Understanding Mandean Baptism (Mashbuta): Video with Explanatory Text

The Mandeans claim to be the original followers of John the Baptist, who fled the land Holy Land in the first century and claim to have preserved traditions independent of the emerging Christian Church in the subsequent centuries. In June 1999, I was privileged to be a part of a unique conference at Harvard University, sponsored by ARAM, at which, a group of these ancient Mandean priests and laypersons demonstrated their practice of "baptism" (Masbuta) in the Charles River in Boston. This was the first time a full Mandean baptism was performed outdoors with two officiating priests in the United States. It marked a truly historic event.
This exclusive footage, created by Jesse Buckley, son of noted Mandean scholar, Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley, Emeritus Professor at Bowdoin College, is used with permission of the Buckleys. Most important, I am publishing a full commentary on the video as a guide to understanding the complexities of these ancient practices provided by Prof. Buckley. You may access it at the link below, along with further important resources for understanding Mandeanism and its ancient connections to John the Baptist.
jamestabor.com/understanding-...
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[@carolslater7903]

Mandaeans revere John the Baptist and practice frequent baptism (masbuta) as a ritual of purification, not of initiation. They are possibly one of the earliest peoples to practice ritual baptism.[3] Mandaeans undergo baptism on Sundays (Habshaba), wearing a white sacral robe (rasta). Baptism for Mandaeans consists of a triple full immersion in water, a triple signing of the forehead with water and a triple drinking of water. The priest (rabbi) then removes a ring made of myrtle (klila) worn by the baptized and places it on their forehead. This is then followed by a handshake (kušṭa - hand of truth) with the priest. The final blessing involves the priest laying his right hand on the baptized person's head.[4]: 102  Living water (fresh, natural, flowing water, called mia hayyi)[4] is a requirement for baptism, therefore can only take place in rivers. All rivers are named Jordan (yardena) and are believed to be nourished by the World of Light. By the river bank, a Mandaean's forehead is anointed with sesame oil (misha) and partakes in a communion of sacramental bread (pihta) and water. Baptism for Mandaeans allows for salvation by connecting with the World of Light and for forgiveness of sins.[5][6][7] Although masbuta rituals are typically held only in the presence of Mandaeans, a historic commemorative masbuta ceremony was held at the 13th conference of the ARAM Society (titled "The Mandaeans"), which took place during 13-15 June 1999 on the banks of the Charles River at Harvard University.[8][9]

[@pedenmk]

Many thanks from western North Carolina. Great episode.

[@elle6621]

High priests of Mandeans are called “Nazarene” which means righteous Mandean who keep the law and secret knowledge. the title of Jesus therefore was not “Jesus of Nazareth” but “Jesus the Nazarene”. They revere John the Baptist but consider Jesus a fallen student of him. Jesus misused the secret teachings who were given to him by John the Baptist. Since it’s also in Bible that John the Baptist and Jesus were related ( probably cousins), they were in the sect of Nazarenes , John the Baptist as High Priest or higher rank than Jesus. Interestingly Mandeans work a lot with astronomy, astrology and constellations. Bible nativity story of Star of Bethlehem and three wise man from east actually allegory of star constellation which can be observed on 25th of December. Also some other symbolism like fish, fisher man ( sign of Pisces), Virgin Mary ( sign of Virgo- the virgin) even the city of Bethlehem ( Beth: house, Lehem: bread ; house of bread which also symbolizes the sign of Virgo). It seems to me that Jesus was a follower of the Mandean High priest John the Baptist, and gain some early followers from this group but rest of the Mandeans condemned him and only accepted John as a holly personality.

[@Nomeado]

Astrology??

[@OksintasObones]

Jesus was sent to study first by the Esseneans

[@daeviontaylor]

This is underrated stuff, this is what I imagine that Jesus of Nazareth looked like. What I find most fascinating is the fact that their priests speak in Ancient Aramaic, similar to Jesus.

[@sohaila6086]

They consider Jesus as a heretic, stop trying to attach everything to your Christian cult.

[@josepilimperatore3079]

(Qolasta 31 in sync with footage of Mandaean baptism) And Adam questioned, and spoke, "Through the power of Hibil-Ziwa have I attained my end!" Then Hibil-Ziwa arose, put on the seven vestments, and went to the jordan-bank. When Adam had placed the qauqa (and) fire before Hibil-Ziwa, Hibil-Ziwa twined a wreath for his staff and twined a wreath for Adam, then rose and went to the jordan and recited the prayer "Answer me, my father, answer me, for I have gone to the jordan in the strength of my father Yawar, and in the strength of Manda-d-Hiia a wreath hath been set upon the 'uthras." (At 2.55): Then he arose and recited "In the name of that First Being" for his crown and set it on his head, (At 4.38): then recited "Life created Yawar-Ziwa", "Let there be light" and Manda created me" for the myrtle-wreath and set it beside the crown. (At 6.29): (Priests prepare the Pihta bread to me served later between times 25.00 aand 28:00; but there is no footage of serving.) (At 12:00): And he held the end of his stole and recited "Strengthened and enhanced is the great mystery of radiance, light and glory" over his pandama, folded his pandama over his mouth (At 12:14): and recited "incense that is fragrant, yea, for the First Life" and cast incense on the fire. And he recited (Qolasta 75, 76, 77, 9) "We have acknowledged," "Praises", "Thee, Thyself", "I sought to lift mine eyes", "The day that the jordan was bestowed on Sam-Smir" (Qolasta 10), "I have worshipped and praised that Yawar-Ziwa" (Qolasta 11) (Priest opens the Jordan with Qolasta 12): and "I am Yur son of Barit; in great radiance". (At 13.30): And he held his stole and recited "I went to the jordan, but not I alone" (Qolasta 13) up to the place where it says "give free movement to the limbs of my body; I go down," and he went down into the jordan up to a fourth of his thighs. (At 13.40): And he recited "In the name of Yusmir, the First Vine" over his staff, and at the place where it saith "covered with radiance and clothed in light" he cast the myrtle-wreath over the staff and "clothed" it with his stole. And he recited "Bound is the sea" and traced three circles thrice over in the jordan. And he recited "I am a perfected gem", and "Avaunt, flee in fear" and splashed the water in the jordan at his right, his left and in front of him and recited "Piriawis" as written. Then he chanted a hymn and said to him "Any man who hath strength thereto and who loveth his soul, let him come and go down to the jordan, be baptised, receive the pure sign, put on robes of radiant light and set a fresh wreath on his head." (At 14.28): (Priest normally submerges baptizand instead of splashing water on him. Could the pattern of splashing water symbolize a peacock tail indicating Baptism of Yusamin? The following lines from Qolasta 31 describes a different form): And Adam descended into the jordan and submerged himself thrice behind him (Hibil-Ziwa), who took him by the right hand transferred him to his left, placed him between himself and his staff, dipped him thrice (At 18.49): and signed him thrice in the jordan. (Priest signs baptizand with triple water sign; perhaps originally in place of anointment). (At 19.50):And he gave him three palmfuls of water to drink (At 18.56): and recited "Manda created me" over the myrtle-wreath and set it upon his (Adam's) head (At 19.09): and pronounced the secret names over him. (At 19.15): (Then) he took his hand in kushta over the staff and made him go up before him. (At 20:44): (Then) he took water from the jordan into his phial (At 20:29): (Priest traces three circles in the Jordan according to Qolasta 15 ): And he recited "Bound is the sea" and traced three circles thrice over in the jordan. (Priest then closes the Jordan with the following): and recited the hymn "At the waterhead I went forth" and "Blessed art thou, Outer Door", and recited "I rose up from the jordan, and a group (of souls) I met". (At 21:00): And he came up out of the jordan and completed it (the hymn). (At 21:30): And he took up the oil and recited "We have acknowledged the name of Life", "Precious oil art thou" and "Thou wast established, First Life" over the oil. (At 25:36):Then he signed him thrice and made passes over him thrice, and at each signing he laid his hand on his (Adam's) head and repeated those names which he had pronounced over him in the jordan. And he performed kushta with him (ritual hand shake). (Then) he took the pihta (bread) and recited the eight prayers for the pihta over the pihta (At 27:27): and the two prayers for the mambuha (water drink) over the mambuha. (It’s peculiar that the priest pours water on the baptizand’s hands) And he gave him the pihta so that he should eat and gave him the mambuha that he might drink, and he drank the rinsing (water). And he grasped his hand in kushta and seated him before him (At 27:57): and recited the "sealing" prayers,

[@carolslater7903]

Thank you

[@toddhumbargar4810]

James . I’d love to learn more of your understanding of the gospels. The five W’s.

[@owenshaw7000]

Thanks. Now I know the rest of the story; the side we never hear about.

[@abdulhalabi3716]

an explaination of the ritual would've been great. i noticed a couple of times that they greeted each other similar to Islamics," asalaam ualaykum".i found that interesting! thank you Professor T.

[@krism1077]

That's not part of the ceremony. That's just background sounds from the chatting bystanders. Mandaeans conduct their rituals in the Mandaic language.

[@Jamesjacob339]

There is no water Baptism in Islam right? John the Baptist used to baptize everyone.

[@alhassani626]

James what do you think of the theory that angelic encounters are Alein encounter rather than supernatural? This theory is now the most popular.

[@kosmicwizard]

I'm not Dr. Tabor, but I think that Aliens have been around observing us for a long time, and that myths of ancient gods, angels and demons and so forth could be attempts by the people back then, to explain why these powerful interdimentional beings act the way they do towards us. Hopefully, we will stop killing each other in wars and they will start to guide us to a better future than our current reality.

[@tammymullins5240]

Very interesting 🤔 wished it was in English language but it's okay 👍 may I ask what language they're speaking I've been trying to learn Hebrew language

[@ArdwanGh]

Hello, in this video three languages ​​are spoken, Arabic (Iraqi dialect), Persian (Ahwaz dialect) these two languages ​​are used for communication between people. The Mandaic language used for rituals is an Eastern Aramaic language close to Hebrew and Syriac

[@gk-qf9hv]

Ridiculous how the westerners are walking around them, filming and with a smile that tells big deal about ignorance.

[@toddhumbargar4810]

I’d also like to know your thoughts on rituals, and how they may impede our connection with God.

[@victoriahigman6802]

I think this is beautiful and meaningful

[@victoriahigman6802]

Rituals can be an aid to life particularly in Rites of Passage as life markers. The Catholic Church is still the most numerous Christian denomination. So rituals for some are important and bring God more closely into their life. But for those who see ritual as empty they are a barrier to God. I’m more on the Protestant and not ritualistic side. But any regular habit in life can help us keep on track mentally and emotionally. And Spiritually. The things of God for the people of God. Whichever mindset we might have

[@philipmunro514]

A question. You have made a great study in your life. The life that was in the sperm that carried the DNA that formed me. That life is still alive and dies the moment i die. Almost i die because that life died

[@philipmunro514]

Where does that life that consciousness go when I die just back in a race for a change on life again? Or just ends? Maybe is become part of energy and life forever. Maybe a Creator actually have a end plan and the law is there for us to go to the Jewish new earth. Or believe in jesus and go to the Christian new earth? How can we not just be that life and the body is a vehicle with its limitations?

[@ErenDoppleganer]

@@philipmunro514the creator has no plan. And trrr is no creator either. Just creature who used you like battery. Without his awareness or yours, like that you exist in non-symbiotic relationship it scares me too. Black Hawk should think more about the late game and I like how they practice it weekly. They’re aware journey doesn’t end with one time like Christians who are totally ambiguous.

[@ErenDoppleganer]

But I should give you explanation as future Entropy. Your life doesn’t go anywhere, you stay on earth and slowly get eaten or burnt under high degree. As for thoughts what you ought, to be honest, it’s just organic compound reaction. No soul. All physical and meaningless. Whenever your sperm dies shouldn’t be concern, sperm exists solely as tool to abuse for personal sake. Of course you need to be positive to use things like that. Only I can say stuff like this and still use it with no restrain. No gnosis in this world. Just biomass differences.

[@ErenDoppleganer]

Goodbye.

[@carolslater7903]

Who are the 24 Elders? The Key is the House of David!

[@L-XVIII]

Looks like the root of christian

[@robertallan4916]

Bultmann would have enjoyed this 'video'.

[@Nomeado]

Why?

[@AmericanWoman1964]

Gosh not the Charles...

[@juststtuff]

Why not