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The Path of Self-Focus
Forget everything outside yourself. Everything in the world is mutable by your own will, by your own chosen perceptions. Never forget your in control of yourown destiny, your own fate, your own future, your own unlife. Master yourself before trying to master others.
- Juleidah, dominion of the Eastern Hand
Nickname: Internalists
The Path of Self-Focus is an ancient path of Enlightenment brought from the east. It has elements of Taoism's concept of wu wei, or non-conscious action, and the Buddhist concept of Ch'an, or Zen. However, the path was adopted by Kindred of the Middle East and has been modified from it's original path to suit the Kindred who follow it.
Those in the know of the path are called interalists because they look inside themselves for the answers to all their moral and spiritual questions. Many claim the Path of Self-Focus is the easiest route to Golconda. Still, most Interalists warn those who would follow the path that it is not meant as a road to becomming, but as a means of Being.
Ethics
- Forget everything - simply Be. Focus only upon what you are doing at the moment. Use chanting, t'ai chi and other methods to practice your focus. There is only Now. You cannot understand pain, temptation, and all other feelings except through feeling them.
- Action is focus. Thought of action is impure and inferior.
- Know yourself. Know when, and when not to fight the Beast. The Beast is part of you, and sometimes it must be unleashed. Be the Beast, but do not Become the Beast. Only by understanding it can inner peace be attained.
- Master yourself. Learn your streghths and weaknesses. Always learn. Always seek to strengthen your mind, body and spirit.
- Be not pridefull or disrespectfull. Overconfidence is weakness and illusion. It is best to be humble and confident. Respect all and treat others as you would be treated yourself.
- You must have honor. He who has no personal honor is worthless and lost to the world and himself.
- There is equal value in the arts of peace and the arts of war. Study them both.
- Judge all by their actions, not their words. Seek out wisdom and listen to those who have it.
- Be wary of other vampires. Vampires are creatures eclipsed by their own darkness. Their tregedy could be yourown. Pity them, but also watch them carefully.
- Learn to love and understand that all things have their purpose - even evil things. Being of your own free will means you must choose between the two, and good must be your choice.
- Fight only when there is no other option, and fight with honor if you fight at all.
- Enjoy the company of others, but do not subsist in it. You must not let others define your value; you must do so yourself.
- Believe there is a greater purpose to everything. There is an Oversoul which guides things. Your vampirism is a test unto you. It will not taint your soul or destroy you unless you let it do so.
History
Around A.D. 550, Asian Kindred visited the Middle East and made friends among the Tal'mahe'Ra. The Kindred taught their Arabic friends their beliefs and, over the course of the next 100 years, the Path of Self-Focus developed. Some have suggested a connection between the beliefs of the mystical Akashic Brotherhood and this path, but little research has been done in this direction.
The path died out before the year 1000 but was recorded for later use. During the last 150 years, the path has begun growing in popularity among the dominions and younger sect members. It is followed mostly bu the Kindred of the Cult of the Erinyes, so many chatterlings also take up this Path of Enlightenment.
While the path has never been popular with European Kindred, it is spreading among the American Hand members and is still practiced by some Middle Eastern members.
Description of Followers
Kindred who follow the Path of Self-Focus tend to be among the most well-balanced of all vampires. They study mertial arts, swordsmanship, poetry and painting. They focus through chanting, meditation and t'ai chi. Some even partake of the tea ceremony, though this is a recent addition by American Kindred.
Internalists are usually in good physical shape and almost always respectful of others. They are non-violent warriors who fight with honor. They hold personal honor in the highest reguard, and those who call them friends can depend on them.
Common Abilitys: Almost all Interalists have higher than average ratings in Brawling, Melee, Atristic Ecpression, Etiguette, Athletics and Meditation.
Prefered Disciplines: Auspex, Celerity, Fortitude, Potence and Presence are all consitered worthy Disciplines.
Views of the other Paths
Path of Caine - "They focus too much on what they are, not who they are. They look for the answers to their own problems in legends instead of inside themselves."
Path of Cathari - "They are careless creatures who are blinded and weak from their revelry. Their focus on pleasure us merely a distraction from what they fear they have become, and through their distraction they become it even more."
Path of Death and the Soul - "They ignore this world and their purposes for being in it. They know nothing, because death can only be really understood by the dead."
Path of Evil Revelations - "They are a blot upon the Oversoul. They are pawns in a sinister game. They are fools who will destroy themselves and lose everything."
Path of Harmony - "They are close to the truth, but they search for their place by looking at themselves through the eyes of others. They have honor."
Path of Honorable Accord - "They are honorable, but that is not enough. They merely go through the motions. They lack the true value of their actions and do not understand what they are."
Path of Lillith - "They are dangerous. Watch them carefully."
Path of Power and the Inner Voice - "They are the dark reflections of ourselves. They look inside for wisdom and truth but use the knowledge they gain for selfish reasons. They are strong, but unwise because of this."
Path of the Scorched Heart - "They think they can cut off their emotions like cutting off an arm or leg, choosing to be unwhole just for survival. But they cannot cut off their feelings so cleanly. Instead they merely repress them, and so who knows what lurks beneath their cold facades?"
Path of Self-Focus Hierarchy of Sins
10 - Any foolish behavior.
9 - Laziness of mind, spirit or body.
8 - Depending on others; failure to treat anyone as you would be treated yourself.
7 - Lying; fighting the Beast when you should not; not fighting the Beast when you should.
6 - Any evil behavior.
5 - Manipulating others for own gain; being greedy or egotistical.
4 - Stealing; failure to practice your focus.
3 - Improper use of combat.
2 - Disbelif in a higher and greater exsistance; disrespectfull of others.
1 - Failure to keep your word; fighting dishonorably.
*All content on the Path of Self-Focus has been taken from the book "Dirty Secrets of the Black Hand" Page: 68/69. Copywrite of White Wolf Publishing.
