The Fight Against Pride

Having accomplished things is of great importance in this world of ours. There are those who have contributed a great deal towards humanity and there are still others who have done things to improve themselves. The focus here is not to eliminate glorifying accomplishments. The focus here is to eliminate glorifying yourself.

When one feels a sense of pride, it begets a kind of emotional seperateness. "I" have done something "no one else" has done before. "I" becomes something different from "us." Not only has it separated one from the whole, it has caused that one to elevate themselves above the whole. Even in the smallest sense, it has caused separation from the whole.

When one starts feeling a position of pride, it overcomes their ego. If that measure of success is not maintained, one will eventually find themselves depressed. Depression turns out more negativity, as it is just a gateway emotion for problems.

Being prideful about any separational qualities leads to inner trouble. Gay pride, black pride, school pride, nationalism...all forms of the same. This is not to say that one should not develope a sense of who one is, but it is to say that one should not use their abilities and accomplishments to determine who they are. The "self" never changes. It is the ego's perception of the self that changes. We must never percieve ourselves as greater or lesser than the rest of the whole.

Develope yourself with most humble intentions, for "the wise man walks always with his head bowed, humble as the dust."

The Dream That Must Be Interpreted

This place is a dream.

Only a sleeper considers it real.
Then death comes like dawn,
and you wake up laughing
at what you thought was your grief.

But there's a difference with this dream.

Everything cruel and unconscious
done in the illusion of the present world,
all that does not fade away at the death-waking.

It stays,
and it must be interpreted.

All the mean laughing,
all the quick, sexual wanting,
those torn coats of Joseph,
they change into powerful wolves
that you must face.

The retaliation that sometimes comes now,
the swift, payback hit,
is just a boy's game
to what the other will be.

You know about circumcision here.

It's full castration there!

And this groggy time we live,
this is what it's like:

A man goes to sleep in the town
where he has always lived, and he dreams he's living
in another town.

In the dream, he doesn't remember
the town he's sleeping in his bed in. He believes
the reality of the dream town.

The world is that kind of sleep.

The dust of many crumbled cities
settles over us like a forgetful doze,
but we are older than those cities.

We began
as a mineral. We emerged into plant life
and into the animal state, and then into being human,
and always we have forgotten our former states,
except in early spring when we slightly recall
being green again.

That's how a young person turns
toward a teacher. That's how a baby leans
toward the breast, without knowing the secret
of its desire, yet turning instinctively.

Humankind is being led along an evolving course,
through this migration of intelligences,
and though we seem to be sleeping,
there is an inner wakefulness
that directs the dream,
and that will eventually startle us back
to the truth of who we are.

- Jelaluddin Rumi, 13th century mystic poet

Illuminary Gnosis

Jesus said, "Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light."

Gospel of Thomas
Saying 33

The transmutation that is brought about by gnosis on an individual's conscience causes one to undergo a spiritual illumination. One could call this awareness, or enlightenment, or moksha, or rapture, etc., etc. In each case one feels compelled to share this experience with others. Whether through art, poetry, charity, or just common courtesy. The changes one goes through spiritually effects the way in which you approach life - not just man, but ALL life.

One notices the injustices in the world at a greater depth. Situations where one might have felt one way prior to gnosis might bring about an entirely different attitude after. One finds that morality is not an exterior component of life, because it can be judged from within. Rules and regulations have no standing because one feels what is right and wrong, spiritually as well as materially, and it is through this awareness that one carries on one's life.

In certain circumstances, one feels compelled to not only be a certain way towards humanity, but to also spread the experience to others. It is this feeling that the Gospel of Thomas addresses. This passage tells us that it's not only okay, but it is expected to feel this way. We must spread our gnosis.

World Wide Praxis

A recent article on MSNBC.com says that billionaire William Buffett will be giving the bulk of his fortune to five charitable organizations.

Maybe there's hope for business men in heaven afterall, huh? ;-)

Read the whole article here.

I Beat the Archons...

That's right. I beat them. I destroyed them. They thought they had me, but I blew them out of the water.

How did I do it?

As I was cleaning the toilet paper out of the tree in my front yard, I found myself amazingly perturbed. If I find the kids who did this, I'll kill them. It wasn't impossible. My neighbors across the street have a camera pointed right in front of their yard, so it could have easily caught the images of those who did it. Just wait. I'll get you.

As I got the easier pieces to reach down off the lower branches, I had to use a piece of 10-foot PVC pipe I had laying in my backyard to try to knock some more down. The toilet paper then seemed to kind of gracefully move around the pipe, making it more irritating and futile to get the rest down. I started laughing, out of no where, at the stupidity of the situation. I continued to laugh, and it came to me.

It's stupid to get mad at this. They're just kids, doing the same things I did when I was a kid. They did it to have a little fun, spice up their life, and get a reaction. I realized that by taking it personally, I just made myself mad. I actually started having a little fun getting the rest of the stuff out of the tree. I ended up making it a game. By the way, for future reference, a water hose with a jet stream sprayer seems to destroy any left over toilet paper.

The point here is to not let things like this get to you. It's so easy to get mad when you feel victimized, but there's really no point. You must realize that things happen, whether you like them or not, and your role in it is to learn to deal with it. In this situation, I didn't feed into the negative response. If you let negativity feed off of your emotions, it begets more negativity.

Remember to turn the other cheek. That's how you beat the Archons.

Peace to you.

Yeah, but define "sin"...

Sin, in it's literal definition, originally meant "to miss the mark," as in archery. A better definition would be to say "stray from the path." One would have little trouble in finding a completely different definition in the modern world, however, for the word "sin."

I would venture to say that the multitude today would define "sin" as being "an offense to God." Some would even argue that it's an action that directly damns you to Hell. Sin has been given an enormous amount of attention in most religious practices, and it is the deciding factor in deciding the "goodness" of others. Needless to say, it is definitely not the same word as the original meaning would suggest.

However, the biggest problem for "sin" in the modern world has not come from its definition, but it's come from what is considered a sin. The problems always arise when the subject of sinful nature comes about. How do you tell what a sin is? Or better, how can you tell what will "stray one from their path?" Even if you don't look at it as a hellworthy offense (which, by the way, I do not), you can still put some value towards sin as being something that can block one's path to gnosis.

So - who decides - and how - what a sin is?

The answer, as always, seems more pragmatic than one might assume.

It seems to me that a sin is anything that can pose negativity on one's self or someone else. This could mean different things to different people, but if you look at its core message, you can see a definition that's a little less broad.

The problem with most of the mass's conclusions about sin is that it usually comes from another source, for instance, the Bible or the Qu'ran. Usually, one cites a particular passage and it is decided then that a particular action or state of being is sinful. One might even take another person's message, or anything for that matter, and decide to use it as evidence against another and their "sin."

However, we all have a built in sense that allow us to be able to tell these things. It's called "common sense." The problem, one may notice, is that we're not raised to allow ourselves to know the difference between right and wrong, we're raised to be told what's sinful. We have so supressed our own gnostic insights in ourselves, that we have damned our children's chances as well.

We must always practice tolerance. As well, we must realize that negativity doesn't birth itself, it's always man-made. Ignorance about negativity is the biggest stumbling block in one's path to gnosis.

Peace be upon you all.

A Guide to Praxis

Praxis is a theological idea or concept put into practice.

As Gnostics, we are first and foremost a welcoming bunch. There are many things that we accept, many practices, many faiths. We are open to all those who wish to know, both on an individual basis and a mass congregational basis. The doors are always open to those interested.

As well, Gnostics *in general* try to allow others their own individual liberties. For instance, Gnosticism does not deny any person their right to their own religious preferences. While theological discussion is welcomed, there is no pushing tenets on others. We accept that each individual has their own path.

Praxis, for Gnostics, means putting into action the responsibility that gnosis gives. Once gnosis is understood, it is a means for determining one's own actions. Given the experiential awareness that is felt by gnosis, one is compelled to act kindly towards their fellow living creatures - all life is precious.

Praxis is very fundamental. We cannot ignore its signficance. Too many of us are getting fed up with the world and secluding ourselves amoungst our fellow gnostics. We must express ourselves and our gnosis. This is why we are drawn to it, and what is the message from it. There are a number of things we should do to advance the understanding of Gnosticism as a religious practice, so that those on the outside of it can be drawn to it as well.

What good can come from drinking the fresh water of the fountain, and not sharing it with others? What good does it do for one spirit to be free, and no more? We must do more. But what should we do? This is my proposal:


1. We must speak, but not interrupt.

2. We must correct, but not insist.

3. We must help and not expect reciprocation.

4. We must introduce our understandings, ideas, and concepts to the world, and understand that not every one will accept. But some will.

5. We must approach archonic powers with love. Do not let anger or irritation better you.

6. We must not be hipocritical.

7. We must not stand in the background on issues. Our debates are important, for we approach situations with KNOWLEDGE, not emotion.

8. We must provide assistance within our group. There are different levels of gnosis. A master can be an apprentice.

9. We must not be too open-minded. There are many paths one can walk to find gnosis, but one must go the right direction.

10. Judge actions, not people. Not all souls awaken at the same pace.


The world is already filled with people who do not act. We must distinguish ourselves, because our gnosis makes us distinguished.

Jesus and the Christ

First, I want to distinguish two things.

1. This post is about the Christ.

2. There is a difference between the Christ and Jesus.

That’s right. I said it. Jesus and “the Christ” are two separate characters. Let’s clarify:

1. Jesus: man, idol, star of the play

2. Christ: personification of Divine awareness (gnosis) in physical form, e.g. a person.

We’re going to try to knock down a wall here, and expand the layman’s understanding of the Jesus myth. For starters, Jesus, the son of Joseph, was a man, not a god. In particular - if you want to believe its historicity - he was more than likely a priest in a liberal Jewish monastic community called Qumran. If you don’t want to believe its historicity, then we’ll just say he was a Jewish rabbi.

Jesus, at some point in his ministry, is elevated to a point where he becomes a spiritual master for a group of twelve apprentices, better known as his disciples. Along the way he heals the sick, raises the dead, and preaches his “good news.” To this degree, he makes some powerful guys mad, and then they capture and crucify him. Of course, the story ends with him raising HIMSELF from the dead three days later.

This is Jesus. This is his story. Read it – believe it or don’t believe it. It doesn’t really matter. The story itself doesn’t matter, just the message.

What might that message be? The message is that there is a Christ within each of us.

The “Christ” was never meant to be a titular name, a last name, or even ascribed to one man for history’s sake. The Christ is an indwelling spirit. It is a sleeping giant within the psyche that awaits the proverbial buzz of the alarm clock. The Christ is an essence that, once awake, illuminates the unenlightened. The Christ is eternal.

For better comprehension, let’s say this:

A person achieves gnosis. They, in a split second, have felt bliss. The experience is remarkable. It’s transcendental. However, the struggle does not stop there. There is no cure-all, one-time-only spark, and then “okay, I’m going to just get up out of my body and go home.” This is just the first step. Through practice, patience, and repeated attacks by “archonic beings,” both physical and spiritual, one relives their gnosis repeatedly. Eventually, if they are lucky, they achieve a “grace,” which is to say, they realize gnosis and don’t go back. This is Christhood: To be able to look at things from a constant Gnostic awareness.

That’s the goal. And that’s the meaning of the Jesus story. This little ol’ Jewish fella just got right off his 40 day fast from the desert and jumped up on his gnostic high horse. And throughout the testaments, the moral of the story is: YOU CAN TOO.



33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

King James Version
Matthew 6:33


20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

King James Version
Luke 17:20-21

Islamic Jihad

Okay, so everyone's familiar with the term. Jihad, the "holy war" fought by the Muslims against the Infidels, or the "people of no faith." The term has currently been applied to anything from an Iraqi blowing himself up in a car bomb to a group of terrorists flying planes into buildings. Is this really what a "jihad" is?

Well...of course not.

The actual term "jihad" literally translated from Arabic, means "struggle." It could be better applied to an act of spiritual struggle, one of faith. For example, one struggling to memorize the Qu'ran, or trying to push all earthly desires from his/her system. Either of these examples could be acceptable for context.

This is often called the "greater Jihad," because it involves one's soul. Since this is the most important to the faith, this one should be the most important to a Muslim.

However, there is a "lesser Jihad," which is usually applied to the physical struggle, such as a battle or a fight. The problem, you see, is that this Jihad was never intended to be an aggressive approach to the struggle. This was intended to be merely defensive. Since the word "Islam" literally means "peace," one is not pushed to combat with others, merely defend one's beliefs.

Such crude misunderstandings of these terms have bred many more misguided souls, both Muslim and not, into hatred and bigotry.

These literalist interpretations have brought violence to both "sides" of the "conflict" and continue to antagonize the situation to this day. Can anyone tell me, whether you agree with the methods or not, why there are bombs set off everyday in opposition to the United States' military in Iraq?

It's not because people don't want freedom in their country. They just don't want the "infidels" to give it to them. Any violence at all directed towards any Muslim is considered an act of "jihad," and therefore seems to encourage more senseless violence.

There has to be an end to war, particularly this one. But the end has to come from the aggressors, not those looking for stabilization. There will be no end, however, if views are not changed. There has to be a more moderate view on these teachings and those in the important positions (like the clerics and the politicians) need to direct that change.

There must be a Jihad. And it must take place within one's self - to search for peace, and put away bigotry and violence.

A Gnosis Institute?

There is something particularly interesting that will be introduced soon called the Gnosis Institute.

It seems that, if handled correctly, it could be a very important introduction into the Gnostic community.

Rev. Troy Pierce has a Q&A on the Gnosis Institute if anyone is interested. You can find it here.

You can also look at the Gnosis Institute yourself here.

Check it out.

Is Sophia a Gnostic Goddess?

For those who don't know the myth of Sophia, please go here.

In a sense, Sophia is not a Goddess, or even a God. Sophia is just a manifestation of the Divine. Sophia was not created - simply eminated.

Sophia, to some modern day gnostics, is a Divine Goddess to which we must seek communion with. She is as close to the human image of the Divine as we can ascribe a human image to.

However, this is all myth as well. You miss the meaning in the message if you allow it to become literal interpretation. To put it in terms understandable, Sophia is a metaphor. Literally translated, "Sophia" is Greek for "wisdom." We will also define "wisdom" as "understanding of knowledge."

To tie it all together:

gnosis - experiential knowledge
Sophia - wisdom
wisdom - gnosis understood


So, to look at it as an allegorical account, the myth of Sophia is actually a retelling of the route that wisdom has taken through time. The love of Wisdom, the fall of Wisdom, the abuse of Wisdom, and finally the return of Wisdom. These are the paths that "she" has taken, and it is through this path that we receive understanding of our gnosis today.

While it may appear that gnostics are just another sect of "goddess worshipers," you must also understand that most of the stories are either myth or allegory. To take any of it literally is to miss the point.

It is important to say that Sophia recieved redemption when she returned to the Ultimate Godhead. Therefore, it is to be understood that once gnosis is realized, redemption takes place within.

Sin vs Ignorance: Which is worse?

The concept in the "modern" world today, at least in religious circles (though whether you could call these circles modern or not is in question), is that the major problem with most of the world's inhabitants are believed to be "sinful" people. The Christians, Jews, and Muslims all feel this way about each other.

The Jews, the most oppressed of the three currently, feel that those who do not follow the Torah (literally, "the Law") are all doomed to feel Yahweh's wrath.

The Muslims, the fastest growing faith, feel that anyone who has not proclaimed that "Allah is the one true God and that Muhammed is his prophet" will go to populate the bowels of hell.

The Christians, the largest group, are just as stern in their response that you must "accept Christ and your Lord and Savior, and believe that he died on the cross to save you from...sins."


What kind of modern world is this? All three faiths are equally intollerable of each other, yet they all are "born" of the same Abrahamic descent. "No, that's not what he meant. You should die now." This is crazy.

What defines "sin?" Who knows? It seems to change with the seasons. It use to be hell-worthy to shave your beard. Some won't let you eat a pork chop. Whatever.

All these "sins" arise out of ignorance. Ignorance sets guidelines by which to live your day to day lives. Ignorance holds you to these beliefs, and sets you apart from your neighbors. The only real sin is to embrace ignorance.

It is then that you have really "missed the mark." Which, by the way, is the exact translation of the word "sin."

Embrace knowledge, patience, love, and kindness...for everyone. You then will be saved of "sin." That is the only way.

Allah and Yahweh as the Demiurge...

Demi-who?

Ah, the formidible opponent we Gnostics fight against daily.

This "Demiurge" is the sole responsible agent for the current Islamic Jihad, the Christian crusades of the middle ages, and the Jewish slaughtering of their neighboring tribes/countries in the Old Testemant. He is what most of the known world relies upon for appeasement, prays to for guidance, and hides from with fear.

The Demiurge is a horrible creator, with a jealous attitude toward any who dare question his authority. He is quick to smite even the smallest creature if the slightest desire of disobedience is felt. However, those who kill for, fight for, and represent him and his agents - called Archons, or rulers - will receive everything they've ever wanted.

He is not evil, however, nor are his agents. He is nothing like Satan, for the Demiurge actually loves those who follow faithfully. No, his crimes are not evil. His crimes are born out of ignorance. Ignorance of what? Ignorance of the fact that he is not the TRUE Divine.

And you know what's crazy?

HE'S NOT EVEN REAL...

That's right. It's myth. Metaphor. Not even the slightest iota of fact. The Demiurge is merely a representation of the real story. He is man's PERCEPTION of God. It's is for this PERCEPTION that people die daily in religious battles. It is for this PERCEPTION that people succumb to hatred for others. It is for this PERCEPTION that people are hated, bigoted against, and looked down on as "sinners."

This perception must be fought. His archons? Lust, Greed, Spite, Rage...the rulers of the world. The worst ruler of all though...Ignorance.

We must free our minds of any "perception" of the Divine, and release all the falacies of thought that "God is" or "God wants." We must realize that the Divine is without human concept. There is no characterization. There are no limits, no boundaries. Merely Divinity.

The only way to know the Divine is to "know" the Divine. This is gnosis. For this, we must look inside ourselves. We must meditate, practice, study, and live. The path to gnosis is sometimes lonely, but never unfulfilling. This is the key to life.

Know Thyself: Science of Mind

How do you know yourself?

What does this mean?

How could you not know yourself? I know what my favorite foods are, my favorite colors, how I like my eggs cooked in the morning, and what I do for fun. So the question begs: What do you mean, ‘know thyself?’

This isn’t quite as crazy as it may seem, the command here is not to know what you prefer about life, but to know your purpose in life, or to know at your core what you are in relation to the world. It has many levels of meaning. You can go your entire life being completely indulged in things you like to do, eat, smell, touch, taste, and see, but these are only outside qualities of what you know. To truly know yourself, you have to think of the big picture. Think of the universe, and what you are in relation to everything in it. What does such a small person, a tiny life form like you, have to do with the entire universe? What is your purpose?

This is, at the heart of it, the real question. To know yourself is to know your purpose for being. It’s like a drop of water understanding it’s purpose in the ocean. And what is that purpose?

Well, with risk of making things sound way too easy, the purpose of a drop of water in an ocean is that the ocean would be one less drop without it. The drop contributes to the whole. It makes the entirety complete. Therefore, your ultimate purpose is to make the entirety of creation complete. And what better way to do that than to become YOU?

Sounds stupid at first, doesn’t it? Think about it. Let’s take a theological look at this just one second. Taking away from any dogmatic creed of any one religion, let’s say you believe in God, or even Gods. Erase whatever name you have imprinted in your head for this "Divinity," and just accept that there is something there. What does it look like in your mind? Is it a person? Is it a man? Maybe it’s a woman?

Now, whatever you just thought about, erase that image completely. Let’s start from scratch. Let’s just assume, for the time being, that God is harder for us to understand than previously thought. Think of this: God is of no image, no name, no being, no concept, no form, both there and not; transcendent, if you will. Any concept you have of God - no matter how right it may or may not be - isn’t anywhere close to the true Divine. It’s like trying to draw a picture for the blind. We are the blind.

Don’t put a form around it, as this makes limitations. Don’t put a name to it, as this defines forethought. For the time being, we will simply refer to it as the Divine. This Ultimate Divine, Creator of all thought, Beginner of the beginning, is the Ultimate Reality. And within this Reality, lies THIS reality. Since this reality is within the Ultimate Reality, or the Divine, everyone and everything is apart of it. Each galaxy, every star, every planet, every atom – nothing exists outside of the Divine. It is a thought, held together by the will of the Divine. On a more personal level, that means you are a part of that Divine. Every cell, nerve, vein, and thought of yours is apart of this Divine. Without you, the Divine would be less than it is. You’re a drop of water in an ocean.

Hopefully, that’s not too much to take in all at one time. Of course, that might be oversimplifying reality as well. Plenty of questions arise out of the thought process of thinking that we are not separate from the Divine, but actually apart of it. In this thinking, one might assume, every time something or someone dies, a piece of the Divine dies. If we all are apart of the Divine, and without us the Divine would be that much less, then what happens when one of the many living things in this reality dies?

Most science classes will tell you that energy never stops, it simply transfers from one thing to another. In this scenario, picture yourself as a big ball of energy. It shouldn’t be too hard to imagine. The human brain has more electrical currents in the form of impulses going through it each minute than any device you can think of. For every sensation there is another current of electricity sent to the brain. Every thought is accompanied by a message sent all over the body. When you start to walk, you don’t think to yourself "now I’m going to walk," you simply do it. And in that split second, millions of signals get sent through the body from the brain to the muscles to the nerves and whatnot, and then . . . the miracle that is "walking" ensues. The obvious nature of the body is to serve as a tool for us to live with. The body is governed by these impulses and signals, and has no control over them. The body does not decide when to walk, we TELL it to. SO – if the body is not the source of the energy, then what is?

Man has always believed there is something that drives the body. Beyond all physical aspects, there is something "within" that is the actual source of all this life and movement. It has been called many different things, but we will refer to this in particular as the Spirit. From this Spirit comes this seemingly unending supply of energy. It is the source of all life in each person. It is this Spirit within us that transfers from one thing to another, that never remains static. Even though the body might die, or be destroyed, the source of energy remains constant. Energy does not die. And neither does the Spirit.

This Spirit, as complex as it may be, is at the very core of everything, the most ultimate "you" that you can be. When you say, "I am," that’s the part of you that you refer to. This Spirit within you is the REAL you, not your body. Even your sub-conscience realizes this. Notice in everyday speech, that you might say "my head hurts" or "my hand is strong" or even "I’ve got long legs." This sub-conscience mind of yours (which is the Spirit/Soul) is telling you that you are not the body in which you reside. You are saying that your arm, head, hand, or leg belongs to you, not that it IS you. In saying this, you have confirmed yourself that you are a being far more complex than just a body.

It is to this end that we must ask ourselves: who are we?

To know the answer to this is to have Gnosis.

Gnosis For All

Hello All.

The goals of this blog are as follows:

(a) To advance the quest of Gnosis for all parties interested.

(b) To help reach those who need to find a spiritual path.

(c) To discuss and debate various theological topics.

(d) To attempt to bring a Gnostic approach to the world (yes, even politics).

(e) To persuade the spread of Gnostic schools and churches into other areas of the world.


I will attempt to unify the modern day Gnostic ideas and concepts with modern day science, philosophy, and social issues. This site will contain my opinions on matters of...well...everything. :)

Feel free to join in and comment...I welcome all.


Everything expressed on this website is my opinion and does not reflect any official viewpoint of any church, organization, or individual unless otherwise stated.