An in-depth look at: The Teachings of Odan-Urr- Jedi Code

[Leonick]

You only see what is right in front of you. You only see the words, and yet having their meaning explained to you does nothing. That is how Odan-Urr felt when teaching the true meaning of The Code.

 

The Jedi Code is not a set of rules. No matter how much you want it to be, it is not. The Code was meant to be a path to mastery of The Force, it was turned into rules by the Jedi that didn't understand it. Odan-Urr relied on the wisdom of his peers to see the true meaning of the Code and actually fulfill the second line.

 

Do you think Odan-Urr simply let people misinterpret the Code and do nothing? You would be wrong. He lectured the entire Order on the true meaning of the Code. He laid out the true meaning of the Code right in front of them, and many Jedi were still incapable of seeing past 'there is no.' Because of this, the Code was turned into rules when Odan-Urr waws no longer around to explain it. The true meaning of the Code was lost, known to only the wisest of Jedi.

But really, look at it. Don't you think the "old" code is much closer to what is the actual meaning?

In the old version the true meaning is pretty much there, "Emotion, yet peace". While it might have been following generations of Jedi that forgot the true meaning and started to treat the code as strict rules the fact remains that old version is close to the "true meaning" and Odan-Urr's clarification of the code is in some part responsible for the misinterpretations.

 

Of course, as I said earlier, I believe (not completely sure) the code that is now said to be Odan-Urr's was the first one included in Star Wars lore, the older version of it was added later and the explanation for the change got a bit screwed up.