The Fourth Way: A Hazardous Path

This essay describes the ideas, practices, and purposes of the “Fourth Way,” introduced by G. I. Gurdjieff a hundred years ago. It does so, through the eyes of the author, via a narrative largely based on his experiences with one of Gurdjieff’s leading exponents named John Bennett. The author expresses his own unfolding understanding of the Fourth Way rather than attempting to sum up or define it. The many illustrations included give a more concrete flavor than words alone can provide. This article covers the decade 1960–1970, and is the first part of a longer autobiographical work that will resume the story from 1970 until the present day.