Perfidian philosophy

Perfidian philosophy, rooted in ancient pre-Perfidian thought, such as the teachings of Kentomirto, emphasises aligning oneself with the Way. The Way is the fundamental principle that underlies and unites everybody and everything that exists. It is a thread that runs throughout the entire universe.

Here is a summary of some of the basics

The Way is the natural order of the universe, an indescribable impulse that flows through all life. It is both the source of everything and the ideal path to follow in life. It is axiomatic that "The Way that can be described in words is not the whole of the Way."
The principle of "effortless action" encourages going with the flow, acting in harmony with the Way, and not forcing things against their natural course. Going in the direction of the Way will lead to happiness,peace and success, whilst going against the grain of the Way will only lead to stress, conflict and failure.
The philosophy of the Way values simplicity, humility, and living a life free from unnecessary desires, such as the desire for material possessions and/or earthly power. It teaches that true power comes from being flexible and adaptable, like water, which can overcome even the hardest of obstacles by flowing around them. "Water erodes granite".
The philosophy of the Way stresses the importance of balance in life, and emphasises the existence of opposite (but not conflicting) forces that are interconnected and interdependent, like light and dark, or heat and cold. True harmony with the Way comes from balancing these forces. This concept of "dualism in balance" is central to Perfidian philosophy.
The philosophy teaches living in accordance with nature, both in the external world and in one's inner life. This involves being true to oneself , avoiding conflict and stress, and cultivating inner peace.

In essence, the philosophy is about finding peace and harmony by aligning with the natural rhythms of life, embracing simplicity, and letting things unfold naturally.

Philosophy in the Song of Sarawaq the Magnificent

In the great Perfidian epic, The Song of Sarawaq the Magnificent, we read how Valubani met Mirana, a follower of the tradition of Kentomirto, who was a sage and teacher of the Way in her own right -

Mirana, a woman in her middle years with eyes of deepest amber and lustrous silver hair said to him,

“ One day, young Prince, you will be a ruler, so remember that the ideal leader is one that the people barely know exists, and so when his work is done, they will say that they did it all themselves."

“The greatest leader is like the greatest horseman, who controls his mount perfectly with only the lightest touch.”

She also said, "Great acts are made up of small deeds. When you build a tower which can be seen for miles you must start with the first foundation stone."

And also, “Mother Nature never hurries herself, but everything gets done in due course.”

She also taught him to venerate the wisdom and strength of the Heron.

“The Heron has great patience and focus, but when the right moment arrives, and only then, it acts without hesitation. Study the Heron, for its ways are a great example to a leader.

”The Heron is a symbol of strength, poise, elegance, and above all patience. It never hurries, and it knows its path and purpose in life - therefore it is wise. It never wastes energy, and is never diverted from its goal. It is larger than most other birds and is a skilled hunter and flyer - hence it is strong.

The Heron epitomises the proverb - “He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm; he who rushes ahead does not go far."

“One of the most important aspects of the symbolism of the Heron is its dual nature, which is highly valued in the philosophy of the Way. The Heron is wise and patient, but it is also strong and a hunter. It will wait for as long as it takes, but when the time is right, it will strike swiftly and accurately.

It is therefore the symbol of the ideal Gorak, who will strike decisively when conditions demand, and who combines both wisdom and strength.

“In any situation, there will be things you can control, and things you can’t. Concentrate on the things that you can change to improve your position. Don’t spend time worrying about not being able to control everything.”

He always remembered and treasured her words, and he came and sat with her and sought her advice many times.

The advice that Mirana gives Valubani in this passage contains concepts that are absolutely central to Perfidian thought. Other examples are to be found throughout the Song of Sarawaq the Magnificent.

The teachings of the great Sage Kentumirto

"A barrier to action determines what that action should be - what stands in the way shows you the Way."

Kentumirto is a semi-mythical figure, the most important author of Perfidian philosophy, who lived in the settlement that became Danfelgor and whose teachings are known to us through a collection of his sayings written down by his followers. The facts and circumstances of his actual life are clouded in legend. In Perfidian tradition, he was the son of a nobleman, who renounced the world as a young man and became a teacher of philosophy. He is often referred to as the great Sage and conventionally depicted as sitting in the market square of Danfelgor, surrounded by his followers. His name is also sometimes spelled "Kentomirto".

When reading the teachings of Kentumirto it is surprising that he goes out of his way to state that his thinking is nothing new. He says that he is referring back to older traditions, and instructs readers to think back to a happier time when people were more aligned with the Way.

Below is a summary of his basic teachings -

The great Sage teaches the importance of living in accordance with the Way. For him, virtue is achieved by a life of wisdom, moral courage, and temperance. "The Way is like water, which simply flows around obstacles and always finds the right path."
Kentumirto believed that external events are beyond our control and that what is important is how we react to them. Understanding what we can control and what we can't is absolutely central to his philosophy."It is a wise man who knows what he does not know."

Impermanence and Acceptance:
- The great Sage meditated on the fleeting nature of life, the certainty of death, and the uselessness of worrying about what is beyond our control. He taught his followers to regard external events as unavoidable and natural. "Soon enough, you will have forgotten everything - soon enough everything will have forgotten you."
- Kentumirto stressed that everything in life is temporary and that one should recognise one's own mortality, and avoid attachment to possessions or status. "Once you accept that everything in life is going to change, you will no longer try to hold on to anything."
Duty of a teacher:
- Kentumirto understood that one should teach and/or lead by example and felt a moral obligation to serve. "The ideal leader is the one that the people being led hardly notice."
- He taught the importance of acting with patience and humility, and that with any kind of teaching or leadership comes an obligation to act with great integrity. "It is important to try to understand others, but anyone who understands himself is truly wise."
Inner Peace and Tranquility:
- Kentumirto believed that inner peace comes through self-discipline and aligning oneself with the Way - these actions result in an inner calm which external circumstances cannot disturb. "Anyone who is content with their life and what they have, however little that may be, is as rich as any King."
- He taught his followers to act with consciousness and to avoid being ruled by passions or desires."Those who flow with the Way know that it is all the power they need."
Humanity and Compassion:
- The great Sage taught compassion and understanding for others. He accepted humans as they were, faults and all, and taught that all people are part of the Way. "Try to help people. If you cannot help them, at least be kind."
- Kentumirto taught that we should treat others as we would wish to be treated, and to try to understand the faults of others, given that we all share the same human experience. "You almost never have enough knowledge to be able to judge other people's actions with genuine understanding."

Mirana of the Quiet Path

Before she became a revered sage and teacher to the great Prince Valubani, Mirana was known simply as a woman of quiet resolve, walking the uncertain paths of her own life with grace and reflection. Her journey to becoming a nun and a Sage of the philosophy of Kentomirto was one of trials, loss, and ultimately profound understanding.

Early Life and Struggles

Mirana was born in a dusty, windswept village far from the grandeur of Danfelgor, in the bleak hills where the steppe and the forests met. Her father was a shepherd, her mother a healer, and from them she inherited both a love of the natural world and a deep respect for the cycles of life and death. She grew up reverring the old gods, especially the Storm Father, the deity most worshipped by her people, who saw strength in his thunder and the trials he placed before them. Life was hard, and faith in the gods was often the only solace her family had.

However, as Mirana grew older, she found herself questioning the way her people placed their fate solely in the hands of distant and fearsome deities. There was something about the old gods that seemed harsh and unforgiving, and she struggled with the idea that suffering and hardship were simply to be endured without reflection. These thoughts led to tension with her family and the villagers, who saw her questioning as a dangerous rejection of tradition.

When she was barely twenty, tragedy struck. A devastating storm, one her people attributed to the wrath of the Storm Father, swept through her village. Her parents were among the many who perished. Grief-stricken, Mirana set out on a journey, not only to escape the pain of her loss but to seek answers that the old gods had never given her.

The Wanderer’s Path

For years, Mirana wandered through distant lands, searching for meaning. She worked in small towns, offering her skills as a healer like her mother, and spent nights under the stars, pondering the questions that had haunted her since childhood. Why did people suffer? Was there a purpose to life’s hardships, or were they simply to be endured, as her people believed?

Her journey eventually brought her to the gates of Danfelgor, where she found herself in the midst of a city teeming with ideas, cultures, and philosophies. There, Mirana encountered something entirely new: the teachings of Kentomirto.

The philosophy of Kentomirto, offered an entirely different way of looking at the world and emphasised balance, the idea that one must align with the natural flow of life rather than resist it. The philosophy of Kentomirto spoke to her deeply: control of one’s emotions, the focus on inner virtue rather than external circumstances, and the understanding that suffering, when met with wisdom, could transform the soul. Other elements were equally powerful, teaching her to let go of rigid control, to find strength in softness, and to see life as a flowing river—one that could not be mastered but must be navigated with care.

Mirana sought out the teachers of Kentomirto, but none of them spoke to her as deeply as a sage named Erlon, a humble man who lived in a small monastery outside the city walls. Unlike many others, Erlon did not preach or seek to gather followers. He simply lived the philosophy, tending his garden, meditating by the river, and helping those who came to him.

Mirana became his student, not by formal declaration, but by her constant presence. She would sit in the garden as Erlon worked, asking him questions about life, fate, and the nature of suffering. His answers were often simple but profound: “The river does not ask why it flows. It simply moves, and in its movement, it carves the land.”

Over time, Mirana came to understand that the philosophy of Elios was not something to be memorised or mastered. It was a way of life, a practice of balance between action and stillness, between control and acceptance. Erlon taught her that the greatest strength came not from bending the world to one’s will but from aligning oneself with the natural flow of things.

Becoming the Sage

After years of study, Mirana felt called to share the wisdom she had gained, not in defiance of her past but in reconciliation with it. She returned to the city and took up residence in a small shrine near the river, where she began to teach the philosophy of Kentomirto to those who sought her counsel. Her shrine became a place of peace and reflection, where merchants, scholars, soldiers, and common folk alike came to listen to her words.

Her reputation as a sage grew over the years, not because she sought it but because her teachings resonated deeply with the people of Danfelgor. She was known for her compassion and her ability to speak with clarity about life’s most difficult challenges. Her teachings emphasised the importance of self-mastery and virtue, but also the necessity of flowing with life’s changes, accepting what could not be controlled while acting with wisdom and integrity where one could make a difference. She eventually moved to the House of Philosophers in the centre of Danfelgor at the invitation of Gorak Baldan.

When Prince Valubani arrived in Danfelgor, a man raised in the faith of the Storm Father, he was drawn to Mirana’s wisdom. Though a follower of the old gods, Valubani found himself questioning the harsh doctrines of his past, especially in a city as complex and vibrant as Danfelgor. His visits to Mirana began out of curiosity, but over time, they became more frequent, and the prince found in her teachings a path that spoke to the questions he had long carried. In time, the prince and the nun formed a deep bond and Valubani often asked her advice, seeking her counsel on a wide range of matters.

Mirana never sought to convert Valubani away from the old gods, for the philosophy of Kentomirto was not about rejecting one’s past. Instead, she helped him see that the strength he admired in the Storm Father could be found in quiet resilience, in mastering one’s mind and emotions, and in navigating life’s storms with wisdom rather than force. Under her guidance, Valubani learned that true power came from balance, not domination, and that even a prince could find peace in surrendering to life’s flow.

Mirana’s story is one of transformation—from a young woman searching for meaning in a world of suffering to a revered sage who guided others toward wisdom and peace. Her teachings influenced not only the people of Danfelgor but also powerful figures like Prince Valubani, helping them reconcile their past beliefs with the wisdom of Kentomirto. Through her, the philosophy of Kentomirto became even more revered in Danfelgor, offering a path of inner strength and balance in a city driven by ambition and power.

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