thefallen544
I got the book the letters of Tolkein two days ago, and after some reading and looking I came across an interesting letter (pg 203 on my version) that points to the fact that Gandalf did not reform his body, nor was he sent back by the Valar. It does indeed point back that Gandalf was taken up by a "higher authority" than the Valar of which there can be only one. Eru. In Tolkein's own words.
Quote letter 156 to Robert Murray,
"That I should say is what the Authority wished, as a set-off to Saurman. The 'wizards', as such, had failed; or if you like:the crisis had become too grave and needed an enhancement of power. So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.' Of course he remains the similiar in personality and idiosyncrasy, but both his wisdom and power are much greater . When he speaks he commands attention:the old Gandalf could not have dealt so with Theoden, nor with Saurman. He is still under the obligation of concealing his power and of teaching rather than forcing or dominating wills ,but where the physical powers of the Enemy are too great for the good will of the opposer's to be effective he can act in emergency as an 'angel'-no more violently than the release of St Peter from Prison.
He seldom does so, operating rather through others, but in one or two cases in the War (in Vol III) he does reveal a sudden power: he twice rescues Faramir. He alone is left to forbid the entrance of the Lord of Nazgul to Minas Tirith, when the City has been overthrown and its Gates broken-and yet so powerful is the whole train of human resistance , that he himself has kindled and organized , that in fact no battle between the two occurs: it passes to other mortal hands. In the end before he departs for ever he sums himself up: 'I was the enemy of Sauron'. He might have added: 'for that purpose I was sent to Middle-earth'. But by that he at the end have meant more than at the beginning. He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; B]but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure. 'Naked I was sent back-for a brief time, until my task is done'. Sent back by whom, and whence? Not by the 'gods' whose business is only with the embodied world and its time; for he passed 'out of thought and time'. Naked is alas! unclear. It was meant just literally, 'unclothed like a child'(not discarnate), and so ready to receive the white robes of the highest. Galadriel's power is not divine, and his healing in Lorien is meant to be no more than physical healing and refreshment."
So there we have it from Tolkeins own hand Gandalf was sent back on higher authority than that of the Valar.
Quote letter 156 to Robert Murray,
"That I should say is what the Authority wished, as a set-off to Saurman. The 'wizards', as such, had failed; or if you like:the crisis had become too grave and needed an enhancement of power. So Gandalf sacrificed himself, was accepted, and enhanced, and returned. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.' Of course he remains the similiar in personality and idiosyncrasy, but both his wisdom and power are much greater . When he speaks he commands attention:the old Gandalf could not have dealt so with Theoden, nor with Saurman. He is still under the obligation of concealing his power and of teaching rather than forcing or dominating wills ,but where the physical powers of the Enemy are too great for the good will of the opposer's to be effective he can act in emergency as an 'angel'-no more violently than the release of St Peter from Prison.
He seldom does so, operating rather through others, but in one or two cases in the War (in Vol III) he does reveal a sudden power: he twice rescues Faramir. He alone is left to forbid the entrance of the Lord of Nazgul to Minas Tirith, when the City has been overthrown and its Gates broken-and yet so powerful is the whole train of human resistance , that he himself has kindled and organized , that in fact no battle between the two occurs: it passes to other mortal hands. In the end before he departs for ever he sums himself up: 'I was the enemy of Sauron'. He might have added: 'for that purpose I was sent to Middle-earth'. But by that he at the end have meant more than at the beginning. He was sent by a mere prudent plan of the angelic Valar or governors; B]but Authority had taken up this plan and enlarged it, at the moment of its failure. 'Naked I was sent back-for a brief time, until my task is done'. Sent back by whom, and whence? Not by the 'gods' whose business is only with the embodied world and its time; for he passed 'out of thought and time'. Naked is alas! unclear. It was meant just literally, 'unclothed like a child'(not discarnate), and so ready to receive the white robes of the highest. Galadriel's power is not divine, and his healing in Lorien is meant to be no more than physical healing and refreshment."
So there we have it from Tolkeins own hand Gandalf was sent back on higher authority than that of the Valar.