Respectful Question to Gnostics

[gnostic]

I am not a Gnostic, despite my Avatar/alias, but nevertheless, I'd recommend reading Apocryphon of John and the Gospel of Thomas.

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by Shermana

The Pistis Sophia and other works explicitly confirm Reincarnation, including being born as an animal as a possibiity. I highly recommend that work to see what the earliest "Gnostics" may have believed, and it's highly Jewish, it's my favorite "Gnostic" work.

It's also exceptionally hard work to read.

[Bob Dixon]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

It's also exceptionally hard work to read.

This, too, is true.
Personally, I can't decide if it's completely meaningless or simply too deep for me. I'm leaning towards too deep for me, but it really can be quite an impenetrable text.

[Shermana]

Originally Posted by Bob Dixon

This, too, is true.
Personally, I can't decide if it's completely meaningless or simply too deep for me. I'm leaning towards too deep for me, but it really can be quite an impenetrable text.

I should make a whole thread on Pistis Sophia, it's far from meaningless, but it is most certainly deep. What I like most perhaps about it is that it demonstrates the Jewish origins of such "Gnostic" movements. It is most certainly not in the same league of the idea that the OT God was the false god Yaldaboath or that the OT itself is full of lies.

[Bob Dixon]

Originally Posted by Shermana

I should make a whole thread on Pistis Sophia, it's far from meaningless, but it is most certainly deep. What I like most perhaps about it is that it demonstrates the Jewish origins of such "Gnostic" movements. It is most certainly not in the same league of the idea that the OT God was the false god Yaldaboath or that the OT itself is full of lies.

You should make that thread, then. I'd be interested.

[Heart0501]

Jesus came to Earth to show us the Path to Heaven. His whole life is symbolic of the Path... such as riding the donkey into Jerusalem signify one has to be able to control the mind(donkey). His death on the cross (sacrifice for humanity as in rid of the 7 sins(egos) and resurrection(alive again and go to Heaven).

When one dies and still have sins(egos), one goes to Hell to get cleansed. There one has to go through punishment and suffering. After some times, Mother Nature will cleanse off the egos. Once cleansed, one will free the trapped Essence and start life cycles again.

Pistis Sophia is very good as Sherman suggested. Another one is The Nag Hamadhi Library

[DanielR]

What is the practice to be unified with God?? Is it mediation?