The Astral Body and its Qualities

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE VIRTUOUS QUALITIES 

“G. told me of his work in Moscow. I did not fully understand him. It transpired from what he said that in his work, which was chiefly psychological in character, chemistry played a big part.”

— Ouspensky, In Search of the Miraculous 

 “We pitiable creatures do not think, Of the Lord who dwells within with sixteen Kalas* (i.e. virtues), 

Then we wonder why we enter the mother’s womb, And later pass away again and again.”

— Tirumantiram, verse 185

* [The 16 Kalas are: 1. Mercy 2. Gentleness 3. Patience 4. Dispassion 5. Constancy 6. Spiritual Prosperity 7. Cheerfulness 8. Rapture 9. Sense of Propriety 10. Meditation 11. Quietude 12. Gravity of Demeanor 13. Effort 14. Emotionlessness 15. Magnanimity 16. Concentration]

I’ve talked about how the astral body is formed from the hydrogens arising out of breath (or, the breath octave), and the mental body is formed from the hydrogens arising out of impressions (the impressions octave). However, hydrogens alone do not provide for the longevity of the higher bodies; nor do hydrogens alone provide the bodies with their appropriate placement within scale, as represented by the Ray of Creation. The astral body, for example, corresponds to the level of All Planets on the Ray. As far as Being goes, the level of All Planets would represent pure, developed Essence, rather than the Personality of the physical body (at the level of the Earth) — as Nicoll says. The astral body, which is primarily an emotional vehicle, is the paragon of developed Being; the fully formed kesdjan body exhibiting the aspects of sainthood.

The astral body and its emotions, or virtues, is at the level of All Planets, on the Ray of Creation. The physical body, along with its Personality and its own emotions, is at the level of the Earth. Gurdjieff says Man is not born with the completed higher bodies.

So, in other words, the second body must have within its Essence the nature of All Planets, or the nature of sainthood. Simply attempting to create second body from the hydrogens of the breath octave would not imbue the kesdjan body with that placement of scale. 

The physical body, which we all have, has the potential to do great good or great evil. There is nothing within us which guarantees we produce either a good or a bad action. Each of us was born into a specific lineage and environment that automatically determines the level of Being we have. Some say (as the Buddhists do) that our previous actions have determined our circumstances; with this life’s actions determining our future circumstances, for better or worse. Nothing is set in stone. We move continuously up and down the scale of Being (or samsara) throughout all our lives. 

According to the Buddhists, our moods and thoughts are temporary; all our lives are a series of ups and downs.

This essentially is also the Gurdjieff belief system. Man is not a permanent entity; he is purely a physical body, his actions a response to outward stimuli. The idea behind crystallizing a kesdjan body is that man should produce something psychological within himself which has a higher, fixed structure, which can overcome the physical body’s unconscious tendencies, and which can even survive the death of the physical body. The astral body, along with its three formed centers, is relatively permanent, and its actions (that of Love and Compassion, etc) resonate or echo within the realm of the solar system, lasting essentially forever.

That internal psychological structure — the “psychological body” or kesdjan body — must be formed from the Essence of All Planets. And the Essence of All Planets is infused with the positive qualities derived from the direct emanation of the Absolute. It is these qualities — Faith, Hope, and Love, etc — which resonate at the level of All Planets, and which have the durability to last as long as the solar system exists. 

"The seven worlds of the ray of creation represent seven orders of materiality. The materiality of the moon is different from the materiality of the earth; the materiality of the earth is different from the materiality of the planetary world; the materiality of the planetary world is different from the materiality of the sun, and so on. 

"Thus instead of one concept of matter we have seven kinds of matter, but our ordinary conception of materiality only with difficulty embraces the materiality of worlds 96 (Moon) and 48 (Earth). The matter of world 24 (All Planets) is much too rarefied to be regarded as matter from the scientific point of view of our physics and chemistry; such matter is practically hypothetical. The still finer matter of world 12 (Sun) has, for ordinary investigation, no characteristics of materiality at all.”

— Gurdjieff In Search of the Miraculous, Chapter 5

As I said, all of us have the potential with our physical body to do good. But a good deed, done by us, as physical, unconscious men, will only temporarily affect our state of Being. Good deeds done by physical beings are not the same as good deeds done by saints, or by those deeds produced by the kesdjan body. Physical emotions proceed from a more external place, than that of spiritual emotions. As physical beings, we cycle up and down the scale of Being. If we do a good deed, its effect on ourselves is only temporary, lasting just seconds. Everything within us is constantly in flux, there is nothing permanent within us which is either lasting or which can be improved upon. 

The Gurdjieffian ideal is to have something virtuous and permanent within us that can “Will” a good deed; with that good deed creating a lasting mark upon ourselves and the World. We need a vehicle (a second body) upon a higher level which has a definite structure and which can climb the scale of Being. We need a psychological body structure which can reliably exhibit positive qualities (such as loving kindness) towards others, and with which we can ascend the “side ladder to the Sun”, as Gurdjieff says.

THE SPIRITUAL BASIS OF THE SECOND BODY 

“The very life of man is his love; and such as the love is such is the life, and even such is the whole man. But this is to be understood only of the ruling or governing love; for it is this that determines the quality of the man. This love has many others subordinate to it, which are its derivatives.”

— Swedenborg, True Christian Religion:  n. 399

I had a Tibetan guru who used to say, “Motivation is very important.” And, in the search for immortality, certainly motivation — or one’s reason for living, for doing things  — is also very important. The physical body by itself is evolved to acquire food and shelter. It is simply designed to procure its needs for survival. But the motivation of the second body, it’s reason for existing, must reflect a higher level of Being. As Swedenborg says in the above quote, we are defined by what we love most in life. We need to nurture very high ideals, which serve as the basis of an immortal higher body. In forming the astral body, one must have a very definite, clear vision of what is one’s central motivation, what is one’s main love. The motivation at the center of astral body formation not only influences the quality of that body, but is the very fetus from which the kesdjan body grows. That one main “love”, or ideal, is the seed from which grow the three main centers of second body, and around those which the entire second body itself is formed.

The organs, muscles, and skeleton of the physical body are designed to hunt and forage for food. The organs of the kesdjan body are its centers, which give it the power to feel emotions and to think thoughts. The physical body is meant for survival; but the kesdjan body must be meant for a spiritual purpose. 

THE PHYSICAL BASIS OF THE SECOND BODY 

" 'Hanbledzoin' is nothing else than the 'blood' of the 'kesdjan body' of the being, and just as the sum total of cosmic substances called 'blood' serves for the nourishment and renewal of the planetary body of the being, so in the same way 'hanbledzoin' serves for nourishing and perfecting the kesdjan body.

…

“ 'being-hanbledzoin’ is that which contemporary civilization calls ‘animal magnetism’”

— Gurdjieff, Beelzebub’s Tales Hypnotism

"'Hydrogen' 96 … is the matter of animal magnetism”

— Gurdjieff, In Search of the Miraculous, Chapter 9

However, there is a physical structure undergirding the formation of the second body too. The second body evolves from a part of us that we rarely use: the middle parts of our centers. The middle parts of our centers are closely tied to the breath; are in fact fueled by the energies transmuted in us from the breath. These middle parts of our centers are not used much by us, partly, because to function, they require an extra energy besides the breath — a “shock” — which we don’t naturally produce. The energy or shock which comes from intentional Self-Remembering.

 

These three yellow circles represent the astral centers which evolve out of the physical body’s middle divisions of centers. 

They also portray the energies which fuel the astral centers: the lower emotional (re 96), the intellectual (mi 48), and the upper emotional (fa 24) centers. The body of the kesdjan itself is then formed around these three centers, when their energies are fused with spiritual qualities, as described below.

The breath fuels the middle parts of our centers. Self-Remembering (at do 48) allows the middle part of the intellectual center (using energy mi 48) and middle part of the emotional center (using energy fa 24) to gain energy. 

These three astral centers also serve in developing the three stories of the kesdjan body; the lower, middle, and top stories.

(Please refer to figure 57, page 319, of In Search of the Miraculous — Gurdjieff’s diagram regarding the four bodies and their energies.)

Not only must the middle parts of our centers be developed, but they must be developed into full-fledged centers in their own right. The middle parts of the intellectual and emotional centers must be formed into actual, independent centers — the centers of the second body. So the middle division of the intellectual center, working with mi 48, and the middle division of the emotional center, working with fa 24, must be developed into viable centers. Even the energies of re 96 (so-called “animal magnetism” — also called, “astral light”) must be used to form a center, the center of the second body’s lower story. When these middle parts of centers have been intentionally self-evolved into real centers, then the second body can grow upon that initial skeletal structure.

This is Nicoll’s diagram showing the three main divisions of the physical body’s emotional center. The middle division, in red, evolves into an independent center of its own — the astral body’s emotional center. The astral body itself grows out of  the middle divisions of the centers, once they’re evolved.

Notice that the emotions proper to this division are: religious emotions, aesthetic emotions, and moral emotions, as well as conscience.

This middle division works with the hydrogen fa 24, a breath-octave energy (see Food Transformation Chart, above).

“Now La 24 alone cannot awaken the whole Emotional Centre. It supplies the self-love division. But the three substances 24 supply the Emotional Centre in all its three main divisions. That is, while La 24 supplies the outer division, Fa 24 supplies the middle and Re 24 the inner. Now if you take three men, they are the same in so far as they are men, but their potentialities may be different.”

— Nicoll, Commentaries p. 1648

THE KESDJAN BODY’S ETHICAL FOUNDATION

"The second way is the way of the monk. This is the way of faith, the way of religious feeling, religious sacrifice. Only a man with very strong religious emotions and a very strong religious imagination can become a 'monk' in the true sense of the word. The way of the monk also is very long and hard. A monk spends years and tens of years struggling with himself, but all his work is concentrated on the second room, on the second body, that is, on feelings. Subjecting all his other emotions to one emotion, that is, to faith, he develops unity in himself, will over the emotions, and in this way reaches the fourth room (the room bestowing immortality.)”

— Gurdjieff, In Search of the Miraculous Chapter 2

It is not fashionable these days to refer to religions as valid systems of spiritual development. There are perhaps some good reasons for that, although dismissing religions, along with the people who follow them, as somehow corrupt or ineffective or ignorant is itself probably an uninformed generalization. Not to mention leaning towards arrogance.

Aside from the overall level of Being of modern man, religions are basically systems of spiritual development; however they are systems which need to be comprehended, interpreted, and practiced individually. If one wants to try out a hypothesis, say, that God does — or doesn’t — exist, one should really ideally try out both sides of the question in one’s mental/emotional/physical life. But try both sides out sincerely and thoroughly, observing oneself, one’s development, and the outcome in one’s mental/emotional/physical life. In other words, one has to definitely ascribe to a side of the question for a while, and then ascribe to the other side, equally as thoroughly, for a while. Gurdjieff’s system can be followed without referring to a religion. But, in my opinion, being a Gurdjieffian without having any approach to ethics produces what Gurdjieff calls a “weak Yogi”, if even that.

One of the first things the fourth way system says to do, is to “refrain from expressing unpleasant emotions.” This is of course a way of purifying, training, and repolarizing the emotional center. There is sometimes a debate in the Work, whether the same idea could be equally expressed: that one should refrain from having negative emotions. Both formulas are expressed somehow in Fragments, I believe. However, I think the first formulation — to refrain from expressing unpleasant emotions — is a way of presenting the practice to a beginner. Not expressing negativity outwardly is a simple method of gaining control over one’s emotional life, a way of starting. Actually dealing directly with negative emotions internally, their inception, their antidotes, and even their roots, is perhaps a more advanced approach to emotions.

The characteristic of most religions, as well as the kesdjan body in particular, is that they both harbor a distinct set or system of ethical formulations. And most religions, and the kesdjan body too, have one fundamental ethical quality which serves as the central focal point of that system. In forming the ethical nature of the astral body, I think it wise for one to personally pick a particular religion with which one has an affinity. Each religious system has its own system of ethics. Then one divines that religion’s central ethical formulation, to use to create the seed for the second body’s centers. Simply vaguely saying, “I choose to act ethical or moral” is not a strong way to make a definite foundation for second body. The ethics of each religious system have a definite character, and work together as a system. The kesdjan body, when built upon the ethical basis of a religious system, will eventually reflect the character of those same ethical qualities, when fully crystallized.

ETHICAL SYSTEMS 

“The emanation of the Most Most Holy Sun Absolute Itself they called 'Theomertmalogos,' or 'Word-God.'”

“…crystallizations received directly from the sacred Theomertmalogos, within the limits of the solar system where the being has arisen and existed, can never decompose…”

— Gurdjieff, Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson 

The collection or list of ethics in a religion is not hard to discern. They are usually repeated often together to encourage memorizing. The single, central ethical principle underlying a religion is, however, a little more complicated to discover, and might take study.

Christianity has the oft-repeated seven virtues:

SEVEN VIRTUES (Catholic) — WIKIPEDIA

-- 4 Cardinal Virtues:

1. Prudence 2. ‎Justice 3. ‎Temperance 4. ‎Courage

-- 3 Theological Virtues

1. Faith 2. ‎Hope 3. ‎Charity 

Then, there are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit:

GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT — WIKIPEDIA 

1. Wisdom 2. Knowledge 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Understanding 6. Piety 7. Fear of the Lord

The central virtue or moral trait in Christianity would be Love: Love of God and Love of neighbor. If I were to base the creation of the kesdjan body on a Christian quality, I would choose this Love, in creating the emotional center of the astral body.

Buddhism has the list of the Six Perfections, along with the Four Abodes of Brahma:

BUDDHISM : THE SIX (or TEN) PERFECTIONS — WIKIPEDIA

1. Generosity, Giving of Oneself 2. Virtue, Morality, Proper Conduct 3. Renunciation 4. Transcendental Wisdom, Insight 5. Energy, Diligence, Vigour, Effort 6. Patience, Tolorence, Forbearance, Acceptance, Endurance 7. Truthfulness, Honesty 8. Determination, Resolution 9. Good Will, Friendliness, Loving-kindness 10. Equanimity, Serenity

BRAHMAVIHARAS (SUBLIME ATTITUDES, lit. "ABODES OF BRAHMA") also called, "The Four Immeasurables" — WIKIPEDIA

1. Loving-kindness or benevolence 2. Compassion 3. Empathetic Joy 4. Equanimity

As far as I can gather, the central ethical aspect of Buddhism would be Compassion, although Loving Kindness is also important and central to Buddhism. If I were deciding upon Buddhist ethics as a foundation for creating the kesdjan body, I would probably choose to use the quality of Compassion in forming the kesdjan emotional center.

Yoga or Hinduism has the ethical precepts which can be found in the Yoga Sutras. I am running low on time and energy, so I won’t list them here. But the central take-away I get from study of the Yoga ethics is non-harming. Non-harming or harmlessness is a somewhat difficult quality to acquire, especially in my own experience. In America, that quality is not something that is overtly encouraged in society. Being a law-abiding citizen outwardly is encouraged, but adopting the personal aspect of ahimsa is not rewarded too much.

I know there are other great religions which embody ethical principles, but I know less about them. Although I do admire many of the followers of them!

A SYSTEM FOR CREATING THE ASTRAL BODY 

“Whoever knows these two together: The unmanifest and the perishable, Will cross death by the perishable And attain immortality through the unmanifest.”

— Atha Īśopanisat

I would like to outline now my theory of birthing the kesdjan body, from a combination of the energies of the middle divisions of the centers along with the higher ethical qualities. My theory of second body formation has a certain technical nature to it, that, I hope, allows for a clear communication of its steps and techniques, using the ideas and vocabulary of the Work.

There are only a few main concepts and techniques in my theory of second body creation:

1. To develop, in one’s daily sitting, the capacity to sense and identify the various hydrogens within the body, including the hydrogens of a mental or emotional nature (e.g. h 48, h 24).

     A. The technique used is to sense with each breath — while meditating — the higher hydrogens which reside within the breath itself: within the lungs, or within the chest or back area or within the head. The higher substances are produced with each breath; the challenge is to sense them.

        a. The location of each hydrogen is determined by its placement on the Food Transformation Chart (e.g. fa 24 is located in the chest or back area, but on the astral level.)

      b. Refer to chart, figure 39, above: (Re 96 manifests in the chest area, is “astral light”, and is used to create the astral lower emotional center. Mi 48 manifests in the head, is energy of astral thought, and is used to create the astral intellectual center. Fa 24 manifests in the chest or back, is energy of astral emotions, and is used to create upper astral emotional center.)

2. To have the ability to differentiate between hydrogens along the breath octave from those along the edible food octave (for instance, re 96 — or “astral light” along the breath octave, vs. fa 96 — or “animal magnetism” along the food octave).

3. To channel or manifest higher emotions, such as Gurdjieff ’s Faith, Hope, and Love. 

4. The practice of developing second body starts with the formation of three astral centers; one ‘bottom story’ center in the chest (using re 96), one ‘middle story’ center for thinking in the head (mi 48), and a ‘top story’ emotional center again in the chest or middle part of the body (fa 24). The initial formation of astral body goes:

     A. A specific hydrogen in the body is selected and identified along the breath octave (e.g. re 96 — an energy called animal magnetism or “astral light”), as it is produced by the breath.

     B. Next, a single quality is generated from Higher Emotional Center (e.g. “Loving Kindness”) and then, through the power of Attention, it is concentrated within the same area of the selected hydrogen.

     C. Finally, the two components — the selected hydrogen “atom” as well as the higher quality (in the examples, re 96 and “Loving Kindness”) — are fused together through a type of spiritual activity of the physical heart center: either an emanation of love, or an emanation of awareness.

     D. Either one of these emanations from the heart are focused, again by the power of the Attention, directly onto and into the aforementioned two components. This process, in my subjective experience, “seals” or fuses the two types of “matters”, one material and one Spiritual, together. The two “matters” are thus made stable together in the body.

         a. This process initiates the creation of the three astral centers.

As Swedenborg says in the quote above, we are essentially ruled by one primary love or desire. That one main emotion also has other subsidiary emotions which are connected to it. So, when initiating the process outlined above to make the second body, one should start by working with the main ethical principle of the system one has chosen. For Christian ethics, that would be love of God and neighbor. For Buddhist ethics, that would be compassion. And the same for other spiritual systems of ethics: choose the main central ethical principle. The idea is to have a center of gravity, or center of reference within oneself, around which the other system’s qualities can gather. The other ethical qualities of that same system then fit logically and neatly along with that foundation. It is similar to building a house: you start with a foundation, a foundation of perhaps love, or compassion, or harmlessness. Then the other qualities (such as the six perfections in Buddhism) fit perfectly over that initial foundation (such as, compassion).

It’s important to keep in mind that the ethical qualities are wedded to the energies of the breath. The breath octave energies — particularly re 96 (astral light) — are focal points for the building of the astral body. On the other hand, once the second body has been initially formed, the higher qualities of that body can be a center of focus themselves, or points of Attention in sensing the higher body.

As well, in generating the spiritual qualities, those qualities should have a substantial feel to them, having an actual material nature to them. They should have a physical feeling, within one’s body; and should possess a definite physical location — a definite placement within the selected hydrogens with which one is pairing them.

“In reality only self-initiation, self­ presentation exist. Systems and schools can indicate methods and ways, but no system or school whatever can do for a man the work that he must do himself. Inner growth, a change of being, depend entirely upon the work which a man must do on himself.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search of the Miraculous Chapter 15

"The fourth way is sometimes called the way of the sly man. The 'sly man' knows some secret which the fakir, monk, and yogi do not know. How the 'sly man' learned this secret—it is not known. Perhaps he found it in some old books, perhaps he inherited it, perhaps he bought it, perhaps he stole it from someone. It makes no difference. The 'sly man' knows the secret and with its help outstrips the fakir, the monk, and the yogi.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search Chapter 2

BREATH AND POWER, COMBINED IN MANTRA

Mantra is traditionally an Eastern function of religion, perhaps of either Hinduism or Buddhism. And the use of mantra within religion is closely tied to the Guru, who imparts the mantra to the disciple. Traditionally, the disciple is “empowered” to repeat the particular mantra. The Vedas, the earliest Hindu scriptures, were the first mantras. One doesn’t, in my opinion, need a guru or an empowerment to intone a Vedic scripture. Nor, I don’t believe, does one need permission to repeat a religious mantra, if one is sincere. However, there is little doubt in my mind that a Guru’s help makes all the difference in the world, for real fulfillment in so-called mantra yoga. It is like the difference between doing something as an amateur and doing something as a professional.

In studying the science of mantra, I recommend the books by Dr. David Frawley. He writes about everything from ayurveda to yoga to the mind to the spiritual science of tantra. He speaks of mantra having both the aspects of breath (which includes “prana”) and meaning (which might be an aspect of mind).

There is a connection of the astral body with breath, as you know. And at some point, after the second body has been initiated, it is possible to “feed” the kesdjan body through the breath and meaning of mantra. Or as Gurdjieff says, to coat the kesdjan body. The idea is to focus one’s attention on the second body, while directing the element of air into that body while repeating mantra. I recommend carrying out an actual “sadhana” with mantras, for the purpose of imparting a spiritual quality to one’s astral body, for example, the quality of love or compassion.

The Tibetan deity of compassion is Chenrezi, and the two prayer services in the following links are permissible for anyone to perform. The services consist of several main parts: a lineage prayer (so there’s a connection with previous gurus), a refuge prayer (for connection with the Buddha), an aspiration to Bodhichitta, mantra repetition, meditation, and dedication of merit (for proper motivation of the prayer).

If one wanted to simply repeat a mantra one had picked up, that would be fine. But as I have said, it is the higher quality or feeling that goes with the material form that makes something spiritual and effectively eternal.

Here is a link to the Chenrezi prayer services:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iECIiWG86HAV_vwiGbMKrdkNhQr5TN4f?usp=sharing

The “deity” or bodhisattva of Chenrezi becomes over time the astral form of the practitioner. The vajrayana Buddhists believe that the higher bodies are a result of the accumulation of merit and wisdom. My theory of kesdjan body formation entails the gathering of the spiritual qualities as a means of accumulating merit. The third body — the mental body — is a result of the gathering of wisdom.

THE PURUSHA (BODY) OF SOUND

There is one other possible application of breath I know of, in making the kesdjan body. That is the purusha of sound, as described by David Frawley in his two books, Yoga and Ayurveda, and Mantra Yoga and Primal Sound: Secrets of Seed (Bija) Mantras.

The purusha of sound is a method of taking all the syllables of the Sanskrit alphabet and intoning each one in correspondence to a specific part of one’s body. The result, in my experience, is a transformation of the body’s pranic sheath into a legitimate outer part of the astral body. In other words, the physical body itself ends up connected in a higher, and more etheric way, to the kesdjan body. The East Indian tradition says that the senses along with the power of movement depart with the astral form at death. Creating the body of sound is a good first step in giving the kesdjan body the powers of sensation and movement.

Self-Remembering: 2. The Metaphysics

"Strictly speaking, you cannot as yet speak of knowledge because you do not know with what knowledge begins. Knowledge begins with the teaching of the cosmoses.”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

UNDERSTANDING THE MESOCOSMOS

In order to know himself, Man needs to know the Cosmos above him, as well as the Cosmos directly below. Man — the Tritocosmos — is surrounded by the Earth (the Mesocosmos) above him in scale, and he is also made up of “atoms” (Microcosms) within, or below, him. Man’s physical body is a product of the Earth, and it lives upon the planet Earth. However, as the Tritocosmos, Man is a World in his own right. The Earth as a World is infinitely greater than the World of Man; just as Man is infinitely greater than an Atom.

We need to understand our own physical bodies; our bodies and everything they entail make up the “Tritocosmos”. However, when we start to understand our own minds, we are beginning to explore and develop our Astral Bodies, which correspond to the level of the World above us — the Mesocosmos, or Earth. The Earth, according to Gurdjieff, is a living, breathing being: “Each cosmos is a being which lives, breathes, thinks, feels and dies.” However, as I said, the Earth in relation to a Tritocosmos is infinitely greater than a Man.

"THE DIAGRAM OF EVERYTHING LIVING"

"Ahimsa (non-violence) is not causing pain."

-- Sri Swami Satchidananda, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

"And as for these factors, which are the sole possible means for the assimilation of the cosmic substances required for the coating and perfecting of the higher being-bodies, today we call them 'conscious labor' and 'intentional suffering. '"

-- Beelzebub's Tales   

"Fusion, inner unity, is obtained by means of 'friction,' by the struggle between 'yes' and 'no' in man.”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM 

Perhaps one key to understanding Man -- and his Bodies -- in relation to the Earth might be an interpretation of "The Diagram of Everything Living", found on page 323 of Ouspensky's In Search. In this chart, every form of intelligent Being is listed on a stair step ladder, starting from Metals at the bottom and going up to Archangels, with two Higher entities listed above even them: Eternal-Unchanging and the Absolute.

                                             The Diagram of All Things Living

If one takes "Vertebrates" on the diagram, as potentially referring partially to human beings (since they qualify as Vertebrates), one might hypothetically postulate that the “Vertebrates” square might perhaps encompass what Gurdjieff calls Men Numbers 1, 2, and 3 (physical, emotional, and intellectual men). The square marked “Man”, then could possibly denote Gurdjieff’s Balanced Man (Man number 4): a man with the ability to use all his Centers — Intellectual, Emotional, and Moving. I’ll have more to say about Balanced Man in a future blog. "Angels", on the diagram, might represent a Man having a perfected or developed kesdjan/Astral body. And "Archangels" might represent a Man having a perfected Soul/Highest Being Body. 

This interpretation syncs to an extent with Ouspensky's comment that his group had come to the idea that "Angels" represented Planets, and "Archangels" represented Suns. Gurdjieff's chart on page 94 of In Search neatly summerizes all three points of view: my interpretation of Man and The Diagram of Everything Living, the teaching of the Cosmoses (which has the Earth as the representation of All Planets), and Ouspensky's view of "Angels" and "Archangels" as Planets and Suns. 

The chart on p. 94 aligns Man's four "Bodies" with the Ray of Creation. Man's Physical Body aligns with the "Earth". His Astral Body aligns with "All Planets". His Mental Body aligns with the "Sun". And The Divine Body aligns with "All Suns".

A LIVING EARTH

"As a way of talking about the mystery teachings, furthermore, ecology has a special advantage, because the mystery teachings themselves are a science of whole systems. It is not going too far to call the mystery teachings an ecology of the spirit, just as the science of ecology could well be called the mystery teachings of nature."

-- Greer, John Michael. Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth: An Introduction to Spiritual Ecology (p. 12). Red Wheel Weiser. Kindle Edition. 

The key to understanding the Earth as a living Being, is to look at it Ecologically. Ecology is the science of understanding the Earth from a whole systems point of view, and is the best way we have to understand exactly what the Earth is. When the Earth, of which Man is a part, is viewed Ecologically, Man can better know how to live in relation to the larger Cosmos. And from that understanding, and the life changes that follow, Man can start to gain knowledge of that part of himself which corresponds to the level of the Mesocosmos: that is, his developing Astral Body. 

When we have Self-Evolved to a certain point, our Astral Bodies can start to develop from the middle parts of our Intellectual and Emotional Centers. The middle parts of these Centers are sustained through the energies of the “breath octave”, the series of Hydrogens arising from the breath. This is what Gurdjieff meant by saying we “coat” the kesdjan (Astral) body with our breath. However, the “essence” of the Astral Body is provided by the Higher Emotions proceeding from the Higher Emotional Center. These Emotions are wed to specific Hydrogens within the body, along the Breath Octave, and then fused together. This process develops the middle parts of our Centers, and over time forms the kesdjan or Astral Body.

Humans within society don’t function in relation to the Earth as it exists objectively. And certainly not in relation to an Earth which is a living, breathing, thinking, feeling Being. But that is the way we need to look at the Earth; and we need to adjust our relationship to it accordingly. When we adjust our lives in relation to a truer conception of the Earth, our Minds have more ability to grow into an accurate Spiritual essence. And at that point our Astral Bodies can begin to develop.

THE MOON’S INFLUENCE ON THE EARTH

“The idea was roughly this: humanity, or more correctly, organic life on earth, is acted upon simultaneously by influences proceeding from various sources and different worlds: influences from the planets, influences from the moon, influences from the sun, influences from the stars. All these influences act simultaneously; one influence predominates at one moment and another influence at another moment. And for man there is a certain possibility of making a choice of influences; in other words, of passing from one influence to another.”

— In Search of the Miraculous 

According to Gurdjieff, life on Earth exists to serve the Moon’s needs. And Mankind is not exempt from that servitude, although He does have a chance to escape the Moon's influence. Psychologically, Man operates mostly in the external parts of his mind. The forces which come from the Moon keep Man fixated on externals and keep his mind colored with a negative tint. Not only that, but Mankind as a whole is kept from Evolution by lunar and cosmic forces, according to Gurdjieff. Man generally exists in a state of unconsciousness Gurdjieff called “sleep”.

The key to breaking this sleep is Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering represents the next level above the unconsciousness which Man is in. And Self-Remembering is a way of relating in a very real way to the next World above Man: the Mesocosmos, or Earth. Every time we Remember Ourselves we are getting in touch with higher influences.

Our immersion in duality is a constant state. Our minds struggle to do “good” in the world, but, failing at that, we end up doing “evil”. These constant efforts, to do one thing and prevent the other, are our “discursive thoughts”, which go up and down in a cycling motion. This cycling motion of our minds, and our lives, is a symptom of our sleep, our life under the Moon’s influence, and our undeveloped state as Tritocosmoses.

When we Self-Remember, we lift ourselves above the discursive mind and elevate ourselves up nearer the Mesocosmos, and even the Deuterocosmos — the Sun. The transmutation of Self-Remembering that takes place at the point of Do 48 is the start within us of the Impressions Octave. The Impressions Octave is the seed of our Mental Body, which corresponds (according to Gurdjieff) to the level of the Sun. Through Remembering Ourselves — and the development of the breath and impressions octaves — we come up out of the Moon’s influence, and out of the tedious cycling of our mental lives. Also, having as our Aim the wish to form a Higher Body, gives our efforts at “being good” a new dimension. Our search for Higher Bodies gives that “goodness” a Reality, as well as a chance to have it adhere to us permanently.

REMEMBERING OUR “SELF”

"In Self-Remembering which self do you wish to remember?"

— Gurdjieff, as related by Nicoll 

There are any number of ways to Self-Remember; and it can become a complex effort at certain times. Initially, though, it’s easiest to double one’s attention back on to one’s physical body. The idea is to simply be aware of one’s body. The awareness of one’s body has much to be said for it. It provides an anchor for the mind. It can produce a grounding effect. And exploring the body with one’s awareness can be a doorway to much wisdom. A practice of sensing the body can lead to the ability to sense and identify the different energies within the body, represented by the “Hydrogens” on the Food Transformation Chart. This ability is an essential key to the “crystallization” and correct development of the Higher Bodies.

Self-Remembering of the physical body is good. However, if one studies the Food Transformation Chart one will see that there are four or five higher energies (or Hydrogens) which come about through Self-Remembering. All these higher energies fuel the Intellect and inner parts of the Emotional Center; and can only be created with an inner effort at Self-Remembering, an effort of the Mind. The deeper into one’s Mind one searches for one’s “Self”, in Self-Remembering, the more effective Self-Remembering will be, in creating these energies. One will be able to “feel” the influx of new energies within one’s mind.

The Work says that along with Remembering Ourselves, we must avoid negative emotions. The inner and middle parts of Centers that these newly created energies work with are not suited to negative emotions. Avoiding negative emotions is preparation for the “Second Conscious Shock”. We are told in the Work, that we must do the First Conscious Shock (Self-Remember) for a very long time. And this is true, in that our Minds are cloudy and impure at first: our “machines” don’t function well. But gradually, over time, Self-Remembering helps clear our Minds and Emotions, allowing us to access a little bit of positivity into our Being. We can begin to bring in the positive influences, which can be accessed through small efforts with the Second Conscious Shock.

The prelude to the Second Conscious Shock is an approach of utilizing the First Conscious Shock in a slightly new way. At first the First Conscious Shock can be used for a variety of reasons, from simply trying it out, to gaining a greater consciousness, to a way of redirecting one’s attention to oneself. But there is a method of holding in one’s mind an ideal, or a virtue, or a positive quality, or anything of a superior inner nature and then sealing it inside one’s being by Remembering Oneself. Remembering Oneself in relation to a positive emotion, thought, or ideal is a specific technique to increase one’s inner positive qualities.

After holding an ideal in one’s mind and then Remembering Oneself in order to fixate the ideal within Oneself, one can logically see the next step, which is “Remembering” the positive quality directly.

APPROACHING THE SECOND CONSCIOUS SHOCK: AN INITIAL STEP

“Seal” : Something that confirms, ratifies, or makes secure.

— Webster’s Dictionary 

There is a way of moving very tentatively into the Second Conscious Shock. This type of intentional shock deals with the emotions. The Second Conscious Shock is a technique used to “seal” a “virtue”, thus making it permanent. Basically, it entails, in a like fashion to “Remembering Oneself”, one placing one’s Attention on and “Remembering” a “good quality”, “positive trait”, or “virtue”.

To try it, one starts first with avoiding a particular negative thought or deed by Remembering Oneself, as an alternative to being negative; ideally by Remembering one’s own Mind. At that point one has hopefully avoided this “negative thought”. But then, if one can come up with an opposing “positive thought”, or antidote, to replace it, one can “Remember” that positive thought, sealing it in place into one’s mind. These two steps: avoiding a negativity through Self-Remembering, and then “Remembering” its antidote, are an early movement or introduction into the Second Conscious Shock. 

This is spoken of by Nicoll as, “going with our better 'I's”. The idea or principle is to gradually replace the unpleasant qualities in ourselves with more virtuous qualities. The method is to “see” these good qualities within one’s Mind, and then to “Remember” them with one’s Attention. This is the beginning of the Second Conscious Shock.

The initial act of Remembering Oneself produces the two higher Hydrogens Mi 12 & Sol 12. At this initial stage, however, one is generally working with the Emotional Center, and Astral Body formation. So one is likely dealing with the subtle emotional transformation of just Sol 12 into La 6, along the breath octave. This transformation technically requires no “second shock”. At a certain point soon after the two higher being bodies have crystallized, and which I’ll describe in detail later, one should initiate work with all three bodies (physical, astral, and mental) separately and in conjunction with one another. Actual work in a more intensive — and direct — way with the Second Conscious Shock comes later.

There are variations on this “seal”, or introductory second conscious shock, one can try. After attempting to Remember a “virtue” in one’s mind, one can then immediately “Remember” one’s physical body, thus “sealing” the “virtue” more securely onto oneself. One can also “Remember” another person who’s in one’s presence, if one is aware of a virtue in that person; thus sealing a virtue onto that person’s being or “Self”. Also, one can reinforce a part of oneself: for instance, one can “Remember” one’s “Intellectual Center” — “sealing” that as well.

After Remembering Oneself, both Mi 12 and Sol 12 have been created. Sol 12, which is a part of the breath octave, can be brought up to the heart area and used as an emotional energy along with the energy Fa 24, thereby generating higher and subtler emotions. And Mi 12, which is part of the impressions octave, can be brought up to the level of the Head and transmuted, to function with the energy Do 48 which is already there, thus serving to facilitate subtler and more refined thoughts. I personally find the energy Mi 12 also seems to work within the “heart area” of the mental body.

 

I'm still learning about all these things, thank goodness, but I have an inkling that the transmutation of Si 12 into Do 6 has to do with the Physical Body itself: the Aim which one keeps for one's physical body on Earth, the Holiness of that Aim, and the Actions one carries out in fulfillment of that Aim.

I hope these mentions of the different numbers — H 12, H 6 and so on — aren’t frustrating to my reader. I will try to tackle the details that explain them later. I feel the numbers are important because I base my system of Astral and Mental body formation on the inner recognition or “taste” of the various Hydrogens. My strong belief is that the Higher Bodies can be formed without a knowledge of the “numbers”. But I find the Hydrogen system and Food Chart helpful in approaching the formation of the higher intellect and emotions, and eventually the “Bodies” themselves.

In my next blog I’ll finally get to my theories of the structure of the mind. I’ll hopefully have a couple of charts, and apply my approach of Self-Remembering to my views on the architecture of the mind. I believe knowledge of the mind’s structure is important for “building” the Higher Bodies.

On Remembering Oneself: 1. The Alchemy

"In speaking of evolution it is necessary to understand from the outset that no mechanical evolution is possible. The evolution of man is the evolution of his consciousness. And 'consciousness' cannot evolve unconsciously. The evolution of man is the evolution of his will, and 'will' cannot evolve involuntarily. The evolution, of man is the evolution of his power of doing, and 'doing' cannot be the result of things which 'happen.'”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

THE ALCHEMY OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Gurdjieff’s system teaches a way of Self-Evolution -- a Self-Evolution carried out primarily through the increase of one’s Consciousness. That is, a follower of the Fourth Way develops his Consciousness, in order to raise the level of his Being and Knowledge. Consciousness, according to Gurdjieff, is a material substance, and Gurdjieff lays out specific steps one can take to increase Consciousness. The first step for greater Consciousness is to “Remember Oneself”, aka. “the first conscious shock". 

What is Remembering Oneself? It is an intentional action involving one’s Perceptions, wherein one is Aware of oneself in daily life. Essentially, it requires a “doubling” of one’s Consciousness; of being simultaneously aware both outwardly towards one’s environment, and also at the same time back in towards one’s Self. It is this doubling which provides the so-called “shock” — or necessary energy —  needed to allow “impressions” to be “digested”, or rather “transmuted”. In other words Self-Remembering allows us to better perceive or “see” what we are focusing on. And our focus can be on the environment outside of us, or on our Mind within us.

Initially, in attempting to Self-Remember, it is easiest and most convenient to be Self-Aware of one’s physical body. We are attempting to Remember our “Self”, and one’s body is the most obvious representation of one’s Self. But Gurdjieff’s system is about the development of the Inner Man, the inner Self, and ultimately in Self-Remembering the idea is to redirect one’s Awareness inwards to one’s Mind.

Along with Self-Remembering, or as a part of it, it is also necessary to “Observe Oneself”. Observing Oneself and Remembering Oneself go hand in hand; and are the keys which begin the process of gaining a greater Consciousness and elevating one’s Being and Knowledge. Self-Observation is a method of self analysis with which Self-Remembering is entwined, both actions affecting the other within one's psychology.

THE ALCHEMY OF SELF-REMEMBERING 

"…in order to become free, man must gain inner freedom.”

— Gurdjieff, In Search, chapter 6

“Remembering Oneself” is an alchemy of the body and mind — both of which are made up of matters, which Gurdjieff calls “Hydrogens”. Specific Hydrogens are involved in the process of “Self-Remembering” itself, and other new Hydrogens are created as a result of Self-Remembering. Ultimately, in order to create Higher Bodies (the Astral, Mental, and Divine) for onself, one must understand the whole process of Self-Remembering (the internal alchemy). One must also be able to sense the different parts of one’s mind involved, and be able to isolate and recognize the Hydrogens acting inside one’s body, and know them by name (e.g. “Do 192”, or “carbon 12”).

All of these names of Hydrogens can be found on the Food Transformation Chart, in Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous (p. 190). The Food Transformation Chart is a diagram which summarizes the digestion or “transmutation” of the three “Foods” which Man takes in. These “Foods” are: ordinary food, air, and impressions. Ouspensky’s exposition of the Transmutation of Foods is difficult to follow for beginners, I have found. I recommend instead, first turning to Maurice Nicoll, and reading the five chapters called “On Hydrogens”, starting at p. 181 (vol. 1) of his Commentaries. This is a much easier introduction for deciphering Ouspensky’s Food Chart.

The Foods Transformation Chart of Gurdjieff above. There are three levels, denoting the three levels of a human being: lower, chest, and head. The syllables “do”, on the left side, represent the intake of a “food”: edible food (do 768) in the stomach, air (do 192) in the chest area, and impressions (do 48) in the head.

Self-Remembering is essentially a solution to a very serious problem: that we are not truly aware of the impressions which enter us. We generally acknowledge the environment around us, but we are basically just marking time, rather than completely engaging — intellectually, emotionally, and physically — in the symphony around and within us. 

The reason we aren't aware, according to Gurdjieff’s system, is because of one fundamental thing: we lack a certain specific “chemical” at a point in our mind, that’s needed to transform the impressions we receive. That is, we can’t “digest” our impressions (the Food of impressions).

The act of Remembering Oneself is an “artificial” way to intentionally overcome the blockage in our perceptions, and help us to become more conscious. However the process of Self-Remembering is also dependent on a continuous supply of this specific missing “chemical”, which it uses in its “alchemy”. So again, we are faced with the hurdle of this particular missing substance, in carrying out our Self-Development.

THE ALCHEMY OF SEX

“Q. Do we have to produce Carbon 12, or is it in the organism?   

A. …we must bring [Carbon 12] from one part of the machine to another part—and this means special effort. We will not know we are doing it, but by making this special effort we will be bringing Carbon 12 from one place to another. But, of course, if there is not enough in the body we cannot bring it there. If you have money, you can put it in one pocket or another, but if you have none you cannot—it is quite simple.”

— Ouspensky, The Fourth Way

The Fourth Way system generally doesn’t say a lot about the Alchemy involved in Self-Remembering, and the "chemical" or “Hydrogen” which is missing at that point. There are hints in the literature here and there; but ultimately one must use one’s inner experience to discover the nature of the Alchemy of Self-Remembering, not to mention the pathway to Higher Bodies. Certainly one can refer to Ouspensky's Food Chart to track the movement of Hydrogens; but what exactly is this missing Hydrogen?

The substance is called "carbon 12": "carbon" meaning it has a positive charge or force to it, and "12" referring to the level the substance is at. However, for now this information concerning the missing "chemical" is unimportant. The real question is, where can this substance be found? The answer is that it is in the human body; however it is not in the head, where it needs to be, in order to help us perceive impressions. This “12” substance is all located in the lower part of the body; and it is the substance or energy which fuels the Sex Center.

The human body, according to Gurdjieff’s system, can be divided into three levels. The first level, everything below the level of the chest, initiates the digestion of ordinary food. The second level at the chest level breathes, and thereby initiates the transformation or “digestion” of air. And the third level or level of the head takes in “impressions”, initiating their “digestion” or transformation.

What is the missing substance called “carbon 12”? To make things simple, the digestion of ordinary food is the only natural process which creates something called a “12” Hydrogen. All of that 12 Hydrogen ends up located in our first level or the lower part of the body. However it is the top, head level, unfortunately, which needs some of that “12” substance to facilitate the digestion of our incoming impressions (called Do 48). 

So there are really three problems to solve: making sure there is a sufficient supply of “Si 12” — or Energy of Sex — in the first place; then bringing the “12” substance up to the top, head level where it’s needed; and finally making it accessible for use in our mind. Since “Si 12” is the energy primarily used by the Sex Center, it’s therefore not a suitable substance for use, in that particular form, with the innermost parts of our Mind. When Si 12 (Sex Energy) is brought in to the area of the mind, it’s nature must be changed into a form of psychic energy — having no more characteristics of the energy of sex in it at that point. This is a primary reason for retaining a substantial degree of “brahmacharya” in one’s life.

Why is H 12 (or “Hydrogen 12”) so important? Well two reasons. H 12 is the highest, most spiritual substance made by the body on its own, and it is used for all of our higher functioning. Also, it’s the primary energy which the Sex Center works with. It’s a very powerful energy, which is one reason why humans spend so much of their time thinking about sex. But, as the act of producing a child is also known as a “Sacred Act”, the Sex Center needs the highest, most spiritual energy available in order to function at that high level. A child is none other than a being from on High! However one can as well use the energy of H 12 to make a different kind of “sacred child”, within oneself: that is, one can create a “Higher Body”.

SELF-EVOLUTION: STARTING OUT

“For there are eunuchs who were born that way,

and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—

and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. 

The one who can accept this should accept it.“

— Jesus

Gurdjieff expressed definite views concerning sex, in Ouspensky’s In Search. As well, Gurdjieff’s own sex life has received much publicity, nothing of which I will repeat here. In the end, I have found it most productive to think for myself and develop my own views on sex. Likely, the reader has little interest in my views on the subject, especially considering I have as many flaws as the next man. But I do feel led to say something about the relation of sex to Self-Evolution. No, I’m not going to say that a completely evolved Man (a man on level 7 or even 8) never has sex. Though, that could be the case.

What is logical and (perhaps) self-evident within Gurdjieff’s system, however — and which one can try for oneself, if one wants — is that there is a conscious choice one can make; to either use the energy of Si 12 for ordinary sex, or to use it for the process of Self-Remembering, as carbon 12. It is a matter of where one decides to direct one’s energy. Certainly there is a way to balance the requirements of a committed relationship with the requirements of Spiritual Work. But whether in a relationship or single, there should preferably be a space for any person to develop one’s Inner Self. If a person is healthy spiritually, then he/she will also be happy; and those to whom he/she is connected will then feel happier as well.

BECOMING A “NEW MAN”

“Brahmacharya brings material progress and psychic advancement. It is the basis for morality. It is the basis for eternal life. It is a spring flower that exhales immortality from its petals. It is the shield for waging war against the internal Asuras—lust, anger and greed. It serves as a gateway to the bliss beyond. It opens the door of Moksha.”

— Sri Swami Sivananda

I will also say a little here about emotions and sex. Gurdjieffians talk a lot about negative emotions, and for good reason. The theory goes (in the system) that the Emotional Center doesn’t actually have a negative side. And that our “negative” emotions we manifest do harm to ourselves. There is a truth to this, in that the so-called “negative” actions or words or even thoughts we express end up getting stored away in our bodies and minds, where they exist as tensions. And also in that these stored negativities eventually come out again and again as further negative actions, words, and thoughts. 

This is the psychological version of samsara: the Buddhist ever-turning wheel of life and death, which one can never escape. And which is fueled by the three poisons of ignorance, anger, and lust. The Fourth Way system doesn’t refer to this Buddhist wheel, of course. However Gurdjieffians do, surprisingly, often refer to “metanoia”, or repentance, or as Nicoll likes to translate it, “a change of mind”. Metanoia is a technique for addressing the negativities stored in the body and mind, which originate from one’s past actions. Metanoia, or repentance, is a way to become conscious of the negative predispositions within oneself, confront them, and then to resolve them. 

I personally have found that metanoia is most effective, although also most difficult, when I search within my emotions for these stored “past deeds”. Although a “change of mind” is important to carry out intellectually, the emotions also definitely harbor the effects of one’s past indiscretions. The problems we store in the Emotional Center are often unconscious, I’ve found. And resolving these unconscious “emotional knots” helps to also resolve issues in the Intellectual Center, and the Sex Center.

TAKING THE FIRST STEPS 

“What may be called the 'astral body' is obtained by means of fusion, that is, by means of terribly hard inner work and struggle. Man is not born with it. And only very few men acquire an 'astral body. Fusion, inner unity, is obtained by means of 'friction,' by the struggle between 'yes' and 'no' in man. If a man lives without inner struggle, if everything happens in him without opposition, if he goes wherever he is drawn or wherever the wind blows, he will remain such as he is. But if a struggle begins in him, and particularly if there is a definite line in this struggle, then, gradually, permanent traits begin to form themselves, he begins to 'crystallize.'”

— Gurdjieff, ISOTM

The best Aim one can have initially in the path for Higher Bodies is simply to try to Remember Oneself. Then adding the benefit of Self-Observation is also important. Next, attaching the power of “metanoia” to that clears up the body and mind, and increases the potency of Self-Observation. Finally, instituting a minimum amount of sexual continence stabilizes one’s Mind, allows it to turn inwards, and facilitates the storage and flow of the necessary energy. These would make up a good tool box for any start on the Fourth Way. For a textbook, one could purchase the Commentaries by Nicoll and resolve to read one of his essays a day.

“A man must work from love of the work. This brings Hydrogen 12 up to the place of incoming impressions. Incoming impressions are Hydrogen 48. Hydrogen 12 is not present naturally at this point in the human machine. It has to be brought up to this point. If a person takes life as usual, in the ordinary way—that is, always receives impressions in the same mechanical way and speaks from them in the same mechanical way and acts from them in the same mechanical way—then nothing can change in the person. Such people cannot evolve. They do not see where the point of working on themselves lies. They think work is something outside them. A person must bring a very powerful hydrogen to the point where impressions are coming in. This is Hydrogen 12.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 60   

I hope this essay somewhat clarifies the first steps in the path to Higher Bodies. These are some of the mechanics of the Alchemy of Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering is a method to begin to transmute our Consciousness, Thoughts, and Emotions. In the next blog, I’d like to write about what I call the Metaphysics of Self-Remembering. There is a structure to the mind I’d like to talk about, which one should know about for Self-Remembering. Self-Remembering has the ability to make positive aspects of our Mind permanent, if we so desire. And Self-Remembering has within it the seed of the secret “Second Conscious Shock”, which I will begin to unveil next time.

Introduction to the Concept of Higher Bodies

"The process of evolution, of that evolution which is possible for humanity as a whole, is completely analogous, to the process of evolution possible for the individual man. And it begins with the same thing, namely, a certain group of cells gradually becomes conscious; then it attracts to itself other cells, subordinates others, and gradually makes the whole organism serve its aims and not merely eat, drink, and sleep. This is evolution and there can be no other kind of evolution. In humanity as in individual man everything begins with the formation of a conscious nucleus. All the mechanical forces of life fight against the formation of this conscious nucleus in humanity, in just the same way as all mechanical habits, tastes and weaknesses fight against conscious self-remembering in man."

— Gurdjieff, from ISOTM

INTRODUCTION 

This will be an ongoing post setting out my views on the Gurdjieffian system of the formation, or “coating”, of “Higher Bodies”. Higher Bodies, and their creation, are not exclusive to Gurdjieff’s system, but can be found also in Tibetan Buddhism, where they’re known as Buddha Bodies. I am a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, and I’ve found certain ancient knowledge embedded in Buddhism to be helpful for understanding Fourth Way ideas. However, this is a blog about the Fourth Way system; so most of the understanding I have will be communicated within that system’s framework. 

Regarding the perennial World Religions, however, I personally find, a.) there is an influx of “transcendence” available to oneself from association with a religion (or as Gurdjieff says, a contact with “B” influences), and b.) the Fourth Way Path suffers from a certain of lack of “vertical scale”, or of being mentally stuck in a two-dimensional plane, when one attempts to follow the system’s ideas without being personally associated with a Religion. It’s debatable if Gurdjieff thought his ideas should be studied outside of a Religious context. And although Gurdjieff was skeptical of contemporary religions, he probably thought of himself as a Christian, even calling his system “esoteric Christianity”.

Be that as it may, the Higher Bodies can be called “Fourth Way”, or “Buddhist”, or “Christian” interchangeably, because their actual system of formation consists of pure mechanics. The building of the Higher Bodies is a science, a science that uses knowledge of the system of Hydrogens, as well as an understanding of the Food Transformation Chart (the chart in Ouspensky’s Fragments which deals with foods and the transmutation of energies). The mechanics involved are a science, but they are also an art form, in that the mechanics relate to not one but two different spheres: the physical  - or material sphere, and also the conceptual - or idealistic sphere. 

To be specific, the structure of each Higher Body relates in one sense to the idea of “Hydrogens”, which I think of as material in nature — all Four Bodies consist of Hydrogens. Then in another sense, one should hopefully look at the Second, Third, and Fourth Bodies as also non-material — as spiritual in nature, as relating to a higher plane, or rather to that of their corresponding Planetary (astral), Solar (mental), or Starry (divine) worlds. 

The Ray of Creation itself is often misunderstood, specifically in trying to comprehend the meaning of its various levels — especially the higher ones. To get some sense of the Awesomeness of the Higher Worlds (rather than simply seeing them just as planets or the sun), it might be easiest to start by understanding that the Astral World correlates with a fully developed Astral (second) Body. An Astral Body is a Body which expresses and makes manifest the Higher Emotions proceeding from the Higher Emotional Center. The Centers of the developed Astral Body have been purified and adapted, so as to channel the emotions such as faith, hope, love, patience, generosity etc. etc. etc. These higher emotions belong to the next World above the Earth on the Ray of Creation, the Planetary (or Astral) World. Therefore, it is helpful to think of the Astral World in terms of Emotions — specifically the Higher or Spiritual Emotions.

Thus, to summarize, my process of coating the Bodies starts with the long-term practice of the First and Second Artificial Shocks, and then finally culminates in the methods using breath and contemplation Gurdjieff mentioned. His method of contemplation (I believe) is the Conscious fusion of Hydrogens (material) with Higher Emotions and Thoughts (conceptual) at definite positions in the body. 

All the while, specific lifestyle changes can be made, which gradually harmonize oneself with the Higher Cosmoses, as one’s goal is to live in conjunction with either the Earth, Sun, or Milky Way, — i.e. the Meso-, Deutero-, & Macrocosmoses. The higher one perfects one’s Being and Knowledge (and perfects one’s Bodies) the higher one relates toward the levels of the Ray of Creation. And the more one is harmonized with the higher Worlds, the more one can assimilate Knowledge & Being from those levels.

“In order to remember himself more and more deeply, a man must believe in the existence of Greater Mind and he must begin to think psychologically apart from thinking literally. He must feel another reality of himself than that derived from life or parents.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 932

INITIATING AN APPROACH TO THE BODIES: ONE’S MOTIVATION 

As with the actual Gurdjieff Work itself, approaching the work of creating Higher Bodies requires a certain state of mind. One might say that in relation to the Gurdjieff “Work”, Higher Body formation and the search for immortality would be called the “Great Work”. Gurdjieff is clear that Man is not born with Higher Bodies ready-formed; Man has to create them himself. Man has only one body; a body consisting of a lot of mixed up Hydrogens — high and low — along with a lot of conflicting desires and thoughts. Certainly Man as he is can have spiritual thoughts and emotions. And this is perhaps how a Man, on the level of the Earthly Plane can begin to separate into two, or into also having a second Body, which is on the level of the Planetary World.

It is interesting to contrast the two natures, that of a physical body with that of an Astral Body; and it is important not to conflate the Astral Body with some sort of physical body double. A physical body generally exists to provide food, shelter, and self-preservation for itself, along with the eventual propagation of its species. An Astral Body however lasts as long as the Planetary World, and can even outlive the Earth itself. It isn’t concerned with its survival in an Earthly environment. Nor with the mundane aspects of survival: of career, possessions, and status. An Astral Body expresses itself differently from the Earthly Body. An Astral Body by nature would not be harmful to others; it would exhibit generosity; it would be patient; it would by nature have compassion for all; it would be long-suffering and understanding. It would have a unified Will in order to express these qualities. It would be conscious enough not to react negatively if someone insults it. These are the qualities which differentiate an Astral Body from a physical body.

However, yet again, Man now doesn’t possess the Astral Body. The question is, how does he initiate the process within his material body to achieve something spiritual, something completely different from his material body, something on a completely different level from ordinary life? The answer is, that he must formulate a Higher Aim, a Goal, which opens the Path to a Higher State. A Man must keep this Higher Aim in his ordinary life at all times, in his consciousness — or conscience — clearly. This Aim must approach a Higher Level, which is far above his daily existence. Perhaps at first this Aim is simply to be more conscious; perhaps it’s something like the desire for knowledge; perhaps it’s in response to meeting a Holy Saint. If a Man has a Higher Aim of some sort, an Aim not relating to the ordinary world, then already there is a division in him between higher and lower, between his physical body and the Astral, between daily mundane existence and a life after death.

The Major Religions all have this Aim, this initiating process within them. Of the two I know, Christianity has the “Search for the Kingdom of God” — or as in the parable, Leaven; and Buddhism has “Bodhicitta”  — or “From-Great-Compassion, the-Desire-to-Help-Others-Achieve-Buddhahood”: i.e. the Seed of Buddhahood. These are, like either leaven or a seed, something which one keeps within oneself and one follows throughout life. And as one treasures them and nourishes them, they grow; leading one to blossom into a son of God or a Buddha.

It is this leaven, seed, or aim which gradually transforms a person’s life from one of materialism to one of spirituality. And it is also the Holiness of that same Aim, Leaven or Seed which imbues the Higher Bodies with Holiness. As the ancients said, “It is good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end.”

THE METHOD OF HIGHER BODY CREATION

My method of Higher Body creation is an almost completely internal process; a technique of “contemplation” as I call it. Gurdjieff himself mentions “contemplation” in relation to coating the higher bodies. Most specifically, in his chapter “Hypnotism” he mentions both the breath and “aiësiritoorassian contemplation” in regards to formation of the kesdjan (astral) body and soul. However, the internal structure and energies necessary to carry out this sort of contemplation have to be in place first. Many Fourth Way practitioners will have this in place already, especially people who have been in the Work for years or decades.

My method in this blog is to start at the beginning, starting with the techniques and concepts one needs first to approach greater consciousness; and then to proceed hopefully step by step towards my interpretation of Gurdjieff’s “aiësiritoorassian contemplation”.

“Essence must be taught to develop. The Work does not start from Essence. It starts, in a man having magnetic centre, from those 'I's in him which, wish to work, and they form "Deputy-Steward". This is the first point of Work made in a man. It can break up: or it can become stronger.”

— Nicoll, COM p. 223

THE FIRST CONSCIOUS STEP: REMEMBERING ONESELF 

I mentioned earlier that one had to be prepared for the work on Higher Bodies; one had to have certain things established within oneself first. The reason I say this is that some middle and inner parts of Centers can’t even function at all without certain energies, which are specially created. However, fortunately for the Fourth Way folks out there, those special energies are created through Self-Remembering (along with the second conscious shock). I’m not wise enough to know if another person is Remembering Himself in the “proper way”. We are told in the Work that we must constantly reinvent Self-Remembering, to make it relevant to oneself and one’s situation. My feeling, though, is that there might be a way to initially convey the concept of Self-Remembering. And that Self-Remembering has a certain mechanics to it, which one can refer to for inner Work.

Remembering Oneself is the one thing we are told we can do, which has the potential to change us and which is safe for us to do. It is also the one conscious thing we are able to do. Not only that, but it allows several more Higher Energies to come about through transmutation. This in turn eventually allows the inner and middle parts of the Emotional and Intellectual Centers to open up.

In my next few blogs, I want to give my own interpretation of the technique of Self-Remembering. And I want to convey to an extent the Ouspensky/Nicoll teaching of Self-Remembering, along with one or two charts. I want to get a little into the Alchemy that goes along with Self-Remembering. And finally I want to get somewhat into the structure of the “Mind” or Intellectual Center, where most of the work of Self-Remembering takes place, along with much of the rewards.

Q. Is self-remembering the only strength the system hands out to us?

 A. It is the only way to reach all the rest, because it is the first thing that is lacking in us. We are always forgetting ourselves from one moment to another, and this state must be changed. One must remember oneself— this is the beginning and the end of the whole thing, because when one has that one has everything.   

— Ouspensky, The Fourth Way

If you’re new to Gurdjieff and have read no Fourth Way books, I recommend just picking up Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous. It’s generally hard to understand, but it does give you a sense of what’s miraculous about this system. If you’re familiar with that book already, I recommend reading Nicoll’s Commentary, vol. 1. It does need the context of knowledge of the teaching, but Nicoll’s books are essentially like a textbook of the Fourth Way ideas.

Here is a link to the PDF Commentaries:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/172q9rY2TUAlof_V0rmAVr1l0fIYT1CL1?usp=share_link