Shungyism

Shungyism developed in Upper Vircazihm and spread outward over centuries. Although centered in Upper Vircazihm, Shungyism is a universalist religion. It is the primary religion of Vircazihm with 79% of Vircazihmese identifying as Shungyists. It is one of the primary religions of Tefftan and has adherents worldwide.

Shungyism is a religion centered on the pursuit of the True and Eternal Body through spiritual attainment. Shungyism is deeply rooted in monastic traditions, with its practitioners renouncing worldly possessions and indulgences in favor of introspection, lucid dreaming, and ritual practices. At the core of Shungyist belief is the idea that the material world is corrupt and transient, and that true spiritual attainment can only be achieved by attaining a spiritual state of wholeness. To this end, Shungyists value detachment from material possessions, the peaceful avoidance of conflict, and disciplined introspective practice.

Shungyist monastic practitioners, live in secluded communities and devote their lives to the pursuit of spiritual wholeness and immortality. They spend their days in semi-dream states, performing elaborate rituals that are believed to bring them closer to the Eternal Realm. Dreams are regarded as a powerful tool for spiritual wholeness in Shungyism. Shungyists believe that dreams offer a glimpse into the Eternal Realm and provide a means for communication with the divine. Dream interpretation and manipulation are therefore important practices for both monastic practitioners and lay adherents alike.

Shungyist lay adherents, on the other hand, do not renounce worldly possessions but instead focus on praying to the Shungyist saints, known as the Eternals. Shungyism places a strong emphasis on personal discipline and self-control. Hedonistic behavior and indulgence are seen as contaminating the spirit and hindering progress towards attaining True Form and the Eternal Realm. Shungyists strive to lead a simple and humble life, valuing inner peace and serenity above material gain.

Beliefs and tenets
A summary of important beliefs and tenets of Shungyism:
 * Every person contains sixteen disparate souls
 * The physical world is corrupt and mortal, but there is an Eternal Realm where deities exist and only the spiritually whole can enter.
 * Spiritual wholeness is achieved by aggregating one's sixteen souls into a single whole being.
 * One's souls can be discerned through dreamwork, confession, and introspection.
 * Social harmony as well as individual quietude and humility are valued to allow focus on spiritual attainment.
 * Attaining wholeness and entering the Eternal Realm bestows immortality and godlike powers.
 * Those who attain wholeness, the Eternals, help Shugyist devotees on their path to achieve wholeness.
 * Gods exist but the Shugyists do not worship them, rather they pray and bargain with gods and other immortal beings for knowledge and, ultimately, entry to the Eternal Realm.

Spiritual practice and attainment


The ultimate goal of a Shungyist practitioner is to attain their True and Eternal Body, or True Form, through the practice of dreamwork and physical training. The term True Form (Chye̊̃lu Mĩji), and refers to a state of being that transcends the limitations of the physical world. It is believed that by attaining one's True Form, a practitioner gains entrance to the Eternal Realm, or Chye̊̃lu Je̊tå̃, where the deities are said to reside.

For Shungyists, gaining entrance to the Eternal Realm with one's True Form is considered the ultimate goal, as it is believed to be a form of godhood. This belief stems from the idea that the Eternal Realm is a place where the deities dwell and that by entering it with one's True Form, a practitioner becomes one with the divine. This state of being is seen as the highest form of spiritual attainment, and those who achieve it are revered as great spiritual leaders and guides.

However, not all Shungyists attain their True Form in their lifetime. Those who do not are believed to separate or disintegrate into separate souls when they die. This is seen as a less desirable outcome, as it means that the individual is unable to transcend the limitations of the physical world and enter the Eternal Realm.

Shungyist practitioners engage in a variety of spiritual practices throughout their lives, such as dreamwork, introspection, and confession, all of which are aimed at struggling with their sixteen souls. By doing so, they seek to bring these souls together to attain their True Form and ultimately gain entrance to the Eternal Realm, where the deities are believed to reside.

Dreamwork
Higher practitioners of the religion, known as the Awakened Dreamers, undergo rigorous training to enter into their own dreams in a lucid manner. With practice and discipline, they also learn to enter into a semi-dream state while awake, which is akin to a trance state. The term "Awakened Dreamer" (Jåḍede̊̃ Miṛiho) refers to the idea that through dreamwork, one can awaken to a deeper understanding of oneself and the world. Dreamwork is a particularly important aspect of this practice, as it is believed that dreams are windows into the Eternal Realm. Awakened Dreamers learn to enter into a semi-dream state while awake, in a sort of trance. They also enter into their own dreams in a lucid manner as their primary practice. Through discipline and practice, Awakened Dreamers learn to manipulate their dreams and interpret their symbolic messages. This practice is believed to help practitioners come to terms with their inner selves, including their sixteen souls. This unique approach to spiritual attainment sets Shungyism apart from other religions and offers its practitioners a path towards ultimate completeness, immortality, and divine knowledge and powers.

Once the practitioner has perfected the technique of lucid dreaming, they go about attempting to identify their souls in their dreams. It is exceedingly difficult for a person to identify their own souls and it requires long searching and self-questioning along with guidance from master practitioners and priests. Souls can eventually be identified by certain signs and symbols encountered in dreams. Once identified, the practitioner engages in dream dialogue with the soul until it becomes fully revealed at which point it aggregates and becomes part of the practitioner's conscious being.

Introspection
Introspection (jåḍe miṛiṇå̃, lit. 'awake dreaming') refers to the practice of entering a trance or semi-dream state during waking hours, enabling the practitioner to continue their lucid dreamwork even outside of the state of sleep. During the practice of introspection, the Shungyist practitioner intentionally enters a state of heightened awareness and focus. Through techniques such as controlled breathing, visualization, and meditation, they are able to induce a semi-dream state while remaining awake. This altered state of consciousness allows them to delve into the depths of their psyche and continue their spiritual journey beyond the boundaries of sleep. While in the introspective state, practitioners can actively engage with their dreams, visions, and symbolic imagery, much like they would during traditional dreamwork. They can explore their subconscious, confront their fears, and gain insights into their emotions and desires.

The introspective state allows for greater awareness and self-reflection than lucid dreaming per se. The introspective state in Shungyism offers practitioners a unique opportunity for heightened awareness and deep self-reflection that extends beyond the realm of traditional lucid dreaming. In the introspective state, practitioners delve into a profound level of self-reflection that surpasses the boundaries of ordinary waking consciousness. Unlike lucid dreaming, which predominantly involves interacting with the dream environment and its elements, introspection directs the focus inward, allowing practitioners to delve into the depths of their own psyche and unravel the intricacies of their being.

The ability to engage in introspection is acquired through dedicated training and discipline. Shungyist practitioners undergo rigorous instruction, learning various techniques and methods to induce the trance-like state. They also receive guidance from experienced mentors and teachers who help them navigate the complexities of introspection and its integration into their spiritual practice.

Confession
Souls can also manifest in waking life, but generally without the awareness of the individual themself. This occurs through soul possession when one particular soul temporarily takes over the conscious thought and behavior of the individual. Shameful and regrettable behavior can be one sign of soul possession. While Shungyism does not recognize sin in the way some religions do, they do believe that confessing acts one is ashamed of can help identify a soul possession which in turns helps to identify the soul itself and aids in the journey of soul aggregation. Confessions are made in ring ceremony in which practitioners sit in a circle facing outward, presided over by a master, and in which individuals take turns making public confessions.

The sixteen souls
The sixteen souls are believed to be separate aspects of the individual, each with its own desires, fears, and strengths. Each soul has its own distinct personality and is associated with a particular element or aspect of nature. While Shungyism categorizes the 16 generic souls, every person has individual souls which are unique and idiosyncratic making the identifying of one's own souls on one's dreams difficult. The practitioner works for years to identify the unique signs and symbols of their own personal souls with the ultimate aim of dialoguing with said souls until they learn the specific soul's unique, personal name. This process culminates in the conscious aggregation of the soul into the conscious self.

By struggling with these souls in the Dream Realm, Shungyist practitioners seek to integrate them into a cohesive whole, thus attaining their True Form. Once this form is attained, the individual gains entrance to the Eternal Realm, where they can join the deities in a state of oneness, a state of being that transcends the limitations of the physical world.

The sixteen souls are grouped into four soul palaces (piḍeko tå̃ yuṇu). Each soul palace is associated with the four Shungyist elements and the four cardinal directions and is ruled over by a greater soul being who are called the Four Lords. These greater soul beings derive from pre-Shugyist deities from Ulete folk religion. Each soul palace is believed to house four individual souls.

Symbols of the sacred

 * The moon
 * Stars
 * Cats
 * Soul compass

Examples of soul compass symbols, modern and historic:

Monasticism
Monastics are Awakened Dreamers who practice in communities set apart from normal social life. Some monastics, during certain stages of their practice, leave their monastic communities to practice in isolation in some lonely location away from other humans. Awakened Dreamers engage in a variety of practices within their dreams, including introspection, lucid dreaming, and ritualistic practices. In addition to dreamwork, monastics also place great importance on physical practices that aid in spiritual attainment. These include various forms of trance, fasting, use of psychedelics, and running until passing out. By disciplining the body and mind, Shungyists seek to cultivate the inner strength and focus necessary to achieve spiritual wholeness.

Despite its emphasis on personal discipline and detachment, Shungyism also places great value on community and social harmony. Monastic practitioners often serve as spiritual leaders within their communities, offering guidance and support to lay adherents. The religion also places great emphasis on charity and helping those in need. Advanced practitioners attain a state in which the dream world and the physical world become aligned and they can see other people's dream-selves. This allows them to aid in others' spiritual growth as well as to diagnose conditions related to soul loss or possession.