Introduction to Gnostic Studies

Introduction to Gnostic Studies

Gnosis is a vast and profound science based on practical methods. Through the study and application of effective techniques, students can learn to experience their own true, divine nature and liberate themselves from suffering. The following lectures will introduce you to the purpose and essentials of the Gnostic teachings, so that any person can awaken their consciousness and realize their full spiritual and human potential. There is no specific sequence to these lectures, since we recommend you study whatever topics resonate most with your interests and needs.

Related Books: Gazing at the Mystery, The Great Rebellion, Introduction to Gnosis, Karma is Negotiable, Treatise of Revolutionary Psychology

Consciousness, Ego, and Personality

"The revolutionary psychology of the gnostic movements, in a clear and precise manner, makes an in-depth distinction between the ego and the Essence. Only the beauty of the Essence manifests through the child during the first three or four years of life. Then, the child is tender, sweet, and beautiful in all his psychological aspects. However, when the ego begins to control the tender personality of the child, then all the beauty of the Essence begins to disappear and the characteristic psychological defects of every human being bloom in its place." ―Samael Aun Weor, Fundamentals of Gnostic Education

This lecture explains how consciousness, personality, and ego function in the teachings of gnostic psychology. When we understand, through experience, the true unconditioned nature of consciousness, we can begin to distinguish it from the conditioning of ego that causes suffering. By going beyond the terrestrial personality (from the Latin persōna, signifying a "mask"), the consciousness can work upon and transform the self. This lecture explains essential practices for developing spiritually, so that you can experience the full awakening and liberation of consciousness.

Cultivating Self-Knowledge

"Man, know thyself, and thou shalt know the universe and its gods." ―The Oracle at Delphi

Self-knowledge is essential to every religion, spiritual path, or mystical tradition. Yet while such systems explain the need to know oneself and thereby gain access to the divine mysteries, they often do not provide practical techniques for how to achieve such a goal. Learn how to know your true identity through the practices of Self-observation, Self-remembering, and the Key of SOL (Subject, Object, Location) in order to discover the truth in a radical and revolutionary way.

The Four Paths to Immortality

The four paths to immortality refer to three common spiritual paths and the fourth way of conscious equilibrium. You will learn about the three brains or energetic centers within the human being and how these relate to common approaches to spiritual development. The discussion of the fourth way, the path of balance, will relate to direct observations of our personal psychological imbalances and predispositions. Finally, you will learn about a practice through which you can study imbalanced states and transform them into the psychological equilibrium necessary for conscious awakening.

Freedom in Times of Suffering

While global crises intensely afflict humanity, there exist proven and effective practices for the transformation of suffering into penetrative wisdom and lasting happiness. Such methods were taught within the heart of all great meditative and spiritual traditions. Learn how to experience freedom from psychological conditions of mind, not only to elevate your level and quality of being, but that of others.

How Do We Perceive?

Perception has many levels, factors, domains, and dimensions. By identifying, verifying, and clarifying different types of experience, spiritual aspirants can access their true nature, unfiltered, unconditioned, and unafflicted by suffering. Learn how to differentiate the spiritually real from the illusory self through a deep study of gnostic psychology: the relationship between the soul (psyche) and divinity (logos).

Kabbalah: The Yoga of the West

Kabbalah, the esoteric or mystical dimension of Jewish thought, embodies universal principles reflected within the heart of all great religions, particularly Judaism and Christianity. While expressed through Hebrew scripture, narrative, folklore, law, and prayer, Kabbalah conveys spiritual truths applicable to all of humanity, simultaneously elucidating conventional Jewish traditions and the path of personal, divine experience.

Many Westerners lack a fundamental understanding of their social, religious, and philosophical roots. Likewise, many Jews and Christians have distanced themselves from the mystical origins of their traditions. This is why Kabbalah is sometimes referenced as the Yoga of the West, for it offers a form of practical spirituality best suited for our modern dispensation. Discover how through the writings of Dion Fortune and Samael Aun Weor.

Kabbalah: The Doctrine of Soul and Spirit

This lecture builds on Kabbalah: The Yoga of the West, outlining the cultural, psychological, and spiritual contexts of Jewish mystical traditions. Kabbalah possesses a rich corpus embodying multiple levels of meaning and practice, codified within introductory, intermediate, and advanced knowledge. Discover these three tiers of instruction through the writings of Gershom Scholem, Manly P. Hall, Dion Fortune, Samael Aun Weor, and the Zohar.

Intrinsic Awareness

Divinity cannot be known except through the innate faculties of the consciousness, which religions have designated soul, buddha nature, or the seed of enlightenment. Through nakedly perceiving our own psychological limitations, we open the doorway to genuine spiritual experiences and the awakening of our complete potential.

Karma and Ethics

Comprehension of karma is the critical foundation for our spiritual development. As we understand the law of action and consequence in our own life, we open the door to comprehending this law throughout the rest of nature. Discover the practical steps you can take today to maximize the positive effects of each moment of your existence.

Liberation from the Mind

"It is clear that at each moment we have to become more and more independent from the mind. The mind is certainly a dungeon, a prison where all of us are prisoners. We need to evade that prison if indeed we want to know what liberty is; to know that liberty which does not belong to time, that liberty which is not of the mind." ―Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of the Dialectic

Meditation is the science of liberation from suffering. By comprehending how the mind limits, conditions, and produces affliction, the meditator can access true states of serenity, bliss, and contentment. This lecture explores some essential dynamics for beginning meditators, such as the distinct difference between consciousness / perception and mind / thought. You will also learn techniques for developing concentration and awakening consciousness within practical, daily life.

The Multiplicity of Self

"It cannot be asserted emphatically enough that the Doctrine of the Many Selves is 100 percent Tibetan and Gnostic in origin. It is not at all pleasant to find out that within each person lives hundreds and thousands of psychological people." ―Samael Aun Weor, The Great Rebellion

Esoteric psychology reveals that the causes of suffering originate from the ego, which, contrary to popular belief and modern studies of mind, is multiple, not unitary. The many "I"s continually battle for control of our mind, emotions, and body, producing all the sorrow and afflictions of life. This lecture explains scriptures and myths that illustrate the doctrine of the many "I"s and teach us how to overcome this internal multiplicity to attain true individuality, serenity, and lasting happiness.

Psychological Death

Life and death are two sides of the same thing. For our soul to live, our egotism must die. Learn about the importance of psychological death for spiritual life as well as practical ways to achieve it.

Sacred Sexuality and Transmutation

"The perfect matrimony is the union of two beings; one who loves more and the other who loves better. Love is the most accessible religion." ―Samael Aun Weor, "Love"

Many of us sense that nowadays religions are missing something critical, and the surprising truth is that this is due to traditions having rejected sexuality instead of comprehending its true purpose. When humanity either represses or indulges in sexual desire, the outcome is suffering, because this volatile force, the true source of our creative expression, must always act. How we use sexuality determines our life. Discover the divine purpose of sexuality, how to transform the most potent energies we possess for the empowerment of our spirituality. Rather than becoming a source of shame or blind passion, sex can serve towards the redemption and liberation of the soul.

The Spiritual Seed

The individual is a seed, an embryo with the potential to develop into a fully enlightened being. This can only be accomplished, however, through actualizing the proper conditions and precise methods for its development. Discover the three essential spiritual sciences that lead towards the perfection of the human being: Hebraic kabbalah, medieval alchemy, and spiritual psychology. See how through an explanation of well-known myths and stories, including the Bible and Pinocchio by Carlos Collodi, whose meanings have eluded scholars, but are comprehensible to the practical meditator and awakened consciousness.

What is Gnosis?

Gnosis is the conscious experience of fundamental truths without reliance upon concept, theory, or belief. By expanding the potential range of our perception, the Gnostic student verifies the essential principles within every religion and spiritual tradition. Discover the practical purpose of Gnosticism: the application of effective techniques for transforming suffering and acquiring personal knowledge of the divine.

The Work of the Artist

The creation and perfection of the soul is a lifelong work of art. However, to attain such spiritual realizations, the individual must learn to awaken, develop, and master their complete potential through specific means. Through fulfilling the requisites of meditation, the consciousness begins to perceive its true nature and understand the reality of divinity. See how through the four pillars or foundations of Gnosticism: science, mysticism, art, and philosophy.