The Practice of Contemplation in the Work of Gurdjieff
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsnr.v6i2.28944Keywords:
Gurdjieff, Contemplation, new religious movements, meditation, P. D. OuspenskyAbstract
In Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson, Gurdjieff writes of the critical importance of “Aiëssirittoorassnian-contemplation” for the formation of the “soul”. First, I discuss some definitions of “meditation” and “contemplation” in relation to Gurdjieff’s practices with a view to determining the most appropriate term. Second, commencing with Beelzebub, but ranging across Gurdjieff’s oeuvre, I explore his understanding of the “soul”, and “Aiëssirittoorassnian-contemplation”. I then examine Gurdjieff’s first recorded contemplative technique, the “I Am” exercise, thus illuminating an under-appreciated aspect of Gurdjieff’s practice. It transpires that Gurdjieff’s contemplative techniques are more significant to his practical teaching than previously suspected.
References
Adago, John. 2014. East Meets West. London: Shepheard-Walwyn.
Anonymous. 1971 [1973]. Guide & Index to Gurdjieff’s “All and Everything.” Toronto: Traditional Studies Press.
Azize, Joseph. 2013. ““The Four Ideals”: A Contemplative Exercise by Gurdjieff,” ARIES 13, 173–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700593-13130202
Barnhardt, Robert K., ed. 1988. The Barnhardt Dictionary of Etymology. Hackensack, NJ : H. W. Wilson Co.
Bennett, John G. 1973. Gurdjieff: Making a New World. New York: Harper & Row.
2014 “Introduction.” In Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’, by G. I. Gurdjieff . London: Book Studio.
Cade, C. Maxwell and Nona Coxhead. 1979. The Awakened Mind: Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of Consciousness. London: Wildwood House.
Ferguson, John. 1976. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Mysticism and the Mystery Religions. London: Thames and Hudson.
Gurdjieff, G. I. 1931. Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson. No publisher or place of publication shown.
1950 [1993]. Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson. Aurora: Two Rivers Press.
1975. Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’. New York: Triangle.
1976. Récits de Belzébuth à son petit-fils. Paris: Rocher.
nd. All und Alles. Innsbruck: Verlag der Palme.
2009. Transcripts of Gurdjieff’s Wartime Meetings 1941–46. London: Book Studio.
2014a. Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’. London: Book Studio.
2014b. Gurdjieff’s Early Talks. London: Book Studio.
Katz, Steven T. 1978. “Language, Epistemology, and Mysticism.” In Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis, edited by Steven T. Katz, 22–74. London: Sheldon Press.
Landau, Rom. 1964 [1935]. God Is my Adventure. London: Unwin.
Latham, R. E. and D. R. Howlett. 1981. Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, vol. 1, A-L. Oxford: Oxford at the University.
Lehmann, Paul and Johannes Stroux. 1999. Mittellateinishces Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13 Jahrhundert, vol. 2. Munich: CH Beck.
Lewis, Charlton T. 1962 [1889]. A Latin Dictionary for Schools. London: Oxford at the Clarendon.
Onions, C. T., ed. 1966. Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Ouspensky, P. 1950. The Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution. New York: Hedgehog Press.
1992 [1951]. A Record of Meetings. London: Arkana.
1992 [1986]. A Further Record. London: Arkana.
Sharf, Robert H. 1998. “Experience.” In Critical Terms for Religious Studies, edited by Mark C. Taylor, 94–116. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Sinclair, Frank. 2009. Of the Life Aligned. Xlibris. (no place of publication shown).
Skeat, Walter W. 1910. An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. New edition. London: Oxford at the Clarendon.
Tart, Charles T., ed. 1969. Altered States of Consciousness. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, Paul Beekman. 2001. Gurdjieff and Orage: Brothers in Elysium. York Beach: Weiser Books.
Trompf, Garry W. 2010. “On the Origins of the Western Meditation Movement.” In The Pathway to the Centre – Purity and the Mind, edited by Edward F. Crangle, 1–30. Sydney: Dhammachai International Research Institution.
Wellbeloved, Sophia. 2003. Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts. London: Routledge.
Zahler, Leah. 2009. Study and Practice of Meditation. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion.
Anonymous. 1971 [1973]. Guide & Index to Gurdjieff’s “All and Everything.” Toronto: Traditional Studies Press.
Azize, Joseph. 2013. ““The Four Ideals”: A Contemplative Exercise by Gurdjieff,” ARIES 13, 173–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700593-13130202
Barnhardt, Robert K., ed. 1988. The Barnhardt Dictionary of Etymology. Hackensack, NJ : H. W. Wilson Co.
Bennett, John G. 1973. Gurdjieff: Making a New World. New York: Harper & Row.
2014 “Introduction.” In Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’, by G. I. Gurdjieff . London: Book Studio.
Cade, C. Maxwell and Nona Coxhead. 1979. The Awakened Mind: Biofeedback and the Development of Higher States of Consciousness. London: Wildwood House.
Ferguson, John. 1976. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Mysticism and the Mystery Religions. London: Thames and Hudson.
Gurdjieff, G. I. 1931. Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson. No publisher or place of publication shown.
1950 [1993]. Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson. Aurora: Two Rivers Press.
1975. Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’. New York: Triangle.
1976. Récits de Belzébuth à son petit-fils. Paris: Rocher.
nd. All und Alles. Innsbruck: Verlag der Palme.
2009. Transcripts of Gurdjieff’s Wartime Meetings 1941–46. London: Book Studio.
2014a. Life Is Real only then, when ‘I Am’. London: Book Studio.
2014b. Gurdjieff’s Early Talks. London: Book Studio.
Katz, Steven T. 1978. “Language, Epistemology, and Mysticism.” In Mysticism and Philosophical Analysis, edited by Steven T. Katz, 22–74. London: Sheldon Press.
Landau, Rom. 1964 [1935]. God Is my Adventure. London: Unwin.
Latham, R. E. and D. R. Howlett. 1981. Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, vol. 1, A-L. Oxford: Oxford at the University.
Lehmann, Paul and Johannes Stroux. 1999. Mittellateinishces Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13 Jahrhundert, vol. 2. Munich: CH Beck.
Lewis, Charlton T. 1962 [1889]. A Latin Dictionary for Schools. London: Oxford at the Clarendon.
Onions, C. T., ed. 1966. Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Ouspensky, P. 1950. The Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution. New York: Hedgehog Press.
1992 [1951]. A Record of Meetings. London: Arkana.
1992 [1986]. A Further Record. London: Arkana.
Sharf, Robert H. 1998. “Experience.” In Critical Terms for Religious Studies, edited by Mark C. Taylor, 94–116. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Sinclair, Frank. 2009. Of the Life Aligned. Xlibris. (no place of publication shown).
Skeat, Walter W. 1910. An Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. New edition. London: Oxford at the Clarendon.
Tart, Charles T., ed. 1969. Altered States of Consciousness. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
Taylor, Paul Beekman. 2001. Gurdjieff and Orage: Brothers in Elysium. York Beach: Weiser Books.
Trompf, Garry W. 2010. “On the Origins of the Western Meditation Movement.” In The Pathway to the Centre – Purity and the Mind, edited by Edward F. Crangle, 1–30. Sydney: Dhammachai International Research Institution.
Wellbeloved, Sophia. 2003. Gurdjieff: The Key Concepts. London: Routledge.
Zahler, Leah. 2009. Study and Practice of Meditation. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion.
Published
2016-01-20
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Azize, J. J. (2016). The Practice of Contemplation in the Work of Gurdjieff. International Journal for the Study of New Religions, 6(2), 139–156. https://doi.org/10.1558/ijsnr.v6i2.28944
