Selections from “The Gospel of the Prophet Mani”: The Brief Manichean Catechism, Part 1 of 2

Prophet Mani, also known as the Messenger of Light, was a Persian mystic saint who sought to liberate humanity through a deeper understanding and connection with God. His Gnostic teachings became the basis for the Manichaean religion. Today, we will share with you excerpts from “The Gospel of the Prophet Mani.” The Brief Manichean Catechism

How Did This Universe Come into Existence? “It has always existed on the subtler planes: Two Realms, one of Light ruled by God, and one of darkness ruled by the evil spirit. When evil erupted into the Light-Realm, the physical universe was designed for their gradual separation.”

What Is God? “The infinite and ineffable beneficent King of the Light, manifesting Himself in vast cosmic Powers or Emanations to overthrow the aggression of evil darkness on His spiritual Realm, and also immanent throughout the universe.”

Has the Physical World Any Real Existence? “Certainly it is real, but it exists only until its purpose is achieved by the separation of the Light and darkness. Compared with the Light-World’s eternity, it is only a fleeting shadow dissipated by the dawn.”

What Is Man? “Man is a divine Spirit imprisoned in a body of flesh created by the demons to ensnare his divinity in their world of darkness.”

What Brought the Body into Being? “Charmed by the spiritual beauty of the Light, the demons of the darkness tried to capture it for themselves; so they made the body, to draw the Soul’s attention away from God, its full perfection, to the lower pleasures of the flesh.”

How Can It Become Free? “By uprooting the desires those evil powers personify, and by gradually refining and spiritualizing itself from all that is gross, material, it will at last be freed.”

How Does God Help It to Be Free? “Manifesting as Intuition in the Soul, as the light of Conscience and of Grace, He works from within, eliminating the vices and dark desires, and planting the fragrant flowers of every virtue in the heart.”

Is There Such A Thing as “Fate”? “Fate or destiny results from the individual Soul’s past choices of action, and it binds until those actions have been undone by other actions. It is therefore ultimately under our own control.”