Things You'll Need:
- a lot of time
- courage
- willingness to experience uncomfortable states of existence
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Step 1
WHAT IS GNOSIS?: Gnosis literally means "to know." It defines a state of being where you as the personality have completely shed all illusions and beliefs concerning yourself. Illusions which you use to create a "safe haven" to exist in. Upon achieving Gnosis, you realize that you are nothing more than an observer come to experience this great experiment known collectively as "Life." In other words, there is no purpose to you actually existing. You are simply here. Enjoy it!
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Step 2
There are 3 phases in the Gnostic journey: the hylic, the psychic, and the pneumatic. Gnosis follows the successful completion of all 3 phases.
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Step 3
HYLIC: You are under the assumption that your personality is defined by the physical or your body. Gnosticism suggests that this is not so. You are much more than simply your body. You are a conscious observer aware of all that exists around you. Those struggling with this Gnostic phase are typically concerned with how they look, how they feel, how their health is doing. Gnosticism teaches that these are idle pursuits. There is so much more to life than simply staying healthy. In fact, the pursuit of health keeps us from truly enjoying the fruits of this existence. The illusion is that we are safe as long as we are healthy. The reality is that we are safe already. No need to overly concern ourselves with our appearance.
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Step 4
PSYCHIC: If not the body, then surely we are the mind. Gnosticism teaches, "Wrong, again." We are so much more than our intellect, our emotion, our beliefs about ourselves. Those struggling with the Psychic phase typically express their academic achievements and worldly beliefs as defining moments. Here is where most of the world is stuck. Cultural ideology is a lightning rod for disagreement, conflict, and controversy. Too many identify themselves with a certain set of beliefs that might not even be there own. Just to feel safe! Gnosticism teaches that Gnosis is achieveable only after we shed the superstitious beliefs we cling to. There is nothing in the dark to fear.
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Step 5
PNEUMATIC: Here is where things get tricky. If we are not the body, if we are not the mind: then what are we? Gnosticism answers, "Nothing." Well, at least not the nothing we might be thinking about. Bottom line, we are pieces of the immortal creator come to experience this collective existence known as life. And when we die, we will simply return to that source. Those stuck in the pneumatic phase typically struggle with an emptiness about them as they stubbornly attempt to identify with something in existence ONLY AFTER having eliminated all possible illusions. There is nothing more to grasp. You are simply here. Lonely? Perhaps. But the truth is you are an observer come to experience the observable. That's it!
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Step 6
GNOSIS: The state of Gnosis implies that you identify with nothing. Think of it this way: When you visit Disneyland, are you wondering as to your purpose there? NO! You're just there to experience Disneyland! And so here on Planet Earth. Those in Gnosis realize that they are here to enjoy. The good, the bad (if there is such a thing). You are here to live. And when it's all done, you get to go home. And plan for the next time you might have the opportunity to visit. Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
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Step 7
Live perpetually in a state of Gnosis.
