We are three-brained beings

As we are, we have three main centres of functioning: intellectual, emotional and instinctive/moving. We have the potential to develop two higher centres, but first the lower centres must become balanced. This is no small task.

We can begin by observing ourselves. This will allow us to become aware of where the centre of gravity of our functioning lies at a given point in time.

We tend to be most aware of our thoughts, although they can be confused with emotion, or even moving or instinctive impressions. Associative thinking goes on automatically most of the time in our inner landscape. Although it is possible to halt it momentarily with an act of will, associative thoughts soon begin again.

One method for observing the continuous stream of inner talking is directed attention. When we deliberately direct, and re-direct, our attention towards a specific subject, such as when we learn something new, it is possible to stop the automatic flow of thought for longer periods. Gurdjieff said that we need to develop active mentation. Associative thought is a long way from this, and directed attention is a step in the right direction. But first we need to become convinced that we are unable to control our associative thinking.

By observing ourselves, we can also begin to recognise the flavour of emotion and to differentiate it from thought. Each has its own distinctive taste that only you can recognise in relation to your inner world. Emotion is much quicker than thought and responds instantly to many situations. As we have been trained to use our intellect to evaluate the world around us we tend to ignore our emotional responses, even when the intellect eventually comes to the same conclusion.

Instinctive impressions can readily spill over into emotional function. For example, a physical ache can turn into a vague feeling of sadness.

Gurdjieff said that we need to become more emotional. Only when emotion also enters into our judgments can we awaken conscience. In order to become more emotional we must first be able to distinguish emotion from all the other impressions we receive.

In this system, instinctive function encompasses the autonomous working of the machine, such as our digestion, the circulation of the blood, our breathing, the secretion of hormones etc. With few exceptions, this goes on regardless of our will as any interference with it can be harmful. This is a highly complex and extremely sophisticated world that lies within our microcosm, but of which we are scarcely aware. We can begin to observe instinctive functioning by becoming alert to impressions coming from it such as hunger, which we may then be able to refine into a yearning for a particular food. Further work on sensing your body is possible in Gurdjieff’s directed meditations, known as sittings.

Moving function is distinct from instinctive function and can be observed in the speed with which it is capable of performing complex actions once it has mastered them. Examples include doing Rubik’s cube, swimming, chopping onions, skiing, writing. It is possible to read with moving function, as when you are suddenly unable to recall the last few pages of what you have just read. When intellectual function controls movement, the result is a much slower and more clumsy action. We can notice this when we learn to do something new such as juggling or knitting. Once the sequence of movements has passed to moving function, an entirely different result emerges.

Together, instinctive and moving function form part of the lower story with its centre of gravity in the lower abdomen. This also includes the sex function.

It is important to begin to distinguish between the host of impressions that we are receiving. This may eventually allow us to establish something that can exist independently of the activity of our centres.