defaults.yaml

# These are our default values for use in states and templates
# # map.jinja merges them any overrides on top of this
user: zookeeper
group: zookeeper
basedir: /opt/zookeeper
version: 3.4.8
datadir: /opt/data/zookeeper
clustered: False
# # The below is only parsed if clustered == True, there are no defaults
# # that make sense.  Eventually salt mine should be used here!
# #servers:

install.sls

# Use an external defaults file for our settings so we don't repeat ourselves
{% from "testing/map.jinja" import zookeeper with context %}
{{zookeeper}}

map.jinja

{## Start with our default settings ##}
{% import_yaml "testing/defaults.yaml" as default_settings %}

{## Merge our overrides into the defaults ##}
{% set zookeeper = salt['pillar.get'] (
    'zookeeper',
    default=default_settings,
    merge=True)
%}

output

root@salt01 testing]# salt 'salt01*' debug.render template=jinja source=salt://testing/map.jinja
salt01.wolfcloud.bad4.us:





[root@salt01 testing]# salt 'salt01*' debug.render template=jinja source=salt://testing/install.sls
salt01.wolfcloud.bad4.us:
    # Use an external defaults file for our settings so we don't repeat ourselves

    {'datadir': '/opt/data/zookeeper', 'version': '3.4.9', 'group': 'zookeeper', 'user': 'zookeeper', 'clustered': False, 'basedir': '/opt/zookeeper'}
[root@salt01 testing]#