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Paradox As Teaching

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

1,180 passages · 21 traditions
neoplatonism: 188 passagesneoplatonism188christian_mysticism: 179 passageschristian_mysticism179western_esoteric: 159 passageswestern_esoteric159gnosticism: 140 passagesgnosticism140platonism: 115 passagesplatonism115taoism: 110 passagestaoism110buddhism: 67 passagesbuddhism67renaissance_hermeticism: 63 passagesrenaissance_hermeticism63hermeticism: 33 passageshermeticism33theosophy: 24 passagestheosophy24greek_mystery: 21 passagesgreek_mystery21sufism: 19 passagessufism19biblical: 15 passagesbiblical15egyptian: 12 passagesegyptian12jewish_mysticism: 12 passagesjewish_mysticism12hinduism: 8 passageshinduism8celtic: 6 passagesceltic6mandaean: 4 passagesmandaean4finnic: 3 passagesfinnic3norse: 1 passagenorse1upanishads: 1 passageupanishads1
neoplatonism188
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter I
“Hermes, the God who presides over language, was formerly very properly considered as common to all priests; and the power who presides over the true science concerning the Gods 18 is one and the same in the whole of things. Hence our ancest…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter III
“In the first place, therefore, you say, “ it must be granted that there are Gods .” Thus to speak, however, is not right on this subject. For an innate knowledge of the Gods is coexistent with our very essence; and this knowledge is superio…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter IV-a
“With respect to your inquiry, “ what the peculiarities are in each of the more excellent genera, by which they are separated from each other? ” if you understand by peculiarities the specific differences under the same genus, which are dis…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter IV-b
“This, therefore, subsists contrarily to what you suppose, for the purpose of discovering the peculiarity which you now investigate. In short, whether you think that there is one genus of the Gods, one of dæmons, and in a similar manner of…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter V-b
“Again, however, according to another mode of considering the subject, it is necessary to ascribe to the Gods the whole of that which is united, of whatever kind it may be; that which is firmly established in itself, and which is the cause o…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VI
“What, therefore, shall we say concerning the media? I think, indeed, that from what has been before said, they will be manifest to every one; for these give completion to the indivisible connexion of the extremes. Nevertheless, it is necess…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VII
“Of the extremes, therefore, one is supreme, transcendent, and perfect; but the other is last in dignity, deficient, and more imperfect. And the former, indeed, is capable of accomplishing all things at once, uniformly in an instant; but the…”
Iamblichus: On the Mysteries | Chapter VIII-a
“But neither must we admit that cause of the distinction of these genera which you subjoin, viz. “ that it is an arrangement with reference to different bodies; as, for instance, 39 of Gods to etherial bodies, but of dæmons to aerial bodies…”
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christian_mysticism179
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 10, Section 1a
“CHAPTER X Concerning ” Omnipotent ,” ” Ancient of Days “; and also concerning ” Eternity “ and ” Time .” 1. Now ‘tis time that our Discourse should celebrate God (Whose Names are many) as “Omnipotent” and “Ancient of Days.” The former titl…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 10, Section 1b
“For where Scripture speaks of things as “eternal” it doth not always mean things that are absolutely Uncreated or verily Everlasting, Incorruptible, 171 Immortal, Invariable, and Immutable ( e.g. “Be ye lift up, ye eternal doors,” 461 461…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 10, Section 1c
“It is spoken of by ail the Christian Mystics as the root of our being, or as the spark, or the Synteresis, etc. Our perfection consists in this ultimate reality, which is each man’s self, shining through his whole being and transforming it…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1b
“For even as things which are intellectually discerned 52 52 i. e. The Transcendent Truths which are beyond ordinary knowledge. νοητά . The word νοῦς = Mind in the sense not merely of abstract intellect but of the spiritual personality.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1e
“These mysteries we learn from the Divine Scriptures, and thou wilt find that in well-nigh all the utterances of the Sacred Writers the Divine Names refer in a Symbolical Revelation 72 72 ἐκφαντορικῶς καὶ ὑμνητικῶς. to Its beneficent Emanat…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1h
“that which makes an individual thing to be one thing); (2) Mental or Spiritual intercourse; (3) Physical intercourse; (4) Sense perception. Here it = either (1) or (2), probably (1). limit, infinity, everything that exists. And yet since…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1i
“1 . as “God of Gods” and “Lord of Lords”, 108 108 Ps. cxxxvi. 2, 3 . and “Holy of Holies,” 109 109 Isa. vi. 3 . as “Eternal,” 110 110 Deut. xxxiii. 27 . as “Existent” 111 111 Ex. iii. 14 . and as “Creator of Ages,” 112 112 Gen.…”
Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names | Chapter 1, Section 1m
“65 In the whole of this passage God is spoken of as at the same time Efficient, Formal and Final Cause of the soul’s activity. D. teaches that God is present in all things, but not equally in all. Cf. Intr., p. 14 66 Gen. i. 67 Three…”
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western_esoteric159
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 6 (part 1)
“PART I THE LITERATURE OF CEREMONIAL MAGIC Click to view THE SERPENT OF THE GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES. From a Greek Vase Painting. CHAPTER I The antiquity of Magical Rituals § 1. The Importance of Ceremonial Magic THE ordinary fields of ps…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 9 (part 4)
“The sources of occult wisdom, it proceeds, are, firstly, in God; secondly, in spiritual essences--that is to say, the Angelical Hierarchy; thirdly, in corporeal creatures, the reference being probably to the signatura rerum of Paracelsus; f…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 38 (part 2)
“The attempt to propitiate the Deity by means of prayers, sacrifices and abstinence, and thus to obtain the Divine assistance for the successful consummation of hideous offences and preposterous or impossible undertakings, is, of course, mad…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 74 (part 3)
“Éliphas Lévi observes that the directions recall the history of the bell of Rodilard, but the criticism is scarcely commensurate, for the material is certainly obtainable, nor would it be necessary to catch one's own hyena. The point which…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter II (part 2)
“The ancient Hermetists considered this Principle as one of the most important mental instruments by which man was able to pry aside the obstacles which hid from view the Unknown. Its use even tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent that…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter IV (part 3)
“It must be Infinite in Space--it must be Everywhere, for there is no place outside of THE ALL--it cannot be otherwise than continuous in Space, without break, cessation, separation, or interruption, for there is nothing to break, separate,…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter VII (part 1)
“CHAPTER VII "THE ALL" IN ALL "While All is in THE ALL, it is equally true that THE ALL is in ALL. To him who truly understands this truth hath come great knowledge."--The Kybalion. How often have the majority of people heard repeated the…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter VII (part 4)
“And just as THE ALL arouses itself from the meditation upon the Universe, so does Man (in time) cease from manifesting upon the Material Plane, and withdraws himself more and more into the Indwelling Spirit, which is indeed "The Divine Ego.…”
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gnosticism140
Gospel of Judas | The Disciples' Vision
“Another day Jesus came up to them. They said to him, "Master, we've seen you in a dream, because we had great [dreams last] night." But Jesus said, "Why […] hidden yourselves?" 38 And they [said, "We saw] a great [house, with a great] altar…”
Gospel of Judas | The Betrayal
“Jesus said, "Truly I say [to you], this baptism 56 [which they've received in] my name […] will destroy the whole generation of the earthly Adam. Tomorrow they'll torture the one who bears me. Truly I [say] to you, no hand of a mortal human…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1a
“(Above image of the Gospel of Thomas courtesy of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity, Claremont Graduate University) Visit the Bookstore for a complete selection of translations and books about The Nag Hammadi Library The Nag Hamma…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1b
“TRUTH MADE NAMES Truth made names in the world, and without them we can’t think. Truth is one and is many, teaching one thing through the many. RULERS The rulers wanted to fool us, since they saw we were connected with the good. They too…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1c
“And Jesus said, “Whoever will not eat my flesh and drink my blood has no life within him.” What does he mean? His flesh is the word and blood the holy spirit. Who has received these has food and drink and clothing. I condemn those who sa…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1d
“When the child is grown, however, then the father turns over all he possesses. THE LOST Those who have gone astray are those born of the spirit. And they are usually lost because of the spirit. So from one single breath of spirit the fir…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1e
“If you say, “I am a Roman,” no one will be upset. If you say, “I am Greek, a barbarian, a slave, a freeman,” no one will be troubled. But if you say, “I am a Christian,” they will tremble. I wish I had that title. The world will not end…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1i
“His seed was Jesus, and the plant was the cross.” The tree of life in the middle of that garden of paradise is an olive tree, and from the olive tree comes chrism, and from that oil comes the resurrection. THE WORLD EATS BODIES The world e…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1j
“In the world these are the true people. They are the attendants of the bridal chamber. POWER AND WEAKNESS In this world, power and weakness mingle when man and woman have sex. Joining is different in the eternal realm, though we use the…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1k
“If you become light, light will share you. If you are of those from above, one of those from above will rest in you. If you become a horse or a donkey or bull or dog or sheep or another animal that is wild or tame, then neither a person n…”
Gospel of Philip | Section 1m
“If we know the truth, we shall find the fruits of the truth within us. If we join it, it will fulfill us. THE STRONG AND WEAK, THE MANIFEST AND HIDDEN Now we have the manifest things of creation. We say, “The strong are they who are held…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 1
“And he said, "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not experience death."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 2
“Jesus said, "Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 3
“Jesus said, "If those who lead you say to you, 'See, the kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will precede you. If they say to you, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will precede you. Rather, the kingdom is inside of you, and i…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 4
“Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 5
“Jesus said, "Recognize what is in your sight, and that which is hidden from you will become plain to you . For there is nothing hidden which will not become manifest."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 6
“His disciples questioned him and said to him, "Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?" Jesus said, "Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 7
“Jesus said, "Blessed is the lion which becomes man when consumed by man; and cursed is the man whom the lion consumes, and the lion becomes man."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 8
“And he said, "The man is like a wise fisherman who cast his net into the sea and drew it up from the sea full of small fish. Among them the wise fisherman found a fine large fish. He threw all the small fish back into the sea and chose the…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 9
“Jesus said, "Now the sower went out, took a handful (of seeds), and scattered them. Some fell on the road; the birds came and gathered them up. Others fell on the rock, did not take root in the soil, and did not produce ears. And others fel…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 10
“Jesus said, "I have cast fire upon the world, and see, I am guarding it until it blazes."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 11
“Jesus said, "This heaven will pass away, and the one above it will pass away. The dead are not alive, and the living will not die. In the days when you consumed what is dead, you made it what is alive. When you come to dwell in the light, w…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 12
“The disciples said to Jesus, "We know that you will depart from us. Who is to be our leader?" Jesus said to them, "Wherever you are, you are to go to James the righteous, for whose sake heaven and earth came into being."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 13
“Jesus said to his disciples, "Compare me to someone and tell me whom I am like." Simon Peter said to him, "You are like a righteous angel." Matthew said to him, "You are like a wise philosopher." Thomas said to him, "Master, my mouth is who…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 14
“Jesus said to them, "If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; and if you pray, you will be condemned; and if you give alms, you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about in the districts, if they r…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 15
“Jesus said, "When you see one who was not born of woman, prostrate yourselves on your faces and worship him. That one is your father."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 16
“Jesus said, "Men think, perhaps, that it is peace which I have come to cast upon the world. They do not know that it is dissension which I have come to cast upon the earth: fire, sword, and war. For there will be five in a house: three will…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 17
“Jesus said, "I shall give you what no eye has seen and what no ear has heard and what no hand has touched and what has never occurred to the human mind."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 18
“The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us how our end will be." Jesus said, "Have you discovered, then, the beginning, that you look for the end? For where the beginning is, there will the end be. Blessed is he who will take his place in the be…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 19
“Jesus said, "Blessed is he who came into being before he came into being. If you become my disciples and listen to my words, these stones will minister to you. For there are five trees for you in Paradise which remain undisturbed summer and…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 20
“The disciples said to Jesus, "Tell us what the kingdom of heaven is like." He said to them, "It is like a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it falls on tilled soil, it produces a great plant and becomes a shelter for b…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 21
“Mary said to Jesus, "Whom are your disciples like?" He said, "They are like children who have settled in a field which is not theirs. When the owners of the field come, they will say, 'Let us have back our field.' They (will) undress in the…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 22
“Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, "These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom." They said to him, "Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?" Jesus said to them, "When you make the two one…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 27
“<Jesus said,> "If you do not fast as regards the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you will not see the father."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 28
“Jesus said, "I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 29
“Jesus said, "If the flesh came into being because of spirit, it is a wonder. But if spirit came into being because of the body, it is a wonder of wonders. Indeed, I am amazed at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 30
“Jesus said, "Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 31
“Jesus said, "No prophet is accepted in his own village; no physician heals those who know him."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 32
“Jesus said, "A city being built on a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 35
“Jesus said, "It is not possible for anyone to enter the house of a strong man and take it by force unless he binds his hands; then he will (be able to) ransack his house."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 37
“His disciples said, "When will you become revealed to us and when shall we see you?" Jesus said, "When you disrobe without being ashamed and take up your garments and place them under your feet like little children and tread on them, then w…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 39
“Jesus said, "The pharisees and the scribes have taken the keys of knowledge (gnosis) and hidden them. They themselves have not entered, nor have they allowed to enter those who wish to. You, however, be as wise as serpents and as innocent a…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 41
“Jesus said, "Whoever has something in his hand will receive more, and whoever has nothing will be deprived of even the little he has."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 42
“Jesus said, "Become passers-by."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 43
“His disciples said to him, "Who are you, that you should say these things to us?" <Jesus said to them,> "You do not realize who I am from what I say to you, but you have become like the Jews, for they (either) love the tree and hate its fru…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 46
“Jesus said, "Among those born of women, from Adam until John the Baptist, there is no one so superior to John the Baptist that his eyes should not be lowered (before him). Yet I have said, whichever one of you comes to be a child will be ac…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 50
“Jesus said, "If they say to you, 'Where did you come from?', say to them, 'We came from the light, the place where the light came into being on its own accord and established itself and became manifest through their image.' If they say to y…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 51
“His disciples said to him, "When will the repose of the dead come about, and when will the new world come?" He said to them, "What you look forward to has already come, but you do not recognize it."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 53
“His disciples said to him, "Is circumcision beneficial or not?" He said to them, "If it were beneficial, their father would beget them already circumcised from their mother. Rather, the true circumcision in spirit has become completely prof…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 54
“Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor, for yours is the kingdom of heaven."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 55
“Jesus said, "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother cannot become a disciple to me. And whoever does not hate his brothers and sisters and take up his cross in my way will not be worthy of me."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 56
“Jesus said, "Whoever has come to understand the world has found (only) a corpse, and whoever has found a corpse is superior to the world."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 57
“Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a man who had good seed. His enemy came by night and sowed weeds among the good seed. The man did not allow them to pull up the weeds; he said to them, 'I am afraid that you will go intending t…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 58
“Jesus said, "Blessed is the man who has suffered and found life."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 60
“<They saw> a Samaritan carrying a lamb on his way to Judea. He said to his disciples, "That man is round about the lamb." They said to him, "So that he may kill it and eat it." He said to them, "While it is alive, he will not eat it, but on…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 61
“Jesus said, "Two will rest on a bed: the one will die, and the other will live." Salome said, "Who are you, man, that you ... have come up on my couch and eaten from my table?" Jesus said to her, "I am he who exists from the undivided. I wa…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 62
“Jesus said, "It is to those who are worthy of my mysteries that I tell my mysteries. Do not let your left (hand) know what your right (hand) is doing."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 63
“Jesus said, "There was a rich man who had much money. He said, 'I shall put my money to use so that I may sow, reap, plant, and fill my storehouse with produce, with the result that I shall lack nothing.' Such were his intentions, but that…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 65
“He said, "There was a good man who owned a vineyard. He leased it to tenant farmers so that they might work it and he might collect the produce from them. He sent his servant so that the tenants might give him the produce of the vineyard. T…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 66
“Jesus said, "Show me the stone which the builders have rejected. That one is the cornerstone."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 67
“Jesus said, "If one who knows the all still feels a personal deficiency, he is completely deficient."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 68
“Jesus said, "Blessed are you when you are hated and persecuted. Wherever you have been persecuted they will find no place."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 69
“Jesus said, "Blessed are they who have been persecuted within themselves. It is they who have truly come to know the father. Blessed are the hungry, for the belly of him who desires will be filled."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 70
“Jesus said, "That which you have will save you if you bring it forth from yourselves. That which you do not have within you will kill you if you do not have it within you."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 74
“He said, "O Lord, there are many around the drinking trough, but there is nothing in the cistern."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 76
“Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a merchant who had a consignment of merchandise and who discovered a pearl. That merchant was shrewd. He sold the merchandise and bought the pearl alone for himself. You too, seek his unfailing…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 79
“A woman from the crowd said to him, "Blessed are the womb which bore you and the breasts which nourished you." He said to her, "Blessed are those who have heard the word of the father and have truly kept it. For there will be days when you…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 80
“Jesus said, "He who has recognized the world has found the body, but he who has found the body is superior to the world."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 81
“Jesus said, "Let him who has grown rich be king, and let him who possesses power renounce it."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 82
“Jesus said, "He who is near me is near the fire, and he who is far from me is far from the kingdom."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 83
“Jesus said, "The images are manifest to man, but the light in them remains concealed in the image of the light of the father. He will become manifest, but his image will remain concealed by his light."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 88
“Jesus said, "The angels and the prophets will come to you and give to you those things you (already) have. And you too, give them those things which you have, and say to yourselves, 'When will they come and take what is theirs?'"…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 91
“They said to him, "Tell us who you are so that we may believe in you." He said to them, "You read the face of the sky and of the earth, but you have not recognized the one who is before you, and you do not know how to read this moment."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 96
“Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a certain woman. She took a little leaven, concealed it in some dough, and made it into large loaves. Let him who has ears hear."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 97
“Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a certain woman who was carrying a jar full of meal. While she was walking on the road, still some distance from home, the handle of the jar broke and the meal emptied out behind her on the roa…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 98
“Jesus said, "The kingdom of the father is like a certain man who wanted to kill a powerful man. In his own house he drew his sword and stuck it into the wall in order to find out whether his hand could carry through. Then he slew the powerf…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 99
“The disciples said to him, "Your brothers and your mother are standing outside." He said to them, "Those here who do the will of my father are my brothers and my mother. It is they who will enter the kingdom of my father."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 100
“They showed Jesus a gold coin and said to him, "Caesar's men demand taxes from us." He said to them, "Give Caesar what belongs to Caesar, give God what belongs to God, and give me what is mine."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 101
“<Jesus said,> "Whoever does not hate his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. And whoever does not love his father and his mother as I do cannot become a disciple to me. For my mother [...], but my true mother gave…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 104
“They said to Jesus, "Come, let us pray today and let us fast." Jesus said, "What is the sin that I have committed, or wherein have I been defeated? But when the bridegroom leaves the bridal chamber, then let them fast and pray."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 105
“Jesus said, "He who knows the father and the mother will be called the son of a harlot."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 106
“Jesus said, "When you make the two one, you will become the sons of man, and when you say, 'Mountain, move away,' it will move away."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 108
“Jesus said, "He who will drink from my mouth will become like me. I myself shall become he, and the things that are hidden will be revealed to him."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 109
“Jesus said, "The kingdom is like a man who had a hidden treasure in his field without knowing it. And after he died, he left it to his son. The son did not know (about the treasure). He inherited the field and sold it. And the one who bough…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 110
“Jesus said, "Whoever finds the world and becomes rich, let him renounce the world."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 111
“Jesus said, "The heavens and the earth will be rolled up in your presence. And the one who lives from the living one will not see death." Does not Jesus say, "Whoever finds himself is superior to the world?"…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 112
“Jesus said, "Woe to the flesh that depends on the soul; woe to the soul that depends on the flesh."…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 113
“His disciples said to him, "When will the kingdom come?" <Jesus said,> "It will not come by waiting for it. It will not be a matter of saying 'here it is' or 'there it is.' Rather, the kingdom of the father is spread out upon the earth, and…”
Gospel of Thomas | Logion 114
“Simon Peter said to him, "Let Mary leave us, for women are not worthy of life." Jesus said, "I myself shall lead her in order to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every woman who will make h…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-g
“Now therefore we all together we wait for thee at the last Boundary, namely, the last mystery (reckoning) from within, he also is a part of us. Now therefore we have dispatched to thee thy vesture [17 ] which is thy very own from at first,…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-m
“But answered Philippos, said he to Jesus, My Lord, because of which mystery removedst thou the binding of the Rulers with their Aeons, with their Destiny, with their Sphere, with all their Places, and in confusion thou causedst them to be c…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-q
“It happened therefore having come upon their veils, they drew (away) of their own (accord), they opened to me, 22 I came [40 ] in unto the thirteenth of the Aeon ( MS. Aeons), I found the Pistis Sophia being below the thirteenth Aeon, she…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-w
“My mouth was full of glory, that I should say the mystery of thy [54 ] greatness at every time. Now therefore, O Light, leave me not in the Chaos for the completion of all my time. Leave me not behind thee O Light, because they took away…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-x
“Answered the Saviour, said he to Petros, Well (said), Petros, this is the explanation of her repentance. Ye are happy (ones) beyond every man who is upon the earth, because [56 ] I revealed unto you these mysteries. Verily verily I say to…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-ak
“Now therefore, O Light of the Lights, let them not take away my light from me, and let them not say within them, Our power was satisfied with her light, and let them not say, (We) swallowed (down) her power, but let darkness rather come upo…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-al
“Let them not rejoice at me, those who are enemies unto me in violence, those who hate me without a cause, and they are winking with their eyes. Because I indeed, they are wont to speak with me in words of peace, and they are [87 ] wont to…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-am
“But I came out of all their midst, not any power knew (it), neither those of the inward part of the inward parts, nor those of the outward part of the outward, except the First Mystery only. It happened therefore, I having come unto the Ch…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-an
“Its thought is taking away the light from me at every time; and as iron they are cutting, [92 ] they took away a power from me. I loved to come down unto the Chaos, more than to remain in the Place of the thirteenth Aeon the Place of the r…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-at
“But answered Maria the mother of Jesus, said she, My Lord, thy power of light prophesied about these [106 ] words once by Solomon in his nine(teenth) ode and said it, The Lord upon my head as a crown, and I shall not become 58 outside of hi…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FIRST-au
“The truth also is the power which came out of thee, thou being in the Place below of the Chaos. Because of this, thy power said by David, The truth burst forth out of the earth, because that thou art in the Place below of the Chaos. The r…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-a
“THE SECOND TOME OF THE PISTIS SOPHIA [115 ] Came also forward Iohannes, said he, O Lord, command to me also for to say the explanation of the words which thy power of light prophesied once by David. But answered Jesus, said he to Iohannes,…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-c
“These (things) therefore while the First Mystery is saying unto the disciples, that they happened to the Pistis Sophia in the Chaos, answered, said he to them, Do ye understand in what manner I am speaking with you? Came forward [120 ] Pet…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-e
“And the Self-willed dispatched out of the Height in the thirteenth Aeon, he dispatched another great power of light, it came down unto the Chaos as an [125 ] arrow flying, that he should help his emanations, and take away the lights of the…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-f
“It happened therefore, the angels having gone down unto the Chaos, they with the effluence of Light, and also all the emanations of the Self-willed [127 ] with the emanation of the Adamas, they saw the effluence of Light enlightening greatl…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-j
“It happened therefore, the First [137 ] Mystery having heard these words said he: Well (done) Iakkobos, the beloved, But added also in the word the First Mystery, said he to the disciples, It happened, I having brought the Pistis Sophia up…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-n
“That is the word which said the Pistis Sophia, And thou struckest the serpent, he of the seven heads through my hands. And thou settest me up upon his matter, thou destroyedst him that his seed should not rise up from this hour. And the w…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-t
“O Lord, my God, if I did this (thing) if there is violence in my hands, if I repaid to those who repaid to me evil (things), may I perish by my enemy, being empty: and may my enemies persecute my soul and seize it: and trample my life down…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-u
“But answered the First Mystery, said he to Martha, I command to thee Martha for to utter the 88 explanation of the words, these which said the Sophia in her hymn. But answered Martha said she, My Lord, these are the words which thy power o…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-x
“[170 ] Because that I was not seeking after the manner (in) which seek the men of the World; but we are seeking indeed in the knowledge of the Height, this which thou gavest to us, and we are seeking also in the type of the search which is…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-y
“And ye will become in a great wonder greatly greatly. And whenever I should take you unto the Place of the (Rulers of the) Destiny 93 [173 ] ye will see the glory in which they become, and out of their great glory which is preferable, ye w…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-z
“It happened therefore, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, sprang up Maria the Magdalene, said she, My Lord, be not angry with me, seeking (from) thee, because that we are seeking after every thing in an exactness.…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ac
“[182 ] And they are coming unto the Place of those of the Middle, and those of the Middle will baptise them (with) the spiritual unction, and seal them with the seal of their mystery and they will pass through in unto those of all Places of…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ad
“Answered further Jesus, said he to her, Well (done), O pure spiritual Maria, this is the explanation of the word. It happened therefore also after all these words, added Jesus in the word, said he to his disciples, [185 ] Hear that I may s…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ae
“Answered Jesus, said he to Maria in the midst of the disciples, Amen, amen I say to you, The second Helper is distant from the first Helper in a great distance immeasurable in reference to the height above and beneath, in reference to the d…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ah
“And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Slander became, and because of what the Word which is good [194 ] became: and that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what the Obedience became, and because of w…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ak
“It happened therefore, the disciples having heard these words which said Jesus, they drew back and they were silent altogether. Came forward Maria the Magdalene, she prostrated at the feet of Jesus, she worshipped unto them, she cried out,…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-al
“And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself him the great Light of the Lights, and because of what he (they, MS ) proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones), and that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth beca…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-an
“And that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because of what despoiled himself [208 ] the first Triple spirit from below this, which belongeth to the arrays of the Only One, the Ineffable, and because of what they proceeded out of the seco…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ao
“And he who will receive the one word of that mystery, this which I shall say unto you now with all its (his, 114 MS thus again) types with all its figures, with the manner of completing its mystery: because that ye are the perfect of all-pe…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ap
“He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the Gods, and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man being upon the World, but he excelleth all the luminaries (phoster), and he will be exalted over them all. He is a man bein…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-aq
“Now therefore not only ye will reign with me, but every man who will receive the Mystery of the Ineffable, they will become ruling with me in my kingdom, and I am them, and they are I: but my throne will become more excellent than they, bec…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-as
“It happened, Jesus having finished saying these words unto his disciples, came forward Maria the Magdalene, she kissed the feet of Jesus, said she, My Lord, bear with me, and be not angry with me, seeking from thee, but have mercy on us, my…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-at
“Amen I say unto you, That man whenever he should come out of the body, they are not wont to judge him in any Place of the Rulers, nor will they be able to punish him in any Place, 120 nor the fire will touch him through the great mystery of…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-au
“He who also receiveth out of the three mysteries of the Ineffable, whenever also he should come out of body he will inherit unto the kingdom of that mystery, and those three mysteries are equal with one another, they are in the kingdom and…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-aw
“Now therefore whenever I should finish distributing to you the Distribution of the Universe, I shall give to you and I shall say unto you the great mysteries of the three lots of my kingdom, namely, the heads of the mysteries which I shall…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-ay
“This is the answer of the words after which ye seek. Now therefore also, Andreas, yet art thou being in unbelief and with ignorance? But whenever ye should come out of the body and go unto the Height, and arrive at the Place of the Rulers…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-a
“A PART OF THE BOOKS OF THE SAVIOUR [ The Interposed Fragment ] [233 ] and those who are worthy of the Mysteries which dwell in the Ineffable, namely, which did not proceed out: these become before the First Mystery and according to resembla…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-e
“[242 ] And they are not wont to take it out of the Aeons, that the Rulers of their Aeon should not take it away in the firmaments, but they are wont to take it through the road of the light of the sun and take it up (close) to the Virgin of…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-g
“And also if he did not do that which is worthy of the mysteries, and he became in the transgression with every sin (the sins the sins, MS ) and also after these he turned, he became in a great repentance, he renounced all the World with all…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-j
“But if yet in a time of repentance they should renounce [252 ] all the World, with all the 138 matter which is in it, with all the sins of the world, and they (are they) who become in all the subjection to the mysteries of the Light, not an…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-l
“He who taketh up a mystery and completeth it, afterwards therefore whenever he should ask any (every) thing, poverty and riches, weakness and strength, disease and sound body, with every healing of the body, and with the raising of the dead…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-s
“Concerning this word therefore my Lord, which thou saidst unto us once, (Become) being reconciled with thine enemy while thou art on the road with him, lest-haply thine enemy should give thee to the judge, and the judge should give thee to…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-u
“Concerning the word therefore of the forgiveness of the sins which thou saidst unto us once in a parable, saying, I came to cast fire upon the earth; and also, What is that which I wish, except that it should be kindled: and also thou separ…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-y
“But if it is proper for him being man of the World having done this, very much more therefore the Ineffable with the First Mystery, these who are lord over the Universe are having the authority in everything to do that which they will, for…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-aa
“These therefore having said them the Saviour, sprang up forward Maria, said she, My Lord, there is ear of my Light-dweller, and I understood all the word which thou saidst: concerning this word therefore which thou saidst unto us once in a…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-ah
“And whenever the Ruler should cast out the souls, are wont the Angels of Ieou, the first man, these who are vigilant unto the chambers of that Place, he is wont to hasten immediately and to carry off that soul until he bringeth her (close)…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-ai
“Answered the Saviour, said he to Maria, Whenever the light of the sun is out, it is wont to cover with darkness the dragon: but if the sun should be down from the World, is wont the darkness to remain as curtain for the sun; and is wont the…”
Pistis Sophia | Document THIRD-ap
“Because of this therefore of this kind, I brought the keys of the mysteries [313 ] unto the World, that I should unloose the sinners, these who will believe me, and who will hearken to me, that I should unloose them from the bonds with the…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FOURTH-g
“Again also he added in the word, said he to his disciples, The fifth array, of which they are wont to call its Ruler, Iakhthanabas, being a strong Ruler, being under him many other demons: they are those who are wont to go in unto the men,…”
Pistis Sophia | Document FOURTH-h
“And they took away their eyes up, they saw a great light which is much greatly, native of earth shall not be able to speak of it. Said he also to them again, Look out on the Light, see what ye see. Said they, We are seeing a fire with wat…”
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platonism115
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1b
“I thought that in going to the other world he could not be without a divine call, and that he would be happy, if any man ever was, when he arrived there, and therefore I did not pity him as might seem natural at such a time. But neither co…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1c
“They are two, and yet they grow together out of one head or stem; and I cannot help thinking that if Aesop had noticed them, he would have made a fable about God trying to reconcile their strife, and when he could not, he fastened their hea…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1d
“Socrates replied: And have you, Cebes and Simmias, who are acquainted with Philolaus, never heard him speak of this? I never understood him, Socrates. My words, too, are only an echo; but I am very willing to say what I have heard: and in…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1e
“And I rather imagine that Cebes is referring to you; he thinks that you are too ready to leave us, and too ready to leave the gods who, as you acknowledge, are our good rulers. Yes, replied Socrates; there is reason in that. And this indi…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1h
“And now that the hour of departure is appointed to me, this is the hope with which I depart, and not I only, but every man who believes that he has his mind purified. Certainly, replied Simmias. And what is purification but the separation…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1i
“They are temperate because they are intemperate-which may seem to be a contradiction, but is nevertheless the sort of thing which happens with this foolish temperance. For there are pleasures which they must have, and are afraid of losing;…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1j
“I reckon, said Socrates, that no one who heard me now, not even if he were one of my old enemies, the comic poets, could accuse me of idle talking about matters in which I have no concern. Let us, then, if you please, proceed with the inqu…”
Plato: Phaedo | Section 1k
“That is clear, he replied. Then the inference is, that our souls are in the world below? That is true. And one of the two processes or generations is visible-for surely the act of dying is visible? Surely, he said. And may not the othe…”
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taoism110
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 1
“The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as) having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; (conceived of as) having a n…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 2
“All in the world know the beauty of the beautiful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what ugliness is; they all know the skill of the skilful, and in doing this they have (the idea of) what the want of skill is. So it is that existe…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 3
“Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 4
“The Tao is (like) the emptiness of a vessel; and in our employment of it we must be on our guard against all fulness. How deep and unfathomable it is, as if it were the Honoured Ancestor of all things! We should blunt our sharp points, and…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 5
“Heaven and earth do not act from (the impulse of) any wish to be benevolent; they deal with all things as the dogs of grass are dealt with. The sages do not act from (any wish to be) benevolent; they deal with the people as the dogs of gras…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 6
“The valley spirit dies not, aye the same; The female mystery thus do we name. Its gate, from which at first they issued forth, Is called the root from which grew heaven and earth. Long and unbroken does its power remain, Used gently, and wi…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 7
“Heaven is long-enduring and earth continues long. The reason why heaven and earth are able to endure and continue thus long is because they do not live of, or for, themselves. This is how they are able to continue and endure. Therefore the…”
Tao Te Ching | Chapter 8
“The highest excellence is like (that of) water. The excellence of water appears in its benefiting all things, and in its occupying, without striving (to the contrary), the low place which all men dislike. Hence (its way) is near to (that of…”
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buddhism67
The Dhammapada | Chapter I, Section 1b
“70-75.' I do not deny that this may have been the traditional interpretation, at all events since the days of Buddhaghosa, but the very legend quoted by Buddhaghosa in illustration of this verse shows that its simpler and purely moral inter…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter I, Section 1c
“The play on the words anikkasâvo kâsâvam, or in Sanskrit anishkashâya h kâshâyam, cannot be rendered in English. Kashâya means 'impurity,' nish-kashâya, 'free from impurity,' anish-kashâya, 'not free from impurity,' while kâshâya is the na…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter I, Section 1d
“He suffers when he thinks of the evil he has done; he suffers more when going on the evil path. 18. The virtuous man is happy in this world, and he is happy in the next; he is happy in both. He is happy when he thinks of the good he has…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter II, Section 1a
“p. 9 CHAPTER II. ON EARNESTNESS . 21. Earnestness is the path of immortality (Nirvâ n a), thoughtlessness the path of death. Those who are in earnest do not die, those who are thoughtless are as if dead already. 22. Those who are adv…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter II, Section 1b
“A Bhikshu (mendicant) who delights in earnestness, who looks with fear on thoughtlessness, [25. Childers explains this island again as the state of an Arhat (arahatta-phalam). 28. Cf. Childers, Dictionary, Preface, p. xiv. See Vinaya,…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter III, Section 1b
“That s ru means 'to run,' and is in fact a merely dialectic variety of sru, has been proved by Burnouf, while Boehtlingk thinks the substitution of s for s is a mistake. Â s rava therefore, or âsrava, meant originally 'the running out towa…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter III, Section 1c
“I translate it therefore in a more general sense, let him not return or turn away from the battle, let him watch Mâra, even after he is vanquished, let him keep up a constant fight against the adversary, without being attached to anything o…”
The Dhammapada | Chapter IV, Section 1a
“p. 16 CHAPTER IV. FLOWERS . 44. Who shall overcome this earth, and the world of Yama (the lord of the departed), and the world of the gods? Who shall find out the plainly shown path of virtue, as a clever man finds out the (right) flow…”
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renaissance_hermeticism63
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | INTRODUCTION-l
“There he passed the first day of that imprisonment which was to last for eight years. The next day he went over the lagoon in a gondola, in the company of his jailors, who took him to the prison of the Holy Office, and left him there. Lev…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-b
“They do not consider that those rules serve principally as a frame for the Homeric poetry, and for other similar to it, and they set up one as a great poet, high as Homer, and disallow those of other vein, and art, and enthusiasm, who in th…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-c
“Hence he cries: "O mountain of Parnassus, where I abide! Muses, with whom I converse! Fountain of Helicon, where I am nourished. Mountain, that affordest me a quiet dwelling-place! Muses, that inspire me with pro found doctrines. Fount…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-d
“Some are called in vain to put in a ready appearance, and are chiefly those which proceed from the lower instincts, and which obey the reason either not at all, or very little; and forcing himself to prevent their actions and condemn those…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-e
“What power or spell of herb or magic art Can tear thee from the centre of my heart, Since he, who with an ever-growing zest, Tormenting most, yet most does make me blest? How can I of this weight unburdened be, If pain the cure, and joy th…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-f
“One thing is certain, that he who loves wisely in youth will in age not go astray. But derision is for those of mature age, into whose hands Love puts the alphabet. Cic. Tell me now why Fate is called blind and bad. Tans. Again, blind…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | First Dialogue-g
“"Steals it from me," he says of Jealousy, not simply in order that it may not be present to me; removing it from my eyesight, but in order that good may not be good, but an acute evil; sweet, not sweet, but an agonized longing; while the he…”
The Heroic Enthusiasts, Part I (Gli Eroici Furori) | Second Dialogue-a
“. Tansillo. Now begins the enthusiast to display the affections and uncover the wounds which are for a sign in his body, and in substance or essence in his soul, and he says thus: 9. Of Love the standard-bearer I; My hopes are ice, and g…”
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hermeticism33
Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres | Section 1b
“But when He raised His head, I see in Mind the Light, [but] now in Powers no man could number, and Cosmos grown beyond all bounds, and that the Fire was compassed round about by a most mighty Power, and [now] subdued had come unto a stand.…”
Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres | Section 1c
“And when she saw that Form of beauty which can never satiate, and him who [now] possessed within himself each single energy of [all seven] Rulers as well as God's own Form, she smiled with love; for 'twas as though she'd seen the image of M…”
Corpus Hermeticum 1: Poimandres | Section 1f
“All this befell me from my Mind, that is Man-Shepherd, Word (Logos) of all masterhood, by whom being God-inspired I came unto the Plain of Truth. Wherefore with all my soul and strength thanksgiving give I unto Father-God. 31. Holy art T…”
Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum | Section 1a
“To Asclepius <This dialogue sets forth the difference between the physical and metaphysical worlds in the context of Greek natural philosophy. Some of the language is fairly technical: the "errant spheres" of sections 6 and 7 are the celes…”
Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum | Section 1b
“A: How is it, then, that things down here, Thrice-greatest one, are moved with those that are [already] moved? For thou hast said the errant spheres were moved by the inerrant one. H: This is not, O Asclepius, a moving with, but one again…”
Corpus Hermeticum 2: The Serapeum | Section 1c
“H: Alack, Asclepius, for thy far-wandering from the truth! Think'st thou that things most full and most replete are void? 11. A: How meanest thou, Thrice-greatest one? H: Is not air body? A: It is. H: And doth this body not pervade al…”
Corpus Hermeticum 3: The Sacred Sermon | Section 1
“The Sacred Sermon 1. The Glory of all things is God, Godhead and Godly Nature. Source of the things that are is God, who is both Mind and Nature - yea Matter, the Wisdom that reveals all things. Source [too] is Godhead - yea Nature, Energy,…”
Corpus Hermeticum 4: The Epistles | Section 1b
“And having raised themselves so far they sight the Good; and having sighted it, they look upon their sojourn here as a mischance; and in disdain of all, both things in body and the bodiless, they speed their way unto that One and Only One.…”
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theosophy24
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky -- Vol. 1 [[Vol. 1, Page 1]] PROEM ------- PAGES FROM A PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD. A N Archaic Manuscript -- a collection of palm leaves made impermeable to water, fire, and air, by some specific unknow…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 3)
“The esoteric symbol of Kali Yuga is the five-pointed star reversed, thus -- the sign of human sorcery, with its two points (horns) turned heavenward, a position every [[Footnote(s)]] ------------------------------------------------- * See t…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 5)
“But this view does not prevent him from believing in its existence so long as it lasts, to wit, for one Mahamanvantara; nor from applying Akasa, the radiation of Mulaprakriti,* to practical purposes, connected as the World-Soul is with all…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 4 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H. P. Blavatsky -- Vol. 1 [[Vol. 1, Page 25]] PART I . COSMIC EVOLUTION. --------------------- SEVEN STANZAS TRANSLATED WITH COMMENTARIES FROM THE SECRET BOOK OF DZYAN. [[Vol. 1, Page 26]] Nor Aught nor Nought…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 4 (part 4)
“I T IS THEY WHO ARE THOU, ME, HIM, OH L ANOO. T HEY, WHO WATCH OVER THEE, AND THY MOTHER EARTH. [[Vol. 1, Page]] 34 THE SECRET DOCTRINE. 2. T HE ONE RAY MULTIPLIES THE SMALLER RAYS. L IFE PRECEDES FORM, AND LIFE SURVIVES THE LAST ATOM…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 5 (part 3)
“D ARKNESS ALONE FILLED THE BOUNDLESS ALL ( a ), FOR FATHER, MOTHER AND SON WERE ONCE MORE ONE, AND THE SON HAD NOT AWAKENED YET FOR THE NEW WHEEL* AND HIS PILGRIMAGE THEREON ( b ). ( a ) "Darkness is Father-Mother: light their son," says a…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 5 (part 4)
“1, Page]] 43 MOTIONS, THE "GREAT BREATH." sense, for it must give room to still further absolute perfection, according to a higher standard of excellence in the following period of activity -- just as a perfect flower must cease to be a per…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 5 (part 6)
“(See Weber, Max Muller, etc.) We labour under the impression that Colebrooke, "the highest authority" in such matters, had long ago settled the question by showing, that "the Hindus were in this instance the teachers, not the learners." [[V…”
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greek_mystery21
Orphic Hymns | Hymn I. THE GODDESS PROTHYRÆA
“I. TO THE GODDESS PROTHYRÆA * . The FUMIGATION from STORAX. O venerable goddess, hear my pray'r, For labour pains are thy peculiar care; in thee, when stretch'd upon the bed of grief, The sex as in a mirror view relief. Guard of the race, e…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn IV. FIRE
“IV. TO FIRE. The FUMIGATION from SAFFRON. O Ever untam'd Fire, who reign'st on high In Jove's dominions ruler of the sky; The glorious sun with dazzling lustre bright, And moon and stars from thee derive their light; All taming pow'r, æther…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn V. PROTOGONUS, Or the FIRST-BORN
“V. TO PROTOGONUS, Or the FIRST-BORN. The FUMIGATION from MYRRH. O Mighty first-begotten, hear my pray'r, 1 Two-fold, egg-born, and wand'ring thro' the air, p. 119 Bull-roarer, glorying in thy golden wings, 3 From whom the race of Gods and m…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn X
“X. TO PAN * The FUMIGATION from VARIOUS ODORS I Call strong Pan, the substance of the whole, Etherial, marine, earthly, general soul, Immortal fire; for all the world is thine, And all are parts of thee, O pow'r divine. p. 131 Come, blessed…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XIV. JUPITER
“XIV. TO JUPITER. The FUMIGATION from STORAX. O Jove much-honor'd, Jove supremely great, To thee our holy rites we consecrate, p. 140 Our pray'rs and expiations, king divine, For all things round thy head exalted shine. The earth is thine, a…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XXV
“XXV. TO THE EARTH * The FUMIGATION from every kind of SEED, except BEANS and AROMATICS. O Goddess, Earth, of Gods and men the source, Endu'd with fertile, all destroying force; All-parent, bounding, whose prolific pow'rs, Produce a store of…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XXVIII. PROSERPINE
“XXVIII. TO PROSERPINE. A HYMN DAUGHTER of Jove, almighty and divine, Come, blessed queen, and to these rites incline: Only-begotten, Pluto's honor'd wife, 3 O venerable Goddess, source of life: 'Tis thine in earth's profundities to dwell, 5…”
Orphic Hymns | Hymn XLI. MISES
“XLI. TO MISES. The FUMIGATION from STORAX. Call Thesmophorus * , spermatic God, Of various names, who bears the leafy rod: Mises, ineffable, pure, sacred queen, Two-fold Iacchus, male and female seen: Illustr'ous, whether to rejoice is thin…”
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sufism19
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | PROLOGUE-a
“HEARKEN to the reed-flute, how it complains, Lamenting its banishment from its home: "Ever since they tore me from my osier bed, My plaintive notes have moved men and women to tears. I burst my breast, striving to give vent to sighs, And t…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY I-a
“The Prince and the Handmaid. A prince, while engaged on a hunting excursion, espied a fair maiden, and by promises of gold induced her to accompany him. After a time she fell sick, and the prince had her tended by divers physicians. As,…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY II
“The Oilman and his Parrot. An oilman possessed a parrot which used to amuse him with its agreeable prattle, and to watch his shop when he went out. One day, when the parrot was alone in the shop, a cat upset one of the oil-jars. When the oi…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY IV
“Another Tyrannical Jewish King. A certain Jewish king, the same who is referred to in the Sura "Signs of the Zodiac," I made up his mind to utterly exterminate the Christian faith, and with that view he set up a huge idol, and issued comman…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-a
“The Lion and the Beasts. In the book of Kalila and Damna a story is told of a lion who held all the beasts of the neighborhood in subjection, and was in the habit of making constant raids upon them, to take and kill such of them as he requ…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-c
“The skill taught by God to the silkworm Is a learning beyond the reach of the elephant. The earthly Adam was taught of God names, 4 So that his glory reached the seventh heaven. He laid low the name and fame of the angels, 5 Yet blind ind…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-d
“But the light that lights the heart is the Light of God, Which is distinct from the light of reason and sense. At night there is no light, and colors are not seen; Hence we know what light is by its opposite, darkness. At night no colors…”
The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi) | STORY V-e
“"In yourselves are signs; will ye not behold them?" (Koran li, 21). 12. See Gulshan i Raz, I. 92. Mr. Mansel (Bampton Lectures, p. 49) says: "A thing can be known as that which it is only by being distinguished from that which it is n…”
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biblical15
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 2:2-3:1
“[2:2] and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage. [2:3] And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. [2:4] And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is n…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 3:2-3:25
“[3:2] the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him. [3:3] Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 6:41-6:67
“[6:41] The Jews therefore murmured concerning him, because he said, I am the bread which came down out of heaven. [6:42] And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come d…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 7:25-7:51
“[7:25] Some therefore of them of Jerusalem said, Is not this he whom they seek to kill? [7:26] And lo, he speaketh openly, and they say nothing unto him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ? [7:27] Howbeit we kno…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 7:52-8:23
“[7:52] They answered and said unto him, Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and see that out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. [7:53] [And they went every man unto his own house: [8:1] but Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. [8:2] And early…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 8:48-9:14
“[8:48] The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon? [8:49] Jesus answered, I have not a demon; but I honor my Father, and ye dishonor me. [8:50] But I seek not mine own glory: there is…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 9:15-9:39
“[9:15] Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see. [9:16] Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he ke…”
The Gospel According to John (American Standard Version, 1901) | 9:40-10:24
“[9:40] Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said unto him, Are we also blind? [9:41] Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye would have no sin: but now ye say, We see: your sin remaineth. [10:1] Verily, veri…”
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egyptian12
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 6 (part 13)
“222) 8. Ibid. , t. viii., p. 88 (l. 565 ff.). 9. Ibid. , t. iii., p. 214 (l. 268).] Further, this identification of the deceased with the God of Heaven places him in the position of supreme ruler. For example, we have the prayer…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 6 (part 19)
“The whole passage reads:-- "(496) The heavens drop water, the stars throb, (497) the archers go round about, the (498) bones of Akeru tremble, and those who are in bondage to them take to flight when they see (499) Unas rise up as a soul, i…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 8 (part 2)
“Verily it shall be cast forth by my healing words of power, and I will drive it away from before the sight of thy sunbeams." The holy god opened his mouth and said, "I was passing along my path, and I was going through the two regions of my…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 14 (part 7)
“Thou hast knit (10) together the mountains, thou has made mankind and the beasts of the field, thou hast created the heavens and the earth. Worshipped be thou whom the goddess Maat embraceth at morn and at eve. Thou dost travel across the…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 19 (part 4)
“The draught-board of the ancient Egyptians is often a rectangular wooden box, the top divided into squares, containing a drawer in which the men are kept (British Museum, No. 21,576). Draught-boards were also made of blue glazed faïence ,…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 19 (part 9)
“, the "house of cloth," was a district belonging to the temple of Suten-henen or Heracleopolis in Upper Egypt.] Ubes-hra-per-em-khet khet,[l] and Maa (106) -em-qerh-an-nef-em-hru. The chief of the holy ones (107) who minister in his chamber…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 19 (part 12)
“He to whom saffron cakes have been brought in (127) Tanenet is Osiris; or (as others say), The saffron cakes (128) in Tanenet are heaven and earth, or (as others say), They are Shu, strengthener of the two lands in (129) Suten-henen. The s…”
The Egyptian Book of the Dead (Papyrus of Ani) | Chapter 43 (part 44)
“The preservation of the corruptible body too was in some way connected with the life in the world to come, and its preservation was necessary to ensure eternal life; otherwise the prayers recited to this end would have been futile, and the…”
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jewish_mysticism12
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1a
“CHAPTER V. 1. (It is written) Isa. i. 4: "Woe unto the sinful nation, unto the people heavy with iniquity, unto the seed of evildoers, &c." (Here the author of the "Siphra Dtzenioutha" reasoneth concerning the small word HVI, "woe," whi…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1b
“If the reader turn to the introduction, to the Table showing the Sephiroth arranged in three pillars, he will see that Malkuth is, as it were, the antithesis of Kether; and hence it is said that "Malkuth is Kether after another manner." And…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1g
“The four wheels are their correlatives under the second Sephira, on their four sides--namely, the four elements of the air, fire, water, and earth, which are the abodes of the spirits of the elements, the sylphs, salamanders, undines, and g…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1h
“35: "Ye shall not do iniquity in judgment, in dimension, in weight, and in measure." (Where these four are mystically intimated.) 37. (There is one) rigorous judgment (of severity),another that is not rigorous (that is, of the kingdom). T…”
The Book of Concealed Mystery (Siphra Dtzenioutha) | 1i
“And IVBL, Yobel , "jubilee," is H, He (the first He of the Tetragrammaton); and He is the spirit rushing forth over all (because the mother is the world to come, when in the resurrection all things will receive the spirit); and all things s…”
The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation) | Chapter XLII
“XLII. The Dwelling-places of Wisdom and of Unrighteousness . CHAPTER XLII. 1. Wisdom found no place where she might dwell; Then a dwelling-place was assigned her in the heavens. 2 Wisdom went forth to make her dwelling among the children of…”
The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation) | Page 107
“CII. Terrors of the Day of Judgement: the adverse Fortunes of the Righteous on the Earth . Chapter CII. 1. In those days when He hath brought a grievous fire upon you, Whither will ye flee, and where will ye find deliverance? And when He la…”
The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation) | Chapter CIII
“CIII. Different Destinies of the Righteous and the Sinners: fresh Objections of the Sinners . CHAPTER CIII. 1. Now, therefore, I swear to you, the righteous, by the glory of the Great and Honoured and 2 Mighty One in dominion, and by His gr…”
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hinduism8
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter II, Section 1a
“CHAPTER II. Sañ g aya said: To him, who was thus overcome with pity, and dejected, and whose eyes were full of tears and turbid, the destroyer of Madhu spoke these words. The Deity said: How (comes it that) this delusion, O Ar g una! whi…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter II, Section 1d
“For his mind is steady whose senses are under his control. The man who ponders over objects of sense forms an attachment to them; from (that) attachment is produced desire; and from desire anger is produced ; from anger results want of dis…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter III, Section 1a
“CHAPTER III. Ar g una said: If, O Ganârdana! devotion is deemed by you to be superior to action, then why, O Kesava! do you prompt me to (this) fearful action? You seem, indeed, to confuse my mind by equivocal words. Therefore, declare…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter IV, Section 1a
“CHAPTER IV. The Deity said: This everlasting (system of) devotion I declared to the sun, the sun declared it to Manu , and Manu communicated it to Ikshvâku. Coming thus by steps, it became known to royal sages. But, O terror of (your) fo…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter IX, Section 1a
“CHAPTER IX. Now I will speak to you, who are not given to carping, of that most mysterious knowledge, accompanied by experience, by knowing which you will be released from evil. It is the chief among the sciences, the chief among the myst…”
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book II | Sutra 39
“Where there is firm conquest of covetousness, he who has conquered it awakes to the how and why of life. So it is said that, before we can understand the laws of Karma, we must free ourselves from Karma. The conquest of covetousness brings…”
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book IV | Sutra 10
“The series of dynamic mind-images is beginningless, because Desire is everlasting. The whole series of dynamic mind-images, which make up the entire history of the personal man, is a part of the mechanism which the Self employs, to mirror i…”
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Book IV | Sutra 12
“The difference between that which is past and that which is not yet come, according to their natures, depends on the difference of phase of their properties. Here we come to a high and difficult matter, which has always been held to be of g…”
celtic6
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-b
“And just as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself in…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-c
“Elphin of notable qualities, Be not displeased at thy misfortune; Although reclined thus weak in my bag, There lies a virtue in my tongue. While I continue thy protector Thou hast not much to fear; Remembering the names of the Trinity, Non…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-g
“And so, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim the power of the king and his strength, at the moment that they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin pouted out his lips after them, and played “…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-h
“I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass: I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan; I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene; I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen; I have been bard of the harp to L…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-i
“The names of the three springs From the midst of the ocean; One generated brine Which is from the Corina, To replenish the flood Over seas disappearing; The second, without injury It will fall on us, When there is rain abroad, Through the w…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-j
“And the king caused them to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin. And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from about his feet. “I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animati…”
mandaean4
Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth | Section 9
“JOHN AND THE BAPTISM OF JESUS (§ 30). Yahyā proclaims in the nights, Yōhānā on the Night's evenings. YAHYĀ proclaims in the nights.—Glory rises over the worlds. Who told Yeshu (Eshu)? Who told Yeshu Messiah, son of Miryam, who told Yeshu…”
Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth | Section 10
“"A blind man who writes a letter: a villain who has become virtuous. He abandoned wantonness and abandoned theft and reached unto faith in almighty Life. "A desolate house who ascends again to the height: one of position who has become hum…”
Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth | Section 12
“Thereon they 3 fashioned for Yahyā a wife out of thee, thou Region of the Faithful. 4 From the first conception were Handan and Sharrath born. From the middle conception were Birhām and R'himath-Haiyē born. From the last conception were Nṣa…”
Gnostic John the Baptizer — Portents at John's Birth | Section 13
“"If thou knowest," he makes answer unto her, "that this does never happen, why dost thou press me with asking: When dost thou return? I go hence and return not. Happy the day when thou dost still see me. If there were a going-away and retur…”
finnic3
The Kalevala | Rune VIII-b
“Come, sweet maiden, to my snow-sledge, I am not despised as hero, Not the meanest of magicians; Come with me and I will make thee Wife and queen in Kalevala." Thus the Maid of Beauty answered— "Would consider thee a hero, Mighty hero, I wou…”
The Kalevala | Rune XX-f
“"Osmotar, the beer-preparer, Kapo, brewer of the barley, Spake these words in saddened accents: 'Woe is me, my life hard-fated, Badly have I brewed the liquor, Have not brewed the beer in wisdom, Will not live within its vessels, Overflows…”
The Kalevala | Rune XXII-d
“Not to sleep art thou conducted, Not to happiness, nor joyance, Wakefulness, thy night-companion, And thy day-attendant, trouble; Often thou wilt drink of sorrow, Often long for vanished pleasures. "When at home thou hadst no head-gear, Th…”
norse1
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1m
“I ween that I hung | on the windy tree, Hung there for nights full nine; With the spear I was wounded, | and offered I was To Othin, myself to myself, On the tree that none | may ever know What root beneath it runs. [138. In the manuscrip…”
upanishads1
Îsâ-Upanishad | Îsâ, Section 1a
“p. 308 p. 309 VÂ G ASANEYI-SA M HITÂ-UPANISHAD, SOMETIMES CALLED Î S ÂVÂSYA OR Î S Â-UPANISHAD p. 310 p. 311 VÂ G ASANEYI-SA M HITÂ-UPANISHAD. 1. ALL this, whatsoever moves on earth, is to be hidden in the Lord (the Self). When thou…”