The Art of Living

[Metamancy 1785]

 

OOC (Please read): 

Spoiler

Hey there! Welcome to my project of many hours, The Art of Living! This is my character Thorn’s philosophy of the world, and he seeks to share it with many people! This is the result of eighteen years of thinking on Thorn’s part and a week or so of ruthless research, thinking and writing on mine. I carried out lots of research, drawing inspiration from a wide range of real-world philosophies such as Stoicism, Taoism and Buddhism. I tried my best to work these ideas together into a unique philosophy that feels coherent and character-driven. I hope this might resonate with other characters across LOTC! This project has been both IC and OOC for me; it’s helped me learn a lot about the world and how people of different philosophies think, and I’ve attached a list of references I used (including photo references) on the very last page if you’re interested. If you don’t want to do a lot of philosophical reading and just want to skip to how this philosophy is roleplayed out, skip to chapter V. If your character might be interested in joining this philosophy, reach out to me both IC and OOC; this book will be available as public knowledge!

Without further ado, please enjoy The Art of Living.

 

Authored by the hand of Thorn, once known as Uzgk’Grizh

 

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I

Impermanence

 

To live, is to die. Without death, there would be no life. 

Impermanence is at the center of our reality. It is the invisible force that drives and gives meaning to everything. 

Objects, living things, anything else - all is impermanent. 

One may part ways from those childhood friends one once spent hours beside and meet again years later to find that they are not only unrecognizable in appearance but also in manner and thought.

One may cherish the humble cherry blossom for its beauty as it only blooms for a week.

And a river never holds the same water twice.

This naturally begs the question: if all is impermanent, what is the point in doing?

It is the condition that plagues all descendants; impermanence. Even the elves, with their longevity, succumb to it. And yet, we still act. We still live our lives. We still see the meaning in beauty. But why? If all is impermanent, what is the point of enjoyment, fulfillment and meaning?

Therein lies the answer; as mentioned above; one may cherish the humble cherry blossom for its beauty only because it blooms for a mere week.

It is impermanence that gives life meaning in the first place; for what would be the point in living a life where everything stays the same? As the saying goes, change is the only constant; and those that try to run from change will find themselves trapped. 

And so, there is little meaning in running from impermanence; nay, on the contrary, one must embrace impermanence and accept that nothing stays for eternity. Only through acceptance of this truth can one find peace in one’s own soul.  

Yet, it is also wrong to chase impermanence. To chase impermanence is to become attached to it, and it is impossible to live a fulfilling life chasing after something that is bound to vanish. One must learn to coexist with impermanence and find its beauty, not indulge in it. That is why those who live the Art of Living must not indulge in material and temporary pleasures such as alcohol, gambling and substances. 

Inversely, one must respect the impermanence of all and not cut short the enjoyment of what is transient; this ranges from something as small as interrupting a conversation to ending a life short. One who lives the Art of Living must never take an innocent soul; not even that of animals, not even for meat, for all life, no matter how small, is beautiful; and the greatest gift of impermanence is life. To cut it short is a tragedy.

In short, one that lives the Art of Living must move with the changing world; not against it, not forcing it. 

And yet, while the physical world changes, one can cultivate stillness in the soul. Such is the way to navigate an impermanent world; to have one’s soul rooted in the Art of Living. This is not a rigidity of the soul as a rock; it is a rootedness as a tree that sways in the wind. Only through stillness in the soul that stands strong against impermanence can one find peace. It is worth noting that true peace is not the rejection of change; it is the refusal to be shaken by it. 

It is this stillness of the soul that is the ultimate goal of the Art of Living.

It is crucial to have a soul that remains firm in the face of change. A soul that changes as the world changes can never find peace, for it will always seek for a different answer. So, while all is impermanent and one should not struggle against it, at the same time, one’s soul must remain still. 

So, one question remains for this first chapter of The Art of Living. How does one cultivate stillness in the soul if all is impermanent? 

The first necessary step to take is to observe the small, daily rituals that make up one’s life. One should be grateful for waking up in the morning, consuming meals, walking to everyday locations, even observing the sun, the sky, the wind; one should be grateful for it all and take in every aspect of it. Once one can fully understand the immensity of every small action, one’s soul will be fulfilled; and through that fulfillment comes a stillness that no change can alter. One must observe everything with a conscious mind. 

The second necessary step towards a still soul is to let go of all emotion and pain. Letting go of the past, expectations and control is not something one does once to permanently cleanse the soul; nay, it is a daily practice. Emotions rise and fall as the ocean waves; and it is not wrong to feel them. It is, however, wrong to grab a beautiful leaf floating down a stream and end its destined journey; and it is wrong to cling onto emotions in the same way. Pain will pass, but clinging onto the pain of the past turns it into suffering. A closed hand catches nothing; only an open palm receives the blessing of rain. One may find a land of weeping, rage and mourning; but one does not build one’s home there. 

The idea of impermanence, acceptance and stillness is, in essence, simple, but difficult to practice and master. And here it is spoken; only through embracing impermanence, in honoring what is destined to fade, and in learning to let go, can one find the quiet peace to live a meaningful life of enlightenment and fulfillment. 

 

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II

Perfection

 

It is a widely known and accepted truth that nothing is perfect. And yet, so many people still strive for perfection.

So many strive for the perfect body, the perfect words to get what one seeks to achieve a perfect future. One can dream of perfect peace, perfect strength, perfect love - and it is painful when reality does not yield it. 

And thus it is spoken that perfection is a lie.

It is an unclimbable mountain, an impenetrable fortress, a song so great it deafens those who hear it. It does not exist, and yet it is so, so great.

But the wind does not blow in straight lines. The mountain does not rise smoothly. The wolf limps, the tree bends, the child cries.  

This is what is known to us as life.

And yet, we hold ourselves accountable for not being perfect - as if we were unmoving, unchanging stone, and not living breath. 

The scientist insists that perfect symmetry exists - for it must, for his theorems to fall into line. The human noble insists that a perfect life, with a perfect heir and a perfect rule, can be lived. The elf insists that with all the years they are given, they can achieve perfection of the body and mind.

It is all the endless chase of a fantasy - a fantasy that a “final” or “unchanging” good exists. 

Perfection implies permanence - which has already been declared to not exist.

Perfection denies change - which is the only constant - flaws, difference, and, most importantly, growth.

Perfection is a still image in a rapidly changing world.

Before being able to understand what role perfection plays in the Art of Living, one must first understand the suffering that perfection brings. One can only ever strive for perfection, never able to obtain it - leading to anxiety, shame, and a chronic feeling in one’s heart of inadequacy. It breeds only constant dissatisfaction and self-loathing. Striving for perfection is the epitome of a life of suffering.

And it not only causes one to render harsh judgement upon oneself; it also leads one to criticize others for not being perfect, blame others for not being perfect, judge others for not being perfect; and one’s love for the world will slowly be sucked out of one’s soul by the necromancer known as perfection.

Suffice it to say that perfection is painful - and breeds naught but endless suffering.

The truth? The flaws of a man are what makes a man whole. Here it is spoken; through imperfection, there is life. Just as impermanence brings meaning, imperfection brings beauty. 

The cracked pot may still hold water and endure.

No two leaves are born the same.

A scarred warrior grows wiser through failure.

It is the same condition that plagues descendants as the fight against impermanence; the urge to be perfect. Just as an unchanging world would lose all value, a perfect world would mean an unchanging one. There would be no change. No chaos. No individuality. 

What is a world where all the leaves are the same shape? Where all the songs sound the same? 

Perfection demands of us sameness; and sameness is the murderer of wonder. 

It is a difficult concept to wrap one’s head around, the seemingly simple fact that perfection means the loss of individuality. But if a “perfect” song existed, then would not all men wish to sing it?

One may argue, perhaps, that it is better for every song to be the same, perfect one. But what would be the meaning of a song if they all sounded the same?

One who lives the Art of Living must not seek perfection; one must learn to not only live with imperfection but embrace it and see the beauty in it. One must live the imperfection; for through imperfection comes wholeness. 

Wholeness is the experience of everything - joy, love, beauty - as well as flaw, sorrow and error. The soul is to be lived in, not polished to perfection. 

And it is here that we come back, again, to the stillness of the soul.

As it was spoken before, stillness of the soul is the only way to weather the storm of an impermanent world. And to achieve complete stillness of the soul, one must not seek to make one’s soul or the world around it flawless; nay, one must learn to come to peace with the flaws, for flawlessness is impossible as has been already declared and coming to terms with this truth is the only path to peace. 

It is not with grief and reluctance that one must abandon this pursuit of perfection - nay, it is not a sacrifice to be made in the name of peace - it is a realization and a learning that should come with relief, for only through letting go of the fantasy of flawlessness can one finally make room to live one’s life.

One may find, upon ceasing the polishing of the soul as a blade, that the soul is not, in fact, intended to cut as a knife; it is intended to carry the life of its host.

It cannot be stated enough that perfection is an illusion. To live fully is to be satisfied and to have wholeness, and as perfection does not exist, chasing it leads to dissatisfaction and suffering. The one who tries to polish the floor to perfection will never enjoy the dance. 

And so, to successfully live the Art of Living, there are several steps one must take forward in regards to perfection. The first is, as has been stated over and over again, to let go of the endless pursuit of perfection. One must give up the fantasy of a perfect self, a perfect life. It is simply not real, never was, and never will be.

The second step is to then embrace the imperfections of life. Once one has given up the dream of perfection, it becomes much easier to see the beauty in all. See the perfection in imperfection.

Perhaps the most crucial aspect of the acceptance of imperfection is showing others grace for their imperfections. When one lashes out at another, the cause is not that one inherently harbors malice in one’s soul; it is simply because one is imperfect. When one is unable to complete a seemingly mundane and simple task, it is not because one is incompetent, it is, again, because one is imperfect. And in the same way, all descendants are imperfect; thus, much grace and forgiveness must be spared for others.

Another important aspect of living the Art of Living is to allow one’s life to include imperfections. One must live to grow and learn, not to live without failure. If one is able to see the beauty in imperfection as spoken above, then one will be able to see the beauty in the imperfections they allow.

The one who lives the Art of Living seeks not to be perfect; they seek to be whole and living. Through that wholeness comes peace.

 

 

 

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III

The Soul

 

Thus far, the soul has been invoked several times. It has been spoken that the ultimate goal of the Art of Living is a soul of stillness. And yet, so little is still known about the soul itself.

There is one question that will be attempted to be answered throughout this chapter of The Art of Living; what is the soul?

The nature of the soul has been a subject of religious, scientific and magical investigation since the dawn of time. It may feel as though the answer should come naturally, seeing as every descendant seems to have no shortage of relevant experience; and yet, certainty regarding the soul remains elusive to all. 

Some may argue, perhaps, that the soul does not exist, and that the “soul” is no more than a neurological phenomenon - but in our world, it is clear that this is untrue. It is said that humans go to the Seven Skies. The urukim go to the Stargush. There is a place for one’s soul in the many afterlives, no matter the descendant. 

And yet, many fail to grasp the concept of what the soul actually is. Aye, the soul is the essence that makes up the self - this is the most basic definition that many are aware of - but what does that mean in reality? In practice? In the context of the Art of Living?

Let us say, for instance, that one was struck in the unarmored head by the warhammer of an uruk and, miraculously, survived. It is safe to say that what one remembers about one’s life, the friends that are able to be recognized, and the words that one is able to form may be irrevocably altered. In fact, the very things that characterize oneself may be erased by the simple act of a strike across one’s cranium.

Thus, if the soul is the essence that makes up the self, is one’s soul changed or reformed in its entirety because one was simply hit in the head? 

One may be tempted to say that aye, in this case, the soul would be a different soul than the one of the man before the strike. 

Yet this answer feels unsatisfactory. Without his memories, does a man lose the soul? If one forgets the name of his mother, the scent of his homeland, his own face in the mirror, has truly a sacred thing been lost?

Nay. If the soul was simply a sum of mannerisms, memories and habits, it would be fragile as glass. A fall, a fever, a blade - the smallest act could tear a soul apart and scatter its remains to the wind. Nay, the soul is far greater.

All is impermanent; even oneself. So if the soul was the self, then the stillness in the soul that must be strived towards would be impossible. This is not the case.

The soul is much deeper than a surface-level identity; it is the very core of one’s being, a quiet, pulsing heart of existence. It is something that lives when all else is lost. It is a fire that may flicker and dim, but never goes out.

It is worth noting that one’s soul is not merely unique to oneself; it is a fragment of the soul of the universe, gifted to one upon birth. Whether it be the Creator or whatever god one may believe in, one’s soul is a piece of divinity. This is why one must live according to the natural order, the laws of impermanence and imperfection, for fighting against it is fighting against the broader soul that one’s own comes from. 

Yet we have still not answered the question: what is the soul?

The soul experiences. The soul chooses. The soul remembers. The soul seeks. The soul judges. The soul connects with others. But most importantly, the soul is an anchor to oneself.

And it is there that we find an answer. The soul is most akin to an anchor; an anchor that keeps the ship that is one’s self in place. 

It is not to be confused with what makes up oneself; nay, the soul is not a culmination of one’s memories, emotions, thoughts. The soul is what keeps them. The soul endures while the self changes. It watches as the rest rises and falls.

To many, this may be a difficult concept to fully comprehend. After all, what is the difference between the self and its cradle?

Take, for example, the earth beneath a flowing river.

The river may twist and turn, swell and shrink, flood and dry - but it will always run along the same, unseen riverbed.

Our thoughts may be the current, our emotions the droplets of water, our memories the driftwood that passes by; but the soul is the riverbed, keeping it whole, giving it shape.

This is the soul; and this is why it is crucial for the soul to find stillness. The riverbed that lets the water take its stones and earth cannot remain the same, and an anchor of a ship is useless if it does not stay in place. 

And yet, the soul is not perfect, for perfection does not exist, even in the soul. It is not born virtuous. It must be nurtured into goodness, for if the anchor is consumed by rust and wear, it is no longer as effective. 

The next obvious question is, how does one nurture the soul to be virtuous?

The kind soul is not loud. The kind soul is the steady hand holding a crying man, the bread offered to a homeless child, the patient ear to a friend. One who lives the Art of Living must not be kind for the sake of reward, but because it feeds and grows the soul.

It is also worth noting that goodness is not the absence of darkness; that would be perfection. Goodness is the courage to face darkness without fear. Those who deny their shadows often find themselves consumed by it the most, yet the one who sees his anger, envy and cruelty - and does not feed them - is the one who has begun to nourish the soul.

And, of course, the virtuous soul is still.

 

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IV

Stillness

 

It has been spoken thus far that a still soul is the ultimate goal of the Art of Living. And yet, so little has been spoken about how this is achieved. The laws of impermanence and imperfection have already been declared, and the soul has been defined as an anchor to the self; so, the time has come to discuss the stillness of the soul.

As has been mentioned several times previously, stillness of the soul is key to the Art of Living. A soul that is not still cannot endure impermanence, nor embrace imperfection. A soul that is not still will be torn apart by the slightest breeze, cast into chaos by every flaw. The soul is an anchor, and is to be still for it to have meaning. 

It is important to note that stillness is not something to be forced or to change into; it is the natural state of the soul. To stray away from it is to deny one’s very origins and succumb to the world. 

Yet, if stillness is the natural state of a soul, why is it so difficult - impossible, even - to have a perfectly still one? The answer lies not in the soul itself, but in the world outside of it - the world changes, and attempts to move the soul with it. To guide the soul to return to its natural state against the rapidly changing universe is no simple matter - yet is also paramount, as without stillness, one becomes an echo of the impermanent world; restless, reactive and uncertain. Stillness of the soul allows peace and clarity of mind as well as the strength to live righteously. 

Though, to understand the stillness of the soul and how to achieve it, one must first understand stillness. 

Stillness is not, as many might believe, the complete absence of movement. Nay, stillness is not the utter silence of the void; it is not quiet air; it is not the unmoving limb. Stillness is not the state of unmoving.

Take, for example, a stone. A stone is unmoving; yet it is not still. A corpse, too, may be silent; but it is not peaceful.

Stillness, in the Art of Living, is something deeper. Stillness is not stillness as the widely accepted definition of the word; it is the settling of the soul.

Let us go back to the riverbed that is the soul.

The riverbed is, ultimately, shaped by the water. Time, pain, memories, experiences; they will inevitably shape one’s soul. But a soul that is not still is akin to a riverbed that is loose, chaotic and always shifting with the current. It is difficult to even imagine a riverbed like this, as it would turn the river into a raging thing of chaos and instability. 

A soul that is still, however, is most akin to the riverbeds that are most commonly seen in our world; settled, firm, and ready to accept the water that passes over it, not resisting nor denying the flow.

And so, one must ask oneself; how does one resist the flow of life and keep the soul still as its natural state?

To begin with, one must first relinquish the desire to control the flow of life; the still riverbed simply accepts the water as it goes, it does not attempt to shape it. The world will not ask for permission to change; the wind shall blow, the seasons shall turn, and men shall die. These fundamental truths of the universe cannot be halted; to attempt to do so is to stir the riverbed into a frenzy. It is the resistance against the current that unsettles the soul.

Thus, the first step towards a soul of stillness is acceptance; acceptance of the fact that one has control over nothing in life except oneself.

The second step is silence.

It is not the trait of a still soul to be numb; nay, a still soul may still feel anger, joy, grief; but the soul remains silent against these emotions. Just as the riverbed does not become the water, the soul must stay silent against the raging tides of the world. The soul must silently observe and silently listen to the world around it; and in this silence, it begins to settle. 

This is not to say one must become mute, or speak less; nay, it simply means to take moments of silence in the daily life and remain firm, strong and silent against the clamor that is the world. 

The third step is intention.

A still soul is not an idle soul; nay, on the contrary, stillness is the alignment of action with pace and purpose. One must not act too fast, for the faster and brasher one acts, the farther one may stray from what is the present; and yet, one must still act, for only through action can stillness be achieved. One must keep in mind that acting quickly is a reaction, not intention. 

It may seem as a conundrum at times; is stillness not simply the act of being still? But nay; stillness is being rooted in a rapidly changing world. A rooted tree may still sway in the wind; one may say, even, that it must sway in the wind for it to be a tree; but it must sway with purpose and direction lest it be ripped out of the ground.

It must also be noted that one must act not only with a steady and slow pace, but also purpose - one must be aware of one’s every action and neglect all that gets in the way of such. 

The final step, though it is not final in any way, is return.

The stillness of the soul is not an achievement; it is a practice.

Stillness will, inevitably, be lost. The soul will shift with the shifting world. But one who lives the Art of Living does not mourn the loss of stillness, nor does one allow the stillness to leave one’s soul. One must return; one must return to stillness again and again, without demand. Just as the river returns to its flow after the flood, the soul returns to peace when urged, for as it has been spoken, peace is the soul’s natural state.

To achieve stillness is not to possess it - it is to live it. To live the Art of Living. 

And let that path of stillness be familiar.

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V

Practice

 

Thus far, we have outlined the fundamental laws of impermanence and imperfection, defined the soul, and described the path to stillness, which thus brings peace and fulfillment. In this following chapter, the correct and more specific practices towards living the Art of Living will be scribed for those that live the Art to adhere by in order to live a life of stillness and peace.

 

1. Practice silence each day.

In silence, the soul listens. In stillness, one is able to see clearly. A moment, each day, must be spent in reflection, awareness, and gratitude for existence, without speech or movement. This may be anywhere between three seconds to three hours of meditation. 

2. Treasure life.

One that lives the Art of Living must not kill without reason; for even the soul of an animal is precious. Hence, one must not consume the meat of an animal, nor end the flow of an innocent creature’s life.

3. Respect the flow of life and the souls of others.

To live the Art is to respect others. One must accept that the only thing one has control over is the self, and one must not attempt to interrupt the flows of others’ lives for the betterment of oneself. If a friend chooses a different path than one’s, one must not force them onto the same path. If a rival refuses one’s apology, one must not force forgiveness. If a stranger walks past in tears, one may offer one’s presence - but must not demand their burden. The rivers of life flows as it must, and one’s own riverbed is the only thing one can control. 

4. Keep the soul pure.

The soul is an anchor to the self; if it is rusted, cracked or weighed down, it cannot serve its primary purpose. A soul burdened by change will lose its stillness, and in losing stillness, one loses peace. Thus, one must abstain from what clouds the mind or corrupts the inner clarity, for if the river water is poisoned, the riverbed too shall surely erode. 

One must not consume alcohol or substances that warp the mind, for they numb awareness and twist the path to stillness. One must not gamble, for it teaches the soul to hunger rather than find joy in what is already given.

Magic that warps the soul, too, must be avoided; one must not surrender one’s soul to any deity, the void, necromancy or the like to keep one’s soul pure and still. Any magic that alters the soul severs one’s soul from stillness.

5. Live simply.

Cluttering in the world leads to chaos in the mind and soul. Excessive extravagance invites unrest, while simplicity opens the door for peace. One who lives the Art of Living should seek simplicity in dress, home and habit. This is not to be confused with a call for poverty; it is simply the regular practice of clarity. A simple life leaves space for the soul to breathe. Nothing unneeded must burden one’s back or heart. 

6. Be kind, forgiving and truthful.

The act of kindness must not be considered a transaction or a privilege; it is a gift that must be given to all. To live the Art of Living is to offer warmth, help and mercy freely; without seeking praise, repayment or recognition. A soul grows not through reward, but through care for not only oneself but others.

In the same way, resentment and hatred clings to the soul as mud to the anchor. Forgiveness raises that burden. One must learn to forgive not because one man may always deserve it, but because it lifts the soul into a place of stillness. This is not to be confused with forgetting that which has harmed one nor trusting the unworthy; nay, it simply means releasing the weight of resentment. To forgive is not to lose strength; it is to choose peace over poison. 

And, of course, one must be truthful. The act of lying corrupts the soul; telling the truth, while it may not always be painless, means purity. One must speak the truth even when it may bring discomfort, as lies entangle the soul. Still, truth must be delivered with the same compassion with which one shows kindness and forgives; bluntness without care is cruelty dressed in honesty’s robes. One’s truth must be firm but kind as a tree that does not bend but offers shade.

7. Uphold justice.

To live righteously, with a still soul, is to uphold justice - yet one must be aware and cautious to not let the pursuit of justice seep into the rot that is vengeance. When wrongs are sighted in anger, the soul becomes a thing of turbulence. One must stand and fight before evil without letting it shape one’s own soul. A just and still soul must never delight in punishment, but in balance. Nay; the punishment of evil is a terrible thing, as it must mean that there is evil in the world; and it is something to be grieved and reflected upon. One must fight not to destroy, but to protect; not to conquer, but to heal.

8. Better the self.

The path of the Art of Living is not one of perfection; nay, it is of growth. One must not seek to become flawless, but to become fuller. The soul, though divine in origin, is not borne into the world with wisdom; it is shaped and refined through action and intention. It is nourished with discipline.

To better the self is not to loathe one’s imperfections, but to love oneself enough to grow. Improvement must not come from shame, for shame roots the soul in mud. One must instead open one’s mind and soul to the possibilities for the self and continue in one’s pursuit of further knowledge and physical betterment. 

To live the Art is to accept that one is always becoming; and so, one must become with intention. 

 

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References

 

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Congregation of Norbertine Sisters | Days of Recollection. (2023, September). Congregationofnorbertinesisters.org. https://www.congregationofnorbertinesisters.org/days-of-recollection/

Aruna. (2024, August 23). Embracing Impermanence: Why Change Is the Only Constant - Partably. Partably. https://partably.com/impermanence/

‌COLE, K. C. (2000, December 14). One Thing Is Perfectly Clear: Nothingness Is Perfect. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-14-me-65457-story.html

Philosophy Now. (2011). Philosophynow.org. https://philosophynow.org/issues/82/On_The_Soul

stoicsimple. (2023, October 17). Stoic Silence: The Power of Stillness & Quiet in Stoicism. Stoic Simple |. https://www.stoicsimple.com/stoic-silence-the-power-of-stillness-quiet-in-stoicism/

The Power of Stillness. (2025). Philosophycenter.net. https://www.philosophycenter.net/musings/stillness/