Gnosis - An Inner Knowing

"Seek, and ye shall find."
Luke 11:9

"All cosmic secrets must be pursued and earned."
- Joseph Panek

Gnosis is loosely translated as wisdom or knowledge. However, the
word Gnosis carries a much deeper meaning. Esoterically, Gnosis
means Inner Knowing. It is profound, or mystical, Knowledge
attained through personal insight and revelation.

Gnosis is an Epiphany (an "aha" moment if you will) through which
we become elevated to a higher spiritual plane in which we are able
to understand, access, and channel through us, the highest levels of
Divine Truth, Awareness, and Wisdom.

Gnosis, or Inner Knowing, is the primary Quest of all Initiates and
Seekers. It is the insightful ability to know that although there are
many Debates, arguments, and Opinions surrounding and distorting
every issue, there is only One Truth underlying that particular issue.

And although the term Gnosis can pertain to any level of Truth,
Awareness, and Wisdom, the true Seeker of Gnosis is solely
concerned with attaining Wisdom and Insight on the highest
spiritual and cosmic plane. Therefore the dedicated Gnostic,
Seeker, and Initiate makes every effort to avoid all mundane
confrontations, confusions and pitfalls which can distract him,
or her, away from their Spiritual Quest.

When we study Gnosticism, the Vedas, and other ancient texts, we
are instructed not to blindly follow any teachings simply because we
want to believe them, wish to believe them, or are expected to
believe them, due to force or guilt. However, if the Spiritual Truth
we are pursuing unveils itself to us by way of an inner knowing,
a spiritual understanding, or a Harmonious feeling, then we can
feel quite certain that whatever it is that we have discovered is most
likely the Truth we have been seeking.

Divine Truths and Sacred Wisdom are shrouded in mystery. They
await discovery by a Seeker or Initiate who is on a Quest for Truth
and Wisdom. When the Veil which shrouds an Infinite Mystery is
lifted before us we are able to view, experience, and understand that
Divine Truth which was once kept hidden from us...This is Gnosis!

These Gnostic, or Epiphany, moments are usually accompanied by
self-exclamations such as, "Gee, that makes a lot of sense", or
"I actually knew that but I never looked at it that way".

Self-Unfoldment, or Gnosis, is the at the center of all ancient
teachings. This is why the Ancient Mystery Schools and the most
noble "secret societies" did not, and still do not, recruit members.
For Truth neither recruits nor forces itself upon anyone. The Truth
is simply The Truth. It is the Holy Grail that must be sought out and
earned by the worthy and well-qualified Seeker!

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2010

Wisdom

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but
of the lifelong attempt to acquire it."
-Albert Einstein

Wisdom is a rare Spiritual Gift which has been bestowed upon
merely a scant few mortals. Wisdom should not be confused with
knowledge.

Knowledge manifests itself in our minds. And although our Mind
provides us a direct access with Divinity, its main purpose is to
enable us to function and interact within the Physical Realm.

Our Mind is a "open gateway" which allows us to collect and absorb
knowledge. Knowledge is logic and reason. Knowledge teaches us
how to measure, recognize and understand the phenomena we
experience in the Material Realm of our Current Incarnation.

Knowledge is something that is readily available, easily accessible
and easy to understand for the vast majority of people. Each of us
has pursued different degrees and types of knowledge and it is
these degrees and types of knowledge that separate one type of
knowledgeable person from another. To increase our knowledge we
simply need to increase the amount of information we are able to
digest. A person can digest and understand vast amounts of
knowledge yet never come close to acquiring Wisdom.

Wisdom, on the other hand, is the highest and purest form of
Knowing and Understanding. Wisdom is Spiritual Alignment,
Insight, and Awareness. Wisdom is understanding the Spiritual
Essence contained within all Thought and matter. Wisdom is the
unique ability to balance (harmonize) Duality, in all its aspects.
Wisdom is Gnosis!

A person who possesses Wisdom has the rare ability to tap into this
highest and purest form of Knowing and Understanding in order to
apply these Spiritual Gifts in the Material World.

When we hear of "the Wisdom of Solomon", this phrase instills
a reverence and awe within us. We ask ourselves how could one
person make monumental Decisions, and dispense justice, with such
Simplicity yet be so highly respected and memorialized. It is because
Solomon was able to "see" all things in their highest, purest and
Simplest forms. This enabled Solomon to make respected, common
sense, Decisions on all matters that were brought before him.
Whenever we hear the name Solomon we immediately associate it
with Wisdom.

Wisdom, by its very nature, is an extremely rare "Gift of the Gods"
that can only only be experienced by a select few individuals. And
although history tells us of a number of Wise Men, Master Teachers,
and Magi who have come before us, and left us their Footprint, their
numbers pale when compared to the vast multitudes who have never
come close to attaining True Wisdom.

The Lesson passed down to us within the myth of Prometheus tells
us just how Precious and Rare the Divine Gift of Wisdom truly is.
Prometheus gave the Gift of Fire to mankind. And for this act, which
was against the will of the gods, Prometheus was chained to a
mountain top where each day a vulture would come and feed upon
his liver.

As with all myths and legends we need to look within the story in
order to understand the Symbolism and Metaphor they are
presenting to us. Symbolically, "Fire" represents Light...Illumination
...Enlightenment...Wisdom! Prometheus, of his own accord, Chose
to give the Gift of Wisdom to all mankind. However the "gods"
understood that mankind, in general, was not ready for such a
Powerful and Divine Gift. For his callous act Prometheus was
severely punished.

The moral of this legend: Mankind, in general, has never been and
still is not ready for the Divine Gift of Wisdom. History, and current
Events, show that whenever Mankind is presented with Truth and
Wisdom they greet it with scorn, mockery, ridicule, suppression and
destruction. Therefore, the "gods" were correct in punishing
Prometheus for his thoughtless act.

Although Wisdom cannot be bestowed upon the common masses,
it is not unusual for certain individuals to discover, understand and
possess this Divine Gift through their personal efforts. These
privileged individuals deeply appreciate and sincerely respect this
Precious Gift when it comes into their possession. These individuals
understand that Wisdom is the one Divine Gift that separates "gods"
from mortals.

But how do we understand and recognize Wisdom? Wisdom is
Spiritual Harmony. Wisdom continually seeks out Truth and Balance.
Wisdom does not entertain doubt, rumors, and unfounded Opinions;
it resolves them. Wisdom does not look for someone to "blame"
when things fail to go according to plan, it seeks out the cause of the
Event. Wisdom expresses itself by Harmony, not by force. Wisdom
is the ability to balance Mercy with Justice. Wisdom is knowing
how to balance Duality in all its forms, as Symbolized by the
Vesica Piscis.

Wisdom is the ability to use our Spiritual Gifts of Insight and
Awareness to evaluate and resolve the Decisions we are confronted
with during our Current Incarnation in the material realm. Wisdom
is the highest and purest form of Spiritual Knowing and
Understanding. Wisdom is the Gift of Divinity, the Holy Grail,
bestowed upon those rare few who make the gallant effort to
understand it, Seek it out and recognize it when it is presented to
them.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009

The Holy Grail

"...To boldly go where no-one has gone before!"
-Star Trek

The Legend of the "Quest For The Holy Grail" is a Metaphor for
the Eternal Spiritual Quest for Truth and Wisdom. It also teaches
us that in order for us to find what has never been found, we must
search where no-one else has ever looked.

When King Arthur's knights went off in search of the Holy Grail,
they entered the forest through briar, bramble and thicket. They
did not Travel by way of any existing Path. They understood that
if they were to find the sacred, elusive treasure they were Seeking
they had to search where no-one else had searched, or Traveled to,
before. It's also important to remember that although they never
did find the Holy Grail, they did experience some wonderful
Adventures.

The Holy Grail represents a Spiritual Calling. It is The Seeker's
Call To Adventure.

The Quest is The Seeker's actual pursuit of his, or her, Spiritual
Calling. It consists of the Adventures The Seeker experiences, the
Insights he, or she, receives, and the Lessons learned during the
Journey.

The Forest is a land of Enchantment. This is where the Quest
takes place. It is a realm of danger, achievement, and Adventure.
As this is a Spiritual Quest, the Forest represents (Symbolizes) The
Seeker's Subconscious. It is the Wilderness where The Seeker
befriends their Spiritual Guides and confronts their Inner Demons.

The Thicket represents the Unique Way in which The Seeker
enters the Forest. As this is The Seeker's very own Personal
Journey, The Seeker must Create their very own Personal Path.
To follow an existing Path, or trail, would mean that The Seeker
would be Traveling a Path designed by, and Created for, someone
else. The Thicket represents that part of the Forest that has never
been Traveled before - it is the Realm of Dragons. This is where
many of the Spiritual Treasures The Seeker is searching for lie
hidden.

Never finding the Holy Grail teaches us that we are on a Timeless
Quest. A Quest for Ultimate Truth, Eternal Wisdom, and Spiritual
Enlightenment.

Comments and Emails: I welcome comments and emails from
people with similar thoughts and feelings. My email address is
located in the upper-left area of this page. Comments can be
posted by using the "Comment" link located below each article.
Also: If you found value in this article please feel free to forward
it to other like-minded individuals, organizations and sites.

Disclaimer: None of my articles should be considered to be
either advice or expertise. They are simply personal opinions
and no more. Everyone is encouraged to seek competent
advice from a licensed, registered, or certified professional
should such advice or service be required.

© copyright Joseph Panek 2009