“The Gnostic Bible” by Tom Saunders

Part 1

Introduction:

The following informal study shows texts listed below, as core Gnostic texts. It reveals things not known about Christianity for nearly two-thousand years. It reveals the existence of Gnostic Christianity since the time of the Apostles. It reveals in part what may be the ‘Great Mysteries’ and ‘Secret Works,’ described by texts in the Nag Hammadi Library, and by Saint Clement of Alexandria.

Part 1. Gnostic Class-Forms, and Frameworks:

True Christian Gnosticism is ‘framed’ or understood from the basic concept of becoming a part of the ‘Pleroma,’ or ”Sophia,’ meaning ‘Wisdom.’  This bonding or function is called apokatastasis, or anastasis. This is what the “Gospel of Phillip” calls ‘living resurrection’ to achieve Gnosis (salvation) or ‘being one’ with the ‘All’ or Holy Spirit. The act of Gnosis is understood in two parts, the elements of the process, and the process itself.

Christian Gnosticism can be described as achieving the process of Gnosis with exclusive Jesus ‘Wisdom.’   One text, “The Gospel of Thomas” can be seen as the ‘hub’ or core text to a cohesive Gnostic set of elements and a cohesive process to Gnosis. The elements to achieve Gnosis are the Soul, Mind, Spirit, and Body, that bond with the Holy Spirit, in a process. The following outlines how the key elements merge with the process and how related texts to Thomas explain themes relative to Gnosis.

Logic Determined in a Frame, and A Tool Using A Frame for Logic  (Model and full explanation for the “Square of Opposition” is below, See Appendix, A)

Key elements can have different characteristics that can also be isolated to a set, or class-form.  Frameworks can be effected by logic, or applied to logic.  Consider the two frames: A. The (Devil) is good, and B. The (Angel) is good.  Logic dictates that A. is not true generally, while B. is true, generally.  When the element of logic is applied to class-forms, in a framework, we see a third element, or application that can be applied to show the nature of a ‘class form’ to the framework, both truth and logic.

For logic, the framework of the “Square of Opposition,” can be shown to virtually transfer the class-form and its frame, into the “frame or structure” of itself. When this happens both logic, and the class-forms, and frames, work in harmony. They can show either something is truth or fact, and logical. This is a variation of the original model of the ‘Square of Opposition.’

(The Square of Opposition was thought to be devised by Aristotle, and used after by many philosophers throughout the ages, see below, Appendix A. See Fries’ theory of frames that can be seen to work as other frames, or frameworks, in Part 2.)

“When two categorical propositions are of different forms but share exactly the same subject and predicate terms, their truth is logically interdependent in a variety of interesting ways, all of which are conveniently represented in the traditional “Square of Opposition.” Point A which is in this model in the upper left hand corner, is arbitrary to where it is used on different graphs.  The nature of the frame and the ‘class-forms’ within, determine the position of point A, within the corpus of the field, contingent upon the nature of the frame or graph.

The process of Gnosis, can be seen as a ‘class framework,’ and the “Square of Opposition” is a ‘class framework,’ in the same way, something like genus and species is a lexicon of a class types.  Class-forms are seen to work within ‘class frameworks,’ similar to the way the frames A. and B. above. These can be shown to fit into a ‘frame’ like the “Square of Opposition” to show logic, or other features. To show truth and logic we need to expand the device or model. First is the model for logic, then in example two, truth and logic.

“All S are P.”  (A)- – - – - – -(E)  “No S are P.”
| *           * |
*       *
|     *   *     |
*
|     *   *     |
*       *
| *            * |
“Some  S are P. (I)—  —  —(O)  “Some S are not P.”
A variation of the square can be seen to show both truth and logic…..

True and logical    (A)- – - – - – -(E)  “Not true, not logical
| *           * |
*       *
|     *   *     |
*
|     *   *     |
*       *
| *           * |
Logcial not true (I)—  —  —(O)  True not logical
Understanding this variation of the model helps to show what is related to a theme or key concept used to construct sets of like or thematically cohesive parts of texts with others, forming a set.

This will be done by showing that ‘class-forms’ are the key elements or concepts that are cohesive to a thematic pattern, in what I am calling the ‘Books,’ menaing sets These are from core texts related to the Gospel of Thomas. I have included one set below that deviates from the thematic model, called the ‘Book of Matters’ to show one non-cohesive set.  In other words the semantic meaning of the term ‘matter’ varies in this example. It is therefor not in harmony, and does not fit the intelligent design of the set.

Intelligent Design, may be one way of explaining creation in nature and language, that could satisfy both philosophy and religion. The relative aspect of what is intelligence, can be demonstrated as a natural progression from the polarities in nature, and not a supernatural being or entity, that has dominion over the universe, and mankind.

If we look at intelligent design as part of the process which enables matter to correlate in the balance and harmony of man and nature, then a theory of intelligent design can be seen as making a lot of sense.  In other words the universe of matter, could be seen to work like a universe of words in a language, which is called a lexicon.  If you had a stock of words, a lexicon, that you could distinguish as somehow separate from one another, but no natural system, or force to put these units into a system of understanding that would be chaos. No way to make this distinction would be a worse chaos, perhaps what the Gnostics called darkness.

If it is the point of the Gnostic to relate the theory of Gnosis in the schema of the design of the universe and to reflect the process of Gnosis as within the scheme of nature, then certain things would be expected to formulate a ‘class of forms’ in a set.  Balance is seen in the following constructions of sets, in that there are eight units that can be put together in the sets.  Octagonal forms are common in ancient philosophical constructions, like that of the I-Ching, and the compass of North, South, East, West, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest.  This is common for both the directions of heaven and earth, South being the primary direction of the heavens, and North being the primary direction on earth, thus polarity.

It should be mentioned that Carl Jung originated his Psychological Model of character types, useing a circular frame, and opposed, thinking, feeling, and sensation, intuition, to graph the relative characteristics to the indication of the point inside the frame. This puts point A, in this model where the personality type most relates to the polarity on the graph.

Jung is known to have possessed the first codex in the Nag Hammadi Library. The use of fields or the inside of frames for study is common in the use of models for Ethnography, and Sociolinguistics. These models use polarity within fields to determine common characteristics, the same as the above models. This polarity between points determines Point A, in models like Jung’s. ( See “Hidden Wisdom,” by Smoley, and Kinney, Penguin Press, 1999)

Gospel of Thomas, The Hub of Gnostic Core Texts

The core texts form a Gnostic lexicon, or Gnostic class-frame, becomes relative to key and set by the standard of, “class meaning.”  Class meaning is that common feature of meaning which is prevalent in every lexical form (q.v.) within a given form-class.” Like logic effects the ‘class forms’ inside the “Square of Opposition,” the Logic ‘class framework,’ the class forms inside the structure of Gnosis must be shown to have like characteristics, relative to the core text, (hub), the “Gospel of Thomas.”  Other Gnostic works can be seen to gravitate around it, if they share thematic cohesiveness. Not all Gnostic works in the Nag Hammadi collection do.

This means that to be most relative to ‘Thomas’ or be a core text to it, the contents of the text, and individual frameworks, must coincide with the  key (‘class forms’) of the set.  The ‘hub,’ is still ‘Thomas.’  Class-forms can be unrelated to the theme of the related texts.  This is not the point of showing class-forms.  The texts have to be thematically linked.  I suggest the following as core texts to the “Gospel of Thomas.”  All found in the Nag Hammadi Library, and the Berlin Codex, where the “Gospel of Mary” was also found.

Core Texts
Gospel of Thomas, translated by Stephen Patterson and Marvin Meyer
The Prayer of the Apostle Paul, translation by Dieter Mueller
The Gospel of Mary, translation found at the Gnostic Society Library
The Gospel of Phillip, translated by Wesley W. Isenberg
The Gospel of Truth, translated by Robert Grant
The Book of Thomas the Contender, translated by John Turner
(On-line see the Gnostic Society Library, for other translations of the Nag Hammadi Library)
( See also, the “Nag Hammadi Library, by Robinson, Harper Press, 1979.)

The elements or ‘class-forms’ of the Gnostic process can be seen as characteristics of the elements of man, and relative to the Soul, Mind, Spirit, and Body, in the act or process of Gnosis, bonding with the Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to with a synonym, like “Sophia.”

Soul, Mind, Body, Gnosis, Holy Spirit, are all, ‘class forms,’ in the Gnostic lexicon, which as a process forms the ‘class-framework. The class-forms can be thought of as key terms associated with the framework, which has like concepts, and in most cases a key word is used, but must at least be implied in the set.  (There is a form of modern study known today as ‘Phase-Structure Analysis’ that can be applied to the way class-forms, and frameworks are observed. It too, is a framework. This model has often been used with mathematics, but has no inherent polarity.)

Time, Space, and the Pleroma

Another factor effects the Gnostic ‘class-forms’ and ‘framework(s),’ time and space. These too, must be seen as both ‘class forms’ and part of the ‘Gnostic class-framework’ and they are the concepts or ‘forms’ of the psyche, the kenoma, (See below, definitions) and the Pleroma. These elements can be seen to effect the way, class-forms, effect the Gnostic ‘class-frame.’

Relative to the “Time and Space” framework of Gnosis are the concepts of “rest and motion.” Time and space, rest and motion all take place in three distinct ‘class forms,’ of the psyche, the kenoma, and the Pleroma, in regard to harmony and balance.  Balance in the Gnostic sense is not just juxtaposition in a duality, but also in regard to kyclos, or cosmological movement like the moon and sun around the earth.

The Empty Frame

Picture a parable, as an ‘empty frame.’ Imagine a picture as a frame, and a picture, drawn from the process of the class-forms in those sets of class-frames.  Starting with the idea that the characters in the parables are class- forms  devoid of Gnosis, we can see the usefulness of filling the ‘ parable frame’ with ‘Jesus Wisdom.’  In our own frameworks, (lives) we can see our psyche, kenomic condition, and Pleromic cohesiveness, as class-forms. This is relative to achieving Gnosis by most descriptions, and seems to be the obvious application to the existing parables in the Gospel of Thomas. In other words you fill the void of agnosia in the ‘character’ of the characters in the parables.

Being devoid of Gnosis, the class-forms, (characters) in the parables do not provide any adequate estimation of the comparable or equivalent elements, for the class-forms, to enter the Gnostic class-framework, in the Gnostic process.  Using core elements which are the Soul, Mind, Spirit, and Body, the values or characteristics have to be formulated from elements or influences outside the parables.  There are two possible sources for these elements, and that is within the text of the Gospel of Thomas as ‘the core text,’ and the other thematically related texts.

The Gnostic framework for the process of Gnosis is clear, it is the characteristics of the class-forms that differ.  A set is achieved when the class-forms, are shown to work the same way in the framework.  The framework is effected by the state of the frame in regard to the class-forms of the psyche, the kenoma, and the Pleroma.  These class-forms relate to the time and space of the frame in all aspects of the framework.  The Pleroma is a class form unlike all others, as it is seen to exist in all forms, and frames, everywhere.

The core texts individually may not represent all the characteristics of a particular class-form. The core class-forms, and their comparative values have to be established within the framework of the core texts, to bring further understanding to all.

One way to give specific value to Gnostic class-forms is to show traditional biblical paralleling of word for word similarity, or citation, arrangement and ordering of material, with similar settings or narratives.   Allegorical and synoptic connections also exist for ‘class-forms’ where for instance the term storehouse, allegorically represents the ‘class-form’ of the mind. A host of these analogous terms exist in all Gnostic works, and is characteristic of the Gnostic class-forms. These forms can be contaminated if thematic relationships are breached.

A way of how class-forms can be effected, exists in how authors or scribes who misinterpret their work,
or the translation between languages, can change meaning or the characteristics.  Establishing the Gnostic termanology as the same in all the core texts would reduce these adverse effects.

Parables About Craftsmen  (Craftsman is another name for Pneumatic, and sometimes even Apostle. References to the Craftsman or gifted can be found in 1 Corinthians, by Paul, and Clement’s “Stromata.”)

The main feature of Thomas parables is that they are devoid of human characters that have achieved Gnosis, or Gnostic insight. A parable is in fact a frame, not unlike the frame as a field like inside a picture.  Another model for this same application of class-forms working in a framework, exists in the Thomas parable 98….. Jesus said, “The Father’s kingdom is like a person who wanted to kill someone powerful. While still at home he drew his sword and thrust it into the wall to find out whether his hand would go in. Then he killed the powerful one.”

In this parable the ‘wall’ is clearly a representative frame which the class-forms of man and sword are used to test his hand.  This is a class-form, which must operate in the frame. To a modern martialist this act is like doing a ‘kata’ or specific technique, also understood as a form.  The class-form of thrusting the sword, can be very complex. There is in fact much to know to be a ‘craftsman’ at it. The parable does not relate how much knowledge of sword-craft the character has, this posing another void that must be reasoned.

Another Thomas parable, ‘the woman who baked bread,’ saying 96, is another where the woman could be considered a ‘Craftsman’ also. Here there are key ‘class-forms’ and a framework for baking bread, could be reasoned into the parable.

The “Gospel of Truth” explains Thomas Saying, 107…… Jesus said, “The (Father’s) kingdom is like a shepherd who had a hundred sheep. One of them, the largest, went astray. He left the ninety-nine and looked for the one until he found it. After he had toiled, he said to the sheep, ‘I love you more than the ninety-nine.’”  The “Gospel of Truth” explains……

“He {Jesus the Savior} is the shepherd who left behind the ninety-nine sheep which had not strayed and went in search of that one which was lost. He rejoiced when he had found it. For ninety-nine is a number of the left hand, which holds it. The moment he finds the one, however, the whole number is transferred to the right hand. Thus it is with him who lacks the one, that is, the entire right hand which attracts that in which it is deficient, seizes it from the left side and transfers it to the right. In this way, then, the number becomes one hundred. This number signifies the Father.

…He labored even on the Sabbath for the sheep which he found fallen into the pit. He saved the life of that sheep, bringing it up from the pit in order that you may understand fully what that Sabbath is, you who possess full understanding. It is a day in which it is not fitting that salvation be idle, so that you may speak of that heavenly day which has no night and of the sun which does not set because it is perfect. Say then in your heart that you are this perfect day and that in you the light which does not fail dwells.”

What the “Gospel of Truth’ allegorically says here is the sheep, signifying man, can achieve salvation, through the ‘Light’ or ‘Wisdom’ of Jesus. Perfection is analogous to the Pleromic state.  There are other kinds of analogies notable in the above two paragraphs, but the primary goal here is to show that what the purpose of the parables are. This is to understand the Gnostic class-forms, elements, and how they work in the Gnositic class-framework, process, and fill the frame with this information.

Man’s Hierarchy In the Gnostic Schema

Important to Gnostics is the hierarchy of man.  Man while alive is always thought to be ‘hylic.’

Some comparative values can be made, as some sets of class-forms of man, are known in Gnostic lore.  From the definition of kenoma, as being a flawed state we can determine from some of the characteristics given to the flaw named characteristics. These concepts are from a number of texts, but seem very applicable to the core idea of the flaws of man. The core texts have a number of comparatives that can be done. (See Pt. 2)

Agnosia is the first type of flaw, which means without, Gnosis. (See Thomas Parable-Th- 63)  Agnoia is another known characteristic of man associated with the flaw, agnoia literally means “ignorance” or not paying attention. (See GTh-97)  Aponoia is a state of “unreason” like the misuse of thought. This is different than simply not having thought, as the inability to “put things together” can be worse than not even knowing they do in fact fit. These characteristics are present in the class-forms of the characters in Thomas parables 64, and 65.

The lower forms of the hylic state, are as above, and sometimes are stated as terms, ‘choikus,’ ‘beast,’ ‘robber,’ ‘saklas,’ meaning fool, ‘sarkic,’ meaning of the flesh, or carnal man.  A level known to be higher in this chain of characteristics to the class-form, man, is the ‘Psychic’ which is one who has wisdom, but has not achieved the level of ‘knowledge’ to acheive Gnosis.

The highest level in the chain of ‘class-forms’ above, is the ‘Pneumatic,’ or  Gnostic Craftsman, which   means one who has achieved Gnosis.  There are several terms that identify the “Pneumatic” including, ‘Pneumatophoroi,’ which means…  “One who has united his soul with the ‘light’ (Sophia, Wisdom)    achieving Gnosis which is thought in Christian Gnosticism to be a union with the Holy Spirit.”

Another common name for those who have reached this state are ‘Spirit Bearers.’  Those having reached this state are mentioned in “Acts” and Pauline works. ‘Craftsmen,’ are explained as Gnostics in Clement of Alexandria’s work, “Stromata.”  Literally, man can change his status in the polarity of low hylic, to Pneumatic. This change is a key feature of Gnosticism, and relates to man’s own power with the divine.

Gospel of Thomas part 37

(37)

His disciples said,

“When will you become revealed to us

and when shall we see you?”

Jesus said,

“When you disrobe without being ashamed

and take up your garments

and place them under you feet

like little children and tread on them,

then will you see the son of the living one,

and you will not be afraid.”

The Letter of Peter to Philip:

“When you strip off from yourselves

what is corrupted,

then you will become illuminators

in the midst of mortal men.”

The Second Apocalypse of James:

“For just as you are first

having clothed yourself,

you are also the first who will strip himself,

and you shall become as you were

before you were stripped.”

The Dialogue of the Savior:

“when you rid yourselves of jealousy,

then you will clothe yourselves in light

and enter the bridal chamber.”

Authoritative Teaching:

“And she learns about her light,

as she goes about stripping off this world,

while her true garment clothes her within,

and her bridal clothing is placed upon her

in beauty of mind, not in pride of flesh.”

The so-called “Gospel of the Egyptians”

cited in Patristic literature:  

“When Salome inquired when the things

about which she had asked would be known,

the master said,

‘When you have trampled on the garment of shame

and when the two become one’ “

(Note:  this is not the NHL tractate also known

as “The Gospel of the Egyptians”)

To Gnostics, “clothing” and “garments” had another deeper meaning. They signified things belonging to the dead outer world of the body.  They were to discard these earthly “garments” in order to gain

the return of their Spiritual robe of light. This robe was originally theirs, before they “came into being” as related in the Gnostic myth, The Hymn of the Pearl.

I believe the ‘son of the living one’ represents

the mirrored reflection of your Spiritual twin

looking back at you, naked, inside the mirrored

bridal chamber.

Jesus and the Constitution

Jesus and the Constitution
by
Thomas Saunders

Introduction:

Several years ago I became a Gnostic Bishop in a small church based in Colorado, which eventually disbanded. My credentials as Bishop remain, and my interest in religion lies in disclosing Sethian Christianity. My current and past function in religion has been research to disclose the ‘language’ of the Sethian texts, and I have authored several revealing documents, including a Gnostic Glossary. I nearly have a book written, which discloses many secrets of Sethian Christianity.

Recently I became a member of the Board of Directors for the Congress Against Racism and Corruption in Law Enforcement. www.carlce.us I founded the Bill of Attainder Project in the ’90′s, and over the past couple of years I have served on the Board of Directors of the National Judicial Conduct Disability Law Project. www.njcdlp.org I have been an active political and social activist all my 60 years. In 1980 I worked for Clarence M. Pendleton, at the San Diego Urban League. Clarence, who used to call me “Uncle Tom,” became the first Commissioner, for the Commission on Civil Rights during the Reagan era. I am currently supporting my friend Byron De Lear, running for Congress in Missouri.

Over the years I might have picked up a few things about ‘rights.’ This essay is the first time most of my colleagues in the ‘civil liberties’ organizations learn that the “Law of the Land” principle, can be outlined as Word, in the Christian sense.

In preparation for two upcoming Congressional Bills, HB 1955, and SB 1959, I wrote an explanation of the way the Constitution can be used to define a protected American ‘right.’ I wrote this essay to use to define American rights in a way that cannot be ignored by Christians or politicians…. “The Philosophy of American Rights, (Defining the Law of the Land)” defines the method by establishing the ten rights…

1. Protection from laws that plunder life, liberty, and property, both individual and collective.
2. The right to security in your home, family, and papers.
3. The right of free speech, and free expression.
4. The right to be free from unreasonable searches.
5. The safety net of judicial warrant requirements, and habeas corpus.
6. The right of free assembly, and association.
7. The right to a trial by a jury of your peers in a system of due process.
8. Reasonable bail and recourse for false arrest, and the right to redress grievances.
9. Protection from cruel and unusual punishment.
10. The right to own private property over the right of the ‘government’ to ‘steal’ it.

The method used to establish a “Law of the Land” right is outlined for the protection of religious freedom below. I have also shown this same “Law of the Land” principle in the area of Predatory Lending Laws, “Predatory Lending.” In the texts of “Philosophy of American Rights,” and “Lending” I do not use Sethian Christian references. In the case of American ‘freedom of religion,’ I find disclosing the Sethian connection desirable. I am certainly practicing my own religion, and using the Constitution, and Jesus to do it. I also show a link to early Jewish and Christian religion available in Ben Franklin’s time that cannot be ignored. Enjoy.

============

Freedom of Religion is protected by the clause in the First Amendment forbidding the formation of a national religion. “Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;”

This ‘right’ comes in the form of a protection. There are some recent examples of different Evangelicals being indicted for proselytizing in Faith Based Initiative programs. I would argue that the Faith Based Initiate program in general is an attempt to establish a religious foundation dedicated to an Evangelical attempt to directly or indirectly subvert the Constitution. Not only that but Faith Based Initiative programs are run so the organizations that get the benefits, also contribute to the ‘hand that feeds them’ the GOP, and I see this as pure corruption. It is like “Money Lenders” in the ‘Temple.’

The “Law of the Land” standard of defining a right in American law is to pair the Constitutional protection or mandate with case law, or ‘Acts,’ listed in the United States Code which establishes ‘stare decisis’ in regard to the particular issue. By this “Law of the Land” standard it is shown that Congress and the Courts are obligated to protect that right.

‘A Law of the Land’ right is one that can be established so that…
A judge who violates the Constitution, is by law committing treason…a judge does not fully comply with the Constitution, then his orders are void, in re: Sawyer, 124 U.S. 200 (1888), he/she is without jurisdiction, & he/she has engaged in an act or acts of Treason. The point of aligning both Constitutional mandates, and case law is to establish rights, which can be seen as ‘Law of the Land’ rights, that it would be treason for a judge to deny.

If Jesus were to read the Constitution, how would he use it?

I don’t know if I want to call the Constitution Holy, and equal to Sethian Christian scripture. I do know if I showed the Constitution to Jesus and the Apostles, and speaking Aramaic could explain the relationship to it and the Monad, and monadology, they would understand it in those terms. The study of the Sethian methods, and scripture reveals how to use a ‘Gnostic’ or Pythagorean device like the Constitution.

The Founding Fathers were all well educated men and very familiar with the leading scientists of the day. Benjamin Franklin, and Gottfried Leibniz, were known associates in France. Leibniz, is the scientist responsible for putting the term ‘Monadology” into modern science. It is the study of the Monad, which separates Sethian Christianity from the mainstream Orthodoxy of Irenaeus, Hippolytus, and Tertullian. These are the Church Fathers who claim they are in the Apostolic Lineage with Polycarp according to some early Christians and modern Evangelicals.

Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hippolytus, all wrote about bits and pieces of the monadic structure, and Gnostic philosophy, in their extant works. We know with certainty that Jesus, Pythagoreans, Hermetics, Zoroastrians, Benjamin Franklin, and Gottfried Leibniz, knew and studied a form of ‘Monadology.’ We (Gnostic scholars, and thousands of Gnostic students) also know that this form of study was gleaned from the Chinese philosophy of the Tai Chi. (My discovery) In fact, the Tai Chi, and the Pythagorean, and Sethian systems are almost identical. In effect if the Constitution were not in this ‘form’ the ‘Law of the Land’ standard for defining ‘rights’ would not be possible. Jesus would understand this ‘exactly.’

In Sethian Christianity, Jesus is the Monad, and that means ‘Word’ exactly as it is read in the “Gospel of John.” Monad in effect is the Christian form of Chi, as it is related in works by Fung Yu-Lan, the great Chinese historian, documented by Princeton’s “The History of Chinese Philosophy.” In effect, the monadic structure of the Constitution, makes it possible to show the document in the same paradigm as the Sethian Christian, ‘monadology,’ or the Chinese Tai Chi. Maybe, Leibniz, and Franklin, were familiar with the passage from the “Oracles of Zoroaster”……

“25. The Monad first existed, and the Paternal Monad still subsists.
26. When the Monad is extended, the Dyad is generated.
27. And beside Him is seated the Dyad which glitters with intellectual sections,
to govern all things and to order everything not ordered.
28. The Mind of the Father said that all things should be cut into Three, whose
Will assented, and immediately all things were so divided.
29. The Mind of the Eternal Father said into Three, governing all things by Mind.
30. The Father mingled every Spirit from this Triad.
31. All things are supplied from the bosom of this Triad.
32. All things are governed and subsist in this Triad
33. For thou must know that all things bow before the Three Supernals.
34. From thence floweth forth the Form of the Triad, being preexistent; not the
first Essence, but that whereby all things are measured.
35. And there appeared in it Virtue and Wisdom, and multiscient Truth.
36. For in each World shineth the Triad, over which the Monad ruleth.”

The “Three Supernals” is perhaps a reference to the Kabbalah, but probably refers to the state of Tripartite, in Gnostic terms. It is highly significant that the “Oracles” link both the Jewish Kabala, with Sethian Christian scripture. The Sethian method of using the Monad may well be an early version of the Kabala.

The “Oracles of Zoroaster are linked to Sethian Christianity by reference in another part of the ‘Oracles’ text to the word..

Sabaoth: Earthly form of Yaldaboath, (begetter of the Heavens)… “truth which is the power of Sabaoth the Good which is in thy material body – that is the truth which sprouted from the earth.” ( See; “Pistis Sophia”) Also a form relating to Deity. ”SHBOH, meaning The Seven.” (See; ”The Chaldæan Oracles of Zoroaster.” Edited and revised by Sapere Aude. [William Wynn Westcott] With an introduction by L. O. [Percy Bullock] [1895]. See also; “Origin of The World,” and ”The Testimony of Truth.”) Mary, the mother, again further interpreteth the same scripture from the meeting of herself with Elizabeth, mother of John the Baptizer, thy mother, and Elizabeth, mother of John, whom I have met. ‘Grace’ then is the power of Sabaoth in me, which went forth out of me, which thou art. Thou hast had mercy on the whole race of men. ‘Truth’ on the other hand is the power in Elizabeth, which is John, who did come and hath made proclamation concerning the way of Truth, which thou art,–who hath made proclamation before thee.” (”The Pistis Sophia,” Chapter 61.)

‘Saboath,’ simply does not exist in any other literature outside those texts which are common to Sethian Christianity, which dates from the time the Alexandrian Church was formed by Peter, Mark, Pantaenus, Basilides, Barnabus, and others in the very first years of post crucifixion Christianity. Leibniz, and Franklin probably knew nothing about Sethians, except what they learned by ‘legend.’ The Freemasons have ‘legends’ about a ‘mystery’ religion, beyond that, nobody until 1947 knew anything about ‘Sethians’ except they are heretics according to the ‘Church.’ (Hyppolitus, Irenaeus, and Tertulian, all made stuff up, not all of it, but way too much to be credible today. )

Like the Tai Chi, the Monadology, or sequence is connected by a generative force called ‘Chi’ or ‘Word’ which also means ‘energy.’ We cannot know if Leibniz, or Franklin knew about the Tai Chi, or if they really understood, the available information about the Monad, at the time this information was limited. In Leibniz’s theory of the Monad, only ‘matter’ is mentioned. If he had mentioned ‘spirit’ he might have been declared a ‘heretic’ by the ‘Church’ which could be fatal at the time. Franklin or Leibniz would have to be connected to the ‘Oracles’ to prove they may have understood anything Sethian. They must have gotten the Pythagorean, because the Constitution, works with the theory….

Leibniz claimed the Monad an element of matter, and unit of science, there is no mention of Jesus, or Spirit concerning the Leibniz theory. But some claim that the U.S. Constitution was written under the conditions of Divine influence. Perhaps this is true in more ways than we now know. In my own opinion the Constitution should be treated with a great deal of respect in concern with the Gnostic ideology. I treat it like it has a Divine influence.
One of the main characteristics of Gnostic writing is organizing and using sets, like the triad of Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. In the Constitution these establishments of the trilogy are interlocked as to their function. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in Sethian Christianity have identical meanings, and utility. This function is ‘glued’ by the understanding of an underlying philosophy in Gnosticism, the Monadology, which is like Chi to the Chinese. In the Sethian teaching the underlying ‘spirit’ is Jesus.

This union of Monad, and inclusive sets, means that a provision or mandate stated in one part of the document, must apply to the whole. This would comply to the Pythagorean, and Sethian Christian philosophy in regard to the underlying influence of the “Word,” e.g. the natural ordering power of Wisdom. (See; “The Gospel of Thomas, and Christian Wisdom,” by Stevan Davis, Bardic Press, (2005). Certain units in a monadic set, or a set in the Tai Chi, have inherent functions as to the whole.

The monadic sequence has a particular ‘flow’ like electrons flowing through a parallel electric circuit. Units in the set are a synergy or gestalt. The last unit in a monadic set is the ‘gender’ unit which can create the direction of the flow, in the complex Gnostic dualities involved in monadic sets. The way the Sethian sets work is the ‘Word’ is always first, denoting the Word of God, i.e. Sophia, Law, Holy Spirit, Logos, Wisdom, and other synonymous words.

The last unit of a monadic set generates change, or adheres to convention according to purpose and utility, and this is referred to as the gender principle in Hermetic lore…

“The Principle of Gender: Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principle; Gender manifests on all planes. This postulates the idea that gender, especially the feminine, or negative pole in duality is actually the pole where new forms of energy are manifested.”(Kybalion)

The Founding Fathers would have understood the ‘principle’ of maintaining balance with a triad of the Executive, Judicial, and Legislative branches of government.

If we extend the triad of Executive, Judicial and Legislative powers to a tetrad we can construct, Word (Law), Executive, Judicial, Legislative, or Executive, Judicial, Legislative, and People, or Body. The tetrad is like the duad in that there is a great deal of polarity between the units. The Pentad shows a balance or harmony of the American people that was meant to be kept by using the device of the Constitution.

The pentad showing the best ‘set’ for American balance and harmony would be ‘Word (Law), Executive, Judicial, Legislative, and the Body, or mass of American people. ‘Law’ in this case is the Monad, and this is based upon the Constitution as the primary force in the set. The ‘Body’ or people in this set is in the ‘gender’ position which means that ‘people’ in this paradigm are the balancing factor in the way the ‘machine’ is to function.

Many would see this present government in terms of ‘Law, Judicial, Legislative, Body/People, and the Executive as the gender or changing factor. The people should always be in this guiding position. For the Gnostic, the Body, is like the monadic set of; Word, Self, Family, City, Country, World, Universe, Pleroma. (meaning ‘All.’). The Gnostic ‘self’ seeks balance in the formation of this set, as it represents his environment, or “Kenoma.” I think it is safe to say since the monadic paradigm of the Constitution shows this, Jesus would see it immediately.

In short, it is not likely Jesus could endorse ignoring the United States Constitution, as a Christian tool that creates freedom for everyone. I also see the absolute irony that the Constitution was designed to help resurrect a ‘lost’ Christianity, an that (probably by accident) shows the Word of God, as being a heuristic philosophical device, used by Jesus and the Apostles. My advice to Christians as a Gnostic Bishop is to learn the Constitution like a Holy Sword, be a good Christian, and be a good American.

The imperialist influence of the American Executive, has tried to hijack the Constitutional protections which they have sworn by “Oath” to protect. In the name of Jesus, please learn how to define a “Law of the Land” right, and teach your Congressmen.

Reflection for January 14, 2008: The Exorcism of Mariamne’s Demons

“‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life’, said Jesus. In order to interpret his idea correctly, we must assimilate these three words and re-form them into a unity. And how can we do that? With the help of the image of a river. At the source of a river there is a spring: that is truth. From the spring flows water, which is life. And gradually over time, water erodes a path, which is the way. Do you know why I based my philosophy on the three words love, wisdom and truth? It is because they are linked to Jesus’ words, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’

To begin with, then, there is the source (truth); from this source flows life (love), and the riverbed, or the path this water takes for its descent, is wisdom. Water comes from above, and it descends to bring us life. But to drink it in all its purity, we must go to seek it at the source. Water descends, but we will only receive all its blessings if, through prayer and meditation, we rise to the divine Source.”

http://www.prosveta-usa.com/main.phtml?mailing=1

The Exorcism of Mariamne’s Demons
by
Tom Saunders

The Bible in Mark, and Luke describe Mary Magdalene having demons exercised from her. ‘Luke’ is particularly aimed at disclosing the incident….

Luke 8: 2-3. “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils…And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

The “Gospel of Mary” not only reflects Luke’s description but clarifies for the Gnostic how to deal with the seven devils, known as The Seven Forms of Wrath. In the Mary Gospel a Monadic set is disclosed in the text (Chapter eight) that ancient Gnostics would recognize immediately. The study of the Monad is essential to Gnostic transcendence. For the Sethian Gnostic, the Monad is an energy that permeates everything like the force of ‘Chi’ in the study of Chinese philosophy.

The system of the Monad used by the Sethian Christians and Pythagoreans before them, is used as a tool of meditation and contemplation. It is a method to examine how an action whether physical or mental can be measured or attributed to a cause and effect using the paradigm. It is virtually a study of the ‘Spirit’ and how it flows.

The system of study starts with understanding the function of the ‘void’ or empty space, used in contemplation. In a Sethian Monadology, anything that enters that empty space is connected to the Monad, i.e. Jesus. This is expressed in Gnostic Scripture, as ”Jesus is Silence.” (“A Valentinian Exposition”)

Sets form from the Monad, or One, and expand to the dyad, triad, tetrad etc. An energy generated from the Monad runs through the set like a form of current. This holds true for any size of sets. The sets have innate characteristics like electric elements in a parallel electric circuit. They have opposites like good and evil which are also constants in the makeup of Monadic sets. It is easy to see this energy in simple dualities going from pole to pole, and this is what denotes ‘balance’ between poles like positive and negative. If a set is a ‘positive,’ it has a negative opposite, and probably ‘like units.’

As sets get larger they get more complex as to how the polarity works within the set. At the level of the pentad (5), Sets are used like a circle to show how the units are interacting within the ‘magic’ circle, which the units form. Everything within this space can be measured (seen) through the process of identifying the particular type of a unit in a set, and how it interacts with other members of the set. Units of a set can act as an entire unit, independently, or as subsets.

This is a description of the Seven Forms of Wrath, from the “Gospel of Mary.”

”The first form is darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the foolish wisdom of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven powers of wrath.” (Chapter 8, “Gospel of Mary”)

It is probably not an accident that some of the units like ‘excitement of death’ seem vague in what they might entail. Excitement of Death holds the ‘Tetrad’ position in the set, so probably, it has broad or multiple meanings including fear, panic, perhaps murder and bloodlust.

Sethians held that flesh or the body was matter. The Kingdom of the Flesh is probably a way to paraphrase the kenoma. (being imperfect trapped in matter) This is to say that the Kingdom of the Flesh is flawed from the Pleroma. Foolish Wisdom of the Flesh probably includes sexual matters, and other behaviors, some that might be abusive. Dark Side monadic sets, connote the extreme of pure evil.

All Sethian Monadic sets start with ‘Word,’ meaning ‘Jesus Wisdom,’ (Holy Spirit) and end with Knowledge, Wisdom, Gnosis, or an equivalent term that denotes ‘Gnostic’ knowledge. The lower sets from Tetrad on up, simply are not as useful as an “Ogdoad.” It is at this level that things become clear as to cause and effect, and things inside the ‘circle’ can be manipulated. This is what the Chinese learned about applying the Tai Chi, and Sethians learned about the Monad.

The first unit (The Monad) in a Monadic set is the Root, and works to create a unifying form of energy circulating into the set, something like ‘Chi,’ Jesus Wisdom. The last unit is the Gender unit, and this has the effect of a switch like in a parallel electric circuit to reverse the positive to negative, offense to defense, yin to yang, and ‘Bada,’ to ‘Bing.’ This means for the Gnostic, if Word, (Jesus) as always the Monad, he does no evil, even if using evil units.

Wrath, Darkness, Desire, Ignorance, Excitement of ‘Death,’ (Evil) Kingdom of the Flesh, Foolish Wisdom of the Flesh, and Wrathful Wisdom, are anti-Word. To fully contemplate the power and evil intent to the full extent may make this set if applied like a weapon, the deadliest kind of mental living hell. These units are the evil opposites of what Jesus would apply to both healing and wisdom.

The mechanics of how the Evil Ogdoad, or Eight Forms of Wrath works, is exactly like the karate fighter uses the tool of an Octagon, to be able to describe and manipulate physical and mental behavior of an opponent. In order to use the formula in the Seven(8) Forms of Wrath, the method must become reality to the Gnostic, and both the ‘light’ and ‘dark,’ become one and the same. Like the Karate Fighter, the Gnostic practices a deadly art but this is in order to lesson the necessity of having to use it.

The Karate Fighter who uses the Tai Chi has eight genus moves to describe, and catalogue the exact moves in a fight. These genus units are punching, kicking, grabbing, joint locks, throwing, choking/squeezing, groundwork, and counters. Each unit or genus represents thousands of techniques which can be used/seen interchangeably with every other genus. This is of course according to the law of physics, the Paradigm is always used with rational perimeters.

Any fight can be analyzed, and cataloged as to which genus move is visualized in sequences, inside the Octagon. Good fighters counter moves and matches last a long time. The Chinese have been using the Tai Chi model for this use for centuries. It enables anyone who knows the system to come to the same conclusions about what transpired in the Octagon.

The Gnostic must manipulate the ‘Forms’ like the karate fighter manipulates his. This means learning how to use these units in ways which would be considered extremely evil. Wrath is only one of the deadly sins, found in various lists which were kept by early Christians. This means that Lust, Fear, Glutney, Hate, and a host of other ‘Demons,’ are in the mix; they are in essence the ‘Dark Side.’

The positive or Holy opposite of the Seven Forms of Wrath, would look something like this…

Word, light, satiation, practical knowledge, un-excitement of death, Holy Kingdom of the Flesh, rational wisdom of the Flesh, and Wisdom, i.e., Gnosis.

This set being applied is how Mary was healed, because it is only this knowledge which can counter the cause and effects of the evil hebdoad. The Seven Forms of Wrath, and all the other possible evil ‘Dark Side’ emotions, can use this healing model of the Ogdoad of Wrath. The formula for the ‘Forms of Wrath,’ show how to ‘form’ the positive or Holy opposite for any of the Dark Side ‘Forms.’ For a healing to work, the type of ‘Form’ must be determined. Then the ‘particular trouble’ must be put into the ‘Ogdoad’ and contemplated upon. Just switch ‘Wrath’ with say ‘Hate,’ and you form another demon.

There is only one valid source of Jesus Wisdom to apply to what becomes the ‘Word,’ in the Monadic set. This is the ”Gospel of Thomas.” It is through the study of the Sethian texts, the Thomas Gospel, and the Gnostic Gospels, that the Word becomes clear.

Darkness refers to lack of knowledge in regard to knowing that Wisdom is in fact the Holy Sprit, or Word. Knowing this changes the way you perceive the Holy Spirit. Otherwise you act out with Ignorance as to the true nature of the Word, and you face the ‘excitments’ of Death. The Gnostic student must learn how these manipulations work, separately, and in units.

Because man is matter, evil acts take place largely because of matter. Without the flesh the evil Dark Side of pain, both physical and mental because of ‘Flesh,’ can be avoided. That is, provided you understand that what must change these evil Forms, is the Soul. The Soul, is Form (Word), Perception, Consciousness, Action (Spirit), and Knowledge. It is with this tool that the Gnostic learns to advance his skills inside the ‘forms’ of the Monad. This applies to the self, family, community, city, state, country, world, universe, and Pleroma.

The “Gospel of Thomas” saying 26, offers this Wisdom about healing…26. Jesus said, “You see the sliver in your friend’s eye, but you don’t see the timber in your own eye. When you take the timber out of your own eye, then you will see well enough to remove the sliver from your friend’s eye.”.

Jesus is the Monad, Amen.

…………

Monad: From the Greek word, meaning “one”, “single” or “unique.” It has ample
descriptions according to different contexts: According to Pythagoras it was the
first thing in existence. ”The Valentinian Exposition” declares Jesus the
‘Monad.’ (See Sethian Monadology.) mo·nad; (mnd) n. 1. Philosophy; An
indivisible, impenetrable unit of substance viewed as the basic constituent
element of physical reality in the metaphysics of Leibnitz. 2. Biology; A
single-celled microorganism, especially a flagellate protozoan of the genus
”Monas.” 3. Chemistry ; An atom or a radical with valence 1. (Online
Webster’s Dic. See also; Wikipedia.) The Monadic sequence to the Triad is
expressed is by the ”Oracles of Zoroaster,” which illuminates the
sequence…..
25. The Monad first existed, and the Paternal Monad still subsists.
26. When the Monad is extended, the Dyad is generated.
27. And beside Him is seated the Dyad which glitters with intellectual sections,
to govern all things and to order everything not ordered.
28. The Mind of the Father said that all things should be cut into Three, whose
Will assented, and immediately all things were so divided.
29. The Mind of the Eternal Father said into Three, governing all things by
Mind.
30. The Father mingled every Spirit from this Triad.
31. All things are supplied from the bosom of this Triad.
32. All things are governed and subsist in this Triad
33. For thou must know that all things bow before the Three Supernals.
34. From thence floweth forth the Form of the Triad, being preexistent; not the
first Essence, but that whereby all things are measured.
35. And there appeared in it Virtue and Wisdom, and multiscient Truth.
36. For in each World shineth the Triad, over which the Monad ruleth.”
The “Three Supernals” is perhaps a reference to the Kabbalah, but probably
refers to the state of Tripartite.

He who sees himself only on the outside

I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

–Revelation 22:13

Actually, the ground of everything is within me and it is God, and it’s within everybody too. And there’s one ground for everybody, and this ground in the Divine Mercy. . . . The peo­ple of the unveiling, that is to say the Sufis, ask the Mercy of God to subsist in them. These are the ones who ask in the Name of God and He shows Mercy upon them only by making the Mercy subsist in them. This is a totally different outlook. It is the outlook whereby the Mercy of God is not arranged on the outside in events for me-in good and bad events-but it is subsisting in me all the time. Therefore what happens is that if the Mercy of God is subsisting in me-and that goes to say if I am united with the will of God- . . . if I am completely united with the will of God in love, it doesn’t matter what happens outside, because everything that is going on outside that makes any sense is grounded in the same ground in which I am grounded. The opposition between me and everything else ceases, and what remains in terms of opposition is purely acci­dental and it doesn’t matter. And this is . . . a basic perspective in all . . . the highest religions. You ought to get down to this, you get down to it in Christianity, you get down to it in Buddhism, you get down to it in Hinduism, and so forth. It is arriving at a unity in which the superficial differences don’t matter. It doesn’t, mean that they’re not real, it doesn’t mean that they’re not there. They still subsist… .

–Thomas Merton

1. Left Hand Path Practices in the West

“Satanism is not a white light religion; it is a religion of the flesh, the mundane, the carnal – all of which are ruled by Satan, the personification of the Left Hand Path“

The Satanic Bible, Book Of Lucifer 3:paragraph 30

The Left Hand Path is solitary, individualistic, personal, based on self development, self analysis, self empowerment. Altruism is materialistically equated as long term selfishness. I think all forms of Satanism are considered Left Hand Path, even Devil Worship and inverse Christian-Satanists are Left Hand Path, although they are frequently considered deluded. Frequently called “evil” and “dark” by non Satanic religions, the followers of the left hand path often have had to remain in the darkness or face severe persecution from the religions that ironically call themselves “good”. This is testimony enough that the image of the purely “good” icons is a veneer; a non-truth.

Features of LHP philosophies frequently include:

• Emphasis on freethought, not dogma or strict systems.
• Highly individualistic
• A distinct rejection of absolutes and moralism
• Personal, not universal.

Freethought, Individualism and moral relativism
Left Hand Path philosophies all have an emphasis on freethought; not dogma or strict systems. The “rules” in LHP religions are frequently merely “guidelines”. The same attitude it applied to all knowledge, including that of the knowledge of reality and morals. Subjectivism and relativism are almost universally assumed amongst followers of the left hand path.

Personal Belief, not Universal
Left Hand Path philosophies do not claim that they are the best religion for all people and frequently claim they are only a valid religion for some people. “Satanists are born, not made” _{Anton LaVey}. Satanism and the LHP is striking for the lack of missionizing. This is probably the result of the admission that no religion, philosophy or belief system is suitable for all people.

“Yes, I can see why the idea of free thought, individualism and moral relativism (which requires the effort to think for yourself before judging something right or wrong) may be a turn off for some people or why they just don’t get it. I hope that doesn’t apply to you.”

oh I get it, I understand it fully

at a fundamental level I think it is un-Christ like though…

give and receive…vessels and light…kabbalah, that is all there is.

I know many see the divine as a nice treasure chest to plunder…I don’t.
I think the “gimme gimme gimme” approach to life and the divine is childish.
At a very real fundamental level it is rape to my mind, forcing the hand, taking the fruit before it is ripe

Agenda is agenda. Agenda is always wrong, as you are not following the true self, the “divine will”; I realize it is your path and that it embraces selfishness and sees that as divine will…to some extent.

However I will never agree to something that is fundamentally about the self, survival is one thing, taking and empowering at the expense of others is another

This is not meant to be an attack, it is just my view.

You wrote
” Self development? Isn’t that what spiritual training is supposed to offer? Isn’t this the point of alchemy?
Self Analysis? Aren’t we supposed to learn about ourselves? Don’t we value the inward path?
Self Empowerment? Don’t we prefer to be beings that have significance in the world of others or do we prefer to be
ineffectual?”

No it is Self development, not self development. In the east views generally speaking there is ONLY self. This is the root of one of the misunderstandings of the LHP since its inception. That self is NOT the self, it is THE SELF; or, GOD. The self development of alchemy etc. is to grow the true self as Thomas Merton calls it. It really has nothing to do with the self at all.

The I before is I and WE, the I after is I, and only I as there is no WE. And there is no i.

That is the fundamental point. Your view is like a man who opens a door..but refuses to enter. They are happy quickly going in, and running back out. Having gotten something that they want it is time to stay outside the door. This makes illusion more attractive, nicer, you are indeed self empowering. But illusion is illusion.

Like a drug addict you have to carry on taking more drugs to keep that high. That is of course part of where other people come in; little fish feed on big fish at a very real physical and spiritual level. Exploitation. There is someone at the top of the pyramid, sat back laughing, gaining all the power.

Just as the Buddha gained many great powers along the way, he also rejected them all. For trinkets and power is not what it is about. That is the temptation of Christ by Satan in the desert.

So no, I would say spiritual training has nothing to do with self development, no matter how many paper bags you put over your head to “look nice”, you are still wearing a paper bag… This goes for knowing yourself also, knowing yourself is NOT KNOWING YOURSELF. This is fundamental basic thing.
 

“He who sees himself only on the outside,

not within, becomes small himself and makes others small.”

–Mani (turfan fragment M 801)

Power and influence, again this is a false notion. God is the only Rabbi as the Jewish proverb goes. Only God has power. Mankind may think he can build a dam and conquer nature, but he is fooling himself. Power is for the weak. Power in its “correct” application is about serving and sacrifice. Agenda is agenda, and again is un-Christ like.

You said

“Emphasis on free thought, not dogma or strict systems? What’s wrong with respecting members to be conscious and
sentient adults who are capable of thinking for themselves and deciding what is the right or wrong course of action
instead of slavish devotion to some ancient text or the words of some “authority figure”? “

There is nothing wrong with free thought. But often it becomes childish. Too often people seek the mysteries, spirituality etc etc out of rebellion.
Free thought is good, rebellion is good it helps grow new branches, new plants, where none would have grown. However it soon devolves into as what James Dean said “What you got?” Until the point is reached when all you are doing is rebelling. You gain a new uniform, a new prison. Your prison becomes that of the “rebel”, the “free thinker”

The fruitfulness of our life depends in large measure on our ability to doubt our own words and to question the value of our own work. The man who completely trusts his own estimate of himself is doomed to sterility. All he asks of any act he performs is that it be his act. If it is performed by him, it must be good. All words spoken by him must be infallible. The car he just bought is the best for its price, for no other reason that he is the one who has bought it. He seeks no other fruit than his, and therefore he generally gets no other.

If we believe ourselves in part, we may be right about ourselves. If we are completely taken in by our own disguise, we cannot help being wrong.

–Thomas Merton

We exchange one strait jacket for another. Instead of embracing what is called the middle way. If we are rebelling we eventually miss the basic truth, the basic truth is we are all on the same boat. Spending your life preening and shouting “look at me, I am special, I think for myself, not like you” is great and dandy, but it really is childish. Like a teenager who dresses up as a punk or a Goth. Nihilism and solipsism only serve to embrace the self as opposed to the SELF. Spiritual masturbation serves no purpose, it may feel good, and seem good..But again, like a drug addict you have to carry on doing it perpetually; or you are back to square one.

Instead there is another way…you open yourself to the wind and fly like a kite, like a kite that is unrestrained..guided by the wind…taken and changed and moved by what is. Instead of fighting the wind and insisting that the wind does not exist. Like the Shakespearean king….you can try to hold back the sea all you like, you are really fooling yourself.

You wrote

” A distinct rejection of absolute moralism? What is wrong with seeing that what may be considered right yesterday may not
be right today (such as burning witches, jews, locking jews up in ghettos, killing in the name of religion, executing
homosexuals, not giving women the same rights as men, etc.). And what is wrong when thinking that what may be
acceptable may not be so tomorrow and that there is a better way? Is this “moral relativism” worse than the moral
absolutism that created the atrocities mentioned above?
Personal, not universal? What is wrong with accepting that there are many paths to spiritual growth and development and
that each person has a right to choose which is the best for them? “

Now right and wrong are arguably subjective terms, yes I agree. In Gnosticism (as you’ll read below if you read it) there is no good and evil per se, there is more “levels of imperfection.” So what are we to do when faced with good and evil, morals and dogmas? We have discernment. Like a good parent would never hand a box of matches and gasoline to a child, we need to work out what is helpful and what is not. For the LHP there is often stated the phrase “nothing is wrong, everything is permissible.” This is the mantra of Chaos magicians, as I am sure you know. Well find and dandy, if we follow this logic, it means we should stick pencils in our ears and nose…after all it is not wrong, and ultimately will help in our spiritual development. Clearly this is absurd. Everything is permissible is nonsensical, an excuse for debauchery and to again bathe in temporary pleasures…back to taking drugs, again.

Your rejection is based upon the idea that absolute moralism=hatred. This is untrue. Anything taken to extremes and to an unswerving ascetic extreme is wrong. Atrocities are atrocities, and are again about the individual not the group. The individual hates the Jew and the homosexual. The individual wants them gone, dead, removed. These people are of the collective, the collective is the collective. By singling out the Jew, the witch, the homosexual…these acts are selfish. Suffer not a homosexual or Jew to live.

“The Jews are undoubtedly a race, but they are not human.” –Adolf Hitler.

The act of purification, inquisition…again is serving a part of the collective, it is serving individuals. NIMBY or “Not In My Back Yard” mentality. “I do not mind homosexuals or blacks, as long as they don’t live near me.”

In the end LHP becomes miniature acts of solipsism, misanthropy and nihilism.
Solipsism is, well just plain “silly.” I have interacted with the non physical since I was child. Before I even knew what I was doing. So I reject solipsism.

Nihilism is rejection, to take it to a tongue in cheek extreme; I would say the ultimate goal of nihilism is suicide. I would argue nihilism is suicide on a smaller lesser “vibration.”

Just as Nihilism is suicide, misanthropy is purely selfish. But that is the LHP, “selfishness and indulgence.” There really is nothing else to the LHP at a fundamental underlying basic level. If Nihilism is suicide, then misanthropy in its embracing hatred of all mankind can only lead to one conclusion. Misanthropy requires you to kill everyone, but yourself…in order that you are more and more self empowered. Of course this never happens, but on a smaller level people try… Or as the rock star Marilyn Manson wrote “There’s no time to discriminate, hate every motherf****** that gets in your way.”

To conclude, this is what is wrong with the LHP, as you can see, I have indeed thought about this…for a very long time. I really do like to think for myself. But I am not afraid to admit and embrace knowledge, experience “energy” etc. that is far more wise, profound and simply BETTER than my self….as opposed to my SELF.

“To respect the personal aspect in man is to respect
his solitude, his right to think for himself, his need
to learn this, his need for love and acceptance by
other persons like himself. Here we are in the realm
of freedom and of friendship, of creativity and of
love. And it is here that religion begins to have a
meaning…”
Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, (N.
Y: Doubleday, 1989) p 82.

Further (although flawed, but still interesting):

“TRUE SELF” AND GAY SPIRITUALITY

Dear Friends,

I am posting my response to a question in our Yahoo chat room about

the meaning of the term “archon.” I hope this very brief discussion

may interest you in finding more about the subject, perhaps in the

Nag Hammadi text “Hypostasis of the Archons.”

I will be posting a brief discussion before the end of the week in

combination with this one — What is an “Aeon”?

-Matthew

Here is the archon discussion:

An archon, sometimes translated as a “power,” is a spiritual entity

or force that serves the demiurge, the creator of the physical

world. To be really crude about it you could say they are bad

angels, but it is a lot more complicated than that.. just consider

them the forces that define and limit physical existence.

One of the Nag Hammadi texts is called the “Hypostasis of the

Archons,” and has a mythological discussion of their nature.

You know how in Christian mythology there are some beings

called “archangels?” That is borrowed from this same greek word,

meaning “ruler..” so an arch-angel is an angel that is really

powerful and rules over the others, whereas in Gnosticism the

archons are the “rulers of this world,” the princes of the world

that Christ referred to, for example, in the story of Christ being

tempted in the desert. The tempter shows him the world and promises

to give him the “principalities of the world” if he will bow down in

homage…and we would interpret those principalities as the realms

of the archons, so to speak.

The thing I should caution you against is thinking that they

are “demons” or something like that… there are no demons or devils

per se in Gnosticism, because ultimately there is no metaphysical

category of “evil,” just various forms of imperfection. The

demiurge is in some way the full realization of imperfection, just

as God is of perfection. The demiurge personifies and draws within

himself the ultimate manifestations of physical form, limitation,

physical space, time, as well as the dimensions of space-time, as

well as natural laws and natural processes that govern the physical

world — including the law that everything that lives must die.

+Matthew

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–
Better than one thousand verses
Where no profit wings the word,
Is one solitary stanza
Bringing peace of mind when heard.

reflection for january 10, 2008:that is what I am

To say I was born into sin is to say I came into this world with a false self. I was born in a mask. I came into existence under a sign of contradiction, being someone I never intended to be and therefore a denial of what I am supposed to be. And thus I came into existence and none existence at the same time because from the very start I was something I was not.

–Thomas Merton

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

The world was not receptive to my visible exaltation. My third immersion in an image that was perceptible. The flame of the seven authorities was extinguished, the sun of the powers of the Archons set, darkness overcame them, and the world became impoverished. They bound this one with many bonds and nailed him to the cross, and they secured him with four bronze nails. He ripped the temple veil with his other hands. An earthquake shook the earth’s chaos, for the souls of the dead were released and resurrected, and they walked out into the open. They laid aside ignorant jealousy and lack of insight by the dead tombs, and they put on the new person. They had come to know the blessed, perfect one of the eternal incomprehensible Father and the infinite light. That’s what I am.

When I came to my own and united them with me, there was no need for many words. Our thought was one with their thought, so they understood what I was saying. We made a plan for the destruction of the archons, and in this I did the will of the father. That’s what I am.

–2^nd discourse of Great Seth

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Take emptiness to the limit;

Maintain tranquility in the center.

The ten thousand things –side-by-side they arise.

And by this I see their return.

Things come forth in great numbers;

Each one returns to its root.

This is called tranquility.

“Tranquility” – This means to return to your fate.

To return to your fate is constant;

To know the constant is to be wise.

Not to know the constant is to be reckless and wild;

If you are reckless and wild, your actions will lead to misfortune.

To know the constant is to be all-embracing;

To be all-embracing is to be impartial;

To be impartial is to be kingly;

To be kingly is to be like Heaven.

To be like heaven is to be like one with the Tao;

If you’re one with the Tao, to the end of your days you’ll suffer no harm.

–Tao te chin (chap 16)

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“And the Master wrote that belief is not something which is uttered by the mouth, but that which is conceptualized by the intellect, and he labeled ‘stupid people’ those holding to beliefs to which, in their representation, they do not attach any meaning…..

…..the believer must first conceptualize the belief in his mind, but in addition, he has to desire and love this belief so much so that he will be ready to give his life and his possessions for the sake of this belief. When the mind conceptualizes something it yields knowledge, but the assent of the intellectual will [ratzon sichli] yields love which is a necessary condition of faith. Accordingly, a believer is someone who conceptualizes faith and loves it strongly…..”

- David ben Judah Messer Leon (Tehillah le-David)

The demiurge

Agnosia: State of not having insight or Gnosis.

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“WE MAKE OURSELVES real by telling the truth” –Thomas Merton

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demiurge

Demiurge (from the Greek δημιουργ?ς d?miourgós, Latinized demiurgus, meaning “artisan” or “craftsman”, literally “worker in the service of the people”, from δ?μιος “of the people” + ?ργον “work”) is a term for a creator deity, responsible for the creation of the physical universe.

In the sense of a divine creative principle, the word was first introduced by Plato in Timaeus, 41a (ca. 360 BC). It subsequently appears in a number of different religious and philosophical systems of Late Antiquity, besides Platonic realism most notably in Neoplatonism the term also appears in Gnosticism:

• For Plato, the demiurge is a benevolent creator of the laws or the heaven or of the world in Timaeus. Above Plato’s demiurge is the good.
• Plotinus identified the demiurge as nous (divine mind), the first emanation of “the One” (see monad). Neoplatonists personified the demiurge as Zeus.
• In Gnosticism, the material universe is seen as evil, and the demiurge is the evil creator of the physical world. The demiurge is the God that created the human body or flesh, since the flesh is evil then so to, is the flesh’s creator.

Alternative Gnostic names for the Demiurge, include Yaldabaoth, Yao or Iao, Ialdabaoth and several other variants. The Gnostics identified the Demiurge with the Hebrew God Yahweh (see the Sethians and Ophites). He is known as Ptahil in Mandaeanism.

……………….

It should be noted the following is largely my opinion; it is not particularly “true” or “accurate.” As a result you may disagree with some or all portions of the following (you may already “know” all the following also).

……………..

Gnosticism…what is Gnosticism and what is Gnosis? I was asked a few weeks ago now, “What is the Demiurge?” To examine the Demiurge we have to examine what Gnosis and Gnosticism IS. So what is Gnosis?

Gnosis is knowing, to know. Gnosis is spiritual knowing, to KNOW the divine.

Gnomon (γν?μων) is an ancient Greek word meaning “knower” or “judge”, from the Proto-Indo-European language *gn?-, to know. It has several specific meanings:

Gnome (knower of the earth), Gnosis etc….

In Gnosticism we differentiate the two types of knowing. We have mundane knowledge and divine knowledge. Other “religions” such as Buddhism also refer to two types of knowing. Episteme or mundane knowledge is akin to knowing mundane information. Episteme is like knowing a bus time table and applying that knowledge. Of course nothing is wrong with this knowledge; it is very useful and helpful. However there is more: Gnosis.

“God is a dyer. As the good dyes, which are called “true”, dissolve with the things dyed in them, so it is with those whom God has dyed. Since his dyes are immortal, they become immortal by means of his colors. Now God dips what he dips in water.

It is not possible for anyone to see anything of the things that actually exist unless he becomes like them. This is not the way with man in the world: he sees the sun without being a sun; and he sees the heaven and the earth and all other things, but he is not these things. This is quite in keeping with the truth. But you saw something of that place, and you became those things. You saw the Spirit, you became spirit. You saw Christ, you became Christ. You saw the Father, you shall become Father. So in this place you see everything and do not see yourself, but in that place you do see yourself – and what you see you shall become. “–Gospel of Philip

“It is not possible for anyone to see anything of the things that actually exist unless he becomes like them.” Thus to truly gain Gnosis, to KNOW, we must BECOME that which we seek to know. To give of the self totally, to become…to give, to LOVE. For it is in love that we give totally, without want, without agenda…

” For your sake, I hurry over land and water:

For your sake, I cross the desert and split the mountain in two,

And turn my face from all things,

Until the time I reach the place

Where I am alone with You.”

–Al Hallaj (8^th -9^th cent. Iranian Sufi)

LOVE, the Beatles once sang, all you need is love….for the seeker, the mystic, the Gnostic, of the entire world’s great paths; this is the one universal truth, LOVE. Often called the only true religion.

“All life is just a progression toward, and then a recession from, one phrase — I love you.” –F Scott Fitzgerald

So what about the Demiurge?

“It was Christianity which painted the devil on the world’s wall; it was Christianity which first brought sin into the world. Belief in the cure which it offered has now been shaken to its deepest roots; but belief in the sickness it taught and propagated continues to exist.” –Nietzsche

Although Nietzsche’s sentiment is perhaps a bit abhorrent and naïve let us examine it. Satan, from the Hebrew, means adversary. Adversary..Opposer, opposition.

“Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition – such as lifting weights – we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity.”

– Albert Schweitzer

Satan, shtn, shit, excrement, excretum…something to be removed, lost..purified. The Bagavad Gita a key Hindu text is about the self, the battle of the self. For the mystic the greatest battle is the self, and overcoming it. To LOVE…to give of ourselves entirely..to achieve union, Gnosis…

So what IS the Demiurge? The demiurge is the ego, the self, the I that must be overcome. In various Gnostic cosmologies we see “God himself” falling to the trap of the ego…The Demiurge, Samael (blind god) imperfect child of Sophia declares himself to be the one true God. Just as one full of arrogance, ego..declares themselves right above all others.

That is the Demiurge, YOU are the demiurge…But the demiurge only exists..if you let it. It is all too easy to fall into the trap and state “Satan made me do it.” This is foolish talk, this is what Nietzsche is discussing. Many fall into this trap, which I think is wrong. It is all too easy to create a new Satan, a new adversary. But why? there is only LOVE…

Only LOVE…. to see the world as “evil” is a literalism I disagree with….

“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow man. This is the law: all the rest is commentary.” Talmud, Shabbat 31a………

“One yin and one yang constitute what is known as Tao.” (I Ching) In “The Lau Tzu” (Tao Te Ching) the two forms of yin and yang refer to heaven and earth. This directly correlates with the concept of the Taoist trilogy, the San Ti, which postulates man is the same as heaven and earth.

1.. In Taoism, the basic, eternal principle of the universe that transcends reality and is the source of being, non-being, and change.
2.. In Confucianism, the right manner of human activity and virtuous conduct seen as stemming from universal criteria and ideals governing right, wrong, and other categories of existence. (American Heritage)
“Wu Chi creates Tai Chi, Tai Chi is the one Chi. One Chi generates Yin and Yang, and Yin and Yang can change in infinite ways.” This is also stated allegorically in the “Lau Tzu,” (”Tao Te Ching”). ” Tao produced oneness. Oneness produced duality, Duality evolved into the ten thousand things. The ten thousand things support the yin, and embrace the yang. It is the blending of the breaths (of yin and yang) that their harmony depends.”

Now compare this idea with the description of the monad from the Chaldean Oracles of Zoroaster….

This sequence of from the “Oracles,” reflects a parallel to the monad and Tai Chi that is unmistakable..

25. The Monad first existed, and the Paternal Monad still subsists.
26. When the Monad is extended, the Dyad is generated.
27. And beside Him is seated the Dyad which glitters with intellectual sections,
to govern all things and to order everything not ordered.
28. The Mind of the Father said that all things should be cut into Three, whose
Will assented, and immediately all things were so divided.
29. The Mind of the Eternal Father said into Three, governing all things by Mind.
30. The Father mingled every Spirit from this Triad.
31. All things are supplied from the bosom of this Triad.
32. All things are governed and subsist in this Triad
33. For thou must know that all things bow before the Three Supernals.
34. From thence floweth forth the Form of the Triad, being preexistent; not the
first Essence, but that whereby all things are measured.
35. And there appeared in it Virtue and Wisdom, and multiscient Truth.
36. For in each World shineth the Triad, over which the Monad ruleth.”

As you can figure the two concepts are the same, although they may be stated somewhat differently. We do not have to achieve Tao, we are already part of it. All we need to do is realize its potential.

Tom Saunders

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Salutations in the Light of the Messiah!

The demiurge is cosmic ignorance, and the archons are spiritual forces manifest in the ignorance – this ignorance manifests as an illusion of separation or dualism in consciousness, it is self-cherishing, and the play of desire and fear in this state of egotism; the shadow of this is called the “Adversary,” Satan, and whatever evil might be named it is the byproduct of the demiurge, this cosmic ignorance or cosmic egotism.

This ignorance is cosmic in that it pervades all realms, worlds and universes throughout the Entirety, and affects all sentient beings in the Entirety – but it is also primordial, without beginning, for arising from primordial unconscious unity this ignorance is in effect from beginningless beginning as souls individuate; in individual sentient beings is becomes fundamental ignorance.

In a manner of speaking, this very principle we call the “demiurge,” this ignorance, is what facilitates the individuation of mind or soul-streams, and the play of creative evolution towards self-realization or enlightenment; yet, it is the principle of bondage, obstructing self-realization or enlightenment.

This ignorance rules the world – what is to be done with it? It has always ruled the world, and until the world passes away it will hold dominion; with every generation of life there is a constant influx of souls new to human incarnation, as well as those passing beyond what we call “human,” and this matrix of spiritual forces is like a womb through which all pass – it is what it is. What is to be done with it?

Lord Yeshua enacted the mystery of the Holy Gospel in the midst of very dark times – under the dominion of the Roman Empire, the primary expression of the dominion of the demiurge in that time and place. The grand debate among the Jewish people was whether the Messiah would be a socio-political revolutionary, a warrior-king after the fashion of King David, leading the people to overthrow the Roman Empire’s dominion through God’s power, or was to be a holy priest-king after the fashion of Melchizedek, leading a spiritual revolution having little or nothing to do with this world – in Lord Yeshua, in the midst of the darkness of the world, we have a holy priest-king of the Order of Melchizedek, one who proclaims, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

We may very well gain insight into his view of all of this from a teaching he gave, understanding “Caesar” as the demiurge. Presented with the question of whether taxes ought to be paid or not, he asks for a coin and inquires whose image is on it, and he is told it is the image of Caesar – his response was, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.”

To understand how charged this question and answer was in the day – taxes were very high and were constantly being raised, and one had no say in the matter at all; if you could not pay taxes assessed – anything could be taken from you in payment, including your family and yourself being sold as slaves for payment.

If we look and see the darkness, the ignorance, that dominates the world – that dominates us, what is to be done? The answer is really very simple: we must put an end to the ignorance in us, put an end to the ignorance in ourselves – pointing at the ignorance in the world, while remaining in ignorance ourselves, accomplishes nothing, and is itself a manifestation of the ignorance.

In this regard we must learn not to be distracted from the true aim of the spiritual path – actual self-realization in Christ, the enlightenment and liberation of the soul.

The Sophian tradition focuses on an integral self-realization in Christ – the realization of the Supernal or Messianic Consciousness; we focus on going within and living within, and upon guidance from the indwelling Christ Presence and Holy Spirit – rather than a socio-political revolution, we focus upon a *spiritual revolution*, as did Lord Yeshua. Our aim is the cessation of ignorance in us, the cessation of the violent inclination in us – a radical transformation of consciousness. If there is any change to be brought about in the world, or in the larger collective of humanity, it is brought about through a change in the individuals – for we are the world and the world is us, only through a transformation of consciousness in us are we empowered to bring about a greater transformation in the world.

In terms of socio-politics, or any other mundane affair or activity, living within and receiving guidance from within, and generating spiritual love and compassion, we will know what is to be done in all matters – our noble ideal being the expression of the Light-presence (Christ) and Light-power (Holy Spirit) through our thoughts, emotions, words and actions in all activities of life.

Quite naturally, we are called to labor to improve the lives of others around us – all our relations, and to do what we can to relieve the sorrow and suffering of sentient beings; how each of us goes about enacting good works and the love of Christ, however, depends upon our call, and the spiritual gifts and talents we receive from the Holy Spirit – perhaps some might have the call, gifts and talents for social and political activism, among other similar activities. Whatever our call in the Holy Spirit, as spiritual Christians we will follow it – taking up our call we will follow Christ.

Generally speaking, though, our concern is not for the world and the goings on of the world – the world is an impermanent phenomenon and the matters of the world are secondary to us; the aim is to use this body and life in the world as a vehicle of self-realization in Christ, transforming this life and transcending this world. If we look into the gospels, canonical and gnostic, this is what Yeshua Messiah teaches us – of course, even after some two thousand or so years this message is very difficult for us to listen and hear, as we cling to name and form, and to the world and things of the world, rather that to the Pleroma of Light and God, the True Light.

Essentially, from a Sophian perspective, the greatest possible benefit to others that we can be is to facilitate the enlightenment and liberation of mind or soul-streams from their bondage to the demiurge (ignorance) and gilgulim (transmigration) – hence, the best help we can offer is to facilitate the realization of Supernal or Messianic Consciousness, tending the Continuum of Supernal Light Transmission. That’s not to say that we do not engage in practical works of assistance on a material level when we see the need and have the means to do so, as well as engage in good works on the psychic and spiritual levels, but rather that our central focus is on the psychic and spiritual, as with the Gnostic experience in place we are especially empowered to it. In fact, in that relatively few know and understand the way of Supernal or Supramental Realization as yet, it is very important that those who do know it focus upon this Gnostic and Light Transmission, and the works of psychic and spiritual assistance that can be taken up within it.

It is entirely possible, for example, that a Templar in our tradition might be called to a special material action, even socio-political action; but in whatever action to which they might be called, the Continuum of Light Transmission will remain their central aim and focus, and the Divine Light from above will guide and direct their action, and in perfect performance Divine Grace will take up their action.

As for political commentaries – are any of them from the perspective of Divine Illumination or Christ? If we look into the extreme right and extreme left, are either the whole truth, and nothing but the truth – will either enlightened and liberates souls, or lead them in the Path of the Great Ascension? Frankly speaking, both are founded upon the same fundamental ignorance, and the two opposite poles, like all other apparent opposites, reflect the same fundamental dualism in consciousness. In much the same way as we do not wish to be caught up in the distraction of the play of “saint” and “sinner,” neither do we wish to be caught up in political extremes and such – we seek the inner knowing of the Divine Light and see to act in accord with that faith and gnosis, in whatever way the Light-presence and Light-power leads us.

Having said all of this, perhaps we might close with a contemplation of a saying of Hayyah Yeshua from the Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas:

Yeshua said, “Whoever has come to know the world has discovered a corpse, and whoever has discovered a corpse, of that person the world is not worthy” (56).

May we be blessed to recognize the Light Realm within and all around us, and be empowered to act from that Pure Vision – all in the Risen Messiah; amen.

Blessings & shalom!
_________________
Tau Malachi
Sophia Fellowship
Ecclesia Pistis Sophia
O. S. G.

Reflection for January 8, 2008:How shall I pray to you, Barbelo?

If WE REALLY want prayer, we’ll have to give it time. We must slow down to a human tempo and we’ll begin to have time to listen. And as soon as we listen to what’s going on, things will begin to take shape by themselves.

–Thomas Merton

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How shall I pray to you, Barbelo,
The nameless and unknowable,
The Infinite and Eternal,
Self-generating, Self-begetting,
Mother and Father,
Holy One –

Your name is no name,
It is only an indication,
Your being is No-Thingness,
Yet you are ground of all;

If anyone speaks of you, it is a lie,
And prayer to you is surely a deception,
For you are the Hidden God, the Alien God,
Whom no mortal has ever seen at any time –

Those who worship you, do not know you,
But those who know you, they understand perfect worship,
There is no offering you invoke, no rite that you demand,
There is no law that you give but the freedom of will,
Your Messenger has spoken clearly, saying,
“Worship the Most High in spirit and truth.”

You are Agatho Daimon, the Great Spirit,
You are the Virgin of Light, the Bornless One,
Emanating the Human One of Light and Sophia,
And all of the Immortals of the Pleroma –

Through these you reveal yourself and impart your Divine Gnosis,
Yet, as you are in yourself, you are the Great Unknown, the Unmanifest;
If there is a prayer to you it is your Holy Spirit in me that prays, the Divine I Am,
For only the Perfect can invoke your Holy Name and pray in your Divine Presence
All in the Speaking Silence of Primordial Meditation,
A prayer of Pure Being, the Great Seth: Amen.

– A Gnostic Prayer to Barbelo

Tau Malachi, Sophia Fellowship, Ecclesia Pistis Sophia O. S. G.

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You yourself must be purifiers and redeemers of your soul, which is established in every place, so that you may be reckoned in the company of the Fathers of Light…of the Kingdom in the New Aeon, in the place of Joy.

–Mani

………………………………………………………………………Barbelo (BARBHLW): Generally the first aeon, body or voice in the Sethian creation myth; “the first virginal emanation,” it may have an androgynous connotation, but represents a Gnostic version of Yin, and Yang, and the sexual energy called ‘Jing’. (See Allogenes, Tractate 3, Codex XI, of the Nag Hammadi
Lib. See also: Pistis Sophia, Ch. 8, BK 1, Askew Codex. See also: ”Apocryphon of John,” ”Marsenes,” ”The Gospel of the Egyptians,” ”Melchizedek,” ”TheGospel of Judas,” Trimorphic Protennoia,” ”The Three Steles of Seth, and Zostrianos”) “I cast into her the first power which I had received from the
Barbelo, which is the body which I wore in the height.” (”Pistis Sophia”) ”And I saw holy powers by means of the Luminaries of the virginal male Barbelo telling me that I would be able to test what happens in the world:” (Allogenes) ”Great is the first aeon, male virginal Barbelo, the first glory of the invisible Father, she who is called perfect.” (”The Three Steles of Seth”) ”O Mother of the aeons, Barbelo! O first-born of the aeons, splendid Doxomedon Dom[…]! O glorious one, Jesus Christ!’ (”Melchizedek”)

“She requested from the invisible, virginal Spirit – that is Barbelo – to give her FOREKNOWLEDGE. And the Spirit consented. And when he had consented, the foreknowledge came forth, and it stood by the FORETHOUGHT; it originates from the thought of the invisible, virginal Spirit. It glorified him and his perfect power, Barbelo, for it was for her sake that it had come into being.

“And she requested again to grant her INDESTRUCTIBILITY, and he consented. When he had consented, indestructibility came forth, and it stood by the thought and the foreknowledge. It glorified the invisible One and Barbelo, the one for whose sake they had come into being. “

And Barbelo requested to grant her ETERNAL LIFE. And the invisible Spirit consented. And when he had consented, eternal life came forth, and they attended and glorified the invisible Spirit and Barbelo, the one for whose sake they had come into being.

“And she requested again to grant her TRUTH. And the invisible Spirit consented. And when he had consented, truth came forth, and they attended and glorified the invisible, excellent Spirit and his Barbelo, the one for whose sake they had come into being.

“This is the pentad of the aeons of the Father, which is the first man, the image of the invisible Spirit; it is the forethought, which Barbelo, and the thought, and the foreknowledge, and the indestructibility, and the eternal life, and the truth. This is the androgynous pentad of the aeons, which is the decad of the aeons, which is the Father. - Apocryphon of John

The Barbelo

This Gnostic figure, appearing in a number of systems, the Nicolaites, the “Gnostics” of Epiphanius, the Sethians, the system of the “Evangelium Mariae” and that in Iren., I, xxix, 2 sq., remains to a certain extent an enigma. The name barbelo, barbeloth, barthenos has not been explained with certainty. In any case she represents the supreme female principle, is in fact the highest Godhead in its female aspect. Barbelo has most of the functions of the ano Sophia as described above. So prominent was her place amongst some Gnostics that some schools were designated as Barbeliotae, Barbelo worshippers of Barbelognostics. She is probably none other than the Light-Maiden of the Pistis Sophia, the thygater tou photos or simply the Maiden, parthenos. In Epiphanius (Haer., xxvi, 1) and Philastrius (Haer., xxxiii) Parthenos (Barbelos) seems identical with Noria, whoplays a great role as wife either of Noe or of Seth. The suggestion, that Noria is “Maiden”, parthenos, Istar, Athena, Wisdom, Sophia, or Archamoth, seems worthy of consideration. http://essenes.net/gnostikoi.html

further: THE GNOSTIC THREEFOLD PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT The Ascent of Mind and the Descent of Wisdom Novum Testamentum XXII, 4 (1980) by JOHN D. TURNER

Sethian Gnosticism a Literary history by JOHN D. TURNER

GNOSTICISM AND PLATONISM THE PLATONIZING SETHIAN TEXTS FROM NAG HAMMADI IN THEIR RELATION TO LATER PLATONIC LITERATURE by JOHN D. TURNER

TO SEE THE LIGHT: A GNOSTIC APPROPRIATION OF JEWISH PRIESTLY PRACTICE AND SAPIENTIAL AND APOCALYPTIC VISIONARY LORE

Reflection for November 15, 2007: Some thoughts on sin

{Note: In the following post some words I have capitalized, like Word.  This is to denote for the reader they are part of Monadic sets used in Gnostic Philosophy. Word, is part of a sacred tetrad, (quadrant) named by Valentinus, as the Sacred Tetrad, Word, Man, Life, Truth (Church).  Another familiar set is the Pentad of the Soul: Form, Perception, Consciousness, Action, Knowledge. These words are capitalized to emphasize their Gnostic connotations. The ancient Gnostics like Theodotus, Heracleon, Basilides, Valentinus, all knew the underlying philosophy of Knowledge.}

This is what the “Gospel of Mary” says about sin….

“25) Peter said to him, Since you have explained everything to us, tell us this also: What is the sin of the world?  (26) The Savior said There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin. 27) That is why the Good came into your midst, to the essence of every nature in order to restore it to its root.” (Gospel of Mary)
There is no doubt that the “Gospel of Thomas,” is beneficial for everyone, regardless of their level of understanding regarding the Gnostic origins of the text. What I mean by this is that there is an underlying philosophy to Gnostic documents that you must be taught or made aware of in order to understand the intended meaning. All Sethian Gnostic texts have an underlying philosophy based upon the principle of Wisdom as an ordering force of the universe. For the Gnostic God is Sophia, or Wisdom, and Jesus is the Monad.

The references in the Thomas gospel are directly related to the mindset of the Gnostic texts, like the other Gnostic Gospels, and works like “The Pistis Sophia.”  The Gnostic beliefs are probably totally alien to those that have not put a great deal of effort into understanding the Sethian Philosophy. Gnostics do not believe in “God” as extrinsic to their own Soul. Soul for the Gnostic is ‘Form, Perception, Consciousness, Action, and Knowledge.’  These are also features of the Word, or treasure of the Mind.

Mainstream Christians see God, according to a Baylor University study, below. These are the main types of Christians in regard to qualifying categories…

— Authoritarian God: Individuals who follow this model feel God is highly involved in their personal lives and world affairs, they give the Deity credit for their decision-making, and they feel God is angry and meting out punishment to the wicked.

— Benevolent God: These believers also think God is very active in their daily life, just not as wrathful. They believe Benevolent God is mostly a force for positive influence in the world, and reluctant to condemn individuals.

— Critical God: The faithful of this subset believe God is not meddling in world affairs but is nonetheless looking on in disapproval. These people tend to believe that God’s displeasure will be felt in another life, and that divine justice is not of this world.

— Distant God: Individuals in this group think that Distant God is not active in humanities affairs, and is not especially angry, either. Believers consider the Deity more of a cosmic force who sets the laws of nature into motion.

The ”Gospel of Thomas,” is the means to the living resurrection, and the ‘Bridal Chamber,’ which is a Gnostic sacrament, (Contemplation) you don’t hear about in mainstream Christian circles. The Bridal Chamber is undertaking the task of achieving Gnosis through the adoption of Jesus Wisdom, or the Word. The Gnostic undergoes Mentennoia, and seeks to become aware or enlightened.

Enlightenment: Refers to a state of being; described in Chinese/Oriental classics that reflects the same kinds of mental changes, ‘awareness,’ or ‘Satroi’ as in Gnosis. ”The Enlightenment refers to a movement in philosophy that advocated the untrammeled use of reason to establish truth. The movement challenged traditional authority, doctrine, and values. Emphasis was placed on the empirical method employed by the sciences.” (”The Five Gospels,” by Funk, Hoover, Harrier-Collins, 1993, p. 544.) ”For scientific knowledge is necessary both for the training of the soul and for gravity of conduct; making the faithful more active and keen observers of things. For as there is no believing without elementary instruction, so neither is there comprehension without science.” (Quote from Theodotus, See; Kirby, Criddle collections.) Criddle.http://neonostalgia.com/xtian/Extracts_from_Theodotus.htm

I’m always glad to hear of people reading the “Gospel of Thomas,” and relating to its intrinsic power.  However, I might point out that what is there when your mindset is mainstream Christian, and what is there when you understand the Gnostic connotations is dramatic. For instance all Sethian Gnostic writings refer to certain words that belong to Monadic sets.  The study of the Monad in Gnosticism is essential because the Monad flows through everything the same way the Chinese regard the energy (Spirit) of Chi.  In Gnostic philosophy, Jesus is the Monad. The sacrament of the Bridal Chamber makes the Gnostic ‘One’ with this mindset.

Tom Saunders