The Reality of Being: The Fourth Way of Gurdjieff Paperback – Illustrated, 6 Dec. 2011

This is a very special book which , in my opinion, can only be useful to the people who are serious in the study and the living of Mr Gurdjieff's proposal called <The Work> . It is not a book which can be read lightly and commented upon as if ..one could! It is Madame de Salzman 's multi layered testimony of this inner continuous struggle towards the transformation of ones' being,.. which words may summarise as an <Awakening> to what we are and what the World is...In fact this book can only remain a closed book to anyone who never had the need to ponder and wonder about Reality and our place in it..but may be it is also a book which might suddenly intrigue some unprepared readers through the taste of what is True, attracting in them this unknown something burried in us which thirsts for understanding about why we are here and what we are living for.Madame de Salzman's book might be.. a unique, intimate, practical yet extraordinary description in action of a multi dimensional Reality which wants to be revealed to the traveller if he or she searches and works for it. It is never <read>... but according to the moment of need,like a magical <garde- a -manger> ,the food it contains may suddenly appear, may be recognised, may be eaten in silence, then digested...From then on understanding grows.

Below is my first review on this !-----just free thoughts not to the point (2 stars)-----It is so sad to see that the author has not succeed to deliver her knowledge by words . Topics are strong but elaboration is poor . Just free thoughts without to the point. Better start with another source on The Work.--------------------------------------------------Deep meaning in every word , take your time! ( 5 stars)Her words are so 'light' that you might feel it is a long story!(check my first review mentioned above)But it is a hard depth teaching to grasp at first , even following the original talks.Her compassion might have been led to be patient and write this to help seekers' to understand this 'depth' teaching.Take your time , that's all I can say about this reading !Inside a Question could help you to get started , if you still have limited time !-------------------------------------------

Every page of this exquisite book is concentrated wisdom and when reading it you almost have to do so in a meditative fashion.Fans of the Fourth Way and Gurdjieff's teaching will find here the distilled wisdom of one of his closest students who manages toimpart the essence of everything she learned from Gurdjieff and from being around him.It is no wonder that G, when referring to Jeannne de Salzmann said "She is someone!"

I have to agree with the previous reviewer, PC, in terms of rating and conclusion. I wasn't sure about it being "the most important book on the Gurdjieff Work since ISM by Ouspensky" until I thought about it. But it is. I was intending to write more but who am I to review such a book? It is sufficient for me to record my appreciation that it has been published. If you are in the Work or interested in the Work I can safely say that this is a book you just have to read. I know that there are a lot of books on this subject that are unsafe to read!

an in depth view into some of the main elements in Gurdjieff's work and this book is an inspiration to keep working on oneself and not to allow lethargy or self-limiting comfort behaviours and habits to mask the vital need to climb out of the mundane needs and distractions of everyday living

Mdme de Saizman's book is a comprehensive record of what she gleaned from the teachings of M. Gurdjieff. It necessarily deals with quite obscure and subtle observations of the human psyche and what lies beyond our everyday perceptions. The matters dealt with and the comprehension of their substance will be hardly be possible to anyone not intimately familiar with the 'Work'. There are other and much more accessible books to give the layman an idea of what a study of 'The Fourth Way' entails.

At last a book that perfectly describes what Work really is. A masterpiece by Gurdjieff's most important pupil and a must-have for any 4th Way practitioner who has themselves experienced the Work first hand. As someone who was fortunate enough to have known and listened to Jeanne de Salzmann speak, this book contains her authentic voice, and insights not available in any other book about the teaching. A word of warning though: this book isn't recommended to those who are simply curious or starting on the journey. To those people, the best introduction remains Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous - a journalistic masterpiece.

Madame de Salzmann's understanding of Gurdjieff's Work is so beautifully elucidated in this enlightening book. Her attention to detail, is extraordinary and deeply moving.