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223rd out of 388 books
—
1,108 voters
Meetings With Remarkable Men (All and Everything #2)
Right around the turn of the 20th century, G.I. Gurdjieff initiated a group of spiritual adventurers called the "Seekers of Truth". These intrepid intellectuals of every stripe criss-crossed Africa and Asia in search of the hidden mysteries of antiquity. In Meetings with Remarkable Men, Gurdjieff narrates their exploits while drawing portraits of these extraordinary figure...more
Paperback, 314 pages
Published
(first published 1960)
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Jun 16, 2008
Maureen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone interested in Gurdjieff
Recommended to Maureen by:
Robert Fripp
Shelves:
gurdjieff
The second series of Gurdjieff's writings, Meetings with Remarkable Men was written, in Gurdjieff's words, "to acquaint the reader with the material required for a new creation and to prove the soundness and good quality of it." On one level, it may be read as an account of one man's adventures. On another, it may be read as an allegory, a sort of Pilgrim's Progress for the 20th century. Either way, it is an engaging effort, and will be of use to anyone wishing to learn more about G.I. Gurdjieff...more
Once again there is a need to break the great laws of reading. This book has not much value in the convincing grand scheme of reading, in accordance with the tablets, the delivered great laws. It is splendidly vapid, sodden with the occult, predictably dazing, and full of wonders. The title is so richly suggestive, but note that it is not only men who are met with. I can't recall if there are any remarkable dogs but female readers will have their coursing blood warmed by the occasional encounter...more
Favorite quotes:
... Yelov had a very original view about mental work. He once said:
It's all the same. our thoughts work day and night. instead of allowing them to think about caps of invisibility or the riches of Aladdin, rather let them be occupied with something useful. In giving direction to thought, of course a certain amount of energy is spent, but no more is needed for this purpose in a while day than for the digestion of one meal. I therefore decided to study languages—not only to prevent...more
... Yelov had a very original view about mental work. He once said:
It's all the same. our thoughts work day and night. instead of allowing them to think about caps of invisibility or the riches of Aladdin, rather let them be occupied with something useful. In giving direction to thought, of course a certain amount of energy is spent, but no more is needed for this purpose in a while day than for the digestion of one meal. I therefore decided to study languages—not only to prevent...more
Look, I don't know much about Gurdjieff except that my library apparently subscribes to the newsletter, but this book was pretty good. I don't know if it was the eye-opening wisdom tome Greg may have subconsciously suggested it was, but there were some good stories in there. Even if they were inconveniently told. For instance, this is more or less how the "Pre-Sands Egypt" story goes:
Chapter 1. Oh man! We found this rockin' map. WE ARE EXCITED TO GO ADVENTURING.
Chapter 2. Here's a story about a...more
Chapter 1. Oh man! We found this rockin' map. WE ARE EXCITED TO GO ADVENTURING.
Chapter 2. Here's a story about a...more
I found this confusing and silly. I didn't feel any of the men given the title 'remarkable' were, they were Gurdjieff's friends. There were some remarkable people in the book but they didn't seem to qualify fot the title in Gurdjieff's opinion. His 'search for the truth' seemed rather futile as he spent an enourmous amount of effort and time travelling to remote places to seek the truth from people who led isolated existences. If the message was that the truth is to be found within ourselves the...more
Beautiful book. I found this gem in my local library... they had stored this old book in a special section only to be taken out on request. I was privileged.
Gurdjieff is misunderstood by many to be a sham. His life has resonations felt by both knowledgeable and ignorant. He was an enlightened person without any doubt in my heart.
This book is special of all the books he has written because you can feel the love. All other books, you have to dig deep to find the beautiful. Howver this book, is fu...more
Gurdjieff is misunderstood by many to be a sham. His life has resonations felt by both knowledgeable and ignorant. He was an enlightened person without any doubt in my heart.
This book is special of all the books he has written because you can feel the love. All other books, you have to dig deep to find the beautiful. Howver this book, is fu...more
Taught me to see how remarkable people are and to look for other remarkable men from the past and present
I read this book because Jacob Needleman is a follower of Gurdjieff, because I've always been curious about the man, and because I love books that have brief biographies of men, of friendships, whatever. Gurdjieff definitely had an adventurous and interesting life (if all this is true), and met some fascinating people. But whenever he got to the point of delivering their message, which to me was the whole point of the book, he would claim he was saving it for some other book, where he is finally...more
It's a book I read many years ago and return to every now and then. Made into a great movie too. Though it reads like non-fiction, presents purportedly real people, it has to be read with a grain of salt. There's no doubt in my mind that the author is toying with his audience, daring the reader to believe what is unashamedly nonsense. This is the most accessible of all of Gurdjieff's writings I have come across, a window into an extraordinary world. I've no doubt that it's real. But, entering it...more
This is a book I will never be without. It is autobiographical and is about Gurdjieff's search for the meaning of life. A movie was made about this book and is one of my favourites!
The book is the second volume of the All and Everything trilogy written by Gurdjieff.
Gurdjieff believed that most of us live our lives as though we are asleep - engaged in patterns that repeat like machines. He proposes that we shown often shake up the routine and do things in different or opposite ways.
I like that ki...more
The book is the second volume of the All and Everything trilogy written by Gurdjieff.
Gurdjieff believed that most of us live our lives as though we are asleep - engaged in patterns that repeat like machines. He proposes that we shown often shake up the routine and do things in different or opposite ways.
I like that ki...more
Not quite as deep as Beelzebub's Tales, but more easily accessible. A big disappointment for me. Beelzebub's Tales was far more enlightening and engrossing. For more insight and wisdoms see the aforementioned Tales and also writings from one of Gurdjieff's closest associates, P.D. Ouspensky as detailed in A New Model of the Universe.
Some of my favorite excerpts:
On journalism
p.18-p.20 "This form of literature has become very widespread in recent times because, according to my unshakable convict...more
Some of my favorite excerpts:
On journalism
p.18-p.20 "This form of literature has become very widespread in recent times because, according to my unshakable convict...more
This book is very inspiring, even to those unfamiliar with Gurdjieff's other works. This man has had one remarkable life! In my view, his active pursuit of true spiritual knowledge puts to shame much of the commercial spirituality & beliefs people settle into nowadays. The various accounts mentioned in this book give a lot of food for thought and inspire reflection upon our upbringing, values, and the way to search for truth. Definitely worth reading (and re-reading).
Gurdjieff was an Armenian mystic and spiritual leader whose foundations for teaching his beliefs are found around the world. This is his second book and does not deal with his mysticism but with what he feels were major influences on his life and beliefs. It is somewhat of an autobiography but you get the feeling that he is pulling your leg in some sections; the time frames just don't seem to match.
Regardless, it is an interesting book and an easy read. I don't really know how to describe it or...more
Regardless, it is an interesting book and an easy read. I don't really know how to describe it or...more
Gurdjieff travels to the distant and exotic East in search of examples of mans excellence. His writing is brilliant and inspiring. His curiousity in the esoteric, human consciousness, and in mysticism, most specifically Sufism, paved the way for the Transpersonal Psychology movement, as well as, the Ennegram as a system to better understand and transform human personality.
i found this to be much more engaging and informative than "beelzebub's tales to his grandson." i was on the fence about reading both this and "live is real only then, when 'i am'" after losing interest in "beelzebub" and having to struggle to finish it, but "meetings with remarkable men" was a breath of fresh air.
i liked the way book started in explaing its intentions. at times book is fascinating, entertaining autobiographical accounts and though i liked it, i felt like missing somethings. the book is tribute to people he met in serach of his knowledge.
I was amazed at how much of a business man Gurdjeiff was throughout his life. I was also amazed that throughout the majority of his life he obtained money solely through his own labors as opposed to donations or inheritance. The last chapter on The Material Question describes some of his business dealings, but there are other anecdotes throughout the other chapters. It seemed that the way he approached money very much in line with his spiritual views on freedom.
Wikipedia: "George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (Георгий Иванович Гюрджиев, Georgiy Ivanovich Gyurdzhiev (or Gurdjiev); (January 13, 1866? – October 29, 1949), was an Armenian-Greek mystic, a teacher of sacred dances, and a spiritual teacher. He is most notable for introducing what some refer to as "The Work," connoting work on oneself according to Gurdjieff's principles and instructions, or as he first referred to it, the Fourth Way."
Pretty run of the mill early 20th century mystic. He was also, apparen...more
Pretty run of the mill early 20th century mystic. He was also, apparen...more
It's been over a decade since I've read this book, but every once in a while something makes me think of a map of pre-sand Egypt, and I get goose-bumps all over again.
Very great philosopher, but the book is confusing. His stories are not very straight and goes round and round.
The first book I read by Gurdjieff. Very interesting read. Couldn't put it down.
love the journey... esp. the Yazidi kid part and the experiment with the woman later...
Okay, when I was younger I read everything by and about Gurdjieff, and frankly, most of what he wrote was fairly unintelligible (though he and his followers are fascinating people). But this book is a wonderful description of his travels and adventures through central Asia, which was a crossroads for a wide variety of people and ideas. It made me want to drop everything and go travel to exotic locales, and it piqued my interest in a variety of ideas and beliefs. I never got to physically do the...more
He did not find the truth, but the journey sometimes it worths the effort!
Yo leí la edición de Ganesha con ISBN 980-345-032-X
Another one that just gets better each time you read it.
I had the feeling that much has been unsaid.....
wisdom is out there - seek it!
too bad if u missed this one
Gurdjieff vs Rasputin
"...Rom Landau was one of the first to compare Gurdjieff to Rasputin. Describing a meeting with Gurdjieff, he explains: 'I had been specially careful not to look at Gurdjieff and not to allow him to look into my eyes...'"[58:]
Time magazine once described Gurdjieff as "a remarkable blend of P.T. Barnum, Rasputin, Freud, Groucho Marx and everybody's grandfather."
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Georges Ivanovich Gurdjieff (Armenian: Գեորգի Իվանովիչ Գյուրջիև, Georgian: გიორგი გურჯიევი, Greek: Γεώργιος Γεωργιάδης, Russian: Гео́ргий Ива́нович Гюрджи́ев, Georgiy Ivanovich Gyurdzhiev, or Gurdjiev) was an influential Greek-Armenian mystic, spiritual teacher of the early to mid-20th century, and a self-professed 'teacher of dancing'.
He taught that the vast majority of humanity lives their entir...more
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Aug 01, 2012 11:52pm