Lachman Gary - Maurice Nicoll Forgotten Teacher Of The Fourth Way - Hardcover

Binding: Hardcover
Description: A biography of the influential teacher of the Fourth Way In 1922, Maurice Nicoll (1884 - 1953) abandoned his successful London psychiatry practice and his direct studies with Carl Jung to move his family just outside of Paris to the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man a center recently opened by philosopher mystic and spiritual guru G. I. Gurdjieff the founder of the esoteric system that became known as the Fourth Way. Nicoll went on to become one of the most passionate teachers of the Fourth Way committing the final three decades of his life to teaching The Work in his own unorthodox style. In this revealing biography Gary Lachman draws on recently uncovered diaries to explore the unusual syncretic approach Nicoll brought to his teaching of the Fourth Way. He shows how Nicoll is unique in having Jung Gurdjieff and Ouspensky as teachers and to have known each of these important figures in esoteric history personally yet as Lachman reveals Nicoll was not a blind devotee by any stretch. The author shows how he incorporated elements of Jungian psychology and Emanuel Swedenborg - inspired mysticism into his exploration and teaching of both Gurdjieff's and Ouspensky's ideas as well as into his best - known work Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky. Lachman reveals the unorthodox side of Nicoll in fuller detail than ever before through excerpts from recently shared diaries in which Nicoll included detailed accounts of his own solitary self - sex erotic experimentations to reach visionary states along with recordings of his dreams and other personal and mystical reflections. The social details of Nicoll's life are also examined including vivid portraits of the occult scene in the early - to - mid - 20th century and the communal living situations in which Nicoll sometimes resided. Drawing on his familiarity with hermetic practices and his own experiences with The Work Lachman comprehensively explores the significance of Nicoll and the novelty of his thought offering a profound needed and sympathetic but critical study of this man so instrumental to the development and legacy of the Fourth Way.
Title: Maurice Nicoll Forgotten Teacher Of The Fourth Way
Author(s): Lachman Gary
Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear And Company
Barcode: 9781644119914
Pages: 464 Pages
Publication Date: 6/18/2024
Category: Mysticism, Magic & Ritual