Faction Meditation 101: To Listen & To Learn

[Balun Dashiell]

MEDITATION 101: TO LISTEN & TO LEARN.
LOCATION: Shiraya's Sanctuary, Jedi Temple Courtyard, Naboo.
INVENTORY: High Republic Jedi Robes | Crossguard Lightsaber | Standard Lightsaber.
TAGS: Open to The Jedi Order (THR).

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Meditation...

As a young student of the New Jedi Order, back when Balun was still a child, the suggestion of practising this particular subject was most always responded to with an exaggerated sigh and roll of his eyes. By no fault of the teacher, he'd been a typically energetic boy with a tunnel vision for the daring, Balun's interest had been largely focused on the excitement of lightsaber sparring or a keen interest in Starfighters, anything either powerful, fast or both.

Though still carrying flaws, times had certainly changed him, as had his recent promotion changed his priorities regarding his future path as a Jedi. It was his lack of interest in meditation as a youth that had stood out to him much more recently, capable of practising yet rarely doing so until he found himself in need of direction and guidance. Incidentally, it was this private realisation that also led him to choose the subject for his first public lesson to the students of the Temple of Naboo. With his student days now behind him, it was time to start focusing on what he could offer those of the Order.

The Temple Promenade offered an outdoor courtyard that Balun found perfect for the setting, and those who chose to attend would not only be greeted by the surrounding beauty of Naboo but also by the passing of other Jedi as they moved about the Cloister Grounds, going about their duties. The sky overhead was a splendid blue, with only sparse clouds, and the comforting heat of the sun shone down upon the tiled floor on which the Jedi Knight stood, waiting, fingers laced in front of him, as he smiled or greeted those who bid him well on their way.

Etched into the stone floor with great care, the wide, circular mural would serve as a guide for students upon arrival. Balun, forgoing the need for seating, would instead have them each take up positions on the smooth stone surface, perhaps adding another layer of discomfort and distraction, one of several small obstacles to the objective success of their practice. Though it may have seemed a little unkind, the benefit of today's lesson would not solely rely upon the success of one's meditation, but rather the state of mind and ability to reflect, to draw learning from times of hardship and failure, to take from a negative experience and view it in a positive light. In a Galaxy where conflict could occur so frequently, it was vital that the Jedi were able to find peace within themselves and communion within the Force. Meditation was a gateway to this and many other disciplines and experiences. Balun hoped the students of today would not choose to ignore it for as long as he once had.

Former Mentor: Ala Quin
Jedi Apprentice: Cerys Dyn
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'
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Out Of Character: This thread will incorporate the D20 Dice Roll feature once students begin to practice meditation. Players may use the feature on the board, or the faction discord channel #dice-rolls. I will set the average number to beat when we're ready to begin.​

 

[Oryn Selvar]

Tag: Balun Dashiell​

For Oryn Selvar, it was back to basics. He had excelled at lightsaber drills and katas, was even making progress new and exotic powers such as Force Stasis, yet where was he failing? Focus. What was meant to be the simplest thing any Padawan could do in their sleep, became his big hurdle. More than once now he had come up short because in the heat of action in the field, he had lost focus. It was one thing to do something in the training yard, and another entirely to do it in a high stakes situation.

Every sign Oryn had been given by his tutors was that he was well on his path to becoming a Jedi Knight. Reality had smashed him in the face, and with it, the shattered pieces of the young Nautolan's confidence scattered to the winds.

So here he was, attending a lesson on meditation. Meditation. He was grateful his light teal skin couldn't turn into abashed red. What made it worse, was that he was the first to arrive. He half expected a pack of younglings to saunter in after him. It wasn't rational, it wasn't that any of this was beneath him, but his mind was spiralling off the back of his recent failures. What a great start to a meditation session! He was ready to go.

"Hello" he announced himself after a deep breath, and stepped into the area of the courtyard that Balun had set himself up in. "I'm Padawan Oryn Selvar." he made a respectful bow before the Jedi Knight. Outwardly Oryn wore a friendly smile, while he scanned for any sign of surprise on Balun. Did Balun think he belonged here, or did he suspect Oryn had taken a wrong turn? This was a class for Padawans, right?

"I'm here to work on my meditation." Because I am a child raised in the Jedi Order who can't manage what you mastered at age twelve. "I'm not too early, am I?" Far from it, a decade late more like.

Oryn straightened his white robes, as he crossed the final stretch of the promenade. A breeze drifted through the open space, carrying with it the distant sounds of Temple life, and the rustle of leaves from the immaculate gardens. The Naboo Temple was truly something special. One didn't need to be a Force Sensitive to figure out that this place bathed in the Light. It was beautiful.

Just as well. If you're going to fail somewhere, do it somewhere pretty.

 

[Feng Huang]

Feng was looking forward to the lesson on meditation. Meditation was one of the aspects of Jedi training Master Wu had emphasised, particularly with Feng's passions. Recently Feng had been feeling an even higher fluctuation in her emotions than usual, she'd feel almost crippling anxiousness one moment, to overbearing confidence while there were lives at stake, to rage bordering on the homicidal at her adversaries.

Feng was hoping that a grounding refresher in meditation might do wonders for her anxiety and her passions. The way she bounced back and forth between them couldn't be healthy, she wasn't sure control was the right word for what she sought, but perhaps acceptance. Acceptance of self, so that when she was feeling anxious or angry she could recognise it and not let those emotions sway her decisions. Through acceptance control perhaps?

She wasn't sure exactly if that would work, but she knew that avoidance and hoping things would just improve on their own wasn't working. Feng knew she had most of the skills necessary to be a fully functional Jedi, she performed well on missions when lives were on the line, for the most part, though she knew she had room for improvement, still she was more or less confident in her ability to face danger and the skills needed to survive. So most of the skills a Jedi would need, except perhaps those of the self.

Feng took a deep breath. This was a valuable course to be taking, not only for her current struggles, but also for a refresher. It was arrogant to assume that one had mastered a skill to the point of needing no further lessons in its art form. Perhaps this Meditation differed from the methods Master Wu taught, perhaps it would merely by beneficial to help Feng associate with others of the Jedi Order, rather than remain closed off and isolated. Either way Feng was looking forward to the lesson. So why was she so anxious?

Feng arrived in the room and bowed. She saw that the room was almost empty as she arrived just Master Balun and a fellow padawan.

"Padawan Feng, I'm uh here for the Meditation lesson?" Feng asked hesitantly.

"It is good to see you again Master Balun. I enjoyed your tutelage while sparring and learnt much, I am sure I'll learn just as much from you today." Feng complimented with a warm smile and a bow.

"Oh hi Oryn!" Feng waved cheerfully recognising him from her Padawan Pack meet up.

Balun Dashiell Oryn Selvar

 

[Balun Dashiell]

MEDITATION 101: TO LISTEN & TO LEARN.
LOCATION: Shiraya's Sanctuary, Jedi Temple Courtyard, Naboo.
INVENTORY: High Republic Jedi Robes | Crossguard Lightsaber | Standard Lightsaber.
TAGS: Oryn Selvar | Feng Huang

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Balun smiled warmly as the first of the students gradually started to arrive. He had placed no personal expectations on who might attend, what level or training, nor their age or field experience had been stated in the class listing on the Jedi Comport; He had left the class open for all to be welcomed, even if it were a return to the basics for some of them.

First to arrive was a Nautolan Padawan whom Balun had not yet had the pleasure of meeting. By appearance alone, the Jedi Knight could not surmise the student's age, yet through the Force, Balun sensed a whisper of anxiety, perhaps uncertainty, in the air around Oryn Selvar . The older Jedi, (though not by much), had become rather in tune with the flow and affect that emotions could distort in the Force, and while Balun could faintly sense some shallow impression of the Nautolan's unease, he did not look any deeper for the sake of the Padawan's privacy. If Oryn decided to speak of such things, he would do so of his own choice and at a time most comfortable to him.

Feng Huang was familiar to Balun, for they had recently sparred together, and the young Jedi Knight was glad to see that she had chosen to attend. Student life in the Jedi Order was forever a path spent walking amongst doubt and uncertainty, where faith and the encouragement of your peers, not to mention the Force itself, was often your guide. Feng had questions for herself and personal ambitions that she had briefly revealed to the Jedi Knight during their time in the Dojo, and, much like Oryn, both students reminded Balun of his own challenges during his student years and those ongoing today. Challenges, however, were to be appreciated, for while failure could sometimes result of one's attempts, learning could always be found in any effort a Jedi put their mind to.

"Hello Oryn, Feng", Balun greeted the two of them, his hands gesturing for both to find as comfortable a spot as possible upon the stone floor of the outdoor promenade, he himself moving to sit within the centre of the circular mural that painted the surface of their would-be classroom.

"Neither of you is too early, no. I thought I'd prepare in advance, but we'll wait to see if others join us. If not, then we will proceed together" He glanced between the pair of them, his gaze landing on Feng for a moment as she had complimented their shared sparring session; "And thank you, Feng, I enjoyed it too. I'm glad to be getting to know more of our peers lately. I plan on doubling my efforts in leading more of these lessons ahead of time, so hopefully," He glanced back to Oryn encouragingly, "We will get to know each other better in the weeks to come".

"While we wait, how about we chat a little. Get to share something about ourselves. For instance, how boring do you find meitation?" He smirked, studying the two of them closely, both amused to see their reactions but also curious to see how much of the truth they would share, rather than telling him simply what a tutor might wish to hear.

Former Mentor: Ala Quin
Jedi Apprentice: Cerys Dyn
Major Faction: The High Republic
Sub-Faction: Jhaessa Prime
Conglomerate: Dashiell Incorporated™
Subsidiary Company: Dashiell Retrofit™​

"Speech"
'Thought'
​

Out Of Character: No Dice Roll Active.​