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Behind the moon, earth beings have a form like that of
Beelzebub except their skins are a little slimier and they have no tail — consciousness; no horns — will; no hoofs — individuality. They have invented boots or personality, pretence that we have true individuality but not real defenses as shown by the fact that we are touchy, open to wounds of vanity, self-pride, etc. The psyche also is imperfect due to ABNORMAL conditions, established after physical birth, leading us to develop abortive, monstrous reason, unlike reason on any other
planet. ORAGE 17 JANUARY 1927
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These are universal faults. How does it happen we have these traits? The myth answers: because we are biological products of an ABNORMAL
planet. We are normally ABNORMAL. We start as ABNORMAL because these traits are ABNORMAL to real essence. ORAGE 14 FEBRUARY 1927
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This Caritasian finds people suffering injustice, sweating to pay taxes and carry out purposes which have nothing to do with their own needs. He undertakes reforms and fails. He undertook from a sense of pity to reform the world by instituting what he considered would be a humane form of government. Notice
Beelzebub’s indulgently contemptuous attitude towards the futility of this type of reformer.
Beelzebub puts
Hassein on guard against certain sentimental notions about the human race. Those slugs have double natures. They talk as if butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths; but when they act they are ABNORMAL and monstrous.
Hassein is destined some day to affect a change in the human psyche. The “descent” is a series of lessons in ways not to approach human beings. ORAGE 14 FEBRUARY 1927
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Why does the prospect, the positive hope, of increasing our conscious powers act less powerfully as a lever of effort than the fear produced by description of our diseased and ABNORMAL state? Logic alone would make the small effort needed very desirable. But not from a mere hope can we get the energy; but from an emotionally understood realization of decadence, of approaching death, etc. A system of rewards alone is not enough it is necessary to have punishments also, e.g. a threat of staying awake till the film of the day is finished, or get up and read or go without breakfast! ORAGE 14 FEBRUARY 1927
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We claim these things; though they are universal among men. We see our faults but can do nothing to remedy them. Why? Because we are the human species, product of an ABNORMAL
planet, i.e. ABNORMAL now even in normal circumstances. In actual fact the whole human species begins its existence in an ABNORMAL state. ORAGE 14 FEBRUARY 1927
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Beelzebub is still speaking to
Hassein perhaps because he expects one of these days of incarnate upon this
planet. He would wish to know something of the
planet before coming here. So
Beelzebub tries to put
Hassein on guard against the influences of these men — they have two natures — one external which looks okay — but inside they are ABNORMAL monstrosities. ORAGE 14 FEBRUARY 1927
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Our period up to responsibility ordinarily passes normally, with growth which winds the springs, one by one. Infancy, childhood, adolescence; then man- or woman-hood. A premature adolescence is considered ABNORMAL because we have this series in mind; but man-hood now presents disordered phases, with no ordered succession.
Gurdjieff says that time is normal up to age of responsibility; and after that it “plays tricks”; as above. This is because the three centers act, not under supervision; but accidentally in response to accidents from without. The natural regulator is removed at the age of responsibility, when this stage is passed a new regulator should be applied by the individual. ORAGE 21 FEBRUARY 1927
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There is a normal way of experiencing but there is for us now only an ABNORMAL way. If we were in control of our three springs we should experience only when we choose. And this is that which is called the proper use of time. ORAGE 21 FEBRUARY 1927
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The previous chapters are on abnormality. In this there is a certain suggestive statement of the nature of normal man. What should a normal human being do, be, know? From our ABNORMAL understanding of time, experiences are too fast to be received into our consciousness. In this room, different colors, sounds, etc., affect my chemistry; but I am unaware of most of them. ORAGE 28 FEBRUARY 1927
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Even time for us flows abnormally — the springs are released in an ABNORMAL way so that we liberally realize only an uncertain small percentage of our experiences. Our time is defined as a series of experiences which can be felt and utilized at the rate at which they pass. ORAGE 28 FEBRUARY 1927
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Consider the species; one can make a series of objective statements on the race; a critique of human beings. In the preceding chapters the conclusion is reached that human beings are degenerates; that is through thousands of years they have become steadily less and less actual, with less desire to realize their potentialities. The race is still at the head of biological evolution but is deteriorating. The result is that we accept as normal things which are ABNORMAL. Let us suppose a race that in isolation loses interest in educating its children, developing its intellectual life, etc. If none were exempt, no one would be aware of the deterioration. If confronted with the works of his ancestors, he would be faced with a problem. Without any objective standard we have no way of telling whether we are degenerating — and if so, how much? ORAGE 7 MARCH 1927
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Anulios, Earth, Moon, three centers. The Earth is between Anulios and the Moon; between higher and lower rates. The tendency of the higher to go toward the lower, the ABNORMAL to the normal. ORAGE 7 MARCH 1927
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Emotional is neutralizing but leans toward the instinctive. All this is ABNORMAL. We should change by opposing the instinctive with something in the name of reason. ORAGE 7 MARCH 1927
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Men are degenerate — have become less and less actual and have less and less desire to actualize their potentialities. This is ABNORMAL, but so gradually has it come about, that this ABNORMAL state is regarded as normal. ORAGE 7 MARCH 1927
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But on earth owing to the conditions — ABNORMAL, monstrous as they are — that place has become a nasty sore on the cosmos. We have in us a variety of contrary wishes instead of will. “I” is a potential yet unactualized. ORAGE 7 MARCH 1927
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[
Orage speculates that perhaps the monsters of old tales were a sort of spiritualistic materialization caused by emanations of blood fumes on other
planets causing ABNORMAL experiences here. ] ORAGE 14 MARCH 1927
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This party got to India and dissolved the myth that this was the land of wisdom.
Gurdjieff was the Dalai Lama’s collector of dues for the monastery and was entitled to enter every monastery in Tibet. He discovered extraordinary elevations, ABNORMAL developments, so called magical powers; but did not find one universal intelligence. Occult powers were developed but they differed only from Western geniuses in type (scientific, literary etc.) They were diversions from normal type. ORAGE 14 MARCH 1927
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When you do something wholly intellectual, wholly emotional, wholly instinctive, you are sacrificing the two-centered being (the other two centers). Every great intellectual genius had become so by a blood sacrifice of two centers. Blood sacrifice is the ABNORMAL development of one center, at the expense of the other two, since animals are two-centered beings. The doctrines of Buddha are still extant in a form intelligible to those who knew the norm. ORAGE 14 MARCH 1927
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Meaning: In order to recover our normal state, which had been rendered ABNORMAL, four things are necessary: ORAGE 28 MARCH 1927
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The steps he took: Legomonism transmitted, occult doctrine, original fully formulated and transmitted by human means. Title of the Document: “The Terror of the Situation.” Suppose it is true that all of us are ABNORMAL, that we have never seen and never shall see a normal human being on this
planet. Suppose this species is degenerating and that we can be but dimly aware of this; that we as species and as individuals are being carried inevitably downs the scale of evolution. Consider efforts by Ashiata, Buddha, Egyptian civilization, etc. Many attempts and all have failed. Our stakes on Ashiata’s efforts. The situation inspired him as we know. This may give us an understanding of the intensity with which Ashiata went at it. ORAGE 11 APRIL 1927
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Ashiata began with thirty-six
three-centered beings with the possibility of development to six centers. (Three higher centers.) Enough to start with. He began by trying to remind them of their early associations, e.g. by instructing them in cosmic truths, with which they were once familiar. This implies that this should be childhood possession; for it is not ABNORMAL to be aware of our place and function in the cosmos. Our abnormality is that it was a matter of guessing. Ashiata hoped that as he talked, some chance word would awaken their own knowledge of these truths. Not trying to substantiate logically, but to reawaken ideas buried in the subconscious. He supplemented talk with directions as to personal method — self-observation.
Ouspensky uses the phrase self-remembering — by attention to the organism to reawaken original identity, so that they should cease to be identified with the planetary body. (The far country to which the prodigal son had gone.) ORAGE 25 APRIL 1927
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So Ashiata Shiemash when proposing to treat mankind for the affliction of split personality employed exactly the same means — by talking to thirty-six, i.e.
three-centered beings with the potentiality of six centers — i.e. specimens of split psyche. He began to instruct them about cosmic truths — their place in the cosmos, their responsibilities and duties laid upon men. (Nothing ABNORMAL in being perfectly familiar with the meaning and aim of our existence, on the contrary.) ORAGE 25 APRIL 1927
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Owing to certain circumstances this
planet has developed as an ABNORMAL machine, which no longer fulfills its design. Hence life exists on this
planet by sufferance (grace). A by-product of the fulfillment of a normal aim would have been complete happiness for us. We are no longer capable of the happiness which accompanies the fulfillment of a design. We suffer in consequence. Define what is considered to be a normal human being (see Bhagavad Gita — how does he walk?) Ponder the formulation of a norm. We cannot begin to develop non-psychopathically except on the basis of a norm. Abnormality: self-pride, vanity, touchiness, egoism, etc. ORAGE 30 MAY 1927
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We substitute aims instead of making a good job of whatever we are doing. This for ourselves. Man exists for perfection. The method is observation of self in contrast with the norm as defined by union of conscience with intellect (intuition). The norm becomes a framework into which observation is fitted. This reveals the degree to which we are normal or ABNORMAL; what is in contrast to what ought to be. ORAGE 30 MAY 1927
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A normal human being — designed to encounter, create and overcome difficulties. A psychic being consists of its appetites. When we speak of psychology, we speak of the kind of desire which animates it. Essence is the kind of desire. In the case of a human being, the desire to encounter and overcome difficulties. A fighting edge for the universe. We are completely happy only when thus engaged. When diverging from this norm we are ABNORMAL. This explains the accumulated hatred in this book for artists, scientists, poets in general. They substitute for normal aims (encountering and overcoming difficulties) some temporal forms such as pursuit of beauty, acquiring of riches, material conquest of the
planet. And as the artist influences other men, the book regards him as an evil influence. He tends to withdraw man’s interests and energy from man’s normal aim, hence hostile to the great scheme. ORAGE 17 OCTOBER 1927
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Though designed to have a passion for understanding, and power to develop it, man has departed from the norm. Man is in a state of hypnosis. His normal understanding has been converted into ABNORMAL. He has only glimpses, shadows of his real passion to understand and to overcome. ORAGE 17 OCTOBER 1927
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Not arbitrarily imposed. We already, so to speak, incarnate this duty, as the structure of a machine carries embodied in it its purpose and functions. Structure is purpose manifested. It is not a question of discovering a duty in us, not congenial to our mechanisms. Organic duty: i.e. duty of acting according to our mechanism, organism. Distinguish the normal organism and present ABNORMAL state. Start by asking: what do you think is wrong with the human race? And try to formulate what you regard as the characteristics of a normal human being. Use imagination on one side and criticism on the other. To discover in ourselves divergences from the normal and so get stimulation for attempting to become normal. Use pencil and paper, and being Western trained, write it out. For increase in articulateness and formulation of what you understand. Pass back and forth between self-observation and thought. ORAGE 17 OCTOBER 1927
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The Book of Dzyan, a Sanskrit fragment in its opening stanzas asks these questions. Madam Blavatsky’s “Secret Doctrine” is a commentary on these. All beings are classified according to their reason; each is a step on a ladder. The reason of a being is the coordinated sum of his normal functions. Man’s is higher only because the elements entering into it are more complex. Since the majority of human functions are ABNORMAL his reason is also ABNORMAL. ORAGE 24 OCTOBER 1927
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Man by definition is superior to the animals but in fact, his reason is ABNORMAL. Abnormality of man is summed up — the absence of fear of non-being. A rabbit threatened with death runs; man does not run. (Man knows that he inevitably will die some day, but this has no consequences for his life.) ORAGE 24 OCTOBER 1927
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Normal versus average. We have never seen the normal; only average and ABNORMAL. We are sub-ordinary. We must progress from ABNORMAL through ordinary to normal ordinary. Byron was lacking in human sensibility, which makes possible the genius of his verse. But we think super ordinary. ORAGE 31 OCTOBER 1927
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External phase. Classify according to type. Modern psychologists are explorers without a map. This psychology (
Gurdjieff’s) offers a map to the traveler. There has been given to this
planet a particular attention because it is ABNORMAL, a mote in the eye of the universe. ORAGE 7 NOVEMBER 1927
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Nature provides conditions for both and is indifferent; but the creator’s motive is to produce the souls. “On all the
planets beings are graded according to their reason.” Reason is the sum of normal functions. And there is a natural relation between beings and different “reasons.” Relations as in physics. Standards in reasons are impartial. If beings of different reasons meet, the lower would not dispute the superiority. A man really normal would not be harmed by a normal beast. ABNORMAL conditions of society result in natural conditions being changed. A respected being demanded by inferior beings. Real respect would be natural and inevitable. Men become famous because of oddities, defects etc. The reasonable or rounded man does not attract attention; the oddity does. ORAGE 5 DECEMBER 1927
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This brings us back to the definition of the final goal. We said at the outset that man is a passion for the understanding of life. This is the master, magnetic current. But we are negatively polarized. The positive magnetic pole is the cerebral, the negative is the instinctive. When the current is rightly passing, all functions begin to fall into proper place. But when, as in us, the current is passing from the spinal to the cerebral, then things go wrong. We are ABNORMAL and are crucified like Peter with head downward. What is the positive magnetic current? The psychological being is a passion for understanding. Those who have had it increasingly, find their functions increasingly normal. First psychologically then physiologically. ORAGE 27 DECEMBER 1927
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After attaining impartial mentation,
Beelzebub goes to his cabin for the rest he needed after an emotional experience. He found
Hassein sobbing. The intensity of thought had established a tempo that was ABNORMAL; afterwards, clash of tempos. Tears did not mean anything except that the three centers were at different tempos. A neurotic system is due to tempo intensification in one center, without others being raised to the same degree. The centers out of step were the cause, but the occasion was this:
Hassein weeping over the beings on the earth, handicapped by kundabuffer.
Hassein’s objective conscience could suffer because beings,
three-centered beings like himself, were shut out from the ineffable joy he had just experienced. Where is justice, that I should enjoy this? ORAGE 9 APRIL 1928
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A sailor comes to announce that reflections of the sphere of Caritas are visible. (In preceding discussions we “saw” for an instant what Caritasian’s are like. Awake to the subjective nature of objective experience — light.)
Beelzebub continues: The results of ABNORMAL existence on earth, not limited to earth, but were beginning to affect beings on other
planets in the same solar system. Relatively conscious only of the planetary body; only a subjective consciousness of the other two. But the other two should become as objective and as usable as the first. Being unable to use them, we merely register the effects of their action in emotional and intellectual states. If the planetary body had no effect on the astral and mental it would not be so bad. But they interact. What the planetary body does, affects them even though I do not realize they exist. They may be deformed before we learn their use. Blossom, bud, seed. If the outer sheath is undisturbed all is well. But if . . .
Beelzebub sighed deeply: “If only the reflections of the sphere of Caritas are visible, we still have much time to discuss the reactions on the astral and mental
bodies of the planetary body.
Beelzebub will explain to
Hassein in detail. ORAGE 9 APRIL 1928
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The aged Tuf-Nef-Tef invites
Beelzebub to call and makes a request: owing to his pardon, he can now become what he should become and in the future will meet people of his own reason — ask how to deal with inhabitants of
Mars. It has been noticed lately on
Mars that the ABNORMAL conditions on the
planet Earth had decreased the power of active intellection on the
planet Mars. Inability to think objectively, the earth-beings call it a will-less-ness or neurosis. Present conditions practically ensure the spreading of neuroses. Neurosis is an exaggerated inability to think objectively or impartially. It is only due to the inhalation of certain substances that we can ponder at all.
Beelzebub promises to bear the request in mind. (Why cannot we maintain a state of higher intellection for very long?) ORAGE 9 APRIL 1928
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Our “waking” state of consciousness is a pseudo form of sleep artificially induced under suggestion, thanks to substances we breathe and perceive during infancy. Chemically ABNORMAL (air and perceptions) have been taken into our body, substances comparable to opium, hence we are never “essential.” We go through life in a sort of somnambulism, dimly aware that we are not behaving individually. Are there any of us who cannot recall periods when we behaved with somnambulistic idiocy? When we ourselves feel as if we were behaving as if mad? Always a little doped; sometimes excessively. The only thing which prevents more openly idiotic conduct is the absence of necessary chemicals. You can tell anything to a person in this hypnotic state and if you happen to be the sort of person to whom he is sympathetic, he will believe you. If you show him a flea and say it is a rhinoceros he will believe. Trifles (fleas) that we know to be trifles are yet considered calamities. We are often commiserated with for calamities which we know to be trifles. (Think of such things in your experience.) Can induce rapid hypnotism; one of the methods, “stroking,” can produce madness. But they do not know what hypnotism really is. The chief reason for possessing this peculiarity is that we have two kinds of consciousness: ORAGE 30 APRIL 1928
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Center of gravity . In music, “absolute pitch” (striking pure, no wavering) is the center of gravity of that note. Anything “off” is ABNORMAL. Every being has its own pitch or center of gravity (orchestral also each center). “Permanent dwelling place” or “habitual center.” ORAGE 21 May 1928
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Sleeping consciousness, waking consciousness, self-consciousness, cosmic-consciousness . Our “waking” state is ABNORMAL; “when the sleeper awakens.” Self-consciousness is consciousness of self. Self is that part of the seed that has been actualized, i.e. the body. Cosmic-consciousness is nothing mystical but is an awareness of other
planets, suns etc.; and that they are centers of a being. Consciousness of the body of
God. ORAGE 21 May 1928