Gurdjieff’s grandfather’s advice
Gurdjieff’s Grandfather’s Advice
Gurdjieff remembers that when his grandfather was dying — he was only nine years old — the grandfather called him. He loved the boy very much and he told the boy, “I don’t have much to give to you, but departing from the world I would like to give you something. I can only give you one piece of advice that has helped me; it was given to me by my father, and he was also dying when he gave it to me. I am dying. You are too young, you may not be able to understand it right now, but remember, a day will come when you will understand. Whenever you find yourself capable of following my advice, follow it, and you will never be in misery. You can avoid the hell of life.”
And what was the advice? Just this sutra — not exactly in these words. He said to Gurdjieff:
Remember one thing: if you want to do any bad thing, postpone it for tomorrow; and if you want to do something good, do it immediately — because postponement is a way of not doing. And bad has not to be done, and good has to be done.
For example,” the old man said, “if somebody insults you and you feel angry, enraged, tell him that you will come after twenty-four hours and answer him.”