John G. Bennett

John G. Bennett (1897–1974) was born on 8 June, 1897. He was a British scientist, mathematician, and philosopher who combined studies of Asian languages and religions with scientific research. After having travelled extensively and studied with many spiritual leaders, Bennett met Gurdjieff and Ouspensky in 1921 and was greatly influenced by both.

In the summer of 1923 he spent three months at Gurdjieff’s ‘Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in Fontainebleau. Despite of the shortness of his stay, Bennett was able to form his personal spiritual direction. Soon Bennett parted with Gurdjieff and returned to England, where he worked with Ouspensky’s groups for the next fifteen years.

After Ouspensky’s death he reestablished contact with Gurdjieff, and in the summer of 1949, for a month he worked very intensively with him in Paris. Due to this latter encounter with Gurdjieff, he acquired an experience, which provided for a significant transformation in his life. Subsequently, Bennett led numerous spiritual groups in England and other countries, teaching them Gurdjieff’s spiritual concepts and practical techniques, frequently adding his own personal interpretations and developments of the latter.

He wrote numerous books about Gurdjieff’s spiritual practice and Bennett’s own insights into this tradition. J. G. Bennett died on December 13, 1974, leaving an immense literary and spiritual legacy behind him. There exist numerous groups, following Bennett’s traditions and his elaborations of Gurdjieff’s legacy.

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