AnAnthologyofQuotationsonTheFourthWayandEsotericChristianity

"WhatistherelationoftheteachingyouareexpoundingtoChristianityasweknowit?"askedsomebodypresent.
"IdonotknowwhatyouknowaboutChristianity,"answeredG.,emphasizingthisword."Itwouldbenecessarytotalk
agreatdealandtotalkforalongtimeinordertomakeclearwhatyouunderstandbythisterm.Butforthebenefitof
thosewhoknowalready,Iwillsaythat,ifyoulike,thisisesotericChristianity.Wewilltalkinduecourseaboutthe
meaningofthesewords.Atpresentwewillcontinuetodiscussourquestions.
ThisoftenquotedpassageisthemoststraightforwardthingthatGurdjieffeversaidaboutChristianity,andthe
phraseesotericChristianityisstillthebestwaytodescribetherelationshipbetweentheFourthWayand
Christianity.Gurdjieffwasnotthefirsttousethisterm,asitwascurrentinthetheosophicalmovementofthetime,
AnnieBesanthavingpublishedabookentitledEsotericChristianity.
Inthepassageprecedingthis,GurdjieffcharacteristicallyturnstheideaofbeingaChristianonitshead:
"FirstofallitisnecessarytounderstandthataChristianisnotamanwhocallshimselfaChristianorwhomothers
callaChristian.AChristianisonewholivesinaccordancewithChrist'sprecepts.Suchaswearewecannotbe
Christians.InordertobeChristianswemustbeable'todo.'Wecannotdowithuseverything'happens.'Christsays:
'Loveyourenemies,'buthowcanweloveourenemieswhenwecannotevenloveourfriends?Sometimes'itloves'and
sometimes'itdoesnotlove.'SuchaswearewecannotevenreallydesiretobeChristiansbecause,again,sometimes'it
desires'andsometimes'itdoesnotdesire.'Andoneandthesamethingcannotbedesiredforlong,becausesuddenly,
insteadofdesiringtobeaChristian,amanremembersaverygoodbutveryexpensivecarpetthathehasseenina
shop.AndinsteadofwishingtobeaChristianhebeginstothinkhowhecanmanagetobuythiscarpet,forgettingall
aboutChristianity.OrifsomebodyelsedoesnotbelievewhatawonderfulChristianheis,hewillbereadytoeathim
aliveortoroasthimonhotcoals.InordertobeagoodChristianonemustbe.Tobemeanstobemasterofoneself.Ifa
manisnothisownmasterhehasnothingandcanhavenothing.AndhecannotbeaChristian.Heissimplya
machine,anautomaton.AmachinecannotbeaChristian.Thinkforyourselves,isitpossibleforamotorcarora
typewriteroragramophonetobeChristian?Theyaresimplythingswhicharecontrolledbychance.Theyarenot
responsible.Theyaremachines.TobeaChristianmeanstoberesponsible.Responsibilitycomeslaterwhenaman
evenpartiallyceasestobeamachine,andbeginsinfact,andnotonlyinwords,todesiretobeaChristian."
GurdjieffhadunusualviewsofmanyaspectsofChristianity,includingitsorigin.Thefollowingpassageclaimsthat
theChristianitychurchtookitsformfromanancientEgyptianformthatpredatesevenwhatweknowofEgypt.
Whathesaysisnothistoricallyverifiable,butEgyptcertainlyhadalargeparttoplayintheearlycenturiesof
Christianity.
"GenerallyspeakingweknowverylittleaboutChristianityandtheformofChristianworshipweknownothingatall
ofthehistoryandoriginofanumberofthings.Forinstance,thechurch,thetempleinwhichgatherthefaithfulandin
whichservicesarecarriedoutaccordingtospecialriteswherewasthistakenfrom?Manypeopledonotthinkabout
thisatall.Manypeoplethinkthattheoutwardformofworship,therites,thesingingofcanticles,andsoon,were
inventedbythefathersofthechurch.Othersthinkthatthisoutwardformhasbeentakenpartlyfrompaganreligions
andpartlyfromtheHebrews.Butallofitisuntrue.ThequestionoftheoriginoftheChristianchurch,thatis,ofthe
Christiantemple,ismuchmoreinterestingthanwethink.Tobeginwith,thechurchandworshipintheformwhich
theytookinthefirstcenturiesofChristianitycouldnothavebeenborrowedfrompaganismbecausetherewasnothing
likeiteitherintheGreekorRomancultsorinJudaism.TheJewishsynagogue,theJewishtemple,GreekandRoman
templesofvariousgods,weresomethingquitedifferentfromtheChristianchurchwhichmadeitsappearanceinthe
firstandsecondcenturies.TheChristianchurchisaschoolconcerningwhichpeoplehaveforgottenthatitisa
school.Imagineaschoolwheretheteachersgivelecturesandperformexplanatorydemonstrationswithoutknowing
thatthesearelecturesanddemonstrationsandwherethepupilsorsimplythepeoplewhocometotheschooltake
theselecturesanddemonstrationsforceremonies,orrites,or'sacraments,'i.e.,magic.Thiswouldapproximatetothe
Christianchurchofourtimes.
"TheChristianchurch,theChristianformofworship,wasnotinventedbythefathersofthechurch.Itwasalltakenin
areadymadeformfromEgypt,onlynotfromtheEgyptthatweknowbutfromonewhichwedonotknow.ThisEgypt
wasinthesameplaceastheotherbutitexistedmuchearlier.Onlysmallbitsofitsurvivedinhistoricaltimes,and
thesebitshavebeenpreservedinsecretandsowellthatwedonotevenknowwheretheyhavebeenpreserved.
"ItwillseemstrangetomanypeoplewhenIsaythatthisprehistoricEgyptwasChristianmanythousandsofyears
beforethebirthofChrist,thatistosay,thatitsreligionwascomposedofthesameprinciplesandideasthatconstitute
trueChristianity.SpecialschoolsexistedinthisprehistoricEgyptwhichwerecalled'schoolsofrepetition.'Inthese
schoolsapublicrepetitionwasgivenondefinitedays,andinsomeschoolsperhapseveneveryday,oftheentirecourse

inacondensedformofthesciencesthatcouldbelearnedattheseschools.Sometimesthisrepetitionlastedaweekora
month.Thankstotheserepetitionspeoplewhohadpassedthroughthiscoursedidnotlosetheirconnectionwiththe
schoolandretainedintheirmemoryalltheyhadlearned.Sometimestheycamefromveryfarawaysimplyinorderto
listentotherepetitionandwentawayfeelingtheirconnectionwiththeschool.Therewerespecialdaysoftheyear
whentherepetitionswereparticularlycomplete,whentheywerecarriedoutwithparticularsolemnityandthesedays
themselvespossessedasymbolicalmeaning.
"These'schoolsofrepetition'weretakenasamodelforChristianchurchestheformofworshipinChristianchurches
almostentirelyrepresentsthecourseofrepetitionofthesciencedealingwiththeuniverseandman.Individualprayers,
hymns,responses,allhadtheirownmeaninginthisrepetitionaswellasholidaysandallreligioussymbols,though
theirmeaninghasbeenforgottenlongago."
Continuing,G.quotedsomeveryinterestingexamplesoftheexplanationsofvariouspartsoforthodoxliturgy.
UnfortunatelynonotesweremadeatthetimeandIwillnotundertaketoreconstructthemfrommemory.Theideawas
that,beginningwiththefirstwords,theliturgysotospeakgoesthroughtheprocessofcreation,recordingallits
stagesandtransitions.WhatparticularlyastonishedmeinG.'sexplanationswastheextenttowhichsomuchhas
beenpreservedinitspureformandhowlittleweunderstandofallthis.Hisexplanationsdifferedverygreatlyfromthe
usualtheologicalandevenfrommysticalinterpretations.Andtheprincipaldifferencewasthathedidawaywitha
greatmanyallegories.Imeantosaythatitbecameobviousfromhisexplanationsthatwetakemanythingsfor
allegoriesinwhichthereisnoallegorywhateverandwhichoughttobeunderstoodmuchmoresimplyand
psychologically.
WhileGurdjieffdidawaywithmanyallegoriesinhisexplanationofChristianrites,hecertainlyacceptedthat
Christianitymadeuseofsymbolicforms.
Therewasyetanotherdrawingoftheenneagramwhichwasmadeunderhis
directioninConstantinopleintheyear1920.Inthisdrawinginsidetheenneagramwereshownthefourbeastsofthe
Apocalypsethebull,thelion,theman,andtheeagleandwiththemadove.Theseadditionalsymbolswere
connectedwith"centers."
Thoughhedidnotsayagreatdealabouttheinterpretationofthegospels,wedohavesomeofhiscomments:
"ThecomparisonofamantoahouseawaitingthearrivalofthemasterisfrequentlymetwithinEasternteachings
whichhavepreservedtracesofancientknowledge,and,asweknow,thesubjectappearsundervariousformsinmany
oftheparablesintheGospels.
"Thereisnothingnewintheideaofsleep.Peoplehavebeentoldalmostsincethe
creationoftheworldthattheyareasleepandthattheymustawaken.HowmanytimesisthissaidintheGospels,for
instance?'Awake,''watch,''sleepnot.'Christ'sdisciplesevensleptwhenhewasprayingintheGardenofGethsemane
forthelasttime.Itisallthere.Butdomenunderstandit?Mentakeitsimplyasaformofspeech,asanexpression,asa
metaphor.Theycompletelyfailtounderstandthatitmustbetakenliterally.Andagainitiseasytounderstandwhy.In
ordertounderstandthisliterallyitisnecessarytoawakenalittle,oratleasttotrytoawaken.ItellyouseriouslythatI
havebeenaskedseveraltimeswhynothingissaidaboutsleepintheGospels,althoughitistherespokenofalmoston
everypage.ThissimplyshowsthatpeoplereadtheGospelsinsleep.Solongasamansleepsprofoundlyandiswholly
immersedindreamshecannoteventhinkaboutthefactthatheisasleep.Ifheweretothinkthathewasasleep,he
wouldwakeup.Soeverythinggoeson.Andmenhavenottheslightestideawhattheyarelosingbecauseofthissleep.
UndoubtedlythemostcontroversialofGurdjieffsstatementsconcerningChristianitywashisexplanationofthe
LastSupper.
"Forinstance,inallthedenominationsofChristianityagreatpartisplayedbythetraditionoftheLastSupperof
Christandhisdisciples.Liturgiesandawholeseriesofdogmas,rites,andsacramentsarebaseduponit.Thishas
beenagroundforschism,fortheseparationofchurches,fortheformationofsectshowmanypeoplehaveperished
becausetheywouldnotacceptthisorthatinterpretationofit.But,asamatteroffact,nobodyunderstandswhatthis
wasprecisely,orwhatwasdonebyChristandhisdisciplesthatevening.Thereexistsnoexplanationthateven
approximatelyresemblesthetruth,becausewhatiswrittenintheGospelshasbeen,inthefirstplace,muchdistorted
inbeingcopiedandtranslatedandsecondly,itwaswrittenforthosewhoknow.Tothosewhodonotknowitcan
explainnothing,butthemoretheytrytounderstandit,thedeepertheyareledintoerror.
"TounderstandwhattookplaceattheLastSupperitisfirstofallnecessarytoknowcertainlaws.
"YourememberwhatIsaidaboutthe'astralbody'?Letusgooveritbriefly.Peoplewhohavean'astralbody'can

communicatewithoneanotheratadistancewithouthavingrecoursetoordinaryphysicalmeans.Butforsuch
communicationtobepossibletheymustestablishsome'connection'betweenthem.Forthispurposewhengoingto
differentplacesordifferentcountriespeoplesometimestakewiththemsomethingbelongingtoanother,especially
thingsthathavebeenincontactwithhisbodyandarepermeatedwithhisemanations,andsoon.Inthesameway,in
ordertomaintainaconnectionwithadeadperson,hisfriendsusedtokeepobjectswhichhadbelongedtohim.These
thingsleave,asitwere,atracebehindthem,somethinglikeinvisiblewiresorthreadswhichremainstretchedout
throughspace.Thesethreadsconnectagivenobjectwiththeperson,livingorincertaincasesdead,towhomthe
objectbelonged.Menhaveknownthisfromtheremotestantiquityandhavemadevarioususesofthisknowledge.
"Tracesofitmaybefoundamongthecustomsofmanypeoples.Youknow,forinstance,thatseveralnationshavethe
customofbloodbrotherhood.Twomen,orseveralmen,mixtheirbloodtogetherinthesamecupandthendrinkfrom
thiscup.Afterthattheyareregardedasbrothersbyblood.Buttheoriginofthiscustomliesdeeper.Initsoriginitwas
amagicalceremonyforestablishingaconnectionbetween'astralbodies.'Bloodhasspecialqualities.Andcertain
peoples,forinstancetheJews,ascribedaspecialsignificanceofmagicalpropertiestoblood.Now,yousee,ifa
connectionbetween'astralbodies'hadbeenestablished,thenagainaccordingtothebeliefsofcertainnationsitisnot
brokenbydeath.
"Christknewthathemustdie.Ithadbeendecidedthusbeforehand.Heknewitandhisdisciplesknewit.Andeach
oneknewwhatparthehadtoplay.ButatthesametimetheywantedtoestablishapermanentlinkwithChrist.Andfor
thispurposehegavethemhisbloodtodrinkandhisfleshtoeat.Itwasnotbreadandwineatall,butrealfleshand
realblood.
"TheLastSupperwasamagicalceremonysimilarto'bloodbrotherhood'forestablishingaconnectionbetween'astral
bodies.'Butwhoistherewhoknowsaboutthisinexistingreligionsandwhounderstandswhatitmeans?Allthishas
beenlongforgottenandeverythinghasbeengivenquiteadifferentmeaning.Thewordshaveremainedbuttheir
meaninghaslongbeenlost."
Thislectureandparticularlyitsendingprovokedagreatdealoftalkinourgroups.ManywererepelledbywhatG.said
aboutChristandtheLastSupperothers,onthecontrary,feltinthisatruthwhichtheynevercouldhavereachedby
themselves.
InBeelzebubsTalestohisGrandson,Gurdjieffrepeatsthisandtakesitalittlefurther,transformingthefigureof
JudasintoaloyaldisciplewhosacrificedhimselftosaveChristsmission.
"Andthiscameaboutbecause,thanksasalwaystotheabnormallyestablishedconditionsofordinaryexistence,their
beingmentationbegantofunctionwithoutanyparticipationoftheir'localizationoffeeling'or,intheirterminology,
their'feelingcenter,'andthusfinallybecamecompletelyautomatized.
"Hence,duringallthistime,inordertobeabletomakeanythingcleartothemselves,evenapproximately,orexplainit
toothers,theyhaveautomaticallybeencompelledtoinvent,andgooninventing,agreatmanyalmostmeaningless
wordsforthingsandalsoforideas,greatandsmall,andsotheirmentationhasgraduallybeguntofunction,asIhave
justsaid,accordingtotheprincipleof'chainonizironness.''
"Well,itiswiththiskindofmentationthatyourcontemporaryfavoritestrytodecipherandunderstandatextwrittenin
the'imagonisirian'mannerforthementationofbeingswhowerecontemporariesofthedivineJesusChrist.
"Inthisconnection,myboy,Imustexplainacertainfact,absurdtothehighestdegreeandintheobjectivesense
blasphemous,sothatyoumayseemoreclearlytherealnothingnessoftheirHolyWrit,whichhasbecome
particularlywidelyspreadamongyourfavoritessincetheirlastprocessofreciprocaldestruction,andinwhich,asyou
mayalreadysurmise,thereiseverythingyoupleaseexceptrealityandtruth.
"IwilltellyouinparticularaboutwhatissaidinthisHolyWrit,whichhassupposedlyreachedtheminanunchanged
form,aboutthemostimportant,mostreasonable,andmostdevotedofallthebeingsdirectlyinitiatedbythisSacred
Individualor,astheywouldsay,aboutoneofhis'apostles.'
"Thisdevotedandbelovedapostle,initiatedbyJesusChrist,wasnamedJudas.
"AnyonewishingtodrawknowledgeofthetruthfromthepresentversionofthisHolyWritwillarriveatthe
conviction,whichwillbecomefixedinhisessence,thatthisJudaswasthebasestofallconceivablebeings,anda
conscienceless,doublefacedtraitor.
"Butinfact,notonlywasthisJudasthemostfaithfulanddevotedofalltheclosefollowersofJesusChrist,butitwas
solelythankstohisReasonandpresenceofmindthatalltheactsofthisSacredIndividualcouldproducethat
resultwhich,ifitdidnotleadtothetotaldestructionoftheconsequencesofthepropertiesoftheorgankundabufferin
theseunfortunatethreebrainedbeings,wasnevertheless,duringtwentycenturies,thesourceofnourishment
andinspirationforthemajorityofthem,andmadetheirdesolateexistenceatleastalittleendurable.
"InorderthatyoumayrepresentmoreclearlytoyourselfthegenuineindividualityofthisJudasandthesignificanceof
hismanifestation,youshouldalsoknowthatwhentheSacredIndividual,JesusChrist,intentionally
actualizedinaplanetarybodyofaterrestrialbeing,wascompletelyformedforresponsibleexistence,hedecidedto
carryoutthemissionimposedonhimfromAbovetoenlightentheReasonofthesethreebrainedterrestrialbeings
bymeansoftwelvebeingschosenfromdifferenttypes,initiatedandpreparedbyhimpersonally.
"Butattheverypeakofhisdivineactivities,beforehavingfulfilledhisintention,thatis,beforehavinghadtimeto

explaincertaincosmictruthsandgivetherequiredinstructionsforthefuture,hewascompelledbycircumstances
independentofhimtoallowtheprematurecessationofhisplanetaryexistencetotakeplace.
"Hethereforedecided,togetherwiththetwelveterrestrialbeingshehadintentionallyinitiated,tohaverecoursetothe
sacredsacramentofalmtznoshinootheactualizationofwhichwasalreadywellknowntothem,astheyhadalready
acquiredintheirpresencesallthedataforitsfulfillmentsothatheshouldhavethepossibility,whilehewasstillin
thatcosmicindividualstate,tofinishtheworkofpreparation,accordingtotheplanhehaddesignedfor
accomplishingthemissionassignedtohimfromAbove.
"But,myboy,whentheyhaddecidedonthisandwerereadytobeginthepreliminarypreparationsrequiredforthis
sacredsacrament,theysawthatitwasutterlyimpossiblebecauseitwastoolate,theywerealreadysurrounded
bybeingscalled'guards,'andtheirarrest,witheverythingthatwouldfollow,wasexpectedatanymoment.
"AnditwasjustherethatJudasintervened.
"Thisfuturesaint,theinseparableanddevotedhelperofJesusChrist,whois'hated'and'cursed'owingtothenaive
stupidityofthepeculiarthreebrainedbeingsofyourplanet,thenrenderedhisgreatobjectiveserviceforwhich
terrestrialthreebrainedbeingsofallsubsequentgenerationsshouldbegrateful.
"Thewiseandonerousinitiativethathetookuponhimselfwithdisinteresteddevotionwasthatatthemomentof
despair,onascertainingthatitwasimpossibletofulfilltherequiredpreparationforcarryingoutthesacred
almtznoshinoo,thisJudas,nowasaint,leapedtohisfeetandhurriedlysaid:
'Iwillgoanddoeverythingnecessarysothatyouhavethepossibilitytofulfillthissacredpreparationwithout
hindranceMeanwhile,settoworkatonce.'
"Havingsaidthis,heapproachedJesusChristand,afterspeakingwithhimasideforafewmoments,hereceivedhis
blessingandhurriedlyleft.
"Thustheotherswereabletocompletewithouthindranceeverythingnecessaryfortheaccomplishmentofthesacred
processofalmtznoshinoo.
"AfterwhatIhavejustsaid,youwilldoubtlessunderstandhowtheterrestrialthreebrainedbeingsofthetwotypesI
describeddistorteverytruth,fortheirvariousegoisticaims,andhavedonesotosuchanextentthatinthe
caseofJudas,nowasaint,thankstowhomalonetheyhavebenefitedfortwentycenturiesfromablessedhearthof
tranquilityinthemidstoftheirdesolateexistence,therehasbeencrystallizedinthepresenceofbeingsofall
latergenerationsthisunprecedentedlyunjustrepresentation.
"IthinkmyselfthatifJudaswasportrayedintheirHolyWritinthisway,itmayhavebeenbecauseitwasnecessaryfor
someoneorotherbelongingtothementionedtypestobelittleforacertainpurposethesignificanceofJesus
Christhimself.
"Thatistosay,itwouldmakehimappearsonaive,sounabletofeelandseebeforehand,inaword,sounperfected
that,inspiteofknowingthisJudasandexistingwithhimforsolong,hefailedtosenseandbeawarethatthis
nearestdiscipleofhiswasaperfidioustraitor,whowouldsellhimforthirtyworthlesspiecesofsilver.
ImustadmitthatGurdjieffsviewofJudashasnthelpedmetounderstandthegospels,butitscertainlystartling.
GurdjieffmaintainedthisviewofJudastotheendofhislife,sohepresumablyfelttherewasmoretoitthanitsshock
value.Ontheotherhand,heendstheaccountwithatease:
"moreoveritwillbeparticularlyinterestingandinstructiveforyoutoknowthatpartofthehistoryofSaintJesus
Christwhichrelatestotheperiodofhisexistencetherefromtheageoftwelvetotheageoftwentyeight,accordingto
theirtimecalculation."
Butheneveractuallygetsroundtotellingusthisstory.RobertdeRoppdescribesGurdjieffintroducingapieceof
musicwith,ThismusicIplayyounowcomefromEssenemonasterywhereJesusChristspentfromeighteenthto
thirtiethyear.AndinMeetingsWithremarkableMenherecounts,IhadbeenamongtheEssenes,mostofwhom
areJews,andthatbymeansofveryancientHebraicmusicandsongstheyhadmadeplantsgrowinhalfanhour,
andIdescribedindetailhowtheyhaddonethis.
HisfriendBogachevsky,orFatherEvlissibecameassistanttotheabbotofthechief
monasteryoftheEsseneBrotherhood,situatednotfarfromtheshoresoftheDeadSea.
Thisbrotherhoodwasfounded,accordingtocertainsurmises,twelvehundredyearsbeforetheBirthofChristandit
issaidthatinthisbrotherhoodJesusChristreceivedhisfirstinitiation.
WhileGurdjieffsurelydidmeetwithsourcesofancientwisdom,hesbamboozlingushere.Healsomentionsthatthe
orderhadabranchinEgypt.TheconnectionsoftheEsseneswiththeDeadSeaandEgyptcomestraightfromthe
writingsofPlinyandPhilowhich,unliketheDeadSeaScrollsortheNagHammadiLibrary,werequiteavailable.
***

BeforehemetGurdjieff,OuspenskyhadalreadyusedpassagesfromtheBibleasspringboardsforhisthoughtin
TertiumOrganum.Althoughhedevelopedhisideasmuchfurther,hismostsustainedtreatmentofChristianitywas
inANewModeloftheUniverse.
Norwillesotericideas,thatis,ideascomingfromhighermind,saymuchtoa
logicalman.Hewillask,forinstance:"WherearetheproofsthattheGospelswere
writtenbypeopleofhighermind?"
Whereindeedaretheproofs?Theyarethere,everywhere,ineverylineandineveryword,butonlyforthosewhohave
eyestoseeandearstohear.Butthelogicalmindcanneitherseenorhearbeyondaverysmallradiusorthemost
elementarythings.
AmentirechapterofANewModelwasdevotedtothestudyoftheNewTestament.Herestrictshimselftothe
gospelsandrevelation,regardingthelettersofPaulasafallingawayfromtheinitialesotericimpulseof
Christianity:
TheActsandtheEpistlesareworksofaquitedifferentspecificgravityfromthe
fourGospels.Inthemesotericideasaremet,buttheseideasdonotoccupyinthema
predominantplace,andtheycouldexistwithouttheseideas.
ThefourGospelsarewrittenforthefew,fortheveryfew,forthepupilsof
esotericschools.Howeverintelligentandeducatedintheordinarysenseamanmay
be,hewillnotunderstandtheGospelswithoutspecialindicationsandwithout
specialesotericknowledge.
AtthesametimeitisnecessarytonotethatthefourGospelsarethesolesource
fromwhichweknowofChristandofhisteaching.TheActsandthe"Epistles"of
theApostlesaddseveralessentialfeatures,buttheyalsointroduceagreatdealthat
doesnotexistintheGospelsandthatcontradictstheGospels.Inanycasefromthe
EpistlesitwouldnotbepossibletoreconstructeitherthepersonofChrist,orthe
Gospeldrama,ortheessenceoftheGospelteaching.
TheEpistlesoftheApostles,andespeciallytheEpistlesoftheApostlePaul,are
thebuildingoftheChurch.TheyaretheadaptationoftheideasoftheGospels,the
materialisationofthem,theapplicationofthemtolife,veryoftenanapplication
whichgoesagainsttheesotericidea.
TheadditionoftheActsandtheEpistlestothefourGospelsintheNewTestamenthasadualmeaning.First(fromthe
pointofviewoftheChurch),itgivesthepossibilitytotheChurch,whichinfactoriginatesfromtheEpistles,to
establish
connectionwiththeGospelsandwiththe"dramaofChrist".And,second,(fromthe
pointofviewofesotericism)itgivesthepossibilitytoafewmen,whobeginwith
ChurchChristianity,butarecapableofunderstandingtheesotericidea,tocomeinto
touchwiththefirstsourceandperhapstosucceedinfindingthehiddentruth.
HistoricallythechiefroleintheformationofChristianitywasplayednotbythe
teachingofChristbutbytheteachingofPaul.
IdofeelthatOuspenskydoesPauladisservicehere.PaulslettersaretheoldestChristianwritings,predatingthe
gospelsbybetweenoneandfivedecades,whileActsusesthesameesoterictechniquesasthefourgospels.
Ouspenskysessayprovidesafairlyradicallookatthegospels,fromhisstatementsthattheywerewrittenmuch
laterthanisgenerallythought,andnotbythediscipleswhosenamesareassignedtothem,tohisassertionthat
featuresofthelifeofJesusaretakenfromthelifeofMoses(extremelyprobable)andthelifeofBuddha(rather
unlikely.)Ouspenskytendstostateeverything,andIdowishthathehadgivenafewmorereasonsalongtheway.
HeviewsMatthewastheearliestgospel,beingusedbyMarkandLukeasmaterialfortheirowngospels:thisis
verydifficulttomaintain,anditismuchlikelierthatbothMatthewandLukeusedMark.HeregardstheGospelof
Johnasbeingamuchhigherlevelofworkthanthethreesynopticgospels,Matthew,MarkandLuke.

ANewModeloftheUniverse,atleastinthe1931edition,nowappearstobeoutofcopyright.IntheUSAithas
recentlybeenreprintedbyDoverBooksandKessingerPublishing.Withthisunderstanding,Ihaveputtheentire
chapteronChristianityandtheNewTestamentonline:OuspenskyonChristianityandTheNewTestament
InthechapteronSuperman,OuspenskyseemstodisagreewithGurdjieffsassessmentofJudas:

AnotherremarkabletypeintheGospeldrama,atypealsoopposedtoeverything
whichinordinaryhumanityleadstothesuperman,isJudas.
JudasisaverystrangefigureintheGospeltragedy.Thereisnooneaboutwhom
somuchhasbeenwrittenasJudas.InmodernEuropeanliteraturethereareattempts
torepresentandinterpretJudasfromallpossiblepointsofview.Contrarytothe
usual"Church"interpretationofJudasasameanandgreedy"Jew"whosold
Christforthirtypiecesofsilver,heissometimesrepresentedasafigureevenhigher
thanChrist,asamanwhosacrificedhimself,hissalvationandhis"lifeeternal"in
orderthatthemiracleofredemptionshouldbeaccomplishedorasamanwho
revoltedagainstChrist,becauseChrist,inhisopinion,spoiledthe"cause",
surroundedhimselfwithworthlesspeople,puthimselfinaridiculousposition,and
soon.
Actually,however,Judasisnotevena"role",andcertainlynotaromantichero,
notaconspiratordesirousofstrengtheningtheunionoftheapostleswiththeblood
ofChrist,notamanstrugglingforthepurityofanidea.Judasissimplyasmallman
whofoundhimselfinthewrongplace,anordinaryman,fullofdistrust,offearsand
suspicions,amanwhooughtnottohavebeenamongtheapostles,whounderstood
nothingofwhatJesussaidtohisdisciples,butamanwhoforsomereasonorotherwasacceptedasoneofthemand
wasevengivena
responsiblepositionandacertainauthority.Judaswasconsideredoneofthe
favouritedisciplesofJesushewasinchargeoftheapostles'domesticarrangements,
wastheirtreasurer.Judastragedywasthathefearedtobeexposedhefelthimselfin
thewrongplaceanddreadedthethoughtthatJesusmightonedayrevealthisto
others.Andatlasthecouldbearitnolonger.Hedidnotunderstandsomewordsof
Jesusperhapshefeltathreatinthesewords,perhapsahintatsomethingwhichonly
heandJesusknew.Perturbedandfrightened,JudasfledfromthesupperofJesusand
hisdisciplesanddecidedtoexposeJesusThefamousthirtypiecesofsilverplayed
nopartinthiswhatever.Judasactedundertheinfluenceofinjuryandfear,hewished
tobreakanddestroythatwhichhecouldnotcomprehend,thatwhichrevoltedand
humiliatedhimbytheveryfactofitsbeingabovehisunderstanding.Heneededto
accuseJesusandhisdisciplesofcrimesinordertofeelhimselfintheright.Judas'
psychologyisamosthumanpsychology,thepsychologyofslanderingwhatonedoes
notunderstand.
InSearchoftheMiraculouscontainsmuchthatGurdjiefftaughtconcerningChristianitymostofthisisexcerpted
above,inthesectiononGurdjieff.
OuspenskyhardlywroteanythingelseonesotericChristianity,althoughhedidmakeanunpublishedEnglish
translationoftheSincereNarrationsofaPilgrim.(RodneyCollinpublishedapamphlet,NotesontheGospelofSt.
John,inparallelEnglishandSpanishin1949,madeupfromnotesfoundafterOuspenskydied.However,itseems
thatthesewereactuallymadebyoneofOuspenskysstudents,sohewithdrewthepamphlet.)However,Ouspensky
spokeofthegospelsinhismeetings,whichweretranscribed,andformedthesourcematerialforthebooksThe
FourthWay,ARecordofMeetingsandAFurtherRecord.
OuspenskycarriedaroundwithhimawellthumbedcopyoftheNewTestamentintheoriginalGreek.IrmisPopoff
recordsacharmingincident,onthefirstoccasionthatshemetOuspensky,soonafterhecametoNewYork:
LionjaSavitzkyreadthateveningsomenotestakenfromthewritingsthatwecametoknowmuchlaterasthe
"PsychologyofMan'sPossibleEvolutionIwasnotparticularlyimpressed,butwhensomeoneasked,"Mr.Ouspensky,
doIunderstandcorrectly,youstatethatneithergoodnorevilareimportantinyourSystem,thatallmanmustdoto
developistorememberhimself?"
Andafterashortpauseheanswered,"Itiscorrect.Good,evil,allrelative.Amanwhoremembershimselfcanbecome
conscious.Consciousmanisfree,andmaydoashewishes.Itisallthatisneeded."
Iprotested,"But,sir,asOscarWildesays,'Whatdoesitprofitamanifhegainsthewholeworldandloseshisown
soul?'"
Hewasverynearsighted.Headjustedhisglassesonthetipofhisnoseand,scrutinizingme,heasked,"Begpardon
whosaid?"
"OscarWilde,"Irepeatedemphatically.

"Ahhhl"Hesmiled,andturnedhisattentiontosomeoneelse.
SodidI.
Verylatethatevening,whenIreturnedhomeIfoundawire
awaitingme.Itread:
"MR.OUSPENSKYWILLSEEYOUATHISSTUDIOAT4P.M.TOMORROW.M.S.Secretary."
"Howodd!"Ithought."Nowwhyonearthwouldthisgentlemanwanttoseeme,ofallpeople?"
Curiositymademekeeptheappointment.Ifoundhimalone.
"Well....?"heaskedmeasIsatbyhim.
"Well,Ireceivedyourwire.AwirefromMissSeton."
Hesmiledashetoldme,"Yes.YoumustreadNewTestament.Allversionsyoucanfind.AndnextTuesday,sametime,
youcometoseeme."
"NewTestament!Butwhatdoyoumeanbyallversions?"Iasked.
"Greek,Catholic,KingJamesallversionsyoucanfind."
Itwasmyturntosay,"0...hi"Ihadthoughttherewasbutoneversion.
Afterawhilehedismissedme,saying,"Read,read.Thencomeback."
Idid.
StartingwithMatthew'sGospel,itwasnotlongbeforeIcametoChapter16:XXVI:"Forwhatisamanprofited,ifhe
shallgainthewholeworld,andlosehisownsoul?"
IhadnevernoticedthequotesinOscarWilde'sPictureofDorianGrey.Jiminy!Ithought,andIunderstood.SuddenlyI
feltawarmsensationofaffectionforthekindlyoldgentleman.
Whataquaintwaytoshowme!Iwhisperedtomyself.
MrsPopoffalsorecordsanotherincident:
[O]nedaywhenhewastellingusaboutthemanyI'spresentinman,howhehas
nounity,howheisnotonebutmany.Hescoldedusseverelysayingthatwemustneversay"I"beforeweknewwhat
weweresaying.
"Lookwhathappenedtothedevil,"hesaid.AndIprotested:
"But,Mr.Ouspensky,GodsaidtoMosesonMountTabor,
'IamthatIam'l"
Iwassittinginthefirstrow.Hepaused,andlookedatmeforawhile,andthensaidtenderlyandverysoftly:
"Yes.Butyousee,youarenotGod.Inyouthereisno'I.'Youmustwork.Workhardtohave'I.'"
"IfonlyIhadenoughenergytowork!"Isaidsincerely.
"Youhaveit,"heassuredme."Youwasteitinarguments."
Hegavemealonglook,andthenindulgedintheshadowofa
smile.
HereisananalysisoftheLordsPrayer,takenfromTheFourthWay:
isthesameasspeakingofsuchChristianprinciplesasloving
yourenemies.
Q.IsnottheABCofallesotericknowledgethedeathoftheseed?
A.Wemaytakeitlikethat.Asamatteroffact,inconnectionwiththisthereis
anotherthingwhichmayperhapsexplainoursituation.IrememberlongagoMr
GurdjieffsaidaboutthisexpressionrepeatedtwoorthreetimesintheNew
Testament,thatinordertogerminateandproduceaplantaseedmustdie,thatitwas
notcompleteinrelationtoman.Inrelationtomanitmustbeamplified.Speakingin
generalaboutthework,aboutitspossibilitiesandaboutthedirectionofthework,Mr
Gurdjieffexplainedittouslikethis.Firstwemustrealizethatweareasleepsecondly
wemustawake.Whenweareawakewemustdiewhenwediewecanbeborn.This
istheprocessindetailandthedirection.Itisusefultothinkaboutit,usefulto
understandwhatsleepmeans,whattoawakemeans,whattodiemeansandwhatit
wouldmeantobeborn.Supposewewanttobeborn.Wecannotbebornuntilwedie,
andwecannotdieuntilweawake.Wecannotawakeuntilwerealizethatweare
asleep.Sotherearedefinitesteps.
Q.Whatdoestodiemeaninthesenseinwhichyouspeak?
A.'Todie'meanstodie,todisappear,nottobe,nottoexist.Itisuselesstodiein
sleep,becausethenyoucannotbeborn.Youmustawakefirst.
Ihavebeenaskedmanyquestions,someofthemverynaive,bydifferentpeople
whohavetriedtounderstandtheLord'sPrayerandwhocametomeaskingmeto

explainwhatoneoranotherphraseinitmeans.Forinstance,Ihavebeenaskedwhat
'ourFatherinheaven'means,whoare'ourdebtors'andwhatare'ourdebts'andso
onasiftheLord'sPrayercouldbeexplainedin'plainwords'.Youmustunderstand
firstofallthatordinary,plainwordscannotexplainanythinginrelationtotheLord's
Prayer.Somepreparatoryunderstandingisnecessary,thenfurtherunderstandingmay
come,butonlyasaresultofeffortandrightattitude.
TheLord'sPrayercanbetakenasanexampleofaninsolubleproblem.Ithasbeen
translatedintoeverylanguage,learntbyheart,repeateddaily,yetpeoplehavenotthe
slightestideaofwhatitreallymeans.Thisfailuretounderstanditsmeaningis
connectedwithourgeneralinabilitytounderstandtheNewTestament.Ifyou
remember,inanotherconversation,thewholeoftheNewTestamentwasgivenasan
exampleofobjectiveart,thatistosay,theworkofhighermind.Howthencanwe
expecttounderstandwithourordinarymindwhatwasformulatedandgivenbyhighermind?
Whatwecandoistotryandraiseourmindtothelevelofthinkingofhighermind
andalthoughwedonotrealizeit,thisispossibleinmanydifferentways.In
mathematics,forinstance,wecandealwithinfinitieswithinfinitelysmalland
infinitelylargequantitieswhichmeannothingtoourordinarymind.Andwhatis
possibleinmathematicsispossibleforusifwestartintherightwayandcontinuein
therightway.
Oneofthefirstthingswhichmustbeunderstoodandremembered,beforeastudy
oftheLord'sPrayerispossible,isthedifferencebetweenthereligiouslanguageand
systemlanguage.
Whatisreligion?Thiswordisusedveryoftentherearepeoplewhouseitevery
day,buttheycannotdefinewhatismeantbyreligion.
Inthesystemwehaveheardthatreligionisdifferentfordifferentpeople,thatthere
isreligionofmanNo.1,areligionofmanNo.2,areligionofmanNo.3andsoon.
Buthowcanwedefinethedifferencebetweenthem?Beforecomingtodefinitionswe
mustunderstandfirstofallthatthemostnecessaryelementinallreligionsknownto
usistheideaofGodaGodwithwhomwecanstandinapersonalrelationship,to
whomwecan,asitwere,speak,whomwecanbegforhelp,andinthepossibilityof
whosehelpwecanbelieve.AninseparablepartofreligionisfaithinGod,thatis,ina
HigherBeing,omnipotentandomnipresent,whocanhelpusinanythingwewishfor
orwanttodo.
Idonotspeakfromthepointofviewofwhetherthisisrightorwrong,possibleor
impossible.Isimplysaythatfaith,thatisbeliefinGodandinhispowertohelpus,is
anessentialpartofreligion.
Prayerisalsoaninseparablepartofanyreligionbutprayercanbeverydifferent.
Prayercanbeapetitionforhelpinanythingwemayundertake,andalso,through
schoolwork,prayercanbecomehelpitself.Itcanbecomeaninstrumentofwork
whichcanbeusedforrevivingideasofthesystem,itcanbeusedforselfremembering
andforremindingusaboutsleepandthenecessityforawakening.
Atthesametime,theexpressionsofreligiouslanguagecannotbetranslatedexactly
intothesystemlanguage.First,becauseoftheelementoffaithinreligion,and
secondly,becauseoftheacceptanceinreligionandreligiouslanguageoffactsand
assertionswhichinthesystemareregardedasillogicalandinconsistent.
Nevertheless,itwouldbewrongtosaythatreligionandthesystemareincompatible
orcontradictoryonly,wemustlearnnottomixthetwolanguages.Ifwebegintomix
them,weshallspoilanyusefulconclusionsthatcouldbemadeoneitherofthetwo
lines.
ReturningtotheideaofGod,anideawhichisinseparablefromreligionand
religiouslanguage,wemustfirstaskourselveshowreligionscanbedividedina
generalorhistoricalway.TheymaybedividedintoreligionswithoneGodand
religionswithmanygods.Buteveninthisdivisionitmustberememberedthatthereisagreatdifferencebetweenthe
ordinary
understandingofmonotheismandpolytheismandthesystemunderstandingofthe
sameideas.Althoughtherearecertaindifferencesbetweengodsas,forinstance,in
Greekmythologyintheordinaryunderstandingofpolytheismallgodsaremoreor
lessonthesamelevel.Fromthesystempointofview,whichincludestheideaof
differentscalesanddifferentlawsondifferentlevels,onehasquiteadifferent
understandingoftheinterdependenceofgods.
IfwetaketheAbsoluteasGod,wecanseethatithasnorelationtous.The

AbsoluteisGodforgodsithasrelationonlytothenextworld,thatis,World3.The
World3isGodforthenextworld,thatis,World6,andalsoforallthefollowing
worlds,butinalesserandlesserdegree.ThentheGalaxy,Sun,Planets,Earthand
Moonareallgods,eachincludinginitselfsmallergods.TheRayofCreationasa
whole,takenasonetriad,isalsoGod:GodtheHoly,GodtheFirm,GodtheImmortal.
SowemaychooseonwhichlevelwewishtotakeourGodifwewanttousethe
word'God'inthereligioussense,thatistosay,inthesenseofaGodhaving
immediateaccesstoourlives.Fromthesystempointofviewwehavenothingto
provethatanyoftheseworldsmayhaveapersonalrelationtousbutthereisaplace
forGodinthesystem.
InthelateraloctavewhichbeginsintheSunas'do'therearetwoquiteunknown
pointsaboutwhichwehavenomaterialforthinking.Theoctavebeginsasdointhe
Sun,thenpassesintosionthelevelofthePlanets.OnEarthitbecomeslasolfa,
whichconstitutesOrganicLifeincludingman.Wheneachindividualbeinginthe
human,animalandvegetablekingdomdies,thebodyorwhatremainsofthebody
goestotheEarthandbecomespartoftheEarth,andthesoulgoestotheMoonand
becomespartoftheMoon.Fromthiswecanunderstandmiandre
butaboutsianddoweknownothingatall.Thesetwonotesmaygiverisetomany
suppositionsastothepossibleplaceofaGodorgodshavingsomerelationtousinthe
RayofCreation.
Now,rememberingallthathasjustbeensaid,wemaycometothestudyofthe
Lord'sPrayer.
Thefirstthingistodiscoverwhyandwhenitwasgiven.Weknowthatitwasgiven
toreplacemanyuselessprayers.
ThenextthingistonotemanyinterestingfeaturesintheLord'sPrayeritselfandin
itsveryspecialconstructionandfromourunderstandingofthisconstruction,and
particularlyfromourknowledgeoftheLawofThree,wemaybeabletorealizethat,
fromthesystempointofview,thereisapossibilityofthedevelopmentof
understandingthroughourunderstandingoftheLord'sPrayer.
Likemanymathematicalproblems,thestudyoftheLord'sPrayermustbeginwitha
correctdispositionorarrangementoftheseparatepartsoftheproblem.Wenoticeat
oncetwointerestingthings:first,thattheLord'sPrayerisdividedintothreetimesthree,andsecond,thatintheLord's
Prayer
therearecertainkeywords,thatistosay,wordswhichexplainotherwordstowhich
theyrefer.Wecannotcallthedivisionintothreetimesthreetriads,becausewedonot
knowtheirrelationtooneanotherandcannotseetheforces.Wecanonlyseethat
therearethreeparts.
Ifyoureadthefirstthreepetitionstogetherasonepart,youwillseemanythings
whichyoucannotseeifyoureadthemintheordinaryway.
1.OurFatherwhichartinheavenhallowedbeThyname
2.Thykingdomcome
3.Thywillbedoneonearthasitisinheaven.
Inthefirstpetition,'OurFatherwhichartinheavenhallowedbeThyname',the
immediatequestionis,whois'ourFather'?Thekeywordis'heaven'.Whatdoes'in
heaven'mean?IfwetrytoanswerthisquestionfromthepointofviewoftheRayof
Creationwemaybeabletounderstandsomething.WeliveontheEarth,so'heaven'
mustmeanhigherlevels,thatis,thePlanets,theSunortheGalaxy.Theideaof
'heaven'presupposescertainforces,orcertainmindormindsonthosehigherlevelsto
which,insomeway,theLord'sPrayeradvisesustoappeal'heaven'cannotreferto
anythingontheleveloftheEarth.Butifwerealizethatthecosmicforcesconnected
withtheGalaxy,theSunorthePlanetsaretoobigtohaveanyrelationtous,thenwe
canlookfortheplaceofour'Fatherinheaven'inthedoorsiofthelateraloctaveor
wecanagainleaveittohigherregions.
Inthewordswhichfollowthereisnothingpersonal.'HallowedbeThyname'isthe
expressionofadesireforthedevelopmentoftherightattitudetowardsGod,andfora
betterunderstandingoftheideaofGodorHigherMind,andthisdesirefor
developmentobviouslyreferstothewholeofhumanity.
Thesecondpetition,'Thykingdomcome',istheexpressionofadesireforthe
growthofesotericism.In
ANewModeloftheUniverseItriedtoexplainthatthekingdomofheavencouldonly
meanesotericism,thatistosay,acertaininnerpartofhumanityunderparticularlaws.

Thethirdpetition,'Thywillbedoneonearthasitisinheaven',istheexpressionof
adesireforthetransitionoftheEarthtoahigherlevel,underthedirectwillofHigher
Mind.'Thywillbedone'referstosomethingthatmayhappenbuthasnotyet
happened.Thesethreepetitionsrefertoconditionswhichmaycomebutwhichhave
notyetbeenfulfilled.
ThefirstpetitionofthesecondpartoftheLord'sPrayeris:
'Giveusthisdayourdailybread'.
Theword'daily'doesnotexistintheoldestknownGreekandLatintext.The
correctword,whichlaterwasreplacedby'daily',is'supersubstantialis'or
'supersubstantial'.Thecorrecttextshouldbe:'giveustodayoursupersubstantial
bread'.'Supersubstantial'or'spiritual'assomepeoplesay,mayrefertohigherfood,higherhydrogens,higher
influencesor
higherknowledge.
Thetwofollowingpetitionsinthissecondpart,
'Forgiveusourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors',and'Leadusnotintotemptation
butdeliverusfromevil'arethemostdifficulttounderstandortoexplain.Theyare
particularlydifficultbecausetheirordinarymeaning,asgenerallyaccepted,has
nothingtodowiththerealmeaning.Whenpeoplethinkaboutthewords,'forgiveus
ourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors'intheordinaryway,theyimmediatelybeginto
makelogicalandpsychologicalmistakes.Firstofall,theytakeforgrantedthatthey
canforgivedebts,andthatitdependsonthemwhethertheywillforgiveornot
forgiveandsecondly,theybelievethatitisequallygoodtoforgivedebtsandtohave
theirowndebtsforgiven.Thisisafallacyandhasnofoundationwhatever.Ifthey
thinkaboutthemselves,iftheystudythemselves,iftheyobservethemselves,theywill
verysoonseethattheycannotforgiveanydebtsjustastheycannotdoanything.
Inordertodoandinordertoforgiveonemustfirstofallbeabletoremember
oneself,onemustbeawakeandonemusthavewill.Aswearenow,wehave
thousandsofdifferentwills,andevenifoneofthesewillswantstoforgive,thereare
alwaysmanyotherswhichdonotwanttoforgiveandwhichwillthinkthat
forgivenessisaweakness,aninconsistencyorevenacrime.Andthestrangestthingis
thatsometimesitisreallyacrimetoforgive.Herewecometoaninterestingpoint.We
donotknowwhetheritisgoodtoforgiveornot,whetheritisgoodtoforgivealways,
orwhetherinsomecasesitisbettertoforgiveandinsomecasesbetternottoforgive.
Ifwethinkmoreaboutit,wemaycometotheconclusionthatevenifwecould
forgive,perhapsitwouldbebettertowaituntilweknewmore,thatis,untilweknew
inwhichcasesitisbettertoforgiveandinwhichcasesitisbetternottoforgive.
Atthispointweshouldrememberwhathasbeensaidaboutpositiveandnegative
attitudesandweshouldrealizethatpositiveattitudesarenotalwayscorrect,negative
attitudesaresometimesnecessaryforarightunderstanding.So,if'forgiving'always
meanshavingapositiveattitude,thenforgivingmaysometimesbequitewrong.
Wemustunderstandthattoforgiveindiscriminatelymaybeworsethannotto
forgiveatallandthisunderstandingmaybringustotherightviewofourown
positioninrelationtoourowndebts.Supposeforamomentthatthereactuallywas
somebenevolentandratherstupiddeitywhocouldforgiveourdebts,andwhowould
reallyforgivethemandwipethemout.Itwouldbethegreatestmisfortunethatcould
happentous.Therewouldbenoincentiveforustoworkthen,andnoreasontowork.
Wecouldgoondoingthesamewrongthingsandhavingthemallforgivenintheend.
Suchapossibilityisquitecontrarytoanyideaofthework.Intheworkwemustknowthatnothingwillbeforgiven.
Onlythis
knowledgewillgiveusarealincentivetowork,andatleastpreventusfromrepeating
thesamethingswhichwealreadyknowtobewrong.
Itisinterestingtolookatschoolsfromthispointofviewandtocompareschools
withordinarylife.Inlifepeoplemayexpectforgiveness,oratleasthopeforit.In
schoolnothingisforgiven.Thatisanessentialpartofaschoolsystem,schoolmethod
andschoolorganization.Schoolsexistpreciselyfornotforgiving,andbecauseofthis
factonecanhopeandexpecttogetsomethingfromaschool.Ifthingswereforgiven
inschools,therewouldbenoreasonfortheirexistence.
Theinnermeaningof'Forgiveusourdebtsasweforgiveourdebtors'actually
referstoinfluences,thatistosay,influencesfromhigherlevels.Wecanattractto
ourselveshigherinfluencesonlyifwetransfertootherpeopletheinfluenceswe
receiveorhavereceived.Therearemanyothermeaningsofthesewords,butthisis

thebeginningofthewaytounderstandthem.
Thethirdpetitionofthissecondpartis:
'Leadusnotintotemptationbutdeliverusfromevil'.Whatisourgreatest
temptation?Mostprobablyitissleep:sothefirstwordsareunderstandable'helpus
tosleepless,orhelpustoawakesometimes'.Thenextpartismoredifficult.Itreads:
'Butdeliverusfromevil'.Possiblyitshouldbe'anddeliverusfromevil'.Thereare
manyinterpretationsofthis'but',butnoneofthemisquitesatisfactoryastranslated
intoordinarylanguage,soIshallleaveitforthepresent.
Thechiefquestionis,whatdoes'evil'mean?Onepossibleinterpretationisthatin
relationtotheordinarytemptation,whichisonlysleep,itmeanslettingoneselffall
asleepagainwhenonehadalreadybeguntoawake.Itmaymeangivingupthework
whenonehasalreadyunderstoodthenecessityforworking,givingupeffortsafterone
hadbeguntomakeeffortsand,ashasalreadybeenmentioned,startingtodostupidor
evenharmfulthings,suchasgoingagainstschoolrulesandjustifyingoneselfforso
doing.Manyinterestingexamplesofthingsofthiskindcanbefoundintheactionsof
peoplewholeavetheworkandparticularlyintheirexplanationsoftheirdoingso.
Finally,thethirdpartoftheLord'sPrayershouldbetakenasreferringtoafuture
orderofthingsandnottothepresentorder.
1.ForThineisthekingdom
2.thepower
3.andthegloryforeverAmen,
presupposesthatthedesireexpressedinthefirstpartofthePrayerhasalreadybeen
realized,hasalreadytakenplace.Actuallythesewordscanonlyrefertothefuture.
Inconclusion,thewholeoftheLord'sPrayercanbetakenasonetriad.Itcannotbe
takeninthesensethatonepartisactiveforce,anotherpartpassiveforceandathirdpartneutralizingforce,because
allrelationsprobablychange
withthechangeinthecentreofgravityofattention.Thismeansthat,byitself,eachof
thesethreedivisionsorpartscanbetakenasoneforceandthattogethertheycan
makeatriad.
Theseverybigideasareputintheformofaprayer.Whenyoudecipherthisideaof
prayer,prayerinthesenseofsupplication,disappears.
***
MauriceNicollwasapupilofbothGurdjieff,withwhomhespentanumberofmonthsattheChateauduPrieurein
Fontainbleau,andOuspensky.ThepsychiatristCarlJunggavehimhisearlytraining.In1931OuspenskytoldDr
Nicolltogoandformhisowngroups,whichheleduntilhisdeathin1953.Nicollwrotetwobooksontheesoteric
interpretationoftheBible:TheNewMan,publishedin1950atroughlythesametimeasInSearchoftheMiraculous
andAllandEverything,andTheMark,publishedposthumously.Thesetwobooksareclassicsofinterpretation.
Allsacredwritingscontainanouterandaninnermeaning.Behindtheliteralwordsliesanotherrangeofmeaning,
anotherformofknowledge.Accordingtoanoldagetradition,Manoncewasintouchwiththisinnerknowledgeand
innermeaning.TherearemanystoriesintheOldTestamentwhichconveyanotherknowledge,ameaningquite
differentfromtheliteralsenseofthewords.ThestoryoftheArk,thestoryofPharaoh'sbutlerandbaker,thestoryof
theTowerofBabel,thestoryofJacobandEsauandthemessofpottage,andmanyothers,containaninner
psychologicalmeaningfarremovedfromtheirliterallevelofmeaning.AndintheGospelstheparableisusedina
similarway.
ManyparablesareusedintheGospels.Astheystand,takenintheliteralmeaningofthewords,theyreferapparently
tovineyards,tohouseholders,tostewards,tospendthriftsons,tooil,towaterandtowine,toseedsandsowersand
soil,andmanyotherthings.Thisistheirliterallevelofmeaning.Thelanguageofparablesisdifficulttounderstand
justasis,ingeneral,thelanguageof
allsacredwritings.Takenonthelevelofliteralunderstanding,boththeOldandNewTestamentsarefullnotonlyof
contradictionsbutofcruelandrepulsivemeaning.
BerylPogson,DrNixcollssecretary,describesthebeginningofDrNicollsworkonthegospels:
During1941DrNicollhadcompletedhischaptersonTheLordsPrayerwhichwerepublishedposthumouslyinThe
Mark.ThewritingofthechapterswhichwereeventuallypublishedinTheNewManbeganinacuriousway.Weoften
hadtalksabouttheBiblecharacters.Onedayanideacametometome.Icollectedfromthefourgospelsallthatwas

saidaboutStPeterandarrangedthematerial,asfaraspossible,chronologically.ThenIlaidthisdocumentonDr
NicollstablewiththetentativesuggestionthathemightliketocommentonthecharacterofStPeterandthepart
playedbyhiminthegospels.Thisexperimenthadsurprisingresults,forDrNicollwasimmediatelyinterestedand
wrotewiththeutmostrapiditythechapteronStPeterwhichwaslaterincludedinTheNewManjustasitstood
withoutalteration.Welittlethoughtatthetimethatthiswasthebeginningofawholebook.
TheNewManisnotwithoutitsfaults.SinceNicolliswritingforanaudiencethatmayknownothingofthework
ideas,hetendstolabourhispoint,andattimesseemsconvincedthatthereaderisntgoingtounderstandwhathe
hastosay.Inotherplaces,suchashisuseoftheplatonicideasofthegoodandthetruth,hedoesntseemtoquitehit
themark.Buteveninthesepassages,hehasclearlyidentifiedanesotericsymbolism,inthiscasethestoriesofthe
olderandyoungerbrothers,suchasJaconandEsau.ThefivevolumesofPsychologicalCommentaries,puttogether
fromNicollsmeetings,alsocontainagooddealofBibleinterpretation.NicollstoppedshortofGurdjieffsradical
rewritingoftheplaceofJudasinthedramaofChrist,butdoessuggestthatJudasplayedthemostdifficultpartina
consciousdrama.
TheNewManandTheMarkcontainmuchthatleadstoagenuineesotericandpsychologicalunderstandingofthe
Bible.

***
RodneyCollin,Ouspenskysmostinspiredpupil,movedtoMexicotomakeafreshstarttheyearafterOuspensky
died.Hispublishinghouse,EdicionesSol,publishedSpanishtranslationsofTheNewManandthePsychological
CommentariessoonaftertheycameoutinEngland.Despitethis,thereislittletraceofthiskindofinterpretationin
Collinswritings,althoughhecouldstillwrite,ThewordsofChristhavewaitedtwothousandyearstobe
understood.Theycanbeunderstoodatoncewithclearthoughtsandcleanminds.TheGospelswerenotwritten
onlyforpeopletwothousandyearsago.Theyarealwaysanewforce,anditisourdutytorelatethesituationof
eachindividualtoeverypassageoftheGospels,interpretingitnotonlywiththemindbutwiththeemotionsofour
hearts.
LivinginMexico,CollinfinallyconvertedtoRomanCatholicismin1955asayoungmanhehadbeeninvolvedwith
theChristianorganizationTocH.Hispamphlet,heChristianMystery,publishedinSpanishin1953andinEnglish
thefollowingyear,putstheentireChristiancivilization,alongwiththegospeldrama,andthelivesofthebody,the
soulandthespirit,ontotheenneagram.Itiswritteninecstatic,poeticlanguage,andisnotsomethingtoberead
withthelogicalmind:
Christdied.Christlives.Thefiguregrew.Notinintensitybutinsize,astherippleexpanding.Charactersmovedtonew
placesforanotherscale.Othersentered.TheActsoftheApostles.TheActsoftheChurch.Notthirtyyearsbutthree
thousand.Thecoiledspringoftime,woundbeyondbreakingpoint,unwindsagain,remakingtheChristianmysteryin
history.Inspaceandcenturies.Itsbody.
TheapexGod,mystery,andthehiddenschoolsofmystery.
FromschoolinEgyptJesusreturnedtohisbirthplace.WheretheVirginMotherMarystood,newstandsBethlehem,
andallitsignifies.
Peaceonearth,goodwilltowardsmen.Christmas,humblenativities.
FromBethlehemJesuswentupintriumphtothecapital.WhereJohnstoodnowstandsJerusalem,placeof
pilgrimage,prayer,bloodiedcrusaders,quarteredamongwarringsects,allthingstoallmenaccordingtotheirbeing.
ThesecondapexChristloving,crucified,ascended,everywhere.
PaultotheGalatians,JohntoPatmosandtheSevenChurcheswhichareinAsia.WhereMaryMagdalenestoodnew
standsAsiaMinor,landofDianaandAstarte,theEasternChurch,Byzantium.
PeterandPaultoRome."UponthisrockwillIbuildmychurch".
WherePeterstoodnowstandsRome,imperialandeternalRome,theVaticanandthePopes,theChurchCatholicand
Militant.
AndasbetweenMarsandVenus,sobetweenWestandEast,RomeandByzantium,CatholicandOrthodox,twosides
oftheChristianmysterymustwageconfederatewartillaunitynotoftimeandplacebeseenagain.
ThethirdapexPaulthepersecutor,opposer,fanatic,militant,emissaryofschools,martyredandascendedalso.
ThethreeMariestoProvence,JosephofArimatheatoGlastonbury.
WherehestoodnewstandsChristianEurope.Monasteries,orders,KnightsTemplars,chantinginparishchurch,the
devotionofpeasantsatwaysideshrines.Benedict,Augustine,Francis,Luther,More.

CoptstoEthiopia,JesuitstoChina,FranciscanstoMexico.WhereJudasstoodnowstandstheChristianworld.
Compoundofrevelationandbetrayal.Courage,martyrdom,loveblood,cruelty,corruptionofancientinnocence.
Athousandfantasticsects.Everyman'sprejudiceandimaginationarmedwithChristianity.Yetnonetoblame:save
thebeingofunregenerateman,forwhomChristcame.
ThefirstapexonceagainGod,mystery,andtheschoolsofmystery,whitherthewholecircleyearns.
HeaddstoOuspenskysideaofthedramaofChristbeingaconsciousplay.
Butitisthislatter,theGospel,whichmustrepresenttheperfectexampletheclassical
performanceasitwereofsuchaplayThebackgroundofChrist'sdramaismuch
morefamiliar.Thestrategicoutpostofagreatbureaucraticempire,nervousofficialsandanirresponsiblemob,
politicaloppressionandtheshadowofrevoltallthisisbynomeans'sympathetic'.Yetitshowsthatthepossibilityof
ageneral'move'inlevelofconsciousness,whichmayintheendaffecthundredsofthousandsormillionsofmen,does
notatalldependonconditionsthatfromanordinarypointofviewwewouldcallfavourable.Thefamiliareviloflife
mayevenbe'used',asakindoffulcrum,togivehigherforcesapurchaseagainstwhichtoworkandattaintheirends.
Despitesuchdifferencesofscene,thetypesofsuchadramaappearpermanent.TheRomancenturionwhosuddenly
seesthroughthepoliticalcrucifixiontoburstout,'TrulythismanwastheSonofGod!'isthesamecharacteras
Socrates'jailerwho,bringingthepoison,begsforgivenessof'thenoblestandgentlestandbestofallwhoevercameto
thisplace.'Atthesametime,eachrolemaybeplayedwithindividualdifferencesdependingontheparticularactorand
theparticularproduction.TheinnkeeperwhoservesBuddhatherottenfoodfromwhichhediesisintroducedasaquite
minorcharacter,
whosecriticalactionisalmost'accident'.IntheChristiandrama,ontheotherhand,Judasistakenasthe
personificationofevil,andthoughhefinallyrepents,isstillrequiredtohanghimself.Evenhere,however,thereisa
curioussuggestionofcollusionattheLastSupperandinChrist'sphraseatthebetrayal:'Friend,whereforeartthou
come?'
Forwehavetoaccepttheideathatinallsuchdramas,eachconsciousactormusteventuallylearntoplayallparts,
withtheideathathemayonedayevenqualifyforthecentralroleitself.IntheGospeldrama,forexample,thereare
manyhintsthatSaintJohn'thedisciplewhomJesusloved',whoalonestayedwithhimatthecrucifixion,towhose
careheentrustedhismother,whosegospelrevealsthedeepestemotionalunderstanding,andaboveall,wholateras
anoldmaninPatmoshimselfdescribedtheexperiencesofanelectronicbodywas,sotospeak,'understudyingthe
Christ'.'TheimitationofChrist'isinfacttheultimatetaskofeveryplayerintheChristianmystery.Allsuchparts,
however,arebutsubsidiary.Fortherealsignificanceofthewholeplaymustlieinthetransfigurationofthechief
characterintotheelectronicworld,hisachievementofspirit.Andallthemiraculouseventsandmanifestationswhich
followhisdeathmayinonesensebeseenasademonstrationthattheplayhassucceeded,thetremendousmiraclehas
beenaccomplished.
RodneyCollinfeltthatthathespentwithOuspenskyattheendofhisteacherslifewasalsoaconsciousdrama,
albeitonasmallerscale.Collinhimselfhadadramaticdeathin1956whenhefellfromatowerofthecathedralin
Cuzco,Peru.
MauriceNicollssecretary,BerylPogson,continuedtoteachsomeoftheremnantsofMauriceNicollsbooks.Her
mainliterarymonumentisheresotericexplanationofShakespearesplays,InTheEastMyPleasureLies.Sheread
theGospelofThomasin1959,theyearitwasfirstpublishedintranslation.Hercommentsonitcanbefound
here,http://www.bardicpress.com/thomas/pogson.htm
Shealsowroteashortbook,CommentaryontheFourthGospel.TheFourthGospelistheGospelofStJohn.Hereis
herinterpretationofChristwalkingonthewaters:
"WhenJesusthereforeperceivedthattheywouldcomeandtakehimbyforce,tomakehimaking,hedepartedagain
intoamountainhimselfalone.Andwhenevenwasnowcome,hisdiscipleswentdownuntothesea,andenteredinto
aship,andwentovertheseatowardCapernaum.Anditwasnowdark,andJesuswasnotcometothem.Andthesea
arosebyreasonofagreatwindthatblew.Sowhentheyhadrowedaboutfiveandtwentyorthirtyfurlongs,theysee
Jesuswalkingonthesea,anddrawingnighuntotheship:andtheywereafraid.Buthesaithuntothem:'ItisIbenot
afraid'.Thentheywillinglyreceivedhimintotheship:andimmediatelytheshipwasatthelandwhithertheywent.
(JohnVI:1521)ItwasafterthemiracleofthefeedingofthefivethousandthatChristwalkedonthewatersoftheSea
ofGalilee,shewingthatHecouldwalkonthewatersoflife.ThisisthefifthSign.WithoutHispresencethedisciples
weretossedaboutintheirboatonthewaves.ButwhentheywereawarethatChristwaspresent,andheardHiswords:

EgoEimi""ItisI"theirfearwasdispelledandtheywereimmediatelytakenwheretheywantedtogo.Thisisagain
aneternalexperiencethatisdescribed,takingplacewithintheCircleofEternity.Whenaman'sconsciousnessis
araisedsothatheisawareoftheapproachingPresenceitistheI,theRealI,whichtakesover,andthewavesare
stilled,thefearcastout,andtheMasterdirectsthecourse.ThemultitudenowseekJesusandfindHimatCapernaum.
ItisherethatHetellsthem:"Iamthebreadoflife:hethatcomethtomeshallneverhungerandhethatbelievethon
meshallneverthirst".HeistryingtoteachthemwhatHecangiveiftheywillonlyaskforit.Thebreadoflifeisthe
symbolofthisenergyofconsciousness,whichisinexhaustible,asthesaintshavefoundwhentheyhavedrawnupon
ittodowhatisimpossibletotheirownstrength.
ThecommentmadebyJesus,"Yeseekme,notbecauseyesawthemiracles,butbecauseyedideatoftheloaves,and
werefilled",maymeanthatbecausethepeoplehadoncebeennourishedbythisbreadtheyweremovedtoseekthe
Giveragain.Theywerenotnecessarilyseekingsensationafterwitnessingamiracle.
IntheFourthGospelthereisnotthesameaccountoftheLastSupperasintheSynopticGospels.Thereisnotraceof
layingdownaritualtobeenacted.ButinthisGospelthereisinterpretationofthemeaningofthebreadthatChrist
offerstothosewhocanreceiveit,thesubstancewhichisHimself,Hisconsciousness,whichcantransformaman,so
thathiswholesubstanceischanged,sothatafterdeathhecaninhabithisimmortalbody,theBodyofResurrection.
Allthisisimpliedinthewords:"Thisisthebreadoflifewhichcomethdownfromheaven,thatamanmayeatthereof
andnotdie...Iamthelivingbreadwhichcamedownfromheavenifanymaneatofthisbreadheshallliveforever:
andthebreadthatIwillgiveismyflesh,whichIwillgiveforthelifeoftheworld"."Flesh"intheNewTestamentisa
technicalwordmeaningthepsychologyofaman,notthebody.Thusitisthat"flesh"cannourishtheinnerbodiesofa
man,while"blood"cancleanse.
BorisMouravieffwasanassociateofbothGurdjieffandOuspensky.HeknewOuspenskyfairlywell,andgrudgingly
admitstheinfluenceofInSearchoftheMiraculousatthebeginningofhisextensivethreevolumework,Gnosis.He
claims,somewhatvaguely,tohavegonebacktosomemysteriousOrthodoxChristiansourceforhisextensionofthe
systemideas.Inthefollowing,whichisoneofmyfavouritesectionsofGnosisvolume1,heshowsthatthedoremi
notationactuallyderivesfromLatintermsthatdescribetheRayofCreation.
Theesotericteaching,formerlyreservedfortheinitiatedonly,wasknownnotonlyintheOrientbutalsointhe
Occident.Wecanseetheevidenceofthisbyanalyzingthenamesofthenotesofthemusicalscale,established,aswe
know,byGuidoofArezzo,anItalianBeneictine(c.9951050).Todothis,heutilizedthehymntoSt.JohntheBaptist,
composedtwoyearspreviouslybyPaulDiacreorWarnefrid,ahistorianofLombardy(740801).Thelatterwasa
secretarytothekingofLombardy,Dider,andafterthatlivedatthecourtofCharlemagne,theninthatofBenevent,to
retirefinallytothemonasteryofMonteCassino,whereheendedhisdays.ThehymntoStJohntheBaptistgoeslike
this:
UTqueantlixis
REsonarefibris
MIragestorum
FAmulituorum
SOLvepolluti
LAbilreatum
SanctaeJohannes
WeseethatthishymnwascomposedbyPaulDiacreinhermeticform.Suchaprocedurewasalwaysfavouredin
esotericteaching.ComparativestudyofthediagramoftheGreatOctave,andthehymnofPaulDiacre,leavesnodoubt
thatheknewthisdiagramquiteveil.SodidGuidoofArezzowho,twocenturiesafterPaul,chosethathymnamongst
allothers,tointroduceitintothemusicalgamut.
WecanevenseeforourselveswhyPaulDiacreutilizedthesyllableUT,insteadofDO,todesignatethefirstnote.We
shouldcarefullynotethatheconceivedthishymnasanascendinggamut,althoughtheGreatOctavenaturally
representsadescendinggamut.Fromthemeaningofitscontent,thishymntendsfromthelowertothehigher,from
thecoarsetothefine,inotherwords,fromthehumanplanetowardthedivineplane.Buthestops,withoutreaching
thelatter,atthenoteSI,consecratedtoStJohntheBaptist,LetussayinpassingthatthePrecursorenjoysavery
particularvenerationintheTradition,andisplacedabovetheApostles.OncertainByzantineiconsheisrepresented
aswinged,havingtwoheads,onequiteseveredandbloody,andhebearsitwithhisownhandsonaplatter.
IfPaulDiacrehadwantedtoprolonghishymnbyonemoreline,hewouldhavehadtoconsecrateittoJesus,and
consequentlytostartitfromthesyllableDO.Buthedidnotdothat.Hiseminentlyhumangamut,havingbegunwith
manasheis,bornofwomaninallhisimperfection,couldobviouslynotstartwithDO,whichreallystandsfor
Dominus.HechosethesyllableUT,fromtheworduterus,theorganofgestation,preciselyinordertounderlinethat
imperfectconditionwhichisascommontoallthedevoutastoallmen,inordertodirectthemonthetrackofStJohn,

ofwhomJesussaid:VerilyIsayuntoyou,amongthemthatarebornofwomantherehathnotarisenagreaterthan
JohntheBaptist..
ThusUTuterussymbolisesthedoorofbirthaccordingtothefleshandSI,thedoorofthesecondbirth,accordingto
thespirit,withoutwhichmancannotseethekingdomofGod.
TheascendinggamutofPaulDiacrethuscomprisesanoctaveofregeneration,goingfrombirthonearthtobirthinthe
heavens.
Thatistheexplanationofthishymn,closelyconformingtothesenseofthemysticaltraditionsofthepast.
Anexhaustiveexaminationofthenamesofthenotesthatformthemusicaloctaveshowsdirectcorrespondencewith
thenotesoftheGreatcosmicOctave,ascanbeshownfromthefollowingdiagram:
(UTUTerus,bornofwoman)
DOGod.TheAbsolutemanifest.ThecentralSun.DOminus
SIStarrysky.EnsembleofallWorlds.SIderusorbis
LAOurGreatWorld,theMilkyWay.LActeusorbis
SOLTheSun.SOL
FAThePlanetaryWorld,towhichourantiquityattributeddirectinfluenceonourdestiny.FAtum
MIEarth,ourimperfectworld,underthemixedruleofGoodandEvil.
MIxtusorbis
RETheMoon,rulerofhumanfateaccordingtotheAncients.
REginaastris.
MouravieffsworkswereretrievedfromobscuritylargelythroughtheeffortsofRobinAmis.Inadditionto
publishingandhelpingtotranslateGnosis,AmishaswroteADifferentChristianity,asincereandwellinformed
attempttofurtherMouravieffsideasconnectingtheoriginofGurdjieffsteachingwiththeOrthodoxtradition.
AmongstthefewadditionalworksonthefourthWayandesotericChristianityinrecentyearsareAPointinthe
Work,aratherdrearycollectionofsermonsbysomeonewhoseemstobeinthelineofBerylPogsonandMaurice
Nicoll,myownsmallbookontheGospelofThomas,andRichardSmoleysInnerChristianity.Thislastisaneclectic
explorationofmaterialonesotericChristianity,rangingfromGurdjieffandMouraviefftoACourseinMiracles.