The Self That Knows Its Own Nothingness

When we are told to remember ourselves and ask: "Which self?" what answer can we expect after a time almost with certainty? We can expect the answer: "The self that knows its own nothingness." Yes, this would be a full form of Self-Remembering. The result of work is gradually to make us see we cannot do. You say: "Of course I can do."

The Work speaks of "doing" differently from the life-idea of doing. For instance, in the Work-sense, to change oneself is to do. Why? Because to "do" in the life-sense is simply to react mechanically, although people ascribe to themselves this "reacting to life" as conscious doing and cannot see the idea. Mechanical reactions change no one.

But to change the action of life on you by inner work on impressions is certainly to begin to do. If you can begin with daily smallest things you may see what is meant. If we say that one meaning of Self-Remembering is to remember the Work at some moment of life when life would, say, make you negative, then here we have a practical idea of Self-Remembering.

Maurice Nicoll, “Commentary on Self-Remembering" in Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky (Vol. 4, p. 1248-1249)