Tribe.net. Local Connections Luke http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#32065d45-b821-4d19-9f50-af4a2c658e77 2007-04-05T22:24:25Z 2007-04-05T22:24:25Z

Thanks for the Great Into, I like this input, it is good to know.

Luke 2007-04-05T22:24:25Z Alx http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#fb708d0c-4caf-4290-b4b1-8d4c72589c2c 2007-03-28T06:11:29Z 2007-03-28T06:11:29Z

hi, Luke -- it's a great question. I think there's a lot more coming on this subject in the near future -- no doubt we'll discover that the Gnostic experience, ie, those mystics who were taught by Jesus or his students, had its roots in ancient spiritual technology, far older than the Jewish people. in terms of the source of enlightenment -- it's always the same, no matter what tradition -- god, regardless of what name we call it. the light that burns in each of us, and in the different flavors of that light, the divine masculine, the divine feminine, etc. yes, the Gnostics were having visions, on one hand -- but they were also having valid supernatural experiences, the kind that happen when one's eyes are open and whatever supernatural thing one is witnessing is NOT a vision. there are practices -- largely forgotten now, or heavily diluted over thousands of years, that lead people to those same experiences, on a repeatable basis. in my own experience, for whatever it's worth, it's highly unlikely to gain those same experiences without having a true spiritual master, one who's had those same experiences themself, AND who knows how to provide them for the students. otherwise, there's a lot of theory, supposition, wishful thinking and spiritual flailing that goes on in the world today. hope this helps somewhat -- Alx

Alx 2007-03-28T06:11:29Z $item.owner.firstName http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#e277db65-4e0d-4e8d-9bc3-c7e16d9a8826 2007-03-15T20:13:59Z 2007-03-15T20:13:59Z

The temptation is to look for the 'Big Bang' approach to Gnosis. A huge download in a short space of time. Although the Mysteries may have been the impressive induction into understanding the Deeper Life, experience tells us that it is often a succession of revelatory events strung out over time that make the most impact. Whatever the induction methods were then they are hardly likely to be repeatable now. What we do get is a reconstructionalist, romanticised form of Gnosticism, often takeing on the trappings of convential religious practice. No use looking to the past in my opinion - enlightenment continues to roll throughout humanity, touching us here and there as the Divine Will dictates.

$item.owner.firstName 2007-03-15T20:13:59Z Phillip http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#bdf672de-1f34-4747-b1f1-854535cc4a41 2007-03-05T22:57:07Z 2007-03-05T22:57:07Z

Western Mystery Tradition is distinct from the East in that the line of succession and influences are very hard to trace. It is interesting to listen to critics today of this fact, since it was critics of the past who crucified, fed to lions and burned practicing Gnostics at the stake, thus forcing very secretive and underground practices. This led to little or no written documentation of their existence, or knowledge of their roots, of necessity. In the East, light transmission lineages experienced much less persecution, and so could more easily trace the roots of their traditions, and lines of succession. So, it is this idea that I like to plant when people get into discussions of distinctions between "different" western mystery traditions. Many of these "different" traditions share similar roots, and in many cases, "different" traditions came from different disciples of the same master. This would naturally be concealed, however, to protect their brothers and sisters from being killed. That said, many Western Mystery Traditions have methods that are akin to those the Gnostics used, and many traditions have evolved these methods throughout the years. The Sophian Gnostic Tradition, and descriptions of its methods can be found at, www.sophian.org. Phillip

Phillip 2007-03-05T22:57:07Z Mike http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#4b8f80c1-e832-4ef9-bed7-ab195f2c133f 2007-02-19T11:41:25Z 2007-02-19T11:41:25Z

These things can and do happen spontaneously. Yes, the mysteries were the source of inspiration for many, but someone had to come up with the mysteries, and where did s/he get their gnosis from? There is a point of contact between our world and the pleroma. It comes and goes, and manifests in different ways, but it is something that can not and never will be erased from this world. It is humanity's birth right. In some mysteries, drugs were used. In others, shock and horror were used. The point is you have to be in a rather extreme psychological state to receive.

Mike 2007-02-19T11:41:25Z $item.owner.firstName http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#23e4d276-0a53-4a0b-bff9-65da54698294 2007-02-18T10:18:26Z 2007-02-18T10:18:26Z

I have heard that there were sacraments, long periods of meditation, de-conditioning exercises. In some of the early Gnostic groups they had to keep vows of silenxce, like monks... I also heard it suggested by Freke and Gandy that Gnosticism was nothng more than the Elyzsian mysteries adapted by Jewish mystics for Jews. In view of the emphasis on that book between how it understood the difference between our bodily and spiritual twin souls, I do wonder if the Mystereis did not involve something very similar to what the young doctors did in that film 'Flat-liners,' ie deliberately bring people close to the point of death....but in a totally sacramental and sacred setting (in the film, the young doctors soon regretted the rather Faustian way they had gone about it, as they all got more than they bargained for). Many people are changed forever if they experience an NDE, for example. It would all have had to involve many years of training and preparation though, as it surely had to be a very dangerous undertaking from the point of view of psyches otherwise.....

$item.owner.firstName 2007-02-18T10:18:26Z Luke http://gnostics.tribe.net/thread/66d19924-f2d9-4a13-85c2-2d5bba904221#45450e91-7deb-4902-89b9-eca17d061b00 2007-02-17T23:51:09Z 2007-02-17T23:51:09Z

What was the Gnostics sorce of Enlightenment? Does anyone out there know? It seems the Gnostics were having visions is this true, and if so what was it that caused them. Can any one help with this question, or does anyone out there have any ideas about this.

Luke 2007-02-17T23:51:09Z