Page 8 - Gnosis volume 2

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INTRODUCTION

The first volume of Gnosis is consecrated to the exoteric cycle of traditional teaching.

The present volume is concerned with the mesoteric cycle. The third will deal with the

truly esoteric cycle.
In the systematic traditional teaching, each cycle corresponds to the three different

degrees of general education, thus:

1. The exoteric cycle corresponds to elementary esoteric teaching. As such, its aim is

to furnish the student with the necessary data or the basic material with which he can

work. In short, it represents the A, B, C of the Doctrine.
2. The mesoteric cycle, like secondary schooling, tries to impart to the student the

substance of a general knowledge (culture ?) and to teach him a method.

3. The esoteric cycle is equivalent to the higher, or university education.

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It is necessary to note that in any bona-fide (serious ?) esoteric teaching, as is the case
in general education, the elementary stage is, naturally, more or less uniform. The

secondary stage in traditional teaching, as in its secular counterpart, lays the accent on

the first step towards specialization: classic or modern in secular teaching, monastic or

laic in the esoteric sphere. As