Gnostica

In one of those weird flashes of insight that occasionally comes along at about 3 am, I recently came to the realization that my own spiritual journey is leading me to establish a formal syncretization between Buddhism and Gnosticism. I’d like to share my preliminary notes on the subject, and invite conversation. These are some very basic ideas, with which I will eventually be moving forward. Long time readers will undoubtedly recognize some of the ideas herein from some of my other writings– this is because it’s time to establish a vehicle in which I can begin to coalesce some of the concepts that have been floating around for some time. Thoughts and ideas are welcome. Some may be incredibly repulsed or put-off by this little summation, which is fine. I do want to emphasize, however, that I am not trying to interpret Gnostic or Buddhist thought as they stand– this is no commentary on modern Gnosticism or Buddhism– but instead to comingle them, distill their essences, and take them in a different direction.

• Way Gnosticism is a contemporary spiritual path combining essential (in the sense of “the essence of a thing”) tenets of Buddhism and Gnostic Christianity and the teachings of Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ. One might also refer to this path as “Zen Gnosticism.”
• The Way is moving from the Kenomic Worldview– the worldview of Emptiness– to the Pleromic Worldview– the worldview of Fullness. Another way to say this is that the primary goal of a Way Gnostic is to reduce suffering, both for one’s self and for others, through self-knowledge and mindfulness. This can be achieved through the cultivation of gnosis.
• Gnosis is a state of insight brought about by the application of living information and wisdom to an awakening experience. Or, to put it another way, Gnosis = Awakening (Word + Wisdom).
• Gnosis is cultivated through contemplative practice and meditation, which delivers the experience of awakening. This awakening is then contextualized by Gnostic cosmotheology and through one’s interactions with the World of Forms.
• Jesus Christ, Son of God and Gautama Buddha, the Enlightened One were two avatars of the Christos– both Bodhisattvas.
• The Logos as Word is Living Information, and Sophia as Wisdom is the application of that Information. Both exist both macro- and microcosmically, and may be discussed in terms of either. We refer to both as “Logosophia,” as one should always be present with the other.
• There are four essential virtues to be cultivated by the Way Gnostic, which are the manifestation of the Logosophia: Inquiry, Compassion, Humility and Service. These virtues are present in the teachings of both Jesus and Gautama.
• There is an essential Self. The universal Nous is the Mind behind the essential Self.
• The Archons are the illusions that tie us to the World of Forms via “fate.” Becoming detached from the Archons through the practice of meditation helps free us from the cycle of birth and rebirth. From the Book of Thomas the Contender: “Woe to you because of the wheel that turns in your minds!”
• Some individuals who have achieved gnosis may vow to return to the World of Forms as bodhisattvas or Messengers of Light until all conscious beings have achieved gnosis.
• Way Gnostics take refuge in the Nous, the Logosophia and the Pleroma.
• Way Gnostics may participate in and perform the Christian Sacrament of the Eucharist, and perform and recognize the validity of the other Christian Sacraments. The primary practice, however, is contemplative.
• A number of contemplative practices are available to the Way Gnostic, including, but not limited to zazen, vipassana, Gnostic ascent prayer, etc.
• Way Gnostics also agree with the idea of the Middle Path. From the Gospel of Philip: ” Fear not the flesh nor love it. If you fear it, it will gain mastery over you. If you love it, it will swallow and paralyze you.”
• Way Gnostics may fully participate in “mainstream” Buddhist Sanghas or Christian Congregations. They also may establish zendos in their areas, or practice as individuals. The core of Way Gnosticism occurs within the individual.
• As the goal is to escape the World of Forms and the circle of Fate, Way Gnostics disdain horoscopes and fortune-telling. As the goal is to eliminate our participation in illusion and strip away everything but the essential, Way Gnostics do not participate in entheogenic spiritual technologies.