Gurdjieff Movements at the Corfu Buddha Hall
Excerpt: Vasanti talks about the Gurdjieff Movements and invites us to attend an intensive or a meditation holiday in Corfu
Last year, at the end of the Gurdjieff Movement Retreat we were invited to watch a performance, which they called a 'demo'. Comfortably seated on chairs we had a good view over the ever changing formation of the dancers in front of a spectacular backdrop of green hills and distant mountains. All wearing something white out of the suitcase gave the group a uniformity but not that formality which you would find at a performance.
The gestures of arms and hands were quite unusual, at least not something you would find in theatres or even in travel documentaries. The feet performed steps on the spot, diagonal and backwards, and what I judged as akward, they were not in synchronicity with what the dancers were doing with their arms. I tried to figure out the pattern of the movements but was soon disheartened when I discovered that the pattern of the arms had shifted while that of the feet must have had remained the same. Although the participants of the Retreat were 'old foxes', people who meet every year from around the globe and many of them teaching courses in USA, UK, France, Germany, I was still amazed of the amount of dances they had learned during these few days. Some of the dances were fast, some more slow, some very graceful and others appeared almost like a martial arts performance.
'Performance' is also not the correct word for what I was seeing. Although our presence as spectators might have helped the dancer to get an edge of heightened awareness, I did not feel that they were dancing for us, for our enjoyment. They were doing something for themselves it seemed, each one for him- or herself, although aware of the presence of the others in the group and of us looking at them. Nevertheless, we as spectators could feel something come across, a calmness and a sense of wellbeing, at least after I had stopped trying to figure out the mathematics of the dances...
Also 'dance' is not the correct word really, they are called 'movements', Gurdjieff Movements – maybe to distinguish them from what we do for fun in a disco and for celebration at a wedding. I need Vasanti's input here and ask:
What are these Gurdjieff Movements all about?
Gurdjieff is a Russian mystic of the 20th Century; to help his pupils to become more aware of themselves he devised a few techniques and the Movements are one of them. According to his teaching we have three main centres: body, mind and heart. Most of us are living more in one or the other centre, but they are equivalent, none higher or lower. The aim of the Movements is to bring these three centres in harmony with each other. The complexity of the dances does not allow us to go astray with our mind and this brings us time and time again to the present. And being in the present we can become aware of the three centres working together which is – when it happens – a blessed gift.
Gurdjieff also talks about two more centres: the Higher Intellectual centre (appearing to me similar to what in other systems is called the 'third eye' – it is the place of 'knowing') and the Higher Feeling centre, which is the place where we feel prayerfulness, longing to be one with the divine, the whole.
The Gurdjieff Movements are essentially different from regular dances which do not necessarily require – like most human activities – the usage of more than one center.
What could I learn while doing the Gurdjieff Movements?
As the Movements are an exercise for body, mind and heart, all three will be benefitted:
For one they will help the body achieve flexibility of muscles and joints. And because we bring awareness also to the inside of our bodies, they might even help its good functioning (giving attention to the body brings energy to it). We also learn to become aware of the space around ourselves and learn to be in tune with others.
The mind receives various tasks: to learn the movements, to remember the individual sections and their sequence, and then to count the steps. With these tasks the mind is less likely to wander off, but when it does wander off and you start thinking of something else, you will immediately make a mistake and you will fall out of the sequence of the movements. This mistake will bring you instantly back to where you are and what you are meant to do – it brings you back to the present moment. I noticed in my day-to-day life that I became much better in time management and that my mind became more flexible and quicker in responding to new situations. So this is something I know I have learned from doing the Gurdjieff Movements.
Then come the emotions. They can flare up during the Movements in most unexpected moments: frustration about forgetting the sequence; judgement, even anger against other participants who might be in my way. Sometimes these emotions are totally irrational, things from the past. Because I cannot stop the dance and start an argument I can see it more clearly, like a cloud in front of me, something outside of me almost. The longer I have been doing the Movements the quicker these moods pass and I can come back to myself much easier. Then I can feel the three centres as having equal space in me and none of them having the upper hand. I fall into an almost neutral space, a blissful space; not blissed out but blissed-in, rooted in the body here on this earth.
What would make us start on this journey and keep going despite all these difficulties?
I guess it is the highest part in us which makes us strive to be one with the whole. It helps us, willing or unwilling, to move on and pay little or no attention to those other voices which might tell us to leave or give up. Probably everybody who is on a spiritual path has this helpful nagging inner voice pushing us forward, inward....
I loved this method from the very start, so the joy and appreciation have always been much stronger than the difficulties. Which is to say, that it can be fun too…and very inspiring.
You built this beautiful Buddha Hall, on top of a hill in Corfu. How come?
Maybe the inner nagging voice was leading me.... It was not easy at times, but the response has been immense. It has attracted not only workshops of Gurdjieff Movements but of other disciplines as well, like Yoga, Satori, music. Unexpectedly the hall has also attracted many friends to relocate here, as if the hall had a life of its own. I am glad I did it. After having learned a lot about construction the hall is now teaching me how to organise a venue, with lots of peoples skills to learn.
Any exciting developments in future?
For next summer we have included in the programme a whole month of Gurdjieff work and related practices. First we have Hara Awareness (June 11-16, 2012), then the 9 day Movements Retreat for the more experienced Movers, which is then concluded by a 3 day Introduction to the Enneagram open to everybody. There will be one day of work on Rhythm with musician Melanie Monsour and, finally, a 6 day event for those who have less experience with the Movements (July 7-14, 2012).
If you can stay on then you can sing your heart out with Deva Premal and Miten (July 14-21, 2012).
And this year (August 20-27, 2011) we will have BodyBliss: an easy and light event which combines holidays in the sun with body oriented meditative activities: Feldenkrais, Findhorn Circle Dance and Gurdjieff Movements.
I hope that many will come, for an intensive or for a taster holiday with a course in the morning – and beach in the afternoon. Corfu is a wonderful island, a hop from any major city in Europe. You are welcome! I am waiting for you.
For more info on the Buddha Hall visit the Corfu Buddha Hall website.
For more info on Gurdjieff Movements, visit Vasanti's website on Gurdjieff Movements.
Or mail to: vasanti@corfubuddhahall.info
