It's strange to hear such things from one desiring to join the Order. A padawan should not listen to the talks in the back alley. He should have a vision of the whole picture.
There's always sence in things the jedi do. And it's never ultimately selfish.
Regards,
Elod-hora
Its not back ally talk, its the history of the Jedi Order right there in the Jedi archives for anyone to read. If you, while out on a mission diverted from your mission objective to help a starving family you would be condemned by the Jedi High Council for doing so, you didn't follow the code and you got side tracked from your mission. You would most likely be punished with archive duty for a month or two. Stopping and doing helpful deeds for the general public is not the Jedi way, it might be the way the general public picture the Jedi, but thats why they are always so heart broken and let down when the actually come into contact with a Jedi and see what they really do.
As for stepping back and looking at the whole picture, the simple truth is the way the Mandalorian Wars were going, if Revan hadn't stepped in and took up the fight the republic would have lost, the galaxy today is still feeling the effects of that war because of how bloody the Mandalorians were. Waiting any longer and it would have been to far gone, and the republic wouldn't have had the resources to fight back. Yes Revan fell and so did Malak and that sparked the Jedi Civil War, but that was also resolved by Revan, a man who after the war was Offical a Jedi simply to save face by not condemning a War Hero, but actually had very little ties to the Order, he just used their archives when he needed to for his own purposes and lived married to Bastila Shan.
What is considered selfish is a matter of opinion, some might say that the Jedi's devotion to their code above all else is selfish, that they would let innocent people suffer for the sake of their code. From the inside looking out it might not seem that way but taking an objective look at everything, including the Jedi Order has always been my approuch and I see the faults of the Order, I also see where it shines. I just think it is wrong to class such people as Jolee Bindo as "Grey" Jedi because they have a caring heart and will do anything to help those that suffer, but because this goes against the Jedi Code they are not "Light Sided" which to me is a load of bantha poodoo, Jolee's aura was lighter then most Jedi and he genuinely cared for the living things of the galaxy and he wasn't going around throwing lightning and falling to the darkside, he found balance in himself not within the Order.
I know what it means to be a True Jedi, and I'm not good for that, call me Grey if you want but I will always do everything I can to help those that suffer in the galaxy no matter how many scoldings I get from the Council. Going out and actively doing everything I can has been my way, its why I'm rarely on Tython, I've read through the archives too many times I know the history and I can assume some of the future for the Order. In short, the republic wont stand for the Jedi forever, they will, eventually ask us to disarm or follow their military rules if the Jed refuse both you might see a Republic vs Jedi war all for the sake of a code, but I doubt it would get that far. I imagine a compromise would be met in which the Jedi got rid of their battle suits and become envoys of peace for the republic rather than an active military force like it is now. Of course this is based only on my own assumptions and studies of The Jedi and The Republic while I was at the Temple on Tython. It is clear to me however that the Republic's Laws and The Jedi's Laws aren't equal and they do bump heads from time to time, if the republic starts to cut back on its military once war times are over, they will not let an active and strong militant force such as the Jedi Order exist in its current state, out of nothing more then fear of the Jedi turning on them.
I could go on and on about my studies into the republic and the jedi but it wont be to the liking of most masters, but I will say this, The Jedi are human too, so to speak, they are run by people and can make mistakes. They can discuse issues for months in a Council meeting but that doesn't mean they will make the right choice in the end, and the waiting to make that choice could have resulted in being far more damage then was necessary. Don't follow blindly that is the Sith way, if you question a choice made by the Council, inform them, they may not have all the facts and if they still refuse make sure you don't destroy your own morals blindingly following their choice. Yes there is the risk of falling to the dark side, but even Jedi so high as the Council have fallen before, they are no more right then you just make sure you stop and objectively look at a situation instead of letting emotions rule your actions, and you should be fine. These are the lessons of Jedi Master Karman.
