The Ponhisattva (Help?) · 4:54pm Oct 5th, 2017
I posted the discussion "New Story, Need Co-Writer, but how...? " in the groups The Writer's Group, Struggling Authors, and Authors Helping Authors in hopes of finding a partner to help me hammer out a concept into a story. Problem is, I've been so skittish and silly about sharing the idea that finding a partner would be impossible, so finally after some words from other members on the site, I'll let the cat out of three bag, and see what happens. Here I will present a few of the major ideas involved.
I want to formulate a Fluttershy-centered Buddhist-themed story in which she and the others five have some reason (a mystery at first) to travel to a far away land (East). The very point of the story is to present Fluttershy as the reincarnation of Equen Shi, Ponhisattva (Bodhisattva) of Compassion. This is primarily inspired by the iconography of the Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin astride a dragon (at this point one can imagine Discord being involved). Guan Shi Yin's stories/legends and very character are also quite fitting for Fluttershy's past lives, I feel. Problem is, however: Why is that important?
What is the Conflict? I'm drawn to casting King Sombra as the Great Mara, buddhist demon who challenged Buddha. But how does this villain arise in the story? Can't be from the onset rather the purpose builds up in the story. (I draw some inspiration too from the Doctor Who Mara Tales). Something about Fluttershy's being this Ponhisattva must be the key to defeating Sombra, saving the land from his darkness.
Another Question: Are the other five mare's also this Equen Shi with Fluttershy? The Little Buddha movie used the imagery of a tea cup being shattered but the tea therein scattered remains to be tea. Maybe all this Mane Six are the One Ponhisattva (but how do I keep Fluttershy unique that way?). By the way I favor Zecora (in the Far East too from some reason) being the one to present this tea cup allegory.
I may edit/add more thoughts to this blog later, but with my time running short... Who could help me with such a story?
It is a very interesting, and quite frankly unique (by what I've come across) story. While not being familiar with that legend or stories (something to look into) I would like to suggest that, just keeping Fluttershy as the Ponhisattva and the others being advisory-types or other characters from the legends. The slight problem that arises from that is: the story shouldn't copy the legends. So getting something unique (building off the fundamental idea is fine) and working it into the story, that is what you must do.
I won't be much help until I learn more. But just remember: your story, write it how you wish. Now that doesn't mean that you should ignore things, or go into pitfalls. No. You should move it how you would like to see it. Everyone could suggest something, but the one person you should listen to most... is yourself. Anyway, I'll look into that whenever I can over the next week. (Feel free to message me, I can generally respond.)
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Ah well first the legends, I don't intend on the whole story to be a rip off of other mythologies, per ce (how do I describe it?). Rather I intend on using legends of Quan Yin to describe Equen Shi in passing here and there (since the two are one and the same). This will happen as the Mane Six, especially Fluttershy, will learn along their undefined mission*. "Who is Equen Shi?" will be the purpose of incorporating the folklore/legends, filler information if you will.
I also mean to have the Dalai Llama ( yes he's a llama) give a tale about the Bhuda (Buddha) with my own twist, connecting Equen-Shi/Fluttershy to an earth pony named (pobably named Wellborn), equated to Sujata who gave rice porridge to Buddha, setting him on the Middle Way. Legend of "Mane`Osha" (Miaoshan) is also a good story to bring up, I'd like to insert pre-canon Discord there as well.
Also, this comes from me, in the spiritual planes, pre-canon Discord will encounter Equen Shi, ask where she's going. She explains how she means to go West [Equestria], carrying with her seeds (6). He's going to ask her what she'll be doing with those seeds, and she will say she'll be planting a tree (Discord will follow her with mischief on his mind). The reader will be lead to understand that the very tree Equen Shi planted was actually the Tree of Harmony*. Seems this Ponhisattva had a grand design all along, which would ultimately culminate in the vanquish of Mara/Sombra.
*Oh, by the way, the means of which Mane Six find themselves in this Far East environment (beyond the "Known World") will probably be by the Cutie Mark Map, in Twilight's castle, which came from the Tree of Harmony, planted by the Ponhisattva herself Equen Shi (whom Fluttershy discovers was herself all along, but by what means and when...?).
Pardon my scattered thoughts, it's a little past 11, and it's been a long day at work. I'll share more thoughts as time goes on.
(PMing this too)
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Answered the PM... this as well... I suppose.
Thoughts shared :
(Me) ... trouble is, I don't know how Fluttershy ultimately finds out. One obvious clue would be her cutie mark...Depictions of a pony (as though a goddess) (who looks nothing like Fluttershy), occasionally with her cutie mark revealed...
(DeshLune) Yeah the temples, monasteries, and statues (and whatnots) would make it a little too obtrusive; but instead of showing the cutie mark, the mark remains covered.
(Me) Yeah, I actually had trouble trying to imagine depictions of Equen Shi in a white dress yet revealing her cutie mark, I'd need to find another way, but Fluttershy's mark must yield up some clue at some point....(it's mlp)
(DeshLune) While I'm still not sure about Zecora (or another character) being there;
(Me) You're probably right, she'd better make an appearance in mainland Equestria, my placing Zecora coincidentally in the same far off land would be too unlikely.
(DeshLune) Part of the journey would be finding out a few things: why they were sent on the journey; why it is them; where exactly they are supposed to go. Then, even if all of those weren't answered, they learn the answer to one, or more, of the questions present and they must set out on the new journey, maybe even a journey of self discovery (though that would be the first one).
(Me) That is sort of the direction intended. Life after Death would be matter looked into in this story. I had considered using Moliminous' speculation of Rainbow's mother dying (2016) as a sort of angle to play, but then I saw season 6 in which she's still alive, so I may want to do something else. Twilight may be highly speculative of all this spirituality, but I'm not yet sure...
Think I'm going to do more research for ideas....
It's a nice idea. I don't know a lot about Guan Shi Yin's legends, but it looks like very interesting. But it must be original, cause it's your story. You can have a inspiration, if it's just a little bit inspired, it's totally okay. But there must be also your own ideas. I don't know much about these legends, so I don't know what are your ideas, and what is inspired... BUT I like very much the idea of that conflict, and I'm happy that there is Discord, he fits there a lot.
Anyways, I think, that you should definitely write a fiction about it, it will be very interesting.
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You might want to check out the Ponhisattva (Update) then for further details. I do have more of my ideas and sources of inspiration therein.
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Bear witness that I am starting fresh with a new account.