Identification

“A man who identifies with anything is unable to remember himself. To remember oneself it is necessary first of all not to identify.” George Gurdjieff

Mr. Gurdjieff explains that when we look at something we are aware of it, yet most of our awareness goes into what we observe. Very little goes into consciousness of ourselves as the observer. This condition, which the Fourth Way calls identification, is the opposite of self-remembering. With self-remembering, attention is divided and we become aware of two things simultaneously: the object and ourselves looking at it.

When attention is not divided, we can become identified with anything: ourselves, our imagination, other people, the past and future, money, sex, politics, health, injustice… the list goes on. Identification happens when we are overly intent on something, such as when we are agitated or rushing or arguing. It is less evident but equally constant when we walk, talk, eat, read, watch TV, and work at the computer. Our attention is so drawn by the subject that our consciousness disappears into it.

Being mesmerized is just one side of identification. It can also stir us to impulsiveness, urgency, or frenzy. The degree and form of identification can range from apathy to efficiency, and from impatience to rage, and it can spill over at any time in a subtle or overt expression of negative emotions.

Paradoxically, identification makes us feel alert and alive because it heightens our focus on whatever we are seeing or doing. But this always happens at the expense of divided attention. Even though we are acutely aware, we have lost awareness of ourselves and our larger surroundings. The simple truth is that the more we identify, the less conscious we are, even though we may feel justifiably interested or determined or productive.

Work on identification

Overcoming identification does not mean losing our focus or interest. It means not allowing consciousness to collapse and disappear. Fortunately, we can learn to recognize that we are identified, or becoming identified, and this can be a reminder to engage divided attention; to step back from whatever we are identified with and be present.

By not expressing negative emotions, by governing extreme reactions, and, above all, by dividing attention, it is possible to release identification and replace it with self-remembering. Whatever form identification takes, the main solution is to be present while doing whatever we are doing. As an aid, we can find a catalyst in our surroundings for divided attention, such as a beautiful object, another person’s face, the sound of their voice, noises in the environment, or the feeling of our own body. These can become devices for reintroducing divided attention. In many cases, it also helps just to slow down, or to take a short walk and concentrate on the effort to self-remember.

The aim is not to ignore or avoid subjects of identification, but to transcend the state of identification and return to presence. As Robert Earl Burton has said, “For identification, we give up our greatest treasure, self-remembering.”

1— The foundation of the Fourth Way
• Self-knowledge · Levels of consciousness
• Man as a machine · Consciousness, will, and unity
• Obstacles to awakening · Three lines of work

2— The theory of centers (requires lecture 1)
• The 4 lower centers
• The sex center
• Higher centers
• The soul, the spirit

Forward this issue
Please forward the newsletter to anyone who may have an interest in learning more about the Fourth Way and the Fellowship of Friends.

Subscribe
Go to our sign up form.

If you have problems printing
If the right margin is cut off, adjust the "page setup" settings in your email program. You can also print the newsletter directly from our web site (go to archives). If you still have problems, contact us.

Send us your comments
Please use our response form.

See back issues
Go to archives.

To unsubscribe
Use the ‘safely unsubscribe’ link at the bottom of the newsletter.