Topic: Fontainebleau

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.

The process of recognizing spiritual answers is discussed through Nicoll’s invocation to Hermes, which he believed was answered by his introduction to the Fourth Way. Following this perceived sign, Nicoll sold his prestigious Harley Street medical practice and moved his entire family—including two goats for his infant daughter—to Gurdjieff’s institute in France. This radical life change exemplified the "plunge" required by Gurdjieff's demanding system.