Gurdjieff Movements: Peak of Alertness Both bodily and reasoning

To know something about Gurdjieff Movements, it is first pertinent to know about Gurdjieff who created them. George Gurdjieff was an enlightened specialist born in Armenia in 1866. From an early age, he started to query the purpose of life, the creation of the universe and other such esoteric topics. At the age of 20, he set out on a journey continuing 20 years to the exotic lands of Central Asia, Egypt, Persia, Afghanistan, Tibet, India and other countries to visit spiritual places and people.

On his return to Russia in 1912, he began giving lectures, attracting admirers and followers and created 'sacred dances' but rather movements in a strict order. He explained them as having a obvious meaning hidden under the outward form. His pupil and chronicler, P. D. Ouspensky, in his book, 'In search of the Miraculous' quotes the specialist as, "There is something like the planets of the solar theory in these dances. Each planet is at a obvious distance from the sun and when the theory starts, the spheres begin to move along prescribed paths reproducing the laws which govern the movements of the planets. There is something like this in the rhythm of obvious dances."

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You have to be at the peak of your alertness, both physical and mental, when you take part in Gurdjieff Movements. Seemingly simple, they want an agile body and a hyperactive mind as they are very strict and strictly consequent a fixed sequence. They look easy but are not, as it takes some time to get into the groove to perform them accurately. They break all fixed patterns of your body and mind. They generate a space where the body, heart and action can strengthen in lightness. As one goes deeper into these movements, one reaches a still, a silent point amid all the activity. In all the action outside, one reaches the non-action inside at the centre. This experience is called 'Presence.' It is said that Gurdjieff would come to these dances, keep his eyes finished and direct the dancers to convert their movements as he wanted because they were so attuned to him. Even today, it is inherent for some groups to start these movements without music in faultless harmony with each other for over 15 minutes, while totally blindfolded!

A dancer, a dance-teacher, a dance-therapist, a choreographer, Ma Prem Amiyo and Swami Chetan, both Osho disciples, show the way workshops on Gurdjieff Movements in many parts of the world for over 30 years now. After finding a film about Gurdjieff called 'Meetings with considerable Men', Osho observed that there was nothing considerable about the film except the last ten minutes showing these movements. He asked Ma Amiyo to study them for three days. She viewed those ten-minute clips non-stop for three days and then Osho told her to lead a group on Gurdjieff Movements! Since then, she has never looked back and conducts these groups in many parts of the world and opened her school in Alsace, France. For participants, finding stillness amid all this action is a unique experience.

Gurdjieff Movements: Peak of Alertness Both bodily and reasoning

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