Berig     Created on Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:58  
  What is a Monk?  
 
Disclaimer ((out of character)):
Monk teachings, as in every player run subpath in the Nexus, do not force any views onto our members in the real world.  The views you will learn and follow here are taught strictly for game use.  While you are playing your character, you will follow our rules.
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You say you would like to read a little about the Monks?  Our path is a little bit different than the others which show in our history.  It all started when Greta founded a new Sangha in the kingdoms based upon the philosophies of Siddhartha Guatama known as The Buddha.

Our particular Sangha has much more freedom than the traditional ones.  We generally teach Buddhism as a philosophy, however it can be followed as religion whom Siddhartha is depicted as a deity.  Anyone can follow these virtues to take a step towards inner peace; unfortunately we can only allow those that follow the Poet's path of healing to join our group.

Among the many texts that can be read, the two that we focus on being comprehended are The Four Noble Truths, and The Eightfold path.  Most of the other texts facilitate the learning and understanding of these which are said to be the path to enlightenment and Nirvana.

We are much more than a group of bookworms seeking inner peace though, we are a great family.  That is one of the reasons that we have always had so many members.  The Monks have always supported each other with quests, moral support, or even just a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to talk to.

There are four titles that a Monks have:

(50-99) Monk: Someone who follows the way of the Buddha.
(Il San) Sammasati - Right Mindfulness: The seventh factor in the Eightfold path.
(Ee San) Karuna - Compassion: The deep awareness many have of others' suffering and wanting to relieve it.
(Sam San) Samaruhi - Ascended: To have moved upward to another level.

There are a few items that Monks can earn that make them a little distinct walking around the kingdoms.  They are by no means easy to obtain, but many work hard and earn these.

The first of course are the Straw Hats that we forge for each other.  They are much lighter than a traditional helm; however, with the blessed straw we use they are just as protective.  The large circumference of the brim works great for keeping the sun out of your eyes, you can still feel the breeze on the back of your neck, and your field of vision is not impaired like with heavy metal helms.

The next takes a nice amount of trials and patience to earn: The Lotus blossom.  It is one of the symbols of our path.  Lotus blossoms grow deem in the murkiest swamps, however the bloom beautify seeking the sunlight.  For this reason we look to the Lotus and show that we too can turn out just fine even though we don't live in a perfect world.

Destiny Spears are probably the most distinct symbol when you see a Monk, but they are also the hardest to obtain.  They were intended to aid in traveling.  They are a great walking aid, and the spear-headed tip is excellent for defense.  If you would like to one day hold something like this, you have much work to do.

All of us are in tune to the karmic ways of balance which lets us peer into the souls of others and read their karmic level.  We have the ability to bless food and drink to increase their healing potency by half.  You can ask any Monk for these services, and once in a while you will see a group of Monks holding small service events at a well traveled gate.

Among the many years our path has persevered, our scroll has gathered a great collection of important texts, stories, vision experiences, koans, and many other writings.  If you have the time to read everything from this scroll, I'm sure it will benefit you, as it has benefited many who have read though its chapters already.

-Berig