The Seven Sermons to the Dead

by C.G. Jung, Basilides, H.G. Baynes (Translator)

• This e-book publication is a unique translation of a great early gnostic teacher
.
• A new table of contents with working links has been included by a publisher.

• This edition has been proof-read and corrected for spelling and grammatical errors.

From Content:

The dead came back from Jerusalem, where they found not what they sought. They prayed me let them in and besought my word, and thus I began my teaching.

Harken: I begin with nothingness. Nothingness is the same as fullness. In infinity full is no better than empty. Nothingness is both empty and full. As well might ye say anything else of nothingness, as for instance, white is it, or black, or again, it is not, or it is. A thing that is infinite and eternal hath no qualities, since it hath all qualities.

This nothingness or fullness we name the PLEROMA. Therein both thinking and being cease, since the eternal and infinite possess no qualities. In it no being is, for he then would be distinct from the pleroma, and would possess qualities which would distinguish him as something distinct from the pleroma.
In the pleroma there is nothing and everything. It is quite fruitless to think about the pleroma, for this would mean self-dissolution.

Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Gnosticism, Occult

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1925

About the author

Carl Gustav Jung (/jʊŋ/; German: [ˈkarl ˈɡʊstaf jʊŋ]), often referred to as C. G. Jung, was a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology. Jung proposed and developed the concepts of extraversion and introversion; archetypes, and the collective unconscious. His work has been influential in psychiatry and in the study of religion, philosophy, archeology, anthropology, literature, and related fields. He was a prolific writer, many of whose works were not published until after his death.

The central concept of analytical psychology is individuation—the psychological process of integrating the opposites, including the conscious with the unconscious, while still maintaining their relative autonomy. Jung considered individuation to be the central process of human development.

Jung created some of the best known psychological concepts, including the archetype, the collective unconscious, the complex, and synchronicity. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a popular psychometric instrument, has been developed from Jung's theory of psychological types.

Though he was a practising clinician and considered himself to be a scientist, much of his life's work was spent exploring tangential areas such as Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and sociology, as well as literature and the arts. Jung's interest in philosophy and the occult led many to view him as a mystic, although his ambition was to be seen as a man of science. His influence on popular psychology, the "psychologization of religion", spirituality and the New Age movement has been immense.

Reviews

[Théo d'Or]

Once upon a time there was Pleroma , a wise and serene elder, radiating an aura of tranquility and unity, and Creatura - a spirited and curious child. The elder exudes a sense of timeless wisdom, while the child was full of boundless energy and curiosity, reaching out to touch, explore and experience the world around him.
But Pleroma and Creatura shared the same head, and the same body, although, they possess, together, a deep understanding of the interconectedness of all things.

That's how I saw Jung's allegory.

As long as there is an integral connection between Pleroma and Creatura, through the interplay of the wise elder and the spirited child, individuals can have intégration, balance, and self-transcendence. The elder guides the child with his wisdom, while the child, with his openness and curiosity, keeps the flame of beauty and vitality burning, in the elder, reminding him of the richness and significance of the earthly experience.
Pleroma provides a sense of connection to something greater than ourselves, it signifies the longing for transcendence, the search for meaning and the possibility of spiritual growth.
Creatura represents the earthly realm of duality and individual human experience. It embodies the imperfect, fragmented nature of existence in the physical world.
And both are important, because it is precisely this duality that characterizes us as humans and makes us special.

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jung's cosmogony is incredible. Nonetheless he holds an extremely dualistic world view, therefore likes to emphasize the role of gender and at some parts justify gender inequality.

[Ailin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very mystifying. Felt like a manifesto on duality - in it differentiation and wholeness.
Liked the idea of Abraxas. Of humanity in so.

[Marko Bojkovský · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jung ovde nalik Ničeu koristi fromu mitološkog, religijskog teksta da prikaže suštinu svog učenja - individuaciju.

"Meni kojem je dato znanje o mnoštvu i raznolikosti bogova dobro je, ali jadni vi koji ste zamenili ove nespojive Mnoge - jednim Bogom, zato što ste čineći to započeli mučenje koje je došlo iz neznanja i zato što ste unakazili Biće čija je priroda i cilj posebnost.
Kako možete biti verni svojoj prirodi, kada ste pokušali promeniti Mnoge u Jedno? Šta ste uradili Bogovima, urađeno je Vama. Svi ste postali isti i tako je vaša priroda osakaćena.

Jednoličnost neće pobediti boga, već samo ljude. Jer bogova je mnogo, a ljudi nekolicina. Bogovi su moćni i mogu izdržati svoje mnoštvo. Zato što nalik zvezdama obitavaju u samoći, udaljeni jedni od drugih ogromnim daljinama. Ali ljudi su slabi i ne mogu izdržati svoju raznoliku prirodu. Zato se drže zajedno, da bi nekako podneli svoju odvojenost. U ime spasenja učim vas ovoj odbačenoj istini, zbog koje i ja sam bejah odbačen.

Mnoštvo bogova jednaka je mnoštvu ljudi.

Bezbrojni bogovi tek čekaju da postanu ljudi. Bezbrojni bogovi ljud već bejaše. Čovek deli svoju prirodu sa bogovoima. Iz bogova je došao, k Bogu odlazi"

[Абрахам Хосебр · Rating 5 out of 5]

Карл Ґустав Юнґ
"Сім проповідей мерцям"

Юнґ обожнював гностицизм. Не одноразово він говорив про те, що відкриття бібліотеки Наг-Хаммаді, було одним з найбільших дарунків історії для людства.
"Сім проповідей мерцям" - це творча психоаналітична реконструкція гностичного теогонічного міфу під призмою теорії архетипів. Плерома, Абраксас, Індивідуація, Інтровертний Сонце-Бог і Екстровертний Диявол. Ерос і Світове дерево. Аніма і анімус, птах і змія. Голова Абраксаса півняча, ноги - зміїні хвости. Тіло - людське, серединний світ. Три світи - Ідеї (закони), Буденне (практика), Несвідоме (сили).

Базова ідея: людина з'явилася для того, щоб Бог міг себе пізнати. Це гностицизм нового рівня де ув'язнена душа може навчити Ялдабаота гнозису і привести його до Індивідуації. Загалом, саме цю ідею я взяв за основу, працюючи над чотирикнижжям "Тетраморфеуса".

Бог це архетип Сенсу. Людина має здатність змінювати сенси.

Насправді, цей короткий трактат це справжнісінький гностично-психоаналітичний смаколик для обраних інтелектуалів. Ключі для розгадки має далеко не кожен, бо скажіть мені, скільки читачів водночас прочесали корпус Наг-Хаммаді, Червону книгу і Aion?


Улюблені цитати:

Ніщо або Повноту ми назвемо Плеромою. У ній припиняє свій шлях буття і помисли, оскільки вічне і нескінченне не має властивостей. Там немає нікого, бо інакше якийсь Той відрізнявся б від Плероми і мав властивості, які робили б його відмінним від Плероми.

У Плеромі є все і нічого: не варто думати про Плерому, бо це означало б саморозвиток.

Абpаксас - суще, ніщо йому не протистоїть, крім того, в чому немає суті, тому суща його природа поширюється вільно. Того, в чому немає суті, - не існує і не протистоїть. Абpаксас піднесений над Сонцем і піднесений над Дияволом. Він є неймовірне імовірне, що несе суще. Коли б у Плероми була сутність, Абраксас був би її проявом.

Хоч він і є саме суще, але, проте, нічого певно сущого, але лише суще взагалі.

Він несутньо сущий, оскільки не має певного сущого.

Він і Творіння, бо він відрізняється від Плероми.

Сонце певно суще, як і Диявол, тому вони нам представляються більш сущими, ніж невизначений Абpаксас.

Він є Сила, Тривалість, Мінливість.

І сталося тут у мертвих збентеження, бо були вони християни.

Абраксас творить істину і брехню, добро і зло, світло і пітьму в тому ж слові і в тому ж діянні. Тому Абpаксас грізний.

Він подібний до лева в мить, коли той кидається на свою жертву. Він чудовий, як день весни.

Та він сам великий Пан, що означає Все, і він Малість. Він і Пріап.

Він є монстр пекло, поліп тисячорукий, воскрилений, змій звивистий, шаленство саме.

Він же Гермафродит нижчого початку.

Він пан ропух і жаб, що у воді живуть і на сушу виходять, опівдні і опівночі співають хором.

Він є наповненим, що з'єднується з Пустим.

Він є святе злягання.

Він є любов і її умертвіння.

Він є святий і зраджує святого.

Він є найсвітлішим світлом дня і найглибшою ніччю безумства.

Головних богів числом чотири, бо чотири є числом вимірів світу.

Один є початок, Бог-Сонце.

Інший є Ерос, бо він пов'язує двох і поширюється у сяйві.

Третій — дерево життя, бо сповнює простір тілами.

Четвертий - Диявол, бо він відмикає все замкнене, розкладає все, що має форму, і все тілесне. Він руйнівник, у якому все звертається в ніщо.

Блаженний я, тому що мені дано пізнати множинність і різноманітність богів. Горе вам, які змінили ту несумісну множинність на єдиного Бога. Hа муки не-розуміння і спотворення прирекли ви через той витвір, якого сутність і устремління є відмінність. Як ви можете бути вірними своїй сутності, коли множину хочете звести до одного? Що чините богам, те трапляється і з вами.

[Noel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zajedništvo je dubina. Osama je visina. Prava mjera u zajedništvu pročišćava i čuva. Prava mjera u osami pročišćava i raste. Zajedništvo nam daje toplinu, Osama nam daje svjetlost.

[Andrea Zanotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Testo imprescindibile per gli amanti di C.G.Jung. Un libello breve ma denso di contenuti, da leggere e rileggere per comprendere a fondo il pensiero di Jung e per spalancare nuove porte oltre le quali si espandono gli infiniti mondi e i reami, più o meno oscuri, del nostro inconscio.
"Ciò che il dio Sole dice è vita. Ciò che il Diavolo dice è morte. Ma ciò che Abraxas pronuncia è quella veneranda e maledetta parola che è vita e morte a un tempo. Abraxas dice verità e menzogna, bene e male, luce e tenebra in una sola parola."

[Kylie Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I feel like there’s profound psychological truth here I need time to digest and parcel out. Or maybe read a lecture series over. I bet I’ll return and try again.

It’s short and free and worth the read!

[Sidhartha · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the book I am reading all the time...

[Karena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spiritually interesting. A tad confusing. Worth reading. It won't take long!

[Naveen Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

CG Jung would have liked this balanced treatment of Gnosticism and his approach to it. It helps explain Jung's non-gnostic gnosticism--his expansion of ego consciousness to embrace his own paranormal experiences

[ExtraGravy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not get much out of this but it was quite short.

[Alex]

Jung, you lovable weirdo

[Luisa Ripoll-Alberola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pero y esta locura cosmogónica ?!?!

[Dora Eos · Rating 5 out of 5]

A revelation. The quintessence of the human soul.

[Tamar · Rating 5 out of 5]

the best one..

[Karl · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a crock of shit!!!

[Chester Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spent the first hour of 2019 reading this and pondering my own duality. I wonder if it was a good idea to just spend 2019 confused.

[M●13RA · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.6/10

[m]

“The dead came back from Jerusalem, where they did not find what they were seeking.”

[Onyango Makagutu · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read

[Roberts Smitins · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Seven Sermons to the Dead” contains philosophical and esoteric knowledge. If you have read those books by Carl Gustav Jung that deal with synchronicities and psychology, you will be taken aback by the style of writing the author uses here. It’s completely different.

When I was reading this book, I was constantly thinking of two other works - the “Corpus Hermeticum” (by Hermes Trismegistus) and “The Kybalion” (by Three Initiates).

At the same time, despite this book sharing a few similar concepts with the “Corpus Hermeticum” and “The Kybalion”, you will notice that “The Seven Sermons to the Dead” describes everything from the author’s unique perspective.

In terms of difficulty, this book comfortably sits between “The Kybalion” (by Three Initiates) and the “Corpus Hermeticum” (by Hermes Trismegistus). It’s a bit more difficult to comprehend than “The Kybalion”, but easier to understand than the “Corpus Hermeticum”.

So, what does this all mean? “The Seven Sermons to the Dead” is not an easy book. I think many readers would benefit from getting some additional information about “The Seven Sermons to the Dead” before even reading it.

And it is almost certain the more you read ABOUT this book, the more you will enjoy it!

[Mert Torgay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite it's a rather short one, this book is really hard to grasp. It's even difficult to be sure if the book is metaphorical narrative or intended to be written as a metaphysical doctrine in a form of revisited ancient esoterism.
The book is like a game level, which is so hard that you can never pass, but every time you replay, you may get somewhat better, it forces you to think unconventionally. The other easy games (books) doesn't do it.
By introducing complex notions and using oxymora and duality, -intentionally or unintentionally- Carl Jung breaks boundaries of the language so that we can break the chains of our comprehension.
He seems to be trying to fuse the eastern wisdom with western philosophy. I sense the inspirations of dualistic cosmology and ancient teachings like Gnosticism and Hermeticism, but the experts can tell better.
My rating is low -with regard to my own savvy. Can all this be bullshit? Maybe, but what gives the book its value is challenging the reader. Challenging ones cast of mind, for the better.

[Kyle Bartsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

What the heck is this? When I picked this up I was expecting complicated yet introspective psychological talking points about the self, the shadow, the persona, something Jungian. What I was not expecting was a pseudo- metaphysical jumble of gnostic mysticism and new age ideology. Maybe I need to do some prerequisite reading to supplement any missing information I need to understand this more deeply but until then this caps out at 3 stars. It would have been lower but if you come at this book like its psychological allegory and not some sort of attempt at spiritual, gnostic revelation, it’s a little more interesting and informative. Though, admittedly even with that lens I only gleaned 30 percent, max, of this tiny little book. Will revisit this after I’ve read some more of Jung’s work that is based more in this ethereal plain of existence.

[Waris Ahmad Faizi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing!

The Seven Sermons to the Dead by Carl Jung is a captivating and enigmatic exploration of spirituality and psychology. In this work, Jung presents a series of mystical and philosophical sermons, delving into the depths of the human psyche and its connection to the broader cosmic consciousness. Through intricate prose and symbolic language, Jung invites readers to contemplate the intersections of spirituality and the self, offering a thought-provoking journey into the realms of the unknown and the subconscious. However, the complexity of the text and its esoteric nature might prove challenging for some readers, potentially alienating those less familiar with Jung's theories and philosophical concepts.

[Kevin van Mierlo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read. Since the start of exploring Jung, have I been considering the heavily (symbolic) gendering that takes place in his system of opposites: Yin Yang, animus anima, and so forth. Here too the male (phallic) and female (mother) are explored. Now, effectively i attempt a queer lens/read of his text. What sticks out most is the hermaphroditic first principle, which too is symbolic. Here meaning full potency bound into one being. And as such, queer folks find themselves associated with a deeper, pre-defined symbol, rather than one side the to-be-formed opposition. Or perhaps a queer person may be a hyperbole of their opposition… whichever the case, Jung always sets the gears of thinking going.

[Sages_and_Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting thoughts but complicated to grasp. There are resources online that guide the person that wants to understand this work in a deeper way. I know I would have gleaned even more insight had I used online resources to help me through the concepts. I did find the premises presented to be interesting. At the very basic level, this book made me reflect on the interconnection of the universe and of ourselves as essences within the grand scheme.

[Matija Sadović · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kao neki miks Zaratustre, Upanišada i hrišćanstva. Abraksas me podseća na Hamvaševo tumačenje numerologije gde bi 3 bio Abraksas, spona između dve dualnost, čudo. Ništa previše novo ni specijalno ali zabavno i sa nekim lepim simbolikama, kao u sedmoj propovedi, o zvezdi jednom bogu jednog čoveka, u kome čovek odlazi na počinak.

[Shaun Phelps · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a unique piece from Jung, leaving scientific expression behind for something more mythological and spiritual, and yet coming to very similar conclusions. I love the idea of plemora and distinction. I will return to this another time, as I don't think I absorbed the full intent. The first half appears much more powerful to me than the last, upon my first view.

[Victor Henrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seven Sermons to the Dead is a mystical and esoteric text written by Carl Jung in 1916 under the pseudonym Basilides of Alexandria. It emerged from his deep psychological and spiritual experiences during his self-exploration period, later documented in The Red Book.

It contains in a dense way all his ideas written afterwards.