Schools & Meditations (Kenna's Tale).

-=- Sitting in the Zazen position as one Meditates. -=-

-=- Sitting on heels, without kneeling. -=-


In the Kara-Tur (lands to the far east) there are faiths based on the Cult of the Ancestors, and paths that lead to the Enlightenment (Enlightenment is the Full Development of one's Mind).

Both are very popular and have quite the nubers of practicioneers.

Since the first Enlightened One in our Era, many ways leading to Enlightenment were discovered, and many Schools appeared, each with different methods leading to the same goal (the Enlightenment).

Among the many paths leading to Enlightenment, the most popular are two:
- Tantric practices, based on Identification with the Teacher, and on Meditations in the Lotus or Half-Lotus positions,
- Sutra practices, based on studying the Enlightening Lore and on Meditations in the Zazen position.

There are also 'lesser' Schools that lead to the lesser form of the Enlightenment, called: 'Liberation'. After the Liberation (from one's suffering), one can develop the Mind further and reach the Enlightenment anyway. Even in the Tantric and Sutra Schools, one reaches Liberation first, before reaching the Enlightenment. It's said that the fastest Way to Enlightenment is Tantra, then Sutra... with 'lesser' Schools being considering easiest but the most time-consuming of the Ways.

Many mistake the Zazen sitting position with kneeling, but in fact it's sitting on one's heels, not the kneeling as is practiced in Religions of Faith during their prayers.

I was introduced mostly to the Sutras and the Zazen meditations, in the School called: 'Zen'.

Meditation turns the theoretical lore one learns, into the experiences felt. Meditation brings out calmness, peace, serenity and focus to one's life path. In my case, it allows me to stay calm, brave and focused in fight. It also encourages me to be more peaceful.

When I worship deities as Tempus, Kenji or Red Knight, I become more fierce. Faith makes me hostile, and meditation makes me peaceful.

When one has body and mind trained, prepared for combat, the fights resemble the chess game. One observes the opponent, makes decisions, and speaks Mantras in Mind. Then the body follows, automatically executing the maneuvers and strikes. Repetitions of techniques trains one's Body, Meditation trains one's Mind.

And - of course - studying the Sutra texts and doing the Meditations leads me to the Enlightenment, but that will happen probably in future lives (we believe in Reincarnations). Meanwhile it's still beneficial, as it makes me a better warrior.

-- Kenna, Spiritual Warrioress, Always in Training.

Will to Live (Kenna's Tale).

Recently, I've adventured with my old dwarven friend, with Jonty Glyndywr. We did check areas on Narfell's outskirts, near the Dead Horse Inn by the town of Kront.

We have slayed beasts and bandits, and found some interresting equipment. Part of it we kept, rest we did sell.

I've put my hands on interresting amulet, that - after some tinkering - got some powerful properties of increasing wearer's Willpower, especially one's Will to Live. I've found it in some scary beast's stomach.

Will to Live is put to test when one faces abilities such as 'Touch of Death', in Kara-Tur (far east) known as: 'Dim Mak', and around here, in Narfell, known as: 'Quivering palm'. It also helps against powerful Death Magic, such as the spell called: 'Finger of Death'.

If one's Will to Live is high, and when one tries to resist death hard enough, one can survive such attacks.

My Mind and Willpower were - unfortunately - fairly weak despite my martial arts training and meditations, so I've tried a 'workaround'.

Used items to enhance my Willpower, to reforge a Weakness into the Strength. But there's limit on how far one can get with items... I think that I've met my limit, already there.

-- Kenna, Martial Artist & Katana Sword Weapon Master - always in Training.