Buddhism

Buddhist	Tradition
Combat	Air
Detection	Guidance
Health	Earth
Illusion	Fire
Manipulation	Water
Drain	Willpower + Intuition
Preferred Spells	Hibernate, Mask, Silence, Spatial Sense, Resist Pain
Preferred Adept Powers	Cool Resolve, Improved Physical Attribute, Improved Sense, Living Focus, Maintain Warmth

The religion of Buddhism has spread across the Sixth World and is commonly practiced throughout Asia, with significant enclaves in North America as immigrants migrated to the continent, either forcibly by their own volition. The religion has developed into three major schools of thought, with only the Vajrayana, or Tantric, school accepting magic as a pathway to nirvana. The other schools largely believe the Awakening is another part of reality to be overcome along the road to enlightenment. While many practitioners of magic claim Buddhism as their religion, the majority of these casters practice a different tradition, normally Wuxing or Shinto. It is believed the majority of this tradition’s followers are located in Tibet, although there are significant numbers in Imperial Japan and continental Asia.

The Vajrayana method of instruction is largely based on the relationship between the master and the pupil. Spells are taught, not studied from a formulae, and are usually part of a larger lesson for the pupil to understand. It is highly unusual for any member of this tradition to attempt to learn a spell from any source other than a teacher, although some practitioners claim Matrix instruction works in the same way.

Buddhist magical techniques include mantras for ritual techniques, with yoga as a method for meditation and physical exercise. Practitioners explain the metaplanes through the use of mandalas to serve as maps. Some Buddhist adepts have a mentor spirit which normally takes the form of yidam, an enlightened being that the yogi meditates on in an attempt to gain enlightenment. The majority of known followers of this tradition are mystic adepts, but that majority is a slim one with mages and physical adepts also well represented in their ranks.

Jeremy Blue Sky, a practitioner of this tradition, resides near Bellingham, Salish-Shidhe. It is considered unusual for a tribe member to practice what locals consider a foreign religion, but Jeremy was raised with Buddhism as the son of an MCT employee assigned to Tsimshian and a local resident. Shortly after reaching majority, Jeremy received Salish citizenship and established a shrine in Sedro-Woolley. He regularly teaches three pupils at the shrine, although only one is normally Awakened. He is also known to take on temporary students from the shadows, although he forbids outside distractions while teaching one of these individuals.

(p43 SG)