Chicago Gnosis Podcast

"Blue time or rest therapeutics [retrospection meditation] has basic rules without which it would be impossible to emancipate ourselves from the mortifying shackles of the mind." ―Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of the Dialectic The culminating lecture of this course provides definite, scientific methods for perceiving, understanding, and eliminating the causes of suffering. Learn how to perform retrospection meditation: the review, study, and transformation of internal psychological conditions. Through this practice, the meditator can experience genuine liberation, the beauty of comprehension, and the blessings of divinity. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/retrospection-meditation

"[Al-Jurayri] said that whoever does not establish awe of duty and vigilance in his relationship to God will not arrive at disclosure of the unseen or contemplation of the divine." —Al-Qushayri, Al-Risalah: Principles of Sufism Continuing the discussion on spiritual insight, this lecture outlines the path of meditation in accordance with Sufi mysticism and the three fundamental stages of initiation: imagination, inspiration, and intuition. Through imagination or perception of internal imagery in meditation, one arrives at the unveiling of psychological and spiritual symbolism. The practitioner is then inspired, longing for the precise significance of such experiences.  When these symbols are fully comprehended in their application to daily life, the meditator arrives to the state of witnessing and contemplation of the divine. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/imagination-inspiration-intuition

"For the wise, to imagine is to see." ―Samael Aun Weor "The key to success in worship lies in meditative reflection (fikrat)…whoever persists in such reflection in the heart will behold the invisible realm in the spirit.  Whoever contemplates God through keeping watch over the thoughts which pass through his heart will be exalted by God in all of his outward deeds." ―Dhu'l-Nun al-Misri Upon attaining serenity of mind, the practitioner of meditation must develop and rely on developing the penetrating power of insight, known in some circles by the term clairvoyance (clear vision) and vipassana (special insight). The Gnostic tradition denominates this faculty as imagination, the ability to visualize and imagine conscious imagery in order to directly perceive the object of meditation and arrive at spiritual understanding. This lecture explores the Sufi writings of Al-Qushayri and the five types of clairvoyance (or imagination) within Gnostic psychology. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/spiritual-insight

When you lack the elements of serenity, Even if you meditate assiduously, You will not achieve concentration Even in thousands of years. —Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment Tibetan Buddhism has outlined nine fundamental stages for arriving at a calm, balanced, and serene mind, known in Sanskrit as Shamatha or Calm Abiding, a state of concentration marked by its perfect equanimity and effortlessness to maintain.  This lecture explains the path of these nine stages of concentration, from a wild and chaotic mind to one that is perfectly under one's control, in accordance with the writings of Tsong Khapa, the Dalai Lama, and other scriptural writings. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/calm-abiding-the-stages-of-serenity

The true nature of the mind is equanimity, a profound state of silence that is actualized through our use of energy: psychological, emotional, and sexual. Prana is the basis of physical and spiritual life, synthesized and highly condensed within the sexual creative energy. It is the power that grants the sincere meditation practitioner the capacity to silence the mind and to develop strong concentration, so as to lay the foundation for genuine meditation. This lecture discusses Swami Sivananda's classic text Kundalini Yoga, the nature of energy in relation to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and the mystical writings of the Sufis, how to work with pranayama and control of the breath, the sexual basis of prana or energy, and its necessity for entering the initial stages of true serenity and meditation. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/pranayama-and-sexual-transmutation

"Let’s ask God to help us to self-control: for one who lacks it, lacks His Grace. The undisciplined person doesn’t wrong himself alone–but sets fire to the whole world. Discipline enabled Heaven to be filled with light; discipline enabled the angels to be immaculate and holy." ―Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi A continuation of the study of ethical discipline, this lecture elaborates on the interdependent nature of all things: how mind, sentiment, and action, in all levels of nature, produce either happiness or sorrow.  Our actions, both invisible and visible, have consequences, and it is by learning how to be ethical that we in turn place the appropriate causes in motion that will affect our spirituality, and therefore cause it to flourish. A profound study of Buddhism, Sufism, and Hinduism, this lecture explores the writings of Swami Sivananda, Samael Aun Weor, the Bhagavad-Gita, and The Risalah: Principles of Sufism by Al-Qushayri. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/ethics-karma-and-interdependence

Genuine meditation begins with the foundation of discipline and ethical principles: kindness, patience, mercy, compassion, and the restraint of the mind's tendencies towards negative behaviors. Through cultivating rich spiritual values, we in turn develop peace, harmony and equanimity. By reflecting upon the causes of our suffering, we can change it. This in turn produces the ability to investigate and gather internal information for ourselves through silence and contemplation. This lecture outlines the eightfold path of Yoga as taught by Patanjali as well as psychological teachings from the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita, and The Odyssey of Homer. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/esoteric-discipline-of-mind

"Imagination, Inspiration, and Intuition are the three obligatory paths for the initiation. We reach these ineffable heights by means of concentration, meditation and samadhi. Whosoever has reached these ineffable heights of intuition has converted himself into a master of samadhi." ―Samael Aun Weor, Igneous Rose Despite their elusive character, mystical experiences possess three distinct, eternal principles: Imagination (perception of non-physical imagery), Inspiration (joyful recognition of divine symbolism), and Intuition (comprehension of their hidden meaning). Through cultivating an ethical lifestyle, meditators can awaken to their true nature and access profound spiritual knowledge. Discover how through the teachings of the Sufis, the Buddha, and Samael Aun Weor. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/spiritual-perception

"In general, it is to the measure of one’s alienation from one’s own ego that one attains direct knowledge of one’s Lord… I heard Abu Ali al-Daqqaq say, 'One of the tokens of the gnosis of God is the achievement of deep awe and reverence for God.  If someone’s realization increases, his awe increases.'  And I heard him say, 'Gnosis requires stillness of heart, just as learning requires outward quiet.  If someone’s gnosis increases, his tranquility increases.'" ―Al-Qushayri, Al-Risalah: Principles of Sufism The highest spiritual realizations cited throughout the world's major religions are accessible to advanced practitioners well established within the most profound esoteric disciplines. Those who were prepared to work with the most expedient method for spiritual awakening were delivered the key from mouth to ear: the science of sexual knowledge, known in Arabic as marifah, alchemy or Allah-kimia: "to fuse with God," otherwise referred to as gnosis in Greek and Da'ath in Kabbalah.  Building off the prior stages of ethical conduct and conscious love taught in this course, this lecture elaborates on the secret path and methods for knowing the most elevated, divine realities, especially as demonstrated by the exemplary life of Prophet Muhammad. Learn also the Arabic Kabbalah and Tree of Life, the three stages of religious practice and knowledge, the Sufi writings on witnessing the divine, the science of certainty within the Holy Qur'an, and the esoteric significance of Al-Miraj: the Ascension or Night Journey of the Prophet. Resources and References https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/knowledge-and-truth

From the heart of the lovers, blood  flows like a vast river. Our body is the windmill, and love, the water. Without water the mill cannot turn. ―Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī, Hidden Music Ali ibn Ubayd said, “Yahya ibn Muadh wrote to Abu Yazid, ‘I am intoxicated with how much I have drunk from the cup of love.’  Abu Yazid wrote back to him, ‘Someone else has drunk the oceans of the heavens and the earth and his thirst is not yet quenched.  His tongue is hanging out and he is asking, 'Is there any more?’" ―Al-Risalah: Principles of Sufism, Al-Qushayri The blossoming of spirituality and the development of the consciousness is founded upon divine eroticism and the creative sexual energy: the most potent force available in the universe. This lecture elaborates upon the spiritual, symbolic, and erotic language of the Sufis, or how the soul achieves unification with the divine through the union of husband and wife.  Learn also about the secret meaning of the Wedding of Cana, Jesus' instructions to Nicodemus regarding the second / spiritual birth, and the teachings of Bacchus / Dionysus through Mozart's Opera: The Abduction from the Seraglio. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/divine-love