This series will cover materials from 5 main books: The Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution, Treatise of Revolutionary Psychology, The Great Rebellion, In Search of the Miraculous, and The Revolution of the Dialectic.
The Purpose of Gnosis
Gnosis is a cosmic teaching that seeks to restore within each one of us the capacity to live consciously and intelligently. Gnosis means knowledge/wisdom and is usually interpreted as an absolute and liberating knowledge. Gnosis is a true scientific school of initiation into life, that pursues a transformation of the human being, claiming that each human must change their basic principles and customs in order to become a true human being. Gnosis has a mystical philosophy as its lifestyle, and is based upon a rational and scientific conception of the universe.
In antiquity it was said, “Man, know yourself and you will know the universe”, and this is the synthesis of all transcendental wisdom: it is superior knowledge. The transcendental science of Gnosis has this ancient motto as its fundamental cornerstone: “Know yourself”. This principle demands that a person who wants to know himself:
1. should understand what this means (this knowledge of self),
2. with what it is connected,
3. and what it necessarily depends upon.
Psychology and the Knowledge of Self
The human being in his present state is very far from self-knowledge. And therefore our first aim cannot be defined as self-knowledge, instead it should be self-study. It is very significant when the human being understands that they must study themselves.
It must be the human being’s aim to begin to study himself, to know himself, in the right way. Self-study is the work or the way which leads to self-knowledge. But in order to study oneself one must first learn:
1. how to study,
2. where to begin, and
3. what methods to use.
This is because it is only with this self-knowledge that the human being can transform himself. This knowledge of self is acquired through what we call Gnostic Psychology. The word Psychology comes from 2 Greek words:
1. Psyche (ψυχή, psukhē, meaning “breath”, “spirit”, or “soul”)
2. and Logia (-λέγω, legō, translated as “study of” or “research”).
So Psychology literally means, “the study of the soul”. In the Ancient Mysteries, Psychology was that part of philosophy which deals with the faculties of the soul and its operations. Therefore, we could say that it is also the science of soul.
The study of the soul is the first step of that immense ladder which we must necessarily climb in order to comprehend truth. And in order to arrive at the truth it is necessary (from the beginning) for the human being to be free from scientific and religious prejudices.
Science and Religion
Science and Religion are two fields of study which we are often are opposed, but in reality they are intimately related. In 1861, Eliphas Levi said:
“Now more than ever do science and religion, as well as authority and liberty, seem to deliver themselves over to a bitter war and swear an irreconcilable hatred for each other. Nonetheless, don’t believe in this war: they are on the verge of uniting themselves and of embracing each other for ever.
The discovery of the great secrets of religion and of the science of the Magi, will annihilate fanaticism by giving the reason for miracles, and by revealing the unity of the universal doctrine.
…
The truth is higher than all opinions and all parties. The truth is like the sun; blind is he who doesn’t see it.”
-paraphrase from The Reconciliation of Science and Religion by Eliphas Levi
The best way to understand this concept is this statement:
Religion is reasonable, and Science is sacred.
We don’t find Religion reasonable because very few know how to use it for its true purpose and we lack the Faith necessary to effectively apply it to our lives. Most so-called religious persons prefer blind belief to authentic faith and do not love their religion with disinterest (ie they are biased about their religious affiliation).
We don’t find Science sacred because we only use our subjective reasoning to draw conclusions (our 5 senses, our feelings, our thoughts, etc.) and most people lack the Love necessary to use it properly. In general Scientists are only interested in using science to dominate the material world, and therefore neglect the inherent connection between Spirit and Matter.
This is why Eliphas Levi says:
“Love will regenerate the sciences, and reason will justify faith.”
-paraphrase from The Reconciliation of Science and Religion by Eliphas Levi