January 9, 1963

The Judith Tyberg Story. On December 31, around 3 P.M., I reached the Ashram in Hollywood, feeling that my whole trip south had been in vain. I was blessed by David, the grandson of Pir-o-Murshid, walking out the door as I entered. He is a beautiful boy, and I was able to give him a blessing before Clare, his mother, came. I don’t think she would have liked it—and I know she would not have understood. It is not necessary for her to become other than what she wishes to become, or even for the boy to go on the spiritual path. But the fact is, that David has been placed in the care of Judith, and that is something.

I was able to tell Judith what I do not tell others. Secrecy is not a vow imposed by God or Teachers. Secrecy is an enforced condition by the uninitiated, who insist that the Gnostics behave in certain manners, and whenever a Gnostic breaks this mob-rule, he is in trouble. Judith went so far as to say that her meditation room was inhabited by Masters and Saints, and she wanted me to go in there, which I wanted anyhow.

In five minutes, I was given an “initiation” which she explained later has to do with the Third Eye. From my point of view, this place is a real Ashram, and will have to be treated very delicately.

The Gina Cerminara Story. The “luck” changed immediately. I received a phone call from Thea’s friend Knute, and then Gina began to call regularly. She gave me several names (I met some of them that evening), but especially a Mrs. Higbe of Whittier, a disciple of Professor Rhine, to whom I shall address myself shortly.

Then she arranged for me to go to the home of Marshall Hughes in Studio City, in her stead that night.

The Saladin Reps Story. When I came, I felt strongly drawn to a woman named Helene Tardivel, 1601 North Genesee Ave, West Hollywood. We spent a good deal of the evening together. I met a number of persons interested in psychic research and also in getting funds. “Puck” wonders, if these people have such powers, why can’t they find the money? Not only that, there were several seers, mediums, and psychics present.

Helene has a protégé named Francesco, a ballet dancer; or as I might say, a Neptunian or Deva-type. When he insisted he is not understood, I told the story of my meeting Karo Nijinska, and telling her that “I understood Papa.” This was accepted, and Francesco is very much a Nijinski type. During the evening, he got into a fierce fracas with one John, the pal of Marshall Hughes, the host. It was a real “deva-asura” combat, which does not mean, however, that God is for one or the other. The later upshot was that in resentment against John, Francesco felt empathy from me, which was at first refused.

Effort was made to give a healing treatment to Mrs. Hughes, the mother. As she is a Protestant, I knew no way at the moment to give her a breath or a phrase which would help her—an allergy sickness in the arms. This will be followed up if possible, but it won the goodwill of Marshall, the host.

At one o’clock, I asked Marshall how was it that he had arranged a Kwan Yin hanging and a Buddha at the head of the stairs, and he told me that was because of his friend Paul Reps, and I nearly fell over.

In a few minutes, it came out that when Saladin was divorced from Susan (Birgit), Helene stepped into her life—I bet I met her before, but would not say. Then Estelle came, marriage, divorce, and back to “Girl-Friday” Helene. For 20 years, whenever he wanted some mothering he came to her. And so on.

After we talked about other things, I suggested sending for the poem “Saladin” and I would take care of it as soon as I returned. And as soon as I returned, in the next mail there was a letter from Khawar—suggesting the return of the manuscript—right to the dot. And two days later, right to the dot, a letter from Saladin. And in it, also the name of his local publisher.

I have already made some preliminary steps to get some day in typing.

The Ted Reich Story. Ted has been telling me about an awakened interest in spiritual Judaism, and at the same time, he has been deeply involved in Theosophy and Buddhism. Yesterday, January 8, I spoke for one hour at the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design on “The Interaction of the East and the West in the Arts.” The lecture—entirely under inspiration—began with a free translation of the opening of Genesis: “At first in principle he—the Gods thinked the essence of spatialities and the essence of form.”

The lecture went on, mostly dealing with the symmetrically opposite approaches of the Mediterranean and Chinese people; and interludes of the circularism of India.

After the talk, I was surprised to be besieged by several Jewish women who had been in the audience, and they begged me for more. They wanted to know (a la Ted) about both Judaism and Buddhism. So their names were recorded, but when I arrived home, there was an invitation from the Buddhist-Taoist Assn. (Iru Price), so I am holding off decision.

Meanwhile, saw Ted to tell him about the above incidents. And in turn, he told me about some of the psychic research people here who wish to know about Sufi Inayat Khan. So an arrangement has been made for tomorrow night.

There is a certain feeling of adventures in new directions now.

Tsong Kapa. Edward Connaughton sent me a scroll to be sold and I looked up Chingwah Lee—and met him in the street. If this can be sold it would give me some money for a part-time secretary or other purposes.

Ted also gave me Carlton Kendall’s address, and about Lottie Fernandez. It would seem in general a lot of my very old friends are coming back into my life.

January 11

Most of the things that have followed are connected with Ted Reich. Lottie Fernandez has come out of her hole, and appears at the TS on Tuesdays. I hope to see her and arrange a meeting with Della Goertz. One does not know if there is any advantage in bringing the Rinzai and Soto people together. Tomorrow afternoon, I go to the Buddhist-Taoist Assn., which is Chinese and Americans, but contains more mature people, and some I knew at an earlier period. The Chinese Buddhists are as divided as the Japanese, but the Japanese differences are based in part by analytical selection, and the Chinese by synthetic selection (like the Brahmo Semaj.)

Last night was spent at the home of Mrs. Charlotte White, 556 Spruce St. It was complicated because she, her friend Pelle, and her closest associate, all wanted to learn both about Sufism and psychism, and it took about two hours to integrate them. However, these are functional people whose psychism depends neither on mediums nor trances. Yet they all want me to meet a leader here, a Dr. Haley. This is indeterminate on my part.

Ted loaned me a copy of “Atomic Suicide” by the Russells. I had met Walter two or three times in 1946, very long sessions. He is a sort of mystic, and certainly has a cosmic vision. He was very anti-Atchabelli. Besides, his work is remarkably impersonal. A single reading does not impress, and the authors distinctly ask readers to read at least three times. I am not enough advanced in physics and cosmology. But their warning seems well taken, and I believe they are near some of those principles which, if accepted, might lead to the eradication of cancer and other virulent diseases.

Ted and I have talked this over and we agree that until our sciences accept three bodies, there will always seem some very unsolvable problems. It is necessary to follow this up. Ted has also located Paul Reps’ publisher, and has prepared the way for my visit.

I am at last “getting it” in the drawing class. The lecture did go over from the extremely warm welcome received. I shall go slowly about following up because it is impossible to meet everybody socially. Tonight I am going to visit my old dancing class, but whether this is resumed is questionable. Life shows at the moment the rejection of reports by a lot of people I thought would receive them, but a much larger acceptance by people I did not know before. Between the blank walls met by psychic researchers, people with streams of unhappiness and inhibitions, and the searches for God and spiritual freedom, the outlook is favorable at the moment. It does involve some radical changes in my social life, but some of the welcomes given by my very oldest friends here more than compensate for the displacements of others.

January 15

This is the diary entry. The best laid plans of mice and men often come up with other answers. The most ridiculous situation is that two efforts to see old friends in the T.S. have resulted only in their preaching to me and not listening to where I have been. I look over the names such as Alice Bailey, Krishnamurti, and Manly Hall, none of whom has done anything but surfeit us with words and cause confusions. The worst thing is to mention “Jesus Christ.” It is a shame and an annoyance, the way they wince. After two such experiences, I almost regret the need to go there again and see Lottie Fernandez, who was for so long my sister in Zen. On the other hand, I have escaped without being asked to speak. If I am asked to speak, the conditions are impossible—I intend to sweep the corridors of these intellectual rotters who make spiritual cognition impossible. They grow old and feeble and next to the words “God” and “Christ” they fear to hear the word “Shangri-la.” “If you have him, I no want, but if you haven’t, I want.”

In the meantime, there is a strange conglomeration of materials and persons in regard to psychic and occult phenomena. The letters from Pakistan and from Reps (Ireland) coming together; the reports to Whittier and locally to H.G. White; the report from the latter and other events form a huge pattern. I am waiting for a call from Ted which may lead to more local meetings.

Then there is Fritzi. I went to see her, and instead of putting me on for a lecture, she has offered me the whole place—just like that. I was not ready for it, but the way she expressed herself, I cannot refuse. One does not know whether this is because she has been convinced I have a message—or she has been given occult guidance—or she wants to put it over on La Duce—it is probably all three. The old Hindu “The enemy of your enemy is your friend” sometimes works ironically. There is almost complete slate-cleaning here now from the days I was accused of suffering from paranoia. My enemies always had lots of enemies—they were just the sort of people who did that, only I am not a masochist, and rebelled. But this rebellion has over and over again fomented other rebellions which “threw the rascals out.” La Duce has few friends here.

It is possible a letter will be written in regard to KPFA. “Communists, yes, Muslims, no.”

In the meanwhile, is that peculiar general situation of the difficulty of presenting to anybody I know well about my trips abroad, or even the journey to L.A. I ran into Walt Baptiste. “I have a Pearl of Great Price.” “May I see it?” It is the question of salvation. The theosophists and others either refuse to look or deny, but mostly are too self-centered. One can come and have all the healing in the world. It becomes a secret, not because it is a secret, but because people won’t listen or accept. So Walt got in five minutes what, with the exception of Sheikha and Ted, I have not been able to give away, show, or demonstrate since I returned. The result can only be laughter. The challenge is a blessing, and by being challenged, I gave to Walt and blessed him. Other people will wonder why I pay attention to him. The doctrinarian “Brotherhood” gangs again.

It is going to be necessary to add to the section on “The Problem of Evil,” and bring in semantics. As writing is by intuition or guidance, there is no intellectual plan beforehand.

Puck says: “There are just two kinds of news: Crime and Commentaries. Anything historical is not news. William Winter is publishing his sheet—it may be valuable.

The relations at the Schaeffer School are excellent. Now it can be told: “Rudolph and I were friends for years, but with the advent of Chaudhuri and Spiegelberg, he fell under their spell and the school was being used for Aurobindo and pseudo-Indian propaganda. The stuff these men turned out and the “modesty” they did not show was enormous. I was simply pushed out of the picture.

“Then the fun began.” Corinne began denouncing her father and wouldn’t budge. I think the staff would have liked to have thrown her out of the school. But the Directors thought otherwise. The rich Christians and modernists who support the school financially were fed up that all Indian Art was ipso facto spiritual, and most of their art was not. Caught between poverty and reason, Rudolph capitulated or retreated. He still has the friendship of Haridas, etc., but no more such lectures.

He was not present when I spoke, but the wonderful response of the audience is the turning point in my San Francisco story. There is only one way to go—contrary to Jeffers, and that is up.

Three big situations discussed with Admiral Evenson, most dramatic of which is the possible open forum of Bishop Pike on Palestine. We may start in as “amicus curiae.” This is on the agenda.

The opening up of real San Francisco doors may impel or compel change in the social life. These people who do not wish administrations will simply go without them. One doesn’t have to laugh at illness but no more crying either. If people want their pains, let them have them. Christ came to give food, healing, and joy—now everything else is on the agenda, but not on mine.

Tonight another Buddhist meeting—which will be friendly. Thursday night “Puck Senzaki” will go to the Chaudhuri meeting to hear an American Swami tell of “Spiritual Experiences in India.” One does not know whether it will be real or flim-flam, but why not? One remembers the times Senzaki came and took over and “busted” the meetings. These “spiritual” people know nothing of effacement. And less of attainment. When the twain are one … etc. But don’t quote Jesus; it might get you somewhere. I sound like a Christian. It is only that one chooses the weapons closest to hand.

Dear Fred:

This is really my diary entry for January 20. I have long since concluded to follow what appears in O’Neil’s “Lazarus Laughs.” I have been initiated into the many kinds of laughter by the Zen method, and while a lot of people are going to deny this this is called non-egotism, when you deny somebody else), the laughter works. I had seven kinds from Senzaki and then the eighth kind given me in secret by a dying Zen devotee. I am under no restriction about sharing it or not sharing it—or for that matter any kind of Zen laughter.

Paul Reps has most of it naturally and he can have it all just by meeting me in person, not even having to ask for it. Only once in my life did I try to confer the Zen-Dharma on anybody—of course I ain’t got it—but it worked immediately. To tell these things is egotism and not to tell is to destroy history so I’ll take the charges of egotism and let it go at that.

The reason is that I met a lady this last week who has long been in Zen. She has had nothing but tragedy—nobody would believe her. She was judged insane by friend and foe alike. The only thing is that Zen Masters (the real ones who don’t appear on TV, radio or book columns) come and go and that saved her. Well her inner story was almost identical with mine excepting on one point: “I failed but you passed. I can see you passed.” Now I will go and give her all she can receive although this is an awakening and not a giving.

The actual cosmos as viewed by all mystics is the same, but the intellectual report that it is the same is of no value. It is like comparing blue-prints and finding them alike. This builds no houses. I have spoken twice here and the effects were the same—people in the audience spotted my “secret,” but when I have gone to religious or esoteric groups I can expect either silence or rejection.

Thus the other night a Swami was telling the audience that you can judge people by the glint in their eyes. And I looked around the room and saw solemnity and seriousness and that rapture which comes when a speaker ecstatizes the audience—but no glints—not a glint in that room. Excepting, of course, in the swami himself.

When I was with Swami Ramdas I ran out of the lecture room to play with the children outside. This sort of thing would scandalize the “old ladies” who go to “spiritual” lectures; but the Swami knew what I was doing and said that when one can play with children as their equal he must be spiritual. I can see the audiences ogle and applaud anybody who says that to play with children is a sign of spirituality but I can’t see the audience running out and playing with the children. I know a few who do and of course they are marked down immediately.

The next thing that is noticeable is the number of excellent letters I get from abroad. Every time somebody says “nix” to me here I can be sure I’ll be getting a letter from some faraway place lauding me to the skies. Sometimes I send the envelopes to my attorneys who collect stamps but the return addresses themselves are something.

I am about to get into judicial history here. A young protégé of mine is in trouble. I just had to fight, the usual thing. I told the party that never once in my whole history in San Francisco have I been permitted to intervene in behalf of those in trouble with law courts, with hospitals, with mental institutions—I have never failed because somebody blocked my path—and then lost out of course. The last was the committing of my mother to a mental institution—done in my absence. I have determined to appear as “amicus curiae” and am willing to have my fingers burned—they are always burned by those close to me anyhow, and nothing was ever gained. Even Dr. Baker, who got very close to me, did not let me pass a certain point, and it ultimately was a factor in her own death.

And while this is going on, I get letters of encouragement, or the aftermaths of incidents abroad, when I wasn’t only permitted to participate, I was actually called in. They are not so important or big, but there were no failures. And it is, to me, laughable and silly, that twice now the very top American scientists have called me into their conferences. Asians do it anyhow, but this is not Asia. And I am nowhere in the sciences to where I am in the “occult.”

It is time now to record some of my own “prophetic visions” on the war. This, strange to say, flopped with all the esotericists, but not with the Army Intelligence; how come? Now there is a big fight going on, as if between the professors and the publishers, and I have jumped in full on the side of the professors. It is too early for an answer, but I can smell it coming. And it is time to tell these things to close friends. After 12 years here, I got one friend to read one poem—it was hard and trying, but the reaction was what I feared, too much. If the party had read it when I wished, it could have been received without emotion. This has to do with Christ, healing and world events.

I have seen the Christ healing, both in the empyrean and on earth, only that on earth was by others—names, dates, events. I am willing to bet, too, that the despised AMA will take these reports before the “good,” ”the “spiritual,” the “divine healer,” etc. The case of Oral Roberts is better known in India and Pakistan than here—I am not sure of this man, but prefer his methods to those of “theorists” (but here I can be entirely wrong).

Now Fred, at the present time, I do not see that the worst enemy is death, and certainly not the microbe or virus. Reading Russell I have a complete picture. But alcoholism is standing in the way, and I find more people turning to drink, or even dope, than before, either running away from it all or experimenting. Paul Brunton distinctly lays it down that there are the ways of the eye, the heart, and the breath. One Yoga teacher here challenged me, and of course, I gave it to him. Christ said, “Freely give, freely receive.” What is going to happen now will be dramatic, but the laughter comes, and not as in the first lines of “The Merchant of Venice” either. It is the most serious laughter there is. Someday I might tell you that it solves all sex problems, but today I think most people prefer the problems. If it is not complex, it can’t be true???? End of diary for the moment.

S.A.M.

January 22, 1963

Dear Sheikha:

This will probably be my last letter before resuming the typing. I have inferred, or written about the forms of laughter. Copy of a letter is enclosed, which really is also based on laughter. I visited the church offices, very business-like, and about as much like a church office as a drugstore is. That is their business, of course. The modern method of greeting a stranger is to turn on “charm,” which means grinning and even gritting the face and beginning with a negative. I therefore decided against talking with anybody there but the minister.

Now this church is having a series of talks on “The Limits of Consciousness” in which a lot of popular intellectuals—none of whom would be welcomed on the Berkeley campus—are going to explain what they have never experienced. Actually, there is a sort of war going on. It came out in “Time’s” review of a book which was written by two professors on atomic warfare. One was Prof. Burdick. I have sarcastically written “Time”: ‘Fiction, yes; fact, no.” The University has replied by a very favorable report on Burdick. What “Time” says is non-scientific or anti-scientific, the scientists in Berkeley are scientific. This illustrates the “war,” as the British philosopher C.P. Snow calls it, between the literati and the scientists.

Here the literati have it all over the radio stations, especially the controversial ones, causing the university of California people to form a sort of cult or clique—which is not necessary at all.

I am just wondering whether Scholefield will answer. When I wrote Pike from abroad, he answered, but some of my letters are with my luggage, not received. However, the important thing is the laughter. There will be no more recoil. And on this note I shall begin my new transcript. It is also a period marked by strange rejections of some old friends, counterbalanced by new welcomes and that most delightful of all experiences—having friends from still an earlier period of life come back into one’s orbit.

Since the last letters concerning Major Sadiq, it would seem I am on the right path in basic things. On January 30, I shall be at the luncheon where the Consul General of India is the Chief Speaker and then I open my mouth.

Just had to write a letter to Princeton while reading a book in which they say the “dervish orders have largely died out”—yes, with a President of Pakistan, a Vice-President of India, a Prime Minister of Malaya—gee, it’s great to have a sense of humor.

Love and blessings,

January 28, 1963

Diary: A surprise visit from Bill Hathaway brought an interpretation and the realization that the record has been neglected. It this certain that behind events there is a very harmonious pattern. My horoscope as originally interpreted was that life would be filled with two favorable and one unfavorable event, but at the present moment it looks more like three favorable to one.

On January 23 at night I had a long, complex lesson to give the diksha to Walt Baptiste. The dangerous situation of growing on in years with an ever accumulating depository of esoteric practices and no outlet, has to be relieved. On Thursday I gave him the Mauna Yoga diksha combining materials from Ramana Maharshi and Pir-o-Murshid. Later I was reading in Ramana Maharshi, and found I had done exactly correct.

The Maharishi’s interpretation of the Centers is in accord with Naqshibandi and not Tantric teachings. This is a wonderful relief, because all the talks on Yoga I have heard are devoid of actual cosmic love. It is certain that the Maharshi has it and Swami Ramdas, but in general the Patanjali people do not have it and any excuse of Jnana is not true, because the God-realization brings all the qualities.

Thursday night Della came with me to the Ashram to hear Swami Kriyananda. He was supposed to talk about Yoga for the contemporary world. The “Zennists” always read questionable translations from enigmatic Chinese of any period and Swamiji read from Christian mystics of another period. How the delightful love-experiences of Christian saints, particularly women, bolsters up Raja Yoga I do not and cannot see. And the old ladies in the audience, who might conceivably reach God-consciousness by some of the means the Christian saints used, will never go through the Patanjali disciplines, so the audience is left astounded, even delightful, and empty.

Friday received the finest letter from Vera. Also a delightful one from Helen Tardul in Hollywood. So I have revised the 10th and 11th cantos of “Siva! Siva!” these being on music and dance, and sent them to her.

Also received a most important appeal from Elizabeth Tyler in Cleveland. Her husband had a stroke. So send my instructions to her and gave her the exercises to develop her own physic and healing faculties. After the visits of Pir Zade and Bryn, I could see a gap, but neither of them can give the esotericism and deliverance.

Della did not show up to visit Lottie so saw her Sunday and am now writing at length. Lottie is a “victim” of the same horrors I had to go through, and praise Allah, I can help and encourage.

Shasta Ewing showed up at the Thursday lecture. This is a sign that she is seeking and she probably will go around seeking and get nowhere. Her antipathy to A.W. is understandable but how to overcome him, or it, is beyond her.

Madelynne says I am improving and there is no question but that spiritual deliverance has affected both body and psyche. Gong to her twice a week—class and private. This week Magana wants to see me also.

I am glad bill showed up. Seeing Ted Reich regularly and have read The Bead Game which was given to Thea for her birthday. Also read Graves and Ted else gave me Alsop’s article on “Pylos.” I wanted to see Bill to lay before him a reject which would get his attention. His world, so to speak, has gotten smaller and smaller, and if he can be influenced to see a larger universe he might find some place in it. A big man cannot fit into a small bed.

There has been a monster and useless conference on the problems and opportunities of women. All things are faced analytically and intellectually. Puck is amused by ladies arising and saying they are different from men and must have opportunities and only one used an intuitive or non-intellectual element. They were either logical and precise or else that awful emotionally-cum-cliché method: “We are equal or better than men because we are equal or superior in creating and using clichés.” I have no doubt about it, but what does it prove?

Bill discussed Judith, whom he has seen and I told him that Judith had faculties, even on the verge of Delphic Woman, and we must be careful. It would seem that womankind could recover its or her faculties, these useless conferences would be unnecessary. Ted showed me a book by Percival Lowell on Occult Japan wherein the oracles functioned. It was the disjointing of the Oracle in Japan which destroyed her exactly as it was in Greece and nobody looks into such matters. Who was Saint Elizabeth?

He also was delighted in David and almost shocked by Clare. He also got Gina’s address. The details here are old and corroborative.

The need for revision and emphasizing the ego-centric predicament first are evident.

Ted has discussed Sepher Ha-Zohar and I have found it at George Field’s. I may be reading it while working on the manuscript and it also may affect it. We simply do not know the Bible and we play loosely with it. The inner side of the Greek myths will be evident when we integrate Graves, Jung and Campbell. The inner side of the Bible will be evident without this, but until I get a sign, it is beyond my capacity.

Vera reports on fana-fi-Rassoul, which is most important. I am now more anxious than ever that Major Sadiq comes. Each corroborates the other and this corroborates me better than anything else.

Wednesday night I went to see Charlotte White and met her husband, Clifford. She has keen insight—on two planes and thereabove is blind. She is Jewish, turned Catholic and pretends to resent my anti-Semiticism, but all the while she is displaying herself. But while she is serious, I am amused. I hope to see them again. Friday night visited Natalie Cecotti who was with me, who is moving to Hollywood. She has already heard from Gina and I have already written to Aramdarya about her.

Letters arrived: Gina—the Reeves are in Honolulu—and one from Matz family.

January 31

It is easy to accuse one of manufacturing drama, but it may equally be that drama is around us. Anyhow Tuesday night, contrary to my own will, I went to Magana’s class on the Mudras. These ceremonies, actions, etc. are difficult because when the words are expressed I experienced them and got into “states” which were not easily sloughed off. But the dualistic prayers attached have little impression. One does not want “things” or favors; one sometimes wishes to get above wanting.

This negative state disappeared Wednesday morning. All the Mudra-words centered around the Lotus. Here am I writing, The Lotus and the Universe. Just as in previous years Pir-o-Murshid manifested and said, “Be a Flute” and opened the doors to the cosmic universe, God so to speak manifested and said: “Be a Lotus. You feel, you can’t both write The Lotus and, the Universe and accuse Koestler and not be a Lotus. Be a Lotus and be blessed.” So here I am, writing now from the “lotus point of view” a against the “robot point of view,” and it is transforming the manuscript and will require, no doubt, extra revisions, but at least there is inner satisfaction and joy.

Then there was yesterday. I knew something would happen when I went to hear Consul-General Menon at the World Affair’s Council. It turned out to be something very different. Coming early there was only one man present. Ha said, “Us being the only men, let us sit down together.” Actually the late arrivals were as many men as woman. Anyhow we sat down. What is your name: “Garst.” “Any relation to Jonathan Garst?” “I am Jonathan Garst.”

There I was, never met the guy, carried his fertilizer plans with me, got into long discussions in Egypt, turned the whole thing over to the Pakistanis, abandoned it in India, etc. But I guess I can’t be too chagrined for he has abandoned some of his own ideas, too. He had written he was going to Poland and Iron Curtain countries, but recently he has been to Central America. So after a long time a pen-pal appears, just like that, and I am supposed to be manufacturing my dramas? Why do these things happen to me—thank God!

Saw Miss E.E. Pence and met Gale Darling, “my fellow traveler.” Will ring up Gale.

Norman has now moved in and two women will share the front upstairs. No housewarming for the immediate present.

Victory? For the first time in my life an “expert” has admitted he made a mistake, On 26 January Donald N. Wilber of Princeton, N. J. (140 Quaker Road) conceded that there may be Sufis. He made an over-all statement in his book on ”Afghanistan” that they were few, unimportant and fast disappearing. Now he wants to know more because he is writing two books on Pakistan. My point is simple: you can reason with American “experts” on Asia (except Northrup), you can’t reason with Europeans, they are adamant, ego-centric and wrong.

Wilber also explained something, to me: Why had I so violently and whole-heartedly supported Richard Frye of Harvard against Northrup of Yale? I have been most uncompromising, and had the most wonderful friendships with Frye’s students and animosities with Northrupians and friendships with those that despise Northrup—i.e. real Asian Philosophers. Frye is a Sufi! Why do these things happen to me, thank God.”

February 3

It is quite evident that God, so to speak, wanted me to keep this diary and it is equally certain that there is “something brewing.” The last letter from Major Sadiq quoted that “Major Sadiq and the Pir of Dewwal Shereef are one” the absolute justification of Pir-o-Murshid’s, “Murshid and Mureed are one.” Have had to write at length to Vocha Fiske that I dare not change my role—failure does not matter.

I certainly took up the dharma-karma of Paul Fernandez who followed the same pattern and is not “among the elect” in the next world.

Continue to bait the KPFA apologists. With A.W. practicing both adultery and dope-experimentation as well as indulging in alcohol and all the “experts” writing in “Cosmic Consciousness and Drugs”—and no criticism permitted, the following doors open:

a. Japanese professor coming to UC to lecture on the real religions of real Japan. That will be something.

b. Am to draw up a letter to the Episcopalian Seminary on Berkeley in re: Mysticism. Not sure of carbon copies.

One reason for this is that Swami Kriyananda in talking about Yoga for today offered little besides postures which old ladies simply cannot perform and quotations from Christian lady saints. I am all for the latter, but why then the postures? and the Karma Yoga? and Raja Yoga? and Beatnik Yoga? All that is given is aphorisms,

Last night went as “Puck of Pukhtunistan” to folk dance party and met many of my old friends. It was like a get-together—Simon, Frank, Clara, Shoshana, etc. Not many strange faces. But best of all, Martha Curtis. It is curious that I helped her in her first lessons years ago.

Now it comes out that she is really a spiritual seeker—might have guessed that, and friendly will be resumed, I hope, on a high plane.

Another session with Ted Reich. It is wonderful how far and high a friendship of 40 years can continue on all planes, in all directions. Am to ready his Graves Hercules and then other works. Finding lots in Graves but different from him in re Jung. The two must be integrated.

Letter from Shamcher Beorse. I am always his brother when he is in trouble and Pir Zade is his brother when it comes to the harvests. I take this internally as a great recognition. No mention by him or from Cleveland of each other.

Paul Reps sent Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. Am copying Tantra material at the end for the Baptistes. This whole “Lotus” cycle is blossoming so wonderfully, it is hard to realize—differing from Kriyananda, I am “eating my words” and, of course, getting the blessing. Maybe the publishers and public will accept a book on mysticism about mystics by a mystic” There’s always a first.

Must also see Simon, in re my agricultural work. He has aged. No love, and he is one of the few young men in whom I had recognized no faults or weaknesses and who succeeded in what he wanted to do. Something wrong somewhere.

Martha put up the question, where are the Christians giving out spirituality? “Anything you can say I can any better,” but then people read Upanishads which they don’t understand and don’t read “The Gospel of St. Thomas” which is one of the clearest of scriptures—also one which would utterly destroy nearly all present religious trends. As Fudo is not to take off his mask, one must wait.

February 8

Dear Saladin:

This is not so much a letter as the diary entry of the time. One day in Lahore after I had been given healing instructions I felt drawn to the Naqshibandi Khankah where my friend Haji Safraz is Murshid. After the Zikr my friend Shamsuddin approached me and told me that there was illness in the house of our friend the Nawab and asked me to go. When we got there nobody was home, but after a while the Nawab came in with his sick son and I tried various healing methods and soon the boy felt well. This was not forgotten.

Now you can understand why my life is full of laughter and warfare and it is hard to distinguish the two. Pir-o-Murshid said, “It is the mureeds who make the Murshid” and today he is being acclaimed far and wide in Pakistan because it is Ahmed Murad who has made Sufi Inayat Khan and there is a rising demand for the writings of PoM But please don’t send me any money for books. This will require careful campaign and before doing anything I may need a lot more advice than money. This is not an opportunity to reach 200 new mureeds; it may become an opportunity to meet millions of people and just that is meant and no nonsense.

Of course SAM is back at the old stand too. When Shamcher has a problem you know where he goes and when he has time or money you know where he goes, but it is exactly the same tack Rabia, poor soul, followed and I am so used to it it does not matter a bit.

But you will have to wait and face one thing: Saladin is going to become immortal, inshallah and you are in. For instance recently Eric Barker, who won prize as being the best poet in a national contest, could not go to New York to get the money. So I meditated and returned to folk dancing taking lessons from his wife Madelynne Greene, so I could give him money by this method (Allah is wonderful). Last night I asked Madelynne whether Eric would be at the Summer Camp which I hope to attend and she said probably yes and there would be poetry readings. Did not even have to bring the subject up (Allah is wonderful, or maybe Ramdas’ Ram). So I told her of the coming arrival of my lost luggage with his poetry—including “The Rejected Avatar.ᾀ? Frost may be dead but after I am gone you are going to see somebody else acclaimed, inshallah. I am also waiting, of course, for the “Saladin” manuscript.

I had a strange meeting with one Jonathan Garst whose “agricultural plans” I carried for thousands of miles, but whom I had never met. Also some good friends are coming back. Also those metaphysical ladies who gush all over and from God Allah protect me. Although in my writings I am vehement about scribes and Pharisees, in my private life I have to deal with these Scorpios whose hearts and souls are in their tongues; also their sex organs. Of course they are “undernourished” but they want to “feed” everybody else.

My luggage contains manuscripts, diaries, some clothing and all my spiritual insignia. Also a box of minerals for assaying and evaluating. I feel now that all my previous problems are essentially settled and now I turn with new face. Sooner or later may have to face Ivy. Gave Admiral Evenson, who is one of Terry Duce’s best friends, my duplicate books from Lahore. He was the first one to acclaim “Saladin.”

Drawing improving and joined class on the history of art. Was indeterminate but enjoyed first lesson. Can now see the Yang-Yin universal operations, and then some; or Jelal-Jemal and then some more. As the mystery monger says over the radio: “Won’t you join me?”

[Sentences written on top one another and not readable—Ed]

February 12

On February 5, 1927 Pir-0-Murshid died and on February 6, 1962, Robert Clifton (Phra Sumangalo) died in Penang Malaya. We had been the dearest and closest of friends ever since we first met, 30 or more years ago—more because he was in Japan in 1930-31 when I was in New York, and we had met before that. I have always considered Saladin and he the nearest to me.

Many of the things are being recorded in “The Lotus and the Universe” but this is for the Diary:

Robert: Samuel, we ain’t got IT.

Samuel: Robert, we have got IT.

Now Avalokitesvara is gone and that scrounge Fudo is, Fudo with his toughness, his abruptness, his lack of tact. Fudo with his exuberance, his vitality, his increasing health as the years go on, and his wonder and wondering.

Gale Darling telephoned and asked for a delay which is fortunate as by that time I hope to have reclaimed my luggage with robes, testimonials and diaries. I am still a little chary of Editha. She has stood me up physically and mentally in the past and her attitude toward Vera is one which God, so to speak, has warned me against. I am most uncertain about these metaphysical ladies.

Letter has been written to Ansar Nasri to send “Saladin” to Lahore so that the various Pirs and Murshids may know about it. Shamsuddin has written that all the Sufi Murshids hold me in love and veneration, and that this has boosted the stock of Pir-o-Murshid no end. Besides Rabia seems to have had quite a few mureeds and they all talked about Inayat Khan. All seem to be dead now, and this in a strange way adds to my éclat.

Shamcher Beorse has suddenly become very cordial and cooperative. All the more because Vilayat and Maheboob are at each other. But as neither are recognized in the Orient I want to see Shamcher go. He is going to give an eye-opener if he visits Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Sani Nizami—who met the family; and an even bigger one if he moves to Pakistan. So it is to my selfish advantage to give him every courtesy and cooperation.

Now the papers come out more for Salt Water Conversion and Senator Clare Engle has cross-trailed me in a very strange fashion, which is a record of the Third Eye rather than the diary. Rumor is he is slated for the Cabinet.

Working assiduously on “The Lotus and the Universe.” So have put Phra Sumangalo in the right place. Read two chapters today to Lottie Fernandez. After all I do mention both her late husband and her home, which will later become the permanent Rinzai Zendo here. These relationships are very difficult to annotate as they are beyond the realm of karma, cause-and-effect.

At last have date to see Asst. Pastor at Unitarian Church this Friday, 2 P.M. They have been letting everybody speak on mysticism but mystics and the chief theme has been “Cosmic consciousness and drugs.” Watts, Huxley and Isherwood cannot sustain themselves on “the heights of the Himalayas.” When are we going to turn to Asians to tell us about Asia?

Went to Zendo Sunday. Very good. Find can meditate and hold body and mind in proper inner posture without difficulty. Zendo is growing, mostly young people. Was the only one person there, and only one or two middle aged. Excellent sign. Suzuki, of course, best but “betrays” with his smiles. “Laughter is wisdom.”

Bill Hathaway called while I was visiting Lottie.

February 17, 1963

The two big things of the week were the news of the arrival of my luggage and the death of Phra Sumangalo—Robert Clifton. The luggage will be picked up in a few days. There may be some customs entanglements. Ted Reich wants to see the ore samples, which is fortunate, because Conlon and Co. are no more. The Mining Bureau also would thank me for some pieces, which should be possible, owing to the size of the samples.

Phra Sumangalo was a veritable Avalokitesvara. We are not born as incarnations of Bodhisattvas. We fulfill the roles. Paul Fernandez was Fudo before me and his death left a vacancy. I was pushed into it by both Buddhists and Sufis, in a remarkable way, and there I function. I think Grandphra understood this. We had two memorable conversations when he was last here:

“Robert, you and I are mere nobodies. Nobody listens to us, we can’t get audiences. But there is not a king, prime minister, cabinet official, professor, university, holy man … or peasant from one end of Asia to the other whom either you or I could not meet, if we haven’t met them already. Only nobody would believe us.”

“Too true, Samuel, too true.”

Or: “Samuel, we haven’t got IT.”

“Robert, we have got IT.”

When one becomes another—excepting for the difference in Bodhisattva roles, what can one say? We talk compassion, we read about it. Robert was in part a victim of Dulles cruelty, causing him a heart attack after he came all the way here to warn us. Not an editor or official interviewed him. Now we are losing millions of dollars and endless lives in S.E. Asia, and the end is not yet, nor the end to the State Department rejection of the Declaration of Independence, in which nearly all of the press joins. To be forewarned is to be forearmed; to be a forewarner is to end like John the Baptist.

The Chinese Services, Buddhist Ass. of America, were nothing like what one reads in books or hears from lecturers. But then, living Buddhism is not. There was scripture chanting and psalms and processions with Mantras, the last being to Kwan Yin. Then real meditation and final vows and a lecture. This was given in Mandarin and translated into Cantonese. Few spoke English, though I was very welcomed and warned about “spurious Buddhists.” Same old stuff all over the world, but we have our “experts” and KPFA, we don’t need no Chinese to explain nothin’. This is called “human relations.”

Today the Zen Parinirvana Day. Kato knew Clifton from Sojiji. Thank God or Buddha that we have real Buddhism and Americans who trust Americans and Japanese more than they trust Englishmen or Germans in regard to the Orient. It is a beginning and maybe more. Even the University of California has been discovering that.

The Chinese made use of the Lotus Symbols, so…. And this after I have completed my Buddhist section. The Sufi section is being radically revised and rewritten.

February 21, 1963

It is evident that God has something in store for me. On Tuesday, picked up luggage with notes and transcriptions. More clothing was stolen or lost in Pakistan, but I am hoping my notes are complete because they cannot be replaced. Rubbers there, so will not have to purchase.

Called on Lottie and read end of Zen section of manuscript. She enjoyed it and said Mrs. Sigeliev wants to see me in L.A. Will make arrangements.

 Also saw Admiral Evenson of AFME who not only accepted chance to read a draft of the first chapter on Sufism, but has asked for more information on both Islam and Sufism. As his closest friend is Terry Duce, this is the end of an era. Don’t know where the Duces are but on March 9^th there is to be an AFME dinner and will go.

Received commentary letter from Justice Douglas and now writing Chancellor Strong at Berkeley for interview. There is to be a big symposium on Asia at Asilomar in May. So far been denied the floor all over. But Monday night at Gale Darling’s three of us had been in India and all three of us have been refused permission to take part in a local seminar on Indian Village life. People who think I am capping do not realize how far we are from reality. A symposium on “Indian Village Life” with no Americans who have lived in Indian villages permitted. This is old, old stuff and we wonder why people vote for Krishna Menon. There is no doubt but that “Prof. Von Plotz” has been there (in the classroom, not the village).

Tuesday night at the end of Mudra class, Magana evoked Lord Krishna and I became the flute—for the first time in the West. Thank God she understood. Sometimes I wonder whether I should look up Amelia, but that lady has become a devout Christian. The eye brightened very much and this is a sign.

Wednesday night I was assigned, of all subjects, “Christian Influence on Japanese Art,” the one topic on which I might rank as an expert. Right out of the blue, or blew. As my notes are in my luggage, all I have to do is copy them. But Rudolph said he reserved my letters.

Added chapter on Pir-o-Murshid to manuscript and am in middle of the last part, devoted to Sufis and Sufism.

Note for Saladin. Scene: Cleveland World Affairs Council.

Topic: the Future of India.

Professor: “I suppose the next speaker will tell us he has been in India.”

Samuel: “Yes.”

Professor: “I suppose he will tell us he knows President Radhakrishnan.”

Samuel: “Yes, I know President Radhakrishnan very well.”

Professor, sitting down, “I thought so.”

I still don’t know what this means excepting it is “standard procedure” but “only in America.”

Had a nice letter from Swami Kriyananda and may copy poetry for him. Also for Magana. No rest.

March 7

There has not been a diary entry for a month. All the spare time possible was put in at the Buddha Universal Church. This building used the exact principles that PoM left with me and it has been completed, following those principle, while the only attempts to build a Universal Church by mureeds have been abject failures. Where and what is God?

In the meanwhile I have discovered in writing The Lotus and the Universe that the Lotus sects have been omitted. Robert Clifton died early in February. There were services for him at the Buddhist Society of America on Waverly Place. It saw the Lotuses and went through the lotus ceremonies and recognized it was the Tien Tai sect. Thus there is no connection between the Buddhism that is practiced in churches and temples and the radio-Buddhism or book-Buddhism.

Later went to the Buddhist headquarter on October St. and could get no Lotus material. The same elsewhere when the intuition sent me back to Waverly Place and I met the chief monk who speaks English and he gave me a manuscript which was exactly what I wanted and needed on the Lotus Gospel (Saddharma Pundarika Sutra).

Must now write Dartmouth for permission to use it. It is an excellent piece of work.

In the meanwhile have been inducted into the Mudra class of Magana. Much progress. The Flute-of-Krishna spoke just when she wanted it. Two pictures inspire, one of Pan with Lotus-eye, Third Eye and five noses (for five breaths). Another on Saraswati, the humanization of the Vina with the seven flute holes made to correspond with the seven chakras. It will be some time before these are done.

The death of two people connected with the Indian Consulate meant a day at their funeral. Then copied my The Rejected Avatar. One copy to Magana for her work. Another to the Consulate but Bhat was out and will have to see him again. Will also resurrect “Apollo and Cassandra” for Magana. Then other words.

Next step is to copy some of the poetry to embellish The Lotus and the Universe.

Sufism. In the meanwhile met Mr. Mawlawi who took over the place of Mr. Mehdi. He is a descendent of Jelal-ud-din Rumi. Instance recognition. Loaned me the book on the whirling Dervish. Will make copies when he returns it unless I can locate enough here.

Tonight dinner for him. “Heads I win, tails you lose.” Rom Landau and Meher Baba are the most bitter enemies if Mawlawi comes out. Rom is going to be given a shocker. But also it is possible that Terry and Ivy will show up. May take my picture as Sufi Ahmed Murad. If Ivy does not show up will have a clear field and if she does she is going to see this picture. Been reading God speaks the most contradictory work I have ever perused. After a hundred pages explaining God it says that He is not explicable, should never be discussed, etc. They have blue-printed him just as the metaphysical people blue-print super-man, etc.

Mrs. Sigeliev wants to see me in L.A. Will make arrangements. One visit with Gale Darling and two friends. La meme chose—all of us refused admittance to seminar on Indian Village life—and all of us have lived in Indian villages!

Banging Away: U. of Pacific is trying to explain why they did not let me enroll. As Chaudhuri told me another story, I let it stand. Well their graduates won’t be recognized abroad and from what I understand, not much in this country. I am still warring against European professors of Asian philosophy. Besides I am backed up.

When I told the story to the secretary at the Arab Information bureau found she is another victim of that crazy pattern: American graduates in Asian Subjects are downgraded and European graduates in Asian subjects are upgraded—and in Asia it is exactly the opposite.

KPFA is now willing to give me an interview. May call next Friday. Had a very nice note from Chancellor Strong of UC saying I might have an interview any time. Evidently the letters were well received for the secretary was most cordial. Interview on Friday, March 15, 10:00 A.M. This will be in regard to the Seminar on Asia in May at Asilomar. As a man I would not have a chance going through the regular channels. But also am sending for press credentials from Pakistan—as a news reporter I could get in where angels never dream of treading—protocol.

Saw Sam Newson who is going to Japan. When I told him: “I am going to another Asian conference. You know, one of those gatherings where those who know sit in the audience and listen to long harangues by those that don’t.” “Exactly, and that’s why I am going to the Orient. I have had enough. It is a useless waste of time.” So our real American experts on Asia are fed up by phonies, newspaper men and Europeans demanding more money for their own research. This is the seventh conference on Asia that I may attend, and the fact that most of them ignore each other is self-evident proof. This is my last effort, inshallah.

Fairfield Osborn comes to town while I am reading him. He has already outlined the exact philosophy which I propose to use in “How California Can Help Asia.” Not optimistic in the political field. Those who do real help ignored for the noisy ones. Hope to see Paul Keim—will write to him today, after I see Strong.

The Lotus and the Universe. Will go over poetry and pepper the next version with some, to prove shy point. Otherwise have discovered how the Philistines insisted there was no possibility of transmutation and they ran to cover. This going over Max Hoefner’s library. He is in a worse position than I am, and he is logically on even better ground.

With the AFME-Mawlawi dinner tonight and the big Buddhistic colloquium tomorrow night it seems new forces are entering my life.

Called at Thea’s the other night to get report on Aileen Garrett’s program on psychism. She turned it off, said it was phony. Of course it was phony. One by one the truth comes out.

Phoned Charles Sieferth. He is ill—will try to see tomorrow.

March 9

My dear Jack:

This is as much my diary as a letter and I am going to ask you to abstract as you will. There have never been so many Buddhistic affairs in all my life. Between volunteer work at the Universal Church and the ceremonies for Phra Sumangalo anal collecting materials for my book, I can assure you I cover only a small number of items.

Universal Buddha Church. The formal opening ceremonies took place on Friday, March 1. Besides the entire congregation there was an overflow audience of about a hundred people. Both that weekend and this a multitude of visitors have been coming and large donations are being received.

Cables and wires came from all parts of the world—literately. Three Chinese mainland Preceptors sent greetings as well as many from Taiwan. I was more interested in the greetings from Penang, Singapore and other places which had been under Phra Sumangalo. President Kennedy also wired, but I think this was lost among a stack of others.

There is a contradiction in their Buddhism. On the one hand they announce that they have the Pristine Orthodox Teachings. There are two valid “pristine orthodox teachings,” one which includes the Benares Sermon and the other the Avatamsaka Sutra. They meant neither. Instead of the Three Jewels they place family fealty first which is not Buddhistic. They also announce their main scriptures are the Diamond Sutra and the Hui-Neng (Sixth Patriarch). These are certainly not “pristine orthodox.” I have begun ribbing them softly.

One way is that I have found my picture at the Stupa on Mount Takao in Japan with the ashes of Lord Buddha. I had been the only outside to go there, and I think you know some of the history. If not, it will keep now.

Between the Fung effort and the general tenor of affairs there has been an immense growing of studies in real Buddhism here.

The Buddhist Assn. of America, 109 Waverly Place. They gave a service for Phra Sumangalo which I attended and reported. Later I met Ven. Shih Sheng-Kang, who speaks English and gave me the Lotus material I have been seeking. I call this a Tien Tai (Tendai) sect and I see no reason to change after the services last night. They have a new compendium of Mahayana Scriptures which is to me the best yet seen. The others take such abstractions and selections that one does not get a picture.

The Buddhist-Taoist Assn. is 146 Waverly Place (The Zendo in New York is also Waverly Place!) Here Iru Price holds forth. Last night, March 8, they gave their regular service and a special memorial for Phra Sumangalo. This ceremony was given by three Americans—Iru Sushiddi (Goode) and James Wagner. I have known about Wagner for years but never met him before. I was at the last service by Sushiddi before he left for Penang four years ago.

Sushiddi’s interpretation of the Eightfold Path is the only one I accept against any, all and sundries. It has no dualism and assumes that the orator (i.e. the Buddha) has had Enlightenment. People simply don’t know what the Turning of the Wheel-of—the-Law is and make linear and dualistic explanations which tell us nothing.

All the people at both these Waverly Places know about you and send their greetings.

On Wednesday night there was a joint meeting between the Buddhist Association, the Soto Zen Sangha and the Neo-Dhamma Group. As I attend Art School I did not go. The Neo-Dhamma Group is made up of Americans and I am inclined to think they are elementary, philosophical and Hinayana. Very moral, fine, etc. but on the “outside.”

Last night was also the Chief Monk of another group, entirely Chinese. He came here to mediate for world peace. I met him at the former services. He talked in Mandarin which had to be translated for the Chinese here too. He is very tall, majestic, noble and peaceful.

The last Chapter in my The Lotus and the Universe will be on Peace and will be against all philosophies, dualisms and emotionalisms, or, as I say: “Every ten years a Noble Peace Price, every five years another war.”

“Who can replace Sumangalo?” I gave two short talks:

“When I’m gone, you have the Dharma with you. Work out your salvation with diligence.”

“Salutation to Samantabhadra Bodhisattva who, by reincarnating, demonstrated Dharma for us.” (Please publish this as my obituary on Phra Sumangalo.) (Although invited I saw no reason for an emotional harangue.)

Will obtain more news from the Buddha’s Universal Church and pictures when I can. I have some around but am over busy—the above partly explains. And this Sunday we go to 109 Waverly Place for Services and luncheon. All the Buddhists—English, Japanese and Chinese are beginning to draw closer together. I don’t know yet but the Universal (?) Church—

Faithfully and cordially,

Sam

P.S. Remember, Phra Sumangalo was Samantabhadra and this piece of toughness is Fudo.

March 10, 1963

This is my diary entry. I have just completed the sixteenth chapter of the revised “The Lotus and the Universe” and am under inspiration to write just two more which will be entitled “Shangri-la” and “Peace.” The last chapter has an extra carbon for Chancellor Strong at U. C., visit this Friday.

The last few days saw many visits with the Chinese Buddhists and I now have a fair, objective picture of them here–nothing at all like what you can read in any books. There are four groups, three of which work fairly close together. They are also working with the Soto Zen, but not other Japanese Buddhists and with the American Neo-Dhamma Society which is philosophical only. Outwardly, there is intense competition between these groups and the Chinese Universal Buddha Temple. They undoubtedly have more love and compassion, but the Church has the scriptures I admire most.

The number of visitors to the church is remarkable, but the papers have been criticized for not giving them more space. This is fortunate, because, on the one hand, it would offend the Christians and on the other the rival sects.

Della Goertz and I walked downtown and we passed the Grace Cathedral which, after all these years, is not complete–in stark contrast to the Buddha Universal Church, self-built and financed on the same plan that Pir-o-Murshid told me, and functioning well.

The services were quite different at the Buddhist Association of America, consisting mostly of chants and a few mantras. After that we had a fine “monastery” lunch and then saw an American take the pledge. Dr. Katzoff came in–I haven’t seen him for years–looking mighty well for his age.

By this time my name had gotten around. There are three or four people whom I hardly know who go around saying I am a great sage or master and this, evidently, is being believed by some. In any case, I shall be invited to join the Asia-American Friendship Society of whom I have hardly heard. This about completes my effort at alliances with Asian-Asians excepting the Armenians, and even there I have previously stepped forward.

This week I plan to visit the Indians, Indonesians and Arabs before calling on Chancellor Strong. Received a reply but no comment from the Secretary of the Prime Minister of Malay. This may mean my presenting the Indonesian program to Strong or the World Affairs Council and here I shall also have the cooperation of “Asian Survey” on campus.

Typing is very difficult because of intervention of states of semi-ecstasy plus absolute recall of events clearer than in the diaries. Will probably make a carbon of next chapter for Saladin. Will present my Buddha lecture from Japan next to the Japanese here.

Diary: March 15, prior to visiting the University of California and KPFA.

Mar. 10. Met Dr. Katzoff for the first time for years at the Buddhist Assn. of America, Chinese. He told people that I knew everything and soon I was explaining Bodhisattvas to a lady and the Chinese listened in and found I did know things about their faith. So I have invitation to return this March 16, Also to join the Asia-American Friendship League.

This week called twice on American Friends of Middle East with reports and some magazines. Once to Arab Information Bureau with copy of Pakistan Review having my article to unite East and West through spirituality.

Twice at Indian Consulate. First time with “Krishna Poem” for Bhat; next time in regard to Asia Seminar in May. Ambassador may come. Same matter to Indonesians, not so impressed. They gave me book on religion of Java and it has no relation to anything else anybody ever wrote. Author Clifford Geertz at U. C. wrote Prof. Lipset about him and may also try to call on him. The views of a man who lives with Asians always tremendously different from views of economists.

Go this March 14 at lecture on Near East when speaker said religion does not pay a part in peoples’ lives. This is the same old stuff but out by anti-American dialecticians. My views on Yemen did not impress him much, but they did impress the Standard Oil representative who has also lived among the people.

Terry Duce was there, to my surprise, but also. He has just come back from Kuwait. That is why Ivy has not been around.

Gave Magana my draft on Spiritual Music. Cleaned out my old papers and many Gathekas I wrote because these have become top-heavy.

Two beautiful letters from Pakistan, from Shamsuddin Ahmed of Lahore with news from Sufi Barkat Ali and five Murshids and one other Madzub. Also from Anwar Hussain at Rawalpindi with instructions from Pir Sahib to do exactly what I am both doing and planning. Only news is that Pir Sahib has been most successful in raising funds. Fifty million Sufis cannot be, but fifteen million rupees—that’s different. Now what can those experts on the Orient who deny the existence of Sufis get this money for themselves?

Visited Poly and directed to School Board for help. Asia Foundation (Metz) tells me to contact Ford Foundation for further help—scientific equipment and shops for Islamabad U. Will mention to Strong at U. C.

Redraft of The Lotus and the Universe completed. Took my Buddha-Stupa pictures to the Japanese Buddhist Center and also to the Chinese Assn. They both recognize now that I have been the only American permitted to go there and want more pictures. Will have to go over my effects. Two long reports to Jack Austin. The “ghost” of Phra Sumangalo with us. Now I have met James Wagner after all these years.

Other Chinese not cooperating with the Fungs. Will see which is the “true” Church. Meeting more and more wise Americans, but all “loners.” Still this is wonderful. Telephoned Mrs. Digman, formerly Mrs. Wishart. She is just completing drama, etc. So want be able to see her. Trying to find Caesar Attell for the California Historical Society.

The Seven Faces of the Prophet

1088 Fulton St.

San Francisco 17, Calif.

March 17, 1963

Shamsuddin Ahmed,

48 J. Model Town

Lahore, West Pakistan

My dear Friend and Brother:

As-salaam aleikhum. You may understand now why I do not call myself a Muslim but an inshallahist. While originally a Muslim meant one who surrendered to God, it later came to mean mostly those who accepted Sharia and finally those who followed openly or blindly an Ijma, the source of which in not only unclear, but often has nothing whatsoever to do with revelation.

The difficulty of translating Holy Qur’an will be offered here, not with any idea that it will be accepted, but to point out a totally different direction toward understanding simultaneously a mass of accumulated knowledge and one’s self. The arrival here in San Francisco of one Farooq Mawlawi, a direct descendent of Maulana Roum, has stimulated the first effort toward an explanation of that portion of Holy Scriptures which it has been given to me to explain.

The translation of Er-Rahman and Er-Rahim into other languages has resulted in the use of terms quite unrelated to each other whereas it is obvious that the root Rahm is common to these two words and they must have some related function. Offhand I call them “the Compassionator” and “the Compassionating” without holding too fast to these words. To explain further:

I call Mohammed the example of Er-Rahman and Isa the example of Er-Rahim and it comes out in their prayers that Mohammed begins with praise toward God and the concern is with Allah; while Isa is concerned with mankind and says: “Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts.”

Or, in the practical life I am called upon to bring man to a greater spiritual realization following Mohammed; and also trying to increase the world’s food supplies, following Isa. There is no contradiction but this takes Er-Rahman and Er-Rahim out of the realm of the abstract into the concrete and practical. Therefore any problems or questions which have no relation to Fateha or “The Lord’s Prayer” are outside my duties in life and from this point of view, your eager friend Afridi has tried to place before a dervish something without showing the relation of it to Allah or revelation.

One of the besetting sins of Muslims is their idols and these idols are chiefly: Islam, Qur’an and Hadith. For the term Islam has no relation to surrender or peacefulness and means in practice the extension of one’s will; Qur’an is used without regard to its content and Hadith even more so. The result is that religion is far from religion and not a single reform whomsoever, whatsoever has gone back to Fateha which is supposed to be repeated many times each day that blind followers of Sharia cannot off hand even tell one how many times they say Fateha and this is called “devotion.”

Now Mohammed has said in Hadith that Holy Qur’an was given in seven dialects and each of these dialects have an inner and outer meaning. At one the Mullahs will cry in horror saying this means the abandoning of Sharia and ultimately we fall into Shiaism or the Qarmati heresy. This is nonsense:

For the basis of Holy Qur’an was revealed on “The Grand Night” and in the Grand Night experience Mohammed travelled the universe and saw the seven facets of the universe. Therefore he was trying to give man a synopsis of this universe. And when we say in Fateha, “Rab al-Alamin,” and then refer to some presumable astronomical data or phenomena we are limiting Allah to the creation of this world (Nasut). Besides the first step toward ignorance is suppressing Islam to make it conform to Sharia; the next to make it conform with Ijma; and finally to nufsaniat our individual explanation of things. And while no doubt we have a perfect right to explain many things from the individual standpoint, we are now so far from Islam that we can only make a travesty of it.

One must inform our friend Afridi, that so far as a Sufi is concerned he is interested in Lahut-Jabrut Malakut-Nasut, the last least of all. And to select some polar-earth relations without regard to what Qur’an itself says concerning light; or what Al-Ghazali has given in his work is to suppress our operations to this world and to this world alone.

As I am not constrained to follow Al-Ghazali and as I am directed to follow Data Ganj Baksh, instead of being disturbed by Al-Afridi I am taking this opportunity to give my first exposition of “Kashf-ul-Mahjub” and shall comment on it as I see fit, though I may stray far in order to give my version of Afridi’s paper, remembering it is my version. Nor shall I use such words as “logical; “reasonable,” etc. because unless the subject-matter impresses the reader the whole thing is nufs. Whether I write on nufs further depends on what may be impressed during the writing that proceeds:

Text: The apostle said: “If ye knew God as He ought to be known, ye would walk on the seas, and the mountains would move at your call.” The great division between the people of reason and the people of insight is that the former are compelled to accept this literally or not, and end by becoming hypocrites. They dare not deny what is presumed to have come from Mohammed and they usually end by saying, “Weak hadith” or a challenge but their own egos they do not challenge. And I say, “If he knew God as He ought to be known, you would walk on the seas, and the mountains would move at your call.”

The difference between the mystic and the scientist is that while both study phenomena the former studies them either in relation to the whole, or in feeling toward the whole while the latter studies everything apart. The Prophet on the Grand Night saw the Seven Aspects of the universe and then he gave the Qur’an, knowing he would have to offer it in the Arabic language and to most ignorant people. For revelation cannot be complete unless it is given to and understood by the most ignorant. This last is clear in the teachings of Isa. Isa did not give his teaching to the ignorant but to the fairly learned and to complete revelation it had to be offered to the most ignorant and at the same time allude

to the highest wisdom.

March 19

After preparing for interviews at UC and radio station KPFA received a long letter from Anwar Hussain, ‘pindi, instructing me to do just that. The Pir has collected 15,000,000 Rs. for the university and expects my cooperation. Reported to Metz, Asia Foundation and he directed me to Ford Foundation to get equipment for labs and shops. Will do soon.

Interview with Strong very important:

a. Buddhism. Protested against the appearance of Daisetz Suzuki but that worthy is ill. Have now written long letter calling attention to existence of Vice-President of World Buddhist Federation, Paul Fung, in our midst and written a long send-off for Paul. Besides as I am personal rep. of Sogen Asahina at Kamakura can back this up by showing credentials. Also mentioned Eidmann but Paul should appear.

Saturday attended Buddhist Assn. services in Chinatown and lunched. Must write as other Americans who go not interested in Buddhism but in social affairs. Saw Della. Suzuki going to Japan but not until another Zendo is opened in Monterrey district. Talked to George Fung Saturday night. Very cordial, so am sending him letter in re Paul.

b. Sufism. Strong approved of relations with Islamabad U. and am writing soon. But also received letter asking for information on space. Instead wrote first commentary from Kashf-ul-Mahjub, saving one carbon for Mawlawi, others to go to Pakistan.

Need to settle once and for all methodology. Wrote Saladin in regard to European situation, but immediately after letter was completed door bell rang and in came Bryn.

c. Beorse. Evelyn left with people named De Sablo, 1329 H St., Sacramento. Sending carbon to Vera in case she desires to call there. Bryn satisfied. He would like to contact Jon. His plans to go to Pakistan still open and we had two long discussions:

1. He favors my writing to Pir Zade and he approves my desire to use a Gatheka-Gatha method (not necessarily Githas yet) to spread Sufism in Pakistan by a modern method. He thinks that Bhakti should unload papers which do not belong to her. May write Aramdarya first. Otherwise will simply see what Edward has. Have also written to Bill to contact Edward in this regard. Edward said I could have his papers any time.

2. Terry Duce spoke last Thursday on the need of desert research and reclamation. Told Bryn I thought we might make connections for him either with Islamabad U. or with the Pakistan Govt. Bryn has been working on Salt-Water research. Long technical discussion and total agreement. But also found an old letter from U. C. on desert research. This means a long letter soon to Terry. Pir-o-Murshid’s transcendent instructions to make friends with Terry’s friends now turn to reaching him. After diary-entry will visit American Friends of the Middle East and then possibly Mawlawi. It seems doors open rightly.

Alumni Assn. Accepted with enthusiasm my plans for international and also presenting this at the Asia Conference. Called on Paul Keim later and he also endorsed.

Paul Keim, Engineering Dept. He reports failure of Foreign Aid. Asked me about soil and crop program and he accepted my suggestions which will go into official report. Will take this up with Egyptian Consulate this A.M.

Anthropology Dept. Etc. After leaving Strong went to this department to show them copy of The Religion of Java by Clifford Geertz. This is another one of those things. This book was published by U. C., written by a U. C. professor who lived among Asians and has written a detailed, factual, objective report and it has no standing! Fellow victim, fellow-sufferer but the ladies there did not exactly embrace me physically. It increases my prestige when I find these things out. In the other parts of the campus Geertz is unknown, just a long string of the real Americans who go to real Asia and have real findings.

Paul above said, “Sam, do you know what is wrong?” Then he put his hand over his heart. But we spend billions of dollars and get nowhere and here is one of our top foreign aid men in total agreement.

Next step is to meet Prof. Mendelbaum, authority on India. He was away. (Note: Puck had his hand here. Have two friends who work for the department. Honesty is always the next to the best policy. The first is, be successful.)

Then showed the people in the S. Asian and Far East Departments my picture at the stupa of Buddha.

Comparative Religions. Some time ago I placed before Swami Kriyananda a plan for studying Sepher Ha Zohar and comparing it with Indian materials. He wants collaboration but said he could not find a peaceful place—and he goes around as a Swami!

Strong placed before me his detailed plans and this means I can go to California and work on a paper which would get recognition. There is no problem for me.

Chaudhuri. In preparing to meet Strong I found a lot of excellent material on Sri Aurobindo, and planned to send it. Bat I received a letter from Haridas setting forth his plans so have written him in some detail.

The way he was treated at the last conference on Asia was a shame, and I am half afraid it will happen again so will soon be taking this up. People ask me if I am using him, yes. Why not? He presided at the funeral service for the Indian Consulate showing he has official approval. But if Moore or Northrup show up I am willing to face arrest. The counter balance is simply I shall go in the Murshid’s robe and then people will watch. So I am going to write Strong about people with real credentials or else.

On the agenda also is letter to Shahab. Am playing my cards one by one but having them, there is no fear. Now have practically every Asian community in S.F. for me, whatever that means … stopping here.

Visit to UAR consulate excellent so plan for Terry Duce all in order. Check arrived, making up for definite of last two months.

1088 Fulton Street

San Francisco, 17, Calif.

March 27, 1963

My Dear Saladin,

When I was in Cleveland in 1930, I read The Lives of the Adepts by Efleki in French. It made me very lonely indeed because these Sufi saints had had experiences to which my own were akin and there was nobody to talk to about them. It really pushed Rabia and I apart plus the fact that I defeated her in a public examination—there were about 30 contestants. She never forgave me. It is only now that a descendant of Jelal-ud-din Rumi has come here that I could really open up.

In Pir-o-Murshid’s first constitution everything was to depend on spiritual development, but he found that this could not work in the West. In Egypt they have open brotherhoods when there are no Murshids and closed brotherhoods when they do, but all respect each other. This is determined by experiences in fana-fi-lillah which is very definite.

One of my closest friends in Pakistan is Professor A.A. Siddiqui, Punjabi University in Lahore. He has been afraid that because of my Western background I would introduce an unwelcome latidudarianism. The story becomes humorous:

A. I told him that when I should become a Sufi Murshid I would restrict myself to the Azan and Fateha and not even use Qur’an, much less the traditions. This disarmed him.

B. This was useless because in the meanwhile he became a Sufi disciple himself and was a little perturbed that I was not a disciple of Pir Dewwal Shereef. But when I came to Lahore last we were so much in agreement and I was already a Khalif, outranking him in his own school.

In 1956 I spoke at the University on the Sufic interpretation of the Old and New Testaments and in the comment he contrasted me against Maheboob, his sons and Vilayat, saying that they had not even touched the surface where I had plumbed the depths. Now I add to this that Hassan Sani Nizami, son and successor of Hassan Nizami and therefore an important Pir-o-Murshid, considers me as the successor to Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. He was with me when we visited the tombs of the Four Great Saints—Amir Khusrau, Nizam-ud-din Auliya, Inayat Khan and Hassan Nizami. If you want details of what happened, I shall tell you. But the substance of my spiritual life can be summarized in my relations to Nizam-ud-din Auliya and the events of Khilvat in Fairfax in 1925. The last have been practically rejected by almost every disciple of Inayat Khan and accepted totally by every spiritual teacher whomsoever and wheresoever otherwise.

In 1923 Pir-o-Murshid gave me a very long interview in which he outlined the need to contact the intellectual people. He said in that private interview, and again in one of the gatherings of all mureeds that we must not appear exotic and must reach folks in their own language and habits. This sent me on a very long intellectual journey, or many journeys into which we shall not go now.

Just as in Pakistan I can teach all Sufism, God willing, from the Azan and Fateha, so in the West I can teach all Sufism from the invocation and the Three Prayers–Saum, Salat, and Khatum. I have long ceased to hope to convert any relative of Pir-o-Murshid to these prayers, but there is always the possibility that one might accept them, just a little, on rare occasions. I am not fooling.

Your report to me shows that none of them believe that God Is the Only Being. They do not believe that “In God we live and breathe and have our being.” They cannot conceive that we are parts of each other as St. Paul said. In other words, what makes a Sufi? It is not a title that you can hand down. The African dervishes do not call themselves Sufis, but agree with Rabia, “I shall be a Sufi, God willing.” And unless they see that Allah is willing, they do not use that appellation. My use of the term is by initiation and not ceremony.

In 1925 I had the first initiation of Khidr and when I was to meet the Pir of Dewwal Shereef I knew it would be a fight to the death. But I did not know whose death. I melted entirely away in his presence. Today I visited Gavin Arthur who is involved in some ESP research. I laugh. Do you think I wait for a letter from either of my Pirs in order to do anything? It is different from kashf or intuition but it works with this faculty.

Now the stream of direction from the Pir of Dewwal Shereef and from Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan are the same. This Pir not only repeated the same instructions, sometimes he even used the same words, as if he himself were merged in Inayat Khan. This is something the family does not, cannot, and will not comprehend. I have been willing, for the sake of love and harmony and beauty to work with them or anybody. Pir-o-Murshid did not make me an esoteric leader, but an exoteric leader, and “leader is he who is leader of himself.”

In the last few days I have gotten complete, satisfactory answers from Princeton and Pitt. Not only that when I visited Berkeley, my suggestion on a world problem was accepted and I know my other suggestions are going through. All signs point to it. I am not worried over the private opinions of people who have not seen the face of God, or Love. The subject with Princeton is Sufism itself, and with Pitt, world harmony and peace. And all my suggestions have been accepted, with thanks, by people who are moving in large arenas.

I was away when the Bridey Murphy stuff became public. I met Bernstein, and liked him, but he has the Shangri-la dream. Not so his closest friend, who asked for Bayat and received it. But it was on condition that he give me no gift of any sort and no thanks under any conditions. Fateha says, “All praise is to Allah” and Saum says, “Praise be to Thee.” Instead of gaining financially by mureeds, I have exhausted my resources, and excepting one wealthy lady in Cleveland, gotten nothing but a little hospitality. I have received much more from friends.

I have already outlined my future at the University of California, and today received my copy of “The Lesser Upanishads” of which there are few copies in this country. This, plus the Japanese material which has come my way…. I would not change if I could. I can’t. If you think there has been any break in ties between Pir-o-Murshid and myself it came just once, and that was my doing, when I could not believe what he was trying to tell me. I dare not interfere with transmission. And if I don’t get any answers from Europe, so be it, but whom do you think loses?

March 27, 1963

Dear Saladin:

My dates have been slightly mixed. Something happened last night which stimulates making a record. This will go in my biography made later on.

When I was studying Organic Chemistry, I took into account many facts and factors not usually observed, discussed them and then added how they affected the technique and results. I learned this , in part, from studying Steinmetz. The result was that my lab. notebook was taken at the end of the term and kept on record as an ideal notebook.

My peregrinations among the scientists have resulted, usually, in my being invited to join them at levels where only Masters and PhD’s come, not mere Bachelors. If I relate these stories to other people they call it egotism. But I’ll relate one because of the aftermath.

I do not know whether Dr. Turki, head of the National Research Centre in Cairo is a Sufi or not. But he invited me at once to a top level secret meeting where I received an insight so different from what the papers say, that it was not until yesterday that I could speak out and be accepted, with one very notable exception. This exception is Paul Keim of the Engineering Department at U. C. When I saw him last week he asked for an overall on the future foreign aid in Agriculture in the UAR. As Professor Ayers came all the way from Rome to Cairo to see me, it is absolutely impossible for me both to record my diary and have events accepted. It is all called “egotism” and this thing goes on and on and on, and the metaphysical and dialectic people reject me and I know it beforehand.

Robert Clifton (Phra Sumangalo) died, leaving a tremendous number of followers and much wealth. Zoso (Paul Fernandez) died, leaving a widow and few friends. But Paul had the Dharma and Robert had not. All the arguments won’t change this, and all the statements of opinion of the unenlightened won’t detract one bit from the truth. And not all the advice, suggestions or even money is going to change me from being the Fudo successor of Zoso to become the Samantabhadra successor of Robert. When I was called to make some remarks on the death of Robert, I arose and said “Namo Samantabhadra Bodhisattva” and sat down. I don’t know whether the audience understood, but the monks all did, and instead of boring the audience with an oration—negative self-praise, I came to the point. This is the dharma.

I have told you when you come here or we meet I’ll give you my real name. But I have as testimonial the robes invested in public. Why?

The events of 1925 were one and all rejected hither, thither and yon. But when I got to Asia it was not so. Only on my revisit it was the holy men who came and pointed out the person who was blessed by this one or that one because they had seen exactly what I claimed in 1925. In our jury system and our scientific system the corroboration of testimony is not only valid, it is necessary; in our metaphysical (dis)order, it is called “egotism” and is rejected.

While those moribund Inayatis are criticizing me and loathing one another, what is to stop me from re-instituting the Meditation on Salaat wherein I can lead anybody toward fana-fi-Rassoul with or without papers. Or to restore one of the two original methods of Pir-o-Murshid, to teach Zikr and not a lot of philosophy and esotericism no matter how worthy? When the day comes, will do.

When you have Sufis walk 50 miles—before Kennedy said anything—to kiss the ground or hail me for my experiences of 1925, what is the comment? They have seen what happened. And then the Khalandar saw much more—and others after him which leads to the event of last night. When a single mureed can arise and said: “I know Thee as Rama, Krishna, Siva … etc.” this person will resign. But I can assure you this cannot happen.

The whole history of Major Sadiq—my steadfast upholding of him in times of dire distress and finally his beholding Jesus Christ, and in a way even few Christian mystics have seen him was the sign for my leaving Pakistan. “It is finished.” “When the gods arrive, the half-gods go.” Like Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Nizami I don’t put on a false cloak of humility; I go and study with others, just as he did. The “humble” speak softly and gently and never study with anybody or take anybody’s advice.

One day in Fairfax we were studying Masnavi and Pir-o-Murshid suddenly appeared and said, “Be a flute.” I became a Flute and this flute has been demonstrated in two ways—as the Flute-of-Rumi and as the Flute-of-Krishna. As the Flute-of-Rumi it has been shown to Farooq Malawi, Jelal-ud-din’s descendent and accepted by him, and “to hell with the Inayatis.” And last night it was demonstrated in front of about ten people, only this time Sri Krishna appeared and told me what notes to produce and this was done. It is done by fana, self-effacement and I carry this inner music and it may be given to the world, inshallah. Besides this Pir-o-Murshid left a Mauni system and I have given this away or it will not be part of the future Sufism as such, so I have returned it to the proper school of Indian traditions.

I have also pulled a fast one on two leaders here who have not recognized me. I have written Chancellor Strong of the University of California a long letter recommending Paul Fung as the Buddhist leader; and Haridas Chaudhuri as the interpreter of Indian philosophy. While these men never recognized neither have they done me any harm, and my work with them will be done if I can push them upstairs. I can go further and almost predict that Paul will fail unless he stops recognizing external positions and Haridas will not fail for he would rather sacrifice his whole being, even to God, than fail. Watch and see. In front of Lottie (Zoso’s widow) I demonstrated to a skeptic that it is easier to conquer a country than one’s own evil passions…. This partly as diary. News may or may not follow.

SAM

April 2, 1963, evening

My Dear Aramdarya:

My position at this time is again a testing ground, whether I can hold out at all. Perhaps a wise God has provided me with some setbacks, for I am utterly unable to carry on, and am going away next week to get a new view of life. Even that will not be a sinecure. Everybody expects things of me and only one person is really helping out at all. That is Bill Hathaway of Santa Barbara, who had one Bayat and who also occasionally lived at Fairfax. We are totally unlike each other in everything, but we were probably brothers in former lives.

Near East Complex. There is nothing but good to come from this direction but the quantity of effort is almost beyond me. The Sufi who is here is from this region, a descendent of Jelal-ud-din Rumi, the great poet. We have had two visits. The situation is complex because of my strange relationship with one Yvonne Engel. She is the only daughter of our Senator. When I first met her, I was drawn very close and I may have written to you before that our Suns are practically conjunct. She has had much of the same tragic background, and has been caught in the midst of several complexes which are most difficult to decipher.

Out of a clear sky I learned that some people intend to finance her in a project which I had, for years, tried to get over here and was rebuffed, then, by the “love, harmony and beauty?” Sufis. All I can say at the moment is that it concerns the Near East and now she is beginning to understand me, and Sufism.

Cross-trailing this has been the request for certain articles which I have written. I know beforehand that these articles are going to gain me both friends and enemies, unless, as it was in Pakistan, they are presented publicly by someone else, who will then have to stand the gaff. All I can say here is that the persons whom I am benefitting are all friends of Terry Duce.

India Complex. I have gotten three rebuffs and one effort has not yet been answered. To “avenge” myself I have gone to bat for the leading authority on India, who himself has been rebuffed because he does not toe the mark of an approach which is impossible for an Indian. He simply does not understand what is expected of him; I mean it is something outside Indian consciousness. This, in turn, is making him realize where I stand. But before him I have had the awful experience of seeing two fellow Californians go to India, become spiritually enlightened, and then getting snubbed all over.

For there are many conferences going on here on “cosmic consciousness” and the “great awakening” and while we still have to see many ex-madames lead them, we are only a step away from that, and I am not talking anything silly. Drunkards, promiscuous men, and whatnot are in charge of these affairs, and are being taken seriously by the public.

Buddhism. It has taken me about 12 years to get the leading Buddhist here to understand my own point of view. I have also gone to bat for him, although this may mean my total debarment from certain groups. I accept that. The type of stuff peddled as Buddhism here, and the types of people regarded as “experts” have not only made the rest of the world shudder at America, but the rest of the country shudder at California.

India & Integration. On the world scene my colleagues have been entirely successful but correspondence is not easy. In the meanwhile I ran into a representative of Tagore today and this is going to enable me to present my poem to him. I said nothing but showed him my copy of “The Lesser Upanishads.” This was given to me in India, but is so poor a copy—very atrocious paper—I am going to have to type it. One cannot even Photostat it if I had the money—which I do not. I feel very good here.

Pakistan. Here again I have to help rather than be helped. I am going to have to write out “Moral Culture” and then write the commentaries on it. After that if I can obtain it, “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.”

The University has required my help but here again this is more typing, even though somewhat successful. Rosy predictions do not get my typing through. I have been given until July 23 for this, which is a sort of spiritual deadline, if I can hold out and I am not the least bit sure I can.

Grapevine. I have written the Reinholds the strange situation. When I said the grapevine was against me, that was “paranoia” but now the grapevine is against me and it is disgusting. The scandal mongers have attached themselves on to a person who was leading the scandal-mongering against me and are having a field day. I have been able to look at these people one by one. The psychologists never pick on the villains, only on the victims. So it is cold comfort that I’m getting a sort of good name the wrong way.

Paul Reps is now back in Hawaii. The grapevine has it that he may come here to see a publisher but no conformation. Since I saw the 600,000 displaced persons in Karachi in 1956 I have never felt comfortable; and since I have met so many actual Murshids and Masters I am unable to conform to a lot of things which look simple but easy.

Yoga. This note is of an entirely different order, nothing but progress and wonder but still a little unresolved.

Bryn Beorse certainly knows some of the relations of this Sufi, Farooq Mawlawi, but I have not told him about this incident. He it too mixed up in his own affairs to have time for anything or anybody else. When he comes down here again I’ll arrange a meeting. There will be a big gathering next month for him over near the University of California.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad

Of great interest and importance to me personally has been the interpretation of the Lotus by both Iru and Paul which are going to help me no end in “The Lotus and the Universe.” I should be working on my copy for submission to the publishers this week. The Universal Church has used the Lotus-theme all over and I feel very happy about it.

Neo Dhamma Society. I shall not get mixed-up with these people. First, I like the Lotus, as opposed to the Wheel or Swastika as the Buddha-symbol. Next, these people are introducing a dialectical Buddhism and I have a horror of dialectics.

The first efforts of the Theravadins resulted in a long, drawn-out battle with the Zen people here. Then we had one Sister Dhammadina come here and her moral background was no different from that of the men who are lecturing on “Dzen” and “Cosmic Consciousness.”

The Neo Dhamma Society is an attempt by Americans to reintroduce Theravada without a Sangha. This is nonsense. And now, with Paul lecturing on Buddha and sorrow and pain, I see no reason for anybody to unite with such a group. It serves no function at all excepting to satisfy the egos of those involved. And if they have abandoned the problem of suffering, they have equally ignored the process of enlightenment and emancipation from pain. If a Mahayana group deals with the historical Buddha and the law of Causation and the Eight-fold Path of deliverance, there is no place, to me, for a semi-phony Theravada group. But they will probably join in the Wesak Ceremony and I shall report later.

Phra Sumangalo’s two associations, Brian Goode and James Wagner are very busy running around and next time I see them I’ll try to get more news from them.

Japanese Buddhist Association. I am submitting to them, today, the carbon of my talk, “Chinese Influence on Japanese Art.” They may want me to deliver it to some of their groups. As years go on, I am getting an ever-increasing knowledge of both Chinese and Buddhist art. I remember saying it takes 40 years to turn page one. I began this study, however, in 1928. The 40 years aren’t up, but I began the Zen in 1920.

 Please let me know about the Encyclopedia.

 Faithfully,

 S.A.M.

April 3, 1963

My dear friends:

The one between gossip, sermonizing and news is often very thing and I feel like that now. My whole objection to the teachings of what is known as “Oriental Philosophy” is that words and persons have taken the place of realities and when it comes to the direct insight which is called “Prajna” in Buddhism, a thousand manifestations by the “wrong person” are rejected because a humbug said—and he was well beloved: “that the right means in the wrong hands are wrong.” Opposite this is the extreme teaching of the Patriarch who refused anything wrong but did observe the existence of ignorance. But as the glamour of persons controls so much of our lives and thoughts, we cannot realize how simple or intricate are the affairs of others because we tend to observe and sometimes them by a different standard that we are able to apply to ourselves.

The Heart—Sciences are unknown in the West and the first very slim effort on the part of fellow Americans who here an inkling into them is nothing but the shadow of Christ-crucifixion. But the willingness to accept delightful personalities as the emissaries of the universe has been the source of the tragedies, and comedies of “Mother” and “Daughter” here. Of course “Mother” is not “Mother” and Daughter is not “Daughter” and yet both are. At least there is and admittance of an aeonic karma which has produced the laughter, pain and tears of all of us and we recognized it.

The Music Box is owned and operated by Grace West Frye. When I left she was on Grant Ave almost in the middle of the Beatnik district and there is no doubt that her transference led in part to the downgrading of the area. She had no relation with the Beatnicks other than propinquity, but their common adjacency helped to bring people there. For Grace is a pioneer and a firm advocate in real Folk Arts. Her present marriage to a man half-Greek and with a double Christian heritage plus her own adherence to a sort of folk-lore Judaism keeps both of them in harmony with universal outlooks. This is immediately reflected in the programs here covering almost every period of musical and entertainment and a wide variety of performers and performances not related in the elsewhere. One question I have asked, half in humor and half serious, which nobody here has been able to answer so. How many instruments does Grace play?”

I don’t remember when Donna met Grace but she studied Recorder with her in the past and the rumor was that Grace being up here in part was responsible for her coming to Mendocino. Also her second “wild” husband liked it here.

Grace was always a mother to her classes, but I guess, being older I was more like a brother and in feeling there has been something like it. I know the void in Grace and the difficulty of a type which we may call “Uranian” to find a subtitle mate. I don’t mean “Uranian” which is used by Edward Carpenter and with a slightly different meaning by Astrologers, but it is as near as we have a term in English. They correspond more to the Overman of Sri Aurobindo. The Uranian type of Grace is simple and elegant but very different from what psychologist consider. Even to her present husband who is certainly a Uranian, she is much like a mother.

It was very significant that when Donna showed me her chart, the role of events is evident and my interpretations were both bolstered by what Gavin had told her and from what I see in it. But the chart has limitation in that it only measures the strictly karmic forces and not much the universe of the genius-side of man (Uranian) and nothing at all of the heart side, thought the indicators are there.

One thing I learned from Dr. Baker is that patterns remain until we break them and often they are so big and strong we cannot. Gavin did explain in the basic pattern of Donna’s psyche but the strong urges of sex on one hand and of the heart on another make us difficult and even unnecessary to follow our own “blue-prints.” Her trip to Puerto Rico brought out little excepting more hardship and pain and an almost realization on that she may have to follow a new pattern. It also shows in her chart why she is drawn to Grace and to certain people whom I do not name. I only hope that if she has romance again ether the man’s chart will be drawn up or that the heart rather than the ego or psyche will determine the next step. This is not easy when one has children.

I expect to see her home here which is now rented. She is going to move with the children into a barn on her property and I hope to be helping her in this after this letter is completed—it may be left open. Donna does seem satisfied to be here and the children love it. On the whole I would say she fit in very well with the folks who come to the Music Box where I am staying.

I told both Grace and Donna a little of what I know of Yvonne’s plans and they both like it and feel there is a need for something of that sort. I am observing a lot of the details of observation so I can report more fully when I return—the arrangements of the titles, the décor, the close relations with the clientele and a lot of other things.

It was fortunate I booked ahead of time for within four hours after I arrived all rooms were taken up; Easter has been booked so ahead and after that a cinema company is coming here which will be a great attraction all around. Indeed the question is finding help—cooks, waiters, etc. for even with everybody pitching in, it is not enough and there is not much help available. This is an almost isolate community excepting slightly to the worth, to Fort Bragg.

Donna has a huge car, like a van and I’ll know more about it later, no doubt. The children were too tired. She has Pogo still but I did not check about the other dogs.

I am only hoping to put a touch of courage. I see our society poised between firm pessimism and superficial optimism while I am trying to bring a firm optimism based on the existence of spiritual values—the values themselves and not any talk about them. The glamour of Alan Watts and others has been followed by the very questionable antics of dramatists posing as spiritual leaders, accepted and then behaving as Pied Pipers. This will continue and it is only when we have the victims we are spooked, but it is usual we either become pessimistic or accept another Pied Piper. This is due to the failure of the common religion which even I shudder to consider and at least socially prefer the Alans or the Pied Pipers. But that does not help Donna or the others. If I can bring out “The Kingdom of Heaven is Within” I believe this will be wonderful. And here I go almost like a “father” to Grace’s mother and there may more in it than meets the eyes or the I.

April 4, 1963

Beloved One of God:

For the diary. I am rereading the history of Mathematics, and it is noteworthy that the greatest contributions of the 19^th century came through the discovery of inversion and its use. I am not going to explain what this is. Pir-o-Murshid had one mureed who may not have known much Mathematics, but he discovered and used inversion in his creative efforts. He succeeded with God, but he did not succeed very much with man. People want metaphysics or personality, and because he did not offer metaphysics, he did not establish a movement, and because he has certain peculiarities as a man, he has been ignored. But it is a characteristic of every great beloved one of God to have peculiarities. You are either part of the amorphous clay mass or you are crystallized out. As soon as a person is crystallized out, he is peculiar. But it is the crystal that reflects, or even transmits, the light. The clay cannot do it.

Pir-o-Murshid failed in most things. He came to deliver the Message of God, but ended with a lot of people fighting to get control of the Board of Directors. God did not count. He came to present the term “Sufi” and in most parts of the world, the Sufi means a God-realized man, but now it means subservience to a Board of Directors selected by birth or election and not by the processes which even the Masons demand. Actually the Sufi Orders demand it much more than the Masons, but in practice, the people in Holland and Switzerland and Suresnes have established a school for good and bad people, chosen arbitrarily and without regard to either the teachings of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan or any reference to God.

In the North African Orders, you cannot be called a “Sufi” until you reach a certain degree. Pir-o-Murshid also had a degree called “Sufi” and he gave me bayat in it while everyone else denied it. That was years ago, but already then I had the right to be called “Sufi.” It was only after recognition by many persons in fana-fi-lillah that I was publicly acknowledged as a Sufi, and since my return, the reports are that the Murshids and Pir-o-Murshids all over Pakistan regard me as such. I will not relate the opinion of the Indians. Saida was in many parts of India, but I not tell even her of my relations with the Sufis in that country; it will not be believed. People believe in persons or corporations, they don’t believe in the Living God in whom we live and move and have our being, much less have the experience.

Yesterday’s paper had a headliner on the growth of promiscuity. I don’t know whether it is true or not, but I do know there is no “solution” in sight. The Sufi receives two problems from Pakistan. He does not avoid and does not pontificate:

1. The psychological problem was met by the assignment to the mureed of suitable practices in Ryazat. Although in a sense, he was not ready for those practices, he was facing the problem for which those practices are the solution. It was assumed that God had permitted the problem and therefore, God would permit the solution.

This is the Sufi way. It is not the way of many who call themselves “Sufis.” The people in Europe may have legal organizations, but they are not part of one another. No man is a Murshid who does not feel first and then partake next of the pains, trials, and tribulations of mureeds.

Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan said “I learn more from my mureeds than they learn from me.” It is evident that most mureeds did not learn much from him at all.

The death of Rabia resulted from the most flagrant disobedience to the instructions of Inayat Khan. She used to tell us about those instructions over and over. When David, her husband, was ill, she gave a self-praising lecture on the point. The same was true of her daughter Etta. But when she became ill, she took exactly the opposite course and her daughter accused me, and successfully, of failing to heal her mother, when all the time the mother was doing everything the opposite of what Pir-o-Murshid had told her.

To one who was initiated before the establishment of an IHQ at Geneva, it is illegal and immoral to require his obeisance to an artificial order. In 1925, the then Secretary-General failed in his efforts to explain the difference between mureed and member. He was overruled and outvoted, and later Pir-o-Murshid told Saladin: “They have taken my organization from me.” The papers which belong to the Sufi Order and not to the IHQ were seized and became corporation property. No man then and no man since has reached or can reach the God-consciousness. This comes either through following the Pir, or as Saladin has done, inverting—which is very different from reverting. In the inversion methods, often the Murshid appears as the disciple of the Mureed, learning from him; or the mureed turns inside-out the teaching (inverting)—he does not, however, go in the opposite direction (reverting).

The second problem from Pakistan was of a material nature, but the actual was already taken. When one pursues tasawwuri, he knows what the Murshid wants and does it without visible connection. There may be a dozen books called “Mind-World,” but so far, when it comes to the understanding thereof, practically speaking nobody, unless again, one refers to the inversion method.

Baba said: “Let the heart come, let the mind go,” and then gives us a tremendously detailed book of blueprints, telling God exactly what His traffic rules are and threatening Him with jail sentences if He does not obey them. Saladin Reps just gave us some art forms illustrating what the heart can do when the mind and ego don’t get in the way. We prefer the “fun” of having the mind and ego.

Going to a psychiatrist was a method Pir-o-Murshid would have used, to study the modern sciences. The psychiatrist did one thing which nobody else had dared to, excepting the Pirs—study the history of pain and tribulation of the person and see what could be done to pull him out of it. This is something which has gone down now and comes up to study the history of pain and tribulation of persons—and nations—and come up with some kind of answer. Of course, at first these will be rejected—peculiarities again—metaphysics or personality wanted. But in due time the Sufic psychological methods will win out. No IHQ can control them and there are “Akashic Records,” whether they are what HPB said or not.

This person is forbidden to join a sect and no justification by sect will do anything more than keep people apart. The almost universal recognition in South Asia will be followed no doubt, later on, in a campaign to bring all the Sufi Schools together. This will be action and not talk, and the dead will bury their dead.

Sam

April 15

I was about to write to Saladin when another foment, and I had to call the police. The circumstances around here have been thoroughly complicated add messed up. Yesterday JS called for his things and found his room occupied and he can’t get his furniture. K. who now has it has been trying to make a deal with L. and she been so undecided I could not find out, Norman does not want to move but the circumstances over at Isabel’s are so such more conducive to peace and with the possibility now for the first time of getting help, pay or no pay, can hardly be refused. Besides this offer came immediately after an hour’s meditation at Master Too Lun’s, like a miracle.

Now this has been compounded by my having all the basis materials of POM. But I am astonished and joyful that the best teachings of PoM appear, not in the esoteric papers, but in A Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty. This has not been studied, not only not between the lines but even the lines. Almost every phase gives a lie to the European claims and statements with their Sufism sans Allah.

Last night, no peace and I have written to Iru, copy to Saladin. I see no value in going to forums where people speak on religions they have neither studied nor practiced and what is more don’t respect those who did. When a man said that the Zen with a purpose was not Zen and I gave him a top-dressing: “It is time that a few people listen to those who have had some Zen training and not to a motley lot of ex-patriate Germans, Englishmen and social outcastes. If one took the trouble to study Zen literature or to meditate with a Zen master they would know different. I appear to be the accredited representative of Zen Masters, and whether this is received or not place it alongside a lot of humbug which is now called Zen.”

After the meeting a couple did ask where they can study Zen and I told them but cannot yet favor one group over another.

P.M. This remains a most hectic day and again it may be necessary to call the police. Arrangements with Isabel seem most satisfactory in all directions and we have agreed down to details concerning Kim and Daniel.

For the first time the World Affairs Council has accepted my application for a Seminar on Asia, this after at least four rejections with the phoniest excuses. Have already protested on reports against Pakistan elsewhere. While this is a sort of show, the loss of life, the continued battling, cold war or not, caused merely because our Foreign Services point blank refuse to accept warnings from people on the spot, keeps us in turmoil.

Syria has rejected Lowell Thomas’ report on “Lawrence of Arabia” and rightly so. The mishmash caused by this phony is beyond our conception.

All of this is overbalanced by the materials copied in between from A Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty. One does not have to seek poise, it is right there. That book is going to be my Archimedes lever by which I may move the whole earthy inshallah.

1088 Fulton St.,

San Francisco 17, Calif.

April 17, 1963

My dear Jack:

On: The Buddhist Encyclopedia and Other Matters

Last week I went to the village of Mendocino about 300 miles to the North and spent four lovely days with friends and artists that have established a colony there, yet unspoiled. The previous artist, now arty colony is to the south of here and Mendocino is to the north. At the former place you can hear a lecherer and an adulterer lecture on Zen or Buddhism or Cosmic consciousness; or one of your fellow countrymen by birth tell us what drug produces what samadhi. The respectable people go and go now in large numbers because there is no question that in this region the pervading religions are on the downgrade.

The surprising good time contrasting with years of difficulty caused me to change a method of living. Now the interpretation I have of the crucifixion is that it means the death of the ego; and of the resurrection is that it means the full an-atta life. I therefore resumed a practice I learned from Sokei-an Sasaki of anatta in everyday life, and the abandonment of effort and especially the aiming at success. (Assorted)

The first thing that happened was in going into Fields Book Store—where you can buy an number of books of Zen and Buddhism written by people from almost every country in Europe and a few Americans. Up to this time there was none by any Russian and I saw one by a Russian which I purchased immediately: “Buddhist Logic” by T. Stcherbatsky, perhaps the one man on the whole continent I really respect.

Sometimes I feel like establishing an Arya Dharma Society devoted to anatta, anicca and dukha. It is certain that as mushroom organizations and anti-social speakers are offering all kinds of things called “Buddhism,” the contemporary discoveries in Physics and Cosmology are sustaining this Arya Dharma no end, just as the previous work in Genetics, Biology, etc. did. And later on I have to review the “Buddhist Logic” for you; for I feel it will apply to contemporary Physics and Psychology, and equally will not apply to much which is offered as Buddhism.

I next received a report from Paul Reps who is now in Honolulu, which is enclosed. The receipt of this activated Prajna and I suddenly changed plans and went to the meeting of the combined Bhinest Buddhists, excepting the Fung group. It was well I did.

Wesak Day. In my absence the Soto Zen group took over the celebration of Buddha’s birthday according to the Japanese calendar. I am told it was the largest gathering ever in this vicinity, which confirms my statement that the prevailing religions are going down and people are seeking. Sensei Suzuki is going to Japan, and I’ll find out more later.

It is very curious that while Paul Fung is the Vice-President of the International Buddhist Congress, all the other Buddhist groups have united to some extent here and have joint meeting of all kinds. Leslie Lowe of Los Angeles died in my absence—I have known him for a long time, but not too well. Ira Price has taken his place and here I am more fortunate than you, for the mehta which existed between Phra Sumangalo and myself continues not in his goings, so to speak, and I have the same feeling both without reason and without ego to Price, Wagner and Goode here.

There is a compromise Wesak Festival to be celebrated here in San Francisco on May 5, and it is hoped even Vice-President Fung may attend. All the other Buddhist groups—Chinese, Japanese and Caucasian, are uniting, and I think this is remarkable and the dream of Dwight Goddard, so to speak, has come true. I have volunteered to help and was put on the program.

This is amusing to me because again I have been given the brush-off by the Americans and the professors. But now my relations with all the Chinese Buddhist groups is excellent and they recognize me as the representative of Phra Sumangalo, as the agent for “The Western Buddhist,” and in my own right.

Next week the program will be in the hands of the Neo Dhamma Society which is trying to revive a sangha-less Tipitaka Buddhism, with a combination of morality (badly needed), contemporary cultures, and, alas dialectics. Americans simply cannot face anatta, anicca and dukha and they want to be Buddhists and I want to face anatta, anicca and dukha regardless of any appellation.

In the course of the service Iru held up the first fascicule of the “Encyclopedia of Buddhism.” Well, I have waited forty years, and “Je l‘ai” or “Eureka” or whatever you want.

One looks over the Advisory Board and the Board of Honorary Editors with some (not too much) satisfaction. Humphreys is there and Daisetz Suzuki is not. Edimann is not there and there are more articles by one H.G.A. Van Zeyst than anybody else. He appears to be a linguist and a dialectician, so business is back at the old stand.

In the section on the “Absolute” Brother Van Zeyst has abstracted Buddha right out from India and made him a good nineteenth century German. However he has fairly successfully handled the whole thing from an an-atta point of view. This is followed by a longer and finer historical article by one Yoshiro Tamura who tells us all but Buddhism and then plunks right back to Hegel. No more Samadhi, no more Meditation and of course, no Prajna!

Finally there is another article on the “Absolute” by one Andre Bareau, translated into English. He puts the Absolute of Buddhism back where it belongs, not to Hegel, or to reviewers abstractions from a lot of nonsense, but to the Four Noble Truths and the Udana, and he quotes the Udana and after reading a mass of speculation, you have it in clear language, in language also that I believe is accepted by all true followers of Arya Dharma: “There is, O monks, a non-born, a non-arisen, a non-made, a non-compound, for if there were no non-born, no non-arisen, no non-made, no non-compound, then no escape would be made from what is born, what has arisen, what is made, what is composed.

The article by Bareau is much shorter, more succinct and more apt.

I may give a partial later review of this fascicule. But what I am concerned with, is have you either this or the Buddhist Logic as above?

Sunday I go to the Universal Church. They are announcing themselves as the “Pristine Dharma” and at the same time using the Diamond Sutra and the sutra of the Sixth Patriarch which, whatever else may be said, are anything but “pristine.” Fortunately on May 5 somebody is giving the main sermon on “The Life of the Buddha.” We have had 50-11 speaker—probably more on “Zen,” “Buddhism,” “Cosmic Consciousness’ and nobody has spoken in English on the Buddha.

Theologically I don’t care but psychologically do and here there is a growing amount of delinquency, promiscuity and vileness, for which the churches have no answer. At the same time there is growing interest in the practice of meditation. The “Yogis” are too concerned with postures and the Soto people so far are too “orthodox”—i.e. they do not take into consideration the difficulty facing Americans who cannot do lotus-posture.

Incidentally I now have so much material on the Lotus that I shall have to cut down rather than otherwise in my book. The people in Mendocino wish to print part of it as review material. This is a good surprise.

Faithfully,

S. A. M.

Samuel L. Lewis

April 18

Beloved One of God:

This is my diary entry. Recently, I had to “reverse my field.” I have had two awkward rejections, the nature of which need not concern anybody. So I began doing something different.

a. Spiritual Music. Completing the typing of “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” I saw it was time to open this up. Then Tuesday night, something happened which gave the sign, and as God has given me some keys, I shall take the next steps very soon. At first it may be only to a few, but if it can be started here, then I would bring it to Mendocino. I never studied the last chapters of this book before, stopping with “Architecture.” I shall return it as soon as possible.

b. Buddhism. Now I find I am in the Wesak Day Program, a huge gathering to take place the first Sunday in May. There was already an immense gathering, the largest in the history of San Francisco, on the Zen celebration of Buddha’s Birthday. I was away.

Also, after waiting 40 years, I have the first fascicule of the Buddhist encyclopedia.

c. The Lotus And The Universe. I find myself in the pleasant, but awkward, situation of having too much material now on “The Lotus.”

d. Editha Blesh came back into my life. She has gotten away from the metaphysical people and told me some awful stuff. But she has not gotten over her habits. Again she struck out blindly against a person, not knowing it was one of my best friends, only this time, it was a man. She is now anti-metaphysical and a member of the Unitarian Church.

e. Rehana. I met Editha at Gale Darling’s home and a good deal of discussion was around Rehana, whom both Gale and I consider the “Mother India” in the flesh, and know Rehana would object to vigorously. But Rehana has had her spiritual come-uppance lately, and although a Krishna devotee, it will be interesting to see how she would react to the Spiritual Music alluded to above.

f. Pakistan. This is a diller. Major Sadiq is now making an effort to come to the United States. I don’t know whether my plans to take another room have any direct connection with this or not. Anyhow, my adopted son, who is also the brother by adoption of the Major’s wife, has met my Khalifa Khawar and fallen in love. I should have wished this, but Khawar did not want a divorcee. Each of these persons has offered me a home—Khawar in Lahore, and the Major Anwar in Islamabad. Have already sent some spiritual instructions, and will add to these. For me, personally, this would be the greatest blessing possible, but we shall see.

g. Islamabad University. The new policy of the American Friends of the Middle East is going to be of tremendous value. We shall see.

1088 Fulton St.

San Francisco 17, Calf

April 22, 1963

Rev. Jack Austin, Editor

“The Western Buddhist”

Dear Jack:

Memories of a Rice Pounder.

Life got too hard so we decided to go back to the neglected profession of rice-pounding. This was taught to me by one Sokei-an Sasaki years ago, but during prosperity and adversity, one tends to be concerned with self. But while most people have road-blocks, this must-be-different person has a bottle-neck. And belonging to the bottle-necks instead of the road-blocks makes one more than suspect. So we began pounding the pavements a la Sasaki, and to use a popular phrase, “Then the fun began.”

You see by this method of rice-pounding you find yourself surrounded by a world which we might call Prajna. It is not the same as the “Prajna” you read of in books, which is translated “wisdom” and which with equal validity might be translated “madness,” “wisdom,” “chicanery,” or “oofle-doofle-ism.” The difference between this Prajna and all the other “prajnas” or pannas is (1) it works and (2) you lost your ego.

Money. There was not any road-block, only a bottle-neck, and as soon as the Prajna stepped in, the shekels followed. I don’t know whether there is any karma or not in it. So we went out and bought some things and were told one must not pay for a whole month at least. This is our “credit system.” Then the bank statements came in, and oh-me, oh-my, there was a mistake, and I had more money than I thought and went out to spend it, and could not. Oh, yes, I bought things all right, but must not pay; this would be social revolution or something.

a. Must send money order to Japan to “International Institute for the Study of Religions,” so one Jack Austin can get the stuff free.

b. Determined to get copy of latest translation called, “Most Excellent Means of Rice-Pounding” or “Sutra of Sixth Patriarch” by one Hui-Neng or Daikan Enō or somebody, translated by Revs. George and Paul Fung (the last shall be first), so bought two copies and then George said, “Will you send one to Jack Austin?” Already having the copy, will do so you will get it under separate cover.

c. The Buddhist Encyclopedia is out, at least First Fascicule. Have you purchased it? Can you get it? If it is available, will reimburse you, and if it is not available will send from here.

Note: The above don’t come off income tax returns because now being free, white, and over 65, no income tax.

Mudra Class.

Last Tuesday night attended Mudra Class and since then found a lot of stuff in the lesser Upanishads which are not very available. Besides, the copy sent me is falling to pieces. So I am copying it as fast as possible (this letter started at 6:30am) and finding a lot of material, available or not. This morning or tomorrow will turn some of it over to an old friend who is also a friend of Evans West.

Rev. Iru Price. My Prajna then told me to break an engagement so I visited the Buddhist-Taoist Association in time to hear a long dissertation on Wesak day and plans for a joint celebration on 5^th May. The brochure is enclosed. I shall find out tomorrow whether Roshi Soyen will be here then, otherwise I am to go as representative of the Rinzai School. After all I do have the written credentials of the two Roshis at Kamakura which not a single “professional” Buddhist has been willing to even look at, illustrating non-ego. In any event I shall let you know more later.

The talk was very good on this point.

Soto Temple. An urgent telephone call asked me to attend, for on the former Sunday only four people showed up. Rev. K. Kato is now directing the services. There were but 20 people present and he is giving a series of talks on early Buddhism in China. Very informative indeed, but totally unlike the other talks there which were mostly on Prajna.

Universal Church. Before going there and above the above I listened to a television program called “Problems Please” by three clergymen on why scientists don’t attend church and they concluded, “It is a problem.” Well I suspect there were quite a few scientists at the Universal Church and if Paul Fung gives another talk like the one he gave yesterday there will be more scientists and more and more.

Paul gave a talk on the early life of Buddha and I suppose it was drawn from Lalita-Vistara but I have not read that nor “The Light of Asia” for years. I am glad he included the “myths” for in this day we are beginning to recognize the validity of many of these myths. But Paul’s talk was largely concerned with the problems of suffering and sickness and those who go in for “Dzen” never touch the subject. Only I am beginning to feel, “When the gods arrive, the half-gods go.”

It is unusual and wonderful to sit in the middle of a large and apparently comfortable audience listening to fundamentals. Paul calls his teaching, “Pristine Orthodox Dharma.” When I was under Sokei-an’s influence I gave my first public talk on Buddhism as “Dharma, Abhidharma and Saddharma.” Roughly speaking one could identify Dharma with Hinduism, Abhidharma with Hinayana and Saddharma with Mahayana.

April 26, 1963

Beloved one of Allah,

This is really my diary entry and not so much a letter and is actually for Major Sadiq. However I shall enclose some of the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan for your studies—one at a time lease. These may be shared, and also translated. As they were published they are not part of the esoteric instruction but later on, inshallah, I hope to send you esoteric comments.

Yvonne is the daughter of a United State Senator. While she is totally unlike me in any and every way I was attracted to her while she has a girl and it may be—if you accept Astrology—because our sun’s are conjunct. We were both victimized by a very prominent person who is accepted officially as the “expert” on Islam, being as all such “experts” are neither Muslim nor American. We had in common getting along with the same people, fighting with the same people and loving the people from the Near East.

Recently suddenly she decided to give up everything to open a coffee and teashop where students from the Near East first, and then other Muslims could meet. There has been no trouble so far in raising either money or gaining interest but her venture does not stay until next month and she must first have a location. Tomorrow night one of her partners, herself and I go to a big dinner given jointly by all the Arab communities of this part of the world and we feel very good about it. Present will be Farooq Mawlawi, the descendent from Maulana Roum. Yvonne had studied Arabic with his predecessor and has already met him. There is a whole history of very pleasant incidents connected with all this alhamdu lillah.

Indian Poets. I have attended sessions on the poetry of Tagore and Aurobindo Ghose. I have challenged the speaker when they over-emphasized the “spirituality” of these men in such a way that while I lost the audiences I won the good will of each. The American public is tired of hearing that every Hindu is “super-spiritual” and the American public would like the poetry of Tagore and Ghose, and the painting of Tagore if the speakers would present the pictures and poetry and stop trying to make gods of human beings. I left last night amidst the best of good will.

“Saladin” I have been very disappointed because use I left abroad three copies of this poem and have not heard from any of the persons. One copy was left in Egypt, one copy with Ansar Nasri of Radio Pakistan and one copy with Miss Khawar. I have to assume that this copy has been forwarded to me. I had a fourth copy and could not find it. Well last night I took out a Mrs. Carrillo here and to my amazement found that I had left the forth copy with her, she will return it, and then I can get it into a form that it can either be read or even submitted for publication. I have recently spent a little time at an artists’ colony some 300 miles away, expect to be there this summer and to read some of my poetry, including excerpts from Saladin.

Spiritualism. I have written to five organizations in this country and exactly one has answered. They are all busy begging for money and ignoring each other. Without going into detail I learned that Mrs. Carrillo has been taking a leadership with an entirely different group of whom I had not heard and last night I was able to open up better than any time in my history since returning. If there is any possibility of major Sadiq coming here, she will offer full cooperation and perhaps more. She did not know of the Sufic or Islamic spiritualism before and it intrigued her very much. But so much has happened in two hours and we must leave more for Allah.

Anyhow between the news of having the copy of “Saladin” available and the other events of this order, the present moment is very pleasant.

African Students. In this building one meets members of an organization called CORE meaning, “Committee On Racial Equality.” But they are so busy arguing with each other that they do not do much. One of their purposes is to entertain visitors from Africa. Now for reasons that may seem obvious to you I have been particularly interested in Niger and what I call the “Swahilis,” the people of East Africa who have a language and culture somewhat resembling Urdu, psychologically. That is, Muslims came and brought their culture but not their basic language.

I attended many CORE meetings but learned nothing about Africa. Two days ago an old family friend who is a Unitarian told me that the members of her church are interested in hosting African Students. So I have telephoned and inshallah, should see these people soon. I am particularly interested in hosting the Muslims among them and will learn more soon. Everywhere I find people who have all kinds of philosophies, ideals, suggestions, but very, very few who will do anything. You can understand why I really have no spare time.

Asian Problems. There is a conference coming on Asia and my application to attend was turned down. Not a single Muslim on the agenda. No Pakistani, no Indonesian, and Malay represented by a Chinese. Meanwhile I have gone around and today am on most friendly terms with Japanese, Chinese, Indonesians, Pakistanis, Arabs and Hindus but not with most Americans interested in “Asia”—whatever that means. So I pray that Major Sadiq may be allowed to come here soon.

Later. Visited Lowell High School, an institution I attended many years ago and learned a number of things which will be of interest to Pakistan.

May 1

Diary way in arrears. Saturday night went with Yvonne and her new partner, Al Goodwin to the very successful Arab dinner. F.L. was there and without ado came to me and attacked Yvonne viciously—the characteristic of those who learn about “cosmic consciousness” at the Vedanta center. Rom Landau also there. This man still considers himself my public enemy #1, so we shall have fun. He does not know Mawlawi comes from a Sufi family.

Sunday morning went to Zendo and heard K. to speak further on Buddhism in china, very excellent from the standpoint of little known research. (On the previous Sunday I heard him speak on Sanskrit influences and after the lecture went up, bowed and said, “Arrigato, arrigato,” thus demonstrating the validity of the Zen uppercut.

Monday morning arose sick and this proved to be a fortune. Addressed the Asian study group at Lowell High and some girls asked me about Indonesian music and art. After reporting went to ferry building, saw the Indonesians and had a fine session. (These people are members of dervish orders despite Landau above.)

Then called at Arab Center. The secretary is leaving and I made first application for Yvonne. Then saw Mawlawi and gave him coy of “The metaphysics of Rumi.” Have already given him my commentaries on Shams-i-Tabriz. The Indonesians returned “The whirling Ecstasy” which I am now typing for Pakistan. In the meanwhile Della has offered to pay me for some garden work and this money will be given to Lorraine to make further copies of “The whirling Ecstasy.” George Fields does not know if it is available and it may take weeks to get.

Then called on Hills to get coffee information for Yvonne. Proved to be very complex subject and must delay, no time.

Then to Indian consulate and got two books, one on mudras which will give to Magana; and other on the Tyabji family, the grandparents of Rehana. Will take this up with Gard Darling later. Very important.

Tuesday very suddenly Mrs. Sigeliev came to town and had to give her most of the day. Lunched in Chinatown—poor meal at high price; then met Master Too Lun who immediately wanted me to join his meditation group. We finally compromised as he has purchased a house near here, but that meant visiting the house. It has 35 rooms and if he rents 20 of them; it gives enough revenue both to pay for this house and for the temple he is building in Brisbane. He wants to appeal to the Negroes and Japanese rather than the Chinese to join him in meditation.

All reports are that all Buddhist groups are progressing in this State, all over, and this means real Buddhists and no more Watsonians and Beatniks. Besides the character of the attendants and even their social positions are not to be sneered at. The Japanese seem to be attracting more of the younger and the Chinese of the older people.

Copying “The Whirling Ecstasy” No time for repose, not even much for prayers and sleep.

May 10, 1962 [1963?]

Dear Saladin:

I am both making this diary entry and replying to your postal, which while it is a time-consumer is also a fundamental.

The arrival of the manuscripts “Saladin” has been followed by a number of minor miracles which I do not wish to delineate here although they would add to the excitement, “glamour” and interest in the biography. There will be a follow-up Monday of a complex sort.

The six conversations with PoM in the Beverly Hills Hotel concerned my three initiations:

a. Khidr; b. Hierarchal; c. Wali.

PoM wished me to write them up. I did, Finis. They were rejected, the reports of our conversations were rejected, the movement split up as I saw it would and ultimately the power, if not the sceptre, would be in my hands. The power is mostly mine by default and not by achievement, because there is practically unanimous rejection of Khatum: Open Thou our hearts that we may hear Thy Voice which constantly cometh from within.

The gifts from Khidr are two, and normally so: Poetry and Longevity. Today they are both manifest. In regard to the poetry I have written to Robert Graves and sent one of the early efforts to Mendocino where it is going to shock the people who think they are studying Judaism. But the shock comes from being totally unusual, and not from going for or against the Philistinism which operates today as “normal religion.”

Before writing Graves I went over the copies I have of early works and the prophetic element is absolutely dominant and it is going to be more dominant, inshallah. Graves repeats Fabre D’Olivet’s theories of inspiration, early Greek poetry, epics, etc. This has already been accepted by Dr. Ghose from Santiniketan.

The repetition of this initiation on a higher plane was witnessed by Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Hasan Sani Nizami and confirmed when I returned to Pakistan. So it does not matter in the slightest what the remaining initiation-disciples of Hazrat Inayat Khan say or opine (they do not think); much less than their disciples who are spreading unconfirmed legends which contradict him. In all the details I could find from Hasan Nizami or his sons or from the old friends of P.O.M. the whole picture is clear and I have also a letter to answer to South India from one of his old confreres.

The Hierarchal initiation will be dealt with lightly here. It was confirmed by various big but “sudden” experiences both with Zen and Sufi people which used not concern us here.

The Wali initiation is the basis of the operations to combat heart-starvation in forward lands and stomach-starvation in backward lands. Either of these are time-consuming and they are the basis of (a) “The Lotus and the Universe” and (b) “How California Can Help Asia.”

With regard the former the Universe is helping. Sunday night I was in the pageant as a Rinzai in commemoration of Wesak and the main sermon was by Brian Goods, disciple of my dear friend, Robert Clifton. Anything he said that bears any relation to the radio, TV, and scholastic isn’t. It is not coincidental, it isn’t. So far as that was concerned, if anybody else on the panel had spoken—and a number of sects were represented—there would be little relation to the Phillistine-paff which operates on TV, radio and press as Buddhism, much less “Zen.”

Brian it, an angel-man though he may not be aware of it. So was Phra Sumangalo. But in talking over with the Americans and Chinese there is a curious acceptance of the Prajna which is to say in Sufi terms, Kashf, which is the continual operation of the attunement of the self-less human mind with a Universal Mind, which is Wisdom, Compassion and Love. This is, the actuality and here the “exotericists” of all groups join.

In Gayan it states, “These two cannot exist together, self and God.” But the dispensing of the prayers is usually accompanied by the dispensing of the fine print. I am regarding the lives of two Muslims—one the grandfather of the lady I regard as “Mother India” and the other of a Saint in North Africa. And they more both engaged in ceaseless arguments about a certain “Islam” whose proponents could quote neither Qur’an nor Hadith. The Mohammed given us by so-called “Muslims” and equally the Mohammed given us by critics have no relation to the autobiography contained in the Hadiths which are on record—which are referred to by both in a sort of off-hand fashion and let go at that. These Hadith confirm the Universe of Wisdom, Compassion and Love.

There is no Sufism which is not operational. This was laid down by Al-Ghazali but writers of both the above camps of ignoramuses treat it syllogistically and dialectically. Suppose we treated Franklin’s kite experience as subject-philosophy; or Madam Curie’s researches. Well, this is what is done with Mohammed, Buddha Al-Ghazali and so many mystics.

We are having locally another cosmic opera. Bishop Pike has attacked the “speaking with tongues” and he is right, that speaking of tongues unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, which is to say the Universal Mind of Wisdom, Compassion and Love is nothing but obsession. This is totally different from Paul who insisted that without the love all was as the sound of brass. But bible-students do not study the Bible. They abstract and select. The whole world is marked by and inability to Integrate.

Now this Holy Spirit may operate through vocal sound—hence poetry; or through music—though I limit nothing. One single man here saved me by instead of ignoring or challenging he said, “Show me.” There has been a whole stream coming from that. I have been able to give to the world Pir-o-Murshid’s Yoga and elements, of the Mysticism of Sound have been demonstrated in my presence by disciples of the man whom I have taught, and to an astonishing degree which none of the Inayati Sufis have gotten. P.O.M. said, “The Message is in the Sphere” and the pseudo-disciples hold it is in the person.

From this you can see I don’t need books, papers, anything but the practices of the Presence of God either by personal effort or by personal surrender. It does not matter. But what is insurmountably difficult is to be called on to be a Khidr Sufi (which is now official), a Hierarchal representative and a Wali simultaneously. I cannot do it and all I can do was the best possible from day to day with no time off.

One of the hardest things to bear is that in the absence of each other, these mutually hating persons, Rom Landau and Ivy Duce, have assiduously avoided each other and pushed their venom at me. This is liable to end now as a comic opera. The presence of the Indonesian dervishes, and of Farooq Mawlawi, the gradual acceptance by the diplomats, and especially the demonstration in Part TV of “Saladin” which has proven to be absolutely prophetic and objective, is going to defeat these machinations, inshallah.

The last attack on me, from another source, has resulted in finding out that the persons concerned have made many enemies. It began with Sam Newson. I said to him, “What about this Asian conference? You know, one of those affairs in which those who do not know tell those who do?” “That’s why I am leaving the country. Then they can’t invite me.” Sam knows more about Japan than practically any other. American and he hides out.

The Conference was on the air and instead of listening to a German Professor tell all about Asia they listened to a retired English diplomat. Then the TV station appealed for funds. I switched to another station which did not appeal for funds and listened to sundry Africans, Asians and Europeans tell what they thought about American foreign policy and American life. Any relation between them and the others is not. What the Asians thought was what they generally think—and no relation to the paff peddled out before the public here. We are losing all over and are going to lose more.

The same is true on the food problems. I won’t go into that. The more campaigns, the more organizations, the less the alleviation especially when the population of the world is growing.

Sound. Your remarks are wonderful and they negate what you wrote previously about holy phrases in English. It is on sounds which have been offered by holy men which have the psychic power. If the words of Jesus had been preserved as the sounds, perhaps the mission of Mohammed would have been unnecessary. But the name of Jesus was not Jesus and when people sing, “Take the name of Jesus with you,” these are unfortunately only noises.

Graves has built a great deal on the very principles you support. There is the seven Vowel Spiritual Name and the Five Vowel Spiritual Name and from these came the seven tone and five tone scales, too. We do not know anymore the origin of do (ut), re, mi, etc. all of which are mantric. They seem to be Latin but ultimately are Indo-Germanic. Mantrams need not be either Semitic nor Indo-Germanic and there are plenty of nonsense sounds too. In the Buddhist lectures it comes out that the originally sound was AH, which is to say the sound of the first letter of those alphabets common to the Indo-Germanic and Semitic speeches, and the first sound of both the Seven-Vowel are Five-Vowel revelations.

The letter “L” makes the smoothest sounds reflected in the Zikr. For Zikr has two meanings—one the remembrance of God and the other the particularizing sounds. The very sounds help the remembrance. In “Irfan” we learn that Allah is not God but the name (sound-base) which God has assumed; or “In the beginning was the word.” Everybody looks for “the Lost word.” I can assure you it is not Om but it also is not-not-Om.

Jesus was more concerned with feeding than with “saving man’s souls” The feeding is the saving. The last lesson of some of the Gospels is “feed my lambs,” “feed my lambs.” There is no hell-fire-damnation stuff. There is very little church-stuff.

In the last century was a Sufi named Waris who did just that. I have his teaching but the only way you can have it now is other to come here or to send some money so I can have it typed. It is beyond my capacity. I could show you the methodology only in person (no cost). Even the late President Prasad of India was among his mureeds—which would shock a lot of Hindus and Muslims both and de refused absolutely by tee philistines who control cultural relations. But President Radhakrishnan knows this and I am pretty sure Nehru does too.

Finally—the Sound-Mysticism in being openly demonstrated now in the Yoga Classes. Reaching a certain point it was agreed that we stop, but there is more living Divine Mother than all the books or theologies or speculations. But we are stopping. Instead the Sound will be transmuted in way or ways more acceptable, a beautiful synthesis, let us say—for the sake of saying—of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan and Sri Krishna.

The shadow of this is in “The Rejected Avatar” which is not quite so rejected now as a poem.

Now as to the food problems. When I came into the top level scientific conference on that in India I was amazed to be greeted by the Hindus: “Where have you been? We have been waiting for you.” We do not understand the Indian mind and we have made it almost impossible to reach it by interposing a bunch of German metaphysicians. But a few scientists who never read the German metaphysicians and who deal with Asians directly know that the only way to help Asians is within the context of their own cultures. The scientists know this, the diplomats do not. It is not an easy world. We are leaving it to the UN instead of God. Now Mr. Master of Names, can you get anything positive out of UN-O and UN-ESCO and UN-ARWA, and Un-and Un-Un?

Somebody has said that the name of Jesus is Yes-Us. It is certainly not un anything.

S. A. M.

May 15, night

Beloved One of God:

This is my diary entry and it has been impossible to keep it in good shape. When the poem “Saladin” arrived I thought it might mean good-luck and it certainly has meant pleasant ironies. After being snubbed for the Asia conference I took revenge.

Chinese. I first either went or was led to the Chinese spiritual groups and am now on good terms with all of them. I remain, too, one of the few Americans to have been initiated into Chinese esoteric Confucianism, or what I prefer to call, Seinism, the ancient wisdom of China. Then I took part in the Buddha celebration with Japanese, Chinese and Americans. The Buddhist movement is now pretty much under control of friends and allies, and has no connection with what passes for “Buddhism” in press and radio, the universities being divided.

Indonesians. On Mother’s Day I took out one Isabel Clark whom I have known for a long time and who had just broken her engagement. We just drifted and had a wonderful time. She told me of Indonesian friends here and I wanted to meet them. Meanwhile I have been calling on any dervish brothers and take books from their library. Now I understand not only I shall be welcome but have been invited to attend an Indonesian wedding. If so, I shall go officially as a Sufi Dervish.

Iranians. My Khalifa, Khawar, asked me to contact an important Iranian Sufi and has again written on the matter. Sunday we wandered into a Baha’i, meeting. I have gone all out for them against “Time” and we had a pretty good get together. Their leaders are Iranians and as they also come from Tehran evidently there is something in the winds. This completes my contacts with Asians from Japan to Turkey and Egypt both included, but still excludes me from all seminars on so-called “Asia.”

Khawar. This is the most ironical of all. Helping her she was boosted as being Public Philosophy #1 and now she reports she was acclaimed as Public Psychologist #1, given long publicity in Pakistan (she sent me extensive clippings) and has been invited to Iran, too.

Now the people who do not realize or accept that it is the mureeds who make the Murshid cannot realize what this means to my face and career abroad. For, every virtue and success of hers is ascribed to my Baraka and not to her personal wisdom.

On top of that she has received another proposal, this time from Iqbal’s son. We had discussed this before and I told her I could not be disinterested because such a marriage would immediately push my poetry forward; for letters from him would help me greatly toward publications. Since my god-son, Anwar has also proposed, this puts me in a strange position for while I have given him a blessing I have given them both suitable Wazifas which will tell their hearts and lead them aright.

Saladin has now been read by the Egyptians and I was most warmly welcomed. They are now believing the spiritual source of my inspirations and are accepting my position in tasawwuf. This will be reported also to Mawlawi, but politically I have been very careful with him.

Monday night I went to UC to a lecture on the relation of Syria to Egypt and sent the speaker copy of Part IV of Saladin. As he was leaving shortly, there was no time for any interview.

This Friday I go again to Berkeley to hear a lecture on ancient Pakistan. I may bring some materials and hope I can find the letter from the Royal Asiatic Society in re: Saraswati River, the course of which has been lost in time. The Consulate, previously cold and antagonistic, gave me an indirect interview today. I answered their questions so quickly I think they were taken aback. Now with the acclaim recently received from Pakistan this is going to be more important. But this acclaim was not for me—following the principle above—it was for Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan whose fame is rising. And as I send even the simple materials I have here it will rise more.

Next week will visit the Consulate again to read articles by some Chistis in the papers. It is quite evident that Sufism is coming forward. The Sufis are too numerous, even too powerful, to be ignored, and it may take Pakistan some time to realize this but this will help in foreign lands too.

It is also obvious that the American prestige, with its dowager attitude toward Asians, brings no love or respect. I am no longer alone, and indirectly am receiving sympathy and good-will from other groups who get the same treatment from the powers that be. Justice means being on the right side, which means the side of the most votes and not on the side of moral principles. Someday, God willing, this will be changed.

Class lesson tonight on Indian art, very different from the metaphysical pamphlets of Sri Aurobindo. The truth includes several views and not empty encomiums.

The interview at the Pakistani Consulate is going to have some merry consequences next week. We shall see.

May 17. God is putting more and more potential power in my hands. I have received a long, cordial and most important letter from an Asian diplomat and if he gets wind of my story, it is going to get around the UN and the whole country is going to get a rebuff behind the scenes.

May 23, 1963

Beloved One of God:

I am taking advantage of your letter of the 20^th to make my own permanent records. For while there have been communications to others concerning history and claim, these have been disjunctive. Ultimately I shall have to have a biographer, knowing exactly why I am functioning here rather than in parts of the world where I might be seated on a throne and receiving encomiums and fortune.

Khidr. In 1925 this Messenger of God came to me and offered me the gifts of Poetry and Music and whatever anybody else says, these are now in my keeping. Besides that he invariably confers longevity. And yesterday I rather shocked my Yoga teacher by walking in with two fifty-pound dumb-bells these being the heaviest handy and he fell out of his chair. ”Sam!” I said “Breath.” But this was actually the first effort to demonstrate on the physical plane the actual responsibilities carried on universally.

Because of the manifestation of Khidr to me, into regalia, Pir-o-Murshid game me long instructions. The dream-nonsense about his having real Khalifas is a denial of what he said both to me and to Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Nizami in New Delhi. Besides he instructed me to go over all his constitutions from the very beginning. Which I did. And after his death, there was another esoteric constitution which removed the very basis of position by spiritual attainment. There were two ways in which one could be promoted. (a) By Sama or Zikr or Sound, (b) by States and Stage, which is to say in Arabic, hal and makam. And there has never been any Sufism that was any different and I do not believe there will be any Sufism different. Other spiritual lines, yes, but not Sufism.

The visits of various members of the Khan family to both Pakistan and India were related to me, with the total absence of any manifestation of progress in state and stage. My final spiritual experience in India in 1956 when I was alone at the Khankah not the Dargah, of Nizam-ud-din Auliya, corroborates the above. And when I completed my first tour last year this time with Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Sani Nizami I said: “This means in effect, that I am the successor of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan.” He said, “Yes.” But the same stand had been taken previously by Pir-o-Murshid’s own spiritual brothers (disciples of either Mohammed Moudani or Hasan Nizami) previously at Hyderabad, Deccan.

This was before I was given the full confirmation of “Sufi” in Salarwala. But actually Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan gave me this sobriquet. He did not change my name or anything but told me to look up some papers and when I looked up those papers I saw he had meant that I was to take the name of “Sufi” but I dared not tell anybody.

Tanasukh of Dara Shikoh. These two go together. I do not know if I am the reincarnation of this Moghul Prince or was instructed by him before coming to incarnation and it does not matter. When Abdul Latif challenged me for not being a Murshid I, finally exhausted, gave in and said, “All right, I am a Murshid and you are my first mureed.” I gave him instructions and within a few hours this 70 year old man had the spiritual realization and came back dancing: “I have a real Murshid! I have a real Murshid!”

This gave me great faith and I found it was easy to communicate with the spirit of Mian Mir, the spiritual mentor of the children of the great Shah Jehan. And if anybody doubted it and I sent them to the Dargah they had the confirmations, not in claims, but in the direct vision and realization.

Spiritual Transmission is demonstrable. Nyogen Senzaki shouted a Dharani at me and years later I told his secretary, “I shall whisper in your ears and you will have the complete dharma and immediately.’ And it was so.

Buddhism. With the death of Phra Sumangalo his disciples have gathered in this region. Now I have been appointed to work for the Encyclopedia of Buddhism and this fits in with my program to visit Los Angeles the early part of the next month. All my intuitions were confirmed last night.

But also the younger men want me to lead in a battle against the TV-Radio-Press-University tripe that passes for “Zen” and “Buddhism” and never existed anywhere but in men’s minds. Indeed the leaders of this stuff are steeped in filth—and recognized socially! Now all the sects here have recognized I have received the Dharma.

My next stage is designated by a little note for Saladin Reps. It is a mistake to consider human being apart from one another. Pir-o-Murshid gave me the complete plans for the Temples and these were unanimously rejected by all the so called plans for the Temple and these were unanimously rejected by all the so-called “Khalifas” who were not Khalifs. As soon as the Universal Church was planned I saw it was the same plan as that of Pir-o-Murshid and I went and worked there. Now they are filled to overcrowding, divided their groups into English and Chinese and still overcrowded.

So this Sufi Lone Ranger is now set to work with Master Too Lun on his temple which also will follow Pir-o-Murshid’s ideas while the people in Europe will labor in vain to set up a rival to the Baha’i Temple in this country and it never will attract humanity. “Unless the Lord help, they labor in vain who build.”

Fana-fi-Rassoul. In Salat this is laid down: Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, Abraham, Solomon, and Zarathustra, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. SAM has achieved his fana-fi-Rassoul in about half of these and some Sufis has seen this. I waited for years for Rabia to have either Jesus or Mohammed appear to her and they did not. But the other day when I was weeding at the Rudolph Schaeffer School the last two manifested and gave me my basic material for “Rassoul Gita” which is to my “Faust” as “Saladin” has been my “Divine Comedy.”

Pike. At times I get irritated that we have to go to India when the Bible distinctly posits a three-body humanity. With the success of my god-daughter, Khawar, I am now able to open up the Three Body Psychology, and it is not pleasant that I have do this from an Indian basis because the Temple in Hollywood will accept it and the Churches will not, Bible or no Bible. Then after they see they are caught, some of them will come out.

When the Methodist held a national assembly in Myrtle Beach they got stuck over a similar issue. I came in the back door and my interpretation was accepted. When one has the communication from and with Jesus Christ, there are no such problems.

Now your problems contain a lot of wisdom for me while you may be having the pain. I had instructions to make a new kind of musical instrument for spiritual healing. I must have a clay or terra-cotta jar of certain dimensions. Those I have seen are too ornate and needlessly expensive. Then I have to attach string to it in a certain fashion. It is barely possible that I shall do this at Mendocino when I go there, and where there are some ceramicists—also musicians. But this music would be for your healing and benefit.

The spiritual healing is much more important. Once I had as injury at Kaaba Allah and the pain was intense and Pir-o-Murshid appeared and said, “Don’t grab your knee, grab your breath.” So I repeated “Ya Shaffee, Ya Kaffee.” And since then when harmed I grab the breath, and in many things grab the breath and thus produce what might pass for “self-healing.”

But there is another method I learned in Pakistan which is called Irfan.

Christian Spiritualism. The Gospel of St. Thomas is so clear that there is need to comment. So far as transmission is concerned I have never asked whether it came through St. Peter or St. Paul so I do not speak with authority. But in one of my forthcoming epics there will be an entirely different Christ. Something like my “Rejected Avatar.”

Yoga. The story got out that this “Rejected Avatar” is a poem of self-pity. So I told of about six Californians all of whom have Indian spiritual awakening and all totally rejected by society. I brought in the Gita translation of one of them and they recognized I was speaking for several persons. Paul Brunton also belongs in this class although he was not basically a Californian. But he had to face Hollywood and now he is a Sannyasin.

On May 30 I shall be in a Yoga pageant at the Marin Art & Garden Center. To this group has been manifested:

a. fana-fi-Rassoul in Krishna

b. Archetypal realization in Saraswati.

But by numinous consent b. has been dropped in favor of a. I tell you, beloved, that Krishna methods would advance in Vedanta and Saraswati methods in Siddhartha.

Rehana is really the Delphic Oracle of India. But she was an oracle, not a seer and we had one difference of opinion that the word was not the thing (semantics.) In her house also there was complete mergence in Lord Krishna, remarkable because she came from a prominent Muslim family. Now she has had the mergence in Lord Krishna and there cannot be any difference.

The subject is this: I said and I say, “Peace” is not a word; Peace is beyond words, beyond thoughts, beyond anything that express itself from below to above. “The thought of Peace is but a thought; thought born of Peace can resurrect the world.”

Jon. He preferred failure in both the human and spiritual world rather than adhere to monogamy. I had it out with him at Kaaba Allah and I saw in London the whole failure. I laugh at his fears of communism.

Bryn Beorse (Shamcher) has gone to North Africa. I saw his worth more in two little stories he told me of his relations with Pir-o-Murshid than in anything else. I have given a long list of people to contact but one is with the key Sufi who is in charge of international espionage, first to save the world from communism, and then to set it on the right path. We knew of the break between Russia and China long before it happened.

The Sufi Hierarchy is a real operational body but its members do not always know each other. They are the protectors of this world. Bryn and Jon never faced each other fully either but Bryn had some idea that “master is he who is master of himself.”

Baha’is. I have had to write them that I believe all knowledge is of God, that instead of God being unknowable, He is the only thing we know. The Gita expresses this in another way. When I was in Hong Kong the Chinese sage and I concluded that the next Nobel awards would be to the Chinese and there have been tremendous advance in Physics all coming out of Yin-Yang application, tested and proven and there is more to come. The very teaching of Baha’ullah are demonstrated there but it proves that God is the knowledge, the knowable and the Knower.

Your Strength. I have about ten times as much to do as I can humanly do but this enables me to do the work of four men. When I was dismissed from and army post, even four people could not do what I had done (I was promoted so there is no sad story here.)

a. Have not gotten Murshid’s records and don’t know how to proceed.

b. Beads for Prayers. I have sent to Khawar for some and am writing again tomorrow. However if illness or weakness persisted, I must send you my own and wait for another string. The best plan would be to leave them at this house (1088 Fulton St. and if you call May 30 (I shall be away) you could pick them up. Then you will get my Baraka, which will be helpful. I was constantly giving these tasbih away before.

c. I have the Burial Service somewhere around and would leave this with the beads. Or I may ask my landlady to copy it. I have already paid her for some typing which has not been assigned.

Rabia used to say: “Bring me thy failures.” In the Murshida, there is no failure but irregularities on the surface of the heart. As one takes out the crinkles and wrinkles thereon, he becomes whole. Salvation mean becoming whole. According to hierarchal law I do not you, carry your failure. I am sorry I cannot re-copy “Saladin” which is the Divine Comedy actually and when published will outlive Dante, inshallah, no as poetry, but as real insight into the real heaven. God is the absolute forgiven. End of record. God bless you.

May 28, 1963

My dear Ruth:

Your voice sounded so pleasant the other night; if I can’t see you, at least I can write and someday I suppose my biography will be written as a sort of life-history of a maverick. I wonder whether you have read the story of Sam Yorti, Mayor of L.A. which is that of a successful maverick. And perhaps like “Trial by Jury,” before the case begins “I’ll tell you how I came to be a Judge.”

I was once seated with the chief Cultural Adviser in Karachi: “I have written a pager on Maize growing in Hasara District. I believe it will be published if it has not been already. But I did not write on the Ethnography, Folk-lore and Religion of these people because I know it would be rejected. “I agree with you.” And I can assure you I have not only been in the same strange lands se Arnold Toynbee and Editor Sulzberger, but had the same hosts. And I can further assure you that whenever Toynbee, and Sulzberger differ I agree with Toynbee, adding that at least two of his hosts grow blue in the face trying to tell them about their country. But it is useless. We have two cultures side by side which have been called scientific and humanistic and not only do the twain not meet but scientists can always meet scientists and find common patterns and humanists can always come to blows to with other humanists (in this sense) and their differences follow definite patterns. But a much better way would be simply to point out the difference between the analysts and the integrationists and I am very, very much not only on the side but actual with the latter.

I remember one in a debate between the Mendolians and the Lysenkoists I got the floor and said they were both right and both wrong. I had an awful time with the chair and the debaters, but to everybody’s amazement, including my own, I carried off almost the entire audience. The Sweet Peas of Mendel were not Adams and Eves and I don’t use the word “environment” in arguments—but light, heart, terrain, ecological factors (which are distinguishable), etc. Years later I arrived at Cairo and saw some Sweet Potato experiments which validated my ideas.

Now a friend of mine may be going to Egypt and I have given him introductions to several top flight scientists. How did I get there? That, sweetheart, is a nice question. Briefly I was in and could be working for the National Research Centre in Cairo which integrates all scientific research. Everybody is in a compartment.

At another time I was in Lyallpur and my host said. “I wish to show you the Eighth wonder of the world.” Well, Ruth I never saw such a mad enthusiast and in five minutes he had a disciples … me. But Washington State is going to solve the world food problems and not conquer space so you may never hear about it. And my views on genetics got a big, big boost up hill. The world’s food problems will be solved when the press gives about 25% publicity to these things as they give to space travel.

I returned full of vitality, enthusiasm and knowledge and for some time worked on my “How California Can Help Asia” but I was urged and urged hard to change to my meeting of great people. This is more important, but wow. In February my friend, Robert Clifton, known as Phra Sumangalo died. Once I said to him:

“Robert, you and I are mere nobodies. We can’t get an audience of over 30 people here. But there is not a King, Prime Minister, Cabinet Official, Head of a University, professor or peasant from one end of Asia to the other whom either you or I could not meet if we haven’t met already, but nobody would believe us.”

“How true, Samuel, how true.”

Don’t conclude I am kidding. It is a laughing joke around Asia Foundation. I came into Indio when preparations were being made for Independence Day Celebration and despite that saw the President, the Chief of Protocol, the head Holy man of the Hindus, the head Holy man of the Muslims and then left, just like that. The American cultural people would not believe it and later when I offered to prove it by inviting them to a celebration they stayed away. I did not see the President and Prime Minister when I left because they were guests of honor in one pavilion and I in another close by.

And now my non-scientific life can be divided into two phases—rejection by Americans, acceptance by Asians, all over, all levels. With the death of Robert his disciples came here and now we have a solid group of real Buddhism. And on top of that, in face of all the experts and book-writers, I have been chosen to join the staff of the encyclopedia of Buddhism and am leaving here shortly to go to Los Angeles therefore. You ain’t heard nothin’.

So I’ll skip to the most remarkable of series of events. Although direct romance always irony-izes—and the door isn’t closed, I got two stories as big as the one below which I am not going to relate. I met Khawar Khan in society and we were drawn to each other by a superlative force as if we were part of each other. Within two months I became two things we do not have here:

a. Her god-father. When a person, especially a woman, is an orphan, she finds a god-father or a god-brother, etc. and these persons become her legal and even moral confidants.

b. Her spiritual teacher. This is something I cannot explain because we have nothing exactly like it in this country and besides, my story is practically never believed by Americans—but always by Asians.

Inasmuch as there are restrictions on women this meant gossip but step by step the whole thing has now reversed. Khawar was the youngest whole professor in Pakistan who is a woman, one at 26. In addition to that she had gone to Mecca which made her prestige rise. One of the stories I am not telling is about Julie Medlock. She begged me to go to an international philosophical conference to face the Russians. I refused; the Americans give me no recognition. So I ghost wrote and Khawar won first prize.

Then I found she was very wealthy although I did not know this. She also owns the property which was Gandhi’s before partition and this may be very important. Now she has won first prize at an all-Asian conference of Psychologists and because of this my own prestige has gone up and up. And now we are both called into two projects on the history of Islam—education and philosophy.

This is just one facet of my life. The rest will keep although I do not have any rest. The story of Khawar’s romance is itself as fascinating as any too. All I need to do is to meet a fiction writer and they can have 100 stories…. Later on I have to go to Middlebar wherever that is, and will stop at Modesto, but with notice—I just came down on a dare.

Love,

S. A. M.

(which has four meanings)

June 1, 1963

1088 Fulton St.,

San Francisco 17, Calif.

Hon. Thomas J. Kuchel,

Senate Office Bldg.,

Washington, D.C.

Dear Senator Kuchel;

I am about to leave for Southern California on errands which ultimately may affect American relations with Asia. These today are in utter smog because we will do anything but be simply objective. As you seem to have pointed out, in our desire to battle real or imaginary communism, we have selected their weapons—dialectics and left-center right humbug. We can’t fight them with American weapons; that is passé. The schools demand equal rights for communists and Birchers, but try to read some excerpt from Presidents T. Roosevelt or W. Wilson—just try. The Fourteen Points have been buried far underground and as for “Roosevelt” nobody alludes to Teddy any more.

a. My most distant point is India. In facing Asian problems I have given up all attempts to do anything direct. Everybody wants social reform and I want soil reform. The social reformer each has his own dialectical solution, Marxists, quasi-Marxist or anti-Marxist. Such successes as that of our good friend Paul Keim in UAR. got me publicity and are not copied elsewhere. People are starving because the earth is starving and for no other reasons. Where the earth is not starving there may be an over-abundance as there seems to be in this country.

The last conference here on “Asia” was as all other conferences. There must be at least one British or European diplomat and at least one British or European professor. Without these, conferences on Asia are “unthinkable.” Asians are regarded as exotics. We permit European full scope and will take an inimical speech from a European long before we listen to a different viewpoint from an Asia. Asia has its cultures, Mortimer Adler and “Great Books” to the contrary. The Asians love our Emerson, our Whitman, our Thoreau, but since “Great Books” we have only Europeans and Hollywood “cultures” to give them.

The discussion of the soils of Asia is open to anybody that knows anything about the soils. The dispassion of village life in Asia is open to any social theorist. Having lived in Asian villages has nothing to do with it. In any event, despite all the conferences on Asia and all our listing to Europeans professors of Asiatica—a very common custom, I am hoping that perhaps the Chambers of Commerce or the Farm Bureau and the Departments of Agriculture will get behind a campaign of “Dates for Asia.” This is long and complex and most important.

The press, the State Department and the USIA, one can do nothing. One minute with a Ford Foundation person is worth one year with a member of the Fourth Estate.

b. The other project is that I have been appointed as a research writer for the “Encyclopedia of Buddhism.” The “experts” here are ex-European professors, beatniks and one self-appointed famous dialectical ex-communist linguist-poet. They form an iron wall.

One may study Judaism and Christianity by going to churches. But in the case of Buddhism one goes to the “experts” for years I tried in vain to get an article published on “The Faith of Vietnam.” Rejected all over. Then I went to the Orient, got top-level greetings all over—and I mean top-level greetings. Even one of the spiritual leaders of the Vietnamese showered me with such love and compassion it is hard to convey it.

But no, I was not an “expert.” Reports all rejected. Now the masses of Vietnam, being Buddhists, are in revolt. We are wasting millions of dollars and even GI lives supporting dialectical anti-Communist (so-called) governments and tyrannies. Wilson’s Fourteen Points are moribund exempting in speeches. The United States Government loses face and now considers face-loss as honorable if it only stems the communists.

The Nations of Africa are excluding both the communist and anti-Communist “imperialists.” I have worked for years on two principles:

a. Promote American-Americanism (Transcendentalism, Pragmatism, Neo-Realism, Science and the new Integrative Movements thereof—these are making much headway.

b. Learn the folk-ways and religion of the unaligned countries and try to be their friends.

c. The same tenor covers other fields. I have just been asked to go to Pakistan to engage in some enormous pieces of research larger than the above. I cannot do it. If there is any loss of life in Indonesia, of the so-called “Peace Corps,” it is due to the strange policies we now have—we train these people in languages, anti-communist dialectics (anti-Communist must be dialectical); and know little of our own previous history and nothing of the historical back-grounds of the lands visited in Asia. I know what I am speaking about. If a single American is mobbed in Indonesia I may go so far as to send you a Photostat of a letter from a VIP.

I have cross-trailed actual communists many times and know of their whole plan to undermine the “Peace Corps”—direct experience, but all unusual. You can’t reach unwilling governmental officials. We lost Tibet, Annam, Laos, North Korea, etc., rather than to listen to some of my confreres, all but one Californian, too.

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

June 3, 1963

My dear Della:

It is never my intention to write to anybody in particular, but to select somebody who might be interested or concerned with events. I find that Dr. Radhakrishnan may be here Friday, so I am going to the World Affairs Council today to see if I can get two tickets. I may try to take a young lady who is a disciple of Ramdas; otherwise, somebody from Hollywood.

I am downtown in L.A. for the moment waiting for a telephone call in regard to the Buddhist organization work here. So far, it has been very awkward. The official Japanese group was giving a picnic yesterday, and besides, the different Japanese are not on good terms with each other, nor are the Americans either.

Whereas generally the disciples of Hinduism don’t cooperate and the Buddhists do, here it is often the opposite. Sometime Sundays I go to the Shingon Temple. They were having a ceremony yesterday, poorly attended, but as I had just come from the Zendo I did not remain.

 The very nice thing was the Soto Zen temple on South Hewitt St. After very good introductions, I decided to come to the meditation, which was supposed to be from 1-3 in the P.M., but lasted considerably less. I found it easy. Bishop Yamada then gave a detailed technique and I was going to write it up, but they gave me a book and I shall either give it to you or show it to the Sangha. As it is short, I shall probably have it typed and send the original to Jack Austin of “The Western Buddhist” and add, as a sort of commentary, the sermon and talk given by the Roshi. This may not be done until I return.

I have about four American contacts here but they, outside the Soto group, are more, not less, individualistic than the Soto Sangha. It is curious to me, after the defection of my very best friends here, that I need not look for others. Between the old acquaintances of Paul Reps and the members of this Sangha, I shall feel very much at home. Although they seem to be younger, in some respects, than your Zendo or the one in New York, this was equal to the best group meeting I have come upon in my whole life. But instead of contributing to them (and I certainly have far less funds than some people wish to think) I prefer going over my finances and sending whatever I can to Jack Austin, who acts as a go-between between both the Soto Zen groups among themselves, and the Buddhist groups generally.

Especially with Sensei Suzuki away, the booklet will give you good lesson material.

It is raining now and I have to wait in anyhow for a telephone call. I have gotten nowhere in the question of information concerning Leslie Lowe and Dwight Goddard, which is one of the basic reasons for being here. I should leave Tuesday for India and be back, if possible, by Thursday night.

Benninghofville Desert

June 6, 1963

Dear Harry:

This is Indio. The last months have been of work, frustrations and plenty surprises. Where you expect cooperation you get blocks and where you don’t expect at all you get it—opportunities. By this time I have not had much success with Americans excepting farmers and scientists and I have nothing but good fortune in my relations with Asia Orientals.

Asian cultures in the U.S. are largely in the hands of Europeans. No one knows why, but they are. And the stories I have heard about tourists and even Foreign Service people who have been briefed by these “experts” would be delighted excepting they show the folly of trying to win a “cold war” by aiming at those on the side lines and leaving the enemy alone until this mopping operation is completed. If you think I am talking nonsense read what is said about Indonesia, then multiply it at least ten times. Very uncomfortable and just as true.

Urged to work on my memories, I found later that the very people who insisted my stories would sell and that “How California Can Help Asia” was not so important, I have ended up by finding nobody to trust of my own generation—and myself now becoming a leader of sundry Americans who think that the way to learn about Asia is to study under Asians. Anyhow this has brought me recognition—and plenty of it—abroad.

On top of that is the saga of my god-daughter in Pakistan. This is a series of events, from cloak-and-dagger down to seminars for which Sam Lewis hasn’t “the credentials,” and the upshot is that she has become most famous and successful and I am getting the credit for all kinds of things—abroad.

As I am going to art school I stuck pretty much to S.F. but have squeezed a few days to come south (a) on an Oriental venture (b) to come to Indio; (c) to visit relatives. (a.) and (b) have so far been very rewarding.

This valley has two ecological sections only. Howard came south full of enthusiasm and determination but after a while he found he could analyze soil almost at a glance, the corrective program became stylized, and the need for analyses diminished. He then changed over to becoming a soil consultant, which now brings big fees but from very few clients. Indeed if it were not for unusual factors, he might be squeezed out. But his wife has opened a travel bureau, he himself has made be a trip around the world, and from this angle, I have caused to write him at some length when I return, having innumerable suggestions and leads which are being offered only to profession.

Between studies of “Desert Agriculture in California” and the over-all of my experiences abroad, the analyses and problems are remarkably like those I have met, but here we have answers and part-answers.

Some study has been made of salt-tolerant crops. For example Casuarinas make good wind-breaks and they have the advantages of desalting to some extent with the companionate disadvantage that therefore their droppings cannot be used for compost or soil-condition. The Salt goes into the foliages.

When Dates are accompanied by another crop, especially Oranges, the returns on the Dates per acre arise, because there is a commensalism—the Citrus regulate the humidity for the Dates and the Dates protect the Circus against frost and conditions. Because of the shading, and non-selectivity of the soils, one gets only a 50% return on the Citrus, but one gets on the same plot about a 10% increase on the Dates, plus the Citrus return so the over-all profit is much greater.

Without two- or three-story farming a Date Orchid should not be less than 35 acres. It can be slightly smaller if Oranges are added. Benninghoff went further with a cover crop which is used as green manure. I like this system best, as being most economical in two different usages of this word.

The remarkable thing here is that although the Citrus crops are not so salt tolerant, the Dates are, and evidently move enough salt from the ground or regulate the water table so that the Citrus trees prosper. But where Oranges and Lemons are grown by themselves, they get a much larger return for about three years, then between salinity and water-table changes, bang! Only slowly these people are turning to Sugar Beet and other salt tolerant crops.

Where the soil is not salty it is alkaline and this condition is met in part by combination of manuring and ammonium compound fertilizers. But some farmers simply go in heavy with barnyard manure—and I understand, in one case, with human droppings too. The problem here is often one of shall I say the “odor of ordure.” Outside that it is very effective.

I also learned something about Grapes, which do very well and are already on the market, the first of the season.

I am not through interviews but have a lot of information and literature and can now start writing at length for foreign papers. I am quite apathetic about Kennedy’s programs and have expressed my views to the local paper whose editor is Virgil Pinkley—no less. This may mean something in the future but I am not pressing it now.

The last news I have received and the last interview I have had are so ominous in a favorable sense that after a sort of vacation in Mendocino, I am all set to go despite difficulties. Health remains good, etc. Howard sends his regard but says he has heard from nobody but Thunem who visits him periodically.

Cheerio,

S.A.M.

June 13

Beloved One of God:

I have returned but only for two days, then am going to Mendocino. The package with the Universal Worship Burial service, the tasbih (beads) etc. will be left here, for although you have not called for it, it is possible you still may, with “vacation” on.

The trip South was very complex and perhaps as rewarding.

Buddhism. The collecting of materials for the encyclopedia was not easy. Three deaths make it harder to obtain direct experiences but there are some rather elderly people, one of whom I have known, others not known, who have been connected with real Zen or other forms of Buddhism.

Both Americans and Japanese welcomed me and I was at a session of the Universal Buddhist group. This will probably grow as both the Burmese and the Zen People are joining in with the Americans. I also had a long session with one Prynce Hopkins in Santa Barbara. Fortunately he has an autobiography which he gave to me.

He has known Edward Connaughton a long time. I met Bill at his house and we spent 2.5 hours together. With Bill, with a neighbor of his who is a friend of mine and with one woman here I have my toughest situation—the same old problem year in, year out, the same complaints and nary a change in their attitudes of behavior. Bill asked for spiritual help and I am giving it to him. These people have in common sex complexes, unwillingness to meditate or face themselves and still more an unwillingness to change habits. From now on I think I shall demand money for advice unless the people concerned will practice meditation. And I should rather they practice the meditation anyhow, any kind.

When I return inquiries will be made into two Buddhist monasteries here, for a number of reasons.

Indio is the center of the Date industry. My professor in Soil Chemistry lives there and is a powerful figure in the community. I met the chief producers, Date experts and USDA functionaries. But before I left I introduced myself to the manager of the Bank of America—and wow. He is also a former employee of and protégé of the retired Russell G. Smith. Before I left Indio I had the banks, chamber of Commerce and newspaper all for me and the door is open for articles. This is the first time a newspaper has asked me, but praise Allah, it is the first time.

Actually the situation is much more complex and pleasant. They are planning an Arabian city and I am now a go-between on several missions. Ironically in the end they may have to contact James Terry Duce. In my life a lot of roads lead to him, but he is probably either in Washington or Utah State where there are conventions on the Near East.

Pakistan. The letters came. At least Murshids of Four Orders want Hazrat Inayat Khan’s writings. I hope to get more of them from Edward and I still can locate some of the earlier books which have not only gone out of print but no effort has been made to republish them.

Between this, the assignments for the Encyclopedias of Buddhism and Islam and trying to get my writings through, there is no rest, only changes of pace.

Healing. My landlady got a case of flu. It is the first time I have tried to help a stranger in this country. Two hours have gone by and she says she feels well.

June 25

Beloved one of Allah:

It is not a very easy task to embody the whole of “The Unity of Religious Ideals” and it is half-ironical, half-droll what is happening—rejection by those under European influences, acceptance by Asians and mixed receptions by plain Americana, The visit to Indio proves that when one listens to the inner voice there can be only success. Dr. Howard Benninghoff my instructor in Soil Chemistry (indirectly in other subjects), is an important man in that district. Through him I had most pleasant interviews with growers, packers, research-scientists. But before leaving I opened my ego up to one man and this was followed by spontaneous introductions and I left there on excellent term with the banks, Chamber of Commerce and newspaper—a rarity, especially the last.

I then stopped off just for laundry and went to Mendocino. Although in one sense there might not be another “Shireen,” there are now two such women in my life, one in Mendocino and the other, my Goddaughter, Khalifa in Pakistan. As D. does not answer letters, she has not made proper arrangements for me but this did not matter as I learned later my paid up contribution for the Folk Dance Camp also covered all my meals, so the total expenses were down, not up.

D. had been in the Watts and Subud camps and seems to have gotten out of them: 2 bad marriages, two attempts at being bilked, and the stymieing of her own intuitive faculties so that there were boobers rather than just mistakes. The only time I really expressed my feelings were to cook a dinner for 30 people at her home in Mill Valley when one Ragavan Pillai was returning to India. Even than it was an unconscious or at most intuitive, not external or ego attraction.

You may imagine my surprise to find all the Buddhist books gone from her library, very few things remaining and these dominated by the writing of Hazrat Inayat Khan! Sometimes one has to wait for years and I did not press the point then, only indicate. Besides there are communications outside of words. D. is too busy now with her own always complicate affairs.

I could not prevent her second and unfortunate marriage because the young man in question had too many of the same characteristics as yours truly. He is an adventurer, not home type. Even at the Folk Dance Camp when I picket out an elderly lady for partner I think we got along because we are both adventure types.

D. has also fallen under the influence of Grace West and if nothing else happened, Grace has uncovered my spirit. This is wonderful and while I did not always get along with all the dancers, a “beach head” was certainly established in Mendocino. How often I get henceforth may depend on D. but besides other things I have plans with and for her 10-year-old boy and between us there is plenty of understanding and harmony.

There were lessons in basic steps, Portuguese, Russian, Irish, Scottish and Japanese dancing. The last I found difficult in spirit because of an intense love for these people—no doubt a heritage from another period.

Mendocino is off the beaten track, full of artists. Called on Hal Reeger, the ceramicists and seemed to have gotten fine with the “far out” people, but even the dancers are a little “out.”

There was not much mail when I returned from Indio but new my desk is over-cluttered,

Buddhism. Attended the meeting of the Board of Directors of the American Buddhists. It is an extreme reaction after fighting all the groups and persons who take their “Buddhism” from Germans, Englishmen or at best Hindus, to find complete and absolute harmony in all directions with persons you have never met before. All of us were under the same influences and all agreed on continuing the work of Dwight Goddard, etc., etc.

Spent two days with Kristine Segaliev. This was on a much higher plane and it is better not to record both her experiences, ideas and own accord. She may move up here on a new venture and it is possible that I shall be carried along, under Master Too Lun. Have had no time to call on him. Paul Reps has half suggested coming here to visit him. He is an exceedingly powerful and spiritual person, and very effective.

Some time ago I planned to have my 1920 picture reproduced and it was then that I got the letter from Dr. Malalasekera. Now some copies have been made. Yesterday gave two to the Japanese American Buddhism Society and planned a long meeting to go over the matters proposed by Dr. M. It is certain that the Japanese are awakening. When Mrs. S. and I visited the Jodo Temple in L.A. it was to learn that they were not prepared for the large attendances to their festivals, etc. This seems to be going on all over—a return of the Japanese and the accession of American to some form of Buddhism.

The visit to the Undo in L.A. was most pleasant and then attended a session (pun—sesshin). So long as I can sit in a chair the length of the meditation does no matter much although Roshi Yamada gave a long talk on postures and Breathings. Breathings I find very easy from past training.

Stopped at Santa Barbara and spent two hours with Prynce Hopkins who gave me what I wanted—his autobiography. We stopped when Bill came in (who lives close by). Bill accompanied me to the station and. we had three hours together. I am a little more successful with him than with some time-stealers, with my demands either money or you meditate. He sees the justice of it and has actually begun meditating more. His plans point to a return to New York.

On account of a special invitation to the Academy of Sciences tonight I shall probably not go to any Buddhism meeting.

Islamic Philosophy. Khawar and I have agreed on a theme, to work on the history of pure Islamic Philosophy and ignore the Greeks. It is amusing that Don Fry, Grace West’s husband, who is at least half Greek, agrees with us and claims that the influence of Greek philosophy has been over-rated. Indeed this puts me in Benny Bufano’s camp. She has assented to this, and now:

a. Princeton University has accepted my or this approach in tote and something will come of it. It is to be noted that the Near East studies there are entirely in the hands of Americans while where they are in the hands of NATO professors, it is useless.

b. “Pakistan Review” has published without even editing my own proposal on this point which I think, is in accord with their own editorial policies.

I was unable to see Dr. Von Grünebaum in Westwood but had a long excellent session with his secretary. But I did have to threaten a young woman “Peace Corps” volunteer when she gave a parrot answer: “Young lady, I don’t know you and I don’t want any thanks, but you had either better order your casket or drop all the crazy notions put into your head by your NATO professors of Islamics and when you arrive at your destination ask the people what they believe and throw your books away.” Fortunately the frightening made her realize she had been briefed very badly, and so with most “Peace Corps” people going to Asia.

Bryn (Shamcher) Beorse called in my absence and it is well to note he was sorry to miss me. There are still some big follows up in North Africa and one of my next steps is to go over Prynce Hopkins’ reports. He also said he was involved with the Dervishes in Tunis and was going to write about them later. It is very curious, how I have followed in this man’s footsteps—these are about 10 years difference on our ages.

Tasbih. Khawar said she had found some and would be sending these. The plan is for me to use them for a while, thus magnetizing them and putting the Baraka into them. The day before I left my landlady (Lorraine) fell ill, and I tried healing her. It has successful and I know the “magnetism” had a lot to do with it—or if suggestion—what is suggestion?

Papers. Bill, Edward and I have had some conference and I have asked Edward for lists before packing a lot of stuff. This has not been received so I may write both of them. I shall not have time to do additional copying for a little while but the pressure from Pakistan grows.

I do not think many of Pir-o-Murshid disciples got the full sweep of his ideas end efforts. The published books systematize the Sufi Philosophy but do not go into its depths, nor suggest too much practice. In the first books such as Sufi Primer and even In an Eastern Rose Garden the line between the “exoteric” and “esoteric” was very dim and a lot of Ryazat were published. But the later works, while far better from a literary point of view, more polished and systematized were also more external.

There are some remarks, entirely untrue, about the part Maheboob played in the spreading of the Message. The final test for a Sufi anyhow, is the spiritual realization. Europeans and some Americans will stick to this trash remaining outside the arcane. The reports from Pakistan linking this personality with Mian Mir are, of course, correct but they cannot be proven by Grecian logic or contemporary psychology.

I ran into criticism at the folk dance camp and kept quiet. But when the Japanese teacher came I immediately found a beach-head, so to speak. Whether others followed I do not know. One Winifred who used to be of us, came on Saturday night with a man and a Hindus. The man told me he was going to propose to her which made me very happy. The Jinn soul is not so readily accepted or understood, and the more talents, especially in a woman, often lead to more misunderstandings. The Hindu’s name was Anand and he came from Mysore. In five minutes we were like that—and this is what I would like to teach Americans, so far with little success. “Heart speaks to heart and soul to soul.”

If one did not get things in focus, one got oneself in focus which is most important.

Cleveland. The reason I have not heard is not pleasant—my two angels and one husband of a mureed all hospitalized and the Sufi Dr. Gordon overworked.

Love and blessings,

June 28, 1963

Beloved one of God:

This is my diary. Ever since I took the determined stand in your room, there has not been a single negative in my live. The path which is called that of the “Master” in “The Unity of religious Ideals,” or in other terms, Jelali, is one into which I have been initiated at least four times, and every move to change it or myself has ended in dismal failure or dismay. While stubborn adherence to rigidity and guidance has never brought failure.

In Santa Barbara not only preliminary arrangements with Bill Hathaway and Edward Connaughton should lead to my receiving the bulk of the class papers of Pir-o-Murshid, efforts near and far have led to my being called a Pir-o-Murshid. This seems in some respects horrible and even degrading, but with the Murshids of at least two schools of Sufism accepting in toto the teachings of our own Pir, this places me in a sense over them, although I have sat at their feet and besides them too. There is no land where I have not been received as a Murshid.

My visit to Mendocino was also dismaying—in the right direction. Donna, a young woman to whom I have adopted a role of “fairy godfather” for years, has denuded her library and has the books of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Unfortunately the man who sold her the books is in the hospital, so I don’t know how it started. But he long since has recognized that Samuel has the stuff which a lot of writers whose books he has been selling have not.

Returning home from Mendocino (but not from my Southern trip) I found a flock of both bills and mail. The bills are all paid but one—left open to uphold the credit standing. The mail is the most favorable yet. Now I have an Indio editor waiting for my stuff and now also another editor wants my occult material. Then a Princeton professor who has compiled the official book on “Pakistan” is coming here. We had a long tussle but being an American, not a NATO Nation, he accepted my facts. I shall not give in in this campaign of “reality versus realism”—failure is possible but surrender never.

I have long since been asked by my goddaughter in Pakistan to cooperate in research on Islamic Philosophy and Islamic education. As to the first I outlined a plan of procedure but I had forgotten that I had submitted a similar plan to an editor. It has been published and I shall take it to the Pakistani Consulate. They have done a complete reversal on me.

Two visits to the Academy of Sciences at Golden Gate Park have won full cooperation of two men and two women scientists. In the case of the ladies it was just too! They were actually working at the moment on the very problem I wished to get help on—the Fig Industry, and spread out on the desk was that material! Thus the working of Allah.

Last night I went to a debate between Dr. Brandt, an agricultural researcher; Dr. Mehrens, professor of Agricultural Economics and Dr. Dornbush, a sociologist. The latter accepts the tear-jerking UN reports, the others do not. After Dornbush and Brandt got into an interminable argument I challenged the former. He got bit. Mehrens questioned me and the answers came right out, then Dornbush challenged me and got it, and as soon as I sat down Brandt got up, backed my position and the debate ended. It is the first time I have ever been given a chance and this was a high powered debate and select audience. Then I was greeted by and old and trusted colleague who had been to another part of Asia, etc, etc. Khatum is better than a million dollars. God bless you.

P.S. On the 26^th tried a healing on a young woman whom I have known a long time. Next day she was out of bed.

My dear Norman:

The other day I went and called on some Africans—which you know. But you don’t know what else I am doing. Asia is much larger than Africa or America, maybe larger than both and certainly more people—and more problems.

I have again been refused entry to a conference on Asia—my money not accepted. This has gone on and on. And in the past three weeks, without any blare of trumpets, I have been called in or attended affairs of Arabs, Hindus, Indonesians, Japanese and Chinese, and most of these people have a very, very dim view of Conferences on “Asia.”

For example Sunday I attended the first successful effort to have Chinese, Americans and Japanese unite in a Buddhist celebration. I can assure you there was nothing in that celebration that anybody who ever attended the American Academy ever heard of and the only former student had to ask a simple elementary question which almost every Buddhist knows and almost every Western student of something called “Buddhism” does not know.

My relations with the Chinese are going up and it makes me wonder about Elijah Mohammed who does not seem to realize that Allah created more Mongols than Blacks and Whites together, for better or for worse. And the starving in Asia are far greater than those in Africa and America combined and we have plenty of guns but no butter for them.

This morning I am going to the Egyptians (Arabs) on an errand which ought not to be secret. But our present policy in this country is freedom of speech for Birchers and Marxists but not for Indonesians and Arabs. Here our good Elijah Mohammed is alive and he knows this and has referred to it. But other “protestants” are not universal, very few people are universal, they only see the harm done to their own kind and not the universal ills.

Dick called my attention to some speeches by the NAACP and my attitude toward them and toward many Muslims is their unconscious or conscious unconcern for depressed classes—they see depressed races but not depressed classes. I still remain about the only one I know who has worked side by side with share-croppers in the South (silently) and with the lowest level of workers in Pakistan (as a Muslim). People don’t do such things.

Right now I may be the man behind one or two revolutions and close to those who are behind other revolutions but there is no use saying anything because one is not believed. I was called on to attack the communists in Asia and refused because I told the Foreign Service they gave me neither money (which I did not want) or recognition (which I did.) So I sent a stand-in who walked off with first prize and the commies are therefore not bothering me. But they did. There is little difference between the bad boys (commies) and the big boys (the “ins”).

But I have a secret (by society not actually) weapon which has raised my fame in Pakistan about ten times since I left. If I called it humanity that is near enough, but not enough.

All my poetry for the last 25 years is prophetic and all rejected but I am seeking Robert Graves first and now embarking in a new direction. The odd is odd and must be rejected, but the fact remains it is all prophetic and now I am amazed myself how much is true. But to be correct does not make one popular.

One of my predecessors who predicted the World War II, etc. down to a little jot had to leave America. They published his predications—all of which came true, but nobody refers to that. More attention is always to the Fourth Estate first and the politicians next—whose predications are seldom true. It was only that during the War the G II recognized some of these predications and asked me to shut up. That was not difficult because nobody accepted anything anyhow.

My only difference is that I see injustice all over and am impelled to work in Asia. I never accuse a rapist of murder or a thief of child-whipping, which does not make me love any of them. So far a politics are concerned I guess my views come closest to Senator Cooper who also had more savvy of the orient than perhaps almost anybody in our Public life—but this is never broadcast.

The difficulty with your campaigns is that the political and economic have been criss-crossed. But this is usual. The other day when on station had a program on Asian problems and begged the public for funds, another station had one on what foreigners thought of us. There were no Asians on the program dealing with Asian Problems (which is true “only in America.”) There were a lot of Asians on the other program and they expressed themselves far in opposition to the “experts.” The chief difference on the Asian program is that the German Professors are out and the British diplomats are in, but the Asians don’t count.

On the other program the chief speaker was Mboya’s younger brother; he was not only the chief speaker but he was the clearest. I am glad we let Africans occasionally speak on Africa—but chiefly on stations which do not seek public support. As to those who seek public support.”

My campaign to KPFA was “Communists yes, Muslims no.” If you read the press Nasser and Sukarno are running for chief public enemies right behind Mao Tse Tung. I did not vote for a long time and I am not registered. We are getting lickings in S.E. Asia and in more areas than the papers report. Actually we have no allies on the continent excepting the Philippines, and, in certainly circumstances, Turkey and Thailand. No wonder I am concerned with other matters and when I complete a certain project will flit.

SAM

July 2, 1963

Beloved One of God:

Yesterday the tasbihs arrived from Pakistan. The one set aside for you has not been called for and as there has been no news the conclusion is that you may be ill. I have been very careful not to extend healing practices although in the few cases tried there was been success. I am waiting for Pir-o-Murshid’s papers or for a copy of “Health” neither of which has been forthcoming. The reports at the moment can be summarized briefly:

American Scientist 100% success; Literati 0-100% success

Pakistan Scientist, 0.10% success; Literati 100% success

This position is untenable and now with at least three or four offers to go into “retreats” where I could be freed from rent, do gardening week and my writing, this may be the last month under the pretest regime.

My closest spiritual companion, Major Sadiq, has been hospitalized but it was illness or an accident I do not knew. He talks much but writes little so I have to depend upon those whom he has seen for news. He is one of the greatest moral and spiritualist leaders in the world. Beyond that I dare not go, excepting that if Saladin Reps were to stet me, I should be permitted to divulge “mysteries” and this will not be done through correspondence.

Sunday night I took a lady to dinner, the one who gave me The Whirling Ecstasy. I saw where the trouble lay in my life and when I referred to this book she did a double entendre. One gets tired of this. With scientists a book is a book, a tree is a tree and a star is a star; with others it is always “Who are you?” and “how do you know?”

The events at the Academy of Sciences last week show the futility of trying to reach egocentric people of whomsoever and whatsoever, and the great ease of dealing with persons who are in the sciences. Here I found no difference between men and woman at all. The one class of women with whom there is the greatest companionship and ease is that of those interested in the Orient and more specially of the Near East. I lose two of them at once, both of whom have been victims of than terrible source “only in America,” the European professor of Asiatics.

So far as the scientists are concerned, there has been such harmony and communication, that I must now make the few steps to get basic material for “How California Can Help Asia.” As to “The Lotus and the Universe,” there is now a plethora of material at a time more and more phonies are being published on “Zen-this” and “Zen-that.” I do have the blessing of the Soto Zen leader in American (Bishop Yamada) where communication also was exceedingly easy. But with all the movements and followers I find practically nobody who has pierced the veil.

True, I have contacted at least one wealthy person who placed some cards in my hands but there is a limit to one’s abilities and capacities. The extreme response from Pakistan stands in marked contrast to America. Rabia had more disciples in the Orient than there here and she never told about them. The threads have been picked up and to them I am now the successor in Sufism. Inasmuch as practically all the Pirs and Pir-o-Murshids abroad take this view it leaves me in a strange, paradoxical place. I am compelled to copy all of Murshid things I can, even if there have been publications because of the exceedingly high price for the published books aboard—and even then there has to be guidance. Hazrat Inayat Khan started with six secretaries and I haven’t even one.

On top of that, my wealthy Khalifa is being looked up to more and more. On top of that, the University of Islamabad and the parent Sufi body, the Islamiyya Khidri Ruhaniat Society is not only oversubscribed, it has become one of the wealthiest and more powerful groups in Pakistan. All one has to do is to pack up and could be sitting pretty. But I shall not do that at least until I can get more of Pir-o-Murshid’s writings.

I am the first Occidental to whom the spiritual teachers of have looked to for guidance; I have pictures with the Wali of Multan whom I taught, not realizing at the time that this was to be a precedent. One is almost afraid to copy passages from letters received and I shall make one effort to find a wandering god-son to whom to entrust my diaries, etc., if I have to leave these parts. As Major Sadiq and Pir-o-Murshid Dewwal Shereef have given July 29 as the climactic day I hold out till then.

The possibility of establishing a large sector of Pakistan’s educational system upon Hazrat Inayat Khan’s writing is not only beyond my capacities but is beyond the concepts of those people who think they are his disciples. Concerned with personalities, there is no regard for spiritual truths. Indeed the future world will have to chose between Hazrat Inayat Khan and Sri Aurobindo, or a compilation of the two. We are stuffing minds today, but do not keep people on even keels, so un-sanity increases.

The return to Can Francisco of an Asia Foundation official may, a little later on, change the picture. I do not want to force him and he did not know that I am also a protégé of his superiors. I seldom use names—I did not here until a success was made; and the same at Indio, after a thorough bond made with almost everybody there I pulled a name out which ensures the acceptance of “How California Can Help Asia” in those parts.

The need for me to retain an off-beat character is part of the dharma I am supposed to fulfill here. Hazrat Inayat Khan refused to change Rabia; and Pir-o-Murshid Dewwal Shereef discovered my roll and apologized because he even criticized me. As to the group at Salarwala, as they have the direct insight on all planes, this is perhaps leading to new experiences. One of the Khalifs is a cousin of the Mir of Hunza and wants to be my guide when I return and it happens that if the leaders at Salarwala predecease me I shall have to take on the responsibilities of a Pir-o-Murshid, or rather a roll, let us say—not quite true—on the theme of Buzurg. The Buzurg is concerned more directly with persons and my work is also in the sciences.

The magnetization of tasbihs can only be done by one who has the magnetism. I have given away enough. It has taken months to convince the Pakistani authorities but that is more than accomplished. With the Hindus and with the Muslim diplomats of other countries, there has been most cordial contact, and this covers all of Asia.

There is never any time for real rest or relaxation even though a week was spent in Mendocino. That proved to be a series of spiritual errands. If I were to retreat there there would be a Sufi center almost overnight—but whether this is God’s will or not has been given no meditation.

God bless you,

S. A.M.

July 9, 1963

Beloved One of God:

This is my diary. Yesterday I thought I made a bad mistake but the intuition said there would be important mail coming which would need prompt attention. This proved to be true. Saladin sent an emergency asking me to keep certain dates free toward the end of the month. He does not know it but that is exactly the spiritual advice I had from Pakistan.

I have been making effort to get the next room but the previous occupant has failed to move his effects. But now it is clear this should be done for Major Sadiq, my closest spiritual brother, is now making every effort to come here and asked me if I had quarters. As things stand this will be so, so we shall see.

The denouement mail from Pakistan is causing me to make a change in social activities. I have been given the problems of at least six women—actually greater—and in not a single case was anything done excepting taking time and sometimes magnetism. One case has passed the limits of the usual and the woman in question will be in an awkward predicament if she does not respond. For I took her case up seriously and it led to some nice contracts—for me. While this has been going on in Pakistan the situation is exactly the opposite. Both in healing and in counsel I have been extremely cautious and as extremely successful, praise to Allah. The reactions both toward my personality and toward Pir-o-Murshid are the best that could be expected. All I can say is that the women in Pakistan both trusted the counsel and their problems have been solved. One never knows how much of this is personal wisdom and how much Divine Grace.

The possibility of having an article published on one of my “spiritualistic” experiences is encouraging because here the request came from the editor. I know where Major Sadiq stands in this regard and shall again make inquiries for him. But I find that so many non-scientific Americans are too self-centered and have had far too little real suffering to get down to cases.

My friend, Vocha Fiske, has been here, and met with several friends of my old pal, Luther Whiteman. It is curious and wonderful how these people have acted as elder brothers and sisters to me when all the rest of the world stood otherwise. But I have said “non-scientific,” for my associations with both scientists and Orientals are of absolutely a different stripe and I am ready now for some ventures and more than ventures.

The Zen Roshi here has returned and wants to see my manuscript so I shall have to spend hours and hours typing and editing, and while he has it work more on How California Can Help Asia.” Today I am assured of cooperating on both the Stanford and California campuses. My visit to UCLA was on the supposition that Major Sadiq would be coming and at least this was in the right direction. But I did not receive on letter with either advice, predictions or spiritual directions.

The man who ordered Murshid’s books and who, himself has recently become interested in his writings is hospitalized and I have had no word from Santa Barbara on this either. It is an enigma. I don’t know now whether my next trip will be delayed till Major Sadiq comes, or before that but if he is not here by September I shall have to try to arrange another trip, possibly before the next semester starts.

Love and blessings,

1088 Fulton St.,

San Francisco 17, Calif.

July 15, 1963

My dear Dorothy and Haro1ds

On my last visit South I did not have time to call on you. My oldest and dearest friends in Hollywood turned against me, but they have turned against all the rest of their old pals. This bunch centered around my collaborator, Luther Whitman, and in the last few years his friends are the best one can have. They all act like elder brothers and sisters. Luther, it is true, partly compensated for my father’s total lack of personal interest in my endeavors and this is not a tear-jerking letter.

I did make some serious mistakes. I told you of plans to write, “How California Can Help Asia.” I was urged by one acquaintance after another to work on my memoirs and to write also on great people I have met. This may have been a mistake. Every single one of those people turned from me when a critical moment came. The chief ingredient was illness their part, but when I needed help or advice, it never came.

In the midst of that there was a long stern brewing between two of my three closest friends. In the end I was compelled to lower the boom, take good whack at each which upended by their both accepting my conclusions, both are on better terms with me than ever before, but this upset my personal work. Bryn, who is a cousin of the late Tryggve Lie, is the most adventurous person I have ever known, one of the deepest thinkers, and he can help anybody but himself. He refused after years to pay any attention to me, and when his wife finally landed in the mental hospital I told him that for ten years I have been trying to get a big job for him and he paid no attentions.

Despairing of having a family life, he threw himself back into research and polities, has a good UN job, but if it fails he finally accepted a list of introductions from me—and it is a big list and I am hoping research.

My other pal, Paul Reps, is coming in two weeks. It just may be he may help me. I have just enough money for self, none for extra work or secretaries or anything, and have finally given up all friends and activities not connected with science or art, or my personal benefits.

I had better begin with the science story because that is where we left off. So far my interviews with scientists have been 100% fine, with social scientists 25% fine, with newspapers, exactly one went through but that may be the most important. Indeed the newspapers are printing such claptrap on the world’s food problems that it is nauseating and has nothing to do with anything. Subtle uses of “or” and “and” and particles which connect nothing but psychological reactions, mislead the public and stand in the way of our ever solving some practically easy problems. A tremendous number of food problems are as solvable as pellagra and scurvy, and indeed belong in the same logical category. But whereas pellagra and scurvy were tackled by doctors and scientists, the present problems are tackled by politicians and diplomats and newspaper humbug. Thus is Japan a tree-planting campaign means the emperor will plant a tree followed by others; in Pakistan it means editorials and Chamber of Commerce rallies and banquets—the same with the U.N.

My instructor in Soil Chemistry, Dr. Benninghoff, has had more to do with the development of the Indio region than anybody else. I had a wonderful greeting there, the best conferences at top levels, and I know enough about the technical side of these things to be treated very seriously and found that all my suggestions had just been put into practice this last year—they were not in operation before—and have been successful. The end of it was a farewell comparable to all I have had in Asia, the first one in America, and I may be in the midst of a big Chamber of Commerce campaign soon on another matter not related to Dates or Soil Chemistry but to one of my projects close to the American Friends of the Middle East.

In the meanwhile I was getting the usual snubs in regard to the Asian problems. I was refused point blank permission to attend a so-called conference on Asia. The chief speakers were two American professors, one American and English Diplomat. Not a single Asian Consulate in this region was represented on the panels unless the doubtful one of Taiwan. My rejection raised my status, not lowered it.

So I attended a debate on the world food problems. The chief speakers were a Dr. Dornbush, a sociologist of Stanford; Dr. Karl Brandt, a food expert of Stanford; and Dr. Mehrens, head of Agricultural marketing at U. C. Berkeley. They agreed—that they should speak in English. The agreement ended there.

When the impasse became impossible I threw some questions at Dornbush, and this PhD, B.Sc., L.L.D. and PDQ did a topsy-turvy and when he challenged me he was spurlos versankt. The worst of it is that if the other professors had said the same thing he would not have accepted it and he admitted in pubic I was right.

No gloating. The meeting was on food and population. My arguments were that we could quadruple the food supply and I got a lot of applause from Catholic priests who want to use this as an argument against family planning. I am all for family planning and then some.

I understand Dr. Brandt who may play a big part in my book—a larger part than anybody not connected with the UC or USDA research. Brandt agreed to see me at any time. Anyhow I wrote Dr. Mehrens a letter and received the most beautiful and cordial reply I have ever had from anybody. Two days later: Mehrens has just been appointed as Asst. Secretary of Agriculture, in charge of Marketing. Where do we go from here?

Another one of my scientific stories is in connection with Dr. Robert Miller, of the Academy of Sciences, G.G. Park. I had written Miller of my work abroad and had a very favorable reaction.

Now darlings, there are two Americans and I won’t go into details: for every one that sees “Cleopatra” 10 or a 100 see the Aquarium at G.G. Park and you can bet that the press and the USIA and the TV have no time for it. It is easy enough to get a seat at any of the high-pressured movies to getting standing room today at the Aquarium not counting the enormous crowds at the Planetarium, the Science Buildings and even the De Young Museum. This America is not known abroad, or even at home.

July 23, 1963

Dear Ram:

This is really the diary entry for Sam is keeping a diary, and before going into that, there are two little incidents.

The other day Sam spent a morning with his life-long friend and said, “Everything can be summed up in one sentence: All Tragedies Are Comedies—no matter how you look at them, they become funny, rather than sorrowful. The friend agreed, and it is only by accepting that premise that one can write at all.

The other was that in meditation, Sam was shown to go out into the park on a walk which was done in a spiritual fashion. There are many spiritual ways of walking. Anyhow, Sam carried one of Papa’s books and he opened it, and Papa explained that “Ramdas means servant of God.”

Now this is what Mohammed called himself—Abdallah, which means Ramdas, exactly the same. And Mohammed said, “I am the servant of God. Call me nothing but Messenger and Servant of God.” But the so-called Muslims say: “I bear witness that Mohammed is the Messenger of God.” They do not bear witness that Mohammed was the servant-of-God. Then, contrary to his teachings, they elevate Messenger to make it greater than king or emperor or Prophet or anything. That is not what Mohammed said. Nor what he did either.

In Pakistan, everywhere Sam found a division between those who acclaimed Mohammed as Messenger-of-God and those who acclaimed him as Servant-of-God. And they make the word Rassoul mean what it never meant in Arabic. But Sam was shown that when he returns to Pakistan, he is to reclaim Mohammed Abdallah, which is the same as Ramdas.

In the past weeks, some strange things happened. All the people here who have consulted Sam and told him their problems ignore him, and all the people in Pakistan who do the same practice that he suggests and all the practices have been successful. They all depend on practicing the presence of God and nothing else. So the people there accept and even since the last report, Sam is now regarded as a great Sufi Murshid and this seems so strange. So Sam decided no more to “help” the people here who are in trouble, but to depend on that faculty which is prajna in Sanskrit and kashf in Arabic, which means the awakening heart.

 Looking back on the past, Sam has had a lot of what he thought were inspirations and always somebody interfered, and there is no need to go into this now. So he began doing other things, without telling anybody at all, and there are now so many stories, that one has to shorten them as much as possible.

The more Sam attends to scientific and food problems, which is part of his Dharma, the more successful he has been. And recently, one man with whom he has been corresponding has been promoted to a high seat in Washington. Parts of the plans were originally inspired by a man born in India. His name was Dilip Saund and he became a Judge and then a member of the American Congress and then a National Hero but was ill after that for a long time and has made a great name in the history of California.

So Sam decided not to try to help out the widows and orphans and poor any more, but stick to his Dharma and this has been very good. The same is true of his association with the Buddhists, which has become most relevant.

But the big report is different. There is a man in San Francisco who permits himself to be called a Guru and Yogi. And it came to Sam that he must help this man become a Guru and Yogi. But in California, any American who has any spiritual attainment is shunned by other Americans. They will go to anybody who comes from India, or even to Englishmen and Germans, but not to Americans. And now the Englishmen are telling the Americans that drug-taking helps them to attain Samadhi, and the Americans who have spiritual development protest, but the public accepts the Englishmen who have no attainment and ignore the Americans.

While most of the Americans are men, there is Judith Tyberg, who is very wonderful, and also much ignored. She told Sam her studio was filled with Masters and Sam had an experience and this Guru asked Sam to tell him, which he did. Everybody else flouted, so Sam thought this man should become a great Guru.

Then Sam copied the material from the Lesser Upanishads for him, which is mostly Tantra but kept it secret. Then Sam began revising his Indian epics, first “The Rejected Avatar,” which has to do with Lord Krishna, and next “Siva! Siva!” which has been revised with many Yoga systems, and very different from the form in which it was in 1956 when Sam brought it to Anandashram.

One night in the meditation hall could hear the God: “This man must be brought to Ramdas, even if you become his Guru first.” The Voice was very clear. So then Sam copied the Siva poetry and gave him some keys, and that night it was announced that Shivananda was dead and the Guru said that Shivananda had been his master. Sam went home and then a completely different type of Yoga was revealed to him, which combines Indian and American methods, and can be taught to children, beginning with infancy. It will take about two years before it can be recorded. But as this came after Sam heard: “This man must accept Ramdas as his guru”—this will be part of the Dharma.

Love and blessings,

S. A. M.

July 26

This is my diary.

There is no satisfaction in looking at what happened to “my enemies.” While Rabia never intended to be classified as such there are certain outstanding facts which remain.

1. She had a number of mureeds in the Orient, she established a name for herself as a Sufi, she never told anybody about them and she stubbornly refused to write her autobiography. Now this is in demand and it is impossible. I am the only one alive who had inkling of her European esotericism; the records are destroyed, and the training would necessarily be displaced today.

It is impossible to write objectively for Meher Baba has no particular standing, unless to be loathed gives one a standing. Rabia not only did not do even simple things Pir-o-Murshid requested, in the end she assented to the displacement of his teaching methods and then was stricken, which was only natural, after one breaks the guidance.

2. Duplicating my own family affairs, now it is Terry Duce’s turn. He was always kind to me, but the aberrations of Ivy deprive him of any protection on the psychic and physical planes. The Baba-ites will have a lot of explanation to do concerning these afflictions which they cannot explain away.

Terry has already been on the fringe or in the middle of two or three of my projects which are inter-related. If he had ever learned that Ivy stopped my “Palestine Plan” he would have given to her and it is very likely that he found something similar in another directions which had the same effect. You don’t have Murshid running around with grave illness close to them.

About 1929 when there were missing papers—which I found—to no end now, Pir-o-Murshid appeared to me and said, “You have everything.” There is no use going into details or to deny the words of Jesus; “The Kingdom of Heaven is within you.” I now have a complete real Integral Yoga which will take two years to formulate and which has to be studied. It has within it the whole training of children following again Jesus Christ, “You find me in children up to the age of seven years,” Only this is not theology, has nothing to do with theology and is positively demonstrable at all levels.

There is a definite Christian note in it if one accepts—but they won’t accept it—James Fryse esoteric work with the body in four semantic divisions. It covers first every type of gymnastic endeavor, and then the arts—for the moment I only have touched dancing, drama and painting.

Two more doors have opened for me which justifies my dropping some, or maybe in time, all previous social activities. The first and on the face of it most important is the Nawab whose son I had previously “healed” now has a high government position in Sind and has given me an inquiry. Actually it is two inquiries, agricultural (scientific) and Sufism.

The second has been at the Academy of Sciences. Last night I saw a TV program in which a dress designer has affairs with all the women. I intend no affairs but when I look over to women who work voluntarily or for pay at the Academy I am struck by the total difference in approach free those with whom I have been associated.

July 27

Factual honesty, to which they all must adhere for their work or research, has a marked effect on character which neither metaphysical nor theological people can understand. It also produces a kind of sincerity without moral training.

In the meantime I have to do a lot of work with Murshid’s “Moral Culture” which has been very effective abroad. I realize that none of his disciples get the drift of it, excepting the one or two whom he mentioned and which all people stubbornly refuse to accept, and thereby proving that they never get the drift of this Moral Culture. Now with the obvious tragic karma before me, and the seeming inability to get any of the deeper papers, I shall be called on not only to delineate this Yoga as above, but to formulate a more complete and integrating Sufi system than has ever been attempted or done. No doubt this will be in and with the University of Islamabad.

With Pir-o-Murshid’s training on Concentration ignored and the formula of Baba on meditation remaining (I have no doubt he cribbed it from Ghani) it is now possible to put this into effect on at least two levels without paying any attention to anybody. Furthermore having now the esotericism of two or three modern schools (at least), these can be integrated with both Pir-o-Murshid’s and the “ancient Sufi” methods, to no end.

I do not know how Saladin will react to this and I have four days in which to receive a “climactic” letter from Major Sadiq as a proof or disproof of certain meta-psychic faculties. Therefore this is a test and record.

Della returned from the Buddhist conference corroborating what I have long written and which has been published; “A lot of things are published or taught as Buddhism which never had any existence any time excepting in the minds of their creators.” Having studied (?) Buddhism with all kinds of people, mostly worse than phonies, she did not have any idea of what the real Buddhist leaders were discussing at the Asilomar Conference. So we have the radio-TV-press “Buddhism’s, death in Vietnam and real discussions by real Buddhists, the contents of which never get into our channels of communication or instruction. My own next talk will be about August 12, and the talk can be “silence” also. If Della, who is intelligent, got so little out of the real Buddhists, how can one deal with an audience less intelligent?

Too Lun is evidently on Sutter & Webster although I have missed him at both places. Christine Sigeliev will be here next week.

Have been invited to go to back MacDonald’s retreat for work as and as I wish to see kin cultivate olive trees have tentatively accepted. Bishop Yamada has refused to help him financially but we shall see. Don’t know how I can benefit from two separate retreats, but we shall see--have not yet meditated.

I saw Dr. Miller at the opening of the Aquarium and he said he would be glad to see me any time. So last week I left with him the copy of the plan used by the National Research Center of Cairo which I shall explain to him. The story splits:

I went to the Academy to get some stuff on the history and “romance” of some of the better known fruits grown here and ran smack into two ladies doing research on just that. Dr. Howell, the Botanist (who was a friend of my mother) has offered to let me use his rooms for typing, so the coast is clear.

The other side deals with the integrative approach to science and I mention it because there is a story, if not a romance. Again my love-life (half of it) has plopped and I am wondering whether if I do marry, to drop all the emotional and feeling side and have a lady who is either a scientist, an artist or

Julie Medlock. I met her in Lahore and tier: are more stories here than I wish to tell. On the one side she is the biographer of Dr. Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh whose Integral Philosophy I have been introducing all over, and on the other side, she is being financed by my Pakistani colleagues, the stories of big are “unbelievable” in our frame of references. Last Julie was in Ghana. I don’t know where she is now and the efforts of both Reiser and myself have been aborted.

Universal of Islamabad which I represent was not only oversubscribed when I left Pakistan, it has been now so oversubscribed that there is careful planning. Julie’s financial angel is the one responsible but he does not wish his name known. Behind the scenes we are very close.

From this point on the stories are both amusing and disgusting.

Parapsychology. This department is oversubscribed, and you can’t get hardly anybody in America from Dr. Rhine to Mrs. Garrett to “Madame Three-Eyes” to answer letters. It is a bizarre thing to find psychics all around, claiming faculties, ignoring each other and weeping because they have not funds and not one capable of using any faculties to discover money. On New Year’s Eve I was approached by three different groups of “psychics” at one party, all weeping for money, all ignoring each other and none answering my mail. The contradiction of this behavior pattern with that of the actual scientists is so amazing, one wonders if we do behave like human beings.

Major Sadiq is my closest friend. He is planning to come here and will undoubtedly have messages from the University. I have submitted a Campbell & Wong plan to them—they would like an American architect. But here it is they (the university) which have not answered. The Major will have a number of requests for me and perhaps commissions. Anyhow when I return to Pakistan, this side of me is safe both scientifically and financially.

My God-Children in Pakistan. According to Islamic law anybody is permitted to adopt orphans. The age involved does not matter. So I have a godson and god-daughter and a beautiful story connected with each. I shall omit the story of Major Anwar here. He is my emissary in the Rawalpindi region.

Khawar was a beautiful young woman to whom I was immediately attracted. My position in Pakistan (and India, and Japan, etc.) is totally different from here. You could not understand it and I won’t argue the point, that when the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and I were both guests to dinner, the seat of honor was given to … but you can’t understand this and I am not going to press the point.

As Khawar was an orphan and I was, let us say, a Dervish, I was permitted to meet her again. Then I did or served some very great favors for her aunt and uncle and after that we agreed that I become her godfather. The relation grew closer and closer.

Julie had gone to-Asia originally to cover an international philosophical conference in which the Russians, learning Asian philosophies from Asians, wiped the floor with Americans learning (?) Asian philosophies from Europeans. The Americans departed and Julie, sent to cover the conference by newspapers was so appalled, she resigned and stayed in Asia.

She begged me to cover the next conference and I, now four times in Communist nests and no nonsense, refused. The Americans begged me and I refused. So we compromised. I wrote the paper and Khawar delivered it and she won first prize and I did not have to face the communists—it is tiresome and dangerous. This made Khawar famous.

Meanwhile another stringy of events brought us still closer together. She owns the property which once belonged to Mahatma Gandhi and it is mine for use whenever I want it. But since I left the Orient things have gone still better. Khawar was the youngest full professor on the whole continent of Asia, and on top of that she is a “holy woman” and on top of that she is very beautiful. Before I left Pakistan I found she was wealthy. Now since she won the award in psychology she has been offered more jobs and has so much money she is willing to support me for the rest of my life—five sources of income and no dependents.

The stories of proposals to her I omit here—all very fictional and I benefit no matter which way.

Anyhow after being rejected unanimously by all the European Professors of Islamics in the U.S., I have been offered a scholarship on the History of Islamic Philosophy. And I had forgotten I had written a paper on this subject—which was published, abroad. All my stuff, rejected here, is published abroad—I mean on Oriental Philosophy.

Buddhism. In the meanwhile I have had a terrific series of battles here. I was unanimously rejected by the press and TV and one of the things they rejected years ago was my paper on “The Religion of Vietnam.” My meeting with the spiritual leader of the Vietnamese was one of the most hilarious and delightful episodes, but it is impossible to get it accepted in certain circles.

Well along this Spring I showed some Japanese my picture before the ashes of Lord Buddha in Japan where even they had not been permitted to go and they did a double-talk quick. After all, this bum has been a guest of the Imperial Garden in Japan, etc., where even Vice-Presidents don’t go excepting…. Oh well.

Anyhow I am now on the staff of the Encyclopedia of Buddhism which does not employ Europeans, Beatniks and ex-communists to do their work—“only in America” we have that nonsense.

Last Trip South was just for Food Problems and Buddhism, “no time for sergeants” but next trip may include some personal visits. I have to await my friend Reps, for introductions before the next step.

My third close friend, Robert Clifton, died this Spring and his disciples came here from Malaya. This is a long, beautiful series of stories, not mentioned here

So you will excuse me if I did not phone. Last trip was the first time I went to L.A. rather than Hollywood to be in the Japanese section, and then to West Los Angeles where I stayed with a very old friend (in both sense), and visited UCLA. This was fortunate for I have laid the groundwork for Major Sadiq’s visit whenever that comes.

Now the Japanese are becoming interested in my book on people have met. The local editor will back me up if the “metropolitan” press does not. But I have one editor in tow—Virgin Pinkley—that is a story in itself.

Poetry. I am revising my work because I have contacted two groups interest. One here in S.F., the other in Mendocino. I spent my “vacation” in Mendocino. I have a god-daughter there, and this is also a beautiful story but not quite so advanced as the one in Pakistan.

I have a god-son, right in this house—he got this apartment for me. There is another one who is probably in San Mateo. All of them are in their 30’s—the right age for “my children.”

This is enough. Sorry I can’t make you get younger—like me. I told you, Dorothy, I had a free method. Nobody in America has accepted it—Nobody in Pakistan has refused it.

Love,

S. A. M.

July 29, 1963

This day was foretold by Major Sadiq as being important in life though for the moment the only change is a quickening of whatever has been going on.

Ivy Duce surprised by writing that I could pick up my materials from Don Stevens, if as and maybe so at least a chance will be taken. If the commentaries are there they will be used and no doubt revised because today there is a much greater knowledge of tasawwuf.

Bill Hathaway Was here for a quickie. Edward has been slow in finding his papers and certainly the reports do not tab with those of years ago. It is probable that he has thrown away or misplaced a lot of them. But the Gathas and some Gathekas most, most important. The Githas would be partly revised today. The new world will not accept any long[er?] his teachings on spiritualism because Major Sadiq has much more. The Murakkabah are most important and the Breath-Mysticism, but even this can be worked out.

Saladin Reps arrived Saturday night and there was complete mutual spiritual recognition and understanding. He now comprehends fully my position in the hierarchy and also has been most successful with the Wazifas. He can see that even Pir-o-Murshid’s methods have to be integrated into a larger field. He has sent me all his books and I especially wish “The Unity of Religious Ideals” upon which commentaries will be written and used by many schools until I am permitted to return to Pakistan, inshallah.

Dietary. I have already taken up with Walt Baptiste the basis for a dietary-of-resurrection (see below) and worked out its principles. But Saladin has been studying this for a long time, living on it and is here in California (Chico) for a conference thereon. It may be that I shall visit that conference too. But he is sending me the literature. It has for the moment all the answers that both Walt and I have discussed.

Cancer. We talked over this and sooner or later will approach the Tobacco interests with a theme, ant see what the reactions will be. The presence research is all wrong. We agree there are many dietary methods which can be used, inter alia.

Yantra Yoga. The basis of this appears in “Shiva! Shiva!” and the formulation comes from the art method used in “Le Dessin” but the combinations and the practices learned from ex-Estelle Reps make it possible to have a “science” in the Tibetan sense. I had gone so far as laying the basis of a “death-and-resurrection” walk and since then a dance form has come entirely in accord with Magana’s principles. Add to this the devotional, psychic and spiritual elements and we have something for all children, for correcting postures, etc. The details will be kept to Walt, Magana and Saladin, but already a report has been sent to Pakistan. Combined with the Sufi instructions on malformed children we should in a few generations obviate many diseases. But the combination of the Yantra-yoga with the reports on the dietary research open up grand new fields.

The letter must step. An important inspiration which is enclosed.

August 7, 1963

Dear Saladin:

Nothing suffers so much as my diary in which I am supposed to record events for future history. The two letters from Pakistan made it almost mandatory to add two more correspondents to my list, one in Los Angeles and the other in North England, people who are interested in Sufism. My letter to the PoM was long and my typing rushes at an unabated rate.

Yesterday I called on Connie, Fields Book Store and for the first time did a “Fudo” on one of Watts’ students. I gave it to him. One person said, “I do not like your argument.” I turned to Connie and said, “How do I look?” “You never looked better in your life.” “That’s my argument.”

Actually it is a sort of fana with old Nyogen and I should use it more. Tonight I may run into Don Stevens and don’t know which way I shall act. But old Sensei’s statement that “You hear with your eyes and see with your ears” works and is infallible and is in “Cosmic Language.” I hope Don returns to me my commentary on “Cosmic Language” which was my best work. But I now have a tremendous load of teachings for the future without even integrating all the Sufi work which must be done, University of Islamabad or not.

A Sufi has strange experiences. Not only does he know what his brothers are doing to combat communism—“we” set the Russians against the Chinese and I can give details—“we” also pressured this ban-bomb. And when I was in an office the other day on food problems a wire came from Washington summoning my contact, high level stuff that is “secret” only that no newspaper many would accept it from a “little guy” and the serious man who received it would never give it to the press. So even with kashf sometimes one is way, way ahead. Actually twice I was entrusted by top men and nobody believed me. Don’t we have fun?

A man in this house is ill and another and I wish they would take the Ohsawa diet. Connie and her friends all have good words for him as a person, but with all the long faces I have seen in the world it is going to take more than corrective diet. Personally I believe that malnutrition outweighs starvation anywhere from 10/1 to 100/1.

I received a surprise letter from the White House in re this subject and so wrote. The top boys think they influence me by rhetoric, wrong guy.

Spent three hours with Charlton Kendal who has known me at least 30 years and sees little aging. I arranged my photos yesterday and if it were not for the styles, I don’t think anybody could tell the older. It is only hair-graying.

Several people want to see you and I only have given Connie a little more. She sells your books and this is business, and she is now studying real Zen. The only social engagement I could have for you are at book stores, because I find you can communicate spirituality by the $ and you can’t by the cocktail.

At present spiritually and mentally all seems in order; materially very bad, hard pressed and may have to move—it is a sword of Damocles rather than a fire. It is now clear about everything PoM told me.

Cordially,

S.A.M.

1088 Fulton St.,

San Francisco 17, Calif.

August 6, 1963

To Pir Zade Vilayat Inayat Khan,

Fazal Manzil, Sufi Headquarters,

Suresnes, Seine, France

Beloved One of Allah,

Toward the One, the Perfection of Love, Harmony and Beauty, the Only Being, United With All the Illuminated Souls Who Form the Embodiment of the Master, the Spirit of Guidance.

Today I am writing two books, one is scientific and every scientist that has gone over my words and works has accepted every point down to the most minute. It is all based on experience and knowledge, there is no symbology or hyperbolism or anything in it which cannot be validated.

And the other book is based on the experience in another direction. Every time something shown to a great religious leader or saint he accepts and already in my notes the greatest of the world’s leaders in Buddhism and Hinduism have accepted it. While the common people go around rejecting, the leaders accept and gradually, in the case of Buddhism, as the leaders come, they get the common people to accept. And here, a Sufi is on the “Encyclopedia of Buddhism” staff because he has the dharma by Grace and nobody can take it from him, Every ego, every ignorant person will reject and especially one finds those who give lectures on karma. And one can list a whole lot of lecturers on karma and they talk and their lives are miserable; they come to unhappy ends, but you can’t stop them. They put their ego-shadows over the light and fool everybody including themselves.

The above Invocation is in two parts. It is symbolic to those who have not the realization and it is truth as al-Hujweri (Data Ganj Baksh) says, to the “arrived ones.” But in the West the “arrived ones” are all spurned by the powerful, the noisy, and perhaps it has always been that way. So we have the ridiculous situation of peoples saying that Allah is the Only Being and asserting themselves without the Grace. If they have the Grace they may assert and if they have not the Grace it is either the karma or even damnation, and as Holy Qur’an says, “Woe, woe unto you who go astray after the guidance has been given,” Yet all through the years it is so.

And the second part of the Invocation refers to Hierarchy. To you people who desecrate the Message by holding that “flesh and blood do inherit the Kingdom of Heaven,” Jesus Christ or no Jesus Christ, the Hierarchy is a symbol; while to the Sufis the Hierarchy is a reality.

For Examples. (1) A representative of the Hierarchy—can give home, place date—told me of the impending split between Russia and China long ago. (2) A Representative of the Hierarchy—can give name, place date—formulated the plan which has led to the tri-party agreement on banning the bomb. There is no symbology in it, these are real Sufis on this real earth and this real time, if we call the outer manifestation “real.” And nobody, be they followers of “flesh and blood inherit the Kingdom” And thus are anti-Christ, or followers of Spurious Sufis who make false prophecies can do anything about it.

Having faced death in 1925 I was saved by Grace and the appearance of Khidr. Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan said, “Yes” and his mureeds said “No” excepting one Saladin Reps. And to those who say “No” it is remarkable that among the real mureeds of the real Inayat Khan we two have not aged, and nobody would guess our age or explain our vitality. People can make all sorts of faces and criticisms, but they cannot explain this vitality.

Today I am to chant and read poetry and both the chanting and the poetry are the result of this Grace through Khizr and the whole world will accept this , inshallah, and the people who pretend to Sufism without the Divine Wisdom are fooling themselves. I say this, because my work is on the Jalali line, for which I have had innumerable initiations, and even the Buddhist Fudo which ignorant people cannot understand. I showed just one picture to the leaders of the Japanese Community and they did what we call volte face so fast. But when one has to depend upon outer things, whether pictures or miracles, this shows absence of faith, absence of love, absence of surrender and what the real Sufis, may Allah bless them, call Absence.

After Khidr there was another experience which your blessed father wished me to write and all the followers of all the groups establishing their private Pir-o-Murshids rejected and I quote his own words from “Rassa Shastra,”

He who was truly a merciful teacher,

Who helped the feeble to fulfill their lives,

Who was an ever-present help in sorrow,

Who grieved with his own people and in the trouble of others,

He was my beloved Mohammed.

He who forgave the faults of the wrong-doers,

Who cleansed the hearts of the timorous and despairing from their fear,

Who vanquished evil with power and with might, (Note)

Who reconciled families long at war and embittered against each other,

He was my beloved Mohammed.

Can you say that? Can your relatives say that? They have destroyed the original constitution, they have changed the records, they have hidden teachings, they have put a healing, by voting as Pir-o-Murshid, and none of them say “Allah” or “God.”

They accept the audacious statements of “Murshid” Talewar Dussaq:

“There is another point: some people who had the privilege of being initiated by Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan, when Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan left this physical plane, they thought they were directly in touch with Him and had a disregard of the living Pir-o-Murshid.” Well, your blessed father did just that. In has “Confessions of Inayat Khan” and elsewhere he tells how his own son, Seyyed Moudani, guided him at all times, and he did not follow the direct successor of that Pir.

When I went to India the first time I visited the tomb of a great saint named Dadajan and he immediately revealed himself to me and said, “I will guide you through India,” And for months there was not illness, no bugs, no mosquitoes, no scorpions, no snakes, no inconveniences. Then I came to Ajmir where they were waiting for me—no verbal communication, and nothing but continuous feasting and rejoicing. Then for the only time I get sick and your father who serves Allah and not vote-for me for Murshid Dussaq, appeared and directed me on a very strange errand and I went on that errand and was healed immediately. The Final upshot was that I became in turn the bearer of brotherhood greetings from the Sufis of UAR to those of Pakistan and of those of Pakistan to India all in the same mood while your poor misled people in Europe accept vote-for-Murshid Dussaq and say there is no contact between the Murshid who has gone and the one who is here.

Rabia Martin, who was your father’s first mureed despite all the changing of records by your colleagues, went to your father because she had a vision of Mohammed to do so and she crossed the whole country because she had a vision of Mohammed to do so and that is how the Sufism established itself in America, so help me Allah and the Sufis in chain and you can believe nonsense but on the Day of Judgment I shall face your relatives gladly and Dussaq will not even face me, for he lacks the “smiling forehead” and you can’t do anything about it.

So all the elected Pirs began hiding the papers of which your blessed father said, “What I give you must give to others.“ It is also interesting to note that your father visited a lot of saints. But it never occurs that he learned from those saints, even Yoga methods, and one of these Yoga methods (to begin with) has been passed to me and through me and on to others and you can do nothing about it. The European records have that he visited saints and learned from them. What?

He also had me read over all his constitutions and I also saw a lot of remarks in his own handwriting. Some of these are destroyed in a fire in 1949 and some were thrown away by the family of Rabia Martin and some have been hidden and maybe destroyed by “Murshida” Ivy Duce. But in the ethers they are written.

And as to the Message, in the Sangathas your blessed father ways, “There is no Message. It is just to bring man to the praise of Allah.” But you read record after record by the Votes-for-Murshid people and they don’t mention God or Allah at all, never mind the praise.

Having nothing in one week, there come to me many books including those out of prints; many sacred papers; and now my own commentaries. With these I shall have ten years work to do for the humanity and already many want those things. The Bayat will be by Grace and experience and substantiated.

Your Father’s notes before the first constitution outlined two methods of spiritual advancement and two only:

A. Zikr B. Hal and makam

Being now in the perpetual Zikr there is the right earned besides being on the Jelali path of Mujahida. Your father stressed Mujahida and Mushahida and your confreres don’t even know these terms.

Fortunately, by the Divine grace, I have the ryazat of at least four Pir-o-Murshids of this century, and these will be integrated with the methods of Hazrat Inayat Khan. But today there is even more. In 1911 your father spoke on the spiritual dances and these will now be given to the world, especially in accord with the teachings of Bullah Shah whom your father venerated and whose tomb I have visited.

Despite all the papers on spiritual phenomena and spirit phenomena, those of you who do not have these things wipe off the book. This is done in one direction, and being done in defiance of Allah and his Hierarchy, that Sufism that will spread in Europe will come, is coming from North Africa and not from those who destroy or hide the records and won’t talk to each other while mumbling about the Human Brotherhood.

Your father wanted me to carry the Message to the intellectuals, he appointed me the exoteric leader. You have refused to recognize that, your rivals have refused to recognize that. This is called “surrender.” There is no need now for me to ask for papers, anything. Having the Grace of Allah, to Whom be all Praise, and in tune with the Sufis all over this world and the fana-fi-Rassoul and the fana-fi-lillah and other forms of fana, I must ask you now to be complete, and ignore all requests, for it you cannot go in the one direction, be faithful to the direction in which you go, stand fast or surrender, don’t compromise. Every person finds Truth some day, either in the herenow or hereafter. It is only that there will be, inshallah, a real spiritual brotherhood among real people in all parts of the real earth, accepting God-Allah as the basis, and then the teachings and not a lot of a sides put in to justify some side-tracking. God is the Forgiver of all short-comings.

God bless you,

Sufi Ahmed Murad.

August 11, 1963

Dear Saladin:

I awoke this morning uncertain as to whether to write and then read an article in the paper that a plant which I have grown, Vinca Rosea, provides a “cure” for cancer. Now yesterday I had a long walk to meditate on the Kemalic processes in plants and the Kemalic foods, and it is possible that these Kemalic foods may be Yin or Yang, but I am better able to deal with the Sufic classification. I am as yet unable to determine the Sattva-Rajas-Tamas division for I think (but don’t know) they touch the subtle spheres. But the chemistry and the biology are becoming clear.

While this is going on a visitor to this house has been diagnosed as having cancer and six months and it is poppycock. He has to die because the medical profession is stuck on analysis. When a Vijnanavadin steps in all the analysts unite in denying him and also in fighting each other. In certain quarters I am unpopular because again and again I have stopped the “experts” from fighting each other. The age of specialization.

I wrote to Bertrand (Lord) Russell and called attention to the fact that he was stuck on analysis despite the fact that his own works on logic and mathematics clearly pointed out the limitations. Finding a universal measuring stick he had never applied it to himself which was surprising. I received a nice answer. But it is my colleague, Prof. Reiser, who has supplied the next step.

Life is synthesis of integration, analysis is death. Catching doctors alone you can break them down, but when they get together that is different. Catching scientists alone one never has any trouble, there is no need to break down. My teacher, Prof. Cassius Keyser, wrote The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking and that, with Indian and Sufi mind-training enables one to go ahead, even prophetically. Murshid brought this out in “The Story of Lot” but how many people can function with the five bodies? If you do, you will at once be misunderstood and often attacked. There is little humility and no surrender among the metaphysical and religious people, but with scientists and “skeptics” one can often get along.

I am waiting for Major Sadiq whom I have not heard from, because I have seen him cure cancer—I mean hospital cases with attendant physicians.

Now this week I was attacked by one mureed whom I had hoped for. Then my landlady gave notice; I must move. Then my landlady disappeared and it may even be a polio case. And on the other hand Pir-o-Murshid came and pointed out that today I have the spiritual poetry, the spiritual music, the spiritual dance just given, and next it will be the spiritual drama because with all prayers people do not make themselves vessels of divine guidance. I sang through the temples of India and may again. I danced at Fatehpur Sikri and will again all over, inshallah. Now I have two people who will listen and it is a relief.

This morning I go to Don Stevens ostensibly to get my papers. But the landlady is gone and the other car had a smash up so I get no help even on errands.

When I revise the commentaries on the Gathas, especially the first series, these will be masterpieces for the future, inshallah. We are stuck with egocentricities, limitations, etc. The other day I spent a long time with an elderly lady who has an art form something like yours but more Vijnanavada. That is her genre. That is not mine. It may be possible like Moses to supply the manna, or like Jesus to divide loaves and fishes but my work is to see that people have food from the ordinary sources and not the magic’s. The ordinary will supply its own magics when we have Vijnanavadins who can comprehend the principles and apply them by hard work, patience and human dealings.

Found copy of “The Integration of the Ancient and Modern in the Solution of India’s Problems” and left it at the consulate. There are always new staffs. Today I know this is true and the hope of the world is largely in India because they recognize the integration. I did not take out the studies on their medical and herbal systems. Actually when we recognize the Kemal in the plants (and elsewhere) the detailed study may not be necessary and it is only at the Yoga Center here where you get any breath training.

There is not one moment repose but there is also the secret of finding the repose in turmoil which none of the writers on Zen seem to recognize. I hope to visit the Chinese temple today, no time for the Zen unless. And had to add two more persons to my correspondence, lone Sufis in the wide Western world.

One can be as honest, as clear-headed, as tolerant, as sincere, etc., but if you don’t rub nice on somebody’s ego, wow. And if you catch somebody whoring, stealing, gossiping, you have made an enemy. They always attack and accuse you, although one may pay no more attention than to animals in similar conditions. Fortunately there is tasawwur and higher practices and I remain here until I can find somebody.

There was a Sufi once in San Francisco. What a life. He was born an Albanian and as soon as he could explain the Divine mysteries in his language he can to go to Istanbul. As soon as he could explain in Turkish he had to go to Cairo. As soon as he knew the Arabic, he had to come to America. Now he learned the English and had to go elsewhere. It is not always easy.

God bless you,

P.S. During the week I received a surprise letter from a Radio Station which, if followed up, could land me in a conspicuous place. But what’s the use? It’s not in my dharma, I am not progressing with my writing, and any report is received other than in plain simplicity.

August 13, 1963

My dear Carlton:

It was nice to see you again and also to know you are “free” in a certain sense. You did find me in a temple or mausoleum of health and it is possible that that temple or mausoleum will become more and more a certain of re-vivification. My “brother,” Paul Reps, is now in the State concerned with the re-vivification and re-novation of the human temple. In my poem, “What Christ? What Peace” which was written in 1940-41, the plan for world peace is based on the resurrection of the body in no uncertain terms and until “man is born a new” not poetically, not symbolically, but actually we cannot have human peace. Man must first make peace with himself.

The alchemy is not all didactic morality. An impure body cannot commit pure acts. The vital forces flow through the breath (spirit) and through life-nourishing foods (flesh), and both of these are derived from the All-Pervading Life. That body has life is seen in the growth and as yet neither botanists nor biochemists nor others have found the secret of this life because our minds are trained in analysis and not in over-all observation. The Taoist is trained in the over-all observation but not in analysis and comes up with different answers. By “Taoist” I do not mean that impossible, metaphorical, ethereal monster coined by European pseudo-philosophers, but living men, usually Chinese.

When I was in Asia I never lost a debate—not one loss. But don’t jump. Did you ever play tit-tat-toe? You can play a hundred games, all ties. There are three outcomes: victory, union and surrender, and I have no idea which percentage of each there were. My final, climactic debate, the one for which I prepared the hardest, was one of absolute and utter surrender. People here do not know how to surrender, they think they are losing something and the parody of Asian spiritual masters given us by the aforesaid European pseudo—philosophers and the American metaphysicians has absolute nothing to do with anything. No one can logically prove that Dr. Radhakrishnan is not a mahatma or a superman and the very fact that he has never out-expressed himself proves nothing. My meeting with him—at a time when he saw nobody else either, was one of utter communion. We had nothing to say. We agreed on everything and did not even have to say it and that is a tall story.

The result of this behavior pattern—victory, alliance and surrender, has been the collation of perhaps the largest compendium of esotericism over to come into the hands of one person, utterly protected because the people around one do not believe it and so long as I am not believed or respected I am utterly protected.

In the last three weeks there have come into my hands from three sources practically all the teachings of the late Hazrat Inayat Khan, my first spiritual mentor. In some of the papers delivered to me was a lot of stuff, esoterically directional, which can be used in distributing disciplines to anybody and everybody. But the disciples of Hazrat Inayat Khan do not know, cannot know (self-will) that in the Orient I have been trusted one, by living teachers; two, by finding in English a mass of Sufic material not available yet.

The same thing is true of Indian teachings excepting that with the Indian teachings I am not under an agreement to keep anything as a secret and sacred trust. And this very permission to share cosmic wisdom has been even more of a protection because people do not believe I have it—at least not until last night. The only other person in the same position is Judith Tyberg and I am a little afraid of calling on Judith. Why? Because she will give me a feast; I am overloaded and she is overloaded and she will give me a feast. And people don’t believe her either. But Walt Baptists asked the “question” just like Percival did at the Holy Grail, so gradually I filter down the Yoga systems like I did the other night with the Hathavada poetry.

I am not a theosophist yet during this life there has been enough experience to validate (a) theosophical masters; (b) the akashic records—e.g. the poetry read. I have no assurance it is not recollection of former life wisdom. The yogis end with the Yantra with is preserved only in Tibetan but now the Yantra has coalesced with the Sufism in delineating new forms of dance patterns and body movements.

That this may be in the atmosphere or ether is clearly shown by examining on one hand the poetry and art of Paul Reps and in another direction the drama and poetry of Mrs. Wishar-Dignan in this city. Reps has been after me with a short-word type of literature which I have not been able to deliver, but in the dance this is being done. And yet the Yantra-Sufic art form will be in the end so voluminous I dare not put it to writing. Actually the original beginning came from a women whom Reps introduced me to who has disappeared from our lives. Like most American women she is utterly unable to understand the victory-alliance-surrender pattern as above.

With the deliverance of the Inayat-Khan material there were some reminder notes. It is not generally known that Rabia Martin was an occult initiate and unfortunately nearly all her materials were destroyed in a fire and the rest disposed by her daughter who had no deep knowledge. But Rabia did give me the Egyptian initiation. When I was in Cairo I came to the initiatory pyramids which are not at Giza and are very, very much older. This was confirmed by the Sufis but not by anthropologists, linguists and least of all the hyperbolic, metaphysical, pseudo theosophists. I found at a glance what Brunton did not find in the Great Pyramid and again, it remains a “secret” because of so much pseudo-knowledge which has been uncritically accepted. Brunton did not have even high psychic experiences at Cheops.

The European esotericism preserved some wisdom which can be traced all the way to the Greeks and again we are aborted, because we do not recognize that there is a universal earth-water-fire-air-ether explanation which can be made of the whole universe, even now. And while we talk about the Greeks being superstitious, we can read in the paper today of the rise of new epidemics and the very high degree of illness latent in our leading physicians. The dictum, “Physician, heal thyself,” does not apply. Even Red China is far, far ahead of us in the treatment of cancer and polio.

Sri Aurobindo, in seeking to use English terms instead of Sanskrit, has made a mess of things. He translate “prana” as life and in this shows an ignorance which is almost as stupendous as his profundity in other directions. In the first place, especially from Indian philosophy, there is the Jacob’s Ladder movement of life above-below and below-above. This is common, in some respects, to Chinese wisdom, to Hebraic wisdom, and most of all, to the science of breath. Prana-Yama means the stopping of breath, not the stopping of life. Adepts can live without ordinary breathing and without eating much, and yet they are fully alive. And this Anglicizing of Sanskrit terms leads to foolishness. We have used the Greek language in our external sciences—Anglo-Saxon will not do; we have to use the Asian words in our internal sciences, just as we use Cotton, Muslim, Damask, etc. etc.

At the Yoga Center, therefore, perhaps more attention is paid to the breath than at most places, and then to diet. When these two are properly employed it is possible not only to preserve health but to restore, even youth and vitality.

The Tibetans, therefore, speak of “The Science”; they do not analyze the person back into the five facets taught by the Indians, or the three bodies taught by all faiths. They treat everything as One.

The essential difference between Esoteric Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism is the environment. The Tibetan forms were evolved to meet conditions totally different from those found in India. In Tibet you have to keep warm and in treating the science of the body, therefore, you have to have a “yoga” that will keep the body warm. The so-called “Agni Yoga” of the Roerichs is humbug. (It is neither Agni nor Yoga and nobody has gone far in it. It is just compendium of more dualistical pseudo-moral trivia which passes for divine wisdom.)

The other side of the Esoteric Buddhism which is common to Japan, China and Tibet has to do with rituals, sounds, the elements as above, the cosmic hierarchy, etc. This cosmic hierarchy is fairly clear in the Japanese version which minimizes the change of language forms and very unclear in the theosophical “esoteric Buddhism” which, by anglicizing the principles, has adopted words from the common languages which do not fit. Indeed better works has been done by Christians on the Bodhisattva.

As soon as the Bodhisattva passes from symbology to reality trouble arises. Buddhism teaches “One Mind” but as soon as one contacts and draws from that “One Mind” he will receive nothing but challenges. Those who have drunk from this universal font, the “One Mind” will always agree. They are not silence but it is difficult to express in the common language. You cannot effectively translate the mantras.

Tonight I may appear at a forum on “Buddhism, Occultism and the [?]. A man who has been actually trained by teachers, masters and Yogis and who in addition has read almost the entire sacred literature of the Orient, is at a loss when he meets Western “authorities.”

On previous occasions Nyogen Senzaki appeared, took over my being, threw thunderbolts and caused confusion. Actually this is the work of Fudo Bostsu and it is no fun. You have to smash everybody, friend or foe, to get rid of illusion and stop talking about getting rid of illusion. There is a vast difference between the thunderbolt and some of the “nice” dance patterns I have seen based on it.

I have here and I’ll set more made, a picture of myself on top of the sacred mountain of Japan—no other Westerners have been there, seated between a Pl. Orientalis and a Pl. Occidentalis with Fuji-san in the background. In a sense this was my Horeb, my Carmel or even my Meru. Fortunately the picture is real and unlike Gurdjieff I can relate how I got there and what happened. But as I was the first non-Asian ever to ascend that mountain, the unusual—which always happens to “the unworthy” is slow to penetrate and thus I have been unable to get anybody to follow. I am hoping that Paul Reps will accept certain introductions and go so somebody can confirm. But the esoteric Buddhism, of reality and realities does not always conform with the written descriptions. The nearest is found at the Koyasan Temple in Los Angeles, and that is somewhat mixed with other teachings.

Now you can see the outlines of what happened from long association with Rabia Martin who gave me the keys early in life and they did not use other keys furnished by Inayat Khan and Nyogen Senzaki. Only she did give the heritage of the European esotericisms so that they can be coalesced with the wisdoms of the Orient.

I shall have to move shortly and this will probably be for the better.

Finally, I recovered the “Esoteric Masonry” of Inayat Khan which has to do with the renovation of earth, first. This is in accord with the now lost “Nabatean Culture” the Sabean esotericism which once dominated Rabia and which also influence the Jewish esotericism (as against mysticism.) The nearest in the Bible is “the mystery of the seed-sowing” of Jesus Christ.

The renovation of earth and the re-vivification of the human body no doubt go together and this is the exoteric work and I have not even touched on that here.

Will be glad to see you any time to mutual convenience.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad

August 16

Dear Saladin:

Your project may be an answer to a prayer or it may be part of divine guidance or both. The University if Islamabad wants me to write a book on “Leaves” and I have a feeling we may be on the way to the recovery of amrita. Some weeks back I spoke to Iru Price about Taoist Herbology and he said he would help me. But he has been moving and then you came along.

Another thing, quite different. In 1923 PoM appointed six cherags and put me at the head of the exoteric work. As soon as he was gone Rabia appointed me cherag against my will. There were six cherags, three of them retired, I was working six days a week and they compelled me to take over the Universal Worship so I was lucky I had Sunday afternoons. And in those days I had to do all my cooking and laundry while living at home. It contributed to my 1925 breakdown.

More recently it came to me if there is to be a Universal Worship it must include Taoism. Zarathustrianism is small and confined to a bunch of money-grabbers. Its best texts have not come down to us, and whatever it has to contribute it is not much. On the other hand I have been initiated into esoteric Confucianism and admire many forms of Taoism. And with your agog-ness I can’t see any “sky” or any reason, if there is to be universal religion why all of this cannot be taken in.

Last night I filed all my papers excepting correspondence. I looked again at the material. I had to sweat blood to get in Rabia’s home and Etta never let me finish. I found a complete Yoga system (or many) and another type of healing system. I have also my commentary on “Health” which includes a lot of etcetera material turned over to Rabia and never used; plus the healing practices from both contemporary PoMs in Pakistan. The healing cum diet school alone would merit a staff working full time. And in between more practices for developing magnetism and healing powers besides the ones I know.

If a certain material event takes place I shall initiate Walt Baptiste who is known as Guru Dev, in the Yoga systems. I was sent to him some weeks ago warning that his Guru, Sivanananda, was no longer effective and six weeks later that Sage died, leaving Walt in a funk.

What is more certain: I took PoM’s “Three Plays” down to him with the suggestion that his wife present them to the public. The changes are highly favorable. They already have the costumes and stage setting for the first two plays. What they needed was dramatic material and here they have it.

Yesterday’s mail shows that for me the Fudo path is right. Now as the fall approaches—beginning next week, I have been admitted to forums on Asia where before doors were closed. I am going to lay it down to Iru Price in re: Buddhism. I love this man who took over from Rev. Phra Sumangalo, but he has not the good-will of the Buddhists in the southern part of the State, and if I seem an obstacle here, I found myself in total and absolute agreement with those people. The Zendo in L.A. is growing great guns and the Bishop (Yamada) is the most wonderful Buddhist (to me) in the U.S.

No doubt I shall have to learn more about the Bodhisattvas. I will not be a “stone-Buddha,” cannot be. This means more negotiations with the Japanese—do not anticipate any difficulty.

Cooked more Rice this a.m. and sealed the rest before moving. My new address will be 143 Second Ave., San Francisco 18. I shall be near quite a few old friends and also near the East-West House.

If there are any letters from Europe I shall tell them that there is no need for anything, that they may seclude the teachings and lessons in any way they wish but the Sufi world will soon have them all. I shall wait for Bryn to write. In one sense he is not to be forgiven—PoM wrote at length on kashf and even Manly Hall—and the Vedas—point out the hrydaya meant the heart-immediate-grasping. I notice that failure comes when the heart is blocked. Last night I felt terrifically strong with a maximum of both pain and bliss at the same time—the pain, the sympathetic or empathic attunement to others.

Today I am afraid even to crack jokes because I find some of them turn out to be too prophetic. PoM gave in the Githas these sciences:

a. Healing (Shifayat) b. Psychic Power (Amaliat)

c. Concentration (Murakkabah) d. Esoteric practices (Ryazat)

The papers on Spiritualism did not impress me and those on Sadhana are really Hindu and I can work out other papers if necessary, covering other facets of wisdom.

I think there are other lessons too. But these omit

a. Mushahida—Contemplation, which is the positive side to the Dhyana of Buddhism and Hinduism.

b. Mujahida—which is the self-purging and is not only moral but “hierarchal.”

The Irfan which I tried to show you, may be above POM’s most advanced teaching that appears in his literature and higher lessons. But in the mss. here there may be other high teachers. You are right when you said I am rich, in this respect now too rich. And I still have all my writing and everything else.

August 17, 1963

Dear Saladin:

This to my diary and I would not burden you with it excepting you have sent “Zen Flesh,” Zen Bones,”

Hakuin. The series of dramas began with an attack on me made by a deviate who entered these rooms without ringing the bell. She came as a messenger from a person to whom I have given Bayat. First this women became an Adulteress and schemed against me, I never knew whether it was because I did or I didn’t. Then she relented to become a Lesbian. The same all over. Now more! And she is becoming a Nun! My fault.

Sunday, I received the box of spiritual papers and it has been necessary tie drop everything to file them and I made most important discoveries which I have reported.

This Week. Constant moving in and Out of persons who do not know whether this place is going to be renovated or re-arranged or anything.

Ex Landlady. One fracas with former sweetheart, last Money night. No sleep. Two days later personal attack. Called police. Nothing cleared up except the lady moved out? or moved out, or moved out.” No peace.

New Landlady. Everything looked fine and I was to start to move today but she was attacked by a rival and banged up. So delay. Only the landlord promised to paint my rooms without costs and Move delayed.

This on top of all else and last night the new tenant had the radio on till 5 a.m. no sleep. Then I got up to work on the files and no matter how much thought I had to do, much more—no help of any kind. And on top of that no paycheck and I may have to borrow money (my own.)

Knowing this is the initiatory process one has to keep equal-minded and stop the nonsense of lecturing on the subjects.

Moving from this neighborhood gets me from the Elijah Mohammed Muslims. Whatever be their stand, I have never met anybody, for or against, who has thought through—all emotions everywhere and nothing but. You can understand why “Puck” wants to write (separate sheet) on The Depraved New World.

The book did not arrive and so not until Monday and between times I have to go back and forth to see my new quarters. Physically fine, and will probably eat Brown Rice and Bean Sprout on and on, but psychically very trying. Also for example, man from whom I ordered Murshid’s books in mental hospital, cannot trace order. And fine time (?) at Buddhist meeting last Tuesday. Only peace at Yoga Center. Brought them Murshid’s plays which think will be produced within a year. If my mind does not heal will merely copy POM’s books for the Orient, this brings solace.

August 26, 1963

Dear Saladin:

Received a long, report from Lahore which is answered only in part here—just enough to cover an aerogram sheet. There is no question that in time Hazrat Inayat Khan will be known as the teacher of the age. His followers did not recognize him and established cults all over,

I may have back—have not looked—memo of his original teachings. The rest was put in a book by Rabia and hidden away. Etta, her daughter, would not let me look and it was never found. But I can tell you that it was in accord with the Four-School Sufism of Hyderabad which in turn recognizes the six world religions of the Universal Worship but not Taoism and Confucianism.

My friend, Major Sadiq, has been hospitalized but it is not clear whether (a) he is ill; (b) had an accident(s) or is helping out with his healing powers.

The confusion reigns in Fulton St. compounded today and the man who was first to help me move had three break-downs in one week. Perhaps Allah knows best, but I have another friend whom I have booked for Thursday, and then definitely the address will be 143 Second Ave., S.F. 18, phone Skyline 2-9387.

Yesterday had an amusing session with Master Too Lun. He began telling about Boddhidharma trying to explain in English and I called out ““Tamo” and everybody laughed. It was a good session because I have seen too much severity in the Chinese and much laughter in the Japanese but yesterday it was real laughter compounded with wisdom. Only the meditation was short and the talk long; but he did not talk down. He realizes that his few Americans are not tyros. This was the only time I have left the house except for errands and emergencies.

But last night I performed another practice. Ramdas went into caves. Now caves according to modern psychology mean regression, the womb, the original conditions etc. So I used the “anti-cave,” going into the light instead of darkness, and expanding instead of contracting. The result was I received a sign to become a Guru and gave my first piece of first lesson today. This can be done in two ways:

a. By a drawing b. By an explanation

but the two are not easy in terms of each other. However both follow the motto I was given some time age: In Thy Flesh, Thou Shalt See God. This is from Jonah in the Bible. It has to do with sex.

I was also given a problem of a young man named Merrill Geerts whom I have known a long time. He brought me his horoscope and I said, “You had a rupture.” From that point on it was easy for me and mysterious to him. For the astrologers do not know and cannot recognize the three bodies and I can see without knowing the astrology what they do not see and wonder at. Anyhow I hope to have him in the class tonight.

There I am learning another type of dancing too—what might be called White Magic, anti-voodoo, but using the psychic forces upward and outward.

One is allowed no rest. If I do not get inspiration I tire and if the inspiration comes, one gets into ecstasy; in either case only so much is accomplished.

Faithfully,

September 3, 1963

My dear John:

At the moment I am on the horns of several dilemmas and what causes me to write is not these dilemmas but the series of ironical successes and successful ironies which accompany them.

The most dramatic but not tragic episode of the moment is that I was unofficially asked to move. A friend telephoned and said she had some rooms to let. She accepted my money and typewriter and then refused entry, which means, no doubt, a small courts case, bringing charges. But it was actually extortion, and she took advantage of the fact that I am more pressed for time to do this.

In general I have had some pretty near nasty episodes with women which also have had the effect of causing some men to admire me and also some women who do not like other women, and those involved in particularly to be more friendly.

Then I telephoned a former landlady and she said she had an apartment for me. If so the address will be on the envelope. So let’s turn to better things.

I was asked to write for the Encyclopedia of Buddhism which is a world undertaking. One of the themes is the biography of a friend who failed utterly to warn the United States of the troubles in S.E. Asia despite the fact that he had worked for every government, was known to everybody and was one of the top three men in the whole Buddhist world. The State Department and press ignored his absolutely. They not only ignored him, there was a directive that anybody that would interview him would be fired.

Now in my youth I had another Buddhist friend who warned me that the Japanese were planning to attack Hawaii. While my story was not believed at first, when all my stories were compiled, they caused my name to be entered on the role of honor at Fort Mason—something which none of my old acquaintances would believe. I may have to go there soon because the whole situation is getting complex.

I wrote to the CIA and told them that the release of these letters would be embarrassing to them, did they have any suggestion (i.e., concerning the former Buddhist of two paragraphs above). Before it was time for an answer I learned to my amazement that the decision to accept the Diem government was made by one Col. Edward Lansdale with whom I became acquainted during the war in G 2; I have his picture here and he once had a home in Marin County. Now I do not like it if CIA accepts my reports merely because I am known to then personally. My battle is to get them to examine any American’s reports below pigeon-holing or anything.

Now the last news I had from Pakistan is that there is money there for my biography! I am standing that well in this and maybe other foreign lands.

The fact that I was permitted to visit the Imperial Grounds and the Royal Cemetery in Japan should at least interest if not excite some people in the Foreign Service. But the fact that I have even been entrusted with confidences by the intelligence service of three different foreign governments has never been accepted seriously excepting when in Egypt the mob finally moved in on our Embassy; and Pakistan when it was proven beyond doubt that I really came into a real communist underground cell. The life I saved happened to be my own, but I cannot save the life of my country.

When I wrote Robert Kennedy about Indonesia he wrote back, “I do not agree with you” and on the day I received the letter a mob attacked our Embassy in Jakarta. Series of this sort of thing become awkward when one is asked to submit an autobiography for publication.

The most ironical report I have just came. “Newsweek” published an article on soil problems and salinity. I sent a long letter that the greatest experts on these problems were here in California, almost out of work and unemployed and by-passed when billions of dollars were available for space-travel experiments.

I then received a report from Dr. Milton Fireman, the #1 in this field. Both the report and his letter ask me not to publish it, or copy it for publications, though I may use it privately. This I intend to do in seminars of the World Affairs Council later on—at least I hope so.

But the report itself corroborates every single effort of my own; the conclusions by and large, or small, are identical. The differences are that he visited many more lands than I did, but did not always cover each so intense. It seems that as if AID may be go the way of TCM, its predecessor. Foreign aid experts are sent out; they do a marvelous jobs mid then run into protocol, road blocks, and utter frustration. They report, and they are abolished and instead of cutting down the funds, the funds are even increased and new agencies are set up.

It is not only that these things are horrible; it is that I am asked to write an autobiography. And in another part of Pakistan, despite all foreign aid, I am asked to submit a plan to reduce salinity despite all the above experts and aid. The Americans who have been abroad all meet this frustration and instead of helping grow more foods they are kept busy organizing, teaching teachers, establishing schools and do not see the farms, forests and peasants they imagine they are going to help.

At the same time everything I write is received now with great thanksgiving. Even my letters are published, a lot of people trust me in a number of different directions and the quantitative lead is so great as to be unimaginable. Since, I caught the “experts” in public debate; I am less anxious, not more, to “show off.” This means nothing.

Now while this has been going on—and all on top of my regular program—all these things have been happening:

The party who kicked me out of Fairfax and then defamed me has returned the bulk of my writings, and also some of the research she had. Already this material is honored in Pakistani, and it will enable me to occupy a position of trust and even financial security if I go there—or even if I write from this end.

When I released a very small portion of this material, actually an infinitesimal amount here, it has resulted in my being offered a place to live in Marin County again under most favorable circumstances. I do not know the place or details yet and it may be for the future.

While this was going on I received, among other new things, the latest advances in several sciences by a Frenchman who may far outshine—if his work is found valid—even Einstein and the Curies. It is exceedingly astonishing. I have been asked to help find a publisher but not the University of California. My inclination has been to seek my soil chemistry professor who is down in Indio, one of the “experts” referred to who is bypassed. He was very, very high among the “Who’s Who in Science” which does not mean that he commands any top salary. I don’t know how I am going to do this.

While this is going on—and I have not even completed my memoirs there are more and more signs both of recognition and corroboratory material even right here in San Francisco. Yet recognition is exceedingly slow and the newspapers continue unanimously to turn down everything sent in. It is only that tonight I received an introduction to an offbeat publication in New York which may be publication, not where I want it, but the more I gripe, the more likely is the editor to publish.

My health is excellent, I look fine, but no time for rest and relaxation excepting in the dance-forms and efforts which are also progressing and progression towards a goal.

I am not asking for any meeting, bat I thought a report would be in order.

Cordially,

S. A. M.

Samuel L. Lewis

P.S. The woman to whose house I was supposed to move has not only kept my money but my mail!

September 8, 1963

My dear Uncle and Aunt:

Not having heard from you for some time I am assuming that everything is not too well, but I am so utterly busy, and pretty nearly confused too, that it is only a series of climaxes that impels me to write.

Around 1958 when I was on Clementina St. my friend, Robert Clifton visited me and I said to him: “Robert, you and I are mere nobodies. We can’t get an audience. Congress, the government, the newspapers, nobody pays any attention to us, but I do not think there is a King, Prime Minister, Cabinet Official, head of a university, professor … holy man … or peasant, from one end of Asia to the other whom either you or I could not meet if we have not met already, yet we are more nobodies.” “Too true, Samuel, too true.”

Robert died in 1962 but I have been commissioned to work on his biography. Indeed I am meeting sons of his friends today. He worked severally for the Kings of Laos, Annam (Bao Dai), Cambodia, Thailand, was close to the government of Burma and died a close friend of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Prime Minister of Malaya, and was a Malayan citizen.

The reason for his having become a Malayan citizen is that when he came to warn of troubles in S.E. Asia, the late J. F. Dulles issued a directive that anybody giving him an interview would be summarily discharged. Robert returned to Asia, got caught in the Laos chaos, came back to claim an estate, and then go to Asia. In the course of events he found he was a third cousin of Senator Fulbright by marriage and this got him a very few interviews and this disgusted him more because it was his family and social connection not his knowledge. Yet he was responsible for the Buddhist temple in Washington, and became one of the three top men in the Buddhist world.

Then there is Sam Lewis. True, Sam Lewis’s name is up at Fort Mason on the heroes’ list but nobody close is going to believe that too much. More recently his name has become more and more important in Pakistan. Even a letter was not only published but headlined in the most important English paper in the country (Pakistan Review) and the editorial given to him to send in ideas for social, educational and agricultural reform.

Last week there was a top climax for me. I had to move and am back at 58 Harriet St. below where I used to live. Money has been allocated for my autobiography in Pakistan, and I found the top CIA official in S.E. Asia, Colonel Lansdale, is a man with whom I formed a very close friendship during the war and he gave me his picture which I should be glad to have copied and sent to you. Meanwhile Under-Secretary George Ball of the State Department has gone to Pakistan and fumbled and fuddled where I was a first-hand witness, and even participant in some of the events. So I get on the telephoned and asked an official, “Does one have to perform an act of treason for an appointment with anybody? I am not fooling. I am about to commit treason to save my country.” I won’t go into details on this but the upshot is that everything I have done, and everything I have planned is to be written and I have now an agent to cover … everything, and I mean everything.

Scientific Ventures. All my reports to whomsoever in Washington have been shelved but I did got a cryptic letter from the White House, of all places, telling me about how we are feeding backward people, something I know lots more about than the writer because I have seen it in East Pakistan and Egypt. The general who was in charge of the feeding in East Pakistan became a close friend and we are more than ever associated in this Islamabad University.

I then received a restricted letter from AID which is in charge of some types of foreign aid—so-called. It corroborates my findings in every country excepting Egypt which was not visited, down to the smallest details. The suggestions on every point are the same—drainage, engineering, soil management, crops, etc. If there is any doubt about veracity one has only to contact Mr. Hass, technical assistant to Senator Kuchel, and I can name others, all others.

For it has been strange—that in the face of so-called “Foreign Aid” I have been asked to submit my own plans to the official who is now head of one of the governmental sub-divisions in the lower part of the Indus Valley. Why should he write me, an unknown individual, if things were so lovely?

In the meanwhile I have received an opposite report from a group of food specialists. And on top of that they have sent me reports on some of the latest developments in certain sciences, very technical and still more important than technical.

And on top of that Dr. Robert Miller, Director of the Academy of Sciences, has nominated me for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, which will enable me to represent the University of Islamabad. This alone has been a terrible trial for every university in the country which has foreigners in charge of Islamics has turned me down and it is only fortunate that Princeton has Americans and the sheer weight of my contacts abroad has caused them to revise the book they were planning for the instruction of the Peace Corps.

Persons. I never told my parents—they would not have believed me anyhow, and certainly Elliott never, that I have been on very close terms with two local big shots. One is Lucretia Del Valle Grady who is a scion of big California families and the #1 women of the Democratic Party. But the reason for our association is our close connection with an institution in New Delhi, which is exceedingly important there (you can consult the Prime Minister, President and Vice President of India for that) and not because of anything here.

The other one is Russell Smith Sr. who was a close associate of the Gianninis, connected with the world Bank and International Monetary Commission and now head of Asia Foundation—the one place I can go and report. When I said I met the President of India or anybody else they believed it but not so the press, universities, the “experts,” etc. and I am not going into that.

But I never got one introduction from these people. I earn my way. I visited the World Bank when I was in Washington without introduction and the UN the same. People don’t know me and perhaps that is my salvation.

M. T. Kirby yelling to me that the Japanese planned to attack Hawaii (I did not believe that); Clifton on Laos, Vietnam, etc. Nicol Smith of Burma Road, concerning Tibet; I myself on Baghdad and Cairo attacks on our Embassies. Robert Kennedy thanking me for a note on Indonesia and telling me in his own hand that he did not believe in my view and within twelve hours the mob attacked our Embassy—it is getting to be too much. So I got my interview.

It was a repetition, but on a larger scale of my final interviews at Fort Mason during the war. There it was the officials who told me they held my cards. Here it was the opposite only it was amazing—my contacts over-evaluated everything. But after all I have been at the Imperial Grounds in Japan and the Palace in Thailand and I have met the biggest big shots of Japan, Thailand, Burma, India, Pakistan and UAR while visiting and Indonesia without visiting. I do know the history, the cultures of these people—at least they say I do and they have invited me all the time all over and it is becoming monotonous.

Now my autobiography is wanted, the money put up and a delegation of my closest friends—who are also close to President Ayub, are planning to come here. I am getting out the press notice (in Urdu) where I spoke to 20,000 people, my biggest occasion, and will have it translated.

I have addressed universities and specialists on subjects from which I have been excluded here. I have been at top scientific conclaves abroad. I have met top scientists here. (I have yet to get one rejection from any scientist on anything.) I have taught top people on certain technical matters abroad. In some instances I have the pictures, in other cases the press notices.

And here, I was not permitted to attend one Asian conference after another; or when I did attend, the chair, recognizing me, refused to let me have the floor. And America is the only country in the world that hires Europeans to act as “experts” on Asia, We don’t hire Americans excepting two who are loathed in Asian lands, and we don’t usually hire Asians either. And this is known—all the Consuls-Generals here know it and of course the Embassies also know it. And I have been a channel for the intelligence service of at least three foreign nations and it was only because of the mob attack on the Embassy at Cairo and my own (fourth) stepping into a communist nest, that got me even serious consideration.

In Egypt it was declared—I did not save the press clippings either in English or Arabic—that I was a wizard, could perform miracles, etc. and when I protested they said; “Can’t you, we don’t believe it!” And do you want to know something, darlings, they were nearest right than wrong!

A certain person who was once my confidante and then betrayed me—it is a long and horrible story—returned my papers and I found among them my poems written in 1932 on the death of Hitler, the fall of the British Empire, the independence, of India and the return of Jews to Palestine.

I got in hot water during the war because of certain statements I made and on the requests of GII (Intelligence) destroyed (I thought) all my papers. The Colonel Lansdale, the Chief CIA representative in Vietnam was a witness to it. So even my closest associates hardly know me.

I had a plan for Palestine which the confidante who was very influential blocked and when later I met the Swedish an Indian UN top officials they independently told me it was the most sensible thing they ever heard of. But I withdraw from that and also from the Kashmir complex and devote myself to food problems. But I know Asian histories. In 1961 on Thanksgiving Day, I dined with the American colony in Lahore—all the teachers, experts, officials were there and I was the only one who knows the history of the region.

It is only now that I have been asked to place everything into channels which the people interviewing me will arrange. We spend a million dollars a day in Vietnam alone; we have been rebuffed in an allied country, Pakistan; we keep on losing whatever prestige we have (nothing here to do with our Negro question) and an American cannot warn his country no matter what? or can he?

With foreign nations ready to subsidize me and neither of them on good terms now with the United States something radical had to be done and has been. Now it is up to me.

I have not even put in a phone yet. I have my chance. It looks like bragging above. In my last public debate attended where three professors argued with each other, after I got on to the floor they stopped quarreling, one surrendered, one became my friend and the third has a top Washington appointment. And I have not yet reported to Mrs. Grady above, although on account of the Asian affairs I do report to Asia Foundation, the one spot in San Francisco where I may talk—or maybe other doors will be opened—I shall know before the end of the month.

I phoned John Rockwell and sent him a copy of letter to Senator Engle. Both Senators have been cooperative but the two Congressmen here are almost impossible. And do you know who started me off? The own retired ex-Mayor of Los Angeles Norris Poulson! I have been around.

My love, despite all this nonsense,

S. A. M. (as I am getting to be known all over!)

September 13

This is Hejirat Day. Ever since Cora invaded my rooms there has been nothing but drama. Jesse attacked Lorraine, my landlady. She fled. Isabel Clarke offered me rooms, then kept my money and a typewriter and would not let me in. Ivy Duce returned not only my commentaries—at least most of them but all of Pir-o-Murshid’s unedited work on ryazat and yogas. This gives me a tremendous amount of material.

Paul Reps has been here and we have visited Too Lun whom he admires. Dr. K. Kato has left for Los Angles. Iru Price has opened his home, 1450 Monterey, a fine mansion dedicated to Buddhism and to Chinese art. Last Sunday were parties for Kato (did not attend) and for or rather by Iru. Materials came from a real seminar by Swami Ranganathananda in Calcutta. Dr. Rahul is speaking there and so I have his address in New Delhi. This is important for reports and also confirmed “The Lotus and the Universe.”

Milton Fireman sent me a long confidential report which substantiates everything I have ever stood for. But it means his being pushed out by AID and a rival plan of a rival Prof. at Berkeley (Tube-wells) being given more money for more foolishness.

The combination of George Ball going to Pakistan and the discovery that Edward Lansdale is chief of CIA in Vietnam caused me to blow up and take a desperate measure. This was successful, praise to Allah. When I was asked to put my cards on the table, I had more, not less than presumed and at least I have a chance now for reports, and for an intermediary who has promised to get my works reviewed if not published.

Major Sadiq and Khawar want my autobiography and will put up the money. Have been to Pakistani Consulate to get more materials translated. They respect me now. Have signed up with two courses of the World Affairs Council. Willie Wise away and only talked on phone with Gale Darling. Feel self-assured if not confident. My friends plan to come here at the end of the year. So far no replies to anything sent out for University of Islamabad. This is “cultural exchange.”

Put on an elementary form of “Yoga Bell Dance” at Baptists. It went over big. But now have had some inner experiences about Sakya Muni.

Mail has not come through. PO negligent about change in address, complicated by having first changed to 2nd Ave., and now here. Had to borrow $250 which the bank gave me on Credit Card, no trouble, no nothing, just like that. Reps very happy over instructions, showing people how to walk. Will try to see Sunny Bloland about this too, but she may be at Madelynne’s on October 6 which will be “Mendocino Night.”

September 17, 1963

My dear Vocha:

I have just run into the most mysterious as of problems. I wrote once and then cancelled the letter as according to Sufi teachings one should keep the secret of one’s friend. And even after I received a scathing letter from Paul Reps hesitated, but the mystery deepens.

I never asked about the dissolution of his second marriage. But Christine Sigeliev gave me to understand there was a long career of doubtful relations with women. On New Year’s even I found myself in the middle of an audience who claimed they were the friends and associates of Reps-san for years. But when I mentioned names he equivocated or oven denied having known them.

He went to Chico for a conference and when he came back he did not want to see anybody else. He refused to visit the Zendo or any Japanese, despite the fact that he told me he had been very popular in Japan; nor did he take any introduction from me which would have been mutually valuable.

On a previous occasion he left a very valuable manuscript with me with instructions to get it published. I don’t know anything about the subject and about publishers. Now he has repeated the same, knowing I am overworked and in neither case was any money left. So I become the depository of unsolicited manuscripts and I will not take the time even to send them to the original authors. This is an imposition, especially on an overworked man.

On top of that he has insisted he will never go to LA again. Now between Zen and Sufism there is let us says a Sixth Sense or sight and my surmise, or intuition is that there are one more or more women in L.A. that have legal claims against him. But the situation is even more complex here in that he has avoided even his publisher in this city and. I can’t make head or tail.

In addition to writing me the scathing letter he told me he is going into hiding, What for? Now on top of that I am getting letters for him.” “Why?

I am interested in the criticisms he leveled because they have come from other sources that I am conceited, opinionated and self-centered. He found out—and it is true, that I broke up some meetings supposed to be on Buddhism when the discussions ran off into the fields of whether Mrs. Paledino was or was not a successful medium, etc. I was asked in Japan to do the Fu-do function. But I notice that neither Reps-san nor any critic will look at the actual written credentials I have from Japanese Masters. I never asked for these written credentials nor from the Sufis but I have them and any “claim” is supported by manuscripts and letters.

Reps was particularly critical because of my use of Arabic words. He gave me his Sufi library and when I copied and used the very words that were in the books he gave me, he troubled me. He did not trounce the author whose terms copied, but me for being incomprehensible.

I both wrote him and told him in person that we have no more English equivalents for these words than for alcohol, cotton, muslin, algebra, etc. He ignored my statements … at the same time he has been advocating the Ohsawa diet and this gentleman is, along with his diet, using Japanese words when we do have English equivalents and Reps is riding along with him. This has made me wonder very much.

And now he is going to hide—what for? from whom?

I have just written a proposal for the exchange of philosophers between East and West and sent a copy to the University of California. I am indifferent, for if they do not answer or answer adverse shall go to the hilt for Reiser. Reiser is more admired by some philosophers than he may know, but the fact is that our so called “cultural program” is full of superficialities and entertainments which please copy writers and publicity people and do not reach humanity at any level.

No answer is needed to the above and I don’t know whether it is a near-tragedy or farce–comedy.

September 23, 1963

Bodhisattva:

Yesterday in rapid order there were a number of experiences and one might even call them “love” experiences, only not in the present context of our culture which uses this word in totally different sense from either the ancients or the spiritualists. For beyond this body is the subtle body and beyond that is the heart-or causal-body, which is one thing to talk about and another thing to experience. And at the recent time the talkers are pretty well against the experiencers who are often forced to keep quiet.

Sangha Love. This is to love the neighbor as thyself. It is not amoral, it is not a maxim, it is not speeches, it is not sermons. The moralizer, the preacher can begin and can end in hypocrisy. So when you say the world is looking for a saviour or deliverer, the world has to look for a saviour or a deliverer because the world takes too seriously the preacher and the moralizer who do not represent in their persons what they are talking about. We applaud the speech but one does not satisfy thirst by listening to a physicist explain the nature of water.

Two ladies walked into the Too Lun monastery, and I know all their faults. But we are at one. It is like one person. You meditate a long time with somebody and you are that person. It is a sort of loyalty more than admiration and it is even more union than loyalty. You can go to the lectures and hear somebody explain about Yoga being “union” and you will not have any union. You will have a lecture or even a demonstration, you will not have a union.

My time in Japan was spent with Kiichi Okudo and we used to meditate together. And we were so much in tune with one another it was like being one person. He usually acted as my interpreter excepting on one humorous occasion when we went to a laboratory and the records were in Latin and I acted as his interpreter. Finally he had the dream of his life when we went as guests of honor to the Imperial Gardens which is the highest aim of the Japanese. Some day you may want to read my diary and it is like living in the dreams. You can also go to Diabutsu on Fillmore St. below Union and meet Mr. Shibata, and it is again the Sangha Love which is hard to explain because you are that person and it is not “love” in our sense.

Christ Love. The difference between the false teacher and the true is that the false teacher corrects others and the true teacher is correcting himself. You may think Sensei is getting after you, but Sensei is getting after himself. If one says “I have the third eye” all the people who give the lectures on the Third Eye or who think they believe in the Third Eye will immediately turn against him. They might accept the book, “The Third Eye” by the man who said he got some experiences in Tibet but if they meet a man who has third eye and says he has third eye they will be against him.

Yet Third Eye is heart-eye. I have said we have physical body, subtle-body, heart-body. When we have the heart-body and heart-eye we have Third Eye, whether this is in heart or in the top of the head does not matter.

Now the Christ-love is the self-correction for the sake of other. Those lecturers who talk about Jesus Christ and Christ-love and have not experienced it are either liars or hypocrites, even though they do not intend to be. There is no great merit in “telling” others what you do not tell yourself.

The Zen-Master is pictured as carrying a stick but the Zen-Master is trying to deliver everybody from the karma, from the pain, from the suffering. He is not a university professor, he is not a popular lecturer who charms people and charms also the money from them. He is a Bodhisattva, a World-Deliverer and he is trying to remove the pain. And when you look closely you can see that the Zen Master is taking on the burden of the pain and the sorrow and the suffering for everybody in the Sangha. The Upanikas and Upasakas may not know it, may not see it, but it is so. Then after he has taken himself to task and finds the remedy he calls the pupil and says or does something.

The devotee may think this is dualistic and that is why you have so many Mondos, that at one point there is dualism and at the next point non-dualism. And this also is not the non-dualism of the lecturers who charm and talk non-dualism and you are left in the dualism with a high regard for the lecturer and a low regard for yourself. This is not the Zen, where the Master is like Jesus Christ, “I am the Vine and Ye are the branches thereof.”

So Sensei wants you to get out of the dualism and he talks about the breath. If you read Paul Brunton he talks breath, heart and eye and if you go to the lectures (especially when you pay), they may talk a little about these things, but mostly they will not. They will charm and when they say “higher truths” everybody in the audience will gasp and think “How wonderful.” But what is the higher truth?

The word spiritual comes from the Latin spiritus which means breath; that which is spiritual has to do with breath. So Sensei says something about breath and you have heard a lot of lectures by M.As and Ph.Ds about “spiritual” things and they have told you nothing about the breath. Now you learn about the breath and you do not associate it with “spiritual” because the ego-mind has been led astray. And if you forget all the lectures and lecturers, whether you may or not, and stick to Sensei you will learn the spirituality and not even know it. And he is concerned always with your pain and suffering and short-comings. There is the Christ before you and you may wonder about a “World Teacher” coming from far away.

Dualistic Love. This was the last experienced yesterday. I was at Virginia Beach and behaved so properly that people thought I was a monk or saint or trying to be. One day a young seeress came and she was too tired to talk and I went up to her and kissed her full, a type of kiss which would not be understood by many because it was a three-body kiss. Here they understand the physical kiss and the subtle kiss and of course, the sex-kiss; but this was a karuna or heart-kiss expressed, like you see the pictures of

angels. And maybe someday I shall explain the embrace of the different beings in accord with their evolution but not here.

Now I could lecture Connie all day and if I gave her this kind of kiss she would accept and understand it. But also she would not understand it. Jesus Christ has said that when you drink of the waters-of-life you will not thirst again. And you can only give this kiss once and it is communion, or else it becomes a craving and self-defeating. It must be the communion or you don’t do it. Yet if I gave this to Connie she would have understood it, but you can’t do that; you can’t treat women in our society one way and in the other, other ways. And this will become more clear when I tell about Too Lun, because she thinks Too Lun writes too much about the miracles. She does not understand the true and the incomplete miracles, which shall be explained.

Bodhisattva Love. This may not look like the love at all because we are in the dualism and this is the Love which takes people above the dualism. But I don’t want to write about it or explain it much. Once I saw the causal and the transformation body of a Lady and I told her friend and that friend, who was also my friend, immediately became an enemy of both. All I was doing was telling about my eye and not about my emotions, but it was misunderstood. When a person becomes a Bodhisattva, you are not concerned any more with short-comings but with the radiance of their person and when you see the radiance you can think of nothing else.

The Master Love. We do not study the Bible. The Bible is no different from the Scriptures, that it contains all the secrets, and what we do not know or like we skip. Yet St. Paul has described many kinds of spiritual people and they have always been like that and I think they will always be like that, world without end.

If I told you I could perform a certain type of miracle you might or might not accept it; and if I gave evidence you might or might not. And if you read my poetry you would see this has been impossible without the Samadhi. But the professors and the metaphysical people and others who cannot do these things say that the miracle-worker never tell – which is nonsense, which is fable, which shows jealousy, envy, ignorance and everything else.

No, Samuel cannot perform what Too Lun performs; if his are miracles they are totally different. But the Western World cannot accept that you must be like a little child. They will even accept the miracles before they will accept that childlikeness. You will hear Krishnamurti or Manly Hall or Swamis and Yogis and they will give you wonderful lectures, and then you will get hungry or thirsty again. You Have Not Been Transformed.

Those who have seen my diaries think I am very conceited and self-centred. I write what happens. So Master Too Lun has written what happens. He is like a child, he does not know all the humbug and boogaboos of metaphysicians and professors and you can listen to tape recordings all day or all year and you are only learning what so-and-so thinks, not what he is or what somebody else is or what you are. But when you come to Master Too Lun you not only learn what he is, but if you listen close you find out also what you are. In other words, not like the popular lecturers and the metaphysicians and the professors. After being with Master Too Lun You Are Transformed.

The miracles may not be different in form, but in the spirit they are different. And yesterday I “cheated” by grasping the Master’s spirit. I did something which you can read about in the Logia of Jesus Christ, but nobody reads those things. We have all these Europeans telling (?) us about ancient wisdom and Asian wisdom, we do not go to the sources. But when I tried the Christ technique with Master Too Lun there was immediate ecstasy. You may not be learning about the breath and you can now read a little about Paul Brunton who learned from Maharshi, but Samuel has already described Too Lun as a “Chinese Maharshi.” And even if it be not so, if because of him You Are Transformed that is the difference.

So all the nonsense of everybody who has been to the American Academy or to the Metaphysical Halls or who have written the books about saints and sages and masters, it is nonsense and even Dr. Chaudhuri dared not face Master Too Lun. We love the word “reality” we don’t want the realities.

The Three Jewels. Only for you this last is not necessary. When you take the oath of the Three Jewels and have a teacher, it is not necessary to move about and at the same time you may move about. If Jeannette lives on Sutter St. that is her way, and if the others go to Bush St. that is their way and these are right ways—and you can learn through the breath, through the spirit and have a great adventure. Then after a while you will observe the differences between the metaphysical-lecturer and the really wise. Nothing in the above is secret or confidential and cannot be shared, even to or with Connie.

 October 5

September has been another strenuous month. After Saladin wanted me to do a lot of things he turned on me and accused me of breaking up meetings. Having only spoken “in opposition” at two Buddhist meetings this was a surprise but I know who told him. On the first occasion there was an ovation. On the second received back from Dr. Rahul in New Delhi, “I congratulate you.”

Now Vilayat Khan has assented to my using Gathas but as I have these don’t know what to do excepting to feel that I might give Bayats in his name in America. There is no desire to compete.”

Had to come to a climax over these:

a. The rejection of the splendid plans of Dr. Milton Fireman regarding soils, crops and foreign aid.

b. The visit of Under Secretary Ball to Pakistan to find out what one knew already.

c. Letter from Khawar suggesting I write my autobiography.

d. Continued complex in Vietnam.

Heard James Wagner and find myself in substantial agreement. Hal Priebe has also appointed me as legate here. Have met two military men who are objective. Contacted ICA man who wants my reports and may act as intermediary. This keeps me busy on manuscript. Occasional looking into food problem, mostly busy buying books and attending Schaeffer School. My drawings in entomology and horticulture considered satisfactory but what I am getting the “feeling.”

Heard lecture on new brush school of Japan and this is helping toward a universal esthetic. Don’t know how I can carry this all.

The deaths of Swamis Ramdas and Sivananada celebrated by reading of power.

Attending Too Lun as often as possible. He has the five-school approach of Buddhism and still uses meditation. Love Suzuki but something drawing me toward the Chinese. Saladin, Lottie, Christine and Mrs. Digman—in other words, my oldest and best friends, all drawn to the same orbit.

Met one Mohammed Qureshi whom I like very much and who says he will translate my Urdu things. His father has moved to within a furlong or so of Khawar on Multan Road, Lahore. We shall see. Disturbed by reports from Pakistan. The politics makes the country go pro-Chinese and the economics pro-American but you can’t get objectivity here—yet!

Lecture by Dr. Johnson of UC Asian affairs objective and excellent. Small attentive audience—any resemblance to press reports ain’t. Commies planning to take over Mme. Nhu demonstration, don’t like. Will probably phone Nimmy and Iru for advice. Gave Kwok one warning paper.

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

October 11, 1963

Major Jacquemart,

Headquarters Building,

Fort Mason, Calif.

In re: The Dervishes & Counterintelligence

Dear Major Jacquemart:

Argument: Sir Richard Burton and after him Gertrude Bell were of tremendous services to their country, Great Britain, because of their studies of Islamic and Asian cultures in situ, their knowledge not only of languages but of the people and institutions. Burton’s life was most complex and need not be alluded to further. Gertrude Bell made possible the founding of Iraq because of her close cooperation with and the mutual sympathy between herself and the Dervish Orders especially as exemplified by the Gilani family of Iraq.

Lack of Cultural Exchange is the course of more apathy than we can realize. There is not a peoples in all Asia favoring our policy in Cuba because there is not a peoples in Asia among whom one can circulate and learn that in America their nationals are teaching their culture to us. Even in the ease of China, we have at times permitted non-American, non-Chinese to “instruct” us and offer degrees covering their “philosophy” and culture. In the case of other countries it is worse, much worse. Even the Peace Corps receives, in some places, instructions in Asiatics from non-American, non-Asians, a policy which does not appear in any other land ever heard of. One does not know who started this trend, or why it is continued.

The Dervishes number presumably about 40,000,000-50,000,000. The number is hard to estimate because the summation of members in Sudan—the country to be used as a “guinea pig” here, showed about 10,000,000 persons and this was, at the time, more than the total population. It was found that manor persons belonged to more than one Order and so were reported. But so far as America is concerned, this mistake was of no concern for there is not an institution in the United Staten which teaches about them objectively.

J. P. Brown, a member of our Foreign Service, wrote a book called The Dervishes while in Turkey. It is an excellent work and excepting for the expulsion of the Dervishes from that country still holds today. Actually while in this region the instructors in Islamics include a number of non-American, non-Muslims—most of whom deny even the existence of Dervishes today. Dr. Mehlevi the director of the Arab Cultural Bureau in the Ferry Building is a scion of one of the most important of the families mentioned by Brown but not mentioned by the Englishmen, Canadians, Germans and other Europeans whom we have taken as our mentors.

Reason for writing at this time. The recent issue of “Asian Survey” published by the University of California states that the Mainland China government has been sending envoys to Sudan, Somaliland and other American countries where trouble may arise. We have blithely assumed—and there is no proof either way—that the Assouan Dam will be finished without trouble and that the Sudanese may be satiated with the aftermath. In fact there is as yet no absolute proof either of its completion or of mutual satisfaction and the Mainland Chinese could try to benefit from any difficulty if indeed they do not stir up trouble.

Cairo incident. One day three scientists called at my rooms in Morland House, a pension, and told me they were representatives, of the Dervish Orders. At that time I was a member of two Orders from South Asia, though now I belong to at least seven such Orders. After a rather bizarre introduction, comprehensible only if one is deeply imbedded in Sufism, the philosophy of the Dervishes:

“We have come to tell you what we are doing about the communists. The communists are 100% dialecticians you are 50%, we are 0%; the communists are 100% materialists, you are 50%, we are 0%; the communists are 100% atheists, you are 50%, we are 0%. So we are far more against the communists than you are. We want to be your friends, and you do not even acknowledge our existence.”

They then told me of their agents in China and Russia and told me to look out because they have given instructions to their Russia agent to stir up the government against China and to their Chinese agent to stir up the government against Russia. They said I should look for an early eruption. Their leader was one Yusuf Wali, Sakura Villa, Dokki, Cairo and he wants to be contacted—but so far this has not been done to my knowledge, or, if done I do not know it.

In two months a delegation of Chinese came to Cairo, stayed at the Shepherd’s (rebuilt) Hotel and stayed away from all functions where there were Russian communists. My “brothers” pointed this out as the first elements of objectivity. There is another matter which will be taken up below.

A. M. Attia, P. O. Box 236, Cairo, whose office is in the Immobilia Bldg, or was. He is an important member of the Rifai Dervish Order and had gone as Cotton Broker to China. After six months he came back totally disillusioned, wildly anti-Communist and even toying with treason (he told me). But at the time not only did not recognize officially the Dervish Orders but the American University in Cairo which the Embassy depended on, taught the wildest subjective nonsense thereof, which could be refuted in ten minutes by anybody walking through the streets.

Pakistan Dervishes. I am today, among other connections, a Khalif or Representative of Pir Dewwal Shereef who is the cultural representative of many Sufi Orders as well as spiritual leader of one. He is also the acting head of the University of Islamabad which is being built. He is also the spiritual teacher of President Ayub Khan.

Roy Donahue. I was his guest in India anal purchased his book on Indian agriculture which I find one of the best publications. I now have his textbook on “Soils” written earlier. It is more elementary and less practical, but it does contain some excellent “fine print.” I think I’ll give it to Harry Nelson after reading and ask for a session say during Christmas Vacation or at his convenience to discuss this “fine print.” It is in regards to Soil Microbiology, Nitrofixation, Nitrofying Algae, Commensalism, etc.

Reading on special crops covering the “xerophytic” lands from India to Morocco I find specific method used at experimental stations or by farmers which are not always in books on “Soils.” This is more important because Terry Duce, referred to above, brought this out. I have already mentioned to Harry about Cacti, etc. but not followed it up. In Egypt the Cacti are grown—and miserably—in the irrigation ditches.

Humza. I recently met one Renee Taylor who has been there and has become a professional lecturer and also “food faddist.” My objection is that organic gardening succeeds in a different manner when either snow-water is used, or you have volcanic soils. I am already in close touch with a cousin of the Mir who wishes me to go there on my return to Pakistan. But Pakistan is a complex country which has no basic soil analyses and exceedingly diverse and quite un-coordinated methods of procedure.

Program Would be to see if AFME either alone or in cooperation with the Ford or Rockefeller Foundations would launch the program which each of its Directors has now publicly announced and see if you could fit into it. Of course I have not yet motioned your name but have definitely toted that California has the topmost soil exports equipped to handle desert, salinity and related problems.

Water Program. At the moment I am against the Interior Department and favor the approach of Congressman John Baldwin. This would mean putting money into salt-water conversion instead of inland engineering projects for diversion.

Kervan is a French scientist who has written on “Biological Transmutations.” I copied his manuscript and will send it to you shortly for keeps. Made a carbon for Thunen but have not given it to him. There should be things to interest you. He has written now several books, in French.

Indio C. of C. They placed before me a project to got one of the Temples from the Nile and I told them I might try to contact the wealthy organization who would be interested. Now they were all here—at least $50,000,000 was represented at the meetings here and as they have not answered my letters, we’ll drop it. But if we can get the persons and the industrialists concerned with the Arab World into a practical project, maybe you would be interested in getting out of Indio.

In the few moments with Dr. Overton, the President, I said: “Do you realize that the Date is the sacred food of Islam, that Dates could grew all over the lands in which you have interested yourself, that we have the best technicians right here in California and this is what we could be doing?” He assented. What next? I have not mentioned your name but can act as intermediary.

How California Can Help Asia. This seems to me natural, easy and proper. But it has taken me a whole year to write my first manuscript complicated by the events of the day. Now the decks and desks are both clearing.

Tourism. I’ll have to keep “trade secrets” for the moment, as you see these other matters are mind and time-consuming, but I don’t talk in public on these matters, reserving them for travel agencies only. So you can tell Mrs. B.

If anything comes out of the above, will try to visit Indio during the Festival; if not, will try to come off season.

Cordially

Samuel L. Lewis

S. A. M.

58 Harriet St.

San Francis 3, Calif.

October 16, 1963

American Friends of the Middle East,

323 Geary St.

San Francisco 2, Calif.

Dear Friends:

Fires in North Africa

It has been my “Fools for Luck” experience either to have been at places of impending danger or to have had friends who have been there and the common warnings of us all have gone for naught. Disregarding Vietnam and Laos, I offered to give a story of dangers in Burma—which proved true, and ended in the to me innocent “Asia Foundation” being expelled therefrom. Although I personally was satisfied with this organization it has since added to its policy a study of the native religions of the countries involved (Dr. Gard) and thus opened another door for international amity.

“Asia Survey” in its recent issue has an article warning of Chinese penetration into some lands within your ken. And the other day I was able by the Admiral’s absence from the office to become the host of one Atoubi, a radio announcer from Morocco who proceeded to give me an inside picture of events. What strikes me as noticeable is that the article, the story of Atoubi and the long list of communications given me by my spiritual brothers (dervishes) in Pakistan fit in nicely to one general picture of social revolution.

The first thing noticeable was the quick method by which Atoubi opened up. I am not one who has specialized in the drama-studies of a world called “Islam” with various Europeans who are fair-minded rather than information, but each one alone rather unbalanced. And all of them together will not and cannot tell you how to act in a Mosque, in a festival or even in a private gathering.

For example the Hadith of Mohammed are taught by so few in this land that one has to start out on its own, if he does not know them, to mingle with the “masses.” And a knowledge of the Hadith and the institutes of Kaliph Omar made communication easy and rapid. But what is not so pleasant is to find that the communist, presumably the French, have used these as platforms for “socialism” and “communism” and they are stuck to these exact words just as many Americans are stuck—our dialectician quite agree with pseudo-definitions—and in practice these words come to mean whatever their operatives want them to mean.

Another thing that won the confidence of Atoubi is that in addition to being a dervish and lover of Mohammed and Omar, I have spent some time in the UAR and know it better than many others. Indeed I am in favor of large portions of the Nasserian program,, but it does not fit in with my personal definitions—or lack or use of definitions—of any terms whatsoever.

It is quite possible, according to Atoubi, that the social resolution will dominate both the “radial” war and political loyalties. Both the Algerian and Moorish governments are filled with spies and quasi-traitors. The underground intends to “socialize” and this seems to be more to expropriate French holdings than anything else. There is quite an uncertainty about other forms of capitalistic or private ownership.

What was quite evident in the conversation was a certain hesitancy between the Baath program (which I do not know) and the Nasser (which I do know down to details). Emotionally there seems to be a leaning toward the formula, and this would dean a Castrovian rather than a Nasserian establishment. If so, it is better to be very careful.

Crossing this—and this was due to Atoubi’s own statements, was a series of discussions on soils and their improvement which will be written up in a separate to report. For I warned that the adoption of either the Russian or Chinese programs in North Africa would have similar results to Central Asia and held my point.

Our main difference—and here I seem to be with most natural scientists and against many social scientists, is that I am concerned with the increased productivity of the soil and they are concerned with land-ownership. I have seen Bhave distribute tremendous areas of the most unproductive land and even violent anti-Communists applaud him (because he is stopping (!) communism).

Having listened to Prof. Johnson of the University of California talk on East Asia, and having myself visited many AFME lands, the reports are so totally different from what one reads in the press that it is almost impossible to reconcile them. I have one program, note yet presented, for international alumni associations which would keep graduates in touch with their alma mater and thus form a bridge between America and other lands. You are helping in the education of multitudes but you cannot maintain this form of organization which should, I feel, be established by each university. There is need for friendship on any basis.

I have never heard any criticism of AFME (a little but not much of “Asia Foundation”), but if subversives should become too active, some precautions night be taken. The one great difference here is the results between the Castro and Nasser revolutions. It is quite obvious where I stand, and feel you may be in some agreement.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

(Sufi Ahmed Murad)

October 19, 1963

Bodhisattva Harold:

This is really my diary and not a letter. Yesterday was my birthday and there has been a happy recurrence all over the world again and again that it has fallen either on a religious holiday or on some commemorable occasion, that I am found among just the type of people I should wish to associate with here, there and there. Here it was with the chief Zen Archbishop. As I am a news gatherer rather than a fixed joiner, one can only so write. But my greatest spiritual experience in Buddhism have all come “from” or “with” Rinzai Roshis, a fact rejected almost unanimously by the Rinzai-wallahs in America and on the other hand my social relations, or my personal reactions to the Soto people has been the best imaginable. No doubt the extreme case was with Phra Sumangalo but even at the party last night I met my oldest and best local Japanese friend—which involves a number of wonderful stories, but of the past.

We had a service Thursday night and there were two gatherings yesterday at the temple but I was too busy writing to attend. Anyhow I showed up at the dinner and noticeably absent from all these proceedings are the various Buddhist leaders with their personal or organized Sangha. The one man who did show up was Rev. Jack MacDonough of Stockton and it is necessary to write at great length on this subject. For it is going to lead either to “Pure Land” or Gahanna and the decision may be in you hands.

I did bring to the dinner three picture of myself before the steps of Sakya Muni in Japan. This became important afterwards because like the Jude Belt, this had to be earned—it was not a nicety, nor a courtesy to a foreigner. One picture was given to the Archbishop, one of his secretary, one of Roshi Suzuki here. I may have more nods for distribution for Roshi Yamada, your good self and others. The item that it had to be earned became must important in the afternoon. So I’ll skip detail of one of the best Japanese dinners.

I warned them not to have me drink Saki, but when all the monks did I did, and later put on a Japanese dance and this changed the whole complexion of the evening, raising my popularly but not in a “holy” direction. Like all the Zen monks I have met, these men did not behave like the “Zen Monks” paraded by the writers whose books cover the stores and who earn their livelihood in writing about “non-existent “Zen.” I have still to meet a mondo-wallah, or an enigmatic sage, but on the other hand have had multi-ordinal communication, one several places at once, or in complete union proving that actual “theosophy” which I suspect all your Ojai people would flee if they had to meet its reality (Irony and cynicism are triumphant at the moment.)

My friend Bella Geerts invited all the Americans and some Japanese to her home and Rev. Jack took ever. I think everybody wanted him to. We spoke at length of his plans for a Soto Zen monastery near Jackson, Amador County. I won’t go into details which may be obtainable from him or from other—for several persons have been to Middle Bar. Nor shall I argue concerning the worthiness of the project.

When he completed, I asked if he knew you, and wow! The fat was in the fire.

While appealing for funds, for social, physical and other help he seemed to have about as much respect for other persons and Sanghas as a newspaper man has. Indeed I had to appeal to others and not to him that there are about four groups in California and that you among all persons were best to contact them. That there was a general Buddhist organization involving a number of groups of different ceremonial patterns if not “beliefs,” and that in addition to your being the recognized leader (by all the actual self-less persons), you were much closer to Rev. Yamada than the Rev. Jack. In fact I guess I “spoke the truth with discretion” by either asserting or pretending that you were the mouthpiece of Roshi Yamada and that if you were not recognized and some degree respected, neither the bishop nor the Zen devotees elsewhere were going to support Rev. Jack who, being “selfless” does not wish to be called “Jack”—he did not tell us what he wanted to be called.

I am almost sorry I brought in your name for after that the selfless married man went to bat on everybody and I am going to put this on record and name names. For I was compelled to Fudo from that point on but also to do it in such a way as not to antagonize everybody, a point at which he far outdistanced me.

Rev. Jack is not recognized by Dr. Kato. Now this man is a very good friend or mine and I have been able to have real Zen-communication and communions with him. Your probably have met him by now or will meet him. He stands in the peculiar position of being recognized on the one hand by all the “veddy-intellectuals” who Dzen, as well as by the actual practitioner of meditation and dharma. He is almost the only one is that dual position.

Next Jack went on to stress his ordination and under-stress the ordination of others. My own experience at Sojiji, Tsurumi, was to be offered robes on sight but this was refused by me for two “reasons”: (a) I know I completed Soto training in a former life (will not go into that now but think I told Gina Cerminara the details—they are in my diary.) The dharma transmission has come three times from Sokei-an Sasaki, Nyogen Senzaki, Asahina Sogen, all stemming from the great Shaku Soyen of Rinzai. But there is not one negative note I can make of Soto and the highest Buddhist teaching ever received—as against the ineffable—came from a Soto Abbot, and in a sense were repeated now.

The coordination of JM came from Rev. Tobase whom I do not hold in practically high regard. He was a jolly social companion, was great with marriages and ceremonies, but showed (to me) no great insight in the Dharma. But when Rev. Suzuki did not regard JM as being particularly wonderful, he questioned whether this was correct for on American soil JM was recorded so a Zen teacher prior to Sensei. It has become a sort of military listing rather than spiritual prowess.

Now I took part in the building of the Buddha Universal Church which started with one lot, one foundation well, one skilled laborer, 30 volunteers and a debt of $300 and has today a very ornate structure with all sorts of luxuries that have only a vague connection with the life of Sakya Muni. But at least they do teach some form of Dharma and wish all being to be blissful, peaceful and happy, in which they are not joined by all the Sangha-leaders here who omit everything that is Buddhistically-Buddhist.

To make this point more secure Jack criticized Sensei’s sending people to Japan for further training and said he had not seen the results. Now sitting next to me was Jean who left San Francisco a most ordinary women and who not only experienced satori and whose whole body and especially whose eyes radiate. Today to me she is the most marvelous of people and was called a Kwannon in Japan to which I heartily agree. This set Fudo into action. I challenged the Reverend. I learned year ago from Sokei-an how to tell the spiritual status of anybody not more advanced and poor Jack had no radiance in his eyes. Never mind humility. By that time I had most of the audience with me—only one or two who look askance at my Fudo-ings, but his Fudo-ing was discipline and instruction in Japan, quite different from egocentric criticisms.

All this time I had in mind the need to have a real Sangha—construction of the Zen retreat at Middlebar. If everybody was so limited, what need for any undertaking and if everybody was a goat and not a sheep, where the money? Where the labor? Where the devotees?

This is not to be little Jack for the project starts off much better than the Buddha temple. But you are not going to get 30 volunteers by criticisms.

Next out of the blue be jumped on Rev. J.E. Wagner. Now early in the evening we met my old friend Shibata-san and I explained the identity of personality in true friendship. (I hope to convert a few Buddhists to anatta.) Now I was hot. He said that Wagner had not been long with Sumangalo. Somewhere along the line maybe, yes, no, I have heard about the Sudden School, which is independent of time, space, and conditioned existence. Well if (I think I’ll pun, the opportunity is too nice) JEW was only a short time with Phra Sumangalo and that delimited him, I have been ever forty years under Zen disciplines, and what does that mean?

The whole criticism of JEW was so uncalled for, so anti-social, so anti-moral, so anti- the whole teaching of Buddhism that when Iru Price was also called into account, there was nothing much to say. I had to agree which meant hypocrisy but I had already told people I was a great hypocrite. This agreement with JM over Iru Price had the saddening result that he suddenly sat up, and from that point on agreed with me on everything I said. It looked as if Iru was a sacrificial lamb whose bones we were enjoying in a communion feast.

This whole thing is awful, but I think it is better for you to read even though you throw the letter down the drain. I am opposed at the present time to any Middlebar undertaking which does not take your person into account both officially and unofficially. I am hoping that Rev. Yamada and his associates realize that Buddhism is not only Buddha and Dharma but Sangha and you, to me, represent Sangha at the moment. There is a certain identity of spirit and personality with Revs. Price, Wagner and Goode because of our common communion with the late Phra Sumangalo. That is enough.

I am still wondering when American Buddhist leaders (?) are going to study Buddhism whether they teach it or not. I carry credentials from Japan which are to be rejected by non-Japanese. What is anatta?

There is one personal note—I have been invited to join in with a Yoga retreat and if Rev. Jack carries the Middlebar project on the basis outlined, I shall not join. I worked with the Sangha spirit with the Chinese and there was not a harsh moment in dozen years.

And there is also the after-Goddard possibility of a retreat in the Santa Barbara region. I did find one Dorrance Goddard living in Thetford, Vermont, and must write him soon.

Excuse this long-winded and somewhat negative report. It is for the record. The worst part of the whole thing, to me, was the finale when Rev. JM listened to me. I should have preferred a rejection. I do not wish to disturb Roshi Suzuki here, but you are free to keep this communication private, limited or public as you are fit.

It would be a great thing for JM to have some humility, otherwise he is going to repeat the history of the late Tai Hsu, the Chinese monk, who wanted a monastery, and he went one way and the Sangha another—result, nothing at all.

One must end with Gilbert & Sullivan (“Life would be extremely flat, if you’re nothing whatever to grumble at.”)

While JM negatives I’ll say:

May all beings be peaceful,

May all beings be blissful,

May all beings be happy.

SAM

Sunday was meditating about withdrawal from all groups. Since attending Sunday school as a child I have been treated as a novice almost everywhere and wasted more time listening to stuff I already knew and never being permitted to express, excepting under unusual conditions. But after the service to my surprise Rev. Too Lun summoned me and asked me to explain the Sanskrit terms both to the Chinese and English. This is excellent, for I have no wish to be leader but equally disdain floundering in uncertainty or ignorance.

Lottie goes regularly and Christian Sigeliev is expected shortly.

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

October 21, 1963

American Friends of the Middle East

323 Geary St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

In Re: Universal Versus Particular Zionism.

Ever since a child I have been moved by the biblical passage. “My House shall be a house of prayer for all people.” It seemed to me at an early age that some Jewish people were destined to return to Palestine. But the history of “Lawrence of Arabia,” the blind following of Ball Peor (Balfour) instead of Moses, the repudiation of all tradition, of all literature in behalf of a small group of political zealots showed that we are still in a world which confuses words with things and clinging to words, assumed the attainment of an ideal.

It has been part of an uncertain career to have been employed by a lady who spent time and energy translating Hebraic scriptures although she was not Jewish. Working for her it was necessary to go into many literary by-paths concerned with materials now relegated either to restricted forms of “Orthodoxy” or else left to anthropologists and folk-lorists. It has also been my lot to meet two real Kabbalists both of whom were not persona grata with “respectable” synagogues. But the pieces of tradition regarding the return to Palestine, Messianism and related subjects fit together in a sort unwritten symphony.

On the other side I have really studied Islamics and to a degree somewhat more than those scholars who are hailed in America but who have no standing whatsoever in the actual Islamic world. The truth need not lie between extremes based on ignorance, but rather in some harmonic integrative pattern which analytical people simply cannot fathom. Their whole outlooks lead them to separativeness and dualism and “I and “you.”

The history of Omar shows one sort of “solution” for Palestinian problems; one which was accepted in its time—but of course is no longer given much consideration either by the non-Islamic scholars who “teach” Islamics nor by the political Zionists, nor by politicians upholding some sort of policy or document which has been intruded into traditions of long standing.

My first effort after 1945 was to have a meeting between the spiritual leaders of Israel and Islam and both groups accepted the offer but questioned whether the other “camp” had real spiritual persons in it. A revamp of this to men very close to General Burns has resulted in very strong favorable reactions.

It is very difficult to establish any sort of “peace” on dualistic grounds, and it becomes wise, if not necessary, to look into some other direction.

At the present time there is more acceptance of Hebraic folklore among Muslims, especially of Arabic extraction, than among Jewish groups officially. Therefore it becomes wise either to by-pass this folk-lore or to accept only such portions of it which are mutually regarded. But in respect to “Nehemiah-ism” we have another out. Why not restore a temple as the Bible says, a house of prayers for all people, but basically a synagogue.

Jordan, I believe, holds Mount Scopus or else it is on terra incognita. Hebraic peoples, returning from their original exile, went to praise God and then to put their own houses in order. The politicos not only do not praise God, have ignored all the biblical institutions, substituted a few Ghetto methods—which they are supposed to give up on return to Palestine, and are headed by a man who seems to be half Yogi, half Buddhist. There is no disrespect in this man’s private beliefs, but does he need any “Israel,” any Palestine for that kind of freedom?

The establishment of a House of Prayer as the Bible sanctions and as was successfully instituted by Nehemiah and his associates will end once and for all a good deal of nonsense. The real Jewish tradition—hidden by the by “Israelis” was that when the Messiah returned the Holy Land would extend even from Jerusalem to Minsky must be repudiated. Indeed all pure Messianism must be repudiated and in this we have the old habit which the Prophets declaimed at for centuries that every man did according to his own liking.

In addition to the Bible, we have the Jewish Prayer Book, and even the Seder Service. Point by point “Israel” has been established with total disregard for these things. And as the “Jews” (who are not necessarily Jews at all) repudiate their own documents, we see more and more of their scions become non-believers of some sort. The results are that abroad, as the synagogues, captivate by “Zionism” ignore the traditions; and as those who return to Palestine seem almost 50% total unbelievers, where are the glorious predictions of other ages?

Giving up hope—although it is still possible—for the spiritual leaders of respective faiths to come together, the raising of funds by Arabs to build a synagogue-temple which will be a House of Prayer for all peoples, may end much of the raison d’être for an independent “Israel” on the lines now constituted.

This may merit some consideration and if one can be of any service toward bringing believers in either the Hebraic or Islamic religions and close associates of Gen. Burns and the UN together in any manner it might lead toward settlement of a status from which murder disguised as political warfare seems to be the only way out, or else—which is in line with present day affairs, the whole world end as “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court.”

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

November 2, 1963

Dr. Howard Benninghoff,

25601 Oasis,

Indio, Calif.

Dear Howard:

I feel like a playwright completing a drama in which there is a role for you becoming the hero, or leading actor. For my diary and other purposes, I wish to detail everybody. For I believe there is a wisdom or justice which can, in the end, terminate events.

There is no question, to me, that we live in a world of C.P. Snow’s two cultures, which have been called scientific and literary, or humanistic for want of better terms. What my conclusions, Science, the journal of the AAAS seem to bear this out to the full. For instance last week I called on Guy Atkinson who is handling some vast engineering projects in Pakistan and not only was there entire accord but also agreement that the United States has been sucked into dialectics by communist propaganda, that we are today largely merely anti-Marxist dialecticians and that the American, if not delightful Jeffersonian and Pragmatic, philosophies have been rejected by the press and journalists and fiction writers. The Guy Atkinson story can’t be told because it does not fit in with the politics and polities of either the political parties or the press or even the universities. It is a simple and direct story.

But the success or failure of the Guy Atkinson efforts means largely a geographical transference of the problem of salinity. And after long sessions with Dr. Schoonover there is nothing I can add. The difference is that Dr. Schoonover and Prof. Keim have been recalled to India and Egypt respectively because the political-dialectics, Marxist or anti-Marxists, does not works and Milton Fireman and Howard Benninghoff are in lost corners when they ought to be handling vast projects.

For it is not even the introduction to this letter that I have been asked for a plan of both engineering and agricultural procedure by a friend who has been promoted to the top technical post in Sind which includes the mouth of the Indus River, while the politicians of all countries concerned, are using piece-meal methods, totally different from that used in the Mississippi Valley, and perhaps being forced on us here with regard to the Colorado.

In any event I have spoken twice in public, and will speak again on the superior methods of the private Foundations as against government, so-called aid or AID, for the letter is disjunctive both in personnel and planning and efficiency often ends in adjournment sine die—and I know what I am talking about.

-2.
I have had some personality difficulties, the chief one running on for years when because “I” was Sam Lewis certain plans for the Near Fast were shelved. On the political side, let me say that when I did meet General Burns’s aides, they one and all told me that I was the first sensible person they had met! But by analogy I met a VIP North African who had turned socialist and I asked him, “Why do you wish to adopt for your countries the agricultural system which has failed in Russia and even more so in China, and not adopt the one which has succeeded right here in California?”

Skipping I submitted two plans for North Africa, the second one being an agricultural program based on the fact that the Date is the sacred plant of Islam; and that Qur’an itself has a Sura which begins “By the Fig and by the Olive” which all “good Muslims” ignore, as they ignore everything else in their own scriptures—like a lot of other people. And to submit a program calling for large plantings of Figs, Olives, Grapes and Dates in North Africa is the last thing the political and ecclesiastic religiousness consider.

My plans lay on the desk of admiral Evenson of the American Friends of the Middle East. This week we had a grand session and all the speakers had the same theme: “Get out of speeches and do something.” The main difference here—and this could mean something for you—is that AFME have given up Pakistan and taken over the whole of North Africa.

The terminus of the personality difficulties implied above came, when after the dinner the other night, Mr. Terry Duce, Vice-President of AFME and formerly Vice President of ARAMCO, came up to me (we have known each other for years and this is the first time he approached me—it was always the other way; “What are you doing for desert agriculture?” He outlined his plan—he has the world contacts. The next day I met Dr. Overton, the President, etc., etc.

Now at our gathering were all the people who could have put over the scheme which your C. of C. had to bring Egyptian monuments—men representing untold millions, big men in all the oil companies (e.g. Kermit Roosevelt II), and all backing the idea of doing something. This is the first time I met Overton and he accepted my credentials on the spot. I also saw or met other officials, etc.,

This brings up the next step. I shall write a small addendum to my plan because now the leaders of AFME (and the oil companies, etc.) have come out for doing something for Desert Agriculture and it is not simply brochures of Ayers & Co. We are facing a situation and I am even able to get in the Palestine and Algiers-Morocco complex—this is personal, not scientific. What I should like to see is a master idea for the proper soil and water rehabilitation of the whole Arab World.

He outlined to me his proposed policies for the University (can furnish details) which he wishes to use:

a. To modernize education in Pakistan

b. To cement an American-Pakistani alliance to forestall communism, atheism and “other evils.”

c. To accept as many American institutions as possible which do not conflict with religion.

In addition to that he detailed his whole plans for counter-espionage which were essentially the same as those offered in Egypt, about which some notes below.

Unfortunately, not a single American university which has a non-American, non-Muslim professor of Islamics has accepted the reality of this. Universities headed by well-known non-Americans have snubbed all efforts of communication.

Sufis (Dervishes) in Intelligence Service. I was saved from the communists in India by a spiritual brother who was the Edgar Hoover of India. The Americans never took very seriously my reports that communists hide under religious or “spiritual cloaks.” I have four times been in their nests, all unwittingly, and each time it was a presumable “religious” institution.

In Pakistan some of my brothers who are in Secret Police gave me the whole plan the Russians had (at the time) to stymie our Peace Corps. It was very simple. They sent out “Muslims” who prayed with the people and generally spoke—not necessarily Urdu, but the lingo of the district (see below). They brought them greetings of “brotherhood” and told them about the wonderful life in communist countries. At the moment I have one of the books printed about Uzbekistan which is a hodgepodge of utter sugared bunk, but it just might impress some people.

I actually fell into one of these nests unwittingly—-history reported to the Consulate at Lahore. The Embassy at first refused to take it seriously. There were some complex involvements including my closest friend, one Major Sadiq, who may visit this country this year. The Dervishes who are in Intelligence, etc. actually serve two masters: Their government, and their God. And when it comes to being in alliance with Red China they feel just like Attia above. But again, we don’t recognize the existence of the dervish orders, and so we abandon the field to enemies.

Pushtu Academy is on the surface an institution for the study of the languages and cultures of Central Asia. Dr. Abdul Rahman, the principal, has been in this country and not only likes the United States, but is a firm believer in American ideals and a dread foe of communism.

His whole institution is one of counter-espionage. They know, as above, that Russia sends agents into every valley and sector and studies the local languages. Why can’t this be done by others. But here again, unfortunately, there has been no response or slow response from American institutions, and one cannot write about intelligence and counter-espionage in letters requesting mutual recognition. Actually outside of Columbia University, it is doubtful whether the culture of this part of the world is placed in the hands of Asian nationals. I had a long, successful running fight with Princeton University. But why should there be a fight? Why can’t we learn Asiatics from Asians just as we learned Europeans cultures from Europe?

Financial Assistance. The aforesaid University of Islamabad is oversubscribed. Instead of seeking funds, it is offering, teachers’ positions to Americans—offer not seriously accepted yet, In the case of the Pushtu Academy they would like some financial assistance but one cannot place before our universities the “counterespionage” features.

Minor Report. Mary Army officers, not necessarily in Intelligence, but all members of some Sufi (Dervish) Order, gave me details about Russian military and engineering assistance to Afghanistan and told me their methods of espionage. This is still useless (unless here) because of the non-recognition on our part.

Extra-Sensory Phenomena: The University of Islamabad will have a department devoted to this. Put so far not a single American organization has answered to inquiries for mutual exchange. What is worse there seem to be signs of federal moneys going to Rhine at Duke (who does not answer, except once) and one Koharich who specializes (?) in mental telepathy. In a recent report Koharich is said to have asked for funds to try experiments with Russia (or all peoples).

Now the Dervishes use extra-sensory methods and they not only told me how, I have participated in this type of communication.

During the War I was in difficulty therefore and finally placed some matters before Col. Harris when he occupied the chief post in GII in Fort Mason. I have scattered among my effects some records in this regards, mostly disguised as “prophetic poetry.” If we are to put up moneys for such extra-sensory research, why is Russia selected? and why don’t we even look into the possibility of “people who are on our side” having such faculties?

This last subject could be discussed further, but it is useless until we look into the objective existence of peoples and institutions who could, would and should be our friends. If any point is not clear, would be glad to go into it. But I sincerely hope first some of your contacts will read, The Dervishes by the American, J. P. Brown.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

P.S. Some pictures and details of my own position may follow.

November 2

Dear Vocha:

The overthrow of Diem came just before my visit with J. Eugene Wagner. He is a disciple of Phra Sumangalo with whom I worked closely for 35 years and never one harsh moment (which is a record for SL). If complaints were in order, and they are, the case of JEW makes that of Sam Lewis become very simple. He followed all the rules which Eugene Burdick laid down for everybody else. He became a second “Anna” teaching English to the family of the King of Thailand. He has been both Theravadia and Mahayanan monk, he has lived in every part of S.E. Asia, to wit Malay, Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Annam, Tonkin and he has betted exactly 000 in trying to reach the press or State Department. It is his marriage and ordination vows which prevent him from giving up his citizenship like Phra Sumangalo, and it is this sort of thing, rather multiplied, which keeps me plugging.

Since my birthday things are coming more and more favorably socially and one may hope otherwise. My manuscript is complete but needs to be indexed, edited and appendixed for foreign words. The end was very hard because of the events of the day, the appearance of new literature and the visitors encountered here. But I’ll write some stories:

Foreign Aid for Pakistan. This was the subject, and I am guilty of speaking on it. Before me three men spoke: one for more FA, one for less and one against all FA excepting aptitude and draft training. They were all VIPs and did not agree with each other. So the chair announced this subject and as nobody else volunteered, I did—and got lost in the shuffle. One of the VIPs said my ideas could not apply to Guinea and Yugoslavia which he had visited and he, being a VIP, that was what was discussed—and as there were naturally three camps he had two camps against him, annoying even for a VIP. Then one little old lady arose: “Gentlemen, this is all very nice, but you aren’t discussing Asia and Asians. In fact what you have been saying can’t apply to Asia at all. I have lived many years in Asia and what you are debating are your ideas and Asians don’t think that way.

Well Sam Lewis escaped and toward the end there was a hair-pulling contact between educated VIPs, which got very personal. And the man who did the best was out-argued because he was opposed to the “experts,” i.e. the big man who had never been there and a world problem was nearly decided on a committee report of VIPs, all the sociologists to the contrary!

Foreign Aid for Pakistan. I visited Guy Atkinson, who is in charge of the engineer projects. The results were foreseeable. Tell me a man’s profession and I can make the predictions. It was a love meeting from beginning, middle and end. I told the industrialist I was for nobody for president excepting perhaps H. Cabot Lodge because we had gone for “realism” and was spurning realities. “Everybody is a dialectician today, all the candidates, being merely anti-Marxist Hegelists. The good old Jeffersonianism and Pragmatism are gone. Why should we accept “left,” “center,” “right.” The interesting thing, Vocha, is that all the industrialists and formerly military men are for this point of view. They are horrified by this compulsory, left-center-right, and want to get things done. After all Fascism was forced on capitalists by anti-communist dialecticians.

Plans for Near East. I submitted plans to solve three problems in this area. They remain on Admiral Evenson’s desk. Well we had a grand meeting of the American Friends of the Middle East and all the speeches were the same—stop vocalizing programs and do something. There were perhaps about $50,000,000 present, too, E.g. Kermit Roosevelt 2, etc.

Enemies. Now at this dinner were my two worst enemies. In 1956 I left with ten enemies and got this answer through meditation: “Let them fight each other.” It got down to three, my brother (who does not count), IOD (a woman) and RL. In the meditation I got concerning IOD, “Make friends with her husband’s friends.” and this has happened in the natural course of affairs. Now IOD and RL hate each with a vigor that neither has had against me—I was an annoyance, but they were real hostile and both were there. RL is not only a man but one of my “epoops,” European Professors of Oriental Philosophy, he gets all the jobs and misleads everybody.

At the very end Mr. D. came up to me and said, ““How are your plans to solve the problems of Desert Agriculture?” This itself is the greatest compliment—to be recognized. I am now ready to act and my first plan is to pull out of mothballs our great soul scientists whose ideas run counter to Federal dialectical policies.

C.P. Snow. It all comes back to this. Scientists and children cooperate, “scribes and Pharisees” argue. I spoke twice that we had the best science and scientists but did not use them—which is true. This is a long subject.

Nuclear Testing. In about ten days there is supposed to be a debate on what the small nations think, and I volunteered, doubly unwilling. I know “they” don’t want me to speak and I don’t want to speak. But “they” and I are on agreement that I should speak about the Arab point of view. Still nobody here knows the background of Pauling, Reiser, Radhakrishnan, and worse, Nkrumah. Two world wars and the man on the street in Berlin is of more consideration to us than ten Prime Ministers of Afro-Asian lands. This is “democracy.”

Gina and GS. I relieved her “Many Lives, Many Loves” and she was delighted. For before I was analytically critical and this book takes the cake. So I am cooperating. Now some G.S. people are willing to have her speak on Parapsychology. I told her that G.S. leaders do not answer enquiries, that there is money abroad for both Psi-research and G.S. teachings and nobody answers letters. This pleases “Pakistanis” no end. Everybody else is more equal.

She referred me to Talbot and I was hoping he would not answer and he has not. I am making some reports. There is one report coming to me, I understand, but in Urdu.

Aftermath and Prognosis. Never better ever. I can now, if my book is accepted, get it reviewed by the proper people all over the world, without exception. But I have to phone Mr. VIP here first. Ideas about publishers have been given me.

Sufism. I have more work in this field than anybody imagines. But when I met the head of the American Friends of the Middle East, Dr. Overtone, he accepted my “credentials” on sight. It is very possible that he himself has been admitted into at least one of the Dervish Orders. This is still a closed book.

Buddhism. This is all comic operas. I had my friend Della at Eugene’s last night and we discussed the inexorability of karma and the American nonsense of noblesse obliges—which saves nobody. There are so many Sanghas here. I am quite outspoken against one leader because he attacked two other leaders. But it is almost impossible to get the Americans to accept the Sangha point of view—whosoever is attacked, “that is I,” and I only spoke because of my Fudo function.

To harmonize the Sangha, John, Dick and Harry all have the most wonderful ideas for “retreats—each with its own advantages, each ignoring the others, each seeking monetary help, each refusing to do basic meditation and hardly any study of Buddha’s methods. Temporarily I agreed to work for one, rejecting the other—but as reminded, in the eleven years at the Buddha Universal Church, not one real personality difficulty. And these amateurs all have their programs before they start out.

So I finally turned around and asked my friend Della—and she is a saint—“What is the Great Mantra?” She has been repeating Prajna Paramita Sutra for years and could not answer who was Sariputra and what the Mantra was. I demonstrated, but really for Eugene and his wife who were delighted. The Japanese refer to the Mantra and the Chinese to the Mandala and yet they don’t know either the Mantra or the Mandala.

Yoga. Tuesday night I hope to present the Saraswati Yoga, present—not discuss, not exhort.

It requires patience and more than that, but if one holds on and holds up after a while the world becomes small and pliable. Now how to help Vocha Fiske? I think I know an occult method, but it has devotional aspects, not magic.

Cordially,

S.A.M.

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

November 7, 1963

S.A. Ataullah Shuttari,

6 Marlborough Gardens,

Woodhouse Lane,

Leeds 2, U.K.

My dear Brother:

As-salaam aleikhum. Alhamdu-lillah for the opportunity given to report and record many things which are in personal history but not on paper so that you may read thereof. A copy is being sent to Sufi Pir Barkat Ali, for in the first place he requested I write to Mohammed Ilyas. But for reasons both implicit and explicit details are given. And since you are a Khalif of the Kadaris, we shall begin there.

I have before me a large newspaper report which has been written in a flowery sort of Urdu that my friends have not been able to translate. It was on an occasion, arranged by my Spiritual Brother, Major Mohammed Sadiq when I spoke to 20,000 (twenty thousand) persons in one place in Lahore Cantonment. And what was the subject? Big Brother. And who was Big Brother? Ghaus-i-Azam. And what is this “kafir feringhi” (as I call myself) doing talking on Ghaus-i-Azam? It was due to the kindness of Kadri Sahib, the Murshid of your Order in Lahore, who has been my benefactor many times. And why has he been my benefactor since I do not speak Urdu nor he English?

When I came to Pakistan I stopped at Multan and visited the tomb of Shams-i-Tabriz. There was a Wali there and he said, “What do you want?” I said, “I have come to teach.” “What?” “Ishk, Ilm, Shahud.” “All right, teach.” So this person from a far away land taught a circle of mureeds about Ishk, Ilm and Shahud and when it was through they all embraced me. I have some pictures taken with them. How come this “wisdom?”

Now I never met an Imam until I was ever fifty years of age, but from childhood studied religion and kept studying all religions. But in 1919 I met one Murshida Rabia Ada Martin and in 1923 was given the Four School Bayat, which centers in your own Hyderabad, Deccan. In 1925 I had a complete nervous breakdown and was preparing for death. I went into the wilderness in khilvat and on the third day Khidr appeared and he offered me poetry or music which was what we call here a “Hobson’s choice,” because today there is both. The poetry in its finest form is in “Saladin” and I may have occasion to send you part IV which may have to be copied for persons in various Arabic lands. This attests to hal and makam better than anything else. But to confirm the appearance of Khidr, there is today little sign of wear and tear on the body which is very, very vigorous and the mind also to some extent. And people who do not accept the personality cannot otherwise explain this vitality.

Three days after that I saw in broad daylight all the Great Prophets ending with Mecca Shereef as Khatim al Nabi—I saw this openly and after that was healed of the infirmities of which there is hardly a trace today. In 1926 Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan confirmed the hal and makam and gave me the name of “Sufi.” But he died shortly and his followers split and I never used this term until it was publicly announced by Pir Sufi Barkat Ali.

During the War there was the service of the Auliya and the functioning with the Auliya and although one does not come out and say, “Abdal” one knows what this means. There are also historical records of the vision Allah has given extending back to 1932—although most of those records were destroyed in a great fire.

For many years I used to teach a lady in this country who was very well placed socially. And when we were studying “Light” she claimed a certain makam and I said, “If you have reached that makes you should be teaching me, not I you.” And as soon as she was confirmed as a Murshida, she denounced me publicly and privately and made my life utterly miserable. It was only then that my father, who had previously denounced me himself refused to permit an outsider to do this. And he died a wealthy man which has relieved me from earthly cares. But the wise Allah directed me not in any of the sentimental slop which passes for Morality, but in the course of wisdoms. “Make friends with her husband’s friends.” And this has been entirely, successful today, so much so that her husband himself now wants the projects I have been working on for a “Garden of Allah” to extend from Delhi to the Atlantic Ocean, inshallah. If you want details will write. For the wisdom of Allah is very real, and operative, though it may come immediately (as it did to me on each visit to your own Hyderabad) or it may come very slowly.

For the work of those who go on the paths of the Auliya, Ansari and Abdals, is a different work, and one has to keep firm. It is in this connection and direction that I stand subordinate to Sufi Barkat Ali and to the Madzub who is his close companion. Since therefore you follow the order established by Ghaus-i-Azam; it is not a legend when he said, “I put my foot on the neck of the all Auliya.” Most people take this symbolically and must because they have neither Ilm nor makam.

There is no love in me for Islam. Islam has nothing to do with love. There is, Ishk Allah, Mahbood Allah. Now why Ishk? Why Mahbood? It is something like Rahman and Rahim, only we call one “Compassion,” the other “Love.” But the principles are the same, operative from Zat to and through the Sifat and back to the Zat. but in the Zat-Sifat there is the beginning condition which we shall Adam and the final condition which for call Mohammed. And no one loves Allah unless he has the love either for Adam or Mohammed or both, in the final reckoning. For Adam is the first and Mohammed is the last, and the love t be real, has to operate up-down like the phases of Rahmat and Hub. When this Love perfects it operates through body, mind and heart and this, in my life has been through the living experiences in fana-fi-Rassoul, whether one expresses it or not.

I did not meet an imam until over so and now when I read Holy Qur’an there are many questions which are asked:

a. What was the Makam and the Hal of Mohammed in receiving this revelation?

b. What was the Ilm involved, etc.

For in Hadith it is said that Holy Qur’an was revealed in seven dialects and each has an inner and outer meaning.

For example Sura 95 begins “By the Fig, and by the Olive.” And in Pakistan there was a tree-planting week and all the “Muslims” celebrated tree-planting week with speeches and feasts. And not in all Pakistan did I find anybody planting a single Fig or a single Olive. That is why I do not have regard for “Islam.” It is nothing but nufsaniat. The Holy Qur’an is explicit and implicit and when it is explicit “good Muslims” don’t follow it, and this is the cry of the world and the need of everybody.

Or again. Many Orthodox refuse the above Hadith which speaks about Holy Qur’an coming in seven dialects and say there is one meaning to the text. Then they translate Rab Alamin as “Lord of the worlds” and they seek Ilm but Ilm and Alamin come from the same root, which shows there is a connection between the divine wisdom and the creation. This also comes in the Hebrew mysticism which says creation came from Chokmah (Hakimat). But the mind of man makes the divisions and so there is no understanding. But when one effaces oneself (fana) and comes into the reality he sees (Shahud) these things plainly and there is no mystery anymore.

It is most interesting your coming from Hyderabad. My first Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Inayat Khan, was given Bayat there by one Seyyed Mohammed Moudani of the Chisti Order and then he had the full Four School teaching which he brought to the West. The chief Khalifa in that school (Four School) is Fayaz-ud-din Nizami, the Town Planner, who lives on Jubilee Hills and has been my host many times. I also met the former mayor in strange circumstances (by Shahud).

Unfortunately my visits to Hyderabad always came during intercession so that while I did visit the new grounds of Osmania this last time I was not only too busy but had a complexity of spiritual duties—all quite successful, but many. I did not visit the Nizam because his secretary refused admittance, but I have been to shrines in that vicinity.

Although I had a most mysterious and marvelous greeting at Ajmir I consider the Dargah Nizam-ud-din Auliya my center in India and it is written in the ethers so to speak and the self has nothing to do about it. In a similar way, perhaps, in Pakistan it is the tomb of Data Ganj Baksh, whose “Kashf-al-Mahjub” has been a lifelong study. But in Pakistan also there is a very strong bond to and with Bullah Shah at Kasur and Mian Mir at Lahore, and I have accepted Mian Mir as the intermediary for Ghaus-i-Azam. By tasawwur and fana one can efface oneself and commune and it is this communion—and no worship of any kind—which draws one to saints, living or “dead.”

Tarikat. I have never experienced blind love. I have had the heart-union after vision with each Pir-o-Murshid; and again with Mohammed as Rassoul, the vision came in 1925 as above, the union in 1945—a long story consummated in the poem “Saladin” alluded to. It is a mistake to say there is any blindness in Tarikat. If so, it is not Tarikat. We say: Ashadu La Illaha El Il Allah and then Ashadu Mohammedar Rassoul-Lillah. The Tarikat takes one ultimately into Mushahida when this becomes reality. But there can be no blindness in Shahud and when there is blindness the Shahud is incomplete and when there is experience the Shahud is completed but only to go on to the higher stages in Mushahida.

The same applies to Murakkabah, Mujahida, etc.

Today I have been received into about eight Orders, two in the Arab world and the rest in the Indian sub-continent. But those Bayats all came from experience and union or attunement. And this is mentioned because when I reached Pakistan last my old friend from San Francisco (who is not in tarik, not even religious) took me to a home and there on the wall was a picture of Ghaus-i-Azam with the other grand Pirs, and apart Pir Bu Ali Shah Qalandar. I looked at that picture and saw my future history, and so it was and left Pakistan a year and a half later as a “mureed” of all of them.

Did you know Syed Mahmud who was temporary Minister of External Affairs in India? I met him on a former trip, but did not try to see him again.

Now I have mentioned the lady who became Murshida and then denounced me. She left the Tarikat and followed a false teacher. Now she returned all my commentary writings on Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings. But I found also a tremendous compendium of materials mostly on Zikr and Fikr, some on Kalama and breathing methods and some on other forms of Ryazat. This will be copied for Sufi Pir Barkat Ali. But the Ryazat he gives me are of another order in complete harmony with the history delineated here. I am unable to tell this time how these ryazat will be utilized in the future.

For also when one practices Tasawwuri on all levels he has both experiences and receptivity. It is my dream to have an integrated Islam beginning with a new form of Tarik which is so simple children can use it and it will be based on Azam and Kalama first and then on Fatima, after that on Kashf. But one dare not put any limits on anything nor abolish anything.

It is certain that the present Sharia does not suffice—we have poverty, misery, unhappiness, and everything but peace—instead multitudes of law-suits. But with all this I do not know any alternative to Sharia, only must say as is said in Hadith. “The word of the Messenger can never abrogate the word of Allah but the word of Allah can abrogate the words of the Messenger.” The false Mahdis all come out with new words but I say, you have to go back to Qur’an and stop saying “Back to Qur’an”—for the saying blinds, but the deeds awaken. Therefore I hope to renovate Islam through Bulla Shah first and then to awaken to the spiritual accomplishments of Ghaus-i-Azam and Data Sahib and all the accomplishments of Mecca Shereef in all his capacities and personalities from Ahmed to Khatim al Nabi.

As Al-Ghazali has said, “Tas­awwuf consists of experiences and not premises.”

When I was at Hyderabad I asked why the workings at Golconda were stopped. “No more diamonds.” Nonsense. There are plenty of diamonds and other wealth in those hills. And likewise there is a tremendous treasure both in the teachings as we now have them, and also in the heart of man. It is time to resume diggings in the Golconda without, and in the Golconda of the written records and in the Golconda of the heart.

My love blessings and best wishes,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

November 9, 1963

My dear Vince and Jane:

I hope you won’t be bored by a chatterbox. I am trusting that you are weathering a lot of mixed-up conditions and that you don’t mind my conclusion that as goes California Agriculture, so goes the world. I have not been able to convince the so-called “Council of California Growers” but that ends the frustrations—excepting that to be a one-man UN is a hopeless task unless you have something. Well, I have just outlined: Project: “The Garden of Allah” and I am writing to you now because my closest friend, Major M. Sadiq, has written he expects to be here about the middle of next month and wants to tour the State covering all phases of agriculture, including Sheep Industry with which I am not acquainted at all.

Project: “The Garden of Allah” began with another one of those episodes which plague my life. A VIP from North Africa was stranded her just at a time when my appointee was called out of town on an emergency. I got another of those tales—repetition of Pearl Harbor, etc. which the CIA and so-called Intelligence always pooh-pooh, and mostly they happen. As usual communists and near-communists can travel under the guise of being representatives of Asian religions. And so long as we continue to study “Asia Culture” under Europeans and students of Europeans this can continue with ease. The pattern has not changed excepting that there are now three or four distinct social revolutions. I can give yon all details.

I told him that I was not a social scientist but said: “What are you going to do when the agricultural program which has been established in all your socialist nations tries and fails? It has failed every time, it is failing now. You are in California and you can learn more from California than from the whole rest of the world. The very agriculture that would succeed in your country is just that which has succeeded here. For instance the Date industry. Or what Holy Qur’an says but none of you Muslims practice: ‘By the Fig and by the Olive.’ That is the Scripture, but you don’t practice it. You go off and are planning to try what has failed every time.” He had no answer, but believe me, this North Africa thing is not what the papers say, and as we know nothing of the real Islam any more than we know of Vietnamese “Buddhism,” one has to go off in another direction.

The American Friends of the Middle East met here recently. I had already submitted two papers, one on California Agriculture and how it was a model to the Islamic world, and the other on real experts here in California who are languishing when they would be helping the world—the scientists and the sociologists don’t see eye-to-eye. Well all the speakers at their gatherings came up with that it was time to stop speaking and get down to action. And to my amazement—there is always a first time—the Vice-President brought me out and asked what I was going about Desert Agriculture.

It just happens I have been doing all one man alone can do who has, also other interests and no recognition. But by now the whole board of directors of the ASE is interested. So I proposed a joint venture between them and Ford (preferably) or Rockefeller, hiring the real soil experts from California and operating in the lands within their operations (Pakistan to Morocco inclusive).

I have just learned that one Prof. Bocher of Davis is about to leave for North Africa so I have outlined proposals in full, this being a follow-up of correspondence with Dr. Milton Fireman, etc.

Cross-trailing this is that controversy over the Udall Plan. I have found in Congressman John Baldwin of Contra Costa a man after my own heart. He is primarily interested in soil and water problems and not in subjective philosophies. During any peregrinations I hays found even top industrialists agreeing that there is too many dialectical anti-Marxism and too little American pragmatism and so far as I am concerned I shall not support any candidate of either party who is any kind of dialectician. Not one dissenter.

Baldwin wishes to go into Salt-water conversion and that is what I have been preaching to all the Islamic nations; together with the soil programs worked out in principle by Dr. Roy Donahue of Ford Foundation. This Udall plan destroys, if it goes through, the hope of making this State the laboratory for much of the world, and the very examples would be, to me, the best form of foreign aid.

I spoke briefly on “Foreign Aid for Pakistan.” The audience was too divided into hate-one-another “Clay’ plan, more foreign aid and less foreign aid, to face specific reports—which was what I gave. Everybody wants policies and they all differ on the policies. But to me there is no such thing as “foreign aid.” A prosperous California which could be a model to be copied would be the best example for much of the world, and our failures could be avoided, our successes emulated, and the money spent here to good purpose; on the other hand, this semi-socialist came out for private help only. The big Foundations have a continuum, they do not work at cross purposes, they recognize each other, they do not overlap, they do not compete, they mingle with the people (nationals), they respect local religions and traditions, etc., etc. No governmental agency does that, and the governmental agencies have no integrating body excepting in Washington and I know what I am talking about.

This will be followed up. But now that big persons are interested I have been able to follow up. Yesterdays “Chronicle” had an article, “Stock Feed from Sewage” which entirely justifies all my literary research, etc. It fills in a big gap which only those far advanced in soil science have realized. So it goes and by next month there will be more.

Well “Father was right” maybe. The Social Creditors have swept British Columbia, gaining more seats in the legislature than they were prepared for. The Socialists came in second, but lost ground. The Conservatives did not elect a single man. But what these people believe I don’t know and efforts to find out have brought up zeroes.

I am wondering if you could meet Major Sadiq and myself either at your place or at any Diner’s Club restaurant from here down—there is plenty of time to answer.

Regards,

Samuel L. Lewis

S. A. M.

November 11, 1963

My dear John:

The last three weeks have shown a number of incidents that look like a dramatic novel and suggest my seeing you perhaps late next month. It is certain, as you can read, that willy-nilly all my eggs are in one basket now, which can be called “The Garden of Allah” project.

In 1947 I was compelled to move from the house in Fairfax by a combination of concocted lies, a term I may safely use as the persons who have accepted those unsubstantiated lies have, either openly or tacitly, admitted that they should have listened to me before compelling me to leave my home. The situation was complicated because while I had no funds to support my case, it would have meant prison terms for those involved, and this would have accomplished little.

Mrs. Ivy Duce either willingly or unwillingly took it into her hands not only to compel me to leave Fairfax, but having been my one and only confidante was able to block all my plans in every direction. Without going into the nature of these plans, life—or maybe something more than life—lead to the establishment of friendships with her husband’s associates one by one and this moment finds me not only on excellent terms with them but Mr. Duce himself has asked how I was getting along with projects to turn deserts into arable lands.

I had already submitted two plans for this purpose and another program which also can be assimilated into the “The Garden of Allah” project as above. I now also have a growing amount of material for my “How California Can Help Asia” and am on excellent terms with all those scientists whom I have contacted, and even with one or two industrialists.

The Directors of the American Friends of the Middle East, of which Mr. Duce is Vice-President, are now giving serious attention to these projects, which also involve the employment of some of California’s top soil scientists. But by a number of circumstances, I am now able to interest persons and governments in several parts of the world. The officials of AFME have come up, one and all, with no more speeches and more actions of a practical nature. The denouement of this can only come after writing, conferences, etc. but I feel quite exuberant today. My physical health and mental vigor are in top form, and I am beginning, very slowly it is true, to be listened to.

Major M. Sadiq, my closest associate in Pakistan, expects to be here next month. He has now in mind the same projects. Originally he was interested to come and show his spiritual healing and mystical philosophy but he now wishes to study California Agriculture, all phases.

But I am mentioning this because the Major, my daughter and others, in cooperation with Pir Dewwal Shereef are now on some practical undertakings to raise funds for yours truly. Under Pakistani law, moneys may not be sent out excepting for certain purposes. My work is within the scope of these purposes and the aforesaid Pir is both the Principal of Islamabad University and the spiritual teacher of President Ayub and others.

The Major will be interested in all the crops upon which I have been doing research but also on Animal Husbandry—Sheep, Poultry, Cattle. I may drop in at the Agricultural Station on Fourth St. some time soon to get ideas and introductions, but this will not be a special call on you other than to say hello. Here I know pretty well the procedures.

Miss Khawar Khan, my goddaughter, has not only had a series of successes but has now asked me about her coming to this country to get a Ph.D. in certain subjects. Temporarily I have suggested either Washington or UCLA. If Washington, that throws her right back into association with Mr. Duce aforementioned because in addition to his being Vice-President of the American Friends of the Middle East he is also Vice-President of the School for Middle East Studies in that city. If California, UCLA or otherwise, I wish to introduce Miss Khawar to you because I believe she is planning to show films of Mecca and also to lecture on textiles and she will need some special consideration—income tax advice, etc, if she remains in this area.

As my correspondence with the above parties is disjunctive I cannot give details but all the news is favorable. The same is true in my conferences on the Near East from the political to the scientific, etc.

I am also having two “Homes” offered me here soon, one in Marin and one in San Mateo County and about four in Pakistan—whatever that means.

My recent talks have been short and impressive but partly due to the fact that the antagonism that used to be directed toward me (and before me two or three others) is now being directed to other people. This is most unfortunately and is characteristic of study groups. I feel like succeeding by cheating but am taking advantage of this malapropos-behavior pattern. Vietnam has taught us nothing—I am constantly seeing people who have lived there and nobody ever comes to see them or listen to them.

I shall advise when I have dates from either the Major or Miss Khan; or if any moneys are sent me I shall call on you before cashing, as this will involve a new business procedure.

Cordially

Samuel L. Lewis

S.A.M.

58 Harriet St., San Francisco 3, Calif.

November 12, 1963

My dear Hugo:

This in a sense is my diary which is being converted into a communication. For my close friend and associate, Major Sadiq, is trying to come to the United States next month. He is a top spiritualist and healer, but he is also coming on an agricultural mission. This means a detailed movement through California and it will be easy to stop at SLO and we should wish to see you on both the healing and spiritual missions.

A number of weeks ago Ed Hunt warned me that a husband of one of my cousins was very ill, and the cousin denied it. But he died and I met Ed at the funeral and since. Not only age but changing interests have drawn us close—for example, I am a sort of perpetual student at Art School and we are both interested in beautification. So is John Wingate but John is not in circulation.

The death brought into objectivity something which is much absent from the American psyche, which is to say a form of love which is super-physical without ceasing to be physical. I was reading in Inayat Khan how from his point of view the Western world was expressing mores and habits which were nothing but animality glorified in words. The animality was not wrong but the glorification of it in words was preventing Occidentals from realizing areas of bliss and has, instead, pushed us pell-mell into LSD and a lot of nonsense parading as “occultism.”

This period has also manifested the complete wiping out of adverse karma. With ten sets of enemies in 1956 the guidance through meditation first was “Let your enemies fight each other.” This is today true in some bizarre senses. I gave Alan Watts a pile of research and he immediately closed the door on it, would not let me refer to it, and became hostile. Like all the karma-wallahs, he got it. His associates first and then his wife turned on him and now I am acclaimed—and it is disgusting—because I am out of favor with AW, just as before I was rejected because I was out of favor. The public attitude has changed enormously in this and a number of other incidents of the same kind. There is nothing noble in it.

But the big problem has always been Mrs. I. (to hide her identity) and the answer from meditation was to “make friends with Mr. I’s friends.” Not only has this been accomplished but even Mr. I.—who is very important in international affairs—has come to me and asked what I have been doing on desert agriculture. This came immediately after I had outlined my “Solution of the Palestine Impasse” and “The Garden of Allah Project.”

Originally I had a plan for Palestine which was OK’d by almost everybody from Rabbi Magnes on Mt. Scopus to this Arab World but the above Mrs. I. made it impossible for me to proceed. I don’t go into that. When I very quietly outlined some elements to the associates of Field Marshall Burns they all had the same reaction, most favorable. It is now I am coming out very carefully with a revised scheme to fit the scope of the day.

Now, Hugo, the Divine Wisdom operates through the human psyche and human consciousness—it is real and it is pragmatic. And once it comes out with something then there is strength and wisdom. So my schemes are being reviewed now by VIPs.

I am more interested in “The Garden of Allah” program for suitable agricultural development of the whole earth from New Delhi to the Atlantic Ocean. In this the reactions of all industrialists and agriculturists and scientists are favorable. I have still to get a single negative from these three classes of human beings. But the social scientists are mostly indifferent and the political people almost impossible to impress.

Actually “The Garden of Allah” program is full of elements drawn from our top soil experts, who have invariably been given dirty deals. The whole world is most definitely in the two groups which the British C.P. Snow has called “scientists” and “literati” and 90% of the time I can predict the outcome of an interview by knowing the man’s profession. So whereas before Mrs. I. was working against me publicly, privately and otherwise, now Mr. I. is most interested.

On top of that, following the meditative answer above, Mrs. I. has had to oppose nearly all the other people with whom I have had difficulties and I have been on the side lines. By the time Major Sadiq arrives, I should have some reactions, and it is possible, God willing, to have some of the bigger foundations get behind one or two of my plans. I have some top soil scientists in tow whom I have nominated to head these projects.

I have also had word that my god-daughter is planning to come to America. She has been most successful in everything she has endeavored and psychically I am given the credit. It makes no difference whether the personality had anything to do with it or not. Abroad I am given the credit. So now in Pakistan there is both a fund-raising campaign for me and no less than three homes being provided.

The alternative to these homes will be ashrams in this country until I am financially in a position to establish a Sufi Khankah. For both my Buddhist and Yoga friends are working to have retreats in this vicinity and it seems one has to do little to work out one’s salvation on the physical plane.

I have seen Major Sadiq heal blind people. He has also healed Cancer and TB—which word I used because the attendant physicians said so. In the case of blindness there was no doctor around. And the Major has some faculties we hope he can demonstrate for and with you. The “fame” would be far more important to him and he does not charge money to anybody for his services.

Alan Watts has been both praised and blamed for interesting people in Buddhism. The aftermath sees many so-called Buddhists rejecting reincarnation. But this applies mostly to those pseudo-metaphysicians and college degreed VIPs who teach without having studied Orientalia. Today I am seeing others the butt of antagonisms both in the international field and in the occult field. That is to say, Gina Cerminara is out on the front lines fighting. She said my criticism of her book was exemplary although this word hardly fits, for I have just two approaches:

A very clear excellent presentation of reincarnation which appears to me most acceptable and valid.

A very interesting non-violence doctrine, which, although not my own personally, merits consideration and will attract large audiences in many parts of the world.

It is only that the occultists in America have hardly touched the surface. In Asian lands you can go deep and in some places easily. By and large the psychic and occult groups here do not want to investigate Asia because it would prove they are tyros. There is nothing wrong in being a tyro—every budding scientist is. But while the scientists will recognize the more profound people in their hobbies the psychics and occultists do not. And it is amusing to find people who are choosing occult phenomena when I tell them I have met and been taught by my spiritual teachers through ESP which is entirely true, but at levels we cannot both approach in curiosity and humility and at the same time direct the research. Most Americans want to direct, and it is lack of curiosity and humility that stands us badly.

I do not think Ed is so adverse to honest occultism. His reactions to your reports were far more childlike and sympathetic than one would receive from the average “psychic” or “occultist” who would accuse you of egotism or pomposity. That is not only what you are not, but there are more and more cases coming to purview of the same sort. For instance around Master Too Lun, whom I have called a “Chinese Maharishi.” If he had only remained in Hong Kong or mainland China, it would be easy to get bizarre articles published. But now that he is in our midst, the press pays no more attention to him. This story will probably be continued.

I am seeing Ted Reich tomorrow. I left Gin’s Many Lives, Many Loves with him.

There are now no adverse reports. The body is in fine shape, and more subtle if not more vigorous. It is only that the hair is greying.

I am holding off any trips until I hear from the Major, and hope we can visit you together.

Cordially,

S. A. M.

P.S. Gavin Arthur gets in the press but I do not associate with him any more.

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

November 19, 1963

Hon. John F. Baldwin

321 Cannon House Office Bldg.,

Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Congressman Baldwin:

In re: Project: The Garden of Allah

One almost congratulates you on reading in today’s S.F. Chronicle an article “‘Cheaper than Udall Plan’ The Low Cost of Desalted Water.” This comes from the offices of the Atomic Energy Commission and the Federal Office of Saline Water.

Some time ago I conceived a book, “How California Can Help Asia” which may still be written. But political affairs, such as set-backs in Cambodia and Somaliland caused me to submit to the American Friends of the Middle East a plan for agricultural rejuvenation based on California methods and California personnel.

Then in short two things happened. A North African VIP visited San Francisco (he may even have been a subversive agent) and told me of plans for a social revolution covering each country West of UAR I asked him if he had studied fruit growing in this State—Dates, Citrus, Avocados, etc. He told me he had not and then I asked him why did he want to adopt collectivist programs which had failed and not other forms of agricultural procedure which had brought nothing but food and prosperity.

Then there were some meetings by the Board of Directors of the aforesaid American Friends of the Middle East (AFME) in which one and all of the speakers called for actions and programs and not ideas. The Vice-President, Mr. Terry Duce, personally asked how I was getting along with “How California Can Help Asia” and its desert development. He after much encouragement from the leaders—who include some pretty top people and Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson Kermit Jr.—details will be discussed.

In the meanwhile I have talked to people including industrialists, foreign affairs students and finally the Chamber of Commerce here in San Francisco. To begin with I have found all classes of citizens from the “leftish” Sierra Club to the C. of C. opposed to the Udall Plan and in favor of efforts at Salt Water Conversion. This left me to come out against all dialectical approaches and some counter-movement to promote American philosophies whether Jeffersonianism, Pragmatism or contemporary Integrational Philosophies. This is also mentioned because all over Asia the Asian peoples want lectures on these subjects, the USIA stubbornly refuses to assent, and we have been kicked out of Cambodia, other lands to follow. These people do not want dialectics in any form, pro- or anti-Marxist and I notice very good reactions in regard to Pragmatism, which certainly is an American philosophy and might even attract many abroad, if we should only try.

But if USIA, Fulbright, Peace Corps, etc. will not inform people about American Pragmatism there is nothing to stop it being applied.

“The Garden of Allah Project” would be a program to adopt many California crops, methods and persons, but on similar line to what is succeeding in India (despite congressional investigations) by Ford Foundation people. It is almost the only but it is the best agricultural program abroad and the fact that it is being prosecuted by private rather than public agencies is incidental. It is the pragmatic application of contemporary scientific knowledge plus (+) the acceptance of native intelligence, aptitudes, religion and folk-lore, from which our Federal agencies keep far away, Cambodia or no Cambodia.

It would be sponsored in part by the AFME and ask for Ford assistance (or Rockefeller assistance) and I have suggested temporarily the selection of Prof. Milton Fireman, now in Davis, for directing the efforts, but have also named Paul Keim of Berkeley and one or two others.

It might take some time. But I have already contacted authorities in several Asian lands. The scientists in UAR are in favor of some form of establishment of Salt-Water conversion plans, the Saudis agree, and the program might be extended. But as written before, the Udall “plan” would not only destroy our natural water-sheds, repudiate all Stuart Chase’s earlier efforts and abolish the selection of California as a model for foreign lands to copy.

Even the Indonesian Consulate likes these ideas for Sumatra, but if we do not do something soon Indonesia will go all the way and more as Cambodia. “What manner of man asked for bread and you will him a stone”—people want food and we give them anti-Marxism. Freedom from Want is not longer a fundamental part of our Foreign policy. The cost for Salt-Water conversion plants at their highest is cheaper than any war, or even revolution. The practical application of such can make even Algeria take heed.

I am in contact with a huge anti-Communist movement which exists all over the Islamic world but which our press and State department refuse to heed. One of its members is coming to California soon to study agricultural methods in this State, covering everything from poultry to citrus fruits. He will be the first of many. It is time to get out of “realism” and into reality.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

58 Harriet St.,

San Francisco 3, Calif.

November 22, 1963

Dear Gavin:

As soon as I heard the news I thought of you. It may be, of course, the worst type of “congratulation” to find your predictions concerning President Kennedy come to pass. Some of us, and this may have included you, thought that, as in the case of Lincoln, it would come in the second term. But there it is and you ought to keep this letter on record because It for one, can testify that over and over again you said that the late Hon. “Jack Kennedy would be the victim of an assassin while he was in office.

c/o to Herb Caen

November 21, 1963

Henry Hazlitt,

c/o Newsweek,

444 Madison Ave.,

New York, N.Y.

In re: Does Foreign Aid Aid?

Dear Mr. Hazlitt:

This is, perhaps, the most important letter I have ever written to you and yet it does not need a reply. Yesterday I made the most vehement talk in my life and also got the best response, but the backgrounds are more important than the ego.

The immediate subject was whether we should give aid to India in its struggle with China and a group of us who had been to Asia sat together for the first time at the luncheon of the World Affairs Council here in San Francisco. We had noticed that our views were similar and now we find that our experiences are similar (a) having been to Asia; (b) rejected by our fellow-citizens who ignore us and deduct from the press, official sources, etc., “popular views.”

All of us have been to Pakistan. All of us have millions of dollars poured into that country for projects which are going into disuse because there is no skilled labor to operate them. Letters to the AFL-CIO to use foreign aid to pay displaced skilled workmen to go to these lands both to maintain existing structures and to train local workmen have been ignored.

Visit to Atkinson which carries on the largest engineering project in Pakistan finds that an enormous amount of money has to be used to institute polytechnic training and even then one is not sure that men so trained—with the “foreign aid” money—will stay on the job. They could get better jobs elsewhere. I have seen no evidence that either Mangla Dam in Pakistan or Assouan Dam in UAR is going to be a going concern because there is not available sufficient and proper skills to maintain such structures in view of numerous other projects going on.

It is just two years ago when I was to Thanksgiving Dinner with all the “experts” we have around Lahore, West Pakistan. I was the only one present who knew the history of the country. I had met one hundred times as many persons as all others present combined. But my presence was necessary because too many of them were employed by rival or overlapping agencies and were therefore not on too good terms with each other.

I won’t go over the personal experiences but if I were a poor observer, then were my various associates who had been abroad, and sometimes to the same places, but always with the same conclusions.

I brought out two things in my speech: (1) That parts of the world which never in history belonged to any “India” have now been annexed to India and we are sending funds and men to defend these artificial boundaries of a non-ally.

I have before me “Toward Economic Communication in Asia” by one Davie Wightman of the University of Birmingham. It lists over thirty international and UN agencies, the major potion of which receive goodly sums from the United States Treasury. Yet practically every one of these projects or commissions is overlapped or rivaled by some more recent U.S. agency.

I came out strongly for financial aid to India—yes through the World Bank and International Monetary Fund etc. I have seen vast natural resources untouched. My present jibe is that India needs to develop its external Golconda (opening up the mines which were simply abandoned) and its internal Golconda (its heart) to the world. We are wrong, no doubt—and to me there is no doubt about it—in even proposing a cultural exchange with Russia which has almost nothing to give us, and rejecting cultural exchanges with Asian nations which have everything to give. But if we are going to offer financial aid, it should come through venture capital to re-open diamond and gold mines, obtain mineral concessions and explore the Mountains—not only the Himalayas. In Hyderabad I found the first office of an internal Geological Survey, but if you mention this everybody goes wild.

The time has come either to get back of the UN agencies or to withdraw from it excepting to finance the tenth in accord with our vote in the upper chamber; in other words, if we are going into the foreign aid business we should stop financing the UN bodies in the same spheres.

If “Newsweek” is correct in this same issue, we are or have helped France financially which will ally itself with China to cut our throat. And if an associate power does this, how about some others? The world has turned, I believe, without humankind and nations receiving external financial help to carry on functions.

I have seen our Four H boys go abroad, mingle with the people, and nobody accepted their reports. And the only Peace Corps volunteers I have seen were accompanied by a number of press representatives. Who was paying those press representatives and why?

We are losing in Cambodia. The last thing we can get into our heads is to accept cultural exchange with Asian nations at any level (we are too concerned with cultural exchange with “Russia”). The whole Buddhist world is dominated by a super-body—I met the leaders in Japan and Thailand and knew them in Ceylon, Malay, etc. Instead of having Buddhism taught by Buddhists, we have even accepted the findings of men who are not even scum. A Japanese spoke at a university on Buddhism recently—everybody knew about “Buddhism” but when he asked where that “Buddhism” was practiced, what were the ceremonies and the organization, not one could answer. Fortunately they accepted him and applauded him. But this is not official.

The whole Buddhist world has become anti-American because of this. At the same time there is at this writing a coup being administered by the anti-communist leaders among the Buddhists to change the leadership. We will probably keep hands off and the communists will not. But I think our friends are strong enough only if the leader comes here; you are going to hear some scolding, badly deserved, that we keep blind to.

I am still not recognized as representative of the University of Islamabad whose Director is the head of the Anti-communist movement in Pakistan and who is very close to President Ayub. This is called “realism.” And it has resulted in Nations accepting Red China simply because we do not look at realities.

We introduce “foreign aid,” over-advertise it, and touch so few people that nationals hardly know of its existence.

Project: The Garden of Allah. This is a compendium of a life of effort. It is now being discussed with the American Friends of the Middle East, who could submit it preferable to Ford Foundation. It called for a clear cut rejuvenation of soils, the sowing of proper crops and a vast program of Salt Water Conversation plants, etc. with the induction of suitable personnel. It is an extension of my “How California Can Help Asia” (not yet written) to stop the spreading of communism to Islamic nations.

We do not study Islam either, and we step on the toes of sensitive peoples. But we can adopt our California methods and hire our California personnel to meet real problems of real people on a vast scale. The Foundations are doing comparable work; this would be an extension of their programs.

This is based on what I have seen.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Tuesday Lunch. World Affairs. People are listening. At night held the point at the Buddhist meeting by explaining the Pali Sutta reading, and holding for the existence of devas, fairies, etc. Meanwhile the struggle is being taken up by K. Sigeliev. It has been shown to me unmistakably that the Brisbane venture must be for and with her or else this person is out—there are other places for me but not for her.

The Chinese at the Buddhist lecture all accepted both my remarks and self, so have bought two important Pali Books, Rhys Davids and Buddhagosha. Appointments coming up with Admiral Evenson on December 9 and an editor on Dec. 11. Maybe party at Della’s Saturday night, program awfully full. But now no trouble anywhere.

November 25, 1963

Dear Connie:

I am writing you but this does not need an answer. It is only to say that I may, or may not suddenly appear in Southern California under quite different conditions, namely that Major Sadiq, my closest spiritual friend may be coming here on a combination of spiritual and scientific purposes; the dates are uncertain and the details also.

The death of President Kennedy found me prepared. My friend, Chester Arthur III, himself the grandson of a President of the U.S. has specialized in the astrological and occult study of Presidents and is either crazy or a “wizard.” As I am always against the Philistines I can overlook his faults, and in this case he certainly kept on hitting the bull’s eye. The prediction kept on appearing in the S.F. Chronicle but CAIII, or Garvin, as we call him, practically placed his reputation on it. As my alter ego is P. Puck, the P. standing for “Puddinhead” or Puddinhead Wilson (Mark Twain) thumb-print fame, I could stand by the insistence of others too. So there was no shock and a control over emotions. Did attend two Buddhist worships but these are fully of calmness and peacefulness without overlooking humanity.

On October 18 was my birthday and it seems that on my birthdays I generally find myself in the midst of VIPs out of somewhere or nowhere. This time it was real Zen spiritual teachers, a big party with both blessings and fun. Since that time the Wheel-of-life has changed and there is no bad news of any kind.

One may start with this possible visit of Major Sadiq. He is a remarkable healer and I would have staked his reputation on a treatment of Aldous Huxley—that is too late, but I have seen him heal the blind. With this exception all the “miracles” he performed were in the presence and in cooperation with attendant physicians, usually allopathic MDs, and attested to legally too. This is somewhat different from most so-called ‘spiritual healers.” He also has other faculties.

We have to visit UCLA and may even call on Sam Yorty, but until I know details, can not say much more.

My own revolt against the Philistines has become a comic opera. Now I am allied and aligned with several other “ugly Americans,” men who have been to Asia, tried to help their country and one and all of us have been snubbed by press, government and “experts.” The other day we joined forces as if by intent and practically broke up a meeting which was discussing whether India or China would have Ladakh and we began defending Pakistan to see what would happen. Before the end the chair and the speakers were utterly wiped out. And there has been more of this stuff. My long battles against “phantasia” for real Asia are coming to a successful conclusion.

One of our next discussions will be on Vietnam. Meanwhile Cambodia has deflected. It wants no dialectics either American or Russian. And Asia is sick of our “aid” cum dialectics and our now wanting to have “cultural exchange” with the cold-war enemy while ignoring all the contributions to civilization of the largest of continents. As I challenged: “What is our policy?”

I have since heard that my god-daughter in Pakistan plans to come here some time next year. Not only that, she is campaigning to raise funds to help me. I am supposed to be representing the University of Islamabad. Pakistan has some queer exchange policies but efforts are now being made to have funds sent me. This is a long but rather pleasant story, from that end. But so far every university in the country which has Europeans teaching Islamics has turned me down; but if the professors are Americans I have a fair chance.

Two weeks ago the American Friends of the Middle East met here and all the speakers themed, “It is time for action and not speeches.” I have already placed three plans for better international relations in that part of the world. At the end of the meeting (and this is a long story) the Vice President came and asked me what I was doing on desert agriculture. The result is submitting: “Project: The Garden of Allah,” a complete agricultural program covering all lands from about New Delhi to the Atlantic Ocean. I have already contacted the best individuals and am working as much as I can to gather data. When I was questioned by the local Chamber of Commerce I not only answered their theoretical questions but named the person who could take charge of corrective processes (all Californians).

Next month there will be a conference thereon. In the meanwhile I completed my manuscript and am making extracts and abstracts at request, and one man locally said he would offer to be my agent and another agent will also be here soon. Besides that I have one or two other publishing houses in mind. One thing I already have—the market.

There is a Chinese Buddhist master here with whom I have been studying but recently he gave a bad deal to a lady from your city—the oldest Buddhist scholar in the country, so I may withdraw. Real Zen Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism also are prospering as never before.

In a few days a Hindu master comes. I have been studying Mudra and Tantra Yoga with his disciple but also contributing. Because I now have the bulk of the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan plus both Sufi and Hindu teachings not in circulation. All of this is encouraging, but I have withdrawn from all social and leisurely life, depending on the variations between these different activities.

Another romance (from way back, resuscitated) soured—actually it was a hold-over from former lives and I just about gave up on women to find several of them befriending me when I needed it most. I don’t know whether I told you Paul Reps visited SF twice. I don’t know whether he is running to or from but he has disappeared again.

Am cooking Thanksgiving Dinner for my former landlady who is now a cripple and two of my pals will be with us. And although I expect to be South next month can give any foreword. Please be well so we can wine and dine once anyhow.

Cordially,

S. A. M.

Sufi Ahmed Murad

November 29, 1963

My dear Shamcher:

As-salaam aleikhum. Your return to this country took me by surprise and one wonders whether you have made connections; or if not whether you would be interested in the big project which is now integrating all efforts in all directions.

I have been working on “How California Can Help Asia” but the present rise of disturbances in the world, and the dangers incumbent thereon has made me conceive: “Project, the Garden of Allah.” And no sooner had I framed this project when news came from Pakistan in two directions, one requiring immediate attention and the other important attention.

The one requiring immediate attention is the news that my closest spiritual brother, Major M. Sadiq is coming here. But although we had planned for a spiritual visit on two planes—healing and lecturing, he is now planning to make a detailed study of California Agriculture. As I had already in the mind integrating “How California Can Help Asia” into “Project: The Garden of Allah,” the only difference is that part of this project could be started in Pakistan.

There is now a sort of world-wide shortlist revolution going on which is not close to either Russia or China. Part of my objections are due to a revulsion against the Caucasians in general plus the fact that the Chinese are basically imperialistic and decidedly “master-race” minded. The real leaders are Nkrumah and Nasser although the noisiest one is Sukarno. And the only ways I know to stop these social upheavals—which are not always revolutions in the true sense are:

a. Learn more about their religions

b. Show them our agricultural know-how.

The first is out, we are totally ignorant of or totally indifferent to the religious outlooks of others, and mostly we are not even interested. Nevertheless for policy’s sakes we ought to find, out how people act.

As to the second. Dr. Milton Fireman made a study of the agriculture and soil conditions of many lands under the auspices of AID. His program was thrown out. We agree on all details. I have suggested to the American Friends of the Middle East this Project and if they will sponsor it maybe that Ford Foundation will put up the money. Such a program would parallel the Ford Foundation program in India which is very successful and works with the religion, folk-lore superstitions aptitudes, outlooks and ideals of the Indian peoples.

I believe if we adopt the same approach elsewhere we shall be successful. I asked a North African revolutionary “Why do you wish to adopt an agricultural, program which has failed in China and Russia and why haven’t you studied agriculture here in California? We know how to grow Olives, Dates, Avocados, Figs etc. and the Chinese and Russians do not. And we have some other crops here which could grow in your land.”

Milton Fireman has run up against Secretary Udall and my own “How California Can Help Asia” has been given a severe blow by his water plans. I have taken this up with several people, and all of us wish to extend the salt-water conversion program. It is an absolute must.

I can’t carry all the details of these projects and even if I “sell” them, I could not, but I know who could and have kept in touch with the proper people.

Early in August Mrs., Duce relented and sent me back a tremendous load of my own researches in Sufism including a lot of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s teachings which were given to Rabia Martin but never used by her or anybody else. Then in October Mr. Terry Duce himself approached me and asked how my projects were getting along. It is his own colleagues and best friends who may sponsor “How California Can Help Asia” and “Project, the “Garden of Allah.” This will be decided next month, at least preliminarily.

Then Vilayat offered to release Gathas to me and I told him this was not necessary. At the same time I signed the paper acknowledging his spiritual position. For why should I try to go around this part of the world as a Murshid and then suddenly decamp? My main work will be in Asia and already the works of Hazrat Inayat Khan are becoming known then.

Also I am learning details of a Khalif Pir-o-Murshid had and during his last days, while Kismet was in Purdah he gave instructions to this Khalif, some of whose friends and relatives now look to me. Rabia knew this man but never told anybody anything about him.

So at the Moment Mrs. Duce his receded and the way is open for Vilayat if he wishes to come here. But he has sent me no inquiry. Tuesday night I am going to lecture on some of the material Pir-o-Murshid explained on the relation between the higher practices of Sufism and what I call for euphemistic sake “Yoga.”

I have a pile of exoteric materials:

a. Those of Pir-o-Murshid shared with Geneva

b. Those of Pir-o-Murshid not shared with Geneva

c. Those of two other Pirs of this century

d. Those of two living Pirs in Pakistan

e. The later Upanishads

f. etc.

Add to that my new methods which integrate form, movement, art, gymnastics, everything into one colossal, all embracing science, beginning with showing children (and others) how to walk. Saladin Reps was here and I gave him many methods of walking.

December 7, 1963

My dear Harriet:

This is the third time his week I have started to write to you and I am going to mail it although it can’t be final, nothing is final. But among Puck’s Ten Commandments, some of which are ages old, is “A gentleman is one who remembers a woman’s birthday but forgets her age” and so it happens that I send thee birthday greetings and love and all that, but I am not going to get out my slide rule or Univac to figure out your age, commandment or no commandment.

What is certain is the uncertainty of seeing you and that uncertainty has become so uncertain and the only certainty is uncertainty. After pledges and a clear program “comes it now” reversing it and also the reversal and unless there is thunder, lightning or death I shall be in Berkeley Monday and may even telephone before you get this, although it is also uncertain.

Three things plopped together: an emergency letter of a god-son who moved to Berkeley, and two important contacts with regard to my projects. I don’t even know if the god-son has a car—if he has will try to say hello also in person. The projects today are all integrated, and they are taking on a tremendous vista, all of life’s works, dreams, efforts, researches and what not being in one basket, called Project: The Garden of Allah, and no nonsense about it.

There has also been a cosmic drama, that I had a most bitter, vicious and irreconcilable enemy, a woman whom I had once taught and she turned against me. The Spirit of Wisdom said to make friends with her husband’s friends, but the Spirit of Wisdom was a leading quicker on the dram than Sam Lewis and all over the world it has happened that her husband’s friends have befriended me, including here as well as there and there. And recently when I got the going over from the Chamber of Commerce I not only had the answers, I had the men who could handle the detail. All are in California and most connected with UC. Briefly it is a food and soil project but it also has recognition of local religions, superstitions and aptitudes.

And just to show you how the Spirit of Wisdom works. Last night was a farewell party to a young woman who is going to India to find God, spiritual liberation and Shangri-la. A Zen Master was to be present and I wanted to give her some wisdom that she did not have to send her money—which she hasn’t, because the spiritual liberation and Shangri-la do not depend on travel agents. This is very unfair to Madison Ave and the BOAC and Qantas pressure adds. Of course my women “friends” were up in arms. Never once have “they” ever permitted me to demonstrate any wisdom, if indeed I have it—but not once in America, until last night.

Well Irene brought one Krishna, and like all real spiritual persons he does not follow the book in anything. For the world is divided into the European Professors who give their Keyserling misviews about Asia and the Miss Cloudnines and having with much difficulty rescued most of those present from the European Professors of Oriental “Philosophy,” it has only been to get them into the camps of the Miss Cloudnines.

Well Krishnaji is nothing like a “Yogi” or “mystic” and therefore can’t be one. He is a Horticulturist and is going down to UCLA, to get his PhD. in Horticulture. He is on exactly the same mission as Damned Sam was in 1956 and is accomplishing what I was trying to do then. It was impossible, a dream, but he is doing it. And we not only talked on scientific and horticultural projects, and on Yoga; we reconciled modern science and Asian Wisdom and this is the first time I have been permitted to do this.

The ex-disciples of European professors and erstwhile devotees of the Cloudnines got some real Yoga, some real Wisdom and wherever they turned the roads were blocked. Krishnaji did not believe in Aldous Huxley or Isherwood or even the Hollywood Vedanta Center which proves how little God knows about “God.”

The fact is, Harriet, that beginning on my birthday and since the stars (or something) seem both inclined and compel the world to beat some kind of a path to my door. For not only have I for the first time been approached instead of approaching the same happened in the mail this morning. Now the rest of my body is catching up to the tongue in being vigorous, active, and full of zest. I can touch parts of my feet for the first time in my life and even weight-lifting goes up.

I am waiting for the coming of Major M. Sadiq to make an official tour of the State in connection with all branches of Agriculture and some other things. Everywhere I run into ignorance about Asia. Last week for the first time I have heard an American who has been there been given the public forum on Vietnam. It has all been newspaper men (American mostly) and diplomats (Americans not mostly), never an Asian and never an American who has lived there. The stories of Cambodia that each American gives me corroborate the others but the press and state department, too concerned with “realism” know nothing of realities, or don’t care. This covers our entire dialectical left-center-right dream world which exists in our minds and breeds hatreds and ignorance.

Then my god-daughter may come next year. This is a long and beautiful series of complexes.

In a few minutes I leave for a funeral. Margaret who was once the wife of Ching Wah Lee has died and there are services. Chingwah has just come back from real Asia and even there he ran into a “revolution” which is going on (which the American newspaper men and European professor know naught of) and if it is successful a very close friend of mine is going to occupy a top position all over the Far East.

December 27, 1963

My dear Vocha:

The year is closing with better auspices for the future but the hopelessness of resolving cold wars. The biggest of these is between Snow’s two cultures and if I were to detail all my welcomes and set-backs, you would find a close, very close correspondence between them. I have to write Chancellor Strong who took me to task blaming me for approaches to his professors. The last occasion was in meeting a food scientist who almost leaped over the table to ask me to call on him at the earliest occasion. And the non-welcome of the social scientists is counterbalanced by the extreme welcome plus overtime from the Alumni Association on exactly the same subjects. I have etched the point where a group of us decided not to endow UC in the Asian field, for we all got the same treatment.

Last Friday night I became a speaker. No virtue, darling. But I have this awful propensity of having my best friends in hospitals. My whole program is disarranged because your “tween,” Major Sadiq went through the same thing in the same way on the same day—ye gods and little fishes, I mean Pisces and whatever sign was preponderating. And Gavin did not show up, either because of King Alcohol, or because his anti-snobbery attitude made him go to the elite instead of ye hoi polloi.

I spoke short and when I got a big applause sat down without completing my speech and then it came out, “That was the best talk Sam ever made” from a lot of people who have never ever heard me talk at all. This opened a door.

Then there are my friends, Walt and Magana Baptiste who are Yogis and got married because each won a prize for having a “body beautiful.” They tried “family planning” so successfully that a child was born, a son was given early in the month (just when the signs were right) and we had a real baby to have a real Christmas.

In the meanwhile John Wingate disappeared and I thought I would be a good Boy Scout and treat Emily. Instead she dragged me to a neighbor’s house and ye olde karma worked fine—I had one of the best Christmas Days ever.

The last chapter of my manuscript is on “Peace” and from the mystical point of view there can be no peace so long as mental gyrations continue—and they will continue. But we can have equilibriums and stable ones at that. This is the nearest, I believe, to peace. I have just returned from volunteering to help in an Arab cultural conference early in March. I will advance 10 years in prowess—all I have to do is put on a Sufi robe and that will make me wise, important and news. Whatever else has been accumulated will be as nothing, but just put on a robe (like in the picture) and that is it. You become an expert or authority or something.

After being buffeted about (I am now enjoying it) on the Palestinian “problem” on two occasions I met men high on the staff of Gen. Burns and they independently said: “That is the most sensible thing we have ever heard,” but who is going to take this person seriously? There is no god but diplomacy and he is ineffable.

Well if I haven’t the “body beautiful” I rather surprised everybody, including myself, by performing an Indonesian knee dance on Christmas eve. All that was needed was a few drinks. On the next night with more drinks it turned out even better. And when one reaches this age and can do a knee dance that is more of a demonstration than….

All Jane sent me for Christmas was a picture of her family which I shall cherish far more than a card. And it was refreshing to hear Emily’s views on Whitie after some other remarks from I think you know who. I sometimes think he was my father in former lives; certainly the flesh-and-blood sire never exhibited feeling.

I am now engaged in an almost hopeless battle. If you think I have been turned down, there is Eugene who crossed Cambodia as a Buddhist monk and only taught English to the Royal Family in Thailand. Do you think he gets invitations to speak anywhere and any newspaper interviews? Now on principle I am sticking my neck out and the worst thing is that it sometimes gives “me’ opportunities I don’t want and he is no nearer getting anywhere.

My former suggestion—turned down 100%—that we have Phillipinos act as our intermediaries in S.E. Asia—is now coming to the fore in this grand cold war between realism and reality. Did Washington snub me! And comes it now…. Those people were drawing immense crowds to their “cultural missions” and we weren’t. Anyhow I have one appointment coming up. Vive le realisme.

The last few weeks, after I had turned back on the social groups to which I had been attached, has brought more satisfaction and appointments than for years, if any time. So this makes me even more gladly wish you a

Happy New Year,

S. A. M.

 410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif.

January 2, 1970

The Temple of Understanding

Washington, D.C.

Attention: Mr. Finley Dunne, Jr.

My dear Peter:

A very happy New Year to you. This is my diary entry written at Novato, the Sufi Center. Someday, no doubt, and I think it will come soon, when a mass of people will get out of “realism” into Beauty and then our existence (not our “rightness”) will be accepted. Yet even on this point great progress has been made.

Unlike the scions of “universal religions” (of which there are so many, mostly mutually exclusive), we celebrated Lord Buddha’s Enlightenment, Ramadan, Chanukah, and Christmas, and for New, Year’s Evening we had, at midnight, a Vajrayana Fire Ceremony given by my good friend, Rev. Dr. Neville Warwick. This is of a tremendous real cosmic significance, totally different from the “universal” and “cosmic” presentations by PhDs and intellectuals, but these are rapidly being put in their places with or without “humility.”

If one can operate as one did yesterday showing the functionalism of a people without vision perish with the vision, the future is assured. True, one did this on the “low” and “shocking” level of calling one football play after another, to the amusement of disciples, but when this has been on a high and functional level, it has been universally rejected, especially by the important and mighty. But the day of tossing out “Bethlehem-Ephratas” and Kabir is over. And one has made considerable progress in and with universities, if not with the very separative “universal” cults!

There will no doubt be a show-down next week at San Francisco State College where the renowned Dr. Hayakawa presumably functions. At least unlike the “universal” cults, I shall be permitted to speak. This is the least of it, for Christmas greetings coming from so many lands shows a type of universality absent from the “universal” and “cosmic” separative cults.

The most interesting card came from Vilayat Khan’s secretary using the same, copied or coincidental of that our good friend Roland-Gammon of New York. He was the only cleric in the whole land who gave me a farewell greeting before I left last for Asia. “Big” people judge by externals but the “little” people” have a different viewpoint.

I had eighty young people for Christmas evening—without a tree but with a cross. And about a hundred on New Year’s Eve and between times more and more strange visitors, all young and seeking.

Vietnam: I have recently received copy of publication from Dr. Eliade of the University of Chicago. It is so different being immersed in Reality and not in realism, taking into account the institutions of both the masses and scriptures and being so unlike the dialectic subjective presentations of “Asian” religions and philosophies, characteristic of the immediate past.

I may sign up for a course on Southwest Asia (where I have the un-credential of having lived and mingled with the masses) but the professor and I have long come to a most amicable understanding. I also have the encyclopedic “Asian Drama” of Gundal which may (or may not) become a text. There have been a few but most satisfactory relations with the University of Chicago, and if they get certain financial backing from Los Angeles I may have to send them some of the properties of the late Nyogen Senzaki.

There are, of course, two kinds of “property,” physical and “dharma-transmission,” the latter being sub species eternities. But one is much encouraged to see that there are more and more persons in America who have discovered the importance of religion cum superstition as determinative of the psychologies of Asians who are neither dialecticians nor “realists.”

Palestine: I have heard from another of those many groups purporting to be working for peace in Palestine confessing that they have no program. Well I have, covering everything from religious understanding to the study of water resources and desert reclamation. But first we must inculcate the spirit of devotion, even if this means religion cum superstition.

World Peace Through Religion. I find there is another organization with headquarters in Boston. After the long experiences with the World Church Peace Union, with Dr. Weller, with the Baha’is, Roerich, etc., one wonders when and whether we can get to the scriptures with “a little child shall lead them,” or a lady housekeeper! And you know what I mean.

Postscript to follow.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

P. S. Yesterday some time was spent with my travel agent. She informed me that there would be one stop-over in the United States, and one either coming or going in London. I do not know whether there would be any advantage in coming to Washington first, but there might be afterwards to discuss future plans.

There is in England a real integrative movement (not verbal but actual) called Gandalf’s Garden, and I am also a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, etc., etc. On the whole it might be of advantage to be there after the convocation, but much depends on timing and reservations.

As to Washington, it might be wise to call on General Edward Lansdale afterward, considering both the plans and programs for The Temple of Understanding and future programs.

With the change of site one hopes Dr. Walpole Rahul will be in attendance, etc.

I have just received a copy of Miss Ruth by Walter Terry. It is also called “The More Living Life of Ruth St. Denis.” This is very timely. This lady had been my inspiration for years and the spiritual dances of all faiths is attracting as much attention as one can possibly give.

In the case of the Sri Aurobindo Movement to whom I had originally offered dedication which they spurned, there has now been an apology and retraction. But their extremely exclusive “integration” has lost them considerably attention in this land. They are not even programmed for the immediate seminar on living religions, and were hardly considered also at the “Holy Man’s” jamboree. We cannot have inclusiveness and exclusiveness both at the same time and same place. The retraction, of course, was accepted, but this does not include their local groups which remain exclusive—too bad.

My theme for Christmas had been “Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain laid low, etc.” When the “humanitarians” and “humanists” accept the human race, we shall have peace and contentment, and the youth are working for just that.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.

January 5, 1970

Vera Van Voris

Box 974

Soledad, Calif. 93960

My dear Sheikha,

Something like a miracle has happened—and I mean a miracle, and I mean has happened.

I failed to copy the healing material on file at Novato and was much concerned about it. The side note practices are few in number but great in importance. True, Hazrat Inayat Khan left with Rabia Martin a lot of material which I laboriously copied, and which were un-laboriously seized and kept by Mrs. Duce. She did return some of my own things and in the strange selection of material she did send me a lot of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s notes (under the impression they were mine) and kept a lot of my notes (under the impression they were his). Such is the wisdom of the unwise.

I have several volumes of my own autobiographical field notes; some what we call insitu reports, and some manuscript elements for possible publication.

In going over these notes this morning, Saul, one of my disciples, discovered a notebook which I had always thought missing. This notebook includes among other things the dictation from Pir Dewwal Shereef, president and founder of the University of Islamabad.

Chief among them are the healing notes, much more discrete and full than the miscellany I had had from Hazrat Inayat Khan. In other words, there are distinct practices for discrete diseases. I shall have these copied either soon in a rough form, or later in a careful form because of the early arrival in this region of Pir Vilayat Khan.

We have never discussed this fully, but on principle I am quite in favor of what Pir Vilayat is doing. We say “God alone is the founder of Sufism.” And the restriction of it to any person, Hazrat Inayat Khan, or other, can be more atavistic than the restriction of theosophy to H.P.B. etc. I am not only in favor of the policies of Pir Vilayat, but am delighted over the great Sufis whom he has been utilizing for subject matters for his lectures. He writes he will only be here on a single day, Friday, January 16, although I may see him, before or after, elsewhere.

If you have a specific health problem please let me know, but if it is general I shall be glad to send you what might be called the shifayat of Pir Dewwal Shereef.

With all love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

January 11, 1970

My dear Vocha;

So much has happened this last week that it is necessary to record it. Most impressive has been the correspondence coming at the same time from Julie Medlock and Bryn Beorse. These people, like myself, have been “all over” and met all kinds of people and had been eyewitnesses to events which may be recorded as history but never as news and I think we are all champions of being rejected for our impertinence of being present when events occurred. And we stand in contrast to the superficial meandering of the present Vice-President. And I can assure you that neither Mr. Nixon nor Mr. Agnew nor Mr. Humphreys or and nor anybody in the same category have been where Bryn and Julie and I have been. Fortunately the future historians have their ears and eyes open and are not being so moved by the phoney history-making of superficial politicians.

Friday closed with an attack on not only several noisy cults but on the Humanists and the Humanists above all. I dared not speak but why should I until I am in some way equal—I don’t mean equal in the true sense, but equal in that when I have been an eyewitness I be heard equally not to other eye-witnesses but to speculators and commentators and “experts” who do not have to be present.

Nonetheless when I returned to this house and examined my mail I feel that there are far worse people than the Humanists whose chief fault is not their philosophy but their innate exclusion of most of the human race. That is why I stand with Oliver Reiser who actually recognizes the peoples and the cultures of other times and climes which the “Humanists” of the day certainly do not.

One was the literature sent me by the apologists for theologians who are so concerned with “Ethics.” This does not seem to have anything to do with human behavior at all. At best it is an attempt to apply Aristotle’s measures to anything and everything. If you don’t accept God you are impossible and if you accept God you must be warned He broke all of Aristotle’s logical dicta. I don’t know what they are talking about except they seem to have the moat exclusive of all the exclusive debating societies so concerned with “democracy.”

Then there are the older people who are leading “The New Age.” Every one of them a “general.” In the name of “integration” they are compiling every sort of cult that has anything to do with a thing and which is hypocritical. They have stolen Oliver Reiser’s vocabulary and talk about the “world’s religions,” limiting themselves to abstracts and abstractions which depend upon the social importance of the person who is author or speaker.

All three: the humanists, religionists and “emergent “ people agree in regarding themselves as more equal than others; in using the term “ethics” and in disregarding any comment or criticism from others even though this involves only facts and not opinions. Indeed a factual criticism is even worse than an opinion-criticism. And the “internationalists” are the worst in rejecting actual history, or histories. They are extremely selective with themselves at the helm.

No wonder then that a close friend of Bryn, coming to my meeting in Marin County Wednesday said: “You have not only started the year right, you have started the decade right.”

While it is too early to evaluate the letters sent out in re Ruth St. Denis, it is already working. We are going to have tonight (unless there is a sudden change) a dancing teacher who has proposed to carry a step further the goals of Srimati Ruth and objectify them. My own dance classes are full, and if I can get rid of some ego-problems it could even lead to my becoming a professional dance teachers or teaching others to so become.

This coming week the cards may be on the table for Vietnam. At least the instructor is well aware of our rejection of “Ugly Americans” and the sobbing, hypocritical nonsense about “peace with justice.” I am making notes from Gunnar Myrdal’s “Asian Drama.” While he has some facts wrong I am amazed with his conclusions, based on the very erroneous supposition that “anything you can do we can do better” common to the Humanists, religionists, new age (?) metaphysicians and many sociologists and economists, especially regarding cultures with which they are not acquainted.

Today the papers are bogging about Biafra. I was against the whole African settlement based on the establishment of “actions” because certain peoples have been conquered by the same imperialists. But if a man who has participated on events and been shut up, what right has he to propose on peoples and events with which he is not off hand acquainted? We are all murderers and we shall remain murderers until we adopt international affairs, etc. the same ethic as in jurisprudence, relying, at least occasionally on eye-witnesses and victims and not on superficial, supercilious commentaries of important personalities.

While I am preparing my Vietnamese notes—and remember I shall soon be seeing, I hope, the retired ground general of the U.S. Army, a very good friend, I am now already for an experience. An Arab who is an Israeli citizen and a Sufi (I am told) to boot, is coming there. We shall go around and call on the “peace” groups, the press, the radio-TV stations, the churches and the “good” people in general and make notes of our rejections, and then see that they are published even at our own expense. I think I may be able to get one of the many rival groups working for understanding in the Near East to take some field notes, at least. At least I have a program, one filled with notes, annotations, facts and a minimum of high ideas from important persons.

I remember Fischers’ Richer by Asia, a most superficial work of an important man who, visiting the continent learned something, not very much, but more than other “experts.” It was easy to predict what would follow: Vietnam, South Asia, and the Near East. Maybe more. And at least the Consul General of Indonesia did send for me and another Asian Consul-General has sent for me. What? With all the experts?

But as Bryn’s friend has said: “You have not only started the year right; you have started the decade right.” I am awaiting Bryn’s book. If even ten people read it, it will start something—My trip south delayed until I get a green light from some colleagues.

Love and blessings,

cc-Lloyd Morain

cc-Russ Joyner

January 13, 1970

My dear Professor Needleman:

In my talk here last night I said there was too much drama going on to have any time for “excitement.”

I am enclosing two brochures of the Muslim Students’ Associations—these arrived yesterday—with a comment on one of them. Strictly speaking this comment is not directed against the Prof. Siddiqui or Prof. Nadawi. It is directed against the whole tribe of egocentrics and solipsists, people who like Descartes who’s “I think therefore I am” was based on an innate assumption of “I am.” My real anger is against the writers of Religious Studies of Cambridge University Press. I should be glad to turn this over to you with several other “intellectual” publications. Nothing but solipsists, egocentricities, and dialectics.

No doubt this decision, and the present psychological mood, was stimulated by receiving Nov. 1969 of “History of Religions.” Nearly all the writers confessed that their dialectic and philosophic conclusions were contrary to the opinions of devotees, either brought about by their mingling with the common people of Asia; or their uncovering of diverse explanations in Chinese literature. These are the types I should say are “humble,” who know what humility is. And this common undertone from Prof. Kliade and his associates causes one to be optimistic on the one hand, and stern and stubborn on the other.

The morning began with a necessary visit to the Zen Mission Society, 149 Arkansas St., of this city. I am having their problems taken up with Prof. Lancaster, Dwinnelle Hall, Berkeley. He is one of many of the new type of professors I am encountering who also have the Eliade rather than the egocentric-dialectical outlook.

I am still awaiting the coming here of a Palestinian Arab whom, I understand, is a Sufi, and has accepted Israeli citizenship. I shall do everything possible to bring you two together.

I am also perforce reserving time for the coming of Sufi Pir Vilayat Khan who will be speaking in San Anselmo on Friday. I realize you will probably be away when this letter reaches your home, so no early response is needed. This may be regarded as routine report, but many of my days are very similar—too much drama to have excitement.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.

January 17, 1970

Dear Mother Divine Vocha:

It is the New Age. Last night Vilayat Khan came to San Anselmo and without any fanfare we had at least 150 persons, and I doubt whether there were ten over 35 or even over 30 in age. We demonstrated and I mean demonstrated the heritage from Ruth St. Denis and Dane Rudhyar. No nonsense, and we even had some discussion on the New Age. And while the press and “important” people are shivering over pseudo-problems, I tell you even the New Age people of New Mexico were there in the audience. It was in some sense the most tremendous outer event of my life and it has to be glossed over. The day of “liberty,” democracy, humanity and peasants, shut up.”

This morning I shall copy notes from Gunnar on Southeast Asia and bring them to class. This professor is actually carrying on the work which I had outlined on “How California Can Help Asia,” all objective, all factual, even annotated but impossible (French pronunciation) before establishment groups. They want well-known speakers and I cannot repeat too often Russ, “Do not let facts disturb the issues.” But how facts are going to disturb the issues and even if it were not true—and it is—that “older” persons had not summarily rejected this and other persons (a la Julie Medlock), the young love to hear whether they are stories or pseudo-stories and mostly they are really real stories which “we do not want to hear.”

Well we do need an impersonal, quasi-scientific Logistics. In the classroom I am always winning discussions, over counterbalancing my being precluded from floors by “les respectables.” But we need not dwell on that.

I think I wrote Walter Terry, but I do know I wrote Harry and Jack I want his works and you can tell them that. The financial situation is also breaking through. The New Age Food Company has been eminently successful, and both Moineddin and Hassan have come in for unexpected raises, and it looks like more. Also Mansur is really trying and if we get together—difficult now because of work hours, our total incomes have gone way up. And this without considering certain beaks which may come in my private life, etc.

In the audience was the Arab from Israel who has some plans for Peace in the Near East. As usual, we listen to everybody but the people themselves. We are responsible for Biafra. A person like myself, or better Julie Medlock, can protest forever. It has been useless. Policies are God. Period. But having seen 600,000 (I mean actually six hundred thousand) refugees in one place I am not moved and after all genocide is only a crime if against people of certain religions. Or is it?

One has to fight. Lord Snow’s “The Two Cultures” is obvious, but you cannot get generals to permit open debates, and as for the “peace” groups: Well we still do not have Assouan. And I have piles of stuff on desert reclamation and salt-water conversion, not just one type, but many types. You would think that those who claim to be battling for “science” would at least open the doors or floors! What a differences when one meets the real scientists. Snow’s “The Two Cultures” is so obviously obvious.

I had broken off correspondence with Oliver to mail the letter from here and am sending copy to him and also Lloyd. There is now a great cry about world food problems (full of emotion). Of course I agree in birth control and am actually flabbergasted that the pull causes cancer. But this is “science” and a peasant cannot say against “science. Everything causes “cancer” but we haven’t found a cure and being “scientific” we don’t have to examine cultures in which cancer does not appear at all. This would really put the fate in the fires. Anything but Keyser’s “Rigorous Thinking.”

I had written Oliver about invitations to Eastern universities. Now I am overwhelmed. Only it is not true that a person is without honor in his own village and recognized elsewhere; it is definitely an age break, and as I have written; it is time to have a real scientific philosophy based on considerations of Lord Russell on “in”; AK on “is” and Spaulding on the ego. I could even get this accepted here today—on the university campuses. And my World War III, predicted and I mean predicted in 1920 that the real world war would come between the professor and the commentator is not only on the horizon, it is here.

The same facts, the same material, etc. and Lord Snow’s cultures: (a) factual people; (b) important people.

Next Saturday I may have to go to a meeting on India. When I get my autobiography or biography I can have related my meetings with VIP’s from that country. But one is never forgiven when one is the only American to get certain interviews. Or is he? The young love these stories and would even if they were not true and they are.

Sunday plan to go around to the “peace” groups, the press, the radio, TV, the religious and anti-religionists and keep a detailed account of our rejections. Or maybe we won’t get rejected. One becomes optimistic, at last. Maybe we shall accept facts; maybe we shall listen to eye-witnesses; maybe we can forestall future Biafras by getting out of “realism” into Reality. Well, I have to start on that now.

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

Next Sunday, India’s Independence Day. Meeting loaded for me this time. Old friend Lal among the speakers. No more “expert” nonsense.

January 20, 1970

Vocha Fiske

c/o Books In Review

Dear Vocha Mother Divine:

Thank you for your letter of the 18th. This may be the year, if not the decade, of the counter-balance. The rate at which I am now being glorified is almost as rapid as the rate with which I am being accepted and even honored. It is not only the young who admire the persons rejected because-because; but there is a totally new type of professor in the universities who faces reality and rejects the “realisms” of no matter who. Best example is my sitting before Prof. Kozicki. I found he has tabulated all the books which I have severally examined under the theme of “How California Can Help Asia.” His chief under-theme last week was the vice-president. The various elites will grossly evaluate his totally inane tour. You never hear of Johnson or Humphrey or vice-president Nixon or princess Jacqueline anymore. They dominated the news, hut “only in America.” The small space which each and every one was given in the actual Asian papers would no longer horrify serious students, because that is what they expect. It is only “realists” and subjective dialecticians that may have paid any attention to these tensile shows. Even Fischer, whose works on Russia and Europe I admired, wrote most superficially about Asia.

Until a few years ago Prof. Kozicki would not count, because he could not count under the old dispensations. Instead of having sat ”at the foot of the Master”—whatever that means—he lived in Burma and Malaysia. He actually lived with the people—no “The Ugly American” top-level froth. Why, we recognized each other at first sight with complete understanding. I am more than delighted or amazed. I feel suddenly on the side of the “ins,” or as I sometimes put it “the silenced majority.”

I don’t want to report on all these today’s pleasantries which are also reactions against yesterday’s frustrations. Perhaps the most serious event in my life is that my brother is undergoing a capital operation. We are totally reconciled. He fully realizes that his early demise will place me in a most comfortable position, exceedingly comfortable. And this comes at a time when many doors are open in many directions.

I have just come from “The Academy of Science” at Golden Gate Park where this year I took out three memberships for three of us. (The other person living in this house attends the Rudolph Shaeffer School.) The top people at the Academy have appreciated my scientific work in scientific sciences, and it was they who led me to join the AAAS. I have also purchased a work just published by one of them.

I must say, at the California Academy, and from the writings of the editors of AAAS, I feel as comfortable as I used to feel uncomfortable. Everything in their gestures, logistics, attitudes, only tends to prove Lord Snow’s “The Two Cultures.”

It is too early to anticipate what may come next. The field for organic gardening is wide open. And now when Bryn’s book is published I know pretty exactly what to do, although this would include the pursuit of his own suggestions.

In addition to this, I have had my interview with the Arab from Israel. The projected visit to the important people is being delayed while he completes his semester at Fort Worth, Texas. But he has already been accepted at San Francisco City College to begin with. He intends to bring together all the Arabs he knows who are, even though perforce citizens of Israel, and also Arabs who are opposed to all forms of attrition, Fortunately, here I have the good will the top brass, and intend to do something about it.

Azam immediately felt that Sam is the person who can help promote real peace in the real Near East. There were several other persons present at our meeting this morning and there was remarkable concord. No doubt I may have to visit the East Coast or even Europe before our program can get underway, but my whole life has been concerned with this subject. I think you realize that I have squawked over my rejections largely because the rejections given to Robert Clifton and myself have been followed almost immediately by wholesale slaughter, attrition and tremendous outlays for which nothing is gained in return.

Last Friday when Vilayat was here, the hall was packed, although the meeting had neither been programmed nor advertised. I could write on endlessly in this manner. As Oliver said, I should work in, with, and through the universities; and that is what is being done now, and most successfully. No doubt there will be more to follow.

We have been joined by an Indian dancing teacher who took over Sunday night and filled in a great gap. The attendance at all my meetings, though still comparatively small, is even more surely continually increasing, and the weather has had little effect. I can say just one thing: the world is going to get out of “realism” and into reality. This is the New Age.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

January 26, 1970

Pir Vilayat Khan

“Fazal Manzil”

Suresnes, France

Dear Pir-Vilayat:

As-salaam-aleikhum!

This is a diary entry rather than a direct personal letter. There is absolutely what your sainted father told me in 1926 coming into manifestation in all directions. I have to pray to God not for health, but for equilibrium.

1. I think you met Azam at the San Anselmo meeting. Although he is a citizen of Israel, he is a disciple in Tasawwuf. We spent some time together discussing the possibility for peace in the Near East, and also for the use of spiritual instrumentation therefore. I have already met the hierarchical representatives in Egypt. I have already gone over such matters as salt water conversion, desert reclamation, religious conciliation, etc. This will be followed by a letter to a leading U.S. Senator who has been an ambassador abroad.

2. Summer School (or schools?) I laughingly told you I would be reaching people over 28. There is already one solid bona fide offer for the state of New Mexico, but this time I have been invited in full capacity as a Sufi Murshid. I could not give any valid answer because of facts and factors mostly mentioned below. I have also had offers from the states of New York and Massachusetts to say the least and I mean the least. I am afraid to look further.

3. Baba Ram Dass. He was at one time a Harvard professor, Richard Alpert, of a very wealthy family with a combination of hauteur and haughtiness. Although he took the drug outlet, it led him to a career in Yoga; I do not know what type. But he is here now in San Francisco lecturing on Tuesday nights and I expect to see him tomorrow. At least one of his former associates is now a candidate for Bayat. I understand he is on a fund-raising campaign, very funny for a scion of a wealthy family, but I know no details. It is just possible that this fund-raising campaign may be of benefit to at least one of the summer schools referred to above.

4. Finances. Our next family meeting at the Khankah this week is faced for the first time with considerable increment in income. Allah, upon whom be all praise, has seemed to be looking kindly on several of our ventures, details too long and complicated to consider at this time.

5. Family situation. Your father said, “Give me heaven or hell O Lord, but not purgatory.” That is just where I am at this moment. My brother after fifty years enmity is hovering between life and death. The enmity is gone, Alhamdu Lillah. If he continues on I haven’t the slightest idea as to whether he will help me or not. If he passes away, I shall receive to begin with at least one more considerable legacy. If his words were correct, and I am not yet counting on that, at least two more. This would mean the establishment of a good secretariat here, and possibly of a print shop and organic farm.

6. Neophytes and candidates—So many now that I do not wish to write further. I am indeed hoping to get Githas, which I do not have (I have many but not all) and Sangathas (if possible in cooperation with Atiya). That is all I have time for now.

Love and Blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

February 7, 1970

My dear Vocha:

Of course I was kidding when I spoke about a “conspiracy” There is no more conspiracy “for” Sam than there was one against his (with one exception—there was a party at which a number of “worthies” attacked me as unworthy and said I should not be permitted to speak because I really did not know. Than it was betrayed and it causes one now to write here and again about the “silenced” majority.

I shall see my brother Monday. If he is better will take off to L.A. as soon as possible, perhaps before you come here, both to get a rest and to conduct some business. Dr. Hawkins at UCLA wishes to see me in re Ruth St. Denis and my present work in dancing. We are very successful and I have reached the limit of a capacity until I can organize. (See below). We are planning a spring festival which will include about six joint birthdays with Gavin in the #1 spot. Just telephoned Gavin and he has accepted.

The campaign of former Dr. Richard Alpert of Harvard to raise money for his researches on real Oriental philosophy, etc, has been most successful. You should see the young gather—thousands of them. All this nonsense of “Middle Class America.” He came from the wealthy upper class and a very generous portion of the Hippies too and the way they showered him with greenbacks! While others are pining and moping, and practicing “self righteousness” the young people in ever increasing fashion are expressing their freedoms and their fights for freedoms. And this person is to be included not only in his book but in another being compiled in the Boston Cambridge area. Can’t keep up with the requests.

I am waiting for Mansur to find whether he will go to Geneva and other places on return. We have contacts in London and about six universities on the East. But it is not all that bad—the relations with University of California (in general) and S.F. State have gone up. Everything is almost reciprocally opposite of previous years.

I am interested in your semantic report. What a difference between our contacts and correspondence with lab-scientists and other “scientists!” Emotions and even mobs and no clear definition of “pollution” and terrible nonsense about DDT—the nonsense about DDT is even worse than DDT itself, but then the “proper” people are proper. I have been writing, “Just as in past years it was evident that the trouble with the Asians was they knew so little about Asian Philosophy, that marvelous discovery of graduates of British and German universities, so today the trouble with lab-technicians is that they know so little about Science!” It is Frederick Soddy all over.

That great chemical genius applied for a Carnegie scholarship in Science. He was told by the University-Glasgow, I believe, that Andrew Carnegie had indeed endowed them liberally for scientific courses and that they had divided the money, 10% for natural science and 90% for social science. So there was not much available. He then went into economics and came out a very brilliant and very embittered man. He was, to me, one of the most logical and maligned persons who ever lived and even his real contributions to the real sciences have been underscored! I have had his career before me but have a sense of humor which he did not possess.

My dancing classes are now full, and I may have to start others as well as authorize teachers. There are two separate movements to get them on TV, and both proposed to me. My “plan” is to go to the international conference in Geneva where this time I shall be permitted the floor before being attacked—if indeed I am attacked. People who resort to personality criticisms are not only deficient morally but the young will have no more of them. That game is for the “old ladies.”

Then there are the psychological problems. If we had any decent type of philosophical organization, semantic or not, we should know that children are concerned more with food than with sex early in life. We want to give them sex-education but not dietetics and bodies are filled with poisons—bread, cola, white sugar, etc. I believe those products manufacture chloro-carbonates in the body, these often resembling DDT. But try to explain this to any newspaper scientist or parlor-scientist. All you get is an attack on the person. And then one reads in Science totally refreshing whether editorial or complex research. Honest, logical, etc.

I am glad you have set a date and will note accordingly. We had a big family birthday party this week—Hassan and plan no more until the Spring Equinox as above. But I find that March 10 is already marked on the calendar. Tuesday is now my theoretical free day and we shall see who is available to pick you up if necessary.

Tomorrow class on Southeast Asia—so different from the “experts” “commentators” and VIP’s. We have on our list a volume of Current Literature. So different from what one reads elsewhere. It is not necessary to have facts, it is only necessary to “explain” them. After all haven’t our editors been successful where the military have failed?

There are too many interesting (to us) letters and contacts today to be moved by the emotions of the press or the TV programs. You will be seeing for yourself.

Love,

February 8, 1970
Anandashram

Kanhangad Post Office

South India

In re Krishna: Myths, Rites, and Attitudes, edited by Milton Singer

Dear Ram:

It is not often that one would dare to recommend a book to a spiritual center. There are circumstances, inner and outer, which make me feel this book should become better known far and wide, and we will make some effort to have a copy sent to you. There are two quite different factors working here, at least. I have already met Dr. Milton Singer at a conference in the Sheraton-Palace Hotel here, in S.F. and I was able to answer, presumably, some of his abstruse questions. I find that my own social and adventurous experiences in India, few as they were, entirely in accord with the notations in this book. They are also quite in harmony with what is being done at Anandashram and in the houses of Papa’s devotees, not to mention others.

But the amazing thing is the flash and rush of inner inspiration coming to this person at the present time. One is actually overworked—nothing like a day off this year so far, and no sign of any. But it is just at this time and under these circumstances that the heavens themselves seem to open up and the Divine Mother in the form of the Goddess of Creative Imagination and Direct Insight keeps one busy, even in the midst of dreams, meditations, and relaxations. What is remarkable is the very close concord between these inspirations and the whole tenor and methodology of the Bhakti mentioned in this work. Sam is not especially a Bhakti. He is a Sufi, or may be called a Sufi, but in the universal sense, and perhaps in the sense that he is like a reincarnation of the Mogul prince Dara Shikoh, which has been mentioned before.

We have now two Krisna-Radha dances. One Hare Krishna dance with many variations. A constantly growing number of Dervish Dances of all sorts and of Ramnam dances. These keep pouring in through the personality. While it has been sadly amusing to find both the idea and the specific creations rejected by the very people you would imagine would be most interested, the whole thing has caught on so to speak, caught on within the universities, both professors and students, but not yet caught on with many who regard themselves as devotees. Perhaps this does not matter. In fact, seeds have been sown with the Indian students themselves. On March the 21st, we hope to have a huge Spring Festival, externally associated with the birthday of one Gavin Arthur, who was much drawn to Papa when Papa was here. Actually it may be the introduction of our work to larger groups for filming and recording purposes. But like the Gita says our duty is to action, leaving to Sri Krishna the fruits of action.

At the moment Sam is concentrating on the work he must do in cooperation with The Temple of Understanding. This group is planning this temple to “Be a house of prayer for all peoples.” Spiritual and ecclesiastical leaders of the world will be meeting at the end of March in the city of Geneva, Switzerland. It is most fortunate that Sam has friends among the leaders of several faiths, and also has the good will of Mrs. Judith Hollister, and Mr. Peter Dunne, Jr., the directors of this effort.

We have now a dance secretariat here to properly choreograph the dances and put them in a literary form. This is only the first step. Hazrat

Inayat Khan, the Sufi said, “Mysticism without devotion is like uncooked food.” The simple fact is the young Americans are devotees while many of the directors of churches, cults, sects, and societies are still too concerned with leadership and not with spiritual realization.

In this very situation there is nothing but hope. As written before, there is a new day in this America, a new day in which the glorification of God and the repetition of sweet Names is becoming part of our social structure. Isn’t this wonderful?

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

February 12, 1970

Dr. Oliver Reiser

Department of Philosophy

University of Pittsburgh 15213

My dear Oliver:

“The old order changeth, giveth place to new….”

It is spring time out here and with two exceptions totally bright outlooks. One of these has been the demise of the underground paper The Oracle, which was to have printed my articles. The other is the suspense of my brother holding between life and death, a sharp turn in either direction being beneficial, but his continued situation, eating up his capital and keeping me in suspense.

The immediate cause for writing at this point is an article enclosed—”Applied Logic Corporation” published by Wall Street and U.S. Business. This article fulfills the predictions of the late Prof. Cassius Keyser in our long tete-a-tete which took place shortly before his death. The Etc-emanticists refused absolutely stubbornly and adamantly either to recognize that I had been a student and disciple of Cassius Keyser or to accept anything specific thereon. You can be a “good” semanticist and deny predictability. It has little to do with what you are and little to do with what you know.

Today my immediate following is in the neighborhood of 100 young people, and I am being greeted more and more by university professors and honored as a “doctor.” Not only that, I may be taking over the leadership in the new-age communes. This is a long story but some of the side facets must be told here.

I expect to be leaving at the end of March to attend an international peace conference wherein I shall be permitted to participate. Before that we may have a Vietnam session in my home at San Francisco at which the chief speaker will be a Vietnamese. In the meanwhile I am enrolled in a class on Problems of Southeast Asia, a very odd class; the professors and most of the enrollees have lived in Southeast Asia. I think among and between us we have covered every country of that region. There is none of the old age “what do you think”; the discussions are based almost entirely on what do you know. Many in the class have been totally frustrated, never being permitted to present their first hand research and experiences to others. It is this sort of polluted nonsense which stands in the way of the solution of problems.

I think the term philistines can be applied alike to the press, diplomats, religionists of practically every view, humanists, so-called semanticists, and metaphysical people in general. As I have so often written, “eye-witnesses are acquired in law courts, and in the discussions of science; elsewhere, opinions may dominate, provided they come from the “right” people.”

I had a long session yesterday with the number 2 man from Lama Foundation in New Mexico. He is a withdrawn, a dropout, electrical engineer and physicist. He has not given up his allegiance to the scientific methodologies. Quite the contrary. But he has been unable to straddle the two cultures as depicted by Snow and Korzybski. He is sick of the misuse both of the word science and the social, to him, misapplications of it. He is also very active in promoting Dome Architecture which could greatly cut the cost of housing and which is therefore anathema to establishments. He is also exceedingly active in organic gardening.

The old Aristotelian heritage is based on the assumption of the existence of the ego self. The thought in the minds of anti-Aristotelians alike is Aristotle. The summary rejection of my proposal to examine alternate forms of logistics. At San Francisco State I smothered my opponents rather than dualistically defeat them by mentioning two Asians systems of logistics. One of my disciples who also lives with me in San Francisco is studying what was originally known as Zen Buddhism with Prof. Langcaster at the U. of California in Berkeley. Prof. Langcaster has presented the dignaga system of logic and is turning down all answers to all questions based on Aristotelian methods. He says they do not work; they cannot be applied to Asian cultures. I believe he is absolutely correct.

It is only so that we can become free from egocentricity, a subject avoided by all those over-influenced by Aristotle whether they like him or dislike him. In neither case are they free from him.

Sound. I do not know whether an Etc-emanticist could understand the difference between “tone” and “note.” A musical sound consists of a fundamental and overtone. We are building up choral responses on this principle. No doubt it was Dane Rudhyar who brought this to the attention of many, but I had long before that studied Helmholz (almost unpardonable to certain people) and we appreciate the music and the musicology of the composer Wexbern based on the laws of nature.

It was not therefore surprising to appreciate the discoveries of the great soldier scientist Mosely whom the late Bertrand Russell so admired. I believe though I do not know how to prove it—in fact I have always believed—that various kinds of vibrations could have overtones which Mosely discovered. I believe that this system of fundamentals and overtones may be found to work in many directions. It also supports the non-identity doctrine of Alfred Korzybski which his successes have repudiated.

Cell. Much of the discussion with my engineer colleague from Lama was on the principle of the “cell” replacing the individual ego. We discussed it from 3 points of view:

First, there are the electrical cells. We have been setting them up in series and in parallel and have studied these to some extent, but neither of us knew of any experiments of carrying cell connections into a higher dimension or crossing them in various ways which would set up “behavior patterns” so to speak. In any event we agreed that the system or society was replacing or could replace the individual.

The next consideration of the cell was in biology. And most of all in embryology, botanical and zoological. I will not go into this here. It is regrettable that philosophers of the past and existentialists in particular misappropriate words and presented these misappropriations as thought.

The third consideration was the cell, so to speak, as a unit in society, any kind of society. I do not wish to go into this either here excepting to indicate that my older theories of the possibility of a multi-dimensional society are now taking place. The super imposition of the cosmic philosophy and psychology of India on the social, scientific and literary contributions of the West can be, I think should be, and for my present experiences there are indications that this will be the foundation for New Age outlooks.

I believe that this outlook is entirely in accord with your approaches and even more so with the various outlooks of Archie Bahm who is getting a copy of this letter.

Economics. The purchasing power of the young people has been over-looked, and it is contributing to certain aspects of present day upheavals. No matter who you are or what you are, especially if you belong to some branch of the white race, you are middle class. I do not know what this term means any more. The word was borrowed from Europe and misapplied to American and other institutions. The number of dropout and runaway scions of the wealthy is tremendous and ignored. I have one in my own home in San Francisco. This takes on two aspects here.

Richard Alpert has been around here. He has been lecturing as Baba Ram Dass and acts as if he were a character from “A Catcher in the Rye.” He has been very very successful in drawing huge crowds of the young, not mentioned by the press of course. Thousands upon thousands and everyone offering $2 each. Where is the money coming from? It is not being spent on the pseudo-luxuries and over advertised questionable products of sorry industries.

My own immediate group is involved in the New Age food stores. They are very very successful, growing and growing and attracting the young everywhere. They are being organized. This also involves organic gardens and farms. They are being organized.

You can understand—hats went out of style; neckties are out of style; Brooks Brothers and Hart Schaffner Marx are going out of style. The communal Volkswagen replaces the individualistic motorcar. Etc., etc., etc. There is a definite difference between the situation and the depression 40 years ago. Then it was that the chain store and similar outfits prospered. We had to adjust. But now it is the “outlandish” which are prospering, and it is difficult to adjust because these facts upset us.

To sum up the personal at this point, the skies are very clear, it is springtime here, more like what you would find elsewhere in May, and so many opportunities in front of one in so many directions; respect and leadership and the growing regard from an ever-growing number of young people.

The Tyranny of Words. Years ago my colleague Luther Whiteman and I wrote on “The Tyranny of the Tyranny of Words.” The confusions continue and just as we have “middle-class” now the sociologists, the politicians, the press, the advertisers and all those whom A. K. deplored, having taken over the words “ecology” and “pollution.”

For instance, we had a definite ecology—that is biological ecology—in San Francisco. Eucalyptus trees were imported from Australia, planted everywhere and destroyed the natural ecology—that is “ecology” as defined by scientists. The Eucalyptus or gum is a fast growing tree, good for wind-breaks but not for fuel or usage as a hard wood. It kills out all other plant life around it and in this sense is individualistic—contrasted with the oak which is quite social. The Oak is a “climax” tree in the part of Marin county around here (Novato), but the sociologists, the press, the literati, not only do not know about ecology as a natural science, they can’t even understand it. They have stolen the word and everybody is discussing the word without solving any problems.

Pollution is in even worse repute. Snow’s other culture has taken it over entirely; and we shall probably face it like we are facing smog. I can’t expect the sociologists, the press, the Etc-emanticists and others to accept what was done in your city of Pittsburgh. This would spoil the show.

In the particular instance of sewage disposal, I have done some research and had intended to do more when I was stricken in 1965. If we can get the literary humanists out of the way; if we can accept the conclusion of Korzybski’s Science and Sanity, this problem will be solved at two levels:

A. the clarification of the meanings of the word,

B. the wide-spread application, first of those methods which have already been successful, but which are blocked by the so called channels of communication.

You see, Oliver, despite my acidogenic and sardonic remarks of the past, I am essentially an optimist. I don’t have to appeal any more for the floor and have no interest in public quarrels where the importance of the speaker is a greater factor than any effort to solve problems. But this day is passing. We have a new kind of humanity when one newspaperman went out and interviewed the young people as to what they wanted, he got entirely different answers from them (the young) than appear in Newspapers, the radio and TV I think we’re going to solve problems, but we are going to have to get the mental smog out of the way first.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

February 13, 1970

Mr. R. L. Adamson

Aquarian Arcane College

Box 16, Post Office,

Liverpool, N.S.W. 2170

Australia

Beloved One of God:

Your Contact bulletin and your letter of the ninth (2170) are very much appreciated. I am also delighted that Surendra Mohan Ghose has recommended me. I wish that other people connected directly or indirectly with the late Sri Aurobindo were so open. They have not left me in any dilemma. I have seen the karma of all the great ones, real or pretended, who in practice overlook history, overlook humanity, and in the last analysis are stuck with words, words, words.

Having had years of training in actual Karma Yoga, by which I mean hard work, very hard work in the spirit of reverence, all day long, and more than all day long, I did learn some things which I do not find are generally accepted: that others are also working very hard, working day and night in what each and all feel is dedication to the Divine Spirit but these people are never accepted by the others. Even those who proclaim the loudest about brotherhood and universality are adepts in ignoring the work of others of the beloved children of God.

Yes, I had wished to dedicate my “Dances of Universal Peace” to the Aurobindo movement. His Excellency Surendra Mohan Ghose not only accepted them, but more. But others in the Aurobindo movement snubbed them. They even went so far as to write in derogatory terms of their own colleagues, and I have this writing in my files. These dances are going on, and they are now dedicated to The Temple of Understanding whose headquarters are in Washington, District of Columbia.

I am planning, inshallah, to attend an international conference of the religious and spiritual leaders of the world next month, inshallah. I am on excellent terms with many of the leaders of various religions and have done something which I find very few people in the world have done: worship in humility and I mean worship in humility in synagogues, churches, temples, shrines, mosques, and all sorts of holy edifices. I have felt myself at home each and all. I have felt myself in complete harmony and union with the devotees of each and all. About the only result of this is to be considered an egotist, a braggart, and a bombast even by those who proclaim “world union” etc. I am still under some agreement with Socrates, “Only God is Great.”

It is remarkable how many, both persons and organizations, claiming universality and seeking memberships and/or funds, refuse to accept the historicity of the great Mogul Emperor Akbar. I am not going into details on this subject here. For over 40 years I have been caught in all sorts of movements and efforts verbally dedicated to universality, verbally so dedicated.

Today I am in an awkward position which may even become an enviable one. In the highlands of the state of New Mexico in the Southwestern part of this country, I met many young people, followers of Meher-Baba, the Bhaktivedanta movement, Yoga movements which taught the Yogas of union with God and not Madison Avenue hogwash, etc. They have decided to establish their own Shangri-las because they claim they have the money, the aptitudes, and the holiness. I was non-committal at the time, but now I have been sent for to become the Guru of that part of this country. At least later on I hope to go there and function, believing that with God’s help something may be accomplished.

The term Master has been applied and misapplied. There are two forms of Zen Buddhism in operation:

a. One based on persons and institutions

b. The other based on the personal experience of Samadhi which is sometimes, but not always, connoted by the Japanese term Satori. The Zen of spiritual experience is also found in Vietnam and Korea. And among the Chinese disciples of Venerable Hsu Yuan and Venerable Tsi Hsu (I have sat before the latter). Their Zen is one of cosmic attunement and attainment, not of ritual, not of important names, not of books, but of Being.

The term Master is used among Sufis (the Hebrew word is Rabbi and there are corresponding Arabic terms) to one also who has passed through experiences of cosmic union and attunement. Such persons often go around in the most humble guise. Adulation, popularity, and social prowess mean nothing to them. In other words, I personally find a great deal of difference between those people who have experienced Universality in actual “expansion of consciousness” merging into and with the All.

Years ago I studied with a Zen teacher who neither regarded himself as a Master, nor permitted others to so regard him. His name was Sokei-an Sasaki. After six months with him, I found I could understand all the scriptures of the world, and no one, and I mean no one, anywhere on earth has disproved this, though I do not go out seeking laurels therefor. But he showed me (and others) how to tell the spiritual grades of everybody up to one’s own status.

This is also presented in the Upanishads and in some works on Mahayana Buddhism not particularly studied. According to Indian cosmic metaphysics, there are innumerable grades of evolution with all sorts of outlooks which we might verbalize as mineral, vegetable, animal, asura, manusha, human … and so on until one becomes The Grand Man.

Thus God-consciousness can be conceived either as the consciousness of the fullness terminating our perfectibility; or it can be regarded as all the varieties of grades and forms from the most hardened material to and through the most sublime of sublime.

In all the mystical schools I have had training in, one is not regarded as a Teacher until he himself has one or more pupils who have experienced spiritual awakening.

Today there has been considerable success in raising the capacity of more and more young people to higher consciousness of bliss and exhalation. I do not want to set this up as a standard for others. The late Meher Baba has said, “I did not come to teach, but to awaken.” I think this is a very good statement, whether he exemplified it or not, whether his disciples manifest it or not.

I also have a Korean Master, and I am proud to call him Master. He has especially initiated me in the Avatamsaka or Kegon School of Buddhism which teaches that the Universal Light is reflected from everything and everybody, to everything and everybody, through everything and everybody. Philosophically, and above all mystically, this is not so different from the more profound aspects of Sufi and Indian meta-philosophies.

There is a great deal of difference between meeting actual human beings and discoursing or dialectizing about those we have not met. I have also met many whom I regard living Saints among Christian monks and nuns. One can tell this by the Light that emanates from their eyes and by the feelings that come from their hearts. Having met many such people, I am not always too enthusiastic about those who seem merely to intellectualize on the subject.

With the Sufis in particular, love is regarded as most important, Love that is living, communicable and sharable. As the Bible teaches us, although it is not part of religion at all, how can we love the God whom we have not seen when we do not love our fellowmen who we have seen? Therefore my work is to elevate this love-consciousness, and apparently there is now some acceptance of this in the lives of a growing number of young people. It is therefore with a considerable spirit of optimism that I expect to go to Geneva to commingle with religious and spiritual leaders of all faiths. And I can assure you, beloved one of God, that I do accept their spirituality and their leadership, and their inner accomplishment whether they took a similar or dissimilar path to their present day attainment. My immediate objective is to help promote a spirit of good-will between these people, some of whom who are to me advanced souls and some of whom are to themselves advanced souls. It does not matter. I feel that if they can respect each other—not accept but respect—the world will be much closer to a maturity.

We do accept different degrees of doctorates—bachelor, Master, etc.—in the intellectual sphere. I think this is absolutely right. I also believe that people who are truly humble will accept it when they meet persons who are proclaimed by themselves or others as being advanced. I see no humility, quite the opposite, in denigrating the titles and positions of others. To me, showing such respects is one of the highest forms of humility.

My Sufi teacher said, “Leader is he who is leader of himself; ruler is he who is ruler of himself.” But I am not yet ready to hurl epithets, maxims, slogans. Anyone can do that. My hope is to raise the consciousness of human beings in love, bliss, and joy. God bless you.

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

[Circa February 20—Ed]

My dear Sheikha:

Thank you for your letter of the 15th. I am very glad you are going ahead with your various aims in life. I shall pass the cancer information over to my Hakim here. I know some things about the Manzanita. My own theory is that practically all plants are either edible or medicinal or “poisonous” and the last term has a definite esoteric meaning. A little later we may be having an herbal library here.

As to Murshid’s works. At one time they were all handled as you suggest by the late Mustafa but after Rabia Martin died her successor ignored them and they finally perished in the fire of 1949. Some of his works have since been annotated or indexed by the young disciples.

I now have audiences including over 100 people every week, excluding the class on Christian mysticism because they belong to another spiritual Order. The total number of disciples is also near five score. This keeps one very busy, but there are marvelous compensations. Once Rudolph Shaeffer said, “Sam, where did you get all those beautiful boys and girls?” I had hardly given it a thought, but certainly there is an Alchemy at work, only now it is not only Alchemy but beautiful young men and women come here for study and Bayat. Seven received Bayat last night. The hardest thing in life is to have to deal with each and all as if everyone was the Beloved One of God. This is very time consuming, but I am required to sleep; that is about my only recreation. Nevertheless, health is pretty good for an old codger. I have at the present time my chief Khalif, my close associate Bryn Beorse, and my brother, on the sick list.

I do not know exactly when Easter occurs. Our plans are for a grand celebration on March 21. That is Gavin Arthur’s birthday. We have a whole string of birthdays that week. We have many spiritual dances now, many, and they are becoming known elsewhere. I do not know exactly how to handle it with a shortage of secretarial help. That of course is not the worst thing in life.

At the end of March my esoteric secretary and I expect to go to Switzerland to a conference of the world’s great religions. In the past I have always been debarred by some well-known ignoramus called an “expert.” I don’t think this will happen anymore. Everything is different today. After my return I shall have my own summer school in the state of New Mexico while Vilayat will have his in Arizona. He is taking only unmarried young men and women between eighteen and twenty-eight. This leaves to me the mothers and fathers, and those over 28. There is only harmony on every front.

Today we discussed putting on a Passover Service. I presume Easter would come about the same time. I have only Christian ceremonials, and do not know how to work them in, as I also have the occult ceremonials such as the Sun dance, Moon dance, and Wheel dance. The Dervish and Mantric dances have expanded in number and popularity, perhaps also in importance.

There are a number of other projects going on keeping life to the fullest. Have not even had half a day off this year, but then the comedies are far outstripping the tragedies.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

February 28, 1970

My dear Oliver,

This is really the diary entry. The whole calls for “excitement” and one meets with “excitement” and just at the time one is working for an appeal for peace based on quite different principles than oratory and personalisms. And the working program of, “Keep a loud ear and a soft tongue” is bringing one into contact with more and more young people and receiving not only respect but every week a larger following. And my chief secretary will be accompanying me (as he just did) there may be lots of mail unanswered. And yet that is increasing even more than the personal contacts.

Not even a half day off this year, it was necessary to get away, with a full month before we should be en route to Geneva, and a full program. We are going to limit ourselves to Colorado and New Mexico during the summer which still leaves April and May open, this largely depends on my God-daughter who is at Cornell. If she will make the financial arrangements I shall visit her there and take in much of Pennsylvania and Washington. Or if we got other financial help—I am just able to cover Geneva for two.

Although this may not appear on the surface, Project Prometheus is also behind my present psychologies. While others are saying that we cannot solve any problems without doing something about “food” and “poverty” I see the need of overall, integrational approaches. Now the words, those dammed words, Ecology and Pollution been taken over by the Philistines and you can get that the official semanticists and humanists will echo while praising the empty word “Science.” I have had occasion not only to spend some time with Vocha Fiske but with ex-Exceterists and with laboratory scientists. They are all looking for a solid impersonal, quasi-mathematical logistical approach and the termination of the personalisms, which, however named or misnamed are dominant.

There is now an underground of former disciples of Count Korzybski who have plenty of money and prestige and who are seeking to establish a form of G.S. based on the mathematical principles in “Science and Sanity” bypassed by the Etceterists. As I see the New Age, it is based among other things on a somewhat higher order of mathematics than that of Euclid. I have objected to Julie’s doodles as representing anything noble. The artwork in the now defunct The Oracle was definitely of a higher order, and my housekeeper, whose background in mathematics is not particularly high, is definitely continuing in the same genre as that of the later Spanish Muslims at Granada, only more up to date. Our culture’s refusal to accept Spengler while engaging in forensics over the Euclidean Karl Marx is to me one of the factors in present day confusion.

While listening interminably to the young, I have been able to inform them on peoples and places where controversial subjects have been solved. Our excitement-wallahs will have none of this. It is not only useless to try and inform the emotional, but it is useless as more and more young people especially are both reopening and corresponding.

I have always felt that the Christian “soul” theory was responsible for Dalton’s atom. A Buddhist approach, which we simply ignore, would give us a different sort of world. My recent conversations with laboratory scientists have convinced me it is useless to deal with various types of Aristotelians (including so-called anti-Aristotelians) all of whom have been conditioned by the Christian thing-soul doctrines. I had resolved to return to Ernst Haeckel when Vocha placed in my hands books covering his work, and also some other works once owned by the late Cora Williams. While the gift alone was encouraging, the contacts of these works have given me the key to an overall Project Prometheus article.

If the present outlook continues, I shall be taking my secretary, Mansur Johnson, with me to New Mexico where we shall have our own “shack” and where I shall be able to dictate a paper which may amalgamate Ernst Mackie’s materialistic monism with Indian cosmology. While this looks ambitious, I have the various elements already, let us say, in my cortex. And I have been encouraged by little brochures sent me by Russ Joyner.

Of course the immediate peace project involves, let us say Project Krishna. I may be writing other letters today and will enclose copies thereof. But this morning I go to the class on Southeast Asia and am very much encouraged by recent contacts in and out of class with both students and teachers who are impersonal, objective, and not brain-washed.

Vocha will be here on March 10 and we have a place for her in Marin County, and she has another place in San Francisco.

Another item which I find encouraging is a book review in the current issue of Science on “A Geometrical System.” The reviewer is one Ernest A Moody of the department of Philosophy at UCLA. I have just visited that campus and will have to go them again from time to time for both personal and impersonal reasons. But finding a professor of philosophy so interested in mathematics also encourages a revival of Keyser and some kind of visit, however short, to the Columbia campus in New York.

The main subject discussed with Vocha and others has been the impersonal, objective approach to subjects under discussion. I think this largely establishes Lord Snow’s The Two Cultures. Just as a good Roman Catholic used to infer that the church alone could solve problems, so now the public temper is that sociology alone can solve problem. I have been particularly annoyed by the growing number of articles by so-called “social scientists” on the defects of laboratory scientists. I must say that since my return from Asia in 1962, I have had exactly one laboratory scientist refusing an interview, and none where harmony and understanding did not prevail. As to the social scientists, not even 25% have granted interviews, and whether we reach agreement or not is largely due to the handling of words rather than thought. So no matter that anybody says, Snow’s two cultures still prevail and I am in the very proper or improper position of pointing an accusing finger at the literary-humanists for encouraging “excitement” rather than working for peace and understanding. End of diary entry.

Cordially,

Sam L. Lewis

March 8, 1970

My dear Shamcher:

The last news was that you have not been very well. We have done some healing silences made all the more necessary because my reconciled brother has also been in a semi-comatose state. We are therefore addressing the envelope to you and family.

In one sense we have a lot of news. I am now preparing to attend the conference of the world’s religions. Mansur and I are scheduled to leave here on the 28th, flying directly to Geneva. After that we go to London and then presumably to Boston on our way back. The conference at Geneva is one of the world’s religions, with emphasis on peace through religion. One cannot of course compel the leading religions, or anybody, to put forward a program which will end actual hostilities. But now, after a life’s effort with constant doors shutting in my face, at least I shall be heard, which is something. Indeed my program is quite simple; we cannot have peace in the world so long as certain persons, parties, or factions refuse to listen to others. It is not a question of right and wrong; it is a simple elementary fact, that when anybody is shut out, war becomes inevitable; therefore my theme is not going to be “love ye one another,” it is going to be “respect ye one another.” Only this time it will appear I shall be allowed to say that.

Pir Vilayat is flying in exactly the opposite direction, but he has given me his blessing. So have a lot of other real people in the real world. Sooner or later we shall have to accept that facts and human beings are more important than ideas and ideals, not matter how wonderful the ideas and ideals may appear to us on paper, just on paper. You cannot insult anybody and have peace. Pir Vilayat has not only sent me a blessing, but a picture from Konia in Turkey of the Dancing Dervishes. I hope to show this picture to Gavin on account of the colors of the robes the performers are wearing. They perhaps have a cosmic significance.

On March 21, we are going to celebrate our Spring Festival, and along with it, Gavin’s birthday. We today have many of the dances of the spheres, and the world is going to accept them, although I have some doubts about those people who call themselves “occultists,” who are often very ignorant people trying to compensate for their ignorance by making abstruse claims. At least we can demonstrate. At least we can not only demonstrate, we have.

Last week there was a pilot picture of the Marin disciples doing spiritual and Dervish dances. This will be repeated this week, followed by an “invasion” of this house recording our daily lives, our actual spiritual practices and methods, and a lot of other actualities a priori rejected in the past, but praise to Allah I think that day is over, and perhaps over forever. And I think it can easily be demonstrated that the experiences of little people have at least equal validity with the opinions of the big, who in the end may turn out to be not so big.

I have received a very fine letter from my friend Dr. Merchant in Bombay who mentioned you. He has also given me the name of his son who is matriculating in Engineering at Cornell, and I hope to contact him soon. At this time it does not appear I shall be going to Cornell—too much on the program and too many financial uncertainties. (legal, etc.).

I have written to Prof. Merchant and will send you a copy of correspondences, as soon as you are well, Inshallah. This correspondence also is being shared with Professors at the University of California. The present instructors not only are not turning me down but welcoming both my person and my reports; perhaps one was not ready in the previous era.

But I also have to contact next Dr. Charles H. Townes, a Nobel Prize winner in Physics who has written “The Convergence of Science and Religion” in the most recent “California Monthly.” I will send you a copy of this as soon as you are well. There is such a vast gap between the actual scientists and the actual progress in laboratory and research science, and the literary reports given by writers, editors, and commentators, that this gap alone is to be a worse problem than the actual or suppositious problems of smog, water, pollution, ecology, etc., etc. It is only that I have to concentrate more or less on a peace program for the nations and religions of the world, which Inshallah will be heard now, and no more nonsense rejections by the high and mighty who have been proclaiming themselves; or as used to be said in humor concerning Prime Minister De Gaulle, “Après la deluge, moi.” I think all our editors and commentators are proclaiming, après la deluge, moi. Yes mobs against the French selling guns to Libya, but not against the United States doing the same for Jordan.

In other words, all the pictures look bright, all the horizons look bright, and I am praying for your recovery so that you can join me in this and several other equally valid projects progressing on the surface of the world with real human beings who are doing real things, unreported by press, radio, TV, and leading magazines.

Love and blessings,

S. A. M.

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

March 11, 1970

Anandashram

Dear Ram:

Sam was influenced to maintain a diary after reading the works of Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Papa Ramdas. But in retrospect it must be said that the more one considers it, there is no diary; there is only the fulfillment of the divine life in and through what would appear to be an ego-personality which is nothing but a mode of God Himself expressing Himself outwardly. And daily Sam seems to find that there is really nothing else but this divine life, and this in turn, so far as he is concerned, gives much greater value to Papa’s works, especially the earlier ones.

No doubt there is a time for all things. And now instead of lapsing into the presumable securities of old age, Sam’s life is becoming more and more public. It has even become public enough to warrant an apology from one of the leading divines of the region. No doubt it requires considerable patience when one’s theme is, so to speak, “The stone that is rejected is become the cornerstone.” One cannot understand why persons who preach morality and love and brotherhood are among the forefront of those who purposely neglect.

One of the great folk stories of Europe is called “The Goose Girl.” Everybody is awaiting a deliverer who is supposed to be a princess. On the day of liberation, when the gates of the Great City are opened, nobody enters but a country Goose Girl who brought her flock every day at dawn anyhow. After much drama, too late of course, it was discovered that the Goose Girl was really the princess who had been kidnapped when an infant.

Sam’s theme which may now be presented to a conference of great spiritual teachers and ecclesiasts is not going to be “Love Ye One Another.” Sam is amused by the number of people in audiences who interrupt saying, “Why don’t you preach and teach more love?” not aware that rude interruptions are self-evident demonstrations of the lack of love and the dominance of a dualistic outlook. So Sam will present instead “Respect Ye One Another.”

This is very difficult, for Sam has as his ko-an, so to speak, the first words of Handel’s Messiah “Every valley shall be exalted and every hill laid low, the crooked places made straight.” But how is a little valley going to express itself amid a throng of mountains who because of their very nature are unable to bow before each other. Nevertheless, this will be the theme. And as the time approaches, the presence of Divine Grace becomes more and more evident, both in the daily consciousness and during sleep at night.

The Krishna Theme. This is long and elaborate. The first step is to distribute or sell more copies of Sam’s The Rejected Avatar. But it is becoming evident to more and more persons that although Sri Krishna is the theme, he himself has been rejected. Now it is very easy to convince anybody who is not an “orientalist” that there is such a thing as counterkarma, and the great danger of the moment is the overwhelming willingness by the young to accept everything Sam says; and when it is true or they believe it is true, to go all the way. And it is chiefly among people who claim a “moral” outlook that the rejections prevail—all other doors are open. But even this is coming to an end for Sam has just received a beautiful letter of apology from one of the leading divines in San Francisco.

Sam has also received from Dr. Milton Singer an autographed copy of his latest book on Sri Krishna, and this man is perhaps the top Sanskrit scholar in the United States. But yesterday, one of Sam’s secretaries discovered a sacred Sanskrit book on Sri Krishna in a second hand book store. It had been placed on the market by the now presumably defunct American Academy of Asian Studies who had hosted Papa when he was in this region. But this institution was adamantly dedicated to one theme: personality leadership. The resulting karma was melodramatic and awkward. Only today the universities themselves are open and, as reported before, Sam has already put some of Papa’s works in the University of California and certainly doors are open all over.

Tonight we shall give the last rehearsals of one of Sam’s ras-lila dances. The technique is simple. The steps are easy. But without extreme devotion it is utterly impossible to perform. The same perhaps pertains to the Hari Krishna etc., dance which has already been photographed.

This brings one to the most dramatic element of the present life. Three years ago when Sam was flat on his back in the hospital, there was a divine visitation with words and visions. All the words, all the visions have now manifested. But the door did not close, and the next steps in life are evident.

Last Thursday in this house and Monday night at the San Francisco home, Sam gave his farewell addresses to privacy and tranquility. There is no time now when interviews are not sought, when office work is not done, and when there are other aspects of both spiritual and material business. For the next 5 days in a row at least, there will be cameras and sound equipment recording the spiritual dances, the sacred lessons, and the daily life of a man who was marked for spiritual leadership by so many holy men and egotistically rejected in previous years with a single exception—these all being a priori rejections.

Actually the whole thing is funny. The whole thing is ridiculous. For instance, the Sri Aurobindo people have been pushing the poem “Savitri” on Sam. But they were the foremost to reject his poetry and not only reject it, sharply criticize Sam’s efforts. Sam has asked one of his own disciples to compare Savitri with one of his epics. The man said “They are the same kind of poems, but yours is clearer and more profound.”

It is certain that in Sam’s cosmic realizations, as verbalized in his poetry, we come to the fulfillment and perfection of “Every valley shall be exalted and every hill laid low.” To find galaxies in an atom; and all the super-galaxies and constellations and universes together forming a small portion of divine reality seems to be beyond the conscious scope of most of the people today who toy with the world Yoga.

Sam is taking with him as probably was written before any brochure of vice-President Geary. It is not only as Walt Whitman said, “In all men I see myself,” but it is all a teaching of the Real Religion which is behind all of the particular religions that everything is reflected in everything. The Gita, the Upanishads, the Prajnana Paramita Sutra, the Johanni books of the Bible, and the actual sacred traditions of the Jews support this same theme, this universal theme.

In “The Rejected Avatar”:

“The strong say yes, to God

The weak say no to man.”

This habit is so ridiculous that the young are laughing today at all the pretenders and dualists who offer their private formulae as solutions to problems of the day. They do not understand that their individual separations are the basis not only of these problems but of the existence of problems in any form.

One cannot go much beyond this because Sam’s theme is going to be “Keep a soft tongue and loud, very loud ears.” (e.g. as the Tibetan Saint Milarepa).

No doubt efforts will be made to report further from either Switzerland or England late this month or early next.

With all love and blessings.

Samuel L. Lewis

March 12/13, 1970

Mr. R. Joyner

ISGS

507 Sansome St.

San Francisco, Ca. 94111

My dear Russ:

At the moment there is nothing like spare time, complicated by the fact that most of my very fine young followers feel I lose caste if I walk; while I feel I lose time seeking for parking places etc, in your vicinity. On rare occasions I am able to sneak away and carry on most necessary personal business and I do have most important personal business in your vicinity.

The lady whom I call Mother Divine has placed in my hands “Korzybski’s Concept of Man” which was a lecture of Cassius Keyser in the year 1922, and which was published by the Institute of General Semantics in 1946.

I was not aware of the Institute in that year, but I am quite aware of the original lecture and I had naively assumed that a logic and logistics based on this lecture would be welcomed by the ISGS which has not been the case. But I have no intention of going into forensics or logistics at this time. I am developing my own personal philosophy which for want of a better term I am calling “Bragmanics,” or maybe that is the best term. My youthful audiences listen with glee to stories of accomplishments and also stories of a priori rejections by many important persons and groups, solidly wedded to words, words like liberty, democracy, humanity etc, etc. But now the fat is in the fire so to speak.

I am all prepared to attend an international peace conference where they permit the unworthy as well as the worthy to state their views. Someone has discovered that you can’t establish peace by crushing and squelching. I realize this is not a very popular view and it is often quite in order to prevent the unqualified from interfering in discussions which purport to solve some problems. But while this has been going on some people have had the nerve to assume that even the most unworthy may have a rationale, and that they cannot always be stopped from presenting their case even if they are entirely wrong. That is to say, they are permitted the floor; they are permitted to state a plausible point of view and their egos are not attacked for daring to express an opinion.

The combination of a situation of accomplishment on one hand and rejections on the other hand by what have been called establishments is now making me both a folk hero and a personal hero to an ever growing number of young people. Three different persons or groups so to speak independently felt my work should be televised. It is now being televised, though when, where, and how it may be shown is beyond my present picture, because I am concentrating on attending a world peace conference, a conference where the floor is open, and where referents are required from the worthy and unworthy, and the passing of great names coupled with emotional chairmen will not avail. Anyhow, the directors of the pilot efforts have actually demanded I express in full both my experiences and opinion, and these may be published sooner or later.

I am not forgetting here Keyser’s lecture on Korzybski. I can overlook here that all efforts on my part to get this knowledge better known in this region have been brushed aside in the past, but that past is passing, and sooner or later armed with the great American virtue ze-dollar, I believe we can establish forms of communication that will communicate and not just please certain types; of personalities who operate as if name calling, proper name calling of course, hold the key to solution for everything.

I find after many years that my basic logistics has not changed; that I still am operating under the principles and premises of Keyser’s philosophy; and today, people are listening to me, chiefly the young and university professors. This for me is sufficient. But my point of view is of no value unless it is properly pragmatized.

The public exhibition last night under camera klieg lights and sound equipment did not touch my ego so much as the breakfast I made for Mother Divine Vocha Fiske this morning. Of course Vocha had a full view of rather successful efforts and also she, having been connected with stage and screen and speech arts, was better able to judge the worthiness or unworthiness of these efforts than most people. But now I am preparing to work even on a world scene and of at least being cautious enough to know peace is not obtained by mud throwing on the part of anybody. I also feel that the day of lamentation over the rejection of Cassius Keyser’s points of view is over with considerable regret that the so-called scions of A.K. have failed to examine those basic teachings upon which so much of science and sanity was fundamented.

I am having this brochure of Keyser copied. I am going to use it. I am going to have it distributed to many of the leading philosopher of the area. After all these years I think it is still most wonderful, and I am hoping, in fact I know, that the young people of today will easily pass through real differentiation, partial differentiation, and other sound principles of mathematics and logic to seeing how such principles can be incorporated into higher and perhaps less than higher education, and into the thinking of the day.

I am finding many of the scientists of the day writing splendid articles on philosophy and psycho-logistics research. Their methods, their schemata, and conclusions are often far from the methods, schemata and conclusions of parlor-scientists. I have always differed from Julian Huxley, the saint-pope of those who do not believe in saints and popes, who wrote Religion Without Revelation. I believe in exactly the opposite point of view: revelation without religion. This has been enough to exclude me without any question from audiences dominated by those who admire the saint-pope as above, but now bringing me into contact with much larger audiences of refreshing young people and frustrated university professors. As I am leaving for an actual world conference, I should at least be able to express whatever might be expressed without any name calling or word throwing. How many of the problems of the day are actual problems and not verbal ones may be difficult to determine. It would seem that every sociologist knows more of problems which we should imagine could be handled by laboratory scientists and so we are faced with a most curious situation. According to the customs and laws of this land no one presumes to say anything about the diseases of the flesh of human kind, but “everyone” is allowed to discuss endlessly diseases and problems of the bodies of plants. I am unable to understand this. It is even worse, because I have studied the plant sciences. I have even cured sick plants, and this alone bars me from respectable discussions on Rachel Carson’s “The Silent Spring.”

The so-called open forums on “Silent Spring” gave all the doctors, lawyers, “Indian chiefs,” law-enforcing officers, psychiatrists—indeed everybody but gardeners and etymologists—the right to dispute endlessly on subjects for “which they had no backgrounds. That was only the beginning. Now we have “pollution,” “drug,” “ecology,” etc., etc., in which social prestige or a university degree on any subject whatsoever gives one full right to say anything at all; while the pragmatism of those actually engaged or involved in these problems is of no avail.

You see Russ, I am nor in an excellent position to speak or roar whether it be on the Judeo-Christian Bible or the literary efforts of Count Alfred Korzybski or the historical existence of Wm. James and not only the young but more and more professors of actual philosophy will listen, so I am about to leave this area in great hopes not of success abroad, but of ability to have a communication system which communicates and does not resound only to the public or implied praise of those who write articles on the subjects. One of the greatest achievements or rather pseudo-achievements of this present age has been the ability to have articles accepted labeled communication which actually do not communicate anything.

The other night when the reports cams in about Laos I had a friend in the house who had lived in Laos etc., etc., I asked him shall we laugh, cry, or roar? Yes, he said, shall laugh, cry, or roar? And it is tragically amusing to be informed of the non-arrival of the wounded of the surreptitious battlefields at the American hospitable in Laos. While this is no doubt an extreme case, it is no doubt a typical case. So we are left not only with problems of pollution etc, but with the greater still problems of the words used in and by the press and by inference in public discussions. In all this it has been as you have declared, “facts must not disturb the issues.”

Now it is my opportunity, and your colleagues have given me absolute ample scope, to bring out in public the conclusions of A.K. in Science and Sanity and use these as bases for public and private utterances. And with emotional disturbances and value judgments, this leaves everything in my hands for accomplishing what I have been hoping to accomplish for many, many years.

In conclusion, I shall not indulge in value judgments in which your colleagues are so much more proficient than I am. I certainly do not believe, nor will I accept that value judgments can in any way promote the cause of peace in this world.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

March 14, 1970

Mr. Shamcher Bryn Beorse

P.O. Box 142

Keyport, Wash. 98345

My dear Shamcher:

I am terribly relieved to find you are in good spirits and in good health. This was been “exciting” rather than trying. The cameras and sound equipment people are now in this house. They have already been at the Khankah in Novato. They have already made both a “dry run” and “trial run” of the dancing classes and public meetings, and there will be more of this. This is to be climaxed for the moment at the Spring Festival to be held next week, which is also Gavin’s birthday.

I do not know how much of this comes out of Pir Vilayat thoughts or wishes, but one hopes it may be integrated with his general plans. It is certain that is a slow but continuous growth of effort in all directions.

This morning I faced a test on Southeast Asian history. The professors and most of the class have lived in that part of the world. The class discussions were based on reality and not on “realism” on our mutual experiences, never on our opinions or thoughts.

I have had to keep in close touch with Oliver Reiser because of favorable turns in events.

I have met Karl Brandt and admired him greatly. Unfortunately, opportunists organized Stanford Research and many people contributed to it, leaving Karl Brandt, in actual, not relative poverty. He is the chief professor I have met outside the multiversity of California whom I have felt knew exactly what was going on and exactly how to deal with problems, but of course the editors and commentators and sociologists are in the way. I have also had to fact at this time the precarious condition of my brother Elliot. An enemy for most of his life, he discovered the futility of it. His departure would leave me in very comfortable circumstances indeed, and he is also satisfied with my presumable plans with much increased income.

Of course the big thing is the preparation of Mansur Johnson and myself for Geneva. I have had very cordial correspondence with Prof. Merchant, but he did tell me he had not yet had opportunity to read your book. I have also received a most cordial letter from Georgetown University in regard to my great epic, Saladin. This from one Dr. Sharabi who previously was connected with the UN and now teaches Islamics; one of the very few Arabs in this land teaching “Arab Culture.” He wants me to publish Saladin, but already Hassan, my printing disciple here, has approached me on this subject, and while here also, I would be glad to help him financially, his own family has done so, so far.

Saladin would be published along with its Hebraic predecessor “The Day of the Lord Cometh.” This is based on the actual mystical Kabbalah, and not on the drivel of non-Jewish pseudo-occultists. The combination of these would corroborate that a Sufi is one who sees from the standpoint of another as well as of himself.

Saladin was originally to have been dedicated to Paul Reps. He, rather rudely, brushed the idea aside, and not only that, reverted first to his name of Paul and then very modestly, of course, to the name of Reps alone. But I feel it will someday be regarded as one of the great poems of the age, and the combining of these two works may do much to take us out of “realism” to face the realities of conflicting parties and living personalities.

From what you tell me and what you feel, I believe your life’s work will be accomplished. I hope your health will be in good enough condition that you may be able to see some of the results yourself. One does feel awkward when one’s closest colleagues are withdrawing from manifestation. But this has to be. Vocha Fiske is at this writing at the Khankah, and considering her age, in excellent condition. She has been present at the public meetings, and has remarked on the growth in response, in joy, and in love of the various young people who have in recent times been drawn into the orbit of the Sufi movement.

I guess there is more. This letter is to be shared. But I wish to also answer other persons.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

cc Pir Vilayat Khan

March 14, 1970

Dear Gavin:

This morning we had our final exam on the affairs of Southeast Asia. It was a most enjoyable class. The majority of the enrollees and both teachers had lived in some part of Southeast Asia. There was none of that “expertism.” “Experts” resent intrusions and the State Department depends on “experts” so we have the final reductio ad absurdum between the Vice-president and one type of “expert.”

In the previous generation there were two types of “experts: “(a) newsmen and reporters and writers—the “scribes” and we still have them. They are all gods, and one mustn’t although the Vice-President wants to be a rival god. Then there are the graduates of certain universities. They are so great in expertism they don’t have to go anywhere near the place.

In the past I have had all these classes of “expert” against me personally. But so have practically all the “Ugly Americans” who enrolled in this class. It was so different. If a person said he was there we listened and accepted. If a man had ideas, no matter how wonderful the ideas or the person, he was not permitted to speak, only facts and no value-judgments. I think all of the class believes this is the way to pace and understanding.

Anyhow the great religions of the world are meeting soon and some of us are going to be given the floor. We had to pass another kind of examination also based on knowledge, not on opinions. Oh yes, there have been a lot of great people with opinions and they have been listened to with adulation. But as we have no peace, as we have wars, some people are willing to listen to those who have had experience and knowledge. So I am going to a top level conference and will be meeting with top-level people. My job is to get them to listen to each other; my speech will be on “listening to others.” And so I have hopes.

The “important people” of any age are usually not the “important people” of the previous age. But now the young want facts, understanding and no wars and their elders want opinions, policies and “victories.”

My program of peace by praying, eating and dancing with others makes sense with the young, only it means actual praying, actual eating, actual dancing, and not lecturing about. There are a lot of people who can “lecture about.” I don’t know what they have accomplished; they may have accomplished. I was criticized because the man I am representing is not, as I said, the Vice-President of India. He is the President of India. Why, he even asked that I present his program, although I have a private introduction to the Indian delegation.

The next few days, the spring festival, then off to a summit conference where I shall be listened to, God willing. Then to meet the young in so many places, I cannot look ahead, too much. In the meanwhile my brother is between life and death.

Hope to see you next Saturday.

P.S. Now I am in IT. The camera and sound equipment people are here. An important letter from Bryn; another from Georgetown University.

March 15, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

S.F. Chronicle

San Francisco, 94119

Dear Art:

I did something which used to be absolutely unforgivable. I studied mathematical philosophy when I was a young man. Then I did something almost equally unforgivable: I read H.G Wells instead of editorializing on him; this keeps me in the peasant class, unfit to get into gentleman’s arguments, for which I thank God. As the first stage to understanding H.G. Wells—understand, not editorialize—you have to know about flatland. In flatland, everything has two sides, just two sides, no more than two sides, and anything else is inconceivable.

Despite certain rumors about out superintendent of public instructions, there seems to be some evidence in favor of Darwin and evolution. Anyhow, some items in the universe are subject to change. For instance, yesterday we completed the course on Southeast Asia. Nearly everybody in the class had lived in Southeast Asia. Nobody in the class has ever said or done anything, or experienced anything which could affect the psyches of the respectable, either these close to the White House or in any way connected with the press. Certain things Art, just isn’t done. I remember one time I was enrolled at what was called the American Academy of Asian Studies. There were two factions; one which believed English educated people know most about Asia, the other that German people know most about Asia. The geeks of course weren’t consulted; they are still not. In the class just closed, everybody had met geeks and therefore were ugly Americans, and therefore were not fit to get into any discussions of gentleman. Well I went to real Asia and almost got thrown out.

The Asians didn’t like it that I had studied under Englishmen and Germans. I never found out whether they despised the Englishmen and Germans or merely wanted their jobs and salaries. Anyhow, when they found that the Englishmen and Germans had no respect for me, I was welcomed all over the continent, everywhere.

Now we have evolved to the stage where Americans who studied under Asians have those jobs which used to be monopolized by Englishmen and Germans, and also a few Asians are in. We have moved ahead into H.G. Well’s three-dimensional world. The trouble with us three-dimensional people is that we are sometimes intolerant about two-dimensional people, whether they are editors, commentators, or vice-presidents. Besides, I have personally been the guest of imperial families, holy places, and universities which do not invite American vice-presidents or European professors of Asian studies. I have also found that several other Americans have been to such places, where they cannot tolerate editors, commentators, and vice-presidents. No doubt this shows the intolerance of “democracy.” A real democracy might tolerate editors, and commentator, and vice-presidents.

But some students have suggested we might go even further. We might go into Well’s fourth dimension. This would mean that we would not only open the doors to those whom we do not tolerate, and who do not tolerate us, we might open the doors to everybody.

Anyhow, I get balled out. The men I am representing at the forthcoming peace conference is not the vice-president of India, he is the president of India. The manuscript said vice-president, but now he is president. Some of my best friends have been president of India, and some presidents of India have been my best friends. I realize that editors, commentators, vice-presidents, experts etc., etc., could never stand for this. The young people are quite willing to accept that their elders have b.o. They are even willing to permit than to come to conferences where they might learn something from somebody, but this looks too much like a miracle. One thing that the two-dimensional people, like the vice-president and the commentators and the editors and the experts, don’t seem to understand is not only that there may be an Wellsian three-dimension or even a fourth-dimension, but that youth matures, if it has not already matured, and that even the Queen of Hearts cannot prevent younger people from growing and beyond growth attain power, wisdom, and authority. I realize that this is written under stress, with a dying brother, and every facet of my life under klieg lights. Some darn fools are convinced that the little people who have been there should be permitted to express themselves despite all vice-presidents, despite all commentators, and despite despite.

It’s a brave new world, Art, and I am sure you appreciate that.

We are now all ready for the Spring Festival in which Gavin Arthur will be honored. We are all ready for a lot of things, and remember Art, though geeks may not be our equals, there may be a lot of hidden gourmets among them, and we can’t overlook that.

Love and Blessings,

March 22, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

S.F. Chronicle

San Francisco, Ca. 94119

Dear Art,

I was just about to write you a very unfair letters due to the non-delivery of this morning’s paper but alas and o-joy, the paper has arrived and I think I shall write Sam Yorty and send you a copy.

Yesterday, we had our Spring Festival and Gavin Arthur’s birthday together. He was born on a March 21. Never mind the year: between the new math and modern technology it is no longer necessary to miscalculate such matters especially for effete brains to try to do so. Well Art, this silliness of trying to be a Pied Piper came to its denouement. I am told there were about 250 people there, practically all young, not counting babes in arms. We did a lot of things not so much verboten as impossible because the various liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasant shut-up people have said they were impossible. But I think I have the 1976 voters in my hip pocket. Only I do not know how to deliver them. And it would be silly to ask for advice.

It has been a very active week. Some of the time was spent with men educated in the laboratory sciences. You must know, Art, laboratory science is but a small portion of “science.” Laboratory scientists are outnumbered and out-eligibleized by newspaper scientists and parlor scientists. Besides that, they are always eager to get information and even knowledge.

But to come back to the young who are much score beautiful, much more alert, much more capable, it was certainly both, productive and predictive. What are we going to do in age when honesty and objectivity are factors in life? I leave this problem to you. Pretty sneaky, isn’t it?

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif.

March 24, 1970

Mr. Bryn Beorse

Keyport, Wash.

Dear Shamcher:

This is really my diary entry. The dramas continue in full speed. At this writing three out of my four closest relatives are in hospitals, and at least two hovering between life and death, and in my brother’s case both legal and financial matters are involved. No doubt illness voids enmities and there is no ill-will at all but surely interpretations, and even the executors cannot asks firm decisions when there is no assurance of life, death and invalidism. But my local cousin and I agree that we have to pursue our own paths and it will be worse if we are over-concerned.

It is ten days since Gavin Arthur criticized me because one of the top European Professors of Oriental Philosophy felt I was and am a danger. I get my audiences laughing: Shaw, asked what he thought of Ingersoll on “The mistakes of Moses” replied that he would first like to see Moses on the mistakes of Ingersoll. And our passing crazy culture would worship some European professor (including Englishmen) on their presentations of “Asian” philosophy but would not permit any Asian to lecture on European philosophy. But now two of our top orchestral conductors, interpreting European music, are Asians, very popular, very successful, no doubt.

Anyhow on Saturday we celebrated a joint Spring Festival and Gavin’s birthday and some 200 people participated—I mean participated. There were others present, including quite a few technicians. We performed a lot of the elements of “Dances of Universal Peace” and also the astrological dances for Gavin as suggested by Pir Vilayat and lots more. One group put on a special woman’s dance; another a “psychic drama” and there was choral singing based on principles coming out of Helmholz and Dane Rudhyar. Gavin raved—he has never permitted me to express myself, nor have a lot of others, including all the European professors of Oriental philosophy of which the passing generation was so proud.

I have only a few more days left before leaving, for Geneva where it looks like I shall be permitted to speak. My whole approach to Peace is so different, based on concessions, no demands. There is a grand history behind this, years of research, rejected by about everybody that was anybody. But they are passing from the scene. The humanists, sociologists, press and all dialecticians and existentialists are one on the theme that you have to have “important” people to present “valid” plans. If the people are not important, out! And this has set the scientists who are objective against the literary-humanists who are subjectivists and personal. And just as “Asian Philosophy”—an invention of Europeans; so the trouble with the scientists is that they have never studied “Science” from the press, the parlor philosophers, and, of course, the top commentators.

At times one feels like a mixture between Edmond Dantes and Samuel Morse. I have written on this before but now the situations are so droll as to be utterly risible. Now all the non-laboratory scientists are discussing pollution and sewage. During the course of my life, especially when I had literary assignments, I found a most complicated system or a total lack of system of sewage outlets in this city. Later jobs made it very clear that money could be made from waste products of all kinds. In 1967 I was ready to go to England, having excellent introductions, to study sewage disposal, when I became ill. Now I find the commentators, the press, the sociologists, the literary-humanists, all discussing problems that could be reasonably solved by scientists if the scientists were given any opportunities.

The most ridiculous situations came on the air in the last two weeks. A scientist testified that the dangers from alcoholism were about 40 times as great as from all drugs—however defined—combined. He was immediately followed by the president of a local TV station who editorialized on the dangers of drugs. The next day there was a review of how London got rid of smog and pollution, and the program was followed immediately by a warning from a local TV president—I don’t remember whether it was the same or another—on coming doom due to smog and pollution. Well, when I was with Oliver Reiser he showed me how Pittsburgh had gotten rid of smog and pollution, but do you think I could have been given the floor here? These things must be decided by “experts,” whatever that means, and “experts” seems to include about everybody but engineers and laboratory scientists.

Whatever else may be said about our colleges and universities, they are turning out some students who are interested in facts and objective evidences. I have seen very little evidence of starvation in the world; I have seen overwhelming evidence of mal-nutrition. Why, I have lived in places where from press and radio were reporting famines, and I was being overstuffed. This is getting me in good, mostly with the young, but now with more and more university professors

The course that just was completed on Southeast Asia, where the class and teachers were all “ugly Americans,” points the way to a happy future. There is no reason why the rest of our culture cannot be objective like the laboratory scientists and presumably the law courts. The young know that. The young want that.

Yesterday a joint interview with my friend Fred Rohe at the New Age Health Food Store was recorded. It was under very difficult circumstances. There was a constant parade of customers, even during the hours when trade is supposed to be lax. Three mureeds now work in that store, and two more are to follow. Fred, like myself, is what should be called a “cosmic humanist.” We don’t talky-talk; we accept all the peoples of the world and at least beginning with the stomachs of all men were potentially created equal; we have the same attitude actually towards the heart and minds of exotic people, and not chitter chat. We can and do listen to Vietnamese, Cambodians, Afghans, etc. Really.

You can see that there is a vast difference between gobbledygook and the expanded human heart. We are going to have life. We are going to have it in food as well as in mental activities. There is a whole realm here based on the actual study of actual nature—chemical, biological, etc.

In at few days I leave for Geneva. I shall be presenting among other things the views of President Giri of India who is also a self-proclaimed “cosmic humanist.” The cosmic humanists differ from the American humanists in that they believe that Sri Ramakrishna and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan were human beings and had contributions to give to the world—not necessarily “right” contributions, but they lived, and to mention that they lived seems to be offensive equally to the religionists and humanists. But not to the young. Like Margaret Fuller, the young accept the universe, and here is the great hope.

On the financial side, Fred Rohe has been overwhelmed with unexpected and unsuspected profits. The same has happened to the noted Johnny Weismuller in Hollywood. Vocha has been eating at Johnny Weismuller’s.

You do not hear anything about sugar or cola drinks or complicated pastries or heavy liquor, etc., etc., etc., being causal in regard to cancer. The difference between the superficial emotions and the very sound “rigorous thinking” of Cassius Keyser is so evident. I am going to get Keyser out, if it is the last thing in my life and I hope I can stop at Columbia University before I return.

But I am not assured. I have some big jobs in England and in the Boston area, and have to be back within a month, earlier if emergencies arise. No doubt a man is not without honor, excepting in his own country but it is an easy step to become a demagogue or mob leader in view of the autocratic behavior of certain personalities who have barred the way to any form of self-expression, not only from this person but from others. And sooner or later this may become public, or a scandal. But it is also possible that the heroes of the passing age may become the butts of the coming one. A priori rejections, scoffing at human beings, turning the audiences on unknown persons, are hardly the ways to a better life.

Nevertheless Shamcher, we are working here on the positive side. Last week I was called to a mental hospital and permitted to operate, so to speak, even for a few minutes, and even to my surprise, rather successfully. The famous Fritz Perls is dead. Very popular, very pseudo-profound, and not so successful. But really humble enough to admit it.

I do not know when I shall be writing again. I am trying to keep the mind clear, but with growing audiences and with increasing response it is necessary to have positive presentations from persons and to end hero worship and mockery passing in the name of science.

I do not know how much is being communicated here. I was very happy over your last letter. I believe the cultured of the world are getting together, and I know the young are. There is more hope in these things than in all the scare propaganda of semi-ignorant emotionalists who control the channels of communication.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

March 27, 1970

Mr. Lloyd Morain

156 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, Ca. 94104

My dear Lloyd,

I am sorry to have missed you when you visited my commune so to speak, in Novato. It is not even the same as when you permitted me to speak at Humanist House. It is not even the same, and will continue to change. Fortunately at the moment things are in expansion. There is growth in every direction. We had over 200 people participating in our joint Spring Festival and Gavin Arthur’s birthday. It has been enough to take Gavin out of “realism” and place him in the midst of reality.

As I shall be leaving the city shortly it was necessary to introduce Vocha to one of my closest friends, a disciple in Japanese Zen which has little relation to ETC Zen. I am not going over that; people love their dreams, and I have decided to let them have them. There are others who want realities and in their presence one can breathe and speak.

I have recently subscribed to a Humanist publication and was amazed how great the area of agreement is. But I also realize the folly of working with groups who judge from personality evaluations rather than from knowledge.

But I am not going to press that either. I am going off to a peace conference in Geneva where I am thankful they will permit one to have the floor before they bang-bang at his person. Then I am going to visit the British hippies and also continue my scientific-scientific researches into fertilizers. At least today I can sit back and laugh at the emotionalists who monopolize discussions on subjects upon which they are not grounded at all.

I find in general that young people are open, objective, sincere, and in a sense, scientific in their outlooks. Besides this, some of them have gotten their science from laboratories and not from books.

The magazine to which I submitted real semantics versus general’s semantics has gone out of business, but yesterday I saw the former editor and he is going to make every effort to see that it is revived. Of course this may not be necessary. It is a terrible thing when one has to rely on mob support rather than facts and reason, and I think you know what I am talking about. I can assure you it will never happen again, and I mean just that. We are living in an age of utter emotionalism which is also an age in which the minds of men have progressed sufficiently to enable them to solve the problems of the day if only those who belong to what Lord Snow called the non-scientific culture would get out of the way. In the future I am not going to ask; I am going to demand that I be given full opportunity to present my case before any more value judgments or personality criticisms come from certain or any quarters whatsoever; there is nothing noble in it and it is not pleasing to know it is going otherwise but it is up to you, not to me.

Last week I was sent for to visit a mental hospital. I have never visited mental hospitals. I have seen your presentations of Fritz Perls and Carl Rodgers and others. I have considered this outside my fields. But to my amazement there was considerable success in bringing the girl down to normalcy during the period of my visit. A lot of things are like that, and a lot of things may be like that. I think we are living in a new world of honesty and objectivity. At least I hope so.

As I am going to a peace conference I have no joy in indulging in forensics, but I have even less in not being given proper opportunity to present my position objectively and impersonally before being bombarded.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Geneva, Switzerland

April 2, 1970

My dear Shamcher,

Well maybe this old bearded operator is making good according to your predictions. Here I am amongst some of the top personalities of the whole earth and quite standing up, more than standing up. I have the supreme advantage—and it is and advantage—if knowing something of all the races and the religions, and there is no stupid “expert” to prevent one from expressing himself freely. And none of the horrible personality judgments characteristic of a short while back. When you consider the very large number of nationalities represented and the large number of religions, but not the large number of races; if one knows how to play ones cards, one is able to get along very well without being in the slightest way diplomatic. A diplomat is one who makes lengthy saccharine speeches, carefully modeled, carefully coated and having no depth, and then there are persons with depth; you may be happy to know that this person is known now as the one who writes the longest letters, but makes the shortest speeches but always to the point.

When the worthies were introduced earlier this week one was surprised to find oneself included although next to the last. When the worthies were introduced earlier this week, you will be delighted to know a single person was introduced twice, an honor accorded to no one else, and that was Pir Vilayat. Secretary Mansur and I are in a conference with one of the real great orientalists, namely a Dr. Benz of Germany when I espied Vilayat about to leave the hotel. He was amazed to find me grabbing his cloak, but that is the way it is. And there are so many persons here whom I have wished to meet and whom our “only in America” orientalists could never meet that it is amazing.

I do not count Princess Poon, head of the Buddhist delegation. But I have been successful in placing a copy of the Diamond Sutra published by the late Evans-Wertz and my very closest colleague Joe Miller—this has been placed in the hands of the representative of the Dalai Lama. Joe is very much like me, having taken deep journeys into the heart of the cosmos and being spurned by our “only in America” experts in Europe and England and the press. Indeed there is great hostility in those Europeans and Englishmen who have been dominating so many of the Asian studies in our country from Harvard to California. And among the actual professors of real oriental teachings, I have met so many like Dr. Jurji the Lebanese at Princeton.

I’m sending a copy of this to Gavin and he might as well know that I will have nothing more to do with any person who makes any remarks about my policy for Palestine. Every Christian from the Near East has accepted it. Even the representative of his Holiness Pope Paul has accepted it. And the chief rabbi has given me a profound apology and may take it upon himself to write to some of the rabbis in our land who have adamantly ignored all letters, while hypocritically demanding that Arabs and Zionists sit down together.

I have met pacifists from Egypt with whom there is entire agreement and encountered points of view totally and absolutely excluded by our press and TV.

This is only one of the items. I am now in a committee, headed by some of the top men of the world, making a study of contemporary organizations, verbally proclaiming themselves to be world movements or international. Actually nothing but cliques. We have some right in San Francisco. They exclude any reference to Sufis and great historical personalities who were Sufis. Why even the mayor of Geneva welcomed the convocation in the name of Emperor Akbar.

In my last I mentioned our successful spring festival. A large crowd of young people gathered to wish Mansur and Murshid bon voyage. And when I proclaimed myself the spiritual leader of the hippies, there was quite a response, although the matter is still to come up because while everybody is crying about the young there are so few here, I think something will come of it.

I am to meet the young in London and then in Boston. The exact time of my return now will depend on the status of the air fields. I do not see any difficulty pre-vision or kashf has been pretty good. In fact I have a paper written in 1936 which pretty well foreshadowed what is going on now. There is much spiritual optimism in the personality. This is strengthened by the presence here of Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj whom I consider one of my greatest friends. When you bear in mind that Swamiji and Vilayat have been the two most honored persons here, and that they are excellent friends of each other, sooner or later spiritual vision and spiritual insight will have to be accepted.

I am still exposed to a lot of pessimisms. There are some movements (the Papacy is among them) that seem to preclude spiritual insight and foresight. But there are enough people of heart that sooner or later this may be effective.

There are some controversial subjects. Last session which I did not attend was marked by the obstreperousness of the synagogue representatives. This time it is the Muslims, particularly the more orthodox. Last night we heard a representative Druze. He was immediately and uselessly attacked by a leading orthodox Muslim. One of the Rabbis was astute enough to jump into the breach and be friendly. The Druze theories are not far from Sufism and we each recognize each other—heart and spiritual awakening.

The other chief Sufi speaker Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr addresses us at lunch, so I am leaving this open and will add more later on.

Dr. Seyyed Hossein gave what to me is a perfect speech. He really believes in the living God; he accepts all religions regarding the Islam of Mohammed as the final revelation, but also accepting a greater Islam which includes all religions, all prophets. He quoted the Upanishads as much as the Qur’an, the bible a little less. He did not mince words. He sounded almost like a divine oracle. One only hopes that something will come out of this, for there is still an awful amount of gush and sentiment.

After we visited the Calvinistic cathedral and now Murshid has to consider some vital matters as the standing committee will be meeting shortly. So we close here with love and reverence.

Samuel Lewis.

Geneva, Switzerland

April 5, 1970

Dear Wali Ali:

The conference is closed, but we still have some meetings and reports. How long they will take one does not know. The diary entries will be sent to Novato, and after they have read them, turned over to you. I have sent special greetings to Swami Swahananda at the Vedanta Center. Copy of this to Dr. Chaudhury.

It is unfortunate that not only the Aurobindo Movement but its various rivals were not only excluded, but the direct reports showed definite disintegration. I do not know how one can include and exclude at the same time efforts in such directions are doomed. Indeed my work on my return will be in a positive direction. And we shall also write some other letters and enclose carbon, not diary entries.

Physically Murshid has not been too well, mentally in excellent shape. This morning Mansur has an appointment with one of the new young girls that attended this session. There is much crying about youth, and I must say that the few contributions that were permitted, were excellent. They were far more excellent than the contributions of the many orators who told about universal love, whatever that means. I think the young are tired of “universal love” and would like a little humanity if not more so. Older persons are often self-beguiled by their oratory and emotions. Fortunately this type of older person is so self-divided or played such a minor role here that, excepting numerically, it did not count. It is only that the large number of such persons who contribute nothing but hand applause in the wrong places somewhat overawes the young who want to participate. I told one delegate I thought applause was from the devil. Somebody makes a speech and then out of courtesy of ignorance, the “old ladies” applaud. This makes it more difficult for anyone to express a contrary opinion. In other words, only too often the kick-off becomes the goal; serving the tennis ball alone scores a point, but toward the end of the conference sobriety began to prevail. Without it there would have been confusion and conflicts.

I am especially pleased with the extreme turnabouts by the Rabbi of Jerusalem and the leading American Presbyterian. It will facilitate our efforts toward bringing some sort of peace and understanding in and for the Mideast.

One of the funniest things that happened was Mansur and Murshid doing a portion of the Nembutsu dance for the Japanese. They were delighted. We got a lot of people delighted, me thinks. I only hope I’m not too optimistic.

My brains are washed, so I send

Love and Blessings,

Geneva,

April 5, 1970

Swami Swahananda

Ramakrishna Vedanta Mission

2963 Webster St.

San Francisco, 94133

Swamiji:

Warmest greetings after a series of events long foreseen, that is the conference of the world's religions. What was most clearly foreseen was the conference itself (and perhaps the personal part) and the clear manifestation of the great Vivekananda in the roll performed by your splendid teacher and my very dear friend, Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj. I had long visioned and previsioned this wonderful man performing the identical part that Swami Vivekananda portrayed at the World Congress of Faiths in 1893. And if it had not been foreseen, it would have been indeed truly astonishing.

Swamiji has always spoken about his predecessor. Now I feel I may do the same for him. Anyhow, he is on the Board of Directors and all look to him for wisdom and guidance—excepting some members of numerically small Indian minorities who were permitted to consume time, and why not?

It was marvelous that the world's leaders, spiritual and laic, should come to gather and discuss the problems of the day and consider how the religions may help solve these problems. And all the greater religions certainly contributed a peace and friendship for each other. Indeed we had an
assemblage of prayer.

Excluded were the newer "universal cults" beginning with the Baha'is. All these groups, paying sometimes lip service to the traditional faiths, and all ignoring each other (of course) were considered as not contributing to peace and humanity. Each has its presumably supreme leader who is elevated instead of "God," and not only does each permit its own narrow personality adulation, but they have in many cases removed prayer and devotional meditation and certainly rejected so much of Divine Wisdom that the intelligent and intellectuals alike agreed that they should be excluded.

There was general acceptance that prayer and devotional meditation are requirements, or else there is no religion at all. It was equally assumed that the prayers, devotions and mediations should be of universal nature, although presented in the forms of universal religions. It was felt for the most part that man has no right to abrogate traditional methods, although the door is not closed to editions which are universal and not ego-centric or persona-centric. The person coming closest to breaking this was the Sikh leader. His adulation of Guru Nanak and his scriptures were all but
regarded as ego-centric efforts to replace what are known as the great scriptures of the world. He was a borderline case. If any of the more recent prophets and pseudo-prophets had been permitted to obtain a place in the conference, I think the Muslims who were certainly divided would have united and walked out—thank God this did not occur. In fact we have very definite news of the disintegration of the various competing verbally "universal religions," which in practice are often more exclusive than traditional faiths. They do not know it, you cannot tell them anything, you cannot advise, so their counter-karma is handling them.

On the personal side, Swamiji placed this one where many cultists place their hero-leaders. He did this openly at breakfast in the presence of some of the greatest men on earth. It may be demonstrated. Appearing as the guru of the hippies and the young, I was so accepted.

Outside some of the small Indian minorities, Swamiji was more than Vivekananda. He was more than Vivekananda, because to begin with the Sufis and the Buddhists acknowledge him. The Board of Directors acknowledge him. I think nearly all the Christians acknowledged him. He did not acknowledge himself. He kept on proclaiming Vivekananda. He is perfecting what Vivekananda started. Fortunately my young secretary can confirm my early high expectations of regard, that he could see them in manifestation.

We are preparing to leave for London/ We are preparing to lead the young towards spirituality. We are leaving this place in more than hope and satisfaction. We do not care anymore if the so-called universal cults and universally rivaling organizations ignore us. They have ignored God. They minimize divine guidance. They do not accept the wisdom of the Upanishads; indeed they do not accept scriptural wisdom. Still worse, they abrogate the divinity of man, the Tat Swam Asi and the Atman = Brahman. There is no question that the whole world is now being elevated at least a step in this direction.

I may extend a telephone greeting to you on my return, although it looks that my program will be very crowded indeed. Love and best wishes,

Samuel L. Lewis

April, 1970

Geneva

Beloved One of God:

This is perhaps the most serious letter I have ever written. We are not going to stop wars by hypocrisy, by ignorance, by blatant claims. We are not going to stop wars just by listening to big and important people. These big and important people often include the very ones who fomented the wars.

I think the very first man I met here was the papal delegate. We have gotten along fine. I am called the man who writes the longest letters and makes the shortest speeches. I gave up the Zen robe and stick to dervish clothing. Even that and the beard attract a lot of people. I should not be surprised if my picture has appeared in every country in Europe, and maybe, just maybe, sooner or later in some American publications. It will certainly appear in the pictures that the Temple of Understanding makes for its displays. I think hypocrisy and self-aggrandizement are just as great evils as war itself.

I shall either send this to you in duplicate or ask you to make copies of it. I want some copies in the hands of the Rabbis of San Francisco, but first telephone Ted Riche.

Almost the next person I met was the chief American Rabbi who was sent here, and before I could state my case he offered me his profound apology, especially when I told him not a single rabbi in America has had the courtesy to answer a single letter in the last 5 (five) years, while hypocrites and scoundrels yell at each other about sitting down at a table. Within three days the Rabbi from Jerusalem was apologizing. The Muslims are quite divided; and so what they do and say are received with mixed feelings. The spiritual Muslims are far more tractable than the Rabbis. The non-spiritual Muslims are the very worst people here. Of course one hears lots of talks, often very long talks, about universal peace and love. Others are supposed to listen, but do not anymore.

My every word was listened to with sober attention and cordial appreciation. The Lebanese are far closer to me and I to them. They not only understand, but 2 or 3 of the Lebanese are among the most educated here. This is particularly true of Dr. Jurji of Princeton whom I have wished to meet for a long time. Second to him is a Dr. Malik who lives in Geneva.

I have outlined my plans. When I return home, we may act. And we can write to Rabbis of Jerusalem. The general feeling is that there are a large number of American Jews who have become adept at stirring up trouble, and not wishing to end hostilities. It is so easy to blame. It is almost as easy to enflame. And this I regret to say is true of some people, Jews and Christians, who have had the audacity before the almighty God to accept peace awards. I don’t wish to say that these are the only people who act as if God were not, or were not looking. No wonder youth turns away from religion. But youth is not turning away from spirituality; youth is departing from the self-misled who play selfish games in the name of God of course.

So next to being known as the man who writes the longest letters and makes the shortest speeches, I am known as a man of action and also as a potential coming spiritual leader of the young people, not only at home but everywhere. The time will come when my native city will not be ashamed of the person to whom they would not listen, to whom the floor was bared and sometimes attendance to meetings was barred by respectable so-called institutions and organizations and “experts.”

I would have to go over other notes which I do not wish to do now to tell you of contacts. For example with the Birla family, the richest and most devout people of India. With the Indians of Hindu and Christian persuasion alike. And most of all with our presumable spiritual brother, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. I can name 10 people, meeting whom pays for this trip. And I think Mansur will concur.

To begin with, I am perhaps the only person here who feels thoroughly at home with those of every race and religion. Princess Poon keeps on treating me as if I were little brother. But I did at least put a veto on Alan Watts. I know what her opinions are. Fortunately, I have made contact with all the Buddhists of very varying outlooks, including the representative of the Dalai Lama. But the Theravadan from Ceylon is the most magnificent representative of his particular outlook that I have met. He has won considerable respect.

Of course the great man of the conference is Swami Ranganathananda. He is almost wisdom itself. But it is most wonderful not only to meet and know the spiritual elect of the world, but to see them mingle with each other. I think there is considerable spiritual love and brotherhood, except among the blatant representatives of very small faiths, who try to atone for their small size by taking up more time and speaking more loudly. And of course their themes are always love and brotherhood with no consideration for the audience, an audience filled with saints and humanitarians.

Mansur has the autographs of quite a few here. This is going to make it much easier for any one of us who goes on a grand tour.

The best American is James Roberts of Howard University. He is only inferior to Swami Ranganathananda in that he has studied under Swami Ranganathananda. I think his influence is great enough that the next conference may be held in some part of Africa. I may try to reach my God-son Norman McGee, Jr. in New York when I return. I am also willing to start a fund now for George Matthews and any other colored person who becomes a disciple within the next year. They could, of course, be accompanied by others. This opening up of African peoples is more than a grand gesture. Those who dominate the conference, and by this time this includes Murshid, want vigorous action and I think we are going to have it. As soon as I get out of debt for this trip the travel fund will be started. There are various reasons for increasing this enough to permit Mansur (if he wishes) and George to move not only to Africa next year but within the confines of the United States this year. My brother and I have already agreed that should he die in the near future a good portion of my increased income would go to travel fund. If not, I think the dancing classes will increase to raise money for this purpose.

There is another reason for an increased travel fund. There are in the offing projects for Telstar (satellite communication) and it is possible that Mansur could be involved both as technician and as spiritual representative. A chapter has been completed in the book of his life which began when Jemila left him. I am hoping he realizes, and maybe he does, that there is now a career, even a world career before him.

When we get to England, if not before, some letters may be sent to those persons who scattered scurrilous rumors about me, on the other- hand please telephone the metaphysical library at 420 Sutter saying I hope to be available for any night at all in the month of May unless the present airfield strike prevents an early return. An overflow audience would not matter. I shall also contact the cathedral and give them first a short report, but I wish also if you would get these contents into the hands of Amin, so he could notify Dr. Cum.

This matter may be facilitated by the fact that the chief chairman of this conference is one Rev. Ditzen who is one of the top Presbyterian prelates of this country. He is glorious. In general, the Christian ministers here are on their good behavior, and the rabbis as above also on their very good behavior. It is only the minorities who try to compensate and they become annoyances.

I did have the inner vision and inner feeling, but it is much harder to accept than earlier pre-visions. The Bible may say about dreams and visions, but respectable clergy don’t want that so they lose their youth. There is no trouble about the very few youth here, but they are too few.

Well I got all the reports about Sheila. Of course they are mostly comic, and there is agreement that she is an Irish fay. Her presence as a young person was welcome. Many of the older people realize they have not opened the door to the young. The few young are listened to, but one could almost say—period. On the other hand—and this will also shock all the respectable people, it has been boldly presented that the sex and psychedelic adventures of the young are part of the spiritual life and must so be recognized, that sex has many different meanings among the young and sometimes much finer than among their elders. It is karmic that in this city of Calvin, puritanism has been criticized severely and the Presbyterians them-selves are atoning.

For many reasons therefore, it is important to prepare several disciples for participation in important conferences. However, this does not mean now necessarily those in California. When we reach Boston, the whole thing will be presented to the young there.

It is going to be a hard thing to convince clerics of most faiths that for whatever they sow, thus they reap. They have to learn that they are not exempt from Emerson’s law of Compensation nor the ethics of the Bible which is not to be confused with the empty verbal “Judeo-Christian” ethic, a most narrow and untrue outlook.

I don’t wish to say here that Jews and Christians are necessarily worse than followers of other faiths; sometimes they are much better. But if religion continues to tolerate hypocrisy, it is doomed.

Another thing to be taken up here sooner or later is the question of all the “world brotherhoods,” world movements, international blah-blah who have not anybody from Africa ever on the board if directors; in fact, the one negative point there is at present unanimity on is there should be no super-religion. The various super-religions all have their very private super-popes, hand-picked, and this is well-known—they’re going to flop. Not even the purest and perhaps earliest of them, the Baha’i movement, has presented no case here so far, and it at least is moral. Not a single Indian avatar super-rishi or world saviour has been represented, not any counterpart from other lands. Blatancy and ignorance has no place here.

Even in my most tense operations I usually have times off with diversions as you well know. Perhaps it was not too wise to squeeze out every moment, but at least I have done that, for better or worse. My humor, that I only have solutions not questions, is really being accepted seriously here, and this means a careful preparation of a synopsis of accomplishments, reactions, plans and contacts. At least I am not at least one standing committee, and will try to do come-thing about it.

At times I really act my age here and am so accepted. The saying found in the Bible, “The stone that is rejected is become the corner- stone” has been the keynote of my whole life. When I was an infant palmists made correct predictions, three of them. Otherwise, psychics have correctly delved into my past and almost entirely missed the future, but that does not matter. We shall let you know when we are to arrive in Boston and you may send any mail there. I especially want to learn about any letter from Wells Fargo. I cannot be writing to each individual; in fact, it was only because I am not well enough to attend the banquet tonight that the time is being consumed here and Mansur has been kind enough to remain with me.

It is cold here but not too much so. However, the news is that it will be cold in England, so we are prepared. The conference ends tomorrow but we will stay over another day. There may be extra meetings to prepare for next year. Now people are expecting me to speak. This also means a revaluation of time and money and an increase of hope.

You are free to share this with whom you will, but I don’t wish to present any idea of bragging. The present wars are serious, combined with the refusal of important persons, organizations, even the press, to grant in interview. What is going to happen, and I have foreseen this, is the leading of youth protest parades demanding interviews; of course, if the world press gets out and my picture appears, it will be a different thing. The terrible contrast between absolute refusals and the open doors at the highest levels will sooner or later have its effect, but it is not aggrandizement, it is the effort to bring about real peace, through, by and with people of every rank, race, and station that I wish to accomplish. Fortunately, I am sure to begin with that I shall be more than welcome on the several campuses of the U. of C. and also at Hayakawa State. I have already written a letter to Russ Joyner who is one of Hayakawa’s associates, besides sending him carbons of earlier reports.

With the cathedral sending me an apology, with the Rabbis here being really apologetic and repentant for the behavior of their associates and being regarded as “one of-them” by so many of the world leaders as I foresaw, a new career will be opened. But I wish to go to Lama along with Mansur where we may be able to write out plans and projects and at the same time teach the young who want to learn instead of trying to appeal to their elders. The only person here who tried to dualize me is a Jesuit whom I beat by shoving a profound appreciation both of his person and his methods, and no nonsense about that either. I think my mind is about run out.

Love and Blessings,

St. Ermins Hotel

Caxton Street, London, S.W.1

April 9, 1970

My dear Fred and Corinne:

I do not know whether you have acknowledged my last or not. At my request, no mail is being forwarded. We have been going through a series of revolutions, so to speak. The first came at a world peace conference, mostly in the hands of prelates and spirit al leaders. They were gathered from all over the world. There were some scientists among them. The first thing the conference made a mockery of was that there was any struggle between scientists and religion. This verbal warfare is nothing but a myth in the hands of the press and literary people who are neither scientists nor religionists. They keep up hollow verbal drumming which has no place in actuality.

One thing is sure: everybody was permitted to speak. There was no indulgence in personalities, or rather it occurred only once, splitting the Muslims who were divided and giving the Rabbis some splendid opportunities. I had the rare experience of receiving innumerable apologies from colleagues of persons and groups who have previously shut doors in my face. It now would appear that I may play a leading part in future convocations. I can’t want to go into this subject here, but it is quite possible you will see my bearded face in leading publications.

The second revolution care when we reached London. A cable announced the death of my brother. As with my father before him, there was death-bed reconciliation. This would increase my income substantially, enable me to travel and to back the publication of my poetry; and do other things.

The third revolution will take place today. We are going next to a social gathering at the Royal Asiatic society, and then to one at Gandalf’s Garden, the spiritual hone of the hippies here, or the home of the spiritual hippies. They have already some renown. I doubt whether we will have much freedom after tonight, there being possible all kinds of invitations until we leave on the morning of Thursday the 16th.

Perhaps it has been a good thing that I have been foreclosed, and barred, and rejected, by all sorts of persons and organizations. It has made one develop mettle. Certainly one can hold one’s own in sober discussions at the highest level and no nonsense. My secretary will be taking his address and autograph book with him. He has already many voluble autographs from many parts of the world. He is one of the few young persons who participate in this peace conference. Next year we hope to have many more. One has therefore become indifferent, totally indifferent, to the snubbers. On to other hand, one has become no more and more successful in gaining the good will of the young. Future schedules and programs are quite uncertain excepting we must spend a month in the state of New Mexico, where a summer school is waiting for me to conduct it.

Hotel Intercontinental

Geneva

April 11, 1970

Dear Gavin:

I held out slightly before acknowledging your letter seat here because of newspaper forenotices of an article which has now appeared and which we enclose. However, we hall go through the papers very carefully to see if there is something else before it is mailed. There are some excellent articles on the Huxley family, but I am not going to cut them out.

Last night we supped with Muz Murray, the director of Gandalf’s Garden. We are to go there once more before we leave to give an initial demonstration of our walks and dances and will be leaving immediately after that, Thursday morning, for Boston. We shall probably telephone from Boston to determine our return date to San Francisco. There has been some confusion. The hospital assured me my brother was doing well and within a few hours he died. They had a cable sent asking for my permission to have a postmortem examination. They went ahead without my permission and with the strenuous opposition of the resident cousin who is presumably Elliot’s chief heir. Presumably, the funeral has taken place. Nobody wanted to interfere with my work.

Last night I read what the people of Gandalf’s Garden thought of the late Meher Baba. It was mostly a rehash of Baba vs. Brunton and said very little. It is certain that Baba some has not taken, because his followers have convinced the public rightly or wrongly that devotion to Baba is superior to morality and consideration. On the other hand, Pir Vilayat has made good here as he did in Geneva. He is having a real inter-faith seminar soon. The people begged me to stay, but if Pir Vilayat and I are not together we can simultaneously be reaching different audiences which is what we both want.

We have left the chart with Muz and it should be delivered by the end of next week. I must say that the aspects have certainly been borne out by what has been happening to my colleague; even if some items are not exact, they certainly have been substantiated by hard but simple facts which is the best criterion.

Much of our work here is to follow up the advice and introductions of Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, who is regarded as the world’s leading intellectual authority on Sufism. This will consume about half of our remaining time. We have been to Kew Gardens and will go again. And today await a telephonic call from my dearest Buddhist friend here.

The weather has been almost but not quite miserable: cool but not cold; always portly cloudy, touching rapidly rain hail snow sunshine gloom brightness and Seattle temperature.

Of course life will never be the same and I knew it would never be the same. On the one hand, acceptance at top levels, and on the other the presumably increased and increasing sources of income will make one re-evaluate and rearrange all his affairs.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

April or May, 1970

(No date given)

Anandashram,

Kanhangad, Travancore-Cochin

Dear Ram:

This letter comes from a different address, for Sam may have to give up both the idea of any permanent home or it’s opposite to do as Ram directs henceforth. He is staying (with his secretary Mansur Johnson) in the home of Richard Harvey at the above address. Richard Harvey operates this as East-West House and is also owner of the Sphinx Book Store, in Harvard Square Cambridge, Mass. He has asked Sam for suggestions for books to sell and so Sam is writing this letter and making a small enclosure asking that you send him your catalog if possible at the earliest possible date and also copies of The Vision for distribution and sale.

There is a spiritual awakening in this area very such like in California and Richard is the catalyst—there is no exact leader. We have already met some remarkably spiritual people here and have engagements to meet more in our short stay.

On 28th March Sam and Mansur left San Francisco to go to Geneva. Switzerland, where there was a conference of the religions of the world to discuss peace and understanding. This was under the auspices of The Temple of Understanding of Washington, District of Columbia, in the United States. Their objective is to build a temple which shall be “a house of prayer for all peoples.” This was one of those rare occasions where and when the religions were presented by their own devotees and representatives and not by some carefully or carelessly selected intellectual spokesman. The idea and fact are themselves most wonderful. One day we had fourteen prayers offered in succession—the actual prayers, the devotions, and not the metaphysical exhortation which the manas-ahankara people have quite wrongfully substituted.

It was the top intellectuals themselves who labored to see that love and devotion, not exhortation and emotion, dominated. And it was so. The dominant figure was our very good friend, Swami Ranganathananda of the Ramakrishna Mission. Sam has always called him the Vivekananda of the age. He has immersed his whole life in Vivekananda but now he has functioned as Vivekananda. He was probably without a peer. He was so recognized chiefly by Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Tehran, Iran, who represented spiritual Islam (and so Sufism). When the supreme personalities of different religions meet in amity and devotion a certain goal has been reached.

It is hoped we can go forth and have such goals, and God willing, we shall have such accomplishments. Sam was better received than any of the newcomers. He was most fortunate to meet and greet the representatives of His Holiness, Pope Paul, at the very beginning.

Almost immediately after that we met the Birla family and placed in the hands of the Senior Birla copy of “The Rejected Avatar.” This must have affected him. Certainly the next day the Junior Birla came to greet and thank Sam. They had paid for a whole delegation of Indians of various views so that the minorities like the Jains, Sikhs and Zarathustrians (Parsis) were accepted as equals. But the modern movement rising from the comet-light bearers were not present. There are too many of them. They have not yet been socially and historically effective and they are too much in competition with each other. This has caused some disturbance at other convocations, worsened by the fact that the contenders all verbalize “love” and “compassion” and act as if they had monopolies on these words and the processes involved. Their exclusion may not have been entirely just but it did mean almost universal harmonization, which itself is a grand step forward.

Then Mansur and Sam went to London chiefly to meet the young spiritual people whose center is Gandalf’s garden. They are so much like the young in California that we were thoroughly at home.

We visited the World Congress of Faiths and the Royal Asiatic Society and then our good friend and colleague, Mr. Clive-Ross at Paths Manor. This was a delightful visit with a delightful man. He then urged us to call on his colleagues, Professor Martin Links and Marco Pallis. Marco Pallis impressed us as being a Bodhisattva and joy broke out all over when he told us that Papa had stayed in this very house! Everything in London was like that, but the weather.

After ten days we came to Boston and have begun presenting our spiritual dances and meeting some highly advanced, little known people. We are in the midst of such adventures now but wish to get out this check so that you can ship The Vision as soon as convenient to this address.

When Sam reached London he learned that his brother had just died. We had been enemies for years but Sam has been trying the “Buddha” method. It did not convince some of the leading Buddhists. They want ritual and theology, not demonstrations. But Sam’s brother died as a brother and there is now family amity. We shall not know the details until we reach San Francisco perhaps at the end of the week. But it undoubtedly means an increase in Sam’s income which will free him further for travel and other purposes.

Among the persons met here is Karmu, a spiritual healer and psychologist of the Black Races. He has already renovated Sam’s body and re-awakened his inspirations.

Love and blessings,

Sam L. Lewis

May 11, 1970

Dear Shamcher:

It is time for a diary entry. We are not only busy with the usual but with the unusual also. The unusual will interest you most. There is such fervor for Pir Vilayat Summer camp. It is not so much enthusiasm as interest and exceedingly fortunate success in arranging for it. I have no part in it for the reason below. There is a wonderful type of young man functioning today, and they have in addition to youthful élan that practical aspect of applied intuition, so important in spiritual philosophy but so lacking among elders.

I understand that Vilayat wanted 150 to attend. There is no doubt that this will be easy. We have sent out two teams—one to survey ground and make preliminary arrangements; another to try to raise funds for television piloting. Our main problem has been the maintenance of skeleton crews to remain here but even that has not been too great. At this moment only hope.

The Summer School for Samuel in New Mexico is closed so far as enrolment, schedule, routine, etc., are concerned. We just have to go—for the whole month of June. Added to this will be the work in growing organically fed vegetables and the obtaining of raw milk. This school lasts much longer than Vilayat’s camp.

Daniel Lomax, physicist and musician, will probably go to the meeting in North Hollywood when Vilayat calls for the national gathering. I understand he will come here first and speak at the same Metaphysical Library where I addressed the group last week. The audience was almost entirely young. Older people do not care for facts and there is a big paper article today about a rival congress in Japan which has not the real world leaders at all, strictly “establishment.”

The immediate outcome of the talk was that we shall summon a closed astrological conference—no public and no charge, astrologers only, to demonstrate one portion of “the whirling ecstasy.” There are some very intelligent persons now operating, far better than the “experts” of the past. We did discuss Pluto and Saturday night the second phase of the Pluto walk was presented, and this coordination of that with the “Toward the One” outlook of both individual and group.

This in turn is related to the new “communal” psychology. At least our communes have been successful so far and when we add to that the growing interest in organic and healthy foods, the whole scene is of a real New Age.

Vocha Fiske is here. She has done rather important business in the field of Japanese art and may have to go back to Japan for a combination of commercial, spiritual, and aesthetic interests. She attended the Wesak last night with us—very dull, ritual, superficial. I had to report to them the doings of their own leaders.

There is hope. One Rabbi here has consented to an interview. I am totally indifferent. The leaders pretend they want peace and then offer any excuse not to meet each other. The almost absolute success with the real leaders at Geneva is in marked contrast to the “expertism” of establishment clerics. Anyhow the young will have no more of them, that is certain.

This whole university outlook is helping me. There are now American professors of Orientalia functioning and they are far more tolerant than their “humble” predecessors of English and European vintage. These men would not grant a person-to-person interview on any grounds. They were superiors. Period. A few are still around keeping Sufism out of our culture. But now the university jobs are either in the hands of Asians or of Americans who have submitted to Asian discipline. Why even Baba Ram Dass, in some respects my chief colleague, intends to become a disciple in Sufism!

There are now enterprises for me in the Boston, London, New Mexico and Washington areas. If Pir Vilayat wishes me to go to Cleveland, this also will be added. There is still family business, the nature of which is not clear. Although my brother left me out, there are no males around at all—five women cousins and the doctors (especially) and lawyers are taking advantage. The exact amount of my income is not clear but last month it was more than ample. Some of this must be used to support Vilayat’s camp—at least at the beginning.

We now have one couple engaged in TV pilot projects; another in bringing out a new type of Sufi chant; another group in women’s dances, very spiritual but not “Islamic”; another group in the drama. This besides the possibilities in ceramics and printing. Recently I wrote to Atiya to forestall duplicate purchases, but there are some details which Vilayat himself may settle by presenting what he wants—I shall be away but there is full trust (as above) in so many young men that it is almost tearful, after what Pir-o-Murshid had to undergo. Everything is New Age.

On May 24 another farewell party plus the birthday of Daniel Lomax, Naqib and financial-secretary.

Mansur and Saul will go with me to Lama, and there will be a third driver. I am not thinking of anything beyond July 1st, but hope that Vilayat will lay some grounds for Pir-o-Murshid’s birthday celebration, which will also be my homecoming. But it does not look as if I shall be around very long anywhere unless there are plans otherwise. We are already looking for expansions. All outlooks are most hopeful, praise to God.

We may be concerned with your health and that of others. I have not brought together all my materials. Saul is studying both Herbology and “ancient wisdom” which will culminate with Avicenna. Then we must coalesce this with the work of Dr. Nasr, the other “summit” Sufi leader. This is an enormous project.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

May 18, 1970

Mr. Shamcher Bryn Beorse

Box 142

Keyport, Wash. 98345

My dear Shamcher,

I was very glad to hear from you chiefly because there has been some concern for your health. We do not need “excitement” anymore. That is what is wanted, was wanted; that is what we have.

It is necessary to retrace one’s footsteps finding today that nearly every abandoned project was indeed the right project. The compulsory pressures of egocentric individuals is no doubt effective against upstarts and presumably bombasting little people. But as Pir-o-Murshid said, “Truth in the end, will win.” If I have to abandon anything now, and I do have to, it is for quantitative reasons, not otherwise; I am simply unable to hold on and hang on, even with no failures in sight.

For example, we had a long distance call from Holland the other day regarding Pir Vilayat’s coming. I shall not be here, but the only way I can justify a number of my aims and undertakings, is to have him succeed and absolutely succeed in what he is trying to do—no comment, no intellect, no ego. So there is a side undertaking here for the Arizona camp. Personalities aside, it would seem that Allah favors such an undertaking. If here there is a good pitch of excitement, well I am for it, and imagine you are for it too.

There are only a few days for Mansur and Saul and I to prepare to go to Lama. Evidently Allah favors this too. Saul has been very fortunate in his private affairs. I am collecting as much material as I can conveniently do to work with Mansur at Lama. But we also have the overall efforts both in establishing, coordinating and maintaining a spiritual commune and likewise an organic garden.

At the present time there is an overall increase in the total income of the disciples here due to the successful enterprise of the New Age Health Foods Stores which sell only organic and natural foods. In the midst of so-called depression this business is teeming; there is an overflow of customers; there is a tremendous preponderance of demand, but the supplies languish. We are going to do everything possible. For me first this will be in New Mexico, then perhaps Colorado, and then locally on our return.

The next few days may be outwardly revolutionary in my life. I do not want to anticipate. The present state of the stock market may affect my expected increase in income, or it may be otherwise, but I do feel an increase and exactly what I do not know. One reason for this comes from visions and intuitions all of which have been uniformly correct to this point. There has not been a single event which one did not see coming and mostly happily coming.

Combined with this is the fact that today I have on the agenda an interview with a local Rabbi. I am not expecting any miracles, but at least this person is willing to sit down with me, a rarity among those who uphold what they call the Judeo-Christian ethic, something of which I have little understanding. I have hardly any idea of what it means, but at least I am being granted an interview.

There are two revolutions here so to speak: the one is the human that it may be possible, inshallah, to get people to sit down with each other, especially those people who are yelling the loudest that the other fellows will not sit down with them.

The second is that I have given considerably more thought—and I hope it is thought—to the economics, logistics, and ecological problems of the regions involved. This ecology, however, arises from a presumed knowledge of the botanical sciences, and not from sociology, although I think sociology may benefit.

I shall know tomorrow no doubt about natural increase in income and intend to promote a scholarship on the Berkeley campus. It will integrate the work of the Dept. of Near East Languages with the efforts of Paul Keim of the Engineering Dept., your friend Dr. Howe, and of course, the dry land agricultural departments of the several campuses. This very approach should further full-time employment and do much more. I have piles of research notes and when the time comes, could keep several people busy. I still have several letters and matters to take up with the University.

And while this is going on, all the matters connected with and stemming from the Temple of Understanding. I have received at least one long distance call from Holland, and am also besieged to write further of the last wishes of Hazrat Inayat Khan. While the persons concerned are very “right” I am now taxed to the utmost of my abilities, the only recreation being an occasional dinner. It seems droll that as my income goes upward the possibilities for external enjoyment recede, and maybe this is as Allah wishes.

Disciple Hassan Herz is working on the possibilities of increasing our printing establishment along with others. At the same time, I have received my first offer for actual assistance in getting my spiritual poetry published. It is most welcome of course, so it is a little hard to realize fully the complete turn in events and attitudes arising at this juncture.

While this is going on, we have to also prepare for the personal appearance of Pir Vilayat in this city. I shall not be here at the time, but the instructions are to make this his home. It is not only instructions, but there is overwhelming interest and cooperation without anything being said at all. Isn’t that wonderful? Then there is the work of Naqib Daniel Lomax who will be attending the meeting called for North Hollywood concerning the business affairs of the Order. Daniel has my full confidence. My concerns at the moment are two: one, the establishment of a proper financial organization to support the present secretary, and to systematize the work.

The other is to see that we have those spiritual papers in accord with the esoteric constitution, as already published by Pir Vilayat. I am not opposed to changes in the constitution. I am opposed to repetition of the terrible situations I had to face in the past where constitutions ran one way and policies another way, and the most egocentric excuses were made therefor. I am absolutely open whether the writings and teachings of Pir Vilayat should be considered exoteric or esoteric. I will accept any decision without demur. Perhaps I am over-leaning towards systematic.

The original notes of Hazrat Inayat Khan which he gave to me and which were later seized by Mrs. Duce, show that the original constitution as he wanted it was never put into operation. Here all I want, so to speak, is to have a working organism.

The correspondence from Holland does bring up two sores, which I do not like to face now, i.e., the complex interposition of Murshida Martin and Mrs. Duce (Murshida). But the reason I do not wish to be further entangled is that there is so much positive work going on:

For example, even now it will be necessary to increase the dancing classes locally. I am leaving for Lama to establish what is potentially a Sufi center. And there is the whole complex of Richard Alpert, now known as Baba Ram Dass. At the Psychedelic Conference a few years back, he and his colleagues pooh-poohed my remarks that there was a word in Sanskrit at least for every odd experience each of them had had. They pooh-poohed me no end. Then Alpert, Ginsberg, Leary, and Huston Smith, four of the top five at the conference, went off to India and learned I was correct. Now Huston Smith is away getting further instruction and Baba Ram Dass is preparing to go to South America to study under a Sufi Murshid there whose fame has already reached these shores. This is a very favorable counter-balance to the movements in behalf of the Indian un-God-realized “Avatars,” more of whom are coming here soon. But there is a silent acceptance of this person as being a sort of Khalifa of Baba Ram Dass, and so the doors are very wide open, taking me to the full.

As if this were not enough, there is now the whole peace movement. Being presumably mortal, I have had to choose between throwing my eggs in the Near East basket or Southeast Asia basket. Oh, I was on the ground floor of the latter all right, perfectly safe because the press and State departments do not accept anything from mere mortals. Besides this the vast majority of the small number of actual number of ugly Americans who have actually lived there, have long bowed out. They (or shall I say we) know the Cambodians, the Vietnamese, etc., as living human beings and not as zoological specimens. So from the standpoint of sanity, alas, it is better to be concerned with the Near East, and that is at least what I am attempting to do today, inshallah. I think this is enough for the moment, although I can assure you it is not covering all the activities going around in this vicinity and in this house.

Love and Blessings,

S. A. M.

May 19, 1970

Mr. G. John Champoux, and

Mr. Hieronymus Golgotha

392 Cherry St.

Holyoke, Mass. 010140

Dear Sir:

I have never before received a letter that could be answered figuratively that the correspondent was 100% right and 100% wrong at the same time. This is because we have been under the influence of Aristotle and have ignored the criticisms and suggestions of the great modern philosopher Bertrand Russell and others in this regard. For from the standpoint of the Sufism of Sufis, much be cleared up, whereas from the standpoint of contemporary cosmic astrology, one has nothing but elation.

Sufism is the science and art of pants becoming aware of the omniscience, omnipresence, compassion and glory of the One Being Who alone exists. And this is proved through the demonstration of the awakening of man’s own inner spirit which has been an uncommon and can become a common experience. Idries Shah, it is true, has written about the existence of Sufi Orders, and especially about Orders to which he does not himself belong. This is nonsense. What is more, he has indicated and sometimes averred denials of other personalities who might be spokesmen for Sufism because of their representing these very Orders.

You will please excuse me if I cannot write at length on this subject being an extremely busy person. I must refer you to the Sphinx Book Store in Harvard Square, Cambridge, where you can buy the works of Hazrat Inayat Khan who has been somewhat successful in introducing some forms of Sufism into the West. Later on this year no doubt, Dr. Richard Alpert, sometimes known as Baba Ram Dass, after the training in another form of Sufism. Although I personally have had the disciplines of many of the Sufi Orders it is only now that there is any recognition of simple but hard facts. Indeed if you went to certain universities you would probably end in confusion, receiving interpretations out of line with the interpretations from other sources. The ultimate teaching is that God alone exists. However, if you wish to know more about this we can help you up to a point.

My present plans are to come again to the East-West Center in Boston as soon as suitable arrangements can be made.

On the other hand, Holy Qur’an distinctly states “God is the Light of the Heavens and of the Earth.” Contemporary scientists do not usually study the works of Kepler and Newton, but merely extract such items as pleases their vanity. Even at this time I believe only about 25% of Newton’s writings have been translated from his Latin into English. The astrological writings of Kepler have been largely ignored; those of Newton almost totally ignored until this time.

I am turning the two natal horoscopes over to one of my disciples to have him re-copy them onto a color-wheel chart form which will facilitate an interpretation. In Sufism, there is the development of the intuitive faculty and forms of sight and insight which are not yet part of our knowledge. The rise of metaphysics and the psychic sciences opened doors, but opened them only up to a certain point. When the inner eyes are opened one is not limited by either the known or presumably known sciences of the laboratory technicians, the metaphysician, or the psychics. None of them are wrong, but there are gaps and exclusions from each and all of them, and this leaves a grand universe to be explored.

Now from another point of view everything is beautiful and wonderful. We have a spiritual dancing class here. Basically this glass was established for what is known as spiritual development, and basically this spiritual development was along lines more or less traditional of Sufis. But we also have a prayer and it is more than a prayer, “Open our hearts that we may hear thy Voice which cometh constantly from within.” Unlike the metaphysician, the mystic must actually hear the Voice of the Universe and also make himself the instrument thereof. It is a cosmic not a personal game. No doubt the Voice of the Universe knows a good deal more than personality. Than have been a number of personalities who have been playing games, nothing but shallow egotistical games, and Alice Bailey has been one among others very astute at this. Her prophesies were invariably wrong which has never precluded her being included from the lists of the presumably great. This has caused, will cause, endless confusion. The Jewish Bible regarded those as criminals who made wrong predictions. We regard them as heroes who make any effort at prediction whatever, even when these are 100% wrong. There are higher faculties in man, of man, and with man, awakening direct sight and insight to the extent and degree that “the Heavens declare the Glory of God” in, with, and through human personality. I shall make no effort to prove this logically or otherwise here. One of the disciples was rather astute in Hatha Yoga and has seemingly discovered that there is a center above and beyond the physical body which is operative. The same week I came to a conclusion that this center also was connected with Plutonic forces.

We operate here—disciples only—giving every initiated pupil first a walk consummate with his ego, and then one related to his spiritual development. But our operations indicate that the Plutonic consciousness is group rather than individual, is of the sangha rather than of the person. When we tested it this also proved to be correct, although we have no doubt that our test might not be accepted by a number of teachers and organizations acclaiming spiritual development which they do not have. We are not concerned with this. We are concerned with the fact that the Heavens in certain respects are opening up, are so acclaiming the glory of God, and manifesting in, with and through dedicated individuals.

But the group consciousness is now becoming evident and effective through a new type of commune, and I should say that the Plutonic influences are communal influences rather than individual ones. I am therefore turning your letter and charts over to one of my disciple who is an astrologer and you should be hearing from us as soon as convenient.

God bless you,

May 25, 1970

My dear Art:

While you are advising the stock market—which needs it badly, I am being kid-napped by the younger generation. All ready to be given a test by life itself instead of by Dr. Pompous and Prof. Apriori Rejection. It can go either way. But regrettably I am being sought for more because I have been snubbed, rejected, and insulted publicly and privately by the leaders of “Liberty, Democracy, Humanity, and Peasants, Shut Up.”

This is very unhealthy, of course, but the game is up. At a real summit conference in Geneva when cards had to be put on the table there was a notable absence of “experts” and I don’t know of a single “peace award” winner that has had anything to say about either Cambodia or the Near East. They just pocket their honorifics and the money that accompanies them and disappear. This has been going on for a long, long time.

I am wondering how many of the “experts” of the day can say anything about Cambodia. And there is almost universal agreement to ignore all Americans who have lived in that unhappy land. Why at Hayakawa State College there is an important professor who a little while back received letters of introduction from us, but who cares what she has to say? This interferes with “expertism.” And, of course, we could not possibly have issued such introductions!

Well our farewell party turned out most satisfactorily, more young people. Every week more and off to become their “guru” with introductions to here, there and there. Mostly this concerns organic gardening. It has not reached the ears of the “experts” that organic gardening and anti-pollution measures (in the scientific, not in the “sociological” sense) may actually be most profitable. Wall St. can’t accept that but many of my friends and followers are showing up with more dollars honestly earned. And if you want to meet the young—go to an organic gardening establishment (but don’t let facts influence you).

Now it seems I am being “discovered.” Two doors are opening and I don’t know which one may be entered. The great Dr. Pompous and Prof. Apriori Rejection will have something to explain to their entourages but I am too concerned with the young. And in the mean while both my rejected (of course) peace programs and poetry are now being read with considerable interest and there are movements on foot to publish them. The cheers of the young are more edifying than the jeers of their elders, and it works both ways, at least.

I expect another big party on my return on July 5, but will stop all of these until we have some kind of peace.

It is funny. I have never been on the rolls of any poll, Gallup or otherwise, or even on small ones. But the silenced majority is gradually speaking and this is a most wonderful sigh.

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

Tuesday May 26, 1970

The Temple of Understanding

1346 Connecticut Ave. NW

Washington, D. C. 20036

My dear Peter;

This is really a diary entry and does not require any response from you. Things are happening so fast in my private life, faster than ever.

On the negative side, I find I am under attack again from one of those groups which in Islamic terms would be called dajjalists. Our good friend Dr. Nasr was not favorable to their direct participation in the assemblies for the Temple of Understanding. Each of them has a particular and sometimes quite narrow view, of universality. When two such groups appear at once at a conference under the auspices of The World Congress of Faiths, the meeting ended in a brawl—nothing was accomplished. The same was also true of other meetings to which one need not refer to here, nor are there any negative notes.

On the contrary, when the opportunity is given to reply, I hope to avail myself of the opportunity to put in more than a plug for Temple of Understanding.

If there were two items of “unfinished business” they were the inclusion of African cultures and of the young. There has been present at my last meetings a Yoruban and in the periphery people from Kenya and adjacent lands. While I have been a tyro in the study of African cultures, these studies have been real, not superficial, and I have sufficient direct contacts within the universities to follow up, and perhaps help fulfill, programs in this general direction.

But it is concerning youth that is the main subject here.

While there is a saying, “When dog bites man it is not news; when man bites dog it is news.” Actually the contrary holds true. Everybody but the young themselves have been given the opportunities, if not open invitations, to speak or write on new outlooks involving youth. As an eye-witness to many of the dramas of the day, nearly always unwittingly, I should say there is little resemblance between the facts of events and the reports thereon.

I began my recent work under the theme “Joy Without Drugs.” We just had a party here, attended by 50 young people performing the spiritual dances. My total attendance has increased every single week since the beginning of the year, no exceptions. One of the results has been that my work is becoming more and more televised and recorded, and along with that the efforts of my spiritual colleagues in other faiths. But what astounds me is the very high development in the conscious efforts of young people, belying nearly all the articles written about them by their elders, and instigating among other things the idea of a “children’s crusade.” My own disciples in particular, and with them the disciples of Pir Vilayat Khan—actually the two groups are not distinguishable—show tremendous advances in the application of spiritual energies locked by what are called “establishments” which includes all dialectical extremists.

At the moment many of these are integrated in films now being privately shown. I must say I am totally amazed with the internal genius of my young disciples, all under 30, with a median age of about 25. What they have done, what they are doing, is now on record, and there is a fund-raising campaign in their behalf in which some prominent persons and groups are at least interested.

The films show the dances and ceremonies both of the Chassid Jews and the young disciples of Sufism. At a time when their elders are practicing ethnocide on each other, these groups are showing love and humanity to each other. This matter is being taken up elsewhere, as in the letter to Father Masson, etc. But we also have on the film the work of my vajrayanan colleague Dr. Warwick, who comes from the same school as the late Alexandra Davida-Neal.

Talking to Dr. Warwick yesterday we both agreed that what was necessary was to explain and integrate our mutual endeavors to bring to manifestation the innate spiritual faculties of humanity. This is something the young people want all over, and I mean the young people and not the literati who write about then,

I have suggested that this could best be done by dedicating the films to the Temple of Understanding, or at least including an explanation with emphasis for the Temple of Understanding. On this point Dr. Warwick agrees. And I shall keep you informed about progress.

I am about to leave for Lama Foundation in New Mexico, where I have said we hope to establish a pilot Temple of Understanding. It will be a test on my prowess.

In my absence, there will be here another what is called “Holy-Man’s Jamboree.” It will include Pir Vilayat, a Guru in Kundalini-Yoga, and representatives of at least two of the many rival schools proclaiming a particular Indian as the Messiah or Avatar of the age. I will be away but I am hoping that there will be some emphasis on Temple of Understanding. I have already interjected this into Wesak Celebration.

I must say that everywhere the young people want to worship with each other, alongside each other, and they are not so interested under what ritual or religion. They want togetherness and brotherhood. This has been most emphatically expressed. And so far as the youth are concerned here I am leaving on a higher note than I have ever been able to attain in previous years.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

May 26, 1970

Dear Gavin,

This is a sort of hasty farewell letter. I am going off to conduct a summer school, everything arranged for me: enrollment, funds, program, everything. No doubt at least indirectly this has been possible through the efforts of Richard Alpert, known as Baba Ram Dass. But it is also quite evident that one has the good will at least of a number of prominent Asian philosophers and holy men, and I mean Asian philosophers and holy men and nothing but Asian philosophers and holy men.

When the cards had to be placed on the table before the real spiritual leaders one was not shut out a priori. Indeed one took every advantage of the differences to work for peace and good will pragmatically, not just verbally.

But I am writing this because yesterday there was a preview of film. Most of the scenes were either of myself or my most active disciples. But some were of spiritual colleagues, especially your neighbor Dr. Warwick and Rev. Shlomo of Jerusalem. The very impact of the past month is forcing open doors of the lofty, the proud, the conceited, who have habits of refusing interviews or giving others an opportunity to speak before lambasting them with criticisms. And while the worst of these no doubt has been Dr. Hayakawa, there are enough of them, and I think all of them will pass out of the picture.

One thing I do which the lofty, the proud, the conceited, do not do, and that is give free rein to youth, free rein in everything. Youth is recognizing this.

In my absence youth will have another “Holy Man’s Jamboree” where actual, or self-styled spiritual personnel will gather before the young, the frustrated, the heart-hungry. Pir Vilayat will no doubt represent Sufism, but if he does not there are now available a number of young people who can do this. When the Gods arrive, the half-Gods go.

But I am writing this because you appeared in the film. There is no explanation, but the picture of you is excellent. Now we have to have explanation, only at this time the producer has gone to New York, both to try to arrange funds and to contact some of the most important people in this field. I am leaving it to them, the young. I am satisfied they will know how to carry on.

As to others, let the dead bury their dead.

We had our last birthday party here, excepting the one on July 5 to commemorate the birthday of Hazrat Inayat Khan who brought Sufism to this country. We are doing this out of protest for we all feel the present administration is entirely wrong in their attitude toward the living people of Asia.

Love and Blessings,

June 2, 1970

Box 4444

San Cristobal, NM 87564

Rev. Dr. Neville Warwick

1551 Octavia St.

San Francisco, Calif. 94109

Bodhisattva:

There is something going on like a mystery, and maybe it is a mystery. It should be of especial interest to the mountain-climbing yogis.

In the first place I do not know whether it is a story or a legend that led to the acquisition of this place by my good American friends. I do not know and I have not asked how they came to perform certain rituals that look like either Vajrayana or kachina (I do not know if there is any relation between this term as applied here and that found in Pali literature and rituals.) To me it has always been a source of wonder.

I have before me copy of Early Madhyamika in India and China. The writer is one Dr. Richard Robinson of the University of Wisconsin, a long-time friend of, the late Robert Clifton (Phra Sumangalo). On page 10 he quotes from D.T. Suzuki’s Reason and Intuition. I am not acquainted with this particular book. I do know that Daisetz championed prajna but seldom used it. I equally know that my own efforts to promulgate and practice prajna have run into storms of reproach from a number of conflicting camps and personalities to whom I sarcastically refer as being “anatta” Buddhists.

I have never accepted the divisions of the Dharma followers. Just as I had to see in later life Phra Sumangalo die of a broken heart because of the Vietnam situation, I had earlier in life to witness the late Dwight-Goddard die of a broken heart because of the mutual conflicts and animosities found among especially the Buddhists in the West—here the Vietnamese have shown considerably more wisdom.

I came to this place to be tested by life itself. I have to operate as spiritual director and also to some extent as director on worldly matters such as programming for work and building up the crop gardens and disposing of surplus, etc. It I am to be judged I am to be judged by life and not by conflicting dissidents who seem to feel that if the world does not go in their direction, it is going wrong. I hope to meet a few honest Buddhists, that is to say those who after asserting that Tathagata presented 84,000 Upayas, they themselves will actually accept 2 or 3, but even 2 or 3 seem to be beyond the range of some very self good verbal practitioners of the Dharma.

My first talk was entirely selfless and prajna; it was not planned, it was spontaneous. I told them that one of the purposes of my coming here was to instruct in the practice of Mahamudra. I felt that all the themes of the late Nicholas Roerich were correct, excepting that the Himalayas were necessarily most sacred and other mountains profane.

It is to me horrible nonsense to speak about many Buddhas and not accept their manifestation, especially among peoples with whom they have had no connection. There are wonders in southeastern United States. I do not believe it was possible to establish complex irrigation works, cotton growing, etc. unless there appeared among these people some great perfect enlightened one. While many of the races and religions seem to have disappeared, the spiritual line has persisted to this day. I find also that some of the natives regard this as a holy mountain. A hermits hut has already been built but nothing done beyond dedication. I said I would teach them the jhanas, that the jhanas would prepare them for the Mahayana and that owing to the condition of the world, the manifestation of a whole new age and their own personal and collective desires, the Mahamudra would be normal and natural. I do not expect to do this all at once but the directives are clear.

I am already overwhelmed. Most excellent contracts at Albuquerque and Santa Fe. New ones in the Taos region will be easy, often automatic. How to bring these people together? No more separative sectarianism. No more analytical cults, but the broad outlooks of cosmic vision. The events seem to have their own logic. The lowest portion of this ground is 8,000 feet above sea level. The little I have seen of the land higher up, the more profound pure and noble the atmosphere. So my work is cut out for me.

On the other hand, the already patently manifest love and joy is as great as any encountered anywhere. It will be easy to make the Lama Foundation the site for pilgrimages, even to become holy ground. I am not going to anticipate, I am going to feel and work, but I thought you should know and I thought that sooner or later there should be contact between your own group and the people here. In addition, the organic garden efforts should excite Terry and, it possible, he might be induced to come here sometime as a fore-agent.

I may not write further but should see you as soon as possible after my return. We do not have any newspapers or radio here. This should make the practice of Mahamudra even more effective.

Samuel L. Lewis

Box 444, San Cristobal

New Mexico, 87564

June 2, 1970

Rev. J. Eugene Wagner

135 Ninth Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif. 94118

Bodhisattva:

There is a series of transcendental experiences going on, the nature of which is not clear, but the last thing wanted is analysis. It began with the break-down of the car in which we were driving. Sufi Inayat Khan said, “Pleasure breaks and pain opens up the way for inspiration.” Any conclusion, logical, or illogical would be superfluous.

We were almost immediately picked up by some roving Hippies and brought to a friend in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There we also met our friend, Prof. Archie Bahm who is a marvelous East-West person, a little closer to humanity than the better known Huston Smith who is now in seclusion in the Orient. Before the days were over the doors opened wide in Albuquerque and I may stop there a little before my return—by plane or car, I do not know.

We then went to Santa Fe and ran plumb into a spiritual commune and that door opened wide. Then we came to Lama which may well become the center of a sort of American Lama-ism. While I am here to present Sufism it became obvious that something more is in the wind. Both Sufism and Mahayana teach the transcendental intuition (kashf or prajna and there is no nonsense.) It is operational and it has made me bang down hard on rump-ritualism called “Zen” which ignores in toto Daisetz’ dictum (he was not correct) that Zen is Prajna and not Dhyana. My theme and it is going to take some kicks to make me change is that the real Mahayana is Prajna.

I had already planned to teach the Jhanas here, devil may care, and no nonsense. I glory that the “anatta-Buddhists” of all camps have disowned me; the Mayahanists because I teach the Jhanas”; the Theravadins because I say that every meditation is an anicca process which alters and even transforms the person, so that he is no longer the same entity after even an abortive attempt of meditation and to this “heresy” I will cling or maybe it is nothing but the application of the Bodhisattvic vow, so shunned by all the elite.

The Qur’an teaches that the Divine Light is neither of the East nor West and I presented that therefore the Rockies were as Holy as the Himalayas, and that this was the place to present the Mahamudra Meditation. I said there would have to be a mountain lookout, and was amazed to find that the mountain lookout had already been built but not dedicated nor used. So I begin tonight with the Jhanas, to go on to the Avatamsaka methodology and then to Mahamudra for which this high mountain place is well adapted.

To get ideas I have found a book in the library Early Madhyamika in India and China. I have found it is written by our good friend Ricky Robinson. But I find myself way off at the beginning. He seems so concerned with dialectics. He seems so unconcerned with mystical or transcendental experiences. Yet he also seems concerned with differing from other writers in the same field, as if only linguists and writers understood the substance of Mahayana. He constantly uses the term “trance” when he should be using the phrase “transcendental” or for some other purpose. But “trance” is a lowering of consciousness, while “trans” is an expansion of and raising of consciousness. So far I find both him and his colleagues friendly or inimical, over-concerned with forms of dialectics. Yet on page 10 he quotes D.T. Suzuki on prajna (I think Suzuki is verbally correct) and then he immediately offers Bertrand Russell, “Bertrand Russell has stated the opposite view point”; what the devil Lord Bertie has to do with anything Asian I don’t know. He himself wrote History of Western Philosophy and he himself disowned any positive knowledge of orientalia.

I am constantly harassed by well-intentioned people who interpose that Hegel or Gurdjieff or Krishnamurti or President Nixon or my next door neighbor might differ from me. No speaker can proceed rationally, because there are always opposing views to anything.

I have to decry this method. Where are the bhumis or parimis (or paramitas). They are essential to all Buddhism and perhaps to all dharmas. They rise out of human experience and measure human experience. This has nothing to do with dialectics or measurable Aristotelian logics, which by their very nature belong to maya.

I still want to read the book. I see ahead there is a chapter “Mysticism in Early Madhyamika.”

There is another heading, “Nagarjunism and the Prajna Paramita Sutras.” These are excellent titles, and I think the perusal of this book will be valuable.

But I would not be writing this would it not be for the very solid sound fact that the ego consciousness is being constantly lost and certainly was when I outlined the plans for the Mahamudra meditation. I am sending a copy of this to my secretary W.A. Meyer which he may hold or give to Master Seo or copy or do anything with. I am also placing a carbon in the hands of my good friend, Prof. Archie Bahm in Albuquerque. This is all for the moment, but I think you will hear from me both on the progress toward a Mahamudra meditative center here and a critique of sorts to Ricky. I shall not write him at this time. Best remembrances to your family, etc. You may share the above with anybody you wish.

Faithfully

SAM

Rev. He Kwang

Box 444,

San Cristobal, NM 87564

June 3, 1970

Khankah

Dear Khalif and Beloved Ones of God:

It is very difficult to keep you informed of everything that is going on. There are certain things written in the book of life and they are coming to pass whether we as individuals want them or not. Hazrat Inayat Khan said that the Message was in the Sphere. In his last lectures—which were never heeded—he said that the sun shone elsewhere in the world than Suresnes. At least Vilayat definitely has this spirit. But I must go further and say that the Message is manifesting in so many directions one has to adjust to opening and widening doors.

For instance I had already in mind going to Santa Fe next Tuesday for and in the daytime. Now it appears Josh has scheduled a meeting in Albuquerque for that night. I am inclined to accept this as a forerunner for other matters. In fact, we leave here on June 30th and my concern is to be in San Francisco on July 4th, which gives us two more days time on return. I wish to use part of this for at least an overnight visit at Camarillo and possibly a little time with Bibijan at North Hollywood.

Now as to initiations. It is alright to take them theoretically. When Jemila left I knew this was Mansur’s initiation. I saw everything that was to have happened, and the book was closed when we returned from Boston. Then the car broke down, and I knew this was another initiation. But this time his foresight has been awakened. It came very clearly to me what Pir-o-Murshid said, “Pleasure blocks but pain opens the door to inspiration.” But this time it was like two doors, one for him and one for me.

My door is seen in the increased dance inspirations, in the absolute harmony with the diverse plans of young people in this state and in the ease I am getting transmissions.

His thing is so clear to me and his plans for New York and I presume Boston seem to me to be totally in accord with the spirit of the Message that I am delighted. While every pain and sorrow is not an initiation, those that come upon us suddenly and where there is apparently no moral sin involved, the initiate is paying a karmic debt and removing samskaras. This means an elevation on the spiritual path and in and toward hierarchical functions.

I am not courting suffering, but as a Murshid I have to be aware at all times of the awakening of the disciples, whether by the positive experiences of Fatima and Akbar or the negative ones of Mansur. These may or may not happen at any time as it is said, “in the hour ye think least the son of man cometh.”

Basira has gotten into the spirit of this place very well. Kay’s plans and the need of this place harmonize immediately. Bill is already functioning in the musical field, and I believe everything will progress. Saul’s work as hakim has become necessarily practical. I do not know how well Selima is functioning but I can say that all of the little children are behaving much better than anticipated—and I mean all of them—and I do not mean to apply this to other little children here, which is not always the case.

I may have one interview before Saturday, and after that will be open for more of them. There certainly is an absolute, not relative, spirit of love, harmony and beauty here. After two lessons from In an Eastern Rose Garden we open with The Mysticism of Sound tonight.

At the moment I should say the whole program, both the one in vogue and the one planned, work in more closely to the ideals of theTemple of Understanding than to what Vilayat seems to have in view, though I cannot be clear on this point.

They want a kiln built here. It would have to be in the summer. With Shirin away and with James foreseeably staying in Marin County I do not know how we can help, but you can show Shirin this letter. The only copy goes to Wali Ali for the permanent file. That is all I have time for now—children’s dancing class shortly, then the adult dancing class.

I received a most satisfactory letter from the estate. I received a small but substantial increase and would have to submit estimation for any further allotment for care of eyes or teeth.

Love and Blessings,

Murshid

Box 444,

San Cristobal, NM 87564

June 3, 1970

Finley Dunne

Temple of Understanding

Washington, D.C.

My dear Peter:

I believe it was St. Paul who said that he did nothing but only the spirit of Christ within him. In a certain sense, consciously, unconsciously and superconsciously, this seems to be going on here now.

A copy of a letter sent to Anandashram in India tells a little of what is happening. I think the strongest support of any claim that the spirit of God is working through me is that I am seeing it more and more in others. I have not the slightest doubt that we may have a miniature Temple of Understanding here. The present meditation room is a blending of the rites of Indians around Taos, Vajrayana Buddhism, and mystical Judaism. The ceremonies are different everyday and are adopted from one or more religions by the person in charge that day. No doubt there is a validity in Vilayat Khan’s efforts to have a universal worship, syncretic and eclectic. But this is rather synthetic and integrative, quite unbound, yet within the scope of existing religions, yet bringing in the spirit of the new age. This is only the beginning and as I have said, I wish to work under harmony and unity.

There have been films taken of the work chiefly of my dancing classes, of my disciples, of the Vajrayana Buddhists, and the Hasidic Jews. One critic has said, and I think rightly, that there is no amalgam. What I had proposed from the very beginning was to use this film to support The Temple of Understanding. It would synthesize and syncretize. It is also peculiar that in the room where I was personally interviewed in Novato, your emblem was on the wall. Any reference to it which may have taken place has been so far deleted. I think we can all work to and for a common purpose in supporting The Temple of Understanding.

I am introducing here and developing the Dances of Universal Peace. Sunday the doors will be thrown open to young people from Santa Fe and Albuquerque and later we (Mansur and I) should appear in those cities before returning to California.

We have no newspapers or radio/TV here. We hope to build up a communicative atmosphere of peace. Where I differ from the many groups that sincerely or insincerely claim to represent universality is that we do everything with devotion here. It might be called “karma yoga.” But if you went into the library you would find more books on the accomplishments of Christian saints than on any theories of Indian writers. No doubt there is some Indian influence here and it should be welcomed, but it should never be permitted to throw out the creams of our own traditions. It does not matter whether you answer this or not. I feel it is my duty to keep you and others informed until I return to California.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis & Mansur Johnson

Box 444,

San Cristobal, NM 87564

June 3, 1970

Anandashram

Kanhangad

Travencore, Cochin

Dear Ram: Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

There is indeed a spiritual revolution going on in this country. Sometime ago Sam wrote that when the well-known Allen Ginsberg was in this region hardly a handful supported the idea of a social revolution, while thousands of people, nearly all young, repeated mantrams in joy and welcomed a spiritual revolution. This revolution is going on partly leaderless, but those who have been summoned by the young to be leaders or gurus are without exception those who were rejected previously.

Years ago Sam confronted a Baha’i leader and asked him what would be the difference between 400 conflicting religions and 400 conflicting universal brotherhoods. He gave the usual egotistical answer: “They should join us.” So now in the world there are a growing number of very verbal, verbal, verbal “universal brotherhoods” based on Me Power, Wealth, and God, God Being the Most Junior of the Partners. When you mention another group they say: “They should join us.” The result is that among seniors and authorities there are an ever growing number of new groups all pretending universality, all collecting money and seeking fame, and claiming to be doing this in the name of Deity. Hazrat Inayat Khan, my first Sufi teacher, said, “Good aids good, while evil fights evil.” With almost a single exception these so-called universal brotherhoods have refused to accept any report concerning the Temple of Understanding. It is annoying and interfering.

Anyone with any sense of morality, any sense of morality, would see that there was the same inspiration behind Bulwer Lytton, H.G. Wells, Sri Aurobindo and many, many others, pointing to the “Coming Race.” It is here now. I am living in a spiritual commune, in a part of the land where there are many spiritual communes practically all confined to the young. When they succeed they are by-passed by the channels of communication.

Last year Sam met a number of young pilgrims who had been to India. “We are going to build our own Auroville. We have our own money, our own land, our own aptitudes, and we are devotees, not politicians.” That is the feeling of the whole countryside here.

There is a magazine in India called “The Mountain Path.” The editors have claimed that to have enlightenment you have to go to Arunachala. They are not satisfied with the Himalayas. Sam always calls himself a heretic and a renegade because he bathed in the Godhavari instead of the Ganges.

Mohammed declared in Qur’an that the light of Allah was neither of the East nor of the West. Muslims proclaim in words that there have been many messengers of God; Buddhists declare (in words) that there have been many Buddhas. All words. There is every indication that the southwestern part of the United States was blessed in ancient times by enlightened souls. This is a subject of marvel to the anthropologists, and one of annoyance to the “Universal brotherhoods.” Indeed the mysteries have been as well preserved here as in the Himalayas. A much larger portion of the descendants of the natives have had access to them, and they regard this Lama as a holy mountain.

We are dedicating and renewing this holy land. After a number of abortive efforts on the part of certain verbal universal brotherhoods to establish themselves here, using and exploiting the contributions of others, the young are doing these things themselves. They have tremendous vision and they work in unity with or without leadership.

Sam received a surprise as soon as he entered this state. There are tremendous numbers of young people who wish universality, universal universality, and not special leadership. You can get them to chant mantrams more easily than inviting them to a meal. Already Sam has been sent for in two parts of this state. While he foresaw this by prajna, still he was surprised. The young have no response to the ego pseudo-leadership of seniors. Yes, they may even accept not me power wealth God, but God power wealth me, which is something most of the pretending world and universal groups will not accept. They will refuse to relinquish leadership, and they are crying for moral resurrection without showing any signs of being willing to relinquish leadership.

Sam has never sought to be guru; he wanted to join in brotherhood efforts. But the consistent refusal by the ignorant to accept the existence of Sufis, to the historical roles they have played, and their high moral and mystical attainments have made it necessary for Sam to abandon all efforts to work with them, rivals as they are to each other. He may be compelled to fill the role of a guru in the absence of real spiritual leadership.

When Sam was initiated into esoteric Buddhism, something the so called moral-spiritual leaders refused to accept, refused to hear, he was ordained as Protector of the Dharma. So now he is restoring the Dharma beginning with the love-joy-peace jhanas of Lord Buddha. They are acceptable; they work. Sam has run into such love emanations and love personalities, all young people, in this state of New Mexico he is more dazed by that than by the high altitude. When in Geneva a man offered to come to California to organize his work, he knew this must be done.

We are going to have, evidently, two sorts of initiation. One will be rather open, making use of either the Ramnam or the Islamic kalama—no more; that should be enough for many people. If after this sort of probation they wish further training (I am not sure always that training alone brings the divine grace), they will have it.

Sam’s koan so to speak for this incarnation has been The Stone That Was Rejected Is Become the Cornerstone. Everything is in marked contrast to his two returns from Asia.

This coming week there will be a Holy Man’s Jamboree in the city of San Francisco. Unlike previous “universal religion” convocations the Sufis will be represented; also, Shivaananda, Yogi Bhajan, Sai Baba, and possibly Sri Aurobindo. Unlike the followers of Sri Aurobindo, we invite others, we include others; in God’s company all are welcome, all belong. Although Sam will not be there, it is his disciples who are promoting it. Thousands are expected. This is the trend of the time.

Besides this disciples are now visiting various parts of the country and they are introducing Sam’s spiritual dances. We hope to bring all these elements together for The Temple of Understanding. Here they have a remarkable blending of elements from all the religions, not in philosophy, not in sermons, but in devotional ceremonies with the same universal themes of love, joy, and peace.

Before he leaves here Sam expects to institute the Mahamudra contemplation. He has used this himself a little. To restore the Dharma means to restore the dharma. In teaching spiritual dancing Sam has said, “It is absolutely necessary to adhere to the mantram; it is not so necessary to adhere to the techniques of singing and dancing but never change the divine words.” Everywhere the young love this. And if there does not arise a leader who will lead in the name of God and not for his ego Sam may be compelled to play a larger part in world affairs. There are already legends going on, especially in the last few years.

There is no special stopping point. Business and other matters may not be attended to until after his return. The Bible says, “A nation without vision perisheth.”

From four different sources, all mystical, in the past two weeks have come signs to restore certain elements of Christian mysticism which have either been discarded or forgotten though not entirely. We hope to have a universal, all inclusive cosmic approach. When Sam was asked what his position was, he said, “The highest point on a ball.” The young all recognize this and laugh. As to others one leaves them to their own devices. You should see and hear how these people praise God and work hard in love and mutual respect.

Om : Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

Samuel L. Lewis

Lama Foundation

Box 444

San Cristobal, New Mexico 87564

June 6, 1970

Mr. Rudy Olsen

166 Geary St.

San Francisco, Calif. 94108

My dear Rudy:

So many things happen in life. George Bernard Shaw once said, “I hope someday to convert a banker to socialism, but a banker’s clerk, never!” In a somewhat parallel fashion one hopes to get some people to accept one’s outer experiences, but those over 50 almost never! Didn’t one very respectable group accept my totally fanciful escape from Russia, but never would let me speak on Asia! They are nice people, without a doubt, but I don’t know what nice means.

It was all very fine for the “good” people to refuse to accept my reports on Asia—that is the way “good” people behave. But this Spring I was at a convocation of all the real leaders of the real religions of the world and it was different. The very first hour we met the personal representative of His Holiness, Pope Paul. We met our very good friend Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj; we met the top Sufi representative who represents Sufis and not ersatz corporations (Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr); Princess Poon, of course.

We were the only ones who had contact with all groups, all representatives, all religions. There was no pretense. No verbal “brotherhood of man” excepting from the Sikh leader who was constantly lecturing on Love to an audience of notables who showed much mutual respect for each other, all around.

Of course the American papers did not cover it. So one wise man said next time we should invite a communist and then the press would give us cover.

Anyhow the young accept and their seniors talk about love and brotherhood and do not grant interviews. So here I am in a spiritual commune way up in the Rockies where they practice, practice, practice what others preach, preach, preach but would never think of practice. It is marvelous. It is the New Age. It is the New Age without Abdul Baha Avatar, Sai Baba Avatar, Meher Baba Avatar or any Messiahs. Just human beings who demonstrate lover and humanity, and worship according to the forms of all religions and don’t waste time on endless lectures, comprehensible or not comprehensible.”

But that is not why I am writing. You can’t reach people over 40 and you can’t not teach those under so I am gaining constantly followers; London, Boston and now here and no doubt elsewhere. Hundreds have participated in my dances. The “good” people won’t even look at them, God bless them.

When we got to Santa Fe I was introduced to George who has a very successful commune. You can bet it is not in the papers. No sex, drugs, and success, so not news. Never in the land of “freedom.” I asked him what his profession was and he said, “Astrologer.”

So I gave the walks of the seven planets which do not interest the “good” people. The young there all laughed. They enjoyed it. So tomorrow we are going to have a grand session here on “Astrological Yoga” and “Astrological Dancing” which the “good” people know I can’t have thought; the principles came from Ruth St. Denis whom the “good” people are sure I never knew although her pictures are in my house where others would have Christ or Buddha.

Everything is happening to me. Everything that the “good” people rejected is now coming out into the open—my writings, my poetry. My work is being televised with the possibility of it being exhibited. Everything is expanding including income, praise to God.

But I no longer have spare time—classes, interviews and garden work, and life is full, up to the brim.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

Box 444, San Cristobal,

New Mexico, 87564

June 10, 1970

Moineddin Jablonski

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

Dear Khalif:

As-salaam aleikhum, and to all the brethren.

Your letter touched the heart and please continue that program. We have done three of the Jhanas and I hope to finish them soon to go into the Mahayana meditations, not Zen, but scriptural and Prajna.

On the negative side, the turning of a spiritual film to a promotional matter involving promoters, etc., means clamping down hard. But it is not only from this point of view but there are health hazards. This is not Chesterfield-Hilton. There are many ill at this time and if hardy souls and bodies are unwell how about tenderfeet? I know what will happen.

Just as the doors are opening to potential cooperation on a large scale from prominent groups, “we” have to include all sorts of opportunists who are glad to get on the band-wagon. But it is not going to be. Today they turned away somebody who came here for psychiatric help from this person. There are no such arrangements, the rules are clear, and besides I get nothing for looking after the woes of the generality.

I am returning almost in terror of the labors before me. We have to organize in some way. I have a clear picture and I am glad Vilayat felt the spirit of his father on Precita Ave. But not only is the spirit still there but the actual items of memories, how and what. We cannot turn the Message of God into a commercial, opportunist enterprise. If we do Murshid will be drafted into a larger non-commercial filming which may have endless finance behind it, too. All I have to do is write a letter. I should prefer otherwise. We either follow God or ourselves.

I understand the Holy Men’s Jamboree was a success but I know this will bring more people to our doors and closer cooperation with Steve Gaskin and I am filled up now. Our meeting Sunday was a success. People came hundreds of miles to meet Murshid.

Then there has been unexpected help. Jessica who used to be at Olompali is in Albuquerque and will cooperate with Josh. The audience was excellent, in everything.

We had the same experience at Santa Fe as before. Then we saw Doyle in the rain. We missed Diana and ran into her in the street. Diana was happy to join us. This was an excellent group, more advanced than any beginners met so far and the response was equally so.

We shall have other business to take up with Diane before returning. The question is what to do with these people, but I am waiting reports from Daniel about the business meeting. There is no question about “May the Message of God reach far and wide.”

If possible I should like Marty or somebody else to pick grape leaves for the Gossip restaurant.

We have had sufficient rain here to encourage the gardens—flowers, trees and vegetables. Tomorrow it will be back to the potato patches.

Love and blessings to everybody,

Samuel L. Lewis

June 11, 1970

My dear Gavin:

I feel like Paul Brunton only it is the Rockies, not the Himalayas. I understand I am on the side of the tallest mountain outside of California and Colorado.

My career continues to be like that of Samuel Morse with some spicing from Samuel Clements. Only there are mixtures and today one has to be compassionate in receiving apologies from this person and that group who either has refused interviews or the floor. And this career of having been a priori’d by the important and self-important is adding to popularity.

The young here are wonderful. And now visiting both Albuquerque and Santa Fe I have two new groups. The one at Santa Fe received astrological walks and dancing and they are progressing very nicely. A whole pilgrimage here Sunday to meet Sufi Sam.

Of course I missed the Holy Men’s Jamboree. I understand it was a success. I don’t know how many holy men were there but just enough to put the “experts,” if there were any, in the shade.

I have a lot of work to do. Evidently Allah and Sri Krishna are on my side. But I’ll have very little spare time when I return, and am going ahead with the same missions I always had in mind, but this time receiving respect and cordial cooperation.

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

Lama Foundation

Box 444, San Cristobal

New Mexico, 87564

June 16, 1970

Bodhisattvas:

One is reminded that the diary has not been kept up to date and one seizes such opportunities to act as if one were writing a letter but actually all is for the record.

Fudo stalks again. In a time of strife when anybody but the Vatars, Sadgurus, Mahatmas, Mahashias and such can recognize samsaras, people are either looking to the “elect” of the past or the “select” of their subjective futures and the principle that one should work out his own salvation, with or without diligence, is anathema to the aging, and delightful to the young.

I have just written a Fudo letter to one of the “Word Bosses” carefully self-selected, two of their cabinet being in San Francisco, one in England and the rest in India. God is rather a nuisance to dare to interfere with the “divine plans” Me—I leader. Of course the young had a jamboree in San Francisco and crowded the place. I think only one Avatar was represented, but not being there I do not know. Some upstart had the audacity to tell the young that they were the beloved ones of God or Bodhisattvas or some such nuisance-nonsense and that carried the day. And this will be followed up in this region about which I may be able to tell more and add to this when I return.

This whole countryside is being filled with communes and ashrams. Some of them pretty good. But there is some problem about Buddhism. The only point I differ from these New Age people is their attitude on tea and coffee. They are letting me have coffee, but it is notable that several Buddhist leaders have refused to come here unless they could have tea and it is a pity that this should be the bone of contention. In the case of the Tibetans it has been downright refusal despite the name of this place and its situation high in the Rockies.

Yesterday an offer came from 125 Waverly Place and that has prompted me to write. I have written Warwick; so have they. No answer. I don’t know what has happened to Master Seo. What is more to the point—I have changed practically the entire Buddhist world. I teach the Jhanas and they work, believe me they work. Now I am in Mahayana meditations (not Zen) and this is preparing them for the Mahamudra. I am not playing games. But there will be a real Zen Master here shortly, the only Buddhist who has accepted offers.

This place is prospering and some of their neighbors too. But the whole land is spiritually hungry and looking for leaders. And now the name of “Sufi Sam” is spreading like wildlife.

The dominant theme is Kundalini. I am not opposing it but opened up my talks on “Love” and will keep on. The Kundalini Yoga people are upsetting the establishment and Love is going to upset them, believe me.

So many things are happening. The class at Santa Fe went deep into esoteric astrology and we may do more here Sunday. All along the Rio Grande the young people are seeking out “Sufi Sam.” Perhaps it is, “my time has come.” It gives little time for rest or reflection in a place most adequately equipped for rest and reflection.

Tonight we go more deeply into the Mahayana meditation and next week Mahamudra. Some want Tibetan teachings but I’ll not give them. There are teachers around; strange to say most of these inquirers live in Berkeley, of all places.

Our choral and dancing work seem destined to spread. Dane Rudhyar here next week. I think we’ll surprise, if not amaze him. He will have to learn that the New Age consists of human beings, not of thoughts. Have really pitched in to the Sri Aurobindo people because they proclaim one set of principles, practice another. The work of Yogi Bhajan has not caught on as well as his “pitch.” He has money and advertising but that does not win hearts. We are concentrating on Love, plus wisdom and that should attract enough people.

Mail is irregular and one does not care and as for news, you don’t get it even if you have a newspaper, only local stuff.

Love and Blessings,

S.A.M.

Box 444,

San Cristobal, NM 87564

June 17, 1970

Pir Dewwal Shereef

University of Islamabad

Islamabad, West Pakistan

Beloved Pir:

A salaam Aleikhum! It is a long time since one has attempted to write. The experiences favorable and unfavorable which have occurred in the last nearly seven years are now resolving themselves into a grand symphony. No doubt everything has happened, is happening as Allah wishes. One finds oneself in a rather strange universe in which neither orthodoxy nor heterodoxy seem to matter very much, but there is a more and more constant Akhlak Allah, and this Akhlak Allah becomes even more natural than necessary.

(One has among one’s records a number of different interpretations of the meanings of La Il La Ha El Il Allah. These interpretations are not very much in accord with what is known as “Islam’s but are absolutely in accord with the Hadith, “Allah has sent down Holy Qur’an in seven dialects and each has an inner and outer meaning.”)

The first part of the life which lasted almost five years was like a sojourn in The Cave: whatever one’s intentions, whatever one’s commissions, whatever one’s wishes and ambitions, they neither failed nor succeeded. It is easy to presume that one can go into another land and by his mere presence convert a lot of people to whatever he wishes. It is easy to dream of the ignorant converting the intelligent, but this is nonsense. It requires intelligence to convert the intelligent.

About five years ago one reversed one’s habit of peacefulness and non-violence and brought suit against a member of one’s family. The suit was never terminated; not only was it settled out of court, but it has resulted at the lowest level in a much larger income which keeps on increasing, until at this day it is about four times as great as it was when one was in Pakistan, Alhamdu Lillah!

Just before this change one suffered from an infection, to main poisoning to be exact, and when one was flat on his back in the hospital the voice of Allah appeared and said, “I make you spiritual teacher of the hippies.” One may surrender to Allah willingly or unwillingly or one may refuse to surrender to Allah; but then one is flat on one’s back, one has not even a choice.

This was followed immediately by a series of visions and every one of those visions has now come into outward manifestation, down to tiny details. Now this is in harmony with the predictions or commissions of several Pirs and holy men that one was to get fifty thousand Americans to say and repeat Allah and believe in him. This of itself looked immense and when one considers in the past that this person was a recluse and an outcaste, it looks even more ridiculous. But so did the outlook no doubt of Siddiq when he was in the Cave with the Blessed Messenger.

One began teaching spirituality through the Walk. This was a grand adventure during which 3 of the original 6 disciples deserted this Murshid; but it is remarkable that one has not had 3 desertions since. This method was blessed by the late Miss Ruth St. Dennis, a very spiritual dancing teacher who knew how to receive inspirations from the very space itself.

The Walk developed in two directions: extensionally and intentionally; in the extensional walk disciples learned to climb hills and mountains and walk long distances. The sacred phrases needed for these are comparatively few. But then the question arose: if the Sifat-i-Allah and Hadith can be used to help one walk long distances, climb mountains, and work without fatigue, cannot they and other Sifat-i-Allah and Wazifas be used to help mankind in his greater education, purification and development? So now we use many of the sacred phrases in psychic and moral procedures. These take on two entirely different aspects:

Moral Development. By applying the divine qualities to mankind one helps to remove the evils, the short-comings, the impediments, and all the grosser aspects of being. A sacred phrase is better than a chastisement. A chastisement is a reliance on man; a prayer or devotion is a reliance on Allah. All theories, doctrines, and orthodoxies aside, the simple fact is that these methods work.

When I told some Muslims what I was doing they said, “Muslims will not approve of this.” I answered, “It is not a question as to whether Muslims will approve of this, it is a question of “does Allah approve of this?” I live in a district where there are some Jordanians and Palestinians and they are amazed and approve.

The next phase seems to be coming—that these methods can be extended to deal with psychological problems. Without going in to details there were two such instances just before I left San Francisco about a month ago and both tamed out successfully, Alhamdu Lillah!

Psychic Purification. The great pseudo-problem—and it is a pseudo-problem and not a real problem—is that the young people in this part of the world and others are resorting to the use of products of the vegetable world to open themselves up or to be opened up to what might be called the subtle world (following an Indian termination} or possibly to malakut which has been variously interpreted. The simple fact is that this is so. The soul of man knows very well that the material world (nasut) is only one of several planes of existence. All the common or uncommon sense cannot change this. In the last days of his life the late Aldous Huxley concluded that this hidden world was reel. It was also known as faerie by the Celtic people. It was considered variously immoral, illegal, insane and perverse to have any dealings with it. People diatribe against materialism, but keep themselves bound in it just the same.

There have been many predictions supporting the principles of psychic and spiritual evolution. One began with the theme Joy Without Drugs. It is so easy to have a formula, words. Then the question came, how to implement these words with actualities?

It is one thing to say La Il La Ha El Il Allah. It is beautiful to say, “As man takes one step toward Allah, Allah takes ten steps toward him,” but how about the actualities? This is exactly what has happened.

Now one is daring two tremendous things: the first is based on a Hadith, “In that day will the sun rise in the West and all men seeing will believe.” It is true that the Blessed Messenger said, “Seek wisdom even unto China.” But try it. And you will have down on you almost all the Islamic world accepting most fortunately the most advanced sages and seers. I shall refer to this later. Well the voice of Allah came to me and presented more visions of dervish dances. These dances are based only slightly on the methods of the Mevlevi School. They also have in them elements of the Rifa’i and Badawiyyah Schools. And along with them the operative aspects of kashf.

One of the strangest things in my life is that I began studying “Kashf-al-Mahjub” in 1924, and it was not until 1962, after I had visited Dargah Data Ganj Baksh many times and had many direct communications from him, that I realized Data Sahib and Sheikh Ali Hujwiri were one and the same maul but even now I see how the kashf develop into shahud and mushahida, a subject beyond the scope of this letter.

So we began dervish dances and everything has followed exactly to details of what the Blessed Allah showed in vision: the growth from 6 to 30 disciples, from 30 to 60, from 60 to 100 and then the aureole burst into another dimension. I have not yet organized to that dimension. One was entirely satisfactory in a conference of the leaders of the world’s religions where Sufism so to speak was represented by our good friend Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr. After that, one was entirely successful in communicating the Sufi dances to the young in London, England; Boston, in the Northeastern part of the United States, and now in the Southwest.

Then the question arose of this body and other bodies being overworked, whereupon the wise Allah intervened and gave the commission, that Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti would be called upon, Inshallah, to play a role in the United States similar to that of Saint Moin-ed-din Chisti in India. Although the vision was clear, it was so daring that one could not face it but instead surrendered himself entirely to Allah and from that moment a new type of Qawwal was born.

So during the dancing classes we intersperse the rest periods with chanting, although we have one grand Wazifa chant (Subhan Allah, Alhamdu Lillah, Allaho Akbar) used during the walks and kalama chants during the dances. These are apart from the new type of Qawwals. One must say here that although many Muslims will resent these, they seem to have the entire approval of Allah, and hundreds and hundreds of us “kaffir-feringhis” are chanting the praise of Allah in Arabic, and also the wise or Rassoul Lillah!

Now the next thing is the revolution in the Western music of the way from popular music. The inspirations from Allah seem to blend in these modes with the chantings of sacred phrases.

Now we come to the next phase. A disciple, William Mathieu, joined us. I am at this time giving him the spiritual name of Alla’ud-din, using our good friend, Dr. Alla’ud-din Siddiqi of Lahore as putative Godfather; we are also sending a copy of this letter to Vice-Chancellor Siddiqi.

One has, so to speak, several missions and commissions from Allah about which one does not wish to speak here as they would be digressions. One sees the need of a return to Pakistan, Inshallah, in 1972 or 3 (unless Allah directs sooner and money is forth coming) of bringing a group to Pakistan, and especially to the Universities of Islamabad and Punjab and presenting this material; this would not only better American/Asian relations but would do much to raise the consciousness of the young as that they would realize whatever experiences are derived from so-called drugs, these are very little when contrasted to the experiences of kashf and shahud.

In the meanwhile there has been some filming of our work. Unfortunately at this writing the filming has included rituals, and personalities quite inimical to the Cause of Allah or to the purposes to which this personality is devoted. In the meanwhile two other groups have in mind the filming of modern methods of seeking and serving Allah (God), one from a universal point of view and the other from the point of view of already established religions, and in both these instances there is excellent personal relations to and with Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti.

While I feel to be working much more for the Mohammed of Jill (insan-i-kemal) than for the orthodoxed version of Mecca Shereef, evidentially here also Allah is with me; we went into a bookstore in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and saw Miskat which I purchased immediately, and on my return to San Francisco I am commissioned to write on the coalescence of the moral teachings of my first Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Inayat Khan, with the Hadith. This will be in part a labor of love and joy in another a directive to the very questionable situations in the world today. Fortunately, I have three wonderful secretaries who are very devoted. I also have two remarkable young men serving as Khalifs, and at least one young man and one young woman almost as advanced. Their dreams, their visions, their outlooks, their high standards almost cause one to weep.

This is written high in the Rocky Mountains, in a place more comparable to Nathia Galli than to Murree, some 9,000 feet up. I shall be returning to San Francisco at the end of the month; I shall be returning expecting large audiences. One must fulfill the commissions and amr’ given to one by Allah and the Pirs who represented Him on earth. Although well on in years from the worldly standpoint the mind is such that this letter was dictated without pause and the body also is remarkably active. Alhamdu Lillah!

Please give love and respects to all of your colleagues and especially to my very good friend, the Brigadier.

Love, Blessings and Respects,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif. 94110

June 21, 1970

Anandashram

Kanhangad P.O.

Travancore-Cochin

South India

Dear Ram!

Om! Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai, Jai Ram!

There is something strange going on in life and although Sam has seen it all in the spirit before; when it happens it is just as strange as if there were no forebodings.

Sam is becoming wealthy by a very strange process. He has never tried to accumulate money and doesn’t believe that wealthy is significant. Before his brother died we discussed what would happen and it is happening. So many people want money for Yoga research and mystical research and occult research. And when Sam writes he has some materials they always reject the materials but want his money anyhow and they keep on asking for the money, but never, never accept his spiritual reports, no matter what the evidence.

Sam has discovered there are two kinds of movements today: the one kind in which the spiritual teacher or Guru acts like the sun and gives and gives and gives, and asks nothing. The other kind is like the Superman of Nietsche—they want money, obeisance, servitude, even slavery and they always treat other people as lesser beings. And we find both of these in the world and especially in California and India.

While the true Guru blesses and gives and hears and soothes, the other type advertises their virtues, only their virtues and never accepts the virtues of others, only their money! And they name certain persons whom they consider vastly superior and expect the world to bow before those people and if anything goes wrong they say that it is because the world has not accepted their special Holy Man. There are so many; they come and go and stress emotionalism. If you mention “God” or “Ram” to them, they wince. They talk about the divine life, the spiritual life, the holy life, and it is very, very restricted—just to them and their colleagues and some they select at random.

Now the Upanishads has the way to determine spirituality and this was also taught to Sam by some very real Masters. And now Sam is communicating it to the young, more and more. The whole upper portion of the Rio Grande Valley in the southwestern part of the United States is filled with new types of communes and mostly they have a spiritual basis, all over. Multitudes. To Sam they are the New Age; they are the “race” predicted by Sri Aurobindo and Bulwer Lytton and H. G. Wells. They have real Yoga, real devotion and not endless philosophy about and about. They are worshippers, they are devotees, they are real Karma-Yogins with touches of real Bhakti.

Last night there was a dramatic group visiting Lama where this is written and they presented a play, “The False Guru.” For one hour beforehand, Sam put on Sufi (dervish) dances. Then after the play some of the devotees began the Ram Nam dances. And somebody called out, “What have we to do with a false Guru when we have a true Guru in our midst.” And all the people, mostly young called on Sam and he presented a series of Ram Nam dances in which hundreds participated. And when it was all over the dramatic leader who played the part of the false guru came to Sam, knelt at his feet and invited him to visit them. This may have been coming, it was seen and foreseen.

The letter will be written before the day’s program where and when hundreds of young people from all over the upper parts of the Rio Grande will be coming to Sam. And then Tuesday and Wednesday, Sam will be visiting them and presenting the spiritual dances. The older people do not want them and besides they belong to a passing evolution. The world is advancing, humanity is advancing, and with all the bad news, “I come. I go. When Dharma decays I come.”

Today there is also another Holy Men’s Jamboree, as they are called, in another part of the Rio Grande Valley. It is so different now. And before Sam leaves this State (New Mexico) he will be given a special send-off. And the same will be true about his return to California.

Now also Sam is receiving the most wonderful letters from so many distant places. They realize sincerity if not wisdom. Sam is still a believer in “La Illaha El Il Allah,” there is no deity but Allah, although this is interpreted in the Bhai manner;

“Allah, Shiva, and God-Nam,

Ram-Sita, Ram-Sita-Ram”

And those who are substituted men’s names (and sometimes women’s names), and only arousing emotions and thinking they have reached the Goal, will pass away as they always have. Love alone is eternal and emotions are passing.

This coming week Sam will teach the Mahamudra, to help people attain peacefulness and spread that peacefulness with wisdom through the world. Sam knew this was coming. He has to give up the “lonely” life which was forced on him for a life of some social consideration, also in a sense forced on him. But we surrender to God. We do not say or pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”; we seek that this be the way of life for all.

Om! Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

S.A.M.

June 21, 1970

Mr. Arthur Hoppe

c/o S.F. Chronicle,

San Francisco, Calif. 94119

Dear Art:

A friend of mine whom you know said that the trouble with this country is that there are no more legends and no more legend heroes. Well this is not entirely true of “Timon of San Francisco.” The young people are attracted to him partly from what he knows and does and even more because the VIPs of S.F.—and some other places—never let him express himself fully. It does not matter what he knows, “they” have no room for “Timons.”

So it looks as if I shall be returning early in July and it does not matter whether the important people accept that one is now known all the way from the Colorado border to and including Albuquerque, a longs stretch, something like the Nile, but wherever one goes one is welcomed and more and more people make pilgrimages here (Lama Foundation) and invite one to visit them. It is in such contrast to “realism” that there does not seem to be room in this world for both the “realistic” outlook and the “legend-making.” I am kept busy all the time.

One of the most “unrealistic” things I do is to sit with the college students and ask them to express themselves. It is most interesting and sometimes most rewarding. I have not yet written on “what college students are thinking” that is for the literati and “experts.” But they would not understand my kind of lip service which is very effective indeed and rather shocks the “anti-Victorians.”

The one thing the young seem pretty well united on is that they were not born to be cannon-fodder in faraway places. Nor are their lives dedicating to “correcting” the Ecologies, of far-away lands. Some have been in the Peace Corps and they don’t know what it is about. They never did find out. Anyhow I am awaiting for my “crew” next week to continue to take pictures of my work and what is happening here in the Rio Grande, absolutely “unrealistic” and just as factual as it is “unrealistic.”

Later. Usually large audience considering the “competition” of the Holy Men’s Jamboree down the valley. It would appear that my methods of “Joy without drugs” is going over—with the young and I even got a visiting cleric to see values in them., Guess I’ll have to return to “rest” after an unusually busy time here.

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita

San Francisco, Ca. USA

June 22, 1970

Prof. U. Darrani

Departments of Physics and Engineering

University of Peshawar,

Peshawar, W. Pakistan

Beloved One of Allah: Asalaam Aleikhum!

I have just been reminded by a sudden visit from Christopher Hills to this place that a letter should be sent you; Lama Foundation, where I am staying, is very high up in the Rocky Mountains and compares perhaps more to Nathia Gali than to Murree. But there is no town here. The nearest city is about 25 miles away. The word “Lama” is of Amerindian not of Asian derivation. Indeed this mountain seems to have been sacred to some of the natives of this region, and the founders of this group are perhaps as well attuned to the Pueblo Indians, as they are called, as any other group.

It will soon be eight years since the return from Pakistan, during which time one had to go through the trials, tribulations and vicissitudes of The Cave. But in the last three years after a deep experience of pain and vision both, it seems that the whole of life is progressing exactly as numerous sages have predicted and exactly as seems to be “revealed” in states of exaltation. To put it briefly, today one is in a far better financial condition; one has about 100 disciples and is constantly drawing more and more audiences.

As you know there can be a vast difference between a verbal “Islam” and a continual response to the divine will in all things. It should be obvious to everyone that the actual will of Allah is often contrary to the wishes, whims, and desires of human kind, including the pious.

It might seem boastful to declare one of operating on a plane comparable to that of Saint Moin-ed-din Chisti. But the fact is and it is a very powerful fact that we are attracting more and more and more and more young people through our chants and dances. If you came here you would even hear young children chanting praises of Allah while the pious self-proclaim their own superiority.

You will excuse me if I do not furnish too many details. I am sending a copy of this also the Khawar, who is in the eastern part of the United States. She has begun to realize that this Murshid has a tremendous mission. We have a small, but quite successful Khankah in the city of Novato, California, some 30 miles north of San Francisco. In times of stress, turmoil and confusion, more and more mureeds are finding at the same time material prosperity and inward inspiration. For the moment the inner inspiration which concerns me as a person most is that of the singing and chanting. One can foresee another visit to Pakistan, Inshallah, perhaps in 1972. In any event it should be after Khawar returns and at her convenience.

This letter is written from the State of New Mexico in the southwestern portion of the United States. One was invited here as a Murshid and is beginning to be called on a large scale either “Murshid” or “Sufi Sam.” S.A.M. is both the hold-over of my original nickname and the initials of Sufi Ahmed Murad. One was given a commission, so to speak, to get 50,000 Americans to chant Allah; it seemed impossible. But after I left San Francisco to come here there was a so-called “Holy Men’s Jamboree” of, I am told, 1,500 or more young Americans and they were entirely won over by my colleague Pir Vilayat Khan (oldest son of my original teacher Hazrat Inayat Khan, and my representative, my esoteric secretary, Wali Ali Meyer). It will be several days before I return to that region, but on the 5th of July we expect to celebrate the birthday of Hazrat Inayat Khan.

The visit of Christopher Hills has brought up both a positive and negative theme. The positive theme is that we need your writings. I am willing to send on any amount that will more than cover the shipment to the above address. I would like an estimate and will see that the money is in your hands before a shipment is made; this is a different world today. You hear about the excitement and turmoil; you do not hear about the grandeur and idealism of an ever-growing number of young Americans who are far more God seekers than their predecessors.

I am presenting a sort of universal Sufism with Mohammed, Mecca Shereef, as insan-i-kemal following Jili. I also in my person—which may be very limited or may not be—see (shahud) him as Khatimal Mursalleen. In these days when so many can speak on mysticism that mystics have little opportunity, this hardly inhibits the connection between the devotee and his ideal. Basically I use three methods, 1) walk; 2) dance; and 3) chant. The walk came first, and it covers everything from ordinary walking through all grades of tasawwuri to Akhlak Allah. This is a long and profound subject which I shall not discuss here. In my poem “Saladin” the Messenger of God appeared in all capacities up to the most profound; but we also chant both “Ya Mohammed Abdul la” which is to say, Mohammed is a perfect karma Yogin—I mean example by working, not by writing books about it; example, by being one among humanity, not one so superior and even separate from the rest of humanity.

My personal secretary Mansur and I have been to a conference of all the real religious leaders of this world. By heart, by intention, by wish and by desire finding our good friend Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr very close to Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, both freedom and bondage brought the same conclusion. The one theme I had to accept from Dr. Nasr was the warfare against the lying dajjals. Philosophy and claims aside I personally have had to suffer such persecution from such people I am very glad today there is also a rising movement against dajjallism which may be the curse of the world.

I had already felt inspired to write against that which Christopher Hills stands for; there are so many audacious and presumptuous persons and groups denying La Illaha El Il Allah. We seem to have yoga without God, spirituality without Allah, and self pro-acclamation as the goal in life with a growing multitude of rival claimants all establishing themselves in the highest position; all ignoring each other; all disregarding traditional religions; all talking about complexities and legal organizations with themselves in the highest posts, of course, as the way out. A lot of them. Instead of love for humanity they all seem to agree that most of human kind is inferior and just waiting for leadership themselves—.

Where I have not been persecuted by such people I have seen their most ridiculous downfalls. The last actually occurred in this part of the world a few years ago by a group in which Christopher Hills was also connected, but which excluded absolutely—and I mean absolutely—all Sufis including saints, poets, and historical characters and a number of other real spiritual characters and movements in this world.

Among the things I learnt from Hazrat Inayat Khan was that a teacher can only be judged by the advanced development of his disciples. I have seen so many marvelous comets go by, including such characters as Ramana Maharshi of Arunachala. I have seen so many proclaiming, self-proclaimed or otherwise proclaimed personalities often with large temporary followings, but I have not seen the transmission of dharma or the descent of Baraka. And although I cannot compare myself to those wonderful characters, there is one thing that is sure and that is the descent of Baraka first to my leading disciples and then now to more and more of them.

Years ago when I was despised I came upon a so-called “hippy” named Carl Jablonski and saw the Sufi symbol in his forehead. I knew immediately he was destined for spiritual leadership and in the course of time he became my first Khalif. I have another Khalif of a different sort, a man part Irish, part Chinese, a mixture of East and West, who because of his physical prowess was given the name of Akbar. His progress has been on a different line but it has been marvelous.

Now we are presenting a new type of Qawwal based on modern developments in music but using mostly the sacred phrases of Islam. Traditionalists may gawk, but when you find young Americans running around singing:

“Subhan Allah, Alhamdu Lillah, Allaho Akbar,

La Illaha El Il Allahu,

… other Wazifas and sacred phrases.

Those bigoted Muslims are self-deceived and deceive others when they say there is opposition to Mohammed. It is easier to get the new type of Americans to chant “Mohammed a Rassoul Lillah” than to sing patriotic songs. This is the New Age. One has also assumed the role of a loving grandfather. At first it seemed very daring. Now it has become a most successful career, Alhamdu Lillah! So you can see that your writings would be most welcome here and perhaps more than welcome. I am today overwhelmed by the invitations and huge possibilities of winning the young people of the world to a true spiritual life. Or as is said in Hadith, “In that day will the sun rise in the West and all men seeing believe.”

Love and Blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lama, New Mexico

June 24, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

c/o S.F. Chronicle

San Francisco, 94119

Dear Art:

You must remember I am Timon in reverse. Nobody would ever let me talk, or if so, pay no attention. Tra-la-la. If problems can’t be solved by the “right persons” then they should not be solved at all. They must be beyond (?) men’s ability. I remember once when I went to an AAAS conference (American Society for the Advancement of Science). I kept my mouth shut and the scientists went at each other. When it was all over I talked to the chairman and he stood aghast. “Why you have the solution! You have the solution, why didn’t you speak?” This could only happen among lab-scientists, who haven’t the decor of the parlor-scientists who are respectable.

I have been reading Mark Twain and it is simply remarkable. The more I read the greater he stands out and you can understand why I took the nickname of “Puddinhead” from “Puddinhead Wilson.” And everything is coming as in the script exactly as it is coming in the script of his “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court” for Southeast Asia. The script can never be wrong.

Well Timon of San Francisco has returned from going over a big stretch of New Mexico and meeting a lot of young people and listening to them. This is the “worst” way to find out what is going on in the minds of college students but the simple and horrible fact is that one has been welcomed everywhere and more and more and more. And next week the finale and then home. And when I talk of Asia and things Asian the numbskulls all believe me. This could not happen in “Asia” (of the respectables) but it did happen all over the Asia of God (whom many do not believe in) and Rand—McNally whom they ought to.

A very Important was here, one of that ever growing tribe of “world saviors” and he went to S.F. where he probably got a big reception, but not by and from the young. He is so great he does not have to visit a place to be an “expert” on it. At that time there was another “Holy Man’s Jamboree” going on, well Madison Avenues, and the huge crowd diminished from 10,000 (in the press) to 300 stomachs, and most of them were not attracted at all. But after all an “expert” is an “expert.” Only now I have an alliance with the University of California to work on a real peace problem of real human beings and have the best of cooperation—which can’t reach the press. But every now and then some respectable rabbi or minister apologizes.

I just have returned from another of those horrible adventures with a successful commune. We discussed soil, water and reclamation problems. I remember once trying to get into a summit soil conference in another part of the world. When I finally reach the sanctum, I was greeted, “Where have you been? We have been waiting for you.” This shows the difference between the lab-scientists who research and the “parlor-scientists” who don’t have to and listen to the TV commentators who have replaced God.

I am waiting to be televised myself. But it is not only locally in New Mexico and by the young; the mail gets thicker and more favorable. The coffers are doing nicely, and we are going to have a big picnic in Precita Park on July 5^th. It probably isn’t worth coming to, Just Pied Piper and he young. But the young grow and grow and grow in numbers.

Now I have just read: 10 top leaders discuss: “how can we avoid another Vietnam.” Well I once went to a very respectable meeting in S.F. The state department official spoke half an hour, the chairman spoke another half hour, introducing the translator who had just 5 minutes. Then it broke up and I talked to the Vietnamese. I was never invited to that group (very respectable top hat, again.)

Any American who is steeped in Jefferson, Emerson and Mark Twin can’t ace the dialecticians (of all caps) and existentialists and commentators who control our culture. I have eaten, danced and prayed with all peoples. I do so here—in fact just did at the commune visited, only we didn’t pray. I am sending a copy of this to Congressman Phil Burton.

Anyhow I discovered a great dramatic company in the State (they have their own commune), and they told me their plans. If they are given any cognizance we shall win the hearts of hundreds of millions of Asians. Our USIS is great for Tenseness Williams, that is it. That is “American” culture. They may want Jefferson, Emerson and Mark Twin but “we” know better, etc. We give them Tennessee Williams! Fortunately I have enough entries on the campus at Berkeley and this will be followed by Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and then others. My world war has always been between “the professor and the commentator. After oodles of years I have seen no reason to change. Maybe same day S.F., will at least listen to their Timon in reverse. I got top apologies (meaning Nob Hill) recently.

Love

Samuel L. Lewis

1249 Princeton

Albuquerque, New Mexico

June 24, 1970

W.D. Begg

Topdara, Ajmer

Beloved One of Allah;

As-salaam aleikhum. This is a sort of report that we hope may blossom, inshallah, until we can give more open support and cooperation. There is no question, Allah be praised, but that two are now doing a work comparable to Ajmir Shereef in this land and all the criticisms and denunciations cannot refute the fact of the accomplishments. They would be astounding excepting that Allah has revealed in hall, in makam, in vision, and in kashf, almost everything that has happened, is happening. There is every promise that our departure from this Spa will be a tamasha and also our return greeting in San Francisco. We have succeeded in this Rio Grande Valley where “top” ?Holy Men? have failed and where also another one of the self-proclaiming World Leaders has made no dent. He has gone to San Francisco where he may be greeted by multitudes although the number of World Leaders, Messiahs, Avatars, Sadgurus, Maharshis, etc., is growing so rapidly that one cannot limit them—more and more, all proclaiming.

The difference between the emotionalist and the mystic is vast. The emotionalist meets somebody and has what for him is a transcending experience, and it usually is. But when it is all over he has hal but not makam, he doesn’t grow and he thinks others are his inferiors and that he has a “world message” for them. In general the Leaders whom the divided emotionalists support have laid aside Christ’s “Sermon on the Mount.” They are so superior they can dispense with the moral order, and often do. But few know the depths of any Oriental Wisdom.

The other night one faced the followers of various Indian sects, all hopelessly divided and said that when one is self-proclaimed and does not have illuminated disciples, it was worthless to discuss the persons. They make noise. This person has achieved the descent-of-baraka and the dharma-transmission and will go on in history as one of the few who did. He said he would continue to work with his hands to do menial jobs, make mistakes, and is not asking Allah to forgive any of them. He is willing to accept any proclaimed or not-proclaimed “guru” who has an illuminated disciple. This person refused to be called “Murshid” or “Sufi” until he had an illuminated disciple and then was proclaimed by Sufis at public gatherings, and no hush-hush or secrecy. This is not accepted by emotionalists or those who become “Sufis” by joining the “right” legal organization. They are entitled by common or public law to be known as “Sufis” but this one who passed the tests and received the Bayats, too—it is not funny, it is not tragic, for the descent of baraka comes out so clearly that the young are accepting it more and more and more, all over, keeping this person joyfully occupied forever.

The extreme success in our music and dancing made us consider visiting Ajmir in the future, inshallah and giving you every consideration, i.e. financially, in turn for your hosting us.

While this is still a dream it is time rather than money that stands in the way. Allah has been inspiring us so much and when we place these inspirations before the young they respond so much that it will be necessary to establish Centers in this State of New Mexico and it would appear, inshallah, elsewhere.

Pir Vilayat Khan has already been given the Baraka from Ajmir and he too, is working on the music and dance program as would benefit the son of a saintly father.

But in touring this State we ran into several interesting facts and factors:

a. Those purported Indian teachers who are so welcomed by the important organizations are at loggerheads.

b. They dogmatize.

c. They have nothing of the fusing of divine and human love common to the Sufis.

d. This person is already known for his tolerance whether he has it or not; the young think so.

e. We happened upon a small spiritual dramatic group which is planning to produce dramas from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

This last, of course, has already been rejected by the so-called “Word” group. They are now out for “scientific yoga” as if Union with God were a matter of human effort and not grace. And they have self-selected the “world leaders” legalistic methods. We realize that between our refusal to be bound by common or uncommon law and our proclaiming the Divine Grace, the doors may continue to open for us all over the world. But we do have in mind a grand celebration at Fatehpur Sikri. I have visited that place twice and met the Wallis of the Selim Chisti family.

All of this is too soon to put together, but Allah guides whom he desires and as I have perhaps told you, one big job ahead is the fusing of the Hadith with Hazrat Inayat Khan’s moral teachings. No denunciations, no criticism from others can stop a divine work. Everything we have been doing seems to be having the Divine Grace, alhamdu lillah and we are thinking of you all the time.

Love and blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lama Foundation,

Box 444, San Cristobal,

New Mexico, 87564

[June 25 or 26]

Mr. Ted Reich

1201 12th. Ave. #5

San Francisco, 94122

Dear Ram:

Here I am high up on a mountain sacred to the Aboriginals but not to the authoritative cults who select their mountains and get everybody to believe them. This is the highest mountain outside of California and Colorado.

It is dawn but I am writing anyhow in the half light. Things happen. Sunday there was a Holy Men’s Jamboree in S.F. and on the same day the misguided youth came miles to see Sam. It was not his whiskers, and thank God and praise Allah, nor his money. It was his dances. Anyhow some heard that he would present the astrological dances which is very dear to the “experts” on my cultism. It was so successful and they want us back. You can see how far misguided youth has strayed!

Then we went to Albuquerque which I like despite the spelling and not only was a meeting arranged for me, but a representative of Father Blighton was there and also a girl who once lived at Olompali and whom some of my followers know. Evidently the young seem to think it is better to go to an unexpert and get the works than to an “expert” and be squeezed. All we want is your money, your allegiance, your intellect and your prowess and maybe, maybe, maybe, we shall find you fit for the supremest occult esoteric path, the Hushites, whom we represent. And all the old ladies applaud and dig in but not the young. They don’t dig digging.

We have a large organic garden here and it is growing. And they are making adobe bricks for more houses. And they join in Sam’s dancing and spiritual philosophy classes. Vacation! And some of my folks are ill and a few of the others but the time is coming and the New Age is not going to follow fogey-ism or foggy-ism. And no other church has apologized. It is great. You come out for “moral and spiritual reform” and are too busy to see anybody about anything accepting your leadership!

They have been very kind. I long conceded on diet if they would let me have coffee. Unfortunately some Mahayanists and Vajrayanists would not come here because they don’t permit Tea. This is the only point where I differ.

Lama is about 28 miles from Taos. Two ridges north, then a sign and a dirt (mostly) road which is not too hard to follow. The only thing hard to follow is

Yours, with love and kisses,

S.A.M.

Saturday night June 27

Dear Wali Ali:

This is the diary, but after this it will be addressed to the Sufi Movement. I was unsure who was to open the mail. If and when Zeinab occupies the house, while it would be more in order for Charlene, any mail from here must be opened, as news, or as requests.

We went out for a long drive today to pick up one of Leslie’s friends who lives just the other side of the Colorado border. This gave me plenty of time for meditation. But you will also get a very good idea of the mystical and spiritual state of the moment when the letter is written (inshallah) tomorrow. Ralph was complaining about the lack of unity and integration and now he has persuaded Fred to introduce outside interest.

It is very difficult but both Fred and Julie have taken Bayat and now they include—through outside pressure—those who are certainly not Murshid’s colleagues. This must be corrected. Otherwise not only would they not be permitted to come to Lama but we might have other people come.

You can take this up with Vilayat. We are either serving the Cause of God or personal and personality interests.

I am very happy over the possibilities from the papers. But before any copying is done we must clear also with Hassan. It will keep a secretariat busy and then the teachers and then some.

I had faith that Peter would pull through on the transportation.

Shall write to Santa Barbara tomorrow.

No telegram from Jemila yet. Nathan is well cared for. Indeed we went out originally for him and the same next week. I feel he is doing very fine—wish I could say the same with some others—but then one does not expect miracles from children, always.

You are getting the spirit of the Message in being busy. All in all feel very fine and under divine inspiration.

Love and blessings,

June 27, 1970

My dear Uncle:

We are preparing now to leave soon. Should be back in San Francisco on July 4 and have planned a big picnic and dance on July 5th in the park just across the street.

Everything is going fine. I have five dancing classes a week in this state and will end Tuesday in Albuquerque with a giant picnic dance, then we return, slowly but surely.

The work I have done abroad is now being recognized. I am also being filmed and there are better and better chances for success. This also means going with Mansur to Washington and Boston later in the year.

It is over 8,000 feet here (the lowest part of this place). I have now adjusted. My health is excellent. Saul has made a study of healing herbs and also contacted the “Indians” at Taos who have given him help. I have had arthritis but no more. They say I work harder than many much younger people. I only do it naturally.

Have to fertilize the fields here which I like and also water the garden. This is now a permanent summer home for me if I wish it and soon I may have “homes” so many places.

I have now missions which others have derided but which I keep on plugging for. I know more people in many parts of the world than most people do, and now there is more satisfaction, almost everywhere excepting in the S.F. Bay region. But there the young love me, more and more.

Love,

SAM

July 3, 1970

Shamcher Bryn Beorse

P.O. Box 142

Keyport, Wash. 98345

My dear Shamcher;

I have just returned and there is so much to report that although it is already late at night I should hardly think of sleeping before getting some things off.

1. You will find copy enclosed of a letter to Ajmer which contains some news. There have been pictures taken both of the work Pir Vilayat has been doing and what I have been doing, and also many disciples. There has been some complication here due to pictures of groups purported to be spiritual (as well as some who are) without taking into consideration the personality relations involved. I have made it rather clear that I cannot be associated with groups and movements which not only have no use for my personality but have actually been antagonistic toward my efforts. Fortunately those unthinking persons have changed their attitudes and instead filming will be devoted largely to different aspects of Sufism both in the East and West, and also with spiritual groups with whom we are on excellent terms.

2. The taking of films and records at Ajmer should interest my friend Dr. Robert Garfias who is connected with the Department of Musicology at the university. It will be rather easy through this and other channels to get our work presented, but chiefly first at the universities of Washington and that of California at Los Angeles.

3. I have met several hundreds of young people along the stretches of the upper Rio Grande. I already had one disciple in Santa Fe and another at Albuquerque in New Mexico. Their response and cooperation was marvelous. I also have one new disciple at the Lama Foundation which is about 25 miles northeast of Taos in New Mexico.

4. This brings up matters of organization. We had a very pleasant meeting with Bibijan but at this writing I have not yet seen Daniel. If there is a God, as we believe, and we keep on praying as we do, “May the Message of God reach far and wide….” we should not be over-surprised, that this is happening in the objective world.

5. I have also seen Sheikha Bhakti who was both up and down. As I love her very much I don’t mind this, but her attitude impressed me that you must be doing, are doing something wonderful.

6. The reports from Arizona are so excellent that they may even require a visit to the Northwest later on. Everything seems to be moving in the directions that both Atiya and yourself have been praying for. It is so excellent that I am rather awed emotionally and so will write again later when I have sifted through the news and calmed down.

7. I have a very fine letter from one Dr. Dael Wolfle of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. One June 30 he was transferred to the University of Washington as professor of public affairs. I hope you can meet him sometime, introduce yourself, and tell of your backgrounds. He is to me a very top number one liaison personality between science and philosophy on integrative levels.

Love and Blessing,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

July 7, 1970

Pir Vilayat I. Khan

Fazal Manzil,

The Sufi Movement,

Suresnes, Seine

Beloved One of God:

As-salaam aleikhum. We returned here on the evening of July 3rd, so as to celebrate the first birthday of Samuel Vilayat Pickard, and then in turn the birthday of your sainted father. About a hundred persons showed up—it was a miserable day, cold and windy and the 5th of July! It was also marred by illness which threw most of the activities in my own hands. I was tired and very dizzy, but this morning’s meditation made it clear that this was due only to the fact that I had been living at 9,000 feet elevation (or more) for some time and had to readjust to sea-level. And this psychological healing is now affecting the body. However, other than this one returned in robust condition.

We have to face some hard facts, but I have told Bibijan and others that this person was interested in actions and was leaving policies to be determined by others. If consulted good, if not consulted equally good. Hundreds of young people all over the upper stretches of the Rio Grande River have attended meetings and dances and it is necessary to appoint a disciple, at the moment unofficially, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, as resident representative. It was there especially that hundreds have been to meetings and there is a tremendous spiritual hunger.

But I can more readily accept restrictions—for my own health and safety—than to extend all over. Indeed I am afraid to open mail because intuitively I know it contains invitations.

Last night we had a fine meeting, attended by several of your disciples from other parts of the country who are making short stays here. But on the same day this house was visited by a young man who had been to Geneva, the youngest male there, and he was so attracted he came all the way to San Francisco. Also a letter was received from a member of the Papal Secretariat, in re peace in and for the Near East.

It has been evident for many years that one was to work for peace in the Near East. All the plans were laid and then scuttled by a lady claiming to be a “Murshida.” One had to begin all over. And evidently God wishes it for now this house is being invaded by spiritual seekers who, on closer examination are often dissident Israelis, or disciples of Hebraic mysticism, and this in a district with a large population of Jordanians and Palestinian refugees.

To me it is evident that there will be two classes of disciples, and your actions bear this out. I do not know whether you are acquainted with the Warisi school but what you are doing is in entire accord with this Order.

Financially there has been an improvement and I am setting aside funds for a real Peace Foundation, and am receiving all cooperation. This is going to get us “in” with universities and inshallah, more to come.

Whether it is politic or not I have been saying that as great as Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan was above this person, the disciples of this person stood above the disciples of Hazrat Inayat Khan. When I look at men like Wali Ali and Daniel Lomax there is a tendency to weep, contrasting them with the associated of your blessed father. And the same is true of the very stalwart men at Lama Foundation. It is a new age, and the women also are full of real, dynamic love.

We had three types of Love demonstrated at the celebrations:

a. Brotherhood and compassion as illustrated by the dances and rituals.

b. Personal love, as between Shireen and Jelaludin, who are to be married this coming week-end, inshallah.

c. Sacred love as illustrated by some of the devotional songs.

With a hundred disciples now I do not know how to act but there will be, there will have to be, delegation of authority, etc.

Two big misunderstandings have been cleared about films. Before Allah I cannot and will not be associated with leaders of narrow sects who are not only narrow but do not accept the existence of “God” nor the practice of the Brotherhood of Man. But the news that you may be going to Ajmir, inshallah, is most encouraging. Letter has been written to my colleague W.D. Begg there and today I have to write to a khadim.

I have also met a dramatic group. These people are now concentrating more or less on Greek dreams and Molieres, as stop-gaps to preparations to putting on “passion-plays” derived from the “Ramayana” and “Mahabharata.” And this, coupled with your program for Ajmir means at long last we are going to have real East-West cultural exchanges without any more “experts” standing in the way. I have written Shamcher on this and other matters because this is going to affect favorably our relations with the University of Washington in Seattle.

We shall have a sort of esoteric council meeting this week and then later there will be organizational efforts (this person not present.) As things look after Hejirat Day one may have to visit the Eastern Seaboard.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

(Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)

CC Bibijan

CC Shamcher

July 13, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, Calif. 94119

Dear Art:

I assure you that yesterday I made history. History in the life of “Mr. Timon of San Francisco.” And the time is coming when the simple citizen who has access to facts will be listened to, whether it is by some sub-agent of the foreign office, or some newspaper, or some ombudsman. I am all the more “excited” because my quondam friend Chet Huntley is retiring, and when he gets off his lofty perch and quits the “untouchables” for the human race, I think I shall be able to reach him.

On the surface the evening was given over to Korean Buddhism. Hester Seo Kyung-Bo, a real Master of the real Far East, addressed us. The difference between Korean Buddhism and Vietnamese Buddhism is this: we listen to the Koreans and we tell the Vietnamese.

Master Seo and I sat in the two chairs occupied years ago by the late Robert Clifton and myself. At that time he poured out his final words to me having been shunned by the press and foreign office alike. So we are spending billions of dollars, to which I see now Viscount Montgomery objects, but we must fulfill the final chapters of Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court.

Ten Congressmen may write for Coronet on how to prevent another Vietnam, whatever that means. But 10 simple Americans will have access to actual events and continue to be snubbed, until we quit this damn nonsense about “democracy” and listen to human beings, just for an occasion.

My small basement room was packed. I do not advertise anymore. Slowly but surely the young people are finding me out, and now in several parts of the United States, and a little bit abroad. In the audience was Bob Kaufman. He represented the male portion of American youth at the conference of the world’s religions, the real religions of the real world in Geneva, which was not news—no communists there, so it wasn’t news. But while this was going on believe me, Art, this person is getting better and better letters from the real VIP’s in the real religions of the real world, working for something which resembles peace, whatever that means, before the days of semantics, whatever that means.

The audience of young people learned something about facets of Buddhism unheard of by those nice people who look to Alan Watts, etc, for their information about what is known as “Buddhism” but not in Asia, Art, not in Asia.

Actually, the meeting was also a scheme to get some of us together who are thoroughly opposed to genocide, whether it is by the Jews or on the Jews; whether it is by the non-Jews or on the non-Jews, e.g. in Vietnam.

Today we are taking the first steps toward ending the horrors in the Near East. I have worked in this field for years and years. I have the backgrounds, the history, the facts, but come from the wrong side of the street. Fortunately, as one does meet humanity, one sometimes has some success in getting human beings to come together, and the chances are we may succeed in this. Although the majority of clergy of all faiths are “too humble” to have anything to do with this kind of undertaking, I do have the ears of one local VIP clergyman, and we hope to start there.

However.

My financial affairs are in very much better condition today, and the chances are very great that all the lying peace-mongers will ignore me; the University of California will not.

But.

But.

There was a wealthy publisher in the audience, and he is going to take all my substantial facts and the substantial facts of others. It is easy enough today to write even a book which would make Zola’s J‘Accuse look like small potatoes. But that would be of no benefit to humanity. I am working for peace, not fame—or infamy. Or to put it in other terms, Timon of San Francisco (in reverse) has returned. It no longer makes any difference whether he is snubbed by the “Good” people or not. We are fighting useless, interminable wars, with honorable citizens receiving peace awards and then disappearing. How long this will continue I don’t know and don’t care. But we are facing this danger—that youth, hearing I am turned down and turned away, is making a hero of me, and that is not the way. We are going to have peace when little people are permitted to mingle with little people, and when big people (who are no bigger before God) listen occasionally to the little people.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

July 17, 1970

Mr. Arthur Hoppe

c/o San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, 94119

Dear Art:

Some chapters in the life of “Timon of San Francisco.”

Well, yesterday some of my young friends started a campaign to raise funds for me and “ordered” me to stay away from the meeting. So I remained home and was amazed to receive a long distance call from New York. I have been invited to a very top level “spiritual” conference. How I got into that I do not know.

When the Hippies started out and called for a “Holy Men’s Conference” I constantly annoyed them by asking who was on the committee which made it impossible for me to attend. They did have a conference this year while I was away and apparently will have some more.

I demurred because I have the effrontery to believe we can have peace in the Holy Land by bringing the little people together. If we don’t, the communists probably will and our “big shots” would prefer to let the communists try rather than let an insignificant unknown take the laurel. I am not fooling in the least and can furnish stacks of names!

So tonight we take another step in getting Arab and Israeli peasants together at the House of Love and Prayer on Arguello Boulevard, We have a lot of cards in our hands and maybe access to that greatest of virtues, $$$$$$$.

We have passed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, laws against “genocide” and have the Supergod, the U.N. and wars and murders continue. But now the “little people” are acting.

My appearance at Geneva among the really big caused no stir but when I told them I was the incarnation of “Nathan the Wise” when the conference was over, nobody was laughing. Why even a secretary of His Holiness, Pope Paul, has replied to endeavors to bring peace. But so far, not a word from the “tolerant,” the ?Peace? groups, etc. Swonderful. Send them some money and … and the genocide continues.

But praise Allah, God and Ram all in one. I now have enough virtues (Bank of America and Wells Fargo) to make it possible to go to Washington and have contacts where I am not supposed to have them, and after thirty-three rejections on “Vietnamese Buddhism” I am being very cautious, especially with the “tolerant.” But I am gaining allies on the U. C. campuses. I am willing to die for peace and will continue to mingle with hoi polloi, but I think something is going to come of this.

Besides haven’t I a wealthy editor-publisher who wants everything les importante rejected!

Faithfully and hopefully

Samuel L. Lewis

cc Herb Caen

cc Gavin Arthur

July 19, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

c/o San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, Calif. 94110

Episodes in the life of Timon of San Francisco (in reverse).

I am not the original Timon of San Francisco. His name was Hugo Selig, and we were close friends until his death a few years ago. After having been a successful piano salesman, he left this region and became famous in various parts of the central and southern coast counties, and even in Las Vegas.

His closest friend was the late Luther Whiteman who was my senior partner for years. Together we wrote a book called Glory Roads on politics in California. It was a very bad sales effort, but 90% of our predictions came true, perhaps all of them. In certain halls of ivy I have gained a reputation, a reputation for honesty and objectivity. But I am no Jean Dixon, and honest objective methods are still shunned if they do not come from the “right parties.”

But I am not necessarily a pessimist. The other night I went to the Academy of Science in Golden Gate Park and we saw a picture “The death of Lake Erie.” The conclusion of most of us was that we are going to lose Lake Erie and Lake Cayuga and San Francisco Bay so long as the literati, the editors, the supreme generalissimos of the commentators, and essayists in general keep on bombarding the public on every subject. Their general theme is that “Everybody is to blame” whereas it was quite evident to us laboratory scientists that factory gases, sewage, and factory discharges are the culprits, and the culprits want it to be spread abroad that “everybody is to blame.” That is their oyster and we shall probably lose San Francisco Bay, until and unless the scientists are permitted to speak on subjects on which they have been serious scholars.

(I know enough to keep quiet. I have lived in London and Pittsburgh which have cleaned up marvelously. I have even lived in Cleveland at sundry times, and so had rather firsthand knowledge. But after “Silent Spring” a poor dumb professional spray operator and organic gardener like myself has enough sense to keep his mouth shut among the elites.)

For many years I called myself Puddinhead Puck, being a blend of heroes from Shakespeare and Mark Twain, but now!

Within a space of four days I received five different communications from sundry parts of the United States urging me to go to Boulder, Colorado. I tell you, Art, something is doing, amid and from the young. But I cannot spread myself any more.

Perhaps the only person on earth who is recognized by Asian-Asians as a scholar in their various philosophies (some of the top people in the Royal Asiatic Society accept this, and a few others; it doesn’t matter), I found myself within a few hours at over-crowded meetings first of young people under Jewish auspices and young people under Christian auspices. I tell you, Art, the young want objectivity and truth, and no more of this crap nonsense such as appears in an article on India in today’s paper. They want it and they are going to win it by attrition.

The young are going to win, not because they are right, but because they are going to live. They don’t want war. More and more of them firmly believe in objective honesty.

They are very dangerous; far more dangerous than a “New Left.” The so-called New Left has a simple solution: kill all the villains who are often their blood relatives. The New Age people want objectivity and honesty. I am very optimistic because I believe the young will live longer than the old. That is all. The young have an ability to think through the problems of pollution, soil preservation and reclamation, and even slum clearance, because they have simple capacities, totally outside the “realisms” current in America and the Communist countries.

The main thing the youth are going to insist on is the ending of horrible wars. I would rather let them speak. I become popular simply by an ability to listen to them. Nothing more and nothing magical.

But a surprise air mail letter from the wealthy publisher who says he will print everything I give him makes me feel the time is coming when all I have to do is print copies of letters to the famous people who make all the noises and do nothing more. It is easy to write editorials condemning millions of people such as the Hindus in today’s press or the Arabs, or the Cambodians, or the Hausas. None of these operations set forth efforts at peace and good will.

I tell you, Art, my message “Youth of the world unite, you have nothing to lose” is coming into being. The generation gap is simple: the young have open ears, the aged have not. That is all.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 25, 1970

My dear Gavin:

The impending death of Ed Hunt suggests I write to you. I have had absolutely no time for anything since returning from New Mexico. It is true that the “crazy” young of the day have accepted everything I am doing, not only in the dances but in everything else. It is a “screwy” new age, which pays no attention to the “experts” of the past.

The death of my brother, followed by complications and the rise of the New Age industries has promoted the financial situation not only of myself but of many close to me. True, my chief lieutenant (khalif) has been ill for some time. This has caused real loving disciples to see the seriousness of my position.

My Summer School in New Mexico was entirely successful. The coeval camp of Pir Vilayat Khan was also successful. We may not have a permanent summer camp, but one thing is clear, a rather wealthy American has been in search for Sufis which all the important European experts know don’t exist. True, I have met many—but I don’t count. I did not graduate from Heidelberg or Glasgow or Cambridge, or even Harvard.

At Geneva I was asked why didn’t I appear at the gathering of the religious leaders right here in California. “Oh, I was vetoed by Prof. Von Plotz and he could not possibly be wrong. But the days Professors Von Plotz and Shmercase and let us say, Landau, is over, absolutely over. And near liars of self important men are passing away. The young want truth and objectivity.

My secretary could not but contrast the welcome we received at the Royal Asiatic Society with the non-welcome here in California and especially in this bay area. But that is past. Some damned fools let me speak, listen to me and are convinced both of my philosophical backgrounds and of the spiritual dancing I have to offer. Fame is transient and popularity which is based on externals will not last.

Independently three men, Pir Vilayat Khan, Paul Reps, and Baba Ram Dass planning to go to Asia said they are leaving the spiritual future of the U.S. in my hands. Of course this is contrary to those very nice European professors of Oriental (?) philosophies. But that was only the beginning. I have been getting long distance phone calls and what has stopped it is that Ralph Silver is going in person and he has been most successful in raising funds for films which will show the real Oriental philosophies of real Orientals to the American public, including our spiritual dances which have gotten beyond our control. Not seeking fame like “les fameux,” this is most welcome.

In other lines they are now letting me speak before blasting me, which was a habit of the previous generation. It is so easy to blast; it is so hard to listen. Not only have the initial stages of getting Israelis and Arabs together succeeded, but I have been receiving inquiries from Roman Catholics asking what I have been doing. It seams that only the “narrow-minded” listen before they condemn.

But now there is a wealthy editor who is both a Sufi disciple and devotee (along with his wife) of Gilbert and Sullivan! One of the first articles I expect to submit is “General Semantics and the non-solution of scientific problems.” Then I shall be writing wither on Sufi mysticism or the story of my life, which interests only the narrow-minded who have some curiosity and not the “tolerant” who have shut doors in my face. But that is over.

In September I have called for a very private meeting of astrologers, to demonstrate walks and dances. Those who have denied my prowess are not invited. There will be no charge but the audience is to be limited to practicing astrologers.

There are at least two underground efforts to organize occultists and align them with scientists. Dame Sybil Leake tried that, veddy exclusive, and of course, mystics could not join. I am very glad today. I have given Gina the works for talking about the ethics” of occultism. The day of pretense is gone, I work seven days a week but hope to have a day off next week for reasons of health.

In New Mexico about 200 young people found me in the midst of the woods. Now I am not in the midst of the woods and more and more people are seeking me out. All except the “fair-minded,” “tolerant” experts, who are hold-overs from the ages of darkness.

Everything else is of the same genre, the same tenor. We are moving and at a rapid rate. I have so many classes; I can’t keep track of them but have the most wonderful followers and disciples. We are in absolute alliance with Pir Vilayat Khan and files and tape recordings from many lands and apparently more to come. When God is with you, or you are with God, not the whole world can impede progress.

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif. 94110

July 25, 1970

Prynce C. Hopkins

1920 Garden St.,

Santa Barbara, Calif. 93101

My dear Mr. Hopkins:

I have before me your letter of June 25^th. Since leaving Lama in New Mexico I have not had a single day off or anything like it. I could not stay in Santa Barbara beyond a very brief visit with Mrs. Connaughton. She is a friend of some fifty years standing and has seen me through thin, and now, praise to God, thick. For the last two years have shown that with each endeavor there has been at least monetary satisfaction and now a growing group of young people have expressed satisfaction with what I have been attempting.

My main work of the present has been Dances of Universal Peace. The ideas and principles were “inherited” from the late Ruth St. Denis. A disciple decided to throw his “all” into taking pictures but this project has been snowballing, and I should say in the “right direction.” There are many wonderful personalities on earth about whom one does not hear and who are doing what the editors, commentators and moralists are always talking about. This is just one small factor.

Evidently my appearance is Geneva, an unknown then, among the top spirituelles of the world must not have been in vain. The youngest person in attendance has come all the way here. True in California we have a lot of “experts” who could not come before any real congregation of learned persons. They have not all departed from the scene. It was a matter of no small concern that in my home state professors of European, especially of German lineage, should have the prowess to limit even my appearance at East-West conferences. This also holds for the University of Hawaii although there it is persons of Jewish, not German or European lineage, who are able to block this person.

The silly about all those bombastic egotists is that they have roused opposition both among the learned and the wealthy. The University of California, especially the Berkeley campus, has been roused by excellently press-agented “Orientalists” with little depth of background. But now a rather wealthy man has come into our limelight. He was hunting for the real mystics and he believes he has found them. And when I gave him letters of introduction, he seized and acted upon them. And this house is being visited more and more by persons who seek East-West understanding, and this is in total contrast to the last two generations with their socially-acceptable “experts.”

Everything has hanged favorably the past two weeks. The efforts to bring Israelis and Arabs together (wrong person, of course) is progressing. My prayer with the lines; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven excepting in Vietnam and the Near East” will probably be broadcast before long. And first three men of some note: Paul Reps, Vilayat Khan and Baba Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) all notified their audiences they were leaving this land and should look to Sam Lewis!

The classes are growing; two secretaries lost to enumerative employment, and now the best disciples have come together with plans to help their “guru.” This is the best period of life.

In my own district I am known as the anti-litter champion, doing, not screeching. I wrote a strong letter to Dale Woelfl of “Science” calling attention to the danger of pollution of the English language by commentators and ivory-towered “experts” dominating the air-ways and literature. We saw a picture, “The Death of Lake Erie” (which now should be called “Lake Eerie”) and the comments were horrible. “We are all to blame.” I have blamed smoke-poisons, factory discharges and sewage. “We are all to blame” is the standard nonsense of establishment-defenders.

Fortunately this week Mr. Woelfl’s association, Phillip Abelson, has an article on the mercury poison dischargers, a real specific. And I read in the papers today that the Department of Justice is getting into the art.

We are not all to blame. I have four times in my life been engaged in land-clearing projects with ecological factors being considered. I am now asked to start another this winter, elsewhere, of course. The organic gardens I am connected with are beautiful, and the crops large and tasteful. More and more disciples are being employed in health-food stores, so we are prospering. More and more telephone or mail inquiries to attend national convocations of “holy men.” More and more letters from foreign parts. Nothing bad but quantitative difficulties.

And more and more classes, and larger ones of young people who want the real Oriental philosophies and wisdoms. And now a class on Christian mysticism, to a wonderful start. Only surpassed by meetings on Jewish mysticism in this area where I sit in the audience.

“Goddess” Margaret Meade has damned the communes. Those I have been connected with are prospering. Others are written up, when they show signs of failure, sex or drug-abuse, but the successful ones! But this is true of India also and of Egypt where they were established Americans, not by Ruassians!

But all efforts are being submerged, I hope, in campaigns for peace, for peace with understanding, not “with justice” (which even Hitlers can accept).

This is a flyer being other activities. If, as and when I can move next time, I shall write ahead.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 31, 1970

Bryn Beorse

Box 142, Keyport, Washington

My dear Shamcher:

This is really my diary entry. Qualitatively things were never so good. Quantitatively, I am in a quandary and perhaps this is for the good of my soul. Today I must telephone my attorney about organizing legally. I understand this is what Vilayat wants, but I have not seen the official report of the meeting. I am not so concerned about planning as in putting the plans into action. I was given the same instructions in Pakistan and, within a short while, we may be” doing. But today I am trying to get a few hours off. I have had no leisure whatsoever since returning from New Mexico. Nearly everything is proceeding favorably but nearly too much.

Vilayat said our group should be known as San Francisco, number 1, permitting others, presumably Peter, to have his own organization. On the day I was taken officially to the dargah Data Ganj in that Lahore I ran into three different Chistia groups in that city alone. I certainly ran into several Naqshibandi and Kadiri groups also. So there was no precedent for not permitting as many Sufi groups in this region as they want to establish themselves.

Besides this I now have about 100 disciples here and have not yet learned to look after so many. Therefore anything Peter or anybody else may do independently is more than welcome.

Daniel is leaving shortly for Tucson, Arizona. I had had only one comment on Pir Vilayat’s summer school and that was it should either be in session longer or become a more permanent institution. I understand that is exactly what may happen. But the first result has been that several persons have come up here from Tucson to study with me.

Our work is also expanding. Disciple Fred Cohn has been traveling with Pir Vilayat and also with his team of technicians, taking pictures etc. The news is overwhelmingly favorable, and too long for me to relate. One of his reports was on the activities around Denver and Boulder, Colorado. It seems that holding Holy Men’s Jamborees has become a sort of American institution, more are coming, and I do not know how to adjust.

Gavin Arthur was also pulled into the Colorado celebrations and he wants to get on the band wagon. Why not? He told me he is saving all my letters and they are to be filed with his memoirs which will either be purchased by or accepted by the library of Congress when he dies.

The other day I was writing, asking for an appointment with the Episcopalian Bishop Myers, and suggested the possibility of a joint Sufi Hassid program to help promote peace in the Near East. When we got to the final paragraph the telephone rang and the man said he is coming Saturday to promote such an idea. An hour later Rabbi Carlebach of Jerusalem telephoned from New York for the same purpose. In the Healing Service it says, “In unison with the will of God, we will to have peace.”

This place is too small for our meetings. In my last talk here I said, “We have been repeating ‘May the Message of God reach far and wide;’ now it is happening.”

Although my meetings are numerically small, there has been constant and steady increase. I had been preparing for about 60 or 70 of the Marin County gatherings, but now the auditorium is so packed, dance programs are difficult. We now have three dance classes and are planning more, exclusive of those being started in Arizona and New Mexico. Also exclusive of those being started in the East. Peter, a roving disciple, has been working very closely with Pir Vilayat and Baba Ramdas. It is wonderful to say that things have been growing out of hand and now not hundreds but thousands are repeating our sacred phrases.

I think I told you that independently Baba Ramdas, Pir Vilayat Khan and Paul Reps have placed the United States, so to speak, under my tutelage. Now I understand this is also partially true of one who calls himself Baba Ramdas. I do not know who he is but understand he is under the influence of Sai Baba, who also calls himself “Avatar.” Our colleague, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, does not think there is any gain through so-called people. Instead of bringing humanity closer to God, what generally happens, what has happened already is that followers of the different pretenders get into brawls with each other.

One aftermath of this is that Finley Dunne, Jr. who is directing the construction of the Temple of Understanding feels there is no place for what he calls the dajjals in universal efforts. They all proclaim personality as substitutes for moral and spiritual achievement. Anyhow I cannot turn down the rising groups who wish to counter the Meher Baba efforts.

Tomorrow I shall give a revolutionary talk on the three bodies as they are mentioned in the works of Saint Paul. O, they are there, all right. There is very little that is new in The Soul Whence and Whither, but what are you going to do when scriptures are hopelessly mis-translated?

My lectures are being taped and transcribed and they are destined to reach some very important persons and institutions.

There have been changes of personnel in San Francisco. It is rapidly becoming a true Sufi Center. The esoteric secretary, his assistant, and a housekeeper should be living there. There are also two or three voluntary workers. They are also delving into esoteric astrology.

We have gone far ahead with our astrological walks. On September 11, I am scheduled to meet with some of the astrologers of San Francisco to go into this subject and have the full cooperation now of disciples who realize what is being achieved, but also the personnel who attend meetings is improving in quality as well as in quantity.

We now have much more and better printing equipment here. It is being used professionally with the New Age stores. I guess you realize, especially in view of the recent exposes, that the public is becoming more and more aware of the viciousness of Madison Ave. I don’t think there is another country in the world with any intelligent background that has been deceived to believe proteins come especially from grains.

O yes, there is a law for the maximization of proteins. The Rockefeller Foundation has discovered this for rice in the Philippines; the Egyptians have discovered it for wheat, but of course we can’t make public any achievements of Nasser and Co. It just mustn’t be done. A Texan farmer has also discovered the same law as the Egyptians have. You can guess what happened to him, but now with Nader and Co. active we might learn a few things.

Only the young people already know what Madison Avenue has tried to repress. The New Age and health food stores are prospering and expanding at terrifically rapid rates. This, of course, is not news; this mustn’t be news. But a lot of my mureeds are working for such stores. Their total incomes are increasing and lots more is coming from these same general directions.

My health at the moment is excellent. Mansur and I encountered a Negro saint in Cambridge, Mass. He has sent me some of his medicine via the Fred mentioned above. Believe me it works. I am in tip-top shape physically at this moment. His work has been filmed also. I don’t want to say anything more about this, because we would be writing endlessly.

One of the great difficulties before me is the realization I have in my hands practically the complete esoteric practices of the late Hazrat Inayat Khan. I have written so before, but the work of coordinating them and relating them to the official papers is a most difficult task. We had our first meeting of the higher papers last week. I have called attention to the fact that a sentence which appeared in the first edition of “A Sufi Message….” was obliterated. It referred to a number of practices. I have so many details it is an overwhelming job both literally, I mean literally, and practically. For each one of them requires long periods to attain a realization. It requires a great deal of wisdom to impart them and more to fulfill them. In the end this will destroy the efforts of people like Fazal, Idries Shah, and Mrs. Duce. But it is not so easy to get them in intelligent shape, for one would have to explain to a secretary a most difficult task for those who have not had spiritual awakening; but I can assure you that the real living God is going to see that this be done ultimately and properly.

In the meanwhile our relations with universities are improving, and ultimately I see much hope for our future in many and perhaps all directions.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

August 2, 1970

Mr. Finley P. Dunne, Jr.

The Temple of Understanding

1346 Connecticut Ave. N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20036

My dear Peter:

This is really my diary entry. Ordinarily I would be sending it to Arthur Hoppe of the local S.F. Chronicle, whose columns are syndicated, but he is away.

I call all of this “not news.” The historian of the future will look askance of the litterateurs of the day, who measure the value of the article by the social prestige of the writer. There are some horrible crime trials now going on. The public and the press depend upon the eye-witnesses, but elsewhere????? In fact, I don’t know where to begin.

1. Our efforts to bring Arabs and Israelis threaten to snowball. We have Jews saying Allah, and Muslims repeating the Shemah. You would imagine some editor might be interested. Ha. Ha. But this morning I met a new underground editor who wants everything from me, and he will get it.

We have an elaborate program to bring Jews of many types, including Israelis, and Palestinian exiles of many types, and others together. I have notified the local Episcopalian Bishop Myers. I think I told you already the friends of the late Thomas Morton are interested. The only violence I am presenting is that I will have no commerce with all those societies of any kind who wish to continue an old age or bring in a new one by abolishing the Sermon on the Mount and the Gospel of Saint John.

2. My threatened revolutionary sermon came off marvelously. The hall was packed to the gills as we say; all young people. I explained the three-body teachings of St. Paul as indicated in Chapter 2 of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, and indicated I would go into further detail when we came to Chapter 1. As I told you before, oven our good friend Hunt Smith has not been so aware of the parallels between the serious sides of Christianity and the serious sides of Hinduism. On top of that, one of my disciples is presenting the Hebrew Kabbalah, ant I mean the Hebrew Kabbalah and not the dash trash submitted by goyim with the same title Kabbalah, and all of us are very close together.

3. I have been receiving rather enigmatic long distance calls. I am wanted at all kinds of so-called Holy Men’s Jamborees In addition to that, a friend has planned a joint Sufi-Jewish program. I would do this only if full credit is given to The Temple of Understanding, and there is some possibility that this may be done.

4. Besides the underground alluded to above, may own spiritual companions already have one publication out, and are promising another one. So altogether the doors seem to be opening both to give public lectures on and for The Temple of Understanding and on and for all my endeavors, which have the marvelous virtue of always having been rejected by about everybody. I used to say that my two greatest achievements were my invitation to the Royal Palace Grounds in Tokyo and a free dinner from Armenians. But I must add to this the 33 rejections I received from the American press, all schools.

Talking seriously with people, it is now a race whether peace will come in the Holy Land by encouraging people to be friends with each other, or else wait till the Communists rouse the revolutionaries to overthrow all governments. I think, with God’s help we are going to win. I think, with God’s “help, we are going to show the blind traditionalists of all schools that the world has no choice but between love and chaos, and I am quite confident that the young in vast majority will support the spiritual ways.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

P.S. I shall soon be sending Lowell the transcriptions of my lectures.

August 4, 1970

Bryn Beorse

Box 142, Keyport, Wash.

Dear Shamcher;

Liberty, Democracy, Humanity, and Peasants, Shut Up!

This is a diary entry but it marks the beginning of a great change. Sometimes I call myself “Timon of San Francisco, in reverse.” None of the important organizations here ever let me speak (excepting the Commonwealth Club). I am held in contempt, but this is making me a hero. I don’t want it that way but can’t help it. A big man is a big man. Period! Eye-witnesses in law courts, but elsewhere? Scientists let any researcher speak but elsewhere you have to have credentials and proofs and believe me the number of people who have been there and gotten the same boot are flocking to this house more and more.

It is noticeable that all the dialecticians from the newer, newer left, to the super-Birchers; the religionists, the “humanists,” the “peace groups,” etc., all are united on the above motto. At Geneva I had to watch some of the well-known world diplomats whom no one would dare to approach here held in utter contempt. Emotionalists, orators, smoothies may be most welcome at our “peace” meetings, at our religious and anti-religious and philosophical gatherings, but when they had to lay real cards on the table, it was different. To have a peace conference which, like jury trials, demanded—the sheep and goats were quickly separated and since then, boy, my correspondence! And the youngest man at the Geneva conference was so moved that he came all the way to San Francisco and comes to all my public gatherings. But let a religionist, humanist, philosopher, “peace” advocate—it spoils the show. Facts always spoil the shows.

My present mood began with my purchasing another copy of Manhood of Humanity by Alfred Korzybski. I made the greatest error possible for which no forgiveness is to be tolerated! I purchased this book originally at the recommendation of my math-philosophy teacher, Cassius Keyser. That was like yelling, “Heil, Hitler” at a synagogue. Never, never, never, never forgiven! And as I re-read it I can see clearly how it is possible to clear up some of the problems such as DDT poisoning; indeed all the confusion arising from Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring; all the various aspects of pollution, etc., etc., and more etcs. From this Korzybski worked out what I considered sound logistics and Luther Whiteman and I, knowing this book, were pitted to write a review on Science and Sanity when it first came out. Period! Jamais, encore. Read the above title.

But the same behavior pattern all over. The “big” people want to listen to “big” people. The “solution” of problems is to find the right “big” person. It has nothing to do with logic or logistics and so even now we have smog, pollution, etc., etc., because the “right” Big Person has not been found. But when I talk with or listen to scientists, I mean those who have, had laboratory training, etc., there is nothing but pessimism because the Big people can’t find the Right Big person to solve the problems. I have been to Pittsburgh and London and seen what has been done there. And I was working on sewage disposal problems when I got ill a few years ago. But not being a “big” men, but a Hardy’s “Jude the Obscure,” oh, well, perhaps it was just as good I was then stricken.

Now the underground press is seeking me out, and you have started your own sheet, so to speak. But there is Walter whom you may be meeting. He was seeking those versed in Oriental-Oriental philosophies and bang! But he is both a publisher and a man of more than ample means and he wants everything! The idea that a peasant should be permitted even to get an article published, let alone try to cure problems like “The Death of Lake Eerie” is unthinkable, inconceivable, impossible, but it is going to happen.

It is not only the underground, but some over ground publishers. I have had two more promoters approach me to raise funds so that my silenced endeavors will be made known. Or at least my facts or views published before the boom is landed on my person—the great fame of all establishments and also the “new” groups who want to kick out the “ins” and carry on the same policies.

And at the same time people from several distant parts of the country are coining here and more and more invitations and more and more. And then all the Peasants who have been shut up! There are lots of them you can bet. And on top of that, more and more invitations to more and more universities. This is, of course, impossible and inconceivably, but it is very, very true.

So there is the whole world of trying to apply Korzybskian logistics to the world of scientific problems which etc. verboten because, because, because, because.

And the number of people who have been to Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos who find these steps! After all Robert Clifton came to me several times and we are spending countless billions because peasants are supposed to shut up and he died of a broken heart and the fighting still goes on and on because “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court” says that. And that is the script.

And now I have had the damnable impertinence to get part-Jews who are part-Christian or part-Arabs to start a peace movement for the Near East. And this is going ahead because although peasants are supposed to shut up there are too many and every step toward bringing human beings—verboten by the foreign office and the churches and the “humanists” and the “peace” groups, is succeeding.

And this without any diminution of our “regulation” programs. And we are taking films and other evidence which every laboratory-scientist would accept and which even the parlor-scientists cannot regularly reject.

I am sending copies of this to Lloyd Morain and this is not all that is going on. It may be “Let the dead bury their dead.” I no longer care. Too much and while people may visit Emerson’s shoemaker in the middle of the woods and they did, boy, what happens when you have a front door and a telephone and mail can reach you. And articles soon to be published. And let the religionists and humanists, and “peace” groups yell. We are going to have peace and understanding, not Justice, whatever that means but peace with understanding. And the young are coming and coming and coming and now the universities. Watch and see. Facts may be as important in the coming society as among scientists and for jury trials.

Love,

S.A.M.

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

August 7, 1970

Rev. Lowell R. Ditzen,

National Presbyterian Center,

4125 Nebraska Ave. NW

Washington. D.C. 20016

My dear Lowell:

This is really my diary entry but often these entries are turned into letters. For the revolution has come and with God’s help it will proceed. Last Saturday I spoke on the Three-Body doctrine from St. Paul in the commentary on chapter 2 of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. My two criticism of general Christianity were:

a. The replacement of “In the beginning God” with “I believe.”

b. Mis-translations by egocentric or intellectuals who did not have the Pauline experiences and outlook.

This Chapter ends with “We have the mind of Christ” which is my theme for the morrow and I am very fearless here and have been defying everybody and winning the support of an ever growing number of young. God bless them.

The lecture was thinned out Wednesday night at the San Francisco Theological Seminary (Presbyterian) because much of the time is given to “Dances of Universal Peace” which are ignored by all the “proper” people and most of all by those who claim university, integration and world-outlooks. These inheritances from the late Ruth St. Denis are growing and winning. And at the end of the lecture I was approached by one of your colleagues from Minnesota who was more than delighted and said he had tape-recorded it.

I did not ask him for a copy for my Saturday lectures are being taped. We have to edit them. I am short of secretarial help, as two of my secretaries now have outside jobs. One is in connection with the filming of my dances, the work of Pir Vilayat Khan and also other associates. The other secretary has a job with a very wealthy publisher and on his return we may, God willing, have more funds and my writings will be published.

The day is over when I can brag that the two greatest achievements were “Being a guest of honor at the Imperial Palace grounds in Tokyo, and having a free meal from the Armenians” I am now adding, “thirty three rejections of my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism.” This is our ?culture? “right,” “center” and “left.” We are greater than “geeks”?????

This having the mind-of-Christ is our central theme. And my incipient “Nathan-the-Wise’s efforts at Geneva are progressing rapidly. Of course you do not expect anybody who has had thirty-three rejection’s of a paper on Vietnamese Buddhism to try to do much at home. I have almost reached the Episcopalian Bishop, who has indicated he will see me in September. But as soon as the commentaries are completed I am hoping to get them in your hands and even come to Washington.

Everything is moving, especially money. We have done the impossible and therefore unprintable. Vice, pornography, tempering with funds … news. Getting Muslims to say the “Shema” and Jews to repeat the “Bismillah” can’t be news. It is impossible. Man bites dog isn’t news because it never happens! But we not only have gotten Arabs to repeat the Shema and Jews to repeat the Bismillah, we have at least two fund-raising campaigns on to promote peace through human beings mingling and praying with each other.

One man who is quite a promoter believes this is most wonderful and assures us he can raise any amount of money. He would like to work under the auspices of The Temple of Understanding. The only thing we do not want from them is money. So Peter gets a copy of this. Only we want to make our actions legal. Indeed not only has my income increased since Geneva but expenses have gone down, and there is tremendous optimism and some success in raising money.

I received a beautiful letter from Judith but things have been happening since. Everything and everything wonderful. We did not get any answer from Norman Lourie but besides the above have been planning another funds-raising campaign in the general direction of this goal. The human beings of this world want peace. I have given up trying to convince the State Department or press, and can ignore the latter because of the colleague who has the publishing house and wants everything I have done, or think. That is why I call myself “Timon of San Francisco—in reverse.” There is nothing a “peace” group in the city or hardly a cleric who will grant an interview.

But the universities are different. I am trying to raise my own scholarship for Peace at the University of California. A thousand dollars today will be easy but it will bring shame on those who will not even grant interviews (the Judeo-Christian ethic). There is nothing but progress in all directions and the directions are many.

Kindest regards,

Samuel L. Lewis

cc The Temple of Understanding

cc Herb Caen, S.F. Chronicle

cc San Francisco Theological Seminary

August 9, 1970

Mr. Herb Caen

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco, Calif. 94119

Dear Herb:

I am going to send you some “not news” It is about the not-newsy young people who are only noticed if they are caught with grass or pornography. The fact that they haven’t been convinced that grass is harmful and booze delightful is making an ever-enlargening gap which ought to be called not a generation gap but a degeneration gap. I have just received from England a series of pictures of Rabbis and Imams together. When a Rabbi meets with an Imam that is news, but when a devotee of the Rabbi’s congregation and a devotee of the Imam’s congregation worship together that is treason of absolutely the worst kind, and no question about it, it is treason. Well some at us have had the audacity to try to get Israelis and Arabs to associate with each other and even to worship together. Of course we have been successful. We have been amazed at the success. But we are quite aware that this is absolutely unprintable. Only we are going ahead anyhow.

This person went to Geneva to a Conference of the World’s Faiths, and he was permitted to speak, which is never done in the good San Francisco where he was born. Now we have determined to try to get Arabs and Israelis to recognize each other as human beings. It is not only easy; it is being followed by a successful fund collecting. The dear old Rabbis and the dear old Imams will gather together, will worship together, and will go home and warn their disciples and congregation that they must never think of doing anything like it. Thus the degeneration gap. But we have been most successful is getting young people to recognize each other as children of the living God, and going on from there, and not only doing that, but have been very successful in collecting funds to advance such a program. If one as of us should smoke marijuana or raise the red flag or the Vietnamese Flag this would be news. Tomorrow it is going to be news anyhow. This the degeneration gap.

Faithfully,

August 11, 1970

Mr. S. B. Beorse

P.O. Box 142

Keyport, Wash., 98345

My dear Shamcher:

This is really my diary entry. I don’t know if yesterday was typical or not. Yes, 200 people did find their way to see me when I lived in the midst of the woods at Lama. I don’t need to try to convince any hard-shells of facts; they simply do not accept them. But yesterday I did write a local Rabbi who had received a great peace award and who never ever answered a letter after 1967, that my letter to him would be published. And I am sending a copy of this of Lloyd Morain, for my next letter to him will be published.

I feel very much like Samuel Morse—I don’t know whether there is anything in a name or not. He sued all his detractors and won every case in court. I have no such intention, but I am sick and tired of a culture that believes in that “problems” are complications to be solved by the “right people” and one-way to determine who the “right people” are is by an election. All afternoon, both before you came and afterwards, was consumed in interviews. I did not have a single moment of relaxation nor even to continue or writing. But I tell you, Shamcher, behind all those interviews are the situation that individual’s problems are not solved by “nice articles” written by the “right people.”

One of the later interviews was concerning Vilayat’s health. Although the report was apparently very damaging, I cannot see how he could both have the affliction claimed and the enthusiasm he is evincing. I may go downtown this morning concerning travel arrangements of disciples who expect to join him shortly. We are going to have, we are having, real cultural exchange with real Asians. As I told you, I would keep Robert Garfias informed later, and naturally you. I am not a pathologist, but I cannot see how Vilayat can both have the affliction claimed and the stupendous inspirations and achievements.

A good deal of time after you left was spent with a man who both wishes to raise money for me and see that my articles are published. In 1967, I won a law suit with my brother. The lawsuit not only lifted me from poverty, perhaps for the rest of my life, but also brought a revolutionary change in his attitude, so that when he died I was one of the few persons who were on speaking terms with him. And his death also brought an increase in income.

I was going to England to do research in sewage conversion plants. Oh, I had all the introductions. I evidently had the backgrounds. I think I wrote you that some chemistry teachers in this vicinity think I was one of their prize pupils, although this will not convince dialecticians and semanticists and literary experts. My career as a professional spray operator barred as from speaking on Silent Spring. This interviewer wanted are to write on pollution. If this were a sane nation the literati would listen to the scientists. But the literati want to do all the writing, and they think it is a joke that a person like myself writes letters to them. If one or two of them would publish anything this would not happen. But henceforth I expect to publish my letters to them, and about the only answers I expect are personality attacks, which is their custom.

I am neither for nor against the President on Near East and pollution. But I am totally against the present literati who measure a man’s philosophy by his relations to the way French peasants sat in a convention held after their great revolution. All the literati seem to be dialecticians, existentialists, or Manicheans, and anyone who dares to think actually in integrative or multi-dimensional terms is scorned, excepting….

Life is refuting my former critics. Not by logic, not by morality, not even by facts, but by the simple situation that a number of promoters think I have something to offer and want to help raise funds. My god-daughter’s husband has been successful in raising funds for our films and also for Vilayat. Perhaps my next communication will be more on this subject. You will understand why I call myself “Timon of San Francisco in reverse.”

Years of research for and towards world peace by unconventional methods has brought me an ever-increasing number of contacts in what I call the world of God and Rand-McNally.

The meeting last night also showed an increase in attendance. I have no intention of trying to reach older people any more concerning my heritages from the late Ruth St. Denis. Facts do not interest them, and I have no intention of trying to reach older people anymore, excepting those who themselves were mocked, end of courses there are many of them too.

Every sign indicates there will be success in the trip planned to go east. The refusal of our culture even to accept the existence of Sufis because Prof. von Schnitzelbaum and Dr. Schnorschnor and such deny their existence is causing laughter among the young. I don’t know any more legendary teachings than that of the “realisms” common to Russia, the U.S. and China (vide ”1984”) I am also being asked more and more to go into the subject of communes, but I am more interested in efforts to promote real peace among living beings, I do not know a single group in San Francisco that would open its doors to me, although the Episcopalian Bishop is equivocating, and at a time when more and more respectful letters are coming from afar, all over the world. This does not apply to the young. And some day, by God, we are going to have something like Korzybski’s semanticism despite alike the publishers of the hour and the Generals who have taken over Korzybski’s teachings, and ruined them. I am hoping before it is too late that Lloyd had better become humanist and quit a lot of nonsense he has imposed on me and let others impose on me. But he is not the only one. The world is full of Hardy’s “Jude the Obscure” and the younger people are welcoming the Judes and ignoring their deriders and this is what is keeping no busy. Facts are going to be determinative, and the big Isms are going to have to join the rest of humanity.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

August 14, 1970

Anandashram,

Kanhangad P.O.

Travancore-Cochin

Dear Ram:

Om! Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!

There is no spare time in Sam’s life and the affairs have become so dramatic that one does not wish to read anything but sacred tests. It is not devotion; it is the way life is. Thus last Monday afternoon five hours were spent with appointments, usually sudden ones, four people are coming longer distances to see Sam and in their opinion, to seek God. Older people will not accept this and when some come—which is seldom, they are amazed.

At the same time, Sam has lost two secretaries. Our work is prospering now, praise to God. There is a new diet of diets and natural food stores are prospering and many of Sam’s disciples are getting goodly paid jobs. And in turn these stores are advertising what Sam is doing.

Then our efforts in the field of mystical explanations of religions, beginning with Christianity, have been successful. Our Wednesday night meetings, held in a seminary-auditorium and now packed. And God, so to speak, is giving Sam new dances all the time especially Sufi and Ram Nam dances and the young not only love them, but are having the effects in greater joy, even ecstasy, and psychic and moral education.

The only people who will not accept this are the various “world” and “integral” and “federal” groups who are also in competition and trying to introduce God-less Yoga. And when the real Yogins come, and they are coming, they attract far more. So what is called the “underground press” has been giving Sam plenty of publicity.

This in turn has led a group of disciples to become professionals in taking films of spiritual movements. They have already traveled far and wide and their next project is to film Sufis whose very existence our cultures have denied; or else they have been downgraded by many who claim “universality.“ But the efforts to raise money have been successful. All the pretended “universal” people cannot efface the history of Akbar.

Sam had to take harsh measures with his local god-daughter’s husband and now he is Sam’s best help. He has come to realize that God-experience is either real or effective and more and more people are drawn to it, and that the only universality there is an all-inclusive one. So it is very ready to read Papa Ramdas’s works and also to get people to repeat the Ram Nam. Thus between Sufism and Ram Nam Sam is busy all the time.

The other day Sam again met the famous Alan Watts who has now become a seeker. Sam supposes the main difference is that Sam who is older has much more vitality. This is a grace. It is very difficult to convince intellectuals about Grace, but the young see it and are satisfied.

But now the universities are sending for Sam to speak on those aspects of Oriental wisdom which are excluded or barred by those who pretend to be universal.

The disciples of Sam are young, handsome, intellectual and depend on Prajna. They are working to bring Jew and Muslim, Israeli and Arab together. While everybody else emphasizes war and differences, they are going ahead and so far have been surprisingly successful. They wish to work with and for the Temple of Understanding.

Another group is preparing to come to Asia. Sam has written about this before. They wish first to photo and record the “non-existing” Sufis and Dervishes. Then come to India and Sam has suggested the Shivananda Ashram and also Saint Rehenad Tyabji in New Delhi. But some want to come south and especially visit Anandashram. They may be writing to you in person, but their schedule is not clear. This is partly because they do not know which holy places will welcome theme.

After Sam visits the universities in California he will have to go to the Eastern Seaboard. There is a growing interest in things spiritual, cosmic, and divine and unlike many of the “Yoga” movements in this country, Sam has the mystical or cosmic outlook.

But Sam also emphasizes that all great prophets taught almost the same things and the emphasis on the three-body constitution of man and the utilization first of Love and then Joy and Peace as cosmic attributes and functions are succeeding. It is a new age which the evolved souls so predicted. Only they will not accept the leadership of the older dualistic manas-ahankara people.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

August 16, 1970

Anandashram

Kanhangad, Tavancore-Cochin

South India

Dear Ram:

Om! Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!

A little incident last night prompts this letter. Sam told his two secretariats that H. does not want to read any more fiction or news or anything but the writings of Papa Ramdas. In an “exciting” life everything that happens is more dramatic and more interesting. The Chief Secretary and the personal secretary who live here said the same, they are reading Papa all the time. But the housekeeper said, no, she was reading Sri Ramakrishna all the time. Sam said, “That is the same thing.”

It is interesting and it will be recorded in history that we ignored what disciples in Sufism should be reading while the many growing Indian groups read otherwise and often emphasize otherwise. Indeed, while Sam has been totally ignored by certain Indian groups claiming “universality” he is receiving more and more letters from other Indian groups who now recognize he has a growing following and may also have some money in which all of them are most interested.

While the Indian so-called “spiritual” groups ignore each other and some now recognize Sam, the people at the Indian Travel Bureau treat Sam as if he were a holy man. We have had such cordiality and courtesies from all of them. It is most wonderful. And one of Sam’s chief disciples, Phillip Davenport and his god-son Ralph Silver are preparing to leave. Phillip was editor of a paper called “The Oracle” but trying to run all departments, it failed. We are not now worried because a very wealthy publisher has joined us and is expected back next month.

It is too bad that the “universal” Indian groups ignore our existence and also that of each other. We are teaching Tat Twam Asi and Atman Is Brahman while the Indian “universal” groups teach otherwise and are very selective. But the young want universality. And while some of the very exclusive “universal” groups are calling for “scientific Yoga,” Sam, immersed in Papa Ramdas, is getting more and more material for “Dances of Universal Peace.”

Initiated into the akasha by Hazrat Inayat Khan and Ruth St. Denis who first brought these teachings jointly in 1910, the dances are rushing to Sam all the time. He was invited to a woman’s dance group (his disciples) and while with them gave a second “Ras Lila” and then “Krishna introduces Rukmini to the Gopis.”

Then last night came more Dervish dances and a Ram-Sita (the second with this name). Sam does not lecture on Brahmacharya and even less against the animal side of man. He emphasizes constantly the spiritual side. We are all singing our divine phrases and repeating the Divine names, mostly Allah and Ram. And Sam also received a letter from a loving disciple in Pakistan who praised Allah and Ram equally!

Then we are having meetings for Peace in the near East. It is all by Sam’s disciples. While everybody else was rejecting Sam one man praised him no end, and that is Gunnar Jarring whom he has met, and is now in charge of the peace efforts. The “big” people never let him say anything nor do the “universal” people. But now the young are not only accepting the spiritual guidance but find that is the best way for their own ideas, plans and even for the raising of money! While so many who claim they are the leaders of the future and therefore should have money, we leave everything to Allah-Ram. And one after another of the disciples has been getting goodly paid jobs this last week. It is like miracles. We never begged Allah-Ram, we praised Him but we did repeat the Sufi Mantram, “Al-Mu’ti” which means “God is Provider.” And it is coming true.

So Sam asked Allah-Ram: “Why is it, that while Sam thinks Papa Ramdas was perfect and yet withdrew, that this person who lives and works in the midst of society is being so helped.” And Allah-Ram answered, “Because you see Me in society as well as in retirement; you see Me in wealth as well as in poverty. And you don’t make any distinction but just see Me.”

Now we are having all kinds of Indian movements coming here and Sam rather welcomes them because negatively he is very much opposed to the dominant religion. At the same time he is giving lectures on “The Three Body constitution of Man” as is presented in the Christian scriptures, and has a large audience regularly. We are preparing this for publication and things look very well indeed, excepting.

After awhile we shall have to ask you or your publishers in Bombay the best way of marketing books on a larger scale. We have already succeeded in our relations with Ashraf in Lahore. Things are changing so rapidly Sam is dizzy, and two former secretaries now with good outside paying jobs! And it looks as if Sam will have to take his new secretary to the East Coast soon.

The soul of man seeks God-Ram-Allah and not all the emotions and propaganda change that. There are so many evolved young Americans and while they are included among the “Hippies,” they are very different from their elders.

Once Sam was with a Holy Man in the Himalayas and the Holy Man proclaimed his superiority in everything, and Sam said, all but one thing, that he was a better listener and better pupil. None of the proclaiming Indians or their disciples has the ability to listen. The young here have the ability to listen. The Buddhist Scriptures say: “Thus have I heard.” The Jews say: “Hear, of Israel.” The Hindus verbalize “Vac” but the willingness to listen is not so evident. So we evince it, we listen and it is most wonderful and rewarding.

We have started off with Divine Blessing to work for peace in the Near East. It is a long story. As the “important” people do not listen the young people have taken over, Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians and Muslims and they all recognize the One God and begin there and go on. It is amazing and wonderful. This is one group of Sam’s disciples.

The second, referred to above is preparing to film and record spiritual affairs, but mostly with Sufis because the “universal” people ignore the Sufis and Fatehpur Sikri. We wanted them to do it and now have the money! So we are turning it all over to the young beautiful and enthusiastic New Age types.

They are turning to Nature; they are turning to God and God-consciousness. They want the Ananda and not lectures. They want the Yoga of union and not ego-Stressing. And it seems to be coming at a rapid rate.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

August 21, 1970

Miss Patricia Martin

296 Waltham St.

West Newton, Mass.

My dear Patricia:

I was most happy to hear from you and accept the fact that you may have to remain in New England for a while. This is going to be a very funny letter. We are going through rapid changes. They are almost story book-ish. At the present time I am down to one and a half secretaries.

Sometime back while Phillip Davenport was looking for a place for a summer camp for Pir Vilayat he encountered one Walter Bowart in Arizona, a man who himself was looking for Sufis. Then, like in the cartoon, “then the fun began.” I leave out details. Daniel Lomax is now a Sheikh in Sufi teachings; he has his own center down in Tucson, Arizona. It has started out so rapidly and marvelously, even he has a hard time to keep an equilibrium.

The dance work has progressed so wonderfully we have had pictures taken. The film enterprise has grown tremendously. Fred Cohn has traveled all over, and is now going with Pir Vilayat to the Orient. Mansur is now a paid secretary for this enterprise. Not only that, Phillip Davenport is preparing to go to many parts of Asia and my god-son Ralph Silver already has his Visa.

The dance work is expanding in every direction. I have not heard directly from Peter, but know his work has also mushroomed. Only at this writing it is possible that Jemila, who is returning, maybe willing to become dance secretary. I had hoped originally to train Marcia, but she left this house of her own accord in rather peculiar circumstances, not clear to me. She has jumped into African dancing but her past escapade with Yoga Dancing, Indian dancing, and my work, makes me wonder. In any event, we have to seek both teachers and secretaries.

An appeal for help has partially succeeded for San Francisco, but the need for work is much greater at the moment—three people going to Asia, and I am a veteran in long distance air travel and living in Indian and Pakistan. So this keeps me very very busy, although quite joyously so.

In the meanwhile, my own personal financial affairs have improved. Much more important; many disciples realize that Murshid has not only had to do very heavy work, but to bear heavy financial burdens. They have now come to my help. It may be coincidence, it may be a sign of Allah’s approval, but the New Age food enterprises has expanded so successfully that I think today at least ten disciples are working for Fred Rohe. On top of that Frank, who took over Daniel’s secretary-treasurer work has been offered a restaurant job with them should this take place.

Briefly, the present picture is: more disciples, more applicants, more outside invitations to speak (including Universities), more money, more work, and….

We are out of copies of the dance material here, and have no one available at the moment. Murshid even had to stay in San Francisco this week—so much to do. Next week we shall check the Khankah files and also seek a dance secretary. It will possibly be Jemila or Amina. It is very important that both you and Richard have copies. The next step may be to have them duplicated or printed in some form. The Sufis at Seattle already have a sort of publication and Hassan at the Khankah has now a real printing establishment.

But new dances keep on coming, we have roughly elementary class Saturday afternoon, intermediate Sunday afternoon, advanced Sat. night. But in addition Murshid has been asked to help with the women’s dancing class on Wednesday mornings. The work of this group has been complicated by first Jemila’s going away and then Julie’s becoming a mother. Suzanne is now carrying most of the burden. Besides this, the group is much larger than I had envisioned. To make matters humorously complicated, I cannot go to any meetings or groups without seeing new dances in the ether, and no secretary for them.

However, next week I hope to get Marin help as I have had San-Francisco help. Mansur has a full-time job. Moineddin has been ill for many many weeks. Ayesha has been working wonderfully for me, and now even has her own Gatha class. Vashti is young in years but old in membership, may be starting a center in Mill Valley but she is not in the women’s dancing class.

My god-daughter who is at Ithaca (Cornell) has long asked for me to come east. I shall certainly have money late in September if not before—that is if nobody helps me out. We have invitations also from your area, from New York, and from Washington to say the least. Then I asked our new assistant secretary Joan if she could come. Most fortunately, praise to God, Joan has to go to New York to pick up some things, and more fortunately she has her own car there. So as soon as I complete present obligations, we should be coming east, inshallah. These obligations include a Berkeley lecture and a very special one for astrology teachers. Our astrology dance work has expanded along with the more spiritual work. I also hope you can meet Karam. He has helped me in many ways.

Yes, my next venture next week shall be to see that you and Richard get everything that is necessary. I understand there are several who would like to volunteer but then everybody else has jobs—good outside paying jobs! Fortunately there are many applicants for Bayat and they must either pay us money or work, as Inshallah you should be hearing from us fairly soon.

We all send Love and Blessings, and especially my new housekeeper, the mother of Asa, whose name is Leslie.

Murshid

Samuel L. Lewis

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

August 29, 1970

Dr. Huston Smith

Department of Humanities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge 39, Mass.

My dear Huston:

One is writing knowing that your office may receive this before your return, and will hold it for you. The report here is like a composition of fairy stories or complex folk lore. I am seated alone in an office dedicated to the spreading of Sufism with my chief associate in the hospital and the absence of secretaries for very favorable reasons!

For instance, Otis Mansur Johnson is no longer with me. His wife, Dickie Carolyn left him, but please, no samskaras, that would be the worst thing showing the vanity of dualism with which we are so imbued. She is now chief secretary of the Sufi Pir Vilayat Khan, my closest associate.

Mansur went to Europe with me to the session of The Temple of Understanding and did quite good. Then also to Lama Foundation in New Mexico. Now he is full time employed on a venture which grew out of “my” own endeavors, Dance of Universal Peace. This was long discussed with the late Ruth St. Denis and the first steps began before she died, spiritual walking. The class which included Otis progressed so well we tried spiritual dancing and whang!

We began with Dervish dancing and then added Mantric dancing and on and on. I am busy all the time both teaching and receiving and this goes on seven days a week while we are trying to organize the Sufi Message. Then in a row Paul Reps, Richard Alpert and Pir Vilayat Khan—all separately, practically told me they were leaving this country to Sam, and helped spread the dancing. We have been entirely successful in Arizona, New Mexico, New York and New England.

While the “big” and “important” people refused to have anything to do with the dances or this person, evidently God-Allah-Ram thought differently. While at Geneva I learned that my brother had died. We had been enemies for 50 years, became friends, and he died almost alone leaving me in good financial position, alhamdu lillah.

Meanwhile the universities began to change their attitudes. So long as “Oriental” studies were under Englishmen and Germans and other Europeans I not only did not have a chance but was actually black-balled. The same applies to Hawaii whose East-West Center is controlled by those of Jewish outlooks. Not all Jews have the Jewish outlooks. I went to hear the Chassid, Rev. Shlomo Carlebach and never saw so many crosses! True, not sarcasm.

I worked forty years for the World Church Peace Union, my own expense and studied all the religions—although most “experts” on “Oriental Philosophy” not only refused to accept but actually opposed and blackballed me—but no samskaras, please. It is God Who does all work. All this knowledge is now at the disposal of The Temple of Understanding and Mrs. Judith Hollister and “Peter.”

At Geneva I think every single group either talked or dined with Otis and myself, and the “play” of begging “Nathan the Wise” has now broken out, really. For instance this week my disciples were extremely successful in an Israeli-Arab dinner and they wish such ventures to be in connection with The Temple of Understanding—this their idea. The next planned dinner is already oversubscribed and a radio station—not a “liberal” one, is going to advertise our efforts! The “liberals” like to play it Cool and have. Man bites dog—never news! But I think one news reporter has now acknowledged these efforts.

The Lama visit entirely successful and they are all for the Temple and so is New Mexico and your colleague Archie Bahm at the University of New Mexico.

Then things boomed. My local editor lost his paper and found a wealthy editor who was looking for Sufis! He is returning soon. He grabbed another secretary and this man who also knows Sanskrit is reaching those intellectuals who are dissatisfied with Gurdjieff and Sabud. The third secretary was in the above ventures.

During all these years while everything was turning me down, one man gave me four hours and thought the “plan” I had for the Holy Land was the most sensible thing he ever encountered. His name: Gunnar Jarring. But I am not alone. My colleagues are research scientists of the University of California, not recognized, but I am going to get help pulling out documents.

At both my homes the telephone is now constantly ringing, and a growing number of long distance calls and visitors. The dances are spreading; our peace efforts are growing; I have the most wonderful groups of young.

Also giving lectures on “The Three Body Constitution of Man According to St. Paul. Very well attended. Beautiful large audiences, all young. Being tapped and will be sent to Rev. Lowell Ditzen in Washington. No free time, no dull time, and God be praised, good health.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

P.S. Should be in Boston area in October.

September 4, 1970

Anandashram

Kanhangad P.O.

Travancore-Cochin

South India

Dear Ram!

Om Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram!

Sam had thought he would be through writing you and perhaps have a schedule, but with Ram it is different. One’s position may be explained very simply: that what man does in surrender to God, or with inspirations from God-Ram, will succeed in the end, and all the efforts of the manas-ahankara people will in the end prove empty. This has been Sam’s experience for a long time but it is becoming more and more evident.

There are a growing number of presumable spiritual centers in this land and some of them no doubt are quite spiritual. But when a national survey was taken the Lama Foundation in New Mexico was selected as the finest, and you will see two pages in the current issue of the National Geographic Magazine dedicated to it. This is the place which regards Sam as the American Guru. The people there work very hard and chant Divine phrases all day long. It is really wonderful but we did not know the world would recognize this. Our praises to God, certainly not to ourselves.

This surprise publication comes at a time when Sam, praise God, in the best of health, has hardly time to eat or sleep. It seems everybody but those who verbalize universal outlooks and world missions are accepting what he is doing. More and more real spiritual and Yoga teachers are coming from India. They not only wish to establish friendship and alliance with Sam, they are being given more and more time on radio and television, when those who verbalize and only verbalize, are not being recognized at all by our culture.

In the last report, Sam mentioned the Sarasvati meditations. These are not only going on, but Sam is having dream manifestations instead of sleep, more and more and more. We have a Ram Nam dance for 4 people; another one for 5; another one for 6; another one for seven or more people. They are all very different excepting in the words chanted. There was a demonstration of the Ram Nam for 5 people the other night and it was amazing and wonderful how it was accepted at once, and the joy that shone in the faces of the participants was truly marvelous. We have been invited to repeat this at a public festival which will be held shortly. It seems that the time has come when the human soul is finding more Joy in chanting Holy phrases and in praising God, than in anything else.

Sam is now receiving more and more invitations, invitations from about everybody but those who proclaim “universality.” His disciples and friends are presenting spiritual dances in many parts of America, and it seems at this hour too the most successful real Yoga Gurus are coming here and making alliances. Perhaps this is what God wants.

At Lama Foundation everyone is called upon to chant or compose melodies. One beautiful soul created one based on the Biblical quotation that every man shall dwell under his vine and fig tree and there will be war no more. At our Sufi Khankah we have a single vine and a single fig tree. This year the vine gave ten times as much fruit as it did last year. It was amazing. And the fig tree is so weighted with fruit despite the harvesting we are so over-worked that a slight neglect has in every instance meant a broken branch from the weight of the fruit. And while we are over-worked and suffering from losses—the chief caretaker very ill and the chief secretary having a very lucrative position, we have to call in help to harvest the most wonderful crops we have ever seen.

While all this is going on, our efforts in promoting real peace among the real people of the real world is progressing at a tremendous rate. All efforts to get Jews, and Muslims, and Christians, Israelis and Arabs, to join together in prayer and meals have succeeded, and more than succeeded. And the reports from the disciples who have gone abroad are perfect—not excellent but perfect. It would seem only those who advocate world brotherhood under their leadership are not concerned. But Ram is concerned, beautifully concerned.

There are now many demands for studies in real Sufism—not intellectual lectures by professors, but spiritual philosophy based on Love and Divine attunement and attainment. The soul longs for God. We are not removing the priests of this world to substitute non-devotional intellectuals.

Sam has just completed reading much more about Sri Krishna from every source. And this has resulted in other dances. And add to them those dances based on the pure Islamic recognition of Allah and His Divine Attributes, you may recognize that wonders are being set in the Western world. You only read the negative reports about “Hippies.” The young people of this land have greater hearts and more and more and more of them are so manifesting.

It would appear that Sam will soon have many more disciples in Sufism, but he feels also the time is come to get more and more Americans to chant the Ram Nam, whether in the dance or otherwise.

Sam will probably leave this part of the country late in the month if God so Wills. He feels very funny. The American Baba Ram Dass, the American Paul Reps, and the Sufi Vilayat Khan, all left this country and said Sam should take care of it. Perhaps each was expressing Ram.

Love and Blessings,

Sam

PS. The above letter has been copied and copies sent to several people, but this is for you only, but you are not restrained in any way. There are many legends and folklore stories in this world which often are true although it is not always easy to accept them as true. Early in life Sam had a breakdown and during that breakdown he was visited by all the Prophets of the world and the almost legendary Khizr and Elijah. The truth of these visitations is now coming into manifestation, for the gifts of poetry, music and dance, and the grace of longevity and good health, are not only here but are otherwise inexplicable.

September 7, 1970

My dear Vocha:

The games are over. There are a lot of champions in “value judgments” who without legal qualifications are quite capable of pointing out faults of others. Mr. Anderson was here last night and our reactions were almost identical. I did not so express myself; I was testing myself, not him. But the day is over forever when grand and glorious personalities and especially self-grand personalities can dominate the arenas of serious problems.

I have noticed how frightened my scientific friends are of the trends of the times and the extreme agreement both from and with them stands in terrific contrast to those of Snow’s “The Two Cultures.” I myself was amused to find a group of chemists, or rather Chemistry professors telling Sam Lewis they thought he was quite capable of dealing with pollution problems, but one has no time to waste and especially on sociologists and parlor-scientists—who are wonderful in personality-judgments and in the social evaluation of the compounds of chlorine and hydrogen.

It has been a very, very trying time and the worst elements come from those who urge one to “take it easy” or telephone to find out how my sick colleagues are getting along. Over-worked, we are stuck. My chief associate has been in the hospital for sometime (Moineddin). My new secretary in Novato is ill. The housekeeper here is in the hospital. Fortunately a young girl when I know and met again in Albuquerque was so convinced of both the dances and international messages that she is here doing voluntary work.

We are not suffering financially. Daniel is going excellent work in Arizona. Mansur has had such an increase in his private income he is contributing more than generously without our asking: A large number of young people wish to become my disciples. They prefer to know a little about Asian-Asian philosophies than to the beautiful constructs of popular “experts.” And the reactions from Geneva are tremendous, by which I mean tremendous.

Godson Ralph received a most warm welcome in Geneva and also in introductions for his further work. He has accepted what none of the “good” people of this area would accept—introductions to some of the very top people of India and Pakistan. Disciple Phillip had a beautiful welcome in Israel. And we confounded impudent braggarts, have succeeded in bringing together not only Jews but Israelis with Arabs and Christians with joint dinners, dances, and prayers (the last will horrify the “humanists” who exclude almost everybody else). This is going on space and at last the American Broadcasting Co. has accepted facts as facts.

In the meanwhile National Geographical Magazine, making a study of all the “spiritual” and “commune” groups of the country has a two-page picture of Lama of which Sam Lewis (that breast boaster) is Guru. We have regular traffics with then. Down there we gang about “every mean having his vine and fig-tree and there shall be war no more.” I don’t know about war—see below. But both the Vine and Fig-tree gave about Ten Times as much fruit as expected and we have a busy time picking the figs with one man one in the hospital and another working outside hard for us. I don’t expect to convince parlor scientists of anything but my teachers in those sciences which are based on laboratory research are all for this and for this person.

Our crops are so prolific—at a time we have no help, and the cooked squash and cheese has gone over tremendously. I have one part-time cook who is also my financial secretary but it seems he also is on the edge of opportunity. Our “impossible” joint dinners of Israelis and Arabs caused some investigations—actual not “sociological” and we uncovered a restaurant where the cooks are Moors. What a meal! And what a welcome! No semanticists, no sociologists there. They would have said it was a put up job.

In the meanwhile I have at long last received a favorable letter from a non-scientific group in San Francisco. It is the one studying the actions of the U.N. Unlike the “good” people, the ones studying “peace” efforts and the sociologists and verbalists, they accepted the hard-hard fact that I may have met Gunnar Jarring and they wanted more information. Fortunately I have fellow grog-house companions, graduates of the University of California who have accomplished wonders—not news—it just isn’t done.

On top of that as our plans to go to New York progress, I find that instead of seeking an invitation to Columbia I am being sent for! This is impossible but it will give every opportunity to revive Keyser and thus the historical Korzybski without the “generals” of semantics. And with my editor returning this week, boy, what a world and what a life! Maybe the negative disciplines were necessary.

The dance classes are full-time. Unfortunately the one person (Marcia) who I wished to train has disappeared, but there are others. It is only regrettable that Julie Medlock and her associate have refused “Dances of Universal Peace.” But I think I can get one church to review them and possibly ????? one here who does not follow the “Judeo-Christian ethic.”

That is why I call myself “Timon of San Francisco, in reverse.” The young are delighted that their elders turned me down a priori—this is a dangerous but factual situation. The only time I was ever permitted to speak was at the University of San Francisco on “The water Problem of the Near East.” When I finished the chair declared the meeting adjourned, that the problems had been solved. You did not have “scientists” (????) there, but most of the audience was composed of engineers and their wives and a few Catholic monks to see that I had protected their interests. I still have those notes and looking for somebody to put them together.

In the meanwhile relations with universities continue to improve and maybe that is all that matters.

Love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

cc Reiser

cc Joyner

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

September 8, 1970

Anandashram, Kanhangad Post Office

Travancore-Cochin,

South India

Dear Ram:

Om! Sri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai, Jai Ram!

Sam has been so busy he thought he would not have to write anymore but Ram has ruled otherwise. Another sleepless night after Sam spoke on the dangers of accepting Samskaras. And it was not that kind of night at all—the whole night nothing but visions and pictures of new dances, all based on the Sufi Zikr and Ram Nam, and this after so many others have come, and Sam does not even have a dance secretary. Indeed the task was to show the danger of reacting until one had the complete picture.

Sam’s chief associate is slowly recovering. His former secretary is earning so much he is contributing largely to the work here. The replacement may become a teacher. Our work is growing, young people coming and others spreading the divine message all over that country, Sam means the divine message, not their leadership. The karma of those who proclaim self-leadership is evident.

They all proclaim universality and limit leadership to Englishmen, Hindus and Americans! They reject the great Akbar, the Sufi Emperor who did so much for the dance. Sam has read the Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar Sam and Dabistan as well as the whole of that Mahabharata and Ramayana and the self-leadership people to accept a paper on the relation of the Jewish to the Hindu mysticism. He had discussed this with Paul Brunton. The self-leadership people all derided it and the University of California offered him a PhD degree for the same thing. And the time has come. The self-leadership people have conveyed a congress for scientific yoga. This congress is meeting now in three different parts of India that Sam knows of, maybe more, and each ignores the others.

In the meanwhile there is an underground effort to promote God Is Love among the young people of this country with Yoga and also Sam’s dances. They do not praise you for your money and ignore your heart and—just the opposite. And so the New Age race is rising and will not accept that leadership of the self-declaimers with their God-less, love-less “Yoga.”

So some real Yogins, self-realized men have come to San Francisco and are going to have a celebration. They are so different from the self-leadership people. They do not want Sam’s money, only his love and cooperation and dances, and this will win, for Sam’s disciples are now moving and some may be in India. It is a real New Age with God-leadership, not self-proclaiming pseudo-leadership.

Why, even the local representatives of the United Nations have shown interest in the place for the Near East—which none of the self-proclaimers would even look at and our joint Jewish-Christian-Muslim dinners have been surprisingly successful! The soul recognizes the soul and as the Love in man begins to express itself we rise above differentiation.

Sam is now beginning also to give out the Ram Nam in addition to the Sufi teachings. It has become most effective. We were called on to dance at a public festival yesterday, just the Sufi and Ran Nam dances and were surprised at the public response. A strange woman appeared and without permission took over the microphone and chanted loudly—the Ram Nam! You don’t hear about these things in the press.

Slowly but steadily our audience increases and now some slightly older people also. But in the dances mostly the young and the younger. Many of the children of this district are reciting the Divine Names—it is like a miracle.

The Ram Nam and Sufi dances follow particular principles but not patterns. They also involve what would be called “occult” principles, and the new dances for women are all in circles excepting those dedicated to the Divine Shiva which are in a Swastika formation. Then there is another type of Krishna dance. Sam has now completed Volume I of “In the Vision of God.” He does not have other volumes of this. We give these books away and are happy to do so, for we want more and more people to know about Papa.

But Sam has now completed reading all the Sri Krishna literature available. We have an intense Ras Lila and a lighter one but Sam has seen “Sri Krishna introduce rukmini to the Gopis,” and another “Sri Krishna and his wives.” He has been holding back but Ram wants it so Sam will do as Ram wants. All the young people now love Sam but the men and women; it is so different from previous times.

The importance of the Om Namo Shivaya and Ram Sita dances has not been lost but there is only so much time. Sam is nearly through his lectures on “The Three Body Teaching of St. Paul.” This also the “important” people would not consider but it is a New Age and the Truth common to all religions is offered not as the empty noise-word “Truth” but with actualities and this we hope may be published. This is to entirely different young people of this area. Then Sam will no doubt go to the East Coast of the United States.

Then there is another thing. Sam reads in Papa how he lived such a stringent, self-sacrificing life and now Sam has some comforts. But Ram says that he wants Sam, whose body is in the mid-seventies, to live that way. He lives in a country where sex, semi-nude woman and especially heavy drinking is prominent. And where everything is blamed but heavy alcohol for the ills of the time.

But Ram is great and wise and patient.

P.S. All one’s visions, all one’s forebodings are coming into manifestation. It is a wonderful world.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 26, 1970

Shamcher Bryn Beorse

P.O. Box 142

Keyport, Washington 98345

My dear Shamcher:

This is one of those rare times when there are a couple of hours in which there is nothing on the program. I arrived in Ithaca totally worn out; a half-day off in September and very few nights’ sleep. These nights were filled with visions of dances, and most of these dances have now been presented to the young people. Toward the end of that period, there were a few visions, and these visions have manifested, making one feel much more assured of the visions he now has, all of them favorable.

I have written under separate heading to Gavin and Lloyd Morain who, while no longer in agreement, both consider me unworthy until recently to speak on subjects. This was a common attitude in San Francisco anyhow. It made one a sort of martyr. The late Doctor Baker discovered a pattern that from childhood I had something to say and was never permitted to say it, but her efforts to get people to let me speak failed. Once indeed she had a noted sociologist at her house and the place was packed. When I challenged the sociologist, the whole audience was amazed and hostile that I should dare challenge him. But the speaker declared in the end that I was right, that I was far more up to date on the subject. So he lost the audience. This was my pattern for a long time.

The karmic reaction to this, of course, is a generation which is antagonistic to their forbears; so adept at prejudgment as their forbears were to me. It is ridiculous and insane but true.

Now the doors are opening for me everywhere. I am getting into Columbia U. without even trying. I ran into extreme hostility here to what is called “Semantics.” Lloyd Morain and Don Hayakawa are regarded by most philosophers as they probably should be regarded—superficial pretenders.

Now my visions and information have run into each other—that I shall be welcomed in New York City and that this will be followed almost immediately by the appearance of Pir Vilayat and that he will be addressing huge audiences of respectable people.

I feel much more confident of a program for Palestine based on human friendships such as no humanist wishes to conceive. The program of joint Israeli-Arab-Christian dinners in San Francisco has started marvelously. I shall make every effort to re-contact Gunnar Jarring but now I am going to have contacted some powerful personalities and interests which has shocked into sanity those groups and personalities who always gave me the a priori shove-off. I almost see it coming. The last news from Asia was marvelous.

It has been a trying time. My chief Kaliph has been I the hospital. I had to give him an extreme psychological push which seems to have been effective, praise to God. My housekeeper has been ill. My first replacement secretary has been ill—my new replacement is marvelous. The attendance at all meetings has increased. One has almost one hundred active disciples, and I mean active, and only in the San Francisco Bay area.

I remember one night when I gave a short talk on “May the Message of God reach Far and Wide.” The next day Kaliph Moineddin was ill. The next day after that secretary Naqib Mansur got a very good paying job on the films which have arise from the joint efforts first of Vilayat Khan and myself. Then I was beseeched by applicants for Bayat. It is a whole new picture in everything. We are far beyond this age. We are far beyond in mysticism, in occultism, in astrology, and in lots of other things, lots of other things.

Before leaving I joined Yogi Bhajan in Golden Gate Park and led about a thousand young people, first in Dervish dances, then in other spiritual dances. One of my disciples tried to introduce my work into the University of California. It did not fit the program, so they changed the program to fit him! Nothing but good news and more of it in all directions. I thank God for the rest of the last few days. I shall need it. I see all sorts of doors opening. We are going to climb out of subjective realism into reality, Allah be praised.

My new secretary here has been given the name of Sitara. She also uses the eye drops.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel

September 27, 1970

Ithaca, New York

My dear Gavin:

Tomorrow we leave for New York. The time will come when my articles will be read and they have the virtue of multitudes of a priori rejections by the “respectable.” It is not that the person has been “right” or “wrong,” it is that he has been denied the privilege of expressing views, and in their place an attack on his personality. This is the almost unanimous attitude of the “good” people, the religionists and the anti-religionists, the metaphysical and the non-American, non-Asian “experts” on Asia. They simply refused one the floor because because and this is making me a hero.

I arrived in Ithaca to find myself a guest of a professor of philosophy at Cornell and his attitude toward Semantics was truly surprising. It was so negative that one could hardly respect it. But the absolute refusal of the Semanticists to accept anything from me and their pattern of personality insults in public will weigh against them in the future. I never wanted it that way. In the beginning the Whiteman-Lewis articles on Korzybski were accepted and praised. Then the self-centered non-scientists got control and from that point on…. I wish it were not that way. And you cannot understand how I reacted when the scientists oiled me out—for not speaking.

More recently every article on “pollution” sent to a scientist was accepted and not a single one to a non-scientist was even acknowledged. So be it. I now have an editor who wants everything from me.

I had hoped to be allowed to speak at Columbia because of being a disciple and to some extent a friend of the late Cassius Keyser. But I am already programmed without my doing anything! They accept facts and the “good” people attack personalities.

Then I have an appointment with a top Jesuit. It seems that all the “good,” “fair-minded” groups have refused to permit me to say anything on Palestine. Received so many apologies this year; they are still coming in and our joint Arab-Israel-Christian dinners are succeeding. The youth of the world are joining—each other. Even the radio and TV people and the Oakland Tribune have accepted that! Next I hope to contact Gunnar Jarring again. I could not possibly have met him—on this the “good” people are agreed, and they are also disappearing. We have had enough “goodness” from the churches, the “humanists” and the metaphysicians.

Missed Norman the last times in New York but his father assures me he is there now. Wait until we put on the Astrological dances ! Boy, that will be something. They are in “Dances of Universal Peace” programs and the young are waiting, lots of them. Led a thousand in S.F. before leaving, all young. No “good” people around who are so wonderful at character dis-analysis. That day is over, and maybe forever.

Our appearance at Geneva where we saw some of the top diplomats whom all the “good” people welcome followed by the acceptance of those who have something real to offer has been followed by action after action. Why, even the University of California is putting on some of my teachings, so shunned by all the “good” people.

And my Peace Scholarship has been started and I think it will grow. It also gives us the chance to meet a lot more important persons. Indirectly I have learned even President Nixon is interested though I have no assurance I can take him away from “goodness” and “realism” to reality. But the latest news is more than hopeful.

I don’t mind being attacked or criticized, but 90-98% has come from those who have refused to permit one to speak. Their refusal is of great help today. I tell the young the names and positions of the “good” people and they roar welcomes.

Richard Alpert may be in S.F. in my absence. I expect to meet Vilayat Khan in New York. Many are waiting in Washington but first we went to go to Boston before it gets too cold. The first two days here very hot, but last night thunderstorm and today rains. It is clear now in the late p.m. and we may go out a walk, or ride.

Despite all that is said above, there is not only no resentment, there is a Puckian appreciation for all those personalities and groups adhering to “liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasants, shut up!” They have made me what might become a national hero to the succeeding generations. Why, I am even going to speak to some Cornell students tonight, quite off schedule.

I think the day is over when meetings are to be held with all power to the chairman and to the speaker whom the chairman glorifies as if in some way they were superior to everyone else. I am even hoping to bring back to this country certain persons whose prime sin has been that they were actually eye-witnesses of historical events. If anyone tried to apply any kind of logic to the news media, they would find nothing but contradictions. The result is that younger people almost entirely do not take the press seriously. And at long last we have millions of young Americans who take human beings as human beings and have humanitarianism in their hearts—totally different from the past generations, all camps.

I can’t promise to write much after this, for I begin tomorrow night with a crowded schedule in New York. At least I have the satisfaction that I shall be permitted to speak and will be judged afterwards, not beforehand.

Faithfully,

SAM

P.S. I realize you have been in bad health. I do not hold this against you or anybody. I am not going around criticizing and analyzing people, but criticizing and analyzing situations, which is a totally different profession.

October 3, 1970

Art Hoppe

c/o S.F. Chronicle

San Francisco 94119

Dear Art:

Well, it is coming true, “Timon of San Francisco—in reverse.” There is here a young man named Bob Kaufmann who met me at the international gathering in Geneva and was so impressed he came all the way to San Francisco. Now he is enrolled at Columbia and he has a big meeting in tow for next Tuesday night.

In 1960 much time was spent with one professor, Dr. Joseph Blau, on “How the Philosophies Taught at Columbia can help the world.” It was this attitude which was the base of “my” Peace Program which so impressed Gunner Jarring. (All others gave the boot, in the name of “democracy.”) But it seems that Bob is an in-law of Dean Hovde and we had a double-delightful time. For we have both exactly the same background—no dialectics, no European philosophies or existentialisms and plenty of American-American teachings which are almost totally unknown by the press. I mentioned Blau to him, “My best friend.” Not only that but Blau is back here and I hope to see him Tuesday.

Tuesday I am also to see former Ambassador Bedaeu who used to be in UAR and whom I met previously. And in the meanwhile the secretary of Gunnar Jarring has written me another “impossible” but true letter saying he does not meet private individuals and then in her hand-writing (not typed) she has put down his room number! Well Art, despite all the press, “good” people, “peace” organizations, and “experts” I know a few people and will first see Bedeau and then go ahead.

I have also contacted Father Haughey, editor of the Jesuit “America” and he is so anxious to see me, and of course, the usual, “impossible” long-distance calls which go on and on. The news is definite. “Timon of San Francisco” has been so unwelcome in his home town and the impressions upon people who listened to me is so friendly it is impossible to reconcile, so that is that. I am to see him Tuesday afternoon.

In the meanwhile I have begun the “peace” groups over again. As soon as the first one found I was not seeking money they reserved. I am working for peace, not funds, but I am not going to share any funds with all the rival “world brotherhoods” and “universal societies” which make mushrooms look like imbeciles.

There is no question but that the young want to get rid of war and hate and the press does not seem to understand anything else, only they are divided upon whom to hate.

Late last night I tried to crash into a big mass meeting and was soon surrounded by friends from all over the country. It was miraculous. I have no idea how it came to be, but just missed Allen Ginsberg who says he wants to see me. Someday I hope he will listen to some of my poetry. My rejected poetry is going to be published by friends in the business and I haven’t the slightest doubt about it. It will live.

November 27, 1970

F. Clive-Ross

Pates Manor

Beloved One of Allah:

As-salaam aleikhum. The stone which is rejected is become the corner-stone.

There are certain things written in the cosmos. Once there was a meeting in a town between here and San Francisco in which several “famouses” and not so famous decided that I was not qualified…. So they joined others in keeping me from ever speaking. And generally speaking I had to go through years of “Liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasants, shut up,” which was so contrasted with the outer and inner experience of Asia, especially the outer ones, that it absolved one from any accusation of psychological aberrations. And since that period the psychiatrists have concluded that many cases of “persecution complex” were actually due to operations of people who lived by persecuting and deriding others, rather successfully too.

“Jude the Obscure” may be a work of fiction but one has encountered it so often. And now the determination is to do for Sufism what Phillip Kapleau has done for Zen, the real Zen. Indeed I visited the Zendo of Roshi Taisan in New York and was amazed with the types there, all seemingly young people who have had satori or even moksha. So one is very careful not to insist his way is “the only way.” Indeed one meets so many people who acclaim Buddha because he affirmed (they say) 84,000 ways to enlightenment and you can read in their publication excellent criticisms of all the others.

Recently I wrote a part of what I called “Buddha’s Path to Peace” and was immediately scolded because I said something contrary to “pattimoksha.” No doubt this is true. But I long have discovered that if you used Sanskrit terms you are considered a heretic by the Pali devotees who verbalize “84,000” ways; and if you use Pali then you are a follower of “low scriptures” add not to be taken seriously. Only the person who criticized me and used the Pali texts claims to be a Mahayanist! This is quite “normal.” What I call “anatta Buddhists” are better qualified than other people in publicizing the short-comings of “other” people. But this very complex situation makes one feel justified in adhering closer to Sufism than to any form of “Buddhism” without holding that Sufis necessarily have higher experiences or more of them. They simply recognize each other more willingly!

Mr. Walter Bowart wants everything from me and especially what has been rejected by others and especially the “famosuses” and elite. I remember once a debate between two accepted persons referred to in the first paragraph debating on reincarnation, with plenty of name-calling and emotion. They finally asked me to present my views.

Oh. I am not qualified to speak on this subject. You see I remember some of my past lives and can tell you exactly where I lived because in this life I had to visit the place. I can give you all details which can be corroborated. I am no writer of “Bridey Murphy,” I do not have “credentials.” (Later I received almost the same treatment from a published lecturer but his principal accepted my data. In Asia!…

I am now writing “Six Interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan.” I have done this three times before and all the “good” people who asked for this material waste-basketed it. They neither returned nor acknowledged it. This is what some of us call “The Christian-Jewish ethic! But now I am submitting it to Walter Bowart.

The reason why Hazrat Inayat Khan sent for me is the simple fact which no “humble” European professor of Asiatics would even listen to until lately, was the manifestation of Khwaja Khizr. Of course, this is wrong. Of course if can’t be. Of course it only shows this person is a bombast and therefore unworthy. And there are various groups associated with me like the late Arberry, Watt, Landau, Von Grünebaum, Spiegelberg and others who would no more consider this than openly perform a vicious act. But the day of “realism” is over. The day of reality is here.

The robe which was given in the mystical experiences of 1925, and again at Ajmir in 1956 and at Nizam-ed-din Auliya in 1962 was shortly after that given to me outwardly in the presence of hundreds of living persons, all disciples of tasawwuf and I am wearing it at this moment. The choice given by Khawaja Khizr of music or poetry has manifested outwardly, objectively and is being accepted by hundreds of young people: Even Dr. Cantwell Smith is not sure of his former attitude and his secretary has been won over entirely.

The practice of kashf which is the same as the Hindu Prajna, has led me to finding a newly reprinted copy of L’Awarifu-l-Ma’arif, and along with Futuh-al-Ghaib, etc., we have some marvelous Sufi books. But we agree with the Zen Buddhists and the transmission of Baraka is not in principle or essence different from the dharma-or transmission. The dharma-transmission has been confirmed by Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Hindus whom I can name and give details which means passing the lie to the “realists” who have controlled so much of the teaching of Orientalia. And Prof. Singer of Chicago accepted my “solution” to certain problems. Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda would have laughed at these great manas-ahankara people who have long dominated the teaching of Orientalia in the West.

My main theme has always been that of Imam Al-Ghazali that Sufism is based on experience and not on premises. (So is Zen, so is Kabbalah). But this theme and thesis must be laid aside for the famous and the entertainers who delight everybody by writing books with appropriate titles. These books are nicer than science-fiction and have roughly the same values.

Cross-trailing all this has been the connections with the late “Srimati-ji Ruth St. Denis.” One of her old friends was here last night and saw the demonstrations. People talk about akasha, “world mind,” alaya, etc. But God help the one who so functions; or rather God bless him. For it is demonstrable and can be shown to anybody who hasn’t studied Oriental philosophies with the manas-ahankara crowd. The alaya is and is so real, and the deeper leaders in forms of Buddhism encountered in life all agree. No problem with them, only with the book-writers and lecturers.

Now these endeavours and others are being accepted in universities. For there are demonstrations which overthrow argument and the Watts, Arberry and Von Grünebaum crowds will go and the hard truth that Sufism is based on experiences and not on premises.

There has always been a pseudo-question whether the hal and makam of the Sufis; the urim and thummin of the Hebrew Bible; the paramitas (or paramis) and attainments in Buddhism may be the same (or otherwise). The intellectual considerations and dialectics of these have questionable value. And a work paralleling that of Phillip Kapleau would receive some attention.

In reading such different works as those of the late Swami Ramdas of South India and Ghazali of Iran one is struck by the higher humanitarianism of these noble persons. And this has given us the impetus to feel for the sufferers of East Pakistan as well as for the unfortunates of the Holy Land and perhaps Vietnam.

There is an implication here that accepted or self-accepted “worthies” have to face the karma and the same is true of “leaders” and misleaders of humanity. Compassion grows with the living heart. And now it is time for mystics to say something about mysticism and they are going to be accented by the young and the “New Age.”

The work laid down for this person by the late Hazrat Inayat Khan was rejected by his “legal” successors who are also divided. And there are now plenty of writers and groups calling themselves “Sufis” quite apart from mystical awakenings and makamat. I have my diaries but the single visit here some years ago of Sidi Abu-Salem Al-Alawi is enough before Allah, Ya Hayy—Ya Haqq to support what must now be done.

Faithfully and sincerely,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

December 7

The Squawk

Dear Art:

This is the anniversary of the Forgotten War. It is also the day when you upended me entirely with your plagiarized editorial: “… the News Editor, who culls real stories from the real news so that readers may be kept informed of the real state of the real world.” I feel like Guillotine under the Guillotine and being a masochist, what more can be asked?

This inflamed me (“realist” word for inspired) that I have written the American Friends of the Middle East and Senator Cooper. Senator Cooper is the only Senator, I believe, who has lived in Asia with Asians and is the one Senator who accepts my reports, even if they are in situ and not ivory-tower.

I had worked for years to bring Jewish and Islamic spiritual leaders together, but you know, the lamb and lion might lie together but we are not going to let the little child or the nincompoop lead them.

So when a Jewish mystic comes to San Francisco and meets all the “humble” big people who accept peace awards and have no time for the less-equal, he found himself so less equal among his Jewish non-brethren that he even taxi’d to this place! Imagine that? Straight out of Jerusalem to Mentorgarten.

And you should have heard us fight-just like Emerson predicted. We did not even have to say: “Love, Not War.” We had the instant recognition just as I have had all over the real Asian world from Japan to UAR inclusive. Hearts meet hearts, hearts love hearts, hearts understand hearts; and this interferes with editorials and dictums and “realism” and all that stuff which is shoved down our brain-washed minds.

All the Muslims press is the same: Allah is against the Jews, Allah is about to destroy Israel which He has already cursed, but if you have to go to a restaurant, be sure it is kosher.

Samuel L. Lewis

December 8, 1970

Dear Gavin:

We almost had a riot here Sunday. Late in the p.m., Bill Hathaway phoned and I found he was munching a sandwich. I told him to come at once as we had an open house on Sunday night. Actually I had some fried chicken and Vermouth. I always have the last in case he ever shows up.

When he arrived, I took him into the kitchen where there is a chief domo and four beautiful girls and they had to line up and kiss him. Then we went down stairs and there was a mob scene. I don’t know who was the most anxious, Bill or the girls. But the fellows also got in line and Bill had a hard time keeping decorum and nobody cared. It is a New Age here and anything resembling older pattern behaviorism simply isn’t. Bill stayed and met my old friend Ted Reich and also the grand psychic Freida, who is a marvel.

Everything else is different. The Asian-Asians are all for me. I have to join them Friday night in Sam Rafael. And today two different missions at the University of California. They are letting me speak. They are very different from the “experts” who know all about my character but nothing about whatever my knowledge happens to be. Not only am I speaking but the Alumni Association is interested in my Peace Program—newspapers, diplomats and “experts” keep out!

We are stacked for the Christmas season. On the 20th a big benefit in Sausalito and then birthday parties. Disciple Phil Davenport is back from his tour of Asian-Asia. We have films which will produce a better understanding between Asian-Asia and the U.S. No experts.

My closest relatives invited me to a big party at the old family home on 9th Avenue. This was always verboten. My parents never let me have parties, only my brother; and I was kicked out so many times; every time my brother committed a crime I was expelled. And the younger have found this out. Besides my chief cousin happens to be a democrat and a politician.

Big programs to the end of the year. Then Vilayat Khan will be here. Then I must go to Arizona where an editor-publisher wants my stuff. He not only is not giving a priori “Christian-Jewish ethic,” he is already publishing some of my things without asking permission. And this at a time when more and more people want to come to my dances and some folks are finding my primal inspiration was the late Ruth St. Denis. It could not be, of course, but it was and is.

So we won’t have an astrological gathering until February 15 and that strictly invitational. My first Sufi teacher had been an occultist. But as the “good” people would not accept that I know any occultism, I have waited and now the young are ready and others will not be excluded but before slam-banging at me they will have to learn what I have. This is the New Age, where sometimes people listen before they condemn.

Love,

Sam

The Garden of Inayat

910 Railroad Ave.

Novato, Calif. 94947

December 9, 1970

Shams-ed-din Ahmed

Coopera, the Mall,

Lahore, West Pakistan

Beloved One of Allah:

As-salaam aleikhum. One has returned to the Khankah very tired and very elated. The health is very good and age is not disturbing. But there is no spare time and not enough help. One theoretically has two free nights, but works seven days. Last night we went to the University of California and presented the Dervish Dances. The previous week one spoke on Sufism.

It is surprising and wonderful what has been happening. Two persons had been successful in keeping this person off the University. They were deadly enemies of each other. One, pretending to be a Sufi has been supporting the Dajjal, Meher Baba. The other was successful in helping reorganize the Mosque in San Francisco. They never would permit me to speak. They followed this non-Muslim until he failed them. But no repentance, no reconsideration, and no culture.

One does not know who is responsible but here one finds a complete “Al-Hadith” in English, another copy of Holy Qur’an by A. Yusuf Ali; both “Ali the Superman” and “Maxims of Ali”; more “Khawaja Gharib Nawaz” and Al-Ghazzali, Jami, etc. We are not recognized by the official “Muslims” and do not care.

We have taken the suffering of the people of East Pakistan very seriously (the elections not so). Secretary Wali Ali has been much moved by the writings of Ghaus-i-Azam and we both agree that if Muslims were to spread his teachings and those of Al-Ghazali it would modify the emotional influences both of Gandhi and the Indians here. We respect Gandhi but his non-violence is not enough. I personally have never accepted “God and non-violence” because I reject all “God and….”

The first rejection came from my studies and knowledge of pure logic. Infinites cannot have “And.” Both Muslims and Hindus falter in this. There is no “and” in Infinity and spiritual awakening. One has been in “hal,” let us say much, but really fana, the ego being effaced and something very strong emanates from the personality.

Friday one has been sent for to present Dervish dances to followers of a group influenced by Hindu esotericism. There is no question but the young want esotericism. The esoteric sciences can be revived and it is my work to do this. There has not been the slightest objection to Mohammed. But the substitution of the term “Muslim” to people whom he did not call “Muslims” and the by-passing of those whom he called “Muslims” brings up some very nice points which theologians avoid. Abraham, Moses, David and Jesus did not do certain Sunna or Sharia practices. I am not against Sharia but I am against anything saying that that is the only way to ultimate spiritual development. All things are in Allah’s hands, not man’s. Surrender to God means in the end freedom. Methods may be used on the way but more than one method has been used in the past. It is this narrowness which turns man against man.

At the same time there is Rahmat which I personally hold as superior to anything else. I am glad to differ but one wonders what happens to those ignorant people who excuse themselves by saying others are not Muslims because they do not behave exactly as is written or traditioned. Allah is to me closer than the neck-vein and that means that and nothing but that. And it seems that this one has Guidance in everything, alhamdu lillah!

It has been exceedingly difficult for a person who finds in the published Hadith teachings so totally different from those of so-called “Islamic Communities” that there is no reconciliation. The people of the Mosque in San Francisco—and some elsewhere, say that as this one was not born a “Muslim” he could possibly not know what they know (and Prime Ministers to the opposite notwithstanding).

I now have three different short versions of Hadith and they all seem to agree and to differ from the common (?) nufs and Islamic outlooks (so-called). For example before me: “It is better to teach knowledge one hour in the night, than to pray the whole night.” But I shall not quote further. Finding fault does not introduce constructive measures.

The audiences in Sausalito, which is just north of San Francisco, are gradually growing. And there is every sign of increase, inshallah. But today to my surprise there is a large item in the press, for the first time I can recollect, with pictures of two of my most faithful disciples and also with this person teaching a group of young women. There are several mistakes but they do mention we are trying to raise funds for peace in the Near East and for the East Pakistanis.

They do mention belly dancers and Tarot which to my knowledge are not part of the program of the benefit and certainly not part of anything this person is trying to do. One did mention more of the Spiritual-Hierarchy last night and also of the differences between the Sufi-Hierarchy and the today “popular” proclamations of this Dajjal and that, so popular in this land and most of all in this State. I say against both Muslims and non-Muslims alike that the most fundamental principal is Rahmat and Allah has compassion for His creation and keep on emphasizing that and demonstrating that. This is the primary teaching in the spiritual walks and dances.

I am now teaching a Universal Islam through walks and dances—not through theology. They help to demonstrate Mohammed as Khatim al-Mursaleen. One can have the experience though in a rather simple way. It does not deny or exclude anybody or any faith; it shows that Mohammed was sent to the world to complete and perfect and everyone can prove that by himself and it works; before Allah it works.

For diversion I have been reading Memories of Babar. This version came from “The Book House” Urdu Bazar, P.O. Box 734, Lahore. This work was originally published in 1909. I have always been a great lover of the Moghuls and cannot tell why; something very strong within the consciousness and I have always been critical of Pakistan for not putting out a cinema on Babar. This life goes along fine with Al-Ghazali’s “Counsel for Kings.”

Now with the newspapers at long last mentioning our work—though the article is full of misprints—we can do something. We are not at war with the Indian influences here. We let them go ahead but we have moral teachings which they do not have and human consideration and beyond that the operations of Ishk and Rahmat and no nonsense and this is being felt more and more and more.

One would appreciate it if you could investigate and let us know if this Book House is still functioning. On the whole we are in a somewhat better financial position, but we will not bow to beggars. Today we need money to promote a real peace plan in the Near East and to send things to East Pakistan. We already have Longis and P.I.A. has been more cooperative.

Last night I had the largest group of young Americans chanting “La Illaha E1 Allahu” (three times); “Mohammedar Rassoul-Lillah (twice). This was done with strangers in the city of Berkeley the night before. I have no time for Orthodoxy, I have nothing but time for Kalama and Zikr and tonight go ahead with the “science” of Zikr which is both practical and effective, actually and no nonsense.

And gradually we introduce the Akhlak Allah and this is also effective and beneficial. In a word there is no bad sense but the good things piling up beyond capacity. The Khalif is now getting better. If he cannot work I shall have him studying the Hadith and the esoteric sciences and inshallah we are going to give them to the world regardless of priests and rabbis and imams and all the Orthodox who divide humanity.

We have on our program the presentation of spiritual Islam to top Israelis. Many of them do not believe in their own religious traditions. Ben Gurion practices Yoga and is more or less a Buddhist! And when I relate my anecdotes there is nothing but applause and appreciation and from more and more of the young.

This is, one hopes, an encouragement, an encouragement in most trying times. This land has not been gracious to Asians, and in particular to Muslims, but Muslims fail to see the points of view of others and resent and react, quite contrary to the great teachings. There is nothing more wonderful than the Chisti-Sabri-Kadiri silsila and the Baraka of Khwaja Khizr. This may become known soon, inshallah, making one a most controversial person. But the question is, how effective.

Love and blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

December 14, 1970

Dr. Oliver Reiser

Pittsburgh University,

Pittsburgh, 15213

My dear Oliver:

I have not heard from you for some time and hope you are well. When Science and Sanity came out my collaborator, Luther White man and I wrote a most favorable report. We were “in.” Then The Tyranny of Words” came out and we wrote a most critical report. We were “out.” No kind of sound logic had anything to do with it. It is “Why we behave as “human beings.”

The semantic movement might have become scientific if it had accepted the philosophical approach of New York University with its purported, or real solution of the egocentric predicament.” As a culture we definitely prefer the predicament and so do most “cultures.” Egocentricism is so pleasing.

There is a campaign on now for a billion dollars for “cancer research.” Years ago Nicholas Roerich found cancer did not exist in some parts of India. So he collected millions for “cancer” research and a clinic was established in another part of India and nothing ever came of it. They did not examine the people who never had Cancer nor sought why. And I was told recently that there is no cancer in several parts of Asia.

But then there is the “egocentric predicament.” One must not trammel over certain personalities even less than over certain institutions. They are super-sacred. Honesty, objective research is wonderful but the researchers do not always have control, especially of the funds. Therefore any Project: Prometheus must suffer until a more objective outlook is attained.

I am now being treated on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley almost like a hero. They accept all objective reports and now on many subjects. My old friend, Bryn Beorse of Keyport, Wash., (near Seattle) is even getting some of my earlier poems published. They were given exactly the same treatment by the “famous” as reports on different parts of Asia were given by the elite. But this day is over and instead I fear reactions more than rejections. Next month I have to visit Arizona to a rather well-heeled editor publisher who has already started to print my manuscripts, date of release uncertain. This is a far cry from the past when my name meant a rejection.

The terrible obstacle to Project: Prometheus is that this term, like “ecology” and others have been stolen by the salesmen and those classes of humanity deplored by Alfred Korzybski. The ego is important—not what is said by who said it. The worst situations are around ecology and pollution. The very liquids which are needed for certain purposes are treated by editorial writers as “poisonous.”

Well I seem about to go into the “ecology” and perhaps mushroom businesses. I find there are many very well oriented people who even see profits in some fields of cleaning up the environment. But there is no place where one can have (yet) impersonal, objective discussions. And objective quantitative chemical analysis is shunned. And the men who could help most are out of work while the editors and “experts” fill the pages. And of course, those “ecology” stickers, adding to the very problems.

Project: Krishna. The situation is even worse, or better. I know of at least five competing “world” organizations in India. Christopher Hills is following in the path of Dr. Zitko but the approach-scheme is so delightful a lot of people are following. When I say “in India” you can guess how many in California. All either “world” or “galaxy” groups, and going after income-tax exemptions because, because.

My chief colleague came back from India. You may not like the objective report on Pondicherry so I shall not send it. He confirmed even more my optimistic reports on certain places. I hope to present these to the University of California in March—there one can without personality attacks or recrimination report facts.

These “world groups” are even more adept in a priori rejections than the older religious organizations. They accept absolute surrender and will not compromise and they talk about “freedom.” There are going to be more failures just as there have been in the past. And nobody must ever criticize the “important” excepting hard-boiled business men who at least have one form of sanity.

I now have five concurrent careers and making headway in each. But I notice others who have been given the “Jude the Obscure” treatment and are getting together. Real scientists are out of work and their social functions are taken over by promoters and fund-raisers to no end. But now even the press is noticing what we are trying to do.

On the surface my affairs may rise or fall by the bazaar we have next Sunday at Sausalito, Calif., just north of here. But in the meanwhile my former secretary and god-son have gone ahead and been very successful in their promotional plans and so are others. When we have even a phase of objective reporting in the “social” field as in the objective sciences the world will improve.

There is lots more going on, very optimistic but I am overworked but with the young and universities accepting—it does not matter.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

December 25, 1970

Mr. Art Hoppe

San Francisco Chronicle

Saw Francisco, Calif.

Dear Art:

The Unsad Story of the Return of Timon of San Francisco (In Reverse)

Now we can release the whole thing, excepting of course for the psychics and sears who never accept real predictions which come out exactly, when they are from the wrong persons.

The preview came last week. While my chief secretary was pushing my program he was approached by Generalissimo of Semantics. Semantics is supposed to be an art and science which carries logic to its logical conclusions. According to the late Alfred Korzybski it should be super-logic, always demonstrable, and always having facts behind it. But the Generalissimo has improved even that.

The Generalissimo has a remarkable record of deflating and exposing all “pretenders,” and of course I am in the top rank of those. When my chief secretary told him he was studying Oriental philosophy, the Generalissimo declared: “My grandfather was an Oriental and a skeptic; therefore all Oriental philosophies are wrong.” (That is, according to the Generalissimo, who is the champion of champs, especially on keeping his own records.)

When he learned that Sam Lewis was teaching Oriental philosophy it was a little awkward because the previous occasions he has accepted articles on the “only in America” Oriental philosophies written by drunk and lechers who have great prestige—that is their books sell—but this was only the preview. Last Sunday, despite the inclement weather, we had such a wonderful Bazaar in Sausalito, attended by many hundreds of people and dollars—not only by people, but also by dollars. There are a lot of young people who have curious ideas that there are some real values in Oriental philosophies undiscovered by Generals and Generalissimos of Semantics. Indeed the affair was so successful we have been asked to repeat in May.

This was followed by a very successful Christmas party in Sausalito Wednesday night, and another in Corte Madera on Christmas Eve, and another in Novato tonight. It is quite evident that the young do not have particularly high regards for Generalissimos.

In the meanwhile we received a large advance payment for my auto-biography and stories, especially stories of the leaders of the various “liberty, democracy, humanity, and peasant-shut-up movements.” In addition to this, we have been approached by so many “peasants” who believe neither in Generals or Generalissimos, military, semantic, or otherwise. In fact, the young people don’t seem to wish to confirm and conform to religionists, humanists, ethical culture people, and all their “nice” elders who delight is being divided. The young seem to believe that in union there is not only strength, but wisdom and harmony. They see examples of it in science and technology, and they want to apply it to other aspects of life.

I think I received everything I wanted this year without even asking. It was truly marvelous.

It has been so evident to me for a long time—and I have written to you on it—that I night have a career something like that of that other Samuel, i.e. Samuel Morse. Well, everybody turned him down (just like me), and then he proved his worth, although he had to do this in the law courts. I did not wish to do this. Besides, I am getting paid to write stories about the high and mighty, who are so devoted to words that they can earn their livings exposing the worthlessness of words—which they do verbally.

At the same time we are working for actual peace, not verbal peace, not emotional peace. My representative has left for the Near East with my proposal. Now a lot of people want this. But it is nothing for me just to give them out. I have done this many times in the past and gotten exactly nowhere.

At the same time, it is evident that many groups of young people are seeking world peace, and unlike their elders are inviting this person to participate. They do not seem to accept the prerogative of a priori rejections which has so long been the standard procedure of the now-disappearing dominant groups. In fact, I have so many invitations now I do not know what to say at all, but at least the young people, unlike their rapidly disappearing elders, wish to hear what I have been trying to do, which is something more than the now-disappearing dominant liberty-democracy-humanity and peasant-shut-up groups—the divisors and the dividers.

So I am facing a new year with joy and hope, and can readily forgive the sins of persons who might have become my friends but at least didn’t have to become my enemies. Of course I am going to write up about them, unless…. I am being paid to do so. I think we can have a world without any more suppressions of what one might call the Judes-the obscure (vide Hardy). Those silly games are over, but if we are working for peace no can also overlook the short-comings of the now-disappearing dominants. And if we can’t have peace—at least we can have more good will to men and with men, and stop demanding it from them.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

[date and first 2 pages missing]

Fana-fi-lillah was for practical purposes shown to be identical with Akhlak Allah. This is a very difficult practice to act as if always in the presence of God. Mohammed said: “Act as if in the Presence of Allah and remember, if you do not see Him, verily He sees you.”

Now the subject is double. This became clear to me at the shrines. In introducing or rather re-introducing the Kabbalah one finds today the commentators miss the whole subject of the Shekinah which is mentioned in the books of Moses and used by Moses. Orthodox Jews tell me that Shekinah is the same as shrine.

I have been to many shrines, but the most effective for me have been Data Ganj Baksh (Ali Hujwiri), Boula Shah, Nizam-ud-din Auliya, and in my particular case Mian Mir at Lahore, There I learned many phases of Akhlak Allah and Tasawwur, such as does not appear in print so far as I know. And whatever was learned was also learned by others. Instead of setting up ego-rejections they have tried what was advised and statements have been confirmed. And the only ways you can learn or anybody can learn is absolute trust (which I do not seek) or direct experience which is preferable but everybody cannot go to shrines.

Nevertheless by mastering Tasawwur one can communicate it and as the fana-fi-lillah can be demonstrated Akhlak Allah it can be most important.

That is why it is taught “No monkery in Islam.” All the experiences of Christian mystics are true and even many of their explanations, but they divide the world into holy and not-holy places where as the full Mystic sees God everywhere in the market place as well as in the sanctuary. And in the practices of Tasawwur one finds this to be true, but nobody can compel an Inquisition to look through Galileo(s) lenses.

I joined an Islam group the other day and I notice they are pretty strong against monkery. As our sciences corroborate the teachings of the Prophet on “Light,” and as laboratories are demonstrating light-in-all-things, devotees can therefore find the Divine Light everywhere and the is no need to divide the secluded from the social life. Whereas Prophet Mohammed taught, inshallah, I hope to demonstrate.

There are those who have enough sense not to repeat that phrase, “Higher truths” and do some practices. Then they can find out for themselves.

I do have the complete Ryazat of Hazrat Inayat Khan as written down in 1911. As it is rejected that I have such papers and as they do not belong to me personally I am going to divide them as follows:

[date and preceding pages missing]

The sections on Kalama and Nimaz will be sent to Pakistan, and perhaps sent for publication, in part to clear the name of our Murshid. The explanations on Kalama and Nimaz (especially) are not too different from those received from North Africa, but my home was burned with these materials.

The explanations of Zikr, Fikr, Kasab, etc. and especially on the chain of levels from Shariat on will be placed aside and either used by me personally (which I do not want but if they are going to be rejected will be used) or sent to some of the Pir-o-Murshids of Pakistan.

For, for my final term paper I am going to present my own mystical experiences insofar as they fall within the subject-matter of the class-room. The rejection of universal Brotherhood by those who verbalize it shows that on the Day of Judgment they will have to face some peculiar forms of moral adjustment.

There is one thing more about Shrines. It may be personnel and it may be universal. I was affected far more by Sufi Shrines than by Buddhist or Hindu Shrines. I have been to many Buddhist shrines where entry has to be earned as in L. Adams Beck’s novels—but I was there. I have also been to Hindu shrines not usually visited by Westerners. But in none of these was the Magnetism (or Baraka) nearly so great as at the Sufi Shrines. Yet the two greatest places of Magnetism-Baraka were Mosques which anybody can visit—and I do not wish to infer they had the highest Magnetism-Baraka. I have been to the tomb also of Imam Shafi, one of the great legalists of Islam and although it is also used by Sufis I did not find the Baraka as great as elsewhere. This all validates the Mosaic Revelation, long abandoned by the synagogue. And that is why I persist on holding to a Sufism in which Adam, Abraham and Moses were among predecessors of Mohammed.

I know only too well practically everybody descended from Hazrat Inayat Khan would reject his most sacred teaching if I stuck my name to it, as many have already accepted my teachings which were unsigned, assuming they come from Murshid. This shows the weakness in attunement.

The God (Allah) that I am going to “fight” for today is to me both Absolute and relative Reality.

God Bless you,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Samuel L. Lewis

[date and preceding pages missing]

Hazrat Inayat Khan left three types of teachings:

a. Original ones of 1910-1912

b. Those which emanated from him after he came to Europe, roughly 1913-1923

b. Those given out with the headquarters in Geneva and Suresnes, France, roughly 1923-1926

It is of the first I wish to speak.

There he began with Kalama and as Kalama, at least under his interpretations comes closest to the points of view you represent, I may someday go over his materials. I have used Kalama to good effect and have been at least listened to and generally accepted in Pakistan, to throw light on what I openly celled “Monkey Muslims.” In India it was not necessary to do this, there one meets the “Brethren-of-heart” and they function differently.

Besides the Indian friends and disciples of Hazrat Inayat Khan who were with him during his last days, have a different view and different stories from his disciples.

In his A Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty he mentions Zikr, Fikr, Kasab, Shagal and Amal, but in his earliest papers he begins with Nimaz and Kalama and has left commentaries on these. He also has introduced a number of esoteric sciences. And he left the door open for what I call Murakkabah (lessons left), Mushahida (no lessons) and similar methods including Meditation. And from the Silence I was instructed in Mujahida.

The getting of at least a glimpse of such methods and inner sciences now suggests the writing of a dictionary or the submitting of explanations which can be used in a dictionary. (I have already been approached on this subject from planners of a new encyclopedia of Islam.)

Friday night I am giving my first lecture on Kabbalah by which I do not mean a lot of esoteric nonsense. I had to copy the whole of Sepher Ha-Zohar and in doing so copious notes and references, and find totally different materiel from that in most books. Roughly speaking I shall speak on:

Aleph = Kemal

Shin = Jelal

Mem = Jemal

Also on Pardes, the four stages of interpretation.

Because there were not available papers when I began the study of Sufism, we used Kashf-Al-Mahjub as text. I cannot say I understand it even now, but when I visited his Dargah in 1960 the following happened:

[date and preceding pages missing]

There were three groups of Sufis there all trying to out-noise each other. So my colleague and I retired into an alcove and after some silence I said: “I can hear nothing. I am wrapped and rapt in the heart of Data Ganj Baksh. (Ali Hujwiri) and I was able to recite the nature of the state. After that it became easy to be absorbed in Saints and I can thank God that there are scholastics here who will listen. Indeed when the scientists met here last year I was asked to speak on “The Saints in the Industrial Life of the Day,” a subject accepted by the scientists and rejected by non-scientists who are always saying scientists are irreligious.

My initiation into the Rifa’i Order was the most dramatic and I have participated in ceremonies which were either Christian or pre-Christian. Even now as I am studying Ancient Egypt again the writers say that the people of the area still practice any ceremonial. I was more successful with my guide at Thebes than with my reputed spiritual brethren and especially with experts. I explained, and he accepted the relation between the Sifat-i-Allah and the gods of the ancients and I know this is becoming more and more truth.

Incidentally the goddess Mast = the Hebrew emeth and in the real Kabbalah the question is brought up, how come we say emeth (feminine plural) for Truth instead of masculine either singular or plural.

Fortunately Saturday at the University of California we shall be considering the experience of God as a reality, a reality far beyond the conceptions and discussions and opinions of the still intellectual man.

When I introduced Hazrat Inayat Khan to the Zen monk, Nyogen Senzaki, they entered the “State” together. Years later the same took place with the Japanese Zen master Sogen Asahina, and since then union and attunement with spiritual people in many places. Now, alhamdu lillah, it is happening right in my own native city and within walking distance from this place.

Hazrat Inayat Khan wanted all his Khalifs and Murshids to write commentaries on his papers. This also was abandoned, and this has left this career in these hands. The world is awakening. I am writing this in hope, in joy and in love.

Faithfully,

(letter to Gavin?)

Nyogen Senzaki used to teach that the Theravadin Buddhists said and the Mahyanists did. Elsie Siegrist says over and over, “Prayer is man talking to God; meditation is God talking to man.” There is something wrong here. If man can listen to God, why are we hung up? The point is that man can but does not listen. Here we teach the listening.

Every Sura of Qur’an but one begins: Bismillah which means “listening to God.” The Christian Bible says; “Let him that hath an ear to hear, hear what the spirit sayeth.” The Jews pray: Shema (listen). The Buddhist Sutras (having “experts” we do not study and have no need to study), begin “Thus Have I Heard.”

Truth is as near and simple as that but Ego-me, Ego-expert, Ego-big man must talk; and “isn’t he wonderful” remains the bastard answer. Naturally the world is hung up and will remain hung up until we accept God, humanity and “love thy neighbor”—not the words, those terribly, ghoulish words, but the process. Words have saved nobody. It is time to do. We do, here.

Love and blessings and will hold open Sunday, June 16 or other days be arrangements.

Samuel L. Lewis

cc Siegrist

Gavin: Our continued use of violence on Television and Cinema will result in our continued use of violence in society. Our hypocritical Vice-Presidents show the low to which this country has come.

But this is not why I am writing. It is evident from the above that we don’t agree with each other on areas to be criticized.

Now I have found that Thea has a double illness, very sudden, but not necessarily dangerous. It has two parts and even she does not know: affliction to her eyes and affliction to her emotions. She has been going to the occultists often and is frightened but does not know if there is a cause-and-effect. So she has cancelled all her plans for everything at the moment.

She used to telephone me and I had not heard from her so I tried last night. This ends for the nonce any expectation of anything from her in either language or astrology. Of course your own chart was not favorable at the moment for yourself and there may be another way out.

Today I am going to purchase more copies of Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. In thankfulness for recovery and for improved financial status I am buying innumerable copies to be sent all over the world.

But I am wondering when and whether people will take seriously either Eno or the Prajna Paramita Hridaya Sutra? If the latter is right, why any need for long meditations? Or for retreats? My retreat is right in the center of the heart, here.

I agree with Gavin that Edward Carpenter in Toward Democracy actually gave us the Western correspondence to the Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch but I am leaving it to him to teach that. As nobody is teaching the Sutra I shall have to. But if somebody else does, I shall not.

We are going to have more wars and confusions. We study everything but the scriptures and the methods laid down by them. Fortunately there are many living hearts in the wide world and we are contacting each other more and more and more and the Hippies will join. But for me, no separative church, congregation, movement. The Bible (and Sugrue) teach, “There is a river,” and Buddha taught the river-consciousness which very, very, very few “Buddhists” accept. No fixed group separating from others. Brotherhood of man, yes.

A man came here and said he was working for peace in Vietnam. “How many people in this room do you love and trust?” What has that to do with it?” “How can you pacify Vietnam when you will not even pacify yourself in and with this audience?”

I have hopes for this world, Della, without the “experts,” newspaper men, State Department and all the war-makers who certainly cannot be the peace-makers. The New Age is upon us; I have nothing to lose, perhaps the whole world to gain. This is written in joy.

Faithfully,