In the movie The Phantom Menace, young Anakin Skywalker is before the Jedi Council. He is being tested to see if he is suitable to be a Jedi apprentice. Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin’s sponsor, is eager to take him into the fold. Yoda, however, is not so sure. Anakin is recently liberated from a life of slavery, but his mother is not. He is separated from his mother and the only world he knows. He is under the care of people he believes he can trust, but are nonetheless virtual strangers to him. Yoda looks on Anakin and pronounces: “I sense much fear in you.” It is a problematic situation, because Yoda believes:
“Fear is the path to the dark side.
Fear leads to anger.
Anger leads to hate.
Hate leads to suffering.”
Is Yoda right? How does one understand the faith of Qui-Gon Jinn to forge ahead with Anakin, despite the decision of the Jedi Council to deny them? Perhaps an awareness of the constructive versus destructive mindset dilemma gives us light to the dynamics at stake.
There is no doubt that what Yoda is saying is possible. His assumption, however, is that fear is understood destructively. Yoda’s words imply the consequences of the destructive mindset. Fear and anger understood destructively can lead to darkness, hatred, and suffering. Does Yoda sense the destructive mindset within Anakin? Possibly. But if so, then Yoda does not identify the destructive mindset as being what is problematic; rather, he identifies fear as being the problem.
Yoda and the Jedi Council are fearful of training Anakin. Is this behaviour not an example of the fear of fear? Although not depicted in the Star Wars adventures, the fear of fear is the foundation of a panic attack. Is Yoda unaware of the ability of a person to learn the constructive mindset and resolve fear? To attempt to suppress fear out of a belief that it is problematic denies the reality of fear. Does the Jedi Council not have faith in the possibility to persevere in hope and fight for what is right? Surely the story of the Star Wars epic as a tale of redemption would not be possible without such belief.
Qui-Gon Jinn displays the power of faith; the choice to forge ahead in the context of fear, acknowledging obstacles, yet believing there is a way to overcome them and strive to achieve what is right. Forging ahead “without fear” does not mean there is no fear, rather it means that fear does not have control. Fear exists as human experience, yet is understood and resolved constructively. In this there is hope for all. Training does not remove fear; rather, it removes the power and control of fear. One gains the freedom and control to make constructive life choices, living in the moment, fear or no fear.