gnostic handbook

The Gnostic Handbook Page 34
This ability to show the origins of the symbols of many systems is a unique characteristic of
Gnosticism. Rather than there being conflicts between pagan and so called Christian, theism
and non theism and related contradictions, we find that all alternatives are reconciled within an
all encompassing system. This is the insight which gnosticism gives, it shows the esoteric
meaning behind religious symbol systems and in some sense bypasses them by divining their
true meaning. This does not degrade the role of myth, legend, tales and scriptures but places
them in the real position, that is, as the outer flesh or form of the Mysteries. Scriptures cannot
stand alone, within the gnosis at their heart, they become as stone.
Impersonal to Personal
As part of the Gnostic worldview is the understanding of the role of personalism in religion. By
personalism we mean not only theism (the worship of a personal god) but the use of gods and
goddess with personality, character and humanness. This tendency is found in all religious traditions,
while in the pagan traditions the gods seem more human, it is certainly also found in the
Monotheistic traditions as well. Jehovah and Allah at times seem all too human. For the Gnostic
the impersonal is the highest principle, the “unoriginate Originator” is without personality in a
human sense of the word since it is beyond all of our preconceptions and projections. While the
three principles of the Divine Will, Sophia and the Logos can be given iconographic and literary
form they too are essentially what they are called – Principles. They are not personalities,
they are not “personal deities”. Accordingly Gnosis is a form of perception, feed by the minds
and fueled by the emotions. It does not, however, greatly emphasize devotion (Bhakti) that is
focused or obsessed with image, sound, form and so forth. While we understand and use the
power of images, to become devoted to one such image is to ignore its true nature. Indeed, obsession
with an image of the divine can lead away rather than to the higher principles.
There are myriad spiritual forms throughout the Great Chain of Being. In the Gnostic system,
there are many, many names for them. As they are in the dimensions below the upper world
they are “partial” representations of aspects of the divine and each has its own unique essence,
form and so forth. While these too, at heart are Principles, there are more and more degrees of
independence and uniqueness as we move down the emanation ladder. So, for example, by the
time we reach the astral worlds, there are millions of spirits of varying characters and forms,
each unique. None are absolutely good and evil but there are variations in their attitude towards
man.
While these spirits have their own unique essence and expression, the form they manifest in is
due to us, not to them. They are clothed by the language and mythology of our cultures, heritage
and traditions. We should always keep this in mind when dealing with different symbol
systems, it is not the “letter” that is the most relevant, but the spirit. It is too easy to confuse the
images of the divine as found in literature and myth with the reality and become locked in
forms which only partially represent the unique characteristics of a spirit, god or form. In some
sense we must transcend the Gods to understand them.