 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Intro - to Manichaeanism Beliefs - Teachings & Practices Texts - Literary Remains Timeline - Chronology Offshoots - Branches & Hybrids Enemies - Anti-Mani writings Ruins - Temple Remains Revival - Restoration Diet - Veganism Light Cross - Ecology Mythos - Worldview Naz site
- Site dedicated to Nazoreans
Order of Nazorean Essenes
|
Sexual Life In Manichaean Monasteries Intimate Associations In A Manichaean Monastan By Abba Yesai Nasrai, O:N:E: Ancient Manichaean's were organized by their founder into five grades: Listener's (lay people) corresponding to the Buddhist Hinayana and Theravada Vehicles, Electi (Monastics) corresponding to Buddhist Mahayanists, and three higher grades corresponding to the Buddhist Vajrayana Vehicle. These Five Manichaean levels correspond exactly to the Five Bon Vehicles of The Way of the Virtuous Lay Practitioners, The Way of the Ascetic Sages, The Way of the White A, The Way of the Primordial Shen, and The Ultimate Way. The five Grade Level of Bonpo may have its origins in the Five Grade Order of Mani. (see Early Bon History) We know from existent Bonpo literature, such as the gZi-brjid, that
the higher three grades practiced sexual tantra. It is reasonable to conclude
that the higher three Manichaean grades may also have practiced such, especially
if the Bonpo system is derived from the Manichaean system.
(see Early Bon History)
In the late Bonpo work gZi-brjid, the higher three grades of The Way of the White A, The Way of the Primordial Shen, and The Ultimate Way are described. In this rather late work the original teachings of Bon appear to have been mixed with many traditional Buddhist ideas. It is still an excellent repository, however, for many original Bon, and perhaps Manichaean, teachings. In its chapter of The Way of the Ascetic Sages it warns ascetics to avoid having a woman in their bed and to pay certain penance's, such as sleeping on the floor in a religious shrine, should they violate these principles. But in higher grades, this seemingly celibate practice is reversed. The Way of the White A is described in the chapter called The Way of Pure Sound. In this chapter we read: "Do not avoid Method and Wisdom. Take your partner.In The Way of the Primordial Shen the secret aspect of tantric union is also prescribed: "With a pure vow as precondition the important thing is a worthy mate as virtuous companion . . .We know from such existent historical texts as the charter of a Manichaean monastery in Kocho, found by Chinese archeologist Huang Wenbi and published in 1954, that the vegetarian Manichaean monasteries were coed: "When the Lords (monks/electi) and the Ladies (nuns, electae) take meals at the monastery, or go out when they are invited, they should each be brought two cups or bowls with water . . . "This coed condition alone would have made many conclude that the Manichaean monastics were sexually active. A general attitude toward such is summed up by a famous Catholic monk St. Bernard who said that "for men and women to live together without having sexual relations was a greater miracle than raising the dead." Although we believe it entirely plausible that Manichaean monks and nuns could have lived together without physical intimacy, and may very well have done so for all or part of their tenure in Mani's Monastic Elect level of "the sons of secrecy", it is also entirely possible that their interactions were more Tantric in Mani's three higher grades of Mani's 360 Elders - "the sons of reason", Mani's 72 Illuminates - "the sons of knowledge", and Mani's 12 Masters - "the sons of gentleness". Their vows of secrecy have veiled much of their secret activity from the pages of history, but certain rumors do exist that point to some sort of Tantric activity in higher grades. The surviving Mandaean sects certainly thought so. In a late interpolation into the Ginza they record: "Then I explain to you, my disciples, that there is yet another Gate (Sect) that derives from Msiha (Messiah). They are called "Zandiqi" ( Saints) and "MardMani"(of Lord Mani). They sow seeds in concealment and entrust their part to the darkness. Men and woman lie together, gather up the seed, they put it into wine and they give it to drink to the souls and say that it is pure. They invoke the wind, fire, and water; they pray to the sun and the moon, when their spirit dies, they are like the flies on the vase. The vapor rises and catches them; they loose their wings, are taken and fall inside. They are called "the Election (Elect) that Mar Mani has elected." Ginza Right 9:1The Roman Christian sect also believed such things. Its prime defender Augustine had this to say: "Moreover, when you are so eager in your desire to prevent the soul from being confined in flesh by conjugal intercourse, and so eager in asserting that the soul is set free from seed by the food of the saints, do you not sanction, unhappy beings, the suspicion entertained about you? . . . And as your followers cannot bring these seeds to you for purification, who will not suspect that you make this purification secretly among yourselves, and hide it from your followers, in case they should leave you? - Morals of the Manachaeans, chapter 18, by Augustine
|
Order of Nazorean Essenes 2008
- All Rights Reserved
.