Meditation in the High House of Light - By: Mirumoto Masuyo

[Vutall]

Meditation in the High House of Light

22nd of the Month of the Rat 1117

Masuyo had arrived a few nights before to the High House of Light. Her senses had offered her time to rest from her solo journey; time afforded to all new students of the Togashi. A few days of inaction and solid meals left her restless, however. She couldn't wait to begin her training. Something tugged at her heart, the truths a voice just out of range of hearing singing with words unclear. Somehow, the Dragon knew the only way to reach them was to undertake her training and for that her rest must end.

Sensei of Koans and one of the Keepers to the Library Rumiko offered she could sit in on a meditation lesson this afternoon and help clean the dojo before bed. Simple, lightweight tasks so as to not overburden the young Dragon. Patience was a valuable lesson, and despite the eagerness of youth the journey to The High House of Light was a physically grueling task for any age. Sure, they all arrived safely unscathed but the rest period replenished both the mind and body for the hard days to come.

Today's meditation was, rather expectedly, guided by a koan. The walls of the meditation hall were devoid of any decoration save a scroll on the wall. Apparently, the sensei would hang it and leave the room prior to the lesson time. Students sat in lotus position and immediately began reading what was written.

Today's lesson was scripted in simple characters and all the students attending seemed young, around her age in fact. 'Become acquainted with every art. Know the Ways of all professions.'

Why? Masuyo wondered. Why does the High House of Light have so many Senseis? I thought the Togashi order focuses on Meditation and Jiujitsu. Their Tattoos let them do so many wondrous things. Yet, some also paint or jump from high places or arrange flowers. What is their purpose? Our purpose, I guess. I have been introduced to so many people since I arrived and I have more questions than answers.

Time passed as she stared blankly at the scroll. Eventually, Sensei Rumiko arrived simply addressing the class. "Minna-san, what did you learn? Mhmmm, how about you first, Masuyo-chan?"

"Me? Erm...eto… I don't know." A young boy sniggered.

"Enough, Seito-kun." The Sensei chided the laughing student. "We can learn from everything including failure. What did you think of?"

"I-I wondered why some monks work so hard to learn things then never leave. I wondered what our purpose is."

The sensei grinned, "that answer you need to learn for yourself." As she looked around the room deciding who next to pick, Masuyo interrupted jumping to her feet and pointing at the Sensei rudely.

"You gave it away! The answer to the koan! We can learn from everything! There is a way to use one thing to learn another somehow, isn't there?"

The sensei only smiled in response.
4th of the Year of the Monkey 1118

Eleven year old Masuyo narrowed her eyes at the koan scroll hung upon the wall for today's meditation. The room was unadorned save the hanging scroll to avoid distractions, but the summer heat, even in the mountains, was insufferable. All around her fellow students had already closed their eyes in thought, pondering the greater meaning of the ancestors words on the scroll.

'Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.'

She hadn't been at the High House of Light more than a few months and despite a deep sense of knowing she somehow belonged, she felt she was failing. The former Mirumoto closed her eyes.

'Victory over yourself of yesterday.' That part seemed easy to understand, one became wiser with age, more open-minded. The 'victory over lesser men' escaped her. Who were the lesser men? Wasn't it bad to consider oneself higher in station? Perhaps they meant over the binge? What was there to gain in victory over them? Wasn't kindness expected to those in lower station? Victory seemed an odd word for it. Maybe it meant less wise or less enlightened. It seemed today's lesson was another unusual one.

At the High House of Light, though many were teachers of one art or another, full tattooed monks spoke as equals for the most part, unlike the rest of the Empire. What was there to gain in considering it Victory to be more wise. That in itself was a sin. It was error to take pride in such things. This lesson seems like it was written by a boastful Lion focusing on battlefield tactics.

Even if it was though an early lesson came to mind. 'Become acquainted with every art. Know the Ways of all professions.' Even if the concept of a way of life were flawed, as most are information could be gleaned from it. Who wrote it and if it were right or wrong was a distraction from the truth of this Way.

This Way preached one improves themself over time and... by improving themselves could best their opponents in court or martial matters, therefore they need be open to change and growth. Something clicked in Masuyo's head as the pieces fit together. It wasn't about the attitude of pride or besting others. Not exactly. It meant one needs to be open to change, a fundamental tenet of the High House of Light. Furthermore, it meant one could succeed at the goals one set for oneself, if one continues to learn and grow.

She opened her eyes to wait for the moment after where they would share their thoughts. None were wrong, of course, that was not their way. It was a matter of seeing how they interpreted the koan the sensei was looking at.