Customer Reviews

Tertium Organum

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This is one of those great Books that has suffered because of a lack of readership capable of comprehending it. If one has the left brain traits necessary to grasp the transfinite logic and mathematics, then the mystical implications are ungraspable. And if you have the right brain intuition to understand the mystical implications, then you often struggle with the logic and mathematics. This book requires a reader with not only a first rate mind, but also a balanced one.

To briefly abstract the primary thesis: time is really motion in extra dimensional space. This is profound, for Ouspensky was the first to actually point towards where an actual, physical fourth dimension can be found. Our brains confuse this dimension with time. It can be split off from time with an adjustment, or evolution, of consciousness. You see, this represents the next huge leap in understanding the nature of the universe and reality. Just as Newton's undefined quantity of "gravity" was shown to actually be curved space, so does Ouspensky show Einstein's undefined quantity of "time" to be motion through higher physical dimensions.

If you want a book that will challenge you, this is it. One day these ideas are going to shake the very foundations of mainstream science, of mankind's collective view of "reality"....

Ouspensky brings together many of the most extraordinary facets of Relativity Theory, Kantian philosophy, Eastern mysticism, Western spiritual traditions, ways of looking at the symbolism of art and ordinary life, and powerful revelations from mathematics. In this book, he is a master of using images, metaphors, and analogies to help free the mind, opening the intuition to amazing areas of wonder. The suggestive power of many of the ideas in Tertium Organum are at a breath-taking level. I especially recommend this book to anyone who has an abiding love of Philosophy, Religion, Science, and Art.

P.D. Ouspensky lucidly and along definite philosophical reasonings guides the reader from our 3-dimensional world to higher dimensional realities. As humans we perceive the "World" not as it is, but rather as our perceptive faculties communicate it to us. Therein lies the difficulty of comprehending higher orders (our own hard wiring). Ouspensky's greatness is his ability to elucidate higher truths by straightforward analogy and reasoning. The author marries the ideas and teachings of many great thinkers into one multifaceted format. Mystical teachings are explained from a scientific slant and revolutionary scientific Ideas lead to a mystical end. The ultimate aim is to lead the reader to the ultimate truth of "THOU ART THAT" or "I AM".

Ouspensky's philosophy may seem dated to some, but is interesting within its historical context. At the early part of the century, physics, psychology, technologies and arts such as cinema, etc. were coming into the public consciousness. Through the mediums of the phonograph, the photograph, and the film, time and space were fractured - one didn't need to be somewhere to experience something. Our understanding of the nature of the universe had been undermined by physicists and mathematicians such as Planck and Einstein. Moreover, theosophy had a large audience (a result of these factors, to an extent). Within this mileau Ouspensky penned his work describing, to a large degree, how our perception played into things. There is a fantastic section in the book where he describes (a very film-reel-like) rotating circle and how it would be perceived by someone in a one-, two-, three-, and four-dimensional world. Then he explains that these perceptions could exist side-by-side, that it isn't the physical world that changed, but merely the perception. Given how the world seemed to be changing radically due to an increasing understanding of it (or at least our models of it), such a conclusion, while elegant and genius in its own right, seems plausible.

Ouspensky's interesting background helps explain his insight - he is an early "out-of-the-box" thinker. He was a mathematician (logic, models, etc.) who was influenced by/a follower of Gurdjieff the mystic (a bit of the opposite of math, I'm afraid). Moreover, Gurdjieff, or at least interest in him and his teachings, have a lot to do with Ouspensky sticking around to the extent he has. People have explored him via their interest in Gurdjieff or later followers. That is a shame, because I think that Ouspensky's ideas are worth consideration on their own. If some seem dated, ridiculous, or quaint, look at the work of some of his contemporaries that are held in high regard (Freud comes to mind here).

Another reason to consider this book, however, is its influence on a small number of influential people. For example, the American poet Hart Crane was influenced by Ouspensky's Tertium Organum, and some references can be seen in his epic poem "The Bridge" (though they may be confused with some of the Blake references/influences).

Overall, I recommend the book. I found it challenging at times, but worthwhile reading. I especially think that scholars of Modernism and/or Gurdjieff will find interesting material in it. At the very least, it may change your perception of what people were thinking and discussing in the early 20th century.

This book is amazing. It will help you see everything in the fourth dimension. The text might seem a little thick at first, but it soon becomes pleasantly hypnotic, and all of the sudden the program is run and there you stand in a fourth-dimensional world. You won't be able to put it down.

This book takes concentration to read - So do most books concerning logic and mathematics. However, it is well worth the effort and time. Anyone trying to understand the nature of the universe and cosmic consiousness will find this book to be most insightful and helpful.

Much of what Ouspensky wrote on these matters is so original and so brilliant that it has yet to be equaled; writers on fourth-dimensional matters still quote from his books. For all practical purposes Gurdjieff destroyed the man who wrote this book; whether that was for good or ill I leave it to readers to decide.

Ouspensky's book impresses upon the reader with remarkable scope and sophistication just how vast and strange our universe really is. Exhaustive, penetrating and wholly satisfying.

I cannot say it better than the American Prophet "Edgar Cayce", therefore I will Quote Mr. Cayce's Source from another wonderful book "The Edgar Cayce Companion" from the A.R.E. Press.

Q.- How may I better understand myself, time and space?

A.- The "application" brings consciousness to the individual and it must be of an "individual" application for an entity to "gain" the consciousness. Such lessons may be gained from reading "Tertium Organum".

Seek, and ye shall find.....

This book is one for the ages, baby! Ouspensky delves into the collective unconscious/subconscious with greater clarity, force, and comprehension than just about any traditional thinker in either hemisphere. Transcendence is pivotal. Great read!