The three lines of work

The meeting began with the decision to focus on The Fourth Way, a compilation of Ouspensky's writings and teachings published after his death. RM had been studying Chapter 11, on the three lines of work.

In this chapter, Ouspensky uses an analogy from music to depict the the tendency of activities to divert from their originally intended direction.

"If we take school-work as an ascending octave, we know that in each octave there are two intervals or gaps, between mi and fa and between si and do. In order to pass through these gaps without changing the character or the line of the work it is necessary to know how to fill them. So if I want to guarantee the direction of the work in a straight line, I must work on three lines simultaneously. If I work only on one line, or on two lines, the direction will change. If I work on three lines, or three octaves, one line will help another to pass the interval by giving the necessary shock."

(Read more on this from the book itself. An electronic version of this book is available from the link on the right.)

RM reading from this chapter, with intervals for discussion.

"R" described her interpretation of the '3 lines of work':

• First line: I am working for myself.
  
  
• Second line: I am working for my companions.
  
  
• Third line: I am working for the benefit of the evolution of our planet."

"R" prefered to avoid using the technical terms. The first line of work is not just looking at the theory but doing something with the theory. You can work on yourself by yourself.

M added that "the first line, is self observation to review your thoughts, to observe the obstacles to doing something, to observe what is conscious will power, what is right will and what is self will."

Self observation and increasing will to bring about change in a person were discussed.

"R" said that the three lines of work can be described "as a chain of transmission". By doing the "work" questions arise and Gurdjieff stated, from his position of inhabiting a plane of higher consciousness "I [higher consciousness] will help you". The study of theory and the act of practice are both in the first line of work. Through studying the theory and putting it into practice one gains new understanding, through this synthesis. Developing new understanding through practising the implementation of the will and observing any changes to habitual behaviour and gaining insights is the aim of the work.

D asked about "regrets" which he is still painfully experiencing 7 years after his brother's death. What can be done now that death has taken away the potential for actual meetings to resolve issues?

RM replied "What we have is the now, in which before and after are present."

"R" suggested "Pray for your brother. Prayer changes the moment into an offering of the 'you, now-in-the-continuum' to your brother.

T said "You took for granted that you would see your brother again and the shock is that the opposite is true, you are living with the shock that you cannot see your brother again. This is a truth every day for anyone we meet and we cannot take it for granted that the person will be alive in a 'next time'. This is a gift of a truth, a conscious shock, to help to guide how to live now in the world of relationships."