Matthew Bortolin - The Dharma of Star Wars

PRAISE FOR THE DHARMA OF STAR WARS

With humor, strong examples, and timeless wisdom, Bortolin offers a new way to think about a pop culture phenomenon. Lead us to Yoda, he does. Publishers Weekly

A good introduction to the teachings of Buddha and how they infuse the characters of Star Warson both the light and dark sides of the force. SFRevu

A welcome and enlightening addition to Star Wars, opening up a new way to understand the narrative of this beloved series. Sumi Loundon, editor of Blue Jean Buddha

A wise and accessible book. Jana Riess, author of What Would Buffy Do?

This entertaining and insightful primer provides a useful service to film buffs who want to better understand the real-life religion behind this popular fictional world. Bortolin succeeds in ferreting out some real wisdom from the films, providing a Buddhist interpretation of the Jedi Way. Tricycle

Fans of either Yoda or the Buddha will find The Dharma of Star Wars an enjoyable, informative read. Keith Kachtick, author of Hungry Ghost

The Star Wars saga takes place in a galaxy far, far away, but The Dharma of Star Wars demonstrates quite effectively that the universal truths that George Lucas explores are very much rooted in the here and now. Bortolin takes readers on a journey like no otherinto their own hearts, minds, and spirits. Jeff Cioletti, producer/director, Millenniums End: The Fandom Menace

An interesting read that makes Star Wars more profound and Buddhism more accessible. Eastern Horizon

This book will appeal to Star Wars fans, to fellow Buddhists looking for insights from popular culture, and to people who are just curious about Buddhism. Saga Journal

Bortolins pleasant humor and simple directness are immensely enjoyable and thought provoking. Robert A. Johnson, author of Living Your Unlived Life

Whether you are a fan of Star Wars or not, whether you are a newcomer to Buddhist thought or a long-time practitioner, Bortolins light yet richly rewarding approach provides a fresh perspective that should encourage deeper thinking and practice. Frank Jude Boccio, author of Mindfulness Yoga

A clear and clever introduction to Buddhism and an important contribution to the lexicon of modern Western Buddhist studies. The book draws an arc of meaning and wisdom across the centuries from Deer Park to the pinnacle of twenty-first-century pop culture. Ash Journal

THE DHARMA OF STAR WARS

WHAT IS THE DHARMA? And what in Sith spit does it have to do with Star Wars? Well, if youre like me, it has everything to do with that glorious galaxy far, far away

Here, the modern space saga and the ancient words of the Buddha illuminate each other in playful and unexpectedly rewarding ways.

IS YODA A ZEN MASTER?

DO JEDIS PRACTICE MINDFULNESS?

DID ATTACHMENT CAUSE DARTH VADERS TURN TO THE DARK SIDE?

Covering everything from A New Hope to The Clone Wars, this revised and expanded edition provides a unique take on the intergalactic epic and an inspiring introduction to Buddhism.

A must-read for anyone ever inspired by the wisdom of Yoda or the courage of Luke Skywalker, or even drawn to the dark side of Darth Vader.NOAH LEVINE, AUTHOR OF DHARMA PUNX

MATTHEW BORTOLIN has camped out for tickets to all the Star Wars movies and a set of Jedi robes hangs in his closet. He is an ordained member of Thich Nhat Hanhs Order of Interbeing and has practiced in Buddhist monasteries across the globe. He lives in Ventura, California.

May the merit of this work benefit all beings.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side.

HAN SOLO IN A NEW HOPE

W hat is the Dharma? And what in Sith spit does it have to do with Star Wars? Well, if youre like me, the Dharma has everything to do with that glorious galaxy far, far away.

The Dharma is the Buddhist teachings that point to the true nature of reality. Like an X-wing targeting computer that zeroes in on the bulls-eye, the Dharma isnt the target, the truth, itself; it only aims us in the right direction. Thats because the true nature of reality isnt something that can be understood through words or conceptsits the way your life is right now, free from the confusion of hokey religious beliefs, philosophical ideology, and Sith sophistry. The Dharma directs us to the truth of reality, or heart of real life. And my life has (almost) always been about Star Wars.

Like everybody and (nowadays) his mother, I grew up with Star Wars. The Early Bird figures, Death Star playset, Chewbaccas bandolier strap figure caseI played with all that stuff (and still do!). My earliest memory is the Star Wars logo slamming against the star-flecked blackness of my local theaters big screen. My dad whispered the crawl in my ear as it rolled passed, and I was hookedStar Wars would forever be my life. If you cut me open, I bleed X-wings and lightsabers.

I came to process my experiences through my understanding of Star Wars. My interpretation of its myth colored the way I viewed everything from relationships to politics. My feelings of longing and boredom are always accompanied by John Williamss music and twin suns setting on my minds horizon. Star Wars occupied my every waking minute. It was also my first experience with the Dharma, although I didnt know it at the time. To me, Yoda is a Zen master, commented The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kirshner during filming. Zen is one expression of the Dharma, and Yoda did indeed say very Zen-like things. He tells Luke, Do or do not. There is no try.

Most of us dont do, we try. We try to clean the floor, try to work at ILM, try to put the ship on the landtry to realize the truth of reality. Trying always implies a goal, an end result that doing leads to. We push through the doing to get to the goal. But the thing is, almost every second of life is doing. Goals can be achieved, but in a flash theyre gone and we immediately turn our attention to the next goal, to the future, the horizonnever our minds on where we are, on what we are doing (to paraphrase Yoda). And before you know it, twenty, thirty, sixty years fly by and weve spent almost all of our lives pursuing goals that pretty much exist only in our heads.

Realization of the true nature of reality cant come from trying because trying suggests you already have an idea of the truth that youre aiming for. The concept of the truth is never the truth itself. You must put aside trying and dofully engage in the present momentthen the truth beyond concepts will be revealed. This is called living a realized life.

There is a story I think Yoda would appreciate about a Buddhist student asking his master to explain the secret of the Dharma. When asked, the teacher answered, Have you finished your breakfast? Confused, the student stammered that he had. The teacher replied, Then go wash your bowl.

Like trying to achieve a goal, the student is trying to grasp the meaning of Dharma intellectually. But the Dharma isnt interested in concepts. Its pointing us to concrete reality and encouraging us to live a realized life. We cant do that with our intellect. We have to do that by doing. By Force levitating the X-wing; by washing our bowl.

We live much of our lives in our head juggling two or more things at once. We try to puzzle out meaning and form conceptual frameworks that give purpose to our actions. This is understandableits part of being human. But to live a realized life we have to move past concepts and do what we are doing. Life isnt a goal we achieve or an idea we grasp. Life is whats happening right now.