Welcome to a series of talks about objective consciousness, an objective universe, and an objective way to awaken, expanding upon the works of George I. Gurdjieff and Russell A. Smith.

Continuing our talks about the Work, in today’s podcast, Russell will introduce his new book, The Blueprint of Consciousness, and share with you how it came into existence, as well as share testimonials from others about their journey.

Let’s begin:

Russell:  This week is the week that The Blueprint of Consciousness is finally available to the world as a Hardback book. 

And, what a week it is.

Before now, The Blueprint of Consciousness was only available as a downloadable PDF. But after this week, people will be able to hold the truth in their hands, and as such, will be able to carry it with them wherever they go.

As I near the end of my existence, I am pleased to be able to witness this become a reality. 

Individually, I have taken hundreds of people, one-on-one, through an incredible eight-day journey to enlightenment, and as such, I was able to watch each one of them awaken, which for me, has had more meaning than anything else I ever attained in my 72 years of life.

Looking back at the journey, it all started over seventy years ago, when Gurdjieff left his amazing work to the world. 

Unfortunately, since Gurdjieff awoke subjectively, his teachings have remained pretty much dormant, because, by law, subjective ways cannot be taught in books, nor replicated by others.

Fortunately, thirty years after Gurdjieff’s death, I stumbled upon Gurdjieff’s work, and was able to decipher the secrets that he had left behind, and as a result, I awoke. 

Then, ten years later, I discovered “an objective way” of showing others how to awaken.

Realizing the magnitude of that discovery, I wanted to protect it, as I saw how Gurdjieff’s teachings had been distorted. And as such, I chose to control the narrative, and personally, individually, showed others how to awaken. And, since then, hundreds have.

The Blueprint of Consciousness – An Accelerated Path to Awakening, is an objective testament to what Gurdjieff intentionally left behind. It provides for the first time, a repeatable way for everyone to realize the meaning and truth of their existence, which was what Gurdjieff had wished for us all.

So, if you are seeking Truth, rejoice, because an objective and accelerated path to awakening is now available.

The Blueprint of Consciousness is a 520-page Hardback book, revealing the ultimate structure behind all phenomena in the Universe; a structure which, when understood, allows the readers to perform an exercise, called “The Objective Exercise,” which contains a Great Secret and a Great Truth, that, when performed, unifies their three lower centers as one, causing them to awaken.

Woven within it, is my seminal book Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets, which explains the laws of world creation and world maintenance (using simple mathematics) which everyone can do, as well as good common-sense ideas that everyone will understand.

Over the past 30 years, I have taken hundreds of seekers on the inner journey to awakening, which took them 8 days to complete. After which, we performed The Objective Exercise, and they awoke. 

This method of operation persisted for nearly 30 years.

Unfortunately, as I am no longer young and spry, I decided to stop taking seekers on the journey.

Instead, I placed it, and The Objective Exercise, in The Blueprint of Consciousness, so that everyone who wishes to make the journey, can take the journey, in their own time … without needing me.

Here is the 8-day agenda that we followed, and its results.

Day 1: Chapter 1. When we began, some were afraid of the math, but by the time they did the homework at the end of Chapter 1, and completed the first two octave worksheets, they confidently said, “Give me another one, this is easy; I can do this.”

Day 2: Chapter 2. They started to grasp Creation, and when I stretched and rumpled the fabric of the Universe and created the Diatonic Ratios, they began to sense that there was something very objective about this work.

Day 3: Chapter 3. At the end of the chapter, they realized that it just might be possible for them to awaken. After all, it was their intrinsic right, and they had the necessary development. And as such, they began to do THEDOG training exercises with great force, so that they would be super prepared for the newly perceived real possibility of success.

Day 4: Chapter 4. Harmonic stability became a reality, and the exquisite math of oscillations and the tRNA molecule set them to shaking. In fact, they often uttered things like, “Oh my God, this is incredible.”

Day 5: Chapter 5. Assisting forces appeared, which further put a nail in their coffin of uncertainty; after which, they began expecting to awaken.

Day 6: Chapter 6. A matrix of outer octaves unfolded before their eyes, and when it did, everything in the Universe started to make sense, to where … they no longer expected to awaken, but started to demand it.

Day 7: Chapter 7. Everything that was not covered in the first 6 chapters was unveiled in Chapter 7. That is, all the knots were tied, and the bows affixed. Then, after they themselves discovered the 14 Lines of Supervision in an Enneagram, they were ready!

Day 8: After one final night of polishing their centers, the ones that were needed for awakening, we met the next morning around 11 AM. And, at that time, I explained The Objective Exercise to them in detail. When I did, they saw it, they understood it, and they realized it was infallible, and as such, they knew that they were going to awaken.

So, I locked the door, disconnected the phone, dimmed the lights, and played some “I can barely hear it” instrumental, New Age/Zen type music (something that they could not easily focus on, nor recognize) … and then, I led them through The Objective Exercise, which took us about 15 minutes.

When I did, they awoke.

After which, they sat there silently. Their random thoughts stopped, and they felt the presence of their Steward.

Most were hesitant to move, or even to open their eyes, as they did not want to do anything which might cause their awakened state to go away.

Law-conformably, when it did not, they opened their eyes, looked over at me, and smiled. I smiled back.

Then, in silence, they went up to the guest room, and exhausted, they usually took a nap.

After their nap, when they realized that their Steward was still present, they found their way downstairs grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

We nodded, and they became students of THEDOG.

Thereafter, they often asked, “Can you show me how to awaken the Higher Mental Center as well?”

I said, “I can.”

So, if you would like to awaken, it is now within your grasp.

Next, I will share with you my response to a somewhat skeptical seeker who asked, “In light of the necessary and inherent difficulties for developing Will – I am having trouble digesting the notion that awakening can be accelerated by a defined objective procedure. I appreciate what you say about knowing the underlying structure, and how understanding the dynamics of the operation of the Universe is the key. And I realize that the road to proving it or not proving it, is in carrying out the experiment, which I am now endeavoring to do. That being said, I would like to hear what you have to say on that.”

Russell:  Fair enough. To address your concerns, I will ask you this, “Do orange trees make oranges?” That is, is it hard for orange trees to make oranges? No, of course not! Making oranges is what they do. It is in their nature. 

What if I told you, it was the same for us? Waking up is in our nature! We are supposed to wake up. And, just like it is not hard for orange trees to make oranges, it is not hard for us to awaken.  

The only difference between us and an orange tree, is that orange trees do what they are supposed to do. Whereas, we do not.  

Why? 

Well, unfortunately, before I came along, truth was subject to conjecture, speculation, and guess. And, it seems, after centuries of speculation, conjecture, and guess, we were bound-up like a Bonsai tree, which prevented us from becoming what we are supposed to become. That is, you cannot make oranges based on guesswork. 

So, I concentrated on the rules and laws that would unbind us all. Firstly, I figured out how an orange tree makes oranges, and secondly, with that knowledge, I discovered The Objective Exercise to awaken. After which, I started taking seekers on an eight-day journey towards understanding why and how orange trees make oranges, and then, when they were equipped with that knowledge, I shared with them The Objective Exercise, which caused them to awaken. 

Almost all were flabbergasted as to how simple and easy it was, and a bit flummoxed as to why no one else had ever discovered it. 

Furthermore, this is not about carrying out an experiment. Experiments can be uncertain. This is about orange trees making oranges, and of that, we are all certain.

To further solidify that certainty, here are a few testimonials from various seekers who, after performing The Objective Exercise, awoke.

We shall begin with one from the skeptical seeker above,

Nadir N:  At first I was a bit skeptical, I had been studying and practicing the Fourth Way off and on since 1996, and although I made some progress, especially in the first few years, I hit some kind of roadblock. 

I actually had a copy of Russell’s first book, “Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets,” for many years, but had only browsed through it.

Last year, I went through a life-threatening health condition and got motivated to re-kindle the work on myself with vigor.

After recovering, I found Russell’s website and began tip-toeing into his teachings.

Having been disappointed in the past after following another teacher, I had my radar carefully scanning for pitfalls, but did not find any. 

Being highly motivated by the premise of The Objective Exercise, I purchased “The Blueprint of Consciousness” in PDF form and began studying it.

Early on in that study, I emailed Russell and told him that there were still I’s in me that were having trouble digesting the notion that awakening could be accelerated by a defined objective procedure, but after he told me about how I was likened to an orange tree, he set my concerns to rest.

It took me about an hour a day for six weeks to complete the PDF. Throughout the process, Russell, and others, were always available to answer promptly and fully any questions that I had. 

After the study, I performed The Objective Exercise with warm guidance by one of Russell’s teachers. The exercise lasted thirty minutes. This was a month ago. 

The impact has been profound. 

In the past I have dabbled in sitting meditations, but never had long-term results. But now, I am able to achieve them at will, within seconds, a state of inner peace, gratitude, joy, and the cessation of thoughts.

There is also an inner presence and awareness, which is capable of managing my moment-to-moment activities and interactions like never before.

These capacities have not diminished, which, for me, is already a game-changer.

Needless to say, I have become like an orange tree, which makes oranges, of that … I am certain.

Thank you, Russell ! — Nadir N

Robert B:  I have been connected with Gurdjieff’s teachings and various groups for over 40 years, without many practical results. And as such, I had pretty much scrapped the idea of ever attaining anything. I was so disillusioned. 

However, my old friends, who had already found Russell and his book Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets, caught my attention with their new, to me, manner. 

So, I purchased The Blueprint of Consciousness, and with their help completed the program. The only real way for you to know if it matches its promises, is to observe yourself and get feedback from others. And then, you will know, like I know, that IT WORKS! 

One of the best indicators for me was the reaction of other friends who had no idea what I was studying. 

After awakening Steward, I learned how to “not do,” and how to “consider others,” instead of “considering myself,” which has allowed me to make wonderful connections with a variety of folks to whom before, I would have reacted negatively.

There are a lot more benefits of course. But this one I can confirm without any doubt, I am awake. 

Thanks Russell! — Robert B.

Auriel M:  Hello Russell,

This is amazing! 

I completed The Blueprint of Consciousness and The Objective Exercise. 

It was truly challenging to my attention and awareness – but I felt a “pulling” to complete it – which I did in 8 days.

Regarding The Objective Exercise, “something” definitely happened.  Steward came down and I thoroughly enjoyed the ensuing Silence.

It feels as if the work has just begun! There’s so much to undo (and now I can look at my actions without the weight of judgement). I feel as if some mechanicalness will play out due to the momentum built up from the past – but it’s almost as if I know when and how they’ll manifest themselves.

Thoughts come, yes, but I can shoo them away at will.

I’m so grateful!

Honestly, it feels ‘anti-climactic’ in its “obviousness.” Like I’m SUPPOSED to be this way. I expected some kind of Hollywood-esque “whizz-bang” awakening, but it has given me a profound silence that I have never had before – and by CHOICE! 

I want to protect this like I do my own child – not out of fear that I might lose it, but out of gratitude that I have found it.

Thank you so much for this!

Are there any exercises I can do for awakening the Higher Mental Centre?   — Auriel M

Rick R:  In my early twenties in 1969, I first encountered Ouspensky’s “Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution” and Gurdjieff’s “Beelzebub’s Tales.” I was enrolled as a graduate student at U.C. Berkeley and was very unhappy. I was considering suicide on my 25th birthday when I found a pseudo-school purporting to be a School of Gurdjieff’s Work. I quit grad school, took on two jobs, and on weekends often worked 48 hours straight, making “Super Efforts” at, “the Ranch,” a vineyard in Sonoma County owned by our teacher. After a year, his wife, a former student of John G. Bennett in England, divorced him, broke up his school, gave us our money back, and offered to teach us the Work as she understood it.

There were over a hundred of us who stayed. The focus was on becoming “good householders.” We all thrived for a time, worked hard, raised families (my wife and I had 4 girls), started a private school for our children, and became successful in Life. I became a building contractor, and eventually went back to U. C. Berkeley to earn a Master’s in Architecture. But meanwhile, our community, and our teacher, were becoming increasingly dysfunctional and abusive. After 22 years in “the Group,” my wife and I left in 1992.

Subsequently, I continued to search for a deeper meaning to life, exploring Jin Shin Jyutsu, Buddhism, Landmark (an outgrowth of Werner Erhard’s EST training), Somatic Psychotherapy, and Subud. Although I often had experiences of higher states with these efforts, nothing seemed to result in a permanent shift in Being, a “change of station”.  Then a friend and former Group member who was studying Gurdjieff’s “Movements” gave me Russell Smith’s book, “Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets.” To my surprise, the math in the book was solid, and Russell had pulled the entire complex Periodic Table out of a hat, which was created with simple arithmetic. Phenomenal. Maybe there was something to Gurdjieff’s Law of Seven and Law of Three after all.

We were able to contact Russell, asking if there was someone on the west coast who could help us understand his book. He said that he would come out of retirement and do it himself, one-on-one. And he promised, in the process, to “wake us up”! A totally outrageous claim.  But he sent us his marvelous “Three-Fold Attention” exercise, and it worked! What did we have to lose?? Only 10 days and the airfare to Sanger.

Having been so burned by pseudo-schools in the past, I was very skeptical as Russell welcomed me into his home in September 2016. But he was warm, humble, charming, funny, and a wonderful teacher. He and his wife Pamela made me very comfortable in their home. In 7 days, he had taken me through Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets, and inspired me to make great efforts to prepare for, and undertake, “The Objective Exercise” on the following day … and to wake up. 

Amazingly!! It worked. My mind was silent for about 2 days. I was intensely alive. And I finally had that “Double Arrow of Attention” towards both myself and to the world around me almost all of the time. It didn’t go away.  

When I returned to what became “the California group,” (8 former students of the pseudo-school who were still seeking) I reported: “I think Russell’s the Real Deal.” And they began to go to Sanger as well. The journey has continued to become deeper and richer in the ensuing 5 years. Russell has never asked for payment, and there were always “no strings attached”. For me, it has been the finding of the Pearl of Great Price.

Here’s my advice to those who read this testimonial: 

“This is the Real Deal. It works. And now you don’t even have to go to Sanger, because Russell and Gary have transcribed his teachings into “The Blueprint of Consciousness.” If you read it, work at it, watch the videos, and do the exercises with real intent, you will wake up. No fooling. — Rick R

Jason H:  Hi Russell,

I want to thank you so much for the book, the podcasts, the website, and all the resources! I completed your book and did The Objective Exercise. This is the first time in the 20 years I have been studying fourth way material and practicing different exercises that I actually felt a shift in my experience. I feel the presence of the passenger, and feel a presence behind movement, emotion and thought, which is able to see them all. Thank you so much for this exercise as I am truly grateful for the quiet, I now feel inside.

All my best, — Jason H

Russell F:  Hi there,

I completed The Blueprint of Consciousness, and I did The Objective Exercise two days ago, using the guided audio. 

I’ve spent the last couple of days pretty much floating on air, feeling presence, marveling at how crisp my senses are, and the fact that I can now choose to either hold a thought or silence my mind altogether. The stillness within is remarkable. Unlike anything I’ve experienced before, and the underlying tension in my body (I believe born of angst) is, for the most part, gone. 

What I have noticed is that I seem to oscillate every so often, like there’s a residue of pattering in my structure that wants to slip back into old habits, and part of me is still reeling, wondering if this is real and / or if it will fade.

I thought about taking this week to get accustomed to this new configuration, let it settle in, and go over some of the sections in The Blueprint of Consciousness to fine-tune my understanding of the key points, especially since I’m also back in my normal routine of work and family obligations. 

It’s interesting, because in one sense everything seems the same, and yet, in another, it is profoundly, and subtly different.

I thus felt compelled to reach out because I wanted to ask if there are any recommended activities or exercises, or just points of attention that I can focus on to assist with this settling in?

I am going through the podcast material on the website, but if there is anything more specific I can do, please let me know.

I also read about the next step, the 1,001 words of memory work. Are there any requirements to fulfil before I begin this phase of the work? 

Finally, I wanted to thank you for making this incredible resource available for purchase online.

I can’t quite describe how profound the experience has been, connecting up so many disparate threads from sources I’ve studied over the years and forming them into a cohesive, tangible whole—with practical applications no less! And The Objective Exercise itself, the simplicity of it, is just incredible. 

Kind regards, — Russell F

Emma A:  Hello Russ! 

I completed The Objective Exercise this morning after studying the 7 chapters, and I’m not sure what I was expecting but there was this gentleness that came to me through the back of my neck. And now, just like you said, it is quiet. Thank you so much for writing the book, I’m very grateful to have found it. — Emma A

Jerry L:  Fellow Finders, 

In 1963, at age 18, I changed my college major from electrical engineering to history, not so much because of an interest in history, but because I needed to figure out what living a life with an expiration date entails before choosing how to spend its allotted time. A history major provides me a safe haven for pursuing this question.

So, I explore. 

Existentialism, Zen, Gestalt Therapy, and Hedonism appear, provide hallelujah moments, but inevitably fade as I pass through. 

Despair. 

Then, a day after my 25th birthday, a friend loans me a copy of The Psychology of Man’s Possible Evolution. Eureka!!! I joined a 4th Way group and for forty-seven years studied and practiced. I became good at householding, and not saying the word “I”. I exhaust self-help shelves in bookstores. Like an optimistic boy investigating a huge pile of horse apples, “I know there’s a pony in there somewhere.” There are glimpses of awakening and understanding; but they are just tantalizing bits.

Ouspensky and Gurdjieff still point the way, but no higher centers. I don’t understand.

Five years ago, at age 72, I realized I will die without this understanding. It’s okay. Not many others seem to succeed either. Then a friend gave me the book, Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets. Nothing special, except for an outrageous claim, “Read the book, do the exercises, and you will awaken.” 

Easy to validate and nothing to join. 

So, I visited Russell, read the book, and did the exercises. OH MY GOD!

Like I say, easy to validate! 

Hope, when bold, is strength… — Jerry L.

Detha W:  Hi, my name is Detha, I met Russell when he came to Arizona to work with several Doctors who were in our group. After which, myself, one of the Doctors, and another student, all moved to Texas and lived at the school, and as such, we were able to watch Russell teach and awaken hundreds of folks. 

Fortunately, I had the pleasure of picking many of them up at the airport when they arrived, and then dropping them off when they left, and I must tell you, being able to witness the difference in their being from when I picked them up and dropped them off, was truly remarkable. 

I am so excited that Russell has placed his teachings in The Blueprint of Consciousness, not for myself, but for the rest of humanity … However, I am a tad disappointed that I will not have the pleasure of witnessing their change of being after they finish the book, because I will not have the privilege of taking them back to the airport. — Detha W

Rob L:  Your skepticism is welcome. THE DOG Teachings is backed up by math and science, so your skepticism will be satiated, and your mind will be unlocked.

The people behind THEDOG Teachings are of the quality we all strive to be. So, you know the teaching is sound. — Rob L

Gary E:  Dear Russ,

I would like to share with you what came to me after you showed me how to awaken. 

It became clear that much right data had been gathered throughout time, knowledge refined, stored, and replicated. Eventually, Gurdjieff came along and unified the three lower ways into a single way, the “Fourth Way”.

However, despite being very close, Gurdjieff had not yet seen where all of the knowledge was leading. Being so close, and having so much being, he was able to impart clear clues as to the direction he was facing. He left a good compass, but the needle wobbled too much when it got near the goal.

Then you came along, out of nowhere, and saw enough truth in what Gurdjieff had sensed, that you found the missing parts, and thus, finally, completed the picture on the box.

This is what happened. The gaps were filled, the picture made, and stepping back, it was obvious that the resultant structure fitted not only everything Gurdjieff had alluded to, but also fitted many religious and spiritual beliefs.

What can now be seen, is that some of what you wrote in Gurdjieff: Cosmic Secrets and The Blueprint of Consciousness was written to prove and justify the structure against Gurdjieff’s, Moses,’ and Jesus’s work. Which, of course, passed with obvious flying colours because it is true and correct.

From my point of view, none of that is needed anymore. There is no need for any reference back to what was said before. The truth is now known, because you have proven it to be known, by showing me and so many others how to actually awaken.

And, for that, for them, and especially for myself, I am very thankful. — Gary E

Richard D:  Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your book, “The Blueprint of Consciousness,” which I am currently studying chapter by chapter. I am certain that the pressure of the book, its demands on my attention and comprehension, are responsible for the increase of confidence and resolve that I now feel, as well as the new uplifting states that were so desperately needed in my life.  

I feel a quite different energy, and have aims, which, without your book, I would have never acquired. Taking in, as they do, whole areas of my life like a new broom, and allowing me to enter into exciting phases of my working with other people, which frankly, I look forward to with great exhilaration. 

My change in outlook, so energizing, and needed for daily interaction, is proof of the validity of “The Blueprint of Consciousness,” which I wish will have the highest effects in its distribution to the general public, who are so much in need of truthful and uplifting data. — Richard D.

Russell:  With all that being said, you will, by now, have a very good idea of what to expect, should you choose to wade through the waters of my teaching.

I will end this podcast by sharing with you one final snippet, which was sent to me by a fellow in England.

Ken S:  At age 80, I was a bit leery about having to relearn complex maths once again. But after going through your book, the only maths I could find was simple addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, which wouldn’t hurt the brain of a teenager. Simple stuff, really. 

And your commonsense models were not only understandable, but also very recognizable, and at times, even quite humorous. 

So, thank you for showing me how to awaken. Thank you for making all of my remaining days “grand” days. And thank you for allowing me to do it with the maths of a teenager. — Ken S

That ends today’s Podcast.

Thank you for listening.

If you have any questions that you would like answered, please send them to [email protected], and we will endeavor to include them in future podcasts.  

Or, if you would like to know more about the subjects and exercises that we have been exploring, including the book and guide that underpins it all, you can do so, by going to thedogteachings.com.

That’s T H E D O G teachings DOT COM.

There, you will be able to obtain Mr. Smith’s diagrams, models, videos, and listen to other talks, as well as learn all the mathematics that supports them, and much, much more.

But most importantly, you will have real time access to the materials we are discussing.

That’s thedogteachings.com

Goodbye until next time.