Mana, The Tao Te Ching and The Force

“Mana is not simply a force, a being, it is also an action, a quality, a state. In other terms the word is a noun, an adjective and a verb. One says of an object that it is mana, in order to refer to this quality; in this case the word acts as a kind of adjective (it cannot be said of a man). People say that a being, a spirit, a man, a stone or a rite has mana, ‘the mana to do such and such a thing’. The word mana is employed in many different conjugations – it can be used to mean ‘to have mana’, ‘to give mana’. Etc. On the whole, the word covers a host of ideas which we would designate by phrases such as a sorcerer’s power, the magical quality of an object, a magical object, to be magical to possess magical powers, to be under a spell, to act magically. The single word embraces a whole series of notions which, as we have seen, are inter-related but which we have always represented as a separate concepts. It reveals to us what has seemed to be a fundamental feature of magic – the confusion between actor, rite and object.” (Pg. 133-134, Marcel Mauss, A General Theory of Magic).

Context of Excerpt

This excerpt is from Chapter 5, An Analysis and Explanation of Magic, and the section entitled “Mana.” In the prior section Mauss discusses the idea of “spiritual force” having preceded the idea of the soul, as far as magic is concerned. Mauss states that the spiritual nature of magic needs a term to explain “residue” of magic, which will explain the nature of magical beliefs. He then goes on to speak of it as an idea of power, or rather magical potential and magical force of the magician. Mauss builds on this to state that physical force is the cause of apparent movements and magical force is the cause of magical effects, which he describes as illness, death, happiness and health, etc… (Mauss 132). In this force, things happen outside the world of physical sense, “desires and images can be immediately realized,” and although the power is unlimited and the world transcendental, they are still governed by laws. This leads Mauss into the discussion on Mana, further stating that “it invades all magical and religious rites,” gives things and people both religious and social value, and further that a person’s social status directly depends on the strength of his or her mana (Mauss 134).

The Tao Te Ching and Mana

A translation of Lao-tzu’s “Tao Te Ching” can be viewed at http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html

While the Tao Te Ching is much more philosophical than the basic ideas that mana consists of, they both seem to share the concept that they are a sort of essential part of everything. On Pg. 134, Mauss states that “The idea of mana consists of a series of fluid notions which merge into each other” and that it at different times may be a quality, a substance or an activity. “It is described as being powerful or heavy, hot, strange, indelible, resistant, extraordinary, and an essence that may only be handled by individuals who possess mana. Mana is a sort of universal explanation for the force that creates and powers the unknown. Mana seems to be behind everything, but you cannot be mana.

The Tao Te Ching, while being more idealistic and deep, serves a similar purpose. Part four of the Tao Te Ching says of the Tao that “It is like the eternal void: filled with infinite possibilities. It is hidden but always present. I don't know who gave birth to it. It is older than God.” This also seems to relate to the Mauss idea that mana precedes even the idea of soul.

In part five of the Tao Te Ching, it is said that “The Tao doesn't take sides; it gives birth to both good and evil. The Master doesn't take sides; she welcomes both saints and sinners.” And then in part six it is said that “It is always present within you. You can use it any way you want.” Mauss states on page 117 that a sorcerer’s patient will either be cured or left to die, according to whether his doctor “condemns him to death or pretends to save him.” Action and inaction both seem to hold very strong places in the Tao Te Ching and mana.

Where the Tao Te Ching and the concept of mana really seem to diverge is in the idea of power and control over the Tao, which notably can be used for good or evil, but doesn’t seem to possess magical powers in the same respect as mana. To this, popular media is more than happy to provide an example of Mana in it’s most literal form.

The Force and Mana

The sensationalized concept of The Force, made popular by the Star Wars movies, seems to share much more in common with the concept of mana. http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Force

A famous quote from Obi-Wan Kenobi of Star Wars states, "The Force is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together." Similarly, Mauss states on pg. 137 that mana is an extraneous substance, invisible, marvelous, spiritual, the spirit which contains all efficacy and all life.

Similar to the Tao Te Ching and Mana, the following quote from the fictional Star Wars character Darth Sidious symbolizes the neutrality of the Force. "The reality is that there is only the Force. It is above such petty concepts as positive and negative, black and white, good and evil."

The concept of orenda, another form of Mana discussed by Mauss states that it can be thrown into the air in the form of clouds, bringing forth thunderstorms (Mauss 139). Similarly the Force is used to create lightening, but also to heal and close wounds. The word mana covers a host of ideas which we would designate by phrases such as a sorcerer’s power, to possess powers or to act magically (Mauss 133-134). Mana is also said to be a force, the force of sprit beings, the souls of ancestors and nature sprits (Mauss 135).

Mana and the force are both said to be part of all living things. Chris Knight on the website http://www.theforce.net/midichlorians/midi-what.asp gives a “scientific” examination of the force.

Knight discusses Midi-chlorians, a substance within every person that aids in a persons control and power over the force. Comparatively, a sorcerer or shaman who has a high strength of mana, is very strong in magic, a person with high Midi-chlorians is strong in the force. The creator of Star Wars, George Lucas describes Midi-chlorians as a loose depiction of mitochondria, a necessary component for cells to divide. Knight further adds that mitochondria are essential for cell life and life in general, for without mitochondria plants would not be able to produce oxygen. Knight gives an overwhelming argument for a scientific explanation of the force in terms of mitochondria. He also goes on to argue that they cannot explain the force entirely, because Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader’s son, who did not have as strong a Midi-chlorian count was even stronger in the force. This rings similar to Mauss account that magic, and thus mana, is often genetically transferred from generation to generation.

A final comparison between mana and The Force can be seen in the area of religion versus magic. The website http://www.ooze.com/toolofsatan/ is run by an organization of people who believe the force, like mana, is imaginary and encourages the worship of false idols. It would be hard to argue that it is not imaginary, since it was written as a piece of science fiction, however, Mauss would argue that Mana, in comparison to the Force, is spiritual, sacred, magic and like religion is a game involving value judgments (Mauss 149). At the following website, movies.ign.com, you can download an interview with some of the people that are on both sides of the argument as to whether the force is evil or not. They also argue that we have no solid evidence that the myths and magic of Star Wars are any more or less fact that many of the concepts of Christianity. In response, the anti-Star Wars religious fundamentalists argues that he their knowledge is based in faith.

Here is another link I found in which someone else compares the concept of the force with the Tao Te Ching. http://sci-fi.lovetoknow.com/wiki/The_Tao_of_Yoda

While Mana, The Tao Te Ching and The Force each have their own unique properties, they each represent a symbolic value system involving a force greater than anything humans can physically comprehend, and something that if properly used carries great potential for the good of society.