"As we awaken we develop the capacity to perceive the esoteric reality of our own personal human events and those of others. We come to be able to perceive everything around us. The measure of the awakening is determined by our capacity to penetrate into our psychological and esoteric worlds." "The awakening is a gradual, simple process. Through this path, the mind impressed from within, and not how it habitually happens, from the exterior, will become illuminated and therefore will become what it should be: a very useful instrument for the Being." |
Gnostic PsychologyGnostic psychology is not just about labeling the functions of the mind but about working in a practical way to understand it. We teach techniques such as self observation- how to study the mind in our ordinary life, how to understand and dissolve destructive facets of ourself- our fears, doubts, resentments, guilt etc. and how to awaken the virtues within- our courage, compassion, confidence, love, etc.
A basic principle of this type of psychology is that the greater part of us is unknown, or subconscious. Our consciousness is effectively asleep and it is the subconscious that reacts to the events of life, obscuring our perception of the true nature of things. The choices we make in life are largely due to the many fears and desires that are contained within the subconscious and quite often, through this influence, we can get ourselves into situations and wonder “how did I end up in this?” Gnostic psychology is about making ourselves aware, or conscious, of these subconscious elements. Thus, little by little, our psychological work allows us to transform the subconscious into consciousness- illuminating the darkness in our mind, awakening our dormant possibilities and unfolding the spiritual faculties of our soul. Gnostic Psychology is a profound and ongoing study. Some elements of this work include: Self Observation: learning how to become aware in the moment, to observe our internal states. To balance our mind, emotions and actions. To see our subconscious habits in action during the day and learning to transform them through comprehension. Psychoanalysis: to take the results of our observation to meditation. To analyse them through self-reflection in order to discern what is true and what is false within us. Learning how to work on particular facets of ourself. Discovering the logic of our subconscious, of the self, or the ‘I’. Initiatic Philosophy: To begin to think esoterically, in accordance with the Path rather than by habit. To open the imagination and intuition. To comprehend how to act based on our own Gnosis. Developing an ethical foundation for life, to realise the virtues of our inner Being. Dreams: Preparing ourselves psychologically to awaken the consciousness in the dream state (astral world). To investigate our internal worlds. To discern imagination (conscious experiences) and fantasy (projections of the mind). Mind: to comprehend the relative nature of the mind, to free ourselves from the battle of opposites. Learning the functions and limitations of memory, the senses, concepts and beliefs. Activating the interior or conscious mind. Gnosis is a spiritual psychology that is aimed at the emancipation of the consciousness from the pain and fear produced within the mind. It is to transform the material mind into the spiritual mind- to think, feel and act in accordance with the values of the Being. This is to awaken to our own humanity. |
States of Consciousness
Consciousness is a topic for debate amongst psychologists and philosophers of the modern age. For the mystics, consciousness is a fact and is a most sacred part of the person. Consciousness has been defined in many ways as a perception of sensations or thoughts or experience. However, one is not necessarily conscious of the totality of ones thoughts or experiences but can still be aware that one is having them. In other words, Gnosis recognises that there are various degrees of consciousness with the most pure being the objective consciousness of the Being.
There are 4 possible states of consciousness with varying degrees between them, with the average person having access to only two. The two inferior states in which we ordinarily live are sleep and the ordinary waking state.
1) Sleep- person is unaware and unable to effect change in the environment. They live in a world of illusion and dreams without remembering who they are or where they came from.
2) Waking state- the person is aware of the environment to some extent and is able to act in the world however their consciousness is still dreaming with thoughts, preoccupations, memories etc. Nothing substantial can be created within a person in this state.
In our ordinary state our consciousness is still asleep, still processing itself by virtue of whatever attracts its attention in a given moment. In this state we are impulsive, contradictory and easily manipulated by threats or compliments from the outside world.
The other states of consciousness are not accessed mechanically- they can only be realised through direct work on oneself. A person may have glimpses of these states in life but they are generally translated from the first two states and in fact the person can believe that they actually “lost consciousness”. An example is near death experiences or lucid dreaming- in these examples a person’s consciousness is actually more awake than in ordinary life. The other two states are:
3) Self consciousness- attention is divided to observer and observed. We see the environment while remaining conscious that we are observing it. We observe thoughts and thought processes rather than simply dreaming with them. A person can create something within themselves in this state, for example virtues, esoteric knowledge etc.
4) Awakened consciousness- consciousness is free, unconditioned, liberated from our own psychology. Illumination comes from within, from the Being.
We can not experience nor assimilate the experiential knowledge of the 4th state without the 3rd. If we are not in the 3rd state of consciousness in life, that is, if we are not in a state of self observation then we are dreaming, our consciousness is asleep.
The greatest obstacle for a person to struggle for the 3rd state of consciousness is that we believe that we already posses it. A person would not struggle in themselves for years to obtain something they already believe they have. Without the 3rd state, we are unable to make substantial changes within ourself or our life. Our life processes itself mechanically, we think, feel and act according to the subjective experience of the world we have been born into- in short, we live as slaves of our past.
A quality of the 3rd state is non-reaction, which is to not react to our internal states or external events but to observe and comprehend before choosing a course of action. The 3rd state requires meditation and the ability to see our dual nature- one that observes and another that is observed.
This “other” is the Self, our personality and our ego. It is the part that praises, criticises, is happy, sad, complains, desires, hopes and fears. To enter into the 3rd state is to be able to observe this “me” acting in a given moment, to see it for what it is and to learn who we really are.
The consciousness is that which observes and we will come to see that it is generally passive while “I” am generally active in life. The consciousness observes but is unable to act as it has not received the force, the correct nourishment, in order to act.
The key factor in losing consciousness is identification. We identify with ourself, the words of others, memories, the senses, the world etc. Identification is when our attention is attracted without consciousness. An example is, we could be looking at something in a shop window even though we have no intention of buying the object.
The next stage is fascination- we begin to entertain thoughts or ideas around the object/person or event with which we are identified. At this stage, we start day dreaming about the object in the shop window.
Finally, the consciousness falls asleep. At this stage, we are in a type of hypnosis and are very suggestible in regards to the object/person or event with which we are fascinated. In other words, we use our credit card to purchase the object we don’t need with money we don’t have and wonder why we bought it two days later.
Life as it is today has a tendency to lull the consciousness to sleep where we are open to suggestion. The esoteric work moves in a different direction and is referred to as the “revolution of the consciousness” in the Gnostic schools.
Practice: In meditation at home, try to recall where we became identified during the day- at what point did we begin day-dreaming? In reviewing events of the day and recognising where we were identified, we begin to learn more about ourself in a simple, practical way.
Each morning, dedicate an amount of time to recalling our dream experiences- try to remember as many details as possible and write them down. If we can recall a dream that is particularly vivid for us, then dedicate time in the meditation practice trying to understand the meaning of the dream.
There are 4 possible states of consciousness with varying degrees between them, with the average person having access to only two. The two inferior states in which we ordinarily live are sleep and the ordinary waking state.
1) Sleep- person is unaware and unable to effect change in the environment. They live in a world of illusion and dreams without remembering who they are or where they came from.
2) Waking state- the person is aware of the environment to some extent and is able to act in the world however their consciousness is still dreaming with thoughts, preoccupations, memories etc. Nothing substantial can be created within a person in this state.
In our ordinary state our consciousness is still asleep, still processing itself by virtue of whatever attracts its attention in a given moment. In this state we are impulsive, contradictory and easily manipulated by threats or compliments from the outside world.
The other states of consciousness are not accessed mechanically- they can only be realised through direct work on oneself. A person may have glimpses of these states in life but they are generally translated from the first two states and in fact the person can believe that they actually “lost consciousness”. An example is near death experiences or lucid dreaming- in these examples a person’s consciousness is actually more awake than in ordinary life. The other two states are:
3) Self consciousness- attention is divided to observer and observed. We see the environment while remaining conscious that we are observing it. We observe thoughts and thought processes rather than simply dreaming with them. A person can create something within themselves in this state, for example virtues, esoteric knowledge etc.
4) Awakened consciousness- consciousness is free, unconditioned, liberated from our own psychology. Illumination comes from within, from the Being.
We can not experience nor assimilate the experiential knowledge of the 4th state without the 3rd. If we are not in the 3rd state of consciousness in life, that is, if we are not in a state of self observation then we are dreaming, our consciousness is asleep.
The greatest obstacle for a person to struggle for the 3rd state of consciousness is that we believe that we already posses it. A person would not struggle in themselves for years to obtain something they already believe they have. Without the 3rd state, we are unable to make substantial changes within ourself or our life. Our life processes itself mechanically, we think, feel and act according to the subjective experience of the world we have been born into- in short, we live as slaves of our past.
A quality of the 3rd state is non-reaction, which is to not react to our internal states or external events but to observe and comprehend before choosing a course of action. The 3rd state requires meditation and the ability to see our dual nature- one that observes and another that is observed.
This “other” is the Self, our personality and our ego. It is the part that praises, criticises, is happy, sad, complains, desires, hopes and fears. To enter into the 3rd state is to be able to observe this “me” acting in a given moment, to see it for what it is and to learn who we really are.
The consciousness is that which observes and we will come to see that it is generally passive while “I” am generally active in life. The consciousness observes but is unable to act as it has not received the force, the correct nourishment, in order to act.
The key factor in losing consciousness is identification. We identify with ourself, the words of others, memories, the senses, the world etc. Identification is when our attention is attracted without consciousness. An example is, we could be looking at something in a shop window even though we have no intention of buying the object.
The next stage is fascination- we begin to entertain thoughts or ideas around the object/person or event with which we are identified. At this stage, we start day dreaming about the object in the shop window.
Finally, the consciousness falls asleep. At this stage, we are in a type of hypnosis and are very suggestible in regards to the object/person or event with which we are fascinated. In other words, we use our credit card to purchase the object we don’t need with money we don’t have and wonder why we bought it two days later.
Life as it is today has a tendency to lull the consciousness to sleep where we are open to suggestion. The esoteric work moves in a different direction and is referred to as the “revolution of the consciousness” in the Gnostic schools.
Practice: In meditation at home, try to recall where we became identified during the day- at what point did we begin day-dreaming? In reviewing events of the day and recognising where we were identified, we begin to learn more about ourself in a simple, practical way.
Each morning, dedicate an amount of time to recalling our dream experiences- try to remember as many details as possible and write them down. If we can recall a dream that is particularly vivid for us, then dedicate time in the meditation practice trying to understand the meaning of the dream.