The Abbot and the Nun

Reflections on the Challenge

When you hear someone coughing or sneezing - or do so yourself - clear your throat and consider one centre (thinking, moving, or feeling) where balance could be improved. Take a moment to sense how this awareness resonates within you.

• Experiences

  T had experienced multiple instances of the challenge throughout the month, initially not recognising the trigger but becoming more aware as time passed. One moment stood out—while waiting for a train, she had heard someone coughing and remembered the challenge. Clearing her throat, she had noticed she was leaning against the wall, appearing relaxed but actually holding tension due to discomfort with the underground and anticipation of a busy meeting. Pushing off the wall, she had regained physical balance and realised her tension. Standing firmly on both feet had withdrawn her focus from external anxieties, bringing a sense of being upright, grounded, and genuinely relaxed—contrary to her initial assumption.

  L had engaged with the challenge on multiple occasions. After hearing a cough, he had cleared his throat and reflected on what was out of balance, realising he needed more sleep to improve all his senses rather than just one. Another time, upon hearing a sneeze, he had considered his new watch, which was heavier than necessary. Wanting the highest-performing model, he had chosen the heaviest one but recognised that a 100% solution was not always best. He had decided to exchange it for a lighter option.

• Responses

  L agreed with T’s idea that balance is not a fixed state but requires continuous adjustment. He likened it to steering a boat, where small course corrections keep it on track. The goal is not achieving a static equilibrium but staying attuned to imbalance and responding appropriately.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  Though this ‘hypnotism,’ or as they prefer to say this branch of their ‘science,’ arose and became official only recently, yet it had already had time to become for them another of the very serious factors which brought about a still greater ‘confusion’ of their psyche, already muddled enough without this in the majority of them, and which still further deranged the functioning of their planetary body.

• Discussion

  J said the phrase about confusion of the psyche encapsulated one of Beelzebub’s core concerns - trying to unravel the extraordinary confusion that clouds human thought.

• Passage

  he first of all asked the nun Ephrosinia to be sure to bring with her to the next confession the portrait of her sweetheart together with the frame.

  At the next confession the nun took with her this said portrait.

  There was nothing very special about it but the frame indeed was unusual, it being all encrusted with mother-of-pearl and various colored stones.

  While the abbot and the nun were together examining the portrait in the frame, the abbot suddenly noticed that something particular began to proceed with the nun.

• Discussion

  L said that the adornments on the picture had presumably had a hypnotic effect on Ephrosinia. T agreed, saying it might be the light in the crystals.

Food for Thought

Reflections on the Challenge

When you notice someone charismatic, consider how you are affected, and what may be their motivation. Move your big toes up and down.

• Experiences

  N had had a long conversation over the phone with an old friend. He noted the friend’s precise, well-spoken English, and his manner of emphasising words. They had known each other since childhood. N believed his friend’s charisma was innate, like a force of nature, which he remembered from school. After the call he reminisced about thsoe days, and also completed the physical exercise with the toes.

  L had encountered charismatic figures in real life and media and had gained the impression that charisma was often linked to ego, which could wear thin after a while. He felt art was served better without charisma, citing exaggerated gestures by conductors, chess players, and pianists as unhelpful. He believed charisma was neutral. It could influence positively, as with gurus fostering discipline, or negatively, as with agitators inciting mob violence. He had remembered to flex his toes afterward.

• Responses

  Responding to L, N said that some people with charisma could misuse it and it could take them to dangerous places. They sometimes developed an appetite for risk, and N described a friend of that nature.

  Responding to N, L said he also had had a similar charismatic friend, likewise with a distinctive manner of diction and a penchant for risk-taking.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  those definite crystallizations foreseen by Great Nature—which crystallizations are the most important part of the composition of the second-being-food, and which when assimilated by beings are transformed into substances for the coating and for the further perfecting of their higher-body-Kesdjan—ceased, owing to their abnormal being-existence, to be assimilated either consciously or automatically for the purpose indicated, then in consequence of this and also because the afflux of these substances, transformed in other concentrations and getting into the atmospheres of the planets, continued all the time to flow into the atmosphere of your planet, the result was that on this ill-fated planet, among your unfortunate favorites, there arose still another definite ‘disease’ which has already become quite definite in its harmful action upon them.

• Discussion

  T said that there was now a complete disconnect between those who work the land and the politicians in government. Farmland was being repurposed for solar power collection, and much of it was therefore being covered with black panels New inheritance tax was forcing smaller farmers to sell their land, which might no longer be used for producing food.

• Passage

  ... since they lost the possibility of existing according to the Fulasnitamnian principle, certain of the ingredients of the substances of the second-being-food continue to serve only for assisting the transformation of the first-being-food and for removing from the planetary body certain elements already used by them.

• Discussion

  L said that Gurdjieff’s controversial thesis was that because people were not thinking correctly, they developed an emotional imbalance, which then led to physical illness.

  N added that this imbalance was clearly affecting us, as we were failing to transform energies that come into this planet properly. He noted that we should be able to ingest these influences and become stronger, but instead, they negatively impacted us.

Remember to breathe

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  they soon understood and found the possibility of actualizing this by means of what is called ‘being-Hanbledzoïn,’ namely, that cosmic substance, the essence of which the three-brained beings of the contemporary civilization came close to understanding, and which they called ‘animal magnetism.’

• Discussion

  T said the term animal magnetism related to a form of charisma where the three centres and will-power were all connected up. L said it did not mean they were good people, but it did mean thay could manipulate people.

• Passage

  At the beginning, ... this second-being-food was normally transformed and all the fundamental elements proper to it, those which arise from the transformation of their own planet and those which flow into their atmosphere from the transformation in other concentrations of their solar system, were assimilated by their common presence according to the definite data already present in them, and the superfluity of certain of its component elements not used by individual beings automatically passed, as in us, into the possession of the surrounding meritorious beings similar to them.

• Discussion

  N thought that second-being-food probably referred to breathing.

Sensorium

Reflections on the Challenge

When you awake with a dream in mind, observe any insights or emotions that arise. Allow space for hidden wisdom to surface. Stretch your arms.

• Experiences

  L had dreamt of guiding a young American woman through London, describing a piano-shaped cinema, now demolished. She was indifferent, and if anything, annoyed. This led him to realise his role was not to seek shared enthusiasm but to create authentically. In another dream, he was discussing the ‘Four Principles’. He remembered Covey had seven and subsequently found multiple sets of principles in Mormon teachings.

  T had dreamt of a criminal man in power who executed those who knew his crimes. She described a horrific scene where he came across a line of people sitting, and shot one at point-blank range, his head collapsing as if swallowing the bullet. This evoked reflections on the line of defenceless people who sat knowing the truth but were powerless to act. She stretched out her arms and this action brought to mind the sculpture of the Angel of the North, symbolising full embrace and openness, contrasting the violence she witnessed in the dream. She also reflected on V, a rigid and emotionally closed individual, unable to progress in playing a musical instrument, due to a lack of humility. She noted that true mastery in any art demands continuous striving and vulnerability, traits that V had rejected in favour of avoiding this challenge and taking up control over others, in other areas of life.

  J had recalled the challenge on one occasion upon waking, and stretched his arms - but was then unable to remember his dream. This set him reflecting about forgetting dreams, which he likened to former incarnations. He reasoned that just as dreams can slip away despite effort, past existences might similarly fade from memory.

• Responses

  N noted the rise in political violence and unrest, emphasizing the dangers of anarchy and the pressures individuals face under systems of control. He reflected on how fear and violence have become increasingly visible in societal structures, leading to a climate of uncertainty and suppression.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  all the sacred data put in by Great Nature Herself for forming in them their real being-consciousness become isolated and remain during the entire period of their existence in their almost primitive state, ...

  Although such a ‘localization’ of accidentally perceived ‘impressions’ is found in them and although they are aware of its action, yet, in respect of any functioning inherent in their planetary body as well as in respect of the acquisition in their common presence of Objective-Reason, it plays no part.

  All these impressions, intentionally or accidentally perceived, from which the said localizations are formed ought to be in them only as material for confrontative logic for that real being-consciousness which they should have in themselves, ...

• Discussion

  N said the five senses were not enough to acquire objective reason. T said that objective reason wins, but were we not utterly subjective? N said that for most of the time, we were living in subjective reason. Gurdjieff, all the time, was stressing objectivity and objective reason. N said he thought we found it very hard to pronounce objective truths or objective beauty. We may see it once in a while, like when walking into a Gothic cathedral, when you will for a moment have an experience of objective beauty. T said that through creativity there might be some deep connection with something that was outside of us, and it gets through to us.

• Passage

  of at least adapting their famous education to the said subconsciousness of their offspring, but that they always and in everything intentionally assist every one of the rising generation to perceive impressions only from the abnormally artificial, then thanks only to this, when every one of them reaches the age of a responsible being all his being-judgments and all his deductions from them are always purely peculiarly-subjective in him and have no connection not only with the genuine being-impulses arising also in him, but also neither with those general cosmic lawful phenomena, to sense which by Reason is proper to every three-brained being ...

• Discussion

  J said we acquire many concepts externally, which may not originate from within ourselves, suggesting these are artificial constructs rather than genuine impulses.

  N thought the text contained a message that we did not grasp objective reason, and that Gurdjieff placed objective reason as a high-level goal for humanity.

Education, Education, Education.

Reflections on the Challenge

When you find yourself pecking at your phone, keyboard, or food, without attention, pause. Then resume the action more slowly and consciously, observing any change in the way you feel.

• Experiences

  L had become aware, one evening, that he had been pecking at his food over supper. When he chewed more slowly, he felt calmer. Generally, he had observed that slowing down brought a feeling of calmness. Recently, he had acquired a virtual reality headset and found that when he felt distracted or busy, putting it on and entering a peaceful natural environment had helped him appreciate the calmness real nature can provide.

• Responses

  T was intrigued by L’s mention of virtual reality as a tool for appreciating nature. She had initially viewed it as unnatural, but could now reconsider it, as if VR can help one appreciate nature more deeply, it might enhance the real-world experience of being in nature.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  And all cosmic truths usually become known to all on these planets, thanks to the fact that the beings of the given planet who by their conscious labors learn some truth or other share it with other beings of their planet, and in this way all the cosmic truths gradually become known by all the beings of the given planet without any distinction.

  Thanks to this sacred process, intentionally actualized by our ALL-FORESEEING COMMON ENDLESS FATHER, it is foreseen that in the three-brained beings of the given planet, during the process in their presences of the fundamental cosmic holy law of Triamazikamno, the superfluity of its third holy force thereby obtained, namely, the force of the ‘sacred reconciling,’ should by itself crystallize data in them for engendering that something which is what is called ‘being-Egoaitoorassian-will.’

• Discussion

  N compared the sharing of cosmic truths to sharing scientific advancements, though in the case of modern science complications had arisen, notably because of quantum mechanics, in the pursuit of a unified cosmic understanding.

  L supported the idea that over time, planets and life forms naturally progressed toward harmony and consciousness.

  T commented on the uniqueness of Earth’s development, reflecting the special condition mentioned in the extract. N thought likewise that the Earth’s conditions had been absolutely right for fostering human evolution.

• Passage

  And the second fact ... they intentionally try by every kind of means, for the purpose of making them respond to these abnormal conditions round them, to fix in their ‘logicnestarian-localizations’ as many impressions as possible obtained exclusively only from such artificial perceptions as are again due to the results of their abnormal existence—which maleficent action of theirs towards their offspring they call ‘education’ ... and the totality of these artificial perceptions is then perceived by them, owing to their naïvete, as their real ‘consciousness.’ But as for the sacred data for genuine being-consciousness put into them by Great Nature ... which engender in them the genuine sacred being-impulses of ‘faith,’ ‘hope,’ ‘love,’ and ‘conscience’—these data, becoming gradually also isolated and being left to themselves, evolve independently of the intentions of the responsible beings, and of course also independently of the bearers of them themselves, and come to be regarded as what is called the ‘subconsciousness.’

• Discussion

  N said Gurdjieff was trying to explain why humanity was in its current state of artificial consciousness. We were not allowed our any other because education put us in the wrong place, and we just then followed what our parents and teachers told us. Gurdjieff was suggesting that true responsibility and the more authentic aspects of human nature resided deep within the subconscious.

Mesmeric

Reflections on the Challenge

When you notice someone behaving intensely, try to identify something unique about them and add more intensity to whatever you are doing. Speak a few words inwardly to someone who has passed away, and consider any synchronicity which may recently have occurred.

• Experiences

  A few days before, L had met a disabled man whilst walking home, who asked for help carrying a guitar to a higher floor. On a previous occasion, this man, who was of intense character, had said he recognised L from hundreds of years before, though L had no recollection of this. L inwardly spoke to his late father. Later, on a walk to see the sunset, L noticed a banner reading “Sunset Club” and saw a group gathered there. A Google search revealed the club posed questions to prompt social interaction, including one about speaking to the dead. This synchronicity seemed allied to the challenge.

  

  N had been saddened by the recent death of French actor Alain Delon, whom N had admired for his intensity in acting and business success, despite a difficult childhood and challenges in his personal life. His ability to maintain a striking presence throughout his life stood out. N had planned to mention Delon at a talk, but an earlier speaker made exactly the point that N was planning to make, that people are their own brand. N felt the timing was extraordinarily synchronistic.

  T had noticed people gazing at their phones intently on the train, and she in turn looked out more intently out of the window at the beautiful sunset, which nobody else saw. She had become aware of the contrast between light and shadow, noting how the darks seemed darker, and the lights brighter. The sharpness of the shadows had left a visual memory, with distinct squares of shadow standing out in her recollection.

• Responses

  L found the synchronicity in N’s experience interesting, particularly the notion that thoughts might be floating around. L referenced the philosopher Gad Saad, who discusses a similar concept in his book The Parasitic Mind. According to Saad, beliefs can spread like diseases, existing independently of individuals.

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  ... thanks to the fact that at this period most of the learned beings there had already become learned beings of new formation they sat upon this new revival so firmly that before the poor thing had time to develop, it soon found its way into their common what is called ‘rubbish heap.’ ...

  This particularity of the learned beings of the Earth of new formation is called 'pecking to death'.

• Discussion

  N said that sometimes new ideas got "pecked to death", but more often new things never come about because people got too much invested in the past.

• Passage

  of new formation had in general become mechanized to do, he was, according to the custom there, very meticulously ‘pecked to death.’

  For instance, all the books now existing there on the question of this hypnotism—and of such books there are thousands there—always begin by saying that this Mesmer was nothing more nor less than a rogue with an itching palm and a charlatan of the first water, but that our ‘honest’ and ‘great’ learned beings very soon saw through him and prevented his doing any kind of mischief.

  The more the learned beings of recent times of this peculiar planet are themselves personally, in the sense of ‘idiotism,’ ‘squared,’ the more they criticize Mesmer and say or write concerning him every possible kind of absurdity to bring him into contempt...

• Discussion

  T drew a parallel to how Elon Musk was facing similar public scrutiny, noting that some individuals today were being “pecked to death” in various ways for expressing ideas that governments might not be sympathetic to.

• Passage

  As this Frenchman also made practical experiments, not in the usual fashion there, for the elucidation of the details of his discovery, other contemporary learned beings thereupon also manifested toward him that same particularity of theirs—‘to peck him to death.’

  This terrible disease is called there ‘cancer.’

  ...there will never proceed in the presences of the three-brained beings of this ill-fated planet Earth of yours what is called the sacred ‘Antkooano,’...

  that process of perfecting the Objective-Reason ...

  As a rule, everywhere on those planets of our Great Universe upon which three-brained beings breed, the perfecting of Objective-Reason can proceed in them only from personal conscious labors and intentional sufferings.

• Discussion

  T suggested that cancer could be a metaphor for obstruction and internal decay within systems that resist innovation. N said similarly it brought to mind systems which forght themselves, and L gave the example of ever higher taxation to prevent change to a status quo, which then became more expensive.

Art and Reverie

Reflections on the Challenge

Each time you encounter a person or object whose nature and title do not match, reflect on how it makes you feel. Use an air quotes gesture ✌️ and verbalise the disparity. Look around you, and consider any shadows cast as symbols of true depiction.

• Experiences

  T had come across a link to the top ten art colleges in the UK, but none of them included life drawing, or any reference to the art and science of drawing and painting. It was so shocking, she did the air quotes gesture and then considered what she had just read, and the true depiction of shadow.

  

  From Course Overview 2024-25 Central Saint Martins
  BA (Hons) Fine Art

  N had seen someone recently in the street, but could not remember who it was. It was only later that he remembered it was a former collegue, who had aged. A week or so later, N had got a message that the person had died. He went to the funeral, and got talking to someone there. It had been a brain tumour.

  L had gone to a pub called the Elephant Inn to meet some old friends. The pub had formerly been called the Moss Hall Tavern, which related to local history, and there was no reason, as far as he knew, for the name change, and he felt sad about that. He forgot to verbalise. He looked at shadows and noticed that the edges of the shadows were not well defined, and liable to shift.

• Responses

  Responding to N, L said that his meeting with friends, planned months before, had been reduced in number. One had been diagnosed with a brain tumour and was already in palliative care. Since the gathering, this old friend had passed away and L had attended the funeral two days before. L recounted that the day before the funeral, a musician had sent a message containing a rendition of the second movement of Shostakovich's second piano concerto. It was a synchronicity that this same piece was the entrance music at the service. (Later in the meeting, while this was being discussed, there was the clatter of hooves outside which presages a cortege.)

Beelzebub’s Tales, Chapter 32

• Passage

  the psyche of these three-brained beings who have taken your fancy and who breed on the planet Earth has finally become such a unique phenomenon.

  “This psychic particularity, namely, of falling into a ‘hypnotic state,’ is, as I have already said, inherent to the three-brained beings only of this planet of yours, and one can therefore say that if they did not exist, then in all our Great Universe there would not exist in general even a being-notion of ‘hypnotism.’

• Discussion

  T wondered if this meant that uniquely on our planet, we were all in a hypnotic state continually, whereas all other planets were conscious.