Evolution of Consciusness(Post 24)-Gurdjieff & Sartre

 Self-Remembering And Pure-Reflection 

 In this post we will see the similarity between Gurdjieff’s  ‘Self-Remembering’ and

‘Sartre’s ‘Pure Reflection’.

By understanding Pure Reflection, we can understand the principles behind ‘Self

Remembering’.

We will start with, how consciousness perceives an object.

For instance

If we look at the computer, we can look at it from a particular angle only.

What we can see is only a profile of the computer, there is no way we can see the ‘Entire

Computer’.

And, there are as many profiles as there are angles.

So, our ‘immediate’ perception is only a profile of the computer.

The ‘Entire Computer’ we recognize is constituted by the mind through the profile.

So the object ‘Entire Computer’ can be logically considered as unity of all this possible

profiles.

But,

we can not directly see the  ‘Entire Computer’ in isolation, it appears when we are

‘Conscious’ of its profile.

Similarly, we can not see our 'Ego' in isolation, it only appears in our engagements. 

Now generally, when one is looking at an object

Pure Reflection

 

The immediate or ‘momentary consciousness’ is that of a profile (appearance).

If one can stop and Reflect (become aware) on the ‘momentary consciousness’,

what one becomes aware is just ‘seeing  an object of some shape and color’ not the

‘Entire Object’ 

Impure Reflection.

 

Further down the reflection one become aware of ‘seeing the Entire Object’

Now, we will move from Physical to Psychological plane.

Say,

If one sees a man he hates or dislikes , anger or resentment rises.

Initially one is conscious of ‘Resentment’ (Profile),

then the mind constitutes it as ‘ I am angry because He is such’. (Entire Object)

So the ‘momentary consciousness’ is a sense of resentment to begin with.

If one can stop and Reflect (become aware) on the ‘momentary consciousness’, what is

perceived is only Resentment, not yet ‘Qualified as angry because of Him’.

This is ‘Pure Reflection’.

(The common Impure Reflection comes later after the mind constitutes the object 

‘I am angry because He is such a person’)

 Now, in pure reflection the emotion (‘resentment’) exists in isolation without being

supported by a cause ( Constituted Cause ) . 

Just like profile of a computer ( object of some color and shape ) in isolation 

without being supported by the  'Entire Object' Computer.

In this situation, one can not come to any judgement or conclusion to do anything.

'Anger' can not be recognized as such without the 'Person' who caused it. 

So the 'Anger' dissolves.

( One can test it generally, 

No  'Feeling' can be recognized as a particular emotion without a 'Thought of a cause or person'.)

But, what is vitally  important is  ‘Pure Reflection’ has the potential to effect a Catharsis like

operation on the psyche by reversing the perception.

 That is,

In normal impure reflection the perception is

‘I am angry because he is such’

But in Pure-Reflection, the reversed perception is

‘My anger only makes him appear as such (Bad), NEED not be so’.

It makes it possible not only to dissolve the Anger, but to deal with him without

 the burden of the Past(Ego).

There is a possibility of  having  ‘Qualitatively new  Relationship' ,

Applying it to entire 'Ego-Self;.

There is a possibility of  'New Existence with a New Mind’.

The life of  rearranged or modified past has come to an end.

That is the reason why Sartre calls ‘Pure Reflection’ as ‘Purifying Reflection’.

Gurdjieff’s ‘Self Remembering’ and Sartre’s ‘Pure Reflection’ are similar in essence.

The following quote by Gurdjieff  would make it more clear.

“Self-observation brings man to the realization of the necessity of self-change. And in

observing himself a man notices that self-observation itself brings about certain changes

in his inner processes… “

So,

By  ‘Self Remembering’, one can begin the journey from ‘Ego-Self’ to ‘True-Self’.