Gurdjieff
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I have been interested in the work of G I Gurdjieff for a few years now. I first came across the name when reading the biography of Robert Fripp written by Eric Tamm (available for free download here – well worth reading). I then discovered that Keith Jarrett was also heavily influenced by Gurjieff’s work. Jarrett has recorded an album of the music of Gurdjieff. In search of more information, I read ‘Views from the Real World’ and also “Talks with a Devil” by P D Ouspenky
The core message of Gurdjieff’s work – that we are all sleepwalking through life, and that we need to come into the moment and be totally alert to all that is going on around us – resonated with me. It had strong links to the buddhist notion of being in the moment.
I bought Ouspensky’s “In Search of the Miraculous” – a book which many describe as the best account of Gurdjieff’s work by one of his pupils. It has sat on my bookshelf now for 3 years, waiting for the right moment. And that moment has just arrived – I am now beginning to read it. The time feels right – summer solstice 2005.
Other books being read:
Getting Things Done – David Allen
Full Catastrophe Living – John Kabat Zinn
Plus a stack of articles about the work of Gurdjieff by Jacob Needleman, J G Bennett (a big influence on Robert Fripp), George Baker and Walter Driscoll.
Also published on Medium.