George Gurdjieff (1867-1949)

George Gurdjieff (1867-1949) is a person.

See: Fourth Way, Perennial Philosophy, The Work, Self Awareness, P. D. Ouspensky, Mysticism.

References

2023

(Wikipedia, 2023) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gurdjieff Retrieved:2023-12-17.
- George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (c.1867 – 29 October 1949) ^[1] was a philosopher, mystic, spiritual teacher, and composer. ^[2] Gurdjieff taught that people are not conscious of themselves and thus live their lives in a state of hypnotic "waking sleep", but that it is possible to awaken to a higher state of consciousness and serve our purpose as human beings. The practice of his teaching has become known as "The Work" (connoting work on oneself) and is additional to the ways of the fakir, monk and yogi, so that his student P. D. Ouspensky referred to it as the "Fourth Way". Gurdjieff's teaching has inspired the formation of many groups around the world. After his death in 1949, the Gurdjieff Foundation in Paris was established and led by his close pupil Jeanne de Salzmann in cooperation with other direct pupils of Gurdjieff, until her death in 1990; and then by her son Michel de Salzmann, until his death in 2001. The International Association of the Gurdjieff Foundations comprises the Institut Gurdjieff in France; The Gurdjieff Foundation in the USA; The Gurdjieff Society in the UK; and the Gurdjieff Foundation in Venezuela.

↑ According to his own account Gurdjieff was born in 1867. He told a group meeting on Thursday 28/10/1943 that he was then 76 years old. He died six years later in 1949 when he was 82 years old - and certainly looked this age from photographs and videos taken at that time. His age also reflects what he said in his autobiography "Meetings with Remarkable Men" - that he was about 7 years old at the time of the great cattle plague which affected his father's livestock. This event occurred in the summer of 1873. In the same chapter he recalls his childhood in the "1870's". Various documents and other authors such as James Webb, The Harmonious Circle, Thames and Hudson, 1980, pp. 25–26 provides a range of dates from 1872, 1873, 1874, 1877 to 1886.
↑ http://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/58952 Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Edited by Michael Pittman. G. I. Gurdjieff: Armenian Roots, Global Branches. During the early period after Gurdjieff's arrival in Europe in 1921 he gained significant notoriety in Europe and the United States... In October 1922, Gurdjieff set up a school at the Prieuré des Basses Loges at Fontainebleau-Avon, outside of Paris. It was at the Prieuré that Gurdjieff met many notable figures, authors, and artists of the early twentieth century, many of whom went on to be close students and exponents of his teaching. Over the course of his life, those who visited and worked with him included the French author René Daumal; the renowned short story author from New Zealand, Katherine Mansfield; Kathryn Hulme, later the author of A Nun's Life; P. L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins; and Jean Toomer, the author of Cane, whose work and influence would figure prominently in the Harlem Renaissance... Numerous study groups, organizations, formal foundations, and even land-based communities have been initiated in his name, primarily in North and South America and Europe, and to a lesser extent, in Japan, China, India, Australia, and South Africa. In 1979, Peter Brook, the British theater director and author, created a film based on Meetings with Remarkable Men.

2023

GBard
- George Gurdjieff's work delves into a wide range of topics, often with an interconnected and complex approach. Here are some of the key areas of his teaching:
  - 1. Psychology and self-awareness: Gurdjieff's central argument is that most humans live "mechanically," unaware of their inner potential and functioning on autopilot. He emphasizes the need for conscious effort to awaken higher levels of consciousness and achieve genuine self-knowledge. This process of awakening, known as "The Work," involves various practices and exercises to develop attention, presence, and self-observation.
  - 2. The Three Centers and Personality: Gurdjieff posits that humans have three "centers" - intellectual, emotional, and moving - each with its own limitations and biases. He encourages the harmonious development and integration of these centers to create a more balanced and complete personality.
  - 3. The Fourth Way and Esoteric Teachings: Gurdjieff's system combines elements of esotericism, mysticism, and spiritual traditions from various cultures, including Sufiism, Christianity, Buddhism, and Gnosticism. He uses symbolism, parables, and allegorical stories to convey his teachings, often cloaked in obscurity to challenge and stimulate deeper reflection.
  - 4. Art and Movement: Gurdjieff employed various artistic mediums, including dance, music, and theater, as tools for self-exploration and transformation. His exercises, known as "Movements," aim to develop physical awareness, coordination, and discipline as pathways to inner work.
  - 5. Higher Evolution and Human Potential: Gurdjieff envisioned the possibility of evolving beyond our current level of consciousness and attaining higher states of being. He emphasizes personal responsibility and conscious effort as the key to this evolutionary journey.
  - 6. Criticisms and Controversy: Gurdjieff's teachings have attracted both devotees and detractors. Critics have pointed to the hierarchical structure of his groups, the demanding nature of "The Work," and the sometimes cryptic and inaccessible nature of his ideas. However, his influence on various thinkers and artistic figures remains undeniable.

1974

.
- NOTE: Life Is Real Only Then, When 'I Am' (1974): Published posthumously, this incomplete text offers a more direct insight into Gurdjieff's thoughts and spiritual journey. It comprises reflections, aphorisms, and parables, focusing on themes of self-awareness, consciousness, and personal transformation nmh . The work is considered a valuable resource for understanding the later period of Gurdjieff's teachings and philosophy.

1963

.
- NOTE: Meetings with Remarkable Men (1963): This autobiographical work recounts Gurdjieff's journeys and encounters with various spiritual teachers and mystical figures during his early life. It offers a window into the experiences and influences that shaped his worldview and teachings. The book is a series of portraits and stories, providing insights into the diverse and often enigmatic figures who played a significant role in Gurdjieff's development.

1950

.
- NOTE: [[Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson[[ (1950): This is Gurdjieff's magnum opus, presented as a complex, multi-layered allegory. The narrative spans across various themes including history, philosophy, and esoteric knowledge. The book is known for its challenging and symbolic language, intending to provoke deep introspection and understanding in the reader. It is a comprehensive exploration of Gurdjieff's cosmological ideas and teachings.

YYYY

“In Search of the Miraculous: Fragments of an Unknown Teaching” 1.
- QUOTE: ... A man may be born, but in order to be born he must first die, and in order to die he must first awake. ...

[1] According to his own account Gurdjieff was born in 1867. He told a group meeting on Thursday 28/10/1943 that he was then 76 years old. He died six years later in 1949 when he was 82 years old - and certainly looked this age from photographs and videos taken at that time. His age also reflects what he said in his autobiography "Meetings with Remarkable Men" - that he was about 7 years old at the time of the great cattle plague which affected his father's livestock. This event occurred in the summer of 1873. In the same chapter he recalls his childhood in the "1870's". Various documents and other authors such as James Webb, The Harmonious Circle, Thames and Hudson, 1980, pp. 25–26 provides a range of dates from 1872, 1873, 1874, 1877 to 1886.

[2] ttp://www.cambridgescholars.com/download/sample/58952 Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Edited by Michael Pittman. G. I. Gurdjieff: Armenian Roots, Global Branches. During the early period after Gurdjieff's arrival in Europe in 1921 he gained significant notoriety in Europe and the United States... In October 1922, Gurdjieff set up a school at the Prieuré des Basses Loges at Fontainebleau-Avon, outside of Paris. It was at the Prieuré that Gurdjieff met many notable figures, authors, and artists of the early twentieth century, many of whom went on to be close students and exponents of his teaching. Over the course of his life, those who visited and worked with him included the French author René Daumal; the renowned short story author from New Zealand, Katherine Mansfield; Kathryn Hulme, later the author of A Nun's Life; P. L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins; and Jean Toomer, the author of Cane, whose work and influence would figure prominently in the Harlem Renaissance... Numerous study groups, organizations, formal foundations, and even land-based communities have been initiated in his name, primarily in North and South America and Europe, and to a lesser extent, in Japan, China, India, Australia, and South Africa. In 1979, Peter Brook, the British theater director and author, created a film based on Meetings with Remarkable Men.

[1]

[2]

George Gurdjieff (1867-1949)

References

2023

2023

1974

1963

1950

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