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In Search of the Miraculous

P.D. Ouspensky

disorganized right functioning of their machines by so-called 'yogi breathing' which

they had learned from books. Books which recommend such exercises represent a

great danger.

"The transition of breathing from the control of the formatory apparatus into the

control of the moving center can never be attained by amateurs. For this transition to

take place the organism must be brought to the last stage of intensity, but a man

himself can never do this.

"But as I have already said, there is a third way—breathing through movements.

This third way needs a great knowledge of the human machine and it is employed in

schools directed by very learned people. In comparison all other methods are 'homemade' and unreliable.

"The fundamental idea of this method consists in the fact that certain movements

and postures can call forth any kind of breathing you like and it is also normal

breathing, not 'inflation.' The difficulty is in knowing what movements and what

postures will call forth certain kinds of breathing in what kind of people. This latter is particularly important because people from this point of view are divided into a

certain number of definite types and each type should have its own definite

movements to get one and the same breathing because the same movement produces

different breathing with different types. A man who knows the movement which will

produce in himself one or another kind of breathing is already able to control his

organism and is able at any moment he likes to set in motion one or another center or

cause that part which is working to stop. Of course the knowledge of these

movements and the ability to control them like everything else in the world has its

degrees. A man can know more or less and make a better or a worse use of it. In the

meantime it is important only to understand the principle.

"And this is particularly important in connection with the study of the divisions of centers in oneself. Mention has been made of this several times before. You must

understand that each center is divided into three parts in conformity with the primary

division of centers into 'thinking,' 'emotional,' and 'moving.' On the same principle

each of these parts in its turn is divided into three. In addition, from the very outset

each center is divided into two parts: positive and negative. And in all parts there are

groups of 'rolls* connected together, some in one direction and others in another

direction. This explains the differences between people, what is called 'individuality.'

Of course there is in this no individuality at all, but simply a difference of 'rolls' and associations."

The talk took place in the big studio in the garden, decorated by G. in the fashion of

a dervish tekkeh.

Having explained the meaning of various kinds of breathing he began to divide

those present into three groups according to type. About forty people were there. G.'s

idea was to show how the same movements with different people produced different

"moments of breathing," for instance, with some inhalation, with others exhalation, and how different movements and postures can produce one and the same moment of

breathing—inhalation, exhalation, and holding the breath.

But this experiment was not completed. And, as far as I know, G. never afterwards

returned to it again.

During this period G. invited me several times to go and live at the Prieuré. There

was a good deal of temptation in this. But in spite of all my interest in G.'s work I

could find no place for myself in this work nor did I understand its direction. At the

same time I could not fail to see, as I had seen in Essentuki in 1918, that there were

many destructive elements in the organization of the affair itself and that it had to fall to pieces.

In December, 1923, G. arranged demonstrations of dervish dances, rhythmic

movements, and various exercises in Paris in the Theâtre des Champs Elysées.

Soon after these demonstrations in the beginning of January, 1924, G., together

with a part of his pupils, went to America with the intention of arranging lectures and