Avodai believe in the Light, the fabric of our universe who nourishes all life, as the sun sustains greenery. Tradition teaches that the Light gave the Avodai The Book of the Way to guide Avodai life. Some modern scholars now say that humans wrote The Book of the Way, inspired by the Light.
The Avodai believe that the Way is a precious gift bestowed upon to the Avodai, but it is not the only path to the Light or to a moral life for other peoples.
The four core Avodai precepts follow:
- Tend to the light of life in all creatures, therefore do not desecrate the life of any creature
- Pursue wisdom and knowledge. Let not falsehood and slander come from your lips
- Keep Zabbah holy and as a day of rest
- Give thanks and praise the Light in the morning and evening, for the Light is the eternal fount of life
Holy Texts #
The Word is a general reference for the body of religious texts and commentary. It is said that the Word is a fount of wisdom that can only be found through rigorous study from generation to generation. Each consecutive generation digs deeper into the well of knowledge. Therefore the Word is like a tree with The Book of the Way as its roots, The Book of Commentary as its trunk, and each scholar’s work as its branches. The more esoteric interpretations are called the Book of Legends.
Dietary Laws #
The Avodai are vegetarian so as to not take unnecessary life. The dominant Lumdai culture is omnivorous.
Death Rituals #
Shepherds of Souls and their civilian volunteers in the Mourning Committee helps guide the dying on their next journey. They help the person let go of any of their guilt, so the departed souls will not haunt us as Gilguls or possess the living as Dybbuks. A Shepherd of Souls leads their loved ones in a special song to guide their passing while playing timbrel. Upon death, the Shepherd of Souls washes the body and dresses the deceased in a simple white cloak. Avodai bury the dead as soon as possible. Between death and burial, at least one other person always guards the body.
The Mourning Committee also pays for funeral expenses, ensuring that survivors are fed and cared for during their week of intense mourning. They also organize many of the activities during the Week of Returning & Becoming which is a time of personal reflection and rectification for past wrongs. Adults fast from sunrise to sunset, eating only small meals while it is still dark. No one eats dairy or sweets even in the evenings. Everyone writes letters of apology to one another for any wrongs in the past year.