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January 23rd, 2017

1/23/2017

A different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3: Three dimensions
Part V

Initially the settlers on the East side of the Appalachian Mountains found it very very difficult to reach the West side of the Appalachians. In time an explorer found a passage through the mountains making the trek from East to West less dangerous and less time consuming.

So it is with region 4.

Some of us have stepped into region 4. As with all men, level 4’s come in all sizes, shapes and degrees.

Some of those having entered region/level 4 will not share their journey with others.

Many level 4’s have been taught by great teachers to keep their experiences to themselves. Some of their teachers have been sages who sense the information is meant for only a select few. Such individuals need not worry since most men are asleep and will not awaken regardless of how much they are shaken, regardless of how much knowledge they are given.

Other level 4’s have been taught by the masses through the process of ridicule, mockery, scorn, ostracism … to keep the information to themselves.

Ironically some of the more intense levels of ridicule, mockery, scorn, and ostracism come from within the very schools guiding students seeking esoteric knowledge, seeking esoteric understanding, seeking esoteric experiencing regarding level/region 4.

The more of us, however, who enter region 4 and risk the potential negative repercussion of disclosure in order to assist others to experience the silence, the easier it will be for others to step into this fourth room, to step into region four, to reap the treasure trove of the unique experiences to be found within region/level four which includes among other things, not only answers to questions long haunting the thinker but also the means to advancing the evolutionary development of not only ourselves personally but advancing the evolutionary development of our species as well.

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January 22nd, 2017

1/22/2017

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A different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3: Three dimensions
Part IV
One does not step into one region/level and then step out of that level/region into another region. Rather the three levels are without boundaries, mixed one within another, chaotic, exploding in a brilliant display of sensations

One often hears the question: The physical, the physical, the physical is that all there is? Am I simply a machine?

If there were only the physical there would not be seven levels or as we now understand seven regions of human experience, there would only be three and that would be the end of this work.

But this work deals with the seven levels of human experience and this chapter presents the levels as regions which in turn will help the investigation of level 4, region 4, help us more readily understand not only what level/region 4 is but more readily understand how to access region/level 4.

Seeking a higher level is not in fact going upward but going laterally. Seeking level 4 is in fact simply stepping out of a region of sensory input, region/level 1, stepping out of a region of emotional turmoil, region/level 2 and stepping out of a region of mental frustration, region/level 3, and stepping into a region of silence.

Seeking a ‘higher level’, however, is not enough if one does know understand what ‘seeking a higher level’ entails. If one understands what one is seeking one has a much greater potential to succeed in one’s quest.

Seeking blindly, seeking without understanding what it is one is seeking almost inevitably results in failure, if not failure due to the lack of ‘finding’ then failure through having found what one seeks but not recognizing that one has found what it is one seeks since one was blindly seeking in the first place.

"Without knowing what I want, I will not make any effort. I will sleep. Without wishing for a different quality in myself, to turn toward my higher possibilities; I will have nothing to lean on, nothing to support work. I must always, again and again, come back to this question: What do I wish? It must become the most important question of my life. Yet this wish for a different quality has no force at all if it comes from my ordinary “I”. It must be related to something completely different from my ordinary “I” and free from the desire for a result. I must not forget why I wish. This must be for me really a question of life or death – I wish to be, to live in a certain way. "
The Reality of Being, The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff, Jeanne De Salzmann, Shambhala, 2010, p 19.

Some would suggest one can only step into region/level 4 through one’s own efforts.

They are correct, for one can only experience region/level 4 by ‘going’ there just as an individual standing on the East side of the Appalachian Mountains can experience the West side of the Appalachian Mountains only by going to the West side of the mountain range.

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January 21st, 2017

1/21/2017

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A different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3: Three dimensions
Part III

The constant unrelenting, yes you do, yes you do, yes you do, yet forever insanely providing no answers to questions such as: If so then what is my purpose? Tell me. Tell me! Give me the answer or stop bugging me!

Yet, in spite of receiving no answers, these level 3s, the one’s awakening, do not let go, do not give up and continue their desperate search for the answers.

The level 4s must reach out, must assist if for no other reason than for the humanitarian outreach to those suffering the unanswered desperate need to know, need to find the next level of their awakening.

Level 4s have much to gain by assisting level 3s rise to be level 4s not only in terms of assisting level 3s but in terms of helping themselves.

‘… Thus the conditions for ascending the stairway on the fourth way are that a man cannot ascend to a higher step until he places another man upon his own step....’
Gurdjieff quote, In Search of the Miraculous, The Teachings of Gurdjieff,
P. D. Ouspensky, Harcourt, Inc., 1949, 1977, p.202.

All humans are capable of experiencing physical reality through their sensory organs (In the case of humans: sight, smell, taste, touch and sound).

Most humans are capable of experiencing physical reality through emotional experiencing.

Some humans are capable of experiencing physical reality in terms of analysis, reasoning, rationality...

One does not step into one region/level and then step out of that level/region into another region. Rather the three levels are without boundaries, mixed one within another, chaotic, exploding in a brilliant display of sensations

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January 20th, 2017

1/20/2017

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A different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3: Three dimensions
Part II

Graphically depicting the three levels in a three dimensional format gives one a different perception of the three ‘levels’.

In a two dimensional format the levels appear as ‘levels’, appear as heights one must climb like a mountain, while a three dimensional format of the three levels provides a perception of the levels being less like ‘levels’ and being more like ‘locations’/regions within which one is capable of experiencing the physical.

Viewing the ‘levels’ as ‘locations’ removes the perception of relative worth, removes the temptation of judging the merit of an individual based upon the individuals capacity to experiencing a numerical quantity regarding levels. With the concept of levels there is a tendency to consider the individual capacity to experiencing level 2 as being more impressive than a person being capable of experiencing only levels 1 and the individual capacity to experiencing level 3 as being more impressive than a person being capable of experiencing only levels 1 and 2.

A person capable of experiencing level 4 is no more significant than a person capable of experiencing level 3. In fact a person capable of experiencing level 4 has a great responsibility, has the responsibility, the obligation, the divine task of encouraging, guiding, awakening, directing … level 3s into the arena of level 4, into the location of level 4.

The level 4 must reach out to the level 3s who wish to awaken, who are subsumed with the walls of doubt, who are obsessed with the oppressive weight of unending questions regarding the purpose of life, who are seeking to experience a second reality, who are striving to quiet the incessant whispering, haunting, echoing within their mind which says: Yes you have a purpose. You have meaning and then never providing the answer to those seeking.

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January 18th, 2017

1/18/2017

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A different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3: Three dimensions
Part I

Levels 1, 2 and 3 are usually depicted in a two dimensional format:

The problem with depicting the three levels of the individual human as two dimensional is that we, humans, do not live in a two dimensional existence.

To be as accurate as possible we should depict Levels 1, 2 and 3 in a three dimensional format.

The process of using three dimensions is ‘non-traditional’ but since we are not two dimensional beings it is only rational to demonstrate the various levels using three dimensions or more.

We then obtain Figure I - 14

The question becomes: So what? Isn’t this just what we have been doing throughout this chapter?

We have been examining the three levels in a three dimensional format and doing so for a reason.

We have been familiarizing ourselves to the very concept of three dimensional visualizations of levels 1, 2 and 3 in order to prepare ourselves for a different understanding of level 4 and a different understanding of how to find one’s true essence.

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January 17th, 2017

1/17/2017

1 Comment

The mental/thinking body of the individual: Level 3:
Part V

Level 4 exists where there is no physical existence and level 4 is attainable by individuals wishing to step into, find, and experience a state of the void, a state of silence.

Level 4 is sought by many but is sought full time by the fakirs, monks and yogis as one of the ultimate states they dedicate their lives to attain. These three paths require the complete devotion of the disciples of the three groups.

There is, however, a fourth way to finding the state of level 4[i]. The fourth way does not require a complete dedication of one’s life to the search.

‘… The fourth way requires no retirement into the desert, does not require a man to give up and renounce everything by which he formerly lived...’
Gurdjieff quote, In Search of the Miraculous, The Teachings of Gurdjieff, P. D. Ouspensky, Harcourt, Inc., 1949, 1977.

The fourth way allows an individual to find their true essence while remaining a part of society, while fulfilling one’s commitments and responsibilities already established.

How is this possible? How can one remain a member of normal life and fulfill the responsibility of normal life yet find what yogis, fakirs and monks seek through a process of complete isolation from ordinary life as the vast majority of people know ordinary life to be?

The means of finding answers to questions such as: Is life meaningless? Is this all there is? Why do I exist? Is it really worth the effort? Is there an existence ‘beyond’ the physical? What possible significance could I have in a crowd of seven billion people? With a trillion stars in the heavens what possible significance could my existence have?

The answers to such questions begin through a slightly different perception of Levels 1, 2 and 3 which in turn leads to understanding the answers to questions regarding level 4: Where is level 4? What is level 4? Why does level 4 exist? How can one experience level 4? …

The different perception of level 4 actually begins with a different perception of levels 1, 2 and 3 which in turn leads to a the different perception of level 4. Learning of the different perception of level 4 results in a reduction of time and effort necessary for attaining level 4 because this new understanding allows one to move laterally rather than climb a mountain to attain level 4.

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January 16th, 2017

1/16/2017

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The mental/thinking body of the individual: Level 3:
Part IV

Secularists say: ‘Secularism/atheism is not a religion’. But secularism is ‘the belief’ that religion, religious bodies, the Higher, World Two should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools’.

But secularism/atheism is a ‘belief’. Secularism, atheism, relativism is no less a religion than other beliefs’/religions.

Secularism: exclusion of religion from public affairs: the belief that religion and religious bodies should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools
Encarta Dictionary: English (North America

The operational word in the definition of secularism is ‘belief’.

While the operational word in the definition of a ‘theist’ is also ‘belief’, it is also true no theist would suggest the consideration of God in public affairs and civic affairs be totally excluded.

The very fundamental concept of one of the most influential free governments of the world specifically states the rights of the individual are granted by their Creator and thus cannot rationally be removed by humans in society since the right to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ was not granted by any physical beings.

Atheists/secularists/relative truth advocates would say: ‘It is only theists who are religious.’ Atheists would say the belief in nothing, the belief in a non-existence, is not rational. Note the word ‘belief’ used by the atheist. Atheists use a double standard. Atheist yell: ‘Prove there is a God, prove there is a Creator, and prove there is a ‘First Cause’.’

The theist then cowers and says: ‘We cannot ‘prove’ God exists.’ Rather than concede they cannot prove there is a God the theist should simply reply: ‘Prove there is not a God.’

The atheist will reply: ‘One cannot prove a negative’ and then presume they have won the debate completely ignoring the fact they began the debate with the negative statement: God does not exist.

What does this seeming digression into the discussion of non-existence have to do with level 4?

Level 4 is the first ‘location’, the first state of experiencing existence other than the physical.

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January 14th, 2017

1/14/2017

2 Comments

The mental/thinking body of the individual: Level 3:
Part III

Secularists say: ‘Secularism/atheism is not a religion’. But secularism is ‘the belief’ that religion, religious bodies, the Higher, World Two should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools’.

But secularism/atheism is a ‘belief’. Secularism, atheism, relativism is no less a religion than other beliefs’/religions.

Secularism: exclusion of religion from public affairs: the belief that religion and religious bodies should have no part in political or civic affairs or in running public institutions, especially schools
Encarta Dictionary: English (North America

The operational word in the definition of secularism is ‘belief’.

While the operational word in the definition of a ‘theist’ is also ‘belief’, it is also true no theist would suggest the consideration of God in public affairs and civic affairs be totally excluded.

The very fundamental concept of one of the most influential free governments of the world specifically states the rights of the individual are granted by their Creator and thus cannot rationally be removed by humans in society since the right to ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ was not granted by any physical beings.

Atheists/secularists/relative truth advocates would say: ‘It is only theists who are religious.’ Atheists would say the belief in nothing, the belief in a non-existence, is not rational. Note the word ‘belief’ used by the atheist. Atheists use a double standard. Atheist yell: ‘Prove there is a God, prove there is a Creator, and prove there is a ‘First Cause’.’

The theist then cowers and says: ‘We cannot ‘prove’ God exists.’ Rather than concede they cannot prove there is a God the theist should simply reply: ‘Prove there is not a God.’

The atheist will reply: ‘One cannot prove a negative’ and then presume they have won the debate completely ignoring the fact they began the debate with the negative statement: God does not exist.

What does this seeming digression into the discussion of non-existence have to do with level 4?

Level 4 is the first ‘location’, the first state of experiencing existence other than the physical.

In addition to finding personal peace, serenity, balance, purpose … some suggest the process of finding balance is the first step to obtaining immortality.

There are many answers to the question regarding why dedicate part of one’s life, not to mention dedicating one’s entire life, to one of the three ‘ways’ offered by both East and West to entice individuals to expend their energies upon ‘their’ way.

In essence, the heart of the three ‘ways’ goes to the concept of finding one’s fourth level. The fourth level being the means by which one becomes the ‘master of one’s physical machine.

“In this connection certain teachings compare man to a house of four. Man lives in one room, the smallest and poorest of all …

The fourth room gives man immortality and all religious teachings strive to show the way to it…

I said last time,” he said, “that immortality is not a property with which man is born. But man can acquire immortality. All existing and generally known ways to immortality can be divided into three categories:

The way of the fakir

The way of the monk

The way of the yogi”
Gurdjieff quote, In Search of the Miraculous, P. D. Ouspensky, Harvest Books, 2001, p 44.

Level 4 is just that, the fourth level of the seven levels attainable by a human being.

Although level 4 is only the fourth level of seven, it is the level where one learns to be the master of the other six levels.

“… and until he is told of it, he does not suspect the existence of the other rooms which are full of treasures. When he does learn of this he begins to seek the keys of these rooms and especially the fourth, the most important, room. And when a man has found this way into the [fourth] room he really becomes the master of his house, for only then does the house belong to him wholly and forever.”
Gurdjieff quote, In Search of the Miraculous, P. D. Ouspensky, Harvest Books, 2001, p 44.

It is only when an individual enters the fourth level does the potential for mastering levels 1, 2 and 3 in reality one and the potential for mastering levels 5, 6 and 7 in reality two become possible.

The secularists would say: No, no, no, there is no other existence than physical existence! The atheists would say there is no other existence other than our present reality, no other existence other than the physical universe! The relative truth advocates would have you believe there is no such existence as reality two.

Secularists/relative truth advocates/ atheists[i] are steeped in their religion.

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January 13th, 2017

1/13/2017

3 Comments

The mental/thinking body of the individual: Level 3:
Part II

Some level 3 individuals/thinkers have no emotional attachment:

Such individuals are characterized as ‘intelligent callous unemotional’ individuals.

There are many variations of relative imbalance which are not as radically off balance as Fig. I - 11.

Figure I - 10 as opposed to Fig. I - 12 demonstrates a level 3 person in balance, demonstrates an individual who has all aspects of physical existence, the physical body – the emotional body – the mental body in balance.

A balanced state of existence is seldom experienced by an individual.

Occasionally individuals reach for the balance of one of three levels and diminishing the influence of the remaining two levels. To reach a state of one level domination occurs through the process of completely dedicating their entire lives to attain such a state of balance.

There are three commonly recognized ‘ways’ to find such a balance. Monks (astral/emotional way through level 2), Yogis (mental/thinking way through level 3), and Fakirs (physical way through level 1) are examples of such people. This is not to say such individuals will attain a balance. Most of those dedicating their lives to attain such a balance will find themselves severely lacking in their efforts despite their sincerity.

The question becomes: Why would people dedicate their lives to the attainment of a balanced existence?

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January 12th, 2017

1/12/2017

0 Comments

The mental/thinking body of the individual: Level 3:
Part I

This then leads us to the level 3 person. A level 3 person thinks, analyses, evaluates …

The level 3 person in balance would appear graphically as:

Figure I - 10 graphically depicts three levels in balance.

Most people are not true thinkers. Most people simply react to their environment.

The majority of people are too busy with simply existing in a chaotic world to think. Survival from one day to another is a full time task for the general population. A few people, however, are habitually analyzing, thinking, questioning, and seeking answers to perplexing questions. A small percentage of thinkers have time for little else other than thinking.

Level 3 people, thinkers can be out of balance just as level 1 and level 2 people can.

An example of this would be a level 3 person who is an addict, who is irrationally obsessed with a need for their next ‘fix’.

We can graphically demonstrate a level 3 person who is out of balance.

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Part I: For the novice
Intro & General Comments
10/16/16 - 12/31/16
The work begins:
Reality 1: World One: The physical
1/1/17 - 2/6/17
The Silence: The Void
2/7/17 - 2/23/17
Preparation: Conquering the Physical Machine
2/24/17 - 3/11/17
Taking a Peek: Viewing the void
3/12/17 - 3/17/17
Stepping into the silence:
Walking over the abyss of fear
3/2o/17
The silence: The region between two worlds
3/21/17
The void is not a reality: The void is nothingness
3/22/17 - 3/26/17
Entering the void: A regionless region
3/27/17 - ...

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