Introduction

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Welcome to The Dog Teachings Podcast—a space where we've deeply explored the structured path to higher awareness through the teachings of Russell A. Smith and George I. Gurdjieff. I'm Gary Eggleton, and over more than 230 episodes, we've offered practical, verifiable tools to restore presence, perception, and transformation in real-time.

Our podcast journey is nearing completion, having faithfully captured and preserved Russell's structured path to awakening—his 8-day inner journey to activate Steward, the impartial observer, through the Objective Exercise detailed in his book, The Blueprint of Consciousness. TheDogTeachings.com will remain permanently available as a comprehensive archive and resource, and classes will continue with book readings and Q&A’s. More details to follow.

In recent episodes, beginning with episode 16 of this series, we've shifted toward even deeper explorations of presence, emotional clarity, and Gurdjieff's profound insights, a journey now continuing under a new name: Martfotai.

Martfotai is not merely a continuation—it’s a distinct new podcast, broader in scope, building upon everything we've discovered, but diving deeper into stabilizing unified presence, emotional clarity, and the Five Strivings of Gurdjieff.

In today's episode—the first of two connected discussions—we explore how fragmentation traps us, creating inner conflict and mechanical habits, and how clearly seeing this fragmentation opens the possibility of true inner freedom.

Today we'll explore:

• Why we become fragmented.
• How the prison of World 96 manifests in daily life.
• The initial practical steps toward unification.
• The Rising Trinity of Consciousness—Deputy Steward, Steward, and Master.

Let's begin.

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Section 1: What Holds Us Back? The Laws That Bind Us

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We all want to change—to break free from old habits, stop repeating the same mistakes, and finally take control of our lives.

Yet no matter how hard we try, something always pulls us back. One part of us commits to discipline, another rationalizes excuses. One ‘I’ is determined, another sabotages.

This internal conflict is not random. It results from fragmentation—the fact that we are not a single, unified being, but a collection of shifting identities, each driven by different influences.

Gurdjieff explained that this state is not unique to individuals—it is part of a greater structure governing all existence. Everything is bound by laws, and the more laws at work, the less freedom we have.

The key to understanding why we struggle—and how to rise beyond it—lies within this structure.

1.1 The Ray of Creation – How We Become Trapped

In Gurdjieff’s system, reality is arranged in a hierarchy known as the Ray of Creation. At the highest level, unity exists with complete freedom. As energy descends, additional laws take effect, increasing limitation.

At the human level, we exist under 48 laws, meaning we have both the potential for awareness and the pull of mechanical life. But most people live even lower—at World 96, where inner contradictions dominate and we struggle to act intentionally.

Understanding the Layers of Reality:

• World 1: Absolute unity, beyond form (1 law).
• World 3: Emergence of three forces—active, passive, reconciling (3 laws).
• World 6: Realm of intelligence and will (6 laws).
• World 12: Source of life energy (12 laws).
• World 24: First level where conscious unity can begin (24 laws).
• World 48: Normal human condition—potential for growth, but bound by limitations (48 laws).
• World 96: Fragmented existence dominated by reaction, trapped in cycles of conflicting thoughts and behavior (96 laws).

The lower we exist on this scale, the less freedom we have. In World 96, our thoughts, emotions, and actions are misaligned—dictated by conflicting ‘I’s’ responding mechanically to external influences.

But here’s the key: just as descending laws restrict us, ascending through awareness liberates us.

1.2 World 96 – The Prison of Inner Conflict

If we live in World 96, we do not function as one coherent being—we are pulled in different directions by competing forces. In practice, this means our daily life often resembles an ongoing struggle of hypocrisy and contradictions:

In the morning, we wake up determined to be productive and focused, setting clear intentions for the day. By afternoon, another ‘I’ takes over, rationalizing distraction or indulgence, convincing us that one small lapse won't matter. By evening, yet another ‘I’ emerges, overwhelmed with guilt, frustration, or regret for failing to stay on course.

Which one is the real self?

The truth is, though permanent in themselves, none of these ‘I’s’ are always present with us —each one plays its part briefly, then vanishes. Without conscious awareness, we remain bound to World 96, mistakenly believing we act intentionally, when in reality, we follow whichever ‘I’ is strongest at the moment.

1.3 How Do We Begin the Ascent?

The first step is clearly seeing our fragmentation.

Most people assume they control their lives simply because they can make choices. But consider:

• If decisions are driven by unconscious emotions, are they truly free choices?
• If actions result from habits, fears, or external pressures, are we genuinely acting or just mechanically reacting?

The path upward does not come from force—it begins with awareness.

Exercise: The First Glimpse of Awareness

Set a timer to ring randomly throughout the day. When it does, pause and ask yourself:

• Where am I right now? Here, or somewhere else in my mind
• When am I? Future, past or present?
• What am I thinking? Something I chose, or just a random triggered set of rolling repeated ideas, or nothing at all?
• Which ‘I’ is running me in this moment? One I commanded, or one that commands me?
• Am I consciously acting, or mechanically reacting?

Write down your observations. Initially, these glimpses will be brief, but over time they weaken the hold of conflicting ‘I’s’ and reveal patterns that block unity.

Each moment of conscious awareness moves us closer to inner coherence. And as we begin to regularly observe ourselves, something new emerges—the Deputy Steward, the first force of internal organization.

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Section 2: Fragmentation into Many “I’s” – Why We Feel Scattered

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We like to think of ourselves as consistent—that we have a stable personality, a clear sense of identity, and the ability to make intentional decisions.
But if that were true, why do we constantly contradict ourselves? Why do we set goals and fail to follow through? Why do we say things we later regret?

The answer is fragmentation. We are not one—we are many.

Inside each of us exists a constant shift of competing ‘I’s,’ each with its own desires, beliefs, and impulses. One moment, an ‘I’ is motivated and determined; the next, a different ‘I’ dismisses that effort as pointless, and yet another feels guilt for failing to stay on course.
This is why our lives often feel inconsistent. Decisions made in one moment are overturned in the next. Promises to ourselves get broken—not because we lack discipline, but because the ‘I’ that made the promise is no longer present and with us when it's time to act.

As we discussed in detail in Episode 29, Unspoken Mirrors, fragmentation arises because we are not a single, unified being, but a shifting collection of competing ‘I’s.’ Here, we'll build on that insight, exploring further how fragmentation develops, why it maintains control over us, and how to practically break free.

2.1 Origins of Fragmentation

We are not born fragmented. As children, we initially experience ourselves as whole, undivided presences. But as we grow, we face conflicting influences and expectations from those around us. To survive, we adapt by creating different ‘I’s’ suited to different situations.

At home, for example, we might be encouraged to express ourselves—"Speak up, tell us what you think!" Yet at school, expressing ourselves in the same way might lead to reprimands—"Stop talking so much!" Among friends, we may feel free to be playful and rebellious, while with authority figures, we learn to appear obedient and serious.

Different worlds, different laws, different “I’s.”

Over time, these contradictory expectations multiply within us, gradually forming separate ‘I’s’—each specialized for a specific scenario. If we’re punished for showing emotions, we form an ‘I’ that suppresses them. If we gain attention through weakness or helplessness, another ‘I’ emerges to fulfill that role. If we are always expected to appear strong, we create an ‘I’ that hides vulnerability.

By adulthood, this adaptive mechanism becomes deeply ingrained. Different ‘I’s’ appear in rapid succession, each one assuming control according to the situation, with none of them permanently front of stage. Yet, we maintain the illusion of a single, stable ‘I.’

Consider this familiar scenario, the Dieter’s Dilemma:
In the morning, an ‘I’ wakes up committed to healthy eating. By afternoon, a different ‘I’ appears, convincing you that "one cookie won’t hurt." By evening, another ‘I’ feels defeat, deciding, "I’ve already failed—might as well binge."

Each of these ‘I’s’ feels authentic and real in its moment, yet none persist. This constant shifting explains why self-discipline feels elusive—not from lack of willpower, but because we do not have one will—only a rotation of transient, competing desires.

2.2 The Prison of Conflicting ‘I’s’

Unchecked, fragmentation traps us in cycles of inner conflict, leading to various forms of suffering:

• Internal Battles: Constant indecision, self-sabotage, and competing desires.
• Emotional Instability: Rapidly swinging from joy to despair, anger to guilt, without stability.
• Mechanical Habits: Reacting impulsively without conscious intention.
• Feeling Stuck: Repeating the same mistakes despite genuine intentions to change.

This chaos is not created by external circumstances; it directly mirrors our internal fragmentation. Until we clearly observe and understand the machinery driving these shifting ‘I’s,’ we remain imprisoned.

2.3 Breaking Free: Seeing the Machinery

The first step toward inner unity is to clearly see and acknowledge the shifting nature of our ‘I’s’—observing the process rather than being unconsciously driven by it.

Have you ever caught yourself saying, "I don’t know why I did that"? Or planned to act one way, only to do the opposite when the moment arrived? Perhaps you’ve noticed your feelings about someone shift dramatically within a single day?

These experiences reveal fragmentation in real-time—evidence that we lack a stable ‘I.’ Once we observe this shifting clearly, we begin to separate ourselves from it, gaining our first taste of true awareness.

Exercise: Catching the Shifts

Set reminders throughout your day to pause briefly and check in with yourself. Ask:

• Which ‘I’ is controlling me right now?
• Did this ‘I’ exist earlier today?
• What does this particular ‘I’ want? Does it conflict with another ‘I’?

Write down the significant shifts you observe. Initially, these changes will seem random and chaotic, but patterns will soon emerge.

Each moment you consciously notice these shifting ‘I’s,’ you create a separation from their automatic influence. And as you increasingly observe your inner fragmentation, something new begins to take shape—the Deputy Steward, the first organizing force within your being.

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Section 3: The Path to Unity – The Rising Trinity of Consciousness

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Now that we understand fragmentation, a new question emerges:

How do we unify ourselves?

How do we move beyond conflicting ‘I’s’ and gain the ability to act with true will?

Gurdjieff outlined a clear path—one that allows us to organize the chaos within and establish a stable presence. This process unfolds in three stages, each representing a shift toward unity.

We call this The Rising Trinity of Consciousness:

- Deputy Steward – The first force of inner organization.
- Steward – The harmonizing presence that aligns thought, emotion, and action.
- Master – The emergence of a fully unified, conscious being.

Each of these stages represents a real shift—a transition from fragmentation to coherence.

Let’s begin.

3.1 Deputy Steward – The First Awakening (World 96 → World 48)

The first step toward unity is Deputy Steward, the observer within that begins to organize our fragmented ‘I’s.’

Before this stage, we are pulled in every direction—whichever ‘I’ appears in the moment takes control. But when Deputy Steward forms, something changes:

- We begin to see the process instead of being lost in it.
- We notice patterns—the same ‘I’s’ appearing again and again.
- We start to question our reactions instead of automatically acting on them.

Deputy Steward does not control or suppress ‘I’s’—it watches without interference, creating the first real sense of separation from inner chaos.

 Example:
You notice an impulse to procrastinate. Instead of immediately following it, another part of you observes it. It doesn’t try to force change, but simply sees what is happening.

This small shift is monumental.

The moment we see the machinery, we are no longer completely controlled by it.

At first, Deputy Steward is weak. Most of the time, mechanical reactions still dominate. But with consistent observation, its presence strengthens.

This marks our first step beyond World 96—where we are no longer entirely at the mercy of fragmented ‘I’s.’

3.2 Steward – The Unification of Centers (World 48 → World 24)

As Deputy Steward grows stronger, a second transformation occurs—it becomes the Steward.

Unlike Deputy Steward, which comes from below and only observes, Steward comes from above and directs.

At this stage:
- We begin choosing which ‘I’s’ to strengthen and which to ignore.
- We align thoughts, emotions, and actions, reducing contradictions.
- We experience moments of real will—where what we intend to do and what we actually do begin to match.

Steward is not yet completely free—mechanical tendencies still exist—but for the first time, a single, guiding presence is in charge.

 Example:
Before, one ‘I’ would set a goal, another would ignore it, and yet another would feel guilty about failing. Now, Steward recognizes the pattern and actively chooses a direction.

This shift mirrors the movement from World 48 to World 24, where true self-governance begins.

With Steward in place, life becomes more intentional—our ‘I’s’ no longer pull us in completely opposite directions. Instead, there is a growing inner stability.

But one final stage remains—the moment when effort dissolves into natural being.

3.3 Master – The Birth of a Permanent ‘I’ (World 24 → World 12)

At the highest level of personal integration, Steward transforms into Master—a fully realized state of inner unity.

At this stage:
- There is no longer a struggle to stay present—presence becomes our natural state.
- Thoughts, emotions, and actions move as one, free from contradiction.
- Willpower is no longer something we force—it simply is.

Master does not control—it acts with complete clarity.

 Example:
Before, we had to remind ourselves to stay aware. Now, awareness is effortless.

There is no battle between different selves. There is no longer a need to “catch” shifting ‘I’s’ because the shifts have stopped.

This mirrors the movement from World 24 into World 12—where consciousness is no longer fragmented, but whole.

At this stage:
- Thought, emotion, and will—once at war—move as one.
- Action becomes effortless.
- Presence becomes unshakeable.

This is what it means to be truly free—not bound by impulses, reactions, or divided selves, but acting as a single, coherent presence.

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Wrap-Up

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Today we’ve explored the roots of fragmentation and the structured ascent toward unity. Together, we've uncovered:

• Why conflicting ‘I’s trap us in mechanical reactions and cycles of inner conflict.
• The prison of World 96 and how it manifests in daily life.
• The Rising Trinity of Consciousness—Deputy Steward, Steward, and Master—each stage representing greater inner freedom.

This is not merely theory; it’s a map, one clearly showing the path toward a stable, unified self.

Now the choice awaits you:

• Will you continue observing yourself consciously, or slip back into automatic reactions?
• Will you practice self-remembering, or drift unconsciously through life?
• Will you embrace inner struggle as opportunity, or retreat into comfort?

The way upward is open, but no one else can take this journey for you. It begins and continues with your conscious decision and committed action.

In our next episode—Breaking the Chains – Practical Steps to Inner Unity (S7/E34)—we’ll dive deeper into exactly how to apply these principles daily, turning insight into lasting change.

As The Dog Teachings Podcast nears its conclusion, we’re beginning a new chapter called Martfotai—a fresh podcast and platform dedicated to emotional clarity, dimensional perception, and stabilizing the permanent “I.” The first Martfotai episode drops soon. You'll find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms—just search "Martfotai."

In the meantime, please visit TheDogTeachings.com, which will remain permanently available as a comprehensive archive of Russell A. Smith’s structured teachings, including the Objective Exercise detailed in The Blueprint of Consciousness.

For those who complete this exercise, further steps await—the Master Exercises and the Double or Nothing Exercises—to help activate the Higher Mental Centre, leading you toward genuine impartiality, pure reason, and true self-individuality.

Thank you for joining me today. Stay rooted in your awareness, hold fast to your emerging unified presence, and let your true self guide each step.

Until next time, goodbye.

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