Manichaean Gnosticism — The Cosmic Battle of Light and Darkness
Manichaeism (founded by Mani, 3rd century CE) is the most geographically widespread Gnostic movement — its cosmic dualism of Light and Darkness, Good and Evil, became one of the world's great religions.
Mani (216-276 CE) was a Persian prophet who founded what became one of the world's major religions — Manichaeism — a synthesis of Zoroastrian, Buddhist, and Gnostic themes with an unprecedented missionary ambition. Mani called himself the 'Apostle of Light' and the fulfillment of all previous prophets (Zoroaster, Buddha, Jesus). His cosmic system presented the most stark dualism in the Gnostic tradition: before creation, there were two utterly separate realms — the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness. Through a cosmic catastrophe, portions of divine Light became entrapped in matter (specifically in human bodies and the natural world). The Manichaean path involved specific dietary practices (abstaining from meat, wine, and sex for the elite Elect), moral disciplines, and ritual practices designed to liberate the trapped light-particles. Manichaeism spread from Persia to China in the East and to North Africa (where Augustine was a Manichaean for nine years) in the West — making it one of history's most geographically successful religions.
I have come from the land of light. I am the light that has come into the world. My Father is the King of the Paradise of Light.
Historian of religion Samuel Lieu (Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China) traced Manichaeism's remarkable eastward spread — from Persia to Central Asia to China — documenting how Mani's synthesis of existing religious traditions created a genuinely universal religious form that resonated across radically different cultural contexts.
Manichaean Psalm Book