The Fourth Way
A philosophy which combines the ideas of George Gurdjieff, P.D. Ouspensky, and Jiddu Krishnamurti is often referred to as the **Fourth Way** or **Fourth Way teachings**. This term primarily originates from Gurdjieff's work, but some modern interpretations and practices blend his teachings with those of Ouspensky and Krishnamurti.
Let's explore how these ideas intersect and form a cohesive philosophy.
### George Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky
**Gurdjieff's Teachings:**
- **Self-Remembering:** A central concept is the practice of "self-remembering," which involves becoming aware of oneself in the present moment.
- **The Fourth Way:** Gurdjieff proposed that there are three traditional ways to achieve spiritual enlightenment: the way of the fakir (physical discipline), the way of the monk (emotional discipline), and the way of the yogi (mental discipline). The Fourth Way combines all three and can be practiced in daily life.
- **Work on Oneself:** Gurdjieff emphasized the need for personal effort and "work on oneself" to achieve higher states of consciousness.
**Ouspensky's Role:**
- **Systematization:** P.D. Ouspensky, a student of Gurdjieff, helped to systematize and articulate Gurdjieff's teachings. His book "In Search of the Miraculous" is a comprehensive account of Gurdjieff's ideas.
- **Expanding the Teachings:** Ouspensky further developed the concepts of self-awareness and the necessity of psychological and spiritual work.
### Jiddu Krishnamurti's Teachings
**Key Concepts:**
- **Freedom from Conditioning:** Krishnamurti stressed the importance of freeing oneself from societal and psychological conditioning to achieve true understanding.
- **Self-Observation:** He encouraged direct observation of one's thoughts and feelings without judgment, leading to self-knowledge.
- **Insight and Understanding:** Krishnamurti believed that insight arises from deep understanding and awareness, not through following any specific method or teacher.
### Combining the Philosophies
1. **Self-Awareness and Observation:**
- Both Gurdjieff/Ouspensky and Krishnamurti emphasize the importance of self-awareness and self-observation. Gurdjieff's concept of "self-remembering" aligns with Krishnamurti's advocacy for observing oneself without judgment.
2. **Inner Work and Personal Effort:**
- The Fourth Way's focus on continuous personal effort and inner work to achieve higher consciousness resonates with Krishnamurti's insistence on individual responsibility for one's own spiritual awakening.
3. **Freedom from Conditioning:**
- Krishnamurti's idea of liberating oneself from conditioning complements the Fourth Way's aim of breaking free from mechanical behaviors and automatic reactions.
4. **Integration of Daily Life:**
- Both philosophies encourage integrating spiritual practice into daily life. The Fourth Way specifically aims to use everyday activities as opportunities for self-observation and inner growth, which aligns with Krishnamurti's approach of finding truth through living attentively in each moment.
### Practical Applications
- **Self-Observation Exercises:** Practitioners might combine Gurdjieff's structured exercises for self-remembering with Krishnamurti's meditative observation.
- **Study Groups and Dialogues:** Engaging in group discussions to explore these ideas can help deepen understanding and facilitate practical application.
- **Daily Mindfulness Practices:** Incorporating mindfulness into everyday activities aligns with both Gurdjieff's and Krishnamurti's teachings.
### Conclusion
The philosophy that blends Gurdjieff's and Ouspensky's teachings with Krishnamurti's thinking is characterized by a shared emphasis on self-awareness, the integration of spiritual practice into daily life, and the pursuit of inner freedom from conditioning. This integrated approach encourages individuals to observe themselves deeply, work continuously on their own development, and ultimately achieve higher states of consciousness and understanding.
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Comments (3)
Franto Hruz
15
Online Income Systems Development
The video is a very good introduction to the Fourth Way - thanks for sharing the link to the Mind Sparks Group
On Vent
9
Mind Development Ventures
... let your thoughts be Mind Sparks - https://bio.link/mindworks
Barry Mansfield
1
Philosophical Poet
I just finished reading this article and these concepts are definitely nothing new to me I learned of them and started practicing them many years ago this is one of the ways I live my life through self-examination.
What I learned a long time ago was that lying to myself or others is a waste of time and energy and all it does is cause confusion and a need to keep up the lies.
I practice self-examination continuously I don't make myself crazy by second-guessing myself but I do see or look that wha