Monastery: Inner Nexus

[Mother Askani]

Bardotta​

​

Her bare figure kneeled before a stone statuette in a room full of faint primary colors and the subtle smell of an incense. Her spine seemingly pierced the skin covering her back as she leaned in and clasped the palms of her hands together. The humid room, and moist floors sat rather comfortably against her bare skin as she went in for prayer.

Lowering her head, and breathing in an air that was fresh and reminiscent of that on Naboo; she started to feel comfortable with this journey she'd made.

The middle path.

-----

"There did exist cultures that utilized ascetic practices designed for oppressing the body in as variegated as numerous ways. Those who adopted them believed that they would enable them to get liberated from the sorrow possessed by living beings."

She mused over her writing, reflecting back to when it was real; she was reliving it all over again.

"Like a bird that crosses the cloudless sky on a straight line. Everyone is free..."

Her notes were written casually.

-----

Visitors were rather infrequent in this holy place, especially after the Bardottans reclaimed it and rebuilt their Monastery. While the subtle hum accumulated from far flung monks, she was shedding her robes all the way down to her undergarments.

Just a few feet in front of her was one of the attendants; a disciple himself...though less so that he was able to attend to administrative duties as well; that was uncommon here it seemed.

Layer by layer by layer.

She forsook each layer of clothing, becoming more confident with each piece. Before long, there was nothing but her bare body taking up space. Her clothes were whisked away.

-----

"We're convinced that the ultimate goal of existence lied in knowing how to enjoy it to the full and focus all of our efforts on best enjoying sensuous pleasures. How do we break that?" She recorded while reflecting.

"I went into meditation...trying to contemplate and really understand the lesson. There was no instruction...

​

​

 

[Mother Askani]

Bardotta​

2-3 Days Later​

"In the beginning, I thought i'd done something wrong." She mused over the clicks to the datapad entry. "But...I had to immerse myself far enough in as to start thinking about the purpose of this training."

"gahapatidānacīvaraṃ paṭikkhipāmi, paṃsukūlikaṅgaṃ samādhiyāmi"​

​

"The phrase was inscribed in small variables just underneath the statuette, to now which seemed to be devoid of any detailing indicating it was shrouded in layers of clothing."

----

She unconsciously started to play suction for whatever saliva would form within her mouth; there was a thirst growing. Every physical figure needed things in order to be preserved. Her stomach, since the other day, had grown increasingly hungrier. And it was hard for her to focus honestly, because she was so use to being the driving force behind any of her natural impulses.

But wasn't that the point?

Moisture gathered along the surface of her skin...might've been sweat since the room was so humid. She was going in and out of meditation...and so this final time she'd opened her eyes she leaned in to confirm an observation - there were words inscribed into the stone pillar just in front of her.

-----

A couple more days later​

"I was able to uncover the meaning behind paṃsukūla and in some cases it does refer to clothe though this had a different endings and was attached to a longer phrase."

"I know there are certain merits to benefited from this practice...more importantly being spared from the attachment arising out of clothing, or being protected from theft because the abandoned robes are now devoid of value - no more vigilance."

She reflected back over the text,

But then she perked up at the discovery of a silhouette in the dark bundled up just behind the pillar. "I saw these...neglected robes."

She pulled and clawed to dig them up, and she come to some sort of realization or thought; it showed on her face.

"Abandoned robes...." she mused, "Ridding the attachment helps hone virtue and concentration..."

"I renounce to the offered robes, I will train into utilizing only abandoned robes."​

​