Madame Jeanne de Salzmann, Gurdjieff’s closest associate, became responsible for the Work after Gurdjieff’s death.  She has been an important influence for our group.  Ravi Ravindra, a senior member of GSAC, worked closely with her for more than ten years. His account of his meetings, letters and exchanges with Madame de Salzmann can be found in Heart without Measure: Gurdjieff Work with Madame de Salzmann.  She died in 1990 at the age of 101.

There are three forces—of the body, mind and feeling. Unless these are together, equally developed and harmonized, a steady connection cannot be made with a higher force. Everything in the Work is a preparation for that connection. That is the aim of the Work. The higher energy wishes to but cannot come down to the level of the body unless one works. Only by working you can fulfill your purpose and participate in the life of the cosmos. This is what can give meaning and significance to your life. Otherwise, you exist only for yourself, egoistically, and there is no meaning to your life.   

Jeanne de Salzmann, quoted in Heart without Measure