The purpose of this page is to address the big fear that many people have 
about spiritual schools or organizations. There was a time when searching out someone to learn from was an admirable and enviable situation. These people were called students, apprentices, interns, chelas, novices, and so on. But today, with widespread mistrust of leadership, mostly following the turbulent 1960's... a time when having a guru was the epitome of the times, likewise mistrusting authority was at a high point... thereby beginning an era of two paths for society. One being the road where one "learns on their own" and the other being one where "one finds a mentor."
People are afraid to give themselves over to someone even though they truly rarely do. They will give themselves over to one who does little to bring about change in their lives, yet those whom follow the invisible path of the secret schools rarely find a student who will forsake all in order to learn what truly amounts to "Cosmic Truths". As it has been stated in class "they love you when you hate them and they hate you when you love them."
To a certain extent you have to be somewhat enlightened to choose a path other than what the world has to offer. But the world still has always offered the rare path and in times gone by kings, queens, world leaders, rich men and women have often been known to "dabble" and even sponsor those they felt might shed a little light on their dreary and disappointing lives. The high and mighty had occasionally reached the end of the road where they were left alone asking: "Isn't there something more?"
Too often people will give themselves over to charlatans and scam artists simply because it is just one more roadstop on the way to disillusionment for those who believe that they are going to be taken advantage of. Self-fulfilling prophecies... and an opportunity for others to say: "Well if it sounds to good to be true then it probably is."
Often Baby Boomers will say that they "learn on their own." This is good, so it makes for an acceptable answer. It implies that one is very sophisticated and that they are eclectic in nature providing them with a well rounded curriculum for life. A little of this and a little of that until one has achieved a well rounded education. But there is also the saying: "A jack-of-all-trades and master of none." This is what eclecticism has achieved for most people.
To be eclectic is to not follow any one path but to select and use what is considered the best elements of all systems. However, by selecting the best elements, it does not mean the easiest or most pleasant aspects of varying philosophies, belief systems and spiritual disciplines. It is not the path of least resistance. What it is, is the path which best accelerates spiritual growth for an individual. Fourth Way instruction deals with what is termed "suffering." This is ultimately the facing of the self, which even though not pleasant, is the most prosperous in benefits to those who wish to achieve increased spiritual awareness.
If a person only picks what is comfortable in his learning then they will never learn. It is the same in intellectual or spiritual pursuits as it is in sports. You have to stretch your muscles and you must take risks. There is often a soreness, thus the often used phrase: "no pain, no gain." Ultimately it is necessary to take responsibility for what we see in our world because our world is our own consciousness. People are offended by this because they find it painful. That's too damn bad. It is what is necessary. Do not call yourself a seeker of Truth unless you can admit the lies you live. There is no way to wake up from the dream until you first realize that you are asleep. There is no way to learn until you admit you are ignorant. There is no truth which is painful, only the lies which you must face in order to let them go, leaving you open to what is real and beautiful.
All systems propose growth, but many find themselves veering this way or that until they slowly slide comfortably into a rut which not only is a smooth enough of a transition but one which allows the sojourner a pleasant and relaxing wait alongside the path leisurely watching the world go by.
The joys of realization are so exhilarating by comparison to the slight discomfort that it is hardly worth the mention. Besides, continue the safe journey that the world has always done has been a highway fraught with pain, sorrow and disaster. Hardly a fair trade-off when one finally realizes the benefits of accelerated growth in a legitimate teaching.
One usually finds a teacher who reflects the Truth they do not yet understand. At a certain point you drift apart and the student learns that everyone and everything is a teacher. But in real schools, the teacher sees what the student cannot yet see and can help guide them to what they need to confront in order to let go of what is holding them back. This has been so of all secret teachings through the ages and it is true in the words you read here.
As Gurdjieff demanded of the student, they must prove it to themselves. So it is with Q.M.I. The teaching provided gives tools and techniques which axiomatically prove out what is stated. Intellectual memorization has no place in real growth. We learn in stages and these stages become cycles of growth which repeat and move up an octave at a time but ultimately we are forever coming closer to ourselves and ultimately closer to the one goal shared by all who seek Truth.
