There is no need to become caught up in the multiplicity of divergent forms. Jediism was made as a vessel for the harmonious unification of all spiritual paths concerned about the eventual fate of the Universe. By definition, Jediism is, on the right hand of daily application, "simply helping"—and on the left hand of broad theory, "scientific ultra-universalism". Together, the dualism of these two hands joins at the Jedi mission of being custodians of civilization. It is becoming increasingly apparent on Earth that there is much that civilization needs to be protected from! There is much work for us to do here. There are so many Jedi sects that we make the Catholics look unified. Our central tenets are emergent and changing, just as we as individuals are learning and changing; the eleven tenets of Noetic Jediism have been posted as a discussion point on the site. It must be stated here that there is no one particular set of central tenets; to establish an unchanging set of rules, commandments or tenets is to establish a dead religion.
Jediism is as alive and diverse as the Universe it reflects, and it describes the courses of its civilizations striving toward spiritual harmony over much time and space. To master Jediism is to master the Force; it is beyond natives of Earth to do this at this time. Until there is an active temple on Earth, if someone introduces him or herself as a Jedi Master or Knight and does not happen to be extraterrestrial, one is perfectly entitled to be skeptical.
Another central distinguishing characteristic of Jediism is the ceremony of High Communion, which is described elsewhere, and can be summarized as "mass meditation to live interpretive music". It is during High Communion that some Jedi adept experience transpersonal events, or atonement with the Force. We are nodes of consciousness comprising the Force, and High Communion is designed to make us resonate as a network. On more spiritually progressed worlds, these ceremonies are conducted with such mastery that they have been described as the ultimate experiences of civilization.
Few are called to be knights. There are many more monks than knights, and it is a far easier and more holistic existence to live as a monk than as a knight. It has been said that Jedi monks are engaged in the art of living, while Jedi knights are engaged in the art of fighting. Which would you prefer, honestly? In order to become a Jedi monk, one needs only to recite the rede or tenets of one's chosen sect and self-anoint. In order to become a knight, one must first be a particularly gifted, charismatic and athletic monk who masters all the recommended forms of martial arts and is then accepted at a Jedi Academy. Even then, one does not become a knight until the completion of a successful mission involving bravery and self-sacrifice. One might be very surprised indeed to encounter a real Jedi knight on Earth at this time. Perhaps it is possible, but probably not until there is a temple requiring defense.
The ranking schedule of Jedi follows a few different courses. The Sith grant the title of "Darth" to one who has achieved a certain distinctive power with the Dark Side. Likewise, the Noetic Jedi grant the title of "Nai" to one who has achieved certification in a specialty of the Light Side. The Nai amulets are various and inscribed with the corresponding symbols of specialty.
Before attaining a nai or specialty (equivalent to a Jedi "degree"), a Jedi initiate becomes an apprentice or paduon. Attainment of half of the Nai Amulets entitles one to become Half Jedi, or semyon. Attaining all of the amulets or degrees makes one eligible for the rank of unon, which means Whole Jedi. The rank of "nai", and the possession of an awarded amulet, entitles a Jedi monk to teach that specialty and award nai amulets to paduonu (learners) or other naiu (teachers) who have completed the necessary training.
There is also a division between quarant or planetary Jedi and interstellar or celestial Jedi. A quarant or terrestrial nai is not the same thing, at all, as a celestial nai. They differ by orders of magnitude, for the training of a planetary nai involves knowledge available only to the world on which they are confined. The training of a celestial nai is a thing of great fanfare, for they learn all that there is to know in the conjoined noospheres (networked planetary archives) of all Jedi worlds.
Finally, we come to Jedi masters. Jedi masters are rare and grand masters are exceedingly rare. Generally, the title of grand master is awarded posthumously for remarkable feats of genius, bravery or martyrdom. Only the most gifted masters are thus awarded. If a Jedi wishes to achieve the distinction of master while alive, then he or she must own no possessions other than his or her clothes, amulets and staff, and be both appointed and supported as a master, with free will offerings (tithes and salaries are unacceptable among Jedi clergy) by an existing temple. Masters may be decreed by resident naiu during convocations, by popular vote. The title of Temple Master is not to be taken lightly, for these individuals bear the office of a pivotal interface with the public. Temple Masters are responsible not only for teaching and entertaining the public at open temple times, but also for taking and representing the will and concerns of the public to the Jedi Council, which is the public face and body politic of the Order.
Temple Masters are thus often chosen for their public speaking or musical performance abilities, to draw positive public attention to the temple and to assist with temple upkeep such as maintenance tasks and gardening. The temple is considered the permanent residence of the appointed master, so naiu must choose their masters wisely, and certainly with genuine affection and familiarity.
