Vaestic formulae

In Vaestism, Formulae (High Secote: ⰉⰔⰕⰉⰐⰀ Istina, pl. ⰉⰔⰕⰉⰐⰋ Istiny, 'truths') are concise, aphoristic expressions of Knowledge.

Form and content

Formulae may express elements of any kind of Vaestic Knowledge, and as such, have an extremely broad range of content. The most common formulae are aphorisms on human nature and society, giving advice or commands on how an individual should live; these are typically expressed in some kind of verse, making use of rhyme and meter to help memorisation. However, more obscure formulae, particularly those from highly specialised fields such as experimental metaphysics, formulae may be simple mathematical equations expressed in concise form, or may be basic principles with little or no attempt to versify.

Practice

A small Istinimę or collection of formulae, typical of those given to children.

Formulae are used in both private and public Vaestic practice. Within the Vaestic day, certain times are given over to private contemplation of formulae; in most cases Vesnites will fulfil this requirement alone or in small groups. Formulae are repeated, often in musical form, in order to aid contemplation. In mokyklos, this repetition is performed by Scholars or Adepts at the required times of the day, often accompanied by other aspects of ritual; in larger Mokyklos there may be a constant round of formulae sung throughout the day as opposed to just at the mandated times. Memorisation of formulae is a common task in Mokyklos. In a gathering, the norm is for the senior member of the gathering to begin the recitation with the first phrase or word of the formula; the rest of the group then recites the rest of the formula together. In more public contexts, an Adept or Scholar will typically recite the formula first, followed by the rest of the group. The correct recitation and singing of formulae is taught as an aesthetic science referred to as Ricyu.

Traditionally, formulae are collected into books known as Istinimę (ⰉⰔⰕⰉⰐⰉⰥ). In most Vaestic countries, it is typical practice to give small, popular Istinimę to children at important points in their life, most prominently the day when they choose their name but also, depending on culture, at other notable times. These small Istinimę typically consist only of the formulae themselves, usually arranged by topic. Larger Istinimę usually also include commentaries on the formulae contained within them, with major texts giving over many pages to discussion of aphorisms and also to their provenance. Whilst many of these books contain a wide range of formulae, there exist specialised academic Istinimę given over to collections of formulae on specific topics. These are particularly common in specialised branches of Knowledge, where they take the role of textbooks.

History

The existence of formulae derives from the earliest period of the religion when the repetition and memorisation of aphorisms uttered by the Prophet were considered a key element of education in Vaestism: the first written collections of prophetic aphorisms date from the late Marshalate, and before then they were likely transmitted orally. During the Marshalate and afterwards, the aphorisms of particular teachers—initially the Prophetic Marshals, and later prominent Scholars—were likewise memorised and reproduced, or committed to paper for pedagogic purposes. However, the ritualistic usage which we observe among the Vesnites of today dates from considerably later, during the Neritsovid Golden Age. The election of Sobiebor II Zakon as Universal Prophet began the process of reunifying and reestablishing a Vaestic orthodoxy which had been absent during the Wars of Heresy and the Bloody Vacancy. Shortly after his election, he ordered that a survey be made of the state of the Knowledge of contemporary Vesnites and how best to improve it. The result, presented to him more than ten years later in 1531, was the tremendously significant On Ignorance and the Spread of Knowledge, which drew on existing pedagogic techniques established by early Vesnite thinkers, including the repetition of memorable phrases and rote memorisation, as well as providing an enormous compiled travel-log filled with observations about the state of Knowledge in the Vaestdom of the time. The tome recommended that as an aid to memorisation, certain times of the day—just after awakening, after the major lunchtime meal and before sleeping—should be given over to repetition of formulae. Taken by the suggestion, Zakon ordered that this be the practice in all of Vaestdom.

Although formulae attributed to the Prophet and the Prophetic Marshals have extremely high prestige and are among the most commonly found in popular Istinimę, they make up a very small proportion of formulae in general. Formulae typically derive from the writings of prestigious, highly-knowledgeable Scholars; much of the work produced by Scholars consists of positing new or modified formulae. Formulae are not considered to necessarily be eternal truths; in fact, the opposite is generally true because of the constant Vaestic search for Knowledge: many formulae have been supplanted when Knowledge of a specific field has increased. Debates on the accuracy of formulae are very common.