What is the Fourth Way?

The Work is often called the "Fourth Way" towards enlightenment. The term originated with Gurdjieff, who used it to point out the differences between the Work and other spiritual paths. He taught that people could be divided into three basic types: those who were centred on their Intellect (he called this Man or Woman Number 3); those who based themselves on their Emotions (Number 2); and those who were mainly aware of their bodies (Number 1). Someone who, through personal work, becomes balanced in all centres, equally able to use them all according to the needs of the situation, is called in this system Number 4. These latter are always the result of school work, and are not found naturally. 

We'll look at the centres in a future Post. For now, it's easy to understand the different types just by taking the terms in their ordinary sense. For example, we've all known intellectually based people who try to act rationally in all circumstances, and choose employment which primarily uses this centre - university professors, administrators, clerks, and so on. Then there are the emotional people, the social workers, counsellors, codependent family members, and the like. They judge every situation by their emotional reaction, and their decisions are based on emotions. And those who prefer the physical body as the seat of action include sports players and fans, surfers, epicures, dynamic business leaders, and many more. 

And, just as we are all based on one or another centre and prefer using it to others, so there have always been religious paths to enlightenment that were likewise one-sided. The path of the intellect Gurdjieff called "Raja yoga", but it also applies to theologians, especially in religious orders, who believe the answers can always be found in the rational mind. The path of emotional people is that of "Bhakti yoga", or devotion, and similarly can be found in popular devotions to saints and religious leaders. Finally, the path of the body can be seen in "Hatha yoga" and similar physical disciplines, including martial arts, physical culture, and so on. Traditionally, the fullest practice of any of these ways would necessitate either living in a monastery or ashram, or else spending long periods of retreat there.

The Fourth Way is different because it is practiced in ordinary life. The Work says that the best conditions for our development are to be found right where we are, in the circumstances in which we live. We don't need to change anything in life in order to practice the Work, and we don't, and shouldn't, abandon our responsibilities to do so.

The Fourth Way is also unique in developing all centres together, so that no one centre outstrips the others. In a Work group, a teacher will give exercises designed to develop the different centres and . will encourage students to work particularly on the less used centres.

To get a clearer idea of your own type, you can look at systems such as the Myers Briggs Type Inventory, or any of the excellent books on the Enneagram which are now very popular. Try to see what motivated your major life decisions, which centre you mainly used. Observe your habitual reactions to daily events. It's much easier to do this with the help of others, of course. 

Sometimes people object to being classified in this way. They think they are unclassifiable and that such a system would restrict them. They are usually those who haven't fully observed themselves, because when we do become more observant we can see how, all through our lives, we have generally resorted to one particular centre when faced with decisions and circumstances. Sometimes we use a second centre to help, but there will be a third centre that we have neglected. Working on this centre will be particularly helpful.