gurdjieff, g.i. - the herald of the coming good

7/29/2019 Gurdjieff, G.I. - The Herald of the Coming Good

1/86

G.GURDJIEFF

THEHERALDOFCOMINGGOOD

FIRSTAPPEALTOCONTEMPORARYHUMANITY

PARIS1933


2/86

Contrarytotheestablishedcustom,Ishallnotonlypermitthisfirstbookofmineaswellasthebooksofthefirstseries,tobereprintedinanycountry,but,ifnecessary,Iamwillingtosubsidizeit,ontheconditionofcoursethatabsoluteaccuracyispreserved.

G.GURDJIEFF.


3/86

**

*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.


4/86

Accordingly,asIhavetheintention,ontheonehand,ofaffordingtoamultitudeofOurCommonFather'screatures.whobearyourlikeness,butwhosemeansareforsomereasonorotherlimited,thepossibilityofacquiringthisfirstbookletofminefreeofcharge,andasIhave,ontheotherhand,certaindefiniteplansbearinguponthenextpublicationofmywritings,Ihavedeliberatelydecidednottofixanydefinitepriceforthisbooklet,leavingittothefreewillofthepurchasertopayfrom8to108Frenchfrancs.

Ishallatthesametime,andwithoutenteringintotheusualcontemporarydiscussionsaboutlife,expresslyrequestallthosewhohappentoacquirethisfirstbookletofminetoanswerthreequestions,whichwillbesetthembythesellersoastopermithim

tofillinthecorrespondingparagraphsofthe"Registration-Blank"herewithappended.

TheAUTHOR.


5/86

REGISTRATION-BLANK

appendedto

THEHERALDOFCOMINGGOODN00001

1.Nameofpurchaser2.Address3.Acquiredaccidentallyoronadvice4.Whoadvised?Givenameandaddress5.SumpaidSignatureofseller


6/86

MYFIRSTPRACTICALCOUNSEL.

Icounselallreaderswhohaveatanytimemetmeuponthegroundofmyideastopostponereadingthisfirstappealuntiltheyhave,concentratingintheirnatureaswellasintheirthoughtsandfeelings,graspedtheessenceofthecontentofthecircularletterappendedtothebooklet,andhaveatthesametimepreviouslyacquaintedthemselveswiththe"Registration-Blank"attachedtothisletterandwhichwillbeofpracticalimportforacquiringthebooksofmyfirstseriesofwritings.

G.GURDJIEFF.


7/86

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


8/86

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.


9/86

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


10/86

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-


11/86

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,


12/86

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


13/86

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


14/86

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.


15/86

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


16/86

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,


17/86

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-


18/86

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


19/86

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


20/86

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


21/86

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


22/86

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


23/86

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


24/86

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


25/86

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


26/86

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-


27/86

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.


28/86

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.


29/86

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


30/86

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


31/86

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-


32/86

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-


33/86

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,


34/86

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.


35/86

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


36/86

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


37/86

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.


38/86

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


39/86

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


40/86

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


41/86

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


42/86

ofthisfinallyselectedformofallmywritings,andatthesametimenottostrainagainmypoorbrain,whichisalreadytiredout,Ishallsimplygiveherethefirstsixtitle-pagesofthewritingsofmyfirstbook,whichiscompletelyfinishedandgiventotheprinter.


43/86

Firstpage

G.GURDJIEFF.

ALLANDEVERYTHING

Tenbooksinthreeseries.

TheoriginaliswritteninRussianandArmenian.Translationsintootherlanguageshavebeenandarestillbeingmadeunderthepersonaldirectionoftheauthorhimselfbyagroupoftranslatorsspeciallytrainedinconformitywiththeirdennedindividuality,andchosenaccordingtotheirunderstandingofthetextofwhatistranslated,andthephilologicalpeculiaritiesofeachlanguage.

PARIS.1933.


44/86

Secondpage

Everythingisexpoundedaccordingtonewprinciplesoflogicalunderstandingwiththepurposeofsolvingthreecardinalproblems.

PROBLEMOFTHEFIRSTSERIES.

Mercilessly,withoutanycompromisewhatsoever,toextirpatefromthementationandfeelingofmantheprevious,century-rootedviewsandbeliefsabouteverythingexistingintheworld.

PROBLEMOFTHESECONDSERIES.

Tofurnishthematerialrequiredforanewcreationandtoproveitssoundnessandgoodquality.

PROBLEMOFTHETHIRDSERIES.

TocontributetothearisinginthementationandfeelingofmanofanauthenticandcorrectrepresentationoftheWorldexistinginrealityandnotthatillusoryone,which,accordingtotheaffirmationandproofoftheauthorisperceivedbyallpeople.


45/86

Thirdpage

FIRSTSERIES

Inthreebooksunderthecommontitleof"ANOBJECTIVELY-IMPARTIALCRITICISMOFTHELIFEOFMAN"

or

"BEELZEBUB'STALESTOHISGRANDSON".

SECONDSERIESInthreebooksunderthecommontitleof

"MEETINGSWITHREMARKABLEMEN"

THIRDSERIESInfourbooksunderthecommontitleof

"LIFEISREALONLYWHEN'IAM'".


46/86

Fourthpage

FIRSTBOOK

oftheseries

"ANOBJECTIVELY-IMPARTIALCRITICISMOFTHELIFEOFMAN"

or

"BEELZEBUB'STALESTOHISGRANDSON".


47/86

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".


48/86

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".


49/86

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.


50/86

Sixthpage

AFriendlyCounselwrittenimpromptubytheauthorhimselfondeliveringthisbooktotheprinter.

Accordingtomanydeductionsmadebymeduringcontinuousexperimentsconcerningtheperceptionbycontemporarypeopleofnewimpressionsfromwhatisheardorread,aswellasaccordingtothesenseofonesayingofpopularwisdomwhichIhavejustrememberedandwhichhascomedownfromancienttimestoourverydayformulatedthus:

EveryprayermaybeheardbytheHighestForcesAndonemightgetacorrespondingrewardonlyifitisutteredthrice:

Firstforthewelfareorthepeaceofsoulofone'sparents;

Secondforthewelfareofone'sneighbours;

Andonlythethirdtimeforone'sownwelfare.

Iconsideritnecessaryonthefirstpageofthisfirstbookwhichisquitereadyforpublicationtogivethefollowingadvice:

Readeachofmywritingsthrice:

Firsttimeatleastasyouhavealreadybecomemechanisedtoreadallthecontemporarybooksandmagazines.


51/86

Secondtimeasifyouwerereadingaloudtosomebodyelse;Andonlythethirdtimetrytograspthegistofmywritings.

OnlythenyoumayperhapsgetyourownimpartialJudgmentpeculiartoyourselfaboutmywritingsandonlythencouldberealisedmyhopethatyou,accordingtoyourunderstanding,wouldprofitforyourselfbythebenefitwhichIassumeandIwishyouwithallmybeing.

SignedAUTHOR.


52/86

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


53/86

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


54/86

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


55/86

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


56/86

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,


57/86

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


58/86

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


59/86

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.


60/86

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


61/86

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-


62/86

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"


63/86

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-


64/86

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


65/86

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

gurdjieff, g.i. - the herald of the coming good

Documents