Daily life for Manichaean believers revolved around the theme of light versus darkness, with each ritual and discipline serving as a reminder of that cosmic tug-of-war. At the heart of community worship stood regular gatherings, where sacred hymns—surviving in fragments from China to North Africa—resounded in praise of the “Father of Greatness.” These meetings often featured scripted prayers and readings from Mani’s writings, carefully preserved on scrolls and, nowadays, reconstructed through digital humanities projects.

Two tiers of membership shaped practice. The “Elect” committed to strict asceticism: a vegetarian diet abstaining from meat, dairy, and honey; periodic fasting that sometimes mirrored Ramadan’s fast from dawn to dusk; and celibacy, keeping passions—and thus particles of darkness—at bay. Daily rituals for the Elect included seven set prayers, recited at fixed hours, echoing monastic patterns seen in Christian, Jewish, and Islamic traditions.

The broader “Hearers” supported Elect members by offering food, shelter, and other needs, while following lighter disciplines themselves. Hearers observed weekly fasts and refrained from killing insects or even uprooting plants unnecessarily, treating every living thing as a spark of light.

Confession played a starring role. Similar to modern support groups, small assemblies encouraged candid sharing of moral lapses, reinforcing accountability. This practice resonates today with therapeutic circles that emphasize vulnerability as a path to growth.

Charitable giving also counted as a daily duty. Feeding the poor and distributing alms were seen not just as social acts but as spiritual clean-up, rescuing trapped light from the darkness of poverty. In bustling 3rd-century caravan towns—think the crossroads of the Silk Road—such communal meals doubled as exchange hubs for ideas, goods, and news.

Fasting during the vernal equinox, known as the “Great Fast,” remains the most documented festival. It marked renewal and the anticipation of light’s triumph, not unlike modern spring celebrations.

Overall, Manichaean disciplines were more than rituals—they formed a cohesive way of life, weaving spiritual vigilance into every meal, prayer, and act of kindness, long before wellness influencers popularized mindful living.