Los Angeles

“What is it I must try to find? The answer is so obvious. I have to find that what is not of this earth.”

Mr. Nyland, Jan. 7, 1969

Gurdjieff’s Teaching in the Groups of Willem A. Nyland

Southern California

Los Angeles Group

In the half century since his death, George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff has become far more famous than he ever was during his own lifetime. This says something about the power of his ideas and the challenge they present. By all accounts, Gurdjieff himself lived a remarkable life. The details of his life, as he demonstrated it to his pupils, followed his edict to be “free inside and not identify and externally play a role.” He wrote three books, none of which was published until after his death in 1949, in which he set out his assessment of life on earth, and human life in particular.

If we see the truth in what Gurdjieff has diagnosed as our condition—that we are not as we should be—then it is the remedy for what he so aptly describes as “the-terror-of-the-situation” that should be the focus of our attention. This remedy does not include the emulation of Gurdjieff’s personal life or his style. Rather, it is to fully comprehend what he means by the “terror-of-the-situation” and to take appropriate action.

The Los Angeles group meets weekly to pursue Work on oneself, as taught by Gurdjieff and Mr. Nyland. It is closely affiliated with the West Coast network of Mr. Nyland’s groups (San Francisco Bay Area, Tucson, Seattle and Santa Fe). If you would like more information about the ideas and teaching of Gurdjieff and Willem Nyland, click on the links at the bottom of this page.

If you are more than curious: Mr. Nyland emphasized that Work, with a big “W” was Gurdjieff’s Work—not his, not Bennett’s or Ouspensky’s. Thus, the Los Angeles Group places importance on Gurdjieff’s source book, All and Everything. Mr. Nyland also underscored the necessity for an inner wish to awaken—for some real heart at the heart of the matter. Without real personal experience and application of real effort a book is a book and ideas are just more philosophy. The Los Angles group stresses that Gurdjieff’s ideas have to move from the realm of philosophy into practice, and we talk about our practice weekly.

Although our group, nationwide, is a resource of many years of Work experience, there is little hierarchy and certainly no guru. We’re not after anyone’s money; modest monthly dues are requested. We do not wear flowing robes and red fezzes. We aren’t looking for a Hollywood production. We have regular lives, families, etc., but also a commitment to trying our best to wake up in the ordinary lives we live. We have a sense of humor, a sense of purpose, a dedication to the remarkable legacy Gurdjieff left us.

For further information contact socal@nyland.org.