Foundation Knowledge, as presented in this book, traces back to the work of G. I. Gurdjieff, a mystic, cosmologist, philosopher, born in 1866 in the Calladacian Greek quarter of Alezandropol on the Russian side of the Russo-Turkish border... By the year 1914, Gurdjieff had synthesized his 20 years of practice and research into a cohesive transformational and cosmological system known today as the "Fourth Way.".... The primary traditions to which Gurdjieff was exposed to include Sufism (Islamic Mysticism), Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, as well as traditions of magic and esoteric science existent since ancient times in Egypt, Persia and India. The aspects and structure of Foundation Knowledge presented in this book show a direct correlation in form and terminology to specific representations of perennial, traditional knowledge and several of the above-mentioned traditions. For instance, in the category of body type, all characteristics are delimited according to their planetary characteristics (, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) without regard for the additions of the "more recently discovered" planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto). This procedure is based upon the traditional (as seen in the Vedick, Chaldean and Egyptian astrology) approach which sees the aggregate of the primary seven planets (including Son and Moon as observed luminaries from the perspective of Earth) as an inherent aspect of Universal order, referred to by Gurdjieff as the Law of Seven. The center of focus (intellectual, emotional, instinctual, and moving) which is determined through the system of analysis presented in The Elephant's Knee is correlated to what are known as the subtle bodies in traditional knowledge (roughly translated from various ancient traditions as the psychic or mental body, the astral or emotional body, the physical body, and the spirit body or more abstractly defined body). - from Amzon