About Us
Keepers of The Way
The Sarmoung Brotherhood is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the original teachings of The Way.
What is Sarmoung?
Amidst the swirl of speculation and conjecture, it's time to set the record straight: Despite the wild claims by some authors, the Sarmoung Brotherhood is not an Islamic Sufi Tariqa, a Zoroastrian offshoot, or a Tibetan Buddhist Order. Like many of Gurdjieff's words, it is an encoded neologism, with a specific meaning.
In the complex realm of esoteric wisdom, "Sarmoung" isn't a name from the annals of history but rather a newly created term. It's a blend of "Sar" (սար) in Armenian, which means "Mountain," and "Mouni" (Μονή) in Greek, translating to "Monastery." Therefore, "Sarmoung" can be simply understood as "Mountain Monastery," a clever term crafted by the enigmatic Armenian/Greek mystic G.I. Gurdjieff to allude to the source of his profound teachings.
Gurdjieff himself often elucidates the cryptic origins of this tradition. In his own words:
"I don't know what you know about Christianity... But for the benefit of those who know already, I will say that, if you like, this is esoteric Christianity." - Gurdjieff.
"Yes . . . my dear friend, if only the teaching of the Divine Jesus Christ were carried out in full conformity with its original, then the religion unprecedently wisely founded on it would not only be the best of all existing religions but even of all religions which may arise and exist in the future." -Gurdjieff.
"Prehistoric Egypt was Christian many thousands of years before the birth of Christ, that is to say, that its religion was composed of the same principles and ideas that constitute true Christianity." - Gurdjieff.
What's more, on his final journey into the great beyond, Gurdjieff bequeathed his most devoted disciples with an imperative: "...make contact with the inner tradition on Mt. Athos."
It is upon the sacred slopes of Mount Athos that the authentic Fourth Way teachings reside in their unadulterated form, sheltered within the enigmatic folds of monastic life, and known simply as ἡ ὁδὸς - The Way.
Here, the echoes of ancient wisdom persist, awaiting those who dare to quest into the heart of mysticism's timeless secrets.
What is "The Way"?
Within the intricate tapestry of Greek scriptures, a captivating phrase repeatedly emerges: "i odós (ἡ ὁδὸς)," or simply, "The Way" in English. It's a phrase that transcends mere geographic routes, often delving into the profound realm of spiritual journeys and courses of action.
Consider the poignant verses in Matthew 7:13-14, where 'ὁδὸς' surfaces twice: "13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is The Way (ἡ ὁδὸς) that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow The Way (ἡ ὁδὸς) that leads to life, and only a few find it." Here, we witness the striking dichotomy between the well-trodden path to destruction, known to many, and The Way, leading to life, a path known to but a select few. And, during the time of His ministry, Yeshuah's (Jesus') followers were not known as Christians, but as those of The Way.
Intriguingly, when questioned about his penchant for teaching through parables, Yeshuah responded, "...Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them." (Matthew 13:10-11, Mark 4:10-11). This revelation sparks an alluring inquiry: If Yeshuah concealed these profound secrets from the masses, to whom did he entrust them? How did he convey this enigmatic wisdom, and do these teachings endure today?
Furthermore, if the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have persevered through millennia, how do they differ from the doctrines of Orthodox Christianity?
This site embarks on a quest to unearth the answers to these questions, shining a light on The Way concealed for nearly two millennia, safeguarded within the sacred confines of specific monasteries on the revered Mount Athos. These monasteries, custodians of the Inner Tradition of the ancient first-century movement known as The Way, have persisted despite centuries of oppression and redaction from Orthodox Christianity. The Way endures for those courageous enough to tread its narrow path.
Join us in our quest to decipher ancient secrets and unveil the timeless wisdom that has withstood the test of time.
The Connection to the Fourth Way
The Fourth Way has long been labeled "Fragments of an Unknown Teaching." This enigmatic description arises from Gurdjieff's intricate dance with its origins. While he hinted at its roots, his mission was to present this esoteric wisdom to a world undergoing a seismic transformation - the dawning of the Industrial Revolution, where science and reason supplanted the ancient way of religious devotion. Gurdjieff wove the tapestry of his teachings with scientific terminology tailored for an intelligentsia-driven audience to bridge the gap between the inner tradition and the "scientific" minds of his era.
Thus, the Hermetic elements, Fire, Earth, Water, and Air, transformed into the pseudo-chemical elements: Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen. The venerable terms Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury metamorphosed into the electrical charges of Positive, Negative, and Neutral, all while maintaining profound religious undercurrents of "Holy Affirming," "Holy Denying," and "Holy Reconciling," reminiscent of the doctrine of The Holy Trinity.
Astute minds, those who "know already," can decipher the philosophical underpinnings in Gurdjieff's choice of words and teachings. For instance, his "Three Story Factory" analogy emerges as a complete alchemical allegory of transmutation from coarse to fine.
Yet, while groundbreaking, Gurdjieff's clever presentation had a significant limitation: his untimely accident prevented him from realizing his life mission. Thus, the world received an incomplete teaching, with the trustworthy source of Gurdjieff's wisdom forever shrouded in mystery.
Tragically, this incomplete legacy opened the door to rampant speculation and invention. Today, so-called Fourth Way schools dabble in Kundalini, Yoga, Taoism, Tantra, and various other traditions unrelated to The Way's authenticity.
In stark contrast, the Sarmoung Brotherhood, rooted in the Inner Tradition, offers The Way teachings in their original, unadulterated form. No neologisms or cryptic metaphors cloud the message.
What we provide is a direct conduit to the source of profound wisdom: knowledge of The Way, a beacon guiding the sincere seeker through the labyrinthine corridors of timeless spirituality.
