Name: The Thunder, Perfect Mind
Start: 2023-11-18T19:00:00+11:00
End: 2023-11-18T20:30:00+11:00
Location: The Open Space

The Thunder, Perfect Mind

The Open Space

Thunder Perfect Mind is a Gnostic poem from the Nag Hammadi library composed some time before 300 BC. Gavin Shri Amneon sings here in Egyptian Coptic, and language that merged ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek, still used in the Egyptian Coptic Christian Church to this day.The song is Eve, the mother of all, speaking her Sophia – Wisdom, stating the nature of the human condition in all its dichotomies. It is one of the oldest liturgies that honours the divine feminine.This rendition of The Thunder, Perfect Mind features Gavin Shri Amneon on vocals, shruti box and percussion, Michael Green on soprano and bass clarinets, and Will Thompson on oud. The text is sung in the original Egyptian Coptic by Gavin, whilst Nicole Dawson provides a narration of the English translation. The original text dates from the early Christian era and its sentiment may have been influenced by eastern Wisdom traditions, whilst it's poetic structure appears to be influenced by Egyptian, Greek and Jewish forerunners. The text sets out in polarising dichotomous form a route to the transcendence of duality and a release from suffering. Importantly, the voice of the poem is that of a female, and harks back to similar exhortations to wisdom in both the Egyptian and Jewish traditions. The Thunder, Perfect Mind is an eloquent challenge to dualistic visions of existence, and a stunning piece of early human poetics. -= Some notes of the form and origins of The Thunder, Perfect Mind =-The Thunder Perfect Mind is a dichotomizing monologue spoken by the immanent savior, here represented as a female character and identifiable as 'afterthought,' a manifestation of wisdom. She is also identifiable as Eve, the mother of all, speaking her truth. In gnostic myth the role of afterthought - also known as 'life' (Zoe), the female instructing principle, and the holy spirit - is to assist both Adam and all humankind, in order to recollect the power stolen by Ialdabaoth, the false overlord God. She is immanent in all gnostics who have the holy spirit. Her mission to 'cry out' and summon members of the gnostic race and souls that respond will gain liberation from the material world and ascend to a place in the metaphysical universe where the speaker herself resides, and will not suffer reincarnation. In the Apocryphon of John, a heavenly Eve comes as a 'helper' to Adam, 'a luminous reflection (epinoia) who comes out of him, who is called "Life”.This first person monologue invocation describes herself as one thing and then its opposite, showing that the true nature of humanity is not bound by ideals, but by a spectrum with opposing poles. In all mystical thought one transcends into the divine by freeing oneself from the dualistic dichotomization of the nature of reality.The Nag Hammadi books (of which The Thunder is one) were written up around 330 A.D. and buried towards the end of the 4th century/the beginning of the 5th century. They were accidentally discovered in an earthenware jar by a group of farmers in upper Egypt in 1945, near the modern city of Nag Hammadi.These codices comprise around 50 works written in Coptic, a blend of ancient Egyptian and ancient Greek language, which Gavin Shri Amneon sings in its original language. The Coptic language is a liturgical language preserved in the Egyptian Coptic church to this day. This performance preserves as much of the text as possible in the song, as many lines of the original codex were damaged and some lyrics were lost. But overall a majority of the song remains intact. -= Tickets =-Cost: $35 + booking fee -= Location =-Held @ The Open Space11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river. * Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.

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The Thunder, Perfect Mind

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