Simply put, how do we revive the Fudo movement in New L5R? My biggest question is who would follow the movement? In old L5R they were rivals with P'an Ku, which I feel is a wasted oppourtunity to fit them against a rival worthy of such an interesting and complex movement. The True Rivals of Fudo, are Kolat. Both are openly hated by the leaders and powers that be, but for totally different reasons and something I would like to see is further expansion on the concept of "The Tao Endorses Kolat" vs "The Tao is Outdated". I can imagine The Kolat Masters beginning to pull their hair out trying to understand why their influence in the Brotherhood is being diminished. Seeing as the Kolat used the brotherhood to expand their ideas on the grounds that enlightenment was inherently a breaking of the celestial order so in conclusion the end goal of humans is to break the order entirely. While Fudo express that you don't need to read the Tao, or even read at all for that matter, but to seek enlightenment in any way that you wish as long as enlightenment and understanding is your goal, "All Roads Lead to Rome" kind of approach to enlightenment. The Fudo can use Akodo's take on the Tao and how ever Lion Dojo has a copy of the Tao but it sealed and never opened, they could use that to influence the Lion Clan and that'd be interesting.

So I suppose this is a discussion on "Interesting Stories that can be told with Fudo", I've presented a few ideas if only to get the ball a'rollin'

Well, the Dragon fiction does mention a potentially heretical sect becoming popular. It's only a short jump from one such group to another, with Fudo as a figurehead.

50 minutes ago, Foxtrot Four said:

While Fudo express that you don't need to read the Tao, or even read at all for that matter, but to seek enlightenment in any way that you wish as long as enlightenment and understanding is your goal, "All Roads Lead to Rome" kind of approach to enlightenment.

Makes me think of the dragon line. "What is not wisdom?"

2 hours ago, Laurence J Sinclair said:

Well, the Dragon fiction does mention a potentially heretical sect becoming popular. It's only a short jump from one such group to another, with Fudo as a figurehead.

I thought the basic goals of Fudo and this Perfect Land Sect were pretty different. My understand was that Fudo was a scorched earth against the whole Madness/Pan'ku thing, as well as "Honor blinds you to enlightenment, do your own thing", while Perfect Land is "Peasants can skip the line and join heaven with These 3 Easy Steps !".

I'm not saying one the latter couldn't evolve into Fudo, but they don't seem the same thing at this point.

I've always thought of Fudoism as one one of those cats-paw organizations the Kolat like to use to undermine the established order while also drawing attention away from the Kolat's actual activities.

It is important to establish that Fudoism isn't necessarily heretical, in fact, I would say it is one of the mildest deviations of the core Brotherhood philosophy. Really, the only difference between a Fudoist and a Togashi Tattooed Monk is that the latter will never answer a question straight, while the former will tell you what's his problem. So I guess Fudoism can work as one of " those " Orders, a bunch of weirdos who follow some crazy path to enlightenment, and apparently, Shinsei didn't read the Tao either.

A much bigger question is how one would represent the Fudoists themselves. The philosophy looks... rather exhaustive for your average monk/nun, and it would be interesting to see that most of its adherents fall out from the path much more usually than they become the lunatics the other Rokugani see them. Like, a samurai meets a Fudoist, and instead of the happy-go-crazy weirdo, the monk turns out to be a disillusioned, cynical, burn-out wreck because he has walked all the paths, and neither worked, so enlightenment must be a lie , and both Fudo and Shinsei were madmen.

Fudoism teaches that you must not let anything get in the way of your enlightenment, including eschewing the tenants of Bushido. This is where the heresy comes from. Its similar to Shourido, in that it teaches something different than the accepted/expected philosophy of the Empire and the Empire. And since the Emperor is divine, this means it is evil.

I was under the impression that Fudoists sought to achieve enlightenment by freeing themselves of any resraints on their actions.

So as the saying goes, 'If you see Shinsei on the road, kill him.' Kill brothers, kill fathers, kill sons, the path to enlightenment is found through an ocean of blood.

3 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

I was under the impression that Fudoists sought to achieve enlightenment by freeing themselves of any resraints on their actions.

So as the saying goes, 'If you see Shinsei on the road, kill him.' Kill brothers, kill fathers, kill sons, the path to enlightenment is found through an ocean of blood.

You may be missing the point of that saying...

8 hours ago, shineyorkboy said:

I was under the impression that Fudoists sought to achieve enlightenment by freeing themselves of any resraints on their actions.

So as the saying goes, 'If you see Shinsei on the road, kill him.' Kill brothers, kill fathers, kill sons, the path to enlightenment is found through an ocean of blood.

I think your first statement is correct. However, I don't think Fudoism encourages killing (except Pan'Ku taint), as much as does not discourage killing.

Fudoism is basically 'if it feels good, do it', since a person must instinctively know what will lead to their own enlightenment. It's a very self-centred philosophy, and that's why The Establishment frowns upon it.

3 minutes ago, Laurence J Sinclair said:

Fudoism is basically 'if it feels good, do it', since a person must instinctively know what will lead to their own enlightenment. It's a very self-centred philosophy, and that's why The Establishment frowns upon it.

That and because Fudo sounds like of those brain-teaser games.

I always saw Fudoism as a sort Extreme Buddhism, an "Enlightenment by Any Means". If Enlightenment comes by tripping that courtier in the sauna and watching him as he breaks his neck and dies. So Be It. Something else I'd LOVE to see is Fudoism infect the Kolat syndicates that control the Geisha Houses. Enlightenment by Any Means right? Think of just how alluring that must sound to someone trapped in a Geisha house. You can find enlightenment here of all places, this world and your place is it, they are not cages keeping you from enlightenment on the contrary they are your cart and horse! Who better to understand the nature of the world than those who know male human nature above all? They know themselves and they know them, all that's left is some light contemplation.

My L5R Goal, bring Fudoism back to L5R, make it BIG, and the last thing I want done is to make a Geisha, Fudo AND Enlightened. Not only Validating ALL the views of Fudoism but cementing it as a philosophy and view. Think of how interesting it would be to see a "Protestant Reformation" but in L5R. If you include Fudoism we have Three Enemies Within. Three sects that Inquisitors, and Kitsuke Magistrates alike hunt down and try to expunge. Bloodspeakers, Kolat, and Fudo. You know what they say about the Rule of Three lol

The most important thing I feel, is the freedom Fudoism provides to do things outside of the pursuit of enlightenment the idea that those pursuits, be it Political Intrigue, Military Dominance, Perfection of Tactics, Preforming Art, Whatever you do, THAT will be your cart and horse to enlightenment. I like this idea because it makes weeding out Fudoism harder and harder the only damning thing one can find on a Fudoist is the writtings of Fudo himself.