[RINGLEADER]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I just learned about this today, which is Canon, but it potentially explains why Obi Wan and Yoda weren't located in The Force by The Emperor or Vader, and could resolve the fate of Ezra and Kanan. This appears in Marvel Comics Darth Vader series. I think it was only a matter of time before the Lucasfilm Story Group came up with a solution to the problem of Jedi living after Order 66 and it wouldn't surprise me in the least that it was Rian Johnson's idea:

The Barash Vow

The Barash vow was an oath taken by Jedi who completely refrained from all activities related to the Jedi Order as a form of penitence, disengaging from anything but the Force itself. From the founding of the Order to its doom, over fourteen thousand Jedi pursued Barash. The Barash Vow is "a type of penance" and is taken after a Jedi commits "transgressions". However, the Barash isn’t all about self-punishment. It’s also about trying to find wisdom.

Vader explains it a bit more in the comic:

What is the Barash Vow? Vader describes it to his evil droid sidekick thusly: “Any Jedi pursing Barash has sworn to refrain from activities related to the order. Complete disengagement from anything but the Force. It is a type of penance. While a Barash-Taker would have felt the Purge, they would not have allowed themselves to respond to it, or take action of any kind”

A type of "penance". That would explain Obi Wan and Yoda's disengagement of The Force during the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope.

It would also explain Luke's disengagement in The Force after the destruction of his New Jedi Order, which is why Kylo Ren and possibly, Snoke, couldn't sense Luke Skywalker in The Force, either.

It wouldn't be shocking to see this apply to Ezra and Kanan in the final season of Star Wars Rebels. From my understanding, Rebels will premiere in October but air not one, but two, episodes per week. Supposedly, the series will end before Episode VIII is released.