the gnosis or ancient wisdom in the christian sculptures-william kingsland-1937-230pgs-rel

8/2/2019 The Gnosis or Ancient Wisdom in the Christian Sculptures-William Kingsland-1937-230pgs-REL

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WILLIAM KINGSLANDThe Gnosis or Ancient Wisdom

i n t h e C h r i s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s

or

,THE WISDOM IN A MYSTERY

G o d ' s w i s d o m i n a m y s t e r y , e v e n t h e

w i s d o m t h a t b a t h b e e n h i d d e n

I COR . I I .7

0 G n o s i s o f L i g h t p a s s i n g a l l k n o w -

l e d g e , I p r a i s e t h ee

THE GNOSIS OP THE LIGHT

CODEX BRUCIANUS)

LONDONG e o r g e A l l e n & U n w i n L t d

MUSEUM STREET


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FIRST PUBLISHED IN1 937

SECOND IMPRESSION 195

THIRD IMPRESSIO N 195t

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN

BY BRADFORD AND DICKENS

LONDON, W . C . I


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The Gnosis or Ancient Wisdom

i n t h e C h r i st i a n S c r i p t u r e s


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BY THE SAME AUTHORTHE MYSTIC QUEST . 1891 .

THE ESOTERIC BASIS OF CHRISTIANITY . 1895 .

SCIENTIFIC IDEALISM . 1909 .

THE PHYSICS OF THE SECRET DOCTRINE . 1910 .

OUR INFIN ITE LIFE . 1922 .

RATIONAL MYSTICISM . 1924 .

AN ANTHOLOGY OF MYSTICISM . 1927 .

THE REAL H . P . BLAVATSK Y . 1928 .

CHRISTOS , THE RELIGION OF THE FUTURE . 1929 .

THE GREAT PYRAMID IN FACT AND I N THEORY .

PART I . 1982 . PART II . 1935 .

THE ART OF LIFE AND HOW TO CONQUEROLD AGE . 1984 .


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N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 6

EDITOR'S PREFACET H i s b o o k i s t h e l a s t w o r k o f t h e l a t e W i l l i a m K i n g s l a n d

and is p ub lished under the auspices of "The Kingsl and

L i t e r a r y T r u s t . " T h i s T r u s t w a s i n a u g u r a t e d b y t h e a u t h o r

s h o r t l y b e f o r e h i s d e a t h , a n d i s b y h i s w i s h c o m p o s e d o f t h e

C o u n c i l o f t h e B l a v a t s k y A s s o c i a t i o n , who a r e t h e r e b y

e m p o w e r e d t o p u b l i s h h i s MSS . a t t h e i r d i s c r e t i o n .T h e " G n o s i s " h a d o c c u p i e d m u c h o f K i n g s l a n d ' s t i m e a n d

t h o u g h t d u r i n g t h e l a s t t w o y e a r s o f h i s l i f e , a n d w a s n o t

c o m p l e t e d , u n t i l ' s h o r t l y b e f o r e h i s d e a t h ; h e h a d , i n d e e d ,

h o p e d t o m a k e a f e w a l t e r a t i o n s t o t h e m a n u s c r i p t b u t d i d

n o t l i v e t o d o s o , a n d e x c e p t f o r t h e c o r r e c t i o n o f s o m e

t y p i s t ' s e r r o r s it i s p u b l i s h e d a s it l e f t t h e a u t h o r ' s h a n d .

I n t h i s w o r k K i n g s l a n d s h o w s h o w t h e f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h -

i n g s g i v e n t o t h e w o r l d a t t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e C h r i s t i a n

e r a w e r e d e r i v e d f r o m t h e G n o s i s o r A n c i e n t W i s d o m , b u t i n

t i m e h a v e b e c o m e s o p e r v e r t e d t h a t t h e m o d e r n i n t e r p r e t a -

t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y r e p r e s e n t s m e r e l y t h e i r d e b a s e d s u r v i v a l .

I t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d t h a t t h e a u t h o r ' s t i t l e f o r t h i s

work was T h e G n o si s i n t h e C h r is t i a n S c r i p t u r e s , w h i c h t h e

T r u s t a l t e r ed t o i t s p r e s e n t f o rm .

T h e c o s t o f t h e p u b l i c a t i o n h a s b e e n m e t b y m a n y f r i e n d s

w h o m W i l l i a m K i n g s l a n d h a d h e l p e d t o a t r u e r c o n c e p t o f t h e

r e a l i t ie s o f l i f e t h r o u g h h i s d e e p u n d e r s t a nd i n g o f t h e A n c i e n t

Wisdom . T h e c o n t r i b u t o r s h a v e b e e n g l a d t o a s s i s t i n t h e

p r o d u c t i o n o f t h i s w o r k a s a m e m o r i a l t o o n e w h o m t h e y

r e g a r d w i t h e n d u r i n g g r a t i t u d e a n d a f f e c t i o n .

THE KINGS LAND LITERARY TRUST

2 6 BEDFORD GARDENS, LONDON , w,8


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CONTENTSCHAPTER : A a s

Editor's Preface 7

Introduction 11

I . RELIGION AND RELIGION S 4 9I I . THE BIBLE 7 8

I I I . THE ANCIENT WISDOM OR GNO SIS 9 8

IV . THE GENESIS N ARR ATIVE 1 1 1

V . THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURESI . THE GO SPELS

1 4 1

VI . THE NEW TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES

I I . PAUL'S EPISTLES

1 7 2

V I I . PRACTICAL RELIGION 1 9 0

B i b l io g r a p h y 2 1 9

Index 2 2 8


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THE GNOSIS OR ANC IENT WISDOMIN THE CHRISTIAN SCR IPTURES

INTRODUCTIONTHIS w o r k i s w r i tt e n m a i nl y f o r a c l a s s o f r e a d er s . a n d s t u d e n t s

w h o f i n d t h e m s e l v e s a l t o g e t h e r o u t o f t o u c h w i t h " C h r i s t -

i a n i t y " i n a n y o f i t s c u r r e n t d o c t r i n a l o r s a c e r d o t al f o r m s ,

bu t who, notwithstanding this, have some more or less

clear ap prehension that b ehind those forms, and in the

C h r i st i a n S c r i p t u r e s t h e ms e l v e s, t h e r e l ie s a , d e e p s p i r i t u a l

t r u t h , a r e a l G n o s i s ( G r . k n o w l e d g e) o f M a n ' s o r i g i n , na t u r e ,

and destiny which has simply been m a t e r ia l i z e d by the

Church i n t h e t r a d it i o n a l i nt e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h os e S c r i p t u r e s

b a s e d u p o n t h e i r l i t e r a l a c c e p t a t i o n .

Not that one does not recogniz e that even in its most

i r r a t io n a l a n d u n a c c e p t a b l e d o g m a s, s o - c a l l e d " C h r i s t i a n i t y "

m a k e s a n a p p e a l t o a c e r t a i n c l a s s o f m i n d s ; a n d , i n d e e d ,

i s p e r h a p s t h e o n l y f o r m o f " r e l i g i o n " which could make

a n y a p p e a l t o t h a t p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s .

H o w e v e r i r r a t i o n a l C h r i s t i a n d o g m a s m a y b e i n t h e l i g h t

o f o u r m o d e r n k n o w l e d g e - a n d s t i l l m o r e s o i n t h e l i g h t o f

the deeper knowledge of the G n o s i s - t h e y d o , i f , g e n u i n e l y

b e l i e v e d i n , s e r v e t o k e e p t h e a v e r a g e i n d i v i d u a l m o r e o r

l e s s o n a s t r a i g h t p a t h o f m o r a l r e c t i t u d e , a n d t h e y a f f o r d

him a certain amount of . c o m f o r t i n g a s s u r a n c e t h a t h e i s

n o t " a l o s t s i n n e r " ; w h i l s t i n s o m e c a s e s t h e y a r e u n d o u b t e d l y

t h e i n s p i r i n g b e l i e f s g i v i n g r i s e t o n o b l e a n d s e l f - s a c r i f i c i n g

l i v e s . Precisely the same- ma y be s a i d , however, o f o t h e r

r e l i g i o n s w h i c h d i f f e r r a d i c a l l y f r o m C h r i s t i a n i t y , i n t h e i r

f o r m u l a t e d b e l i e f s . In short, the evidence of the lif e of

a n i n d i v i d u a l i s n o p r o o f o f t h e t r u t h o f h i s c r e e d . I t i s

s u f f i c i e n t t h a t h e b e l i e v e s i n i t ; t h e r e s t i s m e r e p s y c h o l o g y .

The O n e S p i r i t o v e r s h a d o w s a n d w o r k s i n a l l , b u t t h e f o r m

in which that working is presented through the mind or

i n t e l l e c t i s a m a t t e r o f t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l m a k e - u p o f t h e

i n d i v i d u a l , t h e l o w e r p e r s o n a l s e l f w i t h i t s h e r e d i t y , c o n v e n -

1 3


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12 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESt i on s , and environment . Thus K r i s h n a , speaking on the

S u p r e m e S p i r i t i n Bhag av ad Gitd, s a y s :

" I n w h a t e v e r f o r m a d e v o t e e d e s i r e s w i t h f a i t h t o w o r s h i p , i t i s

I a l o n e w h o i n s p i r e h i m w i t h c o n s t a n c y t h e r e i n , a n d d ep e n d i n g o n t h at

f a i t h h e s e e k s t h e p r o p i t i a t io n o f t h a t G o d , o b t a i n i n g t h e o b j e c t o f h i s

w i s h e s a s i s o r d a i n e d b y m e a l o n e . " '

A g e n e r al r e c o g n i t i o n of t h i s p r i n c i p l e w o u l d p u t a n e n d to

a l l r e l i g i o u s i n t o l e r a n c e .

I t i s n o p a r t o f m y t a s k i n t h is w o r k t o s e t f o r t h th e n u m e r o u s

r e a s o n s w h i c h c a n b e g i v e n f o r t h e r e j e c t i o n o f t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

b e l i e f s w h i c h h a v e h i t h e r t o c o n s t i t u t e d w h a t i s g e n e r a l l y

known as " C h r i s t i a n i t y . " T h a t r e j e c t i o n i s b e c o m i n g m o r e

a n d m o r e i n e v i d e n c e a s k n o w l e d g e i n c r e a s e s , w h i l s t i n t h e

C h u r c h i t s e l f - u s i n g t h e t e r m C h u r c h t o c o v e r a l l a n d e v e r y

C h r i s t i a n c o m m u n i t y - w e h a v e t h e g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e d i f f e r -

e n c e s o f o p i n i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e t r u t h o f b o t h " f a c t s " and

d o c t r i n e s w h i c h f o r c e n t u r i e s h a v e be e n r e g a r d e d a s t h e v e r y

f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e "Faith " : e

. g . m i r a c l e s , t h e v i r g i n b i r t h ,

o r i g i n a l s i n , t h e a t on e m e n t , t h e r e s u r r e c t i o n , t h e a s c e n s i o n ,

t h e s e c o n d c o m i n g , t h e n a t u r e o f t h e e u c h a r i s t , a n d t h e c l a u s e s

o f t h e A t h a n a s i a n a n d o t h e r C r e e d s . Concerning each and

a l l o f t h e s e , l e a d i n g a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h e C h u r c h i t s e l f a r e

t o - d a y h o p e l e s s l y a t v a r i a n c e , 2 w h i l s t v e r y f e w p r o f e s s i n g l a y

C h r i s t i a n s a r e a w a r e t o w h a t a n e x t e n t t h e c o m m o n l y r e c e i v e d

c o n c e p t i o n s a s t o t h e o r i g i n o f C h r i s t i a n i t y , b a s e d o n t h e

s u p p o s e d h i s to r i c a l v e r a c i t y o f t h e G o s p e l n a r r a ti v e s , a r e i n

q u e s t i o n t o - d a y b y t h o s e s c h o l a r s w h o h a v e m a d e t h e c l o s e s t

s t u d y o f t h e a c t u a l h i s t o r i c a l e v i d e n c e s .

B u t a l t h o u g h I a m n o t d e a l i n g d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e s e c o n t r o -

v e r s i e s , - o n e c a n n o t i g n o r e t h e m a l t o g e t h e r , a n d s o m e r e f e r e n c e s

must necessarily be made to them . Moreover, the corre-

spondence o f t h e B i b l e a l l e g o r i e s w i t h . t h o s e o f t h e e a r l i e r

M y s t e r y C u l t s , s u c h f o r e x a m p l e a s t h o s e o f O r p h e u s a n d o f

M i t h r a , a s a l s o t h o s e o f m o r e a n c i e n t E g y p t i a n a n d A r y a n

s o u r c e s , i m p l i e s s o m e h i s t o r i c a l c o n n e c t i o n i n o r i g i n s ; a n d d

a l t h o u g h t h i s i s e x c e e d i n g l y o bs c u r e o w i n g t o t h e d e st r u c t i o n

1C h a p t e r v i z .

T h o s e w h o w i s h t o c o n s u l t a c t u a l s t a t e m e n t s m a y r e a d w i t h p r o f i t The

C h u r c h e s a n d M o d e r n T h o u g h t , b y V i v i a n P h e l i p s ( s e e B i b l i o g r ap h y , p . 2 2 1 ) .


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INTRODUCTION 1 3

b y t h e e a r l y C h u r c h c r e e d - m a k e r s o f e v e r y p a r t i c l e o f e v i d e n c e

o f t h i s c o n n e c t i o n w h i c h t h e y c o u l d l a y t h e i r h a n d s o n , m an y

c l u e s s t i l l r e m a i n t o w h i c h s o m e a l l u s i o n m u s t b e m a d e .

T h i s p r e s e n t w o r k , t h e r e f o r e , i s n o t w r i t t e n f o r c o n t r o v e r s i a l

p u r p o s e s , o r f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f u p s e t t i n g t h e " f a i t h " o f

a n y o n e , w h a t s o e v e r t h a t " f a i t h " m a y be. I am not con-

c e r n e d t o c o n v i n c e o r c o n v e r t a n y o n e t o t h e v i e w s h e r e i n

e x p r e s s e d . In matters of f act I stand open to correction

w h e r e I m a y p o s s i b l y b e i n e r r o r . But those who have come

t o s o m e a p p r e h e n s i o n o f t h e f a c t t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y i n i t s

t r a d i t i o n a l f o r m i s n o t m e r e l y o p e n t o m a n y o b j e c t i o n s o n

r a t i o n a l g r o u n d s , b u t a l s o t h a t i t i s o n l y o n e o f a n u m b e r o f

f o r m u l a t e d r e l i gi o n s w h i c h a r e j u s t a s e f f i c a c i o u s a s i t s e lf f o r

t h e " s a l v a t i o n " o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l , c a n n o t a d o p t t h e p r o s e l y -

t i z i n g s p i r i t w h i c h i s s u c h a m a r k e d f e a t u r e o f " C h r i s t i a n i t y . "

I n s o f a r a s " C h r i s t i a n i t y " i s e x c l u s i v e , d o g m a t i c , p r o s e l y -

t i z i n g , I a m i t s , p e r h a p s s o m e w h a t b i t t e r , o p p o n e n t . Wheni t d a r e s t o s a y t h a t t h e i n d i v i d u a l c a n b e " saved " only

b y b e l i e v i n g i n w h a t i t t e a c h e s a b o u t a c e r t a i n h i s t o r i c a l

c h a r a c t e r , I s a y t h a t t h e g o o d J e w , o r B u d d h i s t , o r M o s l e m ,

or Parsi has just as g ood a chance-nay, in many cases a

better chance-of being " s a v e d " than thousa nds of pro-

f e s s i n g C h r i s t i a n s .

What I do of fer here i s something mu ch more universal

t h a n t h a t o f a n y e x c l u s i v e r e l i g i o n , i . e . c e r t a i n p r i n c i p l e s

w h i c h h a v e b e e n g i v e n o u t b y v a r i o u s g r e a t t e a c h e r s f r o m

t i m e t o t i m e i n a f o r m a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e a g e a n d p e o p l e t o

whom they were addressed. These, however, have sub -

s e q u e n t l y b e e n l a r g e l y o v e r l a i d a n d o b s c u r e d b y t h e f e e b l e

u n d e r s t a n d i n g a n d i n d i v i d u a l i n t e r e s t s o f p a r t i s a n s . As I

s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s h o w , t h e r e i s n o g r e a t e r e x a m p l e o f t h i s t h a n

i n s o - c a l l e d " C h r i s t i a n i t y . "

W h i l e , t h e r e f o r e , I h a v e n o d e s i r e t o t u r n a n y o n e a s i d e

f r o m t h e i r p r e s e n t " f a i t h " : r e c o g n i z i n g a s I d o t h a t t h a t

" f a i t h " m u s t n e c e s s a r i l y s u f f i c e t o m e e t t h e p r e s e n t n e e d s

o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l : i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h o s e w h o h a v e e n c a s e d

. t h e m s e l v e s i n a h a r d e n e d s h e l l o f w h a t t h e y c a l l " t r u t h , "

b a s e d o n s u p p o s e d h i s t o r i c a l f a c t s a s g i v e n in t h e l i t e ra l w o r d

o f S c r i p t u r e , may h e r e b y g e t s o m e g l i m p s e o f t h e i n a d e q u a c y


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1 4 ' THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRI PTURES

o f t h e i r h i t h e r t o c h e r i s h e d b e l i e f s ; a n d o f a d e e p e r k n o w l e d g e

w h i c h h a s a l w a y s b e e n a v a i l a b l e ; a y e , e v e n t o t h a t s u p r e m e

k n o w l e d g e w h i c h c o n f e r s g o d - l i k e p o w e r s o n i t s p o s s e s s o r .

I t i s u s e l e s s t o o f f e r t h i s d e e p e r k n o w l e d g e t o t h o s e w h o h a v e

n o t p e r c e i v e d t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f w h a t t h e y a l r e a d y p o s s e s s .

T h a t m a y a n d d o e s s u f f i c e f o r t h e i r p r e s e n t n e e d s ; b u t s o o n e r

o r l a t e r t h e y m u s t c o m e u p a g a i n s t f a c t s a n d e x p e r i e n c e s

which will shake them out of their present contentment,

and make them realize that for al l their assurance of

" s a l v a t i o n " t h e y a r e s t i l l v e r y f a r i n d e e d f r o m t h e u l t i m a t e

g o a l o f s p i r i t u a l k n o w l e d g e a n d f r ee d o m . I t i s o n l y t h e m a n

w h o k n o w s h o w l i t t l e h e k n o w s , a n d t h e n e c e s s i t y of knowing

m o r e i f h e w o u l d e s c a p e f r o m t h e p r e s e n t d e p l o r a b l e c o n d i t i o n

o f m a n k i n d , a n d r e c o v e r h i s d i v i n e b i r t h r i g h t a s a " Son of

G o d , " w h o c a n , o r w i l l , r e a c h o u t f o r t h a t s u p r e m e k n o w l e d g e ,

t h a t " p e a r l o f g r e at p r i c e " w h i c h c a n b e o b t a i n e d o n l y w h e n

h e h a s " s o l d a l l t h a t h e h a d . " ' O f t h i s m o r e h e r e a f t e r ; b u t

I m a y r e m a r k h e r e t h a t t h i s a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r p a r a b l e s c l e a r l y

s h o w J e s u s t o h a v e b e e n a n I n i t i a t e i n t h e A n c i e n t W i s d o m

o r G n o s i s .

I t i s m y e n d e a v o u r n o w t o s h o w h o w t h a t s u p r e m e k n o w l e d g e

w h i c h I a m h e r e r e f e r r i n g t o a s t h e Ancient Wisdom o r G n o s i s

i s e m b o d i e d i n t h e C h r i s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s , a l b e i t s a d l y o v e r l a i d

with " t h e p r e c e p t s a n d d o c t r i n e s o f m e n . "

I a m n o t u s i n g t h e t e r m G n o s i s a s a p p l y i n g m e r e l y t o t h e

t e n e t s o f c e r t a i n G n o s t i c s e c t s w h i c h w e r e m o r e o r l e s s i n

e v i d e n c e i n t h e e a r l y c e n t u r i e s o f t h e C h r i s t i a n e r a , b u t I a m

u s i n g i t i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a d e f i n i t e s u p e r - k no w l e d g e which

c a n b e t r a c e d b a c k t o t h e r e m o t e st a g e s a n d t he o l d e s t S c r i p -

t u r e s o f w h i c h w e h a v e a n y l i t e r a r y r e c o r d s , a n d w h i c h w a s

t a u g h t b y I n i t i a t e s , A d e p t s , a n d M a s t e r s o f t h e A n c i e n t W i s d o m

i n t h e i n n er c i r c l e s o f t h o s e M y s t e r i e s a n d M y s t e r y C u l t s w h i c h

a r e k n o w n t o h a v e e x i s t e d i n E g y p t a n d e l s e w h e r e , e v e n i n

r e m o t e s t t i m e s . That is the sense in which the term was

o r i g i n a l l y u n d e r s t o o d . It is the mystic knowledge which

e f f e c t s r e g e n e r a t i o n , r e bi r t h i n t o t h e f u l l c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f

o n e ' s d i v i n e n a t u r e a n d p o w e r s a s a " S o n o f G o d . "

T h e G n o s t i c S e c t s o f t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n c e n t u r i e s w h o w e r e

1 Matt . x i i i . 4 s .


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INTRODUCTION 15s o v i r u l e n t l y a t t a c k e d b y s o m e o f t h e d o g m a - m a k i n g C h u r c h

" F a t h e r s , " d e r i v e d t h e i r t e a c h i n g s f r o m t h e s e M y s t e r y C u l t s ,

bu t at the same time many of them cla imed the Christian

S c r i p t u r e s - t h o u g h n o t t h e a f t e r w a r d s r e c o g n i z e d c a n o n i c a l

B o o k s o n l y - a s a n au t h o r i t y f o r t h e i r t e a c h i n g s .

" However much the Gnostics may have been indebted to heathen

thought, they stil l wished and meant to be Christians, a nd indeed

s e t u p a c l a i m t o p o s s e s s a d e e p e r k n o w l e d g e o f C h r i s t i a n t r u t h t h a n t he

Psychici of the Church . Like their opp onents they a lso ap peal ed to

S c r i p t u r e i n p r o o f o f t h e i r p e c u l i a r d o c t r i n e s . Nay, it woul d even

s e e m t h a t t h e G n o s ti c s w e r e t h e f i r s t t o m a k e f o r t h a t p u r p o s e a p r o f i t -

a b l e a p p e a l t o t h e S c r i p t u r e s o f t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t . A n d b e s i d e s t h i s ,

t h e y a l s o b o a s t e d t o b e i n p o s s e s s i o n o f g e n u i n e a p o s t o l i c a l t r a d i t i o n s ,

deriving their doctrines, some from Pa ul , others from St . P e t e r , a n d

others ag ain f rom Ju das, Thomas, Philip , and Matthew . In addition,

m o r e o v e r , t o t h e s e c r e t d o c t r i n e w h i c h t h e y p r o f e s s e d t o h a v e r e c e i v e d

b y o r a l t r a d i t i o n , t h e y a p p e a l e d a l s o t o a l l e g e d w r i t i n g s o f t h e a p o s t l e s

t h e m s el v e s o r t h e i r d i s c i p l e s . " '

" W e h a v e n o r e a s o n t o t h i n k t h a t t h e e a r l i e s t G n o s t i c s i n t e n d e d t o

f o u n d s e c t s s e p a r a t e d f r o m t h e C h u r c h a n d c a l l e d a f t e r t h e i r o w n n a m e s .

T h e i r d i s c i p l e s w e r e t o b e C h r i s t i a n s , o n l y e l e v a t e d a b o v e t h e r e s t a s

acqu ainted with deeper mysteries, and ca ll ed y v w a r u c d c because

p o s s e s s e d o f a G n o s i s s u p e r i o r t o t he s i m p l e f a i t h o f t h e m u l t i t u d e ."

" G n o s t i c i s m d e s i r e d o n l y t o a d d t o t h e c o n f e s s i o n o f F a i t h f o r t h e

i v x u c d c a s e c r e t d o c t r i n e f o r th e s v e v , u a r u c d & . " 3

Gradual ly, however, as " C h r i s t i a n " doctrine became

h a r d e n e d a n d , m o r e a n d m o r e d o g m a t i c , a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t

o f t h e C h u r c h f e l l i n t o t h e h a n d s o f p r e l a t e s a m b i t i o u s f o r

worldly p ower, and quarrell ing among themselves for

precedence, this higher knowledge became a heresy, and

w h a t r e c o r d s a r e l e f t o f i t a r e m a i n l y t h e m i s re p r e s e n t a t i o n s

o f i t s b i t t e r o p p o n e n t s a m o n g t h e C h u r c h " F a t h e r s . "

T h e E s s e n e s , t o w h i c h c o m m u n i t y J e s u s p r o b a b l y b e l o n g e d , 4

w e r e c e r t a i n l y G n os t i c s i n t h e s e n s e i n w h i c h I a m h e r e u s i n g

the term . A l s o t h e w r i t i n g s o f P h i l o s h o w c l e a r l y t h a t h e

w a s a c q u a i n t e d w i t h t h i s G n o s i s, a l t h o u g h i t d o e s n o t a p p e a r

t h a t a n y o f t h e c o m m u n i t i e s o f h i s t i m e h a d y e t b e g u n t o

' Smith and Wace, Dictionary o f C h r i s t i a n B i o g r a p h y , a r t . " I r e na eu s , "

v o l . i i i , p . 2 6 9 .

' I b i d . , a r t . " G n o s t i c i s m , " v o l . i i , p . 6 7 9 .

' I b i d . , a r t . " M a n i c h e an s , " v o l . i i i , p . 7 9 7 . ' S e e p . 1 5 0 i n f r a .


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16 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESbe called Gnostics. He was contempora ry with Jesus, yet

never mentions him, although he teaches the doctrine of the

Logos as the " Son of God . "

" W h e r e v e r w e m e e t w i t h t h e w o r d L o g o s , w e k n o w t h a t w e h a v e t o

d e a l w i t h a w o r d o f G r e e k e x t r a c t i o n . W h e n P h i l o a d o p t e d t h a t w a r d ,

i t c o u l d h a v e m e a n t f o r h i m s u b s t a n t i a l l y n e i t h e r m or e n o r l e s s t h a n

w h a t i t h a d m e a n t b e f o r e i n t h e s c h o o l s o f G r e e k p h i l o s o p h y . Thus,

w h e n t h e i d e a l c r e a t i o n o r t h e L o g o s h a d b e e n c a l l e d b y P h i l o t h e o n l y

b e g o t t e n o r u n i q u e s o n ( v l d s . y o v o y e v i l s ) , t h e S o n o f G o d ( V [ 6 5 e o v ) ,

a n d w h e n t h a t n a m e w a s a f t e r w a r d s t r a n s f e r r e d b y t h e a u t h o r o f t h e

F o u r t h G o s p e l t o C h r i s t , w h a t w a s p r e d i c a t e d o f h i m c a n o n l y h a v e

b e e n i n s u b s t a n c e w h a t w a s c o n t a i n e d b e f o r e i n t h e s e t e c h n i c a l t e r m s , a s

u s e d a t f i r s t a t A t h e n s a n d a f t e r w a r ds a t A l e x a n d r i a ? ( S e e p . 1 7 7 i n f ra . )

I t w o u l d a p p e a r t h a t a m o n g s o m e o f t h e s e c t i o n s o f t h e e a r l y

Christian Church-and it mu st not be sup posed that even

the earliest " Church " was one and undivided as a community

or in doctrine-the practice common to all the genuine Gnostic

c u l t s w a s f o l l o w e d i n h a v i n g a t l e a s t t h r e e d e g r e e s o f m e m b e r -

s h i p o r i n i t i a t i o n . It was only in the highest degree that the

deepest " mysteries " were oral ly communicated ; a nd even so

i t w a s n e v e r t h e c a s e t h a t t h e I n i t i a t e , t h e A d e p t , t h e M a s t e r

could be made by any communicated instruction . He is

not ma de, he becomes . He must know of the truth of the

communica ted teaching f rom his own actu al experience .

What was committed to writing was never more than exoteric .

It is just as great a mistake to harden the symbolism of the

Gnostic Scriptures into a definite theogony or cosmogony as

it is to construct a n anthropomorp hic theolog y from the

narra tives of the Old or New Testaments . The real Gnosis,

t h e r e f o r e , i s a m y s t i c a l k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r i e n c e t r a n s c e n d i n g

that ap peara nce of things which the ordinary individual

a c c e p t s a s t h e o n l y " r e a l i t y . "

I t i s m y c o n t e n t i o n i n t h i s w o r k n o t m e r e l y t h a t t h i s a n c i e n t

Gnosis did and does exist, and was represented to some extent

in the teachings of these Christian Gnostic sects, but also

that their claim " To possess a deeper knowledge of Christian

truth than the Psychici of the Church " is one which must be

s u s t a i n e d . I n f a c t , t h a t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d o g m a s o f t h e C h u r c h

which have come down to us through the centuries are gross

1 M a x M i i l l e r , T h e o s o p h y o r P s y c h o l o g i c a l R e l i g i o n , p . 4 0 3 .


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INTRODUCTION 17materializa tion of t h e r e a l t ea c h i n g a s t o t he s p i r i t u a l n a t u r e

a n d o r i g i n o f M a n a s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e G n o s i s . These dogmas

a r e t h e r e s u l t o f t h e l i t e r a l h i s t o r i c i z i n g o f n a r r a t i v e s - i n s o m e

c a s e s , h o w e v e r , h a v i n g a s e m i - h i s t o r i c a l b a s i s - w h i c h w e r e

o r i g i n al l y i n t e n d e d a s a l l e g o r ie s c o v e r i ng d e e p s p i r i t u a l t r u t h s .

T h e r e a l f a c t , t h e r e f o r e , i s n o t t h a t G n o s t i c i s m w a s a

" heresy," a departure from the true " C h r i s t i a n i t y , " b u t

p r e c i s e l y t he o p p o s i t e , i . e . t h a t C h r i s t i a n i t y i n i t s d o g m a t i c

a n d e c c l e s i a s t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t w a s a t r a v e s t y o f t h e o r i g i n al

G n o s t i c t e a c h i n g s . '

D e a n I n g e c o m e s f a i r l y n e a r t o t h i s v i e w i n h i s w o r k o n

Christian Mysticism, App endix B, " T h e G r e e k M y s t e r i e s a n d

C h r i s t i a n M y s t i c i s m . " T h u s h e s a y s ( p . 8 5 0 ) :

" A d o c t r i n e i s n o t ne c e s s a r i l y u n - C h r i s ti a n b e c a u s e i t i s ` G r e e k ' o r

`Pagan : I k n o w o f n o s t r a n g e r p e r v e r s i t y t h a n f o r m e n w h o r e s t t h e

w h o l e w e i g h t o f t h e i r r el i g i o n u p o n ` h i s t o r y ' t o s u p p o s e t h a t o u r L o r d

m e a n t t o r a i s e a n u n i v e r s a l r e l i g i o n o n a p u r e l y J e w i s h b a s i s . "

H o w m u c h C h r i s t i a n i t y r e a l l y o w e s t o Pagan " s o u r c e s h e

s a ys i s di f f i c u l t t o a s c e r t a i n by r e a s on o f " t h e l o s s o f d o c u m e n t s,

a n d b y t h e e xt r e m e d i f f ic u l t y o f t r a c i n g t h e p e d i g r e e o f r e l i g i o u s

ideas a nd customs ." Nevertheless this indebtedness is

g r a d u a l l y b e i n g b r ou g h t t o l i g h t , a n d i s g r a d u a l l y d e s t r o y i n g

t h e i d e a o f t h e u n i q u e n e s s o f C h r i s t i a n i t y .

" D i o n y s i u s u s e s t h e m y s t e r y w o r d s f r e q u e n t l y , a n d g i v e s t o t h e o r d e r s

o f t h e C h r i s t i a n m i n i s t r y t h e n a m e s w h i c h d i s t i n g u i s h t h e o f f i c i a t i n g

p r i e s t s a t t h e M y s t e r i e s . T h e a i m o f t h e s e w r i t e r s ( C l e m e n t a n d o t h e r s )

w a s t o p r o v e t h a t t h e C h u r c h o f f e r s a m y s t e r i o s o p h y w h i c h i n c l u d e s a l l

t h e g o o d e l e m e n t s o f t h e o l d M y s t e r i es w i t h o u t t h e i r c o r r u p t i o n s . The

a l l i a n c e b e t w ee n a M y s t e r y - r e l i g i o n a n d s p e c u l a t i v e M y s t i c i s m w i t h i n

t h e C h u r c h w a s a t t h i s t i m e as c l o s e a s t h a t b et w e e n N e o p l a t o n i c p h i l o -

s o p h y a n d t h e r e v i v e d p a g a n M y s t e r y - c u l t s . " 2

" C h r i s t i a n i t y c o n q u e r e d H e l l e n i s m b y b o r r o w i n g f r o m i t a l l i t s b e s t

e l e m e n t s ; a n d I d o n o t s e e t h a t a C h r i s t i a n n e ed f e e l a n y r e l u c t a n c e

t o m a k e t h i s a d m i s s i o n . "S

" F o r o v e r h a l f a m i l l e n n i u m t h e a p p r o a c h t o r e l i g i o n f o r t h o u g h t f u l

minds was by the G n o s t i c path . S u c h f a c t s - - s i n c e n o r e l i g i o n p e r s i s t s

b y i t s f a l s e h o o d , b u t b y i t s t r u t h - e n t i t l e t h e a n c i e n t M y s t e r i es t o d u e

c o n s i d e r a t i o n . As an important background to early Christianity,

a n d a s t h e c h i e f m e d i u m o f s a c r a m e n t a r i a n i s m t o t h e W e s t t h e y c a n n o t

b e n e g l e c t e d ; f o r t o f a i l t o r e c o g n i z e t h e m o r a l a n d s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s o f

' S e e p . 2 3 i n f r a . = W . R . I n g e , C h r i s t i a n M y s t i c i s m , p . 3 5 0 .

I b i d . , p . . 3 5 5 .


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1 8 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

H e l l e n i s t i c - O r i e n t a l p a g a n i s m i s t o m i s u n d e r s t a n d t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n

c e n t u r i e s a n d t o d o i n j u s t i c e t o t h e v i c t o r y o f C h r i s t i a n i t y . ' 1

The e a r l y C h r i s t i a n c e n t u r i e s c e r t a i n l y , u n t i l t h e G n o s i s

b e c a m e f i n a l l y e x t i n g u i s h e d a s a h e r e s y . But the " v i c t o r y "

o f s o - c a l l e d " C h r i s t i a n i t y " a s r e c o r d e d i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e

d a r k a g e s o f t h e We s t e r n w o r l d c a n n o t p o s s i b l y b e at t r i b u t e d

t o i t s m o r a l an d s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s . A n d w h e r e i s t h a t " v i c t o r y "

t o - d a y i n t h e g e n e r a l s t a t e o f t h e w o r l d ? The moral a nd

s p i r i t u a l v a l u e s a r e u n d o u b t e d l y t h e r e , b u t t h e C h u r c h m u s t

g e t b a c k t o t h e G n o s i s , a n d t hu s b r i n g i ts f u n d a m e n t a l t e a c h i n g s

i n t o l i n e wi t h o u r m o d e r n k n o w l e d g e b ef o r e i t c a n r e - c o n q u e r

the modern world .

T h i s a n c i e n t G n o s i s , a s I s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s h o w , i s i n d e e d

b e i n g r e - s t a t e d t o - d a y i n m a n y d i r e c t i o n s o u t s i d e o f t h e

Church ; a n d s o o n e r o r l a t e r t h e C h u r c h m u s t c o m e i n t o l i n e

w i t h i t - - o r g r a d u a l l y b e c o m e a n e x t i n c t c o m m u n i t y .

T h i s a n c i e n t G n o s i s w e m a y d e f i n e a s t h a t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e

n a t u r e o f M a n a n d o f h i s p l a c e i n t h e U n i v e r s e w h i c h t r a n s c e n d s

t h e m e r e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h i n g s a s p r e s e n t e d t o t h e s e n s e s a n d

t h e i n te l l e c t , a n d w h i c h c o n t a c t s R e a l i t y i n a r e g i o n o f p u r e

Truth . T h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h i s k n o w l e d g e , t h e r e f o r e , i s t h e

r e al i z a t i on t ha t t h i ng s a r e no t w h a t t h e y se e m ; and no one who

i s a c r u d e r e a l i s t- a s a r e a l l o r t h o d o x C h r i s t ia n s , b o t h i n r e s p e c t

o f t h e p h y s i c a l w o r l d a n d o f t h e i r o w n S c r i p t u r e s - - c a n m a k e

a n y a p p r o a c h t o t h i s s u p e r - k n o w l e d g e .

O f c o u r s e a ll p h i l o s o p h y i s a n e f fo r t t o ap p r e h e n d R e a l i t y ;

b u t i t i s a n e f f o r t o f t h e in t e l l e c t m e r e l y , a n d a s s u c h i t i s , a n d

m u s t a l w a y s b e , a f r u i t l e s s e f f o r t . I t i s o n e o f t h e f u n d a m e n t a l

t e a c h i n g s o f t h e A n c i e n t W i s d o m t h a t t h e i n t e l l e c t m u s t b e

t r a n s c e n d e d b e f or e R e a l i t y c a n b e c o n t a c t e d , f o r i n t e l l e c t c a n

o n l y d e a l w i t h Appearances .

S o m e o f o u r m o d e r n p h i l o s o p h e r s a r e b e g in n i n g t o a p p r e h e nd

t h i s f a c t : notab ly Henri Bergson, who speaks of a higher

f a c u l t y w h ic h h e c a l l s i n t u i t i o n , a n d w h ic h h e s ay s m u s t r e p l a c e

i n t e l le c t i f w e w o u l d c o n t a c t R e a l i t y . F . H. B r a d l e y ' s g r e a t

work A p p e a r a n c e a n d R e a l i t y a l s o t h r o w s a s t r o n g l i g h t o n t h i s

f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e .

1 S. Angus, The Mystery-Relig ions and Christia nity, p . v i i .


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INTRODUCTION 1 9W i l l i a m J a m e s a l s o t e l l s u s t h a t

" F o r m y o w n p a r t I h a v e f i n al l y f o u n d m y s e l f c o m p e l l e d t o g i v e u p

t h e l o g i c , f a i r l y , s q u a r e l y , a n d i r r e v o c a b l y . It has an imperishab le

u s e i n h u m a n l i f e , b u t t h a t u s e i s n o t t o m a k e u s t h e o r e ti c a l l y a c q u a i n t e d

w i t h t h e e s s e n t i a l n a t u r e o f r e a l i t y . " '

T h i s i n a b i l i t y o f t h e i nt e l l e c t t o t r a n s c e n d i t s o w n c a t e g o r i e s

o f t i m e , s p a c e , a n d c a u s a t i o n - w h i c h i s a l s o t h e m a i n t h e s i s

o f K a n t ' s p h i l o s o p h y - r u l e s o u t t h e v a l i d i t y o f a l l t h e o l o g i c a l

s p e c u l a t i o n a n d a s s e r t i o n , w h e t h e r " p r o g r e s s i v e " o r o t h e r w i s e .

God " a s t h e A b s o l u t e m u s t e v e r b e b e y o n d a l l a s s e r t i o n o f

t h is o r t h at . B u t t h i s w a s c l e a r l y p e r c e i v e d a g e s b e f o r e K a n t

o r C h r i s t i a n i t y .

" W h o a s k s d o t h e r r , W h o a n s w e r s e r r s . S a y n o u g h t 1 " s

N o t b y s p e e c h , n o t b y m i n d ,

N o t b y s i g h t c a n H e b e a p p r e h e n d e d .

How ca n He be comprehended

O t h e r w i s e t h a n b y o n e s a y i n g ' H e i s ' ? " a

. T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y t he e q u i v a l e n t o f t h e " i AM THAT I AM " o f

E x o d u s i i i . 1 4 .

" T h e f o u n t a i n - h e a d o f C h r i s t ia n m y s t i c i s m i s D i o n y s i u s t h e A r e o p a -

g i t e . H e d e s c r i b e s t h e a b s o l u t e t r u t h b y n e g a t i v e s e x c l u s i v e l y . "

I t i s a s i m p l e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t t h a t w h i c h i s ALL cannot

" c r e a t e " anything outside of itself . I n 1 C o r i n t h i a n s

xv . 2 8 , P a u l t e l l s u s t h a t w h e n a l l t h i n g s h a v e be e n s u b j e c t e d

to the "Son" (or Logos), "then shall the Son himself be

s u b j e c t e d t o h i m t h a t d i d s u b j e c t a l l t h i n g s u n t o h i m , t h a t

G o d m a y b e a l l i n a l l . "

W h a t I I s n o t t h e n G o d a l l i n a l l now?

T o t h i s w e s h o u l d r e p l y : Y e s , a s i n c l u d i n g b o t h R e a l i t y and

Appearance ; b u t N o w h e n w e s p e a k , a s P a u l i s h e r e d o i n g ,

f r o m t h e p o i n t o f . v i e w o f Appearance merely .

B u t w h a t i s t h i s d i st i n c t i o n b e t w ee n R e a l i ty a n d A p p e a r a n c e

s a v e a m e r e c o n c e s s i o n t o t h e d u a l i t y o f t h e i n t e l l e c t ? T h e

a n c i e n t A r y a n p h i l o s o p h e r s , p e r c e i v i n g t h i s w e l l , c o n s i d e r e d

the world of Appeara nces to be M a y a , a n i l l u s i o n . And in

i A Plu ralistic Universe, p . 2 1 2 . s T h e L i g h t o f A s i a .

Katl w Upa nishad, 8, 12 .

Wm. J a m e s , The Varieties o f Religiou s Experience, p . 4 1 8 .


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20 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESt r u t h P a u l h e r e o n l y r e p e a t s a f u n d a m e n t a l p r i n c i p l e o f t h e

Ancient Wisdom, i . e . t h a t t h e r e i s a g r a d u a l w i t h d r a w a l o f

t h e m a n i f e s t e d o r app earance u n i v e r s e i n t o t h e ONE from which

i t o r i g i n al l y p r o c e e d e d . I n E a s t e r n p h i l o s o p h y t h i s o u t g o i n g

a n d r e t u r n i s p o s t u l a t e d a s a n e t e r n a l p e r i o d i c a l p r o c e s s :

t h e o u t g o i n g b e i n g c a l l e d a " D a y " o f B r a h m a ( t h e L o g o s o r

D e m i u r g e ) , a n d t h e c o m p l e t e w i t h d r a w a l - w h i c h l a s t s a s l o n g

a s t h e o u t g o i n g , a n i n c a l c u l a b l e p e r i o d - a " Night " of Brahma .

M a n , b e i n g t h e m i r r o r o r r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e cosmic p r o c e s s , h a s

t h e s a m e o u t g o i n g a n d r e t u r n - a s I s h a l l s h o w m o r e e x p l i c i t l y ,

a s t a u g h t i n th e C h r is t i a n S c r i p t u r e s , in s u b s e q u e n t c h a p t e r s

o f t h i s w o r k .

W e m a y n o t e h e r e t h a t i n t h i s s a y i n g o f P a u l w e h a v e o n e

m o r e i n s t a n c e a n d e v i d e n c e o f h i s k n o w l e d g e a n d t e a c h i n g

o f t h e a n c i e n t G n o s i s .

T o s a t i s f y t h e i n t e l l e c t o f m a n i n i t s p r e s e n t d e v e l o p m e n t ,

a c r e a t i v e G o d h a s t o b e p o s t u l a t e d : w h e t h e r c a l l e d t h e L o g o s ,

o r t h e D e m i u r g o s , o r b y s o m e s p e c i f i c n a m e s u c h a s J e h o v a h

or Brahma . F r o m t h i s n e c e s s i t y o f t h e i n t e l l e c t a r i s e t h eo g o n i e s

a n d t h e o l o g i e s , v a r i e t i e s o f Tr i n i t i e s , a n t h r o p o m o r p h i c g o d s ,

e t c . T h e s i m p l e s t c o n c e p t i n t e r m s o f human n a t u r e i s t h eT r i n i t y o f F a t h e r - M o t h e r - S o n . B u t t h i s w i l l n o t a l w a y s b e

s o . I n t e l l e c t , a s M a n e v o l v e s , w i l l a s s u m e o t h e r a s p e c t s ,

a n d w i l l c e r t a i n l y t r a n s c e n d i t s p r e s e n t l i m i t a t i o n s . Do not

t h e r e f o r e a c c e p t t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f i t s p r e s e n t f o r m u l a t i o n s

a s" Gospel Truth

. " T h e y h a v e t h e i r u s e i t i s t r u e; b u t l e t

t h e s e e k e r a f te r t r u t h t h o r o u g h l y u n d e r s t a n d t h e i r n a t u r e a n d

l i m i t a t i o n s , a n d p u t t h e m i n t h e i r p r o p e r p l a c e .

R o b e r t B r o w n i n g i n h i s p o e m Paracelsus p u t s t h e f o l l o w i n g

w o r d s i n t o t h e m o u t h o f t h a t g r e a t A d e p t .

" T h e r e i s a n in m o s t c e n t r e i n u s a l l ,

W h e r e t r u t h a b i d e s i n f u l n e s s ; a n d a r o u n d ,

W a l l u p o n w a l l , t h e g r o s s f l e s h h e m s i t i n ;

T h i s p e r f e c t , c l e a r p e r c e p t i o n - w h i c h i s t r u t h .

A b a f f l i n g a n d p e r v e r t i n g c a r n a l m e s h

B i n d s i t , a n d m a k e s a l l e r ro r ; a nd t o KNOWR a t h e r c o n s i s t s in o p e n i n g o u t a w a y

W h e n c e t h e i m p r i s o n e d s p l e n d o u r m a y e s c a p e ,

T h a n i n e f f e c t i n g e n t r y f o r a l i g h t

S u p p o s e d t o b e w i th o u t :'


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INTRODUCTION 21Now that " i n m o s t c e n t r e " i s , i n t h e t e a c h i n g o f t h e a n c i e n t

G n o s i s , t h e r e a l SELF ; t h e e t e r n a l , i m m o r t a l , d i v i n e SELF

w h i c h i s o n e w i t h t h e u n i v e r s a l PELF, commonly cal led God .

T h u s t h e r o o t t e a c h i n g o f t h i s A n c i e n t W i s d o m a t a l l t i m e s

h a s b e e n t h e d i v i n e n a t u r e o f M a n ; and what was ta ug ht in

t h e i n n e r s c h o o l s o f t h e Mysteries-a t e a c h i n g w h i c h c a n s t i l l

be obtained-was the method of achieving this supreme

k n o w l e d g e i n a p r a c t i c a l m a n n e r ; t h a t i s t o s a y t h e a t t a i n m e n t

o f g o d - l i k e c h a r a c t e r a n d p o w e r s . E v e r y m a n i s p o t e n t i a l l y

a g o d , h o w e v e r f e e b l e m a y b e h i s p o w e r s a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e .

A t r o o t h e i s G o d .

K n o w l e d g e i s p o w e r . T h e s u p r e m e k n o w l e d g e c o n f e r s o n i t s

p o s s e s s o r p o w e r s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f w h i c h i s n o t e v e n d r e a m e d

o f b y t h e o r d i n a r y i n d i v i d u a l - o r t h e o r d i n a r y C h r i s t i a n f o r

t h a t m a t t e r , n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e r e p e a t e d a s s e r t i o n s o f t h a t

p o s s i b i l i t y i n t he C h ri s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s . Yet there have been

s o m e m y s t i c s i n t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h e v e n i n m o d e r n t i m e s

w h o h a v e r e c o g n i z e d t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l f a c t o f m a n ' s n a t u r e.

Thus Archdeacon Wil berforce writes in M y s t i c Immanence

( p. 9 9 ) :

Meanwhile remember ` the Kingdom of Heaven is within y o u , ' a l l

t h e p o w e r y o u c a n p o s s i b l y n e e d i s a t y o u r d i s p o s a l , y o u n e e d n o h e l p e r

t o g i v e i t y o u , i t i s y o u r s n o w . "

Perhap s I may be al lowed to quote here from a work of

my own, S c i e nt i f ic I d e a l i s m, p u b l i s h e d i n 1 9 0 9 ( p . x i v ) :

" A l l t h e C o s m i c P o w e r s o f t h e U n i v e r s e a r e M a n ' s , d i d h e b u t k n o w

h o w t o u t i l i z e t h e m . They are more than his, t h e y a r e Himself . "

B u t t h i s s u p r e m e k n o w l e d g e c a n n e v e r b e a t t a i n e d b y t h o s e

w h o a r e c o n t e n t t o r e s t i n a " f a i t h " w h i c h l e a v e s t h e m p o w e r -

l e s s t o c o n q u e r e v e n t h e c o m m o n e s t d i s a b i l i t i e s o f t h i s p h y s i c a l

w o r l d , l e t a l o n e t h o s e h i g h e r p l a n e s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s w h i c h

lie immediately a bove-or rather within-a nd which are

i n f i n i t e l y m o r e r e a l t h a n t h i s s o a p p a r e n t l y r e a l p h y s i c a l w o r l d .

T h i s p o t e n t i a l d i v i n i t y o f e v e r y m a n i n t h e p o w e r o f t h e

i n d w e l l i n g C h r i s t o r C h r i s t o s p r i n c i p l e r u n s a l l t h r o u g h t h e

t e a c h i n g o f J e s u s a n d P a u l - a s I s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s h o w . I t i s

t h e t e a c h i n g w h i c h t h e C h u r c h o u g h t a l w a y s t o h a v e p r e s e n t e d ,

and which was p r e s e n t e d i n t h e e a r l y C h r i s t i a n G n o s t i c s e c t s


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22 THE GNOSIS IN, THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

u n t i l t h e s e w e re s u p p r e s s ed b y t h e i g n o r a n t m a t er i a l i z e r s a n d

c a r n a l iz e r s o f t e a c h i n g s t h ey c o u l d n o t u n d e r st a n d . I t i s t h e

t e a c h i n g w h i c h , i f t h e C h u r c h w e r e t o p r e s e n t i t t o - d a y , w o u l d

b e t h e s a l v a t i o n b o t h o f i t s e l f a n d o f t h e w o r l d . Fortunately

t h o u s a n d s h a v e c o m e t o a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f i t f r o m o t h e r

s o u r c e s .

T h e i n d i v i d u a l m u s t h a v e k n o w l e d g e ( G n o s i s ) a s we l l as f a it h

( P i s t i l ) . H e m u s t h a v e t h e k n o w l e d g e t h a t c o n q u e r s e a c h a n d

a l l o f t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s u n d e r w h i c h h e , a n d H u m a n i t y a s a w h o l e ,

a t p r e s e n t s u f f e r , a p p a r e n t l y i n h e l p l e s s i g n o r a n c e . F o r i t is

s i m p l y i g n o r a n c e t h a ti s the cause of " h u m a n i t y ' s g r e a t

p a i n . " B u t t h a t i g n o r a n c e i s n o t a n e c e s s i t y t o w h i c h m a n

must su bmit without a remedy- a remedy here and now .

Six hundred years B . c .-not to go any further backtheBuddha taug ht that :

" H o ! y e w h o su f f e r ! k n o w

Ye s u f f e r f r o m y o u r s e l v e s . N o n e el s e c o m p e l s .

H i g h e r t h a n I n d r a ' s y e m a y l i f t y o u r l o t ,

A n d s i n k i t l o w e r t h a n t h e w o r m o r g n a t .

W i t h i n y o u r s e l v e s d e l i v e r a n c e m u s t b e s o u g h t ;

E a c h m a n h i s p r i s o n m a k e s . " "

T h e s e w o r d s a p p l y t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l ; y e t w h a t i s t h e w h o l e

v a s t s t r u g g l e o f H u m a n i t y b u t s i m p l y t h e e f f o r t t o ri s e f r o m

i g n o r a n c e t o k n o w l e d g e - a n d w h o s h a l l s a y w h a t i s t h e l i m i t

o f t h a t k n o w l e d g e ?

I t i s h e r e t h a t t h e A n c i e n t W i s d o m o r G n o s i s p r o c l a i m s i t s

messag e . T h e r e i s n o l i m i t . M o r e o v e r t h e r e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n ,

a n d t h e r e a r e t o - d a y , I n i t i a t e s , A d e p t s , M a h a t m a s ( l i t . Great.

Soul s) who have achieved that knowledge ; a y e , e v e n t o i t s

m o s t g l o r i o u s h e i g h t s .

T h u s t h e i n d i v id u a l m a y s t e p o u t i n f r o nt o f t h e R a c e . Hem a y a c h i e v e t h i s k n o w l e d g e b e c a u s e t h e r e a r e M a s t e r s o f t h e

W i s d o m w a i t i n g t o i n s t r u c t h i m s o s o o n a s h e h a s s h o w n h i m s e l f

r e a d y a n d f it t o r e c e i v e t h e i n st r u c t i o n . But these Masters

w i l l n o t , a n y m o r e t h a n t h e M a s t e r w h o s e w o r d s a r e p a r t i a l l y

r e c o r d e d i n t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t d o c u m e n t s , " c a s t t h ei r p e a r l s

b e f o r e s w i n e . " T h e y w i l l n o t , a n y m or e t h a n h e d i d , d i s c l o s e

i T h e L i g h t o f A s i a .


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INTRODUCTION 2 8 ,

t h e t r e a s u r e s o f t h e i r k n o w l e d g e t o t h e w o r l d o t h e r w i s e t h a n

i n a l l e g o r y a n d s y m b o l .

When may, the individual be said to be ready? When at

l a s t , t h r o u g h t h e s t r i f e a n d s t r e s s a n d s o r r o w s a n d f a i l u r e s o f

r e p e a t e d i n c a r n a t i o n s , h e h a s l e a r n t t h a t t h e r e i s n o r e s t , n o

s a t i s f a c t i o n i n " t h e t h i n g s o f t h i s w o r l d " a f t e r w h i c h h e h a s

h i t h e r t o b e e n s t r i v i n g , a n d a f t e r w h i c h t h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f

t h e R a c e s t i l l s t ri v e . W h e n h e h a s n o t m e r e l y p u r i f i e d h i m s e l f

o f a l l w o r l d l y l u s t s a n d d e s i r e s , b u t a l s o f r o m a n y p r i d e o f

i n t e l l e c t w h i c h m a y c l a i m t o b e a k n o w e r o f t h e t r u t h i n t h i s ,

t h a t , o r t h e o t h e r f o r m . W h e n w i t h an o p e n m i n d h e i s p r e p a r e d

t o g o d e e p e r t h a n m i n d ( i n t e l l e c t ) a n d t h e m a n - m a d e d o c t r i n e s

o f m e n , i n t o a r e g i o n w h e r e t r u t h i s f o r m l e s s a n d i m m e d i a t e .

W h e n h e h a s a c c o m p l i s h e d t h i s - w i t h w h i c h I s h a l l d e a l m o r e

f u l l y l a t e r o n - t h e n , a n d n o t t i l l t h e n , h e i s r e a d y t o k n o c k a t

t h e P o r t a l o f t h e T e m p l e o f I n i t i a t i o n i n t o t h a t h i g h e r k n o w l e d g e

t o w h i c h I h a v e r e f e r r e d , a n d w h i c h I s h a l l e n d e a v o u r t o e l u c i -

d a t e t o s o m e e x t e n t i n i t s C h r i s t i a n f o r m- o r r a t h e r I s h o u l d

s a y i n t h e f o r m i n w h i c h i t i s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e C hr i s t ia n S c r i p -

t u r e s : f o r w h a t i s k n o w n t r a d i t i o n a l l y a n d h i s t o r i c a l l y a s

" Christianity " consists of man-ma de dogmas b ased on a

l i t e r a l i n te r p r e t a t i o n o f t h o s e S c r i p t u r e s , a n d n o t o n t h e i r

a l l e g o ri c a l , m y s t i c a l , a n d g n o s t i c n a t u r e .

I t c a n n o t b e e m p h a s i z e d t o o s t r o n g l y t h a t r e l i g i o n i s n o t a

m a t t e r o f e s c a p e , o f g e t t i n g , s a f e l y i n t o " h e a v e n ." It is a

m a t t e r o f c o n q u e s t . " C h r i s t i an i t y , " s o - c a l l e d , l u l l s i t s d e v o t e e s

i n t o a f a l s e s e n s e o f s e c u r i t y , o r " s a l v a t i o n " ; w h e r e a s t h e

w h o l e h i s t o r y o f h u m a n i t y , a n d o f r e l i g i o n i t s e l f , s h o w s u s t h a t :

" T h e p a t h b y w h i c h t o D e i t y w e c l i m b

I s a r d u o u s , r o u g h , i n e f f a b l e , s u b l i m e . " 1

Y e t t h e g r e a t a t t r a c t i o n w h i c h t h e C h r i s t i a n " f a it h " h a s

o f f e r e d h a s b e e n t h a t i t i s s o e a s y : a m e r e m a t t e r o f b e l i e f i n

certain dogmas of the Church ; a t m o s t o n e s h o r t l i f e t i m e ,

w i t h p o s s i b l y i n s o m e c a s e s t h e s h a r p d e a t h o f a m a r t y r , a n d

t h e n a n e t er n i t y o f b l i s s . W h e r e i n i s t h a t a n y d i f f e r e n t o r b e t t e r

t h a n t h e b e l i e f o f t h e f a n a t i c a l M o s l e m w h o r u s h e s t o . d e a t h

a g a i n s t t h e b a y o n e t s a n d b u l l e t s o f t h e " i n f i d e l , " b e l i e v i n g

1 S e e p . 4 4 i n f r a .


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24 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESt h a t t h e r e b y h e i s a s s u r e d o f a l l t h e s e n s u a l j o y s o f t h e P a r a d i s e

described in the Koran

I t h a s h i t h e r t o b e e n t h e c o n t e n t i o n o f C h r i s t i a n d o c t r i n a i r e s

that' the historical Jesus Christ by his coming and work" a b o l i s h e d d e a t h , a n d b r o u g h t l i f e a n d i n c o r r u p t i o n t o l i g h t " 1

in a hitherto dark and ig norant world . Nothing cou ld b e

f u r t h e r f r o m t h e t r u t h a s c o n c e r n s t h e w o r l d a t l a r g e . It was

n o t e v e n t r u e o f t h a t l i t t l e J e w i s h w o r l d t o w h i c h t h e s u p p o s e d

G o s p e l w a s f i r s t p r e a c h e d . T h e E s s e n e s , t h e u l t r a s t r i c t J e w i s h

sect, believed firmly in immortality, and in a fu ture state

of rewards and p unishments . Death was regarded as a great

g a i n f o r t h e r i g h t e o u s , b u t t h e y d i d n o t b e l i e v e i n t h e r e s u r r e c -

tion of the body .

As for the world at l arg e, and ta king one examp le only :

nothing was deeper ingrained in the religion of the Egyptians

t h a n t h e b e l i e f i n i m m o r t a l i t y .

" I n d e f i n i t e t i m e , w i t h o u t b e g i n n i n g a n d w i t h o u t e n d , h a t h b e e n

g i v e n t o m e ; I i n h e r i t e t e r n i t y , a n d e v e r l a s t i n g n e s s h a t h b e e n b e s t o w e d

upon me: "

Yet when we have app rehended what is real ly meant by the

C h r i s t ( C h r i s t o s ) a s d i s t i n g u i s h e d f r o m a n y p e r s o n a l h i s t o r i c a l

46 ma n cal led Jesus," the verse from Timothy which I have

j u s t q u o t e d i s s e e n t o b e p r o f o u n d l y t r u e , a s I s h a l l h e r e a f t e r

show .

Now the Christian has u nfortuna tely al ways b een tau ght

t h a t l i e w i l l l e a v e a l l t h e d i s a b i l i t i e s a n d s i n a n d s o r r o w o f t h i s

present world behind him when he dies, and that his " faith "

w i l l e n s u r e h i m a n e t e r n i t y o f b l i s s " f o r e v e r a n d e v e r " ; t h a t

h e w i l l h a v e f i n i s h e d w i t h t h i s w o r l d f o r g o o d a n d a l l , a n d w i l l

have naught more to do with its strife and conflict . This is

a s o u l - k i l l i n g d o c t r i n e : a s i n d e e d w e s e e i n s u c h a m u l t i t u d e o f

p r o f e s s i n g C h r i s t i a n s . They " have a name that they live, but

a r e ( s p i r i t u a l l y ) d e a d . "

But that Gnosis with which I am now dealing has al ways

taught that the individual cannot thus sever himself from the

great stream of huma n evolu tion . He belong s to the Race

from beginning to end of the great Cycle . The prog ress of

. 1 2 T i m . i . 1 0 .2 B o o k o f t h e D e a d , c h a p t e r l x i i .


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INTRODUCTION 25t h e R a c e i s a c c o m p l i s h e d o n l y b y t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l s

c o m p o s i n g i t , a n d t h i s i s a c c o m p l i s h e d b y r e p e a t e d i n c a r n a ti o n s .

I t i s t r u e t h a t a f t e r p h y s i c a l d e a t h t h e i n d i v i d u a l w h o h a s a n y

s p i r i t u a l n a t u r e l e f t i n h i m m a y e n j o y a s u p r e m e b l i s s f o r a

s e a s o n , i n f r e e d o m f r o m p h y s i c a l c o n d i t i o n s a n d l i m i t a t i o n s .

The " s l e e p " o f d e a t h i s s i m p l y t h e e q u i v a l e n t b e t w e e n i n c a r -

n a t i o n s o f t h e s l e e p o f t h e b o d y b e t w e e n o n e d a y a n d a n o t h e r .

B u t a g a i n a n d a g a i n t h e i n d i v i d u a l m u s t c o m e b a c k , b e r e i n -

c a r n a t e d ; n o t m e r e l y t o p l a y h i s p a r t i n t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e

Race ; n o t m e r e l y t o g a i n f u r t h e r k n o w l e d g e h i m s e l f , b u t a l s o

t o r e a p w h a t h e h a s s o w n i n h i s p a s t i n c a r n a t i o n s , t o w o r k o u t

h i s Karma .

" H e c o m e t h r e a p e r o f t h e t h i n g s h e s o w e d ,

S e s a m u n , c o r n , s o m u c h c a s t i n p a s t b i r t h ;

A n d s o m u c h w e e d a n d p o i s o n s t u f f , w h i c h m a r

H i m a n d t h e a c h i n g e a r t h . "1

T h i s i s a n a g e - l o n g t e a c h i n g . I t w a s a l s o t a u g h t , a s I s h a l l

p r e s e n t l y s h o w , i n t h e e a r l y C h r is t i a n C h u r c h .

W h a t a v a s t d i f f e r e n c e i t w o u l d m a k e t o t h i s w o r l d o f o u r s

i f e a c h i n d i v i d u a l r e a l i z e d t h a t h e m u s t p l a y h i s p a r t t h e r e i n

a n d c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e p r o g r e s s o r r e t a r d a t i o n o f t h e R a c e

f r o m , b e g i n n i n g t o e n d . o f t h e C y c l e ; t h a t h e cannot take any

s h o r t c u t t o et e r n al b l i ss ; t h a t h e must w o r k o u t , n o t m e r e l y

' h i s o w n s a l v a t i o n , b u t a l s o t h a t o f t h e R a c e . T h e C h r i s t i a n

S c r i p t u r e sw h e n e s o t e r i c a l l y i n t e r p r e t e d t e l l u s h o w t h i s m u s t

b e d o n e ; a n d t h e r e b y t h e y c o m e i n t o l i n e w i t h t h a t w h i c h h a d

always been taug ht i n t h e i n n e r S h r i n e s o f t h e T e m p l e s o f

I n i t i a t i o n .

W h y i n t h e i n n e r S h r i n e s ? W h y n o t o p e n l y a n d p u b l i c l y ?

D o w e n e e d t o a s k t h a t q u e s t i o n w h e n t h e g r e a t t e a c h e r w h o s e

w o r d s w e a r e s u p p o s e d t o h a v e i n t h e C a n o n i c a l G o s p e l s " taught

o n l y i n p a r a b l e s , " a n d i s r e p o r t e d t o h a v e s a i d t o h i s D i s c i p l e s :

" U n t o y o u i t i s g i v e n t o k n o w t h e ' m y s t e r i e s o f t h e k i n g d o m

o f h e a v e n , b u t t o t h e m i t i s n o t g i v e n " ? s T h i s f a c t i s i n i t s el f

a p r o o f t h a t t h e t e a c h i n g s i n t h e G o s p e l s a r e d e r i v e d f r o m a n d

b e l o n g t o t h a t a n c i e n t G n o s i s o f w h i c h I a m s p e a k i n g . Never-

t h e l e s s t h e s e " M y s t e r i e s " a r e n o t r e c o r d e d a s h a v i n g b e e n

1 T he Li gh t o f A si a, B o o k t h e E i g h t h . * M a t t . x i i i . 1 1 .


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26 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESg i v e n t o t h e d i s c i p l e s i n a n y o f t h e C a n on i c a l G o s p e l s . Weh a v e t o g o t o t h e " a p o c r y p h a l " ' w r i t i n g s , s u c h a s t h e P i s t i l

S o p h ia , t o o b t a i n t h e m . I n d e e d J e s u s i s r e p o r t e d t o h a v e s a i d

t o h i s Di s c i p l e s :

" I h a v e y e t m a n y t h i n g s t o s a y u n t o y o u , b u t y e c a n n o t b e a r t h e m

now . . . . T h e s e t h in g s h a v e I s p o k e n u n t o y o u i n p r o v e r b s ( o r p a r a b l e s ) :

t h e h o u r c o m e t h , w he n I s h a l l n o m o r e s p e a k u n t o y o u i n p r o v e r b s, b u t

s h a l l t e l l y o u p l a i n l y o f t h e F a t h e r " ( John xvi . 1 2 a n d 2 5 ) .

N o t e t h a t t h i s a p p e a r s i n J o h n , t h e G n o s t i c G o s p e l , w h i l e i t s

f u l f i l m e n t a p p e a r s m o r e p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e P i s t i l S o p h i a ,

w h i c h p u r p o r t s t o b e t h os e f u r t h e r t e a c h i n g s o f th e M y s t e r i e s

g i v e n b y J e s u s t o h i s D i s c i p l e s e l e v e n y e a rs a f t e r h i s r es u r r e c t i o n .

.T h e r e a l w a y s h a s b e e n a n d t h e r e a l w a y s m u s t b e a n e x o t e r i c

d o c t r i n e f o r t h e m a s s e s , a n d e s o t e r i c t e a c h i n g f o r t h o s e w h o - -

a s P l o t i n u s s a y s - " a r e f o r t u n a t e l y a b l e t o p e r c e i v e i t . "

But in f act these "mysteries" cannot be stated in any

language but that of allegory and symbolism. How ca n

t h a t w h i c h l i e s a l t o g e t h e r b e y o n d o u r c o m m o n c o n s c i o u s n e s s

o f t i m e an d s p a c e a n d t h e c r u d e r e a l i s m o f th e c o m m o n c o n c e p -

t i o n o f t h i s w o r l d o f p h y s i c a l m a t t e r : h o w c a n s u c h t h i n g s b e

e x p r e s s e d o t h e r w i s e t h a n b y p h y s i c a l a n a l o g i e s ( a l l e g o r i e s )

a n d i n a p h y s i c a l l a n g u a g e w h i c h c a n o n l y b e s y m b o l i c a l ,

n e v e r l i t e r a l ? B u t t h e m i s c h i e f l i e s i n t h i s , t h a t t h e a l l e g o r y

i s t a k e n b y t h e u n i n s t r u c t e d f o r l i t e r a l h i s t o r y a n d t h e s y m b o l

f o r r e a l i t y . I s i t n o t s o e v e n t o - d a y w i t h t h o u s a n d s o f s i n c e r e

C h r i s t i a n s ? I s n o t t h e G a r d e n o f E d e n a l l e g o r y s t i l l t a k e n

a s l i t e r a l h i s t o r y , l e t a l o n e t h e a l l e g o r i e s o f t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t ?

I f o u r m o d e r n p h y s i c i s t s n o w f i n d t h a t m a t t e r , t h a t a p p a r e n t l y

s o l i d , m a s s y , h a r d , i m p e n e t r a b l e " s u b s t a n c e , i s i n r e a l i t y

t h e v e r i e s t w r a i t h , w i t h s p a c e s b e t w e e n t h e a t o m s c o m p a r a b l e

t o i n t e r - p l a n e t a r y s p a c e s , a n d w h o s e e s s e n t i a l n a t u r e c a n o n l y

be ap proximately expressed in a mathematica l symb olism

w h i c h i t r e q u i r e s a h i g h l y t r a i n e d m i n d t o u n d e r s t a n d : t h i n k

y o u t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e s o u l c a n b e d e m o n s t r a t e d t o t h e

common people-or even to the most intell ectual for that

m a t t e r - a s e a s i l y a s t h e e x o t e r i c n a t u r e o f w a t e r a s a s i m p l eH0: t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f t w o a t o m s o f h y d r o g e n w i t h o n e o f '' Apocryphal-hidden . S e e p . 7 3 infra . 2 S e e p . 7 4 i n fra .


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INTRODUCTION 27o x y g e n , w i t h o u t a n y e n q u i r y a s t o w h a t t h e " atom " r e a l l y

i s ? T h a t w a s s i m p l e ' e n o u g h s o l o n g a s t h e a t o m w a s t h o u g h t

o f o n l y a s s o m e s o r t o f i n d e s t r u c t i b l e p a r t i c l e ; a n d i n d e e d

i t w a s d o g m at i c a l l y d e c l a r e d b y t h e m a t e r ia l i s t i c s c i e n t i s t s

o f l a s t c e n t u r y t h a t t h e a t o m c o u l d n o t b e r e s o l v e d i n t o a n y t h i n g

e l s e . T h u s P r o f e s s o r C l e r k - M a x w e l l , a t t h e m e e t i n g o f t h e

B r i t i s h A s s o c i a t i o n i n 1 8 7 3 , s a i d t h a t :

" T h o u g h i n t h e c o u r s e o f a g e s c a t a s t r o p h e s h a v e o c c u r r e d a n d m a y

y e t o c c u r i n t h e h e a v e n s , t h o u g h a n c i e n t s y s t e m s may b e d i s s o l v e d

a n d n e w s y s t e m s e v o l v e d o u t o f t h e i r r u i n s , t h e m o l e c u l e s o u t o f w h i c h

t h e s e s y s t e m s a r e b u i l t - t h e f o u n d a t i o n - s t o n e s o f t h e m a t e r i a l u n i v e r s e

-remain unb roken and u nworn . They continue t h i s d a y a s t h e y w e r e

created-perfect in number and measure and weight . "

Note the idea of c r e a t i o n " e n t e r i n g i n h e r e . But how

s t a n d s i t t o - d a y ? T h e a t o m h a s t u r n e d o u t n o t m e r e l y t o b e

d e s t r u c t i b l e , r e s o l v a b l e i n t o p r o t o n s , e l e c t r o n s , n e u t r o n s ,

and even p o s s i b l y i n t o a m e r e w a v e f o r m:u t i t i s s e e n t h a ti n r e a l i t y t h e r e i s n o s u c h t h i n g a s p h y s i c a l m a t t e r p er s e ;

i t m u s t b e a c c o u n t e d f o r i n t e r m s o f s o m e t h i n g much more

c o s m i c , e v e n p o s s i b l y i n t e r m s o f " m i n d -s t u f f . " '

T h u s i t i s n o w a p p r e h e n d e d ' t h a t t h e r e i s m y s t e r y w i t h i n

mystery i n m a t t e r i t s e l f . I t c a n n o l o n g e r b e r e g a r d e d a s a

"created" thing . Crude realism has here had to give way

t o a d e e p e r k n o w l e d g e , t h o u g h t h a t k n o w l e d g e h a s a s y e t o n l y

p e n e t r a t e d a l i t t l e m o r e t h a n s k i n d e e p .

I t i s h a r d l y n e c e s s a r y t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h i s m o d e r n d i s c o v e r y

t h a t p h y s i c a l m a t t e r i s n o t a t h i n g p e r s e , t h a t i t i s n o t sui

g e n e r i s , o r a " c r e a t ed " t h i n g , g o e s a l o n g w a y t o w a r d s t h e

negation of the crude orthodox theolog y which has always

t h u s r e g a r d e d i t ; A n d w i t h t h a t a g o o d d e a l m o r e i n t h a t t h e o l o g y

a l s o g o e s o v e r b o a r d . L i t t l e a s o u r d i s c o v e r i e s h a v e p e n e t r a t e d

i n t o t h e n a t u r e o f t h a t R o o t S u b s t a n c e f r o m w h i c h p h y s i c a l

matter is derived, they go a long way towards confirming

1 " T o p u t t h e c o n c l u s i o n c r u d e l y - t h e s tu f f o f t h e w o r l d i s mi n d - s tu f f . . . .

T h e m i n d - s t u f f i s t h e a g g r e g a t i o n o f r e l a t i o n s a n d r e l a t a w h i c h f o r m t h e

b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l f o r t h e p h y s i c a l w o r l d . "( P r o f e s s o r E d d i n g t o n , The Nature

o f t h e P h y s i c a l W o r l d , p p . 2 7 6 , 2 7 8 . )

" T h e t h e o r y o f w a v e m e c h a n i c s ( e d u c e s t h e l a s t b u i l d i n g s t o n e s o f t h e

u n i v e r s e t o s o m e t h i n g l i k e a s p i r i t u a l t h r o b t h a t c o m e s a s n e a r a s p o s s i b l e

t o o u r c o n c e p t o f p u r e th o u g h t . " ( J a m e s M u r p h y i n h i s b i o g r a p h i c a l I n t r o -

d u c t i o n t o E r w i n s e h r o d i n g e r ' s Science and the Human Temperament . )

C


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28 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURESt h e t e a c h i n g s o f t h e G n o s i s a s t o t h e n a t u r e o f Hyl e . What

m o d e r n s c i e n c e h a s n o w d i s c o v e r e d e x p e r i m e n t a l l y h a s a l w a y s

b e e n k n o w n a n d t a u g h t b y t h e A d e p t s a n d I n i t i a t e s , n o t t o

m e n t i o n t h e A l c h e m i s t s .

T h i n k y o u , t h e n , t h a t t h e n a t u r e o f t h e s o u l i s a n y s i m p l e r

t h a n t h a t o f m a t t e r ? T h i n k y o u t h a t i t i s a d e q u a t e l y e x p l a i n e d

i n t h e c r u d e r e a l i s m o f t h e C h r is t i a n C r e e d ; o r t h a t i t i s s u f f i c i e n t

t o s a y t h a t t h e s o u l w a s " c r e a t ed " b y G o d ? A r e t h e a s s e r t i o n s

o f o u r d o g m a t i c t h e o l o g i a n s t o b e a c c e p t e d w i t h a n y g r e a t e r

c o n f i d e nc e t h a n t h o s e o f o u r d o g m a t i c s c i e n t is t s o f l a s t c e n t u r y ?

T h e r e i s n o t o n e o f t h e m _ w h o r e a l l y knows a n y t h i n g a b o u t t h e

" God " t h e y s p e a k o f s o f r e e l y a s a c t i n g i n t h i s , t h a t , o r t h e

other ma nner . N o r d o t h e y k n o w w h a t t h e h u m a n s o u l i s i n

i t s e s s e n t i a l n a t u r e . T h e y k n o w l e s s o f t h a t t h a n o u r p h y s i c i s t s

now know of the natu re of matter . Yet the knowledge is

a v a i l a b l e , h a s a l w a y s b e e n a v a i l a bl e f o r t h o s e w h o k n o c k a r i g h t

t h e d o o r o f t h e T e m p l e o f I n i t i a t i o n . Those who think

t h a t t h e y c a n r e s t i n a m e r e b e l i e f i n t h i s , t h a t , o r t h e o t h e r

C r e e d , a r e s i m p l y d e l a y i n g t h e i r o w n e v o l u t i o n a n d t h a t o f

the Race . R e l i g i o n i s n o t b e l i e f , i t i s p r a c t i c a l k n o w le d g e

t h e w a y t o r e g a i n o n e ' s b i r t h r i g h t a s a " S o n o f G o d " ; which

k n o w l e d g e b r i n g s w i t h i t t h e p o w e r t o c o n q u e r a n d c o m m a n d

t h e natural f o r c e s o f t h e U n i v e r s e b o t h v i s i b l e a n d i n v i s i b l e ,

b o t h m a t e r i a l a n d i m m a t e r i a l .

W h a t o t h e r t h a n t h i s c o n q u e s t i s i t t h a t i s a s s u r e d t o u s i n

t h e C h r i s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s , i n t h e t e a c h i n g s o f J e s u s a n d o f

P a u l ? I s i t n o t t h e r e , e x p l i c i t e l y s t a t e d t h a t w e a r e t o b e c o m e

" S o n s o f G o d "? W h a t d o e s t h a t m e a n i f i t d o e s n o t m e a n

t h e a c q u i s i t i o n o f g o d - l i k e p o w e r s .

" How slowly we learn that God and ma n are one . Do away with

y o u r l i m i t a t i o n s . S t a n d o u t f r e e i n t h e s t r o n g li f e o f G o d . You are

l i k e c h i l d r e n w i t h y ou r w a l l s a n d p a r t i t io n s , y o u r c h u r c h e s a n d c h a p e l s . " '

These words from " t h e o t h e r s i d e " a r e m e r e l y a n e c h o o f

w h a t h a s a l w a y s be e n t a u g h t i n t h e a n c i e n t G n o s i s , a n d w hi c h

a r e a l s o t h e e x p l i c i t - o r p e r h a p s w e s h o u l d r a t h e r say i m p l i c i t -

t e a c h i n g o f t h e C h r i s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s . Yet there are' some

p a s s a g e s w h i c h a r e e x p l i c i t e n o u g h . For examp le

I C N n s t i n You . S e e B i b l i o g r a p h y .


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INTRODUCTION 29" F o r a s m a n y a s a r e l e d b y t h e S p i r i t o f G o d , t h e s e a r e s o n s of

God " (Rom v i i i . 1 4 ) ." For ye are all sons of God, through fa ith, in Christ Jesus

(Gal i i i . 2 6 ) .I n s e v e r a l p l a c e s i n t h e r e v i s e d v e r s i o n o f t h e T e s t a m e n t

the Greek word t e k n a i s t r a n s l a t e d c h i l d r e n w h e r e f o r m e r l y

i t w a s t r a n s l a t e d s o n s . For examp le :

" B u t a s m a n y a s r e c e i v e d h i m , t o t h e m g a v e h e t h e r i g h t t o b e c o m e

c h i l d r e n (t e k n a ) o f G o d " ( J o h n i . 12) _

S o a l s o i n P h i l i p p i a n s i i . 1 5 ; a n d i n 1 J o h n i i i . 1 . B u t t h i s

d o e s n o t a l t e r t h e m e a n i n g . I n t h e s e v e n t e e n t h v e r s e o f t h e

e i g h t h c h a p t e r o f Romans-following t h e f o u r t e e n t h w h i c h I

have quoted above-Pa ul used the word children : e v i d e n t l y

r e f e r r i n g t o w h a t h e h a s j u s t s a i d . '

"We are children of God ; a n d i f c h i l d r e n , t h e n h e i r s ; h e i r s o f G o d

a n d j o i n t - h e i r s w i t h C h r i s t . "

W h y d o e s n o t t h e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h t e a c h t h i s o n e n e s s o f

man and God? Why do not Christians "stand out free in

t h e s t r o n g l i f e o f G o d "? W h y d o t h e y n o t c l a i m t h e i r b i r t h -

r i g h t - a s " s o n s o f G o d , " w i t h a l l t h e po wers t h a t t h a t c o n f e r s

.on them? The answer is simply because all this has been

obscu red by the man- made dogmas of a priestly hierarchy

s t r i v i n g f o r worldly power and dominance .

This oneness of God and man ( not the theologica l God

h o w e v e r ) i s n o n e w t e a c h i n g . It was a t e a c h i n g g i v e n i n t h e

M y s t e r y S c h o o l s l o n g , l o n g b e f o r e t h e C h r i s t i a n S c r i p t u r e s

p u t i t i n t o a n e w f o r m . The whole motif of the Egyptian

Book o f t he D e ad i s t h i s c o n q u e s t o f t he l o we r s el f , a n d t he

achievement of u nion with the divine Self . I t w a s c a l l e d

O s i r if i c a t i o n , o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e s u p r e m e G o d O s i r i s .

What matters whether that Su preme ONE i s c a l l e d B r a h m a ,o r O s i r i s , o r J e h o v a h , o r b y a n y o t h e r n a m e ? I t i s t h e

f a c t

t h a t m a t t e r s , n o t t h e f o r m i n w h i c h t h a t f a c t i s s t a t e d .

" I a m t h e I b i s w h i c h c o m e t h f o r t h f r o m H e t - P t a h - k a1

H e a v e n i s

o p e n e d t o m e , a n d t h e e a r t h i s o p e n e d u n t o m e . I h a v e o b t a i n e d t h e

m a s t e r y o v e r m y h e a r t . I h a v e o b t a i n e d t h e m a s t e r y o v e r m y m e m b e r s .

1 T h e H o u s e o f t h e K a ( a s t ra l b o d y o r d o u b l e ) o r P t a h . E x o t e r i c a l l y a n d

g e o g r a p h i c a l l y , M e m p h i s .


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8 0 THE GNOSIS IN THE CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURES

I h a v e o b t a i n e d t h e m a s t e r y o v e r m y m i n d . . . . 0 RatI am t h y s o n .

0 T h o t h , I a m t h y e y e s , 0 O s i r i s , I a m t h y P o w e r . " 1

Also a s the keynote of the ancient Upanishads we have that

fu ndamental teaching expressed in the ap horism " That a rtThou . "T h e q u e s t i o n a s t o t h e c h a r a c t e r a n d p e r s o n a l i t y o f t h e c e n t r a l

f i g u r e o f t h e N e w T e s t a m e n t ' d o c u m e n t s n a t u r a l l y e n t e r s l a r g e l y

into the subject with which we are now deal ing . There a re

three views advoca ted by va rious writers, (a ) the extreme

v i e w t h a t t h e r e n e v e r w a s a h i s t o r i c a l J e s u s ; ( b ) t h e v i e w t h a t

he was simpl y an exceptiona l ma n ; and (c) the further view

that he was " very God of very God ." This, however, is not

a mere prob lem of modern scholarship, it pertained to the

f i r s t a n d s e c o n d c e n t u r i e s , a n d i s e v e n e v i d e n c e d i n S t . P a u l ' s

E p i s t l e s . Those who ha ve ma de a stu dy of the Ancient

Wisdom or Gnosis a re, however, for the most pa rt quite

indifferent to these controversies . They recognize in the

Christian Scriptures-albeit in a very distorted and garbled

manner in our English version the same essential teaching

a s t o M a n ' s o r i g i n , n a t u r e , a n d d e s t i n y w h i c h t h e y h a v e l e a r n t

from other sources . In these Scriptures it is dressed up in

a c e r t a i n a l l e g o r i c a l f o r m t o s u i t t h e n a t i o n a n d p e o p l e t o w h o m

it was a ddressed . What is rejected is not these Scriptures

bu t the interpretation which has been pu t up on them by the

literalists, and the man-made dogmas, b ased on the literal

interpretation, which have prevailed for so many ages in the

West, but which a r e now happ ily b eing widely repu diated

by the more intell igent knowledge of our a ge. In short, we

have to-day a totally different outlook on the universe than

that which was possessed by these early dogmatists ; a n d i t i s

n o t p o s s i b l e f o r u s t o t h i n k e i t h e r o f it s " C r e a t o r , " o r o f M a n ,

o r o f h i s t or i c a l " f a c t s " in the same terms . Hence on the one

hand the widespread indiff erence to or total rejection of

" C h r i s t i a n i t y " ; and on the other hand the ef f ort of

" Modernism " t o b r i n g i t w i t h i n t h e l i n e s o f m o d e r n t h o u g h t .

Our modern knowledge of cosmology, of anthropology, a nd of

the real f acts of history, forbids us to think that the world

wa s " created " in the manner so long current in Christian

1 Book o f t h e D e a d , B u d g e ' s e d i t i o n , p p . 6 9 0 , 6 9 1 .


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INTRODUCTION 8 1

d o c t r i n e ; n o r i s i t g o v e r n e d b y s u c h a d e i t y a s i s t h e r e i n

c o n c e i v e d .

A g e s b e f o r e " C h r i s t i a n i t y " m a d e i t s a p p e a r a n c e , m a n h a d

d i s c o v e r e d " the way to God " ; a n d I n i t i a t e s a n d S e e r s a n d

d i v i n e A v a t a r a s h a d d e c l a r e d i t f o r t h o s e w h o h a d e a r s t o h e a r .

T h i s i s t h e o n e g r e a t f a c t t h a t o u r m o d e r n k n o w l e d g e o f a n c i e n t

l i t e r a t u r e - p r a c t i c a l l y u n k n o w n d u r i n g t h e f i r s t h a l f o f l a s t

century-has brought to light . The Christian Scriptures

c a n n o l o n g e r c l a i m t o b e u n i q u e ; c a n n o l o n g e r c l a i m t o b e

t h e o n l y a n d s o l e g u i d e f o r d i s t r a c t e d h u m a n i t y i n i t s e f f o r t t o

discover the whence, why, and whither . Doub tless it can

c l a i m t o b e t h e s o l e g u i d e f o r t h o s e w h o k n o w o f n o o t h e r -

a n d h o w m a n y p r o f e s s i n g C h r i s t i a n s d o k n o w o f t h e l it e r a t u r e

o f w h i c h I h a v e s p o k e n ; o r , k n o w i n g o f i t , s i m p l y r e j e c t i t a s

" h e a t h e n "? H o w m a n y p r o f e s s i n g C h r i s t i a n s k n o w o f t h e i r

own m y s t i c a l l i t e r a t u r e ? T h a t l i t e r a t u r e t o u c h e s i n m a n y o f

i t s a s p e c t s t h e t e a c h i n g o f t h e A n c i e n t W i s d o m . How man y,

e v e n a m o n g t h e o l o g i c a l s t u d e n t s , a r e a c q u a i n t e d w i t h o r c a n

r e c o g n i z e t h e p r o f o u n d t e a c h i n g o f t h a t g r e a t C h r i s t i a n m y s t i c

a n d s e e r , J a c o b B o e h m e , f o r e x a m p l e ? I s h a l l h a v e o c c a s i o n

t o q u o t e f r o m h i m , a n d t o s h o w t h a t h e - a l t h o u g h u n i n s t r u c t e d

a n d u n i n i t i a t e d i n a n y o f t h e M y s t e r y S c h o o l s - s a w , b y h i s

o w n n a t u r a l f a c u l t y , t h o s e s a m e d e e p t r u t h s w h i c h a r e t a u g h t

i n t h o s e S c h o o l s .

A n y o n e w h o h a s t a k e n t h e t r o u b l e t o w a d e t h r o u g h e v e n a

s m a l l p o r t i o n o f t h e e n o r m o u s m a s s o f p o l e m i c a l w r i t i n g s o r

o f B i b l ic a l e x e g e s i s w h i c h b e l o n g t o m o d e r n s c h o l a r s h i p , m u s t

v e r y q u i c k l y c o m e t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e r e i s n o h o p e

o f a r r i v i n g a t t h e r e a l t r u t h i n t h a t d i r e c t i o n . The most

p r o f o u n d s c h o l a r s h i p a n d t h e k e e n e s t c r i t i c a l f a c u l t y h a v e b e e n

b r o u g h t t o b e a r u p o n t h e d o c u m e n t s i n o u r p o s s e s s i o n , w i t h

t h e r e s u l t t h a t h a r d l y a n y t w o c r i t i c s a r e i n c o m p l e t e a g r e e m e n t ,

w h i l s t m a n y a r e d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d i n t h e i r v i e w . The

g e n e ra l i m p r e s s i o n l e f t u p o n u s b y t h e s e w o r ks i s s i m p l y t h a t

n o t h i n g i s k n o w n f o r c e r t a i n , n o t e v e n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a

h i s t o r i c a l m a n J e s u s . I t i s a l l c o n j e c t u r e , c o n j e c t u r e , a n d a g ai n

c o n j e c t u r e . T h e r e a l q u e s t i o n i s n o t w h a t t h e s e A p o s t l e s a n d

D i s c i p l e s a n d C h u r c h F a t h e r s b e l i e v e d t o b e " h i s t o r y " o r

t r u t h " ; t h e r e a l q u e s t i o n i s a s t o w h a t w e , w i t h o u r m o d e r n

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