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A Journey into Christian Hermeticism

“Hermeticism embraces the art of becoming, the art of transformation of human life and consciousness. “Christian Hermeticists listen to the beating of the heart of the spiritual life of humanity. They cannot do otherwise than live as guardians of the life and communal soul of religion, science and art” (Meditations on the Tarot: A Journey Into Christian Hermeticism, first...(more)
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The art of becoming

hermanobrother [no longer around] said Aug 10, 2006, 8:52 AM:
 
Hermeticism embraces the art of becoming, the art of transformation of human life and consciousness.

Regarding being this has had some impact on me (From “Search of the miraculous” by Ouspensky). It's Gurdjieff speaking:

“People understand what 'knowledge' means. And they understand the possibility of different levels of knowledge. They understand that knowledge may be lesser or greater, that is to say, of one quality or of another quality. But they do not understand this in relation to 'being.' 'Being,' for them, means simply 'existence' to which is opposed just 'non-existence.' They do not understand that being or existence may be of very different levels and categories. Take for instance the being of a mineral and of a plant. It is a different being. The being of a plant and of an animal is again a different being. The being of an animal and of a man is a different being. But the being of two people can differ from one another more than the being of a mineral and of an animal. This is exactly what people do not understand. And they do not understand that knowledge depends on being. Not only do they not understand this latter but they definitely do not wish to understand it. And especially in Western culture it is considered that a man may possess great knowledge, for example he may be an able scientist, make discoveries, advance science, and at the same time he may be, and has the right to be, a petty, egoistic, caviling, mean, envious, vain, naive, and absentminded man. It seems to be considered here that a professor must always forget his umbrella everywhere.

“And yet it is his being. And people think that his knowledge does not depend on his being. People of Western culture put great value on the level of a man's knowledge but they do not value the level of a man's being and are not ashamed of the low level of their own being. They do not even understand what it means. And they do not understand that a man's knowledge depends on the level of his being.

“If knowledge gets far ahead of being, it becomes theoretical and abstract and inapplicable to life, or actually harmful, because instead of serving life and helping people the better to struggle with the difficulties they meet, it begins to complicate man's life, brings new difficulties into it, new troubles and calamities which were not there before.


A few paragraphs later:

“Taken in itself, a man's being has many different sides. The most characteristic feature of a modem man is the absence of unity in him and, further, the absence in him of even traces of those properties which he most likes to ascribe to himself, that is, 'lucid consciousness,' 'free will,' a 'permanent ego or I,' and the 'ability to do.' It may surprise you if I say that the chief feature of a modem man's being which explains everything else that is lacking in him is sleep.

“A modern man lives in sleep, in sleep he is born and in sleep he dies. About sleep, its significance and its role in life, we will speak later. But at present just think of one thing, what knowledge can a sleeping man have? And if you think about it and at the same time remember that sleep is the chief feature of our being, it will at once become clear to you that if a man really wants knowledge, he must first of all think about how to wake, that is, about how to change his being.

Which reminded me of Saint Paul:

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

But then I find out I don't know how to wake up.

And I see the lack of unity in “being” all the time in me, even in small details. I start browsing a web page and in the middle of reading an article I open a new one. I start to cook a meal, then jump to make a cake. I start praying, then move to thinking of soccer games.

Many people would say “that's normal, don't worry.” But that's all part of society “being asleep.”

To become, for me, means that I consciously do something. That I walk and talk with mastery and at the same time humbleness. That is to be. And I am miles away from it. I run in “automatic mode” all the time. And at the end of the day it's so sad.

That's one of my goals. To be.
  Seraphim : Seeker of Truth - Teacher

Re: The art of becoming

Seraphim said Aug 10, 2006, 8:57 AM:
 

Good Stuff Bro!

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

But then I find out I don't know how to wake up.

And I see the lack of unity in “being” all the time in me, even in small details. I start browsing a web page and in the middle of reading an article I open a new one. I start to cook a meal, then jump to make a cake. I start praying, then move to thinking of soccer games.

I hear you.  It reminds me of the buddist practice of being in the 'moment'.  When I eat, I'm eating.  Not doing other things.  Very Zen.

I also think that we need to integrate doing, thinking & being.

One of my issues is the way I read stuff.  very Informational.  as if having the 'knowledge' can somehow cause me to 're-write (re-format?)' my soul. 

Head Knowledge stuff.  But if I don't take the informational and transform my heart, make it heart knowledge – practice what I'm learning.. then it's just more stuff in me head.

LYB

Seraphim
 

Re: The art of becoming

hermanobrother [no longer around] said Aug 10, 2006, 12:42 PM:
 

I understand what you say. Head knowledge. That's basically what Gurdjieff is addressing in those lines I posted.

To trully understand and have that knowledge become trully ours is the real challenge.
 

Re: The art of becoming

Mar Iohannes [no longer around] said Aug 10, 2006, 3:38 PM:
 

Salutations Brothers,

In my humble opinion- I classify knowledge under three headings-:

Pistis, Dianoia and Noesis.

Pistis- Faith- There are two ways to look at faith- the first being second hand knowledge, “I -believe- because my grandpa spoke with such conviction' or 'because St. Paul wrote so well'. The reliance on someone else's experience or experiential understanding. “Don't drink that, it's way too hot'  It can also be looked at as trust in one's experience- fidelity, if you will. You trust that your path will take you where it says it will based on looking at the experience of others etc.

Dianoia- Reasoning- Intellectual knowledge through study, observation “Hmm I think I see some steam, that means, it must be hot”

Noesis- Direct Experience (or gnosis if you prefer). “Youch! That is damn hot”

Does this mean that Pistis and Dianoia are 'less than'- not all all- they are stepping stones. Some will go from Pistis to Noesis, some from Dianoia to Noesis.

Some one asked Kalu Rinpoche- there are all these buddhsit methods and techniques- why wouldn't someone just pursue the highest of them (lets say in tantra for example)- wouldn't that be more effective?

His response was that even one prostration, done with perfect intent, can lead to realization and liberation.

There are as many doors are there are people.

  Seraphim : Seeker of Truth - Teacher

Re: The art of becoming

Seraphim said Jul 3, 9:17 AM:
 

Wow. I hadn't realized I'd let this thing lapse for YEARS. Forgive me. Anyone still around that desires to talk about this stuff?
  Nicole : wakingdreamer

Re: The art of becoming

Nicole said Jul 3, 9:25 AM:
 

welcome back.

it looks like really good stuff, seraphim, but i'm not sure anyone else in this group is still active on Gaia. 

if you find it too big a job to try to grow this group from scratch, another approach could be to take the discussion into one of the other already active groups on spirituality. 

love,

nicole
  Seraphim : Seeker of Truth - Teacher

Re: The art of becoming

Seraphim said Jul 3, 9:45 AM:
 

Which one's would you recommend? I've been on other message boards, but after awhile folks ego's get in the way and if you don't believe EXACTLY like they do….
well i've gotten the left foot of fellowship more than once!

but never here! so i'm going to devout my online efforts to here where it's a postive experience!
  Nicole : wakingdreamer

Re: The art of becoming

Nicole said Jul 4, 6:46 AM:
 

yes, it's difficult to ensure a positive experience in a larger busier group. you get a livelier discussion with more participants, but sometimes the discussion can get unhealthily hijacked.

Let's see how things go here, and if you ever want to explore option b, we can discuss that later.

love,

nicole
  Marks : World Changer

Re: The art of becoming

Marks said Aug 14, 2006, 1:55 AM:
 

Hi friends
I send you greetings from Nigeria. you all are doing a great job. After reading all that you all have written, i've come to realize that inner sunshine warms the heart of the owner and also the power of purpose is manifested in knowing Who you are, why you are here and what this is all about. i feel really blessed by your contributions.

Peace and blessings
Marks