[HerenIstarion]

Thanks for the link, Child

It is indeed pertinent, though I have one (at least and hasty) but, and the but consists of the following:

Originally Posted by author of the article

Another angle is to see the three characters who make the final journey, Frodo, Sam and the tragic Gollum, as aspects of one personality. If for example, Gollum is seen as a personification of the defilements, hopelessly addicted to sangsaric becoming ("my precious!") then the climatic scene at the Crack of Doom takes on a profound significance.

Originally Posted by HerenIstarion

...on a symbolic plane, I daresay, the trio somehow forms itself into one and the same person. Frodo being eternal and Sam and Gollum temporal parts of the personality.

Originally Posted by HerenIstarion

... when Frodo (eternal part) gives in (rendered as claim and than fight with Gollum, mortal and evil part, as contrasted to Sam, mortal and good part), direct Divine Intervention occurs, and Gollum falls down (or, mortal/evil part of the Personality is mortified). And what with Sam representing mortal/good part of FSG, he is also left behind once Frodo goes West.

Quoted from Tolkien, for the love of Eowyn thread.

My point being – it occurs without Buddhist connotations – I was not thinking about sangsara when contriving the analogy. In fact, it is a Christian idea – nothing and noone can be reborn to New Life unless going through Death first. And nothing can go to Heaven unless the mortal parts are mortified. (Straigth Road – explicit – no mortal flash can walk it etc etc) So, in a complex symbol FSG (what an ugly abbreviation! ) is purified when ‘berid’ of its mortal ‘anchors’.
But, on the whole, let me repeat after the author:

The fact that a Christian with pagan sensibilities could write a book of such profound spiritual meaning for non-Christians is a real tribute to Tolkien's spiritual depth. His religious vision was not a narrow one. He seems to have tapped into some of the deep layers of truth that underlie all the great religious traditions. And, not least, it is a profound and deeply moving story

And some archetypes are universal, after all