A Series of Discussions:
                 The Teachings of 
             G.I. GURDJIEFF
                           and the 
Struggle for a Meaningful Existence

How to Understand Self-Study?

• June 27 · 6:30 PM 
• Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty
  2nd Floor Meeting Room
  130 Whitfield Street
  Pittsburgh, PA 15206 

We have scheduled two more discussions on the following dates:  July 11th and  July25th.  These meetings will also be on Tuesday evening (6:30-8:00) at the East Liberty Carnegie Library.


THE MEANING OF SELF-STUDY

A soon we begin to question ourselves about our own identity and nature, either as a result of shocks in life or under the influence of exceptional moments, the question arises as to whether, instead of giving ourselves up more or less completely to events and thus to a course of evolution which we cannot control at all, there might not be in that evolution something which depends on us and could be influenced by us.
Thus it becomes obvious that the wish to be fully himself will not leave a man completely unaffected, and his first necessity, which is as urgent as the organic need to eat, should be to-find out if something in this direction is effectively possible for him, and in what way.

In the beginning, the only thing that can be asked of a man who engages in this search is that he should understand the necessity of making his way tirelessly along the path whatever happens, and that he should understand that nothing but self-study, rightly conducted, can lead him to self-knowledge and the great Knowledge.

                                                                           -- Jean Vaysse,  "Toward Awakening"