Finiteness

Main

Gurdjieff mentions that the ultimate reminding factor ought to be the fact of one’s own death, the remembrance of one’s own death serving as the present-perceived risk which can bring the mentioned shock for self insight and observation. The remembrance of death ought then to serve as the means to stimulate the necessary challenge and demand/need that is required in order to bring the shock for self consciousness. Self Observation: the Shock Of Seeing

Finiteness wakes people up to the inevitability of their death

In my Morning remembrance I say

To wake up and remember my self, and the finiteness of my life and this day

And I notice a reaction to a challenge of the significance of “the finiteness of this day”. My immediate response to this in turn is

“but if the finiteness of time is significant then it is significant no matter how much of it is considered”

The infinite (MPo) and the finite (MVa) are 2 parts of a larger whole

ref [[The 3 Domains of Life (3DL)/The infinite (MPo) and the finite (MVa) are 2 parts of a larger whole]]

The relationship with value

Finiteness is connected to value, at least to [[Manifest Value (MVa) 🔘]], which is intrinsically finite.

Maybe not. Maybe it depends on whether you assert that life, or even just “your life”, has value, importance. If it does then finiteness sharpens the value into a pinpoint in this moment. Otherwise there is nihilism.

From Etymology dictionary

In careful use, a /moment/ has duration, an /instant/ does not. The sense of "notable importance, 'weight,' value, consequence" is attested in English from 1520s. Meaning "opportunity" (as in /seize the moment/) is from 1781.

The relationship with responsibility

But if my life and this day is important then I don’t think I can draw any other conclusion other than I better take responsibility for “serving” that value. To be a loving servant-grunt of my valuable Meaningful Potential (MPo).

The relationship with Meaningful Practice (MPr)

If I recognise my capacity to do this in turn as currently limited but also capable of growing then I am led to the conclusion that I need MPr in my life.

“Practice makes more correct”

Quaker poem

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again. (apparently this is an old Quaker saying, possibly originally by Etienne de Grellet du Mabillier, but this is disputed )