An Introduction to George Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky and the Fourth Way
I speak often about the philosophical and even psychological approach as these have been used as much against humanity as they have for their benefit.
The majority of my philosophical approach to systemically sustainable human growth and development generally focuses on everything from the ancient Greeks forward. That being said, I have a great personal interest in many of the ancient tales of Sumerian, Hindi, Egyptian, and other historical scrolls and texts that exist. I have recently been introduced by a friend to the “Esoteric” works of the Fourth Way, and the writings of George Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky, and to be quite honest, they merit some careful consideration.
I speak often about the philosophical and even psychological approach as these have been used as much against humanity as they have for their benefit. The work of Edward Bernays, and the use of meta data by the US government as evidenced and documented by the works of Dr. Alfred W. McCoy provide ample evidence of social engineering as opposed to teaching critical thinking, and encouraging individual liberty through education, enlightenment, and empowerment of the individual, the family unit, and the local community as we stress in our efforts.
The Fourth Way, introduced by George Gurdjieff and later elaborated upon by his student P.D. Ouspensky, is a system of spiritual development unique in its integration of the traditional paths of the fakir, monk, and yogi, which respectively cultivate the body, emotions, and the mind.
Unlike these traditional paths, the Fourth Way does not require physical withdrawal from everyday life but instead encourages development within the fabric of ordinary experiences.
Known as "the way of the sly man", the Fourth Way provides a path that allows for spiritual growth without renouncing the duties or responsibilities of the individual, and ideally of the family unit and local community. Rather than isolating body, mind, or emotions, it promotes their balanced cultivation, allowing individuals to work toward a more unified and conscious self within the scope of regular existence despite the inherent flaws of the sociopolitical systems at play.
One of the key tenets of the Fourth Way is "self-remembering".
Gurdjieff emphasized this practice as an essential tool for self-realization, encouraging individuals to be aware of themselves in each moment, thus developing a more intentional mode of consciousness. This self-remembering is coupled with the practice of "self-observation", which Gurdjieff identified as the study of the automatic and conditioned responses of the individual.
Through self-observation, practitioners become aware of the “sleeping state” or "mechanical" nature of human existence, which, according to Gurdjieff, reflects a fundamental lack of conscious awareness in most people. He suggested that without deliberate self-remembering, individuals operate almost entirely on autopilot, driven by mechanical behaviors, reactive emotions, and automatic thoughts, which collectively obscure the potential for an authentic, awakened consciousness.
Gurdjieff referred to the practices and internal processes involved in the Fourth Way as "the work", underscoring the disciplined, effortful nature of this spiritual path. The work is the process by which followers strive to overcome their mechanical tendencies and establish greater unity among the centers of the body, emotions, and mind.
Gurdjieff identified four main centers that govern human functioning: the intellectual, emotional, physical, and moving centers. In most people, these centers function independently, often chaotically, rather than in harmony, resulting in disconnection and fragmentation of the self.
Through the work, practitioners aim to harmonize these centers, achieving an integrated consciousness and enabling what Gurdjieff called “higher centers” or the higher intellectual and higher emotional centers, to become accessible. These higher centers are sources of intuitive knowledge and deeper understanding, accessed only when the ordinary centers are sufficiently aligned and conscious.
The Fourth Way also places emphasis on understanding and transcending the "ego" or "false personality", which Gurdjieff described as the constructed aspects of oneself shaped by social conditioning and personal identification with various roles, beliefs, and self-images.
In overcoming identification with the ego, practitioners begin to experience what Gurdjieff called "essence", or the innate, unconditioned self. According to Gurdjieff, essence is the true core of an individual, representing natural traits and capacities that are untainted by societal influences. The Fourth Way teaches that only by moving from ego-driven behavior to essence-centered being can one reach authentic spiritual development.
To sustain this transformation, Gurdjieff emphasized group work and community interaction, believing that the presence of others engaged in the same pursuit helps individuals to see aspects of themselves that are otherwise obscured. Within these groups, exercises are practiced that help cultivate self-observation, non-identification with emotions, and an objective awareness of habitual patterns.
In particular, group exercises often reveal the nature of what Gurdjieff referred to as "buffers" or mental constructs developed to prevent uncomfortable realizations about oneself, which maintain the state of inner sleep. The work within groups allows practitioners to confront and dissolve these buffers, progressively unveiling more of their authentic consciousness.
Another key aspect of the Fourth Way is the use of specific exercises, including movements known as "Gurdjieff movements". These are structured dance-like exercises that require focused attention and coordination, designed to engage the body, emotions, and mind simultaneously.
These movements serve as an experiential form of self-remembering, demanding that participants remain fully present, thereby strengthening inner attention and the alignment of centers of the individual. Practiced regularly, these exercises become a physical embodiment of the work, reinforcing the principles of balance, harmony, and awareness.
The Fourth Way with its systematic approach to self-awareness and development ultimately aims to awaken what Gurdjieff referred to as "objective consciousness" or a state in which one perceives reality without distortion by personal biases, projections, or identifications. This state, while challenging to reach, is considered a culmination of Fourth Way practices and represents a significant shift from the ordinary state of consciousness.
In the context of systemically sustainable human growth and development, the Fourth Way with its principles and methods offer a framework for cultivating greater awareness, intentionality, and interconnection, which are essential for holistic development.
By encouraging individuals to transcend mechanical behavior, the Fourth Way fosters self-reflection and conscious engagement, which align with the aims of sustainable human growth. The Fourth Way, with an emphasis on integrated self-development supports a systemically sustainable approach to life, promoting harmony within the individual that can extend to the family unit and the local community, and even through environmental interactions.
Through its focus on conscious responsibility, ethical awareness, and a balanced life, the Fourth Way provides tools for fostering a deeper, more purposeful relationship with the world, facilitating systemically sustainable human growth and development that aligns personal development with broader familial, communal, societal, and environmental goals.