Gnostic John the Baptizer — The Story of the Breach with Judaism · 3 of 10 · tr. G.R.S. Mead
Section 3
Thou hast won the victory, Gnosis of Life, and helped all thy friends
to victory.
And Life is victorious.
THE EXILED COMMUNITY SETTLE ON THE EUPHRATES (§ 35).
In the Name of Great Life, may hallowed Light be glorified.
MIRYAI am I, a vine, a tree, who stands at the mouth of Eu-phrates (Frash).
The tree's leaves are precious stones, the tree's fruits pearls. The
vine-tree's foliage is glory, its shoots precious light. Among the trees its
scent it diffuses, and it spreads over all the worlds. The birds of the air
scented it; a flock settled down on the tree. A flock on it down-settled, and
they would build their nest there. They flutter about in it and settle not
down in it firmly. Of its foliage they eat . . . from its inner part they
drink wine. They eat what is not to be cast away, and drink what was not
wine. 1
While the birds sat on the vine, winds and tempests broke loose. They
shook the good birdlets awake, they smote 'gainst the tree; on all sides they
scattered the leaves of the vine-tree and scared the birds out of their
place. Many a bird there was who flew not away, but held on fast with claws
and with wings, till the winds and the tempests were over. Many again held
not on fast and were hurried away ... . Woe unto those who did not hold fast,
but were dashed from the tree and flew off. How fair is the tree of Life and
fair the birds who dwell on it!
The winds and the tempests passed and rest came over the world.
As the birds sit there and chirp and would be a-building their nest, as
the birds sit on the vine, an eagle wheeled and flew hither. A white
eagle-bird 2 came, looked down and caught sight of the birds. Round wheeled he, sped down
on them with his wings, and came and sat on the tree. In converse with him
joined the birds, and said to him:
"By thy Life, Eagle! On this tree were we birds without number.—But
there broke loose against them the winds, and on the tree came raging
tempests. They shook them off from the tree, so that they tore their wings
from them [nearly]. Many a one held fast, whom the winds and tempests could
not tear away; but many a one flew off at top speed.—We speak to thee,
therefore, p. 66 O Eagle, we ask thee respecting
the birds, because thou art sharp of sight and dost see all in this world:
What have the winds and the tempests done with those birds, our brothers?
What spyest thou out (?) over them?"
§ Ask Guru about this passage →Themes
Anthropomorphismtheology
Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery.
The divine is personified as 'Great Life' who glorifies Light, and the Eagle speaks directly to the birds.
All passages →Divine Lighttheology
The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.
The text repeatedly references 'hallowed Light' and describes the vine's foliage as 'precious light' that spreads over all worlds.
All passages →Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology
Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.
The passage begins with 'Thou hast won the victory, Gnosis of Life,' linking direct knowledge to triumph over adversity.
All passages →Living Godtheology
The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.
The divine is depicted as active and dynamic, personified as 'Great Life' who glorifies Light and helps friends to victory.
All passages →Related passages · 4 parallels
christian_mysticism|Pseudo-Dionysius: The Divine Names|Chapter 1, Section 1f
“And in all the other Divine enlightenments which the occult Tradition of our inspired teachers hath, by mystic Interpretation, accordant with the Scriptures, bestowed upon us, we also have been initiated: apprehending these things in the pr…”
Shared concept: Divine Light — The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation. (derived)
western_esoteric|The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall)|The Mysteries and Their Emissaries-a
“DID that divine knowledge which constituted the supreme possession of the pagan priestcrafts survive the destruction of their temples?
Is it yet accessible to mankind, or does it lie buried beneath the rubbish of ages, entombed within the…”
Shared concept: Gnosis Direct Knowledge — Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone. (derived)
neoplatonism|Iamblichus: On the Mysteries|Chapter XIX
“But neither does the cause [of the energies] of more excellent natures subsist as a certain middle instrument, nor does he who invokes operate through him who prophesies; for to assert these things is impious. And it is much more true to sa…”
Shared concept: Living God — The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality. (derived)
western_esoteric|The Tarot of the Bohemians (Papus)|Chapter XIV (part 6)
“The second, symbolized by Eye, is the origin of feminine Grace, of Authority.
We have seen that Power and Authority find their equilibrium in Love.
Each man, a reflected molecule of humanity made in its image, contains in himself an Adam,…”
Shared concept: Anthropomorphism — Attributing human characteristics, emotions, or form to the divine; embodied divine imagery. (derived)