Uniformity and Purpose (D10 MA)

[Jihen]

After a busy morning and court, Jihen found himself seeking serenity... Not the serenity of isolation of some of the other sects of the Brotherhood, but the serenity of living among others in the world as taught by the Four Temples.

And so... in the courtyard of uniformity Jihen found a quiet place to reflect upon the people who surrounded this space and their purpose in the way of all things...


----

D10 MA Meditation for Void | 8k4 ⇒ 29 (TN: 20)

[Agasha Yuna]

Agasha Yuna was walking through the courtyard after court, and caught sight of Jihen. She always enjoyed talking to him.

She made her way over to him and gave a deep bow, when he appeared to be finished with his meditation.

"Jihen-san, it is good to see you. May I join you? I am always glad to get your perspective. 'One must learn to see what is to be seen...' Especially in a venue like a winter court."

[Shiba Ryusei]

The woman he loved and was going to amrry, a monk he rather liked...

Ryusei couldn't exactly make a beeline, it would be unseemly.

But he certainly meandered in their direction rather quickly.

[Jihen]

"Agasha-sama." Jihen replied with a deeper bow than the one offered to him.

"Of course you may join me. It is always a pleasure to see you."

He bowed again in gratitude, "You are far too kind to one who's perspective is so limited and without wisdom as mine. I share it despite my foolishness of course... because what else would be expected of one in robes like these?"

He smiled as he caught sight of the Shiba not a short distance away.

"I have been remiss in congratulating you on the securing of your marriage contract to the young master Shiba over there. May your betrothal be blessed bountifully by Benten's benevolent beauty."

He smiled and bowed, "A lot of b's in that blessing."

[Agasha Yuna]

She smiled brightly as Ryusei walked over to join them. A bow to him. A lingering smile.

And then she turned back to Jihen at his words of blessing.

"Thank you, Jihen-san. I am feeling most fortunate, indeed."

"But you sell yourself short! It is true that the Little Teacher cautioned that “The higher you stand above modesty, the easier it becomes to lose your footing", so your humility is admirable. But I must say that I learn something every time I talk to you. Truly."

"Have you given any further study to matters of Kyufoki and Gobai. Balances and imbalances?"

[Jihen]

He smiled and shook his head in deflection of her praise, "One as bright as Agasha-sama can learn from almost anything she sees. Even one as dull as me can learn from the town drunkard or voyeur in the night on how not to conduct themselves. I am sure any thing learned from me would be of similar origin. 'How not to act' a tome on the life and sayings of Jihen."

He then nods, "I have attempted to seek a bit more, yes. As of yet... I am not sure I still have any great bits of wisdom. I have discussed my observations with the Lady Seppun... and hope that the members of her family will help provide more insight into my wild musings."

He then asked, "And you? How has your search gone?"

[Agasha Yuna]

"I should be glad to hear your wild musings. It may help put the puzzle together."

"I am hoping to hear as soon as today from my family. I asked them for wisdom about the earth, earthquakes, Kyufoki and Gobai. I let them know one of our delegates - a diviner - anticipates at least one more earthquake, though the timing is uncertain and the meaning could be metaphorical."

"I am glad you have spoken to Lady Seppun. She and the Hidden Guard are the experts in mystical harms, and defense against them. It is one of the many gifts that Seppun Tomaru-sama brings to this court." And to any future role in it.

"I continue to find much to admire in him."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei drew closer, and bowed to each of them- but didn't speak up.

Spiritual matters like this were well over his head, after all.

[Jihen]

"My wild musings unfortunately are a bit more sectarian and philosophical than many are a fan of. In general, I usually prefer more easily understood topics. The Tao describes itself after all as... quite simple. I enjoy the simplicity of human interaction and speaking to one on a level that makes them feel comfortable in their growth. Sectarian pontification is rarely conducive to the type of edifying teaching interaction that I most predominantly prefer."

He sighs, "However, in this instance I find myself relying more heavily on the esoteric teachings of my sect to help me understand the various forms of things in the universe I am able to understand. The Fortunists would undoubtedly disagree with my interpretations as I am sure many others would as well... The Fortunists see the Fortunes as the Beginning and the End... I see them as a beginning to an End. The concepts of balance, benevolence, beauty, and so on... personified in these truly divine beings hints at a greater reality to which they adhere and accordingly receive the accompanying abilities which we see manifested in the world."

He tilts his head, "Troubling omens from under the ground have been echoed by the arrival of ominous portents in the sky and the tragic passing of our beloved Empress. These events and others of the past years and decades hint at a greater imbalance that goes on relatively unchecked. An incongruity in the elements that bind all of us together and therefore bring an increase in suffering upon us all that we are forced to share."

He straightens out his neck, "All that to say... that these occurrences are most likely reactions to certain echoes of choices set forth by people today... but are merely part and participle of a greater variance from the Way that began when the proper order of Heaven was most brazenly disregarded by ningendo... which disregard has continued on in varying forms until today."

[Agasha Yuna]

She listened attentively.

"I arrived here almost purely a Shinseist. But it is Seppun-sama who said to me, on my first day here that he studied 'The Tao, of course, but also lore of the Fortunes. Their power is manifest and clear, however devoted to the work of the Little Teacher a person may be. Devotions to them are fitting and proper.' It made a strong impression on me."

"I spent more time sincerely praying to the Fortunes." She glanced at Ryusei, thinking about that day they spent visiting the temple and praying at shrine after shrine.

"Perhaps the balance needed is a marriage between the two paths. Devotion to the Tao and Fortunes both."

She thought about his words. "But what is the proper order of Heaven, then? Are you sure that the cycle is towards greater suffering, rather than ... a circle? A path that has suffering in it, but is nonetheless precisely as it should be?"

"The Little Teacher said: 'Even in times of trouble, remember this: there is no evil in nature. What is now has been before and will be again. It is the short sighted and foolish who believe that life has no patterns, no purposes. All that is now is part of what has been and what will come to be.' Patterns, yes. Purpose. A cycle that returns to what has always been and always will be."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Or perhaps..."

Ryusei felt qualified to venture in here.

"The sea teaches that equilibrium is an ideal, but moving toward it always creates agitation. A calm sea is beautiful, but it never lasts forever- and it's very hard to get anywhere on a calm sea, too."

[Jihen]

"It is as you say Agasha-sama. Appreciation, through devotions, to the beauty that the Fortunes extol is the path of wisdom... A path that leads from and to the elements. The greater marriage of these varying perspectives is through the Fortunes to the greater truths that lie beyond."

He continues calmly and nods at her questions, "It is possible that we live in a section of the wheel of time that is characterized by darkness and variance from the Way. The clans sought to lead the empire without the direction of the Heavens... Powered by their Desire and thoughts of self... they turned the wheel towards suffering. For all selfish acts turn humans towards greater suffering... But the wheel turns in response to how those upon it shift their weight. The Fortunes can help in this... they help provide guidance to people to see the light of the Way when the world around them would threaten to blind them... The vows they have made to help humanity are a powerful force in helping those people turn the wheel towards harmony."

He turns to Ryusei, "This 'equilibrium' is what we may call harmony. Things waxing and waning in their proper order... A tsunami is a sign of this lack of harmony as it would be if the tide stayed out forever... These are things we observe in the world and to many seem random."

He finishes, "But harmony is and always will be dependent on proper conduct. From the highest of high to the lowest of low... We do not command harmony. We make our souls sing its song and we dance in harmony with it. Even the first Hantei and his son learned of the Way from the Little Teacher.... They ruled in concordance with that song and brought Heaven's blessings to Ningendo... If you ask me what is the proper order of Heaven? It is for the ruler to lend their ear to that song... and to dance with it in harmony. To become as Hantei and Genji were... Wheel-turning Monarchs."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"It reinforces that the leader must be kind rather than cruel. Devout. Sincere. A follower of the Way, and respecter of the Fortunes."

Seppun Tomaru-sama. It described him perfectly.

“As an ocean to a small stream, the leader to his people, this is the Tao to the world.”

"But ... it ... it must be hard to see your superior, Chou-sin, behave cruelly. Given all that you say. I'm sorry.
Perhaps I should not mention it. But he is Brotherhood. There must... Have you talked to him about it? Is there some deeper meaning, some rationale?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

More likely, he likes his temples well-funded and unbothered by Imperial animosity and thinks he's picked a winner.

Ryusei kept his peace. Understanding cynical motives didn't make him comfortable voicing them aloud.

[Jihen]

He nodded, "I have spoken with him, yes. And while he has been somewhat reticent to describe his thoughts in detail, the Abbott has many concerns beyond what my youthful philosophical musings permit. Given the history of the past century... I believe many within the capital believe it is a foregone conclusion that Otomo-sama would be the natural choice to succeed our belovedly departed Hantei IX. And the Four Temples will require the aid of the Imperial families to conduct our work no matter who rises to the throne. To remain in good graces with Otomo-sama allows us to foster relationships that will keep the work alive no matter the outcome."

He continued, "It is why I have also spoken with Doji Noriko-sama and sought audiences with the other names mentioned by Ikoma-sama in his findings. No matter how the wheel turns... it is important for the Brotherhood to attempt to hold the ear of the Emperor. To lose the ability to speak for the people and to the people would lead to only greater disharmony."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"It is good for the Brotherhood to continue to play its vital role."

"And we must trust that whoever becomes Emperor is Heaven's choice, and will rule well." It had to be so. "Still, what you say makes me think the character and the faith of the person chosen does affect ... everything. It is important."

"It only remains to ask ... does Heaven express its will to us? How do we know it?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"And how can we avoid wishful thinking making us draw false conclusions?"

[Jihen]

He replies, "The Tao teaches us that: Destiny does not believe in secrets. When something is meant to be, it is obvious to all but the foolish. We must seek to understand the Will of Heaven... and it will be manifest to those who are not foolish."

[Agasha Yuna]

She nodded.

"Understand the Will of Heaven, and you make all things possible. Ignore it, and you will accomplish nothing.”

"If I change the question from 'Do I know the will of Heaven?' to 'Who do I trust will seek to know the will of Heaven and follow it?', the complex becomes simpler."

"But then I ask my wise friend if he sees the same thing."

[Jihen]

“How are you and your wise friend different?”

He asked.

“Why would you trust they can understand the Will of Heaven better than you?”