Welcome to Gaia! ::

In the beginningless beginning ...

Before Gaia there was nothing but wild, aprogressive chaos that expanded outwards in the ten directions without exception. Change so swift that forms could not take shape, nothing born and nothing destroyed; no suffering and no end to suffering; no ignorance and no ending of ignorance; without gain, without loss; not stained, not pure. Utterly neither this nor that.

Born of this mass of pure energy were great and powerful beings who desired for themselves a haven to play their mini-games. As we all know, eventually chaos has to lead to order. Those of us who avidly play Jigsaw know this very well indeed.

The Great Divinity who was called Gaia, Mother of Creation, Green Goddess upon the Golden Mountain, along with her primordial brethren, spun the world that bore her name out of the same chaos from which they emerged. The shapeless was given shape, the formless was given form, and the ceaseless storm of the endless wild was quelled. With her infinite wisdom, compassion and other excellent qualities she formed the enduring earth, the far-reaching air, the warming fire, the soothing water, and the living wood. These five elements together form the island of refuge that is Gaia.

And it was also from the mind of Gaia that the first people of the world, the Gaians, were born. Gifted with beauty, tragedy, ugliness, life and death, the Gaians flourished across the expanding refuge of Gaia. Seeing that they were good, the other Great Divinities gifted the Gaians with virtues, features, mini-games of their own, and collectible items. In the Heavens they placed the Admins, celestial beings who worked to maintain Gaia's creation. They also gave to the world the Devs who worked on the Tapestry of Gaia itself. Also there appeared the Artists who enhanced the magnificence of Gaia's appearance with their talents. Finally, to the world, were gifted the Three Kinds of Moderators and the Helpers.

The Perfected Lotus

The Perfected Lotus is an sobriquette for the world of Gaia. Like a lotus that grows in the mud, Gaia was fashioned out of the madness of the chaos all around it. Perfected by Generosity, Joyous Effort, Ethical Discipline, Patience, Concentration and Wisdom, Gaia became a glorious pure land, the legacy of so much hard work and dedication. Populated by Gaians, land-sharks, rock puppies, water meat, kiki, coco, roro, mochi, gwee, and countless other living beings.

So it is fitting that the veneration of the Divinities of Gaia be named the Perfected Lotus. This is also the name of our primary text: The Perfected Diamond Vehicle of the Indestructible Lotus Sutra, which was written by the World-Honored One, Apollus to chronicle the creation of Gaia and the vastness of all that it encompasses. The monks and nuns of the Perfected Lotus chant verses from this sutra daily, and its words are found written in calligraphy in temples and shrines dedicated to the Perfected Lotus.

There are several other sutras, tantras and commentaries on the sutras and tantras that exist. Some temples dedicate themselves to the study of one single sutra to the exclusion of others, save the Perfected Lotus Sutra.
Some of these texts are prophetic in nature, and hope to foretell of events and developments that those in Heaven have planned for us in Gaia.

The Perfected Lotus does not seek to convert others, it does not seek to subvert the work of our brothers and sisters at Veset Monastery. We only desire to have fun, to encourage others to have fun, and for all living beings born of Gaia to find the path to Enlightenment.

Updates

• 11/15/06 Added Chosen Types and the Ten Precepts
  
• 11/14/06 Opening of the Thread

Navigation
♥ Introduction and Updates
♥ Adherents
♥ Teachings
♥ Gaia Herself
♥ The Great Divinities
♥ Holy Relics and Resplendent Gifts
♥ Links to and from us

Teachings

In the Perfected Lotus Sutra, one of the first teachings that we come across are the Perfected Insights, of which there are four:

♥ 1. All Gaians want to have fun
♥ 2. Fun is had when items are easier to acquire
♥ 3. Acquisition of items is hindered by greed
♥ 4. Generosity alleviates greed

This basic teaching forms the foundation of the Perfected Lotus. It stresses generosity of gold and items - that they are meant to be shared and not hoarded, donated and not sold back to stores for half-price. Of course these are not commandments and are simply observations and recommendations.

While generosity is emphasized, so is hard work. It is simply not prudent to be given everything you want. If you're not willing to work for limited or expensive items, then you will not be emulating the Joyous Effort or Ethical Discipline of Gaia. And, indeed, the items that are achieved through hard work are holy relics that should serve as an example to others what can be achieved by adhering to the Perfected Teachings.



Perfect Lotus Sutra Verses:
♥ Beloved of the Plentiful Maiden Verses
♥ The Gilded Coins of Regency Verses

Monastic Vows:

Those adherents of the Perfected Lotus sometimes wish to undertake vows and become monastics. Upon doing so they adopt Five Precepts:

1. I vow to donate gold to those who are questing whenever able
   
2. I vow to refrain from flaming others, even if they deserve it
   
3. I vow to refrain from stealing from or cheating others
   
4. I vow to refrain from trolling the forums or otherwise violating the R&G or ToS
   
5. I vow to have fun

These first Five Precepts are also known as the Novice Vows. Later, one can undertake the Ten Precepts or the Disciple Vows, and there are the full monastic Perfected Monastic Vows. Some schools also have their own individual vows in addition to these other sets.

The Ten Precepts:

1. I vow to donate gold to those who are questing whenever able
   
2. I vow to refrain from keeping more than 50K for myself
   
3. I vow to refrain from flaming others, even if they deserve it
   
4. I vow to refrain from bumping threads without contributing to the topic
   
5. I vow to refrain from stealing from or cheating others
   
6. I vow to refrain from over-charging in the Marketplace
   
7. I vow to refrain from trolling the forums or otherwise violating the R&G or ToS
   
8. I vow to refrain from using my words to turn users against each other
   
9. I vow to praise the good works of the admins/devs/artists
   
10. I vow to have fun

Martial Arts
Although there is an emphasis upon kindness and generosity, there are times when members of the Order (lay and monastic) must defend themselves against non-virtue. It is also stressed that meditational practices help to cultivate the good attitudes that the Order encourages. Fulfilling both of these needs are the Martial Arts of the Perfected Lotus.

Developed and handed down to Gaians by those in Heaven, the Martial Arts of the Order are primarily a meditative tool, and have a secondary function of protecting one's self and others from threats. Among the dozens of fighting styles are the Seven named after each of the Divinities.

• Resplendent Admin Form (Gaia)
  
• Angelic Kiki Style (Apollus)
  
• Demonic Coco Style (Lunaris)
  
• Winged Ninja Style (Eirmehz)
  
• Wrathful Gwee Style (Kaze)
  
• Durem Dragon Form (Phrigustus)
  
• Aekea Dragon Form (Vulcagni)

Chosen:

• Chosen of Lunaris and Apollus
  
• Chosen of Eirmehz and Kaze
  
• Chosen of Phrigustus and Vulcagni
  
• Chosen of Gaia

Navigation
♥ Introduction and Updates
♥ Adherents
♥ Teachings
♥ Gaia Herself
♥ The Great Divinities
♥ Holy Relics and Resplendent Gifts
♥ Links to and from us

The Great Divinities

As mentioned in the previous post, Gaia had a lot of help from the other Divinities in the inspiring, shaping and maintenance of the world. In the first post it is mentioned that they were with her in the aprogressive chaos that existed before the shaping. Some say these divinities even have their own secret avatars amongst us!

Apollus is the God of the Sun. By his virtue there is Gaia gold. His gifts to Gaians allow for abundance and prosperity, as well as for poverty. We have been the recipients of his Solar Cloak, Solar Headdress, and Sun Staff.

Lunaris is the Goddess of the Moon. Sometimes female, sometimes male, always changing like the phases of her celestial symbol. Her gifts to Gaians allow for the changing of usernames, genders, and entire avatars. We have received her Lunar Cloak and Lunar Cowl.

Eirmehz is the God of the Dead. Because of him there is the ability to lock topics and send them to the recycle bin so that they no longer have to bother us. Some say it was he who created the Chatterbox, but because he wasn't as skilled as weaving pure chaos into shape as Gaia, a touch of madness remains there. We have received his Winged Anklets.

Kaze is the son of the Wind God, and he was the one who got the others to play their divine mini-games in the first place, prompting Gaia to create a refuge for them all. By his ingenuity we have Fishing, Slots, Cards, Jigsaw, Word Bump, and some say Towns are also his doing. We have received his Wind Security Blanket.

Phrigustus is the Divinity who rules over the cold and ice, things that are static and hold together the laws of Gaia. He inspired the ToS, the R&G, and many of the Vows of the Perfected Lotus. We have received his Gauntlet and Whip.

Vulcagni presides over fire and all things that are crafted and made. He is the principle cause of Guilds, Mini-shops and forums. Because of him, we have items of metal, plastic, and leather. We have received his Gauntlet and Whip.

These six, including Gaia, comprise the Seven Great Divinities. The Perfected Lotus does not limit the Great Divinities to just seven, however, as chaos is vast and there could very well be many more great beings that we do not yet know of.

Also, when it comes to the Perfected Martial Arts, it is quite common for members of the Order to dedicate themselves to one of the Divinities, often for the rest of their lives. Each Martial Arts style could potentially have single threads dedicated to each of them. They are extensive, with a long history, legends, and divine inspirations.

Those who dedicate themselves to one of the Divinities is usually called a "Chosen" of that Divinity. One who actively trains in the Angelic Kiki Style, for example, could be called a Chosen of Apollus. Though not everyone takes up such a title.



Navigation
♥ Introduction and Updates
♥ Adherents
♥ Teachings
♥ Gaia Herself
♥ The Great Divinities
♥ Holy Relics and Resplendent Gifts
♥ Links to and from us

Donations by the Order



Because of the emphasis on generosity, non-attachment, and because of the Vows of an adherent of the Perfected Lotus, this section is provided space for. This is where I'll keep track of how many (and what kind) of donations are made to others out of kindness, on behalf of the Order of the Perfected Lotus.

♥ Gold: 28 720
♥ Gills



Navigation
♥ Introduction and Updates
♥ Adherents
♥ Teachings
♥ Gaia Herself
♥ The Great Divinities
♥ Holy Relics and Resplendent Gifts
♥ Donations by the Order
♥ Links to and from us

xd

Hyu~ I'm almost all internet tubed-out.