A voice at the borders of silence : an intimate view of the the Gurdjieff work, Zen Buddhism, and art

"A Voice at the Borders of Silence" is the story of a life of passion lived at the forefront of intersecting avant-garde movements and spent in the unyielding pursuit of the ultimate self-understanding and awareness. In a lifetime that nearly coincided with the 20th century, William Segal left a legacy of insight, compassion, and intelligence-as a businessman and publisher, an artist, and as a seeker. Segal was a disciple and interpreter of some of the most influential spiritual masters of the twentieth century; and above all, G. I. Gurdjieff, whose writings on self-realization formed the basis of his philosophy. This foundation in spiritual training enabled him to survive a near-fatal car crash and then to make a full recovery and renew his life's work with even greater vigor. The many dimensions of Segal's life are explored through his own writings and art, and through interviews with those whose lives he influenced. With dozens of full-color reproductions of Segal's paintings and contributions by Ken Burns (who made Segal the subject of three documentaries), Robert Thurman, and Peter Brook, is an unforgettable memoir that will serve as a guidebook for anyone pursuing his or her own search for self-realization and understanding. Preface: The Last Word / Peter Brook -- Foreword / Robert Thurman -- Introduction: Presence De Bill, / Marielle Bancou-segal -- The Question Of Search -- A Conversation With Ken Burns -- Going North -- Youth -- Marriage To Cora -- Professional Life -- Meeting P.d. Ouspensky -- Life At Franklin Farms -- Spiritual Masters -- Interview By M. Barrett -- Going East -- Japan -- India: Visit To H.h. 1970 Dharamsala -- Japan After 1970 -- I Have A Different Face -- The Accident -- Life In Four Places -- The Painter -- An American Painter -- Luminosity -- 60 Years Of Self-portraits -- Painting With Harry Herring -- An Exchange With Paul Reynard -- Toward The Essence -- On The Gurdjieff Work -- A Conversation With Michel De Salzmann And Peter Brook -- A Conversation With James George -- In Search Of Silence -- Prayer And Silence -- The Search For Silence -- In The Market Place -- The 10 Oxherding Pictures -- The Man In The Market Place: A Conversation With Ken Burns -- Article / D.t. Suzuki -- Conversation With His Holiness The Dalai Lama -- A Conversation With Dudjom Rinpoche -- An Interview With Dr. Yeshi Dhonden. William Segal With Marielle Bancou-segal ; Edited By Mark Magill. IN A lifetime that nearly coincided with the 20th century, William Segal left a legacy of insight, compassion, and probing intelligence--as a businessman and publisher, an artist, and as a seeker. Segal's life is explored through his own writings recounting his personal experiences with and interpretations of, among others, P.D. Ouspensky, D.T. Suzuki, and above all, G.I. Gurdjieff. With dozens of full-color reproductions of Segal's paintings and contributions by Ken Burns (who made Segal the subject of three documentaries), Robert Thurman, and Peter Brook, this is an unforgettable memoir that glimmers with insight. It will serve as a guidebook for anyone pursuing his or her own search for self-realization and understanding A spiritual portrait of William Segal notes his achievements as the follower and interpreter of some of the twentieth century's most influential spiritual masters, describes the near-fatal car crash from which he emerged to renew his life's work, and reproduces many of his writings and works of art.