Hermitix In Search of the Miraculous by P.D. Ouspensky (Book Review)
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Sep 25, 2025 Dive into the enigmatic world of P.D. Ouspensky's reflections on Gurdjieff. Discover the mysterious narrative style and how Uspensky's memory shapes the teachings. Explore Gurdjieff's clever methods of testing his students and the idea that humans are mechanically asleep. Uncover the balance of essence versus personality and the practice of self-remembering. Delve into the teachings' relevance today, while appreciating the charm and influence of Gurdjieff's character in shaping a path towards inner growth.
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The Strange First Meeting
- Peter Ouspensky's first meeting with Gurdjieff in a noisy cafe surprised him with Gurdjieff's exotic presence and odd accent.
- That initial encounter convinced Ouspensky he had found a teacher he'd been searching for across the East.
Hybrid Memoir-And-Manual
- In Search of the Miraculous reads like both memoir and textbook because Ouspensky records Gurdjieff's teachings alongside personal impressions.
- The book's aura of secrecy and myth makes it persistently mysterious and influential.
Memory Built The Book
- Ouspensky memorized long dialogues because Gurdjieff forbade note-taking, making the book an astonishing feat of memory.
- The text therefore reads largely as Gurdjieff speaking, filtered through Ouspensky's recollection and skepticism.
