Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Presented on: Thursday, February 26, 1981
Presented by: Roger Weir
The King and the Queen in the Quest
Presentation 8 of 12
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Presented by Roger Weir
Thursday, February 26, 1981
Transcript:
The date is February 26th, 1981. This is the eighth lecture in a series of lectures by Roger Weir entitled The King and Queen in the quest. tonight's lecture is Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.
In the beginning of the Indian, the Chippewa Indians **inaudible word** story. Business of its of use. A return to what we're dealing with. There was a long time ago, once upon a time in **inaudible word** whose village had a greater plain sickness and he was unable to cure the chief of the village. It was **inaudible word or two** that he would have to make a journey to obtain a healing herb. And that it grew on an island in a lake very, very far away. and he journeyed for eight days and finally found the lake. But the lake was so huge that could not see the island in the middle of the lake. He made himself a raft of two logs which he lashed together. And somehow paddled himself out onto the lake and outside of **inaudible word**. Finally, a chance in the distance to see a mountain of bull-rushes and reeds and so forth, which he took to be the island. And every paddle closer and closer to the island he could discern no topography whatsoever. It was entirely covered by this jungle of high growing reeds. And he began to the falter in his confidence that he should ever be able to find the healing herbs that are growing on this island. But just as he was about to give up a little bird called a loon came by and asked, medicine man why are you visiting an island? and when he relayed his story to the loon, the loon said I could guide you to those herbs if you will trust me and follow me through the reeds. And so, the medicine man got off his log raft and began following the loon through the maze and jungle reeds. And they went through quite long ways. And finally, the light began to fade. and as twilight sank in, he began, the medicine man began to have this feeling in his stomach that he would lose sight of the loon. And not only not find herbs but the lost perhaps irreverently himself. And so, the loon turned back towards him and said, oh medicine man why do you tarry? Have you no confidence? And the medicine man said, I can make the confidence, but I cannot follow you. So, the loon said, what have you in your pockets? And the medicine man said, all is just a little flour left from the sacrifice. So, the loon said well sprinkle it around **inaudible word or two**. And so, the medicine man sprinkled the white flour around the **inaudible word or two** and it was as if a beacon for **inaudible word or two**. And the medicine man was able to follow the bird, to see and to find the herbs. He followed the loon with the white necklace around his neck of sacrificial flour through the reeds back to this raft. And **inaudible few words** make his journey back to the village. And return to home. and in **inaudible word** for the courage **inaudible word** of man and of the human race, all men now has the white bird necklace around their neck. And they have seen it. And that's why when they hear the call of the loon, a very peculiar musical, shrill, cacophony of a cry that beckons us to trust nature. That she will arrange the light for us to find. Even though our **inaudible word or two** or logic would say no.
And that's a Chippewa Indian tale, The Loon's Necklace. And it is akin to the kind of phenomena that Sir Gawain and the Green Knight gives, the wisdom tale. One of the very best treatments of it. One that I myself don't follow to strongly because I have somewhat different tradition. But what in a book by Heinrich Zimmer called The King and The Corpse, which is available in paperback I believe. By Princeton University Press. The King and The Corpse, Heinrich Zimmer. Subtitle the tales, Tales of the Soul's Conquest of Evil. Henrich Zimmer. And had he lived beyond 1943 he would have be quite an extraordinary writer. As it was his estate was left in the hands of Joseph Campbell. And that's how Joseph Campbell came to be a master of lore. That he edited the work of Henrich Zimmer here in **inaudible word**. And for instance, The King and the Corpse were edited by Joseph Campbell in small print. **inaudible few words** by Zimmer. All of them excellent.
The King and the Corpse has a discussion of several wonderful tales. Myths if you will **inaudible word or two** vernacular. Two of them cycles. And one of the cycles are four romances from the cycle of King Arthur. Where in various stories present in a remarkably clear way the impunity of the material world for the spiritual secret. And very few people have ever wished it to be cleared up and presented in a straightforward, well designed format. Little better to leave it confused and let each reader in each generation make a path for itself to the **inaudible word** of **inaudible word**.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, as I mentioned last time, was written about six hundred years ago by someone whose identity is a mystery. We don't know who it was. We shall never know. He is like Homer in many ways. characteristically worded in a natural way on spiritual matters. And after having learned for himself from nature's book, he went through the long artemis, years and years, decades of the cultivated learning which books and art and so forth afford a human being. And towards the end of his life this was a very well-integrated and sophisticated breeding of reality and metaphor such that comes usually in one's sixties or seventies.
It, the edition is quite unusual. There was only one copy of it that survived because there is only one copy that was ever made. And that was the copy on small **inaudible word** actually its sort of a dewy decimal so it's cut down. Written out in an ink that has started to fade. and the only copy that's available is of course is in the British Museum. Fortunately, it surfaced one in Elizabethan times and Elizabethan personages began talking about it as an excellent work. And surfaced again in the time of Blake and Shelley. And at that time, it was brought into the purview of the crown and was placed in the British Museum where it **inaudible word** today in the same old **inaudible word** copy. It is one of the greatest works of the **inaudible word**. It has woven into its texture the most arcane mystery. And a kind of symbolism which was not only **inaudible word** but in time to time **inaudible word** dissolves outside because the mind in its seeking for analogical orders in differentiates just so far as what the sort of **inaudible word or two**. And the excellence of this **inaudible few words** out of any effort whatsoever. It **inaudible word or two**, simply exceeds our capacity to hold it **inaudible word or two**. So that the wonderful childlike suspension of trust must give ourselves over to the teller of the tale. And he indeed is someone in whom we have confidence.
There are four parts to the story. And the first two parts carry the story of from the court of King Arthur up until Gawain is thoroughly enmeshed into the adventure in the far north of England in **inaudible word** in some place. And the second half takes it from early **inaudible word or two** through a series of riddle questions which we'll get to. And finally, the, the meeting of the green monster and the green chapel and black magic.
**inaudible few words** as he longer sought to remind himself of the spiritual tradition, Hermetic tradition, to which he described in the Christian world. He begins Sir Gawain and the Green Knight with a reverberation back to Homer. And the very first lines point all the way back to the Homeric era. And it reads like this,
Besieged in the assault, being ceased at Troy. The Citadel be managed in smoldering **inaudible word** ashes. A treacherous trickster whose treasons there flourished was famed **inaudible word** from Mount Venus. Falsehood and lively. **inaudible word** the noble and his **inaudible word** kin. Then the conquered kingdoms and kept in their hand well neigh all the wealth of the Western **inaudible word**.
And so on.
You might notice in the reading that each line of the poem has a triple alliteration. That is to say, there are always three words to every line that illiterate the beginning of the same **inaudible word**. There is no rhyme at all, it's all illative. The reason of course for choosing a triad like that is the same **inaudible word or two** of Dante. It is spiritual. Threes are Heaven sent. **inaudible word or two** belong to the earth. Triads, triplets, these are heavenly. So, every line in the poem was about **inaudible word or two**. It was triple **inaudible word** all the way through. But in such a way that it never obtrudes. You're never on bested by the fact that the language is structured that well. It is simply that the writer has the vocabulary at **inaudible word** and he can portion it out without any kind of difficulty whatsoever.
He is tracing the fact that the story that has happened began happening long ago. And for just any convenient reference in terms of human life, let say it began in Troy. And that all of the so-called **inaudible word** that is inherent in the human situation is still turning in a very identifiable way. And because of all the complications we find ourselves here and now in the center of the story inheriting the exact **inaudible word** meaning that has been passed down. And it could be **inaudible word or two** and the part for us to do then, and this is where Gawain in the first time or this **inaudible word** in Chaucerian times. But ours **inaudible word or two**, what we must do is we must find a way to begin **inaudible word** on the mystical **inaudible word**. And we must trust to a guide through that jungle of reeds. That is **inaudible few words**. Always is and always will. And it will never **inaudible word or two** which is trustworthy. **inaudible few words** and the confidence to follow the guide without a **inaudible word**. This is always the case.
So that he begins moving in sort of a**inaudible word** time from Homer all the way through to Arthur's **inaudible word**. And you can see that this lecture series which began with Odysseus and King Arthur, that is with Homer and King Arthur now finds a natural focus, a natural meaning for it with this particular tale at the eighth lecture in this series. Just to show you that the **inaudible few words**
In the smaller **inaudible word** of time setting the story takes place on New Year's Day. And for just a quick reference I think we should get into this. And at first **inaudible several words**. With center part here being **inaudible word**. Christmas is the birth of the body. The **inaudible word** is the birth of the life, the spirit. And just as Christmas is first known as a celebration of a birth of a physical manifestation. Then they are **inaudible word** a **inaudible word** of knowledge of descent of a spiritual life. In a birthday situation. So that in terms of say an organizing this kind of a midpoint, that if New Year's is midpoint and Christmas an **inaudible word** I'm **inaudible word** continuous such as the chakra scale. We would find that Christmas takes place roughly in this kind of a zone. In this kind of **inaudible word** chakra. And that **inaudible word** takes place up here between **inaudible word** and **inaudible word** chakra. So that New Year's is roughly here in the heart chakra, the anahata chakra.
So that we have in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight a location of the meaning focus of **inaudible few words** and the reason for that is that from this energy focus spiritual enlightment is within grasp. This **inaudible few words**. It is more in reach from the coordination of the heart than it is from any of the other chakras. For instance, in Matayana Buddhist would end the day **inaudible word** most monks would **inaudible word or two** for a short **inaudible word**. But what it is, is to begin the churning of the energy at this level to the attention to detail that are within your exercise and your differentiation. From this level. From that **inaudible word** comprehension. comes the natural fruition of the **inaudible word** perception, the normal life, that leads to the **inaudible word**.
So that the writer of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight locating this story at New Years' time and giving us a full year cycle. Because the story begins at New Years and it ends at New Years. So that one quick revolution of earthly time. while one complete revolution of spiritual energy will have turned. And one complete revolution of anything is wheel. Or a chakra. Or particularly if it is concerning spiritual matters, a Dharma chakra or a wheel of purity. We neither **inaudible several words** It is simply the **inaudible word** as a conception. A structural conception that's in play in this way. and at play I think is a good way to put it because the author of this is spiritually alert. So that he could use any metaphor that was available to him. He prefers and uses the chivalric Christian metaphor all the way through to great purpose because it was a language that expressed, in the late 14th century in his time, exactly what he needed. But he alerts us to the fact through the, the play of meaning in here that he is in fact a universal individual. He could use any method and any motor of method to describe what he **inaudible word** to tell.
So, then we located the story in several different ways. From Homer through the Arthurian connection to the heart chakra, that energy level. There is of course the round table with all the Knights and King Arthur at its head are Guinevere. And in Sir Gawain and the Greek Knight Arthur and Guinevere became **inaudible word or two** maintained the order of the round table. And since it is at New Years' time there is a feast because soon to come is the Lenten fasting days. So, there's a tremendous joyousness. And in the midst of the apex of this joyousness of this world order of the round table, in strides a large green giant of a knight on a green horse. All dressed in green. Everything's green and gold. And carrying not a sword but an axe, a big battle axe. One that measures about four feet in it's a curve on its blade. He's a horrible figure. And he polarizes the chapel energy at the round table so that no one can speak. And in this polarization where everything is completely played to his marvelous extremes, he presents a challenge which would unravel the entire order of the round table. He challenges anyone there to take the axe from him and cut off his head. If in exactly one year's time he may repay the favor. The round table is speechless. And finally, Arthur himself realizes the embarrassment of the moment. The **inaudible word or two** rises to the challenge. And as soon as he stands up, his nephew Gawain realizes the seriousness of the matter. That if there is not a knight at the round table to hold up its honor the King himself must do it. Then the manifestation of the loyalty of the chivalric order of the round table is flawed. And has not worked. And has not gone out and manifested itself in the knights because the king should not have to do it. There should be a champion from companionship of the round table who will uphold its honor. And not just its honor in a sophomoric way but this is a metaphysical challenge in the, the deepest of all life. And it is thrown, of course, by someone who had power just by sheerly being **inaudible few words*.
Gawain accepts the challenge. He accepts the axe and the Green Knight bares his neck. And Gawain swings through and off comes the head of the giant. **inaudible few words** floor. And it stops. And the Green Knight reaches down picks it up by the hair and takes the axe out of **inaudible word** Gawains' hands and resettles himself on his seat. And the head speaks and throws out a challenge and stares at Guinevere all the while. And remember we talked about Guinevere and how she has this flaw in her character. And how her character later on flawed the round table. And the head speaks to her. And in directing its challenge to the round table, pointedly, directs itself the question of the sexual **inaudible word** of the participants of the round table. **inaudible few words** which will manifest later on in the story.
So, Gawain that promises that in a year's he will go searching for this chapel. And he asks where is it? And the Green Knight **inaudible word or two** along and the head speaks and says, you will find it if you are true. And if not, I'll win by **inaudible word or two**. But Gawain is certainly a true Knight. His name Gawain, a **inaudible word** Welsh name actually means hawk. And it means hawk in the sense of what we today in 1980 in this country, would think of as an eagle. It is a royal bird. One whose high-flying and sharp centeredness permit it the designation of royal bird. But also, there's the overtone in hawk as applied to a man that he has special characteristics. I think if I mind remind you that one of the characteristics of General Cooper's **inaudible word or two** was Hawkeye. Hawkeye as the white man who can live with the Indians in the wilderness. The trackless wilderness. Because he's at home there. There's that exact kind of correlation here in Gawain. He is above all a wonderful gay sort of a Knight. He's at home with the ladies. He's at home on a battlefield. But he also has this is the incredible tenacity in his character to follow through. And to use this old Hermetic path of not knowing which way to go but of following a pattern of questing which finally yields to the discovery of the events and situations. That one didn't make one's way to something but rather one to discover the phenomena in seeking just as you should. And time is **inaudible word or two** or just exactly so. **inaudible few words**. That type of a **inaudible word** Gawain is good like that.
He at the end of a year is sent off by all people. and everyone is quite sad to see him go. He rides off **inaudible word** kind of like John Wayne riding off in the sunset. Here's from the script,
He struck his stead with his spurs and sprang on his way. So forcefully that the fire flew from the **inaudible word or two**. Now we say that sight, seemly sight that **inaudible word or two**. And all said to each other, softly in the same breath, **inaudible few words** Christ in his **inaudible word** that **inaudible few words**. To find his **inaudible word** on earth in faith is not easy. It would have been wiser to have worked more wearily(?) then to have dealt with **inaudible few words**. A magnificent master **inaudible word** who might have better. And so, had a part happier fate than to being utterly destroyed he headed by **inaudible few words** area.
And so, he leaves Camelot. **inaudible word or two** sparks off the stones and off he rides. Into the **inaudible word** of sunset. And **inaudible few words** this happens on All Saints Day which is November 1st. **inaudible few words** with this kind of a tone to it.
He rode far from his friends. But forsaking them, scaling many cliffs and **inaudible few words**. And every bank or beach where brave men crossed water, he found the flow in front of him except by a freak of chance. And so foul and fierce of one that he is forced to fight. So many marvels that a man moved from the mountains that he **inaudible few words**. He had death struggles with dragons and battled with wolves. Warred with wild trolls. **inaudible few words**. He battled with **inaudible word** and bears and **inaudible word** at other times. **inaudible word** that came after him on high feathers. And he had been **inaudible word or two** endurance so dutiful to God. Certainly, be have been **inaudible word** slaughtered many times yet warring **inaudible few words**. Worse was the winter when the cold clear water cascaded from the clouds and froze because before it could fall to the **inaudible word** earth. **inaudible word or two** by the sleet. He slept in his armor. Neither from **inaudible word or two** under his rocks. Where the cold streams ran clattering from the streams above. And hung high over his head the **inaudible word** icicles. So, in peril and in pain, the parlous fight this knight covered the country until his Christmas Eve **inaudible word**.
Now on Gawain's shield, on the inside of it, is a drawing of Mary and Jesus. On the outside of the shield is drawn the pentacle. sacred pentagon. And the author of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight according to OED is the only mention of the word pentacle before Tudor times in England. They are an amazing phenomenon. And his description of this pentacle on this shield is quite interesting. and I think I should **inaudible few words**.
"Then they showed him with the shield with its shining gold. With a pentacle in pure gold and **inaudible word**. He praca...brandished it with **inaudible few words** about this neck he swung it in a seemly way, and it suited him well." I'm...there's a certain way that on horseback if you are carrying a shield that it can rest on this left clavicle **inaudible word** so that we were right arm is free. And that in battle there is a motion where you can shrug the shield forward and using your elbow and forearm draw your sword and make an **inaudible word** move to fight. Like a fast draw with the gun. That's the way it was with the suit of armor. So, this shield
with the Pentacle is this one the **inaudible few words**. So, that the mystical pentacles was that way and the image of Mary is face on to the body. So that he has a spiritual movement in any way that he turns. That has the old quote pagan energy flowing diametrically opposite to that Mary.
Why the pentacle was **inaudible word** to this Prince of knights? And I intend to tell you. there is a symbol with Solomon **inaudible word or two** to the token truth **inaudible word**. Which he is entitled to. For which it is a figure that has five points. And each line overlaps and is locked with another. And it is endless everywhere. and the English call it, as I have heard, the endless knot. "And there was **inaudible word** and his bringing armor. Forever faithful and fine fit. Each **inaudible few words** Gawain was reputed good, and like gold well refined." Remember that in alchemy that have been quintessence with the ultimately **inaudible few words** essence in Gawain is like gold, well refined and **inaudible few words**.
"Gawain was reputed good and like gold well refined. He was the glory of all **inaudible word**. Every virtue displayed in the field. Thus, this pentacle knew who carried **inaudible word** coat and shield as a man of **inaudible word or two** and knightly **inaudible few words** And he kneels at this like bringing two things together and making them one. It's like a metallic alloy.
And this choice of words is not just because he is searching for the world **inaudible few words** but he means exactly what it says. **inaudible word or two** I think one thing here **inaudible word or two**, there's a, there is a tendency to think in terms of mystical searching that the center of the earth is a molten cauldron that is constantly refining new levels of material reality. That it's like an inner fire. and that the powers of the earth come from that motion and work. The underworld. It's not the popular visions of Hell and demons but rather the earth interior sun of the mother earth which permits transformation to happen. And so, the energy transmitted way and that this whole notion here of, of quintessence is **inaudible word** and well refined and **inaudible word or two**. The colloquial thing is that the man has his feet on the ground. But what it means mystically is that he was rooted in the processes by which nature ultimately **inaudible word** itself to **inaudible word**. Thus, **inaudible word or two** because it was a synonym of how all this comes together and stays together. Five. Five points. Five **inaudible word**.
First, he was found faultless at his five wits. Next his five fingers never failed the knife. And all this trust earth was in earth was in five words. Which he replies then **inaudible several words** On a battlefield. **inaudible word** all of the things, through all the things he thought of this. that his prowess all depended upon the **inaudible word or two**. But before we **inaudible few words**.
Accordingly, the courteousness had that Queens image etched on the inside of his armored shield. so that when he **inaudible word or two** his heart could not fail.
The fifth five I find famous and practiced were. and these are the marks on the order of chivalry are these here. He doesn't say it. We assume that it is.
"Liberality and loving kindness leading the rest. Then his countenance and courtesy, which they're never corrupted. and piety, the surpassing virtue. These purified were **inaudible few words** than on any other. And every multiple. Each interlocking with the knuckle had no end being fixed to five points which never failed. never assembling on one side or sundering either with no end at any angle. Nor can I find where the design started or proceeded to its end. Thus **inaudible word or two** shield, the shape of this knot was **inaudible word** embroidered in red gold. that is the pure pentacle. So old like people **inaudible word or two**."
So that's the, that's the shield wanted and **inaudible few words** and find **inaudible word**.
I think one of these people little extra background. We're not used to some of these words being used that way. this is from Nowels(?) History of Chivalry chapter of chivalric **inaudible word**. And why are these important? These are important in the same way that any **inaudible word** or any differentiating questing pattern must have exactness. It must be able to **inaudible word** slowly at times. Speed is not important. But the time **inaudible word or two** That's important.
In the five virtues of the chivalric character, one **inaudible word or two** to the picture and understand as a virtuous**inaudible word** So **inaudible word**, 170 years ago wrote this.
The virtue of liberality seems to have been a striking feature of the chivalric character. It proceeded from that loftiness of spirit which felt that **inaudible word** would have debates and heroism that should contend for crowns and kingdoms. **inaudible word or two** of the times they kept alive the fame and chivalry. Encourage this virtue above all others. For upon it depended the **inaudible few words** But it often sprang from better motives than pride or vanity. The good Lord de Croix gave every day five florins and small money at his gate the for poor folks. For the **inaudible word or two** and he would liveth in the courteous gifts to others. Etc. **inaudible word or two** indeed considered nothing his own. Save his horse and arms which he ought to keep as his means of acquiring honor by using them in the defense of his religion and country. and of those who were unable to defend themselves.
So, this liberality which will come into play **inaudible word**
So, he had been riding on his quest. going ever farther north. Going ever farther in terms of the annual cycle towards that winter solstice. Going ever farther towards that point where he will meet his certain death. And so, Gawain retreating on all levels from that which is known and comforting and comfortable.
END OF SIDE ONE
"....country. As well as those unable to defend themselves." So, this liberality which will come into play. **inaudible word or two**
So, he had been riding on his quest. going ever farther north. Going ever farther in terms of the annual cycle towards that winter solstice. Going ever farther towards that point where he will meet his certain death. And so, Gawain retreating on all levels from that which is known and comforting and comfortable. Finds himself closer and closer to the point which his psychological anxieties is I think properly termed pure desperation. Absolutely nothing is **inaudible word**. Not only the world **inaudible few words** and any reverberation from it **inaudible word**.
And Gawain at this point, and this is Christmas Eve, finds the castle. And at this **inaudible few words** himself in silence every so often. He's trying to pay attention to every detail around him. Looking for proof. Looking for that reoccurring patterns and synchronicity in the world which will alert him to the fact that he is on an arc of meaning.
And thus, can follow it through to the event which he should participate. He doesn't know where it is or what it is. And so, in order to articulate time-space lifts up as he's riding alone on his steed. He doesn't know where he is in this **inaudible word**. Or where he's going. He periodically will **inaudible few words** And just as he does thrice the sign of the savior of himself **inaudible word**. When in the woods he was aware of the twelfth with a moat on a promontory above the plateau. Penned in by the boughs. And tremendous trunks of trees and trench about. The cumbias castle have required by a Knight. It was placed in an **inaudible word** palisade. A pointed **inaudible word** on the plain with **inaudible word**all around. Containing many trees in its two-mile circumference. The courteous knight contemplated the castle from one side as it shimmered and shined to its **inaudible word or two** then he heaved off his helmet and heartedly thanked Jesus and the Saint Julian.
A patron saint in medieval times for travelers.
"**inaudible word** gentle patrons who had given him grace and gratified his wish. N ow granted he with logic the gallant **inaudible word** said. Then he goaded his horse." His horse was named Gringolet. "Then he goaded Gringolet with his golden heels. And mostly by chance emerged in the **inaudible word or two** which brought the brave man to the bridges end with one cast." Mostly by chance with one cast. That is **inaudible word** questing that it is always at play. And all things that we consider down to **inaudible word** surface and its visibly written **inaudible few words**. So, he's brought there, and he's brought into the castle. And Gawain is brought into the castle and he is seen by the other people in the castle as a glorious figure. Gawain has a lot of gold from his armor. His hair is gold. All of his horses' trappings are gold trim. the reason for this for is that Gawain is a descendent down from the Sun God. That is, he is the bringer or light. In every cycle of dark and light. And it is kind of a wasteland wintry world. Gawain is really the Sun except he doesn't know it to himself. he actively at the end of his life, he **inaudible few words** he's at the end of the world. He doesn't know how **inaudible word or two** But so far that he was even surprised to see anything.
And so, as he went into the castle, he was quite surprised that we was greeted like an incredible star **inaudible word** type of personage. And as he sees this greeting the anonymous leaves him. and he begins then to respond again to the qualities of life which we find **inaudible word**. And as this energy rises in him. As he begins to glow here in the congregation of life, he is **inaudible word** as ethereal. And the lord of the castle, a glorious large huge individual and his wife was the most beautiful woman in **inaudible few words**. And Gawain, of course, being this elegant courteous sort of a knight, whose whole life has been trained at court begins to engage a very beautiful elegant conversation. The delightfulness of repartee and so forth. And as the Christmas Eve goes on, he finds himself more and more in life again with himself. And almost has forgotten the situation which he is moving ever closer towards. Except for the fact that the **inaudible word** has him set out **inaudible few words**. His sacramental sacrificial supper of fish, bread and wine. the very dish that **inaudible word or two** always have before **inaudible several words**. Some ritual developments.
Thereby Solomon's word which has been **inaudible word** strongly against this **inaudible word or two** should not be, should be eaten on the sabbath itself not on the **inaudible word**. This Jewish custom appears to have been adopted by the **inaudible word** church, the early Christians of **inaudible word**. Celebrated sacramental fish **inaudible few words** with numerous illustrations **inaudible word** described by the true writers referred to. The elements of this mystic meal of fish, bread and wine **inaudible word** being represented in the Messianic tradition. at the end of the meal Gothelf gets to **inaudible few words** the up of blessing. one of fabulous dimensions **inaudible several words** fish play an important part of **inaudible word**. This being a holy food in **inaudible word** and so forth.
So that while this is going on Gawain has this sacrificial meal. And as he finishes the meal, he wakes up to the fact that it is midnight on Christmas Eve. And so **inaudible word or two** it into a religious mass service with this large toast to the castle. And you just know, you must know that it's the green knight without his **inaudible word** on. And so, he takes Christmas Eve midnight mass with the thing that he most fears most in all the universe. And they're kneeling together in the service. And Gawain feels this great kinship with this lord of the castle next to him. And **inaudible few words** of the Anahata heart chakra. Everything is **inaudible word** with this golden light **inaudible word or two**. And the kinship that he feels with the knight next to him. As this where the book Sir Gawain and the Green Knight finds its end. It ends there. And the second part takes off from there.
But it has moved in this fabulous motion to this kind of a point right in here. **inaudible several words/a sentence** it means a point so exact that it has no location in time or space. There's a metaphysical point because it's so exact in terms of the process that it has no location. It is everywhere. and Sir Gawain the Green Knight at the very middle of the book is **inaudible word**.
Well I'd like to stop there, and we'll have a break. And then we'll have the second half of Sir Gawain as we should down to the library around **inaudible word** tables. That's how we'll **inaudible word** down there **inaudible few words**
One of our meetings coming up is **inaudible several words** an interesting contrast.
**inaudible chatter from the room for several sentences**
This is, it's quite interesting in **inaudible word** of **inaudible few words** of Mary.
It's very much like the Homeric vision of **inaudible word or two**.
I should mention a couple of, of other books. Material on chakras. This book exists as a **inaudible word** paperback or exists as a hard cover like this. There were paperbacks are about $6.00 and this is about $7.50 or $8.00. The Serpent Power but Sir John Woodroffe. Its published by Ganesh, which is a very, very respectable religious publisher in India. Ganesh is the elephant in Hindu mythology. Ganesh Publishing. Just excellent people.
There is a series of oh I imagine a dozen books by Sir John Woodroffe. They were written some time back. This is written 10th edition 1974, it must have been the 20's. Around the 20's. 1920 or so. Woodroffe was English, of course, but like the others **inaudible few words**. He was welcomed as a peer. These were all written during the Hindu Renaissance. In the time of **inaudible word** and Gandhi and so forth. So, The Serpent Power. This is, this is a large complex work.
There's a simple work by C.W. **inaudible word** The Chakras. And that's available I believe in the paperback. So, The Chakras by **inaudible word** or The Serpent Power by Woodroffe, either of them would be adequate as sort of a first introduction. **inaudible word** was, I think overly cautious about sex(?). He **inaudible few words** chakras and tend to **inaudible few words**. But its neither here or there that the patterns **inaudible few words**. But these two books are **inaudible word or two** and then ask around **inaudible word or two**.
If you're interested in pursuing some of the Indian matters, there's a five-volume set. I think I've donated a set here to the P.R.S. library so they have it. By Dasgupta. Surendranath Dasgupta. The History of Indian Philosophy in five volumes. Originally published by Cambridge University. you can look in the indexes and Dasgupta is just enormously **inaudible word**. And if you read a 50-page chapter by him it's like having read 20 or 30 books by other people. **inaudible word or two** sort of an individual. He was as I mentioned before the teacher, guru of **inaudible several words** there's no, there's no sense of pretending **inaudible word** someone who thinks capable of teaching you **inaudible few words**
So, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. **inaudible several words** center. Or that motion of Hermetic **inaudible word** is also a cross section of the Hermetic **inaudible word**. And it is also a cross section of, of **inaudible word or two** in terms of its neural structure, its energy capacities. And you can find references to back throughout the **inaudible word** to all of these. **inaudible few words** so that the neural pathways Ida...i-d-a and the Tinilga, t-i-n-i-l-g-a. 15:51 And you can look those up for yourself. Read about them and get information on **inaudible word** and be able to find the third.
But it's interesting to note that this kind of a, a frame of men and women, male female, **inaudible few words** all these things carry all the way through. All the levels of **inaudible word** history. So that once having comprehended an order in any realm it is a metaphor for the **inaudible word** in any other realm. And the only thing to add to it is that as one transcends and adds dimension to an order, you simply have to take the metaphor in larger and larger expanded frame of reference. Ultimately, of course, one likely **inaudible few words** of reference. **inaudible word or two** as long as you need them you...
So, the second half of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, they've taken one motion from which has taken almost the whole annual cycle. It's gone from New Year's Day to Christmas Eve. And only that small portion of the year left to be taken into consideration. So, there's a mismatch in terms of time. There's also a mismatch in terms of space. He is told not to worry about finding the Green Chapel, that it exists only two miles from the castle in which he's staying. So that in terms of time and space the majority of the movement is taking place in first half. The second half is a different kind of movement with the other part, the other **inaudible several words**.
And there are two parts, parts three and four. And part three is **inaudible few words** by the following situation. The master of the castle has, has said to Gawain before that he's going to go hunting in the morning. And while he's out hunting whatever game he happens to bag he will give to Gawain and **inaudible word**. If Gawain will give him whatever achievements, as he styles it in his **inaudible word**. Whatever achievement he has acquired during the day **inaudible few words**. And they will exchange their trophies of the day.
And so, the master of the castle goes out. And the lady of the castle immediately starts to work with Gawain. And Gawain accepts only **inaudible few words** on the first day the lucky day **inaudible word or two** A token gift. And as soon as the master of the castle comes back, he lays up rows and rows of game. He gives a gift to the master of the castle **inaudible several words**. And then there's a second gift. The same form. The same process. **inaudible word or two** they form but the tension is drawn. Not that he's more tempted because she's more enticing or the advances **inaudible word or two** about the complications **inaudible few words**. Because she's not trying to seduce him **inaudible word or two** but she is challenging him on a multi-dimensional level. And he was trying to track **inaudible word** much like a very complicated chess game. Sort of like his check mate. Because there's an etiquette involved and chivalry. That one cannot break one's word, one's code. But one can also not injure the lady of the castle. And he comes ever closer and closer to a point in terms of spiritual psychology where he will have to break one or the other of those codes. So, it's like a knife of doom, it's double edge. And the quandary that he faces is not simply saying no but not saying no so strongly that he really does say no and injures her feelings. And breaks the whole chivalric code the other way. So, he's trapped on the razor's edge. He can't go too far either way.
And so, keeping track on the second **inaudible word** becomes more complicated than he ever thought. And yet at the same time he must remain affable and charming and delightful because he's a guest. And he has to keep up the high level of verbal repartee. And yet every nuances of that repartee is being turned on him to this point that will be **inaudible word or two**. He accepts two **inaudible word several words/sentences or possibly with no audio for a few minutes.**
The noble side ceases him with unsettled slumber. As threatened **inaudible word or two** in the drowned light. About destiny which the day after would deal him his fate at the green chapel where Gawain was to meet his **inaudible word** . He was bound to **inaudible few words** But having recovered consciousness in a **inaudible word** fashion, he heaves himself out of dreams and answered **inaudible word**. The lovely lady advanced laughing **inaudible word** swooped over his **inaudible word** face and sweetly kissed him. He welcomed her verbally with noble cheer and **inaudible few words** with glorious entitlement. Her features **inaudible word or two** and **inaudible word** complexion. He felt a flush of **inaudible few words**. Sweet congenial smile slide there into joy. So, bliss bursts forth between them. **inaudible word or two** statically and content. And talked of truly delight until dangerous passions **inaudible word**. But **inaudible word or two**.
And what he's up against is that he has to make almost like a **inaudible few words.** Extremely complex. He has to maintain the heartfelt **inaudible word** for the lady and for the situation with heart chakra energy **inaudible few words**. And he's unable because he is not spiritually insightful and ready enough to **inaudible few words**. And so, he's trapped. He has only that **inaudible word** which he already had. But if **inaudible several words** Descriptions of all of his attempts on his part **inaudible word** to include more and more of the world. And this heartfelt loving kindness which he does genuinely feel. He does make it **inaudible few words**. And everything that she offers he has to transmute in his vision and in his sleep into this spirituality of **inaudible word** magic. And he does. Until she co-offered him a rich ring. **inaudible word** in red gold. **inaudible several words** she offers him this ring. A sparkling stone set inconspicuously in **inaudible word** which he **inaudible few words** it's worth was **inaudible word**. But the **inaudible word** then, the **inaudible few words** before God one day **inaudible word or two**just now. Not having anything to offer I shall accept nothing. She offered it to him first and then he refused again. **inaudible word or two** In his refusal **inaudible few words**. Put out by this repulse She **inaudible word or two** if you reject **inaudible word** to **inaudible word** that least you will be less deeply imbedded to me if I gave you my girdle. A less **inaudible word** gift she gracefully grasped the girdle and **inaudible few words** until **inaudible few words** Green silk of **inaudible several words**.
And she pleaded with the Prince and **inaudible word**. But he told her that he could not touch **inaudible few words** nor gold nor any gift that **inaudible word** gave the prince. She pursued to success **inaudible few words**. So, I entreat you to be contended therefore and press no more on your purpose. For I promise it never can be. I owe you a hundredfold **inaudible word** grace you have granted me. And never know **inaudible word** I shall **inaudible few words**. He **inaudible word or two** to this **inaudible few words**. In itself suck a simple seeming thing. But **inaudible word** being little to have less value. But one who is aware of the work required in it, it **inaudible word** its properties as **inaudible word** perhaps. For the man that binds his body **inaudible few words** as long as it is **inaudible word or two** is safe from his sins whoever strives to **inaudible word or two** for he cannot be killed by **inaudible word or two**. In his **inaudible word** pocket it appeared to him and it appeared it was protecting him **inaudible several words**green chapel.
**inaudible few words** check it. **inaudible few words** splendid strategy to escape being **inaudible word**. The he allowed to **inaudible word** and let her speak. She pressed her **inaudible word** upon him and **inaudible few words** gladly give it to him. But he **inaudible few words** and her **inaudible several words** and hide it from her husband **inaudible several words/sentence or so** with all his heart and might. **inaudible several words/sentences**
I won't go into **inaudible word** commentary **inaudible few words**.
But this **inaudible word or two** relate to this particular style of question and **inaudible few words** and **inaudible word** spiritual rituals evolved **inaudible few words**. And that's an old India...Indian story. **inaudible several words**. When you find something like that you **inaudible word** bring in, in juxtaposition to this one **inaudible few words**
In a king **inaudible word or two** is the Prince who is told that he is a threatened situation. He must go to a cemetery, a burial place. And not just where they bury people but they **inaudible word** them and bury them and cremate them and all **inaudible few words**. And that there was a magician who would **inaudible word** magic **inaudible word**. And that he must help this magician with this ritual in order to obtain the amulet of protection himself. Otherwise he's in grave **inaudible word**. So, the prince goes to the burial place **inaudible few words** place of death. And he finds the magician doing his ritual, his work for his ritual. **inaudible word or two** body or corpse **inaudible word** there. **inaudible several words**. So, the prince goes, and he finds a corpse hanging from a **inaudible word** and he cuts it down. And he **inaudible word** comes back towards with magician is during this ritual. And suddenly the corpse opens its eyes and whispers in his ear that he has a riddle to ask this prince. And that if the prince can't answer this riddle that his head will explode. So, he tells the riddle and the prince is suddenly filled with this terrible repulsion that he's caught in this incredibly dangerous situation. That in fact his head will explode. and he quickly, desperately finds a **inaudible word** for the riddle. And as soon as he does the corpse is **inaudible word** from his shoulders and back on **inaudible few words** the magician **inaudible few words** and the corpse hanging in the tree. And **inaudible word or two** he habitually goes back and cuts the corpse down. And he's carrying it back and **inaudible few words** with the admonition that **inaudible few words** his head will explode. **inaudible few words** in their desperation **inaudible several words** of energy **inaudible several words/few sentences**...which must be solved or **inaudible several words**.
But the crypts can be recognized. that he's in a situation that he doesn't know **inaudible word or two** but realizes that only thing that has every helped him in this life is his courage. Finally, **inaudible word** to answer the riddle **inaudible several words**. Be careful of the magician. The ritual he is preparing is **inaudible few words**. And as soon as you try to leave the corpse there and contribute this part to the ritual and you bend down, he will cut off your head. You see **inaudible few words**. And the corpse **inaudible several words/sentence or two**.
So, Gawain rides up to the castle and he **inaudible few words** to this blue-ribbon question. And so **inaudible word or two** casket. So, he rides up. And he rides along, and the landscape becomes sort of vicious with sharp **inaudible word** and **inaudible word** trees and so forth. And he comes upon and he doesn't see a green chapel anywhere. He sees a flat mother of land. And they're sort of humped onto the landscape is a barrel. And it has an opening and **inaudible word or two**. And on each side, there is **inaudible word**. And it's grown over with wild old **inaudible word** grass so that it's like a garden **inaudible word** or something of that nature. **inaudible several words**. And he rides to this chapel and realizes that the chapel was in fact **inaudible few words** chapel. It's not a **inaudible word** structure at all. It's very **inaudible word**. It's something wild and vicious. And as soon as he gets there, he realizes that its empty. He **inaudible few words** as if to say the green **inaudible word**. That the test is **inaudible few words**. And so, he climbs up the top of the mountain and as soon as he gets there, there is a **inaudible few words**. And suddenly he is **inaudible several words**. And the sound **inaudible few words** physically **inaudible several words**. And the implications for him. And the sound of course. Arabic mystics used to say that sound of insanity was the sound of millions of **inaudible word or two**. So, this is what **inaudible few words** when he stands in the **inaudible word or two** wild **inaudible word**.
But then because he's been offered on heart chakra level and he's been infused for days with that energy. When in fact the question **inaudible word**, the riddle **inaudible word** with the beautiful women of the castle has honed his energies very fine. He is ready. And so, he shouts a challenge out. The energy rises in his chakra he says well, get on with it. Honey **inaudible few words**. And the description **inaudible few words**.
No certainly the place is deserted. There is a hideous **inaudible word** all overgrown. **inaudible few words** to deal out the devotions **inaudible few words**. And
now I feel in my **inaudible word or two** it is **inaudible word** himself that has tricked him into this tryst to destroy me here. This is a chapel of mischance **inaudible word or two**. It is amongst evil always I have a **inaudible word**. With its high **inaudible word or two** Holding his light. He rode up to the river **inaudible few words**. Then from the height he heard a hard rock on the bank beyond the **inaudible several words** as if a great silence would leave **inaudible few words** like water **inaudible few words** whoa. It made a rush of ringing **inaudible few words**. My God said Gawain that is **inaudible word**. I suppose a as a salute to myself to greet **inaudible few words**. Will be wanted last with a crazy cry. No **inaudible word** shall make me drift. I shall **inaudible word** Then the courteous knight called out **inaudible word**, Who holds sway there with **inaudible word** for the good night Gawain is on the ground here. If anyone there wants anything **inaudible word** your way hither fast. And furthering **inaudible word** either now or not at all. And someone took a long sigh **inaudible word or two** father time 40:21**inaudible few words**. Time and space and energy and everything. **inaudible word** there said the **inaudible few words**. You shall you shall quickly receive what I once swore to give you. That he pressed on a pace for **inaudible few words**. Turning away **inaudible few words**. He was trying to **inaudible word**. And this is the way that it often is. They can challenge always rushes **inaudible word or two** up **inaudible several words/sentence or so**. Then he thrust himself around a thick, brick **inaudible word or two** through a hole. **inaudible several words**. A Danish ass(?) **inaudible several words/sentence or so** down to the grindstone either bleeding **inaudible few words**. His locks and beard save that steadily on his steed he **inaudible few words** setting the handle to the **inaudible few words**. He would not wade through the water when he came to it but **inaudible few words**. The with huge strides **inaudible few words** fiercely **inaudible few words**. And Gawain **inaudible word** went to greet the man, **inaudible word** bowing low. And then said ever so sweet, you utter the tryst you **inaudible word**. Gawain, said the Green Knight, **inaudible few words** You are **inaudible word or two** I warned you. You have traveled through all the times that **inaudible few words**. You are cognizant of the compact accorded between us. This time you call upon **inaudible few words**. And Now at this New Year I should requite you. We are on our own here in the valley without people to part us. **inaudible few words**. Take your helmet off your head and **inaudible word** your payment here. **inaudible word** no more argument of action than you did when you ripped off my head with one stroke. No, said Gawain, by God who gave me this **inaudible word**. The previous **inaudible word** of time or virtue **inaudible few words**. Strike with the one **inaudible word** and I shall stand still.
**inaudible several words**
And so, he bares his neck and the Green Knight raises the axe and it's a beautiful image here that he has. I can't **inaudible few words**....and the pain shooting through the shimmering **inaudible word or two** cast a shadow. And his shoulders shrank slight in the **inaudible word or two**. In other words, a corpse. And so, the Green Knight stopped the axe. And he stands back and he points at it with a **inaudible word**. And he says, what is this? The great knight of the Round Table, defending the honor or the Round Table **inaudible few words**...
END OF SIDE TWO
... **inaudible word** through the shimmering air that's shattering. **inaudible several words/few sentences**....the ultimate **inaudible several words/sentence or two** ....swung them savagely **inaudible word** and hit himself so that **inaudible few words**. Over his shoulder the shimmer **inaudible word** shot to the ground. When **inaudible word(name)** saw his **inaudible few words** he sprang **inaudible word or two** in his feet and threw his helmet onto his head and sharpened his shoulders. Moved his shield to the front, **inaudible word** out the bright sword **inaudible several words/sentence or two**. And if you are who you are **inaudible few words**.
And so, he's ready to come back every night, squarely. That he's no longer bound by the nightmare. He has literally woken up from this habitual dream. Which for a whole year has mesmerized the cycle of life. And he has survived it because of the **inaudible word** energy which is the highest that **inaudible word** can accomplish. The sunshine of the spirit. And by that **inaudible few words**.
And the Green Knight says it is because of the **inaudible word** girl that **inaudible few words** that you received it. That giving that back you have received absolutely no **inaudible word** whatsoever. But now you will have a white star **inaudible few words**. But Gawain **inaudible word** says yes, I have to live now with this. But this is a sin. It's not a big sin but it is a mark against my chivalric order. I have **inaudible few words** To acknowledge it is not the same at all. **inaudible word or two** acknowledge it and in fact **inaudible word** put my wife up to this and arranged to the whole **inaudible word** that there's no fault whatsoever. And one day trying to give the girl back, you won't receive it. So, Gawain takes a **inaudible word** and puts it across from **inaudible few words** very well and will wear it publicly **inaudible word**. to show that I have lost and I'm afraid. And the **inaudible several words**.
He has the final section so that Gawain goes back to the mountain to tell his exploits and publicly **inaudible few words**. Instead of it to being a mark of shame, it is a mark of the forthright honesty **inaudible few words** of that round table. And all **inaudible few words** were all there. It is a mark that yes, they are all somewhat flawed. But even with that its only **inaudible word or two** flaw and not a structured break whatsoever.
**inaudible several words/sentence or so**. You can do these things for yourself **inaudible several words**. Not much. You know who did the first magician during the great **inaudible word**, Tolkien. Professor Tolkien. Tolkien and E.B. Gordon. Manly Hall wrote a book called **inaudible word or two ** on E.B. Gordon **inaudible few words**. Gordon and Tolkien had a wonderful insight **inaudible few words** of spiritual order. They did the standard edition. I'll bring a copy of it. I don't know if we have one here or not. Probably not. Well...
**inaudible question/comment from the room**
We'll see you next week. Come down here a little more often the last four weeks. Thank you.
END OF RECORDING