In Search of the Miraculous

P. D. OUSPENSKY

IN SEARCH OF THE

MIRACULOUS

FRAGMENTS OF AN UNKNOWN TEACHING

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I

Return from India. The war and the "search for the miraculous." Old thoughts The question of schools. Plans for further travels. The East and Europe. A

notice in a Moscow newspaper. Lectures on India. The meeting with G. A

"distinguished man." The first talk, G.'s opinion on schools. G.'s group.

"Glimpses of Truth." Further meetings and talks. The organization of G.'s

Moscow group The question of payment and of means for the work. The

question of secrecy and of the obligations accepted by the pupils. A talk about

the East. "Philosophy," "theory," and "practice." How was the system found?

G's ideas. "Man is a machine" governed by external influences Everything

"happens." Nobody "does" anything In order "to do" it is necessary "to be." A man is responsible for his actions, a machine is not responsible. Is

psychology necessary for the study of machines? The promise of "facts." Can wars be stopped? A talk about the planets and the moon as living beings. The

"intelligence" of the sun and the earth. "Subjective" and "objective" art.

CHAPTER II

Petersburg in 1915 G. in Petersburg. A talk about groups. Reference to

"esoteric" work "Prison" and "Escape from prison." What is necessary for this escape? Who can help and how? Beginning of meetings in Petersburg. A

question on reincarnation and future life. How can immortality be attained?

Struggle between "yes" and "no." Crystallization on a right, and on a wrong, foundation. Necessity of sacrifice. Talks with G and observations. A sale of

carpets and talks about carpets. What G. said about himself. Question about

ancient knowledge and why it is hidden. G's reply. Knowledge is not hidden.

The materiality of knowledge and man's refusal of the knowledge given to

him. A question on immortality. The "four bodies of man." Example of the

retort filled with metallic powders. The way of the fakir, the way of the monk,

and the way of the yogi The "fourth way." Do civilization and culture exist?

CHAPTER III

G.'s fundamental ideas concerning man. Absence of unity. Multiplicity of I's.

Construction of the human machine. Psychic centers. G.'s method of

exposition of the ideas of the system. Repetition unavoidable. What the

evolution of man means Mechanical progress impossible. European idea of

man's evolution. Connectedness of everything in nature. Humanity and the

moon. Advantage of individual man over the masses Necessity of knowing

the human machine.

Absence of a permanent I in man. Role of small I's. Absence of individuality