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This article is about the concept of gnosis. For the magazine, see Gnosis (magazine). Gnosis was a Magazine published from 1985 to 1999, devoted to the Western esoteric tradition.

Gnosis (from the Greek word for knowledge, γνώσις) is used in English to specify the spiritual knowledge of a saint or enlightened human being. Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Knowledge is defined ( Oxford English Dictionary) variously as (i expertise and skills acquired by a person through experience or education the theoretical or practical understanding English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States It is described as the direct experiential knowledge of the supernatural or divine. This is not enlightenment understood in its general sense of insight or learning (which in Greek is διαφωτισις)[1] but enlightenment that validates the existence of the supernatural.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines gnosis as, "A knowledge of spiritual mysteries. The Oxford English Dictionary ( OED) published by the Oxford University Press (OUP is a comprehensive Dictionary of the English " From the word gnosis is derived Gnostic and Gnosticism, the latter a modern construct referring to one of various eastern sectarians flourishing during the early Christian era, which claimed to have supernatural knowledge or more precisely religio-philosophical knowledge. Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Sectarianism is Bigotry, Discrimination, Prejudice or Hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions The term being Koine Greek has, nonetheless, a much broader application than being exclusive to any sectarian group. Koine Greek (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek" or, ciˈni ðiˈale̞kto̞s "the common dialect" is the popular form of Greek which emerged in The term gnosis is used by Byzantine and Hellenic cultures as a word to mean a special knowledge or insight of the supernatural,[2] in some sense mature understanding or knowledge. Apperception (Latin ad + percipere, to perceive has the following meanings In Epistemology, it is "the introspective or reflective [3] It refers to the knowledge that comes from experience rather than from rational or reasoned thinking. Knowledge as in revelation and or intuitive knowledge (see gnosiology). Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication Intuition is apparent ability to acquire knowledge without a clear inference or the use of reason The term gnosiology (μελέτη της γνώσης is derived from the Greek words Gnosis ('knowledge' γνώση and logos ('word' or

Contents

Etymology

Gnosis is a Greek word, originally used in specifically Platonic philosophical contexts. Plato, for example, uses the terms gnostikoi’ and gnostike episteme in the text called Politikos. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece The Statesman, or Politikos in Greek and Politicus in Latin, is a four part dialogue contained within the work of Plato. The word means the knowledge to influence and control, Gnostike episteme also was used to indicate one's aptitude. An aptitude is an innate acquired or learned or developed component of a competency ( being the others knowledge understanding and attitude) to do a certain kind of work The terms do not appear to indicate any esoteric or hidden meaning within the works of Plato but instead expressed a sort of higher intelligence and ability akin to talent. [4] The term is used throughout Greek philosophy as a technical term of experience knowledge (see gnosiology) in contrast to theoretical knowledge which is akin to epistemology. The term gnosiology (μελέτη της γνώσης is derived from the Greek words Gnosis ('knowledge' γνώση and logos ('word' or Epistemology (from Greek επιστήμη - episteme, "knowledge" + λόγος, " Logos " or theory of knowledge The term is also related to the study of knowledge retainment or memory (also see cognition). Cognition is a concept used in different ways by different disciplines but is generally accepted to mean the process of awareness or thought In relation to ontic or ontological which is how something actually is. In Philosophy, ontic (from the Greek όντος = part In Philosophy, ontology (from the Greek, genitive: of being (part

Gnosis

Judeo-Christian Sectarians

Among the sectarian gnostics, gnosis was first and foremost a matter of self acquaintance which was the goal of enlightenment. Sectarianism is Bigotry, Discrimination, Prejudice or Hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Also stated as direct knowledge of God through awareness of the divine spark within. [5] Later, Valentinius ( Valentinus), taught that gnosis was the privileged Gnosis kardias "knowledge of the heart" or "insight" about the spiritual nature of the cosmos, that brought about salvation to the pneumatics—people who believed they could achieve this insight. Valentinus (also spelled Valentius) ( c 100 - c160 CE) was the best known and for a time most successful Early Christian gnostic (for other uses see Insight (disambiguation Insight can be used with several related meanings *a piece of information *the Spirituality, in a narrow sense concerns itself with matters of the Spirit, a concept closely tied to religious belief and Faith, a transcendent reality The Universe is defined as everything that Physically Exists: the entirety of Space and Time, all forms of Matter, Energy In Theology, salvation can mean three related things being saved from or Liberation from something such as Suffering or the punishment of Gnosis was distinct from the secret teachings they only revealed to initiates once they had reached a certain level of progression. Rather, these teachings were paths to obtain gnosis. (See e. g. "fukasetsu", or ineffability, a quality of realization common to many, if not most, esoteric traditions; see also Jung on the difference between sign and symbol. To say that something is " ineffable " means that it cannot or should not be expressed in spoken words (as with the concept of true love or some Taboo) A sign is an entity which signifies another entity A natural sign is an entity which bears a causal relation to the signified entity as thunder is a sign of storm The musical instrument is spelled Cymbal. A symbol is something --- such as an object, Picture, written word a sound a piece ) Gnosis from this perspective being very akin to the same meaning as the word occult. The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus (clandestine hidden secret referring to "knowledge of the hidden"

Among heresiologists, gnosis denotes different Jewish, Christian or Pagan belief systems of a religio-philosophical knowledge such as, first and foremost, Gnosticism and other dualist systems from the 1st and 2nd centuries A. Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems Dualism denotes a state of two parts The word's origin is the Latin duo, "two". The 1st century was the Century that lasted from 1 to 100 according the Julian calendar. The 2nd century is the period from 101 to 200 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. D. , but also Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, etc. The term Rosicrucian (symbol the Rose Cross) describes a secret society of mystics allegedly formed in late mediaeval Germany, holding a doctrine "built on Kabbalah (קַבָּלָה lit "receiving" is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism. Sectarian groups that denoted that the creator of the cosmos as demiurge was not the true God but a fallen and even sometimes the personification of evil. Demiurge (the Latinized form of Greek demiourgos, δημιουργός, literally "public or skilled worker" from demos That the creator god of the Jewish old testament and Hellenistic pagan philosophy (Zeus) was evil, as was the cosmos that the creator had fashioned (see the Sethian and Ophite gnostic sects). Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology The Sethians were a group of ancient Gnostics who date their existence to before Christianity The Ophites or Ophians (from Greek ὄφιανοι > ὄφις = Snake) any of numerous Gnostic sects in Syria and Egypt

Early Christianity

In early Christianity gnosis (related to the Greek religious meaning not the sectarian groups) also carried over from Hellenic philosophy into Greek Orthodoxy as a critical characteristic of asceticism, via St Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, Hippolytus of Rome, Hegesippus, and Origen. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Ascetic redirects here You might also be looking for Acetic acid. Saint Clement of Alexandria (born Titus Flavius Clemens) (c150 - 211/216 was the first notable member of the Church of Alexandria, and one of its most Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France For places named after the saint see Saint-Hippolyte Saint Hippolytus of Rome (c Saint Hegesippus (Ἅγιος Ἡγήσιππος (c 110 — c Origen ( Greek: Ōrigénēs, or Origen Adamantius, ca 185–ca Gnosis meaning intuitive knowledge, spiritual knowledge, heart knowledge (kardiognosis) or memory of an experience of God. In relation to theosis (deification/personal relationship with God) and theoria (vision of God). In Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic theology theosis (written also theiosis, theopoiesis, theōsis Theoria (Greek) is Greek for Contemplation or 'the perception of Beauty regarded as a Moral faculty' ( OED) [6] According to Greek Orthodox theology[7] and biblical scripture[8] Jesus proclaimed that he did not teach any secret or hidden knowledge. Early church tradition was that gnosis carried these meanings regardless of if the individual professing them was honest or not about their mystical experiences.

Hellenic philosophy

The Neoplatonic philosophers including, Plotinus rejected followers of gnosticism as being un-Hellenistic and anti- Plato due to their vilification of Plato's creator of the universe referred to as the demiurge. Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical Philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD founded by Plotinus ( Greek:) (ca AD 204–270 was a major philosopher of the ancient world who is widely considered the founder of Neoplatonism (along with his Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece Polemics (pəˈlɛmɪks/ /poʊ- is the practice of disputing or controverting religious, philosophical, or political matters Demiurge (the Latinized form of Greek demiourgos, δημιουργός, literally "public or skilled worker" from demos Also the use of misotheism as an answer to the problem of evil. Misotheism is the "hatred of God " or "hatred of the Gods " (from the Greek adjective μισόθεος "hating the gods" a compound of In the Philosophy of religion and Theology, the problem of evil is the problem of reconciling the existence of Evil or Suffering in the world (see Neoplatonism and Gnosticism). Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of Hellenistic philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, based Plotinus did express true gnosis as the highest goal of the philosopher.

Hinduism

The term Gnosis is related to the Sanskrit jnana (as in Jnana Yoga) and to the Hebrew daath, which is the hidden sphere in the Kabbalah, or that knowledge which was only given to the initiated. Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान is the Sanskrit term for Knowledge or Philosophy.

In the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, the Gnostic being refers to the future supramental state of divinised humanity, living a spirit-filled existence[9]. Sri Aurobindo (শ্রী অরবিন্দ Sri Ôrobindo) ( August 15, 1872 – December 5, 1950) was an Indian Supermind in Sri Aurobindo 's philosophy refers to the infinite unitary truth-consciousness or truth-idea simultaneously Transcendent and Supermind in Sri Aurobindo 's philosophy refers to the infinite unitary truth-consciousness or truth-idea simultaneously Transcendent and He speaks of a Gnostic Community, a collective Gnostic life that will establishe a gnostic Supernature. [10] Author Patrizia Norelli-Bachelet discusses the Gnostic being and the 'rise and establishment of a Gnostic society' in terms of the Supramental Yoga of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother of Pondicherry. [11]

Buddhism

Gnostic ideas of salvation were similar to Buddhist conceptions of Bodhi, hence gnosis was not expressible by words. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Bodhi (बोधि is both the Pāli and Sanskrit word traditionally translated into English as "enlightenment

Etymological and Intercultural associations

Gnosis has been associated and often cited as synonymous with terms from numerous cultures and religions:

The word is cognate (from Proto-Indo-European) with the Sanskrit word jnana (pronounced gyana; g is guttural) that has an equivalent meaning in Buddhist and Hindu spiritual treatises. Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical Jñāna (also spelled Gñāna; Devanagari ज्ञान is the Sanskrit term for Knowledge or Philosophy. Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. In Theravada Buddhism the word for gnosis is añña (lit. 'highest knowledge')[12]. The knowledge to which gnosis refers is that of the unconditioned ground (and source) of phenomenal reality, variously called Brahman (The Upanisads); the Dharmakaya (Mahayana Buddhism); the Tao (Tao Te Ching) and God (Theistic religion). Brahman ( bráhman-, Nominative bráhma sa ब्रह्म is a concept of Hinduism. The Upanishads ( Devanagari: उपनिषद् IAST: upaniṣad also spelled "Upanisad" are Hindu scriptures that constitute the core teachings The Dharmakāya (lit Truth Body or Reality Body is a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism forming part of the Trikaya doctrine that was first expounded in the Mahayana ( Sanskrit: mahāyāna, Devanagari: महायान 'Great Vehicle' is one of the two main existing schools of Buddhism and a term for Tao ( 道, Pinyin Dào) is a metaphysical concept found in Taoism, Confucianism, and more generally in ancient Chinese philosophy The Tao Te Ching or Dao De Jing ( originally known as Laozi or Lao tzu ( is a Chinese classic God is the principal or sole Deity in Religions and other belief systems that worship one deity. Theism, in its most inclusive usage is the belief in at least one Deity. One who having followed a spiritual path in order to return to the origin and arrived at this transcendental knowledge is called a gnostic(Jnani in Sanskrit and Hindi).

Influences on contemporary culture

See also

References

  1. ^ In.gr (online Greek dictionary) Αποτελέσματα αναζητήσεως : enlightenment. Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece SOCRATES is the European Community action programme in the field of Education. Epistemology (from Greek επιστήμη - episteme, "knowledge" + λόγος, " Logos " or theory of knowledge Aristotle (Greek Aristotélēs) (384 BC – 322 BC was a Greek philosopher a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. Plotinus ( Greek:) (ca AD 204–270 was a major philosopher of the ancient world who is widely considered the founder of Neoplatonism (along with his Numenius of Apamea was a Greek philosopher who lived in Apamea in Syria and flourished during the latter half of the 2nd century AD Proclus Lycaeus ( February 8, c 411 &ndash April 17, 485) called "The Successor" or "Diadochos" ( Greek Próklos Amelius, whose family name was Gentilianus was a Neoplatonist philosopher and writer of the second half of the 3rd century The Six Enneads, sometimes abbreviated to The Enneads or Enneads, is the collection of writings of Plotinus, edited and The Statesman, or Politikos in Greek and Politicus in Latin, is a four part dialogue contained within the work of Plato. Neoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of Hellenistic philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, based The New Thought Movement or New Thought is a New religious movement developed in the United States during the late 19th century which emphasizes metaphysical Gnosticism (γνώσις gnōsis, Knowledge) refers to a diverse Syncretistic Religious movement consisting of various Belief systems The history of Gnosticism is subject to a great deal of debate and interpretation Samael Aun Weor ( March 6, 1917 - December 24, 1977) was a spiritual teacher Occultist esotericist and author Saint Irenaeus (Greek Ειρηναίος (2nd century AD - c 202 was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, Roman Empire (now Lyons France Eric Voegelin, born Erich Hermann Wilhelm Vögelin ( January 3, 1901 &ndash January 19, 1985) was a Political philosopher. Retrieved on 2007-07-15. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final
  2. ^ University of Athens - Department of Theology
  3. ^ Αποτελέσματα αναζητήσεως : knowledge
  4. ^ Cooper, John M. & Hutchinson, D. S. (Eds. ) (1997). Plato: Complete Works, Hackett Publishing Co. , Inc. ISBN 0-87220-349-2.
  5. ^ Anderson, Robert A. , (2006). Church of God? or the Temples of Satan - A Reference Book of Spiritual Understanding & Gnosis, TGS Publishers, ISBN 0-9786249-6-3.
  6. ^ The Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church, SVS Press, 1997. (ISBN 0-913836-31-1) James Clarke & Co Ltd, 2002. (ISBN 0-227-67919-9) pg 218
  7. ^ St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church
  8. ^ (John 18:20)
  9. ^ Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, bk II, ch. The Collected Works of Sri Aurobindo ( Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library) were published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1972 on occasion 27
  10. ^ Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, p. The Collected Works of Sri Aurobindo ( Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library) were published by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1972 on occasion 967, 1030-1, 1064-5, Sri Aurobindo Ashra Trust, 10th ed. , 1977
  11. ^ Norelli-Bachelet, Patrizia. The New Way, Volumes 1 and 2. Summary. Patrizianorellibachelet. com. Retrieved on 2007-09-17. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1176 - The Battle of Myriokephalon is fought 1462 - The Battle of Świecino (or Battle of Żarnowiec
  12. ^ Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary, 4th Ed. Buddhist Publication Society, ISBN-955-24-0019-8
  13. ^ Gnosis Magazine

Dictionary

gnosis

-noun

  1. (gnosticism) An esoteric form of knowledge or spiritual truth, such as sought by the Gnostics.
  2. Act or process of knowing.
  3. (occult) An altered state of awareness in which the will is magically effective.
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