Within the modern cultural paradigm, there is perhaps no better allegorical representation of spirituality than the concept of the Force from Star Wars. A series renowned for its representation of spirituality, George Lucas himself states that the point of his anthology was the creation of a modern mythology which demonstrated man's relation with ultimate reality. While the Force does not reflect a deity or religion specifically, it was intended to function as an allegorical substrate for the central metaphysical paradigm common to all religions: man’s relation with the all-pervasive, invisible “something” that permeates all aspects of our lives and existence.
Though the Force is not indicative of a specific religion, the analogous nature of the Force is parallel to the cosmologies present in religious schools of Eastern conception. Indeed, it presents an ontology that is particularly indicative of the Dao (Tao) from Chinese schools of spiritual philosophy. In fact, had George Lucas not proclaimed a generalization of the Force’s religious juxtaposition, one could say that the Force, and by extension Star Wars, were allegorical substrates for the movement of Daoism itself.
With this understanding in mind, this post will serve as an analysis juxtaposing between the nature of the Force and its relation to inhabitants of the galaxy, and that of the Dao and its proclaimed relation to reality. From there, we can gather the centralized message of these two systems of thought and see how the centralized, underlying message may be applicable in all our lives.
The Nature of The Force
The Force is the energy field that binds all things in the galaxy together. It is produced by all life in the form of the Living Force that feeds back to the abstract Cosmic Force, which in turn recycles energy back to the sustainment of the Living Force. While every organism had a place in the Force, it constitutes the grand structure of all life in the galaxy, permeating every organism present. Constituting the collective of all life, the Force was often talked about in agentic terms, being described as having a “will” and orienting towards the good of all life. Be that as it may, it was inaccurate to see the Force as a “God” or “spirit.” What is more accurate is to see the Force as the manifestation of ultimate reality, as it represents the holistic system of the galaxy, all life within it and the interactions between each individual.
The will of the Force is a reference frequently found within the Star Wars mythology. As stated, the Force actualized its will through all life. Manifesting within destiny, the Force orients all events so that all is subject to the Force’s will and flows in the direction ideal for all life. Though all were subject to this will, a select few individuals were particularly in tune with the Force, being able to sense it on a conscious level, and manifesting a variety of supernatural abilities through connection with the Force. Several organizations arose in response to these abilities, providing teachings on the Force’s nature, its will, and how specialized relationships with the Force ought to be utilized. The most famous of these organizations were the Jedi and Sith respectively.
The (Two) Aspects of the Force
Any fan of Star Wars will be immediately familiar with its two aspects: the light side and the dark side. The light side of the Force is associated with positive states such as happiness, love, kindness, selflessness, altruism and compassion, or alternatively simple peace and tranquility. The most famous practitioners were the Jedi, who used it for knowledge and defense.
In contrast, the dark side of the Force was associated with raw emotions such as fear, anger, hatred, aggression, selfishness and unrestrained passion. It was seen as a quick and seductive, albeit easier path than the light side and was a constant source of temptation. While many groups were associated with the dark side, the most famous were that of the Sith throughout the majority of canonical Star Wars.
When many fans look at these two aspects of the Force, they typically view these methods as being the proverbial “yin and yang” of the force; that is, both sides of the force exist equally in conjunction with a greater whole and are both naturally occurring, and thus healthy to tap into. Indeed, the expanded canon of Star Wars includes such groups as the Grey Jedi, so named for their beliefs that proper balance in the force is obtained via equilibrium between the light side and the dark side. In fact, the Grey Jedi code itself claims explicitly that there is no light nor dark side, but rather the force as a whole.
While this conceptualization contains some kernels of truth, it is based on a fundamental misconception on the nature of the dark side and balance in the force. What does seem to be correct is the notion that the force is one grand, all-encompassing reality that seems to transcend such notions as light or dark. The core distinction actually lies in how one chooses to relate to the force. Let us examine in greater detail.
As mentioned, the light side is aligned with positive states of mind, or emotional neutrality. It is associated with altruism, selflessness and caring about other people. The force, being the guide and result of all life in the galaxy, consists of the energy that guides the totality of organisms in the galaxy. The films have been clear that the light side is how the force naturally exists in the galaxy. Practitioners of the light are not tapping into a specific aspect of the force, but are rather moving in conjunction with the force as it naturally flows throughout the galaxy. To use the light side of the force is to move as one in harmony with the force. To let it flow through you and move as a single unit. In fact, the original star wars trilogy does not give rise to the term “light side” even once. This is because there is no light side. The natural state of the force is the light side and to practice immersing yourself in the light is to flow with the nature of the force as it, and you, were meant to be.
In contrast, the dark side of the force is not a different aspect of, or malevolent counterpart to the light, but is in fact a corruption of the natural state of the force. Rather than flow as one with the force, the dark side is the result of the use of emotions to manipulate the force. In other words, the dark side is what occurs when a practitioner abuses their connection with the force so that they may bend its power to their own will. Rather than functioning in tandem with the force, the dark side is manipulating the force to function in service to your own selfishness.
For obvious reasons, balance is not obtained via maintaining an even ground between the dark and the light. Balance in the force involves cementing yourself purely in the light and not abusing your connection through the dark. While the dark side of the force arises through selfish emotions, such as anger or hate, the question is not about whether one should feel these states, as it is impossible to control your subjective state of mind. No, what one must do is control how they react to these states of mind. While one may rely on their anger to tap into the dark side and destroy an enemy, this is the equivalent of trying to fix your computer by hitting it. Instead, one should use their anger in a productive manner to practice patience and understanding, merely responding in assertiveness and self-defense to an opponent. While a practitioner may tap into both the light and the dark, this is not equivalent to obtaining balance.
While I shall discuss the force at length in a future post, what we can conclude now is that one should exist in tandem with the natural flow of existence and not seek to manipulate one’s circumstances through selfishness. Star Wars is a cautionary tale of where selfishness brings its practitioner, as nothing built on that power can last.
While an entire post could be written on the symbolism of the force, we now must turn our attention to the closest philosophical concept that the force represents; the Dao. First, let us examine what exactly Daoism is, then we shall turn our attention to why it’s relevant to the force.
Daoism
Daoism (Taoism) is a Chinese philosophical/religious movement that was founded in the sixth century B.C.E. A loose movement of thought with no official governing body, it eventually became popularized by the philosopher Laozi in his sole work, the Dao De Jing. The existence of Laozi is controversial, with credit for the Dao De Jing believed to be attributed to multiple authors of the Warring States period. Later, Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi further contributed to Daoism within the title Zhuangzi. While articulated by these philosophers, it is not intrinsic to any one individual, existing in tandem with various aspects of Chinese culture and even language.
That being established, we now must ask, what is Daoism? As the name implies, it is a movement of belief systems that regards reverence for the Dao (道 ). Immediately, we have a problem, as the Dao is completely intangible. As Laozi states: “the Dao that can be uttered is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name.” This is ironic, as Laozi just admitted that the Dao can never be understood, only articulated indirectly, then proceeds to write a book on the subject. While this may seem paradoxical, further revelation of Daoism may reveal why this is the case.
As implied, the Dao is an ineffable concept; only being understood indirectly through description which fails to accurately articulate the essence. Be that as it may, attempts have been made to gain a grasp on the concept. First, the Dao does not translate directly with any word in English, though its closest proximity translates as “the Way”, though it may also be translated as “the Path” or “the Method.” Throughout the Dao De Jing, it is encapsulated as “the way” by which reality unfolds, being the source of the "ten-thousand things.” In other words, the Dao is the ineffable source from which all arises and that is responsible for the expression of the rules of reality. What’s interesting is that Dao as such is not a concept exclusive to Daoism, being prominent in Chinese culture. Everything is said to have their dao. The dao of a knife is to cut; the dao of a blacksmith is to forge; the dao of a river is to flow. What is distinct here is precisely that the Daoists follow “the” Dao. The term here is applicable to reality’s expression itself and is generalized to this ineffable origin, “itself never doing, but through it, all is done.”
While the Dao may be that which is venerated by the Daoists, it is not accurate to think of the Dao as a God or other incorporeal agent. The Dao is not an entity in the sense of having a will or cognition. The Dao is simply the natural unfolding through the ever-present flow of reality. While the Dao cannot be encapsulated, it can be experienced through the attention of the practitioner. Dao De Jing served as a critic of intellectualism at the time, and as such should not be seen as a text for mere understanding. Instead, the advice of the Dao De Jing, much as with the Dao itself, should be experienced. While the Dao cannot be understood, encountering it and flowing with it leads to its understanding. It cannot be grasped intellectually yet is constantly present. We merely take it for granted as it is so basic to reality’s expression that we fail to notice it. Just as one may accustom to a novel scent present, we accustom to the Dao as it is so ever-present that we fail to notice its manifestation.
While the previous description may seem contradictory, the Dao De Jing is a book that is rife in contradiction. This is likely intentional on the part of the authors, as it plays into the Dao’s ineffable nature. As stated, Daoism is meant to be experienced and through their understanding of the Dao arises. The name falls short in explanation of the essence of the thing. This is not to say that the Dao is beyond understanding, it is simply to say that words cannot fully articulate the concept. Indeed, Laozi himself, as stated, admits that the Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. He later references the ineffable unfolding of reality that is responsible for the ever-present change of the universe, stating “I know not what it is; I call it Dao.”
Gaining perspective on this, it is clearly established that we may never have a satisfactory definition of the Dao. However, scholars have taken to defining it as “the ultimate manifestation of reality and everything in it.” Like a river, the Dao is responsible for the ever-present change of reality, bringing it to and fro and gently allowing for natural transition to occur. All is subservient to the Dao, though the Dao itself never acts. If one contemplates, it may seem obvious how the Force is related to such a concept.
Yin & Yang (太极图 )
A well established concept at this point, yin and yang describe inseparable yet opposing forces of nature that compose the universe. What is less known is that yin and yang originally made reference to the sunny and overcast sides of a hill. The side encased in sunlight was said to be in yang while the overshadowed side was said to be in yin. It was from here that yin and yang were depicted as the ebb and flow of the universe, whereas seemingly opposing states as masculine/feminine, sharp/blunt, light/dark and good/evil give rise to each other. Indeed, the Dao De Jing gives rise to this notion through establishing the necessary opposition of the concepts to give rise to such conceptualizations themselves. The most notable example is in chapter 2 of the Dao De Jing, wherein Laozi states:
When everyone in the world sees beauty,
Then ugly exists.
When everyone sees good,
Then bad exists.
Therefore:
What is and what is not created by each other.
Difficult and easy complement each other.
Tall and short shape each other.
High and low rest on each other.
Voice and tone blend with each other.
First and last follow each other.
So, the sage acts by doing nothing,
Teaches without speaking,
Attends all things without making claim on them,
Works for them without making them dependent,
Demands no honor for his deed.
Because he demands no honor,
He will never be dishonored.
Wu-Wei (無為)
In accordance with living with the Dao, the central emphasis is on allowing nature to take its course. Human activity need not be excessive to achieve results, as the Dao will flow to its proper destination naturally. In accordance with that nature, humans may strive to flow in tandem with the Dao as a result of Wu-Wei.
Wu-Wei is a concept that does not have a direct translation in English, though its closest proximity translates to “non-action” or “non-effort.” While neither of these fully encapsulate the concept, non-effort strikes me as a better translation for a specific reason: Wu-Wei is not the same as passivity. While sounding reminiscent of non-effort to the English ear, what Wu-Wei actually advocates for is living in tandem with the Dao. While one should still act in the world, they should not use their actions to force an outcome that they desire. Instead, one should act in parallel with the flow of things, knowing when to act and when to not act. One should still orient towards outcomes that they desire, but they should not allow this proper desire to dictate the outcome that must be achieved. In English, this is typically encapsulated as “going with the flow.”
A better conceptualization of Wu-Wei actually translates to the paradoxical “Wei-Wu-Wei,” or “action-non-action.” The implication of the titular concept is of doing not-doing, though once again, we must not confuse this concept with passivity. Instead, we should act in accordance with nature, orienting ourselves to follow the principle of the Dao, which functions as the flowing guide to achieve what we desire.
A relevant example here may be seen in a man desiring a new relationship. In attempting to attract the object of his desire, he may very well try to force the connection to develop through proper speech and action. However, in forcing his will on events, the connection will not develop of its proper nature, as this is equivalent to forcing a plant to grow by pulling on it.
How Daoism Relates to The Force
Both the Force and the Dao share the commonality of being the ineffable, ultimate principle of reality by which everything flows and unfolds in the cosmos, “itself undoing, but through which everything is done.” Both of these ideologies advocate for balance and flowing in conjunction with this principle as a way of achieving balance, peace, wisdom and harmony.
The Light Side
As mentioned, the light side represents the way the force naturally flows throughout the galaxy. It is the state of the force responsible for the growth and harmony of all life. Practitioners of the light side are those who use their connection with the Force to flow with it, orienting themselves to exist in their proper place within the Force. Allowing the Force to flow through them, light side practitioners use their connection for the embetterment of all life and for preserving peace and balance while keeping the dark side in check. Again, this is not to say that negative emotions such as anger are unnatural, it is merely to keep them in balance in accordance with a wise and healthy life.
The light side can be seen as congruent with the Dao. All things flow in accordance with the proper volition of the Dao which is responsible for the emergence, form, nature and connection between all things. The Dao is the principle of underlying reality by which all emerges and unfolds. Similar to the Cosmic and Living Force’s mentioned, the Dao contains its true, ineffable nature while simultaneously being understood through its manifestation into everyday life and via our very own experience.
To live a balanced life via a “light side” understanding is to practice Wu-Wei, by definition no longer orienting towards selfish desire but simply by allowing action to flow naturally. While desire is normal and should be sought, it should not be done so at the expense of natural, continuous congruency with the nature of things. Just as the Dao naturally manifests in the growth of a blade of grass, the Dao shall flow naturally through, say, the desired job interview or developing attraction. Wu-Wei is to act in congruency of these things, not acting without intention but without force of personal will. In this way, we can achieve our potential via flowing with the Dao and recognizing our place as it and within it. This is the real world Jedi path that allows one to live a life of wisdom and balance.
The Dark Side
In contrast, falling to the dark side means falling out of balance in pursuit of one’s selfish goals. The dark side provides the practitioner with an immediate swell of power granting them the ability to manipulate circumstances to be as they want it to be. Having access to this power grants them the desire to pursue goals for themselves and manipulate events to their own limited perspective. However, this is a corrupting path as it involves bending reality to be as you desire it. While it does grant short victories, it leads to the fear that the benefits received will eventually pass away. Such fear leads one to cling to their benefits rather than truly living. The overall defensive attitude that this results in leads to an anger directed to circumstance and people that can never be fully controlled, leading one down the path towards hate, and from there, suffering. Yoda warns us that the dark side is not truly more powerful, but rather “quicker, easier, more seductive.” While it certainly seems more powerful, and is in the short term, it is ultimately corrupting. Nothing built on that power can last. While pursuing vengeance on a wrong doing grants one power to dominate and destroy an enemy, it keeps one locked in a cycle of anger and hurt. Any pleasure derived from such a victory will be shallow and empty. In contrast, to forgive is less seductive and certainly seems less powerful, but overall leads to a peace resulting from liberation of one’s burden.
In Daoism, a variety of dark creatures are mentioned. Demons make an appearance, being described as Qi that have fallen out of balance. But perhaps the most well known is that of the jiangshi, or the “chinese hopping vampire” (though it is technically a type of ghost). A jiangshi arises from an impairment of the soul's transition into the afterlife. Daoists believe the soul contains two constituent parts, the hun (魂) that controls the intellect and consciousness, and the po (魄 ) responsible for biological function and instinct. When a body is not buried under native soil or dies in a violent or tragic manner, the po (which normally rots with the body) can remain in the corpse while the hun passes on. The result is a cadaver, rigid in its movements from rigor mortis, that operates solely on instinct and feeds off the Qi of the living. Essentially, a jiangshi is a spiritual glitch, producing an eternally moving carriage with no driver, resulting from imbalance between the souls of the corpse.
Conclusion
The majority of religious and spiritual traditions present reality as having an underlying principle, be it God, life essence, energy, matter or even the cosmos itself. The Force from Star Wars was created to represent that underlying principle that all these traditions look to, itself proclaiming sovereignty over none of them. For reasons we have just seen, Daoism arguably represents the Force closer than any other, through its metaphysical imperative and advocation for how one ought to live.
While the majority of people wrestle with existence in an attempt to produce the desired outcome, Star Wars advocates for flowing as one with the Force and resisting the temptation of the dark side in an attempt to live a well-rounded and balanced life. This is quite parallel to Daoism’s concept of Wu-Wei and emphasis on not tinkering with the Dao, as all things will eventually be done through it. While many will debate over the legitimacy of either philosophy, it is impossible to deny the thought-provoking nature that both ideas entail.
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