                               PATH OF ENIGMAS

   Background Philosophy


The teacher stands in front of the class
 But the lesson plan he can't recall
The Student's eyes don't perceive the lies
 Bouncing off every fucking wall
His composure is well kept
 I guess he fears playing the fool
The complacent students sit and listen to
 Bull shit that he learned at school
 - Take the Power Back, rage against the machine



   Say I wanted to write a computer program, for example to count to ten
   and print it out. There is an infinite number of ways to write it, why
   would I pick a particular one? I may pick one way and then find out
   later I could have made it run quicker, or look better. At one moment
   in time I may have a solution, which I consider to be good, however I
   know that it may not be the best (after all what is the chance that I
   have the best program in one in infinity). I may improve on the
   solution if I can see that it can be easily improved on, or I may
   consider it to be the best solution until I randomly stumble across a
   better one. This is an artificial intelligence search technique known
   as probabilistic hill climbing, and is an analysis of human thought.
   This is pretty much how most people think, for example the population
   may have decided that the world is flat, because all the evidence says
   it is, until by chance someone proves that it is round. Much later
   someone discovers it is a penguin, and so on.

   It is therefore difficult for the population to gain an insight into
   the universe if they are all being told the same things, if they are
   brought up in the same way, if they all have the same opinions. How
   often have the theories of scientists been disproved by later
   generations? How often has the person who discovered the better theory
   been considered a mad heretic because they are unusual?

   The idea of God and The Fallen One shows how people must be given the
   option of free choice, or else they all live the same lives. There
   must be chaos for evolution of the mind. If a man walked to work by
   the same route every day of his life he would only know that one
   route, but if he went other ways he has expanded his knowledge, and he
   also finds that there are more routes. The more you know the more you
   realise you don't know.

   So is existence shaped by the collective minds, or minds shaped by
   existence? Does it matter? Order can be formed in chaos, after all
   that's how the universe started (maybe).

   There is nothing dark or supernatural about this. The only thing here
   is that chaos must be brought in to help people think in different
   ways to achieve a better understanding of the universe and a better
   spiritual awareness. The only problem is that by its own definition
   this theory has a one in infinity chance of being correct.



  PATH OF ENIGMAS

   "I think present-day reason is an analogue of the flat earth of the
   medieval period. If you go too far beyond it you're presumed to fall
   off, into insanity" - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,
   Robert M. Pirsig

   To create chaos through tricks, puzzles or other means is the ideal of
   this path to increase other peoples ideology or perception, and to see
   as much of the universe as possible to increase ones own experience
   and judgement. (Refer to the Malkavian Handbook - The Evolution of
   Vision). This path is tempered slightly by a belief in Ch'i and
   spirit. It is essentially built around opening the your third
   (metaphorical) eye, and to help others open theirs.

   Global Iconoclasm - If a person believes that they have come across a
   better ideology they must broadcast their views so that others may
   improve it or agree with it.

   Global Anarchy - Anarchy is necessary as it is chaos, and gives people
   the chance to experience different view points.

   Personal Illumination - One should not neglect yourself. You should
   get as many different viewpoints of the universe as possible to
   examine other ideologies.

   Infectious Insanity - Insanity enables people to think in different
   ways, unusual ways. This is good. Degradation of All Moral Authority -
   Who is to say any one set of laws are best. Morals are changing, most
   humans now have almost completely different morals then 200 years ago.
   Morals are programmed into a person by society. One must reach into
   himself for his own morals.

   Magical Utopia - With increased universal ideology people are more
   spiritually and magically aware. When people find out 'Why?' the may
   also find out 'How?'.

   Hegemony of Absolute Chaos - Chaos so that ideology may evolve at a
   faster rate.

   Material Detachment - What are materials? They must be redistributed
   occasionally to encourage chaos.

   Divine Connection - To increase ones spiritual self is of religious
   importance.

   Artistic Reflection of Society's Madness - At one point every body in
   the world believed the world was flat. Need I say more.

   Rampant Hedonism - If the whole universe is happy, then they are all
   partaking in their pleasures. If the whole universe is happy is this
   not good?

   Creative Ignorance - I could of course be completely wrong. Remember
   by my own theory I only have one in infinity chance of being right,
   but a fifty percent chance of being better then any other theory.

   Ascension of Personal Will - To transcend past the physical body and
   become a spirit I can achieve far more, and know far more. Therefore
   increasing the validity of my personal ideology.

   Pleasure Through Cruelty - If a person suffers a great pain then that
   person will become shaped by the pain. If the pain was an unusual one
   it will give that person an unusual viewpoint. This may put the person
   nearer to increasing his personal ideology. Therefore his pain was
   good.

   Cosmic Salvation - To find the ultimate ideology is the goal and to
   inform the universe. To tell everything in the universe 'Why?' and
   'How?' is obviously cosmic salvation.

   Absolute Nihilism - If I have a one in infinity chance of being right
   I in fact have an infinite chance of being wrong. If I am wrong what
   is the point, as no ideology is right.

   Absolutely No Core Purpose - To improve ideology it can still be
   improved by ordered analysis, so absolute chaos may not be necessary.
   Also at any moment in time there is only one in infinity chance of
   being right, and the thing about infinity is that this does not
   improve through time. Therefore any attempt to speed up the finding of
   the Ultimate Ideology has no effect. Bummer.



  A MUSING OF BELIEFS




I take your words and try them on.
 Yeah, it's a perfect fit, boy.
You tell me one size fits us all.
 Yeah, like an old straight jacket.
 - Alice Cooper, Stolen Prayer



   Chin - As point of note the intrinsic energy of a Vampiric being
   (Chin) is composed of the Blood (ching), the Spirit (Shen) and
   Personal Energy (Ch'i). Note this is not body, spirit and mind as some
   people might think.

   Mortals - Those who lead ordinary lives, they die, and their souls (a
   combination of Shen and Ch'i) go to some place unknown. That shall be
   called the Silver City. Killing a mortal should not be done,
   especially those who are enlightened (i.e. Insane, True Belief, etc.).
   There is only one reason to kill - immediate source of blood.

   Diablerie - It is possible to increase both Shen and Ch'i, however
   only two methods exist to increase ching are known, Thaumaturgy -
   Blood of Potency and Diablerie. From experience those Kindred who have
   not achieved some form of enlightenment, such as Golconda or True
   Belief, are damned in some way and do not go to the Silver City that
   Mortals go to. Diablerie of non enlightened Kindred is acceptable.

   Frenzy - Frenzy causes negative Ch'i, which is used only for combative
   reasons, and reduces chin. One should not Rvtschreck therefore.

   Respect - Always be respectful to those who have achieved a higher
   level of enlightenment. These are other Malkavians, those who have
   reached Golconda, those of true belief, and in some cases others who
   are considered insane. This is because they are just as likely to have
   high (and often higher) chin.



  HIERARCHY OF SINS




You have a winning way, so keep it up.
 Your future.
You are an angel heading for a land of sunshine,
 And fortune is smiling upon you.
Prepare for a series of comfortable miracles,
 From fasting to feasting.
 - Faith No More, Land of Sunshine



   10 Refusing to commit diablerie on being who is not enlightened.

   9 Entering a frenzy when not in combat.

   8 Killing a mortal for reason other than survival.

   7 Failing to acquire items or knowledge to improve personal chin.

   6 Failing to prank others when the opportunity arises.

   5 Showing concern for others possessions.

   4 Refusing to free enlightened spirits from being bound.

   3 Actively inducing sanity.

   2 Actively hindering change.

   1 Actively resisting insanity.

   "Thank you everyone, from myself, my assistant, and the stooge. I'm
   the amazing Cain. If you enjoyed the show, tell your friends. If you
   didn't I trust you'll get throat cancer and die without ever again
   uttering another word. Good-night." - Cain, Season of Mists, Neil
   Gaiman
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