'THE HARMONIOUS CIRCLE'

'THE HARMONIOUS CIRCLE',The Lives & Work of G.I.GURDJIEFF, P.D. OUSPENSKY & Their Followers, by JAMES WEBB, 1980, is a fascinating book that I first read in 1987 and have re-read since them and more recently yesterday. My first reading of this book gave me some interesting information and clues and hints on things which any reader on GURDJIEFF can discover for himself or herself, depending on their 'aim(s)' in doing so. I only became somewhat recently aware of Webb's death, by suicide, and yesterday when I concluded the final chapter of the book, or section of it, realized that this chapter contains some clues as to why he took his own life.....though this is my own personal conjecture and observation..... The chapter is perhaps the most 'negative' one in the entire book because he attempts to consider GURDJIEFF from the point of view and by the criticisms and somewhat 'scandulous' tidbits surrounding the 'WORK' and discusses the 'disillusionment' and 'disappointment' some ended up with...which I think partly is projection/transference by him of his 'suicidal tendencies' that occultism sometimes brings into focus.....GURDJIEFF, himself, as mentioned in many works on him and by him, considered apparently at one time suicide..... Occultism can be a'dead-end' for many,especially those who seek some kind of 'power' or 'abilities' ion such realms and who want to obtain things for nothing and not pay for them....sometimes they have to pay with their lives, of course,sometimes by despair, futility, and other morbid senses and feelings, sometimes aroused and concentrated by the condition of their bodies and force of their emotions as well as sometimes some 'loony', 'misguided' ideas and theories....Gurdjieff warned of this sort of thing and pointed out how certain impressions and influences could affect one in all the ways he mentions in his writings. I do not have time to delve into this event of Webb's death but will say that considerations and fantasies on or about suicide are many....in seemingly 'normal' persons....however, those who 'attempt' suicide and who are not successful beyond a certain degree of injury and efforts, usually do not do so, but hold back at the last minute unless they make 'a serous mistake' in their attempts, which are, after all, a form of communication, an asking, a pleading for not only attention, but for love and consideration....as when a woman does so because her husband has numerous affairs and other things that threaten her status, her life, and her beliefs,etc. I was acquainted with a Filipino Movie Star who always made the newspapers with her 'unsuccessful' attempts at suicide and usually was hospitalized.....it was not, as some reporters at the time claimed, just for 'publicity purposes' or 'ego-trips' or to gain advertising for the films she was working on or to stimulate her fans sympathy...I do not know if she is still alive as I lost touch with her after some years.....that is, I do not know if she actually ended up committing suicide...if she did it was because she might have become frustrated by her efforts to receive the love and attention she so much craved...Suicide is often a substitute for murder, for anger, for rage, and focused on one's own body rather than others...it is not merely,though it can be, feeling sorry for oneself.