Gurdjieff Study Group Of Los Angeles

The Fourth Way

The Enneagram

“I ask you to believe nothing that you cannot verify for yourself”

-G. I. Gurdjieff

Conscience calls me to be myself

To be myself begins with self-knowing

Self-knowledge begins with self-study

Self-study needs help from and with others

Self-study needs guidance from those who know

Gurdjieff brought an ancient knowledge to a select few

Who passed the knowledge down through oral teaching and direct practice

contact us and we can talk further

THE CALL

At one point or another in our lives, often in our adolescence, sometimes before and sometimes after, we come to question our very reason for existence.  Who am I? Why am I here?  What is the purpose of existence? If we are sincere with ourselves we can come to feel very deeply that most, perhaps all of what animates and gives meaning to our daily life is hollow, untrue, and shallow.

We are struck with the need to find firm ground in which to live.  There are a limited set of possibilities we can engage in such as: finding new exciting ventures which paper over our feelings; numbing the feeling with addictive substances; or turning towards a spiritual search.  For many the outcome of our new adventure does not satisfy, and the gnawing questions return again.

The response lies in a real spiritual search, but even there, it can be hard to find, as it is regularly covered up with ritual, politics, and surface activity.  In all traditions individuals have repeatedly penetrated through the morass and rediscovered and renewed a true spiritual search. 

George Ivanovitch (G. I.) Gurdjieff is an individual who understood the situation.  He brought forth a unique collection of ancient knowledge to open up a new possibility for our development. Gurdjieff asks us to keep our questions central in our life.  In the Gurdjieff work, also known as the fourth way, the questions become a response in themselves.

The Gurdjieff work is unique among most spiritual traditions.  There is no requirement for a permanent commitment, nor is there is a requirement for blind belief.  One is simply invited to begin a process of self exploration and self study.  The ultimate aim is to take one’s rightful place in the whole universe, from moment to moment.

The work asks three things of anyone wishing to begin.  If one can, to: (1) temporarily suspend all of one’s convictions, (2) engage actively in a search for real self knowledge,  (3) share one’s discoveries in an exchange with those who have gone down the same path before.

For more information about the Gurdjieff work or the ideas of the fourth way, please contact us.

THE GURDJIEFF STUDY GROUP OF LOS ANGELES

Mr. Gurdjieff passed his work to a select group of senior pupils before his passing in 1949.  Jeanne De Salzmann emerged as the leader of the work after the death of Gurdjieff and strove tirelessly to guide and extend the work. There are now well established centers studying the ideas of the fourth way in dozens of countries around the world.

Other close and more well known pupils of Gurdjieff include P. D. Ouspensky,  A. R. Orage, Maurice Nicoll, Willem Nyland, John G. Bennett and Lord John Pentland.  In particular Lord John Pentland was left in charge of guiding the Gurdjieff centers in North America.  In the mid 1950’s a small group of individuals from Los Angeles contacted Lord Pentland, about the possibility of a Gurdjieff center in Los Angeles.  Subsequently a center was established in Los Angeles in 1959.

The Gurdjieff study group of Los Angeles is directly tied to the center established by Lord Pentland and is led by individuals who studied with Lord Pentland, Jeanne De Salzmann and other pupils of Gurdjieff.  The study group maintains close connections with other major centers of the Gurdjieff work in North America, Europe, and elsewhere.  The knowledge and understanding possessed by the group has been passed down in a direct lineage from Mr. Gurdjieff. 

If you are interested in learning more about the lineage and origins of the Los Angeles Gurdjieff study group contact us.

WHAT DO WE DO

When you first contact us we will set up a meeting with you in a public place, such as a coffee shop.  We will try to answer your questions and understand your wishes.  There is no commitment, and, at the same time, there is an opportunity to see if this is truly for you.  After a few meetings, if you remain sincerely interested, and when circumstances are favorable, you will be invited to participate in group meetings. 

Later on again, if you remain interested and the circumstances are favorable, you will be invited to participate in a variety of group activities including Gurdjieff Movements or sacred dances and special meetings exploring the ideas brought by Gurdjieff and recorded by Ouspensky in his book “In Search of the Miraculous”.

The study of the ideas includes an exploration of certain symbols handed down since the beginning of time. These traditional symbols are found in and stories include folktales, music, painting, architecture and other “creative” projects.  This unique exploration touches us more deeply than simple intellectual study of the ideas.

You will also be invited, to participate with a group in craft activities. These activities are a very practical means of exploring the fundamental questions of existence, and learning to put the ideas brought by Gurdjieff into practice.  Currently our craft activities include, home repair and construction, wood working, pottery, cooking, silk screening, gardening, weaving, sewing, and book binding.

For more information about what we do, contact us to set up a meeting.

G. I. Gurdjieff

Gurdjieff Study Group of Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange Counties and surrounding areas.