Ouspensky stands on his own
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In Search of P. D. Ouspensky is a well-researched and insightful study of one of the 20th century's most fascinating philosophical figures. Written in a lively prose style, this is a sympathetic, but not uncritical, account of the philosopher's spiritual aspirations and experiences, his work as a Fourth Way teacher, his achievements as a writer and thinker, and his failure in the end to attain what he was seeking. This is a study of Ouspensky that does not treat him as merely a subset of the Gurdjieffian circle, but as a worthwhile and important thinker in his own right. While Lachman clearly respects Gurdjieff, he asserts the controversial position that Ouspensky may have made the mistake of his life by becoming a disciple of Gurdjieff, and that he would have done better to follow his own lights. Whether one agrees with this position or not, it is well argued and plausible. This is an essential book for all followers of the Fourth Way, for even the most orthodox Gurdjieffians (unless, paradoxically, their thinking has become dogmatically robotic) will not shun such an argument, and it is also essential reading for all those who study the guru-disciple relationship in general.
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Ouspensky, the Lost Disciple
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P.D. Ouspensky needs no introduction to anyone who knows anything about the 'Fourth Way'. His 'In Search of the Miraculous' is the prime Gospel of the Gurdjieff movement and is used as a textbook of this complex philosophy. Less well-known is Ouspensky's own work, which was significant in its own right. His early works on the meaning of time, higher dimensionality and eternal recurrence remain provocative to this day. Yet this work was not followed up and over time Ouspensky was transformed from an extrovert with many friends to an unapproachable, 'grumpy old man'. The question is why? In this excellent book, biographer Gary Lachman leaves few stones unturned in his remorseless quest for the real Ouspensky. In doing so he creates what I believe to be the most vivid portrait yet of this contradictory man. It is a salutary lesson for all those who would put their faith in a guru. In Ouspensky's case, high intelligence proved to be no protection against the guiles of a 'Sly' man. At the end of his life Ouspensky seemingly repudiated Gurdjieff's 'System': one which he had spent the past thirty years teaching. Now I have read many books by and about Gurdjieff and Ouspensky but this is the first which provides a convincing explanation of his behaviour in those last days. It seems he finally understood that the System was really Gurdjieff's own creation and not something given to him by 'Masters from the East' to disseminate in the West. For a man who was at heart a Theosophist, this must have been hard medicine to take. For us it can be a liberation. Adrian Gilbert.
(author of 'Magi' co-author of 'The Orion Mystery')
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