Living in Essence

This week, we are continuing work with The Body - The Chain exercise. 

Our theme is coming into contact with essence, the pattern and frequency of ourselves. We experience this when coming in contact with Being, as we nourish and bring presence in the brain, spine, and plexus. It is to 'savor' myself, and the richness of the unique being I inhabit, and at the same time try to be in relation to essence in others. In an objective sense, this is 'being real'. With it comes an appreciation of the pattern each one is, as afforded by heredity, the conditions of the moments of conception and birth, and perhaps work on being. 

Reading Beelzebub’s Tales

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.'

Preparing to Fast

In response to one of our members who asked about Movements class on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year on the Jewish calendar, I thought to suggest that we take the opportunity to make the day one of strong practice for the group, including fasting for those who wish. 

I am not suggesting that we do a "religious" fast, rather that we take it as an opportunity to work for ourselves. It is an invitation to reflection, presence, and voluntary suffering; to gather our disparate parts in the light of awareness and strive to work under a common authority, and for a common aim. 

At the same time it is important to be active -- even more than usual. Assuming you are not participating in religious rituals, take the time you are not eating to pray in the manner we are learning. A half hour in the morning, afternoon, and evening with the AUM exercise we have been working with. Strive to watch associations and strive to be collected. Use the discomfort of hunger as a source of energy to keep a presence that allows "I" to observe "me". 

The fast includes unnecessary information (news, socials, podcasts, etc.) and unnecessary speech.  If you need to be in life, at work with others, take care that your fast and work are invisible. In the work, fasting is not a wellness protocol. It is a means of struggling with ourselves, turning up the heat for our inner work. 

From Fragments:

G. explained at the beginning of the fast that the difficulty in fasting consisted in not leaving unused the substances which are prepared in the organism for the digestion of food.

"These substances consist of very strong solutions," he said. "And if they are left without attention they will poison the organism. They must be used up. But how can they be used up if the organism gets no food? Only by an increase of work, an increase of perspiration. People make a tremendous mistake when they try to 'save their strength,' make fewer movements, and so on, when fasting. On the contrary it is necessary to expend as much energy as possible. Then fasting can be beneficial." 

And when we began our fast we were not left in peace for a single second...

Jesus has something to say about this in Matthew 6:16‑18 KJV. 

The day begins at sundown this Wednesday and concludes at sundown on Thursday-- 7pm. The invitation is to fast from taking any food or drink for 24 hours. For those who can, we will start together with our Movements class on Wednesday evening and conclude at our group meeting on Thursday evening. We will have something to eat and drink together at the start of the meeting. 

 If you choose to undertake this effort, be mindful of your well-being. If it is clear that you need to eat or drink, decide to end the fast and take the nourishment you need. There is nothing to prove to anyone (including ourselves) and there is no place here for pride. As we will not be together in person, it is imperative that each takes responsibility for him or herself. The key thing is that the work be intentional. If you see fasting is not for you, try to consider a way of turning up the heat during the day of shared effort-- make a plan and intention and follow it (and if you need to modify the plan during the day, do so intentionally).