gnashings

There is very definitely a cosmic sense of humour, God not all about hallelujahs or gnashings of teeth- related to this being works such as those of teh incomparable Mulla Nasrudin, and I would say Pelevin's humour marks him out as the genuine article regarding mysticism as opposed to someone writing oh so seriously about such deep matters.

Today's Inquirer reviews ... Frank Wilson 2007

The golem emitted a series of honks, grunts, whistles, and tooth gnashings.

Centaur Aisle Anthony, Piers 1981

The golem emitted a series of honks, grunts, whistles, and tooth gnashings.

Centaur Aisle Anthony, Piers 1981

The ogre responded with a volley of growls, snorts, and gnashings of yellow teeth.

The Source of Magic Anthony, Piers 1979

Chamberlain; his Testimony, -- his Weekly Court, -- Pro slavery gnashings, -- Visit with the Special Magistrate to the Williamsfield

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

"Voila!" said I, with a dramatic gesture; and the simple villagers, taking the officer's writhings and gnashings as so much evidence of his desperate wickedness, poured imprecations upon him for his impiety, and declared that no punishment was too great for him.

Humphrey Bold A Story of the Times of Benbow Herbert Strang

That the desire to possess this power, every tittle of it, is _intense_, is proved by the fact, that slaveholders cling to it with such obstinate tenacity, as well as by all their doings and sayings, their threats, cursings and gnashings against all who denounce the exercise of such power as usurpation and outrage, and counsel its immediate abrogation.

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 3 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

That the desire to possess this power, every tittle of it, is _intense_, is proved by the fact, that slaveholders cling to it with such obstinate tenacity, as well as by all their doings and sayings, their threats, cursings and gnashings against all who denounce the exercise of such power as usurpation and outrage, and counsel its immediate abrogation.

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

It does appear to me wonderfully and mournfully wrong, when men of letters, as it is too much the fashion for them to do, take to dishonoring their profession by fruitless bewailings and gnashings of teeth; when, all the time, it must be their own fault if it is not the noblest in the world.

The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1 of 2) 1907

It does appear to me wonderfully and mournfully wrong, when men of letters, as it is too much the fashion for them to do, take to dishonoring their profession by fruitless bewailings and gnashings of teeth; when, all the time, it must be their own fault if it is not the noblest in the world.

The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Kenyon, Frederic G 1898