from the book by Dushka Howarth, daughter of Gurdjieff:
Jessmin & Dushka Howarth "It's Up To Ourselves"
1. Focus your attention on yourself. Be aware at any moment of what you are thinking, feeling, desiring, and doing.
2. Always finish what you have started.
3. Do your work as well as possible.
4. Do not bind yourself to anything that can later destroy you.
5. Show your generosity without witnesses.
6. Treat every person as if they were your closest relative.
7. Clarify and unravel everything that you have entangled.
8. Learn to accept every gift with gratitude.
9. Stop defending yourself.
10. Do not lie or steal - by doing so, you deceive and steal from yourself.
11. Help others, but do not make them dependent on you.
12. Do not strive to be imitated.
13. Make plans and see them through to the end.
14. Do not take up too much space.
15. Do not create unnecessary noise or make excessive gestures.
16. If you do not yet have faith, simulate it in your actions.
17. Do not easily fall under the influence of strong personalities.
18. Do not claim ownership of anything or anyone.
19. Share equally.
20. Do not tempt.
21. Eat and sleep only as much as necessary.
22. Do not discuss your personal problems.
23. Do not judge or criticize until you know all the facts related to the matter.
24. Do not form useless friendships.
25. Do not follow common trends.
26. Do not sell yourself.
27. Respect the agreements you have made.
28. Be punctual.
29. Do not envy others' possessions and achievements.
30. Speak only what is truly necessary.
31. Do not think about the benefits your work may bring.
32. Do not threaten.
33. Keep your promises.
34. In an argument, always put yourself in the other person's place.
35. Acknowledge if someone surpasses you.
36. Do not exclude, but transform.
37. Overcome your fears; each of them represents a disguised desire.
38. Help others become capable of helping themselves.
39. Overcome feelings of dislike and get closer to those you want to reject.
40. Do not react to what is said about you, whether good or bad.
41. Transform your pride into dignity.
42. Turn your anger into creativity.
43. Turn your greed into admiration for beauty.
44. Turn your envy into admiration for the virtues of others.
45. Turn your hatred into compassion.
46. Do not praise, but do not insult yourself either.
47. Take care of what does not belong to you as you would your own.
48. Do not complain.
49. Develop your imagination.
50. Do not give instructions just for the pleasure of being obeyed.
51. Pay for services rendered to you.
52. Do not boast about your work or ideas.
53. Do not try to evoke emotions of pity, admiration, sympathy, or empathy in others towards yourself.
54. Do not try to stand out with your appearance.
55. Never contradict, just remain silent.
56. Do not get into debt; buy and pay immediately.
57. If you offend someone, always apologize.
58. If you offend someone publicly, apologize publicly.
59. If you notice your mistake in a conversation, do not insist on being right out of pride; immediately admit your mistake.
60. Do not try to defend your previous ideas just because they were expressed by you.
61. Do not accumulate useless things.
62. Do not adorn yourself with others' ideas.
63. Do not take photos with celebrities.
64. Be your own judge.
65. Do not let what you possess define you.
66. Never speak about yourself without leaving room for change.
67. Acknowledge that nothing belongs to you.
68. When asked what you think about something or someone, speak only of their qualities.
69. If you fall ill, do not perceive it as misfortune; look at the illness as your teacher.
70. Do not look from hiding; look intently and firmly.
71. Do not forget the dead, but give them limited space so they cannot take over your entire life.
72. Always designate a sacred place in your living environment.
73. Offer support to others, but do it in a way that your efforts do not draw attention.
74. If you decide to work for others, do it with pleasure.
75. If you are in doubt about whether to do something or not, take the risk and do it.
76. Do not try to be everything for your partner; acknowledge that they will have to seek certain things in others that you cannot provide.
77. If someone has their own audience, do not interfere or try to lure them away.
78. Live on the money you have earned.
79. Do not boast about your love affairs.
80. Do not take pride in your weaknesses.
81. Never visit someone just to fill your time.
82. Acquire in order to share.
83. If the devil appears to you during meditation, make the devil meditate as well.
Gurdjieff’s Advice
(from the book by Dushka Howarth, Gurdjieff’s daughter:
Jessmin & Dushka Howarth It’s Up to Ourselves)
1. Focus your attention on yourself. Be aware at any moment of what you think, feel, desire, and do.
2. Always finish what you have started.
3. Do your work as well as possible.
4. Do not attach yourself to anything that could later destroy you.
5. Show your generosity without witnesses.
6. Treat every person as your closest relative.
7. Clarify and untangle everything you have confused.
8. Learn to accept every gift with gratitude.
9. Stop justifying yourself.
10. Do not lie or steal—by doing so, you deceive and rob yourself.
11. Help others, but do not make them dependent on you.
12. Do not seek to be imitated.
13. Make plans and see them through.
14. Do not take up too much space.
15. Do not create unnecessary noise or make excessive gestures.
16. If you do not yet have faith, imitate it in your actions.
17. Do not be easily impressed by strong personalities.
18. Do not claim ownership over anything or anyone.
19. Share equally.
20. Do not seduce.
21. Eat and sleep only as much as necessary.
22. Do not discuss your personal problems.
23. Do not judge or criticize until you know all the facts.
24. Do not engage in useless friendships.
25. Do not follow common trends.
26. Do not sell yourself.
27. Honor agreements you have signed.
28. Be punctual.
29. Do not envy others’ possessions or achievements.
30. Speak only what is truly necessary.
31. Do not think about the benefits your work may bring.
32. Do not threaten.
33. Keep your promises.
34. In an argument, always put yourself in the other person’s place.
35. Acknowledge when someone surpasses you.
36. Do not exclude, but transform.
37. Overcome your fears—each of them is a disguised desire.
38. Help others become capable of helping themselves.
39. Overcome feelings of dislike and get closer to those you wish to reject.
40. Do not react to words spoken about you, whether good or bad.
41. Transform your pride into dignity.
42. Turn your anger into creativity.
43. Transform your greed into appreciation of beauty.
44. Transform your envy into admiration of others’ virtues.
45. Turn your hatred into compassion.
46. Do not praise or insult yourself.
47. Care for what does not belong to you as if it were your own.
48. Do not complain.
49. Develop your imagination.
50. Do not give orders just for the pleasure of being obeyed.
51. Pay for the services you receive.
52. Do not boast about your work or ideas.
53. Do not try to provoke emotions of pity, admiration, affection, or sympathy in others toward yourself.
54. Do not try to stand out with your appearance.
55. Never contradict—just remain silent.
56. Do not go into debt; buy and pay immediately.
57. If you have offended someone, apologize.
58. If you have offended someone publicly, apologize publicly.
59. If you realize you are wrong in a conversation, do not insist on being right out of pride—admit your mistake immediately.
60. Do not defend your past ideas just because they were yours.
61. Do not accumulate useless things.
62. Do not adorn yourself with others’ ideas.
63. Do not take photographs with celebrities.
64. Be your own judge.
65. Do not let what you own define you.
66. Never speak about yourself in a way that leaves no room for change.
67. Acknowledge that nothing truly belongs to you.
68. When asked what you think about something or someone, speak only of their qualities.
69. If you fall ill, do not see it as misfortune—consider the illness as your teacher.
70. Do not glance sideways—look firmly and directly.
71. Do not forget the dead, but give them a limited place so they do not take over your life.
72. Always designate a sacred space in your living environment.
73. Support others, but in a way that your efforts remain unnoticed.
74. If you decide to work for others, do it with joy.
75. If in doubt about whether to do something, take the risk and do it.
76. Do not try to be everything to your partner—accept that they will seek in others what you cannot give them.
77. If someone has an audience, do not interfere or try to take it away.
78. Live on the money you earn.
79. Do not brag about your romantic affairs.
80. Do not take pride in your weaknesses.
81. Never visit someone just to pass the time.
82. Acquire things in order to share.
83. If, during meditation, the devil appears to you—make him meditate too.
(from the book by Dushka Howarth, Gurdjieff’s daughter:
Jessmin & Dushka Howarth It’s Up to Ourselves)
1. Focus your attention on yourself. Be aware at any moment of what you think, feel, desire, and do.
2. Always finish what you have started.
3. Do your work as well as possible.
4. Do not attach yourself to anything that could later destroy you.
5. Show your generosity without witnesses.
6. Treat every person as your closest relative.
7. Clarify and untangle everything you have confused.
8. Learn to accept every gift with gratitude.
9. Stop justifying yourself.
10. Do not lie or steal—by doing so, you deceive and rob yourself.
11. Help others, but do not make them dependent on you.
12. Do not seek to be imitated.
13. Make plans and see them through.
14. Do not take up too much space.
15. Do not create unnecessary noise or make excessive gestures.
16. If you do not yet have faith, imitate it in your actions.
17. Do not be easily impressed by strong personalities.
18. Do not claim ownership over anything or anyone.
19. Share equally.
20. Do not seduce.
21. Eat and sleep only as much as necessary.
22. Do not discuss your personal problems.
23. Do not judge or criticize until you know all the facts.
24. Do not engage in useless friendships.
25. Do not follow common trends.
26. Do not sell yourself.
27. Honor agreements you have signed.
28. Be punctual.
29. Do not envy others’ possessions or achievements.
30. Speak only what is truly necessary.
31. Do not think about the benefits your work may bring.
32. Do not threaten.
33. Keep your promises.
34. In an argument, always put yourself in the other person’s place.
35. Acknowledge when someone surpasses you.
36. Do not exclude, but transform.
37. Overcome your fears—each of them is a disguised desire.
38. Help others become capable of helping themselves.
39. Overcome feelings of dislike and get closer to those you wish to reject.
40. Do not react to words spoken about you, whether good or bad.
41. Transform your pride into dignity.
42. Turn your anger into creativity.
43. Transform your greed into appreciation of beauty.
44. Transform your envy into admiration of others’ virtues.
45. Turn your hatred into compassion.
46. Do not praise or insult yourself.
47. Care for what does not belong to you as if it were your own.
48. Do not complain.
49. Develop your imagination.
50. Do not give orders just for the pleasure of being obeyed.
51. Pay for the services you receive.
52. Do not boast about your work or ideas.
53. Do not try to provoke emotions of pity, admiration, affection, or sympathy in others toward yourself.
54. Do not try to stand out with your appearance.
55. Never contradict—just remain silent.
56. Do not go into debt; buy and pay immediately.
57. If you have offended someone, apologize.
58. If you have offended someone publicly, apologize publicly.
59. If you realize you are wrong in a conversation, do not insist on being right out of pride—admit your mistake immediately.
60. Do not defend your past ideas just because they were yours.
61. Do not accumulate useless things.
62. Do not adorn yourself with others’ ideas.
63. Do not take photographs with celebrities.
64. Be your own judge.
65. Do not let what you own define you.
66. Never speak about yourself in a way that leaves no room for change.
67. Acknowledge that nothing truly belongs to you.
68. When asked what you think about something or someone, speak only of their qualities.
69. If you fall ill, do not see it as misfortune—consider the illness as your teacher.
70. Do not glance sideways—look firmly and directly.
71. Do not forget the dead, but give them a limited place so they do not take over your life.
72. Always designate a sacred space in your living environment.
73. Support others, but in a way that your efforts remain unnoticed.
74. If you decide to work for others, do it with joy.
75. If in doubt about whether to do something, take the risk and do it.
76. Do not try to be everything to your partner—accept that they will seek in others what you cannot give them.
77. If someone has an audience, do not interfere or try to take it away.
78. Live on the money you earn.
79. Do not brag about your romantic affairs.
80. Do not take pride in your weaknesses.
81. Never visit someone just to pass the time.
82. Acquire things in order to share.
83. If, during meditation, the devil appears to you—make him meditate too.
