Search Results
7/9/2025, 11:49:42 AM
>>509907053
>What religion existed in Khorasan before the 8th century and believes in reincarnation, the pre-existence of the soul, karma, the divinity of human souls, spirit-matter dualism, the pursuit of Knowledge as the supreme value, and a God of Spiritual Light completely opposed to a false, evil spirit doomed to destruction that dominates Matter? There is none other than Gnosticism in its various forms, but especially Manichaeism. Beyond Khorasan, Manichaeism penetrated deeply into China and already in the 4th century the White Lotus Sect and Pure Land Buddhism were developing in China as Manichaean creations, while in the 8th century it became the state religion of the Uyghur Empire which bequeathed to us the fragments of the Gospel of Mani and numerous other scriptures
>Bardesanes was highly respected even by the Orthodox Church Fathers (Saint Ephrem of Syria attests to his incredible erudition and knowledge, calling him the Philosopher of the Arameans). He wrote a book on Indian culture, as well as visiting Armenia and composing a book on its history. Bardesanes demonstrated a profound knowledge of Indian religions and philosophies, meeting, teaching, and discussing with Brahmins (ancient Hindus) and Sramanas (Buddhists, Jains, etc.)
>He wrote a text detailing the customs of the Brahmins and Sramana, and his description of the Sramana (called Samaneans by the Greeks) demonstrates that it was a Buddhist community, as he accurately explains the structure and customs of a Buddhist Sangha as we still see today! Fundamental to Bardaisan's thinking was Babylonian Astrology, which he learned as a child while being educated by a priest teacher. He synthesized it by demonstrating that we must overcome the astrological tendencies imposed on us by fate (karma) and assimilating Platonic, Egyptian, and Indian doctrines on reincarnation and the pre-existence of the soul
>What religion existed in Khorasan before the 8th century and believes in reincarnation, the pre-existence of the soul, karma, the divinity of human souls, spirit-matter dualism, the pursuit of Knowledge as the supreme value, and a God of Spiritual Light completely opposed to a false, evil spirit doomed to destruction that dominates Matter? There is none other than Gnosticism in its various forms, but especially Manichaeism. Beyond Khorasan, Manichaeism penetrated deeply into China and already in the 4th century the White Lotus Sect and Pure Land Buddhism were developing in China as Manichaean creations, while in the 8th century it became the state religion of the Uyghur Empire which bequeathed to us the fragments of the Gospel of Mani and numerous other scriptures
>Bardesanes was highly respected even by the Orthodox Church Fathers (Saint Ephrem of Syria attests to his incredible erudition and knowledge, calling him the Philosopher of the Arameans). He wrote a book on Indian culture, as well as visiting Armenia and composing a book on its history. Bardesanes demonstrated a profound knowledge of Indian religions and philosophies, meeting, teaching, and discussing with Brahmins (ancient Hindus) and Sramanas (Buddhists, Jains, etc.)
>He wrote a text detailing the customs of the Brahmins and Sramana, and his description of the Sramana (called Samaneans by the Greeks) demonstrates that it was a Buddhist community, as he accurately explains the structure and customs of a Buddhist Sangha as we still see today! Fundamental to Bardaisan's thinking was Babylonian Astrology, which he learned as a child while being educated by a priest teacher. He synthesized it by demonstrating that we must overcome the astrological tendencies imposed on us by fate (karma) and assimilating Platonic, Egyptian, and Indian doctrines on reincarnation and the pre-existence of the soul
Page 1