Chicago Gnosis Podcast

Every spiritual teaching possesses a body, soul, and spirit. However, not all students have been initiated into the inner, spiritual teachings of their religion, regardless of their convictions. While public religion constitutes the most basic, exterior form of knowledge (the body of the doctrine), so there is a secret, heart doctrine in the depth of every great tradition provided by the great guides of humanity. Yet unfortunately, many reject the existence or power of this heart doctrine due to superstition, fanaticism, and exclusivity, the blind belief that one already knows when in reality one does not. Each level of instruction, whether introductory, intermediate, or advanced, provides necessary guidance and wisdom about one's psychology that cannot be skipped or ignored, but must be mastered within oneself. In this lecture you will understand this basic structure of every mystical tradition, especially that of Buddhism, Judaism, and Sufism. This lecture also explains the difference between belief and actual faith (direct, living experience of the truth) through the writings of Samael Aun Weor, the Bible, the Tantras, the Zohar, and the Sufi scriptures. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-secret-path-of-the-heart

Perception and comprehension are fundamental characteristics of genuine intelligence. Through seeing and understanding the psychological causes of suffering, one can proceed towards their cessation, thereby developing lasting states of happiness, compassion, serenity, love, and beauty. These qualities, while in potentiality, can only be accessed and realized when we practice the principles of meditation. Learn how through the Four Noble Truths, the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, the transformation of impressions, concentration and visualization exercises, the eternal tarot, and Homer's Odyssey. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/intelligence-and-understanding

Afflicted with great sufferings, egotism, and ignorance, people long to acquire answers to their greatest problems. Many people would like to know divinity and directly receive inner guidance, yet lack the methods to achieve this purpose. While divine intelligence manifested within the consciousness of all the world's great saints, messengers, and prophets, students of religion fail to recognize how to achieve those same spiritual heights and speak face to face with divinity through applying specific procedures. According to Samael Aun Weor, "To pray is to talk with divinity." Learn how to pray, what it entails, and how it applies to the science of meditation. By learning how to pray, to communicate with divinity in meditation, we receive new knowledge and solutions to daily living. We can also produce a radical, psychological transformation by working with Devi Kundalini, the divine feminine within the depths of the consciousness. She is the spiritual power that can eliminate egotistical conditions of mind once they have been comprehended in profound meditation. Through the death of one's defects, the consciousness is liberated.  Prayer to the Divine Mother, therefore, radically transforms and empowers the soul.  See how through the teachings of Samael Aun Weor, Swami Sivananda, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Sufis, and the Tree of Life. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/conscious-prayer

Consciousness is not only the capacity to perceive physical phenomena, but psychological and spiritual realities as well. An essential function of awakened perception is discrimination: comprehension of what is real from what is illusory. Likewise, many spiritual schools refer to this faculty as intuition, a form of knowing without the need for intellectual deliberation or reasoning―to understand the truth of something without the need to think. Intuition can also be referred to as the voice of conscience: a hunch, sense, or whisper in the heart that identifies how certain behaviors or actions are positive or negative, real or false. Our inner states determine our existence. Therefore, knowing our defects in meditation is fundamental for genuine change. Conscience or conscious judgment is the ability to distinguish between beneficial and harmful psychological states, so as to arrive at understanding and elimination of the internal causes of suffering.  By following the voice of intuition, inner judgment or conscience, the meditator strengthens their connection with divinity, performs upright action, and learns to destroy mistaken conditions of mind: the ego, the myself, the "I." The result is genuine serenity, insight, and freedom in practical life. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/conscious-judgment

The term dialectic signifies "​the art of investigating or discussing the truth of opinions." To perceive reality as it is, one must go beyond mere subjective rationalism, theories, or ideas by awakening consciousness from its state of distraction. In order to gain genuine self-knowledge, the meditator must discard mistaken concepts and beliefs in order to directly observe, within him or herself, the psychological conditions that produce suffering. Discover the foundation for every true inner revolution: the dialectic of the consciousness, or the means of investigating any phenomena of nature. Through serenity and insight, the meditator gains comprehension of the internal causes of suffering, thereby arriving at their elimination. This lecture discusses the nature of comprehension in relation to the Greek mysteries, Sufism, and the writings of Samael Aun Weor, specifically the precise methodology for understanding and annihilating the ego, thereby arriving at true liberation of the soul. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-dialectic-of-the-consciousness

Consciousness is the ability to perceive, yet few comprehend how consciousness has the capacity to expand, grow, and develop beyond its present limitations. The natural state of consciousness (or soul) is liberation, happiness, contentment, peace, compassion, joy, etc.  Yet due to our mistaken actions, we have conditioned the consciousness in egotistical elements of greed, pride, laziness, lust, envy, hatred, gluttony, and all our defects that create suffering for ourselves and others.  To realize the bliss, light, and freedom of the awakened soul, all conditioning and limitations must be observed, comprehended, and eliminated. By observing oneself and energizing the consciousness, one learns to comprehend negative psychological states, their origin, and their cessation. Learn how directed attention, self-observation, and inner remembrance of the divine aid the meditator in developing the pristine light of spiritual cognizance. You will also learn about a map of consciousness, the Hebraic Kabbalah or Tree of Life, which diagrams every level of matter, energy, and perception within oneself and the universe. Through self-observation, conservation of energy, comprehension of faults, and the elimination of egoism, the practitioner awakens from psychological slumber and experiences true serenity, insight, and illumination. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-light-of-the-consciousness

A concise introduction to the nature and purpose of meditation through Padmasambhava's Tibetan Book of the Dead: “The Introduction to Awareness" or “Natural Liberation through Naked Perception.”  Meditation is an exercise to develop consciousness to its full potential.  Awareness and directed attention are the basis of meditation, especially as described by the originators of every genuine religion. This lecture outlines the three vehicles of any spiritual school, their methodologies and meditative disciplines, while comparing esoteric Buddhism to the Hebraic Kabbalah: the Tree of Life.  You will also learn the profound dynamics and interdependent relations of spirit, consciousness, will, mind, emotion, energy, and matter. Resources and References: http://chicagognosis.org/lectures/introduction-to-awareness

Perception has many levels, factors, domains, and dimensions. By identifying, verifying, and clarifying different types of experience, spiritual aspirants can access their true nature, unfiltered, unconditioned, and unafflicted by suffering. Learn how to differentiate the spiritually real from the illusory self through a deep study of gnostic psychology: the relationship between the soul (psyche) and divinity (logos). Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/how-do-we-perceive

Gnosis is the conscious experience of fundamental truths​ without reliance upon concept, theory, or belief. By expanding the potential range of our perception, the Gnostic student verifies the essential principles within every religion and spiritual tradition. Discover the practical purpose of Gnosticism: the application of effective techniques for transforming suffering and acquiring personal knowledge of the divine. Resources and References: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/what-is-gnosis

Many of us sense that nowadays religions are missing something critical, and the surprising truth is that this is due to traditions having rejected sexuality instead of comprehending its true purpose. When humanity either represses or indulges in sexual desire, the outcome is suffering, because this volatile force, the true source of our creative expression, must always act. How we use sexuality determines our life. Discover the divine purpose of sexuality, how to transform the most potent energies we possess for the empowerment of our spirituality. Rather than becoming a source of shame or blind passion, sex can serve towards the redemption and liberation of the soul. Resources and Reference: https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/sacred-sexuality-and-transmutation