I used to be a student and teacher of The Gnostic Movement (The Gnostic Movement) of the UK and Greece. I joined The Gnostic Movement in Athens, Greece in March 2007. In July 2008 I moved to London, UK to volunteer at The Gnostic Movement in the UK and in July 2010 I moved to Edinburgh to help out with a new Gnostic center that was being established there.

Background

I joined The Gnostic Movement because I wanted to become a better person and lead a spiritual life. I had been part of another Gnostic school a few years before joining The Gnostic Movement which was called UCGM (The Universal Christian Gnostic Movement), and had felt the positive impact that the Gnostic spiritual teachings and values could have in my life. I was aware of what The Gnostic Movement was about and I decided to join so that I could make full use of its gnostic techniques that had already proven effective from my previous experience. During my time in the Gnostic Movement I made friendships with like-minded people and we always enjoyed meeting, discussing and practicing the spiritual exercises that were taught by Belzebuub through his books, courses and talks. I found them to be very beneficial for my self-development and my relationships with others. Being among others that were after self-knowledge and spiritual experiences as well as attending courses that were both simple and practical offered me guidance, discipline and inspiration to focus on my spiritual practice. Furthermore, I liked The Gnostic Movement’s approach which was allowing me to make my own decisions and encouraged me to be self-reliant and think for myself through the space of explorative sit-down practices and critical thinking when running projects and various tasks within the organization.

Experience in The Gnostic Movement

My introduction to The Gnostic Movement actually started in October 2006 at Gnosticweb.com in their online forums. I was quite active in the forums as I enjoyed discussing different topics that I found interesting. The topics of discussion were mainly topics from The Gnostic Movement’s courses but also other subjects, such as movies, art, music etc. Most of all I enjoyed the process of entering an online community; coming home from work and being part of a live network of spiritual seekers that were commenting about different things. This online environment gave me the push to be part of a very interesting larger discussion that I loved being part of and learning from. I also appreciated that most of the people were open minded to discussion and views were generally exchanged with respect to others’ beliefs and opinions. It was a very constructive environment and I was learning a lot from the insights, opinions and attitude of other forum participants and particularly the forum moderators. For example, now and then there would be some strong opinions over one thing or another but the moderators would effectively defuse any arguments respectfully instead of being arrogant or angry at people. I admired their insights and calm reactions in heated arguments. I generally felt most people had a really good time at Gnosticweb.com. I certainly did.

Athens center

Between March and June of 2008 I helped with the renovations of the then new Gnostic Center of Athens. I had already been attending the center courses for about a year then and I felt like attending more activities at the center. I wanted to get more involved with The Gnostic Movement and I had the wish to help and volunteer. I had asked if there was anything I could do to help and I was told that the renovations at the center could use an extra pair of hands since there was a lot to do. I joined the renovations team which consisted mainly of teacher’s course students of the Athens center but also some new people, like me, from beginner’s courses. I was glad I was able to help.

Retreat property search

It was around May 2008 when a teacher of the Athens center, invited me to drive with him to a place he had spotted in a Greek mountain. This was part of The Gnostic Movement Greece’s expeditions to find a property that could be used for a permanent retreat project for The Gnostic Movement. It was a long drive; we spent the whole day driving as well as inspecting the property. The property was very nice but it was not ideal for retreats as it was too close to a village and neighboring a relatively busy country road. This teacher as well as others were driving a lot around Greece in search for an ideal property.

The permanent retreat was a vision that many advanced students had embraced and were looking forward to. This project was in most people’s mind because we have had great times in retreats throughout the years but the cost of accommodation was sometimes difficult for people. A permanent retreat project would provide the same benefits but with a fraction of the cost.

Retreat in Greece

In June 2008 I joined a retreat in Greece. About 50 people from different European countries as well as the US had joined. It was great to meet many people I had talked with at Gnosticweb’s forums. After so many online interactions I felt I knew them already. Out of all the activities that The Gnostic Movement organized, retreats were my favorite. It was great to spend a few days enjoying the beauty and serenity of nature, meditating, going for walks and meeting like-minded people. I had the chance to talk with people and get new insights about how they approached the Gnostic techniques. That was helping me to refresh my interest in the existing exercises and try out others that I hadn’t given justice to. Retreats also gave me the chance to reflect on my own self-development. Being away from the hustle and bustle of city life always helped me feel rejuvenated.

London center

In the summer of 2008 I moved to London, UK. A new center was being renovated there. The building was in a very bad state and there was a lot to do to make it functional. A few people had joined this effort from around Europe and North America.

Activities in London

I helped the teachers in London with the running of the center until I left to go to Scotland in spring 2010. Living in London was very expensive. Trying to also sustain and run a venue that generates no profit can become very difficult financially. Especially when the only income is from donations. There was no charge on any of the courses or events as that was the policy of The Gnostic Movement. If people wanted to donate they were free to do so and some did. Sometimes in the lectures we mentioned that courses are run on donations and any contributions were welcome. However, although donations coming from the introductory courses were always welcomed, they were never enough to cover even the most basic expenses. More advanced students and trainees were made aware of the financial situation and could contribute as much as they felt like. All the money raised would go towards the center, and every bit helped. There never seemed to be an excess of money. We always barely covered the running costs. Occasionally, we held fund-raising events to generate some income that would help sustain the center, but we never raised any large sums of money. Nevertheless, we had fun during those events that were usually creative and entertaining. Although money was needed to run the center and events it was not really our focus. More than anything, we cared to practice and disseminate the teachings of Gnosis.

Harrassment from a few former attendees

While being in London we found out that a few former attendees had started spreading false allegations about the organization and Belzebuub. I was shocked to the extent of their unreasonable and vicious lies. Around that time, I found out that they had approached my family in person. They had tried to convince my family that I was attending a cult and that I was being deceived. I was unfairly put in a position to have to explain myself regarding things I had never done. I got extremely worried that those lies could detrimentally affect my relations with my parents. Gladly though, my parents stayed on my side since, as they said, they could see how improved my character was compared to when I was not in The Gnostic Movement.

Retreat in Slovakia

In June 2010 I participated in a retreat organized by The Gnostic Movement in Slovakia. I have very nice memories of that retreat. More than 50 people from different countries had joined. It was great meeting up with all these people to practice spiritual exercises like meditation, go for walks in nature and also relax, discuss, gaze at the night sky and sing around the bonfire. Some of the talks in the retreat were about exploring spirituality as a way of life, relaxed and with simplicity; enjoying even the simplest of activities.

Gnostic Monastery in Edinburgh

In July 2010 I moved to Edinburgh, UK. The teachers there had found a really beautiful 15th century house, built from the ruins of an old castle. It was a big deal for us to have such a place not only because of its beauty but also because of its size and the favorable location. We called it the “Gnostic Monastery”. People visiting for events and retreats were praising its beauty and serene atmosphere; it was a unique place. During breaks, event participants would go to the lounge or the gardens and sit in contemplation or take part in lively discussions in the foyer or the dining room. It was encouraging and gratifying to be able to provide a venue where everyone seemed to be having a very good time. The center was sustained mainly by the teachers although the occasional donations from others were helping as well. Later on advanced students from around Europe joined the center and helped by contributing some money to the retreat as well.

Becoming a teacher

In August 2010 I became a teacher of The Gnostic Movement. It was a big responsibility I felt I had, and I encouraged people to rely on their experience rather than anybody’s theories or opinions. From my understanding and from the way I was taught, Gnosis was about gaining personal spiritual knowledge and experience. As a result, I tried as best as I could to relay that message and guide other people to have the same approach. The Gnostic Movement was preparing teachers that were responsible individuals that cared and helped others with respect to their free will. Trying to acquire and uphold The Gnostic Movement’s values was very beneficial for me individually, but it was also a starting block that taught me to genuinely care for others.

Spiritual practices

Sometimes, usually on Saturday nights, we would gather and do all night spiritual practices at the centers mainly geared towards astral projection and out-of-body experiences which were meditation practices that worked with sleep. Saturdays worked best since on Sundays we could rest extra if needed. There would be one practice before we would go to sleep and usually one or two optional wake ups during the night to give another go to the techniques we were trying that night. Sometimes, I felt too tired or I was busy the next day so I wouldn’t participate. Other times I would simply skip one or two of the wake ups depending on how I was feeling and how rested I was. But most of the times I would look forward to all night practices as they were very beneficial for me. Although other people were also in the practice rooms the exercises felt very individual and were very much geared towards personal investigation. The silent presence of others relaxing and meditating around me added to the mysticism and inspiration of those spiritual practices. I usually felt invigorated and was looking forward to the next week’s all night practices. It was an enjoyable and strengthening experience for me.

Practice rooms were places where everyone would feel comfortable and have the chance to meditate. Everything from the temperature of the room to lighting and also the practitioners’ personal space was taken care of from the teachers. People would sit or lie in comfortable cushions and pillows; if someone had any medical problems like back pain or anything else then they could choose to sit on a chair, lie down or anything that would make their experience practicing meditation comfortable. Women and men were either on separate sides of the room or if the practices were longer, like the all-night ones, men and women would have separate rooms.

Democratic and well-organized structure

The Gnostic Movement was functioning in very democratic ways and people’s responsibilities were respected. There was a lot of value given to personal initiative and everyone’s opinions and skills in order to improve the spiritual school collectively. The organization, management and running of any events or retreats was very thoroughly taken care of.

Respectful and welcoming environment

Participating in courses, retreats and other events in The Gnostic Movement was always a pleasant and comfortable experience regardless of race, sex, or religious preference. There were people participating from various ethnicities, backgrounds, religious denominations and everyone was treated the same. The organizers of those events were usually very busy looking after everyone’s needs. I remember we had people attending events that were Christians, Buddhists, Muslims, New Age groups and even atheists. The environment was open to all and positive discussions were common.

Occasionally, there were some people that did not agree with what was taught and it happened that some were quite strong in their opinions. These people were treated with respect to their beliefs and opinions and any tension that could emerge was gently defused by the experienced and good-mannered teachers and event-organizers. In my view, that was helping interactions to become pleasant, constructive and the events to be flexible and open to everyone.

Experience with the Teachings of Belzebuub

Practicing Gnosticism, as taught by Belzebuub, has helped change my life for the better. Mark is a man of integrity, decency and care for others. His books, articles and online talks have really helped me understand and improve many things about myself, my life and my relations with other people. He is down-to-earth and able to talk about spiritual and psychological topics in a simple way and without pretenses. His guidance through his teachings has been invaluable to me because of the positive impact it has had on my life. I consider him to be a person with a lot of wisdom and care for the spiritual well-being of others and at the same time very approachable and easy going. Belzebuub practices what he teaches and that is obvious in everything he says or does.

Popular and successful courses

A lot of people attended Belzebuub’s (Mark) online courses and I had encountered many people coming to the centers, workshops and retreats where his work was taught. Many people were helped from the teachings of Gnosis and the simplicity and effectiveness of the techniques and from what I could see many people were returning from course to course to learn and practice his teachings. Those that were more keen were joining the advanced courses and becoming trainees and later on teachers. This is the process I went through as well. Seeing how much we had benefited from his teachings, we appreciated and admired Mark’s teachings and the efforts he had made to set up a spiritual school.

Down-to-earth approach

Mark’s stance and general behavior was not pretentious at all and he was not trying to promote himself as a person to be idolized or anything like it.

Equality and respect between men and women

In Belzebuub’s teachings the relationship between a couple is considered sacred and of high importance. Being faithful and loving to one’s spouse is essential to a person’s spiritual progress. Men and women are considered equal and have the same spiritual potential. Throughout my time in The Gnostic Movement I remember that women were respected and always felt safe. I admired their dynamism and how they could take up administrative roles and tasks and fulfill them really well. My wife was a teacher and a director of The Gnostic Movement-UK during the period I was a student. She had been managing the center effectively, teaching, keeping track of finances and fulfilling other administrative tasks responsibly. Men and women in other centers were doing the same. The Gnostic Movement, to me, was a role model for equality and decency in any group or in society as a whole.

Other activities in Scotland

After The Gnostic Movement closed my wife and I decided to keep renting the retreat facility in Scotland. We believed that it had a lot of potential. We carried on organizing retreats in this venue under a different organization. We were also running events in the cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Some people from Europe that used to be in the more advanced courses of The Gnostic Movement were also helping to run the place in various ways including financially.

Meanwhile various people, mainly from Europe but also from the USA, Canada and Australia, used to participate in summer week-long retreats organized by our new group. We also ran weekend retreats where people from the UK could come and practice meditation and other mystical practices for a few hours on Sundays. Sometimes these retreats lasted for the whole weekend with people staying overnight on Saturdays.

European retreat fundraising

The Gnostic Movement UK, before its closure, donated the small amount it had fundraised for a permanent European retreat project, to our new group in order to be used for a similar purpose. That motivated us to launch an effort to fundraise for buying a property that could be used for retreats. We put up a board at a central place of our retreat venue and were explaining our intentions to all retreat participants. On the website we created a separate web page which was dedicated towards fundraising for a retreat property. That money was transferred to the dedicated bank account for the fund raising efforts to buy a retreat property. Mark’s books were also donated to us by an organization that supported his work, so we could sell them and put the profits towards the permanent retreat project. We sold some of them in various events with all proceeds going towards the EU Retreat Project.

Insufficient funds to pursue project

The fundraising effort ended up having mediocre results. Although people from around the world and especially from Europe were contributing in different ways, this contribution was not significant enough to make a difference. After about a year and a half of trying to fundraise we barely managed to gather much money, not nearly enough to start thinking seriously about moving on to the next stage of the project which would be to start searching for a property somewhere in Europe.

How funds were dealt with

The directors of this group decided to return all funds that had been donated to our group for the permanent retreat project. We contacted everyone that had donated. Some people agreed to be refunded, others asked us to transfer their donations to other non-profit organizations with similar goals and others said they did not want a refund. A non-profit organization in Canada had just found a retreat property to utilize for reasons very similar to ours. After talking with the rest of the directors we decided to transfer what remained of the funds to this organization in order to support their efforts. We decided that this would be the best use of the funds and would be the most beneficial for the vision of a permanent retreat project where people could practice spirituality freely.

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I was a teacher and member of The Gnostic Movement in Australia.

Experience in The Gnostic Movement

I attended the intro talk, at the time you were able to continue on a 9 week course and there were 3 in total that you could come along to; this was very exciting for me. One thing I really noticed attending these courses, from the other courses and books I had read, is everything really made sense. They would explain something and then it didn’t matter what questions we had on the topic, the teachers could explain it and it all made sense. I can still remember some nights after the talk, we would start asking questions and we could still be there hours after the lecture had finished, asking questions to the teachers. It was amazing how accommodating the teachers were.

Another thing that was surprisingly different from other courses I had looked into and attended was that all this information was given for free. Everybody that helped out in the centres were all volunteers and were not paid a cent. The whole organisation was run on voluntary donations – there used to be a box there and it was up to the individual if they wanted to donate or not. This meant anyone could attend regardless of their financial situation. In my time there I was never pressured by anyone to donate money, I did donate as I personally felt it was the right thing to do and truly I think I was the one that was getting a really good deal. As I became a teacher it became more apparent that most weeks we were just scraping by to make the bills of running the centre.

I completed the 3 courses then the structure changed a bit with additional talks and practices. I remember that astral projection was the reason why I came to the courses, then I was introduced to the study of self-knowledge, a topic I was not aware of, and the information that I gained from these courses were like gold to me. I started to see things within my psyche that I didn’t even know I had within.

To have an astral experience took me some while as I was used to tackling things physically, but when it came to spirituality you need to work on yourself internally, something I had not ever experienced. Probably one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life and which needs constant effort and reassessing.

I then decided to take on the trainee teaching course which I had to attend quite a few times to finally pass. Once I passed it I started taking the courses in the centre and teaching people, which wasn’t something that came naturally to me and took a lot of time for me to learn. I would have to say this time with the Gnostic Movement was a time of learning and understanding. It completely changed the way I view life and gave me a yearning to really want to be a better person. My time with the Gnostic Movement I would not change for anything.

Experience with Mark (Belzebuub)

Meeting Mark at the Australian retreat property

The first time I met Mark was at the Movement’s property, as myself and a friend went up to help out as we knew that there was some building work to do. When we got there he was so welcoming. He was very interested in listening to what we had to say and nothing was a problem.

Poor condition of property

After spending some time there checking out the property and the work that was needed to do, we were very surprised at the condition of the place, and more surprised that Mark had been living there. It was the middle of summer and the heat was sweltering. To be outside in the heat was unbearable, however when you went inside the house it was even hotter than being outside, it was like a tin shed with no insulation. The windows could not be opened as there were no fly screens, however this did not stop the bugs, spiders and even snakes getting in. There was no air conditioner or even ceiling fans, and the temperatures would get up to well over 40 degrees in the house.

The house was very small comprising of just a couple of rooms, with a tin roof with no insulation with a very low ceiling. I am not sure how Mark even got any sleep throughout the night with the heat and the many insects and animals that seemed to find their way in. The kitchen was made up of a gas type camping stove that was perched up on a milk crate; this and a small fridge made up the kitchen. The whole house’s electrical system was made up of a couple of solar panels on the roof. There was no mains/street power coming in, so you had to be very careful in what electrical outlet you would turn on, only 1 light at a time. Even being really careful with the way you would use the power it would still regularly fail and turn off, so he would often have to have a small generator constantly running in the background, sounding like a lawn mower running. If this was not timed well, turning the generator on in the afternoon, the power would drop off throughout the night.

After basic work on the house, we got it to a point where it was at least not so unbearable but still quite tough to live in all the same.

At this point Mark went away and at some stage came back to the house for a short time, only to be then living on a construction site. I could imagine that these conditions would be very uncomfortable and a situation I would not like to live under. Despite all this it did not seem to faze Mark. He always had time to talk to us and to listen to what we had to say, also taking time to guide and motivate us with his insights.

All the time throughout the construction every single cent was accounted for. Money was never spent unnecessarily; there was always research into cheaper ways to do things and to also find the cheapest price. The whole project was done on a shoestring budget as funds were scarce. Much money for the project came directly out of Mark’s pocket, also some from people who willingly donated small amounts.

Mark’s hopes for a monastery

Mark spoke to us about his intention to create a place like a temple. It is disappointing Mark’s vision didn’t materialise as I’m sure many would have benefited from it.

Humour and generosity

I found Mark to be very hospitable, warm, understanding, and a very generous person. He was truly inspiring and you could tell from listening to him the depth of knowledge that he has. There were many times that he spoke to us which really had a profound, lasting influence on me, even to this day. Besides all this he is very funny, sometimes having us in fits of laughter. It was a very nice environment to be around and these moments were times that I cherish.

His influence has had an impact on me even to this day, and his teachings are the way that I try and live my life to the best way possible. I am truly indebted to Mark (Belzebuub) and his teachings.

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In 2006, I started attending classes run by The Gnostic Movement in Toronto, Canada. I initially attended a few courses in 2006 and then began attending again in 2008 and continued to participate in various classes and events, first as a student and then as a volunteer and teacher trainee until The Gnostic Movement’s closure.

Discovering The Gnostic Movement

At various points in my life I have been interested in different aspects of spirituality and spiritual practices. I grew up in a Catholic environment but felt the religion left me with more questions than answers. I also had an early interest in mysticism which led me to have even more questions about spirituality and how it fit in to a person’s life.

Around the time I found the TGM courses I had been borrowing books from the library on many different spiritual concepts and had tried out a few meditation practices. During one trip to the library I saw a TGM poster advertising a course in self-knowledge and meditation and decided to attend to see if it would complement or enhance what I was looking into at the time. It was also free of charge which was something I had not encountered before since most meditation classes came with a relatively high cost.

Studying at the Toronto Gnostic Centre

The first course that I took was centred around gaining self-knowledge. It involved learning to be aware of the present moment and observing various inner states (anger, fear, jealousy and so on). We were taught many practices to explore this and it was up to us to try them for ourselves to see what kind of results we would get.

I found this type of self study so totally different than what I had explored up until that point, since it wasn’t encouraging me to have any kind of beliefs or ideas about things but to actually try practices to see what I could discover and learn for myself. Since it was pretty hands on you could get as much or as little as you wanted out of the courses depending on how you approached it.

As I tried out the various practices I was able to see many things about myself that I had not before. Through this self study I was able to improve my life in many ways that were very meaningful to me, like overcoming certain aspects of fear/anxiety that I had long suffered with, for example.

In time I went on to take some of The Gnostic Movement’s other courses which were equally as impressive to me since they were on topics like out of body experiences and dreams, which I had always found pretty fascinating.

Warm and friendly atmosphere

The teachers themselves were always kind, considerate and patient, often staying late after the class was over to answer our questions or hear our experiences, even though they all had jobs to go to the next morning.

Before and after the classes or event nights there would also be a lot of lovely food and dessert provided by the teachers and organizers, and there were many interesting conversations shared over cups of tea and coffee in the centre’s cafe.

This was one of my favourite parts of attending the classes since there was this really nice sense of camaraderie between the teachers and various people who attended, even if some (or most) of us had only just met.

It was really remarkable to be able to discuss spiritual topics with the teachers and fellow students in such a warm and friendly environment without feeling judged. I had found most people I met in other social circles were not very interested in spirituality. I really felt at home at the Gnostic centre since we could speak openly and freely about our experiences and perspectives on many different spiritual topics.

I met many different people from all walks of life during the various classes I attended. Many of them came and went so there were always new faces to add to the discussions, and there were some that were familiar friends who were always around.

I also attended several events outside of the regular class schedule. These nights were sometimes just an opportunity for the students to get together in a different setting to try out some of the practices (we’d often go for hikes to explore being in the present moment in nature or there would be larger retreats held with the same purpose). Other times there would be events like movie nights, which would be to raise funds to help keep the centre running.

No charges for any classes

All Gnostic Movement classes were always offered for free and I found out later on when I became a volunteer that the teachers at our centre paid for the majority of the bills to keep the centre open. The donations that were received from the public were quite small and couldn’t cover much of the bills. Donations were welcome and much appreciated but were never something expected or asked for.

I really appreciated this because when I first began attending I had just moved to Toronto and my funds were quite tight. Later on when I became a volunteer I donated every now and then to help out because I really wanted to have the centre available for myself and others. But as a single mom I couldn’t contribute very much. The teachers were really supportive and respectful of my situation and my lack of funds at the time wasn’t seen as something that would prevent me from attending the classes or exploring the practices. I always felt very welcome whether I donated or not.

Volunteering and Advanced Courses

After taking quite a few TGM courses, I felt pretty inspired to help out since I had enjoyed the classes so much and had seen such a positive impact on my life that I wanted to give back and share that with others in some way. I volunteered a few times a week in between my full time job as a florist and taking care of my young daughter. I initially helped with setting up before the classes or contributed a few desserts to the cafe, and later on by putting up posters to advertise courses or doing some writing for the TGM websites.

I was also very curious to find out more about the spiritual teachings The Gnostic Movement was providing, and the course structure was such that after taking the beginner courses you could move on to the more advanced ones.

I found the advanced courses really inspiring as they looked into esoteric topics that were unique in many ways, with aspects of them also found at the root of many ancient religions or civilizations. They covered the biggest questions in life like why are we here, what can we do with our lives, what happens when we die, and even topics related to marriage and sexuality.

Teachings on marriage

The teachers took great care to explain and discuss these topics, especially regarding marriage and sexuality. The teachings of TGM viewed relationships as something very sacred, and monogamous marriage was held in pretty high regard from what I saw.

Many of the teachers were married couples and I noticed that the teachers that were single were really respectful of students that came to the classes. As a single person attending myself I felt very comfortable at the classes. I was really impressed with the lengths the teachers went to to make sure people were comfortable and treated well.

This was very different than many work, school or other social settings I’d been in where there was a lot of flirtatious behaviour or inappropriate comments passed around seemingly without much thought. So it was really refreshing to be in an environment where I felt respected and safe from those kind of interactions as I found them quite off-putting.

Experience with Mark

After taking a few courses I began to explore the various Gnostic texts that were available and recommended to compliment the course material. The author Mark (Belzebuub), whose books formed the basis of the courses were particularly good resources. They were easy to read and very down to earth.

Meeting at a retreat

Around the time I had begun taking some of the more advanced courses (I was taking the teacher training course specifically), The Gnostic Movement ran a North American Retreat in Northern Ontario, which I was able to attend. It was at this retreat that I met Mark (Belzebuub) and found him to be as down-to-earth, wise and kind as the tone of his books suggested.

Myself and the rest of the attendees of the retreat had many discussions with Mark on that retreat, and I found him to be quite an interesting and unassuming person, with a great sense of humour. He seemed very unlike any of the modern spiritual teachers whose books I had come across in my many visits to the library.

He listened to us patiently and with great care and respect, hearing our perspectives and answering our many questions, as many of us were meeting him for the first time. He was quite relatable and approachable, and the spiritual knowledge from his experiences that he shared with us on that retreat was very moving to me. Many others I spoke to from that retreat felt the same way.

Courteous and respectful manner towards women

It became apparent to me after spending some time around Mark that what I had perceived in the way teachers and members approached relationships and the respect between men and women in the organization was largely due to having Mark as a role model and spiritual teacher. Treating relationships as a monogamous and sacred union, not trying to influence or get involved with other people’s relationships and above all having an incredible amount of respect and courtesy for women was something I saw in the way Mark treated all of the women, myself included. The respectful way Mark treated women was something friends of mine who worked with him also noticed and remarked upon, and it seems like his example is also what inspired the men that I interacted with in TGM to hold such high standards towards women as well. This was remarkable to me, because it was very unique compared to any other situation I had been in where men and women worked or spent time together. As a woman, this is something I really appreciated.

Sacrifices to help others

Later on, as I learned more about Mark and his teachings and became more involved as a volunteer, I came to see how he had made so many sacrifices in order to help others spiritually. This was so different to most modern spiritual teachers who seem to be driven by fame and profit. He never charged anything for his courses or received any money from his books, which made it accessible to anyone who was interested in spirituality.

This meant a lot to me because it was what enabled me to be able to have some really extraordinary experiences and improve my life in many ways, which I wouldn’t have been able to do had he charged exorbitant fees like many other courses or teachers I was familiar with.

I still remain very grateful for the efforts he put into The Gnostic Movement and with the work he does today. I wouldn’t have been able to expand on my spiritual search and experience without the valuable resources he’s created through his work.

Impact of False Accusations Found on “Anti-Cult” Forums

It was around the time of this retreat (September 2010) that I became aware of comments posted on “anti-cult” websites that accused The Gnostic Movement and its spiritual teacher Mark (Belzebuub) of many false things.

Having spent a few years attending TGM’s courses, and getting to know many of the teachers and volunteers, and (volunteering myself), I was utterly shocked by the nature of the comments. They were so drastically different than my actual experience within The Gnostic Movement, and many of the accusations I knew from my involvement in TGM to be untrue. The comments seemed to have been written in a sensational manner, trying to associate TGM and Mark with disturbing and dangerous groups or behaviour instead of being based on actual facts. Many of the comments were written by people who had never even attended a TGM course.

The impact of these false accusations was unfortunately very drastic to my personal life. My partner at the time (and father of my child) discovered these comments, and due to their alarming content he became convinced they were true, despite all facts showing that this was not the case. This eventually caused the break down of our relationship which was very difficult to go through and had a huge impact on our lives.

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