I just finished reading this book by Mohammad H. Tamdgidi and I recommend it. Dr. Tamdgidi wrote this book from his 2002 Ph. D dissertation. He does a wonderful job discussing Gurdjieff's biography/mythology/teachings and builds his chapters to finally discuss Gurdjieff's life's work in the field of hypnosis. Dr. Tamdgidi clarifies hypnotic techniques used in Gurdjieff's writing and from his point of view sees that Gurdjieff's work was to use hypnotic techniques, then deliver the shock by revealing his use of hypnosis thereby getting his readers to "decrystallize" the programming in the everyday world.
Here is a quote from pp.225-226:
Why did Gurdjieff, in pursuit of awakening humanity from the hypnotic trance and prison of mechanical life, consciously, intentionally, and systematically subject his pupils and readers to the Yezidi circle of his hypnotic influence, especially through his writings? And why did he leave, widely in the texture of his writings, more or less explicit information regarding his knowledge and practice of hypnotism such that they could aid those subjected to his hypnotic spell to get out of the Yezidi circle?
Gurdjieff's scattering and/or apparent withholding of information about his life and teaching were not merely due to a concern for pedagogical correctness but elaborate and and systematic efforts to raise and spead deep and obsessive curiosities among his readers and followers about his life and teaching. Fragmenting information about his life and teaching provided the most fertile emotional conditions for effecting and spreading--during his lifetime andinto his posterity--the hypnotic influence of his life and teaching in his readers' subconscious minds. It assured never-ending "searches for truth" of his life and teaching and continual, lifelong and world-wide, gazes of generations of interested readers on the shiny pages of his thrice-to-be-read "Ten Books in Three Series." For the "crystallization and decrystallization of those psychic factors" that he intended to engender, after all, "a comparatively lengthy period" was necessary (H:82). Whether he was actually successful in his novel experimentations with literary hypnotism is an important question to explore on its own merit, but this issue must be distinguished from the demonstrable facts of his intentions to pursue the science of hypnotism as a singular aim of his life and teaching.
The book includes helpful graphs and Dr. Tamdgini does a wonderful job breaking down the content of Gurdjieff's work. The book is pricey, but if you want additional insight to Gurdjieff's books then this book will help you.
Here is a quote from pp.225-226:
Why did Gurdjieff, in pursuit of awakening humanity from the hypnotic trance and prison of mechanical life, consciously, intentionally, and systematically subject his pupils and readers to the Yezidi circle of his hypnotic influence, especially through his writings? And why did he leave, widely in the texture of his writings, more or less explicit information regarding his knowledge and practice of hypnotism such that they could aid those subjected to his hypnotic spell to get out of the Yezidi circle?
Gurdjieff's scattering and/or apparent withholding of information about his life and teaching were not merely due to a concern for pedagogical correctness but elaborate and and systematic efforts to raise and spead deep and obsessive curiosities among his readers and followers about his life and teaching. Fragmenting information about his life and teaching provided the most fertile emotional conditions for effecting and spreading--during his lifetime andinto his posterity--the hypnotic influence of his life and teaching in his readers' subconscious minds. It assured never-ending "searches for truth" of his life and teaching and continual, lifelong and world-wide, gazes of generations of interested readers on the shiny pages of his thrice-to-be-read "Ten Books in Three Series." For the "crystallization and decrystallization of those psychic factors" that he intended to engender, after all, "a comparatively lengthy period" was necessary (H:82). Whether he was actually successful in his novel experimentations with literary hypnotism is an important question to explore on its own merit, but this issue must be distinguished from the demonstrable facts of his intentions to pursue the science of hypnotism as a singular aim of his life and teaching.
The book includes helpful graphs and Dr. Tamdgini does a wonderful job breaking down the content of Gurdjieff's work. The book is pricey, but if you want additional insight to Gurdjieff's books then this book will help you.
