Classical Spirituality in Contemporary America

Abstract

G.I. Gurdjieff (d. 1949) remains an important, if controversial, figure in early 20th-century Western Esoteric thought. Born in the culturally diverse region of the Caucasus, Gurdjieff traveled in Asia, Africa, and elsewhere in search of practical spiritual knowledge. Though oftentimes allusive, references to Sufi teachings and characters take a prominent position in Gurdjieff's work and writings. Since his death, a discourse on Gurdjieff and Sufism has developed through the contributions as well as critiques of his students and interlocutors. J.G. Bennett began an experimental 'Fourth Way' school in England in the 1970s which included the introduction of Sufi practices and teachings. In America this discourse has further expanded through the collaboration and engagement of contemporary Sufi teachers. This work does not simply demonstrate the influence of Gurdjieff and his ideas, but approaches the specific discourse on and about Gurdjieff and Sufism in the context of contemporary religious and spiritual teachings, particularly in the United States, and highlights some of the adaptive, boundary-crossing, and hybrid features that have led to the continuing influence of Sufism.

Scriptures in the Study of G. I. Gurdjieff and the “Work”

“…Since the publication of Andrew Rawlinson's The Book of Enlightened Masters: Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions (1997), the academic approach to Gurdjieff has gained momentum. In the decade leading up to 2021 a body of scholarship has been established (Azize 2013;Pittman 2012;Pecotic and Cusack 2016;Seamon 2020), and in 2021 a group of international scholarly collaborators exists. 1 This issue of Postscripts: The Journal of Sacred Texts, Cultural Histories, and Contemporary Contexts features five articles focused on the place of texts in the Gurdjieff teaching.…”