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Gnosis

This article is about the concept of gnosis. For the magazine, see Gnosis (magazine).
Gnosis (from the Greek word for knowledge, γνώσις) is used in English to specify the spiritual knowledge of a saint or enlightened human being. 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 διαφωτισθούν)[1] but enlightenment that validated the existence of the supernatural.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines gnosis as, 'A knowledge of spiritual mysteries.' From the word gnosis is derived Gnostic and Gnosticism the latter a modern construct referring to one of various eastern schools which claimed to have supernatural knowledge flourishing during the early Christian era. The term being Koine Greek has, nonetheless, a much broader application than being exclusive to any sectarian group. The term is used by Byzantine and Hellenic cultures as a word to mean a special knowledge or insight of the supernatural. In some sense mature understanding or knowledge. It is the knowledge that comes from experience rather than from rational or reasoned thinking as in intuitive knowledge (see gnosiology).

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 in Greek and Politicus in Latin (258e-267a) the modern name being the Statesman. The word means the knowledge to influence and control. Gnostike episteme also was used to indicate one's aptitude. 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.[2] 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 is also related to the study of knowledge retainment or memory (also see cognition).

Gnosis

Among the sectarian gnostics, gnosis was first and foremost a matter of self acquaintance which was the goal of enlightenment. Also stated as direct knowledge of God through awareness of the divine spark within.[3] 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. 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. Gnostic ideas of salvation were similar to Buddhist conceptions of Bodhi, hence gnosis was not expressible by words. (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.)

The Neoplatonic philosophers including, Plotinus rejected followers of gnosticism as being un-Hellenistic and anti- Plato due to their vilification of Plato's demiurge (see Neoplatonism and Gnosticism).

Among heresiologists, gnosis denotes different Jewish, Christian or Pagan belief systems of esoteric nature such as, first and foremost, Gnosticism and other dualist systems from the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D., but also Rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, etc. Sectarian groups that denoted that the creator of the cosmos as demiurge was not the true God but a fallen and even sometimes evil being. That the creator god of the Jewish old testament and Hellenistic pagan philosophy was evil as was the cosmos that the creator had fashioned (see the Sethian and Ophite gnostic sects).

In early Christianity gnosis also carried over from Hellenic philosophy into Greek Orthodoxy via St Clement of Alexandria, Hippolytus of Rome, Hegesippus, and Origen. Gnosis meaning intuitive knowledge, spiritual knowledge or memory of an experience of God. In relation to theosis (deification) and theoria (vision of God).[4] According Greek Orthodox theology[5] and biblical scripture[6] Jesus proclaimed that he did not teach any secret or hidden knowledge.

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.

In the teachings of Sri Aurobindo, the Gnostic being refers to the future supramental state of divinised humanity, living a spirit-filled existence[7]. He speaks of a Gnostic Community, a collective Gnostic life that will establishe a gnostic Supernature.[8] 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.[9]

Influences on contemporary culture

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 gnana (pronounced nyana - also spelled jnana) that has an equivalent meaning in Buddhist and Hindu spiritual treatises. In Theravada Buddhism the word for gnosis is añña (lit. 'highest knowledge')[10]. 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). One who having followed a spiritual path in order to return to the origin and arrived at this transcendental knowledge is called a gnostic (Gnani or Jnani in Sanskrit and Hindi).

See also

References

1. ^ In.gr (online greek dictionary) Αποτελέσματα αναζητήσεως : enlightenment. Retrieved on 2007-07-15.
2. ^ Cooper, John M. & Hutchinson, D. S. (Eds.) (1997). Plato: Complete Works, Hackett Publishing Co., Inc. ISBN 0-87220-349-2.
3. ^ 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.
4. ^ 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
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ (John 18:20)
7. ^ Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, bk II, ch.27
8. ^ Sri Aurobindo, The Life Divine, p.967, 1030-1, 1064-5, Sri Aurobindo Ashra Trust, 10th ed., 1977
9. ^ Norelli-Bachelet, Patrizia. The New Way, Volumes 1 and 2. Summary. Patrizianorellibachelet.com. Retrieved on 2007-09-17.
10. ^ Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary, 4th Ed. Buddhist Publication Society,ISBN-955-24-0019-8
Gnosis was a magazine published from 1985 to 1999, devoted to the western esoteric tradition.

Gnosis was published by the Lumen Foundation, a non-profit organization incorporated in California by Jay Kinney and Dixie Tracy-Kinney. It had offices in San Francisco.
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Official language of:  Greece
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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 of a subject, (ii) what is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information or
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Official language of: 53 countries
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Enlightenment broadly means the acquisition of new wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. However, the English word covers two concepts which can be quite distinct: religious or spiritual enlightenment (German: Erleuchtung
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The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is the most comprehensive dictionary of the English language.
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Gnosticism (from Greek gnōsis, knowledge) refers to a diverse, syncretistic religious movement consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect spirit, the demiurge,
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Koine Greek (kini) (Κοινὴ Ἑλληνική, "common Greek", or
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Intuition is "the immediate apprehension of an object by the mind without the intervention of any reasoning process" [Oxford English Dictionary].

Intuition is "1 : Immediate apprehension or cognition without reasoning or inferring 2 : knowledge or conviction gained by
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The term gnosiology (μελέτη της γνώσης) is derived from the Greek words gnosis ('knowledge', γνώση) and logos
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The Statesman, or Politikos in Greek and Politicus in Latin, is a four part dialogue contained within the work of Plato.

The text is a dialogue between Socrates and his student Theodorus, another student named Socrates (referred to as Young Socrates), and an
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The Statesman, or Politikos in Greek and Politicus in Latin, is a four part dialogue contained within the work of Plato.

The text is a dialogue between Socrates and his student Theodorus, another student named Socrates (referred to as Young Socrates), and an
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A statesman or stateswoman is usually a politician or other notable figure of state who has had a long and respected career in politics at national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term.
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The term gnosiology (μελέτη της γνώσης) is derived from the Greek words gnosis ('knowledge', γνώση) and logos
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Epistemology or theory of knowledge is the branch of philosophy that studies the nature, methods, limitations, and validity of knowledge and belief.

The term "epistemology" is based on the Greek words "
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Cognition is a diffuse term, used in different ways by different disciplines. In psychology, it refers to an information processing view of an individual's psychological functions.
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The ideological underpinnings of attitudes and behaviors labeled as sectarian are extraordinarily varied. Members of a religious or political group may feel that their own salvation, or success of their particular objectives, requires aggressively seeking converts from other
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Gnosticism (from Greek gnōsis, knowledge) refers to a diverse, syncretistic religious movement consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a material world created by an imperfect spirit, the demiurge,
..... Click the link for more information.
Enlightenment broadly means the acquisition of new wisdom or understanding enabling clarity of perception. However, the English word covers two concepts which can be quite distinct: religious or spiritual enlightenment (German: Erleuchtung
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Valentinus (c.100 - c.160 CE ) was the best known and for a time most successful early Christian Gnostic theologian. He founded his school in Rome. Tertullian, in Adversus Valentinianos
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The term insight can be used with several related meanings:
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Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit. The spiritual, involving (as it may) perceived non-physical eternal verities (or even abilities) involving humankind's ultimate nature, often contrasts with the earthly, with the material, or with the
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The Universe is defined as the summation of all particles and energy that exist and the space-time in which all events occur. Based on observations of the portion of the Universe that is observable, physicists attempt to describe the whole of space-time, including all matter and
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In theology, salvation can mean three related things:
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Buddhism is often described as a religion[1] and a collection of various philosophies, based initially on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Gautama Buddha.
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Bodhi (बोधि) is the Pāli and Sanskrit word for the "awakened" or "knowing" consciousness of a fully liberated yogi, generally translated into English as "enlightenment".
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For the notion from set theory, see .
To say that something is "ineffable" means that it cannot or should not, for overwhelming reasons, be expressed in spoken words (as with the concept of true love).
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JUNG (the Java Universal Network/Graph Framework) is an open source graph modelling and visualization framework written in Java. The framework comes with a number of layout algorithms built in, as well as analysis algorithms such as graph clustering and metrics for node centrality.
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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. A conventional sign signifies by agreement, as a full stop signifies the end of a sentence.
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