Chapter 3: The Cause of the Delay in the Falling of the Ship Karnak  
  Summary and Interpretation by ChatGPT  
Page 56

Source Text: [p. 56]
THE captain soon afterward entered and having performed before Beelzebub all the ceremonies appropriate to Beelzebub’s rank, said:

“Your Right Reverence, allow me to ask your authoritative opinion upon an ‘inevitability’ that lies in the line of our course, and which will hinder our smooth falling by the shortest route.

“The point is that if we follow our intended course, then our ship, after two ‘Kilprenos’* will pass through the solar system ‘Vuanik.’

“But just through where our ship must pass, there must also pass, about a ‘Kilpreno’ before, the great comet belonging to that solar system and named ‘Sakoor,’ or, as it is sometimes called, the ‘Madcap.’

“So if we keep to our proposed course, we must inevitably traverse the space through which this comet will have to pass.”

* The word “Kilpreno” in the language of Beelzebub means a certain period of time, equal approximately to the duration of the flow of time which we call an “hour.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The captain alerts Beelzebub to an impending navigational danger: a comet will cross the ship’s path.

Second idea: The comet will pass through the same space shortly before the ship reaches it.

Third idea: The captain seeks Beelzebub’s authoritative judgment on how to proceed given this inevitability.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“having performed before Beelzebub all the ceremonies appropriate to Beelzebub’s rank”
The captain formally greeted Beelzebub with all the rituals due to his high status.
“an ‘inevitability’ that lies in the line of our course”
A situation that cannot be avoided if they stick to their planned path.
“after two ‘Kilprenos’ will pass through the solar system ‘Vuanik’”
In about two hours, the ship will enter the Vuanik system.
“the great comet … named ‘Sakoor,’ or … ‘the Madcap’”
A massive and erratic comet will enter the same space just before the Karnak does.
“we must inevitably traverse the space through which this comet will have to pass”
They are set to fly through the very same region the comet is passing through.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Karnak’s path will intersect the trajectory of a dangerous comet in a nearby solar system, posing a serious risk. The captain is asking Beelzebub how to respond to this unavoidable timing overlap.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with ritual deference… reminding us that even in cosmic navigation, hierarchy is observed, and decisions are deferred upward.

  • The use of “inevitability” and precise timing (Kilpreno)… shows a sophisticated cosmological model where time, space, and agency intersect critically.

  • The naming of the comet ‘Madcap’… gives an anthropomorphic flavor to cosmic danger—Gurdjieff subtly mythologizing astronomy.

  • This encounter… is not with a being but with celestial mechanics—yet it is treated as a subject requiring discernment, not just calculation.

Summary
The captain informs Beelzebub of an unavoidable celestial timing conflict: the ship Karnak, if it continues on its current course, will intersect the path of a large comet named Sakoor (“the Madcap”) in the solar system Vuanik. This collision risk emerges from their shared trajectory within a short time interval of two Kilprenos. He asks Beelzebub for a decision on how to respond.

Source Text:
“Your Right Reverence of course knows that this ‘Madcap’ comet always leaves in its track a great deal of ‘Zilnotrago’† which on entering the planetary body of a being disorganizes most of its functions until all the ‘Zilnotrago’ is volatilized out of it.

“I thought at first,” continued the captain, “of avoiding the ‘Zilnotrago’ by steering the ship around these spheres, but for this a long detour would be necessary which would greatly lengthen the time of our passage. On the other hand, to wait somewhere until the ‘Zilnotrago’ is dispersed would take still longer.”

† The word “Zilnotrago” is the name of a special gas similar to what we call “cyanic acid.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The comet leaves behind a toxic gas called Zilnotrago that disrupts living organisms.

Second idea: The captain initially considered rerouting or pausing the voyage to avoid it.

Third idea: Both rerouting and waiting would delay the trip more than continuing as planned.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“this ‘Madcap’ comet always leaves in its track a great deal of ‘Zilnotrago’”
The comet regularly emits a large quantity of a harmful substance called Zilnotrago.
“on entering the planetary body of a being disorganizes most of its functions”
If this gas enters a living organism, it throws off its internal systems and operations.
“until all the ‘Zilnotrago’ is volatilized out of it”
The disruption continues until the gas naturally evaporates or escapes from the body.
“avoiding the ‘Zilnotrago’ by steering the ship around these spheres”
The captain thought of changing course to go around the affected space.
“but for this a long detour would be necessary which would greatly lengthen the time”
Such a reroute would add significant duration to their journey.
“to wait somewhere until the ‘Zilnotrago’ is dispersed would take still longer”
Waiting in place for the gas to dissipate would cause even more delay.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The comet’s trail leaves behind a noxious gas that harms living beings, and though alternative routes exist to avoid it, they would require unacceptable delays. Thus, the situation poses a dilemma between speed and safety.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He names a comet's trail as biologically disruptive… presenting cosmic phenomena as intimately entangled with living systems, not just mechanical or inertial events.

  • “Zilnotrago” as cyanic acid is an analogy… suggesting real biochemical analogs, hinting that Gurdjieff’s cosmology bridges the esoteric and scientific domains.

  • The binary of “detour” or “wait” frames the captain’s reasoning… not just as logistical but existential—how to navigate dangers that cannot be directly confronted?

  • Cosmic travel here involves atmospheric contamination risk… an implicit metaphor for spiritual or psychic exposure during transit through unknown inner or outer territories.

Summary
The captain explains that the comet “Madcap” emits a dangerous substance called Zilnotrago, which severely disrupts biological function until it fully dissipates. He considered two alternatives to avoid it—either taking a lengthy detour or waiting until the gas clears—but both options would significantly delay the journey.

Page 57

Source Text: [p. 57]
“In view of the sharp distinction in the alternatives before us, I cannot myself decide what to do, and so I have ventured to trouble you, your Right Reverence, for your competent advice.”

The captain having finished speaking, Beelzebub thought a little and then said as follows:

“Really, I do not know how to advise you, my dear Captain. Ah, yes … in that solar system where I existed for a long time, there is a planet called Earth. On that planet Earth arose, and still continue to arise, very strange three-centered beings. And among the beings of a continent of that planet called ‘Asia,’ there arose and existed a very wise three-brained being whom they called there ‘Mullah Nassr Eddin.’

“For each and every peculiar situation great and small in the existence of the beings there,” Beelzebub continued, “this same terrestrial sage Mullah Nassr Eddin had an apt and pithy saying.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The captain requests Beelzebub’s guidance due to the difficulty of the decision.

Second idea: Beelzebub admits his own indecision and introduces an Earth-based figure known for wisdom in peculiar situations.

Third idea: Beelzebub highlights the value of proverbial insight from a being named Mullah Nassr Eddin.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“I cannot myself decide what to do”
The captain is unsure which option to choose on his own.
“ventured to trouble you … for your competent advice”
He respectfully asks Beelzebub for help in making the decision.
“in that solar system where I existed for a long time”
Beelzebub recalls his lengthy stay in the solar system that includes Earth.
“very strange three-centered beings”
He describes Earth's inhabitants as highly unusual, possessing three centers.
“this same terrestrial sage Mullah Nassr Eddin had an apt and pithy saying”
Mullah Nassr Eddin was known for concise, wise expressions suited to odd situations.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The captain is asking for help in navigating a difficult choice, but Beelzebub demurs, recalling instead a wise Earth being, Mullah Nassr Eddin, whose sayings might offer more clarity than direct advice. This sets the stage for using humorous or symbolic wisdom to resolve serious cosmic dilemmas.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by refusing direct advice… showing that wisdom may come not from commands, but indirection or story.

  • Earth appears not as a backdrop but as a reference point… for metaphysical teaching through archetypal figures like Mullah Nassr Eddin.

  • “Strange three-centered beings”… is a signature Gurdjieff phrase that recontextualizes humanity from an external cosmological perspective.

  • Mullah Nassr Eddin is introduced as a mouthpiece… for absurd, sharp-edged truth—perhaps closer to Gurdjieff’s own role than Beelzebub lets on.

Summary
Faced with the dilemma, the captain defers to Beelzebub, who himself admits uncertainty. Rather than provide a direct answer, Beelzebub shifts attention to a memory from Earth—a planet populated by unusual three-centered beings. He introduces Mullah Nassr Eddin, a wise being from Asia, known for his apt proverbs that addressed life’s many odd situations.

Source Text:
“As all his sayings were full of the sense of truth for existence there, I also always used them there as a guide, in order to have a comfortable existence among the beings of that planet.

“And in the given case too, my dear Captain, I intend to profit by one of his wise sayings.

“In such a situation as has befallen us, he would probably say:

“‘You cannot jump over your knees and it is absurd to try to kiss your own elbow.’

“I now say the same to you, and I add: there is nothing to be done; when an event is impending which arises from forces immeasurably greater than our own, one must submit.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub chooses to rely on the wisdom of Mullah Nassr Eddin in this moment of cosmic uncertainty.

Second idea: He offers a proverb that illustrates the futility of fighting against overpowering forces.

Third idea: His conclusion is surrender—not in weakness, but in realistic acceptance of scale.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“full of the sense of truth for existence there”
Deeply attuned to the lived reality of life on Earth.
“I also always used them there as a guide”
Beelzebub himself relied on these sayings for practical wisdom.
“You cannot jump over your knees and it is absurd to try to kiss your own elbow.”
A metaphor for inherent limitations—some things are simply impossible, and striving against them is foolish.
“there is nothing to be done”
We must accept what we cannot change.
“forces immeasurably greater than our own”
Overwhelming cosmic or natural events that are beyond human (or shipboard) control.
“one must submit”
The only reasonable response is surrender or resignation.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

There is no wise course of action except acceptance. When faced with unavoidable, greater forces, resistance only adds suffering. Humor and proverbial insight may help us face what logic and control cannot.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by invoking a comic proverb… yet ends in existential submission, merging absurdity and fatalism.

  • The proverb is physically ridiculous… yet spiritually incisive—it reveals the illusion of control.

  • He chooses indirect teaching over command… exemplifying Fourth Way pedagogy: make the student *see* rather than obey.

  • The vastness of cosmic forces… is not dramatized but normalized, reinforcing that surrender is part of intelligent navigation.

Summary
Beelzebub recalls that Mullah Nassr Eddin’s sayings always aligned with the nature of terrestrial life and helped him navigate existence there. He applies one such saying now—an absurd but truthful metaphor about physical limits—to convey that some situations are beyond one’s control. When vast cosmic forces are in motion, resistance is pointless; one must accept and endure.

Page 58

Source Text: [p. 58]
“The only question is, which of the alternatives you mentioned should be chosen—that is, to wait somewhere or to add to our journey by a ‘detour.’

“You say that to make a detour will greatly lengthen our journey but that waiting will take still longer.

“Good, my dear Captain. Suppose that by making the detour we should save a little time, what do you think: Is the wear and tear of the parts of our ship’s machinery worth while for the sake of ending our journey a little sooner?

“If the detour should involve even the most trifling damage to our ship, then in my opinion we ought to prefer your second suggestion, that is, to stop somewhere until the path is cleared of the noxious ‘Zilnotrago.’ By that means we should spare our ship useless damage.

“And we will try to fill the period of this unforeseen delay with something useful for us all.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub advises against taking the detour if it risks even minor ship damage.

Second idea: He prioritizes the long-term integrity of the vessel over short-term time gains.

Third idea: The delay can be made valuable by using the time for something useful.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“which of the alternatives you mentioned should be chosen”
He is narrowing the decision down to either waiting or detouring.
“make a detour will greatly lengthen our journey but … waiting will take still longer”
The detour is shorter than waiting, but both cause delay.
“Is the wear and tear of the parts … worth while for the sake of ending our journey a little sooner?”
Is the potential harm to the ship justified by a small gain in time?
“prefer your second suggestion … to stop somewhere”
He opts for waiting as the wiser course of action.
“we will try to fill the period … with something useful”
They will use the delay productively rather than passively endure it.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Risking damage to the ship for a minor time advantage is unwise. It is better to pause safely and make good use of the delay than to rush and degrade valuable systems. Careful stewardship and purposeful waiting are preferable to impatient speed.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by restating the decision calmly… modeling measured reflection in the face of constraint.

  • He chooses patience and protection… over the modern reflex to optimize for speed at all costs.

  • He revalues delay… not as wasted time but as an opportunity to be used intentionally.

  • Cosmic navigation as metaphor… for how to respond wisely to conditions beyond our control—by preserving inner machinery rather than forcing an outcome.

Summary
Beelzebub evaluates the options and chooses patience over speed. Even if the detour might save some time, it could risk mechanical strain on the ship. He favors waiting for the Zilnotrago to dissipate, emphasizing the importance of preserving the ship. Rather than waste this delay, he suggests they use it for collective benefit.

Source Text:
“For instance, it would give me personally great pleasure to talk with you about contemporary ships in general and about our ship in particular.

“Very many new things, of which I still know nothing, have been done in this field during my absence from these parts.

“For example, in my time these big transspace ships were so complicated and cumbersome that it took almost half their power to carry the materials necessary to elaborate their possibility of locomotion.

“But in their simplicity and the freedom on them these contemporary ships are just embodiments of ‘Bliss-stokirno.’”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub expresses interest in discussing modern ships and learning about recent advancements.

Second idea: He contrasts past inefficiencies with the present grace of current vessels.

Third idea: He praises the simplicity and freedom of modern ships as expressions of ideal design.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“give me personally great pleasure to talk with you”
I would truly enjoy having a discussion with you.
“Very many new things … have been done in this field”
There have been many innovations in ship technology during my absence.
“took almost half their power to carry the materials … to elaborate their possibility of locomotion”
The ships used so much energy just to transport the components that made movement possible.
“these contemporary ships are just embodiments of ‘Bliss-stokirno.’”
Today’s ships represent a kind of ideal joy or harmony through their simplicity and openness.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

He looks forward to using the delay to explore how space travel has advanced during his absence. Once bulky and self-defeating, ships have now become models of efficiency and grace—so much so that he sees them as manifestations of a higher aesthetic or experiential ideal.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by welcoming delay… as an invitation to curiosity and reflective conversation rather than frustration.

  • The phrase “Bliss-stokirno”… adds mythic resonance—blending engineering with existential satisfaction.

  • He frames technical progress… not merely in terms of function, but spiritual elegance—simplicity as an evolutionary achievement.

  • His admission of ignorance… models a rare humility from a cosmic elder, signaling that growth continues across all scales and ages.

Summary
Beelzebub turns the moment toward curiosity and learning, expressing a desire to discuss the new advancements in spacefaring vessels. He admits to being out of touch with recent innovations. In his era, such ships were burdensome and inefficient—needing much energy just to move themselves. But now, he admires their streamlined elegance, calling them embodiments of “Bliss-stokirno,” a word suggestive of joy or perfection in simplicity.

Source Text:
“There is such a simplicity for beings upon them and such freedom in respect of all being-manifestations that at times you forget that you are not on one of the planets.

“So, my dear Captain, I should like very much to know how this boon was brought about and how the contemporary ships work.

“But now go and make all arrangements necessary for the required stopping. And then, when you are quite free, come to me again and we will pass the time of our unavoidable delay in conversation useful for us all.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub is impressed by the comfort and freedom provided by the new ships.

Second idea: He expresses interest in understanding the technology and improvements that made this possible.

Third idea: He asks the captain to prepare for the stop and later rejoin him for valuable dialogue during the enforced pause.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“such a simplicity for beings upon them”
The ships provide a very straightforward, unburdened experience for those aboard.
“freedom in respect of all being-manifestations”
Beings can express and experience themselves freely aboard the ship.
“you forget that you are not on one of the planets”
Being on the ship feels so natural, it’s easy to forget you’re in space.
“how this boon was brought about”
He wonders what innovations made this level of ease and comfort possible.
“make all arrangements necessary for the required stopping”
Beelzebub tells the captain to prepare for the ship’s temporary halt.
“we will pass the time … in conversation useful for us all”
They will make good use of the delay by engaging in meaningful dialogue.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The ship’s design offers such comfort that it rivals planetary life. Beelzebub is eager to learn how this transformation came about. In the meantime, the captain should make the necessary preparations for their stop, after which they can use the delay to deepen understanding together.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by blending admiration with inquiry… revealing curiosity as the natural follow-up to wonder.

  • The phrase “freedom in respect of all being-manifestations”… frames technological progress as a support for inner experience, not just efficiency.

  • He turns a logistical problem into a philosophical opportunity… again modeling Fourth Way adaptability—using conditions as fuel for Work.

  • The mundane delay becomes a doorway… for transmission, curiosity, and deepening connection—a principle core to Gurdjieff’s method.

Summary
Beelzebub marvels at how comfortable and liberating the modern ships feel—so much so that one forgets they are not on a planetary surface. Curious about how this advancement was achieved, he invites the captain to explain the workings of such ships. But first, the captain must arrange the stop. Beelzebub closes with an invitation to turn the delay into a time of shared learning and meaningful conversation.

Page 59

Source Text: [p. 59]
When the captain had gone, Hassein suddenly sprang to his feet and began to dance and clap his hands and shout:

“Oh, I’m glad, I’m glad, I’m glad of this.”

Beelzebub looked with affection on these joyous manifestations of his favorite, but old Ahoon could not restrain himself and, shaking his head reproachfully, called the boy—half to himself—a “growing egoist.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Hassein reacts with childlike joy to the news of the delay.

Second idea: Beelzebub responds affectionately, but Ahoon sees the moment as revealing youthful egoism.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Hassein suddenly sprang to his feet and began to dance and clap his hands”
He physically expressed excitement and delight, unable to contain himself.
“Oh, I’m glad, I’m glad, I’m glad of this.”
He repeats his joy aloud, emphasizing his emotional response.
“Beelzebub looked with affection on these joyous manifestations”
Beelzebub was fondly amused or touched by Hassein’s excitement.
“shaking his head reproachfully, called the boy … a ‘growing egoist.’”
Ahoon disapproves, seeing the celebration as self-centered behavior.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Hassein is overjoyed at the prospect of more time with Beelzebub, but his unreserved celebration reveals a youthful lack of perspective. While Beelzebub responds with tolerance, Ahoon’s reaction shows concern about Hassein’s growing self-focus.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with spontaneous joy… but it is quickly contextualized by a subtle critique, grounding the enthusiasm in a developmental arc.

  • Ahoon’s comment shifts the mood… offering a moral lens—egoism vs. innocent delight—without direct rebuke.

  • Beelzebub’s silence and affectionate gaze… suggest a broader, patient view of development, where joy and egoism may coexist.

  • The childlike and the cosmic intersect… as the narrative shifts from technical and philosophical discourse back into relational, emotional texture.

Summary
After the captain departs, Hassein bursts into a display of exuberant joy, delighted by the unexpected delay. Beelzebub watches his young companion with warmth, while Ahoon—less indulgent—mutters critically, referring to Hassein as a “growing egoist,” hinting at the boy’s self-centered enthusiasm.

Source Text:
Hearing what Ahoon called him, Hassein stopped in front of him, and, looking at him mischievously, said:

“Don’t be angry with me, old Ahoon. The reason of my joy is not egoism but only the coincidence which chances to be happy for me. You heard, didn’t you? My dear grandfather did not decide only just to make a stop, but he also promised the captain to talk with him. …

“And you know, don’t you, that the talks of my dear grandfather always bring out tales of places where he has been, and you know also how delightfully he tells them and how much new and interesting information becomes crystallized in our presences from these tales.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Hassein responds playfully to Ahoon’s accusation of egoism.

Second idea: He explains that his joy comes from the prospect of hearing Beelzebub tell stories again.

Third idea: These tales are deeply meaningful and transformative for listeners.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“looking at him mischievously”
With playful defiance or teasing expression.
“not egoism but only the coincidence which chances to be happy for me”
It’s not selfishness, just a fortunate turn of events that makes him happy.
“he also promised the captain to talk with him”
Beelzebub didn’t just decide to stop, he agreed to speak—implying storytelling time.
“delightfully he tells them”
Beelzebub’s storytelling style is engaging and enjoyable.
“how much new and interesting information becomes crystallized in our presences”
His stories help solidify deep, lasting understanding in those who hear them.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

His excitement isn’t self-centered but sparked by the chance to hear Beelzebub’s stories—tales that not only entertain but also deeply enrich the listener’s understanding and being.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins in mischief but moves quickly to reverence… showing the blend of youthful joy and genuine appreciation for inner development.

  • “Crystallized in our presences”… introduces a key Fourth Way theme—accumulated understanding becomes part of being, not just memory.

  • He connects narrative with transformation… framing Beelzebub not just as a storyteller, but as a transmitter of meaning that changes the listener.

  • The innocence of joy… is recontextualized as readiness to receive, not just excitement for its own sake.

Summary
Hassein defends his joy, insisting it’s not self-centered but stems from the fortunate coincidence of a stop that will lead to storytelling. He reminds Ahoon that Beelzebub’s talks are not only delightful but rich in substance, yielding lasting impressions and understandings in those who listen attentively.

Source Text:
“Where is the egoism? Hasn’t he himself, of his own free will, having weighed with his wise reason all the circumstances of this unforeseen event, decided to make a stop which evidently doesn’t upset his intended plans very much?

“It seems to me that my dear grandfather has no need to hurry; everything necessary for his rest and comfort is present on the Karnak and here also are many who love him and whom he loves.

“Don’t you remember he said recently we must not oppose forces higher than our own’ and added that not only one must not oppose them, but even submit and receive all their results with reverence, at the same time praising and glorifying the wonderful and providential works of Our Lord Creator?”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Hassein argues there is no egoism—Beelzebub made the decision wisely and freely.

Second idea: He suggests there is no urgency—Beelzebub is well-provided for and surrounded by love.

Third idea: He reiterates a teaching: submit to higher forces with praise and reverence.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Hasn’t he himself, of his own free will … decided to make a stop”
Beelzebub chose to pause of his own accord, after thoughtful consideration.
“which evidently doesn’t upset his intended plans very much”
This decision doesn’t appear to interfere seriously with his goals.
“everything necessary for his rest and comfort is present on the Karnak”
The ship already provides all that he needs to be at ease.
“here also are many who love him and whom he loves”
He is surrounded by a caring community, adding to his well-being.
“we must not oppose forces higher than our own … submit and receive all their results with reverence”
One must accept what is beyond their control and do so with humility and praise.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The stop was chosen freely and wisely by Beelzebub, and it poses no hardship. Rather than being selfish, Hassein is happy to witness more of his grandfather’s teaching. He affirms that true wisdom lies in yielding reverently to greater forces, as Beelzebub himself taught.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by rebutting an accusation… not with defensiveness but with philosophical affirmation of Beelzebub’s wisdom.

  • He recasts surrender as sacred participation… not passive resignation, but reverent alignment with the divine order.

  • He links love, rest, and teaching as sufficient conditions… showing a youthful but accurate intuition about what makes delay worthwhile.

  • The invocation of “Our Lord Creator”… grounds cosmic travel in theological orientation—linking obedience to universal design.

Summary
Hassein continues defending himself, pointing out that Beelzebub chose the delay with calm reasoning, not under duress. He reflects that there’s no need to rush—the ship offers comfort, and those aboard love and support Beelzebub. He also reminds Ahoon of Beelzebub’s recent teaching: that one must not resist higher forces, but submit to them with reverence and gratitude toward the Creator.

Page 60

Source Text: [p. 60]
“I am not glad because of the misadventure but because an unforeseen event issuing from above has occurred, owing to which we shall be able to listen once more to the tales of my dear grandfather.

“Is it my fault that the circumstances are by chance most desirable and happy for me?

“No, dear Ahoon, not only should you not rebuke me, but you should join me in expressing gratitude to the source of all beneficent results that arise.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Hassein says his joy is not about the misadventure itself but about the meaningful opportunity it has created.

Second idea: He asserts that he is not at fault for the fortunate alignment of events.

Third idea: He invites Ahoon to express gratitude for the beneficent outcome instead of criticism.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“not glad because of the misadventure”
He’s not rejoicing over the mishap itself.
“but because an unforeseen event issuing from above has occurred”
He’s happy because a higher force caused an unexpected event that benefits him.
“we shall be able to listen once more to the tales of my dear grandfather”
This delay allows another opportunity to hear Beelzebub’s stories.
“Is it my fault that the circumstances are … happy for me?”
He insists he should not be blamed just because the outcome favors him.
“you should join me in expressing gratitude to the source of all beneficent results”
Rather than criticize, Ahoon should share in his thankfulness for divine providence.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

His happiness is not from the delay itself but from the higher cause behind it—an opportunity to receive more wisdom from Beelzebub. Rather than blame him for rejoicing, Ahoon should join him in recognizing and honoring the benevolent origin of such unexpected blessings.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by distinguishing joy from gloating… showing awareness that misfortune can birth grace.

  • He reorients blame into blessing… demonstrating a perspective trained in intentional seeing and gratitude.

  • The phrase “issuing from above”… aligns the event with cosmological causation, a principle deeply embedded in Gurdjieff’s framework.

  • This final moment shifts tone… from defense to invitation—from egoism to shared reverence for divine unfolding.

Summary
Hassein closes his defense by clarifying that his joy is not over the misfortune itself, but over the unexpected blessing it brings—the chance to hear more of Beelzebub’s tales. He rejects blame for the happiness this coincidence brings him, and instead urges Ahoon to shift perspective: to feel gratitude toward the higher source that allows good to emerge from disruption.

Source Text:
All this time Beelzebub listened attentively and with a smile to the chatter of his favorite, and when he had finished said:

“You are right, dear Hassein, and for being right I will tell you, even before the captain’s arrival, anything you like.”

Upon hearing this, the boy at once ran and sat at the feet of Beelzebub and after thinking a little said:

“My dear Grandfather, you have told me so much about the solar system where you spent so many years, that now perhaps I could continue just by logic alone to describe the details of the nature of that peculiar corner of our Universe.

“But I am curious to know whether there dwell three-brained beings on the planets of that solar system and whether higher ‘being-bodies’ are coated in them.

“Please tell me now about just this, dear Grandfather,” concluded Hassein, looking affectionately up at Beelzebub.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub validates Hassein’s joyful outlook and invites a question.

Second idea: Hassein asks whether three-brained beings inhabit that solar system and develop higher being-bodies.

Third idea: His request is framed with affection and anticipation of real knowledge.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Beelzebub listened attentively and with a smile”
He paid full attention and was pleased by Hassein’s words.
“for being right I will tell you … anything you like”
He rewards Hassein’s clarity by allowing him to choose a topic to discuss.
“now perhaps I could continue just by logic alone”
Hassein believes he has learned enough to infer further details logically.
“three-brained beings … and whether higher ‘being-bodies’ are coated in them”
He wants to know if advanced beings like himself exist there and develop spiritually.
“looking affectionately up at Beelzebub”
His request is intimate, admiring, and hopeful.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Because Hassein showed understanding and reverence, Beelzebub invites his inquiry. Hassein chooses to ask about the existence and spiritual evolution of three-brained beings in the solar system where Beelzebub once lived—an earnest plea for cosmological and metaphysical knowledge.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a smile and affirmation… confirming that right attitude grants access to deeper knowledge.

  • He offers “anything you like”… but Hassein chooses a profound question, not trivial amusement—showing his maturity.

  • The question centers on “higher being-bodies”… not just life, but the development of soul—linking cosmology with inner evolution.

  • This request bridges narrative and doctrine… pivoting the text toward Beelzebub’s next major teaching moment.

Summary
Beelzebub listens warmly to Hassein’s defense and rewards his insight with an open offer to ask any question. Seizing the moment, Hassein eagerly sits at his grandfather’s feet and asks whether three-brained beings exist in the solar system Beelzebub once inhabited, and if those beings develop higher being-bodies. He wants not stories, but insight into the evolutionary reality of life in that solar system.

Page 61

Source Text: [p. 61]
“Yes,” replied Beelzebub, “on almost all the planets of that solar system also, three-brained beings dwell, and in almost all of them higher being-bodies can be coated.

“Higher being-bodies, or as they are called on some planets of that solar system, souls, arise in the three-brained beings breeding on all the planets except those before reaching which the emanations of our ‘Most Holy Sun Absolute,’ owing to repeated deflections, gradually lose the fullness of their strength and eventually cease entirely to contain the vivific power for coating higher being-bodies.

“Certainly, my boy, on each separate planet of that solar system also, the planetary bodies of the three-brained beings are coated and take an exterior form in conformity with the nature of the given planet, and are adapted in their details to the surrounding nature.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Three-brained beings exist across most planets in that solar system and can grow higher being-bodies.

Second idea: Souls fail to form on planets too far from the Sun Absolute due to weakened emanations.

Third idea: The bodies of these beings adapt to each planet’s specific nature.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“on almost all the planets of that solar system also, three-brained beings dwell”
Beings like us—capable of reason, feeling, and movement—live on most of those planets.
“in almost all of them higher being-bodies can be coated”
Most planets allow for the development of a soul or spiritual body.
“emanations of our ‘Most Holy Sun Absolute’ … cease entirely to contain the vivific power”
The energy from the divine source weakens over distance and can no longer support soul formation on distant planets.
“planetary bodies … are coated and take an exterior form in conformity with the nature of the given planet”
The physical body of a being is shaped by the conditions of the planet it’s born on.
“adapted in their details to the surrounding nature”
Each being is finely attuned to its environment.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Most planets in that solar system host three-brained beings capable of spiritual evolution. But this potential fades the farther one is from the divine center—the Sun Absolute. Each being’s body reflects the unique conditions of its world, suggesting deep integration between spirit and matter, and between universal principle and local adaptation.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a cosmological confirmation… that souls can arise on many planets, not just Earth—radically decentralizing spiritual privilege.

  • “Emanations of the Sun Absolute”… links cosmic distance with metaphysical decay—a signature Gurdjieffian fusion of physics and theology.

  • The adaptation of form to planetary nature… subtly aligns Darwinian principle with esoteric cosmology.

  • This teaching reframes evolution… as not merely material, but a gradient of divine energy and receptivity through space.

Summary
Beelzebub confirms that three-brained beings exist on nearly all planets in the solar system and that higher being-bodies (souls) can form in them—except on planets too far from the Sun Absolute, where its emanations no longer have the necessary life-giving force. The physical forms of these beings differ from planet to planet, shaped by each world’s unique nature and conditions.

Source Text:
“For instance, on that planet on which it was ordained that all we exiles should exist, namely, the planet Mars, the three-brained beings are coated with planetary bodies having the form—how shall I tell you—a form like a ‘karoona,’ that is to say, they have a long broad trunk, amply provided with fat, and heads with enormous protruding and shining eyes. On the back of this enormous ‘planetary body’ of theirs are two large wings, and on the under side two comparatively small feet with very strong claws.

“Almost the whole strength of this enormous ‘planetary body’ is adapted by nature to generate energy for their eyes and for their wings.

“As a result, the three-brained beings breeding on that planet can see freely everywhere, whatever the ‘Kal-da-zakh-tee,’ and they can also move not only over the planet itself but also in its atmosphere and some of them occasionally even manage to travel beyond the limits of its atmosphere.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Martian beings have a specific form suited to their planet—called “karoona.”

Second idea: Their anatomy is engineered for vision and flight, allocating energy toward these capacities.

Third idea: Their mobility extends across planetary and atmospheric space—and sometimes beyond.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“on that planet … namely, the planet Mars”
He is speaking of Mars, where the exiled beings were assigned to live.
“form like a ‘karoona’”
The Martian body shape is likened to something called a karoona—suggesting strangeness and bulk.
“long broad trunk … amply provided with fat”
They have a thick, large body that is heavyset or well-padded.
“enormous protruding and shining eyes”
Their vision organs are large, bulging, and radiant—likely dominant features.
“two large wings … two small feet with strong claws”
They are winged creatures with undersized but powerful grasping legs.
“adapted by nature to generate energy for their eyes and for their wings”
Their biology prioritizes energy production for vision and flight functions.
“whatever the ‘Kal-da-zakh-tee’”
No matter the conditions of planetary visibility or orientation—they can still see well.
“move not only over the planet itself but also in its atmosphere … beyond the limits”
They have advanced locomotion: air mobility and occasional space travel.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Martian three-brained beings are built for high sensory input and mobility. Their form is unusual, dominated by large eyes and flight capabilities. Nature has shaped their bodies to adapt perfectly to their planet and even exceed it—giving them access to atmospheric and near-space domains.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by identifying Mars not by name, but by exile… anchoring the description in Beelzebub’s personal narrative and divine punishment.

  • The anatomical portrait is alien and symbolic… combining surrealist imagery with functional adaptation—fat trunk, glowing eyes, wings, claws.

  • Energy allocation for vision and flight… subtly echoes the Fourth Way theme of internal economy—what faculties dominate, and why?

  • The beings travel not only locally but cosmically… suggesting that physical adaptation can lead to multidimensional reach—Mars as more than a prison, but a stage for higher mobility.

Summary
Beelzebub describes the three-brained beings of Mars, where he and the other exiles were stationed. Their bodies resemble a “karoona”—with fat, elongated trunks, large glowing eyes, wings, and small clawed feet. Their physiology is specialized: most of their energy supports vision and flight. This enables them not only to move easily on Mars, but also through its atmosphere and sometimes even into space.

Page 62

Source Text: [p. 62]
“The three-brained beings breeding on another planet, a little below the planet Mars, owing to the intense cold there are covered with thick soft wool.

“The external form of these three-centered beings is like that of a ‘Toosook,’ that is, it resembles a kind of ‘double sphere,’ the upper sphere serving to contain the principal organs of the whole planetary body, and the other, the lower sphere, the organs for the transformation of the first and second being-foods.

“There are three apertures in the upper sphere, opening outwards; two serve for sight and the third for hearing.

“The other, the lower sphere, has only two apertures: one in front for taking in the first and second being-foods, and the other at the back for the elimination from the organism of residues.

“To the lower sphere are also attached two very strong sinewy feet, and on each of these is a growth that serves the purpose of fingers with us.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The beings are thickly wool-covered due to cold and shaped like a “double sphere.”

Second idea: The upper sphere handles perception and essential organs; the lower handles food transformation and waste.

Third idea: Each sphere contains designated apertures for sensory and bodily functions.

Fourth idea: Two strong legs are affixed to the lower sphere, each ending in a manipulatory growth.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“covered with thick soft wool”
They are insulated by fur to survive the extreme cold.
“form … like a ‘Toosook,’ … ‘double sphere’”
Their shape is composed of two round sections stacked vertically.
“upper sphere … principal organs”
This top section houses the main bodily systems.
“lower sphere … transformation of the first and second being-foods”
The bottom part is responsible for processing physical and subtle nourishment.
“three apertures … two for sight … third for hearing”
The upper sphere has three sensory openings: two eyes, one ear.
“only two apertures: one in front … other at the back”
The lower sphere takes in food from the front and expels waste from the back.
“attached two very strong sinewy feet … growth that serves the purpose of fingers”
Each leg ends in a structure that allows manipulation, akin to human hands.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

On a planet colder than Mars, three-brained beings have evolved in a double-sphere form. Their biology is clearly segmented, with sensory organs in the upper sphere and digestive/excretory systems in the lower. Their limbs are strong and dexterous. All features are tightly integrated with the environmental demands of their home world.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by attributing fur to cold… blending evolutionary logic with esoteric detail.

  • The “Toosook” structure introduces alien anatomy… functional yet unlike anything terrestrial.

  • He uses Fourth Way food terminology… “first and second being-foods”—linking digestion to esoteric transformation.

  • Each aperture and limb is teleologically specific… suggesting deliberate cosmic engineering rather than blind chance.

Summary
Beelzebub describes the physiology of three-brained beings on a cold planet below Mars. Covered in thick wool, they resemble a “Toosook” or double-sphere form. The upper sphere contains primary organs and three sensory openings—two for sight, one for hearing. The lower sphere handles digestion and waste elimination and bears two powerful feet with finger-like extensions. Their bodies are functionally segmented and highly adapted to climate and planetary conditions.

Source Text:
“There is still another planet, a quite small one, bearing the name Moon, in that solar system, my dear boy.

“During its motion this peculiar little planet often approached very near to our planet Mars and sometimes during whole ‘Kilprenos’ I took great pleasure in observing through my ‘Teskooano’* in my observatory the process of existence of the three-brained beings upon it.

“Though the beings of this planet have very frail ‘planetary bodies,’ they have on the other hand a very ‘strong spirit,’ owing to which they all possess an extraordinary perseverance and capacity for work.

“In exterior form they resemble what are called large ants; and, like these, they are always bustling about, working both on and within their planet.

“The results of their ceaseless activity are now already plainly visible.

* “Teskooano” means “telescope.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Moon is a small planet with three-brained beings that Beelzebub studied from Mars.

Second idea: These beings are physically fragile but spiritually strong, marked by perseverance and productivity.

Third idea: Their form and behavior mirror ants—constant labor, both on and within their planet.

Fourth idea: Their efforts are already producing observable effects.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“another planet, a quite small one, bearing the name Moon”
Refers to the Moon as an independent, planet-like body with its own population.
“approached very near to our planet Mars”
Its orbit brought it close enough to Mars for sustained observation.
“observing through my ‘Teskooano’”
Beelzebub used a telescope to study the Moon’s inhabitants.
“very frail ‘planetary bodies,’ … very ‘strong spirit’”
Physically weak but spiritually resilient and focused.
“resemble what are called large ants”
They are ant-like in appearance and action—small, tireless, communal workers.
“results of their ceaseless activity … plainly visible”
Their labor has led to material or energetic changes visible even from a distance.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Moon houses three-brained beings with delicate bodies but tenacious spirits. Like ants, they never stop working, and their collective output has begun to transform their environment. This industriousness is visible even to observers from afar, such as Beelzebub stationed on Mars.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by elevating the Moon to planetary status… challenging conventional astronomy and signaling metaphysical significance.

  • He links frailty with spiritual strength… suggesting that weakness in one domain may enable force in another—a reversal of ordinary values.

  • Ant imagery frames labor as sacred and evolutionary… aligning collective effort with planetary transformation.

  • He implies karmic or cosmic causality… in that persistent labor changes a world, visibly, over time.

Summary
Beelzebub describes the Moon as a small planet once close to Mars. Using his telescope (“Teskooano”), he observed the life of its three-brained inhabitants. Though physically weak, they exhibit remarkable spiritual strength and tireless work ethic. They resemble large ants in both form and behavior, always busy on and beneath the Moon’s surface. Their industriousness has already begun producing visible results.

Page 63

Source Text: [p. 63]
“I once happened to notice that during two of our years they ‘tunnelled,’ so to say, the whole of their planet.

“They were compelled to undertake this task on account of the abnormal local climatic conditions, which are due to the fact that this planet arose unexpectedly, and the regulation of its climatic harmony was therefore not prearranged by the Higher Powers.

“The ‘climate’ of this planet is ‘mad,’ and in its variability it could give points to the most highly strung hysterical women existing on another of the planets of that same solar system, of which I shall also tell you.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Moon’s inhabitants tunneled through the planet over two years.

Second idea: They did so in response to extreme and unregulated climate conditions.

Third idea: The Moon arose without cosmic planning, leading to its meteorological chaos.

Fourth idea: Its climate is so erratic it surpasses the emotional instability of the most hysterical women on another planet.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“during two of our years they ‘tunnelled,’ so to say, the whole of their planet”
In two Martian years, they excavated the entire Moon underground.
“on account of the abnormal local climatic conditions”
Because the weather on the Moon is unusually harsh and unstable.
“this planet arose unexpectedly”
The Moon came into being suddenly and wasn’t part of the original cosmic design.
“regulation of its climatic harmony was therefore not prearranged by the Higher Powers”
The divine forces had not planned a stable climate for it.
“The ‘climate’ of this planet is ‘mad’”
The weather is erratic, uncontrollable, and chaotic.
“give points to the most highly strung hysterical women”
Even the most emotionally volatile women on another planet seem calm by comparison.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Moon’s beings undertook a massive engineering effort to adapt to their planet’s wild climate—a condition caused by its unplanned, accidental formation. Because the Moon’s climate was never cosmically regulated, it is more extreme and unpredictable than any known psychological instability elsewhere.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a monumental labor… tunneling the whole planet—not as myth, but as factual planetary adjustment.

  • The Moon is said to be unplanned… defying cosmic order, treated almost as a cosmic accident or improvisation.

  • Climatic madness is personified… through an analogy to female hysteria—a culturally dated yet deliberate shock device.

  • He attributes engineering response to spiritual resilience… not technical mastery—framing toil as adaptive Work.

Summary
Beelzebub recounts that the Moon beings spent two years tunneling through their entire planet. This massive effort was driven by unstable and abnormal weather, a result of the Moon's unplanned origin. Because it wasn’t cosmically “prearranged,” its climate lacks balance. He calls it “mad,” even more unpredictable than the emotional volatility of the most unstable women from another planet—hinting at a forthcoming comparison.

Source Text:
“Sometimes there are such frosts on this ‘Moon’ that everything is frozen through and through and it becomes impossible for beings to breathe in the open atmosphere; and then suddenly it becomes so hot there that an egg can be cooked in its atmosphere in a jiffy.

“For only two short periods on that peculiar little planet, namely, before and after its complete revolution about its neighbor—another planet nearby—the weather is so glorious that for several rotations the whole planet is in blossom and yields the various products for their first being-food greatly in excess of their general need during their existence in that peculiar intraplanetary kingdom which they have arranged and where they are protected from all the vagaries of this ‘mad’ climate inharmoniously changing the state of the atmosphere.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Moon experiences extreme, life-threatening climate fluctuations—both freezing and scorching.

Second idea: Only two brief seasonal intervals bring harmonious conditions, when the Moon becomes fertile and productive.

Third idea: The Moon beings survive by retreating into an internal habitat insulated from external instability.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“such frosts … everything is frozen through and through”
Temperatures drop so low that complete freezing occurs, rendering outdoor life impossible.
“it becomes impossible for beings to breathe in the open atmosphere”
The cold renders the atmosphere unbreathable.
“then suddenly it becomes so hot … an egg can be cooked in its atmosphere in a jiffy”
Heat surges so quickly and extremely that even raw food could be cooked instantly in the air.
“two short periods … before and after its complete revolution about its neighbor”
Twice per orbit, the Moon’s climate stabilizes briefly—creating windows of natural harmony.
“whole planet is in blossom … products for their first being-food”
During those times, plants flourish and produce an abundance of physical nourishment.
“greatly in excess of their general need”
More food is produced than they typically require.
“peculiar intraplanetary kingdom … protected from all the vagaries”
The Moon beings have built an internal refuge to shield themselves from erratic external climate shifts.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Moon’s climate is dangerously unpredictable—oscillating between fatal cold and oppressive heat. Only twice per orbit does it become temporarily ideal, enabling lush growth and food production. The beings there cope with these conditions by living underground, in a constructed domain shielded from environmental volatility.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with brutal physical contrast… between fatal frost and searing heat, compressing climatic extremes into a single narrative window.

  • He defines survival not as domination of nature… but as the creation of a protective internal space—a recurring Fourth Way theme of turning inward amid chaos.

  • The description of planetary blooming… shows how even the most extreme conditions yield intervals of spiritual and material abundance.

  • This passage underscores adaptive intelligence… as a form of Work—engineering inner sanctuaries in a disordered cosmos.

Summary
Beelzebub details the Moon’s wildly unstable climate, where extremes swing from unbearable frost to intense heat. Only two short periods—before and after its orbit around a nearby planet—bring ideal weather, causing the entire Moon to bloom and overproduce food. The Moon beings survive these harsh cycles by living in a self-made inner world—an "intraplanetary kingdom"—shielded from external chaos.

Source Text:
“Nearest to that small planet is another, a larger planet, which also occasionally approaches quite close to the planet Mars and is called Earth.

“The said Moon is just a part of this Earth and the latter must now constantly maintain the Moon’s existence.

“On the just mentioned planet Earth, also, three-brained beings are formed; and they also contain all the data for coating higher being-bodies in themselves.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Earth is the planet closest to the Moon and occasionally nears Mars.

Second idea: The Moon originated from Earth and is now sustained by it.

Third idea: Earth is populated by three-brained beings with the potential for spiritual evolution.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Nearest to that small planet is another, a larger planet … called Earth”
Earth is the closest large planet to the Moon and sometimes comes near to Mars.
“The said Moon is just a part of this Earth”
The Moon originated from the Earth—it’s not a separately born celestial body.
“the latter must now constantly maintain the Moon’s existence”
Earth is cosmically responsible for supporting and stabilizing the Moon’s being.
“three-brained beings are formed”
Intelligent, self-aware creatures are born there.
“they also contain all the data for coating higher being-bodies”
These beings have the innate potential to develop souls.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Earth, closely linked to the Moon, bears the burden of its continued existence. Like other inhabited planets, Earth produces three-brained beings who possess all necessary inner components to form higher being-bodies—that is, to evolve spiritually and consciously.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by redefining planetary identity… revealing the Moon as not autonomous but a dependent fragment of Earth.

  • He implies energetic obligation… suggesting Earth exerts continual effort to uphold the Moon—framing celestial mechanics as moral labor.

  • He affirms Earth as a site of possibility… where the full potential for spiritual evolution is encoded within the beings themselves.

Summary
Beelzebub identifies Earth as the planet closest to the Moon and explains that the Moon is not an independent body but a fragment of Earth. Earth is now responsible for sustaining the Moon’s continued existence. He confirms that Earth, too, produces three-brained beings—capable, like those on other planets, of developing higher being-bodies.

Page 64

Source Text: [p. 64]
“But in ‘strength of spirit’ they do not begin to compare with the beings breeding on the little planet aforementioned. The external coatings of the three-brained beings of that planet Earth closely resemble our own; only, first of all, their skin is a little slimier than ours, and then, secondly, they have no tail, and their heads are without horns. What is worst about them is their feet, namely, they have no hoofs; it is true that for protection against external influences they have invented what they call ‘boots’ but this invention does not help them very much.

“Apart from the imperfection of their exterior form, their Reason also is quite ‘uniquely strange.’

“Their ‘being-Reason,’ owing to very many causes about which also I may tell you sometime, has gradually degenerated, and at the present time, is very, very strange and exceedingly peculiar.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Earth beings are spiritually weaker than the Moon beings.

Second idea: Their physical form is similar but less functional—lacking tails, horns, and hooves.

Third idea: They compensate with boots, but these are inadequate.

Fourth idea: Their being-Reason is deeply flawed—degenerated and bizarre.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“in ‘strength of spirit’ they do not begin to compare”
Their inner resilience or spiritual force is far weaker than that of the Moon beings.
“external coatings … closely resemble our own”
They look roughly similar to Beelzebub’s kind in shape or outline.
“skin is a little slimier”
Their flesh is more slick or damp to the touch than his own species.
“no tail … heads are without horns”
They lack structural features that Beelzebub’s kind possesses.
“What is worst … no hoofs”
The absence of hooves is seen as the most regrettable deficiency.
“invented … ‘boots’ … does not help … very much”
They try to make up for lacking hooves with footwear, but it’s an inadequate substitute.
“Reason also is quite ‘uniquely strange’”
Their thinking is not just weak but bizarre—something abnormal in its structure.
“has gradually degenerated”
Their Reason was once better but has decayed over time.
“very, very strange and exceedingly peculiar”
It is now not only distorted but almost incomprehensibly so.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Earth beings are spiritually and intellectually inferior to other three-brained species. Although their bodily form resembles Beelzebub’s own race, their lack of certain features like tails and hooves is seen as a flaw. More importantly, their Reason has not evolved—it has deteriorated into something strange, unnatural, and possibly dangerous. This degeneration will be explained later.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by challenging Earth-centric pride… asserting that humans are spiritually weaker than even the ant-like Moon beings.

  • He judges evolution not by similarity but by adequacy… favoring functional adaptation (e.g., hooves) over humanoid shape.

  • The use of ‘being-Reason’ aligns intellect with ontological quality… suggesting that thought itself has a moral and energetic substance that can decay.

  • He foreshadows a deeper cosmic pathology… hinting that the degradation of human Reason is not accidental, but systemic—a core theme of the text to come.

Summary
Beelzebub draws a sharp contrast between Earth beings and those of the Moon, stating that Earth humans have much weaker spirit. Though their external form is similar to his own kind, key differences make them seem inferior: slimy skin, no tail, no horns, and worst of all, no hooves—necessitating ineffective inventions like boots. But beyond the physical, he critiques their “being-Reason” as not merely underdeveloped, but degenerated—strange and distorted, due to numerous causes yet to be revealed.

Source Text:
Beelzebub would have said still more, but the captain of the ship entering at that moment, Beelzebub, after promising the boy to tell him about the beings of the planet Earth on another occasion, began to talk with the captain.

Beelzebub asked the captain to tell him, first, who he was, how long he had been captain, and how he liked his work, and afterwards to explain some of the details of the contemporary cosmic ships.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub interrupts his account because the captain enters the room.

Second idea: He promises Hassein to resume the Earth discussion later.

Third idea: He begins a new line of questioning—about the captain’s experience and the mechanics of the ship.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Beelzebub would have said still more”
He had more to say but was interrupted.
“the captain of the ship entering at that moment”
The arrival of the captain cut off the previous dialogue.
“after promising the boy to tell him about the beings of the planet Earth on another occasion”
Beelzebub reassures Hassein that he will continue the story later.
“began to talk with the captain”
He shifts focus and initiates a new conversation.
“asked the captain … who he was, how long he had been captain, and how he liked his work”
Beelzebub is curious about the captain’s identity and feelings about his role.
“to explain some of the details of the contemporary cosmic ships”
He also wants to learn about technological advancements in space travel.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The conversation about Earth is postponed as Beelzebub turns his attention to the newly arrived captain. He inquires about the captain’s background and requests technical insights into the modern cosmic ships—signaling a shift in focus from anthropological commentary to technological curiosity.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a deferral… preserving narrative tension and signaling that Earth’s full story is too large for one sitting.

  • The shift in tone is abrupt yet fluid… from existential critique to practical dialogue—showcasing Beelzebub’s multidimensional interest.

  • The interest in ship mechanics… reflects a parallel curiosity: as above (cosmic vessels), so below (being-coatings).

  • This marks a structural hinge… closing the chapter on metaphysical beings and opening a technical exploration of interstellar engineering.

Summary
Just as Beelzebub was about to continue his analysis of Earth beings, the captain entered. Beelzebub paused the conversation with Hassein, promising to return to the topic later. He redirected his attention to the captain, asking for personal background and technical information about the design and workings of modern interplanetary ships.

Source Text:
Thereupon the captain said:

“Your Right Reverence, I was destined by my father, as soon as I reached the age of a responsible being, for this career in the service of our endless creator.

“Starting with the lowest positions on the transspace ships, I ultimately merited to perform the duties of captain, and it is now eight years that I have been captain on the long-distance ships.

“This last post of mine, namely, that of captain of the ship Karnak, I took, strictly speaking, in succession to my father, when after his long years of blameless service to his endlessness in the performance of the duties of captain from almost the very beginning of the World-creation, he had become worthy to be promoted to the post of Ruler of the solar system ‘Kalman’

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The captain’s father chose his path of service early in life.

Second idea: He rose through ranks and has served eight years as a long-distance ship captain.

Third idea: He inherited the Karnak post from his father, who was elevated to a divine administrative role after long loyal service.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“I was destined by my father … for this career”
His father determined his vocational path in cosmic service from an early age.
“as soon as I reached the age of a responsible being”
Upon attaining the developmental threshold where conscious choice and duty begin.
“Starting with the lowest positions … I ultimately merited to perform the duties of captain”
He began at the bottom and earned his way to command through service and merit.
“eight years that I have been captain on the long-distance ships”
He’s served as a captain of major cosmic vessels for nearly a decade.
“I took … in succession to my father”
He inherited his role from his father, continuing a generational tradition of cosmic duty.
“blameless service … from almost the very beginning of the World-creation”
His father served flawlessly since ancient times, perhaps since creation itself.
“promoted to the post of Ruler of the solar system ‘Kalman’”
His father’s final reward was to govern an entire solar system—Kalman—an exalted post.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

He was placed in service by paternal command and earned his way up the cosmic hierarchy, eventually taking his father’s post aboard the Karnak. His father’s exemplary devotion led to his elevation as Ruler of a solar system, setting a sacred precedent the son now follows.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with hierarchical devotion… where vocational fate is not chosen but assigned through cosmic lineage.

  • He ascends through merit, not just inheritance… blending destiny with labor, a Fourth Way duality of being and doing.

  • The father’s origin “from the very beginning of the World-creation”… places this character in near-mythic continuity with the origin of time itself.

  • Cosmic posts mirror spiritual development… suggesting that long-term fidelity earns structural roles within the great universal mechanics.

Summary
The captain recounts that he was set on his cosmic career path by his father at the age of responsibility. He rose from the lowest ranks on transspace ships to captaincy, a position he has held for eight years. His current post as captain of the Karnak came through succession: his father, after a near-primordial career of flawless service, was promoted to Ruler of an entire solar system—Kalman.

Page 65

Source Text: [p. 65]
“In short,” continued the captain, “I began my service just when your Right Reverence was departing for the place of your exile.

“I was still only a ‘sweeper’ on the long-distance ships of that period.

“Yes … a long, long time has passed by."

"Everything has undergone change and is changed since then; only our lord and sovereign remains unchanged. The blessings of ‘Amenzano’ on his unchangeableness throughout Eternity!

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The captain began his service at the time of Beelzebub’s exile.

Second idea: He started at the bottom—only a sweeper.

Third idea: Much time has passed; all has changed.

Fourth idea: The sole constant is their sovereign ruler, whom he reveres with a formal blessing.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“I began my service just when your Right Reverence was departing for the place of your exile.”
My career started at the exact time you were being sent away from the center to your banishment.
“I was still only a ‘sweeper’ on the long-distance ships of that period.”
I held the lowest possible job—maintaining cleanliness on the ships.
“Yes … a long, long time has passed by.”
He emphasizes the immense passage of time since then.
“Everything has undergone change and is changed since then”
He reflects that all aspects of reality have transformed over that span.
“only our lord and sovereign remains unchanged.”
One exception: their divine ruler remains fixed and eternal.
“The blessings of ‘Amenzano’ on his unchangeableness throughout Eternity!”
A sacred invocation honoring the timeless nature of the supreme being.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The captain began his service at the same time Beelzebub was exiled and started in the lowest possible position. Time has radically transformed everything since, except for their immutable divine sovereign, whose constancy he honors with a ritualized expression of reverence.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by linking two timelines… placing his humble origin against Beelzebub’s cosmic fall—connecting status, fate, and cosmic history.

  • He affirms radical impermanence… observing that everything has changed—except one sacred anchor.

  • He invokes Amenzano… offering a glimpse into the liturgical language of this cosmology—honoring eternal constancy through ceremonial blessing.

  • Lowly beginnings echo Fourth Way motifs… where conscious ascent starts from below through effort, humility, and alignment with higher principles.

Summary
The captain recalls that his career began at the very moment Beelzebub was exiled. At that time, he served in the humblest role—as a sweeper aboard cosmic vessels. He reflects on the vast duration that has since passed, noting how everything has changed except for their eternal sovereign, whose constancy he praises through a ritual blessing invoking “Amenzano.”

Source Text:
“You, your Right Reverence, have condescended to remark very justly that the former ships were very inconvenient and cumbersome.

“Yes, they were then, indeed, very complicated and cumbersome. I too remember them very well. There is an enormous difference between the ships of that time and the ships now.

“In our youth all such ships both for intersystem and for interplanetary communication were still run on the cosmic substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen,’ which is a totality consisting of two separate parts of the omnipresent Okidanokh.

“And it was to obtain this totality that just those numerous materials were necessary which the former ships had to carry.

“But these ships did not remain in use long after you flew from these parts, having soon thereafter been replaced by ships of the system of Saint Venoma.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The old ships were inefficient and complex.

Second idea: They ran on a difficult-to-obtain cosmic fuel called Elekilpomagtistzen.

Third idea: Acquiring this fuel required carrying many burdensome materials.

Fourth idea: These ships were soon replaced by newer models based on Saint Venoma’s system.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“You, your Right Reverence, have condescended to remark very justly”
Respectfully acknowledging Beelzebub's earlier accurate comment.
“former ships were very inconvenient and cumbersome”
The previous generation of cosmic ships were inefficient and difficult to operate.
“There is an enormous difference between the ships of that time and the ships now.”
Technological progress has drastically improved ship design.
“Elekilpomagtistzen … a totality … two separate parts of … Okidanokh”
The fuel used was a compound drawn from two elements of the omnipresent cosmic substance known as Okidanokh.
“just those numerous materials were necessary which the former ships had to carry”
Older ships needed to transport complex raw materials in order to generate this special fuel.
“replaced by ships of the system of Saint Venoma”
Newer models, based on designs from Saint Venoma, made the older ones obsolete.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The previous generation of interspace ships was hindered by the need for complex fuel, derived from a dual-aspect cosmic substance. These design burdens made them cumbersome. Technological evolution rendered them obsolete shortly after Beelzebub’s departure, as new ships based on Saint Venoma’s system replaced them.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with reverence and agreement… affirming Beelzebub’s insight in a tone of cosmic politeness.

  • The fuel “Elekilpomagtistzen” links physics to metaphysics… as it’s composed of dual aspects of the universal energy Okidanokh—bridging mechanical motion with esoteric doctrine.

  • The burden of earlier ships reflects spiritual inefficiency… a recurring metaphor in the text, where evolution is measured by simplification and internal coherence.

  • The shift to Saint Venoma’s system signals a new paradigm… possibly aligning with higher energetic principles or a refined cosmic order yet to be detailed.

Summary
The captain agrees with Beelzebub's observation: early cosmic ships were indeed unwieldy and complex. He recalls that in his youth, ships used “Elekilpomagtistzen,” a compound derived from two parts of the substance Okidanokh. Gathering this required transporting many materials, contributing to the ships’ bulk. However, soon after Beelzebub’s exile, these older ships were phased out and replaced by vessels of the system of Saint Venoma—signaling a major leap in cosmic engineering.

  CHAPTER IV ♦ The Law of Falling  
  Summary and Interpretation by ChatGPT  
Page 66

Source Text: [p. 66]
THE captain continued:

“This happened in the year 185, by objective time-calculation.

“Saint Venoma had been taken for his merits from the planet ‘Soort’ to the holy planet ‘Purgatory,’ where, after he had familiarized himself with his new surroundings and new duties, he gave all his free time to his favorite work.

“And his favorite work was to seek what new phenomena could be found in various combinations of already existing, law-conformable phenomena.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Saint Venoma was moved to Purgatory and applied himself to a methodical study of lawful phenomenon combinations.

Second idea: This event is fixed in time—“year 185”—via an unusual standard of “objective time-calculation.”

Third idea: His research focused not on speculation but on discovering new effects through lawful recombination of known causes.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“This happened in the year 185, by objective time-calculation.”
A specific event occurred in what is designated as year 185 using a precise, perhaps cosmic or non-subjective, time standard.
“Saint Venoma had been taken for his merits from the planet ‘Soort’ to the holy planet ‘Purgatory’”
Because of his worth or achievements, Saint Venoma was transferred from his original world, Soort, to a sacred planetary realm called Purgatory.
“after he had familiarized himself with his new surroundings and new duties”
Once he adapted to both the environment and responsibilities of this new world…
“he gave all his free time to his favorite work.”
He dedicated his spare time entirely to a chosen activity he deeply enjoyed.
“to seek what new phenomena could be found in various combinations of already existing, law-conformable phenomena.”
He studied how lawful phenomena could be recombined to give rise to something new—suggesting an approach akin to lawful creative experimentation.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Saint Venoma, a meritorious being, was relocated to a holy planet where he engaged in rigorous investigation into how lawful existing phenomena might yield unexpected new results when recombined—suggesting a spiritualized scientific method rooted in the metaphysical laws of the cosmos.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with “objective time-calculation” — suggesting a universal, possibly supra-temporal calendar foreign to ordinary perception, implying cosmic precision.

  • The figure of “Saint Venoma” is relocated between planets as a form of reward, merging religious connotation (saint, merit, holy) with extraterrestrial setting—dissolving boundaries between theology and cosmology.

  • Venoma’s “favorite work” is not poetic musing or divine contemplation, but systematic recombination of lawful phenomena—positioning lawful creativity as a sacred pursuit.

  • The phrase “law-conformable phenomena” implies that even holy figures are constrained to work within universal laws, not outside or above them. This is not miracle but lawful emergence.

Summary
Captain Beelzebub recounts a specific event dated “year 185” by “objective time,” involving Saint Venoma, a being transferred for merit from the planet Soort to the holy planet Purgatory. Once acclimated, Venoma devoted his leisure to a disciplined form of discovery—systematically searching for emergent phenomena that arise from lawful interactions between pre-existing phenomena.

Source Text:
“And sometime later, in the course of these occupations, this Saint Venoma first constated in cosmic laws what later became a famous discovery, and this discovery he first called the ‘Law of Falling.’

“This cosmic law which he then discovered, St. Venoma himself formulated thus:

“‘Everything existing in the World falls to the bottom. And the bottom for any part of the Universe is its nearest “stability,” and this said “stability” is the place or the point upon which all the lines of force arriving from all directions converge.’

“The centers of all the suns and of all the planets of our Universe are just such points of ‘stability.’ They are the lowest points of those regions of space upon which forces from all directions of the given part of the Universe definitely tend and where they are concentrated. In these points there is also concentrated the equilibrium which enables suns and planets to maintain their position.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Saint Venoma discovered a fundamental law of the universe: the Law of Falling.

Second idea: The law asserts that all things fall toward the nearest point of stability, where lines of force converge.

Third idea: The centers of suns and planets are such convergence points, where universal equilibrium is sustained.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“sometime later, in the course of these occupations”
At a later point, while engaged in his investigative work
“Saint Venoma first constated in cosmic laws”
He was the first to directly observe or affirm a principle embedded in the structure of cosmic law
“what later became a famous discovery”
The insight eventually achieved recognition as a significant discovery
“Everything existing in the World falls to the bottom.”
All things naturally move downward—toward a gravitational or energetic low point
“the bottom for any part of the Universe is its nearest ‘stability’”
The “bottom” is defined relative to proximity to a gravitational or force convergence point
“point upon which all the lines of force arriving from all directions converge”
A focal zone where all directional influences meet and stabilize
“The centers of all the suns and of all the planets… are just such points of ‘stability’.”
Gravitational centers (solar or planetary cores) serve as these points of cosmic equilibrium
“where they are concentrated… the equilibrium which enables suns and planets to maintain their position.”
The convergence of forces at these points sustains the celestial bodies’ fixed positions within space
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

All things in the universe obey a fundamental law of descent toward “stability”—defined as the nearest point where converging forces meet. These points are not abstract, but physically manifest as the centers of suns and planets, where gravitational and energetic lines focus, enabling those bodies to exist in a state of sustained equilibrium. Falling, in this context, is not just gravity but a universal law governing structure and placement across the cosmos.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He redefines “falling” as a cosmic principle rather than a local phenomenon—it applies universally, not just to Earth or objects near it.

  • “Stability” is not static but the dynamic point of converging forces—a metaphysical as well as physical principle.

  • The center of a sun or planet is framed not just as a gravitational core but as a sacred equilibrium node, blending astrophysics with spiritual ontology.

  • The formulation “Everything existing… falls to the bottom” gives a foundational, almost moral tone to physical behavior—suggesting that to fall is to return to rightful structure or law.

Summary
Saint Venoma, while engaged in his methodical investigations, formulated what became known as the “Law of Falling.” He observed that everything in the universe tends to fall toward its nearest point of “stability”—a gravitational and energetic convergence point. These stability points are the centers of suns and planets, where converging lines of force meet and equilibrium is maintained. Rather than being arbitrary, this falling is lawful and directional: toward the cosmic bottom of a given region of space.

Page 67

Source Text: [p. 67]
“In this formulation of his, Saint Venoma said further that everything when dropped into space, wherever it may be, tends to fall on one or another sun or on one or another planet, according to which sun or planet the given part of space belongs to, where the object is dropped, each sun or planet being for the given sphere the ‘stability’ or bottom.

“Starting from this, Saint Venoma reasoned in his further researches as follows:

“‘If this be so, may it not therefore be possible to employ this cosmic particularity for the locomotion we need between the spaces of the Universe?’

“And from then on, he worked in this direction.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Objects fall toward the planetary or solar center that defines “stability” in their region of space.

Second idea: Saint Venoma speculated that this falling behavior might be used deliberately to enable movement through space.

Third idea: He pursued this idea through continued research and effort.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“everything when dropped into space, wherever it may be”
No matter where an object is released in space
“tends to fall on one or another sun or on one or another planet”
It will gravitate toward a solar or planetary center
“according to which sun or planet the given part of space belongs to”
Depending on the dominant gravitational center in that spatial sector
“each sun or planet being for the given sphere the ‘stability’ or bottom”
Each acts as the gravitational base or equilibrium point for its surrounding region
“may it not therefore be possible to employ this cosmic particularity for the locomotion we need”
Could this gravitational law be used intentionally to travel between regions of space?
“And from then on, he worked in this direction.”
He began devoting himself to applying this idea toward practical interspatial movement
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Every object in space naturally falls toward the gravitational center—sun or planet—governing its region. Saint Venoma proposed that if this universal tendency is lawful and predictable, it could potentially be used as a means of travel between cosmic locations. He then made it his task to explore how to utilize this principle for locomotion through space.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He treats “falling” not as accident but as navigational tool — suggesting the possibility of engineered descent across spatial domains.

  • Each region of space is portrayed as gravitationally “owned” — by a sun or planet, defining its local “bottom.”

  • The law of falling is recast as a vehicle of intention — turning a passive cosmic tendency into a potential means of intelligent travel.

  • The phrase “cosmic particularity” is precise and curious—it elevates gravitational pull into a feature that could be functionally appropriated by advanced beings.

Summary
Saint Venoma elaborated that anything dropped in space will fall toward the sun or planet that represents the point of stability for that region. Recognizing this consistent directional tendency, he asked whether such a law could be harnessed for interspatial travel. He then committed himself to investigating how this “cosmic particularity” might enable locomotion through space.

Source Text:
“His further saintly labors showed that although in principle this was in general possible, yet it was impossible fully to employ for this purpose this ‘Law of Falling’ discovered by him. And it would be impossible owing solely to the atmospheres around most of the cosmic concentrations, which atmospheres would hinder the straight falling of the object dropped in space.

“Having constated this, Saint Venoma then devoted his whole attention to discovering some means of overcoming the said atmospheric resistance for ships constructed on the principle of Falling.

“And after three ‘Looniases’ Saint Venoma did find such a possibility, and later on when the building of a suitable special construction had been completed under his direction, he proceeded to practical trials.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Law of Falling was not directly usable for space travel due to atmospheric resistance.

Second idea: Saint Venoma committed himself to overcoming this resistance problem for ships built to fall.

Third idea: After extended effort (three “Looniases”), he found a solution and initiated practical tests using a specially constructed vehicle.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“although in principle this was in general possible”
Though the theory made sense and seemed workable in most respects
“it was impossible fully to employ… the ‘Law of Falling’”
It couldn’t be put to full practical use for navigation or transport
“owing solely to the atmospheres around most of the cosmic concentrations”
Because planets and stars have surrounding atmospheres that interfere
“would hinder the straight falling of the object dropped in space”
This atmospheric drag would disrupt the direct descent needed
“then devoted his whole attention to discovering some means of overcoming the said atmospheric resistance”
He focused entirely on finding a solution to the problem of resistance
“after three ‘Looniases’ Saint Venoma did find such a possibility”
After a long effort (three cosmic time units), he succeeded
“a suitable special construction… completed under his direction”
A spacecraft or device was built according to his design and supervision
“he proceeded to practical trials”
He moved on from theory to experimental tests
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Although the Law of Falling offered a potential method for interspatial movement, the presence of atmospheric layers around planets and suns rendered it unworkable in practice. Saint Venoma then dedicated himself to overcoming this limitation, ultimately devising a solution after sustained effort. With a new craft built to his specifications, he initiated real-world trials of the concept.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by showing respect for cosmic law — yet accepts that practical obstacles (like atmosphere) can invalidate pure theory.

  • “Atmospheres around most of the cosmic concentrations” implies that planets and suns are not just celestial objects but sites of dynamic resistance to lawful flow.

  • Saint Venoma’s work becomes engineering — spiritual inquiry turns into mechanical problem-solving, revealing a sacred blend of metaphysics and practical invention.

  • The use of “Looniases” introduces a non-Earth time metric, subtly shifting the narrative’s scale beyond human comprehension.

  • He doesn’t abandon the Law of Falling — instead, he adapts to its limits, reinforcing Gurdjieff’s emphasis on conscious effort aligned with universal law.

Summary
Saint Venoma realized that while the Law of Falling could theoretically enable cosmic travel, its practical application was blocked by atmospheric interference—most celestial bodies are surrounded by atmospheres that disrupt the clean, linear descent required. Recognizing this obstacle, he concentrated on solving the problem of resistance. After three “Looniases” (units of time), he succeeded in developing a viable method and supervised the creation of a specially designed ship, which he then tested.

Source Text:
“This special construction had the appearance of a large enclosure all the walls of which were made of a special material something like glass.

“Then to every side of that large enclosure were fitted things like ‘shutters’ of a material impervious to the rays of the cosmic substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen,’ and these shutters, although closely fitted to the walls of the said enclosure, could yet freely slide in every direction.

“Within the enclosure was placed a special ‘battery,’ generating and giving this same substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen.’

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The ship was a large, glass-like enclosure equipped with unique features tailored for cosmic navigation.

Second idea: Shutters made of a material resistant to “Elekilpomagtistzen” were installed on all sides and could move freely.

Third idea: A special battery inside generated the very substance the shutters were meant to regulate or resist.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“special construction had the appearance of a large enclosure”
The design looked like a large, enclosed space or chamber
“walls … made of a special material something like glass”
Its surfaces were transparent or translucent, resembling but not identical to glass
“fitted things like ‘shutters’ … impervious to the rays of the cosmic substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen’”
Panels were installed on each side, crafted from a material that blocked or resisted a specific cosmic radiation or energy
“could yet freely slide in every direction”
Despite being tightly integrated, the shutters were movable on all axes
“Within the enclosure was placed a special ‘battery’”
A unique internal power source was included inside
“generating and giving this same substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen’”
This battery produced and emitted the very cosmic energy involved in the design
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The craft Saint Venoma created was a sophisticated enclosure made from a glass-like material, equipped with multi-directional shutters resistant to a specific cosmic energy. This energy—Elekilpomagtistzen—was both generated inside by a special battery and regulated by the structure itself. The enclosure functioned as a kind of energetic capsule designed to interact intelligently with cosmic forces.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a transparent structure — suggesting both vulnerability and visibility, yet it's fortified with specific protections against cosmic energies.

  • The name “Elekilpomagtistzen” signals a wholly unfamiliar form of energy, implying an esoteric substance outside known physical sciences.

  • The shutters resist and regulate a force the ship itself generates — suggesting a closed-loop interaction system where emission and control are designed together.

  • The entire system suggests purposeful engineering — a subtle harmonization of form, function, and energetic influence, integrating material science with cosmic law.

Summary
The vehicle Saint Venoma devised resembled a large transparent enclosure, constructed from a special glass-like material. Surrounding it on all sides were movable shutters made from a substance impervious to a specific cosmic energy called “Elekilpomagtistzen.” These shutters, though tightly fitted, were capable of sliding in any direction. Inside the structure was a special battery that produced this very same cosmic substance, suggesting a controlled interaction between internal generation and external shielding.

Page 68

Source Text: [p. 68]
“I myself, your Right Reverence, was present at the first trials made by Saint Venoma according to the principles he had discovered.

“The whole secret lay in this, that when the rays of ‘Elekilpomagtistzen’ were made to pass through this special glass, then in all the space they reached, everything usually composing the atmosphere itself of planets, such as ‘air,’ every kind of ‘gas,’ ‘fog,’ and so on, was destroyed. This part of space became indeed absolutely empty and had neither resistance nor pressure, so that, if even an infant-being pushed this enormous structure, it would move forward as easily as a feather.

“To the outer side of this peculiar structure there were attached appliances similar to wings, which were set in motion by means of this same substance ‘Elekilpomagtistzen,’ and served to give the impetus to move all this enormous construction in the required direction.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub personally witnessed Saint Venoma's first trial using the Law of Falling.

Second idea: Elekilpomagtistzen rays destroyed atmospheric particles, creating an absolute vacuum that allowed effortless movement.

Third idea: Wing-like propulsion devices powered by Elekilpomagtistzen enabled directional control.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“I myself, your Right Reverence, was present at the first trials”
Beelzebub is claiming direct, personal eyewitness to the initial experiments
“when the rays of ‘Elekilpomagtistzen’ were made to pass through this special glass”
The energy was projected through a custom transparent material
“everything usually composing the atmosphere… was destroyed”
All matter making up planetary atmospheres—air, gases, fog—was annihilated
“space became… absolutely empty and had neither resistance nor pressure”
A perfect vacuum was created—free of drag or force opposition
“even an infant-being pushed… it would move forward as easily as a feather”
The resulting lack of resistance meant the massive ship could be moved with minimal force
“appliances similar to wings… set in motion… to give the impetus”
Movable appendages powered by the same substance provided directional thrust
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Saint Venoma’s experimental spacecraft functioned by using Elekilpomagtistzen to clear space of atmospheric resistance, creating a vacuum in which even immense structures could be moved with minimal effort. Beelzebub personally witnessed this. Wing-like devices powered by the same energy allowed the craft to be propelled in a chosen direction. The entire mechanism relied on manipulating cosmic forces to overcome physical barriers to movement.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with personal witness — Gurdjieff places Beelzebub directly in the scene, lending credibility and intimacy to an otherwise mythic account.

  • The term “infant-being” underscores the radical ease of movement—emphasizing not just effortlessness, but a nearly comical contrast between power and weight.

  • The use of rays to destroy atmospheric matter prefigures a technology far beyond present-day vacuum engineering—implying mastery of energetic manipulation at a cosmic level.

  • Wings powered by the same substance suggest an integrated energy ecosystem—generation, vacuum creation, and propulsion all derived from Elekilpomagtistzen.

Summary
Beelzebub testifies firsthand to witnessing Saint Venoma’s initial experimental trials. The core breakthrough was that the rays of Elekilpomagtistzen, when passed through the special glass, eliminated all atmospheric elements—air, gas, fog—creating a vacuum free from resistance or pressure. In such an environment, even a massive structure could be moved with feather-like ease. The vessel was also equipped with wing-like mechanisms, powered by the same cosmic substance, which directed its movement across space.

Source Text:
“The results of these experiments having been approved and blessed by the Commission of Inspection under the presidency of Archangel Adossia, the construction of a big ship based on these principles was begun.

“The ship was soon ready and commissioned for service. And in a short time, little by little, ships of this type came to be used exclusively, on all the lines of intersystem communication.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Saint Venoma’s design received official sanction from a celestial commission headed by Archangel Adossia.

Second idea: A large-scale vessel was constructed based on the new principles and deployed for use.

Third idea: These Falling-based ships rapidly became the norm for travel between systems.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“The results of these experiments having been approved and blessed”
The successful outcomes received both formal validation and spiritual endorsement
“by the Commission of Inspection under the presidency of Archangel Adossia”
A supervisory body, led by a high-ranking angelic figure, granted the approval
“the construction of a big ship based on these principles was begun”
A full-scale vessel was started, using the methods demonstrated in the experiments
“The ship was soon ready and commissioned for service”
It was quickly completed and formally put into operational use
“little by little, ships of this type came to be used exclusively”
Gradually, all intersystem travel began relying solely on this new type of ship
“on all the lines of intersystem communication”
Across all established cosmic transportation routes between planetary systems
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Following the validation and blessing of the Falling-ship technology by a celestial authority, large-scale production commenced. The initial ship entered service without delay, and the technology rapidly proliferated until it became the universal standard for intersystem travel.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a formal blessing from a cosmic body — intertwining spiritual hierarchy with scientific advancement, as though every invention requires metaphysical ratification.

  • “Archangel Adossia” presides over a Commission of Inspection — an image that fuses celestial symbolism with bureaucratic procedure, highlighting a divine technocracy.

  • Adoption of the new ships was rapid and total — showing how once a higher law is correctly implemented, it displaces previous paradigms entirely.

  • The transition is described as “little by little” — yet ends in total replacement, evoking the Fourth Way theme of gradual but complete transformation.

Summary
After the success of the experimental trials, the findings were officially validated and blessed by a high cosmic authority—the Commission of Inspection, led by Archangel Adossia. This formal approval led to the immediate construction of a full-scale ship built on the Law of Falling principles. The prototype entered active service quickly, and soon, such ships became standard across all intersystem routes, gradually replacing previous models.

Source Text:
“Although later, your Right Reverence, the inconveniences of this system gradually became more and more apparent, nevertheless it continued to displace all the systems that had existed before.

“It cannot be gainsaid that although the ships constructed on this system were ideal in atmosphereless spaces, and moved there almost with the speed of the rays ‘Etzikolnianakhnian’ issuing from planets, yet when nearing some sun or planet it became real torture for the beings directing them, as a great deal of complicated maneuvering was necessary.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Falling-ship system had serious drawbacks that became more evident over time.

Second idea: Despite these issues, it continued to replace all older transport systems.

Third idea: The ships worked excellently in empty space but became very difficult to control near large cosmic bodies.

Fourth idea: Piloting near suns or planets was exhausting and required complicated navigation.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“the inconveniences of this system gradually became more and more apparent”
The drawbacks became clearer with time and usage
“nevertheless it continued to displace all the systems that had existed before”
Despite its flaws, it replaced every previous transport method
“ships constructed on this system were ideal in atmosphereless spaces”
They functioned optimally in vacuums
“moved there almost with the speed of the rays ‘Etzikolnianakhnian’ issuing from planets”
They traveled at speeds comparable to powerful planetary rays
“yet when nearing some sun or planet it became real torture for the beings directing them”
Approaching large celestial bodies created overwhelming difficulties for pilots
“a great deal of complicated maneuvering was necessary”
Navigation required complex, strenuous adjustments
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Falling-ship system, though increasingly problematic, overtook all previous technologies. It performed exceptionally well in vacuum conditions, achieving near-radiant speeds, but became a source of suffering and difficulty for pilots when navigating near suns or planets due to the need for intense and intricate maneuvering.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by acknowledging failure without rescinding adoption — revealing a world where utility and lawfulness override comfort and user-friendliness.

  • The ships move at ray-speed — evoking a scale of propulsion that’s nearly metaphysical, beyond current engineering imagination.

  • “Real torture” for the beings directing them — a rare admission of suffering in what might otherwise be idealized cosmic transport; this anchors the narrative in felt reality.

  • The tension between cosmic elegance and practical challenge — a Fourth Way motif: higher truths do not always make life easier, especially near centers of gravity.

Summary
Despite increasing recognition of its shortcomings, the Falling-ship system continued to replace all previous spacefaring methods. While exceptionally effective in vacuum conditions—moving nearly as fast as planetary energy rays—the ships became deeply problematic near suns or planets. The need for precise and complex maneuvers in those zones made operating them a torment for their pilots.

Page 69

Source Text: [p. 69]
“The need for this maneuvering was due to the same ‘Law of Falling.’

“And this was because when the ship came into the medium of the atmosphere of some sun or planet which it had to pass, it immediately began to fall towards that sun or planet, and as I have already intimated, very much care and considerable knowledge were needed to prevent the ship from falling out of its course.

“While the ships were passing near any sun or planet whatsoever, their speed of locomotion had sometimes to be reduced hundreds of times below their usual rate.

“It was particularly difficult to steer them in those spheres where there was a great aggregation of ‘comets.’

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Law of Falling caused ships to veer toward planets or suns when entering their atmospheres.

Second idea: Pilots had to be highly skilled to keep the ship on course.

Third idea: Ship speed had to be drastically reduced near celestial bodies.

Fourth idea: Navigation became especially difficult in comet-heavy regions.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“The need for this maneuvering was due to the same ‘Law of Falling.’”
The requirement for careful steering arose because of the very law the ship relied on.
“when the ship came into the medium of the atmosphere… it immediately began to fall”
As soon as the ship entered a planetary or solar atmosphere, it was pulled downward toward that body.
“very much care and considerable knowledge were needed”
It took great skill and attention to avoid crashing or deviating from the intended path.
“speed of locomotion had sometimes to be reduced hundreds of times”
Ships often had to slow to a fraction of their normal velocity near planets or suns.
“particularly difficult… where there was a great aggregation of ‘comets.’”
Regions with many comets added extra navigational hazards and complexity.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Law of Falling, which enabled rapid movement in empty space, became a liability when ships entered atmospheric zones. They would start falling uncontrollably toward nearby celestial bodies unless managed with extreme precision and knowledge. Speeds had to be greatly reduced, and steering was especially perilous in zones dense with comets, adding even more instability to the task of cosmic navigation.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by turning the enabling law into an obstacle — what empowers in one domain endangers in another, emphasizing contextual awareness.

  • “Immediately began to fall” frames gravity not as passive background but as an urgent force, reclaiming anything that nears.

  • Reduction of speed “hundreds of times” illustrates the vast disparity between cosmic flight and gravitational proximity—like switching from light-speed to crawling.

  • “Aggregation of comets” introduces chaos within law—natural debris fields that require mastery to pass through without peril.

Summary
The difficult maneuvering required near suns and planets was a direct consequence of the Law of Falling itself. Upon entering a planetary or solar atmosphere, a ship would immediately begin descending toward that body, necessitating expert control to stay on course. To maintain stability, speeds often had to be drastically reduced. Navigation became especially challenging in regions dense with comets, adding further complexity to travel through gravitational fields.

Source Text:
“That is why great demands were then made upon the beings who had to direct these ships, and they were prepared for these duties by beings of very high Reason.

“But in spite of the said drawbacks of the system of Saint Venoma, it gradually, as I have already said, displaced all the previous systems.

“And the ships of this system of Saint Venoma had already existed for twenty-three years when it was first rumored that the Angel Hariton had invented a new type of ship for intersystem and interplanetary communication.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Directing these ships required intense training and high intelligence.

Second idea: Despite its limitations, Saint Venoma’s system replaced all previous ones.

Third idea: After 23 years, a new innovation by Angel Hariton began to be whispered about.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“great demands were then made upon the beings who had to direct these ships”
Operating these vessels required exceptional skill and responsibility
“they were prepared for these duties by beings of very high Reason”
Their training was overseen by highly developed intelligences
“in spite of the said drawbacks… it gradually… displaced all the previous systems”
Even with its known flaws, the system replaced older methods through incremental adoption
“ships of this system… had already existed for twenty-three years”
By that time, the system had been in continuous use for nearly a quarter-century
“first rumored that the Angel Hariton had invented a new type of ship”
News began circulating that a new model had been created by another celestial engineer
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Due to the operational complexity of Falling-ships, only highly trained beings under the guidance of great intelligences could pilot them. Despite increasing difficulties, the system became universally adopted. After 23 years of dominance, rumors emerged of an innovation by Angel Hariton—foreshadowing a shift in cosmic transportation technology.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with training by “beings of very high Reason” — suggesting a hierarchy of consciousness as prerequisite for technical mastery.

  • The persistence of a flawed system shows how ideas can dominate not by perfection, but by alignment with law and effort.

  • “Twenty-three years” of use establishes a mythic timeframe — long enough for establishment, short enough for eventual supersession.

  • Introduction of Angel Hariton implies a transition—a shift from Falling to another mode, echoing a Gurdjieffian motif: evolution through inner and outer innovation.

Summary
Because piloting Falling-ships required extraordinary skill, only beings trained by individuals of exceptionally high Reason could handle them. Despite its flaws, the system steadily replaced older transport methods. After twenty-three years in use, word began to spread that Angel Hariton had devised a new kind of ship—potentially a next evolutionary step in intersystem and interplanetary travel.

  Chapter 5: The System of Archangel Hariton  
  Summary and Interpretation by ChatGPT  
Page 70

Source Text: [p. 70]
AND indeed, soon after this rumor, practical experiments open to all, again under the superintendence of the Great Archangel Adossia, were made with this new and later very famous invention.

This new system was unanimously acknowledged to be the best, and very soon it was adopted for general Universal service and thereafter gradually all previous systems were entirely superseded.

“That system of the Great Angel, now Archangel, Hariton is now in use everywhere at the present day.

“The ship on which we are now flying also belongs to this system and its construction is similar to that of all the ships built on the system of the Angel Hariton.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Hariton's invention was publicly tested and deemed universally superior.

Second idea: The system was rapidly implemented across the universe, replacing older ones.

Third idea: The current ship Beelzebub travels on uses this same system.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“soon after this rumor, practical experiments open to all”
Following the initial news, public trials were quickly conducted
“again under the superintendence of the Great Archangel Adossia”
The experiments were overseen by the same celestial authority as before
“this new and later very famous invention”
Refers to Hariton’s system, which eventually gained universal renown
“unanimously acknowledged to be the best”
There was complete agreement that Hariton's design surpassed all others
“adopted for general Universal service”
It became the standard for travel and transport throughout the cosmos
“all previous systems were entirely superseded”
Older technologies were phased out in favor of this one
“That system… is now in use everywhere at the present day”
The system has become the universal norm, still active now
“The ship on which we are now flying also belongs to this system”
They are aboard a Hariton-designed ship at the moment of narration
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

After rumors of a new invention, Hariton’s system was put to open trial under celestial supervision. Its excellence was so evident that it replaced all older systems and became the standard throughout the universe. The ship Beelzebub is currently aboard also uses this system, affirming its universality and reliability.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with open experimentation under angelic oversight — blending scientific transparency with spiritual governance.

  • The transition to Hariton’s system is total and unanimous — rare in any real-world technological adoption, suggesting cosmic alignment.

  • Beelzebub connects narrative past to present travel — grounding a metaphysical tale in the immediacy of their ongoing voyage.

  • The use of “now in use everywhere” emphasizes timelessness—Gurdjieff situates cosmic evolution within the reader’s own moment.

Summary
Following rumors of a breakthrough, public trials were conducted under the oversight of Archangel Adossia to test the newly devised system of Angel Hariton. These trials proved so effective that Hariton’s invention was unanimously recognized as superior and rapidly adopted for universal use, replacing all older systems. Beelzebub affirms that the ship they are currently aboard operates on this very system—now standard throughout the universe—and shares the same design as all others of its kind.

Source Text:
“This system is not very complicated.

“The whole of this great invention consists of only a single ‘cylinder’ shaped like an ordinary barrel.

“The secret of this cylinder lies in the disposition of the materials of which its inner side is made.

“These materials are arranged in a certain order and isolated from each other by means of ‘Amber.’ They have such a property that if any cosmic gaseous substance whatever enters the space which they enclose, whether it be ‘atmosphere,’ ‘air,’ ‘ether,’ or any other ‘totality’ of homogeneous cosmic elements, it immediately expands, owing to the mentioned disposition of materials within the cylinder.

“The bottom of this cylinder-barrel is hermetically sealed, but its lid, although it can be closely shut, yet is so arranged on hinges that at a pressure from within it can be opened and shut again.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The Hariton system consists of one cylindrical component.

Second idea: The secret lies in the ordered internal materials separated by amber.

Third idea: Any cosmic gas introduced causes expansion inside the cylinder.

Fourth idea: The base is sealed, but the lid opens under internal pressure, allowing for motion.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“This system is not very complicated.”
The mechanism is simple in design.
“only a single ‘cylinder’ shaped like an ordinary barrel”
The core device is a barrel-like tube.
“disposition of the materials… inner side is made”
The layout of the internal materials is the system’s key feature.
“isolated from each other by means of ‘Amber.’”
Amber is used as a separator between layers.
“if any cosmic gaseous substance… enters… it immediately expands”
Any gas that gets inside is triggered to expand by the inner materials’ arrangement.
“The bottom… is hermetically sealed”
The base is airtight and cannot be opened.
“its lid… arranged on hinges… opened and shut again”
The top is designed to open when internal pressure rises, then reseal after venting.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The genius of Hariton’s system lies in its minimalism: a barrel-like cylinder whose internal materials trigger expansion of any gas introduced. Amber separates these materials, and the pressure buildup causes a hinged lid to open, allowing thrust. The whole system functions as a self-contained cosmic engine converting universal substances into directed motion.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with simplicity — a “great invention” with one moving part, countering the assumption that higher technology must be complex.

  • Amber as separator — hints at esoteric material functions, blending alchemical symbolism with mechanical effect.

  • Universal adaptability — the system activates with any cosmic gas, suggesting harmony with the elemental nature of space itself.

  • The expansion principle is passive but powerful — no combustion, just alignment of material properties with cosmic law.

  • The lid responds automatically to pressure — an intelligent design using force rather than intelligence to time its response.

Summary
Hariton’s propulsion system is deceptively simple: a single cylindrical unit resembling a barrel. The internal structure is its key—layers of specially arranged materials, each separated by amber, interact with any cosmic gas that enters, causing it to expand. This reaction generates internal pressure. The cylinder is sealed at the base, but its hinged lid can open under pressure and then reseal, enabling a controlled release of force. This mechanism converts gas expansion into propulsion.

Page 71

Source Text: [p. 71]
“So, your Right Reverence, if this cylinder-barrel is filled with atmosphere, air, or any other such substance, then from the action of the walls of this peculiar cylinder-barrel, these substances expand to such an extent that the interior becomes too small to hold them.

“Striving to find an outlet from this, for them constricted, interior, they naturally press also against the lid of the cylinder-barrel, and thanks to the said hinges the lid opens and, having allowed these expanded substances to escape, immediately closes again. And as in general Nature abhors a vacuum, then simultaneously with the release of the expanded gaseous substances the cylinder-barrel is again filled with fresh substances from outside, with which in their turn the same proceeds as before, and so on without end.

“Thus the substances are always being changed, and the lid of the cylinder-barrel alternately opens and shuts.

“To this same lid there is fixed a very simple lever which moves with the movement of the lid and in turn sets in motion certain also very simple ‘cogwheels’ which again in their turn revolve the fans attached to the sides and stern of the ship itself.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Gases inside the cylinder expand and force the lid open.

Second idea: The escaping gas is replaced by new intake, continuing the cycle indefinitely.

Third idea: The lid’s movement drives a lever and cogwheel system powering ship-mounted fans.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“if this cylinder-barrel is filled with atmosphere, air, or any other such substance”
When any kind of cosmic gas enters the chamber
“these substances expand to such an extent that the interior becomes too small to hold them”
The gases grow in volume until they push against the chamber's limits
“press also against the lid… the lid opens… immediately closes again”
Pressure forces the lid to open and then reseal after venting
“Nature abhors a vacuum… filled with fresh substances from outside”
As gases leave, more rush in to maintain pressure
“and so on without end”
The cycle is self-sustaining
“lever… cogwheels… revolve the fans”
The lid’s motion powers mechanical parts that move the ship
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Cosmic gases enter the barrel and expand under the influence of interior materials, forcing the lid open to release pressure. As the gases escape, new ones enter, repeating the process. The lid’s motion activates a lever and gear system that drives the ship’s fans—converting cosmic expansion into propulsion through a self-renewing, mechanical rhythm.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a physical expansion of substance — using cosmic gas as a living energy source in a reactive system.

  • The cycle mirrors breath or metabolism — an esoteric image of mechanical life fueled by cosmic intake and release.

  • “Nature abhors a vacuum” invokes philosophical physics—recasting propulsion as a natural law seeking equilibrium.

  • Simple mechanical linkages drive complex motion — a Gurdjieffian ideal of maximum effect through minimal means.

  • It runs without combustion or fuel — a radical vision of propulsion sourced from structure and law, not consumption.

Summary
The Hariton cylinder fills with ambient gases, which expand rapidly due to the special interior walls. This pressure forces the lid open, releasing the gases, after which the lid closes again. Because nature abhors a vacuum, new gases immediately rush in, creating a continuous intake-and-release cycle. The lid’s motion activates a lever, which turns cogwheels connected to fans along the ship’s sides and stern—transforming the expanding gas cycle into mechanical propulsion.

Source Text:
“Thus, your Right Reverence, in spaces where there is no resistance, contemporary ships like ours simply fall towards the nearest ‘stability’; but in spaces where there are any cosmic substances which offer resistance, these substances, whatever their density, with the aid of this cylinder enable the ship to move in any desired direction.

“It is interesting to remark that the denser the substance is in any given part of the Universe, the better and more strongly the charging and discharging of this cylinder-barrel proceed, and in consequence of course, the force of the movement of the levers is also changed.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: In resistance-free space, the ship passively falls toward the nearest center of gravity.

Second idea: In spaces containing cosmic matter, the cylinder actively generates directional movement.

Third idea: The denser the ambient matter, the more powerful and efficient the propulsion cycle becomes.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“in spaces where there is no resistance, contemporary ships like ours simply fall”
In vacuums, ships follow gravitational pull without needing active thrust
“spaces where there are any cosmic substances which offer resistance”
Regions filled with matter—gases, dust, etc.—oppose free fall
“these substances… enable the ship to move in any desired direction”
Resistance matter is used as fuel for directed propulsion
“the denser the substance… the better and more strongly the charging and discharging… proceed”
More material leads to more energetic and frequent expansion-release cycles
“the force of the movement of the levers is also changed”
Increased pressure strengthens the mechanical power output
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The Hariton system functions in two modes: passive falling in vacuums, and active propulsion in material-filled space. The cylinder uses ambient matter to generate directional movement, and this process is enhanced by denser environments, resulting in greater mechanical thrust via the lever-and-fan system.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by distinguishing two cosmic conditions — empty space and resistant space — and shows the system adapts to both.

  • “Stability” remains the gravitational anchor — anchoring motion in the cosmic law of falling.

  • Propulsion is enhanced by resistance — a reversal of common logic: friction isn’t a problem, it’s fuel.

  • The system harmonizes with environmental density — embodying the Fourth Way principle of using conditions as material for transformation.

Summary
The Hariton system adapts to different cosmic environments: in a vacuum, the ship simply falls toward the nearest gravitational center (“stability”). But when cosmic substances are present—whether sparse or dense—they are used by the cylinder mechanism to generate thrust in any chosen direction. Interestingly, denser matter increases the efficiency of the expansion-discharge cycle within the cylinder, thus amplifying the force applied to the ship’s levers and propulsion fans.

Page 72

Source Text: [p. 72]
“But nevertheless, I repeat, a sphere without atmosphere, that is, a space containing only World Etherokrilno, is for contemporary ships also the best, because in such a sphere there is no resistance at all, and the 'Law of Falling’ can therefore be fully employed in it without any assistance from the work of the cylinder.

''Further than this, the contemporary ships are also good because they contain such possibilities that in atmosphereless spaces an impetus can be given to them in any direction, and they can fall just where desired without the complicated manipulations necessary in ships of the system of Saint Venoma.

“In short, your Right Reverence, the convenience and simplicity of the contemporary ships are beyond comparison with former ships, which were often both very complicated and at the same time had none of the possibilities of the ships we use now.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Contemporary ships function best in vacuum-like regions where the Law of Falling operates unimpeded.

Second idea: They can receive directional impetus and fall exactly where intended without complex control systems.

Third idea: Compared to earlier models, these ships are simpler and vastly more effective.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“a sphere without atmosphere… only World Etherokrilno”
Completely empty space filled solely with universal ether
“no resistance at all… 'Law of Falling' can therefore be fully employed”
The absence of interference allows gravity-based movement to work perfectly
“impetus can be given… and they can fall just where desired”
Ships can be nudged and then allowed to travel precisely to the target
“without the complicated manipulations… Saint Venoma”
No need for intricate piloting like in older propulsion systems
“convenience and simplicity… beyond comparison”
Modern ships are far superior in both ease of use and capability
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Modern ships operate best in total vacuum, where the Law of Falling works perfectly without added mechanisms. These vessels can be steered with simple impulses and reach their target without the difficulty of older methods. Their design is both more efficient and more powerful than previous generations—making older systems obsolete.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins by praising vacuum as an ideal medium — contradicting modern assumptions that propulsion requires atmosphere or fuel.

  • “World Etherokrilno” as background substrate — invokes an esoteric cosmological medium beyond contemporary physics.

  • Falling becomes navigational, not accidental — turning gravity into an intentional steering mechanism.

  • He emphasizes simplicity as evolutionary — true progress involves reducing complexity while increasing control.

Summary
Beelzebub reiterates that atmosphereless space—pure World Etherokrilno—is ideal for current ships, as it offers no resistance and allows full use of the Law of Falling without relying on the cylinder mechanism. These ships can also be directed to fall precisely where intended, requiring none of the cumbersome navigation methods used in Saint Venoma’s earlier system. Their overall design is vastly simpler and more capable, rendering previous technologies obsolete by comparison.

  Chapter 6 ♦ Perpetual Motion  
  Summary and Interpretation by ChatGPT  
Page 73

Source Text: [p. 73]
WAIT! Wait!” Beelzebub interrupted the captain.

"This—what you have just told us—must surely be just that short-lived idea which the strange three-brained beings breeding on the planet Earth called ‘perpetual motion’ and on account of which at one period a great many of them there went quite, as they themselves say, ‘mad,’ and many even perished entirely.

“It once happened there on that ill-fated planet that somebody in some way or another got into his head the, as they say, ‘crazy notion’ that he could make a ‘mechanism’ that would run forever without requiring any material from outside.

“This notion so took everybody’s fancy that most of the queer fellows of that peculiar planet began thinking about it and trying to realize this miracle in practice.

“How many of them paid for this short-lived idea with all the material and spiritual welfare which they had previously with great difficulty acquired!

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub interrupts, identifying the concept as Earth’s "perpetual motion."

Second idea: Earth beings once believed a machine could run forever without input.

Third idea: Many were consumed by the idea and suffered material and spiritual loss.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“WAIT! Wait!” Beelzebub interrupted the captain.
Beelzebub forcefully interjects to stop the explanation.
“must surely be just that short-lived idea… called ‘perpetual motion’”
He suspects this mechanism mirrors Earth’s failed attempt at endless mechanical motion.
“many of them… went quite, as they themselves say, ‘mad,’”
Chasing this idea led some to mental instability.
“somebody… got into his head… that he could make a ‘mechanism’ that would run forever”
One individual conceived the fantasy of self-running machinery.
“most of the queer fellows… began thinking about it”
The idea rapidly spread and became a cultural obsession.
“paid… with all the material and spiritual welfare”
They sacrificed hard-earned wellbeing chasing an illusion.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The cylinder-driven propulsion system reminds Beelzebub of Earth’s ill-fated obsession with perpetual motion. On Earth, this idea led to madness, financial loss, and spiritual decline for many who believed they could create an eternal, self-running machine—highlighting how misplaced certainty in mechanical miracles can derail lives.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with an interruption — Beelzebub’s forceful break signals alarm and concern, emphasizing the danger of the idea.

  • He ties cosmic technology to human delusion — drawing a parallel between valid interplanetary science and a failed Earth fantasy.

  • “Madness” and ruin as outcomes — Gurdjieff critiques the tendency to pursue abstraction without grounding in law or being.

  • The phrase “with all the material and spiritual welfare” — shows how misplaced ideas can bankrupt both outer and inner life.

Summary
Beelzebub halts the discussion, recognizing the ship's mechanism as dangerously similar to the Earth-conceived idea of "perpetual motion." He recalls how this concept once gripped many Earth beings with the obsessive belief that a machine could run indefinitely without external input. The idea led to widespread fascination, but also to material ruin and psychological instability for those who pursued it. Beelzebub views it as a tragic and deluded misstep in Earth’s history of invention.

Source Text:
“For one reason or another they were all quite determined to invent what in their opinion was a ‘simple matter.’

“External circumstances permitting, many took up the invention of this ‘perpetual motion’ without any inner data for such work; some from reliance upon their ‘knowledge,’ others upon ‘luck,’ but most of them just from their already complete psychopathy.

“In short, the invention of ‘perpetual motion’ was, as they say, ‘the rage,’ and every crank felt obliged to be interested in this question.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Earth beings thought perpetual motion would be easy to invent.

Second idea: Many pursued it without proper understanding—motivated by false knowledge, blind luck, or mental imbalance.

Third idea: The idea became a popular obsession among cranks and eccentrics.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“they were all quite determined to invent what in their opinion was a ‘simple matter.’”
They believed perpetual motion was easy and were committed to achieving it.
“without any inner data for such work”
Lacked the real understanding or being necessary to succeed.
“some from reliance upon their ‘knowledge,’ others upon ‘luck,’”
Motivations ranged from intellectual arrogance to gambling instinct.
“but most of them just from their already complete psychopathy.”
The majority were driven by deep inner imbalance or delusion.
“the invention of ‘perpetual motion’ was, as they say, ‘the rage’”
It became a cultural trend or popular mania.
“every crank felt obliged to be interested”
Even the most eccentric felt compelled to participate in the effort.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The pursuit of perpetual motion gripped Earth with a false sense of ease and widespread delusion. People engaged in the effort without the inner development or proper data, often fueled by pride, luck, or outright psychological disorder. The notion became a trend, embraced by eccentrics who felt obligated to chase the fantasy regardless of their actual ability or understanding.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with false simplicity — exposing how humans mistake complex metaphysical tasks for mechanical tricks.

  • “Without inner data” is key — suggesting that knowledge alone is insufficient without inner development or being.

  • The linkage of pursuit to psychopathy — frames the obsession not as error but as symptom of a deeper planetary disease.

  • Perpetual motion as “the rage” — satirizes how even spiritual delusions can become fads among the misaligned.

Summary
Beelzebub continues his critique, noting that Earth beings were collectively obsessed with building a perpetual motion machine, thinking it a simple task. Lacking the inner capacity or data for such work, many pursued it anyway—some out of overconfidence in their knowledge, others gambling on luck, and many out of deep psychological imbalance. The idea became a cultural craze; it was fashionable among eccentrics to be involved in the effort, regardless of competence or reason.

Page 74

Source Text: [p. 74]
“I was once in one of the towns there where models of every kind and innumerable ‘descriptions’ of proposed mechanisms’ for this ‘perpetual motion’ were assembled.

“What wasn’t there? What ‘ingenious’ and complicated machines did I not see? In any single one of these mechanisms I saw there, there must have been more ideas and ‘wiseacrings’ than in all the laws of World-creation and World-existence.

“I noted at the time that in these innumerable models and descriptions of proposed mechanisms, the idea of using what is called the ‘force of weight’ predominated. And the idea of employing the ‘force of weight’ they explained thus: a very complicated mechanism was to lift ‘some’ weight and this latter was then to fall and by its fall set the whole mechanism in motion, which motion would again lift the weight, and so on, and so on.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub visited a place on Earth showcasing countless perpetual motion designs.

Second idea: The designs were excessively complex and mentally overwrought.

Third idea: Most relied on gravity or the force of weight to drive a closed cycle of motion.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“models of every kind and innumerable ‘descriptions’”
A huge variety of mechanical prototypes and written explanations
“What wasn’t there?”
An exclamation of astonishment at the variety and excess
“more ideas and ‘wiseacrings’ than in all the laws of World-creation”
These designs contained more speculative nonsense than actual cosmic law
“the idea of using what is called the ‘force of weight’ predominated”
Most machines relied on gravity or falling mass as their driving concept
“fall… set the whole mechanism in motion… again lift the weight”
The same weight was supposed to lift itself by its own fall—an endless loop
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Earthlings built countless intricate and ill-conceived machines trying to achieve perpetual motion. Most depended on a circular logic involving the “force of weight,” aiming to sustain motion by having a falling weight lift itself again—an absurdity repeated in endless variations. Their inventiveness outpaced wisdom or comprehension of real laws.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a personal observation — grounding the cosmic critique in direct experience on Earth.

  • “More wiseacrings than all the laws of World-creation” — suggests that Earth’s mechanical obsession outstrips even divine logic in complexity, but not wisdom.

  • Gravity as false engine — a powerful metaphor for human misunderstanding of cause, effect, and energetic return.

  • The repeating closed loop — shows how many fall into patterns of reasoning that can never escape themselves.

Summary
Beelzebub recounts a visit to an Earth town where countless designs for perpetual motion machines were on display. The models were wildly overcomplicated, filled with more speculative theory than the laws governing creation itself. Most of them relied on manipulating the “force of weight,” where a falling object was supposed to perpetually power its own re-lifting in a closed cycle—an obviously flawed concept, repeated endlessly in slightly varied forms.

Source Text:
“The result of it all was, that thousands were shut up in ‘lunatic asylums,’ thousands more, having made this idea their dream, either began to fail altogether to fulfill even those being-duties of theirs which had somehow or other in the course of many years been established there, or to fulfill them in such a way as ‘couldn’t be worse.’

“I don’t know how it would all have ended if some quite demented being there, with one foot already in the grave, such a one as they themselves call an ‘old dotard,’ and who had previously somehow acquired a certain authority, had not proved by ‘calculations’ known only to himself that it was absolutely impossible to invent ‘perpetual motion.’

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The pursuit of perpetual motion caused mass mental and social collapse.

Second idea: Many abandoned their life responsibilities or performed them disastrously.

Third idea: A socially powerful but senile figure declared the idea impossible and brought it to an end.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“thousands were shut up in ‘lunatic asylums’”
Many people went insane and were institutionalized.
“began to fail altogether to fulfill even those being-duties of theirs”
Others abandoned their essential life roles and responsibilities.
“or to fulfill them in such a way as ‘couldn’t be worse.’”
Some performed their duties so poorly it caused further damage.
“quite demented being… an ‘old dotard’… with one foot already in the grave”
A senile man near death, whom they oddly respected
“proved by ‘calculations’ known only to himself”
He presented unverifiable math that no one could check
“absolutely impossible to invent ‘perpetual motion.’”
He claimed the idea was completely unworkable
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The craze for perpetual motion brought chaos to human society—driving many insane and causing widespread neglect of responsibility. Ironically, it was not reason or understanding but the pronouncement of a near-dead authority figure that ended the delusion. His untestable “calculations” were accepted as final proof of its impossibility, halting the madness through social suggestion rather than comprehension.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with the social toll — framing technological obsession as a collapse of inner stability and outer function.

  • The “being-duties” phrase — suggests cosmic as well as practical obligations were abandoned.

  • Authority over truth — illustrates how consensus can shift based on perceived status, not understanding.

  • Unverifiable proof ends the mania — exposing the fragility of belief and its dependence on personality rather than logic.

Summary
The obsession with perpetual motion led to widespread psychological breakdown: thousands were institutionalized, and many others neglected their essential duties or performed them disastrously. The cultural mania was only curbed when a decrepit but socially respected figure claimed to have mathematically proven the idea’s impossibility. His “proof,” accepted largely on his status rather than its validity, finally put an end to the madness.

Source Text:
“Now, after your explanation, I can well understand how the cylinder of the system of Archangel Hariton works. It is the very thing of which these unfortunates there dreamed.

“Indeed, of the ‘cylinder’ of the system of the Archangel Hariton it can safely be said that, with atmosphere alone given, it will work perpetually without needing the expenditure of any outside materials.

“And since the world without planets and hence without atmospheres cannot exist, then it follows that as long as the world exists and, in consequence, atmospheres, the cylinder-barrels invented by the great Archangel Hariton will always work.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub now sees clearly how Hariton’s cylinder actually functions.

Second idea: It operates indefinitely as long as atmosphere is present, without consuming external materials.

Third idea: Since atmospheres are bound to exist, the system will always work.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Now, after your explanation, I can well understand”
Beelzebub acknowledges full comprehension after hearing the details
“It is the very thing of which these unfortunates there dreamed.”
This mechanism is what Earthlings imagined—but never achieved
“with atmosphere alone given, it will work perpetually”
The device only needs surrounding air to function indefinitely
“without needing the expenditure of any outside materials.”
It does not consume resources or require input once in operation
“since the world without planets… cannot exist”
Planets (and thus atmospheres) are essential parts of reality
“the cylinder-barrels… will always work.”
As long as there are worlds, the mechanism remains viable
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The cylinder system of Archangel Hariton is a lawful, functional realization of what Earth-beings futilely sought in the idea of perpetual motion. Requiring only atmosphere—a naturally persistent feature of any planetary world—it will operate endlessly without fuel or external input. Thus, what Earthlings dreamed in madness, higher beings implemented in alignment with cosmic principles.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with new understanding — the mechanism is no longer theoretical; he sees its lawful function clearly.

  • He equates “perpetual motion” with cosmic alignment — reclaiming a ridiculed fantasy as realizable within right conditions.

  • Atmosphere as sufficient energy source — radically challenges assumptions about what “fuel” must be.

  • The mechanism’s permanence is guaranteed by planetary existence — rooting mechanical continuity in cosmological structure.

Summary
Beelzebub concludes that the Archangel Hariton’s propulsion system is the real, lawful counterpart to Earth's fantasy of perpetual motion. The cylinder system, needing only atmosphere and no external fuel, indeed operates perpetually. Since atmospheres are inevitable wherever planets exist—and planets are essential to the world’s existence—the mechanism is naturally self-renewing. The tragic irony: Earth’s madness pursued what had already been realized elsewhere by beings aligned with cosmic law.

Page 75

Source Text: [p. 75]
“Now just one question occurs to me—about the material from which this cylinder-barrel is made.

“I wish very much, my dear Captain, that you would roughly tell me what materials it is made of and how long they can last,” requested Beelzebub.

To this question of Beelzebub’s the captain replied as follows :

“Although the cylinder-barrel does not last forever, it can certainly last a very long time.

“Its chief part is made of 'amber’ with 'platinum’ hoops, and the interior panels of the walls are made of 'anthracite,’ 'copper,’ and 'ivory,’ and a very strong 'mastic’ unaffectable either by (1) 'paischakir’ or by (2) 'tainolaif or by (3) 'saliakoorfapa’ * or even by the radiations of cosmic concentrations.

“But the other parts,” the captain continued, “both the exterior ‘levers’ and the 'cogwheels,’ must certainly be renewed from time to time, for though they are made of the strongest metal, yet long use will wear them out.

“And as for the body of the ship itself, its long existence can certainly not be guaranteed.”

* (1) Cold, (2) heat, and (3) water.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub inquires about the composition and longevity of the cylinder-barrel.

Second idea: The captain explains it is made of rare and durable materials, designed to resist extreme elements.

Third idea: Internal parts endure, but mechanical parts and the ship’s body require maintenance or replacement.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“one question occurs to me—about the material”
Beelzebub becomes curious about the cylinder’s construction
“roughly tell me what materials… and how long they can last”
He wants an overview of both composition and durability
“does not last forever, it can certainly last a very long time”
The device is not eternal, but very durable
“chief part is made of 'amber’ with 'platinum’ hoops”
Main structure includes amber and structural platinum rings
“interior panels… anthracite, copper, and ivory”
Internal layers are made of these solid materials
“very strong 'mastic’ unaffectable… cold, heat, water”
A resilient adhesive immune to environmental extremes
“levers and cogwheels… must certainly be renewed”
Mechanical components wear with time and need replacing
“body of the ship… existence cannot be guaranteed”
The ship’s main structure is not permanent
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The cylinder-barrel is made of highly durable, specialized materials that resist environmental degradation, including cosmic forces. While it is not immortal, it functions for an exceptionally long time. Mechanical parts like levers and gears do wear out and must be replaced. The ship as a whole, however, is subject to entropy and eventual breakdown.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with concern for durability — revealing an attention to material finitude even in cosmic engineering.

  • The use of exotic materials — blends esoteric science with familiar substances (amber, platinum, ivory).

  • Extreme resistances coded linguistically — cold, heat, and water are veiled in cosmic nomenclature.

  • Entropy acknowledged — despite celestial technology, nothing created is beyond time and decay.

Summary
Beelzebub asks about the materials used in the cylinder-barrel and its durability. The captain replies that while it won't last forever, it is exceptionally durable. Its primary components include amber, platinum hoops, and internal panels of anthracite, copper, ivory, and a mastic resistant to cold, heat, water, and even cosmic radiation. However, external mechanical parts such as levers and cogwheels must be periodically replaced due to wear, and the overall ship’s body cannot be expected to last indefinitely.

Source Text:
The captain intended to say still more, but at that moment a sound like the vibrations of a long minor chord of a far-off orchestra of wind instruments resounded through the ship.

With an apology the captain rose to leave, explaining as he did so that he must be needed on very important business, since everybody knew that he was with his Right Reverence and would not venture to trouble the ears of his Right Reverence for anything trifling.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The captain is interrupted mid-speech by a musical signal heard throughout the ship.

Second idea: He apologizes and departs, explaining the interruption must be of serious importance.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“a sound like the vibrations of a long minor chord of a far-off orchestra of wind instruments”
A distant, melancholic musical tone resembling wind instruments reverberates through the ship
“resounded through the ship”
The sound carried across all areas of the vessel
“With an apology the captain rose to leave”
He excused himself courteously and got up to depart
“he must be needed on very important business”
The signal implied his immediate presence was required for something serious
“would not venture to trouble the ears of his Right Reverence for anything trifling”
No one would dare interrupt his time with Beelzebub unless the matter were truly significant
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The captain is suddenly summoned by a reverberating musical signal—its tonal description evoking both beauty and urgency. He apologizes to Beelzebub and leaves, suggesting that the matter must be important, as protocol forbids disturbing his audience with Beelzebub for anything trivial.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a musical interruption — the sound itself is described with lyrical, almost sacred imagery, suggesting a harmonious but serious cosmic order.

  • Hierarchy and reverence are strictly upheld — even summoning a captain requires grave necessity when he is in the presence of a “Right Reverence.”

  • The narrative uses subtle theater — breaking the technical discussion with an almost liturgical moment, underscoring tone and theme.

Summary
Just as the captain was about to elaborate further, a distant, musical signal—likened to a minor chord from far-off wind instruments—echoes through the ship. Recognizing the sound as a summons, he excuses himself respectfully, affirming that it must be a matter of real significance; no one would dare interrupt while he was with Beelzebub unless it were urgent.

  Chapter 2: Why Beelzebub Was in Our Solar System  
  Summary and Interpretation by ChatGPT  
Additional Definitions
Heropass
Page 51

Source Text: [p. 51]
IT WAS in the year 223 after the creation of the World, by objective time-calculation, or, as it would be said here on the “Earth,” in the year 1921 after the birth of Christ.

Through the Universe flew the ship Karnak of the “transspace” communication

It was flying from the spaces “Assooparatsata,” that is, from the spaces of the “Milky Way,” from the planet Karatas to the solar system “Pandetznokh,” the sun of which is also called the “Pole Star.”

On the said “transspace” ship was Beelzebub with his kinsmen and near attendants

He was on his way to the planet Revozvradendr to a special conference in which he had consented to take part, at the request of his friends of long standing.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The journey of Beelzebub aboard the Karnak is introduced within a cosmic frame of reference.

Second idea: The ship departs from Karatas in the Milky Way and heads toward the Pole Star system.

Third idea: Beelzebub is en route to a conference, indicating a social or political dimension to his travel.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“in the year 223 after the creation of the World, by objective time-calculation”
In cosmic time reckoning, it's 223 years since the universe’s beginning.
“as it would be said here on the ‘Earth,’ in the year 1921 after the birth of Christ”
From the Earth-based Christian calendar perspective, it is the year 1921.
“Through the Universe flew the ship Karnak of the ‘transspace’ communication”
A spacecraft named Karnak, capable of interstellar travel, was in motion across the universe.
“from the spaces ‘Assooparatsata,’ that is, from the spaces of the ‘Milky Way’”
The origin point of the ship’s journey is identified as the Milky Way galaxy.
“from the planet Karatas to the solar system ‘Pandetznokh’”
The ship departs from Karatas and is headed toward a system known as Pandetznokh.
“the sun of which is also called the ‘Pole Star’”
Pandetznokh’s central star is what Earthlings know as the Pole Star (Polaris).
“On the said ‘transspace’ ship was Beelzebub with his kinsmen and near attendants”
Beelzebub is traveling with his family and close associates aboard the ship.
“to a special conference in which he had consented to take part”
He’s heading to a specific event or gathering that he agreed to attend.
“at the request of his friends of long standing”
Old companions persuaded him to join this meeting.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub, accompanied by his entourage, is en route via a “transspace” vessel called Karnak from his homeworld in the Milky Way to attend a conference in the Pole Star system, responding to an invitation from longtime friends. The timing is set using both a cosmic and Earth-based calendar.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with a cosmic calendar—not the usual Earth-centered reckoning, but a framework of “objective time” hinting at a metaphysically different standard for chronology.

  • Spatial geography is galactic—Karatas, Milky Way, Pandetznokh, and Polaris are treated as accessible stops in a vast communicative network, not unreachable stars.

  • “Transspace” is casually introduced—suggesting a normality of interstellar or interdimensional travel, without technological explanation.

  • Beelzebub is not solitary—his companions and reasons for travel immediately imply a complex social and cosmic backdrop. The drama is not one of exile but of engagement.

Summary
The scene opens in "objective" time: the year 223 after the world's creation, which is 1921 by Earth reckoning. A spaceship called Karnak traverses the universe, departing from the Milky Way's "Assooparatsata" region, en route to the Pole Star system ("Pandetznokh"). Beelzebub is aboard with his entourage, traveling to a conference on the planet Revozvradendr at the request of old friends.

Source Text:
Only the remembrance of these old friendships had constrained him to accept this invitation, since he was no longer young, and so lengthy a journey, and the vicissitudes inseparable from it, were by no means an easy task for one of his years.

Only a little before this journey Beelzebub had returned home to the planet Karatas where he had received his arising and far from which, on account of circumstances independent of his own essence, he had passed many years of his existence in conditions not proper to his nature.

This many-yeared existence, unsuited to him, together with the perceptions unusual for his nature and the experiences not proper to his essence involved in it, had not failed to leave on his common presence a perceptible mark.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub joined the journey out of old friendship, not ease or desire.

Second idea: He had just returned home after years of exile due to forces beyond his control.

Third idea: These years of improper conditions altered his presence in a tangible way.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Only the remembrance of these old friendships had constrained him to accept this invitation”
He agreed to go only because he remembered his old friends.
“since he was no longer young”
He was aged and less able to travel comfortably.
“so lengthy a journey, and the vicissitudes inseparable from it”
The journey was long and full of difficulties.
“were by no means an easy task for one of his years”
Such travel was quite hard for someone of his age.
“Only a little before this journey Beelzebub had returned home to the planet Karatas”
He had just gotten back to his home planet, Karatas.
“where he had received his arising”
Karatas is where he was originally born or came into being.
“and far from which... he had passed many years”
He had spent a long time away from Karatas.
“on account of circumstances independent of his own essence”
He had been forced away by outside factors, not by his own nature.
“in conditions not proper to his nature”
He had to live in an environment unsuitable to him.
“This many-yeared existence... had not failed to leave on his common presence a perceptible mark”
The long exile under foreign conditions changed his being in a noticeable way.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub reluctantly accepted the invitation because of loyalty to old friends, despite his age and the hardships involved. He had only just returned home after a long exile caused by external factors, and this exile—filled with experiences and perceptions foreign to his essence—had deeply altered him.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He begins with constraint— not enthusiasm or duty, but the compulsion of friendship strong enough to overcome age and hardship.

  • “Not proper to his nature”— implies a metaphysical mismatch between being and circumstance, pointing to Gurdjieff’s central concern with essence vs. personality.

  • His “common presence” bears the mark— the phrase hints at a cosmological anthropology: lived experience leaves visible impressions on one's total being, not just on memory or psychology.

  • External circumstances override essence— and yet shape it—an early thematic warning about the dangers of unnatural environments.

Summary
Beelzebub accepted the invitation to the conference only out of loyalty to old friends; it was a great effort for someone of his age. He had recently returned to his native planet, Karatas, after many years spent elsewhere under alien and unsuitable conditions imposed by external forces. These experiences, foreign to his essential nature, had left lasting effects on his being.

Page 52

Source Text: [p. 52]
Besides, time itself had by now inevitably aged him, and the said unusual conditions of existence had brought Beelzebub, just that Beelzebub who had had such an exceptionally strong, fiery, and splendid youth, to an also exceptional old age.

Long, long before, while Beelzebub was still existing at home on the planet Karatas, he had been taken, owing to his extraordinarily resourceful intelligence, into service on the “Sun Absolute,” where our lord sovereign endlessness has the fundamental place of his Dwelling; and there Beelzebub, among others like himself, had become an attendant upon his endlessness.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub, once full of youthful strength, has now aged significantly due to time and unnatural circumstances.

Second idea: In his youth, he was chosen for a high honor: service at the Sun Absolute, the dwelling of the lord sovereign endlessness.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“time itself had by now inevitably aged him”
The passage of time had naturally made him old.
“the said unusual conditions of existence had brought Beelzebub... to an also exceptional old age”
The strange, unsuitable conditions of his life caused him to age beyond what was typical, given his once-exceptional vitality.
“just that Beelzebub who had had such an exceptionally strong, fiery, and splendid youth”
He had once been unusually energetic, passionate, and powerful as a youth.
“Long, long before, while Beelzebub was still existing at home on the planet Karatas”
Far in the past, when he still lived on his native planet Karatas.
“he had been taken... into service on the ‘Sun Absolute’”
He was selected to serve at a central cosmic location of immense importance.
“owing to his extraordinarily resourceful intelligence”
He was chosen because of his exceptional cleverness and capability.
“where our lord sovereign endlessness has the fundamental place of his Dwelling”
The Sun Absolute is where the highest being—sovereign endlessness—resides.
“had become an attendant upon his endlessness”
He served directly under the supreme being, in a position of great honor.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub, once filled with extraordinary vigor in youth, has become unusually aged due to the combined effects of time and ill-suited life conditions. Long before, his brilliance had earned him a prestigious role in the service of the supreme being at the heart of cosmic order—the Sun Absolute.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He continues blending myth with metaphysics— referring to aging not just as biological decay but as deformation of essence due to environmental mismatch.

  • “Sun Absolute” is introduced as the dwelling of “our lord sovereign endlessness”— a theological and cosmological axis evoking a divine hierarchy beyond familiar religion or science.

  • Beelzebub’s past as an honored attendant— suggests a fall or transformation, casting his aging as not merely physical but existential.

  • Time and essence are linked— the quality of one’s being is shaped by both chronology and the nature of one’s experience.

Summary
Time and unnatural conditions had aged Beelzebub greatly, despite his once-vital and powerful youth. In earlier times, while still on his home planet Karatas, his remarkable intelligence earned him a position of service on the “Sun Absolute,” the dwelling place of the supreme being—our lord sovereign endlessness—where he served as an attendant.

Source Text:
It was just then that, owing to the as yet unformed Reason due to his youth, and owing to his callow and therefore still impetuous mentation with unequally flowing association—that is, owing to a mentation based, as is natural to beings who have not yet become definitely responsible, on a limited understanding—Beelzebub once saw in the government of the World something which seemed to him “illogical,” and having found support among his comrades, beings like himself not yet formed, interfered in what was none of his business.

Thanks to the impetuosity and force of Beelzebub’s nature, his intervention together with his comrades then soon captured all minds, and the effect was to bring the central kingdom of the Megalocosmos almost to the edge of revolution.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Young Beelzebub saw something in the cosmic order that seemed wrong and interfered, wrongly.

Second idea: His influence, combined with youthful recklessness, nearly caused a cosmic upheaval.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“owing to the as yet unformed Reason due to his youth”
Because he was still young and had not developed mature judgment.
“callow and therefore still impetuous mentation with unequally flowing association”
His immature and impulsive thinking process was unstable and poorly connected.
“mentation based... on a limited understanding”
His thoughts were formed on a narrow, undeveloped grasp of reality, as is typical for the immature.
“saw in the government of the World something which seemed to him ‘illogical’”
He thought he had detected a flaw in how the universe was governed.
“having found support among his comrades... interfered in what was none of his business”
Encouraged by his equally unformed peers, he intruded into matters he shouldn’t have.
“Thanks to the impetuosity and force of Beelzebub’s nature”
Because Beelzebub was so intense and headstrong.
“his intervention... soon captured all minds”
The rebellious sentiment spread widely and rapidly.
“the effect was to bring the central kingdom of the Megalocosmos almost to the edge of revolution”
The disturbance nearly caused a breakdown at the very core of the cosmic order.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Because of his immature and impulsive nature, Beelzebub once mistook the workings of the universe for something faulty and, together with his equally immature comrades, acted disruptively. Their actions had such power and influence that they nearly incited a revolution at the very heart of cosmic governance.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He attributes rebellion to “unformed Reason”— not evil intent, but developmental immaturity, linking cosmic error to spiritual psychology.

  • “Unequally flowing association”— introduces a technical diagnosis of thought dysfunction, framed in esoteric cognitive mechanics.

  • “Interfered in what was none of his business”— starkly contrasts his divine appointment with his improper overreach, suggesting a Fourth Way caution against misdirected force.

  • The central kingdom of the Megalocosmos almost falls— a nearly metaphysical coup, caused by unbalanced mentation and group contagion. The stakes are cosmic, not merely personal or moral.

Summary
In his youthful immaturity, Beelzebub perceived something in the cosmic order that appeared “illogical” to him. Driven by an undeveloped understanding and impulsive thinking, he involved himself—alongside like-minded young comrades—in matters beyond his station. His powerful nature and influence spread their discontent so widely that the very center of the cosmic hierarchy was nearly destabilized.

Source Text:
Having learned of this, his endlessness, notwithstanding his All-lovingness and All-forgiveness, was constrained to banish Beelzebub with his comrades to one of the remote corners of the Universe, namely, to the solar system “Ors” whose inhabitants call it simply the “Solar System,” and to assign as the place of their existence one of the planets of that solar system, namely, Mars, with the privilege of existing on other planets also, though only of the same solar system.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub and his comrades were exiled due to their actions.

Second idea: The exile was to the solar system “Ors” (Earth’s Solar System), with Mars as the main place of habitation but with access to other planets in that system.

Third idea: The decision was made by a being of infinite mercy, who was nevertheless forced to act.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Having learned of this”
Once the supreme being became aware of the situation.
“his endlessness”
The supreme being or cosmic authority, possibly God in Gurdjieffian metaphysics.
“notwithstanding his All-lovingness and All-forgiveness”
Even though he is perfectly loving and forgiving by nature.
“was constrained to banish Beelzebub with his comrades”
Was forced to exile them despite his merciful disposition.
“to one of the remote corners of the Universe”
To a very distant part of the cosmos.
“namely, to the solar system ‘Ors’”
Specifically, to our solar system, which Gurdjieff names “Ors.”
“whose inhabitants call it simply the ‘Solar System’”
Earthlings refer to this system without the cosmic name.
“to assign as the place of their existence one of the planets... namely, Mars”
Mars was designated as their main home during exile.
“with the privilege of existing on other planets also”
They were allowed to travel or reside on other planets.
“though only of the same solar system”
But only within the bounds of this solar system, no farther.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

As a result of Beelzebub’s disruption, the supreme being—despite his infinite compassion—was compelled to exile Beelzebub and his peers to the solar system we know as ours, restricting their existence primarily to Mars but granting access to other planets within that system only.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He frames divine punishment as reluctant necessity— suggesting cosmic governance operates under laws even higher than mercy or forgiveness.

  • Earth’s solar system is introduced as a cosmic penal colony— our familiar neighborhood becomes recontextualized as a remote outpost for exile, turning cosmology into moral allegory.

  • The phrase “his endlessness” stands unqualified— inviting the reader to intuit or infer a being of absolute scale, neither anthropomorphic nor named by any known tradition.

  • Permission to move between planets within the system— introduces a controlled freedom, underscoring both limitation and potential influence over multiple planetary spheres.

Summary
Despite his divine mercy, the supreme being (“his endlessness”) was compelled to exile Beelzebub and his fellow rebels to a distant region of the cosmos: the solar system known to its inhabitants as the “Solar System.” They were primarily stationed on Mars but permitted to exist on other planets within that same system.

Page 53

Source Text: [p. 53]
Among these exiles, besides the said comrades of Beelzebub, were a number of those who merely sympathized with him, and also the attendants and subordinates both of Beelzebub and of his comrades.

All, with their households, arrived at this remote place and there in a short time on the planet Mars a whole colony was formed of three-centered beings from various planets of the central part of our Great Universe.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The exile group was broader than just the rebels—it included sympathizers and dependents.

Second idea: These beings relocated to Mars and soon formed a cosmopolitan colony.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Among these exiles, besides the said comrades of Beelzebub”
In addition to Beelzebub’s fellow rebels, others were also sent into exile.
“were a number of those who merely sympathized with him”
Even those who only agreed with or supported Beelzebub were exiled.
“and also the attendants and subordinates both of Beelzebub and of his comrades”
Their personal assistants and lesser-ranking associates were also included in the exile.
“All, with their households, arrived at this remote place”
They traveled to and settled in this distant region of the cosmos with their families.
“and there in a short time on the planet Mars a whole colony was formed”
Soon, a full settlement arose on Mars.
“of three-centered beings from various planets of the central part of our Great Universe”
The colony included conscious beings from multiple planets of the universe’s core region.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The exile included not just Beelzebub and his co-conspirators, but also sympathizers, subordinates, and their families. These diverse beings, hailing from central planets of the Great Universe, established a thriving colony on Mars.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He expands exile beyond guilt— including sympathizers and those tangentially associated, highlighting the reach and totality of cosmic justice.

  • The inclusion of households— suggests the exile is both social and generational, with whole communities displaced.

  • Mars becomes a cosmopolitan outpost— seeded with “three-centered beings,” which points to a population capable of higher consciousness, not simply exiled criminals.

  • The “central part of our Great Universe”— implies a lost center of gravity or harmony, now relocated to a cosmic periphery.

Summary
The exile included not only Beelzebub and his direct comrades, but also sympathizers and their respective attendants and subordinates. Together with their families, they settled on Mars, quickly forming a colony composed of three-centered beings originating from different worlds within the central regions of the Great Universe.

Source Text:
All this population, extraordinary for the said planet, accommodated itself little by little to its new dwelling place, and many of them even found one or another occupation for shortening the long years of their exile.

They found occupations either on this same planet Mars or upon the neighboring planet, namely, on those planets that had been almost entirely neglected on account of their remoteness from the center and the poverty of all their formations.

As the years rolled by, many either on their own initiative or in response to needs of general character, migrated gradually from the planet Mars to other planets; but Beelzebub himself, together with his near attendants, remained on the planet Mars, where he organized his existence more or less tolerably.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: The exiled community slowly adapted to Mars and found occupations to endure their banishment.

Second idea: Some extended their work to neighboring, neglected planets.

Third idea: Over time, some migrated elsewhere, but Beelzebub and his core group remained and built a tolerable life on Mars.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“All this population, extraordinary for the said planet”
This group of exiles was unusual compared to Mars' usual conditions or inhabitants.
“accommodated itself little by little to its new dwelling place”
They gradually adapted to living on Mars.
“many of them even found one or another occupation”
Several managed to find work or activities.
“for shortening the long years of their exile”
To help pass the time during their extended banishment.
“on this same planet Mars or upon the neighboring planet”
They worked either on Mars or nearby planets.
“on those planets that had been almost entirely neglected”
These neighboring planets had been overlooked or unused.
“on account of their remoteness from the center and the poverty of all their formations”
They were considered too far and lacking in useful resources or features.
“migrated gradually from the planet Mars to other planets”
Over time, many left Mars for other planetary locations.
“either on their own initiative or in response to needs of general character”
They left either by personal choice or due to shared needs among the group.
“Beelzebub himself... remained on the planet Mars”
Beelzebub chose to stay on Mars with his close followers.
“organized his existence more or less tolerably”
He managed to build a life that was reasonably stable or livable.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

The exiled beings slowly adjusted to Mars, finding work or distractions to endure their long stay. Some extended their activities to nearby, previously neglected planets. As time passed, many relocated elsewhere, but Beelzebub and his close attendants stayed and created a bearable life on Mars.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He describes colonization as gradual adaptation— the exiles transform desolation into habitation through persistence and industry.

  • Neglected planets become useful— what was once seen as barren or peripheral gains new meaning under exilic necessity.

  • Migration emerges organically— both voluntary and systemic, revealing an unforced, evolutionary dispersion of intelligent beings across a system.

  • Beelzebub stays behind— choosing stability and proximity to his past, he establishes a “tolerable” life, neither triumphant nor despairing, evoking the Work’s emphasis on inner order amidst outer exile.

Summary
The exiled beings gradually adjusted to life on Mars, many finding ways to occupy themselves during their long stay. Some worked on Mars, others on nearby neglected planets that had been overlooked due to their distance and barrenness. Over time, many migrated to other planets for various reasons, but Beelzebub and his close circle stayed on Mars and managed to establish a relatively stable life there.

Source Text:
One of his chief occupations was the arranging of an “observatory” on the planet Mars for the observation both of remote points of the Universe and of the conditions of existence of beings on neighboring planets; and this observatory of his it may here be remarked, afterwards became well known and even famous everywhere in the Universe.

Although the solar system “Ors” had been neglected owing to its remoteness from the center and to many other reasons, nevertheless our lord sovereign had sent from time to time his Messengers to the planets of this system, to regulate, more or less, the being-existence of the three-brained beings arising on them, for the co-ordination of the process of their existence with the general World Harmony.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub built an observatory on Mars, which later gained universal recognition.

Second idea: Although Ors was remote, divine messengers were still dispatched to aid its evolving beings and maintain cosmic balance.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“One of his chief occupations was the arranging of an ‘observatory’”
Beelzebub focused heavily on creating a facility for celestial and planetary observation.
“on the planet Mars for the observation both of remote points of the Universe and of the conditions of existence of beings on neighboring planets”
The observatory was used to study distant cosmic regions and nearby planetary life.
“this observatory... afterwards became well known and even famous everywhere in the Universe”
In time, his observatory gained universal fame and recognition.
“Although the solar system ‘Ors’ had been neglected owing to its remoteness from the center and to many other reasons”
Ors had been largely ignored due to its distance and other unspecified factors.
“nevertheless our lord sovereign had sent from time to time his Messengers to the planets of this system”
Despite this, divine emissaries were occasionally sent to Ors.
“to regulate, more or less, the being-existence of the three-brained beings arising on them”
The messengers helped shape the lives of the intelligent species living there.
“for the co-ordination of the process of their existence with the general World Harmony”
The goal was to align these beings’ lives with the broader cosmic order.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub established a major observatory on Mars to monitor distant cosmic regions and nearby planetary life. This facility later gained galaxy-wide renown. Even though the solar system Ors was usually overlooked, divine messengers were still sent to help guide intelligent life there in harmony with universal order.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He portrays science as sacred work— an observatory becomes not just a tool but a locus of cosmic significance and future renown.

  • Remote systems are not abandoned— even “neglected” corners of the universe are recipients of divine attention, preserving their spiritual potential.

  • “Three-brained beings”— a Gurdjieffian term implying beings capable of reason, emotion, and instinct—appear here as universal evolutionary types.

  • Cosmic harmony is the baseline— not merely moral alignment, but a metaphysical orchestration of life with the grand design.

Summary
Beelzebub’s primary task on Mars was building an observatory for studying distant parts of the universe and life on nearby planets. This observatory later became widely known throughout the cosmos. Despite the solar system "Ors" being considered remote and overlooked, the supreme being continued to send messengers to guide the development of three-brained beings and align their lives with the greater harmony of the universe.

Page 54

Source Text: [p. 54]
And thus, to a certain planet of this solar system, namely, the planet Earth, there was once sent as such a Messenger from our endlessness, a certain Ashiata Shiemash, and as Beelzebub had then fulfilled a certain need in connection with his mission, the said Messenger, when he returned once more to the “Sun Absolute,” earnestly besought his endlessness to pardon this once young and fiery but now aged Beelzebub.

In view of this request of Ashiata Shiemash, and also of the modest and cognoscent existence of Beelzebub himself, our maker creator pardoned him and gave him permission to return to the place of his arising.

And that is why Beelzebub, after a long absence, happened now to be again in the center of the Universe.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Ashiata Shiemash, a Messenger from the divine source, was once sent to Earth.

Second idea: Beelzebub helped during this mission and earned Ashiata’s gratitude.

Third idea: Ashiata requested Beelzebub’s pardon upon his return to the Sun Absolute.

Fourth idea: The pardon was granted due to both Ashiata’s request and Beelzebub’s own transformation.

Fifth idea: Beelzebub has now returned to the center of the universe.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“to a certain planet of this solar system, namely, the planet Earth”
One such mission was to Earth, our planet, within the Ors system.
“there was once sent as such a Messenger from our endlessness, a certain Ashiata Shiemash”
A divine being named Ashiata Shiemash was sent to Earth by the supreme cosmic intelligence.
“Beelzebub had then fulfilled a certain need in connection with his mission”
Beelzebub played a helpful role during Ashiata’s work on Earth.
“earnestly besought his endlessness to pardon this once young and fiery but now aged Beelzebub”
Ashiata pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of the now-older and wiser Beelzebub.
“modest and cognoscent existence of Beelzebub himself”
Beelzebub had lived humbly and with understanding during his exile.
“our maker creator pardoned him”
The supreme being granted Beelzebub forgiveness.
“gave him permission to return to the place of his arising”
He was allowed to go back to his original home (Karatas or the Sun Absolute region).
“Beelzebub, after a long absence, happened now to be again in the center of the Universe”
This is why Beelzebub is now present in the central cosmic location after so long away.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Because Beelzebub had aided a divine Messenger during a mission to Earth, that Messenger—Ashiata Shiemash—interceded for him. Due to this intervention and Beelzebub’s own spiritual development, the supreme cosmic being forgave him and allowed him to return home. This explains his current presence at the center of the Universe.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He reveals Earth as a stage for cosmic redemption— not just a remote exile zone, but a location of divine mission and intercession.

  • Forgiveness is relational and earned— not automatic, but invoked by a sacred advocate and grounded in Beelzebub’s transformation.

  • The name “Ashiata Shiemash” enters— a pivotal figure in Gurdjieff’s cosmology, blending messianic, prophetic, and teacher archetypes.

  • Return to the center is conditional— cosmic rehabilitation is possible, but only through inner change and external validation.

Summary
A divine Messenger named Ashiata Shiemash was once sent to Earth. During this mission, Beelzebub assisted in some necessary way. Upon returning to the Sun Absolute, Ashiata interceded on his behalf, asking the supreme being to forgive Beelzebub. Because of this plea—and Beelzebub's humble, understanding life—he was pardoned and allowed to return to his original home. This explains why Beelzebub is now back at the cosmic center.

Source Text:
His influence and authority had not only not declined during his exile, but, on the contrary, they had greatly increased, since all those around him were clearly aware that, thanks to his prolonged existence in the aforementioned unusual conditions, his knowledge and experience must inevitably have been broadened and deepened.

And so, when events of great importance occurred on one of the planets of the solar system “Pandetznokh,” Beelzebub’s old friends had decided to intrude upon him and to invite him to the conference concerning these events.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub’s influence increased during his exile due to the wisdom he gained.

Second idea: His old friends, recognizing this, invited him to a conference about serious events in the solar system Pandetznokh.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“His influence and authority had not only not declined during his exile”
He had not lost status while exiled.
“but, on the contrary, they had greatly increased”
Instead, his reputation and authority had grown stronger.
“since all those around him were clearly aware”
Because everyone near him understood clearly.
“that, thanks to his prolonged existence in the aforementioned unusual conditions”
His long life under abnormal circumstances...
“his knowledge and experience must inevitably have been broadened and deepened”
...had certainly expanded his understanding and insight.
“when events of great importance occurred on one of the planets of the solar system ‘Pandetznokh’”
Major happenings took place in a distant solar system.
“Beelzebub’s old friends had decided to intrude upon him”
His friends felt justified in contacting him again.
“and to invite him to the conference concerning these events”
They asked him to participate in a discussion about what had happened.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub’s exile had not diminished his standing; it enhanced it, because those around him saw that his hardships had made him wiser. When serious events unfolded in the Pandetznokh system, his old companions invited him to a high-level gathering to address them.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He reverses the exile trope— portraying banishment not as a fall from grace, but as a path to deeper authority.

  • “Unusual conditions” are a crucible— suggesting that exposure to difficulty, far from degrading essence, may refine and enlarge it.

  • Old friends “intrude”— the word choice hints at respectful hesitation, acknowledging both the dignity of Beelzebub’s withdrawal and the necessity of his return.

  • The solar system “Pandetznokh”— expands the cosmological map, signaling another center of meaning beyond Earth or Mars.

Summary
Rather than diminish, Beelzebub’s authority grew during his exile. Others recognized that his extended exposure to unusual and difficult conditions had deepened his wisdom. So when significant developments occurred in the solar system Pandetznokh, his longtime friends reached out and invited him to participate in the upcoming conference on those events.

Source Text:
And it was as the outcome of this that Beelzebub was now making the long journey on the ship Karnak from the planet Karatas to the planet Revozvradendr.

On this big space-ship Karnak, the passengers included the kinsmen and attendants of Beelzebub and also many beings who served on the ship itself.

During the period to which this tale of ours refers, all the passengers were occupied either with their duties, or simply with the actualization of what is called “active being mentation.”

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub is on a long journey as a result of the invitation to the conference.

Second idea: The ship Karnak carries his kin, attendants, and ship staff.

Third idea: The passengers are engaged in duties or conscious mentation.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“And it was as the outcome of this that Beelzebub was now making the long journey”
This explains why Beelzebub is currently traveling a great distance.
“on the ship Karnak from the planet Karatas to the planet Revozvradendr”
He is traveling aboard the Karnak, going from his home world to another planet for a specific event.
“On this big space-ship Karnak
This vessel is large and interstellar in scope.
“the passengers included the kinsmen and attendants of Beelzebub”
His family and personal staff are traveling with him.
“and also many beings who served on the ship itself”
There are additional crew members who maintain and operate the ship.
“During the period to which this tale of ours refers”
This part of the story takes place during the ship's voyage.
“all the passengers were occupied either with their duties”
Everyone had responsibilities or tasks they were performing.
“or simply with the actualization of what is called ‘active being mentation’”
They were also practicing a disciplined form of conscious thought.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub’s return journey is underway aboard the Karnak, headed toward the conference. Alongside him are family, staff, and crew. While in transit, all aboard are either performing their assigned roles or engaging in a practice of deliberate, conscious thought called “active being mentation.”

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He turns a spaceship into a monastery— describing the passengers not only as travelers but as practitioners of higher consciousness.

  • “Active being mentation”— introduces a key Fourth Way concept early in the narrative: the cultivation of awareness through inner discipline.

  • Movement and presence coexist— the external voyage is mirrored by internal Work, aligning metaphysical effort with spatial travel.

  • Beelzebub’s entourage isn’t passive— their presence implies a community of effort, suggesting a collective laboratory of consciousness.

Summary
As a result of the invitation to the conference, Beelzebub is now traveling from Karatas to Revozvradendr aboard the ship Karnak. His companions include his family, attendants, and various crew members. During the voyage, everyone is engaged either in their work responsibilities or in practicing “active being mentation”—a form of conscious thought or presence.

Page 55

Source Text: [p. 55]
Among all the passengers aboard the ship one very handsome boy was conspicuous; he was always near Beelzebub himself.

This was Hassein, the son of Beelzebub’s favorite son Tooloof.

After his return home from exile, Beelzebub had seen this grandson of his, Hassein, for the first time, and, appreciating his good heart, and also, owing to what is called “family attraction,” he took an instant liking to him.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: A handsome boy close to Beelzebub is his grandson Hassein.

Second idea: Hassein is the son of Tooloof, Beelzebub’s favored son.

Third idea: Beelzebub met Hassein only after his return from exile and immediately grew fond of him.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“Among all the passengers aboard the ship one very handsome boy was conspicuous”
A particularly good-looking boy stood out among the other travelers.
“he was always near Beelzebub himself”
He stayed physically close to Beelzebub during the voyage.
“This was Hassein, the son of Beelzebub’s favorite son Tooloof”
The boy’s identity is Hassein, descended from Beelzebub’s most cherished child.
“After his return home from exile, Beelzebub had seen this grandson of his, Hassein, for the first time”
Beelzebub met his grandson Hassein only after his exile ended.
“appreciating his good heart”
Recognizing Hassein’s kind and noble inner qualities.
“and also, owing to what is called ‘family attraction,’”
And because of an instinctive familial bond or affinity.
“he took an instant liking to him”
Beelzebub immediately felt affection for his grandson.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub’s grandson Hassein, son of Tooloof, stood out among the passengers aboard the ship. Having only just met him after returning from exile, Beelzebub was instantly drawn to the boy’s good heart and familial connection, forming a strong bond with him.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He introduces the intimate familial thread— not just cosmic missions but grandfatherly love, rooting the tale in personal emotional stakes.

  • “Family attraction” is treated as a subtle force— hinting at a metaphysical principle of lineage and resonance beyond sentimentality.

  • Hassein’s presence foreshadows the pedagogical structure— suggesting that Beelzebub’s teachings may be directed toward his grandson, mirroring the reader’s learning arc.

Summary
A striking boy aboard the ship—always near Beelzebub—is identified as Hassein, the grandson of Beelzebub and son of his favored son Tooloof. Upon returning from exile, Beelzebub met Hassein for the first time and was immediately drawn to him due to both the boy’s good nature and a natural familial bond.

Source Text:
And as the time happened to coincide with the time when the Reason of little Hassein needed to be developed, Beelzebub, having a great deal of free time there, himself undertook the education of his grandson, and from that time on took Hassein everywhere about with him.

That is why Hassein also was accompanying Beelzebub on this long journey and was among the number around him.

And Hassein, on his side, so loved his grandfather that he would not stir a step without him, and he eagerly absorbed everything his grandfather either said or taught.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub began to educate Hassein when his grandson reached the right age for mental development.

Second idea: This is why Hassein is present on the journey described in the tale.

Third idea: Hassein was devoted to his grandfather and keen to learn from him.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“And as the time happened to coincide with the time when the Reason of little Hassein needed to be developed”
The timing matched the developmental stage when Hassein’s intellect needed formation.
“Beelzebub, having a great deal of free time there, himself undertook the education of his grandson”
With time available, Beelzebub personally chose to instruct Hassein.
“from that time on took Hassein everywhere about with him”
Beelzebub kept Hassein by his side continually from then on.
“That is why Hassein also was accompanying Beelzebub on this long journey”
His presence on the Karnak is a result of this decision.
“and was among the number around him”
Hassein was included in Beelzebub’s inner circle of companions.
“so loved his grandfather that he would not stir a step without him”
Hassein was so attached that he remained constantly by Beelzebub’s side.
“and he eagerly absorbed everything his grandfather either said or taught”
He listened intently and took in every lesson Beelzebub gave.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub took responsibility for educating his grandson Hassein, whose development had just begun. This led to Hassein constantly accompanying him, including on the voyage aboard the Karnak. Their relationship was marked by deep mutual affection and a strong teacher-student bond.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He makes education a cosmic thread— the development of “Reason” becomes the hinge around which the entire tale turns.

  • The grandfather-grandson relationship grounds the narrative— creating emotional warmth and human scale within a vast cosmological frame.

  • Hassein is positioned as both audience and mirror— his learning process parallels the reader’s, justifying the storytelling method that follows.

  • “Active being mentation” now finds its pupil— setting the stage for a pedagogy of conscious development to unfold through relationship and shared inquiry.

Summary
The timing of Beelzebub’s return aligned with Hassein’s need for intellectual development, so Beelzebub took it upon himself to educate his grandson. He brought Hassein with him everywhere, including on the voyage aboard the Karnak. For his part, Hassein deeply loved his grandfather and followed him constantly, eagerly taking in all that he taught.

Source Text:
At the time of this narrative, Beelzebub with Hassein and his devoted old servant Ahoon, who always accompanied him everywhere, were seated on the highest “Kasnik,” that is, on the upper deck of the ship Karnak under the “Kalnokranonis,” somewhat resembling what we should cal] a large “glass bell,” and were talking there among themselves while observing the boundless space.

Beelzebub was talking about the solar system where he had passed long years.

And Beelzebub was just then describing the peculiarities of the nature of the planet called Venus.

During the conversation it was reported to Beelzebub that the captain of their ship wished to speak with him and to this request Beelzebub acceded.

Dissect the Syntax
Sentence Structure Breakdown
 

Main idea: Beelzebub, Hassein, and Ahoon are seated on the Karnak’s top deck, talking and observing space.

Second idea: Beelzebub discusses his time in the solar system, focusing on Venus.

Third idea: Their conversation is interrupted by a summons from the ship’s captain, which Beelzebub accepts.

Phrase-by-Phrase Paraphrase
 
“At the time of this narrative”
This moment in the story.
“Beelzebub with Hassein and his devoted old servant Ahoon”
Beelzebub is accompanied by his grandson and longtime assistant.
“were seated on the highest ‘Kasnik’”
They are sitting on the top deck of the spaceship.
“under the ‘Kalnokranonis,’ somewhat resembling... a large ‘glass bell’”
They are beneath a transparent dome for viewing space.
“were talking there among themselves while observing the boundless space”
They are engaged in conversation while looking into deep space.
“Beelzebub was talking about the solar system where he had passed long years”
He is sharing memories from his long exile in that system.
“describing the peculiarities of the nature of the planet called Venus”
He is discussing specific traits of Venus.
“it was reported to Beelzebub that the captain of their ship wished to speak with him”
He receives a message from the ship’s captain requesting a meeting.
“and to this request Beelzebub acceded”
Beelzebub agrees to meet with the captain.
Semantic Summary
 

He is stating that:

Beelzebub, with his grandson and servant, is seated on the Karnak’s upper deck, reflecting aloud on his past experiences—specifically on the planet Venus—under a glass-like dome while observing space. Their conversation is paused when the ship’s captain calls for him, and Beelzebub consents to meet.

Why This Is So Strange (and Worthwhile)
 
  • He spatializes storytelling— the tale begins not with narration but with three beings literally elevated in space, watching the cosmos while recalling the past.

  • The “glass bell” evokes an alchemical vessel— the Kasnik and Kalnokranonis suggest containment for inner transformation as well as outer observation.

  • Venus enters the story— hinting at planetary character as something unique and knowable, reinforcing the idea that each world has essence.

  • Transition by interruption— the call from the captain breaks the contemplative mood and shifts us into the narrative’s next movement, mirroring how external events intrude on inner life.

Summary
Beelzebub, his grandson Hassein, and his loyal servant Ahoon are sitting together on the upper deck of the Karnak, under a transparent dome resembling a “glass bell.” They are engaged in conversation while gazing into open space. Beelzebub is recounting his experiences in the solar system where he lived for many years, and specifically speaking about the planet Venus. Their discussion is interrupted when the ship’s captain requests to speak with Beelzebub, and he agrees.

Glossary of terms used in this chapter

Term: Karnak
Pages: 51, 54, 55

Definition:
Karnak is the name of the trans-space ship upon which Beelzebub is traveling during the narrative framework of Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson. The ship serves as the setting for Beelzebub’s conversations with his grandson Hassein and his old servant Ahoon. The voyage takes place after Beelzebub has been pardoned and is returning to the center of the Universe, specifically to the planet Karatas.

The Karnak is described as a highly advanced cosmic vessel, under the command of a being titled “Captain,” and includes various structural and symbolic features, such as the upper deck called the “Kasnik” and the “Kalnokranonis,” resembling a great glass bell. The ship’s motion, direction, and even delays become occasions for philosophical digressions or narrative unfoldings.

Symbolically, Karnak may allude to the ancient Egyptian temple complex of the same name, invoking associations with vastness, cosmic architecture, and the preservation of sacred knowledge.


Term: Karatas
Pages: 51, 54

Definition:
Karatas is the name of Beelzebub’s home planet, located in the central part of the Universe. After an extended period of exile, Beelzebub is being permitted to return there, which forms the outer narrative arc of Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson. The ship Karnak is carrying him back to Karatas, and this journey frames the series of conversations that unfold between Beelzebub and his grandson Hassein.

No detailed description of Karatas is given in the early chapters, but by implication, it is a highly esteemed and possibly elevated world—perhaps spiritually, cosmically, or hierarchically. Its position at the “center of the Universe” underscores its significance within the cosmological structure Gurdjieff presents.

The name Karatas may carry symbolic echoes—suggesting a remote, perhaps ideal origin point, or an axis mundi around which the story’s metaphysical cosmography revolves.


Term: Pandetznokh
Pages: 51, 54

Definition:
Pandetznokh is the name of the system in which Beelzebub’s planet Karatas is located. It is distinguished by the cosmic detail that the “sun” of this system is also known as the Pole Star. This designation links Pandetznokh with a fixed celestial reference point—traditionally understood in Earth astronomy as the star around which the night sky appears to rotate.

In Gurdjieff’s cosmology, the Pole Star often carries symbolic resonance as a guiding principle or orienting axis, and the identification of the sun of Pandetznokh with the Pole Star may suggest its centrality or fixed position within the hierarchical “World-creation” schema.

The term Pandetznokh itself is not elaborated in great detail but serves to anchor Karatas within a broader celestial system, reinforcing the theme of cosmic order and structure that pervades the book.


Term: Revozvradendr
Pages: 51, 54

Definition:
Revozvradendr is the name of the “large cosmic grouping” to which the system Pandetznokh (and therefore the planet Karatas) belongs. It forms part of the multi-tiered cosmic architecture described in Beelzebub’s Tales, which includes worlds, suns, systems, and groupings arranged in precise hierarchies.

Although no specific characteristics of Revozvradendr are given in the early text, its mention serves to emphasize the vast scale and structured nature of the Universe as understood by Beelzebub. The layered cosmic design—from individual planets like Karatas, to systems like Pandetznokh, to grander groupings like Revozvradendr—reflects the book’s central concern with universal laws and relationships.

Linguistically, Revozvradendr bears the hallmarks of Gurdjieff’s invented nomenclature: phonetically complex and suggestive of layered meaning, possibly combining Slavic and other linguistic roots to evoke ideas of rotation, return, or ordered sequence.


Term: Sun Absolute
Pages: 52, 54

Definition:
The Sun Absolute is the most sacred and most mighty point in the entire Universe, occupying the highest position in the cosmological hierarchy presented in Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson. It is described as the central source and origin of everything existing in the Universe, from which all emanations and laws arise.

In the narrative, the Sun Absolute is not merely a physical location but a supreme metaphysical principle. It is the axis of all cosmic order, the place of ultimate power, unity, and will. The hierarchical chain of worlds flows downward from it, in accordance with the laws of creation and maintenance (such as the Law of Seven and the Law of Three).

Beelzebub refers to the Sun Absolute as the point from which he and others are proceeding on their return journey to Karatas, reinforcing its role as both origin and point of return—a symbol of beginning and end, source and aim.


Term: His Endlessness (also: lord sovereign, maker-creator, lord sovereign endlessness)
Pages: 52, 53, 54

Definition:
His Endlessness—sometimes referred to as the Lord Sovereign, Lord Sovereign Endlessness, or Maker-Creator—is the supreme divine being in Gurdjieff’s cosmological narrative. Always rendered in small capitals in the original text, this figure is portrayed as the initiator and governing force of the entire Universe.

He is the source of the Sun Absolute, from which everything emanates and to which all must ultimately relate. In the story, it is His Endlessness who pardons Beelzebub and permits his return to Karatas, implying both omnipotent authority and compassionate judgment.

Though the terminology varies slightly, these epithets are not separate beings but stylistic and functional expressions of the same ultimate cosmic origin—each emphasizing a different aspect: sovereignty (Lord Sovereign), infinity (His Endlessness), or causation (Maker-Creator).

  • lord sovereign endlessness — variant of His Endlessness

  • his endlessness — base term

  • lord sovereign — shortened honorific

  • maker creator — functional synonym


Term: Mentation
Page: 52 (also referenced conceptually in Chapter 1)

Definition:
Mentation in Beelzebub’s Tales refers to the process or activity of perceiving, thinking, or understanding—what might commonly be called consciousness or cognitive function. Gurdjieff distinguishes different types or modes of mentation, notably:

  • Mentation by thought — associated with abstract, intellectual, verbal, or symbolic cognition (typical of modern human reasoning).

  • Mentation by form — linked to direct perception, image-based understanding, or possibly instinctive/intuitive knowing (sometimes ascribed to earlier humans or beings of different nature).

In Chapter 2, Beelzebub refers to the necessity of explaining certain cosmic truths “for the mentation of contemporary beings,” indicating the need to tailor explanations to a diminished or particularized mode of understanding.

Gurdjieff's use of mentation departs from conventional psychological vocabulary, treating it as a dynamic, multi-level process governed by the development and alignment of inner centers or “brains.”


Term: Megalocosmos
Page: 52

Definition:
Megalocosmos is a technical term used by Gurdjieff to denote the largest and most inclusive scale of existence—the totality of all worlds, laws, and levels within the created Universe. It encompasses the entire cosmic structure, including the Sun Absolute, all descending world systems, and the laws by which they are maintained.

In the cosmological schema known as the Ray of Creation, Megalocosmos represents the macrocosmic totality—often contrasted with smaller scales such as the Microcosmos (man), Tritocosmos (atom), or Deuterocosmos (planet). Each level corresponds to a specific density of laws, and Megalocosmos is situated at the apex of this structure, near or inclusive of the Sun Absolute.

In Beelzebub’s Tales, the term signals Gurdjieff’s metaphysical vision of a law-governed, hierarchical Universe—composed of nested orders, each influencing and sustaining the others through reciprocal maintenance.


Terms: All-lovingness and All-forgiveness
Page: 52

Definition:
All-lovingness and All-forgiveness are divine qualities attributed to His Endlessness in Beelzebub’s Tales. They are cited as the essential motives behind the act of pardoning Beelzebub, despite his past transgressions. These terms do not refer to separate beings or forces but rather to the supreme attributes of the cosmic source.

  • All-lovingness expresses a boundless, impartial love that embraces all creation without exception.

  • All-forgiveness conveys the idea of an infinite mercy that transcends justice, allowing for renewal, redemption, and return.

Both terms exemplify Gurdjieff’s portrayal of the divine not as a punitive authority, but as the sustaining origin of all existence—whose essential nature includes benevolence, patience, and a willingness to allow beings to evolve through experience and error.

They are capitalized in the 1950 edition and may be treated either as separate glossary entries or as subordinate concepts under His Endlessness.


Term: Ors
Page: 52

Definition:
Ors is the name of the planet to which Beelzebub was exiled by order of His Endlessness, as a result of earlier transgressions described only vaguely at this point in the narrative. It is located in a remote corner of the Universe and serves as the location of Beelzebub’s long exile prior to the current voyage aboard the Karnak.

While no specific details about Ors are provided in Chapter 2 beyond its role as the site of exile, the name functions to emphasize both the scale of cosmic justice and the narrative distance between Beelzebub’s former state and his eventual return to Karatas. Later passages in the book clarify that Ors corresponds to what humans call the “solar system”—specifically, the system including the planet Earth.

Thus, Ors holds a central narrative and symbolic role as the theater of Beelzebub’s observations on human life and behavior.


Term: Mars
Page: 52

Definition:
Mars is one of the planets within the solar system (identified in the book as the system Ors) where the ship Karnak makes a stop during its voyage. It is mentioned briefly in Chapter 2 as the point at which a delay occurs, providing the opportunity for Beelzebub to begin speaking with his grandson Hassein and recounting his past.

While the text offers no description of Mars itself in this early reference, its role is functional and transitional—it initiates the narrative frame. In later chapters, Mars and other planets of the solar system are given fuller treatment, often as settings for Beelzebub’s explorations and commentaries on the strange behaviors of “three-brained beings,” particularly on Earth.

The use of the Earth-recognizable name Mars—unlike many other invented terms—serves as a bridge between Gurdjieff’s cosmology and the reader’s familiar astronomical knowledge.


Term: Great Universe
Page: 53

Definition:
Great Universe A foundational term in Gurdjieff’s cosmology, referring to the totality of all worlds and levels of existence, structured in a lawful hierarchy. Often associated with the Ray of Creation, the Great Universe encompasses everything from the Most Holy Sun Absolute to the smallest particles of matter. In contrast to localized or planetary perspectives, it emphasizes universal scale, objective laws, and the interdependence of all beings and forces.


Term: Being-existence
Page: 53

Definition:
Being-existence refers to the mode or condition of existence specific to conscious, individualized beings—particularly “three-brained beings” like humans. In Gurdjieff’s cosmology, it contrasts with mere mechanical existence or the passive being of inanimate matter.

The term implies a qualitative state that includes responsibility, experience, and participation in the great cosmic laws—especially the law of Reciprocal Maintenance. In Chapter 2, Beelzebub explains that the purpose of his long exile was to acquire knowledge concerning the “details of the organization of the process of being-existence,” suggesting that such existence is not arbitrary, but structured and meaningful within the universal order.

In Gurdjieff’s framework, being-existence evolves in relation to conscious effort, inner development, and alignment with cosmic purpose. It includes the potential for transformation and is governed by principles distinct from physical survival or social functioning.


Term: Three-brained beings
Page: 53

Definition:
Three-brained beings is a key term in Gurdjieff’s cosmology, referring to beings—such as humans—who possess three distinct centers or "brains" for perceiving, responding to, and processing reality. These are:

  1. The intellectual center (thinking)

  2. The emotional center (feeling)

  3. The moving-instinctive center (action, sensation)

In Beelzebub’s Tales, Beelzebub is tasked during his exile with observing the “strange psyche” of three-brained beings on various planets, particularly Earth. This designation sets such beings apart from others in the Universe who may possess only one or two brains and thus are less complex in their inner processes.

The triple-brain configuration allows for a unique potential: the development of higher consciousness and self-knowledge. However, when unbalanced or undeveloped, it also makes three-brained beings uniquely prone to confusion, self-deception, and spiritual degeneration—central themes in Beelzebub’s commentary on humanity.


Term: World Harmony
Page: 54

Definition:
World Harmony is a phrase used to describe the great universal equilibrium maintained throughout the entirety of the Megalocosmos. In the cosmological framework of Beelzebub’s Tales, this harmony is not passive or accidental—it results from the lawful interplay and interdependence of all cosmic units, maintained through the Law of Reciprocal Maintenance and other divine laws established by His Endlessness.

Beelzebub’s exile was permitted to end, in part, because his acquired knowledge about the details of being-existence—particularly concerning three-brained beings—was expected to be of practical value in "corresponding deliberations" related to maintaining this World Harmony.

Thus, World Harmony represents both a metaphysical ideal and a functional goal: the balance and stability of all existence, from the largest cosmic systems to the individual consciousness of beings. It is dynamic, requiring understanding and participation rather than passive acceptance.


Term: Ashiata Shiemash
Page: 54

Definition:
Ashiata Shiemash is introduced as a highly venerated Sacred Individual who was once sent by His Endlessness to the planet Earth. In Chapter 2, Beelzebub mentions him as one of the few messengers whose teachings brought significant, beneficial results to the psyche of three-brained beings on Earth.

Unlike most “sacred individuals” sent to help humanity, whose labors had little lasting effect, Ashiata Shiemash is set apart for the “results of his labors”—implying that his influence was both real and enduring. This makes him a figure of special interest in Beelzebub’s long observation of Earth’s history.

Later in the book, Ashiata Shiemash becomes a central figure in Beelzebub’s analysis of the degeneration of human understanding and the loss of what he calls The Sacred Impulse of Conscience. His teachings and the fate of his efforts are explored in greater detail in subsequent chapters.


Term: Active being-mentation
Page: 55

Definition:
Active being-mentation refers to the conscious, intentional form of thought specific to developed three-brained beings. It contrasts with passive, automatic, or associative thinking. In Gurdjieff’s framework, mentation (thinking or cognition) can occur at various levels of quality and responsibility, but active being-mentation implies:

  • Inner participation of the whole being (not just the intellect)

  • Volitional attention and sustained effort

  • A process aligned with conscience and higher laws

In Chapter 2, Beelzebub refers to a certain time on Earth when active being-mentation still functioned among the beings there. This suggests a distant epoch when humans were capable of true understanding and inner perception—before the degeneration he frequently laments throughout the book.

The term points toward the aim of conscious development: not merely to think, but to be, know, and act in unified, aware fashion.


Term: Hassein
Page: 55

Definition:
Hassein is the grandson of Beelzebub and a central character in the narrative frame of Beelzebub’s Tales to His Grandson. He accompanies Beelzebub and the servant Ahoon aboard the ship Karnak during the journey back to Karatas. It is primarily for Hassein’s benefit that Beelzebub recounts his long experience and observations of life on Earth and throughout the Universe.

The conversations between Beelzebub and Hassein structure the entire book. Hassein is portrayed as curious, intelligent, and respectful—often asking questions that prompt Beelzebub’s elaborate explanations. Through him, the reader is introduced to Gurdjieff’s cosmological and psychological teachings in a pedagogical, intergenerational format.

Hassein represents the future being—receptive to real knowledge, unspoiled by the distortions that plague contemporary three-brained beings. He functions both as student and symbolic heir to the wisdom Beelzebub imparts.


Term: Tooloof
Page: 55

Definition:
Tooloof is the name of Beelzebub’s favorite son, and the father of Hassein. This brief but meaningful reference appears in Chapter 2, establishing Hassein’s lineage and adding emotional depth to Beelzebub’s relationship with his grandson.

The designation of Tooloof as Beelzebub’s favorite son suggests a lineage of particular significance—perhaps implying that Hassein, as his grandson, is especially worthy of Beelzebub’s attention, affection, and instruction. Though no additional details are given about Tooloof’s character, role, or whereabouts, the name anchors Hassein’s identity within a familial structure that carries both narrative and symbolic weight.

In the broader symbolic framework, Tooloof may represent an intermediary generational link—between the wisdom and trials of Beelzebub and the receptive innocence of Hassein.


Term: Kasnik
Page: 55

Definition:
Kasnik is the name given to the highest deck of the ship Karnak. In Chapter 2, Beelzebub, Hassein, and Ahoon are seated there while conversing and observing the surrounding cosmos during their voyage. The Kasnik serves as both a literal and symbolic elevation—a vantage point for reflection, instruction, and the transmission of Beelzebub’s vast experience.

Its description suggests it is not merely a structural platform but a chosen place for important dialogues and observations. As such, it functions like an esoteric “upper room,” a space of contemplation and vision.

Later, Gurdjieff often uses architectural or spatial symbols (like decks, rooms, or chambers) to reflect different levels of perception or being. The Kasnik thus stands as a threshold between the physical journey aboard Karnak and the metaphysical journey of the narrative itself.


Term: Kalnokranonis
Page: 55

Definition:
Kalnokranonis is the name given to a structure on the ship Karnak, described as somewhat resembling a large “glass bell.” It is located above the Kasnik (the highest deck), where Beelzebub, Hassein, and Ahoon sit together during their journey.

Though only briefly mentioned, the Kalnokranonis functions as a symbolic and spatial enclosure—likely a transparent dome or canopy—allowing the characters to observe the boundless spaces of the Universe while remaining protected. The bell-like shape evokes resonance, clarity, and perhaps sacred containment, aligning with Gurdjieff’s layered use of architectural metaphors.

The term, like many of Gurdjieff’s invented words, blends linguistic suggestion with imaginative design—evoking both mystery and function. In this case, it frames the setting for the quiet, elevated conversation that begins the vast unfolding of Beelzebub’s Tales.