Afterlife
Most Goreans seem skeptical of an afterlife, or, at least, seem content to wait and see. The only Gorean caste which, as far as I know, officially believes in an afterlife is that of the Initiates, and they believe in it, it seems, only for themselves, and seem to believe it is connected with such things as the performance of secret rites, the acquisition of secret knowledges, mostly mathematical, and the avoidance of certain foods.
Dancer of Gor - 279
Prayer
Petitioning to the Priest-Kings
Then, standing on the platform, he lifted his bare arms to the mountains.
“Let the herd come,” he said. He had spoken in Gorean. Then he reached into a fur sack at his feet and, gently, took forth a representation of the northern tabuk, carved in blue stone. I had no idea how long it took to make such a carving. It would take many nights in the light of the sloping, oval lamps.
He put the tiny tabuk on the boards at his feet, and then again lifted his arms to the mountains. “Let the herd come,” he said. “I give you this tabuk,” he said. “It was mine, and it is now yours. Give us now the herd which is ours.”
Then he lowered his arms and reached down and closed the sack. He left the platform.
There were other individuals, too, on the long platform. Each, I supposed, had their petition to make to Priest-Kings. I looked at the tiny tabuk left behind on the boards. It looked toward the Sardar.
Beasts of Gor Page 82
Kneeling and Standing
We could hear the bells, the chanting. In a moment we could see the lifted golden circle, on its staff, approaching. The people in the streets hurried to press against the walls. “Initiates,” I said to Marcus. I could now see the procession clearly.
“Kneel,” said the fellow near me. “Kneel,” I said to Marcus. We knelt, on one knee. It surprised me that the people were kneeling, for, commonly, free Goreans do not kneel, even in the temples of the Initiates. Goreans commonly pray standing. The hands are sometimes lifted, and this is often the case with praying Initiates.
Magicians of Gor Page 17
Prayer Ring
We saw a fellow walk by, mumbling prayers. He was keeping track of these prayers by means of a prayer ring. This ring, which had several tiny knobs on it, was worn on the first finger of his right hand. He moved the ring on the finger by means of the knobs, keeping track of the prayers that way, comes to the circular knob, rather like a golden circle at the termination of the Initiate's staff, one knows one had completed one cycle of prayers. One may then stop, or begin again.
Magicians of Gor Page 21
Prayer String
There were poorly webbed, small tapestries; amulets and talismans; knotted prayer strings; papers containing praises of Priest-Kings, which might be carried on one’s person.
Assassin of Gor Page 155
Sun Worshipers
There was a sect among the people that worshipped the sun, but it was insignificant both in numbers and power when compared with the worship of the Priest-Kings who, whatever they were, were accorded the honors of divinity. Theirs, it seems, was the honor of being enshrined as the most ancient gods of Gor, and in time of danger a prayer to the Priest-Kings might escape the lips of even the bravest men.
“The Priest-Kings,” said my father, “are immortal, or so most here believe.”
“Do you believe it?” I asked.
“I don't know,” said my father. “I think perhaps I do.”
“What sort of men are they?” I asked.
“It is not known that they are men,” said my father.
“Then what are they?”
“Perhaps gods.”
“You're not serious?”
“I am,” he said. “Is not a creature beyond death, of immense power and wisdom, worthy to be so spoken of?”
I was quiet.
Tarnsman of Gor Page 28
