Jivamitra Dharma
In far off Dhenia, there existeth a sect of Vanaran monastics who do espouse a faith akin unto that of the Xianese. This venerable religion be not in accordance to Ator's law, instead it holdeth fast to the tenet that all life is suffused with an animating force, which they do name 'Jivas' in their tongue. These forest monks, in their reverence, do worship the Jivas, deeming it the very essence of all being and the fount of existence.
These devout Vanara do hold in utmost regard the sanctity of all living creatures, believing fervently in the protection and preservation of all life. To them, the burgeoning of urban civilization is naught but ignorance of the natural order, a grievous perversion that doth estrange beings from true harmony. In their eyes, to build grand cities of stone and craft tools of iron is an affront unto the sacred balance of nature.
Thus, the Jivamitra monks do abhor the usage of materials that have ne'er known life. Stone and metal, being dead and devoid of jivas, are shunned with great fervor. This conviction doth wrought a deep rift betwixt them and the neighboring Vamana of the Ghimaslayan Mountains, who in their craftsmanship do greatly prize the use of such materials. The Jivamitra do view their own way as purer, employing only those substances that have once been animated by jivas – linen, cotton, wool, leather, and wood. These are esteemed as the only fit materials for their garb, tools, and abodes.
In all their works and ways, the Jivamitra seek to maintain an unbroken communion with the Jivas. They do tread lightly upon the soil, causing no harm to the verdant forests, the beasts of the field, nor the birds of the air. Their villages, hidden amidst the trees, are fashioned from the living wood, with roofs of thatch and walls woven from reeds, and they do eschew the cold hardness of stone and the sharp bite of metal.
Theirs is a path of peace, yet oft do their beliefs bring them into conflict with those who dwell in cities of stone and those who delve deep for precious metals. For the Jivamitra do see themselves as guardians of the natural world, protectors of the jivas that suffuseth all living things, and they brook no compromise in their sacred duty.
Tenets of Faith
Ethics
The Jivamitra Dharma resteth upon a foundation of three ethical doctrines – non-violence, plurality, and asceticism. In the Vanaran tongue, non-violence is known as ahesa. In pursuit of ahesa, the Jivamitra strive to eliminate within themselves all desire to harm others. In addition to practicing vegetarianism, a Jivamitra will engage in meditation intended to cool the flames of any passion that might cause one to act in a violent manner. Yet, the Jivamitra do recognize that violence as an act of self-defense mayhap be legitimate and that soldiers have the duty to protect their homelands from unjust conquest through use of arms.
The second doctrine is one of plurality, or vishadarshti in their tongue. According to their philosophers, this signifieth that a mortal being is incapable of perceiving all the manifold facets of reality. This belief hath two consequences for followers of this so-called Jivamitra Dharma. Firstly, it is deemed incorrect, in their eyes, to dogmatically adhere to a particular view of reality. As such, they deign not to provide answers to questions of first principles. Secondly, they seek neither to support nor to inhibit the flow of the four Cosmic Humours of Ordo, Chaos, Benevolentia, and Malevolentia; instead, they strive for a strict neutrality in their actions. Even as a wolf doth cull a young lamb from the herd, not from malice, but from the original nature bestowed upon it by Lady Bira, so too do the Jivamitra seek to act according to their original natures. Unfortunately, not understanding that Ator's law delinates just what is the original nature of Greater Humanity, these forest monks cling to the false view that all philosophies and faiths are but differing perspectives of a greater truth that lieth beyond mortal ken.
The final doctrine is asceticism. The Jivamitra abstain from the pleasures of the secular world, and possess only that which is necessary for living as mendicants: a set of their clut's distinctive ochre robes, a staff, a parasol, a small forager's sack, and medicinal herbs. All else is prohibited to them, save when they travel through lands plagued with banditry or monstrous beasts; in such times, they are permitted to wear armor of cloth or leather and to bear arms in the form of a club, dagger, spear, sling, or staff.
Worship
In the lush and verdant forests of Dhenia, the Jivamitra practice profound and sacred communion with the animating force of all life. Their meditation, a ritual of great solemnity and serenity, is conducted amidst the towering trees and the chorus of nature, where they believe presence of the Jivas is felt most keenly.
The monks gather at dawn, when the first light of Aelos doth pierce the vegetal canopy, casting a golden hue upon the emerald leaves of the virgin Dhenian forest. They clothe themselves in simple robes of ochre and carry staves of wood, symbols of their connection to the Jivas.
There, in the heart of the forest, where the air is thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the songs of unseen birds, they find a sacred grove. This grove, unknown to any who doth not revere the Jivas, is a place of pristine beauty and powerful energy. Here, the Jivamitra sit upon the soft moss, their bodies in perfect stillness, and close their eyes to the distractions of the world.
The meditation begins with deep, rhythmic breaths, each inhalation a drawing in of the life force that is thought to pervade the , and each exhalation a release of any disharmony present in their souls. In this state of tranquility, they chant ancient hymns, their voices a low murmur that blendeth with the natural sounds of the forest.
As they sink deeper into meditation, their minds reach out, seeking the Jivas in all things around them. They feel the pulse of life in the roots beneath them, the sap flowing through the trees, the flutter of wings in the underbrush, and the whispers of leaves rustling in the breeze. Every living thing, from the mightiest tree to the smallest insect, is a vessel of the Jivas, and in their meditation, the Jivamitra seek to merge their spirits with this universal life force.
Through this communion, the Jivamitra gain insight and wisdom, understanding the delicate balance of life and the intricate web of interdependence that bound all creatures. They emerge from their meditations with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper connection to the Jivas, carrying the tranquility and harmony of the forest within them.
These meditations are not merely exercises in spiritual practice, but acts of profound reverence and devotion. The Jivamitra believe that through these rituals, they not only honor the Jivas but also become better stewards of nature. Their meditations reinforce their commitment to protect all life and to live in harmony with the world, ever mindful of the sacred force they believe animates all beings.
