Chicago Gnosis Podcast

Introduction to Gnostic Studies | 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.

Introduction to Gnostic Studies | 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.

Introduction to Gnostic Studies | 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.

Fundamentals of Gnosticism 05 Gnostic Philosophy

In its purest form, philosophy signifies the love (philos) of wisdom (sophia), a Greek term denominating the experience of the truth within the innermost depths of the soul. Etymologically, this term points towards the relationship of the consciousness with the divine, a distinction ignored by modern philosophical systems. Genuine philosophy is the soul's ardent inspiration, knowledge of and connection to the Innermost, the Being, the spirit, a feat achieved through transcending and transforming the mind, placing it at the service of the divine. This methodology contrasts with mere scholasticism, theories, concepts, and the sophistries of universities, which only use the intellect to be clever and theorize. Rather than seeking to play with the intellect, it is better to go beyond the mind in order to know the spiritual realities beyond the limitations of matter.

Learn how the fourth and final pillar expresses the mystical science, wisdom, and art of the complete human being: an individual who is fully aware and manifesting the spiritual truths contained within the universe. Through loving the divine and placing the intellect at the service of the spirit, we can in turn gain genuine philosophical knowledge based on our own experience.

Fundamentals of Gnosticism 04 Gnostic Art

"The ancients knew these powers so well, that, while concealing their true nature under various allegories, for the benefit (or to the detriment) of the uneducated rabble, they never departed from the multiple object in view, while inverting them. They contrived to throw a thick veil over the nucleus of truth concealed by the symbol, but they ever tried to preserve the latter as a record for future generations, sufficiently transparent to allow their wise men to discern that truth behind the fabulous form of the glyph or allegory. They are accused of superstition and credulity, those ancient sages; and this by those very nations, which, learned in all the modern arts and sciences, cultured and wise in their generation, accept to this day as their one living and infinite God, the anthropomorphic 'Jehovah' of the Jews." ―H.P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine, Volume I, iv. “The Four Elements

Art is an expression of consciousness; therefore the level of being of an artist is expressed through his or her work.  The great artists of humanity have always been profound mystics and apostles who taught how to unite with divinity through their music, writings, and paintings.  Unlike modern art that is divorced from spiritual principles, ancient and classical forms of art embody the highest ideals attainable by mankind, and only those who awaken consciousness can recognize such divine principles within great literature, sculptures, etc.  The mystery schools of Universal Gnosticism disseminated their secret knowledge through the veils of allegory, symbolism, and artistic mediums, so as to evade persecution and provide their knowledge to other initiates without openly giving away their secrets.

Learn how esoteric mysticism, science, and philosophy were taught within ancient art forms: sculpture, poetry, drama, theater, opera, classical music, and more. This lecture explains hidden teachings given by Beethoven, Mozart, Wagner, and other classical composers, as well as through the mystical dances of the Sufis, the architecture of the Egyptians and Mayans, and more.

Fundamentals of Gnosticism 03 Gnostic Mysticism

Learn the three factors that define true spirituality within any tradition and the foundations upon which our full human potential is actualized. As one of the four pillars of the Gnostic Tradition, genuine mysticism is defined as closing the mind's eye towards sensuality, hatred, ignorance, and egotism, thereby opening the doors to spiritual insight. To be a mystic, one who knows the hidden, divine mysteries, one must comprehend the secret causes of suffering within the psyche.  Through specific training, the soul can learn to investigate the hidden truths contained within all religions, practically and definitively, through transforming the mind's attachments, cravings, desires, and afflictions. By changing ourselves, we can change humanity.

This is specifically accomplished through the application of three factors: the birth or genesis of the soul, death of psychological impurity, and selfless service for humanity. As taught in the writings of Luke, we learn to become true mystics by denying our egotistical impulses, bearing up the cross of alchemy, and sacrificing for others through following Christ's example.

This lecture explores teachings from the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, the famous second birth that Jesus taught to Nicodemus, psychological and allegorical verses of the Qur'an, the writings of Manly P. Hall, Samael Aun Weor, and more.

Fundamentals of Gnosticism 02 Gnostic Science

"…As the dawn of physical science broke into glaring daylight, the spiritual sciences merged deeper and deeper into night, and in their turn they were denied. So, now, these greatest masters in psychology are looked upon as “ignorant and superstitious ancestors”; as mountebanks and jugglers, because, forsooth, the sun of modern learning shines today so bright, it has become an axiom that the philosophers and men of science of the olden time knew nothing, and lived in a night of superstition. But their traducers forget that the sun of today will seem dark by comparison with the luminary of tomorrow, whether justly or not; and as the men of our century think their ancestors ignorant, so will perhaps their descendants count them for know-nothings." ―H. P. Blavatsky, Isis Unveiled: Chapter II, “Lost Arts”

Modern science, focused upon the investigation of material phenomena, lacks effective methods for knowing the hidden, spiritual roots of existing things, precisely due to the fact that such mystical principles can only be apprehended by conscious perception beyond the limits of physical matter.  Whereas the methods of empirical investigation end at the limits of materiality, Gnostic science begins where physical science leaves off: through the awakening and development of consciousness.  It is by cultivating the ardent faculties of the soul that one can obtain the mystical apprehension of fundamental truths.  The direct cognizance of the intelligent blueprints of nature is therefore born from the scientific procedures beyond the reach of the five physical senses.

Learn how the ancient schools of mysteries, whether from Rome, Chaldea, Persia, Tibet, India, etc., secretly cultivated a profound, hidden, and superior knowledge rejected and ignored by present day scientific dogma.  You will also learn how the modern Gnostic tradition is based upon the study and application of three esoteric sciences: Egyptian  الكيمياء‎ Alchemy, Hebraic קבלה Kabbalah, and Greek ψυχολογία Psychology or dialectics.  This lecture introduces these three sciences in accordance with the doctrines of Plato, Nietzsche, H.P. Blavatsky, Samael Aun Weor, and other philosophical and esoteric writers.

Fundamentals of Gnosticism 01 Introduction

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.