Elkdonis

The oldest form of prayer is not supplication, it is a means of helping the Absolute, and the means by which we can absolve ourselves of original sin. We should think of Prayer-Absolute as fulfilling our obligation as human beings.

There are two themes running through this Chapter 3. The discussion of the meaning and practice of Prayer-Absolute is that first topic. It is expanded upon as a practice of awakening the machine. It is a process in all three centrums of Being awaken. When we are awake, the sleeping machine is quiet and the Being can flourish. It begins the process of unfolding its Angelic wings. But, that takes time.

The second feature that emerges in this chapter 3 is the discussion and implication of our Obligation. As we unfold and awaken from the externally bound wishes and desires of our human existence, we start to sense in our Self, a demand of our conscience. There is something one is supposed to do, a burden a payment to be made for the honor of existence. As we awaken further, we see that the Obligation is toward the Absolute. It is not merely a goal to Wake up. It is not a goal to “become enlightened.” But, rather we are constrained to fulfill a divine contract. Care must be taken when signing any contract. Keep your eyes averted. Once you sense that Obligation and see clearly, you are changed; once accepted fully, simple human existence is forfeit.

But – it is worth the stretch.

===========

Chapter Three Summary

Hidden Work – Chapter 3 summary =- Arsi and Harry

We now come to the realization that the Cross which we endeavor to ascend in this chapter is nothing less than the entire creation, what Gurdjieff calls the Ray of Creation, and Quabbalists call the Tree of Life or Jacobs Ladder, and that by doing so we are in some unfathomable way helping The Absolute. Something unforeseen has happened and God needs our help!  This is a difficult idea to wrap our minds around, much less accept. Yet, we are taught that this help is not only needed, but can be given only through the conscious labors and intentional sufferings of our awakened biological machines. We have learned that the created universe has two forces or currents, one flowing down (involution) and one flowing up (evolution).  This descending force flows mechanically through all earthly biological life at a precise and critical juncture, but  the ascending  force flows only through humans, and only some humans at that,  thus placing upon us an obligation to “make prayer” in order to keep  the currents flowing and ease the burden of God. Thus, like salmon spawning, we must “swim upstream” to pay for our biological baptism and fulfill our spiritual destiny.

Elkdonis (spelled “Helkdonis” by Gurdjieff in All and Everything) is one of the substances created by this effort, and is the one that is produced by the conscious assimilation our third food, impressions, without which our spiritual growth and potential for service comes to a halt. This “making prayer” goes directly into the ascending current, and returns as food to the Absolute.  It is also the manna, the dew of Hermon, which returns as a purification, a blessing, a gift to us from above for our efforts. It is the foundation of the growth of our Being. We already may have experienced this energy in our work together in class, as a palpable and distinctive presence. It is the substance which coats the mustard seed of our Essence and eventually develops our higher bodies, expanding our morphological presence further into the endless chambers of the Creation. As the animal and the angel– the lion and the lamb, the biological machine and the Essential Self– learn to work in harmony within each of us, a new way of living begins to emerge.  This new way of living is a life of conscious service.

This conscious service takes the form of Prayer Absolute. As human beings, our first duty is to pray for the Absolute; it is not to be happy, healthy, and wealthy, or to implore the Absolute to grant us every passing wish of the biological machine. All humans who are given a body and the life that fills it share one common duty, and that is to pray for the Absolute. Praying for the absolute is quite different from praying to the Absolute. To petition the Absolute for our daily needs is a machine function, a prayer asking God for something, but prayer for the Absolute is a clear step above the needs of ordinary machine life. It is a” letting go” of the ego with its own desires, and allowing the needs of the Absolute to take precedence, letting “Thy will be done” instead of “my will.” Nor is this action an escape from anything; It is an active seeking for “Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.”  How easy is it to surrender our will, and ask that Thy will be done for us and our loved ones? We get a glimpse of this when we realize that only by sharing the burden of the Absolute will we ever find ourselves fully awake with the knowledge and wisdom of our Creator.

The beauty of the human spirit is its latent but vast ability to love. It is with love that humans can use prayer absolute to share in the suffering of the Absolute.

Arsi and Harry

=================

We thank you for your work on this summary. We are touched by Gratitude.

Audio File for Chapter 03_Part ONE 10_17_12

You can view the log from Part 1 of the Class here.

Audio File Chapter 03_Part TWO 10_24_12

You can view the log from Part 2 of the Class here.