The Pistis Sophia Unveiled represents the ascensional goal of Gnostic wisdom. Not only does it contain the written message of Jesus of Nazareth (the great teacher of the previous era of Pisces) but also contains a detailed commentary written by Samael Aun Weor, the great teacher of the new Aquarian era.
The Pistis Sophia was dictated by Jesus of Nazareth to his disciples. Since that time, it has enjoyed a mysterious history, only becoming known to scholars in the 18th century, and being made publicly available some years later. Perhaps the most widely known edition is a translation by G.R.S. Mead, the former secretary of H. P. Blavatsky.
The source of the original text remains unknown to scholars, although speculation has poured forth for many years. Two centuries of debate and discussion about The Pistis Sophia have brought forth no real knowledge, and the same can be said of the many “interpretations” of the text offered by scholars, priests, and religious leaders. This is true because The Pistis Sophia—like all the great scriptures—is a work of awakened consciousness, and can only be understood by the awakened consciousness. The mind—trapped within its cage of beliefs and theories—cannot see the truth. Humanity, asleep and dreaming of spirituality, remains in darkness until the consciousness is awakened.
Before beginning his commentary on The Pistis Sophia, Samael Aun Weor had already written more than sixty books about Gnosis and the path of the self-realization of the Being. He was approaching the final moments of the most severe levels of internal initiation, and had completely eliminated all the subjective elements from his mind; in short, he had eliminated his ego, awakened his consciousness, and was preparing for the death of his physical body.
When the time came for him to write this work, the only available editions of The Pistis Sophia were in English. So one of his disciples brought him a copy of the text (as translated by G.R.S. Mead) and translated it into Spanish for him. And thus, section by section, Samael Aun Weor wrote his commentaries. Yet, due to the nature of the ordeals he was facing, he did not complete the entire portion of the book he planned to comment upon. So, the book remained unfinished, and after the death of his physical body, the G.R.S. Mead translation of The Pistis Sophia was translated into Spanish, and the commentaries by Samael Aun Weor were compiled and published as El Pistis Sophia Develado.
Now, over twenty years later, the first English edition of The Pistis Sophia Unveiled has been published. In spite of many people’s interest in a new translation of the original Coptic texts, we chose to obey the injunction at the end of the book which forbids adulteration of the text, and we keep the text as it was prepared by Samael Aun Weor. Therefore, we present to you the same translation (by G.R.S. Mead) that Samael Aun Weor heard (in Spanish) from the lips of his disciple.
It is worth mentioning at this point that the chapter divisions and descriptions were added by Mead and do not occur in the original text. We leave them intact. The only changes we have made to the Mead version are small typographical corrections and the occasional clarification of certain words; for example, where Mead used “righteousness,” Samael Aun Weor used “virtue.” We have retained the terms as used by Samael Aun Weor. Furthermore, it is also interesting to note that the original manuscript is arranged into four divisions, which are further divided into six books. This arrangement appears to be the result of the accumulation of these various writings, which represent only a portion of the materials that were originally composed.
Our single interest in publishing this work is to give to all who read it the opportunity for their consciousness to comprehend the meaning of the scripture. Within these pages, the reader will discover a form of wisdom that completely obliterates the speculations of scholars and intellectuals. Those who merely seek to compare these writings with what they have been told in the past will surely be disappointed. Here, you will find something completely new and without precedence in the theories and dogmas of men. Here, you will find the actual wisdom teachings of the universal Cosmic Christ, that wisdom that has been expressed throughout all ages and times, and which has given birth to every religion in the world. Here, you will find the pure and complete knowledge that every soul requires in order to discover its true nature.
In the Gnostic tradition, we understand that “all religions are precious pearls on the golden string of divinity,” and in their heart-essence all religions teach the same wisdom. Where there is discord or disagreement among religions is where there has been adulteration by the minds of men. Here, in this text, one can find the pure expression of that eternal wisdom that leads the soul toward the emancipation of Sophia (wisdom) from the cage of the subjective mind. Yet, let it be understood clearly: without moment-to-moment application of the techniques and practices that awaken the consciousness, there can be no entrance into the living wisdom contained in these pages. Those who merely fill their minds with the information provided herein will remain like a dark and stuffy cellar, filled with dry pages of theory, and lacking the light and music of the soul. Thus, to understand what is written here, you must put it into action from moment to moment.
The Pistis Sophia Unveiled can be understood and applied by people of all races, religions, cultures, and of either sex. It is a message for all humankind, in every corner of the world. With great happiness and joy we humbly offer this precious scripture to this suffering humanity, in hopes that all souls may come to realize the nature of their own suffering, and seek to change in a radical and revolutionary way.
May all beings be happy!
May all beings be joyful!
May all beings be in peace!
A Liturgical Note
Certain works in the Gnostic tradition require the presence of The Pistis Sophia Unveiled opened to a particular page number. In this edition, that page is 291, “The Note of a Scribe.”
