The 4th Way Group

ince October 2005, a London based group has been meeting on a monthly basis. This has involved a combination of discourse, remote work and awareness of the physical body and healing movements. The group recently met in France for a 5 day encounter to deepen its work. A further group has also been formed in Lyon in France.

The work continues to unfold and both groups will now undertake a period of dedicated work where the focus will be to apply in daily life the practical and inner teachings of Lao Tzu. This work is quite unique: the teachings are ancient, but they are presented in the circumstances of time, place and people. In doing this work, both groups have effectively bridged complex methodology and are about to embark on a dedicated practice for the benefit of all beings, which will undoubtedly mark a significant transformational period in the lives of every individual taking place.

The London group will open again to newcomers in October of this year and will involve meeting monthly in London on a Friday evening. The Friday evening discourses are not formulaic. The meeting is an opportunity for individuals to become familiar and then be immersed in the energy that leads us to the realisation of essence, the absolute truth, the Tao. This is the highest attainment. Once attained, it is clear there is no attainment because we realise that what we glimpsed was within us all the time. Indeed, it is in all manifest things. Nevertheless, it is clear that we still need to work towards that glimpse. The new group is an opportunity to do that.

For many on the path of spiritual truth and self-development, it soon becomes apparent that a more structured, disciplined and creative approach is required in order to achieve lasting change and transformation. Only through sustained and concerted effort can we overcome the habitual patterns and social conditioning that hold us back from fully embracing our true evolutionary potential.

By working in a group with an authentic and conscious teacher one is given the opportunity to gradually peel back the layers of mechanicalness and glimpse the truth. The mirroring nature of the group provides a continuous support structure and helps to avoid the veil of illusions that often shroud self-development when carried out alone.

This work does not involve withdrawing from life but instead teaches students how to consciously experience and engage ordinary life and ultimately embrace real life. In doing so, each seeker is able to verify the truth and applicability of the practices and ideas in their own lives. The work becomes practical through self-observation and by making consistent efforts to self-remember.

Any system is just a tool. To prefer Gurdjieff over Lao Tzu, or the Buddha over Rumi is a matter of taste and circumstances. It is what our practice allows us to see and to know that is important. The work will therefore not be limited to any one tradition, but instead, will aim to be fluid and dynamic. It will however have clarity and require discipline. The group will be dedicated to self-improvement and to independence. We’ll seek direct perception of the truth rather than dogma.

Group Structure

The group will initially meet on six occasions. The dates of these meetings will be announced once the core of the group has been determined. Remote work will also be carried out by each student on an ongoing basis. The work will require some reading and the observance of certain inner practices that will not impinge upon other daily routines, but will work alongside them. The group will meet within the following framework and cover the following areas:

1. The fundamentals of the 4th Way:
	i. Theory ii. Practice
2. Practice the methods of enhancing self-knowledge
3. Finding the sacred in the inner teachings
4. Divine conformity: the glimpses of truth as expressed through different traditions:
	i. Taoism ii. Buddhism iii. The way of the Sufi iv. The way of energy v. The way of the shaman vi. The independent way

Please contact us directly if you would like to make an application to join the group.