Table of attainment

[Alexander]

Hm

Peter Demianovich Ouspensky was a Russian philosopher and esotericist who gained recognition for his work on spiritual and philosophical teachings, particularly his association with the ideas of George Gurdjieff. After moving to England in 1919, Ouspensky continued to explore and develop his ideas while also encountering personal challenges and conflicts.

In England, Ouspensky established himself as a prominent figure in the intellectual and spiritual circles of the time. He founded the "Theosophical Society for Psychical Research" in London, where he gave lectures and held meetings to discuss his philosophical concepts. His teachings centered around the exploration of human consciousness, self-awareness, and the potential for spiritual development.

During this period, Ouspensky continued to work closely with Gurdjieff, a spiritual teacher who had a significant influence on his thinking. Ouspensky became an advocate for Gurdjieff's ideas, particularly the notion of self-observation and the pursuit of higher states of consciousness. However, their relationship eventually soured, and Ouspensky parted ways with Gurdjieff in 1924 due to differences in approach and personal conflicts.

Following his separation from Gurdjieff, Ouspensky went on to establish his own independent school, known as the "Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man." The school attracted a considerable following and became a hub for individuals interested in Ouspensky's teachings. He continued to lecture and write extensively, sharing his philosophical ideas and engaging with students and readers.

Throughout his life, Ouspensky grappled with personal crises and conflicts. He was known to be introspective and deeply concerned with the existential questions of human existence. His writings often explored the themes of self-identity, the nature of reality, and the search for meaning. Ouspensky's personal struggles and contemplations were reflected in his philosophical works, such as "The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution" and "In Search of the Miraculous."

Ouspensky's later years were marked by health issues and a decline in his physical well-being. He suffered a severe heart attack in 1947 and experienced subsequent health complications. Despite his declining health, he continued to work on his writings and engage with students until his death.

On October 2, 1947, Ouspensky passed away in Lyne Place, Surrey, England, at the age of 67. His legacy lived on through his writings, which continue to inspire and influence individuals interested in philosophy, spirituality, and self-development. Ouspensky's ideas have had a lasting impact, with his work serving as a foundation for the exploration of consciousness and human potential.(ChatGPT)

His two books were excellent (In Search of the Miraculous and Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution). The falling out with Gurdjieff is questionable and perhaps more significant than I thought. Gurdjieff may have been a vehicle for Ouspensky to raise his level of attainment. Alienated from him, he may not have been able to work on his own.

Gurdjieff was a bear and Ouspensky was a bird; so, Ouspensky did not raise his level of being to one of the wise animals, such as crow or owl.

He may never have gone through the first descent into hell (I’m surprised by this and always assumed he had) and thus died as a streamwinner. Unfortunate.

[Alexander]

Birth brings complete forgetfulness, so whatever esoteric knowledge was acquired in one life is not carried over. However, death as a streamwinner means the desire to seek higher knowledge (ie, knowledge pertaining to the path to liberation) is inherited. Thus one often begins seeking higher knowledge immediately or early in life, and increasingly gains the potential to reach “critical mass” in said knowledge, inducing the crisis that brings on the transformation into once-returning.

[Alexander]

Gurdjieff and Ouspensky discovered many things, and developed an extremely unique system for self-development. I assume much of the Gurdjieff teaching was a product of revelation, though Gurdjieff also traveled and read widely himself.

In ordinary life we meet only these three categories of man. Each one of us and everyone we know is either no. 1, no. 2, or no. 3. There are higher categories of man, but men are not born already belonging to these higher categories. They are all born no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3, and can reach higher categories only through schools.

Man no. 4 is not born as such. He is a product of school culture. He differs from man no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3, by his knowledge of himself, by his understanding of his position, and, as it is expressed technically, by his having acquired a permanent center of gravity. This last means that the idea of acquiring unity, consciousness, permanent 'I,' and will—that is, the idea of his development—has already become for him more important than his other interests.

It must be added to the characteristics of man no. 4, that his functions and centers are more balanced, in a way in which they could not be balanced without work on himself, according to school principles and methods.

Man no. 5 is a man who has acquired unity and self-consciousness. He is different from ordinary man, because in him, one of the higher centers already works, and he has many functions and powers that ordinary man—that is, man no. 1, 2, and 3—does not possess.

Man no. 6 is a man who has acquired objective consciousness. Another higher center works in him. He possesses many more new faculties and powers, beyond the understanding of an ordinary man.

Man no. 7 is a man who has attained all that a man can attain. He has a permanent 'I' and free will. He can control all the states of consciousness in himself and he already cannot lose anything he has acquired. According to another description, he is immortal within the limits of the solar system. (The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution)

I’ve posted this before but it’s good to reiterate. You can see it’s a different articulation of the stages of streamwinner, once-returner, nonreturner, and arahant observable in Buddhism.

[Alexander]

Hm this may be a very transformative time

Lesley, Sydney, Alexandra (?), Tad, bodhi, Michael, Rougeleader- all potential arahants

Plus whatever nonreturners we can make 🤔

One day at a time 🎈👍

[Alexander]

*Added Lao Tzu as once-returner