Some time ago it was asked: "What is psychology?" The answer was: "Psychology can be said to be what you are not aware of." At that time we were speaking of the dark side of ourselves—by which is meant the side of ourselves that we do not see, are not aware of, and so do not acknowledge. Understand, you can be what you are not aware of. Yet this side acts all the time—and the tragedy is we do not see it. We are it, without knowing it, without having become conscious of it.
So the Work says: "Self-observation is necessary. It lets a ray of light into the inner darkness of ourselves." What is this ray of light? This ray of light means the light of consciousness, for consciousness is light, not sunlight, but spiritual light, psychological light. And the inner darkness means all that side, all those qualities, that we are not conscious of, not aware of, and do not acknowledge. What is the result? What happens when—to take the example of myself—I cannot see that I make difficulties? I do not see it is myself, am not conscious of it, and so do not acknowledge it. Instead, I see it in another person. I see only that the other person makes difficulties, not me. The fault is in him, not in me.
Maurice Nicoll, “Commentary on Increase of Consciousness” in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 3, p. 1093).
Working Note: For Today’s Inner Effort
Orientation: Let a small light fall on what you do not see.
What to Notice:
Blaming another for causing difficulty.
Certainty that the problem is outside you.
Not seeing your own part at all.
Inner resistance: “not me.”
A brief moment where this is questioned.
Work Effort for Today:
When a difficulty appears, stop inwardly.
Ask: “where is this in me?”
Do not answer quickly.
Hold the question without justification.
Remember: What you do not see in yourself acts through you.
