Tonight we will speak of Self-Remembering. It is necessary to remember oneself every day, at least once. Many different descriptions have been given in the literature of the past. I will quote one given some three centuries ago. A disciple asks his master how he can come “to the supersensual life and hear God speak.” The master replies: “When thou canst throw thyself into THAT, where no creature dwelleth, though it be but for a moment, then thou hearest what God speaketh.”
The disciple asks him if the place where no creature, or nothing created dwells is near or far away. The master says: “It is in thee”, and he adds that it is to be reached by ceasing, even for a moment, from all one’s thinking and willing—“when thou standest still from self-thinking and self-willing and canst stop the wheel of the imagination and the senses.” In another place he says that this act must be done once a day at least and only for a short time. It certainly must not be attempted too often. He is really describing what in this Work is called Self-Remembering. It is very often difficult to hear the Work speaking to us. As a rule we are immersed in life and self-interests of various kinds and cannot hear the Work.
Maurice Nicoll, “Self-Remembering” in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol.1, p. 317).
Working Note: For Today’s Inner Effort
Orientation: Make one deliberate act of self-remembering today.
What to Notice:
The wheel of inner talking.
Self-willing pressing to continue.
Attention completely taken by life.
The Work no longer present in mind.
Work Effort for Today:
Stand still inwardly for a few seconds.
Do not follow the next thought.
Sense the body briefly.
Leave the moment without adding anything.
Remember: Stand still inwardly. Remember yourself, then return to life quietly.
For Your Reflection:
What would it mean to stand still for just one moment?
Most of the day carries us along before we even notice it. Thoughts, plans, reactions, and inner talking seem to move on their own. Yet there are brief moments when we can stop inwardly—not to escape life, but to become present within it.
Even a few seconds of conscious stillness can remind us that our attention does not have to belong entirely to the movement of the day.
How does this show up in your own experience? Join the conversation in the comments below.
