Preface
“How can I be initiated into the Gurdjieff teachings?” Gurdjieff said to this, “There is no initiation, every initiation is a self-initiation.”
Even when practiced regularly, there is often a feeling that “nothing has happened at all” or that no change has occurred. Therefore I emphasize again and again that a change into another layer of consciousness brings a changed perception at that moment. When we have returned to the layer of consciousness of the “ordinary” waking state of consciousness, we think and feel that apparently “nothing has changed”. In fact, the changed state of consciousness can only be perceived on this “other” level, but not with the “unchanged state”. The only thing that can be permanently perceived is the evolving body sensation. The longer we work on it, the stronger this sensation becomes - our own body is felt and perceived more and more often, even if attention is not intentionally directed to it. In the course of time it happens that suddenly a perception of the body sensation is there “by itself” and another clarity, a “heightened” state of waking consciousness is present.
Nothing is lost! This means that the work on the storage and consolidation of the inner energies (see chapter 4) bears fruit without this being noticed or perceived under everyday circumstances. This phenomenon makes many people doubt at first whether it is of any use at all to do this “inner work”. Those who persist in it, notice with time that a change in the whole of their own state of mind and self-perception has set in. This point must be emphasized again and again. Those who are after “quick” results should change their attitude.
case. Our goal is a “harmonious development” which - we hope - will bring forth an inner quality that will outlast physical life. This is also a goal, but one that does not end on the winner’s podium of life, but is completely located in the unknowable. Promises of salvation are foreign to me, I can only say from my experience - and the inner wisdom gained in the course of time - that this work is worthwhile, even if the idea of an “immortal soul” would ultimately only be a fantasy.
- Learning by Doing “The highest thing a person can achieve is the ability to do.” G. I. Gurdjieff, Aphorisms
His significant insight is that a person can “do” only when his “real I” has become the central pivot of his life, and this requires conscious work. Above all, a person must realize that most of what he thinks is conscious action is more or less automatic.
When we normally say “I,” we actually mean our “personality” and our body. We say, “I am in pain,” “I feel good,” “I think,” “I drive a car.” But this personality, which is “I” is not the “real I”.
A self-deception would be if you think that just because you have practiced for a while, you are already able to act from the core of your being. No matter how, without starting with it, nothing can develop.
If you have the possibility to do the exercises together with a partner or friends, not only the exercise is strengthened, but also the motivation to stay with it.
When you decide to begin the exercise program, sit down, become still inside and make your decision. Inwardly affirm it with the following affirmation or even say it out loud: “I want to start the exercise program and stick with it.” Set a goal to do the initial exercises for four weeks and then decide again for the next few weeks. This decision strengthens your intention and will. You shouldn’t have any expectations attached to it, just “do it.” Each day, write down all observations, sensations, insights and feelings that arise before, during and after the exercise. Also write down when you have the exercise “left out.” Be honest with yourself: did you just find an excuse or could you simply not because of another requirement? Also, look closely at your excuses, you may see a pattern in them. You are only doing it for yourself, no one is controlling you. After a while, a sitting exercise you do in the morning also works into your day. If you review the notes a month later, you can better assess your practice progress.
When you tune into the “field of consciousness” of a certain lineage, you are in resonance with the corresponding energy vibration of the people who have strengthened this field of consciousness with their exercises. Thereby you also get some help or strengthening for your exercises.
Incense with sage or other incense is useful to keep away unwanted disturbing energies. Certain smoky herbs or resins can also awaken “helpful” forces. In any case, it is good to prepare your outer “room” in such a way to prepare that you can inwardly tune into the exercise undisturbed. Above all, you should perform each of the suggested exercises with conscious intention. In fact, each exercise is in itself a ritual. Ritual means order, i. e. it follows a certain order, which in turn reflects the cosmic order. It forms a bridge to reality, to the world of consciousness. It is also a ritual in the sense that you perform it regularly in the same way and bring yourself into connection with the vibrational field of the quality of consciousness from which these exercises originate. This creates a resonance that also gives you a certain security.
Each exercise works differently and always anew, and in the context of the exercise program of this book it is necessary to engage in this process completely or not at all. In Monopoly, one card is called “Back to Go.” The same is true for inner work. In Gurdjieff’s “Science of Idiotism” (see my book “The Realized Idiot”) he explicitly emphasizes that it is important for one’s own development to become an “ordinary idiot” again, i. e. the “beginner’s mind” in yourself and start all over again to break down ingrained routines and patterns of behavior.
A good condition for the effectiveness of exercises is also the desire to learn something new. If I get to know an exercise and think, “I already know this” or “I’ve done this exercise before” or “I do know the best way to relax,” then I close
the door on a new experience. That’s why Bennett kept emphasizing, “Try to learn to see everything as if it’s completely new and as if it has no connection with anything you’ve heard of before.” In fact, everything is always new and different, we just rarely perceive it that way.
Exercises for self-awareness and development of the “outer” and “inner” senses are “works of art”, this is my conviction after many years of experience with these exercises.
But there are also “basic exercises” that can be done for a longer time without entropy, just as we need daily food. There are also exercises that have a very intense and lasting effect, even if you do not notice it immediately. These should only be done for a predetermined time - a week or two - and can be done again later occasionally. I have seen people who have done certain intensive exercises for a long time
A person who is identified with his outer personality, his person or “mask”, is completely unfree. He is unconsciously dependent on all kinds of influences, on opinions adopted from others, on material things, and so on. Only with awakened consciousness and a “real I” we are able to think and act self-determined in the truest sense of the word.
5. Man, a three-brained Being
The emotional center is connected to the limbic system and probably also to the “belly brain” containing 100 million neurons which are connected with the head brain. The central node is the Hara chakra below the navel. Strong feelings can flood the whole person and affect all functions.
Conscious energy is produced through a variety of very intense experiences. For the perfection of man it is of great importance that he has a solid energy body, which is open for the higher energies and is especially receptive to the unifying energy. This energy is present everywhere, but most people are not open to it because, like creative energy, it is beyond conscious experience. For this reason, mystical experiences are usually referred to as a “dark night of the soul” or describe experiences that cannot be put into words.
If you are already doing an exercise system, e. g. daily Hatha Yoga or Qigong and the like, you can keep these exercises without further ado. If you meditate regularly, you can continue your meditation as well. These techniques even reinforce each other with my exercise program. For example, do the book’s exercise program in the morning and your meditation in the evening. If you have enough time, you can also do a Qigong exercise sequence before the morning sitting exercise, for example, which can reinforce it. However, my advice is not to practice for more than an hour in total in the morning.
Another thing is important for me to emphasize: In many groups, exercises are done without talking about the experience afterwards. I don’t know why a conversation about the effects of an exercise is neglected. It is precisely the exchange of experiences and the description of the effects that allow the exercise to deepen even more. In this way, each participant can also become more certain that his or her experiences are are not a fantasy or hallucination.
The exercise helps to “stay on the ball” and not to give up too quickly if it does not seem to have any effect. If you do the exercises together with other people, with your partner, with friends or like-minded people, each exercise will be more intensive if you talk about your experiences afterwards.
Exercise 13: Making a decision This exercise has two stages: Stage 1: In the evening before going to sleep, sitting or lying down.
Stage 2: In the morning, after waking up. Step 4: Do the grounding and sensation exercise again. It is good if you take enough time and do the whole program of muscle relaxation and body sensation exercise, also in connection with the exercise 10, you do for five minutes.