The Choice

Anna was a successful lawyer who had everything she wanted in life: a high-paying job, a nice apartment, a loving husband, and a beautiful daughter. She was proud of her achievements and enjoyed her comfortable lifestyle. She thought she was happy and fulfilled.

But one day, she received a letter from an old friend, Lisa, who had been her roommate in college. Lisa had been a seeker of the truth, always interested in philosophy, religion, and spirituality. She had traveled the world in search of wisdom and enlightenment. She had joined various groups and movements, but none of them had satisfied her. She had always felt that there was something missing, something more to life than what she had experienced.

The letter said that Lisa had finally found what she was looking for. She had met a teacher who had introduced her to the Fourth Way, a system of self-development that taught how to awaken from the sleep of ordinary life and reach higher levels of consciousness and being. She said that the Fourth Way was different from the other paths she had tried, because it did not require her to renounce the world or isolate herself from society. Instead, it used her everyday life as a material for her inner work. She said that the Fourth Way was the most practical and effective way to transform herself and realize her true potential.

She invited Anna to join her in a retreat where the teacher would give lectures and exercises on the Fourth Way. She said that it was a rare and precious opportunity, and that Anna should not miss it. She said that Anna had always been a smart and curious person, and that she would benefit greatly from the Fourth Way. She said that Anna would discover a new dimension of life, a new meaning and purpose, a new joy and freedom.

Anna was intrigued by the letter. She remembered Lisa as a sincere and passionate person, who had always inspired her with her quest for the truth. She wondered what the Fourth Way was, and what it could offer her. She felt a curiosity and a longing that she had not felt for a long time.

She decided to take a break from her busy schedule and go to the retreat. She told her husband and her boss that she needed some time off for personal reasons. She packed her bags and took a flight to the location of the retreat.

She arrived at a secluded and beautiful place, surrounded by nature. She met Lisa, who greeted her warmly and introduced her to the teacher and the other students. They all seemed friendly and happy. They welcomed her and made her feel at home.

The retreat lasted for a week. During that time, Anna learned a lot about the Fourth Way. She learned that the Fourth Way was based on the teachings of Gurdjieff, a mysterious and charismatic master who had traveled in the East and brought back a hidden knowledge that he had synthesized and adapted for the modern world. She learned that the Fourth Way taught that human beings were not fully developed, but had the possibility of becoming more conscious and more real. She learned that the Fourth Way taught how to observe oneself and one's life objectively, without judgment or identification. She learned that the Fourth Way taught how to develop one's attention and energy, and how to use them wisely and creatively. She learned that the Fourth Way taught how to balance and harmonize one's three centers: the intellectual, the emotional, and the physical. She learned that the Fourth Way taught how to work with others in a group, and how to help and support each other in the common aim of self-transformation.

She also participated in various exercises and practices that the teacher gave. She did movements and dances that stimulated and coordinated her body and mind. She did meditations and contemplations that calmed and clarified her emotions and thoughts. She did tasks and challenges that tested and strengthened her will and character. She did dialogues and discussions that enriched and expanded her understanding and perspective.

She felt a change in herself. She felt more awake and aware, more alive and present, more calm and clear, more free and happy. She felt a connection with the teacher, with Lisa, and with the other students. She felt a sense of belonging and meaning. She felt a glimpse of something higher and deeper, something beyond herself and her ordinary life.

She was impressed and moved by the Fourth Way. She realized that it was not just a theory or a philosophy, but a way of living and being. She realized that it was not just a path to self-development, but a path to self-realization. She realized that it was not just a teaching, but a gift.

She was grateful to Lisa for inviting her to the retreat. She was grateful to the teacher for sharing his knowledge and guidance. She was grateful to the Fourth Way for opening her eyes and her heart.

She faced a choice. She could go back to her old life, or she could continue with the new one. She could forget what she had learned and experienced, or she could remember and apply it. She could stay asleep, or she could wake up.

She chose to wake up.