Samael Aun Weor (1917 – 1977), born Víctor Manuel Gómez Rodríguez, was an author, lecturer and founder of the Universal Christian Gnostic Movement. The name Samael Aun Weor is Hebrew and is pronounced “sam-ayel on vay-ohr.” (Hebrew סםאל און ואור)  The first two letters of Samael are samech (ס) and mem (מ), which mean 'bitter beverage' or 'poison'; the last two letters (אל aleph-lamed) mean 'God'. Aun (און) is Hebrew for 'sexual strength.' Weor or ve-Aur (ואור) means 'and light.' Thus, his full name reads "The bitter beverage of God, sexual strength, and light." The bitterness of Samael is similar to the bitterness of medicine, which is poison for the ego.

  

Samael Aun Weor left us this complete practical wisdom in over 70 works that he authored and in over 500 cassette lectures given in his lifetime. Born in Santa Marta, Columbia in 1916, he moved to Mexico in the 1950's, and continued his life's work there--that of achieving self-realization. Having been born awake, he knew his life's mission. However, as he himself states in his writings, he had much work to complete on himself. He achieved the philosopher's stone, the magnum opus, in his lifetime and left us a complete map of the path that leads to such an acquisition.

 

Although he never formally received any income from his works - he lived off the charity of his students - at the 1976 International Gnostic Congress Samael Aun Weor clarified his stance on the copyright of his works by stating:

 

“Now, my dear friends, and forever, I renounce, have renounced and will go on renouncing copyrights. My only wish is that these books be sold at a low price, affordable to the poor, affordable to all the children of God. I wish that even the poorest, most destitute citizen be able to obtain these books with the few pennies he carries in his pocket... Whosoever wants to publish them let him publish, for the benefit of diseased mankind.” - Samael Aun Weor

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By 1972, Samael Aun Weor referenced that his death and resurrection would be occurring before 1978. In the chapter entitled The Resurrection. In his work The Three Mountains (1972), he stated that the eight years of ordeals within the Trial of Job would occur between his 53rd and 61st birthdays. The one who goes through the Trail of Job, as demonstrated in the scriptures, is ''deprived of everything, even of his own son, and is afflicted by an impure sickness.''

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So by the month of August 1977 he had developed stomach cancer. During this time he continued to speak to both his students and the general public, giving radio and television interviews while touring Mexico. Eventually he was forced to stop, due to debilitating stomach pain. As his condition steadily worsened he would mention to those at his bedside, "Don't cling to my battered body, instead cling to my doctrinal body." Samael Aun Weor died on December 24, 1977.

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Founder of the Modern Gnostic Movement, and although still unfamiliar in the English-speaking world, Samael Aun Weor is widely known and respected as the founder of the modern gnostic movement in his native Latin America. During his lifetime he wrote over seventy books and dozens of articles, and taught constantly, establishing gnostic centers throughout Central and South America. In spite of his great work and effort to inspire millions towards awakening consciousness, yet he said ''DO not follow me. I am just a signpost. Reach your own Self-realization.''

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His writings cover a diverse range of esoteric topics, all written with his characteristic strength and conviction. In his books Samael relates his conscious experiences in the internal worlds, and offers to the reader practical tools to achieve their own awakening. Practices include mantras, prayers, transmutation practices, runes, zodiacal exercises, plant medicine, and dream yoga.

 

Many gnostic instructors today were his direct students in Mexico City where he taught until his death in 1977. 

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In recent years great efforts have been made so that his books and teachings are available in English, and there are now gnostic centers internationally

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He left us the esoteric teachings that live on throughout the world as thousands of Gnostic students continue to teach this knowledge. While he himself taught, he never charged for such knowledge and it was his wish that the teachings continue to be disseminated in this manner.

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