Chicago Gnosis Podcast

Throughout history, serious spiritual aspirants have sought to enter the most sacred, divine mysteries, but to do so requires conscious efforts and sacrifices. Initiation is dependent upon the qualities of the heart, verified through the intimate internal experiences of the soul. However, before we can pass the threshold of the mysteries, we must prepare our minds, hearts, and bodies to become a living temple for our Innermost: the divine spark of spirit that seeks to be known and developed within the depths of the true human being. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/preparation-for-initiation

"Christ taught three ways in order to reach union with the Innermost. When he was preaching to the multitudes, when he was mystically exalted, he showed us the way of Ramakrishna, Kempis, and Francis of Assisi. This is the path of Anthony of Padua and Theresa of Jesus. This is the Mystical Path. When Christ was walking with Magdalene, the repented prostitute, when he was among publicans and sinners, fishermen and wine drinkers, he showed us the Gnostic Path. When he retired to the solitude of the desert for forty days and forty nights, he then taught the way of Oriental Yoga." ―Samael Aun Weor, Igneous Rose Jesus of Nazareth taught unto humanity these three different ways or aspects of one path,  in accordance with his own life, that lead towards the divine: the way of the Mystic, Gnostic, and Yogi. The mystic cultivates the heart, the yogi develops the mind, and the Gnostic elaborates the full capacity of the consciousness through the power of tantrism and sexuality. Learn how Christ embodied and exemplified these three different aspects of the "straight and narrow gate that leads to life" (Matthew 7:14) and how we can follow in his footsteps in a practical and didactic manner. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-three-ways-of-christ

The Judeo-Christian Bible is replete with profound symbolism, most notably the mysteries pertaining to the anointment of prophets and kings.  This lecture explores the esoteric meaning of anointment through oil (Hebrew: שֶׁמֶן shemen, semen, or creative sexual energy) and how this spiritual force aids the sincere practitioner of any religion towards psychological purification and redemption. This lecture also explains the Gnostic Gospel of Philip, the Book of Genesis, the anointment of Jesus before his Passion by the woman of Bethany, as well as the coronations of King Saul and King David in the Old Testament. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-mysteries-of-anointment

The Bible is deep, intricate, and mystical. Its psychological teachings, moreover, offer insights into how to practically develop our complete spiritual potential. Through its allegorical narratives, the Torah and Gospels depict the soul’s inception, struggles, and redemption. By comprehending the Bible’s cosmological dramas and its characters’ symbolic roles, aspirants can learn how to enact lasting inner change and procure the alleviation of humanity’s suffering. Discover how through the stories of Cain (the ego), Abel (the Essence or soul), Nimrod and the Tower of Babel (the personality), and Christ (our divine Being and legitimate identity). Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/biblical-psychology

Christ is a universal principle within all religions, not only incarnated within Jesus of Nazareth, but Quetzalcoatl, Krishna, Buddha, Moses, and all masters properly prepared through initiation. Just as the Spring sun resurrects nature, likewise Christ, the cosmic solar energy of divine intelligence, resurrects spiritual life within the soul through the mysteries of Easter. Discover how through an explanation of Kabbalah, sacred  sexuality, and Ishtar’s descent into the underworld. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/secrets-of-gnostic-easter

"I died as a mineral and became a plant, I died as plant and rose to animal, I died as animal and I was Man. Why should I fear? When was I less by dying? Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar With angels blest; but even from angelhood I must pass on: all except God doth perish. When I have sacrificed my angel-soul, I shall become what no mind e'er conceived. Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence proclaims in organ tones, To Him we shall return." ―Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi This lecture discusses reincarnation, the law of karma, and the manifestation of the divine in accordance with practical, spiritual works. Learn how the soul migrates through its many experiences throughout different forms of matter, energy, and consciousness, and what laws we need to work with in order to escape suffering. This lecture also discusses the manifestation of the soul [psyche] as depicted in Gnosis, Greece, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Kabbalah, and many other scriptures and texts. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-transmigration-of-souls

Esoteric science begins where empirical science ends: through the objective development of spiritually-illuminated consciousness. This is in order to investigate mystical phenomena as cited throughout Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and other religions. Learn about perception, time, the spatial sense and the science behind conscious investigation, the laws governing the multidimensionality of the cosmos, and the role of science's enigmatic ether. This lecture refers to the writings of Albert Einstein, the 14th Dalai Lama, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, and others, discussing various modes of cosmic energy known as Akasha and the Tattvas (elemental principles) of nature. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/consciousness-and-our-multidimensional-universe

Millions venerate the profound architectural and artistic achievements of the ancient world: the Egyptian, Aztec, and Mayan pyramids; the immaculate sculptures of Greece and Rome; the sacred Buddhist iconography of India, China, and Tibet, and countless other marvels. While such artifacts testify to the cultural, historical, and religious legacy of their creators, they also convey the secret teaching of all ages: how to unite the consciousness with the divine through the four pillars of science, mysticism, art and philosophy. Discover also the metaphysical basis of humanity’s origins, trajectory, and potential. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-gnostic-anthropology-and-cosmology

All scriptures and spiritual traditions allude to the longed-for goal of Self-realization: the return to divinity through conscious works. However, such references remain elusive to the animal intellect, which only understands literal interpretations and blind adherence to the dead letter. Without applying practical techniques for the development of the soul, aspirants close the doors to the complete actualization of religion (from the Latin religare: "reunion"; or the Sanskrit yug, the root word for yoga). The spiritual path has also never been revealed to the public in its entirety, but was only demonstrated through the profound symbolism of scripture: the internal language of divinity. This lecture concludes the twenty-two major arcana with an explanation of the three mountains: the distinct stages of the path of initiation; and exegeses of the Qur'an, the Bible, and the writings of Samael Aun Weor.  You will also learn how the gnostic esoteric work is sealed through the succession of the prior arcana and the mysticism of the Hebrew letter Tav, allegorized by the ascension of the Prophet Muhammad: the Seal of the Prophets (Khātim an-Nabīyīn). Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/arcanum-22-the-return

All the great mystical traditions speak about the dangers of the initiatic path, how it is easy to have esoteric knowledge while lacking discretion, foresight, and wisdom. Many followers of spiritual and religious groups fail to truly enact the principles of their scriptures, thereby resulting in tremendous suffering, conflict, and ignorance. These people are known as pharisees, fanatical adherents to the dead letter of religion who lack a comprehensive, experiential understanding of what their traditions teach. Such individuals in every spiritual teaching embody the terrible reality of the Fool, the Bohemians of the Tarot who believe they possess the totality of true knowledge when they only know a fraction of it. This arcanum depicts the tragedy, failure, and downfall of the initiate who, while close to the end goal of Self-realization, does not know how to maintain chastity, thereby transforming him or her into a lunatic or follower of egotistical, mechanical nature. Discover the warnings of this arcanum through the works of the prophets, the Qur'an, the Sufis, Friedrich Nietzsche's Thus Spoke Zarathustra, the kabbalistic Zohar, and the mysteries of the Hebrew letter Shin. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/arcanum-21-transmutation