Mu'Tai

## Beliefs

Followers seek a spiritual enlightenment that they believe will bring them perfect peace in all aspects in life and in death.

They believe in balance of good and evil, primal and evolved, dark and light.

Everything has an opposite to balance with.

Imbalance brings chaos, suffering, and turmoil to the self and to the spirit.

Pacifist but ready and able to resist aggression.

Open to all, not reserved to just Felkata.

Reincarnation.

## Myths/Stories

Started thousands of years ago by ancient monks in their homeland.

Started as a means to find peaceful ways of living without having to resort to war and conquest.

Focused on liberating the spirit from suffering of negative inclinations and going beyond physical pains and wants.

No deity to focus on just a code of ethics and philosophies to guide one toward the higher path.

Achieving the enlightenment they call Mu’Za’Por, means one is truly free of the reincarnation cycle and joins with the universal life forces.

## Sacred Texts

The Li’Oan’Shi or “Lion Mandate”, is the first of 3 sacred texts that detail the philosophies and creeds of the faith.

The Omi’Gai or “Leopard Paw Rule” is the second book of the faith after the Lion Mandate, that tells of how abbots and monks are to help the faithful.

The Gu’Am’Yao or “Jaguar Codex” is the third book that details rituals and meditations to be practiced by the faithful.

Any other texts that arise tend to be philosophical and religious works by contemporary monks and other clergy in the faith to be used to teach and guide.

## Ethics and Morality

The code of ethics and morality of the faith are called the 9 Gates.

Adhering to the 9 Gates grants the faithful entrance into the enlightened state.

Kindness to others and yourself

Compassion for all

Harmony with the world around you

Fortitude of mind

Wisdom to learn and guide

Honor in all things

Courage to oppose the imbalances in all things and beings

Strength of will to better yourself and aid others in the path

Humility is key to freedom of spiritual burden

## Rituals

Tai’Shin’Waar: The active martial arts based meditation the monks are known for.

Tai’Wu’Si: The passive calm meditation where a practitioner sits and calmly reflects on teachings and philosophies.

Gohm’Myu: Ritual of celebrating past spiritual teachers and ancestors.

Fen’Yu’Mai: Marriage ritual

Jin’Kor’Ma: The death and funeral ritual where the dead are burned to return the flesh to nature so the soul has nowhere to return but to the cycle of rebirth.

Gon’Zo’Xi: Ritual for when someone joins the clergy. They are washed and given a paw mark to the forehead to show initiation. New clergy renounce former titles, wealths, and something even names to start a new life as a monk.

## Symbols

Emeralds which are used for meditation/prayer beads. As they remind the faithful of jade from the homeland of the Felkata.

## Social Structures

Temples and shrines in a pagoda style

Small and simple shrines in nature

Small home shrines are made in the house of the faithful

Grand Abbot who is the leader of a temple and the monks and priests therein

The Abbots, the next in line for the Grand Abbot post and the guides to lower monks

The Priests, religious figures that tend the temple and the handle ceremony for the lay visitor and cleric

Master Monks, the seasoned teachers of the martial arts styles of the temples

Warrior Monks, the guardians and clerics of the order

Monk Acolytes, monks and priests in training

## Religious Experience

Ceremony and meditation are quite and peaceful, with chants and hums in the background

Martial arts training is done on temple grounds under Master Monk or Abbot supervision and tutelage

Home ritual is calm and respectful, with a quiet reverence toward peace and prosperity

When in a group ceremony the service is quiet to hear the clergy deliver a sermon then there is a congregation meditation. Afterward there is often a feast to celebrate the unity and harmony of the group at the temple’s expense. Members of the faith often bring food as offering to the clergy and to offset food costs to the temples. It often turns into a potluck.