Gurdjieff talk on Energy & Sleep 1/30/1923

Summary

The speaker discusses how people unnecessarily waste energy through chronic muscle tension and an inability to fully relax and sleep deeply. He explains that we have a fixed daily energy capacity and need to conserve it through releasing unnecessary tension. Our sleep is meant to recharge us but most waste energy transitioning between waking and sleep instead of quickly falling into and arising from deep, dreamless sleep. He advises learning exercises to eliminate chronic tension so we can save energy, sleep better, and have more energy available for productive work.

Takeaways

• 😴 Our body produces a definite amount of energy every 24 hours, but we often waste much of it due to unnecessary movement and tension
• 👆 Tension requires more energy than movement with momentum. Chronic tension wastes huge amounts of energy even at rest
• 🔋 We can’t increase our energy production capacity. To achieve more, we must conserve the energy we have
• 😪 True restful sleep happens when connections between centers in the brain are fully disconnected
• 🌛 There are degrees between waking and sleep based on how many brain connections are active
• 😎 Some people are most active with fewer active connections between brain centers
• 💤 Good sleep quickly provides what the body needs, without transitional half-dream states
• ⌛ Chronic tension makes it hard to fall asleep and wake up quickly
• 🧘‍♂️ Exercises can train us not to be tense unnecessarily, conserving energy
• 👍 Saving energy through release of tension also enables better sleep

Q & A

What does Ouspensky say is the cause of unnecessary energy expenditure?

Ouspensky states that a major cause of unnecessary energy expenditure is our unnecessary movements and tensions in everyday life. Even when we appear relaxed, small muscles may be tensed and using energy.

Why do our larger muscles use less energy than smaller muscles?

According to Ouspensky, our larger muscles have become more adapted to momentum and so use less energy, whereas smaller muscles are less adapted to momentum and can only be set in motion by force, which requires more energy.

What is the relationship between tension and energy expenditure?

Ouspensky explains that tension requires a continuous flow of energy. So chronic tension leads to constant energy expenditure even when a person is at rest.

Why can't we increase the overall energy produced by our organism?

Ouspensky states that the amount of energy our organism produces is limited, like a machine with set capacities. We cannot increase the total energy, only try to use it more efficiently.

What are the different degrees of sleep?

According to Ouspensky, there are multiple degrees between deep sleep and full waking state. As connections between centers in the brain break, sleep deepens. Most people need fewer connections broken to fully rest.

What is the purpose of sleep?

Ouspensky says the purpose of sleep is for the body to manufacture substances, but this only happens in deepest sleep when all connections between centers are disconnected.

How can chronic tension affect sleep?

Chronic tension makes it harder to break connections between centers, meaning it takes longer to fully fall asleep and wake up. This lengthens the transitional states between sleeping and waking.

What two major problems does chronic tension cause?

According to Ouspensky, chronic tension causes a leakage of reserve energy and also leads to dependence on mechanical sleep rhythms, making sleep less efficient.

What does Ouspensky advise people do regarding tension?

Ouspensky strongly advises learning exercises to eliminate unnecessary chronic muscle tension, in order to conserve energy and improve sleep.

Why must we try hard to apply the tension-reducing exercises?

Ouspensky states we must diligently practice the tension-reducing exercises because relaxing chronic tension is extremely valuable yet very difficult to achieve on our own.