Life Is Real Only Then, When “I Am“‘ was first privately printed in 1974. It is the incomplete text of the third Series of All and Everything by G. I. Gurdjieff. The book comprises a prologue, Gurdjieff’s description of five of his lectures (delivered on five nights starting November 28 and ending December 19, 1930) and a final essay entitled “The Outer and Inner World of Man”. Gurdjieff himself noted the importance of reading his trilogy in the correct sequence. Find the other works in the trilogy here: Link
“No one interested in my writings should ever attempt to read them in any other than the indicated order; in other words, he should never read anything written by me before he is already well acquainted with the earlier works.”
G. I. Gurdjieff
Download ‘Life Is Real Only Then, When “I Am”‘ in full text here:
Gurdjieff Life is Only Real When I Am
About the book
“Life Is Real Only Then, When ‘I Am'” is the third series of Greek-Armenian spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff’s All and Everything trilogy. The book is an autobiographical account covering the period of Gurdjieff’s life after he had settled in France and established his Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man at the Château de Prieuré in Fontainebleau.
This text is less about providing direct teachings and more about Gurdjieff’s reflections on his life and experiences, his struggles, and the detailed workings behind setting up his institute. It delves into the intensive teaching periods he conducted, the rigorous discipline he expected from students, and the methods he used to provoke their personal development.
To be present in every moment
The core theme of the book revolves around the concept of the “I,” which is central to Gurdjieff’s teaching. He believed that people do not perceive life as a reality because they are not fully present in their existence, functioning instead in a kind of automated state. The title itself reflects the idea that life becomes ‘real’ only when a person is fully present in every moment, implying the need for a level of self-awareness and internal effort that individuals typically do not undertake.
Particularly challenging and esoteric
“Life Is Real Only Then, When ‘I Am'” is also significant for its insight into Gurdjieff’s inner thoughts and processes, his perception of his mission, and his concern that his teachings be preserved and transmitted correctly to future generations. The book, particularly challenging and esoteric, is best approached with some prior understanding of his work and teachings. It was published posthumously and is known for its unfinished state, which adds an element of interpretive challenge and mystery for readers and followers of his work.
