Amazon.com Review: Right around the turn of the 20th century, G.I. Gurdjieff initiated a group of spiritual adventurers called the "Seekers of Truth." These intrepid intellectuals of every stripe crisscrossed Africa and Asia in search of the hidden mysteries of antiquity. In Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff narrates their exploits while drawing portraits of these extraordinary figures (including one woman and a dog). Half travel journal, half autobiography, Meetings with Remarkable Men begins with Gurdieff's childhood, when he finds his book learning at odds with paranormal events that were self-evident but inexplicable through modern science. Later he discovers a map of "pre-sands Egypt" and evidence of the Sarmound Brotherhood, alleged keepers of ancient wisdom dating back four and a half millennia. He climbs the Himalayas, follows the Nile, and is led blindfolded to a mysterious monastery. In his encounters with dervishes, monks, and fakirs, Gurdjieff recovers the wisdom he seeks; by comparison, European understanding, he says, is backwards and barbaric. A controversial figure in his time, Gurdjieff inspired deep love and loyalty in his pupils and ridicule from skeptics. At the bookends of Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff suggests the value of blurring the line between allegory and straight reporting. But then what exactly is Meetings with Remarkable Men? You be the judge. --Brian Bruya
Not what it seems to be There is much autobiographical information here, but G.'s intentions are never straightforward. There is a deeper intention. That is to inculcate into the reader the need to search for the meaning of life. Along the way, he tells of many entertaining adventures in cultures and regions not familiar to the West and conveys the fascinating diversity and antiquity of this crossroads of religions, beliefs and ways of life. Predictably there are those who find one objection or another to this book, and have come to conclusions without much basis. It is a given that some will approach a book like this with skepticism and perhaps disapproval. Some of this is due to hearsay, concerning G.'s reputation as a "mystic" in the Rasputin/Crowley mold or some such nonsense. One of G.'s methods was in fact to APPEAR as a charlatan, in order to put off just those people who form opinions too quickly and fail to doubt the limitations of their own perspective. Those with a more open mind will be more receptive to more subtle intentions and sense a profound and urgent underlying teaching. For those people - those who sense a meaning behind the entertaining anecdotes and storyline - the next step is to read the book IN SEARCH OF THE MIRACULOUS by P.D. Ouspensky, which gives the best account of the man G. and his manner of teaching in the first half of the 20th c. But most of all, it is the best explication of the teachings themselves, and a book that to many people is the profoundest and most meaningful book they have ever read.
FANTASTIC!!!! Gurdjieff at his most engaging. This is his autobiography, in particular the biography of his occult knowledge. He introduces you to the people who developed him into what he became and taught him what he came to teach himself later on. It is written in a special way, different from a typical 'Western' writer. This must be understood: this is the thinking of a Eastern and Ancient quality. Fantastic voyages, extraordinary people, Gurjieff does not disappoint. On the brink of exhaustion in an expedition deep in the Gobi desert Gurdjieff experiences a miracle, and then another, and another.......
A remarkable adventure with remarkable men! A remarkable book about the adventures of Gurdjieff and several of his close friends. This is no ordinary adventure but a search, a search for truth and universal knowledge. Several of the men depicted are Scientists, Professors, Military men and even a Prince, their wisdom is astonishing and their conversations fascinating. Each has an inner drive to know the mysteries of reality and find deep meaning in man's existence. All the adventures are depicted with each remarkable man and the conversations that transpire between Gurdjieff and other teachers that are embarking on a similar journey. Fascinating read and exceptional descriptions of geographical locations (Asia) not seen by any western man. Reading such accounts struck the thought, where do we find men of this knowledge, breath and consciousness, in our time period of history? Has timed changed so much that these journeys for truth, knowledge and the secrets of the universe, are unattainable to the average man? Father Giovanni explains to Gurdjieff and Professor Skridlov 'Understanding is the essence obtained from the information intentionally learned and from all kinds of experiences personally experienced.' Through Meetings one feels that they are on the journey, one feels the breath and vastness of the surrounding environments. Through Gurdjieff's writing one can truly experience a deeper understanding of the unknown universe. Highly Recommended for readers just learning about Gurdjieffs work and the fourth way school of thought.
Gurdjieff's journey to knowledge "Always and in everything strive to attain at the same time what is useful for others and what is pleasant for oneself" said Mullah Nassr Eddin. And Gurdjieff worked all his life to do that. In this book, he offers us his journey to knowledge with its stepping stones and its struggles, and introduces us to the people that affected his life in one way or another. It should be titled, Meetings with Remarkable People,in my opinion, since a couple of women are also included, though men are more.
With Gurdjieff and the protagonists of his life, you'll get a trip back in time, through a multi ethnic, unmapped region, whose roughness and beauty provide the perfect setting for an endeavour of the soul.
This is one of the books that truly touched me deeply, and the first i read from Gurdjieff, other than In Search of the Miraculous. The eloquence and wit of Gurdjieff, make reading an enjoyable experience.
A wonderful story Meetings is an eloquently written story about the travels and experiences of Gurdjieff. Their are some great stories woven within that are like teachings to those who can read between the lines. It is a swift, fun read that I would recommend even to people who are unaware of the work of Gurdjieff.
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