The Magic Language of the Fourth Way: Awakening the Power of the Word [Paperback]

Pierre Bonnasse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2008

An application of Gurdjieffian principles to fully and properly activate the power of language

• Explains the relationship between the Gurdjieff enneagram and sacred geometry and harmonics

• Shows that the objective power of language--and art and music--lies in the ability to use symbols that will mean precisely the same thing to anyone

• Includes a new English translation of René Daumal’s essay “The Holy War”

In The Magic Language of the Fourth Way, Pierre Bonnasse applies the esoteric teachings of Fourth Way mystic G. I. Gurdjieff and the insights of initiate René Daumal to show how to fully and properly activate the power of language. Bonnasse shows how words can regain the strange magical powers they possessed in the first days of humanity, when words created the realities of what they described. This is a far cry from today’s world in which even writers lament the impotent nature of language.

Bonnasse uses the relationship between the Gurdjieff enneagram and sacred geometry and harmonics to reveal the power given to words by the notes of the scale. He shows not only how to discover the objective power of words but also how to apply the relationship between language and living to maximum effect. He explains that the objective power of language--and art and music--lies in the ability to use symbols that will mean precisely the same thing to anyone. The Magic Language of the Fourth Way serves as a clear and generous introduction to the complexities of Gurdjieffian thought as well as a descriptive how-to manual for Fourth Way aspirants on the uses of objective language for spiritual advancement.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Pierre Bonnasse helps us to perceive the secret landscape where words arise, a forgotten world that is closer than ever. Here is a poetic journey to the source of human consciousness. Be careful--this book is magic!”
(Jan Kounen, film producer and director of Blueberry (Renegade) )

"The Magic Language of the Fourth Way is a long, very deep and thoughtful piece of writing, full of words which are meant to show us how to discard words. It is directed toward that segment of the human population that, according to Gurdjieff (and other great teachers), is small and sincerely dedicated to finding a higher path." (
Barbara Ardinger, Curled Up with a Good Book )

"Being a longtime reader of George Gurdjieff and the 'Fourth Way' knowledge, I found The Magic Language of the Fourth Way to be a powerful step into the world of language and music for anyone seeking spiritual advancement through exact and precise knowledge. . . . If you want to go deep into the science of consciousness and reality you will want to read and study this book." (
Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide magazine, Issue No. 27, Sep/Oct 2008 )

" . . . the insights are so pivotal that the reader is left to wonder why the points did not occur to him, or to her, before Bonnasse gave them expression. This is language itself at work in the spirit of man." (
John Robert Colombo, reviewer, Oct 2008
)

" . . . includes copious diagrams and end reference notes which will thrill the avid investigator. It aligns thought with music, which is utterly mind-blowing and it explains Gurdjieff's magnificent spiritual contribution to humanity in a very different way. This book is highly recommended for the serious student of modern spiritual thought." (
Lesley Crossingham, New Dawn, No. 114, May-June 2009 )

From the Back Cover

PHILOSOPHY / LANGUAGE

“Pierre Bonnasse helps us to perceive the secret landscape where words arise, a forgotten world that is closer than ever. Here is a poetic journey to the source of human consciousness. Be careful--this book is magic!”
--Jan Kounen, film producer and director of Blueberry (Renegade)

In The Magic Language of the Fourth Way, Pierre Bonnasse applies the esoteric teachings of Fourth Way mystic G. I. Gurdjieff and the insights of initiate René Daumal to show how to fully and properly activate the power of language. Bonnasse shows how words can regain the strange magical powers they possessed in the first days of humanity, when words created the realities of what they described. This is a far cry from today’s world in which even writers lament the impotent nature of language.

Bonnasse uses the relationship between the Gurdjieff enneagram and sacred geometry and harmonics to reveal the power given to words by the notes of the scale. He shows not only how to discover the objective power of words but also how to apply the relationship between language and living to maximum effect. explains that the objective power of language--and art and music--lies in the ability to use symbols that will mean precisely the same thing to anyone. The Magic Language of the Fourth Way serves as a clear and generous introduction to the complexities of Gurdjieffian thought as well as a descriptive how-to manual for Fourth Way aspirants on the uses of objective language for spiritual advancement.

PIERRE BONNASSE is a poet, international consultant in Sophrology, student of Fourth Way esoteric traditions, and researcher of religious sciences, hermetic philosophies, and “sciences of consciousness.” He is the author of several collections of poems, numerous articles and chronicles, and the anthology Les Voix de l’Extase [The Voices of Ecstasy]. He lives in France.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (August 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594772320
• ISBN-13: 978-1594772320
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #244,801 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as awakening as it could be, November 23, 2008

By 

Taylor Ellwood "http://www.imagineyourreality... - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Magic Language of the Fourth Way: Awakening the Power of the Word (Paperback)

I initially found this book to be really intriguing, particularly in terms of how Bonnasse presented the concept of observing the self as the self is reading. I think it's a good point to make because people can be resistant to what is read. However, the first half of the book didn't live up to the potential expressed in the introduction. It came off as pretentious and somewhat confusing. I've been told that the confusion is characteristic of Gurdjieff's works, so I wasn't entirely surprised to find it in a disciple's work, but I think that confusion detracts from the overall message that the author is attempting to convey.

The latter half of the book improves when the author focuses on explaining the enneagram and concepts of language and magic and how those relate to the Gurdjieff philosophy. I particularly found the focus on vibrations to be interesting and insightful.

What might've helped with this book was some exercises that readers could do in order to implement the theory into action. While I found this book interesting and a somewhat decent introduction to Gurdjieff's philosophy, I was disappointed by how confusing the book could get, as well as the occasional pretentious holier than thou attitude conveyed by the author. This book could be worth picking up if you want to learn a bit more about Gurdjieff or want to examine how language is treated in his system of philosophy.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lotus Guide Magazine, August 23, 2010

By 

Rahasya Poe (Chico, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Magic Language of the Fourth Way: Awakening the Power of the Word (Paperback)

The Magic Language of the Fourth Way: Awakening the Power of the Word
By Pierre Bonnasse
ISBN 1-59477-232-0 (Inner Traditions, 2008)

Being a longtime reader of George Gurdjieff and the "Fourth Way" knowledge, I found The Magic Language of the Fourth Way to be a powerful step into the world of language and music for anyone seeking spiritual advancement through exact and precise knowledge. There is a magic in words that can be found in almost any ancient tradition and magic only seems like magic until we learn the inner workings and hidden meanings. If you want to go deep into the science of consciousness and reality you will want to read and study this book.

Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide magazine
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