Gurdjieff - assimilating the Active Elements from the Prime Source [Helkdonis]

clip from    • C.S. Nott - Teachings of Gurdjieff 6/8  

In reply to a question about the second food, air, Gurdjieff said: There are two parts to air, evolving and involving. Only the involving part can vivify the “I”. At present this involving part serves only for general cosmic purposes. Only when you shall have in yourselves a conscious wish will you be able to assimilate this, for you, good part of air, which comes from the prime source.

In order to be able to assimilate the involving part of air, you should try to realize your own significance and the significance of those around you. You are mortal, and some day will die. He on whom your attention rests is your neighbour; he also will die. Both of you are nonentities. At present, most of your suffering is “suffering in vain”; it comes from feelings of anger, jealousy, and resentment
towards others. If you acquire data always to realize the inevitability of their death and your own death, you will have a feeling of pity for others, and be just towards them, since their manifestations which displease you are only because you or someone has stepped on their corns, or because your own corns are sensitive. At present you cannot see this. Try to put yourself in the position of others—they have the same significance as you; they suffer as you do, and, like you, they will die.

Only if you always try to sense this significance until it becomes a habit whenever your attention rests on anyone, only then will you be able to assimilate the good part of air and have a real “I”. Every man has wants and desires which are dear to him, and which he will lose at death.

From realizing the significance of your neighbour when your attention rests on him, that he will die, pity for him and compassion towards him will arise in you, and finally you will love him; also, by doing
this constantly, real faith, conscious faith, will arise in some part of you and spread to other parts, and you will have the possibility of knowing real happiness, because from this faith objective hope will arise - hope of a basis for continuation.

source: Nott - Teachings of Gurdjieff