The Inner Conflict of Tradition: Essays in Indian Ritual, Kingship, and Society c10.12

c10.12

The transcendent does not submit to any system, to any order but its own. In its unpredictability, it is full of terror for man, as the theophany of the *Bhagavadgītā*—to take just one example—shows us. It only knows its own absolute order and as such is a deeply disturbing power that ever threatens to overthrow all humanly conceivable order. Sacrifice, therefore, like all endeavors to come in touch with the transcendent, is an awesome and terrifying venture. It goes far beyond the bounds of gift and reciprocity, of solidarity and participation. This stands out clearly in the fact that sacrifice always involves the destruction, through fire or otherwise, of part of the sacrificial offering, be it ever so minimal a part. In this respect, sacrifice is decisively different from the gift, which remains at man's disposal and will return by way of reciprocity. This element of destruction tells us that something dangerous is at stake in sacrifice.