Topic: Essence

Gurdjieffian thought distinguishes between "essence," what a person is born with, and "personality," the acquired habits and social masks that eventually suffocate the soul. To awaken the essence, Gurdjieff established the Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man at a chateau in Fontainebleau. Students engaged in "The Work," which involved intentional friction, physical labor, and psychological exercises like self-remembering to break mechanical routines.

Strong discusses the Aboriginal concept of "Sky Heroes" and the Creator, noting that original people viewed the land and all objects as having a divine essence. He clarifies that while their society aimed for a "heaven on earth" through spiritual alignment, it was not perfect, as human emotions and testosterone still led to conflicts. He equates the Sky Heroes to the angels or extraterrestrial beings discussed in Western traditions.