The Fourth Way and Esoteric Traditions
What, in fact, is Real? Mr. Gurdjieff assures us that in the conditions of ordinary life, we encounter our true selves only very rarely. It often occurs when presented with surprising or unusual circumstances. It is in these moments of presence, or self-remembering, that we connect with actual reality, that we are truly ourselves. Indeed, […]
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Three Lines of Work in a School The following outline is from Ouspensky’s The Fourth Way: The first line is work on oneself: self-study, study of the system, and trying to change at least the most mechanical manifestations. This is the most important line. The second line is work with other people. One cannot work by […]
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In Search of the Miraculous Why, when we travel or study, do such monuments as the Sphinx, the pyramids and temples of Egypt, the Parthenon, Delphi, and statues of Greece attract us emotionally and psychologically? Because they are miraculous. Monuments like these tell us stories and show us truths beyond our scope. They bring a clarity […]
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Stuck in the First Line of Work You recently learned about the idea of self-remembering and tried it for the first time. You had a taste of awakening to higher states and realized that this was who you really wanted to be. But something is not quite right. The time that elapses between your efforts […]
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How does one develop being, in a Fourth Way School? “Use your mentality, wake up to reality.” These are fine words from Cole Porter, but as the song goes, “I stop before I begin.” We have all verified that “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Do We Wish to Work? Once one […]
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While Fourth Way authors rarely speak of the gods, Ouspensky and others wrote on the role of higher mind–‘C influence’–upon human life. Angels announced this mystery of eternal life, from the beginning of the human race, through certain signs and sacraments suitable to the times, to those capable of hearing it. St. Augustine A […]
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The Question “To be or not to be” may be the question. However, what do you want? Reading this, likely you have a sort of awakening aim, in whatever terms you couch it. You have your aim: you want to wake up, be more awake, be self-aware, conscious. That aim is in place, with subsidiary aims, likely. […]
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How does one change level of being? First, by knowing oneself. “Self-remembering needs the best work you can produce, so the more centers that take part in it the better the result… But if you put all centers to the work there is nothing that can stop it… Permanent ‘I’ has quite different functions, quite a […]
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What is the Aim of a School? The aim of a Fourth Way school is to help people to awaken from the state of sleep in which they spend their whole life. The first step is becoming more deeply aware of this sleep in one’s daily life. Ouspensky said, “Schools exist only for those who need […]
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A School Requires Special Efforts It is not necessary to awaken to satisfy all the demands of life on the planet earth. Consequently, awakening requires that one make efforts beyond those one would make in life. This is the idea of “super-effort.” Ouspensky describes, in In Search of the Miraculous (page 347), when a man, after […]
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