It's a massive question among Star Wars fan's dru and the answer is... i'm not sure.

Lucas has said that the reason behind the disappearance thing will be revealed during Episode 3.

It could be that Obi Wan & Yoda were stronger Jedi than Anakin and Qui Gon which is doubtful as Anakin has a higher Midichlorean count than Yoda which means he can more easily use the force. It could be something to do with the Light side of the force..You'll just have to wait and see what Mr Lucas comes up with I'm afraid Dru...unless someone else has a better explanation.

Im sure when Luke sees them at the end of Jedi his dads there too.

(Edited by JtB 15/05/2002 22:23)

Yeah his dad is there too but you also see Luke burning his fathers body the same way that Qui Gon's body was burned at the end of episode 1 except without the ceremony....the fact their body's didn't disappear doesn't mean they can't appear as spirits.

The most convincing explanation so far is that Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi were 'prepared' for their death.

Yoda knew he was going to die and so was prepared, as was Obi-Wan, so they gave themselves to the force. In contrast, Qui-Gon was killed in the heat of battle, and so was Anakin Skywalker, although in different circumstances.

My personal belief is that Qui-Gon didn't ghost because he believed in midichlorians. He accepted the idea of this intercessory between himself and the Force, and believed the Force to be a sentient entity with a will, instead of accepting it as the natural lifeforce of the universe, of which he himself was as much a part as any midichlorian.

Yoda and Obi-Wan however had by then realised that the Jedi Council had become bogged down with all this dogma and cow manure, and thus escaped from it and achieved a state of one-ness with the Force that Qui-Gon never had.

But this is mostly because I just reall, _really_ hate the midichlorians/will of the Force crap.