Who is J.G. Bennett, G.I. Gurdjieff, and what is Claymont? These names have loomed large my entire adult life. For most people they have not. So here goes:
G.I. Gurdjieff was a Greek-Armenian mystic who brought the “wisdom of the East” to the West. Basically, he spent his youth searching for the answers to questions. Like, “What is the meaning of life on earth and in particular, what is the purpose for my being here?” Or something to that effect. Well, he found his answers and developed an entire philosophy, cosmology, psychology, and body of exercises to address the issue. It boils down to this: developing our potential as “real” human beings. So that we can consciously play our part in the cosmos. Which turns out to be a life-time’s worth of work. I know, I’m still working on it.
PS: Gurdjieff died in 1949.
J.G. Bennett was a British scientist, philosopher, industrialist, linguist, explorer, intelligence operator and WWI survivor. (Not in that order.) He was also an incredible intellect and wrote numerous books. He worked closely with Gurdjieff and later travelled throughout the middle east learning at the feet of Sufi’s and other spiritual sages. Towards the end of his life he began an esoteric school, in Sherborne, England. For a few years, those lucky enough to hear and heed the call, spent a tough but magical ten months on one of his Basic Courses at Sherborne House. That was in the early 1970s. I was one of that lucky number. I’ve spent the rest of my life unpacking what I learned there.
Claymont, aka the Claymont Society for Continuous Education, is in Charles Town, West Virginia. Bennett purchased the property before his death in 1974. Bennett’s idea was that Basic Course graduates would become residents on the land in a self-sufficient community that was grounded in Gurdjieff’s teaching. The spiritual principles and inner work associated with that teaching would be the glue. This community would serve as a model for the hard times Bennett predicted would come. Times in which we are now living. Claymont did not ultimately become exactly what Bennett envisioned, but it has persevered and there are still those who practice and seek inner transformation there. In fact, Claymont is part of a larger network of Gurdjieffian, or Fourth Way, communities.
There are tons of paths to explore inner-transformation and become “all that you can be.” But this is my path, so it is the platform from which I speak and understand myself.
I have just read “Real People” and really enjoyed it. We were around at Beshara at the same time and I can identify with you and Jack at that time, it sounds just like us. It was a special time and the English Cotswolds were unspoilt and very beautiful. I have looked forward to reading the next chapter with enthusiasms. Sherbourne is exactly as I imagine it to have been and it is a wonderful record of a student of the work in the privileged presence of JGB, first source witness make it really interesting.
Many Thanks for writing it Roberta,
All best Wishes.
Susie Needham. (Dorset Group, UK with Anne Hildyard)
HI Susie, thank you so much for letting me know. It was indeed a privilege to be in Mr. B’s presence. Nothing has ever equalled it. If you have the time, it would be really helpful to post what you wrote here as a review of the book on Amazon. Every little bit counts! Hope your Holiday is blessed with good energy.