The Dharma of Star Wars [Paperback]

Matthew Bortolin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 15, 2005

Is Yoda a Zen Master? What might Jedi training be like? Are the adventures of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader part of a spiritual epic? The answers—as well as humor, excitement, and much more—are here. The Dharma of Star Wars' cover promises a fresh and fun take on the films that have so captured the public's imagination, and its pages do not disappoint. Author Matthew Bortolin is a self-professed Star Wars geek (and, proud of it!), as well as a member of the Buddhist community of the teacher and bestselling author, Thich Nhat Hanh. Here, Bortolin casts a light on the timeless qualities and the wisdom to be found in George Lucas' already-classic film series. The result is a rollicking and eye-opening read sure to edify, and most of all, entertain—just like Star Wars itself.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bortolin, an ordained member of Thich Nhat Hanh's Buddhist community, may be the ideal person to write about the Buddhist themes in Star Wars: he camped out for tickets to all of the movies—even the less than stellar ones—and possesses his very own set of Jedi robes. In short, consistent chapters, Bortolin explores themes such as suffering, mindfulness, karma and transcending the dark side. One especially helpful chapter examines what nirvana is, comparing it to the all-pervasive Force of Star Wars, and clarifying that nirvana isn't a sort of Buddhist heaven or a blissed-out mental condition. Rather, Bortolin asserts, it is "the very absence of ideas and conceptualization." Bortolin looks to Jedi meditation as a parallel discipline to the Buddhist practice of mindfulness meditation. In this state, Jedi knights "get in touch with reality as it truly is," observing their minds with calm compassion and allowing greater understanding of the present moment. One of the book's greatest strengths is Bortolin's stubborn determination to find something redeeming about the two most recent Star Wars films, and he does actually recover enough of these nuggets to make some fans take a second look at those overhyped flicks. 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. (Apr.)
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Review

"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

"Bortolin's book succeeds as one of the most in-depth investigations into Star Wars likely ever to have been written, and as an excellent introduction to Buddhism as well. Star Wars fans and Buddhists alike can thank Bortolin for bringing new relevance to the power of the Force."—What Is Enlightenment? magazine

"A light-hearted exploration of the Star Wars movies, providing a new take on the six-part space fantasy epic. It's a good introduction to teachings of Buddha, and how they infuse the characters of Star Wars...on both the light and dark sides of the force."—SFRevu

"The Dharma of Star Wars is, simply put, many of life's little lessons wrapped up in Jedi robes. You don't have to be a believer in the Buddhist way of life to appreciate some of the wisdom that emanates from these pages."—StarWarz.com

"Brings a very different and deeply compelling analysis of the galaxy far, far away."—FilmThreat.com

"Bortolin's 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

"Star Wars fans will find Bortolin's pleasant humor and simple directness immensely enjoyable and thought provoking, while longtime spiritual practitioners will discover a new and profound avenue into self-transformation."—Robert A. Johnson, author of He and She and We and Owning Your Own Shadow

"A must-read for anyone ever inspired by the wisdom of Yoda, the courage of Luke Skywalker or drawn to the dark side by Darth Vader."—Noah Levine, author of Dharma Punx

"This will be a welcome and enlightening addition to Star Wars fans' world, opening up a new way to understand the narrative of this beloved series. Bortolin's Padawan Handbook is especially useful."—Sumi Loundon, editor of Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young Buddhists

"An interesting read [that] makes the Star Wars more profound, and Buddhism more accessible."—Eastern Horizon

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

"Bortolins's use of "Star Wars" as a template for explaining the Dharma is innovative and spot on. 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 other—into their own hearts, minds and spirits."—Jeff Cioletti, producer/director, Millennium's End: The Fandom Menace

"Throughout this wise and accessible book, Bortolin helps readers understand the truth that Yoda speaks: “Luminous beings are we; not this crude matter.”—Jana Riess, author of What Would Buffy Do?

”Whether you interpret ‘The Force’ as being Nirvana or the Holy Spirit, finding spirituality in ‘Star Wars’ can bring that galaxy far, far away a lot closer to home.”—Newsweek

"This entertaining and insightful primer provides a useful service to future 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

"A clear and clever introduction to Buddhism. The work will also broaden anyone's understanding and appreciation of the subtle underpinnings of Lucas' films. Bortolin's work is an important contribution to the lexicon of modern Western Buddhist studies. The book draws an arc of meaning and wisdom across the centuries from the deer park to the pinnacle of 21st century pop culture."—Ashe Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications; First Edition edition (April 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0861714970
• ISBN-13: 978-0861714971
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #171,213 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #97 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction > History & Criticism

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars entertaining and wise April 6, 2005

By Anonymous

Format:Paperback

I really enjoyed this book. Matthew Bortolin uses the story of Star Wars (across all six movies) to illustrate Buddhist concepts and uses Buddhist concepts to highlight deeper themes in the Star Wars saga. The result makes Star Wars more profound and moving and Buddhism more accessible. Avid fans of Star Wars will appreciate all the detailed references provided by a true fan devoted to the series, while more casual Star Wars viewers will find the movies much more compelling after reading this book. Those new to Buddhism will learn a lot from Bortolin's accessible, human way of presenting these ideas, while those with more familiarity will likely experience new insights from Bortolin's novel approach. It's nice to read something that is funny and entertaining yet also contains real wisdom and insight. I find myself thinking about things mentioned in the book as I'm dealing with various situations in my life. And now I'm really looking forward to seeing Episode 3!

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Force is strong with this one! June 9, 2005

By Nicholas Carroll

Format:Paperback

I immediately bought this book when I saw it on display in the bookstore, without needing to flip through and read passages. I believe that the "Star Wars" films are the most spiritual films ever made, as the story is soaked in classic mythological motifs with heavy borrowing from Buddhist ideas about how our universe works. This book is written by a "Star Wars" fan, so he knows his material, and because he's also a Buddhist, he is able to write the main tenets of Buddhism in easy to understand concepts for anyone familiar with the Star Wars characters.

When I saw "The Phantom Menace" in 1999, I was baffled by the amount of backlash that film inspired in fans. The film expanded our knowledge of "the Force" and I remember getting chills when Qui-Gon Jinn told Anakin: "remember, your focus determines your reality." That line sums up my spiritual beliefs in a perfect phrase and I'm glad to read that the author of this book mentioned that several times as well. Another thing that the author brilliantly picked up on was the character of Jar Jar Binks, which so many fans HATED with an unbelievable passion. I happened to love Jar Jar Binks and I don't think it was accidental that Lucas made him as annoying as he was. The name "Jar Jar" should clue anyone in to Lucas' point...being so close to the word "jarring". This book will have you seeing Jar Jar Binks in a totally new light and I'm glad someone pointed it out so Lucas doesn't have to spell it out for everyone.

In "Attack of the Clones", my favorite of the new trilogy, I got chills when I saw the ethereal glowing blue in the Jedi library and the scene where Obi-Wan tries to find Kamino with his three dimensional galaxy map. Those scenes are some of the most spiritual-intuitive scenes I've ever seen in ANY movie. For one thing, I believe the library in heaven looks similar to the Jedi library and I look forward to perusing its database someday.

This book makes a great introduction to Buddhism and I certainly will refer back to highlighted passages because I believe in the Eightfold Path, especially being mindful of our present and calming the mind before we panic or jump to hasty conclusions. Anyone who thinks Buddhism is a false religion simply hasn't investigated it and tried it. The world would be a vastly improved place if people attempted to live its principles and practiced mindfulness.

I also appreciated the author writing a chapter on the Jedi's tendency to kill...as that isn't a spiritual principle but I think for the sake of the movies, Lucas had little choice but to use that for his story. The good thing is that he doesn't show the violence. The author is correct, though, about how a spiritual person simply cannot take another human life, no matter how compassionate we may think we are in the act. Killing is still depriving a person of changing...thus makes Luke Skywalker's decision not to kill the Emperor or Darth Vader all the more profound.

This book will make an excellent companion to "Christian Wisdom of the Jedi Masters" and "The Tao of Star Wars"...as all three books pick up on the ideas, scenes and characters of the greatest film series in the history of humanity and present the spiritual concepts in an easy to understand manner. But I think this one is the best of the three...because its closer to "The Force" than the others.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars The Dharma is with you January 14, 2006

By Lou Tambone

Format:Paperback

The Dharma of Star Wars is, simply put, many of life's little lessons wrapped up in Jedi robes. You don't have to be a believer in the Buddhist way of life to appreciate some of the wisdom that emanates from these pages. Author, Matthew Bortolin, seems quite qualified to write the piece and it shows in the writing and the examples he uses, pulled straight from the Star Wars films.

This book, much like The Tao of Star Wars, was a learning experience for me. I enjoy reading about the parallels between different religions and Star Wars. George Lucas went to great lengths to make sure that his films were not religion-specific, meaning that they didn't cater to any one belief system outright. You can watch the films and find elements of Buddhism, Catholicism, Judaism, and more. Therefore, just about any belief system could be the basis for countless books comparing it to Star Wars, and I feel that this book won't be the last.

Bortolin never fails to impress you with his knowledge of Buddhism and of Star Wars. He colors each page with many phrases from the film or replaces the more cliche every day words you might use with some kind of Star Wars reference or term. That's where Star Wars fans will have the most fun here - relating the important lessons learned within the pages to their favorite films. Sometimes it's easier to teach something to someone by using familiar examples. Jesus did this with the parables he told and likewise, Buddha told many similar stories, some of which you'll read in this book.

This book definitely caters to fans but I feel anyone can read this work and learn a thing or two. There's a lovely section near the end called "The Padawan Handbook" that contains "Zen Contemplations for the Would-Be Jedi." In that section you'll find short one-liners that you might hear Obi-Wan Kenobi telling his young apprentice, Anakin, on any given day during his training, ("Ambition and desire lead to the Dark Side. Be wise, my determined apprentice, there is no happiness like the happiness of having few desires.")

Bortolin not only does a good job of tying Buddhism to Star Wars, he also gives you some background into the faith and does a wonderful job of explaining all its concepts like Dharma itself, nirvana, and meditation. I know that I personally took a few of the concepts in this book and tried to adapt them to my personal life. When I feel my kids are getting on my nerves, I stop and try to breathe before exploding into an angered rage. If the book can help you in little ways like that, then this is a good thing. It's by no means a book that's trying to convert anyone to the Buddhist faith, and I certainly won't be doing that, but that does not mean there aren't concepts and lessons inside which can help you in your daily lives.

For those who aren't aware of all the Eastern philosophies and concepts that are embedded within the subtext of the Star Wars films, you'll be pleasantly surprised when reading this book. You'll look a the films in a different light, especially The Phantom Menace which is loaded with Buddhist references, ("...hate leads to suffering.") In fact, there's a lot of talk about "suffering" in this book but, like Luke, you have to unlearn what you have learned and not take suffering literally, or at face value. There are many forms of suffering described in this book and it's supposed to be a part of life, not something you get rid of. Learn about it, accept it and deal with it, are the things you must do. This is wonderful and insightful advice.

The Dharma of Star Wars is definitely a book worthy of your attention if you're interested in learning more about both Star Wars and one of the belief systems the films are based on. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised...and hopefully enlightened.