Issue #34 August 2024
“Love comes in two ways, by remembering ourselves and by forgetting ourselves.”
~ Rodney Collin
Hi
I have always been mesmerized by Guaguin’s painting that bears the title: Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? (painted in 1897-1898). In my view, it is a religious painting – as much so as any of the religious paintings that normally come to mind when one thinks of aspirational art.
Of course, most people would not see it that way.
The title expresses the central yearning that haunts almost everybody who becomes a seeker – to know their origin and to know their true direction, and thus discover what they are. And, of course, death stands squarely on the path to the future for every one of us. How can we proceed?
In this month’s newsletter, we include a wonderful essay written by Ronald Jones that describes the final act in The Tales, revealing it to be what you probably never noticed it to be – a dialogue with the Absolute.
I recommend that you read it.
Sincerely
RB
Carel de Amor
So through the eyes love attains the heart:
For the eyes are the scouts of the heart,
And the eyes go reconnoitering
For what it would please the heart to possess.
And when they are in full accord
And firm, all three, in the one resolve,
At that time, perfect love is born
From what the eyes have made welcome to the heart.
The Nature of Knowledge
The illustration above shows a scale that spans the gulf between words and absolute truth.
We designate the top layer as truth, although if we go into finer detail there are many layers within this layer – the truth of the absolute, the truth of world 3, the truth of world 6 and the truth of world 12. Below this we have the layer of understanding Understanding can be thought of as a particular manifestation of truth in a particular context within a being, such as man or even an animal. For example, most birds have the knowledge and an understanding of how to make a nest.
The Realm of Silence
In a world filled with constant noise and distractions, which in turn engender a similar level of noise in the inner world, silence is a rare and precious commodity. In the stillness of silence we discover the key to unlocking the path to the higher centers.
Silence is not just a means of relaxation or stress relief, but a powerful tool that the psyche can employ.
What is Etherokrilno?
We intend, in a series of articles to investigate fundamental aspects of Gurtjieff’s description of the Universe according to the text of The Tales. In particular, we intend to examine Etherokrilno and Okidanokh.
Gurdjieff introduces the term Etherokrilno on Page 71, with the following words:
“But nevertheless, I repeat, a sphere without atmosphere, that is, a space containing only World Etherokrilno, is for contemporary ships also the best, because in such a sphere there is no resistance at all, …
⥫ GURDJIEFF OSKIANO ⥭
The Food Diagram
by Robin Bloor
