The Way of the Avatar

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The Way of the Avatar is a broadly defined way of life in which, generally speaking, a person lives as the embodiment (or avatar) of the Eight Virtues. The Virtues are held by a Wayfarer to be an ideal description of what it means to live a good life, and the Way of the Avatar is the life philosophy of people whose desire to be good is guided by seeking Virtue. These Virtues are derived from the Three Principles, Truth, Love, and Courage.

The Three Principles

Truth is the objective reality, that which is not false

Love is the empathic bond that unites the self to all others

Courage is the will to struggle, for beliefs and for others

The Eight Virtues

Honesty is the dedication never to deceive oneself or another. It is derived from Truth.

Compassion is total empathy for all living beings. It is derived from Love.

Valor is the courage to stand up for your beliefs, even in the face of physical or psychological threat. It is derived from Courage.

Justice is the truth of what is right and wrong in human action and the love of that which is right. It is derived from Truth and Love.

Sacrifice is the helping of others at the cost of one's own well-being. It is derived from Love and Courage.

Honor is the courage to defend and uphold the truth. It is derived from Truth and Courage.

Spirituality is the quest to improve one's own inner being and enlighten and brighten the lives of others. It is derived from Truth, Love, and Courage.

Humility is the knowledge of one's place in the world, reached through an understanding of the sanctity of all beings. It is independant of the Principles.

One who emodies all of these things and more is called an Avatar. How can any one person 'embody' all of the qualities listed above? It is not at all a matter of being 'perfect' or 'holy' in any way - it is just a Way of living and a state of being in which you constantly affirm what is good in life and struggle against what isn't. The difference between an Avatar and another Wayfarer is that while the Wayfarer cherishes and seeks the Virtues, the Avatar embodies them. However, an Avatar's Virtue does not make them greater than or 'superior' to anyone. The key to the Way is the search for what is good, and this holds true for Avatar and Wayfarer alike.

To be an Avatar does not necessarily mean acting on all of these Virtues all of the time. When there appears to be a conflict in Virtues, the Avatar must decide which action is the most Virtuous one to take. This may lead to a seeming violation of these Virtues but only in the choice of the"lesser of two evils." However, being an Avatar means always having what is good at the core of your very being.

The Way of the Avatar is a quest to understand the universe, to cherish all around you, to struggle for your beliefs, and to have meaning. It is an attempt to discover and describe what is good in life, and by doing so, to live it. This is the Way of the Avatar

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"Your path offers both great risk and grand reward, but you are concerned with neither. Driven to follow this, the highest path, by forces unknown and unknowable, you follow the Way of the Avatar to whatever end destiny has decreed."
- Ultima VI Compendium

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The Three Principles
Truth	is the objective reality, that which is not false
Love	is the empathic bond that unites the self to all others
Courage	is the will to struggle, for beliefs and for others

The Eight Virtues
Honesty	is the dedication never to deceive oneself or another. It is derived from Truth.
Compassion	is total empathy for all living beings. It is derived from Love.
Valor	is the courage to stand up for your beliefs, even in the face of physical or psychological threat. It is derived from Courage.
Justice	is the truth of what is right and wrong in human action and the love of that which is right. It is derived from Truth and Love.
Sacrifice	is the helping of others at the cost of one's own well-being. It is derived from Love and Courage.
Honor	is the courage to defend and uphold the truth. It is derived from Truth and Courage.
Spirituality	is the quest to improve one's own inner being and enlighten and brighten the lives of others. It is derived from Truth, Love, and Courage.
Humility	is the knowledge of one's place in the world, reached through an understanding of the sanctity of all beings. It is independant of the Principles.