Abstract:
Mainline Sensate philosophy is misguided and misdirected. Life is not about gathering sensations. Rather, sensations are the confirmation of life.

Main Topic:
The Sensates believe that the universe only exists if it is sensed. Therefore an object, emotion, or other concept, tangible or intangible, does not truly exist for the Sensate until it is experienced - preferably first-hand, but second-hand at the worst. This kernel of belief is correct, but misguided. All things exist whether a being senses them personally or not. If this were not true, how could the Sensorium function at all - wouldn't the experience being recorded not actually exist in the first place? Therefore, the mainline Sensates are really just hedonists who have perverted this kernel of truth to justify their own chaotic and selfish interests.

In truth, it is life itself that does not exist without sensation. Some would narrow this definition to be "sentient life", but I disagree; one encounter with an animate skeleton or a snuffling bloodhound shows that non-sentient life can sense quite well... But I digress. Sensation is the tool by which the universe communicates with life. Life takes action on the universe in myriad ways, and these actions are responded to through each being's ability to sense. To a standard being, the senses of sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell are the means by which the messages of the universe are received. Other forms of life sense tremors, see through the dimension of time, or even directly sense the spark of life in other creatures. In all cases, though, it is these senses that confirm for the being that it is "real", and that its actions have results.

Limbo is the purest example of both extremes of this philosophy (for a philosophy must be consistent in its extremes or it is inherently false). Where there are no beings present, Limbo has no form and no substance; the universe has no one to "talk" to. Where a single sentient being exists, there too exists matter - a being cannot experience "nothingness" in limbo, for his own actions and presence create responses in the universe around him. Collect enough beings together, you will find that solidity and continuity arise, fashioning a reality in which to exist and sense.

However, it *is* possible for a being to still his own mind and cease projecting actions and thoughts into the universe. The Ciphers call this "being in harmony with the universe". We githzerai have another name for it: suicide (or dissolution, if you prefer). When a life or a mind completely removes itself from the spectrum of action and sensation, it loses contact with the universe. For short time periods, this can be quite calming; a "break" from the constant sensations that bombard the being's sensations and mental processes. Slightly longer periods without sensation, though, frequently result in madness. The mind begins to doubt whether the sensations were ever real in the first place, even once it returns to "normal" life. Many Signers exhibit this dementia, believing themselves to either be part of someOne else's Dream, or Dreamers themselves. (Quite a few, in fact, delude themselves with acts of "creation" as "proof" of their beliefs, when in fact they are merely latent psionics...) Finally, though, a mind denied sensation will shut down and lose all contact with the universe. While fatal for the being performing this (and remember, this is the *goal* of the Ciphers!), it can be quite fascinating to watch. The being's form seems to become "fuzzy", hazy and indistinct around the edges of vision. As the mind dissociates from its sensations, the body loses coherence, eventually becoming nothing more than a blob of cloudstuff indistinguishable from the rest of the plane. (When this occurs outside of Limbo, the cloudstuff is either absorbed into the nearby matter, strengthening its existence, or it drains away to Limbo.)

The conclusion, therefore, is that all life confirms its existence through sensation. Lack of sensation leads to death, first of the mind, then of the body. Even if the sensations are confined to the reality of a small hut on dry hillock in the middle of a swamp, for an entire lifetime - that can be enough for a full and varied life. To the mainstream Sensate, though, such an existence would be boring, maddening, and quite unendurable. They fail to accept that something can be considered art that is not full of vibrant colors, or that the full experience of a tiny thing can be more rewarding and fulfilling than the transient sensations of a thousand different experiences. What being senses influences and defines their life, not the other way around.

It is my *belief*, then, that I confirm my existence through my senses. Even if the Signers are right, and we all are part of some other being's Dream, the personal value of our existence is not diminished. Be we reality or imagination, our perceptions validate our consciousness and our existence. Sentience is not required for life, nor for sensation; but the sentient mind can truly appreciate the wonder of sensation, and the beauty that is being alive.

How does this relate to a Purpose, then? For all Factions except the Sensates describe a reason (or, at least, an explanation) for the universe's existence... My outlook is that, like the Bleakers, I believe the universe does *not* have a reason for existence. It simply "is"; how else could you explain an infinite number of infinite planes, with an infinite number of beings upon them? Therefore, it is each being's privilege to interact with the universe, and in turn accept the sensations that are the universe's response to our existence. (Who knows... maybe the mainstream Sensates are right... and the universe itself is the one true Sensate? Gathering all or myriad tiny sensations and experiences and learning some infinitessimal bit about itself thereby?)

Appendixes:
A - Sensorium Data References, including "Dissolution of a Saint", "Anti-Sensation Cult Suicide Pact", and "Sensory Deprivation in Practice" (incomplete recording).
B - Literary References, including "Clairsentience as a Sense", "Non-sentient Sensation", "Can the Undead be Sensates?", and "Sensory Deprivation, Experimental Results, by Dr. Tetch".
C - Supporting documentation, including "Planar outlooks and their Influence on Sensation" and "The Tapestry in Grey".