Teachings of Gurdjieff: A Pupil's Journal [Mass Market Paperback]

C. S. Nott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995

Drawn from Nott's hundreds of pages of notes and diaries, this book provides a record of the expressions and actions of Gurdjieff and the profound impact of life at the Chateau du Prieure, Fontainbleau, at that time. Gurdjieff was a Russian occultist who used stylized dance to "free" people and help them to develop their full capabilities. Gurdjieff has often been attributed as the founder of the modern human-potential movement.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140191569
• ISBN-13: 978-0140191561
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #879,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Introduction, May 23, 2000

By 

wayne ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teachings of Gurdjieff: A Pupil's Journal (Mass Market Paperback)

For those trying to understand Gurdjieff as a teacher, this is one of the best accounts available. For those who have been involved for some years in the Work, and have been reading and rereading Gurdjieff's All and Everything, the third part of Nott's book, Orage's commentary on Beelzebub, is the best you will find as a guide. It is well worth the cost just for these 90 pages. I would strongly recommend this for all interested in a glimpse of what might life have been like at Fontainebleau with Gurdjieff. Additionally it gives some account of A.R. Orage who may have been Gurdjieff's best disciple and in Gurdjieff's own words "his brother." A quote from page 51 "...a question about 'freedom', and Gurdjieff began: 'Freedom leads to freedom. That is truth, not in quotation marks but in the real sense. Truth is not just theory, not just words; it can be realized. The freedom I speak of is the aim of all schools, of all religions, of all times. It is a very big thing. Everyone, consciously or unconsciously, wishes for freedom. There are two kinds, the Lesser Freedom and the Greater Freedom. You cannot have the Greater Freedom until you have attained to the Lesser Freedom. The Greater Freedom is the liberation of ourselves from outside influences; the Lesser, from influences within us."

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An interesting glimpse at Gurdfieff at work., November 18, 2004

By 

John Cameron (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teachings of Gurdjieff: A Pupil's Journal (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an interesting book for those interested in Gurdjieff the man and teacher although it doesn't explain very much about the system. If you're looking for an introduction to the 4th Way then Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous, The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution, and The 4th Way are perhaps the best introductions to this amazing system.

As a long time student of the 4th Way I found re-reading this book after 20 years interesting for the glimpses of Gurdjieff at work and for Orage's comments on Beelzebub's Tales, but don't expect many answers from it. Nott has recorded some interesting moments he shared with Gurdfieff.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent journey back in time., February 23, 2012

By 

Dionysius "Observer" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teachings of Gurdjieff: A Pupil's Journal (Paperback)

Loved reading Nott's account of the author's time and stay with Gurdjieff and the group at Fontainebleau. It also gives one a good understanding of Nott's background, the differing personalities and histories of those around Gurdjieff at the time, and some key points in reference to the Work. Nott's own observations and ponderings are also first class, along with how he ties in his Christian background with a new interpretation after his awakenings. Above all it gives a full feeling picture for Gurdjieff the man and teacher.