We are not nearly conscious of ourselves. We behold the mote in another’s eye, but do not see the beam in our own eye. We do not put ourselves consciously in the position of another person. We do not do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Owing to a general lack of consciousness, human relations in the world are what they are. As you become more and more conscious of what you are really like, you become less and less critical of what the other person is like. Arrogance, superiority and intolerance fade, because they are seen by you to be ridiculous.
The object of this Work is to increase consciousness in every direction. Observing, in quiet, the same fault in yourself as you have heatedly or bitterly pointed out in another seems to me to be practical love. For by the Work method of finding the same thing in yourself, you eventually see your neighbour as yourself, and yourself as your neighbour. But you must know yourself to begin with. You must begin to be conscious of yourself. This is the most necessary part of Conscious Love, which is not blind.
Maurice Nicoll, “Consciousness and Love” in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 5, p. 1636).
Working Note: For Today’s Inner Effort
Orientation: Become more conscious of yourself than of another person.
What to Notice:
Immediate criticism of another.
Inner superiority.
Failure to see the same thing in yourself.
Mechanical certainty that you are different.
Work Effort for Today:
When criticizing inwardly, stop for a moment.
Find one similar manifestation in yourself.
Observe it quietly without self-justifying.
Remember the Work before continuing the reaction.
Remember: See your neighbour in yourself before condemning.
