7/31/2019 Warning to Reader

1/3

WARNING TO THE READER

The persons interested in esoteric problems have probably read the book of

Pierre Ouspensky published posthumously by his next of kin and bearing the title

of "Fragments of an Unknown teaching"1. The ideas found in the book were

gathered by the author from "G". "G"2indicates what the base of his teaching is.

"to those who already know, I would say if you like, that this is ESOTERIC

Christianity"3

. It is curious that under these conditions the title speaks of anunknown teaching. The Christian Esoteric Tradition has always remained alive

within certain convents in Greece, Russia and elsewhere and if it is true that this

knowledge was hermetically hidden, yet its existence was known and access to it

was never forbidden to those seriously interested in these problems.

If some passages of the book make us think that it is a question of a sort of

syncretism gathering several traditional teachings, yet we do not doubt that as to

the essential, the fragments of the system exposed in Ouspensky's work draw

their origin from the revelation issuing forth from the Great Esoteric Brotherhood

to which the apostle St. Paul alluded in his Epistle to the Romans.4

These fragments have, therefore, been drawn from the veritable source. Yet, as

correctly indicated by the title, Ouspensky's book contains only some fragments

of a tradition transmitted until a recent epoch solely orally; only a study of theensemble of that tradition would allow access to the Revelation.

Our relations with Pierre Ouspensky, whom we have known well, were described

in an article of the review "Synthesis."5

We must re-affirm here that although Ouspensky had a spirited desire to publish

his book during his lifetime, he always hesitated to do so. We had stressed, for all

it is worth, the danger of a fragmentary divulgence and the incertitude of the

exposition of certain essential points. The fact that "Fragments" was published

after the death of the author, over twenty years after the writing had been

achieved comes to support our assertions.

* * *

The study we are presenting here is directly drawn from the Christian OrientalTradition: the sacred texts, the commentaries which were written around these

texts especially from the sermons of the Philocalia which is, above all, the

teaching and the discipline such as they were transmitted by those persons who

were regularly invested. We shall find certain similarities between the contents of

this study and Ouspensky's book since the sources are the same in part. But

attentive scrutiny and comparison will, above all, show the incomplete character

of that book and the errors and deviations it contains with regard to the doctrine.

We all know the importance of diagrams in the Esoteric Tradition. They have

been conceived to permit the transmission of that knowledge through the

centuries, in spite of the death of civilizations. The errors on the background of a

diagram which are particularly important6 were exposed in the abovementioned

article of Synthesis. What else should we say of the place given to man in thediagram called "Diagram of all things alive?7

1 Paris, stock 1950. (The work was translated into English called "In Search of the Miraculous"

fragments of an unknown teaching.2 Fragments p.22 (French ed.)3 Ibid. p.154 (French ed.) underlined in the original text.4 Romans, VIII, 28-30.5 Wolwe-St.-Jam called "Diagram of all things alive"bert, Brussels ed.no.144 issue of "Synthesis".6Fragments p.289.7Ibid. p.251.

7/31/2019 Warning to Reader

2/3

After several considerations aiming at showing the "nullity" of the man who hasnot esoterically evolved and that very small place which is his in the Universe,he has been placed in that diagram which has been artificially complicated, at thelevel of Angels and Archangels. This means to say, in the Kingdom of Heaven,figured by the superior inverted "L", even though Christ categorically affirmedthat entry into the Kingdom of Heaven is banned to those who have not beenBORN ANEW.8 This Second Birth being the object and goal of esoteric work.The place of the Exterior man, according to the New Testament 9, which means,man who has not, so far, produced fruit, but whose latent faculties are to be

developed, is found in fact in the above mentioned diagram between the twoinverted "L' s", where he forms the link between the visible and invisible worlds.We are able to multiply the examples of this nature.

There is that which is graver still: the concept of the mechanical-man which has

as a consequence, his irresponsibility10. This is in direct contradiction with thedoctrine of sin, of repentance and of the access to salvation which is the basis ofthe teaching of Christ.

*****

The utmost genuine faith, human intelligence and goodwill are not sufficient toprevent errors and deviations in everything that touches the domain of

Revelation and which would not be totally inspired there from. The errors anddeviations of "Fragments" attest to the fact that the book was not written at theorders and under the control of the Great Esoteric Brotherhood. This means thatthe facts on which the book was based have a fragmentary character. So, in theesoteric realm, all fragmentary knowledge is a source of danger.

The works of the ancient writers, such as St. lrenee, Clement of Alexandria,Eusebe of Cesarea who wrote about the heresies of the first centuries of our era,will evidence this. We learn, for example, that certain Gnostic schools, seeingthe imperfection of the created world, without searching for the reasons of theexistence of these imperfections, have, by a short cut of thought, reached theconclusion, of points of view such as the feebleness of the Creator, Hisincompetence or even His evilness. The incomplete is, therefore, a true source of

all heresies. Only what the Tradition calls Pherome, which means Plenitude,including Gnosis11in its totality offers a guarantee against all deviations.

========================================================

i) Translators Note:- We have taken the liberty of giving the reader here,the two figures that the author refers to above; Ouspensky's figure, drawn from his

book p.451 and the third figure of the second volume of Gnosis, p.100 of the Frenchedition. We have translated the text in both cases.

Gnosis Vol. 2 fig. 3

8 John,III,3 and following.9 Mark, IV, 11.10Fragments p. 41.11St. Paul of the Ephesians, III, 18 -19 -Didachee -and St. Clement of Alexandria, the Stromtis, passim, etc...

7/31/2019 Warning to Reader

3/3