Festival/Aug 22: Summer and Babylon and Roman cultures and calendars. Struggling against chaos (Tiamat). Bringing order. Buried in the tomb of flesh and materiality. The stinking bag of pus.
 

Mind:  1. Avoidance of Idolatry
Description: Rejecting false gods and material attachments, focusing solely on the Father of Greatness.
Manichaean Principle: Purity of Worship – Recognizing the One God of Light as the sole source of divine truth, aligning the soul with the World of Light.
Practice: Refusing to worship idols or material objects, affirming monotheistic devotion through daily prayers.
Progression: A novice Hearer begins by purifying their faith, laying the foundation for spiritual focus.
Body:  Zephyr related practices. (daily 20" exercise)
Truths:  Maidyozarem Festival
History: The Sumerian Inanna cult, flourishing c. 3000–2334 BCE in Uruk, centered on Inanna’s descent to the underworld, mourning Tammuz, as detailed in cuneiform texts like Inanna’s Descent. Manichaean statues and meditations on Ahura Mazda aligned inner order with cosmic struggle against chaos (Tiamat). Its unique idea of descent into materiality as a path to renewal shaped Mesopotamian spirituality.
Mythos:  Father & Mother (Origin of the Primal Pair)

Seal of the Hand (5 Exercises)
Seed Planting for Humility
• Basis: Psalm-Book 155 on humble actions. Virtue: Humility (avoid pride). Vow: Avoid hypocrisy (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, kneel before a metal bowl with seeds, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, humble my deeds to free the Cross of Light.” Dig a small hole mindfully, avoiding harm to plants (Kephalaia 7). Place seeds in the soil, reciting: “Humility separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize Light rising in the scroll’s radiant void, free from pride. Sprinkle water from a metal cup, vowing: “I avoid pride to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Ring a metal bell, stand, and bow, affirming virtue.

Vajra Offering for Discipline
• Basis: Kephalaia 85 on disciplined actions. Virtue: Discipline (maintain focus). Vow: Non-violence (Elect).
• Exercise: At dawn, hold a metal vajra before an altar with seeds, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, strengthen my deeds to free the Five Buddhas.” Circle the vajra, reciting: “Discipline liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize Light ascending in the scroll’s cosmic void, free from laziness. Place vegan fruit in a metal bowl, vowing: “I maintain focus to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Ring a bell, touch heart, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Bell Ringing for Compassion
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on compassionate acts. Virtue: Compassion (ease suffering). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, stand before an altar with a metal bell, invoking Living Spirit: “Living Spirit, guide my compassion to free the Cross of Light.” Ring the bell gently, reciting: “Compassion separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize Light soothing suffering in the scroll’s radiant void. Offer vegan bread in a metal bowl, vowing: “I ease suffering to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Touch heart, ring the bell again, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seed Tending for Devotion
• Basis: Xiabu Zan on devoted actions. Virtue: Devotion (offer praise). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
• Exercise: At dawn, tend a planted seed near an altar with a metal bowl, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, inspire my devotion to free the Cross of Light.” Pour water from a metal cup, reciting: “Devotion liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize Light rising in the scroll’s cosmic void, ascending heavenward. Place fresh herbs in the bowl, vowing: “I offer praise to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Stand, ring a bell, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Altar Offering for Service
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on serving Light. Virtue: Service (aid Hearers). Vow: Avoid deceit (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, place vegan fruit in a metal bowl on an altar with a vajra, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, guide my service to free the Cross of Light.” Recite: “Service separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize Light aiding others in the scroll’s radiant void. Vow: “I aid Hearers to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Ring a bell, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Mind:  2. Truthfulness in Speech
Description: Avoiding lies and deceit, speaking only what aligns with divine truth.
Manichaean Principle: Liberation through Purity of Speech – Words must reflect the light of truth, avoiding the darkness of falsehood that binds the soul.
Practice: Practicing honesty in all interactions, avoiding slander or gossip.
Progression: Builds on rejecting idolatry by ensuring speech aligns with divine reality.
Body:  Zephyr related practices. (daily 20" exercise)
Truths:  The
History: The Babylonian Ishtar cult, peaking under the First Babylonian Dynasty (c. 1830–1531 BCE), linked Ishtar to Marduk’s victory over Tiamat, influencing the Enuma Elish and calendar systems. Manichaean alms (einkorn, emmer) symbolized sowing light into matter, fostering order. Its distinctive belief in a primal pair birthing creation elevated Ishtar as a cosmic mother.
Mythos:  Primal Pair (Early growth of the Primal Pair)

Beads for Idle Speech
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on devoted speech. Confession: Idle speech. Virtue: Devotion (offer praise). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, sit before an altar with wooden mala beads and a metal cup of tea, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, guide my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for idle speech.” Move beads, reciting: “Devotion separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize praise rising in the scroll’s radiant void, Light ascending. Sip tea, vowing: “I offer praise to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Eat a vegan fruit, touch lips, and bow, affirming virtue.

Sip for Mocking Divine
• Basis: Psalm-Book 155 on humble speech. Confession: Mocking divine. Virtue: Humility (honor Mani). Vow: Avoid hypocrisy (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, hold a metal cup of tea before an altar with seeds, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, humble my speech to free the Five Buddhas.” Confess: “I repent for mocking divine.” Sip tea, reciting: “Humility liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize honor in the scroll’s cosmic void, Light rising. Eat a grape, vowing: “I honor Mani to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Touch lips, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Chant for Neglecting Hymns
• Basis: Xiabu Zan on faithful speech. Confession: Neglecting hymns. Virtue: Faith (venerate Light). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, chant before an altar with a metal bowl, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, uplift my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for neglecting hymns.” Recite: “Faith separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize hymns rising in the scroll’s radiant void, Light ascending. Sip tea, vowing: “I venerate Light to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Eat a vegan fruit, touch lips, and bow, affirming virtue.

Beads for Boasting
• Basis: Kephalaia 40 on humble speech. Confession: Boasting. Virtue: Humility (accept correction). Vow: Avoid hypocrisy (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, hold wooden mala beads before an altar with a metal vajra, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, humble my speech to free the Five Buddhas.” Confess: “I repent for boasting.” Move beads, reciting: “Humility liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize humility in the scroll’s cosmic void, Light ascending. Sip tea, vowing: “I accept correction to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Eat a grape, touch lips, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Sip for Impure Intentions
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on truthful speech. Confession: Impure intentions. Virtue: Truth (teach wisdom). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
• Exercise: At dawn, sip tea from a metal cup before an altar with seeds, invoking Maiden of Light: “Maiden of Light, purify my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for impure intentions.” Recite: “Truth liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize pure words in the scroll’s radiant void, Light ascending. Eat a vegan fruit, vowing: “I teach wisdom to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Touch lips, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Mind:  3. Rejection of Greed
Description: Overcoming attachment to wealth and material possessions, prioritizing spiritual over worldly gain.
Manichaean Principle: Detachment from Darkness – Greed traps light in material forms; renouncing it frees the soul for spiritual ascent.
Practice: Living simply, giving generously to the poor and the Elect.
Progression: Introduces detachment, preparing the novice for deeper renunciation.
Body:  Zephyr related practices. (daily 20" exercise)
Truths:  Yimki Fast of Ohrmazd, the First Man
History: The Roman Calendar Magi, emerging c. 1st century BCE–4th century CE, adapted Babylonian astrology into Roman timekeeping, with Magi as priestastrologers. Parsee sacramental feasts reflected paradise with five trees, integrating Babylonian and Persian cosmologies. Their unique synthesis of celestial order with earthly ritual bridged cultures.
Mythos:  5 Sons/Daughters of Primal Pair (Differentiation of the Primal Pair)

Vision for Wisdom
• Basis: Kephalaia 85 on wise thoughts. Virtue: Wisdom (discern Light). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
• Exercise: At dawn, sit before an altar with a metal bowl of seeds, invoking Light Mind: “Light Mind, guide my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Breathe deeply, visualizing a radiant void in the scroll’s cosmic flow, reciting: “Wisdom liberates the Five Buddhas.” Focus on discerning Light from Darkness. Vow: “I discern Light to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Offer vegan fruit in the bowl, touch heart, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Bell Ringing for Faith
• Basis: Psalm-Book 130 on faithful thoughts. Virtue: Faith (trust Mani). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, stand before an altar with a metal bell, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, uplift my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Ring the bell slowly, visualizing a radiant void in the scroll’s aeons, reciting: “Faith separates Light from Darkness.” Focus on trust in Mani’s teachings. Vow: “I trust Mani to return to the Light Land, grateful for his guidance.” Offer a plant sprig in a metal bowl, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Breath for Purity
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on pure thoughts. Virtue: Purity (cleanse body). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
• Exercise: At dawn, sit before an altar with a metal cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, purify my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Breathe deeply, visualizing a radiant void in the scroll’s cosmic void, reciting: “Purity separates Light from Darkness.” Focus on cleansing the body through vegan diet. Vow: “I cleanse my body to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer vegan bread in a metal bowl, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.
Vision for Compassion
• Basis: Xiabu Zan on merciful thoughts. Virtue: Compassion (ease suffering). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, sit before an altar with a metal bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, soften my heart to free the Five Buddhas.” Visualize a radiant void in the scroll’s cosmic flow, reciting: “Compassion liberates the Cross of Light.” Focus on easing suffering. Vow: “I ease suffering to return to the

Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer vegan fruit in the bowl, touch heart, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.
Bell Ringing for Devotion
• Basis: Lesser Hymns on devoted thoughts. Virtue: Devotion (meditate on aeons). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
• Exercise: At dawn, stand before an altar with a metal bell, invoking Maiden of Light: “Maiden of Light, inspire my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Ring the bell gently, visualizing radiant aeons in the scroll’s cosmic void, reciting: “Devotion separates Light from Darkness.” Focus on meditating on divine aeons. Vow: “I meditate on aeons to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer a plant sprig in a metal bowl, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.