$25.00 Hardcover
Notes, Index, Bibliography
430 pages
by William Patrick Patterson
—Colin Wilson, author, War Against Sleep
"In a world quickly becoming dominated by soulless machines, how does one keep one's soul? Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time is a guide to spirituality in a technology driven world. Rather than shunning technology and loathing it, William Patrick Patterson tells readers to consciously embrace it as part of their lives and learn to control it instead of letting it control oneself. Spiritual Survival is a strong choice for those feeling something is missing in their lives."
—James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
"Explores the seminal teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff's Fourth Way in great and original depth through a detailed introduction, illustrative meetings and probes and essays of key esoteric ideas and practices of how to self-awaken in this radically changing world-time. In this seventh and final book on Gurdjieff's teaching, William Patrick Patterson warns that unless we learn to control Technology, it will control us. We will lose our spiritual heritage and simply become machine-like worker ants. Patterson holds that Technology is not different from us—it is simply our rational part developed to an extraordinary binary degree. To understand it, we must first understand ourselves and our potential which is the focus of the teaching."
—Arizona Networking News
"G.I. Gurdjieff's Fourth Way is an ancient spiritual teaching for modern times which directly confronts technology and its potential for damaging spirituality. Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time is a teaching guide presenting not just the concepts, but how to actually apply them in our ordinary lives. Case history examples pack a survey of philosophical and psychological ideas to complete a context that lets us know where we are, how we got there and what to do about it."
—Diane C. Cox, Editor, The Bookwatch
In recent years, there has been general and widespread acceptance that technology is the answer to mankind's problems. No matter that the problem is economic, environmental, educational, medical or social, the solution invariably involves more and more advanced technology. With some exceptions, primarily in the tampering of biological systems such as genetically engineered crops, cloning and interspecies transplantation, there has been either silence or boosterism regarding the growing influence of this silicone-based world. William Patrick Patterson's latest book, Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time, re-raises the question of technology and its relationship with man. Patterson, a teacher of G.I. Gurdjieff's Fourth Way, brings to this question a very different perspective—a spiritual one. Patterson is not a Luddite, and does not say technology in and of itself is evil or harmful; quite the contrary, it has its uses. Regardless, such is the worship of and identification with all things technological that there may be a reaction from a reader when this "silicone corn" is stepped on.
The book begins with an approximately 30-page introduction, which both succinctly lays out his case for the negative impact of certain types of technology and concurrently gives an introduction to Gurdjieff's teaching. Gurdjieff said that ordinary men are, in effect, machines that believe they have the attributes of men. They believe they have free will, that they are unified individuals, are conscious and can "do." In actuality, men have only the possibility of acquiring these attributes. Patterson says that these men, bioplasmic machines as he calls them, are being made more mechanical and better machines by some technology. That current and future technology has and will reflect the desires and attributes of its creators, unconscious men. This type of technology can only increase the depth and permanence of the hypnotic sleep state mankind lives in. Patterson doesn't just define the problem, but lays the groundwork to, as he says, "spiritually survive."
After the introduction, there are many pages of questions and answers from group meetings which give a taste of current day Gurdjieff work. The Gurdjieff work is a work in life, so many of the questions take place within the context of ordinary life. Additionally, there are a number of "probes" (talks) and essays that are relevant to the topic of the book. Patterson's book offers a unique, interesting and useful perspective on the relationship of man and technology. For those interested in the Gurdjieff Work or other spiritual paths, as well as people concerned with how to not be "taken" by events rapidly unfolding in the world, this book is highly recommended.
—Robert Mills from Cincinnati, Ohio
Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time opens with this statement from George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, "We are the images of God." What that means becomes clear in the incredible introduction to the book, which reads as though author William Patrick Patterson is engaged in a conversation with the reader. In this lucid introduction, he uses technology to explain that we are the undeveloped images of God. What it means to be undeveloped and the kind of effort and guidance required to develop is provided in this, the most dynamic and accessible Fourth Way book I've ever read. For any serious seeker who is disquieted by the vague or stark sense that there is something wrong with the way they function, though the cause of this unease eludes them, this is the book to read. The principles and practices of the Fourth Way are introduced through three different approaches, as the book is divided into three sections, the introduction, a series of questions and responses from Fourth Way meetings and a number of selected essays written by William Patrick Patterson that relate to the theme of the book. It's quite the cliché to say that a book can change your life, and of course it can't. But this book gives you the opportunity to make choices.
—Mark from Baltimore, MD
William Patrick Patterson's latest book, "Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time" explores the current state of humanity as it relates to technology. The dialogues from various Fourth Way meetings answered many of my unasked questions, and the essays cover topics ranging from "Who is Mr. Gurdjieff?" to "The Future of Danger and Paranoia". There is also a section entitled "Fourth Way Probes" which give a taste of the Fourth Way perspective on current events. I highly recommend this book to anyone with questions of their own.
—A. Peake from Denver, CO
A word that comes to mind after reading William Patrick Patterson's recently released book, is Generous with a capital G. This book is an offering of spiritual food so bountiful that without doubt, I will go back time and again to read and re-read. Based on The Fourth Way teaching of self transformation in ordinary life that Mr. George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff brought to the west in 1912, Patterson brings cautious hope for humanity in this increasingly small and dangerous world. We can change the world if we work to change ourselves.
Through actual questions and responses from Fourth Way meetings, we see people striving to understand who they are and why they're here—the questions are intimate, posed with openness and sincerity, and the answers are given directly, always based on the teaching, giving a decidedly human face to the spiritual quest. There is no embellishment—there is a succinctness that leaves space to reflect on the dialogue at many levels. This espouses the teaching in "real life," not in a monastery or on a mountaintop. I found myself stopping many times, shocked at seeing questions that describe my own experience, and realizing how we are all human, we have so many of the same questions.
Patterson offers well-written essays on the teaching, as well as talks that he has given to his own students over the years on different aspects of it. His writing is clear and to the point, and an openness is sensed, almost as if he is saying LOOK—HERE IT IS—AN ANSWER...READ AND UNDERSTAND!
He mentions in the afterword that this may be his last book. Let's hope for the welfare of all of us on a quest for meaning in our lives, that this is not the case.
—N.B. Collins from Tampa, FL
I've read all of Patterson's books, but there is something about Spiritual Survival that feels different, on a more expansive scale. Because of the way it's arranged—from a lengthy introduction to questions and responses, to explorations of themes, and essays—there is a quality of seeing the author's perspective in a multifaceted way. At the same time, though the book gives such a broad and deep look at the Gurdjieff Work, it isn't staid or standoffish, but intimate.
Oddly, the impression I had of reading Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time was that it was critically important in the Gurdjieff canon. The analogy I came to was that it is similar to how Joyce's Ulysses is so important to literature. Patterson's a gifted writer, but in this hefty tome, this becomes even more apparent.
—D. Morgan from Brooklyn, NY
Reading the Introduction to William Patrick Patterson's Spiritual Survival in a Radically Changing World-Time, I experienced a sense of gratitude as I saw how clearly and simply Patterson set forth fundamental principles of The Fourth Way. Although he referred to the Introduction as "only a taste," it is truly a remarkable gift to the reader. Beginning with an analysis of the role of technology and its control of human existence in present times, Patterson goes on to explain such key concepts as the "assemblage of 'I's," the false notion of the "Individual," the three centers of the human machine, waking versus sleep, consciousness of the body, and the facticity of the physical. Near the end of the Introduction, he quotes Ouspensky to make the point that it is only in radically changing world times, when the attention of the majority is distracted in some other direction, that the teaching of The Fourth Way can reach those looking for it. This short quote has completely altered the way I look at the current crisis the world is facing.
As I read on in Spiritual Survival, my feeling of gratitude continued to grow. A large portion of the book is composed of questions and answers from actual Fourth Way Meetings, and since I have never had the experience of attending a Meeting, this also felt like a gift to me. The depth and breadth of the issues discussed was astonishing, and their simplicity was deeply moving. The third section, called Fourth Way Probes, included a short piece which used the 9/11 crash of one of the hijacked planes in a Pennsylvania field as a metaphor for our spiritual lives. It left me completely stunned—I have thought about it every day since I read it. And the final section of the book, a compilation of essays from The Gurdjieff Journal and other sources, is such a treasure trove of insight I know I will return to it again and again.
I have read all of Patterson's books and I think he is a remarkable writer. This book, Spiritual Survival, is completely different from anything else he's written. It's an invitation and a resource and a study guide rolled into one. Patterson states in the Afterward that it is his final book on The Fourth Way. I truly hope that's not the case.
—Ann Neubert from Boston, MA
It is shocking how much is given in this book. The introduction alone confronts the fundamental question of our time—will we learn to use technology properly or will it come to use us?—and takes it even further to the fundamental question of any time—will we live our lives or will they live us, as days and years slipping by with no understanding? This book is an encyclopedia of information for those who feel deeply the importance of these questions. It gives answers to these questions that are completely unlike those we are used to in our intellectualized, catch-phrase laden, or mass-marketed idea of "spirituality." It looks at all of the seemingly simple pieces of our lives—washing dishes, talking to a friends, sitting in front of the computer, eating breakfast, and shows us everything that we are missing. This book gives us the tools to see a glimpse of life as it could be lived, consciously, fully, and gives a practical method for living every day within a both a spiritual quest and one's regular, mundane, frightening, exhilarating life. The author, William Patrick Patterson, a true teacher, give a sense of the practical application of the teaching of the Fourth Way and gives students everywhere a deep well of information, insight, questions, answers, and guidance.
—R. Milton
William Patrick Patterson lays out secrets long concealed. This is incredibly valuable to a sincere seeker. His book is the most concise formulation of basic transformational experiences that I have ever read! The book is a powerful, compelling invitation to The Fourth Way! He probes deeply into behaviors that I had never noticed or always taken for granted—cuts me to my heart! The Gurdjieffian view provided by Patterson of current issues evokes a deep re-evaluation of my own opinions and values!
—F. Vogt from Seattle, WA
"William Patrick Patterson's books become more profound and exciting as time goes on. Spiritual Survival is one of the best so far, full of wonderful insights."
please visit Gurdjieff Legacy Bookstore.
For Fourth Way videos, music, public events, workshops, seminars, and current or back issues of The Gurdjieff Journal©, please visit www.Gurdjieff-Legacy.Org.
For more Fourth Way links, please click here.
© Arete Communications LLC 2003–2010