Macrobiotic Life

These are the thoughts of the Gurdjieff about the self-observation, self-awareness. They are from the book “Boyhood with Gurdjieff”, which is written from the perspective of one little boy, being educated in Gurdjieff’s institute.

Different personalities, working together, produced subjective, human conflicts; human conflicts produced friction; friction revealed characteristics which, if observed, could reveal “self.” One of the many aims of the school was “to see yourself as others saw you;” to see oneself, as it were, from a distance; to be able to criticize that self objectively; but, at first, simply to see it. An exercise that was intended to be performed all the time, during whatever physical activity, was called “self-observation” or “opposing I to it” — “I” being the (potential consciousness, “it” the body, the instrument.

He began by asking me about the exercise that had been given to all of us to do, and which I referred to previously as “self-observation”. He said that it was a very difficult exercise to do and that he wanted me to do it, with my entire concentration, as constantly as possible. He also said that the main difficulty with this exercise, as with most exercises that he did — or would in the future — give to me or to any of his students, was that to do them properly it was necessary not to expect results. In this specific exercise, what was important was to see oneself, to observe one’s mechanical, automatic, reactionary behavior without comment, and without making any attempt to change that behavior. “If change,” he said, “then will never see reality. Will only see change. When begin to know self, then change will come, or can make change if wish — if such change desirable.”

It’s all about consciousness, as always. Don’t underestimate these simple self-observation exercises. Try to practice them whenever you can. Because the paycheck is probably the best you can imagine. Buddha, Osho, Gurdjieff, Eckhart Tolle, Anthony de Mello, Castaneda, Jesus – no matter who you follow, they all tell you – observe yourself, be conscious, be here and now. But they use different words to pass the message to you and suggest you a little different techniques, but see unity in all of them.

“Think of good and evil like right hand and left hand. Man always have two hands — two sides of self — good and evil. One can destroy other. Must have aim to make both hands work together, must acquire third thing: thing that make peace between two hands, between impulse for good and impulse for evil. Man who all ‘good’ or man who all ‘bad’ is not whole man, is one-sided. Third thing is conscience; possibility to acquire conscience is already in man when born; this possibility given — free — by nature. But is only possibility. Real conscience can only be acquired by work, by learning to understand self first. Even your religion — western religion — have this phrase ‘Know’ thyself’. This phrase most important in all religions. When begin know self already begin have possibility become genuine man. So first thing must learn is know self by this exercise, self-observation. If not do this, then will be like acorn that not become tree — fertilizer. Fertilizer which go back in ground and become possibility for future man.”

From the book – Boyhood of Gurdjieff

Grudjieff was Russia mystic, very consciouss person. I have found Gurdjieff firstime in the Osho’s books, he mentioned him occasionaly. Actualy, Gurdjieff was doing musical meditation before Osho, music played, stopped and people frozen on place and experienced the consciousness. I think Osho was inspired by him.

Btw. he smashed with his car into a tree, deliberately, to experience the pain. He was consciouss and wanted to observe the pain experience. Very crazy man. Very strong, direct, honest person.