gurdjieff institute prospectus

8/6/2019 Gurdjieff Institute Prospectus

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No.1

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J G . GURD JIE FF 'SIN ST ITUTE FOR THEHARMON IOUSDEVELOPMENTOF M AN

11 1! l;-v

Main Branch:F RANCEFONTA I NEBLEAU

(Formerly "Chateau du Prieure")


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G . G U R D JIE FF 'SIN ST ITU TE FO R TH E H ARM ON IO U SD EVELO PM ENT O F M AN

The Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man bythe G. 1 . Gurdjieff system is practically the continuation of theSociety that went under the name of the "Seekers after Truth."This Society was founded in 1895 by a group of various specialists,including doctors, archaeologists, priests, painters, etc., whose aimwas to study in close collaboration so-called supernatural phe-nomena, in which each of them was interested from a particularpoint of view.During the existence of the Society, its members undertookmany very difficult journeys, mostly in Persia, Afghanistan,Turkestan, Thibet, India, but also in other countries. Theyalso undertook a good deal of work of various descriptions inconnection with their object, which involved much labour and

organisation.Throughout the period of travel and work many of the Society'smembers lost their lives, while others from time to time abandonedthe task, and only a small number returned to Russia in 1913,under the leadership of 1\1r.Gurdjieff.Their first stop was at Tashkent, but 1\1r. Gurdjieff subse-quently set up hisheadquarters in Moscow with the intention ofarranging the material that had been collected and of putting topract.ical use such of it as was adapted to the purpose.A course of lectures given by 1\1r. Gurdjieff resulted in a

number of men of science, representing all branches, rallyinground him, and the number of people interested in his ideasbegan rapidly to increase.He then resolved to give effect to the plan that he had longentertained of founding a training establishment under the name


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-2-of the" Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man" forthe study of his ideas and in order to put into practice his systemof training.But the war and the subsequent events in Russia hinderedthis plan and, being compelled by circumstances to leave Moscow,he travelled from country to country and at last settled in Europe.Notwithstanding the enormous difficulties arising out of theevents of recent years, 1\1r. Gurdjieff nevertheless contrived toorganise several scientific expeditions and to form groups invarious cities with a programme for the study of the theoreticalpart of the work.The site he had long been looking for was at last found inFrance, at Fontainebleau, near Paris, where Mr. Gurdjieff in1922 acquired by purchase the old chateau called Le Prieure,and where he founded a permanent centre of the Institute according to his original plan. .Although the period of organisation is not yet complete, themain branch of the Institute is already capable of accommodatingtwo hundred attending and one hundred resident students andin a short time these numbers will increase.The circle of those interested in the ideas of the Institute iscontinually widening, while the members of the Institute in aUcountries is now not far short of 5,000, of all nationalities and

religions..The Institute divides its adherents into two categories:1) Those who are interested in the ideas of the Institute, onthe information already acquired, and2) Those who wish to be trained according to the Institute'sown ideas.The Gurdjieff Institute's system of harmonious training isbased upon conclusions arising out of the theses set out below.Owing to the conditions of modern life, man has departed fromhis original type, that is to say from the type he should havebecome by virtue of his surroundings: place, society and culturein which he was born and nurtured.By their very nature; these conditions marked out for man


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-3- ~the paths of development and the final normal type to which heshould have attained. The civilisation of our time, with itsunlimited means for extending its influence, has wrenched man fromthe normal conditions in which he should be living. It is truethat civilisation has opened up for man new paths in the domainsof knowledge, science and economic life, and thereby enlarged his


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_4-ception in any given case is possible only if all three centres worktogether. But, owing to many disturbing influences affectingmodern man, the working of the psychic centres is almost dis-connected. Consequently his intellectual, emotional and inst.inc-t.ive or moving functions fail to complete and correct one another,but, on the contrary, they travel along different roads which vcryrarely meet, and thus allow.of very fewmoments of consciousness.The failure of the three centres to co-ordinate is due to thefact that there are, as it were, three different men in a singleindividual, the first of whom does nothing but think, the secondonly feels and the third only lives by his instincts and motorfunctions: a logical man, an emotional man and an automatic man.These three men in one never understand one another; con-

sciously and unconsciously they frustrate the plans, the intentionsand the work of one another; and yet each of them at the momentt when he is in action occupies a prepotent position and callshimself "1."

Observation of the disunited and contradictory action of thecentres shews that man cannot be master of himself, since it isnot he who governs his centres, and he bimself does not knowwhich of his centres will hegin to function next. People do notnotice this, because they are under the illusion of the unity oftheir" 1'8" and of their general psychic constitution.If a correct observation of the psychic activities of man is

made, it will he clearly seen that modern man never acts of hisown accord, and for reasons within himself, but by his actionmerely expresses the ehanges that are induced in his mechanismhy external causes. It is not man who thinks, but somethingthinks in him; he does not act, but something aets through him;he does not create, but something creates in him; he does notaccomplish, but something accomplishes through him.This thesis becomes particularly clear when we understand theprocess of perception by each centre of external (and internal)influences and similarly the process by which responsive actionsare brought about.The psychic centres of a newborn child maybe compared toblank phonograph rolls, upon which from the first day the im-pressions of both the internal and external worlds inscribe them-selves. The matter thus impressed is preserved in each centre inthe same order, sometimes absurd, and in tbe same relations inwhich the impressions were actually received in life.


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The processes of imagination, memory, judgment, reasoningand thinking are made up exclusively of the matter inscribed,which combines and associates in various ways under the influenceof chance shocks. These shocks set in motion with more or lessintensity one or another of the rolls whose contents (the matterinscribed on it) thus become the centre of association in thegiven case. A further shock, or a shock of different intensity,evokes yet another association and, consequently, another trainof thoughts, feelings and acts. 'And no centre can add anythingfrom itself or anything new to the combinations thus formed, norcan it draw upon the. material formed in the other centres ...,It will be understood from this that man's world perception isalways the work of only a part of his being, or, stated differently,that man has three different processes of perception. These pro-

cesses have but little association with one another, or associatequite by chance and only partially. Therefore every judgmentt man forms about things is the work of merely a part of his psychicconstitution and the expression of but a fraction of the matter athis disposal. Hence, man's judgments are invariably partial, andconsequently false.

It is clear from the foregoing that the first thing necessary tothe harmonious development of man is to train him to be able tointroduce immediately the work of his three centres into' each ofhis psychic functions. The work of the centres must be of equalintensity at one time, and then the three main wheels of thehuman machine will work smoothly without obstructing oneanother and with the highest efficiency, both as regards theirseparate functions and as regards the level of consciousness whichit is possible for man to attain, but which he never reaches inordinary circumstances.When it is borne in mind that the degree of developmentpossible in each centre differs with every individual and that.their contents (impressions registered) are also different, we areforced to the obvious conclusion that each person's approach tothe work must be strictly individual.All the functional disorders to which the human machine isliable in the conditions of ordinary life increase as time goes on.And this machine can only be made to run smoothly after a longand det.ermined struggle with the defects that have arisen.But man is unable to carryon this struggle unaided and byhis own efforts of will. Nor will it avail him to work upon himself


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-6-by the various met.hods of self-training and self-development nowwidely current. These recommend for all and sundry generalmethods and processes, such as various physical exercises, exercisesin meditation and concentration, breathing and physical exercises,various systems of diet, fasting, etc.Such methods, prescribed for everybody without distinction ofindividual needs and abilities and without due regard to thepeculiarities and qualities of each person, are not only useless,but may even become dangerous, for while ignorant attempts tooverhaul a defective machine may possibly bring about certainchanges, these will at the same time cause other changes, whichan inexperienced and ignorant person can neither foresee nor guardagainst. It should be borne in mind that the human machine isalways in mechanical equilibrium, whether running smoothly orirregularly. Therefore any change wrought in one direction isbound to bring about a change in another direction, and it isabsolutely essential that this should be foreseen and allowed for.In order to obviate unexpected and undesirable consequences,it is necessary when working upon oneself to conform to thediscipline imposed by the special and strictly individual methodsaiming at the development of new and particular "inertias," bymeans of which the old ones may be regulated and changed.In other words it is necessary to develop new faculties, unattain-able in ordinary life, and which man can neither develop unaidednor by recourse to any general method.The adoption of strictly individualized methods of educationof this kind is possible only on the condition that every particularof man's organic and psychic condition as well as his previousupbringing and all the conditions and circumstances of his life aretaken into account. In order to determine these particulars withabsolute accuracy, a long time is necessary. This is mainly owingto the fact that man from his earliest days, as a result of ourmodern upbringing, acquires an external mask, that is to sayanexternal type that has nothing in common with his real type.During his lifetime, this mask gradually grows thicker and thicker,until a man is unable to see himself for his mask.But as it is necessary, in order to establish the individualparticulars relating to each person, to discover the features andfaculties of his type, his mask has to be destroyed, which is aquestion of time. It is only then that we can proceed to studyand observe the man, that is to say his real type; it is only thenthat a programme van be drawn up for his further work.


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A separat.e examination is made of the principal functions ofthe organism and of the psychic constitution, i.e.:-The attention, memory, enunciation, degree of intelligence,temperament, the nature of the physical and psychic reflexes,sight, ~earing, smell, taste, colour perception, properties ofemanations, etc.These examinations, together with the general observationsand the particulars collected e regarding the inclinations andabilities of the individual, serve as a basis on which to draw upthe course of study and effective work that must be prescribed i nview of the self-development of each person,The results of all examinations and observations are recordedon a special sheet, of which a copy is annexed to the present

prospectus.The Institute includes among its principals instructors,specialists in the different branches of knowledge: medicine,psychology, chemistry, the physico-mathematical sciences, etc.Only instructors who have been specially trained and whohave studied the science of the Harmonious Development of Manfrom all sides can carry into effect the programme of the Institutein accordance with all the principles enumerated.In the main branch of the Institute are special laboratoriesfor psychometrics, analytical chemistry and experimental psy-chology, in which independent research can be made by theindividual, especially with a view to verifying theories and thesesthat seem doubtful or arbitrary.The programme of the Institute for the Harmonious Develop-ment of Man includes a great variety of subjects, from which acourse is selected and specially adapted to the needs of each personaccording to his individual qualities.The general programme of work of the Institute for the Har-monious Development of Man includes the study of harmonicrhythm, arts, crafts and languages. Along with these subjects an

exhaustive study is made of man and the universe in all theirrelations, in the light of European science and of the ancientlearning of the East. These studies involve the application ofnew and entirely original methods of conception and perception.They widen the horizon of human conception and, at the sametime, help to set right the processes of thought and consciousness.


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-8-The Institute also possesses a medical section which under-takes to correct any functional disorders existing in the individual,since it is absolutely essential that these should be remedied

before his harmonious development can be efficiently undertaken.Courses of study have been started at various outlying groupsof the Institute with a proper programme to enable them to beput into practice.These groups are kept in oonstant touch with the Head-quarters of the Institute by a staff of travelling lecturers andteachers specially trained in the Institute, and also by the circula-tion of the Institute Magazine which is printed in the Institute'sown special characters. The Magazine contains, not only alllectures and talks, but also all the events of Institute life.


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PROGRAl\1ME

I) Lecture and Study Section. 'Science of the Harmonious Development of Man; Psychologyof man's internal development. Study of the methods of self-knowledge and self-perfection, in the light of European scienceand of the schools of the East. Practical experiments and work.Application of the psychological method to the various sciences;

philosophy of the cosmogonies; the mechanics of the universe.The science of relativity. The science of numbers. The scienceof symbols; physical astronomy, mathematics, modern and ancientchemistry (alchemy); ancient medicine; modern oriental medicine.Comparative study of religions. Mythology, Idolatry. Ancientesoteric schools and modern Eastern schools. Psychology of art.Ancient and modern philosophy,2) Practical Section.

I) Harmonic rhythm. 2) Special exercises for the develop-ment of the memory, will, attention, thinking, perception, etc.3) Music, singing, plastics, oriental (sacred) dances, drawing,painting, sculpture. 4) Applied arts and crafts: agriculture,horticulture, marketgardening. 5) Languages.The above-named subjects are taught and put into practiceby special methods.

3) rvledical Section.Healing by gymnastics, combined with new therapeuticmethods; water-cure, light-cure, electro-therapy, magneto-therapy,psycho-therapy, dietetics and dullotherapy, as required and afterspecial examination of the individual.Those in the Institute are divided into three categories:1) Those who are working with a view to self-development,according to a programme specially drawn up for them.


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-10-2) a) Those who are studying special subjects selected bythemselves personally.

b) Those who are undergoing cure by the Institute Methodand who are cared for by its Sanatoriums.3) a) Those attending the genera] lectures only, Of,b) Those studying a special subject selected from theprogramme.The first category includes only those persons who have alreadybeen through a course of lectures arranged by the Institute,either' at Headquarters or in branches in other cities. It is onlyafter their attendance at a course of lectures that their aptitude'for future work in the Institute can be ascertained; and 'theirattitude towards the Institute shown.(It should be noted that several subjects of the Lecture andTheoretical Section and of the Practical Section are confined to'Students of the first category.)There are at present in the principal branch of the Institutetwelve classes for special subjects. But newcomers, adults andchildren (from 4 years upwards) of both sexes, may attend onlythe following classes:Harmonic Rhythms, Healing Gymnastics, Music, Painting andSculpture.All the above subjects are taught by special methods.An important feature in the organisation of the Institute isthe course of lectures. Once a week lectures will be given towhich the general public will be admitted. These will be givenpartly by Mr. Gurdjieff himself (once a fortnight).During the first half of 1924 lectures will he read on the follow-ing subjects:1.- Selections from travels in Turkestan, the Pamir, Thibet,Chitral, Kafiristan, Afghanistan and Beluchistan.2. - Is India really the" Land of MiraclesP3. - The Excavations at Delhi, in the Valley of the HinduKush, in Armenia, Babylon and Egypt.4, - Is the soul immortalf Is the will freei'


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-11-5. - The law of the octave.6. - Wherein consists the chief defect of modern sciences7. - Does man of to-day act himself, or is it "something tothat acts in himjB . - What is hypnosis]'9. - Magnetism, "Emotism," "Mitkcism."

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10. - The Fakir, the Monk, the Dervish, the Yogi.II. - The science o f numbers, symbols and diagrams.12. - The ancient sacred art.13. _ The science of poisons.14. -Magic.IS. - Proof of the unity of the origin of all religions.16. - Explanation (with demonstrations) of the tricks offakirs, spiritualists, thought-readers, fortune-tellers, etc.17. _. Experimental demonstrations in mathematical ,chem-istry, psychic phenomena and hypnotism, with special referenceto apparent paradoxes in previous lectures.lB. - The Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man.The outside public are admitted every Saturday evening tothe evening studies and occupations ofthe students of the Institute,but it is a condition sine qua non that they should have a recom-mendation from some person who is known to the Institute.

Those desiring further particulars should apply for Prospectuses Nos. 2 and 3


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_______ .. . D epartm ent vs c .

Institutefor the Harmonious Development of Man

according to the system ofG. I. Gu.rdjieff

HistorometricalIndividual Record

(for pupils and patients of the first category)

No.,--

Family Dame: _._._ _.___ ,._ _ .Christian name : - .


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Entered __ _ 192.._.Art Craft LanguallssFamilY name

Christian name 1Age ]~Occupation ~EducationBirth place j.sOther domici les during childhood .5l'l


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Chemical and microscopic analysisB lood. .._.................................................................. _ . Saliv& ...- .. _ _ " _Serum . __ _ _ _ ............ Tears---- ..: __.._ _ _.Urine _ :........ Skin secretion. _ .._ _ . __ .__ .__ _ ..Excrement, _ _ ..Gastric [uice. __ __ _ ; _ .

Details of analysis lICe s helf _ book t- page ..Laboratory Manager:

G en era l c on dltlo n8 o f lite a . i d family Ins tru ctors ' ob servations

Signature:

Consultat ive examination and plan o f t re at me nt (t he ra py )

The C ons ulto rs : {H e ar l P h ys ic ia n:

Head Instructor :F o r e xp la na tio n o f a ch er ne s, t erm in olo g y &0 . s ee s pe cia l g ui de I or i na tru ct or s


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RegisteredP ro vis io na lly b el on lii ng to Rem oved to Removed to Removed tn

Departm en t D epartm ent Depar tment Depar tmentG roup G roup G roup G roupW ork and phas e of W ork and pha s e of Work and phas e of W ork and p ha se o ftrRinil)!: training training training

I ns tru cto r o n d uty Instructor Ins truc to r Ins tru c to rSlIecial notes of the Head I ns tructer

SignaturePhysiometry

Weigh t Skin A t ten tienSBHeight Adipose MemoryS ize of ches t H air Degree of comprehen- ionS iz e o f w ais t Speech and.vo ice D egree of sw iftnes s o f nssociationSite o f h ip s ShIh!. TemperamentL en zt h o f v er te br ae Hearing P hy si ca l t es tsSkeleto n TM te Psyehological tests

Smel l S en se o f c olo urMuscular R v~tem E xtent o f em anation

S tren ztb o f lu nes S tre ng th o f m us cle s Peculiari t iesC a plI Cit y o f lu na s Fli l tn.~of peculiari t ies

Manager of the physic-metr ic laboratory:

Physician:

M o uth 's C IIv ltyM a M ~ lIfl B : HI CJ2 JI I JI J: CHI B2 M l M : M aM 3 M l M l Bz B l CJ2 Jl I JI J, CBI B2 M I M a MJ

State of mouth 's cav ity Too thForm of palate Sha.peM ioos a Co lourG lenda D ef eetsSm ell Pa tho log ica l anomalies

Dentist:

Skin and v en er ea l d is ea se s

F or e xp la na tio n o f s ch em es , te rm in olo gy & c . s e e s pe cia l g uid e fo r in stru cto rs


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Particular notes of the Head Instructor

Signature:

M edical obs ervation Ins tructors ' observation C onfidential Info rm ation o f afello w-p upil w ho h as s wo rn

o !Jc0S., -,-r :~

Physiciant Instructor: Signature:

-: 5I'!a-eCI0~ "Physician: Instructor: Signature:

Particular notes of the Head Instructor

Signature:

S chem e of the w ork done

F or ex pla na tio n o f s ch em es , term in olo gy & c. eee s pec ia l g uid e fo r in atru cto rs

" " 1 .


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Particular Notes of the Head Instructor

Signature

Phvsic iun:

I ns tr uc to rs ' N o te s

Ins t ructor:

Earnings

Confidential managing pupil

M ooica l Notos

Phvsician:

Ins t ructor: C on fid en tia l m an ag in g p up il

Ins t ructor:

C o n fi de n ti al m a na g in g pupil

Co nf id en ti al m n u ap in g pupil

..c.' Z

Ins t ructor:N otes of the H ead Ins tructor

Bi! :nalurc :

A f to r d ec is io n o f th e boardo f _ _ . . . . . . . . . . . . ___.192 N o . .Entered .._ category, ..Proposed __ __ .Prizes ., __ __ __ .Removed to __ __ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 192 . .

Manag ing Direct-or:F o r e xp la na tio n o f s ch em es . te rm in olo gy &0 . s e e s p ec ia l g u id e ( or i ns tr uc to rs

T h is s heet being filled up p leas e attach sheet vee 0


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.',

Physician:

E yas , ears , noae and throat

Physician:

Gynoeogno s tl c, And r ogno s ll c

I nt er na l o rg an s N erv ou s s ys tem

Physician:

Sch em e for m arking th e m os t Im portantp a t hol og ic a l d e v ia t ion s

Physician:P E s y (h0 a n~a l;y s I 6 and;Ip 8 y chi e

Peychiator:For e xp la na ti on o f s c he me s, t er min olo g y c ie , s ee e pe cia l g uid e f or in st ru ct or s


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F u rth er c on su lt at iv e e xam in ati on an d therapy

The Consultors: {Head Physician:

Med ic a l o b s er va ti on

Physician:

I ns tr uc to rs ' o b s er va ti o n

Instructor:

.,,

Physician: Istructor:

Physician:D ecis ion o f the B oard In p resence o f the pup il, h is relation s or friends

Instructor:

F or ex pll> ns iio n o f s ch em es , te rm in olo gy & e. a ce s pec ia l g uid e fo r in stru cto rs

gurdjieff institute prospectus

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