What is Gnosis
Gnosis may be a familiar or unfamiliar term to you. To those familiar with it, it often evokes a tradition of early Christianity. Yet, while embodied in these early traditions, Gnosis actually pre-dates them and is a perennial truth akin to humanity itself.
The term gnosis is derived from the Greek, meaning knowledge. A distinction is made here in that the knowledge gained and/ or received is of a subtle, spiritual nature: the intuitive apprehension of spiritual truth. It relates to the consciousness of man and his spiritual nature. Again, a distinction is made in that consciousness is seen as a distinct aspect of man and forms the basis for much of our enquiry into the study of Gnosis.
This allows us to truly wonder – what is it to be human?
Are we so certain of the truth of the concepts that we hold about ourselves?
Where did these concepts come from? What formed them and on what are they based?
Life is a mystery. Humankind is a mystery. Science in all its many forms has described much of the phenomena of the physical world, yet the mystery remains.
What is life? How does conception, birth, growth and death take place? Are there principles or laws that govern and influence these processes?
What is sleep? Why is it necessary? What determines the physiology of the body and what is the source of its vitality?
How does our psychology work? Is consciousness distinct and independent from physical matter (i.e the brain and nervous system)? What is the nature of our emotions and thoughts and do they serve a purpose?
What is the essence or nature of sex & sexuality? What is this substance and force that can create life and what is our relationship to it? Does it play a role in spiritual life?
What role does man play in life on this planet, this solar system and beyond? Is there life beyond, how did this all come to be and to what end?
Science and even religion cannot explicitly explain these phenomena, hence the mystery. They can be known however but only through conscious investigation and discovery, beyond reason and physical perception. This is a mystical process.
To describe a phenomenon is not necessarily to understand it: to know something superficially or factually is not the same as comprehending its nature, meaning or essence. Hence Gnosis is a particular type of knowledge, engaging a particular aspect of man. It is a deep, intuitive understanding of self and one's relationship to the divine in all its many forms.
The above points to a life that is dedicated to transformation and discovery. To deeply comprehend the answers to these questions is part of long process of study and investigation. Gnosis provides the means for this to occur and we must complement this with conscious participation. Bringing the truly human in us into intimate contact with life itself enables profound revelation.
The term gnosis is derived from the Greek, meaning knowledge. A distinction is made here in that the knowledge gained and/ or received is of a subtle, spiritual nature: the intuitive apprehension of spiritual truth. It relates to the consciousness of man and his spiritual nature. Again, a distinction is made in that consciousness is seen as a distinct aspect of man and forms the basis for much of our enquiry into the study of Gnosis.
This allows us to truly wonder – what is it to be human?
Are we so certain of the truth of the concepts that we hold about ourselves?
Where did these concepts come from? What formed them and on what are they based?
Life is a mystery. Humankind is a mystery. Science in all its many forms has described much of the phenomena of the physical world, yet the mystery remains.
What is life? How does conception, birth, growth and death take place? Are there principles or laws that govern and influence these processes?
What is sleep? Why is it necessary? What determines the physiology of the body and what is the source of its vitality?
How does our psychology work? Is consciousness distinct and independent from physical matter (i.e the brain and nervous system)? What is the nature of our emotions and thoughts and do they serve a purpose?
What is the essence or nature of sex & sexuality? What is this substance and force that can create life and what is our relationship to it? Does it play a role in spiritual life?
What role does man play in life on this planet, this solar system and beyond? Is there life beyond, how did this all come to be and to what end?
Science and even religion cannot explicitly explain these phenomena, hence the mystery. They can be known however but only through conscious investigation and discovery, beyond reason and physical perception. This is a mystical process.
To describe a phenomenon is not necessarily to understand it: to know something superficially or factually is not the same as comprehending its nature, meaning or essence. Hence Gnosis is a particular type of knowledge, engaging a particular aspect of man. It is a deep, intuitive understanding of self and one's relationship to the divine in all its many forms.
The above points to a life that is dedicated to transformation and discovery. To deeply comprehend the answers to these questions is part of long process of study and investigation. Gnosis provides the means for this to occur and we must complement this with conscious participation. Bringing the truly human in us into intimate contact with life itself enables profound revelation.