Скачать или смотреть George Gurdjieff's teachings of Buffer

In G.I. Gurdjieff's teachings, a *"buffer"* refers to an internal psychological mechanism that allows people to avoid seeing the contradictions in their thoughts, feelings, and actions. These buffers create a kind of "insulation" within a person's mind, preventing them from recognizing their own inner inconsistencies, thereby enabling them to live without the discomfort of self-awareness.

*Key Concepts of Buffers*
1. *Buffers Reduce Internal Conflict*
Buffers act as mental "shields" that prevent a person from experiencing cognitive dissonance. For example, someone may believe in honesty but still lie, and the buffer allows them to remain unaware of this contradiction.
Without buffers, a person would feel the friction of their own inner contradictions, which could lead to self-questioning, discomfort, and ultimately inner growth.

2. *Buffers Prevent Conscious Awakening*
According to Gurdjieff, buffers are one of the main obstacles to spiritual awakening. They allow people to continue living on "automatic pilot" and prevent them from facing uncomfortable truths about themselves.
Removing buffers is a key aspect of Gurdjieff's path to self-realization. By dismantling these mental shields, individuals can experience higher self-awareness, inner struggle, and ultimately growth in consciousness.

3. *How Buffers Are Created*
Buffers are formed through societal conditioning, education, and life experiences. Over time, people develop justifications, beliefs, and rationalizations that allow them to avoid facing their contradictions.
For instance, someone might tell themselves, "Everybody does it," as a buffer to avoid guilt after engaging in unethical behavior.

4. *Breaking Down Buffers*
One of Gurdjieff's primary methods for breaking down buffers is through **self-observation**. By becoming aware of their own thoughts, actions, and contradictions, a person can see how they deceive themselves.
This process is painful but necessary for self-transformation. Once a buffer is dismantled, the person is forced to confront the truth about themselves, which can lead to the growth of consciousness.

5. *Role in Gurdjieff's Fourth Way*
In Gurdjieff's "Fourth Way" system, buffers are one of the reasons why humans live in a "state of sleep" or mechanical existence. Buffers keep people in this unconscious state, and overcoming them is essential for "waking up."
Unlike traditional spiritual paths that rely on monastic withdrawal, Gurdjieff's Fourth Way requires people to confront these buffers while actively engaging with everyday life.

*Example of a Buffer*
Imagine a person who believes they are kind and compassionate but frequently loses their temper with family or colleagues. A buffer might allow them to justify this behavior by saying, "I was only angry because they provoked me." This justification prevents them from confronting the deeper reality that their anger is not fully under their control. Removing the buffer would require them to face the uncomfortable fact that they lack self-mastery.

*Summary*
Buffers are mental and emotional defense mechanisms that protect people from confronting contradictions in their behavior, thoughts, and beliefs. While they make life more comfortable, they also prevent people from achieving higher self-awareness and spiritual growth. In Gurdjieff's teaching, breaking down buffers is a crucial step in the path toward awakening from the "sleep" of ordinary life.

If you'd like more context on Gurdjieff's teachings, I can provide quotes or references from his works, such as "In Search of the Miraculous" by P.D. Ouspensky, which documents many of Gurdjieff's core concepts.