A Homily on the Epistle of Mar Sisin

A Celtic Expression of Mani's teachings.

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This homily is based on the Epistle of Mar Sisin, who was a missionary to the nations along the Eastern side of the Silk Road. I have attempted to contextualize the language in the syncretic spirit of Mani. I have always admired Manichaeism for the way it has adapted and expressed its Holy Scriptures and revealed message contextually. Furthermore, I hope that this homily can serve as a model for church planting. For we are all children of the Father of the Heavenly Lights. The message is the same, but it is preached to each nation in a way that can be understood through the symbols, traditions, and language of a given culture. Therefore, I pray that my homily can speak to those who share the same cultural heritage as myself. So without further ado. Let us contemplate the teachings of Mar Sisin through a Celtic lens.



My dear brothers and sisters of the light,

I come before you today, not as a wise king, but as a humble servant of the Father of Greatness, Jesus the Splendour, the Mother of Life, and our beloved Arch-Druid of Light: Mani; to impart upon you the true words of life. Just as the Druid of Light appeared to reveal the true gnosis, so have the ancient Celtic deities revealed themselves to us, as aeons of light, illuminating our path towards liberation and enlightenment.

Enlightened by the wisdom of the Great Sage, we must cast aside all our worldly desires and attachments. We must renounce the lure of materialism and embrace the right path that leads to peace of mind and the ultimate attainment of the eternal summer-lands, which lies beyond the vast sea.

To those of blessed spirit and light nature, I implore you to diligently seek liberation. Spare no effort or time in freeing yourselves from the chains of fear that bind you to the cycle of birth and death. Understand that all the splendour and honour of this world are mere illusions, like fleeting clouds that rise from the four hills only to be scattered away by the wind.

Just as the stinking flesh does not live forever but is destined to be destroyed when the time comes, so too are our lives temporary, like flowers and leaves that bloom in spring but cannot be kept alive indefinitely. The body, skilfully crafted as it may be, is nothing more than a false and evil king. It is a deceptive vessel that ensnares our true essence and hides it away like a net catching the brightness of the hidden pearl trapped within.

The fires of unmerciful hunger, relentless in their pursuit, devour all beings without cessation. Every day, our bodies are consumed and destroyed, yet we find no respite from the suffering of life and death. Such suffering is a result of the debts we accumulate through bad karma and false words, as the day of impermanence lingers with the brightness of life.

First, we must overcome the desire born out of ignorance and lust, for it is this desire that serves as the seed of all our worries; they are the fetters of Darkness. If left unaddressed, it will surely lead us to future suffering. All beings in this world are engulfed in suffering, unable to find the right path with honesty and faith. They tirelessly seek material wealth and riches, becoming slaves to the insatiable greed that resides within their souls.

We suffer in every birth because of the past errors and missteps of our predecessors. It is imperative, then, that we abandon the flesh and acknowledge that all those who are born are destined to be destroyed. All the wealth, possessions, land, and property that we amass in this life will eventually be torn asunder and separated from us. Even if we are honoured and revered in the eyes of the world, we must detest the suffering that accompanies life and death.

We must relinquish arrogance and wrongdoing and wholeheartedly devote ourselves to the path of the Light; a life of Spirit and Truth. We must be born naked and be prepared to die. Likewise, we must strive to accumulate spiritual wealth and live in accordance with the teachings of our beloved Druid, Mani. We must leave behind our earthly attachments—be they partners, lovers, or material possessions—and entrust them to the care of others as we journey beyond the veil of death. We must embrace the burden of our impermanence and acknowledge the shame and consequences of our bad karma.

The King of Darkness, and his many archons, have taken us captive, and we find ourselves deserving of the suffering that is inherent in life and death. The demon king, ever lurking, has taken hold of our physical bodies. If we allow ourselves to be swayed by temptation and indulge in sin, we run the risk of being consigned to many rebirths, with the possibility of being trapped within the swirling abyss, once the end time comes. The end will see the whole cosmos go up in flames, those who have become more flesh than spirit, could find themselves in the cold empty darkness of an eternal tomb.

They sing, dance, and revel in the symphony of life, devouring all manners of delicacies and constructing elaborate abodes. Yet, just like dreams, these pleasures are transient and fleeting, mere illusions masquerading as reality. All the transient relations of this world are akin to a guest house—we gather together at dusk only to disperse and return home at dawn. Wives, lovers, and lovers of both sexes are like debtors, burdened by the transgressions of the past. They embody both mercy and resentment, simultaneously acting as thieves that plunder our souls.

The flesh-eating sentient beings are like tombs, bottomless pits that offer no solace or respite. They kill countless creatures to appease their insatiable hunger, nourishing the three poisons and the six thieves within. Our true natures, shards of light, are concealed from the world, perpetually entangled in the fleshy never-ending cycle of greed, hunger, and fire that consume one another. The world, with its unyielding force of gradual evils, does not bring joy to those who seek to control it, be they of higher or lower status. Instead, all beings find themselves in a state of poverty and misery, the rich driven by the relentless devil that ceaselessly fuels their desires.

Those who engage in virtuous deeds are few and far between, while those who perpetrate evil are limitless. The demons of greed and lust burn fiercely, even when confronted with acts of goodness, they retreat and seek solace elsewhere. But we, my fellow seekers of liberation, shall not be swayed. We shall stand firm in the face of adversity, unashamed and unafraid. We shall find peace and light within ourselves, even as the world around us remains covered in the thick veil of ignorance.

All sentient beings exist in a realm shrouded by ignorance, diligently neglecting to cultivate the true path. They defame the Druid of Light and all the good deities; they desecrate the sacred teachings, failing to protect the true priests and druids among us. Therefore, I beseech you, wise ones, to observe carefully and discern who it is that creates the great and small realms. What is the cause of the world's creation? Reflect upon the nature of all living beings, for where does the world succeed or falter? These are the secrets of our existence, and we must comprehend where all things truly belong.

The possibilities of good karma await all those who heed the call of the natural world. Those who seek liberation must be vigilant and wise. Engage in acts of charity, abstinence, and diligent chanting. Embrace the precepts with discernment and understanding. Through the power of these practices, we shall be shielded from misfortune, living truthfully with vigor and devotion. Let wisdom and grace guide our actions as we forsake all evil ways, unyielding in our determination to find the place of peace and liberation.

I implore you to sever the ties that bind you to the allure of lust and desire. As the impermanence of the world looms over us, we must contemplate its true nature—a mirage devoid of substance. There are no lasting relationships, whether they be between sexes or within families, as they are constantly replaced day after day. We must recognize that we are indebted solely to the rain of good and bad deeds, and it is through nurturing our Christ-like nature that we find solace. Let us ascend to the right path, attaining the pure land of the eternal summer lands, where the seven evils and four sufferings are but distant echoes and everlasting happiness reigns supreme.

Let us trust in the scandalous love of the Father of the Heavenly Lights. He, who sacrificed a portion of himself; his descent through His emanations, was ultimately a sacrifice; the Cross of Light, means that victory has already been claimed, the suffering Christ continues to bear the burden of evil. However, this age will pass away. The Archons, Powers, and Principalities have lost their cosmic war. Let us walk continually in the light. A life of Spirit and Truth. Let the words revealed to the Druid of Light be as a lantern at our feet; the ships of light will guide us back up the column of glory, and into the eternal realm of light.

We are now living in the darkest age; the final hours before the whole cosmos shall be consumed in flames, the flames shall burn away the briars and thorns, which choke the blessed seed within. The Shard of Light which all things share, that portion of light sacrificed to ensure that Darkness can never again invade the realm of light. The path may seem difficult and narrow to traverse, but the work is finished. All we have to do is awaken to our true selves. To find the pearl hidden in the depths of our mortal prison. We are called to live a life of sacrifice, to carry our crosses, to crucify the desires of the flesh, and release the light trapped in this fallen world. Therefore, heed the words of the messengers, follow the straight way, seek and ye shall find, ask, and it will be given to you. The Father is perfect, in him there is no darkness at all. We are all trees, the dualistic nature of our being is represented in Christ’s teaching of the two trees. The Spirit is perfect and produces good fruit, whilst the flesh is the sickly tree that only produces fruit of destruction.

To conclude, my dear brothers and sisters, let us remember that this homily, as a call to action. Mar Sisin reflects the importance of our quest for liberation and enlightenment. May our hearts be resolute in embracing the true path, and may we find ourselves dwelling in the realm of wisdom and grace. Let us forsake the illusions of this transient world and strive to attain the everlasting bliss that awaits us.

Brothers and sisters, may you be blessed on your journey towards liberation. I leave you with the words of Mar Sisin, which is the source of this homily;

Mar Sisin left the following letter to urge the faithful to stay true to the teachings as to ascend to Heaven, be liberated and achieve enlightenment.

“I tell you all wise men and women to listen to the true words of life

The wise king of the Dharma, the busy Buddha, has appeared to us all as we are now

Since we are enlightened by the Great Sage, we must renounce all lust and obsession

Decide on the right path to peace of mind and seek nirvana beyond the sea

I also tell those who are blessed with the light nature to seek liberation diligently

And to those who seek liberation with great diligence, do not spare any time to be free from all fears of birth and death

All worlds are not dwelling, and all trusts are not real

Like a castle in the tills, where fools run and lose their bodies

The world's glory and honor, the one who is at ease with little fortune

Like clouds rising from the four hills, gathered and blown away by the wind

The stinking flesh does not live forever, but will be destroyed when the time comes.

Like flowers and leaves in spring, they are temporary, but they can't be kept alive.

When the flesh is made by a skillful craftsman, it is a false and evil king

When such a cave has been made, the net catches the brightness and hides itself

The fires of unmerciful hunger are locked up, killing all beings without stopping

All the bodies are eaten and destroyed all day long, but still are not free from the suffering of life and death.

All the debts are accumulated by bad karma and false words

The day of impermanence remains with the brightness of life

First, we break the desire of ignorance and lust, which is the sea of all worries.

If not, in the future, they will suffer.

All beings in this world are suffering, unable to find the right path with honesty and faith

Seeking money day and night without pause, they are all the masters of the devil's greed in the flesh

The devil comes out when the flesh is destroyed and sins are committed against the pure nature

Everywhere they are born, they suffer because of the wrong karma of their predecessors.

The body must be abandoned, but all those who are born will be destroyed.

All wealth and possessions, and all land and property, will be parted from each other.

Even if one is honored in the world, one must hate the suffering of life and death.

To give up arrogance and wrongdoing To devote oneself to the path of nirvana

To be born naked and to die.

To be able to accumulate much and live well.

To leave behind a man, a woman, a concubine, and a body of dignity, and to leave them behind after death for other masters

I will be ashamed of myself and my bad karma, and I will bear the burden of my impermanence.

I have been given up by the King of Equality, but I am worthy of the suffering of life and death.

The demon king has taken over the body.

I may be sent to hell or burned or imprisoned with demons in eternal hell

They sing, dance, and play all kinds of music, eat all kinds of food, and build their homes.

All are like dreams, but they are not.

All the temporal relatives of the world akin to a guest house

At dusk, they all stay together, and at dawn, they leave and return home.

Wives, concubines, and men are like debtors, all are violated by the past.

They are also merciful and resentful thieves.

The flesh-eating sentient beings are like tombs, and no different from the bottomless pit

Killing countless sentient beings in vain to provide for the three poisons and the six thieves

The Buddha's nature is closed to the world.

There is no time when greed, hunger, and fire do not cook each other

The world is a strong force of gradual evils, and there is no joy in the

control of the upper and lower classes.

All beings are only poor and miserable, and the rich are driven by the devil without stopping.

Those who practice goodness are few and far between, and those who create evil are boundless.

The demons of greed and lust are burning, and even when they meet a good cause, they retreat.

I have no shame or fear.

I have peace and light.

All sentient beings are covered by ignorance and do not diligently cultivate the true path.

They slander the Buddha and destroy the Dharma, but do not protect the true monks.

You, wise ones, observe carefully who makes the great and small realms

What is the cause of the creation of the world?

All sentient beings, all forms, where the world becomes or fails

Such are the secrets of the world, and where do all things belong?

The interview of good karma is open to all the nature of the world

Thou who seekest liberation, be aware and considerate

Give alms and fast and chant diligently, and take the precepts with wisdom and distinction

By this power thou shalt be free from misfortune

To live in the truth with vigor and devotion To dwell with wisdom and grace

Forsaking all evil ways together Determining the place of peace and liberation

I would rather be free as a nature and forsake all lust and desire

The impermanence of the world comes upon us.

The son thinks carefully about the world, and there is nothing to be found in it.

There are no relatives, men, women, or concubines that are not replaced by the same day

There is only the rain of good and bad deeds, and the Buddha's nature will sit

All glory and precious toys must be abandoned on the day of impermanence

The wise man who is aware of the previous practice will not be invaded by the demons of life and death

If you can give up the glory of lust, you will be free from the three poisons and five desires.

May all hearts ascend to the right path and attain the pure land of nirvana

The seven evils and four sufferings are not there, there they are simply called "everlasting happiness".”

Works Cited

Sisin, Mar. "Manichaean Homily." In Collected Homilies and Sermons, edited by Oscar Manzano, Ekklesia of Light Liturgical Press: 2023.