59: The Force and Eastern Philosophy

In this episode of Star Warsologies, we talk to Dr. Krista Noble about Eastern philosophical traditions and their similarities to the Force!

Dr. Krista Noble joins us this episode on Star Warsologies to talk about her new book, One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars. Krista is a professor of Vedic studies and shares what she knows about George Lucas's connection to Eastern philosophies. We also cover the roles of the light and dark sides, supernatural abilities, and intuition. When characters say, "I've got a bad feeling about this," it's more than just a running joke, it's a philosophical moment! We hope you enjoy the episode and your next Star Wars rewatch with some more insights into the connections between the Jedi and real-life traditions.

Show Links:

You can buy Krista's book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org!

Check out Krista's website.

Book summary:

Why are the Star Wars films so popular? Of course, viewers love the characters, the plot, the music, and the special effects. However, there is a deeper reason why these films resonate with audiences: Star Wars contains universal truths—principles that are "true for all time, all places and all people." The same principles can be found in religions and philosophies throughout the world, including the Vedic tradition of ancient India, Buddhism, Taoism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Native American/First Nations beliefs.

In One with the Force: 18 Universal Truths in Star Wars, Krista Noble explores these principles. She delves into a rich array of topics, from the Force to collective consciousness, and from enlightenment to immortality. Readers will see that the philosophy of the Jedi doesn’t only apply "in a galaxy far, far away"; it is also highly relevant to everyday living. Like Luke Skywalker, we should all look within to discover the deepest truths of life, pursue our individual destinies, and strive to reach our full potential as human beings. In these ways, we can embody the wisdom of the Jedi.

Advance praise:

"An intriguing addition to Star Wars scholarship, which reveals the timeless substructure underpinning the space-age saga. If you watched the Star Wars movies with a feeling in your bones that you were seeing something unfold that was not merely the product of modern creative storytellers but something ancient and powerful, this book will tell you why."

—Joe Holland, Instructor of Consciousness & Human Potential, Maharishi International University

"One with the Force reveals why Star Wars touches the souls of its fans, showing that this iconic film series has much more to it than meets the eye. Noble’s book expounds on the universal principles in Star Wars that inspire us and sustain the cosmos."

 —Marci Shimoff, #1 NY Times bestselling author of Happy for No Reason and Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul

"This lucid study takes up a topic dear to my heart—the uses of fiction as a wisdom path—and traces essential principles from South Eastern and other traditions of wisdom and spirit appearing in Star Wars. The parallels mentioned by the author are evocative and even archetypal. The image of a path of spirituality emphasizing balance, experience, mindful action, and unity found in difference speaks strongly to our time of culture wars and increased questioning of traditional creeds."

—Craig Chalquist, PhD, author of Soulmapper

"Krista Noble's insightful presentation of the Star Wars trilogy highlights and magnifies the inherent nobility of this blockbuster film series, as she unearths and identifies age-old universal principles of life and living embedded in the story. Noble's book provides a happy hunting ground for exploring the profound truths of the world's cultural, spiritual, and religious traditions. A magnificent read!"

—Dr. Judy Booth, retired faculty member at Maharishi International University, continuing to serve in an advisory capacity

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Star Warsologies is a podcast about science in a galaxy far, far away. Hosts James Floyd and Melissa Miller combine their love of storytelling in the franchise with their keen interest in all things academic.