The Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes - by Mark H Gaffney (Paperback)

About the Book

Contrary to Church doctrine, the Naassenes were not a heretical derivative of Christianity, but the authentic foundation and purveyor of Jesus' actual teachings at the Last Supper. These teachings allow for spiritual attainment in this life by anyone, without the intermediary of Church or priest. This was the real meaning of the Last Supper and why the Naassenes believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Mystery traditions.

Book Synopsis

Reveals the hidden meaning of the Grail and a secret Christian doctrine for achieving higher consciousness

- Shows that Gnosticism is not a derivative of Christianity but the revelation of the true message of Jesus

- Describes the ancient relationship between water and spirit

- Explains the doctrine of immanence taught by Jesus at the Last Supper

- Features the translated source text from The Refutation of All Heresies by Bishop Hippolytus, the only existing record of the Naassene Sermon

In the third century C.E., the Catholic Bishop Hippolytus composed A Refutation of All Heresies in which his chief target was the Gnostic sect the Naassenes, whose writings included a recounting of Jesus' actual teachings at the Last Supper. Contrary to Church attacks, the Naassenes were not a heretical derivative of Christianity but the authentic foundation and purveyor of Christ's message. In fact, much of what passes as Christianity has nothing to do with the original teachings of its founder.

The message recorded in the Naassene Sermon was intended for an inner circle of disciples who were prepared for advanced initiation into Jesus' wisdom teachings. The Grail discussed therein was not an actual chalice but a symbol of the indwelling of the divine. The teachings involved the awakening of spirit and included practices aimed at restoring the soul's lost connection with God. Immanence, in the true sense intended by Jesus, thus allows for spiritual attainment in this life by ordinary individuals without the intermediary of Church or priest. This was the real meaning of the Last Supper and why the Naassenes believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Mystery traditions.

From the Back Cover

GNOSTICISM / CHRISTIANITYIn the third century C.E. the Catholic bishop Hippolytus composed A Refutation of All Heresies, which chiefly targeted the Naassenes, a Gnostic sect whose writings included a recounting of Jesus' actual teachings at the Last Supper. Ironically, Hippolytus includes this key "heretical" text in Book 5 of his condemnation--now referred to as the Naassene Sermon--which would otherwise have been lost to us. Contrary to the denouncements of the Church, the sermon shows that the Naassenes were not a heretical derivative of Christianity but instead were purveyors of Christ's authentic message. In Gnostic Secrets of the Naassenes Mark Gaffney deciphers the message recorded in the highly symbolic Naassene Sermon, a lesson intended for an inner circle of disciples who were prepared for advanced initiation into Jesus' wisdom teachings. These teachings address the awakening of spirit and include practices aimed at restoring the soul's lost connection to God. Most important, however, is their revelation of the central truth of immanence--the indwelling of the Divine as symbolized by the Grail. According to the Naassenes, immanence in the true sense intended by Jesus allows for spiritual attainment by ordinary Christians in this life without the intermediary of Church or priest. This was the real meaning of the Last Supper and why the Naassenes believed that Jesus was the fulfillment of all the Mystery traditions. MARK H. GAFFNEY is the author of Dimona: The Third Temple? and The First Tree of the Day. He lives in Oregon

Review Quotes

". . . an amazing work. . . . It offers a recreation of the original teachings of the Naassenes and shows a deep knowledge of the esoteric traditions at the heart of all the world's religions. . . . revealing that at its heart early Christianity had a living Yoga centered round the awakening of the divine within."-- "Robert Burns, New Dawn, Nov-Dec 2004"

". . . one book that not only makes the spiritual connections between East and West, but exposes some of the reasons why modern Christianity lacks some of the power that it was originally infused with. . . . a book that you'll want to take back off the shelf again and again because it's that important."-- "Mark Williams, The Midwest Book Review, Apr 2005"

". . . tying together some very diverse materials into a coherent and logical system of cosmology."-- "Institute for Hermetic Studies, October 2004"

"Luckily for us, books such as Gaffney's are now bringing God out of Heaven and putting Him where He belongs: in our world, and in us."-- "Janet Brennan, Fate, May 2005"

About the Author

Mark H. Gaffney is the author of Dimona: The Third Temple? and The First Tree of the Day. He lives in Oregon.