Creative Thinking / How We Do Things: Lecture discussions from Coombe Springs

by J.G. Bennett

John Bennett is known as a pupil of Gurdjieff and transmitter of Gurdjieff’s teaching. Those who trained under him, and those who studied his work know him as one of the most remarkable intellects and most innovative thinker of the 20th century. Two texts previously published separately and here combined in a single volume, these two series of lectures and practical talks were given at Coombe Springs, UK in 1964-1965 by John Bennett. Participants included community members and visitors. In "Creative Thinking" Bennett explores the creative process, beginning with the premise that to create means to bring into the world something which had no previous existence. This process is applied to the spontaneous emergence of ideas and solutions. In "How We Do Things" Bennett takes further the idea he described in his first book "The Crisis in Human Affairs" published 17 years earlier. This is that for an action to be defined as "doing" requires a definite intention to act. All else is reaction to external or internal stimuli. Bennett takes his students through a process of examining the way we use our physical presence and activities.

Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2017

About the author

John Godolphin Bennett (8 June 1897 – 13 December 1974) was a British mathematician, scientist, technologist, industrial research director and author. He is perhaps best known for his many books on psychology and spirituality, particularly on the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff. Bennett met Gurdjieff in Istanbul in October 1920 and later helped to co-ordinate the work of Gurdjieff in England after Gurdjieff's arrival in Paris. He also was active in starting the British section of the Subud movement, and co-founded its British headquarters.