Feast/Oct 21: Manichaean influence on Shiites, Sufi and Dervish. Rumi, Hafiz, Rabia poetry. Loving life, seeing beauty everywhere. Whirling, dancing, happiness. Manichaean fasting. Scattered soul sparks (Henry Corbin in Iranian Man of Light) (Olive Harvest.)

Shiite CryptoManichaeans, c. 8th–10th centuries CE in Abbasid Persia, influenced by Manichaeanism, revered the Last Imam, as explored by Henry Corbin. Manichaean malas and mantras sought the Just Judge, scattering soul sparks. Their unique esoteric theology bridged Shiism and mysticism.

Rumi (1207–1273 CE), a Persian Sufi poet, founded the Mevlevi order, with works like the Masnavi celebrating divine love. Sufi staff and whirling dances embodied beauty everywhere, transcending materiality. His distinctive heartcentered poetry universalized Sufi devotion.

Sufi Orders, flourishing c. 12th–15th centuries CE (e.g., Qadiriyya, Naqshbandiyya), drew from Hafiz and Rabia, emphasizing joy and fasting. Manichaean banners and illuminated books unveiled the New Aeon, merging soul with divine light. Their unique ecstatic practices (whirling, poetry) enriched Islamic mysticism.
 

Seal of the Hand: Feast for Non-Violence
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on peaceful acts (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Praise to Peace”). Virtue: Non-Violence (protect life). Vow: Non-violence (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, prepare a vegan feast on an altar with a star image, invoking Living Spirit: “Living Spirit, bless this feast to free the Cross of Light.” Share fruits as alms, reciting: “Non-violence separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize peace in the scroll’s windy aeons, free from harm. Circle hands, vowing: “I protect life to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Place a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Hand: Seed Planting for Faith
- Basis: Psalm-Book 160 on faithful acts. Virtue: Faith (trust Mani). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, plant seeds near an altar with a moon image, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, bless these seeds to free the Cross of Light.” Dig mindfully, reciting: “Faith liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize Light in the scroll’s windy flow, free from doubt. Pour water, vowing: “I trust Mani 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: Mindful Walk for Devotion
- Basis: Kephalaia 85 on devoted acts. Virtue: Devotion (sing hymns). Vow: Avoid idolatry (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, walk mindfully, holding a plant sprig, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, inspire my devotion to free the Cross of Light.” Recite: “Devotion separates Light from Darkness.” Avoid plants, visualizing hymns in the scroll’s windy aeons, Light ascending. Vow: “I sing hymns to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Place the sprig on an altar with a star image, bow, and affirm virtue.

Seal of the Hand: Seed Tending for Humility
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on humble acts. Virtue: Humility (accept correction). Vow: Avoid hypocrisy (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, tend a seed near an altar with a moon image, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, humble my acts to free the Cross of Light.” Pour water, reciting: “Humility liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize humility in the scroll’s windy flow, free from pride. Vow: “I accept correction to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Place a plant sprig on the altar, stand, and bow, expressing gratitude for Mani.

Seal of the Hand: Alms for Discipline
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on disciplined acts. Virtue: Discipline (avoid laziness). Vow: Non-violence (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, offer vegan fruit on an altar with a star image, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, strengthen my discipline to free the Cross of Light.” Recite: “Discipline separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize discipline in the scroll’s windy aeons, Light ascending. Vow: “I avoid laziness to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Place fresh herbs on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Mouth: Sip for Harsh Words
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on kind speech (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Praise to Peace”). Confession: Harsh words. Virtue: Compassion (show kindness). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, sip tea from a cup before an altar with a moon image, invoking Living Spirit: “Living Spirit, soften my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for harsh words.” Recite: “Compassion liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize kind words in the scroll’s windy flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I show kindness to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Eat a fruit, touch lips, and bow, grateful for Mani.

Seal of the Mouth: Beads for Blasphemy
- Basis: Psalm-Book 160 on faithful speech. Confession: Blasphemy. Virtue: Faith (venerate Light). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, hold mala beads before an altar with a star image, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, lift my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for blasphemy.” Move beads, reciting between breaths: “Faith separates Light from Darkness.” Visualize veneration in the scroll’s windy aeons, Light ascending. Sip tea, vowing: “I venerate Light to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Eat a grape, touch lips, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Mouth: Sip for Deceitful Promises (Day 1, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Kephalaia 85 on disciplined speech. Confession: Deceitful promises. Virtue: Discipline (maintain focus). Vow: Avoid deceit (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, mark a sacred space with stones, draw a sand circle, and sip tea from a cup before an altar with a moon image, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, strengthen my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for deceitful promises.” Recite: “Discipline liberates the Cross of Light.” Visualize focus in the scroll’s windy flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I maintain focus to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Eat a vegan whole food, touch lips, and bow, grateful for Mani’s teachings.

Seal of the Mouth: Chant for Failing to Teach (Day 2, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on wise speech. Confession: Failing to teach. Virtue: Wisdom (discern Light). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, within the stone-marked space, redraw the sand circle, and chant before an altar with a star image: “Zurvan, guide my teaching to free the Cross of Light,” confessing: “I repent for failing to teach.” Visualize wisdom in the scroll’s windy aeons, reciting: “Wisdom separates Light from Darkness.” Sip tea, vowing: “I discern Light to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Eat a fruit, place a plant sprig on the altar, touch lips, and bow, affirming virtue.

Seal of the Mouth: Sip for Oaths (Day 3, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on pure speech. Confession: Oaths/swearing. Virtue: Purity (cleanse body). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, within the stone circle, redraw the sand circle, and sip tea from a cup before an altar with a moon image, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, purify my speech to free the Cross of Light.” Confess: “I repent for oaths.” Recite: “Purity liberates the Five Buddhas.” Visualize pure words in the scroll’s windy flow, Light ascending. Vow: “I consume vegan foods to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Eat a fruit, touch lips, and bow, grateful for Mani’s teachings.

Seal of the Breast: Five-Day Fast for Sexual Purity (Day 4, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on pure desires (Hymns of the Lower Section, “Praise to Peace”). Virtue: Sexual Purity (focus on Light). Vow: Sexual Purity (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, during a five-day fast, within the stone-marked space, redraw the sand circle, and kneel before an altar with a star image, invoking Maiden of Light: “Maiden of Light, purify my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize soul ascending in the scroll’s windy aeons, free from inappropriate desires, reciting: “Sexual purity separates Light from Darkness.” Vow: “I focus on Light to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue. Visualize life after death: soul rising, free from disease, toward the Light Land.

Seal of the Breast: Five-Day Fast for Five Trees (Day 5, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Psalm-Book 160 on faithful thoughts, Five Trees of Paradise (Lesser Hymns). Virtue: Faith (venerate Light). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, during the five-day fast, within the stone circle, redraw the sand circle, and stand before an altar with a moon image, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, lift my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize soul nearing Five Trees in the scroll’s windy flow, reciting: “Faith liberates the Cross of Light.” Vow: “I venerate Light to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Offer vegan fruit on the altar, touch heart, and bow, grateful for Mani. Visualize life after death: soul approaching divine trees, free from death.

Seal of the Breast: Five-Day Fast with Maiden (Day 6, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Kephalaia 92 on soul’s ascent, Maiden of Light (Lesser Hymns). Virtue: Devotion (renew zeal). Vow: Uphold faith (Hearers).
- Exercise: At dawn, during the five-day fast, within the stone-marked space, redraw the sand circle, and kneel before an altar with a star image, invoking Mother of Life: “Mother of Life, guide my soul to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize soul ascending with Maiden of Light in the scroll’s windy aeons, reciting: “Devotion separates Light from Darkness.” Vow: “I renew zeal to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue. Visualize life after death: soul guided by Maiden, free from contamination.

Seal of the Breast: Five-Day Fast with Wise Judge (Day 7, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Xiabu Zan on judgment, Wise Judge (Kephalaia 92). Virtue: Wisdom (guide others). Vow: Truthfulness (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, during the five-day fast, within the stone circle, redraw the sand circle, and stand before an altar with a moon image, invoking Zurvan: “Zurvan, judge my heart to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize soul before Wise Judge in the scroll’s windy flow, reciting: “Wisdom liberates the Five Buddhas.” Vow: “I guide others to return to the Light Land, pure and virtuous.” Offer vegan fruit on the altar, touch heart, and bow, grateful for Mani. Visualize life after death: soul judged, ascending to Light.

Seal of the Breast: Five-Day Fast for Absorption (Day 8, Parsee Ritual)
- Basis: Lesser Hymns on soul’s ascent (Kephalaia 92). Virtue: Purity (cleanse body). Vow: Purity in consumption (Elect).
- Exercise: At dawn, during the five-day fast, within the stone-marked space, redraw the sand circle, and kneel before an altar with a star image, invoking Zurvan and Mother of Life: “Zurvan and Mother of Life, absorb my soul to free the Cross of Light.” Visualize soul crossing a light bridge, merging with Zurvan and Mother of Life in the scroll’s radiant aeons, reciting: “The purity then that was spoken of is the separation of Light from Darkness, and pure from turbid waters” (Kephalaia 7). Vow: “I purify my body to return to the Light Land, grateful for Mani’s teachings.” Offer a plant sprig on the altar, touch heart, and bow, affirming virtue. Visualize life after death: soul fully absorbed, free from disease and death, united with divine goodness in the Light Land.