Gnosis means knowledge concerning the truth of reality. Knowledge is distinct from belief, faith, or conjecture in the same way that someone does not know what a pineapple tastes like until they experience it regardless of what they think or believe.

The truth of reality is that the realm or dimension of materiality that human beings perceive themselves to exist on is actually an illusion-like realm that merely appears within a greater realm that completely subsumes the apparent material realm. In other words, the physical dimensions of spacetime are not the fundamental dimensions, there is an underlying dimension that spacetime arises from. This underlying dimension can be called by various names: Spirit, God, causal body, Dharmakaya, or awareness – all of which are inherently misunderstood by those who have not pierced the material senses to perceive the realm directly.

This dimension of Spirit is not somewhere else – it is not in a place or a time, yet it is fully present. It permeates all experience. It has no boundaries and nothing existing outside of it. It does not change or waver in any way. Similar to empty space it is completely smooth and equal and it is unaffected by the movement of energies within it.

Nothing in the material dimension has inherent existence as it all arises as the appearance of form within the realm of Spirit. Human beings who believe they exist as material entities are fundamentally temporary localized densifications of Spirit. This densification creates a perspective known as the I or self.

The fundamental realm of Spirit is eternal and perfectly good. All conceivable good qualities are inherent to Spirit and no evil or bad qualities truly exist. Evil only arises as the misperception of densified beings who, due to habit of ignorance, become cut off from perceiving the spiritual realm as they are enthralled by the gross perception of materiality.

The only task of the Gnostic is to pierce the veil of materiality to perceive the realm of Spirit. All authentic spiritual teachings exist for this purpose alone. As realized beings, such as Jesus Christ, take up material bodies in order to “rescue” sentient beings from their confusion and perceived separation from God.

Eventually, all ignorance regarding the nature of reality can be purified, at which point one attains the state of Gnosis, Christhood, Buddhahood. This frees a being from the involuntary cycle of taking endless bodies in the material realm.

This is my own understanding in my own words, written just now, based on my own experience, spiritual practice and study.

May this benefit all beings. Good luck out there!