We are a group of people who create a supportive space to deepen our spiritual practice and to establish support and deepen meditation practice.
Many of us have found it takes a group to support our efforts to work on ourselves and practice, because alone, one is most likely to drift, even if outwardly life is full of activity. We wish to support those who feel the need for an aim, an inner aim, to explore an inner life in the midst of everyday life, even learning to use the powerful forces of life for inner growth and development. We affirm growth in consciousness and Being is possible with inner work, help from others and a sincere search.
We use techniques of authentic spiritual paths including those of the Gurdjieff Work to assist deepening relaxation and awareness. We leave time each week for discussion on being a seeker and deepening our practice within our ordinary daily lives. This exchange or meeting is an integral part of benefiting from each others experience, wish and initiative.
"One can study the sun, the moon, but I have everything within myself.
I have inside me the sun, the moon, God.
To understand, one must know oneself."
G.I. Gurdjieff
"Conscience calls me to be myself. To be myself begins with self-knowledge. Self-knowledge begins with work on myself. Work on myself is based on the sensation of myself."
Toward Awakening-An approach to the teaching left by Gurdjieff--Jean Vaysse
"Man is born a seeker...such is his true vocation, his birthright. He may forget it, deny it, bury it or abuse it. No matter; this secret call is still alive, prompting him from within to try, and to try increasingly, to realize the significance of his being here on earth. For he is here to awake, to remember, and to search, again and still again."
Henri Tracol "Search, Journey on the Inner Path"
"We all struggle with dark periods, like Jacob wrestling in the night with the Divine Presence in the form of a dark angel, beautiful yet terrifying. At the end of the night, the angel says, "Let me go". But Jacob replies, " I will not let you go unless you bless me." As dawn breaks, the angel blesses him, but also injures him by touching his thigh. From that day on, Jacob limps. There is a mysterious woundedness that somehow goes with great blessing. "
Music of Silence -- David-Steindle-Rast and Sharon Lebell, quoting from the book of Genesis
"Do not believe what I say, or any of the ideas of the work. Only believe what you have tried and verified for yourself, by your own efforts...Only your own understanding has any value."
G.I. Gurdjieff
Led by members of the Gurdjieff Society of Washington, DC. The Gurdjieff work is an ancient system of self development collectively known as the Fourth Way, brought to the west by G.I. Gurdjieff from 1912 until his death in 1949. In the '20's he established The Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man outside of Paris, and groups were established in Paris, New York, London, Istanbul, and later in South America and several other cities in America. The Gurdjieff Society of Washington was established by longtime students of his teaching in 1950. The Gurdjieff groups led by members who trained and worked with him and his close pupils established the Gurdjieff Foundation, of which the Washington group is a member.
The Gurdjieff work consists of ideas, group work, sacred dances or movements, music, practical work and intensive retreats or work weeks.
Open to anyone who wishes to meditate, relax and deepen their practice.
$5.00 suggested donation for room rent. We meet Sundays at 6PM at Mindful Hands Gallery in Old Town Alexandria, Va
Organized by members of the Gurdjieff Society of Washington. Good source of informed information on Gurdjieff, www.gurdjieff.org
The meditation group can be useful for those who wish to learn to relax, to meditate, to reduce stress, to meet like minded seekers, and for those who have a sincere wish to search for a meaningful path that leads to self development.
"If you didn't hear what the wind was saying, maybe you weren't listening...."
Native Saying
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life"?
Mary Oliver
An ancient teaching calls a human a "microcosmos." How conscious are we of our potential wholeness, as a part of larger worlds and as a being containing worlds within? ... Learn more
Open meditation class on consciousness in the midst of everyday life. Is there a way toward deepening the feeling of presence? What is the experience of "Being?"... Learn more
