Learning to know thyself

The meeting started with a reading from Ouspensky's book "In Search of the Miraculous", Chapter 6.

Gurdjieff said "the principle 'know thyself' speaks of the necessity of knowing one's machine, the 'human machine' . . . it requires much time and labor, and above all, the application of the right method and, what is equally necessary, right guidance. . . . Self-observation, especially in the beginning, must on no account become analysis" which "will only become possible much later."

M spoke of the difference between happening and doing. Attention is required because of distractions. Lots of little wills respond to external influences, and what's missing is unity. Self observation shows you when you are being automatic. Self knowledge requires a unified mind.

RS brought up his association with a song he remembered sung by Sammy Davis that was titled "Know thyself", though he could not remember the lyrics. The group discussed researching the lyrics in case they were relevant. M said this was an example of a distraction.

(The song includes the lines: "Know thyself, These words are true. Know thyself, I hope I do. Toil a while, but not in vain. I removed the child, the man remains.")

The reading continued: "Change under ordinary conditions is impossible, because . . . everything in the machine is interconnected."

. . .

"Having fixed in his own mind the difference between the intellectual, the emotional, and the moving functions, a man must, as he observes himself, immediately refer his impressions to this or that category . . . He must reject all vague or doubtful cases . . . If the work is carried on properly, the number of unquestionable observations will rapidly increase."

RM said how important it is to understand that life will not start to get better. This is a valuable first step. Gurdjieff said "Blessed is he who has a soul, blessed is he who has none, but woe and grief to him who has it in embryo". Be in touch with the moment, be present with yourself.

M said that Freud and Gurdjieff looked at the mind from different perspectives. Gurdjieff described four centres. The instinctive centre and the moving centre are two, their functions are different from the emotional and intellectual centres.

RS gave the example of seeing a croissant - this triggered the instinctive and moving centres.

L gave the example of a footballer, combining these two centres.

RS said he feels empathy for the suffering of others. M said emotions can be controlled. RS related that at one time he took a job playing keyboard at a funeral, but found himself crying with the mourners.

A said people like to talk about the problems of others, but "you cannot feel the cut unless you have the same cut yourself." M asked, "What is it that is experiencing the emotion?"

D quoted Ouspensky on his deathbed: "There is no system." RM referred to Gurdjieff's advice to move to self-observation. D asked what is true for us when we are with someone dying. RM said "Be aware, be present".

(Read the chapter in full in the book itself - an electronic version is available from the link on the right.)