Hidden Meanings and Picture-form Language in the Writings of G.I. Gurdjieff: (Excavations of the Buried Dog) (Paperback)

~ John Henderson (Author)
Key Phrases: illustrative inculcation, impulses maleficent, revision trap, Beelzebub's Tales, Patriarch Nott, Gurdjieff's Legominism (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Recalling Gurdjieff's intent for his first series: "To destroy, mercilessly, without any compromises whatsoever, in the mentation and feelings of the reader, the beliefs and views, by centuries rooted in him, about everything existing in the world." For years Gurdjieff's followers have been working, reading, struggling to understand his writing. We are like miners chipping away at the rocks of his books, seeking the dog he so carefully buried. That "dog" has been waiting patiently to be disinterred, but we have been digging with the wrong tools. A few new "shovels" and "picks" which may be helpful are suggested in this book. They are here for the taking; use them as you will. As a word of caution, though, be careful when you pull the dog out. He can be, at times, a bit wild. And let's face it, he's probably hungry after fifty years underground. That is to say, that dog could jump up and bite the legs right out from under some of your more treasured beliefs - or it might even bite you somewhere dearer.The purpose of the second series is "To acquaint the reader with the material required for a new creation, and to prove the soundness and good quality of it." It is a ripening of time. The seeds of Gurdjieff's Picture-form language have been planted for over five decades, and are now ready to burst through the soil of our Psyche to reveal the holographic images of the messages he intended for us. And the purpose of the third series: "To assist the arising in the mentation and in the feelings of the reader, of a veritable, nonfantastic representation not of that illusory world which he now perceives, but of the world existing in reality." "And with regard to languages (Russian and English)," Gurdjieff said, "both these languages are like the dish which is called "Moscow Solinka," and into which everything goes except you and me, in fact everything you wish and even the after dinner chesma (veil) of Sheherazade. And from behind that veil Gurdjieff's hand now r

Product Details

• Paperback: 404 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (April 19, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434306593
• ISBN-13: 978-1434306593
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #197,402 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!, August 11, 2008

By	Gornahoor Howard (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

I couldn't help giving an endorsement to this book. What a find! Having read/studied Gurdjieff for about 6 years now, reading this book was more riveting than reading the Da Vinci Code. I couldn't put it down. The shear entertainment value of the book is worth the price (including shipping & handling). That being said, I enjoyed this book mostly for the refreshing, easy-to-follow insight it provided.

After reading this book, I was excited to read through Beelzebub again to see if I could understand more layers of meaning. Of course this happens, to some degree, each time I reread the Tales, but this time in particular, many newer meanings were revealed to me... and not just the specific ones that were brought to my attention in Mr. Henderson's book either; I was able to extract newer meanings by myself from parts he didn't even mention. That was a breakthrough for me and it was very exciting. My strong suspicion is that the majority of people who read Mr. Henderson's book will have the same experience. That's why I recommend this book so highly.

Please write a follow-up book soon Mr. John Henderson, whoever you are. Very informative (understatement). Very entertaining. Thanks again.

14 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Real work, July 20, 2007

By	Nick Lewin (HENDERSON, Nv USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the book for anyone who has done their required homework and read Mr Gurdjieff's books-- if you still have any questions--as if one wouldn't! Prepare to have those two perky additions to the top of your torso quivering with excitement! There was so much in this book I had intuited that it was like mind reading to see it in black and white.
If you are interested enough to read this review I can't believe you wouldn't want to read this book.
Brilliant.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing..., June 6, 2009

By	Kristofer Marshall - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

...job of following "a trail of 'bread crumbs'". Mr. Henderson, I didn't know of you before coming across the "freebie" material on the web...The excitement I experienced on "discovering", guided of course, the 'theatrical' illustrative inculcation, can be comparable to the description G gives on "discovering" the "map of pre-sand Egypt" - I was nearly trembling!!! Thank you so much for sharing such a great set of "shovels"!!!

Kris