Classical Spirituality in Contemporary America The Confluence and Contribution of G.I. Gurdjieff and Sufism

G.I. Gurdjieff (d. 1949) remains an important, if controversial, figure in early 20th-century Western Esoteric thought. For a number of years, Gurdjieff traveled around Central Asia, Asia, Turkey, and elsewhere seeking spiritual knowledge. Of particular importance in Gurdjieff's accounts is his experience with a number of Sufi teachers and orders. Yet, what has been looked at far less is the later influence and exchange of those involved in Gurdjieff's ideas and Sufism. This book explores the introduction of Gurdjieff's discourse on spiritual transformation in the late 20th century and its relation to Sufism. This book does not simply show or demonstrate the influence of Gurdjieff and his ideas, but analyzes and assesses the specific discourse on and about Sufism in the context of contemporary spiritual and religious teachings, particularly in the United States, and highlights some of the adaptive, boundary-crossing, and hybrid features that have led to the development and continuing influence of Sufism.

Acknowledgments \ Introduction \ 1. Gurdjieff and Sufism: The Creation of a Discourse \ 2.Gurdjieff's Discourse on the Soul: Beelzebub's Tales and Sufism \ 3.J.G. Bennett and the Gospel of Gurdjieff and Sufism \ 4.Gurdjieff, American Style: Sherborne House and Claymont Court \ 5. Gurdjieff and the Continuing Influence of Sufism in America \ Notes \ Bibliography \ Index