The Precepts of Natura Balanus (The Faith)

[Lady Nadira]

I have been asked by those curious to better explain the precepts that the Seekers and I follow in The Faith. I humbly submit this for your consideration, and welcome discussion with any who wish it.


The Precepts of Natura Balanus

• Do not close one’s self off to change. Do not hold yourself immovable to any one doctrine, theory, or ideology, even The Faith. All systems of thought are guiding means; though know they are not absolute truth.
  
• Find whatever means possible to you to protect truth, honesty and balance. All things in balance.
  
• Walk the way of The Faith to guide your own need for truth and balance. Then strive to touch those things within you and without in order to achieve or maintain balance.
  
• Be willing to serve even those who do not seem to seek it. Offer but never force. Counsel with balance and compassion. Never counsel when the self is firmly out of balance in order to assure that you do not forward imbalance on to others or around you.
  
• Do not force others, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, propaganda. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce imbalance, fanaticism and narrowness.
  
• Do not take as the sole aim of your life fame, status or sensual pleasures. Live in balance with all these things.
  
• Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless or absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to listen and learn. Practice listening to other’s views, in order to be open to receive and respect others' viewpoints.
  
• Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering. Do not lose awareness of the existence of suffering in the life of the world. Find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits and deeds. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering and the need for compassion.
  
• Just because a man or woman is called a fool or Fool, or that he or she does not behave as you or I does not mean they have nothing to teach. Look for lessons in balance in the most unlikely of people and events.
  
• Learn to look at other with the eyes of compassion and do not maintain out of balance anger or hatred. Use prayer and meditation to more deeply understand the persons who have caused anger and hatred.
  
• Speak truthfully and constructively. Have the courage to speak out about situations of imbalance, even when doing so may threaten your own safety.
  
• Do not live with a vocation that is harmful to nature or to your balance. Select a vocation, or many vocations, which help you to realize your ideal balanced self.
  
• Respect your body. Do not look on your body as only an instrument or tool.
  
• To preserve the happiness of others, respect the rights and commitments of others.

Do not believe that each of us follows each and every of these precepts perfectly. We fail in many ways. None of us can fully fulfill any of these. However, we strive toward the goal and toward balance within and without. No words can replace practice; only practice can make the words.

Strength to your Quests,
Priestess Nadira
Natura Balanus

[izkim]

Dear Priestess Nadira,

I am overjoyed that you posted these precepts. My efforts to meet with you have been unsuccessful and I was beginning to give up hope. I shall take this posting as a sign of encouragement.

I have copied your guidelines and will seclude myself in my room for a short period to meditate. I hope to emerge seeing more clearly.

I look forward to our eventual meeting and would like to encourage other castle guests, especially Seekers, to discuss with me their take on The Faith.

Your Humble Servant
Sera Siobhan

[goby]

My dear friend Siobhan,

I am pleased that you perhaps now have found a beginning to your path here in the castle.Your new attitude is most encouraging and I look forward to assisting you ,as best I am able ,on your journey.

Devotedly,
Ghobii

[Boilermg]

Many of you have been asking about who Seekers are, what do they represent...
We are most honored in your interest...
I am bringing the Precepts to the forefront for your review. IF you have further interest in the Faith...

Please seek out any Seeker or Acolyte...

Strength to your Quests...Seeker Margaret, First Counselor

[Kas Sommers]

Originally posted by Boilermg:
IF you have further interest in the Faith...

Please seek out any Seeker or Acolyte...

Thank you Seeker Margaret. I would just like to add, for the benefit of those who may not be aware, that Seekers and Acolytes are identified by their pins. Seekers wear a green leaf pin, and Acolytes wear a silver leaf pin.

And please, seek us out not only if you are interested in the Faith, but also if you need aid in sharing your burdens. We are here to serve others, by keeping ourselves balanced, so that we may provide good counsel to those who seek it.

Strength to your quests,
Acolyte Charmiam

[jwalton]

Priestess and Seekers,

Looking over a clear explanation of your professed beliefs for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised by how similar many of them are to the goals and values held by the Forgetters. There are great differences, of course, but the fundamentals arise from the same feelings, I believe. What we have chosen to do with those feelings may be miles apart, but I am glad to know that there are more kindred spirits out there than I first suspected.

Your humble servant,
and a seeker in his own right (without the capital 'S,' of course),
Yuen.

[nimrod]

As I have recieved several inquiries about the Faith of late, I am moving this to the forefront.

Acolyte Robert

[Consuela]

And again to the forefront.

[Kas Sommers]

I return the Precepts to the top of the notice board.

If any have questions about the Precepts, or the Faith, please speak to a Seeker or Acolyte. Seekers wear a green leaf, Acolytes wear a silver leaf.

Strength to your quests,
~First Acolyte Charmiam~
Natura Balanus

[Charmiam]

In addition to bringing the Precepts to the top of the notice board again, I thought it was time to share with you here, some of the duties the Seekers undertake.

~Public Duties of Seekers~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

- share burdens (counseling those out of balance)
- counsel those seeking to marry
- conduct betrothal vigil and final counsel
- conduct funerals
- conduct weddings
- conduct knighting ceremonies
- counsel and advise on a variety of matters
- bless new inductees of Outer Bailey guilds
- assist others
- ritually burn the linens of newly awakened
- conduct candlelight rituals and group meditations in order to help achieve balance of the spirit
- work with other groups, such as the Counsel, on issues of concern to the castle.

[Charmiam]

Please add to the above list, one more which I omitted through oversight.

- Last Rites

[Charmiam]

To enable this to be easily found, I return it to the front of the noticeboard.

Strength to your quests.

[Kyle]

[an uncolored (black and white) leaf has been added to this notice as a deceration. It is a spirited attempt but ultimatly futile as the leaf veins sometimes cross over eachother and one side is slightly bigger than the other. You would have to say this isnt a profesional work.]

[post is unsigned, probobly due to shame.]

(ooc- translation: bump)

[Sorcha]

bumping to the top...

[Emris]

Most interesting, I realy like the part that reads...

Do not close one’s self off to change. Do not hold yourself immovable to any one doctrine, theory, or ideology, even The Faith. All systems of thought are guiding means; though know they are not absolute truth.

Emris the Scientist

[OOC: and a little bump]