Gurdjieff. An introduction to his life and ideas

[Lirpa]

I picked up the book written by John Shirley on Gurdjieff "Gurdjieff: An Introduction to His Life and Ideas" . It was cheap at a used book store so I said what the hey it just might be a good over view of his work in addition to reading his actual writings. I just started reading it. Has anyone read it? If so, your input on validity of John Shirley's findings on Gurdjieff?

 

[Approaching Infinity]

Biography on Gurdjieff

I thought Shirley's book was a great introduction to Gurdjieff, his life, and his ideas. It's only an introduction, however. In Search of the Miraculous covers more ground, concept-wise.

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Most excellent! Good to hear some feedback on the Shirley book. I just wanted to get an objective view on it from someone else as I am new to all of this. I have read "Meetings with Remarkable Men" which was delicious and have purchased "Views from the Real World". I have an order in for "Life is Only Then, When 'I' am", "In Search of the Miraculous" and "Beezlebub's Tales to His Grandson".

Thanks :)

 

[Rich]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Hi Lirpa, A good addition after you work your way through that lot is 'the struggle of the magicians' why Ouspensky left Gurdjieff', I just read it and found it very insightful into the dynamics of the teacher-pupil relationship.

 

[combsbt]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Was there a reason you decided to read Meetings with Remarkable Men before Beelzebub? I have had trouble finding a copy of Meetings but have found the other two in the series. Gurdjieff also suggests that the trilogy should be read in order (Beelzebub, Meetings, Life).

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Was there a reason you decided to read Meetings with Remarkable Men before Beelzebub? I have had trouble finding a copy of Meetings but have found the other two in the series. Gurdjieff also suggests that the trilogy should be read in order (Beelzebub, Meetings, Life).

There was not a specific reason why I started with that one. I just came across it in an obscure used book store. I was just frothing at the mouth to start reading until the other ones that I ordered arrived :) It would have been best to read them in order of the series but hence my struggle with this word I have heard others use... patience or something. Refers to something about waiting or something. Really not sure...giggle.

I can never follow directions ;O

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Hi Lirpa, A good addition after you work your way through that lot is 'the struggle of the magicians' why Ouspensky left Gurdjieff', I just read it and found it very insightful into the dynamics of the teacher-pupil relationship.

Coolies I will most certainly add it to me list. Thank you :)

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Update :)

Now that I am in the middle of reading ""In Search of the Miraculous" I just wanted to share how it has worked for me in reading the books out of order. Again this is just for me as others with more knowledge/experience very well may just want to read them in order. This is just my experience.

A few days ago, I started reading the Beezlebub book but then switched to Ouspensky's book when it arrived.

It worked out very well to read "In Search of the Miraculous", "Meetings With Remarkable Men" and the biography on Gurdjieff by John Shirley prior to reaing "Beezlebub's Tales to His Grandson" all the way through.

I think if I would have started with the Beezlebub's book first, it would have been much harder to grasp the concepts (whoosh over my head) with me being so new to all of this and not having a strong base in the subject. For example, I would not have known that Gurdjieff wrote Beezlebub in such a strange flow in order to over ride the automatic program in us if I had not read that point in the Biography written by John Shirley. It is just neat to have little tidbits like that prior to starting the homework :)

Plus it was kind of cool the way the biography written by John Shirley, "Views from the Real World" and "Meetings with Remarkable Men" just popped into my hand at that odd little bookstore. Beau had recommended them, then pop there they were and me being impatient did not want to wait until I got all the books to read them in order.

So I wanted to thank Beau for recommending that I start off with Ouspensky's book or "Meetings With Remarkable Men". Both books gave me a flavor for the basics of who Gurdjieff is, his work/teachings and what events in his life help form him and his path.

 

[anart]

Biography on Gurdjieff

I think if I would have started with the Beezlebub's book first, it would have been much harder to grasp the concepts (whoosh over my head) with me being so new to all of this and not having a strong base in the subject. For example, I would not have known that Gurdjieff wrote Beezlebub in such a strange flow in order to over ride the automatic program in us if I had not read that point in the Biography written by John Shirley.

Yep - Beezlebub is one that takes more than one reading, no question. I was at least a hundred and fifty pages into it before his deliberate writing style became a bit easier to read. It's such a fantastic book, though. The audio book version - read by William Welch - is quite an experience as well, though I would recommend reading it first, for a more broad understanding of the audio book, which can go by rather quickly. fwiw

Another one to add to your list might be 'Ladies of the Rope' - by Patterson. The discussions about Gurdjieff's behavior and interaction with these women is quite interesting.

http://www.gurdjieff-legacy.org/50bookexcerpts/lotrrevw.htm

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

I think if I would have started with the Beezlebub's book first, it would have been much harder to grasp the concepts (whoosh over my head) with me being so new to all of this and not having a strong base in the subject. For example, I would not have known that Gurdjieff wrote Beezlebub in such a strange flow in order to over ride the automatic program in us if I had not read that point in the Biography written by John Shirley.

Yep - Beezlebub is one that takes more than one reading, no question. I was at least a hundred and fifty pages into it before his deliberate writing style became a bit easier to read. It's such a fantastic book, though. The audio book version - read by William Welch - is quite an experience as well, though I would recommend reading it first, for a more broad understanding of the audio book, which can go by rather quickly. fwiw

Another one to add to you list might be 'Ladies of the Rope' - by Patterson. The discussions about Gurdjieff's behavior and interaction with these women is quite interesting.

http://www.gurdjieff-legacy.org/50bookexcerpts/lotrrevw.htm

Yesh, I have a feeling I will be reading Beezlebub several times :) Oooo thanks for the suggestion on Ladies of the Rope. Is that the group of Lesbians he worked with? I recall reading about that in the biography about him I think...and it sounded interesting so it is cool to get some feedback on it.

Gaaaa my reading list is getting longer but it is awesome! Thanks for the tip, Anart :) I will pick up the audio on Beezlebub after reading it.

 

[GRiM]

Biography on Gurdjieff

The audio book version - read by William Welch - is quite an experience as well(...)

Did you buy it in mp3 format somewhere on the internet? The audiobook version is news to me, but I really love audiobooks, so I would be really happy if I can get myself a copy of it!

 

[anart]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Yeah - way too many books, way too little time. Yes, 'Ladies of the Rope' is about the 'Left Bank Paris women's group' with which Gurdjieff worked after he had pretty much abandoned his active teaching to focus on his writing. It was considered quite an enigmatic move by Gurdjieff, by all those who have 'studied' his life.

All but one of the women in the group were lesbians - They were all renowned intellectuals, artists and authors - incredibly talented, accomplished, and brilliant women in their own right and quite fascinating to read about. Gurdjieff's interaction with them was even more fascinating - as the years went by it becomes obvious in the book that he cared quite deeply for these women.

I found it to be one of the more personally engaging books about Gurdjieff that I've read simply due to the interpersonal stories and involving and very human, and often damaged and dysfunctional, descriptions of the people in it. It's a subjective review, but the book gave me quite a lot of personal insight. fwiw. =)

 

[anart]

Biography on Gurdjieff

The audio book version - read by William Welch - is quite an experience as well(...)

Did you buy it in mp3 format somewhere on the internet? The audiobook version is news to me, but I really love audiobooks, so I would be really happy if I can get myself a copy of it!

Yep - here is one link I found, though you might be able to find it at a less expensive price elsewhere - it is WELL worth the listen, Welch does a fabulous job with it. He actually passed away before finishing all of the book and a few sections are read by another person - very well done.

http://triadbooks.sectorlink.org/eshop/10Expand.asp?ProductCode=0919608167

 

[GRiM]

Biography on Gurdjieff

I just saw your posts with Telperion, while reading the recommendations for him to examine his self importance issue and try to break trough I also found "Sisterhood of the rope" It seem very interesting. From what I understand in the review it seem very good for my current level of understanding Gurdjieff and get a perspective form the 'rope ladies', I will try to get a hold of it somehow, but its quite expensive I found it for 100$ including shipping.
Thanks for the recommendation. (and the audiobook-link)

 

[Lirpa]

Biography on Gurdjieff

Yeah - way too many books, way too little time. Yes, 'Ladies of the Rope' is about the 'Left Bank Paris women's group' with which Gurdjieff worked after he had pretty much abandoned his active teaching to focus on his writing. It was considered quite an enigmatic move by Gurdjieff, by all those who have 'studied' his life.

All but one of the women in the group were lesbians - They were all renowned intellectuals, artists and authors - incredibly talented, accomplished, and brilliant women in their own right and quite fascinating to read about. Gurdjieff's interaction with them was even more fascinating - as the years went by it becomes obvious in the book that he cared quite deeply for these women.

I found it to be one of the more personally engaging books about Gurdjieff that I've read simply due to the interpersonal stories and involving and very human, and often damaged and dysfunctional, descriptions of the people in it. It's a subjective review, but the book gave me quite a lot of personal insight. fwiw. =)

Thank you Anart. "Ladies of the Rope" sounds lovely. I will most definately read it. Cannot wait. I like that it has interpersonal stories in it...I think that is why I liked reading the biography on Gurdjieff, "Meetings with Remarkable Men" and "In Search of the Miraculous". They all kind of have that personal touch beyond the teachings. I look forward to reading about these brilliant women.