The Discourse on the Eigth and Ninth is a Hermetic text found at Nag Hammadi that presents a spiritual dialogue between a student and his master. According to the text, the teacher guides his student through an initiation ritual wherein the pair conjure the 8th heaven in fits of religious ecstasy. Possessed by the 9th, the teacher reveals secret truths to his underling, who ascends to the next level of sacred knowledge. Afterward, the teacher instructs his student to document what has taken place and to guard his writings faithfully. This discourse offers a glimpse into the religious rituals of esoteric traditions.
The rendering of the above scripture was made possible by Willis Barnstone, who has graciously provided exclusive permission to present it here. All rights including the right of electronic reproduction are reserved by the author. Chapter and verse numbers have been added to aid reference.
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