Second Line

[Amir]

In what forms can a man satisfy his second line of work?

[James Parkinson]

Good question, Amir. I read it last week and have been thinking about it since. It appears this is part of the second line of work for me. Reading your messages, emails, thoughts and feelings about people, the Work and life has challenged me to work. One doesn't have to be in the physical presence of another to work in certain ways. I think it is limiting in many ways not to be physically present but in other ways it is a benefit. Depends on what we need to work personally.

The main thing, in my opinion, is pressing into relationships with other people in the Work and getting close enough to rub against them psychologically. Friction, heat, work and hopefully, if they're all mixed properly there will be change of Being.

[Amir]

Should a man look to satisfy his second line with those who are, more or less, normal? That is to say, Gurdjieff spoke of the level of the obyvatel -- the householder -- and it seems to me that at this point in time there are many people who subscribe to the Fourth Way system in a way which distorts the teaching and adapts it further and further towards the characteristics of a religion. Tramps and lunatics, unfettered by any immediate authority, study the ideas for years, participate in "legitimate" groups, refer to themselves as Gurdjieffians, or blend the system with Zen, New Age Spirituality, and so on.

It seems to me that if the requirement of a second line is to create psychological friction while discussing the theoretical and practical application of the Fourth Way system, then it doesn't necessarily matter if a man does so in a room full of householders or degenerates. The second line is still technically filled, despite the question of quality and efficacy. Or perhaps this is absolutely wrong and a man needs to meet and interact with normal householders who are capable of using these ideas in the right way, at least some of the time.

[James Parkinson]

It is my understanding that the Second Line of Work is work with others in the Work. If one is to be quite literal then the people would have to be in the Work. What does that mean? In a group? In a certified group? Certified by whom?

From my perspective it is absurd to think that the system Gurdjieff relayed could possibly be kept the way it was when he relayed it. He couldn't even do that because he must have known the truth is fluid and therefore takes the shape it needs to take under different circumstances. Also, the system that Gurdjieff relayed didn't just start with him. It came from many people, many different traditions, times and places. The Source of truth is the same always. I have no problem with people finding Zen or anything else in it. If it helps one to awaken it's good. If it puts one to sleep it's bad.

Of course it's easy to get off track with our work due to the condition in which we find ourselves or the condition in which the Work finds us. We must ask ourselves if the Work, the Conscious Circle of Humanity, Higher Influences, Greater Mind is capable of leading us through our own delusion if we are sincere and willing to work. Clearly I have answered this question for myself but I expect every one must answer this question for him or her self at some point if they are to proceed with the ideas.

Tramps, lunatics and hasnamuss reside in each of us. To meet them out there is an opportunity to see them in here. The question is can I work? My answer is a resounding yes, I can work! My Being will attract exactly what I need to develop.

[Amir]

Thanks for this, James.

For mixing the Work ideas with other or older traditions, I mean to say that they take the external form and language of the Fourth Way system and blend it with the external form and language of others. They take the clarity of the ideas, the categories and representations it presents and outlines, and mix them with anything and everything. It seems to me that this type of action denigrates the quality and intelligence of the Work ideas, brings them down the Tower of Babel and, so to speak, lowers them to our level, the ordinary level of life where it is, again, that much more difficult to understand one another. And since the second line is based on communicating with others in the Work, it seems to me that a standard has to be maintained as to intentionally filter out those who aren't able to digest these ideas or aren't able to insulate and protect them from other ideas.

I just wonder how much of an impact that filtering process has on the quality of the second line.

[James Parkinson]

I don't know, Amir. From the current understanding I am able to reach it seems all C influences must be reduced to B and then finally to A influences. It's the way it is here under 48 orders of laws. The only person I may be able to do anything about is me. After all these years I have come to a point of view concerning the Work that borders on survival. So many people have come and gone that the only one I can work with all the time is me. At this stage in my development I do not feel the need to guard the Work, just do it. It is true it is difficult for us to understand one another but I think there are easier ways to get to understanding than through the filtering out of those who aren't able to digest these ideas or able to insulate and protect them from other ideas. My experiences has proved to me they will filter themselves out. I do not think the truth needs a protector so I don't play the part of one. If someone else feels the need then I'm okay with that.