Gurdjieff- The Mystic

George Gurdjieff was an eighteenth century philosopher and mystic. He spent his life in pursuit of the metaphysical truths. He was only 9 years old when he lost his father. Before his death his father had summoned him to say a few words of advice. 9 year old Gurdjieff was given a basic rule to live by.

“Son, whenever you face a conflict with someone, or when someone angers you, wait a day before responding to them. Never act on whim and think your response through. Your emotions might blind you in the heat of the moment”.

The advise was timeless and prompted Gurdjieff to look for more ways to live consciously. He left home when he was quite young and travelled to countries that were known for ancient civilizations and had rich mythical narratives. His curiosity led him to Central Asia, Egypt, Iran, India, Tibet and Rome before he returned to Russia. He met mystics, spiritual teachers, gurus and dervishes in his travels and learnt from everyone.

On coming back he set up a small school in Moscow where he taught only a handful of students. He disliked fame and preferred a life of solitude. His students were only those people who showed a solid commitment to learning. Among his students were painters, sculptors, musicians, and young people from diverse backgrounds. Ouspensky was one of his students who preserved his teachings in books like “the fourth way” and “in search of miracles”.

Gurdjieff taught a great deal about faith and religion as well. His idea of faith influenced not only his disciples but contemporary philosophers too. His teachings are as relevant today as they were a century ago if not more.

“Conscious faith is freedom. Emotional faith is slavery. Mechanical faith is foolishness.”

He largely emphasized on an individual’s own quest to the universal. Everyone had to travel their own unique path in order to access their full potential as a human being and the depths of consciousness. His esoteric wisdom pointed towards a faith that could not be gained by relying on conventional methods and preset notions of society.

“If you want to lose your faith, make friends with a priest.”

He understood how people are made to conform and lose their true self. His lessons are perfectly applicable in today’s time and age too.

“In order to awaken, first of all one must realize that one is in a state of sleep. And in order to realize that one is indeed in a state of sleep, one must recognize and fully understand the nature of the forces which operate to keep one in the state of sleep, or hypnosis. It is absurd to think that this can be done by seeking information from the very source which induces the hypnosis.

….One thing alone is certain, that man’s slavery grows and increases. Man is becoming a willing slave. He no longer needs chains. He begins to grow fond of his slavery, to be proud of it. And this is the most terrible thing that can happen to a man.”