Elchasaites, emerging c. 100 CE in Parthian Mesopotamia under Elxai, blended Jewish, Christian, and Zoroastrian elements, rejecting celibacy and meat. Parsee Nahan baptism purified matter’s hidden sparks (ziwaneh), respecting life’s sanctity. Their unique fiveelement system (heaven, water, oil, salt, earth) structured spiritual practice.

Mani (216–274 CE), founder of Manichaeism, preached separation of light from darkness, with texts like the Cologne ManiCodex detailing his revelations. Sufi hand washing and almsgiving redeemed trapped sparks, balancing material and divine. His distinctive cosmic botany (five plant families) symbolized universal salvation.

Iranian Manichaeanism, thriving c. 3rd–7th centuries CE under Sassanid rule, faced persecution during Zoroastrian dominance. Parsee haoma drinks seeded natural cycles, reflecting the Envoy and Maiden’s unclothing. Its unique ecological view of redeeming sparks through farming integrated cosmology and practice.
 

Seal of the Hand: Feast for Non-Violence
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on cleansing (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Waters of Life”). Virtue: Non-Violence (avoid harm). Vow: Non-violence (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, prepare a vegan feast on an altar with a water bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, bless this feast to free the Cross of Light.” Share fruits as alms, reciting: “Non-violence separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize Light flowing in the scroll’s watery aeons, free from harm. Dip fingers in water, vowing: “I avoid harm to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Touch heart, bow, and affirm virtue.

Seal of the Hand: Seed Planting for Simplicity
- Basis: Psalm-Book 155 on simple acts. Virtue: Detachment (live simply). Vow: Avoid stealing (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, plant seeds near an altar with a tea cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, bless these seeds to free the Cross of Light.” Dig mindfully, reciting: “Simplicity liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize Light in the scroll’s watery flow, free from greed. Pour water from the cup, vowing: “I live simply to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Place a plant sprig on the altar, stand, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Seal of the Hand: Mindful Walk for Humility
- Basis: Kephalaia 40 on humble action. Virtue: Humility (avoid pride). Vow: Avoid hypocrisy (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, walk mindfully, holding a water bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, humble my steps to free the Cross of Light.” Recite: “Humility separates Light from Darkness.” Avoid plants, visualizing humility in the scroll’s watery aeons. Vow: “I avoid pride to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Pour water to earth, place the bowl on an altar, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Hand: Seed Tending for Faith
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on faithful acts. Virtue: Faith (venerate Light). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, tend a seed near an altar with a water cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, uplift my faith to free the Cross of Light.” Pour water, reciting: “Faith liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize Light in the scroll’s watery flow, free from doubt. Vow: “I venerate Light to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Place fresh herbs on the altar, stand, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Seal of the Hand: Alms for Devotion
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on devoted action. Virtue: Devotion (offer praise). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, offer vegan fruit on an altar with a tea bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, accept my praise to free the Cross of Light.” Recite: “Devotion separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize Light in the scroll’s watery aeons, ascending heavenward. Vow: “I offer praise to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Sip tea, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Mouth: Sip for Deceit
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on cleansing speech (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Waters of Life”). Confession: Deceit. Virtue: Truth (uphold honesty). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, sip tea from a bowl before an altar with water, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, cleanse my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for deceit.” Recite: “Truth separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize deceit dissolving in the scroll’s watery flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I uphold honesty to return to the Light Land, virtuous and pure.” Eat a fruit, pour water to earth, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Seal of the Mouth: Beads 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 mala beads before an altar with a water cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, humble my speech to free the Five Buddhas.” Confess: “I repent for mocking divine.” Move beads, reciting between breaths: “Humility liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize honor in the scroll’s watery aeons, Light rising. Vow: “I honor Mani to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Sip tea, touch lips, and bow, affirming gratitude.

Seal of the Mouth: Chant for Impure Foods
- Basis: Kephalaia 40 on pure speech. Confession: Impure foods. Virtue: Purity (cleanse body). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, chant before an altar with a tea bowl: “Mother of Life, purify my mouth to free the Cross of Light,” confessing: “I repent for impure foods.” Visualize Light from vegan foods in the scroll’s watery flow, reciting: “Purity separates Light from Darkness.” Eat a whole food, vowing: “I consume light-rich foods to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Pour tea to earth, touch lips, and bow, committing to virtue.

Seal of the Mouth: Sip for Oaths
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on kind speech. Confession: Oaths/swearing. Virtue: Compassion (forgive faults). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, sip tea from a cup before an altar with water, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, soften my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for oaths.” Recite: “Compassion liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize forgiveness in the scroll’s watery flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I forgive faults to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Eat a grape, touch lips, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Seal of the Mouth: Chant for Failing to Teach
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on wise speech. Confession: Failing to teach. Virtue: Wisdom (teach wisdom). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, chant before an altar with a water bowl: “Mother of Life, guide my teaching to free the Cross of Light,” confessing: “I repent for failing to teach.” Visualize wisdom in the scroll’s watery aeons, reciting: “Wisdom separates Light from Darkness.” Sip tea, vowing: “I teach wisdom to return to the Light Land, virtuous and pure.” Eat a fruit, place a plant sprig on the altar, touch lips, and bow, affirming gratitude.

Seal of the Breast: Stream for Purity
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on cleansing thoughts (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Waters of Life”). Virtue: Purity (cleanse body). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, hold a water bowl before an altar, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, purify my thoughts to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize a stream washing impurities in the scroll’s watery flow, reciting: “Purity liberates the Cross of Light.” Pour water to earth, vowing: “I cleanse my body to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer vegan fruit on the altar, touch heart, and bow, committing to virtue.

Seal of the Breast: Breath for Sexual Purity
- Basis: Psalm-Book 155 on pure desires. Virtue: Sexual Purity (guard chastity). Vow: Sexual Purity (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, breathe deeply before an altar with a tea cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, guard my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize water cleansing inappropriate desires in the scroll’s watery aeons, reciting: “Sexual purity separates Light from Darkness.” Move hands in a flowing motion, vowing: “I guard chastity to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Offer a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Seal of the Breast: Vision for Compassion
- Basis: Kephalaia 40 on merciful thoughts. Virtue: Compassion (ease suffering). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, visualize a merciful stream before an altar with a water bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, soften my heart to free the Five Buddhas.” Recite: “Compassion liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize suffering eased in the scroll’s watery flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I ease suffering to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer vegan bread on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Breast: Yimka Fast for Faith
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on faithful thoughts. Virtue: Faith (trust Mani). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, during a Yimka fast, kneel before an altar with a tea cup, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, uplift my faith to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize faithful waters in the scroll’s watery flow, reciting: “Faith separates Light from Darkness.” Vow: “I trust Mani to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Offer a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Seal of the Breast: Yimka Fast for Wisdom
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on wise thoughts. Virtue: Wisdom (reflect deeply). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, during a Yimka fast, stand before an altar with a water bowl, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, guide my wisdom to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize a clear pool in the scroll’s watery aeons, reciting: “Wisdom liberates the Five Buddhas.” Vow: “I reflect deeply to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer vegan fruit on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.