Working with being ordinary is quite a pandora’s box. On the one hand, there’s this thing about ascending the order of Gurdjieff’s Idiots, only to hope you tumble down to Ordinary Idiot so you can truly grow in Being.
On the other hand, there’s the reality around what an ordinary person I am. Not the sharpest card in the deck, nor the most compassionate. All in all, I see myself as an average, ordinary, Fourth Way Practitioner.
Being Ordinary
But of course, I tell myself being ordinary is just fine, thank you very much. Only it would be finer if I didn’t secretly believe it wasn’t true. After all, I wrote a book! Plus, I show up on the movements floor and other people think I know what I’m doing.
The problem with being ordinary is that I don’t want to be. Or, when I am, I want to use it as an excuse, “Leave me alone, I’m doing the best I can thank you very much.”
So, where is the Work in this?
That is always the relevant question.
Ordinary Work
When the work is against ego, then striving to be ordinary is relevant. I can feel that you and I share a sameness. When one is using it as an excuse not to work, then perhaps a super-effort is legitimately called for.
Then there’s Madam de Salzmann speaking about being aware of one’s “lack”.
I relate to this as being conscious of the gulf between “who I am and who I wish to be”, in Mr. Bennett’s words. Many in this work know this chasm, filled with remorse of conscience. A place that lies between the ego and the self, where the possibility of something being born is.
In reality, it’s important to work with being ordinary. The ego either wallows in being ordinary or denies it. The wish to be more than you are, throws a line over to the far side. That bridge is a tightrope that takes balance, perseverance and guts.
And like all the rest of it, it’s an ongoing effort best worked at together.