Lesson 1: What is Gnosis

The Inner Path

• Humans possess inside, some higher possibilities, so that they can become something more than merely a machine that serves the needs of society and inferior Nature.
• But they do not unfold on their own: they can only be developed through conscious effort and inner work.
• For, in man, there can be no automatic “evolution”, if he does nothing to develop these possibilities, he slowly loses them.

Our destiny in the inner path is to reach the Truth, God, the self-realization of our Being.

• This destination has different names: e.g. Kingdom of Heaven in Christianity, Nirvana in Buddhism, liberation in Hinduism, enlightenment, self-realization, union with God, etc.
• It is a state in which we have conquered inner freedom, love, peace, wisdom, etc.

The Guide

• We need a guide in our Path.
• A guide is someone who has made it to the end of this inner Path: the self-realization of the Being.
  • Also, to a lesser extent, the role of the guide can be fulfilled by anyone who is more advanced than us.
  • Such a person can point out the dangers we will encounter, prepare us to overcome the obstacles et, because he/she has already been through that.
• It is impossible for a man to make his way alone, that is why in all ages and in all cultures we find Schools of Mysteries and esoteric groups in which:
  1. We learn the methods to walk the inner path and work on ourselves.
  2. We have the right conditions to do this work.
  3. We have the direct inner guidance and help we need from those who are more advanced.

The Map

• We need to have a Map of the Path.
• The Great Masters who have walked this inner Path and reached the end, have left behind a map for us, so that, we can also reach our destination.
• This map is the Inner Teachings: we need to study the authentic teachings of the Great Masters.
• The road, the way, is the same for everyone, but each one of us, applies the esoteric teachings to himself/herself and thus, discovers his/her own Path.

The Light

• We need a lamp to shed light so that we can see the Path.
  • This light is Consciousness.
  • Consciousness is what allows us to know the truth in a direct way, without thought (not using the mind).
  • Whoever walks in the inner path without awakening the Consciousness is in danger of being deceived and take the wrong direction.
  • Therefore, we need techniques and methods to awaken our Consciousness.

Luggage

• We do not need to carry a lot of luggage.
• Every person carries in his life many things that are useless or even harmful.
  • e.g. insecurities, prejudices, complexes, traumas, suffering, bad habits, memories, etc.
• All these makes the inner path more difficult and delays us.
  • The faster we get rid of them, the easier and faster our path will be

Supplies and Tools

• On the way we will encounter many obstacles that we must overcome.
  • e.g. our various psychological defects and weaknesses (selfishness, anger, vanity, laziness, etc.).
  • e.g. difficulties with external life situations (family or financial problems, etc.).
• To overcome them, we need to have the right preparation, the right tools

Water

• We need to know where to find water that gives us life and not die of thirst.
  • The water of life is the creative energies that our body produces.
• This means that we need to work on our energies to refine and transform them
• Transmutation of energies allows us to:
  1. be purified naturally and internally.
  2. make a rebirth in body and soul.
  3. create within us a spiritual structure in order to unite with our Being.

Fuel

• We also need something that gives us an inner push to move forward on the path.
• Sacrifice ourselves to others, gives us this impulsion and enthusiasm.
  • Sacrifice is helping others in any way we can.
    • We can sacrifice time, energy, money, etc.
• He who deals only with his personal perfection, forgetting others, falls into selfishness.

The 4 Pillars of Gnosis

We study Gnosis through 4 Pillars:

• Science
  • Seeks the Truth.
  • Approaches Gnosis (Knowledge) through objective study.
• Art
  • Seeks the Beauty.
  • Approaches Gnosis through inspiration.
• Philosophy
  • Seeks Wisdom.
  • Approaches Gnosis through contemplation.
• Religion
  • Seeks God.
  • Approaches Gnosis through mysticism.

The 3 Factors of the Revolution of the Consciousness

• The inner path is based entirely on 3 aspects
  1. Work on our psychological defects.
     • We call this, the factor of Death.
  2. Transmutation of our creative energies.
     • We call this, the factor of second birth.
  3. Conscious Love.
     • We call this, the factor of Sacrifice.
• Every Authentic Esoteric School teaches these 3 factors, as well as the methods and techniques to apply these factors, to put them into practice.