GURDJIEFF AND HIS STUDENTS arrived in Constantinople in June 1920. Ouspensky, having arrived previously in January, reconciled with Gurdjieff and gave him his pupils. Gurdjieff opened his Institute. However, with the city awash in refugees from the Revolution and a progressive secular on the increase, he closed it.

Gurdjieff saw now that he had to make a fateful and defining decision—whether to stay in Constantinople or take the teaching to Europe. Here he knew the language, had friends and resources. While in Europe he knew none of the languages, had no friends or resources. Like a true spiritual warrior, he stepped off into the unknown, leaving for Europe in August 1921.