In Meetings with G.I. Gurdjieff in Paris 1944, there are references to three other books.

• Book Studio 2009: reference to Transcripts of Gurdjieff’s Wartime Meetings 1941-46, published by Book Studio in 2009.
• Patterson 2000: reference to Voices in the Dark: Esoteric, Occult & Secular Voices in Nazi-Occupied Paris, 1940-44, published by William Patrick Patterson in 2000.
• Dolmen Meadows 2017: reference to G.I. Gurdjieff Paris Meetings 1943, published by Dolmen Meadows Editions in 2017.

These references are included to note previously published versions of a specific meeting note. Out of the 43 meetings, 11 were previously published in the referenced books.

Differences between Paris 1944 and these books are noted as well.

I realize now that a bibliography would have been helpful to the reader when encountering these references in the text.

The short version: Now that Meetings with G.I. Gurdjieff in Paris 1944 has been released in paperback, I am also lowering the price of the Kindle version.

The long version: Continue reading →

After further research, I have found that these meeting transcripts are considered in the public domain. And so I have published Meetings with G.I. Gurdjieff in Paris 1944, currently in hardcover and Kindle on Amazon. [Update December 11, 2022: Also now available through Barnes & Noble.]

I have renamed the book so as to not confuse the reader into thinking that Mr. Gurdjieff wrote these meeting transcripts directly—the meetings were transcribed at his direction.

Special thanks to Synda Cadervalloo and Jan Betermieux for reviewing my translation and offering suggestions for improvement.

NOTE: THE STATUS OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN UPDATED.

I have completed an English translation of G.I. Gurdjieff Groupes de Paris Tome II: 1944, originally published by Éditions Éoliennes in 2019. Thanks to Synda Cadervalloo and Jan Betermieux for reviewing and correcting my translation work. Their help has been indispensible.

Altogether, there are 43 different meetings, ranging from January 6 to November 23, 1944.

Some of these meetings have appeared in other translated works (Patterson, Book Studio), but many have never been translated.

Due to copyright, my translation will not be published. It will remain private, except small excerpts permitted by fair use laws.

Like Paris Meetings 1943, the importance of Paris Groups 1944 cannot be overstated. it is summed up by an undated quote from Gurdjieff in the front matter of the book: “In these groups, at this time, I vividly inscribed the Third Series of my works.”

And in the text itself:

In his Third Series, Gurdjieff instructs his students to familiarize themselves enough with Beelzebub’s Tales to where he could mention the chapter number and the student would know overall the contents of that chapter for further detailed discussion:

“…[E]ach of you should cease entirely, at least for three months, the reading of your newspapers and magazines, and during this time should become as well acquainted as possible with the contents of all three books of the first series of my writings entitled An Objectively Impartial Criticism of the Life of Man…

An all-round acquaintance with the contents of these three books is necessary also in order that when I personally, or the mentioned instructors, speak during our general meetings about some question which in the given moment is the center-of-gravity question, and speak about its details, we may, for the purpose of economizing time, simply refer to the corresponding chapter in this first series, and you, already having preliminary information about this, may easily assimilate what we shall subsequently develop in detail.

For example, intending in today’s meeting to speak about a question which is based on data I have already more or less elucidated in the last chapter of the third book, namely in the chapter entitled “From the Author,” the deliberations on the proposed question today should be as a continuation of this chapter.

Well, if you were all well-informed of its contents, then I could for the purpose of economizing time refer to the requisite passages, but now I shall be compelled to waste time on reading to you certain extracts.”

Previously, I gave some tips on reading Beelzebub’s Tales. While reading, one helpful method for remembering Beelzebub’s Tales at the level mentioned above is to outline each chapter.

Below is a sample outline that takes each chapter and notes, very broadly, when important characters are introduced, or major events take place, or major topics are touched upon.

Purpose of Three Series

Friendly Advice

1. The Arousing of Thought
   1. 1. Opening prayer
      2. Mentation on writing
      3. Bon-ton literary language
      4. Beginning with a warning
      5. Mullah Nassr Eddin
      6. Every stick has two ends
      7. Transcaucasian Kurd and red pepper pods
      8. Grandmother’s injunction story
      9. Wisdom tooth story
      10. “If you go on a spree” story
      11. Scope of tales and its protagonist, Beelzebub
      12. Karapet of Tiflis and the train whistle
      13. Concluding signature of the author

      Continue reading →

Maybe you have tried reading Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson before, but put it down without finishing. Maybe you have always wanted to read it but you found it intimidating. Maybe the name alone made you question whether this was the sort of book you should be reading.

Whatever the reasons, here are some tips to help you conquer this ‘weighty and bulky tome’.

Continue reading →