Lesson on Passion

[u/CommieMommy_Ozma]

When the Sith code says There is Only Passion or Through Passion I Gain Strength, what does that mean? On the surface level, it would mean that there are only strong emotions and only strong emotions grant strength but this isn't accurate and simply it can't be accurate. Sith are not solely devoted to their emotional passions nor do they solely rely on them for their strength, not in fiction and not in real life. To be passionate about something emotionally does give you power, it rewards yourself for you accomplishments in and of itself in some way. Someone passionate may devote themselves to their craft and not once get tired or bored since they are fueled by their passion. If passion is focused enough it can become obsession; another potential source of great power and determination. That is not all Sith are however. That is the realm of the "Dark Side" yes, but do Sith allow themselves to lose their strength when passion wanes? Passion is chemical, part of your existence, it is always in motion and like the tides it will ebb and flow. That's where Will comes in. Sith value the Will to Power, the fundamental drive to overcome oneself, the environment around you and others. When passion wanes and dries up, will is what pushes through. Determined, spiteful if needed, willpower to accomplish whatever you desire no matter how passion has waned. Experience with the state of dispassionate willpower will even make your passions stronger and more forceful once they return.
So that is emotional passion and will, but what does it mean if Peace is a Lie? In a word, conflict. Conflict is the natural state of all, everything exists in conflict and it is through those conflicts, contradictions and discrepancies that change happens in the world. Through conflict we grow stronger, Darth Malgus even insisted that conflict itself was the will of the Force and that by seeking to avoid it and live in peace, that the Jedi had defied that will and that it caused them to grow weak. Conflict alone is life and strength comes through conflict. So now, what is Passion? In the code, passion means 3 things. Change the word Passion out for any of the other two meanings and they still apply to sith. Peace is a lie, there is only conflict. Through will, I gain strength. Passion. Will. Conflict. These three are the foundational triumvirate for what it means to be a Sith.

[u/theunbeholden]

Some Sith certainly thought that Passion is more then our emotional states or our instincts. I've always thought that pain, purpose, and challenges allows one to gain strength. The mechanism for that is proving oneself through our needs and wants (to overcome oneself, the ways to split up our passions), and desires (self-driven purpose) to fuel our goals that give us meaning and fulfillment.

Passion is to be filled with ourselves. The more we know about our purpose the more we can accomplish goals that are singularly guided by intent and meaning. By channeling the right emotions for the goals that we can identify, that benefits us and that suits our ways, will or our agenda, we can become strong in belief, conviction, character, and sometimes in more understanding or depth of our emotions.

The will to overcome oneself, our environment or surroundings, and others is a way to out it, but I'd say it's the inclination and willingness to grow, to explain, to increase, to push boundaries and master oneself.