The Jedi Code and Udan-Urr

“Certainly a Jedi should know the Code, by word and by heart.”- Odan-Urr

The Teachings of Odan-Urr served as a foundation for the Jedi Order and would be used by the Order up until its destruction at the end of the Clone Wars. The Teachings included Odan-Urr’s revision of the Jedi Code and a Code of Conduct that he created for the Jedi. This thread will serve as part one where we discuss the Jedi Code.

Master Odan-Urr believed that the Jedi Code was a stepping stone to Mastery of The Force, that only through fully understanding the Jedi Code could a Jedi master The Force. The Jedi Code was created as a guide for a Jedi to fully master The Force. While many Jedi study the Jedi Code, few actually understand it. Which led to the Jedi Code turning into something that Odan-Urr did not intend (I blame Atris, personally). This ‘transformation’ caused confusion in the Jedi ranks, and the Code became a major tool for the Sith to turn Jedi to the Dark Side.

But let’s see what Odan-Urr originally intended with the Jedi Code:

“There is no Emotion, there is Peace”

Surely this means that a Jedi should be emotionless, yes? No. This line refers to a Jedi’s clarity of mind. Odan-Urr believed that emotions were necessary for the Jedi to have, but understood that these emotions should not interfere with the decisions a Jedi makes. The actions of a single Jedi can impact the entire galaxy, and emotion can influence the decisions a Jedi makes. So Odan-Urr taught meditation to his students. Meditation allowed them to control their emotions and maintain clarity of mind, but he did not teach Jedi to ignore or purge them. He taught mastery over emotion: the first step to mastery of the Light Side.

“There is no Ignorance, there is Knowledge”

The galaxy relies on Jedi wisdom, whether it is during war or at peace times. A Jedi must be very knowledgeable in all things. Even in Jedi and Sith knowledge. An interesting question was posed to me on whether ignoring Dark Side teachings is ignorant. To that I would say, yes it is. But it would also be ignorant for a Jedi to study the Dark Side even when he is not ready. Master Odan-Urr studied the Dark Side more than the majority of Jedi. He studied the Dark Side simply for knowledge’s sake. He understood that great power was held in Sith teachings, and Jedi should not shy away from these teachings. But he did not pass Sith Holocrons out. Odan-Urr knew that the lure of the Dark Side was difficult to resist, and that only the most steadfast of Jedi could resist it. So he locked the Sith teachings deep within a maze within his Great Library, so that only those that could study the Dark Side could study it. Jedi should not shy away from the teachings of the Dark Side, but they must also be wary of the corruption of the Dark Side. Odan-Urr understood this and only taught those that fully understood the first line of the Code.

“There is no Passion, there is Serenity”

This particular line refers to the inner calm of the Jedi. Passions, like emotions, impact the Jedi. Much like the first line, Odan-Urr believed that passions should be accepted by the Jedi. He believed that passions were much like emotions, and that they can be helpful. However, he also believed that passions (no matter what they are) shouldn’t take precedence over duty. Duty to the Jedi, to the Republic, and to The Force itself. Odan-Urr preached meditation to calm the Jedi and sort out passions and emotions, to remove them from a Jedi’s duty. Not to purge them or ignore them, but to simply seperate them from a Jedi’s duty. As mentioned before, passions and emotions cannot interfere with a Jedi’s clarity of mind. When lives, or even the fate of the galaxy, are at stake, a Jedi must have a clear mind to make the best judgment.

“There is no Chaos, there is Harmony”

Usually this line is omitted from certain Jedi texts, but the line itself is important. Chaos itself refers to two things, but the primary purpose of the Jedi Code itself is for the Jedi to master themselves in order to master the Light. So we shall discuss inner chaos. Inner chaos refers to the chaos that is created by emotions and the Dark Side. Odan-Urr used meditation to calm his inner chaos and sorted through his emotions and calmed the turbulent seas within him. Through meditation, Odan-Urr was expanding his knowledge of The Force he was able to achieve perfect harmony with The Force and his surroundings. However, this is not easy. Calming the inner chaos requires extensive knowledge of The Force, much meditation, and fulfillment of the previous lines. It requires that a Jedi make peace with their emotions, their passions, and even the Dark Side. The Dark Side lurks in all Jedi. Making peace with it will allow the Jedi to calm their inner chaos and allow them to achieve harmony with The Force.

“There is no Death, there is The Force”

The ultimate conclusion: Death. This line is the final step to mastery of The Force. The Jedi must put aside the fear of Death and accept that he is but a tool of The Force, a servant to the ultimate power in the galaxy. Odan-Urr believed that Death was not the end, that Death was only another path. When the Jedi’s time among the living ends, he is enveloped into The Force, and becomes One with it. Surely accepting death is the easiest part, yes? Indeed it is. But when the time comes, can you accept Death?* In doing so, the Jedi becomes One with The Force. The ultimate destiny of the Jedi. True harmony with The Force.

The final line is the most understood line of the Jedi Code. The true meaning of the other lines is lost to all but the most wise of Jedi. The sense of restriction the Jedi Code gives is the most used weapon that the Sith have to turn Jedi to the Dark Side, but the Code is not necessarily restrictive. As we have discussed, the Code is meant for control. It was created by Odan-Urr so that Jedi could learn to control themselves. When a Jedi fully understands the Jedi Code, they will have mastered themselves and the Light Side of The Force.

How is this possible? The Light Side deals with controlling the inner Darkness and mastery of ones self. Odan-Urr’s rendition of the Jedi Code teaches Jedi to master themselves, for only through mastering the self can a Jedi master the Light Side. Unfortunately the true meaning of the Code has been lost. Is this Odan-Urr’s fault? Did he make a too complicated Code? No, not really. The fault lies in the Jedi Order and future Historians (Atris) for failing to understand Odan-Urr’s intentions. This greatly hurt the Jedi Order.

Addendum of the fourth line

Quick addendum here. When a Jedi is supposed to make peace with their inner Dark Side, it does not imply that using the Dark Side is good or anything like that. It is more of a matter of control. By making peace with their inner Darkness, the Jedi are able to control themselves and prevent it from causing them to commit atrocious actions, or even fall to the Dark Side.

The Jedi Code is open to interpretation, but this was Odan-Urr’s original intention with the Jedi Code. It was, unfortunately, turned into rules for the Jedi and taken to extremes. The next thread will cover the Code of Conduct that Odan-Urr had created.