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Welcome to the Gnosis Institute |
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The Gnosis Institute is a non-profit educational and research institution formed for the purpose of performing needed scholarly work to explore and elucidate our understanding of Gnosis, Gnosticism, and spiritual/psychological development.
The Institute exists to serve the Gnostic community in particular, and the world community in general. .  Symbol of the Institute
Building the future of Gnosticism and Spirituality with a foundation in the historical manifestations of Gnosis, using modern tools and methods to construct new models, conduct research, combine efforts, and provide education through articles, lectures, and publications, and to offer courses to facilitate intellectual, psychological, and spiritual growth.
The symbol of the institute is enclosed in the Ouroboros, the serpent eating his tail in a circle, representing the living active eternal. The letters on the cross form the words phos and gnosis. Phos is a Greek pun from the prologue of the Gospel of John, it means both 'Light' and 'Human.' Gnosis is the Greek word for a type of knowledge, knowing through direct acquaintance or recognition.
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An oft asked question is something like “where/what is the Gnostic version or approach of or towards something?” If you don't support individuals and organizations that are working in this area: resources, services, materials, and education that may aid you to liberation may never be produced or made available. Resources for Gnostics will only come from our community, with the support of our community.
The Gnosis Institute exists to facilitate this. An open non-profit corporation that will serve as a nexus to build the future of Gnosticism, and by extension, help reshape our culture's understanding of spirituality, religion, and knowledge.
The Gnosis Institute coordinates work on a number of projects in areas vital for individual Gnostics and the Gnostic community, and provides a presence, as well as, outreach and services to the larger community. And while it will not be involved in providing direct spiritual services or ministry, it will be involved in supporting such work through research and providing resources—a 'serving the servers' model.
Tthe Gnosis Institute is a way to support Gnosis in the world. Consider becoming a member and supporting the Institute and its projects.
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A Gnostic Approach to Gnosticism |
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Recent months have seen Gnosticism come under attack more than at
any time in the modern era. From most every conceivable and
contradictory accusation, an attack on the very idea or category of
Gnosticism, and the placing of elements from Gnosticism onto some other
form and christening it “Gnostic.” However, focusing purely on
criticism of the critics and of the cherry-pickers would probably lead
to being hopelessly entangled in their systems. We need an alternative,
a Gnostic approach to Gnosticism.
A Gnostic approach to Gnosticism would first and foremost
acknowledge how much we don't really know. Being a Gnostic means having
some Gnosis, and having some Gnosis means you know that you don't
actually know some ninety-nine point something percent of the time.
What you do have Gnosis of cannot be fully articulated, the best we can
do are symbols and stories that may lead back to the experience that
was the seed of the Gnosis. There is also the very human tendency to
extrapolate far beyond actual Gnosis.
Gnosticism as an ancient historical phenomena isn't available to us.
And taking the standard comparative religion beliefs/practices approach
to Gnosticism leads to something that doesn't make sense: a field of
projection. We need to be like William Blake and not remain trapped in
someone else's system, we will have to create new models and new ways
of expressing and developing the Gnostic tradition.
Not only is there so much that we don't really know, the most
important things we never will. We need to take to heart the unknown
and the unknowable. Mysteries can be experienced, but they are outside
the grasp of the mind, it can only reflect on facets or elements of
them. A definition of Gnosis is less useful than a description. In
definitions we run the risk of thinking that we have captured it, that
it is the definition. So many real and important things aren't subject
to definitions. If we can't adequately define Love, why should we think
we can do so with Gnosis? We need to be willing to live with the
important questions, to explore the questions and the possible answers,
to engage in the process.
We must recognize that the usual models and methods aren't doing us
much good. If it is all in the past, where is the Gnosis? If it is
Gnosis, then it isn't “special revelation,” and you should be able to
find the signs of it in others however distant in time and place. This
is a grounded living Gnosticism, not stuck in the past, but guided by
what remains, and testing our realizations against those of others
ancient and modern—a growing tradition.
The Gnosis Institute has been formed to make a serious concerted
effort to develop a Gnostic approach not only to Gnosticism, but to
related areas as well. Taking a Gnostic approach to Gnosticism is the
only way to keep it alive. What is more important than taking our own
Gnosis and liberation, taking our own spiritual path individually and
in community, with the seriousness that they deserve? Than putting our
resources towards building a future that will serve our needs as souls,
spirits, divine sparks in the world?
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