Questioning

Spiritual Pilgrimage Wins Gold at 2016 WorldFest

http://www.gurdjiefflegacy.org/worldfesthouston2016.htm

 

Spiritual Pilgrimage Mr. Gurdjieff's Father's Grave

By William Patrick Patterson
DVD, color, 1 hour 7 minutes

Owing to the circumstances of my life not dependent on me, I have not personally seen the grave where the body of my dear father lies. . . . I therefore, bid any of my sons, whether by blood or in spirit, to seek out, when he has the possibility, this solitary grave.

     —G. I. Gurdjieff
         Meetings with Remarkable Men

William Patrick Patterson undertook a 21-day pilgrimage to visit Mr. Gurdjieff's father's grave in Gyumri, Armenia. Travelling backward in time, he revisited Gurdjieff's life:

• Gurdjieff's grave and the Prieuré in Avon, France
• Kumbaraci and Yemenici streets in Istanbul, where Gurdjieff and his students lived
• Prinkipo Island on the Sea of Marmara, where Gurdjieff often visited P. D. Uspenskii
• Tiflis, where Gurdjieff opened his Institute at 22 Nikolas Street and first named it the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man
• Kars, Gurdjieff's home in the medieval quarter and the Kars Military Cathedral where he sang in the choir
• Ani, the ancient city where the Sarmoung manuscript was discovered
• Sanahin Monastery, Armenia, where Gurdjieff served as an acolyte
• Gyumri, Armenia, where Gurdjieff was born in the Greek Quarter at 222 Matnishyan Street
• Gyumri's Old Cemetery and Mr. Gurdjieff's father's grave

To purchase, visit:
http://www.gurdjiefflegacy.org/30books/fourth.php#spiritualpilgrimage

Book Review: Georgi Ivanovitch Gurdjieff — The Man, The Teaching, His Mission

Link to Parabola Magazine Review.

When I was young and very dissatisfied with the world, and with myself, I was drawn to G.I. Gurdjieff’s  All & Everything, or Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson. The book was not like anything I had read before, in content, style or language. It was in a way, peculiar. And in some sections nearly incomprehensible. But it deeply struck something in me. There was presented a vast perspective of the universe that shook my preconceptions of history and humankind. Although it  presented an unflattering picture of us humans and starkly pointed out our shortcomings, it was also playful, often hilarious, and very moving. An attitude of impartial love comes through. This began my interest in Gurdjieff’s teaching.

 As I read more and became involved in the teaching I was surprised to find so many people that said they could not get through the book. “It was too hard.” “Too strange.” Too...whatever.  To me it is endlessly fascinating, invigorating, and is infused with humor and a palpable feeling of care and love.

For many years I was a voracious reader and gobbled up any and all books by and about Gurdjieff and his teaching. Many were valuable and excellent in many ways. But none struck nearly as deeply as did All & Everything.

 I was excited when I learned that William Patrick Patterson was releasing Georgi Ivanovitch Gurdjieff: The Man, The Teaching, His Mission because I knew Mr. Patterson has long practise of the teaching and had done extensive research into unpublished accounts and memoirs about Gurdjieff and would likely add both new material and incorporate the various reportings of Gurdjieff and his teaching in new, intriguing, and enlightening ways.

The new book greatly exceeds what I had hoped. My experience in reading this book comes close, though in a different way, to that original experience of reading All & Everything. It is also seemingly much more straightforward than All & Everything but much depth is there to be plumbed for those who wish to dive deeper. Mr. Patterson’s book gives a chronological reporting of Gurdjieff’s life but more importantly it connects seemingly disparate events and experiences into a whole that greatly exceeds the parts. There is information here, yes. But for me, it is an emotional experience to read this book. The teachings of Gurdjieff, presented through the experiences of those who were drawn toward his ideas, and through the inevitable life difficulties, trials, and tribulations we all face, shines with a caring and a love for all humanity.

 

I highly recommend Georgi Ivanovitch Gurdjieff: The Man, The Teaching, His Mission to those interested in a spiritual teaching that faces the stark reality of our situation in such a comprehensive and caring way.

This is a book for grown-ups. Those open to the truth and willing to work for what matters. Who will take the challenge?

Related articles

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NEW BOOK by William Patrick Patterson

The Controversial Yet Insightful Work of Georgi Ivanovitch Gurdjieff

What Secrets Are in the Body?

Some time ago I had the opportunity to attend a four day workshop exploring the F.M. Alexander Technique, which is an approach to understanding the body from the inside by learning to consciously experience movement.

During one of the sessions I was being ‘experientially instructed’ on how to stand up  from sitting in a chair and how to sit down. It’s amazing how much goes into such a “simple” movement. At one point a rush of energy went through my body. There was a feeling that something had been released. The energy was so strong that I passed out for the first time in my life. The instructors were concerned, but I felt great. Something was different.

Soon after I went to a wedding in which I had a supporting role. I had always been very nervous in such situations. But something had changed, I could now be (somewhat) present in my body, there was no nervousness, I was able to play the role, and be aware of much more of the event.

The body is a mysterious creation. The Gurdjieff Work is the only spiritual practise that I know of that gives awareness of and through the body a major significance.

An extremely good blog about the Alexander technique can be found here.