Editing Fourth Way (section)

{{Short description|Gurdjieff's approach to self-development}}
{{other uses}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:Georges Gurdjieff.JPG|thumb|[[George Gurdjieff]], developer of the Fourth Way practice]]
The '''Fourth Way''' is spiritual teacher [[George Gurdjieff]]'s approach to human spiritual growth, developed and systematised by him over years of travel in the [[Eastern World|East]] (c. 1890 – 1912), and taught to followers in subsequent years. Gurdjieff's students often refer to the Fourth Way as "The Work", "Work on oneself", or "The System". The exact origins of many of the teachings are unknown, but various sources have been suggested.<ref>[[Anthony Storr]], ''Feet of Clay'', p. 26, Simon & Schuster, 1997 {{ISBN|978-0-684-83495-5}}</ref>

The term "Fourth Way" was further used by his student [[P. D. Ouspensky]] in his lectures and writings. After Ouspensky's death, his students published a book entitled ''[[Fourth Way (book)|The Fourth Way]]'' based on his lectures. According to this system, the three traditional schools, or ways, "are permanent forms which have survived throughout history mostly unchanged, and are based on religion. Where schools of [[Fakir|Fakirs]], [[Monk|Monks]] and [[Yogi|Yogis]] exist, they are barely distinguishable from religious schools. The fourth way differs in that "it is not a permanent way. It has no specific forms or institutions and comes and goes controlled by some particular laws of its own."<ref name=":0">"In Search of the Miraculous" by P.D. Ouspensky p. 312</ref>

{{blockquote|When this work is finished, that is to say, when the aim set before it has been accomplished, the fourth way disappears, that is, it disappears from the given place, disappears in its given form, continuing perhaps in another place in another form. Schools of the fourth way exist for the needs of the work which is being carried out in connection with the proposed undertaking. They never exist by themselves as schools for the purpose of education and instruction.<ref>[[P.D. Ouspensky]] (1949), ''[[In Search of the Miraculous]]'', Chapter 15</ref>}}

The Fourth Way addresses the question of humanity's place in the Universe and the possibilities of inner development. It emphasizes that people ordinarily live in a state referred to as a semi-hypnotic "waking sleep," while higher levels of consciousness, virtue, and unity of will are possible.

The Fourth Way teaches how to increase and focus attention and energy in various ways, and to minimize [[daydreaming]] and [[absent-mindedness]]. This inner development in oneself is the beginning of a possible further process of change, whose aim is to transform man into "what he ought to be."