Carole M. Cusack, G. I. Gurdjieff and the Work: New Research By Carole Cusack

https://www.academia.edu/146233509/Carole_M_Cusack_G_I_Gurdjieff_and_the_Work_New_Research?email_work_card=title George Ivanovich Gurdjieff (1977–1949), originator of the esoteric teaching termed the Work or the Fourth Way, has in recent decades began to receive scholarly attention and to be recognized by those outside his lineage as a major force in the modern manifestation of Western Esotericism, alongside his older contemporary Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–1891), founder of Theosophy, and Rudolf Steiner (1851–1925), founder of the Anthroposophical Society. Key issues in the study of Gurdjieff remain open questions: issues remain in terms of the relation of the Work to religious traditions like Christianity, Buddhism, and Sufism; his development as a teacher is shrouded in mystery; and works by his pupils are multiplying and constitute excellent sources for academic research. One sign of a developing and expanding field is that research topics diversify and new connections are made, extending beyond esotericism and religion to drama and literature, among other areas. The research in this special issue falls into three main categories: aspects of Gurdjieff’s biography and the Work tradition; drama and literature influenced by Gurdjieff and Fourth Way ideas; and broader shifts in esotericism, both inside and outside Gurdjieff’s teaching lineage. ...