Gurdjieff's warnings

Gurdjieff book - some points to note

Gurdjieff's warnings about breathing were quite stern, primarily because he viewed the human body as a complex "chemical factory." He believed that interfering with one part of the machine (the breath) without understanding how it affected the other parts (the nervous system and digestion) was like a child playing with a high-voltage engine.

Here is the elaboration on the specific techniques and the dangers he highlighted:

1. The Danger of "Artificial" Rhythms

Gurdjieff warned against any practice that forced the breath into a specific count (like breathing in for 4, holding for 16, and out for 8) if done mechanically.

The Risk: He believed that the body has its own natural intelligence. When you impose an artificial rhythm, you "desynchronize" the lungs from the heart and the stomach.

The Result: He claimed this could lead to permanent damage to the nervous system, heart palpitations, and even "mental derangement" because it creates a disharmony between the different "centers" of the human being.

2. Concentration on the Tip of the Nose

A common yogic practice involves focusing the breath and attention on the tip of the nose or the bridge between the eyes.

The Warning: Gurdjieff was highly critical of doing this without a master. He suggested that focusing attention on specific physical points while changing the breath could lead to "hallucinations" or "false visions" that the seeker might mistake for spiritual progress. He called this "self-hypnosis."

3. Change in "CO2" and "Oxygen" Balance

In his teachings, Gurdjieff often used scientific (for his time) metaphors. He explained that breathing is the primary way we take in "H12" (a specific type of "hydrogen" or energy in his system).

The Warning: By hyperventilating or holding the breath excessively, you change the chemical composition of the blood. Without a master to guide the "digestion" of this new energy, the body cannot process it, leading to a state of "poisoning" or toxic energy buildup.

4. The "Three-Story Factory" Concept

He viewed the human body as having three floors:

Bottom Floor: Digestion/Sex/Movement

Middle Floor: Heart/Breathing

Top Floor: Thought/Brain

He warned that people try to change the "Middle Floor" (breath) thinking it will reach the "Top Floor" (enlightenment). However, he insisted that unless the "Bottom Floor" (physical habits and digestion) is corrected first, breathing exercises only serve to reinforce the seeker's existing imbalances.

The "Wholesome Guru" Necessity

The "Persian Fakir" in your book mentions that a guru is needed because only a master can see the invisible connections between your breath and your personality.

Gurdjieff's own method, The Movements (sacred dances), used breathing, but it was always combined with complex physical movements and mental tasks to ensure the "entire machine" evolved together, rather than just one part.

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