Gnosis

The notion of gnosis, which means direct, personal, and experiential knowledge (especially of a spiritual or divine nature) rather than mere intellectual or propositional knowledge, is expressed through various terms across different philosophical and religious traditions. [1, 2]
Eastern Traditions

• Jñāna (ज्ञान) (Sanskrit): This is perhaps the closest equivalent to gnosis in Indian philosophy, particularly in Vedanta and Yoga traditions. It refers to knowledge gained through direct experience or insight, essential for liberation (moksha) and the realization of the self (Atman) as one with ultimate reality (Brahman).
• Ñāṇa (ñāṇa) (Pāli): The Pāli equivalent used in Buddhism, denoting direct, intuitive knowledge that arises from practice (such as meditation) and insight into the Four Noble Truths, leading to liberation from suffering (dukkha).
• Prajñā (प्रज्ञा) (Sanskrit) / Paññā (Pāli): Means “wisdom” or “insight,” specifically the wisdom that perceives the true, interdependent nature of reality (or the emptiness of phenomena in Mahayana Buddhism), which transcends ordinary understanding.
• Buddhi (बुद्धि) (Sanskrit): Refers to the higher intellect or discriminative faculty that can discern between the real and the unreal, guiding one towards enlightenment.
• Bodhi (Sanskrit/Pāli): The knowledge or wisdom that constitutes enlightenment, or spiritual awakening.
• Satori (Japanese): A Japanese Buddhist term for sudden enlightenment or a flash of personal insight.
• Rigpa (Tibetan): A term used in Tibetan Buddhism meaning “knowing” or “awareness”. [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Western & Middle Eastern Traditions • Nous (νοῦς) (Greek): In Greek philosophy (e.g., Plato, Neoplatonism), nous is the highest form of intellect or divine mind, capable of apprehending the ultimate nature of reality or the “Forms”.

• Sophia (σοφία) (Greek): Means “wisdom,” particularly the kind of wisdom that understands the fundamental truths of existence and the divine order of the cosmos.
• Ma’rifat (معرفة) (Arabic): In Sufism (Islamic mysticism), ma’rifat refers to spiritual knowledge of the self and of God, attained through direct personal experience and the removal of inner obstacles. A person who achieves this is called an al-arif bi’lah (“one who knows by God”).
• Da’ath (דעת) (Hebrew): A term in Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) that can mean “knowledge” in a deep, experiential, or unitive sense.
• Manda (Mandaean Aramaic): In Mandaeism, the last surviving Gnostic religion from antiquity, manda signifies “knowledge,” “wisdom,” or “intellect,” which is essential for the soul’s salvation.
• Theoria (Greek): In Orthodox Christian theology, theoria (contemplation) can lead to gnosis, which is a direct, personal knowledge or “vision” of God, distinct from speculative philosophy.
• Wissenschaftslehre (German): Used by philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte to mean “Doctrine of Knowledge” or transcendental idealism, in some contexts related to the study of gnosis. [1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]

These terms all point to a similar cross-cultural concept: a profound, transformative, and often intuitive or mystical understanding that goes beyond the accumulation of facts or rational thought, leading to fundamental insight into reality, the self, or the divine. [2, 7]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] http://www.gnosis.org/overview.html

[2] https://glorian.org/glossary/g/gnosis

[3] http://www.gnosis.org/overview.html

[4] https://thegentlelaw.substack.com/p/nous-gnosis-and-sophia

[5] https://www.facebook.com/groups/christian.mysticism.777/posts/2509067699459222/

[6] https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/another-word-for/spiritual_enlightenment.html

[7] https://thegentlelaw.substack.com/p/nous-gnosis-and-sophia

[8] wikipedia/en/Gnosiology

[9] wikipedia/en/Gnosis

[10] wikipedia/en/Gnosis

[11] https://www.facebook.com/groups/archeologyandcivilizations/posts/4363851793708311/