Ching: When the Great Tao was abandoned, there appeared humanity and justice. When intelligence and wit arose, there appeared great hypocrites. When the six relations lost their harmony, there appeared filial piety and paternal kindness. When darkness and disorder began to reign in a kingdom, there appeared the loyal ministers. I don't really know how to explain it without doing it injustice, but contemplate it, it definitely applies.
  jedivan2
Jedivan's Viewpoint
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 7:53 PM
In Episode I, Qui-Gon shows compassion for Jar Jar and Anakin. He even shows compassion for Anakin's mother, Shmi, and attempts to free her as well.
From the expanded universe we learn that Qui-Gon never planned in advance, but used the Force to guide him in every situation he found himself in. This also appears to be what is meant by the "Living Force". I believe, it was these two characteristics: compassion, and the heavy reliance on the "Living Force", that allowed Qui-Gon to start down the long path that resulted in balance being restored. The reliance on the "Living Force" allowed him to learn how to retain his identity after death because he was able to open his mind to new possiblities easier than most of his fellow Jedi.
  lanke05
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:01 PM
best blog everrrrrr!

two opposite forces can exist harmoneously the evidence lies with in molecules, negitively charges electrons are drawn to positivley charged atom/ nucleus (whatever)and they work together simbionicly(sp) just like magnets drawn to thier opposite ends start to pull them apart and the attraction becomes weaker and weaker. i believe the sith were throwing the force out of balance from thier over use of the force for personal gain, even though the jedi had the ability to use the power, they only did when forced (and training).the jedis use of the force, could possibly change the balance of force but not to the degree of the siths misuse(the whole over throwing the republic, etc)
  amidala449
date Posted: Oct 28, 2005 10:31 PM
It was the Sith that made the force unbalanced with their thirst for power. They use aggression and instill fear. So, there is a constant struggle between good and evil. Anakin started out on the good side. Palpatine manipulated Anakin's mind. Palpatine put those visions of Padme dying into Anakin's head, so that he could tell Anakin that he could save her from dying. Palpatine worked on Anakin's arrogance and his love for Padme, 2 of Anakin's weaknesses. So Anakin sacraficed himself to save Padme. The ironic thing is, if Anakin hadn't turned to the dark side, she probably would have lived. In the end, it was Anakin's weakness for his son Luke that brought balance back to the force , when he killed the Emperor.
  Darth Pechark
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 4:09 AM
The Force was unbalenced in the Old Republic days because there was too much good force. The Sith existed, yes, but their plans were slow, and the Force was still mainly good. Then the Empire came about, and it swapped, there were a few small pockets of good Force overtaken by the strength of the Dark side. When the New Republic came, the jedi were more laidback, you could come in from any age, you could marry, and as we see from Kyle Katarn, they even started using dark side powers. The Force was in balence, there was an equal amount of the Light and the Dark side.
  sithmasterdave0
He did bring balance to the force.
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 5:43 AM
Yes, the force became balanced with the death of the sith lord in rotj. That's where this story continues, with the maintaining of the balance by the decendants of the one to bring balance to the force....Anakin. And yes it is a struggle between forces, not really in harmony. The galaxy can only live in "harmony" when that balance is tipped slightly to the light side. I think therefore the "balance" is not quite equal. So in balancing the force, the one side has to slightly dominate the other. To the Jedi balance is more in their favor. To the Sith viewpoint, it was balanced when they were in power......something to think about.
  lauraremijan
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 7:28 AM
i agree :)
  dathmaul2123
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 7:36 AM
Jett skywalker rebalances it by destroying his cousin jacen solo, who becomes Darth Droma. After ben skywalker's death in the yuuzanghvon wars.
  JediChic01
Adventures / Thoughts - Jedichic
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:10 AM
I think...that it goes further than just sith vs. jedi. When looking at good versus evil, we each have to journey within ourselves. Luke realized this in ROTJ. It wasn't the darkness of the emperor, of vader that needed to conquored; it was the darkness within himself. Anger, fear, aggression...those things wouldn't disappear as they are human emotions. And the same is true of love, compassion, sacrifice, and selflessness.

However, they need to governed by something greater than all of these. When one understands their coexistence and is guided by something greater than themselves, then balance is acheived and they become true masters....both of themselves and the force.

  jediV-man
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:12 AM
"Jett skywalker rebalances it by destroying his cousin jacen solo, who becomes Darth Droma. After ben skywalker's death in the yuuzanghvon wars."

Where is that from? Not from any of the books I've read. Or anything I've looked into.
  jediV-man
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:13 AM
Great blog.......really great blog by my standards.
  Makabe
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:44 AM
The inability of the Jedi to sense what the Sith were up to certainly allowed the imbalance, but they, in and of themselves, were not the imbalance. Not their existence, not their powers, not their numbers relative to the Sith. They were simply too blind to realize how the Sith operated, hence the barn door was left wide open. That is the imbalance. The ability to retain one's identity after death proved useful, but it should not be seen as the litmus test for one's effectiveness as a Jedi.
  Makabe
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:44 AM
Before Episode II, Qui-Gon's lingering corpse was seen as a sign that he had done something wrong--after all, and Jedi worth his salt should disappear. Now, his ability to retain his identity is wrongfully used as a referendum on the other Jedi: he did something no one else had, so their Jedi powers must have been lacking. Bringing balance to the Force meant destroying the Sith, and retaining one's identity after death was just a convenient tool that allowed Luke to stay in touch with his mentors.
  Lightsabers Inc.
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:56 AM
Well if the Force would simply keep it's tires properly inflated and rotate them once in a while it wouldn't need to do all this balancing.
  Dyze_Skeearmon
Stompbot : Online
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 11:40 AM
Yes, but after Episode II, it became fairly obvious that the body fading away was the exception not the rule. Both the Battle of Geonosis and Order 66 showed that not a single Jedi disappeared after their death.

Whatever Yoda and Obi-Wan learned from their communing with Qui-Gon, it allowed the Force to reclaim them differently. Perhaps in exchange for their spirit, it received the body instead?
  amidala449
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 6:31 PM
I have also wondered why Qui-gon's body didn't disappear. Could it be because he wasn't a Jedi Master? Both Yoda and Obi Wan were Masters. I don't know if all the rest of the Jedi that were killed were Masters or not. Maybe they had to be masters to have that priviledge. But, then at the end of Episode VI, Anakin appears with Yoda and Obi-Won. He was never made a master. So that blows that theory out of the water too.
  thetomm
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 9:37 PM
You are all wrong. Balance was attained at the end of ROTS. Balance in the form of 2 sith and 2 jedi. You're making the whole thing too complicated for your own good.
  jordanrudess
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:02 PM
NOPE! Hello, this is my first post, and I can answer something, yay! LUKE was indeed the one who brought balance to the force at the end of ROTJ, otherwise, C-3P0 wouldn't have said so on one of those special features on the original DVD trilogy.
  jordanrudess
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:02 PM
NOPE! Hello, this is my first post, and I can answer something, yay! LUKE was indeed the one who brought balance to the force at the end of ROTJ, otherwise, C-3P0 wouldn't have said so on one of those special features on the original trilogy DVD.
  jordanrudess
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:04 PM
Besides, there were plenty more than just TWO jedi (yoda and kenobi) otherwise, it would've been pointless to go back into the jedi temple to reprogram that message to all the jedi telling them to stay away (ROTS). riiiiiiiiiiight?
  jordanrudess
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:05 PM
(sorry for the repeat)
  jedi2sith567
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 10:34 PM
I think the force could be related to the beliefs of christianity. Jesus like the chosen one has come to bring salvation and a balance of peolple's lives. Although Jesus ultimately broke the chains of sin and death there is still the choice of following in sin, much like the dark side. Although there is ultimate balance there is still the choice If you act in a way that will start you down the dark path it won't dominate your destiny and that was what Anakin has brought to knowledge
  jedimastergurpal
date Posted: Oct 29, 2005 11:52 PM
yeh
  jbl_usa
Master Vernun Linde - Keeper of the Force Archives and the Journal of the Wills
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 12:02 AM
Uh, no Luke did not bring balance. And no balance is not just about strengh or numbers. It is about the way the conflict presented itself. I wrote a blog about it if anyone is interested
  Darth Stoph
Yoda acting unjedi like?
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 1:01 AM

Seems to be subjective as to what balance in the Force actually means. Personally, I think a bit of Darkside is needed in the galaxy!

Got my copy of ROTS yesterday....after repeated viewings, still think kitt, koller and tiin kick the becket to quickly. O well.
  Impsterminator
Star Wars Should Be A Religion
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 1:17 AM
what doesn't make sense is if the balance is the power... killing palpatine would change it... but if the balance is like the battle between good and evil inside each person... how would killing palpatine balance that... i guess it is the balance of power that the side controls.... or the amount of evil...
  jedi_339
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 4:30 AM
Think back to Newton's laws of physics, 'for every action there is an equal but opposite reaction'
I think this perfectly sums up the force, there are two sides, for every person of the light side, there is someone in darkness, unless these forces become unbalanced, the force will exist in harmony. The rise of palpatine changed this, here was someone whose anger, and hatred was unfathomable, he threw the order out of balance.

Good blog
  jedimaster13109
Meditations of a Star Wars Fan
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 4:33 AM
Interesting ideas. We will probably never know what Balance of the Force is.
  dathmaul2123
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 6:07 AM
I read about Jett skywalker in a star wars history book in a library one time, then i started thinking about the rest of his history, it does say, he married jastine solar, is the real chosen one and became the most powerful jedi ever, after the defeat of the Yuuzangvon leader T'savong la whom jett killed.
  jordanrudess
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 6:27 AM
oops.... i meant to say that anakin brought balance in ROTJ.....:D
  RogueTK421
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 11:29 AM
As long as there is a Sith, the force will always be out of balance!

Remember Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back:

"Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter..."

The Sith kill, they destroy and as they do so, they are weakening the force and it will never be in balance as long as they are alive. Also, as Kenobi-fan says, the Sith pull the force out of balance through their desires and want of its power for their dark deeds.

The Force created Anakin in retaliation to this; by destroying the Palps, the force is balanced. Obviously, the force never thought of teenage hormones playing a part and how easy humans are seduced by power which led to his downfall.

  UNIT-397
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 1:03 PM
But didn't obi-wan see Qui-gon because Yoda taught him to communicate with him through the force?
  amidala449
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 5:24 PM
I do not agree that it was Luke that brought balance back to the force. It was definantly Darth Vader. Luke may have got the ball rolling, so to speak, but if it wasn't for Vader killing the Emperor, the Emperor would have killed Luke. In theory then, everything would have stayed the same. If they had failed in their attemt to blow up the death star and with Luke dead, life would have continued on the same evil path. So, it doesn't make sense saying that it was Luke. Luke was just a pawn in the Emperor's plan. He knew Luke had the power, and being greedy, The Emperor wanted to use that power for his own uses.Even at the cost of losing Vader.
  RodPayce
date Posted: Oct 30, 2005 7:46 PM
The idea of the wellbeing of the SW universe depending on a balance, gels with my perception of 'Life The Universe & Everything':Everything (physical, philosophical, philanthropic, whatever) exists in or is at it's best, in a state of balance. Usually this balance is delicate, the ideal position being a 'fine line' or a zone that can demonstrate both flavours without extreme.
I feel though, it's wrong to preach that good & bad must coexist.
To say -you need to get burnt to know not to touch fire- is foolish.
Variety is the spice of life. But it's beneficial to learn to recognise limits.
A Jedi's existence looks noble, but restricted from simple pleasures of life & conflicting with contentment. That's where Anakin makes the link.
  Wrayths
Wrayths
date Posted: Oct 31, 2005 7:33 AM
The Jedi guardians of the republic were instrumental in keeping peace and harmony a consistent part of the old republic whose official functionary role was that of ambassadors and diplomats. When the Clone War gripped the galaxy so too did the dark side emerge not only as wildly if not necessarily a way of killing if not eradicating any that preseneted himself as an opposition to the final aim that is Revenge. Vader or Sidious.
  Wrayths
Wrayths
date Posted: Oct 31, 2005 7:34 AM
I would ay that the only reason balance was achieved and why it had not been achieved until ROtJ is that Annakin had not completed the necessary and meditative arts so crucial in a contemplative religion if not to its ultimate end which is to some degree not only immortal but capable of drawing those wjp learn to achieve the vision and purity that the force in and of itself. The dark side may in no way be anyting but the misuse and furtherance of power all to te advatnage of the one whose choice has made the knowledge that bringing pain and suffering with it would in effect cloud the mind and also disturb the mind of a jedi or even a more wary sith lord like Vader or Sidious.
  Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal
date Posted: Oct 31, 2005 10:27 AM
The Force is a wonderful 'tool' to enrich one's experience of the universe, but not one necessary to live in it. The Jedi lost touch with this and the Sith couldn't care less. To the ordinary galactic citizen, the Force remains an enduring mystery and not one tied to most cultures from what I can determine. I still believe that 'Life (or Nature or the Force)' produced Anakin because a few beings (i.e. Jedi & Sith) were abusing forces to the detriment of every other living being in the galaxy. Something needed to be done to restore order. Anakin was what was produced and ultimately he did just that by destroying the Sith and providing a new Jedi Order with an example of how to begin again.
  Wrayths
Wrayths
date Posted: Oct 31, 2005 1:15 PM
When Anakin at last emerges from the sith exoskeleton in which he is housed there is not only the bleary eyed and wizened captive he had become, but also the renewed reflection he had gained after perhaps learning the true meaning of suffering, that of seeing how much his actions affected every single one of those around him.
  MF_Luder24
Unraveling the Mystery of the Sith (R.I.P.)
date Posted: Nov 02, 2005 2:41 PM
And so this blog ends, I hope you all have enjoyed these discussions as much as I have. Thank you all for the interest and the compliments, it has truly been fun.
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