| Pidanayana | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Founded: |
During the Collapse |
|
Followers: |
10-20 billion |
|
Philosophy: |
Reincarnation, search for enlightenment, Karma |
|
Relationship to other faiths: |
Denomination of Buddhism |
|
Clergy: |
Monks and Nuns, led by the Tulku Lama |
|
Practiced in: |
United Technocracies of Man, Republic of China, Kingdom of East Asia, Cathay Federation, Eurasian Empire, and elsewhere. |
Pidanayana (Sanskrit for the “Pain Vehicle”) is a branch of Buddhism first originating in the 240-300 region of space that has taken control of the State of Kang Gyala and has seen considerable popularity in East Asia, the Cathay Federation, parts of the Eurasian Empire, and even in the United Technocracies where it is widely, if unofficially, practiced among the Frame and Overseer castes (for that all religion is officially banned in the Technocracies).
History[]
Pidanayana grew out of the violent, bloody days of the Collapse and the anarchy that subsequently overwhelmed former Chinese and Soviet systems.
Beliefs[]
Like the earlier Mahayana and Theravada beliefs it holds that life is suffering and that the ultimate reward is attaining Nirvana and escaping the cycle of reincarnation and rebirth. Unlike those other beliefs however, Pidanayana preaches that suffering - or rather acceptance of suffering without resistance - permits the soul to further reject earthly existence and attain enlightenment. Following this reasoning one who inflicts suffering is therefore doing their victims a kindness as they are helping to propel them along the path to Nirvana, indeed such pain-inflicting individuals are actually self-sacrificing since their actions delay their own escape from the pattern of Samsara (death and rebirth).
Devotees of Pidanayana preach a form of Anatta that denies that human beings have individual souls since we are all ultimately part of the same cosmic spirit, and therefore people should not be viewed as possesing a self but merely as rouge vessels for existence. Monks and Nuns practice extreme sadomasochism while encouraging believers to submit to the oppression of their ruling governments and to aid in that oppression as anything which contributes to suffering contributes to mankind’s enlightenment.