Toward Awakening: An Approach to the Teaching Left by Gurdjieff

by Jean Vaysse

This work is an introduction to and explanation of G.I. Gurdjieff's contribution to the history of thought and also suggests a practical approach to self-transformation through heightened awareness of bodily sensations.

Genres: Spirituality, Psychology

170 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1979

About the author

Jean Vaysse was a French surgeon and teacher.

Reviews

[H.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. Jean Vaysse actually explains the basics of Gurdjieff's teachings in a way even I could understand (though not remember in detail without a re-read), without going into difficult technical or practical details.

Throughout the book, the author hammers away at all the difficulties under the sun that we ordinary men and women face; the dire position we are in with our lack of wakefulness and our forgetfulness, pulled this way and that; and virtually all personality at the expense of a stunted essence. He makes clear the necessity of finding a school or at least a master who has already walked the Way and who is willing and able to take on students.

And then, at the end of it all, the author presents a simple, practical first step. Without divulging a spoiler, let's just say that it came as a surprise that he should suggest this first exercise, and yet (having studied other allied traditions) it didn't come as such a surprise, because it seems so apropos and achievable.

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing primer on the work of Gurdjieff, written for the average reader to grok. Highly recommended for anyone that is interested in inner work, awakening, or a simple view of the real world.

[TQ-tip Shandy]

An eye-opener. Practical information for work on one's mental, emotional and physical selves. Beyond psychology and somewhere in the world of practical philosophy. A keeper.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking to learn more about Gudjieff’s teachings, I read Toward Awakening, which was an experience a hundred times more frustrating than it was enlightening. First of all, a writer whose endeavoring to explicate an abstract concept should know better to begin his sentences with an indefinite pronoun. “This is just what prevents us from appreciating…” is one of many such sentences, a sentence that stops me in my tracks and forces me to read in reverse until I find the noun or noun phrase that tells me what “this” is. A good writer would’ve rephrased what he meant by “this”, giving his reader a synonym or a paraphrase thereby subtly deepening the reader’s comprehension. Also, the concrete examples which the blurb on the back cover promises are few and far between. It’s a testament to my stubbornness as well as my interest in Gurdjieff that I finished the book.

[Desmatron · Rating 4 out of 5]

ottimo libro, molte informazioni in poche pagine, è adatto sia per chi volesse "ripassare" gli insegnamenti di Gurdjieff sia come testo introduttivo per chi dovesse approcciare ai libri del maestro

è un'ottima sintesi dell'eredità che ha lasciato ai suoi allievi

[Peter Klok · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished reading it for the umpteenth time.