Scott Bakker published the latest book in his 2nd Apocalypse series. The Great Ordeal. It's pretty awesome.

The series is 6 books in. The basic premise is that there is a secret monastery where people train to try and become fully aware of themselves, in the sense that they understand why/how they do everything. Mental martial artists, if that makes any sense, ultimate goal is to become "self moving souls", and escape the tyranny of cause and effect. Our protag has to leave the monastery and go out into the world, which is a typical fantasy bronze age hellhole.