Beelzebub is deep in conversation with the captain of the spaceship Karnak which is currently stalled, awaiting the dispersal of the gaseous tail of the ‘madcap’ comet Sakoor. Beelzebub has taken the opportunity afforded by the delay to explain to his grandson, Hassein, all about the strangely underdeveloped spirituality of the ‘three-brained’ creatures of the planet Earth, in whose solar system, Oors, Beelzebub was for so long exiled.
The conversation with the captain was all about the evolution of spaceship propulsion systems. The first system discussed was very basic, a combination of two elements that ‘filled’ the universe. It is not enlarged upon in any depth. The system that superseded the basic one was a lot more sophisticated. It was invented by one Saint Venoma, and involved a spaceship whose outer shell was made of a special glass-like material through which a special substance, Elekilpomamagtistzen, could pass. The glass panels were fitted with sliding ‘shutters’, through which the substance could not pass. The ‘special’ property of Elekilpomamagtistzen was that it could destroy anything it hit for a specified distance and create a temporary vacuum, through which the spaceship could ‘fall’. On board the spaceship was an Elekilpomamagtistzen generator, so it was simply a matter of sliding the impervious shutter from the glass panel that faced the direction of intended travel and turning on the generator.
But Beelzebub and the captain are now discussing the latest in spaceship propulsion systems, which was invented by the Archangel Hariton, and it is this system that powers the Karnak. It is deceptively simple, and composed of a single cylinder whose inner face is made with several different materials, separated from each other by amber. The bottom of the cylinder is hermetically sealed and the top end is hinged so that it can open when pressure builds inside. When any kind of ‘cosmic gaseous substance’ enters the cylinder (and we have to gloss over the fact, here, that space is a vacuum as Gurdjieff probably didn’t know that when he wrote this book), the special combination of materials with which the inner wall is constructed causes that gas to expand. Seeking an outlet, the expanded gas forces open the hinged lid and, through a simple cogwheel system, drives the fans at the sides and stern of the ship. As the hinged lid lets out the expanded gas, it simultaneously sucks in replacement ‘cosmic gaseous substances’, shuts itself, and so the cycle begins again.
Now, I’m no engineer or physicist, and even I can see some gaping flaws in this system. But before I go down that track, let’s follow Gurdjieff’s narrative a bit further, and try to understand the obvious allegory.
The captain goes on to explain that in those areas of space where there is no resistance, spaceships simply obey the Law of Falling and ‘fall’ towards the nearest ‘bottom’ or point of stability; that is, the nearest sun or planet. But when they encounter resistance – such as planetary atmosphere or whatever, they can use the cylinder propulsion to move in whatever direction they want. The denser the resistance substance, says the captain, the more powerfully the cylinder propulsion system reacts.
It’s at this point that Beelzebub butts in and excitedly points out that this concept is remarkably like the recent (from Beelzebub’s perspective) ‘craze’ on the planet Earth to invent the ‘perpetual motion’ device. He notes that the devices predominantly relied on the ‘force of weight’ and so were ultimately doomed. He laments the energy wasted on this futile enterprise that could have been better employed in a spiritual direction. One thing that comes out strongly from Beezebub’s tirade is his total dismissal of individuals on Earth who think that just because they have acquired knowledge, they have also acquired wisdom, and are therefore worthy of respect. He derides all such people as pumped-up, self-deluded buffoons.
My own take on this little episode is, as I mentioned in the last posting, that we have a bit of a parallel going on between the evolution of spacecraft design and the development of human spirituality. The earliest version was of two, very common ‘substances’ working together which resulted in a basic system that was barely functional and far from efficient. In this, I guess, we see the human being operating with only two of their three ‘brains’ or centres working together – the motor and the emotional centres. Like the earlier spacecraft, this type of human can only function at low levels of efficiency. The inventor of the early space propulsion system is not even mentioned, so we must assume that the human evolutionary equivalent is a ‘nobody’.
Saint Venona’s invention was a vast improvement. It relied on an internal generator making some kind of energy that could give the spacecraft direction. Although it was capable of being ‘steered’ in any direction, it was not very maneuverable and demanded high levels of concentration and Reason to pilot when there was a lot of matter or ‘force’ floating around like comet storms and large gravitational pulls. On the human spiritual evolution scale, we are dealing with somebody who is ‘getting there’ but not yet an adept. The title of ‘Saint’ Venoma tells us that. The three ‘brains’ or centres (the generator, the glass shell, and the movable shutters) are working together, but it is not effortless and not yet fully efficient, and the hard work required to make the whole thing work indicates this person is still a work in progress.
Archangel Hariton’s title tells us we are on the top shelf now. The perpetual motion machine is self-sustaining, with only a minimal effort required to ensure the physical elements are kept up to scratch. This spaceship does not require fuel generated from within the vessel (like Saint Venoma’s) but absorbs and emits it from and to the wider universe as and when it needs to. External substance can be transformed into motion. This machine is all about the ability to control the world around us by using inner materials with which we have coated ourselves (the gas expansion caused by the amber separated internal elements, for instance). It works in perfect concert with the wider rules of motion (the Law of Falling) when necessary, but can be switched on and off at will as shifting circumstances demand. This is an evolved human being. The three centres of motion, emotion, and intellect/spirit are all pulling together for an effortless, minimum-maintenance ride. External cosmic substances (air for instance) can be absorbed and transformed. No wonder Beelzebub compares this elegant, lighter-element driven and efficient machine so favourably to the ponderous, weighty, matter-heavy devices on Earth. He is, of course, comparing his own advanced spiritual development to that of the inhabitants of Earth.
We’ll touch very briefly, now, on what Beelzebub calls ‘becoming aware of genuine being-duty’. At this point in the book, Beelzebub has finished discussing spaceship propulsion systems with the captain of the Karnak and is trying to explain to Hassein, his grandson, that we must be aware, at all times, that All and Everything is constantly changing. Being consciously aware and alert at every level to the ever changing universe around us is key to acknowledging one’s Reason for existence. It is a concept enlarged upon in much greater detail as Beelzebub’s Tales to his Grandson unfolds, but, at this stage, I’ll relay the advice that Beelzebub gives to Hassein:
‘Exist as you exist . . . every day, at sunrise, while watching the reflection of its splendour . . . bring about a contact between your consciousness and the various unconscious parts of your general presence. Try to make this state last and to convince the unconscious parts – as if they are conscious – that if they hinder your general functioning, they . . . not only cannot fulfill the good that befits them, but your general presence, of which they are part, will not be able to be a good servant to our COMMON ENDLESS CREATOR and, by that, will not even be worthy to pay for your arising and existence.
Right, that’s it for now. the next posting will cover the reason the Moon is such a problem to the Earth and what caused it, and why mankind had such a difficult ride in his formative years.
