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The Path of Self-Focus is a Path of Enlightenment that controls the Beast by accepting the world around it and by not interfering with it, but instead focuses on his own self and its capabilities.

Followers of the Path are called Internalists.

Overview[]

Owing a great deal of their doctrines to Asian philosophies – and, to an extent, the Dharmas of the Kuei-jin – the Internalists believe that by accepting the course of the universe and following along without interfering, they cease conflicts and so shut down the Beast. Because changing the world is impossible, you can only change yourself to suit the world, they claim. Aiding others without being asked is striving against the universe, which will ultimately harm both you and the person you helped.

Internalists also claim that only the present is real and each action must strive into the future or the past feeds the Beast. Vampires on this Path accept their Beasts as parts of themselves and even let it roam from time to time, but never let it achieve control. By understanding both his own needs and the needs of the Beast, the Internalist achieves control over it.

Quote[]

Forget everything outside yourself. Everything in the world is mutable by your own will, by your own chosen perceptions. Never forget that you control your own destiny, your own fate, your own future, your own unlife. Master yourself before trying to master others.

- Juleidah, Dominion of the Eastern Hand

Ethics[]

  • Exist only in the moment. Pay no mind to what has been or what is to come. Only the now can be affected.
  • Nothing is exclusive or separate. The intellectual and the visceral are equal parts of your nature. Know yourself and the Beast utterly.
  • To mourn suggests the universe is wrong. When hungry, feed. When threatened, kill.
  • It is better to be underestimated than overestimated. The overconfident do not know their limits, and the weak are underestimated by all. Weakness is strength you have not mastered.
  • Meaning is an invention of the heart. The mind compromises with meaning through words. Actions are the language of the universe. Meaning is immaterial; words are paint, but actions build a house.
  • A being’s responsibility is to itself, not others.

Hierarchy of Sins[]

Path of Self-Focus
Rating Moral Guideline Rationale
10 Accepting everything A bowl filled to the brim will spill.
9 Accepting nothing Oversharpen your knife and it will break.
8 Laziness An ant on the move does more than a sleeping elephant.
7 Interfering in the universe In order to lead, walk behind.
6 Restraining the Beast Struggle creates conflict and moves you out of line with yourself.
5 Failure to treat others as you would be treated / Act as your own master. Even a teacher must be questioned.
4 Allowing the universe to interfere with you You alone control your actions.
3 Overconfidence To know strength, harness weakness
2 Rejecting nothing Water is gentler and more flexible than anything, and yet nothing can resist it.
1 Rejecting everything By not changing direction, you always arrive where you are headed.

References[]

Vampire: The Masquerade Paths
Sabbat Paths Path of Caine · Path of Cathari · Path of Death and the Soul · Path of Honorable Accord · Path of Metamorphosis · Path of Night · Path of Orion · Path of Power and the Inner Voice · Path of Redemption (Nocturnal variant) · Path of the Beast (Feral Heart variant/Harmony variant) · Path of the Sun
Setite Paths Path of Ecstasy · Path of Sutekh · Path of the Warrior · Path of Typhon
Ravnos Paths Path of Paradox (Mayaparisatya · Saṃsāra · Weig)
Tal'Mahe'Ra Paths Path of Lilith · Path of the Scorched Heart · Path of Self-Focus
Other Paths Sharia El-Sama · Path of Blood · Path of Bones · Path of Entelechy · Path of Evil Revelations · Path of the Hive · Path of Asakku
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