Reading Beelzebub’s Tales

October 6. 2025:

Our reading of An Objectively Impartial Criticism of the Life of Man or, Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson is fully underway, with a strong beginning. The readings by group members have been excellent and discussions rich. 

To reiterate the suggestion is that this undertaking will allow us to read the writings thrice, as suggested in "Friendly Advice" and perhaps come closer to "fathoming the gist" of Gurdjieff's writing. In a given week: 1. read the section we will read as a group before the meeting; 2. Listen to the new chapter read by one of our members; 3. reread the section we read together as a group. For me this requires spending 10 or 15 minutes reading every day, itself a fruitful rhythm of work. 

One piece in particular from yesterday's reading that I think bears pondering is the first description of the properties of the organ Kundabuffer.

"So, my boy, in view of this the Most High Commission then decided among other things provisionally to implant into the common presences of the three-brained beings there a special organ with a property such that, first, they should perceive reality topsy-turvy and, secondly, that every repeated impression from outside should crystallize in them data which would engender factors for evoking in them sensations of 'pleasure' and 'enjoyment.'

October 13, 2025:

Our reading of The Tales continued last night with a fine reading of chapters 13, 14 and 15 -- "Why in Man's Reason Fantasy May Be Perceived as Reality", "The Beginnings of Perspectives Promising Nothing Very Cheerful" and "The First Descent of Beelzebub upon the Planet Earth".

 Among many other things, we were introduced to the teaching of "Being Parktdolg Duty" ("threefold duty"), and the chief impediments to its actualization, the inner-evil-god, Self-Calming and suggestibility. We heard the term keschapmartnian which literally translates from the Armenian as “Half-human-being” (thanks Nelli Sargisyan). Though the translation is a clue, it is itself a concept for active pondering. And we have "the first descent" and the parable of King Appolis and Samlios to consider in light of our work.

Though the writing sometimes seems gratuitously convoluted, in fact the concentration of ideas is extraordinarily high. We are invited to read and consider carefully and deeply and at the same time, as Ed highlighted in our meeting, resist the impulse to determine "what it means". How to read this extraordinary text in an all-centers-balanced collected state...

As mentioned earlier the suggestion for our reading group is to read each section three times as part of our work together -- reread the chapter we read in the preceding week; read the chapter we are going to read; and listen to the reading with the group. In this way we have a better opportunity to understand these new and important ideas deeply. This may seem to be a large demand but Gurdjieff's work, arguably a lawfully created legominism, requires it. 

In particular, be active in your reading and write down questions to bring to the group for our collective inquiry. Our understanding deepens together. 

Next Sunday Neil will read Chapter 16, "The Relative Understanding of Time". 

Again the link information for people not attending in person is here and the schedule is here. All are welcome.