“When you begin to unknow what you were sure you knew, you are undergoing a change of mental outlook, you are undergoing a change of mind, you are undergoing metanoia.” Maurice Nicoll

Definition of Metanoia

“Meta indicates transference, or transformation, or beyondness. The other part of this word translated as repentance — noia — is from the Greek word nous (νους), which means mind. The word metanoia therefore has to do with transformation of the mind in its essential meaning. Why, then, is the translation repentance inadequate, or indeed, wrong? The English word repentance is derived from the Latin poenitare which means ‘to feel sorry’. Penitence, feeling sorry, feeling pain or regret – this is a mood experienced by everyone from time to time. But the Greek word metanoia stands far above such a meaning, and is not a mere mood. It contains no idea of pain or sorrow. It refers to a new mind, not a new heart, for it is impossible to have a new heart without first possessing a new mind. A new mind means an entirely new way of thinking, new ideas, new knowledge, and a new approach to everything in life.” Maurice Nicoll, The Mark, p93.

“When you begin to unknow what you were sure you knew you are undergoing a change of mental outlook, you are undergoing a change of mind, you are undergoing metanoia (meta-beyond, nous-mind). In this Work you have to get out of your mind, you have to get out of what you imagine you know.” Maurice Nicoll, Psychological Commentaries, p1753

Metanoia in the Gospels and the Work

“In the esoteric teaching on re-birth of which fragments are preserved in the Gospels (although mixed up and in the wrong order, as Gurdjieff said), we are taught that everything begins with change of mind—metanoia. ‘Except ye change your minds, ye shall all . . . perish’ (Luke xiii. 3, 5). This implies that the way we usually think, which is sensual, will prevent that possible inner development, that leads to re-birth, a New Man, the goal of each individual. Other levels of meaning are necessary, therefore, apart from sensual meaning. The mind must be given new ideas from which to think. The ideas of the Work are new.” Commentaries, p1545

“The Gospels and the Work speak only about the inner meaning—that is, they speak esoterically. Esoteric means inner. According to outer appearances, human beings may easily think that they are owed: according to inner truth, it is they who owe. This is a reversal of thinking. It is a new way of thinking. It is indeed metanoia. All the ideas contained in the teaching both of the Gospels and the Work can slowly make us think in a new way. That is, if we think. They can bring about reversals of thinking. The similar esoteric ideas in the Gospels and in the Work are to give us minds beyond our ordinary minds. Essence can then grow.” Commentaries, p1650

How Metanoia Works

“This new form of thinking, this metanoia or change of mind which the ideas of the Work can effect in you, will always go against the acquired psychology derived from your upbringing. The ideas of the Work gradually change your thinking—namely, produce metanoia or change of mind in you—and as a result many apparent opposites become harmonized.” Commentaries, p1373

“The sensual mind, with its sensual thinking, has to undergo great changes. This only begins by thinking more and more from the idea of the Work, by constant accessions of thoughts born of the ideas taught in the Work, if possible, daily accessions, which accumulate until metanoia is reached definitely and the sensual mind becomes only a part of the new mind. Do not trust the sensual mind. It is a useful servant. Do not let it be your master. Remember that the senses only work in the present moment. They do not shew you the past which lies in another dimension—as does the whole world. Do not trust the sensual mind.” Commentaries, p1552

“A negative emotion will conduct wrong meaning just as a lie necessarily will. Thinking wrongly, from wrong ideas and illusions, demands metanoia, a steady and resolute changing of the mind by means of new ideas. Feeling wrongly through negative emotions, identifying and the self-love require much observation, constant personal work and intelligent decision. (There is nothing easier than to be negative.) This leads to the possibility of these centers being able to bear higher voltages.” Commentaries, p1533

“Life as Neutralizing Force will not change you, especially if you are successful in life, but if you have undergone metanoia—i.e. change of mind—you will come under the Third Force of the Work which will seek instead to change your one-sidedness and develop your other centers.” Commentaries, p1362

Metanoia as Illustrated in the Gospel of Thomas

Logion 28
Yeshua says…
I stood to my feet in the midst of the cosmos,
appearing outwardly in flesh.
I discovered that all were drunk
but none were thirsty,
and my soul ached for the children of humanity,
for their hearts are blind.
They cannot see from within.
They have come into the cosmos empty,
and they are leaving it empty.
At the moment you are inebriated,
but when freed from the effects of wine,
you too may turn and stand.

“There’s something, according to this text, that we can infer. We’re supposed to leave [the cosmos] full. There’s something we’re supposed to create, develop, alchemize, put into effect here, which is our life’s task with regard to the vertical axis. And then [Yeshua] says, at the moment you are inebriated, but freed from the effects of wine, you too may turn and stand. Or stand and turn, as the case may be. But turn and stand. Turn is that classic sense of metanoia. Turn, repent, turn the direction you’re looking for happiness.

“Wake up is that sense of turn and stand. And I have to say that I think that this is one of the most beautiful statements of what Jesus himself would have spoken his mission to be. At the moment you too are inebriated, but free from the effects of wine, you too may turn and stand, to allow his fellow human beings, the sons, the children of humanity, to turn and stand.

“And as you stand, you become one of the responsible ones. You realize that you’re not just a client on this ship of time, but there is something that you are very much called upon to receive, produce, generate, alchemize in your Being.” Cynthia Bourgeault, Divine Exchange, 5:09 disc 4 track 4.

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Page numbers for Maurice Nicoll refer to Psychological Commentaries on the Teachings of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Eureka Editions:2020) unless stated otherwise. 

Page numbers for Maurice Nicoll’s The Mark refer to Thomas Nelson & Sons, New York, 1954

Quotations from the Gospel of Thomas are from Lynn C Bauman, Ward J Bauman, Cynthia Bourgeault, The Luminous Gospels (Praxis 2008)

Read the Impression introducing the Gospel of Thomas.