Fundamentals of Gnosticism 01 Introduction

Published: Aug. 24, 2014, 2:14 a.m.

Throughout history, the Gnostic tradition has flourished in all parts of the world in accordance with the language, customs, temperaments, and idiosyncrasy of specific cultures. Gnosis, the essence of spiritual experience, has manifested through the actions of all the greatest saints, prophets, yogis, philosophers, and luminaries of mankind, whose traditions span all continents and profess the legacy of their authors: how to change fundamentally within one's being in order to alleviate suffering for oneself and for humanity. Learn the fundamentals of Universal Gnosticism: the prerequisites for actualizing our most intimate potential, the need to change psychologically in order to know the truth, and the different ways such transformative knowledge has been presented throughout both Eastern and Western traditions. This lecture specifically examines excerpts from the Judeo-Christian Bible, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Qur'an and Sufi writings, and the Buddhist scriptures.   You will also learn the four pillars of Gnosticism: science, mysticism, art, and philosophy, and how they constitute the fundamental depth of all the most ancient mystery schools. Through an etymological analysis of the terms science, mysticism, art, and philosophy, you will also learn how these pillars constitute an integral teaching: how to unite with the divine through practical works.