Self-Remembering, in the teachings of George Gurdjieff and P. D. Ouspensky, is a conscious effort to maintain simultaneous awareness of one’s inner state (“I am”) and the external world. It is not recalling the past, but an active, present-moment awareness of one’s own existence. This practice is considered the central method of the Fourth Way and a means of awakening from mechanical “waking sleep.”
The essence of self-remembering is divided attention: observing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations while remaining engaged in external activity. It is an active, intentional effort—not a habit—and serves to counter identification, in which attention is completely absorbed by emotions, thoughts, or events.
Through sustained practice, self-remembering aims to interrupt automatic reactions, loosen the grip of the ego, and cultivate a more conscious, unified sense of self. Gurdjieff taught that this state creates the conditions for deeper awareness and the development of a “real Self.”
Practical methods include sudden “shocks” such as the Stop exercise, sensing the body, dividing attention between inner and outer awareness, using daily activities as reminders, and practicing the Gurdjieff Movements, which demand precise coordination and sustained presence.
Remember important points of Self-Remembering.
- Self-Remembering is the practice, taught by Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, of maintaining awareness of both one’s inner state (“I am”) and the external world.
- It is present-moment awareness, not recollection of the past.
- It is the central practice of the Fourth Way, intended to awaken a person from mechanical “waking sleep.”
- The core method is divided attention: observing thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations while engaging with life.
- Self-remembering is active and intentional, not habitual or automatic.
- It counters identification, where attention is lost in emotions, thoughts, or external events.
- The aim is to interrupt automatic reactions, loosen egoic patterns, and develop a more conscious, unified self.
- Sustained practice creates the conditions for deeper awareness and the formation of a “real Self.”
- Practical methods include:
- The Stop exercise
- Sensing the body
- Dividing attention between inner and outer awareness
- Using daily activities as reminders
- Practicing Gurdjieff Movements, which require precision and sustained presence
Self-Remembering, for Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, is a conscious effort to divide attention between one’s internal state (“I am”) and external circumstances, moving beyond ordinary, mechanical “sleep” into a higher state of awareness. It involves simultaneously sensing the body, thoughts, and feelings while being actively present in the moment.
- Definition & Purpose: It is not a memory of the past, but the active, present-moment awareness of one’s own existence—a conscious “I am”. It serves as a “bridge” to wake up from a passive, mechanical life (sleep) into a more conscious state.
- The Technique: It involves the intentional, “divided attention” between the self and the outside world. This means simultaneously witnessing one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations while acting in the world.
- Key Components:
- Awareness of “I AM”: Maintaining a constant, underlying awareness of your own being.
- Division of Attention: Not just focusing on an object, but also on the subject (oneself) looking at the object.
- Active, Not Passive: It requires conscious effort and cannot be a habit.
- Goal: The ultimate goal is to break free from identification, stop mechanical reactions, and cultivate a “real Self”.
Gurdjieff believed this state, if practiced, allows for a more profound awareness, where the ego’s grip loosens and one can become a container for a higher, more refined Energy.
In the teachings of George Gurdjieff and P.D. Ouspensky, Self-Remembering is a conscious effort to be present and aware of one’s own existence in the moment. It is considered the “master key” to their system, known as the Fourth Way, and is the primary tool for awakening from what they described as a state of “waking sleep”.
Core Principles of Self-Remembering
- Simultaneous Awareness: It involves a “division of attention” where one is simultaneously aware of both the external world and their own internal state (thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations).
- The “I Am” Sensation: Ouspensky described it as the realization of “I am,” or the feeling of “I am here”. It is not merely a mental thought but a global awareness that involves the mind, emotions, and body.
- Resistance to Identification: It acts as a counter to “identification”—the state where a person is so absorbed in an external object or internal emotion that they lose all sense of themselves.
- Active Effort: Unlike ordinary memory, which is passive, self-remembering requires a deliberate, intentional effort to “bring oneself back” to the present.
Self-Remembering vs. Self-Observation
Gurdjieff taught that “man is asleep” and recommended several practical “shocks” and exercises to break the momentum of mechanical life and trigger self-remembering. These range from simple daily reminders to rigorous group practices.
- The “Stop” Exercise
This is perhaps Gurdjieff’s most famous exercise. At the command “Stop!” (usually given by a teacher), students must instantly freeze in whatever position they are in—no matter how uncomfortable or awkward—and remain completely motionless.
- Purpose: By stopping the body’s mechanical movement, the mind’s associative chatter is momentarily shocked into silence, allowing a sudden, transparent awareness of oneself.
- Key Rule: One must not adjust their posture to be more comfortable; if a foot was mid-air or the mouth was open, it must stay that way.
- Dividing Attention
Gurdjieff emphasized the “division of attention” as a core mechanic of self-remembering.
- External/Internal Split: Practice focusing on an external object (like a candle flame or a person talking) while simultaneously maintaining a “sensing” of your own body or a specific part of it, like your little finger.
- The “I Am” Exercise: A more advanced form where you look at a moving object (like the second hand of a watch) and with every second, mentally affirm “I am,” trying to maintain the sensation of your existence without letting the mind wander into associations.
- Sensing Exercises
“Sensing” is the practice of directing attention to the physical sensations of the body to ground oneself in the present.
- Body Scan: Sitting quietly and “filling” the body with attention, often starting from the feet and moving upward, noticing weight, temperature, and the sensation of gravity.
- The Solar Plexus Anchor: Placing attention specifically in the solar plexus or abdominal area while going about daily tasks to maintain a “center” of gravity.
- Daily “Reminders” (Triggers)
To prevent the work from becoming a purely intellectual concept, Gurdjieff suggested using ordinary events as triggers for a moment of self-remembering:
- Doorways: Consciously “remembering” yourself every time you walk through a doorway.
- Phone/Light Switches: Using the act of answering a phone or flipping a light switch as a cue to “wake up” and sense your presence.
- Nightly Review: Before sleep, trying to “re-watch” the entire day like a film, without letting the mind wander or judging the events.
- Gurdjieff Movements
Gurdjieff developed a series of complex “sacred dances” or Movements. These require such precise, non-habitual coordination between the head, heart, and body that they make mechanical “sleep” impossible; the moment your attention wanders, you lose the movement.
“Only remorse can crystallize the factors that help you to remember yourself. Nothing else can. Only remorse of conscience.”