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3.5: Man no.s 1, 2, 3

 In the Fourth Way system men and women 1, 2 and 3 are all on the same level. The numbers simply refer to a tendency to operate from one or other of the three ‘centres,’ movinginstinctive, emotional and intellectual respectively. 

It is said to be useful to understand one’s ‘mechanics,’ as these tendencies are referred to, not to judge oneself but quite the reverse, to accept and understand oneself. Do you like parties, prefer to be with friends rather than read a book and you don’t enjoy abstract discussions? Fine, you’re probably emotionally-centred. You see the world primarily through your emotions. Do you prefer to read a book and you stand awkwardly in the background at dances? You’re probably intellectually-centred. And so on. 

Each of us has situations in which we don’t fit in, and feel as though we should be different from what we are. One of the pieces of advice that was given in the school was not to judge. Things as they are, myself as I am. This seems to me to be sound. Ouspensky advised his students to start with simple self-observation. This is not the same as self-remembering, but is simply observing what one does (what the ‘machine’ does) without making judgements.

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