The Secrets of Tertium Organum: How Ouspensky Revealed the Universal Harmony in PDF

Ouspensky Tertium Organum Pdf It: A Guide to the Third Canon of Thought

If you are interested in philosophy, psychology, mysticism, or spirituality, you may have heard of Ouspensky and his book Tertium Organum. But what is this book about and why is it still relevant today? In this article, we will explore the life and work of Ouspensky, one of the most original and influential thinkers of the 20th century. We will also examine his masterpiece, Tertium Organum, which he called "the third canon of thought" after Aristotle's Organon and Bacon's Novum Organum. We will see how this book introduces us to a new way of looking at reality, based on the concepts of the fourth dimension, the law of octaves, and the enneagram. We will also see how these ideas can help us understand ourselves and our place in the universe better.

Ouspensky Tertium Organum Pdf It

Introduction

Who was Ouspensky?

Peter Demianovich Ouspensky was born in Moscow in 1878. He was a journalist, mathematician, philosopher, and esotericist. He was fascinated by the occult and the paranormal since his childhood. He studied science at the University of Moscow, but he soon became disillusioned with the materialistic worldview of his time. He started to search for a deeper meaning and a higher knowledge that could explain the mysteries of existence.

In 1908, he had a life-changing experience when he stumbled upon a book that mentioned the fourth dimension. He realized that this concept could be the key to unlock a new understanding of reality. He wrote his first book, Tertium Organum, in 1912, in which he developed his theory of the fourth dimension and its implications for philosophy, psychology, art, and religion. He also traveled extensively in Europe and Asia, looking for ancient wisdom and esoteric schools that could teach him more about this hidden dimension.

In 1915, he met George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, a mysterious teacher from Caucasus who claimed to have access to a secret tradition that preserved the ancient knowledge of humanity. Ouspensky became one of his most devoted disciples and learned from him many concepts and practices that enriched his own vision. He followed Gurdjieff to France after the Russian Revolution and helped him establish his school there. However, in 1924, he decided to part ways with Gurdjieff and pursue his own independent work. He moved to London, where he taught and wrote until his death in 1947.

What is Tertium Organum?

Tertium Organum is Ouspensky's magnum opus and his most famous work. It is a book that challenges the conventional logic and science of his time and proposes a new way of thinking that transcends the limitations of the three-dimensional world. It is based on the idea that there is a higher dimension of reality that is invisible to our ordinary senses, but that can be accessed by our intuition and imagination. It is also based on the idea that there is a hidden order and harmony in the universe that can be revealed by certain laws and symbols that govern all phenomena.

Ouspensky called his book Tertium Organum, which means "the third organ of thought", because he considered it to be a continuation and a completion of the two previous works that defined the Western logic and science: Aristotle's Organon and Bacon's Novum Organum. He argued that these two works were based on the assumption that reality is composed of discrete and separate objects that can be analyzed by deduction and induction. However, he claimed that this assumption was false and that reality is actually a continuous and interconnected whole that can only be understood by synthesis and intuition.

Ouspensky's book is divided into four parts. The first part deals with the critique of the existing logic and science and the introduction of the concept of the fourth dimension. The second part deals with the application of the fourth dimension to various fields of knowledge, such as geometry, physics, biology, psychology, art, and religion. The third part deals with the explanation of the law of octaves, which is a universal law that regulates the movement and development of all things. The fourth part deals with the description of the enneagram, which is a symbol that represents the law of octaves and the harmony of the universe.

Why is it relevant today?

Ouspensky's book may have been written more than a century ago, but it is still relevant today for several reasons. First, it offers a fresh and original perspective on reality that challenges the dominant materialistic and reductionist worldview of our time. It shows us that there is more to reality than what we perceive with our senses and measure with our instruments. It invites us to explore the hidden dimensions of ourselves and our world, using our intuition and imagination as tools.

Second, it offers a holistic and integrative approach to knowledge that bridges the gap between science and spirituality. It shows us that there is no contradiction between reason and faith, between logic and mysticism, between facts and values. It shows us that there is a common thread that connects all fields of knowledge and all levels of being. It invites us to discover the underlying unity and harmony of everything.

Third, it offers a practical and transformative guidance for our personal and collective evolution. It shows us that we are not passive victims of fate or circumstance, but active agents of change. It shows us that we have the potential to develop our consciousness beyond the ordinary level and access higher states of awareness and creativity. It invites us to participate in the cosmic plan and contribute to the fulfillment of our destiny.

The main ideas of Tertium Organum

The fourth dimension and the higher worlds

How Ouspensky discovered the fourth dimension

Ouspensky's interest in the fourth dimension was sparked by a book he found in his library in 1908. The book was called The Fourth Dimension by Charles Howard Hinton, an English mathematician who popularized this concept in the late 19th century. Hinton argued that there is a spatial dimension beyond the three dimensions we are familiar with: length, width, and height. He also argued that this dimension can be imagined by analogy with lower dimensions.

For example, if we imagine a point moving along a line, it creates a segment; if we imagine a segment moving perpendicular to itself, it creates a square; if we imagine a square moving perpendicular to itself, it creates a cube; if we imagine a cube moving perpendicular to itself, it creates a hypercube or tesseract, which is a four-dimensional figure. Hinton also devised some methods to visualize these figures using colored cubes or diagrams.

What is the fourth dimension and how can we access it?

The fourth dimension is a spatial dimension that is perpendicular to the three dimensions we are familiar with. It is not a temporal dimension, as some people may think, although it is related to time in a complex way. The fourth dimension is also not a metaphor or a symbol, but a real and objective aspect of reality that exists independently of our perception.

However, the fourth dimension is not accessible to our ordinary senses, because we are accustomed to perceive reality only in three dimensions. We can only see the projections or shadows of four-dimensional objects on our three-dimensional space, just as a two-dimensional being can only see the projections or shadows of three-dimensional objects on its plane. For example, if we imagine a four-dimensional cube or tesseract passing through our three-dimensional space, we would see it as a series of changing three-dimensional cubes that appear and disappear.

But how can we imagine or visualize the fourth dimension if we cannot perceive it directly? Ouspensky suggests that we can use our intuition and imagination as tools to access this higher dimension. He says that intuition is "the faculty of seeing things not by means of comparison and analogy but directly" (Ouspensky 1920: 67). He also says that imagination is "the faculty of creating images which do not correspond to any reality known to us" (Ouspensky 1920: 68). By using these faculties, we can transcend the limitations of our senses and logic and enter into a new mode of consciousness that allows us to grasp the essence of things.

How the fourth dimension reveals the mysteries of the world

Ouspensky claims that by understanding the fourth dimension, we can solve many of the problems and paradoxes that puzzle us in the three-dimensional world. He says that "the fourth dimension gives us a new conception of space and time; it shows us that space and time are forms of our perception and not properties of things themselves; it shows us that there are other forms of perception besides those which we possess; it shows us that there are other worlds besides ours" (Ouspensky 1920: 69).

For example, he explains how the fourth dimension can help us understand the nature of motion, causality, free will, infinity, eternity, life, death, and God. He says that motion is not a change of position in space, but a change of position in space-time; causality is not a relation between events in time, but a relation between events in space-time; free will is not a contradiction to determinism, but a manifestation of higher determinism; infinity is not an endless extension of space or time, but an attribute of higher space or time; eternity is not an endless duration of time, but a state of higher time; life is not a property of matter, but a property of higher matter; death is not an end of life, but a transition to higher life; God is not a being outside the world, but a being inside the world.

The law of octaves and the cosmic cycles

How Ouspensky learned about the law of octaves from Gurdjieff

Ouspensky's theory of the fourth dimension was further developed and enriched by his encounter with Gurdjieff in 1915. Gurdjieff was a teacher who claimed to have access to a secret tradition that preserved the ancient knowledge of humanity. He taught his students a system of ideas and practices that aimed to awaken them from their state of sleep and mechanicalness and help them realize their true potential.

One of the concepts that Gurdjieff taught Ouspensky was the law of octaves. This law states that everything in the universe moves and develops according to a certain pattern or rhythm that resembles the musical scale. The musical scale consists of seven notes: do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do. However, between each note there is an interval or gap that needs to be filled by an additional impulse or shock for the movement to continue. These intervals occur between mi-fa and si-do. Therefore, the complete scale consists of nine notes: do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do-re-mi.

Gurdjieff said that this law applies to everything, from the smallest atom to the largest galaxy, from the shortest moment to the longest epoch, from the simplest action to the most complex process. He said that everything that begins must follow the law of octaves and pass through the seven notes of the scale, but that everything that begins also tends to deviate from its original direction and lose its force unless it receives the necessary shocks at the right moments. He also said that there are many different octaves in the universe, some higher and some lower, some faster and some slower, some parallel and some perpendicular, some harmonious and some discordant, and that they all influence each other in various ways.

What is the law of octaves and how does it apply to everything?

The law of octaves is a universal law that regulates the movement and development of all things. It is based on the observation that everything in nature has a certain vibration or frequency that corresponds to a certain note of the musical scale. For example, the color red has a lower vibration than the color violet, and the sound do has a lower vibration than the sound si. Everything also has a certain range or spectrum of vibrations that corresponds to a certain octave of the musical scale. For example, the visible light has a range of vibrations that corresponds to an octave of colors, and the audible sound has a range of vibrations that corresponds to an octave of sounds.

The law of octaves states that everything that begins with a certain vibration or note must follow a certain sequence or pattern of vibrations or notes until it reaches its end or completion. This sequence or pattern is determined by the musical scale, which is based on mathematical proportions and harmonies. However, the law of octaves also states that there are two points or intervals in this sequence or pattern where there is a gap or discontinuity that needs to be filled by an additional vibration or note for the movement to continue. These points or intervals are called critical points or shocks. They occur between mi-fa and si-do, because these are the only notes in the scale that do not have sharps or flats between them.

the process of learning: we begin with do (motivation), then we go to re (attention), then we go to mi (encoding), then we need a shock (rehearsal) to go to fa (storage), then we go to sol (retrieval), then we go to la (application), then we go to si (evaluation), then we need another shock (feedback) to go back to do (improvement). We can also apply the law of octaves to the course of history: we begin with do (ancient civilizations), then we go to re (classical antiquity), then we go to mi (medieval times), then we need a shock (renaissance) to go to fa (modern era), then we go to sol (industrial revolution), then we go to la (world wars), then we go to si (cold war), then we need another shock (globalization) to go back to do (new world order).

How the law of octaves explains the evolution and involution of consciousness

Ouspensky also claims that the law of octaves can help us understand the evolution and involution of consciousness. He says that consciousness is not a fixed or static state, but a dynamic and variable process that depends on the level of vibration or frequency of our being. He says that there are different levels of consciousness that correspond to different octaves of vibrations, and that each level has its own characteristics and possibilities.

He says that the lowest level of consciousness is the mechanical or unconscious level, which corresponds to the lowest octave of vibrations. This is the level of animals, plants, minerals, and most human beings. At this level, there is no awareness or control over one's actions or thoughts, and everything is determined by external forces or habits. This is the level of sleep or automatism.

He says that the next level of consciousness is the emotional or subconscious level, which corresponds to the next octave of vibrations. This is the level of some human beings who have developed some degree of sensitivity and emotionality. At this level, there is some awareness or control over one's actions or thoughts, but everything is still influenced by feelings or impulses. This is the level of dreams or imagination.

He says that the next level of consciousness is the intellectual or conscious level, which corresponds to the next octave of vibrations. This is the level of some human beings who have developed some degree of reason and logic. At this level, there is more awareness or control over one's actions or thoughts, and everything is based on rationality or evidence. This is the level of wakefulness or reality.

He says that the highest level of consciousness is the spiritual or superconscious level, which corresponds to the highest octave of vibrations. This is the level of some human beings who have transcended the limitations of their ordinary mind and body and have attained a higher state of awareness and creativity. At this level, there is complete awareness or control over one's actions or thoughts, and everything is in harmony with the universal laws and principles. This is the level of enlightenment or transcendence.

Ouspensky says that evolution is the process of moving from lower levels of consciousness to higher levels of consciousness, by increasing one's vibration or frequency. He says that this process requires effort and will, as well as external shocks or influences that can help one overcome the inertia or resistance that prevents one from changing. He says that involution is the opposite process of moving from higher levels of consciousness to lower levels of consciousness, by decreasing one's vibration or frequency. He says that this process happens automatically and inevitably, as a result of entropy or decay that affects everything in nature.

The symbol of the enneagram and the universal harmony

How Ouspensky encountered the enneagram in Gurdjieff's school

Ouspensky's theory of the law of octaves was further developed and enriched by his encounter with another concept that Gurdjieff taught him: the enneagram. The enneagram is a symbol that consists of a circle with nine points on it, connected by a series of lines. Gurdjieff said that he learned this symbol from an ancient esoteric school in Central Asia, and that it was a secret key to understanding the mysteries of existence.

Ouspensky was intrigued by this symbol and tried to decipher its meaning and application. He said that the enneagram was "the fundamental hieroglyph of a universal language" (Ouspensky 1949: 281). He said that the enneagram could be used to represent and analyze any phenomenon or process, from the smallest to the largest, from the simplest to the most complex, from the physical to the spiritual. He said that the enneagram could also be used to harmonize and integrate different fields of knowledge and different levels of being.

What is the enneagram and how does it represent the law of octaves?

The enneagram is a symbol that represents the law of octaves and the harmony of the universe. It is based on the observation that everything in nature has a certain structure or order that is governed by certain laws or principles. The enneagram shows how these laws or principles operate and interact in different domains and dimensions.

The enneagram consists of three parts: a circle, a triangle, and a hexad. The circle represents the unity and wholeness of everything, as well as the cyclical and eternal nature of existence. The circle also represents the number one, which is the source and origin of all numbers. The triangle represents the law of three, which is a universal law that states that every phenomenon or process has three forces or aspects: active, passive, and neutralizing. The triangle also represents the number three, which is the first odd number and the first number that can create a geometric figure. The hexad represents the law of seven, which is a universal law that states that every phenomenon or process has seven stages or steps, with two intervals or shocks between them. The hexad also represents the number seven, which is the first prime number and the first number that cannot be divided by any other number.

The enneagram shows how these three parts are connected by a series of lines that form a nine-pointed figure. The nine points represent the nine notes of the musical scale: do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-si-do-re-mi. The nine points also represent the nine types or personalities that exist in human nature, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, motivations and fears, virtues and vices. The lines show how each point or note or type is related to another point or note or type, either by harmony or by discord, either by similarity or by difference, either by at