All and Everything Conference Background

The All and Everything International Humanities Conference is a forum for the presentation and discussion of current studies associated with the writings and work of G. I. Gurdjieff. Ever since the first A&E Conference was held in 1996, resulting from the wish to “try and fathom the gist” of Gurdjieff’s writings as advised by the author himself, the aim has been to provide a common ground for those who wish to explore the teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff, in the spirit of “a gathering of the Companions of his books”: All and Everything: Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson; Meetings with Remarkable Men; Life is Real Only Then, When “I Am”; and The Herald of Coming Good.

Over the years, many of us have found confirmation that, by sharing our questions, insights, and even half-baked notions in a neutral and congenial atmosphere, a wider horizon of understanding and practical incorporation invariably appears.

We share the following excerpt with you:

“All the beings of this planet then began to work in order to have in their consciousness this Divine function of genuine conscience, and for this purpose, as everywhere in the Universe, they transubstantiated in themselves what are called the ‘being-obligolnian-strivings’ which consist of the following five, namely:

“The first striving: to have in their ordinary being-existence everything satisfying and really necessary for their planetary body.

“The second striving: to have a constant and unflagging instinctive need for self-perfection in the sense of being.

“The third: the conscious striving to know ever more and more concerning the laws of World-creation and World-maintenance.

“The fourth: the striving from the beginning of their existence to pay for their arising and their individuality as quickly as possible, in order afterwards to be free to lighten as much as possible the Sorrow of our COMMON FATHER.

“And the fifth: the striving always to assist the most rapid perfecting of other beings, both those similar to oneself and those of other forms, up to the degree of the sacred ‘Martfotai’ that is up to the degree of self-individuality.”

(Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson, pp. 385-386)

Beelzebub’s Tales Now Available in Searchable format

If you are looking for a PDF searchable version of the 1950 First Edition of Beelzebub’s Tales, you can find a copy at either of the Book Studio or Fifth Press websites. The download is free at each website.

Updates

Please watch this page for ongoing updates. The links on this page will provide further useful information for those planning to participate in the next conference. Should you require more information, please use the contact form.