The Masters of Wisdom – J. G. Bennett

$85.00

The Masters of Wisdom by J. G. Bennett – his last manuscript, published unaltered, on the hidden Sufi teachers of Central Asia.

About the book

Towards the end of his life J. G. Bennett, pupil of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, became aware of the Khwajagan – the 'Masters of Wisdom' of Central Asia, almost entirely unknown in the West and one of the most remarkable groups of teachers ever to have lived. Bennett shows what kind of men they were and how they taught, traces their influence into earlier periods, and examines their possible connection with the mission of Christ. Essential reading for students of the Fourth Way and Sufism.

The Khwajagan ('the Masters') were a line of Sufi teachers active in Central Asia from around the 10th to the 16th centuries, from whom the Naqshbandi order descends. Bennett believed that Gurdjieff's teaching had its source in this tradition, and in this book he sets out his view of a hidden line of wisdom running through history – from ancient times, through the Khwajagan, to the present – and of the role such schools play in human evolution.

Published after Bennett's death, the book stands as a summary of his lifetime's search and is widely read in Fourth Way circles.

About the author

John Godolphin Bennett (1897–1974) was a British mathematician, scientist and spiritual teacher. A pupil of both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, he founded the International Academy for Continuous Education at Sherborne House and wrote many books including The Dramatic Universe and his autobiography Witness.

Ideal for: students of the Fourth Way, Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, and readers interested in Sufism and esoteric history.

Details

Author: J. G. Bennett

Carefully packed and shipped from Australia. Questions about this copy, or want more photos? Get in touch.

The Masters of Wisdom by J. G. Bennett – his last manuscript, published unaltered, on the hidden Sufi teachers of Central Asia.

About the book

Towards the end of his life J. G. Bennett, pupil of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, became aware of the Khwajagan – the 'Masters of Wisdom' of Central Asia, almost entirely unknown in the West and one of the most remarkable groups of teachers ever to have lived. Bennett shows what kind of men they were and how they taught, traces their influence into earlier periods, and examines their possible connection with the mission of Christ. Essential reading for students of the Fourth Way and Sufism.

The Khwajagan ('the Masters') were a line of Sufi teachers active in Central Asia from around the 10th to the 16th centuries, from whom the Naqshbandi order descends. Bennett believed that Gurdjieff's teaching had its source in this tradition, and in this book he sets out his view of a hidden line of wisdom running through history – from ancient times, through the Khwajagan, to the present – and of the role such schools play in human evolution.

Published after Bennett's death, the book stands as a summary of his lifetime's search and is widely read in Fourth Way circles.

About the author

John Godolphin Bennett (1897–1974) was a British mathematician, scientist and spiritual teacher. A pupil of both Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, he founded the International Academy for Continuous Education at Sherborne House and wrote many books including The Dramatic Universe and his autobiography Witness.

Ideal for: students of the Fourth Way, Gurdjieff and Ouspensky, and readers interested in Sufism and esoteric history.

Details

Author: J. G. Bennett

Carefully packed and shipped from Australia. Questions about this copy, or want more photos? Get in touch.

CONTENTS

Chapter One THE DEMIURGE

The suprahuman intelligence of the Demiurge - the ancient idea of a limited God - the directed evolution of life - coming of mind - the early magicians - coming of creative power - Adam - the first twelve thousand ears

Chapter Two THE EARLY MASTERS

Four centres of demiurgic work - agriculture and settlement - the creation of the root languages and conceptions of God - epoch of diffusion - epoch of conflict • heroic epoch - the beginnings of civilization - the destruction of Minoan power foundation of the Sarman Society

Chapter Three THE FIRST REVELATIONS

The need for love - a new dispensation - changes in the four cultures - Lao Tzu and Confucius - Buddha, Jain and Gosala - Zoroaster - the Israelites - fall of the Achaemenid empire - decay of religion

Chapter Four THE TIME OF CHRIST

The Magi and the Essenes - John the Baptist and Jesus - the true mission of Jesus - next stage of human evolution - the gospel of Matthew - the Sermon on the Mounts. a legominism - sending out of the disciples - the Transfiguration - the secret of love - humiliation of James and John - humiliation of Peter - the Last Supper - Judas taking away the sins ot the world - the new commandment - the way of the first Christians

Chapter Five A THOUSAND YEARS OF LOVE

The meaning of humiliation lost - martyrdom and asceticism - cruelty and hatred in Christendom - world wide disasters - Zurvanism, Gurdjieff and the idea of a limited God -the rise of Islam and collapse of Zoroastrianism - the influence of the Masters - Wisdom - degeneration of Islam - disappearance of spiritual leadership

Chapter Six THE RETURN OF THE MASTERS

Persia and Turkestan - difference between northern and southern Sufis - peace and prosperity in Central Asia - Yusuf of Hamadan - the way of the Khwajagan - Yusuf and his pupils - practical techniques of transformation - Yasawi and his influence over centuries - Abd al-Khaliq Ghujduwani keeper of the main tradition - his 'Counsel* and the aphorisms of the Way of the Masters

Chapter Seven CHINGIS KHAN

Chinghis Khan the leader - the invasion of Turkestan - attitude of Mongols to holy men - the Khwajagan in Bukhara - the vision of Chinghis Khan - his able successors

Chapter Eight THE MONGOL ERA

Shamanism - activity of the Masters - stages of fans - the final annihiliation - Azizan, Samasi and Kulal - Baha ad-din Nagshbandi - his early days - his vision at the tomb in Bukhara - chance of Christian unity through the Mongols lost - Persia becomes Muslim

Chapter Nine THE MASTER TRAINING

Treatment of pupils - suhbat - extract of group meetings with Attar - a typical programme of work - training of Baha ad-din - conscious labour and intentional suffering - the chain ot transmission - Khidr - spiritual experiences of Baha ad-din - his teachers.- work with Khalil Ata - visit to king of Herat - humiliation and commitment - meaning of marifat - jazba - Ubaidallah Ahrar - his carly days - his dreams - his state of abandonment - his teachers - becoming a farmer - initiation by Yaqub Charkhi - Ahrär's teachings - Mawlana Jami - his abandonment of science and mathematics - his withdrawal - contact with Ahrar - disappearance of - Masters of Wisdom from Central Asia

Chapter Ten THE MASTER PEACEMAKERS

Tamerlane and his successors - powers of the Khwajagan - spiritual side of Tamerlane - Khwajagan act to bring peace - peace ignored by historians - Ubaidallah Ahrar - his family - his supranormal powers - relationship with Sultan Ahmad - twice stopping the invasion of Samarkand by mystic power - protection of the people