[Temple] Meditating with Monks (private)

[Rowyn]

Fifth Brightening of Winter, Era XIV

Rowyn was ready to further his studies. Yes, he was on the path to self realization and needed guidance in the form of teaching along the way. And from what he had been told, the monks at the Temple of the Blessed Hands could help him on his walk. He arrived at the Temple early in the brightening, walking into it's beautifully large halls with slow steps. It was definitely something to take in, this temple. And there was no question as to how easily it could be to find the gods and oneself in such a place. The beauty could only enhance the life within the Temple, and linger in the souls of those who come and go.

He made his way through the Temple eventually coming across what looked like a monk staring up at stained glass. The glass depicted the goddess Diana in all her radiant might. Rowyn took a moment to watch the monk's face as he obviously praised her through silent prayer in his mind. Finally, the elf walked up to the monk and spoke...

"Serale and peace to you," he said, a greeting he had learned in his studies, one he had become used to saying.

The monk looked at Rowyn, snapping out of his stare and eventually bringing a smile upon his lips. "Peace, good, yes. Peace indeed!" He was quite jubilant in tone, "Yes, good, peace. Serale to you as well my brother."

Rowyn grinned. He couldn't help but do so, after all this happy monk had a glow about him. Rowyn knew it immediately, this monk knew himself well, he was content in himself, completely so. And that monk was happy on the inside, as it was expressed outwardly. Rowyn had come to the right place.

"Perhaps you can help me? I'm looking for instruction."

[Rowyn]

The monk nodded, his grin growing serious but friendly. "Instruction, yes, I imagine I can point you in the right direction. What type of instruction are you looking for?"

He pointed at the stained glass on the wall and looked up to it as he continued to speak to Rowyn, "Perhaps in religion? Are you here to know more about the faith?"

It was likely the most taught form of instruction at the temple, that of religious education. Not for future priests or monks perhaps, but for the average citizen interested in knowing more about the gods and how to please them. After all, pleasing the gods brought better harvests and happier homes. One would learn what they could about these deities and how to honor them. Rowyn on the other hand wasn't so sure about religion, he was striving to know himself completely first, he figured there was time for faith later... maybe.

"No, but thank you." Rowyn grinned, straightening out his face before continuing. "Actually, I'm looking to spend time with the brothers here, hopefully furthering my studies."

The monk's face lit up, "a novice monk perhaps" he thought. He needed to know more! "We are always willing to spend time with visitors. What studies are you referring to?" If this was a visiting monk from another Temple, or perhaps even a hermit, Br. Lorap was going to be quite thankful, as it would be an answered prayer. He had been praying for brightenings now to understand his vocation within the brotherhood. This would be a sign from the gods perhaps, telling Br. Lorap that he was meant to be a teacher to new monks.

"Meditation," answered Rowan plainly. "I studied under a master in Silrosia and I'm looking to continue those studies."

[Rowyn]

Br. Lorap nodded in understanding. While this wasn't a novice monk as he had originally hoped, it was indeed someone who needed direction. He put his hand on Rowyn's shoulder and spoke to him in a kind and understanding voice. "Why is it that you seek meditation?"

Rowyn knew his answer but wondered why the monk was asking. Was this some sort of gateway question? Would they reject him if he held no deep-seeded religious beliefs? Would they find his quest for self perfection selfish and against their moral code? It occurred to him to lie, but he let that thought pass. He would be who he was for who he wanted to be, else he would lose himself in a web of falsehoods. And besides, how could a teacher instruct him if he wasn't aware of Rowyn's true end goal?

"Self perfection," Rowyn answered plainly.

The monk wasn't surprised to hear the answer, as he had heard it many times before, but he was more or less expecting something along the lines of "inner peace" or "can't think straight." This elf had obviously done some thinking, some serious thinking. And since he had already begun his training, he was obviously serious about the method.

"Honorable, yes." Br. Lorap believed such a quest to be quite self-centered, but felt inner peace may spawn outer peace in such people. Perhaps this elf's self-awareness would lead him to help others one brightening. "I believe the brothers can help you."

[Rowyn]

Br. Lorap lead Rowyn to a part of the temple similar in appearance but on a much smaller scale. It was a common area and several other monks were walking about and conversing over their studies and the current state of the Church. Rowyn nodded as they greeted him with smiles. Eventually Br. Lorap stopped and turned to Rowyn.

"I'm going to introduce you to Br. Lae. He's an elf and one of the more contemplative of our order." Rowyn nodded.

Br. Lorap stood behind another brother, an elf, and cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Br. Lae, I have a visitor who would like to speak with you." Br. Lae turned to face them, a very stoic gaze on his face. He was a middle-aged elf, medonian in stock. His stony air surprisingly gave way to a large smile as he offered his hand to Rowyn.

"I am Br. Lae, and you are?"

Br. Lorap took that as his cue to leave and thanked Br. Lae. Then he turned to Rowyn and smiled, winking as if to say "good luck." Then he walked away, joining a conversation in the near distance.

"Rowyn," Rowyn said, taking Br. Lae's hand and shaking it firmly.

The elven monk grinned and nodded, "A syl'rosian brother, very good." He knew his elfkind by naming convention and general appearance or manner. In Rowyn's case, he was obviously a Syl'rosian elf, and Br. Lae was always happy to see his kin from the far west venturing outside of their chebs and into the rest of the world. "What would you like to speak about?"

Rowyn answered him without hesitation, "I wish to further my studies in meditation."

[Rowyn]

"Very well," said Br. Lae. "Am I to understand that you have studied meditation before now?"

Rowyn nodded in the affirmative and replied, "In Silrosia I studied under a teacher, achieving first efficiency."

Br. Lae nodded in understanding. He could remember his first brightenings studying meditation under a priest in Arium. It had been during a hard time in his life. He was gone from home for the first time and entering a monastic vocation. Meditation had been a godsend for him, helping him to understand and soothe his fears during a shaky spell.

"Good, good. I will take you on as a student. Meditation must be done properly or else it's practiced in vain. I understand this and would like to share that with you."

Rowyn nodded, "That sounds good."

Br. Lae smiled and led Rowyn to a corner of the room where it was a tad more quiet and isolated. "I will meet you here, in this corner, at sunrise tomorrow." He pointed to the ground in the very corner in which they stood. "Bring with you your mind and a willingness to look inside yourself. Understood?"

Rowyn nodded in understanding. "Thank you."

[Rowyn]

Rowyn arrived on time, eager to get started. Br. Lae was there, sitting with his legs crossed, his eyes shut and his breathing very subtle. The elf knew this position, the monk was meditation. Rowyn simply sat and waited for him to finish, hoping that this wasn't some form of test to see whether or not he would also begin meditation. Eventually though, Br. Lae eased his mind by opening his eyes and smiling at Rowyn.

"Good to see you."

"Yes," stated Rowyn, standing as the monk stood.

"Oh, there's no need for you to stand my elven brother, please, please keep your seat and we will begin right away."

Rowyn sat and Br. Lae sat across from him. The elven monk closed his eyes and began breathing heavily, then softer and softer until it was a meditative breath. He motioned for Rowyn to do the same, an interesting technique he had not seen before. It seemed troublesome for Rowyn at first, but he finally got the hang of it and made a mental note to use this method again. It definitely had its advantages.

"Alright Rowyn," said Br. Lae is a low voice as the two kept their eyes shut. "Breathing, as you probably know, is of the utmost importance when meditating. Different types of breathing rear different forms of meditation."

Rowyn listened, his eyebrow perking up.

"The orc meditators use quick and short breaths to gain a meditative state, one that allows them to enter a sort of battle frenzy. We monks using long breaths to gain a state in an effort to bring focus to our spiritual journeys. The means depends on the means. What is your goal, Rowyn?"