The visionary dimension of Mani's gnosis : manichaean interactions with Platonic Metaphysics and Buddhism

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the soteriological nature of the concept of gnosis in Manichaeism, in particular its unitary character, which links the visionary and prophetic dimension to ritual practice. To achieve this goal, I will analyze the mediating role of Mani's visions to determine how the apocalyptic dimension of his thought affects his conception of the body. The body is the primary location of Manichaean ritualized meals, which aim to release the particles of Light that have been trapped in matter, according to the Manichaean cosmogonic myth. Subsequently, a historical study will be conducted on the expansion of Manichaeism, including its interactions with Iranian and Indian religions. The study will indicate how a visionary hermeneutic and a cosmological and soteriological concern guided the contacts and conflicts with other religious traditions. Finally, a historical-comparative analysis of Manichaeism with Platonic metaphysics and Buddhism will be made to demonstrate the reasons why Mani's visionary tradition and the eidetic character of Manichaean cosmology flourished in Central Asia while being opposed and rejected in the Roman Empire.