D Kaushik discovers how George Gurdjieff developed movements which allow the body to leave its unconscious sleepy state and help us establish deeper contact with our inner selves
The Russian spiritual teacher George Gurdjieff believed that “man lives his life in sleep.” Or in a state of hypnotic waking sleep.
To get the body out of its automaton stage, he designed movements that connect it with the inner self. These are popularly called sacred dance, sacred movements or sacred gymnastics.
Komal Mathur has been teaching sacred dance movements and is part of many workshops in Delhi and Goa. She takes sacred dance classes at Zorba the Buddha.
Mathur informed, “I was introduced to sacred dances through physiotherapist Akash Dharmraj. It was beautiful and that was my beginning. It’s been 13 years now. We did performances in Goa and Delhi and eight years ago, I learnt how to teach the movements.”
It is said movements help us connect with our body and others better. They transcend limitations on the three levels: physical, emotional and intellectual, restoring inner respect. The dance also gives a sense of joy, peace and high energy levels.
The music used was composed by Gurdjieff and Thomas de Hartmann. Gurdjieff embarked on a two decade old spiritual search when he was 20. He travelled to Egypt, Eastern Mediterranean Afghanistan, Turkey, Central Asia, Tibet and Gobi Desert. The movements are based on traditional dances he studied during the journey. He believed once the body leaves its sleeping state, it can reach a higher states of consciousness and achieve full human potential. The discipline he believed in is usually referred to as ‘the work’ or as ‘fourth way.’ He defined that the movements can be a tool for escape from ourselves.
Komal said that surroundings are important for sacred dance. Open, green, peaceful places allow the body liberation from its sleepy state. Because the mindframe aspired for is meditative, and one that should be applied everywhere, it can be conducted in a less secluded environment as well. “The movements are all about awakening the senses. It is like sufism. But it will be wrong to say that it completely relates to sufi philosophy,” she ended.