About the way
There gradually arose in me that ‘something’ which has brought the whole of me to the unshakeable conviction that, apart from the vanities of life, there exists a “something else” which must be the aim and ideal of every man, and it is only this something else that may make a man really happy and can give him real values, instead of the illusory goods with which he is always full.”
G. I. Gurdjieff, “Skridlov” in Meetings With Remarkable Men
Every human being has an essential, but hidden, need to be present in his or her life and to be inwardly free. In response to this need, G. I. Gurdjieff brought a teaching that is neither religious nor philosophical, to be practiced in the conditions of daily life. Self-observation and self-awareness are central to this path. It is an ongoing search to find a harmonious connection between body, thought, and emotion. This practice engages the entire being and allows one to open oneself to another quality of attention.
“What is meditation? My body consciously gives itself to another energy. At first, it does not agree. But little by little the body wants it. It feels happiness, and even – joy… This energy is not the body. It comes from somewhere else, perhaps from the planets, perhaps even further away. It needs the body to express itself and organize itself. It is this that will create what we sometimes call the soul.”
Michel de Salzmann
In the Gurdjieff groups, there is personal practice alongside activities which are undertaken together in a group; these may include meditation, small group meetings, ‘Movements’ classes, music, physical work, various crafts, and studying the ideas of Gurdjieff’s teachings. All of these are components of the practical spiritual path brought by G. I. Gurdjieff, and all have the aim of understanding and being in touch with the true nature of the world and of oneself. They foster attention and openness which enable an awakening to life, to self-remembering, and to being present in the moment.
“Beyond the thin shell of imagined reality there is another reality. Something, for some reason, stands between us and it.”
P. D. Ouspensky
In the late 1950’s, a group of young people gathered around Dr. Joseph Schechter, a teacher and philosopher, who awakened in them an interest in existential questions concerning the meaning of life and inner development. In 1960, this group founded Yodfat as an agricultural community seeking to live a spiritual life. The members explored various spiritual paths, including Gurdjieff’s teachings.
In 1968, they approached the Gurdjieff Center in Paris and, with its blessing, formed the Gurdjieff Groups, which were later called “Drahim – Gurdjieff Groups of Israel”. The main house of the groups is still in Yodfat, and another center of “Drahim” is located in central Israel. “Drahim” – which mean “Paths” – maintains continuous contact and exchange visits with the center in Paris, as well as with other Gurdjieff centers around the world.
G. I. Gurdjieff (1866 -1949)
George Ivanovich Gurdjieff was born in the Caucasus, to a Greek father and an Armenian mother. In his book “Meetings with Remarkable Men”, he describes his unique upbringing which evoked in him many questions concerning the meaning of life. Finding no satisfactory answers in religion or science, his search became the focus of his life and led to his search for hidden ancient knowledge. He was able to make contact with various communities throughout Central Asia and the Middle East, where parts of this ancient knowledge were still alive. Gurdjieff travelled for many years, seeking and integrating the practical wisdom and knowledge which constitutes his teaching.
In 1912, Gurdjieff arrived in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where a small group of students interested in his teaching gathered around him. Due to the conditions during World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, Gurdjieff left Russia together with his closest students, intending to bring his teaching to seekers in the West. In 1922, he founded the “Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man” at Fontainebleau near Paris. In the years between the two world wars, Gurdjieff taught many students and wrote his main work, “Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson”. He also visited the United States and other countries, lectured to the general public and organized public performances of the sacred dances and exercises called ‘the Movements’.
During the Second World War, Gurdjieff lived in a small apartment in Paris and worked tirelessly to create a nucleus of students who would be able to continue this multi-faceted quest, later known simply as “The Work”. After Gurdjieff’s death in 1949, students from all over the world continued under the guidance of Mme. Jeanne de Salzmann, who was authorized by Gurdjieff to continue his work. Centers were first founded in Paris, London, New York and Caracas in order to establish a direct transmission of his teachings. Over the years, many new groups have been added, including the group in Israel.
To be Present in Life
Group work is an essential feature of the way brought by Gurdjieff. Working together with others in various activities allows us to experience simply being present in life.
In this video, a ‘Movements’ class is working on “Slow Second Obligatory” by Gurdjieff.
Impressions from work in Gurdjieff groups
Publications
Books by G.I. Gurdjieff:
Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson
Preferably the 1992 edition. The most difficult of Gurdjieff’s books to approach, a work that remains vitally relevant and constantly revealing new depths throughout a lifetime of study.
Meetings With Remarkable Menrandson
An autobiography of Gurdjieff’s early years, although the accuracy of the account is always of secondary importance to the message that he wishes to convey. Contains much material that is “buried deep” in the stories, whose value often surfaces long after the first reading.
Life Is Real Only Then, When I Am
Also called “The Third Series”, an unfinished collection of talks and lectures, containing unique gems, but perhaps best studied after having worked in the groups for some years.
Views From the Real World, Early Talks of Gurdjieff
Talks from different periods and places; very valuable because it is Gurdjieff’s own voice, and an entirely different approach from the systematic structure laid out by Ouspensky.
Gurdjieff’s Teaching:
In Search of the Miraculous, Fragments of an Unknown Teaching, P. D. Ouspensky
The clearest and most accessible presentation of almost all the system of knowledge that Gurdjieff brought. This is where any discussion of Work ideas begins.
FAQ’s
What is the “Fourth Way”?
The “Fourth Way” is a term sometimes used to describe the Gurdjieff Work. This teaching is practiced in the ordinary conditions of life, and involves inner study through the simultaneous work on the three centers: thought, emotion and body, with the aim of developing our full Being and Consciousness. Today, the term “the Fourth Way” is used mainly by the followers of P. D. Ouspensky, a pupil of Gurdjieff.
What are the Group activities?
- Group meetings
A weekly meeting in which there is an exchange of experiences brought by the members of the group. - Movements classes:
The practice of ‘Movements’ (or ‘sacred dances’) brought by Gurdjieff. - “Work Days”
Every few weeks, a ‘work day’ takes place in the Gurdjieff center (near Yodfat in the Galilee), in which all the groups participate. The purpose of these days is to practice being present while doing practical work such as crafts, cooking, gardening, working in the orchard and vineyard, construction, as well as cleaning and maintenance of the house. - Study meetings
The practical study of the ideas brought by Gurdjieff, as reflected in his own books and in books by his pupils.
How can I join the groups (or how do I know if this path is right for me)?
Introductory meetings, open to the general public, are held in Tel Aviv and the North several times a year. The purpose of these meetings is to allow those who are interested to get to know the Way, the ideas, to experiment and get a taste of the practice. Joining an existing group or becoming part of a new group is possible after this initial introduction, which may last from a few weeks to several months, according to the circumstances at the time.
Who are the teachers in the groups?
The group meetings are facilitated by a team of 2-3 older members who support the practice of the group and allow it to deepen. The senior members of the group are in contact with the Gurdjieff center in France, as well as with other groups throughout the world. The teachers who show the ‘Movements’ have been specially trained to transmit them.
