In speaking of Aim once Mr. Ouspensky said that there is far aim and near aim. “The situation is like this,” he said, in so many words: “Let us suppose we are climbing at night up a road lit by gas-lamps. As we near the top we see a gas-lamp shining and think it is close at hand at the top of the hill. But on reaching the summit we see it is across a valley and many other gas-lamps intervene between us and it. It is the same thing in the Work. We make an aim. But we do not first see all that must be passed through before we can attain it.”
You can see that Mr. Ouspensky's illustration can be added to—as, for instance, we may find that the distant lamp one aims to reach lies on a branch road so that one's direction has to be altered, and so on. But whatever we add to it, the main idea is that people must have patience and not expect instant results and also look at the quality of the effort they are making in connection with their aim. Aim can only be attained when that which wants it lies deep. It cannot be made superficially—say, from False Personality. Why? Because it is not deep enough.
Maurice Nicoll, “Commentary on Aim” in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 3, p. 1059.
Working Note: For Today’s Inner Effort
Orientation: Hold aim without expecting it to be near.
What to Notice:
Imagining your aim as already within reach.
Discouragement when results do not come quickly.
Changing aim when effort becomes difficult.
Effort coming from self-love or False Personality.
A quieter wish that does not speak but persists.
Work Effort for Today:
Set a small, near aim for this part of the day.
Carry it through one difficulty without changing it.
When resistance appears, do not alter the aim.
Notice what in you wants quick results.
Remember: Aim must be held through many steps not yet seen.
