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Product Description
This text describes Gurdjieff's cosmology from Ouspensky's perspective as student, and shows how Ouspensky's formulation of his own ideas eventually led to his break with Gurdjieff. The book conveys a strong and lasting impression that not only did Ouspensky discover a real knowledge about man and his relationship with the universe, but that a practical cosmic teaching for the conduct of life is even now in existence.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
63 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For me, this was perhaps one of the most important books I have read in the last ten years. P D Ouspensky was a Russian mathamatician/Philosopher of astounding intellect, who spent most of his years trying to answer those questions that have plagued mankind since our ancestors began to comprehend their existence. Why are we here, what should we be doing, and how can we improve, amongst others. With his scientific background he is not led nor blinded by the ideas of the fantastic, as so many 'new age' authors are, but by the determined resolve to find the truth in things. Although more famous for his time spent with Gurdjieff and subsequent works on his 'system' his earlier books still stand out like breaths of fresh air, still shining new light on old problems unafraid to look from different angles and dispute that which is unfounded of defies common sense. This book is more of a diary of his time with 'G' from the moment they meet to the moment they depart, and the fatastic accounts of in between. Ouspensky is no fool, and is instantly likeable for his honest,unshakeably grounded approach to all the ideas of 'the master'. What happens is a fantastic account of a 'no holes barred' system, that isn't afraid to tell poeple that which they dont wish to hear, whilst at the same time giving us a glimpse of the light at the end of our tunnels. This book inspired me to go on and read his other works, and those of gurdjieff - which together have given me a new direction for understanding some of the most difficult areas of philosophy and religion. I am not saying I agree with all the ideas, but if you want a book to make you really think about your life. This is about the best start you can get.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
These are mostly transcriptions of Gurdjieff's Moscow teachings. But whilst Gurdjieff writes horribly, with a cumbersome and awkward style, Ouspensky is a fine journalist and documenter, showing the basis of Gurdjieff's system and the divergence between this and the teacher's own, often frustrated path. It is as if G knew many of the answers but was not able fully to put them into practice.
Gurdjieff teaches self-awareness through self observation. Notice that you notice, ask what is doing the noticing and then remember that point which notices in each and every moment. Then you will begin to function as a person rather than a thing which responds only to internal and external stimuli.
Gurdjieff then explores the nature of what a person is: a complex layer of being, of various levels which he describes using often confusing metaphors from music (octaves as layers of being) and chemistry (hydrogens as the materials; of a physical or existential sort which noursih these levels)
The point of life is to realise ourselves fully; a path which cannot be isolated and requires us to help others.
Gurdjieff is often mischievous in his teaching style, exposing pomp mercilessly, but never cruelly, and demanding an authenticity worthy of a follower of Kierkegaard. You often feel he is deliberately challenging you, throwing in random absurdities to check you are of independent mind and not a blind proselyte, and even gently taking the piss.
A book to read many times.
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the most extraordinary books ever written. Ouspensky, a mathematician, writer, and intellectual meets a system of spiritual development, ancient but at the same time strikingly new in its formulation, and descibes it in lucid and even entertaining prose.
The teacher of this system was G.I.Gurdjieff. The origins of both the man and his teaching are obscure, and Gurdjieff did his best to make the teaching itself obscure to the point of absurdity. The reason for this, as stated in the introductory chapter of Gurdjieff's own book, 'All and Everything,' was to shake up our habitual thinking, to prevent the ideas being simply amalgamated with our habitual ways of thought. Gurdjieff having achieved this, it fell to Ouspensky to untangle the system again and present it for the modern mind. This he achieved not merely by an intellectual effort, but by verifying the system in himself. This book records the unfolding of the teaching almost in the style of a novel.
It is in this book that Ouspensky states most clearly one of the core ideas of the fourth way system: 'we do not remember ourselves.' Contrary to all our usual assumptions, we do not possess consciousness. Ouspensky's achievement of this initial and very humbling realisation is recorded with great candour. Yet this is the foundation of all that follows: a programme for the psychological and spiritual development of human beings.
In the opinion of this reviewer, this book, together with the much more intellectual 'The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution,' are Peter Ouspensky's greatest books. They contain insights, obvious to those who have studied the system seriously, which remain entirely absent from mainstream psychology and philosophy.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
r
I do not remember the description saying that there was underscoring thoughout this book. I would have chosen another seller had I known.
Published 7 months ago by sunnysusie
Is this some sort of joke? I thought scientology was bad!!!
Get this pseudo-philosophical book off the shelves and into a bomb fire as soon as possible and get the cult leaders who peddle this nonsense to our young people in exchange for... Read more
Published 9 months ago by riverkey
A way for the "spiritual" householder
P.D.Ouspensky was a proponent of G.I.Gurdjieff's teachings that he called "The Fourth Way" (which is a spiritual path other than the paths for yogis, monks or fakirs). Read more
Published 18 months ago by D. V. Short
A must read...if you want to get closer to knowing yourself
Only half way through the book and think it provides amazing insights into human physchology and ties it into spirituality, "how to remember yourself" and master yourself. Read more
Published on 9 Aug 2009 by Y. Kansagra
Great Introduction to the Esoteric Work
P.D. Ouspensky's "In Search of the Miraculous" is one of the most profound and one of most memorable books that I have ever read, and it is most certainly the must-read. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2008 by Zadius Sky
An Awakening Experience
People interact with each other purely in a mechanical way. Most of them prefer this way of "life", going about their business totally asleep. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Lynne Grey
An Awakening Experience
People interact with each other purely in a mechanical way. Most of them prefer this way of "life", going about their business totally asleep. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Lynne Grey
An Awakening Experience
People interact with each other purely in a mechanical way. Most of them prefer this way of "life", going about their business totally asleep. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Lynne Grey
An Awakening Experience
People interact with each other purely in a mechanical way. Most of them prefer this way of "life", going about their business totally asleep. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Lynne Grey
An Awakening Experience
People interact with each other purely in a mechanical way. Most of them prefer this way of "life", going about their business totally asleep. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2007 by Lynne Grey
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