'THE SLY MAN'

'THE SLY MAN' , sometimes refers to THE WAY OF THE SLY MAN, that Mr. Gurjdieff sometimes discussed and to which he referred occasionally. Certainly, many took the term 'sly man' to refer also specifically to Mr. Gurdjieff  whose 'elucidation' of this term needs to be studied more closely.

Mr.Gurdjieff made his own personal studies of various TYPES, that is, of men, characters, and 'personalities' and gave sometimes rather revealing, humorous, and scathing terms for such. Various writers on Mr. Gurdjieff have listed or mentioned many of these and I suggest everyone interested refer to the various accounts available as I will not bring those up here in any great detail.

Essentially, 'THE SLY MAN'  appears to be something or someone he is not.  He might well appear to be very ordinary, simple,  un-noteworthy , commonplace, average, untalented, uncoordinated, handicapped, or other things and deceive many people who pass him by. He is an actor, used to playing many roles, that is, appearing as something or someone familiar and he does not stand out in anyway, unless he wants to attract a certain attention for a specific reasons

The notion of 'spy' comes to mind and the more successful are able to create a cover, a plausible occupation, and so on. Being gifted or appearing ungifted in languages is also a way to deceive and spy or to know such languages and yet appear to speakers as ignorant, unfluent,  and and not understanding or able to speak the language.

Disguises of all kinds come to mind. All of this we can find examples to demonstrate this. The Sly Man may appear to be treacherous, fraudulent, manipulative, and other characteristics that the ordinary mind conceives necessary to be 'sly'.

CLEVERNESS, however, is the outstanding characteristic and also 'talented' usually in specific and special ways, reflecting cleverness and intelligence in certain situations. Clever criminals always seem to come to mind at times.

HOWEVER,  THE SLY MAN POSSESSES A 'GREAT SECRET' and HE CONCEALS  EVERYTHING IN PLAIN SIGHT!

THE SLY MAN CONCEALS THINGS IN THE THINGS HE WRITES AS WELL if that is needed and it is his aim or intention or is necessary. The SLY MAN CONCEALS OR EMBEDS HIMSELF IN PLAIN SITE IN DAILY LIFE OR EXISTENCE.

Subtlety and guile are also two characteristics or tools used by the Sly Man.

THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN is a prime example of subtlety and deception but this I shall discuss here further than mentioning this.

HOWEVER,  two other SLY MEN are also significant: JESUS & HITLER!

JESUS & HITLER ARE 'SLY MEN' BECAUSE TO ORDINARY ONLOOKERS,ESPECIALLY AS CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND IN MATURITY THEY DID NOT APPEAR TO BE WHAT THEY TURNED OUT TO BE TO THEIR EVENUAL BELIEVERS AND  FOLLOWERS!

The Bible New Testament is full of this about Jesus as he never seemed to appear as THE SON OF GOD, THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOUR, ETC.   HITLER never appeared to have anything remarkable about him in his childhood and youth and as a  man  by most people until....


It is only after their transformation that the secret was let out and told to others in various ways, not always convincing except to their 'initiates' and 'disciples'..


The same can be said, of course, about MR. GURDJIEFF.


More can be said about this, of course, but I shall leave this topic for now, saying that not all things are as they seem to be, much is hidden from our eyes, and even when we look we do not see or when we see, we do not look, that is, penetrate beyond the obvious. There are always things that are 'invisible to the naked eye' and anyone who goes into the woods or forest for a walk will perhaps realize and discover.