Perhaps one of the Path of the Yazhi’s biggest functional weaknesses (at least, from a purely analytical, anthropological standpoint, of course!) Can be seen in an aspect that is firmly rooted in it’s basic moral structure; it is a key belief of every practicing Yazhi that the Yazhi chooses it’s own representatives (through dreams, visions, and exposure to different information that person might have otherwise overlooked, etc. See Reading Into Things: Messages and Visions for more info on how this plays into Yazhi religious beliefs and practices.) and that, for a Yazhi to “spread the faith” or actively attempt to convert others is a grievous offense (on the spiritual level, akin to a sin in Christianity.) They have a saying which illustrates this quite profoundly; “he who searches for the Yazhi, finds the Yazhi, if the Yazhi wishes to be found; thus the faith remains undiluted by souls with questionable loyalty to the divine.”* A Yazhi who would actively seek to gather converts is seen by his or her bretheren within the faith as being self-righteous, as if he or she disapproved of the way the Yazhi operates the one most sacred aspect of the faith, and that he or she might actually do better and still allow the grand design of the universe to come to fruition. 

This difference from other religions, especially those that actively encourage the “spreading of the faith,” has stifled it’s growth considerably; a religion that discourages it’s own promotion and has no real concept of “holy wars” can’t really keep up with those that do. One of the most fundamental reasons for the success of many of today’s major faiths is the blood-boiling, faith-inspiring lure of fighting for an intangible goal using tangible means, of using faith as a springboard to change the mortal world in a way that might effect the spiritual realm; when done in the name of a deity, even the most heinous acts begin to seem marginally pious, necessary sacrifices for the divine, regardless of how these acts might be viewed otherwise. Only religion can turn a sinner into a saint, and vice versa. With this in mind, it is almost a miracle that the Path of the Yazhi still survives to this day, and it is a testament, perhaps, (at least, as a Yazhi would view it) to the existence of the divine itself, and a grander purpose thereof.

    But I digress; while this unspoken rule against conversion is taken very seriously by those who follow the Path of the Yazhi, it has one interesting little loophole that is definitely worth mentioning; it is perhaps the only structural reason that the faith does not crack apart and collapse in on itself under the weight of the unspoken rule. While a Yazhi cannot “spread the word” or actively seek to gather converts, a Yazhi is not forbidden to inform others of his or her faith, but even that is a little tricky. A Yazhi can discreetly provide information, answer questions, and point those who are curious in the right direction, but only if the material or the answers in question are sought and not offered freely and without provocation, or forced upon the individual. (I.e. it’s okay for a Yazhi to teach or tell if asked to, but is considered low and rather sinister for a Yazhi to simply approach someone with the intent of “informing” them or to leave “informing” literature where it can be found.)

Few things are considered to be the sole domain of the Yazhi, and these critical points in the faith are well observed by those who chose to follow the Path. There is no retribution, no Hell in the afterlife generally accepted by Yazhi as a whole, except that which a Yazhi creates for him or herself knowingly; when a Yazhi’s soul becomes one with the Yazhi, he or she judges him or herself, and chooses the lessons to be learned in the next life appropriately.

* Interview: Breta C.