The Fourth Way
The Fourth Way is an ancient teaching that gives a person who really needs to know why they are here on earth a feasible explanation and some guidance in seeking what is to most people, a hidden pathway that leads to a potential change of being, an evolution of consciousness for the individual.
The Pathway is an awesome and clarifying revelation, but an uphill struggle against much learnt opposition. It is a psychological pathway embracing the physical, emotional and intellectual aspects of the seeker. The Way begins from the assertion that people in their normal state are in fact operating in a hypnotic state resembling a form of sleep — as automatons — but that from here a person can awake from this sleep mode to become a totally different kind of human being.
The Fourth Way is concerned with a new way of living. It is a way of inner development that might be followed under the ordinary conditions of life. It is a guide for those who seek a real way of inner growth under conditions open to men and women of today.
Religion and the Fourth Way
The Fourth Way is not a religion. It is not immersed in religious dogmas. It is not based upon unquestionable beliefs. It is not a way of redemption. It is a psychological journey aimed towards the expansion of ones consciousness and the change of one’s being. This involves the learning to see — to bring together, to re-member, one’s whole being — physical, emotional and intellectual. Seeing and knowing oneself is no mean accomplishment and requires exercises, reflection and tasks and special movements. It requires work upon oneself. Hence the names by which the Fourth Way is known: The Work, The Path, l’Enseignement, The Tarika.
Some religions do have a Fourth Way background
Most do not and are of the First, Second or Third ways. (See below) The Fourth Way is found in the Sufi orders of Islam. Reflections of the Fourth Way can be seen in the artwork of the pre-Christian druids and clearly in the illuminations of the Celtic Church.
The Fourth Way is sometimes referred to as esoteric Christianity; not that it grew out of Christianity — it is older than the time of Christ — but because some of the reputed statements of Christ make Fourth Way sense. Some believe it was this teaching that Christ was espousing.
The Ways
The Fourth Way works in balance with respect to the physical, emotional and intellectual “centres” whereas the “First”, “Second” and “Third” ways tend to work, not only, but primarily through one of these. For example some people are attracted to a physical and ascetic practice — the First Way, others to the Second Way where work is primarily through the emotional aspect. The Third Way concentrates upon an intellectual path.
Teachers
A great teacher of the Fourth Way in recent times was the Armenian, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. He died in 1949. He referred to the three Ways as the Way of the Fakir, the Way of the Monk and the Way of the Yogi. Gurdjieff brought a charge of energy to the Fourth Way in a world degenerating in mechanical forces.
One cannot progress without contact with a group of fellow travellers. However, listening to the general precepts can kindle a magnetic attraction — awaken one’s need to search. Some of the general ideas pertaining to the Fourth Way are presented by Eckhart Tolle. His teaching is presented in 21st century language. He appears on Youtube and is recommended.