Meditation

Based off the original article by: Llanwyn Siannodel

Meditation
The Art of Spiritual Focus

“What is spirit? Is it your soul? No, my student. The spirit is the vessel of your being. It is the source of your consciousness, your emotions, your thoughts, both conscious and unconscious. Your body is its channel, and your mind its cornerstone.”

Excerpt from ancient Kemite meditation scripts.

Introduction

Meditation is an ageless art whose origin is now lost to its current practitioners. Presently, its most devoted followers include the monks of Zinn'Sunn and the priestly order of the Church of Faith. Meditation's foremost goal is to cleanse and sharpen the mind as well as to deepen the individual's sense of tranquility. This is not to be confused with Arcana's meditation technique. While mages require meditation, their goal is to acquire the trance-state known as Clara or Clarity. A practitioner meditates to maintain the sense of tranquility for as long as they can. Beginners will find meditation to be challenging, mostly because the undisciplined mind is chaotic and without a singular purpose. Only in time will the practitioner learn the many secrets leading to unleashing the true potential of a focused spirit.

History and Practice

Meditation exists in many forms, ranging from quiet devotion in one's faith to the pursuit of warfare and destruction. In its purest form, however, meditation acts as a tool to center one's spirit to achieve clarity of thought. Consider attaining inspiration at whim, or delving into one's subconsciousness to command your body's hidden functions. The mind is a powerful and awesome tool. To access all its abilities one must learn to master first his body and then his spirit. The oldest transcripts of meditation come from Zinn'Sunn. These were later translated and adopted by the Church of Faith.

As aforementioned, the art of meditation and the type employed by mages are vastly different. But it does not mean that mages cannot gain from learning meditation techniques. Initiates who have difficulty reaching Clara are usually referred to these basic principles. Battle mages who must learn to quickly achieve clarity usually get tutored up to the second or third stage to maximize their potential without the aide of a Stave. Paladins and warriors sometimes get training in meditation to calm nerves, learn to better focus, or strengthen their resolve in combat.

Skill Tree and Techniques

The Beginner

Beginners of the art are introduced to the primary techniques which are basic postures and breathing exercises. When meditating, beginners are instructed to align their postures without straining. A neutral position is best, followed by the active and conscious control of their breathing. This eases tension and generates a soothing effect allowing the practitioner to begin experiencing a tranquil state for several minutes. At this level, practitioners are easily interrupted and must remain motionless. It is also common to learn these techniques from a training manual.

Control Breathing - By focusing on one's breathing, the beginner will be able to soothe themselves into relaxation. Closing one's eyes during this stage is required since beginners are unable to ignore visual distractions.
Align Posture - Proper posture is essential, but rigidity and discomfort is counterproductive. A neutral position, cross legged on the floor or laying down with hands comfortably placed, works best.
Surface Meditation - A state in which minor tranquility is achieved. This is a soothing experience and the practitioner usually leaves the meditation session feeling refreshed and mentally alert. At this level the beginner will find himself very easily distracted and interrupted.
Enhance Memory - Regular meditation sessions will improve memory and enhance other mental processes. Practitioners may find themselves more alert at their occupation, better at problem-solving, and other tasks.
Stimulus: Basic - The practitioner may employ outside stimuli to assist in their meditation. Some stimuli include candles, incense, and chimes. This is primarily a guiding tool and after more practice, the beginner may find themselves relying on these tools less.

The Apprentice

After mastering the basic techniques, a beginner is usually apprenticed or tutored by a more seasoned practitioner. Apprentices are taught how to better control their postures and breathing as well as achieve a deeper tranquility during their meditation sessions. At this level, distractions are more easily ignored short of physically touching the practitioner. Apprentices also learn how to employ personal objects as stimuli to hasten their meditative process.

Greater Control - Apprentices learn how to better control their posture and breathing. This allows for a faster transition into meditation. An apprentice may now also momentarily open their eyes without interrupting their session.
Deep Meditation - After mastering the basic techniques, apprentices may now enter a deeper sense of tranquility. This allows for a greater duration of relaxation, usually a quarter candlemark or more.
Enhance Senses - The practitioner will now enjoy more benefits aside from mental enhancements. Their sense of smell, sight, and hearing may also become more augmented. After consistent practice, even older practitioners begin to feel more rejuvenated and energetic. (Progressive, permanent benefit).
Stimulus: Personal - An item or object that has significant sentimental meaning to the practitioner may be employed to hasten and augment the meditation process. Examples include prayer beads for monks, Wands for mages, and specific weapons for warriors. When held or employed, the practitioner trains their body and mind into a sequence that leads to tranquility.

The Journeyman

A journeyman is usually part of an elite order of meditation practitioners. These men and women are employed by a single Master who educates either members of their order or the public in the art. Journeymen are expert practitioners capable of feats using the intense discipline they have undergone physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Expert Control – After mastering the techniques of the beginner and apprentice ranks, the journeyman's posture and breathing is considered excellent and near flawless. This attribute not only enhances their meditation abilities, but also their constitution, balance, and strength. (Progressive, permanent benefit)
Moving Meditation - Practitioners may now begin to achieve tranquility during quiet walks, or while performing light exercises. This is especially useful for Monks who must travel between villages or battle mages and warriors who want to clear their minds prior to an engagement.
The Awakening - The journeyman is now capable of breeching the deepest sense of tranquility known as the Awakening. This state allows the practitioner to meditate without the need to close their eyes. Journeymen are capable of remaining in this deep trance for a candlemark or more before needing a break.
Control Internal Temperature – the practitioner can consciously command his body to either become cooler or warmer by focusing on those functions while meditating. This is especially useful in extremely cold or hot climates. With added proficiency, the practitioner can also hasten their sleep process in this manner or prepare for strenuous activity with minimal effort.
Greater Rejuvenation – The journeyman practitioner can sleep for seven candlemarks and feel completely refreshed. This is done via a meditation session leading into their normal sleep cycle.
Stimulus: Verbal - Journeyman are capable of instantly entering tranquility by using poems, chants, or even songs.

The Master

A Master practitioner will usually start their own school employing journeymen to assist them. Some Masters even become leaders of religious orders, or cherished counsels to mighty rulers and political figures. These men and women have reached a state of serenity that surpasses common man and their insight is always sought after. It is said that a journeyman must endure the trials of the world before he can attain Pre-Perfection. So it is uncommon to find more than a handful of masters in a single province.

Pre-Perfection - After enduring a great trial, a journeyman is said to attain enlightenment granting them the rank of Master in the art. This enlightenment can come in various forms, whether it be a great truth, a philosophical teaching, or a life-altering event. Whatever it is, the journeyman will simply know and their life and their perspective will be changed dramatically. After attaining Pre-Perfecting, the master will exude an aura of tranquility that neutralizes any chaotic or negative emotion around him. Persons suffering from depression, for example, will find their burdens lifted; the master's students will find his presence soothing and allow them to meditate for longer lengths of time; this aura is capable of even soothing even animals.
Advanced Moving Meditation - Masters may attain tranquility even while performing challenging activities. This includes combat, running, and even while employing other skills. This does not mean, however, that a master cannot be distracted while doing this. Pain and intense emotions will usually interrupt a meditation session, most especially when the practitioner is not stationary.
Mastery of the Mind - After achieving enlightenment, the Master will have near absolute control over his physiology. He can alter anything from his heart rate to his metabolism through meditation. Some masters have been known to restore even lost functions, such as poor eyesight, deafness, and even loss of hair through regular meditation sessions. (Progressive, permanent benefit). At this level, meditation can last for candlemarks and masters can enjoy tranquility even in noisy places without being distracted.
Grand Rejuvenation - The Master may sleep for only five candlemarks each darkening and still feel fully refreshed the following brightening. This technique can also be employed to accelerate the healing of wounds and purging the body of toxins through meditation.
Stimulus: Instant - The master may train his body further to enter a meditative state near instantly when holding or using a personal item or object. This technique is usually mastered by battle mages and paladins since it grants them clearer focus even in the midst of combat.

The Authority

A grandmaster or authority practitioner comes once every century or so. Revered by their peers and sometimes even worshiped as demigods or avatars, these quiet spirits are awesome in their own right. Capable of great and fantastic feats without the use of magic, their words have been known to calm ferocious beasts and natural disasters seem to quiet in their wake.

Perfection - After attaining perfect harmony between mind, body, and spirit the grandmaster can extend this serenity outward to bring balance to his environment. Grandmasters have been known to quiet hurricanes, compel great armies to seek peaceful resolve, and even appeal to the gods by sacrificing themselves. The grandmaster also carries an aura of peaceful resolve that sentient and non-sentient beings will perceive as extremely friendly and spiritually refreshing. Attaining this state also allows grandmasters to develop perfect memories, augment physical functions, and control nearly any aspect of their physiology through meditation.
Pure Meditation - It is said that the grandmaster practitioner has become so focused spiritually that he can begin to experience glimpses of the eternal. This deep state of meditation can last for brightenings and the grandmaster can gain premonitions of things to come. It is virtually impossible to distract a grandmaster from his meditations, and they can remain mindful of their surroundings without penalty.
Eternal Respite – the Grandmaster practitioner is capable of resting for only two to three candlemarks every darkening and feel completely refreshed as if they had slept thrice that long. Wounds will also heal at an astounding rate during this time, toxins will be negated, and even fractured bones will mend more quickly.

OOC Quick Reference:

Arcana Users:

Level 1 Meditation - 25% shorter meditation times to reach Clara (easily distracted; must remain still)
Level 2 - 50% shorter meditation times to reach Clara (can still be distracted, but user can now be upright and be slightly aware of their surroundings)
Level 3 - 75% shorter meditation times to reach Clara (and can now do so while moving around; can still be distracted if under stress or if hurt)
Level 4 - 90% shorter meditation times to reach Clara (very difficult to distract)
Level 5 - Instant Clara (almost impossible to distract while meditating)

Arms Users:

Level 1 Meditation - The soldier or warrior is capable of mentally and emotionally preparing himself for battle via meditation. This results in greater reflexes, added concentration, and resistance against stress and fatigue.
Level 2 - the fighter is now capable of using meditation to prepare physically for a battle as much as he does mentally. This results in greater endurance as well mental fortitude. Following the battle, the practitioner may also rejuvenate themselves much faster than normal.
Level 3 - as an advanced practitioner of spiritual focusing, the fighter is capable of adjusting his metabolism and respiration to significantly boost strength, endurance, agility, perception or dexterity during combat. This allows the warrior to outlast most opponents of his level and deliver unexpected bursts of power when employed with Improvise.
Level 4 - by employing the master-level techniques of meditation in conjunction with their physical abilities, the warrior becomes nearly immune to fatigue so long as they maintain tranquility in combat. Regeneration is also hastened as well as resistance to toxins. They cannot, however, access The Supreme while in tranquility. (this is to balance out this huge benefit. The Supreme also requires an intense emotional response, as I understand it, so it contradicts the calmness required to attain tranquility).
Level 5 -the grandmaster practitioner, when merging his legendary talents in meditation with his physical prowess, will find his senses much more attuned capable of sensing even slight variations in temperature, wind current, and quickly process details in terrain, his opponent's movements -- all within the context of a battle. Their aura of clarity and tranquility will also render most opponents incapable of aggression.

Trade & General Users:

See write-up for common benefits. Depending on skill(s) employed, meditation practitioners experience better clarity of thought, memory, and greater productivity overall.