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The Shambhala Teachings and Tibetan Manichaeism........"In A.D. 1000 the Great Persian historian Al-Beruni wrote: "The majority of the Eastern Turks, the inhabitants of China and Tibet, and a number in India belong to the religion of Mani, the Buddha of Light"........ The recent finds of Manichćan literature and painting at Turfan corroborate this statement........Mani preached a very syncretistic religion.......thus the close connection between the Cathar Christians of France and the Bonpos of Tibet.......... OM MANI PADME HUM

"The Tajiks (Persian in Central Asia) produced some of history's most important thinkers. Al-Beruni, from Khorezm, was the world's foremost astronomer in the 11th centuary when he worked in Gurganj(now Urgench). He knew that the earth rotated and that it circled round the sun, estimating the distance to the moon to within 20km. He also produced the worlds finest encyclopedia."

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Historical Manichaeanism began on Sunday, 20 March, A.D. 242. It was a vibrant continuation of the ancient Nazorean Essene current vivified by Yeshu and Miryai. The Religion of Mani eventually grew into an Eastern and a Western branch, and gave birth to many subgroups such as the Mazdakians and the Mihrites in the east, and the Cathars and Bogomils in the west. During Mani's lifetime he sent out many missionaries, beginning with Adda and Patteg to Rome and Alexandria, and Mar Ammo to India and the East. The "Religion of Light" expanded rapidly in the West, in Africa, Spain, France, North Italy, the Balkans, where it survived for a thousand years. It grew even more rapidly in Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Turkestan, Northern India, Western China, and Tibet. By 1000 A.D. the bulk of the Tibetan land was said to have been Manichaeans. It eventually went into a period of dormancy in preparation for its multifaceted revival in our day.

The Turkic Ghaznavids conquered Kabul in the 980s. It was at about this time that the Kalachakra teachings openly appeared in India, transmitted in visions to two Indian masters attempting to reach Shambhala. Although the Muslim Ghaznavids tolerated Buddhism and Hinduism in Kabul, they smashed the Ismaili Islamic state of Multan in north central Pakistan in 1008. The Ismaili Fatimids in Egypt were the rivals of the Ghaznavids for supremacy over the entire Muslim world. After this victory, the Ghaznavad ruler Mahmud of Ghazni, driven undoubtedly by greed for more land and wealth, pressed his invasion further eastward as far as Madhura, south of Delhi. He looted and destroyed the wealthy Buddhist monasteries that lay in his path. When the Ghaznavad troops pushed northward from Delhi, however, and tried to invade Kashmir, the Kashmiri King Samgrama Raja, a supporter of both Buddhism and Hinduism, defeated them in 1021. This was the first attack on Kashmir by a Muslim army. The Kalachakra Tantra reached Tibet from Kashmir in 1027, the year predicted by the First Kalki.

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In A.D. 1000 the Persian historian Al-Beruni wrote: "The majority of the Eastern Turks, the inhabitants of China and Tibet, and a number in India belong to the religion of Mani". The recent finds of Manichćan literature and painting at Turfan corroborate this statement.

Is Manicheism the source of the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhists. Beginning with an ancient Persian from of Zarathustrianism which penetrated the Tibetan region in the 5th Century BC, and followed by a heretical Pudgalavadin form of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC, both of which pave the way for the influx of the teachings of Mani in the late 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th centuries AD.

This Manichaean faith became totally dominant in northern Tibet when the Uighur King converted to Manichaeanism in 762 AD. ....

The Shambhala Diet & the Manichaen Diet ........

"NYIDA: The vegetarian diet of Shambhala. Nyi stands for yellow and green foods, primarily vegetables and fruits, and da for white foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese and tofu......enjoy as your provision only yogurt, milk, white butter, cheese, fresh vegetables, raw fish and white rice. You should refrain from garlic, onions, fat and other meats.

and the Vegetarian diet of Uighur Manicheism in the 7th century Tibet....One of the main principles of the Manichaeans was a vegetarian diet of mainly green and yellow foods. Supposedly, light was concentrated in these foods and their bodies served as filters for the particles of light contained in the plants. (Litvinsky: 1992...Pg 414)

Manichaeism continued to flourish in the barren plains of Central Asia, where it became centered at the city of Turfan in what is now northwest China. It even became the state religion of the short-lived Uighur Empire, until it was wiped out in the 13th century e.v. by the Mongol invasions. It survived in Southern China as the "Religion of the Venerable Light" until the 17th century e.v.

One of the main principles of the Manichaeans was a vegetarian diet of mainly green and yellow foods. Supposedly, light was concentrated in these foods and their bodies served as filters for the particles of light contained in the plants. (Litvinsky: 1992...Pg 414)

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The Shambhala Diet & the Manichaen Diet ........

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"Is Manicheism the source of the Dzogchen teachings of Tibetan Buddhists. Beginning with an ancient Persian form of Zarathustrianism which penetrated the Tibetan region in the 5th Century BC, and followed by a heretical Pudgalavadin form of Buddhism in the 3rd century BC, both of which pave the way for the influx of the teachings of Mani in the late 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th centuries AD.

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This Manichaean faith became totally dominant in northern Tibet when the Uighur King converted to Manichaeanism in 762 AD. ....

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"According to Kuznetsov, Bon was introduced to Tibet in the fifth century BC, when there occurred a mass migration of Iranians from Sogdhiana in north-east Iran to the northern parts of Tibet.." .....June Campbell: "Traveller in Space"..

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In the 3rd century B.C.E. emerged the Pudgalavadins from the Hinayana school of Buddhism, who derive their name from the word pudgala, meaning 'person'. The Pudgalavadins claimed that for reincarnation to take place, there had to be a continuous person who was reincarnated again and again, thus requiring a kind of individual soul, not an autonomous self, but a soul in constant transformation. This view was criticised by other Buddhist sects who said that Pudgalavadin teaching implied the reality of a self and, therefore, contradicted the basic Buddhist teaching of anatman (no self). These Pudgalavadins were persecuted in India but flourished in Central Asian Bon areas where they, with the possible influence of Mani and Manichaeanism, seem to have developed into, or merged with, the Dzogchen teachings of the Great Perfection in Tibet. An early form of this Dzogchen then possibly evolved into Ch'an and Zen and spread eastward.

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Manichaeanism entered into Tibet and northern India at the end of the third century A.D. By 670-692 existed in strength in eastern Turkestan where the Uighur Turks were intermixing with Iranians and Scyths. Manichaeanism, along with Buddhism, became extremely prevalent in this area. Manichaeanism tended to express itself in Buddhist terminology in this land and itself was part Buddhist, yet Manichaeanism has many elements considered inharmonious with traditional Buddhist ideas. This Buddhist Manichaeanism mix, of which Mani would have been proud, possibly had a profound influence on Mahayana Buddhism which would soon become the dominant form of Buddhism. Manichaean elements are especially discernible in Buddhist schools such as the pure land sect and continued to influence the unique development of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. Thus these forms of Buddhism speak of a central deity, a light land, 5 elements in need of redemption, and other traditional Manichaean teachings.

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Dzogchen, The Supreme Highest Yoga Tantra, Atiyoga, Dzogchen, or Great Perfection is said,according to both early Bon and Nyingma sources, as well as by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye (19th century Nyingmapa scholar and adept) to have come from the northwest into Tibet. Dzogchen is also said by these early writers to come from Persian sources and to have existed in Tibet before Padmasambhava came in the eighth century. We concur with this assessment and suspect that Dzogchen originated with the insights of Mani the Persian Messenger of Light and the Manichaean message which came into the area from the northwest.

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There is also a tradition that Dzogchen,and Padmasambhava, come from a place called Oddiyana in Shamballa. Texts from this same Tun huang site identify Oddiyana as "Shamis en Balkh" in modern day Balkh, Afghanistan where many ruins, Buddhist stupas and monasteries exist. This is the town oft associated with Padmasambhava, and Rabia and Rumi as well. Although Padmasambhava is usually thought to be Indian, it is possible that he is from the Afghanistan region also associated with his name.

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Later Bon is perhaps the mixture of older Iranian Bon with the Pudgalavadin Buddhism that entered Tibet before more traditional forms of Buddhism. We are told by Kongtrul and Longchenpo that Nyingma split off from the Bon Religion when the "new translations" period began in Tibet after Padmasambhava. Scholars are now concluding that Padmasambhava did not begin Nyingma as later tradition asserts, only incorporated it from the older Bon/Nyingma tradition that preceded him. They also report that the Central Asian Dzogchen View is common to and found within not only Bon, but also the Nyingmapa lineage, as well as in some northern Indian elements of the Sikhs, Nathas, and Bauls.

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Recent discoveries in Tun huang caves seem to indicate that a pre-Buddhist form of Dzogchen teachings in the Tibetan region and Central Asia area became the Taoist alchemical tradition of yoga that evolves into Ch'an and Zen. Both Zen and Dzogchen teach the concept of sudden enlightenment in contrast to other Buddhist schools that teach gradual unfoldment. Within Tun huang texts we also seem to see non-Taoist texts transforming into Taoist texts and Central Asian Buddhist liturgy transforming itself into Taoist liturgy. One scholar writes that this type of pre-Buddhist Zen like Dzogchen teaches that there is no permanent self nor immortal part nor reincarnation. One must first develop an immortal body and personhood by uniting solar and lunar souls. This last teaching is similar to to some mandaean and Manichaean teachings on the soul and Ziwa and Noorah light bodies. A early form of Dzogchen may possibly have evolved into the Ch'an and Zen traditions that one encounters farther eastward."

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Scorpion Seal in Ancient Sasanian Iran, c. 500 A.D.

These seals date from about the fifth century C.E. Shown here are a rabbit, a bird, a scorpion and a stag carved in various kinds of stone.

The Sasanian Dynasty ruled in the area of what is now Iran from 224-651 C.E. The first king, Ardashir I, overthrew the Parthians, who had ruled Iran from 247 B.C.E. through 224 C.E. Ardashir and his successors built an empire that covered much of the area between what is now Iraq and India.

The official religion of the empire was Zoroastrianism, whose adherents believed in a creator god called Ohrmazd or Ahura Mazda. Zoroastrianism was founded by a Persian prophet named Zoroaster or Zarathustra. It is still practiced today in India by the Parsis. Other religions were practiced in the empire, including Christianity and Manichaeanism. The latter was founded by the prophet Mani in the 3rd century C.E. but was considered a dangerous heresy by the Zoroastrians.

The Sasanians were involved in long-distance trade, controlling the seagoing routes through the Arabian and Red Seas. They exported such goods as silver and gold vessels, cut glass, and brocades made from Chinese silk. The Sasanian rulers carried out military campaigns against Roman Syria in the 3rd century C.E., and against Syria, Palestine and Egypt in the early 7th century. The Sasanian Dynasty was finally overthrown by Islamic armies in 641 C.E., only 19 years after the Sasanians had nearly defeated the Byzantine empire at Constantinople.

Because there have been few archaeological surveys or scientific excavations in the region of the Sasanian empire, little material evidence has come to light from this period of Iran's history. Some building ruins have been found, the most interesting of which are several domed pavilions, probably used as temples, in which worship centered on fire, a symbol of the god Ahura Mazda's light and energy. Numerous Sasanian coins have been found as far away as China, and other material remains include small objects such as the animal seals shown here.

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Tasik (Iran) and the origins of Tibetan Bon

IRAN: The rise of the Bon religion is invariably linked with foreign lands such as Tasik (Iran) and the Asha, Shangshung and Drusha, or a country called Gurnawatra situated on the borders of India and Iran. The Tibetans had overrun Shangshung in 645.

[Further west, the Tibetans encountered a distinctly foreign nation--Shangshung, with its capital of Khylunglung. Mt Kailasa (Tise) and Lake Manoasarowar formed part of this country, whose language has come down to us through early documents. Though still unidentified, it seems to be Indo-European. The part played by Shangshung has been an important one, for in Tibetan tradition it is the home of Bon, a religion adopted by Tibetans before Buddhism. How far Shangshung stretched to the north is still a mystery. Tibetan civilization owes a great deal to the western districts. They border on Gandhara, Uddiyana (Swat) and other countries through which ancient Greek, Persian and Indian cultural influences reached Tibet. Like Shangshung and Tasik (Iran), the Drusha country and its language play a leading role in the traditions of the Bon religion and in those connected with Padmasambhava, who came from Uddiyana. (Stein pg 35]

In the 700's other foreign religions may have reached Tibet: Manichaeism through the Turks, Nestorianism by way of Iran, and Islam through the Arabs. The New Year rites and the mythology of the lion travelled from Iran.

In 1258-1335, the Kublai Khan's elder brother founded the Ilkhan dynasty in Iran. Despite some partiality towards the Christians, he was a Buddhist. The Drigungpas brought an army of Iranian Monguls against the Sakya.

Padmasambhava came from the Swat Valley of Pakistan (Oddiyana), and in his religious influence some have thought to recognize Iranian elements absorbed in his native country.

Under King Trigum, Bonpos are said to have been invited from Tasik (Iran).

Bon's founding saint, Shenrap Miwo, is stated to have been born in either Shangshung or Tasik (Iran). Shangshung embraced the mountain of Kailasa, the sacred mountain of the Hindus.(R.A. Stein Tibetan Civilization)

[Tasik denotes roughly Iran. It is often linked with Trhom: the east Iranian Hrom) which originally denoted Byzantium and later in the 10th century, the Seljuks of Anatolia. In Iran the great Sassanian dynasty collapsed in the seventh century under the Arab onsalught. But between Tibet and Iran there were other countries whose cultural influence has been carried to Tibet: Gilgit or Bolor in the north; Kashmir and the ancient lands of Gandhara and Uddiyaa. Here, Indo-European Buddhist populations had been conquered by Turkish and Indian rulers. Lastly, to the south lay India, split into minor dynasties after its invasion by the Hephthalites. They had no military power with which to confront the Tibetans but conquered them with their religion, Tantric Buddhism. (Stein pg 57]

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ROMAN MITHRAIC MYSTERY RELIGION....(2nd Century AD)..."Those devoted to Mithras entered the Mithraea cave with no outside light and participated in various purifications, miatory rites and ceremonial feasts, and were sealed on their foreheads. From the Mithras Liturgy: 'Open your eyes, the rays will turn toward you. Look at the center of them. You will see a youthful god, beautiful in appearance in a white tunic...draw in breath from the rays...then make a long hissing sound..... you will see lightning-bolts going down, and lights flashing (695), and the earth shaking, and a god descending, a god immensely great, having a bright appearance youthful, golden-haired, with a white tunic and a golden crown and trousers." (Meyer: The Ancient Mystery Religions Sourcebook:1987..pg 197)

Click here............Notes on Ritual Practices

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635 A.D. was a turning point in the history of Damascus, Syria (Sham). .....In March of that year, the city faced the onslaught of the Islamic armies ....which coincides with the Kalachakra calendar.......(624 AD....."In 624 AD, a Moslem invasion weakened the Kingdom of Shambhala."(Roerich: 1974..pg 753) (Geoffrey Hopkins: 1985..pg 60)... ) ........"The Great Battle of Badr took place on the seventeenth of Ramadan, two years after the Hijra. This was the first battle that the believers ever engaged in with the disbelievers, and it is, by far, the most famous and most renown, becuase of the several extraordinary events that occured during it. Rasoolullah (saws) had encouraged the Muslims to oppose the Quraish caravan which was returning to Mecca from Sham."............in 624 C.E., a non-Indic religion will arise in Mecca. Because of a lack of unity among the brahmans?people and laxity in following correctly the injunctions of their Vedic scriptures, many will accept this religion when its leaders threaten an invasion. To prevent this danger, Manjushri Yashas united the people of Shambhala into a single "vajra-caste" by conferring upon them the Kalachakra empowerment

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"The body of the youthful Bonpo Diety, Shenlha Okar is white...his ontological status is that of bonku, 'unconditioned being' or 'supreme being', corresponding to the Buddhist category of dharmakaya...His association with light suggests Manichaean influences....The colour of his body is like the essence of crystal...his ornaments, attire, and palace are adorned by crystal light..."

Click here............Notes on Shenlha Okar

Although limited in China for some time under the Tang, it was through China that Manichaeism came to enjoy the status of official state religion of the Central Asian Uighur kingdom during part of the eighth and ninth centuries. In 762 the Uighur king Mou-yu helped imperial Tang forces put down a rebellion centered on the city of Loyang, during which time he came in contact with resident Sogdian Manicheans. When Mou-yu returned home at the end of the military operation, four Manicheans joined his entourage and accompanied him back to his kingdom. Within a year Mou-yu converted to the faith, and subsequently declared Manichaeism the official state religion. With the Uighur political backing, the Manicheans in China received greater freedom resulting in the construction of at least six new temples. They enjoyed this freedom for the better part of a century, until the Uighur state was overran by another Turkish group in 840, after which the religion returned to its former disadvantaged state. In Central Asia, Manichaens persisted after Uighur sponsorship, but eventually gave way to Islam and Christianity.

MANES.....also known as Mani or Manichaeus; Persian philosopher and religious teacher, founder of the Gnostic religion of Manichaeism (see Chapter 201 of Liber Aleph). Crowley's placement of Mani in this position is curious. Mani was a later teacher than Basilides, Valentinus and Bardesanes. Also, whereas these teachers considered themselves Christians, Mani was the founder of an entirely new religion, which claimed to be the culmination of Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Buddhism. The reader who is unfamiliar with Gnosticism may benefit by reading the sections on Basilides, Valentinus and Bardesanes before proceeding with Mani.

Mani's Persian name was Shuriak, or Cubricus in Latin. He was born in southern Babylonia of noble Persian stock. His father, Patak, was from Ekbatana, and was a religious leader of a Jewish-Christian baptizing sect called the Mughtasilah, founded by a prophet known as Elchasai, and it was within the religious framework of this sect, and under the careful tutelage of his father, that Mani was raised. When he was twelve years old, he experienced a vision in which an Angel named At-Taum, "The Twin," instructed him to withdraw from the Mughtasilah and begin to purify himself with ascetic practices. The Angel returned to Shuriak the young man, and this second time, called upon him to preach a new religion.

In 242 e.v., he proclaimed a new, universal religion at the Persian court of Shapur I, proclaiming himself to be Mani, "The Vessel," the prophesied Paraclete, the divine helper of mankind, and the last of the great prophets. In his new religion, he consciously sought to reconcile the great religions of redemption, Christianity (Gnostic), Zoroastrianism (Zurvanite) and Buddhism (Mahâyâna), in a new Syncretism which also incorporated elements of Greek philosophy and Indian Jainism; while refuting patriarchal Judaism. He was not, at first, well received, and was forced to flee the country. He travelled to Trans-Oxiana (modern Uzbekistan), India and Western China, making converts wherever he went. He intended that his religion be a world-religion, in fact the first world-religion, and he consciously adapted his teaching to accommodate local beliefs and customs. He was regarded by his Christian adherents as the Paraclete, by his Persian followers as the Zoroastrian redeemer Saoshyant, and by his Buddhist disciples as the Avatar Maitreya.

In addition to an extensive body of anti-Manichaean literature in many languages, Mani and Manichaeism have themselves left us numerous texts in Latin, Greek, Coptic, Middle Iranian, Uighur, and Chinese. Manichaeism is, therefore, relatively well understood today. Among the extant Manichaean sacred texts are: The Living Gospel; The Treasure of Life; the Pragmateia; the Book of Mysteries; the Epistles; The Book of Giants; and Psalms and Prayers. These books were, at least in part, considered to have been inspired by Mani's Angel, At-Taum. There is also the Shahburagan, a summary of the Manichaean teachings prepared for Shapur I; the Ardahang, a picture-book illustrating Mani's view of the world; and the Kephalaia, a collection of the sayings of Mani.

Mani eventually returned to Persia, where his following had greatly increased. This time, he was favorably received by Shapur and by his successor, Hormisdas I. He was allowed to preach freely, and was even given a city in Khuzistan for his residence. He finally fell victim to the established Zoroastrian priesthood during the reign of Bahram I, the successor of Hormisdas. He was arrested at Gundev Shapur in 276 e.v. and thrown into prison in chains, where he died after 26 days. His corpse was flayed, and his skin was stuffed with straw and nailed to the gate of the city. His Persian followers were then subjected to severe persecution, but Manichaeism outside Persia flourished. Records show the Manichaean religion to have spread to Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, North Africa, Asia Minor, Armenia, Dalmatia, Rome, Spain, Southern Gaul, Trans-Oxiana, Turkestan, India, China and even Tibet.

In the doctrine of Manichaeism, "The Teaching of Light" as it was called, the Universe was originally divided between two eternal, uncreated, and utterly irreconcilable principles: Light and Darkness. The Realm of Light was located in the North, tended upwards, and extended infinitely to the North, East and West. It was ruled by the Father of Greatness (identified with Zurvan in Persia), and was manifested as five "worlds": Nous (Mind), Ennoia (Thought), Phronęsis (Prudence), Enthymęsis (Reflection), and Logismos (Reason); which are surrounded by a great number of Aions. Twelve of these Aions, the "first-born," surround the Father, three to each quarter of the Heavens.

The Cathars were highly successful from about 1150 e.v. to 1209 e.v., and helped to turn the Languedoc into a prosperous medieval center of learning and culture-- the birthplace of the troubadours-- where Christian (Cathar), Jewish and Islamic scholars freely intermingled and discoursed upon theology, philosophy and science. The Cathars were probably highly influential in the development of the traditions of the Holy Graal, and may also have influenced the Knights Templar. Some scholars believe that what we know today as the Hebrew Qabala was codified in the spiritual melting-pot of Southern France and Spain during these times. Pope Innocent III proclaimed what came to be known as the Albigensian Crusade against the "dangerous Cathar heretics" in 1209 e.v. During the 40 years of this infamous horror, many thousands of men, women and children were brutally slaughtered and their cities pillaged; and the Languedoc was reduced to rubble and barbarism.

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Notes on the Cathar Christians.....the Shambhalians (Manichaeans or Bonpos) of France?.....

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The Shambhala Teachings and Tibetan Manichaeism........"In A.D. 1000 the Arab historian Al-Beruni wrote: "The majority of the Eastern Turks, the inhabitants of China and Tibet, and a number in India belong to the religion of Mani, the Buddha of Light"........

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MANICHAEISM.........The Five Elements are at the core of 2nd Century Manichaeism........According to Mani the First-Man now emanates sons as a man who puts on his armor for the combat. These five sons are the five elements opposed to the five aeons of darkness: Clear Air, Refreshing Wind, Bright Light, Life-Giving Waters, and Warming Fire. He put on first the aerial breeze, then threw over himself light as a flaming mantle, and over this light a covering of water; he surrounded himself with gusts of wind, took light as his lance and shield, and cast himself downward toward the line of danger........

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Click here............Tibetan Manicheans, Bon, and the Shambhala Connection

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Küntu Zangpo is one of the peacful Bon deities, his name means "The All-Good" and he is seen as the supreme deity of all knowledge and has strong links to Shenla Okar in the sense that both are hierophanies of the bönku or "The body of Bon", the ultimate Truth..... Küntu Zangpo is Künzang Akor which means "The All-Good cycle of A", "A" being the last letter in the Zhan Zhung-alphabet ....the White A......

DIET...One of the main principles of the Manichaeans was a vegetarian diet of mainly green and yellow foods. Supposedly, light was concentrated in these foods and their bodies served as filters for the particles of light contained in the plants. (Litvinsky: 1992...Pg 414)......."The architecture, diet, and clothing of the Sambhalese"..(Cabezon: 1996..pg 488)..."Under Candragupta II (405 AD), who was probably a Vaisnava, but tolerant of Buddhism and Jainism, no one kills any living thing or eats onions or garlic." (Dasgupta: 1962...pg cix)

MITHRA...."Mithra is young. His eye is the sun. The rays of the sun are his arms. He wears glistening garments. His abode is golden. He is a king and a universal monarch. Mithra is ever waking and watches in darkness." (Gershevitch: 1959 pg 4, 31)...

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This Manichaean faith became totally dominant in northern Tibet when the Uighur King converted to Manichaeanism in 762 AD. ....

Tibetan Manichaeism........"In A.D. 1000 the Great Persian/Tajik historian Al-Beruni wrote: "The majority of the inhabitants of Tibet belong to the religion of Mani, the Buddha of Light"........ The recent finds of Manichćan literature and painting at Turfan corroborate this statement........Mani preached a very syncretistic religion that influenced Roman Christianity in Europe and the Native Bon Tradition in Tibet.......Om Mani Padme

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The Shambhala Diet & the Manichaen Diet ........

Chogyam Trungpa...."NYIDA: The vegetarian diet of Shambhala. Nyi stands for yellow and green foods, primarily vegetables and fruits, and da for white foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese and tofu...."

One of the main principles of the ancient Silk Route Manichaeans was a vegetarian diet of mainly white, green and yellow foods. Supposedly, light was concentrated in these foods......

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MANI....Mani is not a personal name but an honorific term such as Rinpoche, or Roshi......his family was from Ecbatana, a city of interest in the origin of the Shambhala legend..........His father's name was Fâtâk Bâbâk, a citizen of Ecbatana, the ancient Median capital ...... The boy was born A.D. 215-216

ECBATANA.(Hamadan)..(48E..35N)..."Ecbatana, a great circular city. Strong walls one within the other, seven in all and within the final circle on a hill was the royal palace (kal'ah, kala, kala.pa?). The highest and innermost wall was lined with gold. The next outer wall was lined with silver. The next wall was painted orange. The next blue. The next red. The next black. And the outermost and lowest wall was painted white. The king in the inner circle was seen by no one and all business was transacted by messengers." (Grene: "Herodotus History"..1987..pg 81)...Ecbatana was destroyed during the Moslem invasion of Sham in the 7th Century.... ......