The Psychology Of Mans Possible Evolution

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

—

Title

The Psychology Of Mans Possible Evolution

Language

en

Book source

Global Grey

Description max 80 words

P. D. Ouspensky presents a concise set of lectures on voluntary human evolution, outlining practical methods of self-observation and inner work designed to transform ordinary consciousness into higher levels of being.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Psychology of Man's Possible Evolution*, P. D. Ouspensky challenges the modern view that humanity is a completed being. Originally titled *Six Psychological Lectures* and privately printed in 1940, the work argues that contemporary psychology has lost its origins, focusing instead on man as he is rather than his potential for growth. Ouspensky posits that humans are machines capable of developing inner qualities only through conscious effort and specific conditions, a process he terms 'possible evolution.' The text distinguishes between three types of influence on a person. The first arises from life itself—health, wealth, and pleasure. The second comes from schools, philosophy, or art, often mixed with the first. The third is a direct influence transferred only through a school, which Ouspensky calls 'influence C.' Central to this system is the concept of the 'magnetic center,' a group of interests that guides a person toward a school. Without a strong magnetic center, a student cannot absorb the direct teachings of a school. Ouspensky details the necessity of rules and self-remembering to prevent the distortion of teachings. He describes the progression from an ordinary state to becoming a 'Man No. 4,' who possesses a permanent center of gravity, and ultimately to a 'Man No. 5,' who achieves unity, a permanent 'I,' and a third state of consciousness. The work addresses the dangers of the 'wrong work of centers,' where different parts of the human machine interfere with one another, leading to inefficiency and negative emotions. Ouspensky emphasizes that negative emotions are artificial and must be eliminated, while positive emotions belong to a higher emotional center accessible only to the awakened. The lectures conclude with a Q&A session clarifying that self-evolution is impossible without a lineage or school. Ouspensky warns that without proper discrimination and adherence to rules, individuals risk delusion, mistaking illusion for fact. The book asserts that while evolution is rare, it is not an injustice but a result of the lack of strong, sustained desire and the necessary external conditions for a school to exist.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Psychology
• Occult
• Esotericism