October 2008

 

The Noble Art - Jamie Alexander

 

    Dear fellow Duelists,

 

I should like to begin with a quote: "The secret waits for the insight of eyes unclouded by longing. Those who are bound by desire see only the outward container." (Blakney, R. B. Tao Te Ching, Signet Classics, United States of America, 2007, p 59.) This quote comes forth from the great Lao Tzu, who, along with many another Chinese philosopher, understood perfectly the workings of this Earth. They discovered, through many years of arduous reclusive studying in the valleys of the Great Country, that the secret to Life is to live not in the way that people do now; nay, they discovered that the only way to live was to live as Heaven does: free and flowing, like a mountain stream, carelessly coursing over everything in its path, with enough delicacy to leave intact every ounce of moss on a rock, and yet with force enough to be not stopped by anything. At this time, as was done back then, people are living with the Desires that stem anon from their Bodies bening in control of their Minds, whereas this is folly: they have been consumed by these desires, and so they do destructive things, and all in the name of gaining personal and fleeting pleasure, which is nothing but a self-centered and disgusting way to live.

 

Needless to say that I, too, believe in Lao Tzu's way of living (otherwise not would I be here conveying this to all whom read it). I have, for absence of a better word, discovered, that, as a Duellist, one can live by this way, and in doing so would the Duelist become again a Human (because living in the current way humans have become nothing but animals). This way is centred on teachings from both Taoism and Buddhism, and melds them together to create one noble religion for the Duellist to follow: and that religion is called Cyber-Style. While Cyber-Style is known to all as an Archetype within our Game, I have joined the ranks of less enterprising Duellists conveying their feelings about our Game, to tell all that is not only this; I bring all a hope in the form of my studyings and discoveries about this most noblest of religions. I am in the process of documenting all that I find, and so thus the purpose of this time right now is to bring to all the first chapter of my text, the Jiao De Gaogui Yi (Teaching of the Noble Art, in its English translation), which, once finished in its physical form, shall be the sacred text of the religion of Cyber-Style. I hope that in doing so I will be able to pierce some ignorant minds and bring some Duellists the closer to releasing themselves of their disgusting ways, and be able realise the full potential of the Human.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Jamie Alexander

jamie_alexander@y7mail.com

 

 

Jiao de Gaogui Yi

Teaching of (the) Noble Art

 

Chapter 1

 

Atop a tall mountain in the south of China the two Dragons and the Ogre – Cyber End Dragon, Cyberdark Dragon and Cyber Ogre 2 – descended to Earth from the Heavens. Each was noble and awe-inspiring to behold, and of a different leaning within the philosophy of the Yin-Yang: Cyber End Dragon was the God of the Yang, the light, and the positive force: it governed over all that was energy, masculine, warm, the seasons of Spring and Summer, the Sun, the day-time, and the Heavens; Cyberdark Dragon was the God of the Yin, the dark, and the negative force: it governed over all that was matter, feminine, cold, the seasons of Autumn and Winter, the Moon, the night-time, and the Earth; and Cyber Ogre 2 was the God of the He, the harmonious, both the Yin and the Yang in a single state of equilibrium: it governed over Nature, which was come into existence when Heaven and Earth were formed as one. Despite these leanings however, which on first appearance seem opposite, each believed in the same rule for life: and that rule was that there was quite simply no life without respect. They, the High Gods, now administrate over all that is pure and good and honourable in the Noble Art of Cyber-Style.

 There were below them situated three more tiers of Gods. Underneath Cyber End Dragon were four more deities: three, containing a tier all to themselves, were Under Gods, and the other was one of the Five Superlatives; Cyberdark Dragon watched over three, and each was one of the Five Superlatives; and Cyber Ogre 2 oversaw one: it was the fifth of the Five Superlatives. Thence beneath all of those Gods was to be found one last tier, a tier of six Lesser Gods. But all of these Gods, which dwelt beneath the divinity of the High Gods, were by no means ‘lesser’ than the High Gods, but instead they were all created equal. This was one of the teachings of the High Gods on the way of life that fell under the ideal of respect; for if everybody was of equal distinction then respect was much more widely available.

Now the High Gods were entrusted with a task, a task so mighty that they and they alone should be given it. At their meeting atop the mountain they carried out this task, and their task was this: to discuss a problem, a problem which infuriated them terribly. Their quarry was that the Duellists of the age were not as respectful and honourable as they should be. They spoke to each other about this in strange tongues not known by many Men. Cyber End Dragon was the first to speak:

“I have watched these Duellists from afar,” said it, “and have not liked what I have seen. Ever have they been much disrespectful to themselves, and to their cards, and to everybody about them, and all in the name of winning. Why?” cried it. “Wherefore have they become like this?”

“The answer to that question is simple,” Cyber Ogre 2 said. “They have been consumed by the Yearning to be victorious that they have resorted to unnecessary means to do so, forgetting that respect of their own heart and to use their Archetype with respect is power enough on its own; they are naught but empty shells, devoid of any and all higher purpose, and their Spirits have been encased in their bodies as a jail, unable to break free and rule, like they should do.”

“This is grave indeed,” said Cyberdark Dragon. “But is it true? For to anybody this news would seem as though it were fake, perhaps thought to be taken from somebody’s darkest thoughts and pretended to be real. But yes, alas, it is. I too have seen these quandaries that you speak of, and it has cast a shadow over my heart; but my heart would be glad again to see this change, and so there is and must be a question asked: what can we hither do about it?”

“Ah, yes, Cyberdark Dragon,” said Cyber End Dragon in reply, “you speak the truth. We must ask ourselves that very question. But we should ask no more! for I think I have the answer: we should become Duelling cards ourselves, and all of our other disciples should join us, and become an Archetype of respect and honour and virtue, an Archetype that Duellists will use with pride, and they should thereon, having attained Enlightenment, be known as Cyber-Stylists. For Cyber-Style will be more than just an Archetype; it will be a religion. Through this religion will they gain a higher understanding of Duelling; and not only that, but through this understanding of Duelling a higher understanding of life itself. Cyber-Style will be the last salvation of the Duellists!”

There was a short pause in which Cyberdark Dragon and Cyber Ogre 2 pondered this, and then the silence was broken by Cyberdark Dragon: “I agree with your design, Cyber End Dragon,” said it. “It sounds as though it would be the perfect solution. What do you think, Cyber Ogre 2?”

“I agree as well,” said Cyber Ogre 2 in answer. “We shall proceed with Cyber End Dragon’s idea, ere all Duellists are beyond help.” Having made this decision the three High Gods did not dither, but instilled their idea into the mind of The Creator. Upon receiving this inspiration The Creator was bound to create the theme, and that theme would be perfect, containing all the ideals of respect that the High Gods envisioned was necessary to save the Duellists from a terrible fate.

These ideals are now three fold: first, the Duellist should respect itself; second, the Duellist should respect its cards; and third, the Duellist should respect its opponent. These three perfect ideals are the Three Major Principles, and these perfect ideals will lead the Cyber-Style Duellist on the right path. For the High Gods believe that while Duelling may be about trying to win, an Archetype with such beliefs as the Noble Art of Cyber-Style demands more than just being able to win. It demands a certain respect and worship and that can only be achieved by using the Archetype properly, and sometimes properly does not claim victory. However then, properly is much more important, for using Cyber-Style properly nurtures the Spirit and takes it on a journey which is unable to be embarked on otherwise, thither arriving at its destination enriched and alive. Only then can the Cyber-Style Duellist become a Cyber-Stylist.

But the three High Gods, in their infinite and undying wisdom, also set down five rules which the Cyber-Style Duellist must obey if ever they wished to attain their Enlightenment of the Right Power. For it is not just enough to Duel by the Three Major Principles of Cyber-Style, because that is but one rule, and there are four more: that the whole Set that the Duellist is chosen by will be used; that no other Archetype shall be combined with Cyber-Style; that the Duellist will use Cyber-Style Support Monsters to back up their Set; and that Fusion-Strategy must be used as the chief strategy of the Deck. Each is required, and each abets the cause. The Four Rules of Cyber-Style do so in this way: the last is enforced because the High Gods became Fusion Monster Cards, and the Five Superlatives their Fusion Material Monsters, so thus to use the Archetype properly the Cyber-Style Duellist would need to use Fusion-Strategy. The third rule encompasses all that the Lesser Gods are about. They are now Cyber-Style Support Monsters and they each have Effects that help and protect all other Cyber-Style Monsters, and that is a need in the Cyber-Style Deck. The second rule tells of how the Archetype will not work properly if the whole Set is not employed. And, finally, the first rule states that the Three Major Principles must be adhered to. But all of these rules still fall under the same ideal: respect.

To be able to distinguish a Cyber-Stylist from a non-Cyber-Stylist a simple way is used: that is that Cyber-Stylists should wear what is referred to as a Dai, a Cyber-Style Band. Making one of these sacred items is done as thus: one must cut a piece of fabric of one’s choice (preferably one depicting images or symbols relative to Cyber-Style’s cultural heritage) approximately one single inch wide and four inches long; thence should it be folded width-wise to form a half-inch band, and the two edges should then be secured; a loop, which comfortably conforms to one’s small finger on the right hand must be tied in the end, consequently resulting in a two inch tail, and this loop should then be secured to prevent unravelling; the Cyber-Style Band is then worn on the small finger on the right hand, because the right hand is the one that places cards on the Field. This sacred object should be worn with pride, for its meaning is steeped in the essence of Cyber-Style, as is described in the poem the Shi De Sheng (Verse of Life):

 

Cyber-Style is my life;

the Major Principles may way;

the Rules my guides;

the High Gods my teachers.

My Spirit will be free

once the Band is worn.