Now two things must be borne in mind and clearly understood:
(1) The First Conscious Shock does not happen to man or woman asleep. It is a conscious effort requiring special knowledge and self-observation and given in connection with the incoming impressions of life and a person’s mechanical reactions to them. Roughly, it consists in seeing the object and seeing one’s reactions to it simultaneously and without being identified.
(2) The First Conscious Shock to the human machine increases the energies of the machine in the form of Hydrogen 24 and Hydrogen 12. The result is actually to give every cell in the body different food —that is, higher hydrogens. In regard to this second point let me remind you here that neither the psychical nor the physical functions of a person can be understood unless it is grasped that they can both work in different states of consciousness. If the First Conscious Shock is applied, the Third State of Consciousness is touched, with the result that the human machine works in a different way, owing to new energies, both as regards its psychical and its physical functions.
Maurice Nicoll, “The Idea of Transformation in the Work” in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 1, p. 56)
This Working Note offers a simple direction for practice — bringing the passage into your own observation and daily effort. Normally part of the supporting subscription; shared openly through February.
Working Note: For Today’s Inner Effort
Orientation: The passage directs attention to the moment of contact with impressions, and to seeing reaction at the same time.
It points to a different state touched through conscious effort.
What to Notice:
Today, notice one incoming impression. A voice speaking. A face. A message on a screen.
At the same time, notice the immediate reaction in the body. Tightening. Leaning forward. Inner comment.
See the object.
See the reaction.
Notice how quickly identification takes place.
Notice if the two can be seen together, even briefly.
Also notice the state of the body afterward. Fatigue. Heat. Restlessness.
A Small Effort:
Once today, when an impression strikes, pause inwardly for a few seconds.
Let the eyes remain on the object.
Sense the body from within.
Do not follow the reaction. Do not suppress it.
Hold both in view at the same time.
Remember: The shock does not happen in sleep.
Thank you to those who replied “yes” to the working circle. The response has been strong and encouraging. I’ll be starting with a small pilot group of 6–7 people and will reach out personally. If this first group goes well, I’ll open another.
