Chicago Gnosis Podcast

"We all know that we have within ourselves that which is called ego, I, me, myself. Unfortunately, the Essence is completely imprisoned, absorbed inside the ego, and this is lamentable. To dissolve the psychological “I,” to disintegrate its undesirable elements, is something unavoidable and non-excludable. This is the meaning of working upon oneself... "...Unquestionably, the Essence shines within ourselves when our psychological “I” has died. The liberated Essence confers upon us inner beauty. Perfect happiness and true love emanate from such a beauty. The Essence possesses multiple senses of perfection and extraordinary natural powers. When we die within ourselves, when we dissolve the psychological “I,” we can then enjoy the precious senses and powers of the Essence." ―Samael Aun Weor, Treatise of Revolutionary Psychology Discover the fundamental makeup or machinery of our internal, psychological constitution: the essence (soul or consciousness), ego (defects, vices, errors) and personality (language, habits, name, race, customs, culture, etc.). By learning about what makes us mechanical beings, or intellectual animals (from the Latin anima, meaning soul), we can therefore strive to make profound changes through developing the capacities and potentiality of the consciousness. By overcoming the mechanicity of our life, we can experience, in a state of alert novelty, the purpose of our existence: the manifestation and realization of our true identity. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/discover-your-true-self

"It is not irrelevant to remind our readers that a mathematical point exists within us. Unquestionably, such a point is never found either in the past or in the future. Whosoever wants to discover that mysterious point must look for it here and now within oneself at this exact moment, not a second earlier, not a second later. The two horizontal and vertical lines of the Holy Cross intersect at this point. Thus, we find ourselves from moment to moment before two paths: the Horizontal and the Vertical. "It is apparent that the Horizontal path is too base; it is traveled by my buddy and everybody, by those who are juvenile and those who are senile. It is evident that the Vertical is different; it is the path of intelligent rebels, of revolutionaries. "When one remembers oneself and works upon oneself, when one does not become identified with all the problems and sorrows of life, it is a fact that one is traveling along the Vertical path." ―Samael Aun Weor, Treatise of Revolutionary Psychology Learn about the basis for true spiritual change: psychological rebellion. Real change is produced through cognizance of our inner faults and rectifying them through meditation. By identifying and removing the causes of suffering within oneself, it becomes evident how one might modify one's daily circumstances, the repetition of sufferings, comedies, and tragedies, so as to acquire genuine serenity and the happiness of living. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/psychological-rebellion

Humanity, in an unprecedented and terrifying manner, has precipitated itself upon the path of war, conflict, and destruction. People are continually oppressed by problems that are difficult to address or resolve, resulting in a world-wide bankruptcy of morals and a lack of solutions for our greatest sorrows. Despite such widespread and overwhelming affliction, there are proven remedies for the alleviation of suffering and our daily despair. Such methods were given to humanity by all the teachers, prophets, and illuminated beings from our most ancient and venerated traditions, which, due to ignorance, have been misinterpreted and misconstrued. Learn about the foundations for true spiritual and internal change, why we experience pain, and what we can do to help humanity.  By comprehending who we are, why we suffer, and where we stand psychologically, we can learn to enact the change we wish to see in the world. This is facilitated through proven, effective, and scientific methods, free of beliefs, skepticism, or unbreakable dogmas. Since the world is a reflection of the individual, by changing our ways of being, our level of being, we in turn can attract more positive influences within our life. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-level-of-being

"The student is not ready until he seeks truth and honesty in all things." ―M, Lord God of Truth Within A lecture on the importance of cultivating sincerity in our approach toward understanding Truth. Learn how to apply practical methods to generate the personal honesty necessary to overcome obstacles of confusion and self-deception in your spiritual work. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/sincerity-on-the-path-to-truth

"Search for knowledge (the Lost Word) even in China and maybe you will find it in the great Tartar.” —​Sufi Proverb The people of Peking seek the Lost Word: Calaf, the name of the unknown Tartarian prince in exile, whose secret encloses the wisdom of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the Tree of Life, and the appellation of the sacred name of God: Hashem. If Turandot's people do not discover his name, they will be executed at dawn by her decree. To have the right to marry the divine princess and achieve the intimate Self-realization of the Being, the Prince must undergo the temptations of the soul within the darkness of the infernos. Yet he can only be successful if he remains faithful in his love for Devi Kundalini (Turandot) and the secret of his name. “Be thou faithful unto [Divine Mother] death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” —​Revelation 2:10   Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/turandot-act-iii Puccini​ - Turandot: Marton, Domingo, Browning, Metropolitan Opera House

Learn the mysteries of the three mother letters of Kabbalah: Aleph, Shin, and Mem, the three riddles that Calaf must solve in order to have the right to marry the divine Shekinah (Turandot). She is the heavenly Kundalini power that can take him from exile and destitution to the spiritual heights of inner realization. Yet to do so, the Prince must risk his life upon the path of initiation and willingly endure the funereal trials of the thirteenth arcanum of the tarot. If he conquers Turandot's ordeals, the Prince will qualify and enter the kabbalistic mysteries of the Name, Hashem, which is the incarnation of Christ within the initiate. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/turandot-act-ii Puccini​ - Turandot: Marton, Domingo, Browning, Metropolitan Opera House  

Princess Turandot​ of China will only marry a man of noble blood who successfully answers three riddles.  If he fails in any, he must submit his head to the axe. Puccini's masterpiece has captivated many admirers, since its most famous aria Nessun Dorma, "No man shall sleep," is one of the most recited around the world. However, humanity does not understand that this opera is a profound teaching of alchemy, kabbalah, and Sufism, since Puccini was a Freemason well versed in Middle Eastern mysticism. Learn how he encoded the mysteries of kabbalah (the Tree of Life) and alchemy (the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil) in the first act of his opera. By studying these two esoteric sciences, students can interpret the drama of this sacred work and learn how to enter the path of initiation. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/turandot-act-i Puccini​ - Turandot: Marton, Domingo, Browning, Metropolitan Opera House

The secret teachings are not only profound and subtle, but beautiful and complex, especially in the way they are depicted through opera. This lecture will introduce you to some fundamental principles behind any operatic work, specifically the esoteric sciences of kabbalah and alchemy: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Music is highly mathematical, and since kabbalah is the science of numbers and symbols, the initiates of the mystery schools used music and drama to instruct students in the path of initiation. Discover how and why! Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-the-secret-teachings-of-opera

"The Guardian of the Threshold of the mind is similar to the smoke of the flame. The Guardian of the Threshold of the mind is a terrible demonic creature. It lives by reacting against the exterior world with waves of pleasure and pain, with waves of likes and dislikes, and with waves of hatred, envy, greed, slander, selfishness, etc." —Samael Aun Weor, Igneous Rose The first ordeal that the candidate for spiritual initiation must overcome is the Guardian of the Threshold. Through meditative understanding of the nature of the mind, emotions, and will, we can conquer the false self within us, allowing the light of the inner spirit to shine.​ Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-guardian-of-the-threshold

The path of initiation has been cited throughout all the world's great religions and mystical traditions in allegorical form. However, the key and method for entering it has never been revealed until the publication of The Perfect Matrimony in 1950. This key is sexual alchemy: the science of harnessing our creative potential to empower our noblest, spiritual aspirations. Just as the sexual force has the power to create physical life, it also can give birth to our spirituality, as Jesus taught in parables to Nicodemus, "You must be born again." Discover the secret teachings of Jesus: how to enter the straight and narrow gate that leads to life, and that few find (Matthew 7:14). Learn also how to enter initiation through the wisdom of Buddhism, Kabbalah, Alchemy, and the Judeo-Christian Bible. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/what-is-initiation