Struggle of the Magicians: Why Uspenskii Left Gurdjieff : Exploring the Teacher-Student Relationship by William Patrick Patterson

by William Patrick Patterson

Of all relationships, that between teacher and student is the most mysterious, most rewarding. That between Gurdjieff and Uspenskii (P. D. Ouspensky), two of the seminal spiritual figures of the twentieth century, was titanic, archetypal. By closely observing their interaction, we come to understand the pattern of discoveries, resistances, and rebellions - the deep inner and outer struggle that marks every teacher-student relationship, whatever the path. How and why a student of Uspenskii's caliber broke with his teacher, his slow descent, but ultimate breakthrough, offers a deep and profound study that reveals the defining moments and trigger events intrinsic to the process of transformation. The material in this book, much of it new and drawn from original sources, published and unpublished, along with the author's insights and original reading of documents, provides a new and revolutionary dimension to the understanding of Gurdjieff, Uspenskii, and the Fourth Way work.Gurdjieff came to the West because, as he said, "Unless the `wisdom' of the East and the `energy' of the West meet and are used harmoniously, the world will destroy itself". He came to establish an ancient teaching, newly formulated for our time, one specifically calibrated to the stress and uncertainties of the technological world, Unlike the traditional three ways which focus on the body, emotions, or the mind, the Fourth Way uses the ordinary world to work. A rational and scientific approach - shorn of all "religiosity" and presented in an objective language - the Fourth Way uses the shocks, negativity and suffering of ordinary life to come to real Life.

Genres: Nonfiction

Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

William Patrick Patterson is the founder/director of The Gurdjieff Studies Program, the author of seven books on The Fourth Way, and the director-writer-narrator of the award-winning documentary video trilogy—The Life and Significance of G.I. Gurdjieff. He is also the founder/editor of "The Gurdjieff Journal" (est. 1992), the first domestic and international Fourth Way journal. He has led groups for many years and annually gives four public seminars on G.I. Gurdjieff's teaching of The Fourth Way. He is the direct and longtime pupil of John Pentland, the remarkable man Mr. Gurdjieff chose to lead the Work in America.

Reviews

[William Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all relationships, that between teacher and student is the most mysterious, most rewarding. That between Gurdjieff and Uspenskii (P. D. Ouspensky), two of the seminal spiritual figures of the twentieth century, was titanic, archetypal. By closely observing their interaction, we come to understand the pattern of discoveries, resistances, and rebellions – the deep inner and outer struggle that marks every teacher-student relationship, whatever the path.

How and why a student of Uspenskii’s caliber broke with his teacher, his slow descent, but ultimate breakthrough, offers a deep and profound study that reveals the defining moments and trigger events intrinsic to the process of transformation. The material in this book, much of it new and drawn from original sources, published and unpublished, along with the author’s insights and original reading of documents, provides a new and revolutionary dimension to the understanding of Gurdjieff, Uspenskii, and the Fourth Way work.

Gurdjieff came to the West because, as he said, "Unless the ‘wisdom’ of the East and the ‘energy’ of the West meet and are used harmoniously, the world will destroy itself". He came to establish an ancient teaching, newly formulated for our time, one specifically calibrated to the stress and uncertainties of the technological world, Unlike the traditional three ways which focus on the body, emotions, or the mind, the Fourth Way uses the ordinary world to work. A rational and scientific approach – shorn of all "religiosity" and presented in an objective language – the Fourth Way uses the shocks, negativity and suffering of ordinary life to come to real Life.

[Cynde Moya]

Another take on the Gurdjieff-Ouspensky-Fourth Way triad. An excellent read, very clear and accessible. The work of The Work is disguised; this is a recounting of the travels and changing relationship between Gurdjieff and Ouspensky; with important events of Hitler, Germany and the war interspersed for context.

Interpretation of events, then reinterpretation of events with more / different insight. Fascinating view of what teaching -- and succeeding as a student -- might look like.

After reading a couple of these biographies, I find that they too have their own idee fixee of the work. In this case, the author fixed on Uspenskii's epithet that Gurdjieff "drove a car like he was riding a horse." Meanwhile, why was Gurdjieff dining on sheep's head so symbolically taunting to Uspenskii?

[William Patrick Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inclusive and insightful perspective on the history and nature of relationship between the brilliant P.D. Ouspensky, author of In Search of the Miraculous and G.I. Gurdjieff, a messenger with a seminal teaching, The Fourth Way. How did they meet? What was the struggle? What did Ouspensky fail to comprehend though Gurdjieff pointed him toward it, Ouspensky's 'chief feature' over and over again.