FAQ

Classes

The Australian Gnostic Association of Melbourne is a not-for-profit organisation. All incurred costs are covered by the facilitators of the centre, and so to help with this, a recommended contribution of $15/week is set to help with continued running of the centre. Please note that any difficulty to pay this fee will not prevent anyone from being able to attend the gnostic classes, as our aim is to share gnosis with anyone who is interested, regardless of race, religion, sex, occupation or wealth.

Simply contact a gnostic centre near you and they will provide all the necessary details.

Most classes run from 1.5hrs to 2hours, with each class consisting of a talk and a guided meditation practice. Practices range from introductory techniques for relaxation and meditation, to practical keys that can be applied in daily life. The weekly classes and practices serve as a foundation to help in further developing the science and ethics of meditation. At its heart, Gnosis is a purely practical school. Hence, it consists of a wide variety of esoteric and psychological practices that complement the theoretical knowledge given, with the aim of self-verification by the student, allowing for the student's attainment of their own wisdom.

Meditation, esoteric yoga, consciousness, psychology, self-transformation, esoteric anatomy, the Hebraic Kabbalah, alchemy, sacred sexuality or tantra. In addition, we also cover: Kundalini, clairvoyance, psychic powers, dream yoga and astral projection (also known as out-of-body experiences or lucid dreams), spiritual initiation, tarot, runes, astrology, Buddhism, the great world religious scriptures, and many other spiritual subjects. The wisdom derived from both the East and the West is studied in a comprehensive and didactic way, rather than a focus on one specific religion alone.

Anyone is welcome to attend one, several, or all of the introductory classes being offered in the series of public talks. For those who are interested, a weekly course will continue, which will go deeper into the topics that have been introduced. Since the classes and practices build on each other, consistent weekly attendance is expected for those who decide to continue with the classes. If you decide you do not want to continue with the classes at any point in time, you are free to do so with no further obligations.

General

Gnosis, as presented by Samael Aun Weor, is an ancient path of knowledge that leads to self-realisation and spiritual liberation. It is a holistic form of wisdom that encompasses spirituality, philosophy, science, and art, aiming to awaken higher states of consciousness and inner divinity.

The aim of Gnosis has always sought to provide humanity with knowledge, keys and techniques for the full development of human and spiritual potential. The signpost of Gnosis has always pointed within, the goal of Gnosis is to direct the human being to the Divine spark that lies within everyone and from there to begin the ‘work’ of inner transformation, so to once again unite with one’s particular inner individual spark.

Gnosis focuses on direct personal experience as the source of spiritual knowledge. It emphasises self-observation, meditation, alchemical transformation, and karma. Weor's teachings also incorporate elements from Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, and other religious traditions.

Meditation is a vital practice in Gnosis. It is a tool for self-discovery, introspection, and the exploration of the deeper realms of consciousness. Through meditation, practitioners can dissolve their "egos" and awaken to higher states of being.

If you are someone who has searched and searched and has become tired of so many theories, then as they say “you have come to the right place”. Gnosis is for those who are tired of theories and who want a practical knowledge that has a path that produces tangible and perceivable changes in themselves.

It is said in the Gnostic teachings that Gnosis lives in deeds and withers in abstractions.

There are two doctrines, one is the doctrine of the ‘eye’ and the other is the ‘doctrine of the heart’. The doctrine of the eye is the intellectual study of esotericism or spirituality whose end result is only a head filled with information that at best comes from the experiences of others. The doctrine of the heart is different, in that it is the practical study of esotericism. It is to experience for oneself and therefore to know and be impacted directly by the experience.

The Gnostic knowledge is one that delves deeply into the cause of things, seeing beyond the visible effects and into the root that is often hidden. The experiences that can be had through the application of the Gnostic knowledge are profound and intimate, and answer some or many of the mysteries about ourselves and nature. It is said that every person is a mystery needing to be deciphered. With this being said, it is our honest conclusion that the Gnostic teachings will satisfy the sincere spiritual seeker.

As far as attendance to the introductory classes, anyone is welcome to attend one, several or all of the classes being offered in the series of public talks. For those who are interested, a weekly course will continue which will go deeper into the topics that have been introduced. Since the classes and practices build on each other, consistent weekly attendance is expected for those who decide to continue with the classes. If you decide you do not want to continue with the classes at any point in time, you are free to do so with no further obligations. So if we do not hear from you, you will not hear from us. This is done to respect your privacy.

Gnosis respects all spiritual traditions and sees them as different paths to the same truth. Gnosis integrates elements from various world religions, recognising the shared wisdom and common ultimate goal of self-realisation.

Gnosis is typically initiated through reading and understanding the Gnostic teachings, followed by the application of practices such as meditation, self-observation, and self-remembering in daily life. Joining a Gnostic group can also be beneficial for guidance and support.

Alchemy, in the context of Gnosis, refers to the inner transformation of the practitioner. It symbolises the process of purifying and transmuting the 'base metals' of our lower nature into the 'gold' of spiritual consciousness. Sexual alchemy is also an aspect of this, seen as a sacred union that can aid spiritual growth.

In Gnosis, the 'ego' represents our psychological defects such as anger, pride, envy, etc. The path of Gnosis involves the recognition, understanding, and elimination of these egos, thereby allowing the true self to emerge.

Gnosis is considered an esoteric tradition because it deals with the inner, hidden aspects of reality and human existence. Its teachings are meant to be understood and experienced directly rather than merely accepted on faith.

Samael Aun Weor was a spiritual teacher and author of the 20th century, known for his significant contributions to modern Gnostic thought. He founded the International Gnostic Movement and wrote over sixty books (renouncing all copyrights) on spirituality, Gnosis, and related subjects. In addition, gave thousands over lectures on various esoteric and spiritual over the course of 30years.