Self-remembering

[Amir]

James, what does the effort of self-remembering consist of for you?

What are the immediate characteristics of the effort and what are the "muscles" you exercise in order to feel yourself in the world?

[James Parkinson]

Amir, I've thought about this some and I can't say that there is an effort involved so much. It's more a wish to remember myself and out of that wish, desire, intention, longing I remember myself. Self-remembering is a bit misleading as it makes it sound as if there is one kind, degree or level of self-remembering. This has not been my experience. The Self I wish to remember I do not know. It seems I can come closer to it by being more present, awake, aware or be more asleep to it by being identified with some person, place, thing or dream. The Self I wish to remember is an experience and an experience can be had but not necessarily defined. Also, I'm pretty much at a loss to define what "muscles" I may exercise. I suppose what leads to an episode of regular self-remembering is remembering my aim, realizing I am not awake, not one. It's different at different times as is the quality of the state of self-remembering. If I think of anything else I'll be back. Why do you ask?

[Amir]

The details relating to the Ray of Creation and the Table of Hydrogens have the capacity to be understood to a very granular and deep level. You can view it from a broad perspective or magnify your point of view so that you are able to analyze everything to a level which spells out a design which is beyond human invention. The ideas are therefore exquisite because though emphasis is placed on understanding the ideas through the entirety of a man's functions and perceptions, they can be poked at indefinitelyby intellect alone.

Since that portion of the Fourth Way system illustrates those qualities, those characteristics which stun at least some of us with their elaborate design, why would that not be the case for the rest of the ideas? Gurdjieff described men of the ordinary type as machines. He outlined the core centers and described their separate and individual functions. Therefore, why would the prescription to remember ourselves always and everywhere be left as an ambiguous, unclear, vague effort? The machine's functions have to be utilized in some fashion or other, through discipline and intense purpose.

G.W.Goodwin has described the effort to me as consisting in understanding the functions of a man according to the level at which they are based. So the four centers are divided each into three stories: (1) instinctive-moving, (2) emotional, and (3) intellectual. Or you could describe each of the stories by their key qualities: (1) mechanical, (2) violent, and (3) intentional.

To remember yourself (e.g. an effort intended to bring a man's machine to order and raise himself to a level which is conducive to the third state of consciousness) would in this case mean exercising the highest storey of each center in one whole effort. The intentional level of at least three centers would need to be stimulated and engaged towards feeling oneself in the world, being aware of both the environment and one's inner world.

One of my key issues in life is having difficulty accepting other people's opinions, but it is obvious that there are many aspects to all of this which I will only slowly understand according to my type, age, experiences, and the quality of my efforts to struggle and develop. However, with that said, I have a hard time understanding why so few discuss the ideas or understand them in this same sober fashion which I have been able to glean from Greg's essays in connection with ISOTM and other Fourth Way books/resources. There is an exactitude to these ideas, an intense, elaborate, and deep design which clearly distinguishes them away from other ideas.

[James Parkinson]

It takes what it takes for each individual. I don't seem to have the same issues as you so it takes something different for me. Apparently you and Greg share a common interest and type. Perhaps when you compare the rest of us and our work to your and Greg's work it's difficult to understand how we may work. I assure you esoteric ideas flowing from the source allow for many different ways to work.

It may be that once the Emotional Center is awakened and purified to a degree that the Intellectual Center takes a back seat to it. This has been my experience.

[Amir]

Thanks James -- I'll keep that in mind.