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SOMETHING ON
ESSENCE Gurdjieff had mentioned the shortcomings of
ordinary language many times. In the ordinary world
of ‘Confusion of Languages’, many facts - especially those relating to
the “subtler” aspects of being - are difficult to express correctly. So he
used the language of the System: in particular, the idea of “Universal Scale”
– the “Table of Hydrogens”, showing the place of all events in the cosmic
hierarchy. The essence is material, but its materiality is
subtle. It cannot be observed when researching the body or with scientific
tools, since the subtlest hydrogen accessible to the sensory organs is
hydrogen H192. Even hydrogen H96 (hanbledzoin,
life force, etc.) is rarely perceived by humans. The qualities stored in the
essence are like ‘computer programs’ or ‘codes’. They are material as well.
Due to their ‘subtlety’ and ‘high concentration of information’ they can be
transmitted, in particular genetically. Thus, for example, creative abilities
are stored in the essence as ‘subtle energy’, ‘codes’ and they can be
inherited; although, in order to actualize they should be developed. For
example, a child of a famous composer evacuated, let’s say, to the steppes of
So it is
natural that people at the higher levels of being whose higher centers are
activated (and those centers are known to use the subtler hydrogens) are able
to perceive thinner substances and manipulate them (send, receive, direct,
etc.) In particular, baraka is transmitted in this way. For an
ordinary, ‘two-dimensional’ person, who lives on the surface of his so-called
‘conscience’ these abilities seem ‘supernatural’ or even incredible. In the
Soviet media, years were spent on dumb discussions about the impossibility of
extrasensory abilities (professor Kitaigorodskii), even though a simple gypsy
woman needs just one minute to prove their existence. By the way, gypsies are
the only nation known to me (of those living in One more example of the
genetic transmission of special abilities (although not on a nation-wide
scale) is the institute of sayyids. Its
degradation happened a long time ago, so it seems that already in the time of
Rumi, the sayyids had been treated skeptically (*2). And although the potential of the special, unique
qualities is still being transferred to the direct descendants of the Prophet
(Peace be upon him!), only a small percentage of the descendants actually
realize this potential. Others live and die like ordinary people… The ‘program’
located in the human essence, gives a predisposition to manifest, say, the
creative abilities (if these abilities are developed) and essentially
performs the function of a ‘relay’ directing the higher hydrogens to the
higher parts of the Emotional and Intellectual centers and thus ‘turning on’
the HEC [High Emotional Center]. In a human organism, there is always some
quantity of hydrogen H12 produced as the result of its machine’s work. This
‘surplus’ (unless the astral body is going through its crystallization
process) can be spent in various ways. With some people, it can
‘automatically’ be directed to the highest parts of the centers and the HEC.
This phenomenon (‘inspiration’) allows them to create masterpieces of
literature and art, compose fine music, make important discoveries, etc. Then
the circuit breaks and the talent or genius becomes an ordinary person….
until the next burst of inspiration. (*3) Biographers are often astounded by the
mismatch of the genius’s creative work and his mediocre character, life
style, etc. Quite often he is the same mechanical person as others. As Plato
wrote, a poet is like a drainpipe through which the gods pour out the
beautiful. Hence it is said the talent comes from God. A person does not
possess it, he can only be fortunate enough to express and capture a part of
the Divine harmony (*4). It’s quite a
different matter when creative abilities are related to the conscious
development of essence. An example of this is a pleiad of genial Sufi poets.
In such a case the human development harmonizes with the talent development.
Having the opportunity to manage the inspiration, direct it (to various
extents, of course) people like these are able to create pieces of ‘objective
art’ or such pieces more or less approaching it. Therefore, this type
masterpieces usually have several layers of meaning, consciously embedded
(or, one could say, passed down from the higher source’, reflected) by their
compilers. The key is the creator’s understanding
of his creation. Through the Perfected
Human, Messenger (i.e. the one with a
harmonized and completely developed essence) it is possible to transmit real
objective art, reflecting the Divine harmony and cosmic laws to the maximum
of human ability. In writing, this transmission constitutes the Sacred Scripts.
That is why every letter in the Torah or the Koran is considered sacred.
Traditionally, they are considered to have seven (the octave) layers of
meaning. It is known that in order to avoid distortions of the Scripts, the
profession of copying the Torah and the Koran has been very important in both
religious traditions (*5). Since the creative
abilities depend on the availability and the correct supply of certain
energies (Hydrogens) to the centers, it is natural that such abilities can
develop in a person on the Path unexpectedly (for this person), even though
they had never appeared before and had not been transmitted genetically. It
can happen as the result of certain exercises or due to the will (‘grace’) of
the teacher enabling such ‘plugging in’ of the disciple’s energy (or the
teacher’s own). This is one aspect of the
Sufi’s ‘wine’ in action… (*6) On the color of essence (*7).
As happens with other abilities, there are some ordinary people possessing
the inborn gift to perceive the color of essence, regardless of the extent to
which they actually recognize this ability by their usual, so-called
‘awakened’ mind. These people have the ability to select the best color of
clothes (for themselves and others) with an amazing precision. Often, having discovered this quality in themselves, such people use it professionally. Olsufiev ============================================ Notes *1 In the same fashion, the Jewish nation Or, for example, the same
[Bolsheviks] strived to find and destroy Sufi sheikhs in *2 See Rumi’s story about the gardener [or
the garden owner, depending on the translation]. By the way, one of the
interpretations: the Sufi, the Sayyid, and the Theologian, who came to the
garden, are three centers in a person – emotional, instinctive, and intellectual. *3 “Until the poet is called For sacred offering by Apollo, In poor spirit he is drawn To fuss and bustle of the world.” and so on… (A.
S. Pushkin) *4 Since my early years, I enjoyed the work
of the Strugatski brothers (and am enjoying it now). Sometimes almost
‘prophetic’ ideas can be found in their books. Many years ago, in some
magazine I read a long interview with them and was strongly disappointed by
their views and way of thinking, which contrasted so much with their books.
Another example. I once attended a performance by Esambaev. This person’s
talent (or genius) in dancing has always stricken me. After the performance
he gave a speech. What a handicap in both content and form! Let him rather
dance…. *5
In
this way, the Torah is the Law not only in the sense usually implied, i.e.
religious and social. The Torah is the Law since the Cosmic Law is
inscribed in it. The esoteric tradition considers the Torah, as a piece of
objective art, to have recorded all the past, present and future life of
humankind. Not accidentally, all three religions of the “People of the Book”
- Judaism, Christianity and Islam – treat the Torah with such respect. The Lord
Himself says: “For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the
law until all is accomplished.” (Matthew 5:18) Nowadays attempts are made to
decipher the Torah using computers. See Drosnin,
Michael. The Bible Code. *6 [The
‘wine’ is able to]: “Pour
the greatness to minds and the courage to hearts, In
an instant, turn foolish to inspired and wise…” (Ibn Fahrid) *7 See the essay On
Types of Essence |
Translated from Russian by Nina S. Edited
by Vladimir B.