John G. Bennett

<p><strong><em>I am only a bridge; when you have got over the stream you can kick me away.</em> -Gurdjieff to John G. Bennett</strong></p><p> </p><p>This work advances a thesis about Gurdjieff's mysticism and shows how one of Gurdjieff's most eminent pupils developed the heritage. It also compares John G. Bennett-for whom this is the first biographical study-with other Gurdjieff pupils notably Ouspensky and Jeanne de Salzmann.</p><p> </p><p>Bennett has been a controversial figure in the Gurdjieff lineage rising to prominence as he did in the generation after Gurdjieff's death. Scholar Joseph Azize scrutinizes Bennett's visions (near-death out-of-body and mystical experiences) showing the original ways he witnessed life death and resurrection. </p><p> </p><p>Azize also reveals how Bennett was taken advantage of by Idries Shah and why there's a widespread view among students of Gurdjieff that Idries Shah was a <em>poseur</em> a pretender to esoteric knowledge prepared to deceive others when it was to his advantage.</p><p><br></p><p> Bennett's later connections with Shivapuri Baba and his correspondence with David Bohm are also sure to stimulate more explorations of Gurdjieff-related matters.</p>