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G.GURDJIEFF
THEHERALDOFCOMINGGOOD
FIRSTAPPEALTOCONTEMPORARYHUMANITY
PARIS1933
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Contrarytotheestablishedcustom,Ishallnotonlypermitthisfirstbookofmineaswellasthebooksofthefirstseries,tobereprintedinanycountry,but,ifnecessary,Iamwillingtosubsidizeit,ontheconditionofcoursethatabsoluteaccuracyispreserved.
G.GURDJIEFF.
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**
*InspiredasIambyadeepconviction,springingfromalonglineofexperimentalelucidationsanddeductionspointingtotheconclusionthat,ifamandesiressincerelyandseriously,andoutofnomerecuriosity,toattaintotheknowledgeofthewayleadingtoRealBeing,andifhefulfilstothisendallthatisrequestedofhimandbegins,infact,amongotherthingstoaidindirectly,andfromhisveryfirststep,theattainmentofthisbyothers,hewill,bythisactalone,becomeasitweretheforminggroundfortherealdatacontributingtothemanifestationofobjectiveandactualGood;andanimatedasIambythegeneralintentionofarrivingfinally,bymeansofmyliteraryargumentsandpublicdemonstrationsproposedforthenearfutureofexperimentalelucidations,attheinstillingintotheconsciousnessofmycontemporariesofseveralsuch"psychic-initiative"factorsasinmyopinionaswellasinthatofeverymancapableofalittleimpartialmeditationoughtinevitablytoactasguidingprinciplesintheconsciousnessofallcreaturespresumingtocallthemselves"God-Like",ofsuch"initiative"factors,namely,asshouldcertainlyincludethefactorinducingmenbothtoreactinstinctivelyand,uponreflection,torealizeclearlythemoralobligationtohelp
one'sneighbour,Ihavenowdecidedupontheveryactofsellingandofspreadingfarandwidethecontentsofthisfirstofmywritingsintendedtoheadthelistofmypublicationsanddirected,bythefulfilmentofthetaskoriginallyimposeduponmyself,toinitiateofitselfinman'sconsciousnesstheformationoftheaforesaidand,forthecommunallifeofpeople,important"psychic"factor.
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Accordingly,asIhavetheintention,ontheonehand,ofaffordingtoamultitudeofOurCommonFather'screatures.whobearyourlikeness,butwhosemeansareforsomereasonorotherlimited,thepossibilityofacquiringthisfirstbookletofminefreeofcharge,andasIhave,ontheotherhand,certaindefiniteplansbearinguponthenextpublicationofmywritings,Ihavedeliberatelydecidednottofixanydefinitepriceforthisbooklet,leavingittothefreewillofthepurchasertopayfrom8to108Frenchfrancs.
Ishallatthesametime,andwithoutenteringintotheusualcontemporarydiscussionsaboutlife,expresslyrequestallthosewhohappentoacquirethisfirstbookletofminetoanswerthreequestions,whichwillbesetthembythesellersoastopermithim
tofillinthecorrespondingparagraphsofthe"Registration-Blank"herewithappended.
TheAUTHOR.
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REGISTRATION-BLANK
appendedto
THEHERALDOFCOMINGGOODN00001
1.Nameofpurchaser2.Address3.Acquiredaccidentallyoronadvice4.Whoadvised?Givenameandaddress5.SumpaidSignatureofseller
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MYFIRSTPRACTICALCOUNSEL.
Icounselallreaderswhohaveatanytimemetmeuponthegroundofmyideastopostponereadingthisfirstappealuntiltheyhave,concentratingintheirnatureaswellasintheirthoughtsandfeelings,graspedtheessenceofthecontentofthecircularletterappendedtothebooklet,andhaveatthesametimepreviouslyacquaintedthemselveswiththe"Registration-Blank"attachedtothisletterandwhichwillbeofpracticalimportforacquiringthebooksofmyfirstseriesofwritings.
G.GURDJIEFF.
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Tuesday,13thSeptember1932.CafedelaPaix.Paris.
Ahighlyoriginaland,tome,eventroublinglystrangecoincidenceofseveralverydennedandentirelydifferentfactors,arisingoutofmyactivityandhavingbearingupontoday,notonlycompels,butalsoinspiresmetomarkthisdaybyarefusaltobideamoreconvenienttimeandbyanintentiontobeginonthisverydayanexpositionofthefirstofthesevenappealswhich,amongothers,Idecidedtoaddressduringmyperiodofactivityasawritertothewholeofcontemporaryhumanity.
Ishallbeginbyexplainingtheparticularnatureofthisstrangecoincidence.
Firstofall,expoundingasIhavedonenightanddayforalmosttenyearsallkindsoffragmentsofthegeneralmassofinformationintendedbymeforpublication,Ihave,asithappens,finishedonlythisdayapreliminarycompilationofthematerialdesignedforthispurpose.
Secondly,engagedasIhavebeeninthecourseofthelastthreeyearsinthecompletion,paralleltothis,ofthefirstseriesofwritingsintendedtoheadthelistofmypublications,Ihavealsofinallycompletedthisworkonpreciselythisday.
Thirdlyandfinally,todayisthelastdayofthetermIhadassignedtomyselftwentyoneyearsago,ofthetermduringwhichIhad,accordingtothespecialoath
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Itook,boundmyselfinmyconsciencetoleadinsomewaysanartificiallife,modelleduponaprogrammewhichhadbeenpreviouslyplannedinaccordancewithcertaindefiniteprinciples.
Beforeventuringtounfoldtheverysubstanceofmyfirstappealtocontemporaryhumanity,Icountitessentialandevenineverywaymyduty,tosetforthevenifonlyapproximatelythemotiveswhichcompelledmetoassumethewholeburdenofsuchanartificiallife.
Thisprotractedand,forme,absolutelyunnaturallife.absolutelyirreconcilable,too,ineverywaywiththetraitsthathadentrenchedthemselvesinmyindividualitybythetimeofmymaturity,wasthedirectconsequenceofmydecision,foundedupontheresultsofmypreviousstudyofawholeseriesofhistoricprecedentswithaview,firstofall,topreventing,bytoacertaindegreeunnaturaloutwardmanifestationsofmyself,theformation,inrelationtome,ofthatalreadynotedfromancienttimes"something",termedbythegreatSolomon,Kingof
"
Juda,"Tzvarnoharno,which,aswassetoutbyour
ancestors,formsitselfbyanaturalprocessinthecommunallifeofpeopleasanoutcomeofaconjunctionoftheevilactionsofso-called"commonpeople"andleadstothedestructionofbothhimthattriestoachievesomethingforgeneralhumanwelfareandofallthathehasalreadyaccomplishedtothisend.Secondly,withaview,tocounteractingthemanifestationinpeoplewithwhomIcameincontactofthatinherenttraitwhich,embeddedasitisinthepsycheofpeopleandactingasanimpedimenttotherealizationofmyaims,evokesfrom
them,whenconfrontedwithothermoreorlessprominentpeople,thefunctioningofthefeelingofenslavement,paralysingonceandforalltheircapacityfordisplayingthepersonalinitiativeofwhichIthenstoodinparticularneed.
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Myaimatthattimewasconcentrateduponthecreationofconditionspermittingthecomprehensiveelucidationofonecomplicatedandwithdifficultyexplicableaspectofthequestionwhichhad,alreadylongbeforethebeginningofthismyartificiallife,inheredinmybeing,andthenecessityofwhosefinalsolutionhas,whetherbythewilloffateorthankstotheinscrutablelawsofheredity,becomeandwould,atthemoment,appeartobethefundamentalaimofmywholelifeandoftheforcemotivatingmyactivity.
Ifindmyselfobligedinthis,sotosay,definitivestatementasawriter,whichwillalsohavetoserveamongotherthingsasasortof"prospectus''ofthenewphaseofmyunremittingactivityforthewelfareofmyneighbours,togiveabriefoutlineofthehistoryoftheriseanddevelopmentofthoseeventsandcauseswhichwereresponsiblefortheformationinmyindividualityoftheunquenchablestrivingtosolvethisquestion,whichhad,intheend,becomeformewhatmodernpsychologistsmightterman"irresistibleMania"
Thismaniabegantoimposeitselfuponmybeingat
thetimeofmyyouthwhenIwasonthepointofattainingresponsibleageandconsistedinwhatIwouldnowterman"irrepressiblestriving"tounderstandclearlythe
precisesignificance,ingeneral,ofthelifeprocessonearthofalltheoutwardformsofbreathingcreaturesand,inparticular,oftheaimofhumanlifeinthelightofthisinterpretation.
Althoughamultitudeofveryspecificfactors,conditionedbymyupbringingandeducation,hadservedastheprimalcausefortheformationinmybeingofthegroundgivingrisetosuch,forcontemporaryman,unusual
striving,yet,asIunderstoodlaterupongivingthoughttothematter,theprincipalcausemustintheendbe
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attributedtothoseentirelyaccidentalcircumstancesofmylifewhichcoincidedpreciselywiththeaforesaidtransitionfrompreparatoryagetoresponsibleage,andwhichmayallbesummedupinthefactthatallmycontactsatthetimewerealmostexclusivelywithsuchpersonsofmyageormyseniorswhowereeitherintheprocessofbeingformedthemselvesorwhohadalreadybeenformedintopreciselythat,oflateincreasedamongstus,"psychictypicality"ofpeople,theformationofwhich,asImyselfhavestatisticallyestablishedduringtheexistenceofmyfoundation,"TheInstituteForMan'sHarmoniousDevelopment",isduetothefactthatthefuturerepresentativesofthis"typicality"havenever,eitherwithaviewtotherealunderstandingofactuality,orintheperiodoftheirpreparatoryage,or,again,intheperiodoftheirresponsiblelife,absolutelynever,andinspiteoftheobviousnecessityofsuchastep,laidthemselvesopentoexperience,buthavecontentedthemselveswithotherpeople'sfantasies,formingfromthemillusoryconceptionsand,atthesametime,limitingthemselvestointercoursewiththoselikethem,andhaveautomatisedthemselvestoapointofengaginguponauthoritativediscussionsofallkindsofseeminglyscientific,but,forthe
mostpart,abstractthemes.
AlthoughI,too,atthatperiodofmylife,resembledtheminmyoutwardmanifestations,sinceIwasasmuchaproductastheywereofthesameabnormalconditionsofenvironment,yet,thankstothecircumstancethatIwasinmynature,sincechildhood,alreadypossessed,throughthedeliberateinculcationofbothmyfatherandmyfirsttutor,ofcertaindatapermittingthedevelopmentinmyindividuality,bythetimeofmyresponsibleage,amongseveralotherveryoriginalandinherenttraits,ofthispeculiartraitofinevitableimpulseandstrivingtounder-
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standtheveryessenceofanyobjectthatattractedmyattentionoutoftheordinary,therebegantoforminmythoughts,graduallyandeveninawayimperceptiblytomywakingconsciousness,the"something",whichassumeddefinitionsoonafterastrongspiritualtribulationcausedbythedeathofanintimatefriend,andthisnewlyformeddatumofmymindhasbeguneversince,upon
"
contactwiththeso-calledcogitative-laura",thepro
ductusuallyofthefrequentrepetitionofcertaindefinedandautomaticallycurrentassociationsinman'smind,toengenderinmyentiretywhatIhaveelsewheretermedan"irrepressiblestriving".Atfirst,themanifestationofthisstrange"psychic
factor"influencedonlymymentalactivity,butdidnot
derangemeasawhole,thatis,theeffectsofthismanifestation
didnothindertheestablishedfunctioningofeithermyphysicalorganism,withitspsycho-nervoussystem,orthespirit,inthepuresenseoftheword,andIcould,eveninperiodsofpronouncedresistancetotheinfluenceofthismanifestation,byaneffortofwillorbyanartificialstimulationofthementalandemotiveassociationsproceedingwithinme,socontrolthemastoprevent,sotospeak,the"feeding"ofthismanifestation,and,inthatway,toarrestthepossibilityofthecontinuationinmyentiretyoftheformationofsuchundesirableimpulses.Alittlelater,upontheinceptioninmythoughtsofthis
frequentlyanddiscussingthis"ideefixe''ofminewith
"something",andasanobviousresultofmymeeting
numerouspeople,aboutwhomIformed,inmyasyetnot"subjectivized"consciousness,andthankstothewidespreadopinionsofcertaingreatauthoritiesconcerningtheseso-called"wiseacring"questions,certainpreciseimpressionsautomaticallyinfluencingmygeneralpsyche,andas,inthecourseofdiscussionwiththeseauthorities,
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asIrepresentittomyselfnow,thererevivedwithinmeasenseofthefullseriousnessandprofundityofthesequestions,theconsequencesandthereal"significance"ofthemanifestationspeculiartothisextraordinarystrivinggraduallybegantomakethemselvesfeltinallthepartswhosetotalitycoincidedwithmyBeingand,sometimes.eventoinfluencetheirgeneralfunctioning,thatis,inaword,topenetrateintothe"marrow-of-my-bones".
ThedegreeoffusionwithmyBeingandthedominatinginfluenceonmypsycheofthispeculiarfactorweresuch,that,afterfourorfiveyears,Ifellcompletelyunderitspower,andsincethenithas,likean"itching-itch",
constantlycompelledthewholeofmeortheseparatepartsofmygeneralindividuality,costwhatitmay,toelucidateeverythingforthecognitionofallwhichcanserveforthefinalsolutionofthese,forme,cardinalquestions.
Havingbecomeinmyinnerlife,inthefullsenseoftheword,aslaveofsuch"aim",obviouslyinstilledbytheWillofFateinmyentirety,fromthattimeonwards,
firstcompelledonlybyit,andshortlyafterwardsalsostimulatedquiteoftenbymyownconsciousness,Ilivedabsorbedintheseresearchesuntiltheyear1892.
Thisabove-mentionedself-stimulationbymeansofmyconsciousnessbegantotakeplaceinmeasaresultofexperiencinginallmyBeingapeculiarfeeling,amixtureof"self-satisfaction"and"pride'',whicharoseinmeeverytimeImadeaccidentalorhalf-foreseenverificationsinthecourseofmyfurtherinvestigationsofevernewandnewfactsconcerningpeople'slivesingeneral,factsabouttheexistenceofwhichIhadneverfoundahinteitherindailylifeorinmyreadings,althoughIhadread
almosteverythingexistingaboutthesequestionsincontemporaryliterature,aswellasallthematerialfrom
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thepastsurvivinguntilourday,aliteratureaccessibletomebecauseofquiteaccidentalcircumstancesofmylifeinaquantityfarbeyondtheusualpossibilitiesoftheordinaryman.
UntilthatyearIdidnotsucceedindiscoveringanything,anywhereorfromanybody,thatcouldlogically-andharmoniouslythrowlightuponevenoneaspectofthisquestion,notwithstandingthat,firstly,arestlessfactorremindingmeautomaticallyoftheaimIhadsetmyselfwaspersistentlyactiveinmyBeinginalmosteverypsychicstate;secondly,GreatNaturehadbenevolentlyprovidedallmyfamilyandmeinparticularandthatnotonlyinmyopinionbutinthatofagreatmanypeoplewithwhomIcameincontactwiththehighestdegreeofcomprehensionattainablebyman;thirdly,fromchildhoodIhad,amongothercapabilities,oneespeciallydeveloped,thatofelicitingfrompeopletheirmostsacredaimsandintentions;andfourthly,Ihad,inaccordancewiththepeculiarconditionsofmylife,thepossibilityofgaining
"
accesstotheso-calledholy-of-holies"ofnearlyall
hermeticorganizationssuchasreligious,philosophical,occult,politicalandmysticsocieties,congregations,parties,unionsetc.,whichwereinaccessibletotheordinaryman,andofdiscussingandexchangingviewswithinnumerablepeoplewho,incomparisonwithothers,arerealauthorities.
AlthoughIdidnotsucceeduntilthisperiodinelucidatinganything,Ineverlosthopethatsomewhere,andatsometime,Ishouldfinallymeetpeoplewhowouldexplaintomeoratleastdirectmystateofmindtocorresponding
thoughtsandconsiderations,whichwouldhelpmetoresolveformyselfclearlyandsatisfactorilythis,forme,fatefulquestion.
Livinginthiswayuntilthatyear,thatis,absorbing
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allexternalimpressionsandexperiencingtheminwardlyinconnectionalmostonlywiththismaniaofmine,andoutwardlyoccupyingmyselfwithallkindsofprofessionsandhandicraftstotheend,ontheonehand,ofobtainingmeansoflivelihoodand,ontheother,ofmastering,accordingtothecapacityinherentinmesincechildhood,everypossiblekindofhumancraftasyetunknowntome,butchieflytotheendofadaptingmyselfinamoreorlesscorrespondingwaytotheparticularconditionsofthemoment,conditionswhichIfrequentlychangedinordertorealizethisinneraimofmine,Iarrivedthen,intheabove
mentionedyear,atthedefiniteconclusionthatitwould
beutterlyimpossibletofindoutwhatIwaslookingforamongmycontemporariesandthereforedecidedonedaytoabandoneverythingandtoretireforadefiniteperiodintocompleteisolation,awayfromallmanifestationsoftheouterworld,andtoendeavourbymeansofactivereflectionstoattaintothismyselfortothinkoutsomenewwaysformyfertileresearches.
ThistookplaceduringmystayinCentralAsia,when,thankstotheintroductionofastreet-barber,whomaccidentallymetandwithwhomIbecamegreatfriends,IhappenedtoobtainaccessintoamonasterywellknownamongthefollowersoftheMahometanreligion,andIavailedmyselfofthehospitalityofthegoodbrothers.
Once,afteratalkwithsomeofthebrothersofthismonasteryaboutthenatureandqualityofhumanfaith,andtheconsequencesoftheactionofitsimpulseonman,I,undertheinfluenceofthisdiscourse,becamestillfurtherconvincedthatImustabidebymydecisionandprofitimmediatelybythisopportunityinthisverymonastery.
Retiringintoisolationthatveryevening,Iputmyselfintothenecessarystateandbeganseriouslymeditatinguponmysituationandfutureconduct.
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Followingthenecessaryand,tome,alreadyfamiliarmethodcustomarytoallinitiatesinthatbranchofancientsciencecalled"the-laws-of-contemplation",consisting,inthegivencase,chieflyintherememberingandreviewingallthealreadyexistingcategoricalconvictionsonthissubject,IbegantoconfrontdifferentfactsIpersonallyhadfullyconceivedwithallkindsofhypothesesandconjecturesIhadheardfromdifferentauthoritativepeoplewho,comparedwithothers,werepossessedofreallygreatknowledge,andhadalsoattainedtoastateofbeingcorrespondingtothisknowledge.
Asaresultofpursuingthismethodforthreedays,whileIdidnotarriveatanydefiniteconclusions,IstillbecameclearlyandabsolutelyconvincedthattheanswersforwhichIwaslooking,andwhichintheirtotalitymightthrowlightonthiscardinalquestionofmine,canonlybefound,iftheyareatallaccessibletoman,inthesphereof"man's-subconscious-mentation".
ThenIbecamefirmlyconvincedalsothat,forthispurpose,itwasindispensableformetoperfectmyknowledgeofallthedetailsoftheformationaswellasofthe
mechanismofthemanifestationofman'sgeneralpsyche.
Arrivingatthiscategoricalconclusion,Ibeganagain,forseveraldaysandinmyhabitualmanner,tothinkandthinkalmostuninterruptedlyaboutwhatshouldbedoneinordertocreaterequisiteandsatisfactoryworldlyconditionsmakingpossiblethestudyofsuchanunexpectedproblem.
Stillcompletelyaslaveofthesedeliberations,Ileftthemonasteryandtookupmywanderingsagain,thistimewithnodefiniteplanofaction.
Duringtheseuninterruptedperegrinationsofminefromplacetoplace,andalmostcontinuousandintense
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reflectionaboutthis,Iatlastformedapreliminaryplaninmymind.
Liquidatingallmyaffairsandmobilizingallmymaterialandotherpossibilities,Ibegantocollectallkindsofwrittenliteratureandoralinformation,stillsurvivingamongcertainAsiaticpeoples,aboutthatbranchofscience,whichwashighlydevelopedinancienttimesandcalled''Mehkeness'',anamesignifyingthe''takingaway-of-responsibility",andofwhichcontemporarycivilisationknowsbutaninsignificantportionunderthenameof"hypnotism",whilealltheliteratureextantuponthesubjectwasalreadyasfamiliartomeasmyownfivefingers.
CollectingallIcould,IwenttoacertainDervishmonastery,situatedlikewiseinCentralAsiaandwhereIhadalreadystayedbefore,and,settlingdownthere,Idevotedmyselfwhollytothestudyofthematerialinmypossession.
Aftertwoyearsofthoroughtheoreticalstudyofthisbranchofscience,whenitbecamenecessarytoverify
practicallycertainindispensabledetails,notasyetsufficientlyelucidatedbymeintheory,ofthemechanismofthefunctioningofman'ssubconscioussphere,Ibegantogivemyselfouttobea"healer''ofallkindsofvicesandtoapplytheresultsofmytheoreticalstudiestothem,affordingthematthesametime,ofcourse,realrelief.
Thiscontinuedtobemyexclusivepreoccupationandmanifestationforfourorfiveyearsinaccordancewiththeessentialoathimposedbymytask,whichconsistedinrenderingconscientiousaidtosufferers,inneverusingmyknowledgeandpracticalpowerinthatdomainofscienceexceptforthesakeofmyinvestigations,andnever
forpersonaloregotisticalends,Inotonlyarrivedatunprecedentedpracticalresultswithoutequalinourday,
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butalsoelucidatedalmosteverythingnecessaryforme.
Inashorttime,Idiscoveredmanydetailswhichmightcontributetothesolutionofthesamecardinalquestion,aswellasmanysecondaryfacts,theexistenceofwhichIhadscarcelysuspected.
Atthesametime,Ialsobecameconvincedthatthegreaternumberofminordetailsnecessaryforthefinalelucidationofthisquestionmustbesoughtnotonlyinthesphereofman'ssubconsciousmentation,butinvariousaspectsofthemanifestationsinhisstateofwakingconsciousness.
Afterestablishingthisdefinitely,thoughtsagainbeganfromtimetotimeto"swarm"inmymind,asthey
haddoneyearsago,sometimesautomatically,sometimesdirectedbymyconsciousness,thoughtsastothemeansofadaptingmyselfnowtotheconditionsofordinarylifeaboutmewithaviewtoelucidatingfinallyandinfalliblythisquestion,whichobviouslyhadbecomealastingand
inseparablepartofmyBeing.
Thistimemyreflections,whichrecurredperiodicallyduringthetwoyearsofmywanderingsonthecontinentsofAsia,EuropeandAfrica,resultedinadecisiontomakeuseofmyexceptional,forthemodernman,knowledgeoftheso-called"supernaturalsciences",aswellasofmyskillinproducingdifferent"tricks"inthedomainoftheseso-called"sciences",andtogivemyselfouttobe,inthesepseudo-scientificdomains,aso-called
"professor-instructor".
Itmustbesaidthatthemainreasonforthisdecisionwasmyrealisationofthefactthat,atthattime,therewas,amongmen,awidelyprevalentandspecificpsychosiswhich,ashasbeenlongestablished,attainsperiodicallyahighdegreeandismanifestedbypeoplegivingthem-
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selvesuptovarious"woeful"ideasinthesespheresofquasi-humanknowledge,which,indifferentepochs,boredifferentnames,andwhichtodayarecalled"occultism","theosophism","spiritualism"etc.
FromthemomentofthisdecisionIdirectedallmycapacitiesandattentiontocomingintocontactwithpeoplebelongingtooneorotherofthesevastorganizations,wherepeopleforegatheredinanattempttoreachcertainspecialresultsbystudyingonesortoranotheroftheabove-mentioned"sciences''.
Theensuingcircumstancesofmylifeweresofavourabletomethat,withinsixmonths,Isucceedednotonlyincomingintocontactwithagreatnumberofthesepeople,buteveninbeingacceptedasawellknown"expert"andguideinevokingso-called"phenomena-of-the-beyond"inaverylarge"circle",astheycalledit.
AfterIhadbeen"acclimatised"tomynewcalling,myreputationamongallthemembersoftheaforesaid
"circle"andevenamongtheirfamiliesbecamethat
ofagreat"maestro"inallthatcomprisedsupernaturalknowledge.Atthetimeoftheseso-called"manipulations"intherealmofthebeyond,whichIperformedinthepresenceofalargenumberofmembersofoneofthenumerous,widespread,thenastodayuponEarth,"workshops-for-the-perfection-of-psychopathism",anameInowopenlycallthem,Ibegantoobserveandstudyvariousmanifestationsinthewakingstateofthepsycheofthesetrainedandfreelymoving"Guinea-
Pigs",allottedtomebyDestinyformyexperiments.AlthoughbythebeginningofthethirdyearofthisactivityIhadalreadyacquiredasolidauthorityamong
"
themembersofthreesuchlargeindependentWorkshops",throughwhichIobtainedagreatdealofmaterialformyobservations,andinspiteofthefactthatIcould
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havehadasmanyasIwanted,Iwascompelledtogivethemallupandtoundertaketheorganizationofmyown"circle"onquitenewprinciples,withastaffofpeoplechosenspeciallybyme.
Idecidedtodosomainlyforthereasonthat,meetingthenagreatnumberofpeopleusuallycomposingsuchcircles,Ihadelucidatedandestablishedthefactthatinsuchsocietiesforegathergenerallypeopleofthreeorfourdefinite"types",whereasitwasnecessaryformeinordertoobservethemanifestationsofman'spsycheinhiswakingstatetohaveatmydisposalrepresentativesofallthe28"categories-of-types"existingonEarth,astheywereestablishedinancienttimes.
Puttingthisplanintoexecutionwithenormousandalmostsuperhumaneffort,andwith,ofcourse,veryheavyexpenditure,Iorganized,indifferentcities,threesmallgroupsofpeopleofasvaryingtypesasIcouldpossiblymusterinthecourseofthreeyears.
Realisingduringthesecondyearoftheexistenceofthesegroupsorganizedbymethat,undertheprevailing
conditions,Iwouldnotbeabletohaveatmydisposal,foraperiodlongenoughformyobservations,therepresentativesofallthetypes,andwhilecontinuingtodirectthesegroups,ontheonehand,observingandstudyingthematerialalreadyavailable,and,ontheother,satisfyingasconscientiouslyaspossiblethoseinwhosepsychethepassionofcuriositywasdeeplyrooted,andimpartiallydestroyinginthoseothers,inwhomthepredisposition
propertoallmenforacquiringareal''Being''wasnotyetatrophied,alltheirformerillusionsanderroneousideals,inthiswaypreparing,inallevents,possibleassistantsformeinthefuture,Ibeganperiodicallytoponder
againinordertofindstillthepossibilityofcreatingsuchconditionsaswouldallowmetosatisfyatlastthis
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extraordinaryandaccidentallyrousedneedofmine.TheseperiodicaldeliberationsfinallyledmetofoundtheInstitute,whichlaterexistedunderthenameofthe
"Institute-For-Man's-Harmonious-Development-according-to-the-system-of-G.Gurdjieff".
The"canvas",sotosay,whichservedasabackgroundforthisdecisionwastheconsiderationthat,withsuchabroadlyplannedpublicorganization,embracingasitdidalmostalltheinterestsofcontemporarylife,IwouldbesuretobringtogetherapartfromthetypesIhadmainlymetbeforealltheothertypesofpeoplepreviouslylackingformyobservations.
Settingforthinthisbookletthemotivesformydecisionatthattime,basedasitwasuponinner,sincereandimpartialimpulses,Iconsideritnecessarytospeakofthementalandemotiveassociationsflowingthroughmyentiretyandwhich,intheirsum-total,gaverisetothisdecision,whichwasincompleteharmonywithmyconscience.
Towardstheendofallmyreflectionsatthattime,asaresultofwhichIhadatlastfirmlydecidedtoorganizesuchapublicInstitute,whentherearoseinmyentiretythen,ashasalwayshappenedinsimilarcases,thatstrangeimpulsewhichispropertomypeculiarindividualityandwhichautomaticallycompelsmetoconsideralwayseachnewtaskinlifealsofromthepointofviewof"objectivejustice",myreasoningswithmyselfwereasfollows:
Tomakeuseofpeople,whodisplayaspecialinterestinanInstitutefoundedbyme,forpurelypersonalendswouldsurelystrikethosearoundmeasamanifestationof''egotism'',butatthesametimethepeople,whohad
anythingtodowithsuchanInstituteestablishedbyme,those,namely,whomIhavepreviouslymentionedandinwhomthepredispositionpropertoallmen,that
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ofacquiringdataandofpreparingintheirbeingthesoil
"
fortheimpulseofobjective-conscience"andfortheformationofso-called"essential-prudence"hadnotyetentirelyatrophied,could,inthiswayalone,profitbytheresultsofknowledgeamassedbymeduetoexceptionalcircumstancesofmylife,andwhichhadregardtonearlyalltheaspectsofrealityandobjectivetruth,andthususethemfortheirownbenefit.
AstothelocationofthisInstitute,Idecided,afteragreatdealofdeliberationandaftertakingintoaccounttheexistingcircumstancesofordinarylifeandthefacilitiesofintercoursewithothernationssoessentialtome,thatthemostsuitableplacewouldbeRussia,whichatthattimewaspeaceful,richandquiet.
Arrivingatthisfinaldecision,Ibeganatoncetoliquidatemy"current"affairs,whichweredispersedoverdifferentcountriesinAsia,andcollectingallthewealthwhichIhadamassedduringmylonglife,whichwasan
exceptionallylaboriousoneforamodernman,IcameandsettledintheveryheartofRussia,intheCityofMoscow.
Thishappenedtwoyearsbeforetheso-called"Great-
World-War".
InthisbookletIshallnotsayanythingmoreaboutthisInstitute,whichIfirstfoundedinRussia,wheretheunexpectedandcatastrophiceventsoftheWorldWardestroyeditattheveryheightofitsearlieractivitiesandwithitalltheresultshithertoobtained.Ishallnot
describealsothefurther"peripeteias"ortheattemptstoorganizesuchanInstituteagaininvariousothertownsinRussia,aswellasinothercountries,attemptswhichallcametonothingbecauseofallthevariousconsequencesoftheWarandeachtimewitha"crash"involvingenormousmaterialandotherloss;anditsfundamentalandsuccessfulestablishmentsevenyearslaterinnoble
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France,whereitexistedwithouthindranceuntilitsgeneralliquidationfollowingmyseriousmotor-accident.
Ishallnotspeakabouttheseeventsandalltheconsequencesflowingfromthem,becauseIhavealreadydescribedtheminsufficientdetail,partlyinthethirdbookofthesecondseriesofmywritings,andpartlyinthefirstbookofthethirdseries.
FromthematerialwhichreferstothisInstitutethenfoundedbyme,Ishallnowquoteonlycertainpassages
"
fromthe
prospectus"announcingtheopeningofthis
Institute.
Ishouldliketoquotethesepassagesprincipallybecause,asIclearlyunderstoodlateruponbecomingacquaintedwiththelifeofEuropeanpeople,thisprospectus,though
circulatedeverywhereingreatnumbers,stillremainsunknowntothemajorityofEuropeanpeople.Andthemajorityhadnotevenhadtheopportunityofbecomingacquaintedwithitbecause,inmyopinion,myworkandideasgreatlyinterested,fromtheverybeginning,suchpeopleaswerealreadyinthehighestdegree''possessed"ofthebefore-mentioned"specific-psychosis"andwereaccordinglyknowntothosearoundthemasbeingpreoccupiedwitheverykindof''nonsense"otherwiseknownundersuchnamesas
"occultism","theosophism"
"Anthroposophism","psychoanalysis"andsoon,andwhenany,whohadnotasyetcomeundertheinfluenceofsuch"nonsense",cameintocontactwithanythingtouchingmyactivityanddiscoveredthatMr.SoandSowasveryinterestedinthisactivity,thereimmediatelyaroseintheirpsychethat"something",whichispropertoman'spsycheinhiscollectivelifeandwhichwasrecordedlongagobyourancestorsandcalledthe"buffer-of-prejudice".
Ishallbeginbyquotingthatpartoftheprospectus
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whichgives,amongotherthings,anestimateofman'seducationincontemporarycivilisation.Itsays:
Contemporaryman,owingtocertain,almostimperceptibleconditionsofordinarylifewhicharefirmlyrootedinmoderncivilisationandwhichseemtohave
become,sotospeak,
"
inevitable"indailylife,has
graduallydeviatedfromthenaturaltypeheoughttohaverepresentedonaccountofthesum-totaloftheinfluencesofplaceandenvironmentinwhichhewasbornandrearedandwhich,undernormalconditions,withoutanyartificialimpediments,wouldhaveindicatedbytheirverynatureforeachindividualthelawfulpathofhisdevelopmentinthatfinalnormaltypewhichheoughttohavebecomeeveninhispreparatoryage.
Today,civilisation,withitsunlimitedscopeinextending
itsinfluence,haswrenchedmanfromthenormalconditionsinwhichheshouldbeliving.
Itis,ofcourse,truethatmoderncivilisationhasopenedupformannewandvasterhorizonsindifferenttechnical,mechanicalandmanyotherso-called"sciences'',therebyenlarginghisworldperception,butcivilisationhas,insteadofabalancedrisingtoahigherdegreeofdevelopment,developedonlycertainsidesofhisgeneralbeingtothedetrimentofothers,while,becauseoftheabsenceofanharmoniouseducation,certainfacultiesinherentinmanhaveevenbeencompletelydestroyed,deprivinghiminthiswayofthenaturalprivilegesofhistype.Inotherwords,
bynoteducatingthegrowinggenerationharmoniously,thiscivilisation,whichshouldhavebeen,accordingtocommonsense,inallrespectslikeagoodmothertoman,haswithheldfromhimwhatsheshouldhavegivenhim;and,itappears,thatshehaseventakenfromhimthepossibilityoftheprogressiveandbalanceddevelopmentofanewtype,whichdevelopmentwouldhaveinevitably
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takenplaceifonlyinthecourseoftimeandaccordingtothelawofgeneralhumanprogress.
Fromthisfollowstheindubitablefact,whichcanbeclearlyestablished,that,insteadofanaccomplishedindividualtype,whichhistoricaldatawouldshowmantohavebeensomecenturiesagoandonenormallyincommunionwithNatureandtheenvironmentgeneratinghim,theredevelopedinsteadabeingthatwasuprootedfromthesoil,unfitforlife,andastrangertoallnormalconditionsofexistence.
Oneofthemostperniciousresultsofaone-sidededucationisthattheperceptionsandmanifestationsofthemodernman,whobecomesfinallyformedinresponsibleage,arenottheconsciousexpressionofhisBeingasacompletewhole,butrepresentonlytheresultsofautomaticreflexesofoneoranotherpartofhisgeneralentirety.
Thegeneralpsycheofthemodernmanissplitintothree,sotosay,completelyindependent"entities",whichbearnorelationtoeachotherandwhichareseparate
bothintheirfunctionsandintheirmanifestations,whereas,accordingtohistoricaldata,thesethreesourcesformed,inthemajorityofpeople,eveninthetimeoftheBabyloniancivilisation,oneindivisiblewhole,whichappearedtobeatonceacommonrepositoryofalltheirperceptionsandtheradiatingCentreoftheirmanifestations.
Becauseofthisone-sidededucationofthemodernman,upontheattainmentofhismajority,thesethreeentirelyindependentsourcesorcentresofhislife,thatis,firstly,thesourceofhisintellectuallife,secondly,thesourceofhis"emotional"life,and,thirdly,hisinstinctor
"motor"centre,insteadoffusinginwardlyinthenormalwaytoproducecommonoutermanifestations,have
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become,especiallyoflate,quiteindependentoutwardfunctions,andnotonlythemethodsofeducationofthosefunctions,butalsothequalityoftheirmanifestations,havebecomedependentonspecialoutersubjectiveconditions.
AccordingtothedeductionsbasedondetailedexperimentsmadebyMr.Gurdjieffhimself,aswellasthosebymanyotherpeoplewhohaveseriouslythoughtaboutthisquestion,everyreallyconsciousperceptionandmanifestationofmancanonlyresultfromthesimultaneousandco-ordinateworkingofthethreeaforesaidsources,whichmakeuphisgeneralindividuality,andeachofwhichmustfulfilitsrole,thatis,furnishitsownshareofassociationsandexperiences.
Thecompleteachievementoftherequisiteandnormalmanifestationineachdistinctcaseispossibleonlyupontheco-ordinationoftheactivityofallthesethreesources.
Inthemodernman,partlyowingtohisabnormaleducationduringhispreparatoryage,andpartlyowingtoinfluencesduetocertaincausesofthegenerallyestablished
abnormalconditionsofmodernlife,theworkingofhispsychiccentresduringhisresponsibleageisalmostentirelydisconnected,thereforehisintellectual,emotionalandinstinctivemotorfunctionsdonotserveasanaturalcomplementandcorrectiveforoneanother,but,onthecontrary,travelalongdifferentroads,whichrarelymeetandforthisreasonpermitverylittleleisureforobtainingthat,whichshouldinrealitybeunderstoodbytheword"consciousness",wronglyusedbymodernpeopletoday.
Asaresultofthelackofco-ordinatedactivityonthepartofthesethreeseparatelyformedandindependently
educatedpartsofman'sgeneralpsyche,ithascomeaboutthatamodernmanrepresentsthreedifferentmenina
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singleindividual;thefirstofwhomthinksincompleteisolationfromtheotherparts,thesecondmerelyfeels,andthethirdactsonlyautomatically,accordingtoestablishedoraccidentalreflexesofhisorganicfunctions.
Thesethreemeninoneshould,inaccordancewiththeforesightofGreatNature,represent,takentogetherinresponsibleage,onemanasheoughttobe:the"manwithout-inverted-commas",thatis,therealman.
Thesethree,whoweredeliberatelyshapedbyGreatNaturetocomposeonecompletewhole,asaconsequenceofnotassumingattherighttimethehabitofmutualunderstandingandaid,throughthefaultofmenthemselvesandoftheirfalseeducation,producethisresultthat,intheperiodofresponsiblemanifestationsofthemodernman,theynotonlyneverhelponeanother,butare,onthecontrary,automaticallycompelledtofrustratetheplansandintentionsofeachother;moreover,eachofthem,bydominatingtheothersinmomentsofintensiveaction,appearstobethemasterofthesituation,inthiswayfalselyassumingtheresponsibilitiesofthe
real"I".
Thisrealisationofdisconnectedandconflictingactivityofthecentresoforigin,whichoughttorepresentthepsycheofman,and,atthesametime,ofthecompleteabsenceofevenatheoreticalconceptionoftheindispensabilityofaneducationcorrespondingtotheseseparate,relativelyindependentparts,settingasidetheignoranceofitspracticalapplication,mustinevitablyleadtotheconclusionthatmanisnotmasterevenofhimself.
Hecannotbemasterofhimself,fornotonlydoeshenotcontrolthesecentres,whichoughttofunctionin
completesubordinationtohisconsciousness,buthedoesnotevenknowwhichofhiscentresgovernsthemall.
ThesystemappliedintheInstituteForMan'sHarmo-
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niousDevelopmentforobservinghumanpsychicactivitiesclearlydemonstratesthatthemodernmanneveractsofhisownaccord,butonlymanifestsactionsstimulatedbyexternalirritations.
Themodernmandoesnotthink,butsomethingthinksforhim;hedoesnotact,butsomethingactsthroughhim;hedoesnotcreate,butsomethingiscreatedthroughhim;hedoesnotachieve,butsomethingisachievedthroughhim.
Inanewly-bornchildthesethreediversepartsofthegeneralhumanpsychemaybecomparedtoasystemofblankgramophonerollsuponwhichbegintoberecorded,fromthedayofitsappearanceintotheworld,theexternalsignificanceofobjectsandthesubjectiveunderstandingoftheirinnersignificance,orthesenseoftheresultsofallactionstakingplaceintheouterworld,aswellasIntheinnerworldalreadyforminginhim;allthisisrecordedinaccordancewiththecorrespondencebetweenthenatureoftheseactionsandthenatureofthosedistinctsystemswhichformthemselvesinman.
Allkindsoftheserecordedresultsofenvironingactionsremainunchangedoneachofthese"depository-rolls"forlife,inthesamesequenceandinthesamecorrelationwiththeimpressionspreviouslyrecorded,inwhichtheyareperceived.
Alltheimpressionsrecordedinthesethreerelativelyindependentparts,composingman'sgeneralpsyche,laterproduce,intheperiodofresponsibleage,allkindsofassociationsindiversecombinations.
Thatwhichiscalled''reason''inman,aswellasinallotherexternalformsoflife,isnothingmorethantheconcentration
oftheresultsofimpressionsofdifferentqualityformerlyperceived;andthestimulationandrepetitionoftheseprovokesdifferentkindsofassociationsinthebeing.
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Therecordedimpressionshavethreesourcesoforigin,andaresubjecttothreedifferentlaw-abidinginfluences.
Onecategoryofassociationsisformedbyimpressionsperceivedinvoluntarilyandcomingdirectlyfromtheouterworldaswellasspringingfromman'sinnerworld,asaresultofcertainprevious,constantandautomaticallyrepeatedassociations.
Thesecondcategoryisformedbyvoluntarilyperceivedimpressionseitherspringingfromtheexternalworldorcrystallisinginman'sinnerworldbymeansofdeliberateactivethinkingandverificationsofreality.
Andthethirdcategoryoriginatesexclusivelyfromtheprocessofso-called"transformed-contemplation",thatis,fromtheconfrontationofhomogeneousimpressionsofallorigins,whichwerealreadyfixed,whilecontinuouscontactismaintainedbetweentheirinnerandseparatecentres.
Thedepositinginman'sentiretyofthethreedistinctcategoriesofimpressions,enumeratedabove,forthe
subsequentmanifestationsofman'sgeneralpsycheconfirms,amongotherthings,therealdiversityofthethreedeterminatestatesofman'sconsciousnessanddefinestheirqualityandimportance.
BythemethodsoftheInstituteForMan'sHarmoniousDevelopmentonecanquitedefinitely,andwithouttheslightestdoubt,establishthatman'sconsciousnessismadeupofthreedefinitecapacitiesofmanifestation,andthesecapacitiesareformedofandaredeterminedbytheassociationsofimpressionswhichhavetheirorigininoneofthethreeabove-mentionedcategories.
Oneofthethreestatesofconsciousness,which,intheobjectivesense,isconsideredthehighestandmostdesirableforman,reposesexclusivelyonassociationsofpreviouslyperceivedimpressionsofthethirdcategoryonly.
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Thesecondstateofconsciousnessismadeupoftheassociationsofimpressionsofthesecondordermentionedabove,thatis,ofthosevoluntarilyperceived.
Tothethirdstateofhumanconsciousnesscanbeattributed,withoutanydifficulty,thekindofconsciousnessforwhichthemodernman,inhisdesiretoemphasizeitsgreatimportanceandneverdoubtingthecorrectnessofhisdenomination,hasadoptedtheexpressionofthe"waking-state-of-consciousness".
Thisstateofconsciousness,whichmodernmanrankshighest,has,accordingtoscientificallyorganizedandcarefullyverifiedexperimentalelucidations,provedtobetheproductofconstantlyrepeated,involuntarilyandaccidentallyperceived,aswellasofartificiallycreatedand"learnt-by-rote",impressions.
Themajorityofpeopletoday,asaconsequenceofthecontinuallydeterioratingconditionsoftheirnormalexistence,havebecomeaccustomedtogiveprioritytothisconsciousness,whichisattainedbytheimpressionsjustmentioned,thatis,bythe"learnt-by-rote'',involuntary
perceptionsofaccidentalimpressionsreceivedfromourenvironment.
Inthemanwhoattainshishighestdegreeofconsciousnessbymeansofassociations,composedofimpressionsofthefirstkind,theprocessesofimagination,memory,judgment,reasoningandthinking,arenomorethananautomaticcrystallisation,resultingfromhissocalled"concentratedefforts",whichprocesshecallsbythehigh-soundingnameof"attention",whereasthesealreadycrystallisedandautomaticallyperceivedimpressions,andalltheaforesaidmanifestations,arenothingmorethantheresultofpreviouslyrepeated
andaccidentalimpressions,inotherwordsalltheprocessesofthisman'sinnerworldareonlyanautomatic
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reviewinginvariouscombinationsoftheoftrepeatedexperiencesof,sotospeak,"antiquated"impressions.Andthisman'smanifestationsinordinarylife,allhisimpulses,thoughts,feelings,words,convictions,beliefsanddeeds,aremadeupexclusivelyfromthematerialofsuchimpressionsintheirvariouscombinations,crystallisedinhisentirety.
Andthesecombinationsareformedundertheinfluenceofchanceshockswhichsetinmotionmoreorlessintensivelyoneoranothergroupofpreviouslyperceivedimpressions,which,inthegivencase,becomethecentreofassociations.
Eachnewshock,orashockofadifferentdegreeofIntensity,evokesyetanotherassociationand,consequently,anothertrainofthought,feelingandaction,etc.,andnocentreinthepossessorofsuchaconsciousnesscanaddanythingofitsownoranythingnewtothecombinationsthusformed,norcanthecentre,evenwhenactingatitsmomentofgreatestintensity,drawonthematerialformedinothercentres.
Itfollowsthat,astheworldperceptionofthepossessorofsuchaconsciousnessisalwayscomebyonlybyonepartofhimor,inotherwords,asthepossessorofsuchaconsciousnesshasthreediverseprocessesofperception,whichhavebutlittleincommonorassociatebychanceandonlypartially,eachofhisjudgments,astheproductofonepartonlyofhispsycheandtheexpressionsofapartofthematerialathisdisposal,isinvariablyone-sidedand,asaresult,necessarilyerroneous.
Fromwhathasjustbeensaiditmustbeobvioustoeverysane-thinkingpersonthatthefirsttasknecessaryfortherealeducationofmanistodevelopineachseparately
formedcentrethenaturalneedtoblendsimultaneouslythefunctionsofonepartwiththeothers,inorder
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thatthemanifestationsofthesethreeparts,formedseparatelyaccordingtothelawsofnatureinman'sgeneralpsyche,andwhichinevitablydemandaseparateeducation,maybeharmoniouslyunited,andmay,intheperiodofresponsiblelife,worktogetheraccordingtotheirnormalcapacities.
Onlythisattitudeinthepreparingofmanforresponsiblelifecanbringthedifferentsourcescomposingman'sgeneralpsychetothesamelevelofmanifestation,asonlythenwillthethreeprincipalwheelsofthehumanmachineworksmoothly,withouthindrancetotheirmutualworkandyieldthehighestdegreeofproductivityintheirseparatefunctioning,aswellasintheattainmentofthatlevelofconsciousnessattainablebymanbutwhichmanneverreachesunderordinaryconditions.
Takingintoconsiderationthatthedegreeofdevelopmentineachindividualofeachpartofhiswholeindividualitydiffers,andthathisassociationslikewisediffer,weareforcedtotheconclusionthattheworkofeducatingandre-educatingeachpersonmustbestrictlyindividualandcannotbeotherwise.
Allthefaultsinthefunctioningofthehumanmachine,duetotheconditionsofordinarylife,increasewithtime,andanyrepairsofthemachineatworkcanonlybeobtainedbyaconstantanddeterminedstruggleagainstalltheresultingdefects.
Basedontheso-called"experimental-material"handeddownfromthepasttogetherwiththenumerouselucidationsmadetodaybytheInstituteForMan'sHarmoniousDevelopment,itisalreadycategoricallyestablishedthatmanisunabletocarryonbyhimselftheaforesaidstruggle.Againitwillnothelphimtowork
onhimselfbyanyofthevariousmethodsofself-trainingandself-developmentwhichhavelatelybecomewide-
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spreadintheworldandwhichrecommenddefinitemethodsandprocesses,suchasvariousphysicalexercises,exercisesinmeditationandconcentration,breathingexercises,varioussystemsofdiet,fasting,etc.,forallandsundry.
Toapplysuchmethodstoeveryone,withouttakingIntoaccountindividualneedsandpeculiarities,isnotonlyuselessbutcanevenbecomedangerous;forignorantattemptsatrepairingthemachine,whileeffectingcertainchanges,unavoidablycauseotherandunnecessarychanges,whichaninexperiencedandignorantpersoncanneitherforeseenorguardagainst.
Onemustalwaysbeawarethatthehumanmachine,whetherfunctioningregularlyorirregularly,isinitselfalwaysinmechanicalequilibriumand,consequently,anychangeinonedirectionisboundtobringaboutachangeinanotherdirection,anditisthereforeabsolutelyessentialtoforeseeandcounterthis.
Inordertoavoidundesirableresultsandunexpectedconsequencesinworkinguponone'sself,itisnecessarytosubmittothedisciplineofspecialandstrictlyindividual
methods,aimedatthedevelopmentofnewandparticular"inertias'',bymeansofwhich,underthedirectionofanexperiencedguide,theoldonesmayberegulatedandaltered,inotherwords,itisnecessarytodevelopnewfaculties,whichareunattainableinordinarylife,andwhichmancanneitherdevelopunaidednorbythehelpofanygeneralmethod.
InthispreciselyconsisttheprincipalcharacteristicsofthemethodadoptedbytheInstituteFor-Man's-Harmonious-Development-according-to-the-systemof-G.Gurdjieff,thatitleadstothediscoveryofhithertoundevelopedfacultiesinman,facultieswhichareessential
forhisresponsibleandrelativelynormallife.
Tothisend,andkeepinginminditsverifiedpossibi-
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lities,theprogrammeoftheInstituteForMan'sHarmoniousDevelopmentincludesthepracticalapplicationofaspecial"line-of-work",fromwhichacarefulchoiceofsomedefinitetypeofworkismadeforeveryperson,accordingtohisindividualcapacities,workwhichcorrespondswiththosepartsofhisabnormallyconstructedpsyche,theautomaticactivityofwhichhastobedevelopedordiminished.
Tothesameend,thisprogrammeincludesamedicalsection,since,formanypeople,itisnecessary,beforeundertakingthedevelopmentoftheirnaturalcapacities,tocorrectfirstofallthealreadyexistentfunctionaldisorders,withoutwhichitisimpossibletoachieveproductiveworkaimedatthedesiredharmoniousdevelopment.
Keepinginmindwhathasjustbeensaid,onemustnotethatanyworkfortheself-perfectionofmancanbeusefulonlywhenthedirectionisgroundeduponathoroughknowledgeofhumannature,andisinstrictaccordancewiththeindividualdeterminingofthephysicalandpsychicpropertiesoftheperson,aswellasthecircumstancesandconditionsofhisexternallifeinthefuture,
asfarastheycanbepredicted.
ThereforespecialcoursesareselectedfromthesubjectsincludedintheprogrammeoftheInstituteandareadaptedtotheindividualneedsofeachpupil.
Thestudy,byspecialmethods,ofdifferenttrades,handicrafts,artsanddomesticsciences,isincludedintheprogrammeoftheInstitute.
Paralleltothis,athoroughtheoreticalstudyispursuedofmanandtheworldinalltheirinner-relationsandaccordingtothedataofEuropeanscience,aswellasof
ancientAsiaticknowledge.
Suchastudy,whichdemandstheapplicationofnewandunusualmethodsofperceptionandthoughtassists,
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ontheonehand,thedevelopmentofthehiddenpropertiesinman,and,ontheother,contributestotheestablishmentofacorrectprocessofthoughtandfeeling,aswellasofrequisiteautomaticactions.
TheInstituteForMan'sHarmoniousDevelopmentincludes,amongitsprincipalinstructors,specialistsinmedicine,psychology,physiology,physico-mathematicalsciences,handicraftsandallkindsofphysicalandpsychicexercises.
Theseintructors,besidesbeingtrainedintheirspecialfields,arefullyinitiatedintothatbranchofscienceofwhichfragmentshavealwaysexistedinthelifeofman,andwhichisnowbeingworkedoutbyMr.Gurdjieff,withallthechangesandadditionscorrespondingwiththeparticularcircumstancescrystallizedincontemporarylife,andservesasthebasisforhisInstitute.
TheInstituteacceptsadultsofbothsexesupto60yearsofageandchildrenover4yearsofage.PeopleenteringtheInstitutearedividedintothreecategories:
Thefirstincludespersonsaimingatself-developmentinaccordancewithaprogrammespeciallydrawnupforthem.
Thesecondincludespersons,whopursuethemethodsoftheInstitutewithaviewtostudyingoneoranothersubjectoftheirchoice;alsothosepersonswhoseektobecuredbythemethodsoftheInstitute.
ThethirdincludespersonswhoattendonlythegenerallecturesandstudyonespecialsubjectindicatedforthembytheInstitute*.
*Certainsubjectsofthelecturesaswellasofthepracticalprogrammearegivenonlytopupilsofthefirstcategory.
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Peopleofthefirstcategorywillinthefuture,asisprescribed,bedividedintothreegroups,called:
1)theExotericgroup.
2)theMesotericgroup.and3)theEsotericgroup.
Allnewlyadmittedpupilsofthefirstcategorybelongatthebeginningtothe"Exoteric"group;latertheyshould,accordingtopersonalmerit,passintothe"Mesoteric"group,andthen,againaccordingtomeritandtothedegreeof"comprehension"passintothe''Esoteric"group.
Onlyafterpassingthroughallthreegroupscantheybeinitiated,firsttheoretically,andthenpractically,intoallthequestionswhichareunknowntoordinarypeopleandwhichhavebeenelucidatedbyMr.Gurdjieffhimselfinthecourseofhisspecialresearchesofalmosthalfacentury,aswellasbyagroupofpeopleofthehighestcontemporaryculturewhohavewhollydevotedthemselvestotheresearchofobjectivetruth.
Thoseofthefirstcategoryreceive,whenenteringtheInstitute,definitedirectionsandindicationsonlyafterfillingoutcompletelytheparagraphsoftheso-called
"individual-record",whichismadeforeachpersonseparately.
"
Thematerialgiveninthisindividual-record"will
indicatethedetailedobservationsoftheprincipalfunctions
ofhisorganismandthespecifictraitsofeachgivensubjectcrystallizedinhisindividuality,aswellasthedegreeofattention,memory,speech,senseofcombination,temperament,theformofhisphysicalandpsychicreflexes,smell,taste,hearing,sight,reactiontocolours,qualityofemanation,etc.
Theresultsoftheseobservations,togetherwiththe
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variousdataelucidatedduringthesameperiodastothecapacitiesandinclinationsofthegivenindividualandmarkeddownonthe"individualrecord"willbethe"starting-point",sotospeak,fortheinstructorsforestablishingamethodofproductiveself-development.Onthebasisofthesamedataachoiceofsubjectstobestudiedwillbeindicated,aswellasagraduatedplanofspecialpsychicwork,acorrespondingmodeoflifewhileintheInstitute,and,incasesofillness,thenecessarycure.
Particularattentionwillbepaidtothoseindividualswhoshowcertainpathologicalsymptoms,suchasweaknessofwill,"wilfulness",laziness,unreasonablefears,asenseofcontinualfatigue,apathy,irritability.Irregularexchangeofsubstances,obesityorexhaustion,abuseofalcohol,narcotics,etcetera.
TherehasbeeninstalledinthemainsectionoftheInstitutethemostmodernapparatusandinstruments,acollectionricherthananyeverheardofonEarthbefore,ifwelookonitasontheassemblinginoneplaceof"physico-metric"and"chemico-analytic",''psychoexperimental''cabinets,servingrequirementsofageneral
characterandalsoforindependentinvestigationbythepupilsthemselves,inorderthattheymightverifysuchtheoriesandthestatementspropoundedingenerallecturesasmayappeardoubtfulorabitrarytothem''.
Returningtothemainsubjectofthisbooklet,Iwishtostate,firstofall,thatthisInstitute,afterinnumerabletrials,wasmoreorlesssetupandfinallyestablishedbymeinFrancein1921,upontheprinciplesoftheabovementionedprospectus.Butitdidnotsurvivelong,notonlytomygreatsorrow,but,asmanywillprobablyunderstand,tothemisfortuneofallthinkingpeople,for,althoughmyactivityfollowedatfirstchieflywhatmay
appearasmypersonalaim,Iforesawverysoonallthe
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profititmightbringtoallhumanity,anddevelopeditonascaletointerestandtoembracetheentire,socalled,"sanethinking-world".
Attheheightofitsactivity,onaccountofmymotor
accident,alreadyknowntomany,andwhichbroughtme
neartodeath,Iwasforcedtoliquidatenotonlyeverythingpreparedfortheopeningactivityinvariouscountriesof18newsectionsoftheInstitute,butalsoeverythingimmediatelyconnectedwiththemainsection.
Ishallnotdescribeinthisbookletwhateventscametopassasaconsequenceofthecatastrophewhichbefellmeandwhatunexpectedcircumstancesderivedfromallthis,circumstancescompellingmeassoonasIcompletelyrecoveredconsciousnesstotakeallmeasuresforliquidatingeverythingassoonaspossiblethathadbeencreatedbymewithsuchunimaginedefforts,asithasbeenalreadyexpoundedindetailinoneofthebooksofthe
thirdseries.
FromallthatIhavealreadysaidaboutthis,Ishallrepeat,inthisgivencase,onlyinbriefthemainreasonswhichobligedmeatthattimetobeginwritingandeventobecomefinallya"standardwriter".
Somemonthsaftertheabove-mentionedmotor-accident,whenImyself,andallthepeoplenearme,becamecertainthatIwouldlive,andwhenalltheformercrystallisedfunctionsandtheestablishedtempooftheintensiveactivityofmyspiritbegan,daybyday,tobemoreandmorere-established,whilemyphysicalbodystillremainedquite
helpless,thusproducingdisharmonybetweenthestateofmybodyandmyspirit,andmakingmeveryoftenexperiencemoralsufferings,Idecidedtofindformyselfanoccupationwhichwouldgivemythoughtsanotherdirectionandthusdiminishthesemoralsufferings.
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Onenight,whilestillinbedandsufferingfromtheinsomniawhichwashabitualtomeatthattime,stirredbyassociation,andrememberingathoughtconcerningaplanwhich,duringthelasttwoorthreemonths,hadalwaysperturbedmeandfinallyevenobsessedme,andwhichshouldhavebeenrealisedatthetimewhenIdrewupthegeneralschemeofmeansforattainingtheaforesaidfundamentalaimofallmylife,whichincludedtheintentiontospreadtheessenceofmyideasalsobymeansofliterature,andwhichfailedonaccountoftheuntrustworthinessandviciousidlenessofthosepeoplewhomIhadspeciallypreparedduringmanyyearsforthatspecificpurpose,itsuddenlyoccurredtomethattherewasnoreasonwhyIshouldnottakeadvantageofthepresentsituationandshouldnotbegintodictatemyselfthematerialfortherealisationofthisaim.
Consequently,continuingtoponder,IfinallydecidedthatIwoulddoso.
ThefollowingeveningIaskedoneofthepeoplenearmetotakeapencilandnotebookandtowritedownexactlyallthatIwoulddictate.
Atfirst,intendingtospreadthedifferentaspectsofmyideasintheformofshortscenariossuitablefortheatreorcinema,Idictatedatthebeginningsuchscenarios,and
"
beganto
bake"everyotherdayafreshandcom
pletedscenario.
Ishallmentiononlyfourofthenumerousscenariosdictatedbyme:
"TheCocainists"."TheChiromancyoftheStock-Exchange"."TheUnconsciousMurder".
"TheThreeBrothers".
Togiveatleastanapproximateideaofthecharacter
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ofthese,sotospeak,small"literarycompositions"whichIdictatedthen,andwhichwillalsobecomeknowntothepublicinduetime,andthesubjectsofwhichwereoftenformedinmymindundertheinfluenceofthisorthatimpressiononmyorgansofperception,whichatthatperiodwereparticularlysensitive,Ifinditsufficienttospeakhereaboutaneventwhichinspiredmetoexpresscertainthoughtsderivedfrommyideas,inthelastoftheabove-mentionedscenarios,entitled"TheThreeBrothers"
SomeweeksafterIhadbegunmydictation,whenthisnewoccupationnotonlycontributedtoputanendtotheconcentrationofmythoughtsonmydesperatestateandonthesituationfromwhichIsawnowayout,butsoontookonthecharacterofa"not-to-be-trifled-with"enthusiasm,and,intheend,resultedinthere-establishmentofthedisharmonisedfunctionsofmyphysicalbodywhichproceededinanacceleratedtempo,Idecided,althoughIcouldnotyetmovealone,inordertorestfromactivethinkingandtoobtaingenerallyachangeofimpressions,togotoParisbycar,accompaniedbysomeofthepeopleclosetome.
Sittingoneevening,duringoneofthesevisits,intheCafedelaPaix,famousthenforforeigners,withsomefriends,wewerediscussingallkindsofquestions.
Amongotherthingswasmentionedafilm,popularatthattime,called"Two-Brothers",andoneofmycompanionssuggestedthatweshouldgoandseethisfamousfilm,whichwasbeingshownatacinemaspeciallyarrangedforit.
Wealldecidedtogoand,asthecinemawasquitenear,Iwalkedtoit,althoughwithgreatdifficulty.
Therewasanincrediblecrushinthecinema,theticketsweredifficulttoget,butoneofmycompanions
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managedtogetholdofsome,paying,apparently,an"astronomical"sum.
Idonotconsideritnecessarytorepeatherethecontentsofthatnonsense,whichwasthe"pick"oftheseason.butImustsaythatsittinginthatroomovercrowdedwithpeoplewho,onaccountofbadventilationwereobligedtobreathebadair,I,unabletogetout,wascompelledwillynillytolookatthefilm,andtolookintensely,forthefocusofmysightwasnotyetre-established,andIhadtofixthevariousobjectssometimeswithoneeyeandsometimeswiththeother,andthewholetimeI
"
feltrevoltedbysuchsenselessfashionablebluff",the
popularityofwhichwasdueentirelytotheherd-instinct,especiallyprevalentamongpeopletoday.
Atthecloseofthis,whatIshouldcall,"generalhypnotic-process",inordertofixfirmlysomeformerlysuggestedideas,I,"hobbling"andsupported
bymycompanions,returnedtotheCafedelaPaix,
whichlaterbecamemyParis
"
office",andregaining
graduallymycalm,begantoforminmymindtheoutlineofthescenariowhichIhavecalled''TheThree-Brothers".
Inthisscenariothreebrothersactinsteadoftwo,and
alltheirmanifestationsandinter-relationsarecomparedbymetothemanifestationsandinter-relationsofthethreeseparate,independentlyformedandrelativelyeducatedpartsofman'sgeneralentirety,representing,infact,firstly,thephysical,secondly,theastral,andthirdly,thementalbodyofman;and,inthedialoguesofthethreecharacters,intheformofadiscussion,thatis,affirminganddenying,Iintroducedcertainideaswhichhavecomedowntousfromancienttimes,whenthescienceofmedicinewasveryhighlydeveloped,ideasofwhatisusefulorharmful,satisfactoryorunsatisfactoryforoneorother
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ofthecharactersofthescenariointheprocessoftransformingofthisorthatsubstance.
Duringthefirsttwoorthreemonths,obligedtodictateowingtomyweakness,Isetforth,withoutadefinitesystem,ideastakenseparatelyfromthegeneraltotality,fragments,intheformofsmallscenarios,representingvariousexternalepisodesinthelivesofdifferentpeople.
Butlateron,whenmyphysicalstrengthwasmoreorlessre-established,Ibegantowritemyself;andthen,duringthereadingaloudofoneofthesescenariosofmine,thesubjectofwhichwasalegendIhadheardinchildhoodabouttheappearance,ofthefirsthumanbeingsonEarthandofwhichIhadmadeBeelzebub,asalikelywitnessofthisappearance,theprincipalhero,Iperceivedinthatscenarioaveryrichsourcefromwhichmightbeextractednumberlesscorrespondingpointsofdepartureforaneasycomprehensionofexplanationsofvariousfacetsofmyideas,anddecided,therefore,toceasewritingsmallscenariosandtowriteamaster-work,takingthisscenarioasthefoundationforallmyfurtherwritings.
Fromthattimeon,exploitingtothefullthissourceforalogicaldevelopmentofoneoranotherofthequestions,which,intheirtotality,mightprovideaclearunderstandingoftheessenceofmyideas,Ibegantoexpoundandelaborateallthematerialbeforehandselectedforpublication,followingthistimeadefinitesystem.
Sincethen,duringallthoseyears,untiltoday,Ioccupiedmyselfexclusivelywithwriting,andoften,onaccountofnewplanswhichsuggestedthemselvesinthecourseofmymeditations,Ichangedthetext,aswellastheoutwardform,ofwhatwasalreadywritten,andonlylastyeardidIfinallyadoptthetextandthefinalforminwhich
mywritingswillbepublished.
Togivethereaderimmediately,inthisbooklet,anidea
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ofthisfinallyselectedformofallmywritings,andatthesametimenottostrainagainmypoorbrain,whichisalreadytiredout,Ishallsimplygiveherethefirstsixtitle-pagesofthewritingsofmyfirstbook,whichiscompletelyfinishedandgiventotheprinter.
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Firstpage
G.GURDJIEFF.
ALLANDEVERYTHING
Tenbooksinthreeseries.
TheoriginaliswritteninRussianandArmenian.Translationsintootherlanguageshavebeenandarestillbeingmadeunderthepersonaldirectionoftheauthorhimselfbyagroupoftranslatorsspeciallytrainedinconformitywiththeirdennedindividuality,andchosenaccordingtotheirunderstandingofthetextofwhatistranslated,andthephilologicalpeculiaritiesofeachlanguage.
PARIS.1933.
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Secondpage
Everythingisexpoundedaccordingtonewprinciplesoflogicalunderstandingwiththepurposeofsolvingthreecardinalproblems.
PROBLEMOFTHEFIRSTSERIES.
Mercilessly,withoutanycompromisewhatsoever,toextirpatefromthementationandfeelingofmantheprevious,century-rootedviewsandbeliefsabouteverythingexistingintheworld.
PROBLEMOFTHESECONDSERIES.
Tofurnishthematerialrequiredforanewcreationandtoproveitssoundnessandgoodquality.
PROBLEMOFTHETHIRDSERIES.
TocontributetothearisinginthementationandfeelingofmanofanauthenticandcorrectrepresentationoftheWorldexistinginrealityandnotthatillusoryone,which,accordingtotheaffirmationandproofoftheauthorisperceivedbyallpeople.
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Thirdpage
FIRSTSERIES
Inthreebooksunderthecommontitleof"ANOBJECTIVELY-IMPARTIALCRITICISMOFTHELIFEOFMAN"
or
"BEELZEBUB'STALESTOHISGRANDSON".
SECONDSERIESInthreebooksunderthecommontitleof
"MEETINGSWITHREMARKABLEMEN"
THIRDSERIESInfourbooksunderthecommontitleof
"LIFEISREALONLYWHEN'IAM'".
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Fourthpage
FIRSTBOOK
oftheseries
"ANOBJECTIVELY-IMPARTIALCRITICISMOFTHELIFEOFMAN"
or
"BEELZEBUB'STALESTOHISGRANDSON".
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Fifthpage
Contentsofthefirstseriesfirstbook.
1.TheArousingofThoughts.2.WhyBeelzebubwasonourSolarSystem.3.Thereasonofthedelayinthefallingofthetrans-spaceship"Karnak".4.Thelawoffalling.5.ThesystemofArchangelHariton.6.PerpetualMotion.7.BecomingawareofgenuineBeing-duty.8.TheimpudentbratHassein,Beelzebub'sGrandson,daredtocallus"slugs".9.ThecauseofthegenesisofMoon.10.Why"men"arenotmen.11.Apiquanttraitofcontemporaryman'speculiarpsyche.12.Thefirstsnarl.13.Whyfantasymaybeperceivedasrealityinman'smind.14.Thebeginningofperspectivespromisingnothing
verycheerful.15.ThefirstdescentofBeelzebubontheplanet"
Earth".
16.TherelativityofTimeconceptions.17.Thearch-absurd!BeelzebubaffirmsthatourSunneitherlightsnorheats.18.Thearch-fantasy.19.Beelzebub'stalesabouthisseconddescentontheplanet"Earth".
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20..ThethirdflightofBeelzebubtotheplanet"Earth".21.ThefirstvisitofBeelzebubtoIndia.22.BeelzebubinThibetforthefirsttime.23.ThefourthsojournofBeelzebubinpersonontheplanet"Earth".24..Beelzebub'sflighttotheplanetEarthforthefifthtime.25..TheverySaintlyAshiataShiemash,SentfromAbovetotheEarth.26..ThelegomonismconcerningthedeliberationsoftheverySaintlyAshiataShiemashunderthe"
titleoftheTerror-of-the-situation".
27..Thekindoforganisationforman'sexistencecreatedbytheverySaintlyLaboursofAshiataShiemash.28.ThechiefculpritofthedestructionofalltheverySaintlyLaboursofAshiataShiemash.29..Thefruitsofancientcivilisationsandtheblossomofthecontemporary.
30.Art.Contentsofsecondbook.
31.ThesixthandlastsojournofBeelzebubontheplanet"Earth".32.Hypnotism.33.Beelzebubasaprofessionalhypnotist.34.Russia.35.Thealterationoftheforeseencourseoffallingofthetrans-spaceship"Karnak".
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36.A"wee-bit"moreabouttheGermans.37.France.38.Religion.39.TheHolyplanet"Purgatory".40..Beelzebub'staleofthewayinwhichpeoplelearntandagainforgotaboutthefundamentalcosmiclaw"Eptaparabarshmock".41.TheBocharianDervishHadja-Asvants-Truff.Contentsofthirdbook.
42.BeelzebubinAmerica.43..Beelzebub'sopinionabouttheprocessofman'speriodalandreciprocaldestruction.44..IntheopinionofBeelzebubman'susualunderstandingof"justice"fromtheobjectivepointofviewisa"damned-mirage".45..IntheopinionofBeelzebubtheextractingbymanofelectricityfromNatureanditsemploymentforhisneedsisoneofthecausesoftheshorteningofman'slife.46..BeelzebubexplainstohisGrandsonaboutthemeaningoftheformandsequenceofhisexpoundingofhisnotionsaboutman.
47.Theinevitableresultofimpartialmentation.48.Fromtheauthor.
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Sixthpage
AFriendlyCounselwrittenimpromptubytheauthorhimselfondeliveringthisbooktotheprinter.
Accordingtomanydeductionsmadebymeduringcontinuousexperimentsconcerningtheperceptionbycontemporarypeopleofnewimpressionsfromwhatisheardorread,aswellasaccordingtothesenseofonesayingofpopularwisdomwhichIhavejustrememberedandwhichhascomedownfromancienttimestoourverydayformulatedthus:
EveryprayermaybeheardbytheHighestForcesAndonemightgetacorrespondingrewardonlyifitisutteredthrice:
Firstforthewelfareorthepeaceofsoulofone'sparents;
Secondforthewelfareofone'sneighbours;
Andonlythethirdtimeforone'sownwelfare.
Iconsideritnecessaryonthefirstpageofthisfirstbookwhichisquitereadyforpublicationtogivethefollowingadvice:
Readeachofmywritingsthrice:
Firsttimeatleastasyouhavealreadybecomemechanisedtoreadallthecontemporarybooksandmagazines.
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Secondtimeasifyouwerereadingaloudtosomebodyelse;Andonlythethirdtimetrytograspthegistofmywritings.
OnlythenyoumayperhapsgetyourownimpartialJudgmentpeculiartoyourselfaboutmywritingsandonlythencouldberealisedmyhopethatyou,accordingtoyourunderstanding,wouldprofitforyourselfbythebenefitwhichIassumeandIwishyouwithallmybeing.
SignedAUTHOR.
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Onlynow,havingprepared,inmyopinion,bymeansofeverythingalreadysetforthinthisbooklet,acorresponding,so-to-say,"ground-work''fordepictingbeforetheinnereyeofeveryreaderdifferentoutlinesoftheessenceofthisbookletofmine,calledbyme"The-First-Appeal-To-Contemporary-Humanity",Iconsideritright,beforeotherthings,toannounceinthehearingofallthat,althoughIundertakeatlastthepublicationofmywritings,Ihavedecidedtopromotetheircirculationnotbytheusualways,butinaccordancewithadefiniteplanworkedoutbyme.
Thisplan,newlyformedby,meconsistsintakingallpossiblemeasurestopreventmywritings,withtheexceptionofthefirstseries,frombecomingatonceproperty"accessible-to-everybody".
Thisdecisionofmine,madeduringthelastyearsinthecourseofmyobservationsofthosewholistenedtothereadingsofmycurrentwork,istheresultoflongconsideration,andisaconclusioncontrarytomyoriginalhopeofthepossibilityofmakingsomemore,generallyavailablecontributiontothehealingofman'spsyche,whichhasalreadybecome,duringthelastcenturies,almostcompletelyabnormal.
InaccordancewithmydecisionIresolvedtomakeaccessibletothepubliconlythreebooksfromthefirstseriesofmywritings.
Withregardtothebooksoftheothertwoseries,Iintendtomakeknowntheircontentsinthefollowingway:
Thecontentsofthesecondserieswillbemadeknownbymeansofreadings,opentothosewhohavealreadyathoroughknowledgeofthecontentsofthefirstseries.Thesereadingsareintendedtotakeplace,inthemeantime,
inso-calledcirclesalreadyexistentamongmany
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largegroupsofmenwhicharemadeupofthefollowersofmyideas.Forthispurpose,thesealreadyexisting"circles",accesstowhichwillbemademucheasier,willbere
"
organisedandtherewillbeopenedclubs"ofquiteanewtype,easyofaccess,andinthoseplaceswheretherearenosuch"circles"therewillbesentspeciallytrainedpeopletoarrangereadings.
Acquaintancewiththecontentsofthethirdseriesofmywritingsispermittedonlytothosepeoplewho,besideshavingathoroughknowledgeoftheideasexposedinthetwopreviousseries,havealreadybeguntomanifestthemselvesandtoreacttootherpeople'smanifestationsinstrictaccordancewithmyindicationssetforthinthepreviousseriesofmywritings.
Themeritandproficiencyofthesepeoplewillbejudgedbysomeofthosewhohavealreadybeenadmitted
"
totheso-calledrights-of-imtiates",accordingtothecodeestablishedbyme,or,asitmightbebetterexpressed,inaccordancewiththeregulationsmodifiedbyme,whichhavealwaysexistedonEarthamongpeoplewho,intheirsearchfortruth,attainedacertaindefiniteBeing.
AlthoughIhavetakenallpossiblemeasuresforthestrictobservanceofthisdecision,Idonotconsiderit
vaintoaddressasincereappealtoallreadersofmybooks
tohelpmetothebestoftheirabilityineverywaytocarryoutthisdecision,sothatnooneinterestedinmywritingsshouldeverattempttoreadtheminanyotherthantheindicatedorder;inotherwords,heshouldneverreadanythingwrittenbymebeforeheisalreadywellacquaintedwiththeearlierworks,evenifsomeone,withaparticularmotive,shouldattempttopersuadehimtocommencethereadingotherthanfromthebeginning.
Believeme,youmusttakemywordforit,thatthe
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exactcarryingoutofthiswishofminecanbeofgreatimportancetoyouandyourinterests,andI,therefore,particularlystressandinsistonit.
Ishallnotnowwriteindetailoftheconsequenceswhichwillresultifmyrequestisnotcarriedout;theseIhaveelucidatedandverifiedbymyownlongobservationandstatisticalcalculations.Ishallonlysayherethat,forcertainpeople,areadingofmywritingsinanyotherthantheindicatedorder(nomatterifthereaderhaslongbeenafollowerofmyideasorhasbecomeonerecently),canprovokeundesirablephenomenaintheirgeneralpsyche,oneofwhichinparticularmightparalyseforeverthepossibilityofnormalself-perfection.
Now,inordertoexplaintheplanofthepublicationofmywritings,Ihavementionedthepeoplewhohaveattainedthe"rights-of-initiates",underwhoseguaranteeotherswouldbeallowedtobecomeacquaintedwiththeideasthrowinglightuponTruthandRealityinthethirdseries;andtoevokeinthereader'smindevenanapproximativeconceptionofthesepeopleandincidentallyalsoofthoseunderwhosedirectionthe
commonreadingsofthesecondserieswilltakeplace,andinordertocreate,inthisway,arightattitudetowardsthem,Ifinditnecessarytosaythis:
Thesetwodifferentcategoriesofpeople,withwhoseco-operationIintendtomakeknowntoawidepublicthecontentsofthesecondandthirdseriesofmywritings,representtodaythepossessorsoftwoquitedifferentdegreesofso-called''Being-and-Comprehension''.
Thepreparationfortheirfutureactivitybeganasaresultoftwodifferentcircumstanceswhichhappenedaccidentallyandwereconnectedwithmyactivity.
Thecircumstanceswhichcontributedtotheformationofthefirstgroupofthesepeople,whohavetoprovethe
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worthinessofordinarypeoplefortherighttobecomeacquaintedwiththecontentsofthebooksofthethirdseriesofmywritings,andwhonowwillbemyprincipalassistantsinthenewphaseofmyactivity,werethefollowing:
Attheverybeginning,whenIhadfinallydecidedtoorganisetheInstituteontheprinciplesmentionedalreadyinthisbooklet,andwaslookingforasuitablecountryinwhichtoputthisintopractice,Iforesawcertainpossiblechangesintheconditionsofordinarylifeanddecidedtherefore,inanyeventuality,toconfidemyintentionstoa
brotherhood"(akindofmonasteryexistingintheveryheartofAsia),withaviewtosecuringincertainwaystheirfutureco-operation.
Asaresultoflongdiscussionsaboutallsortsofmutualobligationswhich,onmyside,werechieflyonthegroundsofmyfuturereligiousandmoralactions,and,ontheirside,wereonthegroundsofguiding,instrictaccordancewiththemeansindicatedbyme,theinnerworldofpeoplewhomIwouldconfidetothem,wecametoacertaindefinite
agreement.
Andeversince,from1911,whenIarrivedinthecountrywhichwasthencalled"Russian-Turkestan",andwhilemovingfromonetowntoanother,towardsMoscow,andcomingintocontactwithdifferentpeopleansweringmypurposewhilepreparingeverythingnecessaryfortherealizationofmyintentions,wheneverIhappenedtomeet,onthegroundofmyideas,suchpeopleashaddatacorrespondingtomypurpose,whichpurposewaspartlyconnectedwithmyforeseenneedoftheminthefuture,Iestablishedrelationshipwiththemand,afterthenecessarymutualagreementandaftersupplyingthemwith
allneeded,Isentthemtothatmonastery.
Duringthisentireperiod,anduptothetimeofmy
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aforesaidseriousmotor-accident,ItravelledthroughoutthewholeofRussia,theCaucasus,Turkey,GermanyandEngland,totheplacewhereIfinallysettled:hospitableFrance,meetingmanytensofthousandsofpeoplefromalmostallthenationsofAsiaandEuropeonthecommongroundofmyideas;fromwhomIselected27ofbothsexes,answeringintheirdatatomypurpose,andsentthemtotheaforesaidmonastery.
Withtheexceptionofthree,oneofwhomwassentbackonaccountofunworthymanifestations,after,ofcourse,beingputunderaspecial"spell"ofsilence,sothathecouldnotbetraywhathehadseenorheardthere,andtwoofwhomdied,oneavictimofanhereditarydiseaseandtheotherthroughanaccidentwhichoccurredwhilehewassearchingforamedicalplant,"Santchishook'',alltheothers,duringtheentireperiod,besidesfulfillingalltheestablishedrequirementsofthatmonasteryundertheguidanceoftheelderbrothersandofsomeofmyformerassistants,whopaidmeoccasionalvisitsinthe"search-after-truth",allofthemreachedatheoreticalcognitioninallofitsdetailsoftheessenceofthetotalityofmyideas,andassimilateditpracticallyintheirBeing,with
theaimoftheirownwellmeritedobjectivegoodintheiroldage.
Thecircumstances,againveryhappilypreparedinmypastforthepresent,whichwerethecauseofanexcellentpreparationforpeopleofthesecondcategory,withthehelpofwhom,accordingtomynewly-elaboratedplan,theInformationaboutthecontentsofthesecondseriesofmybookswillbegiventoalargerpublic,werederivedinthisway.
When,eightyearsago,certaindegeneratepeople,whototheshameofourgenerationarealsocalled"men",
committedagainstmeanactwhichbecame,sotospeak,
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the"apotheosis"oftheirinnumerable"good-deeds",thatis,aftermyseriousmotoraccident,whichwasknowntoallwhoknewme,andwhen,thankstovariousreasons,obviouslyderiving,accordingtolaw,fromtheobjectivegooddeedsofmyancestorsandmyself,I,contrarytoallexpectations,didnotdie,IsoonbegantoliquidatetheInstitutefoundedbymeandeverythingconnectedwithit;andwhen,learninglaterofthehardshipsofmanyofthepeoplewhohadlivedformanyyearsatmyexpenseinthemainsectionoftheInstitute,aswellasinotherplaceswhereIhadexpectedsoontoopennewsections,Idecidedtoorganizeforsomeofthem,andtheirfamilies,acommunity-lifeinoneoftheStatesofCentralEurope,wherelifewasrelativelycheapandmoreorlesssuitableforsuchapurpose.
Iorganizedthiscommunity-lifeforthosenecessitouspeople,who,whilenearme,hadbehavedscrupulouslyandmoreorlessmeritoriously;andIjoinedwiththemthosewhomIhadmetonmywayfromTurkestantoParis,andwhom,astheywerenotyetready,IregardedonlyascandidatestobesentlatertotheaforesaidmonasteryinCentralAsia.
Sincethen,allofthemarestilllivingthere,and,whilefulfillingallkindsofinevitabletasksofordinarylife,continue,ontheonehand,tocarryoutinpracticethepossibilitiestheyhadlearntfrommeduringtheirstayintheInstitute,and,ontheother,toacquaintthemselvesthoroughlywithallmycurrentwork,copiesofwhicharesenttothemregularly.
AsverymanyofthepeoplewhomImetinthelasttwodecadeswouldbeextremelyinterestedtolearnwhatitwasthatguidedmeindeterminingtheworthinessofdifferentpeopleforthisaimofmine,and,asatthesametime,thisknowledge,Ibelieve,mightbecomeforsome
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ofthemanimmediateincentivefactor,makingthemassimilateatlast,althoughmerelyfortheiregotisticalbenefit,sometruththeyhadlearntfromme,Iconsideritappropriatetostateopenlyherethat,fromthelargeamountofdatawhichprovedthefitnessofthesepeopletome,theprincipalwerethefollowingfive:
1)IfIestablished,after-allroundobservation,thattheyhadhadintheirindividuality,sincepreparatoryage,certaindefinitestartingpointsforamoreorlessmeritoriouslifeinresponsibleage.2)Ifintheirbeingtherewerenotcompletelyatrophiedgenerallyinheritedpredispositionsforthedevelopingintheindividualityoffactorsbringingforththeimpulsesof"organic-shame","religiousness","patriarchality","the-awareness-of-one's-mortality",etc.
3)Iftherewasahereditarypredispositionenablingtheconsciouseradicationofpreviouslyrootedweaknessesintheirindividuality,duetoabnormalsurroudings.4)Iftheyalreadygaveevidenceofhavinghadsuitable,establishedconditionsofordinarylife,andhadtheacquiredpossibilitytoattain,accordingtocertainprinciples,
somedefiniteperspectivesforthefuture.5)Iftherewerepresentadistinctdegreeofawarenessof"
theirownnothingness",andthepossibilitytoattainthenecessaryqualityofdesirefortransformingthemselvesfromsuchnothingnessintothedefinite"something",whichtheyoughttobe,evenaccordingtotheirowntranquillymeditatedunderstanding.
"
Now,subsequenttotheaboveground-work",as
themaster-painterwouldsay,Ihavedrawnthegeneraloutlinesoftheveryessenceofmyappeal,andIwishtosharewithyou,andtocommunicatetoyou,oneofthemanydefinitedeductionswhichImadeduringmylong,impartialobservations,inthecourseofspecialstudies
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oftheautomaticandsometimesrelativelyconsciousmanifestations,ofpeopleofthemostvaryingsocialstanding,degreesofinnatecomprehension,education,raceandbelief,thatis,definitedeductionsregardingamostperniciousandundesirablefactor,andbothinthegeneralandinthesubjectivesense,andonesharplymanifestedinman'spsychicsphere.
ForthemomentIshalllimitmyselftomentioningonlygeneralinformationconcerningthispsychicfactorinherentineveryone,whichIhaveverifiedandelucidatedineverypossibleway,andwhichamazedme,afterappearingtobe,atfirst,relativelyinsignificant.Later,Ishallspeakindetailofthisfactor,aswellasofmeansestablishedbymeasaresultofmyexperimentalelucidatorymethods,whichwouldmodifyandevendestroycompletelythisundesirablefactorwithallitsconsequences.
Thispsychicfactor,amazingtomebecauseofitsabsolutecontradictiontotheconvictionsinstilledinmesincechildhood,aswellastothereligiousandmoralconceptionscommontoallpeopletoday,wasobservedbyme,andlater,duringthe21yearsofartificiallifementionedat
thebeginningofthisbooklet,waselucidatedinallitsaspects,thankstooneofmymanyprincipleswhichIinfalliblyappliedtoeverybodyImetwithoutdistinction.
Thisprinciple,oneoftheseveralIwasconstantlycarryingoutduringthisperiod,consistedinthatIneverconsidered,andundernocircumstancesencouraged,inthepeopleImettheimpulsecreatedbythatfactorinevitablyformedinthegeneralindividualityofmodernman,the,manifestationsofwhichareknownunderthenamesof"Vanity"and"Self-Conceit",butonthecontraryconsideredmyselfobligedtoadoptacriticalattitudetowardsthem,andriskedallprosperitydependinguponit.
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Inordertomakeitcleartoallreadersandtoemphasizeitsimportance,Ithinkitnecessarytogivethereasonsforapplyingtheabove-mentionedprincipleduringthatperiodofmylife.
Longbeforethatperiodofmylife,whenIconsciouslydecided,underspecialoath,foradefinitetimetomanifestmyselfandreacttothemanifestationsofthepeopleImetinacertainmanner,actingformanyyears,asIhavealreadynoted,asprofessionalhypnotist,althoughItriedasmuchaspossible,whileexercisingmyprofession,tokeepunderthecontrolofmyconsciousnesstheundesirablemanifestationsofmynature,inspiteofthis,theregraduallyformedwithinme,proceedingfarbeyondthecontrolofmyactiveconsciousness,certainautomaticinfluencesuponpeoplearoundmeduringtheirwakingaswellastheirhypnoticstate.
Onaccountofthis,theresoonbegantobecomereallyperceptibletomyawakingconsciousnessvariousconsequences,irreconcilablewithmynature,ofthisautomaticinfluenceoverpeople,whichoftenevokedinmeremorseofconscience;andtherefore,inworkingouttheprogrammeofmylife.whichwas
tobemyguidingprincipleforthefuture,andofwhichthefundamentalandchieftaskwasthatIalways,inthecourseofthispredeterminedperiod,inalltheinnerstatesofmyorganism,oughtto"cultivate"inwardlyandmanifesttowardseveryoneImetthefeelingsoflove,pitybenevolence,etc.,Ialsodecidedtoincludetheabove-mentionedprinciple,becauseitsapplicationtolife,althoughmainlytoservemyspecialaim,constituted,inmyopinion,atthesametime,apartofmyinnerbenevolencetowardspeople.
Inthisway,creatinginmyconsciousness,whichhadpreviouslyacquiredagoodstability,notwithoutunceasing
strugglewiththeweaknessesinherentinmy
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nature,ImaintainedalmostalwaysinrelationtoeveryoneImetwithoutdistinctiontheaforesaidbenevolentimpulse;helpingthem,forinstance,withusefuladvice,money,andthingsessentialforlife,suchasfood,lettersofrecommendation,etc.;asaresult,however,ofallmyobservationsandenquiries,Imostdefinitelyestablishedthatallthesegooddeedsofminedidnotarouseinthemrecognitionofallmykindness,but,onthecontrary,formedinallofthemafeelingtowardmeofevidentunfriendlinesswhichwasduetothefactthat,accordingtotheabovementionedprinciple,Ididnottakeintoconsiderationandreacttotheinfluenceofthe"variously-tinted"impulses,whicharoseinthemasaresultofthepsychicfactorcommontomantoday.
Inallthis,themostcuriousfact,inmyopinion,andonecapableofrousinginmanagreatmanyreflections,istheoneestablishedandverifiedbymeinallitsaspects,andwhichappearstobelawfulaswell,totheeffectthatif,inrelationtoanyoneofthosealreadyharbouringagainstmesuchunfriendliness,whenIdeliberatelyincreasedmyinnerbenevolence,increasingproportionally,ofcourse,atthesametimetheaforesaid"fault-finding",thisunfriendliness
increasedinallcaseswithoutexceptionandreachedamanifesthostilitytowardme.
Whilespeakingaboutthisperniciousfactorexistingineverypsychicstateofthemodernman,whohasbeenforsomanyyearsoneoftheprincipalobjectsofmyspecialobservations,Iconsideritnecessary,beforestatingmyfinal"conclusion'',tosay,first,thefollowing:
Inthepresentperiodofmylife,whendeclininginyears,afterhavinghadeverythingtosatietythatlifecanoffertoahumanbeing,andhavingbeentherebyfullydisillusionedineverything,andconsequentlypossessinginthehighestdegreealldataenablingmetobemy
impar-
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tial,I,callingonHeavenandEarthtowitnessmysincerityandswearingbythepeaceofmyconscienceafterdeath,now,basedontheconvictionsestablishedinmyconsciousness,proclaiminthehearingofall:
Thefundamentalcauseofalmostallthemisunderstandingsarisingintheinnerworldofman,aswellasintheprocessofthecommunallifeofpeople,ischieflythispsychicfactor,whichisformedinman'sbeingduringtheperiodofpreparatoryageexclusivelyonaccountofawrongeducation,andintheperiodofresponsibleageeachstimulationofwhichgivesbirthinhimtotheimpulsesof"Vanity"and"Self-Conceit".
Icategoricallyaffirmthatthehappinessandselfconsciousness,whichshouldbeinarealman,aswellasinapeacefulcommunalexistencebetweenpeople(leavingasideandnotattemptingtoanalyseherethenumerousothercauseswhichexistinourlivesthroughnofaultofourown),dependinmostcasesexclusivelyontheabsenceinusofthefeelingof"Vanity".
Mymostsincerewishinthiscaseisthateveryman,
whostrivestojustifybeforeGreatNaturehisdestinyasaman,andnotmerelyasananimal,thatdestinywhichisallotedtohimamongtheotherBeingsonEarth,andissuchasitoughttobe(asIprovelogicallyinthethirdseriesofmywritings,andaffirmwithoutanypossiblerefutationonanybody'spart),shouldseeafterwards,inhisendeavourtodiscoverthesenseofmywritingsandinthenewinstitutionsIexpecttofound,firstofallthepossibilityoffindinginthemvariousmeansofhelpinghimtoeradicatefromhisentiretythosedatafixedinhim,thetotalityofwhichgivesbirthtoeveryvarietyofthefeelingsof"Vanity".
Andwithaview,ontheonehand,tocharacterisingforthepreparation,sotospeak,of"fertilesoil"
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enablingreadersallthebettertograspmysubsequentappealsmyperpetual,asitmightbecalled,"maniacalstriving"towardsthesolutionofallasyetobscure"theandrologlcal"problems,and,ontheotherhand,inordertomakemyreadersunderstandmoreclearlytherealsignificanceofthepresenceinmen'sinnerworldoffactorscontributingtoaconsciousorevenanautomaticcultivationofgoodimpulsestowardsotherpeople,fromwhichimpulsesriseallsortsofconsequencescontradictingtheusualconceptionsofmenthatis,impulsesidealizedandprofessedbyallreligiousdoctrineswhichhaveexistedandstillexistonearth,aswellasbythemoralitywhichtheageshaveforgedinman'slife,Iconsideritusefulorevennecessarytoconfessherethattohavethepossibilityofexplainingtomyselfinmoredetailtheresultsofthemanifestationinhumanintercourseofa"naked"relationshipbasedonlove,pity,trust,sympathy,etc.,freefromallkindsofevilconventionsoutwardlyestablishedinourlife,resultsthatbeforeescapedmyattentionforsomereason,I,fromthedayIstartedthismyfirstappeal,uptotoday,thatis,fromthe13thofSeptembertothe13thJanuary1933,ononesidebeganmyselftoputintopracticeveryinsistently,andevenwith
aconstantselfderision,thatreligiousphilosophicalprincipleknownbymenforcenturies,andaccordingtowhichourancestorsandevensomecontemporarypeoplewhoreached,thankstotheirgoodlife,acertaindegreeofself-consciousness,dedicatedathirdofeachyearoftheirlifedependingonwhichpartwouldleastinterferewiththeobligationoftheirordinarylife,forself-perfectionor,astheysay,for"savingtheirsouls";thisprinciplecouldbeformulatedinthisway:",To-bepatient-towards-every-being-and-not-toattempt-by-thepossibilities-inour-power-
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to-alter-theconsequences-of-the-evil-deedsof-our-neighbours",ontheotherside,Iprovokedandsupportedthemanifestationsoftheprinciplethroughanartificialinfluenceonthepsycheofthreeotherdifferentpersons,andIobservedthoroughlyalltheconsequencesthatresultedfromit.
Thedevicesofmyartificialinfluencewerethreefold:
ThefirstIinfluencedbymeansofalmostuninterrupted,kindly-mtentionedpersuasionsandconscientiousexhortations;thesecondIinfluencedbythreatsoftheterriblefutureawaitinghim,andthethirdbymeansofvarioushypnoticsuggestions.
Duringthesameperiod,insofarasmytemporaryphysicaldepression,theconsequenceofseriousfatigue,permitted,Istillfurtherintensified,inrelationtoallpeoplecomingincontactwithme,myinnerbenevolence,butaccompanieditbythestrictfulfilmentofthepossibilitysetmyselfasaserioustaskofalwaysrememberingand,inconversations,deliberatelymanifesting,underamaskofseriousirritation,thedevice
havepractisedsincethebeginningofmyaforesaidtwenty-oneyearperiodofartificiallife,andwhichIhavesummedupinthephrase:"To-quarrel-ruthlesslywith-all-manifestations-dictated-in-peopleby-the-evil-factor-of-vanity-present-intheir-being."
AstothefactsIestablishedatthattime,Iverifiedinalltheiraspectsallthenewfactswhichderivedfromthat,so-called"contactofinnerworlds",andIshallspeakabouttheminsomesubsequentappealsIintendtopublish,butIshouldlike,inthemeantime,withreference
tothelastofmyspecialobservationsandverifications,whichIconducted,ofcourse,alsowithaviewtopreparingforourdescendantsthefactualmaterialforthe
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rightinculcationandunderstandingbythemofthereal
"
andtruemeaningofthepsycheoftheirneighbours"andfellow-men,unfortunatecreatures,too,onaccountof
theirlackofwill-powerandofreal,objectivereason,sothatthey,i.e.ourdescendants,unlikeuswho,aspeopleofourtimes,havealreadybecome,byreasonoftheabnormalenvironment,almostsimpleandautomatically-vegetatinganimals,whereasweshouldberealGod-likecreaturescapableofenteringintoandunderstandingthepositionofothers,togiveanapproximateexplanationinthismyfirstappealofoneoriginal"elucidatoryexperiment'',attemptedbymeduringthelastmonths,andtoconfessyetanotherandnewcategoricaldecision,broughtforthbytheconsequencesofthisverypsychologicalexperiment,andtothefulfilmentofwhichdecisionIintendtoproceedimmediatelyuponthecompletionofallmywritings.
Ishouldliketospeakofthisexperimenthereandeventoconfessmycategoricaldecisioninthismatter,inparticular,
sothattheremayariseinthementationofthemanypeoplewhohavemetmeonthegroundofmyideas,butwhostillpersistinvegetatingonEarth,andonwhomIthenwastedmuchtimewithoutbenefitforeitherthemormyself,chieflyonaccountoftheircriminallaziness,timewhichdidnotsuffice,asitwas,formyveryimportantcurrentaffairsonaworldscalesomeshockofsuchintensityastopermittheformationinthemfinally,evenifautomatically,ofsomeotherformof"thinking-andfeeling"morepropertoman.
Imuststate,firstofall,thatwhen,duringtheselastmonths,Iwasworkingonthisfirstappealofminewhile
simultaneouslylookingthroughmyfirstseriesofwritings,whichwerereadyforprint,therearosethenecessityofelucidatingformyselftheaforesaiddetailedresultseludingordinaryobservationastotheexistenceinman'sinner