Lourens Hupkes has been involved in the 4th Way work for the last 27 years. A former disciple of Martin Ekker and Solange Claustres, and the author of the book GURDJIEFF and JUDAISM (published in Dutch in 1998), Lourens has a direct link to George I. Gurdjieff himself.This toast express Lourens's wish to remark to all of us the importance of Gurdjieff's legacy.
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A Toast by Lourens Hupkes
With thankfulness I remember my grandfather every day. And you Antonio Rodríguez: thank you for the opportunity on your web-site to bring him this toast! This is what is necessary and what we all as voluntary-idiots need:
An impartial place where the whole world can see and find the pros and cons of what is being served on the table of our common host GEORGE IVANOVITCH GURDJIEFF. In order that we never forget that he is the chairman of this meal. It was he who did invite us to sit on his table as his 'grandsons' and 'granddaughters'. He speaks to us even now, 49 years after he had left us. He made for us the kitchen ready so that it would make according his instructions all these various plates with all these various foods. And we can see in what big volumes we are served!
What we see now on Internet is a projection of the real, the conversations, the drinks and the meal itself. All these served things are the cristallisations of our own living and learning. It is the bread and wine, the eggs, the fish, the salt and meat, the vegetables and nuts. But for all, do not forget about the dessert. Because we all have learned in our family life that every good meal will be completed with a big surprise: a wonderful and delicious dessert. That is in a legamonism-way our food in its original sense and we need that in essence for our growing. We inherited the knowledge of this having dinner from our common forefathers. And we can also be thankful to them for that.
And now.... it is our turn!
Do trust the stomach! Without the head!
If it is in good condition, it will make the necessary distinctions to choose for the food which gives life. Only in this way we all can keep ourselves sane.
In short I would say: Lechajim! (this is Hebrew for double life).
Lourens Hupkes, July, 1998
