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Abstract
In “Gurdjieff: Mysticism, Contemplation, and Exercises,” I suggest that Gurdjieff brought not merely a philosophy, a system of “Western esotericism,” or an “Esoteric philosophy,” but rather a mystic discipline. There, I explain my view that, by 1930, Gurdjieff had concluded that something was missing in his teaching and the methods; and he devised these exercises, using models he found in the Hesychast tradition of Mount Athos, to supply that lack. The exercises are basic and essential, fundamental and indispensable, if the inner work is to go beyond a basic level. I believe that in this book I demonstrate that Gurdjieff himself had come to this conclusion, and why.
I state, on p.83, that: “Gurdjieff’s exercises, and most especially his Preparation, can be plausibly seen as methods to develop the lower human faculties, bring them into harmony, and align them to the higher centres, thus making possible self-consciousness, and then objective consciousness. This last state is the proper state of the mystical experience, and hence Gurdjieff’s system can be interpreted as a method to achieve the mystic experience in such a way that it can, as needed, be remembered and productively influence ordinary life.”
Short biographical note
My main area of research and writing is and will continue to be the thought and legacy of G.I. Gurdjieff. The most important project is my working together with Carole Cusack and A.G.E. Blake, on preparing, editing and writing a volume on J.G. Bennett , one of Gurdjieff’s most eminent pupils and successors. In addition, I shall be continuing my research into the topic “Gurdjieff Theologus,” that is, “Gurdjieff as Theologian.” I presented a paper under that title at the University of Sydney’s Gurdjieff Symposium on 3 December, 2019.