An introduction and some articles

This page introduces Maurice Nicoll and his rich and unique psychological work, and offers summaries of some of his important psychological practices.

About Maurice Nicoll

Maurice Nicoll was a physician, psychologist and author who played a crucial role in disseminating the teachings of G.I. Gurdjieff.

He was a student of both C.G Jung and P.D Ouspensky, integrating their perspectives into his own interpretation of the Gurdjieff Work.

He developed and shared his understanding through his extensive Psychological Commentaries, making a complex system of thought more accessible to his students and those who followed after him.

Nicoll’s work is distinguished by its focus on practical application of the ideas, and the necessity of inner change for genuine transformation.

Who Was Maurice Nicoll?

Early Life and Career: Nicoll was a physician with a specialisation in psychological medicine. He was also a student and close colleague of C.G. Jung.

Introduction to Gurdjieff’s Teachings: Nicoll’s introduction to the ideas of G.I. Gurdjieff came in 1921 through his meeting with P.D. Ouspensky. This meeting sparked his interest in the unique approach to inner psychology linked to a cosmology that Gurdjieff was teaching.

Direct Experience with Gurdjieff: Nicoll and his wife lived and worked at Gurdjieff’s Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man in Fontainebleau, France, for a year. This provided him with a first-hand experience of Gurdjieff’s methods and teachings.

Continued Study with Ouspensky: After his time at the Institute, Nicoll returned to London where he continued to study with Ouspensky, indicating a sustained and deepening interest in Gurdjieff’s ideas.

Establishment of Study Groups: Later, Nicoll went on to organise his own study groups, which demonstrates his dedication to the teachings and his desire to share them with others.
His Psychological Commentaries on the Teaching of Gurdjieff and Ouspensky were written for and read to the members of these groups from 1941 until shortly before his death in 1953. This five-volume work, along with a new index, is available from Eureka Editions.

Author and Interpreter: Nicoll is also the author of Living Time, The Mark, and The New Man: An Interpretation of Some Parables and Miracles of Christ. His Psychological Commentaries are considered an important resource for understanding the Gurdjieff Work. The Commentaries are a record of Nicoll’s personal experience of the Gurdjieff teaching.

Significance of Nicoll’s Work: Nicoll’s work is highly valued for presenting the ideas in the genuine order in which they were given out, with exact formulation and without distortion (according to Jeanne de Salzmann).
His work is seen as complementing P.D. Ouspensky’s In Search of the Miraculous in providing an accessible entry point to the Gurdjieff teaching. Nicoll’s Commentaries aimed to present a practical study of ourselves that assists a person in awakening from their inner sleep, which is a key aim of the Gurdjieff Work.

Key Focus: Nicoll’s work emphasises that the Gurdjieff teaching is not merely for philosophical speculation but requires specific practical inner work for verification. He presents the ideas as a means to assist in awakening from inner sleep through the practices of self-observation, self-remembering and the development of a work aim.