Eating the "I": An Account of the Fourth Way: The Way of Transformation in Ordinary Life

by William Patrick Patterson

Book Overview

2007 Expanded edition. Includes a gallery of 17 paintings depicting different stages in the journey. The search for one s real self is a sacred quest, an archetypal journey, whereby the seeker eats... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1879514761
• ISBN13: 9781879514768
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Arete Communications
• Length: 359 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Frank depiction of Work

I first read Eating the `I' over 10 years ago as I was very interested in learning more about Lord John Pentland, the man G.I. Gurdjieff had directed to spread the Fourth Way in America. Even with the publication of Exchanges Within, Eating The `I' remains a vibrant record of the remarkable Lord Pentland.But I didn't quite know quite what to make of the author at the time. It was only in a subsequent reading, some years later, that I realized what had thrown me off-balance. Autobiographies generally carry a thread of commentary, explaining or justifying, whenever behavior might be considered unflattering (although I suspect more often the facts are simply `adjusted' to deliver a more agreeable accounting). Instead I was confronted with simple reporting, including thoughts and moods of the moment, with no "commentary". Could I have done this, simply reporting on my life to a wide audience? Even in a private journal entry, I either come out the "good guy" or the breast-beater crying "mea culpa". Now, I began to read with more care. Not only was Lord Pentland's dynamic teaching presented, but also this student's deep acceptance of, as well as rebellion against, this teaching. As Mr. Patterson struggles with the ideas of the Fourth Way, as well as with "Patterson", he shares many of his hard-won insights. But it is the struggle itself that is the center of gravity of this book. As one truly opens to the way one's life is "lived", there is an inevitable collision with what one imagines about one's self. If struggle is the center of gravity in this book, courage may well be the corresponding theme. Lord Pentland is portrayed as the courageous warrior bringing the Fourth Way to America; though Mr. Patterson does not speak of his own courage, it is only through courage that he can put this very personal account of his efforts, and failings, on public display.

Personal Search

A brilliant and `can't put down' book that shows an individual's efforts to come to something for themselves and how this can add up within the context of the Fourth Way. What does it take to be `in the Work'? We see the author against a background of family relationships, social situations, job relations and, embroidered in high relief, the archetypes that are present in everyone's life; particularly noteworthy is the `father-son' relation. He illuminates with clarity how the teaching Gurdjieff brought uses `life' to come to `higher life.' In a wider context, William Patterson brings the Fourth Way teaching into modern times, and in particular, these modern times. We get a look and feeling of what it would be like to be on this fourth path of transformation. One also gets the sense that the Work does `stand above life.' Given is the perspective of how a person wrestles with the questions necessary for oneself that can produce real individuality. Irresistible book for an initial introduction to the Fourth Way and invaluable for people already there.

Honest

This is a very honest book. In Eating the "I", Patterson speaks sincerely of his efforts to find understanding of himself and life. For him, as it is for all of us, there is no clear right or wrong direction to take, no simple road signs to follow to finding oneself, and Patterson takes the reader along through every step and misstep he makes on his own personal path. It is interesting and entertaining, as well as being an accessible introduction to the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff and the Fourth Way.

Journey uncovered

This is one of the best spiritual classic books I've ever read on transformation in ordinary life. Patterson took a risk of uncovering what most writers never put on paper: bare truth about oneself as it is, down to the bone. So it's like in the saying: We all fall, but we get up. Excellent description of combat with oneself, falls and rises. It also shows his depth of perception and understanding of Work, when he went to study with Sunyata, who saw him and offered next step up (or down, if you wish) in seeing oneself. He offers unique look on process of spiritual transformation from inside of Work, and stays true to himself and reader. Patterson's honesty deserves admiration and his mastering of language, going into psychology of archetypes provide deeper understanding of Gurdjieff , as well as Jung. Brilliant book!

Eating the "I" without tears

This is an esoteric book that most people won't recognize as such. That's because of the picture most people have of what constitutes an esoterically spiritual person. The pursuit of an ultimate reality beyond the cacophony of mundane life is connected with images of serene meditating monks, of wandering recluses, of wide-eyed dreamers and spooky mystics. To read instead a book full of parties and socializing, office politics, career moves, flirtation and adultery, and ego posturing seems odd. "Real" esoteric and spiritual people are expected to get away from petty socializing, to take vows of poverty and chastity, and to put their all into the pursuit of some strenuous austerity or achievement, as do monks, yogis and fakirs. But this book is about the Fourth Way, in which mundane life is grist for the mill of self-development. It covers a period in the adult life of William Patrick Patterson. He's a writer and editor in the cutthroat milieu of New York City. He's also married, and tempted by bold, modern women. He rises like a meteor and is shot down by an office competitor. He knows wealth and poverty, arrogance and fear. He finds and honors a rare spiritual teacher. More than one in fact. There's cussing, drinking, verbal clashes, and relationships gone bad. It's not the bald subject matter, but the insights and principles that illuminate it that distinguish this book from an ordinary memoir. Here is one of many examples: Patterson faces an ugly truth underlying his employment situation concerning the way a boss is using and mistreating him. He withdraws his cooperation from the boss at a critical moment, knowing full well the it will at least create extreme unpleasantness at the office if not result in his ultimate dismissal. He has upset an equilibrium that needed to be upset, yet what will the consequences be? Can he get control and set the situation right or not? There is no way of knowing this at the moment his decision must be made. He is on a fatal trajectory that continues when the co-worker confronts him and demands an explanation for Patterson's absence from an award dinner. Should he appease his adversary by making a phony excuse? "These two "I"'s inside me debate. The one, very rational, mature-sounding. The arguments are so reasonable, sensible. So what if I lie - so what? But then, just at the last instant, a feeling comes of total disgust - disgust for what stood before me, disgust with that whole way of life. And inside that feeling a silent voice declares: I-am-not-going-to-lie-to-him.I tell him: "No excuse.""What!" he screams and sags, a look of horror, bewilderment, frozen to his face .......And something falls away and I know right then: I have broken free of him."Later he tells his wife that he'll apologize if she really wants him too but is not optimistic about doing it, because: "I feel like there's you know, a big movement going on. Big wheels are turning. I'm at the interval in the octave. all this has to happen. I'm b