John Sinclair, The Lord Pentland, President of Gurdjieff Foundation Talk at Cave Junction Oregon, August 1983

In his talk at Cave Junction, Oregon in August 1983, John Sinclair, also known as The Lord Pentland, President of the Gurdjieff Foundation, shared profound insights on self-awareness and personal responsibility. He began by emphasizing that true understanding transcends conventional notions of beauty and ugliness, urging us to recognize our inner self beyond superficial perceptions.

Sinclair highlighted the necessity of questioning ourselves, underscoring that self-inquiry is essential for personal growth. He advised tuning into the present moment, avoiding mental clutter, and taking responsibility for our immediate actions rather than merely reacting based on past impressions.

He posed a vital question: can we be present to our associations and impressions simultaneously? This inquiry leads to a deeper responsibility towards oneself and the community at any given moment. Real responsibility, he noted, occurs when we are aware of both our conscious attention and our unconscious resistances.

Sinclair stressed the importance of being in touch with oneself to avoid mechanical responses, advocating for the deflation of the ego and emphasizing the need to focus on interior experiences rather than exterior roles. He also discussed the significance of understanding Gurdjieff’s teachings both in stillness and in movement, emphasizing the necessity to stabilize this understanding through continuous practice.

He described the process of separating the energy of temptation from the energy of thoughts, distinguishing real feelings from mere sensations. Without maintaining a careful and constant working condition, he warned, we risk returning to our starting point.

The speaker conveyed the necessity of a genuine feeling of hope and the importance of continuous effort, likening this to his interactions with monks who exemplified the magical power of sustained work. The first step in responsibility, he suggested, is differentiating the essential from the non-essential, moving beyond the mind’s confines.

Sinclair elaborated on the need for a certain quality without identifying with it, suggesting that accumulating this quality in body and feelings can lead to true individuality. Exercises, techniques, and rules are fundamental, but their effective use depends on the non-directive skill.

He acknowledged our limited understanding of ourselves, explaining that the rules of the octave operate not only horizontally but also vertically, making it challenging to separate and observe these levels. Each level has different qualities of energy, vibration, and speed.

Self-observation, he noted, is a crucial meeting point for different levels, essential for both seeing and being seen. This practice fosters self-development beyond mere observation, enabling us to recognize our weaknesses, remember them, and correct them.

The real work begins with the separation of our levels, energies, and the groups of people we work with. Once this separation is done correctly, everything flows naturally. Sinclair concluded with a practical example: when sitting on a chair and opening a book, being present means maintaining this separation despite distractions.

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