Charles T. Tart, PhD, is emeritus professor of psychology at the University of California, Davis, as well as the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is a past-president of the Parapsychological Association. He has published over 100 scientific papers in parapsychology. He is editor of several anthologies including Altered States of Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychologies, Mind at Large, and Body Mind Spirit: Exploring the Parapsychology of Spirituality. Books that he has authored include Psi: Scientific Studies in the Psychic Realm, States of Consciousness, The End of Materialism, Learning to Use Extrasensory Perception, On Being Stoned, Waking Up: Overcoming the Obstacles to Human Potential, and Open Mind – Discriminating Mind.

In this 2016 interview, he discusses the career and work of the early twentieth century mystical teacher, George Ivanovich Gurdjieff. He particular stresses the notion that, according to Gurdjieff, human beings typically go through life in a mechanical state akin to sleep. Such a life is not worth living. Various exercises help unify the divergent bodily, emotional, and intellectual centers of consciousness. In particular, it is important that we gain consciousness of the ways that we respond automatically to various situations. This process involves real work and can be quite difficult.

(Recorded on November 9, 2016)

Published on October 7, 2022