GURDJIEFF, G.I. – Life is real only then, when I am - Integral Book

and the third part should follow the counting of the automaticmovement of the third finger.Although this fourth exercise is the most difficult of all the numberof exercises composing this series, yet, in the given case, as I have said,on account of various misunderstandings, for you, in my opinion, onlythis exercise may on the one hand correct your errors of the past, andon the other hand prepare all that is required for the future.And for cognizing its importance and indispensability for you, aswell as its real difficulty, it is necessary to do it many, many times. Atthe beginning you must try all the time only to understand the senseand significance of this exercise, without expecting to obtain anyconcrete result.As only an all-round understanding of the sense and significance ofthis fourth—and for you, first—exercise, as well as the ability to carryit out, will perforce make it easier for you to cognize the sense andsignificance, as well as the carrying out, of all the subsequent exerciseswhich are required for the acquisition of one's own individuality, Itherefore advise you, so to say, to "mobilize" all your forces andpossibilities, in order that you should "BE ABLE" for a definite time notto be lazy and at the same time to be, in relation to yourself, that is tosay, to your weaknesses, quite merciless, because upon this firstexercise depends your whole subsequent normal life, and all yourfuture possibilities, inherent only in man, according to law.And so, if you really wish to have in yourself that which alone candistinguish a man from an ordinary animal, that is to say, if you wish tobe really such a one to whom Great Nature has given the possibilitywith the desire, that is, with a desire issuing from all the three separatespiritualized parts and with the conscious striving to transform yourselfinto a so to