May the force be with you

"Fear is the path to the dark side.

Fear leads to anger.

Anger leads to hate.

Hate leads to suffering,"

This aligns with the philosophy of some religions that emphasize rational thought and meditation as the path to enlightenment, as opposed to the "Dark Side" of violent passion and emotion. It also aligns with secular Enlightenment thought, based in reason (the light side) and passionate and often violent pre-WWI romanticism (the dark side).

Undoubtedly, however, the strongest influence is Taoist philosophy, and secondarily Zen Buddhism, which inherited much from Taoism. The light and dark side of the Force are analogous to the Yin and Yang duality of the Tao; the Force to Tai Chi and Qi. The practitioners of Taoism and Qi Gong, according to Taoist annals, can live upwards of 200 years. Many true Taoist masters eventually became "san" or spirit-like beings, immortals who could partake and interact in the day-to-day earthly activities, not unlike what Obi-Wan and Yoda become after their passing away, interacting and participating indirectly in the lives of the living. Taoism emphasizes smooth flow of the Qi originating from a balance of the Yin and Yang forces in all manifestations of life, including the human anatomy and the environment. The similarities with the duality of the Sith and Jedi being the dark and light extremes of the Force, which Anakin Skywalker, the "chosen one" is to finally "bring into balance."