Working with Arrows: a Linguistic Guide to Active Mentation

Substantially revised on: 2003.60.26 2003

Buddhism is the first religion which brought this message to the world& that your religions, your philosophies, are more grounded in your linguistic patterns than in anything else. And if you can understand your language better, you will be able to understand your inner processes better. He [Buddha] was the first linguist, lingui and his insight is tremendously meaningful. (Osho, The iscipline of Transcendence, !ol. ", #"$%

Introduction

In the beginning of "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson " Gurd!ieff says that anyone "ho "ishes to be a #ons#ious thin$er has to $no" that a %an is #a)able of t"o ty)es of %entation: "%entation by thought" and "%entation by for%&" 'urther he says that the e(a#t %eaning of all "riting has to be gras)ed by both ty)es of %entation& *inguists today are a"are of this se#ond ty)e of %entation and asso#iates it "ith general )atterns of )er#e)tion shared by all hu%an beings and also by ani%als to a #ertain e(tent& *inguists #all the% "se%anti# stru#tures" even though this na%ing is narro" and %isleading& + se%anti# stru#ture is not only se%anti# but also indi#ative of the geo%etri#al #onfiguration of our "orld )er#e)tion "here "for%s" ,nouns- #an e(ist only in their relationshi) "ith a #ertain ty)e of a#tion ,verb-: I ..,Tou#h-../ 0ou 0ou ..,1at#h-../ 2e 3ouns su#h as "I" and "0ou" are labels that #an be re)la#ed by the %ental )i#tures of "I" and "0ou"& 4erbs su#h as "tou#h" and ""at#h" )oint to our sensation.based sensation based %e%ory of #orres)onding a#tions& Thus "e #an say that "%entation by for%" is essentially a nonverbal tas$ even though it #an be assisted assisted by the use of "ords as labels and )ointers& 1hen "e %a$e a state%ent about a definite )er#e)tion the follo"ing )ro#ess ta$es )la#e: 5b!e#tive reality .,6-./ / 7er#eived reality .,2-./ 4erbally.for%ulated for%ulated reality 1hen so%eone else tries to understand the the state%ent the )ro#ess is reversed: the listener infers the geo%etri#al stru#ture of the s)ea$er's )er#e)tion by analyzing the state%ent&

1ith this a#$no"ledg%ent of "%entation by for% " a ne" bran#h of linguisti#s "as born that is no %ore a boring study y of gra%%ati#al rules& In this ne" bran#h of linguisti#s linguists study the la"s that govern the stru#ture of our )er#e)tion along "ith the gra%%ati#al rules a))li#able to the #onversion of that stru#ture into a senten#e stru#ture ,+rro" 2 above-& These e studies also reveal the #o%%on li%itations and errors of our %ind that restri#t the 8uality of the t"o reality.#onversion #onversion )ro#esses ,+rro"s 6 and 2 above-& In fa#t the #onventional "ay of using an arro" as sho"n belo" for des#ribing a )er#e)tion in#ludes in#lude a serious error that linguists today are a"are of: I ../ / the observed )heno%enon Sin#e 5us)ens$y #hose this "ay of using an arro" "hen he des#ribed the "division of attention" as the #hara#teristi# feature of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering I "ill dis#uss about it in i the se#ond half of this essay after sho"ing you a different "ay of using arro"s for des#ribing )er#e)tions ado)ted by linguists today& +bout 69 years ago I "as )rofessionally involved in a#tivities in this field daily #ondu#ting the )aid e(er#ise of #onverting onverting senten#es ,%entation by thought- into stru#tures of )er#e)tion ,%entation by for%- and vi#e versa& This e(er#ise substantially #hanged the "ay I thin$ read "rite listen and s)ea$: hel)ed in %y #areer as a translator and "riter: and %ore re#ently re#ent sha)ed %y uni8ue "ay of using language in #ondu#ting a !oint e()loration of our true nature in a grou) for%at& This essay )rovides you "ith %ini%u% infor%ation re8uired for #ondu#ting a si%ilar e(er#ise&

Linguistics and "Mentation by Form"

According g to this information, it was customary in long0past long past centuries on 1arth for e'ery man bold enough to aspire to the right to be considered by others and to consider himself a (conscious thin)er( to be instructed, while still in the early years of his responsible sible e*istence, that man has two )inds of mentation one )ind, mentation by thought, e*pressed by words always possessing a relati'e meaning, and another )ind, proper to all animals as well as to man, which + would call (mentation by form.( (,urd-ieff, Beel.ebubs l.ebubs Tales to His ,randson , p. "/%
The linguisti# study of "%entation by for%" and its relationshi) "ith "%entation by thought" started about 20 years after Gurd!ieffs death& T"o linguists are $no"n to have built the foundation of these studies: 3oa% ;ho%s$y and ;harles 'ill%ore& ;ho%s$y studied the relationshi) bet"een language and %ind "hile 'ill%ore established the "#ase gra%%ar" theory& The #ase gra%%ar theory enabled linguists to deter%ine the geo%etri#al stru#ture of #orres)onding )er#e)tion by analyzing a senten#e in ter%s of verb.noun verb noun relationshi)s& "2entation by for%" is the )ro#ess of )er#e)tion that )re#edes verbal for%ulation& "2entation by for%" #an be assisted effe#tively or ineffe#tively by the use of "ords as labels )ointers and holders ers of attention& 3evertheless "%entation by for%" #an be #ondu#ted "ithout relying on or

being #onstrained by gra%%ati#al rules& It is essentially a nonverbal tas$ that de)ends %ore on our s)atial a"areness %ove%ent a"areness relationshi) a"areness and an self.a"areness than on our linguisti# )rofi#ien#y& "2entation by thought " on the other hand #orres)onds to %ental )ro#esses that involve language "hi#h has %u#h less #a)ability for re)resenting our )otentially %ulti.di%ensional %ulti )er#e)tion of reality& The 8uality of "%entation by thought" de)ends on its #onne#tion "ith "%entation by for%&" 1ithout this #onne#tion thin$ing degenerates into "asso#iations&" In the last fe" de#ades studies in this field "ere a#tively #ondu#ted by develo)ers of 3atural *anguage anguage 7ro#essing ,3*7- and %a#hine translation %ethodologies& They have found that our languages are too sub!e#tive and idiosyn#rati# to be handled effe#tively as they are by a #o%)uter and therefore loo$ed for a "ay to #onvert our natural language into a %ore universal for%at& 'ro% 6<== to 6<=< I "as involved in a#tivities in this field as a )rofessional linguist su))orting the develo)%ent of a >a)anese.?nglish >a)anese ?nglish translation syste% at a %a!or #o%)uter %anufa#turer in >a)an& In the field of %a#hine translation lation the )hrase.to.)hrase )hrase )hrase #onversion %ethod )roved to be su##essful only bet"een languages that have identi#al gra%%ati#al stru#tures& To effe#tively translate >a)anese into ?nglish it "as found to be ne#essary to rely on "%entation by for%" as had been n )redi#ted by Gurd!ieff:

The second )ind of mentation, that is, (mentation by form( through which, by the way, the e*act meaning of all writing should be percei'ed and then assimilated . . . (ibid, p. "/%
The %a#hine translation syste% develo)ed by %y for%er #olleagues #onverts a >a)anese senten#e into a se%anti# stru#ture ,geo%etri#al %odel of the #orres)onding )er#e)tion- and then generates an ?nglish senten#e out of it& In these )ro#esses "ords disa))ear into a for% of )er#e)tion and then rea))ear fro% that for% of )er#e)tion& This %ethod of translation though handi#a))ed by the li%ited ability of language in fully re)resenting the geo%etri#al stru#ture of our )er#e)tion "as theoreti#ally )roved to be 8uite effe#tive& Thus the toughest ghest )roble% in translation "as found to be the %is%at#h of #on#e)ts #onveyed by "ords in different languages rather than the differen#e of gra%%ati#al stru#tures bet"een different languages& 'or e(a%)le the %a#hine translation bet"een ?nglish and 'ren#h has rea#hed a level of refine%ent satisfa#tory for )ra#ti#al use "hile the %a#hine translation bet"een ?nglish and >a)anese is still of very )oor 8uality& The %ain reason for this handi#a) is not the differen#e of gra%%ati#al stru#tures but the %is%at#h of o the %eanings and #on#e)ts atta#hed to "ords in the t"o different language syste%s& This )roble% is less li$ely to ha))en bet"een t"o languages that share %any "ords "ith #o%%on roots&

The second )ind of mentation, that is, (mentation by form( through which, w by the way, the e*act meaning of all writing should be percei'ed and then assimilated after conscious confrontation with information pre'iously ac2uired is determined in people by the conditions of geographical locality, climate, time, and in general the whole

en'ironment in which they ha'e arisen and in which their e*istence has flowed up to adulthood. Thus, in the brains of people of different races li'ing in different geographical localities under different conditions, there arise in regard to one and the same thing or idea 2uite different independent forms, which during the flow of associations e'o)e in their being a definite sensation gi'ing rise to a definite picturing, and this picturing is e*pressed by some word or other that ser'es only for its its outer sub-ecti'e e*pression. That is why each word for the same thing or idea almost always ac2uires for people of different geographical localities and races a 2uite specific and entirely different so to say (inner content.( (ibid, pp. "/0"3%
1hen there re is no )ressing need for #o%%uni#ation as "e fa#e reality "ith #lear a"areness "%entation by for%" de)ends less on language& 4erbal for%ulations #an follo" but "ill not )re#ede "%entation by for%&" In this sense @en %asters' insisten#e on "thin$ing "ithout "it "ords" is not entirely absurd& Si%ilarly "hen Gurd!ieff uses the "ord "thin$ing" it %ay not ne#essarily %ean a verbal a#tivity& 7arti#ularly in the #onte(t of so%e inner e(er#ises asso#iated "ith Gurd!ieff li$e the one #ou)led "ith his last 2ove%ent 2ove%ent it is hardly )ossible to #onne#t the "ord "thin$ing" "ith an a#tivity that involves verbal for%ulation& 3evertheless if "e as)ire to be a "#ons#ious thin$er " "e %ust %aintain a strea% of "%entation by for%" "hile "e are involved "ith "ords "hile thin$ing thin$ing reading s)ea$ing and "riting& 2ore s)e#ifi#ally it is a de%and to %aintain the s)atial a"areness of the #on#e)tual universe "e are )aying attention to along "ith the a"areness of our #urrent fo#us and the )la#e of sub!e#tivity&

Movements and Ob Objects: jects: Basic Constituents of !ea"ity

erceived

2any %ysti#s fro% Hera#leitus to 5sho sa" %ove%ent as the essen#e of reality& Gurd!ieff also #onfir%s this vie" "ith his e%)hasize on the 2ove%ents and his dyna%i# vision of the universe as e()ounded in the Beelzebubs Tales& The follo"ing "ords #o%e fro% 5sho:

4ou see a ri'er. oes a ri'er really e*ist, or is it -ust a mo'ement5 +f you ta)e the mo'ement out, will there be a ri'er5 Once the mo'ement is ta)en out the ri'er will disappear. +t is not that the ri'er ri'er is mo'ing8 the ri'er is nothing but ri'ering . . . 6ife means li'ing. 6ife is not a noun, it is a 'erb. And e'erything is a 'erb. 7atch and you will be able to see& e'erything is becoming, nothing is static. (Osho, The iscipline of Transcendence, !ol. !ol ", #"$%
5ur ordinary %ind ho"ever la#$s #a)a#ity to fo#us on %ore than one %ove%ents at one ti%e& *inguisti#ally this li%itation is %anifested by the fa#t that only a single verb fun#tions as a hub of the "hole senten#e or of its ea#h inde)endent logi#al logi#al unit& This verb is #alled the %ain verb&

If the senten#e has t"o or %ore verbs they usually for% a hierar#hy "here the %ain verb is at the to) or the verbs are !u(ta)osed in a si%)listi# "ay in "hi#h they #an been seen as for%ing a unit or the senten#e en#e is divided into inde)endent logi#al units individually )resenting a se)arate )er#e)tion& 5ur language is li%ited in its ability to )resent the %anners of dyna%i# relationshi)s a%ong different verbs& + state%ent of a si%)le )er#e)tion usually #onsists of a single verb and %ulti)le nouns that are #onne#ted to the verb: I love you& I A.. *ove ../ 0ou In all ty)es of state%ents in#luding this one the %ain verb in the senten#e is li$e a hub that holds different ty)es of relationshi)s "ith nouns "ithin the the senten#e& 3ouns are the ob!e#ts or #on#e)ts that are tentatively assu%ed to be stati#& In the %ind of the )er#eiver they are usually asso#iated "ith a stati# i%age or "for%&" ?ven "ith the given li%itation of our )er#e)tion a si%)le analysis of gra%%ati#al gra%%ati#al stru#tures is enough to reveal that %ove%ents ,verbs- are at the #ore of our "orld )er#e)tion& In the above e(a%)le "love" is at the #enter of the stru#ture of )er#e)tion "hi#h loo$s %ore i%)ortant than "I" and "you& " In s)ite of this "e usually give less attention to %ove%entsBverbs than to ob!e#tsBnouns& This is understandable be#ause %ove%ents are less gras)able than ob!e#ts that #an be held as %ental i%ages& Sin#e you %ust be fa%iliar "ith using #o%)uters I ta$e the follo"ing e(a%)le to sho" a differen#e bet"een verb.#entered verb )er#e)tion and noun.#entered #entered )er#e)tion: 2S.C5S C5S #o%%and synta(: ;570 D 0 1indo"s: Sele#t D sele#t ;570 and then sele#t 0& Eeaders "ho have e()erien#ed the shift fro% the )ro#ess.oriented )ro#ess oriented interfa#e ,li$e 2S.C5S2S to the ob!e#t.oriented oriented interfa#e ,li$e 1indo"s- "ill be able to re#all the big differen#e it #aused in our e()erien#e of using #o%)uters& 1hile the ob!e#t.oriented ob!e#t oriented interfa#e is #loser to our habitual "ay of )er#e)tion and therefore %ore user.friendly user its "ide.s)read )read use %ay further degenerate our ability to fo#us on %ove%ents& 4erb.#entered #entered )er#e)tion allo"s better a))re#iation of reality& 4erb.#entered 4erb #entered )er#e)tion #an be very different fro% noun.#entered #entered )er#e)tion& 1hat "ould have ha))ened if Ces#artes gave %ore re attention to verbs than to nouns "hen he #lai%ed: "I thin$ therefore I e(ist"F He %ust have felt asha%ed instead of being )roud in finding out that his fa%ous "I" "as nothing but a by)rodu#t of his thin$ing a false entity that a))eared )er%anent only be#ause of his li%ited )er#e)tion& In other "ords "here are you "hen you are not thin$ingF

Case $rammar and t%e &tructure of Our

erce'tion

The #ase gra%%ar theory is "idely used for relating linguisti# )atterns "ith universal )atterns of )er#e)tion& The #ase gra%%ar theory stands on the re#ognition that %a!or #o%)onents of our language fall into one of the follo"ing three #ategories: ,6- 4erbs and their subordinates: ,2- 3ouns and their subordinates: and ,3- 1ords that define their relationshi)s& This is si%ilar to saying that our vision of reality #onsists of: ,6- 2ove%ents: ,2- 5b!e#ts: and ,3- Their

Eelationshi)s& Se%anti# stru#ture analysis using the #ase gra%%ar theory reveals the )ara%ount i%)ortan#e of verbs and %ove%ents in the stru#ture of our our language and )er#e)tion& + fe" e(a%)les of se%anti# stru#ture analysis are given belo"& +n asteris$ ,G- indi#ates a #onne#tion to the sa%e "ord given in a line above& 3a%es atta#hed to the arro"s sho" a )arti#ular ty)e of relationshi) bet"een a verb and a noun ,or so%eti%es bet"een nouns-& These different ty)es of relationshi)s are #alled "#ases" ,or "se%anti# #ases"- in linguisti#s&

I love you& I A.,e()erien#er-. *ove .,target,target-./0ou I "ill buy you beautiful flo"ers to%orro" at the flo"er sho)& I A.,agent-... Buy .,re#i)ient-. ./ 0ou G.,target-./ / 'lo"ers A.,attribute-. A Beautiful G .,ti%e-./ / To%orro" G .,lo#ation-./ / 'lo"er sho) I a% glad to $no" that you love %e& I A.,e()erien#er-. Hno" .,#ontent,#ontent-./ I0ouA.,e()erien#er-. *ove .,target,target-./ 2eJ G A.,state-. Glad These e(a%)les sho" us the stru#ture of our linguisti# universe "here verbs are li$e suns and nouns are li$e )lanets& 4erbs deter%ine the stru#ture be#ause ea#h verb has its o"n set s of relationshi)s ,se%anti# #ases- that it #an assign to nouns& 5ur ordinary )er#e)tion of love for e(a%)le re8uires the "e()erien#er" and "target&" The ty)es of relationshi)s that nouns #an e()e#t to have "ith a verb are deter%ined by the verb& 2oreover ver so%e nouns #hange their #hara#ters by the "ay they relate "ith a verb& In ?nglish "I" a% "I" only "hen it relates "ith a verb as an "agent" or "e()erien#er& " "I" a% "2e" "hen it relates "ith a verb as a "target " "goal " "instru%ent " and so on& This This see%s to indi#ate that ho" I a% de)ends on %y relationshi) "ith %ove%ents& To illustrate the governing role of verbs in a geo%etri#al re)resentation of se%anti# stru#ture a verb is de)i#ted as a #enter fro% "hi#h arro"s #o%e out& + noun is a )la#e "here "her ea#h arro" ends u) "hi#h sy%boli#ally #an be ta$en as a )la#e "here our a"areness of %ove%ents ends& The above e(a%)les are )robably enough to sho" that any senten#e #an be redu#ed to a gra)hi#al stru#ture of "nodes" ,stru#tural #o%)onents- and "ar#s" ,arro"s-& Sin#e se%anti# stru#tures are #lose re)resentations of our "orld )er#e)tion they are generally #o%%on to all hu%an beings "ho share si%ilar %odalities and li%itations of )er#e)tion& There are only li%ited nu%bers of se%anti# #ases that define a relationshi) bet"een different linguisti# #o%)onents& Gra%%ati#al rules s)e#ifi# to ea#h language are nothing but the rules for #onverting universal stru#tures of )er#e)tion into verbally.#o%%uni#able verbally #o%%uni#able for%s& *oo$ing at the geo%etri#al #onfiguration of se%anti# se%anti# stru#tures it is #lear to everyone that

verbs and %ove%ents deserve %ore attention if "e "ish to have a "holeso%e )i#ture of the )er#eived reality& 1hen "e thin$ read "rite listen and s)ea$ ho"ever "e fail to realize this be#ause of the linear #onfiguration of verbal for%ulations&

)*ercises in Conscious +%in,ing and "Mentation by Form"

'or those "ho are interested in a#tually trying out the %ethod of se%anti# stru#ture analysis based on the #ase gra%%ar theory as an e(er#ise in "2entation by by 'or% " I )rovide here a list of %a!or se%anti# #ases that #an be used for na%ing arro"s& The follo"ing are %a!or se%anti# #ases that define a relationshi) bet"een a verb and a noun& They all sho" ho" for%s ,nouns- #an )arti#i)ate in an a#tion or %ove%ent %ove%en indi#ated by a verb& The list is e(haustive and the definition of so%e ter%s overla) ea#h other&: 6 +gentB;ause 2 ?()erien#erB7er#eiver 3 Target ,dire#t ob!e#t of an a#tion re)resented by verbK Ee#i)ientBBenefi#iary ,of the result of an a#tion9 7artnerB+##o%)ani%entBInstru%entB2ethod nerB+##o%)ani%entBInstru%entB2ethod L ;ontentBSubstan#eB2aterial M *o#ationBCire#tionB5rientation = Ti%eBCurationB're8uen#yB5rder < ?ffe#tBEesultBGoalB7ur)ose 60 StateB2annerB+ttitudeBNualityBNuantityB?(tentBCegree + verb.to.verb verb relationshi) #an be variously variously na%ed as "#ondition" ,if- "syn#hroni#ity" ,"hen"ti%e.after" after" ,after- and so on& 4erbs in a senten#e ,or its ea#h logi#al unit- are in hierar#hi#al order& +n arro" should originate fro% a verb higher in the hierar#hy& 3oun.to.noun and ad!e#tive.to. .noun noun relationshi)s #an ta$e the for% of "attribute" "8uality " "8uantity " "order " "e8uation" ,O- "logi#al in#lusion " "o"nershi) " and so on& The tense ,)ast )resent future et#&- indi#ated by the %odifi#ation of a verb #an be indi#ated by an o)en.ended ended arro"& The ")resent" tense arro" is usually o%itted& I bought flo"ers& I A.,agent-. buy .,target-./ / 'lo"ers G .,)ast-./ To indi#ate negation si%)ly add a si%ilar "negation" arro" to the verb& The style of s)ee#h ,de#larative i%)erative interrogative et#&- #an also be indi#ated by adding a si%ilar arro" even though this "ay of re)resentation %ay not be 8uite #orre#t& The "de#larative" arro" is usually o%itted& Co you love %eF

0ou A.,e()erien#er-. *ove .,target,target-./ I G .,interrogative,interrogative-./ 'or %ore #orre#t re)resentation of the above it is needed to add a dee)er layer of analysis to address the state of the s)ea$er "hose )resen#e %ay not be e()li#it in the te(t level: I A.,agent-. Interrogate .,target,target-./ 0ou G.,#ontent-./I /I 0ou A.,e()erien#er-. A *ove .,target-./ / IJ Si%ilarly it %ay be %ore #orre#t to inter)ret su#h "ords as ")robably " "ho)efully " and "arguably" as )ertaining to the state of the s)ea$er even though though they are gra%%ati#ally #onne#ted "ith a verb in the senten#e& 1hen "e loo$ at our )er#eived universe "e usually give %ost of our attention to one )art of it& 1hen "e say "I love you " our e%)hasis #an be on I 0ou or *ove& If you are a"are of the )la#e #e of e%)hasis you #an underline that )art or use an additional arro" #alled "fo#us&" It is %e "ho sa" you yesterday& I A.....,agent-..... See .,target,target-./ 0ou G A.,fo#us-. G .,ti%e-. ./ 0esterday

1hat "e %ay #all "the )la#e of sub!e#tivity" or or "e%)athy" is a logi#al )air of the above #on#e)t of "fo#us&" It sho"s the )osition of the s)ea$er "ithin or in relationshi) to his )er#eived universe& In other "ords it sho"s a )ers)e#tive the s)ea$er is identified "ith& The )la#e of sub!e#tivity is not al"ays identifiable in se%anti# stru#ture analysis but is an i%)ortant ite% to be a"are of it if "e as)ire to be i%)artial in our thin$ing& This to)i# is also i%)ortant in )sy#hologi#al a))li#ation of the #ase.gra%%ar #ase gra%%ar )er#e)tion %odel "hi#h is already atte%)ted at by so%e )sy#hologists and thera)ists& The )er#e)tions for%ulated as "I a% his son" and "He is %y father" are ob!e#tively e8uivalent but #an be very different fro% ea#h other sub!e#tively and )sy#hologi#ally& This reversal of vision should be an interesting interesting to)i# of study in the #onte(t of the gestalt thera)y and also in relationshi) to the double.headed double headed arro" %odel of self.re%e%bering& The verb "be" is usually analyzed in the follo"ing "ay: I a% a %an& I A.,attribute-. %an She is beautiful& She A.,attribute-. beautiful& I a% glad& I A.,state-. glad This is %y )en& ,o"ner-. I This O,#o)ula-O 7en A.,o"nerIn the above four e(a%)les the senten#es are #onsidered to be dead be#ause their se%anti#

stru#tures do not in#lude the real a#tion of a verb& The verb verb "be" #o%es alive only in a senten#e li$e this: I a%& I A.,result-. Be I%y inter)retationJ I A.,e()erien#er-. Be Ia #o%%on inter)retationJ I A.,agent-. Be Ia 8uestionable inter)retationJ 'inally at the end of this se#tion you %ay "ish to #o%)are the given list of se%anti# #ases "ith the follo"ing des#ri)tion by Gurd!ieff of an e(er#ise for #ons#ious thin$ing:

+t is important to )now how not to depend on associations, and therefore begin with the thin)ing center. 7e shall e*ercise the mo'ing center by by continuing the same e*ercises we ha'e done so far. . . 6et e'eryone ta)e some ob-ect. 6et each of you as) himself 2uestions relating to the ob-ect and answer these according to his )nowledge and material& " +ts origin 9 The cause of its origin : +ts history ; +ts 2ualities and attributes / Ob-ects connected with it and related to it 3 +ts use and applications < +ts results and effects = 7hat it e*plains and pro'es > +ts end or its future "$ 4our opinion, the cause and moti'es of this opinion (,urd-ieff, !iews iews from the ?eal 7orld, p."$3%
It see%s signifi#ant that Gurd!ieff #ou)les this e(er#ise of #ons#ious thin$ing "ith the )ra#ti#e of "hat is no" $no"n as the Gurd!ieff 2ove%ents "hi#h #an be seen as a language of for%s& This e(er#ise in #ons#ious thin$ing thin$i is an e(er#ise of the se#ond reality.#onversion #onversion )ro#ess ,+rro" 2 in earlier.)resented )resented %odel- "hile the )ra#ti#e of the 2ove%ents has so%ething to do "ith the first reality.#onversion #onversion )ro#ess ,+rro" 6-&

Critica" )*amination of Ous'ens,y.s /rro0s

The state of self.re%e%bering re%e%bering is so%eti%es des#ribed as being a"are of "sub!e#t" and "ob!e#t" both& Here linguists are )robably %ore a"are than others about the arbitrary nature of "hat "e #onsider as "sub!e#t" and "ob!e#t&" +lso arbitrary is the division bet"een bet"een our inner "orld and outer "orld& 3o" let us ree(a%ine the #o%%on understanding of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering by a))lying the

%ethodology that I have introdu#ed in )re#eding se#tions& 1e shall start by revie"ing the 5us)ens$y's "ell.$no"n $no"n des#ri)tion about self.re%e%bering: sel

+ am spea)ing of the di'ision of attention which is the characteristic feature of self0 self remembering. + represented it to myself in the following way& 7hen + obser'e something, my attention is directed towards what + obser'e 0 a line with one on arrowhead& + 00@ @ the obser'ed phenomenon. 7hen at the same time, + try to remember myself, my attention is directed both towards the ob-ect obser'ed and towards myself. A second arrowhead appears on the line& + A00@ @ the obser'ed phenomenon. Ha'ing defined fined this + saw that the problem consisted in directing attention on oneself without wea)ening or obliterating the attention directed on something else. Boreo'er this (something else( could as well be within me as outside me. (Ouspens)y, +n Cearch of the Biraculous, Dhapter <%
Before reading further I "ould li$e you to thin$ #riti#ally over the above des#ri)tion by 5us)ens$y and ho" it %a$es sense to you& Then I "ould li$e you to loo$ at the t"o arro". arro" based re)resentations 5us)ens$y has %ade and see the% in the light of "hat you have understood so far:

+ 00@ @ the obser'ed phenomenon + A00@ @ the obser'ed phenomenon

*et us begin by 8uestioning the reality of our ordinary )er#e)tion that he re)resented by an arro" )ointing to ob!e#ts: ,6- It is true in ter%s s of our felt senses that so%ething see%s to go out of ourselves "hen "e %a$e an effort to )ay attention or so%ething drives us to )ay attention& ,2- S#ientifi#ally and in effortless %o%ents it is %ore #orre#t to say that i%)ressions #o%e to us& ,3- The first irst arro" of 5us)ens$y ta$es only one of the t"o %a!or ty)es of our self.)er#e)tion: self "I ./0ou" /0ou" ty)e of )er#eiving oneself and "2e A. A 0ou" ty)e of )er#eiving oneself& 5rdinarily "e s"it#h bet"een these t"o %odes of )er#e)tion al%ost un#ons#iously& "I" a% "I" if the arro" goes out of it: "I" be#o%e "2e" "hen the arro" )oints to it& 'or this reason it is rather %isleading that 5us)ens$y allo"ed the sa%e old "I" sit at the left side of the double.headed headed arro" in the se#ond re)resentation that he asso#iated "ith self. self re%e%bering& Is this an unintended #arelessness in des#ri)tion or did he really believe that this sa%e old "I" had to be re%e%beredF Eead the follo"ing )assage #arefully be#ause it see%s to give us an #lue:

(Boreo'er this Esomething elseE could as well be within me as outside me(

This state%ent of 5us)ens$y see%s to reveal both his li%itation and #ontradi#tion: his li%itation #onsisting in his stubborn #linging to his sa%e old 5bserving I "hile turning his attention within him and outside him but ut never to this sa%e old "I" thereby #ontradi#ting his o"n double.headed headed arro" %odel& 5us)ens$y is as %ista$en as Ces#artes in assu%ing "I observe therefore I e(ist " as long as the sour#e of this observation re%ains the sa%e old 5bserving I& It is not %y intention to #o%)letely deny the %erit of this 5bserving I: at least it has a su)eriority over the "I" assu%ed by Ces#artes be#ause this 5bserving I "ould be able to be an observer to different I's that a))ear in #on!un#tion "ith different thoughts& If this 5bserving I is fir%ly established at the #enter in our head of i%)artial )er#e)tion or our real thin$ing #enter as a #enter of our "%entation by for%" and the governor of our "%entation by thoughts" and not the )rodu#er of our asso#iations it is indeed indeed so%ething "orthy of )raise& Still the 5us)ens$y's for%ulation see%s to #arry the danger of e%)hasizing the fun#tioning of our head #enter as it is no" in its state of isolation fro% other #enters and %oreover )rodu#e an identifi#ation "ith out %ental l fa#ulty as it is no"& 2ost )robably "hat 5us)ens$y "as atte%)ting in the na%e of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering "as a#tually an effort of self.observation observation that should be re)resented by a single.headed single headed arro":

+ 00@ something in oneEs so0called called inner world and outer world
The )ra#ti#e of self.observation observation if it is #entered around our %ind as it is #an be har%ful rather than benefi#ial:

(7e feel that there may be something wrong in the way we are doing self0obser'ation. self Are we wrong, Br. ,urd-ieff5( (Fe'er you do self0obser'ation, obser'ation, ( he said forcefully. (4ou do mind obser'ation. Bind obser'ation you do. Dan e'en ma)e psychopath.( (1dwin 7olfe, 1pisodes with ,urd-ieff, p. ""%
+s I see the )ra#ti#e of self.observation observation is good and ne#essary in the beginning but only be#ause it #an bring one to the )oint of utter des)air and sin#ere a##e)tan#e of the i%)oten#e of this 5bserving I as it is no" in #reating a real har%ony in oneself in s)ite of its #a)a#ity to see various #ontradi#tions and %e#hani#al rea#tions in oneself and in others& The only %ode of #ontrol available to it in its state of isolation fro% other #enters is to blo#$ the a#tivities )ro#eeding in one's general )resen#e a re)ressive %ode of #ontrol often "rongly "r #onne#ted to the idea of "not e()ressing negative e%otions&" So%e )eo)le es)e#ially intelle#tual %ales do not li$e to a##e)t the i%)oten#e of the 5bserving I in its )resent state of isolation& 1ith a la#$ of this a##e)tan#e and "ith a %isguided effort fort in #ontrolling oneself the so.#alled so #alled 'ourth 1ay #an easily be#o%e a "ay to"ard %ore rigidity and )olishing of a "1or$" )ersonality . the out#o%e of being unable to eat the dile%%a bet"een the 5bserving I's #a)a#ity to see #onfli#ts and its inability to re#on#ile the%&

To follo" the double.headed headed arro" %odel beyond the )oint 5us)ens$y dared "e %ust )ay attention honestly to the state of this 5bserving I as it is no"& 1hen "e %a$e an effort of )aying attention "here does that attention #o%e fro%F 1e %ay #all this sour#e our ordinary %ind that has its #enter of a#tivity in our head& 1hat )o"ers this %indF It is )o"ered and #onditioned %ostly by our biologi#al needs to )ay attention to the outer "orld in order to avoid dangers and loo$ for food shelter shelter and %ating )artners& In our atte%)ts of so.#alled so self. re%e%bering it is also )o"ered by our desire to be#o%e "so%ething one is not&" The sa%e %ind #an be )o"ered by so%ething higher but it #annot ha))en as long as "e ta$e self. self re%e%bering %erely as a "ay for )ersonal develo)%ent& So the nature of "I" that "e rea#h by tra#ing ba#$ the flo" of our ordinary %ental attention to its sour#e is %ost )robably our biologi#ally.deter%ined ego& This )ro#ess of tra#ing our %ental attention to its sour#e should bring bring us to the horrifying a"areness of our ordinary %ind's slavery to our so#ial and biologi#al #onditionings& 1hen our %ind a##e)ts it it is no %ore the sa%e old %ind and then it %ay begin to desire freedo% fro% its habitual "ay of fun#tioning& Strengthening Strengthening the )o"er of our %ind as it is ho"ever is surely not the )ur)ose of self.re%e%bering& re%e%bering& 2oreover self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering should not be understood in ter%s of our %ental attention only&

2sing 3erb4centered 3erb centered

erce'tion Mode"s

3o" let us see ho" "e #an use the %ethod that I des#ribed earlier to )rodu#e a better re)resentation of our self.)er#e)tion )er#e)tion and "orld.)er#e)tion "orld )er#e)tion and ho)efully a better %odel of )er#e)tion )e#uliar to self.re%e%bering& re%e%bering& *et us begin by re"riting the 5us)ens$y's re)resentation of our ordinary inary "orld.)er#e)tion "orld using the verb.#entered #entered a))roa#h of the #ase gra%%ar theory: I A.,)er#eiver-. 5bserve .,target,target-./ +ny ob!e#t The )la#e%ent of the verb "5bserve" at the #enter re)resents an understanding that our ordinary sense of "I" is al"ays the )rodu#t of a #ertain a#tion linguisti#ally re)resented by a verb& That a#tion #an be the a#tion of our %ind "hi#h in this #ase is the a#t of observation& Here it is i%)ortant to noti#e that observation is only one of innu%erable a#tions that )rodu#e a sense of "I" in ourselves: I A.,agentBe()erien#erB)er#eiver,agentBe()erien#erB)er#eiver-. +ny +#tion I.../+ny ob!e#tJ To e()erien#e it %ore realisti#ally you %ay do the follo"ing e(er#ise: re)eat )ronoun#ing aloud rhyth%i#ally any verb follo"ed by the "ord "I" "ith an even.te%)o even te%)o %usi# % of an a))ro)riate s)eed& ?ven though it is against the ?nglish gra%%ati#al rule you should have the sense of sub!e#tivity in relationshi) to the verb you )ronoun#ed earlier& In other "ords e()erien#e the taste of "I" and not "2e&" 0ou #an start li$e: li$e observe.I I thin$.I thin$ read.I feel.I love.I hate.I sense.I tou#h.I I &&& 0ou %ay taste a #o%%on thread of sub!e#tivity that )ersists through different senses of "I" that arise in #on!un#tion "ith different verbs& This taste of sub!e#tivity "hi#h #an be different

fro% the sense of 5bserving I %ay indeed have so%ething to do "ith self.re%e%bering& self In this e(er#ise by the "ay you %ay hit u)on a sub!e#t of #ontroversy a%ong the #ase. #ase gra%%ar theorists: Is the "I" in "I give" si%ilar to the "I" in "I re#eive"F re#eive"F In ter%s of reality the "I" in "I re#eive" is assu%ing the target #ase or re#eiver #ase even though gra%%ati#ally it is assu%ing the agent #ase ,other"ise one should say "2e re#eive"-& So the felt sense of the "I" in su#h e()ressions as "I re#eive" re#eive" should be asso#iated "ith the sense of "2e" rather than "I"& This observation also indi#ates that our sense of sub!e#tivity #an so%eti%es be the )rodu#t of a delusion& The 5us)ens$y's re)resentation of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering %ay give a "rong idea that the 5bserving serving I at the left side of the arro" has an un#onditional su)eriority over other ty)es of "I" that #an a))ear in #on!un#tion "ith different a#tions ,verbs-& It should have so%e su)eriority as I %entioned earlier but as long as this observation re%ains %erely %erely %ental it is not %u#h of a su)eriority as the )ra#ti#e of the 2ove%ents "ill sho"& The illusion of su)eriority "ill gro" if one #hooses %ental observation as a #hief %ethod for relating "ith ob!e#ts "hi#h linguisti#ally #an be seen as an adhesion to o a single se%anti# #ase in relation to a single verb& Gurd!ieff e()li#itly "arned against this ty)e of obsession:

. . . the 2uestion of so0called called (self0obser'ation(. (self obser'ation(. . . the )nowledge of which is indeed 2uite indispensable at the beginning for e'eryone who is stri'ing to learn the truth, but which, if it becomes the center of gra'ity for the mentation of man, will, as was long ago established and 'erified by me, unfailingly lead to -ust the result which, to my great regret, + obser'e now in almost e'ery one of you. (,urd-ieff, 6ife is real only then, when (+ am(, p. >3%
The verb "observe" is only one of the verbs that #hara#terize one of the three %a!or %odalities of )er#e)tion %entioned by Gurd!ieff: I A.,)er#eiver-. 5bserve .,target,target-./ So%ething I A.,)er#eiver-. 'eel .,target-./ / So%ething I A.,)er#eiver-. Sense .,target,target-./ So%ething ?ven though "e use the sa%e "ord "I" to des#ribe the sense of sub!e#tivity that arises out of these three %a!or %odalities of our )er#e)tion the %entally.observing.I %entally I feeling.I fee and sensing.I I are distin#t fro% ea#h other& In reality for %ost of us only the %entally.observing.I %entally and sensing.I I are e()erien#ed as having so%e #oheren#e of their o"n& Sin#e our e%otions ,as against our true feeling- are the by)rodu#ts of #onfli#ts #onfli#ts and %o%entary )ea#e bet"een the %entally.observing.I I and sensing.I sensing I they only have te%)orary #enters of their e(isten#e in our )resen#e& 1e have a #enter of higher feelings in us but unfortunately in %ost of us it is a#tivated only by drea%s and fantasies fantasies or under the influen#e of se(& So the first thing the %entally.observing.I I should do after a##e)ting its i%)oten#e in its #urrent state of isolation is to loo$ for situations in "hi#h it %ay be able to have a taste of bi.dire#tional bi dire#tional #o%%uni#ation "ith the sensing.I I "hi#h again #an be re)resented by a double.headed double headed arro"& 7otentially there are several %odalities of self.a"areness self a"areness )ossible in a triangular relationshi) a%ong the %entally.observing. .I feeling.I and sensing.I& I& 7la#ing oneself in the )osition ) of

one's %ind to observe one's feeling and sensations is only one a%ong several %odalities of self.a"areness& a"areness& Thoughts #an be sensed and felt feelings #an be related to sensations sensations #an )rodu#e feelings and so on& In the )resen#e of %ore re than one I's and %yriad for%s of self.a"areness self a"areness "hat is the )la#e of one real I and ho" its )resen#e e()erien#edF The follo"ing se#tion of this essay addresses this 8uestion by trying to identify the %e#hanis% that )rodu#es in us the varied senses of "I" " and "2e&"

I4Me4/m

1hat is the %e#hanis% that )rodu#es in us the sense of "I" or the sense of "2e" in the %o%ent of all ty)es of )er#e)tionF *et us begin our e()loration by a##e)ting the fa#t that ea#h )er#e)tion re8uires a distin#tion "hi#h is the a#t of dividing reality& If you #annot distinguish bet"een bla#$ and "hite you #annot read the #hara#ters you are reading& If you #annot divide this senten#e into "ords and )hrases you #annot %a$e sense of it& The basi# for% of our )er#e)tion #an be re)resented esented as follo"s: 5ne side P +nother side +t any %o%ent %ulti)le )er#e)tions are ha))ening to us that are dividing the reality in ter%s of dualities su#h as near.far far high.lo" high bright.dar$ #o%fortable.un#o%fortable un#o%fortable good.bad good right."rong heavy.light and so on& +%ong these divisions are the division bet"een our so. so #alled inner "orld and outer "orld& Inner "orld P 5uter "orld It is not really us "ho %a$e this division& Eather "hat "e #onsider as ourselves is the result of this division that ha))ens auto%ati#ally "ith our inborn fa#ulty of )er#e)tion& I%%ediately after this division of reality "hatever side of the division that is e()erien#ed as )hysi#ally e%otionally or %entally #loser fa%iliar or benefi#ial to the )er#eiver is #onsidered to belong be to the inner "orld& The dividing line bet"een the inner "orld and outer "orld is fle(ible and al"ays tentative& 1ith every ri))le in our )er#e)tion and "ith every shift in the %odality of our )er#e)tion a border suddenly disa))ears and rea))ears so%e"here so%e else& In ?nglish "hen "e loo$ at the outer "orld fro% the inner "orld "e use the "ord "I&" Here I use the "ord "0ou" as a re)resentation of the outer "orld: I ../ 0ou The ?nglish gra%%ar de%ands the use of the "ord "2e" "hen "e loo$ at our inner "orld fro% the )ers)e#tive of the outer "orld: 2e A.. 0ou The sense of "I" and the sense of "2e" are sho#$ingly distin#t fro% ea#h other if "e #an

be#o%e a"are of it& To have its taste you %ay "ish to do a variation of the earlier.%entioned earlier e(er#ise of verbalization: this ti%e using the #o%bination of "any noun Q I" to e()erien#e the sense of sub!e#tivity as one stands before the )erson or ob!e#t indi#ated by the noun: and then "any noun Q 2e" to e()erien#e the sense of self.a"areness self or self.#ons#iousn #ons#iousness as one re#eives the gaze or )resen#e of the )erson or ob!e#t indi#ated by the noun& Ee)eating the "I" e(er#ise and "2e" e(er#ise one after another and fully a##e)ting the #ognitive and )sy#hologi#al #ontrast bet"een the t"o your breathing %ay #hange a )arti#ular sense of hu%or %ay arise and so%ething %ay be sensed to settle do"n in your belly& In %y o)inion these things that one )er#eives %ostly through sensations are the #hara#teristi#s of an invisible %ove%ent #loser to the essen#e of our being and therefore should be asso#iated "ith self.re%e%bering& 1ith regards breathing Gurd!ieff e()li#itly says that the #onta#t bet"een the air o#tave and the o#tave of i%)ressions is the basi# re8uire%ent of self.re%e%bering& self re%e%bering& So )arti#ularly if one insists on starting "ith a %ental effort breathing should be used as an indi#ator& If one's i%)artial observation of his inner "orld outer "orld and their relationshi)s is so total that his breathing #hanges then he is )robably %a$ing a right effort& This usually usually does not ha))en be#ause the e(ertion of our %ental attention often inhibits our breathing& This is natural be#ause our ordinary %ind is a devi#e designed to negate or #o%)ro%ise )er#eived dualities& +s I understand fro% "hat I read Gurd!ieff dis#ouraged dis#ouraged %ental efforts for self.re%e%bering& self +nother #riterion should be the sense of hu%or that should arise in seeing the both sides of dualities& 2aybe you $no" the )arti#ular for% of laughter that ha))ens "hen you s%o$e grassF Henri 2i#heau a 'ren#h "riter er has #orre#tly identified it as #o%ing fro% the a"areness of #ontradi#tions that are nor%ally ignored unless "e "a$e u) or other"ise our stu)id se#retary ,"for%atory a))aratus" or our #onditioned %ind- is drugged to slee)& Eeturning to the sub!e#t of #ognitive ognitive and )sy#hologi#al duality bet"een "I" and "2e " the i%)artial a"areness and full a##e)tan#e of the both sides of duality "ill )rodu#e in us an invisible %ove%ent to"ard the de)th of ourselves& 1hen "e fail to a##e)t the duality a )sy#hologi#al %ove%ent ve%ent to the o))osite dire#tion ta$es )la#e "hi#h usually results in #linging to an i%age of oneself that is inde)endent of the felt senses of "I" and "2e" but only be#ause it has nothing to do "ith reality& There is one )ie#e of Gurd!ieff 2ove%ents titled tit "I.2e.+%" ,or "2e.I.+%"+%"- the gestures in "hi#h a))ear to indi#ate a triangle "ith "I" and "2e" at sides and "+%" at the to)& +2 I 2?

The )la#e%ent of "+%" at the to) is a))ro)riate in res)e#t of its real value and the higher )ers)e#tive it offers& rs& 1hen "e loo$ at the )heno%enon in ter%s of )hysi#al sensation ho"ever the triangle has to be )ut u)side do"n be#ause a %ove%ent to"ard this "+%ness" is e()erien#ed as "dro))ing do"n" or "dee)ening" "hile a %ove%ent in the o))osite dire#tion is e()erien#ed en#ed as going u) into the head&

In referen#e to the #ha)ter titled "The 5uter and Inner 1orld of 2an" in the third series of Gurd!ieff's "ritings ,"*ife is real only then "hen I a%"- a si%ilar triangle #an be #onstru#ted "ith "Inner "orld" and "5uter 1orld" 1orld" at sides and "Eeal Inner 1orld" at the to) ,or botto% in ter%s of )hysi#al sensation-& 1ith this understanding the division of attention that is #hara#teristi# of self.re%e%bering re%e%bering #an be re)resented in the follo"ing "ay: Eeal Inner 1orld Inner "orld A..../ 5uter "orld

This si%ultaneous a"areness of the inner "orld and outer "orld if "e #an a##e)t its intensity "ill )rodu#e an invisible %ove%ent to a dee)er layer of our being& Here "e %ust re%e%ber that the dividing line bet"een the inner "orld and outer "orld is s)e#ifi# to ea#h )er#e)tion and therefore #hanging every %o%ent& 5nly the fa#t of duality and the )resen#e of a division re%ain #onstant giving us o))ortunities to "re%e%ber ourselves al"ays and every"here&" Self.re%e%bering understood in this "ay is a very dyna%i# a#t of balan#ing oneself in ever. ever #hanging )atterns of dualities& ;hanges are ha))ening #onstantly on both sides of the ever. ever flu#tuating dividing line: ;hanging reality of inner "orld P ;hanging reality of outer "orld To be a"are "are of #hanging reality on both sides of the dividing line the fi(ation to the 5bserving I #an be a hindaran#e& To %a$e this )oint %ore tangible I ta$e the e(a%)le of the "threshold e(er#ise " "hi#h is usually for%ulated as "re%e%ber yourself ea#h ti%e you )ass a threshold or door"ay&" If you are obsessed "ith the 5bserving I you "ill assu%e the sa%e internal attitude of observation or establish yourself around the 5bserving I ea#h ti%e you )ass a threshold: then you "ill %iss ho" your internal state has has #hanged "hen you re#eived ne" )er#e)tions as you )assed the threshold "hile so%ething in you has re%ained the sa%e standing "itness to these #hanges& This so%ething is not usually "hat )eo)le #all the 5bserving I be#ause a #ertain ty)e of letting.go letting at the he sour#e of attention "ill be re8uired for a))re#iating this so%ething& Gli%)ses into the nature of our real self %ust be loo$ed for at the )oint of %eeting or #ollision bet"een our #onstantly.#hanging #hanging inner "orld and outer "orld& This !ourney is best started st on the )hysi#al boundary of our )resen#e& +s you sit on your #hair no" be attentive to the interfa#e bet"een your hi) and #hair be#ause it is e(a#tly on su#h an interfa#e bet"een t"o "orlds "here "e #an find ourselves& +fter being a"are of this interfa#ing interfa#ing )lane you #an either turn your )hysi#al attention to your inner "orld starting fro% sensing your s$in against the #hair or turn your )hysi#al attention to the outer "orld through sensing the #hair against your s$in& Trying to $ee) the t"o."ay "ay flo" of sensations "ill )rodu#e an unusual intensity and #hange your breathing: or you "ill noti#e that inhalation and e(halation are #losely #onne#ted "ith this t"o."ay flo"& + si%ilar e()erien#e #an be )rodu#ed by trying to be a"are of both sides of any ty)e ty) of duality& Standing ere#t and rela(ed bringing the "eight to the right foot )rodu#es a )arti#ular ty)e of sensation and %ood: bringing the "eight to the left foot )rodu#es a different ty)e of sensation and %ood& Shifting the "eight rhyth%i#ally bet"een right and left "hile being fully a"are of the #ontrast and then sto))ing in the e(a#t %iddle you %ay dro) do"n dee)er into yourself&

The Gurd!ieff 2ove%ents )rovide us "ith a%)le o))ortunities to go dee)er into ourselves by being a"are of the t"o sides of dualities and by a##e)ting . even loving . the intensity of this a"areness& + %a!ority of )eo)le attra#ted to the 2ove%ents ho"ever are initially %ore #on#erned "ith fighting the dualities than a##e)ting the%& 1ith the above. above.%entioned e(er#ise of shifting ting the "eight al%ost every ne" student goes u) into his head instead of settling do"n dee)er into hi%self due to his un#ons#ious resistan#e to the )er#e)tion of dualities& 1e have t"o "ays of living "ith dualities bet"een "hi#h the less.#hosen less one is the he "ay to"ard dee)er realization of ourselves& So%e "ords fro% the Gurd!ieff 2ove%ents that you %ay no" be able to assi%ilate better "ith a))ro)riate %i(ture of air:

+, me, am 0 + wish to be myself. + am father, son day, night yesterday, tomorrow Blue, red, blac), yellow remorse, suffering, effort, hope yesterday, today, tomorrow, always
Before #on#luding this essay I "ould li$e to say so%ething about the senten#e stru#tures of Gurd!ieff's "Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson " "hi#h so%e )eo)le see% to t regard gra%%ati#ally outrageous& +s a for%er linguist I "ould li$e to say that the senten#e stru#tures of the Beelzebub's Tales are gra%%ati#ally i%)e##able and geo%etri#ally of star$ beauty "hi#h in the%selves are re)resentations of universal la"s that that he des#ribes in his stories& The use of %any invented "ords is an intelligent #hoi#e be#ause the %eaning of nouns and signifi#an#e of #on#e)ts #an arise and best #onveyed only in their various relationshi)s "ith verbs& 'ollo"ing the #o%)le( stru#tures of senten#es is in itself is an e(er#ise in "%entation by for% " "hi#h de%ands a )arti#ular ty)e of attention "e are not used to but re8uired nevertheless to see into the true nature of dyna%i# reality:

Co, you put your attention on Beel.ebub, another attention attention than that to which you are accustomed, and you will be able to ha'e the same attention in life. (,urd-ieff, ">;:%

/ddition: +ransmutation of t%e Binary into t%e 7uaternary

+fter reading the first of t"o valuable #o%%ents fro% +li ,dis)layed at the the botto% of this arti#le- no" I feel a need to add another diagra% to #larify the )oint& The diagra% #onne#ts

the #ontent of our dis#ussion "ith one )ossible inter)retation of Gurd!ieff's le#ture on sy%bols "hi#h de%and a higher for% of "%entation by for%" for ;on#e)tual reality 5ne side of duality A../ A +nother side of duality Cee)er reality

1hen loo$ing at this diagra% you should see "dee)er reality" #loser to the #enter of an invisible #ir#le and "#on#e)tual reality" further a"ay& +lso note that the verti#al orientation of this diagra% is in ter%s of one's )hysi#al sensation: dro))ing down into the dee)er layer of our being or going up to"ard the head "hi#h %ay or %ay not have a negative #onnotation& This four."ay "ay diagra% #an be inter)reted in %any "ays: ,6- 2any of our a#tions ha))en in )endulu%.li$e )endulu% li$e %ove%ents bet"een t"o sides of dualities: love and hate for e(a%)le& ,2- The ty)i#al rea#tion of our %ind in seeing the dualities and the )endulu%.li$e )endulu% %ove%ents bet"een the% is to #o%)ro%ise the dualities dualities by ideas e()lanations and a false i%age of oneself ,or the i%age of "hat one %ay be#o%e by follo"ing ""hat the 1or$ tea#hes"-& In the diagra% this is an u)"ard %ove%ent& ,3- The #enter in our head of i%)artial )er#e)tion if develo)ed enough %ay % rea#h an i%)artial #on#lusion about the situation "hi#h in itself is an u)"ard %ove%ent& If this #on#lusion is )o"erful enough ho"ever it "ill urge us to ta$e an a#tion& This urge is e()erien#ed as a do"n"ard thrust& 5r it %ay ha))en the other "ay around& around& The a#t of o)ening ourselves to the i%)artial sensing and total a##e)tan#e of the t"o sides of dualities %ay )rodu#e in us as a result an invisible %ove%ent do"n"ard to a dee)er layer of our being& The #enter in our head of i%)artial )er#e)tion %ay y stand "itness to this )ro#ess and gain so%ething fro% it in ter%s of real $no"ledge& ,K- 'or the sa$e of our gro"th it is desirable that a balan#e is a#hieved bet"een the u)"ard %ove%ent and do"n"ard %ove%ent thus )rodu#ing another double.headed double headed arro" along the verti#al a(is& I believe that this is the essen#e of "hat Gurd!ieff des#ribed as the "trans%utation of the binary into the 8uaternary " "here there are: )lus %inus #on#lusion ,in our head #enter- and effe#t ,in our being-& ,9- +##ording to Gurd!ieff urd!ieff the above is only the first half of the for%ula: "hen the binary has been transfor%ed into the 8uaternary "the se#ond )art of it s)ea$s for itself and thereby )oints out the dire#tion of the solution&" This is further related to the #onstru#tion of a )entagra% in %an "here the fun#tioning of five lo"er #enters is har%onized "hi#h further leads to the #o%)letion of the Solo%on's Seal& +##ording to %y observation a %a!or )ro)ortion of individual and grou) efforts #urrently done

under the na%e of the Gurd!ieff 1or$ or 'ourth 1ay is going in the dire#tion %entioned in the )aragra)h ,2- above& This is a sub!e#tive dire#tion and therefore different grou)s going in this dire#tion #annot "or$ together or hel) ea#h other& In #ontrast s%aller nu%ber of grou)s and individuals %oving in the dire#tion %entioned in the )aragra)h ,3- and later as "ell as those "ho be#a%e disa))ointed of the dire#tion %entioned in the )aragra)h ,2- #an "or$ together and hel) ea#h other that is "hat I )ro)ose to every reader of this arti#le& 4isit 7lavan 3& Go's Ho%e)age& & ;o)yright T 2003 7lavan 3& Go

18

Comments

3 way attention
Hi 7lavan and than$ you for a great essay& i thought you %ay be interested in the idea )ro)osed by rodney #ollin ,ous)ens$y's student- in The Theory of ;elestial ial Influen#e )&269& ;ollin suggests that as "ell as being a"are of ,6-oneself and ,2-so%e e(ternal i%)ression one should also re%e%ber a third )rin#i)le ,3-so%e higher )o"er& In effe#t one divides ones attention in t"o dire#tions "hilst re%e%bering that that one is i%%ersed in a greater reality ,"hatever that %ay %ean to ea#h )arti#ular individual-& Than$ you again ali a"i9 2nited :ingdom alilouR%fung"e
added 2003.0<.02

Language
Buddha %ay have been the first lin8uist: Gurd!ieff also said that )hilology is a better "ay to Truth than )hiloso)hy& I "el#o%e your a))roa#h to the TruthS

!eijo )"sner9
added 2003.0<.02

Re: 3-way attention

I than$ +li for his follo"ing re%ar$: ";ollin suggests that as "ell as being a"are of ,6- oneself oneself and ,2- so%e e(ternal i%)ression one should also re%e%ber a third )rin#i)le ,3- so%e higher )o"er&" I have not #he#$ed this against Eodney ;ollin's a#tual state%ent but if he believed that "one should also re%e%ber a third )rin#i)le" by %a$ing a #ertain #ertain effort I a% afraid that he "as going further a"ay fro% reality into "hat he believed as a higher "orld "hi#h #orres)onds to general i%)ressions I re#eive fro% his boo$& I "ould rather say that i%)artial a"areness of the t"o sides of duality as a result )rodu#es in us an invisible %ove%ent to"ard a dee)er layer of our being through "hi#h "e are a"a$ened to the )resen#e of the third )rin#i)le& 7lease refer to the addition I have %ade to the %ain te(t of %y arti#le after reading your #o%%ent&

"avan9 ;a'an %ister&goUnifty&ne&!)

added 2003.0<.02

Re: 3-way attention

Hi 7avlan Than$ you again& I believe your for%ulation to be 8uite #orre#t and %y )ara)hrasing of Eodney ;ollin to be rather slo))y for "hi#h I a)ologise& I in#lude in#lude here an 5;E e(tra#t fro% the afore%entioned boo$:.....NV5T? NV5T?....... "&&& it %ay be %u#h %ore )ossible to re%e%ber oneself and one's surroundings in the )resen#e of so%ething else& +s "e have seen no )heno%enon is )rodu#ed by t"o for#es: every )heno%enon and every real result re8uires three for#es& The )ra#ti#e of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering or division of attention is #onne#ted "ith the atte%)t to )rodu#e a #ertain )heno%enon the birth of #ons#iousness in oneself& +nd "hen this begins to ha))en attention re#ognises re#ognises "ith relief and !oy not t"o but three fa#tors . one's o"n organis% the sub!e#t of e()eri%ent: the situation to "hi#h this organis% is e()osed in the %o%ent: and so%ething )er%anent "hi#h stands on a higher level than both and "hi#h alone #an resolve the relation bet"een the t"o&"....... .......?3CNV5T?.......

a"i9 2nited :ingdom alilouR%fung"eUhot%ail&#o%

added 2003.0<.0K

Re: 3-way attention

Hi 7avlan Than$ you again& I believe your for%ulation to be 8uite #orre#t and %y )ara)hrasing of Eodney ;ollin to be rather slo))y for "hi#h I a)ologise& I in#lude here an 5;E e(tra#t fro% the afore%entioned boo$:.....NV5T? NV5T?....... "&&& it %ay be %u#h %ore )ossible to re%e%ber oneself and one's surroundings in the )resen#e of so%ething else& +s "e have seen no )heno%enon is )rodu#ed by t"o for#es: every )heno%enon and every real result re8uires three for#es& The )ra#ti#e of self.re%e%bering self re%e%bering or division of attention is #onne#ted "ith the atte%)t to )rodu#e a #ertain )heno%enon the birth of #ons#iousness in oneself& +nd "hen this begins to ha))en attention re#ognises "ith relief and !oy not t"o but b three fa#tors . one's o"n organis% the sub!e#t of e()eri%ent: the situation to "hi#h this organis% is e()osed in the %o%ent: and so%ething )er%anent "hi#h stands on a higher level than both and "hi#h alone #an resolve the relation bet"een the t"o&"....... t"o&" ...?3CNV5T?.......

a"i9 2nited :ingdom alilouR%fung"eUhot%ail&#o%

added 2003.0<.0K

Transmutation of the binary into the quaternary

Hello +li& I find the above #o%%ent of yours very valuable againS aga 1ith the Eodney ;ollin's state%ent you 8uoted above I find his definition of "three fa#tors" rather sub!e#tive and li%ited in s#o)e& Still I see frag%ents of truth in "hat he "rites:

(The practice of self0remembering remembering or di'ision of attention is connected connected with the attempt to produce a certain phenomenon, the birth of consciousness in oneself.(
'or #larifi#ation and also for #onne#ting this state%ent "ith the 'our."ay 'our "ay Ciagra% I )resented I "ould li$e to )oint out that this "#ertain )heno%enon" #an be be born at either a lo#ation #lose to the #enter of our being or a lo#ation farther a"ay fro% it or at both& In this res)e#t "the birth of #ons#iousness in oneself" "ith "relief and !oy" should be stri#tly distinguished fro% the birth of a ne" thought in oneself& It is good if the both ha))en si%ultaneously then one's $no"ledge is %at#hed by his being& 1hen this ha))ens it %ay be )ossible to see it as a )ro#ess that leads us to "hat Gurd!ieff #alled "trans%utation of the binary into the 8uaternary&" I find that this sub!e#t is #losely related to the follo"ing state%ent in the Beelzebub's Tales ,;ha)ter 3<-:

(As regards the third stopinder which was changed in its sub-ecti'e action and which is fifth in the series and called Eharnel0aoot,E Eharnel aoot,E its disharmony came about by itself, simply as a result of the change of the other two stopinders. (This disharmony of its sub-ecti'e functioning, resulting from its EasymmetryE in relation to the whole process of the sacred Heptaparaparshino)h, consists in the following& (+f the completing process of this sacred law flows in conditions in which it is sub-ect to many Ee*traneouslyE causedE 'ibrations, its functioning produces only e*ternal results. (But if this same process ta)es place in absolute 2uiet, in the absence of any e*traneously caused 'ibrations whate'er, all the results of the functioning of this stopinder remain within that concentration in which the process is completed, and these hese results only become perceptible to the outside on direct and immediate contact with it. (But if during the functioning of this process neither of these two sharply opposite conditions predominates, the results of its action usually di'ide into the e*ternal e* and the internal.(

In referen#e to the last state%ent in the 8uotation above "e(ternal" #orres)onds to the u)"ard dire#tion in %y 'our."ay "ay Ciagra%: "internal" to the do"n"ard dire#tion #loser to the #enter&