GURDJIEFF Siglo XXI

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Gurdjieff's teaching, research, books,

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M e e tin g s w ith L o u is e W e lc h in T o ro n to : re v ie w e d b y Jo h n Pages
R o b e rt C o lo m b o A N O N LIN E G U R D J IE FF
ST U D Y G R O U P : w ith
w ith o ne c o m m ent SE YM O U R B . G IN SB U R G
CONT ACT
I hav e in fro nt o f m e a c o py o f a new ly publis hed bo o k titled M eetings w ith Lo uis e W elc h in To ro nto . It w as SO P H IA W E LLB E LO V E D S
is s ued in N o v em ber 2012 by Traditio nal Studies Pres s in To ro nto , w hic h happens to be the c ity in w hic h I no w G U R D J IE FF A C A D E M IC
res ide. The bo o k w ill be o f interes t to s tudents o f traditio nal tho ught and this is ex pres s ed in the w o rding o f R E SE A R C H P A G E
its s ubtitle: O n the ideas and prac tic e o f the teac hing o f G.I. Gurdjieff. A NOTE: ON THE DOG
G U R D J IE FF B U R IE D
To m e the bo o k is o f es pec ial interes t bec aus e, in a lim ited w ay, a lo ng tim e ago , I k new Lo uis e W elc h M rs . SO P H IA W E LLB E LO V E D :
W elc h, as s he w as alw ays c alled. That w as a lo ng tim e ago s o m e fifty years ago . M em o ries s o m etim es s erv e C U R R E N T A C A D E M IC
as bridge- builders , c o nnec ting the pas t and the pres ent. They do s o in this ins tanc e. R E SE A R C H 2 0 1 1
E SO T E R IC C O D E S A N D
Befo re I dis c us s the c o ntents o f this bo o k , I w ill des c ribe the v o lum e as a phys ic al o bjec t. It is a s turdy T H E IR K E YS: a b r ie f
pro duc tio n, a new bo o k des igned to o utlas t the years , as are s o m any o f the titles is s ued by Traditio nal no te in r e la tio n to te x ts
Studies Pres s , w hic h is the public atio n w ing o f The Gurdjieff Fo undatio n: The So c iety fo r Traditio nal Studies . E s o te r ic C o d e s a nd
(The o rganizatio ns w ebs ite identifies the o rganizatio n as The Gurdjieff Fo undatio n o f To ro nto : So c iety fo r A rts the ir K e ys : P a r t T w o
and Ideas .) G U R D J IE FF S M ISSIN G
P A R A G R A P H S r e la te d to
The public atio n has no dus t jac k et but the pages are bo und in heav y bo ards c o v ered in dark green c lo th, and the LO SS O F K E YS
the pages are s ew n to gether rather than glued to gether, s o the bo o k m ay be o pened w itho ut w o rry that any o f T O LE G O M O N ISM S
its pages w ill lo o s en o r fly apart! The v o lum e m eas ures 6 inc hes by 9 inc hes , and the paginatio n go es lik e this : T H E IN T E R A C T IO N O F
x x ii + 181 + i. It is c urio us that the firs t tw enty- tw o pages , w hic h o ffer the reader an analytic table o f SC H O LA R SH IP A N D
c o ntents (lik e tho s e in P.D . O us pens k ys Tertium O rganum and in m any o f C o lin W ils o ns bo o k s ), appear P E R SO N A L E X P E R IE N C E
w itho ut page num bers . B R ID G E C H A SM
A IN O M A
The typo graphy is m o re prac tic al than pic to rial; the type is large and the lines are w ell leaded o r s pac ed D ILT H E Y: LIB E R A T IO N &
apart. The tex t is fairly s ho rt (perhaps 60,000 w o rds ) and eac h page is eas y o n the eyes . There is a fro ntis piec e H IST O R IC A L
pho to graph o f M rs . W elc h, tak en in H alifax in 1984, w hic h m ak es her lo o k m uc h o lder than the w o m en I C O N SC IO U SN E SS
rem em ber m eeting o v er a perio d o f tw o years in the s ec o nd half o f the 1950s . T ho m a s B r o c us H a r w o o d :
m is s ing s inc e the 1 9 7 0 s
In m em o ry I rec all M rs . W elc h as s haring s o m e o f the fac ial features o f M aria O us pens k aya, the Rus s ian- bo rn
A b o ut G ur d j ie ff b o o k s ,
ac tres s and ac ting teac her. H ere s he lo o k s rather m o re lik e M arie D res s ler, the C anadian- bo rn, A c adem y ne w s r e v ie w s
A w ard- w inning c o m ic m o v ie ac tres s . I prefer the im age in m y m em o ry to the po rtrait in the bo o k !
Lo uis e W elc hs v ital years are 1905 and 1999 (s o s he is no t to be c o nfus ed w ith the s im ilarly nam ed Lo uis e Search
W els h, the m uc h yo unger, Englis h- bo rn, Sc o tland- bas ed autho r o f ps yc ho lo gic al thrillers ). M rs . W elc h Lo uis e s e a r c h s ite a r c hiv e s
M ic hel Blink en W elc h, to giv e her nam e in full w as bo rn in N ew Yo rk C ity o f U k rainian bac k gro und. She w as
rais ed in a dys func tio nal fam ily s etting and rec eiv ed little fo rm al educ atio n, but thro ugh her o w n effo rts s he
fo und w o rk as a jo urnalis t and edito r. A t o ne tim e in the 1920s , s he w ro te the ago ny c o lum n fo r the N ew search
Yo rk A m eric an. (W alter W inc hell quipped abo ut her that Lo uis e M ic hel w ent fro m bad to H ears t.) Later in her
v aried c areer s he w o rk ed as a direc to r o f a w riters gro up fo r the W PA the W o rk (o r W o rk s ) Pro jec t B lo g r o ll
A dm inis tratio n, the U .S. federal go v ernm ents em plo ym ent pro gram o f the 1930s , no w des pis ed by W ord P re ss.com
Republic atio ns and fo rgo tten by D em o c rats . W ord P re ss.org
D uring the D epres s io n s he m arried and bo re a s o n and a daughter. She w as abando ned by her hus band s o s he
bec am e their s o le s uppo rt. (H er daughter is Patty de Llo s a, a w riter and leader w ho is w ell res pec ted in the A r c h ive s
c irc le o f the W o rk , has has w ritten w arm ly abo ut her m o ther and her s tepfather, D r. W illiam J. W elc h, in a D e ce m b e r 2 0 1 2
m em o ir that appears o n o ne o f the w ebpages o f the Gurdjieff Internatio nal Rev iew . The info rm atio n s hared N ove m b e r 2 0 1 2
here is deriv ed in part fro m that s o urc e.) O c to b e r 2 0 1 2
Se p te m b e r 2 0 1 2
In the 1930s , M rs . W elc h w o rk ed w ith Bento n & Bo w les , the reno w ned adv ertis ing agenc y, and there s he m et
A ugus t 2 0 1 2
and w as befriended by a s o m ew hat yo unger c o - w o rk er, w ho later trained to bec am e a m edic al do c to r, qualified
J uly 2 0 1 2
as a c ardiac s pec ialis t, and ev entually bec am e her hus band. To gether the W elc hes w ere w hat later c am e to be
k no w n as a po w er c o uple. J une 2 0 1 2
May 2012
This is no t the plac e to rev iew her m eetings in the 1920s w ith the Englis h edito r A .R. O rage o r ho w thro ugh A p r il 2 0 1 2
him s he m et G.I. Gurdjieff, in bo th Fo ntainebleau and N ew Yo rk , if o nly bec aus e s he ac c o m plis hed all o f this in J a nua r y 2 0 1 2
her finely w ritten, bo o k - length m em o ir titled O rage w ith Gurdjieff in A m eric a (1982). O ffhand I w o uld s ay her N ove m b e r 2 0 1 1
tem peram ent had m uc h in c o m m o n w ith that o f O rage. The tw o o f them apprec iated fine w riting, they w ere O c to b e r 2 0 1 1
prac tic al peo ple and s k illed edito rs , they had an unders tanding o f the em o tio nal pro blem s o f o ther peo ple as
Se p te m b e r 2 0 1 1
w ell as the s o c ial pro blem s o f their tim es , and they w ere entirely c o m m itted to being leaders in the W o rk .
converted by Web2PDFConvert.com
H ardly any o f the abo v e info rm atio n appears in the pages o f M eetings w ith Lo uis e W elc h in To ro nto , a fac t A ugus t 2 0 1 1
that lim its the readers hip o f this v o lum e to readers apprec iativ e o f the s ubtleties o f the W o rk . To all o ther J uly 2 0 1 1
readers , the bo o k w ill be s een as a tribute to a w ell- lik ed pers o n rather than as a v aluable rec o rd o f J une 2 0 1 1
trans ac tio ns and ex perienc es . Traditio nal Studies Pres s did w hat it s et o ut to do ; that w as its aim . Perhaps a A p r il 2 0 1 1
w ider pers pec tiv e m ight hav e res ulted in a m o re im po s ing public atio n. Yet readers o f all pers uas io ns s ho uld Fe b r ua r y 2 0 1 1
ex pres s gratitude fo r w hat has been ac hiev ed.
J a nua r y 2 0 1 1
The To ro nto gro up w as fo unded in 1954, the firs t o f the anc illary gro ups to be rec o gnized by The Gurdjieff O c to b e r 2 0 1 0
Fo undatio n in N ew Yo rk w hic h had then entered its s ec o nd year o f o peratio n. Its s eeds w ere planted by O lga Se p te m b e r 2 0 1 0
de H artm ann and her hus band Tho m as , the c o m po s er w ho had w o rk ed s o c lo s ely w ith M r. Gurdjieff o n tho s e J uly 2 0 1 0
m arv ello us c o m po s itio ns fo r the piano . In fac t, w ay bac k in 1919, it w as the de H artm anns w ho had intro duc ed J une 2 0 1 0
A lex andre and Jeanne de Saltzm ann to M r. Gurdjieff. In the s am e w ay, w hile the c o uple w ere liv ing in Q uebec s May 2010
Eas tern To w ns hips , antic ipating their m o v e to the U nited States , they intro duc ed the W o rk to C anadians in A p r il 2 0 1 0
To ro nto , O ttaw a, M o ntreal, and H alifax .
Ma rch 2 0 1 0
A m o ng the prim e m o v ers o f the Gurdjieff Fo undatio n in N ew Yo rk w ere D r. and M rs . W elc h. The latter w as Fe b r ua r y 2 0 1 0
delegated to head the To ro nto gro up, w hic h s he did fro m 1955 o n. I m et her a year o r tw o later, nev er gues s ing J a nua r y 2 0 1 0
that the To ro nto gro up w as no t ages o ld but brand new . O n o ur firs t m eeting, I as k ed her if I c o uld jo in the D e ce m b e r 2 0 0 9
W o rk , o nc e I had m o v ed to the c ity and enro lled at the U niv ers ity o f To ro nto . She delayed ans w ering that N ove m b e r 2 0 0 9
ques tio n. Ins tead s he as k ed her o w n ques tio n, H o w did yo u firs t learn abo ut the this w o rk ? It w as a go o d Se p te m b e r 2 0 0 9
ques tio n bec aus e there w as v ery little info rm atio n av ailable to the public abo ut Gurdjieff, es pec ially in a s m all A ugus t 2 0 0 9
c ity lik e the o ne in w hic h I w as bo rn and rais ed. (This w as w ell befo re the arriv al o f the s o - c alled N ew A ge.) J uly 2 0 0 9
I replied that I had bo rro w ed a c o py o f In Searc h o f the M irac ulo us (publis hed fo ur years earlier) fro m the J une 2 0 0 9
lo c al C arnegie library, and read it c o v er to c o v er, no t o nc e but tw ic e. Etc hed in m y m em o ry is her grim May 2009
rejo inder: The Table o f H ydro gens is quite diffic ult, yo u k no w . Then I bac k trac k ed and adm itted that I had A p r il 2 0 0 9
no t unders to o d all that I had read! She w as happier w ith that reply. In general, I k new abo ut the Prio ry at Fe b r ua r y 2 0 0 9
Fo ntainebleau fro m O us pens k ys des c riptio n, but it w as m o nths befo re I heard anything at all abo ut J.B. J a nua r y 2 0 0 9
Bennett and the fo undatio ns , ins titutes , and s o c ieties , no t to m entio n the es tate at M endham . I w as nineteen D e ce m b e r 2 0 0 8
years o ld at the tim e. N ove m b e r 2 0 0 8
M y firs t m eeting w ith the To ro nto gro up leader to o k plac e in the ups tairs bedro o m o f the ho m e o f M rs . M argo t O c to b e r 2 0 0 8
D us tin and her hus band Ernes t w ho s e nic k nam e w as D us ty, bo th fo rm er Theo s o phis ts , abo ut a m ile fro m Se p te m b e r 2 0 0 8
w here I no w liv e and am k eybo arding this ac c o unt, and I w as regular in m y attendanc e at w eek ly m eetings fo r A ugus t 2 0 0 8
readings and fo r M o v em ents held here and there thro ugho ut the c ity, es pec ially at the m o nthly m eetings J uly 2 0 0 8
c o nv ened by M rs . W elc h. She w o uld fly into the c ity fro m N ew Yo rk to c o nduc t the s es s io ns , o n o c c as io n w ith J une 2 0 0 8
D r. W elc h, a m an o f genuine pres enc e and s tro ng v o ic e. O nc e, in later years , they bro ught w ith them a 16 m m , May 2008
blac k - and- w hite print o f perfo rm anc es o f the M o v em ents in Paris , w hic h w as s ho w n to a s m all gro up at the A p r il 2 0 0 8
O ntario Sc ienc e C entre. Ma rch 2 0 0 8
So m etim es in attendanc e at the m eetings w ere film pro duc er To m D aly, teac her Peter C o lgro v e, D r. Paul Bura, Fe b r ua r y 2 0 0 8
an engineer, and his w ife Sheila, w ho w as adept in M o v em ents , w ho w ere refugees fro m a Bennett gro up in O c to b e r 2 0 0 7
England, no t to m entio n a s tunning, ex o tic c o uple: an ex quis ite, half- Burm es e, half- Frenc h w o m an o f great
beauty (nam ed O lga, o ddly, and fo rm er w ife o f BBC ex ec utiv e C ec il Lew is ) and her tall, s tylis h arc hitec t C a te g o r ie s
hus band w ho m ay hav e c o m e fro m C o rnw all, w here they s ubs equently s ettled. Yet in general I fo und the ' "O ur Im b a la nc e s A ll
o riginal m em bers to be draw n fro m the pro fes s io nal m iddle- c las s o f the c ity, alm o s t ev eryo ne being o lder B a la nc e ": G e o r ge A d ie
than I w as , and it w as a s o m ew hat s taid gathering o f peo ple, c ertainly no t o ne giv en to s m all talk o r big 1980
pro no unc em ents . There w ere o c c as io nal v is its fro m the v ery Gallic A lfred Etiev ant w ho w o uld lead the ' T H E P E R E N N IA L
M o v em ents w ith lithe as s uranc e. P H ILO SO P H Y' r e v is ite d
2 0 1 0 r e v ie w a nd s ta ts
M rs . W elc hs c o ntributio ns w ere no t lim ited to o ral ins truc tio n, fo r s he enc o uraged the gro up to break into A B O U T C C W E : T he
print. She k indled the public atio n o f A Jo urnal o f O ur Tim e, a literary and artis tic little m agazine o f s o m e C a m b r id ge C e ntr e fo r the
deft and delic ac y; s he w ro te a play w hic h the gro up pro duc ed and s taged fo r public perfo rm anc e; s he Stud y o f W e s te r n
generated public ity fo r the c o m m erc ial s ho w ing at C ineplex (the w o rlds firs t c ineplex o r m ulti- s c reen m o v ie E s o te r ic is m
theatre) o f Peter Bro o k s film M eetings w ith Rem ark able M en; s he s erv ed as edito r- in- c hief o f the firs t A C A D E M IC O P P O R T U N IT IE S
editio n o f The Guide and Index to G.I. Gurdjieffs A ll and Ev erything, w hic h rem ains an inv aluable res o urc e to A ll & E v e r ything
this day. C o nfe r e nc e 2 0 1 1
A N E V E N IN G O F
Referenc es to a few o f thes e ac tiv ities appear in M eetings w ith Lo uis e W elc h in To ro nto , w hic h is dedic ated to M O V E M E N T S & E X E R C ISE S
the m em o ry o f M rs . D us tin, the v ery w o m an in w ho s e ho us e I firs t m et M rs . W elc h. A c c o rding to the edito rial A P P R O A C H IN G IN N E R
no te, This public atio n is c o m piled fro m no tes tak en at m eetings s panning the years 1955- 1965 and 1973- W O R K : O p ie ' s s tud y o f
1989. M y ex perienc es relate direc tly to the firs t perio d, no t at all to the s ec o nd perio d, and I hav e no idea M ic ha e l C ur r e r - B r iggs
w hat happened betw een 1965 and 1973, a s pan o f years that I as s um e w ere bus y o nes fo r the To ro nto gro up, A z iz e R e v ie w : T he
w hic h ev entually ac quired v aluable real es tate bo th in To ro nto and o uts ide the rapidly ex panding c ity. Fo r go tte n La ngua ge o f
C hild r e n
W hen I w as in attendanc e, eac h o ne o f us w as enc o uraged ev en required to as k ques tio ns , and to as k them B O O K & FILM R E V IE W S
s lo w ly, s o that the tw o no te- tak ers w o uld hav e tim e to rec o rd them , w hether in lo nghand o r s ho rthand I nev er G U R D J IE FF A R M E N IA N
k new . A pparently thes e s c ripts ex is t to day, and they fo rm the bas is o f the tex t o f this bo o k . Fro m tim e to tim e R O O T S G LO B A L
BR ANCHES
the ques tio ns them s elv es are rec o rded here, but in m o s t ins tanc es it is o nly M rs . W elc hs ans w ers that are
giv en. The tex t its elf begins lik e this : M y s earc h is yo ur s earc h. W e m us t eac h hav e a c o m m o n w is h to find BOOKS
o ut w ho w e are and the direc tio n in w hic h w e c an gro w to reac h the truth. (Fo r s ym m etrys s ak e, the tex t So p hia W e llb e lo v e d
pro per ends lik e this : W e hav e a little help here.) r e v ie w s : T H E N E W A G E
O F R U SSIA : O C C U LT A N D
Reading thes e pas s ages I am able to im agine m ys elf in her pres enc e and hear her refined, m o dulated A m eric an E SO T E R IC D IM E N SIO N S
s peec h to nes and pro nunc iatio ns . The c o ntent o f the pres entatio ns brings to m y m ind the c o ntent o f the C O N FE R E N C E S
entries that appear in the fiv e v o lum es o f M auric e N ic o lls C o m m entaries . D r. N ic o lls pres entatio ns are quite 2 0 0 9 A & E C O N FE R E N C E
tec hnic al, w hereas M rs . W elc hs are c o nv ers atio nal, parallelling no rm al tho ught pro c es s es . Bo th bo o k s are HOT EL & PR OG AR AMME
o rganized to pic ally w ith lo ng, analytic tables o f c o ntents . M rs . W elc h is a c o m m unic ato r o f attitudes fro m M r. 2 0 0 9 : 1 4 th A LL &
Gurdjieff; D r. N ic o ll is a c o nv eyer o f detailed info rm atio n fro m M r. O us pens k y. E V E R YT H IN G
IN T E R N A T IO N A L
H er ex po s itio ns m ak e go o d us e o f I and m e, tho ugh they do s o w ith great c are s o as to generalize abo ut H U M A N IT IE S
the I and the m e and m ak e the w o rds apply to eac h and ev ery o ne o f her lis teners . Fo r ins tanc e, s he w rites C O N FE R E N C E
as fo llo w s : The im po rtant thing is m y inner w o rk . M y pres enc e is im po rtant. I liv e w itho ut m eaning bec aus e I 2 0 1 0 A LL & E V E R YT H IN G
am no t here. Im agine hearing thes e w o rds : the m y and the I are tho s e o f yo u, the lis tener. C O N FE R E N C E
5 th A R M E N IA - G U R D J IE FF
In later years , in an attem pt to unders tand the thrus t and direc tio n o f the W o rk , I c am e to define its es s enc e in C O N FE R E N C E 2 0 0 9
a s ingle w o rd, a c o m po und w o rd that is a pers o nal neo lo gis m . That w o rd is ps yc ho prax is . H ere the dis c ipline A LL & E V E R YT H IN G 2 0 1 1
is ps yc ho lo gic al ev en ps yc hic al rather than ps yc hiatric , but it is als o phys io lo gic al, fo r it is c o nc erned w ith C o ns ta ntino p le N o te s o n
phys ic al ex pres s io n and prac tic e; it is als o bles s edly free o f religio us , theo s o phic al, and ps yc ho lo gic al the T r a ns itio n to M a n
term ino lo gy. Suc h ideas w o uld hav e been regarded as no v el at the tim e. M rs . W elc h av o ids s uc h ex erc is es , and N um b e r Fo ur
the intro duc tio n into the tex t o f s pec ific Gurdjieffian term s is m inim ized. O ne unex pec ted ex c eptio n is this CONT ACT
o ne: Tro go auto ego c rat, fro m A ll and Ev erything, w hic h is defined as real s ac rific e o r I eat m ys elf. C o s m o lo gy c o nfe r e nc e :
Ind ia n Ins titute o f Sc ie nc e
Pres erv ed are ins tanc es o f the c o m m o n to uc h: If yo u tell m e yo u c anno t W o rk fo r fifteen m inutes a day, I s ay B a nga lo r e Ind ia
that yo u do nt w ant to . Fiv e m inutes o f s truggle is better than tw enty- fo ur ho urs o f daydream ing. There is E FFO R T S T O C H A N G E : A N
no attem pt here to inno v ate o r im pro v is e; the ex pres s io ns o f ins ight are refres hingly free o f argum ent and c ant E X C H A N G E W IT H G E O R G E
o r s pec ial pleading. The res ult is the ex po s itio n is effec tiv e and the pro s e is durable and in no s ens e dated. A D IE
There are no po tted ex pres s io ns m eant to im pres s the lis tener o r ex pres s the priv ate o pinio n o r res erv atio ns o f E m ine nt G ur d j ie ffia ns :
the s peak er. Lo r d P e ntla nd : A P o le m ic
b y Ja m e s Moore (2 0 1 0 )
A t the tim e I identified M rs . W elc hs m es s age w ith a s im ple, three- letter w o rd aim . It s eem ed to m e at the E SO T E R IC P O E T R Y
tim e that s he w as alw ays after us to define o ur o w n aim . I w as s urpris ed to realize ho w diffic ult it w as to C O M P E T IT IO N
c o m ply, diffic ult w hen no t im po s s ible! N o t m uc h abo ut aim has fo und its w ay into the tex t at hand. G E O R G E A D IE o n the
C r e a to r - in- m e
W hat I to o k aw ay fro m the W o rk , right aw ay, w as the no tio n that w hat lies at the ro o t o f m o s t pers o nal and G E O R G E A D IE : A
s o c ial pro blem s is m ec hanic ality in m entatio n, em o tio n, and ac tio n. M ec hanic ality is a w o rd that is G U R D J IE FF P U P IL IN
ins tantly m eaningful, yet is s eldo m heard o r us ed in this s ens e by the o uts ide w o rld. O n o ne o c c as io n, s he A U ST R A LIA
as k ed a pro v o k ing ques tio n: M y pet m ec hanic ality is w hat irritates yo u. W hat is there in m e that I am G U R D J IE FF A S B LA C K &
unc o ns c io us o f, and need to be c o ns c io us o f and k no w better? W H IT E M A G IC IA N : H o w
G ur d j ie ff' s Fo ur B o o k s
If I had m o re tim e and s pac e I w o uld c o m pare and c o ntras t the rec o rds o f thes e m eetings , as fragm entary as r e la te to e a c h o the r & his
La w o f T hr e e
they are here, c o m piled no t by an indiv idual but by The Edito rs , The Gurdjieff Fo undatio n, w ith m o re
G U R D J IE FF U N V E ILE D : fr e e
elabo rate rec o rds k ept o f m eetings w ith O us pens k y, M adam e Lannes , C o nge, and o ther gro up leaders . But d o w nlo a d
there are readers (perhaps tho s e w ho hav e been ex po s ed to m ultiple teac hers ) w ho are better equipped to do
G U R D J IE FF/d e H A R T M A N N
s o than am I. M U SIC
The beating heart o f the bo o k lies in its m o s t ex tended pas s age, a v eritable lec ture, w hic h runs fro m page 66 H E LE N A D IE : A SO R T O F
SE N SA T IO N ST O LE N FR O M
to page 97. This pas s age c o v ers m o s t o f the s ubjec ts germ ane to w o rk o n s elf. U nlik e the s ho rter s ec tio ns , E M O T IO N A L C E N T R E
w hic h range in length fro m o ne s entenc e to o ne paragraph o r to o ne o r tw o pages , s o m e dated, the narrativ e
H o w C a n I M a k e B e tte r
arc o f this pas s age m o v es fro m o ne as pec t o f the s ubjec t to ano ther as pec t o f the s ubjec t, and it builds , as O b s e r v a tio ns ?
dram atis ts lik e to ex pres s it. It begins , I c an be s tirred into uneas ines s and it ends , W e rejo ic e in the jo y
In P r a is e o f R e n D a um a l
o f the po s s ibilities . The beat o f this heart m ark s the ending o f the firs t s ec tio n o f the bo o k .
J a m e s M o o r e : ' E m ine nt
G ur d j ie ffia ns : Lo r d
The s ec o nd s ec tio n, w hic h rec o rds ex c hanges betw een 1973 and 1987, pres erv es the ques tio n- and- ans w er
P e ntla nd '
fo rm at o bs erv atio n and dis c us s io n s o it is s o m ew hat m o re digres s iv e than the firs t s ec tio n, but perhaps
J e a nne d e Sa lz m a nn s
m o re engaging. Its heart beats fas ter. In m any w ays it m ay s eem les s ex c iting but it is m o re ex perienc ed, les s "T he R e a lity o f B e ing"
pro m is ing but m o re po lis hed, yet no t hav ing been there I c anno t c o m m ent o n ho w w ell it repres ents the
J im T ur ne r s ha r e s s o m e
o c c as io ns them s elv es . I w o uld s ay that they do s ho w a leader w ho is pro bing, m o re deeply than fo rm erly, the tho ughts o n P ie r r e E llio t o f
c o ntent o f the W o rk , perhaps bec aus e the m em bers o f the gro up are able to abs o rb m o re than they did the C la ym o nt C o m m unity
fo rm erly. J o hn R o b e r t C o lo m b o
d is c o ur s e s o n P . D .
The bo o k ends w ith a s elec tio n o f apho ris m s . H ere are s o m e o f the bo o k s apho ris tic ex pres s io ns o r pens es , O us p e ns k y s M a gnum
m o s t o f them tak en fro m the tex t its elf and no t fro m the s elec tio n dev o ted to them : O p us
J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M B O
* O ur s earc h is no t fo r m irac ulo us res ults , no t to ac hiev e a res ult, but to learn a pro c es s . IN T R O D U C E S P A U L
B E E K M A N T A YLO R S N E W
* M y bo dy k no w s w hat it w ants , no t w hat I w ant. I m us t teac h all o f m y parts w hat I w ant. B O O K "R E A L W O R LD S O F
G . I. G U R D J IE FF"
* M y Gurdjieff s aid, I do nt bring yo u a s ys tem o f m o rality, but ho w to find c o ns c ienc e. W e m us t find the J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M B O
o utlines o f a s truc ture that is m o re v alid. r e v ie w s "O F T H E LIFE
A LIG N E D "
* O nly w hen I hav e a c ertain lev el o f being c an I be o pen to a c ertain lev el o f k no w ledge. J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M B O
R E V IE W S A N E W B O O K B Y
* I rem em ber M r. O rage s aying, I lo v e yo u, s aid the m an. Strange that I feel no ne the better fo r it, s aid the A SH A LA G A B R IE L
w o m an. J o hn R o b e r t C o lo m b o
r e v ie w s : C ha r le s U p to n' s
Readers o f the bo o k to day m ay find the pres entatio ns o f pro c edures o f the w o rk and the attitudes that are la te s t b o o k
des c ribed in thes e pages les s engaging than did lis teners at the tim e. So m e o f the pas s ages are m o re than a J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M B O :
half c entury o ld; o thers hav e aged by at leas t a quarter c entury. M uc h w ater has pas s ed under the bridge s inc e W ILLIA M J A M E S & C A R L
then, and truis m s and o ral teac hing tec hniques that w ere o nc e no v el are no w fo und in bes t- s elling bo o k s and SA G A N : T W O G IFFO R D
LE C T U R E S
c o urs es o n the hum an po tential m o v em ent, leaders hip training, s elf- m o tiv atio n, c o gnitiv e therapies ,
J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M O
m indfulnes s training, and o n the TED Lec tures o n the W eb. M any o f the fo rm ulatio ns are indebted to M r.
PAG E
Gurdjieff, w ho gav e gifts o f ins ight to the w o rld, few o f them ac k no w ledged. N ev ertheles s , here are s o m e o f
A la n D und e s ' H o ly W r it
M rs . W elc hs fo rm ulatio ns that s truc k m e as s till v alid, info rm ativ e, o r interes ting: a s O r a l Lit" & "Fa b le s o f
the A nc ie nts ? " + "M us ic
* W e w ant to go o n repeating w hat belo ngs to ano ther perio d. M r. Gurdjieff s aid that he w as nt interes ted in o f the P r ie ur " p la ye d b y
anyo ne o v er fiv e o r under fifty- fiv e. R o s e m a r y N o tt
G U R D J IE FF IN T H E P U B LIC
* Gurdjiefff s aid o ne third o f o nes life s ho uld be s pent in po ndering. W hy w as I bo rn? W ho am I? W hat is E YE
m eant by w ak ing s leep? [This s tatem ent c o m es fro m the s ec o nd s ec tio n. I rec all no earlier ins tanc es o f the J R C O LO M B O R E V IE W S
us e o f the w o rd po ndering in the earlier perio d, o r any referenc es to the im po rtanc e o f s ittings , no w s taples the a nthr o p o lo gy o f
o f the de Saltzm ann perio d.] m a gic
J o hn R o b e r t C o lo m b o
* To m e it is s uc h an ex trao rdinary thing that a W ay ex is ts in w hic h o ne do es no t hav e to leav e o nes life. r e v ie w s a ne w b io gr a p hy
o f G ur d j ie ff b y P a ul
* In M o v em ents w e hav e eno rm o us help. W e hav e a tas te o f w hat it m eans to be c lo s e to attentio n. B e e k m a n T a ylo r
SO M E T H O U G H T S O N
* W e are all m em bers o f the hum an rac e in a bigger w ay. A ll this is c o m m o n to us . If yo u s ee this eno ugh yo u HENR I T R ACOL
c ant ev en hate H itler. H e w as jus t a bio lo gic al m utatio n o f the w ro ng s o rt. T A M IN G YO U R IN N E R
T YR A N T : P A T T Y D E
* W hen I firs t w ent to M r. Gurdjieffs apartm ent, I c o uldnt bear the tho ught o f w here he w as liv ing. A fter I w as LLO SA
there fo r ten m inutes it w as the w ho le w o rld. W A S LO R D P E N T LA N D A N
"E M IN E N T
* M adam e O us pens k y s aid w e alw ays hav e tim e fo r a lo v e affair. This is the hum an c o nditio n. G U R D J IE FFIA N "?
* M ind is the greates t thing w e hav e ex c us e m e, w e do no t hav e it. It is there. H o w do w e find ac c es s to it? J O SE P H A Z IZ E B O O K
R E V IE W S
* If w is h do es nt ex is t, the w is h to w is h do es ex is t. D ISC O V E R IN G G U R D J IE FF:
D o r o thy P hillp o tts 2 0 0 8
I w ill end this apprec iatio n o f M eetings w ith Lo uis e W elc h in To ro nto w ith o ne o ft- repeated rem ark o f M rs . T H E C YN IC A L ID E A LIST : A
W elc hs . It is a fav o urite o f m ine and I dis tinc tly rec all her uttering it o n at leas t tw o o c c as io ns . Sp ir itua l B io gr a p hy o f
J o hn Le nno n
She s aid, Yo ur aim is to find yo ur aim .
J O SE P H A Z IZ E P A G E
Jo hn Ro bert C o lo m bo is a pro lific autho r and antho lo gis t w ith a s pec ial interes t in o ffbeat C anadiana and A N O B LE W O R K
traditio nal s tudies . H is lates t public atio n is the Fo rew o rd to Paul Beek m an Taylo rs bo o k The Real W o rlds o f E LT O N J O H N : In Se a r c h
G.I. Gurdjieff (Eurek a Editio ns ). C o lo m bo w as rec ently ho no ured as o ne o f the 100 Graduates o f Influenc e o f o f the Sub lim e
his alm a m ater, U niv ers ity C o llege, U niv ers ity o f To ro nto . H e ho lds the H arbo urfro nt Literary A w ard, an G E O R G E A D IE : a ta s k
ho no rary D .Litt. Fro m Yo rk U niv ers ity in To ro nto , and Bulgarias O rder o f C yril and M etho dius (firs t c las s ). H is o n hur r y fr o m 1 9 8 1
w ebs ite is . If yo u w is h to be info rm ed o f fo rthc o m ing rev iew s and c o m m entaries o n this w ebs ite, s end him an a l s te w a r t
em ail. H is em ail addres s is jrc @ c o lo m bo .c a . D O N ' T T R Y T O E SC A P E
W a k e up in it!
E LT O N J O H N : T he So ngs
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1)
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE, Meetings with Louise Welch in Toronto: G ur d j ie ff & C hr is tia nity:
Decem ber 21, 2012 at 12:08 am reviewed by John Robert Colom bo p a r t o ne
Tagged with A. R. Orage, aim , Alfred Etievant, Benton & Bowles, Cecil Lewis, Dr. H e le n A d ie o n Fe e ling
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Robert Colom bo, Louise Welch, Maria Ouspenskaya, Maurice Nicoll, Olga and
Thom as de Hartm ann, Ouspensky, Patty de Llosa, psychopraxis, search, teacher K A T E B U SH ( 2 ) Lio nhe a r t
Peter Colgrove, The Guide and Index to G.I. Gurdjieffs All and Everything, Tom K A T E B U SH : T H E SO N G
Daly, Toronto O F SO LO M O N ( 1 )
M e e tings w ith J e a nne d e
Sa lz a m a nn in 1 9 7 3
JO H N R O B E R T C O L O M B O IN T R O D U C E S P A U L B E E K M A N M R S A D IE : fr o m a G R O U P
M E E T IN G O F M A R C H
T A Y L O R S N E W B O O K R E A L W O R L D S O F G .I .G U R D J I E F F 1983
M us ic o f G e o r ge s I.
w ith o ne c o m m ent G ur d j ie ff: J o s e p h A z iz e
J R e v ie w
SU G A R a s E s o te r ic Is s ue :
a s N a r c o tic a nd P o is o n
T he P r e p a r a tio n a nd the
A r t o f R e la x a tio n
U N IT Y IS T H E
P SYC H O LO G IC A L
A T T R IB U T E O F
IM M O R T A LIT Y
WHER E AR E T HE
G U R D J IE FF G R O U P S
H E A D IN G ?
J o s e p h A z iz e R e v ie w s :
T H E R E A LIT Y O F B E IN G
J o s e p h A z iz e : o n E lto n
J o hn a nd Le o n R us s e ll' s ' I
Sho uld H a v e Se nt R o s e s '
K E IT H A . B U Z Z E LL' S T R IO
OF CUR R E NT
P U B LIC A T IO N S: P a r t O ne
K e ith A . B uz z e ll: M a n A
T hr e e B r a ine d B e ing
K E IT H A . B U Z Z E LL S T R IO
OF CUR R E NT
P U B LIC A T IO N S: p a r t tw o
M e e tings w ith Lo uis e
W e lc h in T o r o nto :
r e v ie w e d b y J o hn R o b e r t
C o lo m b o
O N C E M O R E W IT H FE E LIN G
O s ho o n r e a d ing
C a s ta ne d a : fir s t r e a d
G ur d j ie ff
O U SP E N SK Y in G U J A R A T I:
R E M E M B E R IN G
In M e m o r ia m : T o m D a ly
R e v e iw o f J A N E
H E A P /N O T E S
R E V IE W B Y J O H N R O B E R T
C O LO M B O
J o hn R o b e r t C o lo m b o
r e v ie w s : R e fle c tio ns o n
G ur d j ie ff s W him
SO P H IA W E LLB E LO V E D
r e v ie w s T A M D G ID I' S
G U R D J IE FF A N D
H YP G N O SIS: A
H E R M E N E U T IC ST U D Y
Sufis m a nd the W a y o f
B la m e : A z iz e r e v ie w
o Sv e nd E r ik Lo ula nd
T H E FO R G O T T E N
Gurdjieff : draw n fro m life by Kiril Z danev ic h in 1920 (*s ee no te belo w ) LA N G U A G E O F C H ILD R E N :
A n E x p e r im e nt in
n C o ns c io us Liv ing
T H E JOH N R OBE R T
Real Worlds of G.I.Gurdjieffn C O LO M B O P A G E
ins, About nine months ago. That one should be retained.n 1 0 1 Me n & W om e n of
Influe nc e
About nine months ago, out of the blue, I received an email from Paul Beekman Taylor. It came as a A REPORT ON THE 2009
surprise because I had never met the scholar and historian of the Work, although in the past I had A & E C O N FE R E N C E
reviewed a number of his books for this website. In his email Dr. Taylor mentioned that he was A W o m a n' s W o r k : E the l
Me rson
completing another book and hence he was writing to inquire whether or not I would consider B e hind the Lo o k ing G la s s
contributing a Foreword to the work-in-progress. C A R LO S C A ST A N E D A
R e c a lle d a nd
John R e c o ns id e r e d
I was, frankly, flattered, as I have long appreciated the mans knowledge, grasp, and approach to the Fo ur th W a y W o r d s
history of the Work. One learns much from reading his prose. But why me? (I have not been able to G ur d j ie ff inT iflis
answer that question. Some of us are lucky, I guess!) I replied in a positive way and asked to see a few H e r m e tic s & G e ne tic s
Is la m s M ys tic a l
of the chapters of the book. I read them as soon as they arrived, I responded with some editorial T r a d itio n
reactions, and I agreed to contribute a biographical foreword, as long as the author felt he was free to J R C O LO M B O r e v ie w s
accept or reject the text or suggest modifications. FR A N K R SIN C LA IR ' S
m e m o ir
Here J A C O B N E E D LE M A N : tw o
ne w b o o k s r e v ie w e d J o hn
R o b e r t C o lo m b o
Here is that foreword. There were no modifications. I hope it helps to draw readers not only to Dr. J A M E S G E O R G E FE T E D
Taylors current book and also to his past publications. As I write, Real Worlds of G.I. Gurdjieff: JAME S G E OR G E 'S N E W
Chapters in the Life of a Master is about to be issued by Siebold and Patricia Tromp-Gugan, BOOK
proprietors of Eureka Editions, an ambitious publishing house with an interesting history based in J O H N R O B E R T C O LO M B O
IN T E R V IE W S B A R B A R A
Utrecht. W R IG H T
ohn J o s c e lyn G o d w in' s
G o ld e n T hr e a d
Foreword / John Robert Colombo
M a r ga r e t Flins c h' s
r e a d ing o f the T a le s
John M A ST E R O F M YST E R IE S:
This book is about G.I. Gurdjieff. But this foreword is about Paul Beekman Taylor. M A N LY P . H A LL
R E N E D A U M A L' S "H O LY
John WAR "
In common with the majority of the readers of this book, I have yet to meet its author, if only because r e v ie w o f ' IT ' S U P T O
O U R SE LV E S'
he lives and works in Geneva and I live and work in Toronto. Even thought we have not enjoyed a R E V IE W O F D A M A L' S
face-to-face meeting, that does not mean that we do not see eye-to-eye. I think we do see eye-to-eye, H O LY W A R
though he might have some qualms when I resort to the use of a tried-but-true phrase to R E V IE W O F D U M A L' S
' H O LY W A R '
characterize him. That phrase is a scholar and a gentleman.
T o r o nto C o nc e r t R e v ie w
John SIM SO N N A J O V IT S
inte r v ie w e d b y J O H N
Paul Beekman Taylor is certainly a scholar; there is no questioning that. He is a scholar in a number of R O B E R T C O LO M B
fields, in addition to his role as a student and chronicler of the life and work of G.I. Gurdjieff. But let SIM SO N N A J O V IT S
me make a few general points before considering the scholarship and the gentlemanly nature of the inte r v ie w e d b y J O H N
R O B E R T C O LO M B O
man. T H E C O N T R IB U T IO N S O F
SY G IN SB U R G
John T he G a r d e n o f T r uth:
If I may generalize, readers of this book will be people who belong to one or two groups. One group T he V is io n a nd P r o m is e
o f Sufis m
consists of people who know next to nothing about what has been variously called the special
doctrine, the system, the Fourth Way, the work, or more explicitly the Gurdjieff work. The T he J o hn R o b e r t C o lo m b o
P a ge : D A V ID K H E R D IA N S
other group consists of people who are widely and perhaps even deeply read in the literature of the "SE E D S O F LIG H T "
work; they may even be members of groups or centres that put into practice its principles. In my own T H E M A ST E R S SP E A K : a
J o s e p h A z iz e r e v ie w
mind, I dub any member of the first group a cheechako or tenderfoot, and any member of the U nc a te go r iz e d
second group a sourdough or old hand. Here I am employing words that were popular during the YA LE U N IV E R SIT Y:
Yukon Gold Rush of 1898, words that were popularized in the ballads of the Bard of the Yukon, A SSIST A N T P R O FE SSO R
R E LIG IO U S ST U D IE S
Robert W. Service. What the cheechako and the sourdour have in common is that each person has
been drawn to the work by its enchanting features or driven to the work by the disenchanting M e ta
features of man and his world.
Lo g in
John Site Fe e d
C o m m e nts Fe e d
Both the tenderfoot and the old hand will find in the pages of this book fascinating information,
B a c k to to p
little if any of it of public knowledge. It is information that will expand ones understanding of the
everyday life of Mr. G., and extend ones sympathy for this enigmatic man and the problems he faced
on a daily basis. No reader will reach the last pages of this book without evincing an admiration of
the man and his mission the work of self-styled Teacher of Dancing.
John
Every reader will then begin to ask for more information about the scholar and the gentleman who
wrote this study of Mr. G.s life and times. Some biographical and bibliographical information about
Paul Beekman Taylor should certainly help the reader to appreciate the unique qualifications of its
author and how it seems he has been tailor-made to research and write this book. Here goes .
John
Taylor was born in London, England, on 31 December 1930. He describes the unusual nature of his
upbringing in one of these chapters much better than could anyone else. His childhood in Mr. G.s
extended family is indeed a remarkable biographical fact. In brief, he was raised by a lively mother
within an enchanted circle of men and women involved in the work and somewhat later he was
raised by a leader of the work in the United States.
John
He earned his bachelors degree from Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, in 1954; his
masters from Wesleyan University, Middleton, Connecticut, in 1958; and his doctorate from Brown
again in 1961. Among his many academic honours is the fact that he has served as a Fulbright
Scholar and a Fulbright Lecturer. Thereafter he taught in Departments of English at Brown University,
University of New Mexico, and Yale University, as well as at universities in Oslo, Ireland, Tel Aviv,
Lausanne, Fribourg, Zrich. He is now an Emeritus Professor of the University of Geneva and retired
from teaching but not from searching and writing. He has been thrice married and has seven
children. People whom I respect speak very highly of him; indeed, with considerable respect for his
personal qualities as well as for his scholarship. He is truly a gentleman.
John
In academic life, Professor Taylors speciality is Old Norse; indeed, his 1963 doctoral dissertation
bears the title Old Norse Heroic Poetry. Among his many scholar papers and book-length works are
three volumes of translations from the Old Norse which he undertook with the great poet W.H.
Auden. In addition to Old Norse, he is a specialist in both Old English and Middle English; he has also
taught courses on modern American literature and Chicano writing.
John
Taylor has contributed mightily to the Gurdjieff field. He is one of the founding members of the All
& Everything International Humanities Conference, a group of independent scholars and thinkers
who have been meeting annually in various cities since 1996. He has researched and written six
studies of interesting and important aspects of the work:
John
* Shadows of Heaven: Gurdjieff and Toomer (Weiser Books, 1998)ohn
John
* Gurdjieff and Orage: Brothers in Elysium (Weiser Books, 2001)
John
* Gurdjieffs America: Mediating the Miraculous (Lighthouse Editions, 2004) reissued as Gurdjieffs
Invention of America (Eureka Editions, 2007)
John
* The Philosophy of G. I. Gurdjieff (Eureka Editions, 2007)
John
* G.I. Gurdjieff: A New Life (Eureka Editions, 2008)ohn
John
* Gurdjieff in the Public Eye 1914-1949 (Eureka Editions, 2011)
John
His biography of Gurdjieff takes its place alongside James Moores classic Gurdjieff: The Anatomy of
a Myth (Element Books, 1991). Gurdjieffs Invention of America is the product of prodigious
scholarship. If The Philosophy of G.I. Gurdjieff is a little diffuse, Gurdjieff in the Public Eye is right on
the ball! There is no real precedent for the present book, Real Worlds of G.I. Gurdjieff , which consists
of the discoveries made following a lifetime of immersion in the work and a half-century of research
conducted with primary materials in private hands and public institutions, as well as with the ever-
expanding literature of the work. The literature is vast for it embraces a multitude of books
(patiently annotated by J. Walter Driscoll) and published and unpublished memoirs in the languages
of Eastern and Western Europe and the anglophonie. In the process of researching and writing the
present book, which is essentially a collection of essay-length studies, he has revealed most
surprising and interesting aspects of the social and personal life of Mr. G.
John
For instance, new light is shed on members of his family in the Caucasus and on his meetings with
members of the artistic community in Paris, creative people like Ezra Pound and Lincoln Kirstein.
Then passages are quoted from the transcripts of secret intelligent reports from the dossiers the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (These are eye openers!) How was Beelzebubs Tales written? How
was its publication financed? Is there a ur text in Russian? The answers appear here in more detail
than ever before. Unexpected light is shed on the mans deep love of children and the way he would
tweak them to remember him, his message, and themselves. This relationship resonates with the
author and by extension with the reader because in his childhood he benefited from the largesse
of Mr. G. I could go on. The final chapter is remarkable for its insight into the life that Mr. G. kept
secret, and the insight into why he did so. All in all, this is a remarkable book for cheechako and
sourdough alike. It gives everyone the flavour of the man and his times.
John
I have no idea where Paul will next strike what part or aspect of the work that he will stake out in
order to unearth its termas, its buried treasures. But from the correspondence that we have
intermittently conducted, I am led to believe that future forays will take him into archives and
personal records that will bring to light further hitherto hidden material on Gurdjieffs Caucasian
roots, specifically the connection with the Mercourov family in Armenia and Russia, on the Russian
years in general, and on the mans role as a Teacher of Dancing.
John
I look forward to rereading the present work, now that it is appearing in print, and to reading
forthcoming essays and books written by Paul Beekman Taylor in the same way that I look forward
to meeting the scholar and the gentleman in person.
Note from SW:
the info captioning the image of the cover came from the books author Paul Beekman Taylor via John Robert Colombo.
There is a also a wiki page about Kirils older brother:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilia_Zdanevich
and an article by Jennifer Walker in the online Artes Magazine- click on link below
Early Modernism/Futurism Had Roots in Eastern Europe as well as Paris, Moscow
The Forgotten Modernists: In Search of Georgias Avant-Garde, which establishes cultural links between Russia, Tiflis
and Paris, and where you can read more about Kirills life as an artist.
Jo
hn
John Robert C olom bo is a Toronto- bas ed author and anthologis t w ith a s pec ial interes t in C anadiana, the
m ys terious , and Sax Rohm er. H is lates t book s are Jeepers C reepers (a c ollec tion of ac c ounts of ps yc hic al
experienc es ) and Fas c inating C anada (dis c us s ions of little- k now n fac ts about a very- big c ountry). Earlier this
year he w as honoured by his alm a m ater, U nivers ity C ollege, U nivers ity of Toronto, as one of U nivers ity
C olleges 100 Graduates of Influenc e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO INTRODUCES PAUL BEEKMAN TAYLORS NEW
Novem ber 6, 2012 at 1:17 am BOOK "REAL WORLDS OF G.I.GURDJIEFF", JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with "REAL WORLDS OF G.I.GURDJIEFF", Fourth Way, G. I. Gurdjieff, John
Robert Colom bo, NEW BOOK, Paul Beekm an Taylor, the Work
M R S A D IE : fro m a G R O U P M E E T IN G O F M A R C H 1 9 8 3
leav e a c o m m ent
This question and answer, simple, but I think all the more valuable for that, comes from a group
meeting of 3 March 1983. The first question to Mrs Adie came from Mitt.
Mrs Adie, Ive mentioned before an attitude, particularly at work, of wanting to belong, sort of
seeking approval, and wanting to be the centre of activity. And I realised today that Id been taking
this matter too lightly. Id been brushing it as just an attitude I have. And I believe that I am in fact
jealous, and that it is very negative, and it is a serious thing.
So what is your approach to that?
Its something I was pondering upon, and at first I couldnt see any way out. It seemed to be my state
when I was at work. But this evening I felt strongly a reminder to remember myself.
At what point was that?
This evening, when I arrived here. And the moment that I came to myself, I saw for the first time, that
this wasnt really me, this state. It was just another I, and that gave me a lot of hope as to the
importance of self-remembering. It was
Yes, but the difficulty is you get caught, and you go to sleep. Can you tie it down to particular
situations where this comes upon you? That kind of thing could be part of your line of work.
Everybody has it, to a greater or lesser degree, in their personality. I am sure everyone would agree,
unless theyve not seen it.
After a pause, Helen continued: Now the thing is how to approach that? How to use that as material
for your work?
It is connected with particular people, and there are definite times when I know the pull, that the
attraction of the crowd is strongest. When I think of that now, I remember those times.
You cant expect it to stop immediately. Its been doing this for 20 to 30 years. But you can have an
attitude towards it if its strong in your mind, if you really care about it, and you think of that as
material.
There are hundreds of similar things one can think of, but that is something very specific, and that
can be material for your work. If you can, choose a person or a time or a situation, where you try just
to be present to yourself. You dont try to change anything directly, externally. You dont decide to act
in this way or that way. Nothing at all will come from that. But you try to be. Its very difficult of
course, but if you can, as specifically as you can, plan at a certain moment that you will be present to
yourself when you meet that person. And you let the impressions come in, whatever takes place, you
dont deliberately try and alter something; but you cannot act in the same way if you are present to
yourself.
Of course you cant maintain it: that is a difficulty. But with exercise, with practice, doing it more
often, I dont fall in the same way. And the point is, if it is material, that is something specific. Its a
manifestation of sleep, it is considering, which, apart from the fact that it is all based on imagination
and dreams also takes my energy.
I have to be satisfied to be as I am, because falling into this imagination doesnt really change
anything at all.
You feel your own inner strength, Helen continued, allowing these last two words a certain weight.
You can feel something strong in you. Try it that way, anyway. Of course, it has to be maintained for
a little while, otherwise Im asleep and it all comes out as usual. Its a question of practice: the more I
do it, the more I can do. The more I try to maintain it, the more I can maintain it, and the more likely I
am to be awakened by the thing itself. I feel the taste of this thing appearing. I really realise it now.
And its very fortunate to see something like that. People often have not the slightest idea. You can
describe that, if you like, as one of your weaknesses its a weakness that nearly everyone has one
of your obstacles, something which you can definitely use as material. It will come and go: one
minute youll believe in it again, but then with practice it loses its power.
So try to be practical about that. Do you think that clarifies it?
Perhaps Mitt signalled a silent assent. After a space Mrs Adie asked: Does it actually make you
behave in a different matter, or does it occupy your dreams alone?
It mostly affects my dreaming. One of the main examples of it is when I hear a conversation and I
cant resist going in.
Yes, youve mentioned that before. Well, in that case you could just not join in. Sometimes I can just
go against it in that way. But you must know why you that at the time. You must be present to
yourself.
That is what is meant by going against the denying part. This is mentioned in Beelzebub quite often.
It was in the last reading.
I find the exchange interesting not only for Mrs Adie simplicity which contains everything one needs,
but for the simple observation that there are certain manifestations which one can just stop. Too
often, perhaps, we forget that we dont have to be childish. We may not be able to do in the full sense
of the word, but we can do something.
[You might also be interested in two other Helen Adie related posts:
HELEN ADIE: A SORT OF SENSATION STOLEN FROM EMOTIONAL CENTRE
https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/helen-adie-a-sort-of-sensation-stolen-from-
emotional-centre/
and
HELEN ADIE ON FEELING https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/helen-adie-on-feeling/
]
Joseph.Azize@gmail.com
29 October 2012
J O S E P H A Z I Z E has publis hed in anc ient his tory, law and Gurdjieff s tudies . H is firs t book The Phoenic ian Solar
Theology treated anc ient Phoenic ian religion as pos s es s ing a s piritual depth c om parative w ith N eoplatonis m ,
to w hic h it c ontributed through Iam blic hos . The s ec ond book , Gilgam es h and the W orld of A s s yria, w as
jointly edited w ith N oel W eek s . It inc ludes his artic le arguing that the C arthaginians did not prac tic e c hild
s ac rific e.
The third book , George M ountford A die: A Gurdjieff Pupil in A us tralia repres ents his attem pt to pres ent his
teac her (a direc t pupil of Gurdjieff and O us pens k y) to an international audienc e.The fourth book , edited and
w ritten w ith Peter El Khouri and Ed Finnane, is a new edition of Britts C ivil Prec edents . H e rec om m ends it to
anyone planning to bring proc eedings in an A us tralian c ourt of law .
M aronites is pp.279- 282 of The Enc yc lopedia of Religion in A us tralia publis hed by C am bridge U nivers ity
Pres s and edited by Jam es Jupp.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE, MRS ADIE: from a GROUP MEETING OF MARCH 1983
October 29, 2012 at 12:40 pm Tagged with Australia, considering, Gurdjieff group, Helen Adie, inner strength,
MRS ADIE, seeking approval, try to be
J o h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o d i s c o u r s e s o n P .D . O u s p e n s k y s
M agnum O pus
P. D . O us pens k y 1878- 1947
Last evening I sat down in the most comfortable armchair in our house in Toronto and read in its
entirety the text of In Search of the Miraculous. I did it in thirty-five minutes. It was not my first
reading of P.D. Ouspenskys text, nor will it be the last time I expect to read this work, yet it took me
only a 1,200 seconds.
It is true I once took a course in speed-reading, but this time I was not using the techniques that I had
learned at those sessions. (Indeed, my speed-reading instructor once said, Speed-reading is good for
general reading, but not for the four Ps poems, plays, pornography, printers proofs and I
might add philosophical texts.) Nor did I skim or scan the text. I read every word with comprehension.
I recommend the practice and the experience to one and all.
You will be forgiven if you have already decided that I am out of my mind! Indeed, how could anyone
read with comprehension and with recall every page of Ouspenskys In Search of the Miraculous?
After all, the tome is 390 pages long, with 570 words per page, a total of 222,300 words. I am
referring to the edition that is titled and subtitled In Search of the Miraculous: Fragments of an
Unknown Teaching which appeared on the list of Harcourt, Brace and Company of New York in
1949. This is the first edition.
It was a remarkable text then and it is a remarkable text now. Of course it is impossible for even a
graduate speed-reader to embrace its contents in thirty-five minutes. Thirty-five hours might be a
better estimate of the time it would take to absorb what the author had to say, and only then after
repeated readings.
It was ten years after the tome was first published that I read it for the first time. A woman who was
very knowledgeable about the Work privately suggest that I not boast of having read it at so young
an age. She added, The Table of Hydrogens is really very detailed and difficult, you know. The same
applies to all the books eighteen chapters, not just to Chapter IX which describes the indeed-difficult
Table of Hydrogens.
In Search of the Miraculous was not Ouspenskys first choice of titles for this magnum opus, which
appeared two years following his death the same year as death came to the remarkable man who is
identified throughout the text as G. George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. The author planned to give it the
title Fragments of an Unknown Teaching. That may be a truly descriptive series of words, but it is
one that is less saleable than the present one. Instead, Fragments, etc., became the volumes
subtitle.
There was always the feeling that had the book appeared as Fragments of an Unknown Teaching, it
might now be confused with another book by another author Fragments of a Faith Forgotten
written in 1900 by the Theosophist and writer G.R.S. Mead. Ouspensky knew about Meads book, for
he had enjoyed an early association with the Theosophical Society, so that some confusion might
have followed.
Ouspenskys preferred title for his work was Man and the World in Which He Lives Fragments of
an Unknown Teaching. He was preparing that work for publication in 1912-1934 while he was
working on another of his big books, A New Model of the Universe, which was first published in
1931 and revised in 1935; the standard edition is the one issued by Harcourt, Harcourt, Brace and
Company in New York in 1950. The earliest known title for New Model is The Wisdom of the
Gods.
In a footnote to New Model of the Universe, dated 1912-1934, he states that a new book is being
prepared for publication. At the same time we also learn from the same source that the author was
working on the notion of different time in different cosmoses which will be the subject of another
book. He was revising the English version of a novel with the working title The Wheel of Fortune.
That one had originally been published in St. Petersburg in 1915 as Kinemadrama. It eventually
appeared in English as The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin. So it might have had three titles.
Could anyone actually read In Search of the Miraculous in thirty-five minutes? That is an obvious
impossibility. When I make the claim that I did, I failed to explain that the text that I succeeded in
reading so rapidly was Chapter IX of A New Model of the Universe which is coincidentally titled In
Search of the Miraculous. The books chapter runs from page 305 to page 342, so it is only 37 pages
long, easily read in a little more than half an hour, especially as it about as is far from being technical
in orientation as possible. In fact, it highlights the writerly side indeed, the literary side of
Ouspenskys otherwise austere temperament.
Readers of A New Model of the Universe may or may not recall that Chapter IX is composed of six
literary sketches feuilletons in French which evoke six aspects of the miraculous. The sketches
are both subjective in emotion and objective in the sense that their subjects are appreciated and
evaluated in the contest of what might be called the real history of the world instead of what we
know as the history of crime.
The first sketch evokes the magnificence of the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris and explores the
claim made for it is that, just as modern science has conquered space, esoteric science has
conquered time. It has done so for it knows methods of transferring its ideas intact and of
establishing communications between schools through hundreds and thousands of years.
Egypt and the Pyramids are described in the second sketch. It discusses the construction of the three
pyramids on the Giza plateau and leaves the reader with the following thought: In reality the
pyramids contain a great enigma. One of the enigmas is anti-evolutionary in nature. On this basis
alone we should conclude the existence of civilized beings prior to ourselves; hence we ourselves are
not the descendants of a monkey.
Sketch number three is devoted to the Sphinx about which nothing is known. The author writes,
The Sphinx is indisputably one of the most remarkable, if not the most remarkable, of the worlds
works of art. I know nothing that I would be possible to put side by side with it. It belongs indeed to
quite another art than the art we know. Beings such as ourselves could not create a Sphinx.
The Buddha with the Sapphire Eyes is the title of the fourth sketch. Ouspenskys account of it his
meditation on the reclining figure has made it among occultists and esotericists the most famous of
Ceylons giant statues. It is located just outside the Sri Lanka capital of Colombo, and there is a
photograph of it reproduced in the Commemorative Issue of The Bridge, a journal published by The
Study Society, London, in 1977. But the author offers a verbal portrait worth a thousand pictures. This
Buddha speaks to us of a real existence, of another life, and of the existence of men who know
something of that life and can transmit it to us by the magic of art.
The fifth sketch is titled The Soul of the Empress Mumtaz-i-Mahal and it paints a rosy and pastel
image of the Taj Mahal, a scene that never seems to cloy or lose its fascination. The Taj is a tomb, a
burial site, but it is not a gravesite. Here Ouspensky develops a theory that moves into dimensions
beyond the fourth, infinity being the fifth: The soul and the future life are one and the same.
The Mevlevi Dervishes is the sixth and last sketch. In Constantinople he was invited to a tekke at
Pera where he had the opportunity to observe the dervishes whirl about like the planets in the
heavens. He witnessed the ceremony on at least two occasions at an interval of one dozen years. He
concluded that events move more quickly than do the dervishes for all their speed. For instance, in
the interval, Russia itself had ceased to exist. Events that had occurred to him during those twelve
years had imparted some knowledge to him. And now I knew more about them. I knew a part of
their secret. I know how they did it. I knew in what the mental work connected with the whirling
consisted. Not the details of course, because only a man who takes part in the ceremonies or
exercises can know the details. But I knew the principle.
On that note this chapter ends. These synopses of Ouspenskys sketches are meant to offer the
reader a sense of the poetic side of the authors temperament. It was Colin Wilsons argument that
the world lost a great metaphysician in P.D. Ouspensky when he met G.I. Gurdjieff. Whether this is
true or not, all is not lost. We have Ouspenskys heart and soul in the chapter In Search of the
Miraculous, and his body and mind in the book In Search of the Miraculous.
Perhaps you will agree with me that this is not bad for thirty-five minutes of reading!
John Robert Colombo is a Toronto-based author and anthologist with a special interest in
mysteries. His current work is devoted to preserving the hitherto unknown short mystery
fiction written by Sax Rohmer, the English author who created the arch-villain
preposterous, Dr. Fu Manchu. All this is explained on his website: < http://www.colombo.ca
>
Notice of conferences, books, reviews or events of interest to the practitioner or scholar of

Gurdjieffs teaching may be sent to: Sophia Wellbeloved s.wellbeloved@gmail.com
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in John Robert Colom bo discourses on P.D. Ouspenskys Magnum Opus,
Septem ber 7, 2012 at 11:41 am JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with A New Model of the Universe, Colin Wilson, Egypt and the Pyram ids,
G.R.S. Mead, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, In Search of the Miraculous, Magnum
Opus, P. D. Ouspensky, poetic side of Ouspensky, The Buddha with the Sapphire
Eyes, The Mevlevi Dervishes, The Soul of the Em press Mum taz-i-Mahal, the
Sphinx, The Strange Life of Ivan Osokin
E m in e n t G u rd jie ffia n s : L o rd P e n tla n d : A P o le m ic b y Ja m e s

M o o re (2 0 1 0 )
Jam es M o o re
Eminent Gurdjieffians: Lord Pentland, A Polemic by James Moore (2010)

1. Introduction
2. The Real Question
1. Introduction
I will assume that the reader has access to John Robert Colombos review of this book at
https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/was-lord-pentland-an-eminent-gurdjieffian/
This will save me going through the preliminaries. To a significant extent, I am in agreement with JRs
review. But I do think that the most important point a critic can make about this book is that it is not
actually a biography of Lord Pentland in the sense that the genre of biography has been known in
English letters: it is, rather, a polemic which takes Pentland as its chief but not its sole target. It is as if
Pentland is merely a convenient, and for Moore an agreeable because a disdained target.
That the book is a polemic shows itself in two ways: its coverage of Pentlands achievement is
minimal to the point of mockery, and its coverage of other targets is overplayed. Thus, Moore also
takes aim at what Pentlands father, the social class to which he belonged, the Britain in which
Pentland flourished, and P.D. Ouspensky. Moore sometimes takes aim at Jeanne de Salzmann and
through her and Pentland, what is now clumsily known as the International Association of the
Gurdjieff Foundations.
The title is, of course, pretentious, referring as it does to Lytton Stracheys minor classic. But then, the
author named his autobiography Gurdjieffian Confessions: A Self Remembered . I doubt that he
would see any pretence at all. Moores writing continues its steady decline. In my view, Gurdjieff and
Mansfield was the best written of his books. Each succeeding volume sees further adventures in
grandiloquence to the point where, in this book, Moores prose positively obscures his meaning as
much as it reveals it. For example, speaking of the Dunkirk Spirit, Moore remarks: By just such a
rare and free flowing energy the aridities of Ouspenskys scholasticism might have been irrigated.
But they were not. (p.53). What does this mean? We can see that he dislikes Ouspenskys
scholasticism, but he does not explain what the stated aridities are, or how they could have been
irrigated by the spirit of Dunkirk. The dry four word sentence But they were not, seems to suggest
that there was some fault of Ouspenskys part, or that of someone else. However, as so often in this
book, Moore does not condescend to explain his meaning, the basis for his opinion, or what his
sources were.
Consider this line: Here as elsewhere Pentland is litmus paper shy of turning red or blue, (63). I do
not know what he means in this context. I know what litmus paper is, and I know what shy means, but
what is he saying? Moore aims for effect to the point of losing sight of why one writes.
One of Moores techniques in this book is to assume an omniscient voice, a manner of proceeding
which allows him to criticise and condemn without needing to do more than demand that we accept
his conclusions. Moore has researched many details of the world in which Pentland lived, but how
can he possibly know that when he took his seat as President of the Cambridge Union, Pentland had
a sense almost of swooning vertigo? (32) Does Moore have access to a diary or letter, and if so, why
not mention it? Or is it all as much a fiction as the awkward talk between father and son which he
invents?
Historys access to their verbatim conversation is decently barred by the study door (15) Moore
speaks here, as often, as if he were the voice of history, and the tone supports him when he adds: Yet
this caveat does not entirely forbid the authorial imagination an intelligent extrapolation from
circumstantial evidence. Like most fathers His Lordship hardly knew how to begin. Where is the
intelligence here? What are the pieces of evidence he uses? Maybe if we knew the facts, we would
find that Pentlands father was different from how Moore imagines him. All I can see here is the
operation of thoroughgoing prejudice, and that is a very different thing.
Similarly, in speaking of Franklin Farms, he mocks how Society women with compressed lips
earnestly bottling peas and beans were in a profounder sense, bottling spiritual merit. (67). How
does he know what their attitude was? Were they really so self-righteous as that? Maybe the women
would have surprised him. But by filling this slim volume with intelligent extrapolations, and
speaking as if all-knowing, Moore creates a consistent picture of pretentious and deluded wealthy
folks, and then pleads its very consistency in aid of its veracity. This is not valid biography, and is
cheap even as polemic.
It is difficult to overstate the extent to which the book is primed with irrelevancies which create an
illusion of research, while bare of many matters which are far more important. For example, we learn
that tickets to the premier of Gone with the Wind were hard to procure (51), but Moore does even try
to tell us in what Pentlands approach to the Gurdjieff teaching and methodology consisted. Yet, after
the publication of Exchanges Within and several of his talks, this would have been as easy as it is
desirable.
Again, Moore tells us that at one time a certain piece of news would have imparted to Pentlands stiff
mind and body the artificial agility bestowed on a dead frogs hind-quarters when juxtaposed to an
electric coil (72). It is ponderously written, and not, to my mind, at all witty. But more profoundly,
Moore assumes and has assumed all throughout that Pentland had a stiff mind.
Moore is content to construct a paper tiger and ignore, in the published group meetings, what made
Pentland the teacher he was whatever type of teacher that may have been.
It is necessary to state that I am sure that Moore has a certain point: but he does not demonstrate it. I
remember that in several meetings with senior people from the New York Foundation, they would
gently push you into agreeing with them: it was obscene, the number of times one woman in
particular would put words into peoples mouths by asking, Wouldnt you say ? I had a sense,
even then, that she was imitating, and my guess was that she was imitating Pentland.
I recall one chap who had met Pentland would come quote statements such as: Dont write that
down! Remember it! Lord Pentland said: Why do we write? We write it order to forget! How absurd.
We dont write in order to forget, but so that if we do forget, as experience shows us we often do, we
will have a record. When I was in New York, about eight years after Pentlands death, I was with Jim
Wyckoffs group. We had to remove all the items from a series of cupboards. I started to make a
sketch of what was where. They got stuck into me: that was not the Work! I had to remember not use
a crutch. They would remember. And so on. They really made a point out of it: they were unctuous
and self-righteous.
But when, a week later, they had to restore the items, they were searching high and low for the
sketch. Not one said a word to me. I started to form the opinion then that Wyckoff was a New York
hippie, and before he died, I informed him that I no longer wished to work with him. I am gratified
that to remember that I did. Because, like Pentland, he was an authority figure. But to give Pentland
his due, Pentland could run a business and did establish the Foundation on the West Coast.
Still, the picture of the NY Foundation I then formed, as conceited while operating at a level lower
than ordinary life, does seem to go back to Pentland. But I also felt that there was more than just that
to Pentland. And I feel that the X quality which Moore has missed must have been something to do
with the presence of Lord Pentland. Only by appealing to the presence of Lord Pentland can I explain
why the text of Exchanges Within, which seems to me to be good but not excellent, sends those who
knew him into raptures: they make a connection to what they experienced when they met him
Interestingly, Mr Adie did not consider Pentland to be anything but formidable. He did say that
Pentland would go all cryptic and mystificatory or change the topic when he did not know something
or felt inadequate. He also said that Pentland could play a double game, and for reasons I wont go
into now, I think that Adie may well have been right. I think that Pentland did relish the idea of taking
over the Adie group in Australia, but probably on instructions from Jeanne de Salzmann was
content to wait until Adie would die. And to give them credit, the strategy did work, but by the time it
bore fruit, the groups had reduced from well over a hundred and forty persons to about a third of
that number.
I should also note here that there are some very interesting stories of Pentland being bested by Mrs
Staveley in verbal duels. Once he asked her, in front of others, to give an impromptu talk on the
importance of obedience. It was obvious to those present that his point was that she was disobedient
to either Jeanne de Salzmann or himself or both. She turned the tables on him: Yes, obedience is
important. But obedience to what? Discomfited, he changed the topic.
So it should be obvious that I have no problem with a book which is critical of Pentland and the
Foundation: but it needs reasons and grounds. This book is filled with tricks: How far away, suddenly,
seemed the hors doeuvre table at Claridges, (73). Moore had referred to Claridges a little earlier, but
it had nothing to do with this section, and neither is there any reason to think that anyone thought of
Claridges, wistfully or otherwise. It is just a way of inserting a supposedly clever line and making
Pentland look like an upper class twit. Similarly, and there are other examples, Moore mentions that
pencil sharpeners were made scarce in England during the war, and then speaks of Pentland going to
the USA where the staff were never short of pencil sharpeners, (62). Is that humorous? Does it
have a point? It was Moore, not Pentland, who cared about such matters.
I could continue like this, but in the end, the very cynicism of Moores approach takes me to what I
consider to be the real question.
2. The Real Question
The real question, to my mind, is about the Gurdjieff Work. If Pentland the leader of the Foundation
in the USA was indeed, as Moore paints him, then what is the point of the Gurdjieff Work?
Jospeph Azize
September 2012
=============
See related posts:

Andrew Rawlinsons review of this book
https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/?s=Pentland+Rawlinson
+
John Robert Colombos reviews this at: https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/2011/04/11/was-lord-
pentland-an-eminent-gurdjieffian/
&
he reviews Ashala Gabriels Remembering Lord Pentland
https://gurdjieffbooks.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/john-robert-colombo-reviews-a-new-book-by-
ashala-gabriel/
=============
Jo s eph.A zize@ gm ail.c o m
J O S E P H A Z I Z E has publis hed in anc ient his tory, law and Gurdjieff s tudies . H is firs t book The Phoenic ian Solar
s ac rific e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in Em inent Gurdjieffians: Lord Pentland: A Polem ic by Jam es Moore (2010),
Septem ber 3, 2012 at 5:15 pm JOSEPH AZIZE BOOK REVIEWS
Tagged with A Polem ic by Jam es Moore (2010), Andrew Rawlinson, Em inent
Gurdjieffians: Lord Pentland, Franklin Farm s, Gurdjieff and Mansfield, Gurdjieff
Foundations, John Robert Colom bo, Lytton Strachey, Mr Adie, MRs Staveley, P. D.
Ouspensky
JO H N R O B E R T C O L O M B O R E V IE W S A N E W B O O K B Y
A S H A L A G A B R IE L
w ith o ne c o m m ent
0
Ashala Gabriel
Remembering Lord Pentland

Not too long ago there was an uproar over James Moores biography of Lord Pentland, with Moore expressing
exasperation with the man he had met on one or two occasions, and with readers (and non-readers) of his biography
who rushed to the defence of the man who was their teacher. For those who missed the catcalls and the catfight, here is
some background information.
Henry John Sinclair (1907-1984), 2nd Baron Pentland, was appointed by G.I. Gurdjieff to lead the Work in North America.
He became the first head of the Gurdjieff Foundation of New York, leading that centre from its establishment in 1953 to
the time of his death. As well, he oversaw the founding of the Gurdjieff organization in San Francisco, and over the
decades he addressed countless study groups and met innumerable students throughout the United States. I am not
aware that he ever ventured across the Canadian border.
He was said to be selfless in his devotion to the Work. A rule of thumb my thumb is that those people who knew the
Baron personally, whether colleagues or students, were quite attached to the man and most protective of him he does
look frail in photographs, almost cadaverous whereas those who knew him impersonally or peripherally, or not at all,
were less disposed to be appreciative or even generous about him and the role he played.
A wake-up call was James Moores book Eminent Gurdjieffians: Lord Pentland which gave the man and the leader no
quarter. I reviewed this stylishly written biography upon publication for this website, and it remains the sole biographical
inquiry of any length devoted to the man and his work. On another occasion I summarized some of Lord Pentlands
published talks. I will not repeat here what I wrote there. I think readers may view the present publication
Remembering: Being with My Teacher as an attempt to re-right the wrong, to re-balance of scales, to set the record
straight, by offering at least one former students emotional tribute and appreciation of Lord Pentland at work and at
play. On that level the publication succeeds.
Now that Lord Pentland and James Moore have been identified, the only other person to describe is Ashala Gabriel, the
author of the publication. She is a woman in her early seventies, who has for many years worked in New York as an
independent literary agent, copywriter, and psychic (or mystic, as she prefers). Ms. Gabriel is a graduate of Brown
University, with a Masters degree in TESOL (teaching English as a second language) from Hunter College, and a Doctor
of Divinity degree or certificate from The College of Divine Metaphysics.
In 2002, Simon & Schuster published her illustrated book for young children, Night Night Toes. Ms. Gabriel has her own
website, HeartReadings, where she writes, I am a natural mystic. Even in my crib days, I was a frequent flier to far-off
worlds worlds as clear and close as the nose on my face. (This detail brings to my mind the Ontario-born natural
medium named Dorothy Maclean who with her green thumb grew those giant cabbages at Findhorn in Northern
Scotland. In passing, Ms. Macleans own volume of memoirs, To Hear the Angels Sing, is well worth reading. I think
Ms. Gabriel and Ms. Maclean are kindred souls.)
Never before have I heard of anyone who bore the name Ashala, so I checked the website Quick Baby Names where I
learned the following bits of information. The website states that the name is a variant of Ashley which was popularized
in the movie Gone with the Wind. The website continues: As a baby girl name, Ashala is currently not a popular baby
name in the USA. The website concludes, interesting, that the name describes a professional woman with good tastes
and values, but is quite shy. Whether or not this is true of the author Ashala Gabriel, I do not know, never having met
her. But reading her prose, I do not judge her to be particularly shy, though, yes, she is somewhat tentative and
certainly a sensitive woman.
Ms. Gabriel is the author of Remembering: Being with My Teacher published by CreateSpace in New York and her
book is available through Amazon and Indigo. The trade paperback measures 6 x 9 and is 154 pages in length. One
unusual feature of the publication is the pagination. Printers customarily reserve the number 1 for the first page, the one
on the right. In this publication, the number 1 appears on the left-hand page (which means there should be a page 0)!
The text is set in a sans-serif typeface, though the typeface is generally reserved for headings, as they slow the reader
down, lacking as they do readily recognizable serifs, thick and thin shapes, etc. However, the lines are well leaded, i.e.,
spread apart, so each page is quite spacious and easy to read. There are about 40,000 words here, divided into 44
chapters, so each chapter is in extent under 1,000 words long. Each chapter is a self-contained reminiscence which
describes an interaction with Lord Pentland (who is referred to as LP). The author calls these chapters stories, and so
does Barbara Wright George who supplies a friendly foreword in the form of a letter in which she notes, rightly, that
these stories reveal a teacher in action.
A curious point about the 44 chapter headings is that they appear in lower case and systematically hyphenated the-
invisible-cloak, unconditional-invitation, st.-george-of-the-jigsaw, death-and-breath, etc. This creates a sense of
breathlessness which is also characteristic of the text itself, as Ms. Gabriel enjoys hyphenating words, perhaps
influenced by the neologisms of All and Everything. In one story, she describes how she elaborately packaged some
baked goods for Lord Pentland. He observes this and draws this feature to her attention as a teaching lesson: I was
able to take in a strong impression of my tendency to always embellish everything I was asked to do.
LP is described as my teacher for all times and as a tall, stately, bushy-eyebrowed man who is always asking those
question-less questions Id learned to listen for but was rarely in the sort of state I was prepared to hear. The episodes
involving the two of them take place in California and New York State. Some of the encounters are entirely anecdotal,
like the one called elevator-antics. An elevator operator responds to LPs question about how life was treating him by
saying that life has been taking him up and down up and down.
The chapter bookmark-re-marks demonstrates how LP could be very direct in dealing with situations like the one
created by the bookmark people who were always entering bookstores and inserting their own bookmarks in books
by Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. He had his followers continue to remove the bookmarks and bring them to him, and in his
own handwriting he replaced the printed telephone numbers with his own phone number. Now, dont get caught and
dont let any of the others at the Foundation know what were doing.
The story I liked the most because it tells us as much about Ms. Gabriel as about LP is cans-and-cabs. It describes
how LP set Ms. Gabriel a number of tasks to be completed in record time in downtown Manhattan a few hours before
they were ticketed to fly from New York to San Francisco. Suitcases had to be claimed, delivered, etc., and she was
ordered to arrive by cab outside the Waldorf Astoria to pick up LP: Now be exactly on time, and not a minute too
early. The author describes how she conscientiously and breathlessly accomplished all of this, at one point trusting the
good will of a New York taxi driver to safeguard a trunk full of reels of films of the Movements. As the cab pulls up with
her and the trunk with its valuable consignment, LP descends the hotels steps. She had arrived at the hotel precisely on
time. Well done, LP smiled, rather like the Cheshire cat.
LPs remarks are hardly quotable but they are thoughtful and hence memorable. When Ms. Gabriel went grocery
shopping for a group function, she returned with the exact change from the purchases. LP was pleased. Always
remember, the Work is in the details.
On other occasions he offered these remarks: Real doing is on the inside. Its not just what youre looking at, its
where youre looking from. Sooner or later you have to decide if you want to be visible or invisible. He took the long
view of life: Try to look at your life in seven year increments. Then perhaps youll be able to see something about the
larger patterns behind the events which have occurred.
On occasion I have found that the first and last words of a book may be used to summarize its theme or content. This is
so with the present book. Its first word is my, and its last word is legacy. Indeed, Remembering: Being with My
Teacher is the authors legacy, a tribute to Lord Pentland.
John Robert Colombo, author and anthologist, contributes the occasional
book review to this website. He is known across Canada as the Master
Gatherer for his compilations of lore and literature. He is currently collecting
for publication the non-fiction writing of Sax Rohmer (the creator of Dr. Fu
Manchu). The text of Colombos speech titled Fantastic Elements in the Fiction
of Sax Rohmer appears on his website < http://www.colombo.ca >>.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO REVIEWS A NEW BOOK BY ASHALA GABRIEL,
August 25, 2012 at 3:57 pm JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with ASHALA GABRIEL, BARBARA WRIGHT GEORGE, G. I. Gurdjieff, Jam es
Moore, John Robert Colom bo, JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO REVIEWS, Lord Pentland
G U R D J I E F F A S B L A C K & W H I T E M A G I C I A N : H o w G u r d j i e f f s F o u r
B o o k s re la te to e a c h o th e r & h is L a w o f T h re e
A bo v e are s o m e o f the m any im ages o f Gurdjieff. It is interes ting to s ee ho w o ne o f thes e is o ften c ho s en, fo r
blo gs o r public atio ns abo ut him , s o as to ex pres s an o pinio n o r judgem ent o f him , to define him ac c o rding to
the w riters o w n v iew s .
How Gurdjieffs Four Books relate to each other

& to his Law of Three
A while ago I wrote a review of Herald of Coming Good which I have extended here. My initial
impulse to write the review came after going to a conference in which someone told me they hadnt
read Herald, because our teacher told us not to.
This advice was probably in response and obedience to Gurdjieffs own withdrawing of his text.
However, I will show below that it is important to read Herald, as it is an essential text, it completes
Gurdjieffs teaching and in doing so the text itself draws attention to what the pupil should reject.
It also, according to James Webb, revealed three of Gurdjieffs techniques of manipulation that he
consistently employed: for one man the carrot, for another the stick, for the third hidden persuasion.
Webb goes on to suggest that Gurdjieffs pupils:
might have found the keys to a dozen puzzling experiences. If they had chosen to look, but most of
them did not. (Webb, James, The Harmonious Circle, London: Thames & Hudson, 1980 p. 428).
In Herald of Coming GoodGurdjieff portrays himself as a black magician in contrast to his role a
white magician in Life is real only then, when I am.
o
Gurdjieffs Law of Three

In terms of Gurdjieffs Law of Three:
o
1. Beelzebubs Tales To His Grandson represents a negative or destructive 2nd force

2. Meetings With Remarkable Men represents a positive or creative force 1st force
3. Herald of Coming Good represents a negative reconciling 3rd force
4. Life is real only then, when I am represents a positive reconciling 3rd force
o
So, seen in this context, although he exiled Herald, echoing Beelzebubs exile from the Sun Absolute,
readers may ignore Gurdjieffs instructions not to read it and like the committee who restored
Beelzebubs horns, may pardon the ill results of his teaching that Gurdjieff claims for himself in
Herald. The text can now be re-embraced back into the sequence of Gurdjieffs writings where it
belongs, just as Beelzebub was himself pardoned and allowed to return to the Sun Absolute
o
Time
All four of Gurdjieffs books have themes related to time. The Tales shows a continuing devolution
from past to present, while Meetings shows Gurdjieff and the Seekers reversing time by returning to
the past sources of ancient wisdom via teachings in texts and monasteries. The title of Life is Real
Only Then When I am, emphasises the eternal present while the Herald Of Coming Good suggests
the unreality of the future.
If we look at Gurdjieffs books in this way it makes sense to follow his instructions to read three of
them in the order he prescribes, and also to disobey his instruction not to read Herald.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, GURDJIEFF AS BLACK & WHITE MAGICIAN: How Gurdjieff's Four
August 13, 2012 at 7:01 pm Books relate to each other & his Law of Three
Tagged with Beelzebub's exile, Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, Gurdjieff,
Gurdjieff's Four Books, Herald of Com ing Good, Jam es, Life is real only then,
Meetings with Rem arkable Men, The Harm onious Circle, the Law of Three, tim e,
tim e reversed, Webb, when I am
J o h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o r e v i e w s : C h a r l e s U p t o n s l a t e s t b o o k
w ith 3 c o m m ents
Vectors of the Counter-Initiation

The Wikipedia entry for the author Charles Upton identifies him (somewhat starkly but no doubt
truthfully) as a poet and metaphysician. He was born in San Francisco in 1948 and raised a Roman
Catholic. Apparently he attended the University of California at Davis for four days. He enjoyed a
period of association with the Beat writers of the city, and he had a collection of poems published by
Lawrence Ferlinghettis City Lights Books, no mean achievement.
Like many another war resister, he immigrated to Canada, to the wild interior of British Columbia,
where he had a series of jolting, counter-cultural experiences, before he returned to the United States.
The entry notes: In 1988 he joined a traditional Sufi order. Under his wifes influence, Upton became
interested in the metaphysics of the Traditionalist or Perennialist School He continues to be partly
identified with this school, where his teacher or pir was presumably the psychiatrist and author Dr.
Javad Nurbakhsh. Later he wrote, Traditionalism has given me a way to distance myself from the
errors and excesses of the Left without polarizing with it. Upton and his wife Jennifer Doane now live
in Lexington, Kentucky.
What they do there, I do not know. On the off chance that Upton is employed as an academic, I
searched the directories of the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University, but his name does
not appear on their faculty rosters. (Note: Transylvania University is indeed the name of a small
liberal arts college in Lexington, founded in 1780, a century before Bram Stoker began to write about
the vampire-infested region around Borgo Pass and Bistritz.)
Upton is a prolific writer. Sixteen of his twenty or so books have been issued by Sophia Perennis,
including the current book, which is titled and subtitled Vectors of the Counter-Initiation: The Course
and Destiny of Inverted Spirituality (2012). The title sounds a little odd, as does the subtitle: What
precisely is a vector? Whatever is counter-initiation and inverted spirituality? A curious note is
that on the authors Wikipedia site, the subtitle of the present book reads The Shape and Destiny of
Inverted Spirituality, but on the cover of the book reads: The Course . This may be an
insignificant detail, but it is details of this nature that catch the authors eye. It seems the current book
is a sequel to an earlier one, The System of Antichrist: Truth and Falsehood in Postmodernism and
the New Age, a book of metaphysics and social criticism, published by the same house way back in
2001.
Sophia Perennis, the publishing house, is an imprint that has an informative website. From the site
one learns nothing at all about the people who operate the press the publishers and editors seem
to be a self-effacing lot, but they are very able group, and they produce a fine product (one that I will
describe a little later). But from the site one may acquire basic information about the movers and
shakers of Traditionalism and Perennialism. It appears in the institutions mission statement, which
discusses the main metaphysicians who identify with this school of lexis and praxis.
Sophia Perennis is dedicated to publishing the best contemporary writing on the worlds wisdom
traditions, largely from a Traditionalist or Perennialist perspective, as well as reprinting recognized
classics. We have tried to remain faithful to Traditionalist core principles notably the Transcendent
Unity of Religions while exploring new applications of these principles, as well as returning to the
great Revelations themselves for fresh insight.
I have yet to read other books by Upton, so I approached Vectors cold-turkey. Well, not quite. Well
before I discovered the literature of the Fourth Way, about the time that I learned about the powers
latent in man identified with The Theosophical Society, which was then an institution only seventy-
five years old, I found a copy in a second-hand bookstore of Ren Gunons The Reign of Quantity
and the Signs of the Times. I read it from cover to cover with a modicum of understanding and a
quantum of fascination, so much so that I thereafter sought out publications of the Primordialist,
Traditionalist, or Perennialist persuasion. I have yet to encounter any other soul so interested or
inclined.
For some years I subscribed to that excellent, semi-annual journal called Sacred Web, not because it
is published from Vancouver, British Columbia; not because its honourary patron is HRH the Prince of
Wales; not because it is close to appearing to be a scholarly publication in a highly polemical and
disputatious field; but because it did and does offer valuable insights issue after issue, again and
again. Eventually I found that its content was becoming repetitious and its tone increasingly
peremptory but because I am not reviewing Sacred Web, I will offer no telling instances, though
one of them has to do with the bitchiest book review that I have ever read the anathema invoked
against Mark Sedgwicks Against the Modern World (Oxford University Press) which bears the
subtitle Traditionalism and the Secret Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century.
Instead, I will mention in passing a few of the impressions that my wife Ruth and I had of the
Traditionalists in action at the two-day colloquium Tradition in the Modern World sponsored by
members of the Ismaili communities of Edmonton and Vancouver and held on the campus of the
University of Alberta at Edmonton in September 2006. It was a joy to hear Jean-Louis Michou and
Huston Smith and realize they were carrying their years with grace. Harry Oldmeadow was given to
hectoring (in the manner of Nietzsche). James S. Cutsinger presented a somewhat brilliant paper
called The Noble Lie that went well over the heads of most of the people in the audience, including
my wife and myself.
My biggest disappointment was listening to the keynote address of Seyyed Hossein Nasr. I did not
say my disappointment was hearing the speech of Dr. Nasr, for he does speak with surpassing
fluency, authority, and scholarly acumen. My disappointment was listening to what he had to say
because he took a number of pot-shots at easy targets, like the one on Pope Benedict XVIs speech in
Regensburg, Germany. I expected more equanimity; my fault, I guess. (Query: Can someone be a
former Sufi?) I found fellow members of the audience to be warm and appreciative, especially as
Ruth and I were among the few non-Muslims present, whereas most of the academic presenters
were aloof and edgy if not chilly.
For what they are worth, my impressions are recorded in a long and detailed account of the
proceedings in Fohat, the journal of the Edmonton Theosophical Society, X, 4, Winter 2006. For
present purposes, let me add that the perennial philosophy that was celebrated by Aldous Huxley in
his notable book of that title published in 1946 has nothing at all to say about Gunon and
Traditionalism proper, though three of the French metaphysicians books are listed in the
bibliography. So it is misleading and mistaken to identify the so-called the philosophia perennis or
perennial philosophy itself with Traditionalism per se, especially as the former implies eclecticism,
ecumenicism, syncreticism, interfaith initiatives, one world religion, new age, etc., whereas
metaphysicians of the latter camp abhor such movements and despise them as heretical and
diabolical if not satanic.
Now to the book at hand. Vectors is a handsome and sturdily manufactured trade paperback, 6 x
9 with viii+336+ii pages. There is an informative introduction, then twelve interesting though
densely written chapters, followed by five appendices of related material. There is no index but the
footnotes and endnotes are quite detailed. The text must exceed 140,000 words in length.
There is not a page of the text that is badly written; there is not a page of the text that is easy to read.
Upton has a rigorous prose style, in common with that of Gunon, as well as the spirit of parti pris. I
managed to understand much of Gunons Reign of Quantity before I chose philosophy as my
college major, so I assumed that all philosophy was written in this steely fashion. Then I discovered
one could write philosophy in other styles with the ease of R.G. Collingwood, the apocalyptic energy
of Friedrich Nietzsche, the disdain for bad faith of Jean-Paul Sartre.
What had animated Gunons prose was a contempt for the false values of the Western world. The
position that he took is what distinguished his writing from philosophy per se, and it also led to his
prose being characterized as metaphysics. In his Weltanschauung, there is a hierarchy of values
accompanied by the lowerarchy (an amusing coinage of C.S. Lewis used by Upton) of deceptions
so his metaphysics is indistinguishable from theology in this instance, Islamic theology. There is no
more thorough-going critique of the values of the Western world in the twenty-first century than the
writing of the Gunonian school. Upton follows in Gunons footsteps; Uptons book is worthy of the
masters. There is a cultural jihad being waged in the pages of these books.
When I review a book, I try to refrain from reprinting the copy that appears on the back cover of that
book, on the principle that I should be able to summarize its arguments at least as well as any
publicist. But in this instance, the copy on the back cover of Vectors is so pertinent, I will reprint part
of it here in a slightly shortened form:
French philosopher Ren Gunon, who spent many years searching for a true esoteric Way, crossed
paths with many false and subversive spiritualities before arriving at the threshold of Islamic Sufism.
In his prophetic masterpiece The Reign of Quantity and the Signs of the Times, he classed the worst
of these spiritualities as examples of the Counter-Initiation. Anti-Tradition secularism and
materialism opposes religion; Counter-Tradition inverts it; and the esoteric essence of Counter-
Tradition is the Counter-Initiation. The author expands on this concept, recognizing the action of the
Counter-Initiation in such areas as the politicizing of the interfaith movement, the anti-human
tendencies in the environmental movement, the growing interest in magic and sorcery, the
involvement of the intelligence communities in the fields of UFO investigation and psychedelic
research, the history of Templarism and Freemasonry, and the de-Islamicization of the famous Sufi
poet, Jalaluddin Rumi.
The Counter-Initiation has six main features: syncretism; inverted hierarchy; deviated esoterism; the
granting of the temporal transmission of spiritual lore precedent over the vertical descent of
Revelation; the reduction of religion to utilitarianism (magic) and esoterism to a purely technical
knowledge (Promethean spirituality); and the misapplication of the norms of the individual spiritual
Path to the supposed spiritual evolution of the collective.
This book brings together two schools of thought: the Traditionalists or Perennialists (writers on
comparative religion and traditional metaphysics) and the conspiracy theorists who are investigating
the origin, nature, and plans of the New World Order. The NWO researchers can throw a penetrating
light on the social and political dangers presently threatening the Perennialists, who the Perennialists
can provide these researchers with a deeper and wider spiritual context for their vision of human
evil.
Those three paragraphs excellently summarize the convoluted arguments of the book, better than
any that I could supply. What follows are some responses and reactions to the text chapter by
chapter.
Chapter 1 has the title What is the Counter-Initiation? The author restates his thesis any number of
times, changing the emphasis to match the contexts. I take it that his thesis is as follows: Anyone
who bases his critique of the Darkness of This World on the orthodox doctrines of a single God-given
revelation, if he has sufficient courage and insight, will see far; the solid fulcrum of that orthodoxy will
allow him to lift a great weight of error into the light. But this perspective will _not_ allow him to see
how the other religions are menaced by the same Counter-Initiatory forces that threaten his own.
Sceptics are anti-traditional and likely secularists or materialists. Among people who accept the
notion of religious or spiritual initiation are the following: deluded people and gullible adherents to
the principles of the New Age who are misled by the spread of Pseudo-Initiation; people intent on
attaining or wielding power who embrace the anti-principles of Counter-Tradition and Counter-
Initiation; people desirous of embracing and expressing spiritual values who attain one form or
another of genuine Initiation. Falsifications of the Transcendent Unity of Religions and the Primordial
Tradition include syncretism; inverted hierarchy; deviated esoterism; dominance of history over
Revelation; Promethean magic; and spiritual evolutionism the six-fold falsification of the
Transcendent Unity of Religions and the Primordial Tradition.
Upton gives numerous instances and examples of how the lites of the world over the centuries and
particularly in our own time have sought and to a great degree have undermined the integrity of the
worlds great religions, especially their esoteric hearts, notably Kabbalah, Catholic monasticism, and
Sufism. He does not hesitate to brand these people satanists. The satanists sabotage structures
regardless of the orthodoxy or the heterodoxy of the doctrines of these religions, establishing their
own Counter-Initiations, their own competing cults and sects. About True-Initiations, little is said, and
nothing is revealed. So it is understandable in the absence of details that readers are inclined to
imagine a succession or transmission through the ages of grace or of superstitious practices.
Perhaps I can help here. About a decade ago, introduced to the subject of pretenders to thrones and
false popes, I latched onto the word sedevacantism. Its literal meaning is the seat is empty,
suggesting that it is vacant in the sense that the occupant is unqualified for the position or that the
occupant acquired the position of power through illegal or immoral means. Is there a person in a
position of power in the world today who has not been accused of being a usurper, an illegitimate
power-wielder? (Think about the birther movement and U.S. President Obama, etc.) There is a
Traditionalist truism that runs like this: A bad king is preferable to a good president.
Chapter 2 is called Vigilance in the Interfaith Arena and it examines diverse subjects including the
characteristics of Neo-Paganism, how Annie Besant (a Fabian Socialist) was granted control of the
Theosophical Society, and the nature of social control systems. I have always been queasy about the
notion that one should support the convergence of the worlds religions, viewing the movement itself
as destructive of the integrity of each of those faiths as well as harmful to the individual and to
society as a whole. Upton condemns these social forces: the movement towards global governance;
the movement toward One World Religion, United Religions Initiative, and New World Order; the
movement towards secular control of the worlds religions. Upton is not beyond making ridiculous
statement like Mikhail Gorbachev is an avowed atheist who claims to worship the earth but he
generally sticks to the subject at hand.
This chapter is a mass close to a mess of detail; as such it is difficult to summarize. So here is part
of an interesting footnote concerning The King Abdullah Center for Interreligious and Intercultural
Dialogue to be based in Vienna: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia not to be confused with the King of
Jordan may nonetheless see the Center named after him as a way of slowly introducing religious
freedom into his kingdom from outside. Before he took the throne, he was reputed to have said that
he wanted to get rid of both the Wahhabis and the Americans. Notice the scorn.
Chapter 3s title is a mouthful, as befits a lengthy chapter: Traditional vs. Counter-Traditional
Perspectives on The Divine Feminine & The Sacredness of Nature. The chapter begins well: Wars
inevitably produce three things: profiteering, domination, and a curtailment of human rights and
the war to save the Earth from environmental catastrophe is no exception. It focuses on the Divine
Feminine and the earth and the environment, first from the perspective of the Traditionalists and the
Perennialists, second from the perspective of the Greens and the Neo-Pagans.
The shadow-side of environmentalism is nature worship which leads to human sacrifice when
overpopulation is seen as threatening the integrity of the environment. Interesting insights follow on
Abraham and his son Isaac and on the anti-Islamic crimes of the Wahhabi terrorists. There are basic
conflicts: Gaia vs. Kali and naturalistic vs. supernaturalistic nature-worship. Technology is
embraced by the worshipers of nature. There is an intriguing footnote about what drives serial killers:
The elites have the power to destroy whole nations and economies and ecosystems, but the
sociopaths are out to rival the ruling class by proving that the little guy can also contribute his share
to the general destruction. Serial killers and mass murderers are only doing on a micro scale what
one-worlders and globalizers are doing on a macro scale.
Numerous pages are devoted to quotations about the earth from the Noble Quran. The basic
position is as follows: If there were no Divine Transcendence, all entities would be purely material,
sealed into themselves, totally cut off from living participation in anything ontologically superior to
them like the parts of a machine. There are intriguing insights: Sleep during the night is life in
death; sleep during the day is death in life.
One would have to have a hard heart to read these pages without being charmed by the insights of
the Quran into the sacredness of nature, but the reader wonders how much of this is shamanstvo,
for notions coterminous with these may be found in the songs, stories, and beliefs of the Inuit of the
Polar World. Indeed, Alan Dundes wrote one book about folklore in the Quran, and another book
about the Holy Bible as folklore.
Chapter 4 is titled Magic and _Tasawwuf_ and it brings into play the ideas and expressions of
Gunon, Ananda Coomaraswamy, Frithjof Schuon, and Baron Julius Evola, to name four founders of
Perennialism. The performance of magical practices is not limited to magicians or illusionists, for
theurgy and thaumaturgy are present as practices in all the worlds religions, from Bn to
Scientology. Upton is uneasy with this fact. Aleister Crowley used to describe magic, whether black or
white, as practices that cause change in conformity with will, whether malign or benign. There is no
discussion of terms like these in this chapter.
Instead, the author writes as follows: Tasawwuf is identified as the essence of the spiritual Path in
every tradition. Everything else, every political strategy, every psychological manipulation or evasion,
every buy or sell order on the stock market, every twisting of, or letting yourself be twisted by, occult
forces, is in some sense magic. Thats why must I reiterate, and insist: Sufism and magic are poles
apart. Where there is Sufism, there is no magic. Where there is magic, there is no Sufism.
That may be true, but saying it is does not make it so. Elsewhere the author identifies the six major or
fixed religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism. He finds exclusivity in
Hinduism (one must be born a Hindu) and Taoism he finds closed (for unstated reasons). Earlier he
noted that Buddhism is inherently atheistic (even Gunon was initially uneasy with it as a vehicle), so
that leaves Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is debatable to include Judaism (after all, one needs to
be born Jewish). The first two religions certainly have aspects that are thaumaturgical. Is Islam the
only one of them that is untainted by such entrapments or encroachments? Or is it only Islamic
Sufism itself that is free or is it merely Islamic Sufisms Perennialism that attains this goal? These
are questions the reader is likely to ask if only to himself or herself.
Chapter 5 is titled The Fall of the Jinn and it tries to make sense of the jinn, leftovers from The
Arabian Nights one would assume, who are mentioned in the Noble Quran. The jinn are equated
with angels, fairies, demons, spirits, ghosts, and the psychic powers of man. They are discussed in
light of philosophy, folklore, legend, myth, scripture, and psychic and telluric powers. These creatures
or creations are long-lived, but are mortal only in the sense of not being immortal. Some of them
believe themselves to be gods of some sort or other. All of this is quite lively though how much of it
should be taken seriously is another matter entirely.
Chapter 6 has the intriguing title UFOs, Mass Mind-Control, and the Awilya al-Shaytan. I find it the
least effective part of the book, but in one way it is the books most interesting section. It is the least
effective chapter because in it the author, while widely read in the literature of ufology, seems to have
sidestepped entirely reading the literature that critically considers the available evidence for such
aerial phenomena. It is the most interesting chapter because in it he takes pains to embrace no end of
contradictory conspiracy theories, paying no heed to such matters as social and psychological
expectation and fantasy-prone personalities.
Nothing at all is known about the nature of Flying Saucers and Unidentified Flying Objects, or even
about their existence, so it is easy to philosophize (or perhaps metaphilosophize) about them at great
length. (Circular reasoning: If there is no evidence for the existence such vehicles, there must be
conspiracies to suppress the knowledge of such devices.) For instance, Carl Jung described the aerial
craft as objects of contemplation, which he called flying mandalas. Early in his career the Swiss
psychologist argued they were entirely subjective in nature, whereas later in his career he decided
they had in some instances the powers of exteriorization. Jung is wavering, but not Upton: Demonic
manipulation, social engineering, saints of satan (Awilya al-Shaytan of the subtitle) here we are
in the realm of X-Files and Matrix.
Chapter 7 is called The Real Rumi and is deals with the fact that the immense popularity of the
Persian poet and his works in the West the Rumi industry occurs at the expense of the mans
true beliefs, Islamic and Sufic. Upton writes, He was a contemplative, saint and spiritual master first,
and only secondarily an artist. I agree with the author, as I too find the denatured verses attributed to
him that appear in English translations to be about as authentic as poetry as the standard version of
The Rubiyt of Omar Khayym (which at least has the merit of being lively and quotable verse).
The author says that Rumis only peers in the West are Dante, Blake, and Shakespeare. (Despite
their many differences, I would opt for likening the works of Rumi to those of Walt Whitman.)
Chapter 8 has a long title A Chink in the Perennialist Armor Uncertainty as to the Principal Unity of
Knowledge and Love. Is it true that Intelligence emits straight rays, whereas love sends forth wavy
or flaming rays? What about The synthesis of Love and Knowledge is, in fact, Wisdom, without
which love must remain sentimental, knowledge theoretical ? Whoever has an interest in the
Courtly Love tradition of poetry and song will find the authors ruminations here to be both
thoughtful and heart-felt.
Chapter 9 consists of an interview with the author conducted by Samuel Bendeck Sotillos. (The
interviewer, otherwise unidentified, serves as a mental health clinician who writes book reviews for
Studies in Comparative Religion. ) The chapter is titled Drug Induced Mysticism Revisited. Here
the author is hard-pressed, despite the fact that an argument proceeds on a conversational level, to
distinguish between the transpersonal experiences that are the product of psychedelics and those
that are the fruit of religious devotion and discipline.
The term entheogen is noted, possibly to suggest that psychedelic substances need not be ingested
because the body in the right circumstances is able to produce these on its own. Anyway, it is difficult
for Upton to distinguish between the differences in causation, whether molecular or eremitic, but this
fact should not be held against him, for it was equally difficult for William James to do the same in his
landmark study The Psychology of Religious Experience published more than a century ago.
In passing, Upton notes that it may have been the occultist Aleister Crowley who introduced
mescaline to Aldous Huxley, not Dr. Humphry Osmond of the Weyburn psychiatric hospital in
Saskatchewan. Also in passing, Upton finds an odd parallel in the first half of the 1960s there was a
psychedelic explosion of psychic content among the youth of America; at the same time there was a
rationing of it resulting from reformers of the Second Vatican Council. The author refers to Vatican II
a number of times; in this chapter he characterizes it as the Masonic coup within the Catholic
church the ill-effects of which are being felt to this day.
Chapter 10 looks at the Templars and the Freemasons as instances of Counter-Initiations intent on
the restoration of brotherhoods, crafts, secret societies, gnosticism, etc. These forces assume such
forms as Vatican II, Wicca, the Club of Rome, and the global lites. (Ted Turner, Maurice Strong, and
George Soros are three named members of the lites. (I must admit to a smidgen of superbia that the
middle one is a Torontonian! Who says Canada is a dull country?)
Masonry is denounced as a parody of the true initiatic way. In this chapter, as well as in other
chapters, it is difficult to separate conspiracy theory from conspiracy fact, if indeed the word
conspiracy in the sense of cabal is the appropriate one to employ. A substitute might be
prevailing ideology, particularly views that are liberal, permissive, progressive, etc.
Chapters 11 and 12 are titled The Fall of Lucifer and Luciferian Transhumanism. These chapters
consist of expositions of themes already discussed. These short chapters could best be summarized in
the following sentence: There is the metaphysical truth that limitation is necessary for divine
manifestation. Limitation is seen in the sense of respecting natural and spiritual boundaries and
traditional, time-honoured initiations. No salvation outside the church is a familiar form of this
traditionalist principle.
The five appendices are interesting in their own right, but as they add little to the sum and substance
of the argument of the book, I will overlook them here. Over all, I had three unexpected responses to
reading this work. Despite the fact these responses may be dismissed as shallow, or beside the point,
they are my own and I offer them for consideration.
First response. While I admire the authors erudition and concern for humanity, I find his range of
sympathy and understanding to be while deep narrow. I suppose if someone is intent on digging
a circular trench to secern or separate the circle of the temenos from all the rest of creation, one has
to dig ditches that are deep but narrow. The result is that the argument of the book is expressed in
such a perfervid fashion that it preaches to the converted. It is unlikely to win many if any
uncommitted readers, though it may sharpen and strengthen the convictions of those readers
already intent on conversion or yearnings of Muslims anxious to return to their origins. Yet I recall St.
Augustines assertion that all of creation is greater than merely the best parts of creation.
Second response. The structure of this work, like the structure of other perennialist books that I have
read, is not so much an inquiry or an argument as it is a collection homilies in point of fact, twelve
homilies, each chapter being its own homily. I know nothing about the order of service in a masjid,
but in a Christian church the Reading of the Gospel is followed by the sermon, otherwise known as
the homily. The homily applies the principles of the biblical text to the intrigues of the world and to
the perversities of mans nature, and it informs congregants what must be thought, felt, and done.
In this book the biblical text is a verse chosen from the Noble Quran or in some instances a
passage from The Reign of Quantity followed by an elucidation of the consequences of the
application or non-application of the principle.
Third response. I expect the value of Vectors lies in the vast amount of information and insight that
the author supplies and offers. The form it takes is that of the anatomy, the literary term for a work
that schematically organizes knowledge in a practical way. The anatomy is not to be confused with
the encyclopedia. The encyclopedia presents knowledge alphabetically, in a non-literary way,
making no connections, whereas the anatomy does so through conventional and cultural categories
with loose-knit or tightly-knit connectives to illustrate diversity or depth.
The Anatomy of Melancholy, compiled and written by the 17th-century Oxford don Robert Burton,
is the best-known anatomy in English. Another instance, in our own day, is Anatomy of Criticism by
the 20th-century professor Northrop Frye of Victoria College, University of Toronto. Both of these
anatomies are like Vectors well-organized repositories of recherch information, valued as
much for their insights as for their overviews or surveys.
It seems to me best to regard Vectors as a member of anatomy class of books. Its structure
implies that there is, inarguably, a divine order and that there is a divinity that shapes our ends,
ignore it as we may. That is the assumption, the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen, and based on that assumption, Uptons tome orders the world of fact and fancy as
best to approximate that design.
John Robert Colombo, an author and anthologist of many books about the lore and literature of
Canada, lives in Toronto. He has a special interest in arcane subjects. He contributes occasional
reviews to this blog. His website is www.colombo.ca
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, John Robert Colom bo reviews: Charles Upton's latest book,
July 22, 2012 at 7:45 am JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with "the psychic powers of m an", 'Against the Modern World', 'The Reign
of Quantity and the Signs of the Tim es', 'Vectors of the Counter-Initiation', angels,
Buddhism , Charles Upton, Christianity, Counter-Initiation, dem ons, fairies,
folklore, ghosts, Hinduism , Islam , Judaism , legend, Mark Sedgwick, m yth,
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powers, religions, Ren Guenon, scripture, Sophia Perennis publishers, spirits,
Taoism . Quran, The Divine Fem inine & The Sacredness of Nature
J o s e p h A z i z e : o n E l t o n J o h n a n d L e o n R u s s e l l s I S h o u l d H a v e
Sent R oses
I Should Have Sent Roses

Sublime, poignant, elegiac: the first words to spring to mind when I think of this melody from the
album The Union, by Elton John and Leon Russell. In Gurdjieff influenced terms, I would say that
the person who wrote this had to be in a heightened state of emotional self-consciousness . He had
to be present to the workings of his feeling centre to allow this lyrical and sensitive melody to
emerge without constricting it. Some melodies owe more to moving centre, others owe more to
emotional or intellectual centre, and some, such as this, are products of the higher emotional
centre. But you can tell straight away that this was written from somewhere essential. (For an
explanation of the centres, see Sophia Wellbeloved, Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts , 133-5; and for
essence, see 71-3.)
Leon Russell, who has produced some of the most lyrical melodies of the last fifty years (e.g. This
Masquerade and Superstar), reaches new heights with this masterpiece. I would place it almost
on a par with the melody of Lennons Jealous Guy. And yet Leon Russell did not create it: no one
but God can create. However, it is to Leon Russells credit that he could arrange the melody which
arose from somewhere within his common presence. What happens in such work, and how we
can recognize the operation are matters I shall address on another occasion.
While my response is, and must be subjective, I feel that the melody perfectly matches the lyrics by
Bernie Taupin, which tell the story of a lost love from the point of view of the man who has lost.
The boy knows that the girl has gone, and that he bears responsibility. When he was with her, he
took her for granted. Ambivalently, he goes on to say both that he would treat her better now, and
that she deserves someone more thoughtful. He addresses her with understanding and self-
deprecation:
Are you standing outside?
Looking up at the sky, cursing a wandering star?
Well, if I were you, Id throw rocks at the moon
And Id say, Damn you wherever you are!
This is so apt that its almost humorous. A wandering star because, perhaps, he did not fit into
his place in the order of things. Throwing stones at the moon, maybe because the moon is for
lovers and lunatics: she being the lover and he the lunatic.
I dont know where to start,
This cage round my heart locked up what I meant to say,
What I felt all along the way,
Just wondering how come I couldnt take your breath away.
At various times we all feel something like this expression of mixed confidence, self-doubt and
exasperation at the same time that he believes she should have been overwhelmed by him, he
confesses that he is confounded that she was not. Like Russell, we often feel that we have long
wished to express something but that we could not, just could not, because of a sort of emotional
tightness. It is as if we would choke were we to try and say it.
Cause I never sent roses. I never did enough.
I didnt know how to love you, though I loved you so much.
And I should have sent roses when you crossed my mind,
For no other reason than the fact you were mine.
This is strange but true: we often feel that we love but do not know how to put that love into
action. And of course, there are two errors: to think that an overt action is always needed, and to
forget that actions are often needed. It is only people who are thinking philosophically who
imagine that no action is needed. If you have read In Search of the Miraculous, it is fatal to take
the idea that we cannot do in a formatory way to mean that we cannot therefore do anything at
all.
Looking back on my life,
If fate should decide to let me do it all over again,
Id build no more walls.
Id stay true and recall the fragrance of you on the wind
This is the paradox which Ouspensky paints in unforgettable terms in The Strange Life of Ivan
Osokin. We make a mistake, we forget ourselves and our higher aims. Then we believe that if we
had the opportunity again we would not fall into the same trap. But should the occasion arise
again, we would make exactly the same error: we would forget at exactly the same place. And yet,
there is a way to escape from the curse, and that is to remember oneself, hence the importance of
Gurdjieffs ideas and method to religions and religious systems.
The reference to fate is especially interesting to me, because it is a topic which is exercising me at
the moment. Fate acts only upon essence, and this song, as I have said, is an essence-song. It is
only when we are closer to essence that we can start to have any sense at all of what our destiny
or fate is: that is, what it is that we are called to above and beyond the vicissitudes of life. If there
is a law of accident, there is also a law of destiny which works itself out despite whatever other
causal connections and chains may be playing themselves out and, I would suggest a law of
miracles (see Fate at 80, Law of Accident at 115-6 and miracle at 144).
Youll do better than me.
Someone who can see,
Right from the start give you all that you need
And Ill slip away, knowing Im half the man I should be.
There is genuine love here: for love seeks what is best for the beloved irrespective of the cost to
oneself. Also, love brings impartiality, and the statement, knowing Im half the man I should be,
is a good impartial description of each one of us.
The topic of lost loves is a significant one: a person who never wonders about past friendships
and romances and why they ended, to use a neutral term, is quite possibly incapable of reflection.
I have published on this blog one of the most important pieces I ever transcribed from Mr Adies
diaries, just on that topic. Bernie Taupin is also responsible for one of the most touching songs
Elton John ever wrote, the much under-appreciated I Feel like a Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford.
And in each case, Robert Ford and I Should Have Sent Roses, Taupin was working with one of
the greatest songwriters of his generation, and each result has been a masterpiece.
And that brings me, briefly, to the topic of Leon Russell. There is no doubt of his uncanny talent at
playing the piano and song writing. As I have already said, I feel that he produced some of the
greatest songs of our time. For my money, his piano playing is better even than that of Elton John,
and I am an Elton John fan. I remember, in the 70s, thinking that Leon Russell would go on to
conquer the world, as they say. But then something happened. What? To an extent, perhaps, he
sabotaged his own career. It was never the same with him after the 1975 album Will OThe Wisp.
Then, Elton John enticed him to The Union in 2010 (Elton did not have to seduce very hard, it
would appear), and Russells own account of the production of that album is found on In the
Hands of Angels.
I have carefully praised the melody and the lyrics rather than the track. I feel that the production is
too heavy. Very often, a beautiful melody is obscured by too much backing. If you do listen to this
track, try and imaginatively screen out the brass. My own guess is that T-Bone Burnett sensed the
beauty of the melody, and tried to raise it to prominence with the trumpets and trombones. But I
dont think its worked.
Still, while the arrangement is rather more heavy than I would like, it is extraordinary that after so
long out of the public eye, this artist of astounding abilities would return and reveal so much about
himself. I think that took strength: the sort of strength which this remarkable song reveals.
8 July 2012
JOSEPH AZIZE has published in ancient history, law and Gurdjieff studies. His first book The
Phoenician Solar Theology treated ancient Phoenician religion as possessing a spiritual depth
comparative with Neoplatonism, to which it contributed through Iamblichos. The second book,
Gilgamesh and the World of Assyria, was jointly edited with Noel Weeks. It includes his article
arguing that the Carthaginians did not practice child sacrifice.
The third book, George Mountford Adie: A Gurdjieff Pupil in Australia represents his attempt to
present his teacher (a direct pupil of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky) to an international audience.The
fourth book, edited and written with Peter El Khouri and Ed Finnane, is a new edition of Britts Civil
Precedents. He recommends it to anyone planning to bring proceedings in an Australian court of
law.
Maronites is pp.279-282 of The Encyclopedia of Religion in Australia published by Cambridge
University Press and edited by James Jupp.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE, Joseph Azize: on Elton John and Leon Russell's 'I
July 9, 2012 at 7:16 pm Should Have Sent Roses'
Tagged with Bernie Taupin, Elton John, em otional self-consciousness, Gurdjieff,
Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts, heightened state, Leo Russell, Lost Loves, m usic, n
Search of the Miraculous, Ouspensky, Sophia Wellbeloved, The Strange Life of Ivan
Osokin, The Union
J o h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o r e v i e w s : R e f l e c t i o n s o n G u r d j i e f f s W h i m
John Robert Colombo reviews Keith A. Buzzells latest publication
These days the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) is much in the news, at least in the American
news, occasioned by the candidacy for the leadership of the Republican Party of the person of Mitt Romney, the
Massachusetts Senator and Presidential hopeful. The man who has his eye set on occupying the Oval Office of the
White House is a fifth-generation Mormon, and while he has lived a squeaky clean life to date, he apparently holds
as gospel truths some of the bizarre beliefs and strange practices of the Mormon church.
Recently a researcher drew the attention of the reading public to the fact that in the eyes of Mormons, God is not the
creator of the world. He is not the creator of the universe either, though it seems God resides in the universe and
not beyond it. This is peculiarity that should be of interest to both theologian and geophysicist. Who then did create
the heavens and the earth? Genesis 1:1 of the King James Version of the Bible states that God accomplished the
deed in the beginning. Here is the standard Christian belief in the wording of the Apostles Creed: God the Father
Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth.
The Mormon belief, formulated over eighteen decades ago, is that God, while in no way the architect of creation,
nevertheless is a dweller in it as well as its superintendent. Indeed, the location of divine throne is known, for it is
near Kolob, which is a celestial body in some distant sector of the cosmos, unsuspected by astrologer and
unknown to astronomer. Is Kolob a planet or a star? The Mormon writings are obscure on this point, rather like the
traditional beliefs of the Inuit of the Arctic whose cosmology conflates planets and stars. It does seem that the
Mormon God is more akin to mankind than to spirit-kind.
Are the Mormons Christians? It seems that they are Christians in the same way that members of the Ahmadiyya
Muslim Community are Muslims. Their membership in greater Islam is denied by Sunni and Shite alike, especially in
Pakistan where the Parliament passed a statute declaring the Ahmadiyyas to be non-Muslims: So there! In the same
way, fundamentalist Christian denominations and sects in the U.S. heartland refuse to extend the term Christian to
include Mormonism: Take that! Yet the Ahmadiyyas consider themselves to be good Muslims, just as the Mormons
consider themselves to be good Christians.
I am not sure why it is so, but I find all of this reassuring. Perhaps it reassures me because it is so human to cling to
peculiar beliefs, in lieu of any evidence at all, and to withhold validation to designated groups on account of their
differing beliefs. It reminds me of the subterfuge and euphemism employed by Palestinians and other Muslims who
insist on referring to the State of Israel as the Jewish entity. All too human!
With respect to the LDS tradition, it is enlightening that there should be a god or demiurge who lives on a celestial
body named Kolob, for it seems the divinity is a being who or which has some sort of physical or corporeal
existence. There is no reference to Kolob in The Book of Mormon, but it makes its appearance in the quasi-
scriptural text Pearl of Great Price. The subject is of interest in that one may be a good Mormon without worrying
much about the nature of divinity, whether architect or superintendent of the universe. In a sense, then, belief is a
matter of degree and the responsibility of the individual and hence changeable.
I could continue with a discussion of bizarre beliefs held by many Christians such as the rise and fall of the concept
of Purgatory, not to mention the existence of states of Heaven and Hell, veneration of angels and saints, prayers for
the posthumous rehabilitation of the death, the physical resurrection at the End of Days, etc. All of these fall into the
province of Theology, the queen of the sciences. The list of endless. As the cartoonist Robert L. Ripley of Believe
It or Not! fame once wrote, Strange indeed is man seeking after his gods.
What does all of this have to do with what appears below, or with the new book that I am about to review? (I use
the verb to review with some reluctance because the book in question is a weighty one, and the arguments it
presents are complex, indeed too complex to encapsulate in a relatively short review article.) The answer to the
question is not much, except that there is little evidence for what is being described in the books pages. If the
descriptions are taken seriously, the deductions and extensions truly follow. So the book is a disciplined work, a
work of scholarly analysis. It is titled Reflections on Gurdjieffs Whim, and I will describe the physical appearance
of the volume before I turn my attention to its author, Keith A. Buzzell and to his previous publications, and only then
to the general argument of the new book.
Reflections on Gurdjieffs Whim is published in 2012 by Fifth Press, an imprint based in Salt Lake City, Utah, the
Mormon headquarters (as it happens!), which has issued earlier titles by Dr. Buzzell. It is a handsome trade
paperback, 266 pages of text, plus preliminary and postliminary matter, including a glossary of scientific (but not
Gurdjieffian) terms and a bibliography that includes books and articles on philosophy, neurology, cosmology,
mathematics, etc. There is no index, but the text is well organized in fourteen chapters, and there are four instructive
prefaces (contributed by the books editors, John Amaral, Marlena Buzzell, Bonnie Phillips, and Toddy Smyth).
There are also innumerable diagrams, many of them in lovely pastel colours. A rough approximation of the word
count is 145,000 words. Although I found a couple of minor misprints (footnotes on page viii and page 7, for
instance), the text is well edited and the argument is clearly expressed.
Now let me turn to Dr. Buzzell and his publications, paraphrasing what I wrote for this blog on September 28, 2011.
(It is still archived here.) At the time I wrote: It is apparent that there are many scientifically minded and
technologically trained people like Dr. Buzzell who are in the Work and are making sizeable efforts to square
what Mr. Gurdjieff wrote in Beelzebubs Tales with contemporary scientific and technological theories and
practices. This is one way to make relevant what the author wrote between 1924 and 1927, the text of which was
translated into English and published in 1950 and subsequently reissued in a revised (and controversial) edition in
1992.
Dr. A. Keith Buzzell was born in 1932, in Boston, Massachusetts. He studied music at Bowdoin College and
Boston University, and received his medical doctorate in 1960 at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
For the past thirty-five years, he has been a rural family physician in Fryeburg, Maine, a staff member of Bridgton
Hospital and currently holds the position of medical director at the Fryeburg Health Care Center.
Dr. Buzzell has also served as a professor of osteopathic medicine, a hospital medical director and a founder of a
local hospice program. He has lectured widely on the neurophysiologic influences of television on the developing
human brain and on the evolution of mans triune brain. In 1971 Keith, and his wife Marlena, met Irmis Popoff, a
student of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky and the founder of the Pinnacle Group in Sea Cliff, Long Island, New York.
From then until the mid-1980s they formed work groups under her supervision. Since 1988, Dr. Buzzell and Annie
Lou Staveley, founder of the Two Rivers Farm in Oregon, maintained a Work relationship up to her death in 1996.
Keith continues group Work in Bridgton, Maine.
This information is also reprinted in the current book. As for the earlier volumes, these are the three volumes that I
reviewed: Perspectives on Beelzebubs Tales and Other of Gurdjieffs Writings (2005). A Childs Odyssey:
Explorations in Active Mentation: Re-Membering Gurdjieffs Teaching (2006). Man A Three-brained Being:
Resonant Aspects of Modern Science and the Gurdjieff Teaching (2007, 2nd edition, 2011).
I have found these books to be among the most serious publications about the physics, physiology, neurology, and
psychology of G.I. Gurdjieffs thought and also the most demanding to read. In their comprehensiveness, they
remind me of Maurice Nicolls five-volume series of Psychological Commentaries, but whereas Dr. Nicoll
generally limited himself to the psychological aspects of the system, Dr. Buzzell does not so limit his inquiry but
attempts to relate metaphysical concepts with chemical and physical reality. The present title is no exception.
The title of the book struck me as odd for the reason that I was unfamiliar with the expression Gurdjieffs whim. I
assumed I was missing something I quite often have this feeling, and with some justification! (Indeed, the phrase
brought to my mind the not-unrelated, traditional Islamic words Mohammeds wont.) I checked Sophia
Wellbeloveds indispensable volume Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts (2003) but found no references there to
whim. Nowhere else in the literature of the Work have I encountered any discussion of whim, so I conclude it is
a synonym for aim.
I checked the Guide and Index and located whim (in the singular) in All & Everything, where it appears in the
original edition on page 688 of the section on France. The author wrote as follows: they occupy themselves
out of idleness, in order to satisfy their whims, with devising new-forms-of-manifestations-of-their-
Hasnamussianing, or as is said there, with new fashions, and spread them from there over the whole of the planet.
There the word is used in the plural and it refers to things of passing interest. I reluctantly returned to the notion of
ones personal aim in life and in Work. Perhaps it was related to the three aims of Group Work.
I was still uncertain about this, even after reading, on page 1, the words attributed to Gurdjieff: to live and teach so
that there should be a new conception of God in the world, a change in the very meaning of the word. This is
equated with Gurdjieffs personal aim. Indeed, even earlier, on page ii, in the first of the prefaces, Toddy Smyth
writes as follows: In a rare moment of divulgence, Gurdjieff revealed his own whim: to bring to mankind a new
understanding of God.
There we have it. Smyth continues: Keith Buzzells work is a verification of this whim an aspect of a new
understanding of God is to recognize and to gain the capacity to actualize ones own whim. A portion of Dr.
Buzzells whim could be summarized as the striving to understand how self-transformation a process that requires
the action of an independent will can be possible within a Universe governed by unyielding, automatic law.
Smyth goes on to describe the present book as a dynamic synthesis of the indications found in The Tales and In
Search with recent discoveries in quantum and cosmological science. Indeed, as Dr. Buzzell has written elsewhere,
Gurdjieffs conception of Okidanokh represents a major aspect of his effort to reconcile science and spirituality. As
such, it plays a powerful role in his new conception of God in the world. The manner in which he accomplishes this
reconciliation is quite oblique or indirect and one has to read his complex elaboration with considerable care and
attention to see how thoroughly he has blended the way of science and of potential transformation with the way of
the spirit.
He takes pains to place Gurdjieffs exposition alongside those concerned with quantum physics and the theory of
relativity. He could have added alongside as well of photographic proof of the expansion of the universe which was
discovered by Hubble and Humason during the same period.
But perhaps the key passage appears in Philip Mairets memoir of A.R. Orage: Whilst they were talking in this vein,
someone asked Gurdjieff if he would disclose his own whim, and he said it was to live and teach so that there
should be a new conception of God in the world, a change in the very meaning of the word. This passage is cited a
number of times, and its source seems to be an unpublished lecture of J.G. Bennetts. Bennett quotes Orage as
saying his whim is to publish the best literary journal in England, an aim he achieved. Apparently the word
whim in Armenian and Russian expresses not merely fantasy, as it does in English, in the sense of whimsy, but
determination, intent, and wish. The reader will decide whether or not Gurdjieff realized his whim.
In some way this new conception is connected with those unwieldly terms Okidanokh and Triamazikamno, the
former term representing the reconciliation of mans inner world of three brains with the outer world that expresses
the familiar Law of Three, and the latter term the all- encompassing Ray of Creation our individual and collective
place in the world.
Each of the fourteen chapters of Dr. Buzzells book is composed of sections a few pages in length, and any one
section would lend itself to study and analysis, as it is immersed in the vocabularies of The Tales (as he refers to
Beelzebubs Tales) and In Search of the Miraculous. In this sense Reflections could be regarded as an
organized gloss on central concepts presented in allegorical and other forms in The Tales.
The sheer amount of information and analysis in the book would overwhelm the casual reader (as it does the
ordinary reviewer!) who has but a general understanding of and a passing interest in the mechanics of the works
dynamics. So what I will do is parasail from chapter to chapter, suggesting some insights to be found therein. The
author has made this easy to do because, in effect, each chapter examines a specific aspect of the system indeed,
each key word unlocks a portion of the whole. Here are the topics of the chapters:
(1) Whim as aim. (2) Evils old and new. (3) Generations, notably sons and grandson. (4) Conscience, reason. (5)
Wiseacre, know-it-all. (6) Laws of the universe. (7) Suggestibility, including hypnotism. (8) Okidanokh, or
reconciliation of science and spirituality. (9) Essence which has mellowed. (10) Organic life. (11) Individual and
group place and presence. (12) Foods and the Ray of Creation. (13) Reconciliation that allows for self-perfection in
a structured universe. (14) Quantum considerations as approaches to the non-mass and mass-based worlds.
Some of the chapters come in two parts. I noticed that the earlier chapters are highly specific and analytic, whereas
the later chapters are somewhat speculative, historical, and once in a while personal. (The early explorations bring to
hazy recall the detailed discussions, chemical largely, mentioned by Dr. James Carruthers Young and others at the
Priory in the mid-1920s.)
There is a shift of perspective in this book from impersonal to personal, and it could be said to occur around Chapter
10. The theory comes first, thereafter its application. Indeed, in that chapter, The Life Force, Dr. Buzzell describes
two instances of awareness and intention that occurred to him, the first stemming from an encounter with a disliked
hardware clerk, the second stemming from his habit of leaving his socks on the floor of his bedroom!
Here is a brief summary of the contents of Chapter 10, which may act as a guide to how the author proceeds.
Synonyms for life force is mentioned: Qui, Chi, prana, Shakti, pneuma, Great Spirit, Godhead (Jehovah, God,
Allah). These are Eastern conceptions and there is no action from below and it is all action from above. It is
Western conceptions that offer action from below, and these are sometimes called vitalism, will to live, lan vital,
life force, formative drive, entelechy, orgone, etc. For a balance of actions, turn to Taoism. Newton and Darwin
and Quantum Mechanics and the Theory of Relativity have begun to bridge reduce the gap between spirit and
matter (to use basic terms).
Here is what Gurdjieff brings to this notion: There is no intimation that life of any type (non-brained and brained)
was a unique or separate creation of HIS ENDLESSNESS. Life is a universal phenomenon, the Ilnosoparnian
process, with Earth as special because of the collision of the comet Kondoor. Earth, Moon, and Anulios and what
they represent are imbalanced and hence requires special consideration. There is much discussion of the nature of
the imbalance based on passages from The Tales. Gurdjieff carefully emphasizes the participation of the Divine
Will Power _only_ at the onset of the Creation and yet has HIS ENDLESSNESS very active, via HIS Reason,
_within_ the Creation.
Everything proceeds lawfully. The end result of the _actualizations_ of HIS ENDLESSNESS creates the possibility
for the transformation and crystallization of active elements . As well: Applying this Will, each of us three-
brained begins can participate be an active agent in our own self-transformation. One becomes an active
participant in the creation of the Higher Bodies. Efforts in this regard are _ones own_ ; they are initiated from lower
worlds and move upward. This is _evolution_ in the Gurdjieffian sense.
The possible success of such effort leads to a discussion of later octaves in the Great Ray. (I would like to have
known more about coating bodies vs. crystallization.) There is a section about: All of life, therefore, is required
and fulfills a cosmic need while, simultaneously, the actualizations of HIS ENDLESSNESS make it possible for
certain of the three-brained begins to coat High Being-bodies. This action is symbolically represented with respect
to what looks like a multi-coloured cosmic pyramid. Movement (instinctive centre), eating (moving and instinctive),
and survival (instinctive and moving and sex centre) are discussed. The role of H12, the power of paying attention,
is discussed interestingly and importantly. Also discussed are characteristics and comparisons of first, second, and
third brains.
Pages here resemble a textbook on neuro-anatomy. There is much discussion of the location of attention and the
question is asked, Where does carbon 6 come from? The octaves of Food, Air, and Impressions are discussed.
The subject is complicated, yet the exposition is clear, so the author deserves top marks for his hard work. In an
ideal world rather than on a planet like ours that falls under 48 laws I would be able to summarize in greater
detail the contents of all the chapters.
The quality of any work that is serious may be judged by the influence that it has on serious-minded people. The
Gurdjieff Work was introduced to the West in 1915, so it nearly one century old, perhaps a lot older in fragmentary
form in the East. Texts that were written in the 1920s and published as late as the 1940s are still able to beget
serious discussion and engender new thoughts and feelings. Proof of the seriousness of the Work is that it inspires
Dr. Buzzell and other scholars and scientists to dig deeper. Yet for all its length and depth, it seems that
Reflections is but the first half of Dr. Buzzells analysis. For it is promised that there will be a second volume in this
series to be titled Further Reflections on Gurdjieffs Whim. So stay tuned .
Lurking in the back of my mind, as I read these fourteen chapters, was the planet or star named Kolob and the
lonely God of the Mormons, who lives in our cosmos, distant from us but not apart from existence. I must admit that
this image brought to my mind Mr. Gurdjieff.
John Robert Colombo is an author and anthologist based in Toronto who is interested in esoteric ideas, Canadian
lore and literature, jokes and anecdotes, and contemporary poetry. His latest collection of aphorisms is called A
Strange and Curious Volume of Forgotten Lore. Check his website: jrc@colombo.ca
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in John Robert Colom bo reviews: Reflections on Gurdjieffs Whim
June 20, 2012 at 11:13 am Tagged with A. R. Orage, Bonnie Phillips, Fifth Press, God, Gurdjieffs Whim , J. G.
Bennett, John Am aral, Keith A. Buzzell, Marlena Buzzell, Maurice Nicoll, Philip
Mairet, science, Toddy Sm yth
S o p h ia W e llb e lo ve d re vie w s: T H E N E W A G E O F R U S S IA : O C C U L T
A N D E S O T E R IC D IM E N S IO N S
THE NEW AGE OF RUSSIA: OCCULT AND ESOTERIC DIMENSIONS

edited Birgit Menzel, Michael Hageneister and Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal
SLCCEE, Volume17, Berlin,Verlag Otto Sagner 2011
Hardcover, 451 pages,
Select Bibliography Michael Hagemeister
Twelve illustrations
ISBN 978-3-86688-197-6)
This volume is divided into four sections:
Prerevolutionary Roots and Early Soviet Manifestations, (five chapters)
Manifestations in the Soviet Period (1930 1985) (four chapters)
The Occult Revival in Late and Post Soviet Russia (1985 to the Present), (seven chapters)
Comparative Aspects, Continuity and Change (two chapters)
Birgit Menzel provides a comprehensive introduction, especially useful in addition to her
summaries of individual chapters are some of the reasons she gives why the borders between
science, religion and the occult in Russia have differed from those in the West, and at other
difficulties for researchers in these fields. Some, as may be imagined, are due to the search for
scattered material, some arise from language and translation differences between scholars.
Others which must pose considerable problems are due to differences in terminology:
.
The terms Occult and New Age have been rejected by most Russian members of, what I will call
here the occult underground, (p 18).
[and ]
Terms defined in Western scholarship need modification, or further explanation when applied to
Russian material, (p 19).
..
.
Specialist and General Readers
My own reading of The New Age in Russia is from the perspectives of of both the specialist and
general reader. I fit into both categories, having some specialist knowledge of G. I. Gurdjieff and
Fourth Way teachings, but little background in Russian studies.
Although primarily a book for the specialist reader in Russian 20th century studies in relation to
occultism and esotericism, this collection of essays which examines the origins and influences that
formed the kaleidoscope of changing networks of esoteric and occult teachings, their interaction
with changing political establishments, together with the prevailing political and international
geo-political conditions, will also be of value to the general reader.
.
There are two factors which, without in any way lessening the value of individual essays, may
cause the non-specialist reader to take things slowly. The first is because the time indicated in the
first three sections starts in the late eighteenth century and ends in the present, that is 2012,
however; the essays could not be expected to form a sequential series. Most of the scholars need
to establish what is happening before the period they focus on, and as the author of the
introduction tells us some overlapping is inevitable. The effect of this on a reader who starts at
the beginning and continues on sequentially is a kind of dizzy slippage as time seems to moves
forwards, backwards and then forward once more. This displacement of the reader is intensified
by the change in focus from essay to essay. Some offer a wide lens view of their subject matter
whilst others present more of a close up.
.
The second factor is that much of the subject matter, the influence of esoteric and occult
teachings, their sources and backgrounds, the lineages of esoteric and occult teachings together
with their relation to cultural influence, political actions and reactions, occur throughout most of
the essays, and some of the same people occur in one, two or more essays albeit from differing
perspectives and emphasis. For example, my own area of interest as mentioned above, is in
Gurdjieff studies and the accounts given here have usefully expanded and repositioned my own
understanding, placing him and his ideas in a common context relating to life in Russia before the
flight to Europe and America. But these references occur in a number of different essays. Although
there are some useful pointers within essays to related chapters, an index would have helped me
to navigate this and other subject matters.
.
.
New Age and New Identity
The overall impression given by these essays is that Russia was seeking a New Age and a new
identity for itself during the whole of the period covering at least the century from the 1880s to
the 1980s, which saw almost continual turmoil, revolt, and repression manifesting in ways which
often ran counter to uninformed Western assumptions. Russians faced a continuing need for
redefinitions of interrelated forms of identity: at individual, local, national, and international
levels, together with the simultaneous and contradictory need to preserve, hide or obliterate
these identities. All of which makes for a tendency towards multiple, separate, blurred,
ambiguous or contradictory personal and ideological identities in Russia.
For example Jeffrey Kripal in his On Reading Russian Mystical Literature Upside Down (pp 421
431) reminds us of:
.
the multiple censorship of the mystical, [citing the] almost total annihilation of members of the
secret society the United Workers Brotherhood shot during the Great Terror 1937 38, (p 427).
.
This might accord with stereotyped Western expectations. However: we learn from Bernice
Glatzer Rosenthal that:
.
In the 1920s and early 30s, the secret police worked with the occultist Barchenko [of the United
Workers Brotherhood] and the government funded Roerchs search for Shamhala. In the 1960s
and 70s, the government denounced yoga as spiritual contraband, even while studying yogic
breathing techniques, that could help astronauts, and it supported research on parapsychology,
(Occultism as a Response to a Spiritual Crisis, p 400).
.
The activities of Barchenko and Roerich are each the subject of essays. Barchenko in Oleg
Shishkins The Occultist Aleksandr Barchenko and the Soviet Secret Police (1923-1938)(pp 81-
100), and Nicholas Roerich in Markus OsterriedersFrom Synarchy to Shambhala: The Role of
Political Occultism and Social Messianism in the Activities of Nicholas Roerich(pp 101-134)
.
.
The Illustrations
The illustrations are a welcome and instructive addition to the text. Two of the images in colour
are Married by Satan (1917) p 47, and KonstantineTsiolkovskii. A Polish lacquer miniature, ca.
(1980) p 150. Both suggest a close association between the erotic and the occult/esoteric.
The first, a poster for the film Married by Satan looks more like the sexual assault of a naked
helpless woman by demons than a marriage, and appears in Julia Mannherzs The Occult and
Popular Entetainment in late Imperial Russia (pp 29-51). She explores ambivalent attitudes to the
supernatural which nevertheless appeared as commercial attractions in newspapers.
Even instruction manuals and occult journals mirrored the same ambivalent attitudes the
boundaries were even more blurred in the circus arena, on stage or on the silver screen. In the
performing arts, the rational and the mysterious merged within single productions, (p 38).
.
KonstantineTsiolkovskii [Artist Kukulieva Kaleriya Vasillievna b 1937]

The portrait of Tsiolkovskii (1857-1935), regarded as the father of space travel, was made forty-
five years after his death when he had been made intro a hero by Soviet propoganda. See Michael
Hagemeisters essay Konstantine Tsiolkovskii and the Occult Roots of Soviet Space Travel (pp
135-150) which shows that Tsiolkovskii s scientific resaerch into space travel was but a means to
his esoteric ends which while they aimed for cosmic evolution leading to imortality demaded the
horrifying notion of the destruction of all imperfect human beings, animals and most plants.
Hagemeister writes that The magical-esoteric understanding of science and technology is still
prevalent in todays Russia p 148).
The image shows him sitting with his feet on plans for space rockets, behind him a table of
scientific equiment, and behind that again a dark sky with a suggestion of constellations and of the
zodiac, his male sexual power has been emphasised by the use of phalic imagery (the rocket, his
leg, the drapery). The image unites his career in both rocket science and esotericism, although, as
we learn from the essay referred to above, he condemned sexual reproduction as humiliating, p
139).
.
Two black and white portraits emit extremes that express the times they belong in. The first on
page 23 showing Gleb Ivanovich Bokii (1897-1937) in 1918, so thirty-nine or forty years old, looks
more like a painting than a photograph and seen on the page it combines extreme contrasts
between black and white to show the left side of the image with a dark face against a light halo
shaped background and the right side of the face bright against a dark background, the ear seems
to be pointed, the eyes glance upward showing white rims underneath in a way that, for those
familiar with them, are remeniscent of images of Gurdjieff. This seems a staged image of
occult/esoteric power but is of a member of the OGPU (the principal secret police agency
responsible for the detection, arrest, and liquidation of anarchists [] in the early Soviet Union,
who was nevertheless attracted by esotericim. This image suggests the crossover, and/or
interconnections between notions of political and occult power. See Note
.
The second striking image on p 178, is that of Tosha (Vladimir Shuktomv (1957-1987)), this is
most probably a photograph which has a degenreating grainy surface quality that is also clearly of
the time when dissidents transfered their allegence from political ideology to the rock music of
Boris Brebenshikov and the couter-culture (see p 178). Ive given attention here to some of the
illustrations because in my view though valuable additions, these are mostly underused and
undervalued in academic texts.
.
.
Cultural Influences
Russian culture was influenced both by esotericism and occultism, and by politics throughout the
periods examined in The New Age of Russia, and I have not attempted a summary of what are in
effect a series of summaries of the complex inter-relation of these influences. In brief, areas
looked at include medicine, academic institutions and classifications, science, space travel,
interplanetary travel, utopia, technology, science fiction, novels, popular culture, theatre, cinema,
Shamanism, Tibetan Buddhism, Neo-Hinduism, Eastern mysticism, Theosophy, parapsychology,
and Transpersonal Psychology, amongst others.
.
.
Occult and New Age Movements in Russia from the 1960 s to the 1980s (pp151-185)
Birgit Menzels essay enables us to trace the complex paths taken from the first of these dates to
the second, to acknowledge Russian connections with the East, and on the way to revise general
Western assumptions about the New Age in Russia.
.
Although there were some similarities with the New Age in Western countries: an interest in
changing states of consciousness, experimentation with psychedelic mushrooms,(Castanedas
writings arrived in Russia) and a love of rock music, this overview shows that there were also
major differences and that these are worth understanding. She writes that the state system
supported research into the occult or paranormal which would not have been regarded as science
in the West, that the Russian New Age was mostly a province of the predominantly male
intelligentsia, while in the West it was transmitted via popular culture. Western interest in
sexuality and in perfecting the body, via diet, yoga, homoeopathy, and sexual expression. did not
occur in Russia where the occult underground was more cerebral, with a stronger emphasis on
theory than practice, the ultimate goal was ridding oneself of the body rather than unifying, body
mind and soul ( p 185).
.
.
Comparative Aspects, Continuity and Change.
In the first essay of the fourth section of the book Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal writes about
Occultism as a Response to a Spiritual Crisis, (pp 391-420), covering a series of spiritual crises
causes by the loss of faith in specific myths, or all encompassing ideas to live by during the
period from prerevoutionary and early Soviet Russia, through to Late and Post-Soviet Russia.
When agrarian socialism, Marxism, Symbolism, and Futurism each failed in turn interest in
occultism surged, in Theosophy and Theosophically influenced teachers amongst others.
The United States has seen a similar series of crises aroused by the fading appeal of the American
civil religion, also known as the American Dream (p 403). War, fears of nuclear war, the
revelation of Nazi death camps, and a recognition of social injustice induced a refusal to accept the
restrictions of prevailing cultural norms and were some of the factors that contributed to the
counter-culture of hippies and beats. This became an unprecedented surge in occultism from
the 1960s to the present. She concludes that the uncertainties current in Russia and the USA that
are likely to encourage a continued interest in occultism.
.
In the second essay of this section Jeffrey J. Kripals On Reading Russian Mystical Literature
Upside Down (pp 421 431), observes the globalisation of esoteric movements which unlike
religions are usually very bad at maintaining stable communities, p 421). He wonders if:
.
a mystical event may not only be culturally or politically dissident: it may also be cognitively and
epistemologically dissonant, (p 424).
.
and raises a number of issues that face the scholar of esotericism. These include the censoring
and suppressing ideologies of the modern-day academy, p 425), and he goes on to write that in
this volume only Natalia Zhukovskaia in her Shamanism in the Russian Intelligentsia (Post Soviet
Space and Time) (pp 328-3470, has been willing to recount her first hand experience as
researcher-scholar, and in doing so shows the reader:
.
Russian anthropologists and intellectuals taking on the practices and roles of the shaman
themselves, in essence, going native, (p 430 431) emphasis added.
.
Kripals use of the poetic and archaic phrase, going native is a telling one. With it he refers to
outdated notions of an abandonment of civilised values, a descent into an irrational and inferior
way of life. These are familiar nineteenth, if not eighteenth century attitudes, all of which we must
assume are not his own attitudes but those of the suppressing ideologies of the modern-day
academy (p 431 ).
.
These are almost the final words in The New Age of Russia, and bring this intricate and detailed
overview of a century and more of academic study firmly into one of the major contemporary
academic debates.
.
Acknowledgements and thanks are due to the editors who brought this valuable contribution to
esoteric and occult studies to publication. It offers evidence of the human refusal to obey or stay
within defined boundaries, while simultaneously longing for security. In Russia during the 20th
century these conflicting desires were expressed by politically repressive boundries, serially
accompanied by a refusal to accept or to be bound by fixed, enprisoning ideologies. The two
unbounded areas that continued to defy definition and which remained open for exploration
during the whole century were those of the inner life, and outer space.
.
.
Notes
1.
I found this photograph of Gleb Bokii on Google images, and it is clearly the source image for the
painting shown above.
2.
Here are a couple of definitions of terms and some initials used in the text which may be of use to
fellow non-Russianists, (retreived from Wikipedia (5.6.2012).
Samizdat(Russian: ; IPA: ) was a key form of dissident activity across the Soviet bloc in
which individuals reproduced censored publications by hand and passed the documents from
reader to reader.
Tamizdatrefers to literature published abroad (, tam, there), often from smuggled
manuscripts.
Initials
The OGPU (1922-1934) was responsible for the creation of the Gulag system. It also became the
Soviet governments arm for the persecution of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Greek
Catholics, the Latin Catholics, Islam and other religious organisations [] The OGPU was also the
principal secret police agency responsible for the detection, arrest, and liquidation of anarchists
and other dissident left-wing factions in the early Soviet Union.
[and]
NKVD stands for The Peoples Commissariatfor Internal Affairs, Narodnyy Komissariat
Vnutrennikh Del), abbreviated NKVD (1934 1954).
from the entry for State Political Directorate Wikipedia retrieved 29.5. 2012
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, Sophia Wellbeloved reviews: THE NEW AGE OF RUSSIA: OCCULT
June 13, 2012 at 8:28 am AND ESOTERIC DIMENSIONS
Tagged with 20th Century, Aleksandr Barchenko, Birgit Menzel, Fourth Way, G. I.
Gurdjieff, Gleb Ivanovich Bokii, Jeffrey Kripal, Julia Mannherz,
KonstantineTsiolkovskii, Kukulieva Kaleriya Vasillievna, literature, Markus
Osterrieder, Michael Hageneister and Bernice Glatzer Rosenthal, New Age,
Nicholas Roerich, Occult Revival, politics, Prerevolutionary Roots, Russia, science,
Soviet, Soviet Secret Police, United Workers' Brotherhood, Vladim ir Shuktom v
T h e J o h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o P a g e : D A V I D K H E R D I A N S S E E D S
O F L IG H T
D AV ID K H E RD IAN S S E E D S O F L IG H T
Jo hn Ro bert Co lo m bo discusses a bo o k o f po etry inspired by the W o rk
ex perience
If there is any o ther co llectio n o f po em s inspired by the F o urth W ay, I am
unaw are o f its ex istence. It is true that so m e po ets, lik e the late K athleen
Raine, have a distinct feelings fo r these ex periences and values, but to m y
k no w ledge Raine did no t ex plicitly w rite abo ut such ex periences in any o f her
vo lum es o f verse. M y generalizatio n is true fo r the E nglish language, but it is
no t true fo r po etry w ritten in the F rench language.
The reader w ith a sw eet-to o th fo r the im ages and the m o vem ents characteristic
o f intense and intuitive po etic language, w ho has a co m m and o f F rench o r w ho
is draw n to patiently prepared translatio ns, w ill have his o r her needs w ell m et
by the free-verse po etry and w ildly im aginative pro se po etry o f Ren D aum al.
H e is the literary m asco t o f the W o rk in F rance and a creative artist endo w ed
w ith persistent and penetrating po w ers o f inventio n, w ell deserving o f great
respect acco rded him . In past co lum ns fo r this w eb-blo g, I have review ed
current E nglish translatio ns o f D aum als bo o k s. Translatio ns o f his w ritings add
unex pected grace-no tes to the leitm o tif o f quest ex pressed in the F rench and
E nglish languages.
The w ritings o f Pierre Bo nnasse, a student o f the W o rk in Paris w ho ho lds a
do cto rate in L iterature fro m the S o rbo nne, has published a m ultitude o f bo o k s
o f im aginative po w er and value, including a co llectio n o f po em s titled D ans la
nuit dAghtam ar w hich ex ists in an E nglish translatio n that no publishing
ho use has yet o ffered to issue. I w ill say no m o re abo ut Bo nnasse and his w o rk
here because I described them at so m e length o n this w eb-blo g in O cto ber 3,
2008, under the questio ning title F o urth W ay W o rds? Instead I w ant to turn m y
attentio n to D avid K herdian and his po etry.
I began this review article w ith these w o rds: If there is any o ther co llectio n o f
po em s inspired by the F o urth W ay . The o ther co llectio n w as co m po sed in
E nglish by K herdian. It is to this co llectio n S eeds o f L ight: Po em s fro m a
G urdjieff Co m m unity (M cM innville, O rego n: S to pinder Bo o k s, 2002) that I am
no w turning m y attentio n. I am do ing so because it w as recently draw n to m y
attentio n that the bo o k , no w a decade o ld, has received hardly any attentio n if
any attentio n at all fro m review ers w ith any k no w ledge o r interest in w o rk -
related literature. Readers appreciate the co ntents o f the bo o k , but review ers
k no w no thing o f its appearance. This is a sham e. N o bo o k is truly o ld. E very
bo o k is really new , at least until it has been read.
Q uestio n: W ho is D avid K herdian? I ask ed this questio n fo ur years ago in this
very w eb-blo g, the o ccasio n being the review article titled Po ssible G urdjieff-
S talin Co nnectio n w ith Reference to D avid K herdian w hich appeared here o n
June 3, 2008. At the tim e I w as trying to trace the suggestio n that no t o nly w ere
G urdjieff and S talin perso nally k no w n to each o ther highscho o l students in
G eo rgia, so to speak but G urdjieff w ro te abo ut their asso ciatio n in a chapter
that w as m ysterio usly ex cluded fro m the published tex t o f M eetings w ith
Rem ark able M en. I have never determ ined the truth (o r co nsequences) o f this
statem ent, so I tak e it to be a rum o ur, o ne that is lik ely to lurk fo r decades to
co m e, and no thing m o re. H ere is w hat I w ro te abo ut K herdian fo ur years ago .
Answ er: K herdian is a tho ughtful and pro ductive perso n, an Arm enian-Am erican
po et, no velist, and essayist w ith m uch ex perience in the W o rk . O ne o f
K herdians bo o k s S eeds o f L ight w as published by S to pinder Bo o k s and is
subtitled Po em s fro m a G urdjieff Co m m unity. Ano ther o f his bo o k s is called
O n a S paceship w ith Beelzebub and it is subtitled By a G randso n o f G urdjieff.
It w as praised by Co lin W ilso n as o ne o f the best acco unts Ive read o f actually
being a m em ber o f a G urdjieff G ro up.
I first enco untered K herdian w hen I subscribed to the jo urnal that he edited
decades ago fro m a farm in W isco nsin. S to pinder: A G urdjieff Jo urnal fo r O ur
Tim e w as a handso m ely designed publicatio n illustrated by his talented w ife
N o nny H o gro gian. E ach issue o ffered subscribers a lo w -k ey yet co ncentrated
appro ach to hum an pro blem s in rural and rustic settings. O ver the decades
K herdian has published abo ut tw o do zen antho lo gies, vo lum es o f verse,
co llectio ns o f m em o irs, and w o rk s o f fictio n.
K herdians article The V anishing M aster is alm o st tw enty years o ld but it is
still fresh. In practical term s it o ffered the autho r an o ppo rtunity to share his
view s o f M r. G ., w ho m he describes as a m an fo rm ed by his Arm enian
back gro und. Arm enians as w ell as Bulgarians, I have no ted describe
them selves as being situated at the cro ss-ro ads o f the w o rld, the co ck -pit o f
histo ry and civilizatio n. F o r this reaso n, K heridan finds so m ething unique abo ut
M r. G and his m essage.
H e w as the very first o f the E astern teachers o r M asters to fo rm ulate an
ancient teaching fo r the W est this planets gro w ing po int. All the o thers
bro ught their religio n o r ideo lo gy entire garm ent, beads, and all changing
the fit and fo rm o f W estern spirituality into its E astern strictures. G urdjieff, o f
m ix ed G reek -Arm enian parentage, grew up in Arm enia, at the cro ssro ads o f
E ast and W est, the Arm enians being the o nly peo ple w ho belo nged to neither
yet w ere part o f bo th. W hether he cho se him self o r w as cho sen, w e do no t
k no w . W e o nly k no w that he left his scho o l, assum ed a m issio n and devised a
plan fo r its ex ecutio n. H e called it E so teric Christianity, perhaps because it
straddled E ast and W est, as he did, being raised in the E astern O rtho do x
Church, and then pushing E ast fo r his training befo re returning, transfo rm ed, to
the W est.
S uch is his view o f M r. G . This is no t the place to present K herdians interesting
argum ent that there are no w tw o generatio ns o f G urdjieffians and that their
aim s are anything but co ngruent . Instead, it is tim e that so m eo ne surveyed
the w ritings o f D avid K herdian fro m the perspective o f the W o rk . A start m ight
be m ade by ask ing him fo r perm issio n to reprint The V anishing M aster o n this
new s-blo g.
To repeat, I w ro te the abo ve paragraphs o n June 3, 2008. N o w fo ur years have
passed and I w ill try to catch up w ith K herdian. H e has his o w n w ebsite <
http://w w w .davidk herdian.co m > w hich is sho rt o n bio graphical details but
no netheless interesting. Bo rn in Racine, W isco nsin, o f Arm enian back gro und, he
is the autho r and edito r o f o ver six ty bo o k s, that include po etry, no vels,
m em o irs, bio graphies, biblio graphies, childrens bo o k s, as w ell as critical
studies, translatio ns, and retellings (acco rding to his vita sheet). H e has edited
a num ber o f antho lo gies o f po etries selected o n the bases o f ethnic
ex pressio n and sense o f place i.e., the w riters back gro und, linguistic and
so cial, as w ell as the w riters place o f residence. An ho ur-lo ng do cum entary o n
his po etry, pro duced by the N ew Yo rk independent film m ak er Jim Belleau, w as
released in 1997. H is latest bo o k is an antho lo gy o f his o w n w o rk in m any
genres, G atherings: S elected and Unco llected W ritings (Tavno n Bo o k s, 2011).
In the fall o f 2012 the University o f Califo rnia Press w ill publish his N ew and
S elected Po em s.
H ere is an item fro m the autho rs w ebsite ex pressed in the third perso n: H e is
currently in the m ark et fo r an agent to handle his retelling o f D avid o f S asso un,
the tenth-century Arm enian epic, w ell k no w n in the E ast but virtually unk no w n
in the W est. (Publishers, tak e no te!) S o he has been dizzily busy as a m an-o f-
letters. E no ugh o f back gro und. H ere is a brief lo o k at his W o rk -inspired po em s.
To discuss K herdians po etry, I w ant to place his po em s in an unusual and
perhaps idio syncratic co ntex t, o ne that perm its m e to discuss the po ssibilities
in o ur day o f the straight-fo rw ard dictio n o f his w o rk the co m m o n style:
plain, direct, uno rnam ented, unrhym ed, unrhythm ed, the o ne adapted by m o st
po ets and by m o st co ntem po rary bards. The style is difficult to distinguish fro m
pro se ex cept that the lines do no t run to the right-hand edge o f the page.
There is no nam e fo r this style, tho ugh the w o rds free verse pro bably best
describe it, ex cept that w hat is being heard o r read is no t verse (rhythm and
rhym e) but po etry (highly asso ciative language) free po etry perhaps; yet
tho se tw o w o rds do no t so und quite right. Perhaps the w o rd prayer o r
m editatio n o r rum inatio n o r even co nsideratio n so und m o re appro priate.
In sho rt, it is to days vernacular.
I am tem pted to regard K herdians po em s as prayers (w hich G urdjieff calls
recapitulatio ns) because they are adm issio ns o f current lim itatio ns and
appeals to an o utside agency o r fo rce and also to the fo rce o r agency w ithin
o nes o w n self fo r enlightenm ent, salvatio n, redem ptio n, w hatever. The po em s
are highly perso nal, characteristically subjective. H o w essential they are is w hat
this review attem pts to pro be. There are tw o co ntem po rary w o rk s that I feel do
co nvey so m e o f the po ssibilities o f po etry as prayer, particularly w hen
perfo rm ed by a singer w ith electro nic back ing. To this end I w ill discuss tw o
co m po sitio ns. Bo th o f them m ay be heard w ith a few k eystro k es o n Yo uTube.
W ho ever has view ed the 2010 film The Tem pest directed by Julie Taym o r w ill
be bo w led o ver by the visuals and so undtrack o f its clo sing sequence, a
sequence k no w n as Pro speras Co da. The Pro spero o f S hak espeares play is
reinterpreted by the actress H elen M irren in term s o f a w o m an m agus,
Pro spera. The final speech o f the play is no t delivered by the actress; instead, it
is sung, o r into ned, o ff-screen, by the E nglish vo calist and lyricist Beth G ibbo ns.
The effect is quite arresting, quite unsettling. The lines that S hak espeare w ro te
are pure po etry rhythm ical and rhym ed verse:
But release m e fro m m y bands
W ith the help o f yo ur go o d hands:
G entle breath o f yo urs m y sails
M ust fill, o r else m y pro ject fails,
W hich w as to please. N o w I w ant
S pirits to enfo rce, art to enchant,
And m y ending is despair,
Unless I be relieved by prayer,
W hich pierces so that it assaults
M ercy itself and frees all faults.
As yo u fro m crim es w o uld pardo nd be,
L et yo ur indulgence set m e free.
Into ned by G ibbo ns, they are heard no t as aw eso m e affirm atio n o r hero ic
renunciatio n o r inevitable reco nciliatio n, but in the co ntem po rary co ntex t as the
cry o f a perso n w itho ut craft, the o utcry o f a perso n in pain w itho ut restraint.
The presentatio n thus go es against type. It is o verpo w ering, in so m e w ay
beyo nd the language o f po etry itself.
The sam e curio us am algam o f art and artlessness is characteristic o f the
stunning finale o f the final episo de seen in 2005 o f the H BO televisio n series
S ix F eet Under. S ia, the Australian singer and so ngw riter, into nes w o rds o f
pleading and m eaning, heart-bro k enly, directio nlessly. This tim e the w o rds lack
the E lizabethan air; instead w hat they have is the sim plicity o f the sim pleto n
w ho nevertheless suffers needlessly:
H elp, I have do ne it again
I have been here m any tim es befo re
H urt m yself again to day
And, the w o rst part is
Theres no -o ne else to blam e.
The w o rds are S ias and the presentatio n is true to type. It is called Breathe
M e and it co uld be lik ened to the co nfessio n o f a perso n w ho is dro w ning in
the despair o f present-day life. It is free verse and it is very effective. But, lik e
Pro speras Credo , it is abo ut as far as po ssible fro m the co m m o n style.
Redem ptio n is no t clo se at hand.
The visuals co ntrast to o . The im ages that appear o n the screen as Beth G ibbo ns
into nes S hak espeares w o rds are dream y and nightm arish. The visuals that
appear as S ia seem s to trip o ver her o w n w o rds, so do w ntem po , so o bsessive
and abulic, are the im ages o f an auto m o bile jo urney acro ss the Am erican
co ntinent fro m L o s Angeles to N ew Yo rk City. The landscape o f Pro spero -
Pro speras island (film ed in H aw aii) and that o f the cars jo urney acro ss the
M o jave desert m ight w ell be that o f the m o o n. In bo th instances, w hether
presented against type o r true to type, the visuals and electro nic and aco ustic
effects m ak e the w o rk very co ntem po rary in a direct and unm ediated w ay. The
effectiveness o f the po etry o r verse lies in its presentatio n, here aided and
abetted by the m edia o f cinem a and televisio n.
There are no trum pets o r drum s, into ning o r appealing w o m en, w hether
m aguses o r fallen w o m en, in K herdians po etry. Instead, there is so m e ho pe
and the anticipatio n o f self-k no w ledge if no t po w er o ver the negative aspects
o f the self in D avid K herdians S eeds o f L ight: Po em s fro m a G urdjieff
Co m m unity. This is a trade paperback o f attractive design w ith w o o dcuts by
the po ets w ife, N o nny H o gro gian. It bears the im print o f S to pinder Bo o k s,
M cM innville, O rego n. It co nsists o f 202+ iv pages and the year o f publicatio n is
given as 2002. The effo rt is D edicated to the M em o ry and L iving Presence o f
G .I. G urdjieff.
By m y co unt the co llectio n co nsists o f 123 po em s and they are arranged in
chro no lo gical o rder in five divisio ns identified as bo o k s. I sense that bo o k by
bo o k the po em s advance fro m being descriptive and anecdo tal to ex pressive
and ex periential. The first po em s are so m ew hat sk etchy, the last po em s rather
full-bo died. Yet the bo o k is a w ho le and m ay be read fro m co ver to co ver lik e a
lo g o f rural ex periences. The bo o k is no t lik e a diary there are no perso nal
revelatio ns, there are no descriptive passages so the po em s have to be read
fo r w hat they are, page-lo ng, free-verse po etry. D o no t lo o k fo r
characterizatio n o r pro files o f peo ple; they are no t even no ticeable by their
absence.
The intelligent and insightful intro ductio n has been co ntributed by Allen Ro th
w ho se nam e m ay ring a bell because he is the autho r o f S herbo rne: An
E x perim ent in Transfo rm atio n (1998). H e no tes that the po et and his w ife, an
illustrato r, lived fro m abo ut 1978 fo r nine years at Tw o Rivers F arm , near
Auro ra, O rego n, a co m m unity fo unded by Annie L o u S taveley, a pupil thro ugh
Jane H eap o f G .I. G urdjieff. It w as presum ably the so le farm in the area that had
and still has its o w n printing press. H o w m any peo ple have lived o n these acres,
ho w m any peo ple w ere w eek end visito rs, ho w m any acres there are no ne o f
this info rm atio n is shared. Instead, the reader is invited to share K herdians
perceptio ns, im pressio ns, and tho ughts.
O f these po em s, Ro th w rites, W e are given tastes, no t recipes. S o there are no
descriptio ns o f ex ercises, m editatio ns, o r m o vem ents o n these pages. It is as if
the ratio nale fo r the rural retreat has been displaced o r subsum ed in the task s
o f everyday farm life. H e is the single, full-fledged po et I k no w w ho sings o f
the w o rk , altho ugh m uch has been w ritten by so m e go o d w riters in o ther
fo rm s. Yet, as Ro th no tes, These po em s are no ticings, o f o neself in the
m o m ent o f no ticing: the gatew ay to all spiritual aspiratio n. I lik e the plural
no un no ticings.
It is pro bably safe to say a reader w ho k no w s no thing abo ut co m m unal living
and w o rk centres w ill benefit fro m reading K herdians po etry, tho ugh the reader
m ight be puzzled by po em s w hich fro m tim e to tim e co nclude w ith spiritual
affirm atio ns that appear so to speak o ut o f the blue: There is a beauty in all
this / beyo nd the telling.
The reader can sense bo th the m an and the po et at w o rk in the earlier po em s;
in the later po em the reader can sense that they are the sam e being. There is
an instance o f this in tw o po em s titled i ride the red tracto r. In the first po em
the i is identified as a stranger to this green earth / these turbulent,
thundering sk ies. In the seco nd po em the i is this hum an fo rm w hich w o uld
co m e to them (bird and anim al / red tracto r o r green) in the halo o f m y
lo ve. There is a transfo rm atio n reco rded here in parallel po em s w ith the sam e
title. It is casually presented, characteristic o f K herdians subtle so m etim es
im pressio nistic w riting generally.
The po em s are anything but inno vative o r subversive; they are anything but
traditio nal o r co nservative. They are individual in the sense that the idio m
ado pted by the po et is that o f m o dern free verse. The po et is aw are o f E zra
Po und w ho so ught to intro duce M o dernism , w hich led to Po st-M o dernism , fo r
K herdian tw ice quo tes the injunctio n m ak e it new , a co m m and identified w ith
Po und. K herdian do es no t m ak e it new , but he m ak es it his o w n here is a m an
here, a m an in the guise o f a farm er-po et w ho do es this and do es that. S hare
his ex periences and their m eanings. In term s o f the divisio n o f m an in P.D .
O uspensk ys schem a, it is po ssible to place K herdians m agnetic centre in his
m o ving / instinctive centre that is his m ajo r centre, his m ino r being the
em o tio nal.
I w ill no t pause o ver the po em s in w ho le o r part that describe pigs, duck s,
ho rses, chick ens, starlings, flies, and o ther farm anim als and fo w l; here
K herdian has to co ntend w ith the readers rem em bered richness o f D .H .
L aw rences w ildlife po em s. D itto fo r w eeds, flo w ers, seeds, etc. K herdian is
inclined to see the w ildlife that catches his eye as instances o f all life:
Ah w ell, I tell m yself, so m e things
just naturally resist a reaso ning
m ind, thats all. And have yo u no t
no ticed ho w vario us and m ultiple
and m ysterio us everything is
including chick ens (no t to m entio n
hum ans), etcetera, etcetera.
That is the ending o f the w ild o nes. It is quite effective, and it w o uld w o rk o n
the po dium as a spo k en po em , but it tells us a little abo ut a little, rather than
a lo t abo ut a lo t. K herdian is no t the po et o f the big statem ent, but o f the
little insight, w hich is all the richer fo r its uniqueness. The po em to the m an o r
w o m an is abo ut a m editatio n cushio n, accidentally left behind, w hich he then
uses w hile shelling co rn. H e w o nders if it w ill retain the im pressio n o f his bo dy.
H e then po nders the act:
W e w ant to to uch everything
in this m anner, w ith all
the parts o f o ur bo dies, co nscio usly,
w ith all o ur feelings and tho ughts,
intentio nally,
fo r it is in this w ay
that w e are trying to
aw ak en to The F arm
as heart
O nly o ne o f the po em s is fo rm al in the literary sense o f that w o rd. It is m o unt
st. helens and it describes the feelings o n the land w hen the ashes fell. It is
fo rm al because its stanzas are co nstructed lik e tho se o f the classic F rench fo rm
k no w n as the villanelle, ex cept that there is no repetitio n o f lines and no use o f
rhym e. I w ish it w ere a villanelle. As it is, the m em o rability o f the po em rests o n
the pro cess o f its tho ught and feeling, unbuttressed by stylishly o r sk illfully
w ritten lines. It ends:
W e had been sho ck ed into w ak efulness, and the
certainly o f that m ade us questio n again
the uncertainty o f life and its m eaning.
The structure o f at least o ne o ther po em recalls the structure o f a classic fo rm ,
in this instance po em co m es clo se to the three-line haik u, tho ugh its length is
eleven lines. F ive lines describe the sight o f o ne o f the farm ers o n a bicycle.
Three lines are devo ted to ho w the scene that is so far distant is so silent. F ive
lines m o ve into ano ther dim ensio n, the last tw o being these:
I turn and do no t see the invisible
im print I have left o n the gro und.
There is a lo t in these po em s abo ut clo se to indelible im pressio ns. Reading
these po em s I o ccasio nally tho ught ho w D .H . L aw rence w o uld have do ne it
better o r at least deeper but then he w as w eighted do w n and o ccasio nally
buo yed up w ith deep passio ns and so cietys restrictio ns against venting them .
Yet every so o ften I also tho ught o f Rainer M aria Rilk e. The G erm an po et w o uld
have appro ved o f a num ber o f K herdians po em , especially the o ne titled
1,2,3,4, duck s in a ro w . L aw rence w o uld k no w w hat he tho ught o f the inner
life o f the duck , but Rilk e w o uld have k no w n better, especially in his perio d at
Castle D uino in Trieste. And K herdian to o k no w s better. W itho ut paraphrasing
the tw enty-o ne line po em , let m e quo te the last stanza abo ut the sight o f these
strange creatures o f creatio n:
As if it w ere m y business. As if I, w ho understand no thing,
including m yself, sho uld be ex pected to understand
them , and k no w w hat they m ean, o r w hat
they S H O UL D m ean. W ho se life am I living, anyho w ?
The m undane task o f k eeping the birds fro m eating the fruit is described in the
po em theyre after m y straw berries again. The task is being po o rly perfo rm ed
by the straw -hatted scarecro w . Is the po et better able to perfo rm it? H ere is
ho w it ends:
W hat am I w aiting fo r?
H eavens interventio n? Childho o ds return?
A perm anent sum m er sun and no villains?
Perhaps Ill just sit back and w ait
fo r a better po em , a better scarecro w ,
and all the luck in the w o rld,
plus a little bit m o re.
E veryo ne can use the luck and a little bit m o re. The ex pectatio ns fo r the
scarecro w w ere high, fo r the po et no t so high, fo r the po em , it w as the luck o f
the draw and the presence o f perseverance and talent.
S o far the po em s that have been discussed and quo ted co m e fro m the first half
o f the bo o k . If I gave equal representatio n to the po em s o f the bo o k s seco nd
half, this appreciatio n w o uld have to be m uch lo nger than it already is. Instead
let m e suggest o nly the fo llo w ing that the later po em s differ fro m the earlier
in that the no ticings o f peculiarities and ano m alies and unex pected em o tio ns
no ted in the lines tak e o n greater depths o f m eaning and significance in the
later po em s. W hat w ere sk etches are no w sculptures; w hat w ere tw o
dim ensio nal are no w three dim ensio nal.
This pro cess o f deepening and heightening is a co nso lidatio n o f the po et and
the pro cess, o f the m an and the m eaning, and it m ay be sensed by the reader
in an o ccasio nal po em lik e the cat w hich describes m o vem ents o f Tessie the
to m cat. The descriptio n is neat and it inscapes the spirit o f the anim al, to use
the verbal fo rm o f G erard M anly H o pk ins no un. H ere is the three-line ending to
the eighteen-line po em :
The ho llo w inbreath,
sensed but no t seen,
betw een be and beco m e.
The po et delves deeper o r scales higher in the death / life thing:
w hen w hat w e call life
and w hat w e call death
jo in in their w ho leness.
This Tao ism o r Buddhism o r w hat-ism can go to o far, as in the co m po sitio n
titled the po et addresses his do uble w hich lo o k s at answ ers, o rganizatio n,
death, balance, and co ntro l, o nly to co nclude:
E nter yo ur life, o nly that.
Thank G o d, and be yo urself.
Rather than leave it o n a lo w no te, I w ant to tak e this review to a high no te and
listen to w hat K herdian has to say in w hat is o bvio usly o ne o f his m ajo r po em s.
The po em is celebrating gurdjieffs o ne hundredth, and it is subtitled January
13, Auro ra, O rego n. It is o nly seventeen lines lo ng, seventy-tw o w o rds o f tex t
(plus the nine-w o rd title and subtitle, to m ak e it 81 w o rds in all). It is no t a
m iniature literary w o rk but in a w ay it is gem -lik e.
The po et im agines that the headlights o f cars penetrating the fo g are candles
in pro cessio n / w alk ers in Asian m o untains / chanting as they co m e to prayers.
The m ythic is co ntrasted w ith the iro nic: H ere their descendants arrive / in
shields o f tin and glass / o ver m ended gravel ro ads. In a m elange o f im agery,
the po et im agines bro thers, o ur fathers peo ple in the present, peo ple o f the
past o ur drum the silent w heel the prayer w heel apparently, but also the
auto m o bile w heel o ur prayer beads to o that hum s under the ho o d. There
is the no tio n o f po etry as prayer here to o . The po em ends (if it truly ends) w ith
three w o rds separated by tw o spaces:
W e Affirm ing Co m e
In its quiet w ay and no t quite clear w ay, it is quintessential D avid K herdian.
I co uld co ntinue to discuss o ther po em s in S eeds o f L ight and in the po ets
subsequent co llectio n L etters to M y F ather in light o f this autho rs earlier
pro se w o rk titled O n a S paceship w ith Beelzebub By a G randso n o f G urdjieff
w hich Co lin W ilso n praised as O ne o f the best acco unts Ive read o f actually
being a m em ber o f a G urdjieff gro up. That bo o k alo ne deserves to be
described, but that is a subject fo r ano ther review -article, perhaps o ne that I
w ill w rite w hen, later this year, the University o f Califo rnia Press issues D avid
K herdians N ew and S elected Po em s.
Jo hn Ro bert C o lo m bo
John Robert Colom bo, based in Toronto, is a M em ber of the O rder of Canada
and holds an honorary doctorate from York University, Toronto. H is latest
book s are A Q uaint and Curious V olum e of F orgotten L ore (a volum e of
aphorism s) and L ess of L ight (the poem s he w rote during the year 2011 plus a
dream diary). Check his w ebsite for m ore details. < http://w w w .colom bo.ca >
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE, The John Robert Colom bo Page:
May 12, 2012 at 9:07 pm DAVID KHERDIANS "SEEDS OF LIGHT"
Tagged with "Gatherings: Selected and Uncollected Writings", Annie-Lou Staveley,
David Kherdian, Fourth Way, Gurdjieff, Jane Heap, John Robert Colom bo, Kathleen
Raine, Pierre Bonnasse, Poem s from a Gurdjieff Com m unity, poetry, poetry as
prayer, Rene Daum al, Seeds of Light, the Work
JO H N R O B E R T C O L O M B O : W IL L IA M JA M E S & C A R L S A G A N : T W O
G IF F O R D L E C T U R E S
Jo hn Ro bert Co lo m bo co m pares and co ntrasts lectures delivered eighty-fo ur

years apart by W illiam Jam es and Carl S agan.
W illiam Jam es 1842 1910)
Carl S agan (1934 1996)

It is safe to say that the G iffo rd L ectureships are the o utstanding series o f
lectures in their field o f study, but it is also safe to say that their field o f study
is hardly the pre-em inent o ne that it o nce w as. The series w as established by
Adam L o rd G iffo rd, a leading jurist in S co tland, w ith a bequest to fo ur
universities to co -spo nso r a series o f lectures to pro m o te and diffuse the study
o f N atural Theo lo gy in the w idest sense o f the term in o ther w o rds, the
k no w ledge o f G o d. The lectures have been delivered annually since 1888, w ith
the ex ceptio n o f years during the S eco nd W o rld W ar. The fo ur universities are
tho se o f E dinburgh, G lasgo w , S t. Andrew s, and Aberdeen.
M any significant bo o k s o f science and the hum anities, including theo lo gy, have
been based o n the tex ts o f these lectures. Recent lectures have been bro adcast
in part o n Yo uTube. F o r so m e tim e no w the G iffo rd w ebsite has been spo nso red
by the Tem pleto n F und w hich tries its level best (w itho ut no table success) to
reco ncile religio n and science by directing so m e o f its vast w ealth to the m en
and w o m en and m o vem ents w ho o r w hich try to do so .
The G iffo rd lecturers are reco gnized to be the pre-em inent think ers in their
respective fields. The list o f the 120 o r so speak ers includes ho useho ld
nam es, and pro o f o f this is that so m any o f the speak ers are reco gnized by
their last nam es alo ne: Arendt, Bo hr, D ew ey, F razer, G ilso n, H eisenberg, vo n
H gel, M ller, M urdo ch, N iebuhr, S chw eitzer, Tillich, W atso n, W hitehead, etc.
In that list o f last nam es, I did no t include Jam es because W illiam Jam es, the
philo so pher w ho w as a G iffo rd lecturer, m ight be co nfused w ith his bro ther
H enry Jam es, the no velist w ho w as no t. N o r did I include in the high-reco gnitio n
catego ry the nam e S agan, w hich identifies the celebrated astro physicist and
autho r Carl S agan. (I w ill co m pare and co ntrast their co ntributio ns in due
co urse.)
It is o f passing interest to no te that tw o distinguished Canadian philo so phers
have lately addressed these S co ttish university audiences: Patricia Churchland in
2009 and Charles Taylo r in 2010. Churchland is a no ted neuro philo so pher and
Taylo r is a co m m unitarian critic o f the m o dern-day pro ject o f liberalism and
secularism . I lack the co m petence to assess Churchlands m any co ntributio ns to
the nex us o f neuro lo gy and philo so phy, but I find Taylo rs critique o f the
secular age to be suave tho ugh largely beside the po int.
It is o f m o re-than-passing interest to co m pare and co ntrast the G iffo rd
L ectures o f W illiam Jam es and Carl S agan. Jam es delivered his series o f talk s in
1900-02 in E dinburgh; S agan delivered his series in G lasgo w in 1985. Thus they
w ere heard eighty years apart. The title that Jam es gave his series o f lectures is
so m em o rable that o nce heard it is never fo rgo tten. H e called it V arieties o f
Religio us E x perience. The m em o rably titled bo o k , a classic in its field, w as
published in 1902, eight years befo re his death. The H arvard philo so pher and
psycho lo gist w as a brilliant think er, a gifted w riter, and the co -fo under o f the
theo ry o f Pragm atism . As w ell, he w as the system atizer o f his cho sen field w ith
Principles o f Psycho lo gy published in 1890.
Carl S agan bears a fam o us nam e fo r his co ntributio ns to the po pularizatio n o f
science, especially astro no m y and co sm o lo gy, w hich w ere featured in his
thirteen-part, televisio n series Co sm o s in 1980. As w ell as a distinguished
astro physicist, he served as directo r o f Co rnell Universitys L abo rato ry fo r
Planetary S tudies. In due co urse S agan becam e a leading spo k esperso n fo r
sceptical inquiry.
H is G iffo rd talk s w ere titled The S earch fo r W ho W e Are but the series w as no t
published under that title but as V arieties o f S cientific E x perience. N o te the
substitutio n o f the w o rd scientific fo r the w o rd religio us. These G iffo rd
lectures w ere delivered in 1985, S agan died in 1996, and the bo o k appeared in
2006. The editing, the publicatio n, and perhaps the titling w ere undertak en by
Ann D ruyan, the autho rs w ido w and a talented w riter and presenter in her o w n
right. In m any w ays the title is quite appro priate, fo r it recalls the earlier title o f
Jam ess bo o k and it strik es the no n-scientific reader that it co uld be regarded
as an updated versio n o f Jam ess argum ent, a revisio ning o f w hat is essentially
a religio us-scientific discussio n.
Jam es w as a psycho lo gist thro ugh and thro ugh, S agan an astro physicist thro ugh
and thro ugh. Jam es peered into the hum an so ul (that is, the innerm o st nature
o f m an) to find the ratio nale fo r the religio us ex perience. To acco m plish the
sam e end, S agan peered into the heavens (in the sense o f the planets and the
galax ies) to find the fundam ent o f the scientific ex perience. O ne pro fesso r
ex plo red the depths o f m an, the o ther pro fesso r the heights o f creatio n. Jam es
w as a m aterialist fo r w ho m ideas m attered, and the sam e m ay be said o f
S agan. The fabled sense o f w o nder w as co m m o n to bo th m en, and they
co nveyed its ex citem ent w hen they ex patiated o n the surprises fo und in their
subjects. Jam ess bo o k is subtitled A S tudy in H um an N ature. S agans bo o k is
subtitled A Perso nal V iew o f the S earch fo r G o d in the sam e w ay that his
televisio n series Co sm o s w as subtitled A Perso nal V o yage. W hat the dual
appro aches to the m ysteries o f m ans nature and the nature o f the universe is
the m ind o f m an.
M uch changed in the W estern w o rld and its hum an values betw een the year
1900 w hen Jam es delivered his lectures and the year 1985 w hen S agan
addressed his audience. The term N atural Theo lo gy fell o ut o f favo ur and so
did the unthink ing respect that intellectuals paid to partisan pro po nents o f
biblical scho larship. S agan began his lecture o n The G o d H ypo thesis w ith
these w o rds:
The G iffo rd L ectures are suppo sed to be o n the to pic o f natural theo lo gy.
N atural theo lo gy has lo ng been understo o d to m ean theo lo gical k no w ledge that
can be established by reaso n and ex perience and ex perim ent alo ne. N o t by
revelatio n, no t by m ystical ex perience, but by reaso n. And this is, in the lo ng,
histo rical sw eep o f the hum an species, a reaso nably no vel view .
S agan fo und this view laudable, but o nly up to a po int. Thereupo n he dism issed
all the traditio nal argum ents fo r the ex istence o f G o d (o r go ds) and substituted
fo r them argum ents fo und in F reuds psycho analytic theo ry and D arw ins
natural selectio n, argum ents that acco unt fo r m ans co ntinued and unthink ing
belief in a hierarchy o f unseen deities o r dim ensio ns. H e did this in a lecture o r
chapter titled The G o d H ypo thesis.
In the early years o f the Tw entieth Century, psycho lo gists tack led the pro blem s
po sed by psychical research and this w o uld have delighted Jam es w ho , after all,
had served as president o f bo th the British and the Am erican S o cieties fo r
Psychical Research. W hat had been regarded as the study o f abno rm al
psycho lo gical states cam e to be co nsidered the study o f ano m alo us
ex periences. O ne o f the m o st im pressive bo o k s in the field o f psychical
research and parapsycho lo gical studies is a po sthum o usly published co llectio n
o f Jam ess o ccasio nal papers o n the subject, bo th abstract and anecdo tal, titled
W illiam Jam es o n Psychical Research, edited by the psycho lo gist G ardner M urphy
and the co m piler Ro bert Ballo u. Jam es felt that there w ere unk no w ns in the
field, but that they m ay be destined to rem ain fo rever unk no w n.
It is hard to affirm that there has been any pro gress in the field o f Religio us
S tudies (called Co m parative Religio n o r H isto ry o f Religio n) o ver the last
century, certainly no ne co m pared w ith the advances m ade in science, no tably in
physics and in astro no m y. The physicists descriptio n o f the sub-ato m ic w o rld
w ent hand-in-hand w ith the astro no m ers disco very o f the ex panding universe.
Jam es w as w illing to give spirit-m edium s a try, being im pressed w ith the
perfo rm ances o f a M rs. Piper. S agan dism issed such perfo rm ances o ut o f hand,
instancing the childish and undirected nature o f spirit-co m m unicatio n.
In the w ak e o f the S eco nd W o rld W ar, the po ssibility o f ex traterrestrial
intelligence began to be co nsidered serio usly by scientists lik e S agan and his
co lleague F rank D rak e (o f the fam o us D rak e E quatio n w hich quantifies the
variables co nnected w ith the po ssible ex istence right no w o f o ther techno lo gical
civilizatio ns elsew here in the universe). D uring the Co ld W ar, S agan to o k a
leading po sitio n in o ppo sitio n to the S trategic D efence Initiative (S tar W ars) and
he discussed in harro w ing term s the po ssibility o f N uclear W inter and the
ex tinctio n o f hum an life o n E arth (w ith the co ntinued ex istence o f so m e fo rm s
o f co ck ro aches and sulphur-eating w o rm s at the bo tto m o f the seas a fate
that casts in the shade the Christian fundam entalists Arm ageddo n). All these
m atters are discussed by S agan. Jam es w o uld have k no w n abo ut no ne o f this
and m ight w ell have been ho rrified by the w ay so cieties w ere behaving in the
seco nd half o f the Tw entieth Century.
F o rever unk no w n w as no t the po sitio n tak en by S agan. F o r a scientist w ith
bo th speculative and o perative capability, he w as surprisingly o pen to dissident
theo ries and w ro te rem ark able essays, in Bro cas Brain and elsew here, that
ex am ined the fantasies o f V elik o vsk y and the fancies o f ufo lo gists. H e
appreciated the ho ld that such ideas have o n all o f us w ho live o n this pale
blue do t in o ur dem o n-haunted w o rld. H e had little tim e fo r spiritualists and
self-styled psychics, claim ing that spirit-m edium s alw ays assured him that lo ve
is im po rtant and never o ffered pro o f o f F erm ats L ast Theo rem !
Jam es delivered tw enty lectures w hich ex am ined the religio us sentim ent, bo th
perso nal and institutio nal, in w hich he intro duced the useful divisio n o f
m ank ind into tho se peo ple w ho are o nce-bo rn and tho se w ho are tw ice-
bo rn. The fo rm er accept things as sim ple; the latter regard things as co m plex .
H e co nsidered sick ness and health w ith respect to o ptim ism and pessim ism o f
the spirit, the no tio n o f co nversio n, the ideal o f saintliness and its uses, the
nature o f m ysticism , the ro les played w ith respect to religio n by philo so phy and
theo lo gy, the characteristics o f subco nscio usness and higher co nscio usness I
co uld go o n.
In the tw entieth lecture, as w ell as in the unex pectedly perso nal Po stscript,
Jam es o ffered the reader, if no t a sum m ing up, then a perso nal tak e o n the
subject. F o r instance, he w ro te abo ut the scale o f the natural w o rld and the
universe:
W hat w e think o f m ay be eno rm o us the co sm ic tim es and spaces, fo r
ex am ple w hereas the inner state m ay be the m o st fugitive and paltry activity
o f m ind. Yet the co sm ic o bjects, so far as the ex perience yields them , are but
ideal pictures o f so m ething w ho se ex istence w e do no t inw ardly po ssess but
o nly po int at o utw ardly, w hile the inner state is o ur very ex perience itself; its
reality and that o f o ur ex perience are o ne.
In ano ther instance, he w ro te abo ut co nscio usly m ediating tho ught and
ex perience:
A co nscio us field PL US its o bject as felt o r tho ught o f PL US an attitude to w ards
the o bject PL US the sense o f a self to w ho m the attitude belo ngs such a
co ncrete bit o f perso nal ex perience m ay be a sm all bit, but it is so lid bit as lo ng
as it lasts; no t ho llo w , no t a m ere abstract elem ent o f ex perience, such as the
o bject is w hen tak en all alo ne. It is a F UL L fact, even tho ugh it be an
insignificant fact .
Jam es co ncluded w ith a distinctio n betw een under-belief and o ver-belief,
w hereby tho ughtful peo ple either m inim ized o r m ax im ized the relevance and
im po rtance o f their o w n o pinio ns and sentim ents. H e then shared w ith the
reader his o w n o ver-belief:
The w ho le drift o f m y educatio n go es to persuade m e that the w o rld o f o ur
present co nscio usness is o nly o ne o ut o f m any w o rlds o f co nscio usness that
ex ist, and that tho se o ther w o rlds m ust co ntain ex periences w hich have a
m eaning fo r o ur lives also ; and that altho ugh in the m ain their ex periences and
tho se o f this w o rld k eep discrete, yet the tw o beco m e co ntinuo us at certain
po ints, and higher energies filter in. By being faithful in m y o w n po o r m easure
to this o ver-belief, I seem to m yself to k eep m o re sane and true.
Jam es justified his o ptim ism and his o ver-belief o n the basis that it k ept him
m o re sane and true. H e even nam ed it the faith-state. I fo und m yself
w o ndering if Carl S agan w o uld reco gnize the claim . After reading V arieties o f
S cientific E x perience, I cam e to the co nclusio n that S agan w o uld never have
em brace the no tio n o f o ver-belief o r the faith-state. Instead, he w o uld have
espo used the spirit o f sceptical, ratio nal, and scientific inquiry. H e w as
assuredly respo nsive to the spell o f m ystery and the allure o f the unk no w n, but
he stak ed his claim o n the scientific endeavo ur w hich is self-co rrecting and
self-affirm ing.
In his eyes, the sciences and especially the ex plo ratio n o f interplanetary and
intergalactic space are stepping-sto nes to w ards the go al o f the
depro vincializing o f the w o rlds po pulatio n thro ugh sharing the insights o f the
bio lo gist into changes o ver tim e and the visio ns o f the astro no m er acro ss the
im m ensity o f space. H e do es no t discuss w o rlds o f co nscio usness but he do es
find o ther w o rlds in o ur so lar system , o ur galax y, and o ur co sm o s.
Civilizatio ns vastly in advance o f o ur o w n m ay o ffer m ank ind precio us
k no w ledge, go d-lik e levels o f k no w ledge. If such civilizatio ns do no t ex ist (w e
the living are unlik ely ever to k no w ) the hum an race is all the m o re precio us fo r
its uniqueness. S agans universe is hum bling and enno bling: E arth m ay be a
pale blue do t, but it is o ne o f billio ns and billio ns o f such do ts in the co sm o s
an asto nishing visio n to co ntrast w ith Jam ess pro bing but hum bling questio n,
W hat is hum an lifes chief co ncern? If S agan ask ed a questio n it w o uld be,
W hat is the po int o f the co sm o s?
To bring to an end this co m pariso n and co ntrast o f the tw in appro aches to
religio n and science, disciplines that share so m uch because bo th have a hum an
o rigin, I assum ed I w o uld seek o ut and quo te parallel passages fro m each
speak ers lecture. But the passages did no t co m e so readily to hand. Instead, I
w ill co nclude w ith a reco llectio n o f the insightful w o rds o f S igm und F reud. The
w o rds co m prise the last tw o sentences o f the psycho analysts pro vo cative study
o f religio n called The F uture o f an Illusio n. H ere are tho se sentences:
N o , o ur science is no illusio n. But an illusio n it w o uld be to suppo se that w hat
science canno t give us w e can get elsew here.
John Robert Colom bo, based in Toronto, is a recipient of the Q ueen E lizabeth II
D iam ond Jubilee M edal. H e is currently com piling The Canadian Adventures of
Jules V erne (texts of the seven extraordinary-adventure novels that the F rench
w riter set am id the forests and tundra of Canada) and is busy introducing The
Crim e M agnet (sixteen hitherto uncollected short m ystery stories w ritten by
S ax Rohm er, the creator of D r. F u M anchu). < http://w w w .colom bo.ca >
M o re abo ut Jo hn Ro bert can be fo und at Jo n L o m bergs blo g w hich gives info
abo ut their w o rk to gether o n ano ther S agan pro ject: the D V D V isio ns o f M ars,
an antho lo gy o f science fictio n abo ut M ars, no w abo ard N AS As Pho enix lander,
so m ew here in M ars arctic tundra, aw aiting a readership o f future M ars co lo nists
fro m E arth centuries fro m no w , read m o re at: w w w .citizeno fthegalax y.co m
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO: WILLIAM JAMES & CARL SAGAN: TWO
May 9, 2012 at 7:47 am GIFFORD LECTURES, JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with "over-belief, under-belief", Carl Sagan, Gifford Lectures, John Robert
Colom bo, sceptical inquiry, science fiction, The Search for Who We Are, Varieties
of Religious Experience, Varieties of Scientific Experience, William Jam es, William
Jam es on Psychical Research
A la n D u n d e s H o ly W rit a s O ra l L it & F a b le s o f th e A n c ie n ts ?
+ M u s ic o f th e P rie u r p la y e d b y R o s e m a ry N o tt
Edith Fo w k e
JO H N RO BE RT CO L O M BO PAG E
O ne o f m y intellectual m ento rs w as the late E dith F o w k e. H er nam e is unlik ely
to be reco gnized o utside the co untry, but w ithin Canada it is no t o nly
reco gnized but w ell respected. (H er nam e is w hat is called an apto nym , fo r
F o w k e is clo se to fo lk , so that anyo ne hearing it fo r the first tim e w o uld
auto m atically equates the w o m an w ith the discipline and rightly so : E dith
F o w k e, fo lk lo rist.) In her later years she served as the co untrys leading
fo lk lo rist, fo r she devo ted the seco nd half o f her pro fessio nal life to reco rding,
co llecting, do cum enting, and publishing fo lk so ngs and traditio nal tales,
including m yths and legends, no tably N ative o nes Inuit and Indian.
E dith enco uraged m e to co m pile, anno tate, and publish co llectio ns o f Canadian
trivia o n the principle that o ne m ans trivia is ano ther m ans treasure. S he
w as no t pro lific but she w as precise and passio nate. The first half o f her life
w as spent as a po litical and so cial activist w ho espo used the cause o f o rganized
labo ur and dem o cratic so cialism . An argum ent w ith the L ew ises D avid and his
so n S tephen w ho do m inated the natio nal so cialist party fo r tw o generatio ns
led her to her seek new fields o f endeavo ur, and to train and then w o rk as a
fo lk lo rist. S he w as no stranger to natio nal radio bro adcasting, and she
ultim ately jo ined the H um anities D ivisio n o f Yo rk University in To ro nto w here
she taught the fo lk lo re subjects. Upset by the directio n the L ew iss w ere tak ing
the CCF /N D P, she had decided that if she co uld no t influence o ur future, she
co uld reveal the shape o f o ur past.
S he w as a little w o m an w ho alw ays w o re pink co ats, jack ets, blo uses, scarves,
tro users, sk irts and her favo urite hym n w as Blak es Jerusalem . I had the
ho no ur to lead the hundred o r so m o urners and co lleagues in singing Parrys
versio n o f that visio nary anthem at the celebratio n o f her life held at Yo rk
University in To ro nto . S he died suddenly o n M arch 18, 1996, at the age o f
eighty-three, but no bo dy w ho ever m et her ever really fo rgo t her.
A lan D undes (pho to Saax o n D o nnelly)

I alw ays rem em bered E diths enthusiasm fo r the w o rk o f the late Alan D undes.
H e w as a Pro fesso r o f Anthro po lo gy and F o lk lo re at the University o f Califo rnia,
Berk eley, and until his death in 2005 at the age o f seventy-o ne, he bro ught to
w ide public attentio n the cultural and psycho lo gical insights bro ught abo ut by
his study o f fo lk lo ristics. H e saw the discipline as o ne that shed light o n the
custo m s o f the past and the present, but also o n cultural lo re and hum an
psycho lo gy and behavio ur. H e caused a stir w hen he w ro te at length abo ut the
ho m o ero tics o f Am erican fo o tball. H e did m o re than anyo ne to fam iliarize the
N o rth Am erican public w ith the prevalence o f urban legends so that the
V anishing H itchhik er, the Cat in the M icro w ave, and the W ife o n the F light are
reco gnized fo r the fabricatio ns that they are. H e argued that repeating them
ex pressed deep-seated hum an needs. H e published a half-do zen co llectio ns o f
these legends, w ith am using and info rm ed co m m entaries.
Readers o f this w eb-blo g w ill pro bably be interested in the them es o f tw o o f
D undes lesser-k no w n bo o k s. It w as E diths delight in D undes w o rk in general
that drew m e to seek o ut his w ritings and these related studies in particular.
They are o f co ncern to peo ple w ho have a curio sity abo ut the co nstructio n and
co nstitutio n o f w o rlds H o ly S criptures. The tw o bo o k s are available in trade
paperback editio ns published by a lesser-k no w n im print: Ro w m an & L ittlefield
Publishers, Inc. (The co m pany, w ith o ffices in M aryland and O x fo rd, has a
w ebsite.) The bo o k s have quite arresting titles.
The first bo o k is called H o ly W rit as O ral L it (1999) and the seco nd is called
F ables o f the Ancients? (2003). W hile I usually lik e to paraphrase the co ntents
o f the bo o k s that I review fo r this w ebsite, here I w ill m erely sum m arize the
autho rs argum ents and suggest their im po rtance. Then I w ill turn m y attentio n
to a new ly published item that is o f direct interest to the readers o f this w eb-
blo g.
The subtitle o f H o ly W rit as O ral L it is sim plicity itself The Bible as F o lk lo re.
D undes argues that the Bible by w hich he m eans the K ing Jam es V ersio n, but
his appro ach applies to any translatio n o r versio n o f the O ld and N ew
Testam ents co ntains an im m ense am o unt o f w hat he calls fo lk lo re, perhaps
20 percent by his estim ate. In under 130 pages he review s this lo re in
scripture and in very clearly, scho larly pro se he no tes the presence o f the
hallm ark s o f fo lk lo re m ultiplicity and variety that are characteristics o f the
Bible.
The biblical acco unts are retellings o f o ral tales and the retellings differ in
predictable w ays. Yet far fro m being pro o f that the Bible is riddled w ith
falseho o ds, its nature attests to the value o f the bo o k as a reco rd o f the beliefs
o f the ancient Israelites and the early Christians, and it alludes to the pro blem s
that the tex ts present to scribes and scho liasts and redacteurs w ho have tried
repeatedly to preserve them and then interpret them .
D undas lo o k s at ho w it is im po ssible to reco ncile internal tex tual repetitio ns
and variatio ns in term s o f num ber, nam e, and sequence. As w ell, there is
duplicatio n o f tex ts in the vario us bo o k s o f the Bible. S equences o f actio n are
inco nsistent. There is no agreed-upo n tex t o f the Ten Co m m andm ents, the
nam es o f the Tw elve Tribes o f Israel, the nam es o f the Tw elve D isciples, the
L o rds Prayer, the S erm o n o n the M o unt I co uld go o n.
W hat had lo ng puzzled m e w as the Creatio n m yth described in G enesis. W hich
cam e first, the heaven and the earth o r the earth and the heavens? The
answ er depends o n w hether o ne prio ritizes o r privileges (to use vo gue phrases)
G enesis 1:1 o r G enesis 2:4. And w hy is the w o rd heaven in the singular w hen
it nex t appears as heavens in the plural? D undes o ffers alm o st o ne hundred
instances o f such co nfusio ns. It is eno ugh to give pause to the reader o f the
Bible as living literature, and it sho uld cause co nniptio ns fo r the true believer
w ho ho lds to the theo ry o f the inerrancy o f the H o ly S cripture. Biblical
scho lars, w hether rabbis o r priests, have evo lved w ays aro und these pro blem s.
Yet to D undes, such co ncerns are pro o f that the Bible is a hum an do cum ent and
a tribute to the vo ice o f the peo ple (to use an ex pressio n that he him self
eschew s). H e co ncludes w ith the statem ent that the Bible m ay w ell be the
greatest bo o k in the w o rld, but it is truly fo lk lo re, and it is high tim e that it is
reco gnized as such.
F ables o f the Ancients? is in m any w ays a m o re am azing study. At 90 pages it
is a succinct study o f (in the w o rds o f its subtitle) F o lk lo re in the Q uran.
D undes recalls that w hen he anno unced to his co lleagues at the University o f
Califo rnia that he w as planning to co ntinue his study o f fo lk lo re in H o ly
S cripture by ex tending his analyses fro m the Bible to the Q uran, he w as
w arned that w hat he w as undertak ing m ight be dangero us to life, lim b, and
career. H e w as no t deterred. I so o n disco vered that there seem ed to be m any
fo rm ulas as w ell as several traditio nal sto ries, sto ries that w ere no t sim ply
retellings o f narratives fo und in the Bible. To m y k no w ledge, no fo lk lo rist has
ever discussed the presence o f bo th fo rm ulas and fo lk tales in the Q uran. S o
D undes is the first such co m m entato r.
S o far he seem s to be the last, as w ell. N o o ne has fo llo w ed in his fo o tsteps,
tho ugh he do es m ak e this easy by po inting o ut that, unlik e the Bible, w hich is
reco gnized to be the w o rd o f G o d as vo uchsafed to m an, the Q uran is
co nsidered to be the actual w o rds o f Allah o rally transm itted by the Archangel
G abriel to M uham m ed the Pro phet. S o the Q uran is 100 percent fo lk lo re. It is
adm ittedly an o ral co m po sitio n and o ne that is rich in tell-tale o ral fo rm ulas
and fo lk tales. D undes go es to great length to do cum ent these. G iven m o re
space (and tim e), I w o uld identify these and discuss them . D undes sidesteps the
issue o f the unusual o rigin o f the Q uran, co ntent to co m m ent o n its o ral
rather than its linear co nstructio n.
The title o f the bo o k , co m plete w ith its questio n-m ark , co m es fro m the
Q uran itself. In S urah 6:25, unbelievers are quo ted as dism issing the bo o k
w ith these w o rds: This is no thing but fables o f the ancients. S urah 8:31
repeats the fo rm ula: W henever O ur revelatio ns are recited to them , they say:
W e have heard them . If w e w ished, w e co uld say the lik e. They are but fables o f
the ancients. D undes states that, given the o ral nature o f the Q uran, it is
inevitably replete w ith tale-types lik e The S even S leepers, Judgem ent o f
S o lo m o n, and G o ds Justice V indicated. S o the questio n-m ark is
superero gato ry. H e co ncludes: In the Q uran there are indeed fables o f the
ancients placed there by divine decree, full o f w o rldly w isdo m to be favo ured
and savo ured fo r generatio ns to co m e.
The investigatio ns o f Alan D undes w o uld have m et w ith the appro val o f E dith
F o w k e and o f everyo ne else w ho has any ex perience w ith the co m po sitio n and
characteristics o f the lo re o f the peo ple. Indeed, it is pro bably a dem o nstrable
fact that elem ents o f fo lk lo re m ay be fo und in all literary w o rk s o f any great
length, fro m G reek epic po em s to tho se lengthy co m po sitio ns o f o ur o w n day.
The M o dern perio d w itnessed the co m po sitio n o f so m e very lengthy w o rk s o f a
sub-literary and supra-literary nature, including Jam es Jo yces F innegans
W ak e, Arno ld To ynbees A S tudy o f H isto ry, O sw ald S penglers The D ecline
o f the W est, and G .I. G urdjieffs Beelzebubs Tales. It w o uld be rew arding to
undertak e a study o f w o rk s lik e these fro m the perspective o f fo lk lo ristics.
M o v em ents : ( no date giv en)
M o v em ents : 1924
Try as I m ight, I canno t co ntrive the ideal segue fro m these tw o bo o k s, w ritten
by D undes, to the third item , a recently issued o ne, that has no k no w n autho r
but w hich I no w w ant to discuss. (Co m e to think o f it, E dith F o w k e w o uld have
enjo yed it as w ell!) F o r o ne thing, the new w o rk is bo th a bo o k let and a
co m pact disk . F o r ano ther, it m o re a so uvenir o f a place and perio d in tim e
than it is an analysis o f a po w erful tex t studded w ith o ral fo rm ulas, sto ry-
m o tifs, and sto ry-types. The bo o k to be discussed is titled M usic o f the
Prieur and it is credited to G urdjieff / de H artm ann w ith Ro sem ary N o tt at
the piano .
The publisher is D o lm en M eado w E ditio ns o f To ro nto , and the edito rs o f
D o lm en M eado w are to be co ngratulated fo r having o verseen the pro ductio n o f
an attractive, sepia-co lo ured pack age. It co nsists o f o ne slipcase, o ne CD
(released w ith the perm issio n o f Adam N o tt), and o ne 16-page bo o k let (no t in
sepia), the tex t o f w hich appears in E nglish, F rench, and S panish. The tex t
ex plains w hat the pack age is all abo ut.
Ro s em ary N o tt
A dam N o tt
It is a tribute to Ro sem ary N o tt and it is a tribute fro m M rs. N o tt, w ho has been
described as G urdjieffs first Am erican student. Bo rn in H o usto n, Tex as, she
studied the E urhythm ics o f E m ile Jaques-D alcro ze in H ellerau in 1922 w hen she
first m et G urdjieff. S he w as a pianist and dancer in her o w n right. At the
Prieur, under G urdjieffs directio n, she taught M o vem ents, and there she had
Tho m as de H artm ann to guide her piano technique. Thereafter she perfo rm ed
the co m po sitio ns she k new so w ell fo r gro ups in centres o n bo th sides o f the
Atlantic. S he died at the age o f eighty-tw o in 1979 in L o ndo n, E ngland. S he is
w ell-lo ved fo r her dedicatio n to the w o rk .
M rs. N o tt reco rded the m usic o f the Prieur o n reel-to -reel tapes o n a
m o naural studio reco rder in L o ndo n in 1974-75, and perfo rm ances w ere
selected, digitized, and prepared fo r publicatio n by the w ell-k no w n co nducto r
and pianist Charles K etcham , w ho him self has arranged and played the
co m plete G urdjieff-de H artm ann piano m usic. Illustratio ns to the pack age co m e
fro m the co llectio n o f G ert-Jan Blo m o f Am sterdam and M rs. N o tts so n Adam
N o tt.
There are tw enty co m po sitio ns o n the CD disk and so m e o f them have
intriguing nam es. I have in m ind O rtho do x H ym n fro m Asia M ino r, The
S acred G o o se, L o st L o ves, and The Pythia. W ith o nly a few years o f piano
practice and theo ry behind m e, I w o uld be hard-pressed to co m m ent k no w ingly
o n the perfo rm ances o f these co m po sitio ns, so m e o f w hich are lo dged in
m em o ry, o thers o f w hich are strangers to m y ears. Yet I w as struck by the
intentio nality o f the playing. The F all o f the Priestess and The G reat Prayer
are instances o f this. S o m e track s co nvey the im pressio n o f the lo neliness o f
the pianist; o ther track s transm it the sense o f the co m pany o f o ther m usicians.
All the co m po sitio ns so und alive yet ancient, o r ancient yet alive.
The w o rds m usic o f the Prieur w ere w ell cho sen fo r they co nstitute a neat
co nceit (in the literary sense o f the w o rd). The nex t best thing to haunting the
halls o f L e Prieur des Basses L o ges at F o ntainebleau-Avo n is being o vertak en
by the airs, them es, and strains o f M rs. N o tts piano .
John Robe rt Colom bo is know n across Canada as the M aste r G athe re r for his
com pilations of the lore and lite rature of the country. H is curre nt books include
F ascinating C anada (a book of que stions and answ e rs) and Je e pe rs C re e pe rs (a
colle ction of told-as-true ghost storie s). H e has also publishe d thre e volum e s de vote d
to the life , w ork, and w ritings of D e nis Saurat (w ho also m e t G urdjie ff and is discusse d
in G urdjie ff in the Public Eye ). Colom bos w e bsite is < http://w w w .colom bo.ca > .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in Alan Dundes' Holy Writ as Oral Lit" & "Fables of the Ancients?" + "Music
April 15, 2012 at 9:26 am of the Prieur" played by Rosem ary Nott, JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with Alan Dundes, Anthropology and Folklore, Charles Ketcham , Dolm en
Meadow Editions of Toronto, Edith Fowke, Em ile Jaques-Dalcroze, Eurhythm ics,
Fables of the Ancients?, Gurdjieff / de Hartm ann, Hellerau, Holy Writ as Oral Lit,
John Robert Colom bo, Lost Loves, Music of the Prieur, oral tales, Orthodox Hym n
from Asia Minor, Rosem ary Nott, The Pythia, The Sacred Goose, urban legends
H E L E N A D IE : A S O R T O F S E N S A T IO N S T O L E N F R O M
E M O T IO N A L C E N T R E
A nger fro m H iero nym us Bo s c h, The Sev en D eadly Sins and the Fo ur Las t Things
A S o rt o f S e n sa tio n S to le n fro m E m o tio n a l C e n tre
On Tue sday, 30 Octo be r 1979, H e le n A die to o k a que stio n fro m Ve ra, a yo ung w o m an
w ho had had an argum e nt at w o rk. S he didnt e x plain he rse lf te rribly cle arly, and M rs
A die had to put so m e tim e into so rting o ut w hat had happe ne d, ye t, m uch o f the
e x change is, I think, de e p and o f w ide r applicatio n fo r stude nts o f G urdjie ffs m e tho ds
and ide as.
To day, Ve ra said, I w as anno ye d w ith a particular pe rso n be cause the y didnt do w hat
I had aske d the m to do and, I, fe lt the situatio n w as ve ry valuable to try and fo rgive
that pe rso n and just fo rge t, and I m anage d to sto p the ne gative tho ughts, but, w he n I
lo o ke d at the pe rso n, I just I just co uldnt fe e l anything, and I fe lt, still, slightly
intim idate d inside .
N o things pe rm ane nt, re plie d M rs A die . E ve rything is m o ving all the tim e . That yo u
do nt fe e l it o nce do e snt m e an that it isnt pre se nt.
I just, no m atte r ho w m uch I trie d
Yo u trie d, but yo u co uldnt fe e l anything?
N o , Ve ra firm ly re plie d. I co uldnt fe e l fo r him .
N o . Yo u cant try to fe e l so m e thing fo r pe o ple , yo u cant try to care fo r pe o ple . Yo u
w o uldnt re co gnize it. M aybe yo u do in fact have so m e fe e ling in re spe ct o f o the r
pe o ple , but yo u do nt re co gnize it be cause yo u have an ide a abo ut fe e ling fo r pe o ple .
A nd its ge ne rally a rathe r se ntim e ntal ide a. I have a so rt o f picture o f w hat fe e ling fo r
so m e bo dy is. But that isnt re al fe e ling.
Yo u cant try to fe e l so m e thing. But yo u can fe e l your ow n pre se nce , and yo u can, fro m
that, yo u re gard that pe rso n. I do nt m e an stare at the m , but yo u take the m into yo ur
e x pe rie nce : yo ure aw are o f the ir e x iste nce . A nd yo u o fte n do nt kno w w he the r yo u
fe e l so m e thing fo r the m o r no t. Yo u m ay w itho ut re co gnising it.
M rs A die pause d a little be fo re co ntinuing: G e ne rally spe aking, w he n w e think w e care
abo ut so m e o ne , it m e ans w e cling to the m in a ce rtain w ay are de pe nde nt o n the m ,
o r fe e l the yre de pe nde nt o n us. Its ve ry o fte n no t the re al thing. W e re lo o king o n the
w ro ng side o f o urse lve s fo r it.
Re al fe e ling is so m e thing w e have ye t to le arn to re co gnize . Its a que stio n o f be ing
fre e , and m aking a space fo r it. The place is the re , but the re s so m e thing w hich w e still
have to unde rstand ve ry m uch abo ut fe e ling. W e cant fo rce it. It cannot be fo rce d. Yo u
e ithe r fe e l it o r yo u do nt.
But yo u can m ake it possible to fe e l, and a ve ry im po rtant ste p in this is to be co m e ,
little by little , fre e o f all so rts o f dre am s abo ut fe e ling.
I just w ante d to fo rgive , Ve ra said.
Ye s, yo u w ante d to acce pt.
Ye s, thats w hat it w as. A cce pt. I just crie d. I co uldnt do it.
Yo u still had that fe e ling o f re se ntm e nt.
I did M rs A die . The tho ughts w e re nt the re so m uch. It w as just a te nsio n.
The physical aspe ct o f can re m ain. It do e snt go just im m e diate ly, thats true . But a ve ry
im po rtant ste p to sto pping the te nsio n is sto pping the daydre am ing abo ut it. This
daydre am ing, the se re vo lving tho ughts o nly add fue l to the re se ntm e nt. It m ake s it,
give s it a fo rm .
Ye s, yo u cant e x pe ct physical se nsatio ns to go in five m inute s. The y m ay o r m ay no t: it
de pe nds o n the stre ngth o f the stim ulus. But if so m e re se ntm e nt o r grudge is
e stablishe d in yo ur bo dy, yo u can take a gre at de al o f the fo rce aw ay fro m it by no t
m aking it go thro ugh yo ur m ind, no t dw e lling o n it. A nd in tim e it w ill go , but in itse lf it
do e snt m atte r. The re s an e ne rgy the re w hich yo u can be gin to le arn to take to
yo urse lf. Yo u can e ve n be gin, e ve ntually, to le arn transfo rm it. W hat w e re discussing is
the be ginning o f this transfo rm atio n. But no w , yo u w e re aw are that yo u had that fe e ling
o f re se ntm e nt: so w hat did yo u try to do ?
I just trie d to be aw are o f m yse lf, w ith that pe rso n, and I do nt kno w ho w I trie d to
fe e l I just trie d to se e that pe rso n, re ally, and w hy it staye d stuck the re , I do nt
kno w .
Ye s, thats quite right, but its be cause yo ure e x pe cting a re sult. That inhibits it, yo u
kno w . Ye t, the e ffo rt is in quite the right dire ctio n. Yo u face that pe rso n, yo u lo o k at
that pe rso n, and yo u try to no t fe e l fo r that pe rso n, but to fe e l yo ur pre se nce the re , in a
so rt o f fre e , de tache d w ay.
A nd the n yo u have to be re ady to try diffe re nt things. Thats w he re yo u have to use
yo ur he ad a little bit. Be care ful. F ro m w hat yo uve be e n saying re ce ntly yo u sho uld
kno w that the so ur grape s fe e ling m ay co m e in. But that, and m o st o f w hat w e kno w ,
are no t re al fe e lings: the y are a so rt o f se nsatio n sto le n fro m e m o tio nal ce ntre , if yo u
like to put it that w ay. But fe e ling can co m e . Its po ssible fo r pe o ple to fe e l the m se lve s
in re latio n to o the rs. It co m e s in diffe re nt pe rio ds o f the ir w o rk, but it happe ns. Its
po ssible .
To m e , this is quite e nlighte ning. The distinctio n be tw e e n fe e lings (re al and
pe rm ane nt) and e m o tio ns (partial and e phe m e ral) is no t ne w . G urdjie ff m ade it, and
se ve ral o f his pupils re m e m be re d so m e thing o f w hat he had said abo ut this. I de alt w ith
it in the bo o k G e orge Adie : A G urdjie ff Pupil . But I w as struck by the e le gant sim plicity
o f M rs A die s tho ught. A nd he r state m e nt that the se e m o tio ns are a so rt o f se nsatio n
sto le n fro m e m o tio nal ce ntre addre sse s the e m o tio n/kno w le dge parado x . That is the
parado x that de spite o ur kno w le dge w e are take n by the se e m o tio ns tim e and tim e
again. W e be lie ve in the m w hile re alising that the y disto rt e ve rything in us and alm o st
o ur e ntire pro ce ss o f pe rce ptio n. S o m e thing in us is ide ntifie d w ith the se disto rting
age nts. M rs A die he re e x plains w hy: it isnt that the y have no re latio n at all to fe e ling,
but the y are sto le n fro m it and so are cut o ff fro m the highe r e ne rgy o f that ce ntre .
A lso , it isnt that the y have n o re ality, the y are se nsatio ns, the yre in the bo dy, so the y
have that de gre e o f re ality. But that is no t the re ality fo r w hich the y are m ade . F e e lings
se rve kno w le dge and unde rstanding, but o nly w he n site d in the right place o f the
alche m ical labo rato ry w hich w e are . This m ate rial is alm o st e ndle ssly de e p. D o nt be
distracte d by m y lubricatio ns. G o to the m istre ss, and m ake w hat she has said yo ur o w n.
Jo se ph.A zize @ gm ail.co m
J o s e p h A z i z e is pres ently an H onorary A s s oc iate w ith the D ept. of Religious Studies at the U nivers ity of
Sydney. In A pril, he w ill be delivering a paper there on J.G. Bennett as a s tudent of m ys tic is m . H e has publis hed
ac adem ic ally in anc ient N ear Eas tern his tory, in law , and in religious s tudies . H is lates t effort, an artic le on
Gurdjieffs s ac red m ovem ents and danc es , w ill be publis hed later this year in a Brill volum e edited by C arole
C us ac k and others .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in HELEN ADIE: A SORT OF SENSATION STOLEN FROM EMOTIONAL CENTRE,
January 30, 2012 at 4:56 pm JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE
Tagged with em otion, Em otional Centre, feeling, Gurdjieff, Helen Adie, higher
energy, presence, resentm ent, sensation
M u s ic o f G e o rg e s I. G u rd jie ff: Jo s e p h A z iz e R e v ie w
Lev o n Es k enian
G u r d j i e f f s A r m e n i a n F a c e
In tro d u ctio n
M usic of G e orge s I. G urdjie ff , a ne w re co rding o f a se le ctio n fro m G urdjie ffs
m usic, is playe d by the G urdjie ff F o lk Instrum e nts E nse m ble , dire cte d by L e vo n
E ske nian. Issue d in 2011 by E C M , # 2236, it take s an ho no urable place in the
co nte m po rary tre nd fo r A rm e nians and Russians to sho w se rio us inte re st in
G urdjie ffs le gacy. G urdjie ffs w ritings and m usic are ve ry o fte n unde rsto o d and
inte rpre te d as if the y w e re W e ste rn Euro pe an. This is hardly surprising. The last
27 o r so ye ars o f his life w e re spe nt the re and in the U S A (w ith pe rhaps a sho rt
trip to the E ast), and at the tim e o f his de ath he w as, fo r m o st part, surro unde d by
pe rso ns o f W e st Euro pe an backgro und. But just as the Bible be ars m any
re so nance s and m e anings o nly appare nt to so m e o ne fam iliar w ith the ancie nt
M iddle E ast, so to o , G urdjie ffs m usic o r at le ast the se m o re fo lklo ric e x am ple s
o f it co m e alive w he n tre ate d as the y are o n authe ntic Easte rn instrum e nts by
authe ntic E aste rn m usicians.
To m y e ar, this is the pre -e m ine nt se le ctio n and re co rding o f G urdjie ffs Songs
and Rhythm s from Asia a n d Sayyid D ance s . I w o nde r ho w E ske nians appro ach
w o uld w o rk w he n applie d to the Sacre d H ym ns , and e spe cially the H ym ns from a
Truly G re at Te m ple . Im o ptim istic, and I do ho pe this C D w ill be succe e de d by
o the rs fro m the G urdjie ff F o lk Instrum e nts E nse m ble . Be fo re co m ing to de e pe r
issue s, I de al w ith it track by track be lo w , and the re ade r w ill se e that w hile I am
no t m uch affe cte d by so m e pie ce s, ye t, the album as a w ho le has to be
co nside re d as so m e thing o f a trium ph. I w o uld unhe sitatingly pro no unce it as
supe rio r, fo r purpo se s o f atte ntive liste ning, to any o f the piano re co rdings I have
he ard, de H artm anns and Ro se nthal and co m pany no t e x clude d.
Th is Re co rdin g : Track by Track
The o pe ning track, C hant fro m a H o ly Bo o k, m ay be the m o st po w e rful pie ce o n
the e ntire album . The duduk is the chie f instrum e nt he re . A s E ske nian no te s, its
w arm so und clo se ly re se m ble s the hum an vo ice . The playing is influe nce d by
E ske nians vie w that the pie ce , as G urdjie ff w ro te it, is in the style o f the tagh, a
sacre d A rm e nian style o f pre -C hristian o rigin. A s o ccurs so o fte n o n this C D , the
use o f diffe re nt instrum e nts adds a sustaine d dim e nsio nality to the w o rk w hich
no o the r re co rdings have e ve r, in m y o pinio n, capture d. The sco ring is such that
o ne can cle arly and distinctly he ar and ho ld in o ne s atte ntio n the se ve ral
instrum e nts and the ir dive rse co ntributio ns.
The Kurd S he phe rd M e lo dy, is playe d o n the blul, also kno w n as the bilur o r
nayy, and acco m panie d o n the saz, w ind and string instrum e nts, re spe ctive ly.
The se instrum e nts are actually use d by Kurdish she phe rds, and the ir use
re nde re d the pie ce to tally ne w fo r m e . H o w e ve r, it strike s m e as be ing chie fly o f
fo lklo ric, no t spiritual, inte re st. Ye t, it is o f inte re st.
By co ntrast, the Praye r, playe d o n kano n, an instrum e nt m uch lo ve d in the
M iddle E ast, has bo th e le m e nts. I have he ard a lo t o f kano n in m y tim e , and
altho ugh I co uld be quite w ro ng, it se e m s to m e that the playing and the
re co rding pro vide a virtuo so crispne ss and clarity. Ye t, de spite its te chnical
brilliance and intrinsic charm , the re co rding lacks a ce rtain im pact. I w o uld have
to m ake m uch the sam e co m m e nts abo ut the first tw o m inute s o f track 4, S ayyid
C hant and D ance no . 10. H o w e ve r, w he n the chant give s w ay to the rhythm ic
dance (to use E ske nians te rm s), sparks e rupt. The kano n se e m s capable o f
de live ring a vivid se nse o f the fo lk traditio n, but the m o re so le m n pie ce s
so m e ho w e lude it.
S ayyid C hant and D ance no . 29 re lie s upo n the nayy be fo re the kano n and o the r
instrum e nts e nte r fo r the dance , and the e ffe ct is quite diffe re nt. The e ntire
pie ce has a no bility and grace , and the kano n do e s inde e d de live r so m e po ignant
passage s.
I w as struck by E ske nians co m m e nts that the A rm e nian S o ng w as in the m anne r
o f a lo ve so ng, be cause if it is, it bridge s se cular and divine lo ve , such is the
im pact it m ade o n m e . A gain, it fe ature s the plaintive so und o f the duduk.
W he n I re ad the no te s abo ut the diffe re nt style s o f Bayaty, and ho w the ir first
passage s w e re im pro vise d, it struck m e that pe rhaps w he n G urdjie ff
de m o nstrate d pie ce s like this to de H artm ann, he to o , w as im pro vising. This
co uld acco unt fo r the so m e o f the difficulty o f transcriptio n w hich de H artm ann
e nco unte re d. This w as the first playing I have e ve r he ard o f this o r sim ilar pie ce s
w he re I had the se nse that the playe rs w e re im pro vising as the y playe d
G urdjie ffs m usic. H e re , it is the o ud w hich co m ple m e nts the virtuo so kano n
playing.
It is difficult to re co rd the o ud w e ll, but the e ngine e rs, A rm e n Ye ganyan and
Khatchig Khatchado urian, have pulle d the rabbit fro m the hat, and e ntice d the se
de licate so unds to dw e ll in the digital. The rhythm ic dance w hich fo llo w s that
passage po sse sse s a sw e e ping e le gance .
W hy, I do nt kno w , but S ayyid C hant and D ance no . 9 fe ll a little flat fo r m e . It
isnt that the playing is m e dio cre . It is pe rhaps that it fo llo w s se ve ral sim ilar
pie ce s w ith im pro visatio n-like passage s fo llo w e d by dance s.
N o . 11 fro m the Asian Songs is a w e lco m e change . Eske nian rightly re fe rs to its
m yste rio us m e lo dy. The e nigm atic e nding, alm o st a fade o ut, is m aste rfully
m anage d.
I had ne ve r like d the C aucasian D ance w hich is track 10 o n this C D . But w he n it
is re nde re d as a ve rsio n o f a S halakho dance w hich le ads into the grace ful,
e m o tive so lo dance , calle d siuzm a, the e ffe ct is utte rly fre sh. H aving he ard this, I
no w re alise that the piano re nditio n had a flatne ss, alm o st a black and w hite
quality. But this re nditio n use s a bright pale tte o f to ne s and co lo urs to m ake a
fascinating pie ce . To m e , this is no t re ally a spiritual pie ce , but, still, it has brio
and ze st.
The ne x t thre e pie ce s are , to use an alre ady o ve ruse d w o rd, aw e so m e . N o . 40,
again, fro m the Asian Songs , is a dre am . This is o ne o f tho se w hich I had ne ve r
he ard be fo re the S cho tt e ditio n. I w as intrigue d by the piano m usic, but this
re co rding, w ith an A rm e nian e nse m ble is rathe r sublim e . A lso po w e rful, is the
strange Trinity pie ce , playe d as an A rm e nian trio m ight, o n tar, sandtur and
dap (a drum also kno w n as the daf). The m o re I have liste ne d to this C D , the
m o re this pie ce ke e ps at m e : the re is so m e thing in its insiste nt rhythm and
grace ful m e lo dy w hich re m inds m e o f the m usic G urdjie ff pro duce d fo r the
E nne agram m o ve m e nt o f the e arly 1920s, as if saying that the spiritual re ality to
w hich it po ints is e ve r-pre se nt, e ve r-flo w ing.
The n fo llo w s the A ssyrian W o m e n M o urne rs. The use o f duduks and a dap is
inspire d. The y co m bine so le m nity, grie f and dignity. The final no te is sublim e .
A s w ith the C aucasian D ance , I had no t like d A tarnakh, Kurd S o ng, the A rabian
D ance o r A ncie nt G re e k M e lo dy be fo re he aring this re co rding, but I have be e n
co nve rte d. The piano sim ply do e s no t do justice to the m usic, but he re the y co m e
alive . A tarnakh has a sim ple , grace ful, alm o st hypno tic sw ay. I can no w
unde rstand ho w it co uld have be e n w ritte n to be playe d be fo re a re ading fro m
Be e lze bub . It is transpo rting. The A rabian and the A ncie nt G re e k D ance are nt
so stro ng, m e aning that the m usic do e snt have the sam e po w e r fo r m e , ye t,
the yve be e n re disco ve re d and re vive d, so to spe ak. Of the se thre e , A tarnakh is
by far the stro nge r fo r m e .
F inally, the D uduki is o ne o f the highlights, w ith the Re ading, Trinity, N o .
40, M o urne rs and A tarnakh. This do uble re e d instrum e nt all but spe aks.
W ho e ve r the m aste r m usician is, his assure d playing pro vide s a fitting e nd to the
album , allo w ing it to clo se , as it o pe ne d, w ith a po w e rful spiritual state m e nt.
P re se n ta tio n
The C D is ve ry nice ly pre se nte d. It co m e s in a cardbo ard co ve r. Bo th the co ve r
and the C D itse lf fe ature a go o d re pro ductio n o f that picture fro m G urdjie ffs lsat
ye ars w he re he s sitting o n a be nch by w hat is pro bably a Paris building, and a
large tre e shado w falls acro ss the pave m e nt and gro und flo o r w indo w . The back
co ve r o f the bo o kle t, no t the cardbo ard, quite appro priate ly sho w s G urdjie ffs
ho use in G yum ri, w hile inside the bo o kle t, is an e vo cative picture o f the ro o f and
spire s o f the S anahin m o naste ry in A rm e nia. Its a fascinating co m ple x : o ne co uld
fill o ne s spare tim e w ith w o rse things than che cking it o ut at this A rm e nian w iki
site :
http://w w w .arm e niape dia.o rg/inde x .php?title = S anahin_M o naste ry
C lo sin g C o m m e n ts
The num be r o f C D re le ase s o f re co rdings o f G urdjie ffs m usic has incre ase d quite
substantially, undo ubte dly o ccasio ne d by the re le ase o f fo ur vo lum e s o f m uch,
but no t all, o f G urdjie ffs piano m usic. S o m e o f the se re co rdings have use d
dive rse instrum e nts, and so m e have adde d w o rds and singing o f the inte rpre ting
artists o w n de vice . H o w e ve r, in m y vie w , no ne o f the m , no t e x ce pting the
so undtrack o f the M e e tin g s m o vie , have use d E aste rn instrum e nts w ith the
autho rity and succe ss that Eske nians te am do e s.
If I had to sum it up in o ne phrase , I w o uld say that this album take s the G urdjie ff
m usic o ut o f the po lite salo ns o f E uro pe and N o rth A m e rica, and re disco ve rs the m
in the distant, ro cky and m ystical E ast. I canno t he lp but fe e l that this is
so m e thing E ske nian and his cre w can be pro ud o f. A nd I fe e l, if o ne can ve nture
such a co m m e nt, that G urdjie ff to o , w o uld be pro ud, fo r he trie d to link E ast and
W e st by ne w line s o f unde rstanding. Eske nian is cle arly sym pathe tic to G urdjie ff
and his w o rk. A s the re co rding m ake s cle ar, he do e s no t inte rpre t G urdjie ff in a
narro w A rm e nian m anne r, but is quite aw are and re spe ctful o f G urdjie ffs
bro ade r influe nce s.
The re is no po int in re pe ating the m any so und po ints w hich E ske nian m ake s in
his line r no te s. But o ne o f the m is critical, and pre se nts an o bje ctive re aso n fo r
inte rpre ting G urdjie ffs m usic using an E aste rn e nse m ble :
the se indige no us Easte rn instrum e nts are capable o f pro ducing m icro to nal
inte rvals, rhythm s and o the r nuance s that are e sse ntial parts o f E aste rn
m usic.
I w ill no t go into it he re , but fo r m e , the se e le m e nts are all crucial in
unde rstanding G urdjie ffs w o rk. H e w as alm o st an e ngine e r o f the law s o f the
spiritual w o rld. The se law s are such that to us the y are no t law s as the law s o f
physics and che m istry are , but partake m o re o f the nature o f art, o r e ve n m agic.
H o w e ve r, this is an o ppo rtunity to pro vide so m e im po rtant m ate rial abo ut
G urdjie ff w hich is no t re adily available . Be lo w I co py m y transcriptio n o f so m e
co m m e nts m ade by Tho m as de H artm ann in an undate d re co rding.
T h o m a s d e H a r t m a n n : A t ce rtain po ints in space , w he re the e m anatio ns o f the

e arth e nco unte r the e m anatio ns o f the S un A bso lute , that m e ans, the e m anatio ns
o f the A lm ighty, at the se po ints is a re fle ctio n, an im age a so m e thing w hich can
be se e n, assum e d, fe lt, fro m the A lm ighty. A nd, fo r e arth pe o ple , w ith
co nce ntratio n, it is po ssible to visualise , to se e in a ce rtain m anne r, inne r, the
e m anatio ns o f the A lm ighty.
Of co urse , fo r this, a ve ry gre at de e p co nce ntratio n is w ante d. H e re w e
unde rstand w hy G urjivanch put alw ays a gre at w e ight o n m usic. H e him se lf playe d
and he also co m po se d, and he w ro te do w n things, and so o n.
If w e co m pare the m usic o f all the re ligio ns, w e can se e that m usic plays a gre at
ro le , a gre at part in so to say re ligio us se rvice . but afte r the w o rk o f
G urdjivanch w e can unde rstand it m o re , that m usic he lps to co nce ntrate o ne se lf,
to bring o ne se lf to an inne r state w he n w e can ?assum e w ith gre ate st po ssible
e m anatio ns. That is w hy m usic is just the thing w hich he lps yo u to se e highe r.
L e vo n E ske n ia n - A rtistic D ire cto r
Bio g raph y
L e vo n E ske nian is an A rm e nian co m po se r and pianist w ho w as bo rn in L e bano n in
1978. In 1996 he m o ve d to A rm e nia w he re he curre ntly live s. In 2005 he
graduate d fro m Ye re van Ko m itas S tate C o nse rvato ry w ith a M aste rs de gre e in
piano (class o f pro fe sso r Ro be rt S hugaro v). In 2007 he o btaine d his po stgraduate
de gre e fro m the class o f Pro fe sso r W illy S argsyan. H e has also studie d
co m po sitio n, o rgan and im pro visatio n classe s at the C o nse rvato ry and
harpsicho rd in A ustria and Italy w ith the E nglish o rganist and harpsicho rdist
C hristo phe r S te m bridge .
Jo s eph A zize, 10 January 2012
J o s e p h A z i z e is pres ently an H onorary A s s oc iate w ith the D ept. of Religious Studies at
the U nivers ity of Sydney. In A pril, he w ill be delivering a paper there on J.G. Bennett as a
s tudent of m ys tic is m . H e has publis hed ac adem ic ally in anc ient N ear Eas tern his tory, in
law , and in religious s tudies . H is lates t effort, an artic le on Gurdjieffs s ac red m ovem ents
and danc es , w ill be publis hed later this year in a Brill volum e edited by C arole C us ac k and
others .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE, Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff: Joseph Azize Review
January 10, 2012 at 3:11 am Tagged with Joseph Azize, Levon Eskenian, Music of Georges I. Gurdjieff, Thom as
de Hartm ann
G U R D JIE F F IN T H E P U B L IC E Y E
The re is not a page of this book that w ill not surprise and instruct e ve ry one of its
re ade rs, including e ve n the m ost know le dge able of re ade rs.
Jo h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o R e v i e w s P a u l B e e k m a n T a y l o r s L a t e s t B o o k
The first intro ductio n that I had to w hat is no w calle d the W o rk w as no t the re sult o f
re ading a co py o f In S e arch o f the M iraculo us. That w as m y se co nd intro ductio n to it.
The first intro ductio n w as finding a se co nd-hand co py o f G o d Is M y A dve nture in a
bo o ksto re w hich no lo nge r e x ists in To ro nto and buying it and avidly re ading it fro m
co ve r to co ve r. The bo o k, publishe d in 1935 and fre que ntly re printe d, w as w ritte n in a
live ly and irre ve re nt m anne r by Ro m L andau, a British o r Po lish-bo rn jo urnalist
(W ikipe dia says British, Taylo r says Po lish) w ith a spe cial inte re st in such o ffbe at and
e x o tic subje cts as the do ze n o r so spiritual le ade rs w ho are the subje ct o f G o d Is M y
A dve nture .
L andau w as a first-rate re po rte r and live ly raco nte ur, and in this re gard he re se m ble d
his co nte m po rary, the A m e rican jo urnalist and adve nture r W illiam S e abro o k w ho also
w ro te abo ut w hat be cam e kno w n as the W o rk. A m o ng the spiritual le ade rs de scribe d by
L andau in vivid de tail are C o unt Ke yse rling, S te fan G e o rge , Rudo lf S te ine r, Krishnam uri,
M e he r Baba, and F rank Buchm an, no t to m e ntio n P.D . Ouspe nsky and G .I. G urdjie ff. It is
a m o tle y cre w to be sure . L andaus de scriptio ns o f the latte r tw o le ade rs in actio n
co nstitute the first such acco unts to appe ar be tw e e n the co ve rs o f any bo o k, as distinct
fro m the co lum ns o f daily ne w spape rs and o the r pe rio dical publicatio ns.
I w ill no t take the tim e to discuss L andaus unde rstanding o f traditio nalist te ache rs o r
try to characte rize his acco unt o f the le cture de live re d by Ouspe nsky w hich he atte nde d
in L o ndo n o r his acco unt o f a lunch and a m e e ting w ith G urdjie ff in N e w Yo rk C ity. But I
w as re m inde d o f L andau and the im pre ssio n that he had m ade o n m e abo ut fifty ye ars
ago w hile I w as turning the page s o f Paul Be e km an Taylo rs late st bo o k. It is calle d
G urdjie ff in the Public E ye and it include s re fe re nce s to bo th L andau and S e abro o k.
Inde e d, it w o uld be inco m ple te if it had faile d to do so .
F irst le t m e o ffe r a de scriptio n o f this ne w bo o k and the n a brie f acco unt o f its autho r
be fo re I turn to the te x t itse lf. G urdjie ff in the Public E ye is subtitle d N e w spape r
A rticle s, M agazine s and Bo o ks 1914-1949. It take s the fo rm o f a sturdy trade
pape rback w hich m e asure s 6.25 inche s by 9 inche s and has 246 num be re d page s. The
page s are no t stitche d but glue d. The te x tual apparatus include s a fo re w o rd, an
intro ductio n, a se le ct biblio graphy, and a no m inal inde x , alo ng w ith 16 page s o f dim ly
re pro duce d im age s o f M r. G ., dance rs, M o ve m e nts de m o nstratio ns, pro gram no te s,
ne w spape r clippings, the Prio ry, e tc. The so ul o f the bo o k is the se ve n chapte rs de vo te d
to e x ce rpts and co m m e ntarie s but m o re abo ut such m atte rs late r.
The publishe r is E ure ka E ditio ns in U tre cht in The N e the rlands, and the ye ar o f
publicatio n is give n as 2010 (tho ugh it se e m s the bo o k has just appe are d in the pre se nt
ye ar o f 2011). E ure ka is the publishe r o f o ve r fifty W o rk-re late d bo o ks, including
num e ro us ne w o r re printe d vo lum e s by Bo b H unte r, M aurice N ico ll, Be ryl Po gso n, J.H .
Re yne r, Paul Be e km an Taylo r, and o the r gro up le ade rs, participants, and o bse rve rs. The
w e bsite o f E ure ka E ditio ns is w e ll w o rth e x am ining fo r m any re aso ns.
The sto ry o f E ure kas fo unding and fo unde rs is give n, alo ng w ith its m issio n and
de fining characte ristic: Eure ka E ditio ns is no t co nne cte d to any F o undatio n, Institute ,
F e llo w ship, C hurch o r o the r fo rm o f o rganizatio n, ho w e ve r use ful the y m ay be . The
publishe rs the n quo te M aurice N ico ll: The W o rk is no t a building, a place , a bo o k, a
syste m , do gm a o r traditio n. The W o rk is so m e thing that live s in the he arts o f m e n and
w o m e n if the y can find it.
The autho r o f the pre se nt w o rk is Paul Be e km an Taylo r w ho as a yo ungste r kne w
G urdjie ff. Bo rn in L o ndo n in 1930, he and his m o the r spe nt so m e tim e at the Prio ry at
F o ntaine ble au-A vo n. The re afte r he be cam e a scho lar o f Old N o rse and Old E nglish and
taught fo r m any ye ars at the U nive rsity o f G e ne va. H e is no w a Pro fe sso r E m e ritus o f
that institutio n. Bo o ks that he has re se arche d and w ritte n include the ve ry use ful and
de taile d vo lum e title d G urdjie ffs A m e rica (2004), re issue d as G urdjie ffs Inve ntio n o f
A m e rica (2007), and G .I. G urdjie ff: A N e w L ife (2008). The latte r bio graphy rise s to
the he ights o f Jam e s M o o re s classic w o rk, G urdjie ff: The A nato m y o f a M yth (1991);
and, by inco rpo rating the re sults o f re ce nt re se arch, Taylo rs surpasse s M o o re s
bio graphy in num e ro us particulars.
It is m y gue ss that Taylo r se e s him se lf as the histo rian o f the W o rk, and I assum e that
no o ne w ill de ny that he is ide ally e quippe d as a scho lar to trace its traje cto ry and that
no o ne w ill do ubt his fe e l fo r the W o rk. W he n I le arne d o f the im m ine nt publicatio n o f
G urdjie ff in the Public Eye , w hat flashe d be fo re m y e ye w as the co m po sitio n o f the
co lle ctio n and the co nstructio n o f the co m m e ntary, as w e ll as the co nvictio n that Taylo r
w as the m an fo r the jo b. I w as m o re o r le ss fam iliar w ith the ancillary lite rature
be cause w hat also flashe d be fo re m y e ye w as the fo llo w ing nam e : J. W alte r D risco ll.
I have ye t to m e e t J. W alte r D risco ll. de spite the fact that he w as bo rn in To ro nto , w he re
I live , and that he no w re side s o n Vanco uve r Island, o ff the W e st C o ast o f C anada. I
ho pe o ne day w e w ill m e e t. U se rs o f the Inte rne t w ill be grate ful to him fo r the re is
m uch fo r e ve ryo ne to pe ruse o n the w e bsite G urdjie ff: A Re ading G uide e dite d by J.
W alte r D risco ll (third e ditio n, 2004). H e re is ho w the w e bsite de scribe s itse lf:
This e ditio n o f the G urdjie ff Re ading G uide co ntains a re tro spe ctive antho lo gy o f
fifty-tw o article s, so m e o riginally publishe d he re , and o the rs dating as far back as
1919. The se pro vide an inde pe nde nt surve y o f the lite rature by o r abo ut G e o rge
Ivano vitch G urdjie ff (1866?-1949) and o ffe r a w ide range o f info rm e d o pinio n
(adm iring, critical and co ntradicto ry) abo ut him , his activitie s, w ritings, philo so phy, and
influe nce .
In e ffe ct, D risco lls G urdjie ff: A Re ading G uide is the backbo ne o f Taylo rs G urdjie ff in
the Public E ye . Ye t fo r its bo dy and so ul w e have to turn to D risco lls m agnum o pus.
This is the to m e title d G urdjie ff: A n A nno tate d Biblio graphy w hich w as unde rtake n
w ith the G urdjie ff F o undatio n o f C alifo rnia and publishe d in a hardco ve r e ditio n by
G arland Pre ss in 1985. This standard w o rk co nsists o f so m e 1,700 e ntrie s full o f
de licio us bits o f info rm atio n and io tas o f insight.
M any re se arche rs (like the pre se nt w rite r) have use d D risco lls biblio graphy as a
che cklist fo r ite m s to find, pho to co py, re ad, and dige st. I ho pe D risco ll co ntinue s to
co lle ct and anno tate the e ve r-e x panding bo dy o f kno w le dge abo ut the W o rk. Ye t the
arrival o f the Inte rne t has pro bably stam pe d paid to future e ditio ns o f D risco lls
A nno tate d Biblio graphy at le ast in print fo rm .
I am de vo ting all this atte ntio n to J. W alte r D risco ll be cause the librarian, te ache r, and
archivist has co ntribute d the fo re w o rd to the pre se nt vo lum e . The fo re w o rd is sho rt,
o nly tw o page s in le ngth, and it dw e lls e ntire ly o n the capacitie s and cre de ntials o f
Taylo r. It co uld but do e s no t m ake the case that the A nno tate d Biblio graphy is the
bo dy and so ul o f G urdjie ff in the Public Eye . D risco ll se e m s ve ry scho larly and
e nde aringly se lf-e ffacing.
In his intro ductio n, Taylo r de scribe s the pre se nt bo o k as an antho lo gy o f all printe d
m ate rials abo ut G urdjie ff during his life tim e . H e cre dits the w o rk o f de finitive
biblio graphe r D risco ll, o f m usician G e rt-Jan Blo m , and o f histo rian M ichae l Be nham , a
spe cialist in tw e ntie th-ce ntury Russian histo ry. H e discusse s w hat is include d be cause
the re w as no t e no ugh space to re pro duce e ve ry article fro m e ve ry ne w spape r o r
m agazine in w ho le o r in part o r e ve n at all. (That so unds like a jo b fo r the Inte rne t.) But
m ajo r article s quite o fte n appe ar in full, and all the article s are succinctly and
autho ritative ly anno tate d.
The ye ars fro m 1921 to 1935 co rre spo nde d to a pe rio d o f w ide -spre ad public inte re st
in G urdjie ff and his activitie s at the Prio ry, subsum e d unde r the he ading the fo re st
philo so phe rs. In all, I co unte d 126 article s fro m all pe rio ds, re pro duce d in w ho le o r
part, and the y co ve r the ye ars fro m 1914 to 1950. The y range fro m the five -paragraph,
ano nym o us no tice abo ut a hithe rto unkno w n H indu w ho had w ritte n a m o st curio us
balle t sce nario calle d The S truggle o f the M agicians, w hich appe are d in The Vo ice o f
M o sco w five m o nths fo llo w ing the o utbre ak o f the G re at W ar and w as re ad by
Ouspe nsky, to the appe arance o f o bituary no tice s in The Tim e s o f L o ndo n, The N e w
Yo rk Tim e s, and The N e w Yo rke r in the late fall o f 1949.
Taylo rs table o f co nte nts give s a go o d ide a o f the chro no lo gical arrange m e nt o f the
m ate rial. The re are se ve n chapte rs: 1. E arly N o tice s; 2. W hat the F re nch Pre ss Re po rte d
o n G urdjie ff and H is C o lo ny; 3. The English Pre ss; 4. A m e rican N e w s o f the Institute ; 5.
The A m e rican To ur o f 1924; 6. G urdjie ffs Pre ss 1924-1939; 7. L ast N o tice s. The tw o
chapte rs de vo te d to the A m e rican pre ss are the lo nge st, as the y be ne fit fro m Taylo rs
o w n re se arch and e dito rial co nce ntratio n o n this pe rio d.
I am go ing to re sist the te m ptatio n to discuss individual article s o n the principle that
o ne do e s no t have to drink the e ntire o ce an to kno w that it is salty o ne dro p w ill do ;
as w e ll I w ill o bse rve the injunctio n that it is difficult to e at just o ne salte d pe anut and
no t a se co nd and the n a third. H aving said that, le t m e sugge st that w o rth the price o f
adm issio n alo ne is the article re printe d fro m The N e w Re public (June 1929) w ritte n by
C arl Z igro sse r (w ho w as subse que ntly appo inte d curato r o f prints at the Philade lphia
M use um o f A rt). H e kno w s his prints and o ffe rs his re ade rs and us, co urte sy o f
Taylo r an e ngaging and live ly acco unt o f a sum m e r visit to the Prio ry as w e ll as a
no table pe n-po rtrait o f its fo unde r.
It is inte re sting to re ad w hat no n-G urdjie ffians have to say abo ut M r. G . Inde e d, I find
w hat G urdjie ffians have to say abo ut the m an and his m anne r so m e w hat pre dictable ,
and hackne ye d be cause re ade rs o f the lite rature o n the W o rk are alre ady quite fam iliar
w ith the fo rm ulatio ns o f Ouspe nsky, J.G . Be nne tt, m e m be rs o f The Ro pe , and o the r
co nte m po rary co m m e ntato rs. Inde pe nde nt jo urnalists can o fte n be irre ve re nt and
am using, instructive ly so , as the y fail to unde rstand M r. G . and his m anne r and m e tho d.
Ye t the re is o ne e dito rial de cisio n that w as m ade w ith G urdjie ff in the Public E ye that
surprise s m e .
W hat w e have he re is the m ate rial that sho uld co m prise an antho lo gy, ye t the te x t is
pre se nte d no t as an antho lo gy o r as a case bo o k o f fully fo rm e d pie ce s, but as an
histo rico -critical analysis that pro ce e ds m o re o r le ss de cade by de cade , in e ffe ct, a
histo ry. I w o nde r if the bo o k w o uld no t have be e n m o re co m pe lling and e ngaging had it
be e n arrange d in the fo rm o f an antho lo gy, w ith inde pe nde nt co ntributio ns, e ach o ne
intro duce d w ith a sho rt pre face fo llo w e d by a so urce no te and a critical co m m e ntary.
The vo lum e w as no t o rganize d in this fashio n, but I be lie ve it w o uld have fo und m o re
re ade rs had it be e n allo w e d to pro ce e d alo ng this traje cto ry.
A cco rding to the publishe rs w e bpage , o ne hundre d co pie s o f G urdjie ff in the Public
Eye have be e n printe d. (The state m e nt abo ut the pre ss-run do e s no t ne ce ssarily
pre clude re prints o f the first e ditio n.) A re the re so fe w o r so m any co lle cto rs and
co m ple tists w ho buy se rio us bo o ks abo ut the W o rk? One w o uld think the re are m o re
re ade rs than o ne hundre d w ho are inte re ste d in the inte rw ar pe rio d, in jo urnalism , in
the so cio lo gy o f be lie f, in the psycho lo gy o f gurus and le ade rship, in co m parative
re ligio n, in e arly tw e ntie th-ce ntury philo so phy, in N e w A ge fo rm ulatio ns, in
Traditio nalist tho ught, e tc. Pe rhaps so , pe rhaps no t!
I be gan this re vie w w ith a re m inisce nce abo ut Ro m L andaus G o d Is M y A dve nture .
Taylo r sum m arize s L andaus co ntributio n quite w e ll, ide ntifying tim e s and place s and
pe o ple , and he co nclude s it by quo ting L andaus e valuatio n: I have be e n unable to
pe rce ive in the m an G e o rge Ivano vitch G urdjie ff the harm o nio us de ve lo pm e nt o f m an.
That is the last se nte nce o f the se co nd-last paragraph. W hat Taylo r do e s no t quo te is
the first se nte nce o f that paragraph: I co uld dim ly disce rn that the e sse nce o f
G urdjie ffs te aching co ntains a truth that e ve ryo ne in co ntact w ith spiritual re ality is
bo und to pre ach.
W allace S te ve ns w ro te abo ut 13 w ays o f lo o king at a blackbird. The re are 32 sho rt film s
abo ut G le nn G o uld. H o kusai painte d 36 vie w s o f M o unt F uji. Paul Be e km an Taylo r has
no w o ffe re d us an antho lo gy o f 126 article s abo ut M r. G . The re is no t a page o f this
bo o k that w ill no t surprise and instruct e ve ry o ne o f its re ade rs, including e ve n the
m o st kno w le dge able o f re ade rs.
John Robe rt Colom bo is know n across Canada as the M aste r G athe re r for his
com pilations of the lore and lite rature of the country. H is curre nt books include
F ascinating C anada (a book of que stions and answ e rs) and Je e pe rs C re e pe rs (a
colle ction of told-as-true ghost storie s). H e has also publishe d thre e volum e s de vote d
to the life , w ork, and w ritings of D e nis Saurat (w ho also m e t G urdjie ff and is discusse d
in G urdjie ff in the Public Eye ). Colom bos w e bsite is < http://w w w .colom bo.ca > .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in GURDJIEFF IN THE PUBLIC EYE, JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Novem ber 7, 2011 at 7:11 am Tagged with "Gurdjieff: An Annotated Bibliography", and Frank Buchm an,
Gurdjieff Reading Guide, Beryl Pogson, Bob Hunter, Carl Zigrosser, Count
Keyserling, G. I. Gurdjieff, J. G. Bennett, J. Walter Driscoll, J.H. Reyner, Jam es Moore,
Krishnam uri, Maurice Nicoll, Meher Baba, P. D. Ouspensky, Paul Beekm an Taylor,
Rom Landau, Rudolf Steiner, Stefan George, The Rope, William Seabrook
G U R D JIE F F U N V E IL E D : fre e d o w n lo a d
S e y m o u r B . G i n s b u r g s G U R D JI E F F U N V E I L E D : a n o v e r v i e w a n d i n t r o d u c t i o n t o
t h e t e a c h i n g o riginally publishe d by L ightho use Editio ns in 2005 is no w available fo r a
fre e do w nlo ad fro m the The o so phical S o cie ty o f A m e ricas w e bsite .
This highly re co m m e nde d bo o k by a value d and lo ngstanding practitio ne r o f G urdjie ffs
te aching is inte nde d fo r the be ginning stude nt, the inquiring se e ke r and the sim ply
curio us. F ro m the start the stude nt can inte grate the o re tical kno w le dge w ith practical
e x pe rie nce and gain a taste o f w hat it m e ans to w o rk o n o ne se lf.
A ppe ndice s lo o k at G urdjie ffs re latio n to H induism ; The o so phy; the study o f dre am s,
w ith re fe re nce to Jung; practical e x e rcise s and the plo t o f G urdjie ffs Be e lze bubs Tale s
to H is G randson .
C L IC K ON title be lo w to do w nlo ad
G urjie ff Unve ile d
Se ym our B. G insburg
co ntact e m ail fo r S y is
s y g i n s b u r g @ a o l .c o m
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, GURDJIEFF UNVEILED: free download

October 27, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Y A L E U N IV E R S IT Y : A S S IS T A N T P R O F E S S O R R E L IG IO U S S T U D IE S
Y a le U n ive rsity D e p a rtm e n t o f R e lig io u s S tu d ie s

inte nds to m ake a te nure -track appo intm e nt in the fie ld o f re ligio us studie s be ginning
July 1, 2012, at the rank o f A ssistant Pro fe sso r. A pplicatio ns are invite d and w e lco m e
fro m scho lars w ith re se arch spe cialtie s in the anthro po lo gy, histo ry, philo so phy, o r
so cio lo gy o f re ligio ns o r a traditio n-spe cific fie ld o f study, w ho also po sse ss
de m o nstrate d te aching pro ficie ncy in m e tho ds and the o ry in the study o f re ligio n.
Yale U nive rsity is an A ffirm ative A ctio n/Equal Oppo rtunity E m plo ye r. Yale value s
dive rsity am o ng its stude nts, staff, and faculty and stro ngly w e lco m e s applicatio ns fro m
w o m e n and unde rre pre se nte d m ino ritie s. A le tte r o f applicatio n de scribing yo ur
re se arch, a c.v., a tw o -page disse rtatio n abstract, a chapte r-le ngth w riting sam ple , a
syllabus fo r an intro ducto ry unde rgraduate co urse , Intro ductio n to
Re ligio n, and thre e le tte rs o f re fe re nce sho uld be subm itte d o n-line at
https://acade m icjo bso nline .o rg/ajo /Yale /RL S T
M ate rials m ay be se nt to :
M e t h o d s a n d T h e o r y S e a r c h , R e l i g i o u s S t u d i e s , Y a l e U n i v e r s i t y , P .O . B o x
208287, N e w H ave n, C T 06520-8287
o r by e -m ail to
r o s e m a r y .c a r r i o n @ y a l e .e d u
The re vie w o f applicatio ns w ill be gin Octo be r 20, 2011. Pre lim inary inte rvie w s w ill be
he ld at the A A R annual m e e ting in S an F rancisco , N o v 19-22, 2011.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES, YALE UNIVERSITY: ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
October 14, 2011 at 6:48 am RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Tagged with anthropology, history, philosophy, religious studies, sociology of
religions, tenure-track appointm ent, Yale University
In M e m o ria m : T o m D a ly
Tom Daly
In the screening room of the world, a feature-length documentary film winds to a halt, and the
overhead lights are abruptly switched on. We blink and wince. Thus we mark the passing of Tom
Daly, one of the worlds finest directors of documentary cinema. Tom died at the age of ninety-
three in Montreal on Sept. 18, 2011, following a lengthy illness.
In his public life, Tom was one of the mainstays of the National Film Board of Canada. The
rudiments of the art and craft of motion-picture production and editing were taught to him by none
other than John Grierson, the filmmaker who coined the term documentary and who founded the
Board in Ottawa in 1939, then and now the worlds largest, government-owned producer of
documentary films.
In various capacities over forty-four years, Tom left his mark on hundreds of the Boards short and
feature films, including those created by Norman McLaren (the Glenn Gould of film animation) and
his own Unit B productions which introduced innovative techniques and ideas to the nations
screens. In the 1950s and 1960s it was mandated that an NFB short had to be exhibited along
with the other short features (cartoons, coming attractions) and the American feature film when
it was publicly exhibited in a movie theatre in the country. So his productions reached immense
national audiences. Often they struck the only note of reality on the screen.
I was especially moved in 1960 by his documentary film Universe which focused on the night in
the life of a Toronto astronomer. We were invited to behold a cosmic zoom an astronomical
visualization which parallels the Ray of Creation aka the Great Chain of Being. It was done with
spectacular effects and a feeling for the marvels of creation which Stanley Kubrick subsequently
acknowledged to be influences on his own feature film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Tom was also a mainstay of the work in Canada. He was born into a socially prominent family in
Toronto on April 25, 1918, and a graduate of the University of Toronto. Through his mother he met
the De Hartmanns who were then temporary residents in Quebecs Eastern Townships (awaiting
papers to settle in the United States). Madame de Hartmann was encouraged to visit Toronto
where she established what is now known as the Toronto group. Tom was active in the group until
Board work required him to move first to Ottawa and then to Montreal where he led the work
there. He married and raised a family and to the members of his family go the commiserations of
the present writer (who was personally introduced to the work by Tom and his friend Peter
Colgrove).
Tom was a gentleman of the Anglo-Saxon variety and a scholar manqu. I write manqu not in an
attempt to circumscribe his talent but with the wish to extend it because he himself saw his art as
coextensive with his life and with the work. Readers interested in how he did this are encouraged to
read the biographical study The Best Butler in the Business: Tom Daly of the National Film Board
of Canad (University of Toronto Press) by the academic D.B. Jones. According to Jones, Tom dealt
with a problem the way a lumberjack walks across a log-boom: Step onto the first log, and before it
sinks step onto the second log, and before it sinks step onto the third log .
*******
Tom Daly
I knew him slightly but admired him greatly. He inspired a great many men and women of his
generation, not only film-makers but also creative people in many disciplines. There is an
expression that is used in the film business (and only in the film business) that applies to him. That
expression is the dailies. It refers to the rushes of the days shooting that are available for
viewing and reviewing the following day. Tom lived his life from day to day, never failing to reflect
on the fine qualities of the dailies.
J.R.C., 18 Sept. 2011
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in In Mem oriam : Tom Daly, REMEMBERING ..., THE JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO
Septem ber 30, 2011 at 3:49 pm PAGE
Tagged with docum entary film , John Grierson, Madam e de Hartm ann, National
Film Board of Canada, Norm an McLaren, Peter Colgrove, Stanley Kubrick, the work
in Canada, Tom Daly
K E I T H A . B U Z Z E L L S T R I O O F C U R R E N T P U B L I C A T I O N S : P a r t O n e
T h e Jo h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o P a g e
* * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * * **
Ke ith A . Buzze lls Trio o f C urre nt Publicatio ns
Part One
T h e D o cto r w ith T h re e Bo o ks
In fro nt o f m e are thre e publicatio ns that have be e n taste fully pro duce d by F ifth Pre ss,
an im print base d in S alt L ake C ity, U tah. The im print is ne w to m e and m ay w e ll be ne w
to the m ajo rity o f the re ade rs o f this blo g. The publishe rs fo cus is e x plaine d o n its
w e bsite , tho ugh e ve n that she ds no light o n w hy it is calle d the F ifth Pre ss (rathe r than
the F o urth, the Third, the S e co nd, o r the F irst Pre ss). I gue ss the re is a re aso n fo r the
num be r but it e lude s m e ! H e re is the fo cus:
F ifth Pre ss w as e stablishe d in 2004 fo r the e x pre ss purpo se o f publishing D r. Ke ith A .
Buzze lls e x plo ratio n o f the de pth o f m e aning o f G urdjie ffs w riting. W e are curre ntly
w o rking w ith W ill M e sa w ho has e x te nsive e x pe rie nce plum bing the inte rstice s o f
Be e lze bubs Tale s. W e ho pe w e m ay co ntribute to the fabric o f o ur w o rk to ge the r and
fo r all life .
On the basis o f its m issio n state m e nt, F ifth Pre ss is do ing a go o d jo b in re alizing its
aim s and o bje ctive s. L e t m e also add, in passing, that D r. W ill M e sa is an C uban-bo rn
stude nt o f the W o rk w ho studie d unde r H e nri Traco l in Paris; he is a Pro fe sso r o f
Ele ctrical E ngine e ring, appare ntly base d in N e w Yo rk C ity. H e o nce e x plaine d, To w ard
the e nd o f m y fo urth re ading o f Be e lze bubs Tale s, late in 1986, it daw ne d o n m e that
the bo o k I w as re ading and studying w as the be st the o re tical and e x pe rim e ntal bo o k I
had e ve r studie d.
It is appare nt that the re are m any scie ntifically m inde d and te chno lo gically traine d
pe o ple like D r. M e sa and D r. Buzze ll w ho are in the W o rk and are m aking size able
e ffo rts to square w hat M r. G urdjie ff w ro te in Be e lze bubs Tale s w ith co nte m po rary
scie ntific and te chno lo gical the o rie s and practice s. This is o ne w ay to m ake re le vant
w hat the autho r w ro te be tw e e n 1924 and 1927, the te x t o f w hich w as translate d into
English and publishe d in 1950 and subse que ntly re issue d in a re vise d (and
co ntro ve rsial) e ditio n in 1992.
A t this po int it is incum be nt upo n m e to state that if in o rde r to unde rstand the te x t o f
Tale s as it appe ars in the first o r the se co nd e ditio n I have to re ad it no t o nly o nce , no t
o nly tw ice , but all o f thre e tim e s, o nce o ut lo ud, the n I m ay m ake no claim s to
unde rstand the bo o k. The fact that the accuracy and authe nticity o f the te x t canno t be
acce pte d w itho ut be ing challe nge d is no t w hat disturbs m e ; afte r all, bo o ksto re s o ffe r
the public no t o ne but tw o e ditio ns Tale s as the y do o f Jam e s Jo yce s e qually lo ng
F inne gans W ake . Inde e d, re late dly, the publishing im print L ibrary o f A m e rica w as
e stablishe d to so lve just this pro ble m by issuing standard e ditio ns o f the w o rks by
A m e ricas le ading lite rary autho rs.
In the late 1950s I w as traine d in the N e w C ritical m e tho d o f e x plicatio n de te x te , so I
am w ary o f pe o ple w ho acce pt w hate ve r te x t is at hand pace the King Jam e s Ve rsio n
o f the Bible and the n take it lite rally and e re ct inte lle ctual structure s like castle s in
S pain upo n the fundam e nt o f go spe l truths. I have o bse rve d that le ade rs o f study
gro ups m ake use o f the te x t is large ly as illustratio n, a passage he re , a passage the re ,
to add to the fo re gro und o r the backgro und o f the o bse rvatio n o f inte re st. It is alm o st
as if the w o rk is to o large o r gre at to e nco m pass as a w ho le .
It is o bvio us that Tale s is a co m ple x and de m anding te x t pro ble m atic is the w o rd
that a se m io tician m ight use but at the sam e tim e it m e e ts N o rthro p F rye s
de scriptio n o f scripture as lite rature plus, so it is difficult to ge t a handle o n the
bo o k. I also se e it in F rye s te rm s as an anato m y, a sum o f innum e rable parts that
w ith its single structure is gre ate r than the sum o f all tho se parts. But all this is surm ise
and sugge stio n, as I am no t go ing to co m m e nt o n Tale s. Inste ad, I w ill discuss the m an
w ho do e s and the w ay he do e s it by ide ntifying the autho r o f the se thre e bo o ks and
by co m m e nt o n a handful o f his inte rpre tatio ns and disco ve rie s.
The re is no W ikipe dia e ntry fo r Ke ith A . Buzze ll, but I did de te rm ine the fo llo w ing
bio graphical de tails o n the Inte rne t: D r. A . Ke ith Buzze ll w as bo rn in 1932, in Bo sto n,
M assachuse tts. H e studie d m usic at Bo w do in C o lle ge and Bo sto n U nive rsity, and
re ce ive d his m e dical do cto rate in 1960 at the Philade lphia C o lle ge o f Oste o pathic
M e dicine . F o r the past 35 ye ars, he has be e n a rural fam ily physician in F rye burg,
M aine , a staff m e m be r o f Bridgto n H o spital and curre ntly ho lds the po sitio n o f m e dical
dire cto r at the F rye burg H e alth C are C e nte r.
D r. Buzze ll has also se rve d as a pro fe sso r o f o ste o pathic m e dicine , a ho spital m e dical
dire cto r and a fo unde r o f a lo cal ho spice pro gram . H e has le cture d w ide ly o n the
ne uro physio lo gic influe nce s o f te le visio n o n the de ve lo ping hum an brain and o n the
e vo lutio n o f m ans triune brain. In 1971 Ke ith and his w ife M arle na, m e t Irm is Po po ff, a
stude nt o f G urdjie ff and Ouspe nsky and the fo unde r o f the Pinnacle G ro up in S e a C liff,
L o ng Island, N e w Yo rk. F ro m the n until the m id-1980s the y fo rm e d w o rk gro ups unde r
he r supe rvisio n. S ince 1988 D r. Buzze ll and A nnie L o u S tave le y, fo unde r o f the Tw o
Rive rs F arm in Ore go n, m aintaine d a W o rk re latio nship up to he r de ath in 1996. Ke ith
co ntinue s gro up W o rk in Bridgto n, M aine .
The re fe re nce to o ste o pathy o r o ste o pathic m e dicine caught m y e ye be cause the
practice is no t re co gnize d as a m e dical discipline in C anada. A do cto r o f o ste o pathy is
no t a m e dical do cto r in any o f this co untrys pro vince s. This m ight be m y co untrys lo ss,
fo r a do cto r o f o ste o pathy is re co gnize d as a m e dical physician in the fifty state s o f the
A m e rican U nio n. Ple ase no te that I am no t in any w ay que stio ning the value o f
o ste o pathy o r the cre de ntials o f D r. Buzze ll; inde e d, he se e m s e m ine ntly qualifie d in
the practice o f m e dicine and has a w ide range o f inte re sts suitable fo r his e x am inatio n
o f the co m ple x itie s o f Tale s. In m e ntio ning this fact, I am cle aring up a public co nfusio n
abo ut o ste o pathy!
F ifth Pre ss has issue d thre e handso m e vo lum e s o f his bo o ks. The y appe ar in trade
pape rback e ditio ns, 6.5 inche s w ide by 9.5 inche s high, printe d o n quality pape r, glue d
rathe r than se w n to the spine . H e re are the title s:
(1) Pe rspe ctive s o n Be e lze bubs Tale s and Othe r o f G urdjie ffs W ritings. The first e ditio n
is co pyright 2005; x vi+ 228 page s. (2) A C hilds Odysse y: E x plo ratio ns in A ctive
M e ntatio n: Re -M e m be ring G urdjie ffs Te aching. This first e ditio n is co pyright 2006;
x iv+ 297 page s. (3) M an A Thre e -braine d Be ing: Re so nant A spe cts o f M o de rn S cie nce
and the G urdjie ff Te aching. This e ditio n is co pyright 2007 and ide ntifie d as the se co nd
e ditio n; ii+ 139.
The thre e vo lum e s (w hich have the lo o k o f a se rie s o f bo o ks) are w e ll de signe d and
pro duce d. The re are abo ut fo rty-five line s pe r page o f rathe r sm all type , w ith
fo o tno te s, glo ssarie s, and biblio graphie s. The te x t is illustrate d w ith charts and
diagram s, so m e in paste l co lo urs. M y e stim ate is that w hat w e have in this trio o f bo o ks
is clo se to 330,000 w o rds.
Re gular re ade rs o f S o phia W e llbe lo ve ds w e b-blo g w ill be fam iliar w ith the re vie w s and
co m m e ntarie s o f m y co m panio n co lum nist, Jo se ph A zize , a m an w ho is e x tre m e ly
kno w le dge able abo ut W o rk-re late d subje cts. Jo se phs de taile d re vie w o f o ne o f the se
bo o ks (M an A Thre e -braine d Be ing) appe are d o n S e pt. 27, 2009, and m ay be re ad
the re w ith m uch be ne fit.
In the sam e ve in, a fairly de taile d co nside ratio n o f ano the r title (Pe rspe ctive s o n
Be e lze bubs Tale s) m ay be re ad o n A m azo n.co m w he re it is title d Pe rspe ctive s: A M ust
Re ad fo r S e rio us S tude nts o f the Tale s and date d A pril 4, 2005. This re vie w w as
co ntribute d by S e ym o ur B. G insburg, a re spe cte d autho r in his o w n right. The tw o
re vie w s include chapte r sum m arie s but in the m ain the y re capitulate the co nte nts o f
the se bo o ks chapte r by chapte r. W hile I e njo y do ing the sam e re printing table s o f
co nte nts and adding running co m m e ntarie s o n the m I w ill re frain fro m duplicating
the ir w o rk, co nce ntrating inste ad o n a co uple o f po ints o f e x po sitio n.
The re is o ne furthe r po int to m ake : D r. Buzze ll has be e n a pre se nte r at so m e o f the A ll
& E ve rything Inte rnatio nal H um anitie s C o nfe re nce s. The so le co nfe re nce I atte nde d w as
the o ne he ld in To ro nto tw o ye ars ago ; I re po rte d o n tho se se ssio ns o n this w e b-blo g.
H e re is w hat happe ne d o n A pril 24, 2009:
*
A t 11:00 a.m ., Ke ith Buzze ll spo ke o n D o -Re -M e o f F o o d, A ir and Im pre ssio ns. H e is a
se aso ne d pre se nte r and w ith slide s and o ne hando ut re late d the Table o f H ydro ge ns to
the vario us type s o f fo o d and ultim ate ly the co ating o f highe r be ing bo die s. The re is
the fo o d that gro w s o n the surface o f the e arth, that e x ists in the plane tary
atm o sphe re , and that co m e s fro m the sun. One o f his catchy phrase s w as Only life can
sustain life .
H ydro ge n 768 is the fo o d o f m an, but the cate go rie s are e no rm o us. In fact, w hile I did
no t co nduct a w o rd-co unt, I assum e Ke ith use d the w o rd e no rm o us tw e nty-o ne tim e s
to de scribe the cate go rie s o n the Table , and quite rightly. H e also turne d his atte ntio n
to the diffe re nce be tw e e n m ass and no n-m ass. A t tim e s I tho ught I w as atte nding a
le cture o n the Jo y o f C he m istry. A ny die ticians in the audie nce w o uld have be e n lo st!
The re w as an inte re sting analysis o f the ro le o f pro te ins and ho w m o de rn scie nce is
re ve aling the facts o f dige stio n w hich are in line w ith w hat is discusse d in Tale s. W e
le arn by analo gy: H ighe r hydro ge ns dige st lo w e r hydro ge ns. The spe ake r sugge ste d
that the re is a w ay o f unde rstanding ho w o ur m inds can transfo rm o ur physical brains.
The input o f the thre e brains is the substrate o f the spiritual bo dy, the D N A o f the
ke sdjan.
D uring the discussio n it w as m e ntio ne d that the re are te n bacte ria fo r e ve ry ce ll in the
hum an bo dy. W e co uld no t live w itho ut all o ur bacte ria. W e have to ge t alo ng w ith e ach
o the r. Ke ith quo te d a te ache r w ho aske d, H o w can yo u e x pe ct to have e x tra
kno w le dge if yo u do nt kno w o rdinary kno w le dge . The discussio n e nde d w ith a
discussio n o f m agne tic vs. m e chanical fie lds o f influe nce and the hum an w ill and
w he the r it can be subo rne d, fo llo w e d by the diffe re nce s be tw e e n bo dy and ce ntre . It
w as 1:00 p.m .
*
Pe rhaps that e x ce rpt fro m m y no te s o n D r. Buzze lls pre se ntatio n catche s so m e o f the
e x cite m e nt o f the e x po sitio n that is characte ristic o f the m an and his analyse s. A t the
co nfe re nce I chatte d a fe w tim e s w ith him and his lo ve ly w ife M arle na, finding the m to
be a pro fe ssio nal and kno w le dge able co uple ve ry de dicate d to the ir w o rk and the W o rk.
*
H e re are so m e tho ughts inspire d by paging thro ugh M an A Thre e -braine d Be ing. I
find it difficult to im agine that anyo ne but a stude nt o f the W o rk w ith a spe cial inte re st
in Tale s w ill be draw n to re ad and study this w o rk o f analysis. S pe cifically, I find it
unlike ly that anyo ne but the m o st e x ce ptio nal che m ist, physicist, astro physicist,
physio lo gist, o r ne uro lo gist w o uld w ant to co m m it any am o unt o f tim e and e ne rgy to
asse ssing w hat use has be e n m ade he re o f m ainstre am scie ntific the o ry and practice .
In a w ay that is a sham e be cause it m e ans the re is little chance that the re w ill e ve r be a
dialo gue be tw e e n o rtho do x scie ntists and uno rtho do x but ne ve rthe le ss rigo ro us
thinke rs, so ne ce ssarily co m partm e ntalize d are the scie ntific discipline s in o ur tim e . I
se e m to re call re ading in a vo lum e o f re co lle ctio ns o f life at the Prie ur that the H arle y
S tre e t physicians w ho w e re in atte ndance in the m id-1920s spe nt an e ve ning trying to
ide ntify the H ydro ge ns and inte rpre t the m in light o f kno w n che m ical re actio ns.
Ouspe nsky had a pe t phrase w hich he use d w he n stude nts atte m pte d to think o utside
the syste m o r to re late no n-syste m m atte rs to the syste m . H e w o uld say, Thats
ano the r o pe ra. Thats ano the r w o rk.
Inde e d, Ouspe nsky title d his bo o k o f le cture s The Psycho lo gy o f M ans Po ssible
Evo lutio n (1951); in 1989 his lite rary e x e cuto rs autho rize d the publicatio n o f the re st o f
the le cture s and calle d the publicatio n The C o sm o lo gy o f M ans Po ssible Evo lutio n.
Re ading D r. Buzze lls curre nt bo o k, I have the se nse that it co uld w e ll be re title d The
C he m istry o f M ans Po ssible Evo lutio n, fo r it fo cuse s o n bio lo gical and che m ical
re actio ns in the pro ductio n o f change , m o ve m e nt, im age s, co nscio usne ss, and
transfo rm atio n. I w ill le ave it to o the r co m m e ntato rs, like Jo se ph A zize , to de lve
de e pe r. I w ill le ave this bo o k, as do e s the autho r, w ith the o pe ning se nte nce s o f the
last paragraph:
Our aim in this bo o k has be e n to ble nd a scie ntific pe rspe ctive o n the physical U nive rse
and o n hum an bio lo gy w ith a pe rspe ctive o n the po ssibility o f se lf-transfo rm atio n as
taught by G .I. G urdjie ff. Be cause it is ve rbal in fo rm , it can do little m o re than hint, o r
m e tapho rically po int to w ard, the bro ad spe ctrum o f hum an e x pe rie nce s that m ust be
pe rso nally live d in o rde r to have its full m e aning.
Ove r all, the autho r w rite s vividly, e ve n at tim e s stirringly. The bo o k o pe ns w ith a live ly
acco unt o f ho w at e ve ry turn o ur live s have be e n change d by the use that has be e n
m ade since 1900 o f quantum m e chanics and its e ffe cts. Buzze ll w rite s, The re appe ars
to be m o re than se re ndipity invo lve d in the sim ultane o us appe arance o f G urdjie ff as a
te ache r (circa 1913) and the publishe d insights o f such m e n as Planck, Bo hr, E inste in,
S chr dinge r and H ubble . S upe rficially, the pe rspe ctive s o f 20th ce ntury scie nce and o f
G urdjie ff appe ar to be diam e trically diffe re nt and ye t, it is o ur co nte ntio n that bo th
he rald a startlingly ne w vie w o f o ur U nive rse . Buzze ll finds m any paralle ls be tw e e n
passage s in Tale s and late r scie ntific disco ve rie s. In passing he re late s Tale s to
inno vatio ns in M o de rnist m usic and lite rature , subje cts that w ill no do ubt attract future
histo rians o f ide as.
W ith gre at clarity the autho r discusse s the im plicatio ns o f the thre e -braine d be ing
ide ntifie d w ith M r. G urdjie ff and, a go o d fo rty ye ars late r, the triune m ind discusse d
by the physio lo gist D r. Paul M acL e an. The autho r is ce rtainly w ro ng in sugge sting that
M r. G urdjie ff (o r A .R. Orage , his am anue nsis, re dacto r, translato r, e dito r, e tc.)
intro duce d the te rm m e ntatio n be cause as e arly as 1850 the w o rd w as use d to re fe r
to thinking o r m e ntal pro ce sse s. N o w he re is the re any co nside ratio n o f the the o ry
that is the rival o f D r. M acL e ans, and that is the the o ry o f the bi-cam e ral m ind o f the
psycho lo gist Julian Jayne s.
A lso m issing is any discussio n o f W .H . S he ldo ns thre e so m ato type s o r C .G . Jungs
fo ur-fo ld typo lo gy o f bo dy type s. N o t that the autho r is unde r any o bligatio n to discuss
any o f the se o r o the r m atte rs, but it w o uld have be e n inte re sting to se e ho w w e ll the se
co nce ptio ns co uld have be e n w o rke d into a co nside ratio n o f Tale s. Ye t w hat he se ts
him se lf the task to acco m plish to e x plicate Tale s in light o f curre nt scie nce he do e s
acco m plish. The inte ntio n is no t so m uch to vindicate the scie ntific e nde avo ur o r to
justify the uno rtho do x appro ach and language o f the te x t, but to de lve de e pe r into the
te x t.
D r. Buzze ll do e s.
P a rt tw o co n tin u e s th is re vie w .
Jo h n R o b e r t C o l o m b o , w ho w rite s irre gularly fo r this blo g-site , is kno w n acro ss
C anada as the M aste r G athe re r fo r his co m pilatio ns o f the co untrys lo re and lite rature .
H is m o st re ce nt bo o k is a co lle ctio n o f to ld-as-true C anadian gho st sto rie s calle d
Je e pe rs C re e pe rs. H e is an A sso ciate , N o rthro p F rye C e ntre , Victo ria U nive rsity,
U nive rsity o f To ro nto . C he ck his w e bsite < http://w w w .co lo m bo .ca > fo r furthe r de tails.
If yo u w ish to re ce ive d no tice o f future re vie w s and co m m e ntarie s, se nd JRC an e m ail:
< jrc@ co lo m bo .ca > .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE, KEITH A. BUZZELL'S TRIO OF CURRENT
Septem ber 29, 2011 at 7:52 am PUBLICATIONS: Part One
Tagged with A Childs Odyssey: Explorations in Active Mentation: Re-Mem bering
Gurdjieffs Teaching, All & Everything International Hum anities Conferences,
Annie-Lou Staveley, Beelzebub's Tales, Fifth Press, Gurdjieff, Joseph Azize, Keith A.
Buzzell, Man A Three-brained Being: Resonant Aspects of Modern Science and
the Gurdjieff Teaching, Perspectives on Beelzebubs Tales and Other of Gurdjieffs
Writings, Seym our B Ginsburg
A P P R O A C H I N G I N N E R W O R K : O p i e s s t u d y o f M i c h a e l C u r r e r -
B rig g s
Jo hn Ro be rt C o lo m bo Re vie w s Jam e s Opie s bio graphical study o f M ichae l C urre r-Briggs

and the G urdjie ff Te aching
S o m e bo o ks m ay be de scribe d in a re lative ly straight-fo rw ard fashio n. Othe r bo o ks,
no t so e asily sum m arize d, re quire m uch fo re gro und and backgro und info rm atio n
be fo re the y m ay be appre ciate d at all. A ppro aching Inne r W o rk falls into the latte r
cate go ry. It re quire s info rm atio n up fro nt. But be fo re pro viding that info rm atio n, pe rm it
m e to de scribe the physical appe arance o f the bo o k itse lf.
A handso m e publicatio n, A ppro aching Inne r W o rk be ars the subtitle M ichae l C urre r-
Briggs o n the G urdjie ff Te aching. Its autho r, Jam e s Opie , is a lo ng-tim e stude nt o f the
W o rk. The publishe r is G urdjie ff Bo o ks & M usic, an im print and a distributo r fo r W o rk-
re late d m ate rials. It is lo cate d in Po rtland and o pe rate d by the G urdjie ff F o undatio n o f
Ore go n. The w e bsite is < info @ gurdje iffbo o ksand m usic.co m > . The trade pape rback
m e asure s 5 inche s w ide by 7.5 inche s high, and it has x ii + 148 page s. The IS BN is 978-
0-615-47529-5. The te x t co nsists o f thirty-e ight sho rt chapte rs o f co m m e ntary and
inte rvie w , fo llo w e d by an A ppe ndix and an A ckno w le dgm e nts. If I m ay risk a pun, this
vo lum e spe aks vo lum e s.
S o m uch fo r the e asy part. N o w fo r the de taile d part! F irst, the A utho r. S e co nd, the
S ubje ct. Third, the Bo o k.
The A utho r: Jam e s Opie
The Opie nam e is a re spe cte d o ne in lite rary circle s, e spe cially fo r the co ntributio ns
o f the w e ll-lo ve d, husband-and-w ife te am o f E nglish fo lklo rists, Pe te r and Io na Opie .
But the Opie s are (as Tim e M agazine use d to say) no kin to Jam e s Opie w ho
de scribe s him se lf as a m e rchant and w rite r. H e w as bo rn in S andusky, Ohio , in 1939,
and is a graduate o f Ohio U nive rsity in A the ns, Ohio .
D e spite his birthplace and re side nce in Po rtland, Ore go n, he has be co m e a re co gnize d
autho rity o n Pe rsian tribal rugs and the o rigin o f tribal rug m o tifs bo th o f w hich so und
like de m anding unde rtakings! H is tw o bo o ks in the fie ld are Tribal Rugs o f S o uthe rn
Pe rsia (1982) and Tribal Rugs: N o m adic and Village W e avings o f the N e ar E ast and
C e ntral A sia (1992). The latte r title has be e n translate d into F re nch, Italian, and
G e rm an.
Opie w as intro duce d to the W o rk in the m id-1960s w he n a m usician frie nd lo ane d him
a co py o f A ll & E ve rything. H e jo ine d a gro up unde r the le ade rship o f D o nald H o yt w ho
be cam e a m e m be r o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n unde r L o rd Pe ntland and the n se rve d as
pre side nt o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n o f C alifo rnia. L o rd Pe ntland him se lf w as Opie s
te ache r fro m 1974 to 1988. F o r fo urte e n ye ars Opie w as asso ciate d w ith A nnie L o u
S tave le y o f The F arm , late r Tw o Rive rs F arm . M rs. S tave le y w as a dire ct stude nt o f
G urdjie ff in Paris during his last ye ars and also an asso ciate o f Je an H e ap in L o ndo n.
Opie is no w invo lve d w ith G urdjie ff Bo o ks & M usic in Po rtland.
It w as w hile he w as in A fghanistan de aling in rugs that Opie m e t Pe te r Bro o k and
M adam e de S alzm ann w ho w e re in the m idst o f film ing M e e tings w ith Re m arkable
M e n. On the se t he also m e t M ichae l C urre r-Briggs. Briggs is cre dite d w ith be ing o f
m ate rial he lp at a critical po int in the pro ductio n o f this m ajo r m o tio n picture thro ugh
his e x te nsive co ntacts in the fie lds o f film -m aking and finance . M e e tings w as re le ase d
by Re m ar Pro ductio ns (re m ar is sho rt fo r re m arkable ) and Briggs w as grante d scre e n
cre dit as the film s e x e cutive pro duce r.
The S ubje ct: M ichae l C urre r-Briggs
Opie re fe rs to him as M r. Briggs but I w ill sho rte n his nam e e ve n furthe r by re fe rring
to him as Briggs. H e w as bo rn in 1922 in L e e ds, Yo rkshire , and die d in 1980 in
L o ndo n, E ngland. Briggs m ade his re putatio n in te le visio n pro ductio n in the U nite d
Kingdo m . H e is cre dite d as pro duce r o r dire cto r o f o ve r six ty-five te le visio n
pro ductio ns, large ly e piso de s o f po pular m yste ry se rie s. The se w e re te le cast be tw e e n
1955 and 1970, so British vie w e rs o f a ce rtain age m ight cast the ir m e m o rie s back to
such po pular fare as Bo yd Q.C ., ITV Te le visio n Playho use , ITV Play o f the W e e k,
F raud S quad, A ce s o f W ands, and The M ind Ro bbe rs.
Briggs re m inds m e o f F le tche r M arkle , the distinguishe d C anadian te le visio n
pe rso nality, w ho w as o nce m arrie d to the actre ss M e rce de s M cC am bridge . M arkle s
skills as pro duce r and dire cto r o ve rshado w e d his abilitie s as cre ato r and artist. In o the r
w o rds, M arkle and pe rhaps Briggs e x ce lle d as arrange rs o r package rs o f o the r m e ns
ide as. U nlike Briggs, M arkle had no spe cial inte re st in spiritual psycho lo gy.
The se days Briggs is no t re m e m be re d fo r tho se British se rie s, but fo r his ro le as
e x e cutive pro duce r o f M e e tings w ith Re m arkable M e n, w hich w as re le ase d in 1979,
thirty ye ars fo llo w ing G urdjie ffs de ath and o ne ye ar be fo re Briggss o w n de ath. Briggs
had a backgro und in the W o rk that to o k ro o t in L o ndo n in the 1940s w he re and w he n
he m e t Jane H e ap. A s the re sult o f Opie s bo o k o n him , Briggs w ill have , additio nally, a
future in the W o rk.
The Bo o k: A ppro aching Inne r W o rk
The te x t o f the bo o k co nsists o f a se rie s o f sho rt chapte rs w hich co nsist o f Briggss
co m m e ntarie s o n inne r w o rk. The y are base d o n inte rvie w s co nducte d by Opie w ith
Briggs o ve r the last ye ars o f the latte rs life . The re are thirty-e ight o f the se and the y
co ve r a range o f inte re sts. E ach chapte r o f co m m e ntary is title d, and so m e o f the se
title s are straight-fo rw ard and de scriptive (Jo hn Be nne tt, M adam e de S alzm ann and a
Que stio n abo ut M o ne y), w he re as o the rs are analytical and w o rk-re late d (S e lf-study
and S e e ing, L ike and D islike ). Ove rall the y bring to m ind to m y m ind, at le ast the
co m m e ntarie s that co m prise M aurice N ico lls Psycho lo gical C o m m e ntarie s o n the
Te achings o f G urdjie ff and Ouspe nsky, a m uch-ne gle cte d, five -vo lum e w o rk that is a
go ld-m ine (I alm o st ke ybo arde d go ld-m ind) o f aspe cts o f the W o rk w hich no w se e m
to be calle d inne r w o rk.
The se co m m e ntarie s are Briggss w o rds, take n fro m co nve rsatio ns and inte rvie w s that
have be e n de ftly e dite d and se nsitive ly arrange d by Opie to co ve r subje cts o f curre nt
and co ntinuing inte re st. In a w ay the arrange m e nt re m inds m e o f a bo o k o f table talk.
It be gins w ith a rhe to rical que stio n po se d by Briggs: w hat can I do ? W hat is it,
pre cise ly, that do e s no t happe n auto m atically, but re quire s m y inte ntio nal e ffo rts?
D o ing de pe nds o n inte ntio nality. Inte ntio nality de pe nds o n since rity. It de pe nds o n the
pre se nce o f I. The bo o k is in e ffe ct a m e ditatio n o n the se w o rds.
The frie ndship be gan in 1977 in C e ntral A sia, aka A fghanistan, w he re Opie w as
pursuing his trade in Orie ntal rugs and Briggs w as visiting the se t o f M e e tings w ith
Re m arkable M e n the n be ing film e d by Pe te r Bro o k unde r the tute lage o f M adam e de
S alzm ann. It se e m s Briggs w ith his industry co ntacts had a hand in e nsuring the flo w o f
funds fro m L o rd Pe ntland, Pre side nt o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n, to the pro ductio n
cre w , no sim ple m atte r. H isto ry has a habit o f re pe ating itse lf. S o m e de cade s e arlie r,
Briggs w as am o ng the first visito rs to G urdjie ff in ne w ly libe rate d Paris to arrive w ith
cash (pre sum ably the first paym e nt o f G urdjie ffs o il-w e ll ro yaltie s!).
One night o ve r dinne r in the city o f M azar-i-S harif, in no rthe rn A fghanistan, Opie
raise d the subje ct o f m iracle s. Briggs de scribe d the m in te rm s o f the tw o rive rs o r
stre am s. The re are tw o fundam e ntal stre am s, an auto m atic stre am m o ving do w nw ard,
to w ard m ultiplicity, and a co nscio us stre am flo w ing upw ard, to w ard unity and the
so urce o f all life . H ighly unusual e x pe rie nce s w hich se e m to be m iracle s m ay invo lve
m e re ly, if o ne dare s use that w o rd, a law ful and transito ry m e rging o f the tw o stre am s
at a particular po int o r e ve nt.
Briggs gave an illustratio n o f a m iracle in te rm s o f a carro t gro w ing in a garde n. To
the carro t the appe arance o f the garde ne r is m iraculo us; to the garde ne r the
appe arance o f the carro t is m undane . Po ints o f vie w and le ve ls o f be ing are re le vant to
m iracle s. This no ve l illustratio n bro ught to m ind P.D . Ouspe nskys e x am ple o f the
bake d po tato be ing m o re inte llige nt than the raw po tato . The discussio ns be tw e e n
Opie and Briggs re ve rbe rate w ith re fe re nce s to be fo und in the cano n o f the W o rk. This
particular co nve rsatio n o n the subje ct o f m iracle s co nclude s w ith Briggss cave at:
Be cause o f habitual patte rns o f tho ught and fe e ling and re spo nse , he w ro te , I dare
say m iracle s have be e n the ruinatio n o f so m e pe o ple .
A no the r cave at is base d o n the e ffe ctive ne ss o f e ffo rt w he n base d o n full kno w le dge
and co m ple te unde rstanding, and its ine ffe ctive ne ss w he n base d o n faulty kno w le dge
and lim ite d unde rstanding. The e x e rcise o f liste ning to tho se w ho w o uld build
pro fe ssio nal care e rs aro und ce rtainty can be he lpful. H o w m isguide d are tho se
po liticians and o the r public figure s w ho w ish to im pre ss o the rs w ith the ir ce rtainty.
This can be ve ry instructive , Briggs re m inds Opie . Initially, o ur w o rk is no t to change
w hat is se e n, but to o pe n to a ne w quality o f se e ing, w he re in w e dire ctly e x pe rie nce
the fo rce o f auto m aticity in o ur re actio ns.
The se tho ughts le ad to a discussio n o f the diffe re nce s no te d by M adam e de S alzm ann
be tw e e n the se rvant and the slave . W he n w e shirk o ur o w n burde ns, w e incre ase the
lo ads that ne e d to be carrie d by o the r pe o ple ; w he n w e sho ulde r o ur o w n, w e lighte n
the ir burde ns. Briggs state s that w e sho uld no t be o ve raw e d by the im m e nsity o f the
kno w n unive rse be cause it is m atche d by the unkno w n w o rlds w ithin m an. H e re o ur
sm all physical size , as hum an be ings, can be de ce ptive . W ithin us are m any po te ntial
le ve ls, m any po ssible hie rarchie s. The unive rse is no t alto ge the r an o ute r
arrange m e nt.
Briggs has a be nt fo r vivid im age ry. H e sugge sts that the re sho uld be fo unde d a ne w
o rganizatio n calle d The S o cie ty fo r the S tudy o f S e lf-lo ve and Vanity. H e sugge sts that
this kind o f o dd-fe llo w s gro up co uld bring unto ld be ne fits to its m e m be rs. A s an aside
he e x plains, This is pre cise ly w hat M r. G urdjie ff o utline d in his de scriptio n o f a re al
gro up, w hich, he said, re pre se nts an e x ce ptio nal le ve l o f achie ve m e nt.
H e the n trace d the subse que nt histo ry o f this im pulse and ho w , o ve r the ye ars, it w o uld
m e tam o rpho se into its o ppo site . Vie w e d fro m the o utside , the buildings ho using the
S o cie ty m ay gro w m o re im pre ssive . But inside the buildings, de cade by de cade , the
te aching de sce nds to a le ve l that is all-to o -hum an. This se ctio n o f the bo o k abo ut
the de vo lutio n o f this so cie ty and the im pulse be hind it is calle d The U nusual
S o cie ty. A ltho ugh it is o nly a fe w page s lo ng, it include s m o re than I can e asily co nve y
he re . In fact, e ach o f the chapte rs is quite e x pre ssive o f the m o dulate d e x pre ssio n o f
ge nuine insights.
The chapte r title d M adam e de S alzm ann and the Que stio n o f M o ne y de als bro adly
w ith value s and e valuatio ns and quo te s M adam e as m aking a po inte d o bse rvatio n. If
stude nts o f M r. G urdjie ff do no t m ake a film base d o n this appe aling title M e e tings
w ith Re m arkable M e n so m e o ne e lse w ill sure ly do so . W e w o uld the n have to live w ith
the co nse que nce s. It is in Kabul that Briggs take s Opie to m e e t the M adam e (a little
dram a all its o w n) and the ne e d to pre pare a re al que stio n. The y chat w ith he r o n the
film se t and at o ne po int M adam e says, W he n yo u first co m e , yo u he ar and re pe at
ide as, w ith lim ite d unde rstanding. L ate r the ide as be gin to live in yo u, and yo u have
re al que stio ns. N o w , yo ur inte re st is supe rficial. But in tim e , pe rhaps it gro w s.
The subje ct o f m o ne y is bro ache d. Opie sugge sts the ability to m ake it is dirty.
M adam e disagre e s. M o ne y, a tale nt fo r m aking m o ne y, is no t a dirty thing. M o ne y is
the blo o d o f so cie ty. E ve rything is to uche d by m o ne y, e ve ry re latio nship. N o part o f life
is w itho ut this co nne ctio n, and it brings re ality to yo ur life . W he n m o ne y is ne e de d it is
no lo nge r just ide a.
This chapte r, altho ugh sho rt, re m inde d m e o f the co m pre he nsive talk that G urdjie ff
de live re d o n the subje ct o f the M ate rial Que stio n. It se e m s e ve rything e ve ryw he re is
m ate rial and that it re ally m atte rs. M adam e give s it a spin: Yo ur life has a patte rn. Yo u
do nt se e it ye t, but little by little it be gins to appe ar. S e e ing the patte rn o f yo ur life
he lps ve ry m uch. If yo u w o rk w ith a tale nt, it de ve lo ps. L ate r yo u can te ach w hat yo u
have le arne d to so m e o ne e lse w ho stands w he re yo u stand no w . The n, pe rhaps, yo u
w ill go o n to so m e thing e lse .
Briggs and Opie m e e t so m e m o nths late r at The F arm o ve rse e n by A nnie L o u S tave le y
in Po rtland, Ore go n. H e re Briggs talke d abo ut the plan, subse que ntly abando ne d, to
cast so m e W o rk pe rso nalitie s as le ading characte rs in the film . A ppare ntly H e nri Traco l
w as to play F athe r G io vanni. Briggs: W e atte m pte d this brie fly and the e x pe rim e nt
to tally faile d. W e saw that w hat e ach o f the se pe o ple had w as the ir o w n. N o thing w as
acte d. W hat the y po sse sse d, w hile ge nuine , w as no t w hat w as ne e de d. F ilm s invo lve
acting. A lso , no ne o f the se se nio r pe o ple in the W o rk co uld take dire ctio ns!
The ne x t tw o chapte rs de al w ith the dange rs inhe re nt in the transm issio n o f o ral
te achings and ho w the W o rk has pro ce e de d fo llo w ing G urdjie ffs de ath. M adam e de
S alzm ann m e t w ith the le ade rs o f the vario us gro ups and the influx o f ne w fo llo w e rs
and atte m pte d to cre ate a single appro ach. The re w e re dispute s. The se dispute s co uld
have disrupte d re latio nships w ithin and be tw e e n gro ups. M adam e de S alzm ann liste ne d
m o re than she spo ke , and, like M r. G urdjie ff, be cam e a still po int in the ce nte r o f
activity. H e r e ffo rts w ith pre vio usly e x isting gro ups, w ith ne w ce nte rs, and w ith
hundre ds o f individual m e m be rs, he lpe d clarify m o re advance d appro ache s to inne r
w o rk.
The chapte r title d Ro se s and Tho rns lo o ks at the o ppo site s and ho w the y m ust be
acce pte d and ho w e ach pe rso n m ust acce pt re spo nsibility. Inte re st in this inne r study
be gins to co nne ct us w ith the stre am o f inte ntio nality. A t the o utse t, an im partial vie w
o f o ur m anife statio ns m ay e lude us. W e have no t ye t le arne d to take the ne ce ssary ste p
back to he ar o ur o w n vo ice s, to se nse habitual bo dily po sture s, o r to e x pe rie nce
re pe titive e m o tio nal and m e ntal patte rns m o re im m e diate ly and visce rally. Othe rs se e
m uch o f this in us, but w e do no t. Ye t, little by little , w e be gin to le arn.
S ubse que nt chapte rs co nside r the po w e r o f ide ntificatio n and the ne e d fo r se lf-study.
W e m ust le arn to distinguish be tw e e n w hat is auto m atic and w hat is authe ntic. Briggs:
The prim ary change is the se e ing and acce pting w hat is se e n, in the m idst o f o ur
m anife statio ns. S e e ing w itho ut judging, w ith im partial inte re st, is a fe ature o f
co nscio usne ss and the stre am o f inte ntio nality. This is a gift that re quire s
pre parato ry w o rk.
W ish and the Ro le o f the M ind is the first chapte r in a se rie s o f chapte rs that de al w ith
the ro le o f w ish (o r aim , as it use d to be calle d) in the W o rk. G urdjie ffs w o rds are
quo te d: W ish can be the stro nge st thing in the w o rld. The ro le o f m ans ce ntre s is
discusse d and G urdjie ff is quo te d as saying that tho ughts are thinking in m e . The
diffe re nce be tw e e n justificatio n and e x planatio n is discusse d.
Briggs: W he n bo th m y m ind and fe e lings are ide ntifie d w ith justifying o r e x plaining,
w o rd-pro ducing functio ns in the m ind re adily co o pe rate . But w he n the re is re al w o rk to
be do ne , this auto m atic part is sile nt. W ill is calle d fo r, so m e thing inte ntio nal. A quite
diffe re nt part o f the m ind ne e ds to appe ar. M an is m achine ry. Our w o rk is to no t
atte m pt to w ithdraw fro m co ntact w ith this curre nt. It is to le arn, little by little , to re late
to it w ith gre ate r aw are ne ss.
Em o tio ns abo ut e m o tio ns is a ne w fo rm ulatio n fo r m e and pe rhaps fo r so m e o the r
re ade rs as w e ll. Briggs: W he n m y aw are ne ss o f an e m o tio n is side tracke d by an
auto m atic re actio n, by an e m o tio n abo ut the e m o tio n, is it to o late to w o rk? F o r Jane
H e ap, it w as ne ve r to o late . W e be gin fro m pre cise ly w he re w e are . W e co m e into
aw are ne ss no w , rathe r than w aiting fo r a be tte r m o m e nt, o r the arising o f m o re
po sitive attitude s. L o o king back at lo st o ppo rtunitie s w ith re gre t rare ly he lps us. The
m o m e nt to be gin is no w .
A chapte r is de vo te d to the m ultiplicity o f Is and it de scribe s ho w during an afte rno o n
Briggs assum e d o ne ide ntity afte r ano the r, o ne se t o f re spo nse s afte r ano the r se t, w ith
hardly a se nse o f any se gue s. H e pre fe rs o r de fe rs se e m ingly like an auto m ato n,
assum ing o ne ide ntity afte r ano the r. Re ade rs w ill find the e x pe rie nce s that he
de scribe s appro priate to the ir o w n e ve ryday live s. W hat to do abo ut this situatio n? A t
e ve ry ste p w e ne e d pe e rs . Pe e rs-w itho ut-quo tatio n-m arks can ke e p a pe rso n
ho ne st.
Risks in gro up w o rk is no t the title o f a chapte r but it is the subje ct-m atte r o f o ne
inte re sting chapte r, and it go e s into de tail abo ut the tactics that pe o ple de vise o r
e vo lve to de al w ith the nature s o f gro ups o r scho o ls and the nature s o f the pe o ple w ho
atte nd the m . Jane H e ap o nce said that M r. G urdjie ff co uld se e into the dark co rne rs o f
all o f us be cause he saw into all the dark co rne rs in him se lf. Briggs distinguishe s
be tw e e n re m arkable attainm e nts and unfo rtunate crystallizatio ns. A t this juncture
the ro le o f sho cks is discusse d.
H e re I fe lt the discussio n w as skating o n thin ice , fo r Ouspe nsky had go ne into m uch
m o re de tail, distinguishing, as he did, be tw e e n the tram p and the lunatic. The fo rm e r
co uld no t ho ld any single tho ught fo r any appre ciable tim e w hile the latte r co uld no t
e nte rtain any tho ught but the o ne that curre ntly o bse sse d him . H o w e ve r, Briggs do e s
quo te G urdjie ff: L e arn to like w hat it dislike s. The re fo llo w s is a brie f discussio n o f
the ro le o f charm and ho w it harm s.
S tude nts o f the w o rk w ill find the ne x t tw o chapte rs to be o f spe cial inte re st the
chapte r o n Jane H e ap o f bio graphical and biblio graphic inte re st, the chapte r o n Je an de
S alzm ann re le vant to o ngo ing discussio ns o f the drift o r the dire ctio n take n by the W o rk
since the 1960s. A s Briggs e x plains, M r. G urdjie ff did no t instruct M adam e to co ntinue
e ve rything in fix e d and do gm atic w ays. H e r task w as to sustain the clarity and e x pand
the influe nce o f the te aching, w hile he lping re lative ly sm all num be rs to e x pe rie nce a
de e pe ning inne r e ngage m e nt. A side fro m e x e rcise s fo r be ginning le ve ls, such as yo u
and I have discusse d, M r. G urdjie ff intro duce d appro ache s to sile nt w o rk to a fe w
pe o ple w ho had be e n w ith him fo r m any ye ars, and to o the rs he co nside re d pre pare d
fo r this w o rk. F irst am o ng the se w as M adam e de S alzm ann.
A s Briggs e x pre sse s it, A sian te achings w e re m aking inro ads in the W e st. M adam e de
S alzm ann ne e de d to unde rstand and asse ss the se ne w influe nce s in W e ste rn culture in
re latio n to the G urdjie ff te aching, e ve n as she re spo nde d to the de m ands o f he r spe cial
ro le . S he ne ve r re siste d spe aking w ith te ache rs o f e stablishe d traditio ns, e ve n trave ling
to m e e t the m in the ir o w n institutio ns and be having e x te rnally no t as a te ache r, but as
a stude nt. But the co urse o f he r w o rk had be e n se t lo ng be fo re , by M r. G urdjie ff.
Else w he re it is said that M adam e atte nde d the Bo llinge n le cture s o n Jungs tho ught at
A sco na and e ve n jo urne ye d to C airo to m e e t the Traditio nalist thinke r Re n G ue no n.
Quite e njo yable are o ccasio nal re fe re nce s to M rs. S tave le y and the chapte r de vo te d to
the scalaw ag F ritz Pe te rs. Briggs quo te d Jane H e ap o n the latte r pe rso nality: In and o ut
o f gro ups, pe rso nal qualitie s are o fte n m istake n fo r since rity and truth. A late r chapte r
co nside rs the spe cial case o f Jo hn Be nne tt, de spite Briggss fe e ling that it w as difficult
to discuss a figure po sse ssing such use ful skills, a gre at sto re ho use o f inte nsity, and,
fro m the vie w po int o f tho se w ho m he influe nce d, a spe cial and pro fo und unde rstanding
o f the G urdjie ff te aching.
Be nne tt is se e n as a m an w ho place d actio n be fo re se lf-que stio ning and riske d the
inadve rte nt m ingling o f all the traditio ns w ith w hich he w as fam iliar w ith w hate ve r o ne
w as at hand. W ille m N yland is also discusse d. H ad N yland go ne o ff o n his o w n o r had
the re st o f the fo llo w e rs le ft the path? A s Briggs had little first-hand kno w le dge o f
N yland, the po int is no t pursue d.
The chapte r o ddly title d Ro lling the Triangle re fe rs to the L aw o f Thre e , in ge ne ral to
the A ctive , Passive , and N e utralizing principle s, w ith spe cific re fe re nce s to the Thre e
C e ntre s in m an. Jane H e ap intro duce d the no tio n to Briggs w ho e x plaine d ho w the
triangle is ro lle d in the se nse that e ach ro le is change d o r ro tate d to cre ate o the r
bo dily im pre ssio ns thro ugh atte ntio n and w ish. H e co nclude s, Inside us, po te ntially,
are m any o rde rs o f triangle s.
L ate r chapte rs re fe r to E .J. G o ld, Idrie s S hah, Jan C o x , and A le x H o rn, w ho trie d to take
the W o rk o r at le ast its fo llo w e rs in dire ctio ns o f the ir o w n de vising. A chapte r is
de vo te d to the so -calle d F e llo w ship o f F rie nds le d by Ro be rt Burto n. A t o ne tim e his
fo llo w e rs w e re dubbe d the bo o km ark pe o ple be cause the y w e re taske d to visit
m e taphysical bo o ksto re s and inse rt the ir o w n bo o km arks into co pie s o f bo o ks by
Ouspe nsky, G urdjie ff, and kindre d w rite rs. The bo o km arks (handso m e ly pro duce d; I
o w n a co uple ) list te le pho ne num be rs o f lo cal gro ups. If the re are still bo o km ark
pe o ple , the ir bo o km arks pro bably no w include w e bsite s and e m ail addre sse s. Briggs is
surprisingly lo ng-suffe ring and philo so phical abo ut the se le ade rs and the ir gro ups:
Po ssibly a fe w pe o ple in ce nte rs le d by such pe o ple se nse so m e thing w ro ng and the n
lo o k fo r m o re re liable so urce s.
The chapte r The Ye n to Te ach is o ne o f the fe w discussio ns o f the ro le o f the te ache r
o r gro up le ade r that I have e nco unte re d, and it co nside rs the re spo nsibilitie s that
le ade rship e ntails and the m isco nce ptio ns that it ge ne rate s. The discussio n is brie f but
Briggs quo te s a sugge stive insight fro m his o w n te ache r Jane H e ap: W he n yo u grab
ho ld o f so m e thing to o tightly yo u pre ss yo ur o w n finge rprints into it.
The chapte r Our F inal F ace -to -F ace Ex change and the ne x t o ne title d L e tte rs
de scribe Briggss failing he alth be fo re he succum be d to cance r in E ngland. The y also
include Opie s im po rtuning fo r guidance o n ho w to re gard the vario us ce ntre s, ho w
the y sho uld re late to o ne ano the r no t m ans inne r ce ntre s, but the W o rk ce ntre s in
the U nite d S tate s and in L o ndo n and Paris. The re w as also w hat m ight be calle d the
changing nature o f the W o rk, o r at le ast the change in dire ctio n o r e m phasis initiate d
by the Paris ce ntre .
Briggs take s a lo ng-range vie w o f the e ffe cts o f tim e and tide . F e w re alize ho w m uch
the W o rk m o ve d during G urdjie ff s tim e in E uro pe in so far as he change d the w ay o f
passing o n the Ide as a num be r o f tim e s. One pe rio d w as all M o ve m e nts, ano the r his
pe rio d o f w riting, ano the r the inte nse w o rk at the Prie ur , ano the r w o rk w ith ve ry sm all
gro ups, ano the r a pe rio d o f pre paratio n during the w ar, and the last a pe rio d w he n in
his de clining ye ars he him se lf had no m o re ne e d and o nly care d fo r the pe o ple w ho
cam e to him fo r the ir o w n sake s.
S uch change s o r inte rchange s re quire gre ate r e ffo rts at co he sio n. N o w w e are co m ing
to face a lo ne line ss, w he re w e have to take the re spo nsibility, w e have to draw clo se r
to ge the r. This can o nly be do ne by e x change by sharing by w atching by
re m e m be ring in true o pe nne ss. Re lax e d and fre e and cle ar in o ur he ads and he arts.
W hat w e do no w w e m ust do to ge the r and no t alo ne . W e are to o w e ak to go it alo ne .
The last chapte rs de scribe so m e o f the w ays in w hich Opie s o w n life w as affe cte d by
his frie ndship and fe llo w ship w ith Briggs. Thro ugh Briggs, Opie gre w clo se to L o rd
Pe ntland be fo re the le ade rs de ath in 1984. The n the re is the alm o st e le giac se nse that
fo r e ffo rts to take e ffe ct pe o ple m ust w o rk to ge the r. This is e x pre sse d m o st cle arly in
o ne o f the last le tte r that Pe ntland addre sse d to Opie : I be gin to se e m o re cle arly and
w itho ut judgm e nt o r ho stility that the re is so m e chie f w e akne ss in o ur m inds, in e ach o f
us, w hich so far w e have all faile d to co nque r and that the W o rks future re ally do e s
hang o n so m e o f us facing and sharing this individual difficulty w ith e ach o the r.
It is re po rte d that Briggss dying w o rds w e re appro priate : Its all o ne . A nd Opie s bo o k
A ppro aching Inne r W o rk is a w o rk that is all o f o ne pie ce . I have quo te d substantially
fro m the bo o k, principally Briggss w o rds and no t Opie s, be cause the latte r is m o re
than w illing to ste p back to grant his subje ct the m ain spe aking part. The bo o k is ve ry
re adable , ve ry agre e able . In its page s I fo und a fe w facts and fo rm ulatio ns ne w to m e ,
and the y m ay be ne w to o the r re ade rs as w e ll, but the principal value o f this bo o k lie s
no t so m uch in w hat it re ve als as in the de m o nstratio n o f the fact that inne r w o rk
co ntinue s, as lo ng as w e ask, in a he artfe lt w ay, W hat can I do ?
Jo hn Ro be rt C o lo m bo , a To ro nto -base d autho r and antho lo gist, is m ainly kno w n fo r his
w o rk in the fie ld o f C anadiana. But he has a lo ng-standing inte re st in m yste rie s and the
parano rm al. H is fo rthco m ing bo o k (fro m D undurn G ro up) is calle d Je e pe rs C re e pe rs
and it co nsists o f fifty to ld-as-true parano rm al e x pe rie nce s o f C anadians w ith
psycho lo gical co m m e ntarie s. H e is an o ccasio nal re vie w e rs o f bo o ks abo ut the W o rk fo r
this blo gsite . F o r info rm atio n o n C o lo m bo s o the r bo o ks, o r to be ale rte d to the
appe arance o f fo rthco m ing re vie w s and co m m e ntarie s, e m ail him at his w e bsite : <
w w w . co lo m bo . ca > .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in APPROACHING INNER WORK: Opie's study of Michael Currer-Briggs,
August 3, 2011 at 11:48 am JOHN ROBERT COLOMO PAGE
Tagged with G. I. Gurdjieff, Gurdjieff Foundation of Oregon, Inner Work, J. G.
Bennett, Jam es Opie, Jane Heap, John Robert Colom bo, Lord Pentland, Madam e de
Salzm ann, Meetings with Rem arkable Men, m oney, MRs Staveley, the Work, Two
rivers Farm
Jo s e p h A z iz e R e v ie w s : T H E R E A L IT Y O F B E IN G
Jeanne de Salzm ann
======================================
Review of The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff,
Jeanne de Salzmann, Shambhala, Boston & London, 2010
(293 pp, plus biographical note, list of de Salzmann founded Gurdjieff Centres, and index) Reviewers note, the
book has been edited with a foreword by an anonymous team.
I have been pondering for two months: should I write a review of this book or not? The sublimity of some of this
writing makes the idea reviewing it seem presumptuous, disrespectful and distasteful. At its best, this volume
represents a unique spiritual literature, and bears ample evidence of the note-makers achievement, authority and
stature. Reading in its pages for even five minutes, new vistas open, lines of study are confirmed and extended, and I
receive fresh direction and hope. And yet I have questions, and even some misgivings, especially about the
presentation of the material as an account of Gurdjieffs Fourth Way rather than as de Salzmanns own Gurdjieff-
influenced teaching, the decision to publish exercises, the descriptions of what I might call higher states (with the
possibility of inviting self-delusion), and whether many people will understand anything much from the book who did
not previously know de Salzmann or have not had firsthand experience in her groups.
But I decided to write when the question occurred to me: what would Jeanne De Salzmann wish for? Adulation? I
cannot rush into rapture over the volume, if only because it has helped me. To fall now into gushing blandishments of
the type Gurdjieff satirised in Meetings With Remarkable Menwould be a betrayal. I feel a certain duty to try and
impartially review this book exactly because, at first blush, it seems to defy all review.
Other of Gurdjieffs pupils have written comparable material, the unpublished black notebook which Jane Heap
kept comes to mind. There is some material from George Adie which is of this genre, but I have never released it,
and have no intention of doing so, given my reluctance to publish exercises and descriptions of higher states because
these might invite self-delusion. Some of Bill Segals material is of this genre, but I dont think it can be compared
with Reality of Being for power, depth or scope. So this is a unique work.
Whether those who did not know de Salzmann or her pupils can benefit from this volume is another question
altogether. My guess is that those people may perhaps sense that there is something significant here, but will find it
too opaque for them. It badly needs a full introduction and glossary.
Finally, before plunging this review, I must thank Dr Sophia Wellbeloved, who helped me see certain matters I had
been colour-blind to. Sophia experienced de Salzmann at first hand, and her impartial but warm personal assessment
merged, as it were, with the force of these writings, in which I have been immersed, to produce quite an impact on
me.
The major problem, and it is a significant one, is the packaging. The issue would not arise had the book been
presented, packaged and titled accurately, for example, as The Reality of Being: The Vigilant Meditation of
Jeanne de Salzmann. The misstatement that this volume is a representation of the Fourth Way of Gurdjieff, which
is a way in life, distorts any reading of the contents, because many of the statements here are meaningful or true only
within the context of what de Salzmann calls the work in the quiet (48) and vigilance and meditation (58). This
practice was developed by de Salzmann from Eastern models, as Bill Segal states in one memoir. Further, the book
as edited moves backwards and forwards between work in life, and work in the quiet in a manner which is not
always clear. It might be a personal development of the Fourth Way, or even a portion of it, but then, why the clunky
subtitle The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff?
De Salzmann did not see this book into the press: she wrote notes which, to judge by the sample on p. 293 were like
journals written up after a period spent in vigilant meditation. The anonymous editors of this volume have, after her
death, marshalled some of these notes of her contemplative experience, and added some other recorded
statements, (whatever form these may have taken, xviii). As the foreword states, she was: constantly reflecting
on the reality of being and writing down her thoughts in her notebook, (xvi). She also wrote ideas for meetings with
her students. These two sets of notebooks were kept like diaries, (xvi), and were understood by the editors to be
the book she referred to when she said that she was writing a book on how to be in life, on the path to take in
order to live on two levels. It will show how to find a balance , (xvi). At her death, the careful state of these
notebooks were taken by those closest to her to be a clear sign that she had intended the material in them to
help complete Gurdjieffs writing on a true vision of reality , (xvi). The editors can only mean that this book is
her effort to complete the Third Series.
The impression of continuity with Gurdjieff, and that this is the Third and a half series, is strengthened by the
editors disclosure ay p. xvi that: She often echoed, and sometimes repeated, his (i.e. Gurdjieffs) exact words,
e.g. the exercise on pp.196-7 of this book is also given in the Third Series. But then the editors announce two pages
later that: No attempt has been made to identify isolated excerpts taken by her from Gurdjieff or other writers,
(xviii).
Why not? I could understand if they had made an attempt but cautioned that they may not have been able to identify
all such excerpts. But to make no effort? Did they feel they had no duty to Gurdjieff, de Salzmann or anyone else not
to pass off one persons work as anothers? I feel sure de Salzmann would never have agreed. A staggering number
of references to Gurdjieff in the text have inexplicably been omitted from the index. Very strange.
When we turn to the index under Gurdjieff, we find the following entry and page references or locators (the
technical term for the page references provided in an index):
Gurdjieff, George Ivanovitch, 1-5, 295-7
It appears as if these are the only references to Gurdjieff in the volume. In fact, his name is also given at 22, 24, 64,
73, 100, 108, 120, 122, 133, 137, 172, 180, 181, 182, 183, 189, 196, 199, 235, 237, 280, 284, 286 and 292.
Why omit so many locators from the index? The only argument I can see, which would not involve disrespect to
Gurdjieff, is to say that the whole of the contents were so indebted to him that reference was pointless.
However, to argue thus is to miss the decisive point, as Aristotle said. It is an error for an index to omit proper
names important to its readers, or to pass over occurrences of that name which go beyond mere mentions. Gurdjieff
could hardly be more important to this book, yet the index has overlooked 22 or more references. Indexing is not
easy: The Society of Indexers holds conferences and offers tutoring on indexing. Its web-site (www.indexers.org.au)
includes this wisdom: A good index can be much more than a guide to the contents of a book. It can often give a far
clearer glimpse of its spirit than the blurb-writers or critics are able to do. Quite so.
So, despite the often sublime contents, this book is something of an odd job. There are 140 entries. Each is of a
fairly consistent length of between one and a half to two pages Presumably each piece was written on the one day
(except where it was later supplemented by the mysterious recorded statements). Each of the 140 entries has a
title, but no date, and theyre numbered 1 through to 140. The titles are written in Roman, e.g. A nostalgia for
Being and Only with a stable Presence. These are arranged in 36 titled sections (32 sections have 4 entries, and 4
sections have but 3). The sections are unnumbered, and have italicised titles like: To Remember Oneself and A
Pure Energy. Without exception, there are three sections to a chapter. The chapters are numbered in Roman
numerals, and are titled OPENING TO PRESENCE, TO BE CENTERED, and so on.
The cover illustration is of a landscape beneath the night sky. In the lower heavens is an enneagram. On the earth, we
see someone wearing what seems to be a bright red scarf. But it is a strange scarf: it looks as if a small inverted
ziggurat has attached itself to someones back. Is it meant to represent the descending energies which de Salzmann
writes of? Despite the Gurdjieff packaging, to put it that way, there is a photograph of the diarist, but none of
Gurdjieff. Neither is an attempt made to relate her ideas to those of other people: yet this context could have helped
people understand the significance of her writing. For example, she answers Humes enigma that one never finds a
self (In A Treatise of Human Nature, Hume discussed the question of personal identity, and argued that we
assume that we have a self, but in fact there is no evidence at all for this). Explaining this somewhere would make
the volume more accessible for the very many people who are acquainted with Hume, but not Gurdjieff.
That is the contents. To speak of aims, the book is pretty clearly missionary. It is meant to attract people to the de
Salzmann groups (hence p.301 with its list of centres, and its reference to the Reality of Being website, to meet the
anticipated demand).
My intuition is that the actual motive to publish this quality hardback was not only to give those who knew her a
substantial memento, but also to reach that elusive audience of seekers, and to establish an independent basis for de
Salzmanns reputation as a spiritual authority. Together with the previous Foundation-sponsored or inspired
Gurdjieff: Essays and Reflections, Heart Without Measure, Without Benefit of Clergy, The Forgotten
Language of Children, Tchekhovitchs Gurdjieff: A Master in Life, and the volume of Parobola articles
Ravindra edited, a bookshelf is being built up. In these books, Gurdjieff orthodoxy passes solely through de
Salzmann, and other major figures such as Bennett, Ouspensky and Jane Heap barely exist, if at all. It is as if the
Foundation has embarked on a publishing offensive.
Before each of the twelve parts of the volume, the editors have placed a page with some one-liners, presumably
chosen for their punchy impact. The very first maxim on the very first of these pages, p.8, reads: the child wants to
have, the adult wants to be. How could anyone write anything so glib and pat, I wondered to myself? If anything, it
struck me, the exact opposite is true. But then I read the quotation in context on p.10: We need to see our
childishness in relation to the life force, always wishing to have more. The child wants to have, the adult wants to be.
The constant desire for having creates fear and a need to be reassured. In other words, de Salzmann was
explicitly speaking about the childish aspect of ourselves, not children in general. To place that sentence as a
disembodied quote on a splash page was to invite misinterpretation.
De Salzmann wished to carry on and develop what Gurdjieff had brought, and yet, as Conge is reported to have
said, it seemed as if Gurdjieff left something uncompleted in his work (noted in Ricardo Guillon, Record of a
Search). It seems to me that most of Gurdjieffs pupils supplemented his methods and ideas with methods and ideas
from mystical traditions. My own view is that Gurdjieffs heritage is equivalent to medicine: there is no reason why
Christians, for example, should not use medicine, not matter who the doctor is, and the Gurdjieff system is one of
psychological medicine.
Gurdjieff did not bequeath to de Salzmann an organization. She had to work indefatigably just to build up the
Institute and to maintain its main branches in but three other cities: London, New York and Caracas. Then, through
those second level suns, she could have an influence on other groups, and would travel to other places such as San
Francisco. It was as if she had cardinals in Paris who would travel, especially to London and New York, where the
councils were made up archbishops. Most of these then travelled to other places within their archdioceses. Gurdjieff
had been the personal centre of his pupils. De Salzmann set up an institution which could effectively take over after
the charismatic leader had gone, serving as a sort of school where guides and mentors might come and go, but the
institution would survive and develop a sort of corporate personality. She had to position herself at the centre, and
placed the emphasis of those aspects of the teaching she had mastered, that is, the groups and movements. Those
parts where she was not quite so confident, especially the ideas and the books such as Beelzebub, she downplayed
in comparison. For example, she early introduced a rule that there were to be no discussions of Beelzebub in the
groups.
De Salzmann felt, it seems to me, that she needed her own special area to cement her authority. This is, I think, why
she devised new means of work (where one speaks from the present after a sitting), and, of course, the sittings
(or quiet work). If she was to base her authority, at least in part, on these, they had to be considered an essential
component of the groups efforts, so she removed the competition: she stopped systematically teaching the Gurdjieff
preparation and exercises. She also forbade the movements to be taught in their entirety: from a certain point in time,
one only learnt parts of movements. It was said that this was to stop people like the Rajneeshis stealing them. But I
do not think that that was all. I am not saying that that was not a factor, but I do not think it was determinative,
because by ceasing to teach all of a movement, she ceased to teach them in the way Gurdjieff had intended. Her
method of allowing only a few trusted instructors to have the entire movement from beginning to end was like
thwarting an anticipated vandalism by committing it yourself.
Apart from the Gurdjieff omissions, there is another matter about the index I must raise. The problem with the entry
for tempo is that there is none. There is a reference for rhythm, but there should also be one for tempo. At
192, De Salzmann uses rhythm and tempo as being equivalent terms. Relevant locators for tempo and
instances where equivalents are used include 124, 139, 147 (rhythmic order), 182 (the rhythms of all the
functions), 188, 192, 195, 209, 265 (rhythm), 272 and 273. This concept was important to de Salzmann. The
understanding of tempo is linked to the understanding of the entire person in who these tempos operate. Interestingly,
the English translation of Beelzebub, in the version Gurdjieff authorised, always uses the word tempo. Irrespective
of what de Salzmann wrote in French, they leave the general rhythm is a mediocre translation: better to say they
fall out of or even they depart from the general rhythm. But the point is in the meaning.
What Gurdjieff means is this: just as the different centres have their own individual tempos, so too, can one speak, as
Gurdjieff does, of an aggregate tempo of our common presence. He says that one tempo (or, I think, limited
range of tempos), is related to essence, and another much wider range of tempos supports the emergence of
personality, and the other larger range supports the domination of personality. This is not the place to go into it in
detail, but the tempos of Gregorian chant correspond to the tempo of essence. If one understands what one is doing,
then one can change ones aggregate tempo and thus come closer to essence. It is, therefore, a matter of the greatest
practical importance.
Another obvious matter I have barely alluded to is that the struggle with negative emotion is not set out here along
Gurdjieffs method of what I might call active mentation, which is really a three-centred confrontation. De
Salzmanns method is more to seek a state where one does not feel negative emotion. That is something, but I dont
think it is enough.
There is so much more I could say, for example, her comments on tonus anticipate what I came to about pitch.
But this suffices for now. This is primarily a de Salzmann book and only secondly in the Gurdjeiff line. Much of the
material is of the first significance for those seeking a finer consciousness which stands behind and above our other
functions.
J O S E P H A Z I Z E has publis hed in anc ient his tory, law and Gurdjieff s tudies . H is firs t book The Phoenic ian
Solar Theology treated anc ient Phoenic ian religion as pos s es s ing a s piritual depth c om parative w ith
N eoplatonis m , to w hic h it c ontributed through Iam blic hos . The s ec ond book , Gilgam es h and the W orld of
A s s yria, w as jointly edited w ith N oel W eek s . It inc ludes his artic le arguing that the C arthaginians did not
prac tic e c hild s ac rific e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE BOOK REVIEWS, Joseph Azize Reviews: THE REALITY OF
July 13, 2011 at 4:32 pm BEING
Tagged with 'Life is Real', Fourth Way, Gurdjieff, Jeanne de Salzm ann, Joseph Azize,
The Reality of Being, vigilance and m editation
T A M IN G Y O U R IN N E R T Y R A N T : P A T T Y D E L L O S A
T H E JO H N R O BE R T C O L O M BO PA G E
T am in g Y o u r In n er T y ran t
The N ew Bo o k by Patty de Llo s as Is Rev iew ed by Jo hn Ro bert C o lo m bo
It s eem s an o dd tho ught fo r anyo ne to hav e, but w henev er I think o f Patty de Llo s a, w hat c o m es to
m ind is the im age o f a tyrant. N o w a tyrant is s o m eo ne w ho illegitim ately s eizes and w ields po w er fo r
his (o r her o r its ) o w n ends ; w ho illegitim ately s upplants the rightful ruler; w ho des po tic ally brings
abo ut the ruin o f the s tate (o r the s tate o f o nes being). So m e s elf- s tyled rulers turn into m ild-
m annered tyrants , m o re autho ritarian than dem o c ratic , but all o f them , in tim e, giv en their head,
bec o m e auto c rats . A ll o f them are s edev ac antis ts that is , us urpers w ho hav e no right to their
thro nes o f po w er o r to their s eats o f judgem ent. The w o rs t tyrants o f all are o ur inner dem o ns .
Let m e has ten to s ay that Patty de Llo s a is no tyrant fo r s he is no t the leas t bit tyrannic al in pers o n!
She m ay be a w o m an o f firm judgem ent, but her judgem ent and depo rtm ent are tem pered w ith a
s ens e o f c o ns iderable pres enc e. In s o m e w ays s he is m ild- m annered; in o thers , v ery direc t in m anner
a w o rk ing c o m binatio n o f o ppo s ites . In pers o n, and in print, s he ex udes the po w er o f
c o nc entratio n. A ltho ugh bas ed in N ew Yo rk C ity, s he has num ero us c o ntac ts in N o rth and So uth
A m eric a, and is a frequent and w elc o m e v is ito r to W o rk c entres in To ro nto and els ew here.
H ere is o ne paragraph o f des c riptio n tak en fro m her w ebs ite: Patty de Llo s a is a C o ntributing Edito r
o f Parabo la M agazine. She has led gro up c las s es , day- lo ng w o rk s ho ps and w eek - lo ng intens iv es in
the Gurdjieff w o rk , Tai C hi and Tao is t m editatio n and teac hes the A lex ander Tec hnique bo th
priv ately and in gro up c las s es . A m o ng her m o s t rec ent v enues are N o rthern Pines H ealth Res o rt; the
Peruv ian A k ido A s s o c iatio n; the Lak e C o nferenc e C enter, N ew Yo rk ; C o lum bia U niv ers itys Graduate
Theatre Pro gram and the So c iety fo r Ex perim ental Studies , To ro nto .
A s an edito r and w riter, M s . D e Llo s a is m ak ing a genuine c o ntributio n to Parabo la, the quarterly
m agazine publis hed by the So c iety fo r the Study o f M yth and Traditio n, no w in its 36th year. She is
the autho r o f a v aluable and highly readable m em o ir titled The Prac tic e o f Pres enc e (is s ued in an
attrac tiv e editio n by M o rning Light Pres s in 2006). In its pages s he dis c us s es fiv e fo rm ativ e
influenc es o n her life. She c alls thes e the Fiv e Paths fo r D aily Life Tai C hi & Tao is m , Jung &
Indiv iduatio n, The Teac hing o f Gurdjieff, Prayer & M editatio n, F.M . A lex anders M ind / Bo dy
Integratio n.
I no w as s o c iate the w o rd tyrant w ith M s . D e Llo s a bec aus e o f the title o f her new bo o k . To be s ure,
M s . Llo s a is a tyrant- tam er rather than a tyrannic al being hers elf. The bo o k is titled Tam ing Yo ur
Inner Tyrant and it bears the s ubtitle A Path to H ealing thro ugh D ialo gues w ith O nes elf. (Fro m no w
o n, I w ill try to res is t think ing o f her as a pith- helm eted, lio n- tam ing C lyde Beatty, w ielding a m ighty
bull- w hip!) H ere are s o m e biblio graphic al details .
The v o lum e is a hands o m e trade paperbac k , 5.75 x 8.5, x v iii + 214 pages , w ith a s trik ing c o v er in
an unus ual s hade o f c rim s o n w hic h features a dev il- m as k that s eem s M iddle o r So uth A m eric an o r
Tibetan o r W hatev er! It is an all- purpo s e m as k , fierc e and fiery, ev o c ativ e o f the Indian- giv er nature
o f depic tio ns o f po w erful entities and deities in tribal art. The publis her a new o ne to m e: A Spiritual
Ev o lutio n Pres s , 8 Luc c arelli D riv e, H o lm del, N ew Jers ey 07733, U .S.A . The c o m panys w ebs ite <
w w w .aSpiritualEv o lutio n.c o m > w as no t up- and- running w hen I las t c hec k ed. The autho rs w ebs ite is
an ac tiv e o ne < w w w .tam ingyo urinnertyrant.c o m > . The bo o k s ISBN is 978- 0- 9822323- 1- 6.
The tex t o f the bo o k c o ns is ts o f an intro duc tio n, s ev enteen c hapters , and an epilo gue, fo llo w ed by
s ec tio ns o f ac k no w ledgem ents , autho rs bio graphy, and biblio graphy. The biblio graphy c o nc entrates
o n bo o k s and tapes that are relev ant to the c o ntents o f Tam ing Yo ur Inner Tyrant, m ak ing this a
bo o k (at o nc e a m em o ir and a s elf- help public atio n) that is bo th o f interes t and o f us e, es pec ially to
w o m en. The bo o k is dedic ated to m y m any teac hers , es pec ially to G.I. Gurdjieff and Jeanne de
Salzm ann, but als o to C .G. Jung and the C anadian therapis t and autho r M ario n W o o dm an. There are
tw o epigraphs , the firs t fro m Gurdjieff abo ut the death o f that Tyrant fro m w ho m pro c eeds o ur
s lav ery in this life, and the s ec o nd fro m N o rthro p Frye: The tyrant is the m an w ho narro w s the
s c o pe o f life, in o ther w o rds c reates a hell o ut o f hum an life.
The tw o epigraphs neatly s k ew er M s . Llo s a tyrant, a hyperc ritic al judge w ho m o nito rs yo ur ev ery
w o rd and ac tio n, and tells yo u w hats w ro ng w ith yo u. In the Intro duc tio n s he w rites abo ut her v ery
o w n inner to rm ento r, o r to rm ento rs , and ho w o v er the dec ades o f her life s he tried to c o m e to term s
w ith this inner dem o n, o r thes e inner dem o ns , princ ipally em plo ying the ins ights o f C arl Jungs
A c tiv e Im aginatio n, M ario n W o o dm ans no tio n o f the w o unders and the w o unded,
pharm ac eutic als , dis c iplines lik e Tai C hi, etc .
It is the pres ent rev iew ers preferenc e to refer to s uc h a dem o n as an im pers o nality rather than as a
pers o nality an It rather than a H e o r a She bec aus e its es s ential nature is m ec hanic ality. It
c an be c o unted upo n to behav e s urpris ingly, as if dev ilis hly pro gram m ed. But M s . D e Llo s a has fo und
it m o re effec tiv e to pers o nify o r anthro po m o rphize thes e po w ers o r pres enc es o r abilities (o r
dis abilities ) in o rder to deal w ith the legio n o f them . By fo llo w ing in the fo o ts teps o f Jung, s he go es
abo ut s tripping them o f their po w er. She do es this in an unus ual w ay, w hic h I w ill try to des c ribe.
The s ev enteen c hapters in effec t rec o unt the s to ry o f M s . D e Llo s as life, w hic h to o k her fro m her
c hildho o d in N ew Yo rk C ity to m arried life in Lim a, Peru, and then bac k to N ew Yo rk C ity w here s he
w as the s o le s uppo rt fo r her three c hildren. She w o rk ed w ith dis tinc tio n as a w riter and edito r fo r
H enry Luc es public atio ns . H o v ering o v er the narrativ e are her parents , Lo uis e and W illiam W elc h,
w ho w ere v ery ac tiv e in the Gurdjieff w o rk in N ew Yo rk C ity, To ro nto , H alifax , and pres um ably o ther
c entres as w ell, w here their m em o ries rem ain ev er green.
In the pages o f The Prac tic e o f Pres enc e s he w rites auto bio graphic ally. O f partic ular interes t is ho w
at the age o f fifteen years s he m et Gurdjieff at the W ellingto n H o tel in January 1949. The m eeting left
a las ting im pres s io n. (The s to ry o f the eight s ilv er do llars that he pres ented to her as a c hallenge is a
W o rk c las s ic .) But in the pres ent bo o k , it is inner dis turbanc es and diffic ulties that are highlighted, if
that is the v erb to us e to refer to illum ining the dark s ide o f the hum an pers o nality. H ere the reader
w ill enc o unter detailed des c riptio ns o f the s pec ific appro ac hes that s he dev elo ped to handle thes e
ev er- pres ent, ev er- irritating tyrants o f negativ ity. In do ing s o , s he drew o n the teac hings o f Gurdjieff
and Jung, Tai C hi and the A lex ander m etho d, etc .
M s . D e Llo s as tyrants m ay be s een v ario us ly as pers o nality fragm ents , arc hetypes , ro les ,
c o m plex es , s ec o ndary pers o nalities , o ther s elv es , etc . The autho r w is ely s teers c lear o f a s ingle
definitio n o f the dynam ic s inv o lv ed, fo r s he is m o s t c o nc erned w ith rec o gnizing their pres enc e w ithin
her pers o nality o r ps yc he. She do es s o , c hapter by c hapter, in term s o f her o w n ex perienc es . She
giv es thes e tyrants labels o r nam es lik e W o m an in a C o m a, the Frightened C hild, N ic e- Guy, and
M rs . Rigid and then s he pro c eeds to c o nv ers e w ith them , ques tio ning them , and in the pro c es s
dis arm ing them .
Eac h c hapter c o m es in three parts . The firs t part o f a c hapter c o ns is ts o f a s traight- fo rw ard
des c riptio n o f a painful epis o de in the autho rs life. Readers w ill identify w ith thes e diffic ulties
bec aus e they are neither c o m m o n no r unc o m m o n but c harac teris tic pro blem s and w o unds , traum as
and injuries , o f o ur tim e. The s ec o nd part o f eac h c hapter tak es the fo rm o f a dialo gue betw een the
autho rs c o ns c io us s elf and o ne o f her unc o ns c io us s elv es . H ere the autho rs ques tio ns appear in
italic s , and the ans w ers that w ere giv en to her appear in bo ld italic s . The third part o f eac h c hapter
adds an unex pec ted dim ens io n to the bo o k , a c o ntributio n that alo ne is w o rth the lis t pric e o f
$14.95. This unique feature c o ns is ts o f adv ic e, in bo ld type, abo ut the general attitude o ne s ho uld
tak e to o nes s elf, o nes pro blem s , o nes po s s ibilities , and ev eryday liv ing.
C hapter 14 o ffers a go o d ins tanc e o f the three- part w o rk in pro gres s . The c hapter is titled W o m an in
a C o m a and it begins w ith a s ho rt des c riptio n o f the adv ent o f the feeling o f inertia, s leepines s , and
indec is io n that w ill o v erc o m e m o s t peo ple, us ually later in life, o ften in the early afterno o n.
Fo llo w ing the des c riptio n is the ex c hange in dialo gue fo rm . It m ay s eem inno c ent eno ugh o n the
s urfac e, but there are s urpris es beneath the s urfac e. Q . W hy am I afraid? H o w c an I liv e m o re in
balanc e? A . Kno w w ho m yo u s erv e. The res po ns e s o unds a little lik e the o ne o f tho s e replies
generated by the O uija bo ard, but this is o nly o ne ex c hange in a s eries o f abo ut three do zen in that
c hapter alo ne. Indeed, w ho m do es o ne s erv e? The res po ns es pro v o k e think ing and ev o k e feeling.
The unique feature in this c hapter c o ns is ts o f a s eries o f s eparately titled paragraphs . Eac h paragraph
o ffers a different tak e o n the s ituatio n. There are nine tak es fo r this c hapter and thes e are, in
effec t, nine m editatio ns , eac h o ne a s ingle paragraph in length. The firs t o ne s eem s reas o nable
eno ugh: A c c ept Inner D iv is io n. The s ec o nd o ne m ay s eem debatable: O nly gentlenes s c an deal w ith
fearfulnes s . The third o ne s trik es m e as v ery relev ant: C hallenge the attitude that life is an o rdeal.
The fo urth o ne m ak es a dis tinc t ps yc ho lo gic al c o ntributio n: Q ues tio n reac tio ns , lo o k fo r
res po ns es . I c o uld c o ntinue to s um m arize the res t, but ins tead w ill jum p to the ninth w hic h go es
lik e this : The benefit o f the do ubt is real, to o . Thes e m editatio ns are a s ingular and irreplac eable
part o f this bo o k .
So w hen I think abo ut Patty de Llo s a, the c o nditio ned res po ns e I hav e is to think abo ut her as a
tyrant- s layer, C lyde Beatty. But that is w ro ng bec aus e that is no t w hat Tam ing Yo ur Inner Tyrant is
abo ut. It is abo ut learning to liv e w ith o nes c o ntradic tio ns , w ith thes e pres enc es that Freud c alled
reac tio n fo rm atio ns and Jung term ed enantio dro m ias . The attrac tiv e c harac teris tic o f Tam ing
Yo ur Inner Tyrant is that the autho rs appro ac h is a aw es o m e flo w ering fro m the tangled ro o ts o f the
po s s ibilities , c o ntradic tio ns , s etbac k s , and s uc c es s es o f her o w n life. This flo w ering o ffers readers
the fruits o f her o w n, hard- w o n w is do m princ iples and pro c edures and appro ac hes that w ill pro v e
to be us eful to ev ery attentiv e reader.
Jo hn Ro bert C o lo m bo is a To ro nto - bas ed autho r and edito r w ith a s pec ial interes t in C anadiana and
the m ys terio us . H is c urrent bo o k , publis hed by D undurn Gro up, is titled Fas c inating C anada. Earlier
this year he publis hed a c o llec tio n o f apho ris m s c alled Im pro babilities . H e is an o c c as io nal rev iew er
o f W o rk - related public atio ns fo r this w ebs ite. H is o w n w ebs ite is w w w .c o lo m bo .c a
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in TAMING YOUR INNER TYRANT: PATTY DE LLOSA
June 17, 2011 at 10:01 am
E F F O R T S T O C H A N G E : A N E X C H A N G E W IT H G E O R G E A D IE
T H E JO S E P H A Z I Z E P A G E
============
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E ffo rts to C h a n g e : A n E x ch a n g e w ith G e o rg e A d ie ,

29 N o ve m be r 1979
[It is po ssible to actually co m e to a po int o f change . The o nly que stio ns

are w he n and ho w . To o fre que ntly, w e re ne e dle ssly passive be fo re o ur
de nying facto rs. But it is a fact: pro gre ss is po ssible .]
S a m o p e n e d : L ast w e e k, M r A die , Ive e x pe rie nce d a lo t o f lo ne line ss, w hat I call a

fe e ling o f de spair, and se lf-pity, and tho ughts abo ut m yse lf be ing o n m y o w n. Ive trie d,
w ith w hat fe e ls like so m e succe ss, to w o rk against this by cho o sing o ne pe rso n in the
day fo r e x te rnal co nside ratio n; to co nside r o ne pe rso n in the day, particularly, to shift
the fo cus fro m m yse lf. A nd alo ng w ith the se o bse rvatio ns, Ive had a lo t o f tho ughts
abo ut w he re it co m e s fro m .
W he re the de pre ssio n co m e s fro m ? W hat have yo u co m e to ?
W e ll, the e ve nts in m y life are that the re s a fam ily living w ith m e at the m o m e nt, and
the yve bo ught the ir o w n ho use , and are go ing to m o ve o ut. A nd Im anticipating
m issing the m . A nd I think that also co nne cts w ith o the r e ve nts in m y past. Tw o
que stio ns co m e fro m that. One is, ho w am I to unde rstand this e x pe rie nce , and w hat
attitude sho uld I have to it? A nd the o the r que stio n is, ho w sho uld I w o rk w ith it?
Yo u try to co nfro nt it. That is, yo u try to be quie t, balance d, and the n pro duce this to
yo urse lf. Re ally, to be se parate fro m it.
Ye s, Ive trie d afte r the pre paratio n.
Its part o f the pre paratio n, in a w ay, re plie d A die . The pre paratio n is the m o rning
e x e rcise A die le arnt fro m G urdjie ff, re fe rre d to in his bo o k. Yo ure in this state o f
stillne ss, apart fro m e x te rnal inte rfe re nce s. Yo u try to unde rstand it. Yo u be patie nt,
yo u be pre se nt to the que stio n. Yo u e x pe ct to just so rt o f turn up a tho ught and the n, in
a flick, just find an answ e r: but yo u cant like that. The answ e r has to co m e in diffe re nt
te rm s alto ge the r. F o r instance , yo u say to have e x te rnal rathe r than inte rnal
co nside ratio n fo r a pe rso n.
N o , w hat I said w as to have e x te rnal co nside ratio n fo r so m e o ne e lse and to shift m y
fo cus fro m o n m y o w n se lf-pity, to have co nce rn fo r so m e o ne o the r than m yse lf.
Ye s, but yo uve go t to do the shifting o f yourse lf first. The n e x te rnal co nside ratio n can
take place . To w hat e x te nt it can take place w ill de pe nd upo n yo ur be ing the re . If yo u
re ally co nfro nt it, o r try to think abo ut w hat the se things re ally are , yo u w ill se e that
yo ure w e aving a w e b o f no thing, cre ating a big m o untain o ut o f alm o st no thing.
Its just an asso ciative so rt o f dre am ing, co ntinue d A die , w hats go ing to happe n? Yo u
do nt kno w w hats go ing to happe n at all. D o nt yo u se e that yo ure passive , yo u give in
to it? Yo u have to use it to co m e m o re de e ply to yourse lf . I can spe ak abo ut ce ntralizing
m yse lf, but Im still w o rking pe riphe rally Im still in the he ad and no t re ally stro ngly
ce ntre d in m y se nsatio n. I w ant m o re e m phatic se nsatio n. D e finite . N o w , w hat do I
think? A ll e lse is this shifting pe as, trivial, lightw e ight alm o st no thing W hat is the
re ality?
The n yo u spe ak o f the fe e ling o f lo ne line ss. That can be e x tre m e ly use ful. But it is ve ry
m uch ne ce ssary to change it fro m lo ne line ss into be ing alo ne . I ne e d to be alo ne . W ho
am I go ing to take w ith m e w he n the tim e co m e s? I can take no o ne , I can take no thing.
A t that tim e , e ve rything, m y im aginatio n, m y pe rce ive d lo ne line ss, w ill be all blo tte d
o ut.
Thats fro m o ne po int o f vie w : thats as far as m y de sire to no t be lo ne ly. But in fact I
sho uld take the be ne fit o f all that unco nfro nte d, m isunde rstanding w ithin m e . That is
m y past, in so m e lo w e r fo rm . Yo u cant de stro y the thing. Its pre tty ho rrible , so I cant
affo rd to give in to any ne gative ne ss. But yo ur past also yie lds a highe r fo rm . Yo u are
o ne o f M r G urdjie ffs pupils by se co nd stage thats no t no thing. Thats no t no thing.
N o w yo u co m e ve ry m uch in to uch w ith it. Thats ve ry substantial. A s a final co m m e nt,
he adde d: The re s a lo t o f so rt o f do dgy stuff abo ut it, yo u kno w , its ve ry artistic.
I se e the he lple ssne ss o f it, agre e d S am .
This is the lo w e r e le m e nt, but do nt le nd yo urse lf to o m uch to this side . The re s no
ne e d to be lo ne ly yo u can have yo urse lf. If yo u have yo urse lf the n yo ure anything but
lo ne ly. This lo ne line ss m e ans that so m e thing in m e is se e king an e x te rnal pro p. S o , le t
m e sto p se e king e x te rnal pro ps. I ne e d a m e al, I ne e d so m e re cre atio n, so le t m e go
and have it, but, to sit m o aning fo r pro ps? S o , be active , inne rly active . Yo ur ho pe is
base d o n yo ur im m e diate pre se nce . Ve ry de finite .
The n yo u can have so m e ho pe , o the rw ise , no ho pe . A nd to live w itho ut ho pe is no t
ve ry go o d, but its all base d o n no w . N ow . The re s no future ho pe . A ll ho pe is pre se nt.
Obvio usly w hat is to co m e de pe nds upo n no w . D o nt w ant it to change . U se it, find it
use ful. Kick against the pricks. be inte re ste d, o the rw ise yo ull w e ave a so rt o f m ise rable
glo o m and yo u w o nt se e w hat happe ns w he n the y le ave .
The ne x t que stio n, fro m M ick, again re late d to w hat A die had said abo ut pro ducing to
yo urse lf the ne gative e m o tio n, and co nfro nting it w ith a quie t pre se nce .
M r A die , Ive fo und a cle ar vo ice w ithin m e that le ads m e into dissatisfactio n and
co nside rings. A fo rm o f pe rso nality: a fantasy vo ice that co m e s up and says that do e snt
so und to o go o d, o r it says this w o uld so und be tte r.
S uppo sing yo u give an illustratio n, M ick, o r an e x pe rie nce o f it. W hat yo u say is cle ar
e no ugh, but give an e x am ple o f it if yo u have o ne .
W e ll last w e e ke nd I saw an a po sitio n in a ne w spape r fo r a jo b that se e m e d to be a
be tte r jo b than the o ne I have , e ve n tho ugh its a go o d jo b. This is the instance w he n I
first no tice d this vo ice , the vo ice said this jo b so unds be tte r, it w o uld so und be tte r to
say.
That yo u w o uld be a se rge ant rathe r than a co rpo ral?
Ye s, and during the w e e k I no tice d that vo ice , and re alise d that it had be e n the re a
lo ng tim e , but I had ne ve r no tice d it at all, o r co nfro nte d it, but I e njo ye d it, and I
re m e m be r daydre am ing w ith it, playing w ith it. Id like to kno w ho w to ge t a handle to
e lim inate it.
W e lco m e it! re plie d A die . Ope n the do o r! S ay: Ple ase co m e in! It w ill hate it if yo ure
the re . The difficulty w ill be to ge t it to co m e in: it w ill w ait until yo uve go ne to sle e p,
and the n it w ill co m e alo ng. This is w he re the flash co m e s in: o ur w o rk go e s in flashe s,
and in a flash yo u can be quicke r, and co nfro nt it be fo re it can disappe ar. U se it, be
pre se nt to it, e ve ry tim e it co m e s tro tting alo ng, m e dals o ut and all the re st, yo u be gin
to he ar it co m ing.
But Ive trie d that this w e e k.
Yo u trie d it like that? H o w have yo u trie d it?
W e ll, I have nt be e n pre se nt to it o r w e lco m e d it. A t this, e ve ryo ne laughe d.
A h. S o yo u have nt had the ide a o f w e lco m ing it. Ive go t to be a bit quie t inside . A ll
this take s place inside , the co rpo rals and se rge ants and all that. I have to be ve ry quie t,
I have to take m y w o rk m o re de e ply, re lax m o re . But thats a go o d o bse rvatio n, and its
the sam e fo r e ve rybo dy, the re s no bo dy he re hasnt go t dre am s and hasnt had dre am s.
Its ve ry fam iliar, it co uldnt be o the rw ise . Couldnt be o the rw ise . E ve rybo dy w ants to be
so m e thing, to achie ve so m e thing, and things aro und that. D re am s o f succe ss, dre am s
o f pro fit, dre am s o f glo ry. It starts ve ry e arly. L o o k at ho w he ro w o rship is e ducate d into
yo ung childre n. The yre e nco urage d, the y stim ulate it w ith bo o ks and film s. C haps that
have go t lo ng le gs and can run a bit faste r, the y give the m prize s fo r it, and m ake the m
into he ro e s. Is it cle are r?
Im no t sure w hat yo u said abo ut taking it a little de e pe r.
Be m o re pre se nt, be de e pe r inside . D o nt be satisfie d w ith yo ur o ld de gre e o f
since rity. Just be a bit quie te r and co nfro nt this thing. S e e the stupidity o f it. D idnt yo u
fo llo w w hat w e w e re discussing w ith S am ? It re late s to yo u, do e snt it, altho ugh yo u
have nt go t e x actly the sam e co nditio ns.
I take m y w o rk se rio usly, and the o nly thing that is up to it is m y inne r ce ntre o f
discrim inatio n, but if I o nly discrim inate in m y he ad, its no go o d. Yo u kno w ho w it is
said that no thing can e x ist w itho ut thre e fo rce s, active and passive and ne utralising.
A nd he re are thre e fo rce s, instinctive and m o ving fo rce , e m o tio nal fo rce and
inte lle ctual fo rce bro adly and the y all have to all take part. W e ll. the yre no t ce ntre d
in the to e s. if anything the yre ce ntre d he re , yo u se e . A nd I ne e d that se nse o f m yse lf
be fo re anything. A die m ust have ge sture d to a part o f his bo dy w he n he said ce ntre d
he re .
L o ve and attractio n is ve ry, ve ry po w e rful. It ge ne rally co m e s fro m sam e ce ntral place
w hich m o ve s the w ho le o f yo u, but w he n w e think o f so m e thing, o ur he ad take s ce ntre -
stage , the bo dy is asle e p, and the he ad go e s do dging abo ut, lo o king thro ugh que e r
ho le s, and unde rstanding no thing.
M r A die , I m e ntio ne d it a lo ng tim e ago , said Ida, abo ut ho w w he n m y husband co m e s
ho m e , and he criticise s m e fo r so m e thing in the ho use that no ts right, o r abo ut m e , I
ge t de fe nsive and re act. W he n I first starte d to try and w o rk o n it, I saw that if I w as
criticise d I saw a ne e d to hit back and re taliate . N o w I find that I do nt re taliate .
N o t in the sam e fo rm . W hat fo rm do e s it take no w ?
Its a sulle n sile nce .
In a w ay, thats w o rse fro m his po int o f vie w .
Ye s, be cause w he n I te nde d to hit back quickly, it w as o ve r and do ne w ith, but no w it
te nds to sm o ulde r.
W e ll no w , if yo u re late that situatio n to w hat w e ve just be e n saying, the n yo u can
transfo rm that so m e thing m o re is po ssible .
I se e the e ne rgy thats w aste d.
Ye s, and yo u co uld have that fo r yo urse lf. The re s no thing that w o nt fe e d m e if I can
be in the right place . M o re and m o re w e try and unde rstand w hat alche m y is. A lche m y
is the transfo rm atio n o f o ne kind o f e ne rgy into ano the r, ne gative into po sitive ; the
transfo rm atio n o f co arse m e tal into fine : go ld. It is alw ays said o f the alche m ist that
be fo re he can do that, he has to have so m e go ld to start w ith. This gold is our
pre se nce , this is the go ld that w e ne e d to bring, o ur pre se nce . This w ill transfo rm , so
that yo u have m o re e ne rgy. W e ll, that is a picture , but it ne e ds co nfro ntatio n. Yo u ne e d
to co m pare that, that m arve llo us re ality, w ith this dubio us and ho rrible alte rnative .
Yo u cant e x pe ct him to change , but if yo u change yo urse lf, it w o uld he lp him . H e
w o uld be in the pre se nce o f a diffe re nt pro ce ss. Of co urse , in that co nne ctio n, yo uve
go t to be pre pare d fo r him to be m o re anno ye d be cause yo u do nt re act quite in the
sam e w ay. But, if yo u have yo ur pre se nce , yo u w o nt o ffe nd. If yo u m e re ly disdainfully
put him aw ay o r clo se into yo urse lf, its m o re o ffe nsive than co m ing o ut fighting. It has
to be do ne in the pre se nce of .
Yo u cant cut o ff fro m it: yo ure right in the thick o f it, yo u w ake up inside it, and the n
yo u m ake yo ur transfo rm atio n. This e x trao rdinary invo catio n in the Bible , tho u
pre pare st a table be fo re m e in the pre se nce o f m y e ne m ie s. W hat do e s that m e an?
One re pe ats it, but w hat do e s it m e an? H e re is o ne s e ne m y, ve ry cle arly, isnt it?
Ene m ie s o f m y be ing, and he re is the table . If I e at it, if I take it, I ge t m y fo o d, m y
fe ast. Try and think like that, think ho w , and o f co urse I have to be practical, to o . Try
and be practical.
This is m y inne r w o rk, its no t co nce rne d so m uch w ith m y co m fo rt. Things w ill ge t
be tte r if I w o rk that w ay, but I w ant to m ake this alche m y the ke y o f m y e ffo rt. A ll the
o the r e ffo rts are so rt o f partial e ffo rts, the yre co nditio nal upo n m y ge tting so m e
satisfactio ns and all the re st. This is the o nly pure , unm ix e d e ffo rt. If I can m ake a pure
e ffo rt, I ce rtainly can ge t the e ne rgy, no do ubt, but its difficult, it m e ans sw allo w ing
things w hich in the usual w ay I co uld ne ve r sw allo w . A nd it isnt sw allo w ing to take
the m sw allo w the m slo w ly and painfully. Ive go t to take the m alm o st gladly, and thats
he ll .
I have no t include d the ne x t que stio n. The o ne afte r w as bro ught by S tan. Ive be e n
trying to lo o k at m y dre am s in m y te nse state . Ive no tice d the type s o f dre am s that
have be e n go ing o n suppo rting this state .
Part o f it, re plie d A die . The yre to ge the r. The dre am s e nco urage the state , the state
m ake s gro und fo r the dre am s.
Thats re ally m y que stio n. Ill give yo u so m e e x am ple s. One dre am I can re m e m be r
ve ry cle arly, I sat do w n, I im agine d ve ry vividly, and w ith m y w ho le e m o tio ns, that I w as
having an argum e nt w ith m y bo ss, but be hind that the re se e m e d to be a ce rtain
attitude . I w as in the co m m anding po sitio n. But I co uld fe e l all m y e m o tio nal fo rce
be ing draw n o ut thro ugh this.
N e gative im aginatio n: a de finite kind o f pro ce ss.
W ill I give a fe w m o re e x am ple s?
W e ll, w hat abo ut this e x am ple ? M aybe the o the r e x am ple s are diffe re nt: w hat abo ut
the que stio n he re ?
F irst thing I no tice d abo ut it, the re w as a ce rtain satisfactio n in it. The re w as a te nse
state abo ut it.
Ye s. W e ve alre ady be e n to ld that fro m o ur childho o d w e have e njo ye d o ur ne gative
e m o tio ns, ve ry difficult, e ve rybo dy w o uld have said at the be ginning, o h, o f co urse I
hate m y ne gativity, I do nt like it. But as yo u truly say the re s a ce rtain satisfactio n:
the re s so m e do g rathe r liking its bo ne , do g in m e w ho finds the re s so m e thing the re .
This thing like s the fight its w inning. This is an im aginary I, part o f false pe rso nality
e njo ying itse lf at yo ur e x pe nse , the e x pe nse o f yo ur blo o d, and no t o nly that, but o f
yo ur Ke sdjan blo o d.
I think that as so o n as I se e this dange ro us ne gative im aginatio n, o bvio usly I sho uld try
and change m y state , be cause it can go o n and o n, and I can ble e d. I have se e n w hat m y
state is no w , and no w , dire ctly, I w ant to put a sto p in. G ive it a sho ck. Re giste r w hat it
is, that I ne e d to m o ve , and change m y po sture , take a bre ath, go fo r a w alk. W hate ve r
he lps. I can sure ly take that as a po int to be gin w o rk. The difficult part is that I have to
so m e ho w ke e p o n, but e ve ntually it w ill slo w do w n. Its o nly go t to be unguarde d, and it
w ill go again, yo u se e ?
S o , m y e ffo rt is m o re to sto p dre am ing?
C e rtainly, but yo u de scribe d dre am ing m ix e d w ith ne gative im aginatio n. This
e m o tio nalism has to be sto ppe d. But ho w do yo u sto p?
The re w as a pause in the co nve rsatio n, be fo re A die co ntinue d: Yo u take yo ur e ne rgy
aw ay, take it to yo urse lf. Yo u do nt have anything to do w ith this po iso n at all. Yo u se e ,
if yo u start to hang o nto it yo u can de stro y yo urse lf. Yo u go to yo urse lf. Yo u go and take
the e ne rgy in.
W hat o f the attitude , M r A die ?
The attitude ? The attitude gradually change s. W hat attitude can I have o the r than that
Im be ing sucke d de ad, and so o n the re w ill be o nly a co rpse . Im a co m pulse d, fo rce d
no thing, Im m e diate ly the re s a diffe re nt attitude po ssible , base d o n fine r m atte r, m o ve .
A nd the n I can have an attitude , an inte ntio nal attitude . The attitude I w ant is base d o n
cho ice . I cho o se no t to w aste m y fo rce like that, so I have an attitude gro unde d
ce ntrally: an attitude w hich can lo o k up as w e ll as do w n, an attitude w hich is o pe n and
no t clo se d. A n attitude w hich can m o ve , w hich is m o bile . H o w do yo u unde rstand
attitude ? It isnt o nly a m e ntal thing. Its e ve rything, its m y fe e ling and m y tho ught, o f
co urse , but the tho ught has to be co nne cte d w ith fe e ling and se nse , o the rw ise its a
de ad tho ught. Pe o ple co m m it ho rrible crim e s w he n the yre cut o ff fro m fe e ling and
se nsatio n. If the y had fe e ling and se nsatio n it w o uld be e ntire ly diffe re nt.
I find that m y w ho le day is a syste m o f dre am s, S tan co ntinue d: no t all as e m o tio nal
as that, but all diffe re nt things, co m ing all the tim e .
G o o d, yo ure finding that o ut. The n, w hat is yo ur plan fo r w o rk? N o w , acco rding to w hat
yo uve se e n, acco rding to w hat yo uve re ce ive d, yo u m ake a plan. If yo u m ake a plan,
pe rhaps yo u do nt carry it o ut: but yo u se e w hy yo u didnt. Yo ure still le arning
so m e thing. Or m aybe yo u do carry it o ut fo r a little bit: its a w ho le pro ce ss o f be co m ing
bo rn, and be ing cre ate d, o r aw ake ning, w hich is gradual, gradual, gradual, de pe nding
o n yo ur se lf-im pulse , and the e x e rcise o f yo ur o w n sm all de gre e o f w ill. The m o re yo u
o bse rve yo urse lf, the m o re yo u re lax , the m o re yo u w ill se e w hat yo ur state is by the
se t o f yo ur face , the dire ctio n o f yo ur e ye s, and it w ill te ll yo u abo ut yo ur inne r state ,
and again yo u w ill m ake sm all adjustm e nts. A nd no w that pro bably co ve rs all yo ur o the r
illustratio ns, but if it do e snt, bring the o the r e x am ple s.
In m y e ffo rts, I w o uld have to try and sto p dre am ing all the tim e , w o uldnt I?
But yo u cant do it all the tim e , A die re plie d. Yo u do it som e tim e , by inte ntio n.
N o bo dy can m ake e ffo rt all the tim e . But yo u can m ake e ffo rts o ccasio nally, w he n yo u
ge t calle d. E ve ry no w and the n, yo u co m e up, o the rw ise yo u co uldnt m ake the se
o bse rvatio ns. But yo u do nt o bse rve yo urse lf all the tim e .
Yo u se e that yo ure m anife sting like this, and be co m e de spairing. But yo u o nly
co nclude that its like that all the tim e , be cause the se are the things yo u se e w he n yo u
start to aw ake n. W he n yo u say it go e s o n all day, it so unds ho pe le ss, but cho o se ce rtain
m o m e nts and do nt w o rry abo ut the re st. The se m o m e nts w he n yo ure calle d are the
m o m e nts w he n yo u can m ake e ffo rt. If yo u re late this to yo ur pre paratio n, and plan
w ith it, yo u find m o re light e ach tim e , yo u have m o re co nne ctio n w ith yo ur inte ntio n
w he n the tim e co m e s. I have to have inte nt, o the rw ise I have no po w e r o f actio n, and
the n e ve rything go e s auto m atically. The w ho le e sse nce o f w hat Im trying to say is that
w e re ally have this w ill-po te ntial in us, w e have this po ssibility. This is w hat I have to
bring into m y w o rk at po ints and I plan to allo w this to be to uche d as o fte n as
po ssible . Yo u can pre pare to m ake use o f yo ur pe rio dic fits o f m adne ss, be cause
the re s so m e thing de finite . Thats the practical w ay to w o rk.
H alf w ay thro ugh the ne x t que stio n, unfo rtunate ly, the tape ran o ut.
e dite d Jo se ph A zize , 12 June 2011
JO S E P H A Z I Z E has publishe d in ancie nt history, law and G urdjie ff studie s. H is first

book The Phoe nician Solar The ology tre ate d ancie nt Phoe nician re ligion as posse ssing a
spiritual de pth com parative w ith N e oplatonism , to w hich it contribute d through
Iam blichos. The se cond book, G ilgam e sh and the W orld of Assyria, w as jointly e dite d
w ith N oe l W e e ks. It include s his article arguing that the Carthaginians did not practice
child sacrifice .
The third book, G e orge M ountford Adie : A G urdjie ff Pupil in Australia re pre se nts his
atte m pt to pre se nt his te ache r (a dire ct pupil of G urdjie ff and Ouspe nsky) to an
inte rnational audie nce .The fourth book, e dite d and w ritte n w ith Pe te r El Khouri and Ed
Finnane , is a ne w e dition of Britts Civil Pre ce de nts. H e re com m e nds it to anyone
planning to bring proce e dings in an Australian court of law .
M aronite s is pp.279-282 of The Encyclope dia of Re ligion in Australia publishe d by
Cam bridge Unive rsity Pre ss and e dite d by Jam e s Jupp.
The bo o k
G e orge Adie : A G urdjie ff Pupil in Australia
is available fro m By the W ay Bo o ks.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in EFFORTS TO CHANGE: AN EXCHANGE WITH GEORGE ADIE, JOSEPH AZIZE
June 12, 2011 at 3:02 pm PAGE
Tagged with despair, efforts to change, George Adie, Joseph Azize, lonliness,
seeking external props., self-pity
S u fis m a n d th e W a y o f B la m e : A z iz e re v ie w
===========================
Jo s e p h A z i z e B o o k R e v i e w
===========================
S u fism a n d th e W a y o f Bla m e : H id d e n S o u rce s o f a S a cre d P sych o lo g y, Y a n n is
T o u s s u l i s , w i t h a f o r w a r d b y R .A .H . D a r r ,
Q u e st Bo o ks, T h e o so p h ica l P u b lish in g H o u se , W h e a to n , Illin o is a n d C h e n n a i,
In dia
(2 6 4 p p . i n c l u d i n g g l o s s a r y a n d b i b l i o g r a p h y ).
This is an im po rtant bo o k: it is the m o st acce ssible se rio us living study o f S ufism I have
re ad since Re shad F e ilds The L ast Barrie r , w hich fe ature s F e ilds te ache r Bule nt Rauf
(unde r the pse udo nym H am id). I say living study, be cause it strike s m e that its chie f
aim is no t so m uch to de tail the re latio nship be tw e e n S ufism and the co ntro ve rsial w ay
of blam e , as the pre face m ight indicate , as it is to co m m unicate so m e taste o f the life
o f co nte m po rary S ufism . To ussulis achie ve s this w he n he pre se nts the inte rvie w in
chapte r 8 w ith M e hm e t S e lim zi Be y, w hich de m o nstrate s that the re e x ists in to days
S ufism a be ne fice nt and to le rant spiritual dim e nsio n w hich is suite d to the ne e ds o f the
tim e . The re st o f the bo o k co uld be co nside re d as backgro und, se tting the stage fo r this
inte rvie w . Be y is the o nly living succe sso r, o f M ahm ut S ade ttin Bilgine r (p. 150), w hile
To ussulis is Be ys pupil (a pho to graph o f the m can be fo und at
http://w w w .sufism .o rg/so cie ty/album /se lim .htm l). Bilgine r, in turn, w as the yo unge st
so n o f H aci M aksud H ulusi, a N aqshbandi shaykh w ho w as initiate d by Pir N ur A l-A rabi
(140). On To ussulis acco unt, Pir is the pivo tal figure in the m o de rn de ve lo pm e nt o f the
m alam atiyya , w hich is a w ay o f re fe rring to tho se w ho fo llo w the w ay o f blam e . A s
To ussulis state s, Pir e x e m plifie d the adaptability o f S ufism and Islam to co nte m po rary
co nditio ns (118). The icing o n the cake , as it w e re , is appe ndix 1, the e ight page Risala
i Salihiyya o r Te stam e nt o f the Righte o us by Pir him se lf, translate d by zi and D arr.
The e ntire bo o k, the re fo re , builds up to pre se nting the fo rm idable figure s o f Pir and
zi. To ussulis m ake s no sm all claim s fo r the m , e spe cially fo r Pir. Be fo re his de ath in
1888 (136), Pir N ur A l-A rabi de clare d that he w as a qutb o r po le (134), m e aning that
he w as the spiritual ax is o f his o w n tim e , at le ast as far as so m e S ufis are co nce rne d.
To ussulis be lie ve s, re aso nably e no ugh, that this w as critical in his atte m pt to unify all
the m alam atiyya unde r his o w n dire ctio n (134). The significance o f this appe ars fro m
chapte r 7 o f the Te stam e nt, w he re Pir w rite s that the highe st statio n (o r
achie ve m e nt) po ssible fo r anyo ne is that o f qutb . Pir w rite s o f this statio n: I am
ne ithe r able to e x plain it, no t can yo u grasp it thro ugh anything I m ight say o f it. This
statio n is calle d ahadiyya al-ayn , o r the S tatio n o f M uham m ad. This statio n be lo ngs to
the Po le o f the A ge ( al-qutb al-zam an ). W e are pro hibite d fro m striving fo r it.
H o w e ve r, if the Pro phe t o f A llah pe rso nally initiate s us, it can be taste d, Othe rw ise it is
im po ssible . (This passage at 216 is also de alt w ith and inte rpre te d at 191-192 in the
te x t). {A hadiyya al-ayn lite rally m e ans o ne ne ss or unity o f e ye and o ne ne ss or unity
o f e sse nce ; the w o rd 3ayn (the 3 indicate s an A rabic le tte r w itho ut E uro pe an
e quivale nt) m e ans e ye , spring, so urce , e sse nce , e tc.}
The de e pe st ratio nale is to pre se nt zi and his te aching, at le ast so far I can disce rn.
This is no t sim ply an acade m ic study fo r To ussulis. H is w e b site state s that he : is the
curre nt dire cto r o f The C e nte r fo r H um an Inquiry in E m e ryville , C alifo rnia w he re he
te ache s and co nducts re se arch in the practice o f cro ss-cultural ne go tiatio n, le ade rship
skills, and co nte m plative practice s. (he ) co m bine s acade m ic qualificatio ns w ith
practical e x pe rtise gaine d fro m his thirty-ye ar lo ng e x pe rie nce in M e ntal H e alth
S e rvice s. (H e ) co nducts a se parate private practice as a fam ily psycho the rapist
http://re sum e .itlaqfo undatio n.co m /Re sum e .htm l. S o he is an inte re sting characte r and
is atte m pting to take his S ufism into are as o f bro ade r life w he re it can have an e ffe ct o n
pe o ple w ho are no t the m se lve s S ufi. A s I have o fte n said in this blo g, I think that m o re
e so te ricists sho uld be m aking this e ffo rt.
But the bo o k atte m pts to also pro je ct a ne w picture o f the re latio nship be tw e e n S ufism
and the w ay o f blam e . In do ing so , it aim s to re co nfigure o ur picture o f w hat w e m ight
e x pe ct to find w ithin Islam (alo ng w ith tho se e le m e nts m o re in the public e ye ). The
bo o k is bo th a scho larly study and an acce ssible acco unt o f o ne aspe ct o f m o de rn
S ufism . It the re fo re co m bine s re adability w ith a so lid, dire cte d fo cus. U nlike m o st
scho larly w o rks o n S ufism , it is no t to o dry; and unlike m o st po pular bo o ks o n S ufism , it
is no t to o w e ak o n co nte nt. The re is still pro fo und kno w le dge in ce rtain are as o f
m o de rn S ufism : and To ussulis has m anage d to co nve y so m e thing o f this.
H o w e ve r, the he art o f it re ally is the inte rvie w , and sadly, I do nt fe e l that I can do that
justice w itho ut le ngthy quo te s. It m e ans that the re vie w w ill be a little lo pside d, but
the re are o the r issue s I can co ve r w he re I think o the r re vie w e rs are le ss like ly to spe ak,
and so , w hile stre ssing the bo o ks value and the significance o f the inte rvie w w ith Be y, I
shall pass o n to fo ur m atte rs: To ussulis tre atm e nt o f S ufism in ge ne ral, o f thre e
m o de rn m ave ricks (G urdjie ff, S chuo n and S hah), o f the w ay o f blam e , and the title .
S u fism
To ussulis state s that: The co re o f S ufism is to disco ve r o ne s no n-e x iste nce in the
face o f so m e thing m o re co nvincingly re al (6). This is a plausible inte rpre tatio n, but o f
co urse , it is ve ry vague : this is true o f o the r syste m s. A lso , I find no n-e x iste nce m o re
m isle ading than phrase s such as incho ate re ality, o r e ve n re lative o r unco m ple te d,
be cause it is no t right to say that w e do nt e x ist. But it is true to say that w e do nt e x ist
as w e co uld. S o , w hat is spe cific to S ufism ? To ussulis do e s no t addre ss o the r
philo so phie s and syste m s, and w he n he spe aks o f G urdjie ff, he w ro ngly se e s him as a
S ufi o f so rts, so To ussulis do e s no t answ e r this que stio n. If I co uld garne r an answ e r
fro m this bo o k, it w o uld pro bably be the Islam ic dim e nsio n m ake s S ufism spe cific,
e spe cially, pe rhaps the po sitio n o f M uham m ad (w ho fe ature s pro m ine ntly as a visito r in
dre am s and visio ns, a m atte r w hich I find unhappily re do le nt o f L e adbe ate r and the
m aste rs).
I think that the re s a pro ble m w ith To ussulis de finitio n o f S ufism : as he ve ry co rre ctly
state s: S ufism is a m ultiple x phe no m e no n and the e sse nce o f S ufi spirituality can
ne ve r be fully e x am ine d o utside o f its varying inte rpre tatio ns and so cio histo rical
co nte x ts (8, a po int he m ake s again at 31 and 36). This be ing so , o ne canno t re ally
spe ak o f t h e co re o f S ufism , but o nly o f the co re o f a particular strand o f S ufism . If
To ussulis can se e an ano m aly he re , he do e s no t dire ctly de al w ith it. This brings m e to
w hat I pe rce ive as the m ajo r w e akne ss in To ussulis tre atm e nt o f S ufism : I do no t
acce pt that S ufism is a ho m o ge no us e ntity, altho ugh e ve ryo ne spe aks abo ut it as if it
w e re . I do ubt that it is e ve n as co he re nt a phe no m e no n as so cialism , fo r e x am ple .
Inde e d, it se e m s to m e that S ufism is as o fte n as no t a m isle ading te rm . S o m e S ufis
are little m o re than Islam ic-po litical gro upings, and o the rs are e ffe ctive ly
m agician/e x o rcists w ithin Islam . S o m e S ufis, o n the o the r hand, canno t re ally be calle d
M uslim at all: F rithjo f S chuo n w ho m To ussulis se e m s to se e thro ugh but fails to e x po se
(20), w as o ne . Othe r S ufis are ge nuine m ystics, and so o n. A ll that the se vario us S ufis
have in co m m o n is the nam e . To think that all S ufis, sharing the o ne nam e , m ust share
so m e e sse ntial quality is to be lie ve in w o rds.
Our igno rance do e s no t e nd the re . A ltho ugh To ussulis is o f the vie w that S ufism is
ro o te d in, and shape d by Islam ic tho ught (201), the fact o f the m atte r, at le ast as I se e
it, is that w e do no t kno w the true o rigins o f S ufism . S ufism is a co nge rie s o f curre nts:
e ach m ust be se parate ly studie d. S o m e e ve n m o st S ufis are ro o te d in and shape d by
Islam ic tho ught, but no t all. A tte m pts to lo cate S ufi o rigins w ithin Islam are
te nde ntio us: m any do gm atically de clare this to be so . Eve n H ans Kng, in his study o f
Islam , acce pts the standard line . But the M uslim acco unts o f the o rigins o f S ufism are
late , and e ve n the se asso ciate it w ith characte rs such as S ule im an the Pe rsian (no te
that he be ars a Je w ish/ C hristian nam e and hails fro m o utside A rabia) and o the r
m yste rio us pe rso nage s. A tte m pts to link M uham m ad w ith S ufism are sim ply
unpe rsuasive . To o m uch w hich is w e ll-e stablishe d abo ut M uham m ad te lls against this. I
do no t be lie ve that a m ystic co uld have m assacre d the Je w ish tribe o f the Qurayza, as
M uham m ad did. True , I have a particular vie w o f w hat is invo lve d in m ysticism , and I
sho uld be pre pare d to be surprise d: but I am no t pre pare d to be that surprise d,
G urdjie ffs puzzling vie w o f M uham m ad no tw ithstanding. Julian Baldick am o ngst o the rs
se e s Isaac o f N ine ve h and S yriac C hristianity as having be e n instrum e ntal in the o rigin
o f S ufism . I have so m e sym pathy w ith the ir po sitio n, but altho ugh his M ystical Islam : An
Introduction to Sufism , e asily de m o nstrate s that histo rical strands o f S ufism have o w e d
tre m e ndo us de bts to e x tra-Islam ic so urce s, such as sham anism , he do e s no t
de m o nstrate Isaacs influe nce . A s m atte rs stand to day, w e do no t kno w w hat the o rigins
o f S ufism w e re . W e can o nly de scribe vario us pe o ple and m o ve m e nts w ho e ithe r calle d
the m se lve s S ufis o r w e re calle d that by o the rs. H o w e ve r, the type o f S ufism I find
inte re sting is the type w hich is no t e x clusive ly M uslim . One o f To ussulis chie f go als is
to pro m o te this S ufism . F o r his tre atm e nt o f S ufism and Islam , and the po ssibility o f
supraco nfe ssio nalism w he re M uslim s and C hristians co m bine in o ne S ufi o rde r, re fe r
to pp. 42, 116-117, 132, 149, 187-189 and 202-203.
T h r e e M a ve r icks: G u r d jie ff, S ch u o n a n d S h a h
U nfo rtunate ly, To ussulis is no t a histo rian, and his acco unt if G urdjie ff is flaw e d. The
biblio graphy lists o nly o ne bo o k by G urdjie ff ( M e e tings ) and no ne by Ouspe nsky.
W itho ut re ading G urdjie ffs o w n m ate rial, e spe cially Be e lze b u b and (fo r the practical
side ) the le cture s in L ife Is Re al , w ith Ouspe nskys In Se arch of the M iraculous , it is no t
po ssible to have a so und ide a o f G urdjie ffs ide as. To ussulis re lie s to o m uch o n M o o re ,
w ho w hile co m pe te nt and co nfide nt, is no t alw ays re liable . If o ne is to use M o o re , o ne
sho uld have re gard to Taylo rs N e w L ife , w hich co rre cts m o st o f M o o re s e rro rs, but
To ussulis do e s no t.
Eve n so , so m e o f To ussulis m istake s canno t be laid to M o o re s acco unt. To ussulis

state s that the film o f M e e tin g s o pe ns w ith the yo ung G urdjie ff trave ling thro ugho ut
the N e ar East w ith a gro up calle d the S e e ke rs o f Truth (44). But w he n it o pe ns
G urdjie ff is w ith his fathe r: the S e e ke rs co m e so m e tim e late r. The Babylo nian pe rio d
do e s no t date to ca. 2500 BC E (45): it is at le ast 700 ye ars late r. G urdjie ff did no t
assum e that all o f hum anity w as gradually e vo lving into a ne w fo rm o f co nscio usne ss
(49). In fact, I have no ide a ho w this ide a co m e s to be asso ciate d w ith G urdjie ff. I se e no
sim ilarity be tw e e n G urdjie ffs ide a o f a unifie d I, and anything in F re ud (50). G urdjie ff
did no t say that the re are se ve n fo rm o f se lf (51). H o w e ve r, he did give a se ve n-fo ld
de finitio n o f m an ( M iracu lo u s 71-73) w hich is no t at all dire ctly de rive d fro m the S ufi
m aqam at : G urdjie ffs co nce rn is w ith e ntire ly diffe re nt cate go rie s. To ussulis affirm s a
S ufi o rigin fo r so m e but no t all o f G urdjie ffs m o ve m e nts (46). I w ill grant that po int fo r
the M e vle vi turning, and that he calle d so m e o f his m o ve m e nts de rvishe s , but the
strange thing is that no de rvishe s are kno w n to have use d the m . I w o uld like to se e
so m e e vide nce , fo r the de rvishe s and e spe cially fo r the Obligato rie s, the m o st basic
m o ve m e nts o f all.
The asse rtio n that Ouspe nsky grafte d The o so phical ide as into G urdjie ffs syste m (48) is
baffling. Ouspe nsky w as a purist. H e m e ticulo usly no te d w he re ide as he taught cam e
fro m o the r so urce s. The o nly significant e x am ple s o f this I kno w are his use o f the
P h ilo ka lia and his ide a o f re curre nce . N e ithe r o f the se are the o so phical. In fact,
Ouspe nsky w as an arch-critic o f The o so phy, having go o d w o rds fo r ve ry fe w o f the ir
pro ductio ns. It is unfairly dism issive , to say that M adam e de S alzm ann, M adam e
Ouspe nsky and o the rs co ntinue d to spre ad re m nants o f the m e tho d (58). W hat do e s
To ussulis m e an by o f re m nants o f the m e tho d? To ussulis im plie s a so rt o f se co nd-rate
blind co ntinuatio n o f a bare ly unde rsto o d le gacy. I am far fro m be ing an uncritical
adm ire r o f de S alzm ann, but this is cavalie r tre atm e nt o f so m e o ne w ho , fro m w hat I can
se e , had unde rsto o d G urdjie ff as w e ll as anyo ne e lse and be tte r than m o st. To m y
m ind, the se w o m e n w e re to w e ring figure s.
To ussulis de scribe d S hah as hardly an im po sto r (56). The n, w hy do e s he pro vide so m e

go o d gro unds (54, 57 and 59) to say that S hah w as fully a fraud? E ve n o n To ussulis
acco unt, S hah co m e s acro ss as de e ply cynical and m iracle -m o nge ring. U nfo rtunate ly,
afte r G urdjie ffs de ath, Be nne tt w as in a ve ry e m o tio nal state , and alre ady dispo se d to
be lie ve that all his ge e se w e re the A rchange l M ichae l as he said o nce , and so he w as
vulne rable to S hahs im po sture s. But this line is rathe r sad: the re al sham e is that
G urdjie ff and S hah are tange ntial to To ussulis ce ntral po int. H e co uld, and sho uld, have
le ft the m o ut, and said m o re abo ut Pir and his dire ct pre de ce sso rs and succe sso rs. The
de e pe r re aso n, pe rhaps, fo r To ussulis inte re st in G urdjie ff is that it se e m s to m e
fro m the sle nde r indicatio ns in this bo o k that To ussulis cam e to S ufism thro ugh
re ading Be nne tt (63).
But G urdjie ff is no t w ithin To ussulis are as o f e x pe rtise . To ussulis do e s no t re fe r to

Rando m s e ssay o n G urdjie ff and the w ay o f blam e in G urdjie ff: Essays and Re fle ctions .
The lure o f including G urdjie ff and m aking the bo o k m o re co m pre he nsive le d To ussulis
astray, and m o re is the sham e .
I am also puzzle d by To ussulis take o n S chuo n and his M aryam iyya. In Sufism : Ve il and
Quinte sse nce , if I re m e m be r co rre ctly, S chuo n m ake s the m o st e x trao rdinary blatantly
racist co m m e nts abo ut the rich po ve rty o f Islam and S e m ite s in ge ne ral as co ntraste d
w ith A ryans (if yo u can be lie ve it!), and, as I re call it, rathe r casually m ade a de fam ato ry
re m ark abo ut S e m itic spirituality. I do no t have m y library w ith m e , but w he n I re ad
that, I fe lt that he had to be unbalance d, at le ast. W hat I late r le arne d abo ut the sacre d
nudity o f the M aryam iyya, vo uche d to m e by so m e o ne w ho had be e n a m e m be r o f that
m o ve m e nt, co nfirm e d m y o pinio n. Incide ntally, a m e m be r o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n
o nce to ld m e , at le ast a trifle am use d, that S .H . N asr had e x po stulate d to he r w he n she
aske d a que stio n abo ut S chuo n, that S chuo n w as m o st ce rtainly the pre de ce sso r o f the
M ahdi. This m ake s m e w o nde r ho w since re N asr can be in saying that the tariqa o r
spiritual w ay can be re ache d o nly thro ugh the shariah o r Islam ic law (21). N asr m ust
kno w that this is untrue .
Th e W ay o f Blam e
To ussulis pre se nts a ne w picture o f the w ay o f blam e . H e basically se e s it as that aspe ct
o f S ufism w he re o ne is pre pare d to be critical o f o ne se lf. H e sum m arise s Ibn al-A rabi
as fo llo w s:
m alam atis w e re calle d blam e w orthy be cause the ir rank, or spiritual station, did not
re ve al itse lf. The y did not appe ar diffe re nt from ordinary pe ople be cause the y did not
m ake a show of re ligious de votion, nor did the y crave any m iraculous pow e rs. Inste ad,
the y re m aine d focuse d on re m oving the slighte st taint of e goism from the m se lve s.
the y blam e d, ce ase le ssly critique d the ir ow n e goce ntricity for obscuring the ir acce ss
to G od (41, se e also 73, 82, 84, 113 and 189).
The ide a that all m alam atis w e re he te ro do x and pe rfo rm e d sho cking o r so cially
unacce ptable acts is no te d (84), but To ussulis e x plains w hy that is no t true o f all the
m o ve m e nt. I fo und that ve ry inte re sting, e spe cially the ro le o f H allaj in this (79), but I
am no t co nvince d. M ate rial available o n W ikipe dia, state s that: A cco rding to A nne m arie
S chim m e l, the M alm ats de libe rate ly trie d to draw the co nte m pt o f the w o rld upo n
the m se lve s by co m m itting unse e m ly, e ve n unlaw ful, actio ns, but the y pre se rve d pe rfe ct
purity o f tho ught and lo ve d G o d w itho ut se co nd tho ught (S chim m e l 86). S chim m e l go e s
o n to re late a sto ry illustrative o f such actio ns: One o f the m w as haile d by a large
cro w d w he n he e nte re d a to w n; the y trie d to acco m pany the gre at saint; but o n the
ro ad he publicly starte d urinating in an unlaw ful w ay so that all o f the m le ft him and no
lo nge r be lie ve d in his high spiritual rank (quo te d in S chim m e l 86). The bo o k the
ano nym o us W ikipe dia re fe rs to is S chim m e ls classic M ystical D im e nsions of Islam . The
quo te is o ne that I m o re o r le ss re m e m be re d, be cause , I canno t se e that G urdjie ff o r
To ussulis te ache rs fall w ithin just that traditio n.
S o , ho w do w e re co ncile the tw o ? If the w ay o f blam e is no thing but be ing pre pare d to

be critical o f o ne se lf, it diffe rs fro m no o the r re ligio us syste m . E ve ry re ligio us and
spiritual syste m de m ands se lf-unde rstanding, altho ugh ho w the y e x pre ss this m ay
diffe r (e x am inatio n o f co nscie nce , e tc.). In the e nd, it se e m s to m e that w e re spe aking
abo ut tw o diffe re nt things, but calling bo th o f the m the w ay o f blam e . In this re spe ct,
To ussulis tre atm e nt is sim ilar to his appro ach to S ufism . The ne w the o ry o f the w ay o f
blam e is inte re sting, but to o w e ak to co ve r all the pe o ple assigne d to it.
Incide ntally, I have ne ve r be e n co nvince d o f H allajs spiritual unde rstanding, and it is

typical o f To ussulis stre ngths that he fe e ls the ne e d to balance o ut so m e o f H allajs
e x tre m e state m e nts (bo tto m 80). That is, the co m m o n ide a o f unio n w ith G o d w itho ut
distinctio n is no t the w ho le truth. A s To ussulis state s, the re is a ne ce ssary se paratio n
o f the individual fro m G o d bo th be fo re and afte r the se e x pe rie nce s. I am surprise d that
To ussulis attribute s this se nsible and accurate qualificatio n to M uham m ad, and
disappo inte d that he pro vide s no re fe re nce fo r this. In re ality, as G urdjie ff said, the re is
no co m ple te and true unio n w ith G o d, altho ugh I can w e ll im agine that as G urdjie ff
said daydre am ing asso ciate d w ith inte nse w o rk o f the e m o tio ns m ay pro duce a
se nsatio n o f co sm ic co nscio usne ss ( M iraculous 116).
T h e T itle
I am no t sure abo ut the subtitle . N o spiritual psycho lo gy e m e rge d w ith re al cle arne ss,
at le ast no t to m y m ind. The re are re fe re nce s to the m any se lve s and to hum an
facultie s, but the se are no t m ajo r the m e s. It co uld have be e n subtitle d spiritual
visio ns w ith as m uch if no t m o re justice . N e ithe r w e re the so urce s re ally hidde n so
m uch as abstruse .
The re are hidde n so urce s fo r S ufism , but this bo o k do e s no t re fe r to the m , and I think
that o ne has to re spe ct the ir de cisio n to re m ain hidde n, and no t publicize the m .
A m isce llane o us po int: the re are so m e m ino r e rro rs, fo r e x am ple , o n p. 19 S chuo n die d
in 1984 w hile o n the ne x t page he die d in 1998, the accurate date . F alco ns w ill find
typo s o n pp. x x , 11, 91, 131, 137, 189, 191 and 205.
C o n clu sio n
A s I have said, the bo o k is the be st w o rk o n S ufism I have re ad in a ve ry lo ng tim e .
To ussulis aim s to , and succe e ds, in pre se nting an attractive and stim ulating picture o f
the m o de rn strand o f S ufism to w hich he be lo ngs. But To ussulis stre ngth is m aking
po sitive state m e nts. H is is no t a particularly discrim inating inte lle ct, and w he n he de als
w ith pe o ple like S hah and S chuo n, he se e m s to fe e l that if he is inte lle ctually critical ,
this w ill m e an that he is giving in to ne gative e m otion. But this is no t so : as Ouspe nsky
co rre ctly said, w e have so m any ne gative e m o tio ns be cause w e do no t have a
sufficie ntly ne gative attitude to the m . If so m e o ne sugge sts rape , pillage and m urde r,
the o nly sane re spo nse is ro bustly ne gative . S o , to o , To ussulis has no t, in m y o pinio n,
sufficie ntly critique d the m ate rials be fo re him .
S ufism is no t a unity, in any se nse o f the te rm . A nd To ussulis has all the kno w le dge
ne e de d to se e this, but he do e s no t sufficie ntly fo llo w thro ugh his o w n re se arch and
findings. The sam e issue m e ans that he do e s no t se e that the w ay o f blam e is no t a
unity: w hich has the unfo rtunate re sult that, in the w e ake st chapte r o f the bo o k, he
w ro ngly assigns pe o ple like G urdjie ff to it, w he n it w o uld be be tte r if he le ft the
m ave ricks o ut and to ld us m o re abo ut Turkish S ufism , and co ve re d pe o ple like Rauf
and F e ild.
Jo se ph A zize (Jo se ph.A zize @ gm ail.co m )
JO S E P H A Z I Z E has publishe d in ancie nt history, law and G urdjie ff studie s. H is first

child sacrifice .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE BOOK REVIEWS, Sufism and the Way of Blam e: Azize review
April 23, 2011 at 9:46 am Tagged with Gurdjieff, J. G. Bennett, Jam es Moore, Joseph Azize, Madam e de
Salzm ann, Madam e Ouspensky, Mevlevi Dervishes, Ouspensky, Philokalia, Schuon,
Shah, Sufism and the Way of Blam e, Theosophical ideas, Yannis Toussulis
H o w C a n I M a k e B e tte r O b s e rv a tio n s ?
T h e J o s e p h A z iz e P a g e
H o w C a n I M a k e B e t t e r O b s e rv a t io n s ?
{Editors note : Ve ry fe w re cordings survive from M r Adie s groups in 1979. H e told m e
that he thought the be tte r m ate rial w as on tape s from late r ye ars, and so that is w hat
those of us w ho w orke d on the m ate rial starte d w ith. Re ce ntly, how e ve r, I have be e n
liste ning to som e of the se old tape s, and I now think that this re source has a spe cial
value . Som e of this m ate rial, produce d w he n M r Adie w as stronge r, is probably cle are r
and m ore dire ct. I w as im m e diate ly struck by w hat I re ce ive d as its pow e r. This group
had be e n e stablishe d tw o ye ars be fore , so it w as young e nough for M r Adie to be
e xplaining m atte rs w ith the atte ntion to first principle s that is appropriate for
be ginne rs. H ow e ve r, the group had be e n going long e nough for him to be able to paint
his answ e r on a broad canvas, ope ning large vistas. H e re I transcribe the first que stion
aske d in the Ce dar group on Thursday 11 Octobe r 1979. It w as aske d by a young
Am e rican lady w ho m ust have le ft groups be fore I joine d.}
M r A die , she aske d, o ve r the w e e ke nd, yo u said to m e that I do nt kno w ho w to

o bse rve : that I do nt o bse rve . H o w can I le arn to m ake o bse rvatio ns? H o w can I le arn to
m ake be tte r o bse rvatio ns? I find it ve ry difficult.
That is abso lute ly vital fo r us. H e pause d fo r a little , and the n starte d a little furthe r
o ut fro m the spo t w he re d she d pitche d he r que stio n. The functio n o f the m i n d is
critical he re . One thing I think w e particularly ne e d is to study the functio ns again: w e
talk, so m e tim e s rathe r glibly, abo ut be ing to o m uch in the he ad o r to o m uch in
e m o tio ns, but w e do nt re ally appre ciate w hat that is. W e talk abo ut dre am s and
sto pping dre am s and the fact that w e cant, but w e are nt alw ays so cle ar o n w hat this
practically m e ans. A nd no w that the w o rk has advance d, and pe o ple are trying to
o bse rve , I ne e d to kno w and unde rstand w ith m y he ad.
The functio n o f the he ad is the m ind, the re aso n: ho w to w o rk so m e thing o ut
co nscio usly, ho w to m ake a cho ice . The m ind has a ce rtain po w e r o f discrim inatio n
be tw e e n ide as. A n anim al do e snt have ide as. Only m an has ide as. Ide as are the
co nce rn o f the m ind. F e e lings and se nsatio ns do no t d i r e c tl y have this capacity,
altho ugh the y can w arn m e if m y state is unbalance d. F e e ling is the co nce rn o f the
fe e ling ce ntre , and it brings fo rce , be cause the m ind by itse lf cant do anything. The
se nsatio n, the bo dy, is o ur basic re ality, the ro o t o f o ur e x iste nce . A nd clarity in e ach o f
the se ce ntre s is diffe re nt.
C larity
brings us back to yo ur que stio n: ho w to o bse rve . Its o bvio us that if I am in
dre am s I canno t o bse rve . A t that po int I have to re m e m be r abo ut sle e p and w aking.
W he n Im asle e p, anything is po ssible . I can dre am any rubbish: w e all kno w that. Its
just e m pty w o rds if I talk abo ut o bse rving and do nt take into acco unt that I have to be
aw ake fo r it. A nd w aking m e ans so m e activity o f the he ad: discrim inatio n o f the true
m ind.
M ind has le ve ls. The lo w e st, o r m o st basic, is w hat is calle d fo rm ato ry ce ntre .
F o rm ato ry ce ntre is aw are o f so m e thing: it has so m e re latio nship to fact, it has so m e
de gre e o f re aso n. F o rm ato ry ce ntre , if the re s any atte ntio n the re at all, can
discrim inate be tw e e n o ne pige o n ho le and ano the r; it can discrim inate be tw e e n w he re
so m e im pulse o r ano the r co m e s fro m . In fact, I ne e d m y fo rm ato ry ce ntre , its ve ry
valuable to m e . If I had to w o rk o ut fro m ne w e ve rything that fo rm ato ry ce ntre has
le arne d, m y life in the w o rld w o uld stall.
But at the sam e tim e , fo rm ato ry ce ntre is no t the thing w hich I shall use to o bse rve
m yse lf. It do e s no t have the re quisite de gre e o f pe rspe ctive and subtle ty. S o ho w can I
o bse rve m y o w n functio ns?
Ifthe re is any ge ne ral rule , its that o bse rvatio n can pro ce e d o nly if the he ad is aw ake .
If I am asle e p I cant o bse rve . A sle e ping m an w ill e x pe rie nce so m e thing in dre am s:
he ll m o an and he ll turn o ve r. If its bad e no ugh, the dre am w ake s him up, a little . To
o bse rve I m ust be aw ake , thats the first thing. N o w w hat do e s that m e an? Thats a big
thing, to be aw ake , at any rate , to be a bit m o re aw ake at that po int w e go to o ur
bo dy, be cause if w e are flo ating abo ut re ally no t aw are o f the e arth w e re standing o n,
w e re liable , at any se co nd, to go into dre am s again.
S o ,w e have so m e atte ntio n o n o ur bo dily se nsatio n. Thats w hy I said the bo dy is the

ro o t basis. If I w ish to o bse rve , I m ust have a re fe re nce in m y se nsatio n as a che ck:
Ye s, its alright, Im he re . I can re ly o n m y o bse rvatio ns a little bit if I kno w I am he re .
But if I have fo rgo tte n that m y fe e t are o n the gro und, do nt se nse that m y fe e t are o n
the gro und, if I have no se nse o f be ing he re , the n m y o bse rvatio n is a ve ry partial,
dubio us thing. S o , fo r the po ssibility o f a m o re re al o bse rvatio n, all the se diffe re nt
parts have to be partially co nscio us, partially co nne cte d. The re has to be
inte rco nne ctio n. E ach ce ntre has its se parate clarity; the yre no t all m uddle d up and
playing e ach o the rs ro le s. I have be gun fro m the m ind, but its no w include d in a
gre ate r re ality. E ach ce ntre pro vide s its unique im pre ssio n w itho ut m y thinking abo ut
the m .
N o w , if w hat Ive said so far so unds re aso nable to yo u, the n w e can fe e l little bit m o re
re lax e d abo ut the fact that o ur o bse rvatio ns are ve ry little unde rsto o d so far, and
o bse rvatio n se e m to be ve ry difficult at tim e s.
W e llthe n, to add to that, no thing is e ve r achie ve d co nscio usly unle ss the re s a w ish.
H o w w o uld it be po ssible unle ss the re w e re an im pulse ? That im pulse has to have so m e
inte ntio n, so m e w ish to o bse rve . I ne e d to w ant to do it. I ne e d to w ant to , w hich is the
m o st im po rtant thing abo ut w hat yo u w e re saying. Yo u re ally w ante d to find abo ut this:
yo u re ally w ante d to find o ut w hy o bse rvatio n se e m s so difficult. I re m ain w ith that
ne e d to unde rstand. S o that e ffo rt has pro ve d to yo urse lf that yo u have a w ish. Yo u
w ish.
W hatI shall se e is the re fo re ve ry unusual, m aybe e ve n strange o r unse ttling fo r m e ,

be cause I have nt be e n at all accusto m e d to this sim ultane o us aw are ne ss o f atte ntio n in
m y thre e ce ntre s. A nd I ce rtainly have nt be e n capable o f m aintaining pre se nce to the
thre e ce ntre s w hile re m aining in o pe ratio n. I use d to think that I w as in charge o f this
o rganism , but I be gin to find o ut that I w asnt at all, I w as a m achine .
N o w if the so -calle d o bse rvatio n is to be a true o ne , if I am to re ce ive a re lative ly true

pe rce ptio n, I canno t be too unbalance d. A n o pe ning to im pre ssio ns w ill he lp to bring
m e into balance , but if I am to o ve ry sw aye d by e m o tio n, if m y tho ught is to o
tram m e lle d, if I have fo rgo tte n all abo ut m y bo dy, the pe rce ptio ns w ill be m angle d;
the yll be disto rte d be fo re I e ve n try to use the m o r re aso n abo ut the m . The im age s
and the co lo urs w ill be w ro ng, the m agnitude s w ill be w ro ng. Yo u se e ho w critical the
w o rk w ith e ach o f the thre e ce ntre s is?
IfI am go ing to o bse rve , its an act. It has to be an act, and that can o nly last fo r a
se co nd o r tw o w ith that fine de gre e o f co nscio us inte ntio n. Its so unaccusto m e d, as
w e ve alre ady m o re o r le ss pro ve d in this se que nce o f argum e nt, that Im unpre pare d
fo r the kind o f thing that I e x pe rie nce , if in fact I o bse rve .
I se e the n that w he n I cam e he re I had a fantastic ide a o f w hat an o bse rvatio n m ight
be . To m e it w as so m e thing striking that I co uld fo rm ulate and w rite do w n in a bo o k,
so m e thing that w o uld m ake fo r go o d re ading o r co m pariso ns. N o w I se e that this isnt
o bse rvatio n at all. A n o bse rvatio n fo r us no w is an e xpe rie nce . To parlay it into w o rds
to o so o n and to o e asily is to lo se it. I w ant the taste o f it first, and the taste o f it is so
ne w I canno t re co gnize it. This is w hy so m any pe o ple say: Oh, w he n I saw m yse lf,
the re w as no fe e ling. I cam e to and the re w as no thing. I w as e m pty, and it w as aw ful.
A nd the y be co m e disco urage d.
But the co nclusio n is no t re liable . I have to o little to co m pare w ith a state o f

co nscio usne ss. H o w do I kno w its e m pty o f fe e ling? C e rtainly, I m ay be fre e o f m y
accusto m e d e m o tio ns. W hat a re lie f! If in fact I have co m e to , that is all that is
ne ce ssary. W hat so rt o f co nte nt is m y m o m e nt o f co nscio usne ss suppo se d to be fille d
w ith? I have to be im partial to e ve rything. I have to be im partial to e ve rything . I am
aw are , m o re o r le ss o f an inte ntio n, w hat is taking place . I acce pt w hat I se e , I w ish to
acce pt w hat I se e .
Itsan e x pe rie nce , and until I le arn to suppo rt that e x pe rie nce w itho ut inte rfe re nce , I
w ill sim ply w e ave a ne tw o rk o f m isunde rstanding, co nfusio n, tho ught taking the place
o f fe e ling, and so o n.
A ll
this give s m e so m e so rt o f co nne ctio n in m y m ind w ith the se ve ry still, ve ry re fine d
figure s that o ne so m e tim e s se e s: a Buddha o r a yo gi. One fe e ls that the re s a m aste r
the re the yre e x tre m e ly ale rt, the yre co m ple te ly co m po se d. S uch art be gins to have
m e aning. I se e that this is a re pre se ntatio n o f a ve ry active m o m e nt.
A nd o f co urse , w hat is abse nt w he n Im at the be ginning o f a pro ce ss is I. The re is

so m e thing o f it the re . I shall o bse rve . I have to have the po sture o f a m an, the po sture
o f a w o m an. I pre vio usly assum e d that I co uld o bse rve , but I ne ve r tho ught abo ut m y
po sture re ally. A nd I do nt ne e d to think abo ut it as such, it has to be w ith m e , a se nse
o f m y po sture . The bo dy be gins to be the bo dy o f a co nscio us m an. The fe e ling o f a
co nscio us m an. E ve n the tho ught o f a co nscio us m an. Of co urse it cant last fo r lo ng, but
the e x pe rie nce can le ad to furthe r re late d e x pe rie nce s, alw ays fre sh.
The n the o bse rvatio n that e nsure s in that co nditio n and w ith that am o unt o f
unde rstanding can be so e x tre m e ly inte re sting, its so diffe re nt fro m anything Ive had
be fo re . The e x pe rie nce that acco m panie s it yo u cant put it into w o rds. H o w co uld o ne
put into w o rds this thre e ce ntre d aw are ne ss o f co m bine d w o rking at diffe re nt spe e ds
w hich pre se nts this co nscio us m o m e nt? It w o uldnt be po ssible , but this is w hat w e re
w o rking to w ards: tho se co nscio us m o m e nts.
{N ote the re fe re nce to thre e ce ntre d aw are ne ss of com bine d w orking at diffe re nt
spe e ds. Those w ho have e ars to he ar For m e , the sign that this is the pure G urdjie ff
tradition is the nake d de m and for thre e -ce ntre d unde rstanding w hich M r Adie m ake s,
advising and de m onstrating in him se lf that it is both he roically difficult and he roically
possible . If you w ould like to know m ore about M r Adie , G urdjie ff his te ache r, in w hat
G urdjie ffs ide as consist, and how M r Adie gave the m practice application in Australia,
the w e ll-illustrate d book, G e o rge A die : A G urdjie ff Pupil in A ustralia (L ighthouse
Editions) is available from By The W ay Books. Jose ph.Azize @ gm ail.com
JOSEPH AZ IZ E has publishe d in ancie nt history, law and G urdjie ff studie s. H is first
child sacrifice .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in How Can I Make Better Observations?, JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE
April 17, 2011 at 7:08 pm
W A S L O R D P E N T L A N D A N E M IN E N T G U R D JIE F F IA N ?
JO H N R O BE R T C O L O M BO R E V IE W S
JAMES MOORE
JA M E S M O O R E S N E W B O O K
I distinctly re m e m be r the se nsatio n that I e x pe rie nce d w he n I first saw in print the
nam e L o rd Pe ntland. W hat I se nse d w as a lo ftine ss o f pe rso n and o f purpo se . W hat I
fe lt w as the e m o tio n o f be ing w afte d aw ay fro m m y usual, classle ss m o o rings: W ho e ve r
is this fe llo w ? W hat I e nte rtaine d w as an he re tical tho ught upo n se e ing his nam e in the
co nte x t o f the W o rk: W as an E nglish lo rd actually cho se n by M r. G urdjie ff to he ad the
W o rk in A m e rica?
I w as late in the gam e . I first e nco unte re d the nam e and title in the e arly 1960s in the
page s o f a ne w ly publishe d bo o k o f radio talks. Its table o f co nte nts liste d the
co ntributo rs o f talks and inte rvie w s bro adcast o n Pacifica Radio in C alifo rnia. I have lo ng
fo rgo tte n the nam e s o f the o the r co ntributo rs to this se rie s o f addre sse s, all o f the m
public inte lle ctuals fam iliar to m e at the tim e . But I re m e m be r the nam e o f this E nglish
baro n w ho w as co m ple te ly unkno w n to m e at that tim e . C urio us!
I ne ve r m e t L o rd Pe ntland o r H e nry Jo hn S inclair o r just plain Jo hn S inclair, o f co urse ,
but o ve r the de cade s I have m e t w ith gro ups o f m e n and w o m e n w ho kne w him ,
atte nde d his talks, and studie d unde r him . The y w e re unanim o us in the ir adm iratio n
and re spe ct fo r the m an. I w o uld ask e ach in turn, W hat w as his do m inant
characte ristic? W hy w as he so adm ire d and re spe cte d? W hat m ade him a de dicate d
te ache r o r le ade r? Pe o ple se e m e d to like the m an but the re w as se ldo m a fe ature ,
chie f o r no t, w hich I co uld ide ntify o r w ith w hich I co uld ide ntify.
A fte r all, the pho to graphs o f the m an that I saw re pro duce d in public print, o r at le ast
tho se take n during his late r ye ars, sho w e d a gaunt figure o f a m an w ith ste e l-rim m e d
glasse s and que rulo us e ye s. I o nce w ro te , To judge by pho to graphs, Jo hn Pe ntland w as
a cadave ro us figure o f a m an, to w e ringly tall, w ith ske le tal skull, bushy e ye bro w s, and
be ady e ye s. H e re se m ble s an asce tic, say a C iste rcian m o nk .
A s w e ll, he se e m e d quite fo rbidding, alm o st fo rm idable (if no t slightly co m ic o r iro nic).
I ne ve r co uld disco ve r w hat psycho lo gical fe ature o r fe ature s w e re so im pre ssive ,
tho ugh e ve ry o nce in a w hile so m e o ne w o uld glance aro und and m um ble abo ut the
m ans patrician be aring, the slight co nde sce nsio n in his attitude and m anne r, e tc. But
the n so m e pe o ple are ne ve r satisfie d; the y w ill acce pt the S e rm o n o n the M o unt o nly if
de live re d by Je sus C hrist in pe rso n.
Ove r the ye ars I w atche d o ut fo r re fe re nce s to L o rd Pe ntland in the lite rature o f the
W o rk, e spe cially in the G urdjie ff Re vie w . I bo ught and re ad a co py o f the bo o k
Ex change s W ithin w hich is subtitle d Que stio ns fro m Eve ryday L ife S e le cte d fro m
G urdjie ff G ro up M e e tings w ith Jo hn Pe ntland in C alifo rnia, 1955-1984. It w as
publishe d by C o ntinuum in 1977, and its pro se capture d so m e o f the qualitie s o f the
m an, w hich I take to be a ge ne ral tho ughtfulne ss o r m indfulne ss co uple d w ith
dire ctne ss and autho rity.
I fo und his m anne r o f w riting and spe aking to be m o re e lusive than e vasive , and to this
day his pro se , w he the r transcriptio ns o f the talks o r o f the se ssio ns o f que stio ns and
answ e rs, co ntinue s to re m ind m e o f the o paque style s o f J. Krishnam urti and Rudo lf
S te ine r. The o pacity co uld be that o f so m e le ve l o f be ing: a dise m bo die d inte llige nce ,
pe rhaps. The te x ts o f the talks the m se lve s re ad like radio scripts.
The o the r day I che cke d W ikipe dias e ntry and I le arne d a little abo ut the m an H e nry
Jo hn S inclair, but ne x t to no thing abo ut his pe rso nality and purpo se , his m issio n and
m e ssage . H e w as bo rn in 1907, but w he re ? (The bio graphy says L o ndo n.) H e die d in
1984, but w he re ? (The bio graphy says N e w Yo rk C ity.) H e w as the 2nd Baro n Pe ntland
and a m an o f m e ans; his w ife L ucy w as also title d and w e ll-to -do . H is daughte r, so n-in-
law , and the ir child are co ntributo rs to the W o rk.
In the 1930s and 1940s he w o rke d w ith P.D . Ouspe nsky in L o ndo n, and in 1948 he
spe nt abo ut nine m o nths w ith M r. G urdjie ff in Paris, w ho the re upo n appo inte d him to
le ad the w o rk in A m e rica. (A m e rica m e ans the U nite d S tate s; w hile he did visit
C anada, it w as fo r busine ss m e e tings in To ro nto be fo re he had m e t M r. G urdjie ff and
fo r a visit to the ro de o in C algary afte rw ards.)
A t o ne po int he w o rke d o ut o f an o ffice in Ro cke fe lle r C e nte r, re pre se nting British-
A m e rican co m m e rcial inte re sts, like an e arlie r ne ighbo ur, spym aste r S ir W illiam
S te phe nso n (kno w n as the Quie t C anadian be fo re turning garrulo us and acquiring the
title the M an C alle d Intre pid). I re call re ading a w arm and m e m o rable de scriptio n o f
L o rd Pe ntland at w o rk in his o ffice . The acco unt w as w ritte n by the yo uthful W illiam
Patrick Patte rso n w ho visite d the baro n the re , w as m uch im pre sse d w ith the m an, and
studie d unde r him fo r all o f e le ve n ye ars, be fo re finding ano the r m e nto r. Patte rso n
w e nt o n to e stablish the G urdjie ff S tudie s Pro gram and de scribe s him se lf to this day as
a stude nt o f L o rd Pe ntland.
L o rd Pe ntland se rve d as pre side nt o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n fro m its ince ptio n in
1953 to his de ath in 1984, and also as pre side nt o f the G urdjie ff F o undatio n o f
C alifo rnia fro m its ince ptio n in 1955 to his de ath. H e also se rve d as e x e cutive e dito r o f
F ar W e st E ditio ns fro m 1969 to his de ath. I se nse that the ye ar o f his de ath m arke d the
e nd o f a phase o f the W o rk in A m e rica, as phase s o f the W o rk in F rance and the re st o f
Euro pe and the U nite d Kingdo m w e re m arke d by the de ath in 1990 o f M adam e de
S alzm ann and e le ve n ye ars late r that o f he r so n M iche l de S alzm ann.
Talks de live re d by L o rd Pe ntland at Esale n and o n the cam puse s o f A m e rican co lle ge s
and unive rsitie s w e re de live re d alike to ve te ran stude nts and ne w co m e rs to the W o rk
and printe d in se m i-lim ite d e ditio ns. In print the y se e m so m e w hat abstract o r at le ast
abstracte d fro m e x pe rie nce . Inde e d, I re vie w e d thre e o f the se publicatio ns and
sum m arize d the ir co nte nts fo r re ade rs o f this blo g in 2008, w he re the y re m ain archive d
fo r re ading o r re fe re nce .
I have go ne into all this de tail pe e ks at L o rd Pe ntland fro m a distance fo r the re aso n
that m any if no t m o st re ade rs o f this re vie w w ill share e x pe rie nce s sim ilar to m ine ,
be ing o ne o r tw o ste ps re m o ve d fro m the m an and the m anne r. N o t e ve ryo ne in the
W o rk has had a first-hand e x pe rie nce o f the m an. S avo ur tho se e x pe rie nce s and
co nce ptio ns o f the m an be fo re e nco unte ring him in re lie f in the page s o f Jam e s
M o o re s bio graphy, w hich has a fo ur-w o rd title : Em ine nt G urdjie ffians: L o rd Pe ntland.
This bio graphy is a handso m e vo lum e publishe d by G urdjie ff S tudie s L td. in E ngland.
The w e bsite is < w w w . gurdjie ff . o rg. uk > . The bo o k has an attractive dust jacke t
(de signe d by L inda E dm o nds), card co ve rs, m atching co lo ure d e ndshe e ts, and w e ll-
de signe d page s w hich m e asure 6 x 9.5 and w hich run fro m x x to 108. The re are
e ighte e n black-and-w hite illustratio ns. The re is also a no m inal inde x (i.e ., re stricte d to
pe rso nal nam e s, no t place s o r re fe re nce s) and a biblio graphy be st de scribe d as ske tchy.
I w ish the page s had be e n stitche d rathe r than pe rfe ct bo und, i.e ., glue d, but the re
are he adbands, and the page s o nce o pe ne d alm o st lie flat o n the ir o w n. It is a nice
e ditio n to ho ld and to re ad.
But be fo re I do re vie w its co nte nts, I w ant to co m m e nt o n the first tw o w o rds o f the
bo o ks title : E m ine nt G urdjie ffians. S e rio us re ade rs w ill catch the significance o f the
w o rd e m ine nt, w hich w as no t co ine d by L ytto n S trache y but w as ce rtainly trade m arke d
by him . E m ine nt Victo rians is the title o f this influe ntial co m po site bio graphy o f fo ur
le ading figure s in Victo rian E ngland (C ardinal M anning, F lo re nce N ightingale , M atthe w
A rno ld, and G e ne ral G o rdo n).
The lady and the thre e ge ntle m e n w e re and are inde e d e m ine nt, tho ugh no t
ne ce ssarily pre -e m ine nt fo r re aso ns o f m o rality. The bo o ks appe arance in 1918
co incide d w ith the e nd o f the G re at W ar, and as the latte r de alt the de athblo w to the
Kaise rs de signs o n E uro pe , the fo rm e r e nde d the ido latry and e x po se d the m o rality o f
le ading public figure s in Que e n Victo rias England.
To day, E m ine nt Victo rians w o uld be re garde d as a hatche t-jo b, but fo r the fact that
S trache y w ro te w e ll, re se arche d de e ply, and re fuse d to m o ralize . Inde e d, the
co m po site bio graphy appe ale d to the sce ptical Be rtrand Russe ll w ho re ad it w hile
im priso ne d fo r civil diso be die nce . In a le tte r he de scribe d the lite rary w o rk in the se
w o rds: It is brilliant, de licio us, e x quisite ly civilize d.
D o L o rd Russe lls w o rds de scribe the bo o k at hand? I w ill answ e r that que stio n but first
he re is ano the r digre ssio n. The digre ssio n co nce rns the autho r Jam e s M o o re . H is e ntry
in W ikipe dia and his o w n de taile d and info rm ative w e bsite < w w w . jam e sm o o re . o rg .
uk > are so inte re sting that I co uld w rite abo ut the autho r at so m e le ngth. Inste ad, I
w ill w rite co ncise ly and so m e w hat curso rily.
M o o re , bo rn in C o rnw all in 1929, se e m s to be so m e thing o f an auto didact, but o ne w ho
w o rke d w ith the A dm iralty until re tire m e nt in 1980, w ho ho lds fe llo w ships in at le ast
tw o Ro yal S o cie tie s, and w ho is the autho r o f fo ur bo o ks o f substance and m any article s
o f im po rtance w hich have appe are d in se rio us jo urnals and as e ntrie s in e ncyclo pe dias.
A s fo r his W o rk e x pe rie nce , he studie d w ith H e nrie tte H . L anne s fro m 1957 to 1978,
and the re afte r w ith H e nri Traco l and M aurice D e sse lle . H e w as clo se ly asso ciate d w ith
the G urdjie ff S o cie ty in L o ndo n fro m 1981 to 1994 w he n, it se e m s, he w as e x pe lle d, if
that is the w o rd to use , tho ugh e x co m m unicate d is the o ne that he him se lf pre fe rs.
(Que ry: D o G urdjie ffians shun like M o rm o ns?) That m ight be the se co nd-be st thing
that has e ve r happe ne d to him , his inductio n into the W o rk be ing the first; the jury is
still o ut o n that. A nyw ay, he re ne w e d him se lf as an inde pe nde nt scho lar and
pre sum ably as an inde pe nde nt G urdjie ffian, his status to this day.
I have re ad his fo ur bo o ks: G urdjie ff and M ansfie ld (1980), G urdjie ff: The A nato m y o f
a M yth (1991), G urdjie ffian C o nfe ssio ns: A S e lf Re m e m be re d (2005), and no w
Em ine nt G urdjie ffians: L o rd Pe ntland (2011). H is che f do e uvre is the se co nd o f the se
bo o ks, a bio graphy rivalle d o nly by Jo hn Be e km an Taylo rs G urdjie ff: A N e w L ife
(2009), a sturdy and substantial w o rk. I am still divide d o n the m e rits o f the third o f
the se bo o ks, as it ado pts the to ne o f the tablo id pre ss in its w hining and w inging,
tho ugh as a hum an do cum e nt it is full o f fascinating de tail.
If anyo ne in the W o rk is in a po sitio n to w rite sho rt bio graphie s o f W o rk pe rso nalitie s
and the ir e sse nce s, it is Jam e s M o o re . On an e arlie r o ccasio n I re fe rre d to this
bio graphe r as a pre cisian, an unco m m o n pro pe r no un fo r so m e o ne w ho is strict and
pre cise in o bse rving the rule s, his o w n o r o the rs. I suspe ct that he give s a lo t o f
tho ught be fo re w riting do w n a w o rd. H e is as stylish and e x acting as F laube rt, w ho , it is
said, w o rrie d so m uch o ve r his pro se that he w o uld spe nd a m o rning inse rting a co m m a
fo llo w e d by an afte rno o n e rasing it. M o o re is a w rite r w ho has to be re ad clo se ly, and
w atche d.
I have the fe e ling it is an ide a, re ally; pe rhaps a dre am that Em ine nt G urdjie ffians
m arks the first vo lum e in a se rie s, a se rie s that m ay se t a high w ate rm ark fo r
scho larship in the lite rature o f the W o rk. S uch a se rie s is lo ng o ve rdue . W he re is the re
a sho rt bio graphy o f S o phie G rigo rie vna Vo lo chine (aka M adam e Ouspe nsky)? Or a lo ng
bio graphy o f Je anne A lle m and (aka M adam e de S alzm ann)? Pe rhaps the se and o the r
bio graphie s are w aiting in the w ings.
Ye t in the se page s M o o re w rite s, plange ntly, This bo o k is m y lite rary sw an-so ng. If so ,
it is sad ne w s. E arlie r I quo te d Be rtrand Russe lls w o rds abo ut L ytto n S trache ys bo o k:
brilliant, de licio us, e x quisite ly civilize d. D o the se w o rds apply to M o o re and this bo o k?
Ye s and no is the sho rt answ e r. The lo ng answ e r fo llo w s.
M o o re w rite s w ith a stylistic brilliance that is co ruscating and he nce so m e tim e s
blinding. H is pro se is de licio us in the se nse that the re ade r w ants to co nsum e m o re and
m o re page s, tho ugh w ith full kno w le dge that so m e passage s are go ing to be hard to
dige st. But is the w o rk e x quisite ly civilize d? The autho r is ce rtainly a culture d m an,
but I w o uld no t im m e diate ly de scribe him as civilize d, at le ast in te rm s o f w hat he has
w ritte n he re . H e is ve ry hard o n his subje ct and fo r the se re aso ns o ne w o uld have to
re ad be tw e e n the line s.
The re is a te lling ane cdo te abo ut a be autiful but im pre ssio nable so cie ty lady w ho o ne
day acce pte d a lunche o n invitatio n fro m W .E . G ladsto ne . A ske d abo ut the e x pe rie nce ,
she re plie d, I re alize that I w as in the pre se nce o f the m o st brilliant m an in all o f
England. The ne x t day she lunche d w ith Be njam in D israe li. A ske d ho w that lunch had
go ne , she re plie d, I re alize that I am the m o st brilliant w o m an in all o f E ngland.
Re ading M o o re s pro se I fe e l that M o o re is the m o st brilliant w rite r in all o f E ngland.
H e m o no po lize s his subje ct, but to de m o nstrate this I w o uld have to le ad the re ade r
thro ugh the bo o k page by page to re vie w Pe ntlands life and that w o uld take a gre at
m any page s (o r scre e ns). It is an inte re sting life that he le d, but no t a ve ry co nvincing
o ne , at le ast to the de gre e that Pe ntland w as a late de ve lo pe r, and it be gs the que stio n
w he the r he de ve lo pe d at all; that m ake s M o o re s task all the harde r.
M e dical histo rian M ichae l Bliss had the sam e pro ble m as M o o re w he n he w ro te the
no w -standard bio graphy o f S ir W illiam Osle r, the clinician and Re gius Pro fe sso r o f
M e dicine , w ho had no se cre ts, no scandals, and no e ne m ie s. That pre se nts a pro ble m .
H o w do e s a bio graphe r m ake de ce ncy attractive in its o w n right? Inste ad o f pursuing
this line o f inquiry, I w ill m ake a fe w ge ne ral po ints.
* M o o re de vo te s no page s at all to Pe ntlands talks and inte rvie w s, e ve n tho se that
w e re publishe d in E x change s W ithin. S o the subje cts take o n the W o rk is no t
discusse d. Pe ntland pre side d o ve r an inte re sting pe rio d in the e vo lutio n o f the W o rk
w hat w ith the intro ductio n o f all o f tho se sittings but w hile the y are m e ntio ne d, the y
are ce rtainly no t co nside re d in any de tail.
* M o o re has hardly anything o f an inte rpre tive nature to say abo ut the appe al o f P.D .
Ouspe nskys syste m to Pe ntland. The re is no spe culatio n as to w hat M r. G urdjie ff saw
in Pe ntlands spirit, m ind, o r m anne r. Po ssibly w hat he saw in his A m e rican lie ute nant
w as a re spe ctable m an w ith the ability to re late to m e n and w o m e n o n all so cial le ve ls,
w hich it se e m s is w hat Pe ntland did do .
* M o o re de vo te s no paragraphs at all to Pe ntlands busine ss inte re sts, a po int he
him se lf m ake s, as if to e x culpate him se lf. The se de tails w o uld be o f so m e so cial and
inte lle ctual inte re st. H is w ar re co rd se e m s to be o ne o f e vasio n rathe r than duty, but
that is no t co nclusive ly sho w n.
* M o o re de vo te s no se nte nce s at all to inte rpre ting the m ans psycho lo gy. I am no t no w
re fe rring to the psycho lo gy o f m ans po ssible e vo lutio n but to the dynam ics o f the
m ans pe rso nality, his im age o f him se lf. F o r this re aso n the bio graphy se e m s to m e to
be pre -F re udian: the subje ct is m o re a m annikin than a m an in M o o re s hands.
* M o o re se e m s unco m fo rtable de aling w ith the characte ristics o f the E nglish class
syste m , bo th its stre ngths and its w e akne sse s. W he ne ve r po ssible he brings G ilbe rt
H arding into the narrative . I fo und this inte re sting, but o nly be cause I have lo ng be e n
curio us abo ut this E nglish bro adcaste r and po le m icist (w ho spe nt so m e tim e m aking
m ischie f in To ro nto ); M o o re is alw ays abo ut to co m pare and co ntrast the tw o m e n
w ho se live s se e m to have be e n live d at cro ss-purpo se s.
* M o o re m ight se e him se lf as a so cial histo rian, o ffe ring brie f histo rie s o f the de cade s.
F o r instance , I le arne d that the ye ar 1957 w as in so m e se nse s a funny ye ar. Jack
Ke ro uac publishe d On the Ro ad; S am ue l Be cke tts E ndgam e w as translate d into
Eskim o and stage d in a Pe rspe x iglo o . F ascinating tidbits, la Jo hn D o s Passo s, but
hardly part o f Pe ntlands w o rld. F o r a sho rt bo o k, it is lo ng o n po tte d histo ry.
* M o o re is a care ful re se arche r. I spo tte d no e rro rs o f co nse que nce ; tw o
inco nse que ntial o ne s are the spe lling o f the N e w Brunsw ick po rt w he re M adam e
Ouspe nsky dise m barke d (it is S aint Jo hn no t S t. Jo hns, N e w Brunsw ick); and the
inde cisio n as w he the r o r no t to hyphe nate Ro dne y C o llin-S m iths nam e .
* M o o re is go o d o n the disse ctio n o f im age ry. H e o ffe rs a brilliant co m pariso n o f
Pe ntlands gaunt appe arance w ith that o f the e lde rly farm e r in G rant W o o ds classic
painting A m e rican G o thic. H e also co m m e nts o n the surprising pho to graph take n by
D ushka H o w arth w hich catche s Pe ntland and M r. G urdjie ff at lunch at a ro adside caf in
1949, the baro n gazing into the distance , the te ache r o f dance digging into the fo o d
be fo re him .
* In de aling w ith that pho to graph, I be lie ve M o o re tips his hand w he n he de scribe s
Pe ntland in te rm s o f his de pthle ss e arne stne ss. The se tw o w o rds m ight w e ll be his
final insight into the m an and inte rpre tatio n o f his co ntributio n to the de ve lo pm e nt o f
the W o rk. It is an m o st re ve aling phrase .
Earlie r I m e ntio ne d in passing that I had no o ccasio n to m e e t L o rd Pe ntland. In the
intro ducto ry page s o f this bo o k, M o o re m e ntio ns that he did m e e t this e m ine nt
G urdjie ffian, o nce , alm o st accide ntally, lo ng be fo re the no tio n o f w riting the m ans
bio graphy o ccurre d to him . A fte r re ading his bo o k, I fe e l that had I had an o ccasio n to
m e e t Pe ntland, I to o m ight like M o o re se nse the m ans de pthle ss e arne stne ss.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in THE JOHN ROBERT COLOMBO PAGE, WAS LORD PENTLAND AN "EMINENT
April 11, 2011 at 12:37 am GURDJIEFFIAN"?
Tagged with Gilbert Harding, Gurdjieff Foundations, Jam es Moore, John Robert
Colom bo, Lord Pentland, P. D. Ouspensky, potted history, the Work
J a m e s M o o r e : E m i n e n t G u r d j i e f f i a n s : L o r d P e n t l a n d
Rt Hon John Sinclair, 1 st Lord Pentland
Lord Pentland: President of the Gurdjieff Foundation in New York
Andrew Rawlinson reviews
James Moores Eminent Gurdjieffians: Lord Pentland
It is, I think, impossible to write a good biography of someone you consider a nonentity.
James Moore does his best. We know from his previous books that this is an author with an ear for
the English language. His description of Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury, as a strange Old
Testament figure with prematurely white hair, who gave the appearance of subsisting on a diet of
locusts and Eucharistic wine is superb. Likewise:
The assassination of President John Kennedy on 22 November 1963 cast something of a pall over
the twenty-first birthday celebrations of Pentlands daughter the Hon. Mary Ishbel Sinclair. You
expect a present but not Lyndon Baines Johnson.
And this gem:
From early youth Ouspensky had been in search of the miraculous but the sudden disappearance
of his rancorous wife seemed a special marvel
which is quite the equal of Les Dawson at his finest.
But Moores material here proves well nigh unworkable. He begins by covering the career of John
Pentlands father, the first Baron Pentland, with discursive ease. But he doesnt think much of him
either. Witness this description of a painting commissioned after Baron Pentland became Secretary
of State for Scotland in 1905:
Tall, broad-shouldered, slim, clean-shaven, elegant and patrician, [he] poses unembarrassed like a
well-achieved centrepiece in a Burlington Arcade window display. The Gilbertian flummery the
golden epaulettes, the impeccably cut uniform, the red belt, the virginal white sash, the blaze of
obscure orders are carried with aplomb yet with a hint of detachment.
The style is measured and taut. But the subject of the book does not live up to it and neither does the
rest of his family. Very few of Pentlands class could. The First World War is delivered and dissected
in short, deadly strokes.
For four tormented years The Manchester Guardian relayed deplorable events as the great Houses
of Romanoff, Hapsburg-Lorraine, Hohenzollern, and Saxe-Gotha clashed and blundered through
an ocean of blood to a doomed peace. Decorative old men, studious of maps, fought to the last
drop of young mens blood. Daily headlines testified to an unstaunchable wound: the despoliation of
Europe; ruination of an entire generation; and the bankruptcy of the idea of progress.
Any good that might come out of that awful mess could never be ascribed to those who had managed
it.
John Pentlands life (6 June 1907 to 14 February 1984) is rolled out in a series of vignettes: minor
incidents here and there, which, though linked, have yet no discernible arc.
At boarding school, Pentlands ears are protuberant and flickable.
The title Lord here as elsewhere, lending to mediocrity the gloss of excellence (This on
Pentlands succeeding to his fathers title at the age of 17.)
He got a Third in Maths Part I at Cambridge, switched to Mechanical Sciences and ended up with a
Second. Moore records these achievements tautly: Unfortunately one can stumble over quite a
modest barrier if it over-tops ones competence. Away from the examination halls, Pentland did have
some success: he was elected President of the Union.
Undoubtedly it was not just his peerage and boiled shirt manner which marked him out as
presidential timber. He benefited from other qualities. He was incorruptible. He was overwhelmingly
reasonable. His minds perfect vacuity was admirably suited to the role of an arbiter. His
stewardship would not be skewed by any prejudice or fixed opinion. He had no opinions. As to
whether the capital of France were Paris or Lyon he would maintain an impeccable neutrality until
after the votes were counted. Yet toss him a point of order and he could deliver a ruling in the tones
of Lady Catherine de Burgh snubbing an apothecary.
This is not damning with faint praise. It is illuminating a tepid and colourless form with the borrowed
hues of more exciting lives.
Pentlands entry into the Work is unrecorded. He went to one of Ouspenskys meetings in London but
we do not know when exactly 1934 perhaps? and have no inkling as to why. I went to one meeting
and didnt go back, he said. But Ouspensky wanted him. He was after all young, moneyed and
brilliantly connected. So he was given a place at the top table and there he earnestly expounded
ideas which had never occurred to him.
It appears that very few ideas did. In 1939, he crossed the floor of the House of Lords not for any
ideological reason but because the Liberals were in opposition and the Conservatives in power. He
became, in Moores phrase, a make-weight Conservative peer.
He continued in the Work, going to America in 1944 with his wife and daughter. Up until this point his
participation in the war effort in Britain had been, once again, vague, tepid. Moore refers to his
studied deafness to the solicitations of 1940s patriotism.
Pentland was out of his depth with the top men in the Work (Gurdjieff and Ouspensky) and in thrall to
the women (Madame Ouspensky, Madame de Salzmann). Moore doesnt have much to go on but is
clearly unimpressed by what he has found. Pentlands account of being in Madame Ouspenskys
presence is described as patented incoherence. When, in 1948, Gurdjieff urged his followers to steal
the energies of New Yorkers at Christmas prayers, Pentlands response was a dazed goodwill but a
singular incompetence.
All of this is in tune with Pentlands deep superficiality. He prevaricated over Ouspenskys repudiation
of the System, and paid a visit to India immediately after Ouspenskys death, thereby avoiding all the
knots and difficulties which such a loss brings. When Madame Ouspensky advised everyone to seek
out Gurdjieff, Pentland was one of the tardiest to respond. Holed up in Mendham, his idea was to sit
on the fence as long as possible while keeping his ear close to the ground.
Yet Gurdjieff appointed him his representative in America. To begin with, this meant only that Pentland
was in charge of promoting Beelzebubs Tales a modest appointment yet one which Moore finds
baffling: Pentland was a parvenu, a class misfit, a disaffected follower of the late Piotr Ouspensky.
And it didnt end there. After Gurdjieffs death, under Jeanne de Salzmanns overall guidance,
Pentland was promoted to President of the Gurdjieff Foundation in New York. He was all diffidence;
all diplomacy, all teeth and trousers.
Moore presents Pentland as the Works supreme company man and fixer. But this is as far as he
goes. He has already noted that Pentland had occupied his chair as President of the Cambridge
Union with decorum but no particular distinction. He has noted that Pentland is a pragmatic climber
of institutional scaffolding. This irreducible undistinguishedness continued in America.
His exalted Work status relied on his agreeing with Madame de Salzmann whatever she said.
Had she asserted that the moon is made of green cheese, he would readily have conceded that it
displays cheese-like qualities.
Throughout, he remains distinctly undiamond-like.
[The Work was] a shimmering reality, while Pentland, notwithstanding his good points, had about as
much shimmer as a municipal dustbin-lid.
His Lordship miraculously transformed Gurdjieffs wine into water. He brought to his task a patent
sincerity and [his] old flair for mouth-filling incoherence propositions which would have baffled
Jacques Lacan andwhose implausibility would have been manifest to an infant of three.
Lumped together, Pentlands logic-choppingresponses in a thousand group meetings (whether

characterised as crowned masterpieces of banality or crowned masterpieces of obfuscation) seem
curiously infertile.
Vis--vis Gurdjieffs awesome ideas Pentland will go down au fond as a well-intentioned if flat-footed
expositor[Yet] around him there had thriven up a wealthy and powerful authoritarian network with
sharp prescriptive and proscriptive powers.
In short, Lord Pentland has no real shape, no real substance. But there he is, occupying space,
seemingly close to the centre of the Works mission.
And James Moore has stepped up and flicked his ears.
Andrew Rawlinson, author of The Book of Enlightened Masters: WesternTeachers in Eastern

Traditions with significant entries on Gurdjieff and the Gurdjieff Legacy (Ouspensky, Madame O,
Maurice Nicoll, Rodney Collin, Robert de Ropp, Orage, Jane Heap, Madame de Salzmann) plus
other entries on Bennett, Leon Maclaren, E.J.Gold, Jan Cox, Idries Shah and Gary Chicoine. was a
lecturer in Buddhism at the University of Lancaster and a visiting professor at the University of
California at Santa Bargbara. He lives in France and is writing a book on the Hit in all its forms; the Hit
as a derangement: derangement of the senses, derangement of the personality, derangement of
society, derangement of reality.
James Moores book is available from Amazon UK where you can also read the review by Andrew
Rawlinson. The image of the cover is not shown on the Amazon site and the one I found on google
images would not load here due to security reasons so here is an image of the author.
James Moore
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOK & FILM REVIEWS, Jam es Moore: 'Em inent Gurdjieffians: Lord
April 3, 2011 at 2:27 pm Pentland'
A ll & E v e ry th in g C o n fe re n c e 2 0 1 1
The 16th Inte rnatio nal H um anitie s

A ll & E ve rything C o nfe re nce 2011
W e dne sday, 6 A pril to S unday, 10 A pril 2011
=====================
Ex to l Inn H o te l
Pristavni 2
Prague 7
170 00
C ze ch Re public
=====================
F o r full de tails go to : http://w w w .aande co nfe re nce .o rg
=====================
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in All & Everything Conference 2011, CONFERENCES
February 22, 2011 at 4:46 am Tagged with All & Everything Conference 2011, Gurdjieff, Prague
O U S P E N S K Y in G U JA R A T I
P. D . O uspensk y
In re spo nse to a re ade rs e nquiry abo ut fo urth w ay

bo o ks in G ujarati S y G insburg kindly re se arche d and
fo und that G urdjie ffs w ritings have no t ye t be e n
translate d, but so m e o f Ouspe nskys w o rk lite rature
has be e n.
***
I n Searc h o f the M irac ulo us ( )
C o ns c ienc e: The Searc h fo r Truth ( : )
Fo urth W ay ( )
Ps yc ho lo gy o f M ans Po s s ible Ev o lutio n (
)
***
The publishe r is
N avbharat S ahitya M andir.
H e re s the link: http://w w w .navbharato nline .co m
In A hm e dabad, as in o the r m ajo r citie s o f G ujarat,
o ne can e asily find the se bo o ks in
G ujarat Pustakalaya sto re s.
M any thanks to S y and tho se w ho fo und and se nt this info .
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in OUSPENSKY in GUJARATI:

January 19, 2011 at 7:54 am Tagged with Conscience: The Search for Truth ( :
), Fourth Way ( . Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution
(
, In Search of the Miraculous ( ), Navbharat
Sahitya Mandir, SyGinsburg
2 0 1 0 in re vie w
C O N GRA TU LA TIO N S & TH A N KS A RE D U E TO
JO SPEH A Z IZ E and JO H N RO BERT C O LO M BO
fo r their c o ntinuing and o uts tanding c o ntributio ns
=================
The s tats helper m o nk eys at W o rdPres s .c o m m ulled o v er ho w this blo g did in 2010, and heres a high lev el
s um m ary o f its o v erall blo g health:
The Blog- H ealth- o- M eter reads W o w .
C runchy num b ers

The Lo uv re M us eum has 8.5 m illio n v is ito rs per year. This blo g w as v iew ed
abo ut 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 tim es in 2010. If it w ere an ex hibit at The Lo uv re M us eum ,
it w o uld tak e 4 days fo r that m any peo ple to s ee it.
In 2010, there w ere 2 8 new po s ts , gro w ing the to tal arc hiv e o f this blo g to
138 po s ts . There w ere 8 7 pic tures uplo aded, tak ing up a to tal o f 24m b.
Thats abo ut 2 pic tures per w eek .
The bus ies t day o f the year w as O c to ber 9th w ith 7 9 1 v iew s . The m o s t
po pular po s t that day w as JO H N LEN N O N : ESSEN C E & REA LITY: M em o ry.
W h e re d id th e y c o m e fro m ?
The to p referring s ites in 2010 w ere e n . w o r d p r e s s . c o m , f a c e b o o k . c o m ,
g u r d j i e f f - b o o k s . n e t , s e a r c h . a o l . c o m , and m a h a l o . c o m .
So m e v is ito rs c am e s earc hing, m o s tly fo r t o r o n t o , e l t o n j o h n , j o h n l e n n o n , s t a l i n , and c a r l o s

castaneda.
A ttra c tio n s in 2 0 1 0
Thes e are the po s ts and pages that go t the m o s t v iew s in 2010.
JO H N LEN N O N : ESSEN C E & REA LITY: M em o ry June 2010
PO SSIBLE GU RD JIEFF- STA LIN C O N N EC TIO N W ITH REFEREN C E TO D A V ID KH ERD IA N June 2008
1 O s ho o n Reading C as tandeda: firs t read Gurdjieff August 2009
2 GU RD JIEFF & TH E PRA YER O F TH E H EA RT March 2008
3 TH E PSEU D O - O U SPEN SKY O N ST JO H N S GO SPEL August 2008
4
5
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in 2010 review and stats

January 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm
C o n s ta n tin o p le N o te s o n th e T ra n s itio n to M a n N u m b e r F o u r
Jo s ep h A zize
C o n s tan tin o p le, T u rk ey c 1 8 9 0 1 9 0 0
M indful o f the appro ac h o f 29 O c to ber 2010, I hav e prepared ex trac ts fro m a typed and m anually c o rrec ted
m anus c ript w hic h M r A die gav e m e to s tudy c alled the C o ns tantino ple N o tes o f M r. Ferapo nto ff. If I
unders tand c o rrec tly, the autho r w as Bo ris Ferapo nto ff, w ho w as a pupil o f Gurdjieff in Rus s ia, in
C o ns tantino ple, and w as again w ith him at the Prieur. A t the Prieur, he w as a m o v em ents dem o ns trato r, and
apparently c o rrec tly predic ted that he w o uld die yo ung. I am pretty s ure that I read s o m ew here that he trav elled
to A us tralia. That is all I k no w . A ttem pts to lo c ate his literary ex ec uto rs , if any, hav e pro v ed fruitles s .
W hat is the m aterial? I think that, as o ne pers o n s aid, m uc h o f it m ay be bas ed o n lec tures O us pens k y gav e in
Turk ey. So m e o f it s eem s to m e to be pure Gurdjieff, altho ugh O us pens k y c o uld quo te Gurdjieff direc tly, s o
o ne c anno t be do gm atic . V ario us ideas in thes e no tes , e.g. tho s e c o nc erning k arm a, w ere nev er referred to by
O us pens k y in M irac ulo us , Ps yc ho lo gy, N ew M o del o r in any o f his repo rted ques tio ns and ans w ers . That
m ak es m e think that thes e no tes are unlik ely to be O us pens k ys w o rds alo ne, bec aus e had O us pens k y ev er
ex pres s ed thes e po w erful ideas , w hy w o uld he apparently dis c ard them , es pec ially as he s tated that he aim ed
to pas s o n the s ys tem as he had rec eiv ed it and as a w ho le? A ls o , o ne o f the c o m m ents abo ut the A bs o lute
(no t in this s elec tio n) m ak es the A bs o lute s o und lik e Go d, and O us pens k y repudiated that s ugges tio n. If the
s o und o f Gurdjieff c o m es thro ugh lo ud and c lear in this ex trac t, its in the pithy c o m m ent abo ut pers pic ac ity.
A t the end o f the day, there s eem s to m e s o m ething unique abo ut thes e no tes w hic h m ak es m e c o njec ture that
they repres ent the fruit o f Ferpo nto ffs o w n unders tanding o f his tim e w ith bo th Gurdjieff and O us pens k y. I
think that the m aterial des erv es full public atio n, and w o uld s ugges t a pro perly edited pro duc tio n w ith c ro s s -
referenc es to o ther publis hed m aterial, inc luding Tc hetc ho v itc hs Frenc h no tes .
I hav e c ho s en s o m e s ho rt ex trac ts fro m pas s ages titled A ttitude to Ps yc ho lo gy, The Em o tio nal C entre,
W o rk in relatio n to C entres , W o rk o f C entres , and M atter o f C entres . I hav e edited the ex trac ts to hav e a
lo o s e them e o f the trans itio n to m an num ber fo ur. This s am ple begins by s tres s ing the nec es s ity o f hav ing an
aim . It s tates that the s ys tem is , abo v e all, prac tic al (o ne m ight add that if it is nt tak en prac tic ally, it turns
into its o ppo s ite: it bec o m es a s o po rific drug). I w as als o s truc k , ev en w arm ed, by w hat is s aid abo ut the w o rk
o f the em o tio nal c entre, and pleas ant s ens atio ns .
So m etim es the tex t is enigm atic , if no t o bs c ure. I hav e no t tam pered w ith it at all ex c ept to ex erc is e edito rial
dis c retio n and s o m etim es rem o v e entire s entenc es w here I judged that the m aterial w as no t s uffic iently
s trik ing to w arrant repro duc tio n. It is nt as if the m aterial is nt all o f a rem ark able quality: it patently is . But fo r
a piec e lik e this , I tho ught it better no t to needles s ly res tate here w hat is already fam iliar to us fro m o ther
bo o k s . I trus t, ho w ev er, that eno ugh o f the bac k gro und has been inc luded to pro v ide a go o d bac k gro und to
the prac tic al hints w ith w hic h the tex t abo unds .
I hav e us ed three do ts to indic ate w here I hav e o m itted tex t. In M r A dies types c ript, there w ere s o m e
c o rrec tio ns . I hav e repro duc ed belo w the tex t as c o rrec ted, that is , I hav e o m itted the ex c is ed typed w o rds and
hav e no t giv en any s pec ial indic atio n o f the few w o rds w hic h w ere w ritten in by hand. N o ne o f the
am endm ents w ere m ine, and neither is the handw riting M r A dies .
Jo s eph.A zize@ gm ail.c o m , o r res po nd v ia c o m m ents bo x at end o f po s t
A ttitude to Ps yc ho lo gy
Ev erything is fro m o uts ide. The s ys tem is purely prac tic al. Ev eryo ne w ho begins to s tudy it m us t as k
him s elf w hat he w ants . W e hav e in us a po s s ibility o f a higher, finer k no w ledge. Study o f m an is us eful
o nly in c o nnec tio n w ith s tudy o f po s s ibilities .
T h e em o tio n al c en tre.
Ev en fo r it dis tanc e no lo nger ex is ts . Feeling c anno t be perm anent in m an, unles s it is c o nnec ted w ith
c o ns c io us nes s . Inv ers e unw inding o f im pres s io ns . There is no c o ntro l o f em o tio ns , ev en apparent c o ntro l do es
no t ex is t. Spino za: em o tio n c an o nly be c o nquered w ith em o tio n. C atego ries in em o tio nal c entre: fear,
c urio s ity. Fear and lies . O nly they c an c o nquer em o tio ns in s leep. W o rk has o ther m etho ds .
Lying to o nes elf. C alling the bad go o d. Yo u c anno t help lying and yo u w ill no t help it. D is tributio n o f tim e is
s uc h that no tim e is left fo r s elf- o bs erv atio n.
W hat a trem endo us num ber o f fears ! This em o tio n s ho uld o nly be s tudied; all the m anifes tatio ns o f s o - c alled
brav ery are fear. Real brav ery is s o m ething quite different. It is hard to giv e up s uffering. W e lik e to dream
abo ut unpleas antnes s es . Prev ailing em o tio ns m ay bec o m e the negativ e fo rc e. The em o tio nal c entre c an be
m o v ed by different m o to rs , different ac c um ulato rs . O ften the ac c um ulato r o f em o tio ns tak es part in
intellec tual w o rk . Em o tio nal c entre c an unders tand the w o rk o f fo rm ato ry apparatus . The princ iple o f
pas s io nles s nes s in religio ns .
The em o tio nal c entre s o lv es pro blem s quic k er but it is im po s s ible to rem em ber. A ll pleas ant s ens atio ns are
us eful. Fo r, ins tanc e, s m o k ing in a giv en fo rm is balanc ed. Bio lo gic al m eaning o f an unpleas ant s ens atio n is a
w arning o f danger.
W o rk in relatio n to c en tres .
In the do m ain o f m o v ing c entre: o bs erv atio n o f puls atio n. Puls atio n m us t be m as tered, o therw is e m any
ex perim ents w ill be im po s s ible. 2) s ens atio n o f parts o f the bo dy, 3) relax ing m us c les .
Fo r the think ing c entre: c o nc entratio n, s to pping tho ughts .
Fo r the em o tio nal c entre it is firs t o f all nec es s ary to free o nes elf fro m unnec es s ary unpleas antnes s es . A ll
pleas ant s ens atio ns are us eful.
The em o tio nal c entre is the s tarting po int. O nly after ac quiring the s ec o nd em o tio nal c entre c an o ne ac quire
the think ing, m ak ing it c o nnec t w ith the o thers .
Pers pic ac ity. It s ho uld be s to len fro m ano ther c entre w hic h has it.
W o rk o f C en tres .
Inc o m plete w o rk . O nly fo rm ato ry apparatus w o rk s to its full c apac ity. M an w o rk s w ith a v ery s m all part o f his
energy. A c ultured m an is a m an w ho is being c ultiv ated, w ho has dev e1o ped all that is po s s ible. U nc ultured
m an is div ided into three c atego ries . M an N o 2 and 3 is us ually the res ult o f w o rk .
The o utpo uring o f energy fro m o ne o f the c entres . It is as tho ugh the driv ing belt has been tak en o ff. W e do
no t k no w ho w to us e the em o tio nal apparatus , w e do no t k no w ho w to s et tas k s fo r o ur tho ught.
W ith inc o m plete w o rk o f the fac to ry no t all the s ubs tanc es are pro duc ed. D ullnes s w ith a c hro nic c o ld in the
head. Eac h o rgan has s ev eral func tio ns , ev en the s to m ac h.
M atter o f C en tres .
Eac h c entre pro duc es its o w n s ubs tanc es w hic h s pread o ut lik e a c lo ud. It als o s pends .
Theo ry o f ho rm o nes . Eac h func tio n requires a definite s ubs tanc e. To po s s es s all s ubs tanc es . N o t o nly to w is h,
but to be able, and to hav e the w herew ithal to aw ak e.
Fa 96 als o feeds the o rganis m by c o llec ting radiatio ns . So m e thro w aw ay the ends o f rays , o thers abs o rb them .
Im aginatio n and w o rry thro w them aw ay. O ne c an be m o re tired after an ho ur o f dream ing than after a day o f
w o rk . W e dream m o re o f unpleas ant things . The m atter o f fo rm ato ry apparatus is m o re c o ars e, that o f the
m o v ing c entre is finer and that o f the em o tio nal s till finer. W e are to o fo nd o f being tired. W e hav e huge
res erv es . W hat he1ps and w hat hinders . The apparatus pro v es to be s tro nger. To add qualities by ac c um ulatio n
o f m atter.
Ex c es s . N o rm al w o rk c o rres po nds to ac c um ulating m atter. W e m us t hav e ex c es s . O nly then is the w o rk o f

higher em o tio nal c entre po s s ible. There are m eans o f inc reas ing ac c um ulatio n.
M an N o 4. Eac h c entre do es its o w n w o rk w itho ut interfering in the w o rk o f ano ther. W o rk w itho ut s uperfluo us
ex penditure o f energy. N o 4 is no t pro duc ed by life. Bro adening k no w ledge o nly by perfec ting the apparatus .
The firs t tas k is to balanc e the c entres . It is nec es s ary to find the m em o ry o f eac h c entre. W hic h c entre is
w o rk ing no w ? D o es it w o rk rightly? A s a rule the w o rk o f c entres is auto m atic . N o tew o rthy m o m ents . To c atc h
and to c o ntinue. To s eek s m eans o f aw ak ening. O nly w hen yo u k no w the tas te o f eac h c entre is it po s s ible to
judge w hether a giv en w o rk is right. C o nc entratio n is at pres ent im po s s ible: adjus ting the apparatus .
O bs erv ing s eparate c entres is the beginning o f s elf- s tudy. It is the firs t s tep. To begin fro m the c entral po int
w ith the repres entatio n w hic h ev o k ed the tho ught. C ram m ing. Saturatio n. The o rganis m has to be s aturated
w ith s ubs tanc es . N ew o rgans m ay res ult fro m depo s its o f s ubs tanc es . C o nnec tio n w ith the em o tio nal c entre
as a res ult o f a depo s it. N o driv ing belts .
C rys tallis atio n after s aturatio n. O nly w ith s aturatio n. But there is to o little o f s o m e s ubs tanc es , a s pec ial effo rt
is required.
Fus io n. O ur us ual c o ns c io us nes s is c o ns c io us nes s o f w hat is o n the s urfac e. V es s el w ith po w ders . Po w ders
c hange plac e. N o fus io n. M an N o 4 is a m an w ho alw ays unders tands in the s am e w ay. U nders tanding depends
o n w hat o ne unders tands w ith.
Fus io n m eans a w ho le. Pers o nality as o ne w ho le. M agnetis ing the allo y. Im bibing the s ubs tanc es . A c quired
qualities c an be lo s t. Fix ing is ac quis itio n o f the fo urth bo dy. Fire c an be due to m any c aus es . Fix ing by m eans
o f fire. Fire as the res ult o f fric tio n. Fric tio n as the res ult o f s truggle betw een yes and no . A lo ng pro c es s . If
o ne c o nquers at o nc e there is no s truggle. Fire as res ult o f effo rt. Struggle to c reate s o m e k ind o f unity.
Inim ic al attitude to o nes elf: o ne begins , ano ther ends . If all s truggle is c o nc entrated o n inc reas ing
c o ns c io us nes s there c an be no w ro ng fus io n. Struggle w ith the unc o ns c io us .
W ro ng fus io n c an res ult ev en fro m arduo us w o rk . N ec es s ary to break up. W ro ng fus io n m ay m ak e the
fo rm atio n o f the s ec o nd bo dy im po s s ible. W ro ng fus io n c an res ult, fo r ins tanc e, in c o nnec tio n w ith
unders tanding w hat is go o d and w hat is ev il, o r o n the bas is o f s o m e fear. W ro ng c rys tallis atio n in s leep w hen
a m as k is being fo rm ed.
A t firs t s truggle is o nly to ac c um ulate m aterial. The m etho d is indiv idual. O ne needs o ne thing, ano ther
ano ther thing. A no ther m ay need no t o nly no t to des tro y his s m all Is but to ac quire new o nes . O ne s ho uld
begin w ith s o m e v ery s m all habit. So m etim es it is v ery
diffic ult to c o nquer it, fo r it is c o nnec ted w ith o thers . If o ne s truggles w ith o ne habit s ev eral dis appear.
O ne c an inc reas e energy o nly by the s truggle betw een yes and no . If o ne w ants o ne thing, to do ano ther.
A w ak ening needs energy. The m o s t diffic ult thing is to s ee o nes prepo nderant des ire. Intentio nal and
unintentio nal lies , fear, greed. U s ually the c hief feature is the bes t hidden fro m m an. U ntil o ne begins to
dis s ec t o nes elf. A ll o ther features are als o bad. W e do no t realize that w e hav e nev er o nc e m ade an effo rt in o ur
life. But effo rt influenc ed by nec es s ity o r des ire is no effo rt. To rem em ber o nes elf is an effo rt, bec aus e no
ex ternal s ho c k c an fo rc e us .
Effo rt fo r the s ak e o f c o ns c io us nes s . Pas s iv e life. Struggle w ith habits giv es a tas te o f effo rt, inner effo rt.
Effo rt o f the w ho le m as s o f s ho c k s . If there is no s truggle, there is no fix ing. Struggle betw een different
qualities . O nly that w hic h c o nquers c an bec o m e fix ed. M uc h w ill be thro w n aw ay. Inner s truggle and s truggle
betw een c entres
==============
JO SEPH A Z IZ E has publis hed in anc ient his tory, law and Gurdjieff s tudies . H is firs t book The Phoenic ian Solar
s ac rific e.
=============================
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in Constantinople Notes on the Transition to Man Num ber Four, JOSEPH
October 25, 2010 at 1:40 pm AZIZE PAGE
Tagged with Boris Ferapontoff, Gurdjieff, Jospeh Azize, Ouspensky
G u rd jie ff & C h ris tia n ity : p a rt o n e

Jo s ep h A zize
I feel that the tim e has c o m e fo r this blo g to addres s the relatio ns hip betw een Gurdjieff, his teac hing and
m etho ds o n the o ne hand, and C hris tianity o n the o ther. I hav e been po ndering the is s ues fo r s o m e tim e, but
hav e alw ays s ens ed that the is s ues w ere to o big fo r m e to tac k le jus t no w . Really, they s till are, and m aybe
alw ays w ill be. But Iv e fo und that the ex erc is e o f w riting helps m e to unders tand, to s ee w here I do nt
unders tand, w here I c ant unders tand, and to perc eiv e m o re c learly w here the lim itatio ns in m y tho ught lie. So ,
the fac t that a to pic is diffic ult fo r m e, o r ev en beyo nd m y c apac ities , m ay be a reas o n to attem pt it, to try to
ex pand m y range.
The im puls e to bro ac h the to pic right no w c am e fro m an ac quaintanc e w ho as k ed m e s o m e pretty go o d

ques tio ns abo ut Gurdjieff and C hris tianity. U nfo rtunately, the info rm atio n av ailable to him is s o lo ps ided o r
ev en dis to rted that he c anno t ev en o btain a half dec ent idea o f the po s s ibilities o f Gurdjieffs teac hings and
m etho ds . O nc e I addres s ed m ys elf to the to pic , c ertain v ery c lear ideas appeared as if theyd been w aiting to
be artic ulated and s o , here w e are. Iv e planned this as a s eries o f s ho rt blo gs , o f no m o re than 1,000 w o rds
eac h, to pres ent a few o f m y m o re o r les s tentativ e c o nc lus io ns in c ris p o utline.
M y firs t thes is is this : Gurdjieffs teac hing and C hris tianity hav e the s am e aim , to s ec ure eternity w ith God . It
s eem s to m e to be o bv io us , and entirely uno riginal, to s ay that o ur liv es depend upo n o ur aim . If I hav e no aim ,
then, as M r A die s aid, ev erything is equal. A im brings m eaning to life and unity to o ur s triv ings . M ultiple,
m ix ed o r c o nflic ting aim s lead to futility, m eaningles s nes s and dis turbanc e. Therefo re, it is o f the utm o s t
s ignific anc e that the C hris tian religio n and Gurdjieffs s ys tem c o inc ide in aim .
O f c o urs e, they ex pres s this o ne aim in their o w n unique term s . But if m y aim ac c o rds w ith that o f C hris tianity
to attain to the beatific v is io n then it als o ac c o rds w ith Gurdjieffs , as s tated in Beelzebubs Tales to his
Grands on . There he s ays that it is po s s ible fo r o ne to bec o m e a partic le, tho ugh an independent o ne, o f
ev erything ex is ting in the great univ ers e (183, s ee als o 162, 244- 5, 384 and 452). O n the Planet Purgato ry, he
s aid, s o uls s triv e to purify them s elv es s pec ific ally to be able to unite w ith and bec o m e part o f the univ ers al
Greatnes s (801). In the 1930 types c ript, it s tates :
the s o uls inhabiting that planet Purgato ry m ight hav e a perfec t and quiet ex is tenc e, w ith ev erything
uniquely fav o urable. N ev ertheles s , fo r them thes e ex ternal c irc um s tanc es o f quiet and c o m fo rt s im ply do no t
c o unt at all. They are entirely abs o rbed in the inc reas ing labo ur o f their purgatio n; and o nly the ho pe o f o ne
day hav ing the go o d fo rtune and the po s s ibility o f bec o m ing a part o f the Greatnes s w hic h is fulfilled by o ur
A ll- po s s ible Endles s nes s fo r the go o d o f A ll, appears o c c as io nally to giv e them peac e.
There is an im po rtant referenc e to the beatific v is io n, but it is c harac teris tic o f Gurdjieff that it is perhaps
s ec o ndary to unity o f being. That the beatific v is io n is the ultim ate C hris tian aim is trite. C atec hetic tex ts
abo und in s tatem ents s uc h as the fo llo w ing: Faith is the indis pens able prelude to the beatific v is io n, the
s upernatural end o f m an. Bo th are im m ediate k no w ledges o f Go d, faith the hearing o f H is w o rd o n earth, v is io n
the s eeing o f H is fac e in heav en. W itho ut rev elatio n there w o uld be s o m e natural k no w ledge o f Go d, but no t
the k no w ledge o f faith. A s w e s hall ex plo re in future blo gs , this idea o f the nec es s ity o f rev elatio n is fo und
als o in Gurdjieff, and his referenc es to m es s engers fro m abo v e.
A quinas s aid that the beatific v is io n and k no w ledge are to s o m e ex tent abo v e the nature o f the ratio nal s o ul,
inas m uc h as it c anno t reac h it o f its o w n s trength; but in ano ther w ay it is in ac c o rdanc e w ith its nature,
inas m uc h as it is c apable o f it by nature, hav ing been m ade to the lik enes s o f Go d.
This , it s eem s to m e, is als o a go o d s um m ary o f Gurdjieffs po s itio n. W e hav e po s s ibilities , as Gurdjieff s aid,
ac c o rding to law . The m o s t im po rtant o f o ur po s s ibilities do no t depend o n us , they are part o f the m ak eup
o f c reatio n as it is . W hat depends o n us is that w e tak e adv antage o f o ur law ful po s s ibilities . That C hris tians
w ill s peak o f grac e w hereas Gurdjieff do es no t is m erely a s em antic differenc e. C hris tians als o s peak o f
pro v idenc e and predes tinatio n, altho ugh les s frequently than o f grac e, and thes e all c o m e do w n to the
s am e thing. C alv in utterly m is unders to o d predes tinatio n, and s inc e him , the W es tern C hris tian dis c o urs e has
been s o m ew hat c o nfus ed. To m y m ind, Gurdjieff c an bes t ex plain ho w thes e c o nc epts all fit to gether.
Grac e refers to the ac tio n o f Go d (c hiefly felt in the s o ul, but als o m anifes ted as the rare m irac le), and to the
div inely planned s ys tem o f the c reatio n.
Predes tinatio n in hum an term s , is pretty m uc h lik e the w ay that the D epartm ent o f Ro ads laid do w n a bro ad
s treet betw een Rydalm ere and Parram atta. But if I w ant to trav el to the predes tined end (m y ho m e in
Rydalm ere), I s till hav e to driv e m y c ar. The ro ad is there by pro v idenc e: the fac ilitating o f ro ad- m ak ing,
driv ing and nav igating. That I do no t c ras h o r lo s e m y w ay is due to grac e: that Go d has freely given m e (the
etym o lo gic al m eaning o f grac e) the m eans o f av ailing m ys elf o f this pro v idential arrangem ent.
Gurdjieff s ays little abo ut grac e in the firs t s ens e, altho ugh it is ac tually in Beelzebub , e.g. the pardo ning o f
Beelzebub. Fo r this reas o n, am o ng o thers , the apparent differenc e betw een Gurdjieff and C hris tianity is greater
than it is . But as I hav e s aid, Gurdjieff s hares the aim o f C hris tianity, to bring hum anity to Go d. A nd that is the
m o s t po s s ible s ignific ant fac t.
s ac rific e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in Gurdjieff & Christianity: part one, JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE
October 18, 2010 at 9:54 am Tagged with aim , Aquinas, beatific vision, Beelzebubs Tales to His Grandson,
Christian aim , Christianity, faith, George Adie, grace, Gurdjieff, Joseph Azize,
Planet Purgatory
A z iz e R e v ie w : T h e F o rg o tte n L a n g u a g e o f C h ild re n
Jo s eph A zize
T h e F o rg o tten L an g u ag e o f C h ild ren
A u th o r: L ilian F ires to n e
Pu b lis h ed : N ew Y o rk , 2 0 1 0
{This is a reas o nably lengthy artic le, as the bo o k pro v ides o ppo rtunities to dis c us s s o m e s ignific ant is s ues :
indeed, it alm o s t dem ands s erio us dis c us s io n. I c o m m enc e w ith an o v erv iew o f the bo o k and its c o ntents . In
Part 2, I o utline the H enry s to ry. Part 3 pro v ides a c ritique. Part 4 inc ludes s o m e further ideas o n being w ith
c hildren, w hile the final s ec tio n, headed C o ns c ienc e, is perhaps the m o s t im po rtant part o f the rev iew . I then
attac h s o m e brief ex trac ts fro m Trahernes C enturies . The length o f the rev iew w ill hav e been w o rthw hile if it
intro duc es a few m o re peo ple to Trahernes w riting. Jo s eph A zize, Jo s eph.A zize@ gm ail.c o m , 24 Septem ber
2010}.
1 O v erv iew an d C o n ten ts
This bo o k is v iv id and pro fo und. It relates Fires to nes pers o nal his to ry o f ac tiv ities w ith c hildren under the
aus pic es o f the Gurdjieff Fo undatio n o f N ew Yo rk . Bec aus e its als o m eant to be a po int o f departure fo r o nes
o w n dis c o v eries , it bears a c ertain pro m is e. W hen o ne reads a rec o rd lik e this , o ne feels that bec aus e new
unders tandings and w ays o f relating w ere po s s ible fo r tho s e peo ple, s o m ething c o rres po nding is po s s ible no w
fo r us . O ur ex perienc es w ill no t be identic al to Fires to nes , but they m ay, no netheles s , be analo go us in that
theyre o riented to w ards es s enc e v alues , in Gurdjieffs term s . Lik e any go o d his to ry, this o ne s ilently inv ites
us to po nder o ur o w n his to ries , to c hallenge o ur unders tanding, and to be res po ns ible fo r liv ing w hat w ev e
learned.
A s the title indic ates , Fires to ne believ es that c hildren hav e a language o f their o w n, o ne w hic h w e adults hav e
fo rgo tten. The k ey to this language w o uld appear to be that its a to ngue w here im aginativ e c ues are m o re
im po rtant than v erbal o nes . In Fires to nes w o rds : w hat to uc hes them m o re than w o rds are pic tures and
im ages (p.71). Fires to nes ins ight m ay be an applic atio n to c hildren o f Gurdjieffs m entatio n by tho ught and
m entatio n by fo rm ( Beelzebub , p. 15). A ppro priately eno ugh, altho ugh the bo o k hardly s eem s aim ed at
c hildren, Fires to ne us es s o m ething o f the language hers elf, no t o nly in her s im ple, s ens itiv e pro s e, but als o in
the m any pho to graphs . I s us pec t that s he w o uld lik e to think that the bo o k m ay ho ld m eaning fo r s o m e o f the
c hildren w ho then partic ipated. Perhaps , to o , the o nc e- fo rgo tten language c an be a fac to r in v iv ifying o ur adult
language, unduly neglec tful as it is , at tim es , o f the v alue o f im ages .
A s s o m eo ne w ho is fairly painfully aw are o f ho w po o rly he w rites , I adm ire Fires to ne fo r the apparently
effo rtles s c larity o f her w riting. To m y m ind, the m ark o f a go o d w riter is that the w o rds o n the page flo w s o
eas ily that the reader rec eiv es the m eaning as if hearing an o rdinary c o nv ers atio n, that is , w itho ut hav ing to
s train at the fo rm ulatio ns o r ev en to be aw are that the w riter has ex erc is ed an art. By tho s e c riteria, Fires to ne is
a go o d w riter. Bec aus e her s tyle is , as I s aid, v iv id and feeling, I nev er felt that w hat s he w as des c ribing w as at
all fo reign to m e. Its this quality in her w riting w hic h inv ites an im aginativ e engagem ent.
The title is , perhaps , the k ey to the firs t them e o f the bo o k : ex ternal c o m m unic atio n betw een adults and
c hildren. Fires to nes entire v erbal and pic to rial rec o rd des c ribes a c hain o f ex perim ents in c o m m unic atio n
betw een adults and c hildren. The aptnes s o f the title is an ex am ple o f Fires to nes ability as a w riter.
A s I read it, the nex t them e o f the bo o k is internal c o m m unic atio n betw een parts o f o nes elf: higher and lo w er;
em o tio nal, intellec tual and o rganic . W e c an aim to liv e m o re c o ns c io us ly in tw o direc tio ns s im ultaneo us ly:
w ithin o urs elv es and w ith o thers . The tw o them es s eam les s ly fit to gether, and w itho ut that fit, o ne line alo ne
c anno t lo ng c o ntinue to be pro duc tiv e. I c an neither c o m m unic ate m o re c o ns c io us ly no r m o re c o ns c ienc e- ly
w ith c hildren, o r w ith anyo ne els e, unles s I m ys elf am m o re c o ns c io us ly pres ent.
In the end, as M r A die s aid, all it needs is m y pres enc e. If a pers o n is pres ent w hen theyre w ith c hildren, they
are bo und to hav e s o m e feeling o f them s elv es in relatio n to tho s e c hildren. H um an c o m m unic atio n c an and
s ho uld be m ark ed by inc reas ing ho nes ty, rec eptiv ity and res pec t. In a genuine relatio ns hip, o ur being is
ev o k ed, and theres o ften a w o nder at the m ys tery o f the pres ent, at the unfo lding, and at the po s s ibilities .
Forgotten Language is c arefully, ev en affec tio nately pro duc ed. Its a hands o m ely pres ented hardc o v er, the
c o v er s lip being w hat I think o f as c rim s o n, w ith an endearing naiv e draw ing o f an elephant. The c o ntras ting
to uc hes o f go ld and the banding behind the autho rs nam e o n the dus t jac k et c o m plem ent the c o v er alm o s t
perfec tly, hav ing s trength, w itho ut being at all o v erpo w ering. Jus t tho s e s hades o f c rim s o n, go ld and w hite o n
the c o v er s ugges t quietly glo w ing em bers tum bled do w n fro m a fire. A little s ho rt o f 300 pages , w ell
illus trated, and publis hed by Fires to nes o w n Indic atio ns Pres s , its m o derately pric ed at $U S40; further reas o n
to s ee it as a labo ur o f lo v e. Iv e pas s ed it o n to an im pec unio us friend o f m ine, m arried w ith a c hild, bec aus e I
think that hell find it abs o rbing and us eful, and friends do eac h o ther go o d turns .
Its arranged aro und 15 c hapters , eac h w ith a them e s uc h as In the Kitc hen, M o ney, Im pres s io ns , and s o
o n. Eac h o f thes e c hapters has a s pec ial interes t, and is reas o nably s elf- c o ntained, altho ugh o ne s ho uld begin
by reading the firs t tw o c hapters to o btain o nes bearings . A s I s hall m entio n, the las t c hapters hav e a
c o ntinuity w hic h c lo s e the bo o k . There are s undry appendic es and m any pages o f pho to graphs .
C hapter 3, C hallenges , is typic al o f the bo o k . It o pens w ith Gurdjieffs w is e adv ic e to learn o ne new s k ill,
c raft o r language eac h year; an adv ic e w hic h, s o far as I k no w , he gav e o nly to adults . Tak ing up this adv ic e
leads to a s truggle to learn and a rec o gnitio n that w ere pro ne to m ak ing reflex iv e judgm ents and hiding
behind the m ec hanic al pretex t I c ant. In learning new things , they all had to leav e the s afety o f the k no w n
(47- 8), as Fires to ne s ays .
Yet, I w o nder w hether learning a new c raft o r language do es really tak e anyo ne s o v ery far o ut fro m the s afety
o f s ho re. It is no t, after all, as if they had go ne to the Jo rdanian des ert to learn falc o nry fro m the Bedo uin. A s
w e s hall s ee in the nex t part o f this rev iew , w hen they had hardly left the s afety o f the k no w n to c am p o ut in
C anada in the c o m pany o f H enry the M ic m ac Indian, the adults s c ram bled bac k to s ho re as if dro w ning. I
ex em pt Fires to ne fro m this : the ac c o unt indic ates that s he s truggled adm irably agains t fo rc es to o great fo r her
s trength as it then w as . So , s peak ing fo r m ys elf, w hen I read s uc h phras es as leav ing the s afety o f the
k no w n, C hildrens W o rk , and leaning o n the m o m ent, I find a c ertain lo w lev el grandilo quenc e. N o m atter,
it is nt painful.
A s this c hapter s ho w s , a s ignific ant part o f w hat Fires to ne and c o lleagues learnt c am e thro ugh the aid o f
Jeanne de Salzm ann and Peggy Flins c h. D e Salzm ann adv is ed them to c reate an ev ent, to prepare a c hallenge,
and, m o s t im po rtantly, to be there in the m o m ent. In illus trating thes e ev ents and m o m ents , am ple s pac e is
dev o ted to the c hildrens reflec tio ns . O ne rem ark w hic h s eem s typic al, w as A t the C hildrens W o rk w hen
yo u tried s o m ething new o r fro m yo ur im aginatio n, no bo dy c o rrec ted yo u. N o bo dy s aid, Yo ure w ro ng,
Yo ure s tupid Ins tead yo u w ere trus ted to c o m e up w ith s o m ething o f yo ur o w n, and the adults let yo u do
it (50).
A c ritic al po int c am e w hen, s triv ing to unders tand de Salzm anns adv ic e to c reate s pec ial c o nditio ns , they s aw
that they them s elv es w ere the s pec ial c o nditio ns o n w hic h ev erything depended (52). They aim ed fo r a dual
attentio n to o nes elf and the c hildren (52). This requires im partiality, and that led to an ex erc is e w here eac h
w o uld s tudy o ne c hild to s ee w hether m ind, feeling o r bo dy w ere s tro nges t, w eak es t, quic k es t and s o o n, in
that c hild (53). A fter this , de Salzm ann gav e adv ic e w hic h appro x im ates to Gurdjieffs direc tio n to s ee c hildren
in their po tential (53- 4). There is m uc h m o re v aluable m aterial lik e this in c hapter 3. Perhaps the ac m e is
fo und in Jim N o tts quo ting Gurdjieffs s tatem ent that w e c an repair the pas t, and that w e c an rem em ber ho w
w e w ere as c hildren, s o c o m ing to a s ym pathetic unders tanding o f thes e c hildren (54- 5). I es pec ially m entio n
this bec aus e it po ints to a w ay fo rw ard fo r all o f us .
W itho ut repairing the pas t, w e c anno t, it s eem s to m e, ev er c o m e to c o ns c ienc e. The ro yal ro ad to indiv iduality
is to aw ak en c o ns c ienc e. A nd, as Gurdjieff s aid, behind real I lies Go d. W hat hum an aim w o uld no t be related
to the beatific v is io n? Gurdjieff s aid as m uc h in different term s w hen, in res pec t o f the Third Series , he s aid
that he aim ed to s hare the po s s ibilities I had dis c o v ered o f to uc hing reality and, if s o des ired, ev en m erging
w ith it.
M y o w n v iew is that w hat readers c an ex trapo late fro m this v o lum e w ill pro bably be m o re v aluable as a new
attitude, o r ev en as a m o o d, than as s tatem ents o f princ iple. A nd I s ay that k no w ing full w ell that the general
princ iples c ited fro m Gurdjieff and de Salzm ann are, indeed, gem s . Iv e m ade a lis t, pro bably inc o m plete, but
yo u c an find c itatio ns fro m Gurdjieff at pp. 16, 27, 47, 54, 97- 8 and 127- 130. The las t o f thes e o pens w ith
s o m e pro fo und s to ries to ld by de Salzm ann. That redo ubtable lady features at pp. 24, 27, 43, 48, 53- 4, 56- 7,
61, 63, 71- 2, 92- 3, 127, 132- 3, 140, 145 and 196. Inc identally, c o m paring the de Salzm ann w ho appears in
this bo o k w ith the de Salzm ann o f the rec ently publis hed Reality of Being , is ins truc tiv e. The c alendar
s peec h w hic h s po ils Reality fo r m e is entirely m is s ing fro m Fires to nes po rtrait. Perhaps de Salzm anns fo rte
w as in ex c hanges and w hat w e m ight c all life- engagem ents , rather than philo s o phy. I w o uld s ay that de
Salzm ann em erges in this bo o k as a s to re o f prac tic al w is do m and c o ntro lled fo rc e. Peggy Flins c h is als o an
influenc e fo r im partial unders tanding in this bo o k , s ee pp. 24, 35, 36, 55, 63- 4, 77, 87, 111 and 130.
The m aterial is w ell- w ritten, c lear, engaging, and has a feeling quality. I find that, ex c epting o nly a few
pas s ages , it is im po s s ible no t to hav e s ym pathy w ith the autho r, and to applaud her effo rts , s o m e o f w hic h
c am e at the pric e o f a c ertain s ac rific e o f ego is m .
2 T h e H en ry S to ry
The m o s t im po rtant o f Fires to nes ex perienc es appear in the s to ry w hic h c o m pris es c hapters 12, D iffic ulties ,
and 13, Rem o rs e. Thes e c hapters are the c lim ax , to o , in that they fo rm a s us tained c lo s ing no te. Fires to nes
ex perienc e began lik e this : they w anted to find a w o rthw hile des tinatio n fo r the c hildrens ho liday, o ne w hic h
o ffered new m eaning (p.173). W hile they w ere think ing this w ay, the adults and s o m e c hildren fro m the gro up
attended a po w - w o w , w here s he m et H enry, a M ic m ac fro m a res erv atio n in N o v a Sc o tia (174- 5). H enry w as
im pres s iv e: H is life s to ry w as the firs t o f its k ind w e had heard. H is direc t w ay o f s peak ing w as s o s trik ing
that the c hildren rem em bered afterw ards w hat he s aid alm o s t w o rd fo r w o rd (175).
H enry em erges as pro bably the m o s t prac tic al and c o m m o n s ens e ac to r in the w ho le bo o k (Fires to ne no t
ex c luded, as s he c andidly s ho w s in the tins o f fo o d s to ry w here s he c o uld, it s eem s to m e, hav e jus t to ld a
s po iled c hild that c anned fo o d w as no s ubs titute fo r fres h fo o d, and refus ed to allo w her to buy tins ). W hen
the c hildren as k ed H enry w hether he c o uld s leep o n the gro und w itho ut a blank et, he ans w ered: Sure, if I
hav ent go t a blank et (176). W hen they c o uldnt light a fire bec aus e the k indling w as dam p, he us ed w hat he
c alled the Indian w ay: he ignited it w ith k ero s ene. Fires to ne frank ly dis c lo s es that the w o rk peo ple
dis appro v ed; but H enry po inted o ut that c o m m o n s ens e is the Indian w ay (176- 7). A nd s o it w as , in general,
w ith H enry. H e w as effic ient and c apable, but if there w ere no jo bs , he res ted. H e nev er lo o k ed bus y, nev er
pretended (177).
H enry to ld them that bec aus e the Indians had fo und the w hite m an to be a hypo c rite, they des c ribed him as
s peak ing w ith fo rk ed to ngue and as hav ing tw o hearts . H enry related his s to ries o f betrayal w ith
im partiality, and w itho ut repro ac h. Fires to ne ho ped to s ho w him that, c o ntrary to his ex perienc e hitherto ,
w hite peo ple c o uld ac t w ith friends hip and ho no ur (177). H enry inv ited them to the C anadian res erv atio n.
They agreed to c o m e fo r ten days . This w as to be the w o rthw hile des tinatio n fo r the c hildrens ho liday. Peggy
Flins c h c o uld no t m ak e it, but they w ere no thing daunted: o ne o f their leaders s po k e o f adv enture and
res po ns ibility. So , o ff they s et. W hen they arriv ed at the res erv atio n, H enry led them to his m o thers ho us e
(178- 80). H is m o ther taught Fires to ne w hat s he (Fires to ne) regarded as a v aluable les s o n, w hen s he pers uaded
Fires to ne to let a s m all bo y s leep o n after the o thers had ris en, rather than be aw ak ened befo re he w as ready.
A t this po int Fires to ne s ays The Indian w ay is abo ut liv ing w ith the reality o f w hat is (180). A t leas t, I w o uld
s ay, that is the Indian w ay at its bes t.
But the m en o n the team w ere res tles s . There w as , they s aid, no plan fo r the c hildren, and H enrys Indian
friends had no t yet arriv ed to ins truc t the c hildren, w ho w ere running aro und playing in the w o o ds and the
lak es ho re (181). In the m eantim e, H enrys m o ther s ho w ed the girls ho w to m ak e s k irts fro m leav es . W hen
H enrys friends arriv ed that afterno o n there w as s till no plan, and, they apparently s aid, there c anno t be o ne: it
is nt their w ay (181- 2). H o w ev er: the m en o n the team bec am e irritated and gav e H enry hard lo o k s . They
fo und an uns truc tured day hard to bear, but the c hildren w ere happy (182). In the c o urs e o f that day, H enry
and his friends s ho w ed the c hildren ho w to m ak e a delic io us , real, fres h bread but o ne o f o ur m en as k ed
w hy they hadnt ex plained the pro c es s . H enrys reply w as , again, c o m m o n s ens e: The c hildren c an s ee; w hats
the us e o f talk ing? (183)
That night a m us ic ian played w hat they des c ribed as traditio nal Indian m us ic . The m us ic turned o ut to be
Iris h and Englis h fo lk tunes . The c hildren w ere happy, but the m en w ere no t. This is no t the C hildrens
W o rk , o ne s aid, and the c apitals are in Fires to nes bo o k . I c an w ell believ e they w ere in the into natio n, to o .
They dec ided to leav e the v ery nex t day, jus t w alk ing o ut o n the Indians . Fires to ne alo ne dis s ented fro m this
plan. She bec am e bew ildered: H o w did princ iples apply? (185)
Fires to ne w as tro ubled, s aying: It w as w ro ng to break o ur w o rd to H enry. I c o uld hardly bear the tho ught that,
lik e all the o thers , w e w o uld betray him (185). But, as s he no tes , Peggy w as no t there (185). Peggy Flins c h, fo r
tho s e w ho do no t k no w , w as a pers o nal pupil o f Gurdjieff. O ne o f the leaders , Ben, to ld the c hildren they had
to leav e im m ediately, and ano ther, Bill, to ld them no t to as k any ques tio ns (187). This pro duc ed a s ituatio n
w here m o s t o f the c hildren, s till no t unders tanding the adults c o ld abruptnes s , w ere res entful and afraid
(187). The c hildrens lo g s tated:
Fro m the firs t day, a gap s eem ed to fo rm betw een the adults and us . The adults w ere alw ays s tres s ing
res po ns ibility. H ac k ing w as s o fro w ned upo n that w e felt guilty ev ery tim e w e laughed. There w ere few m inutes
o f fun. N o ne o f us w anted to go ; w e c o uld s ee H enry w as hurt. A nd again the adults w ere c o ld and
dem anding. (188)
Bac k ho m e, Fires to ne realis ed that s he c o uld no t giv e her c o ns c ienc e o v er to anyo ne, no t ev en to her
team . A s s he c o nc luded: A ny gro up c an lo s e its w ay (197). In relating this tale, Iv e us ed m o re direc t quo tes
than us ual, in c as e it m ight be tho ught that Im guilting the lily (to adapt a line).
3 C ritiq u e
So m etim es , w hen rev iew ing, Ill m ak e s ubs tantial c o m m ents bec aus e I find that a bo o k has s ubs tantial v alue.
In o ther ins tanc es , a lo ng c ritique m ight be needed to jus tify an unflattering apprais al. This bo o k inv ites
c o m m ents bec aus e o f its depth. Yo u c o uld as s es s fo undatio ns as being really s o lid but s till w is h to do a little
m o re w o rk , ev en if jus t to ho s e them do w n befo re building upo n them . So m ething s im ilar is the c as e here. Its
bec aus e the v o lum e is s o go o d that I think theres a us e in addres s ing w hat I s ee as a flaw in the ex ec utio n. In
princ iple, the bo o k is great. Its a firm , ev en ins piring fo undatio n. But the s urfac e o f the fo undatio ns w ants
s w eeping, at leas t in m y v iew .
The v o lum e c o uld be tidier in this res pec t: I think that its to o lo ng. It s eem s to m e that Lillian Fires to ne has
w ritten o ne and a bit bo o k s w ith tw o different if related aim s ins ide o ne c o v er: (1) a narrativ e, o f s atis fying
length, w hic h c o uld s tand by its elf as an interes ting and ins truc tiv e auto bio graphic al fragm ent, and, (2) in the
appendic es titled Them es and So m e Princ iples , a ho w - to - W o rk - w ith- C hildren m anual, to us e N ew Yo rk
c apitals .
M y s ens e is that had thes e s ho rt appendic es been o m itted, and the o ffering o f princ iples been left to the
v o ic es o f Gurdjieff, de Salzm ann and Flins c h, the princ iples w o uld hav e been m o re effec tiv ely c o nv eyed. The
m ino r s tatem ents o f princ iple in the tex t are no t o ffens iv e o r ev en dis trac ting: s o m e reflec tio n, s o m e
philo s o phy, is o ften nec es s ary. M any o f Fires to nes o w n s ho rt m editatio ns , if I c an c all them that, are v ery
go o d indeed: fo r ex am ple, her c o nc lus io n to the H enry s to ry. But w hile s o m e s alt s eas o ns the dis h, to o m uc h
s eizes the thro at.
The bo o k c hallenges c o nv entio nal ideas o f drilling the right w ay into c hildrens heads . It s tands , to us e
Gurdjieffs term ino lo gy, fo r the im perativ es to be pres ent, to rem em ber o nes elf, and to m anifes t fro m
c o ns c io us nes s and c o ns c ienc e (perhaps a hendiadys , perhaps no t). The ho w - to m anual is m aybe m o re than
s im ply a departure fro m this : it s eem s to m e to be inim ic al. Fires to ne s ays that c hildren s ho uld be allo w ed
their o w n ex perienc e. I w o uld agree, s o far as o ne c an agree w ith s uc h a s tatem ent. A t the leas t, w e adults to o
o ften w is h fo r c hildren to s hare o ur o w n ex perienc e, and to ac c ept o ur v aluatio ns . W e o ften s ho w to o little
res pec t fo r the c hilds indiv iduality. But w hy no t let adult readers hav e their o w n ex perienc e, and leav e the
appendic es o ut? Still, being at the bac k o f the v o lum e they do nt interfere w ith the narrativ e, and s o the s o und
fo undatio ns , s o to s peak , rem ain intac t.
That is m y m ajo r res erv atio n. Lets no w turn to ano ther m atter: the s o - c alled C hildrens W o rk w ith c apitals . If
w e c all an ac tiv ity w o rk , there is at leas t a danger that w ell as s um e that w ere w o rk ing s im ply by v irtue o f
being o n a w o rk team , and the phras e w ill k eep s ugges ting that bac k to us . A nd s o w e glue as s um ptio ns into
o ur language. The w o rd w o rk s tands fo r s o m ething v ery high: ratio nal, c o nnec ted effo rts in the direc tio n o f a
c ho s en aim . W e hav e to earn the right to s ay that w ere w o rk ing, es pec ially w o rk ing as a m an w o uld, w ith all
three c entres . Gurdjieff s aid a go o d deal abo ut s ugges tiv enes s , an as pec t o f Kundabuffer, and the fo rc e fo r
illus io n w hic h it repres ents in o ur liv es . W e w o uld be prudent to av o id w o rds w hic h m ight feed s ugges tio n.
A gain, its ano ther m ild as pec t o f grandilo quenc e, but its s ignific ant, bec aus e I tend to s ee it as s uppo rting
o ur ev il inner go d s elf- c alm ing.
Thank fully, there is an eas y s o lutio n. I s ee no reas o n to em plo y any s pec ial s o briquets . If the c hildren are
w o rk ing o n a po nd, c all it the po nd team . If s o m e are in the k itc hen, then theyre in the k itc hen c rew . W here
there is a legitim ate need to dis tinguis h, o ne c an refer to the c hildren in the theatre tro upe, o r the adults in the
gardening o utfit, and be no ne the po o rer.
To return to an ex am ple fro m Forgotten Language , in the c as e o f the s po iled k id that ins is ted o n buying
tinned fo o d and no t fres h fo o d, it m ight hav e been po s s ible, if in the right s tate, to tell her that her pro po s al
w as m is c o nc eiv ed fo r the s im ple reas o n that fres h fo o d is m o re nutritio us than c anned fo o d- s ubs titutes . O f
c o urs e, w e w ant to ex plain this w itho ut any feeling o f c o ndem natio n, jus t addres s ing the m atter in hand. If I
c an be im partial, and feel s uppo rtiv e o f the c hild w hile s peak ing, s o m ething o f m y inner s tate has a c hanc e o f
c o m ing thro ugh. The o ther m ay refus e to be m o llified, but I do nt believ e that they do no t k no w at s o m e deep
lev el w hat is go ing o n, and that theyre being w ilful.
By the w ay, Gurdjieff gro ups s ho uld be ins is ting o n fres h fo o d (o rganic and, I s us pec t, w itho ut genetic
m o dific atio n w here po s s ible) and fres hly prepared m eals . O rdering in s andw ic hes o r pizza, and eating s w eets
is anti- es s enc e. W e s ho uld, s o far as po s s ible, banis h pro c es s ed c arbo hydrates lik e s ugar, bread, pizza and
w hite ric e. So langes C laus tres repo rts that Gurdjieff s aid that bec aus e inner effo rts us e the s o rt o f energy they
do , its es s ential to at leas t try and giv e the bo dy the m o s t nutritio us fo o d. Gurdjieff, de Salzm ann and the
A dies did no t k no w that s ugar w as a po is o n. O k ay, but w e do , and they w anted us to purs ue truth rather than
lim iting o urs elv es to w hat w as k no w n abo ut nutritio n in their day.
I w ill end this c ritique by m entio ning ano ther fac to r Id lik e to c hallenge, to us e Fires to nes term . That is the
m aterial c o m m is s io ned in the fo rew o rd and the tes tim o nials . The fo rew o rd is by T.R. Thurm an, and prais es the
firm but k ind realis m o f the adults (ix ). The prais e fo r the v o lum e, fo r Gurdjieff, de Salzm ann and the adults
is fuls o m e, v ery fuls o m e. I w o nder Fires to ne did no t find it em barras s ing. Then, Thurm an relates ho w the D alai
Lam a, w hen rec eiv ing an ho no rary degree, s aid s o po w erfully as to penetrate the s to ne pillars that to educ ate
the brain but no t the heart is to c reate a danger. Thurm an adds : The as s em bled dignitaries no dded
appro v ingly, but s ubs equently I didnt no tic e any c hange in the c urric ulum (x ).
W hat c hanges to the c urric ulum did Thurm an ex pec t to s ee? W hat c hanges did he him s elf m ak e? W hat c hanges
did the Lam a indic ate? The fac t o f the m atter is , as repo rted, the D alai Lam a m ade a platitudino us s tatem ent
w hic h c o uld m ean alm o s t anything. Thurm an w as identified w ith him to the ex tent that he ev en im agined the
pillars hearing his v o ic e, and no w s hares his fo nd fantas y w ith us . O nc e m o re, I c all it grandilo quenc e. A m o re
hum o ro us and s o fter phras e m ight be the A us tralianis m c o s m ic w o m bat.
I c o uld m ak e c o m m ents abo ut the tes tim o nials o n the bac k c o v er, but tim e is lim ited. Suffic e to s ay, if yo u
es teem gus hing prais e, yes , theyre go o d. But w hy ac he fo r w hat yo u didnt hav e? W hat c o uld s uc h an ac he
be but im aginatio n? D o es Fires to ne need this s o rt o f m ark eting? This bo o k is a dedic atio n to life and
c o ns c io us nes s pas t, pres ent and future befo re its a pro duc t, and to m ark et it lik e any o rdinary bo o k , w ith the
s o rt o f tes tim o nials Gurdjieff s atirized in M eetings w ell, I c ant c o nc eiv e that it w as nec es s ary, es pec ially
as its her o w n pres s and s he has no ex ternal publis hers to c o m pro m is e w ith.
4 F u rth er T h o u g h ts o n C h ild ren
I hav e no c hildren o f m y o w n, but I w as a c hild. O ne o f the rares t ins ights Iv e ev er heard abo ut c hildren w as
s aid by m y late grandm o ther. C hildren, s he s aid, k no w w ho lo v e them . A n intuitiv e k no w ledge is av ailable
to them in m any w ays . A t s o m e lev el, c hildren, es pec ially s m all c hildren, k no w . They k no w w hats go ing o n
and w hats tak ing plac e in the peo ple aro und them . M y c lear rec o llec tio n, and its s o m ething w e all s hared
w hether w e rem em ber it o r no t, is that as a c hild I w as v ery o ften quite im partial. I rec all lo o k ing aro und m e
w ith the s o rt o f feeling- im partiality that Tho m as Traherne des c ribes in his C enturies , and hav ing a res pec t
fo r o ther peo ple as being m irac les equal to m ys elf. In bo o k 3.3. o f the C enturies , Traherne w ro te:
A ged m en s eem ed as v enerable and rev erend c reatures yo ung m en s eem ed glittering and s park ling angels .
and w o m en s trange s eraphic piec es o f life and beauty. Bo ys and girls tum bling in the s treet and playing. w ere
m o v ing jew els . I k new no t that they w ere bo rn o r s ho uld die, but all things bided as if in their pro per plac es
eternally.
I rec all that I w as c entred, that m y m ind w as c rys tal c lear, and m y feelings w ere po s itiv e. The m em o ries are
abs o lutely c ris p. I did no t then realis e that I w as c entred, but then again, perhaps I did. By im perc eptible
degrees , o f c o urs e, this s tate o f natural, inno c ent blis s ful perc eptio n w as lo s t. But the realis atio n that I then
had, effec tiv ely o f the truth o f the Beatific V is io ns , has nev er been lo s t, altho ugh fo r perio ds , s o m etim es fo r
lo ng w eary perio ds , it has lain unrem em bered.
A s an as ide, the v ery firs t tim e I read In Searc h of the M irac ulous , I at o nc e s aw that w hat Gurdjieff w as
teac hing w as a m etho d fo r res to ring the lo s t v is io n, but at a higher lev el, o ne w hic h w o uld relate o ur
perc eptio n to o ur w ill, and no t m erely o ur c irc um s tanc es . It s eem ed right that the path w o uld lie thro ugh
c o ns c ienc e, but nev er had I rem o tely gues s ed that that c o uld c o m m enc e thro ugh s o m ething as s im ple as
bec o m ing c o ns c io us to m y o w n reality, beginning w ith phys ic al s ens atio n. Yet ho w o bv io us , after all, that the
ro ad to reality s ho uld begin in the o ne c ertain plac e av ailable to ev eryo ne, o ur o w n indiv idual being- reality? I
tried to bring s o m e o f that unders tanding to M r A dies bo o k , es pec ially the c hapters The Jo y o f C reatio n and
The W o rld in A m ber.
To return to o ur them e, Traherne s aw that this tale o f infant paradis e and the fall is true o f ev eryo ne. C hildren
are m o re in es s enc e than w e are, and, as I s hall m entio n belo w , the w o rk ing o f their c entres is m o re united.
Trahernes w riting o n this s ubjec t is s ignific ant, and to o little apprec iated. In an appendix to this rev iew , I
attac h s o m e m o re brief quo tatio ns fro m bo o k 3 o f Trahernes C enturies . But there is no s ubs titute fo r
purc has ing a v o lum e o f his po etry, and m ak ing yo ur o w n ac quaintanc e w ith this pro fo und m ys tic .
To return to m y grandm o thers w o rds , I think that the firs t effo rt w ith anyo ne, but es pec ially perhaps w ith
c hildren, is to o pen to feeling. By feeling I m ean po s itiv e em o tio n o f m ys elf, no t m ere em o tio n (s ee p.61 o f
Geo rge A die: A Gurdjieff Pupil in A us tralia fo r the c ritic al dis tinc tio n.) I w o nt delv e into it no w , but its
natural that s uc h an effo rt ex tends do w nw ards into pres enc e o f s ens atio n and abo v e into pres enc e o f aim .
This is ano ther reas o n w hy I think there needs to be m o re attentio n paid to the aw ak ening o f feeling, and les s
to intellec tual fo rm ulatio ns s uc h as leaning o n the m o m ent, w hic h to m e paints a hum o ro us pic ture o f
leav ing s m udges ev eryw here. A m o m ent is a breath. Yo u c ant lean o n it, ev en m etapho ric ally. But to the
degree that I am pres ent, higher em o tio nal c entre o perates w ith its ric her tim e, and it as if c o rrido rs o f
dim ens io ns are added to the ex perienc e o f the m o m ent. O nc e m o re, c o ntac t w ith feeling pro v es to be the gate.
In s m all c hildren, the c entres func tio n m o re c lo s ely to gether. C hildren are bo th m o re s ens itiv e and s tro nger
than they w ill be as adults , m o re in es s enc e, and s o w e are ac c o rdingly m o re res po ns ible fo r o ur
m anifes tatio ns in their pres enc es . Inc identally, I heard this fro m M r A die, but the s am e idea is rec o rded in
O us pens k ys The Fo urth W ay, s o I am pretty s ure it c am e fro m Gurdjieff. A t p. 74 is this fertile line: In s m all
c hildren c entres are no t div ided. A t p. 121, O us pens k y ans w ers a ques tio n as to w hether a c hild is nearer to
s elf- rem em bering than an adult. N o , no t quite, s aid O us pens k y. Rem em bering o nes elf, he ex plained, c o m es
fro m o nes o w n c o ns c io us and intentio nal effo rts . W hile c hildren hav e m o m ents o f c o ns c io us nes s , thes e
m o m ents c o m e by them s elv es bec aus e the em o tio nal c entre is m o re ac tiv e in c hildren.
So it s eem s to be this : the yo unger the c hild, the les s div is io n there is lik ely to be betw een the c entres . O ne
c an ev en s ee fro m em bryo lo gy ho w the m ec hanis m s o f the c entres s tart to appear. The different s c ale o f tim e
in higher c entres and higher parts o f c entres ex plains w hy o ur s ens e o f tim e is different w hen w ere c hildren.
A s Traherne s aid o f his ex perienc e as a bo y: A ll tim e w as eternity and a perpetual s abbath. M y o w n gues s is
that the o peratio nal div is io n o f c entres w hic h has begun in infanc y do es no t end its o c tav e o f dev elo pm ent
until puberty, and is aided, o r at leas t giv en its c harac teris tic fo rm , by the dev elo pm ent o f pers o nality w hic h
s tarts to c o v er es s enc e.
So it is nt s o m uc h that im ages and pic tures m ean m o re to c hildren than w o rds : that w ill depend upo n w hic h
im ages , pic ture and w o rds , and w hic h c hild. It is m o re that ev ery w o rd w ill res o nate w ith im ages and pic tures ,
and vic e vers a , bec aus e the intellec t and the feeling are c lo s er to gether. The v ery yo ung do nt m ak e the hard
dis tinc tio n betw een w o rds and pic tures that w e do : that, at leas t, I c an rem em ber fro m c hildho o d.
A nd o f c o urs e, it fo llo w s fro m all this , that the higher parts o f c entres are m o re av ailable in c hildren, and s o
the m ys tic elem ent o f a c hilds ex perienc e m us t be res pec ted, and allo w ed s pac e. If a pers o n is pres ent w ith a
c hild, es pec ially a s m all c hild, that pers o n c anno t be im patient w itho ut rem o rs e o f c o ns c ienc e.
N o w , if c hildren c anno t m ak e c o ns c io us effo rts the w ay that an adult c an, they yet hav e the po s s ibility, ev en
the heightened po s s ibility, o f rec eiv ing im pres s io ns o f o ur c o ns c io us and intentio nal effo rts . Tho s e
im pres s io ns c an bec o m e ac tiv e later w hen pers o nality is s m o thering es s enc e. It c o uld be that neither then no r
later w ill they be aw are o f hav ing rec eiv ed any s uc h im pres s io n. Im pres s io ns c an be s o w eak as to be
negligible. But no c o ns c io us effo rt m ade w ith s o m eo ne is ev er w as ted, either fo r o nes elf o r fo r the o ther.
Further, the effo rt w ith anyo ne adult, baby o r yo uth s ho uld be im partial and unc o nditio nal to the ex tent w e
c an m anage, and m aybe ev en beyo nd that. O ne do es no t m ak e s uc h effo rts in the ho pe o f ev o k ing gratitude
fro m the o ther. That w o uld be m anipulatio n, and it alw ays , it s eem s to m e, bac k fires . It leads , in o ther w o rds ,
to rev uls io n, if no t to o utright rev o lt. There are no guarantees : there are c hildren w ho k new Gurdjieff and ev en
had the ex perienc e o f c hildrens m o v em ents , w ho did no t turn o ut at all brilliantly.
There are v ery few rules and perhaps ev en few er guarantees . C o rpo ral punis hm ent is lo o k ed upo n as barbaric
to day. But s o m etim es , Gurdjieff w o uld s pank a c hild o n the bo tto m , and s ay that it w as a go o d rem inding
fac to r. O lga de H artm ann relates that Gurdjieff s ho uted at her o nc e in the pres enc e o f her father. That go o d
m an w as appalled, until Gurdjieff ex plained to him that bec aus e he, the father, had no t s ho uted at O lga, no w
he, Gurdjieff, had to giv e her that ex perienc e. A nd he, ac c o rding to O lga, s aw the w is do m in that. The late
M ic hael Sm yth rec o unted to m e a s to ry he had heard fro m Paul Beek m an Taylo r. I think I hav e it right: a c hild
w as pro ud o f its to y w atc h. Gurdjieff bec k o ned the c hild o v er, o btained the w atc h, and then deliberately
c rus hed it beneath his fo o t. The s to ry did no t end there. The nex t night, Gurdjieff c alled the c hild o v er to
him s elf. The c hild w as reluc tant, but the parents helped the c hild o v er to Gurdjieff. Gurdjieff then pres ented
the c hild w ith a real w atc h. N o o ne I k no w w o uld dare to do s uc h a thing, but it m ay hav e been benefic ial to
the c hild: I do nt k no w , and I do nt k no w ho w to judge it.
So there are v ery few rules . W e jus t hav e to us e o ur indiv idual being- reas o n, and in us ing it, dev elo p it.
5 C o ns c ienc e
The k ey to w o rk w ith anyo ne, c hildren o r o therw is e, is , I w o uld no w s ay, c o ns c ienc e. There is a s pec ial
c o nnec tio n w ith c hildren, and no t o nly bec aus e o ur tim e o f c hildho o d w as abs o lutely c ritic al fo r o ur
dev elo pm ent. A s Jes us s aid, w e m us t bec o m e lik e little c hildren if w ere to enter the Kingdo m o f H eav en.
Traherne refers to this in C enturies :
O ur Sav io urs m eaning w hen H e s aid that w ho ev er w o uld enter into the k ingdo m o f heav en m us t be bo rn again
and bec o m e a little c hild, is far deeper than is generally believ ed. It is no t o nly in a c areles s relianc e upo n
div ine pro v idenc e that w e are to bec o m e little c hildren o r in the feeblenes s and s ho rtnes s o f o ur anger, and in
the s im plic ity o f o ur pas s io ns : but in the peac e and purity o f all o ur s o ul, w hic h purity als o is a deeper thing
than is c o m m o nly apprehended fo r w e m us t dis ro be o ur s elv es o f all fals e c o lo urs , and fo rs ak e s elf- w ill. A ll
o ur tho ughts m us t be infant- lik e and c lear, the po w ers o f o ur s o ul free fro m the v alues o f this w o rld, and
dis entangled fro m m ens o pinio ns and c us to m s . [ C enturies 3.5]
To be c o nc is e, m y pers o nal v iew is that Jes us m eant that w e m us t c o m e to c o ns c ienc e.
To be w ith and to unders tand c hildren, w e m us t be w ith and unders tand o ur o w n c hildho o ds . This bo th
requires feeling, and brings us to feeling. If feeling is aw ak e fo r lo ng eno ugh, this leads to c o ns c ienc e.
Lets relate this to an ex am ple fro m Forgotten Language . Rec all that befo re they w alk ed o ut o n H enry,
s o m eo ne dec lared: This is nt the C hildrens W o rk . H o w c o uld peo ple aim ing to w o rk , to bec o m e m o re
c o ns c io us , hurl the Indians ho s pitality bac k in their fac es , im plic itly repro ac hing them fo r failing to pro v ide
the ex o tic but s afe adv enture they had dream ed o f? W e s ho uld nev er c o ns ent to c o m pro m is e o ur innate hum an
s ens e o f princ iple: it is as phyx iatio n o f c o ns c ienc e. But they w ere ens c o nc ed as leaders o f the C hildrens
W o rk , and, apparently, they didnt feel the earth- lev el realities o f their hard lo o k s and s im ilar ac tio ns . H o w
is this po s s ible? W hat is the po int o f years in Gurdjieff gro ups if w e nev er c hange?
Tak e that phras e: it is nt the w o rk . H o w c an anyo ne c o nfidently anno unc e w hat is and is nt the w o rk ? W e
w o uld need to k no w the o ther pers o ns c o nditio n and need s o fully that w e c o uld dis m is s s o m ething as no t
being w o rk fo r them . But o ur po s itio n and needs hav e s o m any indiv idual as pec ts that I c an o nly s ee in this
phras e a lazines s o f tho ught yo k ed to a des ire to hav e the las t w o rd. A nd that m eans that c o ns c ienc e is fas t
as leep.
W hat do es it m ean to s ay that s o m ething is o r is no t the w o rk ? D o es it no t m ean that c ertain ideas , feelings ,
em o tio ns , ac tio ns o r o m is s io ns c anno t lead to , be m aterial fo r, o r c o ntribute to s o m eo nes effo rts to bec o m e
m o re c o ns c io us ? So m uc h o f w hat w e try is ex perim ental that w e s ho uld be s lo w to s ay that o thers are in a
dead end. But that rem ark is inherently lo aded in the direc tio n o f being arro gantly s lighting. It c o uld be uttered
in s adnes s , but I think that if o ne had feeling o ne w o uld c ho o s e a different phras e. I nev er heard M r A die s ay it,
and Iv e nev er heard that Gurdjieff us ed it. To be perfec tly blunt, it s o unds to m e as if s o m eo ne in w hat I think
o f as the gro up ex ec utiv e us ed to s ay it, o ther peo ple heard it, it s o unded im pres s iv e, and its been parro ted
ev er s inc e. H ere, Ill briefly no te that w o rk its elf is o ften a hiding w o rd. Its a v aluable ex erc is e to s o m etim es
try and find ano ther w o rd o r phras e to us e in s ubs titutio n: this ex erc is e brings us right up agains t o ur m ental
lazines s .
I w o uld hav e far m o re s ym pathy if a pers o n c o uld s ay that they felt s o m ething w as right o r w ro ng, o r that they
c o uld s ens e that, fo r them , it led aw ay fro m c o ns c ienc e. C o ns c ienc e is the is s ue fo r all o f us . I ho pe Im w ro ng,
but I think that to day, bo th in gro ups and o uts ide o f them (es pec ially o uts ide o f them ) s o m e peo ple im plic itly
s ee them s elv es as beyo nd go o d and ev il, o r s o m ething equiv alent to that, to lerating all s o rts o f s elfis h o r
ev en predato ry behav io ur, their o w n and o ther peo ples , and ex c us ing it w ith platitudes lik e w ho are w e to
s ay?, theyre adults , o r its all go o d.
W hile w e s ho uld alw ays try and gras p the o ther end o f the s tic k , Beelzebub is replete w ith c o m m andm ents o f
the C reato r, and Gurdjieff him s elf appro v ed this princ iple: D o unto o thers as yo u w o uld hav e them do unto
yo u. If s o m eo ne falls s ho rt o f a s tandard, it is s o m etim es right and appro priate to s ay s o . So m etim es , a direc t
s tatem ent is the bes t s tatem ent. Its alw ays a m atter o f judgm ent. A ltho ugh w e m ay no t be s ure w hat
c o ns c ienc e w o uld direc t, w e c an be s ure if s o m ething aggrav ates the blac k ho le in us w here c o ns c ienc e s ho uld
be.
In o ther w o rds , fo r a lo ng tim e w e m ay no t po s itiv ely k no w c o ns c ienc e as the s o urc e o f light it is . But, if w ere
ho nes t, w e do k no w the abs enc e o f c o ns c ienc e. A nd, als o if w ere ho nes t, w e c an tell w hen the s ens e o f
abs enc e is m ade w o rs e. W e c an feel a c ertain hardnes s in us .
Fires to ne s po k e o f handing o v er her c o ns c ienc e. I w o nder. Is this lik e the as s um ptio n abo ut C hildrens W o rk ?
A ltho ugh its no t m eant literally, its as s um ing that w e hav e a c o ns c ienc e, and that the gro up, any gro up, c an
tak e deliv ery o f it. Fear o f being o n the o uter o f the gro up c an ac tually anaes thetize the feeling o f m ys elf w hic h
leads to c o ns c ienc e. There is an ex tent, I w o uld s ay a s ignific ant ex tent, to w hic h gro up w o rk is o r by law c an
bec o m e antipathetic to the indiv iduality w hic h Gurdjieff w is hed fo r his pupils . H is k no w ledge o f that fac t w as ,
I think , the deepes t reas o n w hy he pus hed peo ple o ut o n their o w n, ev en if he re- es tablis hed c o ntac t in tho s e
ins tanc es w here theyd m ade s o m ething fo r them s elv es . (I refer to Jeanne de Salzm ann, So phia O us pens k y and
Jane H eap. H e w is hed to re- es tablis h relatio ns w ith P.D . O us pens k y, A .R. O rage and M auric e N ic o ll, altho ugh
they all refus ed his inv itatio ns .)
Tw o m o re po ints fro m the H enry s aga. W hen they pac k ed up, Bill to ld the c hildren no t to as k ques tio ns (187).
Fires to ne do es no t c o ns ider ho w this relates to their o w n s tated princ iples abo ut ho w they w o uld deal w ith
c hildrens ques tio ns in the c hildrens w o rk (16- 8). W as it ev er dis c us s ed? If no t, w hy no t, I w o nder? If a gro up
c anno t dis c us s s uc h m atters , w hat s o rt o f gro up is it? Gurdjieff, o f c o urs e, lik e any s ane pers o n, w as alw ays o n
the s ide o f c o ns c ienc e, nev er o f c o nfo rm ity.
Then, o f equal im po rtanc e, w hat w as Fires to nes fo llo w up? D id s he m ak e c o ntac t w ith H enry by letter o r
pho ne? Send him an apo lo gy, o r a greeting? A little pres ent? O r a big pres ent? W e jus t do nt k no w . M r A die s aid
o nc e o f s o m eo ne w ho had s aid s o m ething quite unfeeling, and later apo lo gized: It w as go o d that hav ing s aid
w hat he did, he later s aid s o m ething els e to be added to it. M r A die w o uld s o m etim es m entio n that it w as
im po rtant to judge w hen hav ing left im pres s io n, w e s ho uld then s ay o r do s o m ething s o that w hen that firs t
im pres s io n w as rec alled, the s ec o nd w o uld be there, to o , to m itigate its effec t. W hen I had unintentio nally
c o nfus ed s o m eo ne, he to ld m e that I s ho uld hav e ex plained m y s ituatio n as s o o n as po s s ible. I felt that he w as
right, and as k ed him ho w to deal w ith the fac t that I w o uld hav e to s ay s o m ething abo ut o ther peo ple. Yo u
do nt hav e to , he s aid. Jus t k eep it s im ple and s peak o f yo urs elf. A nd he w as right. A s a general rule, the
s im ples t s tatem ents are the m o s t c redible.
There is a c lear c riterio n as to w hether o ur effo rts to w ards the aw ak ening o f c o ns c ienc e are o n the right ro ad
o r no t: w e s hall be s uffering, and s uffering rem o rs e in res pec t o f o ur m anifes tatio ns to w ards o ur parents and
o thers . Yo u c an read any o f the go o d m aterial o n c o ns c ienc e, w hether in Gurdjieff, O us pens k y and Stav eley,
and they w ill s uppo rt this in w ho le o r in part. This als o em erges fro m Fires to nes o w n ac c o unt. To hav e a
c o ns c ienc e o ne needs to s uffer analo go us ly to ho w C hris t s uffered in his pas s io n. A s Gurdjieff w as repo rted to
hav e s aid in an unpublis hed talk titled Palm Sunday:
the w o rd pas s io n is applied to that s tate in us w hic h is c alled the gnaw ings o f c o ns c ienc e. W ho ev er
unders tands the gnaw ings o f c o ns c ienc e w ill unders tand the w o rd pas s io n. To m o s t peo ple the tas te o f this
func tio n is unk no w n. Fo r m o s t peo ple this s tate m ight no t ex is t and they unders tand it o nly theo retic ally. Fo r
a final definitio n o f the w o rd pas s io n it is nec es s ary to add the w o rd s im ilar to the gnaw ings o f c o ns c ienc e,
s inc e the ex pres s io n gnaw ings o f c o ns c ienc e is us ed by us to o o ften and w e are ac c us to m ed to tak e its
m eaning to o s uperfic ially. Pas s io n is a s tate s im ilar to the gnaw ings o f c o ns c ienc e.
A ppendix
Ex c erpts edited fro m bo o k 3 o f Tho m as Trahernes C enturies :
A ll appeared new and s trange at the firs t; inex pres s ibly rare and delightful. I w as a little s tranger, w hic h at m y
entranc e into the w o rld w as s aluted w ith innum erable jo ys . M y k no w ledge w as div ine. I k new by intuitio n tho s e
things w hic h s inc e m y apo s tas y I c o llec ted again, by the highes t reas o n. I k new no t that there w ere any s ins o r
c o m plaints o r law s . A ll tim e w as eternity and a perpetual s abbath. Is it no t s trange that an infant s ho uld be the
inherito r o f the w o rld. and s ee tho s e m ys teries w hic h the bo o k s o f the learned nev er unfo ld? [fro m C . 3.2]
W heat in the fields w as the im m o rtal grain o f the ris ing s un, w hic h nev er s ho uld be reaped no r w as ev er s o w n.
I tho ught it had s to o d fro m ev erlas ting to ev erlas ting. The dus t and s to nes o f the s treet w ere as prec io us as
go ld. The gates o f the c ity w ere at firs t the end o f the w o rld. The green trees w hen I s aw them firs t thro ugh o ne
o f the gates trans po rted and rav is hed m e; their unus ual beauty m ade m y heart to leap alm o s t m ad w ith
ec s tas y, they w ere s o s trange and w o nderful. [fro m C 3.3]
Eternity w as m anifes t in the light o f the day, and s o m e thing infinite behind ev ery thing appeared, w hic h talk ed
w ith m y ex pec tatio n and m o v ed m y des ire. The s treets o f the c ity w ere m ine. The peo ple w ere m ine. Their
c lo thes and go ld and s ilv er w ere m ine, as m uc h as their s park ling eyes , fair s k in and ruddy fac es . The s k ies
w ere m ine and s o w ere the s un and m o o n and s tars . I k new no bo unds o r div is io ns until w ith m uc h ado I w as
c o rrupted, and m ade to learn the dirty dev ic es o f this w o rld; w hic h no w I unlearn, and bec o m e as it w ere, a
little c hild again, that I m ay enter into the k ingdo m o f Go d. [fro m C 3.3]
==================================
s ac rific e.
=============================
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in Azize Review: The Forgotten Language of Children, JOSEPH AZIZE BOOK
Septem ber 24, 2010 at 4:53 pm REVIEWS
Tagged with Dalai Lam a, Gurdjieff, Joseph Azize, Lilian Firestone, Mr Adie,
Solanges Claustres, T.R. Thurm an, The Forgotten Language of Children
A L L & E V E R Y T H IN G 2 0 1 1 : 1 6 th a n n u a l c o n fe re n c e
A LL & EV ERYTH IN G N EW SLETTER C A LL FO R PA PERS, C A LL FO R SEM IN A RS
A N N O U N C IN G TH E 16TH IN TERN A TIO N A L H U M A N ITIES C O N FEREN C E IN 2011
V E N U E : H o tel E x to l In n , Prag u e, Pris tav n i 2 , Prag u e 7 , 1 7 0 0 0 , C zec h R ep u b lic W ed n es d ay ,
D A T E S : 6 th A p ril S u n d ay , 1 0 th A p ril 2 0 1 1
A Gathering o f the c o m panio ns o f the bo o k , A ll and Ev erything, Beelzebubs Tales to H is Grands o n: A To tally
Im partial C ritic is m o f the Life o f M an, G.I. Gurdjieff
TH E A LL & EV ERYTH IN G C O N FEREN C E:
O ur A im : the c o nferenc e w as o riginally c o nc eiv ed in 1996 as a m eeting o f the C o m panio ns o f the Bo o k and it
has dev elo ped into a w o rld fo rum fo r the pres entatio n and dis c us s io n o f rec ent w ritings , them es and m us ic
as s o c iated w ith the W o rk .
The c o nferenc e pro v ides an o pen, c o ngenial and s erio us atm o s phere fo r s haring res earc h and inv es tigatio n o f
G. I. Gurdjieffs legac y. The c o nferenc e s eek s to k eep the s tudy o f the teac hings o f Gurdjieff relev ant to glo bal,
s c ientific , s piritual and s o c io lo gic al dev elo pm ents . This gathering is o pen to all s erio us s tudents o f A ll &
Ev erything and is no t under the aus pic es o r s po ns o rs hip o f any Gurdjieff Gro up o r um brella o rganizatio n. The
c o nferenc e is no t intended to be a Gro up W o rk Ev ent and thus do es no t inc lude W o rk o n M o v em ents o r
Ex erc is es that are related to pers o nal o r gro up W o rk .
The c o nferenc e inc ludes the pres entatio n o f papers fo c us ed o n the w ho le o r part o f this teac hing, s em inars o n
c hapters , them es in A ll & Ev erything and c ultural ev ents . The pro gram is s c heduled s o as to enc o urage tim e fo r
dialo gue and the dev elo ping o f pers o nal relatio ns hips o uts ide the s truc tured m eetings .
D RA FT PRO GRA M FO R A LL & EV ERYTH IN G 2011
W ednes day Ev ening: Getting to k no w yo u s es s io n Thurs . M o rning: Pres entatio n o f tw o papers , fo llo w ed by
dis c us s io ns A fterno o n Sem inar: A c hapter fro m Beelzebubs Tales
Ev ening: C ultural Ev ent
Friday M o rning: Pres entatio n o f tw o papers , fo llo w ed by dis c us s io ns A fterno o n Sem inar: A c hapter fro m
Beelzebubs Tales
Ev ening: o pen s o c ial ev ening
Saturday M o rning: Pres entatio n o f tw o papers , fo llo w ed by dis c us s io ns A fterno o n Sem inar: A c hapter fro m
M eetings w ith Rem ark able M en
Ev ening: C o nferenc e Banquet
Sunday M o rning: Sem inar: TBC
C lo s ing Ses s io n: W here do w e go fro m here? A c o nv ers atio n pro v iding direc tio n to the Planning C o m m ittee fo r
future c o nferenc es .
CALL FOR PAPERS
A BSTRA C TS W e are c urrently reques ting s ubm is s io ns o f abs trac ts fo r the papers that w ill be giv en at o ur nex t
c o nferenc e. A bs trac ts o f ac c epted papers w ill be publis hed in adv anc e o n the c o nferenc e w ebs ite s o that
delegates c an prepare ques tio ns /c o m m ents . W riters w ho w o uld lik e o ngo ing feedbac k s ho uld c o ntac t the
Reading Panel.
Ex am ples o f prev io us papers as an indic atio n o f the v ariety o f to pic s c an be v iew ed here:
http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/reading- panel
The w ebs ite is w here all the c o ntac t and s ubm is s io n info rm atio n is
pro v ided: http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/reading- panel
The s ubm is s io n fo rm c an be do w nlo aded at:
http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/Paper_ Subm is s io n_ Fo rm _ 2011.pdf
and then s ubm itted by em ail to : reading_ panel@ aandec o nferenc e.o rg
< m ailto :reading_ panel@ aandec o nferenc e.o rg?s ubjec t= Paper_ Subm is s io n>
C A LL FO R SEM IN A R FA C ILITA TO RS FO R C H A PTER D ISC U SSIO N
A t eac h c o nferenc e w e ho ld s em inars (ques tio ns , c o nv ers atio n,

dialo gue) o n c hapters in The Tales and M eetings and o ther w o rk related s ubjec ts . O ur ex perienc e is als o quite
rem ark able as w e bring o ur ques tio ns and unders tandings to the gro up at the c o nferenc e that is m ade up o f
v ario us lineages in this teac hing. This pro v ides all in attendanc e to hav e an o ppo rtunity fo r a res pec tful and
us eful ex c hange o f o ur unders tandings and ex perienc es .
Fac ilitato rs need to hav e a w o rk ing fam iliarity w ith the c hapters o r s ubjec ts that w ill be dis c us s ed. Thes e
fac ilitato rs are als o res po ns ible fo r the trans c riptio ns o f the s em inar that they fac ilitate. The c hapters fo r
2011 are 29, 32, 33, 34 in The Tales and in M eetings c hapter 7, Princ e Yuri Lubo v eds k y.
The w ebs ite is w here all the c o ntac t and s ubm is s io n info rm atio n is
pro v ided: http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/s em inar- panel
The s ubm is s io n fo rm c an be do w nlo aded at:
w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/Sem inar_ Subm is s io n_ Fo rm _ 2011.pdf
and then s ubm itted by em ail to : info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg < m ailto :info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg?
s ubjec t= Sem inar_ Subm is s io n>
***
Thank s to this , ev en the is o latio n o f the inner life o f eac h indiv idual m an is inc reas ed, and as a c o ns equenc e
w hat is c alled the m utual ins truc tio n s o nec es s ary to peo ples c o llec tiv e ex is tenc e is alw ays m o re and m o re
des tro yed.
Beelzebubs Tales , Fro m the A utho r, page 1214
***
C O N FEREN C E REGISTRA TIO N
Fiv e day c o nferenc e regis tratio n fee fo r W ednes day to Sunday is : 55 (appro x C Z K 1696, 67, $86) and due by
M arc h 1, 2010.
O ne day regis tratio n Fee is 14, (appro x C Z K 454, 18, $23)
The c o nferenc e regis tratio n fee is payable direc tly to the A & E C o nferenc e and it is in additio n to the ho tel
c o s ts .
To m ak e o ur adm inis tratio n m uc h eas ier, pleas e, if po s s ible, regis ter o n- line w ith a c redit c ard at o ur w ebs ite:
w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/regis ter
If this is no t po s s ible fo r yo u, yo u m ay regis ter by po s t. C o ntac t us at:

info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg < m ailto :info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg?s ubjec t= Regis ter> and w e w ill pro v ide yo u a
m ailing addres s .
Pleas e m ak e c hec k s payable to A ll & Ev erything C o nferenc es w ith the fo rm belo w o r a pho to c o py.
..
M A IL- IN REGISTRA TIO N FO RM A LL & EV ERYTH IN G 2011
N am e: Pho ne:
A ddres s :
C ity/State/C o unty
Po s t C o de C o untry:
Em ail:
5 D ay Regis tratio n fo r pers o n(s ) @ 55, appro x C Z K1696, 67, $86
1 D ay Regis tratio n fo r pers o n(s ) @ 14, appro x C Z K454, 18, $23 TO TA L () The C o nferenc e Regis tratio n Fee
and Fo rm are due by M arc h 1, 2011.
Regis trants w ill rec eiv e c o nfirm atio n by em ail o r po s t.
..
***
I w as c o m po s ing in m y tho ughts the s c hem e and s equenc e o f the ideas des tined by m e fo r public atio n and
did no t k no w then ho w to begin either?
This s ens atio n then ex perienc ed I m ight no w fo rm ulate in w o rds o nly thus : the- fear- o f- dro w ning- in- the-
o v erflo w - o f- m y- o w n- tho ughts .
To s to p this undes irable s ens atio n I m ight then s till hav e had rec o urs e to the aid o f that m alefic ent pro perty
ex is ting als o in m e, as in c o ntem po rary m an, w hic h has bec o m e inherent in all o f us , and w hic h enables us ,
w itho ut ex perienc ing any rem o rs e o f c o ns c ienc e w hatev er, to put o ff anything w e w is h to do till to m o rro w .
Beelzebubs Tales , The A ro us ing o f Tho ught, pages 4- 5
***
H O TEL RESERV A TIO N IN FO RM A TIO N
Res erv atio n Em ail: res erv atio ns @ ex to linn.c z < m ailto :res erv atio ns @ ex to linn.c z?
s ubjec t= Bo o k ing_ fo r_ A _ and_ E_ C o nferenc e>
Pleas e s tate that yo u are bo o k ing fo r the A ll & Ev erything C o nferenc e.
It is no t to o early to m ak e res erv atio ns w ith the H o tel, and delegates are as k ed to bo o k them early and direc tly
w ith the ho tel.
The A & E C o nferenc e c anno t m ak e res erv atio ns fo r delegates .
Ex to l Inn H o tel
Pris tav ni 2
Prague 7
170 00
C zec h Republic
Rec eptio n tel./fax : + 420 220 876 541
Res erv atio ns tel.: + 420 220 802 549
Res erv atio ns fax .: + 420 220 806 752
C o ntac t Em ail: info @ ex to linn.c z
W ebs ite: http://w w w .ex to linn.c z/englis h.htm l
H O T E L R O O M R A T E A L L IN C L U S IV E 4 N IG H T S (W E D . E V E T O S U N . N O O N )
s ingle o c c upanc y 3 s tar *** s tandard C Z K8685, 349, 286, $441 s ingle o c c upanc y 2 s tar ** C Z K7155,
236, 288, $364.
s ingle o c c upanc y 2 s tar ** ec o no m y- s hared bath, C Z K6415, 212, 258, $326 do uble o c c upanc y 3 s tar ***
C Z K 6585 per pers o n, 217, 265, $ 334 do uble o c c upanc y 2 s tar ** C Z K 5815 per pers o n, 192, 234, $
295 do uble o c c upanc y 2 s tar ** ec o no m y s hared bath, C Z K 5255 per pers o n, 173, 211, $267
A ll o ptio ns abo v e inc lude: the po s tage, c o nferenc e fac ilities , break fas t, m idm o rning c o ffee, lunc h, afterno o n
tea, three c o urs e dinner, and banquet dinner o n Saturday ev ening.
N O N - RESID EN T D A Y A TTEN D EES H O TEL RA TE PER D A Y
N o n- res ident D ay A ttendee H o tel C o nferenc e Pac k age Fee is : C Z K 748, 25, 30, $38 inc ludes : m id- m o rning
c o ffee, lunc h, afterno o n tea. (This is in additio n to the day attendee regis tratio n fee lis ted abo v e, and is
payable direc tly to the H o tel, by the day attendee, w hen they s ign in at the ho tel fro nt des k .)
PRO C EED IN GS
The PD F eBo o k s v ers io ns o f the 1998 and 2001 Pro c eedings are no w av ailable fro m o ur w ebs ite at:
http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/pro c eedings - o v erv iew
N EW SLETTER
A PD F printable v ers io n o f this new s letter, s uitable fo r dis tributio n to yo ur lo c al gro up o r c o m m unity, is
av ailable at:
http://w w w .aandec o nferenc e.o rg/A & E_ 2011_ C all_ Fo r_ Papers .pdf
Pleas e s hare this anno unc em ent w ith any lik e m inded peo ple yo u k no w .
A LL & EV ERYTH IN G C O N FEREN C E M A ILIN G LIST
If yo u lead o r fac ilitate a Gurdjieff gro up and w o uld lik e to rec o m m end any c o lleagues to rec eiv e a c o py o f this
new s letter and s ubs equent inv itatio ns , pleas e em ail yo ur reques t to us . If yo u w is h to hav e yo ur c o ntac t
info rm atio n updated, pleas e em ail yo ur reques t to us at:
info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg < m ailto :i n f o @ a a n d e c o n f e r e n c e . o r g ?s ubjec t= A dd_ o r_ U pdate_ Em ail>
IF YO U W ISH TO U N SU BSC RIBE FRO M A M A ILIN G LIST,
Pleas e em ail info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg < m ailto :info @ aandec o nferenc e.o rg?s ubjec t= U ns ubs c ribe> w ith
U ns ubs c ribe as the s ubjec t line.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in ALL & EVERYTHING 2011, CONFERENCES

Septem ber 14, 2010 at 9:46 am Tagged with All and Everything Conference 2011, G. I. Gurdjieff
G E O R G E A D IE : W h y d o yo u ru n a w a y in yo u r fe e lin g ?
Jo s eph.A zize@ go o glem ail.c o m

=====================
W hy D o Yo u Run A w ay In Yo ur Feeling?
{I hav e s elec ted his m aterial fro m a m eeting o f 5 D ec em ber 1979 as a c o m m em o rativ e po s ting fo r 29 July
2010.}
The firs t ques tio n c am e fro m Ric hard: M r A die, Id lik e v erific atio n o n m y line o f w o rk , to be freer fro m the
c o m puls io n o f m y c areer.
Yo u w is h to be les s under that c o m puls io n? Go o d. W hat m eas ures do yo u tak e?
W hat I hav e do ne is s et as ide a tim e to s tay w ith m y c hildren, and als o here o n Sunday night after the w eek end
w o rk , I w as abo ut to rus h o ff again, do ing all s o rts o f things , and I dec ided to s tay behind, and help put the
tables and c hairs aw ay.
Tho s e are quite different, yet bo th c o uld s erv e the s am e purpo s e, its true. A ny s o rt o f dis c ipline helps , and
m ak ing the w o rk a prio rity w ill help, if yo u ac tually ex perienc e c o nnec tio n. C o m puls iv e life c o nnec ted w ith
yo ur c areer is o ne thing, and any c o ns c io us effo rt, o r do ing yo ur duty is ano ther. There is an unm is tak able
degree o f c o ntras t. A nd if theres real w o rk it w ill s eparate its elf o ut fro m the c o m puls io n in yo ur ex perienc e.
M y s peec h ev en c hanges . Ev erybo dy c an s ay ev erything they need in v ery few w o rds , really. A nd if they s ay it
o nc e pro perly, it do es nt need to be repeated three tim es .
Yo ur c o m puls io n is there in yo ur s peec h, and in s o m uc h. Yo u w ill be c o m pelled in yo ur jo b, unles s yo u c an

us e it. H o w ? Yo u c ant neglec t it no w . Its an o ppo rtunity. Its quite right to giv e plac e to s o m ething els e, to
ins is t o n do ing the preparatio n. Its quite right to s ee yo ur c hildren: no t to allo w the w ho le o f yo ur life to be
do m inated. Thats quite right. But realize that yo u als o hav e to be in it.
Then, unders tanding that yo u m us t hav e a jo b, and m us t c o m e w ithin the do m ain o f this c o m puls io n, the
ques tio n is now : do yo u really w is h to be free o f the inner c o m puls io n? Yo uv e go t to find that w is h in yo urs elf.
To hav e a w is h is to hav e s o m e ac tiv e inner im puls e. Yo u think that w e hav e a w is h jus t by think ing o f it? It
is nt s o . Yo u hav e to w o rk until yo u get that w is h. If yo u aim fo r it, then yo u w ill get it. D o yo u fo llo w ?
Yes .
That m eans yo u hav e befo re yo u a w o rk to ex perienc e the w is h in yo urs elf. Try and unders tand that. Yo u do a
preparatio n o r s o m ething, do nt get up until yo u find the w is h. Yo u hav e to realis e: is it really w o rth it? W hat
do I hav e to pay if I w ant it? A m I w illing to pay fo r it? If yo u c an s ay yes to eac h o f tho s e then perhaps yo u c an
begin to s ay that yo u hav e a w is h.
A nd then yo u s hall hav e to s ac rific e yo ur s uffering. But if yo u hav e w o rk ed, s uffic iently lo ng and w is ely, and
ac quired a m o v ing balanc e in yo urs elf, yo u w ill be able to bear to m ak e that s ac rific e.
The nex t ques tio n, o ne fro m A zaria, c am e v ery fas t upo n the heels o f Ric hards , s he c learly felt that there w as
a c lo s e c o nnec tio n: A fter the Sunday w o rk here, I c o ntinued w ith the ex erc is e, and o n M o nday, after the
preparatio n, it s eem ed as tho ugh bec aus e o f the w o rk I c o uld tell the s ubtle differenc e betw een the c entre o f
grav ity and m y pres enc e. There w as an ex c item ent in m e, I had this realis atio n, and in lo o k ing fo r a c entre o f
grav ity, I fo und I c o uld c o m e to the plac e w here m y pres enc e is real. A nd lik e Ric hard, I c an s ay that I no w w is h
to be m o re pres ent.
Yo u w is h to be m o re pres ent? W here w o uld yo u lo o k fo r the w is h?
There w as a paus e, and M r A die ans w ered his o w n ques tio n: In that plac e yo u c anno t des c ribe any m o re.
Return to it, and return to it, and return to it.
I s us pec t that, at this po int, M r A die turned to Ric hard: But relax ed, alw ays relax ed. To s ac rific e m y s uffering I
m us t be relax ed. C o uld I im agine s uc h a s ac rific e being m ade in the m ids t o f tens io n? Fro m w here c o uld s uc h
a relax atio n c o m e? Surely fro m deep w ithin, o nly fro m deep w ithin.
The nex t ques tio n w as v ery lengthy. O pal w as an elderly w o m an. She s po k e rather hes itantly to the po int o f
being inartic ulate, s aying s o m ething, w ithdraw ing o r c o rrec ting it, and then go ing bac k to her firs t
fo rm ulatio n.
M r A die w as patient w ith her, but w hen s he had finis hed, s he nerv o us ly as k ed w hether he had unders to o d her.
I c o uld fo llo w it, but then, yo u s tarted us ing w o rds w hic h yo u dis o w ned. Yo u m ight tak e as an ex erc is e to
w rite do w n w hat yo ur ques tio n the day befo re, and in the m o rning, read it and s ee.
W e w ant to bring v ery go o d quality here, no t jus t, as is s aid, o ff the c uff, no t tho ught o ut. It is nt eno ugh to
hav e a s inc erity, I need to hav e m y intelligenc e. Its no t eno ugh to hav e that, I need m y pres enc e.
W hen yo ure m uddling things , the pro c es s o f tho ught is abs ent. But if I hav e tak en tho ught befo rehand,
theres a pro c es s added. A c o ns c io us o r partly c o ns c io us pro c es s is added. It is nt tw o s tates , its m o re lik e
three s tates , but ev en that is nt a go o d w ay to s peak abo ut it. Find a better w ay, to fo rm ulate better. Yo u c an,
o therw is e I w o uldnt s ay w hat I do . Is there any ques tio n abo ut it?
N o . Thank yo u. Thats c lear.
The v ery nex t ques tio n, fro m Sc o tt, abo ut ho w he gets c o nfus ed by w o rds , lik ew is e m eandered. Finally, M r
A die as k ed: D id yo u find that anything helped yo u to m ak e yo ur aim c lear?
N o , that w as nt v ery w ell fo rm ulated.
N o .
N o it do es nt help to find the w is h, Sc o tt added, perhaps ec ho ing the firs t tw o ques tio ns . In any ev ent, M r
A die did no t think that the c o m m ent c o rres po nded to his real ques tio n: But yo u s ee yo uv e go ne bac k to
w o rds no w . Its a trap all the tim e.
M r A die w aited a little, and then as k ed: W hat do es it m ean: In the beginning w as the W o rd? Surely, it m eans
m any things , but theres a beginning, and theres s o m ething w hic h fo llo w s . Fo r that to fo llo w , the W o rd m us t
c hange its plac e. The W o rd is es s ential, and yet, if it is in the w ro ng plac e, its the end. A nd the plac es and the
fo rc es are alw ays c hanging.
The nex t ques tio n, fro m D m itri, w as als o abo ut a lac k o f c larity. I find that m y diffic ulties s tart the m o m ent I
s it do w n to do the preparatio n. Iv e been trying to s it quietly, w itho ut ex pec ting anything, jus t trying to s ee
w hat m y w o rries are. A nd after I tim e I giv e up. I feel I s ho uld lo gic ally try and draw s o m e c o nc lus io ns abo ut
w hat Iv e s een, but its all s o c o nfus ed in m y head, and I turn aw ay. So m ething in m e s ays , c o m e bac k again
nex t tim e. It feels as if Im s hrink ing aw ay fro m do ing s o m ething v ery definite there.
Suppo s ing that is o bjec tiv ely true, w hat are yo u go ing to do ?
I c ant m ak e o bs erv atio ns v ery c learly at that po int.
D o yo u really w is h to k no w w hy yo u turn fro m w hat is nec es s ary?
W ell, Iv e s een that thro ugh thes e years I c ant go pas t the firs t s tep, replied D m itri.
D o es that m ean anything? Surely the po int is that yo u do nt k no w w hat the firs t s tep is .
D m itri s tarted arguing. See if it is true, s ugges ted M r A die. C an yo u s ay c learly w hat yo u m ean w hen yo u s ay
that yo u alw ays fail at the firs t s tep?
There w as quite a lengthy paus e.
Surely it w o uld m ean that yo u are repeating yo urs elf. So let us no t ev ade the ques tio n yo u yo urs elf s tarted
w ith: w hy do yo u alw ays turn fro m w hat yo u realis e is nec es s ary?
I do nt k no w , c o nc eded D m itri.
N o . But do yo u really w is h to ?
W ell, part o f m e do es , he replied, but in s uc h a trem bling v o ic e that peo ple laughed.
There yo u are. Part o f yo u. Yo u s ee? I c ant c o m e to a w is h partially . M y w is h has to really be the w is h o f m y I,

and yo u hav ent o btained that yet.
N o , I hav ent.
N o w , do yo u really w is h to ? Yo u hav e to fac e it until yo u do . There are all s o rts o f o bs tac les , yo u m ay no t w ant
to pay, yo u m ay no t w ant to m ak e effo rt, yo u m ay no t w ant to s uffer. H undreds o f o bs tac les , but if yo u really
w is h to , yo u w ill. A nd its yo ur s o litary, alo ne- reality w hic h m us t fac e that ques tio n. W hat I am trying to do at
the m o m ent is to c leans e it a little, m ak e it m o re s erio us , thats all. Im agine yo ure o n yo ur death bed. W hat
w o uld yo u need then? W here w o uld yo u be? Fac e, try and c o m e to w hat is you . You . W o uld yo u hav e any reality?
This is w hat yo u, I and ev erybo dy needs , but do nt be negativ e abo ut it no w .
Yes , yes !
Yes , yes ? W hy w hy hav ing c o m e near a plac e in yo ur intellec t, w hy do yo u run aw ay in feeling?
Ex ac tly that s ens e o f needing to flee, to lo o k aw ay, s ho w s that this is yo ur need and that yo u are c lo s e to a
genuine c o nfro ntatio n.
Stay, s tay, s tay and hav e a little genuine s elf- res pec t, a little genuine pride. Yo u c o uld be free no w . W hat do
yo u c ho o s e at the m o m ent? Ev ery s ec o nd I hav e to c ho o s e. M y o ld unders tanding is no t eno ugh. I need a new
unders tanding, quite new . If yo u c o uld realis e that, yo u c o uld s ee that no thing that I had c o rres po nds to w hat I
no w need. I need s o m ething a bit m o re genuine, m o re perc eptiv e, les s pers o nal. Try and hav e this line that yo u
w ill no t allo w this o r any o f its c o m panio ns to jo in in. Yo u w ill try and hav e s o m ething fo r yo urs elf. Try and
w o rk to find yo ur real s elf. Try and find a c entre in yo urs elf. This is w hat w e s o m e fo und o n the w eek end,
trying to find a c entral s tro ng plac e.
Yo u w ant to w atc h the po s ture o f yo ur eyes if yo u w ant to think . Try to plac e them s lightly abo v e lev el. Yo u
c o ntem plate do w n here. Yo u s ink bac k into the s am e o ld quagm ire tim e after tim e. I s ugges t to yo u no w that
w hen yo u w ant to c o ntem plate, yo u c o ntem plate w ith yo ur eyes there. W hat yo u do nt find w hen yo ur eyes are
rais ed, yo u c an w ell do w itho ut. If yo u c ant bring all thes e c lev er pro po s itio ns , yo u c an hav e a c hanc e to free
yo urs elf. W ill yo u w o rk lik e that fo r a bit? Go o d, k eep it no w , fo r the res t o f the m eeting, at leas t.
M r A die, s aid M ary, in the pas t few w eek s , m y effo rts hav e been v ery erratic , and w hen Iv e s een that, Iv e
bec o m e negativ e.
A lright, yo u fo und yo ud go ne to s leep, and yo u bec am e negativ e abo ut it? Yo u need to k no w that. Ev ery tim e
w e aw ak e w e aw ak e to hav ing fo rgo tten.
If w e get negativ e ev ery tim e w e aw ak e, its go ing to be rather a fruitles s pro c es s , is nt it? See, yo u do nt hav e
to be negativ e. So go o n. Yo u m ak e a plan, yo u fail. D o nt let the failure m ak e yo u negativ e. It s ho uld hav e the
o ppo s ite effec t. Yo u do nt deny it. Yo u do nt pretend it is nt a failure, but yo u are there. It begins to be a
c o nfro ntatio n.
In c o nfro ntatio n I really liv e, yo u s ee. The ultim ate c o nfro ntatio n: w hat is that?
The c o nfro ntatio n w ith the A bs o lute. M r A die w as s peak ing s lo w ly: D o nt rec eiv e anything negativ ely.
Rec eiv e the failure, but do nt be negativ e abo ut it. It c o m es lik e a m es s age. Yo uv e go t to s ee that. W ev e go t
to fail and fail and fail, and no t be negativ e abo ut it, o therw is e w ev e go t no c hanc e. So its full o f ho pe,
m m m ?
I think I ex pec t the w ro ng thing fro m the little effo rt I m ak e, bec aus e o n the c o uple o f o c c as io ns w hen Iv e
had a better than us ual preparatio n, and I try to rem em ber m ys elf at s c ho o l, and I k no w that there are
partic ular ho urs w hen I am partic ularly pro ne to getting im patient w ith the c hildren, I s till get ups et . D enis e
had been in gro ups fo r quite a w hile.
Yo u m ean that yo ure dis appo inted w hen yo u do nt s uc c eed? Then yo u need to s ee that yo u hav ent
s uc c eeded, at leas t no t in that w ay. Exac tly in that w ay, yo u didnt quite s uc c eed. But yo u s till find s o m ething.
Yo u hav e to be m o re pers is tent. Yo ure rather apt to hav e a go and then thro w yo ur hands up if the res ults
do nt m atc h the ideal.
O n the day that I s aw , I bec am e v ery im patient, but the nex t day I jus t didnt w ant to s ee it.
Try and find a different k ind o f pride. It c o uld help yo u. W hat c o uld I ac c ept as a genuine pride? W hat abo ut
m e is w o rthy o f m aintaining? Is there s o m ething? Its an interes ting ques tio n, is nt it? In a w ay, pride is a
pic ture. A pers o n w ho has ev en s o m e o rdinary pride w o nt s ink to c ertain things , theyre to o pro ud to tak e an
adv antage.
W here is m y go o d o pinio n? W hat am I pro ud o f no w ? Bec aus e I s erv e m y pride and v anity. But I fo rget that. If I
hav e a genuine being- pride, c o uld I bec o m e s elf- indulgent, dis o rganis ed, o r lazy? That is an abs enc e o f a
c ertain k ind o f pride, is nt it? I hav e no pride o f o rder, no pride o f duty, no pride o f reliability. Im jus t a s o rt o f
tram p: altho ugh Im a rather nic e pers o n, no bo dy c o uld really trus t m e bec aus e I m ight no t rem em ber.
So , w hat quality to I really w ant to hav e? If yo u appro ac h it this w ay, Im quite s ure, Im quite s ure that yo ull
hav e s o m e different k ind o f res ult.
A fter all this tim e w hat w ere all finding is that w ev e go t to bring m o re o f us to the po int. I m ade this effo rt
and s to pped, and Iv e m ade that effo rt and s to pped. But Iv e had a lo t o f les s o ns no w . Yo u hav e a lo t o f
m aterial. W hy no t c o llec t it to gether, fac e the s ituatio n and s ee w hats po s s ible and w hat I really w ant.
Rem em bering that I c anno t s uddenly free m ys elf fro m any o f m y s tupidities , I k no w eno ugh to tak e a m o re
dignified w ay Im agine w hat yo u tho ught ten years ago ! Full o f c o c k - eyed ideas , w as nt it?
So yo u hav e an adv antageo us po s itio n. N o w . It c an be quite new . But fo r this yo u hav e to k eep aw are o f all the
o ld dirges and s agas o f m is ery and failure and s elf- ac c us atio n, and yo u k no w , w itho ut do gs , s o rc ero rs and
w ho rem o ngers and w ho s o ev er lo v eth and telleth a lie. {This is a referenc e to A poc alyps e o r Revelation 22:15.}
A ll o uts ide. O ur w o rk is all inner. So , try. Tak e a fres h heart fo r yo urs elf. Put s o m e things in yo ur ro o m . Thes e
things are go ing to rem ind yo u: this is w hat I w ant to be. M o del yo ur ro o m fo r a s erio us pers o n. M o del yo ur
ro o m fo r a pers o n w ith the qualities w hic h yo uv e fo und are diffic ult to ac quire. Build aro und yo u s o m e
c o nditio n. Thats w hy peo ple put up pic tures o f the Buddha, C hris t, a m arv ello us tree. Fill yo ur ro o m w ith
ev erything to rem ind yo u. W ill yo u try that, and do nt w o rry abo ut the res t? H av e yo u go t ano ther ques tio n
no w ?
Its a s lightly different o ne. I no tic ed that w hen I try to do a preparatio n, I get an, I do nt k no w , no , Im alw ays
tight in the m idriff. O nc e I fo und I c o uld get aro und it w hen breathing, to go behind it, at the bac k o f m e, and
relax it.
W hat, w ith yo ur attentio n, yo u m ean?
Yes . I w anted to as k w hether I w as s o rt o f c heating?
N o , yo u try and find yo ur o w n w ay. A nd if it helps yo u to relax , yo u w ant to be v ery patient and s ee that
ev erything els e is relax ed. D o nt try and relax that area until yo ur fac e is relax ed and until yo ur head is relax ed,
and then retain a s ens e o f the relax atio n there, yo u s ee. If the bellys really tens e, then yo u c an ev en phys ic ally
feel it go ing do w n, c ant yo u?
Yes .
W ell then, the nex t thing is , c an yo u feel it c o m ing up again? O r do yo u find that it has c o m e up? Yo u find it
has ? A lright, w ell no w , thats the thing! N o w w atc h it go do w n, and let no w let it c o m e up.
O bv io us ly, M r A die w as guiding her as s he relax ed and o bs erv ed the pro c es s .
D o nt fo rget the duc t has to be o pen, the s ho ulders hav e to be do w n.
A nd then m aybe Im m agnifying it, I m ay hav e a little bit o f a s pec ial k ind o f s ens atio n, a tautnes s , m aybe that
is nt an im po rtant tens io n. M aybe that is nt w hat is m y tro uble. M aybe I c an s till feel the po t o f m y belly w ith
all its need. See that ev erything els e is right, and then pro bably thats right. M any peo ple hav e a lo t o f
diffic ulty here . Its a v ery s ens itiv e part.
But the k ind o f relax atio n w e w ant is no t o nly w hat w ill c o m e eas ily by being able to let a thing go . Its
ano ther k ind o f relax atio n, its if yo u c an us e the w o rd an inner relax atio n. W atc h fo r w hat it is w itho ut
s aying this is tens e. The ques tio n is , w hat do yo u ex perienc e? M aybe I find that its jus t an idea I had. M aybe
it w as nt v ery tens e at all. So I hav e to be v ery po is ed and flex ible and free fro m m y o rdinary frightening
fo rm ulatio ns .
Get s o m ething new ev ery day and put it in yo ur ro o m . So m ething. Pic k up anything. A leaf, gras s , s to ne, bo o k ,
pic ture, anything. Ev ery day o ne thing different, s ee? C reate a different atm o s phere fo r yo urs elf, and in that
atm o s phere, relax . Go into a new ro o m eac h tim e, yo u lo o k aro und to s ee if its new , and all the o ther things
yo u put. W o rk lik e that.
3 July 2010
Jos eph A zize has publis hed in anc ient his tory, law and Gurdjieff s tudies . H is firs t book The Phoenic ian Solar
s ac rific e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE

July 28, 2010 at 10:51 am Tagged with aim , com pulsion, George Adie, hope, Joseph Azize, preparation,
presence, Receive failure, relaxation, sacrifice, som ething new every day, the first
step, the posture of eyes, the Word, wish
JO S E P H A Z IZ E P A G E
=====================
O N C E M O RE, W ITH FEELIN G
C o ns c io us c hange s tarts w hen a pers o n s ac rific es their unc o ns c io us s uffering in o rder to intentio nally
ex perienc e the im puls e o f c o ns c ienc e. Prio r to that po int, ev erything is preparatio n. A w arenes s o f s ens atio n,
s elf- o bs erv atio n, ev en rem em bering o nes elf, o nly prepare the gro und fo r that s ac rific e and fo r the new life
w hic h im m ediately fo llo w s , being, as it is , under bo th the law o f grac e and the law o f c aus e and effec t. O r s o I
believ e.
If o ur s piritual effo rts do no t inc lude feeling, they w ill atro phy and falter, and ev erything c an be lo s t. W e c an
c o m e to the s tarting po int, turn aw ay, and end up as far aw ay as w e ev er w ere. In fac t, a pers o ns fate is
hars her if they hav e finally fo und the thres ho ld, but then turned bac k . W hy? Bec aus e o ne then has a his to ry o f
hav ing retreated fro m that po int. It bec o m es eas ier to retreat a s ec o nd tim e. There is s o m ething in us w hic h is
prac tic ally w aiting to jus tify retreat, ev en to turn negativ e in res pec t o f the w ay. H av ing o nc e bac k ed o ff, yo u
k no w that yo u c an bac k o ff, and it bec o m es harder than ev er to m ak e the indis pens ible c o m m itm ents to
c o ns c io us labo ur and intentio nal s uffering.
Thes e c o m m itm ents are, I believ e, indis pens ible to c ro s s ing the thres ho ld to m o re durable s tates . There are
s tates av ailable fo r us in w hic h the entirety o f o ur feeling is po s itiv e feeling. N egativ e em o tio n is utterly
pas s iv e, ev en im pos s ible , in s uc h a s tate. Suc h s tates c an las t no t o nly fo r days , but fo r w eek s , and if they c an
las t fo r w eek s , they c an las t fo r m o nths . Yo u c an s ee w here the equatio n is heading. Perm anent c hange o f
being to a s ignific antly higher lev el is po s s ible. A nd it alw ays begins w ith a gro w th in feeling. I m ean that it
im m ediately begins w ith a gro w th in feeling. Fo r that, w e m us t earn m any s m all and o ne m ajo r v ic to ry o v er
negativ e em o tio n.
To die to the life o f negativ e em o tio ns is to aw ak en fro m a fev er: it literally feels that w ay. The air bec o m es
brighter, the w o rld ac quires a further v is ual dim ens io n, and m em o ries o f ho w w e us ed to be s eem no t s o m uc h
unreal as no w im po s s ible, lik e s o m e fo rm er H o us e o f Parliam ent in s epia po s tc ards .
M ys teries are res o lv ed by the peac eful light. Fo r ex am ple, ho w is it that the m o re w e feel o ur s eparate
indiv iduality the m o re w e feel a c o nnec tio n w ith o ther peo ple? D o es nt that s trik e yo u as o dd? It has puzzled
but no t perplex ed m e that w hen I identify w ith o thers , there is ac tually les s relatio n betw een us , and les s
feeling than w hen I am m o re aw are o f m ys elf and no t s o identified. In a s tate w here feeling is ac tiv e fo r m o re
than a flas h, o ur eyes hav e s uffic iently c o ntinuo us light, and all falls into plac e: w e s ee that different lev els
c o ex is t.
O ur unity is at a higher lev el. D ifferenc e and div ers ity do really ex is t at o ne lev el, perhaps ev en ex is ts m o re
truly than w e had ev er apprec iated. W e s im ultaneo us ly perc eiv e, w itho ut hav ing to enquire, that at ano ther
lev el w e are in a m o re intim ate relatio n to eac h o ther than w e c o uld ev er hav e tho ught. It is as if w e are ins ide
eac h o ther. O n that lev el, eac h o f us is als o m o re truly them s elv es , and the gro und o f o ur unity is s o bright w e
c anno t m is s it. This gro und o f unity is no thing o ther than the fac t that, as Gurdjieff s aid, behind real I lies
Go d. W e really do c o m e fro m Go d, and w e really are m ade to return to him . That is the div ine plan M rs Stav eley
s po k e o f.
So it s eem s to m e that s elf- o bs erv atio n and s elf- rem em bering c an lead to c o ns c io us c hange o nly to the
ex tent that they inc lude an affirm ativ e feeling o f c o ns c ienc e; o therw is e, the ac tio n o f s elf- rem em bering w ill
alw ays be prelim inary. I do nt lik e to be to o do gm atic abo ut this , but m y ex perienc e is as it is . A ls o , this
interpretatio n c o rres po nds to Gurdjieffs ideas , being s uppo rted by c o m m ents m ade by bo th him s elf and
O us pens k y.
It is no t that s elf- o bs erv atio n and s elf- rem em bering w o nt lead to c hange. They w ill. But w ith o nly a m o des t
am o unt o f c o ns c io us feeling, they hav e o nly a m o des t an effec t. A s m all effec t is better than no ne, but w ill
tak e literally hundreds o f years to lead to a c hange o f lev el o f being, if indeed the res ults are no t fo rev er being
s w ept aw ay befo re they c rys tallize.
N o o ne c an liv e w itho ut feeling, and if I c an s ee o r rem em ber m ys elf, then feeling w ill be there m o re
c o ns c io us ly. So w e c an nev er s ay that w e do nt hav e s o m e feeling. But if its no t s uffic iently pres ent to be the
tem po rary c entre o f m y c o ns c io us nes s , then, fo r prac tic al purpo s es , its abs ent. Fro m o ne pers pec tiv e, its
w o rs e to hav e glim ps es o f this feeling- pres enc e than no t to k no w that glim ps es are po s s ible. Peo ple o ften
find that a m o m ent o f pres enc e has an after- effec t w hic h leav es us depres s ed, rather lik e c o m ing do w n. W hy,
w e w o nder, is this freedo m s o elus iv e? W here w as this po w er w hen I lo s t m y tem per the o ther day? The
ex perienc e o f m ak ing effo rt after effo rt and perennially c o m ing o nly to tem po rary c hange o f being c an lead to
des po ndenc y and ev en to des pair.
It is , o f c o urs e, s ignific ant to c o m e to a po int prelim inary to genuine c hange, to s tand befo re the do o rw ay to
ano ther lev el o f life.
But prelim inaries o nly m ean s o m ething if they lead to ac hiev em ent: their m eaning is realized w hen I go
thro ugh the do o r. If w e s tart to fete the do o r and fo rget that w e hav e to go thro ugh it, w e m ay as w ell nev er
hav e fo und it.
It is feeling w hic h m o tiv ates and enables us to m ak e the pas s age, leav ing behind the o ld, and entering the new
life, unk no w n and yet, at the s am e tim e, intim ately intuited. To be prec is e, the ex perienc e o f s ac rific ing
unc o ns c io us s uffering and its fruit in the gnaw ing o f c o ns c ienc e lead to an entire o c tav e o f m o tiv atio n and
c apac ity: w e feel at o nc e the fev er o f the pas t, o ur pres ent po s itio n, and the o bjec tiv e pro m is e o f the future,
and w e als o feel o ther things , perhaps ev en ineffable. So I w o nt try and des c ribe that m o re.
The m inds o f the bo dy and the intellec t do nt lik e blind c o rners : and neither do es the feeling intelligenc e. But
feeling c an s ee aro und c o rners , s o to s peak . The intellec t needs data fo r c o m paris o n and deduc tio n, w hile
feeling has o nly o ne datum , as it w ere. But feeling penetrates that datum , and c an perc eiv e its m ultiple layers
o r as pec ts . A nak ed feeling o f c o nfidenc e gro unds trus t in a w ay that a tho us and reas o ns nev er w ill.
Gurdjieff s aid that the w ay begins abo v e the lev el o f life, and that m uc h w o rk is needed to c o m e to the
thres ho ld. I think that s o m e o f his m eaning m ay hav e been this need to hav e feeling o perate as the c entre o f
c o ns c io us nes s fo r m o re than a s ho rt tim e. C o ns c ienc e c an be pres ent lo ng eno ugh to pers uade us that
perm anent c hange o f being is po s s ible. W itho ut that, I rather think that s o m ething s c eptic al o r faithles s in us
w ill alw ays w ant reas s uranc e. This , to m y m ind, s heds light o n M r A dies s tatem ent that faith is bas ed o n
fac t. Gurdjieff s aid that faith w as a div ine im puls e. Yet, w e s ay little abo ut faith unles s w e m ean blind belief.
The faith w hic h pro v ides a light w hen all s eem s ec lips ed (to paraphras e A quinas ) is barely ac k no w ledged. I
think this is bec aus e that faith c an o nly be an ac tiv e fac t o r in us w hen o ne c an bear the gnaw ing o f
c o ns c ienc e lo ng eno ugh fo r feeling to penetrate to s o m ething es s ential in us .
Bec aus e w e c an o nly w o rk o n bo dies w e hav e literally no thing els e to w o rk o n a gro w th in feeling m us t be a
c rys tallizatio n o f the Bo dy Kes djan (Pers ian fo r the s pirit o f the s o ul, o r, in Bennetts paraphras e, the v es s el
o f the s o ul, if I rec all c o rrec tly).
A s the feeling bo dy c rys tallizes , it ev o k es a c o ns c io us s ens atio n w hic h is deeper, m o re w ho le and inc lus iv e
than anything o therw is e im agined. O f c o urs e w ere bo und to m ak e o ur firs t effo rts by us ing o ur m inds , s uc h
as they are. If o ne is fo rtunate, o ne c an partic ipate in m o v em ents c las s es o r s o m ething els e w hic h c an help us
m o re c o ntinuo us ly s us tain c o ns c io us nes s o f s ens atio n. But c o ns c io us s ens atio n is o nly a m eans to the end o f
c o ns c io us nes s o f feeling. A ll to o s o o n, the phys ic al bo dy m us t die. Enduranc e and im m o rtality are pro perties
o f the o ther bo dies (in religio us term s , the s o ul and s pirit).
There is ev en a danger in fo c us s ing o n s ens atio n w ith the eye o f a C yc lo ps : if w e fo rget abo ut feeling, all o ur
effo rts w ith s ens atio n w ill s erv e o nly to m es m erize us , to k eep us in a s tate o f o bs es s io n w ith s ens atio n.
If yo ure reading this blo g yo u pro bably k no w that the ro le o f s ens atio n is trem endo us . It is nec es s ary fo r
phys ic al life. But that is o nly its firs t func tio n. Lik e m uc h els e in nature, it is des igned to s erv e m ultiple
purpo s es . O ne o f thes e purpo s es is that c o ns c io us nes s o f s ens atio n s eals in the Bo dy Kes djan, o r perhaps
helps to k eep the fo rm atio n o f the Bo dy lo c alis ed s o that the higher hydro gens us ed in its c rys tallizatio n are
no t dis s ipated. Further, the s o rt o f s ens atio n o ne has w hen the initiativ e has c o m e no t fro m the m ind but fro m
the feeling is beyo nd w o rds . I s ay that w hen feeling is av ailable fo r lo ng eno ugh, it c alls the s ens atio n
bec aus e, being o f a higher intelligenc e, it k no w s w hat it has to do to pres erv e and s us tain its elf. But it is to o
w eak to do s o until a c ertain s tage has been reac hed.
That s tage c anno t be attained to unles s the s truggle w ith negativ e em o tio ns has reac hed a c ritic al lev el, w hen
the hum an m ac hine has been s ubs tantially c leaned. Ev en befo re negativ e em o tio n is m ade utterly pas s iv e,
s ignific ant c hanges w ill s tart to appear. That is o ne o f the beauties o f the hum an o rganis m : it is flex ible
eno ugh to allo w enc o uraging antic ipatio ns , and w e c an s ee w hat lies ahead, at leas t fo r o ne s tep. It is lik e
anything els e in life: the dev elo pm ent is s ubjec t to the law o f o c tav es . W e adv anc e, fall bac k , adv anc e, fall
bac k and s o o n. But if w ere w is e, and w e us e o ur heads (ins tead o f dis paraging the intellec t and giv ing all the
em phas is to s ens atio n) w e c an ev en pro fit fro m o ur s etbac k s .
I s hall paus e here: I w ant to try and m ak e this c lear, as s um ing, o f c o urs e, that w hat I s ay bears s o m e
relatio ns hip to the truth o f the m atter. I am s aying that a s ens e o f pres enc e, o f being different as is o ften
s aid, is go o d and nec es s ary. But it is go o d and nec es s ary bec aus e it is a m eans to a higher end. Ev en if w e
des c ribed that end as a greater intens ity o f pres enc e, w e w o uld be w ro ng. Its a pres enc e w ith unique
qualities o f dim ens io n and duratio n.
H igher lev els o f pres enc e inc lude dim ens io ns o f feeling, intelligenc e and, I w o uld s ay, intuitio n, o f s o m ething
inim itable and ineffable. A nd thes e lev els o f pres enc e bec o m e m o re c o nnec ted and lo nger las ting. W hen they
retreat, they do nt retreat in the s am e w ay: they rem ain nearby, yo u c an feel their to uc h thro ugh a m em brane
s o m ew here ins ide, as it w ere. They bring us bac k m o re quic k ly w hen w e fall, and they enable us to s ee m o re
c learly w hat is needed. H av ing had c o ntinuo us c o ns c io us nes s o f feeling fo r a perio d o f w eek s , yo u c an nev er
c eas e to believ e in the reality o f the new m an. This greater intens ity brings us to the raw m o m ent o f w o rk on
ours elves , that is , im m ediate w o rk o n o ur bo dies , no t m erely o n o ur tho ughts o r reo rdering o ur em o tio nal
liv es , nec es s ary as tho s e effo rts are.
Ill tak e the analo gy o f trav el. I w ant to go , s ay, fro m C lyde to C arlingfo rd by train. I c o uld tell yo u, quite
truthfully, that to get there I m us t go thro ugh Ro s ehill to get there. In fac t, Ro s ehill is the firs t s tatio n after
C lyde. But I c o uld als o hav e equally truthfully s aid no gets fro m C lyde to C arlingfo rd unles s they firs t pas s
thro ugh C am ellia. To get to C arlingfo rd, I als o hav e to trav el thro ugh Rydalm ere, D undas and Telo pea, w hic h
are further do w n the line. The s tatem ents are all true, but if I think in a fo rm ato ry w ay, I w ill s ee a
c o ntradic tio n. The w ho le truth and the no thing but the truth is that eac h o f thes e s tatio ns m us t be pas s ed in a
giv en o rder.
I think (I w o uld s ay that I am s ure), that s o m ething s im ilar happens in res pec t o f the inner jo urney. W e c an o nly
get there thro ugh s elf- o bs erv atio n. W e c an o nly get there thro ugh s elf- rem em bering. W e c an o nly get there
thro ugh s ens atio n, thro ugh feeling, thro ugh c o ns c ienc e, thro ugh aw ak ening the m ind, and s o o n. A ll are true.
But w hat is this aim fo r w hic h all o f thes e s teps are nec es s ary? The far aim o f w hic h I s peak is , and o nly s anely
c an be theo s is , the ex perienc e o f the A bs o lute: the infinite and eternal, all- enc o m pas s ing pres enc e w hic h
depends o n no thing els e. I am s peak ing, then, o f the beatific v is io n, m ys tic al c o m m unio n w ith Go d. Ev en w hat
I hav e s aid abo ut feeling is s ubjec t to this .
But o ur po s itio n is that w e, and ev eryo ne w e k no w and k no w o f, are s tuc k at C lyde. W ev e nev er s een anything
els e, and no o ne w e k no w unarguably has , either. N o t s urpris ingly, s o m e peo ple deny that there is anything
beyo nd C lyde. If w e ev entually ev en get to the ro ad s ign to Ro s ehill, w ere rapt in w o nder, at leas t fo r a w hile.
The s ens e o f w o nder dis appears , and to k eep it aliv e w e inv ent rituals o f ano inting the s ign and laying flo w ers
befo re it. A nyo ne w ho c an m ak e a go o d c laim to hav e been to Ro s ehill s trik es us as ex trao rdinary. W e s tart to
identify w ith them , and im itate them . W e think that w ere ho no uring the jo urney and the des tinatio n, but really,
all o ur little rev erenc es hav e the effec t o f k eeping us w here w e are, m iles fro m feeling. W e get s o us ed to
hearing that C arlingfo rd is s o far aw ay that w e c o m e to think Ro s ehill is go o d eno ugh fo r m e.
I hav e w ritten befo re abo ut the ro m anc e o f the s earc h: that is pertinent here. Searc hing o nly has m eaning if
there is a po s s ibility o f finding. A nyo ne w ho think s that theres v irtue o r m erit in lo o k ing w itho ut ho pe o f
dis c o v ering is , literally, m ad. O f c o urs e, they m ight no t be m ad in ev ery po s s ible res pec t, but in that o ne they
are. It c an be dres s ed up ho w ev er o ne lik es , but the idea that w e are alw ays s earc hing is lunac y. W e s earc h o nly
until w e find. M aybe then a further s earc h w ill bec k o n: that is quite po s s ible, but thats a different m atter.
The prac tic al v ic e o f the ro m anc e o f the s earc h is that it k eeps us at prelim inaries . To o o ften, m aterial I hav e
read s tates o r im plies that a perm anent c hange o f being is no t po s s ible: w e c an o nly be pres ent in- betw een,
as it w ere. This is true, but it is nt the w ho le truth. If w e are pres ent fo r a m o m ent, ev en pres ent in- betw een,
w e c an be pres ent fo r tw o m o m ents , and three m o m ents , and s o o n. W e c an be pres ent at a higher lev el o f
being. That higher lev el c an be lo ng- term , and therefo re it c an be perm anent.
It is po s s ible to bec o m e m an num ber 4, but ho w w o uld this be po s s ible if o ne did no t hav e faith (no t belief) in
the po s s ibility? I c anno t im agine that the c hanc es o f a c hange o f lev el o f being inc reas e if o ne nev er ev en
think s abo ut m an num ber 4, and w hat qualities s uc h a pers o n w o uld hav e. Im rather inc lined to think the
o ppo s ite.
A nd ac c o rding to O us pens k y, w ho I am s ure w as s peak ing fro m his o w n ex perienc e, but m ay hav e had it fro m
Gurdjieff, to o : the c hief differenc e betw een m an num bers 1, 2 and 3 and num ber 4 is that num ber 4 has
c o ns c ienc e. In o ther w o rds , s uc h a pers o n is av ailable to feeling. That is the differenc e. The im pres s io ns w hic h
us ually w o uld c all fo rth, as it w ere, negativ e em o tio ns , are rec eiv ed. W e c an ev en s ens e that s o m ething in us is
ready to reac t in anger, jealo us y, o r hatred, and s o o n. But feeling is pres ent, o r at leas t its influenc e is , and the
third fo rc e (the s elf- indulgent attitude) required fo r the m anifes tatio n o f negativ e em o tio ns is no t there at the
lo c us o f thes e fo rc es . The m o m ent pas s es , and rather than negativ e em o tio n , feeling, and perhaps ev en a
repres entativ e o f c o ns c ienc e appears .
In A Rec ord of M eetings (a m uc h under- utilized bo o k w hic h has fo rtunately been reis s ued by Eurek a), s o m eo ne
as k ed O us pens k y w hether m an num ber 4 w as free o f negativ e em o tio ns . N o , replied O us pens k y, no t free o f
them , that w o uld be to o m uc h to ex pec t. So num ber 4 is v ulnerable to negativ e em o tio n, but has c o ns c ienc e in
res pec t o f them . H e is c hanging in res pec t o f them , he is pro fiting fro m them and m ak ing them pas s iv e. H e is ,
s o to s peak , eating them .
W hen s us tained feeling is av ailable, o ne is pres ent. N o t abs o lutely pres ent: perhaps o nly Go d is abs o lutely
pres ent (O us pens k y s ays that perhaps o nly Go d c an s ay I). But if w e c anno t s ay that w e are abs o lutely
pres ent, yet w e c an k no w that w e hav e reality. W e feel s afe bo th ins ide and s afe to o ther peo ple. W e s ee w here
w e w ent w ro ng, and w hy. This by no m eans m ak es us infallible: its a danger to believ e s o . But w e hav e an
intuitio n that w e c o uld c o m e to a s tage w here w e c o uld ac tually think : and in s uc h a s tate the po s s ibilities o f
think ing appear as to unding.
3 July 2010
s ac rific e.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE, ONCE MORE WITH FEELING
July 3, 2010 at 1:41 pm Tagged with 'A Record of Meetings', conscious sensation, feeling, Gurdjieff,
im m ortality, Mr Adie, MRs Staveley, negative em otions, Ouspensky, unconscious
suffering
T H E JO H N R O B E R T C O L O M B O P A G E
J R C O L O M BO R E V IE W S F R A N K R . S IN C L A IR S M E M O IR
W IT H O U T BE N E F IT O F C L E R G Y
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N either the W o rk no r the ex pres s io n o f the W o rk in any giv en tim e and at any giv en plac e is s ac ro s anc t o r
im m une to the rav ages and rev elatio ns o f tim e. Its dem ys tific atio n inv o lv es , in a w ay, its rem ytho lo gizatio n,
and this is pro c eeding apac e in o ur tim e.
Part o f the pro c es s is the s hedding o f light o n its early his to ry thro ugh his to ric al res earc h, and o n its rec ent
pas t thro ugh the public atio n o f bo o k s o f s tudies and m em o irs . The his to ric al c las s ic s are The H arm o nio us
C irc le w ritten by Jam es W ebb and the tw o bo o k s by Paul Beek m an Taylo r titled A N ew Life and Gurdjieffs
A m eric a. A m o ng m o dern- day c las s ic s is the am azing to m e titled Its U p to O urs elv es w ritten by Jes s m in
and D us hk a H o w arth. (I c elebrated the public atio n o f the latter v o lum e, largely a s c rapbo o k w ith a m ultitude o f
s naps ho ts , o n this blo g So phia W ellbelo v eds blo g a m o nth o r s o ago .)
N o ne o f thes e w o rk s (o r o thers lik e them ) has ev er attain the s c riptural s tatus o f A ll and Ev erything o r ev en
the c ano nic al s tatus o f M eetings w ith Rem ark able M en and In Searc h o f the M irac ulo us . Yet the light they
s hed o n the W o rk is a hum an glo w w hic h do es no t bathe it in a s ens e o f w o nder as m uc h as it do es im bue it
w ith a s ens e o f pers o nal gratitude fo r as s is tanc e rec eiv ed and s erv ic es rendered. Frank R. Sinc lair has
c o ntributed tw o bo o k s to this c las s o f public atio n: W itho ut Benefit o f C lergy and O f the Life A ligned:
Reflec tio ns o n the Teac hing o f G.I. Gurdjieff and the Perennial O rder.
I hav e yet to s ee a c o py o f the s ec o nd o f thes e tw o bo o k s , but after reading the firs t o ne I w ill c ertainly read
the s ec o nd. The bo o k at hand, the firs t o ne, is badly titled and po o rly s ubtitled, but m y c ritic is m ends there
at the title page. The o ther 295 pages are fine by m e, anec do tal in the ex trem e, as I w ill dem o ns trate later.
It is a trade paperbac k . It m eas ures 8 x 5.5. and it has a full- c o lo ur c o v er and there are c lo s e to fo rty blac k -
and- w hite pho to graphs , m ainly s naps ho ts , alm o s t all o f them new to m e and to m o s t readers . The v o lum e has
been attrac tiv ely des igned and is s ued by Xlibris . There are tw o editio ns , the firs t in 2005, the s ec o nd in 2009,
w hic h is the o ne that I purc has ed.
The title is W itho ut Benefit o f C lergy. The s ubtitle is So m e Pers o nal Fo o tno tes to the Gurdjieff Teac hing.
Bo th title and s ubtitle giv e m e paus e. The title attrac ted m y attentio n (as s ho uld all go o d titles ) s o I dec ided to
determ ine w hy I feel it is inappro priate. I hav e alw ays as s o c iated the phras e w itho ut benefit o f c lergy w ith
im m o rality liv ing to gether in s in, w itho ut the s ac ram ental bles s ing o f the c hurc h and I w as partially right in
do ing s o , as w ell as partially w ro ng.
In Englis h juris prudenc e, m em bers o f the c lergy w ere no t s ubjec ted to s ec ular law s , w hether c rim inal o r c iv il,
but w ere perm itted to dem and to be tried under c ano n law . This im m unity w as abo lis hed c enturies ago . In
1890, Rudyard Kipling em plo yed the phras e w itho ut benefit o f c lergy fo r the title o f a s ho rt s to ry s et in India
abo ut the Englis hm an nam ed H o lden and the M us lim w o m an nam ed A m eer w ho s hac k up (1950s ex pres s io n;
the 1980s ex pres s io n s till c urrent is liv ing to gether) and ho w their uns anc tio ned unio n bro ught w rac k and
ruin to bo th c o ns erv ativ e c o m m unities . The plo t pro v ed s uffic iently po tent and the phras e s o po pular that in
1921 it bec am e the title o f a the s ilent m o v ie W itho ut Benefit o f C lergy that s tarred Bo ris Karlo ff, o f all
peo ple. So m y o riginal reac tio n to the phras e s ex ual c o ngres s o uts ide the bo nds o f m arriage is pro bably
that o f m o s t peo ple uns c ho o led in the intric ac ies o f Englis h juris prudenc e.
I am no t c o nv inc ed that the title o f this bo o k o f m em o irs s heds any light at all o n the s ubjec t o f thes e
m em o irs . Is the autho r telling us that his m em o irs are s c andalo us o r s ho c k ing? If s o , then he is w ro ng. A nd
then there is the m atter o f the s ubtitle w hic h als o irk s m e: So m e Pers o nal Fo o tno tes to the Gurdjieff
Teac hing. Is the w o rld o f fo o tno tes div ided betw een tho s e that are pers o nal and tho s e that are im pers o nal?
N o t that I am aw are. W ho w o uld enjo y reading a bo o k o f fo o tno tes ? (W ell, the A rgentine po et Jo rge Luis Bo rges
m ay. Stanis law Lem , the Po lis h s c ienc e- fic tio n w riter, m ay. Jam es M o o re, the prec is ian, w ho is the autho r o f
Gurdjieffian C o nfes s io ns : A Self Rem em bered, m ay, as w ell. But s urely no t the general reader w ith a tas te fo r
the w o rld o f the W o rk .)
I hav e do ne a lo t o f c arping. It is tim e no w fo r s o m e c elebratio n. A ltho ugh I hav e yet to m eet the autho r, I w ill
tak e the liberty o f referring to Frank R. Sinc lair by his C hris tian nam e. The bac k - c o v er pho to graph o f Frank
s ho w s him w ith a s traw hat perc hed o n the bac k o f his head, rather lik e the hum o uris t Stephen Leac o c k . It
s eem s to giv e the reader leav e to refer to him as Frank . If it do es no t do that, I hav e o nly to turn to the pro s e
its elf w hic h is info rm al and o ff- the- c uff eno ugh to c o nfer perm is s io n. In fac t, at o ne po int w hen Frank w as
as k ed to giv e the reading fro m the Bible at Lo rd Pentlands funeral s erv ic e (held in a Ro m an C atho lic c hurc h,
o ddly) he refers to him s elf as a no nentity o f the firs t o rder. N o w that is ex c es s iv e!
In this m em o ir there are thirteen c hapters , tw o pages o f ac k no w ledgem ents , prefac es to the firs t and the
s ec o nd editio ns , no t to m entio n three appendic es and o ne index . A ll o f thes e s ec tio ns are o f s o m e interes t.
But in the interes t o f brev ity, I am go ing to s ho rt c hange the firs t half o f the bo o k and c o nc entrate o n the
s ec o nd half fo r it is largely dev o ted to pen po rtraits o f pers o nalities in the W o rk w ho hav e had an influenc e o n
Frank s inner life and his o utlo o k o n life.
Readers w ho are interes ted in the early life o f a jo urnalis t w ho w as bo rn in the s hado w o f Table M o untain in a
s uburb o f C ape To w n, So uth A fric a, in 1929, and w ho fo und s o m e tw enty- eight years ago that his s piritual
ques t had tak en him to Frank lin Farm s at M endham in N ew Jers ey, and A rm o nk in W es tc hes ter C o untry in N ew
Yo rk State, and at the Gurdjieff Fo undatio n o n M anhattan Is land, w ill find thes e early pages to be a treat.
In a s ens e he nev er did leav e thes e s heltered c o m m unities , yet he em erged in the 1980s as the s uc c es s o r o f
D r. W illiam W elc h as the Pres ident o f the Gurdjieff Fo undatio n o f N ew Yo rk . H e has headed the Gurdjieff
Fo untain s inc e 2009 and liv es at Grand V iew - o n- H uds o n, a to w n o f s o m e 300 peo ple w ith a high m edian
inc o m e no rth o f N ew Yo rk C ity. Its m o s t no table inhabitant after Frank is N o bel laureate To ni M o rris o n.
Fro m the age o f eight, Frank ex perienc ed a blaze o f light w hile ques tio ning the nature o f Go d. Thereafter he
had a few near enc o unters w ith death. H e graduated fro m the U niv ers ity o f C ape To w n, m ajo ring in philo s o phy,
and s pent eight years as a jo urnalis t w ith the C ape Tim es afterno o n new s paper. H e w rites abo ut his feelings o f
anguis h and heartac hes and s ufferings at the tim e, but thes e c am e to an end, s ym bo lic ally at leas t, w hen he
enc o untered an es s ay by J.G. Bennett c alled Liv ing in Fiv e D im ens io ns , w as as s igned to rev iew C o lin W ils o ns
The O uts ider, s tudied In Searc h o f the M irac ulo us , and identified w ith the v ers es o f the deaf So uth A fric an
po et Jo hn H o w land Beaum o nt, w ho had a m ys tic al c o nnec tio n w ith nature: I did but s leep ah m e, I dream , I
dream !
A bo ut 1956, Frank res o lv ed to s eek o ut the s o urc e o f the teac hing in a s urpris ingly direc t w ay. H e plac ed an
adv ertis em ent in the pers o nal c o lum ns o f the riv al C ape A rgus afterno o n paper to m ak e c o ntac t, and to his
s urpris e a reader o f the paper m ailed him a c o py o f A ll and Ev erything alo ng w ith a no te: Fro m o ne hum an
being to ano ther, that bo th m ay hav e m o re o f them s elv es to giv e. The benefac to rs identity rem ains unk no w n
to this day.
H e ev entually m et an Englis h gentlem an nam ed B. Fairfax H all w ho w as an enthus ias t fo r priv ate printing. In
England in 1930 he had fo unded and o perated The Sto urto n Pres s , nam ed after the fam ilys ho us e in
W es tm ins ter. H all w as a m em ber o f P.D . O us pens k ys c irc le befo re he im m igrated to So uth A fric a. In 1947 he
began to print bo o k s , inc luding O us pens k ys A Rec o rd o f M eetings , in an editio n o f tw enty c o pies in 1951,
and The Struggle o f the M agic ians , in an editio n o f ten c o pies in 1957.
Frank already k new abo ut edito rial m atters ; fro m H all he learned ho w to o perate an A lbio n printing pres s ,
w hic h s erv ed him w ell w hen he began his o w n priv ate printing at A rm o nk , N .Y., us ing the im print A ntic Pres s .
H all, w ho had c o m piled The Fo urth W ay fro m O us pens k ys lec tures , arranged fo r Frank to res ide fo r tw o
m o nths at M adam e O us pens k ys 300- ac re es tate at Frank lin Farm s . Frank left So uth A fric a in 1958 and did no t
return fo r s o m e tw enty years .
Frank w o rk ed and s tudied at Frank lin Farm s and there m et a yo ung w o m an nam ed Beatric e Rego , a teac her, and
they m arried. N o des c riptio n o f the bride is o ffered, but there is a lo ng ac c o unt o f Frank s o ut- o f- bo dy
ex perienc e im m ediately prio r to the w edding c erem o ny. There is als o a lo ng ac c o unt o f life at the res idenc e,
w ith a fleeting referenc e to M adam e O us pens k y (w ho rem ained in her bedro o m c ham ber s o he nev er s et eyes
o n her w hile s he w as s till aliv e) and M adam e O lga de H artm ann, w ho c am e and w ent and o nc e referred to him
as a piec e o f furniture, but there is a v ery detailed ac c o unt o f the firs t v is it o f M adam e de Salzm ann.
H ere, fo r the firs t tim e in m y life, w as s o m eo ne w ho s po k e to m y deepes t c o nc erns , w ho undeniably had an

inner pres enc e (a tho ught that I had no w ay o f artic ulating at that tim e) and at the s am e tim e ac tually
inc luded m e in that pres enc e, w ho lis tened in s o m e unfatho m able w ay, and w ho ac tually s aw m e befo re her
and s po k e to m e as a real hum an being.
In m any w ays the heart and c o re o f the bo o k is the ac c o unt o f the ex perienc es that o c c urred to the
im pres s io nable yo ung So uth A fric an at Frank lin Farm s , ex perienc es that are unhes itatingly des c ribed as
pro fo und and m irac ulo us . O ne s uc h ex perienc e, fo llo w ing an alterc atio n w ith M adam e O us pens k ys uns table
grands o n Lo nya Sav its k y. It w as ac c o m panied by intens e m o rtific atio n:
But lying there pro ne o n the flo o r, I s uffered terrible rem o rs e and s ham e at hav ing behav ed as I had do ne,
_ and at the s am e tim e_ I w as w itnes s to the m irac ulo us appearanc e in m e o f this brilliant, go lden being. It
glo w ed in a s urro unding v iv id blaze o f light. H e c alls it the pheno m eno n o f the go lden em bryo . Pages are
dev o ted to ex am ining the ex perienc e, w ith its c o nfiguratio n o f the Kes djan bo dy, fro m the v antage- po ints o f
different religio us and c ultural traditio ns .
This tak es us to C hapter 6 w hic h is a departure fro m the no rm , fo r it c o ns is ts o f the ac c o unt k ept by Frank s
w ife Beatric e o f her im pres s io ns o f the v ario us appearanc es o f the elderly Gurdjieff in N ew Yo rk . H er brief
m em o ir is full o f interes ting details . O v erall s he fo und M r. Gurdjieff to be a m an o f trem endo us energy;
anything in this life s eem ed po s s ible.
C hapter 7 is a rem ark able tribute to a v eteran o f the W o rk nam ed M artin W . Bens o n w ho is a jac k - o f- all- trades
and s o m eo ne w ho s eem s to be all es s enc e. O riginally a puzzle to Frank , Bens o n bec am e w hat m ight be c alled
a bes t friend fo r his tw elv e years o f apprentic es hip at M endham and A rm o nk .
C hapter 8 is in m any w ays the c o unterpart o f C hapter 7, fo r it is a s us tained tribute to Frank s friends hip w ith
Tho m as V iv ian Fo rm an, a C am bridge- trained s pec ialis t in agric ulture as w ell as m ilitary intelligenc e. In m any
w ays , to o , Fo rm an is the c o unterpart o f Bens o n a balanc e betw een pers o nality and es s enc e. Frank s lo v e o f
peo ple glo w s in thes e po rtraits .
C hapter 9 is titled A nnals o f the A ntic Pres s and it des c ribes Frank s w o rk in the ic eho us e at A rm o nk w here,
am o ng o ther bo o k s , a s m all band o f edito rs , des igners , c o m po s ito rs , and pres s o perato rs printed
Pro nunc iatio n Guide fo r W o rds Inv ented by Gurdjieff in 1984, the fo rerunner o f the m uc h ex panded editio n
is s ued by the Traditio nal Studies Pres s in To ro nto .
By no w it s ho uld be apparent that Frank is an apprec iato r o f peo ple. To m y m ind the o uts tanding s ec tio n o f his
m em o irs is C hapter 10 w hic h is titled Jo hn Pentland: The Lo rdly Line o f H igh Sinc lair. Lo rd Pentland, c hief o f
the c lan and a s c io n o f the illus trio us Sinc lair line (w hic h s eem s no t to inc lude o ur autho r Frank Sinc lair), w as
M r. Gurdjieffs appo intee to o v ers ee the W o rk in the U nited States . In thes e pages the autho r des c ribes a
num ber o f the c lo s e and alm o s t ac c idental enc o unters that he had w ith Pentland betw een 1958 and the latters
death in 1984.
The autho r has no pro blem w ith Pentlands rapier- lik e w it, fo r he felt, intriguingly, that w hen Pentland glared
at him and w ielded it, Pentland gav e him his w o rk . It is an interes ting pas s age and perhaps it hinges o n the
s o m ew hat o ff- the- c uff s tatem ent that Pentland w as o ld eno ugh to be his father. It s eem s Lo rd Pentland w as
the grands o n the M arquis o f A berdeen, the s ev enth Go v erno r General o f C anada, as w ell as part o f the fam ily o f
the Earl o f Elgin, an ev en earlier Go v erno r General. Perhaps it w as fro m this aris to c ratic traditio n that he
learned the arts o f diplo m ac y c ertainly o f us e in W o rk c irc les !
I feel that this c hapter abo ut this rem ark able and unus ual m an is the s till po int o f the m em o irs . The nex t
tw o bio graphic al c hapters are anti- c lim ax es , tho ugh they do hav e interes ting dim ens io ns . C hapter 11 is
dev o ted to Bill Segal: The Radic al Reo rientatio n, and it pres ents this m ulti- talented m an as a c las s ac t.
Segal w as the epito m e o f the ac tiv e m an, and ev en after being nearly c rus hed to death an auto m o bile ac c ident,
he em erged alm o s t as ac tiv e as ev er. Sinc lair w rites , neatly, that Segal w as hum bled bo th in his pride and in
his prim e.
C hapter 12 is titled Jeanne de Salzm ann: A C o m pelling C all and it s eem s to m e to be an apo lo gia fo r the
s ec o nd half o f M adam e de Salzm anns life. The U nk no w n do es no t yield its elf thro ugh abundant des c riptio n,
Frank w rites , s o the reader w ho do es no t hav e prio r k no w ledge o f her life and w o rk w ill be at s ea w hen it
c o m es to unders tanding w hat Frank is w riting abo ut.
I tak e it that he has tw o them es : the firs t is the ro le o f the ins titutio n v is - - v is the indiv idual; the s ec o nd is
the es po us al o f the ro le o f grac e rather than effo rt and o f flo w rather than effo rt to ex pres s it direc tly that
is repres ented by her fro m the death o f M r. Gurdjieff at a pro bable age o f eighty- three in 1949 and M adam es
death at the ripe o ld age o f 101 in 1990. M adam e c an do no w ro ng.
I dare s ay, he w rites gingerly, that w hen her o w n no tes are c o llated and publis hed, there w ill be s urpris ing
indic atio ns o f the prec is io n w ith w hic h s he fo llo w ed the m o v em ent o f the attentio n and the w o rk fo r
Pres enc e. A s it happens , ex trac ts fro m M adam es no tebo o k s are abo ut to be is s ued by Sham bhala
Public atio ns under the title The Reality o f Being: The Fo urth W ay o f Gurdjieff, s o w e w ill hav e the o ppo rtunity
to judge fo r o urs elv es .
Frank is o bv io us ly dev o ted to M adam e and he ac c epts her direc tio n fo r the w o rk , its s ingle grand v erity,
w hic h he tak es pains and pages to trac e bac k to M r. Gurdjieffs talk s in N ew Yo rk , the firs t o ne o n D ec . 19,
1930, and the s ec o nd o ne o n D ec . 25, 1948. The ex po s itio n in thes e pages is m o re as s o c iativ e than it is
dis c iplined, s o there is little do ubt that he feels that w hat s he w as do ing s he w as do ing c o ns c io us ly and w ith
autho rizatio n. M adam e Jeanne de Salzm ann bro ught neither a N ew W o rk no r an O ld W o rk , but o nly Gurdjieffs
W o rk .
I w ill pas s o v er C hapter 13, So m e Rando m Inferenc es , bec aus e the c o ntents are indeed rando m (to des c ribe
them w o uld be to try to herd c ats ) and they turn o ut to be elabo ratio ns o f po ints m ade earlier in the m em o irs .
The o ne new elem ent that I s po tted is the effo rt that Frank is m ak ing to enlarge to c o nc eptio n o f the W o rk to
inc lude the tho ughts o f s o m e new - c o m ers alo ng w ith s o m e o v erlo o k ed o ld- c o m ers (to nam e a few m en and
w o m en in alphabetic al o rder): Jo s eph A zize, M ic hel C o nge, M artha H eynem an, Jam es M o o re, Jac o b N eedlem an,
Rav i Rav indra, So phia W ellbelo v ed.
A ls o giv en s o m e rec o gnitio n is the c o ntributio n o f the annual Internatio nal H um anities C o nferenc e (better
k no w n as the A ll & Ev erything C o nferenc e) as w ell as Traditio nalis t think ers lik e Titus Burk hardt and their
s em i- annual public atio n, the V anc o uv er- bas ed Sac red W eb. This is c lo s e to an ec um enic al to uc h, and
perhaps it is a daring o ne.
Thro ugho ut Frank retains his m o des ty and the pro jec ts the air o f c o ns tant am azem ent as s o c iated w ith A lic e in
W o nderland. I did no t drink A rm agnac w ith Gurdjieff, he w rites , am us ingly. I belo ng to the po s t- Gurdjieff
era, no t ev en rem o tely a Saul am o ng the A po s tles , but a fello w trav eler, feeding fro m tho s e w ho , lik e M adam e
de Salzm ann, had been befo re.
The s ec o nd editio n o f the m em o irs ends w ith three appendic es as w ell as a no m inal index . Tw o o f the
appendic es c o ns is t o f rev iew s o f the firs t editio n o f the bo o k . The firs t rev iew is a o nc e- o v er- lightly
apprec iatio n by D av id A ppelbaum . It o riginally appeared in Parabo la, as did the liv ely interv iew w ith Frank o n
the s ubjec t o f W ho Is the Teac her?
The third appendix c o ns is ts , s urpris ingly, o f a rev iew am us ingly titled The Guide fo r the Perplex ed and
po s ted o n A m azo n.c o m by its autho r, bio grapher Jam es M o o re. I fo und it to be o ne o f the bo o k s highlights , in
the s ens e that its to ne and s tyle are to tally at o dds w ith Frank s . Yet it hits the right no te w hen in an im pis h
m o o d M o o re des c ribes Frank as a regular- k inda- guy w ho s e pride in his m o des ty attains o x ym o ro nic
heights .
H ad Frank been bo rn under the s hado w o f the Blue M o untains near Sydney, A us tralia, rather than in the s hado w
o f Table Ro c k , So uth A fric a, I w o uld be inc lined to des c ribe him as a blo k e. W hatev er the des c riptio n, he is a
s ens itiv e fello w and W itho ut Benefit o f C lergy is c ertainly an entertaining and I believ e ho nes t ac c o unt o f o ne
m ans rather unus ual s piritual ques t. H e dem ys tifies by rem ytho lo gizing.
Jo h n R o b ert C o lo m b o is a T o ro n to - b as ed au th o r an d an th o lo g is t w h o is k n o w n ac ro s s C an ad a
fo r h is p o p u lar referen c e b o o k s . H e w rites ab o u t W o rk - related p u b lic atio n s fo r th is b lo g . H is
la te s t p u b lic a tio n is W a lt W h itm a n s C a n a d a , a b o o k - le n g th , d o c u m e n ta ry - s ty le a c c o u n t o f
th e A m e ric a n p o e ts to u r o f C e n tra l a n d E a s te rn C a n a d a in th e S u m m e r o f 1 8 8 0 . C o lo m b o s
w ebs ite is < w w w . c o lo m bo plus . c a >
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in J R COLOMBO reviews FRANK R SINCLAIR'S m em oir, THE JOHN ROBERT
April 21, 2010 at 11:04 am COLOMBO PAGE
Tagged with A New Life, All & Everything Conference, All and Everything, Arm onk,
A Record of Meetings, Sacred Web, The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of
Gurdjieff, Walt Whitm ans Canada, , The Struggle of the Magicians, B. Fairfax
Hall, Beatrice Rego/Sinclair, Bill Segal, Colin Wilson, Dr. William Welch, Frank
Sinclair, Franklin Farm s, Gurdjieff, Gurdjieffs Am erica, In Search of the
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Colom bo, Joseph Azize, Living in Five Dim ensions, Lonya Savitsky, Lord Pentland,
Madam e de Salzm ann, Madam e Olga de Hartm ann, Madam e Ouspensky, Martha
Heynem an, Martin W. Benson, Mendham , Michel Conge, Of the Life Aligned:
Reflections on the Teaching of G.I. Gurdjieff and the Perennial Order, out-of-body
experience, P. D. Ouspensky, Paul Beekm an Taylor, Ravi Ravindra., Sham bahala
Publications, Sophia Wellbeloved, The Stourton Press, Thom as Vivian Form an,
Titus Burkhardt, Traditional Studies Press, Without Benefit of Clergy
S U G A R a s E s o te ric Is s u e : ( re v is e d 2 8 M a y 2 0 1 0 )
JO S E PH A Z IZ E PA G E
======================
SU GA R IS A N ESO TERIC ISSU E
S u g a r is a n E s o te ric Is s u e (re v is e d 2 8 M a y 2 0 1 0 )
I am abs o lutely s erio us . Sugar is an es o teric is s ue, to gether w ith s m o k ing and narc o tic s . O f c o urs e, it is no t
nearly s o dangero us as narc o tic s , w hic h c an m ak e c o ns c io us dev elo pm ent prac tic ally im po s s ible. But I am no t
s ure ho w it c o m pares to to bac c o . That is s ue is diffic ult, bec aus e, am o ng m atters , peo ple w ho c o ns um e
to bac c o inv ariably c o ns um e s ugar, s o the res pec tiv e ro les o f thes e po is o ns in c aus ing dis eas e is tric k y. A ls o ,
the s ugars w hic h are s o m etim es added to c igarettes m ak e their s m o k e m o re c anc ero us (they inc reas e by up to
60% the am o unt o f fo rm aldehyde in m ains tream c igarette s m o k e, i.e. the s m o k e pro duc ed after puffing o n a
c igarette). Therefo re, the effec ts o f s ugar and to bac c o m ay o perate jo intly.
Bac k g ro u n d
W here is this all c o m ing fro m ? A n artic le I w ro te, dealing w ith s ugar and its equiv alents fro m a legal and ethic al
po int o f v iew , has been publis hed in v o l. 17 o f the Journal of Law and M edic ine (M ay 2010, pp.784- 799).
In that artic le, I c o ntend that there is a c rying need fo r legis lativ e interv entio n to ac tually tax s ugar, ban s ugar
pro duc ts fro m s c ho o ls , require full dis c lo s ure o f s ugar c o ntent in any fo o d (ev en in bread), w ith health
w arnings o n c o nfec tio nary, and m o re o f the s am e fanatic al m eas ures . Yo u c an read the fac ts abo ut s ugar in
the late Jo hn Yudk ins readable c las s ic Pure, W hite and D eadly . M y artic le s um m aris es s o m e o f the lates t
ev idenc e, the v as t bulk o f w hic h s uppo rts his c o nc lus io ns abo ut the relatio n betw een s ugar, diabetes and
c anc er (no t to m entio n dental c aries ), and s o m e o f w hic h s ho w s that s ugar is addic tiv e in m uc h the s am e w ay
that narc o tic s are.
That is all v ery w ell, yo u m ay s ay: but w hy put this o n an es o teric s tudies w eb s ite?
T h e E s o teric S ig n ific an c e o f S u g ar
Fo r tho s e w ho k no w Gurdjieffs ideas , let m e s ay firs t, that s ugar dis harm o nis es the tem po o f o ur c o m m o n-
pres enc e, and s ec o nd, that it dam ages es s enc e.
N o w , let m e rephras e that fo r the no n- initiated. Sugar is w reak ing hav o c o n o ur c iv ilizatio n. Its jus t do ing it
s lo w ly and enjo yably. Gary Taubes , w ho s e w o rk in this area s eem s to m e to be w itho ut hyperbo le
m agnific ent, w rites : Thro ugh their direc t effec t o n ins ulin and blo o d s ugar, refined c arbo hydrates , s tarc hes ,
and s ugars are the dietary c aus e o f c o ro nary heart dis eas e and diabetes . They are the m o s t lik ely dietary
c aus es o f c anc er, A lzheim ers dis eas e, and the o ther c hro nic dis eas es o f c iv ilizatio n. ( The D iet D elus ion , n 27,
p 454) The italic s o n dietary c aus es is Taubes o w n.
O v er tim e and in s uffic ient do s es , s ugar c an do great dam age to a pers o ns bo dy and em o tio ns . That is , it
dam ages es s enc e, the real yo u, the heirlo o m w ith w hic h yo u are bo rn. Indirec tly, s ugar w ill ev en dam age ho w
o nes m ind w o rk s , bec aus e the w o rk ings o f the m ind, bo dy and em o tio ns c anno t ultim ately be s eparated
(altho ugh the o rganis m is v ery adaptable, and c an o ften reac h ex trao rdinary lev els o f intellec tual and
em o tio nal func tio ning des pite ev en near- fatal phys ic al dam age). Indirec tly, thro ugh diabetes and, it s eem s ,
o ther dis eas es , s ugar c an ev en be fatal. A nd if it do es indeed c o ntribute to dis eas es s uc h as A lzheim ers , w hat
hav e w e unlo o s ed upo n o urs elv es ?
W hen I s ay that o v er tim e and in s uffic ient do s es , it c an do great dam age to a pers o ns bo dy and em o tio ns ,
w e m us t bear in m ind that ho w m uc h tim e and w hat do s es are s uffic ient depends upo n the pers o n, their
c o ns c io us c o ntro l o v er their o rganis m , their genes , the balanc e o f their diet, the ex erc is e they tak e, their s leep,
their lifes tyle, and o ther fac to rs .
N o w fo r c o m m o n- tem po . In a talk he gav e in Paris , in A ugus t 1922, Gurdjieff s aid that a pers o ns rec eptio n o f
im pres s io ns depends o n the rhythm o f the ex ternal s tim ulato rs o f im pres s io ns and o n the rhythm o f the
s ens es . Right rec eptio n, he s aid, w o uld be po s s ible o nly if thes e rhythm s c o rres po nd to o ne ano ther. In fac t,
he w ent s o far as to s ay: a m an c an nev er be a m an if he has no right rhythm s in him s elf. G.I. Gurdjieff, V iew s
from the Real W orld , pp.82- 83.
Briefly, as I unders tand it, in Beelzebub , es pec ially in the c hapter o n H ypno tis m , Gurdjieff teac hes that eac h
c entre o f the o rganis m , and als o es s enc e (as a w ho le) and pers o nality (as a w ho le) func tio n at different
tem po s , and that parts o f the hum an o rganis m c an m utually c o m m unic ate o nly w hen their tem po s s tand in a
partic ular relatio n. A t p.1163, Beelzebub s ays to H as s ein that eac h o f the func tio ns w hic h c o m po s e o ur
indiv iduality ac quires a harm o nio us tem po in the c o m m o n func tio ning. In o ther w o rds , o ur indiv iduality (the
dis tinc tiv e nature o f o ur being), is m ade up o f v ario us func tio nings , eac h o f w hic h is fo rm ed as a w ho le
(c rys tallized is Gurdjieffs w o rd) and w o rk s at its o w n tem po in an integrated o rganis m , in harm o ny w ith
o ther func tio ns o perating at their pro per tem po s .
O ne c an think o f it as being lik e a c ar: all the m o v ing parts hav e their o w n tem po s . The w heels , fan- belt,
ignitio n, battery, all w o rk at different s peeds , o r m o re prec is ely, w ithin different ranges o f s peed. In fac t, they
c an o nly perfo rm their pro per func tio n w itho ut dam aging the m ac hine if they rem ain w ithin their s pec ific
s peed ranges . If o ne c o uld arrange all thes e parts s o that they o perated at o ne identic al s peed, the c ar w o uld
be us eles s . I am aw are I am no w s peak ing o f s peed. Sho rtly, a s peed is abs o lute: it is m eas ured fro m zero ,
but tem po is a relativ e s peed. Tem po is m eaningful o nly as c o m paring the s peeds , rhythm s o r rates o f a
partic ular ac tiv ity.
Gurdjieff s ays that w e hav e tw o es tablis hed tem po s o f blo o d c irc ulatio n (pro v is io nally tak ing the tem po s as
abs o lute). Eac h o f thes e tem po s is related to a fo rm o f c o ns c io us nes s : es s enc e (s ub- c o ns c io us nes s ), o r
pers o nality (c o ns c io us nes s ). A c hange in c o ns c io us nes s c an c aus e a c hange in the tem po o f blo o d c irc ulatio n,
and a c hange in that tem po c an c aus e a c hange in c o ns c io us nes s .
Sugar dis rupts that tem po to an ex tent w hic h w as no t, I believ e, c o ntem plated by nature, and w hic h is no t
under c o ns c io us c o ntro l. Interes tingly, anec do tal ev idenc e s ugges ts that if tak en naturally (i.e. direc tly fro m
s ugar c ane), it is no t nearly s o no x io us , if at all. This m ak es s ens e: o ne res earc her s ays that refined s ugar is a
genetic ally unk no w n fo o d. That is , it is no t a us e but an abus e o f nature. Further, yo u get a lo ad o f s ugar a
lo t fas ter drink ing s o ft drink s than yo u ev er c an by c hew ing o n s ugar c ane. In the right do s e, and fo r s o m e
peo ple the right do s e is an ex trem ely s m all o ne, s ugar c aus es a nerv o us energy w ithin the bo dy and dis rupt
em o tio nal equilibrium .
Bec aus e s ugar is (apparently) the o nly fo o d w hic h pro v ides energy and no nutrients , there is no thing go o d to
s ay abo ut it w hic h c anno t be s aid fo r anything els e w hic h m ak es fo o d m o re palatable (e.g. c innam o n and
v anilla). O n the o ther hand, tho s e fo o ds hav e po s itiv es w hic h s ugar do es no t. The gluc o s e in s ugar is o x idis ed
in the c ells , and the blo o ds tream c o ps the releas ed energy. This is the bas is o f the s ugar- fix . A nd this
dis rupts the tem po o f the bo dy, and the all- im po rtant tem po o f the blo o d c irc ulatio n. In o ther w o rds , s ugar is
a fo o d (altho ugh I w o uld s ay it is better unders to o d as a fo o d deriv ativ e that is , in its elf, a go o d- s ubs titute),
and a po is o n, w hic h m ak es it harder fo r es s enc e to m anifes t, and eas ier fo r pers o nality to m anifes t.
If yo u do nt believ e m e, try and o bs erv e c arefully w hat happens ins ide yo u w hen nex t yo u inges t c o nfec tio nary,
c ak e, s w eetened bis c uits , s o ft drink o r anything els e to w hic h yo uv e added s ugar. Yo u m ay be s urpris ed to
find that w hat yo u tho ught w ere part and parc el o f yo ur natural fluc tuatio ns o f m o o d (and, in Gurdjieffs term s ,
yo ur s tate), are in fac t abno rm al but fam iliar res ults o f s ugar inges tio n.
Part o f the es o teric danger is this : bec aus e w e do no t think o f s ugar as a s lo w - w o rk ing po is o n (albeit o f lo w
to x ic ity in s m all and irregular do s es ), but as a fo o d and o nly as a fo o d, it hardly enters o ur heads to think o f
its effec ts as being unnatural. W e are far m o re lik ely to attribute its ps yc hic effec ts to o ther c aus es .
A ls o , w e are s o us ed to s ugar that w e tend to ac c ept o ur unnaturally s w eetened s tate (to c o in a phras e w hic h is
m eant o nly half- hum o ro us ly) as neutral, o r ev en as po s itiv e. W e tak e s o m uc h s ugar, and w e s ee s o m any
peo ple w ho tak e it, that w e do nt k no w ho w jum ped up w e are.
There is m o re. I c o uld do a s o c ial analys is and s ay that w e liv e in a s ugar- c o ated s o c iety. A nd I believ e w e
do : but that is ano ther area. I s o m etim es w o nder if s ugar is no t o ne o f tho s e things lik e tea, c o ffee, ho ps and
o pium , w hic h, as Gurdjieff s aid, hav e a c o m plete enneagram w ithin them s elv es . Fo r w hat its w o rth, I think
that m int and garlic m ay be o ther s uc h plants , but o f c o urs e benign o nes . But fo r no w , I jus t w ant to rais e this
is s ue.
G u rd jieff, S u g ar an d th e T em p o Parad o x
There are tw o related o bjec tio ns to c o ns ider: the firs t is , but didnt Gurdjieff us e s ugar? A nd, c o ns idering the
different tem po s us ed in the m o v em ents and s ac red danc es , s urely Gurdjieff didnt try and im po s e o ne tem po
o n us ? So if w e c an c hanging tem po s is no t no x io us there, w hy s ho uld it be different if w e c hange tem po s by
tak ing fo o d?
The ans w er to the firs t ques tio n is s im ple: yes , Gurdjieff s eem s to hav e lo v ed s ugar, and w as ev en k no w n as
M o ns ieur Bo n- Bo n bec aus e o f his lav is h dis tributio n o f c o nfec tio nary. But Gurdjieff didnt k no w ev erything.
H is being w as beyo nd o urs to an ex tent w hic h m ak es c o m paris o n po intles s , but he w as nt o m nis c ient. H e s till
had to find o ut w here the s ho ps w ere, and learn the Englis h language. H e had to learn: in fac t, he s po k e to the
A dies abo ut o ne partic ular thing he had learned (as I s hall m entio n in the fo rthc o m ing bo o k o n H elen A die,
w here I c an pro v ide the c o ntex t to do jus tic e to the is s ue). A s w ith s ugar, I do ubt that Gurdjieff w o uld hav e
us ed to bac c o s o m uc h, o r allo w ed peo ple to s m o k e as they did, had he unders to o d the dangers , es pec ially the
ris k s o f pas s iv e inhalatio n w here peo ple w ho do no t s m o k e s uffer fro m o thers indulgenc e.
In res pec t o f the s ec o nd ques tio n, the firs t po int is that it is s trik ing that w hat I m ight c all the s ac red danc es
do s eem to be s lo w er than the o ther m o v em ents . I am think ing o f The Big Prayer, The C am el D erv is h, and o f
tho s e w hic h fo rm the es o teric s eries w ithin his las t s eries o f m o v em ents . But yo u c o uld c o ntradic t m e o n that,
and I w o uld be unc o nc erned. There is s o m ething deeper than all this .
A nd this is it: firs t, dis rupting o ur s tandard tem po s is analago us to dis rupting o ur s tandard ro les . Gurdjieff
s aid that m an has a ro le fo r ev ery k ind o f c irc um s tanc e in w hic h he o rdinarily finds him s elf in life; but put
him into ev en o nly s lightly different c irc um s tanc es and he is unable to find a s uitable ro le and for a s hort tim e
he bec om es him s elf. A t p.239 o f M irac ulo us , the phras e fo r a s ho rt tim e he bec o m es him s elf is italic is ed. I
think s o m ething s im ilar happens w ith tem po . Is it go ing to o far to s ay that eac h pers o n has a c o m m o n-
tem po fo r ev ery k ind o f c irc um s tanc e in w hic h he o rdinarily finds him s elf in life; but put him into ev en o nly
s lightly different c irc um s tanc es and he is unable to find a s uitable tem po and for a s hort tim e he bec om es
him s elf ? This w o uld be the purpo s e o f m o v em ents . It is do ne there relativ ely c o ns c io us ly. But the s am e thing
c o uld no t be s aid fo r eating c o nfec tio naries and c ak es .
The s ec o nd po int is that altho ugh I hav e been s tudying tem po fo r a w hile no w , I hav e o nly v ery rec ently s tarted
to think that the k ey to the aw ak ening o f es s enc e is the ratio o f tem po s . O f c o urs e, the c o rres po nding ratio s
s ho uld fall into plac e m o r eas ily w hile o ne is quiet. This is w hy the preparatio ns and ex erc is es Gurdjieff
bo ught are s o im po rtant. Thro ugh thes e, he taught ho w to rais e c ertain o rganic tem po s to c o ns c io us nes s . But
this w as taught s o that the s tate attained c o uld be an influenc e in daily life, and the res ults c rys tallized in us .
A s M r A die us ed to s ay, its lik e learning to ro w a bo at. Yo u s tart o ff in c alm w aters , but o ne day, w ith
s uffic ient prac tic e, yo u m ight be able to m anage in ro ugh w ater.
N o w , in s o far as the m o v em ents hav e to do w ith c hanging the tem po o f o ur o rganis m , the aim is that w e
rem ain c o ns c io us w hatev er the tem po and ho w it c hanges : o r s o I tend to think . In term s o f w hat I hav e s aid
abo v e, it is c o ns c io us nes s and the ratio o f tem po s w hic h are c ritic al. The quic k er m y bo dy m us t w o rk in the
m o v em ents , the finer the w o rk o f the m ind and feelings w hic h is dem anded. A different k ind o f
c o ns c io us nes s , bo th ac tiv e and pas s iv e, is c alled fo r to tak e the m o v em ents and the m o nito r w hat res ults .
I hav e m ade this as c lear as I c an, but o f c o urs e I c anno t dis c lo s e o n the net the ac tual m etho ds us ed in the
preparatio n and ex erc is es . W itho ut that dis c lo s ure there w ill alw ays be an irreduc ible m argin o f v aguenes s . So ,
perhaps thes e c o m m ents c an help: a c ertain phys ic al tem po is nec es s ary o nly as an aid. Es s enc e is no t a s lo w
tem po , o r any tem po at all. Es s enc e is in feeling (real feeling, and no t the em o tio ns ). Feeling c entre w o rk s
fas ter than any o f the c entres but fo r s ex and the tw o higher c entres .
W hen es s enc e appears thro ugh feeling, it c an handle any s peeds . O nc e w e hav e aw ak ened, w e c an m anifes t.
But fo r m an num ber 1, 2, and 3, there is a lo ng w o rk required to unders tand, by inner- s ens atio n, the
appro priate range o f phys ic al tem po s and ho w to bring them w ithin their pro per ranges and m utual ratio .
A nd I w ill add o ne las t c o m m ent w hic h I s hall ex pand o n in future w ritings : w e c an, in m y o pinio n, o nly w o rk
o n bo dies . But if this is right, then w ed better lo o k after them .
C o nc lus io n
I began by s peak ing abo ut s ugar. I s aid that in additio n to the phys ic al illnes s es it c o ntributes to , it dam ages
es s enc e and dis harm o nis es the tem po s o f o ur c o m m o n pres enc e. I am rec o m m ending that anyo ne engaged in
a s piritual ques t has a s piritual reas o n to giv e up s ugar alto gether, and a res po ns ibility no t to fac ilitate its us e
(indeed, I feel a duty to ac tiv ely dis c o urage it).
Yet, I k no w fro m ex perienc e that it is v ery diffic ult fo r us to lo gic ally c o nfro nt s uc h m atters . N either do I think
its o nly an is s ue o f ho w I rais e it w ith peo ple, altho ugh that is no t alw ays guaranteed to help.
I w o uld as k yo u read Yudk in and Taubes , and lo o k at the ev idenc e. If yo u c an get the Journal of Law and
M edic ine, read m y artic le. Then c o ns ider w hether s ugar is no t, as I s ugges t, an es o teric is s ue.
A nd if yo u think it is , w hat prev ents yo u ac ting o n yo ur k no w ledge?
Is this an area w here the I that k no w s is no t the I w hic h is pres ent w hen w e c o m e to eat?
28 M ay 2010
p.s . Fo r regular updates o n the s c ienc e o f s ugar and related pro blem s , c hec k o ut the w ebs ite Rais in H ell,
m aintained by D av id Gilles pie. I m us t dis c lo s e that I hav e s truc k up a s o rt o f friends hip w ith D av id (w ho is als o
an A us tralian and a law yer). But the friends hip is a res ult o f o ur reading the o thers w o rk . W ere friends bec aus e
w e agree o n thes e im po rtant is s ues , rather than agreeing bec aus e o f friends hip. Yo u c o uld als o read his bo o k
Sw eet Pois on (Penguin Bo o k s ). To find the w eb s ite, enter his nam e, o r Rais in H ell and the w o rds D o es
s aturated fat really c aus e heart dis eas e? into a s earc h engine.
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Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in JOSEPH AZIZE PAGE, SUGAR as Esoteric Issue: as Narcotic and Poison
February 7, 2010 at 3:17 pm Tagged with Alzheim ers disease, blood sugar, cake, cancer, cigarettes, conscious
control, corn syrup, dam age to essence, diabetes, Gary Taubes, Gurdjieff, insulin,
John Yudkins Pure White and Deadly, Joseph Azize, Mr Adie, reception of
im pressions, refined sugar, soft drink, sugar as estoeric issue, Sugar as narcotic,
sweetened biscuits, tem pos of blood, tobacco, Views from the Real World
K A T E B U S H (2 ) L io n h e a rt
JO SEPH A Z IZ E PA GE
Kate Bus h (2) Lio nheart
A fter the arc ane glo ries o f The Kic k Ins ide, the rec o rd buying public
fo und 1978s Lio nheart to be a dis appo intm ent, perhaps ev en a
s ubs tantial dis appo intm ent. A ltho ugh I w o uld plac e the title trac k
Lio nheart in the s am e ex alted c las s as W uthering H eights and The
M an w ith the C hild in his Eyes , I hav e to agree w ith the po pular
as s es s m ent, fo r the album as a w ho le w as to o patently a rus hed
fo llo w - up. H o w ev er, it had the go o d fo rtune to be releas ed in the
go lden afterglo w o f Kic k Ins ide, and w ent platinum in the U K. It is
no t jus t that peo ple w ere k een to hear w hat Kate Bus h had pro duc ed:
m us ic ac tually s o unds better if w e are w ell- dis po s ed to w ards the
artis t (o r to adapt Gurdjieffs term s , if w e are fav o urably identified
w ith the artis t). This pheno m eno n o f the go lden glo w is an
interes ting o ne, and I s hall return to it at the end o f this blo g.
To m y ear, the s tand o ut trac k o n this album , and o ne o f Kate Bus hs
greates t trium phs , is the title s o ng O h England, M y Lio nheart. This
under- rated piec e s trik ingly, ev en po ignantly, c o njures up m erry
England, o nc e m o re ev idenc ing the Englis hnes s w e s aw o n Kic k Ins ide:
O h, England! M y Lio nheart!

Im in yo ur garden, fading fas t in yo ur arm s .
The s o ldiers s o ften, the w ar is o v er,
The air- raid s helters are blo o m ing c lo v er.
Flapping um brellas fill the lanes ,
M y Lo ndo n Bridge in rain again.

Peter Pan s teals the k ids in Kens ingto n Park .
Yo u read m e Shak es peare o n the ro lling Tham es ,
That o ld riv erpo et that nev er, ev er ends .
O ur thum ping hearts ho ld the rav ens in
A nd k eep the To w er fro m tum bling.
O h, England! M y Lio nheart! O h, England! M y Lio nheart!

I do nt w ant to go .

D ro pped fro m m y blac k Spitfire to m y funeral barge.
Giv e m e o ne k is s in apple blo s s o m ,
Giv e m e o ne w is h and Id be w as s ailing,
In the o rc hard, m y Englis h Ro s e,
O r w ith m y s hepherd, w ho ll bring m e ho m e.
O h, England! M y Lio nheart! O h, England! M y Lio nheart!

I do nt w ant to go .
The s o ng tells the s to ry o f a Spitfire pilo t w ho has been s ho t do w n.

A s his plane hurtles to w ards the earth and his death, he s ings his
lo v e to the green land beneath him (henc e, altho ugh its a little
m ac abre, he s erenades England that he is in yo ur garden, fading fas t
in yo ur arm s ). Thro ugh this s to ry, an es o teric idea o r reality is
to uc hed: the trans c endent reality and prec io us nes s o f c o ns c io us
ex perienc e. Later in her c areer, Bus h returned to this them e, no tably
in So m e M o m ents o f Pleas ure fro m The Red Sho es , and o n rec o rd tw o o f
A erial.
The ins ight, an ins ight w hic h I think c an o nly ev er c o m e fro m

ex perienc e, is that in a m o m ent o f s elf- c o ns c io us nes s , o ur ex perienc e
is trans figured. There is a s o rt o f s c ale o f c o ns c io us ex perienc e: it
c an range fro m a s lightly m o re v iv id s ens e o f o nes elf thro ugh to an
illum inated s tate w here it is as if heav en is pres ent right here, as
if the s upernatural break s thro ugh into and illum inates the natural
w o rld. The reality o f the m o m ent is o ften felt to hav e a quality w hic h
is m o re than the reality o f o ther m o m ents , henc e it is o ften c alled
trans c endent. H o w ev er m uc h w e m ay hav e read o r heard o f this , the
unders tanding o f it c an o nly c o m e thro ugh ex perienc e: o therw is e, ev en
if w e read abo ut it, w e do no t c o m prehend w hat w e read. This is the
realis atio n w hic h H o pk ins referred to w hen he w ro te that: The w o rld
is c harged w ith the grandeur o f Go d. I am no t s aying that Kate Bus h
ex pres s es this c o nc ept in w hat I m ight c all all its fullnes s , but
then w ho c o uld? Yet I do find that there is , to a s ubs tantial degree,
an appro ac hing to the trans c endent in her w o rk .
W e tend to hav e ex perienc ed s o m ething o f this as c hildren. U s ually, it

is w hen w e are c hildren that o ur liv es are liv ed at their m o s t v iv id.
To c hildren, there is m agic in the night tim e and glo ry in the
daylight. In c hildho o d w e are m o re pro ne to the s im ple, direc t v is io n
o f the jo y o f c reatio n and the univ ers al ado ratio n o ffered up to Go d
by all life (s ee p.26 o f the Geo rge A die bo o k ). It is no t jus t a
ques tio n o f the being- nes s o f life, o ne c an als o s ens e its go o dnes s .
This , I think , is w hy c hildren s o o ften bring an affirm ing fo rc e o f
feeling in the fac e o f really big hards hip.
I c an add that, as a c hild, and I do no t believ e that I w as alo ne in
this , I had an inartic ulate s ens e o f hum an tragedy. In fac t, m y feel
fo r s adnes s and pain w as at the s am e tim e bo th c learer than it is
to day, and als o les s giv en to m elanc ho ly. A s c hildren, w e are no t s o
ham pered by judgm ental attitudes , o r by guilt, s elf- ac c us atio n o r
s elf- pity. Tho m as Traherne des c ribed the m ys tic al ins ights o f
c hildho o d v ery w ell in s o m e o f his po etry w hic h res o nate w ith m o s t o f
us :
A ll appeared new , and s trange at firs t, inex pres s ibly rare and
delightful and beautiful. I w as a little s tranger, w hic h at m y
entranc e into the w o rld w as s aluted and s urro unded w ith innum erable
jo ys . Ev erything w as at res t, free and im m o rtal. . I s aw in all
the peac e o f Eden; H eav en and Earth did s ing m y C reato rs prais es
A ll Tim e w as Eternity, and a perpetual Sabbath. (fro m The Third
C entury, pt. 2).
I hav e els ew here s ugges ted that, in Gurdjieffs term s , a further part
o f the reas o n fo r this is the fac t that in c hildren the w o rk o f the
c entres o r brains is les s dem arc ated: feeling, tho ught and s ens atio n
are far c lo s er to gether. The intellec ts o f c hildren are no t s o
div o rc ed fro m their feelings and ins tinc ts , and no t hav ing yet fully
learned the gam ut o f negativ e em o tio ns , their po s itiv e feelings enter
into their perc eptio ns and s o they s ho uld, fo r it fo llo w s fro m
Gurdjieffs ideas that the natural s tate o f o ur feelings is po s itiv e
and affirm ing. Being m o re in the higher parts o f c entres , c hildren
als o hav e a different ex perienc e o f tim e, c lo s er to w hat Traherne has
des c ribed. A nd m o s t im po rtantly, in c hildren, the feeling o f being
pres ent to o nes elf (an ineffable but unm is tak able feeling w ith no
c o lo ur o f c hangeable em o tio n), is m o re c o m m o n than it is am o ng adults .
I am no t s ugges ting that Kate Bus hs Lio nheart s tands o n the s am e

lev el as Traherne o r H o pk ins . Yet, c o ns ider s o m e o f the lines , s uc h as
the o ne abo ut flapping um brellas and v iew ing Lo ndo n Bridge during
rain, and w hen I s ay c o ns ider, I m ean to ex perienc e their po etic
im pac t in the s o ng. A s adults , w ere to o bo thered to really tak e thes e
im pres s io ns in. But c hildren do , and thes e im pres s io ns feed them , as
Gurdjieff s aid, s urely under ins piratio n. W hen I w as yo ung, I w as
alm o s t entranc ed by the reflec tio n o f traffic lights o n w et ro ads .
Ev en the being- reality o f res idential lanes , w hic h Kate Bus h m entio ns
here, po s s es s es a fas c inatio n fo r c hildren. This being- reality o f
o bjec ts , a s o rt o f inherent w o rdles s affirm atio n o f their reality,
no uris hes , I feel, an uns o phis tic ated s ens itiv ity in c hildren. In
Lio nheart, Bus h refers to um brellas in the lanes , no t the s treets ,
but lanes , tho s e hum ble, hum an and unhurried pas s agew ays . That s m all
to uc h is the to uc h o f art. The s o ng po s s es s es c larity, and yet o ne c an
peer deeply into its c rys tal s im plic ity, rather as if o ne w ere lo o k ing
into a s tream o f bright w ater w hic h ran a hundred feet deep, and c o uld
s ee to its bo tto m .
N o w , befo re I read o f w hat w as undo ubtedly Kate Bus hs o w n intentio ns in the narrativ e, I s im ply to o k it as the
po ignant dec laratio n o f a yo ung w o m an, in lo v e w ith England, and w ith the idea o f ro m anc e in England. She
s o unds w is tful yet no t s entim ental; ro m antic ally
po s s es s ed by the green land w hic h Shak es peare c elebrated. So m ething
abo ut the light and o ptim is tic attitude to rural lo v em ak ing m ak es m e
think o f The M erry W iv es o f W inds o r. Read as lyric s , Lio nheart is
go o d po etry. W hether s he w as the firs t to c all Shak es peare an o ld
riv er po et o r if s he o nly aptly us ed the phras e, it s eem s perfec t
here. Tho s e three w o rds ev o k e ic o nic as pec ts o f Englis h life:
Shak es peare, po etry, the Tham es and a c ultured life o n the riv er
bank s . Ev en the little w o rd o ld, m o re than jus t a term o f affec tio n,
rem inds o ne o f the enduring Englis h traditio n, its c o ntinuity and its
depth.
I refer to the pilo t o f O h England, M y Lio nheart as a m ale, but I am

no t s ure I s ho uld. There is a v ideo c lip, no w av ailable o n Yo uTube,
w here Kate Bus h s ings this s o ng dres s ed as a s o rt o f air pilo t. I s ay
s o rt o f, bec aus e, but fo r the go ggles , the c o at lo o k s rather
fem inine to m e. But w ho am I to dic tate anything to Kate Bus h? If s he
w ants to rec as t the ex pec ted m ale pilo t as fem ale, o r if s he m ak es
hers elf the s o le fem ale Spitfire pilo t in his to ry, and to s ing abo ut
w as s ailing and her s hepherd, that is her prero gativ e. That the s o ng
w as abo ut a pilo t at all w as no t o bv io us to m e: after all, in the v ery
firs t v ers e, s he s ings : The s o ldiers s o ften, the w ar is o v er, the
air- raid s helters are blo o m ing c lo v er. To go o n later to m entio n a
blac k Spitfire and the funeral barge, w o uld s eem o dd. Further, it is
diffic ult to im agine a pilo t addres s ing England as O h England! M y
Lio nheart! But then, s he is Kate Bus h, an Englis hw o m an av o w ing that
s he w is hes to s tay fo rev er in the heart o f This prec io us s to ne s et in
the s ilv er s ea this bles s ed plo t, this earth, this realm , this
England, to quo te Jo hn o f Gaunt fro m Shak es peare Ric hard II (2:1).
W ho are w e to dic tate to her?
The m us ic is s im ple, and yet it s o unds lik e the o nly m us ic w hic h c o uld
hav e go ne w ith tho s e w o rds . There is no thing antiquarian abo ut either
the m elo dy o r the s o und, yet the w o o dw ind and the s im plic ity ev o k e the pas t, and a quiet s tyle o f Englis h fo lk
m us ic . There is a s adnes s , but als o a s trength in the dignified line o f the m elo dy. Kate Bus h has
been ac c us ed o f o v er- s inging o n o c c as io ns : s he do es no t do s o here.
The gentle m o v em ent o f her v o ic e is jus t right fo r the piec e. O v erall,
as I hav e s aid, I find it o ne o f her m as terpiec es . It s trik es m e as
flaw les s in its elf. But, to m y tas te, at leas t, it s tands head and
s ho ulders o v er ev ery o ther trac k o n this album .
There are go o d piec es o f m us ic here: I w o uld s ingle o ut Sym pho ny in

Blue, W o w and Kas hk a fro m Baghdad, and there is o ne s o ng w hic h is in parts ex c ellent, and in parts all to o
m edio c re: H am m er H o rro r. I
o nly w is h that this album had been an EP. Sym pho ny in Blue o pens the album , and lik e Lio nheart, but unlik e
m o s t o f the trac k s , has o ne
ev en tem po thro ugho ut. I s pend a lo t o f m y tim e lo o k ing at blue, s he
s ings , referring to blue in her ro o m , her m o o d, in the s k y, and the
s o rt o f blue in tho s e eyes yo u get hung up abo ut. She go es o n to
s peak abo ut red (the c o lo ur o f m y heart w hen s hes dead), and s ex
(the m o re I think abo ut s ex the better it gets ; here w e hav e a
purpo s e in life). But the heart o f the s o ng is the s ec o nd v ers e and
the c ho rus :
W hen that feeling o f m eaningles s nes s s ets in,

Go blo w ing m y m ind o n Go d.
The light in the dark w ith the neo n arm s
I s ee m ys elf, s uddenly, o n the piano , as a m elo dy.

M y terrible fear o f dying no lo nger plays w ith m e,
Fo r no w I k no w that Im needed fo r the s ym pho ny.
She w as no t m o re than 20 years o ld, and yet s he s ang o f her terrible

fear o f dying and o f ris ing abo v e it. Is this a s ign o f rem ark able
m aturity, o r o f pretentio us nes s , o r o f bo th? W hen o ne lis tens to the
piec e and its as s ured, s teady tem po , o ne w o uld be hars h indeed to
ac c us e her o f o v er- reac hing.
But w hat is m o re rem ark able abo ut the c o ntents , is that there are tw o
po larities in the s o ng: the pers o nal and the im pers o nal, o r
trans c endent, and thes e are bro ught into artis tic balanc e. There is
the ac ute rec eipt o f im pres s io ns and als o the s ens e that s he is a part
o f a larger harm o ny: this is w hy s he c eas es to feel ac c idental and is
liberated fro m her pers o nal fear. So m ething o f this po larity c an,
perhaps , als o be s ens ed in O h England, M y Lio nheart, w hic h is a s o ng
abo ut the indiv idual and their relatio ns hip to s o m ething larger than
them s elv es . This prec o c io us w o m an m anaged, o n her s ec o nd album , to
s ay s o m ething new abo ut the relatio ns hip o f the s m all- s s elf to the
c apital- S Self o f the o rganic c o s m o s , and to ex pres s it in a fres h and
c o nv inc ing m anner.
The o nly reas o n, perhaps , that Sym pho ny in Blue is no t o ne o f her

great s o ngs is that the m elo dy, c o m petent as it is , do es no t little
m o re than pres ent the lyric s . The m elo dy, in its elf, lac k s po w er.
W o w , the third trac k o n s ide o ne, bo as ts m o re po w er, but its
defic ienc ies run deeper. It s eem s to be m ade up o f tw o different
s o ngs , bo th addres s ed to an o lder ac to r by up- and- c o m ing ac to rs . The
pairing is held to gether by the c ho rus , a s im ple W o w ! W o w ! W o w ! W o w !
W o w ! W o w ! U nbeliev able! The firs t s o ng w ithin a s o ng des c ribes the
m ix ed feelings o f the yo unger ac to rs fo r the fo rm idable v eteran w ith
w ho m they are w o rk ing. The s ec o nd half is to an ac to r w ho w ill no t
ac hiev e the s uc c es s he years fo r. A s s he s ings : H ell nev er m ak e the
s c reen o r be that m o v ie queen, hes to o bus y hitting the
V as eline. This ac to r is feted w ith ins inc ere prais e (yo ure am azing,
w e think yo u are really c o o l) but he is denied a ro le, bec aus e hed
hav e to play the fo o l. The lyric s are c lev er, and the po c k et
po rtraits fro m the w o rld o f ac ting are, I am to ld, ac c urate. The m us ic
o f the c ho rus is quite s tro ng. Eac h w o w ! leaps o ut at yo u, aided by
the v o c al gym nas tic s , w here Bus h s ings lo w at jus t the right tim e. The
m us ic o f the v ers es is go o d, and the s hift o f tem po and feel at the
c ho rus brilliantly s ets up and illum ines the hyperbo lic ex c lam atio ns .
This is an ins tanc e w here the gear c hange in a s o ng w o rk s . Sad to s ay,
I do no t think the s am e tac tic w o rk s to o w ell o n the res t o f the
album , and is , to m y tas te, o v erdo ne. The effec t o f the tim e c hange is
jagged o n In Searc h o f Peter Pan, D o nt Pus h yo ur Fo o t o n the
H eartbrak e, Fullho us e, Kas hk a, C o ffee H o m egro und and H am m er
H o rro r, fully s ix s o ngs o n an album o f o nly ten.
A ls o no tew o rthy is the ev o c ativ e Kas hk a fro m Baghdad, the third

trac k o n s ide tw o . It tells the s to ry o f a m an w ho liv es in s in w ith
ano ther, but has no o ther apparent friends o r ac quaintanc es : he liv es
alo ne, v is ited by his lo v er, and rem ains ins ide the light o f their
lo v e (the m etapho r s he us es ). Kas hk as M iddle Eas tern o rigin is nic ely
c o njured by the initial m us ic , w hic h is m ys terio us w itho ut s o unding
lik e a c aric ature. The s entim ents are beyo nd s ym pathetic :
I w atc h their s hado w s , tall and s lim in the w indo w o ppo s ite.
I lo ng to be w ith them , c o s w hen all the alley c ats c o m e o ut,
I c an hear m us ic fro m Kas hk as ho us e.
W hen the v ers e s to ps , the c ho rus erupts in a different tem po :
A t night theyre s een, laughing, lo v ing.

They k no w the w ay to be happy.
The trac k c lo s es w ith a fade o ut. I c anno t m ak e o ut the w o rds , but

they s eem to s o m ething lik e: D o nt yo u rec o gnize? D o nt k no w yo u k no w the s c ene? Let m e in yo ur lo v e.
H o w ev er, a lyric s w eb- s ite
o ffers : W atc hing ev ery night. D o nt yo u k no w theyre s een? W o nt yo u
let m e laugh? Let m e in yo ur lo v e. M m m . O v erall, the piec e is
s o m ething o f a s uc c es s , ev en if the s o und o f the c ho rus s eem s a little
c o ntriv ed. It is no t a great s o ng, but it is a go o d o ne. I o nly w is h
that I c o uld hav e s aid the s am e fo r her Gurdjieff piec e,
Fullho us e, w hic h o pens s ide tw o :
I am m y enem y, m o w ing m e o v er, and to w ing the light aw ay,

Im aginatio n s ets in, then all the v o ic es begin,
Telling yo u things that arent happening.
(But they nig, they nag, til theyre under yo ur s k in).
The rhythm is dis rupted, as s he hurries : Yo uv e really go to .., and

then do es s he s hriek : Rem em ber yo urs elf, yo uv e go t a full ho us e in
yo ur head to night! Rem em ber yo urs elf, s tand bac k and s ee em o tio n
getting yo u uptight. To rem em ber o nes elf, in Gurdjieffs term s , is
to be pres ent to o nes elf as a w ho le: o nes tho ughts , em o tio ns and
o rganic ins tinc t. The effo rt to rem em ber o nes elf allo w s o ne to be
pres ent to the turning tho ughts w hic h m ak e up s o m uc h o f o ur ps yc hic
life, and to m ak e them pas s iv e, s o that they no lo nger bo ther, and
ev en c eas e. D es pite the po intles s s c ream ing, the ideas here are go o d.
In v ers e tw o s he s ings :
M y s illy pride, digging the k nife in,

She lo v es to c o m e fo r her ride.
Surely by no w I s ho uld k no w I c an c o ntro l m y highs and m y lo w s
By ques tio ning all that I do , ex am ining ev ery m o v e
O nc e m o re, s he is to o ac c o m plis hed to be pretentio us : s he is , as I

s ugges ted in the firs t blo g, the true pro digy o f m o dern po pular m us ic .
But here, als o , is the pro blem : the ideas are w ay to o go o d fo r the
m us ic . It jus t do es no t w o rk as a s o ng. The s udden c hange o f pac e at
the c ho rus do es no t help the s o ng, as it do es in W o w , it interrupts
and fragm ents it; and the s inging is to o fierc e, alm o s t hys teric al,
fo r the c ho rus s m es s age.
Later, o n The D ream ing, s he attem pted w hat m ay w ell be ano ther
Gurdjieff s o ng, Sat in yo ur Lap. That effo rt w as m o re s uc c es s ful,
at leas t to m y ear. The las t trac k to m entio n in any detail fro m
Lio nheart is ano ther w o rthy failure, the firs t s ingle, and the las t
trac k o n the album , H am m er H o rro r. The o pening is s plendid, alm o s t
s c arlet w ith grandeur. The m as s iv e piano and s ynthes izer them e las ts
o nly 15 s ec o nds , but it alm o s t jus tifies the entire trac k . Then a
high- pitc hed v o c al appears , eldritc h and unearthly:
Yo u s to o d in the bell- to w er, but no w yo ure go ne.

So w ho k no w s all the s ights o f N o tre- D am e?
Jus t as the lyric s m ak e a puzzling deto ur to the s ec o nd line, the

m us ic no w c hanges c o m pletely: Theyv e go t the s tars fo r the gallant
hearts , and then, after ano ther 15 s ec o nds , ano ther c o m plete c hange
o f pac e fo r the c ho rus : H am m er H o rro r, H am m er H o rro r, w o nt leav e m e alo ne. The m us ic nev er c o ntinues in
o ne c o urs e, o r at o ne tem po lo ng eno ugh to get into the feel o f it. The s o ng m ak es a pic ture o f an
ac to r w ho has tak en s o m eo ne els es ro le, and is no w s hado w ed by the
fo rm er s tar. But the pic ture is a s hattered o ne, it is to o div ers e to
ev en be a m o s aic . It s o unds jac k c lev er, but c lev er as it is , it
do es nt c o here. The o ther trac k s o n this album m ak e m e w inc e,
es pec ially C o ffee H o m egro und (w hic h to m e is panto m im e o f an
unc o nv inc ing type) and In the W arm Ro o m (lik e an attem pt to m ilk
Feel It).
There are s o m e them es o n this album : fo r ex am ple, film and theatre

appear in W o w and H am m er H o rro r, and C o ffee H o m egro und is a
v ariatio n o n the them e o f A rs enic and O ld Lac e.
But the o ddes t them e o n this album is that o f blurring gender

bo undaries . I hav e already no ted this in res pec t o f Lio nheart. She
s eem s to be m ale, to o , o n H am m er H o rro r (it is eas ier to im agine a
m an in the ro le o f s talk ing ano ther w ho has tak en his ro le) and Peter
Pan, a fitting s o ng fo r s uc h c o nfus io n, fo r he, to o , w as s o m ew hat
andro gyno us . Peter Pan als o appears in the title trac k , and o n the
liner no tes : Spec ial thank s es pec ially to M r. P. Pan w ho s e tric k s
k eep us o n o ur to es . D o es that m ean that O ur Kate, the do c to rs
daughter, w as flirting w ith trans gendering? W o w and Kas hk a bo th
deal w ith gay c ulture, and o n In the W arm Ro o m , a s o rt o f an o de to
a s educ tres s , s he s peak s o f the w o m an in term s s uc h as :
Shell to uc h yo u w ith yo ur M am m as hand,

Yo ull lo ng to k is s tho s e red lips
Yo ull fall into her lik e a pillo w ,
H er thighs are s o ft as m ars hm allo w s ,
Say hello to the s o ft m us k o f her ho llo w s .
I c anno t im agine w hat the m as c uline equiv alent w o uld be o f Say hello
to the s o ft m us k o f her ho llo w s , but c o uld yo u im agine any m ale
s inger, s ay Bruc e Springs teen, s aying s o m ething s im ilar abo ut ano ther
m ale, ev en if he w ere addres s ing a fem ale? There is s o m ething s o
v o yeuris tic as to be dis c o m fo rting abo ut this s o ng. Ev en its lac k o f
c rudity adds to this s ens e: w hen Kate Bus h us es m eas ured phras es lik e
thes e its as if s hes s erio us .
Yet, this them e fades o ut fro m her later w o rk . It is as if the album

w ere no t o nly hurried, but als o trans itio nal. This brings m e bac k to
the ques tio n o f its initial rec eptio n, w hic h I think w as w arm er than
des erv ed: ho w is it po s s ible that w e lik e o ne s o ng, o r s ev eral s o ngs
by an artis t, and then hear the res t o f their w o rk in w hat I hav e
c alled the go lden glo w ? To an ex tent, it is a ques tio n o f ac quiring
a tas te: it m ay tak e a w hile befo re o ne bec o m es us ed to hearing
s o m ething lik e, fo r ex am ple, the m us ic o f Em ers o n, Lak e and Palm er.
But o nc e o ne has ac quired the tas te, it is as if o ne hears em o tio nal
nuanc es o ne w as prev io us ly unaw are o f.
Surely, ho w ev er, there is m o re. Surely, the m ain feature in this

pheno m eno n is w hat Gurdjieff c alled identific atio n, w here w e
as s o c iate o ur o w n s elf- im age w ith the m us ic . To the ex tent that w e are identified w ith an artis t, w e hav e no
o bjec tiv ity. I rec all being
identified w ith Bo w ie w hen I w as yo unger, to the po int that I
purc has ed Lo dger w hen it c am e o ut, and pers uaded m ys elf that I lik ed
it. N o w there are o nly tw o trac k s o n it w hic h I c an ev en bear to
lis ten to (A fric an N ight Flight and M o v e O n).
It is no t jus t that o ur tas te c hanges . I am as k ing w hy do es o ur tas te

c hange? W hy do w e s o m etim es lik e the w o rk an artis t pro duc es to a
c ertain po int, but are fairly indifferent to them after that po int? I
rec all o ne rev iew er w ho w as a big fan o f Bo w ies earlier w o rk , but
w ro te that they w o uldnt s erv e pizza o n his lates t o fferings . W hat
happens ?
There are tw o o bv io us ans w ers w hic h, in the c as e o f Lio nheart, w e c an

dis m is s at o nc e: firs t, there w as no c hange o f idio m o r s tyle, s uc h as
w hen an artis t s w itc hes fro m , s ay, playing ro c k and ro ll to playing
jazz. Sec o nd, Kate Bus h did no t s im ply re- rec o rd Kic k Ins ide w ith
different lyric s . By that I refer to the w ay that c ertain artis ts
repeat their firs t trium phs , s tic k ing to a s afe fo rm ula. Fo r ex am ple,
I pers o nally find that fro m the tim e o f Z o o ro pa, jus t abo ut ev erything
U 2 hav e pro duc ed has been v irtually the s am e s o ngs w ith m ino r, barely
s ignific ant, v ariatio ns . Bo no c o ntinues to m etapho ric ally po s itio n
him s elf in the im agined abys s betw een being and no thingnes s , and to
s ing abo ut lo v e as if the idea w ere entirely o riginal to him s elf.
W hy is it that w e tend to lik e the s o ngs by o ne artis t m o re

c o ns is tently than the s o ngs o f ano ther? It c o uld be, fo r ex am ple, that
o ne artis t s ings big ballads , o r c o untry and w es tern, and w e do nt
lik e that s tyle. To an ex tent, this is a ques tio n o f w hat o ne is us ed
to , the w ay that V ietnam es e m us ic s ells w ell in V ietnam , and A rabic
m us ic is po pular in A rabic c o untries , but no t s o po pular to tho s e w ho
w ere no t rais ed in a V ietnam es e o r A rabic c ulture, res pec tiv ely.
A gain, s o m e peo ple c anno t s tand a c ertain s ingers v o ic e, o r the s peed
at w hic h they s ing, o r their o rc hes tral arrangem ents .
But I think that there is s o m ething deeper than all o f this . Fo r

ex am ple, I lik e m uc h o f the m us ic Stev ie W o nder pro duc ed betw een
Talk ing Bo o k and H o tter Than July, but, fiv e o r s ix s o ngs apart, I
do nt lik e M ic hael Jac k s o ns m us ic . Yet, their s tyles and arrangem ents
w ere s im ilar eno ugh, altho ugh o f c o urs e there w ere differenc es , and m y
dis tas te is no t bas ed o n M ic hael Jac k s o ns v o ic e o r his tem po . I jus t
lik e W o nders s o ngs better than Jac k s o ns , the w ay that s o m e peo ple
lik e Paul M c C artneys m us ic , but no t Jo hn Lenno ns . W hy is this ?
W e tend to think , and to talk o f, o ne w riter being better than

ano ther, but better in w hat res pec t?
In future blo gs , I s hall ex plo re this in m o re depth later, but to

antic ipate: I think that w e are as s es s ing no t o nly the m us ic but the
pers o n w ho is m anifes ted thro ugh the m us ic . This is no t nec es s arily
illegitim ate. M us ic is lik e the eye: jus t as o ne c an tell s o m ething
abo ut the w ho le o f the pers o n and their s tate jus t by lo o k ing at their
eyes , o ne c an do s o m ething the s am e w ith their m us ic . The s tate o f all
o f o ur being- func tio ns (intellec t, feeling and phys ic al) is s ubtly
m ix ed in and apparent in the v is ible s tate o f the eyes . So , to o , m us ic
is a m ix ture o f thes e three func tio ns . Ev en if there is no t a s ingle
w o rd in three m inutes , there is a s o rt o f tho ught behind it, and o f
c o urs e it is o bv io us that m us ic inc ludes em o tio n and phys ic al
ins tinc t.
O ne feels that o ne c o m es to k no w the pers o n behind the m us ic . The

feeling o f c o ntac t is ev en greater, perhaps , in the c as e o f
s inger- s o ngw riters . A ltho ugh, in the c as e o f artis ts lik e Bing C ro s by,
Frank Sinatra and Elv is Pres ley w ho w ro te little o r no ne o f their
w o rk , this is qualified by the w ay that the m us ic they c ho s e to s ing
w as tailo red to them , their s tyle and their im age. In o ther w o rds , the
relatio ns hips w e hav e w ith rec o rding artis ts are ak in to the
relatio ns hips w e hav e w ith ac quaintanc es .
Thes e tho ughts aro s e no t fro m Lio nheart, but fro m po ndering it, and m y
res po ns e to it. N ex t, w e w ill c o ns ider Kate Bus hs third album , N ev er
Fo r Ev er, w hic h did, to a c ertain ex tent, rehabilitate her reputatio n.
Yet, I hav e to s ay, that I do no t think the pro m is e o f The Kic k Ins ide
has yet been realis ed, o r at leas t s atis fac to rily realis ed, in her
c areer. She is s till, I feel, underac hiev ing, and the reas o n is a
c ertain s elf- indulgenc e, w hic h w e s hall further ex plo re in the nex t
blo g.
Jo s ep h A zize h as p u b lis h ed in an c ien t h is to ry , law an d G u rd jieff s tu d ies . H is firs t b o o k T h e

Ph o en ic ian S o lar T h eo lo g y treated an c ien t Ph o en ic ian relig io n as p o s s es s in g a s p iritu al d ep th
c o m p arativ e w ith N eo p lato n is m , to w h ic h it c o n trib u ted th ro u g h Iam b lic h o s . T h e s ec o n d b o o k ,
G ilg am es h an d th e W o rld o f A s s y ria, w as jo in tly ed ited w ith N o el W eek s . It in c lu d es h is artic le
arg u in g th at th e C arth ag in ian s d id n o t p rac tic e c h ild s ac rific e.
T h e th ird b o o k , G eo rg e M o u n tfo rd A d ie: A G u rd jieff Pu p il in A u s tralia rep res en ts h is attem p t to

p r e s e n t h i s t e a c h e r (a d i r e c t p u p i l o f G u r d j i e f f a n d O u s p e n s k y ) t o a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a u d i e n c e . T h e
fo u rth b o o k , ed ited an d w ritten w ith Peter E l Kh o u ri an d E d F in n an e, is a n ew ed itio n o f Britts
C iv il Prec ed en ts . H e rec o m m en d s it to an y o n e p lan n in g to b rin g p ro c eed in g s in an A u s tralian
c o u rt o f law .
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W r itte n b y S O P H IA P o s te d in JO S E P H A Z IZ E P A G E , K A T E BU S H ( 2 ) L io n h e a r t
W E L L BE L O V E D T a g g e d w ith K a s h ka fr o m Ba g h d a d , S y m p h o n y in Blu e , W o w ,
Ju ly 1 9 , 2 0 0 9 a t 3 :2 8 p m W u th e r in g H e ig h ts , Bo n o U 2 , Br u c e S p r in g s te e n , G u r d jie ff , H a m m e r
H o r r o r , Jo s e p h A zize , ka te Bu s h , K ic k In s id e , L io n h e a r t , M ic h a e l
Ja c ks o n , M y L io n h e a r t , N e v e r F o r E v e r , O h E n g la n d , P e te r P a n ,
R e m e m b e r y o u r s e lf , S h a ke s p e a r e , S o p h ia W e llb e lo v e d , S te v ie W o n d e r ,
T h e M a n w ith th e C h ild in h is E y e s , T h o m a s T r a h e r n e
K A T E B U SH : T H E SO N G O F SO LO M O N (1 )
JO S E PH A Z IZ E PA G E
Jo s e p h .A zize @ g o o g le m a il.c o m
K a te Bu s h : T h e S o n g o f S o lo m o n (1 )
The Kic k Ins ide
T h ere s h o u ld b e an an n u al h o lid ay in c eleb ratio n o f h er b irth , w h en th e c o m m u n ity allo w s th e

s p rin g s o f b u s in es s an d c o m m erc e to w in d d o w n , an d th e m ac h in es o f in d u s try to lie id le fo r 2 4
h o u rs . O n th at g lad d ay , fam ilies w ill b e reu n ited to th eir an c es tral h earth s fro m all en d s o f th e
lan d s , an d after feas t an d th an k s , w ill g ath er aro u n d th eir s tereo s , in c o m m u n al s ilen c e b efo re
th eir h eirlo o m rec o rd in g s o f th e ex alted o n e, s h e w h o w as s en t to u s in th e ev en in g o f th e
w o rld , Kate Bu s h .
Bu t s u c h a h o lid ay th ere is n o t. Po p u lar as h er w o rk is , it is s till n o t es teem ed at its tru e w o rth .

T o a s ig n ific an t ex ten t, h er m u s ic is s till, as S h ak es p eare s aid , c av iar to th e g en eral. Y et, fo r
m y m o n ey , o f all th e c o n tem p o rary rec o rd in g artis ts w h o s e w o rk I h av e h eard , s h e is am o n g th e
v ery g reates t an d th e d eep es t. In teres tin g ly , s h e is als o th e o n ly m o d ern p o p s tar I k n o w w h o
h a s re f e rre d a p p ro v in g ly to G u rd jie f f in re c o rd e d s o n g (T h e m H e a v y P e o p le f ro m T h e K ic k
In s id e ). Bu t it is n t a s if I th in k s h e s in s ig h tf u l b e c a u s e s h e h a s re f e rre d to G u rd jie f f : its
b e c a u s e s h e is d e e p th a t s h e h a s b e e n in te re s te d in h is id e a s , if n o t h is m e th o d s (I s h a ll re tu rn
in f u tu re b lo g s to F u ll H o u s e f ro m L io n h e a rt, a n d S a t in y o u r L a p f ro m T h e D re a m in g ). I a m
n o t s im p ly id en tified w ith h er m u s ic b ec au s e s h e w ro te s o m e G u rd jieff s o n g s , to c o in a
reb arb ativ e p h ras e. In d eed , I th in k th at F u ll H o u s e fails n o t o n ly b ec au s e th e m elo d y s eem s
p ed es trian , b u t b ec au s e it is to o m u c h a fro n tal as s au lt o n s o m eth in g w h ic h is to o s u b tle to
s u rv iv e s u c h a n a p p ro a c h ; a n d th o s e s o n g s w h ic h I c o n s id e r to b e h e r v e ry b e s t (W u th e rin g
H eig h ts , L io n h eart an d S o m e M o m en ts o f Pleas u re) d o n o t s eem to b e at all in d eb ted to
G u rd jieff.
S h e is ex trao rd in ary fo r an o th er reas o n : s h e is th e g reates t p ro d ig y I k n o w o f in m o d ern m u s ic .

S tev ie W o n d er w as y o u n g er, an d ev en m o re talen ted as a m u s ic ian , b u t n o t ev en h e, o r D o n o v an ,
ev er m atc h ed h er fo r th e ex trao rd in ary w o rk o f art w h ic h w as h er firs t alb u m , T h e Kic k In s id e,
releas ed in 1 9 7 8 w h en s h e w as 1 9 y ears o ld , alth o u g h s o m e o f th e s o n g s w ere w ritten w h en s h e
w as y et y o u n g er. In fac t, I s till c o n s id er th at to b e h er b es t rec o rd , riv alled , b u t n o t s u rp as s ed ,
b y T h e D re a m in g a n d A e ria l. A n d its w ith th a t a lb u m th a t Ill b e g in .
T h e s trik in g , alm o s t th e s tu p en d o u s th in g ab o u t T h e Kic k In s id e, is th e c o n s is ten c y o f its

q u ality , an d th e in teg rity o f th e alb u m . It h as an o v erall s o u n d , an au ral s ig n atu re, b as ed
a ro u n d Bu s h s d is tin c tiv e v o c a ls , a n d th e b a s ic e n s e m b le o f p ia n o , g u ita rs a n d d ru m s . S id e o n e ,
c o n tain in g s ix s o n g s , is d o m in ated b y th e s u p ern atu ral. F o r ex am p le, th e las t fo u r trac k s o n
s id e o n e are S tran g e Ph en o m en a, Kite, T h e M an w ith th e C h ild in h is E y es an d W u th erin g
H eig h ts . T h ey d eal w ith p s y c h ic p h en o m en a, tran s m o g rific atio n fro m w o m an to k ite, a
p h a n to m v is ito r, a n d th e s ta r- s tru c k C a th y fro m Bro n te s n o v e l W u th e rin g H e ig h ts . S o , s id e o n e
effec tiv ely c lo s es w ith tw o s o n g s ab o u t w raith s . S id e tw o , w ith s ev en s o n g s , is larg ely g iv en
o v er to ro m an tic lo v e. H o w ev er, eac h s id e featu res s o m e o f th e th em es o f th e o th er s id e. F o r
ex am ple, w hile s ide o ne c lo s es w ith C athy, s ide tw o ends w ith the tale o f Luc y W an, w ho
s u ic id es w h en s h e b ec o m es p reg n an t to h er o w n b ro th er, v o w in g : I s h all c o m e h o m e ag ain , b u t
n o t u n til th e s u n a n d th e m o o n m e e t o n y o n h ill.
S o th e las t im ag e w h ic h Bu s h im p res s es u p o n u s , o n eac h s id e o f th is rec o rd , is a w o m an

d es p erate in lo v e, w h o s e p as s io n h as led h er to h er p rem atu re d eath , b u t w ill als o b rin g h er
b ac k fro m b ey o n d th e g rav e. Perh ap s teen ag e life in E n g lan d w as n o t s o terrib ly id y llic b ac k
then.
K a te Bu s h s v o ic e w a s d is tin c tiv e ly h ig h a t th e tim e o f th is a lb u m : w h e n h e r v o ic e d e e p e n e d s h e

re- rec o rd ed W u th erin g H eig h ts . T h e n ew er v ers io n h as a c ertain d ep th , b u t th e v ery p itc h o f
h er s in g in g o n th e o rig in al p o s s es s ed an in im itab le n atu ral eerin es s . O d d ly , w h en I h ear it n o w ,
th e m an n er in w h ic h th at y o u n g v o ic e em b o d ies th e s p ec tre o f C ath y , is rem in is c en t o f a tale
s h e w o u ld tell o n N ev er F o rev er, th e p o s s es s io n o f a b o y an d a g irl in Jam es T u rn o f th e
S c rew . S o c o n v in c in g is h er p rec o c io u s p erfo rm an c e o n W u th erin g H eig h ts th at it is as if s h e
is haunted.
T o an ex ten t w h ic h , to m y ear, s h e d id n o t m atc h ag ain u n til th e triu m p h o f A erial, Kate Bu s h as

a p ers o n d o m in ated T h e Kic k In s id e. It is as if h er v ery s p irit w as in fu s ed in to th e g ro o v es o f
th e rec o rd . T h e in tim ac y c o m m en c es o n th e v ery firs t trac k , M o v in g . M o v in g s tran g er, d o es it
re a lly m a t t e r, a s lo n g a s y o u re n o t a f ra id t o f e e l? , s h e s in g s , s e e m in g ly in v it in g u s t o d ro p o u r
fears an d o p en o u rs elv es to an ex p erien c e o f em o tio n . S h e c o n tin u es : h o w m y o p en arm s
a c h e h o w y o u m o v e m e w ith y o u r b e a u ty s p o te n c y Y o u c ru s h th e lily in m y s o u l. In th e
n ex t trac k , S ax o p h o n e S o n g s h e is a s u rly lad y in trem o r, tellin g o f th e s tars th at c lim b
fro m h er b o w els . T h es e ly ric s are m o re in tim ate, b y lig h t y ears , th an an y v u lg ar as s au lt w ith
term s fo r g en italia c o u ld ev er b e.
T h e ex ten t to w h ic h h er b o d y an d b o d ily s en s atio n s featu re in th es e s o n g s is alm o s t am azin g .

T h e lis t c o n tin u es : o n S tran g e Ph en o m en a s h e m en tio n s h o w ev ery g irl k n o w s ab o u t th e
p u n c tu al b lu es , an d o n Kite, Beelzeb u b is ac h in g in m y b elly - o , w h ile s h e feels a ru s h
a lo n g m y b o d y lik e a b u lle t. In L A m o u r L o o k s S o m e th in g L ik e Y o u , s h e is d y in g fo r y o u ju s t
to to u c h m e, an d feel all th e en erg y rig h t u p - a- m e T h e th o u g h t o f y o u s en d s m e s h iv erin g
A ll th e tim e Im liv in g in th a t e v e n in g w ith th a t fe e lin g o f s tic k y lo v e in s id e . A n d I w o n t e v e n
b o th er q u o tin g F eel It, b u t, if y o u h av e h eard it, y o u k n o w th at s h e is n o t referrin g to a
s en s o ry en c o u n ter w ith fab ric s an d m aterials .
Bu s h is fo n d o f th e g e n re o f th e s to ry s o n g , w h e re s h e a d o p ts a p e rs o n a a n d n a rra te s a s to ry
o r a s c en e fro m s o m e tale. S o m etim es , I th in k , s h e is to o fo n d . T h e m o s t g lo rio u s s u c c es s es o f
c o u rs e, w ere W u th erin g H eig h ts an d T h e M an w ith th e C h ild in h is E y es , w h ere s h e tu rn s
s to ries in to o p p o rtu n ities fo r ap p aren tly in tim ate s elf- d is c lo s u re. In M an w ith th e C h ild , th e
b rillian t b u t s im p le p ian o ac c o m p an im en t c o n ju res th e w av es ro llin g in to th e s h o re, w h ile s h e
s in g s o f a m a n T e llin g m e a b o u t th e s e a , a ll h is lo v e , till e te rn ity . O n c e m o re , lo v e is n o t
b o u n d w ith in th e fen c e o f earth ly life. A n d , as in W u th erin g H eig h ts , it is am b itio u s b u t
b eliev ab le: s h e h as m ad e u s b eliev e fro m th e firs t lin es w ith th e m o s t in n o c u o u s y et in d iv id u al
o f details :
I h ear h im b efo re I g o to s leep

A n d fo c u s o n th e d a y th a ts b e e n .
W h o els e h as ev er s p o k en in s o n g o f rev iew in g th e d ay ? It is n o s to c k p h ras e: it s u g g es ts a real

p ers o n . Bu t I feel h im h es itate, s h e s in g s . O n c e m o re, h av e y o u ev er h eard th at in an y o th er
s o n g ? H o w ev er, I h av e to s ay , th at b y th e tim e I c o m e to Jam es an d th e C o ld G u n , I am g ettin g
tire d o f th e s u c c e s s io n o f s to ry s o n g s (R e m e m b e r G e n ie , f ro m th e c a s in o ? S h e s s till a - w a itin g
in h e r b ig b ra s s b e d .) A n d it is n o t n e c e s s a ry fo r Bu s h to re ly o n s to rie s : s h e d o e s firs t p e rs o n
s o w ell.
Pro b ab ly th e b es t ex am p le o f s p eak in g as Kate Bu s h o n Kic k In s id e is T h em H eav y Peo p le. It
o p e n s w ith a th e p h ra s e ro llin g th e b a ll (ro llin g ) ro llin g th e b a ll to m e to s s e d a ro u n d in a ir,
as it w ere, w ith h er v o ic e an d p ian o , ec h o in g th e w o rd ro llin g , to m u s ic ally es tab lis h a s en s e
o f th e b a ll b e in g a irily p a s s e d to a n d fro . Its a lm o s t a p re lu d e ra th e r th a n a p a rt o f th e s o n g .
T h e n th e o th e r in s tru m e n ts k ic k in , a n d w e re in to th e firs t v e rs e :
T h ey arriv ed at an in c o n v en ien t tim e,

I w as h id in g in a ro o m in m y m in d .
They m ade m e lo o k at m ys elf.
I s a w it w e ll: Id s h u t th e p e o p le o u t o f m y life .
S o n o w I tak e th e o p p o rtu n ities ,
W o n d erfu l teac h ers read y to teac h m e.
I m u s t w o rk o n m y m in d , fo r n o w I realis e th at
E v ery o n e o f u s h as a h eav en in s id e.
O n c e m o re, fo r th e c h o ru s th ere is a c h an g e o f p ac e: T h em h eav y p eo p le h it m e in a s o ft s p o t,

th e m h e a v y p e o p le h e lp m e a n d w e re b a c k to th e ro llin g th e m e , a n d th e n th e fin a l v e rs e :
T h ey o p en d o o rw ay s th at I th o u g h t w ere s h u t fo r g o o d ,
T h ey read m e G u rd jieff an d Jes u ,
Bre a k m e e m o tio n a lly , its n e a rly k illin g m e ,
But w hat a lo v ely feeling!
I lo v e th e w h irlin g o f th e d erv is h es ,
I lo v e th e b eau ty o f rare in n o c en c e.
Y o u d o n t n e e d n o c ry s ta l b a ll,
D o n t fa ll fo r n o m a g ic w a n d ,
W e h u m an s g o t it all, w e p erfo rm th e m irac les .
In o n e p lac e, I b eliev e, Bu s h d es c rib ed th is s o n g as a p ray er, an d o n e c an s ee th at. It is

d elib erately b ro ad in its s c o p e, in c lu d in g n o t o n ly th e tw o teac h ers b u t als o th e d erv is h es an d
in n o c e n c e , w h ic h I ta k e to m e a n o p e n n e s s to im p re s s io n s . T h is is a n im p o rta n t th e m e in Bu s h s
w o rk , an d s h all ac h iev e ev er g reater im p o rtan c e u n til it c u lm in ates in th e triu m p h o f d is c 2 o f
A erial. H o w ev er, H eav y Peo p le d o es s u g g es t a c ertain s erio u s p ers o n al im m ers io n in th e
tec h n iq u es o f G u rd jieff w h ic h , as I u n d ers tan d it, is n o t an d n ev er h as b een th e c as e w ith Kate
Bu s h . In an in terv iew s h e s tated th at s h e h ad h eard o f G u rd jieff fro m o n e o f h er b ro th ers , an d
read s o m e b o o k s , b u t th at h e w as far m o re c o n c ern ed w ith it th an s h e w as . M y o w n g u es s is
th a t s h e h a d re a d In S e a rc h o f th e M ira c u lo u s , b e c a u s e if G . in S tra n g e P h e n o m e n a is in d e e d
G u rd jieff, th en s u c h an o d d w ay o f referrin g to h im c o u ld o n ly , I im ag in e, h av e c o m e fro m
read in g th at b o o k .
I s h all p u ll fu rth er id eas to g eth er in fu tu re Kate Bu s h b lo g s , b u t fo r n o w , I w ill w rap u p o n th is

alb u m . T h e m o re I lis ten to it, th e m o re I am im p res s ed w ith its artis tic u n ity . In ad d itio n to th e
featu res I h av e alread y m en tio n ed , th e v ery firs t s o u n d s w e h ear are g h o s tly s o u n d s , as if o f
s p irits , p res ag in g W u th erin g H eig h ts . T h e s o u n d s w h ic h in tro d u c e M o v in g are in fac t w h ale
c a lls . A n d in c a s e y o u d id n t k n o w it, w u th e rin g is a n o ld w o rd fo r th e m o a n in g m a d e b y h ig h
w inds .
A f e a tu re o f th is a lb u m , d is tin g u is h in g it f ro m h e r o th e rs (o r s o it s e e m s to m e ) is th a t e v e n
w hen s he s eem s to be c o m po s ing s o ngs fo r the s ak e o f c o m po s ing s o ngs , s he c o m po s es go o d
s o n g s . F o r ex am p le, O h to Be in L o v e s trik es m e, as it h as o th er rev iew ers , as rath er s h o rt o n
p u rp o s e (I f in d it h a rd to f a c e m y f a c e W h y d id y o u h a v e to c h o o s e o u r m o m e n t? W h y d id
y o u m a k e it s o u n re a l? ). A n d y e t , t h e m u s ic is g o o d : t o m y e a r, v e ry g o o d in d e e d . T h e c h o ru s
w ith its m ark ed rh y th m o h o h o h to b e e e in lo v e is m em o rab le an d en jo y ab le, an d in
th e las t v ers e w e are s p ru n g a s u rp ris e:
A ll th e c o lo u rs lo o k s b rig h ter n o w
S lip p in g in to to m o rro w to o q u ic k ,
Y es terd ay alw ay s to o g o o d to fo rg et,
S to p th e s w in g o f th e p en d u lu m , let u s th ro u g h !
W e h av e s een th es e tw o id eas b efo re: th e jo y o f s eein g ev ery th in g w ith en h an c ed v iv id n es s , an d

th e d e s ire to e s c a p e f ro m tim e (h e re re p re s e n te d b y th e c lo c k ). A n d w e s h a ll m e e t th e m a g a in .
T h at s u c h id eas o c c u r to h er m in d , h o w ev er, is a trib u te to h er n atu ral d ep th .
A n o th er es s en tial as p ec t o f Kate Bu s h is h er th o ro u g h E n g lis h - n es s . T h e tw o s trik in g s to ries

w h ic h c lo s e eac h s id e are b as ed o n an u n m is tak ab ly E n g lis h fic tio n : W u th erin g H eig h ts an d th e
p o em o f L u c y W an res p ec tiv ely , alth o u g h L u c y is n o t n am ed o n T h e Kic k In s id e.
T h e n , th e fin a l m a tte r fo r th is b lo g , is K a te Bu s h s in d iv id u a lity . S h e is n o t a ffe c te d ly

id io s y n c ratic , n o r is s h e b o u n d to fas h io n , th e tw in v ic es o f m u s ic c eleb rities w h ic h S p in al
T ap s o ac c u rately p aro d ied . C o n s id er R o o m fo r L ife: s h e ad d res s es a w o m an c ry in g o n ac c o u n t
o f h e r lo v e r, te llin g h e r th a t m e n d o n t c a re w h e th e r h e r te a rs a re re a l o r n o t, fo r th e m e n its
all p art o f th e g am e. Bu t, as fo r y o u , w o m an :
L ik e it o r n o t, w e w ere b u ilt to u g h
Be c a u s e w e re w o m a n !
N o , w e nev er die fo r lo ng,
W h ile w e v e g o t th a t little life to liv e fo r
W h e re its h id in s id e O h , w o m a n tw o in o n e
T h e re s ro o m fo r a life in y o u r w o m b , w o m a n
T h en , in th e s ec o n d v ers e, h av in g c o n s o led h er frien d , s h e tells h er th at s h e n eed s a lo v er to

fre e h e r d e s ire a n d u rg e s h e r to g e t u p o n y o u r fe e t a n d g o g e t it n o w . It is u n iq u e , its
p e rs o n a l, a n d y e t its a ls o p u b lic . I w o u ld n o t c a ll th is fe m in is t, o r, fo r th a t m a tte r, a n y
id e o lo g y . T o m e , its ju s t w is d o m .
Jo s e p h .A zize @ g o o g le m a il.c o m


p r e s e n t h i s t e a c h e r (a d i r e c t p u p i l o f G u r d j i e f f a n d O u s p e n s k y ) t o a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l a u d i e n c e . T h e
c o u rt o f law .
Sha r e this :
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Lo a d ing. . .
W r itte n b y S O P H IA P o s te d in JO S E P H A Z IZ E P A G E , K A T E BU S H : T H E S O N G O F S O L O M O N ( 1 )
W E L L BE L O V E D
M a y 1 0 , 2 0 0 9 a t 3 :1 4 p m
A REPO RT O N TH E 2009 A & E CO N FEREN CE, TO RO N TO 2009
T h e Jo h n R o b ert C o lo m b o Pag e
A ll & E v ery th in g C o n feren c e, T o ro n to 2 0 0 9
A d ay - b y - d ay ac c o u n t o f ev en ts , im p res s io n s , an d ex p erien c es as rep o rted b y Jo h n R o b ert

C o lo m bo
Pream b le an d C o n fes s io n
F o r d ec ad es I h av e b een c o n d u c tin g a c o rres p o n d en c e w ith S im s o n N ajo v its , a frien d an d fello w
w riter w h o s in c e th e 1 9 6 0 s h as liv ed in Paris , p referrin g th e C ity o f L ig h t to th e C ity o f
M o n treal w h ere h e w as b o rn . L ittle b y little, fro m letter to letter, th en fro m em ail to em ail, I
b eg an to realize th at w e s h ared c ertain m etap h y s ic al aim s an d in teres ts an d th at, in d eed , h e
w as a lo n g - tim e s tu d en t o f th e W o rk .
A fter ex c h an g in g m an y letters , I learn ed th at h e h ad m et an d w o rk ed w ith M ad am e d e S alzm an n

an d M ad am e d e H artm an n an d th at h e w as o n a firs t- n am e b as is w ith m an y o f th e F ren c h
m o v e m e n ts le a d in g p e rs o n a litie s . I w ill n o t m e n tio n th e ir n a m e s b u t th e n a m e s w o u ld b e
rec o g n ized if I d id . T h en I learn ed th at after a d ec ad e an d a h alf o f ex p erien c e o f th e W o rk , h e
h ad left it th o u g h w h eth er o n e ev er leav es th e w o rk o r ev er c o u ld leav e th e w o rk is a m atter
that c o uld be dis c us s ed at s o m e later tim e.
I rem em b er tellin g S im s o n th at, to m y g reat s u rp ris e, th e fo rth c o m in g A ll & E v ery th in g

C o n feren c e, th e fo u rteen th in th e an n u al s eries th at w as lau n c h ed in 1 9 9 6 , w as s c h ed u led to b e
h eld in th e C an ad ian c ity o f T o ro n to , an d n o t in its lo n g - tim e E n g lis h v en u e, th e R o y al N o rfo lk
H o tel in Bo g n o r R eg is . I in v ited h im to v is it T o ro n to an d s tay w ith m e an d m y w ife R u th at o u r
h o m e, lo c ated ab o u t ten k ilo m etres fro m th e c o n feren c e s ite. H e d ec lin ed th e in v itatio n . T h e
id ea o f s p en d in g fiv e d ay s in T o ro n to d id n o t ex c ite h im !
H e n o te d , W h ile th o s e o n th e o u ts id e m a y h a v e in te re s tin g c o m m e n ts a b o u t th e W o rk a n d A ll
a n d E v e ry th in g , it is th o s e o n th e in s id e , th o s e w h o p ra c tic e th e W o rk , o r th o s e w h o w e re in
th e W o rk fo r a lo n g tim e , w h o h a v e th e m o s t a p p o s ite , th e d e e p e s t in s ig h ts a b o u t A ll a n d
E v e ry th in g .
In an o th er em ail I to ld h im th at I h ad b een in v ited b y th e c o n feren c e o rg an izers to s u b m it an

ab s trac t o f a p ap er fo r p o s s ib le p res en tatio n at th e c o n feren c e, b u t th at I h ad d ec lin ed th e
in v ita tio n . I e x p la in e d th a t w h ile I m ig h t re lis h c o n s id e rin g m y s e lf a c o m p a n io n o f th e b o o k , I
w a s n o w a y a n a u th o rity o n Be e lze b u b s T a le s . I e x p la in e d th a t I k n e w m y lim its a n d p re fe rre d
to rem ain s afely w ith in th o s e b o u n d aries .
I g o t a w ary reac tio n fro m S im s o n , es p ec ially w h en I w en t o n to in fo rm h im th at I p lan n ed to

atten d all th e s es s io n s o f th e c o n feren c e an d rep o rt o n th e ex p erien c e o n a d ay - to - d ay b as is
fo r th o s e re a d e rs o f S o p h ia W e llb e lo v e d s w e b s ite w h o w o u ld lik e to a tte n d b u t w o u ld n o t b e
d o in g s o p res u m ab ly th e v as t m ajo rity o f its read ers .
S im s o n s a id , A in t t h a t g o in g t o b e a b it o f a p ro b le m f o r y o u ? H e p o in t e d o u t t h a t a y e a r
e a rlie r I h a d a d m itte d in a n e m a il to h im th a t I h a d n e v e r re a d Be e lze b u b s T a le s a n d , la te r o n ,
in o n e o f th e rev iew s c arried b y S o p h ia in h er b lo g , I h ad s tated th at I h ad n ev er read th e
m ag n u m o p u s fro m c o v er to c o v er, n o t ev en o n c e, n o t to m en tio n th e p res c rib ed th ree tim es .
A s I m a d e th e s e p o in ts , I c o u ld s e e h im , in m y m in d s e y e b ris tlin g lik e a p o rc u p in e .
I w as ad m ittin g th e tru th . I p o in ted o u t th at I h ad s p en t m o s t o f m y u n d erg rad u ate y ears

s u rro u n d ed b y g rad u ate s tu d en ts o f E n g lis h an d F ren c h literatu re w h o h ad p ro u d ly b o as ted th at
th ey h ad read F in n eg an s W ak e fro m c o v er to c o v er o r A la rec h erc h e d es tem p s p erd u fro m
c o v ers to c o v ers . I lis ten ed c arefu lly to w h at th ey w ere s ay in g ab o u t Jo y c e an d Pro u s t, an d w ith
eq u al d ilig en c e I read w h at th ey w ere w ritin g ab o u t th es e m as ters an d th eir m as terw o rk s , an d
ab o u t th e w o rld at larg e, b u t I h ad failed to d etec t an y ev id en c e th at th es e m arath o n read in g
ex erc is es h ad c h an g ed th em fo r th e b etter o r fo r th e w o rs e.
In d e e d , I h a v e m e t s tu d e n ts o f T h e S e c re t D o c trin e w h o h a v e s tu d ie d M a d a m e Bla v a ts k y s
b o o k o n W ed n es d ay n ig h ts fo r y ears o n en d , tak in g o n ly s h o rt b reak s d u rin g th e s u m m ers . T h ey
c ertain ly k n ew m o re T h eo s o p h y o r m o re ab o u t T h eo s o p h y th an I ev er d id , b u t th e ex erc is e
s eem ed n o t to h av e altered th eir p ers o n alities o r th eir c h arac ters in an y ap p rec iab le o r ap p aren t
w a y s . I k e p t th in k in g o f a lin e o f K ip lin g s th a t is a fa v o u rite o f m in e . It g o e s ro u g h ly g o e s lik e
t h is : W h o k n o w s E n g la n d w h o o n ly E n g la n d k n o w s ?
I am n o t g o in g to tak e th e n ex t s tep an d m ak e th e s am e p o in t ab o u t s tu d en ts o f th e W o rk an d
th e ir re s p e c t fo r Be e lze b u b s T a le s b e c a u s e I h a v e n o e v id e n c e , e ith e r p ro o r c o n , th a t
im m ers io n in th e w o rk au to m atic ally d eep en s o r w id en s c o n s c io u s n es s o r s en s e o f p res en c e o r
d o es b o th to g eth er. I s u p p o s e th e w o rd au to m atic ally th ere g iv es aw ay m y p o s itio n . O n e
s en ten c e read c o n s c io u s ly is w o rth ten th o u s an d s en ten c es read m ec h an ic ally . O f th e
tran s fo rm ativ e p o w ers o f w o rk s o f th e h u m an im ag in atio n , ex p ec ially o f w o rk s o f s c rip tu re, I
h av e n o d o u b t. It d ep en d s o n th e read er.
I a n tic ip a te n o p ro b le m a t a ll c o v e rin g th e A & E C o n fe re n c e , I re p lie d to S im s o n . M y p o s itio n

is a n a lo g o u s to th a t o f th e ra p p o rte u r w h o a tte n d s a ll th e p re s e n ta tio n s a t a s in g le - tra c k
ac ad em ic c o n feren c e an d th en o n th e fin al h o u r o f th e fin al d ay o ffers h is o w n im p res s io n s : a
c u m u lativ e b u t p ers o n al reac tio n to th e d is c u s s io n an d th e d is c u s s an ts . I h av e alw ay s
m arv elled at h o w w ell it m ay b e d o n e. O n c e I h eard a s c h o lar d eliv er h is rep o rt b rillian tly in
rh y m in g c o u p le ts ! (T h a t I w ill n o t b e d o in g , b u t b e lie v e m e , I a m te m p te d !)
M y in ten tio n is to d es c rib e th e v iew p o in ts ex p res s ed an d p ain t th e c o n to u rs an d c o lo u rs o f th e
o c c as io n an d c atc h th e ex p res s io n s o f em o tio n an d in tellec t. It w as in th at w ay th at a few y ears
ag o I c o v ered th e th ree- d ay m eetin g o f T rad itio n alis ts in E d m o n to n in a rep o rt p u b lis h ed in th e
jo u rn a l F o h a t a n d s u b s e q u e n tly re p rin te d in m y b o o k W h is tle W h ile Y o u W o rk . I d id s o
w ith o u t b ein g ab le to read A rab ic o r F ars i o r m o s t o f th e tex ts o f th e T rad itio n alis ts th at w ere
ex to lled d u rin g th o s e s es s io n s .
A t th e s am e tim e, I h av e alread y read , w ith a fair d eg ree o f c o m p reh en s io n , alm o s t all th e

p ro c e e d in g s o f th e p re v io u s A & E c o n f e re n c e s , w h ic h I p u rc h a s e d (f ro m By th e W a y Bo o k s ) a s
th ey ap p eared , s o I am p rep ared , u p to a p o in t. T h e p o in t is th at I w ill ad m it, rig h t o ff, th at I
h a v e a c u rs o ry k n o w le d g e o f th e c o n te n ts o f Be e lze b u b s T a le s . I re c a ll th e s ta te m e n t m a d e b y
A .R . O ra g e , fo llo w in g h is b re a k w ith M r. G u rd jie ff, th a t e v e n h e d id n o t u n d e rs ta n d th e te x t,
d e s p ite h a v in g tra n s la te d , a d a p te d , e d ite d , o r re w ritte n m u c h o f it.
I c o n c lu d ed b y s ay in g , S im s o n , I am s u rp ris ed th at y o u w o u ld th in k th at it is a p ro b lem . It is
o ften u s efu l to reg ard a s u b jec t fro m th e o p p o s ite p ers p ec tiv e: W o u ld an y o n e w h o is an
au th o rity o n th e tex t ag ree to rep o rt o n th e ev en t? N o t lik ely . T h ere are tim es w h en s o m eo n e
w h o h o ld s n o p artic u lar v iew s an d s ees th e b ig p ic tu re an d is w illin g to learn h as th e ad v an tag e
o v e r th e s p e c ia lis t w h o is p a rti p ris .
A n y w ay , w e w ill s ee. I s eld o m b ite o ff m o re th an I c an c h ew . W h ile I d id d ec lin e a p o s s ib le

in v itatio n to p rep are a p ap er at th e c o n feren c e, I d id ac c ep t th e k in d in v itatio n to s p eak b riefly
at th e b an q u et, as I felt th at th ere s h o u ld b e s o m e in p u t fro m th e h o s t c o u n try th an m ig h t
o th e rw is e b e th e c a s e . A n y w a y , re v e rs in g a w e ll- k n o w n s a y in g , M y b ite is w o rs e th a n m y
b a rk !
S im s o n w a s m o llifie d a n d re p lie d , W e ll, I g u e s s y o u re rig h t a b o u t a fe w th in g s it is u n lik e ly

th at an y b o d y w h o is an au th o rity o n th e tex t w o u ld ag ree to rep o rt o n it at th e c o n feren c e, it is
s o th at q u ite o ften s o m eb o d y w h o s ees th e b ig p ic tu re an d is w illin g to learn h as th e ad v an tag e
o v e r th e s p e c ia lis t a n d it is s o th a t a fte r h is firs t re a d in g o f Be e lze b u b s T a le s , O ra g e s a id th a t
it w a s u n in te llig ib le , a lth o u g h I th in k h e c h a n g e d h is m in d la te r.
H e w en t o n to d is c u s s h is o w n early en c o u n ters w ith th e b o o k in M o n treal b efo re leav in g fo r

Paris fo r g o o d . I m u s t n o te th at after m y firs t read in g o f th e b o o k I to ld T o m D aly m u c h th e
s a m e th in g a s O ra g e a n d h e s a id , Its n o t u n in te llig ib le , w a it a n d s e e , a n d a fte r m a n y m o re
re a d in g s a n d c o u n tle s s d ig g in g s in to th e te x t (s o m e tim e s w ith th e a s s is ta n c e o f a p re c io u s g if t
y o u g a v e m e m a n y y e a rs a g o , a c o p y o f th e firs t e d itio n o f G u id e a n d In d e x to G .I. G u rd jie ffs
A ll a n d E v e ry th in g , Be e lze b u b s T a le s to H is G ra n d s o n ), w e ll, e v e n if th e re a re m a n y
b ew ild erin g th in g s in th e b o o k an d m an y o th ers w h ic h are s h eer n o n s en s e o r ty p ic al es o teric
n o n s e n s e p lu s a h e fty d o s e o f re lig io u s s illin e s s , o n th e w h o le A ll a n d E v e ry th in g is n o t o n ly a
fa b u lo u s b o o k , a n d s p e c ific a lly Be e lze b u b s T a le s to H is G ra n d s o n , a n e w w a y o f w ritin g
m y th o lo g y , it is u n d e rs ta n d a b le .
A ll th is to o k p lac e in D ec em b er 2 0 0 8 . I am rec o u n tin g th es e ex c h an g es n o w fo r th e b en efit o f

S im s o n in P a ris a s w e ll a s fo r th e re a d e rs o f S o p h ia s w e b s ite w h e re v e r th e y m a y liv e in o rd e r to
s et th e rec o rd s traig h t ab o u t m y ac q u ain tan c e w ith th e tex t th at is th e c en tre o f th is in q u iry .
In p o in t o f fac t, lik e m an y p eo p le w h o h av e b een attrac ted to th e W o rk an d w h o s u b s eq u en tly

left, as a g o o d m an y p eo p le d o , I h av e ac q u ired an d retain ed b o th a g en eral id ea an d a s p ec ific
id ea o f w h at th e b o o k s ay s an d h o w it s ay s it. I h av e read in n u m erab le p res en tatio n s , es s ay s ,
and ev en o ther bo o k s abo ut the big bo o k , and I hav e c o m e to the c o nc lus io n that it s eem s to
m e to b e (o n th e o n e h a n d ) a n id io s y n c ra tic e p ic p o e m in p ro s e a n d (o n th e o th e r h a n d ) a s h in y
lo o k in g - g las s th at reflec ts b ac k th e c h arac teris tic featu res o f its read ers . N o rth ro p F ry e
d e s c rib e s s c rip tu re a s lite ra tu re p lu s . I th in k Be e lze b u b s T a le s is s c rip tu re .
L ik e m o s t p eo p le w ith a tas te fo r th e W o rk , I h av e read b o th M eetin g s w ith R em ark ab le M en

a n d L ife Is R e a l O n ly T h e n , W h e n I A m , in th e ir e n tire ty , a n u m b e r o f tim e s , n o t to m e n tio n
th e w ith d ra w n b o o k le t H e ra ld o f C o m in g G o o d . It is w ith Be e lze b u b s T a le s to H is G ra n d s o n
th at I h av e th is o n - ag ain , o ff- ag ain relatio n s h ip . A n y w ay , fo r th e p u rp o s es o f w h at fo llo w s , I
w ill re f e r to th e la tte r p u b lic a tio n a s T a le s . (M y e d itio n is th e f irs t o n e is s u e d b y H a rc o u rt,
Bra c e .) I w ill re s e rv e th e im p re s s iv e w o rd s A ll a n d E v e ry th in g fo r a ll th re e b o o k s o f th e c a n o n :
T a le s , M e e tin g s , L ife .
T h e V en u e an d th e Pro c eed in g s o f th e C o n feren c e
T o ro n to m ay n o t b e th e m o s t p ic tu res q u e o f c ities , b u t it h as c h arm s o f its o w n , th o u g h n o t

o n e o f th em is v is ib le fro m th e w in d o w s o f th e h o tel at w h ic h th e c o n feren c e w as h eld . T h is
v e n u e w a s T h e D a y s In n lo c a te d o n W ils o n A v e n u e n e a r Ja n e S tre e t n o rth w e s t o f th e c ity s
d o w n to w n . N o r w ere an y red eem in g featu res o f m o d ern arc h itec tu re ap p aren t w ith in th e In n . I
felt a little s o rry fo r firs t- tim e v is ito rs to T o ro n to . H ard ly an y b o d y els e b u t m e ex p res s ed
d is c o n te n t, b u t I d id h e a r o n e p e rs o n s a y , A t le a s t th e h o te l is c h e a p , a n d its lo c a te d n e a r th e
a irp o rt. N e v e rth e le s s its L a d y H a m ilto n R o o m w ith its fo u r u n im p re s s iv e c h a n d e lie rs s e rv e d
q u ite w ell as th e m eetin g ro o m fo r th e fo rty - fiv e o r fifty reg is tered atten d ees .
W e d n e s d a y , A p ril 2 2 , 2 0 0 9 . 8 :3 0 p .m . F o rty - fiv e c h a irs w e re a rra n g e d in a la rg e o v a l a n d

p artic ip an ts q u ietly to o k th eir s eats . I s c an n ed th e g ro u p : th irty - fiv e m en an d ten w o m en .
C as u al d res s . Peo p le w ere in th eir fifties an d s ix ties in th e m ain , w ith a s p rin k lin g o f y o u n g er
an d o ld er m en an d w o m en . T ec h n ic ally train ed o r p ro fes s io n ally ed u c ated , I w o u ld g u es s .
M ain ly C au c as ian . T h o u g h tfu l an d c o u rteo u s p eo p le, b y an d larg e.
T h is firs t m e e tin g w a s a p re lim in a ry g a th e rin g , c a lle d fo r th e n ig h t b e fo re th e c o n fe re n c e s firs t

s es s io n . Ian M ac F arlan e, th e c o n v en er, a C an ad ian w h o w o rk s in E n g lan d , in h is p aten ted q u iet
m an n er, as k ed u s to in tro d u c e o u rs elv es in a c o u n ter- c lo c k w is e d irec tio n . Peo p le s p o k e eas ily ,
th o u g h s o m e w ere alm o s t in au d ib le. I w as s u rp ris ed th at s o m an y p artic ip an ts p erh ap s tw elv e
in a ll id e n tif ie d th e m s e lv e s a s C a n a d ia n s w h o w e re (lik e m y w if e R u th a n d m y s e lf ) a tte n d in g
th is s eries o f c o n feren c es fo r th e firs t tim e.
I w as als o s u rp ris ed to learn th at p erh ap s tw o - th ird s o f th e p artic ip an ts h ad as s o c iatio n s w ith

g ro u p s in th e U n ited S tates an d th e U n ited Kin g d o m th at h ad b een fo u n d ed b y lead ers w h o s e
n am es w ere fam iliar to m e th o u g h I h ad n ev er m et th em : Patters o n , N y lan d , S tav eley , Po p o ff,
Be id le r, Be n n e tt, e tc . (I id e n tif ie d m y s e lf a s s o m e o n e w h o in 1 9 5 7 - 5 9 h a d b e n e f itte d f ro m a
c o n tac t w ith th e T o ro n to g ro u p th at w as th en led b y th e W elc h es M rs . L o u is e W elc h an d D r.
W illiam W elc h . In p as s in g I m en tio n ed th at I w o u ld b e rep o rtin g o n th e p ro c eed in g s fo r S o p h ia
W e llb e lo v e d s w e b s ite .) M o re th a n h a lf th e m e m b e rs h a d a tte n d e d p re v io u s c o n fe re n c e s in
Bo g n o r R eg is an d els ew h ere, at leas t tw o h av in g ac h iev ed th e d is tin c tio n o f h av in g atten d ed all
th e e a rlie r c o n fe re n c e s . T h e re w e re a ls o p a rtic ip a n ts fro m G re e c e , th e U .K ., H o lla n d , th e U .S .,
etc . T h e A m eric an v is ito rs ex p res s ed p leas u re th at th e c o n feren c e w as , o n c e ag ain , b ein g h eld
in N o rth A m eric a.
I s u rm is ed th at th e p eo p le p res en t w ere a s tu d io u s an d s in c ere s tu d en ts o f th e w o rk w h o s e

liv es h ad b een en ric h ed th ro u g h rep eated read in g s o f th e T ales an d fro m as s o c iatio n w ith
w o rk g ro u p s , th o u g h s o m e m e m b e rs w e re c u rre n tly in a c tiv e o r o n le a v e (a s o n e p e rs o n
ex p res s ed it) fro m th em . A fter ev ery o n e in tro d u c ed h im s elf o r h ers elf, S ey m o u r B. G in s b u rg ,
w h o m I m et fo r th e firs t tim e, in q u ired if th e g ro u p w o u ld b e in teres ted in h earin g a s h o rt
ac c o u n t o f h o w th e A & E C o n feren c es h ad b eg u n . T h is s u g g es tio n w as m et w ith ap p ro v al.
H e s k etc h ed in h o w h e an d Bert S h arp an d N ic o las T eres c h en k o , w ith in p u t fro m Jam es M o o re

an d Pau l Beek m an T ay lo r an d o th ers , in v ite th e p eo p le th ey k n ew to c o n s id er th e m erits o f
R u s s e ll S m ith s C o s m ic S e c re ts w h ic h a rg u e d th a t th e s h o c k s in th e e n n e a g ra m w e re w ro n g ly
lo c ated , th e m is tak e s tem m in g fro m s u p p o s ed ly erro n eo u s d ata in C h ap ter 3 9 in T ales titled
T h e H o ly P la n e t P u rg a to ry . T h e s e m in a r w a s d e s ig n e d to b e a n e c u m e n ic a l o n e , b e h o ld e n to
n o p artic u lar g ro u p o r in s titu te.
It w as s afe to s ay th at n o b o d y w h o atten d ed th at tw o - d ay g ath erin g h eld in F eb ru ary 1 9 9 6 in

Bo g n o r R eg is ex p ec ted th at th e in itiativ e w o u ld lau n c h a s eries o f an n u al g ath erin g s c alled th e
In te rn a tio n a l H u m a n itie s C o n fe re n c e . Bu t th e g ro u p s u c c e e d e d in d is m is s in g th e S m ith th e s is
a n d th e m o m e n tu m w a s s u c h th a t b y n o w th e c o n fe re n c e s a re fix tu re s in th e w o rld o f W o rk . A .L .
S tav eley , d u b b ed th e g o d m o th er o f th e c o n feren c e, felt it s h o u ld b e n am ed T h e Bro th erh o o d
o f th e Bo o k . L a te r, b rie fly , it w a s c a lle d C o m p a n io n s o f th e Bo o k . F in a lly it g o t its p re s e n t
n a m e T h e A ll & E v e ry th in g : T h e In te rn a tio n a l H u m a n itie s C o n fe re n c e . T h e fo c u s w o u ld re m a in ,
a lw a y s , o n th e te x t o f T a le s .
S y s im p ro m p tu h is to ry w a s fo llo w e d b y s o m e g e n e ra l d is c u s s io n . A fte r tw o h o u rs , th e
p relim in ary s es s io n o f th e fo u rteen th c o n feren c e w as o v er. It s eem ed to m e th at th e c o n feren c e
h ad b een w ell an d tru ly lau n c h ed , w ith a s en s e o f fello w s h ip b as ed o n a c o m m o n ality o f
in teres ts an d a w illin g n es s to lis ten an d learn an d s p eak . I res o lv ed to d es c rib e all th e s es s io n s
th at I c o u ld atten d , an d n o te th o s e th at I c o u ld n o t atten d . I w as n o t s tay in g at th e c o n feren c e
h o tel s o I m is s ed m u c h o f th e in fo rm al c h atter at b reak fas t, etc .
T h u rs d a y , A p ril 2 2 , 2 0 0 9 . 9 :1 5 a .m . T h e c o n fe re n c e h a ll w a s s e t u p w ith a p ro je c tio n s c re e n a n d

c h airs arran g ed in lec tu re fas h io n . Ian c o n v en ed th e firs t s es s io n o f th e fo u rteen th c o n feren c e
w ith an o th er p o tted h is to ry . H e p o in ted o u t th at in n o w ay w as th e c o n feren c e a w o rk ev en t
b ec au s e it h ad n o m o v em en ts o r s ittin g s o r in d iv id u al in s tru c tio n s . It w as m ean t to ap p eal
p rim arily to th e in tellec tu al c en tre. It w as ru n b y v o lu n teers an d w as in d ep en d en t o f an y g ro u p .
Pro c eed in g s w o u ld b e rec o rd ed , th en tran s c rib ed , an d th en m ad e av ailab le in M P3 fo rm at, o n
th e c o n fe re n c e s w e b s ite , a n d a ls o in p rin te d fo rm w ith m o d e s t p a y m e n t th ro u g h P a y P a l. T h e
m o rn in g s es s io n s w o u ld c o n s is t o f tw o p res en tatio n s w ith d is c u s s io n s , th e aftern o o n s es s io n s
w ith tw o s e m in a rs fo c u s e d o n s p e c ific c h a p te rs o f T a le s .
T h e firs t p res en ter w as S tep h en A ro n s o n , a c lin ic al p s y c h o lo g is t, w h o read a p ap er titled
Prep aratio n fo r th e T h ird L in e o f W o rk : T h read in g th e n eed le Betw een W is eac rin g an d th e L aw o f
H a za rd . H e re a d it fa u ltle s s ly , b u t h e h a s a q u ie t v o ic e a n d a s o m e w h a t w ith d ra w n m a n n e r, s o
a u d ie n c e m e m b e rs h a d to s tra in to lis te n . S te p h e n d is c u s s e d th e th re e lin e s o f th e w o rk (f o r
o n es elf, fo r o th ers , an d fo r th e w o rk its elf) an d th e s etb ac k s o f w is eac rin g an d th e law o f
h a za rd (e m p lo y in g a p h ra s e o f Be n n e tts ). H is th e s is s e e m e d to b e th a t w e c a n c h a n g e w o rld s
b y m ak in g c h an g es in o u r m in d s . S im p lify in g th in g s : A im fac in g h azard res u lted in c h an g e o f
attitu d e an d h en c e u n d ers tan d in g . H u m o u r is o n e w ay o f av o id in g th e trap o f w is eac rin g . H e
s tre s s e d M r. G .s a d v ic e : R e m e m b e r y o u rs e lv e s a lw a y s a n d e v e ry w h e re .
D u rin g th e d is c u s s io n p erio d , S tep h en w as as k ed , g iv en h is ex ten s iv e ex p erien c e w ith fo rm s o f

p s y c h o th e ra p y , if G u rd jie ffs w o rk w a s m e re ly a n o th e r c h a p te r in s o m e b o o k o f th e ra p ie s . In
rep ly , th e s p eak er d is tin g u is h ed b etw een tw o ty p es o f th erap y an d all res t o f th e tec h n iq u es
an d th eo ries . T h e tw o ty p es th at s tan d o u t fro m th e res t are Ju n g ian is m an d Ps y c h o s y n th es is ,
fo r th ey en c o u rag e p eo p le to m o v e to w ard b o u n d aries , alth o u g h th ey d o n o t p o in t o u t th e
p res en c e o f d o o rs to o th er w o rld s . A s fo r all th e o th er th erap ies , th ey try to reliev e th e p ain o f
th o s e p eo p le w h o are as leep . I c an at leas t talk w ith Ju n g ian s m o re eas ily th an I c an talk w ith
th e o th e rs . T h e ra p y , it s e e m s , m e a n s in tro d u c in g p a tie n ts to m a tte r o f a h ig h e r q u a lity .
I h a d th e fe e lin g th a t I h a d m is s e d th e th e s is o f S te p h e n s ta lk , s o I a s k e d h im to le n d m e th e
tex t to read o v er lu n c h h o u r o r to ex p res s in a c o u p le o f s en ten c es th e th es is th at h e w an ted to
p res en t. H e d id b o th . F ro m h is tex t I s elec ted th e fo llo w in g in teres tin g q u o tatio n : N o w , w e
b e g in to s e n s e th a t th e W o rk h a s u s fo r Its u s e . I w ill in c lu d e s o m e s e n te n c e s fro m h is h a n d -
w ritten c o m m en ts :
T o s erv e th e w o rk fro m ab o v e, th e tran s m is s io n o f th e h ig h er p o ten tial in to th e lo w er req u ires

m e to p la y m y ro le a s th e b rid g e (o b je c tiv e ly ) a n d n o t m y s e lf s u b je c tiv e ly . P la n t th e s e e d a s
th e s o w er w ith reg ard to th e ty p e an d q u ality o f s eed an d s eas o n s an d th e ap p aren t
c o n d itio n s o f th e s o il. T h en w atc h w h at h ap p en s . Y o u are th e ro le o f s o w er, n o t th e G o d o f
N a tu re .
T h e re w a s a s h o rt c o ffe e b re a k . T h e s e c o n d s e s s io n b e g a n a t 1 1 :3 0 . D im itri P e re tzi, d re s s e d in

b la c k , s p o k e o n th e th e m e M a n Is T h ird F o rc e Blin d . A n a rc h ite c t a n d in te lle c tu a l, h e m a d e
g o o d u s e o f s lid es to illu s trate h is arg u m en t th at m an is an in c o m p lete b ein g in w h o m th e
effec ts o f Ku n d ab u ffer h av e c ry s tallized , an d th at F irs t F o rc e an d S ec o n d F o rc e m eet o n a tw o -
d im en s io n al p lan e; T h ird F o rc e, th eir p ro d u c t, m an ifes ts in a th ree- d im en s io n al c u b e. T h e T h ird
F o rc e is a fo rc e in its o w n rig h t, b u t ev en m o re a p ro c es s , at o n e an d th e s am e tim e a c au s e an d
an effec t. T h e triad is n o t to b e v iew ed as flat. T h e fo rc es h av e h o m es in th e h u m an b o d y .
U s in g M r. G u rd jie ffs a n a lo g y o f k e y s a n d lo c k s , D im itri s p e n t s o m e tim e e q u a tin g A ie io io o a

w ith lig h t o f d ay an d rem o rs e. T h e m o re h e ex p lain ed th e relatio n s h ip , th e m o re c o m p lic ated
it s eem ed . H e d ev o ted tim e to th e en n eag ram w h ic h , to m y s u rp ris e, h e tu rn ed alm o s t o n ed g e,
to c re a te a c o il o r s p ira l. (T h is re c a lle d f o r m e N o rth ro p F ry e s o b s e rv a tio n th a t a c irc le is a
c o m p re s s e d s p ira l.) H e s p o k e in a liv e ly , s o m e w h a t p ro v o c a tiv e m a n n e r. H e b e g a n a n d e n d e d
w ith a q u o tatio n fro m M ad am e d e S alzm an n : It is b lin d n es s th at k eep s o n e w o rld s ep arate fro m
a n o th e r.
T h e s e s s io n s a n d d is c u s s io n s e n d e d a t 1 2 :4 5 p .m . a n d w e re fo llo w e d a lig h t lu n c h . E v e ry o n e
re c o n v e n e d a t 2 :3 0 p .m . fo r th e firs t o f tw o te x tu a l d is c u s s io n s . T h is tim e th e s e a tin g w a s
arran g ed in an im m en s e o v al, s o larg e th at it d is c o u rag ed an y o n e- o n - o n e ex c h an g e o r d eb ate.
T h e h a n d - h e ld m ic ro p h o n e s (n e c e s s a ry f o r ta p in g th e p ro c e e d in g s ) re d u c e d s p o n ta n e ity . T h o s e
w ere th e d raw b ac k s to th e s eatin g arran g em en t. Its s tro n g p o in ts w ere th at th e arran g em en t
g u aran teed th at ev ery o n e w as eq u al an d th at a s en s e o f c o m m u n ity w as c reated . In p o in t o f
f a c t, s o m e s e n io r g ro u p m e m b e rs w o rk e d a s re s o u rc e p e o p le (in c lu d in g S y G in s b u rg , K e ith
Bu zzell an d N ic k Bry c e) an d c o m m en ted irreg u larly th o u g h o ften at s o m e len g th ab o u t th e
as pec t o f the to pic being dis c us s ed.
A fte r a o n e - m in u te s ittin g , th e re w a s a d is c u s s io n o f C h a p te r 2 5 , T h e V e ry S a in tly A s h ia ta

S h ie m a s h , S e n t fro m a b o v e to th e E a rth . In fa c t, m u c h o f th e d is c u s s io n , a b ly le d b y N ic k , w a s
a b o u t th e p h ra s e s e n t fro m a b o v e . S o m e p a rtic ip a n ts fo u n d it p u zzlin g . W h a t I fo u n d p u zzlin g
w a s n o t th e m e a n in g o f th e a rre s tin g p h ra s e its e lf, c le a rly b a s e d o n Jo h n 4 :9 , b u t th e fa c t th a t
th e g ro u p w a s ill- e q u ip p e d to c o n s id e r th e o rd e r o f w o rd s , th e te rm u s e d in lite ra ry c ritic is m
to a c c o u n t fo r w o rd c h o ic e a n d a llu s io n , if n o t m e a n in g . I s u g g e s te d th a t p e rh a p s A .R . O ra g e
m ig h t b e c red ited w ith in v en tin g s o m e o f th e term in o lo g y an d th at h e w as aw are o f th e
a llu s io n s a n d re v e rb e ra tio n s o f w o rd s lik e s e n t.
T h ere w as m u c h d is c u s s io n , en ric h ed b y c o m m en ts b y S y an d Keith , in p artic u lar, ab o u t h o w

A s h ia ta S h ie m a s h n e ith e r ta u g h t n o r p re a c h e d . T h a t ra is e d th e q u e s tio n , W h e re d o e s th a t
le a v e to d a y s te a c h e rs o r le a d e rs ? T im e w a s s p e n t o n a d is c u s s io n o f th e n a tu re o f s p iritu a l
h ie ra rc h y , a n d G e o rg e Be n n e tt (s o n o f J.B. Be n n e tt) n o te d th e m u ltip le g ro u p s o f b ro th e rh o o d s
m e n tio n in T a le s , o n e o f w h ic h h e s a id m a y w e ll e x is t to d a y .
T h e firs t d is c u s s io n e n d e d w ith a b re a k a t 3 :5 0 p .m . S y th e n le d th e s e c o n d s e m in a r o n T h e
T e rro r o f th e S itu a tio n . T h e re w a s m u c h d is c u s s io n o f le g o m in is m s a n d a n a p p a re n t
a n a c h ro n is m in th e T a le s w ith re s p e c t to th e n a rra to rs p rio r k n o w le d g e o f e v e n ts th a t
o c c u rre d la t e r. T h e s e rio u s q u e s t io n w a s ra is e d : W h a t is t h e t e rro r? A n s w e rs w e re w id e -
ran g in g , in c lu d ed lo s s o f ev ery th in g , lo s s o f in d iv id u al life, lo s s o f h o p e, to a g en eral m alais e
w ith life . U n fo rtu n a te ly I h a d to m a k e a n e x it e a rly , a t 4 :5 0 p .m ., b e fo re th e s e s s io n w a s
c o n c lu d ed , s o I n ev er d id fin d o u t th e c o n s en s u s p o s itio n . I w o u ld h av e lik ed to h av e learn ed
w h a t m e m b e rs o f th e o v a l in d iv id u a lly a n d c o lle c tiv e ly fe lt a b o u t th e w o rd s itu a tio n .
I left im p res s ed w ith th e q u ality o f th e fac ilitatio n an d w ith th e s in c erity o f th e p artic ip an ts ,

th o u g h m an y o f th e p artic ip an ts w ere u n fam iliar w ith th e tex t an d in aw e o f th e s en io r m em b ers
w h o g rac io u s ly s h ared th eir v ery d etailed in s ig h ts . I k ep t try in g to rem em b er th e A rab ic term
fo r a M u s lim w h o h as m em o rized th e Ko ran .
A n o th er d is ap p o in tm en t w as th at I h ad to m is s th e p ian o rec ital o f E ls a D en zey , w h ic h b eg an at

8 :3 0 p .m ., w h o fo r fifty y e a rs h a s p e rfo rm e d a s a p ia n is t o f th e M o v e m e n ts in T o ro n to ,
b eg in n in g w ith th e w ell- rem em b ered A lfred E tiev an . T h is w as p artic u larly d is ap p o in tin g to m e
b e c a u s e , in N o v e m b e r 2 0 0 8 , fo r th is w e b s ite , I re v ie w e d M s . D e n ze y s ta s te fu lly p ro d u c e d C D
title d G u rd jie ff / D e H a rtm a n n . H e r p e rfo rm a n c e s a re m a rk e d b y g re a t d e lic a c y .
I learn ed fro m p eo p le w h o h ad atten d ed th e c o n c ert th at M rs . D en zey w as ac c o m p an ied b y

m em b ers o f tw o g en eratio n s o f h er fam ily an d th at th e feelin g w as th at th is c o n c ert m ig h t b e
h er fin al p erfo rm an c e. A g reat o n e it w as ! S h e p erfo rm ed th e c o m p o s itio n s w ritten fo r th e
M o m en ts as w ell as s o m e u n fam iliar c o n c ert c o m p o s itio n s . A s o n e lis ten er to ld m e, It las ted
ab o u t o n e h o u r, b u t it w as s u d d en ly o v er, as if it h ad b een o n ly fifteen m in u tes in len g th , s o
m o v in g w a s it.
F rid ay , A p ril 2 4 , 2 0 0 9 . T h e firs t s es s io n b eg an , after a o n e- m in u te s ittin g , w ith th e

p res en tatio n G u rd jieff E x erc is es an d th e T h ree Brain s d eliv ered b y Jo h n A m aral w h o is an
en g in eer b y train in g an d s o m eth in g o f a p o ly m ath . W h at h e d id , w ith w ell- p rep ared s lid es , w as
d is c u s s th e fu n c tio n o f th e ex erc is es id en tified w ith G u rd jieff an d h is fo llo w ers th at are u s ed in
w o rk s itu atio n s . T h ey are tran s m itted fro m p ers o n to p ers o n an d h en c e fro m g en eratio n to
g en eratio n o n e- o n - o n e o r in s m all g ro u p s .
C an th e ex erc is es b e d es c rib ed in w o rd s ? T h ey are n o t lik e rec ip es , eas ily s u m m arized , o r eas ily
c o m m u n ic ated , b ec au s e th ey req u ire a s tate o f b ein g an d u n d ers tan d in g th at c an n o t b e
d es c rib ed o r c o m m u n ic ated ex c ep t in p ers o n . T h ey rath er res em b le s h eet m u s ic , w h ic h v ery
talen ted m u s ic ian s c an p lay , b u t o th ers c an n o t. T h e train in g an d s k ill o f th e m u s ic ian is o f
p aram o u n t im p o rtan c e. S tu d en ts are req u ired to m ak e th em th eir o w n .
T h ere are ex erc is es fo r th e v ario u s c en tres , fo r v ario u s ty p es o f p eo p le, fo r v ario u s tim es o f th e

d ay , etc . M o rn in g ex erc is es are v ery im p o rtan t. T h ere are ex erc is es fo r v ario u s c en tres , fo r
c o n s c ien c e, etc . Jo h n w en t in to m o re d etail th an th is an d d is trib u ted tw o , m an y - p ag ed
p rin to u ts w h ic h I w ill p o u r o v er in th e w eek s ah ead .
H e s aid w e liv e in an ex c itin g an d ec u m en ic al tim e c h arac terized b y th e av ailab ility o f m u c h

m aterial. T h at rais ed a q u es tio n . W ill th e ex erc is es d is ap p ear if th ey are k ep t u n d er w rap s , s o to
s p eak ? O r s h o u ld th ey b e m ad e m o re w id ely av ailab le, p erh ap s p u b lis h ed o r ev en m ad e th e
s u b jec ts o f m u ltim ed ia p res en tatio n s ? M ec h an ic al rep ro d u c tio n o f th em is as u s eles s as
m ec h an ic al p erfo rm an c e o f th em . If w e w is h to ris e ab o v e th e av erag e, it is n ec es s ary to
s a c rific e s le e p .
I am n o t g o in g to g o in to m o re d etail th an th is b ec au s e, as Jo h n p o in ted o u t, s o m e p eo p le ev en
o b jec t to referrin g to th e ex erc is es b y n am e o u ts id e g ro u p s , th o u g h , in teres tin g ly , a s en io r
w o rk lead er s eated b es id e m e tu rn ed to m e an d s aid , W riters lik e y o u s h o u ld b e c o llec tin g
th e m a n d p u b lis h in g th e m . S o it is a c o n tro v e rs ia l s u b je c t.
T h e re w a s a liv e ly d is c u s s io n a b o u t M r. G .s v ie w o n d re a m s , c o m m e n ts fro m M a u ric e N ic o ll,

M arg aret A n d ers o n , an d E th el M ers to n . Jo h n s aid it s h o u ld b e p o s s ib le to trac e th e lin eag e o f
th e ex erc is es b as ed o n th eir in d iv id u al c h arac teris tic s , th o u g h w h eth er th e effo rt is w o rth w h ile
is w o rth c o n s id eratio n . O n e m em b er rais ed th e s u b jec t o f T as k s an d it w as s u g g es ted th at a
tas k is a tim e- red u c ed ex erc is e. I rem em b er th is b ein g d is c u s s ed w ay b ac k in th e 1 9 5 0 s . T h e
s e s s io n e n d e d a t 1 0 :4 5 a .m . w ith a c o ffe e b re a k .
A t 1 1 :0 0 a .m ., K e ith Bu zze ll s p o k e o n D o - R e - M e o f F o o d , A ir a n d Im p re s s io n s . H e is a
s eas o n ed p res en ter an d w ith s lid es an d o n e h an d o u t related th e T ab le o f H y d ro g en s to th e
v ario u s ty p es o f fo o d an d u ltim ately th e c o atin g o f h ig h er b ein g b o d ies . T h ere is th e fo o d
th at g ro w s o n th e s u rfac e o f th e earth , fo o d th at ex is ts in th e p lan etary atm o s p h ere, an d fo o d
th a t c o m e s fro m th e s u n . O n e o f h is c a tc h y p h ra s e s w a s O n ly life c a n s u s ta in life .
H y d ro g e n 7 6 8 is th e fo o d o f m a n , b u t th e c a te g o rie s a re e n o rm o u s . In fa c t, w h ile I d id n o t
c o n d u c t a w o rd - c o u n t, I as s u m e Keith u s ed th e w o rd en o rm o u s tw en ty - o n e tim es to d es c rib e
th e c ateg o ries o n th e T ab le, an d q u ite rig h tly . H e als o tu rn ed h is atten tio n to th e d ifferen c e
b e tw e e n m a s s a n d n o n - m a s s . A t tim es I th o u g h t I w as atten d in g a lec tu re o n th e Jo y o f
C h em is try . A n y d ietic ian s in th e audienc e w o uld hav e been lo s t!
T h ere w as an in teres tin g an aly s is o f th e ro le o f p ro tein s an d h o w m o d ern s c ien c e is rev ealin g

th e fa c ts o f d ig e s tio n w h ic h a re in lin e w ith w h a t is d is c u s s e d in T a le s . W e le a rn b y a n a lo g y :
H ig h e r h y d ro g e n s d ig e s t lo w e r h y d ro g e n s . T h e s p e a k e r s u g g e s te d th a t th e re is a w a y o f
u n d e rs ta n d in g h o w o u r m in d s c a n tra n s fo rm o u r p h y s ic a l b ra in s . T h e in p u t o f th e th re e b ra in s
is th e s u b s tra te o f th e s p iritu a l b o d y , th e D N A o f th e k e s d ja n .
D u rin g th e d is c u s s io n it w as m en tio n ed th at th ere are ten b ac teria fo r ev ery c ell in th e h u m an

b o d y . W e c o u ld n o t liv e w ith o u t a ll o u r b a c te ria . W e h a v e to g e t a lo n g w ith e a c h o th e r. K e ith
q u o te d a te a c h e r w h o a s k e d , H o w c a n y o u e x p e c t to h a v e e x tra k n o w le d g e if y o u d o n t k n o w
o rd in a ry k n o w le d g e . T h e d is c u s s io n e n d e d w ith a d is c u s s io n o f m a g n e tic v s . m e c h a n ic a l fie ld s
o f in flu en c e an d th e h u m an w ill an d w h eth er it c an b e s u b o rn ed , fo llo w ed b y th e d ifferen c es
b e tw e e n b o d y a n d c e n tre . It w a s 1 :0 0 p .m .
A t 2 :3 0 p .m ., a fte r a b rie f s ittin g , N ic k Bry c e le d a d is c u s s io n o f C h a p te r 2 7 , T h e o rg a n iza tio n

fo r M a n s E x is te n c e C re a te d b y th e V e ry S a in tly A s h ia ta S h ie m a s h . N ic k is a v e te ra n o f th e s e
c o n feren c es , h av in g atten d ed all ab u t o n e o f th em . H e is a res id en t o f O ttaw a an d h as a d eep
an d c o m fo rtin g v o ic e. M o re to th e p o in t, h e h as m ad e T ales h is o w n . I w ill n o t try to
s u m m a rize th e d is c u s s io n h e re , a s it s e e m e d to m e to c o n s is t o f a n u m b e r o f fre s h s ta rts , b u t
h e elic ited a h ig h lev el o f c o m m en ts an d o b s erv atio n s d is c u s s in g th e s h o c k s an d tw o h o ly
m en w h o s e n am es s u g g es t Po n d erin g an d S en s in g . T h e tex t w as d ec lared to b e fu ll o f
an alo g ies an d th ere w as a u s efu l d is c u s s io n as to w h eth er th e tex t, at p o in ts , s aid w h at it
m ean t, o r m ean t m o re th an it s aid .
C o n s c ien c e w as th e s u b jec t o f th e p as s ag e, an d w h at I learn ed is w h at o n e m em b er o f th e g ro u p

s aid is th e d ifferen c e h ere w ith res p ec t to th e b ite o f c o n s c ien c e an d th e rem o rs e o f
c o n s c ien c e, tw o d ifferen t th in g s . Is c o n s c ien c e really b u ried o r is it c lo s e to th e s u rfac e? A
s tu d en t in th e Ben n ett lin e s u g g es ted it is n o t all th at d eep ly b u ried , b u t a s tu d en t o f a
d iffe re n t lin e s u g g e s te d th a t it is d e e p ly b u rie d . T h e re s e e m e d a g re e m e n t th a t o n e s c o n s c ie n c e
s ig n a ls th a t I h a v e a n a lte rn a tiv e a n d , th e re a fte r, I h a v e n o a lte rn a tiv e . It is n o t e a s ily
s ilen c ed . Is c o n s c ien c e p art o f es s en c e? Is it o u ts id e es s en c e? Is it p art o f th e u n c o n s c io u s ?
N ic o ll w a s q u o te d a s s a y in g th a t a c tin g a g a in s t o n e s c o n s c ie n c e is a c tin g in a w a y
u n b e c o m in g to th re e - b ra in e d b e in g s . T h e s p e a k e r s u g g e s te d , E v e ry a s p e c t o f G u rd jie ffs
teac h in g h as to b e red u c ed to s o m e s o m eth in g th at is p rac tic al an d s im p le, o th erw is e it h as n o
u s e fo r u s . T h e m o d e ra to r in tro d u c e d th e im a g e o f S le e p in g Be a u ty w ith th e d e s ire o f th e
P rin c e to a w a k e n h e r, i.e ., o n e s c o n s c ie n c e . D is c u s s io n e n d e d w ith th e s u g g e s tio n th a t
c o n s c ie n c e n e v e r a llo w s a n y o n e to s le e p in p e a c e .
T h e d is c u s s io n e n d e d a t 4 :1 0 p .m . w ith a c o ffe e b re a k , a n d I h a d to m a k e a q u ic k a n d q u ie t
ex it. This tim e I as k ed D av id A lm o n, a yo ung m an o f the Bennett line, if he w o uld ac c ept a
ta s k . A t firs t h e w a s c a g e y , b u t th e n h e a g re e d to d o th e b e s t h e c o u ld . H e re is w h a t h e
rep o rted ab o u t th e s em in ar o n th e to p ic o f T h e C h ief C u lp rit in th e D es tru c tio n o f th e L ab o u rs
o f A s h ia ta S h ie m a s h . It ta k e s th e fo rm o f a p o e m :
th e c h ief c u lp rit in th e d es tru c tio n
at all th e v ery s ain tly lab o u rs o f as h iata s h iem as h
to g iv e is to rec eiv e
s h all w e rep lac e o n e w o rd w ith an o th er?
C o m b in e p arts w h ic h b lin d n am es s ep arate
in ten tio n b irth ed
po tential liv es
reas o n s u b s tan c e in o b jec ts
p res en c e k n o w s w h ere y o u r w ater is
s w im in it until the bo at is Fo und
rid e it to w ard s th e o th er
s et s ail to gether
let the light guide
m etap h o r literal
q u es tio n s c ritic al
les s o n s fro m th es e s tars alig h t
fo o ls as leep , th e c rew w e n eed
b e w ary . F o r tales o f lo re
n atu re attes ts o c ean to s h o re
all tru e in s id e
fro m o n e o f m an y in h ab itan ts o f th is earth .
E la n S ic ro ffs p ia n o c o n c e rt b e g a n a t 8 :3 0 p .m . E la n s tu d ie d a t th e Ju llia rd , m e t Be n n e tt in 1 9 7 2 ,
a n d th e n w o rk e d a t C la y m o n t. (D u rin g o n e o f th e d is c u s s io n s h e re f e rre d in te re s tin g ly to s o m e
o f h is e x p e rie n c e s th e re .) In a ll h e p e rfo rm e d tw e n ty c o m p o s itio n s a n d re c e iv e d a s ta n d in g
o v atio n . T h ree o f th e c o m p o s itio n s h ad b een w ritten b y T h o m as d e H artm an n in 1 9 0 2 an d tw o
o f th em in 1 9 5 3 : th e early o n es w ere ro m an tic in th e m an n er o f R ac h m an in o ff, th e later o n es
d is s o n an t in th e m an n er o f S trav in s k y . E lan is p lan n in g to rec o rd th es e u n k n o w n D e
H artm an n s .
T h e o th er tw elv e c o m p o s itio n s w ere p arts fro m th e fo llo w in g g ro u p s : A s ian S o n g s an d R h y th m s ;

H y m n s , Pray ers , an d R itu als ; M u s ic o f th e S ay y id s an d D erv is h es ; H y m n s fro m th e G reat T em p le
a n d O th e r S e le c te d W o rk s . H e title d th e p ro g ra m Jo u rn e y to In a c c e s s ib le P la c e s a n d in d e e d
th ey w ere jo u rn ey s to p lac es b o th faraw ay an d c lo s e at h an d , w ith all th eir fam iliar o v erto n es
an d u n d erto n es . H e p lay ed th es e G u rd jieff- in s p ired c o m p o s itio n s in a s tro n g , m as c u lin e
m a n n e r a s m u s ic to m o v e o n e s m u s c le s a n d th e n o n e s e m o tio n s . In a b rie f c o m m e n ta ry h e
ex p lain ed th at th e w ritin g o f th es e c o llab o ratio n s to o k p lac e b etw een th e tw o m en in p u b lic
g a th e rin g s a t th e P rio ry , s o th e y p a rta k e o f th is th ird fo rc e .
S a tu rd a y , A p ril 2 5 , 9 :3 0 a .m . G e o rg e Be n n e tt s p o k e o n C o n s c io u s L a b o u r a n d In te n tio n a l
S u ffe rin g : Be in g - P a rtk d o lg - D u ty . G e o rg e h a s a s tro n g p re s e n c e a n d a s tro n g v o ic e a s w e ll a s a
s tro n g s e n s e o f o rg a n iza tio n . H e b a s e d h is c o m m e n ts o n a p a p e r d e liv e re d b y J.B. Be n n e tt a t
S h erb o u rn e in A p ril 1 9 7 4 an d th ro u g h it d is tin g u is h ed v ario u s ty p es o f lab o u r. C o n s c io u s
lab o u r is rec o g n izin g w h at is n eed ed to b e d o n e, d o in g it w ith o u t ex p ec tin g a rew ard , an d b ein g
c o n ten t to s erv e th e fu tu re. In ten tio n al s u fferin g is v o lu n tarily ac c ep tin g th e s itu atio n ; in d eed ,
it is tak in g o n th e b u rd en o f a tas k k n o w in g it w ill c reate a lo t o f tro u b le.
G eo rg e m ad e g o o d u s e o f s lid es an d d iag ram s . O n e s lid e, to w h ic h h e retu rn ed , w as a

p h o to g rap h th at s h o w ed a w o m an an d a m an w o rk in g a h an d s aw w ith a c h ild lo o k in g o n , th e
c h ild rep res en tin g th e g en eratio n o f th e fu tu re. H e th en d is c u s s ed th e tw in fig u res o f C h o o n -
Kil- T ez an d C h o n - T ro - Pelj an d th e reas o n s fo r th e w o rld aris in g an d m ain ten an c e an d th en
p erfec tin g o f
h ig h e r- b e in g b o d ie s . H e a m u s in g ly re fe rre d to M r. G u rd jie ff h a s h a v in g c h u tzp a h in a c c e p tin g

all m an n er o f h ard s h ip s to m ak e th e F o u rth W ay k n o w n in th e W es t, ev en d eliv erin g a lec tu re at
H arv ard .
H ere are s o m e o f h is rem ark s in p as s in g , s o m e m ad e d u rin g th e p res en tatio n an d s o m e m ad e

d u rin g th e q u e s tio n p e rio d th a t fo llo w e d th e ta lk : E g o is m s o w s th e s e e d s o f d is a s te r. H e
d is c u s s e d h o w a frie n d , a p p rize d o f in o p e ra b le c a n c e r, s a id , Im g o in g to liv e w ith th e d y in g o f
it. A ll e x p e rim e n ts a re h a za rd o u s , o th e rw is e th e y a re n o t in te re s tin g . M y d e b t to o u r
e x is te n c e m u s t b e p a id . H e in tro d u c e d a p o w e rfu l n o tio n : W e m u s t b e in th e p re s e n t, b u t a t
th e s a m e tim e w e m a y m a k e th e p re s e n t b ig g e r. I fo u n d th is la tte r s u g g e s tio n to b e a k e e p e r.
A t 1 1 :3 0 , Ja m e s G e o rg e s p o k e o n W h a t D o e s G re a t N a t u re N o w R e q u ire o f U s ? D r. G e o rg e h e
h o ld s th e h o n o rary d eg ree fro m th e U n iv ers ity o f T o ro n to o f D o c to r o f S ac red L etters is an
eleg an t fig u re o f a m an , in h is n in ety - firs t y ear, w h o s to o d erec t, c o n s u lted a s c rip t w ith o u t
s q u in tin g o r w ith o u t w earin g s p ec tac les , an d s h ared h is c o n v ic tio n s w ith h is au d ien c e. Peo p le
p aid rap t atten tio n to th e c lim ate- c o n s c io u s n es s th es is o f h is lates t p u b lic atio n , T h e L ittle
G re e n Bo o k o f A w a k e n in g .
H e a s k e d a n in te re s tin g q u e s tio n : W h a t if G e o rg e G u rd jie f h a d n e v e r w ritte n A ll a n d
E v e ry th in g . S u p p o s e th e re h a d b e e n n o a c c id e n t in 1 9 2 3 ; s u p p o s e h e h a d n o t fe lt c o m p e lle d to
red irec t h is en erg ies fro m m ain tain in g th e Prio ry to p u ttin g w o rd s to p ap er. W h at w o u ld w e h av e
to d ay ? T h e q u es tio n w as n ev er an s w ered , fo r it is u n an s w erab le, b u t it is s trik in g .
H e th en in tro d u c ed h is th em e an d th es is : G lo b al w arm in g is th e m o s t c h allen g in g is s u e o f th e

tw en ty - firs t c en tu ry an d o u r s u rv iv al as a s p ec ies is at s tak e. W e h u m an s h av e tru ly b ec o m e
th e b ip e d d e s tro y e r o f N a tu re s g o o d . H e s a id h e w a s a n e c o lo g is t b e fo re it w a s fa s h io n a b le
to b e g re e n , w e ll b e fo re A l G o re b e c a m e o n e . G o re h a s c o m e a ro u n d to th e p o s itio n th a t w e
n eed a n ew an d d ifferen t m o rality an d s p iritu ality . W e m u s t o p en o u r h earts to th e u n k n o w n , to
th e fu tu re.
D u rin g t h e q u e s t io n p e rio d h e w a s a s k e d , D o y o u s e e h o p e ? A f t e r d e lib e ra t in g , h e s a id , Y e s , I

d o , a lm o s t e c h o in g Ba ra c k O b a m a s s lo g a n Y e s w e c a n . H e th e n re m in is c e d a b o u t h is y e a rs a t
th e U n ited N atio n s , w h en D ag H am m ars k jo ld w as th e D irec to r G en eral an d w as in flu en c ed b y
the Pak is tan am bas s ado r w ho w as als o head o f o ne o f the leading and enlightened Is lam ic
g ro u p s . Jim s s u g g e s tio n w a s th a t w e d id n o t k n o w o f th is c u rre n t o f in flu e n c e th e n , a n d w e d o
n o t k n o w ab o u t it n o w , s o w e h av e n o reas o n to as s u m e th at it d o es n o t ex is t to d ay . T h e
a w a k e n in g h is a rip p le e ffe c t. N o w it is n e e d e d m o re th a n e v e r.
H e p ic k ed u p o n th e s u g g es tio n o f an earlier s p eak er th at fau lts are fo u n d o n all lev els , ev en

th e h ig h e s t th a t w e k n o w . O n th e a c q u is itio n o f c o n s c ie n c e : W e d o n t a c q u ire c o n s c ie n c e a ll
a t o n c e . O n c e w e a c q u ire it, it is n o t n e c e s s a rily th e re a ll th e tim e . A s k e d a b o u t w h a t m ig h t b e
c alled s p iritu al s u rv iv als fro m fo rm er c iv ilizatio n s u n k n o w n to h is to ry , h e ad m itted th ere m ig h t
be a beehiv e effec t and that s uc c es s iv e c iv ilizatio ns m ay hav e pas s ed o n to us their qualities ,
p e rh a p s t h ro u g h o u r D N A . W h e re d o e s t h a t t a k e u s n o w ? S c ie n t is t s a re o n ly t o d a y d is c o v e rin g
th e n eu ro p las tic ity o f o u r b rain s .
A s k ed fo r h is th o u g h ts o n Barac k O b am a, h e reiterated h e d o es h av e h o p e. It w as o b s erv ed th at

b a ra c k m e a n s p re s e n c e (o r p e rh a p s g ra c e ), a n d th e n e w U .S . P re s id e n t h a s c h a n g e d th in g s ,
b y c re a t in g a n a t m o s p h e re o f h o p e in t h e e n t ire w o rld . W h y n o t h o p e ? W e n e e d n e w e n e rg y
s o u rc es , a n ew M an h attan Pro jec t to fin d th em to c as t as id e c o al- fire p lan ts , ad o p t th e leas t
d am ag in g tec h n o lo g ies , an d tak e a c lo s er lo o k at th e ill- effec ts o f elec tric ity , es p ec ially o n
c h ild ren . T h ere is h o p e in zero - p o in t en erg y . A n o th er reas o n fo r h o p e is th at life h as a
f o u rt e e n - m illio n (o r f o u rt e e n - b illio n ?) y e a r h is t o ry . D o n o t u n d e re s t im a t e t h e f o rc e o f lo v e in
guiding the ev o lutio n o f life.
A t 2 :4 0 p .m , th e s e m in a r fo c u s e d o n C h a p te r 5 , M r. X o r C a p ta in P o g o s s ia n , o f M e e tin g s w ith
R e m a rk a b le M e n . It w a s le d b y N ic k w h o to ld u s th a t th e p o p u la r w o rk w a s o rig in a lly c a lle d
P o rtra its . T h e re a fte r, fo r m e , it w a s d o w n h ill a ll th e w a y . I h a d la s t re a d th e b o o k h a lf a
d ec ad e ag o ; m an y w h o w ere p res en t h ad n o t read it at all. It w as th e c las s ic c as e o f a
k n o w led g eab le an d p atien t d is c u s s io n - lead er an d a d u ll, ill- p rep ared c las s . T h ere w ere s o m e
ex c h an g es o n th e n atu re o f s p id er- v en o m . T h e q u es tio n w as as k ed , W h at m ak es Po g o s s ian
re m a rk a b le ? Is h e re m a rk a b le b e c a u s e h e a lw a y s w a n t s t o w o rk ? H o w d o e s h is b o d y re s e m b le
th e m ac h in e- en g in es th at h e ten d s ? Is th e s h ip a m etap h o r fo r h is o w n b o d y ? T h e q u es tio n , A re
t h e p o rt ra it s o f t h e p e o p le d e s c rib e d in t h e b o o k b a s e d o n re a l p e o p le ? e lic it e d t h e re p ly ,
D o e s it m a t t e r?
I c o u ld n o t re m a in fo r th e s e c o n d s e m in a r, s c h e d u le d fo r 4 :1 5 p .m ., w h ic h w a s d e v o te d to
E g o is m an d fac ilitated b y D o ro th y U s is k in , b u t atten tiv e to m y d u ty to rep o rt o n th e
p ro c eed in g s , I tu rn ed to th e y o u n g m an w h o w as s eated to m y rig h t an d as k ed h im if h e w o u ld
ac c ep t a tas k an d p rep are fo r m e a s y n o p s is o f th e d is c u s s io n . A fter all, h e w as p rep arin g to
s p en d th ree m o n th s in a R es id en tial Prac tic u m in M as s ac h u s etts ru n b y Ben Ben n ett. H e
h es itated an d th en ag reed . H e w ro te a p o em an d req u es ted an o n y m ity . H ere it is :
w ho s e w ill m ight help yo u o ut o f yo ur gao lis hes ?
does hum our shak e them off?
w ho laughs ?
w h at feels th is lau g h ter?
ju g g lin g w o rld s s tates th e jes ter to k in g
fo r the ho us e his danc e pleas es
c o n ten t to b e th e w o rd th en
as eyes o n s heep k eep w o lf at bay
fro m th e h o le o f th es e s p rin g
T h a t w a s th e la s t fo rm a l s e s s io n o f th e c o n fe re n c e . T h e b a n q u e t c o m m e n c e d a t 7 :3 0 p .m . th a t
ev en in g w ith Ian d eliv erin g s o m e an n o u n c em en ts . T h ere w ere s o m e to as ts , in c lu d in g a s w eet
o n e to th e m e m o ry o f M r. G u rd jie ffs w ife . T h e n th e b a n q u e t s p e a k e r w a s in tro d u c e d . T h e
s p eak er h ap p en ed to b e m e, s o I tu rn ed th e tab les o n Ian b y p res en tin g h im w ith a c o p y o f o n e
o f m y b o o k s (I h a d c le a re d th is w ith Ia n f irs t), m a k in g th e s u g g e s tio n th a t h e re g a rd it a s th e
g ift o f th e th irty - fiv e o r s o p eo p le p res en t.
The audienc e to o k its c ue and s to o d up to applaud Ian, w ho then did the gentlem anly thing o f
ac k n o w led g in g th e h elp h e h ad rec eiv ed fro m h is ad v is o ry b o ard , th e read in g p an el, an d th e
p lan n in g c o m m ittee. A s fo r th e b an q u et s p eec h , I c an n o t m ean in g fu lly d es c rib e m y tw en ty -
m in u te talk , d eliv ered w ith o u t n o tes b u t I w ill d raw th e atten tio n o f th e read er to th e
s u p p lem en t th is rep o rt, w h ere a fu ller v ers io n o f th e s p eec h ap p ears .
T h e m en u o ffered a c h o ic e o f d in n ers : ru b b er c h ic k en o r p s eu d o v eg etarian s tew , s o th e fo o d

w as n o t m u c h , th o u g h th e d es s erts w ere o f th e tas ty , s to re- b o u g h t v ariety . T h e w h ite w in e w as
lig h t, th e red h eav y . N o o n e g ain ed w eig h t o n th e fo o d an d n o o n e g o t d ru n k o n th e w in e. Y et I
w o n d ered , b ec au s e it s eem s th ere is a c u s to m at th es e c o n v en tio n s th at p eo p le th ro u g h o u t th e
m e a l le t d o w n th e ir h a ir n o t th e h a ir o f th e d o g , m e rc ifu lly a n d te ll b a w d y jo k e s . N o w ,
o n e o f m y o c c u p atio n s h as b een th at o f jo k e- c o llec to r, an d m y o c c u p atio n al h azard is h earin g
rec y c led jo k es . I h ad h eard all o f th es e jo k es b efo re, th o u g h o n ly a few w ere fu n n y en o u g h to
b e rev iv ed . Y et m o s t o f th em w ere to ld w ith s o m e g u s to .
S u n d a y , A p ril 2 6 , 2 0 0 9 . W h e re D o W e G o f ro m H e re ? s o u n d s lik e a n e x is t e n t ia l q u e s t io n , b u t it
w as really a p rac tic al q u es tio n in lin e w ith an ac ad em ic p o s t- m o rtem c o u p led w ith a p lan n in g
s es s io n fo r th e n ex t c o n feren c e. T h ere w ere tw en ty - fo u r atten d ees s eated in a c irc le, an d th e
s es s io n w as m o d erated m o s t ad ep tly b y Ian . It c o n s is ted o f a s eries o f an im ated d is c u s s io n s o n
th e s u b je c ts o f n e x t y e a rs c o n fe re n c e , b e g in n in g w ith s h o u ld th e re b e o n e , fo llo w e d b y w h e re
s h o u ld it tak e p lac e. T h ereafter th e g ro u p d is c u s s ed th e q u ality o r lac k o f q u ality o f th e p res en t
p ro g ram m in g , th e in tro d u c tio n o f w ay s an d m ean s to in c reas e aw aren es s th ro u g h p h y s ic al
m o v em en t, th e n eed to reth in k th e fo rm at o f th e s em in ar p art o f th e p ro g ram , an d th e ad d ed
attrac tio n o f lo c al to u ris m .
E v ery o n e w as in fav o u r o f h o ld in g th e fifteen th c o n feren c e, an d ab o u t th ree- q u arters o f th e

p a rtic ip a n ts in d ic a te d th e y w o u ld a tte n d n e x t y e a rs e v e n t. A s n o c o n fe re n c e s h a d y e t ta k e n
p lac e in S o u th A m eric a, o n e o f th e p artic ip an ts w h o liv es in M ex ic o s u g g es ted Bu en o s A ires o r
L im a as c ities th at h av e th e ad v an tag es o f in tern atio n al airp o rts an d p ro x im ity to s ites o f
in teres t lik e M ac h u Pic c h u w h ic h m em b ers m ig h t w is h to v is it.
It w as s tres s ed th at th e c h o ic e o f th e c ity m ig h t b e b as ed o n w h eth er o r n o t it is th e h o m e o f

g ro u p m em b ers w h o w o u ld atten d in n u m b ers an d c o n trib u te to th e c au s e b y h elp in g to m ak e
arran g em en ts , etc . It w as felt th at T o ro n to h ad b een a s u c c es s in th at it h ad attrac ted m an y n ew
m em b ers w h o h ad trav elled fro m at leas t fo u r d is tan t C an ad ian c ities to atten d .
A n o th er reas o n w h y th is c o n feren c e w as in teres tin g w as th at it attrac ted a g o o d ly n u m b er o f

p a rtic ip a n ts o f th e Be n n e tt lin e a g e , o n e o f w h o m p re s e n te d (a n d d id it w e ll) a m a jo r p a p e r. N o
d e c is io n a s to th e s ite o f n e x t y e a rs c o n fe re n c e w a s ta k e n , a s th e o rg a n ize rs w e re o p e n to
s u g g e s tio n s a n d o ffe rs , th o u g h o n e id e a w a s th a t th e s ite o f n e x t y e a rs c o n fe re n c e m ig h t b e
T o ro n to ag ain ! W h ile I th in k th is is u n lik ely to o c c u r, I c an s ee w h y th at d ec is io n w o u ld b e
p o p u la r w ith th e A m e ric a n p a rtic ip a n ts , a s C a n a d a s h a re s a b o rd e r w ith th e U n ite d S ta te s (n o w
a n a rm e d o n e , a la s !) a n d T o ro n to h a s m a n y c o n fe re n c e h o te ls th a t a re m o d e s t in p ric e .
T h e g ro u p ag reed th at th e q u ality o f th e p ap ers w as h ig h , s o m e h ig h er th an o th ers , an d th at th e

n u m b e r o f p a p e rs (f o u r) w a s a b o u t rig h t. Y e t it w a s n o te d th a t p ro p o s a ls f o r a b o u t s ix
ad d itio n al p ap ers h ad b een en tertain ed b u t c o u ld n o t b e ac c o m m o d ated . T h ere w as in c o n c lu s iv e
ta lk o f in c lu d in g a n a d d itio n a l d a y fo r p a p e rs a n d s e m in a rs , i.e ., m a k in g it a fo u r- d a y a ffa ir
rath er th an o n e o f th ree d ay s .
T h ere w as g en eral ag reem en t th at th e s em in ars , as d is tin c t fro m th e talk s , w ere n o t as

p ro d u c tiv e as th ey c o u ld b e. T h is ag reem en t s u rp ris ed m e, as I h ad c o m e to th e c o n c lu s io n th at
I w as th e o n ly p artic ip an t w h o w as ex as p erated w ith th em . A ls o to m y s u rp ris e w as th e fac t
th at ev en th e fac ilitato rs o f th e s em in ars ex p res s ed s o m e d is c o n ten t. It w as felt th at w h ile
m u c h h ad b een g ain ed , o p p o rtu n ities h ad b een lo s t.
V ario u s rem ed ies w ere s u g g es ted : Break in g th e b ig o v al in to th ree s m all o v als ; d is trib u tin g in
ad v an c e a PD F o f a p ag e o r tw o o f th e tex t an d th en fo c u s in g o n it, p erh ap s w ith a lis t o f
q u es tio n s an d a lis t o f term s ; in tro d u c in g w ay s an d m ean s o f en h an c in g p o w ers o f
c o n c en tratio n an d en c o u rag in g c o n trib u tio n s to th e d is c u s s io n .
O n th e latter s u b jec t, th ere w as a d eb ate b etw een w h at I s aw as a d is ag reem en t b etw een th o s e

w h o v iew ed th e s em in ars as s tu d y s es s io n s an d th o s e w h o v iew ed th em as s ittin g s . Pro p o n en ts
o f th e fo rm er rec o m m en d ed th e lim ited in tro d u c tio n o f s tan d ard p s y c h o lo g ic al tec h n iq u es u s ed
b y p ro fes s io n p res en ters in th e field s o f b u s in es s an d p ers o n al em p o w erm en t. Pro p o n en ts o f
th e latter felt th at th e s es s io n s s h o u ld b e allo w ed to flo w , as p artic ip an ts m ad e th eir o w n
c o n n ec tio n s o r n o t. It w as s u g g es ted th at I m ig h t p rep are a lis t o f s o m e s u g g es tio n s o f
p ro c ed u res th at c o u ld b e u s ed b y fac ilitato rs to en h an c e th e em p o w er th e au d ien c e. I ag reed to
d raw u p s u c h a lis t.
T h ere w as a d eb ate as to w h eth er o r n o t s p ec ific ex erc is es u s ed b y g ro u p lead ers s h o u ld b e

in tro d u c ed . T h e arg u m en t ag ain s t th eir in tro d u c tio n s tem m ed fro m th e d es c rip tio n o f th e
c o n feren c e as a n o n - w o rk ac tiv ity . O n th e s am e b as is , it w as arg u ed th at th ere w as n o p lac e
h ere fo r th e M o v em en ts . It w as ev en s u g g es ted th at th e tw o ev en in g s d ev o ted to th e G u rd jieff-
d e H artm an n w ere ex tran eo u s . C o u n ter- arg u m en ts w ere h eard . T h ere w as n o res o lu tio n .
M em b ers fro m N o rw ay , in p artic u lar, w ere c o n c ern ed th at th e c o n feren c e s h o u ld rem ain tru e to
its a im o f b rin g in g to g e th e r p e o p le w h o s h a re a n in te re s t in p lu n g in g in to th e b o o k . T h e y
w e re b o th e re d th a t s o c ia l a c tiv itie s (in c lu d in g p e rf o rm a n c e s o f th e d e H a rtm a n n m u s ic ) w e re a
d is trac tio n , an d w ere ag ain s t c o n n ec tin g th e c o n feren c es w ith to u ris m an d ex o tic lo c ales . It
w as s u g g es ted th at a to u ris m c o m p o n en t c o u ld b e an ad d o n fo r th o s e p artic ip an ts w h o
w an ted to ex p erien c e th e c ity th ey w ere v is itin g . M an y m em b ers felt th at th e c o n feren c e in
G reec e w as w o rth w h ile b o th in its elf an d fo r th e to u ris m c o m p o n en t.
It w as ag reed th at th e c all fo r p ap ers s h o u ld in c lu d e a c all fo r s em in ar lead ers , as th e latter w as

o ften d o n e o n at th e las t m o m en t o n an ad - h o c b as is . It w as felt th at th e c o n feren c es , in
a d d itio n to m e e tin g th e n e e d s o f its re g u la r p a rtic ip a n ts , s h o u ld a d d n e w b lo o d , i.e ., a ttra c t
n ew m em b ers . C o n c ern w as ex p res s ed th at s o m e o rg an izatio n s w ere tellin g th eir m em b ers to
av o id th e A & E C o n feren c es .
I felt a s en s e o f lo s s w h en w e b eg an to s h ak e o r w av e h an d s an d s ay au rev o ir b u t n o t
g o o d b y e . O v e r th e f o u r d a y s I h a d le a rn e d (y e t a g a in ) n o t to ju d g e p e o p le b y th e ir a p p e a ra n c e s
in d eed , th e fello w in m o to rc y c le g arb tu rn ed o u t to b e em in en tly th o u g h tfu l an d frien d ly ,
w h ereas th e p ers o n w h o lo o k ed lik e an o ffic e m an ag er tu rn ed o u t to b e d is o rg an ized , an d th e
w o m an w h o s eem ed s elf- c o n tain ed w as s o m ew h at s c atter- b rain ed . Peo p le s h o w ed u n ex p ec ted
en th u s ias m s an d s m iled an d w ere s o frien d ly . Peo p le w ere frien d s . In d eed , ev ery o n e s eem ed s o
aliv e!
Bu t th e b ig s h o c k c am e w h en I left th e h o tel an d d ro v e to o u r lo c al s h o p p in g p laza to b u y s o m e

g ro c eries . I en tered o u r b u s y s u p erm ark et, o n ly to s en s e th at th e c ro w d o f s h o p p ers w as a flo c k
o f p eo p le w h o w ere as leep .
G reetin g s fro m C an ad a
H ere is th e c o m p lete tex t o f th e s p eec h th at I d eliv ered at th e b an q u et o f th e A ll & E v ery th in g

C o n feren c e h eld in T o ro n to , S atu rd ay , A p ril 2 5 , 2 0 0 9 .
It is a d ream c o m e tru e fo r m e to atten d an A & E C o n feren c e, fo r I h av e b een read in g th e

c o n fe re n c e s a n n u a l p ro c e e d in g s fro m th e firs t c o n fe re n c e h e ld in Bo g n o r R e g is fo u rte e n y e a rs
ag o . It is tw o d ream s c o m e tru e to b e in v ited to ad d res s th e au d ien c e at th e b an q u et. It is a
m o s t u n ex p ec ted h o n o u r.
I w as d es iro u s o f atten d in g all th e s es s io n s an d o f s ay in g little, as I h av e n o d etailed

k no w ledge o f Tales and I did no t w ant to m ak e a fo o l o f m ys elf. I k no w m y lim its . But I
im m ed iately ac c ep ted th e in v itatio n to ad d res s th e b an q u et b ec au s e I w as w o rried th at th ere
w as n o C an ad ian c o n ten t in th e p ro c eed in g s at all. A s id e fro m fac ilitato rs Ian , w h o w as b o rn
in N ia g a ra F a lls , a n d N ic k , w h o liv e s in O tta w a n o p re s e n te r w a s a C a n a d ia n . (T h is w a s b e f o re
I le a rn e d to m y d e lig h t th a t Jim G e o rg e w o u ld b e ta k in g p a rt in th e p ro g ra m .) I w o rrie d fo r a b o u t
th re e m in u te s w h a t I c o u ld p o s s ib ly a n d m e a n in g fu lly s a y to th e c o m p a n io n s o f th e b o o k . Bu t
I k n e w in m y h e a rts c o re th a t I c o u ld c o n v e y m y p a rtic u la r e n th u s ia s m fo r th e c o n ju n c tio n o f
c o ns c io us nes s s tudies and C anadiana.
In th e p as t it w as c u s to m ary to en v is ag e frag m en ts o f a u n k n o w n teac h in g in term s o f

g eo g rap h ic al lo c ales , an d th ere are in s ig h ts to b e g ain ed fro m es tab lis h in g s u c h v an tag e-
p o in ts . T rad itio n al v alu es in C ro to n a, S o u th ern Italy , m ay n o t b e trad itio n al v alu es in C ro to n a,
S o u th ern C alifo rn ia. In d eed , a c h ain o f c ities lin k s th e W o rk , s tartin g o r res tartin g in S t.
Peters b u rg an d M o s c o w , b u t b eg in n in g m u c h earlier, p reh is to ric ally p erh ap s , at s o m e lo s t
lo c ale in E g y p t o r E th io p ia o r th e C au c as u s o r s o m e rem o te m o n as tery o f C en tral A s ia.
G iv en s u c h ex o tic lo c ales , I am s o rry th at y o u are an c h o red to th is lo c atio n : an u n p ro m is in g

n o n - n eig h b o u rh o o d in th is c ity o f fu n c tio n in g n eig h b o u rh o o d s . T o ro n to h as m an y c h arm s th at
y o u w ill n o t ex p erien c e. T h ere is an o ld s ay in g attrib u ted to a fo rm er m ay o r: N o o n e s h o u ld
e v e r v is it T o ro n to fo r th e firs t tim e . S o c o m e b a c k a g a in to s a v o u r th e c ity . L e t u s fin d o u t
w h at is at h an d . A ro u n d th e c o rn er fro m th is h o tel is a m o s q u e. F iv e b lo c k s s o u th o f h ere is a
M o rm o n tem p le th at h as a d irec t an d u n iq u e c o n n ec tio n w ith th e M o rm o n fo u n d er Jo s ep h S m ith .
I c o uld go o n .
I o ften es c o rt p eo p le o n a to u r o f th e c ity , fo c u s in g o n lo c ales as s o c iated w ith w riters w h o o n c e

liv ed h ere E rn es t H em in g w ay , W illiam F au lk n er, W y n d h am L ew is , M ars h all M c L u h an , N o rth ro p
F ry e, R o b erts o n D av ies , etc . In s u lin w as firs t s y n th es ized h ere. S ig m u n d F reu d d id n o t liv e h ere,
b u t h is b ro th er, a fu rrier w ith a s h o p o n S p ad in a A v en u e, d id . A s d id Is aac Bas h ev is S in g er an d
th e an arc h is t R ed E m m a G o ld m an w h o d ied h ere. E lan S ic ro ff, w h o is h ere to d ay , w o u ld en jo y
s eein g th e s ites as s o c iated w ith th e ec c en tric b u t b rillian t p ian is t G len n G o u ld . T h ere is als o
s o m e o u ts ta n d in g a rc h ite c tu re re p re s e n te d b y I.M . P e i, M ie s v a n d e r R o h e , P h ilip Jo h n s o n ,
D a n ie l L ib e s k in d , a n d F ra n k G e h ry (w h o w a s b o rn h e re ), a s w e ll a s a ra re p u b lic s c u lp tu re b y
F ra n k L lo y d W rig h t a n d in n u m e ra b le H e n ry M o o re s . G e h ry s re m o d e llin g o f th e A rt G a lle ry o f
O n tario is a w o rk o f g reat art an d th e T h o m s o n G allery w ith its m ag n ific en t L aw ren H arris
c a n v a s e s (in s p ire d b y T h e o s o p h y ) a p p ro a c h e s o b je c tiv ity .
L et u s b eg in in th e w o rld o f im ag in atio n an d s y m b o lo g y . I w o u ld lik e y o u to s tare b ey o n d m e,

b ey o n d th e c ream - c o lo u red w all b eh in d m e, an d lo o k in to th e d is tan c e, fo r th ree s ec o n d s . E ac h
o f y o u s h o u ld a s k y o u rs e lf , W h a t d o I s e e ? I w ill d o t h e s a m e . W h a t d id y o u s e e ? I s a w w it h m y
im p ro v ed b in o c u lars in to th e far reac h es o f th e c o u n try . I s aw th e N o rth Po le an d th e M ag n etic
N o rth Po le. D id y o u s ee th em ? T h ey are p art o f th is c o u n try an d th ey ex ert a trem en d o u s
influenc e o n us and o n o ur c iv ilizatio n. I c o uld s peak fo r an ho ur abo ut the m yths and legends
o f C a n a d a s a n d th e w o rld s m o s t n o rth e rn p o in t. (R e s t a s s u re d I w o n t.)
In s t e a d , I w ill a s k , D o y o u re m e m b e r w h a t P .D . O u s p e n s k y w ro t e a b o u t t h e P o le ? R e f e re n c e s t o
th e p o la r re g io n s o c c u r re p e a te d ly in O u s p e n s k y s ta lk s : W e liv e in a b a d p la c e in th e
u n iv e rs e n e a r th e N o rth P o le . N o t g o o d n e w s ! I n e e d n o t re m in d y o u th a t in T a le s , G u rd jie ff
h im s elf w rites ab o u t th e E s k im o w h o is o n e o f fo u r c o n tem p o rary in itiates I as s u m e th e
Es k im o in ques tio n is a lo ng- liv ed C anadian c itizen. In fac t, I m ight ev en s upply his nam e.
N o w I w o u ld lik e y o u to tu rn aro u n d , fo r th ree s ec o n d s , an d tell m e w h at y o u s ee? D o y o u s ee

w h a t I s e e ? (I a m w ritin g th is s c rip t s o it is u n lik e ly th a t y o u s a w w h a t I s a w : N ia g a ra F a lls .)
T h is m ig h ty c a ta ra c t is o n e o f th e w o rld s m o s t fa m ilia r n a tu ra l s ite s , a n d it m a rk s th e n a tio n s
b o u n d ary w ith th e U n ited S tates . I c o u ld talk fo r an h o u r ab o u t th e lo re an d m y s tery o f th e falls
I w o n t b u t I w ill s h a re w ith y o u o n e o f th e b e s t o b s e rv a tio n s e v e r m a d e a b o u t th e fa lls . It
w as d eliv ered o ff- th e- c u ff b y O s c ar W ild e w h en h e v is ited th e p lac e in th e 1 8 8 0 s , w h en it w as
k n o w n a s th e h o n e y m o o n c a p ita l o f th e w o rld . A re p o rte r a s k e d h im fo r h is th o u g h ts o n th e
m a tte r. H e q u ip p e d , Its th e s e c o n d m a jo r d is a p p o in tm e n t in th e life o f th e A m e ric a n
h o n e y m o o n in g c o u p le .
L e t m e ta lk a b o u t T o ro n to fo r a fe w m in u te s . N e ith e r P .D . O u s p e n s k y n o r G .I. G u rd jie ff e v e r

v is ited T o ro n to o r C an ad a fo r th at m atter. E v en N iag ara F alls h eld n o attrac tio n fo r th em ,
alth o u g h it d id fas c in ate A leis ter C ro w ley th e o c c u ltis t w h o in 1 9 0 4 trav elled ac ro s s th e
c o u n try an d w ro te in h is m em o irs h e w an ted to s p en d th e res t o f h is life m ed itatin g b es id e th e
m ig h ty c a ta ra c ts . (T h e f a lls th u n d e r a b o u t 1 3 0 k ilo m e tre s f ro m h e re y o u c a n s e e th e s p u m e
o r a t le a s t th e s p ra y fro m th e to p o f th e C N T o w e r.) C ro w le y v is ite d T o ro n to a n d c a lle d th e c ity
a c a lc u la te d c rim e a g a in s t h u m a n ity .
T . L o b s a n g R a m a (re m e m b e r h im o f T h ird E y e f a m e ?) a ls o d e lig h t e d in t h e F a lls , t h o u g h h e

c h o s e to liv e in M o n tre a ls H a b ita t a n d th e n s p e n d h is la s t y e a rs in a h ig h - ris e in C a lg a ry . T h e
M ad am e Blav ats k y th is tim e, n o t d e S altzm an n v is ited Q u eb ec C ity w h ere s h e p o w - w o w ed
w ith In d ian eld ers ab o u t th eir w is d o m trad itio n s h e c o m p lain ed th ey to ld h er n o th in g b u t
in s tead ab s c o n d ed w ith h er n ew ly p u rc h as ed p air o f ex p en s iv e leath er b o o ts .
Y o u h av e n o w lo o k ed b o th N o rth an d S o u th . N o w I w an t y o u to d o m o re th an lo o k W es t an d
E as t. In fac t, I w an t y o u to b o ard th e b u s th at I h av e c h artered an d tak e a jo u rn ey w ith m e.
A ll ab o ard th e b u s . W e d riv e alo n g th e H ig h w ay 4 0 1 an d in ab o u t th irty - fiv e m in u tes w e n o te

th at ex it fo r G u elp h , O n tario . W e d o n o t tak e th e ex it, b u t I w an t to p o in t o u t th at h ere w as
b o rn th e IM A X p ro jec tio n s y s tem w ith w h ic h I am s u re y o u are all fam iliar. It h as d ev elo p ed h ere
th o u g h its ro o ts g o b ac k to E x p o 6 7 in M o n treal an d to th e N atio n al F ilm Bo ard o f C an ad a w h ere
T o m D a ly w a s its le a d in g p ro d u c e r- d ire c to r. Y o u w ill h e a r T o m s n a m e a g a in , s o o n .
T h e n ex t ex it is fo r Kitc h en er. A g ain , w e d o n o t s to p , th o u g h if w e h ad th e tim e I w o u ld tak e
yo u into the c ity and s ho w yo u the c hildho o d ho m es o f m y w ife Ruth and m ys elf. But let us
c o n tin u e . Its a n h o u r s in c e w e le ft T o ro n to b e h in d , b u t a h e a d o f u s is K itc h e n e rs tw in c ity o f
W aterlo o . H ere w e w ill tu rn o ff th e h ig h w ay an d p au s e in fro n t o f th e c am p u s o f th e U n iv ers ity
o f W aterlo o , w h ic h b o as ts th e larg es t c o m p u ter s c ien c e d ep artm en t in th e w o rld , n o t ju s t in
C an ad a. It is s o m etim es s aid th at th ere are m o re IT m illio n aires u n d er th e ag e o f th irty in
W aterlo o th an an y w h ere els e o n th e g lo b e. I th in k th at is an o v ers tatem en t, b u t w h at fo llo w s is
not.
W aterlo o is th e b irth p lac e o f th e Blac k Berry , d ev elo p ed h ere b y M ik e L azarid is , w h o th en w en t

o n to fo u n d th e o u ts tan d in g Perim eter In s titu te o f T h eo retic al Ph y s ic s . H ere th ere are tw en ty o r
s o res id en t s c h o lars w h o are d eterm in ed to u n d ers tan d th e fo rm atio n o f th e c o s m o s . H ealth
p erm ittin g , S tep h en H aw k in g h as ag reed to s p en d th e s u m m er in res id en c e h ere. I fin d
c o s m o lo g ic al th in k in g lik e th is ex c itin g , th o u g h I c an m ak e n o c o n trib u tio n to it.
Bac k o n th e b u s . In tw en ty - fiv e m in u tes w e are o n th e o u ts k irts o f Bran tfo rd , O n tario , w h ic h is

k n o w n as th e b irth p lac e o f th e g reates t- ev er h o c k ey p lay er, W ay n e G retzk y . Bu t Bran tfo rd is
d is tin g u is h ed in th e w o rld o f c o m m u n ic atio n s , to o . Bran tfo rd is d es c rib ed as th e b irth p lac e o f
th e te le p h o n e , th o u g h A le x a n d e r G ra h a m Be ll, its fa th e r, d e n ie s th is . H e s a id , T h e te le p h o n e
w a s c o n c e iv e d in Bra n tfo rd b u t b o rn in Bo s to n , M a s s a c h u s e tts . Y e t w e w ill v is it h is fa m ily
h o m e a n d e x a m in e th e e x h ib it th a t c e le b ra te s th e fa c t th a t h e re w a s p la c e d th e w o rld s firs t
lo n g - d is tan c e telep h o n e c all, b etw een Bran tfo rd an d n earb y G alt v ia th e teleg rap h lin e th at ru n s
th ro u g h T o ro n to , ju s t a s to d a y s te le p h o n e c a lls a re b o u n c e d o ff g e o s ta tio n a ry
telec o m m unic atio n s atellites .
T h e telep h o n e is in d ic ativ e o f th e w o rld o f c o m m u n ic atio n s . W h at is in d ic ativ e o f th e w o rld o f

trad itio n alis m is w h at w e w ill fin d o n th e o u ts k irts o f Bran tfo rd . A s N o rth ro p F ry e n o ted , In
O n ta rio th e P re c a m b ria n a n d th e P o s tm o d e rn a re s id e b y s id e . H e re is th e S ix N a tio n s In d ia n
R e s e rv e . C la y to n Ja c o b s w h o is h e re liv e s o n th is R e s e rv e s s is te r R e s e rv e o f C a u g h n a w a g a ju s t
o u ts id e M o n treal in Q u eb ec . H e w ill attes t th at th e C h ris tian M o h aw k s liv es at C au g h n aw ag a,
w h ereas th e p ag an M o h aw k s liv e at th e S ix N atio n s .
I u s e th e w o rd p a g a n b u t I re a lly m e a n s h a m a n , b e c a u s e h e re a re p re s e rv e d a n c e s tra l
trad itio n s fro m th e rem o te p as t. H ere is rec ited th e trad itio n al G reat Peac e. E s p ec ially h o n o u red
is th e w o rld s m o s t fa m o u s In d ia n . H is n a m e is H ia w a th a , a n d h e is b e lie v e d to h a v e b e e n a
real p ers o n , b o rn n ear D es ero n to , O n tario . H e d ed ic ated h is life to th e s erv ic e o f h is g reat b u t
s em i- m y th ic c h ief, D ek an ah w id eh , w h o in s titu ted th e G reat Peac e. It las ted fo u r h u n d red y ears ,
u n til th e a rriv a l o f th e W h ite M a n . Its o ra l la w s in flu e n c e d th e U .S . C o n s titu tio n . T h e A m e ric a n
E a g le , p e rc h e d a t th e to p m o s t b ra n c h o f th e G re a t T re e o f P e a c e , c o m e s fro m D e k a n a h w id e h s
c o ns titutio n.
It is w ith relu c tan c e th at w e c u t s h o rt o u r v is it to th is R es erv e an d reb o ard o u r b u s , b u t w e are

h ead in g n o w fo r o u r las t s to p : L o n d o n , O n tario . In th e n in eteen th c en tu ry , it w as k n o w n as
L o n d o n th e L e s s e r. W e a re n o w a b o u t th re e h o u rs w e s t o f T o ro n to . S e e th a t c e m e te ry ? It h o ld s
th e m o ra l re m a in s o f o n e o f th e w o rld s le a d in g m e ta p h y s ic a l w rite rs : R ic h a rd M a u ric e Bu c k e .
W e w ill d riv e p as t b u t o n ly to p ay h o m ag e to th is rem ark ab le m an at th e L o n d o n Ps y c h iatric
H o s p ital w h ic h h as a treac h in g c en tre n am ed in h o n o u r o f D r. R ic h ard M au ric e Bu c k e.
In th e la te n in e te e n th c e n tu ry h e w a s o n e o f th e c o n tin e n ts le a d in g a lie n is ts o r p s y c h ia tris ts .

H e d ied in 1 9 0 2 , th e S u p erin ten d en t o f th e A s y lu m fo r th e In s an e. H e is th e au th o r o f th e firs t
b io g rap h y o f W alt W h itm an , w h o m h e k n ew p ers o n ally an d b ro u g h t to C an ad a fo r a th ree- m o n th
v is it, an d h e is th e au th o r o f th at c las s ic in th e w o rld o f m y s tic is m k n o w n as C o s m ic
C o n s c io u s n e s s : A S tu d y in th e E v o lu tio n o f th e H u m a n M in d . It is a c o m p re h e n s iv e a n th o lo g y
o f firs t- p ers o n ac c o u n ts o f m y s tic al ex p erien c es .
D r. Bu c k e w as a frien d o f th e E n g lis h s o c ialis t E d w ard C arp en ter, an d I h ad th e h o n o u r o f ty p in g

o u t fa ir c o p y o f C a rp e n te rs o rig in a l le tte rs w ritte n to D r. Bu c k e . Be tw e e n th e m th e tw o m e n
m ay lay c laim to h av in g c o in ed th e term c o s m ic c o n s c io u s n es s to refer to w h at F reu d
m e m o ra b ly re fe rre d to a s th e O c e a n ic E x p e rie n c e . O u s p e n s k y d e v o te d th e fin a l c h a p te r o f h is
b o o k T ertiu m O rg an u m to th e th eo ries o f C arp en ter an d Bu c k e, an d in th o s e p ag es h e arg u es
th at Bu c k e w as o n th e rig h t trac k b u t th e m is tak e th at h e m ad e w as in as s u m in g th at th e
ev o lu tio n o f th e c o s m ic c o n s c io u s n es s s en s e w as au to m atic an d m ec h an ic al, w h ereas
O u s p e n s k y a rg u e d it w a s th e fru it o f c o n s c io u s e v o lu tio n . Bu c k e w a s a D a rw in ia n ; O u s p e n s k y
a S k in n erian .
O u r b u s w ill n o w s p eed u s b ac k to T o ro n to , w h ere w e w ill h ead n o rth ag ain , p as t Y o rk

U n iv ers ity , ju s t n o rth o f h ere, w h ere D r. G rah am R eed in its D ep artm en t o f Ps y c h o lo g y
p o p u la rize d th e te rm a n o m a lo o u s e x p e rie n c e . It is n o w n o w e m b e d d e d in c o n s c io u s n e s s
s tu d ie s , a n d is u s e d b y p s y c h ia tris ts in p la c e o f a b n o rm a l e x p e rie n c e s . It is to o b a d D r. Bu c k e
d id n o t h a v e a c c e s s to D r. R e e d s b o o k , p u b lis h e d in 1 9 8 8 , c a lle d T h e P s y c h o lo g y o f
A n o m a lo u s E x p e rie n c e . Bu t le t u s d riv e o n .
O u r n e x t s to p is ju s t o u ts id e O ra n g e v ille , w h e re I w ill p o in t o u t to y o u th e w o rld s la rg e s t

D ao is t T ai C h i c en tre. Bes id e th e D ao is t tem p le, th e b ig b u ild in g is a reh ears al an d
d e m o n s tra tio n h a ll w h e re 1 ,0 0 0 p e o p le m a y p e rfo rm th e 1 0 8 s te p s o f T a i C h i a t th e s a m e tim e .
R u th an d I are s tu d en ts o f th e d is c ip lin e an d h o p e o n e d ay to p erfo rm th e s et th ere.
N o w s ettle b ac k in th e b u s fo r w e h av e a d riv e o f at leas t fo u r h o u rs to tak e u s to S u d b u ry ,

O n ta rio , th e s ite o f th e w o rld s la rg e s t n e u trin o la b o ra to ry , w h ic h S te p h e n H a w k in g o n c e
v is ited . S u d b u ry is s et in a c rater an d h ere th e A p o llo as tro n au ts reh ears ed th e g eo lo g ic al
p o rtio n s o f th eir m o o n w alk . W e are h ead ed to L au ren tian U n iv ers ity w h ere w e w ill m eet M ic h ael
Pers in g er, a c o g n itiv e p s y c h o lo g is t, w h o w ill s h o w u s a d ev ic e h e in v en ted : h is s o - c alled M ag ic
H e lm e t. It is a h o c k e y h e lm e t (a C a n a d ia n to u c h !) w ith e le c tro - p a d s to re p ro d u c e th e s e
an o m alo u s ex p erien c es o n d em an d . S p ec ific ally , h is lo w - freq u en c y w av e- g en erato r c an
g en erate th e en tity ex p erien c e in th e m in d o f th e p artic ip an t. O n e p artic ip an t w as S u s an
Blac k m o re, th e p s y c h o lo g is t, p arap s y c h o lo g is t- tu rn ed - s c ep tic , w h o h as w ritten at len g th
ab o u t th e ex p erien c e an d ev en ap p eared in a telev is io n s p ec ial th at c u lm in ated in h er
a p p e a ra n c e a t D r. P e rs in g e rs p s y c h o lo g y la b o ra to ry .
Bac k to T o ro n to ! T h is tim e w e tu rn E as t an d d riv e ab o u t tw en ty m in u tes in to th e s u b u rb o f

S c arb o ro u g h w h ere w e w ill c lim b a h ill, T ab er H ill Park , a p o w erfu l O jib w a V is io n S ite. T h e c ity
c o n s id ers it a m u n ic ip al p ark . Bu t it is c learly a v is io n s ite, o n th e h ill o f w h ic h y o u n g m en
s p en t n ig h ts u n d er th e s tars , m et th eir s p irit- g u id es , an d retu rn ed to th eir p eo p le as w arrio rs .
Its m ag ic w o rk s , ev en to d ay .
If I h ad th e tim e I w o u ld d es c rib e th e s ite in d etail, b u t w e h av e to b o ard o u r b u s ag ain an d in

an h o u r an d a h alf w e w ill p as s th ro u g h th e c ity o f Peterb o ro u g h an d th en p as t th e In d ian
res erv atio n at C u rv ed L ak e an d b ey o n d it w h ere w e w ill b eh o ld th e m ag n ific en t Peterb o ro u g h
Petro g ly p h s , w h ere th ere is an o u tc ro p p in g o f ro c k th at is c arv ed w ith p erh ap s eig h t h u n d red
fa s c in a tin g im a g e s . H e re is th e d o m a in o f ro c k a rt. T h is to o is a v is io n s ite , th o u g h n o t s o
d es c rib ed in th e to u ris t literatu re.
If th at is n o t en o u g h , o n to R ic e L ak e w h ere w e w ill v is it th e p ec u liar lan d - fo rm s at S erp en t

M o u n d s Pro v in c ial Park w h ic h is u n d er ex c ellen t F irs t N atio n m an ag em en t. I th in k th es e lo w -
ly in g m o u n d s are a m aze o r a lab y rin th w h ere th an k s g iv in g s w ere m ad e to th e s p irits o f n atu re.
S h am an s trv o is aliv e an d w ell in O n tario .
T h at is as far eas t as w e w ill g o , s o let o u r b u s s p ro u t w in g s an d fly u s b ac k to T o ro n to , a c ity

w ith a p o p u la tio n o f 3 .3 m illio n , o n e - te n th th e p o p u la tio n o f th e c o u n try . E v e ry s e c o n d p e rs o n
w h o liv es in T o ro n to is fo reig n - b o rn , an d m an y m o re w ere b o rn els ew h ere in th e c o u n try . It h as
b een c alled th e c ity th at g av e th e w o rd m u ltic u ltu ralis m to th e w o rld .
T o ro n to h as o n e A n th ro p o s o p h ic al s o c iety , tw o T h eo s o p h ic al S o c ieties , an d fo u r G u rd jieff

g ro u p s . (T h e re w a s a s a y in g , p o p u la r d u rin g th e C o ld W a r, th a t w e n t lik e th is : G o d lo v e d
G e rm a n s s o m u c h h e m a d e tw o G e rm a n ie s .) I c a n u n d e rs ta n d w h y th e re m ig h t b e fo u r s e p a ra te
g ro u p s , b u t it m ak es n o s en s e, to an o u ts id er lik e m y s elf, th at th ey s h o u ld n o t w o rk to g eth er.
F o r in s tan c e, I ex c h an g ed em ails w ith Jo s ep h A zize; h e c o u ld h av e v is ited th e c ity an d s p o k en
h e re , h a d th e g ro u p s b e e n a b le to w o rk to g e th e r to in v ite h im . (It is u s u a lly s a id th e re a re th re e
s o c ie tie s , b u t o n ly a t th e p ric e o f e x c lu d in g th o s e w o rk in g in th e Be n n e tt tra d itio n .)
T h e h is to ry o f g ro u p w o rk in T o ro n to is an in teres tin g o n e. T h ere w ere fo llo w ers o f Ben n ett,

in c lu d in g S h eila an d Pau l Bu ra, w h o w ere ac tiv e in th e c ity in th e v ery early 1 9 5 0 s . Bu t th e
T o ro n to g ro u p p er s e w as fo u n d ed b y M ad am e O lg a d e H artm an n w ith h er h u s b an d T h o m as in
1 9 5 4 , o n e y ear fo llo w in g th e fo u n d atio n o f th e G u rd jieff F o u n d atio n in N ew Y o rk C ity .
A t th e tim e th e c o u p le w e re re s id e n ts in R a w d o n , Q u e b e c , w h e re th e y w e re w a itin g fo r th e ir U .S .
im m ig ratio n p ap ers . T h ere th ey m et m em b ers o f th e D aly fam ily , in c lu d in g y o u n g T o m D aly ,
w h o b ro u g h t th em to T o ro n to o n a v is it. It is s aid th at M ad am e d e H artm an n w an ted to lead th e
T o ro n to g ro u p , b u t th e F o u n d atio n w as res p o n s ib le fo r s h iftin g th at b u rd en o n to th e s h o u ld ers
o f M rs . L o u is e W elc h . O n c e a m o n th fo r th irty o r s o y ears , s h e flew b etw een N ew Y o rk C ity an d
T o ro n to , s o m etim es in th e c o m p an y b y h er h u s b an d D r. W illiam W elc h . I m et th em in 1 9 5 7 an d
d ed ic ated m y earlies t b o o k o f p o em s to h er as w ell as m y lates t b o o k o f es s ay s to h er
m em o ry .
H ere is a ru n d o w n o n th e g ro u p s : O n e, T h e G u rd jieff F o u n d atio n o f T o ro n to : T h e E x p erim en tal

G ro u p . T w o , th e p u b lis h in g g ro u p (o f f ic ia lly T o ro n to G u rd jie f f G ro u p ). T h re e , T h e S o c ie ty f o r
T ra d itio n a l S tu d ie s . T h e re is a ls o a fo u rth , n o n - a ffilia te d g ro u p , ta k in g in to a c c o u n t th e a c tiv e
G u rd jieff Ben n ett G ro u p . T o c o n fu s e m atters s till m o re, th ere is als o D o lm en M ead o w E d itio n s , a
fin e p u b lis h in g im p rin t. T h e m ain g ro u p o w n s p ro p erty : a tw o - s to rey m id to w n b u ild in g as w ell
as a farm at T y ro n e. T h ere d o es s eem to b e s o m e elem en t in w is d o m trad itio n s an d u n iv ers al
b ro th erh o o d s th at g iv es ris e to tu rf- w ars .
T ra d itio n a l S tu d ie s P re s s (w h ic h is in c o rp o ra te d w ith in T h e S o c ie ty f o r T ra d itio n a l S tu d ie s : T h e
G u rd jie ff F o u n d a tio n ) is s u e d th e firs t- e v e r G u id e a n d In d e x to A ll & E v e ry th in g . T h is w a s a n
im m en s e u n d ertak in g , es p ec ially in p re- c o m p u ter d ay s , w o rk an d o n e th at is in lin e w ith th e
s p irit o f s c h o lars h ip . W e C an ad ian s h av e a g en iu s fo r m am m o th m o s aic s . A t th e p res en t tim e
th ere are m as s iv e ed ito rial p ro jec ts u n d erw ay , in c lu d in g th e m u lti- v o lu m ed c o llec ted w o rk s o f
S am u el T ay lo r C o lerid g e, E ras m u s o f R o tterd am , Jo h n S tu art M ill, Ben jam in D is raeli, F lo ren c e
N ig h tin g a le , Be rtra n d R u s s e ll, Be rn a rd L o n e rg a n , A .M . K le in , N o rth ro p F ry e , a n d e v e ry te x t e v e r
w ritten in E arly M id d le E n g lis h .
A n o th er h u g e ed ito rial p ro jec t w as th e ty p es ettin g an d th e p u b lic atio n o f th e R u s s ian - lan g u ag e

e d itio n o f A ll & E v e ry th in g . T h is u n d e rta k in g is p a rtic u la rly a s to n is h in g g iv e n th e fa c t th a t th e
R u s s ian tex t w as k ey b o ard ed b y c o m p u ter in d ex er Jac k C ain w h o k n o w s n o t a s in g le w o rd o f
R u s s ian . Bu t h e d id learn th e C y rillic alp h ab et an d h u n ted - an d - p ec k ed h is w ay th ro u g h th e
w o rk . It to o k h im th ree y ears o f p art- tim e, c o n s c io u s lab o u r to k ey b o ard th e tex t fo r th e fu tu re
b e n e fit o f th e b o o k s R u s s ia n re a d e rs .
M a n y o f u s h a v e b e n e fitte d fro m a n o th e r m a jo r u n d e rta k in g , J. W a lte r D ris c o lls m a m m o th

Bib lio g ra p h y . I h a v e y e t to m e e t W a lte r, w h o th o u g h T o ro n to - b o rn liv e s o n th e W e s t C o a s t, b u t
I ad m ire h is w o rk o f as s em b ly an d c o m m en tary , w h ic h m ak es it p o s s ib le to h av e b etw een th e
c o v ers o f o n e th ic k to m e all th e s erio u s E n g lis h - lan g u ag e referen c es to th e W o rk .
L e t m e lo o k a t s o m e liv in g p e o p le . T h e c o u n try s ra n k in g G u rd jie ffia n s if I m a y d e s c rib e th e m

in th is w ay are th ree in n u m b er: R av i R av in d ra, T o m D aly , an d Jam es G eo rg e.
R av i is a c h arm in g H in d u - b o rn s c ien tis t an d h u m an is t w h o lec tu res w id ely o n th e W o rk ,

Kris h n am u rti, T h eo s o p h y , Y o g a, an d c o m p arativ e relig io n . H e h as w ritten a w o n d erfu lly w arm
b o o k ab o u t M ad am e d e S altzm an n titled H eart w ith o u t M eas u re. H e is b as ed in H alifax . I
c o v ered o n e o f h is ad d res s es an d d es c rib ed h im as b earin g a m ark ed res em b lan c e to M o h an d as
G an d h i, b u t I b ac k ed d o w n w h en I realized th at w h at h e really lo o k s lik e is th e M ah atm a as
played by Ben Kings ley.
T o m D aly is th e d is tin g u is h ed p ro d u c er o f d o c u m en taries fo r th e N atio n al F ilm Bo ard o f

C an ad a. I m en tio n ed h im in c o n n ec tio n w ith IM A X . O n e o f h is m an y film s is a m as terp iec e w ith
a c o s m o lo g ic al s en s e o f w o n d er U n iv ers e is its title, an d th e th irty - m in u te d o c u m en tary tak es
th e v iew er o n a to u r o f th e R ay o f C reatio n .
It w a s T o m s m o th e r w h o b ro u g h t th e D e H a rtm a n n s to T o ro n to . T o m s u b s e q u e n tly s e ttle d in

M o n treal w h ere h e is th e ex ec u to r o f th e es tates o f th e D e H artm an n s . H e h as d o n e m u c h to
p res erv e th eir m em o ry an d arran g e fo r th e rec o rd in g s o f th e m u s ic al c o m p o s itio n s in s p ired b y
M r. G u rd jie ff. A T o ro n to frie n d o f T o m s , P e te r C o lg ro v e , o v e rs a w M a d a m e d e H a rtm a n n s fin a l
y ears n ear S an ta F e, N ew M ex ic o .
L a s t S e p te m b e r a b o u t s ix ty o f u s h e lp e d to c e le b ra te Ja m e s G e o rg e s n in e tie th b irth d a y , a n d a s
y o u c an s ee th e eld er s tates m an rem ain s h ail an d h earty . I w ill s p are Jim th e em b arras s m en t o f
p ra is in g h im in h is p re s e n c e . Bu t in th e 1 9 6 0 s h e s e rv e d w ith d is tin c tio n a s C a n a d a s H ig h
C o m m is s io n er to In d ia. T h ere h e b efrien d ed th e p res en t D alai L am a an d h elp ed H is H o lin es s
w ith th e p res s in g p ro b lem o f p res erv in g th e p rec io u s m an u s c rip ts th at h e h ad b ro u g h t w ith h im
fro m T ib et in to ex ile. T h ey c o u ld n o t to b e read b y an y o n e b u t a h ig h lam a. Jim c o n v in c ed H is
H o lin es s th at s u rely th ey w o u ld g o u n read in th e h an d s o f a C an ad ian m ic ro film tec h n ic ian w h o
k n ew n eith er S an s k rit, T ib etan , n o r H in d i. S o th e d o c u m en ts w ere c o p ied in th e o ffic ial
C an ad ian res id en c e in N ew D elh i. T h is m ay c o n s titu te a w o rld firs t!
A liv e ly a c c o u n t o f th is in c id e n t a p p e a rs in Jim s fin e m e m o ir A s k in g fo r th e E a rth . H is c u rre n t

w o rk , ab o u t w h ic h h e s p o k e s o m o v in g ly earlier to d ay , is c alled T h e L ittle G reen Bo o k o f
A w a k e n in g . Jim G e o rg e is m a rrie d to Ba rb a ra W rig h t, w h o m I a lw a y s d e s c rib e a s d y n a m ic fo r
th a t is w h a t s h e is . N o m a n s h o u ld d e s c rib e a n y w o m a n a s e x p e rie n c e d , I g u e s s , b u t s h e is
ex p erien c ed in th e w ay s o f th e w o rk , h av in g en jo y ed a lo n g as s o c iatio n w ith th e w o rk in S an
F ran c is c o . Barb ara an d Jim m ak e an im p res s iv e team !
A few o th er n am es c o u ld b e m en tio n ed : Ian M ac F arlan e, o n e o f th e o rg an izers o f th e

C o n feren c e, w as b o rn at N iag ara F alls . I am m eetin g h im fo r th e firs t tim e. Bern ard C o u rtn ey -
M y ers , b o rn in V an c o u v er an d a M c G ill m ed ic al g rad u ate, h as en jo y ed a lo n g w o rk h is to ry , an d
a t o n e p o in t s e rv e d a s G u rd jie ffs p e rs o n a l p h y s ic ia n . P a u l Bu ra w a s a c tiv e w ith Be n n e tt a t
C o o m b e S p rin g s b efo re c arry in g o n th at w o rk in T o ro n to w ell b efo re th e arriv al o f th e D e
H artm an n s . Peter C o lg ro v e, w h o m I k n ew w h en h e tau g h t at F o res t H ill C o lleg iate h ere, c ared
fo r O lg a d e H artm an n d u rin g h er las t y ears in N ew M ex ic o . I am ev er an x io u s to learn o f th e
c o n trib u tio n s o f o th er C an ad ian s w h o are in v o lv ed in th e W o rk .
Is th ere s tren g th in n u m b ers ? I h av e n o c ertified in fo rm atio n ab o u t th e n u m b ers o f s tu d en ts o f

th e W o rk in th e c o u n try . (I a m n o t o n e o f th e m m y s e lf , f o r I re g a rd m y s e lf a s a f e llo w tra v e lle r
if p re s s e d , a s a n u n re c o n s tru c te d O u s p e n s k ia n .) T h e re a re g ro u p s o r c e n tre s a s s o c ia te d w ith
th e F o u n d atio n in N ew Y o rk C ity in at leas t s ev en C an ad ian c ities . H ere is an es tim ate o f th eir
n u m b ers .
V an c o u v er h as ab o u t 3 5 m em b ers . E d m o n to n p erh ap s 1 5 . T o ro n to o v er th e d ec ad es h as alw ay s

h a d a b o u t 1 0 0 m e m b e rs . O tta w a , th e n a tio n s c a p ita l, p e rh a p s 1 5 m e m b e rs . M o n tre a l m a y b e 4 0 .
S ain t Jo h n lik ely 2 0 . H alifax p erh ap s 4 0 . T h ere is s o m e ac tiv ity in o th er c ities lik e V ic to ria.
W ith th e ad d in g m ac h in e at h an d , I c o m e u p u n d er 3 0 0 p eo p le. A d d s ay 1 0 0 fello w trav ellers
lik e m y s elf S p u tn ik s is th e R u s s ian w o rd fo r th em an d w e h av e a p o p u latio n o f p erh ap s 4 0 0
s c attered ac ro s s a c o u n try w ith a g en eral p o p u latio n o f 3 3 m illio n p eo p le. I d o n o t k n o w
w h e th e r th is is b a d o r g o o d . It is p ro b a b ly n o t a s a v in g re m n a n t.
L et m e c o n c lu d e w ith m y g ift to y o u . I g av e a b o o k to Ian ; I h av e a p res en t fo r eac h o n e o f y o u .

A s th e a u th o r o f th e Bo o k o f E c c le s ia s te s c o u n s e ls u s , T h e re is n o th in g n e w u n d e r th e s u n .
Bu t th ere are a few n ew th in g s u n d er th e m o o n . T h e o n e n ew th in g th at I w ill s h are w ith y o u is
an o ld w o rd th e o n e, q u in tes s en tial, all- p u rp o s e, all- C an ad ian w o rd . I d o u b t th at y o u h av e y et
h eard it h ere, th o u g h it c o u ld p ro v e to b e u s efu l in s o c ial o c c as io n s in th e fu tu re.
T h e w o rd is C h im o . C h im o is a w o rd o f m ix e d In d ia n - E s k im o o rig in th a t h a s a g o o d ly n u m b e r
o f m e a n in g s , in c lu d in g h e llo , g re e tin g s , to y o u r h e a lth , a n d g o o d b y e . F o r th e p u rp o s e s o f
th is au d ien c e an d fo r th is ev en in g , let m e s u g g es t th at th e w o rd C - H - I- M - O is ac tu ally an
ac ro n y m , an ac ro n y m th at s tan d s fo r fiv e k ey c o n c ep ts : C o n s c io u s H arm o n io u s In n er
M e e tin g s O c ta v e s .
S o m y fin a l w o rd to y o u is C h im o !
Jo h n R o b ert C o lo m b o is a T o ro n to - b as ed au th o r an d an th o lo g is t w h o is k n o w n fo r h is
d ic tio n aries o f C an ad ian q u o tatio n s , h is c o llec tio n s o f C an ad ian jo k es , an d h is an th o lo g ies o f
to ld - as - tru e g h o s t s to ries . T y p e h is fu ll n am e in to G o o g le an d it w ill w ill tak e y o u to h is tw o
w ebs ites .
Sha r e this :
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Lo a d ing. . .
W r itte n b y S O P H IA P o s te d in A R E P O R T O N T H E 2 0 0 9 A & E C O N F E R E N C E , U n c a te g o r ize d

W E L L BE L O V E D
A p r il 2 7 , 2 0 0 9 a t 3 :4 7 p m
G E O R G E A D IE : P R A C T IC A L E F F O R T S A N D C H IE F F E A T U R E
Jo s ep h A zize Pag e
G eo rg e A d ie: Prac tic al E ffo rts an d C h ief F eatu re
O ften o n th e s p iritu al ro ad , an in s u p erab le q u es tio n aris es . Part o f th e d iffic u lty is n o t th e

c o m p lete an d u tter s in c erity d em an d ed b y th e q u es tio n its elf. A really g o o d , h ard , h ere- are-
y o u r- g izzard s - o n - a- p ik e q u es tio n c an ev en b e w elc o m ed . T h e d ilem m a, th e q u ic k s an d w e k ic k
in , is th a t w e d o n t e v e n k n o w h o w to b e g in to th in k a b o u t th e q u e s tio n , a n d a s w e p e rs e v e re ,
w e s in k d eep er in to th e m u d o f tu rn in g th o u g h ts . T h is c o u ld , m ay b e ev en s h o u ld , b e an
o p p o rtu n ity . Bu t in reality it is in v ariab ly ex p erien c ed as em p ty in g an d d rain in g at b es t, an d at
w o rs t, as s o u l- d es tro y in g .
H ere is o n e o f th e m o s t d iffic u lt q u es tio n s : h o w c an I m ak e p rac tic al effo rts ? O p en in g s s eem to

a p p e a r, th e q u e s tio n s e e m s re s o lv e d in o n e s w o rk , a n d th e n it re tu rn s a g a in , a n d a n y re s p o n s e
s eem s fu rth er th an ev er. E v en h ard er is th is : w h at is m y c h ief featu re? T h is is s o o b s c u re to u s
th at m o s t p eo p le in th e G u rd jieff g ro u p s o f m y ac q u ain tan c e ig n o re it in tac it d es p air. O f
c o u rs e , d e s p a ir is n o t a d m itte d : n o , a s e lf - c a lm in g lin e is f o u n d (e .g . w e a re p a s t th a t, o r, it is
a p u re ly in te lle c tu a l q u e s tio n a n d w e w a n t q u e s tio n s w h ic h a d d re s s o n e s b e in g ). I re m e m b e r
o n e o ld er p ers o n s ay in g to m e th at th in k in g ab o u t c h ief featu re m ad e u s fix ed . Bu t th is is
w ro n g : I w o u ld s ay I k n o w th at th is is w ro n g . It is w ro n g b ec au s e c h ief featu re is w h at k eep s u s
in rig o r m o rtis . In tellig en tly s tru g g lin g w ith it c an o n ly lead to freed o m . A n d w h at is m o re,
G u rd jieff h im s elf ag reed : ju s t read In S earc h o f th e M irac u lo u s w h ere h e is q u o ted in
O u s p e n s k y s m a s te rfu l a c c o u n t.
In early 1 9 8 3 , M r A d ie s p en t an ev en in g w ith u s s tu d y in g c h ief featu re, an d g av e u s th e tas k o f

w ritin g in n o t m o re th an 5 0 w o rd s w h at w e b eliev ed o u r c h ief featu re to b e an d h o w w e
p ro p o s ed to s tru g g le w ith it. T h en , in th e fo llo w in g w eek s , as w e c o n tin u ed to s tu d y th e
c o n c ep ts , w e h an d ed in o u r as s es s m en ts . In th e th ird w eek , in th e g ro u p m eetin g s , M r A d ie read
w h at w e h ad w ritten an d m ad e c o m m en ts . H e w o u ld n o t, h e s aid , g en erally in d ic ate w h eth er
w h at w e h ad o b s erv ed w as in d eed o u r c h ief featu re o r n o t. Y et, o n a v ery few o c c as io n s h e d id
s ay th at th e p erc ep tio n w as c o rrec t, w h ile o n s o m e o th er o c c as io n s , h e m ad e a p o in t o f n o t
e n d o rs in g th e p e rs o n s c o n je c tu re .
W h en I rec en tly tran s c rib ed th es e m eetin g s , I fo u n d th at I h ad n o t fo rg o tten m o s t o f th e

c o m m en ts fro m th e g ro u p m eetin g I h ad atten d ed . T h e learn in g o f th e ev en in g h as k ep t c o m in g
b ac k to m e. I th in k th at th e tru th o f w h at w as s aid , an d th e q u ality o f th e s h ared atten tio n in
th at s m all s tu d io , h elp ed m e to rem em b er. It w as an ex trao rd in ary n ig h t. I rem em b er th at it
s eem ed to b e illu m in ated , an d th at th ere w as a s erio u s c alm feelin g in th e air as I left fo r h o m e.
I h av e d ec id ed to s h are ju s t a few o f th e ex c h an g es , p artly b ec au s e th e tw o c o m m en ts h e m ad e
a b o u t G u rd jie ff m a y o f in te re s t to o th e rs . A ls o , a s I w a s w o rk in g o n th is m a te ria l, Bo b H u n te rs
T h e T y ran t W ith in , an in teres tin g an d ev en v ib ran t s tu d y o f c h ief featu re, arriv ed . It s eem ed to
d em an d a res p o n s e.
Bu t to b e c lear, th is is n o t th e ev en in g w h ere h e d is c u s s ed c h ief featu re. T h is is th e later

ex c h an g e, w h ere h e s p o k e o f o u r d iffic u lties in fo rm u latin g c h ief featu re, an d th en tak in g w h at
w e h ad s aid , w h atev er w e h ad s aid , h e in d ic ated th at th ere w as a w ay fo rw ard , an d s k etc h ed o u t
th e d irec tio n , es p ec ially fo r th o s e w h o h ad fo u n d th e ex erc is e h ard .
F ro m T u es d ay 1 5 M arc h 1 9 8 3
M r A d ie s a id g e n e ra lly : Its n o w a q u e s tio n o f ta k in g m e a s u re . M o s t o f re p o rts o n c h ie f fe a tu re

are all ab o u t th e p lac e. V ery few o f th em are d irec t, an d v ery few o f th em really g et an y w h ere
n e a r to u c h in g th e w o rk . T h e re s o n e fro m A b le : G re e d , s e lfis h n e s s a n d d e s ire to b e
ap p rec iated . T h es e are, in c o m b in atio n , all- p o w erfu l, an d h av e b een as lo n g as I c an rem em b er.
A n y c o n c e rn fo r o th e rs , e x c e p tin g m y im m e d ia te fa m ily , c a n ta k e p la c e o n ly a fte r th e s e Is h a v e
b e e n s a tis fie d . I h a v e trie d to c o m b a t c e rta in s m a ll a s p e c ts o f th e s e Is , b u t n e v e r th e re a l
th in g . I h a v e n o t d e v e lo p e d a c e n tra l I, a n in n e r s tre n g th w h ic h c a n o p p o s e th e s e Is , w h e n th e y
a re in c o n tro l, I ra re ly g e t a g lim p s e : u s u a lly , o n ly in re tro s p e c t..
W e ll th is is g o o d , s a id A d ie , b e c a u s e its a s tra ig h t- fo rw a rd s ta te m e n t. W h e th e r its e x a c tly

rig h t is a n o th e r m a tte r. Bu t its m o re d ire c t. A fte r a g o o d fe w y e a rs o f s e e in g , th e re s
s o m e th in g a t le a s t m o re o r le s s c a te g o ric a b o u t it. M y c o m m e n t it is th a t I h a v e n t d e v e lo p e d a
c e n tra l I, c e rta in ly , b u t I h a v e b e e n g iv e n th e s e e d fo r it. Y o u d o n t d is b e lie v e th a t, I th in k , a n d
y o u h a v e th e e m b ry o in y o u , e v e n if y o u h a v e n t d e v e lo p e d it. Y o u w e re g iv e n th e s e e d , a n d y o u
h av e th e em b ry o , b u t it m ay b e v ery c o v ered .
So , if yo u hav e this c o nv ic tio n that yo u hav e at leas t that, and yo u ac c ept this fac t, that
a c c e p ta n c e is s u ffic ie n t to b e g in to s tru g g le a n d to w o rk : y o u d o n t n e e d a n y m o re . If y o u h a v e
it, are y o u g o in g to let it ro t, are y o u g o in g to y ield it u p ag ain at th e en d o f y o u r life w ith o u t
an y p ro fit? Y o u k n o w th e p arab le o f th e s erv an ts w h o h ad fiv e, tw o an d o n e talen ts . T h e firs t
ren d ered to h is lo rd th e fiv e talen ts an d an o th er fiv e h e h ad earn ed fro m th em , th e s ec o n d
retu rn ed h is tw o talen ts an d th e tw o h e h ad earn ed , b u t th e th ird , w h o h ad ju s t o n e, h ad n o t
in v es ted it, an d s aid tak e b ac k w h at th o u g iv es t, th o u h ard m as ter. M m ?
A n d th is q u es tio n o f g reed : h o w to s tru g g le w ith g reed ? I w an t to d eterm in e w h at it is , an d

h o w , a n d h o w to g iv e u p s o m e th in g . Its n o g o o d s a y in g its g re e d , a n d it a lw a y s c o m e s u p . If
its tru e , th e n w h a t d o I n e e d to fo re g o ? W h a t? T h e re m u s t b e m a n y th in g s . S o m e th in g s p e c ific :
c h o o s e it, d o it, an d it w ill h av e m ean in g in relatio n to m y w is h o n ly in relatio n to m y w is h .
A ll th e o th e r Is w ill s a y its ru b b is h , n o t in te re s te d , a n d th e y ll tu rn o u t th e s a m e s o rt o f
p la u s ib le rig m a ro le th a ts b e e n g o in g o n fo r s o lo n g .
Then s elfis hnes s . H o w to c o m bat s elfis hnes s ? I hav e to c ho o s e w ho , and w hen, and ho w to put
th e m in th e firs t p la c e s im p le . Bu t h o w o fte n d o I m o v e to th a t k in d o f th o u g h t? I s a y : O h , Im
s e lfis h , I m u s t o b s e rv e m y s e lfis h n e s s , I m u s t p re p a re m y s e lf a n d s o o n . N o . A ll b e s id e th e
p o in t. I m u s t c h o o s e a d efin ite tim e an d d efin ite c irc u m s tan c es w h en I am g o in g to p u t th e
o th er o n e b efo re m e. T h eir c o m fo rt is m o re th an m in e. T h en I c an c o n fro n t. T h en I s h all s ee th e
k ind o f m ak e up o f it.
W o rk is d efin ite. It is q u ite d efin ite.
A n d th en th e d es ire to b e ap p rec iated . E v ery o n e h as it, o f c o u rs e. T h e q u es tio n th ere is am I

re a lly u n a b le to b e w ith o u t p ra is e ? It is n t s o . T h e re h a v e b e e n m o m e n ts w h e n I h a v e b e e n fre e .
W h e n I a m , w h e n I k n o w I a m , p ra is e is n t a n y th in g to m e . I a m .
I h av e to rem o v e m y s elf fro m th es e lim ited an d lim itin g th o u g h ts . I h av e to g et o u t o f th is

realm an d to p rac tic e. T h is c ertain ly ap p lies to ev ery o n e, b u t in d eg ree.
Im g o in g to b e c o m p le te ly m e rc ile s s to n ig h t. Its n o g o o d s tro k in g p e o p le . W e e ith e r re a lly

w a n t a n d re a lly b e lie v e th e re s a c h a n c e o r w e d o n t; a n d if w e d o n t, its m u c h b e tte r n o t to
w a s te o u r tim e .
M r A d ie th e n re a d P ie rre s n o te . I lo s e m y fo rc e , e n e rg y a n d d ire c tio n m a in ly to u n n e c e s s a ry

w o rry an d c o n s id erin g ab o u t w h at p eo p le th in k o f m e, an d fro m th at, I red irec t it in to c ritic is m
o f o th e rs . Is th e re a n y s u c h th in g a s n e c e s s a ry w o rry ? D o y o u s till b e lie v e th a t w o rry is
n e c e s s a ry ? Y o u s e e h o w little th o u g h t y o u v e p u t in to it. O f c o u rs e , th e re is n o s u c h th in g a s
n ec es s ary w o rry , b u t w e p ro c eed o n th e b as is th at th ere is , an d w e ju s tify w o rry , I ju s tify h u rry ,
I ju s tify th e fac t th at I h av e n o tim e fo r it. I ac c ep t th is s itu atio n , an d I p lu n g e in to th e w o rry .
N o w ab o u t th is p artic u larly , try to b e alo n e fo r a m o m en t o r tw o . T h ere is a s p ec ial m ean in g to

b ein g alo n e. T h ere c o u ld b e a d o zen p eo p le th ere, an d y et if y o u w is h ed , it w o u ld b e p o s s ib le to
b e alo n e. Y o u h av e to h av e s o m e s erio u s in ten t, an d s o m e freen es s fro m y o u r p ers o n ality . T h is
is alo n en es s fo r u s . T h en if y o u are alo n e y o u are free to w o rk : if y o u are n o t alo n e, y o u are
alread y c o n s id erin g , as s o c iatin g , reac tin g . S o , w h at is n ec es s ary fo r y o u ? N o t fo r ev ery b o d y ,
b u t p artic u larly fo r y o u ? W h at is n ec es s ary is to b e alo n e, fo r s o m e tim e an y w ay .
T h e n M r A d ie to o k S e re n a s a s s ig n m e n t. M y c h ie f fe a tu re , fa u lt o r o b s ta c le is , I th in k m e n ta l
lazin es s , lettin g m y s elf d rift th ro u g h life w ith o u t w is h in g to ap p rec iate th e terro r o f th e
s itu a tio n .
N o t w is h in g to a p p re c ia te th e te rro r o f th e s itu a tio n ? Its ju s t w o rd s . Y o u c a n t w is h to

ap p rec iate th e terro r o f th e s itu atio n ? Y o u c an w is h to b e: th en y o u c an ap p rec iate it. D o y o u
fo llo w ? Y o u d o ? G o o d . It is n t re a lly m e n ta l la zin e s s , its la zin e s s a ll th e w a y a ro u n d , n o t b e in g
s e rio u s . A ll y o u c a n d o is w is h to b e . If y o u w a n t to g e t o v e r n e g a tiv e e m o tio n s , its n o g o o d
w is hing no t be negativ e. But if yo u w is h to be, then the w is h is fo r s o m ething yo u c an s ens e in
y o u rs e lf, a n d th e n th e re s u lt w ill fo llo w . Its n o g o o d w is h in g fo r th in g s to b e o th e r th a n th e y
are. Y o u are n o t a th in g , y o u are a liv in g w o m an w ith th e p o s s ib ility o f ac tio n . Y o u w is h to h av e
th at p res en c e, an d w h en y o u h av e th at p res en c e, all th e th in g s w h ic h y o u p ro jec t, all th e lies ,
g rad u ally d im in is h . T ak e th o s e w o rd s : m en tal lazin es s , lettin g m y s elf d rift th ro u g h life w ith o u t
w is h in g to a p p re c ia te th e te rro r o f th e s itu a tio n . W h e n y o u a re , th e n y o u w ill a p p re c ia te w h a t
y o u n eed to : b u t y o u r w is h m u s t b e m o re im m ed iate if it is to b e effec tiv e.
S e re n a s a id : W h a t y o u s a id w a s re a lly w h a t I m e a n t.
M r A d ie rep lied : Y es , b u t th is is w h at y o u w rite, an d th at h as a s ig n ific an c e. If y o u d is o w n it

to o e a s ily , a n d d o n t a d d re s s w h a t y o u a c tu a lly w ro te , y o u a re ro b b in g y o u rs e lf o f a n
o p p o rtu n ity . S e e , if y o u w e re n t h e re y o u c o u ld w ith d ra w it, a n d a ll w o u ld b e fo rg o tte n . H e re I
c an h elp y o u to c o n fro n t it: y o u k n o w h o w h e s p eak s ab o u t b ein g - lo g ic al- c o n fro n tatio n . E v en
s a y in g th a t it is n t w h a t y o u m e a n t m a y b e a fo rm o f la zin e s s . Y o u h a v e a fa c t: s o m e th in g in
y o u u s ed th es e w o rd s , an d n o t th e w o rd s y o u s ay y o u m ean t.
T h e n y o u g o o n : I n e e d to fa c e th is e v e ry d a y , s ta rtin g in th e m o rn in g . It is tru e , q u ite tru e ,

b u t its a p a s s iv e c o m m e n t. T h e re is n o s u g g e s tio n a s to w h a t to d o , e x c e p t fo r s o m e th in g
w h ic h is im p o s s ib le fo r y o u as y o u are.
S e re n a e x p a n d e d : I n e e d to g e t u p e a rlie r in th e m o rn in g .
In o rd er to p rep are? Y es , v ery g o o d , th en m ak e a c lear p lan , b ec au s e y o u w ill h av e to c h an g e

y o u r reg im e in s o m e w ay : m ay b e eat s u p p er earlier, o r w h atev er. If y o u tak e th at in to ac c o u n t,
y o u th en h av e s o m eth in g p rac tic al. C h o o s e s o m eth in g d efin ite w ith in y o u r p o w er an d d o it. Bu t
if y o u w a n t to g e t u p e a rlie r w h ile y o u d o n t w a n t to a lte r a n y th in g e ls e y o u m a y fin d th a t it
c o m es to n o th in g , it s tarts an d th en it s to p s . If y o u attem p t th at s erio u s ly o v er th e n ex t w eek ,
it w ill b e d iffe re n t, it w o n t b e lik e th is a n y m o re .
W e ll, th a ts a ll fo r to n ig h t. Its fo o d fo r e v e ry b o d y , I th in k y o u m u s t a ll h a v e fo u n d a p o in t o f
ap p lic atio n . W e all s h are in th is . L et m e s ee h o w lo n g w ill it tak e m e to g et to s o m eth in g s m all
a n d s p e c ific w h ic h I re a lly c a n c a rry o u t. M a k e th e p la n , c a rry it o u t, a n d b rin g it n e x t w e e k .
M rs A d ie m en tio n ed th at n ex t w eek w as a c o m b in ed m eetin g . Y es , th an k y o u , h e s aid . T h en

b rin g y o u r o b s erv atio n s in a fo rtn ig h t; b u t n ex t w eek , to th e c o m b in ed m eetin g , b rin g th e
e ffe c t o f y o u r w o rk .
T h u rs d ay 1 7 M arc h 1 9 8 3
M r A d ie s tarted w ith th e M y ro n , w h o w as th en w o rk in g o n a b o o k . T h is w as an ex c h an g e I h av e
o fte n re m e m b e re d . Y o u w ro te : T h e m a jo r o b s ta c le a t p re s e n t is th e c o n s u m in g b e lie f in m y
p ro fes s io n al b rillian c e, an d all th e u n n ec es s ary effo rt an d an tag o n is m s th at g o w ith try in g to
s u p p o rt th is b elief. It is an o b s tac le in th at it h in d ers m y ab ility ad eq u ately to fu lfill m y d u ties
s u c h a s th e p re p a ra tio n a n d p o n d e rin g .
T h ere w as a len g th y p au s e. W ell m o s t o f w h at is n ec es s ary h as alread y b een s aid . Bu t y o u s ee,

th e re s a s e n s e o f c o m p e titio n th e re : y o u r e x c e lle n c e a n d s u p e rio rity is o n ly in re la tio n to
o th e rs . O th e rw is e , h o w d o y o u m e a s u re y o u r b rillia n c e ? Y o u re n o t b rillia n t in c o m p a ris o n w ith
a c a te rp illa r, fo r in s ta n c e . Y o u c o u ld n t c ra w l u p a le a f a n d c lim b b a c k d o w n .
A t th is p o in t th ere w as lau g h ter an d lo ad s o f it. I c an s till rec all p eo p le d iag o n ally ro c k in g o n

th eir c h airs .
Its a ll c o m p a ra tiv e , h e c o n tin u e d . C o m p a ra tiv e a n d c o m p e titiv e . A n d th e o th e r p u p p e ts w ith

w h o m y o u c o m p a re y o u rs e lf, y o u d o n t s e e th e m a s th e y a re a t a ll. T h e y a re p u p p e ts w h o m y o u
s e e a s in fe rio r, o r if y o u a re je a lo u s th e y a re s u p e rio r p u p p e ts . Its a ll c re a te d in s id e y o u : a
w h o le u n iv ers e o f p u p p ets . By ac c id en t, y o u m ig h t g et a g lim p s e o f th e tru th . Bu t c an y o u really
to lerate th is p o s itio n ? Y o u m u s t b e alo n e in y o u r effo rts fo r freed o m , o th erw is e y o u s tart
c o m p etin g o n c e m o re. A ll y o u r life is c o m p etitio n : h o w g o o d , h o w c lev er. S o s u rely y o u y earn
f o r s o m e k in d o f f re e d o m , d o n t y o u ?
Y es , M y ro n rep lied .
W e ll, w h y w o rry a n y m o re ? T h e fre e d o m s in th is o th e r d ire c tio n , a lo n e . If y o u re n o t p re p a re d
to b e a lo n e a n d s e e k a k in d o f a lo n e n e s s , y o u re ju s t w a s tin g y o u r tim e . It c a n b e fu ll o f g ra c e ,
th at s p ec ial tim e. Y o u m ig h t h av e a m o m en t o r tw o o f real q u iet. W o rk in g in th at w ay is a
s a c re d th in g .
M r A d ie p au s ed . W ritin g b o o k s c an s o eas ily b e n arc is s is tic . Y o u k n o w ab o u t N arc is s u s ?

L o o k in g in to th e p o o l, lo v in g h im s e lf. Its a w o n d e r n o o n e p u s h e d h im in . A g a in , la u g h te r. H e
th e n to o k S a m s o b s e rv a tio n : T h is w e e k , u p o n b e in g c a lle d a n d a tte m p tin g to tu rn in w a rd , th e
q u e s t io n a ris e s , w h a t is t h e n e x t s t e p ?
Y e s , th a ts rig h t. I a m c a lle d , s o w h a t is n e c e s s a ry ? N o w , a t th is v e ry s e c o n d . Its a lw a y s a t

th is v e ry s e c o n d . T h e n y o u g o o n : T h is q u e s tio n is o f a fo rm a to ry n a tu re a n d le a d s a w a y fro m
th e s e n s e o f m y s e lf in to re v o lv in g th o u g h ts a n d s le e p . Bu t it is fo rm a to ry o n ly if I d o n t s e n s e
m y s e lf. O f c o u rs e , if I d o n t re s p o n d , it im m e d ia te ly tu rn s in to a p o is o n . Bu t th e q u e s tio n is th e
n ex t s tep : I tu rn to m y s elf. I d o n o th in g . I am p res en t. W h at is n ec es s ary is m o re lik ely to tak e
p lac e if I am n o t in terferin g .
Y o u v e g o t to fin d y o u r fe e lin g a n d s e n s a tio n : its y o u r re s p o n s ib ility to p ro v id e th e v e h ic le o r

tab ern ac le in w h ic h th is p ro c es s c an tak e p lac e. R em em b er I A M .
R e m e m b e r, a s M r G u rd jie ff u s e d to s a y Y o u a re M r G u rd jie ffs p u p il: y o u a re n o t ta il o f

d o n k e y . Y o u a re p o s s ib le m a n .
S o , a lrig h t, y o u a re M r G u rd jie ffs s e c o n d g e n e ra tio n p u p il. Y o u a re b e c o m in g a m a n . Its n o t

no thing.
H e th e n re a d A m ie s th o u g h ts : If I h a v e a g o a l a n d th e re a re o b s ta c le s to fa c e . D o y o u m e a n
w h en y o u h av e a g o al, an d w h en th ere are o b s tac les to fac e?
Yes , A m ie s aid.
G o o d , b ec au s e th e firs t is th eo retic al. S o w h en y o u h av e a g o al, an d w h en y o u fac e o b s tac les :

th is n e g a tiv e p a rt ris e s u p a n d c a n c e ls th e p o s itiv e w is h , s o th e re is n o lo n g e r a n y fo rw a rd
m o m e n tu m . I lo s e th e s e n s e o f m y s e lf. Y e s , b ro a d ly s p e a k in g its rig h t. Bu t n o w it m u s tn t b e
if I hav e a go al. Yo u hav e to a tas k , yo u hav e to hav e an im m ediate go al, a tas k . The far go al
is th e re , b u t y o u h a v e to h a v e th e in te rm e d ia te s te p s , o th e rw is e y o u ll n e v e r a rriv e , y o u s e e .
M r G u rd jie ff u s e d to s a y th a t if y o u a re g o in g to a c h ie v e , its lik e th e la m p - p o s ts . Y o u h a v e to

th e firs t lam p p o s t, th en th e n ex t, th en y o u are at th e A rc d e T rio m p h e, m o re lam p p o s ts , th en
C o lo n e ls R e n a rd in o rd e r to g e t to th is ro o m . Bu t if y o u d o n t p a s s e a c h la m p p o s t y o u ll n e v e r
g et th ere. Y o u h av e to d o th e th in g im m ed iately b efo re y o u . T h at, at leas t, is w ith in y o u r p o w er.
M a y b e y o u ll g e t k n o c k e d o v e r b e fo re y o u re a c h th e fa r a im , b u t th is o n e h e re s e e m s in re a c h .
S o th e w o rk is alw ay s im m ed iate. A n d o u r w o rk in reg ard to th is is at o n c e.
N o w to u n d ers tan d , an d later I w ill m ak e m y res o lv e fo r a p artic u lar p lan . If y o u m ak e a p lan to

s ee the o bs tac les yo u w ill enc o unter them . But yo u w ill nev er s ee them unles s yo u hav e an aim .
P re s e n tly , w h a t h a d b e e n a d iffic u lty is n o tro u b le , b u t th e n th e re s a b ig g e r o n e b e fo re y o u .
A n d y o u s h all s u c c eed o n ly b y w o rk : th ere is n o altern ativ e. T h e g reat rew ard is th e s en s e o f I

w h ic h y o u s p eak o f. W o rk u n til I k n o w th at I really am . I h av e to d ec id e m y s elf b etw een I an d it,
b e tw e e n I a n d n o t I. I a n d a ll th e A n n ie s , a ll th e M y ro n s .
M r A d ie p au s ed ag ain : W ell, th is w as a b it lo n g er th an w e h av e o rd in arily h ad , b u t it w as to

m a rk a n e w le v e l in o u r w o rk . Brin g s h o rt n o te s o f w h a t y o u re d o in g fo r y o u rs e lf. E v e n th e re
y o u ll fin d th e re s is ta n c e : y o u h a v e n t g o t th e p e n c il o r y o u h a v e n t g o t th e p a p e r. Bu t it is n t
so far to get them .
W o rk fro m y o u r u n d ers tan d in g an d lim it y o u r tas k to th at. N o t all d ay , ju s t d efin ite an d lim ited
s o th a t y o u c a n k n o w w h e th e r y o u h a v e fa ile d o r n o t. A n d d o n o t a c c e p t to fa il. W e ll, w e d
b e tte r s to p th e re . G o o d n ig h t.


p re s e n t h is te a c h e r (a d ire c t p u p il o f G u rd jie f f a n d O u s p e n s k y ) to a n in te rn a tio n a l a u d ie n c e .T h e
c o u rt o f law .
Sha r e this :
Share
Lo a d ing. . .
W r itte n b y S O P H IA P o s te d in G e o r g e A d ie : P r a c tic a l E ffo r ts a n d C h ie f F e a tu r e , JO S E P H

W E L L BE L O V E D A Z IZ E P A G E
Ja n u a r y 2 3 , 2 0 0 9 a t 2 :1 5 p m T a g g e d w ith c h ie f fe a tu r e , e ffo r t , G e o r g e A d ie , G u r d jie ff , Jo s e p h
A zize , p r a c tic a l e ffo r ts , S o p h ia W e llb e lo v e d
T O R O N T O C O N C E R T o f G U R D JIE F F / d e H A R T M A N N
M U S IC : R E V IE W
Jo h n R o b ert C o lo m b o Pag e
T o ro n to C o n c ert
Jo h n R o b e rt C o lo m b o re v ie w s a c o n c e rt d e v o te d to T h e P ia n o M u s ic o f G .I. G u rd jie ff a n d
T h o m as d e H artm an n
E v ery o n e rec o g n izes th e n am e o f G len n G o u ld , th e fam o u s p ian is t an d m u s ic o lo g is t, w h o s e

c ris p a n d n o - n o n s e n s e in te rp re ta tio n o f Ba c h s G o ld b e rg V a ria tio n s to o k th e m u s ic a l w o rld b y
s to rm in 1 9 5 5 . A lm o s t a s w e ll k n o w n a re G o u ld s w e ll- p u b lic ize d a n tic s s ta te m e n ts lik e
M o za rt s h o u ld h a v e d ie d s o o n e r ra th e r th a n la te r a n d T h e c o n c e rt is d e a d . T h e la tte r
s tatem en t w as p ro c laim ed th e s am e y ear th at h is T o ro n to n eig h b o u r M ars h all M c L u h an
re m a rk e d , T h e b o o k is d e a d . Bo th th e c o n c e rt a n d th e b o o k h a v e b e e n a lo n g tim e d y in g .
G o u ld w as a g reat ec c en tric an d rec lu s e rath er th an a g reat c h arac ter o r s tag e p erfo rm er.
T rag ic ally , h e w as h ab itu ated to p h arm ac eu tic als , an d I b eliev e th at th is ad d ic tio n p artly
a c c o u n ts f o r th e h y p e r- re a l (a lm o s t s u rre a l) q u a lity o f h is in te rp re ta tio n s a n d p e rf o rm a n c e s . If
y o u s u ffer h y p erac u ity , y o u d o n o t en jo y h is rec o rd in g s as m u c h as y o u d o th o s e o f h is m u c h
les s b rillian t c o n tem p o raries . It d o es n o t tak e g en iu s to p erfo rm w ith b rillian c e, em o tio n , an d
ins ight.
G o u ld c am e to m in d as I p au s ed in fro n t o f th e s tatu e erec ted in h is h o n o u r at th e en tran c ew ay

to th e G len n G o u ld C en tre o f th e Ph ilip Jo h n s o n - d es ig n ed Bro ad c as t C en tre o f th e C an ad ian
Bro ad c as tin g C o rp o ratio n in d o w n to w n T o ro n to . T h e s tatu e m ay b e s aid to s tan d , b u t th e life-
s ize , b ro n ze e f f ig y o f h im (w e a rin g h is c h a ra c te ris tic ru m p le d ra in c o a t) s h o w s h im s lo u c h e d o n
a p ark - b en c h . I u s ed to s ee h im w earin g th at rain c o at s h am b lin g th ro u g h th e h alls o f th e o ld
C BC Radio Building. The s tatue is a go o d lik enes s .
A s I e n te re d th e C e n tre s th e a tre , a ls o n a m e d in h is h o n o u r, a t 8 :0 0 p .m ., F rid a y , N o v e m b e r 2 1 ,

2 0 0 8 , I w o n d ered w h at h e w o u ld h av e m ad e o f th e c o n c ert th at m y w ife an d R u th w ere th ere
ab o u t to h ear. G o u ld w as o p en to n ew id eas in d eed , h e c o n trib u ted a b lu rb to a b o o k o f
Bo rg es - lik e p o em s th at I tran s lated w ith R o b ert Z en d , a liv ely H u n g arian C an ad ian p o et an d
rad io p ro d u c er b u t to m y k n o w led g e h e n ev er o n c e ev in c ed an y in teres t in eith er E as tern
th o u g h t o r a n y fo rm o f e x p re s s io n o f th e w is d o m tra d itio n .
T h e c o n c ert w e to o k o u r s eats to h ear w as d ev o ted to th e p ian o m u s ic p ro d u c ed b y th e

c o lla b o ra tio n o f G .I. G u rd jie ff a n d T h o m a s d e H a rtm a n n . N o w o n e o f th e p le a s u re s o f w ritin g
rev iew s fo r th is b lo g is th at th ere is n o n eed fo r m e to ex p lain th e b ac k g ro u n d s o f th es e tw o
g en tlem en o r th eir u n lik ely p artn ers h ip , p ro b ab ly u n iq u e in th e an n als o f fo lk an d eth n ic
m u s ic o lo g y . T h e G u rd jieff- d e H artm an n m u s ic h as a d ev o ted fo llo w in g am o n g b o th s tu d en ts
o f th e w o rk an d y o u n g p ro fes s io n al m u s ic ian s . I c o u ld reel o ff th e n am es o f a d o zen w ell-
k n o w n p ian is ts w h o p erfo rm m an y o f th es e 3 0 0 o r s o w o rk s , an d th ere are d is c o g rap h ies th at
lis t th e in n u m erab le C D s th at th ey h av e rec o rd ed .
I m ain tain an in teres t in C an ad ian c u ltu ral ex p res s io n as w ell a w atc h in g b rief o n F o u rth W ay
w o rk , s o p erm it to c o m b in e in teres ts b y s o u n d in g an o th er n atio n alis tic n o te. T h e m u s ic al w o rld
o f th e F o u rth W ay is w ell s erv ed b y th e retired film p ro d u c er T h o m as C . D aly o f M o n treal, w h o
rem ain s th e faith fu l w ard en an d g u ard ian o f th is m u s ic , in h is c ap ac ity o f ex ec u to r o f th e
es tates o f th e late O lg a an d T h o m as d e H artm an n . H e h as w o rk ed o v ertim e to m ak e th es e
c o m p o s itio n s av ailab le to m u s ic lo v ers .
C o u n t m e am o n g th es e lo v ers . I firs t h eard th es e p lan g en t, s eem in g ly rep etitiv e, c h o rd - lik e

c o m p o s itio n s in th e late 1 9 5 0 s , p o u n d ed o u t o n an u p rig h t p ian o , as I aw k w ard ly p erfo rm ed th e
M o v em en ts . In term itten tly s in c e th en , I h av e lis ten ed to th em in s m all c o n c ert h alls an d in th e
s o litu d e o f m y s tu d y at h o m e. In d eed , th ey h av e q u ic k en ed m y tas te fo r th e rep etitiv e
c o m p o s itio n s o f th e m u s ic a l m in im a lis ts (lik e A rv o P rt) a n d th e w o rk o f e le c tro n ic
c o m p o s e rs (lik e P h ilip G la s s ). G o u ld h im s e lf e x p e rim e n te d w ith m u s ic a l c o n s tru c tio n s
s p lic in g tap es o f h u m an v o ic es to g eth er to c reate c o m p o s itio n s th at s o u n d lik e m u s iq u e
c o n c r te , s o h e m ig h t w e ll h a v e e n jo y e d a tte n d in g th is c o n c e rt a s m u c h a s w e d id .
T h e c o n c ert w as o rg an ized b y th e S o c iety fo r T rad itio n al S tu d ies , th e earlies t an d th e larg es t o f
th e n u m ero u s o rg an izatio n s w h ic h tak e an in teres t in th es e id eas an d m o tifs th at are s c attered
th ro u g h o u t th e C ity o f T o ro n to (p o p u la tio n 3 .3 m illio n ). A s a b y s ta n d e r, I w is h th e s e g ro u p s
w o u ld c o llab o rate m o re o ften th an th ey d o to s p o n s o r p u b lic o c c as io n s lik e th is o n e.
T h e G len n G o u ld T h eatre s eats ab o u t 3 4 0 an d tw o - th ird s o f th e s eats w ere o c c u p ied b y an

au d ien c e o f q u iet- s p o k en , in teres tin g - lo o k in g m en an d w o m en , m ain ly m id d le- ag ed an d
p ro f e s s io n a l o r s e m i- p ro f e s s io n a l in a p p e a ra n c e . T ic k e ts w e re p ric e d a t $ 2 5 a p ie c e ($ 1 5 f o r
s tu d e n ts a n d s e n io rs ) a n d th e tw o p e rf o rm e rs w e re C a s e y S o k o l (p e rc u s s io n ) a n d C h a rle s
K e tc h a m (p ia n o ).
I a m p la c in g M r. S o k o ls n a m e firs t b e c a u s e h e is q u ite a c tiv e in T o ro n to . H e is a n a s s o c ia te

p ro fes s o r w ith th e fac u lty o f fin e arts at Y o rk U n iv ers ity w h ere h e h as tau g h t an d p erfo rm ed
s in c e 1 9 7 1 . H e is a fam iliar fig u re in W o rk c irc les , p erfo rm in g th es e p ian o c o m p o s itio n s w ith
flair, en th u s ias m , an d affec tio n . In th e p as t h e h as s elec ted c o m p o s itio n s fo r h is p ro g ram s th at
reflec t th e v arieties rath er th an s im ilarities th at are to b e fo u n d in th is b o d y o f p ian o m u s ic . In
p ers o n h e s trik es m e as h av in g c o m p res s ed p o w er an d in tellig en c e.
T h e g u es t p ian is t w as C h arles Ketc h am , w h o h as rec o rd ed alb u m s o f th e p ian o m u s ic b u t w h o is

p rin c ip ally k n o w n as a w id ely trav elled o rc h es tra c o n d u c to r. H e o rig in ally s tu d ied u n d er E ric
L ein s d o rf at T an g lew o o d an d h as m ad e g u es t ap p earan c es o r s erv ed as as s o c iate c o n d u c to r at
m a n y o f E u ro p e s im p o rta n t o rc h e s tra s . W ith o th e r m u s ic ia n s a n d m u s ic o lo g is ts , h e h a s e d ite d
w h at h as b een d es c rib ed b y k n o w led g eab le p eo p le as th e d efin itiv e ed itio n o f th e c o m p lete
G u rd jieff / d e H artm an n Pian o M u s ic an d h e h as rec o rd ed th e c o m p lete w o rk s fo r th e G erm an
re c o rd in g la b e l, W e rg o S c h a llp la tte n G m b H .
M r. Ketc h am is n o t to b e c o n fu s ed w ith h is n am es ak e C h arles B. Ketc h am , th e A m eric an

th e o lo g ia n a n d th e a u th o r o f T h e O n to lo g ic a l G ro u n d f o r a N e w C h ris to lo g y . (I w o n d e r if th e y
a re re la tiv e s .) O u r M r. K e tc h a m (th e p ia n is t) m a k e s h is h o m e - b a s e in S a n F ra n c is c o . H e is a
w elc o m e v is ito r to T o ro n to ; h e arriv ed d u rin g a m in o r s n o w s to rm , th e firs t o f th e s eas o n .
H e s trik es m e as a m an w h o is ab le to w ear tw o h ats th e b eret o f th e p erfo rm er an d th e to p -

h at o f th e c o n d u c to r an d b rin g to ev ery m u s ic al o c c as io n a s tro n g s en s e o f p ro fes s io n alis m .
F o r n o g o o d reas o n , I k ep t th in k in g o f M es s rs . S o k o l an d Ketc h am as th e p ep p er an d s alt o f
th is c o n c ert, th o u g h b o th s p o rted h ead s o f w h ite h air. M r. S o k o l s u p p lied p erc u s s io n
ac c o m p an im en t d u rin g th e m id d le p o rtio n o f th e p ro g ram .
T h e m u s ic a l p a rt o f th e c o n c e rt w e n t fro m 8 :0 0 to 9 :4 5 p .m . a n d w a s fo llo w e d b y a n o p tio n a l

fo rty m in u tes o f d is c u s s io n . T h is to o k th e u s u al, q u es tio n - an d - an s w er fo rm at. S o m e m em b ers
o f th e au d ien c e left after th e p erfo rm an c es , b u t m o s t rem ain ed an d to o k s eats c lo s er to th e
s tag e. T h o s e m em b ers w h o rem ain ed w ere in fo r a d o u b le treat: s o m e g o o d an s w ers to
reas o n ab le q u es tio n s , p lu s th e s p irited p lay in g o f tw o m o re c o m p o s itio n s : M am a an d a s ec o n d
S a y y id C h a n t (to m a tc h th e o p e n in g n u m b e r).
N o w to th e p ro g ra m . T o w h e t th e re a d e rs a p p e tite f o r w h a t w e h e a rd , h e re is a lis t (f ro m th e
w ell- d es ig n ed p ro g ram th at w as d is trib u ted ) o f th e tw en ty - o n e c o m p o s itio n s th at w ere
p erfo rm ed :
Sayyid C hant and D anc e, N o . 1.
R e jo ic e , Be e lze b u b !
Tibi C antam us , N o . 2
H y m n fro m a G reat T em p le, N o . 1
A n c ien t G reek M elo d y
A rm en ian S o n g , N o . 1
D uduki
H y m n (Ja n . 6 , 1 9 2 7 )
G reek M elo d y
T h e In itiatio n o f th e Pries tes s
*
[In te rm is s io n ]
H y m n (Ja n . 2 , 1 9 2 7 )
A fghan M elo dy
O rien tal M elo d y
D a n c e R h y th m (N o v . 2 9 , 1 9 2 5 )
A rm en ian S o n g , N o . 2
U n title d M e lo d y (Ja n . 1 , 1 9 2 6 )
D erv is h D an c e
M o o ris h D a n c e (D e rv is h )
Bayaty
Pray er an d D es p air
R elig io u s C erem o n y
It w o u ld b e d if f ic u lt f o r a d ilig e n t ra p p o rte u r (lik e th e p re s e n t o n e ) to d o a n y m o re th a n re c o rd

s o m e o f h is g en eral im p res s io n s an d res p o n s es to th e m u s ic ian s an d th e m u s ic . It is b ey o n d
h is rem it an d c o m p eten c e to d o m o re th an th at.
M r. Ketc h am o ffered a m o s t p ro fes s io n al p erfo rm an c e o f th es e w o rk s o n a s leek b lac k S tein w ay

g ran d p ian o . In th e p as t I w o u ld o v erh ear th e s train s o f O n th e S tep p es o f C en tral A s ia
w h en ev er I h eard o th er talen ted p ian is ts p erfo rm th es e c o m p o s itio n s . M r. Ketc h am ad d ed a n ew
d im en s io n w ith h is b ro ad s en s e o f w h at c o n s titu tes p erfo rm an c e an d c o m p o s itio n . S o I k ep t
h earin g th e u n ex p ec ted s train s o f th e c o m p o s itio n s o f w ell- lo v ed E u ro p ean c o m p o s ers o f th e
p e rio d (m a in ly th e 1 9 2 0 s ): Ip p o lito v - Iv a n o v , K h a c h a tu ria n , S a tie , Ba rto k , e v e n S a in t- S a n s s
A q u a riu m (f ro m T h e C a rn iv a l o f A n im a ls ), a s w e ll a s e c h o e s o f th e s e m i- n o te s o f A rv o P rt,
th e la tte r a le g a c y o f a tte n d a n c e a t th e p re v io u s e v e n in g s E s to n ia n c o n c e rt a t S t. A n n e s
C h u rc h .
M r. Ketc h am als o ad d ed to m y ap p rec iatio n o f th e ran g e o f th e m aterial, s p ec ific ally th e v ariety

o f s u b jec ts an d effec ts . T h ere w ere in effec t th e eth n ic in flu en c es : rh y th m s an d m elo d ies
d e s c rib e d a s A n c ie n t G re e k , A fg h a n , M o o ris h , A rm e n ia n , a n d O rie n ta l. T h e n th e re w e re th e
m o v in g an d m y s terio u s relig io u s m o tifs : S ay y id c h an ts an d d an c es , D erv is h d an c es , an d
p ray ers , etc . F in ally th ere w ere th e m o o d s : elatio n , as p iratio n , d ejec tio n , d ep res s io n . F in ally
th ere w ere c o m p lex ities , s o lem n ities , an d in tim ac ies ap len ty .
A ll th e p iec es are q u ite s h o rt, y et eac h g iv es its elf o v er to a s eem in g ly c o m p lete ex p res s io n o f
a rh y th m , a feelin g , ev en a th o u g h t, w ith a h an d fu l o f th e c o m p o s itio n s en d in g ab ru p tly , as if
c u t o ff in m id - ex p res s io n . A t v ario u s tim es I felt I w an ted to m arc h in a p ro c es s io n o r s tep o u t
in to th e ais le an d p erfo rm a s eries o f T ai C h i ex erc is es . T h e p rin ted p ro g ram en jo in ed u s n o t to
ap p lau d th e c o m p o s itio n s in d iv id u ally , b u t to res erv e o u r ap p lau s e fo r th e en d o f eac h p art o f
th e p ro g ram . S o th ere w as p len ty o f p en t- u p en erg y !
T h e c o n c e rt o p e n e d w ith S a y y id C h a n t a n d D a n c e , a w o rk o f in tric a te c o m p le x ity , v e ry

p ian is tic . T h e p ro g ram en d ed w ith an en c o re p erfo rm an c e o f an o th er S ay y id c o m p o s itio n , o n e
th at ex p res s ed in c red ib le lo n g in g fo r w h at, w h o c an s ay ? T h es e s erv ed as a p air o f b o o k en d s
fo r th e m u s ic al p o rtio n o f th e c o n c ert.
D u rin g th e m id - s ec tio n o f th e p ro g ram w e h eard an d s aw M r. S o k o l ac c o m p an y M r. Ketc h am ,

tak in g d elig h t in th e u s e o f a h o o p - lik e d ru m w ith jin g le- b ells c alled a d aff, a g o u rd - lik e d ru m
c alled a d aro k , alo n g w ith o th er u n fam iliar, ey e- c atc h in g an d ear- h o ld in g in s tru m en ts . T h e
rh y th m s o f d a n c e s f a m ilia r in e th n o m u s ic o lo g y (p e rh a p s g iv e n to d a y s c lim a te o f o p in io n it
s h o u ld b e c alled ex o m u s ic o lo g y ) w ere p ro n o u n c ed . T h e g en tlem en p erfo rm ers w o rk ed
to g eth er w ith a u n ity o f aim o r p u rp o s e as if th ey d id th is w ith d elig h t ev ery n ig h t o f th e y ear.
W h ile lis ten in g to U n titled M u s ic an d o th er c o m p o s itio n s I felt th at p arts o f m e w ere b ein g
en erg ized an d o th er p arts b ein g an aes th etized , s o th at v ario u s o p eratio n s an d p ro c ed u res c o u ld
b e o v ers een an d p erfo rm ed . It w as a s eries o f q u ite c o n c en trated ex p erien c es , rath er s u rp ris in g
in th e s am e w ay th at an ac u p u n c tu re treatm en t is rid d led w ith s u rfac e s u rp ris es : u n ex p ec ted
tw in g e s , tw itc h e s , tw e a k s , a n d (to c o n tin u e w ith th e ts ) ta s te s .
T h e d is c u s s io n b eg an w ith M r. Ketc h am as k in g tw o q u es tio n s : W h ere d o es m u s ic c o m e fro m ?

W h at d o es m u s ic ex p res s ? H e d id n o t attem p t to an s w er th es e p eren n ial q u es tio n s , b u t h e
ad d ed th at h e h ad d irec ted th e firs t q u es tio n to th o s e c o m p o s ers h e h ad m et. T h ey all d rew a
b lan k . H e d irec ted th e s ec o n d q u es tio n to m em b ers o f th e au d ien c e.
O n e m em b er s tated th at s h e felt th at th e m u s ic w as c o u rs in g th ro u g h h er b lo o d s tream , g o in g

fro m th e h eart to th e h ead . A n o th er m em b er s aid h e felt it affec ted h is b reath an d h is
b reath in g . A w o m an s aid s h e s en s ed th at th e m u s ic w as b ein g d is c lo s ed rath er th an c o m p o s ed
o r d is c o v ered .
In a n s w e r t o t h e d ire c t q u e s t io n , in e f f e c t , W h a t is G u rd jie f f ia n a b o u t t h is m u s ic ? M r. K e t c h a m
g av e a c o n s id ered an d m eas u red an s w er: M an h as a p u rp o s e in life th at c an n o t b e realized as
w e are. T h ere is s o m eth in g m o re c o m p lete to b e fo u n d , an d it is th ro u g h c o n s c io u s n es s th at
th is tra n s fo rm a tio n is to ta k e p la c e .
H e w e n t o n to s k e tc h M r. G u rd jie ffs c o s m o lo g ic a l v ie w o f m a n in th e u n iv e rs e , th e s e n s e o f
s c a le . I e x p e c te d h im to m e n tio n th e w o rd h a rm o n io u s b u t I d id n o t h e a r it. In s te a d h e s a id ,
E v e ry to n e is a m y s te ry . W e re a lly h e a r n o t o n e to n e b u t c o m p o s ite to n e s , v ib ra tio n s ,
o v e rto n e s , a n d th e y re p re s e n t s o m e th in g th a t is u n iv e rs a l.
O n e o b s erv an t q u es tio n er as k ed h im h o w h e p rep ares fo r a p erfo rm an c e. S h e h ad p res u m ab ly

n o ted h o w h e w o u ld p au s e at th e k ey b o ard b efo re tac k lin g a c o m p o s itio n . H e m o m en tarily
lo o k ed lik e th e little b o y c au g h t w ith h is h an d in th e c o o k ie jar. In rep ly h e q u o ted a p rev io u s
s p e a k e r w h o h a d s a id th a t th e m u s ic c a u s e d h im to m a k e s p a c e . I m a k e s p a c e , h e s a id ,
ec o no m ic ally.
T o ro n to au d ien c es are in c lin ed to b e to n g u e- tied , s o I as k ed tw o q u es tio n s to w h ic h I rec eiv ed

res p o n s ib le rep lies . T h e firs t q u es tio n w as : D o m u s ic o lo g is ts rec o g n ize th e G u rd jieff- D e
H artm an n c o llab o ratio n to b e u n iq u e, g iv en th at eth n o m u s ic o lo g y w as a c h arac teris tic o f th e
1 9 2 0 s ? A n d w h y are th es e th ree h u n d red c o m p o s itio n s n o t p art o f th e rep erto ire o f
c o n tem p o rary p erfo rm ers an d rep erto ry c o m p an ies ?
M r. S o k o l rep lied th at th e c h arac ter o f th e in terac tio n b etw een a p ro fes s io n ally train ed
c o m p o s er- p erfo rm er an d an u n train ed trav eller- c o llec to r o f in d ig en o u s trad itio n s is rec o g n ized
to b e u n iq u e. M r. Ketc h u m ad d ed th at th e m u s ic al s c o res w ere n o t p u b lis h ed u n til th e 1 9 9 0 s ,
th e d ec is io n h av in g b een m ad e late in th e d ay b y M ic h el d e S alzm an n to m ak e th em read ily
av ailab le. A ls o , th e c o m p o s itio n s are in tim ate an d in v o lv e o n e o r tw o in terp reters , n o t all th e
p lay ers o f s y m p h o n y o rc h es tras .
L ater h e m ad e a c as e fo r th e fac t th at th es e c o m p o s itio n s w ere c o m p o s ed an d are p erfo rm ed to

h av e an in flu en c e o n p arts o f th e b o d y s eld o m to u c h ed b y o th er m u s ic o r ev en o b s erv ed b y
m o s t p eo p le. T h ey w ere d es ig n ed to p ro d u c e feelin g s w e d o n o t n o rm ally n o tic e. M r. S o k o l s aid
th at th e c o m p o s itio n s are n o t fo lk m u s ic , s ay in g , in effec t, Y o u m ay g o to A fg h an is tan b u t y o u
w ill n o t fin d A fg h a n M e lo d y b e in g p e rfo rm e d th e re .
L ik e th e res t o f th e au d ien c e, R u th an d I left th e G len n G o u ld C en tre w ith th e s o u n d s o f th e

p ian o an d p erc u s s io n in s tru m en ts v ib ratin g w ith in u s . W e p au s ed b efo re th e b ro n ze s tatu e o f
th e g reat p ian is t o n th e s id ew alk in fro n t o f th e b u ild in g . D es p ite th e fac t th at h is g aze is
av erted , I b en t d o w n an d p eered in to th e s o c k ets o f h is ey es . It s eem ed alm o s t s ac rileg io u s to
d o s o . Bu t (it m a y b e m y im a g in a tio n ) I o b s e rv e d a w in k .
H ere is a related rev iew o f a n ew C D .
N o t ev ery o n e is p riv ileg ed to liv e in a larg e c ity lik e T o ro n to w h ic h h o s ts c o n c erts o f th e

q u ality o f th e o n e th at w e w ere ab le to atten d . Bu t fo r th o s e p eo p le w h o h av e a tas te fo r th is
m u s ic , b u t w h o liv e e ls e w h e re , it is p o s s ib le to h a v e a n a f te rta s te (s o to s p e a k ) o f w h a t w a s
m is s ed th ro u g h th e releas e o f a n ew C D .
E lis a D en zey , T o ro n to - b as ed p ian is t an d fab ric artis t, h as h ad a fo rty - fiv e y ear as s o c iatio n w ith
g ro u p w o rk . S h e s tu d ied w ith A n n ette H erter w h o w as a p u p il o f T h o m as d e H artm an n , fro m
w h o m s h e learn ed th at p erfo rm an c e d o es n o t ex is t fo r th e s ak e o f p erfo rm an c e b u t in th e
in teres t o f s elf- k n o w led g e. M u s ic is th ere n o t fo r p erfo rm an c e as w e u s u ally u n d ers tan d it,
b u t rath er th e c u ltiv atio n o f a s en s itiv ity to o r an u n d ers tan d in g o f w h at eac h p iec e o f m u s ic is
s a y in g o r d e s c rib in g . (I lik e th e s u b tle d is tin c tio n s b e tw e e n s e n s itiv ity a n d u n d e rs ta n d in g
a s w e ll a s s a y in g a n d d e s c rib in g .)
T h at q u o tatio n c o m es fro m th e p ro g ram n o tes th at ac c o m p an y th e n ew ly releas ed C D o f p ian o

c o m p o s itio n s p e rfo rm e d b y M s . D e n ze y title d G u rd jie ff / D e H a rtm a n n . T h e C D is a v a ila b le
fro m By th e W ay Bo o k s o r fro m th e : E x G u rd jieff F o u n d atio n o f T o ro n to ex p erim en tal G ro u p .
(Bo th o rg a n iza tio n s h a v e w e b s ite s .) T h e lis t p ric e is $ 2 5 C D N , th e p ric e c h a rg e d f o r a s in g le
c o n c ert tic k et.
M s . D en zey rec o rd ed all o f th e tw en ty - o n e c o m p o s itio n s in h er s ev en ty - s ix th y ear d u rin g o n e

s ix - h o u r s es s io n in 1 9 9 9 . T h e tas tefu lly p ro d u c ed C D in c lu d es th ree o r fo u r o f th e
c o m p o s itio n s th a t w e p la y e d a t th e c o n c e rt. (C u rio u s ly , b o th th e d is k a n d th e c o n c e rt in c lu d e
th e s a m e n u m b e r o f c o m p o s itio n s .) H e r in te rp re ta tio n is a le s s d ra m a tic a n d fa r s o fte r o n e th a n
th e in terp retatio n s o ffered b y M es s rs . S o k o l o r Ketc h am . Perh ap s it is m o re fem in in e. T h is in
its elf is neither a po s itiv e no r a negativ e. In fac t, it is an attes tatio n to the po w er o f thes e
c o m p o s itio n s to m o v e m en an d w o m en in th e s am e d irec tio n , eac h at h is o r h er o w n s p eed ,
eac h in his o r her o w n w ay.
Jo h n R o b ert C o lo m b o is k n o w n th ro u g h o u t C an ad a as th e M as ter G ath erer fo r h is c o m p ilatio n s

o f C a n a d ia n a . H is tw o la te s t b o o k s a re T h e Big Bo o k o f C a n a d ia n G h o s t S to rie s (D u n d u rn ) a n d
W h is tle W h ile Y o u W o rk (C & C ). T h e la tte r 4 0 0 - a g e p a p e rb a c k b o o k c o n s is ts o f e s s a y s a n d
artic les o f g en eral c u ltu ral an d s p ec ific es o teric in teres t.
Sha r e this :
Share
Lo a d ing. . .
W r itte n b y S O P H IA P o s te d in R E V IE W O F D A M A L ' S H O L Y W A R , T o r o n to C o n c e r t R e v ie w
W E L L BE L O V E D T a g g e d w ith A n n e tte H e r te r , A r v o P r t , Ba r to k , By th e W a y Bo o ks ,
N o v e m b e r 2 2 , 2 0 0 8 a t 8 :3 4 p m C a s e y S o ko l ( p e r c u s s io n ) , C h a r le s K e tc h a m ( p ia n o ) , d a ff , d a r o k , E lis a
D e n ze y , E r ic L e in s d o r f , e th n o m u s ic o lo g y , E x G u r d jie ff F o u n d a tio n o f
T o r o n to e x p e r im e n ta l G r o u p . , F o u r th W a y W o r k , G . I. G u r d jie ff , G le n n
G o u ld , Ip p o lito v -Iv a n o v , Jo p h n R o b e r t C o lo m b o , K h a c h a tu r ia n ,
M a r s h a ll M c L u h a n , P h ilip G la s s , S a in t-S a n s , S a tie , S o c ie ty fo r
T r a d itio n a l S tu d ie s , S o p h ia W e llb e lo v e d , T h o m a s d e H a r tm a n n ,
T o r o n to
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GURDJIEFF Siglo XXI

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Guestrda'ifjchniogfscr:hoalrsand G. I.

Gurdjieff's teaching, research, books,

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Notice of conferences, books, reviews or events of interest to the practitioner or scholar of

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I Should Have Sent Roses

Are you standing outside?

Looking up at the sky, cursing a wandering star?

Well, if I were you, Id throw rocks at the moon

And Id say, Damn you wherever you are!

I dont know where to start,

This cage round my heart locked up what I meant to say,

What I felt all along the way,

Just wondering how come I couldnt take your breath away.

Cause I never sent roses. I never did enough.

I didnt know how to love you, though I loved you so much.

And I should have sent roses when you crossed my mind,

For no other reason than the fact you were mine.

If fate should decide to let me do it all over again,

Id build no more walls.

Id stay true and recall the fragrance of you on the wind

Youll do better than me.

Someone who can see,

THE NEW AGE OF RUSSIA: OCCULT AND ESOTERIC DIMENSIONS

KonstantineTsiolkovskii [Artist Kukulieva Kaleriya Vasillievna b 1937]

Jo hn Ro bert Co lo m bo co m pares and co ntrasts lectures delivered eighty-fo ur

W illiam Jam es 1842 1910)

Carl S agan (1934 1996)

A lan D undes (pho to Saax o n D o nnelly)

M o v em ents : ( no date giv en)

T h o m a s d e H a r t m a n n : A t ce rtain po ints in space , w he re the e m anatio ns o f the

Written by SOPHIA WELLBELOVED Posted in BOOKS, GURDJIEFF UNVEILED: free download

Y a le U n ive rsity D e p a rtm e n t o f R e lig io u s S tu d ie s

Jo hn Ro be rt C o lo m bo Re vie w s Jam e s Opie s bio graphical study o f M ichae l C urre r-Briggs

Review of The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff,

Jeanne de Salzmann, Shambhala, Boston & London, 2010

Gurdjieff, George Ivanovitch, 1-5, 295-7

The N ew Bo o k by Patty de Llo s as Is Rev iew ed by Jo hn Ro bert C o lo m bo

E ffo rts to C h a n g e : A n E x ch a n g e w ith G e o rg e A d ie ,

[It is po ssible to actually co m e to a po int o f change . The o nly que stio ns

S a m o p e n e d : L ast w e e k, M r A die , Ive e x pe rie nce d a lo t o f lo ne line ss, w hat I call a

JO S E P H A Z I Z E has publishe d in ancie nt history, law and G urdjie ff studie s. H is first

T h r e e M a ve r icks: G u r d jie ff, S ch u o n a n d S h a h

Eve n so , so m e o f To ussulis m istake s canno t be laid to M o o re s acco unt. To ussulis

To ussulis de scribe d S hah as hardly an im po sto r (56). The n, w hy do e s he pro vide so m e

But G urdjie ff is no t w ithin To ussulis are as o f e x pe rtise . To ussulis do e s no t re fe r to

S o , ho w do w e re co ncile the tw o ? If the w ay o f blam e is no thing but be ing pre pare d to

Incide ntally, I have ne ve r be e n co nvince d o f H allajs spiritual unde rstanding, and it is

JO S E P H A Z I Z E has publishe d in ancie nt history, law and G urdjie ff studie s. H is first

M r A die , she aske d, o ve r the w e e ke nd, yo u said to m e that I do nt kno w ho w to

S o ,w e have so m e atte ntio n o n o ur bo dily se nsatio n. Thats w hy I said the bo dy is the

W hatI shall se e is the re fo re ve ry unusual, m aybe e ve n strange o r unse ttling fo r m e ,

N o w if the so -calle d o bse rvatio n is to be a true o ne , if I am to re ce ive a re lative ly true

But the co nclusio n is no t re liable . I have to o little to co m pare w ith a state o f