March 1, 1962

My dear Harry,

This is my diary entry written at Bangalore. I have just mailed a letter to the Tourist Office. They have a complicated airline schedules which lands you on fields off or on time, but no information about these places. I got to Goa instead of Belgaeon on the way south, and stopped at Coimbatore or something like that on the way to Bangalore. I ran into a U. of Tennessee Farm Advisor there, but no time to talk and did not even know there was and experimental station there.  I have had introductions to three of his colleagues—at this writing no soap, but will try tomorrow. Also there are changes of plans and train time without fore-notice, and again after notice.

Spent some time with Dr. H. R. Arakiri, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Mysore State. We discussed the Olive, Avocado, and Pecan. Avocados grow well here but they have few specimens and want more. He agreed on the need of having both Olive and Pecan here. We had a long, very cordial discussion. Mysore State has a number of soil areas, and several differences in meteorological and hydrological factors. As a province it would be almost self-sufficient and sustaining and was, on the whole, under the Maharajahs.

They are changing the Rice program to fit the Japanese methods and have increased production considerably by it. Dr. A. foresaw the need of adopting the food program to the soil survey. this was not the view of some of the men I saw today. They have one-track minds and see great hopes in the future of Cashews and Peanuts. But these are far more money-crops than proteins for the masses.

Went to the Agricultural College today but the best time was with Dr. N. P. Patil, Research Officers, Farm Management Research Station, Hebbal, Bengalore. He is working closely with TCM. When I asked him what was the chief problem, he said it was lack of knowledge of exact water requirements of trees and crops. I told him this was one of the chief items on my agenda. He has been in California, likes it and was most cordial about receiving help from our State.

I also came up with another important answer, to me, from Dr. Arakiri. He gave me this name:

R. N. Singh

Dept. of Botany,

Benares Hindu University

Varanasi

He is writing a book on “ Role of Cyanophyceae in Nitrogen Fixation,” a matter I have discussed before. There is also a book written on “Cyanophyta,” rather complete, but more closely associated with marine aspects, so this is out.

Also discussed with Patil the project of training apprentices in food processing. He liked it and would like a later report when I reach California. This is a city of landscaping, though not as much as Mysore and I expect to be visiting the Horticulturists next, and also the American, Prof. Badenhop, and thus continue later.

So far as I have seen Canna and Salvia are the dominant blooms at present. Canna are everywhere, planted as carefully as I have seen anywhere on earth and Salvia equally as good. Yews are being used as foundations in the gardens under construction.  There are Sweet Williams, Zinnias now in bloom—not large and mostly for pastel shades to contracts with other colors. Oleanders in two colors also in blossom. The Points are still in color here, a dark red, with some green in the bracts. The soil is of decidedly lower pH than in other parts visited, but heavy. I shall give clearer and better reports I hope, tomorrow.

Farm Advisors. The TCM is composed of some of the best men available, who have both skills and knowledge. In practice these persons are compelled to organize staffs, establish offices and even teach—either specialists or teachers and so do not get to the farm or forest. It is difficult to criticize either these persons or their accomplishments. What is needed is to supplement there. They are too few considering the vast number of peasant-farmers in Asia.

The farm-exchange program wherein young boys were sent abroad, presumably 4-H club members has never been given the credit due it and in the establishment of the Peace Corps, has been rather overshadowed. The scientists and teachers in each land visited were very capable—many are graduates of Americans universities—but there was and is a big gap between them and even the largest and most successful land-owners.

One wonders whether it might be possible to send retired country agricultural advisors, plant pathologists who have acted in any capacity and others abroad; and whether we could not encourage simple farmers, especially from the southern States to visit the Orient. One read of complaints all over the world of the gaps between successful research and unsuccessful farming.

Stanford Research Institute has done some excellent work. Here one assumes this is literary rather than field and greenhouse experimentation. But their delving into Rice and Sugar is most important. At this writing the Japanese are carrying on rather successful quasi-industrialization of Rice production, but Sugar has some terrific problems. Some of these will be presented to the Institute—and also to research stations outside of California.

The above should not be interpreted to belittle the work of other States. Ecological factors may be of tremendous importance and examinations in situ show the difficulty of recording light-hours, light-density etc. and the part they play in the successful growing or Sugar, Cotton, etc.

Plant Protection. Much of the research done in California in this direction is by large industrial corporations, but these cannot be overlooked. The subject is complex owing to excellent work being done on disease-resistant varieties by Plant Breeders, etc.

Seeds. Finally one need not by-pass Ferry-Morse and other growers. The writer has been encouraging either free or reciprocal exchange of seeds from country to country to promise peace and good-will and the increase of food and economic crops.

The above is a summary only and does not cover all the experiences or observations or data-collations of the writer.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis—ex ‘18

October 10, 1962

My dear Gordon:

Last Sunday I visited your exhibition in the De Young Museum and lest there be anything that looks like flattery, I am giving you a sincere and somewhat detailed report. It is easy enough to be influenced by, or to respond emotionally to a friend. But looking at it from a distant view I found such enjoyment I could not look at other pictures and had to go into the Chinese room “to cool off.” What is it that evoked such responses? I left with one question: “Are you depicting the present age? or predicting the next?”

Leaving the Museum I glanced down at the Terrazzo and saw the sympathy between your work and “nature” by which I do not mean the nature of philosophers which has nothing to do with anything outside their conceptions. When I was in Cairo the differences between the inner structure of marble and its outward functions were noticeable: indeed they became the subject matter of the tourist guide who was an expert in Islamic architecture. The term “texture” is used loosely yet, but it is used and some day it no doubt will establish its own rationale.

I myself am at the bottom of the ladder, taking up drawing at the Rudolph Schaeffer School. There is a long story here bringing together the two facets of my trip abroad—the scientific one concerned with the food problems; the exoteric one concerned with occultism and mysticism. These were both entirely successful abroad, but because of the unwillingness of locals to accept I am taking a long, slow cautions path.

Fortunately the scientific people do not operate as do newsman and metaphysicians so the way has been entirely edifying; everywhere. The same is true with saints and mystics; often they see full at a glance or even without looking. The position one holds in Asian-Asia is totally different from the on previously held here. But God and man are both on my side now and there is no time to dally with metaphysical skeptics, even when they are popular.

The two phases, scientific and mystical, were synthesized by one Sufi teacher who happens to be the guide of President Ayub. That President Ayub is his disciple is not so important as that the rejection of the existence of such men is this Sufi teacher show uncertainty and insanity. Anyhow I have been assigned the subject of “Leaves.” This is basically a book of scientific research, but I have determined to do an “Audubon.” Only unlike Audubon I am a Yogi (against the acceptance of this by others is totally inconsequential.) That is to say, I know both the plant physiology and vital life force in trees and shrubs and this will undoubtedly affect the ultimate style. (I am having trouble with the typewriter.)

This would bring one to the point: what is the reality in the plant? Or leaf? Instead of answering this technologically, I hope to find it through life’s experience. I have already discussed this at the Schaeffer School and there is agreement on the value of synthesizing science and art.

I am not now prone to discuss my trip. The few persons who have been my confidants are more than satisfied. The need for writing books with a purpose overshadows any effort at autobiographical sketches. Yet memoirs are needed. Paul Brunton is now walking in my path whereas before I walked in his. I know the holy men of each land and I know the uselessness of trying to make this known, or rather this was true until recently. Last year at long last the actual Zen Buddhists in America got together and published an anthology of Zen. The American Vedantists have done the same thing. Nobody has touched Sufism though there are many times more Sufi disciples then all other schools combined. But this departure is encouraging and will be included in my The Lotus and the Universe in answer to The Lotus and the Robot.

My Main Work, “How California can help Asia” is all absorbing and has brought nothing but favorable responses everywhere. Again I am rather careful to whom I divulge plans. It will probably take two years to write but I have or can get the material. Here I have received more encouragement in the last two months than in the previous almost sixty-six years of life.

Among my minor assignments has been that of locating an architect for the new Islamabad University to be built in the projected capital of Pakistan. The possibility of “winning the cold war” by showing the superiority of American art and technology had not been tried. The “cold war” would have been over almost from the start if the editors could stay out of the way; they can’t and won’t and they really miss everything.

The one evidence of my trip is that I look younger than when I left. Some day when a few people take this matter up seriously we shall not only have more “Yogis,” we shall have people who can live long with a purpose and vitality.

Please give my regards to Jacqueline,

S. A. M.

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad

October 13, 1962

My dear Gavin:

I have tried the meditative method and I came up with an answer which may not be satisfactory:

This method can only be used when both the method and operator are accepted. It cannot be a test of skills or of person. And it does not depend in the least on the worthiness or non-worthiness of the petitioner.

The most dramatic instance was when I used it at a very holy place in India and I received an answer—concerning an entirely different person. There was nothing to do but accept the answer. When I was leaving Pakistan this man was the only one to come to my assistance.

It was not anybody’s fault. 75% of my closest friends had been transferred from Lahore and others were away on business and this man, upon whom I was not depending, came to my help. It has reinforced my faith in the methods, and if one wills, in the “living God.”

I use a different method when I am in the position you are in, but it is a Sufic method and its use is entirely restricted to my fellow-Sufis. I am not using it now though I am in temporary straits. But a spiritual brother arrived last night and I may have to use it for him.

I shall use an entirely different method Sunday because the Muslims claim to have a belief in “Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful” and they say He is the All-Wise. If so, why are they in this strait? In their case they are going to get a moral punch in the nose. This may only be delivered to religious (and/or) hypocritical people.

Honest occultism has to be separated from dualistic morality. When a person is in need, that one is in need.

Your I Ching message to me was about the same as I received from a very high spiritual source in Pakistan. Someday, no doubt, a section of the American public will become interested in “Real Saints, Real Shrines, Real Sages”—this will enable me to carry on an entirely different mission—in connection with the above.

Faithfully,

S. A. M.

October 16, 1962

My dear Gavin:

I don’t know whether your I Ching rending was correct but it brought out two things:

a. It accorded with all the other predictions made to me concerning my self

b. It was impersonal and included none of your own reflections.

No doubt Honey attracts more Flies than Vinegar but it also may attract undesirable insects. Much of my life has become deliberately patterned after another Samuel, viz. Morse. He stuck to and through thick and thin until he invented the telegraph. That I accept.

The last part of his life I don’t accept so much:

1. He avenged himself on all former enemies. I think he won nearly every law-suit too.

2. People became afraid to oppose him even when he was not right.

Of these I shall not indulge in 1. but I shall accept 2. and before I leave this world expect to find people accepting from me as if I were an oracle. This is a psychological reaction against blind rejections and has already taken place here among the real Zen Buddhists.

Yesterday I had another long meeting with another Asian diplomat—cordial from the start, but more cordial at the finish. With Asian-Asians I have always gotten along and think I shall continue to get along. I do not accede to the “expertism” of any European on Asian matters. A man who has a Ph.D. in the West is not always honored. A German biologist or physicist would no doubt be received by his colleagues, even put to the top, but in the medical field he would run into hazards. Why don’t our medicos accept a PhD from Europe in biology, as an authority on medicine?

And why don’t Asians accept European PhDs. as authorities on Asia? Not even in linguistics is there agreement. So I’ll stick to the position of Walt Whitman that John China may know as much about China as Prof. Von Schmeercase and Das Gupta may know as much about India ad Dr. Zioniotaph.... Here I must admit all American institutions do not agree.

Anyhow I am much encouraged by all talks with all Asians on Asian subjects, and with most Americans, too.

October 17, 1962

My dear Gavin: in re: Bryn Beorse

This is one of the saddest letters of my life. To see a great genius going toward disintegration and disruption because of some sort of false pride. It is almost forty years since I met Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan, and was already then a student of Sufism and related subjects. Or first oath, after allegiance to the Teacher is allegiance to each other. Without going into the moral of it, this has been no end of satisfaction and even “getting by” in foreign lands. But I am becoming more and more reticent concerning my experiences which by now are as varied as Bryn’s, perhaps as exciting or more, and certainly far more integrated into the body of knowledge.

In previous years I spent a whole afternoon with him at the Pakistani Consulate and have taken up the matter of Salt-Water Conversion at places far away and at levels I am not supposed to contact and do. Indeed the doors have been opened for him in many lands. But what does he do? He contacts other countries—some of whom have government I would be ashamed of and is double-crossed.

If he had trusted me one whit, just a little, he might now have a big job for a foreign government or even have inducted into our A.I.D. I don’t know what stands in the way. I am trying to arrange to meet Senator Engle with Yvonne present and I can easily meet senator Kuchel, engineer fiends present, to take up this matter of Salt-Water conversion. But there is something that has gotten beyond me and I only hope I can hold the literary threads together.

I offered to go to the Orient as a representative or agent for Prof. Reiser and to some extent did. I did not fail, but the fact is that Oliver Reiser is becoming known far and wide and at a rate we can hardly appreciate. I think he is the only man is the world whose pace, so to speak, seems to be faster than my own. I won’t explain that here but it comes out in his “Cosmic Humanism.” But Reiser is not a Hegel or Aristotle; he does not write books and let it to at that. His plans have already been instituted and instituted not because of him, but in spite of him with his consent.

In going into the Earth Science Building at Berkeley recently I came across one Mrs. Harriet Allison whom I have known since childhood. We have always been friends, rather strange sort of friends, and have gone through plenty of thick and thin. There is a strange relation here that both of us, starting off as occultists have landed as scientists or more strictly as research workers in the literature of science. Yet we both hone fundamental research in labs too-although in different sciences.

I was thoroughly amazed to see Mrs. Allison’s latest book. If one had a blue-print of Prof. Reiser before one it could not have been more perfect. So I have written to Pittsburgh, taking the first step to bring U. C. and Pittsburgh together in what Reiser calls “Project Prometheus.”

There are just two ways in which to understand my conversations with Asian diplomats: one is to know the history, religion and psychology of the Nation involved; the other is to know “Project Prometheus.” This is no potter-clay “Peace Corps.” This is the integration of the knowledge collected by each land for each and all.

There is no person who would and could fit into this picture better than Bryn and there is no person who would accept the proposals slower.

October 26, 1962

Dear Gavin:

I am sending you copy of letter to Yvonne with a purpose.

You said I have written you a mass of letter. Of course I have. I am not permitted to speak, so I write. When I am permitted to speak letters will not be necessary; or better yet, to communicate.

I remember years ago I gave a big public address on the McMahon Line. I have studied Asian history and what not. I can go to the Orient and teach as my friend Reps foretold, but here I sometimes can’t even get into classes. Now one by one every single paper which was a priori rejected has been accepted. I don’t mean rejected, I mean a priori rejected. This is something else.

You have told me about your former lives. I see no reason to double. But what about my former lives? When I was asked whether I might not join the Chinese Buddha Church I asked the requirements. The first was that I had to accept reincarnation. The “experts” know better but the poor dumb devotees accept reincarnation. I laughed and told them I remembered my former lives. They were stunned.

Now this is supposed to be a sane world and there is fighting going on between India and China and trouble in Cuba and some day somebody may ask for my opinion on the Chinese-Indian border situation. So far I get deluged with Cuba. No wonder I have to resort to stratagems.

The second is my consorting more and more with real scientists. I am planning another trip. The answers of letters to scientists and gradually the answers from real top professors in other fields is so encouraging. I think now, too, I have made three or four of them back-track in Zen alone. But the scientists don’t backtrack because they begin, continue, and end with facts, data, events, statistics and such and private opinions are out.

I function from former incarnations. The more I yell in India the more I got accepted. The reactions there are exactly the opposite of those here. Where we believe they are skeptical and where we are skeptical they believe. This covers everything including Astrology.

Cordially,

October 26, 1962

My dear Yvonne,

I am having two of my pictures reproduced here and one especially in the highest role, perhaps, I have fulfilled in this life. I have two other pictures taken at Multan where you see me with a saint. The meeting could be totally “inconceivable” in the mind of some of our former mentors and it is not so much the pictures themselves but what actually happened that may be of importance to you.

There is a tremendous difference between a real saint and a fancied one; also between a real saint and a Ph-deist, these misled and misleading mortals with whom you have been associated. The real saint works among people in all kinds of ways. When I went to this saint he asked: “What do you want?” “I have come to teach you.” “All right, teach.” If you want details you can have them … in the end all the Sufis lined up to mutual embrace, so I came back and had these pictures taken. There was an American witness too.

This “teaching” is of a different nature for it combines knowledge, wisdom and love with tremendous feeling. You touch the audience from within. Whether it be one person or a crowd, you get the keynote of the heart, or the eye (which comes to the meeting). You then know the “spirit” of the audience or person in a true sense and work in and with that spirit until there is an adjustment. This usually means the removal of pain, or complexity or a problem.

A few years ago one Marlene Casperia came here. She was sent by my friends, the Rheinholds of Hollywood and she came with the idea I could solve any problem she might have. (What and exaggeration?) In the end it simmered down to her desire to study Zen Buddhism. I asked her if she seriously wished to study Zen Buddhism and not flim-flam or Beatnikism. She said yes. I took her to the Zendo. She made considerable progress both in Zen and in all her studies and graduated with a top scholarship and is now doing research work. You can confirm this from Claude or Della.

But this madness is reflected. Everybody asks me about Cuba of which I have very few ideas and care less; or as Puck says, I don’t smoke cigars. Twenty-five years ago I gave a great public lecture on the McMahon Line (I was the authority on Asian problems then). Nobody has asked me about the Indian-Chinese crisis. No wonder I wish to be “mad” and delight in them calling me mad. One can only laugh.

I have not had the time to mind but there are more Marlenes in this world because I have run into a nest of them. Even if only one person took my prescription this was enough. It worked for her, but this is not the dualistic communication. I got into India by telling them I knew all the answers and got in immediately. Because this depends upon mutual identification. It is not difficult to help another when there is identification. Marlene not only admitted it, she wanted it—she got IT. What is this?

If we call it Love or Compassion or anything, we run emotionally all over the place and react to words. Of course God is Love. Of course God is Wisdom. These become the same when there is realization.

Why did I come home when I did? I waited a long time through thick and thin for my companion to have this realization. Then Christ came to him, although he was a Muslim and he got IT. He had a hand which palmists said was the hand-of-Christ. He already had the healing power. But the power is only a reflection of the heart. He had to have the realization. Now he has had it and thousands came to him.

How did I know this would be? My poem was written in 1942. Something happened long before that.

Warmed by the success at the Zendo I wrote a letter to the Vice-President of India and before he got it I received a call from the Consul-General to come and visit him at once—he had the carbon. Satya Agrawal introduced me to his best friend and we never had to talk. When I was in a certain sacred place I announced who I was in a former incarnation. It was accepted at once. It was accepted more recently here, then and there by real devotees of realization. It accounts for the tough scale in which I am clothed. I am not even a Chelon with a soft underbelly. What does this cover?

You won’t find it by looking at me; you will find it by looking at thee! Walt Whitman said, “In all men I see myself,” but even Gavin who is devoted to Walt can’t do that. Five seconds in the Orient and not five years here—it is no use trying to push light through opacity. But when there is opacity for light which is love which is life which is illumination which is freedom—then!

My first teacher’s first book was “A Sufi Message of Spiritual Liberty.” It was not successful because Europeans and Americans think that spirituality means discipline which means the giving up of freedom. Sure, you get a certain discipline. When you go to college to study Biology you probably drop courses in Physics, Poetry and Arabic. Nobody thinks of that. It is the same with spiritual discipline, you have to become one-pointed. After you make your key you open the door and rove through the palace. But pretty much you make your own key.

I had a vision once in which I was the gatekeeper of ! I had all the keys. I went away because this was not accepted. People refused to accept my ownership of ! I said was the gatekeeper. I still am. Ownership of ! belongs to … anybody. It costs nothing. It brings its own reward.

You look down and see sex and you look up and you get caught in a mirage. We say the sex is bad so we get caught in the mirage. That is not it at all. Who started the “good” and “bad?” I say you need fulfillment. You know you need fulfillment. We want to pass from world to realities. It can be done. I’ll show you the picture of myself with the saint. Who was the teacher! You have hardly felt my lips, you haven’t felt my test! Watch out!

Love and blessings,

S. A. M.

November 9, 1962

Dear Gavin:

Last night I was not well and one reason for going to Thea’s was I have not been well and wanted to get away from myself. While not so bad this morning, it is possible that this communication may not become all that it is intended to be.

In my second book I have a sort of theme that Sri Ramakrishna was an Avatar - and this minus (-) was supplied by Walt Whitman here. Both had aspects of cosmic consciousness, but the Guru drew the people and the wanderer went to the people. Jesus said: “I am the first and the last” which practically is poppy cock for I have never met any pretender to spiritual knowledge who has the guts enough to be the last and guts is both a pun and a multiordinal term (ask Lloyd what “multiordinal” means).

There are no worse interpreters of Ramakrishna and Vedanta than European philosophers and there are no worse interpreters of Whitman than PhDs but this life is such that a lot of persons, including yourself, prefer to go to the elite rather than the learned, and not only you but a lot of other people too. This morning Indonesia has anti-American riots. One of the reasons I expect to meet senator Engel is to bring this point to him: the Indonesians all over the world have begged me to come to their country and someday I hope to convince some Americans. You were with me at the Bowles dinner years ago and yet you have missed the point why I went. I know I can carry on the message of good-will to Indonesia and neither any PhD nor relative of the President can—God help them if they try.

I walked through the palace grounds in Japan and Thailand and as soon as I reach India and telephone the President asked me to come over. Ho-hum and call in your “authorities.” At the recent Zen conference what? No Watts, no Kerouac, no Rexroth, no Spielberg, no Saxton—how come? It could not be a real Zen conference, nobody there but us chickens—I mean realized Zionists.

Jesus, the poor mutt, said, “I am the first and the last” and the commentators say: “I am the first and the foremost.” The Scribes and Pharisees do all the lecturing. Claude saw a piece of me in Cairo. Then one day in Lahore a group of workingman were having trouble moving a sewer pipe. I passed and they challenged me to help them. So I rushed home, got my gloves, joined them and shouted “Allaho Akbar,” “Allaho Akbar,” “Allaho Akbar.” And soon the pipe was in place. The bishops, the PhDs and the “experts” are the first and foremost and I am the first and the last and don’t you forget it. When I see some critic beating me at being the last, I’ll surrender dear and no nonsense.

While all these processors and experts lecture on Karma Yoga—lecture—I have dug ditches and drains and worked with the share-croppers in the South which no self-respecting reader of Caldwell would dare do. I let the Pope be the first and the professors and bishops and “experts”—in South Carolina there was a Methodist conference and they got stuck on biblical interpretation and I came in and forced a word in edgewise and that was it. They weren’t “experts” and they were just as unanimous as the Zen Buddhists minus Watts, Kerouac, Spiegelberg, Saxton and Rexroth, The lone Ranger flies away.

Havelock Ellis wrote The Dance of Life years ago when I was at college I called on the heads of the Girls Gym and said: “You would think that and older man was having the time of his life—dancing with so many girls, fondling them and no doubt being permitted to go as far as he wanted. At least girls in one class have said “no” to nothing so far, but in one class only. I am actually miserable: it does not take me one dance to psychoanalyze the girls. I know all about them, their home life, etc. And if the girls of another class reject me, it is nothing as to how they reject the opposite class. The hands-off girls are lovie-dovie to me compared to the hands-off girls to the hands-on girls.” They understood.

From the Ellis language of “What do you dance” and interpreting it I have moved in two opposite directions. Last night while you were demonstrating (and get that pun boy, get that pun), that “molasses catches more flies than vinegar,” I took Blanch out and showed her the picture drawn by the real Yvonne. I said: “never mind what she says or he says, this is what she is.”

In the other direction, I have passed from the dance to the kiss and nearly all women fall into the trap I want. This came out first and most easily with Dorothy. The centers of communication are not necessarily the lips and they may be the lips. But kissing falls into such obvious groupings, too easy to explain and I won’t here.

When I saw Yvonne right off I knew what was the matter and you ought to too—we are among those unfortunates whose parents did not agree and it has warped and thwarted us. I knew there was a buried treasure. I knew I could not communicate and to skip everything I was very, very happy when she became engaged.

Now the analyst in Indian Psychology which you will never learn from all the Germans in the world and then some—is that the analyst is the asura, the worker in darkness. The integrationalist works toward the light. As you are one moment an integrationalist and the next a seguro servidor of the analyst provided he is a PhD or something you miss a grand opportunity. It was not only that the demon-stration that what was that? is better than something else to catch flies—but the real Yvonne was stark naked to me in her drawing.

What is a Walt Whitman? In all men I see myself. Well I haven’t reached that. Maybe I am nearer to “I am the Vine and ye are the branches thereof.” It is an awful thing to love somebody as if they were part of yourself. You get nothing but pains and growls and scars and you can no more change than you can alter your blood count.

I feel toward Yvonne as a sort of combination of mother, father and uncle and she pretends to be looking at something else. That is all right because this combination and pattern is a scaffold. I feel the same toward Norman—also the child of a disrupted household, etc. I did succeed in at least telling Yvonne I felt the same toward a political person, i.e. Norris Poulson, whose path I have crossed again and again and again.

When I have been in Washington Clarence Lea, Jerry Voorhees, the late Carl Hinshaw and Norris Poulson all dropped everything when I entered their offices. Those were in the days when the PhDs and Europeans hadn’t taken over the teaching of Orientalia. Indeed Poulson gave me a nod which I am still using and all your humbugs in disguise can’t take it away but this concerns U.S. Intelligence.

But it is not the intellectual side that matters. One look and Mrs. Ruth Sasaki accepted what I could not get in edgewise with Alan Watts; and someday I know Alan Watts will accept what it is hopeless to try to get over to a Spiegelberg or Saxton—no use even trying. I saw the last disciple of Senzaki-san and said, “I am going to whisper something in your ear and you will get the whole Dharma.” Now what kind of nonsense is this? Only fools and real Zen Masters accept it.

I won’t say what it was but it concerns the deepest recesses of the heart. Roerich wrote on Heart and Reps wrote on Heart—hurrah, hurrah! Let’s buy their books. But when it came to practice—do you know what it means: St Paul said: “I die daily.” But to have to live through Crucifixion and Death and no nonsense—while people are shunning they can’t explain the vitality and connectivity. Here you win a point. I have given my secret to Yvonne in a poem and she shuns it. All I need to do is to be present with here on Christmas Eve, her child also must be there and I’ll get the point over.

I received a letter from the greatest Sufi I know the other day. I dare not show it, yet. Secrets are not made secrets; they become secrets because those who have an ear to hear won’t hear and it is the listener not the knower that compels the secrecy. There is a picture of the Tibetan saint Milarepa with his hand to his ear. Someday I may meet a Western person—an American possibly, an Englishman very slightly, a German never—who will understand the meaning of that picture. There are no secrets from Sufis and no walls before dervishes.

Yvonne thinks I want to meet her father for me—I want to meet her father for he from something she said to me which is most important to him and far, far more important in our international policy. I am not playing cards. Even when I wrote to Earl Warren I never called attention to the fact that he and my father were palsy-walsy—I try on my own.

Tears, sighs, laughter, speech and touch all reveal and the sciences of the Sufis are secret because we don’t know how to accept such things. Sufis are using mind-reading and thought-transference even in their counter- espionage against the Reds and I have been able to communicate a little of this to Prof. Rhine at Duke and Reiser at Pittsburgh. But this is still external to the heart-life.

I know all the tears, sighs, grunts and groans of people I deeply feel for and this has nothing, absolutely nothing to do with their reactions to me. There is no tit-for-that; there is either titter or tatter or non-resistance. You agree with your enemy quickly or you give him a Zen uppercut which is like the Japanese wrestling throw. Someday I hope to explain to al least one European professor of Oriental philosophy how you win debates in Asia, but this may be hopeless. Anyhow someday I will explain to some Americans how it is done.

Yvonne is my child and you are my brother, but caught in this samsaric world plus its Christian-Aristotelian legacy, you don’t know all the facets of love. You confuse it with its shadows, its phases, its derivatives, its offspring. The branches you see, the trunk remains unknown. Then you get out on a series of branches and Yvonne gets out on another series—you are still on the tree though each thinks the other is not—and you can’t conceive the trunk.

No, you did not lose the debate. But rationally it is useless. I admit that as a father-mother-uncle, or as a gentleman I seem strongly for Yvonne, but if this were a court of law of even a Judgment Council in heaven the answer would be quite different. My main tour de force against you is that you have not realized Whitman. If you got into the heart of Whitman, I would have given you the palm. Or if you ever could get into the mysteries of the heart: well it has taken 20 years for my one disciple to awaken and it has take even longer for Bryn to say “yes” once to me so I can’t blame either of you. And what is the purpose of the “yes?”

Whether it is balm to a single person or to a whole nation, the principle is the same. In the heart of man is the constant death-cum-resurrection and in this culture heart has come to mean something entirely different. I was very impatient when young, but I have long outdistanced Job. If I had you and Yvonne in the room, with others, on Christina Eve I would play another role. Indeed if my official garbs arrive by then I might even put them on.

Yet I have no right to chide you pretending to a gentleman. I might be doing the same thing myself to Sophie Ginsburg and even more so. I would tell Sophie: “Yes, we are proud of our race and religion, so proud that the President of Israel has to practice Buddhist meditation and moi aussi—who’s kidding whom?

This is Tuesday, March 22 and I am finding it advisable to begin recording in my diaries, lest events pass by or are only included in letter. These events are too striking to pass unnoticed.

The Practice of Zen by Chang Chen-Chi is a book, which arrived late after I had written to L.A. I began reading it at once and was struck by the fearsomeness of attacks on Alan Watts and others.

In one sense the attacks are overdrawn because of the complete by-passing of Karuna or Compassion. But in another sense they are not overdrawn, for those “nice” Europeans who earn their livelihood by writing books on something they call “Zen” is nothing but travesty and none of them have stressed Karuna, either. They describe the man by his coats and a healthy men in a threadbare outfit would be anathema to Western-Book-Zen.

On the other hand, as Alan has lectured on “Psychology, East and West,” it is about time he learn something about some Eastern psychologies and folkways. The Chinese and Burmese do not indulge in Double-talk, niceties and diplomatic nonsense, which gives us poisonous soothing syrup instead of friendship. But so many Americans just “love” poisonous soothing syrup and prefer “The Ugly American” to truth and a pleasant speaker to an informative one.

The Center is a strange place here, open to all religion. I gave a talk Sunday on “The Gospel of St. Thomas” with some covert criticism of Billy Graham and attention to the passage, “The Father is an activity and a repose,” calling attention to its Mahayana aspects. Well, it seems that the organizers of the Center were present. They had arranged a seminar for Alan Watts; now, they want to know something of the techniques of Zen and Sufism.

Dr. Baker will remember how I behaved during the UNESCO a few years back. The same thing is happening here. I went to register for a forthcoming institute on “Giants of Asia” and opened my moth to the man just I head of me in line for tickets. His name is Reynolds, he is a Cal. Agricultural Expert and has just come back from India. We had much to say and should be meeting this weekend.

Went with Viola Harris to the first colloquium. The main speaker was a Dr. B. S. Gilani who spoke as a representative of India. After the question period I asked: “Didn’t you come from Iraq?” “Yes.” Then you are a member of the great family?” “Yes.” He is a descendent of the Grand Sheikh and a cousin of the man who was my host in Washington years ago when I started out on plans for the Near East. I shall write him shortly.

While this was going on Mrs. Catherine Peck went to another lecture and it came out that the speaker there, too, was either a Sufi or a friend of the Sufis. He also wants to meet me. I have also met a Hyderabadi and a Bombay Hindu (whom I spotted on sight.)

I also wrote to Columbus about speaking for the T.S. and in the next mail received another letter from quite a different source, asking me to speak. This will probably be on April 13 and 19^th. I may see Park this weekend, otherwise to Ann Arbor to report on the Institute—which will give me a fine opportunity.

March 26

My dear Blanche:

This is also my diary letter. I am very glad to have the duplicate check. However my fears about my Bank Accounts proved to be false. I received a letter in the same mail from the Bank but it was a duplicate of the deposit slip. There appears to be no danger or difficulty of any kind.

The main problem that I felt would appear and has appeared is a sort of pressure connected with success. My chief hostess here has been troubled about my meeting one professor Saha. Well, I met the Professor in the ordinary course of events without turning a hair. My timing has been perfect. The World Affairs Council has had lectures and an institute on India and China. I met the representative from the Embassy and made a date for April 27. I have already met another professor from a Sufi family.

Tomorrow I give my Easter lecture. This partly because my hostess leaves soon and partly because I shall be in Columbus and give this talk, presumably, for the T.S. The subject will be “The Body of Light.” While I shall use N.T. texts I shall interpret it also in terms of Sufism and Vedanta. I expect a fairly large and sympathetic audience.

Today I rather held my own at the Institute, being careful not to monopolize the floor. There was one man opposed to me but I found he was very, very unpopular and most of the audience would have liked me to speak more, but one does not like it that way. I am now going to write a few letters of interest to the World Affairs Council here and it is beginning to look as if I must come to this part of the word regularly hereafter. I leave Monday for Ann Arbor and have a special lecture on my return.

I go to Wooster on Monday, April 11, arriving Tuesday night to speak to the T.S. presumably on “Real Saints, Real Masters, Real Shrines”—but it have advised that I shall not speak on the theosophical masters because so far as I am concerned they function in California no in Asia, and being Masters, are not confined to the Himalayas or anywhere.

I shall let Stedman know and am also timing so I won’t arrive too early in Columbus because he is a night-owl. I shall not cross him on Astrology or anything outside of Asian philosophy. I may leave him some Zen books or else take them to Boston.

The key test was followed by another of the same order but I sort of “laughed at the gods (or pixies).” I cannot bother about Battle Creek. I am glad you been specific but Puck has had an awful problem—two other woman have offered me financial help and you can guess—scarabs! Actually it is sully because I have only spiritual and psychic attachments here (not artistic) and these are most serious and profound.

The conduct of the Institute and the handling of all meetings was more impressive than the conclusions which were reached. Years of experience have developed chairmen and leaders, superior to anything I have yet encountered.

My trip to Ann Arbor might have been a disappointment. I found that there was a vacation or intercession. Not only was Dick Park not there but also Madame Aga-Oglu was away. For years I was a close friend of her long since divorced and possibly dead husband; he was a leading authority on Rugs, Tapestries and Islamic Art in general. But I left a note about future plans to seek specimens and objects d’art in Egypt.

I next contacted some Pakistani students discovering one was a Soil major. He invited me to the Id festival where all the Muslims were to join. It was noteworthy that the Pakistanis were in large abundance and the Turks, surprisingly, far outnumbered the Arabs. Today we here about the Turks abandoning religion and the Arabs often using Islam as a façade. There I learned that there is now a complete American Islamic Movement headed by on Mr. Khalid of Dearborn, who is in close touch with both Al-Azhar and Cairo. In turn this will be of value to me when I reach UAR.

On my return I found a large envelope from Jonathan Garst, brother of the man who was Khrushchev’s host in Iowa. This is a fertilizer program for India. I am going to share it with Professor Saha and then perhaps take it on to Washington. While there are some divergences in view—he leans toward chemical rather than organic fertilizers—the plan cannot be dropped. My main difference seems to grow out of his overlooking the nitrogenous and other food values in the grasses there, particularly in that angel-devil Bermuda Grass, the curse of all gardeners and the blessings of many farmers. It has a very high and fine food value for cattle, goats and sheep. (This was also discussed by me at Hew Gardens which has some of the best Grass experts in the whole world.)

Yesterday I also read about the perfection of a new Miticide for Strawberries at the Agricultural Experimental Station at Wooster, Ohio. I am going there on the 11th and shall collect data, writing to Giannini Hall (Prof. Ryerson) and also seeking literature on strawberries to send to my friend mentioned above in Simla. He is in close contact alike with the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Stations In North India.

The University of Michigan has a set-up for Asian Studies which is close to what I should advocate. There have been so many debacles (locally UNESCO and the American Academy; elsewhere such nonsense at the University of Chicago and Yale), that we need some more institutions and institutes which give news first, views afterwards, if at all.

Somehow or other I am always keeping busy and am becoming self-assured. But sometimes the best way to success is to listen and take suggestions—then do something. I am hoping to call on Chester Bowles when I reach Washington in regard to some of the above.

Sincerely,

Cleveland, Ohio

March 30, 1960

My dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith:

This is really my diary entry for today. I am sending a copy of it to Prof. Richard Park who is now in Arbor and another copy to Raja Bhagal in India who has been both my host and my guest.

My coming here has been well timed so far as social and financial aspects are concerned. I am doing some lecture and research work on Asian literature for which I am paid and take the results to Washington at the end of next month. I have also been most fortunate in having the World Affairs Council hold its Institute on India and China. Some of this has been reported to you and at the end of the institute I also wrote Mrs. Benton, the librarian, at the world Affairs Council.

The success of the institute may be attributed to the fact that the Council here is an old established organization. None of the mistakes of UNESCO held in San Francisco were repeated. There were at least three valid Indians on the panels and the main speakers on China have been to China. The discussion groups were discussion groups despite undertones of rivalries between professors representing different universities, with a pretty united front against the views of newspapers and commentators who had no part in anything. The other Business and Professional men gave excellent talks and if there were any divisions or uncertainties, these were shared by the audience—I guess I was like nearly all of them, quite certain about India, quite uncertain about China.

I have already made my appointment with Mr. Adarker at the Embassy for April 27^th. I have also made an excellent contact with one possessor Saha from Calcutta. I would like him and Professor Park to contact each other. Unfortunately Professor Park was not at Ann Arbor—though I believe I wrote him the date of my coming. But I did leave him copies of the procedures and he may be able to carry on from there.

I have not heard from Prof. Gilani yet. There was more news from Iraq and his Cousin’s term has been fixed at ten years. So I doubt very much whether I shall visit that country.

The general consensus seemed to be that we ought to recognize China and even go so far as to offer her foods from our surplus. There was nothing in the reports to cause me to feel that the country is other than an enormous prison, even thought an enlightened one. The damage by flood and the failure to increase crops show me no signs of well-being, and these are coupled by the apparent withdrawals before Burma and Nepal. Put I am not an expert and not even particularly interested enough to draw any conclusions.

The general feeling was that we should extend out financial aid to India, which seems so small in contract to Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. I think the audience rather agreed. There were a number of semi-Gandhians represent (those who protest against tomb experiments, etc.) but by and large people were either realists or what I call reality-ists (upon which I pride myself.)

The conduct of the institute and the handling of all meetings was more impressive that the conclusions which were reached. Years of experience have developed chairmen and leaders, superior to anything I have yet encountered.

My trip to Ann Arbor might have been a disappointment. I found that there was a vacation or intercession. Not only was Dick Park not there but also Madame Age-Oglu was away. For years I was a close friend of her long since divorced and possibly dead husband; he was a leading authority on Rugs, Tapestries and Islamic Art in general. But I left a note about future plans to seek specimens and object d’art in Egypt.

I next contacted some Pakistani students, discovering one was a Soil Major. He invited me to Id Festival where all the Muslims were to join. It was noteworthy that the Palestinians were in large abundance and the Turks, surpassingly, far outnumbered the Arabs. Today we hear about the Turks abandoning religion and the Arabs often using Islam as facade. There I learned that there is now a complete American Islamic Movement headed by one Mr. Khalid of Dearborn, who is in close touch with both Al-Azhar and Cairo. In turn this will be of value to me when I reach UAR.

On my return I found a large envelop from Jonathan Garst, brother of the man who was Khruschev’s host in Iowa. This is a fertilizer program for India. I am going to share it with Professor Saha and then perhaps take it on to Washington. While there are some divergences in view—he leans toward chemical rather than organic fertilizers—the plan cannot be dropped. My main difference seems to grow out of his overlooking the nitrogenous and other food values in the grasses there, particularly in that angel-devil Bermuda Gases, the curse of all gardeners and the blessing of many farmers. It has very high and fine food value for cattle, goats and some sheep. (This was also discussed by me at Kew Gardens which has some of the best Grass experts in the whole world.)

Yesterday I also read about the perfection of a new Miticide for Strawberries at the Agricultural Experimental Station at Wooster, Ohio. I am going there on the 11^th and shall collect data, writing to Giannini Hall (Prof. Ryerson) and also seeking literature on Strawberries to send to my friend mentioned above in Simla. He is in close contact alike with the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Stations in North India.

The University of Michigan has a set-up for Asian Studies which is close to what I should advocate. There have been so many debacles (locally UNESCO and the American Academy; elsewhere such nonsense at the university of Chicago and Yale), that we need some more institutions and institute which give news first, views afterwards, if at all.

Somehow or other I am always keeping busy and am becoming self-assured. But sometimes the best way to success is to listen and take suggestions—then do something. I am hoping to call on Chester Bowles when I reach Washington in regard to some of the above.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Cleveland, Ohio

April 2, 1960

Charles Siegferth

1610 Lombard St

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Charley:

An article, “How to be a Buddhist? How to be a Buddha!” appears in the recent issue of “The Western Buddhist” with my name as author and from the world’s point of view I am the author. But from another point of view, when it comes to dharma-transmission there is no such thing as authorship. This I am going to try to explain now.

Prof. Suzuki has been here and has been much admired; Alan Watts has been here and started a few controversies over his personality. I called on a lady the other day at her request and said: “You have a very pressing problem, it is written all over you. If we discuss the problem we may be making it real and heavy; if we do not discuss the problem it may remain with you and I shall look like an escapist. We take headache tablets and I don’t know whether I can remove this problem or not, but we can fixate the mind either so it may deal with the problem, or even the problem may go away.” So this lady who had attended lectures by Suzuki and Watts got her first lesson in meditation. She had been to many lectures and she did not even know the first steps in meditation.

Now I sign a paper and people will read it and praise me mostly for the article and this will show that do not understand the article. Suppose the Roshi stood in front of me and said something in Japanese and it was translated and I took notes in English; that would be oversimplifying it although in a certain sense something like that happened. Only when one is with the Roshi, one is not, in the sense of being a discrete ago and it is impossible to take notes.

You chant Prajna-Paramita, you read it in translation, but that does not always mean that the Prajna-Paramita Hridaya is understood. I met one of Senzaki’s pupils. I told her she looked like old Man-Mountain himself and I had a great secret to tell her. Then I whispered to her “Hridaya” and said she would understand and she understood and there was nothing more for what word contains everything old Fat Stomach gave me.

You have studied Vedanta and in the Taittiriya Upanishad it says we have five bodies: flesh, breath, mind, intelligence and bliss. The pre-Buddha Dharma said that and the post-Buddha Dharma is still Dharma; there is no second Dharma. It is the same as you find in the Christian Bible where it is called “Logos.” Logos is the same as Dharma, there is no difference although you can have a thousand lectures and be thoroughly confused.

What language did Saito-san use to me, with me, on me and me? Being Dharma, he tackled all five avenues together, flesh, breath, mind, intelligence and bliss. Then he added the Charlotte Russe on top which we call Prajna; only in the five avenues there is communication and in Prajna there is no one to communicate or to communicate to. I knew everything he said or meant long before it was translated. Bingo!

In the samsara you get complete attunement and induction, like in the attunement of pitch in sound; and the attunement in electrical induction—when these unite we get Radio attunement, all stations together. The Roshi grabs the pupil and shouts at him in all five languages and in the Prajna beyond samsara he does not say a word, because it is not necessary. So the whole attention is held and the ego of the pupil hasn’t a chance.

Sure, Roshi Taizen explained the Buddha-transmission, the Sangha-Transmission, the Dharma-transmission; and despite all the noise pounded out by intellectuals one had telepathy and super telepathy and blending of egos and more on top of that, all at once. The Roshi did not just talk; when he did you realized—all five levels, flesh, breath, mind, intelligence and bliss. From the intelligence we get the Buddhist term alaya-vijnana. From the bliss we get the seed of the realization when Kasyapa shouted “Ananda” to Buddha’s cousin.

Thus one can say there is no difference between a samsara and Nirvana, or one can deny it and the sameness and difference have no meaning and all meaning.

The failure in the grasping of Buddhism, or Dharma, is that we try to grasp it with the ego. That is where Theravada fails. Shaku Soyen used to say; “There is nothing to receive and no one to receive you.” This is the reception and it does not look logical.

I can write all day about Roshi Taizen Saito who wanted me to become his disciple, so I was already his disciple. I never went to Tsurumi before and I was more at home in Tsurumi than in San Francisco and can’t explain it—although perhaps I lived there in former lives.

I am new for the first time putting this in my diary and being lazy, use this as an excuse to write to you. You may read this or have it read by anybody. Kato-san will understand it without looking and “Professor” Vrat could not understand it if he read it a million times, so as we say “bye-bye, blackbird.” Books written on Zen and Buddhism now all condemn the Englishmen and Europeans who have been writing books. But like the lady above, there is till no meditation and I am a mad man to write this, but when you get tired of TV you can read this over and also my article.

Remember, you are already Bodhisattva and in a little while you will learn to pick up the club or stick and whack anybody that comes your way. (You can whack Beatrice with your lips but is the same thing.)

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Cleveland, Ohio

April 3, 1960

Dr. Walter J. Fischel

Department of Near East Studies

University of California

Berkeley 4. Calif.

In re: Muqaddimah and other subjects

Dear Dr. Fischel:

As a free roving Ambassador for the University of California, perhaps I should have visited you before embarking on a projected journey which may take me across Asia from one end to the other. As I am going entirely on my own and have at least three huge projects in mind, I found it impossible to visit all the presumably interested departments on the Campus. One never knows exactly what type of reaction will be obtained—if satisfactory one has to spend more time than one has in reserve (this happened this year); if unsatisfactory one can only depart in chagrin (this happened previously but the negative personalities have since been disciplined for quite different reasons, but close enough to bring satisfaction now.)

The three projects I had in mind were:

a. Exchange of crop data, especially to carry information to lands with surfeits of deserts and salt-encrusted soils.

b. To engage in real cultural exchanges with two-way traffic; indirectly to combat the somewhat unwholesome of effects or defects of Mortimer Adler’s.

c. To further programs already instituted for peace efforts through the arts with some emphasis on Islamic Arts, to fill a big gap.

In the latter regard I have already been to Ann Arbor. Unfortunately Mrs. Aga-Oglu was away—I had been a close friend of her former husband. Also your former colleague, Dick Park was away thought I had written him; the reason for his absence may be known to you. Fortunately I was in Cleveland during the “Giants of Asia Institute.”

There I met, among others, Prof. B.S. Gilani. My surmise of his background was correct. I have previously met one of his cousins, at the Iraqi Embassy in Washington. At that time I was studying al-Shadili.

My immediate reason for writing, no doubt, is that I obtained a copy of The Muqaddimah in Los Angeles and have been reading it assiduously. The criticism I make of this work is the same as I must make of the grand white Memorial Library here in Cleveland, that there are hosts of books in the library, listed on classifications which simply do not hold. Ikhwan-Issafa is listed with Indian literature because the issue on hand was published in that country. The best Urdu and Sindi books are so listed, too.

In 1930 I called on your former colleague, the late Professor Popper. He was then enthusiastically studying Al-Ghazzali. He could not understand how a person could know Sufism without studying the great philosopher. But the Iranian says; “Tasawwuf consists of experiences and not definitions.” If wisdom consists of experiences and not definitions, it cannot be obtained through philosophical books—a point on which I stand far apart from many of your colleagues in this country and in Europe.

Professor Arberry is held in high repute in many parts of the Occident. Not so in the lands visited. When the—to me—splendid Jewish Encyclopedia was compiled, it was written largely if not entirely by Jewish scholars. The same is true of the forthcoming Buddhist Encyclopedia. When the “Encyclopedia of Islam” was written, it showed “wonderful scholarship.” This two-way gimmick—and it is nothing but a gimmick—of restricting certain religious compendia to devotees, and permitting scholars to do the work in other fields may go well with scholars but it does not go well with masses. At the present moment I understand there is a new Encyclopedia of Islam in which Muslims have been given a major part in the project—something badly needed.

One reason I hesitated to call on your further was because of the influence Rom Landau has had around the Bay region. No doubt he is a friend of Kings and pupil of Arberry. But he has had little standing in the Islamic world and he soundly thrashed me in class for using the words Khankah and tekkya for zowiya, a word which may not even the spelled correctly here. This man’s knowledge of North Africa does not extend to the Arab World as a whole, and his knowledge of the Arab World does not extend to Islam as a whole.

The same is even more true of your colleagues around Chicago, one of the most highly regarded insists that Sufism has much to do with the downfall of Islam, especially the refusal of Sufis to take part in politics. Mutawakkul, the Tartars, the Great Plagues and Tamerlang may be by-passed—in order to prove a subjective thesis. I was not in India three days before I met the Honorable Syed Mahmud, a highly placed member of the Chisti Order of Dervishes, the then Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs, chief under Nehru.

Or you can test this yourself by going to the Ferry Building and talking to the staff of the Indonesian Consulate. Just inquire if disciples in Sufism partake in politics or not…. Of course I intend to call on the Embassies of Sudan and Nigeria also just to find out a few things that a “professor” and especially those who were born in Europe do not know and sometimes do not want to know. The College of the Pacific, influenced by Rom Landau, would not permit me to enroll courses there, on subjects I lectured to teachers and specialists in Pakistan! And for which I am en route now to Aligarh University in India.

(I can only believe in the end that the University of California will take account more of the Universities which I shall be visiting and perhaps speaking to in foreign lands than this absolute rejection by the school in Stockton—which has no standing abroad anyhow. )

In 1930, despite Popper, I visited the White Library for the first time, chiefly to list Sufi Poetry. I came upon Efleki, “Lives of the Adepts” which was read in French. I also came upon my first references to Ibn Khaldun which were either read in French or through direct translations from that language. Efleki semanticizes Al-Ghazali by relating actual experiences of Sufis, which so far as I can fathom are norm to this line of development.

It had been my intention to visit either Cleveland or New York and make book lists of available works in order to promote a real two-way traffic in cultural exchange. Fortunately I have friends here who sent for me about the time of this decision so I have not had to depend upon my limited though ample resources. I have gone over much of the Islamic and Arabian literature. Despite opposition of the San Francisco Muslims, Landau and the University of Chicago; despite the fact that I have obtained my knowledge other than through universities (for the most part) I do know of some literatures which my would-be mentors do not know—such as Fihrist and Ikhwan-i-Safa. Furthermore my training in Sufism (or tarikat) has been such that there is an appreciation and understanding of Rumi and Ibn l’Arabi. And I have been fortunate enough to have been able to study the Grand Sheikh Abdul Kadiri-Gilani under a living Pir-o-Murshid.

In passing from listing book to reading them I find a large number assume a knowledge of Sufism, and The Muqaddimah must be placed in the same class. There are a number of assumptions about readers’ knowledge which will hardly hold for the vast majority of Western people. As my own studies have included both social and natural sciences, as well as non-European history, the understanding of terms like “prophet” and “saint” is almost automatic.

I have no intention here of insisting on the “truths” of tasawwuf, although I have been able to explain to highly developed Muslims that some Sufic terms are either implicit or explicit in contemporary science. I have been able to demonstrate this in a world between Botany and Chemistry through thousands of self-conducted experiments, the fruits of which will be shared in the Orient.

I must add here, presuming you are of Hebrew descent, that the Kabbalistic interpretations of Aleph, Mem, Shin are not different from the Sufic interpretations of Kemal, Jemal, Jelal and I must avoid imposing what may appear to be personal ideas on another. Truth, to me, is grander than any presentation or reflection on it. It is only that in Sufism cognizance is taken of all the knowledges and wisdoms of earlier dates which have been so synthesized and integrated.

It is therefore quite likely that I shall be lecturing on “The Muqadimmah” with some appreciation and perhaps even with some understanding. I do not know professor Rosenthal nor am I sure whether I shall stop in Connecticut at all. (I am going to Harvard U. however.) And I may also call at the Bollingen Foundation in New York. I do feel, however, that when I return, the various departments of the University will take some things into account which may be regarded as real research or scholarship.

I have not been in the Near East and do not, of course, know what kind of welcome would be extended. But I feel the supreme need of greater understanding between the United State and the Afro-Asian bloc and hope to do something about it.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Christi

c/o Mrs. P. Harris

14901 Lorain Ave.,

Cleveland Il, Ohio

Dr. Franz Rosenthal,

Department of Semitic Languages,

Yale University,

New Haven, Conn.

Dear Professor Rosenthal,

In re: The Muqaddimah

The three volumes of this major opus of Ibn Khaldun were purchased by me before leaving California. I have since written a preliminary review to Dr. Walter Fischel because I am a sort of roving ambassador for the University of California and a lifetime member of the Alumni Society thereof.

My purpose in coming to Cleveland has been to promote a valid two-way traffic in the grand literatures, balancing the establishment of libraries by the U.S.I.S., Asia Foundation and a host of competing semi-missionary societies—by the imports of grand literatures of Asia.

My education in this field is a most unusual one because at the time of my youth there were very few Asian studies of any kind in the West. Later on I did meet Prof. Popper in Berkeley who could not understand how a person could know Sufism without first studying Al-Ghazzali. I have heard like remarks with the substitution of other names than the Persian philosopher, overlooking his major premise: “Sufism consists of experiences and not definitions.”

In these days when yet almost anybody may speak on mysticism excepting the mystic, it becomes almost more astounding and even offensive when the presumably self-proclaimed mystic has learned his science in the laboratory and not in textbooks and has done some original research work too, which made him a welcome guest in many parts of the Orient and is shortly to make him a welcome guest of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Botanical departments of the Ohio State University. In this case, science consulted of experiences and not definitions—and there has been no argument over it.

You can understand my sensitivity when I tell you after I returned from the Pathan country I was challenged by a colleague of yours with the net result that in a few days I was admitted into the Naqshibandi order of Dervishes and a few days later was addressing the staff of Punjabi University and later some of the most important Philosopher of Pakistan on Tasawwuf.

The experiences in Pakistan were exactly of the opposite nature where one finds the chief instructor of Islamic studies in California a non-American, non-Muslim. Where the UNESCO conference of 1957, purporting to bring Asia and American closer together, imported a non-American, non-Muslim as the ”expert” despite the fact that the chief speaker, the late Dr. Bokhari of Peshawar was both a Sufi and representative at the UN.

This last fact is of no interest or importance to your colleagues at the University of Chicago, nor are they going to change their opinions despite the tea and welcome I had from the Hon. Syed Mahmud, quondam Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs in New Delhi, and a leading Sufi, nor from reading some of the official issues of the present of recent Central Government in Indonesia, etc., etc.

You can understand this sensitive but negative position further when I tell you that on trying to introduce some of my researches to the R.A.S. in London, their reply was: “But, Mr. Lewis, you are wasting your time, all the research work has been done on that subject.” (Quite untrue.) So I asked them if they had a notable Sufi work. “Never heard of it.” “Please look it up.” They found it and on opening it elected me a member at once—to save face.

Now this sort of thing does not make for good international relationships and I am here in Cleveland listing a large number of Asian Works, attention so far being centered on Islamic and Arabian literature. This is difficult because part of the library system has been based on the assumed relationship of the governments of 1900-1930 to traditional literatures. And one finds Ikhwan-i-Safa with Indian books because the edition they have here was published in that land. Indeed I find a tremendous number of Sufi works here, not listed under Sufism of mysticism. I am not going to criticize or correct this, however.

This fact is mentioned largely because many books, like The Muqadimmah mention Sufism without defining or explaining it. This is made more complicated because of a sometime noblesse oblige among some Occidental orientalists and linguists, wherein they over-evaluate the work of colleagues, which works are spurned in actual Asia and are looked at with even contempt or dismay.

Actually I am much more concerned with the shortcomings of the Mortimer Alders than with the short-comings of persons with whom I have not had cordial relations. In the latter case I find that they do not have cordial relations either in lands, which they either presume to represent or have been accepted by the public as so representing. This applies largely to Asia, sometimes to Africa, to Europe not at all. Europe has its grand literature and litterateurs.

This work of yours belongs to the real “Greet Books” of the world and may be so regarded ultimately. In 1930, when I first visited Cleveland, I first became acquainted with Ibn Khaldun. One had to rely then either on French works or the separate author’s translations from the French. It became evident that the sage was both one of the most profound and most capable writers in Islam. Some recent books are bringing to light his prowess as a social scientist functioning long before his times. But I find him encyclopedic.

There may be a temptation, off hand, to compare The Muqaddimah with Ain-I-Akbari. Both works are encyclopedic, both envision the larger area possible of the time, both were written by men associated with high government positions, and the authors—despite your colleagues in Chicago—were profound students and disciples of Sufism.

This last point must be re-emphasized because one of my goals is to go to Aligarh University where they have already accepted my theme for a thesis of “The Reconciliation of Oriental Wisdom with Contemporary Science.” This will be done first with Sufism and then I may move to other arenas and areas. This is easy and possible because I have already contacts and friends in high places in many lands of Asia. My own points of view maybe by-passed here but one is often accepted in faraway places by what he knows rather than where he leaned it; or, in case of “wisdom,” who was the spiritual teacher or teacher. This last is very easy for me, of great importance abroad, of little significance here.

Nevertheless in January of this year I received my appointment as American (and international) representative of the Chisti order whose headquarters are in Ajmir and I am also closely associated with the Nizami Chistis of Hyderabad, New Delhi and elsewhere. Their acceptance and nominations comes from knowledge, as Al-Ghazzali would say, of experiences, or of “states” and “stages.” Consequently I shall be in position to lecture on The Muqadimmah and to write reviews—which will be favorable—but do not wish to do this without some acknowledgement from your good-self.

I arrive in New York about May 1 and within a weak must go to Harvard University to meet several professors in different departments there. I do not know whether it would be feasible to stop off at New Haven on my return (I must get there as soon as possible), whether you would be in that region (because of vacation), or whether a personal meeting would be in any way profitable to either or both.

Despite all I have written, despite Mortimer Adler and his competing “great books limited to Europe prior to 1910,” I want to see universal knowledge and universal cultural exchange and I believe sir, you have made a marvelous contribution in this field.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Christi

Columbus, Ohio

April 13, 1960

My dear Harry:

I arrived here last night after 1½ days at the Agr. Exp. Station at Wooster and it proved more than profitable. I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth—the right way, and don’t understand it. I don’t know if I wrote about the time I was standing in line in Cleveland talked. The man in front of me was an agricultural Adviser, just had returned from Libya and showed me his reports. Later he left to go to Kabul, Afghanistan and we agreed if I get to Peshawar, I should call on him. He has spent some time at Giannini Hall.

And incidentally two men from Davis are at Wooster, getting what I call the Smithfield Ham treatment. Smithfield is a stamp mill in Virginia; the hams are brought in, stamped and shipped out at a much higher price. These boys come to Wooster and return to California as Ohio State “experts” and are sure go get much higher salaries—maybe things should be done that way.

I had to speak last night and am spending the morning getting some things off my chest before going to the Campus. My present doctor, Dr. Blanche Baker, 150 Delta St., used to reach Biology at Ohio State and has given me introductions, first to Dr. Clifford Cutright, Chief Entomologist, Wooster; and then to Dr. Mayers, head of the Botany Dept. at Columbus. But so much happened the 1^st days that I had better “diary” it before it gets cold and too much more happens—“it can happen here” and does to me, but usually in a favorable manner these days. (Boy, I even met another Indian financial expert in Cleveland, from the Embassy; if I don’t meet the big boys I meet the rich ones!)

My welcome at Wooster was another one of those things. I am advocating a Tomato program for India, partly a/c Vitamin C and to balance starch diets. The Wooster plant is full of men, headed by one prof. Alexander, which is advocating a Tomato program for the whole world. I was not exactly escorted out; indeed I had to escape to get away.

I saw greenhouse after greenhouse of Tomato tests. Some for fertilizing programs, some for temperature and long- and short-day tests, some for disease and pest control. The vines in some instances are very large. In general, I think 65° or 70° made a better optimum than the lower temperatures, but too high and you get pest; and of course, different moisture problems.

One series of optima are being worked out in the greenhouse and another through breeding. I am enclosing a sheet here in that respect. I may or may not have some other materials to send but you are on at least one mailing list now.

Before going ahead, I have run into some so important I am not telling this to anybody also yet. I have written short reports (to John Wingate, copy to Horace Hair) but not covering the “trade secrets.” Under your guidance, and also under Pete sending me out to Nurseries, I discovered and had collaborated that change of regime was much better than any fertilizer in the market. Although I do lean toward the fish emulsions, and this might include whale emulsions, plants are individuals (here at Wooster they are treated so) and panaceas do not work.

I consider it incumbent that you get in touch with Dr. Clifford Cutright. The way may be open because I have given your name to Dr. Diller, head of the Forestry Research Section, to be on the mailing list. And incidentally I did not give any other names, even of some of my best friends and contacts. I carbon this for my diary. The only other names I have given Dr. Duller were of foreign experimental stations.

Dr. Cutright first introduced me to Kelthane. Then to a rotary system of spraying (perhaps analogous to rotary feeding). Kelthane is most beneficial after DDT. Then other spray materials are used, often remnants of better known produces of other years, later discarded.

To be specific. The staffs were delighted when I told them that the Fly is the bane of West Pakistan. All the newspapers, magazines and commentators, especially those who have not been there; and all the gimmick groups wanting money collect for the “starving” foreigners. There are starving foreigners and often their governments are learning to look after them. But this poor soul who dwelt with natives, found that in the moist countries the Mosquito is the problem and in the dry ones the Fly and that is where most complaints are and I heard that before and after.

The fly and Coddling Moth have been given the most attention because of failures after DDT or other poisons, building up resistances; and also because the Mite remains. Then Kelthane is tried—not strong applications here—and then they went back to their shelves and took some of the discarded powders and liquids and used them, with marvelous results. The different poisons cooperated with each other. (If you know about human beings, the T.B., Cancer and other patients have opposite immunities. Insects also have opposite or opposing immunities. “Some little bug is going to be gotten some day.“

I am not telling anybody else about the possibilities of rotary spraying but leave it to you. When I return, and it may be a long time, I might talk, but by that time you may have students or others who can get his information’s through and from you. Good luck here, Harry.

There are several orchards and each tree is treated as an individual and has a case-history. One plot consisted of trees given plantings in different soils. Some of these soils are imported and some are mixed in situ like you did with the Peonies some time back. Basically one plot of Peaches was being submitted to a primary soil, feed and water program; another to a disease-and pest-program. It is only that in the first case the ultimate record are on the yield and size of fruits and in the other, on the effectiveness of medicines. But of course the two programs are related in final synthesis.

The effectiveness of some bacterial and virus poisons on insects does not work out because of the difficulty of getting pure materials and the case in which foreign spores, etc. can get in bringing unsuspecting havoc. All materials are carefully warehoused during the year.

Actually grasses undergo similar programs—one of the soil, fertilizer water control; the other for pest and disease control. But they did one thing here they did not do at UCLA, added a mowing program—not only different grasses, but different effects in cutting. Of course the grass is always better when imported and men are the same all over. I think I told you that the Japanese want Korean grasses, we want Kikuyu, India wants Bermuda—and here they are going great guns with all kinds of Bents.

I’m sorry, at this point, Harry, to tell you that in 1½ days one has time only for so much and there are, of course, emotional reactions to surprises and good-will. So I could not follow all the grass programs, did not interview the Agronmists at all—my own determination, but the door is open either for a later visit, or for your own better contacts here.

Dr. Diller showed me his Arboretum and said he believed it was different from any in the United States. I did know the similarity with the Japanese system. The Bald Cypress grows next to the Dawn Redwood. Sequoia does not take the cold, Cunninghamania manages to squeeze through but Cryptomeria do fine. Of all the big Redwoods that has the best chance here but the Dawn Redwoods do well (better than the Cypress). In this connection too, the Japanese Yews have all survived a very long, if not too cold winter, far better than the English and Irish types. Yews are grown all over and the Japanese make a good winter tree here. I was not so pessimistic as Diller about the future of the other Yews, that change of color did not mean death and one would have to wait for warmer weather for final decision.

Most of the Pines and Firs yield seedlings and it is generally presumed these are not crosses. The Japanese Abies firma does very much. Evidently Spruces and high mountain trees survive but do not grow as rapidly. There were far more Conifers than Deciduous trees in the Arboretum.

Oak Armillaria and Dutch Elm Diseases are still of great concern. Vector control has been difficult. I mention that poison and exhaust gases have done much harm to Madrone trees and was told that the same happened to most trees in Cleveland, in the industrial area where only Ailanthus has survived and is not happy. There is now an over-all effort to control all poison gases and wastes in Cleveland but the crusade has just begun.

It has been a very bad year for the Maples. The Sugar crop is way down and the leaves are not out. The Station is experimenting with new types of crosses to increase quality and quantity of sugar but this is too new to get any report on.

I did not go around with a notebook as I did in Japan but will try to carry some paper with me henceforth. I shall also check here with publications, etc.

Strawberry culture involves another matter. The Pacific Coast, the East, and Japan have totally different programs and varieties. When I get to Washington, and New York, I shall take it up with contacts and principals to encourage more exchanges in literature and reports on this wonderful crop. No doubt libraries do get all the data, but they often remain in the stacks and the experimenters do not know what is going on elsewhere. I believe warm countries can have ever bearing types.

From your end I told several of the Fruit men about Islay and Catalina Cherries. They don’t know anything about them, indeed never heard of them. The idea of a fruit ripening in September appealed to them for marketing reasons. Of course one does not know when a cross would ripen but I entirely agree with you about endless and new possibilities in this field. Despite its large stone, Stewed Catalina Cherries and pies are wonderful—far better than Coloradoans. But I did not offer any information about California other than Davis, which they have.

A short incursion into the library reveals that they have all reports from all States there, all bulletins but not in the rooms I visited, a particularly large Botanical or Horticultural library. They also have the cross indices so it would take only a little time to get the latest on any subject.

Going through the publications I concluded we are far, far ahead on our soil and tissue tests for plants. The methods used for checking trace elements and residue like Strontium90 reveal we are so far ahead of Russia here, there is no comparison. Most of their feeding tests are still with NKP. On the physical side of soils, growing out of Geology, they are certain on a par or even way ahead. But on the chemical and infinitesimal checks, there is no comparison.

On the actual grounds there is a Boron deficiency but not Cobalt. Grass plots are also checked for both Cattle and Sheep—very separate experiments. But I did not go into Husbandry at all. Outside the Station there are large genetic breeding stations (not just studding); and inside they train veterinarians of all sorts.

There are several separate farms more or less connected with Wooster. Originally separate, this has been incorporated with Ohio State. This happened in Pakistan too, where the Abbottabad Station has been incorporated with Peshawar. This prevents duplication and gives excellent Staff training. On the other hand heads of Departments have to visit every University plant all over the State for advice, consultation, etc.

Although Northern Ohio is being rapidly industrialized, the soil has still tremendous possibilities and with modern research, and internal cooperation, farmers can prosper.

I don’t know what the effect of these visits will have on my going to Greenhouses and Nurseries around Cleveland. I understand there is the largest series of commercial greenhouses anywhere in that region, but the long, cold weather discouraged me previously and I may not have much time on my return. I now have many friends and contacts and so engagements and then to Washington on the 25th. Then I must be in New York, May 1st.

I have to presume here I shall go to the Arnold Arboretum—I have to visit Harvard anyhow. So I put my New York address in case you have any suggestions in this regard. And don’t be surprised if you get another deluge, although I can not promise. This P.M. and the next two days I will try to spend on the campus, I hope.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

April 16, 1960

My dear Florie:

The grapevine has preceded me to this place and I received a number of welcomes. The major ones came from men associated with the Plant Sciences, but some of the Muslims knew I was coming also.

The latter live in quandaries. The Pakistanis want to be religious; the Arabs do not, or will not accept an “Ajami” imam. I have not tried to meet any Arabs, but this is due in part also to the fact that quite a few of the Pakistanis are going in for Agronomy, Agriculture, Plant Pathology, etc., so we have several interests in common.

The great difficulty, as I see it, is that the Muslims do not know how to get along in America. On the one side—and you can sympathize with them—they are not enamored with so many motor cars and so many slightly clad girls. On the campus here there are girls who wear about as much as one sees in Hollywood or Venice, Calif. There is an anti-beauty craze, little feminine modesty, etc. I am told that this is largely a local issue.

I did not see anything like it at Ann Arbor and I am sure it will not be the same at Columbia and Harvard. It is producing a large crop of young man who will not associate with girls at all and they will be called “homosexuals” but the causes are far more revulsion than egocentricity.

I attended a service in Cleveland celebrating Buddha’s birthday. The chief speaker, though Japanese, had a better picture of American psychology than he did of English. He gave no orthodox talk; without avoiding emotionalism, he was sane, sensible and informative. The service was a ritual, so arranged that one could be satisfied with it without accepting Pure Land Buddhism.

Both the ceremony and sermon involved Mahayana traditions and a general acceptance of Mahayana, including Zen. It was, in a word, that Broad Buddhism which I like. Not only that, almost half the audience were white Caucasians. The Japanese came next but were hardly a third of the group. There were Malays, Chinese (unusual), and some Negro Americans, too. So not only was the service attractive, it had the desirable results.

This is something Muslims have not learned. Those whom I have met so far are so concerned with the preservation of traditions that they ignore the environment in which they find themselves and nobody is giving Americans much information about the near East and its religions. Indeed there is a semi-strike on in New York involving the line on which I have backed passage.

I am going to have a serious talk, I hope, with the Imam in Washington. I am not over-sanguine. Even our courses in “Comparative Religion” are inadequate. I realize more and more, that Uncle Louis’s efforts were more abortive than evil. I got satisfactory but amusing responses on the possibilities of Chinese and Arabs offering instruction in European philosophies. The presence on the lecture platform of well dressed, courteous, affable gentlemen does not bring any knowledge of Asian teachings and our self-satisfaction with many speakers does not allay the suspicions of us abroad, nor will it.

All my meetings with scientific professors have been most satisfactory. I am making long reports for my memoirs, both to record the events and to affect, if possible, links abroad. I have had nothing but cordial responses to my ideas for afar and only hope I shall meet with some welcome in Washington. I complete the meetings Monday when I meet a professor who has charge of the Asian students in Agricultures. After that I go to Cleveland again.

There is no question in my mind that through the peaceful sciences we can win friends near and far; and through our pseudo-morality, the movies, daily press, etc., we shall only offend. If religion is the topic in the forthcoming campaign the U.S. will cease to be a great power. Our allies in the U.N. have been mostly the Catholic Latin Nations. We have offended large groups within the Afro-Asian block and we do not win their affection by superficial emotionality.

No doubt there will be mail when I return to Cleveland, whether from you or others. This is going to keep me busy, for my time is short and there is always much to do. As this is one of the leading Universities in the world in certain fields (Ohio State), I am very happy to have come here.

Sunday I speak on the “Light Body” to explain the betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection. Many of the scientists and some of the citizens that I meet here are friends of Dr. Baker, and her introductions have been invaluable.

Cordially,

Columbus, Ohio

April 16, 1960

My dear Harry:

I am very glad I have come this way. While I write now I shall have to go over my literature or information received, possibly offering you new information, possibly telling what you already know. It is always the “wrong” time to visit any place. The Forsythias are out in bloom and often blend with the Daffodils. But before going on let me say I spent some time with Prof. Chadwick, then more with Prof. Kiplinger, had most interesting conversations and little time for notes.

The soil here is heavy and one is surprised to find so many bulbs growing. There has to be some amendment and conditioner. The latest experiments are being made from bark-wood-baste, sometimes grounded. This has many of the same functions as Peat Moss, has a somewhat higher pH, and is a product of local industry. Indeed there seems to be some possibility of the replacement of Peat by bark material but there will have to be tests on the pH. Thus you can’t use it on Rhododendrons or even Camellias.

The Rhodies are just beginning to perk up. There are two problems here, one being to find suitable low shrubs which can stand the cold winter; the other to find any broad-leafs that can be adapted. Generally the larger the plant the better the possibilities, but this means that one has to search for low shrubs.

In this region not only is there attention to Yews but to Junipers. There is also a study of prostrates made at Wooster which I failed to report. The winter difficulty is not the frost-kill, but the shock. The weather is far more irregular here than at Cleveland. The cold does not always come gradual, but there have been drops of 80 degrees in a short time. Last year the Roses were cut to the ground.

Corn cobs are used here, being grounded up. They are spread out generally in the late fall, and another later in the Spring to compensate for the old ones which may have disintegrated. As the soil is basically a clay loam this is much more understandable than having bulbs. Plenty of manure is used all around and also Peat Moss. Western Ohio is alkaline, Eastern acid, and the weather is more equitable in the North—lake drainage, than in the central and Southern portions—Ohio Valley.

Extensive experiments are being made on ground covers, to find some which meet local conditions and they have come up with two varieties of Hedera. But it is a little early to get too many details. The problem here is frost tolerance while around Cleveland and Akron, it is tolerance toward factory waste, exhaust gases, etc. However thousands of people come here for consultation and twice a year they have short, extensive Nursery Men refresher courses.

The Campus on the whole is not so much a proving ground as a transition ground to enable Gardeners, Nursery Men and Greenhouse men to find out the latest. While they only keep one full time nursery-gardener on the job, during the coming months thousands of visitors come for information, advice and to see what is being done. Practically all the projects are being carried on by students. The Rose is the biggest plant in importance, and there are famous Rose gardens in the city and Rose shows from time to time. The Roses in the green house were observed in 1957 and I did not visit all departments because of the previous visit. The Vegetable man slightly remembered me.

There were at least two revolutionary changes in the Greenhouse. First the use of the Measuremix by Smith Precision Products Co, 1135 Mission St., South Pasadena. Because this is a California commodity I am not sending you the sheets; you may be acquainted with it already. The Greenhouse program is now to apply very weak applications of fertilizer with every watering and no special fertilizing otherwise. They have found nothing but good results. They have worked out programs which have proved invaluable and this was evident in the cursory examination of Carnations, Easter Lilies, Roses and especially Chrysanthemums.

The second revolutionary experiments concern controlled short- and long-day periods for plants before taking cuttings. So far this has been a relative matter. But this year they are instituting a program of absolute control, so they shall know exactly how many light-hours plants have been exposed to before taking the cuttings; and also have many exact light-hours for the cutting bench. So far there is enough evidence to find effectiveness on hard-wood cuttings, and even more of Conifers than of Broad-leafs.

(At this point let me say that Chadwick showed me the outside, Kiplinger the inside, for the most part, but of course experiments covered both.)

Chrysanthemums were the test crop, for the most part and this covered all kinds of things, perhaps involving every course you have. For instance the cut-flower industry here has been limited to the “carriage trade.” The students are encouraged to work on projects, limited to single plastic pots and comparatively small pots function where much larger ones are required for Easter Lilies—but at the moment the latter are also involved in the new enterprise. This is to flood the markets and chain stores with both pots and bouquets, which are available at a much lower price. The price is agreed backwards, that is, often a market price is agreed upon, permitting the retailer to have a 200% mark-up and thus one-third goes to the selling agent, whether the Student Body or Horticultural Society centering around the Greenhouse.

Chrysanthemums are now available all around the year and, of course, the Greenhouse projects included everything from singles on long stems, to masses in pots. The shoots are taken from the prop bench, given a single pinching, and then on their own. They bush out very well and at the moment look like ever-bearing plants.

While I visited the Greenhouse on Friday, the control—light and heat—over the Easter Lilies, showed assurance of blooms beginning Sunday and continuing during the week. This year they tell me that timing was very good but one is only sure of about 1/3 pots finding a market; it may be higher, of course—but no one counts on that; and, of course, there are some sales later, at reduced prices. Caution is always followed even when the whole crop is purchased. But Kiplinger was much more enthusiastic about the Chrysanthemums, and so was I, anyhow.

The same crop is being used in a number of test fertilizer experiments, with three degrees each of N, K, and P, but (otherwise there would be mere repetitions); all of this is connected with light control. The Greenhouse engineering has improved considerably, covering all sorts of factors such as snow-melting, draft currents—their origins, effect and control, etc. The fans and belts are operated to direct currents and heat either to where they are needed or can be measured. Even such small factors as drafts through key-holes are taken into effect, to insure fresh air; and the opening and closing of doors for the same purposes—just enough to permit fresh air to come in.

In these control experiments, precautions are taken such as rubbing off boots before entering the Greenhouse, not letting the feet touch the benches, etc. High N alone results in Pythium, and in turn this is watched, not stopped. But each plot on the test benches is well insulated from the others. The earlier experiments—from the previous semester—show that low P requires high moisture, and even then the lower leaves drop. (As I write, this could affect the Tobacco industry. High N means large lower leaves which often are so weighty they touch the ground and are more liable to attract insects, and in any case attract a lower price. If Tobacco could be grown as some of the Chrysanthemums were, with the main foliage higher up, it would attract a higher price. This is an afterthought and a deduction.)

I am writing this to you because I think you should become acquainted with the light-control factors in the N P K tests. Of course offhand the main discussions have been the K factors, the relation to photosynthesis, the effect of this on root cuttings, etc. And while I did ask questions and have some discussion it would be much better if you could carry on here.

I did succeed in convincing the whole staff that my job was to get the key people in different lands to communicate with each other. In the talks with or from both Chadwick and Kiplinger, it was obvious how experiments of this sort could be tried elsewhere with let us say, Sugar Cane as well as suggest ground waste from this for soil conditioning, etc. There was no question in my mind that the variations of Sugar Cane crops were at least part due to light-factors and the omission in the Orient of any attention to long- and short-day crops is a serious one which should be investigated.

Plastic materials for greenhouses do not stand up well. There is a gradual yellowing which is now turning into a darkish brown and so affecting the light-absorption and seriously. No doubt the standing up against breakage is wonderful but the replacements are not only more costly but more difficult. What is known as crazing (which I learned from ceramics) is now going on at a rapid rate. This involves collection of dust and dirt which is not microscopic in its effect and not always easily removed by some over-advertised products. Not only that, no student wants to spend time window-washing that he would prefer to put in with his plants.

The Greenhouse also acts as a hospital. There were a large number of African Violet patients, sent in by Greenhouses, stores and even individuals. All kinds of factors have led to the illnesses, but on the whole these are easily controlled, given time.

There is extensive attention given to household plants and the community shows much interest here. One Greenhouse is given over to the Plant Materials which have to be kept indoors. Students are supposed to learn the names of 2,000 plants for identification, before graduating. Of course when it comes to the large number of Yews, Junipers, etc. is surprising and the attention to Conifers is very great; on the other hand, though they may have to learn the names of trees and shrubs which grow in the Southern States, these are, on the whole, de-emphasized.

The Agricultural buildings are across the river from the main campus. Students go back and forth on regularly scheduled buses, which go both ways every hour. Parking is a great problem, with students, visitors, teachers and maintenance employees all having different parking grounds and rules. So the bus-system is the only way out.

The Cherry and Apple blossoms were just coming out yesterday. There was a cry for rain and early this morning (Saturday) there was a mild thunderstorm with sufficient drop. Fortunately many lawns were being cut just before the rain.

Between times there were a lot of other subjects touched upon such as disease-resistance stocks, genetics, etc. which can affect the success of our advisers abroad. Monday morning I go to the Agricultural side again to find out what is being done by teams they have already sent to Asia and are there. This fits in admirably with my theoretical program and in turn will be of use when I reach Washington (April 26).

I am hoping this letter will give you some ideas. The publications are somewhat behind. They are kept in the Agricultural Building, too. This involves not only all the Botanical Sciences in the widest sense of the term but Home Economics, Husbandry and Processing Industries.

I have already received several invitations to visit both Wooster and Columbus again—some coming from students on the campus. I am sending Horace a copy of this and another carbon goes in my diary. I do not overlook anything. As I told the Staff I do not know where I shall be living afterwards with at least a 50-50 chance of landing on a private estate with large projects involved. Or else, if I get further backing I might have to keep on hitch-hiking all over.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

April 26, 1960

Dear Diary:

I am sending copies of this to Florie Leonard in San Francisco, John Rockwell in San Rafael and “Bill” Hathaway in New York simultaneously. I realize—and I hope they do—that there is little time for separate letters. I always come to Washington with the assumption that the hotels are overcharging and I can’t afford to pay. Actually this is the only sensible thing to do for I was lucky to get even four days’ reservations.

I had to leave Cleveland suddenly for I was told that my ticket was not good on certain trains so I left Sunday night. The last day there was very similar to last days in the Orient. I was very successful in my morning talks, in answering questions, and quite out of the air revived the Sufi Movement with which I have been associated. And perhaps this revival did not come one moment too quickly. For it showed up all those persons who have stood in my way, that I have something to offer—and it helped open the doors here in Washington so quickly that this letter must be incomplete, not matter how much detail is in it.

This hotel is badly located for my personal business, being far away from Embassy Row. On the other hand it is just across the street from the House Office Building so I went at once to the offices of Congressman Shelley and Miller. I saw Miller and gave there my San Rafael address but I gave that in other places and it may be that mail will come to me there from time to time. (John, if so, please read before forwarding.) Shelley’s secretary telephoned Congressman Mund’s secretary so I could see him. He is en route from California but wants to see me. Anyhow I spent a long time at the Indian Embassy today.

This day started out very strangely—with persons at the UAR, Ceylon and Japanese Embassies away—and I walked out twice from the Mosque and was just going to leave when everything began to happen. The assistant director of the Mosque accepted my poetry, learned my background and right off I found a kindred spirit. I reported in detail what I had been doing in Cleveland and am to go back Thursday afternoon.

Then I visited the Sudanese Embassy, got some information (don’t know whether I shall go to that country or not); went to the UAR consular offices for my visa, and had them half laughing while I was filling out the forms, but have to bring my pictures—anyhow I go back in that region at least twice more. Then a very long interview at the Indian Embassy where the main persons were away but I evidently made friends. The doorman, an Englishman, wants me to write to him and I suspect I shall.

Later on I went to the Arab Information Office; the director was away but the girl knows Mr. Mehdi in S.F. (she also comes from Bagdad) and gave me a most important introduction in New York.) I also have the right introduction to the Al-Azhar University. The gentleman in N.Y. was once head of Cairo U., is now retired.

I can’t remember all details. Monday I called on my friend, Mr. Huq, at the Pakistani Embassy—it was most fortunate and propitious. For tonight I have been invited to attend a special meeting designed to form an Iqbal Society. I want to be a charter member. After all, Iqbal was my mentor in poetry and the reception of my own writings at the Mosque, etc. is going to push things fine for me.

After leaving Mr. Huq I spent some time with Mr. Heinlein at the American Friends of the Near East; I must return again tomorrow to find if Mr. Minor has returned. This meeting gave me everything that I might have wanted from the State Department. I also visited World Neighbors and must return. I do not know whether I shall join the group or not; it depends on details but not principles. We are in entire agreement. I am very happy to find myself finding Americans with whom I can associate.

At the State Department I had trouble. My old friends are removed—I must assume by promotion. A very pretty girl was trying to soothe me by “charm” and I only got information out of her by threat. I then went to the UAR desk and thus was in a certain sense “unnecessary” and was more like a love tete-a-tete than a meeting compensating for the other. The man was acquainted with Muqadimmah which I had read, approved of my work in Cleveland, etc., etc. I then saw a Mr. Perry at the Personal Service section and he is not aware of my background, but did give me some valuable suggestions. I may or may not work on them depending on interviews with my principals, a Mr. Hughes and Mr. Gammon in New York—on quite different missions—which will have to be reported later on.

These letters will be mailed before going to the Iqbal meeting. I understand that either the Iranian Ambassador or someone near to him will be chief speaker and I shall meet people from the Near and Middle East.

So far as some of my old associates in S.F. are concerned, all I can give them are coffin nails. The money that might have gone to S.F. for a Mosque has not gone to Cedar Rapids and a trained Imam too. They keep a file of all such matters here in Washington and those well or not well-meaning persons who stood in my way, and have been black-listed—though for different reasons—will have to learn the “facts” of life the hard way.

This machine is not yet under control. It has been very warm but cooler days are predicted. I have also visited the Nigerian Embassy. Warning to Southerners: Be careful of the darkie you kick, he may be a Prince or Cabinet Official! It is lucky I got to go with dark-skinned people in Cleveland—here you never know whom you are meeting.

The Mosque is beautiful but ornate. Lots of school children visit it. There are thousands here now. I missed the Cherries but not the Dogwoods and the city is very beautiful. I still have to visit some Congressmen, Senator Eagle (out of courtesy), at least the Burmese and Ceylon Embassies, perhaps Lebanon also. If any time will go to art galleries, but I have to be out anyhow because rooms are needed, so it is good to watch your pocketbook and not relax. Last time here I had to get out quick—all rooms reserved, but it has already more than paid me. I guess I have omitted a lot—too busy or excited and many new well-wishers. I ought to be a diplomat? Well, I am a diplomat! Of course not official and so effective.

I think I have already written about the tenders put out by the Sufi (dervishes) in UAR to become better known to and by Americans especially to carry on this Cold War to a success. When I return to California I may even go to court on this matter of non-objectivity in certain scholastic institutions unless some newspaper is willing to carry on a campaign.

You do not have to believe it, but there is a kind of conscious and also a kind of unconscious telepathy or empathy which brings us together. In Alexandria my contact (who has a high position in the UAR government) had the conscious faculty. In Port Said unconsciously my contact was a Sufi teacher. In Aden, where I stopped to make some purchases, my contact was another one. And here I met the Sufis very rapidly and shall meet more.

I am not in the least concerned with the acceptance of Sufi mysticism; I am concerned with the recognition that there are millions of us, and that we are unanimously opposed to those Nations and forces with which the U.S. is combating, but strange to say, we are either rebuffed, or recognized only so far by the foreign service. We have plenty of advertisements about “people-to-people” programs, but the actual operation of “people-to-people” is something else.

Because we do not have a real people-to-people program, even in this friendly government it is easy to start grapevine movements against the U.S. The one on the Christian-Islamic imbroglio above is an example. Monday I hope to visit the American Friends of the Middle East. They have done much to try to establish “semantic” relations between Christians and Muslims and the effort therefore is the success. Getting people to sit down together is to me, the recognition. Agreement is not so important.

The next underground stop is concerning India. The selection of Chester Bowles enables the underground-grapevine to say we, the U.S. are pro-Indian. When I was here before I saw the rather successful efforts of the commies to “prove” to the Pakistanis that we were pro-Indian in Kashmir; and to the Indians that we were pro-Pakistani. Our USIA programs, with their noble and lefty overtones, do not reach the masses. Our art and musical shows are nothing but boondoggling for those who need no such support.

Offhand, here as in UAR, I hope to emphasize agricultural cooperation as the basis for friendliness. Here the whole thing becomes complicated and unified. I have been urging more agricultural literature and less “true immortality” pulps. The Islamic distrust of Christianity here has nothing to do with the missions. The Protestant Churches are blamed for the lurid literature and surrealistic movies, and they themselves protest against them, but not loud enough. Islam now comes out for “home and mother” and in this the whole United States becomes the butt of rather successful attacks. Until Erick Johnston & Co. are removed, or until Hollywood itself supports true art, neutralism will continue and even increase.

The above, incidentally, is the compendium of a large number of conversations held before and repeated now in these last few days.

The percentage of people speaking English here has increased. Urdu, which bears some relation to it, is not an exact language. But the government is trying to systematize the teaching of both.

I met a large number of Asians on the ship, giving me more contacts. In general they held that both Great Britain and the United States are offering the scientific and cultural training needed in Asia. It is only when sensitivities are concerned we fall down. The staff at the Embassy here assents to my contention that it is a myth and a very bad myth that we do not discuss religion abroad. We are held to be materialists. This was the unanimous opinion of Hindus, Pakistanis, Pushtuns and Persian-Afghans, however else they differed. I do not know how long we shall continue to be limited by our myths. We have others.

These people, however they differ, live in psychological longevity. Metaphysically it makes them our superiors and more; but physically it tends to have them adhere to principles rather than actions. The two need to be brought closer together.

I shall be with Americans in Multan and learn what they are doing there; then go to Lahore to plan an ambitious series of programs. Then to Rawalpindi where my friend Ahmed Bashir Minto, once of San Francisco lives, and where the government is moving, then to Abbottabad, my “home.” From Abbottabad I must move in all directions.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Washington

April 27

My dear Murshida:

Henceforth you may be hearing from me anywhere, any time or not at all. In the Cause of God one sets not his path and sets it, goes forth and does not go and serves in reverence, love and humility and sometimes also with a blare of trumpets.

The ways of man are negative, the ways of God are positive as I have written:

The strong say “Yes” to God,

The weak say “No” to man—

This has been the habit

Since the world began.

Whenever I see a negative given, I know it comes from the tongue and mind of those who fear, those who are really weak, those who do not overlook their own virtues and overlook their short-comings. But no matter how determinate man is, he cannot hold against the flow of time any more than King Canute did against the waves.

The last interview today was with Mr. Minor, who is a friend of Terry and yourself. I made it clear that I was a cultural representative of Sufism and though empowered to give spiritual instructions my work was in the cultural field, and yours presumably in the teaching field. I said no more. Pir-o-Murshid, God, then my present Pir-o-Murshid, then the Sufi Brotherhoods have asked me to conduct this work. The Sufi Brotherhoods are recognized even politically. The dervish can enter where others do not or cannot, and he does and he receives welcomes.

Washington has been nothing but a series of welcomes, some of them the warmest received outside of Asia, and these warm welcomes come from both Asians and Americans (and you can throw in a few Africans, too.) The warm heart is never outside. Plans that were thwarted by human will are only thwarted in time; in the world of principle, they are not stopped. And so ultimately they come from the world of principle into manifestation.

I keep no list of autographs nor record the Prime Ministers and Ambassadors I have met. Tomorrow I must return to the Mosque for some long consultations. If they follow the pattern of my interviews the last few days they will become very important. I become now the recognized traveling dervish. Man, indeed no man can stop this; only in the Name of Allah can it be stopped, and when one travels in the Name of Allah, who will stop?

Plans to build up friendships, honest friendships will, to my mind, do more than anything else to stop the dehumanization of mankind proposed by several kinds of governments today. Living in friendship one is welcome but one carries others’ banners. One does not give up insight, or experience. When one finds that with all glamour and clamor, the Aurobindo movement is honey-combed with communists, one knows what to do. One can attack or keep silent. But one can hardly blame Nehru for “compromising” with Russia and praise the Aurobindo movement as spiritual when the Aurobindo movement is nothing but a blind over communist intrigue! Indeed the opposition to the Aurobindo movement is led by a Sufi who is a friend of Nehru, and the friends of Aurobindo can hardly be against communism.

I came to Cleveland to be welcomed by five Sufis. While I was there six other former members took the pledge of Bayat and two new mureeds. But I told them I was not the Teacher, and while the Movement seems to be in four groups—none of whom share the teachings and all who demand “authority.” I waived all objection to anybody they would accept esoterically. But my esoteric position is clear and cannot be touched, not in the least, by man, any man or men.

My scientific mission has, if anything, been more successful than the literary and spiritual one. If, in the course of time, I meet again with Dr. Shawarbi, we have great things to do, really great things to do. Little people would not let me; big people are very open hearted in this. I meet the world’s leading horticulturists all over, and am greeted by them at the top levels. But I keep my findings “esoteric,” sharing them with one man in San Francisco who has the know-how and who himself has been spurned so many times.

I can hint that if Russia would solve the fly problem, we would then spend millions to wipe out the flies as we wiped out the yellow fever pests. But Russia apparently hasn’t it. And I know we are miles ahead of them in soil science, plant nutrition, etc., etc. I won’t speak for nuclear physics, which is outside my realm. But I have catalogues from all over the country and know that within the U.S. the fly problem has been solved. I have already been a professional sprayer, too, but this is a minor point.

I cannot find out if it is expensive to live here because I have to go at the end of four days; as usual, praise be to Allah, I have had long series of successful interviews and conferences. Those who are willing to accept, let them accept. I have had against me a lot of Europeans known as “Orientalists” including some of Baba’s worst enemies, too. They are, on a whole, doing much harm in preventing straightforward American-Asian relations. You saw that with the Czech Prof. here, but that has been wide-spread. The new generation of American professors in the Oriental field are different and they are my friends; my address book is overloaded.

I say nothing more of the courses you have taken. What you do positively is your own affair. But what Allah does positively becomes the affair of His devotees. I was not stopped all over Asia; I don’t know whether I shall be or not, but no human being, acting in the name of Allah without having the Grace of Allah, will stop the Cause of Allah. All the people here are looking to my publishing memoirs. I think this will be done before long.

Then I expect to write, “I meet the Sufis.” Not now, but later. It is about time that the mystics begin to speak for mysticism,

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Chisti

c/o E.W. Hathaway,

350 E. 76th St.

New York 21, N.Y.

My dear Gale:

This is really my diary entry for May 7th and I am assuming you are now home. I guess when one becomes a wanderer one becomes a wandered. I received yesterday a very nice note from Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda who likes my poetry but cannot publish it; I am more concerned with his appreciation anyhow.

I spent some weeks lecturing and doing research in Cleveland Public Library anent ideas for reciprocal cultural exchange. The idea is not so difficult to put over as to find the machinery thereof. This was the only field in which I received much encouragement from the State Department. They gave me a list of organizations to contact but here too, I find lopsidedness and duplication.

I am active in “The Friends of the World,” a Japanese organization engaged in seed-and-tree exchange, linking cities and persons. It has been very successful; indeed to the degree that New York and Tokyo have become linked—as they should be; there is a strange type of synthetic Japanese landscaping in front of the public library (“natural,” stone and gravel gardens close to each other) and a special affair Sunday. Despite this we have several American organizations trying to duplicate and not getting anywhere.

In Cleveland I was rather successful in my lecture work and in Ohio State even more successful in my agricultural contacts (largely through Dr. Baker who was once on the staff.) This has already brought marked good-will. I have been offered land in both UAR and India, and had uniformly good interviews at the Embassies in Washington, followed by contacts with Consulates here.

Hathaway is an old California friend. We have lived in each other’s homes almost since we first met. He is a good friend of Judith too, and interested in languages.

Last night I ran into one of my pet peeves, the selection of non-American, non-Asian “authorities” for articles on Asian religions and philosophies. My friend and I went over the material and had plenty to criticize but fear the things will be published anyhow, on account of “brand names” and add to the misunderstandings, quite unnecessary, between the United States and Asia.

I called at the office of Congressman Inouye in Washington. He has a proposal for something like an American Academy, to be built in Honolulu. I got quite a laugh when I told his staff: “Hunt, yes! Moore, no!” They understood. I also made friends with Judge Sound to whom I may be writing from time to time.

I have purchased a cabin on a Khedivial Line ship (presumably sailing next month). There is a strike on and my travel agent will be here shortly to check on this, or predetermine my dates. Then I am going to Massachusetts, mainly to Harvard. There is always something to do here.

Sunday I may go to the University Church. Roland Gammon, one of their leaders, is now American representative of the World Congress of Faiths.

I have heard the Academy has to move. Whether it persists or is replaced, this country badly needs real teaching in real Oriental.

There is too little known of India here. I did attend a Seminar held by the World Affairs Council of Cleveland and met Mr. Adarkar who is with the World Bank, and called on him in Washington. Last week I met one Prof. Namiar of Bangalore who is quite critical of Nehru—too many speeches and not enough action seems to be the trouble in his land. People learn by example, not by listening.

All the Pakistanis and Indians are interested in improving food supplies. On the other hand reports from other lands show that those lands are actually increasing their crops. One does not hear of great speeches from Malaya but there is a growing prosperity. Maybe something is learned in this.

I am on the uncertainty of adventure and am taking chances. The main thing is to find a literary agent, a matter which has not been fully faced. News from San Francisco is little. Several people who wanted letters do not answer so I am compelled to write less to them. But I am keeping a pretty close record of events. One never knows.

Please remember me to your family and Edna. No doubt I shall have more interesting reports when I am abroad.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

May 31, 1960

My dear Dorothy:

I am just back from Gloucester and am in a sort of quandary, nothing bad, but much determinate. Visited Harvard and while I was there telephoned Adolph. To my surprise and delight he called on me the next day and took me to his home. It was one of those things—on the right side. I apologized and said I had brought them no present but had my work clothes with me. That was just what they wanted! Instead of being in the food business they run a greenhouse and nursery and I kept pretty busy around the place—from putting in a rock garden, to potting and now arranging their stock.

This is necessary because they are in between two rush seasons: a short one in which they are concerned with seedling plants, chiefly “Mums” and the regular summer season. They have a large place with extra cottages and have just purchased a home for their son, Bob. They expect to move in that place this winter, or sooner and use their present home for a rental cottage; or move into it during the summer and use the other place as a rental cottage this year, the latter.

I found the place entirely to my delight and the weather also. I met a lot of their friends and some of Eva’s relatives. I liked the relatives but it was not so easy with the Boston Jews who have a much more limited geography and so outlook. I did meet a beautiful nurse who is interested in India and did not get any plaudits from the men because I “stole” her right under their noses. I met some poets and they want to see my work.

Now the quandary is this: I have had no confirmation as to my sailing date and my travel agent, Rudolph Olsen, 166 Geary, owes me money too. This throws me in the lap of uncertainty. On the other hand I can leave here and go to work up there and stay as long as I want to. This means taking my typewriter, etc. up there with me. In any case there is no loss.

Had a series of interviews at Harvard, In the case of the Far Eastern section it was very good, but the professors in International Relations and the Near East were away. I may meet the professor who has been working on the Dead Sea scrolls because I have something for him. Such a meeting would be very valuable.

I learned from her cousin that Mabel has remarried and is living in Brookline. However, I have not tried to reach her. I talked to Joe Matz but had to phone that I would return and see him later. I also spoke to Pauline Bromberg and she was amazed that I remembered her, etc., etc. We both want to see each other, very, very much.

I long distanced S.F. but no answer and will have to air mail so I can get a clear picture of my future. One of my local sponsors has been trying to reach me, she says, so I long distance her, too, tonight. Life is complicated but not bad.

The folks send their love to your mother.

June 5, 1960

My dear Ruth:

This is largely a diary letter and is personal from this end. The second part is no doubt more spiritual. It is not a private letter and there are some items in it, or even all of it which can be shown to Norman McGhee Jr. in case he is available.

Initiation, Pir-O-Murshid calls, a step into the unknown. This is what one may expect in foreign lands and certainly happened to me time and again when I was in the Orient. But the events of the unexpected in places of assurety show how dependent we are upon a Providence and that that Providence is certainly wise, in the first place, if nothing more.

I left Cleveland at a certain date because my railroad ticket was soon to expire and it had been granted on condition I sail on a certain ship. That ship is yet to sail. My date of departure is uncertain. I do not even know whether I shall go on that line and if it should be I have to go on a tramp, and at a later time, at least I shall be better off financially and be assured of better food. But I was hoping to have some of the social life of a liner, etc. God knows best.

It was most important that I go into Massachusetts on three major errands. One of these, to contact Prof. Staley of Harvard who is opening up a new school to teach all religions, has not come off yet. A second, to meet Prof. Sorokin to whom I am dedicating my books did happen with not only expected pleasantries but surprises.

It was Sorokin who held that Love controlled the whole universe and my previous journey, and evidently the forthcoming one has evidence of it. But he is also a man of love with supreme intellect. Several people I met think he is crazy and to use the radio comment, “and thou likewise” only I don’t think Sorokin is crazy. He is not only a man full of love, but one full of information, of widest outlook, spiritual and has the finest Azalea garden I have ever seen, and believe me I have seen some Azaleas in life.

Adolph Matz is my cousin on my father’s side. I have the strangest sort of relatives around Boston. Independently of one another, we seem to have been attracted toward the Orient and spirituality. In politics, art, religion and all major subjects we think and emote similarly. But I had one of the greatest jokes in my life played on me.

He and his wife Eva did not inform me that they had long changed their profession to Flower Growing. And I, on my part, took my work clothes and apologized for not bringing a present. This was just what they wanted, and in answer to their prayers. So I spent some time working at my favorite profession; then, returning here and getting no satisfaction for my sailing, I am returning and will either remain in Massachusetts, or make several trips—again God knows best.

On top of that I have been introduced to a poet I like; and to a poetry editor who wants to see some of my things so I am taking my poems, and also my manuscripts with me. It will be much easier to work there than in New York. I could write much more on this subject but then the two incidents I wish to relate would be lost.

Most of the visitors of the Matz Estate are Jewish. The place is an Estate on account of its size and not-wealth. It is covered by cabins, rented in summer and auto-trailer camps. Visitors come in and out. I think innately these people are drawn to the kindness, hospitality and spirituality which is latent, though clear in the art of both Adolph (painting) and Eva (weaving). But most of the guests are not particularly interested in those things.

I think it was last Sunday a young couple came in and the lady was one of the most attractive blondes I have ever seen. If I related my recent experiences with blondes you will realize I tend to avoid them—the incidents are actually humorous, not negative. The men all joked about this woman, but I was busy working in the greenhouse.

After dinner we all congregated in the living room and recreation room. The blonde, whom I shall designate as M. sat in a corner and most of the men rather challenged me to see me discomforted, while one of them won her attraction. It was no contest at all, it was not a debate, it was not a surrender, it was a flight. All M. was interested in was Yoga, Mysticism and Nursing in India. She questioned me and cross-questioned me the whole evening.

The reason for her seriousness is evident. She had been in an auto accident and was paralyzed. This drew her to nursing more than ever. She has now recovered her faculties excepting senses of taste and smell—certainly her mind is very alive and she spends most of her time studying when not working. There was a young man with her, who was head-over-heels, but she hardly noticed him; he is a salesman type and really does not fit into her world. However as I had eliminated the other males and made no play for M. he was appreciative and that gave him also a clear field, on that score.

Before going to bed I said to my cousins that that was just the type of woman I would like my friend Norman to meet. I said that although he was a mulatto, he seemed to have an attraction (both ways) to and with intellectual blondes; but if he met one who was interested in Yoga and India, I think it would be a match. I said I was sorry race might stand in the way.

“Race stands in the way! Why her room-mate is a mulatto, and they are always together and sometimes we think she would prefer a mulatto to a white man.” So! Maybe I am in for it, and without contacting Norman, you can tell him I am following this case up if I meet the lady again.

You can see, Ruth, how close wit and wisdom, humor and spirituality are. But you know it.

Actually my room-mate here, who has had a little Sufi training, has loads of books on Anthropology around and the more one reads them the more one sees universality. And the same is beginning to be true in Social Psychology. All differences are near-nonsense, though they may be needed for certain reasons. The soul has nothing to do with externals and I bring this out in a few lines in my “The Rejected Avatar.” Krishna (which means the black one—and please don’t forget it) was rejected on account of his color. My plan, on returning, is to write topics for West Africa as I am now doing for the Near East and India. God has no “chosen” people, all peoples are His.

Incidentally I am bringing my Jewish epic with me to Massachusetts. That was rejected—as I knew it would be—by the Jewish people themselves, although it was and is highly prophetic. Please tell Dr. Gordon, it is based on Kabbalah. If and when I have time to copy it I will send it to her.

My conscious spiritual life has but one outstanding event and that is most important. The above came from the selfless or unconscious. I have been somewhat emotionally concerned about inability to establish a time program and this means more recourse to meditation. One morning, after such a session, I went suddenly to the Iraqi Consulate. Now I have had no intention of going into that country which is presumably on bad terms both with the UAR and us. But as Holy Murshid was guiding me there was nothing else to do.

The consulate is very close to those of UAR and Lebanon. My visit to the Lebanese Consulate was not satisfactory—that is in the division between Lebanon and Syria, places which I thought were in Lebanon are in Syria so there was no need to do any business there then.

To my amazement I received a wonderful welcome. I had asked for the Cultural Attaché. This was easy because the Visa Secretary was not in. I met the Visa Secretary later and he looked like a man who likes to say “no!” and he was not too happy that he could not say no to this hombre.

I had to fill out a form and I put down that the reason I wished to go to Bagdad was to visit holy places. He said: “Tomb of Abdul Kadir-i-Jilani.” I replied, “Absolutely.” “Why?” “I am a Dervish, one of the few American Dervishes, and my name is Ahmed Murad Chisti; also I was initiated into the Naqshibandi Order.” He was surprised and delighted and we had a wonderful conversation.

So I filled out the forms but on account of the international situation I shall have to go from Lebanon to Bagdad, not from Damascus, unless the international atmosphere is clarified. However there is no question about it.

I remembered later that Murshid Rabia Martin has also visited the tombs of Rabia and Abraham which are in the southern part of the country. I may (or may not) visit them from Bahrain. I have a friend in Bahrain of whom I have forgotten.

This incident also shows the Divine Wisdom and potential guidance of surrender.

Now I can get back to human things, with their mixture of drollery and wisdom. I went the other night to a meeting of the Society for Research and Enlightenment (founded by Edgar Cayce). The theme was “The Search for God.” The motto I learned from them was: “Prayer is man speaking to God; meditation is God speaking to man.” I think it is a very good motto. We had to tell our troubles and the subject was “cooperation.”

One young woman who had been spending her time arguing with an older man (I soon found out why), said she was at her wit’s end, that she and her husband had to go to California, to live in San Francisco, or preferably in Marin County and she described exactly what she wanted but added it was hopeless. I said: “Lady, you have no problem. I know that country like a book and can help you get exactly what you want.” She never spoke to me after that and told me I had no business butting into her affairs. So we learn about prayer, meditation and cooperation.

The chairman was also at his wit’s end. There is a governing board made up of the leaders of this movement (which preaches prayer and meditation). He said they were always fighting; in fact meetings were becoming impossible because nobody wanted to associate with the others any more. He did not know what to do. “Have you ever tried meditating? He also would not talk to me after that. Evidently some people just love to complain. (Maybe I do, too, but I’ll be honest about it.)

Now we return to the Wisdom of God, to Whom be all Praise. Other things being equal, I can come and live with my cousins at any time and work for and with them. It may mean cooperation on several levels. This involves crossing the country and this in turn means passing through Cleveland, which will be easy. I cannot say for assurety, but all signs point to a trip from San Francisco or Southern California and if I do not establish a home when I come to the West again, maybe crossing the country. This will be more necessary if I succeed in finding a suitable literary agent—which is still to be done.

Of course it is assumed here that I will be of organizational or other importance. Poor Ezra has lost contact with both God and man and his goodness and love are too restricted. I am aware that a visit or two that I shall be making in this City (New York) after my return from Massachusetts may result in the establishment of Sufism as an intellectual teaching. There is nothing standing in the way but my own inertia. This is something I have not wished to do, but if those who stem from Pir-o-Murshid do not deliver the Message and others keep on offering me platforms, I shall not keep quiet. I have already had approval in Washington and invitations here. So I may be on another tack before I leave.

I know I had the most wonderful time in Cleveland, but it is impossible to write to everybody. Neither do I wish to give out a lot of advice. I am succeeding, at long last, in giving my room-mate the picture of the “perfect man.” Each one of us is “the perfect man” but we do not know it. I use the chemical-geological analogy. A rock has gold, manganese, silicon, aluminum, oxygen in it. Each of these is perfect. But mixtures are not always perfect. This is one of the first teachings in Sufism. However, it is not to extract the gold and throw the rest away, it is to find the value and use of each of the other things. And from the atomic point of view, none of them ever departed from perfection. Only we do not realize this and spiritual training is to make us realize this.

Pir-o-Murshid said that Spirit-Of-Guidance was the same as Bodhisattva which means “Buddha in essence” and that is what we all are. Only we don’t know it. The forest is made up of many kinds of trees as well as shrubs, flowers, herbs and grass. We can see the perfection in each and also the variety. But we do not see the perfection in “the forest of humanity.” Nor is it easy. But it is so.

I am remaining in a kind of unknown, and strange to say, in my own country. I don’t know what wisdom is behind it and am troubled by impatience but by nothing else.

God bless you all.

Charles Siegferth

c/o Matz

40 Atlantic,

Gloucester, Mass.

June 8, 1960

My dear Charlie:

I have been considering writing you a letter and have decided to make this my diary report. I have not been making entries for some time. Most of my affairs will be of some interest to you and I am trusting you to share it with Seth on the one hand; and with Della and members of the Zendo on the other; and, of course, there is nothing private or strictly confidential.

Sailing. The date is very indefinite. I have overpaid my travel agent to assure the proper cabin. But on account of the strikes in New York everything is thrown off schedule. Man’s intuition or selfless consciousness is greater than his plans. I planned to make a visit to my cousins here and instead of taking them a present, I brought my work-clothes. To mutual surprise and delight I found they are professional flower-growers and they found I have varied skills which they need at this time. So I guess I am here indefinitely which means anything from one week on.

Japan. I am not surprised at the anti-American riots. It is easy. I once was with the secretary of a Prime Minister of Iran right after the anti-American riots and the way I described them he thought I was there. I know the exact modus operandi.

People are not pro communist. Often they are more anticommunist than we are. But we never admit that. In 1957 I predicted trouble in Iraq when UNESCO imported a non-American, non-Muslim to speak as the “expert” on that religion and professor Moore, in the chair, refused to let the Iraqi have the floor. He walked out and wrote a strong letter which was read and confined to the waste-basket.

My experience is still to have my proposals treated lightly “lest we offend the Asians” and every Asian I meet is in favor of them. On the impersonal side I want to see Asians and Americans direct all studies in our mutual relations. In the Far Eastern Section of Harvard, the director is an American, Prof. Reischauer, who is highly respected by the Orientals and who has a very clear picture of what Buddhism is, including Zen. His chief assistant is a Japanese, who is thoroughly skilled in all branches of Buddhist culture. We spent an hour with him and he showed us the huge library of Chinese and Japanese classics. This is what it should be.

The Near East Studies are directed by a Briton and a Hungarian. It is just like SEATO, designed to “defend” South East Asia, and ignored by Burma, Malay, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. We won’t let the Asians alone.

I have been cantankerous in my prophecies that continued lectures on schmutzik and calling it “Zen” would sooner or later cause anti-American feeling in Japan, or add to it. But we like the schmutzik-vendors, they are nice men, or occasionally not nice; they have PhDs. (often self-endowed) and they run around the country or speak at Dr. Chaudhuris and all the studies of Asian culture immediately forget there is a Law of Karma and the professors who lecture on karma all regard themselves as above it and so Karma strikes. And we shall have more schmutzik-vendors.

The “Zen” in Boston is a beatnik hideout and people don’t know the difference. But you can imagine what visiting Japanese think.

Matz. Alolph Matz is a cousin on my father’s side and he resembles me psychologically perhaps more than anybody else. Our views in politics, religion and metaphysics are very much alike. And when the present rush is over I am going to meet with several of his friends to discuss Zen, which will mean discussing meditation, and discussing Buddhism.

Adolph does a lot of painting and his work is in modern styles. He shows a Jungian outlook which is not surprising that for years he has studied dreams. But he has a metaphysical insight vaguely recalling Gordon Onslow-Ford. He has several styles, showing surrealistic, cubistic, impressionistic and more modern trends. His wife, Eva, can weave and although he praised her work highly, it was better even than I expected. From my point of view it is excellent.

Charles Gulson is, perhaps, the biggest man I have ever met. He looks roughly like Seth but is both taller and stouter, and is of Danish extraction, I am told. But I suspect his career is somewhat of the order of Henry Miller, though I do not know. Like Miller he is widely praised and blamed; said to have been the center of scandals and to be one of the most noble hearted men alive.

He does look for good poets so I have taken a lot of my stuff here—my Jewish and four Indian epics, my love epic (incomplete) and my North Beach poetry. I have met a friend of his named Ferrini who is a professional picture-framer and an amateur poet. I have seen his work. It slightly resembles what Webern is doing in music. The tendencies are to short lines and even to short dramas. But it is not surprising to find Ferrini is interested in Zen.

I have given my cousin the two books of Mrs. Sasaki and may read from the Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. I may even leave it here if they want to practice meditation.

Gloucester is on Cape Ann and is in competition with Cape Cod. It is very beautiful. My cousins have a fairly large place, two houses, several cabins and large areas for trailers. Many trees of all kinds, their own flower gardens, a greenhouse, a cold frame and lining out gardens for Chrysanthemums and Vegetables. It has been warm, not hot, and not muggy, thank God.

The Brombergs. Senator Bromberg met Swami Vivekananda and later subsidized Swami Paramananda. I never met him though he came to California when the ashram at La Crescenta was dedicated. He married a cousin of my father but died shortly before I came this way in 1930. His wife was very kind to me and one son acted as Treasurer for the Vedanta Center in Boston until he died. I met my other cousins a couple of hours last week and we hope to meet each other again. I may include a history of the Boston Center for a book in prospectus, “Vedanta Today.”

Writing: I am going over my Zen book and my memories so am keeping very busy. But I have had no mail lately and evidently letters sent to New York are not forwarded quickly. We are miles out of town on a highway near the beaches.

Please remember me to Beatrice.

Gloucester, Mass.

June 18, 1960

My dear John:

I am working now and because of that have failed to make diary entries. So I am going to pour off steam and let you have it.

I have, during the past weeks re-contacted old relatives and expect to meet others. This is in part for legal as well as social reasons. It gets me into contact with intellectual people and quite a few who are interested in gardening. On the whole you would find them congenial because of a number of mutual interests. In general they are quite opposed to experiments which involve fall-outs.

It is a curious thing that many intelligent people accept without question that “communists” are behind any staged protest. So they accept that those who paraded against the un-American Activities Committee were misled. But they themselves support or even participate in the protests against nuclear nonsense and would feel terrible if they were accused of participating in communist imbroglios.

In this neck of the woods—which it is—Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is very important. Her own program—which was on the Cultural TV station—came to an end last week. This means that she only appears on the regular national broadcasts so one does not see her more than twice as much as one sees Eisenhower or Nixon or Kennedy! She is apparently in alliance with strong forces at Harvard. You could hardly accuse that institutional of being “radical” but the fact is that almost every protest against the present Administration has either strong support or its fountain-head on the Cambridge Campus.

Kennedy is far and away ahead here but there are sound objections against him. The chief one is his father and if Nixon is nominated you bet this will be well aired. Everybody “loves” Stevenson but few want him, and the opinion is that he wants to be Secretary of State and there is little objection to him in this capacity. None of the candidates on the Democratic, otherwise, is popular and Nixon is not popular, but he can be running against an unpopular Democrat. Rockefeller lost ground from his talks on the air; he had a 2½ hour interview and he accused Nixon of being too indefinite and Adlai of being too definite and ended by appearing as more indefinite than anybody and everybody. So a great idol has fallen. The opinion is that he does not know where he stands himself.

This is pushing everything into a big fight coming up between the real intellectuals, egg-heads or not, and all the super-dupers who use either double-talk or something more complex. Last night at one of my cousins I said, “Your chief commentators, whom “everybody” admires, go to University commencements and say that “youth must be served” and it is up to the young graduates to take their places in public affairs. After which they go and accuse Nixon and Kennedy of being too young and inexperienced.”

And then they say that the trouble with the government of India is that there is no new blood, all the leaders are superannuated.

I said that this showed American madness and it is in line with the events in Japan. General, I mean G. I mean god, Mcgodthur—not only interfered with State Shinto (which was an upstart religion anyhow), but with Buddhism and everything not purely “Christian.” This caused inestimable chagrin. You can add our movies, our cheap literature and anything you object to, baseball accepted—and you can see what Asians think of us and why.

My audience had just heard Prime Minister Menzies at Harvard commencement and was unanimous that we have nobody in public life to compare with him in breadth, in knowledge, in forensic ability or in diplomatic approach. But Menzies cannot be President of the United States. So we are agreed that the U.S. is due for a few more knocks unless me ally ourselves with our allies and stop trying to lead them—and everybody else.

Changing the subject. I wrote Scott Tiller a long letter on the fine rocks around here—mostly granites with at least one smooth surface—fine for walls, patios and borders, to say no more. Too bad they can’t be shipped west.

Yesterday I also made my first visit to Arnold Arboretum and the Art Show on the Commons. The Art Show was by far the best I have ever seen, and as many as half a dozen impressed me as becoming potentially world-famous. I am not worried about the future of America in the Arts; I am in politics, in the Olympic Games and a few other things.

The Arboretum was not investigated by McCarthy and evidently Nixon hasn’t visited it. They exchange seeds and cuttings with even Poland, Russia and Czechoslovakia. Even China is not ruled out entirely. Their present concentration is on Pine cuttings in various media. They use a whole two year period. The cuttings are stratified and placed under refrigeration, and now they are out on the warm benches and will be kept so until late in the fall, then back to the ice-box and then next year ready for the bench. Thus they undergo near “natural” conditions.

They only work with woody plants, excepting incidentally. The floor is kept clear of all dead branches. In this way they have been able to eradicate the beetle which is the vector of Dutch Elm disease. They have, of course, a complete spray program. I hope to visit the place again and stay longer. It looks superficially like the Imperial Botanical Gardens.

My cousin Adolph paints and his wife Eva does rug weaving, which is excellent. I expect to meet one Charles Olson who is a poetry editor; he is the largest man I have ever met: a giant with considerable girth, something like Eric Nord in the build but even bigger!

Incidentally my young cousin Amy is coming to San Francisco soon. Horrors of Boston ancestry! She is interested in Zen, Henry Miller, Japanese meals and universal sociology! What is the younger generation coming to; thank God—also praise Allah!

Pukhtunistan Times

Editorial: This issue comes largely through the kind cooperation of my friend, Mr. Pundit, with his series of “The Pundit Spunned It.” Please read with patience.

The Pundit at Harvard: My young friends, it is time for you to become aware of the world and not only aware of the world but to take your part in it. You have ideas, ideals, idols and idylls, use them all. We older folks need you. We are caught in a rut. Especially in politics we need young blood, young inspiration, new outlooks. We older folks have messed it at summit meetings, at underground meetings, at all meetings. Youth must be served; we look to you. God bless you.

The Pundit on TV: I cannot express my opinions on the various candidates for presidency. They lack, as a whole, maturity. They have not had enough experience. They lack qualifications. They have not seen enough turmoil, suffering. Most of them have lived such easy lives, how can they lead. Where does wisdom come from? How does one obtain it? One cannot find the answer in the leading candidates for your presidency.

The Pundit on India: I know all about my own country. We have superannuated leaders. They are old men. They are caught in a mess and can’t get out. They don’t trust anybody under 60. Who is going to take their place? More old men? One fears for the future of India.

Puck on the Pundit: You know that song, “They’re either too old or too young.” Boy, we have it.

Haggard Haggerty; Puck doesn’t know anything about diplomacy. On landing in Japan he sent the Emperor a present. He also saw that the City of Tokyo got a present. Next thing, he was riding around in a Cadillac and treated with honors. He had not been briefed, and he never is brief anyhow. But somehow or other he got in. The “Intelligence” officials don’t believe. Puck is always writing that U.S. libraries are going to be mobbed or burned; he is spurned and they are burned, and even Eisenhower was not informed that the Mikado would rather trim shrubs than play golf.

Kennedy-Date: The Pope is going to conquer the United States. He makes Superman seem small. All the back Bay Irish are again’ Kennedy. They don’t like Papa; Papa does not like them. Puck is always afraid to call on His Holiness in Rome lest His Holiness be away at some meeting where he is being criticized and agreeing with his critics.

America wants good neighbor policy and freedom and democracy and no Catholic for high office. This makes friends but Puck is unable to find out with whom. Would somebody inform him, please?

Puck in Boston: denounced Nixon and said if he would have called on Archbishops he would not have been mobbed. The audience consisted mostly of Jews and they were unanimous that one should defer to Cardinals and Archbishops. Indeed Cardinal Cushing is always busy. Everybody knows that but U.S. Intelligence. The Jews are amenable to Cardinals, and so is Puck. Now, will the Catholics be?

June 23, 1960

My dear John:

It probably takes at least six days for mail to reach Gloucester—sometimes two days from Boston, because few trains carry mail or baggage. I have not heard from either the bank or my travel agent recently. I have overpaid my travel agent over a hundred dollars and he is over a month remiss in sending this back (over and above my passage to Beirut and/or Alexandria. I cannot understand this. He is a close friend of years’ standing.

Originally I gave him this money to purchase a ticket to Boston and to pay for hotels, which he did not—it was not an intentional overpayment.

Yesterday I visited Eliot Miller and his wife Shirley and son Henry (Hank) at 158 Thorndyke, Cambridge. I gave him your name and address. He is the grandson of a sister of my Grandfather Lewis, and son of Amelia Meyers Miller, mentioned in the will of Leo Davis. Actually our relationship is not too clear, for there were intermarriages, cross-marriages and re-marriages.

The voiding of recent wills and the use of terms “heirs or assigns” might change things. Or, he says, if his mother were alive at the time the will and testament was drawn up (going backwards) which is declared by the Court to be valid. If there is sufficient money he will be interested.

I did learn from him that Mrs. Annette Waterman was alive until recently. She was both the favorite and richest cousin of my father. I visited them in 1931 and both she and her husband, Abe, took umbrage at the way my father was treating me. Abe Waterman had been Vice-President of W. Strauss & Co., a successful brokerage firm. Before the depression he was a millionaire and later the family fortune was recovered. I tried to look up their son in New York and failed. But he, if alive, may have rejoined his mother in Bangor, Maine.

It is probable that I shall visit Bangor if I am not to leave the country until June. One of Mrs. Waterman’s brothers was the perennial Mayor of Bangor and another one visited Japan. She wanted me to contact them but with the family quarrels I was afraid to—then. If there are any Watermans or Kersteins in Bangor I may get a good “in.” Besides, now that you have the article from Japan, I may be able to hook Bangor up with the cities, which is part of my world tour.

At the moment I am waiting on the one hand for a financial report as above; and for confirmation from my cousins on the other. If they need my room over July 4 I may go to New York then as my purpose is chiefly to see friends and get more clothing. Then I’ll buy a New York-Bangor ticket with stopover at Boston, etc.

I think I have found a friend in each one of the family and each for different reasons. In general I have found the Harvard people psychological akin because they lean toward facts and more facts and not empty opinions or commendation. There is lots more in it than this.

I also have some wealthy or formally wealthy relatives around Boston whom I have not contacted.

I have still to visit the Arnold Arboretum in detail and go to the big Museum. The outdoor art show was by far the best I have seen. There is a vitality in many of the artists and in quite a few of the sculptors. I understand the same is true of kindred spirits—poets, dramatists, actors, but somehow or others busy schedules have inhibited this portion of my social life.

I am back on part-time employment here so that I am not incurring expected heavy expenses by staying around these parts. In fact I may even come out ahead.

It is the end of the Chrysanthemum planting season so we are going to lay out all the remainder in the field and grow them for cut flowers from this time on. There is some caretaking work here too. The weather is really fine (“What is so rare as a day in June!”). And I am enjoying both the scenery and people.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

June 29, 1960

Dear Jack:

I have just received your letter of the 18th which I am answering at once because of its timely factors, though I do not know when it will be mailed. I am staying with a cousin 9 miles from the fishing village of Gloucester, Massachusetts. I am helping him as he is a professional flower grower and I have some time before I leave the country.

He and several of his friends are interested in Zen. In general my younger generation relatives and co-relatives are also. But they are confused and especially by Alan Watts. Somewhere along the line I shall send you addresses and money (this is difficult here because so far from banks and post-offices).

I do not know that there is any course open but to join full forces with you. I visited Mrs. Farkas one night for this purpose but did not tell her. She remained over half an hour on the phone so I left. It is one thing to talk Zen or even practice meditation; it is another to understand oneness. It is oneness rather than meditation which was the supreme teaching of Roshis to me. And the same lesson came from Sufism, “You are not different and I am not different.”

Suzuki says that Zen is really Prajna, not meditation, but what is Prajna? Both on the Pacific and Atlantic Coast there are scores of young Americans repeating Prajna-Paramita Hridaya in Japanese and hardly anyone know what it is about. Senzaki’s great teaching to me was Hridaya, but what is that? One repeats the story of the Roshi rubbing two bricks together. “I am making a mirror.” “How can you make a mirror by rubbing bricks together?” “Much easier than becoming a Buddha by meditation.” They learn the story, they overlook the wisdom.

On account of the International Situation I have written one version of “Through the Gateless Gate” covering some episodes of my Japanese trip. I am going to try at least two more versions to see which sounds the best. But I must tell you in confidence that I was more impressed by Kegon than by any other sect. For Kegon is integrative and unifying.

Today this country is filled with psychological problems. Perhaps the whole world is. Only the Buddha faced the subject of the cause of suffering and followed through to the last detail. We want to be “nice.” The Southern Buddhists confuse the finite and infinite; as soon as one had a single meditation on any phase of infinity, if not before, he must experience transformation—whether he is aware of nirmanakaya or not.

Of course esoteric Buddhism is vital in Japan. There are far more visitors to Koyasan than to the Zen places. Buddha did not abolish the Hindu dharma; he sought to rectify it. In Kegon and Shingon there are numerous Indian elements and there is respect for India which the Theravadins do not always have. Furthermore, how can we omit Milarepa?

As to Japanese methods, I saw more Zen in Shin-shu than in some people who think they have some sort of Zen. Thus Flower Arrangement, Tea Ceremony, Noh dramas, to say nothing more—and there is much more.

In my Karuna Yoga Gita I have already put your theme into poetry, utilizing the character of Sri Ramakrishna and it begins with a colloquy between Sri Ramakrishna and Maitreya. I do not know whether I have any extra copies and I see little time for typing it over until I shall be on the high seas.

I do not know when I am leaving though I long ago paid, and overpaid for my passage. I may visit Bangor, Maine, where they are distant relatives and some interest in Japan. I can’t tell at the moment.

As Soto was explained to me, the essential difference between this sect and Rinzai, and in another sense from other sects, is that they claim to have a Buddha-, Dharma- and Sangha-transmission. As Rinzai and pseudo-Zen is taught in the United States there is no Sangha and very little Dharma. Theravada hangs on to a Dharma or dhamma which is very incomplete. I can prove that in many ways but do not wish to.

Kegon also claims the transmissions but put emphasis on Dharma and Buddha himself put emphasis on “Dharma.” “When I go I leave you the Dharma.” I should say that this is the essential point of your letter and I don’t think it can be overemphasized.

But we have intellectual dharma; then vjjnana-dharma, then prajna-dharma, which is the full thing. Only prajna is not only transcendentalist, it is realist. It is here, it is now, it is in all things.

I shall try soon to send you another article on “The Gateless Gate and Friendship with Japan” or on the need to derive psychological wisdom from Buddhist writings. At the moment I am out of touch with Pali books, but consider the scriptures as a unit from Dhammapada to Wei Lang.

No doubt, now that they have discovered the world and the world has discovered them, there may be a Theravadin awakening. I found little knowledge at the Ceylon Embassy and Consulates—much more with the Burmese, but it is the Singhalese who are publishing (we hope) the Encyclopedia.

I have an idea: “The Derivative and the Integral—Newton and

Buddha.”

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Dear folks:                                              `                                               July 9, 1960

This is really a diary entry written in New York. I came down on personal business and had the very unifying experience of finding my sailing date cancelled for the third time. I do not know whether there is any Saturnine influence in my horoscope—have not heard of it—but it may be that Providence just does not want me to sail on the line intended. So I telephoned Rudolph Olsen in San Francisco and it seems he had not been notified, had a receipt for my passage and could not understand it. As soon as I completed my business I got ready to go to Boston again, when something intervened which my friend and room-mate Bill Hathaway rather intuited. As it is pleasant and important I write about it below; indeed that is the reason for my diary-entry.

The first thing I did when coming here was to go down to Seventh St. to call on the Stices. They were not in at the moment owing to Bob’s mother being around but when I got back I found a note saying they wanted to see me. We did go to dinner and then down to the Village and had quite a nice evening. They are both more spiritually minded than I expected but I under-played my cards there and with the next folks. We parted around 10 and they suggested I call on Dorothy and Rick which I did.

Whereas Adeline and Bob look wonderful, Rick and Dorothy look bad. They are both so physically weak that they are unable to work. I almost feel something like leukemia. At the same time they are caught in certain almost superstitions. These folks, like the Stices, believe in Organic Gardening, are against sprays, artificial everything, etc. But they are not eating meat and I am wondering if they carry their ideas to a phobia. For the Stices look handsome and wonderful, talk extremely sane and you would never believe they had been under therapy. The Blackhursts are very different, as if a rug had been pulled under them and you can’t do much. I did succeed in offering them certain exercises. I could not go further without inducting them into Sufism which I did not feel could or should be done now. I am offering no propaganda. I did mention the various Yoga schools and the Zendo. The difference is that the Sufis have more breathing and disciplinary exercises without involving contortions.

I have been preparing my trip with few affiliations. The chief of these is “The Friends of the World.” Their leader in this country is one William Hughes Jr. of this City who is on the diplomatic corps of the U.N. He is a man I can look up to morally, and I have seen no reason not to give him full cooperation and service. By his efforts he has had me contact one Mrs. Sparkman who is the top organizer in some of the schemes with which I have been working.

I had just changed my plans to take a later bus to Boston this morning when Mrs. Sparkman rang—long distance—asking if I could meet her at Columbia University at noon. Mrs. Sparkman is working for a degree in philosophy, studying Dewey under Professor Blau there. The first thing she put up was the Deweyian thesis that a man is what he does, not what he is. As it is so obvious that I am a doer a whole lot of pleasant things followed.

Now I have run the gaff of a lot of criticisms and some of them are at least partially true. Analyzed I do not stand up too well, with a loud ego and questionable mannerisms. But the strange thing is that the criticisms are put at me on the ground that they are out of place in diplomacy. There is no question that they are out of place in something called “diplomacy” which is actually confined to the mere externals of international social decorum. I do not know of a single accomplishment and I have not found out a single accomplishment in international matters which has resulted from a change of ego and external appearance toward this theoretic conformity. This does not mean that I must not make some alterations in my approaches towards Americans and Europeans, but I am disgusted with the constant reminders by Occidentals that Orientals will not like certain behaviorisms when it is the Occidentals that are constantly failing.

Last night I read a newspaper man’s account of Burma which is palpably untrue. He followed the usual and reports that tourists are not particularly welcome in Burma. This is nothing but the guff, and I can almost call it smut-nonsense that leads to the burning of UNIS libraries and anti-American riots. Communism has nothing to do with it.

Khrushchev got a welcome in Burma because he put on a long (traditional Burmese clothing). This is something we simply can’t do. I wore kimonos occasionally in Japan, and long occasionally in India and Pakistan and they beat “striped trousers” and all the nice nonsense a thousand-fold. We shall have to see a few more American press agents mobbed before we correct ourselves.

The next thing I showed in Burma was that I was quite acquainted with the history of Lord Buddha. We teach this very superficially in our courses on something called “Buddhism” offered by intellectuals who have the proper degrees. We do not permit such men to teach Christianity or Judaism in the schools without valid training. When a Burmese finds you know something of historical Buddhism you are most welcome—nothing to it.

Well, Mrs. Sparkman with her Dewey approach that a man is what he does, fell in with me—and I with her. Our differences were on our organizational activities. She wants to be part of a clearing-house; I want a clearing-house to report to. She wants certain types of accomplishments by Americans; I want to do those very things. We are both close to Chester Bowles in our ideas as to how to deal with Russians. Bowles succeeded but the State Department, both at UNESCO and in Washington has avoided the Bowlesian philosophy. Thus the doors are closed to the American executives, and open for Russians.

We spent some time going over my projects, all of which she warmly approved, and not once did I have to present my deeper credentials. The actions were important. On my dearest project she reacted warmly. It is a plan which has been accepted by every Asian I have met of every country, but usually falls flat with Americans: They want foreigners to be either like them, or their conceptions; if they are not, something is wrong with the foreigner, but I never met many people who behaved like the conceptions of somebody else. We not only went over my projects one by one, but we must meet again with Mr. Hughes and perhaps with more important people before I leave.

At her suggestion I called on Prof. Blau of the Philosophy Department. Here I “cheated” slightly by presenting myself as a pupil of Cassius Keyser. I have been too successful in putting this point over in California; Keyser was, to me, one of the greatest minds of all times. I have been asked to write a paper on “Newton and Buddha” embodying integral methods of East and West. I talked to Blau about the integral approach waiting East and West and he accepted it fully. He was very glad to know that I like Charles Fabres who is the specialty at this time of the Philosophy Department at Columbia along with Dewey. But I must interject here that being Pragmatists they are interested in what you do much more than what you are. We agreed that the old analytical methods had been run to earth, and were useless in real communications with exotic people. You have to be able to appreciate a totally difference psychology.

Prof. Blau has been slightly successful in getting himself accepted in India and we agreed that I may mention his name and methods before the Philosophy Departments of the Universities which have extended invasions. He is moving to California next year and has invited me to visit him at Claremont. I have not been successful with this Institution, but I think the weight I may bring back will compel notice. You just do not make friends with Asians by accepting their intellectual sides. I did not tell Prof. Blau that although many Asians, and particularly Indians, have appeared as exchange Professors, they do not return with the enthusiasm we always expect of them. There has been too much of our traditional, analytical protocol. I think this is disappearing, though slowly.

He also asked me to contact the University of Minnesota which I already esteem, and Yale, which I do not esteem and will not at this time. (Not with Northrup).

These interviews were enough for one day.

July 30, 1960

Cambridge

Dear Harry:

I am in another of my fools-for-luck series. Come down to Cambridge to call at Harvard and look up a family connection. I found the party living very close by the campus. This has saved wear and tear. That made it possible to go to the Arboretum Friday Afternoon instead of Saturday. And it was well that I did. In the first place they changed their house an July 1 and in the second place it is now raining. I have been caught and good-but at least there are taxi-cabs all over, and in the Arboretum. Well, you may know the feeling of walking in the forest alone or going into a cemetery alone. But to walk through a huge park, everything clean and meet hardly any persons or hear any birds is a curious experience.

I left your inquiry at the office. The secretary told me that there would be no charge and indeed they are organized to render such a service.

So I popped ever to the Viburnum section, but off the beaten path. They do not have many regular walks but here and there are paths, evidently for the gardeners and caretakers. Still the labels are on the trees. I did not try to follow the calendar program but sought out the Viburnum section. I should say it takes about four visits to get a good picture of the place.

I do not find my tree notes. The back of the section has some very tall and stately Oaks, with Hickories in between and here and there an Ash. Some of the Oaks on the place are in excellent condition and could be photographed as fine specimens.

Outside of wild flowers there was not too much below and I did not go to the Tamarisks or Silk Trees which are supposed to be in bloom or near the section where the Rosacea shrubs are, However, the “empty” spaces are filled with Crabs and Hawthorns, almost every variety.

I concentrated on the Viburnum and am glad I did. The Azaleas and Rhodies did not impress me at all. There was one Sorbus aria salifolia which is an open small tree and in fine shape. Near it was a hybrid Sorbaronia alpina superoria, which was good for a small tree. Generally, however, the adaptation from Alpine regions did not always do too well. Climate is not enough.

(Incidentally I have read a book on Portugal in which it states that the grapes for Port White must be grown on Schists and if grown on Granites come out very badly.)

Before I come to the Viburnum section I saw an Elaeagnus multiflora, which seemed to belie its name. Near it was Symplocos paniculata, a large shrub or small tree called “Asiatic Sweet Leaf.” I tasted the Leaves but got no effect. And incidentally very much of the plants all over the place seem to have come from Asia.

The first Viburnum I saw was V. plicatum rosea and it impressed me so much that I felt you should see you get it. It had masses of wonderful red fruit, and is about 10” high. (Incidentally the color schemes of the whole section were very harmonious and generally there was a definite pattern of green-yellow, cardinal red—and then dark berries.

Next to it was V. scarbellum, an open shrub, not in good condition because of pests. I did not see many pests and no diseases. This was the worst in this respect.

Then V. opulus, Northcutt. This was changing color but was an excellent specimen with fine foliage.

V. setigerum auromatica, would make a good hedge. About 10’ tell with a mass of thin bamboo-like stems.

V. lantana was about 5’ and a hedge variety. Next to it V. lobophyllum which had more stems. And more copse-like.

V. rhytidophylloides, a hybrid, large copse shrub. This has leaves of a good texture and rather impressed me as a good garden shrub.

V. lentago, has, as its name indicates, round fruits. It is a very large shrub, with many branches and small fruit. They were in a green state which indicated that they probably bloom and fruit latest then most other varieties.

V. prunifolium is well named, and is called “Blackhaw Viburnum,” grows to about 12’ and can be trimmed to a hedge or wounder.

V. rafinesquianum affini, 10-12’, very rounded full shrub. Saw two specimens, imposing but saw not fruit on them. (In going around one cannot determine which varieties are sterile and which are still too young to fruit. A snap conclusion could be that the large ones are sterile and the small may be too young)

V. molle lerophyllum, has teethed leaves, very round shrub, up to 10’, from Kentucky. V. hirtulum also to 10’ but speeds with more.

V. rufidulum is quite large, up to 20’ and spreading. It looks like a fruit free. At this time the drupes were green.

V. plicatum, Japanese Snowball V., low spreading, with very rough and saw-toothed leaves. A specimen not an ornamental.

V. sieboldii, The one they have is an excellent specimen, very tall and in excellent health but not many berries. (Maybe it is “for the birds.”)

V. erubescens, small, spreading and I do not know where it got this name. Did not impress, Then another V. lantana, about 6’ compact, and in excellent shape, with berries in all four colors at this time.

V. pubescens,very spreading, growing to 12” and thick foliage, compact.

V. dentatum pubescens, variety of Arrow-wood V., 10’, spreading, not compact, with highly toothed leaves.

V. lantana rugosa, This variety much more impressive than V. lantana. Excellent leaf formation, foliage, and habit. Recommend for small shrub up to 6’.

V. lobophyllum, 10-12’, unequal growth, straggly, Not recommended.

V. erubescens, a second one, also small and in poor health. It comes from the Himalayas, and evidently belongs to high levels only.

V. opulus rosea, 5’, poor specimen, Open, V. bitchiuense, 8’ very open and no fruit.

V. lobophyllym, this was a small spreading, low shrub, not in good shape at all, but it had dark leaves and might be a good tree to grow for seeds and hybridation experiments.

V. hirtulum, to 10’ full, spreading with heavy leaves.

V. cassinoides, “White” variety with lighter colored, smooth leaves. 10’ and very spreading. Would need lots of room.

V. plicatum mariense, 6-8’, spreading, with large round leaves, Has beautiful red berries which were beginning to turn black.

I think that about covers what I saw. Possibly small errors in typing or taking notes. The area is laid out for study, not for landscaping. But here and there I did see them make use of the rock formalities about with I have written.

After that study I just walked, relaxed. But I did see a ground cover, Teucrium chamaedrys prostrata or Dwarf Chamaedys. It has continual flowers, with small pink blossoms and might be investigated. There were some good Vincas but I did not take notes.

Well, Harry, that about covers it, I am to sail on August 12^th now, barring no further inhabitations. I learned a good deal about the Chrysanthemum Program. Last work was to pot all the cuttings and to the cuttings from rare varieties. You have a job-to see that the public gets the types it wants. To see that there are contrasts—and at the other extreme, to see you do not run out of rare plants. Did not have time to run around the State looking at nurseries. My relatives too busy and they also needed me on the grounds. Ten green thumbs and nary a muscle in the cranium!. But I liked it.

I see the possibility of more complete books both on Mums and Rhodies as a result of travels but not now. Flowers in this region all have strong colors, no pastels. Some weeds and wild flowers the same here. The stores are advertising controls for witch Grass, but darn it, what native grasses do they have? It is raining so I am in typing. Next letter, don’t know where or how.

Cordially,

I have found additional notes

Hamamelis vernalis was growing around the administration building. It was wide-spreading, covering a large area. It had large leaves but they we attacked by bugs and I found pests on them.

M. soulangeana, v. Bromini. I have never seen such strong types. They were 20’ tall, but differed from trees in that there was no trunk or leader. The very heavy boughs separated down near the base. Sometimes these boughs are so heavy that they have to be pruned—this was done apparently just a few days before I left and properly painted. The cuts showed very large boughs, I should say over a foot across. At this season they function like shade trees.

Back to Viburnums

V. erosum was about 6’ compact, but no berries. V. dilatatum, the linden Viburnum, only about 3’ and not healthy. And just V. [?] Variety, called Fragrant Viburnum, had no barriers and the leaves were already turning to fall coloration. I think the plant is sick.

V. judd or Judd’s Hybrid, small, compact, 3’, no berries.

V. dilatum was a compact shrub with rough leaves and heavy fruit, but the colors were not so bright as on a number of others.

V. macrocephalum, good, 3’, open.

V. opulus variegata. This was a most interesting type for two reasons:

a. The leaves were a mottled light greenish, rather than green color as if they were threatening to turn white or yellow or even reddish. So the shrub was decidedly a contrast type.

b. The leaves were shaped rather like a trident maple. But reminded one a little of sassafras, in that they often varied greatly in shape, but still tended to look like an Acer—however they are alternation.

I think you should try to have this also and one wonders whether it might not be used to produce interesting hybrids.

At the moment I am not in any mood to “argue” over other subjects. It was droll to find myself living on Cape Ann where the people are either Roman Catholic (Irish, French Canadians, Italians) or else “modernists”—and Cabet lodge is their neighbor—while the rival Cape Cod has nothing but blue-bleeds and blue-noses and Kennedy lives there! My visits to Harvard brought about two new important commissions, which is about as much as I can carry. My personal reasons for coming to Cambridge brought a strange immediate response—the party I have been seeking for years, has an office only a few blocks from the inn where I am stopping!

Cambridge, Mass,

July 31, 1960

My dear Charles:

My greatest difficulty has been to get suitable time to write these and not just notes like those of a diary. I left Gloucester to come to Cambridge mostly to visit Harvard. But I also had, let us say, social obligations, chiefly centered in a search for a woman. I had met this woman but once in life but her life “socially” ran in the same group and with the same individuals. Ant I found her, of all things, a few blocks away from Brattle Inn where I am saying. So whether it is guidance or intuition, we often accomplish things “in the dark” which may really be “in the light.”

It was the same with other things. I originally intended to visit Arnold Arboretum this morning. But a “hunch” made me go to it yesterday and found that they had changed their hours recently. My business was accomplished and just as I returned home and was speaking to the inn-keeper the phone rang—it was a call for me to visit the Swami and as my “Saturday” morning business was through the time-schedule has worked out perfectly. For the rest of my hours are filled with dates.

I think I wrote you that the Ramakrishna Mission was finished in Boston by a man who married a cousin of my father. His son continued as treasurer but is dead. The brother is out of town and the sister, who has been most hospitable, had to go away. I have in the back of my mind a book “Vedanta today.” It was interesting to me that the secretary there has reached some of the same views I have but I wish to be as objective as possible and not resign myself to views.

My Harvard business was completed as the Professors, who want to see me, are traveling and I am traveling. Professors have beautiful secretaries with brains. This is a compromise to Washington where embassies have beautiful secretaries and the serious departments have them with brains. On the campus they are combined.

Prof. Reischauer is in Japan again. Prof. Slater, who is important to me, is in Canada. He is starting a School for Religious Studies which will be the real thing. Both students and teachers will be selected. As far as the Far East is concerned, Reischauer has a Japanese and Chinese assistant and the Japanese is also an expert on “Indian Buddhism.” The idea will be to import of have validated all persons who will be speaking. There will be none of that hog-wash nice personality stuff with has characterized the West Coast and misled so many of our people.

There is some interest in Zen around Gloucester, but there is terrible hostility to Alan Watts. He is blamed for Kerouac, Ferlinghetti and Snyder. In the first place Gloucester is full of poets and painters who are not always on good terms with others of their craft. Vincent Ferrini is one of the closest friends of my cousin Adolph and was the first man I met through him, I think we understand each other thoroughly.

He thinks Kerouac has done incalculable harm and also thinks that Snyder’s apparent use of Orient and transcendental terms is utter nonsense and leads to nothing but confusion. This view was shared by others that I met.

The possibility for establishing a Zendo depends on we season. In the summer the persons involved are ever-busy and in the winter they are under-busy. So the winter is devoted to creative work. I did find a great deal of undercurrent “absolute” honesty, nothing like that which is preached, but very, very real.

I also met one Harry Shore who has the same eye-formation as my friend Elsa Gidlaw, and many of the same outlooks in life. Mary has a wealthy husband and we were half-serious, half-joking about her touring Asia with me.

Be General my stories evoked hostility among the adults and attraction among the young. The unusual perhaps is a cause of jealousy or else it brings out the ego. But the majority of people I met were outdoor types, or else the youth hostel groups and there was over-congenialness. Among these was one Donna Oehm from San Francisco. I mention her name. She has been in the Orient several times and between this and our native habitat we understood each other all through. She has been in the travel bureau business. She wants people to visit “real places” and not just tourist attractions. So she outlined something for my future.

The above, combined with the political conventions, makes me feel that we need more and more honest channels of communication. I had to write a lot more in my memoirs and will complete my “Incense for Roshis” in New York before I leave. Then I have in the back of my mind “Vedanta for today.”

Everywhere we utilize the word instead of the process. This has led to a distinction between the “scientific” and literary” outlooks. But I am going to preach it as the difference between the “non-dualistic and “dualistic” approaches. Even people who like to think of themselves as non-dualists make grave distinctions between personalities. Instead of self-development, we have “politic choices” in metaphysical and spiritual matters. But again, instead of being angry, this is opportunity.

Health is excellent because of outdoor work. Do not know whether I shall write again before leaving. This probably on August 12^th. My address until that time will be:

c/o E.W. Hathaway

350 E. 76^th St.

New York 21, N.Y.

After that c/o U.S. Embassy, Cairo, unless I write otherwise.

Am making a copy of this for Della.

Tell Seth that Gloucester has many aspects like an extended Sausalito. More fishing, but the whole wharves, abandoned waterfront line, artists and “arty” things all over the place. Chief difference is that the barbers thrive, lots of them and only saw one or two “beatnik-looking people.”

Regards.

August 7, 1960

My dear Vocha:

This will probably be my last letter before sailing; I do get additional mail I may not answer except in emergency, until I am on board. There are still nine days before I leave and the one big problem of marketing my manuscripts. I have been given contradictory suggestions, but fortunately do not depend on sales.

My writing has stressed more and more the battle between the “scientific” and “literary” cultures, or the professors against the fourth estate. I am quite determined and lopsided here. There has been the intense satisfaction of finding that the Ford Foundations selected as the three tops just the three universities with which I have projects, viz, California, Columbia and Harvard. The other university, Ohio State, I shall consider separately. The battles of the past are essentially over and the recent events here in new York have brought intense personal satisfaction. Many of my plans have been substantially altered, but we won’t go into that.

Prof. Blau, of Columbia, has written on the history of American philosophy. He acts as if a person is what he does and pays no attention to the valid or invalid “credentials” which mark certain circles. He is coming to Claremont and I hope you can visit him some day. While I used Cassius Keyser to begin with we discussed Royce, James, Peirce, Reiser, the New England tradition and he gave me further contacts or suggestions.

My other ventures into Columbia received corroboration for the things that are connected with Ohio state. I skip all of them but the immediate. Plans to bring Tomatoes into new lands received some good jolts. I had to do a lot of work with those plants in Massachusetts. The other day I went to the New York Horticultural Society to look up perennial Tomatoes. Nothing has been done of late—at least the last 20 years. Then the next day a magazine came out “solving” this problem and I leave fully encouraged.

As usual the interviews with scientists have been in every case most cordial and the gap between the scientists and those who speak in their name remains. I am not going into this further as I have two Harvard projects, one scientific and the other in the field of comparative religion.

There has been tremendous stimulation here, The Harvard outlook is now only for actual representatives of actual religions to lecture thereon. There will be no more European and other “interpreters” getting in the way between direct communication between actual or approved representatives, and the students themselves. There will be no “authorities.” The bishop represents his church. The Tillichs are over in philosophy and will stay there.

There was some interest in Zen in Massachusetts, especially with my cousin Adolph and his closest friends. These despite Ferlinghetti, Snyder, Kerouac in the extreme and blame Alan Watts for it whether he is to be blamed or not. I am trying to get them in touch with actual Zen representatives. My god daughter Dorothy, and her husband David, have visited the Zendo here and David definitely wants to join. In my manuscript, now completed, I repeat the praise of Sokei-an and contentedly set up meditation practice against any and all literature and explanation including my own.

I am living with my friend Bill Hathaway. Our relation has long been as if we were brothers in some former lives with me the elder brother. There are no signs that this was not so. I have never met anybody with whom I have so willingly shared. I night “like” a thousand people better, but we seem to be part of each other rather than friends. His parents long accepted this if they did not suggest it originally.

When I was here early in 1957 Bill presented ETC. to me and “Linguistics” edited by Prof. Austerlitz of Columbia. I felt then that Austerlitz supplied the missing link of my criticism of Hayakawa and even more of Rappaport. I kept on reading Austerlitz’ works and felt a strange rapport. Last night I was invited to a party where he was the guest of honor.

The biggest block between Bill and me has been what I call ”the gripes of wrath”—that I have certain gripes and even get angry about them. He felt unnecessarily.

We arrived at the party late and it was being entirely dominated by a man I shall call “Oscar” because he acted like Levant. He dominated all conversation and everything else. He was a newspaperman, reporter and writer on “the Orient!” He criticized no end every person I admired and went off on a long tirade in favor of Heyerdahl and Kon-Tiki. He said that was the greatest scientific contribution of the age.

In the midst of his address, Austerlitz came in. Oscar stopped. “Who are you?” and paid no attention to the answer. It was Austerlitz’ party.

Later on he attacked all Germans and my friend Bill crossed with him. I said nothing. This went on ad-nauseam and while Austerlitz was away escorting some of the girls home I departed.

After that there was a brawl in which Bill and Oscar actually came to fisticuffs and Austerlitz took up a chair and brained Oscar. Oscar is in “Who’s Who” and thinks he knows everybody yet was begging for a job or assignment. Bill came in very late. This morning he said: “Sam, I owe you an apology. I can now understand your gripes.”

For Oscar was the very incarnation of everything I have been opposing—false and colored news, false and colored Oriental Philosophies. Misinformation, labels, etc. etc. It was gratifying that the really great scientists present took an even dimmer view. I might, of course, have thrown weight but I would give Oscar no hint of my travels. He although Jew and professional one, could go in and out of any country—that was fact: but he was sure I would come to an evil end if I ever tried. I could say nothing of my contacts here at all levels. But with bill realizing that there is substance behind the gripes and the fact that he actually met a specimen in the flesh has overcome a needless gap between us. I see no success for us in world affairs until we minimize all news reporters even those we seem to like; and maximize some of our “eggheads” who are honest and objective.

New York 21, N.Y.
August 7, 1960

My dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith:

It looks as if, at long last, I shall leave the country. There has been a strange enigma about my departure, that the line on which I was originally to sail changed the date of departure three times, twice without notifying me. Instead I am going on a freighter at much less cost and in somewhat more rapid time. This enigma seems to support the existence of a Spirit of Guidance or Divine Wisdom, for certainly I depart without much of the equipment originally intended, and with much more intensified in other directions.

Originally I visited Harvard University about two months ago, I guess, and a long distance call brought a cousin down pronto. He is a professional flower grower, with some 30 acres of land, largely devoted to being a camp site. So I spent much time in the greenhouse and on the grounds, going through all the processes in Chrysanthemum raising and many with Tomato raising. Thus, instead of having to bear any financial burdens, the delay has not hurt me.

Bank of America. I have left my affairs in their hands. I purposely went down to the office which was formerly on Wall St. and now on Broad St. The ease with which I obtained transfer of funds is so wonderful that perhaps I may now write a pamphlet, “Depositor, I” covering many types of experiences. On my second visit I met the man who had serviced me previously. This was partly done to experience types of operations. The final one comes when some currencies will be purchased on the open market.

Universities. I am leaving the country with extreme satisfaction. Ford Foundation has selected, in particular, those universities which seem to me to be outstanding in so many respects, viz.: Harvard, Columbia and U. C. I go away carrying two projects for Harvard and one for Columbia. One Harvard project concerns archeological research in that part of the world—Indus Valley and Hindu Kush where, other things being equal, I may be staying the longest.

The second is in the field of religious study on an honest objective ground—which is not yet true for most of the country. I have been in this field all my life, although not always openly. Correspondence with Bishop Pike has resulted in his request to see me on my return with two projects:

a. Opening a branch of World Congress of Faiths in California.

b. Battle against the exceedingly off-beat “morality” of our movies and fiction on sale abroad.

The Columbia contact was perhaps easy because my grand teacher in both Mathematics and Philosophy was the late Prof. Cassius Keyser. (He also taught Korzybski, the general semanticist.) His pupils are around. There was a strong meeting of minds in the combination of the Integral and Pragmatic outlooks and against any and all dialectics.

Prof. Blau is coming to Claremont, California soon and I mention his name because he is now the standard authority on the history of American philosophy.

Supporting the United States. All the professors I have contacted are sympathetic with the approach of advertising the United States and not referring to Russia at all. I have a grand portfolio with excerpts from many of the New England poets which I hope to read abroad. And with that also present the names, at least, of some of our philosophers, mostly from Harvard and some contemporaries who are not so well known and should be known abroad.

Tomatoes. Of course my main endeavors will be in more scientific fields. This subject as taken up at length in Ohio and in addition to the universities mentioned above I also carry seeds and open doors to correspond with Ohio State University.

This last week I again ran into another strange piece of luck. Went down to the New York Horticultural Society to look up the possibility of a perennial Tomato, especially for India. I have been offered acreage there; and in addition to work on flowers have just had a good drilling in actual greenhouse and field work on this crop.

The Tomato was originally a perennial. Yesterday I received a letter from the Society telling me of successful experiments to grow a perennial and it is now on the market. This is one of the things we can bring to India and East Pakistan especially, where the temperatures fit the optimum range. But I shall probably begin with it in the UAR.

Near East. I only carry a Lebanon visa along with that of the UAR at the moment. But the last weeks have brought much encouragement on a project to introduce C. libani, the Cedar of Lebanon, into this country for both experimental purposes and as a contribution to every town in the United States with the name of “Lebanon” to further better international relations.

Massachusetts seems to have more cultured people than elsewhere. There are not only many universities but the total enrollment is stupendous. My family and social contacts did bring me into the orbit of people who have been pretty close to both Kennedy and Lodge, so I learned many intimacies. However, leaving the country, only the positive elements will be presented to foreigners. I discountenance the opposition to Kennedy on the ground of age. We forget how young both the elder and younger Pitt were when they began Prime Ministers; but otherwise I am leaving politics behind. In general the young minds in Massachusetts show greater capabilities than elsewhere, certainly far more than in New York. The War and the TV have broken down provincialism and accents.

Asia. I was also fortunate in meeting, while at my cousin’s, a Youth Hostel leader who comes from Ceylon and has offered to be my guide and interpreter. Much of the rest of life has been of the same order.

Publication. This has been my difficulty and I am not going into it. Newspaper interviews have so often brought a rejection of the true yet unusual. These things go on and Asians in general cannot understand, or will not accept, a strange subjectivity—in a Nation really dedicated to the practical and pragmatic.

With kindest regards to you both,

Samuel L. Lewis

Marland House Pension

16 Sharia Kamal Eddine Salah,

Kasr el Doubara, Cairo, UAR.

August 9, 1960

Dear Fred and Corinne,

This is a sort of autobiographical note before departure, by which you can evaluate the terms of my journey in any way you see first, or, at my return, check to see the correctness of it by what may be accomplished. Let me say here, that there seems to be a Spirit of Guidance far more over-compelling than the ego, which compels even more than impels changes. This compulsion, to use a word, works for freedom whereas the word “impulsion” does not. Copies are being sent to Hugo and Luise; if you do write to me, please let it be on whether either is well, or has left this world. I am not asking you any favor of telling me trouble or successes when you may not have time.

Perhaps to begin with I am compelled to eat my monistic approach for I find it harder and harder to delineate between different departments of life and the overemphasis of any, especially the social-economic, repels me to the extent that I can find no fault with those persons who have withdrawn entirely from the political disturbances. Right here it seems that those persons who emphasize “political” are off the beam, for they are demanding everything in such terms. One has just as much right to demand everything in chemical terms (which might justify a sure materialism), or in psychological or even in the narrow sense, the sexual side of psychology, which I also reject because of its restrictions. In other words “ni Marx, ni Freud” by which I don’t mean that at all, but the universalizing of narrow labels.

For the sake of communication I am going to select subject-matter and also bear in mind your interests.

Psychological Situations. I have been reading Malinowski whom I find rather subjective, but differing from Marx and Freud in that this subjectivity is needed to bring balance and objectivity. It must have been done purposely. The discovery of Radium shows that the odd provides the norm. I think this is true everywhere and the “odd” (to us) in Malinowski has provided some norms which are slowly but surely penetrating the mass mind.

The noisy problems of the present, like the election campaign, Congo, U-2 and Cuba, have such tremendous psychological factors that I am unable to view them other than indifferently politically. As a nation we have come to accept and love noise and we’re trying to impose noise on others without considering that they may react differently to it that we do. Forces are born in the midst of it, grow up with it and it has become our second nature. Other people are not so imbued with noise, activity, hard work, gadgeteering and de-naturalism, and many strong reactions and rebellions arise from the unconscious. I am sure.

I had my favorite cousin out last night and was pleased to find far more agreement than I dared let her know at the moment. Her father was related to both my parents. He was at least 90% Jewish, a rover, adventurous, free in his outlooks and conventions and the older boy follows him in much of this. The mother was a German Lutheran and on daughter follows her to the extent that she married a friend of Chang Kai Check. These strange polar inconsistencies are found all over in my kin and lead to a spirit of unsettledness. An equilibrated state between them, however desirable, seems hard to find.

I am purposefully going into other lands with other customs and outlooks, differing from Malinowski in that all of them are presumed to have reached high cultural levels. They will be and are unanimously critical of the U.S. and if left alone, could be still more critical of the U.S.S.R., but we can’t leave them alone.

Repose is our great lack and I believe that repose itself is the depository of a corrective wisdom. Here again Providence has intervened. In the last few years I have taken on the role of god-father, even fairy god-father. It has not, on the whole, been successful. But is has brought to New York some of my “children” and in their cases not only extreme good-will and affection but latent yearnings of the exact same time I have had—and perhaps you have had—for Oriental and “spiritual” teachings. This is extremely satisfying.

I often wonder, if after years, Jo Anne will not show up with outlooks desired but not expressed, and bring a new type of joy. I guess Karin is too big for our egos to circumvent, but if we can get a long range, it may turn out most satisfactory.

Horticulture. I am not going to make a lengthy report. There are innumerable signs of success and progress, which belong almost entirely in two classes: (a) what was accomplished through introductions by others; (b) what sudden activities, suggested by immediate environment proposed. The ego-planned projects have been overwhelmed by them and I leave most optimistical.

But I report this because most of the projects themselves are of a nature that the fruits of the forthcoming trip could be placed in your hands, if, as and when, God willing, you obtain the Schloss Estate, or any portion thereof. I am equally sure I have surprises and almost as equally sure that the trip will present new vistas and crops that might be tried.

Universities. I have had two big gripes which have not always brought me much cordiality in the past, and both of them have by-passed trivial, controversial personalities. Both were related to subjective opinions being paramount to objective communication. The word communication connotes an active and passive group, but I find that all-in-all the press, radio, most magazines, the romantic movement, and religion in general presume an active, loving group A, pouring it over and at an inchoate mass B, sometimes even called “mass” and not existing of you and me and he and she and thee. This is not communication to me, but propaganda.

The Ford Foundation has reached severally the opinion that the three universities with which I have relations outside the actual sciences—U.O., Columbia and Harvard—are the most deserving. There is a long history here, and this giving of grants came shortly after I had concluded by personal interviews.

Comparative Religion. In the case of Harvard the last effort was in regard to a new school dedicated to this subject wherein the teachers will not be persons who derived their knowledge from books, lectures from opinions, but who have had both experiences and non-academic credentials stemming from the parent-group of whatever the subject matter is. This will be most marked in the case of Sufism. Anyhow I gave a strong report to Roland Cammons who is a close friend of Leland Stewart and he is very satisfied. I shall be able to help Leland on another plane when I return provided he is still in California. There is much more here but we spare details.

I only wish to sell to your attention that statistically there are now and there have always been more Sufis than Zen Buddhists, Yogis, mystics and esotericists of all other schools combined; and, despite opinionated professors to the contrary, and still more, they convey positions of trust in many governments, particularly new ones. The omission here of a large portion of humanity in psychological and religious study is stupidity or nonsense.

Writing. I have come into utter bewilderment here which is not a finality, for my “god-children” are taking over for me.

Vedanta. The last three subjects con-join in plans to write a book “Vedanta Today” when I return. My memoirs are in anecdote form. My book on Zen is a sort of literalized laboratory notebook, therefore quite different from anything else. But the book on Vedanta was planned to be a collaboration and it has worked out thus:

The Vedanta Society was financed in the beginning by kinfolk and I visited Boston, but not to satisfaction. One day the secretary telephoned me, at a time I had hours to spare, poured her grief and gripes on me and made an appointment. The grief and gripes covered the same subjects and some of the same persons as my own. Her name is Mrs. Worcester and I hope to meet her some date.

I met Swami Akhilananda, and it is quite obvious that the Vedantics in this country are divided into the poetic-philosophers and the psychologists, of which Swamiji is leader. I am ordering a copy of his book from Books-in-Review and will use is as my starting-off place. It is possible here that you may wish me to speak to a few in your own house before any public lecture and if so, so note it be. The purpose of the book is to relate psychological types to Indian types. For instance, I find that the beatniks are definitely an Asura sub-type; all signs point to it. But there are words such as pizaka, raksha, yaksha, etc., and I think I can delineate them all in present society. While this is for the future the opportunities ahead should enable me to collect material.

Lecture Abroad. So many doors have opened in and for India and Pakistan we can wait until I go through actual experience.

New Near East. UAR granted me a Courtesy Visa and I finally won over the Lebanese people with a couple of projects down their ally. Here, I would rather do than say.

I failed to meet Mrs. Coomaraswami and I did meet Dr. Rifsdahl, a woman who is one of the world’s leading Egyptologists so I guess there is something in the wind. But this is opening the door for the Hollywood artists, and yourselves, in case I send objects. If I am fortunate with my big projects I would accept in return pieces of things not well known, which could be displayed—and in some cases sold. Everything in the line of study or even collecting in the Near East has brought forth cordiality … this does not touch any kind of collecting on classical lines or where the government has restrictions.

Financial Situation. A story here is like that of many old Sufis. It has been impossible to relate income and expense. I am thrown here and can’t get away. Three delays in sailing date, two without notice; then change of line and another delay. Instead of hurting me, it balanced or benefitted me. For between working for cousins and sharing expenses with a friend here there has been no great hardship. The last thing was to draw money from S.F. and apparently drained my checking account and in two days an unexpected check arrived filling the void.

My room and board in UAR will be less than $100 a month; and if I get lecture assignments, or research work, that may come out even better. I am making every effort to do everything on my own, hoping for adjustments after return to this country.

Health. My working for my cousins in Massachusetts during this interim has again caused me to feel and look well and strong. I am constantly running into criticism socially and otherwise, following by apologies when people find my age and how I look. I do not understand it myself. I have taken no vitamins but have some for abroad. There is a sort of purging-of-mind which seems to facilitate bodily functions.

Paul Wingate is here and may go home next month. His experiences support my own previous views of some or our universities. Independently he reached exactly the same conclusions. This has brought us rather close. But he is much taller than John and when one says,” Hello, basket-ball player,” he admits ha has had many offers. But he is introverted and gets along much better with older persons. I like him very much. I am expecting he will help me just before I leave.

I have rather run out of gas. The romantic element is absent just now and I can’t evaluate that. I have some professional rather than personal matters to consider with you both, which are in no hurry and perhaps more closely connected with the Vedanta note above than anything else. It is only that today we may be having other means of reaching the same ends or goals.

My contract with Columbia is resulting in strong emphasis on integrating and unitary flows. The question is how much one can hold oneself together and control both thought and habits. I forbear to criticism on two entirely different grounds neither of which is generally understood excepting by those who have such philosophical approaches. Institutions and symbols, yes, and perhaps over-compensation here.

There is much more but it does not matter. My next letter should come from Cairo.

Love,

Samuel L. Lewis

Morland House Pension

16, Sharia Kemal Eddine Salah,

Kasr el Doubara,

Cairo, UAR

August 11

My dear Margaret:

This is really a diary entry and in no sense excepting coincidental a letter. My war against the press goes merrily on. The other night there was at party in which my room-mate and a newspaper man actually came to blows and a professor, the putative guest of honor, brained the newsman. It had been the professor’s party, the newsman was fill-in guest for an absentee which did not bother him, he just took over. This was symbolic.

Last night was really more serious. I have been to India and seen riots not reported and noted brawls extended to fast fracases. I was on a pilgrimage with 100,000 people in India, not a word in the press…. We want to the Park to attend a Shakespeare presentation of “Measure for Measure.” This is neither one of the best nor one of the best known of the plays. We had a long walk. If anything like that took place at the ball grounds there would have been cameras all over the place. It took a long time to get to the end of the line we never did reach the theater.

The press had been printing that the plays would be stopped—no public interest. Two days back 300 or so athletes raced across Manhattan. There was a policeman at every corner. Here there were so many thousands and thousands of people, you could get no idea, no policeman. Yet despite that the lines were orderly everyday kept their places, instead of pushing and shoving the opposite. And I could read nothing in the papers today. Some interests say there is no interest in Shakespeare or art. And despite the many, many millions here, the attendance at the ball grounds is small—and the Yankees have often been in first place.

The public protest has been orderly, dignified and grand. We may have seen 20,000; we may have seen 50,000; we did not on the south side of the arena, but north, east and west. The people were intellectual types—you did not see sporting types and the Puerto Rico and Spanish-types were absent, but I guess there were representative of all other New York groups. The attendance was far more wonderful than the slow.

As we stood in line the conversation on was on modern art and modern poetry. I told them that where I came from Frank Lloyd Wright was God-the-Father and he had the angels San Rafael and San Gabriel on his side and you would soon see the temple labeled “San Rafael Courthouse” or something. You can put that in the book. The general opinion too, was that the art museums are vast expansive buildings for contractors, architects, boards of directors and great names of the past.

It was a pleasant evening and we decided to go to the village. At the moment my pocket are rather full and the days for spending few. There I met:

Anne V. Brovaka

39 Bedfors St.

New York, NY

and her protégé John Duffy. He objected to something I said and turned: “But I am a quarter-leprechaun. From that on it was one of the best evenings of my life.

Shean O’Casey occupies much space in the press and we started there. John is a lover of
Masefield and Whitman. He is very much opposed to Ferlinghetti and Kerouac (where have I heard these names before?). Our ideas of poetry and poets covered much common ground.

Anna is primarily a teacher and editor rather than a writer per se. She is working on an anthology. She mentioned her advisors and to me they are the tops in American Literature today (this is my personal view and has nothing to do with accepted conclusion). We agreed that I might send her some of my shorter things, and what I write on ship board.

My aesthetic studies have given me a picture which is between painting and poetry, very suggestive of what I might write on board. I am scheduled to leave now on the 16^th. My writing is being over to my god- son and god- daughter who are here from the West-coast.

But I am primarily writing this to give you Anna’s address and to feel out your own way with her. The rest of the letter is either padding or diary notes.

August 18, 1960

Dear Bill:

This is really a long diary and I am not sure of continuity of anything else. There are only 4 men passenger, the rest women and the men are either harmonious, alike or tamed—this include myself. The women not so.

Sam is not having too good a time. The weather is very stormy and there is almost a continuous headache, but not so far, thank goodness, any trouble with the stomach. This makes for listlessness and I am taking refuge at the typewriter and there is no eagerness. I did a few moments calligraphy this a.m. and have my language books out, but no campaign figured as yet.

With Puck it is different. At the moment there is no chance of any hostilities with Miss Missionary. Madame Puerto not only came on board, but took over. She is stout, extroverted, loud, fond of men and wine, an entertainer, very talkative, very active and it is not so much nervousness as being her actual nature. There does not seem, for the moment, any middle ground between her and the missionary. The latter is retired and almost sullen. Courtesy and consideration do not bring out smiles in her, and the loud kindnesses of Mrs. P.R. are misunderstood.

Last night I was asked to move my table to sit opposite Mrs. P.R. so the ladies could sit together, Miss Missionary with them. But to my amazement, at lunchtime, the latter also moved and to an empty table and would not—I mean would not and did not—sit with the women I thought she knew. The result has been considerable confusion socially and otherwise and I do not know where it will end.

On my Pacific trip the Captain took over socially and everyone became adjusted. But this Captain has a sour disposition. He is agin’ the government and I rather sympathize with him. He is a Southerner, which we did not expected, though his name “Lang” might mean something else in ancestry. Although he disclaims book learning, I have seen no evidence of this and he has strong opinions, based either on study or experience.

At first it was a little hard to get at him because he attacked persons, ideas and institution at me and through me when in fact I also might be expected to attack the same person ideas and institution. It took him little while to find I was not a real antagonist, but I don’t know what will happen when he becomes a more familiar with other passengers whom I suspect will not always agree with him or may seldom with other passengers whom I suspect will not always agree with him or may seldom agree with him.

I think Miss Missionary is also rebuffed—by herself, of course—because nearly all the passengers like cards and games and probably liquor also. She is treated as if a Protestant nun and I don’t think she wants to be treated as a Protestant nun. You can’t please everyday and I am glad one EWH does not have to come with her.

I have had no dreams and can’t think, ideate or get in any mood, creative, literary or otherwise—at this moment, 14:10 o’clock watch time which is neither authentic, official or anything but quasi- or crazy-New York time.

Dear Leonora:

This is my diary note for the 27th. I have not kept a diary. In crossing the Pacific my stomach was bad and my head good; in crossing the Atlantic my stomach was good and my head bad. Still I prefer the latter. We ran into hurricanes and billows until we neared the Azores. After that things calmed down, my head got better and I have been feeling fine since.

I feel slightly like a veteran along with the companions. Most of them are taking a world tour, which does not cost much but does not give them much time inland. They are planning all sorts of things which I would not dare to plane so you can’t catch planes like trains and when you have to change at airports to lines of difference nationalities you can get stuck. Beside name of them has made any pre-preparations.

There is a lady on board going to Pakistan and we may get off at Beirut together and visit the American University. At the moment I have no other planes.

I found that many of the officers seem to like folk-music. One man specializes in Polish dances on American things which we use in square-dancing. I enjoy those records.

Purchased a small transistor from Japan just before I left New York. Got it at an inside price. My dealer, Bud Fiske did not reply to two letters so I did not get the big set I ordered. I think I may leave this in Pakistan and may even get another one later on, according to conditions.

Around the Azores we began picking up Portuguese stations and more and more of them and then Moorish stations. We had a near collision last night and the whistles woke me up-just in time. For we were passing Gibraltar and I thought the whistles were signals therefore. I found nearly everybody was up—the crew at stations, the passengers to see the light on either side.

We sighted Portugal long before and today we have been sighting the Spanish Coast. I was not successful in picking up any Spanish station until today, with one acceptation. That exception was putting on a tango program. So were a lot of other stations. Tangos have their place but not off the coast of Andalusia. Well bless you this a.m. it was deef-fir-ent (pronounce French way).

Have I had a castanet session! Have I? Don’t ask! Boy, was it great. We had flamenco and all kinds of la musicas and I got excited and came back and finished my writing so I could record this. I may be out on deck more so I can try out the stations and castanets and all. I am hoping by the time we dim out for Spain I can pick up Italy.

There is a woman on a board from Puerto Rico who is hoping we can still pick up Spain tonight so she can put on a floor show. The dining room is wired for records, but we may go on deck or have some other arrangement. One officer has a big Zenith set which is supposed to be able to tune in anywhere, any time.

Have written a few other letters but again don’t know where I shall post them. We do not land until Beirut which means a quick trip, but after that? Only I get off at Alexander. They will be stuck in the Red See, I think at Mocha. Some may fly immediately to India and others will not get off until Karachi, and think they can “see” India in a few days picking up the boat at Bombay. I am afraid there will be sad awakenings for them.

My writing is on “Saladin,” the guy that gave the Crusaders the good ol’ one-two. Feel fairly confident that it will be received.

August 27. 10 o’clock or so. I guess.

August 28, 1960

Dear Gavin:

This is my diary note. This morning I woke up after some complicated dreams in which you were the chief character. I arrived back in S.F. to find you in a very strange state of mind. You told me you were in a horrible fix as Dr. Baker had just died and you could not get any more horoscopes, but through the series of episodes, in one after another, you had no time to sit down with me as you had a sudden appointment to go out and arrange a chart. So you were in and out constantly and I could make no head or tail of your affairs because it appeared you were earning more money than ever.

I was not to stay in San Francisco so I paid a month’s rent on a place to put my baggage and furniture in it, and had to go away, presumably to Southern California for I took only two pieces with me. I was not going to stay a full month and said you could use the place. But when I got back everything was clean and in order and it seemed you had not been using the place much excepting the first few days after I had gone.

You were not happy but your astrology work was taking you further afield. You not only had more clients but they were spread out and evidently informing others. So, with the disappearance of Blanche you were not only on your own but making good.

I could learn nothing more in the dreams from you either about yourself or anybody. You looked somewhat better than when I had last seen you but carried a look of dismay.

We did have some differences in other fields. I called to your attention that not only had I been rather successful but successful in just those things about which there had been dark forebodings and not always so successful where it was presumed I would succeed.

There was the need for substantial real thinking both in regard to Asia and on other matters. The disappearance of the American Academy made the way open for honest, objective teachings on Asia, but if I said anything, all you said was, ”yes, yes” or “I have to go“ and you really did.

Turning to Bertrand Russell today I am strengthening myself in just those matters of logic and thinking upon which doors were closed in California and opened on the East Coast. What that means at the moment I do not know, but I am carrying Oliver Reiser and Pitirim Sorokin around and may be introducing them into the Orient.

I have three complete avenues in Egypt: The American University, the mixed ones and those which are obviously Arabic. I am planning first to call at the American University at Beirut. Most on board want to go to the Holy Land—there will not be much time, but they will go so I may be the only passenger the last few days. We passed near Tunis today, and the other night through Gibraltar—we could see the lights. Tonight I am getting only French and Arabic music and one U.S.A. station but tomorrow should be near Sicily. I like Spanish music most and far prefer Italian to French.

September 2, 1960

It is with extreme delicacy that the diary entry for today should be written in the name of Puck or no other than Samuel. We reached Beirut on the night of September 1st and the Captain summoned us to his quarters to meet three Lebanese doctors and all that. “As-salaam aleikum.” I am dar-veesh. The Captain then challenged and we gave a lot of answers that he could not understand and when the customs man came around, “You have nothing to declare, no contraband,” holding their heads in the opposite direction and saying, “Glad to met you Ahmed Murad.” The Captain was not proud and nobody else. Which adds another chapter to innocents abroad, or something.

By six o’clock in the a.m. we were alongside and a grand rush of men up the gang plank. Were they customs men? Money-changers? Merchants? Travel agents? Boy, how wrong can you be. They were barbers and they followed everybody around and made all business on board impossible. We could not organize, we could not eat, the cargo was not being unloaded and they could go in and out of a crowd like nobody. Then they went around and knocked on everybody’s doors, waking up those who had just come off watch and sleep was impossible. Fortunately we had gone to bed early, had a wonderful night’s sleep and we were delightful.

Most of the folks went to Damascus. This includes Julia who is not talking to us and eight people who are not talking to Julia. The last we heard was that they were fighting. Then the barbers surrounded us and I said: “I have plenty of business.” “What kind of business?” “I am Ahmed Murad and I am a dar-veeeesh.” Barber No. 2 looked at me, dropping his jaw, dropping his tools, dropping his head and looking about as astonished as it is possible to look astonished. “I am Ahmed Murad and I am a dar-veeesh!” “Come! I give you fresh hair-cut!”

Now one Jew or one Greek is better than two Turks or Bulgarians and one Armenian is worth two Jews or two Greeks, but whoever did this to a Lebanese! Not in history, not in mystery and there, the free hair-cut. And I am Ahmed Murad, Dar-veeeesh. I shall have to come back home and burn 1,000,000 candles for Father Antoninus, or something.

Well, we visited the American University and had a fine time, only it is summer session and the place is empty of Syrians, Lebanese and Americans. This was fine for Puck who ran into Pakistanis about every three inches and finally settled on two from Dacca. “You know Shantinangar St?” “Of course, of course.” “You know Maulana Abdul Ghafoor?” “Of course, of course.” He is my murshid, I am darveesh.” More jaw-dropping, etc. They also know Sophia Khan the poet and all that. They introduced me to a man from Iran. “Where you come from?” “Shiraz.” “O city, of beautiful poetry. O land of Hafiz, and bulbul and gul and running streams and holy places….” The Iranian began to drop his jaw more than the Pakistanis. Anyhow we gave them all choco-laat and distributed choco-laat all over the campus, even to the profs.

Then my guide got me a taxi who took me around. Visited the airport and spoke about a trip to Bagdad. Then went all around down-town. Went into Mosque. It was Friday but early. Everybody was studying Holy Qur’an, really. Nobody paid attention, no spies, no suspicions! Imagine, a Mosque and men praying to Allah and not eyeing the foreigner. So we did three rakats and got up and put our shoes on and gave £1-Lebanese to the door-keeper who knew I was a holy man and then I said “Subhan Allah” and he was sure of it, but Puck does not know whether he is a scoundrel or a hypocrite or the real thing, whatever that is.

The passengers had visited down town the night before, but we took a different look. We visited the Lebanese museum. To get “in” with the Lebanese all you have to do is say: “I think you are the descendent of the Phoenicians.” That makes them happy. Tell the scoundrels that you think that they are the most honest, hospitable and noble people and they will say behind their breath “Yes, suckers, we are going to prove it, too.” Tell them that you love them and they will ask, “how much?” Tell them anything and they will say: “uh-huh,” but tell them you think they are descended from the Phoenicians, the country is yours. They will do anything.

Anyhow the museum was closed. “Too bad, and I am so interested in the Phoenicians!” “What you say?” “I am so interested in the Phoenicians.” “Come inside so I can hear?” “I am so interested in the Phoenicians.” “Oh, you look around.” So Puck looked around and saw plenty. “I am so interested in the Phoenicians!”

So back to cab-driver. “I am so interested in the Phoenicians.” The same with the guide at the University, “I am so interested in the Phoenicians.” So discuss the Phoenicians when you come to Beirut and let Damascus and BaalBek take care of themselves.

Then I asked the cabbie, what religion. “Maronite.” “What language you use in church?” “Silly question, Arabic, of course.” Last night I asked the steamer agent. What religion? “Maronite.” “What language?” Silly question, Latin of course.” Then I asked the guide, what religion? “Maronite.” “What language?” Old Syrian, of course, foolish question.” Later the cabbie pointed out, “That Roman church, they use French!” What’ll Father Antonious say now.

We then went to lunch, diner’s club card and had lots of chicken; olives and cheese, kibbie two styles and no room for dessert of coffee. About $3 for two people. My cabbie is Michele. He has two names, and like Puck he tries you out—if you are Arab he has one name, and if Westerner another and does not object to being called Mike if you say it with piasters.

We saw the rich section then to our surprise, a very large and prosperous Jewish section, all looking well-to-do and smiling. It was almost unbelievable, but there it was and Hebrew writing staring me in the face.

We then called at the Indian Embassy. My friend Bannerji has been promoted to under-secretary of Foreign Affairs and is back in New Delhi. So it was not necessary to stay, but this will help when we get there.

The Lebanese were very cooperative in helping me get rid of £-Lebanese and piasters excepting for the souvenirs and I have now bought more £-Egyptian for entry into that country. Maybe more happened. But I am Ahmed Murad, or P. Puck or Sam Lewis according to the audience and my own audacity and three can live better than one or maybe this proves the trinity or its merit or something. I don’t know.

…

Next Day. The tourists came back and saw the hair-cut. “How much?” “Nothing.” The next: “No questa nada.” “But you must have paid something?” Next person: “Didn’t you have to pay anything?” “Rien du tout.” By this time Puck’s stock hit a bear market. In they came and the nose diving continue but the Chief Engineer came in with a new hair-do. “How much, Chief?” “Zero pfennigs.” “Do you mean to say that you did not have to pay?” “Ditto and roger.” They began looking at each other. In walked the Second Mate. “So you got a haircut, how about the price?” “Who said anything about price. I got a haircut. No price.” “But what did it cost?” “A thousand ciphers!” By that time Puck’s stock had recovered: it went up and up, even out of the bull-market range. Puck scratched his head—he should have invested in himself. “O ye men of little faith.” Then Puck gave a lecture and they listened: “When in Lebanon if you meet a Muslim praise the prophet: if you meet a Christian, praise the Phoenicians.” The opposition melted, the tourists became so meek that they might even inherit the earth.

 The Pukhtunistan Special

Prof. Von Plotz was not there. He does not know Ambassador Hussein. Hardly anybody else did. This made it easy for Puck. But Puck was wiser and luckier. The man you snub might be an Ambassador too. “Met the Ambassador from Indonesia.” Puck did. He met everybody from Indonesia. The Indonesians met everybody. Nobody else met everybody. “Met the Delegate from the Republic People’s Democratic Socialist Government of Counter-Soviet China.” What! “Meet the Delegate from the People’s Soviet Socialist Republic of Independent China.” “What!” “And meet the Minister at Large from the Independent Democratic People’s Counter Republic of Inner Mongolia.” “What!” “Meet the Ambassador from Innerman-Churia”

Now Puck is a great lover of the Innerman and to meet the delegate from Innerman-Churia was something. Puck forgot the Chinese. The Indonesians greeted everybody. The Chinese did not greet each other and didn’t do much greeting. The Pakistani Ambassador just ate and skipped. The British got off in a corner and discussed fishing. The Swedes went off in a corner and drank. The Indians kept away from the corners and went after the food.

 Puck talked to all the Indians. He also listened to all the Indians. Puck liked the Indonesians and the Indians the best. He said he loved everybody. But the fact is that Puck is a devotee to the Innerman, and when he had a chance to taste the curries he almost forgot himself. He likes Indonesian food; he also likes Indian food and got a lot of invitations to dinners. He proved it by eating and really enjoying the hottest curry. That is good diplomacy. The British don’t like curries and the Germans went to the hors d’ouvres and ate and ate and kept away from the curries. Beer was served in another room, and cocktails for the elite, which everybody owned to belonging to but Puck and one other Indian whom nobody else spoke to.

The Spaniards and the Commies danced to avoid each other. Puck met the delegate from Lemnos, and the Consul from Cocos Island and New Falklands and a lot of other places. The trouble is that he has to go home and look at Atlases. The Ambassador kept the cultural attaché close by and always asked him—in Hindi, of course—“Where the h--l is Sputnikistan, or something.” “Oh, I just love your country. I think the New Zealanders are the best people….” “But I come from New South Wales.” “Isn’t that a part of New Guinea?” Puck prefers to discuss food and does not get into geographical messes; he has his own kind of messes.

The Soviet delegate did not come. He talks about the masses and gets into the messes. Puck talks about the messes and gets into the masses. There were no servants, only one or two caterers and they had to hop, skip and jump. You can tell the rank—those who go after the drinks and avoid food are always the rankest. They don’t bother about the guest of the evening. It was the same—nobody knew the Ambassador and nobody cared much, but he has a pretty wife. The only trouble is that saris make all women look beautiful; still they did not compete with her, they just out-competed the Europeans. The French women looked awful. The Indonesian women also looked beautiful, the Spanish … the Indonesian were also beautiful … the Americans … don’t bother Puck. He was speaking to the Indonesian women and telling them he would like to visit their country. He really would. The Ambassador from Indonesia looks as if he were half-Chinese. Despite what you read, the Indonesians greeted all the Chinese and not many others, of course Puck. Rijstafel Zindabad.

“The Flying Clipper,”

September 3, 1960

My dear Rudy:

This is my last day on board and I am jotting down some notes which I hope you will appreciate. The first is a sure confirmation of my former conclusion that I don’t want to travel by air again unless I absolutely have to—which will mean that somebody else foots the bill. Whatever was not perfect on this trip is of so little consequence that there will be no reference to it.

Roughly the sea voyage came in three parts. First, the Atlantic until near the Azores. On my Pacific trip my mind was clear but my stomach was in difficulties, although I never did vomit. On this trip my stomach has been clear throughout but in general, coming across the Atlantic I had headaches. I prefer them, however and on entering the Mediterranean they disappeared. That first part was rough and I have heard at times it gets very rough.

After the Azores the trip was comparatively smooth and also I began to pick up first Portuguese and then Moorish stations. In general I got short waves from either Great Britain or U.S. overseas.

We passed Gibraltar at night. A near–by collision caused slight commotion at which I woke up and found most of the passengers on deck and some stayed until morning. We also sighted Sicily, Tunis and Cyprus. The Mediterranean was blue, calm and delightful. I should say it was about as delightful as any journey I have made so far and certainly recommend it.

Although we left New York about 5 days late, we have picked up a little time—it does not matter much, I guess. Yesterday was spent at Beirut where I visited the University, the air-port, one mosque, the Indian Embassy and had a fine lunch on my Diners’ Club Credit card—strictly Lebanese food, some new to me. The cost was not high—about $3 including tip. I also bought more £ Egyptian and a few Rs. Pakistani.

Most of the folks went to Damascus and Baalbek. Here I must say that the Isbrandtsen line is very cooperative and informative and I am hoping to have a little of the same at Alexandria. It is possible that I may return to Beirut later on, en route to either Damascus or Bagdad. This depends on the unforeseen. I have filed an entry form and have given very good references, about the same as in Washington and New York.

This is a good line to take my trip to Karachi, pending ability to get a room. I had the stateroom alone due to cancellations, and there were no uppers—plenty of space and a nice closet. Sometime when I am home I hope to take the Captain and the Stewart to “The Captain’s Galley” in San Francisco, on Chestnut St. But this is ahead of schedule.

Since entering the Mediterranean I have slept wonderfully, even with all the noise at the dock. I may write further after going ashore. We arrive early on the Morning of September 4, after leaving N.Y. August 17th—which I consider good time.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 7, 1960

My dear Harry:

I feel like a person who has asked from permission to visit a playground and while he is waiting has been given free tickets to the World Series. When I visited the Soils Section of Cairo University I was told I had to see one Mr. Salah who is a big shot in the Agricultural Department and he told Mr. Dewsouki that a new government regulation had gone into effect requiring permits for visits. This was undoubtedly true for I was fortunate enough even to get into the high echelon offices and most of the time was spent trying to get through crowds who were being held back. It was not that way before.

Mr. Paul Keim of ERIS, which is the Reclamation-Irrigation Service cooperative between the UAR and the U.S. has given me a stack of names and I can’t visit them all—in fact I have not gotten very far down the list and am busy every day. He sent me to Dr. Turki, who is the head of the National Research Bureau. This is a coordinating functional department of all the top scientists of this region. It is divided into five sections: Chemical, Physical, Agricultural, Medicinal and Coordinating-Publications.

Dr. Turki turned me ever to one Dr. Kabash and the big parade is on for me. First I visited section No. 5 and in a sense will be dealing with them on and off. They are very much delighted with the plans we worked out—indeed everybody is here. The only thing is that I am on the spot and am given personal credit, but I think I’ll bring up your name more beginning today.

The Library and Publications section have scientifically books from all over the world. They gave me their organization sheet and two big pamphlets covering Science as a whole and Cotton. I have gone through these things and gotten some fair judgment as to the contributions of all the Nations of the world to contemporary Science. This word, of course, is used rather loosely, as Mathematics is included and some farms of engineering are in, others out, What is strange is that C.E. and Irrigation are rather out.

They have a large and active photography department, microfilm department and all the latest equipment—assuming I know that I am talking about after visiting Berkeley, Japan, Ohio State, etc. I am sorry that between enthusiasm, surprise and desire to visit name of the labs, I could not take detailed noted and perhaps the desire to go to stacks also kept me back.

In running over the material it is quite serious that Russia is leading in Atomic Physics, running neck and neck with us in Nuclear Physics with Italy a good third here and is simply out when it comes to soil Science. There the United States leads but Canada is doing proportionally more than any other land. But taken the whole catalogue into the picture it is silly to talk of Sciences or cultural “races.”

I was particularly interested in the Soil Science because I have been argued down by brand names people not in Horticulture on this point and equally cornered by brand names in Horticulture for the same thing. Yesterday when I was waiting I came upon a copy of “Soviet Soil Science” translated by An American Bureau of Geological Sciences, 2000 P. St., N. W. Washington 6, They use highly technical spectroscopic and microscopic methods, presumably super-assaying but I saw nothing to indicate good chemical knowledge and techniques.

The reviews in the back were enlightening. They were filled with ~~ on communism and the lab technicians and with strong criticism of commissars and officials for failing to broadcast the accumulated knowledges. But how anybody, trained in dialectics and bureaucracy interprets doubtful mathematical, physical, chemical tables I don’t know. I have some training and no dialectics and when I see pressure, temperature, percentage graphs and no chemical symbols I have a pretty tough time.

You can analyze rock fazes and know how much P or Na is in them without giving any idea of how much is available for crops, and there was never any suggestion as to what crops would be successful in the soil. Of course there was a good geological and fase-soil-analysis. Bur here in UAR the whole problem is the adaptation of crops, etc.

Plant Pathology. I have visited each department twice, but in this case the second visit was social to report what I have been doing, They are conducting a number of experiments on light and heat exposures with wheat and Datura. There is absolute control. While the chambers are like refrig-chambers, they are also like ovens, not too different from some I have seen in seed-testing labs. They are under no illusion and are very objective.

Wheat. It is interesting to find that wheat can be grown at high temperatures. There is not enough moisture for rice and it is too warm for Rye. If they flood during early stages they get a maximum of Protein and if they flood later they get a good Hay crop with a maximum of Starch, so they are now flooding early. They regard this as an important discovery.

Sugar. They are having trouble in finding the maximum Sucrose analogous to the maximum protein above. There will have to be, in my estimation, not only light and heat tests but K control. What the Russians missed is that K may be present in large quantities and not available. That is true here. Anyhow I have copied my Louisiana materials for them and will turn over some stuff tomorrow.

Soils. I took this matter up here because they have asked me whether we had any Sugar Cane in the dry areas of Arizona and California. I told than that owing to the high salt content in various places we plant Sugar Beets and not Cane. I shall bring them the bulletin on Desert Agriculture tomorrow. I do not think they have given enough attention to Sugar Beets; and on the other hand they have not industrialized Cane by-products and waste.

They are making a complete and detailed soil survey. They have already made a detailed petrological survey. Incidentally, in the Russian literature, Russia seems way behind UAR here. They send “technicians” in to get, not to give. The universal trouble is the high Na-pH and this requires leaching or change without much water. They use Superphos, but not Sulphur or sulfuric acids and leaf mould decidedly is not.

We had a long discussion on water problems where I have the same view as Paul Keim above on all points and I find they are not goal logicians. They have not always had these stiff mathematical disciplines requiring exactitude. I feel, and last night received the first confirmation, that all is not well as Assouan.

Plant Protection. Now I have been running around in high places and meeting all kinds of people and had also a lot of humorous incidents, beginning with a free hair cut in Beirut and it has been "the Baron that tells the jokes." But yesterday fate caught up with me in the person of one Dr. Sahahm Hasan who is in charge of this section and he has been gum-shooing me and how! I don’t know. Anyhow he was at Berkeley until July and he not only knows a lot of my friends but was given the grape-vine on me. So he got the laughs—which I deserve—and we are good friends.

His assistant, Dr. Talib, gave me his successful story on Nematodes. He has tried every sort of chemical and every other method with successes all the way from 10%-90%. But he has found a petroleum by-product which gives not only 100% successful results as a soil fumigant but does not inhibit plant growth at all. His assistant had me look at one and I told her the female of the species was far more deadly than the male. But it did not look ugly so it does not matter. He is very proud of this.

Although this unity is called "Plant Protection" it deals about equally with Plant Pests and Household or Medical pests. The big problem is the Cotton Worm. It is a different species but the same Genus as the one in the States. However it eats anything and escapes from one host to another. Like in India they have all the right spraying equipment and the chemicals but they do not understand the heat and wind factors and spraying has often been done at too high temperatures. So they often resort to handpicking. This has had the result of the worm leaving the cotton fields and going on to food plants. It is very omnivorous and what is worse, it sometimes does not return to the original host—which means more money for the agriculturists but less food.

There had been somewhat effective biological; controls but the good parasite had not been studied enough and, of course, was often removed by spraying. This has meant going back to the beginning. Still one section is working on predators.

There are four types of sprays which have been used: Chlorinated hydrocarbons like DDT, cyclic compounds like Toxophone, phosphate hydrocarbons, and carbamates. They have been using these with various strengths to test residual effect as poisons, also to study the effect on crops, their growth, soil condition, etc., etc. This also means diverse and detailed studies as to different hosts on which the Moth thrives.

They are now approaching an Integration Control. All factors are taken into consideration and everything from pest-resistant strains of plants down to proper percentages from the standpoint of effective control, costs, net crop, etc., etc.

While they did have some Mite problems at the beginning, and there are two types of Mites, when DDT is not used, this problem does not appear.

The department is now troubled over Mosquitoes and Household pests. The Mosquito control is difficult because there is no one department, the Engineers, Sanitation Board and Research Center still working independently.

I dropped the typewriter to go to the Embassy where I am not only spending much time but given every consideration. The years I have given to Oriental studies has been recognized and the difficulties I ran into in so many institutions in the United States because the instructors in so-called "Asiatics" were Europeans is recognized; I am given full sympathy. Both the Americans and Hindus are giving full cooperation for a future lecture program. This will cover many branches of American Culture: art, philosophy, religion and science. All my past inhibitions have been overcome and it is even possible that I shall be programmed at the Embassy.

On top of that the new Ambassador from India is an old friend who long lived in San Francisco and who was my host in New Delhi. It is possible that I shall help arranging a joint social affair here in this regard.

After mailing this I visit both the Research Center and the vegetable Experimental Station. The one of the managers here and I may tour the bazaars. And next week I hope to be at the disposal of Dr. Hasan. In other words, Harry, I am going on all cylinders but watching my step. However, one thing is conceded, I am older if not wiser than everybody I meet and even the quantitative accumulation of the years is sometimes respected; although perhaps there is some quality, too.

There have been dangled before me trips to distant areas. I hope this is possible. The integration of agricultural, social and archeological research is one of my local themes. There are great Christian ruins in places now called deserts where there used to be much water. What happened is a mystery and though I am reading one of the few books available on that period, it throws no light on the subject.

This evening, for the first time, there is a clouded sky. I don’t know if this means anything.

I do not know how they can introduce organics here other that the present green manure cropping. The nearest Forestry college is at Alexandria, though I may bet introductions from Syria. Few of the trees here are extremely drought resistant. But the one cannot face all problems at one time.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

PS. Another bit of luck. Don Smith of the USIS arrived here today. He was my host at Karachi, and I already have the whole Embassy working for and with me now.

Egypt

September 8, 1960

My dear Jack:

I am now in Cairo and I find things totally different from most reports. I cannot, of course, vouch for what I am saying and it is true I am also submitting primary reports to at least one paper. But the first thing I ran into is that for all practical purposes the United States has gone “underground” and doing very well indeed.

Of course three days” observations do not prove anything. The countryside, coming down from Alexandria, looked far more prosperous and energetic than anything I have seen in India or Pakistan, or for that matter, Mexico. It may be that I have come during the “bright” season. The Nile impressed me far more than the Indus or Ganges—all of these are different from the rivers of “The Far East” where many people live on boats and fish or trade therefrom.

I am both going slow and yet not losing time, trying to fall in with the local rhythm. As Monday was Labor Day I could do nothing with Americans and called at Al-Azhar, the famous Egyptian University; I may be going there again. There is a section specializing in English, but of course, one attends to preliminary matters first.

Both in here and Lebanon, there are two “languages”—whatever the local idiom is, and a mélange of French and English. I already met the Ambassador from Mexico or Morocco, because of this. The local French paper has little news, but actually more than the American Herald-Tribune or Times because they are full of editorials.

I only spent one day at Beirut, half that time at the American University. The session does not open until October 3^rd and the same holds true for some of the local universities, too. There the Americans. Lebanese and Syrians were away but I met quite a few Pakistanis. Almost every country of the Near East, in the widest sense of the term, sends students to the American U. at Beirut, They are successful in everything but religion; indeed the trend is toward weakening the Americans in their faith and the theological section is far behind Harvard. They are most successful in medicine and veterinary science.

The local American U, is much smaller and very close by. My putative host therefrom is away until the end of the month. My main Egyptian host is now in the United States but I shall be august of the Government (Agricultural Department) Saturday.

Another host is away and I shall wait until he returns. He is head of one of the banks here and also of the Chamber of Commerce. Make no mistake about it, this country is not “neutralist” economically. It is definitely ahead of any Asian nation excepting Japan. I shall not compare it to Israel which was heavily subsidized from abroad. But I see nothing to indicate that if the same moneys had been sent here you might have had even greater results.

One of the outstanding features is the willingness and the policy to “begin at the beginning.” Our old homestead idea of “40 acres and a cow,” slightly modified, is the basic feature here. We are helping this being established, both in the older lands already cultivated and in new lands being opened up. The water research is going ahead full speed.

Americans are working with Egyptians at their level and pace. There is no published material; it is all done slowly and quietly. These people may be land-hungry—if so it as individuals and as individuals they are being fed. I think they have much more savoir-faire than I have found elsewhere. I did not run into anywhere the amount of beggary and the poor sections, though poor, are nothing like India and Pakistan.

The banking and business sections indicate a nation quite bourgeois in outlook, but with strong doses of humanism and humanitarianism. After all there is plenty of land, American engineers are undertaking hydrological surveys and on a grand scale. This land used to be rich. Water is underground at many places. It has strange physical and chemical properties which are being studied. This will lead to indications as to what crops may be sown, etc. There are, fortunately for me, many U. C. graduates in high places in both the American group and in the UAR Government itself.

In other words, here is a land running on essentially capitalistic bases, modified by monetary power, and the enormous tracts of lands which have become deserts. On the other hand, the people are more Muslim in a certain sense than elsewhere, in that they hold to religion or their religion and this keeps them from following the United Sates with its strange mixture of Christianity and libertarianism—which became confused in the eyes of foreigners.

The second element against us of course, is our failure to have racial integration. Many Negroes here look exactly as in the United States excepting that they smile more strongly. In general the Negro smiles much and the Arab has a different, rather calculated, unspontaneous laugh. There will be a Pan-African Congress here later on. If fighting takes place in the Congo, the people will blame Russia for it—whether Russia is to blame or not.

Indications are that Egypt will align itself with Yugoslavia, or Yugoslavia with the Arab Bloc in international affairs. I understand today too, that country is now taking a lead in trying to enforce peace in Africa.

It is too early to prognosticate about Assouan. As my contacts have been limited to engineers, scientists and bankers, there is no love toward the Fourth Estate. The success or failure at Assouan is likely to be a matter of engineering and not of emotion. It is quite likely that we shall be bringing water to this land from several sources before Assouan is completed, if and when it is completed. Fortunately I have had enough background to be given some pretty complete information.

Recognition of folly in the past, such as cutting down trees, etc. is quite evident. The planting of Eucalyptus trees, which I tried to “sell” to India, is operative hare on exactly the basis I wished to see there—fast growing trees, giving fire wood and enabling the peasant to return dung to the soil. I do not know when you will hear from me. It is warm, not conducive to activity, and every time I have stepped out I have had more fortunate response.

Faithfully

September 9, 1960

My dear Harry:

I am now in Cairo and am sending this see-mail because the way things stand at the moment my postage expense is going to be pretty stiff. This may not matter, but my mail has not come, and while I get two financial reports a month from one bank and one from another, without them the tendency is to be cautious. When I find a suitable surplus I unload. One ho other hand I found that dollars here buy more £ Egyptian than I had been foretold so there is no worry, only inability to balance counts.

I stopped off one day at Beirut and visited the American U. there. But summer session is on which meant the Americans, Syrians and Lebanese were not present. My presumable host is one Prof. Holliday in Horticulture and he will not be back until October 3^rd. I was taken through the labs, which are doing fine research in soils, and this has been confirmed in conversation here in Cairo. But there was me chance to take up matters of plant lists, propagation, fertilizers, etc.

The campus is well landscaped and is not too different from C. C. excepting that it runs from hill-top to seashore, but only on one side just like your campus. There are a few C. libanus but not well. I suspect this is due to the soil which looks as if it had been eroded of nitrogenous material. E. globulus has become almost the international tree in this region. (Oh, no, it won’t grow in India, as we won’t try it!) Some are in excellent shape, at least equal to those in G. G. Park or even better.

The flowers I have seen in Lebanon and here are what you could expect—Mexican fire bush, Salvias, Phlox. I have not made any detailed observations. Of course you see plenty of Palms and not a few conifers.

The country from Alexandria to here looked lush and in sharp contrast to the Indus. The sugar Cane was deeply colored. The highway is being landscaped, almost entirely with E. globulus and Casuarinas. But the latter do not stand up too well in the wind. And the E. globulus is being used exactly as I wanted to propose for India—being pruned and the branches used for firewood or other utility. This is, of course, only a preliminary sketch.

I did see one droll thing—Cacti growing in a land where I was told they would not and could not grow. But where??? In the ditches. They were dark green, rotting and looking awful with wet feet. So far this is the only negative note.

Sam lands is the greatest fool for damn-luck you ever saw. Before getting into hot water he went to the Embassy which is close by. They gave him a run-around. But a different kind of run-around. It was all cooperation. The main thing is that it landed him in the office of one Paul Keim,
U. C. ‘23, and a friend of Prof. Ryerson. And I in and how!

Here is a man, coming from the campus which authored “The Ugly American” and doing everything the opposite and with official sanction. But no publicity, on nonsense, no press releases. New villages, new building programs and the Egyptian substitute for “forty acres and a mule,” only they are given a choice between a cow and a buffalo.

I have had nothing but excellent coupe ration from Mr. Ferguson, the agricultural attaché, Mr. Ferguson the information officer and about everybody on the Embassy compound. I am planning just those things which fit in with their projected program. It has not been made public. It is as if we had gone underground.

After all these USIS burnings and Vice-Presidents being mobbed, we have come to realize that nations which are 85% agriculturists are just that. We have appealed to the farmers and farm workers and we are working with farmers and farm workers. Not only that, but the University of Cairo and the Agricultural Department of the Central Government are honey-combed with U. C. graduates.

So, after posting this in the morning Sam Lewis in going around in an official car and I am writing this and milling it because I suspect I shall have lots more to write and mail.

In addition to that, Mr. Paul Keim above has copied some of the literature-I got from Riverside so I going over my things and next week bring him more.

You can let the boys on the hill read this too. For you ex-student but continual devotee got into this country as a V.I.P. The Captain gave me a special report and with my Visa, they only looked at my typewriter and transistor radio. The steamship line helped out.

I am very close to the Nile, being behind the Semiramis Hotel. The Nile Milton—which I don’t like—is on the next block. The river bank is landscaped with “hanging gardens.” You can have fine evening walks. It is quite warm here, much about the printed reports, but no humidity, running up to 95° some days. It is, however, easier than Hollywood and much easier than Washington. Today there was a breeze and now, of course, it is expected that the temperature will drop.

My presumable host, Dr. Shawarbi, the chief Agricultural Chemist, is in the States, but I have plenty of instructions Anyhow. My other endeavors may move slowly as college does not open until October 3^rd. The Chief American authority on art is a friend of owner of this pension. And already I have the problem if more interviews, contracts and anecdotes than I feel like writing a/c heat.

There are no signs of Russians; the city is typically commercial, the banks seem thriving (one bug shot, whom I met is also away), and the anti-ugly-American work is gaining many friends. Neither Mr. Keim nor I are “optimistic” about the Russians being able to build Assouan dam. Not only that I have my material on salt-water conversion and the Americans are making the badly needed hydrological survey. I think by Sunday I shall have enough material to submit an article for publication either to the C.S. Monitor or San Rafael Independent.

Regards.

Sam Lewis

September 10

Dear Jane and Vince:

Here I have not been in Egypt one week and my troubles have begun. No, not that kind. Things happen so fast that there is not enough time to record in my diary or it is too hot and then more things happen. Anyhow today I have elected you as “it.”

My theme may be called “Yankee go Home” but resemblance to its use elsewhere stops with the formula. It is as good as any and I am going to convince some of my friends. However there are two pass-words and at the moment I am disinclined to believe you will accept either. But I hope to convert you to one of them; the other “c’est impossible.”

The first pass-word is “As salaam aleikhum” which means “pax vobiscum” in Arabic. By means of it I got a Courtesy Visa and entered this country as a V.I.P. All they looked at was my radio and typewriter and to think what I might have done with Luckies and Chesterfields! I did not count on my own strength, but as they used to say: “Lafollette, I am here.” As I arrived on Labor Day the American offices were closed add I visited Al-Asher University where the password is the above “as-salaam aleikhum.” Here endeth the first lesson.

Now what did I see in Alexandria; Russian ships? There were plenty of ships all right—American, Italian and Spanish. We ran into the Spanish all over which proves the superiority of the Iron Curtain countries—which you can read in the press. Even Fulton Lewis Jr. who thinks he hates Moscow gives them a lot of boosts and I think they need it. Anyhow no Hruskies in Alex and none in the harbor.

Then I reach El-Kariha. I go the Misr Bank. I met President Roushdy who is also head of the Chamber of Commerce. He was away but I met him about the 1^st; the banking system did not look as if the reds were taking over. Indeed everything is tending to private ownership. We used to have “40 acres and mule,” and here they are opening up vast new areas—no rules, but a choice between a cow and a buffalo.

After the way Mr. Nixon and Mr. Haggerty got treated the government has awakened to the truth—get rid of the commentator, newspaper man, analysts, radio swashbucklers and get down to work. But first I will give you the awful news and the second pass-word. Deep breath—it is “Oski-wow-wow!“ Oh yes, “Yankee go home” worked. All the Harvard, Yale and Dartmouth men resigned and in their place U. C. Arkansas and Tulsans. No more Yankees. Just other Americans. The top banana is Cal. ‘23. No publicity, no bulletins. The top Agricultural Man in the UAR government—supposed to be infiltrated by Hruskies went to the Muscovite University at Davis, California. And here, before the end of one week the Agricultural Department of the General Government already has had as a guest!

Today I first called on one Hasan L. Kabry who most hold and important job and he turned me over to one Mohamed Rifat who took me to the Cotton section of Cairo U. Cotton is the main cash crop. They use a three-crop-rotation method: Usually corn (Maize) or something else, then a legume, then Cotton. The soil has plenty of Potash but Phosphorus is applied when the Green Manure is turned under. Ca(NO₃)₂ or NaNO₃ the chief fertilizers because the soul is acid. Ammosulph not used; but Thursday I was told Ammonitrate used in some places.

Four seeds are placed in a dibbled hole, no water for 21 days, than about every 12 days. Only long Staples are here. They have been doing much research combining Breeding with engineering tests and so worked out threads improved in fineness, texture, tensile strength, etc. Syria grows only Short Staples and every effort is made to balance the economics.

The great problems are due to diseases and pests. Fusarium wilts. But no Verticillium. In sandy soils there are other difficulties. I shall take up the Pest Problems later. Tomorrow I go to the Testing labs and then to the Breeding Sheds and Greenhouses.

The country between Alexandria and here is lush—especially in contrast with the Indus Valley. I still do not know why Sager Cane is not stressed as a world-important crop because I have seen it grow in many places. There is evidently truck farming because we get fresh greens and cucumbers. But as I am a guest and may be have a while I let each host guide me as he will.

The Americans are making a complete hydrological survey. My Cal. Host and I share very similar views. We are not ever-optimistic about Assouan dam and believe water may be obtained from at least two other sources. The one is underground—here the Egyptian and American reports differ but the former has been made public, the latter is sub rosa and, as I said above, no publicity. Fortunately I am aware of the work of Col. Jarvis and Hussein Bey which is not much but more than most Americans.

I was also fortunate in having one of the bulletins from Riverside being copied and I shall check others because it is sometimes possible to have wisdom when one does have knowledge.

I am behind the Semiramis Hotel which is located between Shepherds and the Nile-Hilton. I don’t like the latter but go there to get the Times and “Time” or other reading matter. But I am also studying Horticulture and American Philosophy. There is a library attached to the Embassy and they not only welcome readers, but the reasons for my study have been highly approved. We don’t think of America as a country of philosophers. I have failed utterly with Lloyd Morain here, but have made excellent contacts with Columbia and Harvard. It is significant that Ford Foundation also selected California, Columbia and Harvard as the most vital universities at the present time.

On the purely selfish side, perhaps, I realize that if the Schloss Estate is over settled favorably, I may be working with Ford and want to look over everything that may grow in that region.

The thermometer is often up to 95° but no humidity and of course, it is gradually receding. It is barely possible that I may send you some literature. I have been getting bulletins and if the quantity becomes too burdensome I will send them to the States to somebody who might be interested. Gavin got a lot of stuff this way from me previously on subjects that interested him.

This is really becoming a land of small farmers. There are many improvements over traditional methods and every worker is learning to use hand-pump spray equipment. Of course I shall know more later.

Cordially.

Samuel L. Lewis

September 14, 1960

Dear Mac:

I am within a stone’s throw of the Nile but you better not throw any stones here. Still less should one start throwing coins so I am sending you some by grapevine through Ed to Ernie if he is still alive—just to prove I have a memory. But if you have a short memory I do not hold you accountable for failure to pass on these tokens of esteem or just tokens. The one with the hole in it—the “Lady” coin—you filthy man, is worth 1 pilaster. I have not yet tried to price females, leaving that to sailors. There is a half pilaster coin too. The plaster is worth 2.8c on the Wall St. Market, 2.2c in the bank and 2.1c on the open market. I think the brass one is half a pilaster and the copper one I mil, there being 10 mils to a plaster and this arithmetic isn’t worth it.

To be successful here one should have two of those three credentials (a) Know something about Egypt or Islam; (b) Know something about plant materials, especially food crops; (c) know something about the Berkeley Campus. The latter is most important and copy of Hilgardia which I happen to have smuggled in was nearly as good as my passport.

Last Tuesday I went to the embassy which is close by and pretty soon me and the boys got thick. I am thick anyhow but this helped. They sent me to one Paul Keim and we “oskied” together. He is a big shot—behind the scenes, doing village resettlement work. He told me there were California graduates all over the place. “Yankee Go Home” was shouted so all the boys of the Ivy Leagues departed and instead you either find Blue & Gold grads from Berkeley or else from the South, the deep South, sir—Loosseeianna and Ah-khahnsaw and the great State of Teck’s-Ass. What, no Russians? They are supposed to be down (or up) at Assouan, accordingly as you follow the Nile or map.

Paul K. gave me a lot of intros, but meanwhile Mr. Ferguson, the Agriculture attaché at the Embassy got busy and I was over at the Foreign Relations Section, Dept. of Ag., and I guess I don’t rate so high because they gave me a Ford instead of a Cadillac which I had in Tokyo. Anyhow I have been at the University of Cairo every day, cottoning with big boys by which I mean cottoning because that is the “white gold” of Egypt. They chased me to the Plant Pathology Department and while I was there a Horticulturist came in and put priority claims on me and yesterday when I got to the Horticulture Department, they already had my picture (no number on it) and were waiting for me and another Oski and this guy also went to Davis.

You have rounds of drinks but they are coffee of tea or cokes and I don’t take cokes. Then the Floriculture guy took me to one of the big gardens and what do you think I saw? Well I went to East Pakistan in 1956 and said. “What you need are E. globules and T. distichum and they said: “Nerts,” and here in Egypt by the Nile and nigh the desert you not only have E. globules all over the place, but T. distichum, and how! Of course to make it unanimous, they not only have proven you can grow T. distichum here but what do you think I saw in drainage ditches? Cacti. Far be it from me to tell Mr. Nasser how to run his country.

But seriously the plan worked out by Harry Nelson and myself is succeeding. I was given all kinds of problems on Cotton, Sugar Cane, Soy Beans and Tomatoes and consulted my bulletins. Oh, Yes, Peanuts. The latter matter material I found in the Florida and Georgia bulletins and Louisiana supplied the Sugar Cane answers.

I spent some time looking around at trees. I did see Papyrus and some kinds of Lotus as well as Lilies in the pond. Strange to say they have excellent Roses in this warm climate and do not have them nearly so good in Japan. I do not know the reason or secret for it. They have all kinds of pines and trees from South India.

Just at the end of the tree section, you might have guessed: P. crassifolium. In Beirut it was P. tobira. The P. you have with you all the time.

There is also highway planting mostly Casuarina. But it bends in the wind. The Eucs are sometimes trimmed and the wood used. This is what I had suggested for India and Pakistan and maybe somebody will listen now.

There are big hydrological surveys on and as water is discovered or uncovered, the marshlands, the depressions and oases are being utilized. Saturday I am “being taken for a ride” to a distant province—in the North West. I am trying to see Keim Friday because that is the Islamic Sabbath. I have had no day of rest—Saturday and Sundays at the U. I also expect to call on the Japanese embassy Friday, which is between the sections of the American E.

Have not done much touring, feeling that I may be a guest of the government. I am told that will come in time. I have far more introductions than I can use as offices close either at 1 or 2 and that is it for the day excepting that the American library and Tourist offices re-open at 5. Between them you can eat, sleep or play—unless you are a mad man or Englishman and go out in the noon-day sun.

I have not yet looked at much of the local planting. Cassias are most evident, and they graft in order to bring out the best flowering types. There are Jacarandas and of course Palms and Palms and Palms. The Palms include Royal P., Date P., etc., the palms: “shine mister!” But very few baksheesh palms. A few beggars, but you may not know it. I belong to the International Order of Island Schnorrers which gives me the right to beg and to refuse to give hand-outs. This is very valuable. I get a free hair-cut in Beirut and I did not think anybody could beat a Lebanese. It is a long story, which I am tired of writing about.

Bought a transistor radio which comes in handy, but today I bought a local paper. There are several English and French.

I don’t know how I do it, but I get into this country as a V.I.P and have several big shots on my list to see, if I can ever get to that. But I am also waiting for Prof. Creswell who is the authority on everything especially how to avoid cracks, fakers, bunco artists and the sellers of genuine antiques made in 1940.

Now it is breakfast time—not a good meal. Fortunately I get good coffee as soon as I go visiting; very good coffee, too. They invented the coffee break here, and sometimes you have one after another with occasional work in between. Maybe someday I’ll get technical and tall you about the work. Yes, I have seen the latest in grass cutters. But yesterday I saw a book on plants growing in the Sinai desert. And what is foremost; C. dactylon! Even the mosquitoes draw the line somewhere.

Cheerio

September 18, 1960

My dear Florie:

This is my diary entry for today and I am sending a copy to a small group of Muslims in Cleveland. I arose somewhat refreshed, no doubt because there has been a drop in temperature and, of course, I am becoming used to the weather. It is warm and dry, not nearly so enervating as our Eastern seaboard or India and point east, but still too hot to warrant much walking.

If you travel by taxi, they drive fast and you hardly see anything. If you take the bus or car, you are crowded, and in any case, you do not see much. So I essayed a walk which I presume is about four miles each way, going by one set of streets and returning by another.

Without saying I love Cairo. I prefer it to our Eastern cities and to some in India. I would like it better than Los Angeles if it were not so flat. Like Portland, Oregon, it is divided by a river and I have not found any city limits yet. I have not tried to see any historical moments. Nearly all my time has been spent at Cairo University or with different branches of the Government.

Many factors are working for me here. The two outstanding are my interest in Islam and my being a life-member of the University of California Alumni Association. Not only is the top American from Berkeley but more graduates from there are in important Government offices than from any other American University, or, so far as I can see, from all the Iron Curtain countries put together. Every interview is torn by the situation of a grand welcome and a need for me to be touring the States and telling people what I see.

The third element in my position is the type of internal thinking I indulge in. This has made me look somewhat askance at the Assouan project. I am in favor of establishing a Salt Water Conversion station on the Red Sea just as we are putting up along the coast of Southern California and also near Galveston. I am also much intrigued by the American desert reclamation methods of re-discovery of ancient water-course, wells and springs, their analysis and potential use. I am almost ready to write a rough draft of a “Plan for the Nile.” This is stimulated by my reading Louis Bromfield’s works of what he did in Ohio. It is, of course, technical.

Today’s venture was my second to Al-Azhar. They understand pretty well the situation in the United States and I told them that I was in no hurry of a plan of action. My “Saladin” has been read and is being turned over to a Sheikh for evaluation. As President Nasser is going to the U.N. I am not hurrying this either.

The first situation I explained was the rivalry between no less than six Pakistani groups to “convert” English-speaking people. They all ignore each other, and mostly print in poor English. The majority assume Islamic teachings and then try to prove them. Four of these groups are more or less Sunni and two are Ahmadiyya. I placed the Ahmadiyya Prayer book in the Director’s hands for review. I shall return in three on four days for his decision and possibly my instructions in Salat and Nimaz, etc.

I also partly reviewed an article he is having published for English speaking people. My main objection was his long sentences—he told me he likes long sentences, but I told him that people unfamiliar with Islam could not follow them. He accepted this correction.

One of the leaders from Al-Azhar is now in Canada and Dr. Shawarbi is still in the States, but should be back in two weeks. He is supposed to be visiting all the Islamic Centers. I don’t know whether he went to San Francisco or not.

Incidentally Asara left on excellent name, all over. She is considered to be a grand person which, of course, is true.

I took a note over to Al-Azhar Mosque but the attendant speaks English and welcomed me. This made me feel very happy. There are in a sense two Mosques, one being a grand courtyard, surrounded by alcoves. There were many classes in these alcoves and so far as I could see, they have co-education with the boys and girls not particularly different than in our country. I think they are using it largely as a kindergarten or pre-school place.

This seems to be been constricted on the ruins of a church or Greek temple for the pillars were of a decidedly modified Corinthian type. While the Greek pillars may be “noble” they lacked the feeling of the ornamental work above them. These were either in forms of rosettes remarkably like the early Buddhist wheels, or in carvings derived from Qur’anic passages. These, to me, had both beauty and feeling. I made no efforts to take notes and my not having a camera enables me to walk around more than some tourists.

The inner Mosque is, I presume, the famous one. There were a few classes on, entirely of older people. The adults were of all ages, but generally young man or those who have reached the period of retirement. The place was not a congregation of beggars and “bums” which one finds in India and Pakistan. Some of the staff do not like what they saw there, especially around the shrines. As I belong to the Chisti, they told me some of their objections to what they saw. I admit ceremonially and outwardly there is “saint worship” but inwardly there is something else and there are only two ways to convey that “something else.” One is by a visit and the other is by disciplinary instruction.

Al-Azhar is not Rome and the more peripheral the devotees, the more they are apt to depart from the literal methods used here. I do not find extremes in Cairo, or rather the city if not so delineated. In Pakistan one finds some very strict Puritans and they are engaged in narrow Orthodoxy. Well, you have seen it in your apartment so I don’t want to say anything. These people are not making converts so much as trying to supervise those who claim to be Muslims. In the end you get civil wars as in Indonesia, useless, murderous, and Qur’an distantly lays down that a Muslim should never kill another Muslim. I will have no part with these people although personally I get along with them.

The tone here is of high intellectual approach and I am thoroughly in favor of it. I am not looking for saints. I am not looking for noble moral outlooks in others, which are not reflected in my own life, although I certainly here come upon little ignobility. So far as I can see president Nasser did work out a grand revolution, in so many directions that we in American, who have new bothered to study Egypt, will never really discover.

Fortunately I found a new ally, a Harvard graduate who just came to this pension to do research on modern Egyptian history. He fully realizes my gripes and is compelled to do something about them, for that is what he is paid for.

We shall have to go over carefully each facet, of the lack of information in America about the Arab world; the lack of information in America about Islam; the control of Near East teaching by European-born whose presence is—and I can never repeat this too much—a sore spot here as it is in all Asia. Here I am a bull-dog and I shall live and die opposing the intermediation by Europeans—Christians, Jews and non-believers—into the field of Near East and Islamic instruction. We don’t like Chinese teaching American history in China or Poles teaching American history in India; in fact we see that it is not done.

My “undiplomatic” ways of life constantly open now doors for me and I am seeing all kinds of things, but mostly in the technical field to date. Tomorrow I shall try to find an Egyptian versed in both modern science and Sufism. So I am having a grand time despite my gripes.

As-Salaam aleikhum.

September 20, 1960

Harry Nelson

The Greenhouse

City College

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear Harry:

I have been doing some thinking. Before you challenge I recall the very first lecture I heard you give on this subject and even though you did not exactly say: “Do thou and do likewise,” it might be a good idea sometimes.

The subject is the problem of the Nile. Now I am not so vain as to presume I can offer a “solution” to a large problem. Spoke and Burton were among my early heroes: I read Stanley and later on the romantic work of Emil Indwig. Perhaps a few books in between. I came to a conclusion which may have merits and demerits but have been terrifically stimulated by two books borrowed from the American Library near here.

The first is “Out of the Earth” by Louis Bromfield. Bromfield is one of those writers I came upon in fiction and then turned to his non-fiction (The opposites was true of A. Huxley). My immediate concision is that his philosophy is very similar to your own and certainly he has thought and done where I have merely intuited.

The second is “Theory and Dynamics of Grassland Agriculture.” This book, fortunately, goes into details on Legumes as well as Grasses and on the whole is more informative of them. As one reads—and the author. Jack H. Harland of Oklahoma certainly holds the same view—we need an encyclopedia rather than a few books on Grasses, You may remember I wrote to you what is being done at Kew in this reports.

The Grass work is very technical and I am thankful today I took two courses on Organic Chemistry, enough at least to follow through the work on Plant Pathology and Enzymes, etc. But I am more inserted in the cyclic philosophy of earth replenishment then in specialized scientific work which leaves off much. In fact there are so many basic considerations such as types of seed, storages, the types of sugars, etc., that it has been well worth going over. The angel-devil C. dactylon has to be discussed because the author definitely explained that this is one of the highest starch storing grasses. You may remember I wrote from India that it was the no. 2 Grass in value, but the No. 1 in quantity, the blessing of the farmer, the curse of the gardener.

Both these works emphasize the need of restoration of organic matter to the soil. Now turning to the Nile, I have been opposed to the Assouan Dam for many reasons. One is I think the cost is too much for the Nation and the same money, used in Salt Water conversion plants and in a more complete hydrological survey including chemical analyses of soil and water would be more effective.

In one respect the Nile resembles the Indus. India and Pakistan have just signed an agreement with regard to the waters. On the other hand it resembles the Colorado where a number of States have entered into a pact almost like an international agreement. But there is no such pact concerning the Nile. And it is always possible that Ethiopia may indulge in engineering projects like Colorado, carrying water over a shed into another region where feasible, to open up large tracts. Ethiopia is a land of extreme contrasts between wet and dry regions and she may do something about it.

In the southern part of Sudan there is a region called the Sudd. It is filled with papyrus plants often called “worthless” although yesterday I heard this contradicted. Sudan also has vast deserts though there is some rain in parts. Presumably those deserts, like those of Egypt, have high pH. It came to my mind that it might—just might—be possible to dredge the region, making channels and taking the much and organic matter and putting it on the land. Simple grinders might do the work, or there may be other methods and this would both benefit the river and the land.

Today I visited the Vegetable Experimental Section and took up the soil problem, but briefly. They told me that manure was plentiful and cheap. Grant that. But the pH of manure is certainly higher than that of most or maybe all leaf-molds, etc. And with a high pH, this is only a partial corrective.

The main trees of this region do not follow any pattern. They are F. Bengalensis, S. Babylonia, Euc. sp. and Casuarina. The last two certainly do not have foliage good for leaf-molds. Of course there are plenty of Cassias too but they are a “lower level” and I omit reference to shrubs. There is a lot of pruning and gleaning going on, but no composting.

Next Sunday I am scheduled to go to the Soils Department and will report to you what I find out there. But so far I have not seen the recognition of the Nitrogen or other cycles and complete ignorance of the philosophy propounded in the two books mentioned above, which is pretty close to what I feel must be done.

There is also another deportment dedicated to research on Soil Bacteria. They certainly must be finding out something even though it be that they came to an impasse.

Bromfield shows the difference between the handling of the Missouri—which he considers was done badly—and the Ohio, which he admires. The Missouri again, is much like the Nile, going through warm dry country in the summer. Bromfield advocates up-stream control and that is the only thing I see. Despite the “Arab Bloc,” the Nations have not learned to cooperate and have mutual exchange.

September 21, 1960

My dear Professor Cutright:

Yesterday I spent three hours as a guest at the Central Vegetable Experimental station with Faud Rizk, Ali Azad and Mohammed M. Billah. I am scheduled to call there again Saturday.

The conversation started with what proved to be a meet happy example of “agricultural philosophy.” I am to a great extent indebted to my friend and mentor, Harry Nelson, Greenhouse, City College, San Francisco, who is known to your colleagues at Columbus. He has long been advocating the use of the Catalina Cherry, both as a potential fruit crop and even better as a source of cross breeding.

It is adapted to warm dry places and is used in Southern California as an ornamental and safeguard again erosion; e.g., Griffith park, Los Angeles. There is a place in San Francisco where the Federal, State and City Park systems meet and there is some overlapping (or excellent neglect) where there is a grove of these trees which fruit heavily. The first things to note is that they fruit late in the year, even as late as October in San Francisco which has its warm season late in the year. They have very large stones and primps that is one reason why they have not become a popular fruit crop. If picked at the right time they are very sweet, but if too late and the birds do not get them, they may rot.

As a cocked fruit they taste nicer than more Cherries, being exceedingly palatable and so sweet they do not require much sugar. They have a slightly more pruney flavor than other Cherries. In any case they are neglected.

I spoke to the first two gentlemen about the advisability of bringing this tree here both as an ornamental and fruit tree. It seems much more ecologically fitted than some I have seen, does not need much care and, if there is even to be a program of leaf composting would be far more suitable than the trees one does see: Eucalyptus, Casuarinas, S. Babylonia, Pines.

Well that is exactly what they do with the Solanaceae. They have a native S. torvum which grows wild. They graft on it Eggplant and Peppers. The former does excellently well, in view of what is going to be said later. They also have developed a perennial Tomato and use it for Potato experiments. Despite the fact that the office is filled with Potato pictures and literature, I did not see any growing here, nor did I bring up the question. There is plenty of K available for this crop, in forms not suitable for some others which are otherwise normal to the weather.

Mr. Azad, who took me around, conducts the Sweet Potato experiments. Much of this is done in what we should call giant Cold Frames. They are almost entirely of glass, all except cement foundations. There are several kinds of Cold Frame but the smaller outfitted to become Greenhouses in the winter. The experiments are based on breeding the crossing and timing of setting seed so they might ascertain periods of harvesting etc. The soil used is 2/3 Clay and Loam and 1/3 Sand, with some feeding to enrich it.

Incidentally the Morning Glory (Ipomoea) does wonderfully well here, setting up contrast color to Bougainvillea, etc. I have not seen many Sweet Potatoes on the market or menu, but the space given to them and the detailed research opens up possibilities.

Mr. Azad also showed me Dasheon and Tapioca to which I gave little attention but this is a first visit. Besides I am trying to emphasize non-starch vegetables.

I gave him the seeds, which your colleges kindly furnished me. He has a Tomato man just as he, Azad, is the Sweet Potato man. The colleague went to work at once and was also thankful for the printed sheet. They are badly in need of Wilt Resistance types.

At the station they also have set up a department for filling and cross-filling take care both of the projects and the results of breeding. We went into the field where the great work is being done on Cabbage. The idea is to develop strains that will stand all local forms of weather. They even have crosses. From a later conversation I think Mr. Billah, whose name I mentioned above, must be the Cabbage men. I shall find out later.

Corn has not been very successful. I think this is due to the reasons. One is that the soil has a high pH and P is locked up and unavailable. The other is the tremendous prevalence of the Cabbage moth which made the fields look very poor. The ground around the station seemed to be fairly pest free, but not the fields. I am going to look up my catalogs to see what I can find. I turned all my Cotton pest folders over to their main Station. But I am inclined to believe your program will prove efficacious and I am going to ask them to contact you.

One of the things, perhaps the things I want most is international Horticultural exchange. I was glad to get the main gripe I hold and that is, instead of sending newspaper men out, we should even subsidize retired farmers and have them visit the Asian countries. I omit Africa on account of the weather, not because of the race problem. In “The Ugly American” the lament is for linguistic communication. I believe “down to earth” communication a thousand times better.

Labor is cheap. They use mostly an Italian form of hoe. They also use anima manures in great quantity. This conditions the soil but does not reduce the pH as leaf molds night.

Here again it was the staff that brought up the pest problem and that is the main reason I write. The Central Printing Office has a complete Entomological Catalog. I may inquire later about it and other publications. The spring program seems to depend upon specifics and if followed would require the use of a large number of spray materials during a season. This would mean a cooperative or village community program, into which I may inquire later.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 21, 1960

Dear Rudy:

Your letter of the 15th arrived yesterday and this will be mailed in the morning. I am glad to check on the timing. There are no aerograms here so one has to choose between straight air-mail and sea-mail. This letter today is, in a sense, my diary record.

There is considerable news about air-lines. There are innumerable offices here. The Czechoslovak line advertises big but the TWA still bigger. I am able to walk around sections of the City without trouble, but am slow in the use of trams or busses. They cost little but are crowded and you see nothing when you are in them.

I can understand the difficulties of getting started in the travel bureau business. New York City is full of them. Here one is drawn either to the airlines or well-known people like Lloyds and American Express. But there are some agencies. I guess, for local citizens. The trouble in the business here is that your profits often depend on the number of languages you speak.

The American Embassy has been very cooperative with me. I also take books from their library, mostly on Horticulture. About half my mornings are spent with the technicians in this field. I spent some time with George Scanlon at the American University. He is the contact man on Islamic culture, especially Art. But by agreement I am to wait for one Dr. George Creswell, who is considered by all hands to be the A-L expert. I then called on the head of the University Library, one Mahmud Shenecti.

I told Scanlon I differed from the “experts” on Sufism because despite their statements, and often arrogant statements, I had met Sufis in high places. He conceded that this might be true of further Asia but was not true here. But when I was talking with Shenecti he brought up the name of Abdul Kadir-i-Gilani and we found ourselves in complete agreement.

I also met another Sufi yesterday at the Vegetable Experimental station. He is Mohammed M. Billah. I am going to take some of my poetry, and perhaps other writing when I go there again which will be Saturday. Actually the politicians seem to be cool toward Sufism, the scientists quite warm.

Monday I picked up my Visa for Pakistan. It is multiple entry good for four years and subject to renewal. The clerk was rather haughty and it was evident to me that he was a Parsi although I did into call it to his face. I simply wrote a letter to the Consul General in San Francisco, sent a copy to the Ambassador with a note, setting forth some of my credentials—which I can assure you are top-notch. I received an emergency call from our own Embassy and the clerk stood at attention and saluted when he gave me the Visa. I told the hotel owner I did not know whether to get angry or laugh and in a sense still do not. When I have been meek officials have often been haughty and when I show credentials, they are liable to go to be other extreme, which is not much better.

The Syrian and Indian embassies are near the Pakistani, but I did not find the former. Many of them are not on the map where designed, but generally nearby. The Syrian Embassy (on the map) proved to be that of Ghana, and the Indian Embassy was on the same street as printed but not the same block or same side. As it was a dead and street I could not help finding it—there was no other way to go to get out.

I had a long talk with the Travel Secretary who suggested I get in touch with the Tourist Bureau and have them map my trip. If it is too hot, I may enter at Amritsar and go to Kashmir, back to Amritsar and cross Northern India—Amritsar, Delhi, Aligarh, Lucknow, Benares, Paatna. Calcutta.

The alternative would be by ship form Karachi be Bombay and cover Bombay, Hyderabad, Mysore and Malabar, including my spiritual headquarters at a place called Kanhangad. If I take that route first I would stop at Ajmir again on the way north. But if I run to Calcutta, I would go to Agra and vicinity on the way south. I am presuming the Northern visit first, and then leaving by Bombay to Ceylon, but if I visit the South first I may cover Ceylon on a side trip and go from Calcutta to Chittagong to Malayan points form that side.

I went to another office downtown to see the cultural attaché. He is away with an art exhibit at Alexandria. He has a library something like that in San Francisco. I can use the place as a reading room. With the present state of affairs in the world I trust the Indian newspaper more than those of most lands.

So far there has been nothing but adventure and cordiality. I expect to go the Al-Azhar again tomorrow. I saw the historical Mosque earlier in the week. Although I got a pass when I reached the gates a man said to me in English: “We always welcome American Muslims just like that.”

There is a side of Sufism, which is deeper than Psychic Research. Mrs. Garret and the Cayce Foundation have both rejected tentative papers on the subject. That is why I am for a more serious and impersonal research group which will go into phenomena, not personalities. I have been asked again and again to go the some holy places here and it is quite possible that there will be “emanations of baraka” there, to which I am sensitive. If so I shall communicate in detail either directly or by sending a carbon copy.

I have had no regular guide, but one young man here at the pension and another at the University have put themselves at my services. I told the latter I had no paying job excepting I would like to take him to dinner, he selecting the restaurants. He was pleased with that offer. I did not find the Diners’ Club headquarters here but will send them a letter as their places are not listed for UAR They have a good list for Lebanon.

I have not heard from either Gavin Arthur or the Bank of American or from Clementina St. Of course my moneys should be accumulating and there is no worry, but I have to pay for my fare to Karachi and would prefer to use my home bank check, instead of cheques. I do have some Pakistani rupees and also moneys there so there is no worry on that account, just uncertainty. And I can’t even make out an income tax declaration without such reports.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 25, 1960

My dear Florie:

Yesterday I visited the Embassy again and also strolled to the Japanese Embassy to see the cultural attaché. My relations with the Americans are very cordial although I have run into one off-key note. At the University they defended Von Grünebaum whom I accused because he said the downfall of Islam was due to the refusal of Sufis to take part in the government. I pointed out the large number I had met elsewhere. They answered, “Yes, elsewhere.” The hotel owner reaffirmed this position.

But the other day my temporary host, Fouad Fisk said, “I have a grand surprise for you, another member of tarik,” which is to say, the esoteric path. He is Mohammed M. Billah and a member of the Shadilya Order. Today we discussed Sufism both at length and deeply because Ali Ezed who is supposed to be conducting me around, was called out of the office constantly. Meanwhile the grapevine is working for me and tomorrow evening I have my first invitation to an Egyptian home from one Dr. Mustapha Kemal Ahmed. He has been to the States for Horticulture training and is listed in the phone book as one of the top advisors in this field. But he also wants to see me because of my interest in Islam.

When you arrive at an office you wait for tea or coffee and may discuss religion or anything else but business. This means slow progress but satisfactory personal impressions and responses. When I receive a problem, however, I go to work on it and I often have rather technical typing to do. That is what I am here for and that is what people are finding out—and liking.

I have not yet been able to meet Abdul Ruzzak Nophal who is the top scientist here, or Dr. Turki, of the Research Institute, whom I understand went to the University of California. Tuesday morning I am to go to the Chamber of Commerce and I have to squeeze in the Indian cultural attaché and Al-Azhar somehow, but I think I can make the latter Wednesday, when I have other business too.

Today Mohammed M. Billah told me that there are lots of Sufis around, chiefly Shadilyas whom I want to meet and Rifa’i. The latter are the “howling Dervishes” and they perform all those phenomena which we attach to the term fakir and which have wrongly been thrown at the Hindus who are not so adept, I believe, in either mysticism or magic, though they get the name for it. I do not wish to devaluate the Hindus. I wish to elevate the Muslims, both esoteric and esoteric and exoteric and think I can do it now, with the backing and authorization I am receiving. The end of the Academy and the temporary tragedy of the Islamic Center will clear the path for proper instruction. I do not have to look down or at those persons who would not permit me to speak, or who gave excuses for strange politics—more of which worked because they were not God’s will…. I wish you were with me this morning when we could talk and talk openly on things which were hushed up in San Francisco. Why? Never mind that, it is only necessary to accentuate the positive.

Faithfully,

Dear Florie:

The diary note for today is short. Went to the Agricultural section of the Embassy where I had very good reports. They understand thoroughly here what I am doing.

At 11 o’clock went to the Chamber of Commerce and met Abdel Aziz Zohdy. He launched into politics and was so long and vehement we never did get down to business.

By the time he was through a reporter came in from “Akhbar” or Akhbar el-Yawm” which means Daily News or something like that and attention was turned to me. We had an interview and later on the reporter will call at my hotel and give me a long interview and take my picture for an article. I shall then get the article and send it to Mr. Mehdy in San Francisco and Mr. Schwell in New York and a few extras for the Bay Region. Shall let you know later.

This afternoon went to the Tourist Information Office. It was a regular Puck visit. “How can I go to Syria?” “You can get the information across the street.” “How can I visit Karnak?” “You can got the information across the street. That is about all I got. Absolutely nothing for Cairo, only for the Fayum; nothing for Assouan even.

So I went across the street. They can arrange my plane flight; and also my train trip south but not any hotel. The travel bureau I like tell you about hotels. I got for more information in the U.S. but don’t think I carried all the bulletins with me. They had all the dope. It is available, but the girl at the Information Office gave me nothing but negatives. Anyhow if I go to Damascus I must book long ahead. But if I visit the temples 24 hours notice is enough.

In a few moments I shall have the radio broadcast in English of Nasser’s address. Then I shall start some very heavy writing.

Faithfully,

September 27, 1960

My dear Jack:

I have just had an experience which is something like a man who has applied for a permit to visit the children’s playground and is given a pass to the big league ball grounds; naturally he does not now care whether he gets the permit or not. For so far as scientific investigation the jackpot has hit me.

I have been to the national Research Office of the Central Government. There is a Dr. Turki in charge and I think he also went to the University of California. I have reported previously that I not only saw Spanish ships in the harbor but that Nasser met France. I have previously reported that there is more than something in the wind. Today I got direct picture myself at the top level Doors are being opened here for research scientists and they are not iron curtain country people. Technical men are supposed be have laboratory experience and a good knowledge of either French or German. The conversation was all the more interesting because the persons immediately involved were Hollanders.

I started off this morning by visiting the Embassy and the Vegetable Research Center. I am doing top technical research work mostly in literature. Or course if I had to demonstrate with equipment I should probably do that, too. I have found that my work is being appreciated by both the Americans and Egyptians. This is after a long hard struggle, Jack, but I have just received an acknowledgement from the Alumni association of the University of California thanking me for my last report; so far as I can tell the next one will be a humdinger, or if keep quiet until I return, I may even be given a banquet.

I was told that the best Agricultural Research Station was that at Beirut at the American College there; I think I wrote you I can confirm this. But what I am seeing now is the materialization of a dream. I did not stay long with Dr. Turki. He gave me an overall shirt of the Research Centre and turned me over to Ahmed Kabash who is in charge of all the documents. I was shown the library, the microfiche department, and a number of associated sections. I must say by that time I was rather tired. I have then the literature with me purposely and have gone over it. What I have found out confirms what I have been saying. I cannot compel a metaphysical world to accept faster. I am going to write up some of these things for the C. S. Monitor. I don’t know how much they will print them but I shall certainly send a copy of my document to the World Affairs Council on Powell St. I have met three charts and these bear out my previous contentions:

                            Molecular & Atom Physics      Nuclear Physics          Soil Science

French                            2                                              2                                  10

German                           1                                              1                                  3

English                           12                                             1                                  26

American                        16                                            13                                40

Russians                          31                                            13                                -

Misc.                               3                                              9                                  9

Miss. Iron Curtain           1                                              -                                  1

Please note that the Russians seem far ahead in Molecular and Atomic Physics. But that we are even in Nuclear Physics. I thought it might be the other way around. What is significant is the few contributions of the Germans. Actually eight of the nine “Miscellaneous” in Nuclear Physics are Italian, the other being Japanese. The miscellaneous in Soil Science are manly all Hindus or Muslims—one can’t tell the country from their names. But I was amazed to find not a single Russian document on Soil science. There was one from Poland. This definitely implements what I noticed in Ohio, that we are far ahead of Russia in this field. I can’t go through the catalogs checking on each nationality in each science, although I supposes it might be a nice game on shipboard, or when I have nothing I want to do.

There is an open display of magazines on a table, where they are left for two weeks prior to filing. The ones I saw from Russia were all on Physics. In checking on Organic Chemistry the United States was ahead by Russia, India and Italy all had plenty. I did not count.

This document will smash now and for all the truth or untruth of statements made as to who is leading in “sciences.” Nobody leads—but contributions are received here from all over the world. I am far more appalled at the paucity of German contributions than the quantity from Russia, India or Italy.

I later went over the book here on Textiles and was surprised that in the two parts of the book, the first dedicated to looms and machines shows the Japanese decidedly in first place, with for practical purposes the Germans far behind, then followed the United States and way behind France. Other nothings contributed little or nothing.

 In the section devoted to yarns, etc., Germany decidedly led, followed by the United States and a number of other nations also contributed, the Japanese among them but far behind. I am not going to write anything on the leadership in science and technology, but this “neutral” observation point with materials from all parts of the earth is an excellent one.

It is to be noticed that the Spanish speaking world in toto has given practically nothing and I do not think this is because they do not welcome Spanish documents, but that this world as whole does not lead in many sciences.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 28, 1960

Diary entry for the day sent jointly to Willie Wise and William Gaskin.

Dear friends:

This day I saw much of Cairo on feet. I was taken by a hotel clerk who likes to walk so we walked. I have now been in this city the better part of the month, and have not gone out its environs. I shall report on the day.

We walked the whole length of the town, excepting for a short trolley ride to the oldest Mosque here, that of Amr ibn al-As. It was probably built on a Christian Church. I had already been to Al-Azhar and noticed what I humorously the “pillars of Islam” which are Corinthian and more than five, no matter what the theologians say. The Mosque of Amr ibn al-As covers a large courtyard—now deserted—and inner courts which were being used by women in the morning. Most of the pillars are Corinthian but some are Ionic and a few a modified type showing distinctly Egyptian influences This, of course, was before the rise of distinctly Islam art..

Old Cairo contains the poorest part of town but it is surprisingly small in comparison with other districts. Alms clearance is going on and there are much vaster sections with apartment houses of modern types. What interested me here were the kilns. They were for pottery and tiles, and some pottery was being glazed, but it was not the potters’ section, it was the kiln section. Different kilns are used by potters and tilers. Many pots are used for plants, the others for water carrying or vases. There were no others in evidence at this time, but it was a production, not a merchandising area.

We walked a long distance North East to the Mosque of Ahmad ibn Tulun He was the first independent Islamic ruler of Egypt. This Mosque is very large and was closed at the time. It shows a distinctly advanced degree of workmanship and the preservation of sculptured form with a high detail of exactitude in reproduction. In general I found that the brick making had reached a high development with a slight glaze on, not too much to spoil the brick nature, but enough to take away the roughness.

We next went to the Asultana Hasan Mosque which shows an advanced Islamic art and was very busy with devotees. The same principle held for the Zayyaid Hussein where the bones of the grandson of the Prophet are buried. There is a constant movement of pilgrims going on and both Qur’an reading and study. There is no worship hour between early morning and after 2 in the afternoon.

What I have seen in the Mosque so far include a high degree of lattice work, non-objective formations, excellent work on inner doors and vaults—the higher up the finer the art and it is wonderful because these men most have worked on ladders and scaffolds. The inner courts were not lit up although all the places are now equipped for electricity. This is used first for fans and some air conditioning and only lighting when necessary, so it was hard for students to read. I noticed here that one devotee did not even go in but chanted in the doorway where it was light. I found the chanting very beautiful.

The bazaars near Al-Azhar, I am told, sell at much cheaper rates those “downtown” which in turn sell at much cheaper rates than those in or near the hotels—which includes this place, just adjacent to the grand hotels. Tomorrow I am going with one of the managers to visit her favorite bazaar. She is under financial obligations to me but I would take no money—which was most agreeable to her too.

End of diary note.

Cairo, UAR

October 2, 1960

Abdul Sattar,

Pakistani House

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear friend:

I am sending you my diary entry at this time because it contains a number of items which will no doubt be of interest to you. I have already written that the very difficulty I met here turned into an affair of honour, and that the clerk must have been disciplined in that he stood at attention while I was there and gave me a salute. As he did not give the Islamic greeting and behaved so much life certain Parsis I have met in the past, I could understand and am much more enchanted with the willingness of the Pakistani government to give equal rights to all its citizens than any problem I may have met along this line.

I am now not only busy looking into the agricultural and scientific problem by this region, I am receiving full cooperation. I shall spare details excepting in so far as they concern Pakistan. Both Egyptians and Americas highly command my study of this region in order to obtain information and ideas which may be applied in the Indus Valley. The parallels are many.

When it comes to water supply, I think your country has been very wise and the Egyptians would be well to cooperate with Sudan, a presumably friendly country which they have tended to ignore, while both the Indian officials and your esteemed President have had engineering if not political foresight. Do not be surprised that by the end of the century you may be ahead of this region.

The Americans here—and also now I have found some Egyptians—have made a pretty through pretty thorough Petrological and Soil survey which gives them ideas for soil correction and proper crops. I am holding my basic literature for release in Pakistan. I have been now twice to the National Research Centre which gives one ideas both for a central institution and for more specific methods with dealing with specific scientific problems.

Not only do both Americans and Egyptians command what I am doing but I find among the common people Pakistan is very popular here. The differences, if they exist, are at the top levels. The common Arab seems to seek a hero to worship or follow and their psychological reaction to President Ayub is practically identical with that toward President Nasser, although this may never get into the news.

I am making copious notes and reports which I shall have in my diary and to place before Mr. A. A. Cheema of the Central Agricultural Bureau if he be still in Karachi when I get there, or to take to ‘pindi which can so easily be reached from Abbottabad.

Aside from general soil and crop problems I have been given some Sugar problems and whether the answers are forthcoming or not, they will benefit Pakistan. Not only that, I shall certainly urge missions to come here and some students to visit this region.

I have benefited tremendously in the scientific and agricultural ventures because of my interests in Islam and because of my connection with the University of California. This has added to zeal on both sides and utmost cordiality. The result is that I am actually functioning at a higher level than ever before.

It is universally recognized that there must be a change in the whole instruction concerning Islamic history and Islamic philosophy in the United States. Names have been named here when you know persons who have or have had abundant influence in California but who are anathema either to the American Foreign Service or the Islamic leaders here or both; mostly to both. I am therefor going to be in conference with men of both Arabian and American allegiance to see what can be done to correct this. My personal history is slightly to the side here for I should have liked to have “majored” in Mogul history. I was unable to open any doors.

I have also named persons in other parts of the United States who give out false or misleading teachings about Islamic culture and who grant degrees. I have especially pointed out Von Grünebaum in Chicago with his selection of the Sufis as the scapegoats. Two weeks ago I was told I would be in for a grand surprise and met one M.M. Billah who is a leading scientist here and a member of the Shahili Turik. It was love at first sight and has been ever since. Actually it is very difficult to delineate between “orthodoxy” and “Sufism” in the lives, not of the poor, ignorant and superstitious, but in the lives of the most educated and enlightened people here. I meet with them occasionally socially, often professionally.

Yesterday Mr. Billah said that he would like me to accompany him on the birthday of the original Syed Hussein, the Prophet’s grandson. His tomb is here in a Mosque which I have visited. There will be a gathering of dervishes from all over the Near East. And, praise be to Allah, our birthdays fall on the same date. I am looking forward to this occasion like a child to a great party.

Last week I visited most of the historic Mosques. It is difficult to write much at the first visit because some of them are architectural monuments, some quite artistic and others must be distinguished by their inner atmosphere of what to say, is sanctity. I have heard some chanting almost up to the level I heard at Ajmir. I called my companion’s attention to the difference between the singing of the devotee and that on the radio. He had not noticed it before. Sometimes I wish I had a tape recorder with me but again, one must not interfere with the connection between the devotee and Allah.

My visit calls for a temporary 4-year period in Pakistan, subject to the authorities. Inasmuch as I should be speaking in many universities I cannot gauge the time and I want to visit the farm of Mr. Jamshyd Khan at Mardan and we shall have lots to discuss, too. Today I feel much more self-assured and even capable of performance.

Dr. Cromwell should be here any day now. He is the authority on Islamic Art. This is another venture I am undertaking in joint cooperation with friends in San Francisco and with Punjabi University. I write fairly regularly to my friend, Mrs. Florie Leonard, which is about all I can do. Anyhow everything is turning out fine.

Faithfully,

October 4

My dear Florie:

I have failed, in the midst of other activities, to keep up a diary. Things happen which are of no record, or are of import. Yesterday I had a big disappointment and then the opposite.

The disappointment is that after being here one month I have gotten absolutely nothing out of Al-Azhar. I do not like to complain. I went there the first place, the first day. I have been given hospitality and the best coffee imaginable. Excellent tea, fine feeling, but on the intellectual plane absolutely nothing. I do not understand this but I find it is partly true of others too. How can we bring teachings to the U.S. if nothing is done? Everybody cries to heaven, or hell, that we the Americans are unfair and then when we want to be fair, or to take their side, what happens?

It is not that. I have turned down several people who wanted to help me because I wish to work with authorities. Or again, I have had the vision of a Murshid and reported it and it may be that he is the one who is going to give me exoteric as well as esoteric instructions.

I left Al-Azhar at 10:15 yesterday morning and then things happened the other way. I met Mr. Pande, cultural attaché at the Indian Consulate. He invited me to meet Prof. Chandrasekhar who spoke last night. Dr. Chandrasekhar is perhaps the best demographer on earth and he specializes in population problems and their solution and more in their solution then their problems. He gave one of the most rousing talks I have ever heard and was well received by the intellectual elite. The people here are willing to learn and this is a man to teach them.

He was very pleased that I remembered his talk in Berkeley. But he is one of the men on earth that I definitely respect and in a sense follow. If you have time or occasion can you telephone the Moraines (Lloyd or Mary) and tell them that Sam Lewis has met Dr. Chandrasekhar in Cairo. Do not say much. I have known Lloyd since his early boyhood, he was originally a protégé of Vocha Fiske who is, perhaps, my closest confidante, we seeing eye to eye upon tremendous areas of science, art, politics, economics, religion and mysticism—in other words everything. But Lloyd has been successful and judges now outwardly not inwardly. I could have been of great help to him here but twice in my life had to re-arrange my program because he would not accept my finding, rejections always a priori .Then he did come to some of my lectures, to my amazement, just before I left. He does not get me at all because doors open and rapidly before me.

Next I have been permitted to take on books from their library which is excellent and am reading Outlines of Islamic Culture by A.M.A. Shustery which is the best work philosophically and theologically I have ever seen but filled with very bad and very inconsequential history, particularly in the foot-notes. In other words, the text is marvelous and I do not know who wrote the foot-notes which are encyclopedic and not pertinent, like diatribes on Emperor Nero or Theodosius etc.

I am reading the sections on Sufism, which are informative and have glanced at other sections which are informative—on Sufism—but also on other subjects. Literarily it has faults, but the subject matter is excellent.

It has long sections on Hujwiri, Ibn l‘Arabi and others and full of meat. In fact the book is meaty all the way through. It has by far the best material on the relation between Sufism and Vedanta I have ever seen, and constant and mostly excellent parallels between Indian scriptures and Islamic teachings.

The written is one A. M. A. Shustery which is obviously Iranian and he was a teacher of Iranian. His source materials from Iran are the first I have ever come upon and agree with has been told here. The book was published in Mysore.

Mere important perhaps was the news that the next Ambassador from India is Mr. Hussein who was Consul-General of India in San Francisco years ago. He used to go be Minte’s on Castro St. and Asara and others know him will. As we have exchanged confidences in the past, his coming here is a strong of great fortune, or blessing. His father was Sufi and he is one of the few men on earth who knows what I am doing.

This morning I go first to the American Cultural Attaché with a long program. I have succeeded in acting as liaison between him and Mr. Pande, the Indian. I am going ever many subject but slowly, and this includes the teaching of Islamic culture in the U.S. At 10 o’clock I go to the Bureau of Information and over my whole program.

My bill here for the month was less than I expected and I also go to the bank and get £ Egyptian. Tomorrow I may go to Al-Azhar, and as I take a holiday, Thursday back to the National Research Centre and meanwhile I have a lot of hard work to do here with my course materials.

Nor have I made my reports though again, I can do this tomorrow. I am finding out some wonderful things and if I do have to face any Israeli on the platform I think I am going to give the audience some shocks.

This morning I had a strong meditation on this subject of the need to get back to religion: a. Judaism has become too ethnocentric, b. Christianity has become too egocentric, Islam remains theocentric and only a theocentric religion is real religion. I don’t like controversies but my discipline is to accept what comes to me in meditation.

Faithfully,

Morland House,

16, Sharia Zemal ed Din Salah

Kasr El Dubara,

Cairo, UAR

October 10, 1960

Quazi Mehay Allum

A 4, Meena Bazar,

Narayananj, Dacca,

East Pakistan

My dear Brother:

As-salaam aleikhum.

I am greeting you for a very special reason and ask that you share this letter with our wonderful teacher Mellana A. Ghafour and all the brethren. I am writing to you for this purpose for within two weeks I should be sending in a long and important report to Ghulam M. Ahmed at Chittagong. The report I make to him will be for publication but this is what we call a “preview.”

I am by Grace of Allah having the most wonderful time in this city. It is very hard for me to complain. Ever since arrival here I have had nothing but utmost corporation from both Americans and citizens of the UAR My whole life is now concentrated on how to bring these peoples closer together, in part of a broader purpose to bring many peoples a together.

At the lowest level you may not understand how little Islamic teachings are offered in the United States. Ninety-Percent of the teaching is done by foreigners who are neither Muslims, nor, of course, Americans. Many of them are Jewish and while not all of the Jewish people are Zionists, the non-Jewish people, whether Christian or unbelievers are often more Zionist than the Jews. Strange to say the best among them are often missionaries who have some regard for the Prophet though they do not accepts his faith.

Then there is little study of the history of Islam and still less of the history of this region. The result is a complete lack of understanding of points of view accepted here. One does not have to agree with President Nasser but one cannot even honestly disagree if the has not the facts.

The next thing is the untouched field of bringing the peoples together through common exchanges of arts and literature. Here there is a more friendly feeling. Part of this is due to the fact that here Americans, not Europeans, are the teachers. They are more open-hearted and open-minded. Besides there is a great movement in the United States in what is called “non-objective art,” which is quite close in feeling and spirit to much of Islamic art.

One is terrifically impressed by the great social changes made by President Nasser. Those of us who know about the French Revolution which took place in 1789 or the great outbreaks of 1848 can hardly realize what greater changes were made here with very little loss of life. These changes have not been reassured and one reason is of their very magnitude. And whether one turns to politics or sociology or agricultural reform or science, one is well aware of it.

I have obtained my visa but do not know when I shall go to West Pakistan. I am the guest of the National Science Centre for research, the Information Bureau which is planning my future lectures, Al-Azhar, and the American Embassy so I am busy every day. Praise to Allah. I have seen nothing of ancient Egypt.

On top of the lack of knowledge of Islam in the United States, there is much confusion among the so-called Muslims. Many want to teach without study and many groups ignore each other. In fast while the Kadianis and Lahore Ahmadiyyas show some coordination, the Sunnis often have separate establishments, each going its own way and all crying because of the low state of Islam. I have therefore reported to Al-Azhar and next week begin some intense training, inshallah.

As I work mostly with the scientists I hope to tell about what they are doing when I arrive in Pakistan, beginning at Karachi. I also hope to give some talks on what is going on here and especially study the changes in Nile economics so that the Indus may benefit. This is a long and complicated story.

The weeks ago I met Mohammed Murtaz Billah, who is a follower of the Shadhili tarik. We understood each other from the first glance and I feel he is my dearest friend here. There will be a gathering of many tariks in a short while. I hope to meet and greet them and report in full to Chittagong.

While I have not seen anything of ancient Egypt I have taken long walks here and visited some of the most ancient and also the most holy Mosques. I am studying them first for artistic reason, and second for atmosphere. I have heard some very spiritual music, second only to what I have heard at Ajmir.

My intention is to Damascus later for a short visit but this depends in part on the Information Bureau.

I have also been blessed with a vision which seems to indicate I shall meet a teacher of the Rifa’i Order. They have a mosque which I have not visited. At least once a week I walk all across this city from Al-Azhar. This has been a most interesting place on account of its historical significance. And now I have begun an intense study of the art of this region. This is partly so I can report to and speak at Lahore. I am gathering materials just for Lahore and California as I have no funds to do more than that, although at the moment Allah, to whom be all Praise, seems to be providing for my wants in every direction.

If you meet anybody from Dacca University, please tell them that Mr. Claude Calvin sends greetings. He enjoyed your city very much and tells me he has many friends there. He is one of my two chief American hosts here. We also received a Mr. Dan Smith who recently arrived from Karachi and is quite acquainted with my earlier work in West Pakistan.

My greeting to all the brethren. My schedule and itinerary are in the hands of Allah but now all is well.

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Chisti

October 11, 1960

My dear Rudolph:

This is my diary note for today and I will begin with the afternoon which will interest you most. I went with the manager to a Jewish merchant in the bazaar in the Eastern part of the city near Al-Azhar and Syedna Hussein Mosques which are two of the most important buildings here.

I looked over a number of things and only purchased a scarab wrist bracelet for my friend, Dr. Baker, who gave me the money. There will be trouble locating ancient scarabs and there is almost as much trouble in shipping any mounted in silver and gold so these will have to be sent from Pakistan.

I also saw a number of uncut and some cut stones from the Sinai Peninsula which I intend to send to my friend Seth wood, in Sausalito. I also saw some prayer beads which I am taking, for the most part, to Pakistan.

I went over the shop but not too carefully. I saw one copper piece, Nefertiti, which I intend to send to my friend, Mrs. Magana Baptiste, but which, for practical purposes, would be sent in packages to you for display. A secondary reason is that on my next visit the merchant will show me the coppersmiths and silversmiths at work, something in which I am interested.

I am glad to get the report on gold for we previously visited the gold bazaar. You can get “genuine” gold with from 14K-24K and “honest” statements. But with this warning I am off because, I don’t want to pack stuff with me and have complications. .

The first thing I am going to get is a blue dish, which is from the Mameluk period so it can be compared or contrasted with other blue pieces you have. This is undoubtedly cobalt blue but put on rather heavy on some pieces, so that it is dark. It would be a good contrast piece. It is the only thing that costs much.

The metal things I saw were so inexpensive we agreed that the packaging would not be worth it unless I bought several and there is no use sending things on unless they are somewhat varied. I do not know whether I shall leave before December and the later the time of purchase the more money I can release. But for $25 I can send you quite a few things. The question is after the metal and dish, what is there to get? And I did not go into that at all…. They tell me it would take at least four weeks for goods to reach you and I would have everything marked, “For a museum, display purpose only.”

At this moment everything in my life has struck a high note. I am getting full cooperation from the Embassy and from the UAR government in all my efforts. These cover so many fields of endeavor; I do not wish to relate them now.

The United states Cultural Center has just put on a series on Modern Art by one Mr. Beuer of Chicago who is very well informed and the husband of one of our best artists. Tonight begin the first readings on Contemporary Drama.

October 14

I was not able to complete my letter the other day. I am saying: “An adventure a day keeps the doldrums away.” If I do not have an adventure, or rather more than one, it is because of the heat. The last few days it has reached successfully over 95, although it gets below 70 at night. This has delayed indefinitely any possible visit to Karnak and Luxor.

I now have and am getting more invitations to museums but have had no days off. Every morning is in conferences, with scientists, literati and the Information Bureau. I am learning about almost every aspect of contemporary life and culture, taking me far a field and giving me opportunities. The programs worked out with both the Egyptians and Americans will give me many opportunities in the presentation and exchange of cultures.

On top of that the Indian situation is becoming complex. This pension is the rendezvous for these people and I have piles of addresses both of persons and institutions to call on if I can reach their respective parts of the country. This is being further complicated that Mr. Hussein, who was once Consul-General for India in San Francisco has been appointed Ambassador here and is expected to arrive in about two weeks.

Then I received a letter from India from a man who has some saris ready for shipment. I made a deal with him, purchasing a transistor tape recorder and he is to pay in art goods and saris. I wanted the art goods either for you or for display with Martin Rosenblatt. So I am sending for two saris for here and the others may go to Magaña Baptiste because my women relatives don’t take me seriously—it’s always that way anyhow.

I shall probably send Bill or you copies of my diaries when I visit museums or historical places, but I am going to be slow in purchasing postal cards. I have already written that the Information Bureau has offered to put your school on their mailing list.

Perhaps there is a lot more to say but there is still a lot more to do here.

Faithfully,

Samuel Lewis

October 12, 1960

My dear Florie:

This is my diary note for today. I am having a hard time keeping it up. The rush of events is tremendous. I do not see how anybody can explain what is happening to me unless he accepts the existence of a wise and benign deity.

I am not too well physically but in tip-top shape psychically and emotionally. The physical trouble may be due in part to unusual warm weather, warmer the last two weeks in the day than in the previous and the highs in the Karnak-Luxor region remain the highs, and often there is a spread of 40 degrees or more during the day. I am beginning to take afternoon tea more and putting some wine in water so it is more palatable and always accept tea or coffee when offered. The Arab tea and coffee in their own way are superior to what I get here; the tea indeed is superior to any in the U.S. from my point of view. But I do not follow my program for my condition and when I felt I should go to the Research Centre this morning I did and it came out very well indeed. For I did not have to ask questions which might be delicate—for they were asked of i.e., by me.

I was turned over by Dr. Kabash, the Agricultural Director, to Dr. Hafez, the Secretary General. I met him in the office of the Director-in-Chief, Dr. Turki where he must have observed me. When I presented certain aspects of the food problem he sent me to the Dairy, Nutritional and Microbiology laboratories. Again I was most fortunate.

I have written to Stanlay Diamond of the Agricultural Division in the Ferry Building; he would get a report from me, but I warned him it was a serious matter. Stanlay is connected with the General Semanticists who have refused not only all my papers, but even my request for membership. The ridiculousness of it is that every one of my rejected ideas has been accepted here and at levels these people could hardly approach. But when I got to the Dairy Section, praise to Allah, I met another University of California Graduate, Ibrahim Rifaat. Well you can bet I had the time of my life.

Visiting these research Laboratories is becoming a delight. For we not only exchange scientific information but I have never had such willing ears in my explanations of Islamic philosophy. It is beginning to look as if I may be called on in some higher quarters to give a full address. I have failed so far to meet Abdul Razak Kofal, but am too busy to care and later in the morning was directed to the Pan-Arab League. It is very close by and I shall go and see the man, relative of one of my hosts in this regard.

I have been hesitant here on account of my views on Jordan. I suggested to the people on “the Flying Clipper” not to go to Jordan. I was snubbed. When we approached Beirut the Captain called us all and said if anybody went to Jerusalem it was on their own and he-would not wait for them. Of course they lost face—they lost it other times too and I became a “hero.” But the Captain said if they were held up in Egypt he would wait for them either at Port Said or Port Suez.

There is a lot of unnecessary tension here concerning Jordan but though I disagree with the tension I have no use for playboy “kings” and want to see the Empire of Saladin restored. Naturally I have gotten sympathy here.

Yesterday we went to the bazaar. I bought my first present, which is for Dr. Baker and sized up a lot of things. Most of the purchases will be for the Rudolph Schaeffer School but I want to get a lot of prayer beads for presents in Pakistan.

October 15, 1960

My dear Harry:

Of all the crazy “fools-for-luck” in this universe, I think I can claim the world’s championship. I am slightly drunk at the moment and I don’t think you can blame me. I think I wrote you from Lahore that I have been constantly putting my foot in my mouth and saving the right things. There isn’t any formula, it just happens. Then I told Mr. A.A. Shah that the gardens there were superior to almost anything I had seen and I had seen plenty and he smiled all over and said, “I am the man responsible.”

So now I am compelled to write two letters, the first of which is in a way personal and the second of which is officially official, damn it, praise to God and Alhamdulillah which means the same thing only it adds to your prestige here.

Well, I have been going around in deep waters and what happens is that I generally get in deeper and deeper water in about everything. I am scheduled to meet the head of the Pan- Arab league and I can turn over to him the research I did in Cleveland, Ohio. Everybody who did not know my past takes me very seriously. I have written my friend, Stanley Diamond at the California Agricultural Division in the Ferry Building, sending him my report on the Dairy Research. But I have sent a copy to Marin County and am going to recopy it to send it to some publication, and I think ultimately I can get paid for it. It is a side issue excepting that my old acquaintances never took me seriously.

I have been going around trying to find out whether the food supply may or may not be augmented by Algae research and will write that below. Then my friend, Mr. Kinoshita, over in Tokyo, is going to send Soy and Garlic seeds here and after I mail this I go to the Vegetable Experimental Station, only now with a long list of stuff.

So when I told Mr. Ferguson, the chief Agricultural Attaché here how things were coming, and they are coming, he told me he wanted me to meet Dr. Ayres and Dr. Scott of the U.S. Ag. Department and I have just done that. Even before I got the whiskey which is effecting me I told Dr. Ayres about my bible which is Desert Agriculture and I found that one R.S. Ayres has been the Farm Adviser for Imperial County and has had charge of the latest version for U. C. and I could not have said a better thing and I hadn’t the slightest idea to whom I was saying it.

Not only that but he is a close friend of Dr. Fireman of the Experimental Station of Riverside; and when he found out what I am doing with Fireman’s stuff he said he would write him and tell him what I am doing and what is more, he is sure he has met me on my peregrinations, which is rather true and I am being commended and recommended all over the place, praise to God, Alhamdulillah and thanks to you.

So he is writing Fireman telling him about what I am doing and I shall start another letter to you giving you the latest reports and how I get there without knowing how I get there and somehow or other am very faithful to God and country and obeying the Scout Law. Anyhow he took me to one Dr. Scott. Dr. Ayres and Dr. Scott are both field workers for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and I am in, doing just what they want people to do, so I have to make an extra report of what I write next to you and I guess there is no harm in it. However I will wait until the fumes blow off and I feel a little more sane and balanced which is quite possible and meanwhile I have the double pleasure of being slightly, both physically and spiritually which is wonderful, but I better get sober before I write more.

End of special diary note.

October 16, 1960

My dear Harry,

When I went to the National Research Centre the other day I first called on Dr. Kabash, the head of the Agricultural Division. I put to him the problem of food increase through nitrifying Algae and he turned me over to Dr. Hafez who is the Secretary-General. Dr. Hafez had been present when I met Dr. Turki, the Chief Executive and as we discussed problems he sent me, without requesting it, to the divisions most concerned with protein increase. The Dairy report is sent to persons more concerned.

Nutritional Laboratory. They are seeking new ways to increase protein production and consumption. I think I have already given you the report of the Cotton Section of Cairo U., on protein increase in cottonseed meal; and the search for better Soy Beans among the Plant Physiologists and Breeders there. I am taking this matter up further with the Vegetable Experimental Station, having my first reply from Japan.

This section is concerned with high protein flours. In my report on the Plant Physiology Lab., I said that they had discovered a formula to maximize protein in Wheat. This section seems largely concerned with the collection of plants and plant foods used by people—some few thousands of years—and so they have a very large collection of seeds.

For our present purposes we can classify them into Cucurbits and Legumes. I have noticed privately people eat many Peanuts and Melon seeds as after dinner or party dainties. They are generally salted. The largest and best here come from a kind of Pumpkin they tell me is not grown in the U.S. and is primarily grown here for its seeds rather than as a vegetable food.

They have a very large collection of leguminous seeds of which they are very proud. Many of them belong to Genus Dolichos and Lathyrus and Vicia. They have a Vetch which yields for human rather than animal consumption and they are studying its composition. Of course this was the home of the Lentil, and they have brands rather like the black-eyed peas of the South—the same species included. The work is going on studying folk-ways in distant provinces where meat consumption is low. In other words they are “botanizing,” analyzing, and the next step will be to select plants that grow easily; also to improve the crops.

I found, to my surprise, that they do not know about C. siliqua. One could imagine that this crop would be grown in quantity. I am told it is found in Palestine and Syria. Anyhow I dropped a hint advising that it was dicocious.

I learned later that some of our wild leguminous shrubs from the southwest have been introduced here for cattle food, etc., but do not produce through seeds.

Microbiology. This was a lab. I have long wished to visit and I got so interested I did not take any notes. At the present time I do not think there is a clear picture between Algae considered from the technological point of view and the economical one, though they may be connected.

You may remember that I sent you report from the Biological Exp. Station in Tokyo, in re Chlorella. I carry a carbon of those notes with me. After I left Japan they made a wide survey to discover what Algae can draw their Nitrogen from the air, etc. In looking over the Russian soil-experiments, although they seem way behind us on the chemical side, they make a soil test for Nitrogen in pots before and after introducing various Bacteria and so determine in some way the consumption of nutrients by the Bacteria; or conversely the increase of N. if that does take place.

There is a different situation between the use of Blue-Green Algae which seem to have been investigated some and Green Algae. Part of the problem here is that due to the comparatively small amount of water, and the absence of ponds, pools, marches, etc., this has not been particularly feasible. But if Japan, or any other land, is successful in finding any Algae that can draw the Nitrogen front the air and fixate it, we may be on the way to solving one of the world’s food problems.

But there is a complexity here: how to keep the Protozoan out. Once they get in they feed on the Algae, and, of course, we have a number of diseases resulting from them, most common being Dysentery. This is of course, out of my field.

There is a big avenue upon concerning Brown Algae. The Japanese have gone way ahead here and in Ireland “seaweed” is a source both of fertilizer and food-supplements. Dow did some work in this field during the war but abandoned their plant in San Luis Obispo County. I understand now that there is a new company in the U.S. gone into this field of utilization of Algae for many purposes.

The Microbiology Lab. is also concerned with food and chemical preservation, under modern conditions. They are just beginning their tests. One stands here between the archaic conditions of villages with practical no sanitation, and the very modern factories introducing those problems which have belabored Pittsburgh and today Los Angeles.

I still have a number of unsettled matters in the Agricultural Sections of the Centre. I have still to see the labs, concerned with Aromatic Plants, Genetics, and Seed Investigations about which I shall report to you.

This will be mailed before I visit the Vegetable Experimental Sections again.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

October 18, 1960

Clifford Cutright,

Ohio State Agricultural Exp. Station

Weedstar, Ohio

Dear Mr. Cutright,

This is part of my diary report. I was supposed to go on a trip to Suez today and it being cancelled I visited again the Vegetable Experimental Station at Dokki. I have already been shown around the place by one Ali Ahmed, but today I was taken around by a man who has become a very close friend, M.M. Billah.

His two main projects are with Tomatoes and Soy Beans. The work on Tomatoes is carried on separately by two groups, one primarily concerned with Breeding and the other with Biological factors. Neither of these teams is quite correct and must be integrated in the widest sense. The objective is to obtain firm fruit and have a unified result.

The best Tomatoes grow in sandy soils which are found in the Alexandria region and again near the pyramids. Ditches are dug to the depth of three meters there, flushed, and then either the seeds are planted, or are augured into holes to that level and pigeon manure is deposited therein. There is light sprinkling every three or four days the first month and then the plants are left alone until the fruiting takes place.

At Dokki the method is not too different in principal from some tried in California. But the seeds are planted in the ditches and the vines start by growing up the sides. The same manure and water program is tried. I was told objectively for the first time what I had heard, that pigeon manure makes an excellent fertilizer in these parts.

There are two kinds of Soy beans. One is very hard, and hard to cook. I have had a letter from a friend, James O. Kinoshita, in Japan, that he is obtaining another variety that is easier to cook. But there is also a Soy Bean, soft like our String Bean! I must say that the pods on both types of bushes were very high and the possibilities for this crop seem excellent.

M.M. Billah also does a lot of trellis and arbor viving for his crops where we use Grapes and you showed me Cucumbers. His wife is working in the Dairy Laboratory where I was the other day. She is getting her Ph.D. on Ice-Cream—and has been invited to the United States. Although I made four copies of the Dairy report, I am recopying hoping to get an article published and I may send you a carbon of same.

I also met someone whose specialty is in preparing Onions for storage. This is an excellent field crop here, the problem is in keeping them, and he has worked out a method which preserves them well for seven months—that is necessary.

I visited the Nutrition and Plant Microbiology laboratories last week, where they are working on the increase of protein. The dairy section is beginning to investigate Cotton Seed, Palm Oils, Sesame, etc., for better substitutes but they have little about the Soy bean in this regard (just as in Japan they would not know about Buffalo Milk or Sesame).

The plans worked out by Mr. Harry Nelson and myself have brought about excellent response. The other day two Federal Government experts looked up my work and have commended it, so much so it will be much easier when I get to Pakistan. Then, today I was questioned closely about agricultural information. Mr. Nelson collected bulletins from all over the country for me and I shall take them and have them reviewed first at the Vegetable Experimental station and then perhaps elsewhere. Mr. George Kenyon Jr. who has an office in New York and who may be the largest magazine distributor in the country, said he would cooperate fully in the plan to distribute all agricultural literature to Asian countries. All he wanted is depots, and there are certainly a number of willing depots here, if the press would only face the fact that the people of the world are much more interested in food then sex (from our point of view), we would be gaining friends instead of losing them in the U.N.

There are two very big problems into which I have become purposely involved. On account of existing conditions and methods there is not a maximum production of Sucrose from Cane and the usage of secondary products and wastes is inefficient. The soil shows exactly possibilities for Sugar Beets. But the problem here is the Cotton Worm. If the Cotton Worm can be eradicated the whole picture may change. Biological factors are so different from Louisiana. Besides Sugar came from this part of the world. (After hearing asucar as sugar and raz as rise and gata as cat the other day—without going into the etymology of coffee and orange, I stopped.) People demand sweets.

So I have given your name in a few places and when I next visit the Vegetable Station I shall also go over my Ohio state Bulletins carefully. I have already given your name to some people. I have still more interviews to come up with Prof. S. Hassan who is in charge of Plant Protection research at the National Research Centre. I am also anxious for you two to get together. He stayed in Berkeley for some time, recently returned here and evidently has met several of my friends in Central California.

The other Big problem is the production of Protein through Algae. Russia has been most successful lately with Fungi and Yeasts—that is another thing. Japan has been working with Algae—I am not referring to Chlorella here. But there is the problem here of Protozoan contamination. Still with the increase of population and the present world food problems it does not hurt to look into these things.

You may be surprised or glad to know that Dr. Meyer’s work on Plant Physiology is standard here and used in all courses on that subject.

Sincerely

Samuel L. Lewis

October 19, 1960

My Dear Florie:

Yesterday was my birthday, but here it was the birthday of Husein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who is said to have obtained the divine wisdom and to have died a martyr. Although the people are not Shias, the day was a holy-holiday and the night time was the climax of a festival which began Monday and may continue on but this letter will be mailed before-hand.

I do not know whether the American public has been shocked by the closeness of the vote on admitting China to the U.N. and those two things do not seem related. But “we” continue to harbor huge areas of blind spots about the cultures, religions, outlooks of Asians and are either cynical or look to these damned European “experts” for what simply is not, or else throw out the term “fanatic.” Any and all these courses are turning Nations against us and they have every right to be against us because while we are verbally fighting Russia we are wasting an awful lot of ammunition on the side-lines.

Tomorrow I expect to go to the American University and go over the book they are using on something they call “Sufism.” It is exactly as much “Sufism” as the Watts-Benoit literature is “Zen.” Both Allen Watts and the French writer have given us books which may be excellent books but they have nothing whatever to do with anything Japanese. There is quite a Japanese group here and they are, to me, very typical Japanese, but perhaps more intelligent and they are here either as exchange scholars or training for diplomatic posts. It is very easy to communicate with them on any level, including the highest.

The same is true of the Arabs as with all other Asian peoples I have met, although for the moment the Arabs are very strong in quantity. It is very difficult to delineate between Islam and Sufism until you get deeper into what is called tarik. And the first nonsense that has to be cleared away is that there are not many Sufis nor persons interested in Sufism and that they are a lot of fanatics and superstitious humbugs who are lazy or worse.

My immediate introduction has been through Mohammed Murtaz Billah who is usually called Murtaz. I do not know whether he was converted to Sufism or not, but if so it was by his wife. And who is his wife? She is a top graduate, who is now training for her Ph.D. by doing research on Ice Cream. We have probably already met because she told her husband an American came into her laboratory last week and I was in that lab. last week. So we begin with an intelligent and intellectual woman, whom I expect to meet soon. They are moving and as soon as this is over I shall be a house guest.

I not only have had conversations with Billah on the intellectual level, but with many others and I have flocks of introductions all over the place, made more difficult by my being often stopped in the street either for tea or arguments. Even at Al-Azhar I have found a favorable attitude toward Sufism although the gossipers who don’t go near Al-Azhar tell me differently. I am a little tired this morning and have to get this report out or miss it because of pressures and this includes a sort of hangover of a different nature.

The Khan-i-Khalili is a bazaar district near Al-Azhar. It is full of narrow streets and lanes and has many small mosques and still more khankahs where Sufis meet. One needs a guide at night unless one has a compass.

It was something like a mixture of Chinese New Year’s and Summer Fair at the same time. Tremendous crowds surged down alleys, lanes, and what not, made difficult by boys using a sort of football formation to surge forward, endangering the blind. There was considerable lack of human consideration. There were many women in the more open places but the narrow slots had only men, or the women connected with the stalls. There are woman dervishes who meet separately. So far only the Chistis have had the men and women do Zikr together. But I think I saw just two veils and when there were women they mingled with each other, or men, not noticeably different from other peoples.

It took us quite a while to find the Shadhili khankah. Each group meets separately in the same building. My friend’s Sheikh is no more, but two or three Khalifa led the ceremonies. There were some readings of the Qur’an and chanting. Then the Zikrs in which I could join, singing the name of Allah.

The first thing noticeable is that these groups perform functions like both antiphonal and choir singing in the Christian churches, but to me, with a rather purer sound. Later on there were melodious songs—beautiful arias and not just chants, in which others, including the younger men, repeated a phrase of Zikr in rhythm-background. Then we held hands and performed Zikr standing close together and later on in a sort of jump movement and some swung their backs; this was heightened in speed and loudness for a while and touched the depths of my being. Then they varied the Zikr phrasing—I notice all Sufi schools do this somewhat, passing from the intelligible to the semi-intelligible or non-intelligible intellectually. On this point Alan Watts has been entirely correct. I find when one says Eleh instead of Allah it is much easier to sing and feel. I notice also that these men tended to pronounce the name of God, i.e. Allah, as I have been used to do and as I have been corrected in parts of India but stubbornly refused to withdraw. Whatever impetus I have had for my pronunciation, it accorded with the Shadhili chanting and must have made me more welcome.

After the ceremony which was long and involved we had some discussion, food, more discussion and finally tea. The one thing I objected to was the insistence I must learn Arabic. And so far as Sufism is concerned, the “mantric” modification of words makes the argument seem weaker than ever.

On the other hand, on the conversation with those who speak English, I find surprisingly great agreement. Orthodoxy is needed for the beginners. It is best to be trained in some form of ceremony, law, custom, but that is introduction only. The men explained “spiritual liberty” exactly the same as my first Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan did, and they had the same attitude toward religion and religious. The educated ones were far from dogmatic and were all universal. There was agreement that Mohammed was the Seal of the Prophet which meant recognition of all prophets and their teachings. This was far from the Arabism of one of them.

As a side note, I went to Cairo U. yesterday to meet the great philosophers who happened to be away and the Chief Superintendent rather surprised me by asking me to come again so he could take me around. I do not know how such friendships are established; they are a constant source of wonder but this will lead me to the scholastic side of Islamic mysticism.

Around ten o’clock we went to the Syedna Hussein Mosque where three groups of dervishes were holding forth, but the place was crowded. Then we visited some khankahs. And so on until the groups were completing their sessions. Most of these were “wild,” but the largest one second to be made of intellectuals who were sober and far more numerous.

The Rifa’is were more ecstatic then the Shadhilis but there were some very wild and the large sober group I did not find about, nor did I meet the Naqshibandis. The first and most obvious impression is the fact that there are many thousands of Sufis here. They fall very roughly into three types—the parasites, the young and the mature. The parasitic type is shushed and I think they are a dying cult. I am told the Mevlevi or Whirling Dervishes belong here. Despite their wonderful beginning, the substitution of “family” for spiritual attainment as the way to leadership has undoubtedly caused this. Wherever family steps in, God steps out—although was do not learn this lesson easily. The Shadhilis lean over the other way to see that leadership does not come through inheritance.

I find that not only do these sessions take the place of hymn and other singing, there is undoubtedly a lot of blowing off of steam and even transmutation of sexual and lower faculties. This is obvious when one sees so many hundreds of young men, and also the presence of Negroes who are prone to ecstasy anyhow. We have not looked into the psychological advantages of the as processes and I do not intend to do so now. But there is also a moral advantage and more. A single experience on almost any level is worth thousands of lectures.

I do wander what the introduction of jazz will do here but I am inclined to believe it will strengthen Sufism as the expense of orthodoxy rather than otherwise. This has already happened in West Africa. Hundreds of thousands of people are becoming Muslims, but all either through the Ahmadiyyas or through the Sufism.

I stop here and will continue, perhaps this afternoon, after I go to Al-Azhar and gain another view, or confirm the above more.

Oct. 19. I met one Peter Ross who has lived in Los Angeles and New York and who accepted Islam yesterday. We were given the prayer instruction which I know fairly well, but in going over it I found deeper meaning. Which may be very important. I had hoped to learn these meanings when the Centre was established. I am not much in favor of ecumenical or formal prayer. I shall undoubtedly go back again.

In the office afterwards I met a young colored boy from New York who is going through training here I regard him as a sort of ally and when I leave here will correspond with him. There is little sense, however, in referring to color for there were some dark Africans in the office and I think the psychology of common nationalism overcomes a host of differences and differentiations of which we are not always aware. I am only hoping that young man like this Peter Ross, in their enthusiasm for a new religion do not overlook the endless possibilities in brotherhood. Yet perhaps my stand here is partly due to my zest for brotherhood above all things.

I also met a Pakistani from Peshawar who was very effusive. He is here to study European Languages and to major in English so he can go to the States. But when I mentioned a Pakistani tailor who, I had met recently he turned cold. This poor tailor is one of those Indian refugees who become an enforced exile and is now living here because he has a good trade. But I can see he is a lonely man, a sort of double exile. So all my heart goes out to him, but I am going to be slightly slow in expressing it. I did leave him two of my published articles to read. He is also a lover of Ikbal. But it is this type of man to whom I feel so close in heart and I know he feels that too.

I have just returned from an invitational opening of the Indian Art Exhibit. This is an honor for there were present otherwise only dignitaries and artists of the highest type. Not even the U.S. Embassy was represented. I find the paintings vigorous and excellent, integrating the best of modern movements with certain traditional techniques and outlooks. It appears to me—but I may be too much of an enthusiast here—that India is fixating itself in art.

Although I saw the Buddha Jayanti exhibit I saw such trash in connection with religion that I did not see much hope. Not only that, too many Indians tend to defend the total absence of devotional feeling in Circean-like posters for their religions festivals. If one says anything they ascribe it to Islamic prejudice. But art without feeling is bad enough and in religion it is worse than idolatry. The Hindus present all seemed to be of higher caliber and the art showed the one thing that India needs—positive strength. So I see great possibilities.

I have just read the Indian 1960 year book. There is now no question in my mind that India will outstrip China. They use their bad advertising in religion and they are very honest in statistics and conclusion, the opposite of China. If the Chinese have some of the gains that India has they spent more time advertising and propagandizing it than going ahead on moment. Increases of 7% or 70$ or even 700% in India are taken in stride. Naturally you are going to have an increase of 700% in TV sets without that being as important as 7% in Onion production.

I also was in the Bazaar section today but I have not found the man I met In New York. I called on Isaac and gave him a good kabbalistic interpretation of parts of Genesis based on the Sufi approach and also on “Nathan the Wise.” It is the Germans who have been showing “Nathan the Wise” here—I think this is marvelous. In his speech yesterday Nasser used the word “Jew” just once and I am not sure of the translation. He only speaks against Zionism and does not even to use the term “Israel.”

Of course politics are boiling and there is some feeling that the King of Jordan may get just what Jefferson would have prescribed, and which is perhaps necessary. Quite apart from the Zionistic situation I am so definitely for the restoration of the Ayyubite Empire that I am in no position to object over to the strong emotional approach.

Faithfully,

Samuel. Lewis

Cairo

October 19

My dear Max and Winnie:

I hope this finds you well. As I have much correspondence and many reports. I cannot afford to send many letters air-mail, but there are some factors involved here.

I just received a letter from Bessies that she is going into a sort of seclusion. I do not blame her; infect I warmly sympathize with her, but I am therefore answering to and through you. But I have heard nothing too definite of Blanche and as I generally use the slower sea mail, my news does not travel very fast.

After long months of suspense, my stray mail arrival here late in September and at the same time I had one of those inner experience which opened doors for me. Since that time things have been going at top speed and also at top levels. For instance I have just returned from a special invitational bid to the opening of the Indian Art Exhibit. I shall probably report on that to the Rudolph Schaeffer School.

This pension is the rendezvous of many Indians and Mr. Pande, the cultural attaché is a good friend of mine. He is looking over my last two Indian reports which he thinks are very fine but wants more time. On top of that the coming Indian Ambassador is my old friend who was Consul-General Hussein in San Francisco and who always was my host in New Delhi. He is one of my few confidants and I think we shall get closer when I get my reports in.

Science. All my scientific work which was turned down in San Francisco by men who knew me well socially but not otherwise has not only been accepted here but I am working on higher levels in the exchange of information first from the U.S.A. here, then also from Japan and preparing a lecture on the scientific accomplishments of this land. I am part time guest of the National Research centre which involves the top scientists. At this point it gets very complicated which I shall explain below.

Philosophy. The same is true of my backgrounds in philosophy excepting that here the American Embassy is fully behind me also in plans to lecture on contemporary American philosophers in other countries. We have worked out long programs. I now have invitations from so many universities in India and Pakistan that I do not know how I can arrange to visit them all. But there is no time to worry about that now.

Horticulture, of course, is my main field and my work has both been commended by and recommended to the U.S. Government experts who in turn are opening further doors for me, especially in Pakistan. It is interesting to note here, that the works of Dr. Mayer of Columbus, Ohio, Blanche’s former husband, are standard here. A lot of this is good karma though because between Blanche’s introductions, and my connections with the University of California, everything is opening, poof and bang, and I do not have any days off. Every morning from 9 to 1 and the afternoons have been too hot. The warm season has not been allayed, and it is still over 90° in the daytime.

U.S. Culture is being received on a high level here and tomorrow night will see the formal opening of the cultural center. This is a very complicated thing.

Oriental Studies. With the exception of Moore on Hawaii and B. of Yale all the frustrations put on my path were at the hands of European born men who “teach” Oriental philosophies in America. California is one of the worst. Where did Watts get his credentials to “teach” Buddhism; or Spiegelberg to “teach” Hinduism and Comparative religion; or London to “teach” Near Eastern Studies, or the department in Berkeley of U. C.? The same is true all over the country and worse elsewhere.

Esotericism. The number of people in high places who are interested in occultism and mysticism is very great. My closest friend here, M.M. Billah is not only one of the top scientists but one of the top believes—no experiences of occult phenomena. His wife is becoming one of the top scientists and she is even more advanced.

Last night I celebrated my birthday by astounding a large Dervish gathering because it we also the birthday of Hussein’s grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. I saw many many hundreds of Dervishes. While they were often quite young, I saw many educated people and most of my evening was in conversation with one of the leading engineers. The narrow orthodox pooh-pooh the esoteric side of their faith, but just go around the Universities and walk to the scientists and you will get a different pictures. Yes some of the lawyers and newspapers man are “realists” which means they dose their eyes and minds to reality, but you can bet scientists don’t hold that way because they are constantly using the mind and have to develop the mind.

Not many doors have opened for me yet but I am busy all the time. What will happen when these doors fully open I do not know.

The Dervishes as a whole are more on the occult than the mystical side, but this is no doubt due to the fact that mystical experiences per se come from Divine Grace. If you don’t have some clairvoyant experiences here you just don’t get it. I do not know far for this is so. The books on Sufism are all wrong. Sufism did not develop in Persia. Yes, you had mystical poets there. But the atmosphere of Egypt is thousands upon thousands of years old and electrified and magnified esoterically.

I condemned a young Christian severely until he was pale and then said: “Wait I am only half done. New I am going to answer every one of my objections.” He knew nothing of Gnosticism or the early Christian Yogis who lived in Egypt or even of the Gospel of St. Thomas. I sent him back to him church. Fortunately as the engineers clear land here and dig for water, they also combine archeological digging and may bring to light most of the Christian Gnosticism and Hermeticiscm which has been covered by the sands. This is more interesting to me than ancient Egypt—and there is a big gap here. But the atmosphere is the same.

Tomorrow I am taking up with the American University and also with the Embassy. Many of the Nations which voted for Communists China at the U.N. did this in part in protest against the drive we put out concerning their cultures. I was once told by a Senussi that is order to graduate in his family he had to undergo almost exactly the same disciplines as the theosophists told me in 1915. Today Lybia is a free nation and we don’t know a thing about it. You can’t be a prime Minister unless you are an occultist.

Well, I have said enough here, but send love and greetings.

Samuel L. Lewis

October 25, 1960

My dear Florie:

I have not been keeping my diary up to date. Today I went to renew my visa but found it is automatically good until December 3rd and they will be delighted to renew it. My references are of the best.

I am now both waging a war and a peace. The war is against first all European professors of Asian teachings, whomsoever in the length and breadth of the United States, who are not on good terms with at least one Asian nation. The harm done by them is incalculable. Some are quite unaware of it, some do not care. We cannot have communication between East and West until all intermediaries are removed and there is honest conversation between us.

The same includes men like Moore and Northrup who are self-credentialed, yet give out degrees. We have thus no standard and in a sense no morals. The President makes wonderful speeches which are not implemented by facts.

On the constructive side there are no intermediaries. UAR. has problems, sometimes we have the answers. They can go direct to get the answers. I am working now on two agricultural problems in this way, finding out what American research stations or what American chemical firms can bring the answers.

Today I visited Dr. Hasan Bagdadi. He is also a graduate of the University of California. He is in charge of the Ministry of Agricultural Reform and so has a big job. We discussed water problems at length and I think I have some answer for him right on the Berkeley Campus. This is the work I like to do. You bring people together, they make exchanges directly. Not only are there no European professors acting as intermediaries, but no Moores, no Northrups, and in the end no Sam Lewises, either. Man can meet with man and man can help man and that is why I am here. I don’t care two-bits if none of the self-esteemed Orientalists in the U.S. don’t recognize this. I feel this is working as Allah wants man to work.

And do you know, Florie, every Egyptian I have met feels the same way. They like it. And the Americans here appreciate it. And the young people in this pension are also favorable because they gain if I succeed in my crusade, inshallah, to recognize degrees from Harvard and Columbia and Minnesota over degrees from Heidelberg, Leiden, and Oxford on Oriental subjects. I am not belittling these universities. A few years back they were supposed to be turning out the greatest chemists and other scientists. This became more legendary than rule. Even here the Germans are doing great jobs, and they should be complimented on what they are doing not on what we think they are doing.

 I have not had any mail from the S.F. Bay region for a long time, from anybody. I did want the notices from the A.A.A.S. which I am told still exists. These would be turned over to the Cultural Attaches here; they are looking into such things. The days of Watts “teaching” Zen Buddhism and of Landaus refusing to recognize the American Duncan MacDonalds are over. Even the days of Spiegelbergs lecturing on “comparative religion” and skipping Mohammed. Or even for Dr. Chaudhuri speaking on Sufism. I think Dr. C. does a bang up job on Hinduism, even Spiegelberg does well there. And this is what you find in many parts of the U.S. In Chicago it is worse. Don’t think the Asians don’t know it.

I read parts of Qur’an often until I come to some passage full of meat. My conversations with Sufis are very enlightening. I shall continue so long as Allah wishes and permits.

Faithfully,

P.S. Dr. Bagdadi’s office has put your name on the mailing list. Please use any materials they send you and let others have access to them.

Thank you.

October 26, 1960

Dear Bill:

I am sending this by sea and I because I can’t afford any more the air-mail letters. I send out globs of letters and new answers; many I do not expect to be answered, but some I do. I did not get any more letters forwarded from San Francisco although I was told there were some very important ones on the way. I seem to get most of my bank notices from S.F. but the one telling me of moneys coming in has not arrived. There is no concern here. There is much more concern that I have not heard from my travel agent and I must make some arrangement ahead of time for my departure. It looks now as if I’ll have to try to main some other arrangement which is going to be hard on me because I am overworked.

I am overworked largely because my plans are being taken seriously. There are two definite themes here and they are in some ways similar. Egypt, after twenty-five hundred years domination by foreigners is coming into its own. We do not realize the amount of energy awakened by this. And in my one life, every plan I ever had thwarted by selfish persons has been accepted—if there is a single thing of my earlier life not accepted here I do not know what it is. It keeps me busy as all business must be done in the morning and then I have to write, do research, run errands and what not the rest of the day—and this is limited by the warm weather. Even though the mornings are quite cool, they warm up fast.

I am enclosing some whimsy but there are serious, as for example, your plan for the desert. With some modifications if has already beach adapted but will take some time be complete.

All my horticultural ideas, adopted. I am writing to different stations in the United States for material, and this will be something. Tomorrow, after I mail this, I go to the Information Bureau and either on a field trip, or thence to the American chemical companies which handle agricultural chemicals.

I have writing some strong letters to the State Department on account of our ignoring the Sufis. Damn it, Bill, there must be at least 50,000,000 people under Sufi training and we pay no attention and have, instead, a lot of professors who get there education (?) God knows where, denying their existence and giving out as Islamic philosophy whatever they choose in give out—which has nothing to do with the way people think. And the Islamic philosophy covers more than the Sufis.

My plans for introducing American poetry are being completed, to accompany talks on American philosophy. Behind it all we have nothing to fear if we can love people. This is the spirit of Sufism, too. But those who were interested in Inayat Khan become involved in personality. Not many accept this world as it is and so we have international misunderstanding. The president makes wonderful speeches and the talks dead-end. Whom is he kidding?

The American contributions to science stand out more and more each day. We are so far ahead of Russia in the sciences where I said we are ahead, there is nothing to it. In other words, the UAR loves our scientists and does not love our politicians. There is something very basic in this from which one might learn a lesson some day.

Faithfully,

October 30, 1960

My dear Max and Winifred:

Owing to the fact that my sea-mail letters do not seem to get through, and that I am getting no answers, as I cannot afford to write a lot of letters on recent events, I am sending this to you and ask that you share it. If you want to keep it permanently do so, otherwise you may finally send it to Jack Betts at 772 Clementina, which is my legal home.

Yesterday I had the first, “day off” since I have been here. It is easy to get a bus to the pyramids, as the terminus is at the square nearby, transportation is often, and it is really an express. I used a guide who knows many languages and says he reads hieroglyphics. It does not matter. I visited Mina (which we call Giza), Memphis and Sakkara in one day.

Now what I am reporting is not exactly in line with what I have read. But I must preface this by saying that there is no change in regard to esoteric transmission, etc. but the places I found are different. Even though I have come to a conclusion I found today that the T.S. has offices in a building I must visit shortly, which houses the UAR agents for a number of American chemical firms where I must go on business. If they speak English there I shall try to find out the local views on these matters, and I know well before hand you will be interested in the report.

Somehow or other I was not interested in the Great Pyramids. I may climb the big one later and I have been inside. I did not get the impression conveyed by books and it was psyche a la Paul Brunton and not deeply esoteric! I was more interested in the Sphinx and I came away feeling that Marjory Hansen and so Edgar Cayce were right, that there is a lot of excavation to be done. I got no sense of finality and as the Sakkara pyramids are much older, there could easily be old buildings in the region of the Great Pyramids. The finding of a boat so nearby, in recent years, testifies to this. I saw nothing like bottom ground, such as I saw at Taxila, where only after at least six levels of diggings were completed was there any conclusion that there were not cultures below, and even these six have not been clearly delineated in writings. Troy also showed levels. But even where there are 200’ and 400’ shafts, there is no indication that real bottom has been reached and I remain also in my feeling that the Sahara regions have lots to reveal. Even perhaps close by where the diggings are only along the edge of the green belt, and not further back. The whole field and sphere of archaeology appears to me, even in the most complete and profound aspects possibly superficial. I do think we shall have it all for a long time.

Memphis is nice, complete and developed art at the time of prosperity; excellent art, but not necessarily spiritual. I did buy some post cards here and it is possible I shall buy a lot more.

But it is about Sakkara I wish to write. When I studied Schuré I felt very sure I had at one time been an initiate in ancient Egypt. I have psychically repeated the process and at certain times this was repeated in my own life. I see nothing to support the research that any Amenhotep IV or Akhnaten developed the ancient mysteries. I have seen no evidence that ancient mysteries were not very ancient, just as HPB said. And it was at Sakkara I got it right in the face and beautifully.

To begin with, despite all books, there is one pyramid we entered which showed rooms and I understand there is at least one more which was also used. I believe 33 pyramids as such have been uncovered and 20 more in a state or ruin. The very number is much larger than was taught at earlier date.

There is no question in my mind that I have been in this pyramid before. It is exactly what I have seen in vision during my Schurd days down to small details. It also validates the sayings of Jesus: “Straight is the gate and narrow is the way and few there be that find it.” As in Schure you have to climb on your hands and knees; as in Schure there are the decorations which I did not see in the Great Pyramid. These decorations were hieroglyphic, esoteric and initiatory.

The whole time I was at Sakkara I was in such an ecstatic mood I could neither take notes nor follow my guide because things were constantly attracting my attention. I have talked to a young man here about our going together and perhaps with some others and I am quite willing, even anxious to spend at least a full day at Sakkara, and no Memphis or Mina (Giza). To me this was it and this is it.

Blanche loaned me some books written by a person who seems to have memories of former lives in Egypt. I think they also indicate a high degree of spirituality and esotericism at an early period. I feel sure of it. Sydney Corine used to say that the Dendera circles showed a civilization covering two complete cycles of the equinox, i.e. going back 50,000 years of more. I have not been to Dendera and I am not going to Luxor until the weather calms down; which will be in December. I may or may not have the Paul Brunton experience with adepts down there.

Here I am meeting the Dervishes, whom as I have said before, are the esotericisms. When I told my close brothers here of my experience, that I got little out of the Great Pyramid and a tremendous amount from Sakkara, he said that was the same with him and he is sure that Sakkara was the center of initiatory rites.

This is no doubt a slap at those who see prophecies in the Great Pyramid. I am not so much slapping the Great Pyramid as elevating the earlier ones in the point of occult history. And again, the Great Pyramids seem to have been for the dead and some at Sakkara for the living. But although I have this temporary confirmation, I shall check the T. S. if possible and get their views and also check my own experiences later.

Outside of the above I am working with much vigor on the most serious matters I have ever tackled in the distinct fields of horticulture and cultural exchange. In the former it is all peaceful, lovable and cooperative and all my faculties are working. In the latter it is a battle against ignorance, materialism and selfishness. I am not troubled about the outcome in either. I have nothing a fear but my own weaknesses and every day more and more opportunities, in fact so many that I did take a whole day off to catch my breath even at the risk of running behind.

You may know a lot of friends of Marjory and I hope this letter can reach them. As said above, I am sure we are going to find lots in the ages around the Great Pyramids and perhaps much more important occultly. Even at Sakkara it seems to be that there may be far more hidden than has been uncovered to date.

My mind and emotions have been in such a high state that they pull my body; the continued warm weather has been a little hard, and also the meal hours and lack of fruit (but not vegetables) compels some readjustment. But all in all this is by far the best time of my life.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

October 31

Cairo, UAR

My dear Harry:

Today the weather cooled off enough so that I could take a long afternoon walk and visit the Orman Gardens. I had been taken there by the Chief Floriculturist of Cairo U. some time ago and made a lot of notes, but they had neither head nor tail and he walked rapidly. I am therefore sectioning off the place and reporting. But first the news.

I was given two weed problems, “Did you ever hear of Cynodon dactylon? That is our worst problem.” Where have (or haven’t) I heard that before. I reported this to the Embassy and was sent to the commercial section; they are directing me to the representatives of our chemical firms. But the street numbering is very strange here and I was only able to locate them after hours. At present I have a number of dates with big shots at the Ag. Department and Cairo U., and they are shoving me aside for the King of Afghanistan, so I don’t care. Am I that important?

Next last week’s Time has an article on a lure discovered by the Federal Department of Agriculture for the Gypsy Moth with suggestions that similar research will now he used for the other moths. As the Cotton Moth is the problem here, this is giving me another opportunity.

I am now going ahead full blast on our plan, writing to different states and universities for specific agricultural bulletins. I know pretty well what they want here and have a fairly full program when I return. I have three alternatives in life: (a) to work on an estate as a nursery man; (b) to return to college, do more plant study and some research and also a language or two; (c) travel both for lecturing and research. I shall make no decision until I meet the Fullbright people in Karachi. Unfortunately I have not heard from my travel agent and so can’t tall when I can book passage.

This morning I also had another bit of luck. There was a Voice of America agent at this place. He is connected with our Embassy at Beirut and I put my cedar plan before him. He was delighted and promised me full cooperation. I am hoping to go to Damascus on November 15 or thereabouts and then back to Beirut for this purpose and one or two other loose ends. I wish to visit Dr. Holliday, who is in charge of Agricultural research there.

I met the Director of Gardens at Cairo U. this morning and asked him for a plant list form his grounds. He said he might have this in a few days. In exchange I have promised him Gingko and Cherry seeds—this can become big stuff, what with Ambassadors and politicians attending such plantings. I won’t be here then, and would not want to be. I have attended such affairs at Strybling.

There is an island close by with a new park in which is being landscaped. Being so close I have not visited it and will report at a later day. But I passed it on my way to Orman gardens and walked on the banks of the Nile on the other side. The street landscaping consists mostly of some shrub Chamaecyparis and flowers. Phlox and Coreopsis were doing well but the Petunias were small. Perhaps because there is not enough organic material in the soil. Lantana is the chief shrub here. You may remember what I wrote about Hong Kong—there is a neglected, native weed. Here they carefully trip it, use it like Veronica, [?]. But of course Bougainvillea is the chief vine.

Dahlias are the chief cut flowers in the stores and Cosmos is used in this place but I did not see any in the gardens. These seem to be “professional plants.”

I visited only the north section of the Gardens. There is big boulevard leading to the University. South of the boulevard are two sections, one of which is Botanical and the other Zoological, but planted. The north section consists of three parts: The Rose gardens, the Conifer Arboretum and the Palm Arboretum. The difference of the last two is relative, the Conifers containing about 75% of this group (some data is give) with some Palms and the Palm section containing some conifers.

I don’t know how they do it in this heat, but the Roses here are excellent. All bushes are treated as it for cut flowers and the stems are taken away with the flowers so there are only a few vines and standards. Nearly all the bushes were down to two feet. Perhaps this helps with the bloom, for even at this late date there were plenty. This means a long and prolific season. In Japan they let them grow rank, little pruning and never cut buds. Here they cut buds and leave only few to open out full, and this for the purpose of beatifying the gardens.

On my way down I noticed that Cassia are the chief tree and inside the garden G. nodosa predominated. A few were in bloom. I also found a Casuarina suberosa, the largest and heaviest I have ever seen of this genus. It is not the type used in the gardens and on highways.

C. lawsoniana does very well, also C. goveniana which is marked as coming from California. I found two fine Liquidambars in a corner, not marked. All trees are not marked. Bauhinia variegata was very good and I noticed many Bauhinias on the street I walked back on. C. bignonioides was not at all good—no autumn conditions here. Ilex cornuta was growing thin, almost like a vine, but too straight and strong.

Dalbergias were doing good but Araucarias not so. There was a shrub-like aster Jasmine in that section but the flower had more points. The odor was definite but not quite so strong. There were also varieties of Papyrus here and over by the side of the pond. The pond is for Lotus, native, of course. There were several Croton beds. They look much nicer when pruned or kept down.

I saw one Agathis robusta, about which I reported when in the Orient. It had a good clean column. There were also beds of Salvia—which seem to be fine here, but one might expect that. Cedrella does wall and there were many Cupressus sempervirens Stricta—a whole row, C. lusitanica, marked from Mexico does fine.

There were many pines. P. halepensis not so good. This may be because they treat all the trees the same—some care, some watering, etc. P. canariensis was wonderful and P. roxburghii still better, with several varieties. All flourishing.

S. babylonia was growing near the Lotus pond and E. globulus near the entrance, two giant guardians, but this tree grows well here all over.

I visited the pyramids the other day, those at Giza which are the big ones and those at Sakkara which were much more interesting. One can see how narrow the valley is. The desert floor is sometimes sandy—which would not be corrected by irrigation dams; and sometimes fine dust, which would. My own impressions confirm those of friends who have been here before, that we really have not scratched the surface in archeology. There is an immense Christen period hardly touched, and I believe one is going to find many ruins in the desert slightly east of the formations which are famous. Mostly the digging steps dead end, and nowhere did I see rock bottom soil as I did at Taxila or as is true at Troy, where the lowest level has definitely been reached and excavated. Indeed I can only confirm Prof. Creswell, the present day authority who criticizes all his predecessors and I think rightly; and everybody accepts him today.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

November 1, 1960

Dear Harry:

For years I lived, rejected by everybody in almost everything. It is almost unbelievable now. For I am accepted by everybody in almost everything, and though the years have gradually adjusted until I can “take it” although at this writing it has almost the opposite meaning.

Yesterday I was directed to Dr. Mahdi Asaumi, head of the Agricultural Department at Cairo U. First I was told he was head of the Horticulture Department. But that is untrue, but like the head of that Department he is also a California man. You can understand why I say I go around saying “Allah!” on one side, and “Ouki, woe, woe!” on the other. Indeed after I had made my arrangements at the University I went back to make an appointment with Paul Keim asking for a field trip around the first of December. I would like to visit Syria first, and then after that trip, go to Upper Egypt.

Dr. Asaumi is both the head of the Department and in charge of Fruits. He asked me if I cannot him seeds of Coffee, Tea and Spices. I said I would take care of that when I reached India. But the new Ambassador from that country has just arrived and is an old and close friend of mine and by listening I believe I may be able to “pull” a stunt so they can get the seeds or specimens before I reach that country. We shall see.

The main fruits have are Guava, Figs, Grapes, some varieties of citrus, Mangos, Bananas, a few Prunes, chiefly Apricots in the North. They are also growing Caster Beans near Sinai.

Now Harry, here you come into a bunch of pictures and I leave it up to you what to do.

Ceratonia siliqua. This is hardly grown here and they could not give me any explanation. They admitted all my arguments, especially the drought resistances aspect.

Loquats are also not grown here. I do not why. Nor Avocados, but the conditions may not be right for them.

Opuntia. There are few varieties outside of tunas. They would like to get in touch with some Cactus Societies in the States and also if there is a magazine, to get copies. Can you help out? Can you ask some of your friends to write to

Dr. Mahdi Asaumi,

Department of Agriculture,

Cairo University,

Cairo, UAR

I mentioned here about the use of the grinder in which Optunia “branches” and Apples or other fruits are ground together, offering very palatable juices with high vitamin content. They never heard of it.

Catalina Cherries. Boy, here we have it. I sold them. If it is not done before, I want to get into a huddle with you on this. Maybe your dream can come true with regard to both cross-breeding and use as stocks. I think this Prunus would be the best possible stock plant for this region and it could lead to all kinds of grafting and increase of fruit varieties here. Whatchesay?

They also would like some new varieties of Citrus from California.

Today I spent over an hour at the Proctor & Engineering Co. which represents the Bean Food & Machinery, etc. They do not have any material at their disposal—something I run into elsewhere too. But they agreed that the Pest and Weed problems are probably the biggest at the moment. Nor have they solved them.

But they told me about the Egyptian Agricultural Society, a private organization, which appears to be something like our horticultural or academy of science organizations. This group is on an island quite close to where I live. They are at present engaged in a world-wide Agricultural exhibition which opens in spring.

I was given the names of the men who are supposed to be experts in herbicides and pesticides. They told me this group is actively engaged in research, having experimental stations just south of Cairo. I shall go as soon as possible. My Thursday program is for the ministry of Agriculture and Vegetable Experimental Station; Friday is the Islamic Sabbath and I expect to go either to the pyramids or to a museum; Saturday I visit the Cairo U. as above.

In the meanwhile I have received very good news on my plan for introducing contemporary American philosophy elsewhere and I have to take this up with the Embassy, which can also be done Friday if necessary. You see I am a very busy hamster now that I am “retired.”

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

November 5, 1960

My dear Florie:

Every word which I now write is done with utmost deliberation and I begin Bismillah Er-rahman, Er-rahim, which oft repeated words have failed utterly to find their way into the consciousness of some persons who wish to surrender to a phantom they call “Islam” which has nothing whatsoever to do with surrender to Islam. This falsifying of surrender, surrendering to something which is not God, can only lead to trouble and dissimulation. And the proof is simple—they reap what they have sown and will continue to reap what they have sown.

It is too bad that some innocent people live in a dream-world. This dream-world they call “reality” and it becomes all the more mystifying became this “reality” of theirs brings no confect, no solace and no happiness. There is not a single pseudo-problem about which you have written me which is not an artificial concoction of the very persons who are now crying. And their cries prove conclusively that they do not believe in Allah Who is all Merciful, all Beneficent. Either Allah is not Beneficent, Merciful or they are liars and won’t admit it. And I say they’re liars and they will continues to be liars and there will not be any Mosque or any help forthcoming until people surrender to Allah and really surrender and ask Allah for guidance and quit shoving their duplicity into each other’s faces while they stab behind their backs and think that Providence does not see and foresee.

The very personalities who are crying now twice had money for a Mosque and they themselves threw it away. It started in with double-crossing Bashir Minto and it kept on in double-crossing.

I have a pile of stuff to bring to Al-Azhar. I cannot go now for reasons which will be given explicitly below. But between one man how attacks the Prophet and another who attacks the Prime Minister Nasser and another who does not believe in Allah, what kind of a “Mosque” do you think you are going to get? I am not talking nonsense and I am not conveying nonsense and the nonsense-mongers are utter blind fools because they think what they do, or rather mis-do is not know.

Dr. Shawarbi is now the head of the UAR delegation to the U.N. His reports are given more and more importance not only by the UAR but by the U.S. intelligence. And I tell you, Florie, that so long as you play around with Rom Landau, you are going to have the U.S. intelligence on your back and watching every moment. They are not going to countenance a Mosque where non-Muslims can give out tom-foolery and get away with it. You have a perfect right to believe in this man or anything he stands for, though goodness knows what he stands for, but it is not Islam, it is not objective history, it is not the culture of peoples with whom be has had but scanty contact.

The day of your Landaus, Watts and Spiegelbergs misrepresenting the cultures of Asia is over. The day of Academies of Asian “Studies” not permitting objective reason on real Asia, real cultures, real religions and real people is over. It may take a while for some groups in San Francisco and the Bay Region to wake up to it. The University of California at Berkeley is following Harvard in its East Asia and South Asia sections where they teach real history, real philosophy, real social studies, etc. They do not make up things and limit your right to investigate freely to see if they are right or wrong. And no more dogmatic insistence that “I am not preaching dogmatism” when it is nothing else but. That day is gone, Florie, finished forever. And I do not know when I shall return to San Francisco, but nobody is going to step over either my personality or the cultures of millions or hundreds of millions of Asians because they got degree in some obscure or famous European University or the whole bunch of them.

I lived in the house of the man in Washington who raised the funds, which made the Mosque there possible. I have met members of families who were his superiors in the oil companies who are in or near San Francisco and could and even might give a thousand or a hundred thousand dollars for a Mosque or school for Islamic studies and not for any private “Islam” which contain no element of surrender to Allah and which leave out whole dynasties of culture in Turkey, Egypt, India or anywhere for private reasons of their own, mostly because they have not studied these things themselves.

I took a trip around the world and reported to Ambassador Grady. Your “Muslims” would not entertain such reports—that was their way of “demonstrating” brotherhood. Mrs. Grady was a friend of the greatest Sufi leader in India, the late Hasan Nizami who had a million or ten million followers; he said the latter but the people in San Francisco and everybody around Broadway. St. chose to believe there are either no Sufis or no important Sufis, which did not stop some men who know nothing about Sufism from giving long lectures on it; or correspondingly in other branches of Asian culture. But Islam has gotten the worst of it and will continue to get the worst of it, until and unless….

The Mosque in Washington is intelligently organized by intelligent men who have intelligent ways of meeting intelligent people. There are imams in the U.S. today and my one meeting with them indicates that they are sincere, learned and open-minded. But if one comes to San Francisco and is going to be changed all over the lot by ignorant men who don’t know what surrender means, you can wait and wait.

Officially, I say, officially, it is know by scores if not hundreds of big men in the UAR that I pray, before, during and after the tasks they have set before me. Every one of these tasks which merits it is also presented to the proper American authority. I am working at a great rate and all these things which were rejected, chiefly a priori by ignorant egoists, have been accepted here. Today I was deluged, absolutely deluged and I have written reports to some very important people in the S.F. Bay region. These people are both wealthy enough and wise enough to know that the best way to stop communism is for the American and Muslims to become friends but they are not going in give a red cent (these are quite different people from those referred to above) to any Rom Landau whom they know too well; or to people who call themselves “Muslim” and accept neither intelligence nor information. I am pretty sure a lot of people of when you have hardly heard would come out of their shells to welcome a real Imam.

Once I took Bashir Minto to social gathering, mostly of people from the Bay region, important people, and he met more persons and more money in half an hour than he met all the rest of his time in San Francisco. He had the Mosque in his hands, but some of your “wiser” persons got rid of him and it, and they will into accept the open report of a San Franciscan, whose family had for four generations lived in Central California and so picked up some acquaintanceship with all kinds of people in that area.

And it is about time to stop studying the print of Holy Qur’an and apply it in daily life. I don’t, I won’t succeed in San Francisco, just as I have, if anything, over-succeeded here, and in everything, everything I have ever wanted to do.

To meet a people, love them, greet them, eat with them, joke with them, be one of them, respect them, it is very easy. It is so very effective.

My relations with the Asians A.A.A.S. was far better than with the Europeans. “The Integration of the Ancient and Modern in the Solution of Indians Problems” might have been an outstanding work anywhere. Satya Agrawal thought so; Uncle Louis did not. But the approach in that paper has been usably here, only being a Sufi far more than a Yogi, it is simple to establish a heart feeling. There are a lot of Sufis in high places and also in the sciences in which I am engaged. I understand that Monday one is specially calling to see me at the Vegetable Excremental Station, though he is employed by the Agricultural Department of the University of Cairo, which is new one of my hosts.

I was very much surprised today be find an official car waiting for me and henceforth I shall be an official visitor. The work I am going in using Horticulture as a means of bringing Nations closer together has been highly commended. All my dreams hopes, plans have been accepted here. If not by the Egyptians, then by the Americans, and in many cases by both. I am consulted even on matters for which I have not much knowledge. But between training and prayer, which stimulates the intuitions, I have a facility and a faculty for finding things practically in books. Either the intense scientific training or the awakened intelligence might work, but the combination works much more rapidly. To many here, this is true Islam—calling on Allah for guidance and then demonstrating it. But though this happens constantly and often, it is not an ego-function and it comes by emptying or emptiness—not that blasted word “emptiness” used by the pseudo-Zen noise-makers but an actual process and experience. You know it because you can do it, not say it. Saying has nothing to do with it.

After I learned that my work in Horticultural exchange is highly favored by the UAR government we found Dr. Kemal Hussein at the Faculty of Arts, Cairo. We have met before. We are very close. He is a real authority on the real Moineddin Ibn l’Arabi, not the phantom whom Pakistanis and Rom Landau prate about and cannot possibly understand because they have had no training in Sufism. You cannot understand Ibn l’Arabi without a basic training and then experiences in Sufism. Once you have passed certain stages though experiences and enlightenment, the rest is comparatively simple. But when you have not, the whole thing is as complex as the newsman’s Einstein.

I have worked for Dr. Hussein my “Saladin.” My study of literature in libraries in the U.S. and some of the materials turned down in U.S.A. and accepted here, the nature of which I shall not explain now. Anyhow I am to call at Dr. Hussein’s home Tuesday, and my calendar is being crowded what with Hindus, Arabs and Americans all having me in tow. I am not and may never again be outwardly the person I was in San Francisco…. You will remember that I was ready to explode that night at the World Affairs Council. I made friend with all those speakers and have followed it up. They were, thank God, Americans giving us information on Asia and not Europeans giving us misinformation.

Outside of the above I have received the final commendation on my plans for introducing American philosophy into the Orient, using some names and their teachings which will be acceptable. Several of them have already been approved by the state Department in their list of recommended books to the personnel in the Foreign Service. This makes it easy for me.

Dr. Malalasekera is now in New York as the Ceylon delegate or rather head of the delegation to the U.N. I have written to my colleagues in New York to contact him and also to try to get meeting so he can tell our people something about Buddha. We have so much “Buddhism” and so little Buddha. I know how he thinks and feels here and I know he is not enamored of our European “authorities” on Asian faiths. He has had his experiences. He was not given a full showing in San Francisco, being overshadowed, so we really do not know too well what actual Buddhists think and believe.

Now I return to the communication, which you say comes from Dr. Tamini. He has asked a lot of questions, which he does not want answered. He has asked them and apparently emphasized them only to pass them by.

I am absolutely opposed to separative Islamic movements. I am in favor of cultural exchange on a large scale. This cultural exchange ought to have its roots in devotion, but its branches and leaves should extend far and wide. I shall function, inshallah, where I shall not be bound by a small group who talk about Qur’an and Hadith but never examined closely Qur’an and Hadith. The study of Mohammed the man is neglected. The study of personalities who were important in history is neglected. The prophet may have said over a thousand times, “Seek wisdom even as far as China” but the disciple knows better. He does not want wisdom, he wants a Mosque. All right, he will keep on wanting and waiting. I have soon so many so-called Muslims cry and at the same time be unwilling to change themselves. If one will not change himself he will never find change. No one has the right demand this from another.

I am in UAR seeking wisdom and devotion. Your president, like his predecessors, cries for money and not to Allah. Between the Allah-worshippers and the money worshipers or Mosque-worshippers there can be no meeting. I can worship Allah anywhere. The Prophet did. The so-called Muslims have to have a fancy place. I regret that my conclusions are that Dr. Tamini is a well-meaning but very ignorant man. He states. He does not pray. When you have a leader who prays more and states less, it may be possible for Allah to answer. He is given no chance.

In my life he is given a chance every minute and the answers are pouring in thick and fast. I may be succeeding in establishing much good-will between the U.S. and UAR inshallah. I shall be interested to find out what the Friends of the Middle East and World Affairs Council have to say. But I know what the Foreign Service is saying all ready. I can only end with praise to Allah, Alhamdu lillah.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad

Cairo, UAR

November 8

My dear Harry,

When everyone is agog (or are they?) over the election, I am having some problems in adjusting my own emotions. I have air-mailed you that all the plans I have had for this country have been accepted, and I am taken very seriously at conferences. Today I met an expert whom I am told it is very important for me to contact; he was ill last week but he may be of help in showing these research stations how to organize and function. Oh yes, they conduct their field and pot experiments all right but they have very little or no office training.

There are a lot of other problems here. I found the answers to five of them the other day in California Agriculture, the monthly. The other is about C. dactylon. This is a cold war in itself. I glanced through a book Sudan Agriculture in which it showed that in that country it was the most valuable forage crop. It is no.2 in India. And here it is No. 1 curse and then some. Ralph Raymor seems to have done some work in this field, but I have no addresses for American firms dealing in agricultural chemicals and my first efforts have been somewhat in vain. The man whom I was supposed to meet today did not show up and if I do not see him soon will have to make a special trip to the Horticultural Society nearby. I should prefer otherwise.

I also reported to the Consul-General today. I told him portions of my rejections and added that many of the people who turned me down—without an interview—I don’t mean turned me down but refused to see me at all—are collecting tax –exempt funds and getting away with it. One of my most influential friends told me that the Americans were getting some awful set-backs because of competition between groups organized in theory to promote better Asian-American relations and generally ended with such bad Asian-American relations that the Asians became antagonistic toward the U.S.A. all around. And I have in mind particularly the group that was busy jerking tears and collecting funds in the U.S.A. for men expert in fertilizing and spraying. They have some nice officers and secretaries in Washington, D.C. Period. Period. Period. And no income tax—and nobody here ever heard of them. And this is just one. I have a whole list of groups given me in 1957; not one answered my mail and not one recognized as doing anything abroad. (Maybe better than starting a new religion!)

Well the other say I met Dr. Asaumi, Cal. ’42 and I think I told you he presented a number of things he was interested in, particularly new crosses of Citrus and Coffee and spices. I’ll try to get these later from India. He introduced me to his staff and on the next day Dr. Warid took me around the Vegetable Gardens.

Unfortunately most of the crops had been harvested. We had a long discussion on Tomatoes which will make a letter to Ohio State important. They are looking for long season, firm fruit with taste. The size may be secondary and they do not want to bother about trellised, stakes, etc. They are also troubled about spraying because they do not want to poison the fruit. I have still to follow up the “Imte” article about lures and I was also promised an introduction to the Entomological Dept. which may know something about biological controls.

As at the Dokki Station the Cabbages are also bothered by the Cotton Moth but they told me that Dieldrin has been a pretty good control, and on the whole this is not so bad a problem.

Their main difficulty is with watering. They irrigate and irrigate heavily. But all plants get the same program. Many do not know water requirements and I saw no sluice-boxes or gates in the fields. I have not seen Paul Keim who knows about these things although I have twice called at his office. The Grapefruit were being flooded. They do not know too much about Tensiometer and Lysiometers and those that do have none on hand.

Cucurbits, Okra, Peppers and Legumes are also grown. They would like to get some White Harvester Beans. A good deal of the work there was in cross-breeding. This brings up my own problem whether I should go back to university of grab a piece of land and work it or what. It is too early to predict. If my friends in Southern California recover their estate, I may go there and work; if not, I feel inclined to stick “close to home,” although actually one feels the pulls of Berkeley, Davis and UCLA.

The main problem, as I saw it, is the large number of daylight hours. I have reported that the Plant Physiologists at the Research Center were working on this. But all crops receive long daylight hours in this section. Up by the Mediterranean they do have fog. They are also having trouble with Artichokes which do not head. I do not know whether this is partly due to too much sunlight and also the lack of minor elements which they need—and which they certainly do not get here. The high pH may be a factor but that I do not know. There is some NaCl in the soil there.

My next report is on the visit to the Fruit Section with Dr. Harry Salim. After I make these notes I have to recopy them for the University and Ministry of Agriculture. The entrance to this place has a fine hedge of Lantana. I have reported before of the contrast in the use of this plant here and in Hong Kong, where it is a poisonous wild flower. It is like a perpetually blooming bush, very effective.

The first plant I saw was the Castor Bean. Today without looking at its contents I picked up a book Advances in Agriculture 1958, and am reading it. It has a list of material on this subject which I will crib and get by. “You know me, Al.”

The main work in the orchards is with grafting. P. mariani is the chief stock plant. Boy, did I make another speech on the Catalina Cherry. How about putting the Prunus in the Lyon’s den? That’s a pun, son. But I really think you have something here and I am not letting it go. Just as if I were your bulletin.

There is a lot more work being done with the Pomes. The LeConte Pear is the chief stock plant. They are doing a lot of working in X-grafting, or double-approaches with the result that a crop is grafted back upon itself. Experiments are here done with Apple, Quince and Pear and strange results are found about compatibilities. Their main discovery is that young shoots make the best stocks. I saw all kinds of efforts. The best ones were with young plants in plastic bags containing peat moss and a sort of aerial-approach graft used. After this takes effect, the stock is planted.

They have a P. shobra which has weak canes, though it is a local plant.

They are doing a lot of work with Mangoes. Inarching seems more effective with them than grafting. They also have left some LeConte Pears grow up by themselves. They become tall and scraggly. At this point we walked around a lot. They had me taste a new citrus fruit, cross between a lime and Mandarin, somewhat tart, but it looks as if it will make am good drink. They are also using dwarf lemons as stock for all kinds of grafting. Also I had some fruit of a Cumquat cross, which looked and tasted like a Cumquat but far more profuse. This tree, however, they said was an ornamental. They have no Loquats or Avocados.

My next host will be Dr. Shushan who graduated from Ohio State. Soon I will be in the Ornamental Gardens. The work on cross-grafting and double-grafts also interested me so much I forgot to take notes. In the Prunes, this double0grafting overcomes incompatibilities, especially when new wood is used.

My affairs in other fields just as progressive and important.

Cairo UAR

November 11, 1960

My dear Harry:

This is written under very trying conditions. The mental and emotional pace has been too much for me and yet more is expected. My body did not take it and I have been slightly ill. The only other complication, and one runs into it everywhere is this. 1. You sit with Prof. Flower grower and you make a long report and everybody accept it; 2. You see with Prof. Philosophy and you are lucky to find somebody who will listen to the report.

I was in the Indian Information Office today and read a speech by Dr. Radhakrishnan wherein he pointed out that the scientists of all nations were exchanging information and asked why could not the same openness exist between other classes. I can assure you, that quite aside from Zionist and anti-Zionist politics, etc, there is little objectively and a Prof. Zarchin will probably give a much better course on Egyptian history culture than a non-Zionist or anti-Zionist who get his credentials from some imaginary important European University. All over Asia Harvard credentials details are far more important than those of Oxford, Leiden, Heidelberg and Spitsenberg, but this is not the American(!) view. Egypt has a tremendous amount of culture and history to offer and can’t get it accepted.

In the horticulture field there is extreme abjectly and cordiality on both sides. But I have to make at least 10 copies of my field day diary. I am making a carbon of this for both Horace Hair and Bill Hitland. Then I make another set for Prof. Moyer, Kiplinger and Cutright of Ohio State; then I make another set for the Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo U. and the Department of Agriculture at Cairo U.

My host the other day was Abdul Alim Shoushan who matriculated at Columbus where he learned something and is putting it into practices. We had some long discussions and must meet again. I shall try to break these discussions down.

Literature: I shall be sending you under separate cover at least four of his bulletins. I wish to read them first, as one of them, the photo periodic in Viola odorata, intrigues me very such. I may of course, get other copies, I wish to give these to you personally and you may wish to keep them personally—that is your privilege. The discussion over the subject matters involved were so interesting I think we must have talked a long time.

Bulbs: This was connected with the above. There were two subject involved; (a) The production of a maximum of flowers for the market; (b) The spread of these flowers over long periods of time. I presented him the California picture of the Spring Bulbs, Autumn Bulbs, and Gladiolus watsonia in between and somewhat more variable. Here, on account of the temperature and absence of rainfall, the use of lath and shade is much more important. The Glad season in particular seems to be varied, but the rest-habit of bulbs has produced some problems that need investigation and this is the subject both of the Viola bulletin and the work now being conducted in bulb research, generally. Bulbs here include Dicots also, but mostly of course, Monocots.

Marda. This is a new complete fertilizer patented by Prof. Shushin. It contains N, K, P, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, Mb. There is plenty of Na and Ca in the soil with its high pH. One uses 1 kilo, to 200 liters of water—it is entirely solvable—for 1 acre. I hope to get some and if so will send it both to you and Bill Maitland.

It is sprayed on to the leaves and rather weakly then strongly, often than seldom. He has found this leaf spraying very affective and I was able to detect it at once, after only one application, when I went into the gardens. Ch, he tested me all right and it was very easy to discern.

Situation: The test gardens are on the other side of the road from the fruit Orchards where Lantana is grown. There was an excellent clipped hedge of Melaleuca, a narrow leaf type, which I regret I did not identify in our speed. The gate has Clerodendrum splendens which blooms in December. I know you are interested in this genus so will report later. I remember, it is M. ericafolia.

The Roses. This is an important crop for the Orient. Prof. Shoushan is experimenting with them, changing the rest periods by application of complete fertilizers and transferring them to cold frames with southern exposures in October. In this way he is getting or expects to get continual blooms in the winter. 100 blooms sell for 30Ps. in summer, 300Ps. in winter. This corresponds to 65c and $6.50 respectively. Indeed this section is self-sustaining as it operates a wholesale nursery for the flower markets.

Somewhere along the line here I met Prof. Murtaz el Cindy who says he can take me on field trips to nurseries and flower fields, on mutual convenience.

There are large satisfactory plots of geraniums. He is growing Pelargoniums under care; they are not blooming now. Morning Glories and Bougainvilleas are the chief vines, and they form solid masses. Canna were grown in the ditches here—not Cacti, which I have seen elsewhere! The Canna are much happier.

There were extension plots of Violas, Asters and Chrysanthemums. Mums are placed in pots, 3 parts Nile silt to one part of manure. The manure is a mixture of cow and pigeon; the higher the pigeon component the richer the soil. Schinus molle grows around this garden. S. terebinthus was in the tree nursery which I visited later. There were also beds of Stocks which I did not visit. They are in perpetual bloom here.

I have also met Dr. Abdul Rahman Gazfar, the head of this section, who has offered me all courtesy and cooperation but has many conferences.

The lath house was divided into two sections, one for trees and the other for herbs. The trees included Salix, Casuarina, Cupressus sempervirens which is also outside in extensive test beds. But when I mentioned the Acacia, he said they were trying more and more species of this tree. I have told the Australians that I wish to visit their Embassy to discuss introductions of some of their trees—which is, despite E. globules, on a very small scale. I think they ought to grow Eugenias here.

I would also like to see F. velutina, Fremontias and Gazanias. They could use more Fuchsia. They grow Amaryllis but I have not seen any. The Hydrangea tests particularly interested me. Of course the soil is very alkaline but with Dr. Shoushan’s fertilizer referred above, and containing Aluminum, one might see better results. There is a tendency for them to “resort to type”—i.e. that mixed green color which resembles relatives.

Dr. Shoushan got most of his training from Prof. Chadwick and I should say in this first visit and going over the pamphlets which I shall send, the Ohio State influence is very great.

Now I have to recopy for that institution, etc. Both this department and the University head office have planned field trips for me. I cancelled my Damascus journey because of the terrible information service and am glad because my program is full, but I expect to go to Luxor and south just as soon as I can make arrangements.

The notes here are incomplete. I get over-interested or enthusiastic and forget to take them. It would be even worse if I had a camera, but if this were possible, what books would be forthcoming! However I have been promised pictures or even the service of a photographer. We shall see.

Faithfully,

November 12

Dear Florie,

This is my diary entry for this day and it will be amended if a letter arrives from you or there is other news in the mail.

I’ll start in with the negative. The news from S. Vietnam does not surprise me. A number of years ago my dear friend, Robert Clifton, was in San Francisco and he gave me a lengthy and objective report on South Vietnam. I placed this before Alan Watts and the State Department and they brushed it aside. I later visited that part of the world and saw Clifton again, had my own direct experience, and he visited me in S.F. in 1959. The establishment of a Christian government on Buddhist people does not go well with those people and then when that government is corrupt as well, the U.S. gets the blame. I am not surprised at the revolt, but cannot predict the denouncement. It is certain that we have not regarded the Vietnamese as equals in anything and they don’t like it.

On another plane something like that is going on here. The news in Tunisia stormed the Americans and now the Algerians are doing the same. We give them food, culture, morality, kindliness, but do not give them reciprocation. We do not take old civilizations and cultures seriously and we ought to be taking them very seriously. At the moment, being far away and with the Alan Watts type being the “authorities” on the Far East, we can expect more of the same, even in Taiwan after a while. We let everybody but the persons concerned explain their predicament to us.

The other evening I was with Prof. Hussein and he gave it strongly about the Americans who are permitted to offer their culture here but the opposite is not true. According to him the UAR is not considered as an intellectual equal. He considers this Nation as an intellectual equal and literary superior, but scientifically and technologically much inferior. He wants reciprocity and reciprocity is about then last thing that seems to be offered. Like so many others he greatly deplores the type of “Islamic Philosophy” taught in America, historical repetitions of names often forgotten but no consideration how living people think and eat. It’s the same stuff all over. It is either Zionists, some of whom at least admire the historicity of the great and ever great; or Europeans who don’t. The exclusion of large areas and levels of culture and history is bad enough, but the efforts to fill in these gaps have become a useless one, with a few noted exceptions like Harvard.

The next day I visited the Egyptian library and picked up a book on Sudan. What the writer said about the Sufis and Dervishes in every way contradicts the “text-book” they use here on the subject. The writer had the audacity, the gall, to go and visit the Sufis instead of writing about them in his pipe-dreams, which is usually done. He found them of course. Because of multiple memberships one can “deduce” that there are more Sufis in Sudan than male inhabitants. But of course, if you want to pass your exams in American colleges you had better not read such books. Stick to the “authorities” who write in libraries and never visit the people.

Now the non-living Sufis who are beggars and parasites have invited me to En Shams University which is my next adventure. On top of that the Cairo U. and Ministry of Agriculture is so satisfied with my work, they want a special report which they are getting. I may stay here longer than expected; I feel I shall be coming back some time, inshallah.

November 13, 1960

My dear Florie:

Allah is no doubt the Merciful, Compassionate, Beneficent, but that does not prevent the acceptance of Truth. So long as we accept personalities, we either cannot accept truth, or we are putting bars before somebody or before ourselves.

Last night after I wrote the preceding page I went for a walk. Before long I was engaged in a three-way debate over religion. A Christies attacked me from one side and a “Mohammedan” from another. In such moments I have more wisdom than knowledge and more wit than wisdom as if Dolin and Allah were both with me. I asked the Christian. “What name did Jesus use when he prayed to God?” “Jesus was the son of God.” “I am not arguing; I have asked you a question.” I kept on repeating it and he finally said, “It’s is a secret.” “Oh, you have a secret religion. I am glad to know that, tell me what is going to happen tomorrow?” “I bet you would not come to my church.” ᾀ?I will come to your church anytime you wish excepting tomorrow because I have an engagement tomorrow.” “My priest will convert you.” “No, I will convert your priest.”

The other man denied everything I said and then asked: “Are you a Mohammedan?” I yelled out very loud so everybody around could hear me. “No, I am not and never was a Mohammedan. But if you are a Mohammedan I am pleased to meet you because I welcome followers of all religions.” “What is your religion?” “To submit to Allah. I submit to Allah at all times and try to do his will. This may make me a Muslim; I hope so. But I am not a Mohammedan.” By this time the crowd was laughing at him too. He became meeker. “What is your opinion of Mohammed?” “That he was Rassoul-lilla, that he as a perfect man, and that his body cast no shadow in the noon day sun” “I am sorry. I apologize. I agree with you.” So we shook hands. That made me hero. I am sometimes afraid I am too near being a hero, at other times being near a saint.

Tuesday was just an impossible. I met a lot of scientists and nearly half of them were Sufis. Of course there are no Sufis here and they are all vagabonds and parasites. But I met them and I met some scientists who graduated from the University of California (more of them), and I met one who was like myself both a Cal. man and a Sufis…. It is all right. Some people around S.F. pretend to believe differently and want to believe differently.

So I met Yusuf Wali who, like myself, is both a Sufi and Horticulturist and a lot more doors are opening to me and for me. I hope I can take them. Yusuf Wali made some predictions and I think it will be so, inshallah. These predictions are very contrary to some common or uncommon beliefs you have met with about which I do not care a farthing. People are in confusion can only deny others. The real Jihad is to deny oneself and see that one’s heart is clean and pure. This brings me many friends. I don’t care one hoop whether the pseudo-Muslims, and the quasi-Muslims and the Muslims who don’t accept Allah will ever listen to me or not. I am no longer the least bit interested. My work is cut for me and I am too welcome here and I am having a lovely time here and that is that.

Someday the professors and “authorities” will accent a few facts of this life and look beyond their subjective opinions. But some of them are so nice and wonderful that it is better be listen to them than to facts and truths. And then the people elsewhere blame America and it will continue until America and Americans listen with open ears and open hearts to the stories of lands far away.

Faithfully,

November 18

Dear Florie:

I have fallen behind in my diary notes and this being Friday, it is partially clear. I have an appointment with an American early tomorrow morning and then return either to Cairo University or to the Research Center.

Never let a multitude of facts interface with one good prejudice. Stick to the prejudice in face of fact and truth and then cry to heaven. I do not know whether you will see a Mosque in S.F. in a few years and I don’t know whether I can answer: “Why don’t we have two-way cultural exchange?” But a pleasant person whom we admire is worth all the information we can get from somebody we don’t admire and so Muslims never paid any attention to M. Mehdy or Mohammed el Zayat and may be this country is tired sending out men who are not greeted where they expect to be greeted. And the way the Muslims of S.F. acted when Dr. Shawardi was out there is a matter of record and any effort for certain personalities to wipe out the events does not wipe them out from the universe, or even less from Allah. But of course I have no intention of trying to convert Islam worshippers to Allah. I give that up.

This week I went to the reception of Ambassador M. Hussein who used to be in San Francisco and attend services also when Bashir Minto was Imam. He was very much surprised to see me here. The evening was the same as all diplomatic evenings; the guests rushed to the cocktails and knickknacks and nobody paid any attention to the guest of honor. The difference for me was that I knew the Ambassador. On other occasions I did not know the Ambassador or Prime Minister but just spoke to the lonely man in the corner and that was he. Anyhow we have a lot to confer about and I look for a long meeting or more next month. I have more things in my agenda that my acquaintances in S.F. would ever admit and as long as they wish to indulge in personalities and ignorance, that is their privilege, but they have no right to complain.

I was introduced as American Sufi! Wow! There being no important Sufis in the world (Landau) and there being no Sufis in politics (Grünebaum) I was besieged by more ghosts than any time in my life, intelligent ghosts from all kinds of countries who rushed up and greeted me in English and I had the time of my life and an easy entry into more Embassies and met all kinds of diplomats and Ambassadors (I was the only person present without credentials).

I had already gone to the Embassy to protest in no uncertain terms about this nonsense and whether you like it or not, I am now ready to go into the courts on this matter. On the one hand the vehement protests of one nation after another and one University after another that we do not have real two-way cultural exchange; and on the other hand the constant meeting of people whose existence is denied by “authorities” all over America, everyone from Rom Landau to Prof. Susuki who give out degrees and inflame Asians and if one complains it is too bad. But I have my finger on the pulse of life and the Foreign Service is finding out a lot of true facts which have nothing to do with intellectual “instruction” going on n universities and graduate schools outside of the Harvard and Princeton influences.

This evening I have an appointment with a Sufi (despite the “Muslims” and the non-Muslims) who is a leading scientist of this area and who has been seeking me out for two weeks to introduce me both to more Sufis and more scientists. He has been impeded by being transferred from one place to another so we could not get together before. And when I stop here I shall be going to Al-Azhar and I can bet my bottom coin that I am going to be asked about Islam in the U.S. I am going to say we have plenty of “Islam” in the U.S. but no “Allah.”

November 18, 1960

Dear Al and Miriam:

Adventure is where you find it and this is my diary entry for the day. I had no idea, of course, that my experiences would involve you or be of interest, and you will have to accept that I do everything intuitively.

This week I had one very strange day. A notice came from the American Express Co. that there was some money for me. A letter some form the bank, that in remitting the balance of my loan I had overpaid. I had paid up a one year $1000 loan in 10 months—which of course, increases my credit and facilities, a $500 loan at the first of the year—to insure my income tax payment, etc. Then my travel agent advised that my Karachi fare would be considerably under what I had expected. And so, with three bank surpluses, I felt I might he spending some more here.

In one sense this is the tale of Nathan the Wise who upheld Christianity, Judaism and Islam equally, and in another sense it is going to be that I purchase from the Jewish Isaac, the Islamic Farouk and the Christian Chris. Khan-i-Khalili is the real bazaar section and it is near the great Mosques, and especially the famous Al-Azhar.

By a combination of circumstances, Farouk, brother of the news agent at Semiramis Hotel, introduced me to his father who took me to Al-Azhar where I prayed with 3,000 others. Then he treated me to a shish-kabob dinner and suddenly it occurred to me that their place, called “The Garden of Allah” was one where I could spend some money.

They have a number of formulae for getting essences of flowers and plants. These essences are oils, not perfumes in our sense—no alcohol and perfumes could be made from them. I have refused allurements to purchase any perfume. But when I asked questions and they quoted prizes, I felt like purchasing six different bottles which are being packaged and shipped to you, with some information and instructions.

I do not know how long they will take and what use you can make of them. I understand that you can dilute them, dissolve them in alcohol, etc. There will be six one-ounce battles. You can either use them as is, or dilute or dissolve them, for marketing or for personal use. In any case when they do arrive I wish you would open all six and smell, etc.

It is my wish that they be disposed as follows:

1^st choice for Mariam…

4 bottles—either the original or the proper derivatives:

Mrs. W. Wise                  Mrs. H. Galbraith                   Mrs. D. Schueler

575 9^th Ave.                     Crest Bond, Fairfax                 2200 Leavenworth

Mrs. K. Kraftsman who has two addresses, on Sutter and Geary respectively and who divides her time between them.

1 bottle for demonstration or other uses.

This may give you the idea for some direct business for yourself or indirect through somebody else. The whole thing may take a while, but it is not costing me much—about $10 and another dollar for shipping, $12 to cover everything…. As I may remain here for some time this may open a door although it was not my intention. Frankly I do not know what to do with perfume. The first two ladies are very old and dear friends and Mrs. Schueler is my foster sister.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

November 19

Dear Harry:

This morning I called on Dr. Paul Keim, loaned from U. C. for an evaluation. I told him that 75-90% of the people I talked to in the U.S. turned me down and now I am getting 100% acceptance. I questioned that I was that good. I went over every point of my ventures here and the nearest thing to a flaw was my favoring salt-water conversion. He thought that might be delayed.

I think I told you that you I visited En Shama University. I have two entrees there, one a U. C. graduate and the other one Yusuf Wali who wants to be my host hare and will come tomorrow afternoon. I just feel it in my bones that something will come out of it.

Damn it, Harry, or praise the Lord and alhamdu lillah, but I have a good angel looking after me. I think I wrote that the Vegetable Station gave me six problems and one day I found the answers to five of them in their library. The scientists know how to conduct experiments but they don’t always know how to use American literature. One of the best things I did was to take that course on Chemical Literature. This covers also the whole field of Agricultural literature.

Well, today I thought I would write some letters to one of the stations for bulletins. I went to my portfolio—all of us diplomats carry portfolios, you know, that takes the place of credentials—and the first thing I pulled out from some crevice a Monsanto bulletin with Randex for Crab Grass and Vegadex for Puralane. No we go back.

I was sent from one station to another to try to find the solutions for these problems. I visited the agents of the American firms engaged is selling agricultural machinery and sprays and get nowhere excepting socially—I met nice people and had nice coffee. They told me to go hither and thither. I went to the Agricultural Attaché and they told me Dr. Rodenhiser, who is a Plant Disease expert was here. The next day I picked up a book on agricultural progress in 1958 and he was sitting pretty, although he was then in Alexandria. But today after pulling out that bulletin I called on him and we had a nice visit. He is not over-optimistic because he says you have to use many applications to get C. dactylon, and one or two escapes, but then don’t I know—if I don’t know anything else, it is battling this lovely pest. So I am ready now to write Monsanto.

I have already received the Soy needs for the Vegetable station. This is a variety which cooks easily. The ones they have are hard like Lentils. Incidentally, doesn’t one of the papers have a column, “The Pulse of the Public?” Well, the pulse of the public here is Lentils. Ha! ha! and shoot me down.

The visit to Ain Shams took me through districts very finely landscaped, reminding me of a flat Berkeley—curved streets, curbed streets, islands beautifully planted, the best gardens, and long, long stretches of them. Indeed this city has more area devoted to fine homes than to old slums. I will try to see some of the professors in that area and get the dope.

Then I have one for Prof. Asaumi, of Cal. and chief over all the experimental stations of Cairo U. He asked me for Coffee, Tea, Spices. Well the other night I was invited to meet the Ambassador from India. The reception was exactly the same as all the others. The diplomats rush in, their wives rush in, they select their favorite drinks, then they sit around and gossip. There is always one lonely person and that is the guest of honor. The only difference in this case was that I know the Ambassador; in other instances I had to meet him. He almost fell over when he saw me. He knows what I am doing because we had long confabs in both S.F. and New Delhi.

We agreed not to meet for a month. I wish to go on a trip to Luxor and Karnak, and then on a field trip with Paul Keim above. During that interim I hope he meets with the Arab-India friendship league and then I’ll pull my “The Friends of the World” stick and get them in on seed exchange. I already have my introductions for India but this will make it official. “Aren’t we devils?” to quote Ralph Edwards, but look at the fun I get.

Yesterday I got back and am laughing. I was taken to Al-Azhar Mosque where I prayed with 3,000 people and then had a shish-kabobs dinner free. I asked what business my host was in and he makes an essence which can be used for perfumes. He has all kinds of secret formulas and mixtures. I am not going to try to wrangle any but I would like to get the lists of plants used. Some are garden varieties and some desert varieties. Whatever I find out. I’ll let you know.

There is a medicinal plant section at the University, or Ministry—they are next to each other, which I have not seen and to which I have been invited. Anyhow I am sending six bottles to Faverman Drug Co., S.F. These can be diluted with Alcohol to supply 60 bottles of perfume. There may be business in it. The cost is not great and the people have many American clients. The son of my host runs the news stand in Semiramis Hotel which I visit every day. You don’t use drug stores as hang-outs here.

This week no field trips. The director of Cairo U. has to stay home to catch up with office work, and Dr. Asaumi has been away. Also the staff at Cairo U. Plant Physiology section are all away. Tomorrow I go to Dokki to the Vegetable Section and possibly the Ministry. I have not even visited the Agricultural Museum yet.

I have a Diners Club Card which is good for one restaurant nearby. There is another one much further away with much higher prices. This place has a good reputation, excellent foods, and not nearly so high. I am told that the Hilton, etc. have big prices too, for poor food. Anyhow the Lord or the Angel was with me. I received a surprise latter that there was some money for me here; then the bank wrote I had overpaid my loan and had a much larger balance; then my travel agent quoted me a much lower price for my ticket to Karachi. So I can unload a little, partly in food for myself and more in goods from the famous Khan-i-Khalili bazaar.

I am a ”neutralist.” I am buying Islamic art goods from a Jew, of course; and of any jewelry or gold from a Christian and the perfume seller is a Muslim. I wrote to a friend that the jewelry merchant, an American whom I met in New York, also almost full off his high stool (literally, it is true) and then said, “Welcome S£. Your initials are S£ aren’t they?” you can see why I had to have a serious talk with Paul Keim.

But I now feel that all the things we have planned together are accomplished in principle here without exception though it may take some time to fill in the details.

There are two stores which sell Chinese and Soviet literature. I looked in vain for something technical on the Russians and finally found a book on Plant Breeding. What a shock. 75% of the experiments before 1917 and all before 1929, and the thing is utterly puerile. I turned it over to the Agricultural section at the Embassy. Tonight the N.Y. Times says Russia is way behind in Organic Chemistry. I may make a final check at the Research Centre or even at the Russian Embassy. There has been so much hooey. I am not impressed outside of Physics and that is not my domain anyhow…. May have some enclosures.

Cordially,

Pukhtunistan Times                                                                  November 18, 1960

Owing to circumstances beyond our control the demand for the “Pukhtunistan Times” has increased enormously! If this continues we shall be in a dilemma for Pukhtunistan will gain its freedom!

What to do? We cannot give our country back to the Indians because it is against protocol to give any country back to the Indians. We cannot vote because we do not believe in elections, only plebiscites. We are unable to annex Afghanistan—yet and Afghanistan can’t annex us, because we look down on them—from our high mountains, of course. And as for Pakistan!

Puck Plucked. This is our favorite headline. Everybody hangs out at a drugstore, cigar store or newsstand. Puck, being a grand intellectual, he hangs out at the newsstand in Semiramis Hotel. He does not like the Hilton which is air-conditioned and they allow no hot air there. Puck thrives on hot air. Puck also thrives on newsstands and he can read all the headlines free—in French, English and Greek, but Arabic, la, which means no! Or Puck is caught.

“Today I take you to Mosque to pray.” “Sure.” So Puck shoes up. “No, I work today. My brother Farouk will take you.” Puck should have known better. That name Farouk is self-explanatory. But it was not easy. There are a number of guards around Semiramis and some of them owe Puck d’argent and some owe him money and some owe him courtesies. To go out with a native who has a guiding permit would be to put them in the dog-house and that is the same as the pig-sty here, dogs being second-class citizens, excepting poodles and dachshunds which rank slightly higher than humans.

So Puck met Farouk by tryst and we taxied to—no, sire, not the Mosque but “The Garden of Allah.” “My papa, he take you.” Did papa take Puck? Did he take Puck! So off we went to Al-Azhar with 3,000 others and prayed together and then some and Puck did the extra-rogatory prayers with his beads and established a lot of merit in the Islamic heaven and a lot of credit in the Islamic earth.

Papa liked Puck and Puck liked papa and we held hands. Boy, do you gotta hold hands here in crossing the street. If you don’t have a chain gang, you might as well give up. Well, after some adventures we did get across although Puck can’t explain and then it was suddenly time for lunch.

“Do you like shish kabob?” Puck had already been taken, now he was sunk. If there is anything that Puck likes more than shish kabob—but that’s a secret which may be told elsewhere. So we had shish kabob—which the Arabs, Circassians, Lebanese, Armenians, Kurds, Iranians, Azerbaijanis and a lot of others invented and their mutual competition saves Israeli because every time a war nears some confounded Zionist shouts: “Who invented shish kabob?” and the allies are soon at blows, and with all the others and there is no war.

Then papa disappeared. So Puck asked Farouk, what for sale? He might as well have given up! They have the essence of quintessence of attar of flowers, and one drop equals one gallon and then some.

Under ordinary circumstances Puck might have said no. On the one hand he had prayers and shish kabob; on the other somebody sent him money this week, and then the bank said he had overpaid and then the travel agent said he had overpaid and Puck had something to his supercredit 90£E or $200, over and above over and above, so he might as well unloose.

After the tumult and the shouting which should have been but was not, a package is being sent to San Francisco to one Favermann Drug. Co. which will know how to dilute it and sell at 1000% profit which is their business, not Puck’s.

After this Puck is going to ask names. He might have known it! Farouk!

Puck’s moral agony continued.

After that was over Farouk guided Puck to Onnig. Onnig has places all over and met Puck in New York. “Welcome $£, these are your initials, aren’t they? How well I remember. How do you like Cairo? Meet me tomorrow night at Semiramis, I will treat you $£.” Onnig is, well his last name is Alexinian. Puck did not mention shish kabob.

Isaac is Jewish and is the merchant from whom Puck expects to buy Islamic art goods. Jewish art goods he will buy from Onnig and Christian art goods form some Muslim. He told Isaac that there are synagogues here. But Puck is under some qualms whether Allah likes all this effusion, so he will go to Adonai and find out.

Anyhow he told Isaac the news that he has some money coming which he is so shamed faced to take, not having worked for it; he will share the wealth with Isaac—before Farouk and Onnig get it. But Puck think she is an incarnation of “Nathan the Wise” who held all three religions in equality and I guess we can go to Khan-i-Khalili bazaar and give Hebrew, Christian and Muslim an equal chance. Why not? As Karl Marx said, or something like it, “You have nothing to lose but your change.”

The African Problems. What with Congo and all that Puck met Dr. Dubois this week. He is an American Negro and came to study African Sociology, Allah and God and the Lord protect him. Dubois and Puck fell in love at first sight and immediately made an offensive (to whomsoever) and defensive alliance. Swahilistan Zindabad! After all the Swahilis: Africa: Pukhtus: Asia. They have a common language. A common culture, common sense, are just plain common and don’t believe in natural boundaries or policemen. So we love them. Although the Pukhtus claim to have the largest real, imaginary country in the world, there being no boundaries, nobody knows and nobody cares if Swahilistan is bigger or not. Just so long as the Imperialists don’t interfere, there is hope. The post-Imperialists come from Russia and establish iron posts, which are all right morally, of course, because you can make chains out of iron. The other Imperialists made them out of gold, which is wrong. The “Communist Manifesto” was issued in 1847 and then the capitalists discovered gold in 1848, just to show the depths of their iniquity, always conniving to do the worst.

The success of Swahilistan—where the people have intelligence—will no doubt react on the Congo, where they have not. For instance, we have to insert this ad:

Wanted: For the Congo, 200 stoves with demonstrators. If you cannot send all the stoves, please send the demonstrators. Since the Belgians have gone, we are getting very hungry.

The Lebanese and the Arabs. They are not the same, When an American goes to a Lebanese and says, “How much?” and the Lebanese says, “$10” and the American answers, “All I have is $4.98” the Lebanese will say, “All right, I take.” When the American goes to an Egyptian and says, “How much?” $4.98” and the American says, “All I have is $10?” The Egyptian says, “Wrong kind of money, you have to exchange it first.”

This is not all the news but since Puck has been plucked (and enjoyed it) he is too tired. His readers must remain unsatisfied.

Morland House,

16 Sharia Kamal el din Salah

Kasr el Dubara,

November 26, 1960

My dear Dominica:

The address is already known to you, but the hand is a different hand. I came here pursuing my policy of keeping a diary and writing the entries as a letter to some person whom I think might be especially interested. Today I seem to have a large and growing number of both friends and acquaintances all over the world. I am now sending out as many postcards as I can instead of Christmas cards, and in a sense, this will also serve as a Christmas greeting.

Briefly, I have found myself in a strange position here because nearly everything that I suggest is accepted and put into practice. This stands in strong opposition to my history in California where it was very hard for me to obtain even an interview. But almost from the start I was successful in making contacts. And it has not been so much personal magic or the perfection of my ideas as (a) I came as a representative of the University of California Alumni Association; (b) I had hoped to contact Sufis (dervishes). In both of these I have been entirely successful, alhamdu lillah, as they say here.

My start came from the beginning in meeting one Paul Keim, loaned from Berkeley, in charge of reclamation in the Kharga Oasis to the southwest. One introduction led to another, but often I bumped into former Californians, all over the place and mostly in my horticultural adventures. But the same proved to be true of Sufis also. So it does not make any difference to me what the reactions of other people are. I have done very well so far.

I had no time to go to the Pyramids until I had been here six weeks. Although a friend and to some extent a disciple of Paul Brunton, I did not find wonders in the great Pyramids. I did find wonders at Sakkara which I feel sure housed the ancient mysteries. I have talked to others, both Americans and Sufis and they reached the same conclusions.

I also believe that there may be many, many remains both under the present sites, and a little further along the desert just slightly to the West. Psychometry is not generally recognized, and I won’t push the subject. Nor will I state here what has been going on in my life and career.

I learned that it was very difficult to get rooms in Luxor after December 1^st so I went down and spent two days there. It was very delightful that I found Californians all over the place including family friends who are on guided tours, covering the whole world—there seems to be a lot of that going on. The Luxor Karnak area seems to be to be highly “civilized” and advanced and I did not get much spiritual feeling. But I got even less that the fine art work was done by slaves.

Dr. Creswell whom Marjory knows, has written against book authorities on Islamic architecture and I feel the same about book authorities in Egyptology. Thus I was told that only the great Pyramid had rooms in it; this is not so. A lot of other things are not so.

My stay at Luxor was enhanced by my meeting more dervishes there also. I will not write about the Temples themselves. I am sure Marjory spent a good deal more time around them and has come to some conclusions which are more valid than my own, whether we agree or differ.

I did call on Dr. Hughes of the Americans Institute of Oriental Studies, Chicago. He also knows Marjory though he does not have any faith in Cayce and I guess he is the so-called “hard-boiled” scientist. It is very interesting because the Egyptian scientists are often as skilled but they are not the “hard-boiled skeptical” types at all. Indeed when I gave my views on Egyptian religion to the guide he not only agreed but sometimes had me tell the tourist. It was not “hard-boiled.”

I suppose another reason for my writing to you is to report that the papers here had headlines that “unidentified objects” were seen over several of the Central States, by millions of people. There was no explanation but just details that too many people saw them to deny their existence. There was nothing to indicate one way or another whether they were man-made or earth-made or anything; only to insist on the phenomena. You probably know much more about the matter. News is scarce here.

I am waiting for Grace Drummond. She was originally scheduled to arrive the first week of December. I have not heard from here. She will undoubtedly stay in near-by hotels. I have been using my Dinners Club Credit Card here. There is a fine restaurant (Grillen’s) not far away. But I also intend to repeat my Sakkara visit when she is here, etc. and may even go around on local tours whether I have been there or not before.

Of course I get to lots of places where others seldom go especially with the dervishes. I have been to the bazaars but there is a problem of shipping things. I have scarabs for Dr. Baker, both an ancient royal scarab and a modern piece of jewelry, but I don’t know whether I can ship them until I get to Pakistan.

I am going to a pretty full schedule in December the way things look—three California men all wanting to take me out to different places; now contacts here; and I have not finished going to the museums and places of general interest. I am usually the guest of the Bureau of Information, Ministry of Agricultural and University of Cairo.

I also visit the new National Research Centre where the topmost scientists of the area work and where I also carry on my horticultural exchange. I did glance through a few American books on “space.” Nearly all mathematics, and little physics and metaphysics. It looks as if they were more interested in conundrums than solutions and ignored very large areas of known information which did not fit into their formula. I don’t know when this will be overcome and doubt whether we shall have much space travel until it is overcome.

The township and propeller were invented despite all the mathematical formula and we travel far and wide. But they did not ignore facts. I still believe there are more in gravitation, magnetism and electrical fields than some of our scientists will admit. But here again you probably know more than I.

Wishing a Merry Christmas to you and whomsoever reads this I remain.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

December 3, 1960

My dear Harry:

The subject of this letter is “Landscape Gardening” but in order to make it clear. I shall have to relate some of the experiences of the previous week. I went up to Luxor and Karnak, which are on one side of the Nile; and to Thebes, on the other. The East side is called the “living side” which had temples and apparently homes; the West side had the tombs and funeral temples. This includes the celebrated tut-ankh-amon and the now being excavated tombs of Seti I and Seti II.

I had my picture taken in front of the Queen’s temple, but have used up some 30 copies and have no extras, sending them out as Christmas cards. I may have to get more and could send you one, or perhaps more than one them.

On the Luxor side I stayed at the Winter Palace Hotel which has excellent meals and I may come again for two reasons not connected with gardening: (a) I met dervishes; (b) the headquarters of the American Oriental Institute is near-by with an excellent library. Then I could take a boat-ride up the Nile, etc.

The garden at the Winter Palace is full of the same kind of annuals and some perennials which you have around you, especially in Summer. The chief difference is the use of Phoenix and Ficus as foundation plants. The laying out is geometrical and formal, but one is surprised to find even there, where the Summer temperature runs to 100° and more, that Roses thrive. Evidently some strains must be able to take the heat. The only difference is that I saw more kinds of Marigolds than I have ever seen; all the familiar types and more. And incidentally the Calendula is the chief blooming flower at the moment. (Today I may check on the Clerodendron because I call on Dr. Asaumi, formerly of U. C. and will be close by—if not today, then soon.)

More important is the Queen’s temple itself. It seems she was quite a horticulturist herself and sent to Punt, which is perhaps Eritrea for all kinds of shrubs. Chief among these is Henna which grows in that region both as an ornamental plant and commercial plant. The guide explained the flowers and the use of the fruit at a base for the dye. The flowers have a fragrant odor. Evidently it prefers a kind of warm, dry climate. It functions slightly like the Fremontia which is not known here.

The shrubs themselves are carried in baskets and pots. When I returned I visited the Museum of Antiquities where I was quite interested in the evolution of basketry into pottery with the transition stage of “basket-pots.” My interest is largely that of ceramics but the decision to first visit the temples, then the museum proved invaluable when I went to Gezeirah Park.

This park is just across the Nile from where I stay. I think I wrote before that its very propinquity kept me from visiting it. But Friday is the “Sabbath” and I sometimes have some spare time. When I went over there the police came up when they saw I was taking notes—I did not know that jotting down the names of flowers was a subversive activity, but you never can tell. Actually I will not give you the details, except to say that you are well acquainted with nearly all of them.

Gezeirah Park is landscaped in contradistinction to the ”botanical” types I have seen before—and not reported fully on. Phoenix and Ficus form the foundation plants. The lawn is Poa. I presume either Kentucky Blue or a near relative, with the natural concomitant that all kinds of other grasses get mixed up with it, but you do not have the cancerous C. dactylon creeping into the flower beds. The lawn does not take the traffic of even weather so well as C. dactylon, but is decidedly “greener.”

I noticed Geraniums, Gaillardia, Canna, Phlox, Marigolds, Salvia, Sweet Williams etc. There were lots of Oleanders and occasionally a Bougainvillea, trained as a Shrub.

But the main flowers were the Chrysanthemums—all kinds of them. At this point one could see that the pots used have hardly changed through the centuries and that the urns also resemble those of ancient Egypt. The small varieties were placed in simple pots, and instead of planting designs like one sees in front of the Conservatory, G.G. Park, the pots are laid out so to make geometrical designs and “rotary club” type welcomes! It is very neat and saved the trouble of placing the roots in the soil.

C. morifolium is handled differently, being carried in larger basket-pots, one bloom to each, and given tender care. They look fine and remind one of both Oakland and Japan. Then instead of the Marguerite-type bush, they have a near relative placed in ceramic tubs and put around as shrubs, but, of course, they can be carried away.

The stone work is interesting in that they use exactly the same kind of stones I saw at Karnak and Luxor. The paths are of a clean sand and the curbs are of a hard white limestone. The seats are of marble, finished, neat and kept clean.

There are two types of water structures—one evidently for children wading, made of finished tiles. I would like to learn more about those tiles, which are blue, the same being one of my favorites, and skillfully put in. The other type was a meandering, artificial pond which makes use of stones and cement and evidently will contain Lotus and Lillie’s—it is too new.

Two types of wood are need: finished wood for Pergolas and these contain electric light brackets; and also a lath-house, not used as a nursery, but covering the tool shed, and more for looks. I was surprised to see such an excellent lath-house at all because most of the functional ones are rough, but after all, this was a public place.

Then the use of rustic branches. They have a nice summer house and it is going to be covered by a Passion-vine. Sometimes Bougainvillea or a large Ipomoea (much like the blue Japanese types) are used elsewhere. People evidently like it for it was crowded. It was also a picnic day for many people.

While swings are mounted on metal structures, the “trees” for kindergarten age were of wood and not metal. I was surprised but the cost may be a factor.

I have watched some of the workman “finishing” stones and the skills they have with their comparatively simple tools is wonderful. I may watch more but my free time does not generally coincide with the working hours.

This landscaped park is much more popular and functional than the botanical ones. I should visit it again after the Chrysanthemums are removed.

For the rest, let me say that the news is uniformly good if not excellent. I had been told that there were several articles about me in the Arabic press and when I go around many people know whom I am. But when they put me down the other day (maybe “father knows best” or Harry) as a Yogi who stood on his head spinning, I did not protest, I got a long fat interview and probably will have a good write-up soon. Anyhow the whole Embassy discovered me also before I did and fame is increasing if not fortune.

Also there is progress on all my other projects, although combined they do not take half the time as those concerned with horticulture and the associated social life. Most of my time off is also spent with “green-thumbers.”

Cordially,

December 5, 1960

Dear Florie:

Today I started out looking for one Awad Khair, a Sufi and he must have a fine character as everybody smiled when I mentioned his name. He was not at either of his hang-outs but I was told he will be working early tomorrow.

Next I went to the Indian library. I am studying Indian philosophy more seriously than ever. There was as article in the paper the other day that I am a Yogi, etc. I went and tried to get a correction but the correction has not yet appeared. It is possible that I shall break out into print on a large scale. I have been told time and again that short articles have been published concerning me; there may be some truth in it as this was the first time I tried to make a check and it was true.

My poetry has been very well received, but it will take a while for me to get the complete picture.

I next went to the Ambassador’s home and asked for a long interview. He wants to see me but I want it to be “official,” i.e. something that will reflect to his benefit and so help UAR-Indian relations. I have all the keys in my hands. As there may be an Afro-Asian conference here soon I am not pressing.

Then I walked to the Pakistani Embassy where I had a nice interview with one Mr. Kibria, chiefly on the possibilities of salt-water conversion for his country. Our next item will be the utilization of salt-infiltrated lands in the Sind. Previously I had some trouble due to the officiousness of the clerk at the information desk, but today I went right past him and everything turned out OK. I think, before I leave, I may have cordial relations with these people.

Next I went to be Islamic Society which is close by. I gave Dr. Asaumi my brief on Islamic Philosophy and its relation to Plant Anatomy. He was very much struck by it and urged that I visit this society. Al-Azhar has been too slow—cordial but too slow. They were busy at the Society but took my card and phone number.

Today I received some money which means I shall get the things at the bazaars to send to San Francisco. I am not and cannot afford presents for many people. I simply do not have that kind of money. But I am sending things for display.

I have written to Clerk Kerr of the University of California telling him why I should have an interview with the Near East Department. They refused before, due to the so-called “Center” giving me a bad name. I simply will not stand for that. Anybody can turn me down—after an interview, but no more referrals.

I have been writing calling to the ridiculous situation of Dr. Spiegelberg praising Carl Jung in everything, bringing back a new “prophet for India” every time he goes. Koestler writing a book attacking these “prophets” and Jung commending Koestler. If this is sanity, I prefer to be mad. But the fact is that very, very few Europeans really get the gist of Indian teachings. You can talk forever and not be able to meditate or perform Yoga, etc.

Friday night I went to two gatherings of Sufis and have been invited to several more this week. The Tuesday invitation came from a Sheikh and I have not had time to telephone other people for appointments—kept too busy. The difference between the real-Asia that I have been seeking and the phant-Asia presented in S.F. grows greater and greater. Some people are afraid of reality and realities—this only reveals their own short-comings.

It would appear that I shall have many commission now to present Sufism in the U.S. and I don’t give a fig for all the European professors of Oriental teachings combined.

Morland House,

16 Shria Kemal el din Salah,

Kasr el Dubara, Cairo

December 13, 1960

Hozny M. Gaber,

Asst. Director, Islamic Center,

2551 Massachusetts Ave.,

Washington, D.C.

My dear Friend:

I am visiting Al-Azhar this morning. This is nothing unusual for it is the very first place I went to on arriving at Cairo. I have been both to the office and to the Mosque, and to the Mosque both as a side-show and to Friday prayer. But today I am going to pick up my book and some other material so I can learn to pronounce Fateha and then other prayers in Arabic.

Alhamdu lillah, I believe that every single project I have brought with me to this country has been accepted and is in the course of progress. This covers a multitude of subjects. I have been the guest of the Information Bureau, the Ministry of Agriculture, Cairo University, especially Dr. Mohammed Kamal Hussein of the faculty of Arts, of dervishes, etc. I have been spending most of my time on these projects with little sight-seeing. Indeed I have been so busy that there are many Mosques still to be visited. One trip to the pyramids and a few days around Luxor have been the chief diversions and those for the sake of other people. Not only is the program heavy, but it is innervating.

I have been asked many questions about Islam in the United States. It is needless to repeat the discussions but there is an agreement on the direction, that is, to coordinate all efforts to harmonize with Dr. Hoballah and your good self. It is hard to make people understand here that not only are there movements like Kadiani and Lahore Ahmadiyyas, but there are many groups, calling themselves “Muslims” who denounce either so-called “Muslims,” set up independent Imams, or have none at all. And on top of that Islamic culture in the hands of all kinds of Europeans, not to say Zionists.

The last week has resulted in my name appearing in the newspapers here several times and a request for a detailed accounting of my doings by my hometown paper, San Rafael, California, and by my old friend, the famous Chat Huntley of N.B.C. Mr. Huntley is very broad-minded in his religious and spiritual views and we have never been far apart on other subjects either.

My grand epic, “Saladin” has been received by Dr. Mohammed Kamal Hussein but not by Dr. Mohammed El-Behay. The reports are very favorable. And today, after my newspaper interview, I may try to arrange a meeting with President Nasser himself before I leave the country, inshallah.

I expect to leave for Pakistan in February. The success of my agricultural and other projects seems to be quite possible, but I am not too much in favor of their various and competing missions. Ignorance is bad enough, competition is worse and this does not result in converts so much as offense to sensitive people, which they do not realize. The hope is to see Islam presented on cultural lines somewhere, and on devotional lines everywhere.

As-salaam aleikum.

December 13, 1960

My dear Florie:

This afternoon I visited at least six Mosques. We went to Bab Zuweila, which has two mighty minarets, and a wonderful gate. The Mosque itself is divided into a courtyard and an interior, and they are finely done. I learned that one of the doors was taken from the Sultan Hassan Mosque which I visited later on.

In general I was struck by the colored glass work. It is very different from that of the Christian Churches, although the use of columns seems to have been derived from both the Christians and Greeks. The one I cared for least was the grand Mohammed Ali Mosque, very huge, ornate, with all grand ornaments, lighting, art work, etc. but no fine feeling. It is the mosque of money not of God.

This is built on the top of the citadel near the gates and wall of Saladin, which interested me. But today was Mosque Day and I did not bother too much about the other remains. The two Mosques which interested me most were those of Sultan Hassan and the Rifa’i which are opposite each other, just below the Citadel and are Sufi Mosques. I was told Sufism is taught there. It is certain, so far as I am concerned that the Rifa’i Mosque gave me the grandest of spiritual uplifts I have had since reaching this last. But one cannot impose or impress Sufism on anybody, and feeling is not well communicated through words.

In general these Mosques preserved fine wood carving also, and the Sultan Hassan Mosque is a grand example of Islamic architecture. I shall now read more about it. Nevertheless if I go to these Mosques—the Sultan Hassan and Rifa’i—it will be to pray and meditate, rather than to examine art and architecture.

I hope to meet one of the attendants who speaks English. All the people are Sufis and I had to turn one man away who was selling cards. I shall no doubt go to him some other time when I am not in a lofty mood and buy something but today I was in too lofty a mood.

This was fortunate because my visit to Al-Azhar was in some ways disappointing. I am not getting my “solution” for the San Francisco or American problems. Last night I was with another Sufi and we discussed many things; at length and one of these was the plural marriages of the Prophet. We went into this seriously and deeply and agreed, from logical, moral and historical points of view that the Prophet was right and Joseph Di Caprie wrong. But he does not listen to reason, he does not surrender and he has a name here. Even his treatment of Mohammed Abdu, locked at from one point of view in S.F. is different here. Abdu has a good reputation although they do not take him intellectually seriously. They say his heart is in the right place and I do not say this of Joseph. He has never learned the meaning of surrender, either to Allah or man.

As to Mirdad’s contention, he may have been right, there are some things hard to explain, which seem beyond reason or even sanity, yet are true. And if Mirdad proves to have been right it will be necessary to turn in other directions to fulfill his dreams—which may not turn out to be dreams after all. I am going into this matter in a few days. Islam cannot be taught in America by ignoring all Americans, American ways and most of all American Muslims. They may hold keys and I do not think this is fully appreciated here.

Faithfully,

Cairo

December 16

My dear Florie:

There is a tendency to neglect my diary when nothing too pressing or exciting occurs. Actually I am more busy because of rising social engagements and use of afternoons and evenings. The weather is not so hot now. I don’t know when I wrote my last diary notes so will go over some events.

Tuesday afternoon I had a guide take me to six Mosques. The first was Bab Zuweila which is supposed to be the place where “Khidr” appears. It was a fire historical building, with wonderful gates and two minarets. The landscape was excellent, with court-yard and fountain. Here and the next two mosques I visited I was struck with the stain-glass windows. But the other mosques were comparatively recent ones. The wood-word is very artistic.

Then we went to the Citadel and saw some of the walls of Saladin, and next to the very elaborate Mohammed Ali Mosque. This is for tourists. It is not a place for prayer or holiness. Huge sums were used and it outranks a lot of cathedrals for its ornateness. The one thing I gained was the “natural” forms in the marble and alabaster which resemble contemporary art very much. This I liked almost as much as I disliked the chandelier lighting system, more appropriate to a palace or theatre. Anyhow it does not seem to be used much.

Below were two mosques, the Sultan Hassan and Rafa’i which are frequented by Sufis. I did not stay too long as it was late in the afternoon when we arrived and there is no elaborate lighting. In fact they were closing the Sultan Hasan which seems to be more school than Mosque excepting on Fridays. But as the attendants were not only dervishes but speak English I wish to go again and perhaps take one of table companions with me. These companions are a young Hungarian, Czech and Persian, all graduates of Harvard—the one university which seems to be interested in finding out what is going on here.

Wednesday afternoon I had a long visit with Dr. Mohammed Kemal Hussein, of the faculty of Arts. We discussed, and I have taken this up again, about the introduction of Islamic Philosophy in the United States. My poetry is now in the hands of one his colleagues; other than telling me he was a big man he did not say anything.

I shall remain here two months more, being scheduled to leave on February 20 from Port Said for Pakistan. I am very satisfied with social UAR I do not see as the people see, but my satisfaction is based on long range views. The progress hare seems so grand that it overshadows the defects. I think these defects are in the persons or psychology and not in the political or social program.

I am not sure now as to how Islamic can be spread in the U.S. Although it is unsettled, the failure to get a program means that the same scattered groups will persist in the U.S. and the continuance of Pakistani efforts to make converts. However there are now in Cairo groups of visiting American Muslims of Syrian extraction, mostly, who have been aligned with the National Islamic Federation, which in turn, is allied with the Mosque in Washington. It is impossible to determine how many Muslims are so allied and how many are in splinter group. But the fault here is not in lack of wise leadership, the fault is in lack of leadership at all. Any kind of leadership would be acceptable. So I am wondering what happened when the delegates met Mirdad. We only heard his side of the story which was not favorable.

But the S.F. “Center” is in back graces. When a Joe Di Caprio criticizes the Prophet instead of studying Islam, he cannot expect to win the friendship of people elsewhere. If he knew a lot of the virtues of the Prophet, if he were acquainted with Hadith, it might be different. Personality excusing is in direct violation with the declaration of faith.

I am holding off any decision on the religion. If any ideas are given me I could accept them. But I have told the authorities that the Pakistanis wish to spread Islam and if they do, instead of the Arabs, the Zionists will gain a sort of benefit. I know a lot of Zionists—not particularly religious—who prefer Islam to Judaism because they are opposed to rabbi-ism and like the democracy of Islam and of course, they accept the Unity or God. The only thing that seems to stand in the way is the acceptance of Rassoul-Lillah Mohammed, and there was no great opposition to this. It is not Jewish renegades who object to Mohammed, it is the metaphysical people who don’t know from nothing.

With regard to Islamic Philosophy, that is different. The Center does not have to accept a cultural program, but the universities will and there has been so much encouragement along this line. But Islamic Philosophy has nothing to do with intellectual discourses by Von Grünebaum, Landau, the University of California or Oxford. What these men present as Islamic Philosophy does not tell about what people think and how they think any more than Thomas Acquinas or Duns Scotus reveal American thought. There is a very well delineated Islamic Philosophy, rather closely connected with, but not bound totally by, the religion of Islam. Even the leaders at Al-Azhar distinguish between the pure Islam, worship of Allah; and the so-called “Islam” which consists of talking about “Islam” and keep on repeating the word “Islam” which they regard as a grave detriment to the true faith and so do it.

The next thing is Sufism. It cannot always be distinguished from the above, but it is so distinguished in theory so I shall deal with it as a separate matter. Sufism is based on tarik, which might be interpreted as the path to God. But the term “path” and the word “to” may be misnomers, just as in Buddhism, one minds a lot of misnomers in the higher reaches.

Sufis are banded in brotherhoods. They have disciplines and ceremonies and most of all, have teachers. These teachers generally follow certain traditional methods, but there is nothing to stop any valid teacher from using the method of another school. So, many persons are disciples in more than one school. The Sufis have been accused of borrowing teachings and methods from almost everybody but as Al-Ghazzali said: “Divine Wisdom is based on experience and not on syllogism.” This alone makes all the lectures of Arberry, Von Grünebaum, Landau and the translators at California and Yale nonsense. They are telling people what they think, not what is. So long as Sufism and Sufi remain subjective figments of imagination, no matter what kind the imagination, one simply does not know what Sufism is; nor can he explain why even an American, versed in it, gets into so many social groups easily and automatically, and always opposite to the personal opinions of Englishman and Europeans who mostly don’t know what they are talking about even with a thousand university diplomas.

The Sufis form brotherhoods and a brotherhood beyond these brotherhoods. If one understands this final Brotherhood, it is easy. The outstanding figure, historically, is Abdul Kadir-i-Gilani, also known as, Ghaus-I-Azam, and seldom mentioned by the “brand name” professors. The simplest person in Islam may know Ghaus-I-Azam, but I never heard anybody give a lecture on Ghaus and even if he did, it would be very subjective and not communicable in a comprehensive manner. But anybody having Sufi experience does not even have to communicate, there is mutual understanding at the first meeting. This is hard for the intellectual to comprehend, he does not know true heart; often he has no conception of heart. Yet the heart people here include the topmost intellectuals of the land.

December 19, 1960

My dear Florie:

It was not my intention to write to you so soon again but the drift of events, rushing upon me in series like cloudbursts necessitates diary entries and I am sending a copy of this to Col. Everson. I simply cannot handle the opportunities which are placed before me, but intuitively I knew this day would come so I was psychologically prepared for it. I am breaking down the events of the past days into subjects so that when the time comes I can make proper extractions, though there may be repetitions in these notes and also of the events of the past days. I have not, in all cases, copied into my records what I have written people, including yourself.

Sufis and Dervishes. The stuff peddled in the U.S. becomes more and more non-sensical and dangerous and has nothing whatever to do with realities. Even the brightest names on the firmament, like Dr. Arberry, had better be erased if one wants to know anything about this matter. And it is more ridiculous to say that there are no Sufis, and that no leading citizens are Sufis than to deny the existence of the Masonic Order, for it is certain that the leading persons here as in many Islamic and in some Islamic Nations are Sufis and whether the man’s name be Landau, Von Grünebaum, Koestler or Arberry, we might just as well be discussing the kind of beings space-travelers meet as to give any serious consideration to what they peddle in this regard. No doubt Karl Marx led a grand parade by writing tomes from museums and by an extraction method which consists more in deducing from the writings of others than in doing any examination oneself. This method has long been discarded by scientists but is still prominent in society.

I went to three different dervish groups last week. I visited Sheikh Absalam Amarti twice. They meet in a very new and clean Mosque which is said to have been the property of the late unlamented Farouk. Now it is kept exceedingly clean and bright and there were about 400 people, or rather men last night. How many women meet upstairs I do not know.

Each “authority” on Sufism gives his bosh about it being “derived” from Brahmanism, Buddhism, Christianity, Neo-Platonism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism and what not. None offer evidence and none consult the Sufis themselves. The Sufis say, and I believe them, that some of the methods are of ancient lineage and the chief difference is the substitute of Arabic, and Qur’anic methods for those in existence prior to the time of Mohammed.

But there is a scientific way of testing that nobody has looked into at all and I have never seen in any books excepting those of my own Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. His works are available in English but with the exception of the World Congress of Faiths in England not a single “authority” refers to them. He was especially trained in music and his original intention had been to make a voluminous work called The Mysticism of Sound. This was never done and instead he wrote a short book on the subject.

The use of music by dervishes is far greater than even I had dreamed. I had thought, and I found quite different, that only the Mevlevis made much use of music. This is now, so far as I can find out, a decedent order. It is weak here and their methods were to sublimate through music, the elements of devotion and conscious self-disciple being minimized.

The different Rifai’s use slightly different methods with the same spiritual phrases. At the Siddi Sharani they had responses and antiphonies and they even sat in a way which makes me feel their might be Christian predecessors; certainly the Gnostics who have long since disappeared. The doctrines of the Gnostics were not appreciably different but they used Coptic in their sacred repetitions. It is certain that the two kinds of singing which I have heard at the Shadhili and Rifai gatherings are not at all like the usual Kabbic and far different from the Qur’anic chants.

If one had a tape recorder one could copy these chants and then have them analyzed. Then one could determine, as by methods they use at Northwestern University the qualities called cents in Sonology and by an analysis of these cents could determine the origin and relationship of such music.

Last night one A.M. Attia acted as my interpreter. He is a leading expert I cotton exporting and usage and travels to many lands. He has been to the Philippines and Ceylon. There, as in West Africa, the growth of Islam is a race between Ahmadiyyas and Sufis—both of who are discounted by certain of the so-called brethren, including the leaders in San Francisco. From this conversation he is quite a mind—a point taken up again below.

The lesson at the Mosque last night—which was a series of lectures, prayers and question-and-answer period, brought out a challenge against Sufism in the name of Orthodoxy. This will be taken up later but it is foolish for Sufism includes a lot of teachings which were on earth before the time of Mohammed and many of the institutions of Mecca, etc. are hold-overs from previous "revelations."

Art Tour. This was led by Dr. George Scanlon of the American U. here. I have against him and he will have to eat crow, that he teaches here there are practically no Sufis here and they are all parasites, etc. I have heard the same thing about Zen Buddhists, Esoteric Buddhists, Yogis of all schools and this damnable nonsense will continue until we look at people as they are.

I met a young Negro from Arizona and we had an argument with a pretty young girl, begging her to take her experience from life and not what she read in books. She got a earful. The authority on Islamic art is Dr. Creswell. He has upset the apple cart by denouncing all his predecessors and looking at the monuments. Scanlon is a disciple of Creswell and on the tour he did the same thing. He simply will not allow what is in the guide books, texts, or not. He shows you the things and he is, to my mind, just as right in his art—where he looks at things, as he is on Sufism—where he does not.

The girl had to go through some nerve shocks for Scanlon denounced this bookish, indirect method and showed us things one after another. It was a long, pleasant experience. My companions were all Americans excepting one of two who were the husbands or wives of Americans. One of these is a Coptic Christian and he wants to see me.

I told him I was particularly interested in the history of early Christianity in this region. This is a neglected subject. Despite the Dead Sea Scrolls and the recovery of the Gospel of St. Thomas, the American Oriental Institute has little on this subject and so far I have gotten nowhere. But this man took my name and address and I am hoping he follows up by bringing me together with some men who know about this. I also hope he will take me some time to his church.

Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science. I think I wrote the other day that I visited Dr. Hafez and he sent me to the top Biologists and Physicists. I have turned over to Dr. Nasser, the physicists, my paper on this subject printed by Aligarh University. But I am now able to go more deeply into this subject both from a scientific point of view and also from the Sufi point of view. I think I may ultimately write at length upon the Sufi interpretation of the Christian Bible. All of this grows out of Al-Ghazali's statement "Sufism is based on experience, and not on syllogisms." This invalidates all books by Rom Landau ad the Pakistanis on Ibnu'l-Arabi because none of the writers have the slightest inkling into the experience of Al Ghazali.

Salt Water Conversion: While I was with Prof. Nasser who showed me his labs (technical report will be made elsewhere), I showed him an article in “Time” on saltwater conversion. There I met Motouq Bahijig, Director of Chemical laboratory at Jidda, Saudi Arabia. They wanted my material on this subject, most of which has been turned over to the Pakistanis. But I have one article to type—which would consume some time. Yesterday evening when I returned from Abdin Mosque I was pleased to find a letter and more new material from the Department of Interior, Washington. I took this with me today but Dr. Nasser was not in. However I have loaned it to Dr. Bahijig for the night, anyhow.

Saudi Arabia. He told me a good deal about this country, its soil surveys, its growth of agriculture, the now dam at Asir, etc. We agreed that the trouble with his country is its unbalanced economy. So many people are employed by Aramco that there are not enough harvest hands. I did not wish to discuss agriculture with him too much but he gave me an introduction to his Embassy. If the ship on which I sail lands at Jidda I shall now go ashore, contrary to my earlier plans.

He insisted I was thoroughly misinformed about the non-existence of Sufis in his countries. Two persons have so insisted, who have both set themselves up against me in life and yet are deadly personal enemies of each other, but each knows the Ibn Saud family. Yet Dr. Bahijig insists that there are many dervishes at Jidda, where neither of those persons have been—and both are accepted as “authorities” in the U.S.

Mineral Resources: This interests me. They have discovered very valuable iron ore in Hedjaz, with heavy concentrations of both hematite and magnetite. Chromium and Lead have been found and some Uranium. No coal, but far more natural gas than they may need for some time. There are also valuable gem deposits as I suspected.

Archeological Remains. In the last “Scientific American” there is record of exploration on Bahrain Island showing an ancient civilization, a linkage between the Indus Valley and the Tigris-Euphrates. I told Dr. Bahijig I believe that Arabia has many cycles of early civilizations. He confirmed this with his own experiences, that he has gone to these cities mentioned in Qur’an. Unfortunately he could not get help from the natives who imagine jinn and wild animals. But in one city he found two layers and a silver coin of a very early date. He also said they found plenty of gold art. Nearer Jidda they have found very early Sabean or pre-Sabean writing on Copper revealing both the existence of writing and the existence of Copper. This was very pleasing.

Zem-Zem Water. This was the most interesting of all. We both agreed to begin with that Zem-Zem has some strange properties. His own researches show that these do not come from Sulphur, Iron or some Chemicals which we would imagine. He said that people can live several days on this water without eating and that it has healing properties—which I fully believe. He is bringing some to Cairo and will put it through micro-analysis which is not possible at Jidda. The water is natural and ha less salts than one would imagine, but different potions sometimes taste differently. I was very excited when I left this lab. And hope to see him tomorrow.

Biologists. I had an appointment with Dr. Afifi who was just opened up the Biological Control section of the Plant Protection Division at the National Research Center. To my delight I found he is also a Sufi—this is a subject I am going to mention and mention and mention for the record. We did have a discussion on this but I did not go into details on the philosophy.

He told me Dr. Hassan Salah was in—this is Asara’s friend. Well I found him in. We have been trying to get together for a month. He also got excited when I mentioned the Zem-Zem water and has evidently been to Mecca himself. He told me it had Magnesium salts and some kind of radio-activity which was healing but he doubted if you could measure the radio-activity, for by the time the water would be transported to Cairo much of it would disappear. As I am also to meet Dr. Bahijig tomorrow, in another floor of the same building, he asked me if a meeting could be arranged. I shall only be too pleased. But I am also hoping that Dr. Hassan will take me on the trips he was suggested.

I shall also have to visit the Entomology Society for literature and will send this or a report to my friend, Harry Nelson, at City College.

All of this seems to be too much. I had hoped to pull in my horses, but intuitively I know I would be busier than even. I am hoping now to get some financial help, as much in the way of a grant to traveling companions as for myself. I am now way in, over my depth, and yet there seems to be no way out. Yet this is just the opposite of earlier in life where everybody turned me down.

I suppose at times I seem almost vengeful but I am tired of hearing the United States called “imperialistic” when we are helping so many countries with aid and information and will continue, inshallah. It is the countries that are opposed to us that do not, even cannot supply real help.

Temporally I may conclude that there are great hopes in Saudi Arabia. There it largely depends on the financial policy of the administration and it seems now they are working toward a balanced economy. If the water reports I gave them are true, you may find quite a different nation within a few years.

Please note all that has happened in the last two days or less. I am afraid to go to the phone. I have bunches of letters to write.

Faithfully.

Samuel L. Lewis

P.S. All this letter, which seems in a way, story-bookish proves to be even more so. I had sooner completed it than the telephone rang and Dr. Nasser, referred to above, says he is coming to see me. Anything that may transpire will have to go into a later record.

Cairo, UAR

December 20, 1960

My dear Paul (& family):

This is not a letter. It is my diary entry. I make the entry by writing to somebody on the events which may interest them and this means that my correspondence and diary are done together. Anything else is impossible. Not only have I been successful with practically all the projects I bought here but also almost all the things in my “salvage bag” have been brought forth and one by one they have been received too. It is fantastic. I am news. I have been in the papers several times, the San Rafael Independent has been asking about me and so has Chat Huntley who used to know me in Hollywood. Indeed in this letter are the germs of several news-items which contain grains of excitement accordingly as one is interested or wants to be excited.

I think I was here about a month when I first went to the National Research Center. It has four divisions: Agriculture, Medicine, Chemistry and Physics; and two sections, a coordinating-manuscript-document; and one for handling equipment I first visited the manuscript section and have both used the library and have had things I brought Photostated. Most of my visits have been to the Agricultural section where I have at least one friend, Dr. Hasan Salah, in Plant Protection, also a University of California graduate.

Twice because of apparently unabated success, I visited Paul Keim, also “loaned” from Berkeley for an evaluation and the only thing I decided was to take my salt water conversion material to the Pakistani Embassy at this Paul’s suggestion.

My four different areas of horticulture, poetry, philosophy and dervishes all succeeding, I jotted out my outline for the relation of oriental Philosophy to Contemporary Science. I showed this to Dr. Hafez, the No. 2 man at the Centre. He sent me to the chief Botanist whom I had already met, and to Dr. Nasser, in the Physics section. I have visited this section twice now, but am putting down diary notes rather than giving a real report.

His immediate office id connected with laboratories using infra-red and ultra-violet spectroscope. The equipment comes from Russia or Germany, mostly from the latter and I have now begun to check the equipment which I did not do before. In general it must be said that many of the scientists have had American training first and then German next. Indeed last night Dr. N. took me to the Jena-Zeiss office here. So far as I can see they have excellent precision instruments and I am becoming quite aware of lots of things I did not notice earlier—that the housing material may be important for several reasons besides costs and yet costs cannot be eliminated. All the lenses seem to have come from Germany.

This lab has been working on detecting Vanadium and Nickel impurities in Petroleum. The Petroleum found here is not of nearly so high quality as that in Saudi-Arabia. These two metals are causes of corrosion. In the tests, however, they do find Iron (which is only tested qualitatively, to see if present or absent) but also Lithium, Cobalt and barium which show up (if present) during the vanadium tests. I did not stay to the end because of the bright arc light and next time I shall bring my dark glasses. But I am more interested to see when they test for rare earths, etc. They also do differential quantitative analysis and so help the police out in crime detection. I must say that the staff works very well, with precision both in the handling of equipment and taking of notes.

There I met Dr. Bahijig, the leading chemist from Saudi-Arabia. He has given me rather complete reports on the agricultural situation in his country, the building of dams, the finding of rich iron ore in the Hedjaz and the search for other metals. This country is very unbalanced as practically all the skilled labor is employed by Aramco, to the detriment of other industries.

Most interesting to me was the fact that he is going to get some water from the celebrated Zem-Zem well in Mecca for micro-analysis.

I mentioned this to Hasan Salah who has also sampled the water. It is peculiar because it is absolutely neutral and yet healthful. Dr. Hasan said it contains Mg. salts and is radio-active. I have tried to bring the two together and this may have happened today.

Between my outline for the relations between Islamic philosophy and contemporary science and my interest in the UAR I was literally besieged by introductions. I have had this before and it is very difficult to take down names. And once you begin thinking along one line, you cannot operate as encyclopedia or library.

I showed these man a recent copy of "Time" with an article on Salt Water conversion. They wanted my material but I have given most of this to the Pakistanis. But the next night—or rather last night, when I came home, I was amazed to find a bundle from the Department of the Interior on this subject and I have taken this to them. I have these "fools for luck" experiences all the time and they add no end to my prestige.

Today I was taken to the petroleum Lab., where they also test for impurities. There I learned about Sulphur. This interested me because this is used in fertilizers and for my own part I should like to see S. spread on the land or H₂SO₄ added to irrigation water under certain conditions. I shall slyly suggest this to other sections. But the N-complexes are the most awkward requiring hydrogenation and cracking. I want to visit this lab again because I met one Lewis Hatch from Texas and we hit it right off..

There is another line of research which I mentioned but for which I do not think they have facilities. Someday I hope you will read Helmholtz on "The Analysis of Sound (or Note)." I think it is one of the great works of all time. There was a later scientist named Ellis who continued this sort of analysis at Northwestern U. Now I have heard all kinds of Dervish chanting. I originally wished to take a tape recorder with me; I cancelled it because I have too much stuff but then, at the request of a friend, I purchase one and sent it to India for a similar purpose.

There is probably not a single book in common use on the dervishes, but I do not wish to argue this point here. they have all kinds of chants and singings which few have heard and the musics, which seem to be of two sorts, are nothing like either the Qur'anic chants or popular Arabic music. If recordings were made, one could by scientific means determine the modes—which could connect them with ancient Greek and/or Byzantine music, or even with Armenian music (which has Semitic mixtures). Or if the modest did not come out, by the analysis in cents. The one could easily trace the descent of this music and learn something therefrom (in my opinion) of the history of the Sufis instead of depending upon unsubstantiated speculations.

We are already using C₁₄ in archeology and I know how careful I am in the chemical analysis of ceramics and old metal wares. But this would be the adoption or adaptation of another scientific means to check the history of old rituals, and I doubt whether this has been done. I write it to you here because this was placed before them by me.

Another thing we discussed was my criticism of present day Space science. I hold that there are many errors being made in military-dominated experimentation through oversight of what they may consider unimportant factors, or just plain oversight. I am not particularly interested in this subject but have seen two recent works on Space Science and other than in the title you could hardly guess they were on the same subject.

(end of diary note)

December 23, 1960

My dear Paul:

There is what I call a “right” and “wrong” way of becoming friendly with exotic peoples. The “wrong” way is to attend courses of briefing or psychology generally given by a European on “how to get along with Asians and Africans,” the “success”’ of which I leave to any reader of any newspaper. The “right” way is probably experienced by any college student who becomes acquainted with other nationals, naturally, in the course of life, without any briefing. This method which I have used with extreme success has endeared me, evidently with Dr. Nasser who seems to have the keys to all the chemical and physics laboratories at the National Research Center here.

I came to him originally with my outline on the relation of Asian philosophies to Contemporary Science. I have found that my closest Egyptian confreres in philosophy are close personal friends of his. And I have been able, almost without effort, to get him American materials. This side of life I shall not explain here, but it always works. It has confused all the professors in the S.F. Bay region who lecture on Oriental subjects. Here, to get a job in the physics or engineering departments you have to know your subject, languages are secondary but English is preferred over the rest, Arabic second and French third. You have to know your subject. In California if a man knows Arabic he is empowered to lecture on Arabic philosophy, history, science and humbug, mostly the last. This applies to Asia generally and is the cause of much misunderstanding and quite obvious misunderstanding.

Dr. Nasser today first asked me what laboratory I should like to visit—X-ray, ceramic—he got no further. I visited the Ceramics labs first and then the Glass. I am writing down my impressions for diary purposes and you will have to follow them. I do not know what your understanding is and sometimes I may be way ahead of you and way behind. In any case an intelligent question opens many doors and today a lot of doors opened fast.

The Ceramics Section utilizes materials for three purposes: building, art and refractories. All of those have to be dealt with separately.

Egypt is largely a desert. This means that when soil borings are made, the materials are often assayed and otherwise tested. Being away from both civilization and vegetation, a number of pure minerals have been found. These minerals are subjected first to a number of tests such as chemical analysis, spectra-analysis, fusing, baking, strength of material tests and so on.

The most obvious use for many is for bricks, but this term has to be taken in a generic sense. The Bible, of course, refers to bricks being made in Egypt and they are made glazed and unglazed. They have been doing research until they have found very light bricks which have various properties such as heat and sound-insulation, etc. There are two ways of obtaining light bricks (by weight), one by finding light, porous materials, and the other by perforating them to the degree that they do not lose their engineering values. The ones perforated so far have stood all tests and indicate that further “holing” can be made, thus making them lighter still. I did not ask about the chemical analyses of them. The weight, tensile and other strengths, handling by labor and the arrival at points where one can minimize concrete, mortar and still is important.

They have developed a brick which can be “tiled” or glazed in the same operation and they are doing the opposite investigation here—seeing how large they can make them. Thus there are turning out some fine double and triple glazed tiles, which means less labor will be needed in building, and of course, housing is a problem.

While they are developing the triple brick on the one hand, they are also making thinner slabs of what serves as “artificial marble.” As they find many minerals and some of them are heavy, indented of them are heavy, instead of being light (by weight), they are developing heavy glazes, and again in one operation so that they have slabs for flooring. These locked to me offhand as being somewhat better than the Italian artificial floorings which I have seen so far. The glazing is very well done and one can clean a whole room in one operation by hosing, with a small amount of soap, cleanser, etc. This, of course, may not help the vacuum cleaner industry.

The advantage of both the bricking and the “marbling” is that the new houses will be largely insect proof. The glassed bricks are covered on both sides and will be impervious to both moisture and insects.

The personnel of this department is composed of graduate students who work 2 years for a master degrees. Then they go down stairs and work six months in the pilot plants, then three months in industry and are given three more months to write their papers for their engineering or Ph.D. degrees, the whole occupying three years.

The refractory materials are being given severe tastes. For here there is the problem of being able to duplicate, in efficiency, those obtained from Germany. The scientists are not so much interested in costs and economic factors here, as efficiencies. So they use a lot of testing. There are many for metallic cores. I have not yet fisted the ore- or metallurgical sections. But these are always used in the Glass-section which I visited later on and saw the complementary testing. The refractory materials are also given a glaze, both a lighter one in coating, but sufficient to provide absolute insulation, etc.

In this ways all the natural desert “sands” may find some use—here in building materials, refractory materials and ceramics proper; and upstairs in the Glass section.

The ceramics section interested and exited me the most. They are making all kinds of tile experiments. In this tile work they are not scientifically exact. They make all kinds of “crazy” operations with the furnished resulting in crazing or crackling or even running. My esthetic “soul” responded so much here that I do not think I remained so scientific, but neither did by host, Prof. Gadd, who also “bounded” emotionally.

Crazing seems to have come “accidently” in China but was developed to a fine and almost sterile art in Japan. This general program is followed. But instead of stopping with cracking, etc. they put on very heavy glazes, let them run, turn color or what not.

One of the most beautiful things I have discovered in Nature and have written a poem thereon is that the colors of each metal are harmonious esthetically within themselves. I do not know why. Thus all Iron colors—red, yellow, greenish, etc. harmonize with each other; so do all the copper colors, Reddish, Greenish, Blue and Black, etc. But the different colors within the chronoscope of each do not harmonize, even clash. In the case of Iron you have the Ferric and Ferrous, with Copper Cuprous and Cupric and these are complicated by oxidation-reduction processes, usually controlled, but in these experimental works purposely uncontrolled.

Thus I did see Cobalt, from which we get the best blues, coming out in pinkish hues. But the metal they are using most here is Chromium and the very word “chromium” suggests the metal of many colors.

Tile research serves a multiple purpose—how to get the best tiles, hot to get the best colors in tiles, how to get the best effects in tiles. The last, in particular, is used as testing for work on and with ceramics.

One can begin with the simple earthenware pots, and so far as flower pots are concerned you find little change in over 3,000 years. Yet side by side with the traditional pots, you find all kinds of advances and novelties in vases. The ceramics section is both a huge laboratory and huge playground. You go from very contemporary sculpting to very simple copying—imagination ancient forms and ancient figures, which I did not like; following animal themes such as were used in Eastern Europe in the last century—and then, bingo! You find non-objective forms, new forms—both of which often become utilitarian and others which I am sure would win prices in exhibitions of modern art. The forms follow all the processes of contemporary art, but are much better because there are color experiments alongside and it seems that the craftsman are developing wonderful skills in harmonizing their color ventures with their form ventures. Some of these things are for bazaars.

Out of them I see grand possibilities in dishes (to parallel the heavy Mexican and light Japanese and coming in between them); vases, small object d’arts etc. I have to presume here that you know something about colors and their relation to ionic and chemical formulae. The main thing here was the multi-image of Chromium and I find its colors seem deeper and purer then those of Iron, and the oxidation-reduction equilibrium or lack of it bring out such things as purer reds with mixtures of yellow, green spots as impurities which make the as pieces look finer. They have now reached a point of some slight control, this being a sort of mid-way house between the rococo art of Europe and the Jackson Pollock methods of the day. But the Pollock methods in ceramics come out much finer and I think there is a big field here for the future.

We then down stairs to the pilot plants where large bricks, slabs; blocks, etc. are made. By that time the apprentice is supposed to be able to control the experiment and the result, but there is always the possibility that the almost exact control of small things overlooks defects that appear in large blocks. On the other hand these large blocks, as such, are certainly used in building, and more than that in future building.

One of the big mixtures here, I think, has been the Nile-Hilton, which is by far, to me the poorest luxury Hotel I have ever seen. It is a travesty on ancient Egypt and offends the locals because it ignores their art and traditions and is a travesty on top. The floorings are cold and the whole thing has no imagination. The engineering—toward insulation and air-conditioning—makes you feel very comfortable, if you never go outside, but the thermostatic operations are toward the maximum of theoretic comfort instead of being between that and the outside temperature. In hot weather the inside should be 80°, not 72°; in cold weather, if it were 30° outside, it should not be more than 60° inside.

Anyhow I left this section with dreams for future artist, etc. They do not use organic or “secret” formula as in Marin. The object is to use their natural materials and build on them at the lowest costs.

The Glass section is more in utilization because, also, of the huge Coca-Cola industry here. There was a fine glass on Sinai but it had green in it or yellow from some slight Iron impurities. They have now developed a colorless iron, which I suspect comes in between Ferrous and Ferric—there are large magnetite ores in this region. There are also Aluminum sands and these are valuable because of their whiteness. The only sand materials missing are those of Sodium—which is surprising for as one goes westward there are heavy deposits of it—but far from the “sandy” reaches.

The Sand section is under Dr. Abu El Azam who got his training in Sheffield, England. Cores are taken from all sections and these must be of a certain size—larger grains being unsuitable and of a certain purity. Generally Iron it the biggest impurity so far. As I said, Al., Ca., etc, are not regarded as impurities.

In the simplest form Glass is used for bottling and windows. The window glass—we did not dismiss Lead and Sodium, is greenish_* slightly more than the German which is slightly more bluish. But they serve the same purpose. However they are experimenting with glasses of various thickness and toward the use of glass as building material.

In going around the Mosques here I saw all kinds of^’ color-glass but this art and industry has all but disappeared. Now they are making glasses of all sorts of colors. These follow formula. But the colors in ceramic glasses one can generally foretell from the nature of the ions, while in glass other factors come in, the nature of which I do not know. Thus there is the wonderful Ox-blood stoneware and porcelain and while you have Iron or Copper reds there, and now Chromium, in glass you use Gold!

This brought up another subject and that is the nature of non-crystalline matter. Dr. Abu El Azam gave me a short talk on the molecular structure and the relativity principle in vitreous matter as against crystals. He confirmed what I consider basic principles. Roughly speaking I find the vitreous-ceramic-plastic a curvilinear “feminine” form of matter; and crystals rectilinear and masculine. Changes in heat-conductivity, etc. are very different. An extreme examine of opposite behavior is that bimetals lose almost all the electrical resistance when super-cooled. The opposite is true of the non-crystalline matter, most of which is highly resistant but loses some of this resistance when heated. The most notable example is Edison’s discovery^” of the Carbon arc lamp: that this element becomes a conductor when heated.

Our final discussion was on color, and he confirmed the point I have always presented. There is no exact term “color.” Mix a red and blue pigment and you get purple; mix a red and blue light and you, get scarlet. Cross a blue sweet-pea with a red one a la Mendel and you get either Blue or Red Sweet Peas and sometimes in definite mathematical preparations, some of each giving both and some of each giving a single color to their offspring. Which is the right definition for color. Strictly speaking, the glasses may be red, green or blue; or reddish, greenish or bluish, but pigments are always in the latter categories, the decision being in our eyes, and not in wavelength measurements. They are synthesized from wavelengths. This is simple or complicated accordingly as one approaches it. And if you learn anything definite, I would like a discussion some time.

This is rather a heavy report and I have to make extracts for the San Rafael Journal Independent and for the Arab Information Bureau, so will close here. Hoping you have been interested. I remain

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

December 28, 1960

My dear Harry:

At the moment it does not look as if my middle name is Adventure, but all of my names. Yesterday I had accepted the basis of my report on Islamic culture in the U.S. and just after it was accepted a friend of a friend of a friend came in, gave me a boost ad I am going back Saturday to see what will come of it.

Saturday also I go to the Pakistani Embassy. I have now these projects to take up: a. Plant lists discussed below, b. Salts water conversion materials, c. use of saline soils (I hope to meet Dr. Fireman soon), d. Lectures; e. Art materials; f. Travel. That is enough for now.

I then went to the Indian information Bureau where I had been stalled off twice and to my surprise met the Minister of Culture, a cabinet member visiting here and he gave me a note for his secretary. I have to send to Port Said the form for my tickets, which calls for February 20^th departure but I want to have everything in order, also to know the time of my arrival in Karachi, etc. as the government has largely changed offices I do not want to stall around in Karachi which I do not like.

This morning I went to the Vegetable Station again and completed the copying of the vegetable list. You can guess how anxious I was to type the list what with Sorrel, Poinsettia, Coleus and now Water Hyacinth on the “goody-goody” list. I remember when I got rid of Dandelions by eating them. How about Water Hyacinth! Anyhow I think I am enclosing them in the same envelope. My original idea was to send another packet (see below).

My friend Ali was there. He has been ill. He was the man who first showed me the Sweet Potato experiment, in pots. He told me he had tried only seedlings and that he had put them in pots with different soils and conditions. Then he took cuttings from them, sometimes as fast as possible, sometimes slower. He kept a complete record of the growth of the original seedlings and the cuttings; and when the cuttings grew rapidly, he took secondary cuttings from them. He is watching all of them.

The primary cuttings in some instances have grown so much faster than the “stock”-seedlings, that they flower more quickly and show on the whole more vigorous and rapid growth. This is, of course, a generality, but for the whole greenhouse (a separate one) they looked healthier.

He made a complete study of the dominant and recessive characteristics as they showed up in the seedlings, but he notices that all cuttings of seedlings don not run absolutely true to form. Generally cuttings run true to form, as we know them, whether soft- or hardwood cuttings. But in a large number of cuttings of seeds, sometimes a recessive will show up as a dominant and occasionally there be sports. The sports are not too radically different and in general, I would say rather that they show characteristics midway between the parents. Thus go give an analogy; the crosses between a blue and red might be blue, red or a color in between. This did not show up in Mendel’s experiments, but is showing up in the colors of the flowers of the S. Potatoes.

Not only that, he is watching to see the relation of the color of the flowers, the growth of stems and finally, and most important, when they are moved in to the field, the relation or effect with the tubers, which after all, are needed. So far as I can see there are great possibilities here. The relation between plant-propagation and plant-breeding may show up in an unexpected manner. And who knows, that even the place of the cuttings—whether tip-, side-, etc. may affect or preserve open or latent characteristics and factors. I hope this point is clear, but I went to visit him again for further data. I feel sure he will write and have this report published.

The first thing that was obvious was the rapidity in which some of the cutting came to bloom, and with that the rapidity by which cutting could be made from cuttings. But Ali is not only interested in large production, he is seeking some principles here which might be applied to other crops. An unusually mild December has resulted in a large number of early blooms and he does not know, again, how much the weather is the detriment factor, or light or actual factors in the seeds or genes.

He will decide nothing until after the plants are put into the field where he shall continue his observation as long as possible, then use the pots and greenhouses for additional experiments. This sort of thing not only “excites” me but makes me want to return to college. (My future is indeterminate now so I can only report for the present.)

I completed the typing and visit to the Greenhouses by 10:30 so when I got back to the pension, went to the Entomological Society. The director was exceedingly cordial. He doubts very much weather we can have absolute pest control. Benninghof, in teaching the Michigan system of Soil testing, always took into consideration the prices for fertilizers, the work involved, the utility of the land and the final economic value of the optimum of application. This was probably good sound judgment. The director uses the same in spraying that the cost of sprays, of spray materials, of labor, and the ultimate benefit have to be considered, An additional factor is the absence of spacing of plants here, in order to get a presumable maximum of production.

He does not believe, under the present system, that man can eradicate many of the pests, under any program. The use of lures is still too new. So they are working on biological controls.

My prime purpose was to buy some literatures in this field. The cost of the books is almost prohibitive. This leaves two ways out—I can go to the National Research Center—where I am going tomorrow anyhow—and arrange for photostatic copies at 3 piaster a page—which is about 7c. Or I can type the material. I hope to see both Hasan Salah and Afifi who are close friends to reach other and I feel both of them after going to be my good friends henceforth. So with the cordial personal relations already existing I shall see what I can obtain.

In any event, I feel I shall be coming back here in a few years; I want to keep in touch with each of these men. Afifi is a dervish and Hasan Salah a U. C. man.

I must go to the Center to continue my conferences with Dr. Nassar, the physicist, and perhaps further rounds of the labs. I have now visited the Spectroscopy, Petroleum, Ceramics and Glass labs, making detailed notes. This may give me opportunities to write for trade Journals, too. I am having a wealth of experiences and getting a wealth of materials.

In my conversations I can only report that many of my pet ideas, rejected in the U.S., have been accepted here. I have been running with the wrong crowds, but feel quite assured, even though I may have to review Physics, and go ahead. At Least U have enough to keep alive. On the other hand I may be subsidized to go to Ohio, or even get a surprise job in California. It is too far ahead.

But the year is ending with every project of my life seemingly on the right road, and up. Even my poetry. My first reports are excellent, and I am awaiting others.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

December 31, 1960

My dear Florie:

I am closing a most edifying year. Everything has turned around and I think every upset of almost every earlier part of my life has been reversed. This covers so many subjects. I do not wish to go into detail concerning them. But when I return you may have to witness dramatic events. In some instances they may be nothing more than apologies—these will come from people you probably do not know, or if you know them have never connected them with me. Anyhow I am satisfied that both the American Friends of the Middle East and the World Affairs Council are taking me seriously.

The information Bureau has urged that I visit the Social Sciences sections of the National Research Center. I am not refusing but I am so busy. Actually I get tired, but one hates to let up in the “middle of a harvest.” I have projects or visits every day.

This morning I called the Pakistani Embassy. This covered all sorts of things from travel to religion and from horticulture to art. I shall probably visit the place once more, in February.

I them went to the Islamic Congress and gave them, in duplicate, my review on the condition of Islam in American. One thing is certain that neither group is satisfied with the way Islamic teaching are presented. The Pakistanis think too much politics are mixed up in it and this covers more sorts of politics than the Arabs visualize. But both agree that we have warped views on the personality of the Prophet and on polygamy. At least I gave a satisfactory answer.

I have told the Islamic Congress that I would like to have any suggestions and would prefer to follow them. However I am in the awkward position that as soon as I land in Karachi I shall be a quest of the World Islamic Mission, a group which is non-political. However, politics aside, I prefer the Qur’anic interpretations I have read here.

I again went to Mosques Thursday and Friday and expect tomorrow also, inshallah. The atmosphere alone is feeding. The persons I meet are very loving and lovable. I do not wish to imply that the majority of people here are loving and lovable and I do not wish to imply that Americans are or are not. But the loving and lovable people here are for more numerous than one meets in many parts of the world, and there are two distinct kinds of persons morally and psychologically.

Had a wonderful Christmas dinner, taking two young Americans as guests, and go out with another one tonight. Soon I shall make my purchases and probably write to President Nasser. My Indian Poetry was highly a commended, and so also “Saladin” but I have not received the copies of the latter. My impression is to pay suitable visits next week, but now my whole colander is filled….

It is morning and the year has greeted me with a great inspiration. I am sending this to India. A copy is being sent to two people in America, a philosopher whom I am sure will relish it, and an editor who brought up the question as to what is wrong with our space travel experiments. In the States I could not get a discussion, here it was fertile and I met no opposition so far among the top physicists. I can see more and more who the Indians do not relish our instructors in “Oriental philosophy” and why book are published—but so far only in Arabic, denouncing all the Europeans who are “eminent” for their articles on Sufism—“They don’t know from nothing” but they have grand names and charm and what not. Anyhow the year has greeted me and I go ahead.

January 4, 1961

My dear Ruth:

This is my diary entry, and I have neglected it for some while. To save time I enclose copy of a letter to a cousin.

Yesterday I visited a Mosque and Dirgah which very few Americans see and saw more Dervishes. The teacher in one place was giving a lesson, somewhere between the teaching in Esotericism on Wazifa and Amaliat (Psychology). It confirmed a sort of teaching I should like to give whenever God makes it possible for me to be in your presence.

In the Mosque where the Dervishes met there was a sign, ”God is Love,” or as we should say “Mahbood Lillah.” You can see the difference of these people in their eyes.

I have not yet met any of the teachers to whom I was promised introductions but go as often as possible to Sheikh Abu Salem Amria of the Rifa’i school. I had experiences in accordance with this School before I met the Sheikh so was quite ready when they appointed me and confirmed as their representative for America.

The main difficulty here is not language so much as their efforts to convince me of what now appear as elementary teachings. There is nothing wrong in this excepting the wasting of time.

The meetings in regarding Islamic teachings in the U.S. are very complicated. Some groups here, under the guise of religions, seem more concerned in politics. What is wrong here is that in religion we are supposed to becalm the nufs or ego, and the spirit of agitation is the very thing that stands in the way of God-realization. I am trying to avoid any form of correction, but when one sees vibrations rise and fall, and agitation and disturbance, that cannot be the right path.

My paper referred to, which was given to Dr. Hussein, concerns “Surrender-Consciousness” and “Identity Consciousness.” This may be a long and involved, but it is a very important teaching. My purpose, inshallah, is to draw heavily on the books at the Library when I return and try to “push” those who can be pushed, and to guide the others at a suitable rate. However I am still cautious about any kind of division.

I do know that the karma which befalls those who essay the position of teachers and do not fulfill their functions is pretty awful. Many of Pir-o-Murshid’s early works are just by-passed. For instance, “The Confessions of a Sufi Teacher.” He lays down the pattern of the true and false teacher therein. As he said later, one must not disregard a single word, and at the same time we must not emotionalize this statement, “one must not disregard a single word.” We must come to evaluate the words, one by one, and altogether. Not that the words are any more has shadows-of-truth, as he taught, but they are shadows-of-truth, they are not shadows of imagination or falsehood.

The few items about India and Pakistan are very encouraging, but now I have no idea of time and offhand it would seem that I shall spend all of 1961 in Asia, inshallah, hoping to end about a year from now at Penang, Malaya, where one of my best friends lives.

The plan for India would be to visit many Sufi Centers and shrines. There are a lot I have not seen. There are a lot I wish to see again. And there are many things God may have in store for me, inshallah, just as the incidents recorded in the other sheets.

Africa is now awakening, but there is the great danger of not awakening but trying to be a man before being a youth before being a boy before being a child before being an infant. The first thing on a wakening is to learn to crawl, and we don’t only forget God’s wisdom, we forget Nature’s wisdom.

God bless you.

Samuel

Pukhtunistan Times [date unknown]

Congo: The Homophagita Society has met and cabled Moscow:

Food situation terrible. Please send Kruschev.

We hope so.

Ancient Egypt. Efforts to interest ourselves in this subject have failed. Instead our modest person was introduced into the Hero-Glib-Puck Society and made me honorary member. Everybody cried “Hero-Glib-Puck” excepting one man (you are not allowed to vote in the minority here) who yelled: “Bakshish.”

Work Permit. Foreigners in Cairo need work permits. Pukhtunistan would like that—all persons even trying to work would go to jail. Wouldn’t that be joyful? Will recommend to central government if can find it (not the plan, but the government).

Cultural Exchange. There is now one Arab in the US on a cultural exchange and there are American advisers all over the place. There are now umpteen Arab students in the USA. And there are a handful American students here. One of them did not go to Harvard. How come?

Setting up Exercises. Puck prayed at Al-Azhar yesterday. He was told to look ahead but heard some music—a very familiar kind—the man next to him had removed coins from his pockets which he placed in front of him. Puck did not know whether the man was bowing to Allah or to the coins. Puck is trying to find out.

(Prof. von Plotz is going to be very sore that Puck was permitted to pray in Al-Azhar and find out that some things he says in his lectures are not true. Puck is becoming very popular here. He would prefer that Nasser remained the most popular. Besides somebody might yell “bakshish”—nobody yells “bakshish” at Nasser.)

The Armenians have a new dish: “bak-shish-kabob”—it is the same thing, only you pay more.

President Nasser is in the Sudan. All the tribes are doing folk dances for him. Meanwhile there is competition here between the Yugo-Slavs and Georgians to bring in dances—on your toes, fellows! But UAR has an alliance with Yugo-Slavia.

Besides Georgia is an imaginary real country not a real imaginary country, or is it? We have much concern for Swahilistan. People in Swahilistan are not much interested in work permits, only in pay-permits. They would rather dance anyhow, sensible folks.

Pakistan. Ayub Khan was here and everybody greeted him with love. He returned home and certain Nations greeted him with food and aid for the suffering people in East Pakistan. What these imperialists won’t do!

Puck has plenty of love—to give; and plenty of food—to take. Why not?

Oski-Wee-Wee. Today is Cal. Day. They refuse to arbitrate the Stanford problem at the UN. Puck is going to meet the leading Cal. man this morning to discuss world problems. Prof. von Plotz won’t be there anyhow so we are reporting it just to prove…. Puck is considering writing a book about von Plotz: “Envy and Envoy.” Von Plotz has a wonderful eye; he can be in Marrakesh and describe Cairo and go to Stockton and describe Baghdad. Only a marvelous super genius can do that. Puck still has to go to a place to describe it.

Puck is still holding hands with men; sometimes to form a chain gang—in crossing the street.

Revenge. In Khan-i-Khalili bazaar the pedestrians walk side by side and shoulder to shoulder to prevent taxis from passing through! And if one of them tries to plow, boy he is finish!

Addressee and date unknown.

Briefly, on the American side we cannot expect to collect in Hollywood. My closest friends include those who are physicians and psychiatrists to the big-named actors and others. I would rather show you those doors than write about them.

Over here the presumable contributors to real American-Pakistan cultural relations in turn big landlords, government officials and industrials. I write thus because in the frontier sections I meet the first type, at Rawalpindi the second and at Lahore the third.

In Lahore I spoke with the representatives of both the Asia Foundation and American Friends of the Middle East. Now my closest companions are those who with me are “Four, Just Men.” Regardless of all and sundry “experts,” fiction and non-fiction writers, met all the holy men, spiritual leaders, political leaders, intellectuals and most of the wealthy men of the continent. In one case, the most important now, this includes the wealthiest Chinese in the Malay speaking countries.

This latest friend spoke to me seriously about the harm being done by duplication of effort among organizations in the United States presumably promoting better Asian-American relations. The natural and normal thing to do would be to help subsidize those organizations which are in the field, but we are confronted by two or three dilemmas:

a. When there are rival projects or rivals in projects, what are “we” to do?

b. The material-minded—and from the Asian point of view worse, the dialectically-minded—do not accept the existence of mystics and esotericists.

In Japan I became the errand boy of the late Baron Nakashima, the Mr. Big. I carried with me welcomes to Thailand (which I gave to Princess Poon and then to the top Mahathero; in Burma I turned the things over to Wm. Eilers of Asia Foundation; In India I brought them in person to Vice-President Radhakrishnan who within a few months went to Japan.

Baron Nakashima was not the only person who selected the prime-Ministers—I am not fooling—but he was the leading Zen (real stuff) laymen and through him I became initiated into the Shingi Shingon esoteric school, which he subsidized. Any relations I may have had with the Baron were, of course, pooh-poohed in S.F. but Mr. Nichols of World Affairs Council just happened to note my conversation with Prime Minister Kishi when he visited S.F. (K. Kato was with me if you want further substantiation).

Now I am meeting big and little Nakashimas here. The want the real culture of Pakistan which is largely Sufistic, presented to the American public. We have books, encyclopedia, and, of course, “experts”—ex-Leiden, ex-Oxford, ex-Prague, ex-perts. I had previously seen so much money turned away from “Uncle Louis” & Co. because they would not accept the reality of the Sufis or my connection with them. It is no wonder then, that whatever moneys they raise; they want to see used for specific purposes now and possibly through channels whom they can trust. I don’t know where the end of this will be. But it is going to awaken the American public and the American Foundations to some very hard facts of life which we have been side-stepping.

I now have met three distinct groups of Sufis engaged in counter-espionage against Russia. All of “us,” of course, are fanatics, charlatans, pretenders, though the groups include some pretty strong names. The real quasi-saints of today do not go around in rags and tatters and filth and poverty; they disguise themselves so they are not recognized. The saint of today may be a successful industrialist, a high government official, a top general, or more likely the chancellor or principal of some university. We shall see. This is ironic if not bitter medicine…. You may get an air-mail letter from me before this reaches you depending on events.

Cordially,

January 11, 1968

My dear Gavin:

This is in pursuit of the conversation of the other day. While as an individual I do not favor disciples casting horoscopes, there is a higher law, and inasmuch as the pseudo-occultists, metaphysicians, poseurs, pretenders and “experts” refuse to accept this higher law, I am compelled in order to help the humanity around me, to enforce it.

Inasmuch as the “experts, the metaphysicians, the pseudo- occultists and all the game-players refuse to accept the existence of the Sufi Orders, it is time to make our presence known in the world not by doing anything drastic, but by doing something which will make our presence felt. And it is noteworthy that my most determined enemy—who made all my other enemies look puny, had her associate phone me in fear that I might publish documentaries which she has been telling everybody I don’t have. She got lots of people to believe that I do not have these documentaries and yet is fearful that I just might publish them. I am not going to publish them for reasons or unreasons which have to do with the exposure of the “experts,” the pseudo-occultists, the metaphysicians, the poseurs and pretenders who have befogged Americans, but whom the young wisely disdain. “When the gods arrive the half-gods go.”

In meditation, not the phony “Zen” meditation wherein one goes out the same door one goes in, but in the Prajna-meditation as detailed by Dr. Daisetz Suzuki, one enters the universal mind and gets answers. The answer came clear. It is time to give my disciples the Sciences of the Elements. Who can protest? Not the poseurs, the pseudo-occultists and “experts” who deny I have such knowledge. Sufis have tremendous knowledges and gradually they are restoring the real Occult Sciences which they have and others only pretend to have.

So I am going to gradually give disciples the sciences of the elements and what they do with them is their concern, not mine. I have been excluded by the fund-raisers known as “Society for the Union of Scientists and Occultists. Real scientists are not concerned. And it is noteworthy that today I am fully recognized by the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. But not by “occultists,” no sir.

Actually I began what used to be called “occult studies” in 1920. I can name a lot of people such as Fabre D’Olivet, Dr. d’Encausse, Martin de Pasqualles, Gregoire de Saint Martin, Stanislaus de Guiata, St. Yves Alvedre, whom our “experts” know little of, God bless them.

Now while Society and “experts” refuse to recognize, one presents the Sufism of the Sufis which is based on the Union of Love and Knowledge. “To him, very attached to Me, worshipping Me in Love, I give that union to knowledge by which he comes to Me” said Sri Krishna. Quoted of course, realized? That is different.

As I am a horticulturalist I know something of the nature of vines: “I am the vine and ye are the branches thereof” etc. This is not only quoted, it is realized and realizable. And I am not permitted, according to inner law, to repress full expression on the parts of disciples. I am of course going to talk to them, but in as much as there is no acceptance of Sufism there can be no objection to presenting to Sufi disciples the knowledge of the Elements, etc., etc. And they will thus be able to go deeper into aspects of Astrology and all Occult Sciences, especially at a time when many educated men who are Sufis (not recognized in this land) are restoring one by one the real occult sciences.

One of the reasons I am not publishing occult materials is because of the voluminous collection of unpublished works of real Zen and Chan Masters. Let the “experts” howl. I have these documents and it is only a question now of a secretariat before they will be published.

I notice that one of the “experts” selected by the “Oracle” to see that we who represent the real spiritual teachers of the real Orient was himself taken to task by Mrs. Sasaki on her last visit. This man would never recognize me—it is not in the cards, it is not done—but I received an honorarium from his teacher’s teacher, which is old hat. And Dr. Chaudhuri whose pupils never regard me as an equal has finally succumbed to evidence for his two teachers. D. Chatterji and the better known Dr, Radhakrishnan, always treat me as an equal. So I am going to speak at the Ashram on February 10 and will give out the secretary for my vitality and seeming longevity which irks all the “experts,” pretenders and pseudo-occultists, God bless them. “When the gods arrive, the half-gods go.”

Now you see there is the Law of Compensation and because a friend of mine is now in charge of Buddhist studies at the University of California, my documentaries will be accepted. You do to the “experts,” the pseudo-occultists and the “lovers of truth” and get the a priori rejection—this being our “moral law”; and now without doing anything but having a friend take over, the mass of documentaries will be accepted by the universities and later by publishers.

I have been twice to the “Oracle” and asked who was the Board of Experts who would reject us from being present at the meetings of the Spiritual Masters of Asia.

It has been most curious while the boards of review refuse to accept that we are in any way connected with the Masters of the Orient, the real Masters and Saints come here, see us and depart. The last was a Jewish Saint who did not wish to be introduced around anymore than did the Vietnamese Master or the Sufi saint. They know better. The world of Heart is not open to the “judgment-wallahs.”

This whole farce began about 1924 when a friend of mine introduced Baird Spaulding who talked about the “Masters of the Far East.“ Everybody came, la-di-da-die. He was found to be a fraud. And when I met the actual Masters of the Far East, what chance? Although the case of Phra Sumangalo was worse. Frauds succeed, honesty is not yet wanted, but maybe now it is.

We decided to work as a team. I think we have covered most of Asia, most of the schools of mystery and mysticism and we have been given the go-bye. Of course it was very awkward the time Mrs. Grady greeted us and nobody else, and when the foreign Consults greeted us and nobody else. But the climax was reached when we went as a team to the Mongolian Master and instead he arose and greeted us. Of course the audience would not accept but this is America. Now we work together.

What happened? A large number of young men whom we have never met are coming to our lectures on Buddha’s “Buddhism.” With 5,000 Pali Texts and innumerable Sanskrit texts we have a big field to fall on but we begin with Lord Buddha. And the young are getting real teachings from real texts, real literature, backed up by experiences of Us (there are four of Us) validated by so many real masters of wisdom of real Asia, and the future generations are going to laugh at our easy dismissal by the powers of this age. (We are all personal friends of Princess Poon who got even worse from American society.)

Dr. Chaudhuri’s teachers accepted me as an equal and his pupils regard me as an inferior. This is America. But I am scheduled to speak at the Ashram on February 10 and will give out the “secret” of my vitality and seeming longevity. One must begin with the practices of Sri Aurobindo, the practices. Having been all over real Asia I am able to support any statements with facts and evidence. The young like that and do not believe that “father knows best.”

Last night, after meeting so many more young people one man asked if I intended to invite seniors to my lectures. I asked him why. “If you go, a lot of us young people will disappear.” But he need have no fear. The young accept facts, their elders personalisms and personalities.

Wisdom is not apart from Love. One practices Union with disciples and does everything to share Joy with them, and to share their pains. More is coming. The New Age was predicted by Bulwer Lytton, H. G. Wills, Marie Corelli and even the theosophists. Down in the Dunes we discussed the coming generations and they we exactly as we predicted.

Knowing my former lives—since which time dear Gina has not bothered to ask any questions one large University wants my backgrounds and is getting them. As my first astrologer, Mary Bell, used to say, “if you want occultism go to the universities, the pretenders to occult knowledge will never accept you, or it.” She used to let me lecture on the Science of the Elements, but when she died, out! So I’ll give to the young what their elders say I do not have and there is no choice. If I do not have it, why should anybody care?

True now universities accept my knowledge of Oriental cultures and of occult knowledge and more. And my brother and I have agreed in our mutual wills that we had better let the universities have the estate because the “occultists” will not believe me anyhow, nor the “experts” on Asian culture.

Finally there is the serious matter of moneys to real institutions for the studying of Asian wisdom. Here I am in full cooperation with you. Since I read Ramdas’s stand on Astrology I dared not differ. I have not read the Sufi stand, nor do I know how official it is or is not. But in the book Dabistan written by Sufis it was accepted. But Astrologers dare not accept Dabistan because it would compel them to accept Sufism. When we have a scientific age, this nonsense will disappear.

A copy of this to “The Oracle,” as more and more young people come to us—and they are coming in constantly increasing numbers, one hopes to awaken them. Alan Ginsberg was introduced to my cousins as “Meet your cousin from California.”

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

January 14, 1968

My dear Gavin:

A spiritual teacher has to practice Patience.

Yesterday I opened up the Science of the Elements, earth, air, fire and water, as well as ether. I am not going to stop and argue with any pseudo-occultists. The young come and want knowledge and they get it and all the pseudo-occultists and metaphysical people can vaporize and obscure all they want. The young ask and receive.

But in the course of events one disciple presented two horoscopes cast by two different disciples. They not only disagreed, one had some obvious errors. I the end he said, “I think I will go to Gavin Arthur.” “Yes, that is what I really want but I cannot prevent anybody from doing what they would like to do.”

I find I have three disciples who work in Astrology. One was not present yesterday. The subject was Earth and they learned more about the earth-element in an afternoon that your pseudo-occultists learn in a year.

My own training in real Occultism precluded its use in forecasting. We did not use the divination either. And I like to teach the true Occultism but with Insight and Foresight, not with mathematics.

My own God-daughter has not been able to find her birth data. She is not sure of the day, complicated by the loss of the records and the use of three different calendars in her part of the world.

Your use of colors helps my intuition enormously for it is not necessary to stop to unite inner and outer knowledge

Faithfully,

January 17, 1968

My dear Sheikha,

Thank you for your letter of the 15th. There seems to be a strange movement of mothers out here recently. My American God-daughter went to New York to consider the possibility of bringing her own mother here and she had the cosmic experience. It is a sign from the living God that now twice I have accepted women as God-daughters (I also have a legal God-daughter who is a relative) and both have had the divine experience.

There is always a question about bringing mystics together. It is posited in the writings but so long as people are attached to organization and form, and place a stress on the organization and form, instead of bringing the mystics together they keep them apart or they will have to watch and see the mystics unite and separately and that is the last thing mystics want—separateness. So long we often permit non-mystics to hold on to forms and they continue their divine work.

For instance today my friend Gavin Arthur, the astrologer, went to visit a new cult-colony which is proposing to re-establish the ancient mysteries. It is in part funny and in part sad. The Sufis retain the ancient mysteries. It is all right for certain people stemming from Inayat Khan to suppress his writings but the fact is that ne stated in them very succinctly that the Sufis continue the ancient mysteries. And when I was in Egypt I was initiated—both outwardly and inwardly—into one of these mysteries which the Sufis inherited from the ancients. But so long as “Sufi” movements are in the hands of the metaphysical people, there is no room for mystical resorts. Some of these people are afraid of mystical happenings.

After attending the first class in Buddhist studies yesterday I felt it important to write a paper on “The Union of Hearts.” This is an expression I have both seen and witnessed. The first was my blending with Inayat Khan on the night before he arrived in San Francisco in 1923. The next came a little after on the day when I introduced Nyogen Senzaki to him in the home of Rabia Martin. Years later I had the same with Senzaki, and then with others which Senzaki approved but which our various metaphysical people who lecture on oriental wisdom deride. Society follows the metaphysical people but now the universities accept the living experiences.

When Philip Kapleau published his Three Faces of Zen Samuel danced. There is no experience in this book which one has not had and nobody foretold him to keep anything quiet. The strange result was his approval by the late Mrs. Ruth Fuller Sasaki who rejected everybody else and would not accept any metaphysician, no matter how renown, as a representative of mysticism. Her granddaughter married Gavin Arthur’s nephew. I hope to see them soon.

These people are interested in The Mysticism of Sound and Joel has demonstrated it many times with his harp, but does not know the cosmic theory. I am still handicapped by the lack of a secretariat, complicated by the uncovering of more of Pir-o-Murshid’s materials from sources other than Geneva or Mrs. Duce. I intend to share these materials.

Wee studying The Soul, Whence and Whither and will follow it by The Mysticism of Sound. I now have a very good following of active mureeds who will accept the Science of the Elements and other aspects of Mysticism. I never wanted to teach them apart from the organization but as neither Mrs. Duce nor Vilayat will have me, will give it to the world and let them go out and lecture all they want. In the end, after he goes through the real Initiation which he has not had, Vilayat will change. But he is not yet a true initiate.

(Each member of the family of Pir-o-Murshid was met by one Dr. Ala-ed-din Siddiqui, a Sufi who teaches Islamics at the Punjab University. He did not want me to talk at first and then apologized profusely and became first a good friend and then a spiritual brother. He is now the teacher in philosophy of my God-daughter in Pakistan.)

After the class in Buddhism yesterday it came to write on “The Blending of Hearts” based on my own and other’s mystical experiences. And then a sign came of the visiting of a Vietnamese Buddhist Master shortly. We don’t want that kind of man and that kind of culture. We wish to compel our culture on Asians and will not listen to them. But I have presented Lord Buddha’s Yoga system (which he gave to others); also the one he went under himself, which I got from Paul Reps. There is no question about the value of these Yoga system and there is no value in metaphysical people commenting on them. But society likes the lectures and their pleasant words. And the young want the contents.

The other night I had a strange visitation. A beautiful young girl who has been sending people to me but has not become a mureed wanted to see me and I saw she is a Jinn-soul, exactly like in the teachings. And she has recognized what neither Mrs. Duce nor Vilayat want to recognize that this person has gone through all the stages of The Inner Life including the part when one behaves like a Jinn. True, my friend the Khalandar wanted me to exhibit this line but I refused then and at the same time if one goes through all the stages of The Inner Life one goes through all the stages of the inner life and one can understand people of all sorts of evolution. It was very funny because Samuel has learned to behave at any and every age level. This was also true of the late Swami Ramdas. One of my two Yoga teachers (the other was Paul Brunton who was also a Sufi).

It is not easy to deal with a Jinn who has few faults and can study 10 times as fast as one on human evolution. Murshid gave some instructions, most of which I do not have, but here is the living experience. The Jinn learns so fast and absorbs everything and then melts or flies so fast you cannot keep up. This is regarded as “insanity” in our culture.

The New Age is different because all the young people see if one is practicing or verbalizing. Too many see auras and nearly all see if one is bathed in Light. You cannot fool them. And in turn one practices Murshid and mureed are one. This is not symbology; it is actuality.

So now one restores the Ancient Wisdom which others say Sufis have not and some operating as “Sufis” do not have. But there are other Sufis who are helping restoring the Ancient Wisdom and all wisdom. They are outside the “universal brotherhoods.”

It is not only the “universal brotherhood” to whom Gavin has been called, but there is another being established just a few miles from it. Everybody has the “universal brotherhood.”

Tonight we may have the Buddhism class lead by a Sangha not by some egocentric personality who does not recognize others. We are four, all rejected by society and all accepted by Grand Masters from Japan and Turkey and North Africa inclusive. We work together, and gradually introduce Enlightenment-by-experience. In time this will control the world.

The next thing is the visit of my colleague from Vietnam. Samuel, excluded from “universal brotherhoods” has colleagues all over. That is why I am preparing a paper on “The Melting of Hearts” and as “Sufis” do not want it it will be given to the universities. They accept what which is true and happened and they are not so keen on the speculations of even the brightest. This “Union of Hearts” is now practiced openly. Having and the experiences, and then more and more, and then beginning with the time I was apparently initiating you as a Sheikha this was also one of my own initiations into and in fana-fi-lillah which alone gives a person the right to be called “Murshid.” Now with my God-daughter in America having had the realization this would be confirmed by actual Sufis, but not by metaphysical people operating under the name. It is very different.

Now all the time I am either writing or tending my sheep or they look after me. Only these are far higher than the people Hazrat Inayat Khan worked with. And on February 10 I shall reveal the part of the interviews I had with him which were not reduced to writing and many people will know and they can react about the people who wish to control “universal brotherhoods” with the right to eject and reject. While in general Sufis do not reveal, although in some schools they are compelled to, the continued control of so-called “mystical teachings” by metaphysical people is to end.

Last week I got up and said, “World peace will come when the people on the platform will listen to those in the audience.” I am telling this around to the young and they like it.

The day will come when Sufism is presented as the result of experiences in states (hal) and stations (makam) or when Buddhists respect what are called Bhumis and Paramitas which mean the same thing—or what the Bible calls Urim and Thummim. These are the experiences of mankind and do not belong to any lecturer, organizer, metaphysician, priest, prelate or authority. They all come under Grace.

I now have five classes a week besides interviews and sooner or later the Truth will out. The Murshid operates as a Cupid between the mureed and God and not as authoritative Boss-man-Guru. I am avoiding all the mistakes of Murshida Rabia Martin (there are, of course, other mistakes).

The Jinn-lady said, “I want a Hebrew grandfather.” To some I am as father, to others grandfather, but only “Murshid” in so far as “Murshid and mureed are one.” “I am the vine and they are the branches thereof.”

God Bless,

410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif.

January 20, 1968

Miss Saadia Khawar Khan,

Shalla House,

Multan Road

Lahore West Pakistan

Beloved One of Allah:

This morning one was aroused from sleep to write to you and to send a copy to Prof. Nasr at Tehran and also to keep a copy for one’s memoirs. As this is done it will give you some encouragement in your paper on Khatimal Mursaleen. For this person is absolutely uncompromising on the statement of Imam Al-Ghazzali that “tasawwuf is based on experiences if not on praises.” But the majority of writers today—in very opposing camps—still operates as if it were speculation and dialectics.

This person finds that a good deal that goes under the name of “Islam” has become a sort of ceremonial magic in which the body must move and words, often in a foreign language, are used and by doing that one is supposed to attain all happiness and solve all problems. Any effort to clarify these things is looked upon as heresy and to do the same intelligently is not regarded as a particular virtue.

At the other extreme is a movement going on today, and most welcome to your Murshid, of writings by friends and associates of Prof. Nasr: Titus Burckhardt, Gene Guenon, Frithjof Schuon and others who go to the opposite extreme and give us the most profound literature of the times. This is particularly welcome to me personally because people who are in spiritual darkness are not being converted by ignorant mullahs who come to this country, correct small details in the actions of worshippers, and fail to touch young Americans who are seeking Allah as if their lives depended on it. They want Allah no doubt but they also want Ilm, Shuhud and Ishk.

These writers are marvelous as to Ilm and Shuhud but Ishk is lacking. And while one buys their books and many of the disciples read them—the majority of disciples are university graduates—they feel the lack of Ishk to make this complete. One has already talked on Ishk at Multan and then before Prof. Siddiqui in Lahore, and here Ishk is supreme, even to the degree of us having a “dangerous” Ishk-Islam as against Sunni-Islam.

Even this has two sides. Your Murshid has some of the materials of Prince Dar Shikoh and this point of view was confirmed by Sidi Abusalem Al-Alawi from the Maghrab. And one just received a message that the Sidi’s agent may be visiting this city soon again. The first subject he presented here was on Khatimal Mursaleen. But his talk was identical with the material in “Saladin,” that the Seal was a Seal on a full bottle. And ignorant people cannot be convinced even though it distinctly states in Holy Write “We make no distinctions or differences between them.” Too many Muslims (so called) do make differences.

And this brings up the problem of beliefs versus experience and it is very strange for the experiences conform with Grand Sheikh Sohrawardi while the beliefs look like those of Akbar. Still, as a scientist, the experiences should be paramount.

And this brings up another problem. Divines dogmatize and are not interested in experiences. Imam Al-Ghazzali called for experiences. And on February 10th your Murshid is going to tell some of his experiences and “secrets” which are really not secrets but ignorant people, to control others, insist they be kept secret. For the two factors in your Murshid’s continued vigor despite age are the Grace of Allah through (a) The visitation of Khwaja Khizr; (b) the Tawajjeh of Hazrat Inayat Khan. This last does not particularly affect your paper.

Early in 1925 your Murshid went into the wilderness to die—he thought. One need not pain you by details. He was finishing reading of Hafiz-i-Shirazi and had nothing to do when Khwaja Khizr appeared: he appeared three times and granted a wish. But besides that the “legend” is that if he appears he also grants longevity and as things stand this is becoming so, alhamdu lillah. This took place around March 12-15, 1925.

As one’s Shuhud was great after that, one prepared a ceremony on 21st March, 1925, at the equinox, exactly at noon. There appeared in turn in broad daylight Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Zarathustra, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. Each of the other Messengers appeared in the Center alone, but Mohammed appeared on both the right and left sides, mirror opposites. He was sitting on a white horse which had its forelegs up, and was pointing the index finger of his right hand in the gesture of Unity.

This cleaned up all your Murshid’s infirmities and he knows how to do this but seldom has, for the ease of Allah and humanity one does not seek the “escape-perfection” nor the monasticism.

This all was confirmed by Hazrat Inayat Khan who also gave Tawajjeh but this was rejected by nearly all the disciples. Hazrat Inayat Khan told Samuel L. Lewis that he did not have even five faithful disciples but his family goes on using consanguinity for “Murshidship” and has brought a questionable name to his efforts—which are largely in published books. However this one has his complete Ryazat and is frightening the power-structure people who want to be known as leaders in “Sufism” without hal or makam.

On February 5th, 1930, when one was in Khilvat after the death of Hazrat Inayat Khan, in commemoration of it, the Pir manifested and one’s career in fana-fi-Sheikh began. This continued until about 1946 when one day he appeared and told your Murshid that his last test was coming. The next day a tooth fell out without anything being done. Hazrat Inayat Khan laughed and while one was in a quandary Mecca Shereef appeared and one began his career in fana-fi-Rassoul.

Thus while in theory one may have Experience through other Names, in this case it was Mohammed (on whom be peace) who became one’s Grand Initiator and has remained so. And it is this experience and power and wisdom and glory that remain at the base of one’s life despite any criticism from any people, who, being ignorant, are more concerned with tearing others down than building themselves up.

The next matter is quite different. We have just had a seminar on “Is God Dead?” and another one soon that “God Is Alive.” Your Murshid presented the work of one William English Walling, “The Meaning of God in Human Experience.” He says: “The Prophet is the mystic in control of the forces of history.” Now even the most violent opponent of Mohammed cannot refute that he was most important in history (and maybe still is).

Sidi Al-Alawai contended (just as in “Saladin”) that to make Mohammed Khatimal Mursaleen you would have to recognize the other Messengers not by empty gestures but by open recognition of their personalities, their histories, their writings and everything else. This does not mean to compare their work with Qur’an or anything. “We make no differences or distinctions between them” remains although the religionists will interpret this one way and the scientific people another way.

As for dajjals. We are plagued with them today. Nothing of their claims means anything. True the Mahdi in Sudan did make a limited impression and then suddenly died. Then Baha-u-llah made some noise and has been followed by all sorts of people making claims and these always include universality—the word, never the content. Not one of them has been or become universal. It is all confusion and confusing.

At the same time it serves a purpose. The Islam of the ignorant remains in the ignorance. This is an age of growing intellectuality and while religion remains under the control of the ignorant the learned turn away. The intellectual side and the moral side are overgrown and everybody looks to someone else and this looking to someone else is what gives the dajjal his power. If we looked each to himself for purification and perfection there would be no room for the dajjal. But this finding fault outside also means finding perfection outside.

One is confused here and has to accept the confusion. For the Zikr class grows and the applicants grow and one has had to close the group on walking Fikr. One learns by experiences, not premises, that Allah is closer than the neck vein. And along with this Love and Joy. It is a phenomena because now one is reaching about 30 people, only one of his own efforts, and is considering closing the doors. One has not meditated or looked.

When the leaders of the World Religions met here the Chief Imam of Washington came out boldly, strongly and uncompromisingly for The Brotherhood of Man. The seats reserved for Muslims were empty. Not a single person who regards himself as a prominent Muslim was there although one man sent his son. My friends sat alone in empty rows and we are regarded with suspicion. But no worry, The Brotherhood of Man was not accepted. Only now one does work with the Muslim Students Association—not with the Mosques—for the young are trying to make some order and get rid of the egocentricism which dominates religion. For the movement in America is against all religion today; the young want God (Allah); they do not want prelates and priests and self-important exhorters. They want divine experience.

The associates of Prof. Nasr are also restoring some of the Spiritual Sciences, one by one. This is also welcome because the Western world is filled with pretenders and frauds who set up different cultures, so many cults, all separate, none recognizing the others and all attracting small numbers causing nothing but confusion.

The local head of the “Society for the Scientific Study of Religion” has now accepted in full what your Murshid is doing. The next step is to get him and the organization to recognize what these associates of Prof. Nasr are doing.

One also purchased yesterday a copy of “Studies in Islamic Mysticism” by R. A. Nicholson (one’s original copy burned in a fire in 1949); also a new version of Omar Khayyam by the poet Robert Graves. And during the week a disciple found “Letters of a Sufi Teacher” written and translated years ago which contains pregnant material.

Now it is by your own Ilm and Shuhud that you will get the final strength. One has sent the Shagal material but it is only now that some secretarial help has come which will make it possible to go ahead. Fortunately today the basic work of Sufi Sheikhs is again becoming known to mankind, but still on the side of philosophy, not yet experience. The Ryazat must be uncovered and given to mankind.

One has not yet come to Kashf Al-Mahjub for one deals gently and delicately with everybody. One will go over one’s material as soon as possible inshallah, to see that Ilm and Shuhud are strengthened.

All love and blessings,

February 11, 1968

My dear Gavin:

I do not know when this letter will reach you. There has been almost an epidemic of friends landing in hospitals and I don’t know whether this is an aspect or coincidence. In any event the number of potential clients increases.

I do not know when people will accept karma, or that for whatever they sow, thus they will reap. Today one is in what would be called the enviable position of being accepted all around where one would like to be accepted. The university classes have changed to the extent that it becomes dangerous to criticize for one is armed with objective answers.

The paper on “How California Can Help Solve Asia’s Food Problems” was accepted by a scientific group in an equal and opposite fashion as its rejection by non-scientific groups. And one has been in the awkward position of defending General Semantics but can do so no more for not only is one’s reputation at stake but the classes invite one to speak on knowledge one has on subject after subject rejected, mostly a priori, by our semantic friends.

My reports on “Reincarnation” were accepted by an important university and a good scolding to Hugh Lynn Cayce was followed by an apology. I am glad he did that. But the general tenor is “Give us your money and we shall solve the problems”—and they do not.

Since having the Vietnamese here—although there was no advertising and only grape-vine—the young people believe that the little man who was there may know more about a situation than the big men who were not. Our whole culture is for the opinions of the big men who were not there until after the fighting took place.

Dr. Chaudhuri finally succumbed after seeing so many letters from Dr. Radhakrishnan and had me speak at the Ashram. It was mostly young people and I am thankful. They want facts and their seniors want entertainment labeled “knowledge” and “information.” It is entertainment just the same.

Now I am writing abroad and sending copies to Senator Kuchel and the two of his colleagues that accept my reports, i.e. John Sherman Cooper and Charles Percy. It may take some time but so long as we are stuck with “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court”—which is protocol—we are stuck with war. And soon I may be speaking for the Vietnamese at their request. As I told my audience, it just may be sometime, somehow that some Vietnamese may know just a little of Oriental culture contradicting the opinions of famous men, mostly English, who are so delightful in amusing us. It is our fault; we want amusement, not knowledge and I don’t blame the Englishmen.

The ease with which I made communication with the Vietnamese and Iranians who have crossed my path lately would put to shame all those people who write articles and earn their living on something they call “communication.” Now the young laugh. I give them objective referents and examples and they laugh and sooner or later the cults and subjectivists are going to be ridiculed out of existence.

In fact I may have to close these doors because the young are coming in greater numbers every week. They have had enough of dogma and opinions from their elders.

Now there are rainbows and there may be pots of gold. And it is certain that one’s fellow-”Sarkhanians” have not only joined forces, we are receiving every kind of encouragement from Asian-Asians who would like to see their cultures presented to the American-people. We are all of us getting more followers every week, all under 35!

The President is calling for a war against “crime” but if he adopts in Jurisprudence what he adopts in Diplomacy things will get worse and worse and worse. In Science and in Law eye-witnesses are required; in other matters “truth” is based on whom or who you are. You should have seen what happened to the woman who challenged me last week in class exactly the opposite of a generation back. And it will get worse. This is a new age.

Get well and get clients.

cc- Morain

February 12, 1968

My dear Shamcher:

The Healing Service has a phrase: “In Unison With the Will of God We Will to Have Peace.” This Service is also based on Hierarchy.

Now I believe I sent you copy of letter to Dr. Malalasekera and it seems to be right. For Prof. Reischauer will be here soon with a colleague from Harvard to speak on our failure to take Asian cultures into account. This has been my cry for years, And evidently God wishes this so.

You will find enclosed copy of letter to one Prof. Arasteh, a Persian who, if not a Sufi at least writes on Sufi philosophy. The remarks are my own. They are sharp and pungent. As my own Kashf is constantly self-proving it is useless to argue with mind over Understanding. I am, of course, concerned with the large and growing number of “universal brotherhoods,” all acting as if it were the one in the field. This also was foreseen forty years ago.

Just as in a previous generation one could not get a word in edgewise at the university; now it is the opposite and great caution is needed because everything is accepted. In the philosophy class a man was criticizing the Mathematical Infinity from what he called a “Zen standpoint.” It did not agree with Zen books he had read. I told the teacher that having had the direct experiences of Infinity in Zen, in Cantor’s Transfinite and in Edna St. Vincent’s Millay’s “Renascence” I failed to find any differences between these various ”infinities.” Not only was the point taken but I demonstrated how to produce harmonies out of seemingly conflicting views.

While surprisingly, over half of my mureeds were absent Sunday (open meeting); the place was over-run and just as well. It will now be necessary to establish Centers. I can no longer teach the mureeds and applicants. It will be necessary to go over whatever papers I have and also “Gatheka-ise” the literature for applicants. I never wanted it that may and neither did Inayat Khan. I shall keep on saying he wished me to do the Esoteric work and it is most unfortunate that others—each claiming to be top Pir, refuse to accept this. And I can foresee (Kashf) their ultimate reciprocity, and their refusal to accept the teachings published in books.

Did I tell you of “our” plans for me to visit Seattle next month? It is quite a story and “our” means several of us who are operating to have a universal spiritual school, bringing all the esotericisms together.

God bless you,

February 20, 1968

My dear Shamcher:

One does not know what purpose is to be gained by coming north but a mystic must venture, and also we ventured here to great success, a success which will not in the least impress people who claim “humility” and as I see it now in the West humility is a worse gateway to Hell than sin, for it imposes, and no nonsense about it, divisions and differences which divide men and keep them apart as not even the present war does.

This week I am to be a guest of honor at both the Buddha Universal Church and the Cultural integration” Ashram. While personalities are destroying devotion by praying, ”Raise us above the differences and divisions with divide men” and keeping apart, definitely and absolutely keeping apart, the ultimate work of the man selected by Hazrat Inayat Khan to lead toward World Brotherhood succeeds due to the Grace of the Universe, all corporations to the contrary.

The immediate impetus is completing the work on Rumi by a Sufi Professor, Arasteh, to whom I have written. His conclusions concerning the various “Profs. Suez Canals” who have self-selected themselves as the ones who are going to bring East and West together—flunkies keep out—are identical with my own. The world does not, cannot accept or select or elect spiritual leaders which is a province of God and Grace, has always been, will always be. But I am awaiting either a letter from him or his latest book—which will take a while to arrive, before going into this in full. And meanwhile no doubt the ten “Universal Brotherhoods,” all neatly packaged and exclusive of each other will go on unabated, or maybe not.

The reason for the invitation to the Buddha Universal Church has been my services as a flunky with them, and in the midst of this work I went away and met those two grandest of grand flunkies,. Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda and mother Krishnabai who far surpass Sam Lewis in flunky-ism and I am not talking poetry, gestures or symbolism. They do, have done, will do flunky work while helping multitudes, multitudes beyond the conception of those who restore to election, selection and choosing leaders, spiritual or not. The Last Shall Be First! And the only person I know who has done this of equal value was Pir-o-Murshid Hassan Sani Nizami, whose corporations have to dismiss while multitudes revere.

We have here restored Lord Buddha’s Methods and raised people to the direct experiences of Love, Joy and Peace. It one would read PIR in “Vadan” one will find, and even Sam Lewis found, that he was fulfilling these functions although he has never said he was a Pir. One can and does affect by breath, by heart, by atmosphere and will continue to do so, but this of itself is not so important as what follows and may, by Grace, follow.

Challenged as to one’s knowledge and position, one answered that on Sunday night we would perform the First Jhana of Lord Buddha. So we performed the First Jhana of Lord Buddha! Of course one “softened” the audience by the practicing of the presence of Love, Peace and Joy and these young people are experiencing “upstairs” where professors, newsman and especially Learies and LSD-“experts” dare not go. Then we entered the first Jhana and when we came out the same universal consciousness pervaded the whole audience. One man could not take it and left; the first person ever threatened with the Zen-stick which all people who do not have “humility” respect. It is only the “humility” people who do not—there are quite a few of them.

In this way these people become aware of a Reality which they had heard about, longed for and want; want with their whole hearts. Despite the absence of half the mureeds there are 40 people here, crowding every foot of space. So I took this up with my fellows in the real form of Sangha as taught by Lord Buddha and we are considering halls. This is a joke; everything is done by telepathy, super telepathy, heart, direct cognition and we work as a team, three men and a D’Artagnan, like the Musketeers, four men with One Mind and some day the people who think they are in some corporation called “Universal Brotherhood” will realize as these young people are realizing “One Single Brotherhood in the Fatherhood of God.” Realization, not emotion, not mentality, not metaphysical, direct experience.

Such efforts would bring us to the verge of “Diamond Sutra” and realization of Nirmanakaya. It is also working in behalf of a real Chan Master, Too Lum, who also uses atmosphere and not dummy, idiocy, blankness called “Zen” which has nothing to do with Lord Buddha’s life and experience.

One began there, went through “Rasa Shastra” and Paul Reps’ work. One must distinguish between Paul Reps and his work. I warn everybody, that it is not what he draws, says, does, but the equal balance of the blanks, the spaces, the inferences, the silences. Westerners are so stuck with ego-consciousness that they do not get the point, that anti-ego-consciousness is also ego-consciousness.

If I wished to carry this into Mathematical Philosophy one points out that (f) = (f) non-A, a point missed by all the semanticists. Also that (d) A ≠ A ≠ (S) A, and this confusion between derivatives, description, and integrations make it most difficult to verbalize philosophies, and compel man to resort to Art. I have fortunately been able to do in the class in Philosophy here what the whole gamut of contemporary pseudo-intellectuals have refused to examine, a priori refused, from the semanticists to the Orientalists to and through the “Universal Brotherhoods.” (At this moment certain Baha’i’s are coming to the doors of initiation, realizing that departmentalized, separative, corporation, Universal Brotherhoods are very close to being downright frauds.

There is no difference between One as used by Roshi Shaku Soyen and Inayat Khan, which lead to the mutual assimilation of Pir-o-Murshid and Nyogen Senzaki. There is all the difference between this and the nonsense-term used by corporation remembers, mutually separate.

In the State of Jhana there is one all-pervading consciousness and all felt it. But 40 of 400 (which one has already had) or 4000 (which one has also had) or 4,000,000 is not going to convince corporation-”initiates.” Sooner or later the young here will laugh off the Silent-Parsi-Me-Supergod. And also the other claimants. The show must go on and the stage is occupied by a “Maharshi,” the champion of the humilities who charges more even than Alan Watts, and rather successfully.

The Jhana imposes neither words nor silence nor either nor neither nor both. The Jhana is the Jhana and in some way it is identical with the Sufi Hal but in some ways no. But speculative and “humility” people cannot understand this.

Sam Lewis saw his own future at the Dargah Nizam-ud-din Auliya in New Delhi and it is happening that way even though he has been very slow to recognize it. He has also seen the future of Pir Zade and no amount of warnings, suggestions, anything will affect him or any other “humility”—wallah, who cannot see God in anything and anybody as suggested in Salat.

You would hardly believe it but today I am accepting with caution everything that comes from my own Brother Elliott and from Paul Reps, an easy thing when one devoids oneself of “humility.” This is the negative purgation. And the positive comes in the effective practices we have here which have a marvelous “electrical” phenomenon; or if one wishes to use Pir-o-Murshid’s terms, “magnetism,” or to use the Sufi terms, Baraka.

The Sufi Bayat ceremony processed “God,” the forgotten, not “the Only Being”—nonsense! It may be true that God alone was Founder of Sufism but he is the retired ex-president of the Board. Or maybe not so. God can be demonstrated through His Attributes and is here—not through sermons, homilies or words. And if I come north or when it will be to “I Have Come to Bring You the Message of the Living God!”

40,000,000 Sufis and Western people are satisfied with mutually exclusive corporations. Having dispensed with “humility,” one can seek and seeking, find.

God bless you.

February 20, 1968

Dear Ram:

One of the greatest contributions of Papa Ramdas was that he kept a diary. There are now so many articles on the word “Mysticism and most have nothing to do with God. Some have to do with the effect of drugs or fortune telling, or with abstruse doctrines or with explanations of the inner lives of people of long ago. To get the writers to face the facts and the immediacy is almost impossible. But this will come to a heading, no doubt, on March 16 and 17 when there will be a conference here on “The Living God,” a counter-movement to a former one on “God is dead.” But one must report that at the university a person is permitted so speak and no one labeled an “expert” is forced on anybody. Besides the young today will not have it. It is a different age.

When was in Dacca he told a Vedantist: “You look and act exactly as if you were Sri Ramakrishna.” “That is interesting for Sri Ramakrishna said that when he died his soul would split into fifty thousand pieces and each one would reincarnate as a Ramakrishna.”

Now the flesh-function of Papa is over and Sam feels himself absorbing all the qualities. In fact Sam has a God-daughter. A young man was in love and brought the lady to Sam and when she came in the room Ram said, “This is your new God-daughter.” And you will find enclosed a Photostat of a letter she has written.

Yesterday was the answer to a multitude of what should be prayers, all in a few hours. Sam was about readying to withdrawn. Everything has been totally successful, but no help. He has to do everything—keep house—which people who make suggestions do not have to do; answer letters from all over the world; copy innumerable manuscripts and now he not only has a flock of disciples but more and more young people coming every day, and no help, only suggestions.

But from early in the morning to late at night on one day came one answer after another. Even now—not yet 8 o” clock in the morning, a disciple is coming to help. And this went on until he opened a letter late at night. Sam has lost the address of Devi Teddi Schleicher and received a letter from a young man living in the same vicinity so he will become Sam’s messenger.

One does not know where to begin. Sunday Sam was in the “state” called hal by Sufis and said, “Paul Reps and Sam Lewis are the spiritual leaders of America,” A man named Karl” got up and lead an ovation. While there has been a lot of dispute about leadership in corporations called “Sufi” in the West—they have thing to do with traditional Sufism, they are just corporations in the fields of religion, this man has the Sufi Symbol on his forehead and is not aware of it. He is destined. Ram willing, for a great future.

It looked like a show. Ram has his disciples on Monday night, goes with a group of students of real Buddhism on Tuesday night and last night spoke at a modernized Christian church where you have to have mystical experiences to earn you way. Without Christ you do not get full ordination. They want and have reality.

When Papa was here and afterwards society was divided as to who was the greatest of Zen Buddhists, opinions being divided between two Englishmen, both famous and neither having studied under any great spiritual teacher. They have great social influence. The young do not like them. The young like Paul Reps and it needed only a little the encouragement from some older person. The ovation Sunday night has been followed each night by an oval demonstration and yesterday one found that Paul Reps has been at Anandashram and also that he is coming here.

Sam wrote Paul that before he could not have gotten an audience to fill a small hall and now he could not get a hall to fill the audience. But Sam also received a phone call from a man who is professional hall-provider and a warm enthusiast for Paul Reps, and that and other things followed, all within a short time.

Then Sam found the warmest enthusiasm about some university students. The Sufi Hazrat Inayat Khan wanted Sam to present the spiritual teachings to the universities and none of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s successors and followers would accept that—they all use words like “humility” and “surrender” and do exactly as they please, all striving for leadership and public favor. But now Sam is gradually worming his way, exactly as his Murshid wanted.

Then last night to an audience, every week larger, Sam lead the discussion at the Christian “The Church of Man.” We are trying to introduce Sangha-Buddhism and Brotherhood-Christianity and not empty rituals or personalisms or dogmas or anything outside the heart of man. The audience was all of young people and the same thing happened and tonight Sam foresees it here and more and more.

The Gavin mentioned in Nancy’s letter was a warm admirer of Papa when he was here.

Last night Sam was in a different stage corresponding to the Fudo-Function of Japanese Buddhism and he demanded, “I am the vine and ye are the branches thereof.” In that state one is tired of self-made phrases which are in contradiction to the worlds of Lord Jesus Christ; or for that matter Lord Buddha or anybody. The methods of Lord Buddha, Buddha’s Yoga of Love-Peace-Joy are demonstrable, and the young find it out. The manifestation of Ram when Sam was ill, “You are ill to prevent you from traveling. You are destined to be the spiritual leader of the Hippies.” Apparently this is coming true.

But Sam is still barred from conferences on Religion in this country and has been invited to an international conference in Darjeeling. He hopes he can send a delegate. The young here are love-hungry, joy-hungry and want peace and brotherhood.

410 Precita Ave..

San Francisco, Calif. 94110

February 25, 1968

Mrs. Paula Hughes

4424 Thatcher

Ojai, Calif. 93023

My dear Paula:

While reading last night I found I had used your Christmas greeting card as a book-mark. Times and circumstances keep people apart and especially now when the circumstances are so contrary in almost everything from what my good friends of theosophical and metaphysical movements and of various cults say and believe, that there is no relation between opinion and event. And this great gap between opinion and event is compelling one to change geographical plans often.

One’s own saying, “East is East and West is West and never shall the Oriental meet the Orientalist” is taking on grim but actual aspects. One realizes that actualities do not influence certain people at all and this would not be bad of itself, but that and nothing but that has been the cause of the long impasse in Vietnam, a situation in which anybody can say anything but eye-witnesses and participants.

A situation which can happen but “only in America” is going to produce some very bizarre situations. One is refused admittance to an “East-West” Conference to be held in Hawaii in 1969. But one has received an invitation to stand a conference of holy men in Darjeeling, India—for that one is eligible, but for any such meeting in this country—unthinkable. But don’t presume any “martyr” complex. Four of us, Russ Miller, Warwick, Wagner and myself are regarded as “Three Musketeers + D’Artagnan” only now the fifth of our number has gone to India to meet some Masters and Sam Lewis has been urged to go to Seattle for the same reason, only these Buddhist Masters are Tibetan in this case. This goes on all the time, by which I mean all the time and now the young accept it and us more and more and more. Our combined meetings—seeing that we started alone, are filled to overflowing and the “silly” young people believe that Americans (and Rev. Warwick) may just know a little more of Asian philosophies, all of us having lived in Asia and studied with accredited Masters.

Down in Ojai this not necessary and the most welcome people there have not studied in Asia or with Masters or if so, they can not name them openly, they are always by-passed or kept “secret.” That is delightful entertainment, nobody is hurt but neither does anybody learn anything, but what is going on in the minds of popular lecturers and what is going on in their minds, though very entertaining, has nothing to do with the universe.

The visit of Dr. An, the Vietnamese, found this house filled to overflowing, though there was no advertising and now it is filled to overflowing all the time, and six days (and nights) are given the young who listen, and learn.

Here we impart Love, Joy and Peace, actualities, experiences, not claims. We have the audacity to given teaching from Lord Buddha—these have nothing whatsoever to do with popular “Buddhism.” We use in addition to Lord Buddha Paul Reps and occasionally Phillip Kapleau. This is very unfair to Englishmen and society because both of them have had the real Zen experience validated by real Zen and Chan Masters, the worst of credentials in our society. But the young love it, and finding that here Love means Love and Joy means Joy and Peace means Peace they are coming to overflowing. And one dares not invite Paul Reps until we get places large enough to accommodate the young who would rather listen to an American who knows than to an Englishman or European who are very entertaining but don’t know.

One takes the young with him to show how Asians act toward Sam Lewis, the flesh-and-blood human beings showing no resemblance to the thought-form “Asian” which is so popular in this country. One is on excellent terms with Vietnamese but not with politicians or “experts” who draw crowds and affect history not at all. And this week one received honorifics from Chinese and Indians, and is establishing more and more friendships with Iranians, etc.

To make matters worse, Paula, or maybe better, one’s complaint that Europeans are human beings and Asians are thought-forms plus that above received a full page in a leading Pakistani magazine—this could not happen in America, yet, but it will. We may someday invite Asians to have their own peace-table without any assistance from Russians, Chinese or Us, or Europeans. Even the most rabid “Internationalist” in this country seems unable to concede full humanity to Asians. Only now instead of complaining we are laughing, laughing more and more and more. The “misguided” young prefer Americans who have learned Asiatica from Asian masters to Englishmen and Europeans who received their “credentials” from universities, or Americans (like Northrup) who received credentials—from themselves!

Here we teach only Yoga systems which others do not teach, with central emphasis on the system in the last part of “Zen, Flesh, Zen Bones.” And this is no silly Englishman-Buddhism (for 25 a throw) or “Transcendental Yoga (for 35.) We leave those things to people who put up money values.

It is only now one stands between Mr. Reps who makes suggestions and people whom he has never contacted doing what he suggests, and this is the “Brave New World” without any Huxley, and the “Coming Race” without any supervisions from “experts.”

If you ever come this way we know lots of good restaurants, lots, and two now with Sufi waiters (totally different from popular “Sufism”).

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

Saturday Evening,

April 13, 1968

Beloved One of God:

It has been a long time since there was a diary entry, and there have been so many things changing. The books have arrived and a copy of this letter goes to Vilayat. The shame of acting as if God does not see our acts will go down in history, and the changes made in "Confessions of Inayat Khan" are all based on the bald-faced lie, that what we do not know does not hurt us. But it is not my place to do anything, only if Mrs. Duce has a different copy and were to attack the Inayatis legally they would have a hard time to prove by lying, chicanery and false witness the early life of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Nor will I do anything, but having met so many people who were present at his death and also saw him in his last days when Kismet Stan was not with him, one just looks at amazement, and wonders what will happen in eternity to those who have had the gall to change records. You can understand from this the attacks made on the Inayatis by competitors and rivals.

The two definitions of "Sufi" had to be laid aside, either that a Sufi is one who sees from the standpoint of another; or that a Sufi, is a God-conscious man. One is compelled today to act each role of "Pir" in Vadan, not to pray, not to beseech a God who is far away, but to manifest the Divine Qualities which are in every soul.

Now there are mushrooms all around, the worst being claims to have had Tibetan Initiations. The validated disciples of Anagarika Govinda and the Tibetan Lamas have their friends and representatives and I should not be surprised if there were some law-suits soon. It is a shame how under "freedom of religion" anything can be presented to the public. Now also there are persons going around claiming to be Sufis—why not? Inasmuch as you do not have to pass thought the initiatory states nor see life from the standpoint of another as well as of yourself, or even have a validated Murshid, why not anybody being a Sufi? calling himself a Sufi?

While there is a ritual of "Universal Worship"—anybody can become an officiate without any background whatsoever, there is now the preliminary arrangement for the meeting of the real religious leaders of the real world. And if my affairs do not change I shall be able to put on a "Universal worship" in Washington some day, inshallah, while people, some of whom were not born when I was ordained as Cherag, will wish to protect. This is "to Thee we give willing surrender," my hat! And when and as the real religious leaders of the living faiths get together and they may witness this Universal Worship they will free Inayat Khan and his teachings from all the nonsense of corporations and flesh-and-blood inheriting anything but flesh-and-blood.

I have a deep respect for Vilayat and the contrary is not true at all. I have refrained from assuming the title of "Pir" although I function with this role ad have the approval of living Murshids and Pirs. The original Bayat called for brotherhood with all living Sufis of all schools but corporations have changed that, you can bet. But now it is becoming known, and the audiences every week are greater.

One of the greatest boons is to have two God-realized God-daughters, and this gives zest enough to live on. The local one is now organizing our work and there will be a regularly program here. We are also hoping to have a Khankah. The corporationists, Inayatis or Baba-rians will objects but the great Sufi Orders will not. Four hundred people outshine forty million disciples of Sufi Brotherhoods!

 Meanwhile the initiates, the real initiates out here are getting together and while the Temple of Understanding is drawing people together in the religious field, these initiates or "we" are drawing together in the mystical and occult fields. Buddhists, Hindus and Sufis working together cooperatively, something that has not occurred in the western world before.

Next Saturday I am to speak on "Sri Aurobindo and Plato" and will explain the operations of Ashrams where I have lived. The whole thing will be objective and actual and everything points to a large attendance. This will also prepare for a potential Khankah, for although I have also lived in Khankahs—much that the "universal brotherhood," poor souls, care, there is an emotional aura around the word "Ashram" which is great indeed. We are also planning a Sri Aurobindo wedding where I shall be giving the bridge away, this in June and you will probably meet these people.

Today we took another step toward spiritual leadership among the Hippies. We walked through the district in serious garments, and find considerable respect. But every week a larger attendance and without doing anything at all.

Tomorrow night will be Paul Reps night. Actually it will be the beginning of a campaign for Paul Reps. Although Hazrat Inayat Khan gave his early lectures on "unlearning" this is no part of the various "Sufi" corporations. Paul Reps has not only adhered to his "unlearning," he has carried it on another dimension. This has entranced an ever growing number of young people, they understand "unlearning" and their elders, and especially metaphysical people do not, even cannot.

No doubt I shall steal some thunder from Reps for "Dance of Universal Peace." As one has taken part in the ceremonies of most faiths and been a devotee of each at some time, this will not be difficult. Actually a great deal of Zen is being taught here under the arts and a great deal of nonsense is being presented under the name of "Zen." But Master Too Lun has now come into his own and my being out of the schema certain nights means the young go and hear him, more and more.

My pod-daughter, God bless her, has organized a weekly program and help seems near and forthcoming. I not only have a larger assortment of people than Rabia, God rest her soul, was ever able to gather here, but they are all, with one exception, under 35 and more men than women. And excepting at Anandashram, I have never seen the love and cohesion, the warm feeling of good-will and the ability of each and all to get along with each other. It is stupendous and I hope you may see it soon.

The receiving of the books has been a great been and we shall see that all applicants study The Sufi Message. Printed words can ignore living facts. The success in presenting the methods of speech and silence both and especially atmosphere have been most effective. This confirms the predictions of the Sufi Saint who was here a few years back. Actually this is found in Rumi too, and is of supreme importance.

 It is Easter morning and the same old aphorisms appear in press and church. But there will be a resurrection in this one's life that now a large number of young people are willing to accept life instead of words. They have seen the manifestation of Peace, Love, Joy and Serenity and the expansion of Atmosphere. No doubt there will be more verbal "Sufism" and this ultimately will lead to more realization of Divinity. The move through the Hippie District was a success in several respects.

What has been gained by repudiating the words and institutions of Hazrat Inayat Khan I do not know. Vilayat, God bless him, at least recognized the colored people. But he does not yet recognize atmosphere and the possibility of more holy people coming to the West. The move has been started and will no doubt continue, God willing. And we shall have that Message of God which Hazrat Inayat Khan instituted which consists of just two things:

a. Expanded praise of the Living God (and realization).

b. More human consideration.

God bless you,

Sam

April 21, 1968

My dear Shamcher:

Yesterday was so right I am writing this with an Ephemeris in front of me. Mercury was exactly 180^o opposite my natal Sun. Jupiter stays around a 60^o exact sextile with the same Sun. Neptune is close to a conjunction with natal Uranus. Pluto is exactly opposite to my natal Moon.

The day brought financial help by the government giving me back a large sum, tax anticipation. I did not know that the Estate pays more of my taxes. At least this confirms the Jupiter.

Paul Reps has been sending me books; his own and those of Pir-o-Murshid and has offered help for hiring a hall for his own coming. I now have an average of 40 people at meetings and it is fortunate that mureeds stay away from the public gatherings. There are now several applicants and I have to have a Marin meeting place.

Sheila, who may arrange this, has been most fortunate in here financial affairs and we are hoping she can go to Asia. There are a number of events and they are going to smash through our subjective “realisms” and our penchant for regarding non Asians as “experts” on Asia.

The Temple of Understanding has accepted all my proposals and nearly all my introductions. Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr about whom I have written before, will be second in command at the forthcoming conference. There Americans and Asians and others will sit down as equals and none of this utterly inane “expertism” backed up by proper press relationships. These things “excite” and solve nothing. And this will mean as I have written, that the Universal Worship will not be dominated by any “cherags” appointed for ritualistic purposes and having no real knowledge of the living, or past faiths of Asia.

At night my God-daughter, Nancy Fish, appeared on TV and she has won a trip to Cannes. There was a supposed contest over her escort but as soon as one of the men said he had walked from Damascus to Istanbul and had studied Indian Astrology, it was all over, for me. No doubt there were Freudian elements in it but this is coming.

Gavin: Nancy wants to see you as soon as possible, and in view of her being-selected to go to Cannes, I think this is important. Sam

April 21, 1968

My dear Art:

I think you and I ought to come to an agreement. You can have the United States or even all the Western hemisphere, and I the Eastern hemisphere. Please do not look for logic, cherchez les femmes! Boy, that is the best logique.

Last night my God-daughter, Miss Nancy Fish was on the air, and she has won a trip to Cannes and will meet all the VIPs in the theatrical field, many of whom she already knows but this time it will be her nose in the air.

Then we had a conflab with Sheila. Sheila has just won the great American classic, or to give her an Asian name, she would be Moola Shah. She is planning to go to Asia. There is a real Peace Conference going on where all the rules are broken and Americans and Asians will sit together as equals. Boy ain’t that something?

This peace conference has gone out of bounds. They have accented all my suggestions and all my intros which every newsman and State Department official knows can’t be, and they will meet, perhaps with no diplomats and very few newsmen and they may be able to establish concord and even human brotherhood. Needless to say the chairman is an American lady, and the chief in command one of my close colleagues. This can’t be and is.

Then Sheila will visit Pondicherry and tell what two women are accomplishing what Aldous Huxley could only give in ironies. I am not one of those Americans who have ever believed that Asian philosophies could only emanate from Englishmen (or occasional Germans). I believed they could emanate from Asian men and American women. This is such heresy it cannot even be considered exempting one of the ladies involved is French. That being so utterly impossible I won’t even finish this….

The man selected by the peace conference is the close friend of my other God-daughter who is an Asian and won prizes at the greatest … in all Asia, but this being impossible there is no sense reporting.

Sheila will also be instructed to visit the Oracle of India, another lady. Why can’t India have an Oracle who is a woman? India has a Prime Minister who wears Saris! If all these ladies get together….

I think I’ll let you solve our American problems. What are they?

April 26, 1968

My dear Vocha:

Finding a letter of yours unfiled I am taking this opportunity to report. It is with no ego-satisfaction to say that everything is going “right.” They are mostly things which should never have gone “wrong” and all items fit in tightly to Lord Snow’s The Two Cultures.

It is noteworthy that in trying to report my findings in actual Asia, every single scientist accepted everything, and it was years before a single non-scientist accepted anything. But this is characteristic. The economists and social scientists do not accept the in situ experiences of their colleagues and they do accept the official reports of nations and the UN as if these were sound facts. The resignation of Arthur Goldberg based on his experiences will not change the policies and attitudes of politicos and social “scientists.”

Recently “Asia Survey” of the University of California gave a whole issue to “Food Problems of Asia.” I have had exactly one interview with one of the editors. I am fortunate. None of the horticulturalist or engineers on the various UC campuses have been so granted. Money is used from the coffers of a vast institution but is not used to promote the very successful researches of the staffs. It is all The Two Cultures.

As G.S. is based on personalisms and not any system of logic (unless a change can be made) it is impossible to convince editors that when PhDs use the term “Asia” and mean Thailand, Pakistan and India as did the conference on “Food Problems of Asia,” there is nothing one can do. “Asia” means whatever experts say it means. But it happens that Thailand, Pakistan and India are the Asians countries where I have not only lived, but studied agriculture in situ and have piles of field notes. It is these notes which will be willed with a bequest when I am gone.

Fortunately Prof. Malebaum of Pennsylvania did accept my in situ reports. One place where it was so obvious was the existence of Mangla Dam in Pakistan, an operative institution built by a local corporation (Guy Atkinson) and hardly mentioned in the press. Indeed the report of the chief surveyor of its operation, another former UC big-wig (Milton Fireman), has equally been ignored. ETC., etc., etc. So I can’t complain about Sam Lewis. It is our existence in two cultures, that of science and that of the “literary-humanist” people. But this is not a single instance, it will not be a single instance and it will require a great deal more objectivity than we have today.

I have taken this opportunity to criticize the resorts from Pakistan, taken without a whimper, and am pointing out to the Pakistanis that they need G.S. I shall take it upon myself to introduce G.S. or rather A.K. into Pakistan because all the doors are open.

I shall present to them exactly what Bartlett presented to me, very comprehensible because of my studies of Russell and Keyser.

It is not necessary to whimper. My instructor in “Linguistics” has accepted everything which has been previously rejected by so many in so many ways. I feel almost ashamed. I know he will accept “The Creation of a New Language” which I tried in vain to get over to the G.S. people. It is real, it is operative, and it is indirectly connected with the career of Julie Medlock.

I am now top adviser to two independent international conferences going on respectively in Pakistan and India, covering somewhat different subject matters. But the man whom I suggested to report on subjects which I am acquainted with has already been made Vice-Chairman of each. And I am now preparing a disciple to go to India in my stead. He is well known in this world but he belongs to a culture we simply will not recognize.

Speaking of cultures we do not recognize, I am planning to be in Vancouver, B.C. before the national election. My uncle wants me and I would stay with him. This will give full opportunity to call on the S.C. people who control the provincial government—American paper “‘smusn’t” copy. “Right” and “left” equally ignore the existence of realities which do not fit into their sub-Euclidean scheme, and I regret the G.S. people have accepted this.

Indeed in the last issue of ETC. there is a question to be answered “right” or “wrong”: “The sum of the three angles of a triangle is 180°.” If that is not murdering A.K. I don’t know what is. The norm would be to recognize nonsense and sensible questions. The name “Carnap” would be honored, but the same egocentric rejection of his logistics.

I am also concerned with the odd situation at the University of California where the editor refused to grant an interview to two other mature persons and myself (the ladies were friends of Whitey too) who had lived in Indian villages. He was giving courses on Indian village life. Now in the reports on Asian agriculture he has published that the dearth of mineral resources is one of the reasons for the non-development of these lands. Well us poor nobodies who have lived in villages and climbed mountains and seen mines and minerals, we can do nothing, especially in a democracy. And Julie Medlock will be honored by those that do not know her because she is a friend of Oliver Reiser and her friends honor me and not her and the right, ha democracy for editors and “big people” to a priori reject is a constitutional “right” and we are stuck.

At this moment I am stuck too for there has been a procession of persons which continued far into the night, hard facts which simply cannot be, because…. Most of the visitors were Hippies, and they do not respect the opinions of their elders any more than the elders. And they respect one who is rejected by their elders just because….

I am not going into the psychotherapies of the young. The methods are so much simpler and so much, much more effective than those of Carl Rogers or Fritz Perls—enough to discredit one off hand. But it is based on my real knowledge of real Oriental psychotherapy coming from real Asians. And it is now being used also in one (at least) large Eastern university.

During this period a telephone call was received from a representative of another large Eastern university which is making a study of the actual as against the social and metaphysical study of Orientalia. All reports of this person who has had the temerity to study Asian philosophies with Asians and not so much with “popular brands” have been accepted. Every question was answered by hard, solid facts and will be so reported.

During this period also one had another university representative who has been confused between the Te Ching of Asian philosophies by Asians and be VIPs. The two don’t agree and he is thoroughly confused. In any event, as peasants must obey traffic laws, I did not give him one statement excepting backed up by facts, data, etc. This hard “rigorous thinking” will someday, “we shall overcome” and the culture of the future will be based on thinking and not personalities and value-judgments.

I am half considering a paper, “The General Semantics of General Semantics” to be sent to Denver where I shall not be able to attend. I shall not be able because Prof. Huston Smith is coming who accepts sound-data-reports of a nobody, backed by referents and references. I do not know yet what Don’s friend, Abraham Kaplan, will do about my going to his veddy private “East-West” conference at Hawaii. It has already been downgraded by two real East-West conferences in real Asia, each of which has accepted Samuel L. Lewis as cultural adviser, and there are some pretty big names involved. Also a long history of battling for knowledge versus “names” and the knowledge is winning out. Ultimately it must always.

The success of either—where Americans and Asians are sitting down as equals, will have a repercussion on the Vietnamese proceedings. Get rid of the diplomat’s and newsmen and you can accomplish anything. (I someday would like to submit, and of course get rejected) a paper to ETC, on “communication among newsmen and diplomats” and “communication among scientists, etc.”) “No time for sergeants.”

In any event I shall submit to Prof. Huston Smith either copies of manuscripts or reports which value-judgment big-wigs have refused to admit one could possibly have. Everything illustrates the “two cultures,” everything.

I am stopping at this point because I thought I would open a letter from one of Yasutani’s disciples.

The letter is exactly the opposite of what I have had in the past from so many people—it accepts the sincerity and integrity of the writer and no value-judgments. I shall enclose a copy. I am sending carbon of this to Lloyd. The world cannot remain half free, half dialectic. Vietnam is the example of the privilege of the proud to reject the eye-witnessing of a humble person who was there. Little people have had to be regarded as the boy in the “Wolf-wolf!” story of ancient Greece. No wonder I find satisfaction in the young who accept facts as against personalities. Value-judging is a luxury for which we are paying a tremendous price and must pay more.

Love,

P.S. It is wonderful here and Pat Hunt has been in the garden drawing, and his painting sends me and how!

May 6, 1968

Beloved One of Allah:

A -salaam aleikhum. At this distance it is very hard to be sure what to do for you. As the Messenger has said, “Surrender to Allah in times of adversity and praise Him in times of prosperity.” Although one is in good economic position, the question of time is not only intolerable, it is getting worse. And as it gets worse one has a tendency toward uncontrolled laughter, which makes work impossible.

Hazrat Inayat Khan has said: of Allah: “He has given you by His grace, the attributes of Humanity—kindness, gratitude, faithfulness, justices modesty, piety, sympathy, reverence, bravery, patience, love knowledge and wisdom.” Every religious person thinks that these qualities are a monopoly of his religion. They deny these standards to other religions and so religion is disappearance because of narrow-mindedness and narrow-heartedness.

At the moment your Murshid is preparing to greet three famous men here. Each is famous. Each has sold many books, speaks before many people, regards himself as a leader of mankind and will have nothing to do with the others. After many years one wrote an apology respecting that this person has a compendium of books by wise men of many lands which have never been published. The second was forced to retract after a very famous person accepted the simple fact that this person had these volumes—unpublished. The third is a wonderful man but he gives advice in exact opposite to one’s need—when one is in trouble he gives no advice, and the more one gets out of difficulty the more advice he offers.

Now of the attributes Love is offered and we are here very much influenced by Maulana Rumi. This influence is so great that now your Murshid has two God-realized souls among his growing following, through Divine Love. One is a man who had to return to his parental home due to deaths and family litigation. He will return in somewhat better—we do not know how much better—financial circumstances but he has justified that this person, i.e. Sufi Ahmed Murad, has been the instrument of Allah to bring people to enlightenment. The three famous men and others cannot concede that nor does one care. Only it leads to laughter not to anger. True the Hadith is full of statements, “Be not angry” but one can be a “good-Muslim” and have all the anger he wishes, Hadith or no Hadith.

The other instance is that of Nancy, my American god-daughter whose career is beginning to parallel your own so much. One may see her twice before she goes to France on a mission which may well make her famous, inshallah. She is full of love and devotion but no wisdom. She has gotten many mureeds to come here and help but afforded no schedule and sometimes nobody comes and other times as many as five and then your Murshid can do no work, merely direct the others, and one never knows who is coming which day. Besides the number of mureeds and applicants is increasing, and twice last week one received warnings from total strangers that they were going to bring more people to this place—now outgrown and one has no time whatever to seek a larger meeting place. And the two persons, Nancy and one other lady, who promised to help have problems, the solutions of which will make either or both famous and wealthy. So in a sort of despair, one is also in the universe of mirth making work still more difficult.

Now there is a peculiar thing that every time Khawar does something which increases Love, that love is manifested to and from Nancy; and every time Nancy gives or seeks love, that love in manifested to and from Khawar. And the theme that Allah is constantly placing is that “tasawwuf is based on experiences and not on premises.”

You have rightly placed before your Murshid a splendid thesis; all the words are correct, the ideals care correct, but the method is of no use any more. We are living in a scientific age, we are living in a universal age and all the verbal arrangements we make of words and thoughts come out of nufs, not from Allah. The time has past when we could self-praise Allah in words, without cognition of Allah and there is no difference between man’s respect or disrespect to and from Mohammed as to and from Al-Ghazzali excepting degree. Respect and disrespect of persons is a selfish and useless tool of men. It is Allah whom we should praise and stop dividing men whom we should respect and disrespect.

Sir Isaac Newton is almost the founder of the science of Physics. This science has progressed because nobody bothered to look into the life of Newton, only his contributions to knowledge. We are only beginning to find out about him now. And two men’s names will the mentioned, that if one were to copy their statements they would be accepted with respect and honor. But as soon as their names be mentioned, the whole contribution would be thrown away. This is nothing but nufs and for that reason we are not having peace on earth and we are not going to have real peace until we stop this nonsense, and we are not going to stop this nonsense readily.

There are two ways in which respect for your thesis comes: One is in the inspiration which either comes out of common Love, or out of the feeling one receives from Allah Himself. The other comes from direct experience in fana-fi-lillah. Sufis say that Allah is the only Being; also the only Teacher and we all learn from Him. But as soon as man acts that way he brings down on him storms of abuse. And the Islamic world has been divided for centuries concerning Mansur Hallaj. Your Murshid has no desire to become a Mansur because he does not seem to be on the lists of martyrs. But as soon as he is accused of using the first personal pronoun Allah has said, he (Sufi Ahmed Murad) must use it more and the more man objects, the more egocentric he must behave.

One of the most egocentric men your Murshid has ever met is now a saint and he became a saint after he stopped the nonsense called “humility” and listened to your Murshid. “Humble” people have no time to listen to anybody (else). Surrender to God is not an act, it has become a form of innate self-praise.

Now the whole of the night was spent in Allah’s bosom and He showed two ways of doing everything you have asked for. The easiest would be to copy from the small amount of material on hand, from Hazrat Inayat Khan, from Muqadimmah of Ibn Khaldun and from X. Allah does not wish this person to draw your theme-material from Rumi because it is too great quantitatively. But if you were to use X, you would be immediately the object of calumny, you would be rejected, and so before mentioning X, one will give the alternative:

The perfect method would be to enter into Hal or Wujud and then one would need a secretary. Your Murshid has three secretaries, one of whom is very proficient in copying but not otherwise. The others it has been impossible so far to get them to come here in the mornings. They live far off and do not get up early.

Then there is intellectual acceptance of the fades of nufs, and psychological rejection of Al-Ghazzali that tasawwuf is based on experience, not on premises. So long as “Islam” rejects the latter in practice it cannot gain the world in this scientific age. Dialectical exactitude is nothing, but self-praise in disguise. Words and logic are not truth. The majority, and the Ijma-ites are in error for they verbally accept Al-Ghazzali’s refutation of traditional logic and set up their own, drawing deductions from Holy Write or famous people. And so there is a closed system, in which the Divine Light has no place.

To enter into fana so as to evince nufs-i-alima or nufs-i-salima is most difficult. If one were to do the latter he would become another Hallaj or Sohrawardi Maktul. And one has already had too many experiences in nufs-i-alima to be rejected by your countrymen, because the divine wisdom from this source is not in accord with ijma. Dualistic hypocrites point out that the Christian church rejected Darwin and other scientists, but this is no different from the rejections of the Divine Wisdom coming through the Beloved Ones of God in directness, without any intervention of Ulema or anybody else.

Hazrat Inayat Khan prefaced one of his works with a quotation from Abul Fazl: “Orthodoxy for the orthodox, and heresy to the heretics, but the dust of the rose petal belongs to the heart of the perfume-seller. Abul Fazl. As soon as the name “Abul Fazl” is mentioned to many this is worse than saying “Iblis.” But Abul Fazl represents an effort to present Islam as universal, and as soon as one presents the Universal Islam of Allah, of Allah, beloved, not of dialecticians, there are strange reactions. Therefore I shall not mention X or qualify X at this time, and only if you give full permission to quote from X can the theme be fully and properly completed.

But to return to effacement in Allah. The Love of the Bhakti-Yogins of India is full of Love for God, but no particular respect for mankind. Sufis have warned that Sobriety is superior to Ecstasy and Orthodox have made it a principle, and condemn great Love and Joy in practice; the words they respect, the actualities, no. And thus in scientific age they turn their backs on Al-Ghazzali and try to make Tasawwuf a series of premises apart from human experience.

In the state of nufs-selima there are no persons and there are all persons. There is nothing and there is everything. There is Allah and only Allah but this Allah is all-inclusive, all-embracing and nothing and nobody is excluded. One who touches this state realizes as did a Europe disciple of Tasawwuf; “All and everything.” In the State one rejects the Bhakti Yoga of all without everything or the Orthodox Islam that All means the exclusion of both everything and nothing. To quote Holy Qur’an is so easy; to become Holy Qur’an is not so difficult as unwanted.

The Messenger of Allah said he was not different from anybody and the Ijma-Muslims say he was different and as the majority will follow the Ijma-Muslims who are not the same everywhere and as they will continue to praise the empty-sound “Mohammed” without accepting his words, we are in eternal conflict due to Nufs.

Nuri Mohammed is the light of the Universe. Yes, there is a Light beyond this Light; the created Light is none other than the Light that manifested in the body of Mohammed and through his body. But he said, and Ijma-Muslims do not accept or agree, that this belonged to everybody. So it is safer to live away from the Islamic countries so that one can accept what Mohammed said and does not have to agree with Ijma-Muslims.

The Universal Light includes all, and thus this Love includes all. And whereas Mohammed said—and nearly all Ijma-Muslims dissent—that Allah loves His creation more than a mother loves her offspring, when one enters into fana-fi-lillah this is so. In the lesser state now Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti finds that with his God-daughters in two different bodies this is so and they both are increasing his potentiality. And then this potentiality manifests in and with and through others, so that nobody appears outside of Allah, the Only Being.

But there is also what Isa has said, “All sins shall be forgiven expecting sins against the Holy Spirit. Your Murshid knows what this means and when he acts this way he brings down on him criticisms from the unrealized, all of whom have “humility” but few Divine Wisdom. In the Divine Wisdom, or rather one shall quote from Hadith!

When Isa and Peter were walking along the seashore Isa asked “Peter, you see the pearls and pebbles are at our feet. Which would you pick up?” “Why the pearls, of course.” “You are very far from the kingdom of heaven.” Now no religion accepts that and if anybody says so he is both a hypocrite and ignorant man. In the world of Unity there is Unity. In the world of diversity one may, if Allah decrees, condemn those who break His Laws. Therefore it is not wrong to condemn others if known why. And therefore it is not wrong to criticize the Ahmadiyyas if you do this universally. There is no principle by which you condemn on Dajjal. Your Murshid is criticizing other Dajjals and is being criticized by man or course for this. “Allah has not said not to criticize. We have the right, even sometimes the duty to do so.

But one thing is certain: Your Murshid has never found any Dajjal who accepted “He has given you, by His grace, the attributes of Humanity—kindness, gratitude, faithfulness, justice, modesty, piety, sympathy, reverence, bravery, patience, love, knowledge and wisdom.”

Love and blessings,

May 13, 1968

My dear Fred and Corinne:

It gives no joy to find you are being put to be test. This is, of course, the career of all marked for the real initiations. I have had such tests here but the most dangerous took place in Pakistan where Sam came within an inch of being a real John Birch; and there is no doubt if we keep on our ways there will be some real John Birches. We have learned so little from life or from the fictions of Eugene Burdick.

When one came out of these tests it was to become an agent for the real spiritual teachers of the real world. It is impossible to communicate this in a land which has taken Europeans of high intellectual caliber as mentors for “Oriental” culture. The only Europeans that have had proper backgrounds to explain anything Oriental or Asian are those who have submitted to spiritual teachers. But those who have so submitted are in open warfare with the intellectuals who are so greeted in America as “masters” of Oriental culture; often as not they have not been pupils even at the lowest levels.

When one pierces the veils between the planes; when one actually experiences whet Dr. Bucke wrote about, he must stop trying to communicate with people over 40, often with younger ones. Mature-by-age citizens have their private messiahs, quite different persons of course. Some of these messiahs, like Krishnamurti, are morally impeccable, but have no connection with the real Masters.

This is mentioned because before a Matter, living or dead one receives blessings and teachings. The highest of these has been Peace Is Power. Or power-mad people, authorities and revolutionaries alike refuse to example this. People rave over the Gita or Tao Teh King and then do the opposite.

By this time the crazy Asians, whenever heard of our “experts” have three top level conferences going on where in Sam Lewis is a cultural adviser, if not the cultural adviser. Asians, unlike Americus, can and do learn from the deep wisdom of the ages, totally unlike the derivatives of it by our popular messiahs.

Here we present the Yoga of Lord Buddha and along with the direct journeys into Love, Joy, Peace and Serenity. These are not sermons, these are experiences. No use arguing with older people and no use holding back the young. They drink this wisdom. They drop LSD and “grass” when something finer (to them) is offered—joy, serenity and actual expansion of consciousness, not lectures on it by speculative famous people.

To me “God” looks upon all people with balanced compassion. My program is to feed the stomachs of the Orient and the hearts of the Occident.

Thursday night I am meeting a Negro who was with the Peace Corps in West Africa. Sheila McKendrick is bringing him and he may well be my guest of honor at the second House Warming party. The first will be for Hindus and Buddhists.

Faithfully,

May 13, 1968

Deer Art:

Revolting Is Revolting.

Thanks for the news about the Peoples Poor March on Washington. This, after the Physical Fitness program.

Peace in Asia. It has always been a perplexity to me why with all our English and German experts on Asia we have not come to an understanding with these people. Try to submit a paper on the solution of Asia’s problems and sooner or later you will contradict some Englishman who has taken drugs and you are in the dog-house. You can get away with criticizing Johnson but try it on Huxley!

Us Sarkhanians. We are joining to put on a Buddhist celebration at the First Congregational Church on Sunday night May 26. We are now being followed by a lot of these misled young who don’t think that Oriental Philosophy was invented in Leiden or Zurich or Heidelberg or Oxford or Cambridge. All of us complain we have not large enough meeting quarters. These poor unguided, misguided young are coming to each and all of us in ever greater quantities.

There is a problem that long beards are not too popular. Dirty beards are only anathema on Haight St.; Asian “sages” may wear them. It is a sign of … not knowing of what can’t say.

Lady Sarkhanians. Sam Lewis is now cultural adviser to three distinct real summit conferences in real Asia. (Not-news, of course.) Two of them are dominated by American ladies and the third by my god-daughter. In all of them Asians and Americans will sit down as equal and no European professors and no “experts.” Of course the diplomats won’t follow, can’t follow.

Now I am in another quandary. Another American lady who was even more in the doghouse than us males, has gone to the Orient and has been acclaimed all over. This can’t be, it ain’t “realism.”

Les Femmes De Lafcadio. Lafcadio Hearn got is in America. Everybody shunned him. The only reason he did not get more rejection slips was because he himself belonged to the Fourth Estate. He went to Japan and became famous and wrote on the Orient from firsthand experience. He did not go to Leiden or Oxford or even Yale. C’est impossible. The idea of a simple American to go to Asia and make friends with Asians. There are a lot of them, or shall I say, us.

I am thinking of calling myself the Laugh-Can.

Faithfully,

Laugh-Cad

What I do not like is the inability to come South. No doubt after Nancy returns from France, we shall discuss a trip, maybe several of us. The understanding of the mysticism of sound and the ability to communicate now to the young who will listen and haven’t any messiahs chosen by ego-elections, enables one to bring them into realities and realities to them. There are many practices in Paul Reps’ “Zen Fresh, Zen Bones” which are of infinite value. We do these practices and a lot more very real Yoga and Sufi techniques not known to our universities and “experts.”

The building of the atmosphere of calmness and drawing strength from it have produced a sobering effect on the young. No doubt there are young hoodlums just as when philosophical anarchism spread, it encouraged or rather stimulated murder in France. Here we begin with atmosphere and strengthening atmosphere; this strengthens personality. One has had a Jewish saint and a Vietnamese Master here both entirely approving the atmosphere. The metaphysical people do not and do not return.

I do not know of the OSL work. The Cayce people were here and very fine people surrounded on all sides by messiahanism. But they want to go to the Orient. This will awaken them to the realities of the world.

I am glad you have re-touched Astrology. In the next Age Astrology will become a science—not now. Sciences are not based on the speculations of famous persons. I am teaching forms of dance based on astrology, yoga and mysticism. It is for the few. They will have direct experiences and learn through their bodies, hearts and emotions. One has the heritage of the Sufis and also Ruth St. Denis who worked with them. I have no time for arguments. Demonstrating with one of my disciples who is a master of Astrology, it did not take any time at all.

The breath sciences are unknown. There are no materialists. Freud makes the gonads greater than the stomach and Marx reverses it. The existentialists elevate their own fancies and fantasies. I have met few scientists who objected to mysticism but many who did not accept the “occult arts.” These are taught apart from the existence of God. Mysticism is based on God-experience. As Paul Brunton presented it this comes through the Breath, the Eye and the Hearth. It is passed down from teacher to pupil and has been so through the ages.

Utilizing breath-techniques, there has not been the slightest trouble with these young people. It has caused a revolution in Sam. He is their father and/or grandfather and almost in a literal sense. It has caused one to change habits. Some of the ideas are found in Hall Caine’s The White Christ but we are not going to accepts this; we only know how to demand, not to accept.

My position is not that materialism is against spiritualism but that egotism is against materialism. The war of matter and spirit is nonsense. The war of self against God is eternal. Paul Reps got a fortune on the investment market. I thank Fred is doing very right; one prays he also does very well.

It is easy to throw out proverbs. After struggles one seems to be protected against poverty and next year my brother hopes to take a stand which will push Sam further up on the financial scale—that is the only way he can benefit anyhow.

I am disturbed with the whole world of drama, acting, radio and TV. It is destroying calmness. Excitement is the enemy of peace. But as a Sufi teacher I am now giving out so much in this field—for the young only. At the moment I am in a most unusual quandary—the number of disciples and followers has far outstripped hopes, dreams and imaginations. The young accept and American who has studied under Asian sages as against Europeans who have not. To be cultural adviser of three distinct summit gatherings is beyond their ken.

We are preparing one or more disciples to go to India as soon as possible. The question of money is almost a crisis—it is there, all right; it is a question of when it becomes available. I want others to go, I want others to see for themselves.

If you cannot come here it will be necessary to go to Los Angeles. This depends now on Nancy. I have two things for you—dinner and strengthening of the atmosphere in your home. I shall, however, put on the agenda the material for protecting your hope. This will depend on help from secretaries. I shall keep you in mind.

All love and blessings,

May 25, 1968

My dear Gavin:

My program is now tight, not a day or hour off excepting by cancellations. It was necessary to make an appeal and the appeal was answered, and the young are coming to one’s rescue.

The Reps advent did change things. He has appealed for a Universal School which would permit any type of Meditation, Yoga, Occultism, etc. but as the basis for research. No more autocratic dogmatism which has characterized the past generations. Everybody would have to submit to the students exactly as in scientific research.

The Sausalito meeting went on smooth with no disciples of any known “expert” being around. The pan Francisco meeting was unexpected. We put up a single notice, prepared for 100, with a possibility of 200, got 200 and cannot tell how many had to be turned away. The young want honesty, integrity, sincerity and communication. The seniors have not that, and therefore cannot give it. Or as Art Hoppe says, Sam Lewis has crossed the generation gap both ways. Actually this comes from something in Mark Twain. As occultists are so filled with “humility” it is impossible to tell them. And one will keep on demonstrating what they are talking about. This is very annoying.

Only Sam Lewis was initiated into real Occultism by a Master many years ago. He dropped it but finding so much nonsense being paraded as “Occultism” one is now using it to build up his “Dance of Universal Peace.” This “Dance of Universal Peace” came out of the ethers. It was done once at Fatehpur Sikri in India and one learned later it was placed there in the ethers by Ruth S. Denis and Ted Shawn. Of course Sam has no access to the Akasha records, every damn fool masquerading as an “occultist” knows that.

But last night was another scene of frustration. There was a reception and the Indians again ran into a stone wall trying to tell Americans that Sam Lewis knows more about Indian culture that anybody in this land. The Indians are pretty unanimous and the “experts” also are pretty near unanimous—the other way.

Friday one is preparing for “Dance of Universal Peace” first by giving instructions in Occult Dancing. This class is small and select, but will increase on the return of several students who are away at the moment. After the Occult Dancing we shall go into Mystical Dancing and then into Ceremonial Dancing, and then “Dance of Universal Peace. It is demonstrable.

Negatively it reminds one of the Cayce gatherings. Both Hugh Lynn and Elsie Seegrist talks about the value of jogging to cure ills. All the old ladies shook their heads: “Isn’t it wonderful Jugging will cure ills! That is the old ladies. Here we jog. The Occult sciences are demonstrable but hardly by most of the self-elected and self-selected “occultists” of the day.

Occult Dancing will throw considerable light on Astrology as a Science and branch of Occultism. The young will learn through experience and the old will not learn so much through lectures.

One has already used these principles to begin work on the restoration of ancient Egyptian Dancing. One has sense enough not to present this to Occultists. With Egyptologists it is another matter and a preliminary taught—for Egyptologists only—was accepted. The nearest clew is found in Schure who did some work on the Initiates—book was on sale at Fields. Schure was closely associated with my very real Master in occultism and one had the realization in Egypt but not where the gossip-mongering-occultists say. Nothing at all. They were close geographically and missed the boat entirely occultly.

There are some strong facts which stand out and that is the unusual number of excellent aspects in the charts of disciples and myself. It is astounding and when you, or anybody else, want this data to prove something you will get it. I am not going so far as to demand horoscopes but they cut down 80% of the time for interviews. In fact one has discovered “transcendental meta-psychiatry” without charging money. One or two questions are all that is necessary generally with Uranus or Neptune aspects.

Taking one young disciple as a model, one used this knowledge for the problems of another disciple without betraying confidences and the whole class saw how it works. We are thus able to face first problems of fatigue, uncertainty and fear. Sex-problems have to be solved by taking the position that “the human body is the temple of God,” that the body of the wife is the temple for the husband and the body of the husband is the temple for the wife. This may or may not be in accord with present positions; it is found in some esoteric literature. Having had to copy the entire Sepher Ha-Zohar I am automatically an un-expert. There was no selection; one had to copy it all.

There is a complex of personalities and I am waiting until Don McCoy sees you before making certain steps. As said above, a chart saves 80% time in interviews. Don liked Paul Reps and it is a question how far he may go to make Reps’ suggestions workable.

The amount of material and news coming from India will require an Indian secretary here; also one or more Zen secretaries. Also I have two Sufi secretaries. And soon will have assistant teachers. One is not the least concerned any more by snubs from the passing generations. They will pass away, God bless them. After the first phase of “Dance of Universal Peace” is completed I would like it demonstrated—this would show the values in Astrology not yet recognized. But it would have to be in a larger room, which neither of us have.

Faithfully,

May 26, 1968

My dear Norman:

It is a long time since I have heard from you and hope your affairs are in order. Disturbances are the order of the day: excitement is what we have wished and excitement is what we are getting. When we want something else we shall get something else.

Last week you would have observed a wonder—not that seeing is believing. If more mature citizens had been there they would have said it was a put up show. There was nothing put up about it. The occasion was a public appearance of Paul Reps. To the old this man is impossible: he is not a bright-eyed Englishman, he is not a graduate of any German or other famous foreign university: he studied Oriental philosophies under Orientals, some here and some in Asia, and being one of us he cawn’t possibly have anything to offer. This is the view of the passing generation which is going to pass and leave its ear-marks of selfhood and consequent selfishness.

We had planned for 100 people, put floor mats for 50 more. We did no advertising whatever. Just one public notice. And there were 200 people packed into the place and I do not know how many turned away. The idea of Americans giving real Yoga practices to people without shaming prices (or for that matter charging) is inconceivable, impossible and adjust ain’t. But the young are heart-hungry, tired of streams of words (some verbalized as non-words but words just the same); of blind acceptance of persons because it is momentarily delightful. This is over.

At the end you would have seen crowds of young cluster around both Paul Reps and Sam Lewis and he hugging men and kissing beautiful girls, to come to an abrupt stop when he saw somebody in the background, not so young anymore and yelled; Claude! and Mr. Dahlenberg came forward and we embraced with love and joy, a love and joy which our dear sisters and some brothers of mature age cannot understand at all. It is totally outside their psyches. And if you say anything at all they accuse you of braggadocio, and you know, Norman, they may be right. But if the goods are delivered—that is what the oldsters cannot understand. They are not afraid of God, of love, of joy, of mutual understanding. Of the devil they are not so afraid.

Friday night there was a reception at Dr. Chaudhuri’s, the same old thing. Indians going around telling Americans that Sam Lewis knew more about Indian Philosophy than any other American and a pretty solid line of those over 40 thinking it is a put up job but now more and more young people are invading the Ashram too.

The cultural attaché says. “I teach one form of Yoga. Sam said, “I teach 15,” but no person over 40 is doing to believe that and I am grateful to them for that. For every week more and more young are appear. And from being flat on my back in May 1967, May 1968 ends with one full of vigor, a large following all young but two, a far better financial situation and only prospects of expanding more and more.

The world situation is worse: Far from accepting Englishmen and Germans as “experts” on Asia, Sam is now cultural adviser to three distinct Summit Meetings in real Asia. And all of them dominated by women! One by one’s own goddaughter there, and two by American ladies who inhabit the same dog-house as Sam Lewis.

While the diplomats at Paris are giving private performances of the Jooss ballet, The Green Table” an American lady is sitting down with Asian Asians of no consequence or of all consequence. She has the Pope for her, but the top representatives of Hinduism, Sufism and Buddhism are close friends of Sam Lewis. The top Buddhist is Princess Poon Diskul and evidently the Asian-Asians don’t put mush trust in Englishman.

Another one is dominated by an American lady, the only person on earth worse than Samuel L. Lewis. She has had the impertinence to be present in almost every land fading a crisis. What right had she? Not only Southeast Asia, but ^“Tunis, Ghana and Congo anyhow. All the press from “The Daily Worker” to the “Oakland Trib,” unite against real eye-witness reports, especially from the “wrong person” and she is more the “wrong person” than anybody I know. But now she is introducing the real New Age and I am hoping to send a delegation to her.

You see Norman, the difference between the age gap is that the oldsters love words. My, how they love words! They are charmed by words, they are deluded by words, they are sweetened by words; they are beguiled by words, words ! words! Now we are seeing action and a new society rising. It is bad enough that Daily worker and Oakland Trib and every other paper won’t tell us about Canada. They don’t dare—and I mean they don’t care. So naturally anything new coming from India has no chance at all. And to have a great social revolution dominated by a woman is bad enough, but an American to boot!

There is money on the horizon and one hopes to send a delegation to India to report on the new social transformations. They are real. They are prospering and they are not socialists, communistic, capitalistic, but work in a Fourth Dimension Sooner or later they are going to be known. But we cannot afford honesty, straightforwardness and truth in politics or reporting and on this the Daily Worker, Oakland Trib, the Birchers and the Trotskyites agree. Sometimes the Wall St. Journal dissents for they have to know the “truth” to protect stock margins.

I am not going to write about these three real summits meetings, for carbons are going to people who may not accept. So I am hoping to send a delegation. Could not get 30 people to listen to my real reports on real Asia, but neither could Robert Clifton who lived long in Vietnam.

The greatest “solution” for Vietnam here is the Ostrich one—hide your head in the sand. And while the Soto Zen Buddhists and Christian Scientists lead in this, there are others. At the opposite extreme is that love and empathy which feels the pain and sorrow of everyone. This was taught by Buddha and avoided by Buddhists just as Love was taught by Jesus Christ and avoided be Christians. This is “religion.”

A very characteristic “only in America” affair took place here recently. Elsie Secrist and Hugh Lynn Cayce of the Association for Research and Enlightenment were here. They talked and said that Jogging cures many ills; that Prayer was man talking to God and Meditation was God talking to man. The audience was delighted: Jogging could cure many ills and Meditation was God talking to man! But did any of the dear-old-ladies jog! did they permit God to talk to them! Words! words! words!

This gadfly jogs and listens to God-Allah and the young believe and they ask how they can learn. The first thing was to teach them how to walk. Sam said to Ruth St. Denis: “Mother, I am going to revolutionize the world.” “How are you going to do it?” “I am going to teach children how to walk.” And while the old ladies snicker one taught them how to walk, and to breathe and pretty soon miracles began to happen and the young know it and love Sam and the old ladies know better and stay away.

Actually there are the ways of the Heart, the Breath and the Eye. When Paul Brunton was here the old ladies arranged he speak only to the rich and movie actors. He had the impertinence to apply telepathy without asking any of our metaphysical “experts” and summoned six men, all unknown socially, taught them by silence and results followed. As this could not possibly be, skip it. But as the Asian-Asians accept it and Sam and the young find he does not always brag or lie, they are learning, and they are learning more than empty words.

The metaphysical people come and turn away. We demonstrate the Yoga-of-Love, the Yoga-of-Joy, the Yoga-of-Peace, impossible! Wrong guy and who cares! The young do, they come and more and more. What is worse, this all comes from that most damnable of all heresies, Hinayana! It comes from the guy who never said nuthin’, Lord Buddha, whose words we must avoid because they are fictions because the “experts” say so. So we share Love and Joy and Peace and Serenity.

We go further and try to heal ills. Last week we took up fatigue and this week uncertainty and next week it should be fear. The nice metaphysicians have all the words and they only charge a small amount; this person charges nothing. He happens to be in “easy circumstances” now with every prospect of improvement. And the same is true of his colleagues. We work with a Chinese Master, Too Lun and we are all gaining the young, the hopeful, the seekers of joy and honesty and integrity. This is a new age, Norman, no nonsense and no personalisms.

My American God-daughter may return soon from New York. From the traditional viewpoint she is a bastard sinner. Well, well! I tell people I am not a follower of the Judeo-Christian Ethic. Seeing no win, there is nothing to be concerned about but what Hindus call sanskaras and we work on them. This is done through Heart, Breath and the Eye, by techniques, not sermons.

Today we are going to the Rudolph Schaeffer School, then having a picnic on the park in front of this house and then going to join in the Wesak Day celebration. There is one thing sure, and that is that “Buddhists” do not believe in any Brotherhood of Man. To be a “Buddhist” you have to become veddy exclusive, more than self-satisfied, reject God, turn your back on human suffering and sit and sit and sit and praise yourself. The praise may be negative, you may become totally dissatisfied with yourself, but you are still concerned with yourself, not with pain, illness, poverty and death. Oh no, that is Hinayana and nothing can be worse than Hinayana.

We are doing strange things with Christians, adopting Sufi techniques which our superior culture does not know. And we hope soon to learn the Lord’s Prayer in Aramaic and chant it. Shades of Satan, what are we coming to! Anyhow we shall know what the words mean. “Buddhists” chant something called Prajna Paramita Hridaya and they don’t know what these words mean. This is called “liberation” and maybe it is.

As to Muslims, I keep to those abroad. We lie about them and they lie about us and this is called American-Asian Amity. Anyhow we do not permit Muslims to interfere with our “only in America” East-West Conferences.

Had to give up plans for Vietnam. Wanted a seminar wherein Vietnamese could speak. They have their own ideas for their own country; what impertinence! Anyhow who cares! We have so many “experts.”

But three summit gatherings! Anyhow those misled young believe and they are coming and coming and more and more as fast as I can assimilate them. Indeed there is somebody here nearly every day, helping or learning. Have to get manuscripts out, especially Buddhist ones, real Buddhist manuscripts by real Buddhists. That is the first thing. And then gradually to non-existent Sufism (it is “only in America” where this is so.)

Yes, Norman, I have two God-daughters, one in Pakistan and one here. Everything is different. It is a near life, a new age, and we can produce the Yogas of transformation and they work, and before God they will continue to work.

As to politics, I guess I am still in the Burton camp and voting for Kuchel against Rafferty—that is the only thing that interests me now. No decision as to the Presidency. I think I voted once in the last four campaigns, and that was against, not for.

Have some other things to take up, especially concerning Cleveland, but not now. Regards to your father. And if you ever go to Africa, beware of the brainwashing.

Cordially,

Sam

May 28, 1968

Dear Art:

The Hour of Indecision

I am glad to report I registered Republican, so I can properly vote against. I do not believe illiterates should control education, although there is some difference of opinion on it.

Friday night I went to another East-West meeting where the confounded Hindus went around, as usual, telling les Dames that Sam Lewis knows more about Asian Philosophy than any other American. Les Dames and los Hindus never seem to agree on that. But this time, instead of being squired, I was properly (or improperly) companied by four young and beautiful and this upset Les Dames even more. Like the Queen of Hearts they are unable to stop the young from growing, or even multiplying.

In fact Sunday evening we had a lawn party of about 40 and only one femme anywhere near being a dame, and she would no more be seen in the company of les dames than in an asylum. In fact methinks she would prefer the asylum.

I am giving a great deal of thought to the Presidency. Having been where Vice-Presidents, of either party, have not access; and having taken the first step with an introduction to a professor, I am getting ready for more introductions to more young Americans to go to Asia and meet people whom Vice-Presidents dare not approach. Both Vice-Presidents have Kultur and Oratory which I have not.

Now I have the quintessence of achievement which annoys the Kultur’d. And there are a lot of rainbows and they may even have silver-linings. I know some people who would like to go to Asia and meet Asians whom Vice-Presidents (and others) dare not approach.

Last night also I understand a scion of one of the most important families of European-Europe wishes to see me. He wants to go to Asian-Asia and meet and as he is a scion this will be easy. And while the re-production of The Green Table goes on in ungaie Paree we may be able to do something without benefit of clergy, “experts,” Vice-Presidents and editorial writers. What do you think of that? And when my interview with this European-European gets made public—as it probably will in Pakistan and India and elsewhere in Rand-McNally’s “Asia” it may even drive us closer to the peace far beneath understanding. If you can’t lick ‘em laugh at ‘em, also laugh at yourself, also laugh with them, and just laugh.

May 28, 1968

My dear Gavin:

Paul Reps has been here and made it clear he would have nothing to do with Sausalito-Zen. He has lived in Japan and other parts of Asia, has sat at the feet of what should be called “Masters of the Far East” and although he otherwise avoided negatives, he put his foot down and hard on Sausalito-Zen.

He has called for a School where the occult and mystical arts and sciences could be taught, but where the teachers would have to submit to independent thinking and research as in the sciences. Methods could and would be subjected to scrutiny and none of this “free speech” autocracy which has been so prevalent and now is causing confusion all over the world.

In fact we have begun an esoteric form of dancing here. No appeal is being made to money or age or “sagacity.” The students are young, open-minded and have to put every item to the t. Fortunately real occultism and real mysticism were. They are not based on speculations of the people of Kultur which dominated previous generations.

The surprising response of the young make one take one’s future to steps seriously. One does not care about criticisms; one has had plenty. One keeps open house here and this is open house. Soon this will be extended to the day-times. One may be spurned here but one is a consultant of three distinct Asian summit gatherings. Two of them are headed by Americans accepted elsewhere but rejected and “only in America.” We have “experts” and Kultur.

The Green Table continues at Paris and Americans and Asians sit down together as equals elsewhere. The young accept facts, their elders love personal titles. There is nothing to complain about in one’s private life.

June 3, 1968

My dear Vocha:

This is really a diary entry. So much happens and more now. I had written Lloyd I would not submit a paper on “The Hippy Problem.” The very principle that an article is accepted or rejected on the personality of the writer and not on its intrinsic value is against all Science. I have hopes that in another generation G. S. will become a science and the news that “Glory Roads” is now being accepted in universities is not only personal but brings out a principle that honesty and integrity in the end will win over prestige-symbols.

Some time has been spent with a very wealthy man who considers himself the “Hippy” leader. He certainly has the money. He made it very clear that he would not accept anything based on prestige-symbols and he is so right. I am hoping he will either send an emissary or go himself to Julie Medlock (a prestige symbol song our G. S. friends,) But Julie’s efforts depend on the destruction of prestige-symbols and her heart is in her efforts, an application of the Integrational view of life in which human beings qua re determine nothing.

I have no copy of “Glory Roads” but when my God-son returns will retrieve the last, or maybe Ed has one. The kind of research in that book was continued in the Orient. But as the USIS head agreed, any scientific research would be acceptable; any in situ social research rejected. And it has been so. The two cultures stand out.

Yesterday I had here the eaten of a very important French family and more may come here. These men seem to have the “queer” notion that American who lived in Asia with Asians might know as much as a prestige-symbol. In fact their minds work diametrically opposite to the non-scientific portion of our culture. They laughed when I told them that contemporary French philosophers were studied in our universities and great American philosophers were not. To them the opposite holds. Anyhow this is opening up another possibility of sending a delegation to Asia.

I have received a very long and important letter from my God-daughter in Pakistan. Most of the problems could be solved by G. S. With them the “word” is the thing. With us, we got rid of the “word” and substituted “thought” or what Paul Reps calls “concepts” and we are just as stuck on “concepts” as some Asians are on “words” and we dare not do anything because of prestige-symbols. Misunderstanding marches on.

The thing is that some Pakistanis confess an inability to solve problems under their a priori matrices. Their matrices are not necessary wrong but their adherence to “words are things” is so obvious. Besides there is no logic. We have a choice of Aristotle and Sophistry (including Hegel) and we lean toward the latter under the assumption it is “anti-Aristotelian.”

The continued adherence to the young would be a mystery to all who will not accept “karma” seriously. It looks as if Sam Lewis will soon have forty devoted followers. There are always strangers here.

One told me the story of the campus revolt at San Francisco State. It was nothing like the radio or press said. They had one major grievance; they won their point and disbanded. My own eye-witness account was entirely contrary to the press and radio but easily assimilable to what the participants told me. News has little to do with facts, and so we see the division everywhere between the two cultures of Lord Snow.

If this continued “Green Table” situation continues, and one is able to send private emissaries to Asia, it will open the door either to contact with Commander Lederer and an open “J’Accuse” against our whole culture. And with the growing adherences of quasi-”Hippies,” especially of prestige and wealth, it may bring out something into the open.

The same thing is here. I help clean the litter in the adjacent park. The residents blame the “Hippies.” A study shows that beer-drinkers are the most flagrant violators and then the young, younger than the hippies. “Hippies” are the same as Gypsies, Jews and other scapegoats. We cannot have honest objectivity in the Sciences and questionable subjectivity elsewhere. So many of these young people are university graduates and they nearly all have the same story. What will happen if one gets financial support and then has to expand!

The coming of Huston Smith from M.I.T. in August will bring many things out into the open but we may even send a delegation to him before that.

Love,

410 Precita Ave,

San Francisco, Calif.

June 6, 1968

My dear Gina:

It is with great delight that one reads your letter of the 4th. Sunday is open house and I also stay home in the afternoon to anticipate visitors, often have them for dinner—or we go out. And in your case Mr. Hunt is very anxious to meet you. He was the chum of Hugo Seelig, on and off for many years.

Sunday night meetings begin at 7:30 and have no particular stopping point, excepting that one considers those who have come long distances; also those who have to work on Mondays. We teach or present a number of Yoga systems and meditations, none of which are offered elsewhere. If somebody comes and offers any one we shift our ground for there is knowledge of a very great number of Yogas, not taught here—by which I mean ways to Union-with-God, not with some muscular or even mental off-setting which makes the persons involved a little healthier, a little saner, and a great deal more egocentric.

Thursday night we meet 7:30 with a break and then on till 9 or 9:15 after which non-members are dismissed—not at the break. Then we have Zikr and other Sufi practices.

1. Baraka is of the same root as the Hebrew b’rocha which is translated blessing but also involves certain energy-movements which Hazrat Inayat Khan called “magnetism.” These are not subjects of lecturing or metaphysics but the transforming or awakening of actual energies which are in all of us. But they are best awakening by attunement or osmosis, for which a teacher is needed.

Darshan means “views” and this might be either physical or mental. The glance of the teacher is called “darshan” but in Sufism “tawajjeh.” This is a supreme light-electricity-magnetism penetration by the teacher. As this person has had both of these experiences and had the results therefrom one knows. Knowing one can impart this to others, but with caution and circumspection.

Samma-Drishti which is mistranslated as “right views” by the unattained means “Highest Darshan.” It is, for practical purposes identical with the Mahamudra of the Vajrayana School and the Mushahida of the Sufis. Mushahida means attainment in Shahud. This was one of the fundamental teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan. But such is the nature of humanity that one has never been permitted to present it to so-called “Sufis” in the West, and has had great joy in presenting it, as a test to Saints and Madzubs.

2. Mohammed treated all sentient beings with kindness. Present day “Buddhists” are hung on the phrase “sentient beings” which seems to include everybody but “me” and “thee.” But Muslims as a whole are not that may. They are like the Christians, worshipping the personality and ignoring the teachings.

3) There are basically two collections of Buddhist writings. The Pali is supposed to be based on “historical Buddhism.” It roughly resembles the Hebrew Bible, having collections of the actual words of the Master but also a number of versions of tradition stemming down with extreme niceties in very small things, far, far away from the doctrines of the Eight-fold Path.

Mahayana means working toward the cosmic instead of egocentrically. It becomes “finite and unbounded.” The Tibetans collected all of both as they could but in the mass of literature there were selections. This selectivity led to the formation of sects and schools and the establishment of doctrines instead of the basic experience of Enlightenment.

4) Nyogen Senzaki taught me seven forms of humor—I think I have the documentary. This was all abolished by the “only in America” experts, along with most of Lord Buddha’s teachings. Then Saburo Hasegawa presented me with an eighth form of Humor, which none of the experts have, and therefore cannot use. This eighth form is close to that of the Sufis especially Shams-i-Tabriz. It is also used by Dervishes and sometimes b the “crazy” people called Madzubs. One must say here that experts who do not have to meet Madzubs have very different outlooks from the madzubs themselves who seem to have favored this person above all other outsiders, and in this all other you can include or exclude anything and anybody.

When the term “Zen training” is used as a dualistic term it has no meaning. The establishment of a “Zen School” is contrary to the Dharma. Those real Zen Masters—and we have some right here in California now—do not accept this division into schools and sects. The purpose of Zen is meditation, not doctrine. And Al-Ghazali said, “Sufism is based on experiences, not premises.”

Now Sufism is in the West in two forms, the premise-type and the experience-type. The premise-type is presented by the followers of Inayat Khan, Meher Baba and Idries Shah who curse the world by announcing “one single brotherhood in the fatherhood of God” and who keep away from each other and all deny that Sufism is based on experiences rather than premises.

We have in the West two cultures, according to Lord Snow, the scientific and the literary-humanist. In the first faculties determine the person and in the second the personality determines or pre-determines the faculties. Jean Dixon did not say anything about Robert Kennedy nor do the “elite” among the occultists have to do anything of the kind. They are of the “elite” and names make fame, not knowledge.

It is not so difficult to peer into the future but it will bring you enemies. We weeks ago, being a priori rejected at the University of California on some factual reports on Pakistan, Sam went to the San Francisco State College where a professor who has lived in Asia accepted the facts at once—in fact he knew about them himself. He is not an “expert.” He has never appeared on public panels, like the people who a priori reject.

The professor asked if I were the Sam Lewis who worked with Luther Whitman on “The Psychological State of California.” He had thought so because of the resemblance of^` behavior and literary pattern. (He was not an “expert” and so did not have the prerogative of “a priori” rejections.) The book is now being used for research material. It was based on honesty, integrity and sincerity. In the course of years practically every prediction made came true. The present rage of predictabilities far, far above that of famous and not famous psychics and seers.

You should not be surprised, therefore, that reports from this person have been invariably rejected by occultists and seers. During the way, at the suggestion of G-II I destroyed most of my predictions because they were coming true—G-II yes, “occultists,” nix! Therefore one stopped “looking” call it darshan; call it shahud or anything else. And especially after coming to full agreement with Dr. Radhakrishnan on the affairs of the world and their “cures.”

We passed a “law” against the word War calling it the “Briand-Kellogg” pact. Since then there has been no surcease of fighting. We are now campaigning against the word “violence.” But the older people, now withdrawing from incarnations are unable to accept: “Whatsoever ye do to the least of these, My creatures, ye do it unto Me.” And the young cannot and will not think otherwise. It is the sign of cosmic evolution.

This evolution, applied personally was discussed at great length with Swami Satchidananda, the successor to Swami Ramdas. It was not ever discussed with the top Sufis, it was applied. And now one is also working with the followers of Sri Aurobindo although they are unable accept that anybody else could have had the save vision. Only now the young accept impersonally and their elders can only accept personally. But they are going. The New Age is at hand. The new Age will accept faculties and the older people stick to persons.

After bunches of self-proclaimed leaders of various and varying doctrines all called “Buddhism,” most having nothing to do with Lord Buddha, the Dharma is going to be taught openly here very soon at 123 Waverly Place (mostly). This will answer objectively elements of your inquiry.

We are going to have a wedding tomorrow where Sri Haridas Chaudhuri will perform the ceremony and Murshid Samuel will give away the bride. Then we shall have a great curry feast here. The followers of the Sufi Teachings and of Sri Aurobindo will join. Previously we joined with the Christians of “The Church of Man” and Saturday some will go to the Mosque. Others taught-talk; they are famous; we demonstrate and are making no more appeals to society. The young come, every week more and this is the way of Enlightenment, to Enlightenment.

June 7, 1968

My dear Shamcher:

The need of the Soul for union with God is great and the young are tired of being hung-up with brand-names and “experts” and remaining in the same state. The use of psychedelics has awakened to the realities beyond the senses, and they seek either the “opiate” state or the realities beyond. Aldous Huxley who was anything but a mystic, took more “drugs” than is commonly known. He could not stand the realities of higher stages of consciousness, but neither was he satisfied with “realism.”

I do not know whether you know Gina Cerminara, the occultist, and in a sense the last chela of Hugo Seelig. The fact that she has made an inquiry and come here is something. She is satisfied, those who will not come, indeed who dared not come, are, of course, dissatisfied.

It is strange that wishing to go to Seattle first one hears that Sitara is coming. Now a delegation of University of Washington students are coming here to learn the real Dharma, either in the form of Buddhism or otherwise. Sam Lewis has been asked to help teach them, and having had the Dharma transmission from real Masters, one can and will do this. Let those who would reject, reject.

We are destroying no war by Kellogg-Briand pacts and no violence by sermons and exhortations. We will not accept, “Whatsoever ye do to the least, my creatures, ye do it unto Me.” But being able to present Samma-Drishti, Mahamudra and Mushahida, one can bring the young to the real pathways of real people. It took a few minutes to complete agreement with Dr. Radhakrishnan. One has given up hopes o trying to convince the “unconvincables.” Leaders want to lead, teachers want to teach, orators want to speak.

At the introduction to “The Bowl of Saki” only part of the exordium of Abul Fazl is published. We ought to have the whole thing. I have three or four most important meetings the next 48 hours. As God wills, so it will be; as egos will so it may or may not be. Leader is he who leads himself, rulers is he who rules himself. With the coming of Sitara and the students of U. of W. I do not know my plans even beyond Saturday.

God bless you,

June 12, 1968

Dear Ram:

The arrival of another copy of The Vision was accompanied by the arrival of a packet of material from Pondicherry and also of a magazine published by Sufis who do not tell the world they are Sufis. They are God-conscious men who never stoop to the word “humility,” so characteristic of the ignorant who pose in gowns and robes and titles. One would not even know this excepting from the tone of the articles and the vast amount of real erudition supporting and supported by a strong spiritual background.

Sam has come to a certain cross-road knowing that whatever way he takes he will draw upon him the criticism of the cupidious who always need external help for their efforts; or perhaps, they can give up their “humility” for the divine repentance which is so badly needed by those who would lead the world.

Sam has been planning to send some people to India both for spiritual and practical purposes. He wishes to remain here, but there is a point which enthusiasts fail to understand, and that is that God is in everyone, if God is not Everyone. But enthusiasts see only themselves and do not even comprehend Tat Twam Asi.

There are three wealthy men here who have become friends. They have plenty of land and money and they all believe they are spiritual. They do not proclaim humility and when a Swami visited them he said that their future would depend on their following a spiritual guide. They (lacking humility) accepted this. And there is now some effort to bring them and Sam together, But if so there is a possibility of them accepting Sam in some way as spiritual guide.

It is a little awkward. Sam has seen—he himself has seen it—the very project which is now going up in Auroville. It is very easy to discuss life from the point of view of Prajna with Dr. Radhakrishnan, but with others, they will not accept. They proclaim the Brotherhood of Man and the Divine Vision and they do not accept the same from another, as if God had only one outlet. Sam had the Samadhi performing the disciplines of the late Ramana Maharshi, but has followers will not accept that. They restrict Ram to certain places, rituals only and everything else is rejected. The same with so many followers of others, all of whom have their special group dividing humanity in the name of “universal brotherhood.” And they never accept suggestions.

Sam has seen the tremendous financial undertaking of the Baha’is who built a temple for everybody—they said. A magnificent structure—never used. It is forgotten. It is like the gold Buddhas in Burma, all the gold goes into the statues and after awhile the statues are neglected or thrown away.

Then Sam was drawn into the Roerich Museum and they proclaimed Brotherhood and Peace. They got all the famous people, the diplomats, the prime ministers, the famous people, the artists, even the great gangsters joined them. They proclaimed Brotherhood and Peace. Sam wrote them that this was not the way, that there was a simple and more honest way. They did not have time to read his report; they were busy tearing each other apart for the sake of leadership and then the great World War II followed. God never appears in the “simple” only in the important.

The Divine Vision comes from Ram, is Ram. It is not exclusive or excluding. Guru Nanak saw God everywhere. Now people quote Nanak but they do not see God everywhere. The whole Vision of Sri Aurobindo was disclosed to Sam. Than his house burned down with all the records. That was Ram’s will; it destroyed the papers, it did not destroy the vision. And as Sam lacks “humility” he accepts from others, always. But now while he wants some people to go to India, these rich men have already started a City of the Young. They have the young, the young are doing it. They are not asking for outside help, they are doing it. It is part of the New Age.

Saints come to San Francisco just to see Sam. Then they go away. They have given the picture. Mohammed said, “In that day will the sun rise in the West.” The Saint said that that meant the spiritual depository was in America. Some Hippies, as they call them, went to Sikkim seeking for a spiritual teacher. They were told to go to California. The guru of the Maharani of Sikkim lives here and is Sam’s best friend. But the “humble” people won’t accept it. Only now the young are. Sam and his close associates are being followed by an ever greater number of the young.

While others are exhorting, Sam is using the Sufi teachings, the Indian cosmic metaphysics. He has all the scriptures in his grasp and uses them. He is not afraid nor ignorant. We solve problems here by the Sufi teachings, the Indian cosmic metaphysics, the Yoga of Lord Buddha and teachings neglected and unknown or neglected and known. But most of all we use Love, Joy and Peace, and the people learn by example, not by precept, more and more every week. So while Sam would send people to India, if these wealthy people wish to establish a Center here they cannot be stopped; and if they decide to have Sam as a spiritual teacher, that cannot be stopped.

The great dream of Sri Aurobindo is now in the hands of man, not of God. It is not based on the people of the Supermind, it is based on the people of the day. The Center is God, Ram, and nothing and nobody else. Sam went to the Mosque to celebrate Mohammed’s birthday. All they did was to advertise each other and have a prayer, not for Mohammed, but for the late Senator Kennedy. Sam and his disciples left for a poetry meeting and the Poet rang out loud, La Illaha El Il Allah; there is no God but God; Allaho Akbar, there is no power nor might save in Allah. The devotees do not repeat Allah and the poets do, and you will find more poets repeating Mantrams here than devotees. It is a fact, it is a sound fact that is not advertised. The young and the poets chant the divine name; the ministers, the berobed clerics of all faiths are too busy seeking members and money. They do not chant.

We use the Divine Name, we use the Zikr and Ramnam, all the time. They work They take us from mortality to immortality. People Say Sam is younger. He does not see, but he feels it. Anyhow the sacred phrases are always repeated and they work, one feels it in all the bodies and in the Body of Light, too.

Sunday Sam read his “The Rejected Avatar.” It is about Sri Krishna. Sam is tired of rejection slips. He sends nothing out but is preparing real sacred manuscripts which “humble” people say he does not possess. Sam has not only the manuscripts, he has the spiritual practices.

He read the Krishna-poetry and it was followed by the chant of which Inayat Khan said:

Let my heart become Thy lute, Beloved,

And my body Thy Flute-of-Reed.

There was a life-long friend of Sam there and he asked, “Why didn’t you show me that before?” The audience was nearly all young. The young want Truth, Evidence, Experience. They have the communion of Breath and Heart and Darshan. They come. The “humble” older people do not come. But once one came and was ashamed she had not been coming. Also there was a Frenchman from an important family. He saw there was no exhortation, sermon, nothing. He saw that everybody not only loved Sam and he them, but they all love each other. There has been nothing like this in America. It is the New Age.

Once the theosophists predicted the New Race would come in California; then when Krishnamurti said he was not Christ, the whole thing collapsed. But this does not stop Ram. Ram is not dependent on man, man is dependent on Ram and until this lesson is learned, there will be no successful project. And if this lesson is learned the projects will be successful, inshallah.

Now Sam was told to subscribe to the Sufi magazine for you. It does not look like a Sufi magazine. These God-conscious Western men do not go around confusing and trying to mislead in the name of leadership. They’re bringing out profound teachings without using the word “profound.”

There is an appeal from India to apply Cosmic Metaphysics. Sam has been doing it. Now the young and the poets here call for Global Consciousness. The first place for Global Consciousness was Fatehpur Sikri which Sam has visited. He has not only visited it, he has been a guest of the Wali on both occasions. There are seeds in the atmosphere there. They were picked up by Sam’s “fairy Godmother, “Ruth St. Denis. They are there in the ethers (Akash).

So Sam reports. He is indifferent now whether people go to India or concentrate here. He is indifferent whether he will be moved from this place and have wealth behind him, or serve Ram as he is doing now. We have a song in America, “Spring is bursting out all over.” The people who want Brotherhood or say so, do not realize that Brotherhood is bursting out all over and that Ram is all over. Those who depend on financial help are not all-sufficient. In Sufism we call Allah the All-Sufficient and depend on nobody. Love is not dependent, it is mutual. Joy is not dependent, it is mutual. Peace is not dependent. It is.

Om Shri Ram! Jai Ram! Jai Jai Ram!

June 24, 1968

Beloved one of God:

Praise be to Allah who has brought the Jumna and Ganges together and the waters flow in harmony to the ineffable sea.

The place was packed—all down the hall and stairs though there was no advertising from this end. We greeted the Pir with Saum and when he had completed his talk with the Ramnam. His “apologies” only harmonize the whole picture.

In one sense it was like the meeting of the Sage and Mystic. “All he knows I see,“ “All he sees I know.” And this event may go far to producing as God wills a much better world out of the turmoil, the chance and confusion that exists.

He plans to return in January and as the signs are there will be wealth and crowds. He had made Samuel his local representative and God says that now one must increase to sixty mureeds by the time he returns, but a request was that one’s territory would roughly cover an area of a hundred miles or so from this point. There will be enough to do.

During the question period Sam asked Vilayat; “Which do you wish: more questions or interviews?” Thank god he gave a few interviews including these I wished most, and if the Kashf is correct there will be a great Sufi movement is Marin County within a year, inshallah.

Goddaughter Nancy said. “I fell in love with him at first sight.” “What do you want me to do? Spank you?” There are now at least five men and two women who could form an esoteric council here. They are learning the lesson: “Murshid and mureed are one.” And as Vilayat plans on the world scene were so identical, positive and negative, it was marvelous.

No doubt he will take the brunt for the negative but this is necessary. We shall each release to the other the papers needed and he will have a full compact of the Pir’s papers whenever this can be done—there will be more editing than anything, and Samuel will get the Githas and perhaps Sangathas.

There was nothing to argue about, nothing. Love is and Joy is Joy. We performed the first section of Lord Buddha’s Yoga, stopped because there were strangers and thus beginners; and because one did not wish to take too much time. He evidently found Youth, Joy, Love and Peace entirely to his liking.

Sam called his Salik, a double entendre of traveler and great moral attainer. And as he grasped that, there was nothing more to add.

The fact that a cousin is visiting my uncle and that Vilayat is going north delays any great trip now. My feeling is that I shall go either late in July or sometime in August to suit convenience.

All love and blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

June 25, 1968

My dear Shamcher:

One is now writing in more detail on the Sunday meeting and sending copies to Paul Reps and the local Dr. Chaudhuri. There are things entirely out of my hands, and I’ll begin rather backwards.

A home and money have been offered to Vilayat and when some thought that Sam might be jealous he laughed out loud. Vilayat, God bless him, has gone through the great tests foreshadowed by his father and rejected, of course, by the “love, harmony and beauty” people who expect trust but do not give it. In one sense it is, “Often your enemies are those near and dear to you.” There are the marks, very definite and picked up by the sensitive New Age people. He is the one who needs the Love, this person dispenses it.

I can only accept him as a Murshid, or even a Pir-o-Murshid and am setting about doing just what is in his mind. We had already taken the first steps to restore the ancient mysteries of the Dance. We are in agreement in accepting Miss Ruth St. Denis and it was a joy to hear somebody show the relation between Pythagoreanism and the Mevlevis and explain what is behind the Astrological mysteries. Gavin Arthur was present but hadn’t the slightest idea of what it was all about. And absorbing from him we are starting to do the very things he proposed.

We had already also begun opening up the Upanishads, not the dialogical lectures by long-winded Swamis, but the actual wisdom-by-experiences. He has proposed Mundaka Up. and he did ask me what Up. I was given, which is Brihadaranyaka, which is taught by methodologies and Upayas and not by oratory.

There were two Buddhist teachers present of quite different schools and they fell in with teaching via esoterics rather than “hysterics.” And Paul Reps’ idea of a School has fallen on rather fertile ground, but I am unable to tell much here, waiting for reports. And the idea that Americans who have one through spiritual processes without benefit of PhD-ism or any kind of dialectics is winning both people and largesse.

I am to begin officially on The Ryazat of Hazrat Inayat Khan and instead of giving the originals to Pakistan, they will so to Vilayat. Nothing will be held back. And suggestions will not be treated “dualistically.”

There was nothing to bring greater joy than the love expressed, even the enthusiasm and this went so far as to touch a follower of Meher Baba. Of courses, we are gaining people who have gained nothing but the loss of their money by going to the “experts” who charge plenty.

There is entire agreement on territory. I shall proceed to enlarge the body of disciples but will remain, one hopes, within a 100-mile circle, or extend down to Monterey Co. and north. There is much to do with these Hippies.

While others are talking about “Universal Religion” we are teaching the mysticisms of five faiths here and no nonsense and no intellect. There was entire agreement on Samkara and Ibn’1 Arabi, and so on, nothing but agreements all the way. And the audience, whom one felt might be bored, took it in. These are not 50 year old society ladies. These are the New Age people.

The fact appears assured that some people will go to India. They have accepted Ramdas and The Temple of Understanding. They have not accepted Auroville and my fears, that they might start their own Auroville, so to speak, appear to be intuitions, not fears. They not only have the land and money, they have already begun their first, and quite successful project. And if they accept Vilayat as Pir and Samuel as his representative, it will be a great shock to more who have great plans, depending on others.

My own intuitions which work, indicate that I shall prepare materials for Auroville, via these representatives, putting out my own money while the local Karma-Yogins and Purna-Yogins will appeal to others. The materials will be marked, “For the resurrection of Fatehpur Sikri at Auroville” and this will compel the on enthusiasts to accept solid history, solid facts. Nor do I see the Name of God or Brahm or Ram or anything of the kind, “Unless the Lord buildeth the house, they labor in vain….”

There is still the same family situation that my brother is prepared, in case of his death, that moneys coming to me will go into a travel fund to take people to Asia. It will be shared with nobody that does not recognize my spiritual position.

If there was any of these with Vilayat it was that Knowledge is born of Love and the fact that this impressed all these young people is most important. He has a good knowledge of cosmic philosophy growing out of his assimilation of all faiths on a much higher plane than the local “universal religion” people who have not worshipped in churches, temples, pagodas, mosques, all over the world. The universal man was so evident.

One of our next jobs will be to remove some of his pain. This seems to be innately and intuitively a common project. People who receive enthusiasms and applause do not reach depths. Here the depths were reached. These are not the old Age emotionalists who seize vocabularies. These are the New Age people, generally with Indian “souls” back to earth to continue their aenonic mission, and growth.

I shall withhold writing to his nephew or anybody until you (or he) suggest it. We have now the solid foundation of a firm world-brotherhood. Personally I accept all his “innovations.” They come from God, form the Sphere and no nonsense.

The Buddhists who were here were very satisfied. They represent two schools of Real Buddhism. The Oneness  of Shaku Soyen and the Toward the One of Inayat Khan are the same, very different from lectures on the subject. Vilayat pointed out that real Knowledge was born of Love, not Love from Knowledge. And he kept on running into Swami Ramdas’ teaching.

We are not only in the New Age, Shamcher. We are the New Age. Older people will not accept it and younger people will not reject it.

Before the lecture it came clear that Sam would live on to 119 years unless Vilayat accepted him. During the talk he spoke on the Dervishes and said there were very few and “I have never met anybody like them outside the Orient excepting the man sitting on my right.”

This was not personality agreement. We live and move and have our being in God. I have written and even phoned Sheikha Engle at Camarillo. Hearts may be at ease, you may be at ease. My work is intensive in time and space and Vilayat’s extensive. The soul of Hazrat Inayat Khan may now rest in peace.

God bless you,

Sam

June 25, 1968

My dear Vocha:

It is all over. Copies of this are being sent to on and Lloyd with utmost indifference. As I have written to Don particularly. I should like some form of friendship and understanding. But the day of the a priori rejection tolerance boys is over. The right to reject and eject is not objected to, but this a priori, personalisms, personality stuff not only has no place in culture, but those who adhere to such behavior patterns must face the result.

We had a Sufi speak Sunday. There are 40,000,000 followers of this outlook, but not according to our culture; they don’t even exist. This is our liberty and tolerance, and we can make anything we wish of it. There were no advertisements and the place was jammed so much after this week open house will have to be discontinued.

A special chair was assigned to Rev. James Eugene Wagner who knows about forms of “Zen” and “Buddhism” the a priori rejecting tolerant boys would never admit. He was the secretary of my friend, Robert Clifton who died of a broken heart trying to inform us of Vietnam. He only lived there and a spoke the language, and had all the requirements of the a.p.r.t.b as above and he visited this land twice, with the results that are apparent. And when the young are informed of the a priori rejection tolerance boys we may even see an outbreak here.

The place was packed to the gills, as one might say and Gavin came in late, and this champion of a priori rejection tolerance certainly got his fill. Be had to step from “realism” into reality, which the whole nation and world must do sooner or later and we are going to have a culture in which this nonsense of some people being more equal than others will be replaced by honest equalities or honest differentiations.

Yesterday money, halls and an assignment were proffered—a little early but quite definite. I wish to write on the assignment first. It came from leading professor of philosophy in this religion who does not refuse the floor “because,” and he has already accepted some papers from Sam Lewis. So when I write on “the General Semantics of G. S.” you can be sure he will get a paper and it will not land in any more waste-baskets. In fact the reason I did not write this paper yesterday was because of these proffers of lecture halls (2 different places), money and assignment.

The colleagues of this professor of philosophy have very dim views of G. S. and well they might. Some are disciples of Max Black end it takes more than a priori rejection tolerance to offset them.

The paper on the G. S. of G.S. will contain some references to predictability. A lot of Generals of the G.S. movement who have hardly ever seen the inside of laboratories have denied predictability. I am net go long into that. I am not a General. But I have found so many passages in Science and Sanity which have become verified facts and if Don and Lloyd wish to deny predictability or give the floor or accept printed articles, they may well do it.

That there is predictability or foresight will be accepted by the future generations; it is already being accepted by the young, and by people who are moved by evidence rather than by weight of personalities. I find off hand that the predictions of A. K. are rather like those of Whiteman and Lewis, but W. & L. had no disciples who rejected the teachings of their “master.” And I intend to quote several such passages, not with the idea of convincing any mature people (because they rely on personalities and not on reason) but to get this before the world, and today I mean just that.

It is remarkable how today so many speak of “global consciousness” and how it can be used as a gimmick phrase to support narrow dialectical views. The Sufi and Sam discussed actual global (in the Rand-McNally sense) problems and what we are doing, actually doing about it. It is possible that a team may be sent abroad soon, to meet real people in real places and discuss real problems and sic transit Gloria “realism.”

I have thrown caution to the winds and notified another editor that a disciple of Cassius Keyser has had no chance with the a priori tolerance rejection General Semanticist but I am hoping this will be changed; it has not changed. It has to change soon. This has been further corroborated that Psychism from Alan Watts is nix and Psychism from Oliver Reiser must. Of course as already “Zen” from A. W. was a “must” and Zen from Sam vas a “nix” it is not very comfortable. But I knew I had to continue the career of Samuel Morse who got the same, only he paid back and I don’t want that. I want no privileges but human consideration, even if it is demonstrated “humanists.”

(At the moment the “humanists” are certainly shown “human considerations” to each other!)

Why, Vocha, I have even indicated that if the School proposed by Paul Reps goes through I shall place your credentials to the full, both in Dramatics, etc. and in G.S. etc. with the hope we can have some study of Science and Sanity:

As Bible: Roman Catholicism

S & S: “General Semantics”

Not that I wish revelation but the continued flow of rejections based on A.K. principles and acceptance of articles based on totally different or non-principles is going to be counter-balanced. If not by SAM by others, for the new culture does not “think differently,” It Thinks. The Cortex people are going to take over and the Medulla-people who say, say, say, that words are not things use nothing else most of the time.

One will have to teach tolerance to the “a priori rejection tolerance people.” One will not give them their own medicines. Problems are not being solved and will not be solved until we have real open forums. This means change in the habit of chairmen to restrict people in the audiences. “Only question” … “freedom of speech.”

I am not going to let history overlook the baling out from the AAAS people. I kept quiet and got hell. “Why you had the answers! You had the answers we wanted!” This couldn’t, oughtn’t happen but it did. And it has given no comfort to find what scientist and philosophers think of G.S.

No wonder there is confusions: no logic, no psycho-logics and just a continuance of Aristotelian confusion and “conclusion without premises.”

Now I cannot tell from day to day or oven hour to hour. I am neither angry nor filled with S.Rs. (a privilege for Generals only in G.S.).

Actually the same thing is going on in the whole Buddhist world and I guess elsewhere. “Who are you?” is important; what you know is not so important. The young, living in their Cortices, do not want the leadership of their elders, living in their Medullae.

Safe that “The Generals Semantics of G.S.” will be accepted, I shall send it to Don or Lloyd, but sand it out I shall certainly and I hope that there will be no more value-judgments from those quarters.

The really good news and there is plenty of that—I withhold here. Some day we might make psychiatry a science too, and not an elective system of anybodies.

Love,

July 3, 1968

My dear Magana:

It is early in the morning on what appears to be five days of outer climaxes or dramas in a continually busy life. For now is coming into manifestation the results of a joint tour of Hazrat Inayat Khan and Miss Ruth St. Denise in 1911, a long time ago, no doubt. Each in a way presented aspects of “reading the akasha,” one giving a profound Message and the other the Dances but still in essence it was the same.

The hardest thing to convey is that karma strike those who talk and teach even more than others and the strange type of denials of prowess to others is one of the ‘hang-ups” behind the present revolt of Youth. But it is not so much a revolt of youth as a protest of “old souls” against continual egocentricities and dogma of those who see immaterial gain and power the aims of life. And the soul of men is now breaking out toward freedom, causing, no doubt, considerable concern among the self-satisfied.

Lord Snow has already pointed out that we have two cultures which he calls scientific and literary-humanist. The sane is found in Korzybski but not in the General Semanticists who claim to be his followers. The Scientific people are in the main honest, objective and fair-minded and the other people, excepting a few artists are not, and do not know they are not.

Finding so many young ready this person began to teach openly what might be called “Occult Dancing.” It is not a very good word. This person did not wish to do this teaching but not finding receptacles is giving it out himself. The first phases are “The Dances of the Stars”; the second, “The Dances of the Elements”; The third, “Cosmic Dancing.” No doubt the first two were derived from Hazrat Inayat Khan and the later from Ruth St. Denis. But the time has come, the receptacles are ready and this is a new age…. I shall say more on this below.

This afternoon Sam is supposed to meet a Seeress. “The reports are that she is a great seeress. She has been particularly recommended by Nancy, Sam’s local God-daughter. Many of the disciples have seen her and one will at least listen. But already it is so obvious she knows more about me than many people who have had some acquaintance and think they know but they are utterly in error: The one person who knows something is a man who is not guilty of “humility” and all the trash nonsense; the man, whom you know, simply has the capacity to listen to others in the same manner as he expects them to listen to him. I shall say no more than that he is Indian, but not necessarily a prominent one.

On the surface are the forth coming meetings with several wealthy men. They are coming closer together, perhaps to build a School. This School was proposed directly by my spiritual brother, Mr. Paul Reps. That was before these wealthy people joined forces. It was later independently proposed by another spiritual brother, Shamcher Bryn Beorse (who has many friends here); and then Pir Vilayat Khan, son of our first teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan as above, was invited to the Ranch, the proposed site of the School.

These wealthy men, disgusted with our kiss-kiss, bang-bang society wish to see spiritual changes. They have all the where-with. A visiting Swami convinced them they must have a Guru. So they have sent for Sam, who is of course, a “Guru” elsewhere where they have standards, but not “only in America” where there are none.

There are today two kinds of revolt: (a) the young who are so dissatisfied with present and traditional moral codes; (b) elders who are also dissatisfied but are seizing upon the situations to set themselves up, and while pretending to be broad-minded, are often worse. For these so-called “broad-minded” disregard each other and all disregard, let us say, Asian cultures.

There is no question that an over growing number of the young are sold, over over-sold on Asian cultures. This is partly due to the fact—which our dear “occultists” ignore—that they are reincarnated Indians. It is very simple, it is very clear, obvious and so easy to handle. An example was the recent Bhakti-Vedana parade, good attendance but no real depth, just emotionality. Nothing wrong in it, but it is not Bhakti.

After this parade Sam read his Chaitanya poetry, real Bhakti. The young are wondering why older people always reject Sam’s offer to read, especially the so called “broad” but now Sam is preparing to go to Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Unless the wealthy, whom he is to meet, are willing at least to look at his real cosmic poetry (can’t be, of course of course).

Gradually Sam’s financial situation is improving and if anything is effected, this real Cosmic Poetry will get out. It comes from the highest sources—Jeremiah, Christ, Mohammed, Sri Krishna and the Akasha. It will live on after his death and the world will look back at an age which accepted all sorts of phony occultism, but the -real thing was spurned.

For example the element of prediction—which we wrongly call “prophecy”—but which has little to do with real Prophesy which comes from God. This person is no Jeanne Dixon, much less Nostradamus but the percentage of his auguries is much, much higher. The book written by Luther Whitman and Samuel L. Lewis is now used in the universities. I believe every one of our predictions came true—this is something “occultists” can’t stand! So during the war where by agreement with Intelligence a lot of papers were destroyed; and the rest in a fire in 1949.

Sam felt the coming of World War I, of the Depression, of World War II and the post-War confusion. Much appears in his poetry. So even scraps are being saved. And the audiences grow and grow, so a poetry reading will soon start in the Hippie community and perhaps the Krishnan-poetry and others will be exemplified in the Dance. But if the wealth people assent, it will be on a grand scale.

(The reason for writing is that we have discussed the possibility of your teaching a class, to be paid by the hour for the whole thing. The class will be limited for the most part to initiates and by that I mean, initiates and not some Alice Baily hang-up) I shall let you know later.

Sam had already begun the astrologica1 dancing when Vilayat Khan spoke on the Cosmic Dances of the Sufis and their relation to the ancient Pythagorean School. So the next lesson Sam came out putting into practice one by one what Vilayat has spoken about. And he will be here shortly to meet Sam’s disciples, although Sam will not be there—it will take place in Novato, in Martin Country.

It is several years Sam Said to Ruth St. Denis: “Mother, I am going to revolutionize the world.” “What are you going to do?” “I am going to teach little children haw to walk.” She jumped up, “You have it! You have it!

Actually Sufis have a lot of knowledge, far more than anybody else, but not in the lands of “freedom, democracy and humanity.” It is most unfortunate. There are more Sufis than all other mystics, esotericists and occultists combined. They are now invading the Western world and going to overthrow sons of our “gods’ such as Jung. Complex nonsense is not wisdom and never was. Paul Reps has reached more young per square yard than Jung per square mile.

Sam has already made full alliance with these intellectual Sufis, and they are restoring the occult sciences and no nonsense either; no pretense, no “secret societies,” none of the hang-ups.

Yesterday Sam got a letter from his closest associate in England, an initiated Buddhist priest. This priest has established friendship with Sam’s associates in London. Also he remarked about the disciple Sam sent to him, that he was se unusual, so loving, even beautiful. But this is the characteristic of the whole group here. When Sam had ten disciples Mr. Rudolph Shaeffer asked, Sam, where did you get all these beautiful young people?” Sam now has a following of about 60 and will soon be in the Height-Asbury district, too.

The essential of all knowledge, wisdom and morality is God (whom I prefer to call either Allah or Ram). Inayat Khan said, “God is the only Teacher, we all learn from Him.” And with the keys to the Akasha from Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan and Srimati Ruth St. Denis one is now going ahead full blast.

In the end we shall perform Dance of Universal Peace. It comes out of the Akasha. It requires deep knowledge of the religions and of meditation and a faculty called Shahud which only Sufis seem to have although I have now met a Christian teacher who has. So far no Hindus, excepting Papa Ramdas.

A great effort is being made to establish a new civilization at Pondicherry in India. It is headed by an American lady (who got the same bounce from Americans only more so, far more so). It is attracting attention, everybody on the band-wagon nobody doing anything. We shall see. For we hope to send a committee there and then see if we shall do the same or better in California. We are one up—we have God-Allah-Ram.

Next month Dr. Huston Smith will be here with “Religions and Philosophies of Contemporary Asia.” Unlike our “experts” he has accepted reports from Sam and my esoteric secretary was “teacher’s pet.” It is much more to the point to be with him than the “fair-minded shut up” semanticists and “Yogis.” You, see, Magana, the cards, or some of them are in these hands. They have been given by the very people that talk one way and act another.

Sam is scheduled to speak at the Aurobindo Center (Cultural Integration Center). Sam brings his audiences—not a single one of those fair-minded, humble, devout persons has ever shown up. And none of them have been to Pondicherry either. And Sam has slyly informed Haridas of his s$p$i$r$i$t$u$a$l$ attainment which is very convincing. But so far the rich have not been impressed there. So we shall see.

You see, Magana, Love is the pries motive for bringing these young people to Sam and through Love he teaches and impresses. It is remarkable how people who make long speeches are always telling Sam to cut down his remarks. When Vilayat was there Sam introduced him with a prayer and commented with a mantram. Vilayat spoke a long, long time. Sam does not mind listening and gained. Only here we do.

There are a few teachings which Occultists ignore. For instances the saying of Jesus Christ. ”I am the Vine and you are the branches thereof.” Sam takes on the pain of every person who comes here and often has been most successful in clearing up obstacles. His “Joy without Drugs” was ignored by the psychedelics and of course, by the clergy. It has been very, very successful although in a few cases the parties involved were far gone. But Sam is not opposed to psychedelics which have been used in the mysteries (anybody not an “occultist” may know that). Sam has even attended Indian ceremonies where they used nasal psychedelics. This interests Anthropologists but not “occultists.” So we by-pass the “occultists” and Vilayat and Sam are restoring to the world a lot of “Ancient wisdom” which was always there.

It is a new age; it may even be a new age for the dance. I don’t know. I have five dramatic, almost Uranian days coming up, and have not mentioned some of the “crises.”

Love and. blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 6, 1968

Beloved One of God:

It is all over. The New Heavens and New Earth are coming and not from the proud, the erudite, the self-centered “humble” who are so full of arrogance there is no room for anything else. Parsifal has at last met Gurnemanz and Gurnemanz is staying at home so that Parsifal may have full sway in further opening in the Western Monsalvat. And we have met and are fully determined to work for Auroville and put to shame the sham people who are already all over the band-wagon and polling the same arrogant-humility emotional stuff that has gone on for ages. A Center in the East and a Center in the West, and in the East the Wise Women and in the West the Wise Men. But the Wise Men have also that greatest of virtues, the $$$$$ which the arrogant-”Humble” seek above all else.

Last Wednesday (and it is only Saturday) Sam met the Voluspa and she beginning lambasting him only to retreat it and retract and become truly humble (not in the way the stuffed-ears who parade “humility”) and recognized him on all planes and said, “I have restored to you healing power.” And she said that Sam was the first person she ever met with a triple Halo, although after forty years you might think the arrogant (who call themselves “humble”) might occasionally get a little curiosity.

We began restoring the Tawajjeh which is the Sufi equivalent to Darshan and evidently it is effective. At least Parsifal-Vilayat (who makes no pretense at “humility”—i.e. Arrogance) accepted the Tawajjeh of Inayat Khan, which is the source of all Sam’s strength and arrogance and humility. It is quite effective and as the arrogant-self-humble disappear from the earth and as the New Race gradually takes over you will see some new things going on.

The arrogant (who call themselves humble, they call themselves humble) can never understand that ever since Sam met the great Zen teacher Sokei-an Sasaki, he could explain all the scriptures of the world but could not explain why he could explain them. This was demonstrated over and over again and early in India by Dr. Radhakrishnan and St. Tyabji Rehana and St. Dilip Koomar Roy but hardly, hardly, and this is over.

The Tawajjeh is embedded in Love and every week steadily more and more young people seek out Sam. Yesterday his God-son suddenly showed up and today Dr. Chaudhuri, the Aurobindo representative here. The signification is not clear, but the facts are. And the telephone rings and the mail for Vilayat who comes out of nothing and nowhere to everything and everywhere. And some day, when the arrogant (who call themselves “humble”) are out of the way we shall realize what Lord Buddha taught: “I see now that all sentient beings have perfect enlightenment but they do not know it; I must go and instruct them.” Or that Jesus Christ came to help us all realize we are sons and daughters of God and no putrid nonsense of manas-ahankara, against which Lord Krishna declaimed, but which has been used so much against Him and is even now.

Just as the meeting between Vilayat-Parsifal and Gurnemanz-Sam was a duplication of the meeting between Ibn Senna and Sufi Abi’l-Khayr, so the same Vision foreshadowed everything. Until the pretending arrogant (who call themselves “humble”) learn to function the Vijnana and Prajna which are called Mushahida and Kashf by Sufis, we are going to repeat fiascoes. Ever since Prof. Oliver Reiser came out, a lot of promoters began their own Utopias and self-selected “supermen” and in this State all the so-called Sri Aurobindo people jumped on the band-wagon of a certain Prof. Zitko (although they may have jumped on other band-wagons) and practically went into competition with Auroville, the new Eden of India. They are doing the same thing now and they will keep it up.

Sam received a brochure showing about 40 organizations which verbally claim to be behind Auroville and include some of the most outstanding anti-God groups imaginable, and cliques and seats which arrogate to themselves verbal but not actual “universality.” I doubt if there is a single Asian group in the whole shebang.

Sam has seen in the Spirit (and to hell with the arrogant who call themselves “humble”) the work of the Three Wise Men of the East who are very wealthy. Sam saw #l and spent some time with him explaining the Horoscope cast by Gavin Arthur. It was an extreme reversal of the way the “unable” (i.e. arrogant) act. He accepted everything. It is obvious. The story of One-Eye, Two-Eye and Three-Eye is propaganda and the Three-Eye people will stand no more nonsense from the Two-Eyed manas-ahankara “humble.”

We then had a blessing of the bakery, which took place of the blessing of the grounds; and a blessing of the Retreat. The other blessings are up to Vilayat-Parsifal.

The only time Sam spoke out was on his insistence of sending a team to Auroville. If this can be done—and they have plenty of money—they will bring Miss Julie Medlock—who is in some sense my counterpart but does not know my spirit—whatever she wants, perhaps including money too. While all the arrogant-humble people are band-wagging we are working and with Divine Help will continue to work. The Voluspa saw Sam through and through and there is no sense of keeping up a silence.

A letter From Wise Man #3 (also very rich) proves that when he meets Sam he will stand or fall on his own words. He predicted actually and accurately Sam’s visit to the Ranch. Everything is there and when the arrogant-humble get rid of their “humility” and begin to look they will recognize that Vijnana and Prajna are the Truths of the Universe. But India must stop fearing Rajas and start fearing egocentricity. It is the Americans who can and will act.

The meeting with Wise Man #2 was an application of what Paul Reps calls Zen Uppercut. This man has been keeping away from Sam for years. He got a warm embrace and Sam took him immediately into confidence, gave him the “secret” of Wise Man #1, and he said: “That explains everything; that explains everything exactly. All falls into place.” And when we get rid of that confounded arrogance-humility and become like Little Children and listen, by God, with God, from God we are going to have the New Age.

I have given one instruction: Give Vilayat all the love, tenderness and response of which you are capable, and remember, God is watching. And you should have heard Vilayat! This is the second time Sam has heard that Voice via long distance. It came before from Mrs. Dickermann (Judith) Hollister, Founder of the Temple of Understanding. And By God, my Brother, we are going to have God-Wisdom by any name and all names, but the lamb and lion are going to lie down together and a lot of children, not the proud-arrogant, are going to lead. (If evidence is not strong, money certainly is, yet.)

Every suggestion of Sam was taken, but mostly preceded. We want a new age, we want the grand noise “T R U T H” but we do not want to accept the Omniscience and Omnipresence of God. We did a lot of talking, i.e. the #1 Wise and Sam—about the Polity of Moses and the folkways of the Pathans (with whom Sam has lived; rejected, of course by the Big Shots).

Paul Reps has been involved in the Buddha-succession and is entirely right although he does not have all the facts. This person has the facts. The Voluspa rightly saw we are coming into the age of One Religion, One Truth, One God before Whom all men will bow and pray. And I only hope that Auroville will recognize Fatehpur Sikri. Otherwise Parsifal-Vilayat is going to exert and exercise an influence which he may not recognize yet but which you have long recognized, God bless you.

It is necessary to get the team—with money and the necessary equipment to Auroville and I shall work on it and let the band-wagon people noise, the same ones who got into the Zitko and other fiascoes: There must be Havens in the East and West. I am nearly through the explanation of the Noah Saga, and have emphasized the re-establishment of Arks (Thebas = Ashrams). The young are crowding my meetings now, and new doors. Next week preparation for a class on the Spiritual Drama. My class on Cosmic + Esoteric Dancing growing. And with my God-son returning, I have begged him to open up big his Astrological work and said it could keep him busy to the end of his life.

As I have written before, the Sufis are invading Western culture and getting rid of that nonsense that nonsense that hyperbolic complexities are evidences of divine wisdom. I have before me the whole complex of Hippieland and then Big Sur (with Esalen). All the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put over Manes + Ahankara. Vijnana and Prajna and Ananda do everything. And if anybody thinks that Hazrat Inayat Khan was playing a personal game when he gave me six interviews in 1926, they are going to have some shocks, either in this word, or in the world to come.

But actually there is a kind of Self-less love which is supremely operative. To me the best thing about Ramdas’ little brochure are the fact that he was so recognized by^-the late Swami Shivananda of Rishikesh and by Dilip Koomar Roy (who is a very good friend, i.e. befriender).

Vilayat leaves Monday morning and Shams-i-Tabriz may be down to see Jelal-ed-din Rumi off. It will be the beginner of that new and grand life for him which you and a few others have foreseen. He is meeting the three W$i$s$e M$e$n and I leave it to God. We have foreseen his return in January and it may be most important. I am hoping by then the Team will have gone to India, at least.

We are going to have Peace and Understanding despite all the politicians and noise-makers and arrogant (self-humble) people. Peace is there beyond Understanding (i.e. Vijnana). My next step is to declare War-Peace on all of Pakistan, and you may see it. They have to choose between real Islam and a bunch of semantic-nonsense which they call “Islam,” only the name like the original.

Also the new School which Paul Reps envisioned, already the application is in for a legal permit. And I have asked them to consider hiring our old friend, Ed (Pat) Hunt to teach a blending of Science and Art. No opposition at all. In Prajna there is never opposition—that belongs to the humble (arrogant) people.

We also touched on teaching real Semantics, not the priest-craft of some of our friends who know nothing about deep science or deep mathematics or rigorous thinking. I have even approached Vocha and Vocha and Ed are the closest of friends. Everything seems moving ahead absolutely and exactly. Yet Sam is a sort of stage-manager exactly as Paul Reps has seen (Vijnana and Prajna, Mushahida (Shahud) and Kashf, are not personal possessions). We are going to practice universality and banish that bastard-word “universality” used by a few people to attract followers. This is a New Age.

One looks into the hearts and depths. Yesterday this house was overrun, just as foreseen—five different activities at the same time, but more than five persons, and only to clear them out for more. With God everything is right.

Next stage the restoration of the Dharani, which is the same as the Sufi Darood. This begins Sunday while most are away and to see Vilayat. There will be recognition of the value and force of Dharani and no more hyperbolic, Metaphysical verbal claptrap. It took one letter to have complete agreement with Dr. Radhakrishnan on how to end wars; there is no use arguing with dualists. The New Age understands Love, Understanding and Peace.

All love and blessings,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Christi

July 15, 1968

Mr. Paul Reps

Passuello, Hawaii

My dear Brother:

This is something like a page of a “Confessions of Samuel Lewis.” (Incidentally “Confessions of Inayat Khan” has been suppressed, has to be suppressed in order to promote corporations calling themselves “Sufi.”

Recently some young men came into my office and seeing the amount of incomplete work, they wept. They are also doing what no amount of appeal of any kind has ever effected, i.e. they are pitching in and helping. No more dastardly advice and pompous ivory-tower counsel—hard work and they we doing it and doing it with joy.

Vilayat, coming this way, gave at least one Bayat. I am not arguing with Vilayat, but sometimes feel like a Concert Master, completing rehearsals, turns everything over to the Conductor. You may or may not understand this. I am supposed to get the typed copy of his instructions this week and intend to put them into force.

For besides the rejected by the “love, harmony and beauty” people of “Six Interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan” there are the refusals to accept the mystical experiences of the mystic. That day is dead and gone. And the most important manifestation of Hazrat Inayat Khan from “the other side” is rapidly coming into objectivity.

Saturday, for the first time in my life, the spiritual and literary materials of this person were properly catalogued and filed. This has never happened before. Instead of a Sufi being one who could see life from the stand point of another as well as of himself, the term has been used so loosely to apply to anybody me-I admired. But now the invasion of European culture by real Sufis is gradually going to clear the whole world atmosphere of metaphorical metaphysics passing as “spiritual philosophy, etc.

My preliminary work in the Dancing Class fitted perfectly with Valetta’s presentations. And now that he opened the door to alchemy, the real alchemy and not any Jungian para complications. I am studying Titus Burkhart’s Alchemy, this being a book by a modern Sufi. I intend to work it into the dance an also into the transcendental psychology used to place people into harmony with their own selves.

I have received the last rejection from the Generals in charge of Semantics. Pir-o-Murshid wanted me to work with the intellectuals. I had studied both Mathematics and Philosophy with Cassius Keyser of Columbia, who was the friend and mentor of Korzybski. Vocha accepts this; the generals” (who happen to include your own critics) have never accepted that, and some who should have been my close friends have used San as a whipping post for years. They have accepted nothing. And my attempt to introduce semantic methods to scientists was accepted gladly and broadly, which made matters worse. And when I kept quiet at the conferences of the AAAS, The top scientists, I was given the worst bawling out of my life—for keeping quiet.

The two top “Generals” are actually very unpopular, and the only thing to do now is to open up an American Philosophy which would include Korzybski but not any of the “Generals.” My welcome by some of our top philosophers was totally cordial. I have, unfortunately, not aligned myself with Pitirim Sorokin because he attacked both the semanticists (with which I must now agree) and Semantics (with which I do not yet agree.) Worse, I defeated in debate one of the worst critics of Semantics and the “generals” have never forgiven me.

Some of the disciples of this critic, Max Black, now control the Philosophy Department at Berkeley. Now I have had two independent initiations to join them in seminars and colloquies and I am though with nonsense and personality-evaluations masquerading as philosophy or “psycho logics.” In fact one of the main disciples of Korzybski, Oliver Reiser, is my closest colleague on the world scene in all directions, including almost every project I am involved in. So the doors are now open to present real; metaphysics and cosmic psychology to the real intellectuals.

The next thing—and I have been holding off—is the moral training. This is not based on sermonizing. I got real tough last night with ZFZB, and also real tender. I demanded concentration but I also used all the love and patience possible. As there is so much fear and uncertainty, I work more with men—I have about twice as many men anyhow. Somehow or other I consider “fear” and “uncertainty” as slightly more “normal” for women than for men. And I consider “love” and “tenderness” as slightly more normal for them also.

To this Tawajjeh, The Sufi variant of Darshan is given, but the Sufi Tawajjeh is much closer to Lord Buddha’s Darshan, i.e. Samma Drishti, than to Indian methods. This has converted Dr. Warwick, whom I call the “two-legged” because he has been trained both in tasawwuf and Vajrayana. And he in turn is trying to convince my life-long friends that they should become my disciples. It is possible, and it will be equally strange and wonderful to have mature-by-age people here. I have only one single mature lady here, named Renee and if I can get her to breathe right (no other corrections needed) I think she will become superwoman.

It is very difficult to convey, that when on top of an exceedingly full program one has in very rapid order the marriage of the god-daughter, the sudden appearance of the god-son (who may return), and the visits of Vilayat, Seo, Taison and Soen. Not a cough in a carload. But this is the convocation of the “gods” and the supermen and I have one to go, just one.

His name is Gottlieb. An excellent name for a superman. I have not met him but his writings are going to compel him, not me, to face them. When we practice “willing surrender” I can come out openly with the key words with Hazrat Inayat Khan in 1926, keywords which were rejected and had to be rejected by anybody assaying to leadership at any level. “Leader is he who is leader of himself. Ruler is he who ruler of himself.”

Yesterday was my first talk in Hippieland and I throw the Book at them. That is I read a Buddhist scriptures, which just ain’t done. I let them realize that Buddha taught what Buddha taught and not what Englishman and “experts” say. And being brash I told them that their auras were much brighter than any I had seen at the Zendo and elsewhere—which is true and if you looked closely as I think you did. You would know this is so.

As Vilayat has taken the first step there is nothing to do but in increase the disciples to 60. And then there are complications. Nobody comes for the sake of material gain, but one of my close (geographically) disciples, out of work, landed two jobs. Others have landed jobs or on relief and the monetary pressure is off. I know the collection went up last night from the amount left afterwards. This goes to secretaries, not to Sam.

I may soon read the whole World Buddhist Federation off. If Sam practiced the Jhanas a little, Vilayat has practiced them much. And there is a call for a Sangha meeting. At the moment I doubt very much whether Buddhist experts will accept the Vijnana. I don’t think all the Vijnana is needed but the confounded self importance of ego-me-Sanghas, rejecting the Vijnana in the name of some hook-up each calls “Buddhism” while opposing each other, only adds to Samsara.

We not only want further with the Jhanas and ZFZB. We went into “Prajna-Paramita” and will not recite it in Gypsy lingo as do the Japanese and “Zennists,” but in English and gradually in Sanskrit. I also gave the Dharani of Nyogen Senzaki. These things are effective and we are going ahead with the Psychic sciences.

The class on Drama, opening Saturday, was small and effective. Unfortunately the one book I did not wish borrowed, the Gayan-Vadan-Nirtan which contains the plays was taken away. The dramatists want these plays. I had to go into dramatics but as they lack “humility” everybody listened; it was wonderful.

It has been necessary to tell the Aurobindo people I shall not attend. At the conference on the Berkeley campus Sam will be welcomed as an equal; at the Aurobindo conferences as an inferior, with a different bunch of rostrum-“experts” very year. Now as we have the keys not only to the Divine Wisdoms but even, perhaps, to the un-divine bank-book, there is no use wasting time. But we shall work for Auroville and perhaps for an Auroville of our own.

My work on reform-collectives, scholastic in California, off the record in India, will come out. My colleague, Daniel Hoffman, of Burlingame, who got even a worse treatment than Sam (which is the norm in liberty-democracy, words are not-things culture), will be resurrected.

Then there is the School. That is why I am going into Moral Culture. The persons involved do not know how to deal with each other. They see freedom rightly, but they do not see that self-control that can expand their consciousness, their outlooks and their futures. The third series on Moral Culture, published in book too, has all the keys. But you cannot have the third series without the other two.

This life of getting up every day at 6—yesterday at 5, to do what has to be done, is sometimes a little wearing. Now there are efforts to have me move into Berkeley to, which will be near the University. I had one disciple who entered the University. He did not know what to do. I told him to do it. He asked, “What?” I said, “What you do will succeed, what you do not will fail.” He passed four examinations in a row, entered Harvard with honors and money and recently sent a loving telegram.

We have not accepted that we love and move and have our being in God. We used the sound Allah to great effect in the drama class. We are going ahead. Exotism cannot stop the instructions of Hazrat Inayat Khan given in the Beverly Hill’s Hotel in 1926.

Vilayat gave the key on Pir Idries Shah. He said the Pir’s father was a competition of Inayat Khan. When the name was given it was the final that this man is a phony. My own disciple visited and found this “Sufi” movement is a fraud. It was rejected by the top Sufis of Pakistan and Iran anyhow. It was only the prestige of Robert Graves which give it the impetus. There are disciples near here, utterly ignorant of tasawwuf.

Taison may be taking over. Be thinks PR (Reps to you) is #1. But how about promotions? All news is good news.

Faithfully,

August 6, 1968

Mr. S. B. Beorse

Box 142

Keyport, WA

My dear Shamcher:

When the Gods arrive, the half-gods go.

I do not know whether this point can be put ever with the half-gods. However I am sending copy to Paul Reps (who will accept) and Dr. Haridas (who is the leader of the half-gods). I have sat at the feet of Dr. Chaudhuri. His teachers regard me as an equal; his pupils and disciples, excepting the Aurobindo devotees, do not regard me at all. This is very interesting and very unfortunate, for them.

I have long despaired of trying to convince a half-god that karma applies to them; that they are not exempt from moral laws. It is not necessary to try any further and the fact that not only is the horizon filled with rainbows, bit some of these rainbows have pots of gold, potentially many and I cannot share it with them, although I should like to. It is impossible: the world is full of “Universal Religionists” who do not accept the existence of Sufism or Sufis. This is the hang-over “moral and spiritual revolution.” The more “moral and spiritual,” the less attention to inferior mankind.

Lama Govinda is coming and it is remarkable how the “anatta-Buddhists” who proclaim (and re-defile) the teachings of Lord Buddha are all waiting for him. Messiahs are born every minute and when one fails another is proclaimed. “Work out thy salvation with diligence” and you do not belong to the elect—but now the Gods have arrived.

There are at least three, probably more, that claim they have the business arrangements with and for the Lama. “Cosmic Consciousness for those with comfortable incomes” and to hell with what Jesus Christ said. Thus the half-gods.

But a deva-soul spoke at the Theosophical Society Sunday and raked the audience, especially the “anatta-Buddhists” that work out their salvation with the diligence of finding the right messiah. I went through all that with the Roerich Museum but the “humble” half-gods won’t accept that, or anything else. So I have invited the deva-soul to attend the forthcoming convocation of a Sangha. Me, Sam, when the half-gods spurn, me, Fudo0San, inviting deva-souls to be present at a Buddhist Sangha. True, Her Serene Highness, Princess Poon Diskul, President of the World Buddhist Federation regards Sam as an equal, but she ain’t got no “humility.”

The first order of business (perhaps tomorrow) will be an interview. A lot of “ignorant” young believe that a man who has lived in Asia, and sat at the feet of Masters must know as much (if not more) than a “famous” who has written “At the Feet of the Master.” The book, that’s the thing!

Now I believe we almost control the world. The half-gods can’t and won’t accept Hierarchy. Did Vilayat and Sam have to talk? Discuss? He is doing and planning down to detail exactly what Sam has seen or wished. I wrote you, Gurnemanz was awaiting Parsifal. Anybody not a half-god can accept that.

Yesterday Sam received two very beautiful letters. One from a dear friend of Vilayat at Ajmir, India (which exists despite the half-gods). It is mostly concerning my disciple, Sheila McKendrick who is planning to go to India. While the “Karma-Yogins” and “Purna-Yogins” give sermons and have conferences, (Sam may go if he pays), we are planning and doing and don’t think the people at Pondicherry don’t know. Only they will have to accept the existence of Sufis. It is remarkable, the half-gods don’t respect Sufis and there is a President to India, you know, a real live man. Suppose he comes here!

(Anyhow Sam is soon going to write to the Ambassador from India. Or East-West groups, Los Angeles, Honolulu and to some extent here, all half-gods.)

But now a multi-millionaire is on the horizon. He is, as it happens to be, an initiate. I am not going into details. Sunday Sam gave out the Ramnam and there was a Jewish boy in the audience and he challenged Sam and Sam said: “Which do you want, race, or human brotherhood.” He disputed and lost face. Then he asked Sam for initiation. Sam had already given the Ramnam! Sam is doing almost exactly as Paul Reps and Vilayat Khan want to have done, he does. So the young come.

Then we went out and Sam gave the first open lesson in Dervish dancing. This is exoteric. The one on Friday is esoteric, but very close to Vilayat! Not all the half-gods can’t stop the Sufis.

Not only that but there is another publication in the offing. There is a New Age here, and a new outlook and it is very close to what is in India, Pondicherry, the Radha-Soamis, Anandashram (the half-gods permit lectures on Anandashram by non-devotees, especially one of themselves. Now the karma!) And these people have the necessary requirements—$$$ and how! They are not in competition but supplement the group who may be interviewing Sam shortly.

Next Sam will write to prominent persons he knows, especially a very good friend of the late (non-existent to the half-gods) Hasan Nizami. The chief one, a lady, caused a lot of murmuring socially when she greeted my fellow-Sarkhanians Eugene Wagner, and myself at an Asian-Asian function (A-asians sometime meet without permission of the half-gods).

It began when Sam met Jagarnath and Krishna. He entered immediately into a Shiva-Shakti discussion of the functions of the human body. We are going to have East meet West without intervention of any more half-gods. This is what a Shaku Soyen wanted and will get. One has waited for years.

Sam was visiting the Arboretum at Dehra Dun in North India. No half-gods there, just scientists. “Show me Shiva and Shakti in that tree!” “I do not understand you.” “You are a Krishna devotee?” “Yes.” “Well, I do not understand you!”

This man, not being a half-god, but a scientist and therefore devoid of “humility” asked and when Sam explained in scientific terms, he kissed the dust at Sam’s feet. So Sam will be meeting Krishna and Jagarnath soon and we shall cut out all this nonsense about “science and occultism” and won’t need any long-winded speeches by professors. Even Pondicherry is crying about the need of psychologists who have knowledge of Indian cosmic metaphysics! I ain’t no half-god, no PhD. And rejected by sundry groups who wish to bring “science and occultism” together, with themselves as leaders, even while Dr. Huston Smith is here we shall take the real measures of bringing Indian Cosmic Metaphysics and Science closer together.

Besides it is working. I saw when Vilayat was here I should have to increase my following from 30 to 60 and now a hundred on the horizons—not contributing memberships, but real devotees. I have heard from at least two men such wonderful mystical reports, it is hard to believe. And I should have kissed the dust at their feet excepting for what has happened, is happening.

Against those bastards—and they are bastards who proclaim their private universal religion and collect funds for it. Sam is practicing self-effacement in fana-fi-Rassoul. We say: “as Rama, as Krishna, as Shiva, as Buddha … as Moses, as Jesus, as Mohammed and in many other names and forms known and unknown to the world.” Prayer, yes, but spiritual enfoldment much more.

Sam has already performed Tawajjeh which he received from Hazrat Inayat Khan (the young are going to accept “Six Interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan” and also the eye-witness to the meeting between Inayat Khan and Nyogen Senzaki.) But then came the next stage and while the American deva was telling the public that one should judge a spiritual teacher by his Darshan; at that very hour Sam was giving the Darshan of Rama, Krishna and Shiva. It was so effective that every person there excepting the friends of Paul Reps who just dropped in, asked to become his disciple! Some day we are going to accept: Let thy light shine before men!

Vilayat put an end to that nonsense prayer: “Lead us from darkness into Light.” Stupid ignoramuses have been praying for centuries and nothing happens. Vilayat comes and shows everybody how to increase that Light, and no nonsense. It is time for men to listen to God and shut their mouths and all this self-praise about totally ineffective prayer. Sam had to repeat Tevigga Sutta Sunday but this time it went over and how! Universal religionists (self-styled) beware! We don’t care about “Universal Religion,” we do care about Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed.

Although Sam has been very adventurous (madventurous) he has refrained from Darshan but he listens and the sign came. It is awkward, a former celibate having “love affairs a la Krishna” and no nonsense either. Sam asked God and God said, “For you it is necessary to balance over-sobriety in sex.”

But the sex is transmuted and Sam’s body has become like that of the great Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj. Only there must be a coalition or integration of that with Tantra, and besides the Coming Race is here exactly as Sri Aurobindo said but which the “experts” can’t realize—this is a warning to them, for they meet soon. The Coming Race is different. Even Gavin Arthur has done an entire flip flap and just in time. For soon he is to meet one of the great half-gods, Dane Rudyard. He and the others were involved in a total fiasco under a self-proclaimed Me-Big-Shot named Zitko. We had the same here and they all flopped. ”Unless the Lord Buildeth the House, they labor in vain.” We are going to return to the wisdom of the Scriptures without being bound by it.

Sheila is busy all the time and I feel and pray that her joint efforts with Vilayat will be exceedingly effective. The Temple of Understanding is in the spheres and it is remarkable that Vilayat has picked up exactly what his sainted father wanted. True, his aunt is very active but she is not Heart, she is not Hierarchy, and all people who think that power is important will have to face tests.

This is a rush-letter. Always busy but taking time off especially for spiritual walks this week. It is a New Age, it is exactly what was foreseen and foretold. I am amazed about the beauty, wisdom and spiritual potentiality of the disciples. It is hard to realize even when one is in their midst. The gods have arrived, one only hopes the half-gods will not have to go but can listen—and besides, that is where the money is!

Love and blessings.

S.A.M.

P.S. You can see I cannot travel at the moment but never know what the next moment will bring.

August 7, 1968

My dear Gavin:

I have today written to my first “boss.” I might have been successful in a totally different field if I had stayed with him—it is my own “fault” that I did not.

It was he that encouraged, almost supervised a lot of study which most unfortunately Lloyd and his Vatican colleagues have absolutely—and I mean absolutely—refused to recognize as factually true.

There is no ill-will but today I am having two conferences with people, many of whom have been given the Vatican brush-off by the same persons and they feel that there is so much in Korzybski held back by a Vatican hierarchy from which there is no appeal.

This not only means being present at conferences, it means much of my life story may be published and it also means my being welcome into certain facets of society, including Mill Valley, which have “included me out” because of my beliefs in “semantics.”

This is only the beginning of new stages in life. I do not know whether you have been called to a meeting at Sheyla’s house this week-end. But it seems that rich and powerful persons are more interested in knowledge than in value-judgments which pass off as “knowledge” if the statements come from the “right people.” But as life is, those who are “right” in one portion of society are “wrong” elsewhere.

The semanticists are discussing “confusion in politics” this week. Why limit the confusion to politics? It is everywhere where value-judgments hold forth.

The success of Sheyla’s trip (and she may have travel companions) will add coffin-nails to personality-judgments in the name of culture. You have seen a little; I think you’ll see lots more.

Faithfully,

cc- Morain

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

August 7, 1968

Louis R. Lurie

The Lurie Co.

333 Montgomery St.,

San Francisco, Calif. 94104

Dear Sirs:

I am writing to you in the hopes that this reaches the hands of my very first boss and employer, Mr. Louis R. Lurie. It is almost a testimonial for him before his eightieth birthday.

Although I have traveled in a totally different route in life, my forthcoming successes are in part at least due to encouragement he personally gave me in a rather impractical field (from our point of view), philosophy. It is most bizarre rather than unfortunate that many people who regard themselves as leaders in philosophy and allied branches of culture have spurned absolutely that a person could learn anything without specializing in a university. It has taken years to overcome this totally unnecessary obstacle, except that obstacles test manhood.

I can only say, that my personal career in the Orient, indeed all over Asia, was totally different from that usually expected, especially by those who lay down principles which neither they nor anybody has successfully put into practice.

My subsequent ventures into philosophy led me to become a guest of honor at the Imperial Palace Grounds in Tokyo; from meeting many of the highest people in Asia, many lands; and having my god-daughter win first prize in an All-Asian Philosophic Conference with a paper written by this person.

It is only after years of endeavor that one is being received seriously and chiefly by those who are out of sympathy with traditions. But a Nation that “knows” all about questionable successes in communist engineering and nothing at all about successes of American enterprises abroad is not exactly sane. And a life that seems more in accord with the novels of the late Prof. Burdick and Commander Lederer does not cease to be real.

One can only say that while I am younger than Louis, being in my seventies, both body and mind are in splendid condition. And in turn I hope he can continue with vigor and success as he has been.

Sincerely,

August 14, 1968

Mr. Shamcher S. Beorse

Box 142,

Keyport, Wash.

Beloved One of God:

The new cycle is here. One can almost say:

“God’s in His earth,

All’s right in the heavens.”

Or cynically we may have a parade soon with a banner:

“O Lord! May our will be done in heaven

As it is on earth.”

This is a new cycle. “Neither can I be broken nor God but the one who would break me, he is broken.” Everything the last year “seen” is coming to objectivity and I don’t care if all the man-made corporations in the world object—and they will object, they have be learn the simplest of teachings, “Truth in the end will win” and when the family of Hazrat Inayat Khan tries to perpetrate as they now are, a promotion “Flesh and bleed shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.” It is God Himself whom they must deal with.

The time has come when a mystic may speak on mysticism. Not only that and audiences listen. I am preparing for Paul Reps in December and Vilayat in November, only not preparing. God is preparing and it is a sad tragedy that this may cause public scandals. For there are no persons harder to reach than those who proclaim, “To Thee do we give willing surrender” and who surrender neither to a loving mother, kind father, innocent child or anybody else. Adamant egocentricity parades as “humility” and corporations proclaim themselves to be the mouth-pieces of the universe and desecrate: “Open Thou our hearts that we may hear Thy Voice Which cometh constantly from within” and without any need of may board of directors, amen!

I know sooner or later doors would open on the campus of the University of California. Dr. Huston Smith is here from the Massachusetts School of Technology, and many believe he is America’s greatest authority both on Asian religion and mysticism. All the psychedelic peoples learned on him. He—and he has none of this nonsense about “humility,” had previously accepted every single report which those “who greet … in “humility” disdain. And in the class yesterday this person put out a challenge and it was accepted. His personality was not attacked and there was a demand for cards.

God, Whom it seems does not counsel with corporation officials, had arranged so that the star pupil of Dr. Huston Smith is now Sam’s esoteric secretary. It was easy and the reports are getting in his hands and we also gave him copy of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones. This sort of man accepts objective reports; corporations and “willing-surrender” people do not. Their day is over, before the Living and Loving God. Over, though they do not know it.

I am going back to Berkeley today and sooner or later these efforts will get into the hands of the Department of Philosophy and ultimately into the Departments concerned with international affairs. We are already on good terms with the Department of Near East Languages. Dr. Brinner, who accepts the existence of the Sufi-Sufis who never heard of corporations, had arranged for Frank Tedesco, a mureed, to go to Harvard University on a scholarship (God does wonderful things that corporations, cannot conceive) and he has prepared the way. The rest will be easy.

In the meanwhile there have been a number of interviews and conferences and one is incessantly busy, hardly time for meals and sleep—always getting advice, of course, but also getting innumerable appeals for Bayat. It is a new age. Monday morning this was climaxed by a series of meetings beginning at 6 in the morning. The dominant figure was a very important and wealthy man of this region who has had mystical experience and gotten kicked around, of course. Now he is coming out of it. He knows more of Sam’s aeonic existence than anybody excepting our old long gone Pir-o-Murshid and the top Sufis of Pakistan and perhaps Hassan Sani Nizami (but “willing surrender” people never accept facts, or maybe, they will someday, inshallah.)

We are preparing Sheyla McKendrick to go to Asia. She will join Vilayat and one must say it was not necessary to have any consultation. There is total agreement between loving hearts and as the “loving surrender” people never, never accept the mystical experience of others (or maybe they will?) the roll of Vilayat, long, long foreseen is coming out and as God is with him not all the corporations on earth can stop that. Imagine Jesus Christ defending Himself by saying He represented a corporation Rather it was the other way!

It is sad but it must come out that Brother Cecil has accepted Fazal as “Pir-o-Murshid.” Ay—ay-men; Let him prove it!

Sam has had six public interviews. His picture will soon be out. His life-story will soon be out. And his last pictures a include one in Darshan. One first began the Tawajjeh which one received from Hazrat Inayat Khan without any corporations being consulted, nor Sheikha-Masheikh nor Murshida! This is restored and following Salat one is demonstrating state by state, stage by stage every item of Salat. The time has come.

Real Sufism, not the fictitious “family” and Mrs. Duce corroborative types, is based on fana-fi-Sheikh, fana-fi-Rassoul, fana-fi-lillah, “Only God was the Founder of Sufism,” and not in 1910 and not in England as the Holland corporation declares. Hazrat Inayat Khan was not even in England in 1910. He arrived in 1911 in this land and began the Sufi Order—not the Sufi Movement with Mrs. Ada Martin, then a leading occultist—which was true almost to her death. And there are a few of us still alive who were disciples prior to any Geneva, but we don’t count, only corporations count!

In the fana-fi-”Salat” one takes on the characteristics of each of the Messengers of God as one becomes effaced in them and this is demonstrable. And this ends in the Darshan of Lord Buddha, demonstrable. And it is both amusing and serious that one begins to manifest the glorious characteristics of Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Buddha … Mohammed, This was foreseen by a Khalandar but he does not count. Madzubs do not count. Only corporations count and their hey-day is gone.

As one is effaced one cannot explain but there is no question of a terrific increase in Light. This Light which is very real appears not only in Murshid but mureed. It is very intense, apparently. And on the night one first attempted this is another part of town a Tibetan initiate was telling that you can only know a Master by his Darshan! This was the best thing that could happen. And it has had to be demonstrated and in front of audiences of disciples, applicants and friends. And so let thy light shine before men and this is the challenge to Holland and San Francisco and all fictitious corporations that use the term “Sufi” and defy each other and everybody else. They will answer to God.

As a Sufi said (and there were Sufis before we had corporations); “Show fearlessness toward enemies and powerlessness toward friends.” Everything is happening.

If the Holland corporation takes a single step against Vilayat, we shall come out. I am neither so poor as in 1927-30 nor so timid. To the contrary. There is now gathering wealth here. I do not know how much. And people who disdained Sam before are now flippety-flopping and we accept that. We can wipe out the past. One’s own brother was transformed from a despicable enemy to a dependent friend. With God all things are possible, with corporations, we shall see.

It is a sorry thing to send this to Longthorpe and one wonders how Cecil can reconcile the Divine Love of Jesus Christ with the dictatorial ukase of a corporation ! Problems are not being solved by editorials sermons, and lectures. But they are being solved, praise to God.

Written hurriedly early in the morning.

Love and blessings

S.A.M.

cc- Gibbings

cc- Reps Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti

August 27, 1968

My dear Magana,

I have started several times to write to you and the letter has been interrupted by a chain of events which people who knew me earlier in life will spurn and one will let them. Each of us wants to live in his island of dreams and not be disturbed. And it is especially true that people who dabble in Orientalia and metaphysics are the last ones in the world to apply karma to themselves. They are utterly unable to face realities, to tragedies that come to themselves or to face what comes to others.

It is impossible to know where to begin. Years ago, with Luther Whiteman we wrote a book, Glory Roads about reform movements in the State of California. We made a number of predictions and all these predictions produced enemies and practically all of these predictions came true. You can trust Eileen Garrett and Rhina and the Cayce people not to accept that! But it is coming out and believe me it is coming out.

One the social science side there are requests to republish Glory Roads. But on the practical side there is now a large publishing house going further into the subject and it is very likely that Sam will have an interview soon. Human beings are neither marionettes nor thoughts inside some metaphysician’s cranium. But you can’t convince older people otherwise and there is no intention to do so.

Only now Sam is able to bring together the actual reform movements in California and India and despite a lot of rejections from the “experts” and Swamis and big-shots this is going ahead and as Sankara said, but as all the Swamis and Gurus and Mahahahahas deny, Brahm is in the least of us and no fooling. And so Sam is giving up “ideals” for dollars, but there is nothing else to do. The “experts” and self-important people will pray. “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” but they mean “our will be done in heaven as it is on earth” and the karma is striking them; not is going to, but is.

Sam, rejected by all the “experts” around here is one of the chief advisers for a real meeting between real holy men and ecclesiastics and real religions of the real world to convene in Darjeeling in October. He has to plan to send several people., beginning with most loving disciples and perhaps including several $p$r$o$p$e$r$ people, if you understand that. Even Dr. Chaudhuri is beginning to understand that and Gavin Arthur has long seen the “light”—I don’t mean he has just joint the band-wagon, he has actually seen the actual light and none of this mumbo-jumbo of “lead us from darkness into the light.” He has seen and boy, has he been transformed!

Sam has just had a log interview with Prof. Huston Smith of that grand “kindergarten” M.I.T. this professor has had the audacity to accept a number of papers from Sam which “experts” and the “right people” have rejected. The interview has been taped and will be submitted to an editor for publication and also to a radio and TV station. It just might be that some people will become as interested in the direct experience of the little man who has been there as against the sermons of the nice big-shots who have not!

Of course I shall be there Friday night, i.e. if my schedule holds out. Sam is on better terms with the Ali Akbar Khan people than with the former “experts,” Swamis, Gurus and Mahahahahas. There is a long, long factual history but who cares for it?

When the Sufi (a real man) Vilayat Khan came here Sam saw it was necessary to increase the number of disciples from 30 to 60 and the number of followers to one hundred. Of course it has happened and more may happen soon. When Sam returned from sitting before a real Zen Master, Sokei-an Sasaki, in 1931, he found he was able to explain any scriptures, which the “experts,” Gurus, Swamis and Mahahahahas reject (they being humble and impersonal). But a silly, tittering housewife named Mrs. Judith Dickermann decided otherwise. This foolish creature had the audacity to think up The Temple of Understanding so that peoples of all races, religions and outlooks could join in worship. This crazy idea was accepted by all the leaders of all the world’s faiths and it is being constructed in Washington, D.C. despite lack of notices in the press.

She has called for a convocation in Darjeeling, and Sam is priming a number of people to go. This silly convocation has friends of Sam acting as Vice-President. Did you ever hear of anything more foolish? Anyhow it is worth sharing in and the past experiences of this silly-ass about meeting real saints, real sages and real masters will now be submitted for publication, giving names, places and events. And these upstart young people, hippies and not believe Sam! Why even PhD professors and not only Huston Smith are beginning to believe Sam.

Actually Sam is a sort of cultural adviser to several summit gatherings in real Asia which never get to the press, and all these silly convocations started from inspirations of women! Why should they butt-in when we have so many “experts,” Swamis, Gurus and Mahahahahas?

The Dance of Universal Peace is making great progress. That is the class thinks so. The nice old ladies who would not dare attend think otherwise. God bless them. And Sam has begun—and this is the greatest sacrilege no doubt about it—Darshan! And it seems to hypnotize the young people who have light shining faces and glowing consonances, not only that, darshan is free! No $35, no $200, free! And apparently effective; at least the young think so. Of course the older people who can’t be fooled keep away. They know better, that is without saying.

Some of Sam’s people expect to be in the audience Friday night. I don’t know how many. If they all came you could have to get a bigger hall. Wait and see.

Love and Blessings,

September 12, 1968

My Dear Shamcher,

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.

What does it matter if Vilayat is a Pir or a Messenger or one of the Illuminated Souls or a Bodhisattva—that is to say an Illuminated Soul in the Making. Sam has no time for dualistic trash. You may do as you please regarding Cecil Gibbings. In fact I have around a carbon I could send Vilayat, but do not choose to disturb him. We are getting ready for some great events at the “roof of the world.” I am preparing two disciples and perhaps others
(inshallah) to join Vilayat at Darjeeling next month.

We already have a Khankah, praise to Allah, right near where Vilayat dedicated International Center of Meditation. We are going to show people what a spiritual commune is. Today Samuel is far more fortunate than Hazrat Inayat Khan in the type of new mureeds.

In Zikr, dervish dancing, etc., we are doing exactly what Vilayat said. Let Vilayat say—Sam will do. We practice the invocation rather than preach it—no nonsense. We have not had a single important setback since this became obviously necessary; on the contrary, things have never prospered so well in this life. The auguries and omens forbade even better things to come, inshallah.

Tomorrow night Sam sups with Gavin and shall discuss both the forthcoming moving and later trips. Gavin’s debate with Dane Rudhyar was by far his best effort. He has necessitated while Sam is in a state of perpetual rejuvenation.

The dervish dance last night had so many beautiful mureeds we had to divide it into two sections because of limited space. The events of the evening were beautiful in every direction. For instance, a secretary of the renowned psychiatrist, Fritz Perls, literally wept in this Murshid’s arms. As the Bible teaches: when brethren work together they control the whole world.

All love and blessing,

SAM

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif. 94110

September 16, 1968

Beloved one of Allah;

As-salaam aleikhum. Your letter of the 9^th has just arrived and is being answered immediately because Dara and Sheyla are at present in the house. They shall be leaving next week going to India by slow stages, and will have to get a permit for Darjeeling. I am hoping especially they will meet Pir Vilayat Khan and Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, but undoubtedly they will meet other people.

Your letter is full of hope but his person does not think of himself either as leader or not as leader. The robe from Pir Sahib Salarwala is a token and more than a token. It is now being used in a new manner—everything new, of course is “un-Islamic.” All kinds of folklore got into religion and became identified with religion.

Dervish Dancing has been started by this person and one hopes in time that people will say, as Ghaus-i-Azam said to Moin-ed-din Chisti, “for you music is permitted.” We do the Dervish dancing to the serbas or portions of Zikr and with them also we add certain sacred phrases, the phrases being drawn from the Rifa’i Dervishes and the movements from the different orders met while in UAR: Rifa’is, Shadhilis and Badawis, especially the latter—which ignorant people would call “un-Islamic.” We use nothing bat Zikr and sacred names. We also practice, practice, practice that Allah is closer than the neck-vein. From being aware of the neck-vein we become aware of Allah to whom be all praise.

This person has been successful, praise Allah, to get many to give up the use of artificial drugs and find greater joy in the spiritual activities. It will soon be more, so, alhamdu lillah. Unlike the Muslims who are crying, crying, crying for a Mosque and want more money, we had one small meeting in regards to purchasing a Khankah and then had to hold another meeting because the money came! When Allah wills, things happen. We do not depend upon others. We depend on Allah, Allah, Allah. And I am stressing this.

The other day a letter was sent to Allama Ala-ud-din Siddiqui at Punjab University because it is possible that another disciple, Tedesco Sahib, may be transferred to that institution. He has been conferring with some of the best professors in this land. It would be of great mutual help if this could happen, inshallah. It may also be wise to establish Islamiyya Ruhaniat Society because to the loose use made of the term “Sufi” to apply to all kinds of things but practicing the presence of Allah.

This person now has about 60 followers and it may soon be more, inshallah. One has two very faithful secretaries who have been given the names of Moineddin and Mansur. Their respective wises, Fatima and Jemila. Jemila was a very plain ordinary lady married to a handsome husband (Mansur). We applied the Wazifa method and this name, Jemila. She has turned out be beautiful within and without and a radiance glows from her. This is a manifestation of the value of the true Islam, as practiced by Sufis.

Yesterday Murshid took Moineddin and Mansur and gave them the first practice in tasawwuri Mohammed, which is the most difficult of all the ryazat I know, but in the end the most valuable. It requires one to become erect, straight forward, honest, efficient and powerful. It is not a philosophy; it is a way of life. The idea may have come from Jili, but it is most practicable. Nevertheless it requires long preparation. Mansur had little trouble because he has long been on tasawwuri Mian Mir.

This wonderful practice was followed by Akhlak Allah which gives all joy, freedom and release. Anybody can do these if there is a Murshid, otherwise it is just anarchy. The Murshid does the practices with each disciple.

The same is true with dancing. We may give this at the Pakistani Consulate next March. I think it will be perfected by then. But I am sure it can be arranged to give it to the Arabs when they want it.

We are also introducing some Arab clothing and may have the lungees such as are worn in East Pakistan. There is a revolt against our traditional clothing here, and it may take on one of a number of forms. As a person I am totally against the short skirts women wear, not only on account of bare limbs (which means nothing to me) but because Beauty has ceased to be a value in this super-materialistic society.

No doubt my friends will do into this later especially when they come to Pakistan.

Another thing which comes from pursuing the practices of one’s Pir, and that is continued vitality and a strange sort of health based on inner power.

If you ever find out where Major Mohammed Sadiq is please let me know. I feel I have become strong where I wish he should be. When I next come to your country I shall teach, inshallah, the great values in the Wazifas, open and hidden and perhaps by that time more. When we move into the Khankah, I shall be able to pursue the commentaries on Hazrat Inayat Khan’s work and also his complete Ryazat.

With all love and blessing of your family, our beloved Pirs and your good self,

Faithfully,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif.

September 28, 1968

Rudolph Olsen

166 Geary St.

San Francisco, Calif. 94108

My dear Rudy:

I am taking advantage of your telephone call to write you somewhat in detail and thus avail to make a diary entry in which one is far behind. One must say that there is a new age coming in which the God-reality will be accepted because of human experience.

The French philosopher, Auguste Comte said that culture had to pass from theological through metaphysical to a scientific stage. That is to say, we do not arrive at knowledge until it is man’s experience. No doubt, and especially here in California, we have passed largely from the theological to the metaphysical stage. But this is not enough. In the end men will only accept what they experience.

The metaphysical people have given us plenty of literature and they have broadened the scope of potentiality. But they are not impersonal and objective like the scientists. Religionists believe that they believe and expect others to agree and they will not accept what others do. It is practically impossible to accept religion and the Golden Rule: they do not fit. Science has progressed because there men accept what other men do and without any pretense at ethics they accept one another. This is a real first step toward “Love ye one another.” To talk about “love” is the surest sign of its absence.

People who talk and write about Occultism are among the last who accept the occult prowess of others. On the 15th Sam will go to the Sheraton Palace to hear a lecture on “Reincarnation” given by a representative of the Cayce Foundation. These like all others in the field love to attract money: they do not care to hear about real evidences of real memories of former lives; such objective honesty would hurt the cause which is collecting funds. The country is full of such cults. And my own experiences, rejected by all the cults and so-called psychic research groups, were accepted at once by a leading University. This is the way the cultists work; they remind me of an old folk-lore saying which comes down from an early run on a bank here in San Francisco: “If you no got heem I want heem; if you got heem I no want heem.”

My own background with the Sufis—of whom there are millions of disciples in the actual world—shows quite a different story from that of “experts” who were never there and whose very prowess excludes the necessity of their having been there. But soon Sam will be seeing some real seeresses who are adepts in that field and it will be a mighty important set of meetings.

(Anything written here may be shared or not as you please.)

To cut short what could be a volume I shall write only about my work in or around Astrology. To be a cultist you have to paralyze your ears. An open ear and an open heart is all right for a scientist, but not for a cultist. The more narrow the clique the more ego-self assured that one is near the truth. In God’s world it is the opposite; this is man’s world. It can be very exclusive especially if you prate but do not practice the brotherhood of man.

Once Sam was permitted to address an audience by the late Mrs. Ahlstrand on “Music and Astrology.” It was never repeated. The cultists who know everything never have to listen to anybody. But Sufis having the real occult knowledge can give such to the world. They are now doing this in England disproving almost everything that came from Jung who was not an initiate at all and who has spread tremendous confusion.

The visit of Vilayat Khan caused Sam to reach a decision without any time for meditation. To him it was like “join or die” and he joined. Vilayat Khan was the elder son of Hazrat Inayat Khan. Generally one holds that “flesh and blood do not inherit the kingdom of heaven,” but it is also true that the son of Jelal-ed-din Rumi ultimately became his successor; this, however, only by initiatory processes. And besides the world has crucified Vilayat and he carries an albatross around his neck, a terrible burden.

Vilayat found what he calls his home in Novato in Marin County. Inayat Khan gave Sam his directions on how to build his temple. The rejections were refused by all the “loving” and “humble” disciples and today, no temple. But Sam and some of his disciples put these directions into practice to obtain a home and they found one in the very Novato that Vilayat had sanctified and without any needs to go around and baksheesh-beg everybody else for their “great work” which is the usual custom. “Unless the Lord buildeth the house they labor in vain who build.” We have the house and we did not have to beg-baksheesh from anybody else.

And Vilayat spoke on the application of the rhythm of the spheres in Dervish dancing. Despite all the good cultists and all cultists are necessarily “good,” Sam has been welcomed into many circles of Dervishes and is now teaching Dervish dancing. The older people who know everything know how to sneer, but the young who lack “humility” are curious and they are coming in ever greater number.

To the Dervish dancing we have added the Astrological movements and they work; they are operative. The cults will come and go and the old will disappear and a New Age will have younger people who will learn by experience, as they are learning by experience.

It reminds one of the visit of the Cayce people. They told the audience that many ills could be cured by jogging. The audience applauded and cheered—and did nothing. That is the way of the elders. They are disappearing. The young will jog, God bless them. Their elders will applaud.

Sufis have a tremendous amount of occult knowledge. I mean the real Sufis, not modern corporations, which have adopted the term without any connection to the traditional brotherhoods. They have the glamour and perhaps the social prestige and money, but hardly the wisdom of the ages.

To limit it to Astrology here (and this is a tremendous limitation), the disciples are taught to walk, move and dance according to the rhythms of Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. This will be basic.

As the new Psychology will become more and more closely related to Astrology (and thus restore the “Ancient Wisdom,” not the empty phrase of our Annie Besants but the actual contacts), we shall see applied “Esoteric” Astrology and already it is being used to improve and correct character and defects. Each one finds his own, but whether this can be done without a valid Teacher is a question. Of course the cultists will say it can, but saying is nothing but noise-making.

The term Dharmapada means learning wisdom through the feet, by walking. Cultists will keep the phrase but not walk. Master Too Lun here has the meditative walk. We are going to apply it more and more and the young will no doubt come more and more and their seniors by age will not know how to react. This is a new world.

Among Sufis also there are those who use the breath and the feet and need few other practices other than those of devotion—which is absent among cultists and pseudo-esotericists. They lack the deep devotion. This can be so easily proved; it is not worth arguing about.

Anyhow “The Bamboo Basket,” a local Buddhist publication, published Sam’s words given at a meeting and taped without his knowledge. Sam has for years advocated, with little success, that Buddhists should make pilgrimages to the big Buddha in Golden Gate Park. He is now going to teach the Dharmapada by this means and the cultists will sneer and disappear.

But Dancing gives more than Walking and especially when accompanied by the proper instruments. Several young people have learned the tabla and they are well qualified to work with dancers. The class is on Saturday afternoons but there are now sub-classes for just as real Sufis of other ages have found benefits from singing and dancing so Sam who is recognized by the real historical Sufi Orders, is doing the same—all the cults and cultists to the contrary. For Sufis teach that only God exist and this is something which our so-called “esotericists” can hardly swallow. As Al-Ghazali taught, “Sufism is based on experiences and not on premises.”

Sufis know how to draw life, energy and all virtues from the Sphere, and do. This is demonstrable and demonstrated. Sam has a following now of about a hundred young people, and on1y two nature disciples by age. The young come, they learn, they experience Joy and Love and manifest Beauty and when Vilayat Khan returns he may see a phenomenon, praise to God.

Vilayat is going to Darjeeling where the real religious and spiritual leaders of the real world are meeting. Sam has sent two disciples. This is the first time in history that this has happened. Of course no cultists dare join: they have words and class but to face realities? You have to know God or had spiritual experience and to face some of the wisest people of the day. And we are going to see, no doubt, the mutual recognition of each religion by each other and soon.

Ignorant people never control the world. The wise act as their wisdom dictates. The young want Truth, the old want words. The old love terms, the young want the experiences; they are getting them.

I have open house on Thursday and Sunday nights and restricted classes in dancing by invitation only. What is written can be demonstrated; the cults do not demonstrate, that is the difference.

Love and blessings.

S. A. M.

October 2, l968

My dear Norman:

I have not heard from you since your coming here and some dramatic if not emergency situations warrant this letter.

For example my god-daughter Miss Saadia Khawar Khan, has suddenly shown up at Cornell University in Ithaca. She phoned me and I begged her to write and she is no doubt disappointed because Murshid (Sam) has not written. I have had exactly three days off this year and now my only solace, sleep, has been broken but it is not misfortunate, it is part of mystical unfoldment. So one is busy day and night and despite pleas, the problems brought to one far outstrip the help.

For instance now there are two weddings in the offing. They do not take much time or energy but they take time and energy when Sam does not have them at all. The sudden jump from about 30 to 60 disciples means attention to all of them, and while I do not have the full quota of 60 I do have when one consider the number of candidates.

Sufism is different from other forms of mysticism and spiritual development in that it actually recognizes all other schools and methods and none of this verbal humbug which seniors love, which is substituted for realties.

I am enclosing copy of a letter to The Temple of Understanding in Washington. They are having a real conference of the real representatives of the religions of the real world—something “academicians” avoid at all costs. Imagine devotees meeting without “experts,” the CIA, the press and all the parasites and leaches of the now passing parade!

If you remain in Cleveland—and I certainly do not request it—I may come early next year if situations warrant it but have to wait until this Conference at Darjeeling is over.

The Dance of Universal Peace mentioned in the enclosure is based on mystical astrological-occult and devotional elements. We have gone ahead with real Dervish dancing and this part should be ready by spring. But other items are being made clear to me by God at night in experiences your quondam teachers would never accept coming from any Westerner other than their own ego-selves!

I. Astrology. There is a real Esoteric Astrology. This is a kind of Yoga coming from a Guru-Murshid and it is as easy to present to the young today as it was impossible to present to “experts” a few years back. You showed me a book once on the planets, their mutual relations etc. and tested it on me and it worked. Now a disciple has this book and it has so far agreed every time with the Astrological Yoga presented in connection with the dance. 

This dancing has caught on tremendously. The astrological aspects were presented by the Sufi Pir Vilayat Khan when here and told about the dervishes whirling to the different planets. That is just what Sam is presenting. I have asked Gavin to tell me about the colors of the seven planets so that the head-gear of be performers should conform. You may have some ideas here.

II. Real Oriental Philosophies. The young are calling for Sam exactly opposite to their elders rejecting him. In fact I have to face new people all the time. All young excepting for a few strange old men, of the type always rejected by “old ladies wearing tennis shoes.”

III. Communes. This is a big subject. Too many communes are started by egoists all proclaiming themselves Avatars or Messiahs or world revolutionaries and considering themselves superior to everybody else. Communes are for those who do not consider themselves superior. The awkward thing is that Sam may have to demonstrate by example, and the un-awkward thing is that things are happening just that way. The new Sufi Khankah may be opened soon at 910 Railroad Ave., Novato, Calif. We are going to have real universal brotherhood and no hypocritical nonsense.

IV. Politics. It is awkward to being given a chance as to who you wish to destroy present day culture. All the candidates seem to have the common platform, “No more emotions, we must think our ways out” and that is all you get. All I see is hatred, ignorance and confusion such as never witnessed before. And with the larger and larger percentage of university graduates it seems that politics is the refuge of the ignorant. I am fortunate to be in a “rotten borough” with the Burtons. But like most others here one has to vote against, not for; or one does not vote.

I’ll have some surprise information for you if you come here the next two months. Regards to your dad.

Cordially,

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

October 15

Shamsuddin Ahmed,

48-J

Model Town, Lahore

Beloved One of Allah:

As-salaam aleikhum. Praise be to Allah Who guides His followers on the right path. There is not an event of recent times that by Kashf and Shahud and Ilm this one has not seen and seen correctly and at the same time it is impossible to convince “Muslims,” filled with self and self-praise. And even now I am challenging the jealousy of their “leaders” here because while they are bragging about bringing Islam (whatever that means) to Americans my Zikr class is overflowing and my Fikr-Walking group is also growing.

I am writing papers on Walking Fikr and when completed will send you a copy. I am not wasting time with Muslims that Allah is closer than the neck-vein; or “act as if in the presence of Allah and remember, that if you do not see Him, verily He sees you.” I have long given it up, it is useless and the drinking diplomats are never going to bring about the release of the holy places in Palestine. It is horrible.

While Muslims, contrary to the Prophet, are losing their tempers, this one is cracking jokes, such as, “Ben Gurion will be late to synagogue on high holidays; he is too busy with his yoga practices.” If there were a little wit—and there is none, the whole nonsense would be exposed. But as “Muslims” are almost as much attached to nonsense and egotism as the Zionists, they are stuck. And before Allah, this person is not stuck.

Tomorrow, inshallah, I am going to the Iranian consulate for we are introducing Persian ladies clothes here and they will be worn on my birthday which comes this week.

I have also found a shop which sells Arabic records and purchased Azan. My young followers, not being “Muslims” wanting it and I refused, and not being “Muslims” they wanted the Qur’anic recitations at once and got them. So I took the Walking Fikr group to the Arab record company. And this week I hope to play also one on Saadi, but think one of them will want it. My Americans want Allah and Qur’an but the “Muslims” have no time for such things, only for self-praise and international politics and don’t succeed. If they would accept that Allah is closer than the neck-vein they would succeed, but they won’t—yet.

There is a delegation of Pakistanis here that I hope to see shortly. They know you slightly. But I received a most beautiful letter from a young man, attached to their UN staff that attended my chanting Zikr and walking Fikr and is very happy and says he has learned much. If there were the slightest humility or curiosity people could learn. I thank Allah for the young Americans who are receiving the Divine Wisdom from this person. These Pakistanis and I discussed at length Data Sahib and Mian Mir and there was complete and mutual recognition on all planes, praise to Allah.

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

October 19, 1968

Sadanand B. Nagarkatti,

Anandashram,

Dist. Cannonere,

South India

Dear Ram:

It is very difficult for San to answer your very loving letter of the 12th. There is no doubt much written in the Alaya and Akasha but it is exceedingly difficult to communicate with intellectual people on this score. Indeed this letter will be followed by one to the Sri Aurobindo Ashram where they are trying to intellectualize the experiences of a great Rishi-Seer and make him into a subjective philosopher. And the very evident fact that Love is Supermind is Heart is something that they are going to learn when the “teachers” abandon “humility” and become curious.

The last but one “love-offering” was overlooked and then sent and another since then. No doubt Sam is able to give more but we are now opening a Sufi Khankah which is something like an Ashram. Sam will have with him seven devoted disciples. Unlike most Bhakti-Yogins we not only have love for Ram (where they may have, more) but love for each other, much love for each other, real love for each other and we are going to show the world with Ram’s help, that Lord Christ’s “Love ye one another” is a Truth not a philosophical maxim.

This dawned on Sam the other night. Every day without surcease Sam works for man and every night Ram manifests and gives him a new dance. It began with Dervish dances then the Hare Krishna then the Ramnam and so many dances. Some of them look very physical using touch but all are based on repeating the Names of God. When Sam was in Simla he had this experience. He was buying a ticket. A devotee came and said, “Many travel all over the world but he does not travel to God.” “How do you know I am not travelling to God?” “The lover of God is constantly repeating His Name.” “How about the lover whom God uses to repeat His Name through?” The devotee apologized. (The pseudo-devotees do not life that kind of story.)

Well now Sam has reached a state where he no longer repeats the Name (or Names of God). They are being repeated through him incessantly day and night. And at night the Vision lifts and new dances. And now Sam is going to give them. First came the Ram dance only for men. Then the Sri Krishna dance mostly for women until the end when Sri Krishna falls in love with Radha and then the women choose partners and we have a “follow of the leader dance” on Indian customs. But Sam has learned how to transmit the baraka or blessings in many forms, all based on the constant repetition of Divine Names and the new generations will look askance at their preceders who not accept that Sam received the blessings from the Sufis and from Ruth St. Denis. You can understand why the young here will not accept their elders at all. And they are accepting the God-Realty and they are also accepting the God-Reality through music and dancing and not through sermons and lecturers and philosophy.

Tell Pujya Mataji that her blessing is accepted as a Reality, and not mere devotion. It is so evident. It was so evident last night at Sam’s birthday party, where a crowd of young and loving joined. And it would appear even more real at the opening of our House tomorrow, inshallah, as the Muslims say.

The list of books is most satisfactory. Everything is most satisfactory. We shall have two homes for a while and then it would appear something big is coming. No more words—the evidences of Ram-God.

It is strange that a though Sam regards himself as a Sufi he seems to becoming transformed more like Papa. He cannot understand this. The Darshan is becoming really-real, not ceremonial. This is in accord with Sam’s aeonic mission. He never discussed this with anybody but Sri Swami Satchidananda—not even with Papa, until it was uncovered by Sufis and it will be accepted by the young, God bless them, and is being accepted more and more and more.

One receives “The Vision” regularly. Any copies of “In the Vision of God” would be most welcome and as soon as the new house is occupied and there is a clear picture one hopes to send appropriate funds. But if Mrs. McKendrick and Mr. Rowell come, this matter can be discussed with them.

In the last mail The Rejected Avatar was sent. This is supposed to have been released yesterday. Sam has much, much more inside him, and when Ram permits these things will come out. In Sam’s “war” to have Sri Krishna on his side is enough; all others seem to want, money, fame, publicity and all the worldly things which have always failed. But today there is the meeting of the spiritual leaders of the world in Darjeeling that all might join in peace, love and brotherhood and no more individuals proclaiming their private “universality” and “brotherhood.” All belong to all.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel Lewis

November 6

Dear Chester:

I don’t know whether the morning is wiser than the evening but at the moment it is more wise-cracking. I always feel cruel, but things are happening so far. In fact I wrote a letter and left it open for a post-script, feeling that something would happen. Then things happened fast.

Now you have been very kind in sending young people to me and these “kids” are not like their elders. They actually believe that an American who has studied Asian philosophies and wisdoms with Asians just might know more than the PhDeists of whom their elders are so proud. In fact they don’t want any PhDeists. And they keep on coming more and more and recommending each other. So I have to throw up “camarade” and am even sending a copy of this to Alan. For it looks now that before the end of the year I shall be having at least two centers in Marin County, of disciples. And this without the assistance of my God-daughter and her “husband” whom you sent to me originally. They are plotting and planning to do something for me.

My birthday party, given by 20 young people in Marin and the one I gave here with 30 people, mostly young, have been followed by requests to become disciples. And I have to give more time and attention to them. So much so that I am limited to one free evening a week and even that is reserved for pleasure with one or more of these young people.

Yesterday I phoned Betty to indicate that Aditha Blesh should not be particularly welcome here. This was a challenge, for if she does come, I shall be compelled to sermonize, which I do not do. It will be on the well-known three monkeys. Anyhow I have been telling that the real wisdom of the Orient—and sometimes of the Occident—is found in animal stories. These are beneath the dignity of PhDeists anyhow. But then the whole library of real scriptures of the real Orient has been given me, by default.

The other night a young man asked me what I thought of certain writers and I said, “Despite the general opinion Lord Buddha did live and some of his bones are right here in San Francisco. When you want to visit the place I shall be glad to take you, any time.” This was a sockeroo. I haven’t anything against popular lecturers; in fact indirectly they are helping because this leaves to me the whole compilation of real Buddhist scriptures. In fact I am ready to present Buddhistic-Buddhism soon at public lecturers and will be flanked by a Sangha of ordained priests, three of whom have studied in the Orient with real masters and the other with the late Dr. Evans-Wentz. These credentials, of course, conflict with PhDeism. Amen.

Well for the first time the Mosque here sent a delegation. Of course I have been in many parts of Islamic, as well as non-Islamic Asia, but won’t go into that. I ain’t no “expert.” But they want me, fortunately on Saturday evening.

The week started out symbolic. I gave a report to a group of scientists who have no fol-de-rol on free speech, humanity, democracy and what I call “filth”—to me this is the only filth there is, hypocrisy. When the professor in charge got through you would have thought I was superman. But these were dumb scientists. The democracy, free-speech, humanity people could never stand for that—nor for each other, if you match KQED. Every man a self-superman, but nobody else. Some are so much more equal.

Speaking of “filth” I seem to have a habit of running into ex-associates of Allen Ginsberg. And I stick to my position, “You and I will never agree because you are a four-letter word advocate and I am a three-letter word advocate” are therefor more simple and Sly.

This reminds me of a difficulty. I was all ready to watch a circus between Walt Baptiste and Mr. Patrick when the Pearson-Reagan shows interrupted. Of course the guy is guilty; he is guilty because he is guilty and we must not let facts becloud the issues. In fact everyone is guilty excepting thee and me but I confess I know I am more guilty than thee (Quakes not-withstanding).

The Muslims disappeared and my secretary walks in with the completed manuscripts: (a) Korean Buddhism. Of course Sam could not possibly have that but a copy will go to the Korean Consulate. Those queers prefer evidence to “expertism.” And then the one on Vietnamese Buddhism. That takes the cake and I understand the Vietnamese are going to have a consulate here.

A couple of beautiful young people came: “Will you vote for Proposition P?” I can’t.” “Why not?” “I don’t exist.” “But we do, we see you.” “That is an illusion. I don’t exist. When I saw how the poor peasants of Vietnam were being treated I joined the Vietnamese Buddhist Church. Now, prove I exist and I shall vote for Proposition P. They could not!

In fact, being a sneaky, scurvy conspirator I am planning to bring my Vietnamese colleague here and may run down around Thanksgiving to Ojai and Santa Barbara and maybe even to L.A. I think we may have a place for him here and by that time the Hawks and Doves will have some other excuses to get at each others’ throats, and, of course, ignore the humanity involved. Democracy means our self-determination for other people.

Now this is all fringe. The same night I uncovered my paper on Vietnamese Buddhism I found the complete esoteric practices of Sufi Inayat Khan and the translations of Nyogen Senzaki. I have been so busy on Korean Buddhism and Master Tai-Hsu, no time for anything else. And I have five Buddhist manuscripts alone, not counting anything from Nyogen Senzaki.

November 11, 1968

My dear Shamcher,

This is really diary entry. I have not written anything for it for a long time, yet this period has been replete with incidents. I am hoping that your affairs are all right. It is a little difficult to be concerned with each individual separately, as the circle of acquaintances, friends, and loved ones increases.

The central theme of life at the moment is the strange and very wonderful amalgamation of what Paul Reps called The School, what Vilayat called International Meditation Center and what was shown to Sam interiorly as The Garden of Inayat. Whether these are one, two, or three undertakings, they all appear to be manifesting in this growing city of Novato, in the Northern part of Marin County, which is north of San Francisco. The harmony, uniformity, and concordance of the visions of the three persons mentioned, plus the sight and insight of several clairvoyants, plus the individual reports of disciples all point to one and the same.

Paul Reps has been here. It is noteworthy that while on the one hand his appearances would seem to be sudden and totally unrelated to various schedules, they all harmonize so beautifully in the time and space activities that the internal and external harmonies are totally blended. I am not so concerned with Reps’ programs and activities, as to whether he could harmonize with Vilayat. At times I feel like a great composer with Vilayat director of the orchestra; at times I feel the reciprocal; that Vilayat is the composer and Samuel is the director.

One thing I certainly shall not do: that is interfere with the direct vision of anybody. Pure vision (Kashf or Mushahida) is a manifestation of the Divine Grace to or through persons. When I was summarily thrown out of the Khankah at Fairfax, I was assured by Hazrat Inayat Khan from the other side that there would be a great spiritual center in Marin County with considerable flat land, which we did not have there, and is not available in Fairfax at all.

To trust God in the unseen is comparatively easy. To trust God in the seen causes many people to balk. Now we trust God in the seen. In a loving mother, in a kind father, in an innocent child, in faithful mureeds, and in the inspiring teachers one meets. The simplest and most important lesson at the moment is the complete unity between a true murshid and his disciples. Sam saw this Saturday when the mureeds manifested great love and trust for each other. This is the true spiritual brotherhood.

Commentaries. The most evident harvest at the moment comes out of the interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan in 1923. At that time he spoke of the Esoteric Constitution, the Science of Commentaries and the specific commentaries on his works, in particular, the Gathas. For purposes of clarity, and I am not even sure of the clarity, the subject will now be divided into Commentary and Esotericism.

As there are various planes in the universe, the first commentaries were necessarily discursive and intellectual. The intuition is that today Sam has enough intellectual accumulations, but he will send one or more disciples to the university to continue researches on the Mysteries.

The first commentaries were necessarily intellectual. They immediately merged into fana-fi-Sheikh. The original basis of commentary, once the ego-accumulations had been fulfilled, was the opening of the mind of Hazrat Inayat Khan. A long time after, this was further expanded with the initiations into fana-fi-Rassoul. These in turn merged with what began as “Meditations on Salat.”

The commentaries thus merged intellection, self-effacement, and Divine Expression or Inspiration through one or more individuals. Thus the drawing by a very responsive disciple which appears in The Rejected Avatar.

Presuming here that Naqshibandi or symbology is the core of the Gathas, we have gone through phases of simple art and concentration practices (Murakkabah) which begin the Gatha studies. Art thus finds it outlet. But a higher dimension has intervened in the form of dance, ritual, and pageant. One could hardly imagine the effects of three and four dimensional applications of the Gatha studies. This is what is taking place today.

We thus come into the arena of “Joy without Drugs,” or joy (ananda) playing a greater part in the lives of human beings. This also will reach a climax this coming Sunday when we have a combination work party and birthday party here. This will mean also the reproduction of the eternal (not ancient) Mysteries to the human race. These dances first come in visions at night with no explanations. It generally takes three nights before they are clear mentally. The Vision comes with no explanation. It proves later to be totally rational. I hesitate here at the enormity of these possibilities.

With them also is a most obvious increase in a manifestation of Love, not only between murshid and mureed, mureed and murshid, mureed and mureed, but all with an ever-growing circle and cycle of humanity, first in this environment and, inshallah, elsewhere.

Before going on to the next subject let us mention the meeting between Sam and the Vedanta Swami Swahananda, disciple of the great Swami Ranganathananda, who also will soon be here. It was nothing but the blending of hearts in purity and at all levels.

Ryazat. After this letter is written, at some time this morning the first serious efforts will be made to go over “the Ryazat of Inayat Khan.” Some of this work has already been completed, but neither indexed nor put in order. Besides, with a single exception, it has not been applied, nor can it be until it is properly blended with the earlier commentaries on Ryazat (esotericism) of Githas series I, II, and III. This is the very core of the inner side of the Message.

We hope to have this in some order when Vilayat returns. It consists of more than two parts. All the literature, commentary, and even artistic programs pall before the actual practices of the individual, and the cosmic results which follow such practices. Here we can distinguish between the true Sufi and the word “sufi” taken literally, figuratively, intellectually, and otherwise. No one is a Sufi through whom God does not manifest consciously. All else is vanity.

There is a scheduled forum for at least four of us, including Swami Kriyananda, a disciple of the late yogi, Yogananda, who prates endlessly about Christ-consciousness, which he limits in his teacher. In fana-fi-Rassoul one can also be in Christ-consciousness, totally contrary and contradictory to the Yogananda-Kriyananda outlook. This is the Christ-consciousness of Salat.

It is part of Sam’s ryazat to try to manifest this between now and the end of the year. The first episode took place in the home of Amin, around Christmas last year. I am awaiting the return of Vilayat to see that Amin and others be given proper recognition and titles. If Vilayat does this, it will promote world harmony.

To manifest Christ it is necessary to manifest love with tenderness and strength and strength means the Christ consciousness. It is at the same time local and universal. I am sending a copy of this to Paul Reps. I am certainly not going to negativize what he is trying to do or what he is doing. If he could kneel and kiss Vilayat’s feet, he would exhibit greatness. That is neither Sam’s test nor job.

From the last news Vilayat is fulfilling his dharma and true purpose in life. I don’t think we can ask for anything more.

With all love and blessings,

November 12, 1968

Miss Deborah Churney

266 Zoe St.

San Francisco 94114

My dear Debbie:

You may be surprised to get a letter from Murshid. Last century there was not much material on Sufism but there was a book, Letters of a Sufi Teacher. The advantage of this was that a teacher was instructing disciples and not writing a book. It only became a book by accident.

Now Murshid is concerned with all his disciples but not necessarily in the ways of tradition. Murshid has been concerned because you have not had a settled home and yet Murshid is not telling you to stay here or there. The advantage of settling is that you can build your own atmosphere and be comfortable in it and go to it for refuge. What you do otherwise may be your own concern, perhaps must be your own concern. And if Murshid had any advice or instructions it would be to do your payers and practices there, perhaps burn a little incense, especially at the beginner. You are not too far from The Candle Shop on 17^th St. where they have all kinds of incense and a lot of lovely things.

You are now with loving mureeds. It is hard to say how happy Murshid was on Saturday where all the mureeds in the dancing class showed so much love and affection and consideration each of everybody else. Earlier in life Murshid met Hazrat Inayat Khan and a strange almost prophetic like man of Jewish ancestry named Hugo Seelig. They talked about the coming age but they never lived to see it really. Hugo lived a long time and everybody loved him but also he did not have a settled home which was most unfortunate for him. I could tell you a lot of stories about him. I feel I am getting all the rewards for what he sowed, but life is like that.

Other than being settled Murshid has not much to say. Murshid has to be your father and mother and grandfather and spiritual guide but not the sheriff or boss-man. He has learned to worry and be concerned with his mureeds who are like a great big loving family. He has never seen anything like it. Everybody talks and you can find all kinds of books and hear all kinds of sermons but the manifestation of love you seldom see.

After the dancing class some of us went to Chinatown to see my longtime friend Chingwah Lee. He is a collector of Chinese art goods, a wonderful collection of a wonderful man. I hope you have time during your Christmas vacation to visit him and also William Clary who has spiritual art, fine and wonderful. We used to go there when we had the walks before the dancing class.

After that Murshid want to visit a Swami, the new Swami for San Francisco whose name is Swahananda which means “the bliss of heaven” or something like that. It was like two lovers meeting. It did not matter what we talked about. Murshid told him tales of his guru, Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, who will be here soon. Those stories make fairy tales seem blah. They are all true but older people don’t like to hear them so Murshid stopped talking. He has had a lot of experiences with saints and sages and holy man. They are in the diaries and also in the notes, lots of them. Soon Murshid will get on the Vedanta notes and send it to Swami Swahananda.

The next “love-experience” came on Sunday. We went out to do some Dervish dancing in Golden Gate Park. We had some children. We have a prayer; “Open thou our hearts that we may hear Thy voice which cometh constantly from within.” Hazrat Inayat Khan had a lot of disciples, and they liked to pray and they encouraged others to pray. But they did not believe in their own prayers, they were not very convincing. Most of them—and some still function—do not believe that God is constantly talking from within and from within everybody. If we could listen we should be happy and the whole world could be happier.

So we did the Dervish dancing with more elements and items for the young and they and everybody loved it.

Then we went to hear Paul Reps. He says he will be back on Saturday, November 24. This is most convenient for we had already arranged to have the dancing class at Amin’s in Corte Madera and it will only take a few minutes, for the dancing class ends at 3:30 and Reps’ session begins at 4 o’clock. This is very easy and shows that the Sufi “Love, Harmony and Beauty” is real, not just noise-words.

After the evening at Sausalito most of us went to Corte Madera and we did the “Hare Krishna” dance and Murshid put on the “Ramnam” dance and added the new features to the Dervish dancing. Everybody seems to love these dances. We dance in the Name of God and yet have more joy, more love, more consideration and no speeches other than the dance explanations.

We are going to go over these Saturday here and then begin “The Wheel Ceremony” which is the outcome of the ritual “Sun Dance” and “Moon Dance.” Murshid learned from his friend, Leonard Austin, that he is restoring the ancient mystery dances. Of course. Both Ruth St. Denis and Hazrat Inayat Khan taught Murshid how to draw right out of the ethers and so Murshid will do that and some day the world will accept it all. As these come from “the heart of God” so to speak, it does not matter how much older people reject—mostly by refusing to examine at all. That is all right. They are not ready for such things. They like to discuss mysteries but are very much afraid of them.

Now, Debbie, you have two very great virtues and perhaps are not even aware of them and this is most wonderful. And if you gain in the self-expression that also will be fine. Do you know Murshid must have 50, maybe more disciples, and he hardly knows the faults. He watches the way they walk, they breathe, they dance. Of course sometimes they give Murshid their charts and then he knows about their weaknesses but this is only to correct them, not to analyze them. There is no fun finding people’s faults and there is a lot of fun in showing them how to breathe correctly.

But in the new forms of Dervish-Zikr-dancing not even that is necessary. They become attuned to Murshid and mostly in love and it is very, very easy.

I can’t promise letters. Murshid never knows what he must do next but be always listens to the Voice from within. After the class this Saturday there will be a party for Shirin and Mansur in Oakland. Many may want to come, but they will have to pay for themselves. Murshid is paying just for the “family.” Then Sunday we are going to have a great big work partly and all these dances and maybe more. Hope you can come.

Love,

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco, Calif.

November 24,1968

Sadanand B. Nagarkatti,

P.O. Anandashram,

Dis. Cannonere

South India

Dear Ram:

It is in great joy that one acknowledges your letter of the 17th. It is not necessary to reply in detail, but Sam feels he must report in detail, though sometimes as now, it is for his diary records.

Almost everybody can speak on mysticism but the mystic, but there is now a New Age when not only are the young having more real mystical experiences than their elders but they are far, far more open to speakers who have manifest light, with or without university formal education (the chief requirement to become an “expert” though in the sight of Heaven it is nothing but egotism).

It is exactly eleven months since Sam had his first transcendent experience in public in a house at Corte Madera, California some 15 miles north of here. It began a period wherein Sam became more and more a “Papa” for the young and an enigma for the not so young. No doubt it is necessary to have the shem mysticism of the intellectuals but as Sam has always written:

“When the gods arrive, the half-gods go.”

The wonderful visit with Swami Swahananda has been followed by a visit of Dr. Thish Thien An form Vietnam. Thien is Vietnamese for Zen-shi in Japanese, that is one has had real Zen experiences, samadhi rather than “satori.” When Dr. Thien An came into this room it was like the Self entering and the all-pervading atmosphere was marvelous. Sam gave the Lord Buddha’s Yoga ending with the attainment by breath of Love, Joy and Peace. It is very real for the young, as real for the young as it is impossible for the professional lecturers. This made it easy for the speaker who is the very incarnation of what Sam has been teaching.

Sam has not met many Vietnamese but it is most disturbing to those who called themselves “Advaitins” because in those meetings there was no sense of “self” and “other” but only of the real all-pervading consciousness. This made it so easy for the speaker, and equally easy to the young receptive audience many of whom have been or are still Hippies, but most of whom have risen above the use of Psychedelics to areas of Joy far beyond the experience of popular lecturers and writers.

We had to prepare for the coming of Mr. Paul Reps. But it seems that Ram Himself had something to say. Sam has received many visions of cosmic dances at night but yesterday at the house in Corte Madera he was suddenly taken into the mystical stage and state of mystics and gave the Ram-Sita dance, first version. It was as obvious to the young in the class as it is adamantly rejected by the “experts.” (see below). We then went in Joy to meet Mr. Reps.

Now Paul Reps has been Sam’s spiritual brother for a very long time and we both have also been accepted by the real Zen masters and the Vedanta leaders. We both see the One Truth beyond but Mr. Reps thinks “secrets” have been lost and nothing has been lost at all. It is merely the refusal of authorities and experts to grant interviews.

Sam came back from the Orient with piles of mystical and esoteric material. In the case of Yoga and Vedanta Sam tried in vain even for interviews. A single professor, named Pande from Nagpur gave him an interview. He turned some of the literature over to this man and copied it. And it is a “secret” but it is only a secret because scholars and “experts” refuse to look it. So this means—according to Buddha’s teachings—that the esotericism belongs to Sam. Only it will be given to the ward and is as fast as it can be assimilated.

The same is even more true of Buddhist and Sufi teachings. The Buddhist or rather Buddha-Yoga was demonstrated for Thien An. The Sufi matter is being given out in Dervish Dances. And now also we have the Yoga dances. These are in the sphere, the Alaya, the Akasha, they are real and they communicate Joy and Love and little need for lectures and emotional appeals.

Mr. Raps was surprised by the rather large audience as there was no advertising (so was Sam). Sam differs from Mr. Reps that there are lost practices. As the first person in history to become a Zen-shi, Guru and Murshid all in one Sam gives out, or has all the practices and methods alluded to by others and many, many more. But the first thing is to make the Love and Joy and sometimes the Peace conscious overtones in the lives of devotees. This is exactly what is being accomplished.

When Sam arranged the first dervish dances he was as amazed as Paul Reps in the number who joined and it was so evident that the repetitions of the Names of God do bring Love and Joy consciousness and no seminars, lectures, sermons or bashing is needed. But on account of the occasion we also put on the Ramnam dance by those who have practiced it. It adds to Love and Joy the unity consciousness, demonstrable in dancing and totally effective. For the Yoga of repeating the Names of God is a real Yoga and not any theory or lecture. It is totally real, exactly as Papa taught, real realizable and effective.

The result is that we now have a growing number of young people repeating Names of God in Joy, both Arabia and Sanskrit. Only last night in Dervish dance we were joined by both Yoga and Buddhist devotees, and by some who have no religious inclinations at all.

Sam has not heard of his disciples in India. The Love-offerings are easy and we are now making some efforts at organization. Sam wishes collections to promote the spirit of self-sacrifice and not for the purpose of building up any treasury. He will be spending most of the next few days, including Thanksgiving at the Khankah, The Garden of Inayat. There is being demonstrated Love, Joy and Brotherhood, also the Karma Yoga of people who work with hands and not just tongues.

The spirits of Papa and Mama are certainly with us. Even the Muslims whom Sam has met recently accept the primary of a God of Love, Joy and Tranquility and the essential “truth” of all religions.

Love and Pranam,

Samuel L. Lewis

Monday, December 9

My dear Julie:

This is a sort of prologue, a preface, a preparation. Dara is back and he is very enthusiastic about Auroville. Sam has no time for argument only for action. It is only in this crowed schedule it will be necessary not only to meet Dara but to some of my (non-existent) Sufi colleagues. Your so-called associates refuse to recognize our existence and we are now prepared what they, the renowned Karma Yogins and Purna Yogins have no time for—action either to cooperate with or actually help a real World Project.

The metaphysical mind is strange. It conceives others as living in vacuum, and it is most difficult to convince them of one’s past and mostly it is useless to try it. If Dara is willing I shall show him the real ropes of the worlds of reality, beginning at the Indian Consulate. He shall try to find if Auroville qualifies as an educational institution, etc. There are ways of getting things very reasonably or freely. Your so-called associates who claim to be followers of Sri Aurobindo have a blank wall against my reports or suggestions whatsoever, and it is useless to try to tell them anything.

It is not only Rockefeller Foundation but a number of corporations large and small, known and not so known, who have offered Sam free models or machines for demonstrative and teaching purpose. This is more universal then is known but Sam gave it up because your so-called colleagues do not respect him as a fellow-human being. If they had they would have listened to how to get things for Auroville or for themselves but they all have in common, and in common with others the Brotherhood of Check-Book contributions. No Sri Krishna, just Mammon and think that if they get enough mammonian help they are going to bring in the Kingdom of something or other.

They welcome VIPs while excluding Sam. I just heard that two veddy-veddy VIPs on Asian Philosophy met each other the other night and are thoroughly worn out. They had the qualifications: European birth and PhD degrees. That is it. Their articles are accepted everywhere. They are “famous” and important and they are at the receiving and of the check-book contributions. This is typical but it is worn out—the young don’t want that.

It is with no great pride one must point out that the latest accessory to Sam’s audience is a nephew of Judith Tyberg. If we get him we shall tell him all we can, not only about Auroville but how to help in practical ways. In fact a good deal of Sam’s life is now showing how to construct and operate a commune of sorts. Of course “mine” is based on the hard, hard fact rejected your colleagues that Sam is an operative Guru, although the Sufi title is Murshid. There is more and more tendency in this direction. Much behind all the forth and clamor of our universities and colleagues in this direction. As the press do not want this to be published they concentrate on the melodrama. In all the radio-TV and press reports on the San Francisco State College drama you hardly see a student or professor interviewed and never any scenes of what is going on in the classroom. Classroom activities and subject matter would delight you no end and much is coming and it is this movement which involves Judith Tyberg’s nephew and others.

We are practicing Oliver Reiser’s: Project Krishna. Others take, we do. I should prefer to let Dara in and have him tell you. Our greatest achievement is the Sufi and Yoga dancing but to this will soon be added Tantric dancing and patterns. Thus we reach the young, the New Age people, Sri Aurobindo’s people, as they call themselves.

The first steps have been taken toward organizing efforts. I have never wished to form any separative movement but excluded from all the so-called “Brotherhoods” and “East-West” organizations it is necessary to do it ourselves. The first thing was to change this from a private residence to a Brotherhood house which eased both financial burdens and work accomplishments. Then the instituting dues brought in a surplus. We do not have to make appeals or ask mammon to accomplish the work of Sri Krishna.

The next is the gathering of so many real leaders of real Asian wisdom, passing this way. This will terminate in the coming here of Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj of the Vedanta Movement whom all the “good” people have refused to admit Sam ever met. It is pitiable because now the young are turning to the Orient and it is necessary for Sam to lead them away from the money-collecting degree-endowing intellectuals who fortunately are at odds with each other, so many groups call out for Baksheesh yoga. Of course I do not know what will come of it.

The publication called The Oracle is now in the hands of disciples and friends. It also has vastly increased its circulation and financial returns. It means some of my disciples will have part or full time jobs, and there are many signs that with Sri Krishna on one’s side one does not have to worry at all.

I have also been to Humanist House and will try to introduce your efforts there. I have kept away because some humanists are so much more equal than others. This has not only been my experience but I understand they are squabbling over who is the most equal. It is only that the young are coming and I shall try to get in the work of Oliver Reiser and yourself—not mine, I shall keep these apart. But they are going to have a seminar on “Religious Experience” in January. They have—and I fully agree—separated religious experience from Religion. Religion today excludes experience especially the experiences of living people.

As Dara seemed so enthusiastic and as—and here we differ from the Yogis—in Sufism teacher and pupil are one—we shall work out plans of campaign with possible achievements and let the various “East-West” groups look to Mammon while we concentrate on Krishna.

Love and Blessings,

410 Precita Ave.,

San Francisco Calif.

December 21, 1968

Dear Reps San:

Today marks the solstice and another climax. The last one came unexpectedly with a step forward in a mystical-spiritual direction and has brought the love and devotion of young people. This mystical-spiritual direction looks as if the application of the words of Academicians who are popular in certain cycles and so concerned with monetary charges and intellectual credentials. It is easy to convince the American public that God-consciousness is in some way connected with the bizarre, the complex, and certain terminology. This has gone on for years. But now the young want the realities of Love, Tenderness, Sincerity, Compassion, Power, Generosity, Fearless, etc. Their elders give them words, words.

Lama Govinda is here. He is, of course, among the elite. He has been welcomed by Esalen and no doubt will be by the rival academies of “Asian” studies. The stock of Reps went way up. The Lama was asked to give a simple practice and it knocked him for a loop. He had to stop and ordered silence, the only decent thing on a whole program which undoubtedly delighted some of the seniors, but not all; and which failed miserably to touch the young who actualize and not verbalize. It was this that prompted this letter.

This expectation of non-violence from a Sufi (who is never of the elite) to be used as a doormat received a stern reaction. The reaction was entirely successful. And I am sending a copy of this to Dr. Chaudhuri. I was the first man to meet him when he came to San Francisco. I have sat at his feet but the opposite is almost impossible although this did happen with Dilip Koomar Roy, once an associate of this. And with Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda coming we are going to see a new day, with real culture exchange, with real Hindus, without any more interposition of “Suez-Canal experts.” I am sorry. We could use their educated people but they have assumed the sole of spiritual interventionists between man and God.

The reaction resulted in my receiving some money due and some of this will go to Pondicherry. The elite are too busy to help Pondicherry where the disciples of Sri Aurobindo are doing things. Here it was not accepted that Sam had been there and when he spoke not a single disciple of the Ashram excepting the chairman showed up. This is our “moral and spiritual” outlook. Pondicherry needs help, and humanity needs help and these are not two causes.

The conference for The Temple Understanding was a farce. The same old sermons of the same old people and them asking the young for ideas and not accepting them. And the idea of religion without God-consciousness nearly fell. Princess Poon did her part but it was Vilayat who saved the day. And us non-existing Sufis who occasionally listen to God and don’t yap at Him all the time will undoubtedly affect the young.

With the Swami and Pir coming here within a few days of each other, this means that the School will advance. I should like some of the academicians but they have “humility” which means frozen ears. The Supermental consciousness is not just a phrase, it is an activity, it is a stage in cosmic development but apparently those who do the lecturing don’t have to recognize anybody (else). This irony is that the nephew of Judith Tyberg has attended at least two of my meeting and may be in the class on Spiritual Drama. This depends on the experience of transformation and transmutation and not on the use of these words from platforms without any corresponding exemplification.

The basis of my present program in Chanting to Singing; Singing to Dancing; Dancing to Darshan; intermingled by Walk. The rejection of my relations to Hazrat Inayat Khan and Ruth St. Denis with become in time the basis of scandal. And when my diaries are published, the world will look at dismay at the attempts of nonparticipants of monopolize the universe of spiritual attainment.

Shamcher Beorse has been here and will return. He has already conferred with the disciples who are in virtual control of The Oracle. When a revolution took place and The Oracle was acquired by the New Age people they has no direction and the directions are now in the hands of the disciple of man known as a Sufi teacher in Asia, but not yet here among the elite.

One no longer cares. Most of the staff of The Oracle, originally followers of Timothy Leary, has been affected by the spiritual dancing. This will climax on Christmas Eve when, with God’s help I hope to put on a fine Darshan about which there is no nonsense and these Darshans are very effective.

Hazrat Inayat Khan says that the signs of spirituality are Love, Tranquility, Compassion, Joy, Power and Equimindedness. These words belong to the prelates. The actualities are feared because they require ego-transformation. That is why I shall introduce next, inshallah, Spiritual Drama. It is noticeable that all religions teach this basically but deny it to other religions. What is worse, those who pretend to believe in “universal religion” are champion excluders. None of them appeared at the conference in Calcutta. They had better not.

The Lama was fatigued and it is evidently the privilege of the superman to become fatigued. The superman, the privileged may do anything including sermonizing the rest of us for out imperfections. So next night Sam called on all his disciples who suffered from fatigue and gave them one after another spiritual practices. The rejection of this by the elite and academicians will become, as I said, a scandal to the New Age.

Today Sam goes to a wedding. Matthew is the groom. When Sam met him he asked, “What is your name? “Matthew.” “Why aren’t you?” “What?” “Matthew.” Today he is which will undoubtedly annoy all the sermonizers and lecturers on Zen and transformation, etc. He has a teacher and this teacher has had more disciples having illumination that will the rest of us, spiritual and intellectual together. Which the rich and powerful and elderly sit charmed at sermons on spiritual transformation this teacher is effecting it. The New Age is here.

There is going to a New Age Coffee shop in the Haight-Ashbury District and shades of the Beatniks, they will serve bagels, too. There is going to be a New Age “thing” on Fillmore St. in the heart of the so-called Negro ghetto. This sort of undertaking is going to hit deeply into the efforts of all the dualists whose solutions are simple; “put us in charge.” The young are taking over.

Both these will be avenues to reach the young and misled, but I do not know if there is time.

The non-existing Sufis are now contacting each other and we shall have another kind of brotherhood, inclusive without having to accept this or that Ph.D. as the spokesman for the Heavens. The University of California is opening doors closed by the academicians and PH-Deists. It is the New Age.

A fire took place at The Garden of Inayat. It was soon put out. But the cause for the fire was exactly the same as that which destroyed Kaaba Allah and caused a forest conflagration where Meher Baba was supposed to come and did not. Superman does not have to obey any moral laws; they are just for us ordinary people. But this is giving us the opportunity to do some real spiritual art work and no nonsense. Shamcher has had the opportunity to meet so many of the young directly and he may be back any hour.

The house here is being changed and we have cleaned the garage for dancing. One after another of the Beautiful Names of God are being put into dance-form. And also we have more real Yoga dancing and no nonsense. I shall write this up also for Washington and Pondicherry. I have given up trying to reach people here. As Murshid tells of the story of the man who chased the horse and did not catch him and then awaiting his coming, I shall now await. You only saw a fore-shadow of what will happen to Pir Vilayat Khan and Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda. Besides the Hindu students have their own Indian Cultural movement, totally different from the academicians and Esalen. Nothing can stop truth.

Love and Blessings,

cc- Dr. Chaudhuri

December 28, Night

O Reps-san:

This is really a diary entry. This is not a complimentary letter at all, but objective. Lama Govinda has been here and being the advocate of “Infinite Compassion” apparently there is no time for finite compassion. I refused absolutely and irretrievably to attend a meeting being held for him out of town. This person who has been asked to sit by the side of great Saints, masters and holy men from Japan to Egypt inclusively is not going to sit any more beneath any European born person whomsoever, whatsoever just because he is a stranger here.

What a Zen uppercut he received! Too holy to be approached he was sectioned off with a great space to keep the yokels from contaminating his aura and the door was shut tight, even the worthy Buddhist teachers either being shut out or having a hard time getting in. The was sub-erb, that is I don’t, see how a person can get any lower than placing I Ching far above the words of Lord Buddha. Just as now one European or Englishman is lecturing on Chinese Yoga because Jung or Wilhelm wrote them up and passing them off as Taoism-which none of them have practiced.

Somebody got up and asked if he could give a simple practice. They might have asked to embrace his wife in public. Talk about Samskaras! He jumped back as if shot—the privilege of Superman, of course. He did not show a single sign of divine wisdom. And the noticeable contrast with Reps was so evident for Reps gives the audience something to do; the young love that. And they could not help contrasting Govinda (who is supermen because because) with Reps who does not depend on adulation.

Your, latest book has been received and was turned over to Srimati Fatima who is going ahead fast both in drawing and dancing.

After refusing absolutely to leave to go to Govinda, God Called! That is to say Vilayat phoned and caught me at a perfect time because the receptive heart is always ready and he will be here soon, Allah be praised. We are going to have three holy men, coming at the same time, and all from Calcutta, so to speak where Vilayat outshined all the supermen and important persons! He, Swami Ranganathananda and a Guru come the same week. The Guru is now nameless and was a disciple of Sri Aurobindo and my friends have him in tow and this is going to end the nonsense non-recognition by the so-called devotees of Sri Aurobindo who invite almost any world-famous person, or rather wordily famous person as a scion of spirituality. And this is known in Calcutta and Pondicherry—no room for the Sufis.

So the year will be a New Year. Our work in the Darshan and Dance expands. We have now two Christian rituals and I hope to start the Tantric or Mudra work soon

You will excuse me if I had to turn your book over to somebody else. The criticism is important for the New Age people are here and they are tired of the old ones. Samuel would not even look at his old friends at the Govinda meeting. Christ came that we might have life and life more abundant.

We took the young from the first to the second Jhana. This works and never mind all the “Buddhists” who bypass Lord Buddha, misquote him and have their “rump parliaments,” as if that produced enlightenment. No time for Esalen and commercialism and all that rot. Good entertainment though, cleaner than TV, etc.

Christmas eve high watermark so far. Spiritual training for New Year’s Eve. Also for the birthday of Moineddin who has the Sufi symbol on his forehead. Have not answered mail, oodles of work, and busy as can be on Inayat Khan’s material, which is so vast.

Love and blessings,

[undated, first pages missing]

In 1923, which is a long time ago, this person introduced Pir-o-Murshid to Nyogen Senzaki. They became great friends and afterwards Nyogen Senzaki wrote about it. And after long years this one has become a sort of heir-at- law of both these men. The social people of course reject this but the social people have nothing to do with holy transmissions. These are settled by God and not by man.

Each of these threads of tradition come to this person and apparently more of what is called for in Saum: Grace, Glory, Wisdom, Joy and Peace. Others speak of them, they do not transmit them.

At the Psychedelic Conference this person mentioned a famous man and everybody laughed at him. They thought it was so funny. A couple of days later the famous man suddenly showed up and ignoring everybody else rushed up to this one calling his name and we embraced. God works His way and man speaks his narrow piece without understanding. Within a week people are chanting sacred songs of the Orient, of all parts. This is the first time this has happened in America. It worked so much faster than the Universal Worship and in much larger numbers.

The Grace of God the world can neither give nor take. Now this one operates as a full Spiritual Teacher. He reaches mureeds and people through the breath, through the heart, through the light exactly as Paul Brunton wrote. The social people, the older people do not accept but the younger people, who are more educated whether rich or poor, socially acceptable or unacceptable act differently. They want the Grace, the Glory, the Wisdom, the Joy and the Peace, especially the Joy. So if one manifests the Joy they are more apt to look to him than those who pronounce words and give sermons and admonitions but not Life.

It is said of Jesus He came to give life and life more abundant. Everybody has words, they do not have the Life. So it is funny that critics find this person can reflect life. One says no change in 35 years and another says more. This is Grace. It is something the world can neither give nor take. But it can be shared; it is being shared.

You may think it funny that on one’s next trip to Hollywood one may prepare Bhakti for Sheikha. This is not the human view, it is not even the view of this person. She is full of short-comings. But she has zest, vitality and devotion. These things can be used to change and transmute. It is a question of her capacity for growth.

Following the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan it has not been necessary to correct anybody. There are prescriptions for each shortcoming—prayers and sacred phrases, concentrations and meditations and other practices. These are the medicines, not calling any attention to short-comings. To the world one may be very angry.

When one was abroad and got into arguments people said, “Why are you so angry?” This one said, “Feel the pulse.” The pulse did not show the anger, the vengeance was not animosity.

At the Psychedelic Conference this person submitted to tests and the scientists found that when the pulse should have gone up it went down, when the breath should have become course and rapid it became fine and slow. The mystic acts as he acts to help to awaken, not to correct. The demonstration showed the scientists that there is something in mysticism. The social people, the metaphysical people, the cult leaders give words, give ceremonies, give teachings but they do not always give Life.

It is very difficult to administer to each and every one. Even when these have been healing miracles, it is due to Grace not to some faculty possessed by one.

The Buddha came to take away pain and sorrow and maybe this can be done even scientifically. It is notable that all the psychiatrists one has been meeting come to see something in the spiritual teachings and the social people come to see nothing in the outer personality. This is a saving Grace. One wishes to bring Guidance not build up a political machine calling it a church or sect or religion. If the Grace or Joy is not communicated and if the personality is communicated this is nothing. St. Paul said, “Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.”

When one started out he had one mureed and the mureed began seeing more and more light. He saw the light on all the planes and he became convinced there is something in the Sufi Message. Now many books have been published and besides the books there is a multitude of esoteric material for mankind. It only needs the moon-light heart, nothing else. “Speakest the word that is put into thy mouth as the light filleth the crescent moon.”

So one sends you and all your friends the best wishes, the best hopes and the blessings.

With all love and blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

[undated, first pages missing]

My brother has promised settlement with two months and I must keep in touch with you as to arrangements. But as my Prajna was that I must visit you and the promise of the Library and other factors came after the original determinations and also there are other signs. For instance there are two ladies in this city, the one does not know the other is here, well on in years and both followers of the late Nyogen Senzaki and I am receiving in some way or other heritages and I regard these as Sangha and not personal heritages. And someday I hope to convert a few “Buddhists” to what is written in the Tipitaka which is not read, and is even being denounced today by people calling themselves “Buddhists.”

Of course these “Buddhists” do not study Surangama Sutra and make a hodge-podge out of Wei Lang. Diamond Sutra, etc. etc.

Dr. Hewitt is in this city on a commission, “The Effect of Buddhist Culture on America.” He is-not visiting the best people, but he rather surprised me the other night. “Can you describe ‘Zen’ in a single sentence without any ko-ans, Chinese metonymies or complex metaphysics?” I did not have to finish a single sentence—just started to-quote the Bodhisattvic Oath. We are friends. Besides he sees that Eugene, Iru, Dr. Warwick and I work as a team, and you don’t find this elsewhere in the U.S. Quite the contrary. “Buddhists” don’t recognize each other and are very selective in their studies.

Ojai Valley. I went down there originally to break the stasis caused by Krishnamurti and the Theosophists. I was not very successful but a bunch of rivals came with the effect that Krishnamurti’s hold has been broken—which was the original purpose.

But it is has the strange effect. The younger generation, already in revolt against K. were looking for a “father” image and I am it. I taught them four methods of meditation as above, and others are learning this and learning that meditation is not to become empty and idiots or “stone Buddhas” but to find their way in life.

At the moment I am unable to return to Ojai and don’t want to over-evaluate people who over-evaluate themselves.

Douglas Burns is a “Buddhist.” Everything he writes is published especially by the WBF. What I write is never published. Now Doug has returned and says there are no living Arhats. That is it. He is an “expert.” His words are accepted. He denounces his own fellow-religionists. This is protocol.

Sam has found Arhats. Sam does not count. Sam has found Bodhisattvas. He has even met Enlightened Men. That is where Science and “Buddhism” part. Some “Buddhists” are so more equal than others and when they denounce each other—I don’t call that “Buddhism,” I call it “Masochism.” You may make your choice.

I have also purchased The Heart of Buddhist Meditation. I do not use this as philosophy, I use it for Upaya. This is bad “Buddhism” no doubt. But it is good Science and I shall stick to it. The writer is very broad minded and includes passages from Mahayana. There is even a blurb for Lama Anagarika Govinda. I like that.

My whole outlook is and has been toward Integration. My efforts to work toward solving food problems are based on Integration. I oppose analysis and dialectics of whomsoever. I don’t feel old.

Now more young are coming to me than I can handle for the while. I shall let you know when I can make arrangements with my brother for a departure date—we will either compel early proceedings or delay then if compelled. I should prefer coming to England first. All my “visions” to come to England this year, all my plans are based on it. Please be of good cheer.

Faithfully,

Sam

[undated, first pages missing]

The Psychological Conference met with attendance from 300-600 people excepting a couple of sessions which were overjammed. My first talk was “Joy without Drugs” and I was tremendously applauded to find that throughout the audience were many who had either been studying Sri Aurobindo or who had been to Pondicherry. But all of them were unanimous against the making of Sri Aurobindo into a guru. They see him as a prophet and in many respects he was a prophet.

The Aurobindo people here have no use for me and they regard him with awe and not with Understanding and Vijnanavada means understanding and has never meant anything but Understand. Exit the prophet, enter the priests. As usual.

Immediately after that the followers of Meher Baba tried to take over. I don’t know why they did it but they only spread confusion, made worse when the top LSD people evinced that they had gone deeper into “cosmic consciousness” then the verbal Meher-Baba-ites. The whole conference resulted in a complete change in my social outlook, establishing all kinds of contacts, etc. This leads to the denouement.

Timothy O’Leary is a cosmic explorer. He has had religious training, he has Oriental disciplines. Many of his closest associates have been to the Orient. They have broken through the lower realms of “maya,” and they have seen far more of the cosmos. We have a “truth serum” which causes one to speak the truth but now the psychedelic “drugs” firm people so they can recognize at once when others are lying. Bang, the social order.

True we can have capitalism and industrialism without the salesman and advertiser, as in Sweden. And as soon as my uncle sends for me I am going to British Columbia where they have a completely new social order which is given as much consideration and attention as the Vietnamese Buddhists. And this at our doorstep.

A copy of this is going to my congressman, Phillip Burton who is always being accused of establishing a political machine and the more he is accused the more my tendency is to go along with his blindly for in a sense he represents a “break-through” into universal dimensions and that is the world thing alike for dialecticians of Birch, Wall St., Moscow, Peiping and all else. A man who wants to stick by truth is “the enemy.”

I was laughed at at my second speech when I said Allen Ginsberg wrote he had found more Joy without drugs than with them. The chain denied this. The next day Allen suddenly showed up and it was Princess Poon Diskul all over again. “Sam!” and he rushed forward and embraced this numbskull. And when people asked him if he had found more Joy without drugs than with them he said in every case, “Yes.” The chair apologized and most warmly shook my hands at the end.

It our final session Allen led a huge crowd in chanting Hindu mantras! No wonder he is feared.

The young will leave the churches. If they can have some glimpse of the real universe by “drugs” they will get it. They are tired of words, words, words.

I am writing all this because beyond Joy there is Peace. Peace is the highest state. You know a little of my Lahore (mad) ventures. I think you feel more. You must know I am a full spiritual brother of A.A. Brohi and we both serve, if you want to call it that, the same Holy Teacher. Beyond him is the Brotherhood of Love and Peace and out of Peace all things are possible.

I met a man at the Convention who is going to get a PhD in Chinese philosophies. These are born of Peace. No matter how they express the selves they are born of Peace. I have one or two deep Chinese friends and beyond them is the Teaching which is obvious and an-verbal. But this sort of “Peace” is not wanted.

We are going to have another word-conference on Peace, words, words, words. We do not know what Peace is.

Last month Lady Ravensdale left this world. She was president of the world Congress of Faiths. How did we meet? We met exactly as you and I met, and she greeted me exactly as Princess Poon and Allen Ginsberg did. But do you think our society would accept that a top English nobleman would embrace a non-descript little American on sight? This has been my life and it will more and more and more.

The best remedy for Peace I see now is the Temple of Understanding, the inspiration of Judith Hollister who knows about you and is close to many of your friends. We shall not have Peace until we have understanding and we have to have a Temple for repose, calmness, gratitude, self-assurance and awakening of heart—not with doctrines, dogmas, priests, yelling in the name of the Divine Silence.

Today science is so far ahead. The worst bawling out in my life came from the scientists—for keeping quiet. And when I spoke on “The Saint in Everyday Modern Life” I was tremendously applauded—by the scientists. By the clergy? Metaphysicians? Cultists? Now the young will not accept these rejecters. The young want Peace or at least they reject stupid wars.

Mohammed said, “Act as if you were in the presence of Allah and remember if you cannot see Him, verily he can see you. One despairs of converting Presidents and Vice-Presidents to this. As to Secretaries State and War, one knows better. Mary Pickford once wrote “Why not try God?” I said, “Egad, why doesn’t she?” This won’t go. You just have to write the book. Peace is beyond Understanding which is beyond discursiveness. We all have it. What to do?

Your move, darling.

Samuel L. Lewis

S.A.M.

Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti

He-Kwang, Zen-chi

[undated, first pages missing]

When this letter is completed I shall be writing to a U.S. senator on the solution of food problems. This letter will be the results of meditation and the use of the faculty of Prajna which is a universal, all-round, direct faculty. All sentient beings have this faculty which is associated with that Universal Light about which so many talk and so few experience. And along with prajna there is the use of the One Mind.

I have no intention to try prove to anybody about the existence of One Mind or the personal attainment thereto. David Kapleau has dared to do what so many have been holding back—the real experiences and the real results of real Zen accomplishments. But Zen as it generally is, although a million times beyond the books on Zen which are not Zen at all, does not always bring the complete consciousness of Samyak-Sambodhi. Indeed the vocabulary of enlightenment which is real, complete, full and semantic is seldom used. Those who have had Satori or Samadhi are told to shut up and this is one reason for the increasing ill-karma in the world. In the scientific field those who have knowledge from and experience of are encouraged to write. It is now Saturday morning and I have been encouraged to write a paper on the selection of food problems. I am no longer optimistic but desperate. We love problems so much there is neither entertainment nor satisfaction in solution.

I saw 600,000 destitute people in one place. Today an army is occupying my experimental farm. For this and other reasons one is driven to last resorts, but one also meets friends and encouragers, 90% of the time one would think least. The other day I met suddenly a lady who has been on some real peace missions—not in the papers, of course. When one has world consciousness on does not have to depend on the papers, and one knows what is going on.

I am enrolled in two classes in Anthropology. One teacher has not only come out for reincarnation but has asked for those who have had experiences to report thereon and thereto. The Bhumis are unknown in most Buddhist circles—one definite exception there. Churches are all the same—accept our technology and you will be saved. One no longer knows what this means. The WBF has come out for Prajna and Braddha, neither of which are taught or used much. American Buddhists change their religion and remain egocentric. If you want to see people really pursuing the path of awakening go into the universities. This is too long, too hard and too encouraging. The new age wants facts, experiences, knowledge—not opinions, not personalities, not dualistic divisions.

Love is not being nice to people. Love means seeing into the essence of others and finding the same essence in them and in oneself, and working in, with and through this essence. Working for peace means hard work, suffering, sacrifice internally and externally. I had to suffer every pain that Phra Sumangalo had, and for years, and still bear up and was not permitted to “heal” him. That would have interfered with the cosmic dream in which we both play parts. I have until now been ignored by the world; he was not ignored but even vilified. We only admire the unknown, or unreachable. Yet all of us are made of the Same Light and all things too, and my interpretation of Buddha’s teaching or Christ’s teaching from the standpoint of either universality or realization will be rejected now, but it will not always be rejected. The scientists meet here soon and they will accept the knowledge or persons rather than the persons. We accept the persons first and then their knowledge, maybe. Thus we shall have wars.

Nobody has written or spoken on the Buddhism of Vietnam or their contributions to culture. Now I am too concerned and have received encouragement to face the world problems from the standpoint of seeing that people have food. This has been my Ko-an anyhow. It is very curious that the Zen Masters understand that and we have to stop because devotees, as a whole, are too wrapped up in personality.

In two directions, and maybe three now the scientists are accepting realities and the non-scientists select and what they carefully select they call “realism.” The Indians are fighting the Pakistanis and one thing they cannot do is to sit down and meditate or pray together. This is worse because they call themselves “Advaitins.”

Real Buddhism has inherited and continued vast elements of Indian culture. It is almost impossible to lecture on Buddhist literature in a scientific manner, i.e. explaining all terms. If a few Buddhists could and would, they would bring peace. As much of the Buddhist world has rejected—98% of the time a priori without a hearing, the very peace proposals of this persons accepted immediately by the Big Three, this person is moving his efforts toward the solution of food problems. This is still the work of the Bodhisattva. Students in the university are open to the wisdom and knowledge of experiences. And now, after years, I have received an invitation from the society of General Semantics. As they have sought this person and whatever accreditations of knowledge he has, and as this can accord and concord with efforts to help solve food problems, this person is changing his active interests.

One cannot impose the Mahamudra or alternatives on anybody. But one can impel and compel himself to work in and with it. With the last Bulletin from Bangkok, there are enough signs and inference to support the practical and let the theoretical go.

At the last Vajrayana ceremonies this person entered in and with the Vajrayana through Mahamudra and not only was in the Ananda-state but recognized others in the same common experience which obliterates the false anatta-consciousness into that state of Being where we are attuned one to another and each to the all. This I believe is one essence of the Dharma.

Now you will be facing a Sufi invader soon. The Deva-worshippers who no longer being so filled by their Archetype passing as a human (or human passing as an Archetype) will turn to him. I do not know what this means or what will happen but I have chosen to alert you.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

He Kwang

[undated, first pages missing]

Sufism as science means knowledge of and ahwal and makamat; Buddhism as science means knowledge of bhumi and paramita; the spiritual Science of the Bible is based on Urim and Thummim. All of these are basically the same based on an ever increased capacity for absorbing the Universal Light either in states of sobriety or drunkenness. I cannot go into it here. In other worlds Spiritual Realization is experience and has no part of human speculation, dialectics and personality flag-waving. And none of the various persons who wish to leader parades is willing to accept the responsibilities for the sorrows of the world, or the pains of those in one’s midst.

The first requests of Hazrat Inayat Khan were for Grace, Glory, Wisdom, Joy and Peace. There is no nonsense about them and they don’t. On Thursday nights we chant: La Illaha El Il Allah, which means, among other things, “There is nothing to be worshipped but God.” And when I mention these things, I must say that Grace cannot be given from man to man yet appears in the name Murad. Glory is something I have seen in others, and perhaps they in me (I don’t know and don’t care.) This week I saw this in several pictures of a real Asian Art Exhibit being put out by The Asian Foundation.

Wisdom appears as both Vijnana and Prajna in Sanskrit, the one being particular and is represented by Sri Aurobindo; the other Universal and represented by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Joy is Joy and is communicated and shared and recognized. And while their metaphysical elders see only the personality, the young accept the direct communion. And after all in the last two years there has been a parade of saints and masters to this city, and always the same story. They recognize SAM even when they do not recognize each other; and of course he either recognizes them or surrenders to them, something which your lecture-wallahs are quite incapable of doing. They have the word “surrender,” they have now such faculty.

As for Peace, my program has been presented to Dr. Radhakrishnan and to Her Serene Highness, Princess Poon Diskul and to my local “fellow-Sarkhanians” who are never recognized by the metaphysical self-esteemed leaders, and the closest is also the spiritual teacher of the Maharani of Sikkim which metaphysical people find even harder to swallow than to recognize S.A.M. (I am not the worse one off, by any means).

It is part of the peace program to present Mauna Yoga, the system under which Lord Buddha was trained. No doubt he turned up better programs later—I don’t argue about that, but he did have a disciplinary system to which he submitted and this is one facet of that. It is a slow process but it works and I am glad you find this so.

Tonight I am initiating one of my faithful disciples as Akbar, the same name as the greatest of the Great Moghuls, who was a top Sufi (so were some of the others, but “we” do not dare teach that!) I was reading the qualities of Akbar and found they fitted this man so exactly it was amazing. There is even some physical resemblance.

In 1925 Sam has the open realization of Rama, Krishna, Siva, Buddha, Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. This was accepted Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. It had to be rejected by all those who assayed to the leadership, properties, papers and éclat of this great man. Under similar circumstances, I saw that the real Sufis did and do, but not his followers. They grabbed; each grabbed and God had no part in the proceedings.

But I do not care about disputing because on the Day of Judgment these things will be clear and already having a fair consciousness of the continuum of life one can be patient. I do not see what is gained by proposing claims beyond one’s spiritual stature and I see no reason to dispute for there are a lot of people who will follow anybody anyhow, and I wish only those who seek spiritual fulfillment.

Of course I am interested in seeing that Dr. An has a place, whether in Ojai or elsewhere. The new president of Vietnam is a Buddhist and I am satisfied. I think Vietnam should be controlled by Buddhists who are in the majority. I also know Dr. An has a deep insight into the True Dharma into which I do not propose to go here.

The New Age is beyond sects and cults; even the cult—and it is a cult—which proposes to be “beyond sects and cults” and rejects others. I firmly believe that Mrs. Hollister has inherited the Universal Religion structures and we may see in Washington, God willing, that which should have been built in the Holy Land and was not.

The practice of the Presence of God is the greatest help in all our troubles.

I am closing now, awaiting the arrival of pupils and non-public who will listen and join in chanting and receiving in Joy whatever God puts into my mouth to tell them.

Love and blessings.

Samuel L. Lewis,

Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti

S.A.M.

[undated, first pages missing] [letter to Art Hoppe]

Just as in the case of the man who questioned me about Zen, I can explain many of the scriptures of the world at all levels, and the young who seek knowledge, and not personality, are either finding this out or my lack of charm is exactly what they want. Indeed I was amazed that a young lady, who has been under the influence of Swami Bhaktivedanta showed up. I have written him and know that he cannot listen to me and I can listen to him. Swamis and Gurus, like clergymen and “experts” are very slow to listen. This is the tragedy and it is not a question any more of philosophy or so-called “morality” but the young are disgusted. They want knowledge and not superflage.

Paul Brunton who lived may times in India pointed out three ways to “liberation”—through the heart, the breath and the eye. Now I teach all kinds of breathing exercises from many sources and I find hardly anybody believes it. But I took yesterday as disciple a former prize-fighter and demonstrated the “spiritual sciences” by showing him how to walk up hill full speed. This is a far cry from complicated metaphysics which delight the elderly and gullible and pass as “Oriental Wisdom.”

Ford Foundation dared to apply real Indian philosophy to problems of agriculture. The press and Washington do not recognize this. Not have the Indians excepting on paper. But Dr. Radhakrishnan knows this.

Still in teaching the ways of Breath, I find these people want the ways-of-heart, which is much purer Yoga than our superficial journeys into Asana-Vada, which means simply physical gymnastics derived from Patanjali Yoga. Ninety percent of Patanjali Yoga remains unknown, besides it is not “exciting.”

Fortunately I am not alone in the programs for the “hippies.” In Pakistan I spoke once to 20,000 people on “Big Brother” and I had to act as Big Brother. This is “impossible” here. No American attended that lecture but you can be sure a number of communists did. But they were frustrated in trying to heckle me. (I think I wrote that the mob turned on them in India when it was tried. But no “self-respecting” America can learn from this. We have to out-argue them with dialectics.)

My next project will be to write to Pakistan also on an overall Food Program plus Desert Reclamation. I have written you on that already. And the young, unlike the old, will listen to the little man who has been there over and against all those delightful forensic “experts” who have not.

Between the reports on the Kennedy assassination, the investigations in Laos and the blank refusal to permit any talks on Vietnamese Buddhism, I am shamed to predict success in England. I have to spend a thousand dollars to “expose” dialectical America, but at the same time I can defend scientific-technical America which is interested in facts, facts and more facts.

It was interesting that my new contact from Colgate last night spoke in awe of His Excellency, Sir Zafrullah Khan. At least I can talk with and to this man as a “democratic equal.” He respected my credentials, my contracts, my experiences. Just as Mrs. Grady did the other night, just as the Asian diplomats did the other night.

Art, I am proposing we can help the world by proper over-all food programs drawn from “How California Can Help Asia.” The old, the self-respecting, the self-satisfied, are not concerned; the young want it. The young want facts, the young want information, the young want love and they get it from the person who as able to speak as “Big Brother” to twenty thousand Pakistanis but until recently not to twenty Americans.

What I am afraid of, Art, is not war, not bloodshed but the gradual increase of laughter from the young toward those whom we select, totally artificially as the “experts.” No man in the scientific world could possible assay to leadership the way we have selected members of the Cain etc., or ivory-towered pundits. The scientists demand facts; the young demand facts and the world cannot remain half-tree, half-dialectic.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

[undated, first page missing]

Samuel called on the top Sufi: “I have a God-daughter to whom I wish you would give Bayat. The disciples were adamant: No Women. The Sufi Sahib, who does not verbalize “love, harmony and beauty” and make a shamble out of them by doing something else, said, “You bring her some Thursday, which is the day for women here.” So Samuel brought Saadia. Sufi Sahib was ill and Samuel, who does not ordinarily do anything, gave a spiritual treatment. Sufi Sahib was healed and then said that Samuel could bring Saadia in and Sufi Sahib took one look, “She is different. She is all right.” She was given Bayat, and when we came to the assemblage next week (Samuel was not there) all the men fell in love with her and asked forgiveness of God. (This could not happen in the East where metaphysical people are called “mystics” without God-consciousness, but now it can happen.)

It was only after Saadia had the Divine Illumination that Samuel accepted the full responsibility of being known as a Sufi and as a Murshid, even as a Pir-o-Murshid. “Claims do not make the teacher; it is his teachings that make the teacher.” Or “It is the mureeds that make the Murshid.” One does not impose the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan on Western “Sufis” but some day Allah-God will have something to say of this. In fact He is already acting.

Samuel had a God-daughter in this country. She was once married to Paul Reps who thinks he is the elect of God. Although he was outside the door while Hazrat Inayat Khan was sending for Samuel, six times—of Pir-o-Murshid’s will, not Samuel’s, it has made everybody angry with Samuel and so in the West mostly they reject, and in the East they accept absolutely. They do not use the word “surrender” like we love to use it; they surrender and no nonsense. I the West we use the word “surrender” as a substitute for surrendering.

The God-daughter rejected Samuel and that week another lady walked in and Allah said, “This is your new God-daughter.” (Mystics have divine experience and metaphysicians call them egocentricities.) Now this week this God-daughter also has the Divine Experience and she long-distance Samuel. This is what the Murshid lives for, to have disciples with the Divine Experience.

Pir-o-Murshid said, “Pleasure blocks and pain opens the doors to inspiration. And Paul Reps who was outside the door during the Six Interviews with Inayat Khan, now rejects them and what Pir-o-Murshid said (this is the Western substitute for “surrender”). Reps has plenty of money for Reps and for Osawa but he had none for Vilayat. He dare not live in Los Angeles, he has to hide out and write praises of himself and Osawa but he had none for Vilayat. He dare not live in Los Angeles; he has to hide out and write praises of himself and Osawa but never of Inayat Khan and Nyogen Senzaki. Besides he got from Nyogen Senzaki something this person never achieved—public excoriation! Till now one has kept silent about it. Reps is able to teach anybody anything but he cannot learn.

This is very fortunate because the young do not want older people around at all unless they can clear themselves. Every time Samuel gets a block from an older person they consider it a great virtue!

Now there are two young women here and one was the God-daughter who has had the Moksha experience. The other is Sheila who spent a long time here yesterday. One of his will refused to recognize her as Sheikha until you, Bhakti, were assured of yourself so that there would be no seniority on the young. Otherwise they would not learn humility. But Nancy, the God-daughter and Sheila loved each other at night and believe they were sisters in former 1ives. Anyhow God-Allah has pointed them out to me as great people for the New Age. Sheila has a large number of young children whom she is preparing to train as Pir-o-Murshid wanted.

Then this morning is coming Karl who has not yet received his spiritual name. He has the Sufi symbol on his forehead and not all the metaphysical people and claimant can change that. The future people will laugh at claimants when they see a God-realized soul with the Sufi Symbol on his forehead Murshid appears and says, “Check his birth, he was born after I died, and may have inherited from me.” (Murshid’s horoscope was once published and then withdrawn.)

All yesterday to the young. Last night late came a Jinn-soul, a beautiful young woman who is a Jinn and who knows she belongs to another evolution. She knows this. But she also has a different sight and knows all of Samuel’s outer personalities so easily and has them always right. Older people judge, she sees. (There is nothing perfect in what she sees, but it is very plain what she sees and correct.) And she is afraid of older people. What she needs is a mother. But because a Sufi can do what metaphysicians cannot or do not do, Samuel asked God and there is another Sheikha who now wishes to come back to Samuel and she is going to be entrusted with this soul as Mother. For we are going to restore, inshallah, the Divine Mother and no nonsense about it and no rejection from the various “universal brotherhoods” mean anything. Let them reject, God bless them. The Divine Light is in all forms, the Divine Love in all beings.

There was a man who came for a while and said, “God has sent me to be your spiritual teacher.” Samuel replied: “Yes, and I will accept you as my spiritual teacher if you can point out which people in this audience God did not send to be Samuel’s spiritual teachers.” He never shows up any more but as the Divine Light is in all people, all people, all people, now the young come and come and come.

Today also is a day of retribution. The same thing happened in Buddhism where we have a lot of popular lecturers who are afraid of Divine Light. They are not afraid of lust, greed, anger and all vices; they are popular and their books sell. On the Holy Mountain of Japan Samuel was initiated to purify the dharma and the metaphysical people don’t like that. They call it “egotism.” Samuel has his records and the metaphysical people call it “egotism.”

Now a friend has taken over the Buddhist studies at the university and Samuel can now present years and years of research and the dharma-transmissions he received from real Masters of the real Far East—he can name place, time and all else, but the metaphysical people posing as “mystics” reject that. Let them. God will have something to say. And already the top Ph.D. of the University of California has accepted the divine experiences from Samuel which the metaphysical people call “egocentricities” and the Sufis and Roshis call “realization.”

So despite a lot of rejection of “Six Interviews with Hazrat Inayat Khan” by good people, Samuel is now sending his reports to universities, just as Pir-o-Murshid told him and the universities are accepting what people who call themselves “Sufis” will not even look at. And there is no question that as death approaches Mrs. Duce up here is getting nervous. Baba has not spoken and God never ceases speak through all forms, all people, all everything. Time is on the side of the Sufi, also eternity; and neither on the side of the metaphysician who always calls the real mystic an “egocentric.”

One thing Samuel agrees with Reps is not having a closed school—it is open, only the Sufi part is closed; all the rest is open and Yoga system after Yoga system, breathing practice after breathing practice is imported, and all day and night are dedicated to God-Allah without surcease. And the young accept the history of the Robe and the metaphysical people posing as “mystics” refuse even to look, God bless them.

This city saw in turn Shaku Soyen, Inayat Khan, Tai Hsu and other masters come and go and leave their etheric and akashic prints and any clairvoyant can pick them up. They are all here in San Francisco. Even bones of Lord Buddha are here, and I spit in the face of the so-called “experts” on Buddhism who deny his historicity. Anybody that says “Buddha never lived” gets applause and money and fame, yet some of his bones are right here in San Francisco

Maybe this is all a defense mechanism. Last night Virginia saw the true “Samuel” and was right on every point. But one is very careful in public, not, most certainly not for traditional reasons, but because of the growing number of people with awakened Third Eyes.

One only prays for secretarial help, and inshallah it will come. The future generations will ask why, if Samuel has “The Complete Ryazat” of Inayat Khan and has been recognized by all the leading Sufis of many schools, how come the West rejects! There is more. The next step has already been taken in Asia, and more and more Sufis will appear, excluded as they are from the “universal brotherhoods.”

God bless you,

[undated, first pages missing]

My last great outer initiation came when Major Sadiq and I were hounded and persecuted by communists. It is a long and bizarre story and when people get out of their egocentricities they will find that Sam Lewis had to free far more than the hypothetical John Birch.... We then met Sufi Barkat Ali and instant recognition.

The robe given was a testimonial to Sufi beliefs and practices totally different from what one reads in books. And unlike the “Perennial Philosophy” of a brilliant semi-fictionalist, there are some who live this perennial philosophy and have the realizations of it. And so—and there is a moral law and there is karma—while the “good” people and the metaphysicians refuse to listen, one by one the universities are accepting and doors are open wide all over. So we shall go into them.

Pir-o-Murshid wanted me to have charge of the work of bringing mysticism to the universities. The “good” people both in Europe and America rejected that. But is has come and all one has to do is do.
My only prayer is that one get money for secretaries. We have to consider this carefully. The young are not going to accept separated and separative “universal brotherhoods.” And regardless of all the rejections by the “good” people this one has I believe, been the first person in history to be recognized and had communion with spirituality realized souls not only of the Six Faiths of the Universal Worship but also with Taoists and Confucianists. So the “good” people will go one way and the New Agee will go the other.

As Princess Poon Diskul said to me, “Books, books, books!” all Americans know is books! If you think I am an unprepossessing person, you should see the Princess! The smallest, most insignificant person I have ever met (smallest, other than being a dwarf), and the most powerful woman both spiritually and politically on the face of the earth. She would not have a chance in Ojai, she was rejected up here. This is our may. But the New Agee does not think in such terms. They want the realization themselves, not brilliant talks, and by God and before God, they are going to have it.

One is in total bewilderment but I am always aware that Pir-o-Murshid said, that at the end of forty years there would be the fruits of one’s efforts and before God these are coming within, without, above, below and it is only necessary to keep on even keel.

God bless you.

Copies of Shamcher,

Sheikha Bhakti, Marian.

[undated, first page missing]

Very gradually one finds oneself the mentor of a growing number of young people who are sick of the empty words their elders give them. Many want to learn the real cultures of real Asia and are now accepting my colleagues and myself who are recognized allover Asia, but not here, no, my friends, not here. Yes.

The big break comes that in the offing of these young people are some wealthy men who are more at odds with the moral and psychological aspects of our society than even the most rabid youth. They want universality and are sick of a “society” which will not permit it. I personally received no less than six requests from “Universal Brotherhoods” operating in different parts of the world, all seeking funds and ignoring each other, If you add to them the cults of California you have a pretty confusing picture.

But now some men with money want real Asian cultures and at least we are going to explore these possibilities. The practice of radio, press, publication and churches to accept self-constituting “authorities” as spokesmen for Asian cultures is no doubt a high form of entertainment. But the young and some not so young want something more than entertainment. The number of “Peace Corps” veterans who have been wrongly briefed is increasing. Not the idea of the “Peace Corps” but the inexcusable practice of accepting non-American, non-nationals as “experts” for many parts of the world.

The idea of having an institution where Americans can learn real Asian cultures is old, but the idea is implemented here not by select social choosing of “experts” who are generally loathed in real Asia. “Asia Foundation” has demonstrated we can have a better world by sitting down together with Asians.

Recently a Rabbi came here from Jerusalem. It is against all premises that he should call on a man with my “credentials” or pretensions. Yet we met and embraced. Only the death of his father has prevented our coming together and we may be able to work out a program of amicability for the Near East. We have our contacts, our knowledge and our programs and we both believe man can meet with man despite all bureaucrats, diplomats and “modest” accepters of peace awards who run to cover every time battling starts.

As this world seems to be operating under a law of “compensation” rather than under any subjective “justice,“ you may not be surprised to learn that a friend of mine is taking over Buddhist studies for the University of California and I am now able to present many, many years of research, and all the material rejected, and mostly a priori by our “peace” groups and good people will be on record. I shall certainly keep “Asia Foundation” informed, and shall continue the search for “angels” so that money may be available for honest meetings of peoples of different lands without any of the superflage which has been so prevalent.

Everything looks fine from this end.

With all respects and greetings,

Samuel L. Lewis

[undated, first pages missing]

The Church of Man. There is a woman in this city who is quite wealthy and joins spiritual movements, tries to control them, leaves them and joins another movement and on and one. She has, among others, deliberately made herself my enemy.

She met the Rev. Blighton, fell in love with him, and suddenly on a whim proceeded to get an annulment. In his misery I was sent to Rev. Blighton (Earl) and he wants me for the instructor in World Religions. I have been watching him take disreputable young men off the streets, usually ex-deviates or former LSD users, and bring complete spiritual regeneration. I have seen nothing like this in America in all my life.

I have been in many parts of the earth, seen many religions in action but never so much rapidity in spiritual rebirths. Tomorrow morning, before this can go to post, I hope to give my first Bible lesson there.

Elsewhere. I have not been particularly successful with the young but there is a man who keeps on sending people to me. He came in despair and claims I saved his life by prescriptions of meditation and breathing and wishes me to teach his theatrical troupe. This will come next month.

You have been very loyal to the Cause of God and I can only hope and pray that God will give you that recompense which will surely be yours in the next world, if not in this. I can only keep reminding you that Toward the One, the perfection of love, harmony and beauty—united with all the illuminated souls who form the embodiment of the Master the Spirit of Guidance is a reality and not a belief. I am sure future generations will accept this.

With all love and blessings to you both,

January 5, 1961

My dear Florie:

It is ten o’clock at night and I have had a most busy, and in a sense a most profitable two days. Because I have a certain élan and exuberance many overlook the fact of my age and that I have accumulated a certain quantity of knowledge and perhaps experience, if not wisdom. At this end the general conclusion is that I have wisdom. A small example is that the shoe-shine boys used to charge me 5 ps. or more, 2 ps. is considered high and 1 piaster normal for a shoe-shine. Now they fight to shine my shoes, not for the money but for the Baraka. This, you will please note, is my diary entry and I am not in the slightest degree concerned with the reactions of anybody, especially people in far-away places. For this supposition of my having Baraka has spread far beyond the shoe-shine boys. One guide—who overcharged me—is nevertheless advertising me far and wide because I went to Syedna Zeinab (where a granddaughter or some woman descendent of the Prophet has her tomb) and then the tomb of Imam Shafei who is a great saint and founder of one of the law schools of Sunna.

I have made two visits to the National Research Centre with the final acceptance of my literary proposals. I hope to put these into operation soon to the detriment of certain well-known groups who collect funds. Period. This will be reported to the Embassy tomorrow along with the following two incidents:

I received a call from one of the leading newspapers here. We finally arranged an interview which lasted about an hour and a half. They took at least six pictures with discussion of my scientific work, Sufism, Yoga, etc. It was so long and involved. It came out of the reaction to my poem “Saladin” and my paper on “Surrender Consciousness and Unifying Consciousness.” This received the highest commendation from the savants here and as soon as the present pressure dies down I shall write to Aligarh University in this regard.

As I was retiring last night I received another call which lasted one hour from the Islamic Congress. They not only accepted in full my report on Islam in the United States but held a meeting to work out a program for me when I return. In turn they asked me to write a paper on “How I became a Muslim” and “An American’s Reaction to Ben Gurion.” The latter will be an unusual paper for I shall attack him in part on universal grounds and partly on the strange departure from traditional Judaism which seems to go on indefinitely. If this man is not suffering from megalomania, then he is one of the worst enemies of true religion that ever appeared on earth.

I received one letter from Congress about a new school for international studies and I, stimulated by these events, have entered a strong protest against any further spending of moneys by the Federal Government for European professors on Asian studies. I am going to follow this up by reporting on the strange case of Judith Tyberg, pushed aside after she graduated with highest honors from an American University and received a further degree in India. I shall request she be given top priorities when Federal Funds are appropriated by Asian conferences, or for the projected university. We have not only gained nothing but have lost ground steadily by this interposition of Europeans in Asian studies.

Furthermore my stand that the real Islamic Philosophy have been smothered by Europeans writing books about a few men of the past whose works they happen to know, overlooking the greater works of many of Islam’s top thinkers and muddled explanations of others. The greatest name in Islam is hardly ever mentioned in any courses in the West—which has prompted one Egyptian to disown every European writer, without exception. Maybe he has gone too far, but this is an Egyptian outlook and it corroborates Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian, Malay, Burmese, Thai and Japanese outlooks. I have finally convinced the Foreign Office on this naming names and giving incidents.

January 8, 1961

My dear Florie:

This is my diary entry again. I just came back from a second visit to Sultan Hassan Mosque. It was under Dr. George Scanlon of the American U. here and the party consisted entirely of Americans, mostly those who work at the Embassy. We pay nothing for the tour but baksheesh to the people who work around Mosque. Even at a piaster a piece, the group is so large that they get good largesse.

Dr. Scanlon is entirely opposed to the famed ornate Mohammed Ali Mosque and claims that the Sultan Hassan Mosque is the best in Cairo. There is no argument. He knows the ins and outs of all the art, the historical background, the kinds of materials. I almost got aesthetic fatigue. Last time we walked miles but I did not get tired. Today my eyes are tired and I forgot to change my glasses.

The mosque uses stone, marble, lapis lazuli, glass and wood and each of these has to be treated separately. The monumental wood carving equals anything I have seen in Japan. The marble in-lays are perhaps the best of their kind. This place is so large and with so many details it is harder to visit than the Taj or Shalimar Gardens. But there is a fine feeling of awe and austerity. I want to go to the Rifa’i Mosque across the street again but Dr. Scanlon is stopping for a season and the next tours will be to relics of Ancient Egypt. I do not know at the moment whether I shall make such trips. I have been invited to an Armenian Church and the experience might be worth it. Somehow or other in the midst of so many activities I just cannot warm up to antiquities.

I was sure you have been very busy and thought you had gone to Santa Monica. I have just completed two papers for the Islamic Congress and will outline others which I can write when I return to California, inshallah; or write from Ohio should I go there for research. This morning I thought of the worst criticism of Christianity: “there was no room for him in the inn” but the inn has taken over the religion, especially Christmas. I am getting more and more antagonistic to Christmas.

We are losing ground in the international field. I have written Washington that our politics and economics were fine but we simply have no moral and psychological approach, will not face the fact and are constantly “shocked” by easily predictable events. I am not surprised at the China report. The press, the movies and the literati do not know how to face humanity. The lines came to me in a letter the other day: “Lust is the ghetto of love.” Few of our writers know how to get out of the ghetto and another sees adventure only in the science laboratory. This is utter nonsense. I find adventure every day.

I am running up against a dilemma on the buying of art goods, as to their shipment. This means either purchasing them through a New York Office at a much higher price—which I don’t mind; or carrying them with me, which means I save money but cannot distribute anything for a long, long time.

I think I told you I heard from Abdul Rahman from Abbottabad, and our plans rather coincide. I expect to find Pakistan “easier” than here because there is more openness and more people speaking English. I am now in the midst of biological research, literary work and waiting to see how much of the interview will be published. Tomorrow I go to the Islamic Congress and when I present my papers will see what kind of advice or suggestions they give me.

It would have been a simple and easy matter to have a Mosque in S.F. I am an old San Franciscan. I know people who would have contributed heavily for international reasons and I found today that these people are supporting four students at the University of Cairo right now. Well sometimes other than Allah knows best and when other than Allah knows best you get their kind of Mosque; and when Allah knows best you get His kind of Mosque. But other-than-Allah knows best so many places so you have to have the other-than-Allah Mosque.

More later.

January 9, 1961

My dear Florie:

Please bear in mind that this is my diary, for my records and for posterity and is not any effort to win anybody over; indeed some people will say as they always have said: what egotism! All my early life was rife with suffering and I used to envy Job! I am not fooling. The biblical saying that was before me was “The stone that is rejected is become the corner stone.”

I placed the carbons of my articles in the hands of one Attia who is both a scientist and dervish, but in addition a business man. The next result is that today I have to attend immediately to a scientific matter; then conduct my affairs; than meet a Sheikh and then prepare to meet several more Sheikhs and Allah knows what dignitaries.

I have followed with full faith the instructions given to me by my Murshids, and though there is nothing secret, there is everything sacred about them. Two or three people who have known me all this time and were disciples of my first Murshid are living witnesses of it but most of the disciples were more against me than anybody but my parents and one even more than my parents.

These instructions covered exactly what was the subject of the walks yesterday. Sufism may be called “Operative Islam.” We place God off in the subjective and then try to compensate a la Madison Avenue with a lot of adjectives bribes.

Allah has not asked for bribes. He has asked for surrender and that is exactly the one thing we do not give Him. Everything else. I had to show even those long steeped in Islam that when they bowed their heads to the grounds they empty their heads—their minds, their egos, and when the torso by reflex action even, is raised Allah may fill our hearts and beings with His Grace. But it is this type of Islam which Rom Landau attacked and most everybody but Abbas joined him and Abbas resigned as any devotee would do.

Sheikh Abu Salem Amria who has in part accepted me must be a great man because many of the Ulema from Al Asher ware there last night also to hear him. He gave lessons, mostly moral and spiritual and not the humbug words of lecturers—”moral and spiritual.” This was the real stuff. The Mosque was packed to the doors.

There was also present Sheikh Mohammed to Sidi Sharani. I cannot explain this man. There is such tremendous love between us that is real and the manifestation of it astounded even the Ulema and many of the devotees. And it is Sheikh Mohammed who is taking me out today, and I go with him.

This is a holy week. It is in honor of Zeinab, the grand-daughter of the Prophet. “Women have no souls in Islam” but can you point to a single woman-saint in Judaism or Protestantism? This very subject was touched and I can name several woman saints in Islam.

The first question that Sheikh Amria asked me was, “Have you visited Syedna Zeinab?” Well I had made a special visit to that shrine just before and you can believe or not all our European Orientalists that there is no telepathy or super-telepathy, but why this question as a greeting? I have had many such experiences.

Some day there may be in American schools for religions studies, schools for Islamic studies. Lest night there ware studies—only from Holy Qur’an, many from Hadith and many from the lives of the Kaliphs. This is exactly what I wanted but evidently my Allah whom I hope I worship is not the same as the “Islam” which some people have substituted for Allah and then filled with any selfish content they desire. Allah grants wishes. This god named Islam apparently does not. This god named Islam is just like the old Hebraic is deity, a private one in whose name one can do anything and everything. I’ll have none of it and neither will the world, but we all say “Alhamdu Lillah” and that ends the communication—in preparation for more adventures.

January 13, 1961

My dear Harry:

This is my diary entry and I am sending it air-mail which may bypass other letters and reports. Will you kindly send me air-mail to this address a pamphlet on the Hotel Management Section of the City College. There is a young man working here who wishes to come to the U.S. and take this course of training. He already has many of the qualifications, speaks several languages, and has more than passage money. Details are being worked out with the American Friends of the Middle East, who also have an office down town (323 Geary St.) You do not have to write anything, just please send the folder.

I am in the middle of a rat-race. I use this term although everything is most favorable. I had two other projects outside of Horticulture and not only have they both been successful but have reacted in turn on my Horticulture ventures. One has been my interest in Middle East affairs and the other in the Dervishes. I have no intention to write here on these subjects but I have found many of the Dervishes in important posts in horticulture; and in turn I found one of the chief Islamic philosophers gave me an opportunity about which I shall write next. His name is Attia and he asked me to check on the American Soybean Foundation. I did so and met one André Tawa, Director of the Soybean Council of America.

It was more of a love-feast than a meeting and I am to submit a paper at his request. In my previous journey I was interested in following up the introduction of the Soybean into India despite Clifford Clinton’s “Meals for Millions” abortive experience. The Soybean Foundation is not only working literally on everything from “soup to nuts” but faces every problem from the pests which make growing difficult here to the manufacture of plastics, etc. and all between. On top of that Mr. Tawa heartily endorsed my bringing Horticultural literature to this country and said the Foundation would not only back me psychologically but even financially.

This comes at a time when I can report, with a degree of disgust, that a number of American organizations, purportedly opening in the fields of international friendship and collecting plenty of $$$ for such purposes are not here at all and I never happened upon them before and am keeping a keen eye open. This quasi-fraudulent method is adding more fuel to the fire of international suspicion. But the Soybean Council is doing and what is more is working just in that area of the world which I visit and have been effective so far.

Ali Asad, Chief Geneticist, Vegetable Research Station

Hasan Salah, Chief Plant Protectionist, National Research Center

Sa’ad Kemal, Chief Geneticist, En-Shams University

Murtaz Billah, Director, Vegetable Production, Veg. R. Station

Mohammed Dessouki, Chief, Foreign Affairs Dept., Ministry of Agriculture

Mr. Dessouki is my theoretical host; Hasan Salah, recently from the University of California and friend of many personal friends, has been my effective host. He sent me to En-Shams University where I went before to meet Yusuf Wali, Chief Pomologist. This man, like Murtaz Billah, is a Dervish. M. Dessouki is a first cousin of Murtaz Billah.

The other day I called on Ali Asad first to get a contact with Louisiana State University to report to them on the use of Water Hyacinths as a vegetable. He gave me the introduction. When I met Sa’Ad Kemal I learned that the two men had gone together to L.S.U. and were close friends so all these people are close workers with each other and with me.

I then told Ali Asad that I thought his work on Sweet Potatoes was it. He was doing exactly what I have been arguing about for an integrative resolution of the earlier Lysenko-Mendel controversy. I have asked for a special interview in February so I could enter the report in my diary and carry his work to other universities without infringing on his patent rights. He was delighted. He was further pleased to know my enthusiasm was as great as his. I have since had opportunities to disagree, or argue with other scientists and can see that they have not reach the integral “solution” as I think and Ali does. I hope he is right.

My visit to [En-Shams was something. Sa’ad Kamal used to be Professor of Horticulture but now handles Genetics and Statistics at the university. He took me around the grounds and later to his place. For the record I notice the continued use of Lantana for low shrubs but a form of Bougainvillea also. I do not like the latter for this purpose but there it is. One sees plenty of Jonquils, very fragrant; Stocks, Nasturtiums, Petunias, Geraniums, some Canna, all kinds of Points, but no garden flowers with which you are not familiar. The Roses are doing well now showing they are an all-the-year plant. The chief store flower is the Glad. They look fine and full. Phlox are also in bloom, Violets, etc.

Sa’ad Kamal took me to his farm where he does Cotton Research. He is trying seed-planting, putting some in the ground every 9 days, beginning with November 1^st. Those which rooted well before the cold weather are in fine shape, but the others grew well up to about 6” and then the cold wind gets them. It does not kill them, but causes leaf-fall.

There are several reasons for doing this off-season. The first is to see if they can get plants and blooms before the pests are active. The second is to ascertain the actual thermal factors. Light, he tells me, is natural and long- or short-day planting does not seem to be effective. The genetic factors seem to be very dominant over the “environmental” ones and so far as Cotton is concerned Sa’ad Kamal is pretty close to Mendelian orthodoxy.

He has also developed Cotton as a perennial windbreak. This serves several purposes. Thus, no labor of replanting. He has not yet determined the economic benefits or losses to this method. But the windbreak shrubs protect the new plants. He has had laid out both seeds and cuttings in one open field, and on the other side of the road reported his experiments with the Cotton shrubs as windbreaks. There he has had very much greater success with the seedlings and somewhat greater success with the cuttings. The cuttings require more labor, but come free; the seeds less labor but an expense. So it is just the beginning of a season of experimentation; to add the economic facts and factors to the genetic ones…. However, I think these principles might apply to a lot of other crops.

He is also doing work with Grasses and Ground Covers to ascertain their value and usefulness. He sees that the Goat has been the envy of Egypt and that it destroyed all the ground covers but C. dactylon and even much of that. He says that economists, historians and others have overlooked this and tend to blame dynasties and political groups. He says that the Goat eats so close that it does not permit plants to revive, especially the ground covers in Egypt and that this is the prime factor in the centuries of downhill in the history of the soil. He is not trying to introduce many ground covers. He finds his Lippia particularly successful.

We also discussed the relation of crops to soil moisture, atmospheric pressure and ultimately rainfall. My ideas, although worded out logically rather than scientifically, are the same as those of all the men whom I have met who are [?] on this and similar problems.

Sa’ad Kemal’s home and station are about 10 miles northeast of Cairo. The weather there is moderate, warmer in winter and cooler in summer. The soil is rich black alluvial. Until recently he used no fertilizers, part of his tests outside of Cotton being the use of crop rotation to see how far this could be done without additives. Now he must use some N in his cotton work. As both of us were too interested in the experiments, we forgot to go into the rotation program.

It is quite possible that I shall visit this University again. At the moment I have no program excepting the very important one of extracting from the Entomological bulletins, about which I have written before.

I also spent some time at the Library of En-Shams. They claim to have a moral complete collection of Botanical and Horticultural books than elsewhere around Cairo and this is undoubtedly true. I did a small amount of checking but then we had a long discussion on information exchange. The result is the basic working out of a program to exchange first, information between Pakistan, India, Japan, U.S. and UAR. Then go into seeds and later into ropes. Later today I was advised that Mr. Dessouki of the Ministry is going to India next week so I will see him immediately in the morning and extract some names from my diary, especially the contacts at Dehra Dum. If this program can be accomplished, it will round out my general purpose and give me a full-time program, if I wished, for the rest of my life. Of course more countries might fit into the pattern, especially, Indonesia.

At the moment there is also some rivalry between U.S. and U.S.S.R on the World Agricultural Exhibition which will open after I leave. Evan if I get a preview, I could hardly give an objective, over-all report. For Russia’s discoveries or advances would only in a few cases be of benefit to this country. Both the basic crops and conditions are different. But even the wheat research might be further advanced here than in either country, but the press, including even the local press is too concerned with excitement to give a deep, serious report.

I have now written to Mr. Kinoshita in Japan covering the basis facts without details. I may have gotten into too many things but now I am sent for. I have to see Mr. Attia, who is concerned with the commercial side of Cotton but also interested in the basic food problems of this region. He has several contacts for me, the nature of which is not clear.

I have now written asking for an interview with President Nasser. Even if it be granted I am afraid the news value of it would outshine the truth value. For I consider the contents of this letter above of far more importance to the world. Indirectly I feel concerned with the failures of Russia and China in this crops and harvests. Other countries have also suffered this year and the world seems out of focus, with population going up and food going down.

There is a general feeling that the new Administration will be better. I did not vote and while I feel that the State Department is a decided improvement, do not wish to extend my onions, which are not well formed. Mr. Benson was here recently but it did not get into the news, nor did he make any basic pronouncements or suggestions.

I told Sa’ad Kemal that what the UAR needs from the U.S is neither money nor advice, but the tourism of farmers who have grown Cotton, Cane and Rice. I once wrote Senator Ellender on this subject; ignored. Some of those lowly whites from the South, with all their weaknesses, could make better suggestions than the none-contacting diplomats, experts, etc., who visit neither people nor villages. Anyhow I may make arrangements for out-of-town trips next week. The Sundays now give the choice of visiting ancient Christian churches or going on art-jaunts with the American colony. Either of which is acceptable.

Cordially,

January 16, 1961

Dear Walt and Magana;

This is my diary entry and only incidentally a letter. It is evident that my sensitivities or intuitions are growing and the incident last night may fortify the story below it. Ted is a Harvard grad here and has been concerned with going to Iran. He is in some difficulties and I begged him to sup with me. He declined thinking he was a burden. As I sat down to dine there was a man opposite me who proved to be Iranian envoy and had all the answers for Ted both on how to go to Iran and what to do. We also had a very pleasant discussion of Sufism which he says is much alive in his country. Of course the “authorities” deny this just as they deny it is alive here and God knows how many thousands of them I have met and I have two or more spirituals teachers to meet soon.

Yesterday I had to go the Al-Asher Mosque after visiting one Sufi Khankah, and having time went to the bazaars. I had brought a small amount of spending money with me. Now either Allah or my Agatha daemon is with me, for I get pinched and called “stingy.” I had brought the money for no other reason than spending it. I bought some shoes and they will be shipped with some other stuff to Peg Almond, 470 23rd Ave., San Francisco 21.

There was a fine Nefertiti robe, no there were several and there were a lot of other robes. It is very hard to get the merchants to keep quiet. I was not interested in price excepting to see that the package was valued at $10. Well, I finally got a Nefertiti robe and one pair of green shoes to match although I cannot be sure of the size of either, and it does not matter. These were paid for, also postage and insurances to 111 Ellis St. and if they get there I think you have the acumen, wisdom and assurance to know what to do with same.

It is because my intuition or the divine grace has been working and working overtime for me in several affairs I feel this will be included. Anyhow Allah or the Agatha daemon or my conscience or something told me not to be stingy for you folks, and I guess I had better not. There are no orders about other people and I may be stingy there, although here again only Allah knows why or knows best and I shall try to obey orders. (This looks very funny, actually it is most serious.)

I believe at this writing all my major and many of my minor projects have succeeded, alhamdu lillah. I have written asking President Nasser for a short interview and the presentation of my poetry. Also I may try to see the local Mayor and Governor on other matters. This covers a long list of things. I am half afraid, at times, to record even for my diary because things look bloated and egotistic. I once took Dr. Baker with me to an Asian conference and she never again criticized me, but I do not have many opportunities to take people to see what happens when I go forth.

The work being done by scientists here has amazed and delighted me. I am now concerned with cultural and related exchanges. The arts are not so well developed here. Painting is catching up, but dancing not so; the progress in music is malgré lui. I even heard square dance calls in Arabic. You may be glad to learn that some of the Hindus I meet have heard about you and there is no doubt that you could draw many people if you came here. But the State Dept. and ANTA are still too much concerned with brand names and a visit of Armstrong is going to delight the Americans and the American press; but I doubt much whether there will be any valid communication or “meeting the people.” This is something which is not going on at a proper rate.

I leave here in a month and look to a later return. There are lots of loopholes in this visit and thought I just purchased a camera it is for somebody else and I should prefer others talking pictures. It is a burden with all the things I have in tow, and I am not able to carry on my literary work.

Cordially

Samuel I Lewis

January 18, 1961

Dear Ruth and Everybody:

Please note that this is my diary and only secondarily a communication. I had my fortune told three times when I was an infant and all the people said I would die famous. A number of years ago a woman read my coffee grounds and said that someday I would do something for which the U.S. Government would honor me. My name is already on the roster of famous people at Fort Mason, Calif. just below Carlson’s Raiders. Every time I open my jaw to say what has happened there is a roar of opposition. It is not I but they who have the egos. Anyhow in order to tell what is happening here and happening here in profusion, I have to break this down into a series of incidents. Please bear in mind that this is just one third of my existence here and the other two thirds are keeping pace with it. The top scientists, including a number of Sufis, are my dear friends and I am now no longer controlling my affairs but am a witness and a witness only and this is just one-third of my current existence. As much as possible goes into my diaries but now I am not sure, so much is happening and happening all the time.

Dr. Mohammed Kemal Hussein. The Sufis at Ajmir gave me such a reception that I became ill from dysentery, the only time I was ill on my previous journey—nothing but feasts and teas with milk and sugar between, excepting when we climbed a holy mountain or attended ceremonies. Whatever happened then—and things did happen—were not on the plane they happen now, either internally or externally.

I arrived in New Delhi and had the same rooms as previously and Pir-o-Murshid appeared and said I should go to the Egyptian Embassy. So I went sick—I came back healed. There I met this gentleman. “What do you want?” “I am interested in Moineddin Ibn l’Arabi and Islamic Art before the Turkish conquest.” His jaws dropped. “How did you find me?” “Why?” “I am the world’s greatest authority on these two subjects. This is the first time I have ever left Egypt and have just arrived and you found me!” I told him and we have become most excellent friends.

He has reviewed my “Saladin” and places it in the top ranks of all poetry. He has read my papers on “Surrender Consciousness and Identity Consciousness.” He has seen to it that my name got into the paper. We have outlined a lot of things, firstly in Islamics and later on for horticulture when I return inshallah. This is necessary because of

Dr. Shawarbi. He is now in the U.S. and normally should have been my host. He arrived in S.F. under dramatic conditions summoned by an enemy who was fighting a friend. At the meeting of the U.N. where all the religions came together I showed him a single page of “Saladin” and we walked off, he did not want to see anybody else, and were together constantly. Originally it was planned I was to tell him with his farm. I need somebody here through whom to introduce California crops, all kinds, so these doors are opened.

Newspaper Al-Akhram. Dr. Hussein has not only given me publicity but I was 1½ hours in his home recently for an interview with 8 or so pictures taken. But nothing appeared. I go to Semiramis Hotel all the time and I was told a beautiful woman reporter wanted to see me. Paul Keim of Berkeley was the first American I met here and we have become very, very close. He has a beautiful secretary named Katie whom I had to see in re. dancing. But I told Katie this a.m. I could not stay because a beautiful Egyptian lady wanted to see me. This was so and I had another whole hour and a promise to have a big article or several articles in the paper.

The Jilani Family is descended from Abdul Kadir-I-Gilani, the greatest of the Ghouses (and no nonsense despite the people who want to lead Sufism without studying it). I met a representative of this family in Washington before whom I laid my plans for Palestine. He began by wanting to throw me out of the door; he ended by embracing me.

My plan for Palestine has never been refuted. Everybody accepted it before, and I am resurrecting it step by step. There is an Iraqi in this Pension and he told me a member of the Jilani (or Ghailani) family is here in charge of the legation. I went there this morning and was promised an interview soon. Same stuff—the gruff voice followed by sweetness, light and love.

The Duces. Mrs. Duce who is now a titular Murshida was the only one who knew my plans. Three times I have almost made it in international affairs. The first time I was betrayed by a woman whom I had initiated, my only real mureed. The next time Murshida told everything to Etta who told everything to Mirza Mehdi her husband who told it to his friends. Finis. The third time Mrs. Duce went out of her way to denounce me and my plans, crossed the country, publicly and privately denounced the same. Made me retract this article in the papers which published me, although my view was very close to that of the new Secretary of State, Rusk.

I got kicked out of Fairfax, kicked out of the Sufi Movement and was called all kinds of things for which I could have hailed her into any court anywhere but did not want to disgrace the name Sufism.

I made a friend in Colonel Evenson, new director of the American Friends of the Middle East in San Francisco. He is a very close friend of Terry Duce. Just before I left home—and I may have told you this—as he wanted to introduce me to Mr. Duce I said: “Hello Terry!” He had just told him that my “Saladin” is a most wonderful poem, a prelude to Mohammed Kemal Hussein above. Ivy then came in, hang dogged.

Well today during the interview I heard the name Mr. Duce and found Terry is now here. I immediately went to the American Friends of the Middle East and dropped an indirect message: “All my plans here have been successful.” I may watch for him. The whole world and I mean the whole world has reversed itself.

U.S. Embassy. I had a long and the most important conference I have ever had with a Federal Govt. Official. Roughly I told him that we have not a single book on Islam as it is, nor a single book on the Dervishes which means anything. Without getting into detail he accepted every proposal I put to him and I am to write them out carefully and they will be given every consideration. I think I have things which may affect the whole balance of power in the U.S.

Local Sufis. Sunday I did not have time to complete the trip with the Americans but we visited a Khankah. I got kicked out of a school in California for using the term “Khankah.” I was urged to make this a “cause célèbre” as it is called and I probably shall. I went and greeted everybody there.

I met also this week Sheikh Sharabassi of the Rifa’i Dervishes. I had been to the Rifa’i Mosque and had the most wonderful experience there. Now he has invited me this Friday with my friend, Atila, to be interpreter. He had me stand up in a public meeting and get an ovation—this is becoming common place. In fact I am supposed today to have lots of “Baraka” and most people call me “Sheikh.”

I have been going to “The Garden of Allah” in the Khan-i-Khalili bazaar for purchases. I was introduced to a shoe-maker down stairs who fitted me out. Somehow or other the story got round that I am a dervish. Yesterday when I was in this shop the shoe-maker came up breathlessly, and took me by the hand downstairs. This was surprising as my shoes were not to be fitted until next week. There was an old blind man, a sheikh. We sat silently and I gave him my beads: “Naqshibandi!” He glowed all over—he is the Naqshibandi—teacher here. We embraced and then one experiences Baraka, not just blessing, but the warm fire of love and magnetism and joy penetrating all through one’s personality. It was a tender moment of happiness. There are things beyond words and language.

Prospectus. I am to leave here on February 16^th for Port Said and to arrive in Karachi on February 26^th. My mail address between February 15 and March 5 will be c/o Consulate, U.S.A., Karachi, Pakistan. Then c/o Abdul Rahman, K-482, Old Kunj St., Abbottabad, Hazara, N.W. Pakistan.

I may tour West Pakistan in many directions, depending on my friends. I have accepted the invitation to stay some time with one Jamshyd Khan, in Mardan, N.W. Pakistan. He is the largest modern farmer who has been most successful. But the truth is that not only am I interested in soils and soil problems—and have a lot of stuff for him, but the sons of Hasan Nizami have a coal company there. The late Hasan Nizami was Pir-o-Murshid’s closest friend and he died in his presence. So if I meet the sons I may question them about Pir-o-Murshid’s last days.

Several men at the Embassy are also going to help me with introduction in Pakistan and Dr. Kemal Hussein above already has.

Islamic Culture. This is very long and very complicated. I have written two papers for the Islamic League and shown them part of “Saladin.” I am also going to Al-Azhar University office Saturday to discuss the whole problem of Islamic culture. They are going to start a radio station and indirectly they need my advice on how to reach the English speaking world.

Roughly speaking the people here are Conservative Muslims, Progressive Muslims, Islamic Sufis and Universal Sufis. It is hard to draw the lines; there are no fixed rules and most are Muslims, but the top men are Universal as I have written before and underneath a lot of other people are universal, too.

Discussions. When I went to the bank last they gave me my money and entertained me and I them. They even forgot the papers which I had to sign! They had me give them sermons and discuss the relative merits of Christianity and Islam. I walked off a hero. The same happened the other night near here. I mingle with the people and they know I am an American. Nobody else does this.

Future. I had to criticize the American habit of raising funds which never reach here. Only the A.F.M.E. mentioned above, the YMCA. and CARE do anything here—and for that matter wherever else I have been. The most disgusting thing is the appeal for literature and funds, and any decent literature never gets here excepting through the Government (U.S.I.A.), which is always being attacked. And the filth that clutters the market—they don’t need Russian literature. What is saving as that the condition in Russia and especially China are terribly terrible and China may even try a suicide war, though I don’t think so. They simply do not have food.

I don’t want to overstate my case and at the same time I don’t want to overlook with false modesty because small events as well as big ones may play a part here. Remember this is just one-third of my program!

Love and blessings,

January 19

Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear friends:

I begin with my diary entry for the day and then may add to it. I have become very, very tired, largely because of a long parade of successful ventures, so I took the “afternoon off.” I went for a long walk with my friend who operates the book and magazine stand at Hotel Semiramis and he took me to his brother’s.

O. Deirnanjian, 33 Abdul Aziz St., Cairo, has a government job in the morning and operates a photography studio in the afternoon. He has a daughter in the United States. Last year she worked for Mardikian’s “Omar Khayyam.” If you are friendly with Mrs. M. you might relate this incident to her.

I am arranging with one member of the family to have unusual pictures taken of scenes which do not appear on postal cards such as interiors of Mosques, tombs, etc. We shall check carefully. But I shall not bring many cards home. Most of these will go to Pakistan. Instead I shall place a tentative order for Mr. Deirnanjian to make glass slides, perhaps colored, and these could become the property of the East-West gallery. I am pretty sure you will approve. Only at the present time I cannot put out my own money. I have neither the returns from the United States nor the forms for my Income Tax and must keep a considerable amount in reserve until I find out. Besides, I should want to lecture and such lectures could be used for raising funds for the School. I have made some such suggestions before but they have been treated lightly.

In the meanwhile it is possible that you have received the shipment I sent some time ago.

The morning was spent in scientific research mostly for City College and even this was “light” after the engagements of the previous day. Most important may have been another long newspaper interview. I am always getting interviews, but only slight news. I have been promised at least one long notice because my picture has been taken at least eight times and over 2 1/2 hours in interviews and this does not include articles published without my being interviewed. I have sent a number of serious reports to the American Friends of the Middle East, and others in the World Affairs Councils, but this does not cover my scientific or Islamic ventures. I do not have any time “off.”

Before that I had a long interview in the Ambassadorial section of the Embassy. This is the first time I have really stayed for a conference. They want a full report from me, my ventures, contacts, suggestions especially. The day is over when whatever knowledge I have collected or experiences I have had are going to be by-passed. I am quite unconcerned with rejections. The bigger the people the less the rejections. I have long since broken down the dividing lines between the races and social groups. I have done this in every country and I do not think there is anybody I cannot meet anywhere. No, I have not met President Nasser yet but I only recently asked to see him. I have my epic poem for him which has been very highly praised. This was true in S.F. before I left—by outsiders, of course—the poets would not let me present it. As I went along I found my writings evaluated higher and higher by Asians of all arts and now by Americans in the Foreign Service. I have studied more about certain phases of Asian culture than any man I know and have so been received here as I have been in each Asian land I have visited. The magazines want my material, one a local one, but one, thank God, American, due to my work on food problems. And the Agricultural Department has long since accepted my works; they are much easier to meet than the State Department which in turn, is much easier to meet than the press.

From this point on it is difficult for me to communicate. It is easy to meet representatives of any people of the world. One does need linguistic interpreters; one does not need mental or heart interpreters. The United States both as a government and as a compendium of human beings has made a severe error in international affairs by leaning on mental and heart interpreters and not meeting peoples of the world directly. No doubt one needs someone here who can speak both Arabic and English and in Japan or Indonesia bilingualism or multilingualism is important. But art and heart are also important.

The Rudolph Schaeffer School has had some excellent art-and-heart interpreters and there does not seem to be any pretense that such instructors know or knew many languages. A man knowing Arabic, Hindi or Japanese does not necessarily know how to interpret the paintings, architecture or music of those countries and it is doubtful whether linguists, as such, have contributed much to learning outside of language itself—where their contributions must not be under-estimated either.

There is a measure before Congress now for the Federal government to contribute toward Asian studies. It could be in the form of a new school, as in Hawaii; it could be in the form of grants to schools already in existence. But if it comes in the manners now used in the United States by the acceptance of intermediaries instead of direct contacts between East and West it will continue to offend rather than to promote communication. The whole world of music, for instance, is untouched here and will remain untouched until persons can freely cross from Arabian society to American society. This I have done personally. Most of the answers and information I have is in contradiction or direct opposition to positions held by the intermediaries we, as a Nation, have unfortunately accepted. The President has been blamed for our low prestige abroad, the politics and what not, but I can assure you that the low prestige abroad is quite apart from our politics. It comes in the strange almost national behavior in not meeting peoples face-to-face, mind-to-mind, heart to heart.

I can assure you, in closing, that this American is welcome, has been welcome all over Asia and it looks at the moment as if he will be more welcome. And other Americans, all Americans can do this without knowing languages or even religions if they just take other human beings directly as our own Declaration of Independence holds.

It is not easy to live a dual life, to have to transform oneself constantly every day in going back and forth between social groups. That has made my work hard and tiring but it may make it easier for those who come hereafter.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

January 24, 1961

Dear Tony:

Yesterday I went on a different errand in the Muski district which is just on this side of the Khan-i-Khalili bazaars which are just on this side of Al-Azhar. I passed one synagogue which was closed but was not interested because it is an Ashkenazi or European. We did see an old Sephardic synagogue which is shaped like one or two I have seen in the United States and they use a standard prayer book. I have not contacted the Jews who were here before the Turkish times.

But the purpose was to visit the Franciscan Fathers. I suppose I have two prejudices here. One is that I was not only born in S.F. very close to the mission but socially having been on the “side of the poor,” consider this Order very noble. The other is Puck’s protest against the clerical collar which he considers the worst atrocity—or like the Pushtuns, a masochistic device.

The monastery is for study and research only. They come from various countries and are supposed to know Latin, French and English; Greek is presumed but not so compulsory. However they must know Greek in the course of their disciplines. But Arabic and Coptic are the main courses and no one can leave until he has a working knowledge of these languages.

Studies are made in early Christianity, not only the Church Fathers but all aspects. There is still a big gap between the very early Christianity and the literary periods, however developed before the time of the Islamic conquest. I am not interested in theological differences and schismatic quarrels. I am interested in liturgies, music, ceremonies, monastic disciplines and spiritual experiences.

Although I have been accepted and apparently will be accepted more and more both as a Muslim and a Dervish, I do not criticize Christianity—excepting indirectly for the modernism which has refused to face the facts of filthy literature. So my visit was very pleasant all around. I consider these Fathers clear and clean and while I do not wish to use the term “saint,” in the earlier Hebrew sense of “holy ones” or pure ones (Chassidim, etc.) it would fit very well. I am not trying to flatter you, but to report that the meetings were very cheerful, wholesome, cordial.

They have recommended me to the Dominican Fathers and to two groups of Copts. I may go, but I have not yet warmed to the Copts and can’t explain why. I just don’t know. I feel much warmer toward and with the Armenians, perhaps because they blend my sort of West with my sort of East. That is another story but I am planning several things with Armenians such as getting colored slides for talks; and introducing folk art. I don’t expect to do everything but am planning for my next visit.

However my trip has been successful far beyond hopes and dreams. It is easy to bring East and West together. Only nobody does it. Everybody is trying to remake the other like himself. It is true that I think they need dancing and some gymnastics and sports here to release tensions and energies. Outside of that I see no basic need for alterations which are not taking place. There is some departure of morality with the lessening of religious ties and I do not look on favor of it. They fail to see that if there is anything wrong with the U.S. it comes from just those mishabits which they are beginning to adopt. I don’t think a man is a fanatic if he prays five times a day or gets up before dawn for God.

I am told there is a place where the Holy Family rested. I am not interested in testing the historicity of it. I am interested in the feeling behind it. You will find two books enclosed. I leave them to you to keep or to share with any Church Father you select. I am hoping they get out. I am not trying to send anything which is not in accord with the customs and desires of the U.S.A. officials. I am trying to study this country as it is, not as I or anybody else would desire it. This may not be easy but it is worth trying. Certainly with all its faults this country has made such gigantic strides that not even the apologists can keep up with them. Only, like in India, I hope this can be done without the expense of dispensing with so much of the old. In the next few days I expect to attend more dervish gatherings and to hell with Prof. von Plotz! The U.S. Government is now accepting all my reports on this matter. We need to know the religion of this region and we do not.

Cairo, UAR

January 24, 1961

Pir-o-Murshid Maulana Abdul Ghafoor

Ramna, Dacca, East Pakistan

Beloved Teacher:

Allahumdulillah Rab-ba alamin, Er-rachman, er rachim.

In pursuance of the duties set before me first by Pir-o-Murshid Sufi Inayat Khan and then by your gracious person in the capacity of Khalandar, I have come to this land with many purposes and little external assistance. Nevertheless Allah is Great and though a man walk alone, whether through strife or ease, it is possible that heavy burdens or light may come to successful fulfillments. This is not due to his person so much as to the fulfillment of righteous duties laid before him.

This week two reports are to be submitted, one to the State Department of the United States Government and one to Sheikh Absalem Amria of the Rifa’i Order of Dervishes, each in its way marking the culmination, inshallah, of my external reasons for being in this land. But even before I left San Francisco and more and more as I have travelled, there has been a reversal on the part of others of attitudes and responses; doors which were previously closed have opened wide, and new avenues have stretched before me, of which one had previously been unaware.

On the external side the purpose was to bring having horticultural information first to UAR and then to Pakistanis to assist in the opening and cultivation of desert and salt-encrusted lands. Also to open up for an information exchange of agricultural information. No one seems to have been doing this although vast sums have been collected for such purposes. Nevertheless, I appear to have been the first person to do rather than merely appeal for funds and this effort, this work, has long been recognized by important representatives of the Agricultural Departments of both the UAR and U.S. Government.

One day, in the pursuance of these tasks, I was introduced to a brother in Tarik, one Murtaz Billah of the Shadhili Order of Dervishes. Like myself he was engaged in horticultural research and our private interests are very, very similar. But our grand purposes in life also. Through him many doors have opened, of which here I sketch a few.

1. Yusuf Wali is also a horticulturalist and claims to be a disciple of all the living ktub. I have heard from others that this honored person now lives and functions in this region. Yusuf has given me reports on operative Sufism which are entirely in harmony with what I have been taught or believed to have experienced. I hope to see him further, inshallah, before I leave the country.

2. I have attended many Zikrs, chiefly of the Shadhilis and Rifa’is and have seen some of other Orders. I am hoping soon to go to Tantah which is a large city inhabited chiefly by Sufis and Dervishes and headquarter of the Bedavi Order.

3. I have been blessed with visitations of Saints and Rassoul-lillah and this week am to make a complete report to Sheikh Amria. But I have also met and love deeply one Sheikh Mohammad Dessougi and one Dr. Sharabasi of the Rifa’i Order. All indications have been from the moment I reached UAR indicated my induction into this order.

I must record here one incident. I entered the Sidi Shirani Shrine one night on the occasion of this saint’s birthday celebration. There were thousands of people present. As soon as I took off my shoes and crossed the threshold, two arms seized me. I thought: “Now your presumption has caught up with you; you have dared so many times to enter holy places without permission.” Instead I was immediately conducted to the microphone and found myself guest speaker of the evening! One does not know how these things occur, so thousands heard my voice on a single occasion.

This week also I am to make a résumé of my work and suggestions for the State Department of the United States Government. One by one the members of the Embassy have come to recognize what I am doing and have given complete cooperation. It is an entirely different world.

Also I have had many interviews for the newspapers but so far few articles published. This is always likely to occur. But the other day during an interview the name of one Mr. Terry Duce was paged as I entered the hotel. I was able to walk up and speak to him graciously, ending a fourteen year effort of persecution on the part of his poor wife who, in the name of Sufism, has given out all sorts of false teachings and also had previously done everything possible to destroy my person and all my work. This is a sad, sordid and tragic story which, in the end, has brought no satisfaction to the poor lady who is devoid of any moral vision, alas. She used power and social position instead of appealing to Allah. But there is the incident of the Cave, and I have never forgotten it.

My health, beloved Murshid, has been remarkably good and my strength has been preserved through the years. This story will be given this week; it has already been published at Aligarh University and will probably by known to the world. And last night Sheikh Amria gave incidents also of the appearance of Khidr to living persons.

That this is not a legend is also confirmed in my poem Saladin, brought here to be presented to President Nasser, Inshallah. Those who have read it place it among the great Sufi poems, but I leave that to Allah and posterity. Nevertheless I have a carbon with me and shall be glad to read, or have read, certain sections of it which deal with the more lofty aspects of experiences in fana-fi-Rassoul.

Preparations are under way now for my departure to West Pakistan, but the length of my stay there is indeterminate. It presumably means by going to the Peshawar region where I hope I can meet Brother Ansar Nasri again, inshallah, but I already have many contacts. My presumable home is Abbottabad but also I have been invited to stay in Mardan. I understand that sons of the late Hasan Nizami live in Mardan also, so I hope I may be able to meet them, inshallah.

Much more could be written, all of a cheerful and hopeful nature. I have lived under many conditions and now at a later era in my life Allah has removed many of the burdens and brought either the fruit of effort of the Grace which is needed to follow the pathway of a Khalandar in life.

My love to all.

Ahmed Murad Chisti

(Samuel L. Lewis)

January 29, 1961

Dear Jim:

I am purposely sending you my diary entry because I have failed to keep a record. Today I made a purchase for the Arts Department, Punjabi U., Lahore. Also, I picked up some handmade shoes for myself. £E 2 which is $5.60 in our money, excepting there is a special discount. The shoes are very good, heavy leather. I have already sent some folk-shoes for display to S.F.

I have been going to Al Azhar for some special training in Qur’an and also to Mosques, especially those of the Rifa’i Dervishes. Tomorrow I am going again to the tombs of the Mameluks to meet the Sufis there. I want to get as much material as possible. They celebrate saint’s days here even more than in India and Pakistan. It is partly an inheritance from Christianity, partly from older religions and no doubt come to fruition in the Fatimide Period when Shia’ Islam was in control. They have moulads which means festivals, like the Mardi Gras and includes everything. Last night I attended a circus. This is largely in the form of side-shows but one side-show proved to include the main events, beginning with lion-taming and having a combination of a vaudeville and animal show. I saw the native dancing, perhaps as good or better than at the casinos and much less coarse. I had to buy the candy which is supposed to contain the Baraka. Later I may go to Tanta, inshallah, where the Bedawi dervishes hold forth, whose candy is particularly sacred. Evidently just as monks make wine or liquors, dervishes make or cause candy to be made. It is quite different from most forms at home. They have some like peanut brittles and New Orleans types.

I am now writing out my reports for the Embassy covering everything. I am not holding back. Thus Rom Landau is getting the works. I mention Alan Watts with his control of radio stations and their refusal to permit lectures on Islam. I mention the German professors without names for they do not give any clear picture of Asia. Anandamaya was Spiegelberg’s favorite for one year, a woman who has a big following and who claims to be God-conscious, which Koestler says isn’t so and the infallible Jung says Koestler is right which makes Fred look like a plate of spaghetti, which he is. But what I object is that the Spiegelbergs get jobs and the American Judith Tybergs who are admired in the Orient go around begging. I am all for Spiegie in his languages and his Tibetan stuff, but outside of that, what does he know about Asia? I have completed my Indian studies and they are way off from both him and Chaudhuri but not at all different in anything from Satya.

No doubt Blanche took on too much karma. She did not know how to rest. But I do not know whether I know enough to preach about it, only I am very much alive and getting very strong.

I have also written to Connaughtons and sent it air mail because I have not heard from Bill Hathaway whose mother lives just below you. His father was the only one who ever briefed me in diplomacy and by God, he briefed me correctly, regardless of any and all sundry.

I suppose I may run into Claude some day. To me he is a symbol other than a person but I guess there is nothing wrong in having a symbol.

At the moment with my interest in dervishes I may seem over-enthusiastic. Religions are like trees and when we try to describe them in seed-form we are projecting and differentiating and not describing. Islam, even more than the Catholic Church, includes all sorts of phases and institutions. To regard them as “wrong” is like regarding the oak as a “wrong” Rose-bush or “wrong” Pine tree, there is no “right” or “wrong” about the so-called accretions. They are there, there are part of life. We can study and even come to understand them, but to give them moral or personal judgments is totally nonsensical. It prevents communication and lack of real communication prevents understanding and peace. At least I am interested and may go more deeply into it, only I am not going to be given the cold-shoulder any more. My editors and publishers, yes they have the right, but those people who run after funds and keep them and do not dispense them for the purpose presumed, that is different.

I’m quite satisfied with the personnel selected by Kennedy. I find the Massachusetts educated people by far the best in the U.S.A. They are objective and impersonal, so it is easy for them to be fair-minded. Being fair-minded they are accepted. All the propaganda in the world cannot change that.

I am glad you are working steadily. I certainly hope you are in California when I return. At present my presumed travelling will be:

Leave February 15^th. Mail until March 10^th c/o Consulate U.S.A., Karachi, Pakistan

After that unless otherwise directed K-482, Old Kunj St.,

Abbottabad, Hazara,

West Pakistan (c/o Abdul Rahman)

I am presuming a trip north in Pakistan, then a short visit to Lahore, with a later stay there afterwards and to many places in Northwest Pak. This subject to change.

I am satisfied I came here and expect to be back in a few years, inshallah. But I am not sure of my geographical future, occupation or pre-occupation.

If you even go to S.F. call at the Yoga Centre, the Baptistes. Do not know what came of the Academy. Want an objective one and am trying to see if the Fed. Govt. goes into the Asian business; they have real instructors and not dopesters. There are plenty of real men in the U.S. and plenty in Asia; we don’t need Europeans or Suez-Canalers in that field.

I have written complaining that the real life situation is the refusal of editors, and until recently of the State Department, to American citizens who have been to such places and have alarming news. They are always brushed aside as trouble makers and then we are “shocked.” Fiddlesticks. We deserve to be shocked and I expect more shocks from South America and Asia until we trust our own citizens in some things besides trying to raise funds for them.

See, same old sour cayenne disposition but I see straight, I teenk.

Cairo, UAR

January 30, 1961

Beloved Ones of God:

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.

One is forced constantly to choose between a personal report and a sermon. I would much rather the personal report but it is received as a personality report and not so much as an objective one. This makes communication very difficult. One cannot compel the surrender of any ego but despite all the words in all the scriptures on “surrender” it is not usually a living function.

In Pir-o-Murshid’s original teaching there were two paths distinctly marked out: a) the path of progression in Zikr; b) the path of progression in fana, which comes in three stages, fana-fi-Sheikh, fana-fi-Rassoul, fana-fi-lillah. In practice there has not been too much understanding of these ways of progression and I can only refer to them here as part of one man’s biography, regardless.

In Moral Culture we have reference to the Law of Reciprocity, Law of Beneficence and Law of Renunciation. Reciprocity is the Moral Law for ordinary persons. Call it karma or not, it operates and in the teachings one should take advantage of all the suggestions. Beneficence comes from the Spiritual Path or Tarikat, and in Holy Qur’an we find Bismillah er-Rahman er-Rahim which indicates the identity of surrender, (fana) with beneficence. But people identify these qualities with God and do not usually try to live Akhlak Allah which is to say, in the manner of God, or, in the presence of God.

I find myself at a distance from Orthodox Muslims who place all the virtues in a Deity and do not try to develop these in themselves. No doubt it is a first step to see them in God, but it is not a last step and it is not a Path or Progression. Whatever way you place religion, it universally teaches: “Guide us on the Right Path” but it is not the prayer, nor the words; it is the adaptation of the life within oneself. This is the greater Jihad.

Paul had to correct the people of his time with too much attention to fana-fi-Sheikh and he tried to universalize fana-fi-Rassoul, whether people were ready for it or not. In bringing the Message to the West, people became enamored with fana-fi-Sheikh and they do not rise to fana-fi-Rassoul, as the words of Salat become empty. They remain just words. If a man wishes to change these words into truths he will be misunderstood, but if a man desires to change these words into truths he will gain understanding, and perhaps wisdom.

Here there is a great deal of difference between any invocation of “United with all the Illuminated Souls Who form the Embodiment of the Master” and the direct understanding thereof. It has been insisted by many that there is a living Kutub in this area. I cannot argue though I have not met him yet. But I have met many Sheikhs and from them received so much love and Baraka that I can never thank Allah enough.

Years ago I wrote “The Bestowing of Blessing.” The copies were all lost or destroyed but one which Edward Connaughton may have in Santa Barbara. I wish to get that book, for it would be easier to explain the whole science and art of Baraka.

In “Marriage and Morals in Morocco” much is said on this subject and I think there is a Tractus berachoth in the Hebrew Talmud on the same subject, but I have not read that. Jesus started with the Beatitudes but there is a dichotomy between bliss and happiness, that we do not see “blessings” as “bliss” or “bliss” as happiness. Actually there is a living function here. I have received Baraka both from human beings, usually Sheikhs and Khalifs; but also in the Mosques, especially the Rifa’i Mosques. But there is another form of Baraka which comes in fana-fi-Rassoul.

Pir-o-Murshid gave us a long list of Messengers ending with Mohammed. I have experienced the fana-fi-Rassoul in and with Mohammed, but immediately after that with Jesus; and in the course of time with Buddha and Siva and then under the guidance of Mohammed with all the prophets of God of all religions. In theory this completed the path of fana-fi-Rassoul. But when one regards God as the only being, one does not, maybe one cannot of himself distinguish between fana-fi-Sheikh, fana-fi-Rassoul and fana-fi-lillah; nor does one care for as Pir-o-Murshid said: “Thy light is in all forms, Thy love in all beings … in an inspiring teacher.”

Following the literary method of the Zoroastrian religion I must paraphrase, for my own record, the teachings in fana-fi-Rassoul received today wherein Mohammed seemed to play the part with me that the Angel Gabriel did with Him:

Sage: What is the difference between prayers in no direction as Kabir and others taught and prayers in a direction, say, as inherited from Judaism?

The Spirit of Wisdom: In effect there may be none. If one accepts the Fatherhood of Allah, He is everywhere in everything. But if one also accepts the Brotherhood of Man, there should be kibla. The effect of the apparent universality of Kabir, in breaking down certain Islamic institutions has been the dissolution of the spirit of Brotherhood. The Sikhs carried the “logical” argument to the extreme and analytically were right but instead of Brotherhood, nothing but strife followed. So kibla is advised.

Sage: What is the difference between Jerusalem and Mecca as kibla?

The Spirit of Wisdom: Jesus spoke of Jerusalem as being the city which stoned its prophets. Despite the Hebrew claim that only Jeremiah was persecuted, we have no record of any prophet of God actually being welcomed in Jerusalem. Indeed the career of Jesus there ended in failure.

On the other hand Mecca has been the kibla of success, both with Abraham, the Friend of God and Mohammed, the Messenger of God. One does not like to put forth the argument that Jerusalem has been the kibla of failure and Mecca of success, but you can still see the Christians fighting each other there and the Zionists are all divided as to religion.

Sage: The Muslims always mention your name with a special praise.

The Spirit of Wisdom: That is all right, but it is not my way. Qur’an distinctly says that there are no distinctions between the Messengers of God. And though it is said that prayers are not made to me, there is psychological intercession. The psychological intercession falters if it becomes merely theological, which it usually does; and benefits when men learn to pray with the Seal of the Prophets, and not mention his name at all.

This is very difficult but the errors in religion usually come from too much zeal and zeal alone is not bad but it becomes a substitute for morality and selflessness. There is too much praise for literature called Holy Qur’an and Hadith and too little concern with the contents thereof. The same is true with most scriptures.

Sage: What then is the “Right Path?"

The Spirit of Wisdom: Allah has already shown you that Path and therefore it is not for me to add. Many will reject you but that is of no importance; what is important is what you accept and do, not what others say or think about it.

Now the initial stage in fana-fi-lillah follows the same pattern as took place with Pir-o-Murshid in his 1911 career. Then he was using mostly music and concentration. He often broke into ecstasy and sang loudly in praise of Mohammed. This probably did not go over big. But I have found there are three sorts of praise of Mohammed and they all look the same, but are different:

a. The initial stage is that one praises Mohammed and it may even be that he has inherited this phase of religion. He is using it as a crutch and it may be a crutch; he is using it as a ladder and it may be a ladder. Actually it is no better or worse than the praise of Jesus or Buddha or Krishna nor anybody, but neither is there any gain by dispensing with it.

b. The second stage is that one praises Mohammed because that is the experience. He is really talking about himself and he is not talking about himself. The change from fana-fi-Sheikh to fana-fi-Rassoul in one’s life is revolutionary. One is no longer restricted in vision or in faculties and he finds a tremendous universe before him. Time and place and stage and condition become small things. He cannot prove this nor is he doing this by himself.

In his first sessions on Sufism Pir-o-Murshid placed Mohammed as the Perfect Man of all times. I shall explain this a little below.

I think the Sufis in Islam generally work from this position.

c. The third stage seems impossible, that while one is being immersed in God the praises of Mohammed become grander. Dante had it of Jesus but I don’t think Dante reached the highest stages. He held on to selfhood. Even among the mystics of Christianity excepting a few like John Tauler never got above the selfhood or to the Unitarian realization.

Nor does it seem that God praises God. This seems a contradiction. There are two aspects of Allah, the silent and the creative although neither of these words is exact. The silent praise is discussed in The Mysticism of Sound both in the chapter called “The Silent Life” and in the final chapter which is partially a dissertation on Zikr.

The Bible says that God created Adam in His image, but Adam is usually associated with “sin.” There had to be a perfect man for redemption. Now, there are all kinds of correct men and as perfect men I do not wish to raise any distinctions or differences between them. But the Buddhist does not live like Buddha, nor the Christian like Christ nor the Hindu like Ram or Krishna. We wish to live in an operative world, to raise families and go into business and study and do all those things which we consider human. It is on this point that Mohammed excels. He does not excel in being nearer to God, the Creator, but he does excel in being nearer to man, the created.

Anybody has a perfect right to differ from him here, but the point is not argument, but demonstration. He does not see people demonstrate what Jesus did, or Buddha did; we do see people demonstrate what Mohammed did. Therefore the idea that God created the world through Light and this was a living light which also had to become the essence in and of humanity. The idea of Adam, derived from dam, earth, is that the Light of Allah had to come through the earthly forms. But how did it come? In Masnavi the cosmic evolution is taught ending in man; and the cosmic evolution continues until the perfect man, or as I see it, the perfect-perfect-man.

Buddha was a perfect man who showed the way to Nirvana and in the Southern Buddhism this teaching is kept. But it is a limited Nirvana and not the perfection. But the layman has received perfection and so the later Buddhists said, no, that creation and Nirvana were identical. Only this means that the common man could attain perfection. But what common man has attained to perfection? One cannot call Rama common because he was a king and Krishna also had a special place in society and Jesus and Buddha became monks. There was only one ordinary man who represented both Adam and perfection and when an ordinary man reached perfection, this closed the revelation. So with Mohammed the revelation was sealed, which does not take away from any Scripture or teaching.

I do not wish here to go into the stories about Mohammed which substantiate this point. What I am really telling you is my experience. As Al-Ghazali said: “Sufism consists in experiences and not premises.” Only previously I have told my experiences and there is a personality reaction. So I have clothed what I am experiencing in philosophy which is a veil over it and is not it.

I have written before that I came here with three missions and have accomplished a dozen. Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan and Pir-o-Murshid Mavlana Abdul Ghafoor have given me the whole world to work in and with the intellectual people. So I transfer my experiences into philosophy. But some day when people want truth and will accept from the simple man he will give the simplicity. As the simplicity is rejected he gives the philosophy.

Jesus taught that one must be like a little child to receive the kingdom of heaven. One can always be open to blessings. One can always listen to the “Voice which constantly cometh from within,” constantly, always, but if we keep on using the mouthpiece we can’t hear what is coming over the receiver.

I am sometimes destined like Pir-o-Murshid wrote, about the career of the dog who took 2 days to go from Basra to Baghdad instead of twelve. “I owe it to the kindness of my fellow dogs. Whenever I stopped to rest they came and barked at me.” So the more humanity barks the faster the progression. Every time a rejection or a seeming failure, Allah comes and brings me blessings and success and this will probably be my career until I am called hence. I, Samuel, have nothing to do with it.

There has been a school of Sufis called “Nalamatiyya” which depended upon public blame; only they sought it. I do not seek and I am not checking on reactions. Every rebuff is followed by meditation and/or prayer and in turn, something pleasant follows, usually much more pleasant than conjectured. So one comes back to the first lesson; Subhan Allah, Alhamdu Lillah, Allaho Akbar.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Chisti

Cairo, UAR

February 2, 1961

My dear Rudolph:

With less than two weeks remaining in my stay here I am trying to close up loose ends. Whatsoever my intentions had been originally the visit here has far exceeded these intentions and I have been compelled rather than impelled to walk in many places where nobody else has walked—although there is no reason for it. It is just not done. An American going to Paris who frequented out of the way places might be regarded as a wholesome adventurist. In the Orient one immediately becomes a sort of tramp. Besides we have all kinds of rules and protocols which having nothing to do with life or humanity and we are hedged by those rules and protocols to the extent that communication with people becomes difficult. A Professor Burdick may insist that one must know native languages; there are plenty of Americans here who know Arabic, but they don’t know the Arabs.

Today I made another trip to the Islamic Museum where there is some unfinished business. I am buying a number of post-cards and pictures and I can have colored slides made. I have put in an order for about 100 slides already. These are to be divided between Pakistan, Northern and Southern California. I think the man’s name is Darmirjan, his daughter worked for the Mardikans as I wrote in my list. He has suggested that I purchase just one slide for California and have duplicates made in the States. So I am having the art-slides sent to the Hollywood Artists. This is a long and complex story involving my dearest friends who live in Hollywood and who have gradually risen socially during the years. I expect to go there and talk in Southern California on Islamic Art and Modern Cairo. I’m having slides of flowers and trees, etc. sent to my friend Harry Nelson, Greenhouse, City College. While this operation is simple the hours kept by the photographer and the sales staff at the Museum are so different that it is hard to get together and I am compelled to run back and forth.

Tomorrow morning I am supposed to meet Darmirjan’s nephew to discuss further photographs which he will take, so I can end this business.

Last week instead of going to some recently uncovered pyramids I revisited the Mameluk’s tombs and was privileged to climb to the top of a very high minaret, on the top of a hill on the East side of the city. This excited me to look out for a long distance besides the exhilaration both of climbing and the view. Tomorrow night I am scheduled to climb the big pyramid by moonlight, which will please others, because that makes one a hero—part of the pretense!

The great art of the tombs is that of glasswork. I think it is the supreme work. Just before the Turkish conquest, the substitution of Venetian glass for the local industry resulted in the disintegration of this art and I understand that all the late glass fabrications were impacted during the Turkish occupation. This art seems to have been entirely lost—not socially necessary.

The glass-art shows up in three types (a) Arabic script (b) flowers (c) non-objective beginning with simple symbology and then crisscrossing with the other styles. It is to the Mameluk buildings as coloring was to the Persian manuscripts. One notices, however, that in Egypt the dead get better buildings than the living even in Muslim times as well as in the ancient periods. Of course this has changed and although I saw some more recent, 16^th century tombs, quite ornate, they did not squander the wealth of the country for the dead. Even Farouk and his immediate predecessors at least wasted luxury on the living.

I was suddenly called to Alexandria as a guest of EARIS, the Egyptian American Rural Improvement Society which is the institution for American cooperation or aid here. This is a grand social and scientific experiment which I shall write about elsewhere. When I was through I called at the Tourist and Information Bureaus in Alexandria and had one of the most delightful experiences in this country where I have nothing but scores of delightful experiences.

The woman in charge of the Tourist Information desk is one of the most beautiful women I have ever met. This is important not because she is beautiful so much that she attracted all kinds of persons and there was a continual parade mostly of men, not interested in tourism at all, and by this means I met quite a few notables which will enhance my enjoyment when I should visit Alexandria again. As it was raining torrents I remained in those offices all afternoon.

I had hardly had a chance to call to this woman when a man, the manager came in and said, “Ah, there you are. I have been waiting for you.” Shades of Paul Brunton. He had eyes exactly like those which appear in the last part of A Search in Secret Egypt and he could read my mind like a book. He claimed to have the faculties of telepathy and clairvoyance and it was obvious that he has them both from the statements and questions he regaled me with.

Like myself he is a dervish and that as yet means nothing in the U.S. Soon is must mean because all my reports are accepted most seriously in the Embassy Compounds and evidently my last reports were given consideration because I am regarded there as a V.I.P.—and I entered this country also as a V.I.P. But I shall not relate here the political details and conclusions connected therewith. They are stories by themselves.

At seven o’clock my host, Mr. Fuad Laithi, the district attorney of Cairo and another man went with me to a studio. The artist’s name is “Seif Wanli” or something like that. They said he ranks among the great artists of the world and has won prizes all over. I do not place him with anybody but Picasso. He started out in the orthodox styles attempting for the element of integration, bringing Arabians and African materials together with the European; then he worked impressionistically, then went into surrealism and now creates in the modern “geometrical” manners. One could see the great parallels with Picasso, although at times he deliberately patterned himself after one or another of the French masters.

The trouble was that I remained there only one hour as my hosts had other engagements. I told them that that hour was worth the whole trip to Alex, and I am sure I enjoyed it more than I would have to the Greco-Roman museum. Perhaps this came as an aftermath to the visit of the Modern Art Museum which is right close by (so not visited until recently). I found much there to duplicate what has happened in India—the last threads of decadent tradition re-enforced by elements from the traditions of Europe and offering nothing but techniques. The ceramics are ornate but never “strong” nor impressive. This museum is for tourists, that of the Wanlis for art-lovers. There was a brother also who recently died who was more “traditional” or “objective.” I also found a strong Degas influence in both as they used dance and theatre motifs, but their dancers covered many European forms. They went beyond Degas in the use of various types of perspective such as the Chin as birds-eye and Japanese rain-perspectives, etc. All this keeps one busy and whenever I go to Alex. again I want to visit with these people and the studio—in addition to whatever else is in store.

I also spoke to the Curator at the Islamic museum about books on art, which are mostly in French. I cannot put out any more of my own money now but hope to take this matter up with you when I return. But it is always possible that some angel or foundation will interest themselves in this and other projects which I am carrying on alone. In the beginning of this letter I said I was venturing forth where Americans have seldom if ever gone. This illustrates in part this approach.

Today I learned there is a schism between the intellectual and diplomatic groups here in their approaches to local situations. The former are interested in culture, the latter in people, and the two have not coalesced. Mr. Bowles, I believe, is or has been here. I don’t know what this means, but I do know my “missions” must continue on.

Cordially,

c/o Abdul Rahman K-482 Old Kunj St., Abbottabad, Hazara Dist. W. Pakistan

Cairo, Feb. 6

My dear Rudy:

This is my diary entry for today though it may include a list of events of the last week. I have written elsewhere about these events but even if I make a duplicate diary entry on some points it will not matter.

On January 30 I was able to submit a full report to the Embassy on my experiences including many of the past, and my proposals. There is no question, to begin with, that lines of communication here have not been established with many lands of Asia and Africa. Sending a special diplomat or famous person no doubt results in widespread headlines home, but it seems little or nothing to a foreign country. Everybody does that and everybody is self-deluded by doing that and there are very few indeed who avoid even delusion and deceit. As I have just written, what we need is more communion and somewhat less communication.

My reports are sometimes strong and unfavorable. I have placed one copy in the hands of the American Friends of the Middle East here and another copy to S.F., the copy here to go to Washington. This is one of the few organizations collecting funds and functioning; a lot collect funds. Period. Next paragraph.

Then we teach bosh, partly through European misfits and exiles and partly through Zionists who are usually of European birth also. So we don’t know the Near East. Of course my pet peeve is that we don’t recognize the dervishes and I shall probably refer to that further along in this letter. There are far more dervishes than we surmise. I meet them everywhere. I am regaled by them everywhere and I am the only foreigner who goes back and forth between the societies. This is a tragedy. Even the Muslims from abroad restrict their peregrinations.

I no sooner filed this report than a group of Kadiri Sufis came to my hotel. At that time I could not see them for without any notice I was asked to go to Alexandria which I did. I spent Jan 31 at Abis which is the joint undertaking of the Egyptians and Americans (EARIS–Egyptian American Rural Improvement Society). In a sense I found myself in a new world brave or unbrave. In another sense I saw exactly the society forming which had been previously “revealed” to me and recorded though never taken seriously. It is here now and will have to be taken seriously. My works on social reconstruction and brotherhood were much more prophetic than logical, psychic than physical, but there are here now. I have to write this up in detail elsewhere so you will excuse me if I don’t say much here.

Anyhow the dispossessed are being placed on reclaimed land, given small homes, private barns which can also be used as storage, farms, animals, seed and a small space for a garden of any kind. At present people are not settling as fast as necessary; perhaps this is because the Egyptians have in all ages been good builders and not nearly so good in some other aspects of life.

Paul Keim asked me not to come the next day as the visit would be too technical and perhaps monotonous. Anyhow it poured terrifically and meanwhile I had gone to the Tourist Bureau, Alexandria. There I met Nadya, one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen and this attracted many men there who were not interested in tourism but in Nadya and that meant I met a lot of cordial persons and had really a wonderful time.

Well, I did not have much time to get acquainted with Nadya when her supervisor, Fuad Laithi walks in. “Ah, there you are. I have been waiting for you. How much do you remember of your previous incarnations?” Shades of Paul Brunton; that was it. I did not get it at the Valley of the Kings, but at the Tourist Information Office, Alexandria. He told me I was travelling to escape, that there was a woman in my life and I could not think who it could be. When I got back to the hotel (Leroy) I do remember one such woman with whom I have had a sort of aeonic romance but she had long gone out of my memory. I had forgotten all about here; but whether it is she or another I don’t know. However I have had my fortune told five times, all the same and all stressed romance—Sufi Sheikhs, card readers, everybody, so we shall see.

Fouad claimed to be telepathic and clairvoyant and you can put it in my book, he is. He read many things which I have told nobody, almost secret experiences I have had at holy places and which, in a certain way, affect my international peregrinations. I told him that his eyes and forehead look very much like those published in A Search in Secret Egypt by Paul Brunton, in the last pages, where he mentions an adept. He told me personally that all adepts here are Sufis.

Anyhow among Fouad’s visitors, or rather Nadya’s, was the District Attorney of Alexandria. He began by challenging me right and left and ended by cordiality and we had a delightful time. The result was that the conversations reached a higher and higher pitch during the day. I stayed until 7 o’clock when we went to the studio of Alexandria’s greatest modern painter, named Wanli, or something like that. I was shown many of his works and excepting Picasso, I don’t believe there is a contemporary or near contemporary artist whom I admire so much.

I told Fouad the next day. I then saw Nadya’s cousin who works the morning shift and again the conversation was on Sufism. At Cory’s I had the same conversation over again with a different man. Everywhere I go here I find people interested in Sufism but quite unaware of the Dervish orders where they can learn about it, and the multitude of them in their own midst. It is fantastic.

I later visited the Information Office upstairs and had another delightful few hours, then back to Fouad until he went on a errand for President Nasser. I definitely recommend him to any tourists coming this way and I wish you would tell your colleague about this. Anyhow Fouad’s name goes down in my address book and we both feel very assured we shall meet again. But I wish to go to Alex. when the university is in session, rain or no rain. So I missed touring the city again which may have been no loss. For one comes back to a multitude of correspondence and the need to get ready for the next step.

Yesterday was a theoretical “Sufi” celebration being the anniversary of the death of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan. I had one of the dreams of my life fulfilled—riding an Arab horse. Went from the Pyramids to Sahara city and back. I originally took up horseback riding because I said that someday I would go to Arabia and I might as well learn. I had forgotten all about the incident. But the reason I went was quite different.

I had gone to Mona village (near the pyramids) at the invitation of two close friends and they introduced me to a Sufi Sheikh. He earns his living by renting horses. So on account of this I hired him. On our way back we had a “crazy” time chanting sacred phrases. I don’t think any Egyptian ever before had such a client. He then took me to lunch but while waiting I danced for his children. I also left a good gift for the children, giving me an idea which I shall discuss forthwith. I was pretty tired when I left.

Came home, took a real hot bath, then hot chocolate and off to the Rifa’i dervishes where I stayed 2 ½ hours and then home, only to meet a delegation of Kadiris from Iraq. They want me to visit their country for spiritual reasons. I have neither the time nor money now but will visit them and then take it up with the U.S. Embassy. For I think one of these days some foundation or somebody should come to my rescue. I am working all alone as in a terrific vineyard with an unlimited harvest and nobody else there.

But at home we listen to humbugs saying there are no Sufis; that is that, and what goes on in the world has nothing to do with what the “Orientalists” teach—if you want to get credits for the course. This is called “international relations.” No wonder we don’t get anywhere.

You can see from my reports—as well as from conclusions reached through many other sources—that there are levels of consciousness and activity. Our conscious sense of assumed superiority is a great bar to international understanding. We are trying to reach friendship on the political level. We are not meeting, not understanding human beings. Our sense of "humanity" has become a thought form which prevents us from communing with human beings.

I am trying to get slides made to send home, so to speak. But I am having a little trouble finding the right people at the museums, because everybody has office hours which run every which way. However the slides made by the government are OK, and I may use them for lecturing both in the States and Pakistan. My main one would go to Hollywood where I could have duplicates made for other purposes. In the end I might have to have several sets. I do not know. But at present I am doing everything on my own—and affairs have gotten beyond me. It is like a man who has planted trees or shrubs and at harvest time finds too much fruit or too many flowers.

Visited Cory Brothers again today. There was another man on duty but just as cordial. He told me where the Bureau of Health was—I had been misdirected. I need Yellow fever shots but nothing else—I have had this checked. I should go to Port said by bus and get my ticket ahead of time. I can the go to Cory who will take my surplus luggage, arrange for my hotel, etc. There is some uncertainty as to sailing time and though I have given myself four days there, it is possible that the "Cecilia" will sail ahead of tie. They have no notice as yet but I phone on the 15th.

I asked several questions about different lines. Having a traveling companion will affect both my dates and tours. He will not fly and I do not see my way to East Pakistan at a time which will interfere with presumable lectures in Lahore and Peshawar. Besides, I may be staying in Mardan which is in between them. This invitation is very important because Jamshyd Khan is the largest successful farmer in that part of the world. I am to learn about his ways and even work there.

I would like to go to Sind before it is too hot. I am assuming a short stay at Hotel Taj, Karachi, where I was before, and my mailing address there is c/o U.S. Consulate, Karachi. After that, unless notified otherwise it will be c/o Abdul Rahman, K-462 Old Kunj St., Abbottabad, Hazara, W. Pakistan. After I leave Sind I do not know whether I shall visit the Indus Valley sites or go to Multan before going to Lahore, and from Lahore I should prefer going directly to Abbottabad to get rid of some of my luggage and then travel as lightly as possible. This is all tentative and I am liable to land anywhere.

I am assuming entry into India in July or August, but this is tentative and excepting for Kashmir, a later time would be preferable, staying in that country the rest of the year with a possible side-trip to Ceylon. This might be by air; then to E. Pakistan and Penang, beyond which I do not care to look and cannot even suggest whence and where and how.

Cory Bros. acts as freight forwarders. There are two possibilities for my next trip. One is, seeing that all prognosticators say I shall be married, that I will be having more luggage. The other—and these two are not in conflict—would also suggest a trunk for gifts. I would like to bring in footballs for gifts for young boys and cake-chocolate or something of the kind for the Sheikhs. I took such gifts to Japan. Cory could handle such luggage for me and Mr. Scarzella, who with his wife jointly operates this pension and the one across the way, have agreed to a storage if necessary—before arrival. It seems looking far ahead. But I also might have such things as a record-player, etc.

Projects Incomplete for the Future:

1. Recording Sufi and Coptic and any other unusual music.

2. Getting certain basic scientific index-works for the national Research Center.

3. Cooperating in getting proper literature in the universities and institutions of culture.

4. Possibly introducing folk-or popular-dancing on the common level, providing same does not introduce on the folk mores.

5. Arrange trip through Syria, possibly from Latakia down and stay according as to needs of any and all kinds.

6. Arrange visit to Bagdad, etc., at suitable season. This especially to see the tomb of Abdul Kadiri-Galani, and other sacred places.

I have not visited the semi-holy city of Tanta here but have little time. I am invited to go to the nearby town of Helwan Wednesday where there is a Japanese garden and hot springs. I do not know whether I shall be writing you again from UAR but will undoubtedly on board ship for mailing from Karachi.

I have entire psychological satisfaction from this trip. I must next write in detail for the San Rafael Journal-Independent. I have to learn to have as little resentment for what has happened to me, but I am making a special division between:

a. Personal resentment which intruded on my ego and does not affect the international situation.

b. Do. Which does.

I have no time to argue with all and sundry of the first class. I certainly have no intention to lecture for Fritzi Armstrong at any level without an apology and certainly do intend to lecture for the Baptistes at any level on any terms they may lay down.

As to the second class. I have already seen the redemptive karma on Mrs. Duce. But I do not like to see these European intruders in the Asian field who misinform our public and control avenues of education and communication. So long as they are "in" I shall not be satisfied and I know foreign governments will be unhappy whether they tell us or not.

I realize I must face a hostile audience of people who have hypnotized themselves in various forms of "Zionism" based on emotion, sentiment, ego-wishing and ignorance. Which does not mean that the Arabs are entirely right so much as that their critics may be entirely wrong. I shall not attack the synagogue and shall resent such attacks excepting on the level of superficiality in religion. Actually I am as much against superficiality in so-called Islam, only the deeper levels here are very strong. This matter I am taking up separately with the Mosque in Washington.

Well, Rudy, I am on the whole very happy, without being entirely satisfied with this journey. You will hear from me again, inshallah.

February 7, 1961

My dear Abdul Rahman:

This is my diary entry for today and I am sending a copy to San Francisco. Yesterday I called at Cory Brothers, the agents for the steamship line which has the S.S. “Cilicia.” It is still scheduled to sail from Port Said on the 20th and to arrive at Karachi on March 3rd. However I am to leave here on the 16th. It is possible that the ship will sail earlier so I will be there four days ahead of time anyhow. I get my bus ticket on the 15th. I shall go to their office in Port Said and they will provide me with accommodations there. If the ship leaves ahead of time, I will also arrive earlier in Karachi, so I might write to Hotel Taj also ahead of time.

I shall have to get inoculated for Yellow Fever but I am told the rest of my health certificate is in order. At Port Said I may turn in Egyptian for either Pakistani or English money—I may use the last on board ship, but if they accept Pakistani money will get rupees. I have been notified by the bank that my money will be waiting for me in Karachi.

I think I have told you my Diner’s Club Card is supposed to be good at Faletti’s at Lahore. I have already shipped some art gifts to Lahore and am trying to buy some pictures from the Islamic Museum here. But everybody at the Museum keeps different hours and I never know when to go and so have lost a lot of valuable time. I shall keep on trying but this means that the slides may not reach Lahore for some time.

I am now thinking it will be best to go to Sind and then North and not leave your country until after July at least. During the warm weather we shall either visit Afghanistan or if God wills, as your brother Abdul Aziz said, we might go to Swat. It will also be necessary to spend some time at Lahore, for lecturing; also with Jamshyd Khan and even more so at Peshawar.

Today I spent a whole hour at the Iraqi Ministry. I do not know when I can go to that country. I have neither the money nor the time now to visit everyone. If I can get funds, this may change plans. Anyhow what I learned was most important. That the Ambassador from Iraq to Pakistan is another Abdul Kadiri Ghailani and I should call on him. I am told he is a very spiritual man and honored in your country. I have reasons, both private and public for wishing to visit him and I am hoping we can go together.

My visit at the Islamic Congress was long and involved. There has been a complete change of administration and the former secretaries went off with my papers. I have no time to write them again. It took me hours upon hours and that looks as if wasted.

I had to go over the program for San Francisco and for the United States. They spend more time crying because the Zionists are strong than in doing anything. The Zionists are strong because Muslims just sit back and cry. They don’t send anybody to present their side. Besides this is political. Then I had to argue against Arabism. I told them I was interested in Islamic teachings, not in the Arab language, that if I wished to see more Arabic I would be studying that language. I told them that one of the great troubles is that everybody says Islam has Five Pillars and when it comes to practice one finds everything but those Five Pillars. Instead of Shahud and Salat, I find zeal for Arabism, converting everybody else to go to Mecca without going oneself, more insistence on others performing wasu than prayer and devotion and a whole lot of crying about Congo. In this Allah is lost and I did not see how they could stop others from spreading Islam while they were wasting time in politics and unnecessaties.

They told me they had started a new school in Somali. They were using the native language and not Arabic. That I like to hear. I told them that all over Africa there were people using Swahili, Hausa and many other languages and I don’t think those people wanted to learn so much about Arabic, they wanted to learn the religion.

There is no question but that the Kadianis and Ahmadiyyas have gone ahead because they are teaching religion, not Arabism, not politics, not agitation, and were trying to bring peace to the world. That it did not good to sit by and cry. Actually the Islamic Congress is not against the Ahmadiyyas. Its purpose is to get all the Muslims to work together. The Buddhists have done this. They have a single mission for sending people abroad and do not use funds competing with each other. On the other hand you have all kinds of missionaries from Pakistan ignoring each other and in competition and so causing confusion. And the Arabs sitting back and crying.

It is true that Sheikh Shaltout of Al-Azhar is now in Indonesia and he has been traveling around. But travels alone do not help the religion. He is therefore trying to get a giant radio station to spread Islam. I think that the policy is to translate Holy Qur’an into many tongues. I approve this, but if it is so, why should they waste so much time talking about Arabic? They talk about Arabic and they don’t talk about Allah and the world needs Allah and evidently Allah has seen to it that people speak in many tongues. If it were not His Will, how could it be so? So, I am compelled always to get into arguments and win and this is no fun, for I don’t love arguments, I am working for cooperation and brotherhood.

I told them about San Francisco. Joseph Di Caprio is crying about everybody also not cooperating and he can’t surrender to God in anything and he won’t learn. I don’t think he has bowed his head to the ground many times.

People are most concerned in Algeria but they are concerned about Algeria one day and Congo the next week and then Laos and Cuba and everything else and so they can’t do anything about Algeria because they are too concerned with everything else. There is another way to win, and that is by surrender to God. I have seen the ways of victory through surrender and evidently I shall have to lecture on this subject in your country. They say “Allaho Akbar” millions of times, but what does it mean? Allah has not decreed the politics, He has decreed religion.

They are doing wonderful things here. The UAR would be the greatest nation in the world only the people are not so concerned with their own country or even their own religion. Islam is supposed to mean peace and there is too much agitation. There is not quietude, softness, generosity.

At the same time we came to agreement at the Congress. We placed all our differences down and agreed. They want to see Islamic teachings in the U.S. and they want all Muslims, Shias, Sunnis and Ahmadiyyas of every kind working together. They would like to see some Imams.

The San Francisco people are crying for an Imam but they ignored their own. They ignored the Ahmadiyyas because they were Ahmadiyyas and they ignored Abdul Rahman Lutz because they did not like him and ignored Abbas because they said he could not speak good English and on and on. And they talk “surrender.” So they will have trouble.

On top of that you have Alan Watts who has control of the radio stations for religion and didn't allow Islamic speakers. And the same with Prof. Moore in Hawaii. It is up to Muslims to provide some kind of teachers. They even told me they had money but I told them not to waste too much money because some Americans who call themselves "Muslims" are greedy and more interested in having fine Mosques than in having fine teachers.

I told them the world needs the teachings because the situations today are international. Book are being translated from Arabic and the American people can read these books but they don’t know the Book upon which all these books are based and nobody is telling them. Fortunately, again, there is an Islamic League in Karachi under the direction of one Abu El-Allah El Madudi, and they want me to call on him.

I could say that this may be one of the first orders of business for me while I am in that city. I also wish to call on the Mardan Coal Co., see about my mail and money and then get out, inshallah, assuming that we shall stop in Sind on the way north. But I am not insistent about the journey and details and want to see some travel agent of the tourist bureau.

Anyhow I shall be writing by air-mail to you from Port said as soon as possible to give you the final information.

I am quite satisfied that I have visited this country and am fairly sure that I shall visit it again. I met several Dervishes Sunday, first those on the desert who have the horses. I rode around the Pyramids to Sahara City. I also met Sheikh Ali Abu Aziz of the Semawi—I think he said Dervishes. But in these last days I cannot call on everybody. I want to get a few more things at the bazaars, if there is any room in my bags and money left over. But I find shipping a problem.

The name of the man at the Art Department in Lahore was Mohammed Nazub. I met a lot of other people but lost my old address book. I have a lot of things to do in Lahore but they do not have to be done in any rush. We shall have to work these things out, also other details, long before we can consider going to Kashmir or anywhere else.

My health has been good but I like rice meals better than other things. I don’t mind curries. The rice here is excellent but it is used mostly as a cash crop to ship abroad. They use leftover bread to cook with rice and sometimes a few vegetables and tomato sauce. It is very enjoyable. They cook their meat separately.

I can’t think of anything else at the moment. As-salaam aleikhum.

Samuel L. Lewis

February 9, 1961

My dear friends:

There is just one week left here before I go to Port Said. Monday I am to get my shots for Yellow Fever. Yesterday I visited the Islamic Museum and got a number of pictures. Today I met an old friend from San Francisco while walking in the street. His name is Claude Dahlenberg, and he used to live at the American Academy of Asian Studies on Broadway St. I am taking him with me to see the man who makes the slides and have slides made for both California and Pakistan. I have also bought two pictures which are being made of places in Mecca. These things are for the Art Department of Punjabi University at Lahore.

I shall write Mr. Jamshyd Khan as soon as possible. If he cannot see me in March I still may be in West Pakistan a long time. I do not want to leave before August unless we go to Kashmir and it is not absolutely necessary that I go to Kashmir. I won’t know until the 10^th about the time my ship leaves Egypt and arrives at Karachi. I have two different days. I wrote Hotel Taj that I might be there on the 28^th and then they told me, no, not until March 3^rd and then it might be between them.

I do not know whether the ship will stop on the way or not. If it does—and being a British ship I think it will stop at Adya—I shall go ashore and try to buy some things, such as a camera. The one here did not serve me much from my point of view. It came to about $14.00 which is less than 70 Rupees.

Yesterday morning was a very busy time. I spent one hour at the Iraqi Embassy. In the end it was decided that the best thing I can do is to call on the Ambassador from that country to yours. He is another Abdul Kadiri Ghailani. All the Ghailanis I have met are wonderful people and they all want to help me visit Baghdad. But I don’t think God wishes it yet. But if I do get any great surprise like a job or more money I will certainly spend it for spiritual things and then I would go to Iraq and visit the tombs in Baghdad and probably the tombs of Ibrahim and Rabia near Basra. The secretary, Mr. Rushdi, here, said that the weather was not so terrible, only the English would not stand it. I know Americans can stand much more heat than English people.

Then I spent two hours at the Islamic Congress. I am sorry to report that after writing three long papers for them, the old secretary took these and went away, and so they may or may not be published. I have not time to re-write them. Besides they were about me and I am not too anxious to write about me excepting for Aligarh University which I should visit later on.

We had a lot of discussions. I differed from them on two strong points—I did not think so much time should be wasted on Arabic, and I do not assent to their views on things. I do not think this sort of politics belongs in an Islamic Center. I am sure the Prophet would not have agreed that Muslims should lay down their arms for a Kaffir, and he certainly would not have assented to Muslims fighting for a Kaffir against other Muslims. Besides how does one know which side is the “right path.” And I don’t like it to go into a place of friendship and brotherhood and have my hosts look for a subject on which we might have a hostile argument when there is so much to be done.

They had to agree with me on Arabic, too. For the Islamic Congress is now spending a lot of money to have an Islamic Center in Somali-land using the language of that country. That is what I favor. They want one to learn Arabic. (Everybody knows Arabic here and nobody knows Hadith and a lot of people do not know much Qur’an either. It is chiefly the dervishes who teach the religion.) The other people just perform the prayers and rituals and give very simple sermons which everybody can understand but that does not help much; it does not add to understanding.

We did agree, and they admitted I was right, on two very important matters: One was that the world needed a lot more of Islam; and second that it had to be taught in all languages—I suggested Swahili, Hausa, Fulani and other languages and they agreed. The same would hold of Urdu and English. We then discussed the religion and culture. In Somali-land they are teaching the religion and culture together. In San Francisco they don’t study either, they just cry for money and they want money and they want an Imam but they want to tell the Imam, not listen to him. I would not be surprised if Abdurrahman Luts came here any day. He was supposed to be an Imam but they would not listen to him or to Abbas or anybody.

The Islamic Congress is very broad. They are trying to have all Muslims work together. They don’t go into distinctions as to sects, and dividing up and the Pakistani method of having a lot of rival missions wasting their money and all doing the same things. They are not even against the Kadianis. It is certain that the Kadianis are making a lot of converts today especially in West Africa. The Sunnis are not doing much. They wait for the Sufis or Kadianis or Ahmaddiyas to do something and then go out and correct. Anyhow I have been told to please call on the representative of the Islamic congress in Karachi and I want to do that as soon as possible.

The Congress is also willing to give money and books but I don’t want any money to go to S.F. and have it wasted. They want social life and I think Americans have too much social life. At the Congress they asked me if Americans did not have a great void and I told them, yes, and that that void should and could be filled. This was a very good visit. But I told them that there had been lots of money in San Francisco and a few people did not like the Ahmadiyyas and would not accept their Mosque; and they would not accept the terms of President Nasser and so the offer from UAR was rejected and they blamed Nasser when it was Mirdad who was to blame.

Now I told them I would open a big school for all religions if necessary, and get Islam in that way. I would see that the other faiths had their teachers and I would see that Islam was presented. You may be glad to know that the U.S. Embassy has accepted all my ideas, many of them. We talked over a lot of things and I will tell you when I see you. It means that everything has turned out wonderfully here whether I see President Nasser or not, and I must return to this place whenever Allah directs.

I shall write Jamshyd Khan and enclose a copy.

Ahmed Murad

(Samuel L. Lewis)

February 13, 1961

My dear Harry:

I am trying to write some notes in my crowded last moments here. There is no question but that I jumped into a grand salon of vacuum which invited international relationships but into which practically nobody has gone, and in some cases not dared to go. I have written detailed reports to the Foreign Service and have come up with what would have been the most delightful response because by and large not only have these reports and suggestions now been accepted but some have gone on with an OK to Washington and even to the UN in New York.

What has been called “diplomacy” is nothing but a fancy game for an imaginary thing called “honor,” the nature of which is not quite clear. And on the other hand, to me, at least hunger is quite clear. And although I primarily started out with the mission of the exchange of international information in horticulture, the contemporary populace/food ration, the failure of crops in certain lands—chiefly behind the Iron Curtain, plus the Congo mass starvation and plus a lot more things make my position logically exceedingly strong. But for that logic, one still must face the fact that there is a second world war going on between the literary tradition and the scientific tradition and the two do not always come close.

My last proposal has not only been seconded, but recommended by the UAR government—to come and work in their library and show them how to use scientific indices, gazetteers, etc. I had a good training in this largely from the Chemistry Department at the college and whatever I learned there has been very valuable, though the department itself has largely changed in personnel. I have learned how to extend over into the whole fields of Botany and Physics the methods taught by them, but I do not find the librarians skilled in this direction. They are excellent at cataloguing and cross-filing, but not in looking up subjects, and certainly not today with the mass of magazines, many of them devoted to a narrow field of specialization.

I suppose off-hand I am most interest in Tomato, Soy Bean and Pest Control, with a narrower field in Weed Control and food crops outside of grains, but less in the need for drought tolerant crops and especially trees of types we have in California and Arizona.

I received an acknowledgement from Mr. Kinoshita which had special letters for Mr. [Tama?] of the Soy-Bean Foundation and fortunately ran into him in the office of Mr. Ferguson, Agricultural Attaché at the Embassy. I also delivered another to the Vegetable Exp. Station and Ministry of Agriculture—which are across the street from each other and had a wonderful final meeting there, perhaps one of the most enjoyable meetings yet. But I immediately went down to the National Research Center to say good-by and this involved me in a number of other subjects, all fine, but the mind just does not adapt and carry on in every field.

The most delicate matter is that of Dr. Salah Hassan, director of the Plant Protection Dept. I had written to Senator Engle on the ironical situation—I came here on my own and pay income taxes. There are several organizations in the U.S. collecting funds to bring about better international relations and that is what they are good at—collecting funds. There is one in particular that has been collecting funds for fertilizer and spray equipment. You give to them and get a deduction on the income-tax form and they are a privileged “non-profit” organization. I found they were non-functioning excepting in more campaigns for more funds, eaten up by more rents and more blonde secretaries.(!)

I had no sooner written this than I called on Hassan again. You see they have a project for soil sterilization as a possible means to combat the pupae of Predonia latura, the Cotton Moth. It is a very complicated subject, but what is not complicated is that they have not the equipment and not the dollars to get it. I blew my top off. I am writing to Lloyd Luckmann telling them that Hassan is one of the prize U. C. men here and what he is doing and trying to do—and that the World Affairs Council has thrown open its doors to one organization which collected funds for pest control equipment and got them. Period. End of page! Hassan needs help.

I visited the 38,000 acre EARIS project directed by Paul Keim of Berkeley. This is Egyptian American Rural Improvement Society. The land is reclaimed from the sea, a big bulwark having been constructed, then flooded. This leaches the salt to a certain level and then sowing is started. The Americans are responsible for the roads, bridges and ditches and they accept it. A slight defect in drainage and Paul took on full responsibility. No hedging and no politicians. Farmers are given homes with sanitation, barns, animals, seed and three plots, one of which must be in Cotton nine months of the year, then in Clover which in three months can give one hay cutting and then is plowed under. This way they have a perpetual green manure feeding. There is sufficient P in the soil, and I presume K. I saw good Cabbages there, but the land is still largely unsettled.

The people pull every which way weed for fuel. These dry out quickly anyhow in the warm weather. In going up through the desert I noticed the sudden change from desert to sown, little transition sectors. This may be due to the fact that much of the desert is sand-gravel and so too large to hold seeds. Water goes down to a table underneath and now for the first time there is serious study of this water table. At that it has to be observed for saline and other mineral content.

Wheat is also grown and each farmer is helped to think out a best program for himself but he has latitude in the choices of all other crops excepting Wheat and Cotton and has room for a small kitchen or flower garden besides. The farmers are settled in villages which also have the proper small tools and things to keep them in shape. But here and there are service-villages which house the cooperatively owned trucks and heavy farm equipment, have the repair and other shops, cooperative store, mosque—and I presume TV or movie, but radios may be owned separately. It is all new.

It is entirely in line with the Integral Philosophy of Oliver Reiser which I hope to introduce elsewhere and which attracted also all the scientists I have seen.

The biggest thing was my final report from Ali Asad on the Sweet Potato experiment. He found definitely that genetic factors are there. There are a number of runts from the seeds that he used. This does not mean to say that there are many runts, but this particular type showed them. All the seeds were from the same plant. He found it was impossible to promote faster growth on these despite a variety of N feedings (with addition of other elements, all sorts). Some plants remained runts despite. Apparently all the other plants grew, with or without feedings although of course N feedings made some run rampant.

But the question was and is, how about tuber production, and what kind of tubers. This is complicated because, although he used 10-pots practically every plant is pot-bound and he has not the time or labor to re-pot because they go into the field in two weeks. The question is largely: what is the relation between the top growth, root growth and tuber-production?

The Sweet Potato can grow indefinitely and produces more per acre than any other starch-root. But Ali is working not to get the largest tubers or most per acre, but the maximum of Carotene. At this time he has no idea and so he has to wait until the plants are put into the field and observed. But the fact is, he says, that you can grow Sweet Potatoes to any size, and there is no need for starvation. In fact there is none here, this being the food of the poor and you can buy them cooked for half a piaster, which means a little over one cent. So he is working on quality. And there is also the question of the increase in vitamins in the plants.

I think in my report on Indonesian crops, they use some of the top growth, but this will have to be studied more.

There is also the problem of control of top growth which takes sustenance and nourishment from the roots and tubers. This has been done so far by making cuttings. Time out.

Note: The Arabian, at least local name for Lettuce is COS and for Banana MUS. This should interest you.

Evening. Today was spent with farewells. I said good-bye to Abu Salem Segag-el-din, the librarian at En-Shems and also to Yusuf Wali of the same institution. Then I called on Mr. Attia, the treasurer of the Cotton Consolidation Organization. He wishes to invest in a Soy Bean industry. I shall cooperate but did not tell him—yet, the problem of pests here. But while I was being kept at the library I looked at their latest acquisitions. One was a purchase of more of Dr. Meyer’s work on Botany and Plant Physiology. His first wife, who was my physician, died recently. In the other book, dealing with Cotton, I found that Tachina larvarum has been found to be the best biological control of Prodonia. I did not shout this, but this enforces my idea that people here do not know how to look up research in books, even though some theses seem overladen with references and not fully enforced with experiments. I shall no doubt write to Hasan Salah after I reach Peshawar or some place and tell him I found it there. (Stinker!) But after all I am primarily an American and I want them to realize that Americans can help them, maybe more than anybody else.

Tomorrow I should say good-by to Cairo University and perhaps some of the experimental stations of the Ministry of Ag. which are in the same general area. Especially I want to see Dr. Mohammed Azauni who is a Cal. graduate, whom I have partly converted, your reverence to Prunus lyonii for experimental purposes.

I still find in general, in eagerness to emulate the great nations, very little attention is paid to xerophytes, and, as Dr. Azauni told me before, there is no clear water program for the different requirements of different crops. I am sorry I could not go there and see the Clerodendron before and will have to chance it now. Not only very busy but a San Francisco protégé of mine is here—I found him wandering around the streets. He left S.F. at the same time I did in the opposite direction!

There is still some interest in Tapioca and I am wondering, too, about the relative merits, or demerits of starch foods in so far as they contain or not, various vitamins, trace elements, etc., the sugar content, etc., and so the value as food. Besides, some, like bananas, are supposed to leave alkaline ash, the grains acid, and others are neutral. I don’t want to preach, I just want to know what I am doing and after seeing you, whenever I do return, I wish to visit the Stanford Research Center.

It is true I have ambitious programs and I know I cannot carry them all, nor do I wish to. But I want them considered and perhaps some money spent on real foreign aid. I have found now some support for my idea of chartering a ship of superannuated farmers who have had experience in Rice, Sugar, Cotton and other food and cash crops of the Orient. This would be much better than hiring, as they do, men like Satchmo Armstrong or ballet dancers and sending them abroad, where 3,000 people attend their performances and they get lots of publicity—home. Here and elsewhere it is not only regarded as an act, but one which is derided. Some day those fellows who write papers on “communication” may have to swallow it, if farmer meets farmer or even merchant meets merchant. This top-level charlotte ruse does not better any relationships abroad.

Indeed I would like to see one Mr. Harry Nelson see more of the world, even if he did not more than see it. The big shots see but overlook and the agricultural engineers are overworked.

I am planning to return here in a few years depending upon what happens. My private life in all respects is uncertain. I am writing separately to Lloyd Luckmann about Hasan Salah and I am planning to write a more complete report on the Sweet Potato experiment aboard ship. If so, I shall send copy.

I am enclosing herewith odds and ends. I did not complete the copying on biological controls, partly on account of time and partly because of the note on Tachina larvarum above.

Roughly speaking I shall be concerned for UAR with

a. Tomato, b. Soy Bean, c. Draft tolerant food crops,

d. Drought tolerant trees, e. Controls P. latura and Agromyza pharcoli,

f. Salinity toleration, g. P. lyonii,
h. New varieties of Citrus fruits.

I must call again concerning the colored slides. I am having three sets sent, the smallest being to you. I have not been able to get more pictures of plant life here and must lay that aside for the future. Somehow or other I think I shall be making a separate trip to the Near East.

I do not, of course, know what reactions I shall have. The newspapers will have to face reality, which does not mean changes in their political and economical views, but certainly does psychologically. We cannot win any wars, cold or not, when the press refuses to interview people who have strange reports. I mean refuse to interview, not refuse to accept. I think there will be less of the latter anyhow. My farewells to and with both Egyptians and Americans has been most cordial, and on Wednesday I must say good-by to sundry Orientals.

My affairs in other directions have prospered socially at least. I do wish more Americans would learn to communicate by finding out what foreigners think and like and play their game a little. None of the powers do that.

My schedule is uncertain due in part to the opening of another “home” in Pakistan and to the fact that one Jamshyd Khan wants to visit the States. He has been in S.F. before and if he goes again I wish he would call on you. He is said to be the most successful farmer using modern methods.

I am tired.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Port Said

February 17

My dear Jack:

I have been so busy I have been neglecting my diary and you are it. I left Cairo yesterday traveling by bus. Gary Brothers, the travel agent here did not arrange this and their office was closed so I came to Akri Hotel which is Grik. You know the Griks. Here they are not shoe-shine boys. It is the Egyptians who say: “You wanna good cheyenne? Very good.” It does not matter whether you just had one or are going walking in the mud. They come down in price here but I want to be left alone. Anyhow I have guides with me who have a hard time speaking no Eng-leesh, so I must be kind to them. No, I don’ wanna cheyenne.”

This city is built on the Canal and has water on two other sides. It has a slim connection with Egypt proper across a salt waste which is about half between the area near Great Salt Lake and flats near S.F. Bay. There is nothing there but the unusual. You leave both desert and sown behind.

The weather here is moderate all the year around. It is cool, but not so cold as Cairo which at this season is not so cold as Luxor which is always hot in the summer. This is the season and it is full of Americans. This did not stop a mob from attacking the Embassy and breaking all the windows. The mob was made up of school kids, some left out purposely. They first set fire to the Belgian Embassy and then attacked us. I think they also attacked the U.N. headquarters. The police did nothing. Even a Sam Lewis is worth ten police and I am afraid what a Jack Betts would do to them if they got funny. Anyhow I may have described the police.

When the girls get tired of waiting because the cop is signaling the cars to go ahead regardless they rush out into the street and then the police, afraid of being overwhelmed, turns a right angle. Of course as likely as not both the cars and the pedestrians went at the red light. Other police used to spend all their time watching the lights and paying no attention to traffic. This might have made some of them color blind.

I was given a farewell tea by a Sheikh and his friends. Next morning I made a final plea to the American Embassy, for God’s sake have Arabs teach about their country and don’t subsidize English, Germans, Hungarians and Irish Jews. I made my point but too late for the mob. I had warned USIA long ago that they would remember my words when they were mobbed, but the man I had warned was away.

I think they are fairly well convinced now we don’t need European outcastes to tell us about Asia. Anyhow some of the Embassy Staff was in the restaurant when I was having my farewell dinner and I was warmly greeted. I have been given so many warm greetings you can understand I want to come back. Get me [$30,000] and you can come with me. I may try Rockefeller, Ford or rich widows now. I have the projects. All my projects other than seeing Nasser were successful.

I can have a job, too, teaching at the National Research Center. This is going to be pretty hard on Lloyd Morain who never gave me a chance but I think he is a sick man. I am working with his teacher. I never hear from Gavin and I think he will be different. I love that guy in a certain way but he is too much like the Egyptians, not like the Americans.

I made friends with Onnig Alexian, an Armenian merchant who has a branch in New York. I brought three types of silver work with me, and for Chingwah Lee (or rather Mrs. Margaret) in Chinatown Lane, one for Martin Rosenblatt at Gumps and one for Pakistan. The first is a charm bracelet with ancient Egyptian figurines; the second is fine silver work; the third is Islamic. I also bought some hand cymbals, for myself and for a dancer in Pakistan whom I expect to visit at Multan. I shall try to ship the S.F. things from Karachi where I previously bought a few things and expect to buy more because everything arrived OK.

I also bought one Arab robe and may buy more at Aden with whatever money I have left over. Aden is a free port. But dollars should be waiting for me at Karachi and I have two small bank accounts besides. My friend, Abdul Rahman, may meet me there.

I met Claude Dahlenberg in the streets in Cairo, very suddenly. You may have met him. He managed the East-West house on California St. upon which Gavin tried to arrange his Global House. Claude was once a very devoted follower of Alan Watts. He has learned. But imagine bumping into him—literally, in a city far away from home. That is Zen. Anyhow he knows something about the real Zen now and looks fine. I have also written Norman McGhee about it and have some business positions for Norman. I can’t think anything more at this point because I am tired—I only had three free days in the over 5 months here, so this is a resting period and then one discovers how tired one is.

Now I hope to have a nice dinner. Greeks run the place and as it is Ramadan, the fast month, meals are shifted. It is a relief to get dinner at 7 instead of 8, but here it is now served at 6. I expect to take in a film later.

Well I ate well and then went to the movies. The cost here was absurdly low. It cost me £1 for a ticket at the football game, which, at the official rate would be $2.80. I think it cost about P.T. 6 for a ticket at the movie, first class, which is around 15¢ more or less. There was one Western movie, not bad; the scenery was excellent and the plot, though it could be figured out, was somewhat different. Then an English movie, “The Dangerous Refugee” or something like that, better acting and more “scientific” or artistic light but I preferred the American—give me hamburgers!

Here I had a crab dish which reminded me of S.F. The weather is moderate with the sun again shining. The news indicates that editors all seem anxious to out-ly each other and that proves something although I do not know what. I am hoping to have news when I get to Pakistan but then I will not have too much time for it, maybe.

I can get Rupees at a good price at the moneychangers. I have to get rid of £E which means pounds Egyptian. I think this is all the nonsense in my mind at the moment, the rest being pretty much of a blank. If you can make this out, let Evelyn read it; if you can’t let her read it and then feed it to Cha-cha.

S.S. “Cilicia”

February 20, 1961

My dear Rudy:

I had determined to keep a log-diary and send you the original when I found your letter which is certainly a confirmation of “synchronicity” or attunement. I had written pointedly about Fuad Lauthi and therefore now send his address: Fuad Lauthi, Tourist Bureau, UAR, Port Kest St., Saud Inghlal Square, Alexandria, UAR.

Have insisted you to know about this man for a double purpose—business and avocation and it is difficult to say which predominates. I have a whole lot of material which might fall into articles for travel magazines or tourist-guides and have written a friend about literary collaboration in this field. Then there is an indirect “black market.” You cash your dollars, get UAR premiums, and then when ready to go buy Pakistani Rupees and you get a good price. Actually everybody quotes a different price and if I had waited until coming on board I would have done still better. The Greeks are much better than the Arabs in this.

Port Said is a small city on the canal with a very large Greek influence. I stopped at Akri, which has not very good rooms and plumbing but excellent meals, some say the best in the city, and the cost is ridiculously low, so low I left a 25% tip. But taxis do not have meters and guides misquote and then yell. I was amazed when the man who put my luggage on board did not holler, but I told him I had no more Egyptian money left and he was quite satisfied. I bought a friend a few presents with my last coins excepting souvenirs and have about £3 and Rs.100 with me in case I go ashore at Aden. I would rather spend the Rupees and save the British money for tips and extras. I think I have about a dollar too, which somehow or other was left in my pants. This is a lot of money here! Many Americans abroad get paid in local currencies.

It has been quite cool and is now just warming up as we are going through the canal. The scenery is very varied without being exciting—salt marsh lakes, deserts quite different in nature, and cities between. The canal is historical rather than of scenic interest. Tomorrow I shall wake up either in the Gulf of Suez or the Red Sea. I am anxious to see as much as possible of the sea, but don’t know whether we shall be in sight of land on either side. I am told the sea is rather shallow.

The SS “Cilicia” has many decks. I am on level D which I don’t think has a deck. A above, has, then Promenade, boat and sea decks, at least above. The Promenade Deck has the life-boat stations.

My room is quite small but there is enough space for all my luggage—nine pieces! I met two boys from San Jose State in Port Said who are en route to Bombay. I had seen them in Cairo. Also in Cairo I literally (not figuratively but literally) ran into Claude Dahlenberg of 2273 California St. He left S.F. about the time I did or before going to Japan. Another example of synchronicity. He had been a friend of Alan Watts, but after seeing the real Asia he knows only too well what I mean by “Phantastic.”

I had an English breakfast—figs, baked and with poached egg, sausage, gooseberry jam and coffees. Early in the a.m. we had fruit juice, excellent tea and one piece of dry toast. I liked the tea and will have it from now on. The best coffee I had in UAR was made by an amateur, the wife of a friend who said she did not know how to make coffee!

The passengers seem roughly divided into British, Americans, Indians and Pakistanis. There is no way to estimate because you cannot tell a Hindu Muslim from a Pakistani by name. There are many children on board and much entertainment for them.

A surprisingly large portion of the decks are of wood. This seems to me to require different cleaning methods. The crew contains many Goanese and Laskars.

I am glad to have a chance to sail on a different kind of ship. I feel quite happy to be on board although just now it is more like river or steam-boating on a lake. At least I shall be “house-broken” when we reach the Indian Ocean.

Fritzi is that way which does not help much. My last horoscope reading was by Myra Kingsley and on the whole she has done well. What surprises me is that I have had my fortune told so many times and all proclaimed a surprise romance, and she did not see any in the near future. It certainly did not come in her “near future.” I only mention this so we can determine later on the relative merits of “spiritual” and “psychic” clairvoyance, and astrology.

I am very glad to learn you are busy. I asked all kinds of questions at Cory. The Egyptian in the passenger department was not very helpful, but the Greek in charge of freight was a marvel. I am planning to send a trunk by steamer whether with me or ahead, I do not know, with gifts and personal effects, then load it with my purchases to bring back. I am planning, in a sense an independent trip this far with side journeys to Greece, Turkey, Spain and Iraq, say about 1965. This a rough date but again all feeling seems to be confirmed by some events and from the “synchronous” experiences above I think this is the wisest plan. Anyhow I have the best of introductions especially from the Sufi angle.

A Sufi Sheikh gave me a farewell tea. I left feeling very well and in a sense satisfied, more with my accomplishments than with my ego. I finally put over a strong point—why don’t we have Arabs teaching Near East culture? The excuses are terrible but the point was taken too late—two hours later the mob stormed the place. I saw the mob from the beginning and am writing independently to the San Rafael Paper and Chet Huntley etc. I may be busy on board.

I am going further. I have demanded that American graduates be given superiority over European graduates in Asian subjects. It is utterly ridiculous; even federal moneys are used in the downgrading of our graduates. There is a bill before Congress to establish an American School of Asian subjects and I am going to fight like hell to see that Judith Tyberg gets recognition, and that we stop downgrading her before a lot of European “experts” who are loathed all over Asia while she is admired. She has suffered for being an American and being a woman and it is about time to see she gets her rightful place. Anyhow until this is done we can expect more mobs attacking American properties while European humbugs get lots of money for misteaching us about Asia.

Later. The meals are excellent, but with two breakfasts—6 A.M. and 9:30, I have not stuffed at the other times. Had Indian curries and rice for both meals along with other things. The morning coffee not good, but tea fine, evening coffee much better. Although there is dancing tonight I think I had better rest. I have my blue serge suit and may find out if I can get on the program while here—Hornpipe or Spanish.

Morning. Slept wonderfully. Completely rested and got up and saw the Sinaitic peninsula, mountains and all. Looks like a warmer and comfortable day. Now writing to Mayor Poulson to whom I owe a long letter.

At Karachi I bought some art-goods for Chingwah Lew and sent him a vase which I was given in Cairo. The art theories involved are more important than the subjects themselves. The old bazaar where I bought things before is no more. I mentioned this to Abdul Rahman and he says that I can buy things much cheaper in Peshawar anyhow. I have sent Peggy Allmond some shoes from Cairo and when I get to Peshawar, inshallah, should be buying more things. It is hard to keep a budget because in Karachi it cost me more than I could afford and here it costs me nothing and when the balances are made I come out at least even, sometimes ahead.

This morning Bill showed me a jacket and it comes from Suez. This is on my itinerary. It preserved many folk-arts and also Buddhist relics. So I expect to be buying or receiving things there. I have a lot of moneys owed me and if the payoff is in folk-craft goods or art objects I shall be satisfied. But I mention this specifically because having no home, just as I am sending the shoes to Peggy I would be sending any costumes or costume materials to you, knowing aforetimes “off with his head” if I should even think otherwise which I am not. This, of course, is neither a promise nor an obligation; only no alternate course will be followed.

In Karachi I got rid of clothes purposely, as Zakat and tips, so I could buy local things for myself. I was very satisfied with what I bought before, from every angle. The sari is used here, too, more sombre colors than in India and also they hide the dirt more, but preserve beauty and dignity. Of course as one gets into the Pathan country the clothes will be different and in Punjab they are different. Here too one often sees the women in pantaloons of some kind and the men without pants. There are many kinds of costumes in Multan which is a crossroad of several types of culture. The architecture is predominantly Persian.

There are American engineers here building houses at great speed for the people. Karachi has been marvelously cleaned up by Ayub Khan and the country is so different from what it was before. I have also found much more English than I expected.

At the moment things happen faster than I can record them and much more rapidly than I can evaluate them. On the ship I met at dinner with Sindhis who were Hindus by faith. They lacked the depth of the “Indian” Hindus but we enjoyed the same food. The “Indian” Hindus are about the same as others, philosophical, broad-minded, deep, but not always pragmatic, but who cares? Most of the Muslims showed more heart, if not head and you could feel it. On the whole the Muslims in this region are more heart-centered and less mental than the Hindus, but I am delighted with the universal views expressed by many of them. This is due, no doubt, to Sufism and the Mogul influences.

I am being accepted more and more by our Foreign Service and I am now very satisfied with the attitude toward my experiences, reports, suggestions and what not.

I have to write a letter to City Hall, because I met a niece of Don Cleary here. She was born in S.F. and educated in L.A. The Americans here act like Americans and not like a “foreign colony” which was true of those I have met in Hong Kong, Karachi and Cairo. This made “infiltration” natural and easy.

This city is noted for dust, flies, heat, beggars, dirt and tombs. I visited the tombs before and the dust and flies kept away then. The weather, strange to say, or alhamdu lillah, is perfect at the moment!

I am not used to the postage here. You see while I understand the rupee, it has been changed over to the duodecimal system, divided into tenths and quarters like with us so there are two types of coinage and the Post Office operates on the old system and so do the printed notices. So while I can mentally change from dollars to £ English and £ Egyptian to rupees and all between, I am still unable to adjust to the changing system here and I do not know when I can get to the P. O. either to mail this but will look around for stamps in my bags and take a chance. To complicate this they are getting rid of the “pise” and introducing something called the “paisa” or resembling that and I am all mixed up—the amounts involved are small, the mental calculations complicated.

The people who live next door have enormous albums of records and Bill has tape-recorded these and they are one of the chief forms of amusement. The tapes last a long time. There is also a demanding kitten here so I have right off-hand two forms of amusement. There are also free American movies at the cantonment nearby. Saw an Orson Wells production the other night—so sweetly saccharine, pseudo either, alhamdu lillah.

I brought the folks finger cymbals from UAR They are heavier than the Portuguese but are used like them. I brought in two cameras for my host and showed them at once to customs—and no duty! I learned a lot at Aden besides meeting a Sufi Sheikh.

I came here first-class air-conditioned with bedding. It was a fine trip. The main problem is with bakshish-wallahas. (The tombs have boxes for offerings and I gave to them and nothing to the beggars. I simply refuse and if they argue I yell I am a dervish and they should be giving to me.) The point is that I always prove my point. In accordance with my friend Reps they find I know more of the depths of their religion than they do which leaves them aghast. Then instead of wanting bakshish they want Baraka (magnetic blessings). Those I give freely and thus I am liable to leave this world a “saint” or “mysterious” character. This is to some extent true and is another reason for writing to you in such detail. I am not concerned with reactions in the U.S.

My host is an accepter of Paul Brunton which brought forth guffers and some personal history for in a certain sense I am a successor of Brunton. I met Fuad Lauthi in Alexandria who has the inner sight and gave me the works. That is a story by itself. Everything is a story by itself.

I have written determinately to Washington against any more money in Oriental studies going to phonies who aren’t accepted in Asia. I got tired of predicting a mobbing of the USIA library in Cairo. It came. I saw the attack on the Belgian Embassy, but of course the little man who was there never can face the big man who was not. So I am propounding the Marco Polo Complaint which is a continuum of the old rejection of the explorer whose reports are rejected because he came from the wrong side of the tracks—and who, of course, is the hero beginning with the following century. I know a lot of Marco Polos and I think that the Government is going to listen to them henceforth even if newspapers and Orientalists situated in Leiden, Heidelberg, Berlin, Padua, Oxford and any place far away from Asia do not. I think that day is nearly over. I am breathing fire and thunder now but of course by the time I get back maybe the Americans will listen to the real stories about the real Asia and stop all this anti-Americanism which they themselves are fostering. Why in Cairo who came to watch the Russian ballet? The Americans, certainly not the Arabs. So it goes. That is enough for one writing, or is it?

Love and karuna and ishk.

February 25

We are now on the Arabian Sea north of Hydramout. I am not sure of continuity at all. I am writing a few letters and sending Rudy copies for reasons more or less inherent in the texts, though they are of different natures.

There is one thing that stands out tremendously and I do not think psychologists can explain it—they can explain it away but they cannot explain it. When I went to Luxor the first man I met was the Dervish Sheikh there. When I went to Alexandria the first man I met was a Dervish with clairvoyance.

We landed at Aden and I did not want to spend money and my friend Abdul Rahman wanted a camera. We were taken to a shop (this word “taken” can be used multi-variously) and none of us bought. In the next shop I noticed a man with prayer beads and the next thing I mentioned was that I was a Dervish and then I found the storeowner was the Rifai Sheikh there. We almost fell over each other and the next thing was he was dropping prices. So I spent more than I had expected and can only hope Abdul Rahman will be satisfied. I know I got a bargain but cannot tell what the Pakistanis will charge for customs duty.

Apparently it is easier to get in Pakistan than India so far as red tape is concerned. My former experience was the opposite—the Pakistanis, with their multiple pseudo-governments held me up; then the Indians let me through when I showed the letter from Dr. Radhakrishnan, so I had no real complex experience there, only in S.F. when I originally applied for a visa.

The unconscious attraction to and with dervishes (Sufis) has now multiplied and yet it leaves me wondering. This was also true when Claude Dahlenberg was with me in Cairo.

The next thing which psychologists might consider is the use of “we.” I have been playing around as “Puck of Pukhtunistan.” I have been writing at length about this real-imaginary country. Yet the fact is that on this ship the Pathans have sought me out and taken to me like a duck to water, acting as my friends and protectors. It is seemingly fantastic but like the case of Nila Cram Cook it might be explained by reincarnation or otherwise. The attraction is mental and as unconscious as with the dervishes.

On shipboard now I am getting along with most Asians. The British ice is being broken by children. Some are curious about this typewriter, some are just curious. I don’t care.

I had a most wonderful curry-and-rice dinner at Aden, very reasonable. I changed $50 more leaving my American money low, but have enough English coins for the balance of the trip and, of course, for the moment, enough Pakistani rupees. I am learning many ways to benefit from the black-market, grey-market and other types of exchange. It is complicated but it can become profitable.

Aden is a free port and there are plenty of bargains. But I personally prefer dealing with the Chinese or Japanese so do not expect to buy any complex things until I reach Hong Kong.

It was much warmer at the “mouth” of the Red Sea, but is more pleasant now.

February 22, 1961

S. S. “Cilicia”

Somewhere in the Red Sea

May dear Gavin:

I am writing to you because I feel that when I return you will welcome me. You will change either because of yourself or because of the wind and I don’t care which. The supposition that a man is wrong because more powerful person are against him becomes invalid when it is found that still more powerful persons are against the ones who were more powerful than he was. Prestige is something that works both ways; a man who has prestige in one place may not have it in another.

I am, of course, most concerned with those persons who have or had a pseudo prestige in Oriental matters, I have always assumed that the Orient dealt with Asia. I am therefore not particularly concerned with philosophies and histories or even translations made in Occidental countries concerning this Orient. If the East welcomes those philosophies, histories and translations, well and good; if it does not—and usually it does not, we come abruptly against the nonsense in the words “democracy,” “humanitarianism,” and “golden rule” which words have little to do with democracy, humanitarianism and any golden rule

On this ship I have quickly entered into social relations with a large section of Asians. We can and do discuss the philosophies and religions of their respective countries. What is more, they look up to me. I don’t suppose any of them have heard of the “brand names” which have been or are the fashion in the Western world, men famous or successful as book publishers who are either disregarded or loathed in Asian-Asia. Some have written most terrible books which have nothing to do with anything but their private thoughts and private worlds. Of immediacy, I have been concerned with Dervishes and Sufis, which terms may be synonymous. Their existence on a large scale, a very large scale, is utterly contrary and contradictory with the whole of literature now being on the market or presented in our universities excepting Harvard and Princeton. After continual protest at the USIS, I finally won my point, but too late to prevent the building from being mobbed. We will teach nonsense and we will offend people and they will not like it, they may even resent it. I can assure you that there are books little better than the Protocols of Zion which are American text books and every effort to get interviews on the subject failed.

Back and forth I went between the Arabs and Americans: “Why can’t we have cultural exchange?” “Why don’t they take the jobs we offer?” Something is wrong, fundamentally wrong. Anyhow I have had the satisfaction of all my experiences and suggestions OK’d by the Foreign Service. And my final gesture, also approved, is to investigate every European graduate in any type of Oriental teaching other than language who has not the approval of at least one Asian nation. The nonsense and humbug must go. Of course a Senzaki was at one time an authority on Goethe and a Blythe is an authority on Japanese poetry but these are rather exceptions, and outstanding ones.

Karl Jung is not God. He has made some fundamental mistakes in his efforts to interpret some types of Oriental esotericism and he is way off base on occultism and alchemy. His speculations remain speculations. In psychology and related fields he no doubt is near the top, but that does not make him an authority in Oriental philosophies any more than a star football player is an authority on academy courses in his university.

This is now beyond argument. I have the full support of governments to investigate the courses known as “Oriental Philosophy” or even “comparative religion” to determine whether these are objective, or simply the brain-children of some professor, invalid elsewhere.

This is no longer a subject for discussion, it is subject for action. The world is very different today with all kinds of new nations and all kinds of things that may be known as “cultures.” I have found the Islamic religion totally different from any lectures on it, favorable or unfavorable. People describe their ideals and call them “Islam” or they give that name to their antipathies. The way Muslims actually act is often quite different; the same applies to Hindus and Buddhists.

Claude has learned a lot and I doubt whether he has near the respect he once had for some of his teachers. His direct experience has given him legs to stand on. Whether he is “right” or wrong” he can at least stand up.

I don’t know how long Alan will remain in public life. His private talks, or ravings about something he endows with Japanese names, have nothing to do with anything and are given no serious consideration outside of metaphysical California and pseudo philosophical America. He has any right to have any philosophy, but if it consists in vocabi1arly stealing, there can be nothing but confusion. And the confusion, of course, has struck his own private life: The man who has been a professional psychologist himself needs psychiatry and meditation, and how.

As to other personalities whom you have revered and who will not face me, I may have to, in the course of my future career, simply go over their heads in their respective institutions. It is no use prating the word “peace”—which to me is more filthy the way it is used than some four-letter words, and doing everything to impede anything remotely resembling peace. I met that humbug Fox who had given a lecture on greeting people with “Peace unto you,” went to his office, said: “Peace unto you” and he fell out of his chair. That man was well named, but he did not live long.

I am, it is true, carrying some of Whitman’s poetry but I am more concerned with Whitman’s ability to mingle with human beings and love them and be loved. This is not mere social intercourse, keeping the latch open for every lout or schemer who comes one’s way. It requires some vision and circumspection.

I had only three days off in the UAR in five months, outside the trip I made to Luxor—which was occupied full time. I meet people; I commune with them. I was as welcomed by the top scientists as by the lowest artisan as by the professors and by the common people—but nowhere more than in my own profession and in this by Americans and Arabs alike. So far as official circles are concerned I am made. But there is still the press and the universities. Here again, Harvard is no problem. They said: “We want to learn from you everything you know that we do not.” Imagine some of your “humanitarian,” “democratic” intellectual acting that way! Oh, boy! Who is kidding whom?

I do not like to carry the term “scientists” or B.S. or anything. I like to show my knowledge, or ignorance.” I differ from you widely when you say that the Catholic Church and communists are alike in suppressing thought and self-expression; in what way do they differ from some “brand names” whom you have admired, you also would not let others express thought or present any ideas? The ridiculous part is that every idea on every subject which Messrs: A, B, C and D would not even listen to has been accepted, is being accepted. The term “intellectual” often applies to liberate idiots. Their book reading or book writing gives them neither logic nor wisdom.

I have kept a complete Horticultural diary, but with it are the scientific notes. I was busy all the time—Bureau of Information, Ministry of Agriculture, experimental stations, National Research Center and Dervishes—not to mention all sorts of adventures. I went in where other Americans do not go. There is nothing to prevent them. If a few Americans did what I did we should not have to worry. But our propagandists are neither farmers nor religious men.p>

One of my pet schemes is to charter a shipload of retired farmers, especially from the Southern States, take them to the Near East and South Asia and let them look over situations; then make their reports and suggestions. They will do far more than, let us say. Mr. Harriman, who will do exactly as his predecessors did, only more so. The trouble with traditional diplomacy is that it traditions and does not diplomatize. It is useless. We cry about wastes of money and waste more.

Satchmo Armstrong, at public expense, vitiated UAR, got a lot of publicity in the U.S. and performed before a multitude of Greeks, Armenians, French, Italians, Copts and Americans. Hurray! I bet he did not meet 10 Arab Muslims. We have lots of money for that sort of thing and woe be to him who objects. Not even those who want to “balance the budget” seem to object to anything specific. But we tax ourselves to subsidize people who don’t need subsidies or jobs and that is why I have written also that “we” are mad.

Of course I am mad, too, but my madness pays off. I am always gaining friends, all over, in many sorts of ways. When the usual does not work, try the unusual, and when the unusual does not work, try something else. There is an answer for every problem. Boy, am I preaching!

Anyhow the world news is always most excitable than exciting and today it is a sort of super-amusement for peoples who have not healthy outlets. Multitudes have been thrown upon the world scene and “democracy” almost requires them to make decisions, decisions on problems of which they have not the slightest inkling.

I have been fortunate on board ship to convince the Asians that their agricultural problems are paramount. In the case of Afghanistan, packaging and marketing are as important as producing and that country evidently needs canneries and air-freight. I could write much more, but I must not over-rate my own accumulations even though they are both different and differing. I am going to have more adventures, I know, I am learning strange geographies and am still a long, long way from “home.”

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

On board SS “Cilicia”

February 28, 1961

My dear John:

I am writing on board, en route to Karachi where I shall soon land. This trip has been most important in resting my mind and body and I am so mentally relaxed at the moment that I feel like writing my thoughts on paper. I am writing them to you first to see if they contain any ideas which may be of help directly or indirectly to you and those who have been protesting against “space” experiments. Then, if these ideas are serious enough, to let Paul see or have them in case they give him time or inclination for future research. There is no compulsion in any of this.

I am at the moment convinced that space is living and because it may be living my experimentation prior to explanation is dangerous in two senses: it is dangerous because such procedure is contrary to the whole ethos of science; and dangerous per se because of elements involved. The first may be more important than the second, for heretofore we have made surveys of the territories involved and not just plunged into them. I know you are much opposed to this plunging but here emphasis must be made as much on the plunging practice as on any poisons involved. One does not dive into an unexplored pool because he wishes to go swimming.

The completely different approaches have brought me now to the same point. The first is western and involves Haeckel and Reiser; the second is Oriental and revolves around Dr. Radhakrishnan. Haeckel, for some un-reason or other has gone out of fashion. I am particularly disgusted because I am a very strong anti-Hegelian; and possibly from a minor point of view because my present day interests, and more than that, the experiments I have witnessed in the UAR would have delighted such a man. His monism of matter-and-energy seems to have been substantiated a great deal by modern advances in Physics.

If we turn to the Carbon-cycle and the Nitrogen-cycle we find ourselves in a world of embolism, and operation, strangely identical with Indian doctrines, down to the smallest iota. In these cycles it is obvious that both C and N have functions in- and out- of living bodies. So long as there are no radioactive transformations, there is the operation of cyclic law which can to some extent be examined and understood and perhaps even controlled.

Turning from Biology to Physics, we admit that electrical energy, in its largest sense also operates within and without bodies. The great doctrines of Conservation of Energy and Matter seem, today, to be unified, justifying the monisms both of India and Haeckel. But when it comes to Life we are facing, or rather refusing to face a certain enigma.

Is life energy? Well energy exists within and without bodies. We have the electrical discharges in “space”—and that is a very bad word today. These charges may or may not be limited or unlimited to ionosphere, stratosphere, etc. etc. Are there fields of force around us? And are these fields of force living or dead?

We immediately get into complexities. Our present pseudo-conceptions of life restrict it materially to a Carbon-Oxygen complex both within and without bodies, with chlorophyll or protoplasm. But there is no fundamental reason why life-energy must be any more (or less) involved in chlorophyll or protoplasm than magnetism must be involved in Iron and related metals. We have long since explored electro-magnetism and are now finding an Energy, subject to laws of Einstein, Planck and who not, which is either a Genus to these species, or an integration thereof.

Here we come to a problem, which seems to be overlooked. Are the forms of energies species of a Genus and can energies be correlated like the plants and animals in a Universal tree? Or are they abstractions or differentiations from a Summus, permitting only differentiation and integration in the logistics thereof? This jumping back and forth from Aristotelian-Newtonian thinking to contemporary outlooks itself seems to me to be a source of problem-making.

Field Thinking. I think this is most difficult. Offhand those fields or areas seem to be relation to exponents or logarithms of distances rather than distances themselves. And spatially the fields may run into each other with gradual differentiation, or they may overlap, or they may inter-penetrate. I doubt very much whether there has been any thinking through on these points. Just trial and error with the gross assertion of uniformity where there has been no exploration.

The folly of this uniformity comes when one reads, and reads with all seriousness on the thermal and thermodynamic conclusions to date. They are not only contrary and contradictory (like the Jeans-Eddington differences) but what is worse, vital contentions of certain parties are often overlooked by the experimenters and, of course, the experiments fail.

Is Life Inherent in Space? Is Space Living? Before answering this, or even attempting to answer it, I am placing this question here because all nuclear experiments have assumed to the contrary which is metaphysics and not science. The blind assumption can be disturbing. While some astronomer becomes a prophet by saying the world will come to an end 50,000,000 or 50,000,000,000 or 50,000,000,000,000 years hence, the fact that we are interfering with this Universe may bring grounds for fearing much, creating these speculations, called prophecies.

Any chain-reaction in a controlled field (laboratory) produces end-results which are not always controlled—the field may be, the results not. We are often liable to consider poisons from the toxicological rather than from the energy outlooks. In Bio-physics and Physical Therapy we have studied to some slight extent the benefits the human organism gains from certain kinds of radiation; if it gains from certain kinds of radiation it may also lose from certain kinds of radiation, nuclear or not.

No doubt the atomic results of nuclear experimentation may be limited. We do not know how much “matter” is in “space,” but evidently there is dust, and if it be a material-cosmic-dust, you are so right in your outlook there can be no other determination. But even if there is not such material-cosmic-dust, the fact that we are sending forth uncontrolled energies is itself a dangerous thing. The wise course would to desist—in addition to all your previous claims, until space itself were further explored. But by this space I mean areas or fields, let me say, up to 100 or over 5,000 miles beyond the earth’s surfaces.

When we know the nature of such areas or arenas, we can objectively and logically determine more or less exact results but those we do not, we may be affecting life-energies.

Planetariums have models of the universe, with stress on atomic formations. These Planetariums do not seem to have stressed much the fields-of-force involved, and they have overlooked the forces involved.

The question of life on Venus, let us say—really is a question as to whether biological energy can function other than with Carbon-complex chemistries. I say it might. I do not think vital energy is any more or less concerned with Carbon than Ferro-magnetic energy is concerned with Iron. There is nothing to prove that there may not be Vital, Evolutionary and Mental processes under entirely different systems of Chemistry. We are already finding that Silicon has a wider range of combinations similar to Carbon. Indeed the Chemistry books today assume that the Chain-system of Organic Chemistry is the norm. When we were in school the bond-method was looked as a special order of things to be studied apart. Now the bond-method is applied to all chemistry and next—if it has not already been done—the subjects of saturation, rhythm, light-rotation, etc., etc. found in organic compounds may prove to be universally true.

Then we may find that the boundaries we have placed between chemical-phenomena and non-chemical phenomena are more artificial than we thought and Haeckel’s principles be realized, though not necessarily exactly as he thought.

I am inclined to think that life-energy is scattered in the universe and that the manifestation of life through the Carbon- and Nitrogen-cycles is a peculiarity of earth itself. The life-energy may manifest through other cycles elsewhere and even the beings of other planets may have delivered developed “minds” or “spirits” based on different chemistries than ours.

This would bring up here whether the mind determines the Chemistries or the opposite which I do not wish, or am unable to cope with. But if the life is in time-space, however, and we define or examine space, any interference therewith by radioactive efforts can be upsetting an equilibrium, more dangerous because it is uncontrolled than because it is poisonous. I think in the end we shall find all uncontrolled phenomena poisonous, by separating that word from its toxicological aspects.

I am therefore at the moment at the conclusion that Space may be as varied as earth-matter; that just as the unit-electron manifests by vibra­tional attunements, rings, etc. into the chemical or atomic elements, so space may be as varied energetically as earth is atomically and chemically. We are assuming uniformities based on non-experience and this is a dangerous precedent for science, if it is be science at all.

Of course by assuming that non-uniformity of Space and the existence of multi-various energies, simplified or complex, or engaged in interchanges similar in a sense to atomic interchanges in molecular phenomena, we will ultimately private a background for Astrology and this may well be. Earth—which we may say, is a ring or a round electro-magnetic body, traveling in a circuit around a body like the sun—must be establishing certain types of “fields” in “space.” Whether the nature of such “fields” has any relation to character, “karma,” etc. is another matter. But even the most materialistic scientists have ascribed weather-effects of sun-spots, etc. and it is very strange how many “astrological” elements have come into common conclusions while rejecting that as a field for serious study.

I think the field-theories of Einstein and the corresponding discoveries of mathematicians are been treated as too specialized to affect common logistics and logic. But Professor Oliver Reiser, with his Integrational Philosophy, begins, not ends there. And if we apply these to our thinking, or assumptions, or practice, we shall have to change our attitude toward space and begin to differentiate as was done by the ancient Hindus, between the space as the Grand Totality and “space” concerned with a specialized or limited phenomena.

The Nobel prizes in Physics the last few years have confirmed elements of Oriental philosophies. In 1956, talking to the most developed sage I had ever met we agreed that the next prize would go to Chinese—which proved to be true; and the rotary behavior of light is in strict accord with Yang-Yin teachings. This may be accidental or it may be fundamental.

Likewise the uncovering of “non-matter” may ultimately prove to be more revolutionary than we have any idea about. I cannot overlook these things if one tries to grasp a picture and not just a symbol of the universe. At the same time the Upanishads have given me working models and each year I find the integration of Western Science comes closer and closer to these models. What it means in the end, I do not know. But I see a Universe quite diverse in each of its aspects, areas, arenas, yet; and I have always believed, since a little boy, that actual “space-travel” would show how “wrong” we have been—meaning mostly the humanity and literary traditions, when they dare to hold conclusions as conclusions and continue with their continuum of theological psychologizing outside the field of religion.

At least these are my momentary conclusions. I do not know how clear they are. Clarity is here more important than truth. But I am faced with Max Black’s statement that our vocabulary, inherited from deductional thinking, may prove to be inadequate in induction and integration. And I wish to avoid, even if I could, large masses of integrational formula which often as not, hide the mental condition of the writer.

One does not know how valuable or important this is. But I am scheduled soon to speak on the relation between Oriental Philosophy and Modern Science and to this writing have not run into any objection to my momentary conclusions. Every person I have spoken to or with—mostly scientists but more recently diplomats, businessmen and philosophers (all Asian) agree. The scientists were about 50-50 Western and Near Eastern. All seem to be looking toward integrational approaches and welcome them—even though my own particular conclusions or program are mis-applications thereof.

This may be enclosed with another letter. It is written on shipboard when I had time and relaxation and my mind seemed to be working.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Karachi,

March 4

World Affairs Council of Northern California

421 Odell St.

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear friends:

I have now been in Pakistan four days and have had a very rapid start. When I was last here I took out an account in the Habib Bank. When I returned home Mr. Russell Smith told me that he and the Habib family were very friendly, the two banks are co-respondents and this enabled me not only to get my money but in the manner I wished. I am following this up when I reach Lahore by an extra “campaign” so I may write advice to tourists and to those who stay abroad for longer periods. Transactions are performed in various ways to obtain various experiences the benefits of which may be passed on.

I next went to the Embassy where I had three long and successful interviews, more details of which shall be mentioned, and one “unpleasant type” also. In UAR I had to take certain rebuffs from Americans on inter-cultural exchange, and though I lost the discussions, regretfully my predictions of the mobbing of the USIA library came true. There was also there a letter of my close friend, Robert Clifton and between us, in a sense, we cover the whole Asian continent; have been uniformly successful with Asians, and unusually unsuccessful with the press.

Excepting Marriage Ceremonies in Morocco by Westermarck I do not know any books which detail the Islamic religion as it is practiced. I can refer you to a book in the S.F. Public Library on Chinese funeral customs and you will look in vain in them for connections to and with the stuffs peddled out as “Confucianism,” “Taoism” and “Buddhism” by various worthy graduates of European universities. They take you into the higher echelons of wonderful metaphysical speculation, but tell nothing about people as they are.

The political attaché in Cairo finally assented we have failed to establish contact with the public and public mores in the Near East. The political attaché here knows it and is doing something about it. The attaché in Cairo has now asked that I report in detail actual communistic doings which I run upon and the attaché here had me tell him in detail how I turned the mob on the commies in India—the life I saved happened to be my own. I am forced to pun, that the un-usual in Asia is too often the un-news-ual, and this is a cold war.

Actually the commies have started an Anti-American movement here which, as with most such movements, are financed and supported by Americans! There have been reports of conversions to Christianity in Pakistan. The last printed statements were that these were from the Harijans and not from the Muslims. No matter, feelings have run high and commies are undergrounding it that the Americans are behind these efforts to make conversions. Unfortunately some of our staff in Foreign Service are very pro-Christian and make no bones about it. This was not true in Cairo; I met nobody there who permitted feelings to enter into this subject. They were warped on cultural exchange, which is not cultural exchange at all.

Fortunately there are people in Washington who are engaged in objective studies of the culture of the Near East and this means in the end we may cease to rely upon Zionists and displaced Europeans as the “sources” of information (?) concerning this part of the world. The selection of Prof. Reischauer as Ambassador to Japan is exactly what I have been advocating for years. We do have Americans who know something about Asia and are admired in Asia.

We do have Americans who know something about Asia and are admired in Asia. I once proposed that you invite Dr. Kingsley Davis of South Hall on the Berkeley Campus to speak before you. I have been estimating him very highly, but his estimation here both among the Pakistanis and Embassy is of the very highest. It is this sort of man who should be addressing audiences and giving them information. And it would be a wonderful thing if our editorial pundits fished around and found some of these Americans who really know something about Asia or are admired in Asia or both. We might win the cold war very quickly.

Much of my time has been spent with Dr. Farooq, assistant to the Agricultural Attaché, who is at present in Washington. He was very enthusiastic about the program outlined and happens to be a close friend of Mr. M. A. Cheema of the Ministry of Agriculture who was my previous contact. Between these two gentlemen I have gotten a plan for my itinerary which should take me as far as Kabul, Afghanistan, and I may go into unusual parts. I shall not write further on this point but I have still to find an agricultural, or perhaps even a scientist, who is not entirely objective and impersonal, and purportedly practical.

I have already spoken at a Junior College where they train young men to be Agricultural Inspectors and Advisors. The failure of our Point IV program has been that between the colonels and generals on top and the privates (peasants) there were too few intermediaries. Now we shall have corps of sergeants, so to speak, well trained in science, English and accounting methods.

My other contacts overlapped and include both Islamic teachers and Sufis. I am particularly anxious to have some Islamic teachers in the United States at the Universities, or even at centers. I am concerned with information, not “conversions.” The Muslims in the U.S. are very divided and almost as ignorant as divided; this is a private matter. But with the large number of Islamic nations in the U.S. it is time we at least learned about their religion and folk-ways. My own opinion at the moment is that the best presentations of Islam are made at the Seminaries in Hartford and Berkeley. Missionaries are trained in the actual details of the actual religions which they are to face. Other peoples go around with whitewash or tar and so we have little objective knowledge.

The cases of Sufism are an example of extreme stupidity on our part. The two “authorities” on Islam in California are displaced Europeans; next to them come linguists who are Zionists. They have no interest in telling us the facts. I had, again, my farewell from the Indonesian Embassy in Cairo, and those people have again and again invited me to their land to try to bridge the misunderstandings between our countries. I must repeat, it is they who have extended the invitations. For my own part I am pleased to report our Foreign Service is fully in favor of it, but my resources are limited and my successful ventures are increasing.

I think I have already written about the tenders put out by the Sufis (dervishes) in U.A.R., to become better known to and by Americans especially to carry on this Cold War to a success. When I return to California I may even go to court on this matter of nonobjectivity in certain scholastic institutions unless some newspaper is willing to carry on a campaign.

You do not have to believe it, but there is a kind conscious and also a kind of unconscious telepathy or empathy which brings us together. In Alexandria my contact (who has a high position in the U.A.R. government) had the conscious faculty. In Port Said unconsciously my contact was a Sufi teacher. In Aden, where I stopped to make some purchase, my contact was another one. And here I met the Sufis very rapidly and shall meet more.

I am not in the least concerned with the acceptance of Sufi mysticism; I am concerned with the recognition that there are millions of us, and that we are unanimously opposed to those Nations and forces with which the U.S. is combating, but strange to say, we are either rebuffed, or recognized only so far by the foreign service. We have plenty of advertisements about “people-to-people” programs, but the actual operation of “people-to-people” is something else.

Because we do not have a real people-to-people program, even in this friendly government it is easy to start grapevine movements against the U.S. The one on the Christian-Islamic imbroglio above is an example. Monday I hope to visit the American Friends of the Middle East. They have done much to try to establish “semantic” relations between Christians and Muslims and the effort therefore is the success. Getting people to sit down together is to me, the recognition. Agreement is not so important.

The next underground step is concerning India. The selection of Chester Bowles enables the underground-grapevine to say we, the U.S. are pro-Indian. When I was here before I saw the rather successful efforts of the commies to “prove” to the Pakistanis that we were pro-Indian in Kashmir; and to the Indians that we were pro-Pakistani. Our USIA programs, with their noble and lofty overtones, do not reach the masses. Our art and musical shows are nothing but boondoggling for those who need no such support.

Off hand, here, as in UAR, I hope to emphasize agricultural cooperation as the basis for friendliness. Here the whole thing becomes complicated and unified. I have been urging more agricultural literature and less “true immortality” pulps. The Islamic distrust of Christianity here has nothing to do with the missions. The Protestant Churches are blamed for the lurid literature and surrealistic movies, and they themselves protest against them, but not loud enough. Islam now comes out for “home and mother” and in this the whole United States becomes the butt of rather successful attacks. Until Erick Johnston & Co. are removed, or until Hollywood itself supports true art, neutralism will continue and even increase.

The above, incidentally, is the compendium of a large number of conversations held before and repeated now in these last few days.

The percentage of people speaking English here has increased. Urdu, which bears relation to it, is not an exact language. But the government is trying to systematize the teaching of both.

I met a large number of Asians on the ship, giving me more contacts. In general they hold that both Great Britain and the United States are offering the scientific and cultural training needed in Asia. It is only when sensitivities are concerned we fall down. The staff at the Embassy here assents to my contention that it is a myth and a very bad myth that we do not discuss religion abroad. We are held to be materialists. This was the unanimous opinion of Hindus, Pakistanis, Pushtuns and Persian-Afghans, however else they differed. I do not know how long we shall continue to be limited by our myths. We have others.

These people, however they differ live in psychological longevity. Metaphysically it makes them our superiors and more; but physically it tends to have them adhere to principles rather than actions. The two need to be brought closer together.

I shall be with Americans in Multan and learn what they are doing there; then go to Lahore to plan an ambitious series of programs. Then to Rawalpindi where my friend Ahmed Bashir Minto, once of San Francisco lives, and where the government is moving, then to Abbottabad, my “home.” From Abbottabad I must move in all directions.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Dear Willie:

I am already very busy, in fact started off right away. I expect to leave here as soon as all my business is completed at the Embassy, but that is something I cannot foretell. Everything has started off very bright but I do not wish to become too involved here. Besides, friends are waiting for me in other cities.

March 7

My dear Rudy,

I started out to keep a log-diary on the “Cilicia” but misplaced some sheets and never kept it up. I was very, very tired after UAR with only three days free in over five months. I did not realize it until I was on board and slept and slept. After I had rested—and the first few days were not easy—my whole body went through a renovation. I’ve felt so fine and both the Red Sea and Indian Ocean were calm. At least so to me. I did not miss any meals and I liked the strong making tea. I drank little coffee, excepting the small blacks after some heavy meals.

My stateroom was small, just large enough for my luggage and myself, but that did not matter. There were so many tables—and three rooms—where I could do my typing.

It is naturally that after I wrote I did not expect to buy anything at Aden I did. When I came to Port Said I found the taxi man was a Sufi teacher—and the next thing I was sight-seeing not because I wished to, but on account of the spiritual bond. When we came to Aden I was almost plummeted out of the first shop.

In the next one the man was explaining these cameras to me but he was not very successful in convincing me that the most expensive was the best. While the bargaining was going on I noticed a clerk repeating the name of God. I spoke to him and found he was a Dervish. I told him I was one. Then he pointed to the store-owner who was trying to sell me a camera. “He is the teacher.” Down came the price of the camera! We reached an agreement and embraced.

Now it seems that I get along fine with the Asians but not always with the British. My companions were a Persian Afghan, a Pushtun (Pathan) and an Indian—quite an international set. We stuck together on breaks but always came back to the dervish (Sufi) merchant. We found he was the most honest and reliable and he certainly got $200 from me, perhaps more. There are plenty of bargains in Aden but also plenty of cheaters—as one might expect. If I ever go that way again I’ll go to that teacher.

Getting through customs was not too hard. They did not examine our health certificate. And as I had all my things to declare and had appeared so open the officer in charge let me through. He was very fair when the people were fair and was as serious to let them through as they were. It was the small people who kept on demanding papers. There was one slight mishap—there was a Miss Lewis on board and they placed one of my bags with her things and also told my friend, Abdul Rahman, that there was no male Lewis on board. This took a while to straighten out.

I immediately repaired o the American Embassy to get my mail and cheque. For the first time since leaving home all my financial papers were together. But I have found it is better to buy cheques in the U.S. than bring in dollars. I am learning a lot of ropes and think I have some other letters for you which will go slow mail, on advice, etc. In fact I want to either speak to travel agents (closed meetings) or write articles on some of my experiences.

Fortunately, again, the Habib Bank, in which I have my account, is the correspondent of the Bank of America. I deposited most of my money and may buy Pakistani Travelers’ cheques when I get to Lahore.

I met Mr. Farooq at the Agricultural section in the Embassy and we hit it right off. We have had three conferences with at least one more coming up. He had me speak at a school where they are training young men to become Agricultural inspectors. The Political Attaché took extended notes and gave me the name of a man in the State Department who is interested in Sufism. After all the tripe they teach in the U.S. it is no wonder that Asians resent us. We brag about ourselves and don’t study them objectively at all. So I have written to this contact, and can at least hope. Step by step I am by-passing all those persons who claim to be Sufi teachers and know very little indeed.

In the afternoon my friend Abdul Rahman (a longtime resident of S.F.) found me and we went to a friend whom I also found to be a Sufi and have met several Sufis among the people contacted here. We have now purchased our tickets, he going to Lahore but I’ll stop off at Multan where I have personal friends. Then I must go in turn to Lahore, Rawalpindi and Abbottabad.

I had a short but most important meeting with Mr. M.A. Cheema, who is now Secretary-General of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. He had been my contact before. He is now the chief permanent servant of the department and gave me advice which I shall follow. It means most of my time should be spent at Lyallpur, Lahore and Peshawar, all in the North.

But it also means my department by sea again. I do not know whether I shall be going all the way to Chittagong by sea and then visit India later on or stop at Bombay. If business requires my going to East Pakistan first I’ll do that, for after all my present Murshid is in Decca, too.

It is not yet hot here—it gets up to 90 but cools at night and this is even more so at Multan and Lahore just now. In fact some districts are unequally cold at night but Spring and I shall be keeping company. I expect to stay in the North for many months and may go to unusual places.

I now have so many names in my book. I cannot see my future unless I can organize or get help. For my conferences and meetings keep on getting better but this increases the amount of time at the typewriter, which I haven’t. I did a lot of typing on ship-board and get my “heavy” things out but not details.

Cordially,

Karachi,

March 8, 1961

American Friends of the Middle East

323 Geary St.,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Admiral Evenson and Friends;

I am making this my diary entry for the day. I am enclosing copy of a letter to a fiend which has some interesting news of you. Most important to me here is your library. I have been presetting and howling and I shall continue to protest and howl over these points:

a. The wide-spread market for lurid American literature.

b. The almost esoteric attitude toward good trade, technical and scientific magazines.

c. The failure to recognize that most people have been attached to the land.

d. The strange acceptance of European authorities on Asia-men who are little regarded in Asia.

e. The strange down-grading of American authorities on Asia-man who are highly regarded in Asia.

f. The refusal to look at the religion, folk-lore and habits of people as they are.

This library fulfills, to me, all these requirements. I am going to write a separate latter to the home office. For although I kept Virgil acquainted with all my doings in Cairo, at first he did not respond to my protests against certain types of books:

a. The bosh at the American university put out as branches of Islamic culture.

b. The bosh at the UISA library put out as Islamic philosophy.

I grant the right of every man to differ, but first we should have the fasts. As a nation we simply do not know what these people believe and practice.

The Indian papers are editorializing about Pakistan’s trend toward neutralism. It is a trend into which they have been pushed. They want Islamic culture and we do not face it. They want certain kinds of foreign aid, and we want to give certain kinds of aid and we have not sat down and talked everything over as it should. As in UAR I have found tremendous anti-Russian and anti-Chinese sentiments, perhaps more so here. But it is based on different premises, premises which we as a Nation should face. We are the strange country with a fundamental declaration of Independence which we do not always appreciate. It was all right for our Forefathers to talk about God, but we are so afraid of stepping on other people’s toes. We keep silent.

The affects of the AFME to have Christians and Muslims sit down together is very much appreciated—abroad. Today a tremendous member of Nations are either Catholic or Muslim—something our press and public does not seem to realize. It is not only to stem communism (and with it mass-starvation and barbarism) but the progressive development of mankind which is in the offing.

I have had nothing but delightful interviews here; with the police; with the Ministry of Food & Agriculture (Mr. Cheema); with our Embassy; with both orthodox and heterodox Muslims and with citizens. There is a plan on foot to have me speak at Karachi University when I return. But I have so many plans for Lahore. I was told your office in Pakistan is there so I shall see them and keep them informed.

My itinerary is very complicated socially but not geographically (in India it will be the opposite). I expect to go even into Afghanistan, inshallah. But I am of those who would rather do then just talk.

The Tomato seeds from Ohio State have been given to Mr. Cheema but my main horticultural work will be in the North. I am stopping at Multan first to visit a Christian mission and may do a little work there.

I understand my arrival has been excellently timed, for especially around Lahore these two things are coming up:

1. A Campaign to speed up the agricultural universities and the research therein.

2. A world gathering of lay Muslims.

I hope to keep you informed.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Multan, Pakistan,

March 12, 1961

My dear Magana:

It is now several days since I made any diary entry and many things have happened. I had to meditate very carefully before deciding to whom I should address the top sheet and I think that during or after you have concluded the reading, you will possibly agree that you are the most fitting person to receive the totality of the news which covers many subjects. And to avoid suspense, if this were to have a title it would be: “Dante in the House of Beatrice.”

I did not enter Pakistan as a V.I.P. as was true in UAR. And this produced some complications because I found it necessary to report to police and make my forms over again. For there is a mighty majesty in karma which can, under certain circumstances impel or propel us ahead.

I immediately went to the U.S. Embassy and before a few moments were over found another of those deep heart friendship with Dr. Farooq, attaché to the Agricultural Section. In fact the next day I spoke before a class of his, a junior college where boys are trained to become agricultural inspectors.

My visits at the Embassy were long and complicated. The USIA people simply do not understand the Orient. They are trying to present American culture to other peoples without the slightest effort to understand or sympathize with those people. It is enough to try to bring America to them, it is more than too much to impose even in the most indirect manner, your religion. And today it is much worse because Christianity has lost its soul, and Islam has not.

This last statement should not be taken with finality. In my last days in the UAR I learned that a large number of Gnostic texts have been uncovered. By the time the next generation comes around we shall be examining much more than the Gospel of Thomas. The “truth” that Jesus taught or represented or was is not a different truth from the one you hold.

On ship board I made friends with the Asians and some British observed his and praised me. I do not always understand how this is. When I came into Port Said my taxi driver was the Sufi teacher there and when I went ashore at Aden and went into a shop: the owner was the Sufi teacher there. Pleased don’t ask me how these things happen….they happen.

The next day after seeing Dr. Farooq I called on Mr. M.A. Cheema. He had been my contact before and it was after conversations with him that I have traveled and traveled and spent and spent. Now he is Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture. It took a relatively short time to lay out a program for me which is not being followed at the moment, but no matter. It is there and I most follow it at Lahore and at Lyallpur which I have never visited. The timing has been perfect.

My friend Abdul Rahman, late of Mission St. met me at Karachi and took me to a Mosque. I met a Sufi there. We went to his friend’s house and I found he was another Sufi. I was shown a picture which reminds me of one depicted in the occult work, “Brother of the Third Degree” or something of the kind. Only this is an actual picture and as the father explained that picture to me, he was also explaining me. I told his seem that just before I left. I said: “Not one moment here was wasted. Your father thought he was explaining a picture to me; actually he was reading out of the “akasha records” my duties.” So I left Karachi.

I had originally planned to stop at Multan and visit Dr. Girardeau who operates a mission hospital here. But in the meanwhile “Beatrice” had moved here and she and her husband, Bill, kept on writing constantly to come here and here I am. Beatrice’s actual name has the some meaning, but is in another language. I have written tremendous poetry for her and even about her. But now comes the most fictional-like facts that makes one wonder.

Beatrice has lived most of her life in India. She is the only non-Indian who has been trained in all sorts of Indian dancing. She is a friend of Asoka whom she says is now is Hollywood. I shall come back to her in the course of this record. She married Bill who is an American and who works for the engineers here. I had never met Bill and don’t know what she told him—but he is the spiritual one. He believes in Yoga and occultism. Our views on politics, international affairs and esoteric matters are so closely akin there are at times when it is like looking at a soul-mirror-image. He has also lived much in India. I have not his story yet, but he is certainly another one of us re-incarnates from India is Western bodies, for whatsoever purposes the Wisdom of the Universe wishes. So it is with him and to him I have been drawn. This has produced some strange complications. For these complications are nothing like triangles but follow almost weird patterns.

Yesterday Beatrice and I visited the tombs of saints here. I visited six before. Yesterday I visited four, three of them repeats, the other different, the last being the most “occult.” Beatrice who was with mo and is a skeptic received an earful. Bill who was not with me accepted everything. It extremely different for me to write and yet I have to keep my diary. It is a containing difficult for me to write and yet I have to keep my diary. It is a continuing fulfillment of my friend Paul Reps, who writes Zen material (the real thing). “Sam, you have to go to Asia to teach the Buddhists dharma, the Hindus their religion and Sufism to the Muslims. Now no respecting “Orientalist” will accept such stuff and my lectures in your rooms were full of “egotisms” and “egoisms.”

I met Claude Dahlenberg in Cairo. Literally ran into him in the streets of Cairo. His address is 2273 California St. I don’t know when he will return. He was once the fair-haired boy of Alan Watts. No more. He has been and he has seen. We did not have to talk. He went with me into strange allays in Cairo and saw the people tumble out of shops and bazaars to great me and I greeted them. This was impossible but I have an eyewitness from S.F.

In Karachi the legend also grew and one elderly lady had me go through a Sufi ritual to which I added another—which could only please her more. Well, Beatrice does not believe in such things but here was I at the tombs of saints, giving instructions in Oriental Wisdom to Sufis. It is fantastic, it is impossible, but there was another living witness. And they want me back, everywhere they want me back.

But before I stick too much to “me” I must tell you about Beatrice. She wanted to come to U.S. and continue with her career as a dancer. I was trying to help. Now she has given this up. It does not matter perhaps because she has a husband and is both a professional photographer and painter and her work in either of these two professions is proficient enough for her to make a success in the U.S. I did not mind her giving up her profession—that is a private matter. But she got rid of many of her costumes and that whacked me and is the main reason for my writing to you now, darlings. I don’t want her to give up many of her costumes from this point on.

So I got you into the picture. I told her that what she did with herself was a personal matter, but what she did with her costumes was a public matter. I have begged her not to give up any more costumes of any kind—either to hold them until she ultimately reaches the U.S. or to let me sent them to you under any circumstances, conditions or what not. I don’t have your permission. Queen Nefertiti, but this is one of these cases where the Queen of Hearts will shout, “off with his head” if the subject has not the perspicacity and perspicuity and pertinacity and persiflage, then it ought to come off.

This is, of course, only the beginning but I also told them a little of the story of Ruth Prager who would also want her “ins” so dahlings, I must keep on trying.

Lahore, March 18, 1961

My dear Florie:

I am on the train in the station here ready to go to Rawalpindi. I have no idea as to whether you have sent me any mail as I shall not pick it up until I reach Abbottabad later in the week. But so many, many things have happened that I must record them. And in doing this I shall undoubtedly be omitting many things even many important things. But it must be made clear to you and everybody else that I am no longer the person that left home and the prowess and also power within me has been given full scope. This scope has increased for the numbers of my friends, allies and associates is increasing and at a rapid rate.

I arrived in Karachi on 3^rd March. Shortly after that Abdul Rahman met me and took me to a Mosque. There I met the missionary Ibrahim who has been at the Center in San Francisco. Instead of listening to my story he regarded me as an individual and as a possible missionary. And he did not fulfill his appointments. This caused me loss of time for I met a missionary from Ceylon, another one. I have met two in Cairo. They are much better adapted to influence the Western mind; they all dress clean and seem to have high moral outlooks, etc. In other words everything one wants to expect—in others.

My hosts, who were friends of Abdul Rahman, were also Sufis and when I return to Karachi ultimately will help me out. I have most pleasant visits with the Political and Consulate officials but not with the USIA. There is an underground ill-feeling between Christians and Muslims owing to the high degree of conversions to Christianity. In this I find that the missionaries today are highly educated and moral and transfer some of their virtues. The old mullahs simply have not these virtues. But it is not the part of any Federal government official to side in this conflict. The funniest thing is that although the chief of the Cultural Center in Karachi leans toward the Christians, the Chief at Lahore leans the other way. There are psychiatric elements for the Chief in Karachi is a woman who acts like a frustrated female, just the type that goes in for missionary work. But I know “frustrated” women who have plenty of heart and they are successful. On the other hand in Lahore I have been asked by the cultural staff of USIA to give them talks on Sufism and Islamic philosophy. This is a great diplomatic and personal victory. On top of that the Political Attaché gave me the name of a State Department official who is specializing in these studies and I have written to him.

This auspicious beginning has been followed at a great rate. I stopped with some Americans at Multan. They acted like Americans and not like a foreign colony. This made me feel very much at home. I revisited certain shrines and also one I had not seen before. I met the Wali of the Dirgah Shams-i-Tabriz and astounded him and his associates by going deeply into tas­awwuf right off-hand. Before I left we had our pictures taken together which made him feel very happy.

Lahore has been the scene of my happiest moments and if it did not contain the happiest moments at least at no time in my life have so many missions been accomplished in such a short time, alhamdu lillah. In UAR I entered as a VIP. This was not done here and this assumed modesty has made it necessary for me to re-fill a number of forms and required additional visits to police stations and consular offices. In turn this has helped me through conversations, etc.

The biggest thing actually accomplished in Karachi was my meeting Dr. Farooq of the American Agricultural Section. He fell in with all my ideas immediately and the next day I spoke at a Junior College where they are training young men to become agricultural advisors. Dr. Farooq happens to be a close friend of M. A. Cheema who was my contact on my previous visit. I found that Dr. Cheema is now Secretary-General of the Ministry of Food & Agriculture and a most important man. I gave him my reports which were exactly what he wanted and he laid out my general program within a few moments, comparatively speaking, and this is being followed up, alhamdu lillah. (We are on our way so I am stopping to observe the scenery.)

After visiting the consulate I went to Habib Bank to straighten out my finances. It was fortunate for I ran into complexities. On the worst side my hotel bill was higher than I had expected and there was a triple bank holiday. On the other side I found I had much more money than I had expected for there was an accretion of several years’ interest, etc. Then I called at the Punjabi University, wow!

First I met Prof. A.A. Siddiqui, head of the department of Islamic Studies. He introduced me to his staff and we had a wonderful but short visit. He invited me to a special meeting which took place last night and of which more anon.

Then I went to the Department of Fine Arts with which I have been corresponding. I brought them two books and picture post-cards. Next day I gave the Museum across the street one picture each of Mecca and Medina. I told them of my purchases in UAR and will be writing that country to find out about shipments, which seem to have been delayed in transit. But they were consigned to the University, not to me, and should thus be permitted to go through customs.

The new head of the Fine Arts Department is just the sort of woman I might liked to have fallen in love with. She was born a Jewess, in England. She left the synagogue because it was too narrow and became a Christian and left that religion for the same reason. She has married a Muslim and has risen socially and intellectually. Besides this her views on modern art and art in general are about the same as my own. They gave me half a dozen booklets and I found this quickly by reading. At the present moment there is a very vigorous art movement or even groups of movements going in on Pakistan.

I then went to the Botany Department but the interview was technical. I did give them also a couple of booklets, but I held my other things in reserve, which proved to be a wise decision.

I then went to the Tourist Bureau and before I got out they wanted a long article on Tourism which went to one Mohammed Idrees. I typed the article that night and he had my picture taken the next day for the Pakistan Times. I then had to write a short biographical sketch which was done last night and mailed, also for publication.

I next went to Civil & Military Gazette, Kipling’s old paper and was given a hearty welcome by Mr. Makhzan, my previous host here. He introduced me to the editor, and as soon as I reach Abbottabad I shall start a series of articles on Pakistan and my reasons for re-visiting it, etc., etc. This is going to keep me very busy. Then I learned that Mr. Marghrab Siddiqui who originally invited me to Lahore was back and head of the department of Journalism at the Punjabi University. I visited him next day. He was a friend of my friend Surindar Suri, and he also visited the Islamic Center and A.A.A.S. on Broadway where I first met him by appointment. We had a long and cordial visit but on account of my commitments mentioned above, I shall not do much with him until I re-visit the campus whenever that is.

If you think by this time I have had enough and I did have enough, that was not God’s will. I went to the Faletti’s Hotel where I had stayed before and there the clairvoyant Munshi Bashir Ahmed was waiting, saying he knew I was coming, and indeed he stepped out from his desk and saluted me from a distance. The metaphysical materialists who don’t accept such things have much to learn. We made an appointment the next afternoon and he gave me a long reading. In this he certainly surmised some of my deeper intuitions and experiences which are known to nobody. He has predicted an excellent year for me in 1962. We shall see. I did not find my other associates there but met the brother of one. There was no time for further grubbing around.

Multan,

March 12, 1961

My dear Professor Cutright:

I have been in Pakistan some nine days now and I hope you do not mind some reports. I have disposed of the rest of the Tomato Seeds given me but shall not ask for more until I know definitely the best place to send them.

Sometimes a life story unfolds like a piece or pieces of fiction. My visit to the UAR resulted in series of rather favorable reactions. One of my last ventures was to boldly request a position in the National Research Centre to instruct the librarians in how to utilize the vast collection of materials they have in practical research. The experimental scientists and their staffs do not know how to utilize literatures. The collections tend to be vast because in part, due to cold war rivalries more and more books are contributed, if not purchased by the UAR government.

I have to use here cold-war-rivalries. We think off-hand of the competition between the U.S. and Russia. But there are also competitions between India and Pakistan, between the Arabs and Israelis, etc., etc. all of which stimulate both research and book-writing and this has been of benefit to the document section of the Research Center.

Multan is known as the city of flies. When I was here before the Chief Engineer begged me to do something to help eradicate the fly-nuisance here. I spent some time with DuPont people who told me they had agents in Pakistan. I asked them if we had to wait until the Russians had a fly-swatter or spray before we would rid this region of flies. In an earlier age we did wonderful work in Panama, the Philippines and Cuba in eradicating insect menaces. No politics were involved.

On shipboard a Pathan became particularly friendly with me. He learned that I shall have to come to Peshawar some time and we agreed. Then I asked him his profession. He is the manager of a D.D.T. factory! But I have learned that today some work is being done with spraying and the army engineers are also active in the region. In any event when I do get to Peshawar I expect to visit the place and send in a detailed report.

I also learned that there is a large fertilizer factory some eight or nine miles from Multan. I shall be interested in visiting the place. There are several severe problems here, chiefly of which is the high salinity cum the high water-table. There is not the rainfall even of the Alexandria region. The soil is either very, very friable or clay-eye. This city is noted for shrines and today I found that the hill-tops where these shrines are located have been landscaped. The hill-tops, of course, are above the water table and there is no saline problem then.

Dr. Farooq is the Assistant to the Agricultural Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Karachi. The Attaché was in Washington at the moment of my visit. I laid out my plans there and they were well received. The next day Dr. Farooq took me to a Junior College which trains young men to become Agricultural Inspectors. To me this is a worthy step. We either have high-grade Point IV advisors or specialists—and peasants. Generals, colonels and privates, so to speak. Now we are training sergeants who will act as intermediaries. I gave a short talk there on my second day in Karachi.

M. A. Cheema was my contact on the former visit to Pakistan. He is now Secretary-General of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture. He is also a close friend and associate of Dr. Farooq, aforementioned.

My visit with Mr. Cheema was short and to the point. I gave him the packet of Tomato seeds with the exception of a few to Farooq. He told me that my best work would be at Lahore—where I have been, and Lyallpur, where I have not. The chief instructor in Horticulture for all Pakistan, who was formerly stationed at Karachi and whom I know slightly, is going to Lyallpur. His name is Dr. Siddiqui but the country is full of men with that name. Lahore is my next stop, and then I wish to go to Abbottabad to get rid of my clothing, etc. to travel light.

I have still my suit-case with so many bulletins.

Lyallpur is being thoroughly re-organized. There the Salt-soil problem will be faced. I have not yet heard about the visit of Dr. Fireman of Riverside. I have six or more important contacts at Lahore without mentioning others not so important. After Abbottabad I am supposed to go to Mardan where the largest successful farmer using modern means has been expecting me. But I have learned that Judge Rabbani is also awaiting me. He has the largest successful farm using traditional methods—old hand labor of peasants rather than modern equipment.

Judge Rabbani is also one of the leaders in re-forestation. And there is now a project going on at Quetta in Baluchistan The soil here is friable and dusty so it can take seeds. So the desert problems will be quite different from those of UAR, but offhand I should say the salt problem will be worse.

There is no knowledge here of American accomplishments in UAR but I may equally say that there is no knowledge of American accomplishments here. The really great things are never advertised ands go on as if almost secret.

West Pakistan is largely the Indus Valley. The Punjab—literally “Five Rivers” means mostly branches of the Indus. The Kabul River is on the other side and I hope to visit that valley, going up the Khyber Pass to Kabul itself on this journey. I am told that that region resembles California in many of its aspects. This includes Abbottabad where I shall “live” and have been before.

The garden flowers in general that I have seen are those of California but in Karachi I saw the largest Petunias yet and also the largest Lantana grown as a big shrub. But this is a country where Buxis is a tree, not a shrub. I have not the secret of that—yet.

So far I have just touched the soil and crop problem and wish to unload my literature on these things first. Then I shall go into pests, etc. Outside of flies this immediate region is rather free at the moment but I think this is due in part to the regular DDT spraying. “American” grasses are used on the lawns, and not the ubiquitous C. dactylon.

This is sheep and goat country. Milk, etc. come from both the buffalo and cow but in this household they get their dairy products which are air-borne from the States.

Food processing is even more important here and no doubt I shall be collecting notes which may interest your colleagues in Columbus.

I do not know when I shall be writing again. The possibilities of extending horticultural exchange whether of persons or knowledge are endless. I met a group of farm boys in Karachi en route back to the U.S. It seems that the Kansan Universities made the exchanges here. Of course I may meet some of your own students on the Indian side, but that is far off, in time.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Multan,

March 16, 1961

My dear Harry:

I cannot escape it. It is inevitable. I follow the old E. Phillips Oppenheim dictum “Fools for Luck.” The difference is that there were two of them in the stories, who stumbled into adventure and intrigue and often as not in Asia, and there is only one of me. I could not get accommodations when I arrived at Lahore and I was shunted to the Imperial Hotel, which is an old group of buildings made into a new hotel. They may be charging me a lot or a little but for the moment it does not matter. For I wander around alleys—they are not dark in this section of the city—and the first thing I see is a building: “Agricultural Department” so I nosey in and send my card and in about two minutes I meet Mohammed Ali Bokhary.

I tell him about my missions and that is what he is interested in. I tell him about deserts and desert reclamation and that is what he is interested in. I tell him about salt-water from the ocean and that is what he is interested in. I tell him about reclamation of saline soils and that is what he is interested in. I even tell him my private ventures and that is what he is interested in. Why go on? The net result is that I may plan to come to this hotel again and show him my “etchings” or rather all the bulletins I have which you so kindly help me collect, and for which everybody gives me the benefit (scrounge), and also others which I had from the University of California, etc.

I have not heard about Dr. Fireman being here nor have I run into Mr. Sparhr, the forester, who was my host in East Pakistan and who is supposed to be ranging around this neck of the woods (synthetic).

At the moment Lahore is very beautiful and I am not far from the Zoological Gardens where I met or rather was contacted by A. A. Shah on my previous visit. The whole city is in flower. But what do you get? Daffodils? Pansies? Violets? Jonquils? Well you find Dahlias in full bloom and Hollyhocks seeking salvation in Heaven and Cosmos all over the place. This is Springtime, n’est-ce pas? You also do see Pansies but no lilaceous or orchidaceous plants. The Roses are here but not in profusion. There are Gaillardias and Marguerites and Coreopsis and Sweet William. The most profuse flower is of the same order in structure, but looks like a Bougainvillea in color; I don’t know its name. There are several flowers which I cannot name.

The most abundant trees are Ficus sp. but I have reported on them before. I did visit the Botany Department at the Punjabi University. The junior classes take Botany as part of general science but the upper division and graduates are engaged in research and to prepare to be teachers. The research is not divided into subjects like Plant Physiology, Plant Nutrition, Cytology, etc., but the students are given projects which cut across the more or less artificial lines of the sub-sciences and do their work accordingly. Evidently the higher degrees depend upon specialized research which may be elected or assigned but which should have practical value. There is still much to be done both on the actual plants of Pakistan and the plants that may be grown here.

The conversations here show much ignorance as to “tolerance” and the tendency has been to wish to change the soil rather than to seek plants which will grow.

Multan is dusty. The desert which is beyond is totally different from that of UAR but which resembles in many respects some in Baja California. The tombs which I re-visited have all been landscaped and are in pretty fair condition considering that this is one of the “dry” seasons.

Lahore is very different, certainly just now.

Generally speaking, my welcome to Lahore has been astonishing. It was before; it is even more so now. I had arranged to take out a Habib Bank Account. What did I find in returning to California? That this bank is the correspondent for the Bank of America and this has facilitated my operations and made it possible to get Rupees easily.

The Punjabi University gave me a wonderful welcome in all departments. Then I found the original “villain,” one Marghab Siddiqui whom I had met in San Francisco was here. We always avoided each other after swearing eternal felicity and friendship. But we met again at last though he has been jumping back and forth in the opposite direction. He had introduced me to the Civil & Military Gazette which was Kipling’s old paper and which gave me a multitude of welcome before. Now they are sending in the bill—please write articles. The opposition paper heard that and asked me to write my biography, autobiography, and everything else but I had pledged my scientific articles to the Civil & Military Gazette because I believe that East and West can meet. This is possible in our football games, of course. In Multan American aid is very active until 4 P.M., building, feeding, instructing, helping—and after 4 P.M. all the Americans go down and teach the Pakistanis a game called baseball. In Lahore they must be different Americans for I have seen many a baseball field and hardly a cricket field, but baskets all over the place. Only it is Ramadan and as you are not supposed to drink during the day time at the moment they are not in use. But I never have seen so many basket-ball courts.

Tomorrow and the next day are the biggest feast days of the year. Trust me to get in on them. I used to know a song with a refrain: “If our legs will hold out we’ll stay” but with me it is mostly, “If my stomach will hold out I’ll stay.” Anyhow I have arranged sundry lectures on everything from Islamic Philosophy to research in Genetics and how to get around in modern Cairo and I have so many people in the American Consulate wishing to hear me that I have arranged for private talks.

So far I have met only one lady. I hope she is still married. She is head of the Fine Arts Department, wealthy and mature in age, of Jewish birth and now a Muslim. I don’t know if this means anything but I am a confirmed bachelor to which applies the saying: “A woman is as old as she looks, a man is old when he stops looking” and I have not stopped. Besides my friend the fortune teller was here, waiting for me and he told me I was going to live a long, long time yet, so might as well be resigned to it. Which I am. For if for me life began at 40 it got bigger at 60 and is still growing.

I am waiting for a phone call from the American Friends of the Middle East, and after two attempts on the phone gave it up—everybody wants to see me, so I am afraid to try any more. Every day and in every way I have bigger and better interviews. And I have so many assigned articles and had to fill out forms because I became modest and did not enter as a VIP as I did in UAR so had to make my forms all over again both for the police and Americans. It does not pay to be modest. I guess that is enough bragging for now.

Cordially,

Lahore,

March 16, 1961

Pakistan House

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear Friends:

In writing my diary at this time I have concluded that you are the most appropriate people to send it to. This communiqué does not require any reply so it does not matter when Consul General Sattar is in or not. It is certain, to me, that so many things have happened of personal interest, if not of importance, that I wish to record them.

One does not have to accept the statements of clairvoyant Munshi Bashir Ahmed. He was waiting at Faletti’s? and said he knew I was coming. He certainly had nothing to do and called my name out from a distance. Later he told my future, using two or three of his several methods. He is positive that I shall live long, gain fame or influence or both and in general succeed in life. He bade me take things very serious and I am doing just that whether his predictions turn out correct or not.

I remained at Multan longer than expected and before that my Karachi finale was very concentrated, so I have had to write to both Minto and Abdul Rahman being very unsure of my arrival in their respective cities. I entered UAR as a VIP and that necessitated certain forms to fill out. I did not enter Pakistan as such as this required my making secondary applications, etc. I think I told you that Secretary-General Cheema of the Food and Agricultural Ministry has outlined my trip. I did not see Ibrahim the missionary again, but the Siddiqui family, to whom Abdul Rahman introduced me, is interested in Sufism. I also learned from our political attaché in Karachi that there is one research scholar in Washington with the same interest.

My hosts in Multan are an American Engineer with a British wife. Although she was raised in India, living mostly in Kashmir and Bangalore, she retains a non-Oriental psychology, but Bill Bailey served on the Burma Road, lived long in India and now in Pakistan and is a “believer.” Mrs. Bailey accompanied me in my revisit to the tombs and she listened while I gave a lecture on Sufism to a Wali and his students. “Coals to Newcastle” sometimes has astonishing results. I also had my picture taken with him at the Shams-i-Tabriz shrine and when I receive it at Abbottabad will probably send you copies.

The Americans are doing a grand work with their drainage and housing constructions. This is not being advertised. But it is most surprising to find a changed Multan. Besides, with my companion on shipboard being the manager of a DDT factory, the fly problem is being brought under control. And the dust had not yet risen. I am anxious to bring in one or more vacuum cleaners either on my next visit or beforehand. These will go only to missionary hospitals and mosques.

My former visit to Lahore was like a compilation from the works of Marion Crawford, Rudyard Kipling and Talbot Mundy. Many of their characters are real and events were fictionalized into stories. I had the happiest hours of my whole life here before and the same is happening all over again, but this time it is somewhat objective.

American Officials. There has been little difference between the reactions of the Americans and Pakistanis working at the Consulate and Informative Services. They all listened to my general program and took my reports most seriously. One of the outcomes is that I shall be giving talks on Islamic philosophy and Sufism to members of the staff when I return next to Lahore, inshallah. They accepted the gist of my reports from UAR on all subjects.

Punjabi University. Islamic Philosophy. I first went to this department and Prof. A. A. Siddiqui was delighted to see me. I had spoken twice with him before. He gave me a tremendous build-up and has made arrangements so I meet his colleagues and other worthies tomorrow when the fast ends. This delays my trip to Rawalpindi and I only hope Minto will be around. But this build-up is very important. Dr. Siddiqui is very much against the phony experts who lecture in California about something they call “Islam” and who are believed and followed. He speaks excellent English and is the sort of man who should be sent for when the Federal Government finances studies in Asiatics.

Department of Fine Arts. I have been writing to them as I purchased some wares in UAR to illustrate more or less recent creations. I have also ordered colored slides. When these arrive I shall be lecturing in this region. The wares go to the Museum across the street. The slides become the property of this department when I leave North Pakistan.

They showed me a little of their present policies. The head of this department is a Mrs. Ahmed who was born a British Jewess. Her “conversions” in both religion and art parallel my own very closely and I think we formed a binding friendship. They have given me a number of books which I may keep or send to the Rudolph Schaeffer School.

Mr. Schaeffer is a life-long friend of mine but has been influenced to receive very warped impressions of the art of the India-Pakistan sub-continent. His so-called informants have skipped the whole Moghul influences and much of the other Islamic influences also. Someday, no doubt, they will let me speak on what preceded Taj and how it came to be built. But one cannot spend one’s time lecturing on art and clearing rubbish and that is what so often has to be done now.

The class work and the exhibitions show a remarkable freedom of spirit. There are traditions but they are not necessary from one direction, being Islamic, Indian, British or French—not much Persian here; or else a growing acceptance of many more or less contemporary schools and methods. Few of the artists went through periods of “civilization” but seem to have passed quickly from childish art to the newer methods.

I gave the class a short talk on my views of spirituality in art and found they had all come to the same conclusion.

This morning I gave my reprints, one picture each of Mecca and Medina, to the Art Museum across the street.

Botany Department. This visit was technical and scientific. I left a few books and we agreed that I should hold the major portion of my materials for Lyallpur. However it is probable that I shall give at least one talk there after I have gone to Peshawar. There are “revolutions” in teaching, research and reorganization at both Peshawar and Lyallpur so my visit is well timed.

Department of Journalism. Mr. Marghrab Siddiqui was originally responsible for my coming to Lahore, and he was not here when I arrived before. He has also made another visit to the States so I am sure you have met him. Anyhow he was in the office today and we had a very serious conversation. The follow-up is questionable owing to the reports which immediately follow:

Tourist Bureau, Public Relations Section. This is a new organization. I was given a very warm welcome by Mr. Mohammed Idrees. He asked me to write a paper on Tourism. Alas, it impressed him so that he wants me to write at least one autobiographical sketch. They also took my picture and want to use the materials submitted for articles in the Pakistan Times. You may be seeing my picture or articles before you receive this letter.

Civil & Military Gazette. I was the last person to be given a tea of honor in Kipling’s old work shop. Not only has the office been renovated and modernized but the whole publication has come out of the “red.” It is probably that Ayub’s elevation was at least indirectly responsible. The Pakistan Times had fallen under anti-American influences or worse and in any event was perpetually anti-government with no constructive program. This has been changed now, but the need for readjustment of policies stimulated the Gazette and elevated its prestige to the plane which it deserves.

They have asked me to write to them about my scientific mission here and on other points. Regarding my studies and knowledge of Sufism and Islamic philosophy. I am at the moment in a quandary because both papers have asked me for articles. So I shall be keeping busy when I reach Abbottabad.

This accounts for my not going further with Marghrab Siddiqui.

Agricultural Department. I could not get rooms at Faletti’s and they sent me to the Imperial Hotel, a new establishment on Jail Road near Cusons. While out walking this morning I came upon the offices of the Punjab Section of the Agricultural Department and met Mahmood Ali Bokhary. It seems that the missions I have gone on at Mr. Cheema’s suggestion are all well within his scope and interest. I agreed to show him everything before I go to Lyallpur.

The Lyallpur University, I understand, will not open its session until April 3^rd, which will give me ample time, if necessary, to come to Lahore from ‘pindi before proceeding to that city and thus show everything I have to Mr. Bokhary.

Tourism. I have written a long article on tourism and have had interviews with both Mr. Idrees and the Globe Travel Agency with whom I have had dealings before. I understand that the network of bus lines has been increased. These lines as well as rail and air have both been quite efficient. My main proposal has been to have an international airport either at Lahore or Islamabad; and, if the one at Karachi is retained, to arrange tours to Thatta and Mahenjo Daro for Karachi has little to offer. Its hotels are fine but the best amusement are the movies.

On the other hand this city has so much—not only Shalimar and Badakshi Mosque but modern gardens of all kinds and bazaars. I had long talks on bazaar and shoe trade and perhaps may take this up with the Department of Small Industries when I return to Karachi. Or with the counterparts in the Central Government should I remain any length of time with Minto at ‘pindi.

I did visit the Mian Mir tomb last evening, but have had no time to go to the old city, etc. Tomorrow morning I had planned to visit either Mosques or Anjumans or Jamias, but expect a telephone call from the American Friends of the Middle East. Surprisingly while in Cairo they keep much longer hours than the Central Government, here they keep many less.

I am at the moment a little disturbed over possible duplication between them and Asia Foundation who, for the most part, have been working in quite different areas.

Lahore at the moment is most beautiful. What is surprising is to find many of our autumn flowers—Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Cosmos in bloom and not the spring varieties. The parks and grounds and even waste places are aglow at the moment. I am fortunately following spring into the various areas I shall be visiting.

Prospectus. Abdul Rahman has gone ahead with part of my luggage, including gift perfume oils I am bringing to his nephew. One adds alcohol or something else to create marketable perfumes.

I have received invitations to visit the farms of both Judge Rabbani and Jamshyd Khan. I have some information for the former whose farm I have already visited. Jamshyd Khan says he is going to visit the States so you may see him at any time. But I am going to remain in West Pakistan for several months at least, inshallah. I have been told that his brother will welcome me and Abdul Rahman at any time.

I am also scheduled to go to Swat and this intrigues me on account of the Buddhist art remains in that section.

Whenever I do go to Mardan I shall follow this with a visit to Peshawar, perhaps arranged for lectures and then go through the pass to Kabul. I do not wish to remain in Afghanistan but I do wish to see the American Agricultural Attaché there. I also wish to relocate Mr. Spahr, our forestry expert, who may be roaming in either the Peshawar or Quetta areas. There are now large reforestation projects going on in those regions.

The sea voyage from UAR was very healthful and I have remained quite well since. I am delightfully amazed at the number of friends I have here and the bright hopes for several of my many missions. As Abdul Rahman gets airsick I may not fly to East Pak. but wait until my work is pretty well accomplished here. I have not yet been able to meet the missionaries of various sorts—Sunni, Ahmadiyya and Christian whom I have already met. I also have various pen-pals in this region but will write to them from Abbottabad.

I cannot promise detailed or even short reports later on but, of course, I do keep my diaries and hope to arranged lectures for the American Friends of the Middle East. And as soon as I get to Abbottabad will report to the South Asian Studies Dept. at the University of California and perhaps to the World Affairs Council.

As-salaam aleikhum,

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Chisti

March 23, 1961

American Friends of the Middle East,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Admiral Evenson and Friends,

This is really my diary entry for the period and I am sending a copy to your colleagues in Lahore. I missed them. In UAR where the government offices are open only till one or two, your offices are opened in the afternoon; and here, where governmental offices are open in the afternoon, the AFME offices closed at two. I telephoned the director but he was away and did not call back.
In order to connect all points together I shall begin with Cairo. I had warned again and again that one could expect the USIA library to be attacked, that we did not have two-way cultural exchange. We try to impress others with our knowledge and achievements and we do not equally grant these others to impress us. I became tired running back and forth between Egyptian and American society with stories which simply did not fit. The political attachés have been most helpful and perceptive, but the cultural attaché not so. They are either self-satisfied, or in Karachi, pre-Christian and any attitude other than strictly pro-American is dangerous.

I pointed out that the American position was untenable because we down-graded American graduates in Oriental subjects. We did not in mathematics, science, literature, but in Oriental subjects “we” honored degrees from brand name European universities, not one of which is accepted in continental Asia. It is utterly ridiculous and we not only do not give “Mahmud Effendi” a job teaching Near East culture, we don’t give John James, Colorado or Minnesota either. The Arabs can’t get jobs, the Americans cannot get jobs, the Europeans get jobs without even submitting to tests and even “phony” credentials are accepted without examination “for fear of offending the Asians.”

I won my point but too late to prevent the mob-action.

I relate this because when I visited your library, or any library in Karachi I almost fell over. Here was a library full of authentic books, with every American authority on Asia listed. These things don’t exist elsewhere. They don’t exist in many of our schools or departments for Near East studies in the U.S. (some very important notable exceptions) and they certainly didn’t exist in the otherwise fine library in Cairo. The library had an excellent selection and assortment of books but the Near East section was not only small, it contained some very questionable books. The AFME library in Karachi, ought, in my judgment, become the model for all libraries on the near East and Islamics.

Even you, if you have not already, should have Dr. Kingsley Davis come from Berkeley and give a talk. He is one of many, many Americans actually admired in actual Asia. Now we are going to have a real American honored by Orientals as Ambassador to Japan instead of a “brand-name.” It is time to get rid of brand-names and ask the Asian-Asians what Americans they admire and why. Dr. Kingsley Davis is just one and I found books of all the others on the shelves, too. And what is called “Islamic Philosophy” there is Islamic Philosophy. And what is called Asian culture or Islamic Religion or Pakistani culture, etc. etc., is just that. The library avoids the two evils of not having enough books, or of having the shelves filled with over-advertised works by Europeans which do not explain the Near East at all. Alhamdu Lillah, I am very satisfied, perhaps in some sense, for the first time in my life.

I had a very cordial visit there but they urged me to see the staff at Lahore.

I stopped at Multan as guest of the American Army Engineers and saw what they were doing. I also visited the Mission Hospital and will try to get money to purchase a vacuum cleaner for them, but this has to be done in a certain way. I also “carried souls to Newcastle.”

I gave a deep talk on Sufism to a Wali and his associates at the Dirgah Shams-i-Tabriz. They were amazed and a few days later I had my picture taken with the Wali. This would never have been permitted in the S.F. Bay region where all talks on Sufism are bottled by European professors who know nothing about it even when they are engaged in translating books.

For within 24 hours I was a guest of Dr. A. A. Siddiqui at Punjabi University, before whose groups I spoke before and he has not only invited me to a big celebration but wants me to talk on the relation between Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science (Physics, Botany, Psychology). He incidentally has no use for any of these European Professors in the S.F. Bay Area. Another man who has no use either because he has clashed with then is Abdurrahman Barker, Urdu teacher and graduate from the University of California.

I also met the heads of the Botany, Fine Arts and Journalism Department. You may know the latter, Marghrab Siddiqui, who has been in California on several occasions and first invited me to visit Lahore when he was away.

I have sent for slides from UAR on Islamic Art and Modern Cairo and as soon as they arrive had intended to speak at Lahore, but they were sent to Abbottabad. This means I may be taking them around with me.

I am also writing for the Tourist Bureau, Pakistan Times and Civil & Military Gazettes; and today received a request for both for two New York Publishers. Only the San Rafael Journal Independent has taken me seriously before. I else gave the Fine Arts Department two books on Islamic Art in UAR and the Museum two pictures, one of Mecca and Medina respectively.

I could not see all my friends and having completed my financial arrangements (Habib Bank) and signing papers at the American consulate went on. But there they also want me to speak on Sufism which will do.

I stayed a few days in Rawalpindi with one Ahmad Bashir Minto who used to be in S.F. and gave a talk “Islam in the U.S. and UAR” But since reaching Abbottabad I have been told that my friend, Nasar Ansari is now Regional Director of radio Pakistan at “pindi.” This means I shall have every chance at introductions and speaking.

As Karachi I saw Mr. A.M. Cheema again. I have been working for years on what he wanted and he directed my footsteps north. I saw the Deputy of Agriculture at Lahore and when he found I have materials on saline and desert soils he asked to see them before I go to Lyallpur. I also have some papers from the UAR on scientific research but the others I have given to Mr. Cheema when he wanted then. Dr. Farooq of the American Embassy in Karachi has been most helpful.

I expect to stay in this region for a while writing and arranging programs and itineraries. I must visit Monserah which is north if here to see Rabbani Khan again. He is the most successful landowner in this region using traditional methods. But he has already been in the board of Directors of the World Congress of Faiths. I hope to introduce this into San Francisco so that real explanations can be given of living of religions by people who know them, and not imaginary descriptions, defenses or criticisms of beliefs of centuries back which having nothing to do with the world of today.

After that I must contact other landowners for appointments and then make my visit to Lyallpur. This would necessitate going to “pindi” and Lahore. I am learning a good deal about local travel and the Tourist Bureau has already accepted my first paper on tourism. But I must write again because there is a movement to make concessions to tourists and I can assure you that the hotel charges are much higher than what is written in the folios.

I have one slight fear which may be imaginary. When I visited Asia before the work of Asia Foundation and the AFME did not overlap. Now they are both in Lahore. Perhaps their fields of endeavor are separate. I can report with excellent authority that in S.E. Asia there is competition between American societies organized to promote between relations with the Orient and the upshot is that people react just as they did to rival Christian missions. And in Lahore there is a strong reaction to rival Christian missions which seem more keen on rivalry than on Christianity.

Recently Indonesia has expelled a number of American organizations on the ground that they were a not operating in good faith. I do not agree in certain instances for I feel that certain ones were operating in good faith but I am just as certain that others were not working in good faith. But the reaction was against many or all American groups. I don’t think this included the YMCA, and although not a Christian, I have seen these people do a very fine job everywhere, very sincere, educated, of high moral character.

There are now a number of campaigns going on for scientific research and Islamic culture. I am not so far in scientific research as in the literature thereof. And here as in UAR they do not seem to know how to avail themselves of the literature. But a least I have done enough research and have backgrounds in logics and logistics so I hold my own.

Besides the Punjab I shall have to go into the Northwest Territory, to Peshawar, Mardan and other places and inshallah, into Afghanistan. I have contacts at Kabul but that may wait. I have also been invited to Swat and being interested in Buddhist Art am rather keen about that too.

My immediate host is Abdul Rahman who has long been an American citizen and lived in S.F. He speaks Urdu, Punjabi and Pashto.

Tomorrow is Pakistani Day and I am on the Program. The morning and afternoon will be devoted to parades and sports; the evening to intellectual matters. I have spoken in Abbottabad before and many remember me. This time I shall read from “Saladin” and also perhaps one short Islamic poem. Some of “Saladin” may be translated into Urdu and it is possible that all of it will before I leave the country, Inshallah.

As an ambassador of good-will I am hoping now to get some recognition for I cannot carry on all that is before me. I rushed into a vacuum in the UAR, and here I rushed into opportune times. Mr. Harriman agrees times are right, but I have anticipated him in re: salt-water conversion, saline soils and desert agriculture. I understand Dr. Fireman from Riverside may be coming here but I have not heard anything definite yet.

I have signed many papers which grant me the right of residence for one year but I expect to leave this region in September, Inshallah.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

March 27

The other day a Mr. Qureshi came to my rooms. He is descended from an Arab Family which became custodian of the Moghul Court Jewels. They are supposed to have disappeared. I have seen them. He has been negotiating with a Los Angeles firm and it was agreed that transactions could be handled through the Habib-Bank of America hook up. I have written to Conlon Associates on Clay St, about them. I saw by far the largest and purest Rubies in my life and some very ancient specimens too from this region. It is possible that some business will result though it may take time. The immediate transactions will run up to six figures and he calculates his heirlooms easily run into seven figures. If God wills and I get even a small commission here it may change my financial status. This may be slow but my former trip was helped by a similar deal through the sale of Thai Zircons.

Uncut Stones. Qureshi Sahib also has a lot of uncut stones. This is his own possession, as against the heirlooms. He has told me there are many gems in this region and I hope to see some of the mines. But I have been tipped off too to other possibilities. While this would involve far less money, to me it is much more exciting and interesting.

History. Qureshi has also kept his genealogy and historical records. This involves both his Arabic background and some Moghul history. I have sent a carbon to Prof. Park at Ann Arbor and may shortly be writing to the South Asian studies at Berkeley.

Chisti Sahib. This is the most interesting. This man is a real Sufi. He was being mobbed recently because he denied the efficacy of political payers. I was told he was very poor. I called on him and took one look at his eyes—full of love. He speaks only Urdu and Persian but Qureshi knows both and English so we had a very fine session.

Most of the time he explained Moin-ed-din Chisti and Jelal-ud-din Rumi, both of whom used music in their spiritual training. He went on at some length and I gave the flute chant to show him I understood Rumi. For he said afterward, “Yes, the real flute is in ourselves.”

From the occult point of view the Chisti stories were the most interesting. Khwaja Sahib had many powers and he was able to control the water supply at Ajmir. I told him I had been at the very place and it is mysterious to find a lake high up in the mountains above a desert. I often wondered about it and have talked about it many times.

The essence of Sufism comes in the Auliya, saint or hierarchal development and a master learns to have control ever the elements. This is not nonsense. I am pretty sure that Chisti Sahib has both power and wisdom. He also told part of my future which corroborated in every detail what the Munshi said but added more. Most important is that he feels I should establish myself … still more marvelous is that he came into the room at this point and gave me his blessing! I hope to see him soon and often.

We did a little talking through an interpreter.

Both he and another man here are really “disguised saints” operating as very poor men.

Now I have another visitor and stop and may or may not add more to this letter.

March 24, 1961

My dear Gavin:

I wrote you the enclosed while on shipboard but from the moment of landing, I hardly had any time for myself and then could not always locate a post office. Every town I have been in has a different system.

My welcome in this country is gradually being publicized. I have no concern with persons who are personal and non-objective and snub and refuse interviews. Most of the Laotian complex is the result of the snubbing of my friend Robert Clifton who worked for the King of Laos, came to the U.S. and got nowhere or even less with Dulles. But the newspapers were no better. Pearl Harbor or no Pearl Harbor it is very difficult to get warnings accepted. Fakes yes, particularly by newspaper men but that day is over. The new administration has become human and humane.

Or maybe I am saying this because early little detail of my experiences is now being recorded and cordiality is increasing. The European professors may take a dim view of my knowledge of Asiatics but the Asian professors take even a dimmer view of the Europeans. And I met a professor, a graduate from the University of California, who has had runs-in with the Europeans and Zionists who control the Near East Department of U. C., with Rom Landau and Alan Watts. Well these men have to face it and I am beginning to take this matter up in earnest and I am not kidding.

A number of members of the U.S. Foreign Service want me to teach them Sufism. I gave a lecture on it to a wali in Multan to the dismay and delight of all present. Later I had my picture taken. I have a whole bunch of lectures lined up in Lahore. All my scientific reports have been accepted by all Americans and Pakistanis encountered so far.

I have also entered into complex arrangements with the Department of Fine Arts, Punjabi University. The head of that department, strangely enough, is a Jewess, converted to Islam. Needless to say we understood each other thoroughly. Her esthetical views and mine are also in complete harmony.

I once wrote a letter to you about Munshi Bashir Ahmed. As I entered the Faletti compound he called out at a distance: “Hello Samuel L. Lewis—Ahmed Murad Christi. Welcome, I have been waiting for you.” You had better page some psychologists and humanists to explain that. He read my horoscope, Indian fashion. No great change until next birthday and then … we shall see.

Both the major newspapers want articles and so do some others. Then I got a letter from Bob Stice who has gotten a fine job in N.Y. and wants articles from me to be marketed. Dorothy is working hard but Rick is still not too well. I have written both of them and have the stuff Bob wants—from my experiences. I am informing the American Friends of the Middle East in S.F. I feel just like Alice at the end of the two stories, shaking the chessmen and knocking the cards down. It is raining here and the country looks and feels like Marin. I have not yet met Americans in Abbottabad though there are several here.

I don’t know when I can write you again. I now have friends and contacts all over and my relations are improving in many directions. I am going more and more into a new life.

You may be interested in a lawsuit here. A girl wished to marry a married man. He accepted. Her parents did not. They tried to get her a husband and she refused. The case was brought into court and nulle prosse, or whatever you call it. It is regarded as a private matter. This could not happen in some countries.

March, 28, 1961

How dare you! There is only one side to our questions.

Hallo Leonora:

I am clearing up things. The show goes on tonight, inshallah. I modestly presented myself at the college here and they modestly accepted my request for lectures on all sorts of subjects. I may be gain with the slides I have on Cairo.

I told Evelyn I would write from the Hindu Kush Mountains, only to learn that the background here consists of Western spurs of the Himalayas. What am I to do? I am planning to climb some of the foothills around here which must be some 2,000 feet up. Soon I shall be taken to Mansehra, the next town north. Later I may roam about the hills.

But my friend Ansar Nasri is Director Radio Pakistan at Rawalpindi and I shall visit him as soon as the Mansehra trip is over. I have written John Felicic (even this typewriter respects him) about dancing and music here. I may look into folk records. But I left my stuff home—what with nine pieces of luggage as it is. However after going to Peshawar I may send one piece back with surplus clothing, and purchases. I don’t think I’ll need my heavies any more unless we go north of Swat, but even that will be done before my Peshawar ventures are finished.

What one needs here is a map. You study Urdu and find you are in Pathan country, and study Pashto and find you are in Baluch country and you study that and come back and find the people are speaking Punjabi. No I’ll stick to English, or American as it is called here. English is used on the cricket field and school classes. American is used in man-to-man (or woman) conversation. Understand?

I have also written to the Agricultural College which is at Lyallpur. Everybody says go quick before it is too hot. What am I supposed to do “all summer?" I want to go to Lyallpur and Lahore in April and to Peshawar in May and then here or North during the hot season unless we go to Afghanistan.

I am going to have a complicated time with my money as there has been no mail from “home”—what a liar! At this moment your letter arrived. I am going to write you air-mail and then send these things on.

March 29. I just wrote some new poetry inspired by Abbottabad and with this place at its theme. I hope to see the Stanford professor about it this p.m. I have been pounding this typewriter incessantly.

See other side

The Pukhtunistan News

All the News that gives Fits to the Printer.

On shipboard. Sno use, can’t be incognito. Puck wanted fame, he got it.

He stuck in his thumb and gulled out tons of plums and now he is paying the price. He does not mind paying the price if he does not have to pay the piper. There are no pipers here. Only in anti-Imperialist Egypt they do everything to Scottish music, excepting when they announce the news it is in British music. Nobody follows the tried and true way which has long been discarded excepting the anti-imperialists. They are vigorously attending the G.B. of 1890 and seem to enjoy doing it, but they have no idea of the G.B. of 1961.

Puck was interrupted by Hindus. If anybody loves to interrupt it is Hindu, and if anybody loves to be interrupted it is Puck. Every time Puck tries anything the Hindus interfere. This keeps Puck from being lonely. He had a long argument with a Hindu and finally convinced the Hindu that he was right. He had another argument with another Hindu and convinced him also that he was right. He was arguing with another Hindu and was interrupted but that time he also proved to the Hindus that he was right. “He was right” mans that the Hindu was right. Puck was approved; the Hindus and the Hindus were approving Puck, but was longing for a good Muslim.

Pardon me. Peck was uncovered, discovered and revealed with all his inglorious and glorious panorama. “My name is Shah, from Pukhtunistan,” “Excuse me gentlemen, God rest you Marry Gentleman; may nothing you dismay, but I have just been informed my mother-in-law is ill today; I have plenty of bills to pay, and that is all I’ll say. Good-day.” So Puck deserted the Hindus and their vanity and their courage and their hospitality and their interferences and went off with Shah of Pukhtunistan.

This is all very fine but after having met so many non-existence (a la Von Plotz) dervishes and Sufis, it is also glorious to meet a non-existent Pathan, and to have had a whole hour discussing Pukhtunistan and agreeing with each other like Alphonse and Gaston only more so. Every time Puck talked Shah saw divine wisdom and every time Shah talked Puck found human wisdom so Puck will never have another hour of peace on shipboard, Praise be to Allah.

We discussed the subject of freedom in Pukhtunistan and agreed that it means the same thing. The Pushtuns wish to be free and free to be free and don’t want any national boundaries, income taxes and policemen, that is all. Pukhtunistan Zindabad. And more later.

The Pukhtunistan Times

Abbottabad. Puck is home. This city is called “Up to Bad” which is a fit pronunciation. It looks just links Fairfax near White’s Hill in Marin County. When Puck arrived every store had a sign INN or IN, The INNS furnish food and sometimes lodgings. The INs remind one of UAR. There they say; “Fattah” which means literally “Enter.” Actually it means. “Come on sucker. Spiders have to eat flies. A fool and his money are soon parted but we take you both in. We take you in and we take your money too.”

Even the shop downstairs has its sign wINe.

This is being written before 9 o’clock. After that the local invasion starts. Puck likes those invasions. Mr. Qureshi called the other day. Mr. Qureshi is descended from the man who was Court Jeweler for Aurangzeb, the last very great Moghul. The Moghuls are gone, the Empire is gone, but jewels!

Now anybody that has gone to Von Plotz’ lectures knows that the jewels have disappeared or been swallowed like pearls in vinegar and all that. Far be it from Puck to dispute Von Plotz but after meeting Qureshi and having food with him he nearly had hand-burn—100,000 plunks of precious precious in stone minutes. Qureshi Sahib wants to market the jewels in California. He has already started.

Puck is all for helping his fellow-man and himself both. This time Puck was convinced he should help his fellow-man so he began writing letters to Conlon and Associates on Clay St. and to the S.F. Chamber of Commerce and to Prof. Park who is now in Ann Arber and who does not like Von Plotz either. Park came from Harvard where they never heard of “Oriental Philosophy” but teach what is going on.

Qureshi, not Puck, is dissatisfied. He wants more and more cooperation. And Puck out of love for his fellows is doing just that.

Of course the Moghul Jewels are not the only thing. Qureshi Sahib has lots of uncut stones and knows where there are all kinds of mines and even Uranium deposits in them ther’ hills and is going to show them to Puck. Puck has grudgingly added these assignments to his portfolio and admits he might as well try to help his fellow man all he can.

For desert Qureshi took Puck to Chisti Sahib. Puck is also Chisti Sahib. Chisti Sahib here is very unpopular. He denounced the Mullahs and the Mullahs denounced him and tried to mob him. There were only a hundred people in the mob and Chisti Sahib said the odds were too great—on his side. Unless they got a thousand people to mob him he refused to be mobbed. It was admitted they would not get a thousand people for all Muslims being brothers absolutely, there are so many sects here of people who don’t pray together that you can’t get a thousand people on any side. The mob got so angry at this they refused to martyr Chisti Sahib.

Chisti Sahib is now very happy and very uncomfortable. He is happy to have met a Chisti Sahib from America and he is uncomfortable because he did not ask for reinforcements and he is afraid that the mob will be dissolved before it gets another chance. Anyhow Chisti Sahib told Puck his future which looks very much like a fortune.

Lahore: When Puck was in Lahore he went out to see some old friends. He did not get far when he heard. “Puddinhead Puck-Samuel-Lewis-Ahmed Murad Chisti. Welcome. I have been waiting for you.” Thus Munshi Ahmed Bashir, and he told Puck his fortune which was the same thing. Now this will disconcert the inhumanists no end because they don’t believe such things possible. And maybe it is a conspiracy for Puck. But Puck is home and conspiracies must be for him here.

Politics. When Puck left the campaign was on: “We want no more elections. We demand plebiscites.” Now the campaign is on: “We want no more plebiscites, we demand elections and dictators.” Now all through Pukhtunistan they are having elections. Nobody knows exactly what an election is. But why not have dog-catchers where there are no dogs; traffic cops where there are no motor cars excepting an occasional jeep; tax collectors where nobody will pay. Every week there is a new election and people are running into booths.

Indian reaction. Nehru is disconcerted. He favors elections for people that cannot read and write. Thus the Congo, Andaman Islands, “Irian” (not a toothpaste), Terra del Fuego. There he is demanding elections. But Kashmir!! Are you trying to start another world war? That is an internal matter. Nehru never interferes in the internal affairs of any country excepting South Africa, Spain Viet Minh, Vietnam, So. Viet Minh, So. Vietnam and Taiwan. Otherwise he is for self-determination. The Latts, Lithuanians and Ukrainians being educated don’t need to vote. But this terrible exploitation of South Georgia has to stop.

Afghan reaction. In the hills.

The Afghans have come to free the Pushtuns from imperialistic domination and elections. They enter villages and grab everything and when there is objection say: “Have you forgotten your national morals? The Potlatch dinner and kindest to strangers.” They grab everything and head for the nearest mountain. That is as far as they can get.

The Pushtuns do not say a word. But go on with their quiet campaign of: “Let’s Get Rid of the Yetis, the abominable Snow Man.” So they wait in the passes for the Afghans returning toward home and just have open season for Yetis. It is great sport.

The Afghans have protested: We are not abominable Snow Men. The Pathans have answered: “We apologize. You are not Snow Men.”

In the valleys. The Afghans have invaded Mardan. Peshawar, Nowshera. This is called Tourism. La même chose, or something. But this is called Tourism.

Ayub Khan. There is another campaign: Death to dictators and Zindabad Ayub. They used to have elections here and everybody stayed home in protest; now they are campaigning for elections in Abbottabad. There have been no surveyors here and nobody knows (or cares) where Abbottabad belongs to Pukhtunistan, Pakistan, Moghulistan or India. The educated would like to return it to the British. Why not? Besides Ayub makes everybody sweep the streets.

Public Lectures. Puck is in for it. He has read his poetry. His pictures which were to go to Lahore were sent here. He will have to show them (slides). He is contacting Radio Pakistan. Everybody else is contacting him. Even Abdul Sattar is coming all the way from San Francisco to negotiate. Last night Puck was interrupted (Snafu): We are the family of Abdul Sattar. Come to dinner. (You get dinner at an INN. Or is it dINNer.) One thing you can be sure: Inn, inner, innermost, din, dinner, dinnermost. Or no dinner without din. Not Gunga Din. Just plan din. Always turn the radio on to drown out all other radios, protocol.

The Pukhtunistan Times

Ova Polis

Notice: Pat Han is standing in for Puck in America and sends in occasional reports.

Pat Han: Why are you so downcast your Eminence?

Cardinal Cushing: The Pope has sent me a sad letter. American tourists are not going to Rome.

Pat Han: Why not?

C.C. He says that they feel if they go that His Holiness is controlling the American government.

P.H. What has that to do with it?

C.C. It hasn’t but people believe it. So they stay at home or go elsewhere.

P.H. Have you discussed this with Cardinal Spellman?

C.C. Francis never thinks.

P.H. Don’t let that worry you. I have settled the case.

C.C. How?

P.H. I have written Congressmen Cohen and Goldstein to introduce a joint measure offering foreign aid to the Pope. If it were introduced by a Catholic it would be voted down. Now nobody dares oppose it on the grounds of prejudice and intolerance. Your days of worrying are over.

C.C. Foreign aid for His Holiness; why didn’t I think of it first.

- - - - - - - -

Azad Kashmir

Puck, addressing the crowd. “You have been advocating Azar Kashmir for 14 years and where and what has it gotten you. You are not permitted in India or in occupied Kashmir and you won’t let yourselves be 100% Moghuls until Kashmir is freed. You have been fourteen years at it and all you have is poverty and propaganda. Now listen to me:

“Azad Kashmir is no more. You have new Tourististan. Put up signs of welcome all over. Establish inns, dak bungalows, swimming holes, skiing courses in winter, mountain climbing in summer, shish kabob feasts, one luxury hotel—only one, private cabins and don’t ask questions about the occupants. Put in a few tennis courts. Have horseback riding and very special, nowhere else in the world yak riding. The people will come. Tourististan Zindabad. Your worries are over.”

Puck thinks he has lost the issue over the great sale of the repressed novel: “Lady Chatterji’s Lover.” It is going like wild fire all over India and Pakistan but Puck gets nothing out of it but glory, and hallelujah.

Pig sticking. The wild board is raiding farms and the people won’t eat it. So they are organizing witch hunts. They apply these to any minority group. Puck has written the Moghulistan government: “Why don’t you permit mobs to kill the boars. No one permitted to kill a bore until he has killed a boar. That will do it.

Smuggling is the chief industry in this part of the world. Profit is of no motive. It must be contraband. For ages this was done. Now there is a question of the division of the Pukhtunistan between Russia, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. The more they meet to decide this the freer we are. But we allow smuggling in, not out and we have plenty of black markets. The question is not about smuggling but “how much can you get.” We refuse to buy and we are coy about selling. As written previously, we balance the budget by disposing of Gandhara art, real antiques, ageless and synthetic, all guaranteed.

The Thirty Thousand Feet Limit Special.

Lichtenstein and San Marino have endorsed the Pukhtunistan proposal for a 30,000 feet up boundary limit. The representative of the Chinese Democratic Republican Socialist Communism People’s Freedom Society protested.

“Al right, we make it 31,000 feet.”

“But.” “Fine, 32,000 feet.”

“That is imperialism.” “No, it is impy realism.”

Impy Realism Zindabad.

Telegram, just in. Andorra has endorsed the proposal and Tibet would like to but nobody knows what does on the snows.

Nehru has come out for plebiscites in Congo, Irian, South Georgia, Andaman Islands and Mao-Mao land; but he is against it for Kashmir, Pukhtunistan, Latvia, and Ukraine. This proves his firm belief in democracy, literacy and “I am always right” particularly the latter.

Puck Trapped Again. When the Congo agitation was at its height Puck established a center with a sign “Congo line—please enter here” and attracted thousands. On his return to Pukhtunistan the printer made a mistake, maybe accidently on purpose. Instead of a Congo Line he found a Tonga Line—all the king’s horses and all the king’s men waiting For Him.

Agricultural Show, UAR: The Americans are showing how to grow more corn per acre. The Germans are showing how to grow more shredded wheat per acre. The Chinese are showing how to make more organizations per acre.

The Red Star Vation diet is not attracting many friends.

Afghan Refugees in Pukhtunistan. Hordes of people are pouring over the border. The king wants everybody to work. Rumors of revolution. Puck put up the sign “Workistan” and the Afghans rushed over Peshwana way. The inn-keepers raised their prices. The Afghans said this was intolerance. “Sure, haven’t you been intolerant for centuries. You showed us how.” No answer.

Ismailism. Puck with visions of surplus $$$ and £££ is thinking of being converted: “There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is His Messenger and Aga Khan is not Pope.” There is one great point here—the Pope must have infallibility; the Aga must have infant-ability. Everybody goes to the Pope and pays. The Aga Khan calls and collects.

God. All Muslims agree that all other Muslims are back-sliders. All Protestants unite in protesting against the Pope and each other. The Pope, Allah bless him, only knows what he reads in the newspapers—how fortunate.

Spring. We are having apples in blossoms, plant trees in blossoms, flowers blooming and the sale of Puck’s Egyptian perfume begins promptly. He brought only five kinds but his host is a master of adult-eration. Puck has a bad pun: there are many cents in many scents. The perfume is neither free not sense-less.

Karachi. Puck entered this country incognito and got into trouble. He has had to report since to five police stations and to many consulates and make out all kinds of forms. If he had come in VIP as UAR this would not have happened. It is going to make some European authorities on Asia feel very bad.

Barker Sahib came from the University of California. He graduated with honors. This made him unfit for a teaching job in Cal. None of the Universities would have him. He had no credentials from Leiden, Heidelberg or Moscow. The whole Von Plotz clan united against him: Cal., Sanford, Pacific, KFPK, KQED, even U. of S.F. and S.F. College—all, all banded together. The idea of a graduate from an American University teaching Oriental subjects. Do we want to offend the Asians?

So Barker Sahib is in Lahore teaching the Muslims English and the English and Americans Urdu and not being kicked off the air or removed from universities and collecting good bak$hi$h. Why if this thing continues they won’t be mobbing the USIA libraries and such. Why deprive the people of fun?

Multan: Puck was escorted by an American to the tomb of Shams-i-Tabriz. There he looked at the Wali (guardian saint) and said: “I am going to teach you Sufism.” He went ahead while everybody—the American included—was agape. Puck talked. Then they all rose and embraced him. (This could not have happened in U.S. and maybe it can now.)

Lahore: Puck went to the Consulate at Lahore and told this to the staff of the USIS. They all asked him to explain Sufism to them. They ought to be fired. Imagining good American $$$ going to employees who are willing to learn about Asia from an American! Sic simper protocolis!

Punjabi University. It should not happen to a dog and didn’t. As soon as Puck invaded the Campus the whole Department of Islamics came out and embraced him. This is not news. Maybe what happens will become news and then the Laotian complex will be finished.

Insidious Propaganda. Puck visits the Ismailias in Karachi. He did not know much about the Ismailias:

There is no God but Allah, Mohammed is his messenger and Aga Khan is not a pope. Women are equal to men.

This is all but. He was given to understand that Aga Khan is not a Pope and he should keep on repeating this, all good Ismailias do.

Puck soliloquized out loud: The Americans may not accept Allah, but they might under duress accept Mohammad. As for Aga Khan, they already have accepted him. There is no question about that. Why don’t you start a Mosque in Hollywood? Dim visions of a grand conversion of movie actors to Islam and dim vision of a grant conversion of $$$ to Puck, and this matter will be taken up later. It was accepted at once. Besides in Ismailia Mosques women pray and they are regarded as equals to men. In Al Ashar they are not regarded at all. The Azharities believe in the equality of all men, all races, all colors and all money. Period. Finish. Women, dogs, donkeys and camels don’t count. Why Allah created them is a mystery. But the Ismailias don’t accept such mysteries, they just accept. And Puck is thinking of accepting. Sheikh Puck, Iman for Aga Khan, Men, Women and Horses!

Abbottabad. Puck is disconcerted. He was greeted by a Church father who is a Hollander. This is contrary to Protocol and Puck has written about it elsewhere. Besides all saints should be Italians or Spanish. Puck took this up with Qureshi. It was agreed:

All the Greatest Christian Saints were Spanish

All the Greatest Islamic Saints were Spanish

Why should anybody interfere? But if you repeat this you must be a Fascist. History has nothing to do with it. The trouble today is that everybody speaks English and so the Church Fathers are usually not Spanish or Italians here.

Map. Puck had a hard time locating a map. Each province had its own map and Pukhtunistan has no map. He got one at last. He insisted upon Pukhtunistan’s rights to the 30,000 feet limit. All planes and Afghans flying below that will be shot without notice.

Music. There is a grand change going on and especially in the INs, DINs and INNs. The radio and records show a transition music, missing up Indian, European, Cha-Cha, and Caucasus themes in a hodge podge. You can’t make head or tail of it and ‘swonderful.

Puck’s title may be changed from Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Ambassador Plentipotentiary. Puck will accept the change. He is a peaceful, or is it pieceful (?) man.

Writing: Puck is now under assignments from the newspapers here, Tourist bureau. Greenwich Village and San Rafael Journal Independent. The people here are learning about Greenwich Village and are shaving their beards. This gets the Mullahs angry and makes the barbers happy. But Puck has to arrange for lectures, tours and writing. He hopes more of it gets to Von Plotz & Co.

Diplomatic Complications. Consul General Satter is coming all the way from S.F. to meet Puck to negotiate. And Begum Selim Khan who used to be in S.F. has sent for Puck, diplomatic protocol and tea. So Puck will not be able to complete this issue.

Remember: It should not happen to a dog, and doesn’t.

P. Puck

March 29

My dear Jack:

I have much to report. This is also my diary entry because in the pressure of events I have kept up correspondence but not recorded my own affairs. I shall be typing on both sides of the paper unless otherwise noted.

Bank Reports. I did not get the reports. I must ask you to send the bank clearings by Air and I shall compensate you either with a check by return mail or otherwise as agreed. I have had two air-mail letters from the S.F. Bay region indicating that they took only six days in transit. This is marvelous considering that I am far off the beaten track and that there is no international airport near here. I have to make out some kind of Income Tax return and although I have until June 15, I may send a letter air-mail registered before that time to get on the right side. I borrowed money from the Bank so I could be using it and I have a fair surplus as of February 20 which is some time back. If you just send the one report from the Wells Fargo air-mail that would be a sufficient because I could then determine the deposit amount. Besides I must need that back signed. I intended and occasionally I may air-mail it to you because you would drop it in the box (no local postage required) and I could be sending you news at the same time.

Coins. I never asked you if you were interested in coins. I have been sending a few to friends and stamps to the other persons. Somewhere along the line I was given an old Roman coin. I have been saving it as a present to you. It is possible that before many months are over I may send a suitcase bag with some art things. I would declare the coin if I sent it. There is also the matter of uncut stones about which more below. I am going to Lahore the middle of next month and I shall take this manner of shipment up with the consulate. For if the coin entered without being declared and we took it to a numismatist there might be trouble.

I am not sending the coin along now for not only would there be registry but the following two events are in tow.

1. Pakistan is changing its monetary system. A lot of very cheap old coins are going out of existence. If you sent a dollar I could get so many of these that it would cost $$$ to send them so I have asked my friends not to send me money for this purpose. I might be getting a whole pile of these cheap coins. But if declared or otherwise they could later enter the U.S.

2. When I was in Taxila before I got a rare coin which I shipped to a friend. He never acknowledged it so I don’t know if he got it. This time I want to register any such coin and there is a 50-50 chance of getting more old coins. So I would keep these, the Roman coin, and the Pakistani tokens for a single shipment on some basis. If they are all kept for a suitcase shipment I could include in the suitcase a blank check either through you or direct to the Collector of Customs, S.F. to protect you and incidentally myself.

If this is not clear please let me know.

Mr. Qureshi, Uncut Stones. This is his profession. He has been collecting them and has told me there are mines in the hills here and I have heard other stories. I am going to try to collect some and others I may bring in my cases. These might not collect much money though same will go to jewelers and lapidaries. Let me know how much you are interested.

Mr. Qureshi, Cut Stones. He is descended from the Court Jeweler of the great Moghul Empire. It is said that the wealth of the Moghuls has disappeared and there are a lot of stories and legends. But it is no legend that I have seen scads of them with my own eyes. Every stone has been weighed, tested for “water”—that is light behavior, chemical formula and age. Not only that these tests have been recorded and notarized.

Qureshi Sahib has some negotiations on with a jeweler in L.A. whose location I know and whose shop I have seen. But I also had about $100,000 of stuff in my hands in a few moments. He has the largest and brightest Rubies I have ever seen and he said their value was $16,000 each. At his request I have written to Conlon and Associates. I did not overlook any bets (no pun) before leaving so when I come into any district there is no opportunity that I let slip by. Conlon & Associates are readying to invest in the development of Asian countries or in the promotion of international trade, both ways. I hope to see him again because.

Qureshi. Occultism. This must be divided into two parts. Through him I met a Chisti and there was mutual recognition. I am going to speak a good deal on Sufism here where there are no European professors to interfere; only people interested in Sufism and this includes a large segment of the American foreign office in Lahore. Chisti Sahib is a man of heart and he also went a little into my future although our meeting was short. He told me the same as did Munshi Ahmed Bashir at Lahore. I think I gave you that report but if I did not please let me know.

Qureshi has a friend, who is a medium who seems to be able to trace patterns of former incarnations in people. He wants me to meet this man and I hope to and will let you know more later.

Occultism Otherwise. I received a letter from the Assn. for Research & Enlightenment of Virginia Beach acknowledging my report but advising that Hugh Lynn Cayce was away. I then sent the report to Marjorie Hansen who had been in Egypt checking the Cayce records. So far as I could ascertain not only was Cayce correct but in the morning paper they found evidences of very, very ancient civilization in Libya. It is going to support the views I hold and perhaps also those who accept the Atlantean tradition. We won’t discuss that in letters, too much else.

But I told Marjorie I am against the Cayce Foundation and all others who restrict their researches. I get a flat refusal from some organizations that collect funds to promote occult research and many are so exclusive it is no wonder that they are rejected. In science you must be university or else.

Art Lectures. I ordered slides of UAR to be sent to the Department of Fine Arts, Lahore. By “mistake” they were sent here and I expect to be showing them in Abbottabad. I now have a letter from Lahore scheduling me about April 15. I shall try to arrange accordingly.

Rabbani Khan is an old friend of mine. He may be picking me up soon to go to Mansehra, the next town north. We have to discuss agriculture, Islamic philosophy and my cooperation in the establishment of a branch of the World Congress of Faiths in S.F. It will be the real thing and no phonies or Europeans without credentials.

Ansar Nasri is another old friend and a fellow Sufi. He is now director of Radio Pakistan at Rawalpindi. After my visit with Rabbani I shall go to Rawalpindi though this means a doubling and redoubling. I may be on the air and also through him may meet big shots.

Newspaper Writing. I am busy almost every day with contributions to the Civil & Military Gazette and the Pakistan Times, the English papers at Lahore. The former is world famous as being Kipling’s paper. I am also trying to send things to Bob Stice in New York.

Poetry. I read part of my “Saladin” at a public meeting for poets last week. Poetry is the most popular art and diversion in this part of the world and it has been so for a thousand years without a break.

Today I began another and different style—short versus, which I sent to my friend Margaret Albanese in San Rafael. These may go to New York for publication (requested of, not by me). I met another Californian, a Stanfordite here who teaches English and I shall probably bring him my verse this p.m.

Agriculture. I have written to the agricultural experimental station at Lyallpur for a meeting after April 3^rd. I have to go through Lahore to reach there. I keep a map of Pakistan handy at all times.

Tourism. I have already submitted one paper on how to improve tourism and am ready for another. The airports are in the wrong places and I am urging their change because the capitol is being moved from Karachi (thank God) to nearer this region which has so many more attractions.

Bus travel is very cheap and is almost like Greyhound in its complications, many lines, etc. In out of the way places the bus stops for anybody anywhere. I expect to use bus lines to go to many parts in the next few months.

Science. I am writing first to the papers and next when I go to Rawalpindi so I can turn over my materials from UAR and also give them some of my experiences. Please note I am not the person who left S.F., nobody stands in my way though I can and do make mistakes. It is a great deal of difference from being found wrong and not being allowed to express oneself at all. The whole bunch of road blocks around S.F. on me is turning out to be a series of huge jokes and the persons involved will pay the piper sooner or later.

Prof. Barker is a Cal. graduate at Lahore teaching English to Urdu speaking people and Urdu to Americans. He had trouble with exactly the same people I did and has the same friends. I am taking his case to Congress and to my associates. It is about time we put the phonies in their places.

The Burmese mobbed the USIA library. Where in the U.S. have we asked a Burmese to explain about his country? We accept all kinds of traditions about them from others and then want to explain what wonderful people we are to them. But we don’t let them tell us how wonderful they are. What kind of psychology is this? I am quite willing to have people tell me how wonderful they are, and then get dinner and lecture invitations.

Lectures. The local college has invited me to speak on the relation of Islamic Philosophy to Contemporary Science. I have in mind the four subjects of Logic, Psychology, Physics and Botany. I have been able to discuss fragments of these with actual scientists I meet here. In these lectures I shall introduce some elements of American culture nobody else has brought here. I am sorry for Lloyd Morain and Don Hayakawa who live in private worlds. I offered to introduce their work here; I am too unimportant—sez you. So nothing has happened but with me either things happen or I seem to make them happen.

Begum Selim Khan is the widow of the first Consul-General from Pakistan to S.F. She has a lovely California style garden where she spends much of her time. The rest is devoted to teaching women about “guided democracy.” They had been kept down so much. Islam is the religion of the brotherhood of men—leaving women out.

Ismailism is a form of Islamic Religion not leaving women out. It is the sect headed by Aga Khan. As Puck I am telling the world I am a hypocrite and am going on Aga Khan’s payroll. I told the heads that if this form of Islam were introduced in Hollywood with the leadership of Aga Khan and equal rights for women it would sweep the movie colony. Hypocrites, but there’s $$$ in them thar Beverly Hills.

Money Résumé. At the moment you see this opportunity plus the precious stones above just might. Say, Jack, if the coins come in I had better hire you. You carry the luggage, cameras and purses and leave the rest to me!

Serious Writing. I learned that my god-daughter Dorothy is still pushing my stuff. But I am making so many contacts now and doors are opening so fast that I think sooner or later I shall be accepted seriously in the U.S.

Food. Mostly rice and curries here and I like them. There are two meatless days, and I eat fish and take curds, the latter every day anyhow. The meat is mostly chicken and mutton.

Cost of Living is impossible to estimate. Slightly over my head in Karachi, way over in Lahore, nothing in Multan and Rawalpindi and easy here. I am seeking a rebate under a new ruling especially as I have so far just offered my services. But after my free lecture at the Fine Arts Department it is possible that paid lecture will be coming up.

Abdul Sattar, the Consul-General of Pakistan, is coming here. This is one of my biggest breaks. We have been very close friends for a long, long time and he is becoming so important that Pres. Kennedy offered him an interview. I have been sending some stuff to Pakistani House on Pacific Ave.

American Friends of the Middle East have also been getting my reports. Their headquarters in Pakistan are in Lahore and I have written asking for an appointment.

General Evaluation. I seem to have anticipated everybody in what to offer this country and moreover have literature with me. I am next writing to Senator Engle in regard to getting on the Peace Commission that the President is advocating. I am doing, have already done and no doubt will do, not just say.

I have written to the City Hall and am now arousing friends against the European and other phonies. I don’t care if this lands in the law-courts. We have to know the truth about Asia as well as tell them the truth about ourselves. I have sent Gavin my last letter unless he begins to realize that I am both anxious and informed. I give informal talks here on Islamic Philosophy and the conclusion is that I know more about their religion than their preachers—which might be true without saying much.

Health has been generally good. Resuming playing ping-pong and hiking. Boys here play cricket which is more fun to watch than play. There are plenty of fields for hockey, football and basketball but so far empty when I visited them.

I may not write more now. I hope I have not made any error about the money, and will put in a tracer. As you can see everything seems to be going fine and there is a full program ahead, even taking me into little visited areas.

Cordially,

P.S. I am reading every Perry Mason book I can get hold of and there are lots of them here. Also some Peter Cheney.

Abbottabad

March 30

Dear Joan and Harold:

With the failure to get replies from some people and with the accumulation of a few stamps I decided to write my diary entry to you. One cannot make enclosures in aerograms at least one of which will reach San Rafael before this for now the rehearsal is over and the show is about to begin. I may enclose some uncancelled stamps not purchased at the moment.

Coins. The country is passing through a change over to a duodecimal system and I am sending a few coins to two friends. In the collection thereof I have been given an old Roman coin which may be worth something and which will go to my former room-mater, John Betts, 772 Clementine St., S.F. I may run upon other old coins in the course of affairs.

I had my first conference today with Rabbani Khan, covering:

1. Agriculture and reforestation in this region.

2. Establishment of the World Congress of Faiths in California. He was long on the Board of Directors. Bishop Pike may become the leader there. The idea is to present the actual living religions as they are, by their own followers and not by carefully selected Europeans or others who have become the “authorities” and simply gotten by—while our USIA libraries are mobbed by people who are not permitted to present their living culture to us.

3. Semitic Archaeology. There is evidence that the Lost Tribes of Israel came to this region. I have the green light from Harvard (Prof. Cross of the “Dead Sea Scrolls”) to ask for a permit for the Dept. of Semitic Archaeology to work here. I am going further into this tomorrow.

4. A serious program of actual cultural exchange between this region and the U.S. without any more intervention of European and sometimes Hindu obscurantists.

Before seeing Rabbani I was closeted with the Principal of the local college. There I am now scheduled to give a series of talks on the religion of Islamic philosophy to modern science. Ultimately there were to be given at Aligarh U. in India but now first to the most important Punjabi U. In Lahore. They may also be given to the Islamia U. in Lahore for I recently met a U. C. grad, Dr. Barker. I know very well that some of my past seems very paranoic, but the fact is the Dr. Barker had the same difficulties with the same foreigners to whom we have given over the instruction on Near East Culture in the S.F. Bay region—Cal., Stanford, Pacific, and the radio and TV networks, to say the least. The only thing we have gained from this is the mobbing of our cultural missions abroad.

My next mission after seeing Rabbani Khan will be to go the Rawalpindi to meet a friend, Ansar Nasri, Radio Pakistan. This may become most important for he is just the person who can introduce me to the top level people. It is not the introductions which are difficult but the temporary capital is Rawalpindi and most of the offices are not listed and the officials are roving about.

I am at the moment writing to both the Pakistan Times and Civil Milatary Gazette of Lahore. I am now ready to disgorge my scientific and horticultural notes and papers which will lighten my burdens. I shall just keep the bibliography which Harry Nelson of S.F. got for me and will work on that further later on.

Part of my burdens are over. This city used to have its book-stalls owned by commies who earned their fare by selling American lurid literature and thus roused anti-American feelings at our expense. One does not see this awful stuff now. Indeed there are few American magazines outside of Dell publication—just Time, Life, and couple of movie magazines. On the contrary there is a multitude of paper backs from our country. The whole atmosphere is different with now an increased number of people using English—compulsory in all higher education.

Abbottabad

April 1, 1961

My dear Horace:

I am going to reverse a habit and send my diary note to you and the copy to Harry for reasons contained in the subject matter of this letter.

The flowers are in bloom and they are the same as you have—pansies, daffodils, gaillardias, etc., etc. I have seen just two kinds of Irish here, one has a huge flower, brownish running into several pastel shades in the same bloom; and the deepest blue I have ever seen.

The trees are all at the Spring best. One sees various Prunus and Apples in blossom now. I am told that the Apples do not all set. There is very little pruning done and also the general soil looks acidic. There is a small Pome here which in size is like a very large olive. It is lacking in pectin and esters so though small is very, very far from a Crab.

I have been the guest of Judge Mohammad Rabbani Khan whom I visited before and who has been in San Francisco. At that time he was operating the largest successful farm in this area. But at the moment there is a movement called “guided democracy” and I went to meetings. I also saw him collect rents—he has one group of 50 stores which all pay him. He is very famous in Great Britain and around Boston but in this case he is also well known in his home.

The great tree here is the Chenar; I think that is the word, famous in Persian poetry and perhaps introduced here also with the Poplar. It functions more like a Maple having glorious colored leaves at this time. It makes one feel poetry. The Poplar is slow. There is a Cypress which looks more like a big Yew, columnar. It is planted all over.

In my former visit I found that Boxwood is a tree here and I notice that the Eucs, Platanus and all non-columnar trees seem to have huge trunks. I do not know what causes that. The local Pine which is the main natural tree, in its adult stage looks like P. longifolia of the Southwest. In its juvenile stage it is pyramidal like a “Christmas Tree.” As it grows it either fails to develop more branches or is self-pruning. When it becomes very tall it “umbrellas.” The Eucs. also “umbrella.” It is only in its “youth” that the pine looks “gawky.”

I have met a young Botanist who has offered to be my guide and identify more native plants.

The other night I was a guest of a doctor. I once wrote a poem that someday Poison Oak would be discovered to have medicinal properties. Well while waiting at the doctor’s house I noticed Rhus. Tox. and later was informed it is a specific for Angina Pectoris. I did have a book Medicinal Plants of India and Pakistan which I gave to the New York Horticultural Society. Now I am anxious to have more copies. Rhus. Tox indeed!

The chief crops are the grains. One sees Wheat, Rice and Oats. At the doctor’s I was told that most of his patients suffer from malnutrition. They don’t get enough vitamins. Well the “lawns” are filled with dandelions and I have seen only one or two old women go out and collect them. And the fields are filled with wild mustards—and the people suffer from lack of vitamins. I think I’ll tell them how to use the outside cabbage leaves, if they can’t afford more. There are “oodles” of cabbages on the market. Also turnips, spinach, oranges, carrots and things that look like cresses. They are here and not too popular. And they have no idea, as the people of Indonesia do, how to [?]. [?] College at Lyallpur for an appointment. I stay here for one week then go to ‘pindi, the temporary capital, for a conference and perhaps also to speak on the air and meet high officials.

At the meeting of a “guided democracy” village I told them that if I lived here I would suggest first a program of reforestation. And that’s just what they did. In Cairo Nasser put all the beggars out sweeping streets; here I would have them plant both fruit and timber trees on these hills which were once well forested. This idea is going out by grape-vine.

In this district erosion is the problem. The government has now ordered that goats be slaughtered instead of sheep. The goat has done considerable harm all over but the other animals have been “the goats.”

The reason I am writing for you is that there are all kinds of wealth in these hills. On coming this way I not only saw very red rocks, but reddish powdered grounds—and nobody touching them. I feel there are high iron ores below and perhaps manganese coming this way. I have since met two different men interested in collecting stones and ores and I understand there are both qualities of gems and uncut stones but many valuable minerals in this vicinity. I am going to find everything I can about them. Tomorrow I have a “hiking” engagement with one rock hound and he tells me he knows a lot.

My other informant has already gotten me on the job. His name is Qureshi and he says he is descended from the Jeweler of the rich Moghul Emperors. Well he showed me stones the value of which run into six figures and he has other treasures. The stones have already been tested for weight, “water,” purity and composition in a modern laboratory. He has been negotiating to sell them in L.A. but I have written my contacts in S.F. (Conlon & Associates) about the possibilities of a larger market and also for the mineral development of this region.

I have been told (unconfirmed) that both lead and uranium are present. I want to see these places, but other than Talc I have not yet handled specimens. Years ago I used to love to look at and feel rocks (then women, now flowers!! ?) I believe there is untold wealth here but the people have no enterprise. If half a dozen Americans came here they would be roaming the hills. Here you just find Missionaries (God help them) and teachers. Both here and at Lahore I met teachers from California, the ones here being San Franciscans! It was a surprise on both sides. They are “my kind” of people. The one at Lahore has identically the same friends and enemies (European “Orientalists” not recognized in Asia)…. I am going to stop here and add if I learn anything on the field trip for tomorrow.)

April 4, 1961

Dear Bill:

Despite the whimsy here this may be one of the most serious letters I have ever written you. It will compel me to review the booklet on how to study a language and at the moment is a pressure force for me to return to university and study some languages and economic botany. There are still two other possibilities—that of lecturing and writing and that of returning to the soil. The later depends upon a law-suit. I did not intend writing you but under pressure this came to me which I felt must be dedicated to you:

There are no industries in Indus,

There are no taxis in Taxila,

But it would be an awful thing indeed,

If you couldn’t find a man in Manila.

I have just sent Anca (or is it Anca) some serious verse. You may, of course, show her the above, but it is dedicated to you.

The next thing is a Puck experience. Instead of finding myself with two men, one trying to teach me Pashto and the other Urdu at the same time, I found myself with three, a third trying to teach me Punjabi. So I am wondering indeed if there were not divine wisdom in it.

You know darn well that I have had a whole series of battles. In these battles I have found a number of allies all sort of mixed up in this grand linguistic squabble. I was nearly thrown out of a meeting when I called out “I was there” before a huge audience addressed by Prof. Burdick of the “Ugly American” infamy. I now have the dope, I think, which is the coffin nail.

I objected to Burdick strongly because if what he said was right, “Asian Foundation” was a fraud. Maybe they are, but it is a dangerous confusion. A short time later my friend Prof. Park returned from India and said it was of no value to study Hindi if you went as a technical expert because the language changed every 50 miles. It was fine if you were a military man but you could never deal with the peasants thereby. And Park, unlike Burdick and Lederer, visited villages.

I was with my friend Rabbani Khan, the Pooh-Bah of the district to the north. I had already written: “Anybody that finishes a sentence in the same language that he began it will finish a sentence in jail.” Actually he took me to the law-court. An attorney here has to be acquainted with Islamic, Indian, British and Pakistani law; the end result is that each case is tried on its own merits. But the conversations they would have made, and—no, I’ll give it a name: Desperanto. You would despair if you had to translate conversations into any one tongue.

Abdul Sattar has been for a long time Consul-General of Pakistan in S.F. He is one of my best friends and is coming to Abbottabad which will be of greatest assistance to me. I am constantly approached by his brother-in-law, Khalid. Khalid told me after the “triplicate” situation above that every 10 miles here, even there is an idiomatic change. Now we run into complexities. I want to put all the cards on the table and perhaps I am asking for advice, perhaps making a suggestion.

The most complete book on Sufism that I had read years ago was A glossary of the tribes and castes of the Punjab and North -West provinces by H.A. Rose. I shall take up the linguistics first and then the Sufism.

In going go Mansehra I was struck by the number of caps and turbans and my temporary conclusion is that these are tribal heritages. This has been a land of ceaseless invasions. As Puck, I am interested in getting one or two costumes, turbans in particular. But after the triplicate event I began to think and am thinking seriously of the work of Norman Browne at Pennsylvania and, of course, Rose. The Pathan words thrown at me seemed to be nearer the “original” Indo-Germanic. I think in previous years I sent you notes about Albanian. Sometimes the Pathan words were astonishingly like English; occasionally this was true of Punjabi. Thus three is tré in Punjabi, but tin in Urdu. Quantitatively I am unable to make a lot of notes now, being overwhelmed. At the same time, as I expect to be here for some months, it may be advisable to do so.

I am sending this by sea-mail. Your answer does not matter because in April I may be moving about. In May I have accepted tentatively invitations to other places.

Prof. Barker. I may have mentioned him before, grad. of U. C. who had the same troubles with the same people I did. He speaks Urdu with an obvious American accent. But Urdu is a “Yiddish’ or even “Latin” so everybody has an accent. It is a literary language fostered largely by Sufi poets, an excellent poetic language being forced on the multitude, though perhaps with their consent.

Prof. Connaught is from S.F. and Stanford. He also has the same views of my bêtes noires. He says that the best way to learn Urdu is in situ. He says that Pres. Kennedy’s peace plan will not work because training young people to learn a language as a means of communication and expecting them also to be experts in some field is impossible. It takes time to become an expert. On the other hand both of these men say it does not take more than two months to get a speaking acquaintance with Urdu.

But I personally am not interested in learning Urdu for this reason. As a Sufi yes, that is most important. But as a scientist I am becoming more and more curious about the Indo-Germanic heritage, and more excited and more interested. I came upon Max Fuller early in life and wanted to follow him and was initiated. On the other hand I have had my fortune told twice recently—by a clairvoyant and by a Sufi and they both insisted I was going to live a long time and re-visit this country, which I feel is true.

The immediate scientific and social successes all but throw me off balance. I do not run into inhabitations and frustrations. But success does not bring one any more wisdom than failure.

The removal of Prof. Bingham at Cal. has resulted in a most cordial contact with the whole South Asian Dept. I sent them reports. I was both told I spread myself out too much. But when you are in a village and there are few divisions. You “case” the village and you enjoy the village in accord with your willingness to be interested in everything. This has compelled me into two subjects”

Mineral resources. I think I wrote about Mr. Qureshi who has a large portion of the “lost” Moghul resources. He introduced me into native (in the geological sense) ores and gems here and this has been followed by a series of most cordial contacts with young men. It is a long subject and I won’t go into it.

Sufism. I’m constantly running into Chistis (a spiritual name) and Kadiris, i.e. Jilanis (a family name) and this despite all that the “authorities” in California teach; the opposite being true. It could, however, be a natural concomitant of Rose above mentioned, confirming him and having strong objective material for my views, again confirmed in situ. This is a very long, though delightful subject.

I have omitted my visit to the Ismailia Sect in Karachi. I went there because I dared not be intolerant, and my personal rejection of Aga Khanism is contrary to my general outlook. I found the staff all highly educated and they are giving an examination to missionaries. These missionaries must be equipped to explain religion in at least two languages one of which must be Arabic or Urdu. College graduates are preferred. They are also keen on the moral outlook.

I cannot tell you too much of the details of this Shia Sect. It is based on a genealogical Imamate. They rely much on philosophy also and of rather a high grade though one might never notice this in the behavior of some Agas. I think they feel very relieved by the present new youthful head.

The biggest thing about this sect, and the most important to me, is their recognition of women. Women are supposed to pray and study religion and are encouraged in it. I told them that this aspect of their faith plus the publicity given to the Agas Khan would easily result in a successful mission in the Hollywood area. No doubt this is not too serious a statement but knowing Hollywood as I do, I am pretty sure a lot of Americans would pour into any center they would establish. And they can get the money, only they use it cautiously.

Before I left Lahore I had found I had embarked on a wise adventure.

After I had filled out my forms for the American Consulate I refused a tonga looking for a short-cut. The tonga-wallahs try to take you by long routes and never know your destination. I had not gone far when I found myself before the building of the Department of Agriculture. There I met Mohammed Bakhari. It was another one of those wonderful meetings.

I went over the materials I have with me and agreed to see him before I go to Lyallpur. My visit to this region is well timed because there is a new Department of Agricultural Research at Lyallpur which I have never visited. According to Mr. Bakhari I had just those things which he is most interested in. I may go to the same hotel or have Mr. Idrees give me advice when I re-visit this section.

I stop at Rawalpindi to see Imam Minto who used to be in S.F. and talk over many things with him and then to Abbottabad. Thence I should visit the farm of Judge Rabbani, who is a big man in the world and another non enemy of the European “Orientalists.” Also to Jamshyd Khan whom I met at the Center in S.F. But Jamshyd Khan is going to America soon so I do not know whether I shall be seeing him. Abdul Rahman tells me his brother has invited us and there are now several serious things to discuss there as well as just paying a visit.

At the moment it is Spring. I never saw so many flowers blooming at once as at Lahore. It seems that about everything excepting Spring Bulbs were out, our own Spring, Summer and Fall flowers, all at once and others. I did not have time to call on Judge A.A. Shah, Supt. of Parks & Gardens, but that will no doubt come later, inshallah.

The biggest think that happened took place last night. I had agreed to stay over at the request of Prof. A. A. Siddiqui. He is not only one of the world authorities on Islamic Philosophy but is most proficient in English. Not only has he been by-passed but he vigorously dissents from all those people against whom I have been ‘belly-aching.”

April 4, 1961

My dear Jack:

This is my diary entry for day believe it or not. I have never thought of trying to convert you to Islam but if you are not a Muslim by the time you finish this report please tear up the check. I wish you would be sensible and remain a Muslim until you cash the check. Then you are free to revert or not.

I called on the Muslims today and we discussed religion. I said that the Muslim kids had little diversion. He felt that cricket was a great game for it gives every man an equal chance to bat, etc, I agreed. He said the Prophet was also a great one for sports. The clergy who say they are not clergy and are, are against any forms of freedom and they use the words “Qur’an” and “Hadith” without reading the books.

Well, the Prophet upon whom be peace and blessing, was a great sportsman and his favorite sport was that of kings and sultans and conquerors and wise men—to keep you in suspense, horse racing. Of course this is against “Islam”; everything is against “Islam” which puts the woman in prison and makes second class citizens of everybody excepting and so on. This was a new one on me that the Prophet liked horse racing. No one Aga Khan who is his chief descendant goes to the track and so on. He has the family records—even the genealogy of horses as well as of himself.

In fact I told his followers that they should build a Mosque in Hollywood with equal rights for woman and equal rites, too and Aga Khan and the whole movie colony and I guess the racing set too would be coming in.

Later in the day Chisti Sahib came in. He speaks no English but my friend Abdul Rahman walked in. I called on Chisti Sahib because I am also a Chisti. I may or may not be a saint but you will find my picture herein with a real saint, whatever a saint is. I gave him a lecture on his religion which he never thought a Kaffir unbelieving American dog-of-a-pig could possibly know. I could not give it in S.F., but I gave it at Multan and all these guys and others embraced me. I did not give it to the woman but the same thing might have happened.

Anyhow I now have a reputation of being a Chisti and consorting with saints. Chisti Sabib was not always a Chisti. He made his living by picking out winners on the track and it was a good living. Then he got converted to being a Chisti Sahib and the money came rolling in. It does not always happen that way. After he got religion he began buying and selling horses tee and running his own. Being a Sufi he had sort of prevision and, of course, was always in the chips.

You must understand in India it is legal for a Hindu to squeeze a Muslim Mleccha unbelieving pig-of-a-dog, but the other is forbidden in the land of justice, honesty, brotherhood and fudge. So when India got its “freedom” the majority of Hindus who got their livelihood by squeezing Muslims also lost it all at the track and Chisti Sabib was in the chips and how. So the honest, non-violent Hindus who never hurt cows, snakes, crows, flies, scorpions, cows, bulls, cows, water-buffalo and cows, said the rule did not apply to non-animals and said they were sorry for considering Chisti Sahib a pig-of-a-dog or dog-of-a-pig to whom they had to be kind, that he was a mere outcaste so they outcasted him and grabbed his home and money and everything but him and his family so he had to flee to Pakistan. How the Hindus can go back to their peaceful, non-violent life of squeezing Muslims without fear of losing it all at the races, so Chisti Sahib is here. But they do not have race-tracks here and the horses are used for pulling tongas.

This enlightening series of events made me humble indeed and I must, according to the dictates of real religion absolve you from having to beat on horses with Arab names, for God is no respecter of race and maybe even of sex. You are under no compulsion to lay it on the line for Nur-ed-din, Shah Jehan or Sonovabitch. (I think the last one is of Russian extraction anyhow.)

I have not yet cracked the code by which Chisti Sahib was successful but it I find more out will advice. I am now waiting for the family of Abdul Sattar. I was accused of giving bakshish to his brother-in-law. Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t but why should I give bakshish to a young man who insists his father is a millionaire as wants me to come and live with him sometime. When the family arrives I have to go the Rawalpindi where I shall be given the air on Radio Pakistan and visit the tomb of some more saints. I never thought before of asking the oracles who will win in the fifth of even in the first race, but it is an idea.

I am somewhat better now. Next I have to see Mr. Qureshi who has all those Moghul jewels I think I wrote you about and also the uncut stones and mineral deposits about which I wish to learn more. I am still under the Western delusion that “that’s gold in them thar’ hills” even though it may be minerals or gems or something that will help one garner rupees.

The idea that an American would take a pick and look is reprehensible. A Pakistani would take six outcastes or peasants and make them do that if they found anything it was his and if not, they get no wages. This is called “democracy.”

I will close now but if I think of anything or anything happens before posting (letters, not horses) will add.

S A M

Sheikh Ahmed Murad Chisti

Morning;

Praise God from whom all blessings flow and you being the day

By drinking two or three good cups of wonderful Nescafe;

The hulls are green, the flowers out—geranium and viola.

A very wonderful place to be—you can’t get Coca-Cola.

Actually poetry-writing is a game here, rather complicated because words rhyme easily but there is a campaign on against delinquency. I wish they had more baseball here and other games than cricket, but season’s you know.

My expense account as gone way up. There is a bookstore here and it is stacked with Peter Cheney and Err-ul Stanley Gardner. I can keep away from horses and woman, but I have my weaknesses too. Anyhow I am using these as gifts—I find all the intelligentsia like them. Me too.

Abbottabad, Hazara, W. Pakistan

April 5, 1961

Dear Dan:

As I have not kept a continuous diary I send a group of notes from which you may select as you will:

Multan: The American Army Engineers were may hosts. They are doing an excellent job in sanitation, barracks and house building and pest-control. The fly—not starvation, not space-conquest, not communism—has been the bane of these people. My prediction, that as soon as the Russians come we would see to it that a program of pest-control was put into operation has proven correct. As soon as Russians appear we come down to earth and do these things for which we have capabilities.

Enclosed are two pictures of me with the Wali (guardian-saint) of the tomb of the strange mystic Shams-i-Tabriz. I was welcomed by these people and others and am the first foreigner to have given them a talk on their own philosophy and teachings. Penalty: they all embraced me.

Foreign Aid: Rumors go around that we compel people to take certain types of aid instead of asking them what they want, or need. To some extent this is true. On the other hand anti-American propaganda moves faster that gift-goods. The present one is that we send them inferior Wheat. This propaganda is passed by gossips and envious people who themselves need nothing and who have not always been instilled with the spirit of charity.

In the UAR nothing is said about “inferior wheat.” There the wheat’s most satisfactory, of course. As soon as it is landed the stevedores come and change the signs from “U.S.A.” to from “U.S.S.R” So that “wheat” is good!

Lahore is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. I have conferred with the Tourist Bureau on the matter of making Lahore rather than Karachi the site of the international airport. Fortunately some measures have already been started in that direction. It has the most beautiful buildings in Islam outside the Taj. It contains the most wonderful gardens and I have never seen more flowers in bloom at once. All our summer and autumn flowers already in bloom in March.

Abbottabad is like a misplaced Maria. I have visited Begum Selim Khan here, widow of the first consul-general from Pakistan to San Francisco. Her garden is so much like those around Ross, and she has made it deliberately so. She has a multitude of Iris and Daffodils. The Iris here are of two varieties, one a very deep blue, deeper than even our Wild Flags, and with longer stems. The other is the largest blossom of this species that I have ever seen, with petals of pastel browns.

The hills are a sort of cross between Marin and San Bernadino Counties with the western Himalayas in the background.

Basic Democracy. There is a movement toward a real Asian type of democracy. The village is being organized on the same basis as that of ancient Aryans, plus some features that look like New England town meetings. Begum Khan has taken the leadership with the women to instill a political consciousness on them.

I visited a place called Khwaja Gan as a guest to one of these meetings. It is also the junction of territories where Pathan is spoken in one direction, Swati in another, Punjabi in a third and Urdu in the fourth. They are learning a common national patriotism and they are delighted with it.

Pukhtunistan. There has been a great deal of propaganda on this subject and the Afghans and Indians have been accused of fomenting it. I have met many, many Pathans and they are all strong for Pakistan. The reforms of Ayub interest and excite them. Besides that there is a rush toward education that is tremendous. There are many, many Pathans in the college here; and of course, those at Peshawar are filled with them.

The general tendency is for Pathans to attend the colleges and universities here and for the Urdu-speaking elite to go Germany, England or America.

American Institutions are encouraging these movements. I have had only tentative talks with the representatives of Asian Foundation and the American Friends of the Middle East. But already a stream of young men have come to me.

American Professors Here. I have met two, both from the S.F. Bay area. They are very popular. Like myself, they have found their ways blocked by the European “experts” on the Orient which cluster especially in California. It is a totally false and untenable policy to employ Europeans for our so-called information about Asia. The Asians would like to speak for themselves; or else have Americans do this. We cannot and will not win the hearts of peoples with whom we do not deal directly.

Parker in Lahore and Connaught here are nobodies in the S.F. Bay region and are very popular in these parts. They mingle with the people. They learn from experience what Burdick (“The Ugly American”) could not know. For every district has its private dialect or series of dialects. We shall have to choose between actually going to villages and writing editorials on the subject.

Those Americans who have gone to villages have all been ambassadors of goodwill and those editors and commentators, some of whom we esteem greatly, fail because there is no wisdom without humility. By mingling with humanity and learning from them we support the best American propaganda.

Disappearance of Communism. General Ayub has cleaned up the country. Gone are the lurid magazines, gone are the whispering campaigns. The book-stalls do not have much American non-fiction but what is there is clean, like “Time.” They do have a considerable degree of American fiction and our favorite, Earl Stanley Gardener, is the favorite here.

Law Courts. This is a very complicated subjects because at the moment there is a cross-current of Hindu, Islamic, British and contemporary Pakistani law, complicated by the poly-lingual district. The tendency is to settle each case on its merits so far as possible and the unwritten law is very powerful at the moment.

The attorneys who are not busy are given a reading room and most of them are reading “Perry Mason.”

(Interruption at this point, resuming concerning topics of interviews.)

Pakistani Culture: It is a curious thing that we do not deal directly with this ally of ours. We either classify it as an “Islamic Country” and place Islamic culture under the tutelage of Europeans and Zionists, or we called it a “South Asian Country” and add to the Europeans Hindus, omitting the Zionists. What kind of logic, what kind of psychology this is I do not know but it is the almost.

universal policy with our press and universities. On top of that the American press and magazines have a most confusing hodge-podge of non-geography in regard to the recent visits of Queen Elizabeth.

Moghul Culture has been very wide-spread and is the dominant factor in most Indian arts, a subject that many Indians, whom we welcome in the U.S. by-pass, so we remain in ignorance thereof. Some of the greatest characters in history are totally ignored.

Moghul Wealth. The Moghul Emperors were once the richest rulers on earth. Many books teach that this wealth has disappeared. It has not disappeared. I have seen goodly portions of it and am getting very factual information as to the location of much more. I hope to inform the Department of South Asian Studies, University of California in Berkeley; and Conlon & Associates on Clay St. in San Francisco about such matters.

Natural Resources. In this very California-like country I am not only sure there is much mineral wealth here, but I am getting data on the subject and have been invited by several people to visit mines. In the country to the north which I have also visited, it is more Colorado-like in structure. I am going also to try to get as much objective information.

People. There is only one book, Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North West Frontier Province by H.A. Rose which made a detailed study of this country and its peoples. An American studying in American universities, under non-American, non-Asians, was turned down so many times in efforts to review this book for class work, that it was abandoned.

This country is full of dervishes. They are coming to my aid. They are leaders in politics, education and community development despite all the misinformation on the subjects we swallow from our non-Asian, non-American “experts.”

Pukhtunistan and Russia. There is always another Laos or Czecho-Slovakia or VietMinh in the making. American reports have been turned aside by the press who then criticize the State Department. My records have been accepted by the Foreign Service here. I have met many Pathans and everyone is from Pakistan. The universities are crowded with Pathan students; many of the Urdu-speaking youths go to Europe or Great Britain or the United States for instruction.

The Pushtun leaders have been subsidized by Afghanistan. They have not been very successful and one, the leader, has gone to Soviet Russia. The Russians are encouraging a very reactionary region in Afghanistan but you can be pretty sure when it is overthrown it will be by a “Castro-Junta” to our dismay. We have treaties with Pakistan in S.E. Asia and here. We have treaties. The people have in many instances asked me whether it would not be better to “trust” Russia whom they can honestly mistrust than the United States which never seems to be with them in crises. One can almost say that someday the corrupt government in Afghanistan will be overthrown and we shall have another Czech-Slovakia or Viet-Minh, etc. I hope you will take this seriously. I am tired of predicting the mobbing of USIA libraries only to find them happening or in the last instance to see them happening.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Abbottabad

April 6

My dear Horace:

I am reversing a procedure and sending you my diary notes with copy to Harry because there will be more concern with the Mineral than the Vegetable Kingdom. I have tried three times to write but like Emerson’s inventor of a mouse trap, the world is beating a path to my door and there are constant interruptions. My problem today is that while things are not going wrong, too many things are coming right.

When I first met you I had three groups of enemies, which can be called (a) Personal, (b) Yaleites, (c) European professors of Oriental Philosophy called EPOOP for short. The chief personal enemy was a woman who did everything possible to destroy me and in the past few years my affairs have compelled me to become friends of her husband’s associates. They lauded me several times in public and right in front of her and I met her husband in Cairo to his surprise and that is over.

The Yaleites gave me a bad time. When my father died he left a will saying that because neither my brother nor I had offspring the bulk of the estate was to go to one of four institutions – three hospitals and the fourth the University of California. I called there and had a most miserable time with a Yaleite who ended, “You are wasting your time and mine.” I thought afterwards that I was not wasting my time and look with negative satisfaction that U. C. was cut out of the will.

Prof. Wild of Harvard at an international gathering called down the Yaleites by name in their presence and made no bones about it. When I returned in 1957 I found that the Yaleites had been removed or demoted on the Berkeley campus and the whole of the South Asian field and others were in the hands of Harvard Professors. When I reached Cambridge I got the brief announcement: “We want to know everything that you know that we do not.” I left there with the right to ask for a permit from the Pakistani Govt. to do research on the Lost Tribes of Israel—this for Prof. Cross of “Dead Sea Scrolls” fame; this also from various departments connected with the Orient. I met in UAR several graduates from Harvard and there was complete understanding—objectivity in research.

When I reached Lahore I met Prof. Barker, a graduate student from Cal. He was an honor student until he began seeking a job and then the whole gang of EPOOPS from Cal, Stanford, Pacific and their radio stations ganged up on him. He and Prof. Connaught from San Francisco and Stanford who is here in Abbottabad, greatly praise the Fulbright Foundation which opens up jobs for Americans only in the Oriental field. Our colleges are filled with Europeans who misinform us about Asia and cause resentment. This is a long story. When we get to have Americans and Asians meeting face to face we shall win the international conflict. The selection of Harvard professors, admired in Asia, though not always in the press, is viewed with complete satisfaction and I feel at the moment that all my previous “grief” is gone and only encouragement ahead provided I can hold the pieces together.

A couple of weeks ago B.A. Qureshi sought me out. He had four interests: (a) Psychic Research which need not concern us, besides nothing has been done in my presence: (b) Sufism into which we need not go excepting to say this is of great help to me socially and now financially; (c) Minerals, ores, uncut stones, into which I shall go presently; (d) the Moghul treasures, perhaps the most exciting and E. Phillips Oppenheim episode in the midst of a lot of E. Phillips Oppenheim episodes.

Abbottabad is in a sort of saddle or more rightly a rift valley. The water drains in three directions. It looks like a piece of Marin with San Luis Obispo and San Bernardino elements added. The western end of the Himalayas is in the background with still some snow. The weather is quite Marinesque. The trees and flowers are quite similar. The Chenar is now in full foliage and one can understand why the Persians were so crazy about it. It is P. orientalis, but its russet color and palmate leaves make it look almost like a Maple. However it has a very strong trunk and not so strong branches. This tendency for strong trunks also appears in the Pine and Eucalyptus here, but the E. globulus, or variety has much larger bows and tends to “umbrella.” So does the Pine in its adult stage. In fact all conifers seem to have very distinct youthful and adult behaviors.

At breakfast I found Vinca, Freesias and Calendulas on the table. I wrote somewhere a poem about the presence of the flowers, these and the viola; the fact you can get good coffee, but not a sign of coca-cola. They give you the tin and a pint of hot water, for about ten cents. You would like that—but it is Nescafé. They can get Maxwell House from army stores.

Yesterday I went hill climbing and last night Arif Khan called on me. His Father is a professional mineralogist. Apparently he and Qureshi hardly know each other but I have been invited to go hill climbing and look at ores and late last night Khan senior asked for a meeting after I return from Rawalpindi.

My experiences in UAR plus the policy of the economic geologists there is that if land is not fit for agriculture, why not tackle it as a basis of minerals. I wrote at great length about sands, clays, refractory materials. As I have told people the great difference between U.S.A. and their countries was that our first president was a surveyor, and that we have been great on surveying and geology. So we know something about our country. The British made no geological surveys to any amount and they throw countries into freedom without any idea of their internal resources.

Coming up this way I saw huge deposits of red rocks and a few places reddish friable soil. I have never been to Minnesota but it looked similar to the pictures I have seen. Qureshi told me that there is another such deposit on the hills toward the northeast. I have not been able to go over the Khan material other than Talc which is here in profusion and they also have a marble quarrel. Qureshi has been more interested in cut stones. I am going to try to get a complete picture before long on this. I am always excited by stones. I have been told there are lead and uranium deposits too.

North of here are Himalayas and just beyond that the conflux of these and the Karakorum and Hindu Kursh mountains, very high, explored more for Ova Polis and mountain climbing and not for minerals. I may or may not add to this before conclusion.

Moghul Wealth. Introduction. One of my wars against the people has been the absolute conclusions they have offered us—and if you don’t except you get kicked out or flunked and I am not fooling.

When I reached Cairo the hero was Prof. Creswell who proved that all his predecessors were wrong concerning Islamic Architecture—and they were, too. The there are the pyramids. I tell you, Horace, most books are hokum. Every few years there is the absolute finality that the “last” has been discovered. Well they found more king’s tombs when I was there and every few weeks another pyramid. I told Prof. G. Hughes, head researcher for the American, thank God, Oriental Society, that I did not believe 10% of the ruins had been uncovered. He agreed—well, there have been revolutionary discoveries since then.

The tremendous rigor we use in petroleum analysis or in soil chemistry has not been applied in archeology, anthropology, etc., until very recently. And scientists do not lean on names, they lean on facts. But the EPOOPs are different. I got elected in the Royal Asiatic Society by pulling the rug from under their feet and it is going to be pulled more. The evidence of Jewish and Greek remains here is tremendous and little is done.

Qureshi is descended from the Court Jeweler of Emperor Aurangzeb who made the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Rockefellers small town…indeed whatever the Nizam inherited came in part from this source. The Qureshi family has kept a complete account of genealogy, history and gem
records. And despite the EPOOPs I have seen about a million dollars worth of stones, beginning with Rubies that knocked my eyes out.

Qureshi kept a record of all family stones—they have been weighed and tested by the most modern methods. He has to go to England soon where he has a consignment not sold. One Harry Winston of New York offered a huge price which the bank of England turned down and he is going to sell those stones or take them away. He has offered double the commission to his British agents but they want to keep them in England. Even the Queen is involved.

He has been making some inquiries with a Los Angeles firm and on top of that the deal would be handled by the Habib-Bank of America connections. It just happens that I have put unwittingly put my money in those banks without knowing that they were associated and once worked for Russell Smith who was the top man in this field and today is a very good friend.

I have written to Condon & Associates on Clay Street, carbon to James Wilson, Foreign Trade Section, C. of C. on this matter for Qureshi tells me has or has access to more wealth than the L.A. firm can handle. (I have long since been a Jew in religion but you can't stop the nose—I did not overlook anything before I left.) And I have not yet written to Gump's either and that may be coming.

Qureshi has also kept in touch with the families of all former nobles of the Moghul Empire. When that ended in 1857 the persons scattered but kept in touch with each other. He is willing and perhaps he is already acting as agent for them and so can release a horde of wealth which the
EPOOPs insist is no more.

On top to that, and I don’t know how, Qureshi has a lot of relics from the Gandhara and before that the actual Greek times—including a gold inlay of "Alec-the-Greek" which is by itself worth into six figures. I don’t know much about the Greek skills but my knowledge of Oriental art does not help much here, but I shall take this up with the Americans in Lahore when I get there.

The American foreign office service in Lahore previously and now, have been my best advisors. They are dead set against the EPOOPs and previously advised me even to go to court—which I may. For our strange blind acceptance of personalities, and these not graduates of American universities either, is the best ally of Russia in this field. It is incomprehensible why our newsmen and many of our universities simply do not trust Americans and do trust strangers—to the fury of Orientals in all parts.

Qureshi wants to see me and I him as often as possible before he leaves for England and I expect to stay here until he returns. he has arranged for a bungalow for me.

I have again been a guest of M. Rabbani who visited me in S.F. and which I visited in 1956. I had a strange encounter in London—which ended by my being embraced in public by Lady
Ravensdale who is now a member of the House of Lords in her own right. Well Rabbani and Lady R. are close friends and associates and he is taking me to Rawalpindi shortly for a conference.

Rabbani took me many miles north. We passed a village called "Khaki" and I was told that that is where we got the English word. We arrived at a village called Khwaja Can and I saw what they are doing in what they call B. D. or Basic Democracy. It is sort of cross between the ancient Indian Panchayat and the New England town meeting. It is self-determination with a vengeance. I told a few of them, that it was not my business to comment but that what I thought they needed was tree-planting. I got it right back. At their first meeting I was told that all the simple villagers who, strange to say, were allowed to talk, came out for tree-planting. It was carried with enthusiasm.

Now I am interested because I have been telling the folks here that with tree-planting and mining the whole district could be prosperous. In India and Japan they stick Apples in the ground wherever they can grow and Conifers where Apples cannot. They have a Pome here which is like a very large Olive but has little pectin and practically no esters so its taste is far, far away from the Crab. The Apples are in flower but I am told many do not fruit. There is no pruning done.

Mrs. Salim Khan, widow of the first Consul-General of Pakistan to S.F. is here and her place looks just like a Marin garden But she told me she is now going to introduce fruits. There are a few Prunus species here too. I have not re-visited Rabbani's place but will undoubtedly later.

There are no small fruits here but Strawberries are certainly indicated. The parks here resemble those of S.F. more than any I have seen. I reported this previously to Harry. There are now other San Franciscans here and I expect Andul Satter soon. He was for a long time Consul-General of Pakistan to S.F. and is one of the best friends I have in the world. It just seems that now life is so much for me as it used to be against me.

At Rawalpindi I shall meet another friend, Ansar Nasri, who is director of radio. This can lead to anything; I have to be prepared for all sorts of things. The government is crying about the saline and water-logged soil problems but the papers have not published my articles, or else I missed the editions. I have just the right literature in my portfolio but I shall make every effort to see top
officials. At the moment everything looks very good, but sometimes too much. I am also preparing to lecture at the college.

There is probably lots more, but I have run out of energy and soon will be going for a hike.

Cordially,

Sam

Abbottabad,

April 7

My dear Chingwah:

You may remember that we agreed that more spirituality might be transferred through commercialism than all the intellectual exhortations and metaphysics. The wheel of karma turns and it is one of the ironic patterns that lecture-wallahs are about the last persons to recognize it. Nicholas Roerich claimed to be a messiah and when tragedy struck he cried: “How could it happen to me!”

I am not here going to relate what is going on in the necessary rewriting of the history and more particularly the art-history and archaeology of all the countries I have been visiting because of the nonsense of what I am now calling the EPOOPS, European Professors of Oriental Philosophy. When next I go to Ellora and Arjanta I am going to write down a statistical report of the caves, nationality and data. I am telling people it is no wonder the Burmese attack our cultural centers—where in the U.S. have the Burmese been permitted to present their own case.

At the moment I have the ego-satisfaction of finding that the efforts of communist infiltration observed in situ, that is in place, were reported by the Manchester Guardian the same day I wrote to Chet Huntley. The details were all the same and my objection to the John Birch Society is that in looking for communists under the sofa they don’t see those sitting in the chairs.

I had to write Rudolph a letter a few days back. I am in a position to collect both materials and data; I am not in position to be refused and so I am preparing to send things to Hollywood rather than S.F. or was until a bunch of doors opened all at once.

When I returned to Lahore from this district a few years back I was attacked in public by a German professor of Oriental Philosophy who was representing the universities of his country, Great Britain and the U.S. He had credentials all over the place; he did not have knowledge. Within a week I was a hero and the overtones of that alone have me on a most busy schedule—outside my basic program.

I met some merchants there who promised to sell me things under the counter. When I called at Faletti’s I had the unusual experience of a Munshi—who had read my fortune before, coming out into the court and calling from a distance: “Hello, Samuel L. Lewis, Ahmed Murad Chisti. Welcome, I have been waiting for you.” This is not the first experience of this sort I have had. Anyhow the Munshi took so much of my time I had no chance to interview the merchants. I should be going to Lahore again about the end of the month.

In the meanwhile all my efforts have been well received and after mailing this I go to Rawalpindi to be the guest of Radio Pakistan and perhaps more. I have gone through the bazaars here and all I have located in Abbottabad are silverwork and silk things. I shall undoubtedly buy some of the latter but until I go to Peshawar, will not go into other things.

Into my life have come B.D. Qureshi and the Khan Brothers. They are independently interested in mineralogy, uncut stones, ores, etc. When I return from Rawalpindi I have an important meeting with the Khans who are going to start a ceramic factory here. This will be a story in itself which I shall not tell now, but report later, inshallah as they say here.

Before leaving San Francisco I had talks with Conlon & Associates on Clay St., James Wilson of the C. of C. and Martin Rosenblatt. This has been most fortunate, for B. D. Qureshi here has placed in my hands the possible marketing of a good bit of Moghul Wealth. Now it is one thing for the Epoops and Chaudhuri or even Coomaraswamy to give emotional exhortations as the basis for Hindu and other art and also to exclude Moghul Culture—which undoubtedly was the greatest of this region and many another region. And it is another thing to come forward with actual pieces of that art and furthermore, introduce them into commerce.

The American Academy of Asian Studies did a good job in interesting people in the Orient and an awful job in trying to explain that Orient; and in particular, that basis of dogmatism: “We Hindus are not dogmatic.” So help me God and Allah.

I have written to Martin, to Conlon and next to the Bank of America, for Qureshi is leaving for England soon and has granted me permission to act as his correspondent and secretary in his absence. I cannot, of course, predict any direct negotiations. I shall also take this up with the American Consulate at Lahore where I have found much cordiality.

Incidentally there are two other Sam Lewises here—Barker at Lahore, graduated from U. C. and Connaught here, from S.F. and Stanford. They were snubbed by the Epoops and are the best ambassadors of peace I know—not Washington symbols but the real thing. Bringing Asians and Americans together without intermediaries will straighten out many a dilemma.

Meanwhile I am learning a good deal about ancient Jewish and Greek culture here. It is time to consult the natives and not the professors from Leiden, Oxford or “Beer Hall.” Furthermore I expect to find some things. I have been given tips on Swat (descended from the Greeks) and Pathans (supposedly from the Lost Tribes). But I hope to go further since I am also getting tips on art relics.

My hope has been to get at least one Gandhara object for you from Swat but we shall see. I have also had a cordial letter from my friend, Phra Sumangalo at Penang. That is a long way off.

You will understand I love Rudolph, but I am not going to be belittled by exudation of emotions over professors from afar. That demi-god Jüng praised Koestler who abolished Mrs. Suzuki and Dr. Radhakrishnan. This ought to awaken us about all these Europeans who know much about Europe.

I saw that mob in Cairo attacking the Belgian and American Embassies. How many Egyptians have we in the U.S. teaching us about the culture of the Near East? How many Pakistanis have we talking about their culture? Here we have Indus valley, “Lost Tribes,” Greeks, Gandharas and two sorts of Islamic Culture—all subverted. No wonder the Pakistanis don’t understand us.

Anyhow we come back to business. Never mind the exhortations. Let the facts and the arti-facts speak for themselves. If there is anything I can do for you please let me know.

Cordially, Samuel L. Lewis

Rawalpindi, Pakistan

April 9, 1961

World Affairs Council of Northern California

421 Powell St.

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Friends:

In re: The EPOOP, or European Professors of Oriental Philosophy

Today one of the newspaper leads was the ban on an Epoop book. One can well understand that. In America, or rather in the universities, the chances are that the Epoop book would be required reading. In California, in particular this is so, with a sort of cynical attitude toward books by Americans on the Orient, the same books being admired in actual Asia.

In the past 24 hours I have met about 100 persons. I am at the present moment the guest of Radio Pakistan. Last week I visited a meeting of the B.D. or Basic Democracy. It was presided over by a Sufi. The Epoops in California unanimously deny there are any important Sufis today, or if so, they are not in politics. You cannot dispute with them or you will be in serious trouble. I am going to run down the story of Prof. Barker in Lahore more, for it substantiates what I have been saying.

The manager of Radio Pakistan is a Sufi. My former host in East Pakistan, a retired general, lives in Rawalpindi, he is also a Sufi. He told me there are many Sufis in high places here. The late Ahmed Bokhari spoke to a large crowd in S.F. in 1957 but the Epoops ignored him, they had to. If Pakistan is classified as an Islamic nation, the “authorities” are Epoops or Zionists. If it is classified as a South Asian Nation, the Zionists are displaced by Hindus. No wonder Russian grapevine propaganda is successful. Lies are spread but the absence in the United States of general cultural interchange is something we cannot overcome by conferences or lofty editorials. These things never reach the masses. Subtle whisperings do.

I told my friend Ansar Nasri, Director of Radio Pakistan, that I found at least six cultures here, exclusive of Indian influences: Indus Valley, Hebrew, Greek, Gandhara, Afghan and Moghul, although I did not consider the list complete. At Harvard they accepted my verbal reports, no questions were asked, merely facts and substantiations. In California with the exception of Dick Parks and his successors it was quite another story.

Pakistan is large enough and populated enough to be given equal treatment with Italy and superior, let us say, to Sweden or Spain. We never think of that. Urdu is a cultural language with an immense literature, hardly touched. Back of Iqbal there is a whole procession of geniuses.

Circumstances in life have directed me to become interested in Moghul Art treasures and natural mineral wealth. I am following that up because all the matters have been put in my hands. Since writing Conlon I have also written to Gump’s (Martin Rosenblatt) and the Bank of America. If we can’t have cultural exchange we at least can have commercial exchange. These facts of life are going to speak out so loud that our universities will be compelled to accept them. I am very much opposed to have any non-Asian teach Asian subjects unless he has had a degree of a proper Asian university or the approval of the country in question.

Unfortunately in the case of Pakistani and its related culture, the top American—who has received Federal backing, has refused to accept papers dealing with the deeper aspects of this subject and has insisted, and quite falsely, that he does not find Muslims and Pakistanis with a good knowledge of English. We are now considering before Congress a Federal appropriation for a school of Asian studies, and if Moore gets his fingers in and appoints his Epoop friends, we might as well resign.

In the case of Pukhtunistan I recently wrote Chet Huntley a detailed report of my direct experience. But the day I mailed it the Manchester Guardian published its review and at least, although far from a scoop, I was right on every point. Up to the Kennedy Administration it has either been exceedingly difficult for an American to send in warnings, excepting to our Foreign Service who still bare the false stigma of “Ugly Americanism.” Now the Foreign Service not only receives reports from its Nationals, but they are permitted to screen these reports and send in suggestions. The Foreign Service knows what is going on and this includes the Epoops too.

I remember the time there was an Iqbal celebration in S.F. As I had corresponded with Iqbal, in a sense, am his poetic disciple. I asked to speak. “We would like to have you on the program, but we don’t want to offend the Asians.” An Epoop was one of the principal speakers. “I am very glad to have this opportunity to address you on the greatest of Asia’s poets, Rabindranath Tagore.” This man still gives our degrees on Asian subjects. He is, to say the least, not very popular in Pakistan or for that matter, Asia. Not a single Epoop is recognized in Asia, only in the U.S.

Prof. Connaught from San Francisco who also lives in Abbottabad has recently sent letters to the Chronicle. He bet me they would not be published. The Americans who see history being made, often, do not stand in with the press. But I have been here about 30 hours, have had one interview after another, addressed an audience on Islamic Culture in the U.S., am having my poetry reviewed and am promised interviews with all the top officials on each and every one of the projects which I have brought: saline soils, desert soils, salt water conversion, desert agriculture, culture exchange … and finally an interview with either the President or his Secretary. I am not ready for the last—indeed I left my introductions in Abbottabad, but this is in line with my previous relations with Pakistani officials. I had a sendoff in East Pakistan equal in every way to my being permitted to see the Royal Cemetery, etc. in Japan. (Mr. Nichols was present when Prime Minister Kishi greeted me. I seem to have friends all over and I want to use those friendships to help my country, not my ego.)

If any big interviews come to pass I shall airmail the San Rafael Journal Independent and ask them to distribute copies. I am writing as if optimistic because there is a tremendous program before me—more, far more than I can handle. I shall try to screen this program when I reach Lahore with the American Friends of the Middle East and Asia Foundation. I have been in places in each country either not visited by research workers or obtain data not yet included in authorized texts. The temptation now is to return to the University of California to work for a special degree, but there are so many opportunities before me I cannot even be sure of clarity. And if there is an opportunity now to represent Pakistan I may accept, but wish this cleared first.

Sincerely, Samuel L. Lewis

April 12, 1961

My dear Harry:

As I have told you before and will no doubt tell you again I am the damnest piece of “Fools for Luck” you ever saw. I always stumble into the right places without knowing where I am going. This is the temporary capital. The new capital will be Islamabad, nine miles to the North. In the meanwhile the governmental offices are scattered here and there, there are no maps of any kind and districts spring up like mushrooms. The busses are very cheap but not always direct.

I wanted to go to the Mining Office. Because in Abbottabad where I live there are all kinds of mines which I hope to meet and I wanted some sort of geological and mineral reports. So got a taxi. The taxi-driver, the tonga-wallah, etc., must know to drive. They don’t have to know anything elsa but “Yes” Sir and “Get in.” In some places you have to have faith in God or Allah, preferably both with a few more names thrown in to be sure you will get out alive. In Pakistan your body is perfectly safe, you know you won’t get killed. That is all you know. You may start out from a know position and that is it. You don’t get into the wild blue yonder, you just go into the wild yonder.

Well yesterday the wild yonder was the Agricultural Experimental Station. Fortunately I was shown how to get a bus back. Well there I was in the middle of a huge station and when I finally found a building a man come along and he was the man in charge of records and information. In a little while I was with Mr. Pirzada, the director. We had about two hours conversation but it was agreed that it was only a preliminary effort.

They are interested in Sugar, Strawberries, Corn, Cotton, and Mr. Pirzada is the chief Floriculturist of Pakistan. I hope to see him later and go into details. The Strawberry is a new crop. It has been planted successfully in the mountain regions and they are trying it on the plane here, elevation 1500 feet. The young plants are vigorous. They are hilled and irrigated. They have not yet fertilized and I wanted them about the Himalaya method of putting a lot of Ammosulphate and getting beautiful dark green shrubs! They put on P fertilizer separately.

I told them about F. veluntina and P. lyonii—there I go again. We discussed reforestation which will be go into from time to time. They have done experimental work on lawns but do not know about traffic grasses. The trouble is that they lump the grasses for landscaping, athletic fields and fodder, etc. and are too new in this to separate each kind out. I may go into this further later one.

My host here is Ansar Nasri, director of Radio Pakistan, whom I visit daily. On the next block is the Soil Conservation Center. There I met Mr. Riaz and we agreed that I would help him look into materials on Erosion. I started a latter to Karachi but it is unfinished. This, I think is the biggest problem next o saline soils.

Then there is General Ayub National Park. “My dear chap, you can’t go in there.” “My dear chap, I have just come from there. “Same story, but a new chapter. They use lots of pots and the big blossom at the moment is the Clarkia, which grows quite tall and branched. I saw a greenish Gazania. Sweet Peas here grow tall and straight though strings are also need. Whether it is the type, feeding or what, they stand up. This would seem to indicate K in the soil and at the Research Center nothing was said about Potash being needed.

There are all kinds of pots but I could not take notes-Cinerarias, Calendulas (which here tend to be simple and yellow), Pansies, Roses, Freesias, and Hollyhocks. I shall try to look around later, Mr. Nasri has introduced me to Secretary Shahab with whom I have had two conferences and tomorrow morning, inshallah, I am to meet President Ayub Khan in person. Say, isn’t there some mistake? How did I get in here? How! I would like to know myself; any suggestions?

Brevity is the soil of wit and I guess I am the most witness man there is. How did I get into this company?

Rawalpindi,

April 15

My dear Mr. Everts:

I am enclosing a copy of a letter written to my home city although I have serious doubts of its being published or even reviewed. I have been meeting people here in such large quantities I cannot absorb all their names or positions. But I am being called into counsel on matters which are of grave importance to Pakistanis, and to us not important at all. I think I told you that one “myth” which absolutely stands in the way of friendships abroad is that about religion. We won’t touch it. But not only do we not touch it we turn it over to non-American, non-Asians and think it is overlooked.

There is the great (to the local people) question of Islamic Culture in the U.S. They want cultural exchange (Russia has granted them that) and they want also to have teachers in the U.S. on Islam.

We can’t touch religion, oh no! We have the Mosque in Washington; we have the Canadian-American Muslim League. That takes care of everything! Have you ever read their publication: Some of the best simple explanations of Qur’an and Islam I have ever come upon. And some of the nicest most sedate articles about the virtues of “Anti-Imperialism.”

Sheikh Shaltout of Al-Azhar not only lectures on Islam, he also speaks on anti-imperialism. He does not spread “Islam,” he waits until heterodox teachers go from Pakistan and then he “corrects” the teaching. The “heterodox” Pakistanis are all strongly anti-communist. The “orthodox” Aharites are “anti-imperialists,” behind the scene, they supported the mobbing of our embassy in Cairo—I was there, and they have not protested against the treatment of Muslims in UAR or China, or even India.

You never saw Sheikh Shaltout go to Russia. We don’t hear of him sending Imams to Russia. He sends Imams to the U.S. They are thoroughly clear in UAR. They are cleared of all kinds of things, but not of “anti-imperialism.” So we are going to find the U.S. encouraging “anti-imperialist” Islam and rather shun the Pakistanis, heterodox or orthodox. Then we will get rid of some of the “Epoop” control, but we shall be the laughing stock of Asia. We don’t know the religions, we don’t really study them as they are, and we do not support our friends.

I won’t go so far as to say that Imams, etc. from UAR are going to be subservient to Russia. But I do say that Imams from Pakistan will be friendly to us and all the Pakistanis I have met are strongly anti-Russian, especially the “fanatics” who are all over the place.

I have met multitudes of Sufis (whose existence is denied in the U.S.) and I have met multitudes of heterodox Muslims who want to do missionary work and whatever their brand of Islam, they are our friends.

You can see why I am so anxious to work with “The World Congress of Faiths’ which is totally non-political and which permits each faith to be presented by its own speakers. The United States started this at the World Columbia Exposition in Chicago in 1893, inviting all religions to send their representative and explain them. End of paragraph. End of subject, or maybe the beginning and the revival of a very American method—I hope so.

Sincerely, Samuel L. Lewis

My dear Florie:

It is morning, April 16 and, as, I have said, I hope to meet the Pir-o-Murshid and other Sufis today. I continued in Burckhardt which gives some idea of Sufi “philosophy” but not much of operative Sufism. The idea of utilizing love as a means of communication remains an idea. Sufism has been identified with Bhakti. In the Bhakti I have witnessed outside of Ramdas there is an ecstatical relation with what one calls “God” in some form which is nothing but transcendental infatuation. It brings ecstasy but not breadth of outlook or being. Real love is a universal communication which runs in all directions. In the spider-web each ring is connected not only with the center but with each other. Thus the love and brotherhood go together.

The other form of teaching comes from effacement before the teacher. The teacher is real and living. I have read a lot of books about spiritual teachers and the books as such, are generally true, but the writers often have no capacity for surrender. This is not abolition of self. In the prayers one puts his head to the ground and raises it up. In discipleship there is something of the same thing. In the mystical side of breath there is the same thing but none of the professors who ever taught at the Academy know this. Some of the Swamis know it and therefore I am still compelled to place Ramakrishna and even the Vedanta Society way beyond the empty-intellectualism of the professor, especially those who have their so-called knowledge from books and not from lives of persons or even their own lives.

Last night, after finishing what I had written to you, two young men came in. The father of one of them works for radio Pakistan and he is also a Sufi disciple. The young men and his friend have been troubled at the seeming dichotomy between traditional religious instruction and modern scientific instruction. I had no trouble answering their dilemmas. Actually there is not much difference between the scientific outlook and the spiritual outlook. As the world stands the metaphysician has gotten in between the scientist and mystic in the West add has sent up clouds of effluvia and fog. In Egypt it was not so and here even less. The egocentric metaphysical outlook is not strong excepting where the German and Greek cultures came in. These cultures are better than the Jewish culture in being broad, but they lack devotion entirely and their “god” is a mental abstraction, not the center of worship. On the other hand, the Jews, while worshipping, have turned this into an egocentricity. Being egocentric they symbolically “crucify” Jesus who is the opposite spirit, that of surrender and universality. But the teaching of Moses was one of surrender and universality which he tried, in vain, to impose upon the Israelites.

Burckhardt is well aware of that and also of the verbal side of hidden teaching and the hidden side of verbal teachings. That is why I shall send you this book—and some others, after reading. I have not many books here to send, so may do a little purchasing because there is no use sending a small package and less use in me carrying dead weight. I think I’ll do this even if I do duplicate purchasing in Lahore. If you ever get to Rawalpindi I must recommend the London Book store.

I think I have a formula for the reconciliation of the different types of imams and missionaries above sect. I have won same awkward debates on this point, but most people are looking for solutions, rather than debates—how to present a common front in foreign lands. Gradually I must name Louis G., even officially, to show the harm he has done, perhaps more unconsciously than by intention. The question still remains whether Islamic studies will come under the Congress of faiths, under a Cultural Centre of under Imams. It will not come under the formula adopted in San Francisco, and which has not borne fruit. There will have to be surrender. It is inane to stick to the word “Islam” and show no surrender and little lillah.

This is a prediction and not a warning. The world today needs religion without emotionalism, rhetoric, veiled self-praise, veiled or open ancestor-praise, real non-racialism, real non-class distinction, and in the West, equal right between men and women in learning, if not teaching.

April 20

Dear Jack:

I started to pun: Spays, God from whom all blessings flow. It was a thumper. Soon my roof was bombarded by hailstones and I am land-locked. There was a tiny creek below this bungalow. There was. Not now. The kids are out taking their baths. They just put on soap and shorts and out they go. But, that was before the hail. I am starting this letter as part of my diary. I have not been writing regularly, too much. I have been having doors open for me all over but at Rawalpindi they opened faster. I did not see the President but I have been in “The White House” and he approves of everything I am doing. His secretary does not like some of the people to whom I have been exposed and who stood in my way. It is incomprehensible to Asians why we import Europeans and Canadians to teach their culture. They can’t understand why we don’t employ our own Americans, and they cannot understand why, if we have so much money and have not good Americans, we don’t employ them. I have been harping about this and the Big Shots in every country I have visited have been harping about it and now I am yelling louder. There is a new staff in Lahore but they are most sympathetic. All my belly-aching is getting support.

I called on Prof. Connaught yesterday, he is from S.F. He is happy over the Fulbright Foundation which offers jobs in Asia to Americans. They can’t get jobs in the U.S. because Europeans have these jobs but Europeans cannot get on the Fulbright scholarships. They have a lot of say. We have been bombarding the President’s “Peace Corps.” They are going to take kids from college and these kids are going out and teaching sewing and masonry and carpentry and brick-laying to Africans. And the Russians will then take some Americans and give them college degrees and send them home to teach sewing and masonry and carpentry and brick-laying. How long will the Americans last?

Somehow or other I get by wherever I go, and I meet other Americans who are very popular but not in the press at home. There have been famous Americans in Asia—I don’t mean Chester Bowles and they did unusual things and became popular but they did not do it the “American Way” which is nothing but the Russian Way in reverse English. Dr. Gardner Murphy went around asking people what they wanted and they told him and that made him popular but not “at home.” I ask people questions and the easiest way to become popular here is to drink tea and associate with them. So I drink tea and associate with everybody.

I had to get a padlock because the Muslims are the most moral people in the world and they even trust each other every Friday between 2 and 4 in the afternoon, they are so superior! Next I have to get some rugs. I bought a Pakistani Umbrella and nobody knew what a Pakistani Umbrella was until I showed them—you stick the hook in the back of your neck when it is not raining and walk free!

The next thing you must do here is to pretend to be religious. It is more important to pretend than to be religious which is very fortunate. The result is that most people are either ignorant or hypocrites and they don’t know it. I met a bunch of boys who said they were atheists and challenged me. Instead of getting angry I patted them all on the back, which was not what they expected. Anything for a laugh.

Did I tell you what happened when somebody put a Pathan cap on my head and said, “Now you are a Pathan.” “Pathan nothing. I am Puck of Pukhtunistan.” That is the same thing but now it is out so I am Sam Lewis between 6 A.M. and 12:30, Ahmed Murad between 12:30 and 5 and after that Puck. I am waiting for my friend Abdul Sattar from S.F. Now the noise is more, thunder and lightning in addition to hail. I think I shall have to send a packet of my letters home for files. I also visited a silversmith and will try to get a package off to Sausalito. I shall hold this open when there is something to write about.

Dear Bill:

This is my diary entry for April 22. You will excuse the red ink for both ribbons and paper are hard to get here. I am way behind both in my entries and everything else but I have a very serious report to make, so serious I am mentioning names. For I am near a powder keg, only today the Foreign Service listens to us little Americans who have experiences. While President Kennedy is dreaming in the skies of a “Peace Corps” there are a lot of Americans going around doing things, much more mature personalities and admired in Asia. And my position has been greatly strengthened at a time it did not particularly need strengthening by California colleagues here, who have been stuck in the same mire, for the same inane nonsense which has reacted in the destruction or attacks on USIA libraries. We do not have two-way cultural exchange and instead of meeting Asians face to face, we have self-appointed “Professors of Oriental Philosophy” (like Northrup) or Europeans greatly admired in California above all, but in general through the United States, not one of whom is recognized in Asia.

International Art as a Conveyor of World Peace.

You know I was mixed up in the Roerich complexities and wrote a minority report saying that art would have become a means to world peace and understanding unless the artists themselves were the leaders. He accepted the goodwill of every politician and international gangster and in the end lost everything. His personal losses may or may not have been important, but he started something which has continued: personnel as the nexus of world peace through the arts, so it becomes individual persons, rather than movements, which become the center of the stage.

There are two kinds of persons—those filled with self-esteem and those recognized abroad. My friend, Emil Fairchild, got the same deal in California as I did, went to India and was recognized all over. He has remained there. I do not know whether I shall meet him or not, but psychologically the story is the same.

You have in San Francisco the Baptistes and I am inclined to believe that some of Walter’s claims will be laughed at, at home. This is the usual, but they will not be laughed at in India. He was recognized by the Indian authorities before I left S.F. and a lot of other people who have been paraded around as “authorities” on India, were not recognized—indeed cannot be recognized.

It has been very hard to make my California friends believe that I have been behind the scenes, that I have associated with and talked with the biggest people in Asia, usually as an equal and I know what the score is. I have half a dozen projects, all approved in person by General Ayub Khan, in fact the last of them was suggested by him in “The White House” while I was there. As former Consul-General Abdul Sattar will be in Abbottabad shortly, I wish to take up these things with him, but before that I may have accomplished at least three of my missions here, inshallah. I shall stick to Art.

Ansar Nasri, Director of Radio Pakistan at Rawalpindi and soon to be the Chief of Broadcasting in this country is a very close friend of mine. He introduced me to Q.U. Shahab who is not only the top intellectual, but the Secretary to President Ayub, a cultured Sherman Adams, so to speak, but in an official position. Even before we were introduced he threw at me that same firecracker which I had in UAR and especially from Prof. S.C. Chatterji, Haridas’ mentor—“When are we going to get rid of Non-American, Non-Asian professors of “Oriental Philosophy?” This has been done ad nauseum. But inasmuch as it includes the whole subject of Pakistan Culture and these in turn include a multitude of art and art forms, for the sake of my diary record I am detailing them here.

1. The first culture here was that of Indus Valley. I do not wish to talk about it here. I have been told by Mr. Sattar’s father-in-law that he wants to take me on a tour and this would bring me so close to Harappa I should be visiting the place and will report there.

2. There are two forms of Iranian culture at least and I do not know enough about them. In Multan we had the grand “tile” architecture. If I find my pictures I shall enclose them, but will have to get more anyhow. This shows some of the detailed art work but it is a personal picture. Incidentally the men with me there are saints and they listened to me speak on subjects from which I was barred by all the “authorities” in the S.F. Bay region—no more.

The other was merged into the landscape gardening and finally in the Moghul culture of which more below.

3. The next was the Hebrew culture. There is no mystery about what happened to the “Lost Tribes” of Israel but there is a mystery why we don’t do field work on the subject. Fortunately I have the OK from Prof. Cross of Harvard of “Dead Sea Scrolls” fame. Taxila, despite all the “experts” who have never visited the place, is full of Persian, Greek and Hebrew (or rather Aramaic) elements, far, far more than Buddhist, and even these Buddhist things are not Indian.

4. Greek-Gandharv. The story here is that the Swatis are their descendents. I have seen examples of both pure Greek and Gandharv things. It is my dream that I can obtain a piece or two for San Francisco though in what capacity, I do not know. As I have the OK from top officials this is possible. In any event I am on close terms with the very top Buddhists elsewhere, none of whom are “officially” recognized in our schools, outside of Harvard, etc.

5. Turk-Afghan. This was a “strong” manly architecture and I suppose it developed in forts. Its highest achievement was the Ktub Minar in Delhi. It did not necessarily fuse into the next step.

6. Moghul Art. This is the grandest thing in all Asia. The so-called “American Academy of Asian studies” refused any paper on this subject. There are elements in India who are denying the importance of this art. The Sri Aurobindo School has a single book on the subject and Sri Aurobindo’s writings are not only valueless but positively detrimental if one wants to study Asian Art objectively and use the arts as means of bringing peoples together.

There is not one art in all India and Pakistan which did not stem directly or indirectly from Emperor Akbar and only one man who ever taught at the Academy took note of the fact.

7. Indian Art comes out strongest in the Folk-Craft. The weakness of this art was and still is, till the last few years, the caste system. No matter what anybody says, it is contemporary art, not politicians, not philosophers, not orators, which has rescued the craftsmen here from the caste shadow.

I had two such revolutionary experiences in Rawalpindi that I am all but ill, for the opposite reason that persons usually get ill. Secretary Shahab accepted every single one of my projects and then, with General Ayub’s approval added one more. The most personal of these was my poetry and that was demanded on the spot, in his home. I had to copy one section immediately for translation into Urdu. It is being published piece-meal in East Pakistan but I have discovered an extra copy which will be taken to Rawalpindi by me on my next visit. I am accepted at the top level as a successor to Iqbal. Fortunately for me, Admiral Evenson of the American Friends of the Middle East “discovered me” through my poetry; I know it will live. I have tried to evaluate myself objectively and have not been wrong, so far.

I have written to the School already about my experiences in Lahore, wither I shall go shortly to lecture on “Islamic Art” in UAR. These things will not be repeated.

At Rawalpindi—as elsewhere—I was introduced to a fellow Sufi who operates a hotel at moderate prices. Right next to the hotel is the Folk Art exhibit and I have looked over the things. I have written Martin Rosenblatt on other things—chiefly about the Moghul Treasures which have been placed at my doorstep, but I am almost in a quandary about what I saw. I cannot, at the present time, put out more than a certain amount of my money for “gifts” or “exhibitions,” and at the same time I can even less afford to let the opportunities go.

My visits in India showed a lot of wares not on the market, but now my friend Channon has some of them. I do not wish to send him anything from Pakistan until I talk things over with Sattar, for political and other reasons. The best things would be to cajole the Government into letting me have some “samples.”

Skipping all other things, I saw the most unusual leather-ware, and sculpture in Salt and Gypsum which “knocked my eye out.” The leather-ware comes from the Multan District and as Abdul Sattar’s father-in-law has invited me to that district later I may want to look into it is detail. The son (Abdul Sattar’s brother-in-law, was partly instrumental for my quarters here, the other host being Mr. Qureshi who has the Moghul treasures).

The Salt and Gypsum things amazed me so much I do not know what to say. The reaction was exactly the same as my childhood one to alabaster and my later one to Jade. As soon as my income tax is paid (I have until June 15), I shall have a surplus of funds—unless the unforeseen happens—which I might use. Or if I can make the arrangement that my friend, Robert Clifton made, that any moneys due him be paid in art goods I shall do just that.

This situation has, however, been made a little complex. Mr. Qureshi here wants to market some of the Moghul Wealth in S.F. He has a deal in Los Angeles and I have suggested consigning the gems or part of them to the Bank of America, just as some now are in the joint hands of the Bank of England and National Bank of Pakistan in London. I have not had replies from S.F. and if I do not, I may become a sort of commission agent and work with an importer. This will take time but it would throw a lot of things into one basket.

The Salt and Gypsum things come from Peshawar which is the center of many folk-arts which must be visited by me later, perhaps twice, at least.

Then not only my friend Qureshi, but the Khan Brothers of this town are interested in mines. There are all kinds mines, real and potential here. The most operative are Tale but I am looking for details. The most interesting, to me, will be the use of ores in Ceramics and I understand there is a start of this industry not far away. This also means that I hope to integrate many of these elements together.

The outlooks which I have had are shared in common with my juniors. Just as Teucer duce, I have caught the drift of modern art trends, so the whole age seems to be coming closer to views I hold previously, to outlooks wherein I was in the minority. Some of these things were psychological, no doubt. My scientific training has made me become hard in the matter of fact-finding and very careful to see that theories do not overlook facts. My bugbear, “The European Professor of Oriental Philosophy” has reached its reductio ad abaurdum when Koestler, with the blessing of Jung, abolished Dr. Radhakrishnan. The Foreign Service knows this; the Schools did not when I left the U.S. Now may be we shall be willing to look at Asia as it is. I think I wrote that; when I visit India next I shall take numerical notes of the contribution of each culture at the caves. Etc.

End of diary note.

April 25, 1961

My dear Barry:

Life goes along humdrum, which means that part of the time it is humming and part of the time it is drumming and I am never silent—thank God, for I guess I threw everything into this journey and I can’t say there have been no results.

There are beautiful hills around here and I am getting constant confirmations of their being treasures therein. I am acting part time as secretary to one Mr. B.D. Qureshi of this city who claims to have some of the Moghul wealth and I am making copy lists of his materials. He is trying to market the things in England, New York and California. The list I have here runs into six figures and there is a bare chance, if he does not dispose of them in the other places I may run around California. Anyhow I know people in L.A. and S.F. so I am not bothered.

Qureshi also knows about mineral deposits and that of China Clay particularly interests me. I hope he will either take me or show me how to get there. I understand there is at least one mountain of it of high grade.

I also go hill climbing with Arif Khan whose family have invested in mines, etc. and are starting, I am told, both a soap factory and ceramic factory therefrom. I shall learn everything I can.

Well Arif took me past the Forestry College. It used to be down on the flat near where I live. The Administration has gone to Peshawar but this campus has been moved high up and I guess they are just training the former students till they complete the training. Anyhow as I wandered into the place I ran into Dr. Abdul Hamid Khan, U. C. Berkley, 1948. It seems I am always running into something like that. We hit it right off.

He gave me two pamphlets which I have mailed. I know. There does not seem to be universal postal legislations; each town has a different system within itself; the codes are all in English and you never know what weight system (they’d also have a “wait” system) they have. On top of that the small coins and stamps being transferred over to a duodecimal system (I think I’ll enclose some of the old samples which may soon disappear) and that makes it complex, for one system is based on a combination of 12ths and 16ths and the other 10s and portions of 100. It costs far more to calculate than to waste the coins.

The booklet on Acacias interested me very much, but it is evident through my actual life I have had more experience with different kinds of Acacias then they have. One never stops to think of such things.

Today I paid a real visit and met also the assistant botanist and the Chief Ecologist. We were together about one hour and a half and it is agreed that I am to copy the tree list from “California Desert Agriculture” and also look through the bulletins on trees of the Southwest (needed for West Pakistan) and Swamp areas (needed mostly for East Pakistan). There is no question that the problem of water-logging is next after dry climates.

During the course of conversation they gave me my leads in Lahore where I might unload my literature on these subjects and also find out what they want next. Evidently Dr. Fireman did not come here but one of his assistants did. I shall follow this up, no doubt, before the end of the month. I now have a load of things for Lahore—lectures, conferences, what not, anyhow.

They knew a little about F. velutina here but not much. They are more acquainted with Eucs, especially E. globulus but have never used it for drainage purposes. I am again reminded about the Euc. Conference in Rome but I never did get hold of any final report on it. I have seen many of them now in many places and they behave and function rather differently in different environments.

They don’t know about T. distichum here at all. Evidently I was fortunate to have lived in the Carolina swamps. Sometime it might pay me to visit that area and look it over in view of my accumulated knowledge of the past few years, especially.

I guess I shall also add to my conference subjects with you that of visiting the nursery in Saratoga or nearby which has the Calif. natives. By the time I get home I think I shall have Horace and you to a Smorgasbord to satisfy your appetites and give us a long session. Anyhow the food here is so different.

I also want to ask Dr. Hamid Khan about the training he received from Cal. While this stands out in my mind I am also aware of the lawsuit in which my close friends are involved which could lead me to some nursery work. I had a fortune teller me I would land both, splitting the year. We shall see.

I occupy a room in a hostel near the college. I went to the graduation and was asked to speak to the Junior Science Club. I thought I might tell a little about the science training at City College. Of course this will be confined to biological and chemical courses, but the systems used and the fact that they also training for lab technicians should interest the boys.

Abdul Sattar, long time Consul-General at S.F. arrives soon. He is one of my best friends. His brother-in-law goes to the college here and wants to take further work in one of the colleges or universities at S.F. Fortunately both Asia Foundation and the American Friends of the Middle East have offices at Lahore.

It is very beautiful now, gets warm in the middle of the day but not in my room and there is a pleasant balcony outside where I can also type or eat.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Abbottabad,

April 25, 1961

World Affairs Council

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Friends:

At the moment World Affairs are very much my affairs. I am enclosing a copy of letter to the Second Secretary of the Embassy at Karachi. When I visited Lahore in 1956 the Consul-General confided in me and begged me to go on several errands without mentioning his name or the source of my projects and information. Every one of his proposals were turned down flat. It has been awkward to have the strange mixed reactions to the same experiences by the three classes of persons referred to in the letter, but this was almost too much for me. You can understand then why I took so much umbrage at “The Ugly America.” The guilty classes were blaming the innocent for the “crimes.”

The new psychological policies of this administration have been wonderful. All that is necessary to treat Americans as if voting, responsible citizens. It is as simple as that. The newspaper man would have any precedence in his being in the witness-box before a jury. Indeed the actual witnesses would be given more credence. As it is that simple idea I am working for—not sending our college graduates into fields, especially where their fellow-Americans have preceded them. Some European governments require all returning citizens to tell them of the land visited. On the whole this has not been our case and not only our case but just the opposite.

My play-game about “Pukhtunistan” has brought me nothing but refreshing and delightful experiences and reactions. People like to be considered as if you were one of them and they one of you. It does not need much insight for that. It is only the idle here who heeded the Russian space-experiments. Their concerns are “bread and God.” I give them bread and that could be half the battle, but often as not we take “God” from them.

Yesterday I learned of a work “The Two Qur’ans.” You see, my friends, there are two religions everywhere. One is the religion of books and apologists, the other is practice. Westermarck’s Ritual and Belief in Morocco has never been duplicated. I find the world of Islam most interesting, full of wonder, magnificence and superstition. We have the Christianity of Bible, creeds and Eastern hats and the trouble is identifying them with one another. Outside this identification I doubt whether one can logically justify criticisms. Folk-ways are folk-ways or folk-mores; actually no hypocrisy or ill-will is intended. But if we continue to regard as “Islam” just the book or lectures given us, and often screened, we shall understand nothing. The best school for Islam that I know of in the U.S. is the Hartford Seminary for training visionaries. They have to know what they are dealing with and they learn. But as a nation we are so afraid to discuss religion, and that is where the Russians are taking every advantage and will take every advantage of us.

The grand exception is Harvard and wherever Harvard professors have gone—as in the Department of South Asia Studies in Berkeley—you find objectivity and sound scientific approaches. That is all we need.

I do not get much news from America—only “Time” but I have no time to study. I may apply for the reports from our Consulate in Lahore. I guess today I am even stronger for our foreign service than for my own projects or protests. There are plenty of alive personalities, and thank God, we have our share of them in and from America.

Samuel L. Lewis

April 26, 1961

My dear Jack:

Last night I received a telegram which I consider an emblem of good-luck. It is from one of my former pals who, because of our separate meanderings, have lost touch with one another. I am going to Lahore again at the end of the week, stopping at Rawalpindi, the capitol. It may be very hard for one at a distance to understand what is happening in my life because I, who am in the midst of continual adventures, do not always understand things myself. Part of it is no doubt due to what the Hindus call “karma,” which is now “good.” But from the Buddhist and Sufi point of view it is the harvesting of life and some of this harvesting has been favorable.

The Buddhist explanation is better because while it also teaches that we reap accordingly as we sow, it is not always through the same persons. I started out early to be a sort of “foster-uncle.” When my first boy who was the nephew of a young companion reached the age of 16 his father suddenly appeared in S.F. and took him away. This has been my history, that the boys and girls whom I have looked after were often suddenly “discovered” by their parents; but those to whom I was especially attached sometimes died, and in a few cases jealous relatives poisoned them again me. Now here I am called “Mama” which means maternal uncle and my pal, Abdul Rahman from S.F. is called “Chacha” (where did you hear that before?) which means “paternal uncle.” You see you are not the only one who has a “cha-cha.” It’s funny how the earnest things and the jest things always get mixed up.

I had been challenged for being stingy. I am not stingy (I hope) but with money in six piles it requires some book-keeping and juggling. Anyhow I told him I would give them a dinner and I made arrangements for them. Actually you can treat a lot of people for $10, but it is very difficult to get cash here. This society lived without coins and money in our sense for so long they do not easily become accustomed to it—excepting the beggars of course, they were always coin collectors. But my necessary trip to Lahore will enable me to get some ready cash and to provide for more.

I could easily pull a Gavin’s “Uncle Charlie” on you now. For certainly if I were to die there is no reason not to give you any money on hand in the Bank of America at Market & 9^th St. on my account. But I have had my fortune told many times now, and I feel it, too, that I am going to live quite long. Of course I might be fooled. I would rather leave it there and ask you for material assistance—in return for cash of course, when I return or just before I return.

My belonging to the Chisti Order of Sufis has been of great social and material assistance to me although that was not in mind. The strange and immediate acceptance of my poetry plus the OK given on all my projects at the highest level has undoubtedly somewhat un-nerved me. If you struggle and struggle and get a sudden release it is not always easy to adjust. Fortunately I have received nothing but kindness and cooperation from the whole Foreign Service excepting one spinster dame in Karachi whom, I know, is stuck on Puritanism and ought not to be so serving in the foreign field.

Now my coming to Abbottabad is mixed up with a lot of San Francisco stuff. My host, Abdul Rahman, lived there many years. Then I am just across from the college where the English teacher, Prof. Connaught is from S.F. Then Hamid Khan, who is a graduate of Berkeley and it was a regular love feast. I have to go there again but my plans fit in perfectly with what they want. I do not wish to make a lot of predictions and prophecies, but between my stop-overs at Rawalpindi both before and after Lahore may bring up something. Then I shall see Abdul Satter, former Consul-General of Pakistan at S.F. for some real high-powered conferences. I am going after money, not for its own sake, but so I can have assistance and I am hoping it will be of practical nature. I am not forgetting you but I don’t wish to throw B.S. promises and fall down. My best real friends have often been those of presumably “low” social degree, likely as not colored, too. I don’t parade them and I don’t forget them.

I have been in several conferences with B. D. Qureshi here who has for immediate consignment to U.S.A. jewelry market-priced at $500,000. This does not include what he has in England, or what is in “them thar” hills. This is a long and exciting story but I want more firsthand information. If I do not get married my hope is to be able to get a car and a driver, but the fortune-tellers are optimistic about my future. B. D. Qureshi has not brought his friend, the psychic, here. He says the man is always right, and I am hoping to meet him and see what insight he has or there can be. All the people I met in 1956 said the same things—but they did not entirely come out that way. All I have met since Fuad Leithi in Alexandria have said the same things, but the time is not yet.

Saturday I go to my friend, “Judge” Ghulam Rabbani who is the most important man in these parts. What we have discussed previously has not become top level stuff with the Pakistani Government and I wish to carry this message which will certainly reach President Ayub. Then at Lahore I shall meet some very big people. Dr. Hamid Khan, above referred to, has given the names of the people I must meet and that will close my introductory cycle here, for my lectures will begin promptly. I may have to make such trips periodically.

Then the grape-vine brought us fine news. Abdul Sattar’s family is arranging for me to make a trip around August and I may see Harappa and other places of very ancient importance. Also Jamshyd Khan, the richest farmer in the Peshawar region (Mardan) says he is waiting for me. He has provided my pal, Abdul Rahman, with a car and a driver for me any time—we just have to pay for the gas. This should mean sooner or later a trip to Swat Valley and elsewhere. You see I am pretty well booked up.

I realize that the U.S. is losing face abroad. The old Frenchman, Clemenceau, said that peace and war were two things which could not be entrusted to diplomats and generals. The young kids here are not worrying over food, clothing and economic theories—they want to learn to play baseball. The teenagers want to learn to dance. I was even asked to play football (soccer) last night but I excused myself because I have a sore toe—which is true. I have umpired tennis matches. There things are equally important with a knowledge of religion and history but generals and diplomats are totally unable to understand these things.

I have purchased a lot of Erle S. Gardner and some Jack Webb which, after reading, I am taking as gifts and don’t think they won’t be gobbled up. They are worth a thousand books on how Congress conducts or misconducts itself or whether the fleet is amply provided for or tourism in the Adirondacks. Every nation in the world is (mis)educated that other people are or must be on high levels. I could make a fortune here selling some of our cheaper phonograph records—“cha-cha” again.

I don’t know how much stuff I shall enclose. Sooner or later I want to send a lot of things for my files. Also when I get to Lahore I hope to see the commercial agent on a lot of things and also find out how I can send some of my surplus luggage back. I don’t think I shall need heavy clothing until I return or else I should buy some in Hong Kong.

My problem is not bad luck, but piling up of good luck, good “karma,” opportunities, etc. Also the minor problem of going into bank-less and money-less societies which we can hardly appreciate.

My news is that lots of South-of-Market “slums” are being cleared up. I don’t know where I shall live or want to live. I would like to still live south of the lot and go back to college unless I get a job or offer and it is too early to settle. Otherwise I should prefer Fairfax or Southern Cal.

How is your Arabic research coming? You don’t have to split this three ways on Shah Jehan; you don’t have to split it all at all.

“Mama” SAM

April 27, 1961

My dear Leonora:

This is my diary entry. I supposed I would have written it to Evelyn but when I left we were not good friends. The one thing Puck said he liked in America was the Potlatch dinner and tonight he is giving a pot-latch dinner—about 8 people and the costs is around $11-$12 for all of us. There is an excellent menu. I shall probably send it to my friend, Leonard Austin. Some of the men here thought I was a skinflint. This was partly true. But when your money is divided into six parts you often have to do a lot of juggling to get it where you want. There is no regular international bank here; just two local banks which do a limited business. Now I have some extra funds in Lahore and I have to go there.

Well young Arif Khan came in after lunch and he asked me if I wanted to go mountain climbing. My hiking shoes were in the middle of the room and before I could answer the shoes were on. We climbed a mountain on the west side and the country above looked like the hills between Fairfax and Woodacre. We went as far as a divide and came back. There was a lovely gorge which has fresh spring water. It is not a “Steep Ravine” yet it was a steep ravine. Below that was a lovely Presidio where the soldiers live—a park-like section with Pines, Cypress and Eucalyptus, somewhat more hilly than the S.F. Presidio but without fog. True the sun was out when we started but it became cloudy without being oppressive and there was a slight wind.

I find generally that I can out-climb the young who are not too strong. I did miss some of the athletic games and I think it is better for me to type and get ready for my trips.

I have been most fortunate with my dervish connections. The hostel here is run by one and so the hotel in Rawalpindi. Now I had a wire from my friend Major Sadiq. We swore “eternal friendship” but lost sight of each other. In fact my old address book was stolen. As soon as I located him he wired me and he is living in Lahore which has been the most expensive place for me. At the moment, this cooperation of friends makes it appear that I will be well in the black. But I have a use for being well in the black for I have seen so many things I should like to buy.

I have a whole lot of lectures and appointments lined for Lahore. Did I tell you that the Chief Botanist here is from Berkeley and he told me what do at Lahore with my horticultural literature. In fact I do not know at the moment whether I shall go to Lyallpur or not.

Tomorrow I go to Mansehra to see my friend Ghulam Rabbani Khan, the big wig. We shall have to confer on many things. Then I shall go to Rawalpindi. The taxi costs only about $2.00 per person—shared by four or five. And it goes very quickly. In fact I shall try to go to Lahore that way. The first class rail is about $9 and the second class is $4.50. If I can get a fast station wagon for these prices I shall prefer it to the train anyhow. I want to go to the American Friends of the Middle East, Asia Foundation and many colleges and universities there.

My friend, Ansar Nasri, is promoted and I may just see him at Rawalpindi Saturday, but there is a new business in sight and I am very excited again. I am always going through astonishing things—Sufis, Moghul jewels, Secretary Shahab, universities, and now it is … you guessed it, F.D.

It seems fairly certain that the lost tribes of Israel came this way and also the Greek armies. There is plenty of evidence for both but they have never been properly studied. Most of the students here are Pathan speaking. While my friend, Mr. Qureshi, was describing the Swatis to me, and showing me on the map where the “purest” Greeks are, I began showing them sections of Greek dances. All the college boys around applauded and said that these were very much like the dances in their country. All agreed that there are descendants of the Greeks there.

This is still more interesting and exciting for me because Jamshyd Khan has sent for me. He is the richest farmer in the Mardan area and Mardan is just south of Swat. He told my companion, Abdul Rahman, that he will provide us with a driver and car any time provided we would pay for the gas. Does a fish swim? So after I came back from Lahore I shall arrange with the local college about my lectures and then go to Mardan with possible trips to Peshawar and Swat. I have been urged to make my most important rip in June or July. It will be warm then and even now the higher parts of Swat are cold. When one looks north one sees the Himalayas in snow (My “Glossed Horizons.”) You see all of this seems to make life very happy, or at least pleasant.

I am going to write Leonard later with the “Puck” news which, though droll is so true we cannot recognize or realize it. I have been hoping to learn about the Pathan dances. Here they are called “Kathak” which I think means just “folk dance” for India is full of “Kathak” and their “sacred dances” are called “Kathakali” from the same root but very different in form.

I do not know what I shall bring back with me but I am now half contemplating joining the Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. I am now stopping to write to others and still add as necessary for the diary.

May 1. I did not have time to continue and now I have other reasons for “excitement.” I am in Rawalpindi and am preparing to see my friend Ansar Nasri who is going to Karachi, big promotion; he is to be the No. 2 man in radio and communications. I did not have a chance to speak to him the other day, but then I did not expect to but rather just presented my poetry.

A whole hour was taken talking over folk-music and folk-dancing. It was very pleasing from all sides. The current campaign seems to be to instill people with patriotism. I am running a sort of compassionate campaign trying to instill them with pride in their cultures past and current. This is much more attractive because it implements the raw words “patriotism,” “loyalty,” etc. with content. It fact it reached such a peak that it is very like I shall have full cooperation in regard to securing folk-records and also introductions. I cannot make any separate journeys just for such purposes but on the other hand I have to go into many of the districts where the traditions are strong and there is some likelihood of picking up dance-steps, etc. The Hebrew and Greek traditions here excite me and the Indian elements leave me cold. The popular Indian dance elements have no depth to them. By depth I mean, to begin with, something psychological and physical—they cause the whole body to rebound or thrill; then a psychic element is added which I cannot verbalize but which everybody knows—it gives the impetus to dance and to continue.

I am not concerned with morals here. There is little hip swaying or buttocks movement. I think this is on to an ancient “snake” tradition. I mean just try a “rooster-chicken” dance, an elephant dance, a horse dance, a bird-courtship dance, etc. and the body becomes different. But with the snake the outside of the body seems to move, there is gliding and what not and the Indian dancers not only seem to move their bodies externally but they move their “space” that way and it extends into choreography. Take the Greek dances, or even the slower Kolos and the whole body is involved and I think when the whole body is involved there is something deeper not only physically, physiologically and psychically, but even spiritually.

When I return today I might write to Madelynne for I may have a report on my poetry. The encouragement has been so great I am working now on another epic. This will have two parts, in contrast and the previews were accepted immediately.

I am in ribbon trouble again, but I hope to correct this at Lahore. Even my fountain pen does not work and it is only fortunate that I found a refill for my other pens. Took out my teen-age friend Naji. I knew him as an infant in S.F. and lived with his family before. We went to three shows in two days. I am near all the better cinema houses. Because the radio is poly-lingual, one has to have a transistor or many-wave set here because the language is always changing. I was also interrupted at the Radio station because of applicants for jobs—first requirements: four languages. So long.

May 1, 1961

My dear Madelynne,

This is written in Rawalpindi, the temporary capitol of Pakistan and is my dairy entry. I am assuming, of course, you will be interested in its contents and at the same time I am trying to relate events that might interest you. I have just read a review on Gide, that all his novels were really his autobiography transformed and that he was really writing about himself. This has its dangers and its virtues. For when a man asserts himself, even if he sticks to the facts, the reactions will be multifarious.

My last epic before I left U.S.A. was “The Rejected Avatar” and copies were placed in the hands of Magana Baptiste for while an epic poem it is also a dance drama. By recollection it had a good deal to do with rejected people. To be a “Jude the Obscure” and still live on and defy is an objective. But those who rejected me were almost entirely of two classes: (a) Americans who have the prosecution complex and (b) Foreign professors of Asiatics. The first group frustrated too many Americans and they revolted and got rid of them. Group (b) is still in fashion in California and is anathema all over Asia. We continue to elevate Europeans as our expositors of Asiatics and the Asians continue to mob our libraries because there is no reciprocation. Into this I need to go.

For on reaching Lahore I met another fellow from the University of California, rejected all over the lot around S.F. bay and highly honored here. His name is in the newspapers as an exponent of Islamic philosophy and related subjects. In S.F. he was kicked off the air by a prominent non-American “authority” on Asiatics who never has been to Asia and perhaps dared not come; in the universities the foreign born or educated ganged up on him and I found he was highly esteemed. I have since heard from other fellows from our general area—same story there, same story here. This might have prepared us for what followed.

Within a week I was in the home of C.M. Shahab, the “Sherman Adams” of Pakistan and its top intellectual; and then in the “White House.” All my projects were accepted and approved and two added—in direct contradiction to a lot of what is going on in California. Even the grade Aldous Huxley will have to treated as a psychological character—almost the hero of “The Razor’s Edge” and not as an exponent of anything Asian.

I have read a here a book by a German, Titus Burckhardt, who proclaims that all European exponents of Orientalia are wrong and he is right. And I think here he would be universally supported. Anyhow I am being universally supported.

My “Saladin” was gobbled at once. I had to make copies of a certain section, then I found carbon of the whole and here I am informed that it is being translated into Urdu to be published. Inasmuch as Mr. Ansar Nasri, of Radio Pakistan, my host, is being transferred, we had no time to go into it. But when the top intellectuals of a foreign nation immediately acclaim and follow this up, it makes my “Rejected Avatar” and all sorts of rejection stand out. This encouragement has provoked or inspired other poems. I have written a short piece on Mohammed and this was gobbled up and no doubt will be further when I return to Lahore, my next stop.

Then a newer epic, in two portions, has been started here dedicated to Mr. Ansar Nasri who has been just promoted to Joint Commissioner of Radio and Communications. Mr. Nasri (and Mr. Shahab) belong to a class of persons, the existence of which is categorically denied on the campuses of Berkeley, Stanford, Pacific, UCLA, and smaller fish—in California and they do not relish this denial. Fortunately here the Cultural Attaché at Lahore and its staff take other views, but then they did not graduate from Leiden or Oxford or Heidelberg and are in Asia and are Americans.

My assertion that I was the successor of Mohammed Iqbal was scorned in the U.S. excepting by Pakistanis and it took five minutes to prove it here. My “Rejected Avatar” and “Saladin” though based on symphonic form, skeletonize around the heroic iambic, but the new poem has synthesized the traditional epic with the “poetry of darkness’—shadow caves, drinking, tombs, etc. which dominate our literature, from Kenneth Rexroth to Tempest Williams, and, of course, [?] from Jeffers.

My efforts are essentially of the “light” and I follow Iqbal and Dante, and, of course, the Sufis whom they followed. Mr. Nasri leaves for Karachi, I shall keep him informed and I feel very relieved today, that artificial frustrations and a priori rejections need be no more. No one objects to rejections, but this a priori stuff is going to react and react hard.

I mentioned above that I have been in “The White House” just as I have been in the Royal Palace Grounds in Japan. I continue to go or get where Americans do not go or get. Sometimes it is merely geographical and continues to be merely geographical, but sometimes it is something else. These tow streams will be united when Dr. Abdal Sattar, long time Consul general in S.F., arrives in Abbottabad (which will be next month). Please excuse this ribbon; they are hard to get here and not good.

There are strong elements which prove that many Pathans and Kashmiri are descended from the Lost Tribes of Israel and the Swatis from the Greeks. I live in Abbottabad in a hostel, the majority of whose members speak Pathan, the language common to the Pushtuns and Swatis. I have been invited to Swat and am excited. I have tried to learn Pathan dancing. I have had many promises but most of the students are too busy preparing for examinations. Their common name for Folk Dancing is “Kathak” which is also common to India and there are common elements. But I was told Swati dances were different and Greek.

Well I showed some of the boys some elements of Greek dancing and the riot began—they all proclaimed that the Swati dances are the same! This got me excited and the more I performed the more excited they became.

My present program is to go to Lahore, presumably for two weeks, the return to Abbottabad via Rawalpindi (where I am!). Then I must write to Jamshyd Khan, very prosperous farmer at Mardan near Peshawar on the West side. He has promised my companion, Mr. Abdul Rahman (also of S.F.) and myself a car and driver provided we pay for the gas and other expenses and we can or may go to Swati either in June or at some convenient date.

I have made a few inquiries into the language there and found a few Hebrew and Greek words—I am not a linguist but this also was “exciting.” But it is the dances I wish to learn.

I took my second inquiry at radio Pakistan about folk records and will go into that later when there is no poetry to discuss. Before I leave Pakistan—one month away, I think I can arrange a shipment of good folk records. Off-hand I should like to send them to John Filipe but if he does not apprehend what I am doing it might be wasting time. But I am also going to take this matter up with the Cultural Attaché at Lahore.

I live next to the government’s Folk Art exhibit. They have only [?], shoes and no costumes and I am told I can do best at Peshawar. But they have some excellent pieces which I may send to Rudolph Schaeffer or somebody in S.F.—salt sculpture, leather vases, etc. There is no time for dullness for me. All of my projects have had approval and I shall be occupied with meeting horticultural experts, lecturing on Islamic philosophy and doing and perhaps accomplishing a lot of things categorically denied in S.F. excepting by other locals who have themselves only too often been rejected. The acceptance of Walt and Magana for instance, by Asians, is a psychological victory for honest, two-way cultural exchange, so badly needed if we are going to have peace and understanding.

I am also going to continue to howl for AMTA money for folk- and square-dance teachers instead of expenses for balleters and soloists to entertain our foreign colony. There is a tremendous cry for such things here and a need even more than the cry. I am also crying: “Meet the Asians and stop telling about ‘most the people.’” We have had too many campaigns, too little action.

Well, the Russians are here so we are getting rid of the flies. A few more Russians and maybe we shall do this, but I fear, not before and maybe too late. Unless….

Cordially, Samuel L. Lewis

My dear Florie:

This is Thursday, May 4. It is now over 100° in Lahore and I have braved the weather to come here. It is now not an easy matter for me to write here. The laws of karma are no respectors of people but I have hardly ever met a person who claimed to believe in and who lectured on karma who sincerely faced the “karma” of which he was speaking. Of course there are many who believe in karma but don’t lecture about it. And to me there is no question but that we reap as we sow and that whatsoever we do unto others, the same shall be our reward.

It is incomprehensible how any group of religious people—if they really are religious, should arrogate unto itself the right of criticisms of the consul–generals of several Islamic nations, the right to dispute with President Nasser and the right to criticize the Prophet that they are going to collect much money for a cinema house they want to label “Mosque.” You can bet right now that no foreign government and certainly no financially sound financial person or group abroad is going to subsidize a “Mosque” where the prophet may be criticized and Nimaz considered as a side-activity.

Three times I have seen money go reprinted and then withdrawn because of nonsense by so-called leaders of Mosquetizen, which is not and never has been Islam. At this writing it appears very favorable that a large amount of money will be appropriated for the student and performance of Nimaz and Salat and Kalama, with additional study of Qur’an and Hadiths in tow. There are plenty of people here who are anxious for such movements in America for Islamic religion, Islamic philosophy and Islamic Culture and not for Islamic side-shows and the psychoanalysis of the Prophet by those who have limited respect.

I am not now talking nonsense, Florie. We, who are anxious to establish the systematization of prayers and studies in the United States, are now trying to unite our efforts. I have not been successful this week in really contacting Prof. Siddiqui and I have not tried to contact Prof. Barker. At the Center Barker was not an important person; here he is. And as I shall explain the San Francisco group is more keen on criticizing the Prophet—and not apologizing for that—and for tea and delicacies than prayer and serious studies, you can mark Pakistan off your list.

Now I know the leaders will not do that. There never had been so many utterly godless people calling themselves “Muslims” as now. There are people who have no interest in Qur’an or Hadith or Prayer, but are crying over side-topics and not only crying but expecting others to subsidize their crying. Let them cry.

I have already been in the palace of one of the richest Muslims and he is very anxious to subsidize Islamic religions and Islamic culture in the U.S. And I have met an endless chain of people who want to do something more. But you can bet they are not going to contribute one rupee to a Kaffir organization calling itself “Muslim” which criticized foreign Consuls-General and the Prophet. You may tell Dr. Tamimi and his colleagues who do not know anything about surrender and even less of surrender to Allah that they are not going to get any financial help from Pakistan. But the chances are very great that the Pakistanis will subsidize, and be generous about it, any Islamic movement for serious studies and lectures. Not only that it would appear that your rejected Sam Lewis and Abdurrahman Barker are going to have a great deal to say and do about it and that there is a tremendous crest of interest in such an idea, already long ago launched here.

I do not think there will be any objection to members of the Islamic Tea- and Cinema Centre from joining the Islamic Study and Prayer Centre which may be financed from this side. Not only is the money available but the personnel are available. The question is just how much impetus will be given it from this end.

There is no question about the formation of the movement. The next step is just how far they will assimilate other missionary work. The ignorant Mullah missionaries are out. It is getting to be more difficult for them to go abroad on religious missions, especially to America, when although called “Mullahs” they have no real knowledge of Islamic culture.

I shall probably be back in Abbottabad in two weeks to discuss with Abdul Sattar the whole question of Pakistani culture, but it will be beyond his determination to make decisions upon Islamic cultures as a whole. There are too many big, serious and wealthy persons here concerned. Not only that, they wish to be on most friendly terms with Americans. This is not an Al-Azhar “anti-imperialistic” Islamic Centre. It follows Holy Qur’an in condemning unbelievers first, last and foremost. These people do not adjust their Qur’anic interpretations to the politics of the day.

Tomorrow I understand I shall be speaking in a large Mosque. I have already addressed both “saints” and Sufis on Sufism. I am not the least concerned with the reactions of European professors and pseudo-Muslim Americans. I understand there will be several social functions for me, leading up or connected with a grant campaign. All my lectures, ideas and schemes have been approved. I next have to face interviews with Urdu papers.

Another thing we are going to take up is the superiority of Sufism over Vedanta, Yoga, etc. This will be done in a friendly manner, and is more to check pseudo-Muslims who on one hand acclaim the Prophet and on the next run off to Yogis and spurn Sufism. Against the real Yogis and Vedantists there is no hard feeling, and friendliness.

I don’t know what the finance committee will do or say if I come back with large amounts of funds or commitments. “Allaho Akbar” but money is more Akbar and that is something: Inasmuch as the S.F. Center never let me report I have here an absolute veto over them and they can do or undo as they please. Their preliminary meeting has already been held and persons are being lined up to go to the U.S. There will be money behind them and they will have money. And the way they are starting out they will have suitable American introductions to go ahead. Besides under the auspices of the World Congress of Faiths I shall be able to introduce them and others.

So far we certainly are not going to exclude any people who wish to pray or wish to learn to pray; who wish to study Qur’an and Hadith on any basis, and who wish to go into the Islamic presentation of Islamic culture. Florie, the past is dead and the people who are stuck to the past and will not change, their views are worse than dead. Those who believe in Mosques and oppose inshallah are nothing but Kaffirs. They are going to be denounced and this denunciation will ring round the world. This is their karma.

Someday, no doubt the moneys and the people who appropriate the moneys will see that there are enough sincere devotees to warrant a Mosque—but not a tea- and cinema show with the reins in the hands of the critics of Rassoul-lillah. Finished.

I have had innumerable meetings with Americans, all very satisfactory and there are more on schedule. The most cordial, of course, is with the American Friends of the Middle East. I shall no doubt add to this before mailing.

Thursday Night: I was then to the tomb of Dada Hujwiri, a great Sufi saint whose works I studied first long ago and then restudied many times. I was met by a guard of honor and escorted all through the place as if I were a very important dignitary, first a guest of a Sheikh and then of a Naqshibandi Murshid who has 500,000 followers. Garlands upon garlands were thrown over my head and a special turban given me for the evening. I spoke briefly before the Sheikh and the Murshid has asked that I come again Sunday night. From the American point of view this was fantastic and impossible; from the Asian point of view we, the Americans, live in a land of dreams and fantasies. Someday, inshallah, we shall look at Asia as it really is.

I wish to diverge for a moment on the question of objectivity I oriental archeology. When I was in Ajunta both my companion (whose field it was) and I agreed that all books are wrong, that the main early caves were excavated by the Burmese. You know I disagree with all the "European experts" on the date of the introduction of Buddhism into Burma and agree with the Burmese. Now the India government, or some clever photographer, has put out a book on Ajunta and not only is there no picture of Burmese art there but not even of Gandhara art. I am on the edge of the Gandhara country and my determination now is to visit both Ajunta and Ellora and make notes. I have a right to challenge "authorities" when they step on the sensitivities of nations like the Burmese.

My friend Rabbani Khan owns the land where the Asoka rock inscription are. I did not visit them when I was in Mansehra but expect to see them many times this trip. But the maps are wrong and my feeble efforts to have them corrected have previously failed.

I have been more successful in the Taxila matter where Harvard U. is not only honestly scientific and objective but is very much interested in Jewish archeology. I have to pass through Taxila constantly so will take some time off later on an send my detailed conclusion, but this time they will undoubtedly have some confirmations and my friend Rabbani is very anxious to help in this.

Rabbani is the Pooh Bah, as I have said, but he will leave Pakistan soon. We are going to a conference in Rawalpindi before the end of the week. This is the beginning of "my show." last week concluded the rehearsals. My going to Mansehra and then far, far north of there was the preface and my intuitions always turn out into dramas, at the present time mostly successful.

However I do not wish to come this way alone again. It is too much. Success in my chosen objectives—agricultural information and cultural exchange, have brought a panorama of other matters for few Americans visit these parts and I am becoming a source of pilgrimages. The humorous and serious go together. I said when I returned to Pakistan I would start a revolution. I was at once challenged and then resolved, which I can do quickly. This has made me a hero with the young who want me to teach them dancing. Not only that my insistence that Islam would never succeed if their private brotherhood of man meant males and not mankind. All the young men support me and I have become a hero at college. But the professors go along. The difference between US and Pakistan is, as I have put it, in the US the warfare has been between the professors and the commentators and here it is between the professors and the mullahs. With Kennedy coming into office I am most happy. I hate prejudices but everything in existence has made me pro-Harvard and nearly everything has made me anti-Yale. The selection of Galbraith and Reischauer as Ambassadors is, as Shaw would put it: "Too true to be good."

I am now able to write at length to the Foreign Office. I shall continue to work for objectivity—not my views, but factuality. You may remember my diverse reactions between "ETC" and "Linguistics." But with all my assertions, this very objectivity compels me to be negative and receptive on advice. I think I can today read with much more interest the book on how to learn a language.

Bus riding with people enables me to observe types. There was a distinct Mongolian type on the bus, but I know there are two or three Mongolian faces—one being round and the other triangular. The round type seems to dominate in Tibet and Burma. The other has a sparse beard and very pointed chin. I am not sure of the ethnology and have no time for it, but one can see these things. Philology and Linguistics seem so much nearer at hand.

There are also serious political repercussions. The Afghans have been trying to stir up the Pathans to demand equal linguistic rights with Urdu. At the same time the new regime is trying to force Persian as a national language in Afghanistan. So instead of the Pathans fighting against Pakistan, many of them are coming over and acceding. No doubt Russian is behind these efforts and we will just sit by and sign more treaties and lose more countries. The communists are succeeding far more in India through the language complexities than from economic factors; and, of course, again, our "anti-communist" dialecticians fall right into it. We do not, have not, examined this subject of languages.

I am writing all this in detail because I feel with the more you know about it the more you may come up with some answer. I certainly have no answer at the moment. But I have written Senator Engle and I am following it up concerning the possibility of federal backing in the "Peace Corps." At least I have done things and do things. I wrote to my friend Bob Tice who may get my reports published in Greenwich Village. I am overwhelmed now but there may be enough here to warrant this basically serious letter—the humor often being more serious than the prose.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Lahore, Pakistan,

May 7, 1961

My dear Fred and Corinne:

I have long foreseen intuitively that this period would be the most dramatic or the most important in my life. If I had not foreseen it I should not have been able to adjust to it.

I am at the moment living in the home of Major Muhammad Sadiq, a brother Sufi with the same spiritual teacher. We are in the strange position of seeing in each other a person who had advanced much in the last five years. I shall tell you more of “me” later, but I wish to introduce you to him because there is some likelihood of our being involved in one or more joint enterprises. On the surface, and perhaps the financial backing may come from those interested in Islamic culture, Pakistani culture or Sufism—which has never really been presented to the American people. Locally this may mean an alliance with or a war against Von Grünebaum at UCLA, for although that man is admired in many parts his statements that there are no important Sufis and that Sufis do not take part in politics is so ridiculous that one appearing, like President Soekarno, simply has to travel in a front-dramatic role, appealing to the side of American nature that likes that sort of appeal. So far every diplomat of Indonesia I have met is a Sufi, no exceptions, but that does not effect or affect what goes on in the schools and lecture halls in the U.S.

Major Sadiq has been blessed with a healing gift which is both spiritual and occult. He prefers to hold to the former but will apply the latter when necessary. He has the gift of healing by touch and of magnetizing water and food with super-physical vibrations which seem to have remarkably excellent effects on the health. He has even “cured” people who have been to Lourdes. His “legend” has spread far and wide and every day we have a strange sight here—long lines of people, usually peasants, to meet him; and scholars to meet me.

The general basis of his faculty, which we both hold is a grace and not a possession, coincides with the “theories” of Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan and some of the details of the applications are the same. Yet because my studies with Pir-o-Murshid have been fairly thorough, I have been able to make a few suggestions.

If we begin with the theory of Jesus Christ that the body is the temple of the holy spirit and continues on to include some of the teachings of a Pir who recently died here, we can apply to a complete method of “cure” and sanctification which is entirely in line with the original idea of “savior” which has little to do with divinity or theology, but meant, in a sense, a metaphysical or superphysical healer.

At this point please include all your interests also in psychic phenomena. There is no question that there is a clairtactic power and it seems also to both of us that the higher psychism, as against mediumship, is clearly related to the opening of centres, particularly those which we identify more or less with the Pineal and Pituitary glands. We are going today to Zikr meetings of the Naqshibandi school of Sufis which set great store on the opening and development of these and other centres and I do not know whether much of this will be enhanced in the next 24 hours or not, but I do wish to get some notes off.

Here we have had parallel and complementary developments which helps explain the common theory.

By entering into meditation Major can function clairvoyantly, locating the focus of infection and also, through chromatic clairvoyance, occultly determine the nature of disease. He has, in a few cases, corrected the wrong diagnosis which prevented physicians from effecting cures. After this correction the physicians have succeeded.

Here he does not take money for healing, though people have spent considerable sums to visit him. In the U.S. this might be on a different basis. But I must say that if we do come to the U.S. or if we wish to establish ourselves in your section, the funds will come from this end. I have already met some of the most important and also some of the wealthiest men in Pakistan, some through the Major and some through our spiritual brother, Ansar Nasri who has since been appointed to be Joint Director of Radio Pakistan, a close friend of Secretary Shahab, the real Mr. Big behind the scenes. Shahab is also a Sufi and Ayub, if not exactly one, a sort of disciple. Major told Ayub beforehand of what he was going to do and his predictions proved to be correct.

I am in such a “summit series” of events I cannot be sure of my correspondence. I have sent letters or copies to Luise, mostly by sea-mail and I ask you to share it with her and also let Hugo know. But I also add here, in addition to so many obligations on your side, no time either. There is no hurry here and long before I reach the U.S. I should be seeing Pir-o-Murshid Maulana Abdul Ghafoor, our spiritual director at Dacca and now becoming quite famous too. So any kind of verbal answer to this would be quite unnecessary.

I have an immediate impression which I do not wish to impose either. That is if the Schloss matter comes out clearly, it would be wonderful if we could be established there. In any event it is at this point my intention to ask the Major, when there is a clear way to the U.S. to get art objects, etc. for your friends or rather the Society. I have seen all kinds of things. I have to be sending some to the U.S. soon but I have some qualms of quondam associates or even life-long friends in the S.F. Bay region—certain exceptions—realizing what is happening, that this is the time of harvest and it is a real harvest, praise to God.

I have already addressed thousands here in Lahore and next week I am to speak on “Islamic Art in Cairo,” duplicates of which slides may be in your hands now. I am also preparing not only for colleges and universities, but meetings with Sufis and have just been informed of a trip to a place called Mardan where lives one of the wealthiest farmers in Pakistan, who is a good friend of mine and has been long awaiting me.

Also all my contacts have been one long series of successes. Yesterday I turned over my materials to the institution handling the problem of saline soils and learned that Prof. Fireman is coming here this winter, not last, and that there is a steady stream of cooperation between the University of California and the Pakistani officials. I still have to visit other leaders in Agriculture, etc. All preliminary conferences have been most cordial and between my assuredly selfless efforts and being a Sufi, this is, in a sense, the time of my life. But I have to be very careful, not of pride or dismay or excitement but of holding the reigns in each new series of experiences.

I have made here several contacts with psychics and generally these people are involved with astrology, too. My present idea is to soften the astrological side. We cannot be involved in too many things. I do not know how clear this all is and no doubt I shall write more later. Lahore has now on each visit given me the most blessings of any place in the world.

Love,

SAM

Sufi Ahmed Murad

Lahore, Pakistan

May 8, 1961

Department of South Asian Studies

University of California

Berkeley, Calif.

Dear Friends:

You will please excuse the use of this type of paper and the need of writing on both sides. There is something in Urdu psychology that they have no original term but use either the Arabic wakt or British time and while I am at the moment the recipient of unusual honors, it is almost impossible for me to be given any opportunity to attend to personal needs such as the purchase of badly needed clothes, drugs, stationary and postage.

I am finding myself in a position, which becomes stranger every day and yet has been a norm in every Asian country I have visited. My immediate reason for writing at this point is a most important invitation to Malay and an introduction to another high governmental official, Dr. Fazal Rahim Khan, a Director of Agriculture and a fellow-alumnus.

This sort of thing is going on almost without cessation. There is a terrible blockage in communication which makes it most difficult for those who succeed in crossing the boundary into Asian hearts to communicate with those who do not. My reading of Fielding Hall’s The Souls of a People many years back continued on to such books as In The Minds of Men by Dr. Gardner Murphy with perhaps a little of Ruth Benedict thrown in, shows that there is a simple method of connecting “exotic” peoples and even becoming one of them, but like Geoffrey Gorer too, one finds oneself an outcaste in trying to explain this. And although as a nation we are hypothetically fighting against Marxism we are so adamant against Spengler that we cannot see that neo-Spenglerism is entirely in account with modern non-Euclidean mathematics and some American philosophies that have been derived therefrom. We cannot eat our cake and have it and we can easily get rid of the political Communist invasion if we took the trouble to examine and appreciate the folk mores of Asians as we appreciate the assaying of mores. The precious values may be in unusual norms.

I came to Japan in 1956 with a single introduction which proved to be invaluable later on. On the third day I called on the chief Zen Masters and was invited immediately into their presence, an event which won for me the undying hatred of the “authorities” on Zen and related subjects in the U.S. who have no more knowledge of it than I have of Japanese. In a few weeks I was the first outsider ever to be invited to the Royal Cemetery and to see the stupa over the ashes of the Buddha. And, before I left I had the extreme honor of being a special visitor to the Palace Grounds—the first time in history for a commoner—and to be given a farewell tea by top industrialists.

At that time this looked so much like a show being put on for my benefit that I did not get the impact. The continuation of this high level program in Thailand may have been due to my sort of brother-sister relationship with Princess Poon Diskul there. But after two days in Burma I was invited to meet the Hon. U Nu and did not think myself ready for such an event nor did I wish to become entangled in politics. Yet the fact remains that in each nation I have visited I have been received socially as if a high dignitary—which I am not, at least in the ordinary sense, though I have so been received because of knowledge of the history, culture and religion of one Asian nation after another.

For purposes of communication here I will try to restrict myself to the two above invitations. The first came from my own desires to promote an international horticultural exchange program through information being passed freely through existing channels. I talked this over with several persons in Giannini Hall (Prof. Reyerson & Co.) The whole thing has been way over m head, totally successful but built on the simple premise that most peoples of Asia (and maybe elsewhere) are or wished to be associated with the land and growing of something.

So far as the University of California is concerned this is a long, complicated and marvelous program. I did dispute with the Alumni Association against the overemphasis on the discoveries of nuclear physics and related semi-destructive sciences and mentioned them, as I must repeat now, that the work of the Riverside research laboratories is of inestimable value. I shall no doubt miss Prof. Fireman as I have missed members of his staff but U. C. is, thank God and praise Allah, doing in far-away places what I have either wished or known, without receiving full accredit on the campus or off. I shall not go into this further but will add either a postscript or write separately to the Alumni Association after some forthcoming interviews.

But I did take up with the Foreign Service in Lahore and I am certainly going to take it up both with the Alumni Association and the top authorities, the need of a California-in-Asia organization like the Princeton-in-Asia organization; and I hope to go further. For I think such groups would accomplish far more than the Presidents admirable but emotional “Peace Corps.” You have very successful graduates all over the world and they are friends to the United States. But under some of our strange protocol-diplomacy, only now being renovated, the Marco Polos of this world are snubbed and the press has not learned this at all.

The invitation to Malaya comes from a very real Marco Polo who has all the credentials Prof. Burdick prates about and on top of that has been there. This is a long, complicated and sorrowful story of our failure to have an intelligent Intelligence which would listen to stories of Americans. Today at least the stories are heard and after a few more set-backs in maybe Cambodia and Burma we shall no doubt awaken to the simple facts that some Asian lands have some traditional cultures and that some Asians, conceivably, are as human as those hated, villainous Russians and Chinese.

This particular invitation comes from my knowledge of Sufism. I am not going into too much of an explanation of it here, but warn you that any effort to get knowledge of it out of the “Encyclopedia of Islam” is about as valuable as trying to understand the geography of the day from a worn-out Cram’s Atlas. We simply as a nation and as a body of intellectual institutions know practically nothing of this subject.

Yesterday I spent a considerable amount of time and money at the celebrated publishers, Ashraf & Co. One book I did not get for I have it already is Titus Burckhardt’s An Introduction to Sufi Doctrine. He says in it that not another European writer on the subject has the least inkling of its content or import. And this apparently strange ego-ic statement is entirely correct and all of Pakistan accepts it. We do not study Physics or Biology or Medicine by reading books of fine litterateurs and staying away from laboratories, but we certainly do with regard to Sufism, and to some extent the deeper or “esoteric” sides of Asian faiths.

Our strange predilection for European professors in Oriental philosophy has gotten us as a nation in very tight spots in most of Asia. Were I to name the sources of my information before a “secret” meeting of a Foreign Affairs Committee, they would blow their fuses. It has become almost monotonous and wearing to hear an endless stream of protestants on this subject from one end of Asia to another but “we” are so afraid of offending conceptual Asians that we insult physical ones. The selection of Profs. Reischauer and Galbraith ends an era of tremendous obscurity and darkness that we may not for a long time realize the impact of those appointments.

A number of years ago American Orientalists and some others held a conference and a book was written—1939 or before. At that time Prof. Wild of Harvard gave what socially would be considered a most offensive and inexcusable address, for he held some of his colleagues to absolute contempt. But the fact is here again. Wild was right, the majority was wrong and Harvard has gone out and studied Orientalia on the same objective, impersonal basis that we have used in most sciences that has given us our position of world leadership. But when personalisms dominate facts and data-gatherings, we end nowhere.

Despite all the statements of Grünebaum, Landau and your brethren of the Near East Department, the Sufis are in high places all over. I was given a special tea by the Indonesians in S.F. after “Prof. Von Flotz” said openly there were no Sufis and none in politics and they told me there were Sufis. The Indonesian consults to staff in New York told me the same; so the Embassy in Washington, so the Embassy in Cairo. I had a talk with the cultural attaché in Washington which was on a level second only to those which I had with Dr. Radhakrishnan and Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda in New Delhi, and perhaps more important because the tenor, contents and details were in direct contradiction to what is still being taught in some places. I have had four invitations to Indonesia because I am a Sufi.

I met the Sufis in UAR through a top scientist who was “converted” by his wife, who is a top scientist. This is “impossible” but true. I even met one top scientist Sufi who was a graduate from U. C.! I met them immediately in Pakistan and finally was introduced to Secretary Q.U. Shahab, the “Sherman Adams” and “Robert Frost” of Pakistan in one. From that day on, I have met Sufis all over the place and every day more and more come to meet me, an unusual American, a Sufi, who can teach Sufism to Sufis, but who was not even permitted to submit a paper on this subject in various places in California—nolle tocceri doctores Teutonicos.

I am now offering talks on “Oriental Philosophy and Modern Science” and socially meet a tremendous number of scientists, as I did in UAR. All my undertakings have been approved of by President Ayub that Fakir of first rank, perhaps. And despite Brother Grünebaum—and all the press of the U.S. the actual A. No. 1 Fakir is His Excellency Abdul Kadiri Gilani, Ambassador of Iraq to Pakistan. There never was and never an be a Hindu fakir. Even the Encyclopedia of Islam affirms that.

But the remarkable thing is that all Sufis and all dervishes are solidly against Russia and would like to help. Even in UA R I found currents and under-currents the nature of which belongs in reports to Intelligence and which would surprise us.

But the press of the U.S., even in a “cold war” is as determined to keep up the misconception of “fanatic” as they do the misconception of “fakir” and hundreds of millions of people are compelled into a neutralism into which they do not fit, but our constantly offending them and stepping on their sensitivities leaves no other room or course.

In such a situation a Sufi can do nothing but put on an act—and this is part of this discipline. As we do not take Indonesians as seriously, President Soekarno pays us back in Hollywoodian pseudo-psychologies. There is no question that Indonesia is largely under the control of men who are, or pretend to be Sufis. And equally the number of Sufi disciples in this country is enormous.

I have been given a grand ovation in one Mosque and spoken now to many assemblies of Sufis here. There is no doubt that this will be continued. I am next invited to Malaya to come as an American Sufi and the whole background and conditions are so against our newspaper traditions and psychologies that they cannot and would not believe this invitation comes through the Chief Buddhist!

In Cairo I attended the reception of Ambassador M. Aziz Hussain whom some of you may have met in San Francisco years back. I was introduced as an American Dervish. The whole Indonesian delegation immediately surrounded me and I did the unpardonable thing—won their friendship right in front of the Czech and Russian. This was unpardonable and entirely against protocol as I was the only non-diplomat at the affair.

The Americans! They were too busy with cocktails and chit-chat with NATO allies to bother with Asians.

I do not know what these affairs are for, nor our ANTA tactics of entertaining our citizens abroad and think we are accomplishing something. Our farm exchange program is exactly of the opposite nature and I am beseeched with requests to increase it. Most of the people from here west are Muslims and agriculturists in some regard. Nearly all the wealthy people I have met own or wish to own land and develop it. I have even met top financiers. I shall report later thereon.

Too late, it is true, the foreign service heeded my warning about mobs threatening USIA libraries. I also wrote, “Time” that the “fanatics” object to some of their articles. No attention, of course, but now Luce publications are barred from Indonesia. This is not yet at an end. But the Administration has started something and I hope universities will follow the Harvard M.I.T. program of getting out of “realism” and into reality.

People have, of course, every right to reject Sufism, but in a world of international relations we should at least know something of its operations and its personnel. I have failed, and perhaps it is my own fault, to reach the Near East Department (which relies on European humbugs too). I have a list of untouched subjects for research ranging from Aramaic archaeology to the music of the dervishes, and from the natural resources of Pakistan to the continuance of the caste-system in South Asia. Sometimes I long to return to the campus, but today every door is opening here in every direction because the people want to love Americans and to be loved, to know about us and to have us know about them. And, thank God, Kingsley Davis and Richard Park are known here.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad ex-‘18

Lahore, Pakistan

May 9, 1961

My dear Wesley:

I have just heard from Leonora that you are in the hospital as a cancer patient and I am writing to you because this is strangely in line with some “coincidences” going on here. I have written Leonora a long letter, sent sea-mail, and yet it will have little duplication with this.

All my affairs at the moment seem prospering especially on the higher levels in ways which may be appreciated but not understood in the United States. There is little hope for the world for it is divided, not into have- and have-nots, but into potters and clays. Certain nations insist they are potters and at the moment the potters are having “cold wars” and they cannot see that humanity is not divided into potters and clays.

The first thing we have to do if we are going to have peace is to stop this nonsense but we can’t. Clemenceau was a very wise man who said that war and peace were too serious to entrust to generals and diplomats but if there are two things we are unable to entrust to anybody but generals and diplomats it is war and peace. We do not need a peace-movement so much as a Clemenceau movement to entrust peace to others than diplomats and generals. But the international protocol protective association of generals and diplomats want to be left alone to carry on their cold war and consume the wealth of earth in so doing. It is not Russia that is to blame, it is not America that is to blame, it is protocol that is to blame and Russians and Americans worship the common god, protocol.

For instance the Russians sent out a ballet troupe to Kohistan and 2,000 people watch it. The Russians seem to think they have won a diplomatic point. The fact that the 2,00 people were mostly nationals of the NATO nations who happen to be in Kohistan is unheeded. The NATO peoples spend millions to arm themselves against the Russians and large sums also to be entertained by the Russians and to entertain the Russians. Then we sent Satchmo Von Piffle there and he plays to 2,500 Kohistanese and we think we have outscored the Russians and the NATO people and Greeks and Armenians rush to hear Satchmo von Piffle. The Kohistanese go right about their work with maybe a small headline criticizing the Russian Ballet, but we are so enthusiastic about the Russian ballet we overlook the Kohistani criticism. Besides the Kohistanis are fanatics and backyard people, what can we expect of them? After a few weeks they will mob our libraries and we shall be shocked and wonder and blame the communists, of course.

There can be no peace without friendship. Otherwise it is just status quo or armistice. Getting rid of arms without getting rid of hatreds is wasteful and useless. We talk about “education” but half the time we mean propaganda rather than information. We do not know what is going on in the hearts and minds of exotic peoples.

I am in Pakistan, in the Punjab which has been the site of innumerable cultures and wars. We do not know about these cultures or wars and we know even less about the hearts of peoples. Wesley, there are sciences of the heart as well as the mind and body. We live in a body which we do not study. Every time the heart beats it sends a flood of fluid through the organization. This flood of fluid feeds the cells and takes way the wastes. If we do not feed the blood rightly it cannot feed the cells, and if we do not feed the nerves rightly it cannot take away the wastes.

Medical science or the medical sciences are not exact. The laws of cause-and-effect do not hold as they do in branches of true sciences. There are too many factors at loose ends.

I am living in the home of Major Muhammad Sadiq. We have studied sciences of which the last is not aware. We have both had the some teacher. A marvelous man whose fame is just spreading now. His name is Maulana Abdul Ghafoor. From him I have learned to treat the world as a whole single body and to learn to appreciate the hearts and minds of other peoples; so I do not travel as a stranger. In San Francisco I sat in audiences or I was shut out of audiences. If I had any ideas, I was seldom permitted to express them. In the Orient, it was totally different. I was admitted into the company immediately of the top sages and later on of the top industrialists. Here it is no different, nor has it been different in Asia.

The Major has the gift of healing. There is a constant procession of people. Many of his patients have gone to Lourdes and he has even affected cures of some who have been there. He does this by the touch, by manipulation, by magnetizing water and by magnetizing bodies. These things are not as ample as they seen. He has two faculties which are not recognized in the West. They are called “Spiritual” and no doubt they are spiritual, but this does not make them non–material. The means are not to mental. He has a sense of feeling and a sort of sight or insight which enables him to locate and heal; and another faculty which enables him to diagnose when that is necessary. Usually he does not diagnose but when he is not successful he checks on the diagnoses of physicians

There are four schools of medicine here: Allopathic, Homeopathic, Greek and Indian. The last two are traditional from ancient times. The last three all use herb medicines, the Homeopathies being systematic; the Greek being based on the “humors,” the Indian or ayurvedic, I do not know at all. Between them they seem to affect a lot of cures.

I was thrown immediately into a cancer problem. The Major works with medical doctors and there was a case where he and the doctor had “lost face.” The patient was a brother of the doctor and this was not an ordinary doctor but the head of a big hospital. So the loss of face was very serious. Besides the Major seldom loses cases. He took me to the patient. I said that the man was holding a secret, either a loss or worry or there was somebody or something he hated or feared, or there was an event in his earlier life where in he felt he had submitted a sin—a sin and not a wrong. But a “sin” is a mark on one’s conscience for having done something against a code and is a mental more than an ethical tort. But whether mental or ethical it established a focus of infection and that focus could not he destroyed unless the patient stopped blaming himself. As the semanticists say, “God may forgive your sin but your subconscious own mind will not.” The patient denied this entirely and said he had clear so science.

His case did not improve. The major went again, the patient was adamant, but his pain became terrible. Then the Major demands a show-down and the patient broke down and as soon as he broke down the Major’s methods were effective and in the last days there has been a great improvement.

This is affected in part through magnetized water and when I referred your case to him he said he will take measures to send you his own magnetized water. I don’t know much about it and between times I have been exceedingly busy.

The major also has a brother who goes to a doctor for medicine. The first doctor was Allopathic, the brother goes to a Homeopath and I saw all the vegetable tinctures. I asked him about cancer and he said cancer is not a problem in Pakistan at all; they know how to cure it and he wants me to see him… All this happened before I received Leonora’s letter saying you were ill, in the hospital. I think it is remarkably coincidental and we shall see what can be done.

Both the Major and I are somewhat of legendary characters already. This being Lahore, I am more of a legendary figure than the major is, but of course in California it would be the other way around. Anyhow, we are planning a joint venture in California to bring in real Oriental philosophy and mysticism and I am trying to affect an arrangement with friends so that this can be done. It is not a matter of money but of channeling. There is no desire, in fact it would be a great danger to establish a cult, and we have plenty of cults, but we don't know the "wisdom of the East" on any level.

My letter can hardly be coherent. I am not the "Sam Lewis" of San Francisco. I am a number of characters with a number of rolls to fulfill. I have anticipated the Peace Corps and differ from the Peace Corps in that I am both a fact and a factor. We are not going to win any friends by the Peace Corps. The supposition that we are potters and the other [people clay is exceedingly anti-democratic and immoral. The Russians hold to it. The Russians and Americans are untied in what I call the Potter-Clay theory of trousers, tractors, irreligion and materials, and it will fall and fall.

Asians have cultures and prides. Imperialism and feudalism have de-humanized them but not deprived them of hearts and minds. These people are great on conferences. They can out-think everybody, even themselves. In fact they like to think and out-think, what they lack is doing. They plan and plot but they do not execute.

I've been meeting all kinds of people, and endless procession. Last night I was to dinner to an industrialist who is striving to expand the cement industry here. We had a very good number of talks. Generally the people present looked to me—on all subjects. It is very nice but so totally different from California it is hard to adjust to. I am treated with tremendous respect. When one goes into a room and not only ordinary people, but high government officials, army officers, bankers, industrialists and especially college professors stand when I come in, do not sit down until I sit down and listen attentively to everything I say it is hard to picture we are in the same universe.

Last night after we had discussed many subjects such as industrialization, development of natural resources, religion, philosophy, mysticism, etc., the host, Habibullah Khan Tiwana told me he had a complete system of socializing the whole society and has something in his mind like Social Credit. We are apt to confuse the term "socializing" with governmental ownership and not with the word "social." This was an anti-climax after a lot of climaxes.

My immediate problem is that I have not a future, I have a whole string of futures. I have been sent for to visit Malaya on a grand scale. My old associates would hardly appreciate that. My enemies—those who would never let me present my case—will be dumbfounded and a lot of them are going to be cleared out. I am not fooling, Wesley. We want world peace and understanding and employ humbugs. As Clemenceau said: "Peace and war are two things too serious to entrust to diplomats and generals." But we do entrust peace to diplomats and generals. And we entrust Oriental matters to a lot of self-elected persons, usually Europeans, who are anathema all over Asia. I was delighted and dumbfounded when the "Sherman Adams" of Pakistan attacked one of my leading enemies at our very first meeting. The deplorable situation of our looking to non-American, non-Asians as our "experts" and "authorities" for this continent is psychotic and the results can only be psychotic. There never was any Laotian problem. There was a unanimous refusal of our press to interview my American friend who lived and worked in Laos. They all regarded him as a trouble maker. Wesley, it is ten times easier to meet a Prime Minister than an editor. I don’t know whether I have met ten Prime Ministers or not, but I have not met a single American editor at any level, in regard to Asian affairs.

I have also had the negative satisfaction of seeing "Time" and "Life" debarred from Indonesia. Of course those people are "fanatics." The way to stop Russia is to call all neutralists and near-neutralists "fanatics." They just love that. So as we do not take Mr. Soekarno seriously, he does not take us seriously and has put on a comic opera show. There is a way of doing it. I do it myself but very few people will understand that Soekarno and I have had very similar training of substituting a false personality for a real one when you are not taken seriously.

Before leaving S.F. I met Porky at a diplomatic gathering. He was probably in delights when he got into that crowd. I pulled his leg all over the place. I called myself "Puck of Pukhtunistan." There were some Pathans there—the Pathans and Pushtus are the same. They confirmed everything I said. The Hindus confirmed. The Pakistanis confirmed. Porky did not know what it was all about.

Why, I am even now writing further to the Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco. I am not worried at all. Every week new opportunities and vistas before me. And while I give my first "official" public talk this week, something is going on all the time. And this in a city where it is up to 100° daily. I do not know how I live, but I am living.

My home is in Abbottabad and when I return I expect to meet my friend, Abdul Sattar, long stationed in S.F. It will be a high level meeting. By the time I get to Japan (Osaka) I shall be "Mr. San Francisco" and no kidding. That day is over. I had my future told again yesterday. I neither accept nor reject but the man told me I would not only conquer my enemies but forgive them and that a lot of people who have been standing in my way will now become friendly. I have been expecting that.

The sum and substance is that there is no bad news, only too much of it. I am going to be taken to mineral clay deposits, possibly to marble quarries and a lot of other things. The United States refused from one end to the other to take my reports seriously excepting in the Agriculture Department which accepted them all seriously—they were the same reports by the same person on the same matters.

We are not going to stop Russia by personalisms no matter who. Well, we now have Reischauer as Ambassador to Japan who is very popular in the Far East. Before him we had Mr. No. 2 who was very "popular" in the far east, far east of the Hudson! We manufacture heroes of straw and are surprised when they topple. Everybody from communist to Birch-barker lives in his own dream world which he misnames "reality" and which is filled with clay puppets. Human beings are of hearts and minds. They love and want to be loved. Everybody is seeking a kind of fulfillment and yet wants to bestow on others blessings of his own miseries, so to speak. If you suffer in a different manner there is something wrong with you. This is called sanity and civilization. Well, I'll have none of it, but I don’t want to confuse self-conceit with satisfaction and satisfaction with happiness.

I do not "prescribe" for medical patients and I am dead set against throwing empty maxims about presuming they comfort. At the moment I can't throw the weight of heaviness against you because the old dispensation is over for me. Conquering a nation or winning it for friendship is not difficult once we pass the potter-clay boundary. You and your friends have been working for peace; I have been working for friendship. But there is another "peace" of which we have only an inkling of in the West—you will find it at its best in Dr. Radhakrishnan. If you can ever get out of the hospital, and please do, report to Walt Baptiste, he is the best one in S.F. It may be hard at first, but you may be finding new life in some of the things he has to offer, really. Don't wait for me, I don’t know when I shall get back.

My very best,

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad

May 12, 1961

Dear Fred and Corinne:

The Hugo predictions are coming to pass at a great rate. I am with difficulty completing this communication. I meet saints, sages, seers and even spiritual teachers at a great rate. Many come to honor me. People who are regarded as non-existent float around or I meet them endlessly. Tomorrow night there will be a grand gathering including some of the biggest dignitaries of the region. In the morning I must write a big paper partly to be read, but especially to be published. Saturday night I am to be entertained by one of the richest men in the district. I have also met several other wealthy men.

They rather object to be called “non-existent” by stupid Europeans whom we select as our “experts” on Asia and whom we are afraid to remove lest we offend the Asians and the stream of dissidents in actual Asia includes everybody that is anybody and instead of meeting these people face to face we live in legends. It is not the masters of “the Far East” who are legendary, it is we, steeped in materialism who are legendary.

I went with the Major to a case of cancer which he had failed to heal. People had come all the way from Lourdes even and been healed and this cancer case he could not heal. I told him the man was hiding something; the patient denied this and again a failure. The suffering became unbearable and the patient confessed and the next treatments were successful.

There are four schools of healing here the Greek, Indian, Homeopathic and Allopathic. Between and among them they seem to be able to cure all diseases. I am particularly anxious about cancer and heart disease and I have already been given tips. I do not know whether I can follow it up on this journey which covers so many missions and I am only one person and busy all the time. I broke down in this heat, not necessarily from the heat—around 100°—but because of the totally different psychic and social atmosphere. I dare not repeat in detail what actually happens—few people would believe it. I am hoping there will be some Americans among my guests tomorrow night—they will get eye-openers.

Well I have asked about the Schloss estate and been told that it would be settled satisfactorily in 7 months. I cannot return to the U.S. soon and tonight it was definitely stated not for one year. I have much to do here, not to mention India and on top of that received a most important invitation from the friend of the Prime Minister of Malaya. I wish to see Mayor Poulson too, because he started me off. (It is very strange that the contest in L.A. should be between Norris, a former next-door neighbor, and Sam Yorty, a former pal. I win in either case, wowwie!)

The moneyed people who will be coming to these dinners will undoubtedly plan some campaigns either for the Major or myself or both together. These must be considered very carefully. I mentioned a little about “The Church of the Dawn.” We could easily combine this with Healing Sufism as we are outlining and practicing it here.

But this involves another of your interests in psychism and spiritual spiritualism. “Time” Magazine has been barred from Indonesia. We Sufis are tired of being called “fanatics” or else “non-existent.” We include within our numbers the Prime Ministers of Indonesia and Pakistan, not to mention Sudan and those questionable people, the Senussis—how is the doctor? Is he functioning? I think the idea of a Sufi healing coming to the U.S.A. might excite him, even affect him.

During the course of this writing more interruptions and some predictions, especially that after one year things will be entirely different for me in the U.S.A., and somewhat earlier in Pakistan and India. I might even have to visit UCLA and get some things straight there. The world cannot live half slave and half free and it cannot live half “real” and half “fantasy” and so far as much of Asia is concerned it is still fantasy on our part.

On the 15th we are going to shrines in Rawalpindi, the capitol city and will also consult oracles, so to speak, on the above and other matters. But I have still to clear up some things here. I started out with this best of intentions, but too many interruptions. Yet it is clear there is a “revolution” in the wind.

I am hoping to clear my main horticultural mission today. Everything is crowding, everything successful. Our main spiritual contact in West Pakistan is also Director of Food and Agriculture (there are no Sufis in politics and they never carry responsibility). Well I think this is enough sarcasm and it should not overcrowd the blessings. It is still a year off and much to be done, much to be decided. We can pray for you and intercede for you, we hope.

Love and blessings,

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad

Lahore, Pakistan

May 14, 1961

Prof. C. R. Cutright,

Department of Entomology,

Ohio Agricultural Exp. Station,

Wooster, Ohio

My dear Professor Cutright:

I have your letter of March 22nd and from the manner in which my program is operating, time is not a factor. Foundations are being laid and being most carefully and successfully laid, particularly in this country.

I am writing under considerably different circumstances today. In this country I am news. I should say that all facets of every type of program have reached a high level of what may be called “success.” Although I did not meet President Ayub, I had two long conferences with Secretary Shahab who occupies a position somewhat akin to that of Sherman Adams plus Lyndon Johnson and through him I have received presidential approval.

Quite independent of that I have been received in Lahore by the highest dignitaries and socially prominent and wealthy persons. This has made my program overfull and at a time when the thermometer reaches over 100° daily, plus invitations to grand dinners and receptions, keeping me busy all the time, but not promoting the best of health. This process is going on and there are every signs that it will continue.

Both these people and the executives in Agriculture that I have met tell me that I am the real “Peace Corps.” I have personally such a totally different approach to this subject of peace and I see no advantage in sending out amateur enthusiasts when this country, as Egypt, has graduates of our own American universities operating in its posts, men who will be glad to advise and assist us where we need advice and assistance most, and at no cost. There is a “Princeton-in-Asia” organization already in operation and I am suggesting that other universities or groups thereof utilize their alumni associations to promote peace and good-will.

I met a large delegation of farm-scholars from Kansas U. when I was in Karachi. These young men had already been, seen, lived in villages and completed rather successful missions of good-will and accomplishment. Yet according to present policies, particularly those of the press, they will be relatively or absolutely ignored and they too, have accomplished and done well. Every Pakistani I have met, and I have met many thousands, is or wishes to be attached to the land in some way and he is not very amenable to the potter-clay psychology used in international affairs.

This is a very long subject and I am finding much mineral wealth, etc., unexplored and unexploited.

I have been most successful in ridding myself of literature concerned with saline soils and horticulture in general. The idea is also to connect people of various lands together who have common interests. But I am carrying with me problems connected with soil erosion, agricultural literature and further examination of desert agriculture. This will take me two years and will require my crossing the continent again.

Some time ago I happened upon a book by an Englishman who laid down a tree program in 1911 or so, almost exactly what I have more recently suggested. Now I have before me a copy of Firminger’s Manual of Gardening printed in Calcutta in 1904 and so far as this part of the world is concerned I should say that 90% (ninety percent) of what I have been advocating is in that book. There are psychological roadblocks everywhere and not absence of knowledge or even “common sense” which holds the world back.

This is one item, however, which particularly interested or excited me:

Cyphomandra betacea or Tree Tomato. This is, of course solanaceous and was introduced into India from tropical America. It was propagated by seed. Naturally I am wondering whether anything has been done, or can be done about it. I have already gone into the subject of perennial Tomatoes.

Yesterday I called on Dr. Abdul Aziz Khan, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Central Jail Buildings, and unloaded on him the rest of my literature, dividing same into two portions: (a) plant protection, (b) crops. The latter includes Strawberries, Tomatoes and in discussion the Soy Bean, Avocado and drought tolerant crops. This will require a full program of following up.

Just before I left I met one Mian Muhammad Afzal Husain, who told me he had been the chief Entomologist of Pakistan and he is now retired, his address being 51/3 Lawrence Road, Lahore. Something drew me to this man and I wanted to meet him again. In the evening I was the guest of Syed Maratib Ali, who is Ford’s representative in this country and quite wealthy. There were a number of celebrities there. The last man who came to dinner was this same Mian Husain who did not know anybody and whom nobody else knew and he was seated right next to me. We have agreed that meetings and programs will be in order some time later on.

At the moment I must be in this city late in August or early in September. But even while writing I received a special invitation—through dignitaries too, to visit the new Agricultural Experimental Station at Lyallpur. And I must go to Rawalpindi, Mardan and Peshawar also. This will both take up my time and require me to see much of the country. I am, however, becoming a guest more and more and while the land is overbearing socially, my expenses have gone down enabling me to use moneys otherwise. And there is in the offing at least one organization, perhaps two, which will at least indirectly help me in my efforts.

Here the Pakistanis consider the idea of world-peace and understanding through horticultural and agricultural exchange far, far better than other proposals which have received more attention than careful consideration.

I appreciate your cooperation in regard to the seeds, knowing that this will redound to the benefit of our country and its international relations.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Abbottabad

May 18, 1961

My dear Harry,

You may remember that I hinted to you that I had had a past and it was not a particularly glorious past. Today I see the flowering and harvesting of every project I ever undertook in my whole life and going on at the same time with a fury that is both delightful and complicated.

Take the case of my poetry. When I was a little boy—and at 13 I was still mighty tiny—Archie Cloud gave me his blessing and I inferred that something was coming out of it. It was only in the months before I left S.F. that the poetry teachers of U. C. discovered I had something and it was a stranger, Admiral Evenson of the American Friends of the Middle East that proclaimed me. The Beatniks feared me for I beat them at their own game and the nice people do not like serious poetry. Well I was hardly here when I told you I had met secretary Shahab, the top civilian of this country, the chief expert on poetry and literature and the best friend of General Ayub. One page reading and three men demanded the Urdu rights. It is now being translated into Urdu and I was told it would be published but I have no time to take this up further with the bigwigs as I am in the midst of other things. I am also writing another epic and smaller poems which are acclaimed on reading and this is no nonsense.

When I left working for the army in 1945 they refused my resignation until I signed the heroes’ war book. “I am no hero.” “We know more about you, Mr. Lewis, than you know about yourself. No false modesty.” Well I had been turned down more times by the Intelligence and the FBI than one has fingers on their hands but I realize today that the rooms were bugged and perhaps I, too.

I was only last week able to tell somebody why Nixon was mobbed in India. It was withheld from the papers and the communists had little to do with it. Anyhow I faced the commies inn India and they had to run for their lives. No wonder there is a certain part of my memoires called “Madventures”—and they still go on, believe me. Since then I have seen a newspaper man who was mobbed in India—not printed in the U.S. papers, of course, promoted to a high governmental position.

I have long seen the warfare within the U.S. which I called “The Professor versus the Commentator” and thank God we have two professors admired in Asia as Ambassadors in India and Japan.

In California I was not even permitted to enroll in Islamic Studies. When I got to Harvard they would have me all right, but how? As teacher. Where did I get that wisdom? My knowledge did not change, merely the reactions of persons and the politics of institutions and here I am teaching in Islamics and I have been in many places where Americans don’t go. We never interfere with local religions, but those nice, gentlemanly, Marquis-of-Queensberry infiltrators, the Russians, are not so bound by the rules they lay down and accept.

I have recently written a cousin a letter entitled, “Four, Just Men.” I have a personal underground which in turn grape vines the whole of Asia. After Pearl Harbor, of which I had been forewarned, I resolved it would never happen again. But it did no good. I may have many letters still concerning Vietnam and Laos, but I have recently received an invitation from one of those men to come as the guest of the Prime Minister of Malaya which will probably be accepted.

Another one invited me first to Asia and said: “Sam, all Asia needs you,” etc. The fourth is Bryn Beorse Shamcher who is one of the grandest men on earth, a cloak-and-dagger here, friend of Dag Hammarskjold, cousin of at least one Prime Minister of Norway, the most thinking man I ever met in economics and long engaged in research to produce fresh water from the ocean at low cost, etc. He has also been in the recesses of the Himalayas, met real Yogis in caves and had a long string of experiences. He does everything well but get along with his wife, which is a great misfortune.

It did not take long for me to find my place here due to the combination of the friendship of Ansar Nasri, or Radio Pakistan, friend of Secretary Shahab; and now major Sadiq, friend of General Ayub. I had to stay in Lahore during the heat and had a feast every night, meeting millionaire industrialists, high army officers, high judiciary and other governmental officials, professors, etc. I have told you about the chief Entomologist already. I left the city gloriously worn out and stayed in Rawalpindi two days going to the movies in the P.M. This gave me one morning about which I shall write here.

It is written in a mixture of laughter and tears. Someday some thick headed editor in the U.S. will recognize that the peoples of the world are not concerned with “foreign aid,” “dialectics,” “cold war” or “space conquest.” Here there are two problems which dominate everything and anything and to me, show that the people are far more sensible than most. Their primary concerns are God and saline-soil problems and anybody coming here not acquainted with these is going to have a hard make-shift no matter that college he graduated from or what newspaper he worked for. True that the problems of the desert and eroded lands are also immense but it is impossible to take up all these things at once; and it is difficult for me to handle the situations before me. I am not an expert on saline soils but I am an expert in finding out what bothers others and than trying to do something about it.

The imbalance of this report is the imbalance of the facts of life. You may remember how the Japanese were so amateurish in Rose growing although the terrain and weather were suitable therefore; and the Thai the Egyptians very successful because they made a study. I had long concluded that the lands around Lahore and Rawalpindi were self-sufficient in K and deficient in N and P just by looking at the flowers.

In touring the agricultural Exp. Station at Rawalpindi I ran into the difficulty that Horticultural and Botanical Training are different. The latter includes the “experts” which means they did not dirty their hands. They had fine minds but did not have to have “green thumbs” and the Horticulturist was different. He had to know how to plant, prune, graft and bud without knowing the nomenclature, etc.

The one flower which struck me here has been the Larkspur. They are tall, immense, and bushy. In sharp contradistinction are the Snaps which are terrible, no foliage and few flowers to the stalk, seldom branched. I had long concluded that this was due to the Soil Condition. They had no soil report and there is a dearth of soil chemists, etc. in this land. I have fore borne taking a testing set—too much luggage—but I hope somebody someday will look into the matter.

I have seen shrubby Godetias and the best flowers of this type; also the related Clarkias do very well. I regret, however, to report that I missed the flower show in Abbottabad, held in my absence. Day Lilies are now in bloom and many Mexican flowering plants and low shrubs have been adopted in this Exp. Station. Roses do not do good, Dahlias much better flowering early in the warm climate, Phlox well, Sweet William very fine and some relatives thereof which I cannot name. Cone flowers in bloom offering contrast colors, Verbena excellent, Nasturtiums good. Achilleas very, very fine. Hibiscus and Nicotiana just coming out. Sunflowers and Hollyhocks doing fairly well (not enough N). Cosmos very fine (I don’t think they need so much N and do well with K). There were not only Gaillardias of the type I have seen but a compounded relative, also Margaurites, Pansies, Turk’s Cap. Gardenias doing well but not yet in blossom.

There were not many Ornamental trees around, the chief being a Cypress and one which looks like a Robinia, having excellent “brush” like flowers almost like some Myrtacea, but the leaves and pods were distinctly a Robinia type. I shall try to see Abdul Hamid Khan soon and see if he can identify it. The local name is “Shireen” which is Persian for a beautiful maiden. (Incidentally being a flower man—and may be told you, I must not touch plants, but this still does not stop me from lecturing to over a hundred beautiful maidens and getting an ovation and re-invite!)

It is very hard for me to comment on the Vegetable section as this was being used for seeds and you see immensely tall Carrot plants. I was very happy about B. vulgaris for I have been howling about more Beets here and all I run into is opposition. I tell them about Utah which is non-existent for them. This is due to a certain stubborn psychology wherever one finds Indian blood—a priori rejections. I say that the Sugar Beet can become the Salvation of Pak. as it was of Utah and maybe it will.

Then came one of the great shocks of my life and I still do not know whether to laugh or cry, and it is very, very serious. Between the Ornamental Flower and the Vegetable-seed section were huge hedges with green-bluish flowers, excellent: Artichokes! They did not know these were vegetables; they used them in flower arrangements! They make beautiful ones.

Now Harry, we sent out experts and point four people and all kinds of people from all kinds of branches of the U.N. They are making a survey for the great problem of Pakistan, malnutrition. On one hand I had to point out wild mustard and dandelions to a doctor of one school, elsewhere I find a doctor of another school using all sorts of even common flowers and weeds for medicinal purposes and to stop malnutrition. But as in India the communications are blocked. This seems to be as terrible as malnutrition itself.

I never saw better Artichoke bushes. They are naturals here and they are one of the plants I have long predicted as naturals. They have a certain amount of Na-Cl (rather than just “salt” tolerance) and there they were. Wonderful hedges and wind-breaks, full of buds and flowers. I had them pick those not in full bloom and when I go there again will re-check. This is most important and in a country whish suffers from malnutrition.

The Orchard and Small fruits are still in experimental state. The Citrus sp. has the weather problem—a report below. Many grapes have been introduced from Bauchistan. The strawberries are just coming to bloom. Fortunately unlike India, they have not doused them with N. and the fruit looks promising at this time not overcrowded with leaves. Other small fruits have not been introduced. There is much experimental work with Pear-stocking mostly for budding and grafting work. I did not go into Agronomy section.

At this point I also feel a sense of deep dissatisfaction with myself. I can almost long to return to study and perhaps I will but the pressures in other directions are terrific.

The office discussion which followed was so important that I am longing to have some good sessions with you as soon as possible upon my return. This “cold war” had made us mad and we do not look upon the earth and its problems any more. I did not know the PH if the soil although I imagine it is fairly high. The soils are fairly heavy and are of K-types.

The Legume section later gave me the weather and rainfall report which I copy for my own records:

Max. Min. Inches Max. Min. Inches

July 101º 69º 11.0 Jan. 67º 34º 2.8

Aug. 102º 74º 11.1 Feb. 80º 40º 2.9

Sept. 98º 72º 11.7 Mar. 81º 43º 3.2

Oct. 96º 64º 3.5 Apr. 94º 44º 1.6

Nov. 84º 43º 3.6 May 105º 54º 0.2

Dec. 72º 35º 1.1 June 113º 64º 0.5

Now as I have always predicted Amsulph will not work. High temperatures and heavy rain with pH 7 or over means the disintegration and loss of NH3 gas and so the N goes back to the air. I think I previously reported this that in Hong Kong they were losing their farms, in Thailand they only use organic manures and fertilizers and in India they are stuck. Even today Burma flourishes and East Pakistan starves with very similar conditions.

My informants told me that the chief result of Amsulph was the destruction of soil organisms and that this had worked terrible havoc. I gave him roughly the Sam Higginbotham formula. They had never heard of Fish Emulsion, etc. This leaves an immensely wide field open and I think something should and must be done. And this was the second big thing that came out of this visit.

At this discussion also came up the problem of Bone Meal. There was a lot of bones, waste from the meat industry and they have been conditioning them for manures, but they do not know how to use them. Actually they use Superphos which they have found much better and this is put into the soil 1-3 months prior to sowing or seeding. It seems to work very well. The “organic” value of Bone meal is counterbalanced by its slowness of availability and also by the fact that in the heavy soils there are not so many bulb plants. But actually I do not consider myself enough of an authority here. The staff did not think they should utilize the Bone Meal as a “money-crop”—i.e. it is exported to foreign lands now, especially Holland. This leaves the matter open.

There was some discussion about Avocados which I think they need but I am a little timid about any large-scale plant introductions until there is more knowledge of the soil. The above rainfall, concentrated in three hot months has a great effect upon sowing and counter indicates multiply cropping during the year. The land is too flat, off-hand for dams and reservoirs, but one can see hills not too far away which may make damning and also water-power important, I had already been the guest of the concrete industrialists but the government policy limits the local manufacture of this commodity and I quite agreed with the industrialist that this is a serious error. And without the concrete you cannot build dams. (Incidentally concrete is very well used on the highways for catch-basins, culverts, etc., etc.)

After that I went to the Legume sub-station. Unfortunately they had depended on FAO and a lot of UN people who have wonderful ideas but are not aware of facts. Seeds of 60 varieties of Soy Bean were sent—always one year too late with no knowledge of variety. They lost all but one single species. Here again one does not know whether to laugh or cry. Harry, I consider this very serious and this was always almost too much. So I am going to work and will work hard. Worse I have not had answers to my letters on this subject so will try again. I think it is most important—and I can’t go home, not with my invitation to Malaya from the Tops. I must stay here. Soon I shall go to Mardan where I will make my appointment for a later visit to my friend Jamshyd Khan, the big farmer of the area. . . I hope this is coherent, but basically it is my diary.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

Abbottabad, May 18

My dear Lemanda,

I have just come back from Lahore after what has been, perhaps, the most two important weeks of my life. I have to write my diary so I am doing this, the diary being the carbon of this letter.

Now it just happens that I was living with Major Mohammed Sadiq there. He is my spiritual brother and a healer. I am now waiting for a telegram from him which may come the next few days and I must join him on another trip. While I was with him I received a letter that my old and trusted friend, Walley Milley whom you know well is I the Southern Pacific Hospital with cancer. The Major says usually he sends specially magnetized water to patients in far off lands. In any case I am going to show him your letter.

He has been a very famous man. He used to live in the city of Jhelum and people come from all over Pakistan. He thinks he has treated about a million people. I saw some cures in my own presence. He also works with hospitals and doctors and I went with him to one hospital on a cancer case and to another on a T.B. case. He works every morning with the army and rests a while in the afternoon. After 5 o’clock he treats people until it is dark, then he goes to hospitals some times.

While I was with him there was feast every night. This was hard because it was very warm in the daytime, sometimes the thermometer going to 105°. And I could not walk in the heat and besides everybody treated me like a great person. Not only did the servants wait on me but all kinds of people and it is hard to believe that even some of the richest and holiest men in Pakistan waited on me. It was like living in a dream. Sometimes I went to mansions for feasts and the other times army officials and doctors and generals and ex-generals and top people in all walks of life came to see me.

I spoke some in a Mosque to thousands upon thousands of people and must have shaken hands with at least two thousand of them. I have been to many dervish meetings and was received like a holy man ans sat with teachers. I have been to shrines where Americans do not go and soon will be visiting more shrines.

You see, Lemanda, this is my home and these are my people. In this life I had to be born in a Western body so I could bring Oriental teachings to America. But this is new and hard for me. It is easy to live with the Punjabis either on this side or on the Indian side. I feel as home with that. I also feel at home with the Pathans. I can eat their food easily. The only thing I sometimes miss is coffee but you can get Nescafe. I stopped at Rawalpindi before and after going to Lahore and had excellent ice-cream there and went to dinner for relaxation. But I also had interviews there.

All my interviews with the Horticulturists have been successful, also with the engineers. They think I am doing what Kennedy wishes the Peace Corps to do. But you can’t send young strangers here. The people will challenge anybody’s religion and start arguments. They like to argue more than they like to work. Everybody here is wise in thinking but not in action. You really can’t tell them, they already know, they just don’t do.

In a sense I am becoming an expert in certain fields. This is especially true on agricultural literature and some kinds of problems. The problems here are erosion, salty soils and deserts. The people are only interested in soil problems and religion. They are not interested in space travel and dialectics and our kind of politics no matter what the newspapers say. Newsmen don’t associate with the common people and they can’t associate with the millionaires and cabinet ministers. Me, I am different, I can and do associate with everybody.

This was the holy land of the Vedas and it is still full of spiritual teachers, although some are pretenders, but some are not. Even President Ayub visits shrines and is a “fanatic” from our point of view. In fact all the rich are as “fanatical” as the poor. They visit holy men and holy shrines and believe a lot of things which the “respectable” American would dare believe. But it is even harder to believe that they came to see me, everybody it seems came to see me because Major Sadiq has friends all over, including President Ayub whom I hope to see before I leave Pakistan. After all I have been I “The White House” and over the phone he gave approval to what I’m doing and added more.

When I went to the shrines people threw garlands and garlands over me. They are something like the Hawaiian leis, but when you have a dozen or so around your neck they get heavy. I met the Naqshibandi and Chisti Sufis. It is too long to tell you about them. I also spoke at the university and over a hundred beautiful college girls came to hear me and want to hear me some more. So I shall speak at the Lahore Museum in September on the same subject, which was Islamic Art.

I could not get anybody to listen to my poetry in San Francisco and here everybody wants to hear it so I am writing more. Every morning in Lahore I visited the American Consulate or the universities or the agricultural experts, then rested and after five everything happened. When the richest man in Pakistan invites you to his home twice in a short while it is something. I am hoping we can organize to bring Major Sadiq to America to present his spiritual healing.

I also want this on account of my first dancing partner, Mrs. Hazel Reeve of Mill Valley. She has long been paralyzed and I am much concerned with her. I never had a chance to really fall in love and by the time I was on my feet financially she was a victim. I do not know whether God wants me to marry or not. I still feel pretty chipper. In San Francisco they don’t believe I know much about Oriental Philosophy but they admit my age; here they say I know the philosophy but they won’t accepted my age.

I did see a few movies in Rawalpindi. They can’t have TV here—too many languages. In this district at least four languages are spoken and over the hills to the west another one.

Abbottabad is in hills somewhat like Marin Country. You go south and east of Rawalpindi which is the temporary capital. Lahore is about 150 miles east of that, a very beautiful and historical city full of shrines and tombs and the most famous Shalimar Gardens. It has many parks and trees and flowers and much of it is landscaped. It is said the British did more there than anywhere else on the sub-continent.

President Ayub has cleaned up Pakistan and is doing much to help it. He is very honest, sincere, religious and most of all spiritual. We cannot realize how a most spiritual man should be both the head of the army and operate the government. But that is the way it is. Actually behind the scenes here are great spiritual teachers and this may mean that Pakistan will be a great Nation. People really believe in God and among the educated I have found the finest characters in the whole world.

I am back in my bungalow near the college. It is warm elsewhere but cool in my rooms. Tomorrow I shall write to S.F. on my horticultural and scientific ventures. I am only hoping that the University of California and others will take my experiences seriously. I am waiting for my friend, Abdul Sattar to arrive. During June and July there will be a great many visitors here because the plains will be very hot and then a lot of heavy rainfall will follow. I have been fortunate to secure this place.

I am trying to get the government interested in teaching folk dancing. A little more natural outlets for the young and they won’t have to worry about unrest. But there is not enough play or diversion here.

I won’t be home for a long, long time. I have now an invitation to visit Malaya from a friend of the Prime Minister. I sometimes wonder why I should come back home at all. Here I am honored and could even live without paying room and board! But America needs to learn about Asia and I think now I know as much about Asia, its history, philosophy, religion and esotericism as anybody.

Love,

Abbottabad, May 26

My dear Harry:

It is very beautiful here now. The Walnuts are in blossom and there are some excellent Euonymus and dwarf conifers standing out nearby. Larkspurs and Godetias dominate the flowering plants. And it seems that several ideas of contemporary architecture and landscaping have been introduced here. Privets, of course, are the leading shrubs, but Barberries are both cultivated and wild.

I had a long and almost sorrowful visit with Dr. Hamid Khan, the forest botanist. I had just missed Secretary Cheema. They had talked about the harm done by goats and the need of reforestation. He told me that despite the shales, it would be easy to plant trees. So today I climbed the mountain to the east—perhaps 2500-3000 feet high. It is quite evident it was a Pine forest and trees were removed. There are young Pines on the lower reaches. There were leaf deposits all over and people even “mine” the soil in certain places.

I was amazed at the number of Pomegranates growing all over and between them Barberries. Wherever it was flat the Pomes grew even into trees, but on the top too I found them and doing excellently. This shows that trees can be planted and small fruits, too. I saw plenty of young Eucs, whether escaped or man-planted, I do not know. In this there is hope for these could provide fuel and stop this ghastly dung business. If this were Japan the whole hill-side would be covered.

It is also curious that we have periodic rains in this “dry” season, sometimes even heavy thunder storms. There is no reason excepting lassitude and inertia which prevents a program from going through. But I have become at least partly cynical. Do we have to wait for the Russians to introduce the obvious tree-planting?… There were not many wild flowers, chief being a small Mallow and a relative of Hound’s Tongue. But still I feel my inadequacy at botanizing.

Some of the reactions and events are contained in a copy of a letter to the Embassy. We can stop the Russians simply by accepting reports and information from our people abroad and listening to them. It would cost nothing and satisfy a lot of gripers, and perhaps for reason. But they seem totally ineffective and thwarted.

I have discussed with Dr. Hamid also the further introduction of California natives of any kind which might grow here and be beneficial. We took up the matter of Rhus—although I wonder if they require a semi-acid or neutral soil; my impression here is that the soils around here are of high pH. This has not only come from the observation of high K, but I am told definitely the underpinnings are limestone. One does not see many acid tolerant plants and one certainly does not get the “feeling” of acidity in any of the higher places—a little, but not too much in the wetter regions around Haripur which is in the valley below. We also remarked about the need of soil-testing kits which would be invaluable. I hope to God that somebody in the “Peace Corps” dreams this up before the Russians do.

I am waiting for a letter from Jamshyd Khan, the most successful farmer to the west. After that I should be going into the hill areas in every direction from here. I met another wealthy man who is interested in basic democracy and told him that this country needs nothing but mineral surveying and tree planting. He jumped up and embraced me. I find that the wealthy and successful people here seem to have a monopoly on brains and practicality. This may be due to feudal heritage. The amount of wasted time—beggars, gossipers, tea drinking is enormous and you can almost taste the hidden wealth.

The death of Sir Syed Maratab Ali, the wealthy man who gave me two grand feasts in Lahore removed a man who seemed ready to back me in many of my projects, but I was not expecting help that soon. But I have met his sons and may meet them again before leaving the country. All one needs here is a trench pick to plant trees and dig for ore samples, but I have not seen one. If I do, God help (or bless) Pakistan.

Faithfully, Samuel L. Lewis

May 27

I wrote the above at night when I was tired and omitted the most important thing: the water requirements of plants.

There is the grave danger in discussing anything that has to do with international relations and that is one is told that the UNO or UNESCO or UNICEF is looking after it and you are wasting your time. I have already reported on the lack of viability in the soy beans sent as seed to Rawalpindi. A few years back I think I told you the story of the seed-corn in Hyderabad. And that is exactly what the officials are afraid of. Bring up a problem as they see it and they will be told it is already handled by some international organization and they have nothing to worry about. Then they worry more. Russia is not bound by any such nonsense—they are sending in prospectors and saline-soil engineers and we are going to get it!

I wrote you from UAR about how the experimental gardens were laid out in Cairo University, that they used a flooding irrigation method without gates. What they wanted to know is the water requirements of plants, etc. This is the big thing here. If an impersonal organization takes over they are liable to give 100 trees, with different ecological and natural aptitudes; some nursery man or “expert” will help in the planting and leave exact or inexact (more likely) directions for their care.

Between ignorance, laziness, and uncertainty of water supply trees are either left to “Allah” i.e. rains, or they are irrigated, and how. No peasant can easily be trained as to different water requirements of different crops. A wise person would place crops with similar water requirements close to each other and in whatever I have suggested I have kept this in mind. I am not too sure of grapes, for example, because it rains at the wrong time here.

I hope to go over the pamphlets and find out more about this and see which States have experimented; more I want to take this up either in person or get proper books.

I am now reading with much zest, Introduction to Plant Geography by Nicholas Polunin. This is an expensive book, borrowed from the college library across the way. I was surprised to find nothing on Cynodon dactylon. But while the writer is an expert, he has done all his previous writing on Arctics—and I say Arctics because this covers oceanography, ornithology, and botany and all parts of the circumpolar world—Russia, Canada, Greenland, etc. Besides the book is an “Introduction” and it has much of tremendous value. I do not know at this writing where I shall live and whether I shall want to build up my own library or buy books for someone and borrow from him from time to time.

In any case between this book and the above conversation I know there can be undergraduate work on the simple problem of water requirements of plants, and these perhaps in sandy, silt and clay soils, and with two different pH arrangements but not more (say lime and peat) at the bottom of the pot, or plots. When one goes into new lands without this information there is much waste, even tragedy. These things are not reported but they go on.

There is one other complicating problem here, and that is caste. These people argue about our Negroes, but you ain’t seen nothin’ brother.

Sincerely,

Abbottabad

May 28

The American Friends of the Middle East,

323 Geary St., San Francisco

Dear Admiral Evenson and Friends,

In the course of many events here I have neglected to make entries in my diary which I am now doing, sending you a letter therefrom. The rush of affairs and the multiplication of personalities into my life are more than I can assimilate and yet, from appearances at this writing, I shall have to speed up rather than retard, until I embark on local traveling and adventuring which are in the offing.

When I called at your office in Lahore I made it clear that any movement here which would purport to introduce Pakistani culture into the United States should be watched closely so that moneys would not be poured into duplicate or rival projects. At that time I had just had one visit to the home of the late Syed Marstab Ali and there were rumors of another affair. This did come off and some days later I was dining in the midst of the biggest and richest people in that part of Pakistan. It is not necessary to mention names or details, but there were and are some outstanding features.

In the first place there is that terrible nonsense masquerading as Islamic Philosophy and Sufism within the walls of our colleges and universities which has nothing whatever to so with reality. Professors, apparently only of foreign back-grounds or else tinged with Zionism, give a very warped and distorted picture of what Sufism is, based on deductions from translations or traditions. They have very few contacts and their tendency is to belittle Sufism because they either did not find Sufism or were not over-welcomed.

Now it is not my intention to defend Sufism or Islam but to point out that it is not an easy thing to be feted and dined night after night by the big persons who unanimously declare themselves to be disciples of Sufi teachers. This happened psychologically first when Secretary Shahab attacked in a very un-diplomatic manner—from our point of view—the strange predilection we have for authorizing non-American, non-Muslims as the “top brass” for our (mis)information. This has been so old hat to be it is disgusting. But ten on top of that one big personality after another comes forth and either calls on me or meets me at social functions and emphasizes exactly the opposing of scholastics, one wonders where to go next.

Anyhow within a week after I saw him Syed Marstab Ali died and I did send one notice to my former employer, Mr. Russell Smith of Ross who undoubtedly met this gentlemen or his sons during the course of his travels or functions. One often wonders how many of this type of men have to get public notices or whether I shall have to bring cards signed by Secretary Shahab, Lt. Gen. Shaikh and President Ayub to the effect that they are disciples in Sufism and whether this will do any good at all.

The aftermath of this is that now I am on the social register, so to speak, at Abbottabad and have a long refusal list too—my stomach is limited, simply because innumerable persons in this far off land wish to demonstrate that they are existing personalities. This includes most of the men I have been meeting in the course of my scientific exhibitions, etc.

I am referring to my three closets’ friends and myself as “Four, Just Men.” I think among us we have met about everybody in Asia, and I think among us we have had exactly two newspaper interviews and nothing important published by any big paper. I have long written my last protest about this for quite another reason which is also Creolism.

I have written about “finds” here, Moghul jewelry and mineral resources. No answers. This has not interfered with the negotiations on the jewelry—elsewhere of course and the extension of the Russians from Petroleum to other hidden wealth. New the French have come in. This district is full of ores and the other day I was with a man who believes he has Uranium. I may take this up with Americans around Peshawar. There is one local difficulty and that with the transfer of the capitol, government officers are constantly moving and there is often a sudden change in personal, too.

Well we have had plenty of conferences on the saline-soil problem, which is one of the worst and the next thing, after the Americans and Pakistanis have conferences, the Russians send in experts. This goes on and on.

I have differed from my fellow Americans in that I ask the authorities what they think they want or need. All I am doing basically came out of conversations with Minister M.A. Cheema of Food & Agriculture. I did not propose, I asked. We Americans tend to look over the country, see needs and offer help; we do not always ask and so we have the strange complex of insisting on one hand that these people are staring and undernourished and on the other hand of offering help in almost every other direction.

It is not amusing to come and offer certain suggestions and be rebuffed in my own country and come back and have the Pakistanis make the same suggestions over and over. There is no difference of opinion, there is difference in effectiveness. But now, instead of whishing newspapers to accept anything from me, I am afraid, because once it gets into the press the Russians will supply the need.

For instance I am a strong person for Soy Beans. I am going to make one final effort to get them introduced properly. I know what will happen in some quarters if I spoke on this subject. Oh, the UNO is taking care of that; UNICEF has solved the problem; there is UNESCO. Russians do not let these words or institutions fool them. One of these impersonal organizations sent a lot of Soy Bean seeds to the experimental station—exactly one variety grew. Waste of money, time and effort, excepting of course, the written reports which would be most favorable—and useless.

Or there is the group collecting money to help solve the pest-problem in UAR Collecting money, yes. And my friend, Dr. Hasan Salah, graduate from the University of California, top pest-control man in UAR crying for equipment. That from Germany and Russia in deficient and I know exactly what I am talking about here.

It becomes very difficult to reconcile a life torn about so oppositely. But I am deluging the Embassy with letters and reports, hoping that someday some will be accepted. One of the most frustrating has been the approved in UAR list which was sent on to Washington and dead-ended. Even if I have to wait until I return, I will tell these in person; some I think too fundamental to commit to writing even for my memories. I do not wish anybody to see them.

In the midst of my over busy period at Lahore I received an invitation from one of the “Four, Just Men” who is functioning now as a close associate of the Prime Minister of Malaya. This invitation is being accepted though I cannot foresee when I can reach those shores. It is part of the same complex of the difference between Islamic culture and what is taught in the schools. Very often what is known as Islam has departed as far from the teaching of Mohammed as, let us say, the Roman Catholic Church or the Latter Day Saints have departed from those of Jesus Christ. I think “departed” is an unsemantic term. Things are not like that. Religions tend to become often tremendous organizations, even like universes, not to be subject to personality evaluations but dare scientific and sociological studies to find out what they are and why.

So many books present certain principles after which they throw on costs of white ash or mud according to the purpose of the author. It does not occur to the student that these people are giving us photographs or maps. We are going through Id-festival here but I doubt if 5% of the people know what it is all about—I didn’t myself. Or Christmas and even more out Easter have tended far from the biblical settings and may not even be biblical festivals. But they are living institutions, and may even be regarded as “grand ones” outside over-commercialism.

Then there is a very curious turn in my own life. I used to play with being Mr. Puck of Pukhtunistan—the largest real, imagination country in the world.” I did not dream that this would be followed by over-welcomes from every sort of Pathan-speaking person I have not. I am almost in a dilemma at this writing concerning invitations from so many quarters. I am waiting, for courtesy’s sake, for a certain letter but within a week or so may be departing for the frontier section, some part. Against this has been the meeting of top forestry man who are also inviting me to their sectors.

Actually the Pukhtunistan complex is involved with one of my ironical outlines?

Russia may send spies to Asian lands but not teachers

American may send teachers to Asian lands but not spies

Asiastan may send teachers to Russia but not spies

Asiastan may send spies to America but not teachers

There is far more truth in this seeming nonsense. I think there has been exactly one Pakistani teacher in the whole country to teach about Pakistan—there may be more teachers from here but on other subjects. If you go over the roster of instructors in our colleges and universities you will find all sorts of men, but not Nationals of this country. On the other hand Russia is constantly inviting Pakistanis, both students and teachers, to come and “inform” them about this land.

As a reflex I expect of write Sectary Shahab about the library systems in the U.S. and how they handle books on Urdu, Moghul cultures, Sindhi. Etc. I took this up with your colleagues in Karachi where I was so pleased with their library, so totally different from the establishments in the U.S. The Pakistani—U.S. alliances seem to stop often at their front doors.

While I am writing some negative things here I shall not come to any ultimate conclusion yet, as I have been informed that Asia foundation is going to have a conference, here at Abbottabad sometime in the summer. This is a great summer resort, and certainly the weather is wonderful here while it is overbearing in the plains.

The border incidents continue. Part of them are due to the weakness in the Pakistanis themselves who demand a plebiscite for Kashmir but will not permit one for Pukhtunistan. Actually I believe if there were a real plebiscite—which I hardly expect—not only could the Pathans vote heavily for Pakistan on this side, but on the other side, too. A complete plebiscite of all Pathans may surprise nobody but it is as “unthinkable” as one on Azerbaijan, etc. Only the democracies may have plebiscites.

As to Kashmir I know nothing and have my hands too full although I may visit Azad Kashmir. This in part because of Tourism. This government is building hostels and inns all over. The only thing is that they do not inform the tourists how to reach such places. The foreigners land at Karachi far off.

They have also made some serious psychological mistakes. While the Tourist magazine says foreigners are given discounts, the actuality is that the best hotels have upped their rates. I am trying to get information. This is bad policy. Actually I know a lot of second-class hotels where one could live very reasonably here and spend money in the bazaars and buy local wares instead of living in luxury hotels.

I may also take out another bank account so I can learn more functions, I already have two Bank of America and two Habib Bank accounts, but I am getting rid of my last traveler’s cheques to open another account. This will enable me to have moneys wherever I go and to report to travel agents, etc. how to carry on. This will be important if the tourism does extend into the new regions as the government hopes.

There is one final matter which is a little trying. I have been bombarded by so many young men who want to come to colleges in the U.S. And when I go and get the information, etc. they tend to disappear. In UAR I must say that when they wanted to come to U.S. for higher education, they wanted just that. In Pakistan and India I think I have met all told eight young men whom I offered to sponsor in turn; no taker. And this does not include a far greater number who say they want information. On this side, however, there is also the “Indianesque” feature—they want desk jobs. The field is wide open for engineers and scientists, but no to many injuries.

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad

May 30, 1961

My dear Rudy,

Seldom does one have the opportunity to throw all the eggs in one basket and in this communication that is exactly what is being done. You will probably find things here appealing to many or all aspects of your life and perhaps with some rejoicing or satisfaction.

One of the great American classics is The Great Stone Face of Hawthorne which shows the strange propensity of wanting to select even Messiahs by democratic processes. In the midst of a “cold war” a politician or newsman spending three days here will have an almost absolute priority over an engineer or scientist spending twenty five years. The careerist who has put in his whole life in the orient is unnoticed and we are going to send out a lot of slightly aged children labeled “peace Corps” who are going to serve the Russians well. For they are going to find that people will question them on religious subjects wherein they have neither been briefed nor educated and that all American aid is nullified by the atrocious movies and some literature which is always available at book stores in which communistic money is invested.

The same applies to spiritual things. The work laid out for me by Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan was of world significance, and the very magnitude prevented anything I tried to convey, rejected. We apply democratic processes to these things. There is one Marion Beaufait, a spiritual sister, who hosted that Spalding who wrote books on Life and Teaching of the Masters of the Far East utter frauds, but he was given a grand welcome by the “elite” and, of course, by the metaphysical people who decide everything by whim and personality and are as lacking in the deep insight as they are keen superficially (they are, however, well above the materialists).

Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Maulana Abdul Ghafoor added to the work given by Inayat Khan and in addition pointed out to me the path of the Khalandar. I guess Americans know this word from the Scheherazade Suite or from the Arabian Nights, but how can they learn anything about realities from the Europeans and Zionists who control the Islamic culture in America? Soekarno has to travel through America as a clown because the country is totally unable to discern what a true dervish or fakir is. And we shall continue to apply it to the nail-sitting Hindus and never to the true fakir who decides the destinies of Pakistan. I mean to say that this country is today almost entirely under the control of the Sufi-fakirs and no newspaper man and few professors can appreciate this. So the world of realities and realism remain far apart.

I cannot go into detail here excepting to say that all my missions, all without exception have been accepted no matter who in the S.F Bay region says what on anything. My poetry, which could not even get a reading until Admiral Evenson of the American Friends of the Middle East arrived, was gobbled up immediately by the highest authorities and I am in the midst, among other things, of writing further spiritual poetry which will live on.

I am in the Punjab which is the region of the Vedic rishis and I have even seen sacred spots which must have been the habitat of great ones of long age. It is so evident that I am now in the homeland of former incarnations and the receptions are beyond my capacity. Two weeks ago Syed Marstab Ali Shah died. He was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in Pakistan. I was guest at his house twice, meeting so many top level persons and the one thing we had in common and we did have in common was an interest in Sufism. This despite all the drivel that is mis-taught in our universities and all the nonsense that our press insists upon using with regard to “fanatics” and “fakirs.” These men, despite their wealthy, education and position were fakirs and they know how to empty their minds ad fill their hearts with God and spirituality.

At that time I was dwelling with my spiritual brother, Mohammed Sadiq, a Major in the Army who possesses a divine gift of healing and uses it. Every afternoon there were two long processions—lower class people to be blessed and healed by him and higher class people to meet me and discuss Sufism. Some came to teach, some to learn, some to discuss. But all welcomed an unusual spiritual brother from across the ocean.

I am shortly to write to Pir-o-Murshid Abdul Ghafoor for advice, to ascertain when he may be coming here. For his relatives live in Abbottabad and his own teacher is at Mardan which is not far away.

I spoke in a great mosque in Lahore before thousands; I addressed two assemblages of Sufis there; I was acclaimed at Punjabi University. I put in the hands of actual scientists and engineers the materials discussed in high level conferences and reported in the papers. They discuss I do, and shall continue to do. But I do not wish to go into this further except to say despite any and all or whomsoever of what level, capacity, function, outlook etc. in the San Francisco Bay region all my proposals and functions have been accepted without exception and usually at the very top level. This is outlook, too.

I returned to Abbottabad pretty well worn from so many dinners and honors and now I am palsy-walsy with Supt. of Police Sardar Abdul Rani who is also a spiritual brother of President Ayub, the fakir, despite all our nonsense. One thing has led to another. The other night he brought me to a house right across the road from my bungalow and there I met

Alfaqir Zulfaqir Ali Shah Nastan, Retired Tahsildar,

House No. 2509 A. Anandpura, Gawalmandi,

Rawalpindi, West Pakistan.

He is a Khalandar and was drawn to me immediately. He explained many things. For example when I want to speak on Islamic Art at the Punjabi U. I had slides which I had never gone over and it was to be a rehearsal. Instead all the seats and standing room are occupied. The lights were put out and the words came into my mouth letter perfect from beginning to end. It was like attending my own lecture. He explained to me what happened and more.

We have since spent much time together both along and in the presence of others. He claims to have many spiritual faculties and later I shall break this down into subjects. Anyhow both he and Major Sadiq—at the moment independently—wish to come to the U.S. and present spiritual healing; the Faqir more with the idea of destroying our materialism, the latter with the idea of promoting the International Sufi Brotherhood.

The Faqir told me some of his story. His own teacher is an Adept and has “ordered” him to go to America some time. Also he has solved several pressing problems of Americans and refused money. He claims that God looks after him and he does not take and does not want money for healing. However I did emphasize the practical side of his work in America; that he should take collections at lectures and use this money for traveling and hotel.

While we were discussing three times I recovered the “sign” that I should write to you at once on these matters, breaking them down.

Travel Agent. So far as I know the Faqir either has, or has access to funds. He would want to know something about both flying and sea-voyage to San Francisco. The term “flight” seems to have come up more often. In either case there would be the necessity of having complete information—thus what is the cost of flight to the U.S.? We are half way around and whether it be N.Y. or S.F. both that and the timing might be important. At the moment there is no indirection that he should land anywhere on route.

On the other hand a sea-voyage is not ruled out for there is always the possibility of functioning on board ship. But this should involve more complex time patterns—I mean from the day of embarkation. If he went by sea he would have to leave from Karachi, but by land, P.I.A. might take him Lahore or Rawalpindi and make international connections.

Even more important I told him would be the need of a travel agent within the United States who would arrange for hotels and short trips whether by bus, train or plane. He understands that this is a professional matter. Indeed his pride or conceit seems to be that he can pay and not beg. And besides, there would have to be trust and interest.

When the Zen Roshi came to San Francisco these things were well handled but I think that man had clergymen's rights. There are not recognized cleric in Islam although certain types of people are recognized such as Imams and Maulanas.

Sufism, Occultism, etc. At the moment these things are not distinct in our communications. He wishes to work I and through phenomena. He thinks the American people will be attracted to phenomena, especially what they cannot explain and it is his duty to break down the materialistic shell. This would no doubt involve a manager, too, for him. I place this before you without suggestions.

There is no question that we, as a people, need some anti-shocks to the seeking of space travel miracles, etc. I am not so sure that we shall not come up against imponderables and that sometimes even the most ignoramus psychic and metaphysician may not be ahead of "official" science which, becoming official, ceases to be scientific and accounts for many of our failures, more of which will continue until we stop a lot of democratic nonsense and use higher faculties.

It is the faculty of kashf or insight the Fakir especially wishes to demonstrate and so far as I can see he is pretty well, advanced in it. I can only say that he did get the exact years of my earlier suffering and described details of my earlier life in manners no one else ever has. He did not penetrate my spiritual being as did the Major, but my history and suffering he got very, very well indeed.

We discussed the possibilities in the US and I warned him that the country was very large and traveling might be quite expensive. He thinks he will be permitted to stay just three months and my feeling is that this should be confined to California and the S.F and L.A. regions. I did warn him against the "Orientalists" but I did not warn him against the psychics and metaphysicians. On the contrary I am inclined to feel that they may flock after him and even a few gain something from him.

Astrology. This was a tremendous "Golden Apple" thrown into my lap. He claims to have a complete spiritual astrology which is deeper that any now given to the world. When I was with Gavin Arthur I found I could "read" horoscopes and this I did by the application of both occultism and Sufi Metaphysics. But this man is an astrologer, he knows something about the "planets" within and without, and also their overtones o the higher spheres.

Some people may say Astrology is nonsense. For two or three weeks despite unending feasts, welcomes, successes, I felt nothing but gloom, gloom increased by an almost absence of news from the S.F. region and what did come indicated an unfavorable response to my reports. I am a "spiritual egotists." Maybe so, but the question is whether what I say or write is true or not—this is often overlooked. Well, about three days ago I woke up—no gloom. There was no news, there was no interior feeling, this had nothing to do with the condition of my body, etc. The gloom disappeared long before defection. So I decided that there was some Saturnian shadow over me.

When I was with the Fakir and asked him theoretical questions about Astrology ha answered each one by pointing out either an event in my past life or a prediction for my future. He did not deal with "theories"; and if there was nothing in my career to illustrate the point he selected something in his own or somebody else's life.

In my case he declared Sun and Moon to be benefic and Saturn and Mercury to be malefic and illustrated this. It is most curious and I am writing this purposely, that he was the third to predict the removal of Saturn as a shadow or determinal influence in my life around my birthday and seven best years to follow.

The detailed predictions were entirely the same, all beginning with October and continuing for seven years, the best years of my life and the same extremely favorable predictions bearing out exactly what the Pir-o-Murshid Inayat khan and Maulana Abdul Ghafoor said despite all and sundry in California. And I mean all and sundry.

The Sun will become important but not now. The Moon is important and will remain important. Although we did not go over my chart, the Moon-Venus cum Uranus trine was reflected in his interpretation. He has already pointed out my romantic and dancing tendencies and predilections.

I cannot say that I followed him in Astrology as well as in Mysticism and Metaphysics. It is not my field or forte and when he went into the overtones, which he seemed to do well, it was new territory to me. But he seemed to indicate, and this I liked very much, that he would like to present this Astrology in America.

I have, of course, very good contacts in L.A. but I seem to feel he should go to S.F. and do his work there. He is waiting for a sign from his own Murshid before he makes dated preparations. But we both feel that what can be done in principle now would expedite matters.

I do not wish to convey all false hopes or impressions and at the moment I do not feel that this man is as spiritual as deep as the Major. I do feel he is needed to break our materialistic moulds and that is what he has emphasized the most. In fact I told him that his personal success would be the greatest favor he could confer on me because I have been rejected all around by the very persons, institutions and what not who should be working with me, if not for me. I have not been appalled by rejections, but by a prioris, and there are bunches of them around S.F. covering all classes. In general the newspapers and sectors of universities have this same asinine attitude toward anybody who comes to Asia and learns anything, so my trouble there is not personal, but this strange surrealistic attitude by so-called "realists" who will not listen to facts and information and later on are "shocked" and howl at the CIA when the information was already in their hands, to land either in the waste basket or pigeonhole (if one is so lucky).

My friend, Phra Sumangalo, who got tired trying to inform the American public about Vietnam and Laos and gave up his citizenship, has invited me to Malaya whose Prime minister is a friend of his. He wants me to re-assure those peoples of the truth of Sufism. I have already had innumerable requests from Indonesia, too. Indeed I would be wondering about studying in California at all when I can live here tops at $100 per month, be received, honored, listened to and admired. But the US needs to know the spiritual light and occult truth. And I have to go back to :The Great Stone Face" or even the biblical "The stone that is rejected has become the cornerstone."

If anything is not clear, please let me know. The Fakir will be here two days more and I may (or may not) write further. I have his Rawalpindi address and it takes only two hours by taxi service—there must be more passengers—at about $2 for seventy miles! So I can visit him any time. However he says if there is any need or advantage in writing him direct I should furnish you with his address, which I have. For there will be times—and sometimes it looks soon—when I may be adventuring in the Frontier Province, and will not receive mail, nor have my typewriter with me.

I guess that is enough now, although it is far from all.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

June 1, 1961

U Can, Twin, Mandalay, Burma

Dear friend: I am writing you my diary entry because I need assistance, assistance in interpreting a dream. I was in the midst of some very large banquets, lots of people and I was sitting next to my friend Bill Hathaway. I need him because he has the size of stomach necessary for one attending the banquets I have to go to—protocol. It was all friendly and jolly and all that but we were just two stomachs in the midst of multitudes.

After a while I asked to be excused. I am fed up with being fed up. So I went to my room and began typing; the typing was most important but I don’t know why. I left my door open because I never eave’s drop. I just listen wholeheartedly, secret, you know with microphones and bugs. Indeed in the dream world I seem to see too, even while I remain in my room.

After I left and enjoyed the peacefulness of my room and this machine Bill suddenly became important. I don’t know why, but he did. He said: “Thank God Puck is not here. I would not want him in on what I am going to say because in his presence I have a protocol, “never say a good word” and in his absence I have another protocol, “never say a bad word.” I don’t know why this is but my father was an international spy, I mean diplomat of the highest order and I inherited. What I don’t know but I inherited.

“Now I have known Puck a long time, too long no doubt, but I know him and he is the greatest, grandest person in existence so long as he is not listening.” Well you kept on in this vain and said he (meaning me) should be given an ovation, that we had long given up “God save the U.S. but Puck had and in between you called out loud “Puck are you there?” ” Puck, are you listening?” And after the third time I yelled back, “No!” to each question and you said, “I thought so.” And then after a while more you became 12 feet tall and lifted me by the arm which became a long bar and carried me willy-nilly but more wily than nilly because I am “so modest” back to the banquet hall. By that time Bill had become the Bill cheese and everybody was admiring him and following him and when we came back into the hall together there was such a clamor and Bill lead the cheers and everybody cheered and cheered and I was a hero.

Now, U Can, Twin, at this moment it being time to get up because the bearer or his assistant or his assistant or his ass brings me bathwater at exactly 6:00 in a land where time stands still or runs like a rocket, and it was just 23 minutes early for 6:30 is exactly 5:43 or 7:13 or 6:21 exactly, exactly with no deviations because they don’t allow deviationists here. So I awake and strange to say feel wonderful, despite my self-banquet last night. For tired of banquets and all that I bought some Lady’s Fingers last night (Okra) of which I am very fond.

Well, U Can, Twin, there are only two ways of purchasing here. “The Price is Right” which means, I have found so far, for butter, oil, and superfluities you are going into Tiffany’s; and for fruits and vegetables which coast I rupee (21 cents) in America cost less than a quarter of that here and Mangos which cost 2 rupees in America cost almost as much in Abbottabad and why they put them on the market I do not know because the public can’t afford them. So they remain unsold and would be given to pigs if pigs were allowed. So they all spoil because protocol “The Price is Right” does not permit lowering prices for any purpose.

So you get butter for 72¢ a pound and in America Okra cost about 30¢ a pound and one does not know why. Therefore because I love it I wanted one rupees worth (21¢.) That is fine but Puck is Puck and sometimes he is “Ah Yaint, a saint.” Well yesterday he got it. He went into the market to get some “Lady’s Fingers” and put out one rupee. He had a big bag with him for sundries. First they weighed the Okra very carefully down to a single item but by that time the scales would not hold any more and there was enough Okra on the scale to give one enough for a week. Fine! Oh know, how for Puck, overweight, then they gave him overtime, then they gave him.

Fortunately Puck has good muscles and did not stagger because these things don’t weigh much. So he went to his favorite restaurant and ordered some fixed and then back to his pension which is a hostel because it is so friendly and overwhelmed them. And then he ate and ate because it was not protocol to eat and one does not go against protocol be—even though he takes tea between times. Tea is like with Klaus a Just tea. Only tea. Tea and … and when you describe the and … gave—save God save the bicarb. But then “You asked for it” is also protocol, and this is my fault.

To get back to the dream. The appearance of Bill is very strange and delightful because Puck has been blessed by Prophet Mohammed. He is despised, admired, loved, begged, prepared and argued over here but mostly the last. Only when Puck mentions Mohammed, this is protocol. But the Mohammed that appears to Puck is very disconcerting. Mohammed gave a perfect religion (after it is properly censored). He said he as the big cheese and the littlest boy, the commander-in-chief and the rankest rear. And so there is “revolution” which puts Mohammed over the Commander in Chief which is Ali and puts Mohammed over him. In the meanwhile Allah having no partners is just pushed out of the picture entirely.

Mohammed said in his lifetime, but this is never taught, that he was over everybody and slave of everybody. And as he was infallible they just erase the last portion. This is Islam. It is a perfect religion wherein everybody meets on equal terms excepting women, noisy small boys, all people who work with their hands excepting farmers and gardeners. So it does not make any difference what your race is it is absolutely, positively democracy for all respectable people. Mohammed is very glad of this for being relieved of being Commander in Chief by Ali; he takes special interest in women, noisy small boys, outcastes and people with dirty hands.

Puck has been reading Hadith which are absolutely as per revelation excepting the “weak hadith.” If you don’t believe in them they are “weak hadith” and if you do they are put over Qur’an. This is a wonderful science which not only works both ways, but up-down, left-right, back-forth, the most perfect science. For instance Mohammed said he liked three things: perfumes, the company of woman and prayer. This is in Hadith. Then there is this fellow Soekarno and there are three things he likes, perfumes, the company of woman and prayer.

Therefore it is never mentioned and when Soekarno goes around the world boosting for perfumes, the company of woman and prayer every respectable Muslim shudders and does not know what to say. For perfumes and the company of woman—oh, Mohammed has long been relieved and so he functions as he said he was functioning as slave-of-mankind and Messenger of Allah which you have to say and don’t have to believe “protocol” again. It is also very disconcerting for there are no clerics in Islam, no priests, no monks, and this is hard on the Mullahs, Maulanas, Imams, Muezzins, Kadis, and Hakims who explain everything and wear long faces that anybody should dare to come out for perfumes, women and prayer—excepting that they have a way of praying here which is like an un-mechanical robot and you must say your prayers in Arabic or you are unfaithful, and this makes it convenient because nobody understanding Arabic and the Maulanas, Mullahs, Imams and other non-clericals can explain things properly.

In the meanwhile Puck has been making dates with a Khalandar. Not everybody can make dates with a Khalandar but after being fed-up and more than up and more than fed by the non-existing Sufis (if you can get credits for your course) s change might be welcome. Well the Prophet and Soekarno believe in perfumes, women and prayer. But here they have “Islam” and don’t worship Allah, they worship “Islam” because God hath no partners but that does not stop anybody from being over “Green Pastures Papa.” And the Khalandar does not believe in perfumes, women and prayer. This is scandalous. He interprets everything by exactitude. For example per-fume which is per for perfect and fume for smoking so it means “Lucky Strikes” or “Dromedaries” there being no Camels here and he keeps packages in reach all over the place. He does not keep women all over the place which means you must not enjoy women. It does not mean he must not enjoy them, it must means “you” must not enjoy them. So poor Soekarno has been keeping out of Pakistan and I think like me Soekarno would accept your teachings, U Can. Twin. But by this time I think you must be converted to Islam; it is so simple, perfect and all the unemployed become attorneys trying to explain it.

Abbottabad, June 5

My dear Jack:

In the last two weeks I have received a single letter, from England. Not a single response to any letter to anybody in either Pakistan or America and all I have gotten otherwise are the banks reports—which I do need—and the news supplied by the information service of the consulate at Lahore. However this is not necessarily a complaint. This is my diary entry and whether I receive news form the world, or from my friends, I live news.

First there is the politics. Before Johnson I was being regaled be all sorts of people, the existence of which and whom is denied in the United States and to whom I shall refer below. Now, after VP came here and got a lot of plaudits—in the American press, the number of visitors has doubled and it is only on account of the great heat that I get any relief. Fortunately I am bearing up under the heat even better than most of the visitors who are Pathans rather than Punjabis—and everybody seems to require a siesta, moi ausie—so I get a rest in the early afternoon sufficient to keep me in good spirits and good health.

We have pulled at least a partial international bloomer. The U.S. policy seems to be to wave red-flags before bulls and when there is a big reaction think there is big success Mc Arthur in Japan, Nixon in India and Johnson here and each, totally ignorant or else indifferent to the feelings of the people around them have made strong announcements which have resulted in even stronger reactions.

These people do not love the Europeans and Zionists who are the teachers of “Oriental Philosophy” and I am rather sick from hearing it from the top bananas in one place after another and it is not believed. We keep on stupidly going to those persons most hated in the Orient for “information” and “briefing” and those American who know something about this part of the world are ignored. The Mayor of Berkeley long lived in Pakistan but I never saw him at an Asian gathering, but Prof. Scheercase or Von Plotz—and they are all over the place and we yell for them and they give our their private nonsense and we think we are learning something, my foot.

The one group of people with whom I got along most easily are the Americans who live here. “Creoles” I call them. For like the Spaniards who left their native land they became second-class citizens and are ignored by the home folks. Naturally they resent it or are dismayed. They are not particularly happy. I met the farm-boys from Kansad who had been sent to many parts of Pakistan and certainly had experiences and gotten some knowledge. They went home. Good-bye. They lived here for months or years. But sent reporter Untrue Fierceone out, and he will shake hands with a few people, drink with a newspaperman end our international diplomacy is changed! Well I have been hollering my head off about our pornography (called “movies”) but only after the American Broadcasting Company made a survey—pigeon-holed and every Protestant missionary knows it and the Americans here know it. “Boy meets girl”—and how—in the bed, in the bushes, in close-ups, nothing to be imagined, in “rock and roll”—rolling on the rocks on the ground and no nonsense. I even found Russian money invested. This brings profits to Hollywood and saves Russia a lot of money. This merry-go-round goes on.

Soon our “Children’s Crusade”—Peace Corps will arrive. Pease Corps my eye, some of them will be lucky to escape alive. They will be briefed all right—from the Encyclopedia of Islam written in Leiden, or by Profs. Scheercase, Von Plotz & Co. They are coming into a land where everybody is “religious,” whatever that means and they are going to be bombarded with questions to which they have not the answers. (A few from Harvard, Princeton and Minnesota excepted where they do not stand for professional “experts” but want and teach facts.) They are going to have to defend the movies and no American has gotten away with that yet. The missionaries are hamstrung and mad as can be and one can’t blame them.

Then they are going to learn Urdu and be sent into villages where the people speak Pashto, Punjabi, Sindhi and what not. This is called communication. Then they are going to teach English, weaving, manual training in districts where there is no wood and dressing dolls where there are no dolls. This is friendships.

Now look at crazy me. The entertainments here have been Football, Volley Ball and Iqbal. I have added to it—Soft Ball. I got a Soft ball and a make-shift bat and tried to teach the boys a game we have called Pinkey-on-the-bounce or Piggy-on-the-bounce. You dare not use the latter term here, besides Pinkey is correct; you use it in playing Jacks (no pun intended), etc. I did not get far. Then out of nowhere a saint appeared—you see us saints have to stick together. He stood around first-base. The batter hit a ball to center field. There was a boy there. That did not stop the saint—off he ran to center field. The next ball to short-stop; off the saint ran. He backed up everybody but the catcher. He was certainly coordinated to the hitting and maybe he had inner sight anyhow. But he tried to play all positions at once. This intrigued hard-working college youths who have a strange game—it is called arsenal. You have nothing like it in the U.S. You sit on a chair and rub the seat of your pants against the wood and it is a bet whether: the pants or the chair wears out first. So it may be called arsenal. Well the saint broke up the arsenal league in three-quarters time. It is only the hot weather that prevents progress. And me nearing 65 and throwing balls and having them batted all over the lot and becoming popular with the kinds and even with the arsenal youths.

So it being hot and me being crazy like the Englishman who goes out in the noon-day sun in reduced handball. The only trouble here as that the boys like all boys, began playing take-away and this no one had to instruct them in. But I intend to go ahead only I have to give you the news. But you can see how valuable you would be to me if you came this way and we taught the kinds a few things.

I have even suggested teaching Jacks and Jumps rope to the girls and bringing in old wheels so boys could make their own coaters. But this kind of do-it-yourself is all right for “humanity” but no good for people. These would cost little even here—the country of jute, but the Peace Corps will be too busy explaining how to do that and how the U.S. Senate meets to do anything like that.

This morning my friend Qureshi goes to Karachi. He introduced me to four things: Moghul jewelry, mines, psychics, Sufis. Someday somebody will recognize that these things are more important than Johnson’s hogwash. Well, little Ben Franklin-Samuel Lewis, his hand on typewriter pen, went to it. For nothing, about nothing. Nobody believed. But Qureshi has a deal on and it is going to be a nice slam in the face of certain people. The jewels are on the market and there will be red faces.

Then from him I as introduced to others who said there were minerals and this kept on until I met a man who claims to have a Uranium mine. It is even in the papers here now that the hills are full of Uranium, which is probably true. The Russkies know this. Tell them there is Tin and they explore, same Lead, but most of all Petrol.

I am not going to say “I told you so” because I have met stacks of Americans who have been all over Asia and it is always the same story. Politicians and newsmen are believed; the others are just trying to get up scare-stories or become famous.

Qureshi’s efforts to get me into touch with the psychics has not been successful and if there is wisdom in the Universe you can see it from what is written below. He introduced me to a Sufi. This man was a poor decrepit person like all Sufis are supposed to be in story-books, legends, etc. Yet what he told me is exactly the same as what others have told me and are telling me only they are different being of two or three types. Roughly these types are two—intellectuals and seers.

The intellectuals can’t be Sufis because the Encyclopedia of Islam and Prof. Von Plotz and Scheercase say no. They are all over the place, including most Pathans which also means most generals which also means the tops in the Government. I think I may have written to you about Lahore where all the Messrs. Big entertained me because I am a Sufi, but don’t let that influence the newsman or universities.

The fact that president Ayub has a Murshid, goes regularly to saint’s tombs or to living saints (there aren’t none darling but what a procession I get, and they don’t serve imaginary food, my stomach knows). This is a long, long story. My present pal is the Sup. of Police. If there is any class I seem to get along better with them professors, generals, cabinet members and hoo-man beans it is top police. This is good-stuff. Anyhow he is also Sufi and almost a saint and don’t you don’t believe either.

He is fairly wealthy. He also has a most beautiful wife and beautiful children which is bad because they are not in Purdah. This is quite a subject how the women first let you get a good look at them and then hurriedly cover their faces but only after you had a good look. But some forgive him this because he has open house and I am saving sheckles, beans and rupees with free eats. This does not go well with my landlord and my friend the restaurateur, excepting that the staff here at the hostel is getting more and more bakshish. They scribe it to my “goodness of heart” and I don’t say anything. But between you and me, with all my free eats, I can afford it.

Then there is the Khalandar. You never keep a date with a Khalandar but I do every day. We call him “Pir Sahib Khalandar” which is very short for his name which I may send some time. Anyhow he is preparing to go to California so I wish to keep you informed. He claims to be clairvoyant. He has told me the history of my life and I mean just that. He has gotten time, place, events, and reasons absolutely correct. When I mentioned Los Angeles yesterday he described the City Hall exactly as it is.

Incidentally, my friend Sam Yorty beat my neighbor Norris Poulsen down there so I shall congratulate. This is the first time in my life I got into a game, hands-I-win, tails-you-lose. No wonder I am looking with longing eyes to L.A.

He wishes to awaken the U.S. to spiritualism. This includes both Sufism and occultism. He has a number of faculties. I can say although he has not predicted much for me it is exactly the same as all the non-existent Sufis have predicted, no exception. Only he adds Astrology to it. Ah!

He has his own Astrology which he calls Spiritual. It appears to be profound and perhaps exact. I met my Munshi friend in Lahore several times now who is clairvoyant and has some astrology, but is not spiritually clairvoyant. And inasmuch as there is no such thing as a Khalandar he is preparing to leave for the U.S. He has his passport and airplane ticket but is waiting for some sings.

I have already written to my friend, Rudy Olsen, 166 Geary, about him. The combo of clairvoyance and a deeper Astrology should attract people. And his ability to look right at somebody and look into them too will draw crowds, I believe. It is largely going to be a question of program and arrangement. I shall probably make more reports on this.

Meanwhile I am waiting for my friend, Major Sadiq, the spiritualist healer, to write to me. He is also planning to come to U.S. and especially to California. This may have official section. This Is Not Sarcasm.

I am planning a petition to be signed by Ayub and the members of his cabinet, professors and scientists here; to be counter signed by worthies in India and by the Prime Minister and other big shots in Malaya and perhaps Indonesia, too, to the effect that they are Sufis and they would very much appreciate it if some American authorities—newspapers, Universities or government officials would awaken to this. This Is Not Sarcasm, it was suggested to me, not by me. I have already carried a top level petition though on another matter through Asia. Wm. Eilers of Asia Foundation knows it. Sam Lewis is called a “spiritual egotist” but I wish somebody some time would “call my bluff.” Wow!

Sufis do not pretend usually to have unusual powers and they have “unusual powers” just as much as a tree has leaves. All kinds of culties. This occultism of the Polynesians, the ESP and Cayce-ism are but kindergarten stuff needed because in some things the U.S. is not even in kindergarten. Add to that the complete absence of Pakistani culture in the U.S., the handling of Islamic and Oriental Culture by Scheercase & Von Plotz and you can see the two countries do not meet and do not understand. And the Americans who are here and learn, they don’t count. Or maybe some time somebody will wake up. I got sick and tired warning about USIA mobbings. It does not good. I think a couple more here or in other Asian lands and finally somebody will awaken to realities.

We are, of course, going to send more top-level entertainers here. We have millions of dollars (foreign aid??????) to send rich celebrities from home to entertain American and NATO nationals abroad, have huge audiences and the people will go right ahead not knowing about it or caring very little. We can’t send troops, jumps ropes, hoola hoops, coasters, dolls or baby swings. It jest ain’t done. Maybe the Russians will. We have all kinds of organizations collecting money for all kinds of things but chiefly to employ more people to collect more money for more all kinds of things. CARE, Asian Foundation and the American Friends of the Middle function in Asia. The others just function. Why don’t we get in on the super-gravy train—and no income tax either. I think we have missed our calling. Why not rubber caps for the poor babies of Baluchistan? They have not milk bottles but the idea is good. Money for rubber caps. We would get contributions. The only fly in the ointment is that there are fleas in the ointment, or rather in the milk. They do have milk. We may have to change to get rubber caps for milk bottles for the Chinese when they are freed from communism. You see they don’t have milk.

I feel wonderful, damn it, in the 100° weather. This is awful. I must be losing my nationality or something.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

S. A. M

Sufi Ahmed Murad

Abbottabad, Hazara,

West Pakistan

June 11

My dear Norman:

The other day I started write a letter to one Roy Abrahamson, an early student of the Academy and later of the Ashram—he is now away. He has given me some news of reaction on my reports which are very interesting to me. I have a large body of critics and I rather rejoice in this body of critics for they have one thing in common: “Never let him present his case.” This is good stuff if you can get away with it. It is particularly a habit of those who lecture on the “law of karma.” All my life I have heard people lecture on karma, develop a superiority complex and falling into the worst booby traps imaginable. Think nothing of it.

In this country also I have critics and also I criticize and this had brought me into contact with

Al-Faqir Zulafaqir Ali Shaha Nastan, Retired Tahsildar.

House No. 4509 A. Anandpura, Gawalpindi,

Rawalpindi, West Pakistan

He is a Khalandar. Now “everybody” knows there are no such things as Khalandars. He says he has 38,000 followers, but they are in Asia and don’t count although one of them is Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and I have met him. This type of things is, of course, very annoying to the European professors of Oriental Philosophy but we will forget the European professors and stick to some facts.

My own spiritual teacher said I would go on the path of Khalandar, even though the Arabian Nights are history. My visit to Lahore brought me in touch with everybody who is anybody and anybody who is everybody and I had a feast every night—there were no European professors of Oriental philosophy there and I don’t think they would have been invited to any of them anyhow. This same sort of notoriety followed me here where the Superintendent of Police is a friend of my spiritual brothers and himself is a spiritual man—as are most of the big men in this country anyhow.

I think he got tired giving me tea and dinner and he took me to some friends and there I met the Khalandar Ali Shah Nastan, as above. Allah is not only great and good, but it happens that the Khalandar lives just about a block away so I have seen him often.

He is the most complete clairvoyant I have ever met. He has read a good deal of my past life—perhaps a little of the future also and given ample objective proofs of his statements. Last night I met Max Hill, a “bum” like Claude, and in the same way as I met Claude in Cairo. He was also a disciple of Paul Brunton, and seeking. When he left today he was satisfied. For the time being his search was ended, He had met Alfaqir Zulafaqir Ali Shah Nastan.

Despite all our Zionist and European experts on “Islam” the Khalandar knows a lot about living Sufism and living Sufis—that is one thing. He has also “penetrated into the sphere.” I don’t want to go into that. One reason is that he is planning, inshallah, to come to America and explain things himself. He feels we need the spiritual sciences and spiritualism. He is not seeking money; he has 38,000 followers including that Chief Justice, who is not exactly poor either. Also the head of PIA (Pakistan International Airways) is a friend of him and there will be free transportation. In other words he is planning to come to America to serve God, enlightened Americans and demonstrate spirituality; not to collect bakshish. This may be rather new to us.

The way is clear for the Khalandar to come to California but the time is not yet set. Presuming he might land in New York first I have written to Bob Slice. But the destination is ultimately California and much of the State. This involves travel. I have already written to my very good friend, Rudy Olsen, 166 Geary St, in this regard and also in regard to getting hotel reservations.

But today the Khalandar informed me that he would probably need the following:

1. A suitable car, 2. A driver 3, An organizer, 4. A publicity man.

I told him I had just the person and one who was interested in spiritualism and spirituality besides. He wanted to know about you so I have therefore enclosed his address in full.

If it were possible to devote some time and effort to these projects, he said it might be well for you to come to Pakistan. In that case he would see that you are provided with a plane-ticket, at least. But I feel he would rather discuss some things with you so I have given you the address. Besides this there must be some interest and excitement in “spiritual astrology.” I have always felt that both the science as it is presented is quite incomplete. And the persons involved not completely disciplined either.

I wrote Gavin from Lahore five Years ago about native Astrologies but received no response. I got a little in New York where there are rival Astrological magazines and I think Clancy publications would be interested. But I am more concerned with you personally. I am certainly not suggesting that you get overboard on any Pakistani project or any spiritual adventure. I am merely pointing out to what is. Furthermore in all conversations—including those at which Max Hill was present, the whole emphasis was on giving, bestowing, nothing was asked.

This is in complete support of the real spiritual outlook: that one depends actually on God—not just the words—and receiving from God can distribute to man, and on all planes.

Without pushing anything I hope you will be interested enough to make an enquiry direct, but I fell positive there is something more than what is conveyed in this letter. There are too many straws in the wind here about introducing spiritualism, Sufism, etc. into the United States and there are too many peaceful and wealthy persons concerned. (I shall mail either in the same or under separate cover other details in this regard.) Here I am concerned mostly with this projected visit of the Khalandar, the wants and needs he has of a practical nature and of having him meet interested and trustworthy people.

There is no bad news now, only a jamming up of good news—too much. I receive too many visitors and they all demand I drink tea, always with sugar. Often with milk. In 100° weather with little exercise, this is rather trying. Otherwise no bad news and lots of good implied, if not expressed.

Faithfully,

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad

June 14, 1961

My blessed Pir-o-Murshid:

There are times when one has unusual experiences and these are text, no doubt, of one’s spiritual and personal ability. Jesus said: “Let us not into temptation,” and I do not know whether what I am facing is temptation or not. I have met a Khalandar and I see him almost every day, even several times a day. He is Al-Faqir Zulafaqir Ali Shah Nastan and he claims to have many followers, including the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He is planning to go to America and no doubt he will go to America. He wishes, or is guided, to bring the message of spiritualism to my country and to other countries. He has given me many evidences of his powers and what he calls “kashf” but what he calls “kashf” is not the same as what I call “kashf.” Which does not mean that I am right and he is wrong. Only his kashf seems to be concerned with seeing and an ability to escape from the body, to function in “heavens,” to meet saints, and to have grand faculties.

All this is excellent but to us it is not Tauhid. When I was in Japan I was taken to the Third Secretary at the Pakistani Embassy. “Why do you bring this man here? It is an insult. It is an insult to him and an insult to me. You do not know this man. Only the Ambassador is fit to talk to him and the only maybe.” This was rather a surprise because my host, James Otoichi Kinoshita, had already accompanied me to many sacred and holy places in Japan where foreigners do not go.

On the last day I was in Japan I had tea at noon with the Ambassador of Pakistan. He told me the story of Farid, how Farid practiced austerities and even made a lady and demanded food. She was very slow. Finally he grew impatient and seemed to threaten her. She said to him: “Do not treat me as a flock of birds that you can cause to die and be reborn.” This amazed him and he asked her the story which she gave him. It is a well-known story.

Now I am receiving instruction from the Khalandar and he believes he is one of the most powerful men in the world, and maybe he is one of the most powerful men in the world. He knows much about sacred phrases, he undoubtedly goes into heavens and he may have miraculous faculties. Maybe he is one of the few who has them and maybe many have them. He says he has 38,000 followers and they will help him to travel. I have no follower. I am going over the globe a second time. I have crossed the United States many times. I crossed the United States without having 50 rupees at any time and yet lived in fine homes and hotels as well as in poor places. I had nobody but Allah and He showed me. This was a different kind of kashf.

The Khalandar asked me to ask Mohammed where he belonged in the assemblage. I am only in the rear rank of the assemblage. I have not been allowed to see many there, only Isa (Jesus). But I told him I could not ask Mohammed because I had already asked Allah. He did not seem to realize that if I could ask Allah this might be higher than asking Mohammed.

I told him he was greater than I in all but me thing—I could be a greater pupil than he. I could learn from him, I could listen to him but he could not listen and learn from me and learn from me and although in Rubuyyat and kashf and Shuyukhuyat he was far above me, I was a greater mureed. This rather surprised him.

In some things I cannot agree with him, He places Ali above everybody and then far above the saints, Abdul Kadiri Gilani. I have only had two visits from Ali in my life and have never seen him. I am not concerned with persons, I am concerned with duties. I cannot believe that Haqiqat and Marifat are stages that the human mind can fathom. I have not often been in assemblages under Mohammed. I have been in one assemblage under Mohammed as Abdullah. In this assemblage are many persons and I am only in a rear rank. I have seen him many times clearing and cleaning a great Mosque. He does not use any magic, he does not any power. He uses love and humility and I cannot compare the love and humility of anybody to that love and humility. It is as if everybody were a baby and he had to look after everybody and with love and sweetness.

He is not exactly assisted by Jesus. Jesus washes the feet and looks after the shoes of the devotees that come to this mosque and does other very simple things. I have seen this many times. Mohammed says this is his work as Abdallah. It is not his work as Rassoul-lillah.

I have seen him in two other assemblages too and they may be called—although this is not exactly correct—the assemblages of the Nabis and the assemblages of the Rassouls or Pagambars or Avatars. The assemblages of the Nabis are all of men mentioned in Holy Qur’an. The other Assemblage consists of some not mentioned in Qur’an. These are described in my poem “Saladin.” In “Saladin” I was shown a Meraj, not exactly as it appears in the record but the old me he wished to reconcile Qur’an with Bible and I had to write it that way. Also in the highest assemblage he made me write what I have not believed and I do not think many Muslims believe.

“Saladin” has long been finished but extra copies were given to Ansar Nasri and Quadrullah Shahab to be translated into Urdu and published. I have an extra copy which you may read.

But now I am receiving another poem called. “Rassoul Gita.” It is to be, inshallah, the Islamic answer to “Bhagavad Gita.” It is a very deep poem and it requires me to be in states and stages of receptivity. I have to listen, not see, and to feel and feel more in the heart. There are many things given to me which I have either not believed or not known.

The poem is divided into two parts:

I. La Ellaha which deals with fana, the Kingdom of the Cipher and the Conquest of India—meaning every sort of “other” worship.

II. El Il Allah deals with baqa, the Kingdom of the One (Tauhid), the Conquest of

Pakistan and the Resurrection of Pakistan.

It is based on Nimaz and then on. My interpretation of Kalama has caused some dismay and opposition but I do what God whishes. Anybody who has studied the sciences, inner and outer, knows there are certain principles found, not certain personalities. The whole poem is based on principles. It is also based on fana-fi-Rassoul.

People here are unhappy, uncertain and do not have enough food. I have been sent here as a servant of Mohammed, Abdullah and he wants me to follow him as Abdullah. People call him “Rassoul-lillah” and go contrary to Hadith where he say he did not want of lot of titles like the Christians gave Jesus. If one says that Mohammed has all power, is the greatest of the great and then is concerned with Kashmir, he is a liar. I have seen greater problems than Kashmir settled. And in the poem Mohammed says the problem is Kashmir versus Kashf-mir. If this country insists on Kashmir it will go down and if it insists on Kashf-mir it will go up.

People here are concerned with Kashmir and Mohammed is concerned with Islam. People use the word “Islam” and they know nothing about submission; they only knew insistence and insistence is the enemy of submission. Besides there is no peace and though I have met quite a few who know more and believe better it is fortunate when they understand by their behavior, nafs-mutmaina.

The explanations of nafs in UAR are more complete than here and they give seven stages, four in manifestation and two beyond and the last is not nafs but comes in fana-i-baqa. There is another state between lauwama and mutmaina wherein the imagination is active and this is the usual stage of the artists and creative scientists. Anyhow I am preparing my lectures on “Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science.” Evidently this is right because some Murshids are coming here—not only to Abbottabad but very close to my residences, who are scientists. This will facilitate the reconciliation of Islamic Philosophy and modern knowledge.

I have fun into some opposition to Tauhid especially from some who say if Ibn l’Arabi was correct then Ahmed Ghulam Kadian was correct. This is nonsense; I have read the Ahmadiyya literature on nufs which is very good, but very, very incomplete. I am not interested in such discussions and; hums n logic cannot be applied to spiritual knowledge. This is one of my sub-topics in “Islamic Philosophy and Modern Logics” The modern logics know much better than the traditional logics which Al-Ghazzali had to overthrown. They do not fit into the spiritual realm.

There is an Australian here. He gave up lucrative work and does nothing but keep the chief Mosque clean. This is acceptance of Abdullah. No talk accepts Abdullah, you do not teach, you do not command anybody and you have to learn love and reverence. This is not easy.

When I left the Khalandar yesterday convinced of his great power, a flock of little boys followed me. I danced for them and finally bought each one a sweet. I have been showing little boy’s games. I am nearly 65 but when I function Abdullah I do not feel any age. Indeed I was surprised in looking into the mirror the other day that I am looking younger. This has happened before. I have died before death and my vigor and looks is the best answer I have to that devil-show-off or whatever he is called at ‘pindi. This to me is real demonstration of the Baraka of Khidr. Also my poetry. The success of my poetry ends his claims and his false school forever because they demonstrate nothing, only claim. I claim nothing, only demonstrate, inshallah.

I have asked the Khalandar to answer me two questions:

a. Why is there starvation in West Pakistan?

b. Why is there unhappiness in West Pakistan?

He claims Abdul Kadiri-Gilani is the greatest of the great. I claim nothing. He knows Mushahida and disclaims Murakkabah. I try to practice Murakkabah in the way you showed me in the writings of Abdul Kadiri-Gilani I keep on succeeding even when I have no faculty for success.

I have met three Chisti Murshids. One does not seem to have any power at all. But all of them had love, plenty, of love. You should see the way they cherish their mureeds. They belong to each other. It was the Pir-o-Murshid of Ansar Nasri who gave me the “push” which started “Rassoul Gita” and it is you who, have given me the push to continue it. Whether I gain faculties or insight is a matter of secondary importance.

The great questions here outside my ego are those of starvation and unhappiness here (and maybe elsewhere) and the need of having the real teachings of Mohammed broadcast. By “real” teachings I mean that even a few lessons from holy Qur’an or Hadith be explained aid exemplified, not by metaphysics or even spiritualism, but right here. Jesus prayed: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in the heavens.”

It is no use claiming Islam can solve all problems when the problems remain. But if even one problem can be faced and removed that it something. Claims are to me noises, and sometimes dangerous noises. I have seen prayer work miracles and I have seen multitudes pray and nothing happens.

Today I have to meet the Khalandar again. He sees in all three worlds, so to speak. I have not even got good sight in this world. But seeing in all worlds and functioning with full mind and full heart are different.

There are those places in this universe above assemblages, even above in faculties, which are the well-springs of all blessings. I may be just sipping through one little straw from these well-springs but if I sip truly then I may be fulfilling the purpose of my life. It is exceedingly difficult to be compelled or impelled to take teachings about Mohammed from others and have these different from and often contrary to Hadith. I am not concerned with titles, I am concerned with functions.

I am today to learn about Abdullah and Ahmed. Those who proclaim Mohammedar-Rassoul lillah let them prove it by radiating love, peace, justice, tranquility, and every sort of healing. I am still in the stage of learning. I was never told I should be or become a Murshid. I even like my spiritual duties and do not seek any others until it is so ordered by Pir-o-Murshid or Rassoul or Allah. I have seen no such signs but now I am not seeing any signs excepting what is communicated here.

I received no word about coming to Lahore and think this may be because of the heat. It reached 100° here but excepting for the number of visitors I receive and so cannot rest, the heat has not bothered me. Then we have had more rain and so moderate weather than usual.

As you instructed me to learn about Khalandars I accept. I shall even receive power if Allah wills. But my interpretation of kashf is so different and my attitude toward Murakkabah and ryazat so different.

I knew the private secretary of Prime Minister Mosadegh. He is now home in his native village, drawing water are taking it to the people on the hills. This is ryazat, this is Abdullah. This does solve some problems.

Faithfully,

Ahmed Murad Chisti

June 16

Dear Tony:

This is my badly neglected diary entry. P.P. not only stands for Puddinhead, Prelate, Potentate, Plentypentiary Puck, it also stands for Pied Piper. Well, I asked for it. I have had the crazy, stupid idea that, if you ate, slept and dined with people you would gain friends. Oy! Now I can’t walk through the streets; “Natchra,” Natchra.” It came to me that “natch”—from which we get the word “nautch” means “dance.” And then some. In the last week I have gained the friendship of scores and scores of kids. I have now given the boys at the Catholic School three softballs and intend to play more with them. And for the others, both boys and girls I dance.

This horrible, poisonous, foul scheming way to win friends with Pakistanis and keep them from Russian Subversion is of course both anti-international and anti-protocol. Especially the latter. We must fight above board and keep to the rules. When the enemy changes the rules we must follow accordingly. In jousting don’t hit below the belt; and if the enemy changes from jousting to Siamese boxing we must go and do likewise.

All invasions follow one-way traffic. Genghis Khan, his descendents, Mahmud of Ghazali, Babar and Nadar Shah prove that. So the Russians can keep to international protocol and that is all. We must accept the rules, especially we must. So crazy Puck goes around and teaches softball, demonstrates dancing and becomes popular.

There is just one family here from the U.S. not Protestant missionaries. If you become a Protestant missionary you have to swear allegiance which means that all other Protestant missionaries are devils and the Jesuits, of course, are the worst of devils and then you fail, but you do not traffic with any devils. Puck recognizes imps but not devils. He likes the Jesuits, admires their educational system and loved the boys. This is horrible copy. What is going to happen when all the boys from 6 to 21 admire Puck and grow up and take over this government?

In the meanwhile to make it in reverse one gradually lets it be known that no newspaper ever interviews Puck; that he got kicked out one university and could not get interviews at other ones; and that all the best jobs in Oriental culture are in the hands of Epoops. Why, he is so much of a hero it is horrible. No rest. Whatever I begin to say there is “Hip, hip, hurrah.” So when I write letters of protest and just let one person see, in a while the whole town knows it.

In this country they believe in God, or Allah, They have assumed that Kennedy is a believer; they have assumed that Nehru is not. So they don’t like asked being made into followers of a non-believer. If Nehru, why not Nikita? It is all the same to them.

The Afghan situation is perfectly snafu and the only change is that since I have come here more people on the other side wish to join Pakistan, or is it International Pukhtunistan? Anyhow the Pathans control this side and why not the other?

Johnson missed all the big problems. And he asked neither for advice nor suggestions. Some Americans were interviewed: “Do you approve of this plan?” “How far do you approve?” That is all, so Simon McGee who knows Urdu and engineering and mining and has spent 5 years more getting $300 a month is going to see Lizy Smuts, graduate from Yale or Smith, coming here and getting $500 a month start and more later. Is he going to like it? Or Prof. Lunch who is getting a small stipend because he speaks Urdu and knows Pakistani culture is seeing a former pupil coming here and getting a larger stipend to start while he is by-passed. He just loves that, you can bet!?!? This is diplomacy and protocol.

Now Nikita knows that people who want rice want rice and not ping-pong games; that if they want Qur’an they want Qur’an and not Roberts Rules of Order as practiced in the U.S. Sunset. If they want mining experts they want mining experts and not street planners, etc. He can’t supply them but he can say he will. And we go back and pat ourselves of a great diplomatic victory. Liberia refuses to join the Red Bloc. That is something. Since Liberia never had such intentions anyhow and may be the last country in the world to be communized, boy what nonsense. Maybe we shall see a headline: “The Pope turns Christian and absolutely refuses to compromise with Allahism.” That would be something but that is our news and it is the news here and everywhere else and the more emotional you are the more uninformed you can afford to be. Excepting Nikita.

In UAR we predicted that the Assouan dam night never be finished. As I doubt whether the Russians have experts I am not surprised that there is quite a separate “cold war” going on between UAR and U.S.S.R.—hands off, that would be very, very unfair and unjust on our part to interfere. I tell you there is going to be an untimely different cold war and it will have the God-lovers against all materialists, atheists and mammonizers. You know that and have known that.

What is needed is an entente between Islam and South America (wouldn’t Franco love that!). I think it may come. The Sufis are exceedingly strong here and I am learning more and more. But we stick to nonsense and Tillich’s “god” who is now being presented in the universities.

I am going to have a job in India fighting monkey-worship, cow-worship and elephant-worship. And here there are the anti-clericals consisting of mullahs, maulvanas, maulvis, muftis, kadis, ulema, imams; there are no clergy in Islam. If they are clergymen they are exempt from Income Tax, and if they are not they must pay. What to do?

Well Sam Yorty is now Mayor of L.A. And if I start feeding him my stuff don’t be surprised if he is in the U.S. Senate after all. I can give him facts, annotations and finally signed petitions.

My complaints, of course, make me feel fine and I am looking younger. Playing soft-ball at 65! But of course ANTA has no money for this. We must raise millions to entertain the Americans, Norwegians, French, Italians, Armenians and Greeks abroad, even the Bwiddish if they wish, but for the common people, protocol, you know. It is easier to reach Venus than the hearts of people by this nonsense. They are no guinea-pigs to be compelled to choose between Nikita and Wall St. They are human beings with hearts and souls. Everybody in the Agricultural Department in Shington knows that; maybe someday somebody in the State Department will find it out; and maybe, if there are still miracles, some newspaper editor.

No wonder I can only write nonsense, but it is true, every bit of it, even though heavily salted and peppered.

Cordially,

June 23, 1961

My dear Harry:

I have long contemplated writing a book, “Not so Innocent Abroad.” The main thing is that one must do everything contrary to protocol. At the present moment this is making me very popular. V.P. Johnson is just as “popular” in Pakistan as Nixon was in India. As an anti-protocolarian this is has made me popular in each country, but there are some very serious aspects to it.

I tried modesty in entering this country—it did me no good. I had to sign special papers and these papers brought me in touch with Police and especially Police Chiefs. There is nothing more satisfactory than having these men as your best pals. I got into trouble in Abbottabad and to make things satisfactory all around I registered with all the police. This also brought me more tea, free lunch and pleasant discussions.

The Top Banana here is the Superintendent of Police or S.P. He is something like a combination of a County Sheriff and Supervisor of all local Police Chiefs. When I came back from Lahore he was waiting for me and we are as thick as men can be (or as Harry Lauder says, “I think I’m the thicker of the two.” Anyhow I have a big mission here in Agriculture, etc.’ another in Islamic philosophy; another, by grace of President Ayub on Pakistan culture coming up. All of these bring me to the S.P.’s office or home with a lot more free tea, eats and conferences, all levels, all subjects.

Through him I met a Khalandar, right out of Scheherazade suite and a lot of other strange persons, but I won’t go into that here.

There seems to be an affect of all rich persons, particularly the Pathans, to invest in land. They do not care about industry, and Sardar Rani the S.P. is no different. Besides he is also a friend of president Ayub who is also an amateur-at least-fruit grower. Abbottabad is in a sort of Rift-pass, the drainage goes on three sides but the place looks like a valley. It is subject to drafts and the winds bring more moisture so we have had periodical rain right through the dry season. At the moment the Apricots here are doing fine. Crape Myrtle and Ligustrum are the chief blooms, both being used as small trees rather than shrubs. Gaillardias and Phlox dominate the flowers with Begonias, “Geraniums” and other familiar blooms being evident now.

The S.P.’s place here is at least four acres. He has large Pine trees, other Conifers and fruit trees mostly—Apricots, Apples, a local Pear and a few Plums. He has an orchard in the Peshawar district, mostly Prunus droops. He has three compost heaps—night soil, buffalo dung and leaf. I have suggested putting some dung in the leaf. He does not use the night-soil until it is a year old. I also suggested another pit for Pine needles, to be used as winter mulch. He is planning Persimmons and I think they, as well as Roses, etc. could stand the mulch.

He has been most successful with Corn (Zea mays). He said he had stands last year with as many as seven and eight ears. The soil is predominantly clayish with heavy K, as I have reported before. This is reflected in the flowers and particularly in the Carnations at the moment. This gives good stems. He is growing Okra, Onions, Lettuce, Capsicum, Chilies, Tomatoes, Grapes and several numbers of the Melon family—kept far apart. After the Corn is taken up he has planted winter Peas—two crop rotation, also other Peas and Cabbage and Spinach during the winter.

He gave me the same negative reports on Ammosulph I have had in Hong Kong, Thailand, India and Rawalpindi. Indeed the American “foreign add” insisting on this is one of the many factors making for the present ill-will. Ammosulph keeps down the soil bacteria, etc. Also the heavy monsoons leach it and how—so little is utilized.

Well, Harry, I am quite serious if I say with my money and my brains we might save the country. I am gradually going after a subsidy. I have written Secretary Shahab and sending a copy to a VIP friend and this may start something when President Ayub returns. I have the S.P. with me and can get the Food Director easily. But I am still waiting for my friend, Abdul Sattar from San Francisco. A death in the family has delayed him.

I have also a letter from Asia Foundation and I am going to but a bug in their ears, too, but perhaps later on.

I have talked twice to the S.P. about Hunza. The organic gardening economy there has caused quite a stir in certain parts of the U.S. But here they know nothing about it. You see these people have a totally different form of language and also they are followers of Aga Khan. In this clergy-less land of muftis, mullahs, maulvanas, imams, kitabs, ulema, hakims—the list is still incomplete—you must not mention Aga Khan. Besides the Aga Khan people do two things against protocol—work hard and get wealthy. I don’t know which makes them more disliked and being heterodox on top, there is no cultural communication.

Now politically speaking we are not far from Hunza though there are high mountains in the way. Inasmuch as protocol pays no attention to American, Australian and such climbing parties, we “must” do nothing, but just invited a few Russians in and somebody is going to “rediscover” Hunza land. Anyhow I have put a few bugs I the S.P.’s ears and he is going to see his Chief who is all over the police in Pakistan, etc.

We also discussed dry farming and desert Agriculture. I have not yet made my lists for Dr. Hamid Khan but when I do I shall include the S.P. with a carbon. We have also discussed the advantages of bringing in Avocado, Olive and Carob. It is also probable that he will be taking me to some landowners in the near future but his Chief is coming tonight. (I have sung for him “A Policeman’s Lot is not a “Happy One.”)

I have suggested the heavy manure or fertilizer spreading just after the Monsoons begin and the leaf-mold-compost in the winter. There seem to be some rains here at Abbottabad all year. There is some snow but it is generally sunny in the winter.

It would also be wise, I think, to get in touch with the organic Gardeners and with Atlas, but this I am leaving more or less to you to re-suggest to me, or reject when I return. To recapitulate, we have the projects of organic fertilizers instead of Ammosulph, drought tolerant crops, and heavy oil and protein foods like Soy Bean, Olive, Avocado, to take up.

Besides inflaming the people by this pro-Indian stand, Johnson paid no attention to the agricultural problems. Why is it that Russia and Yugoslavia are sending in the “saline soil” experts?

The same is true about minerals. I have now a line on Graphite, Chromite, excellent pure Silica and fine China Clay. I am asking that the young son of the owners make a list of valuable mineral deposits here giving formula and size of lode; also availability. I did not wish to take up more at one sitting. But as things stand, unless we really wake up to Pakistan and Asia, we shall either see further Russian infiltrations or hope that the Japanese get there the firstest with the mosts.

Asia Foundation is calling on Americans here to make some suggestions. I have not me a single one who does not feel rebuffed by Johnson and in general by the Embassy. The very ones who understand about this land are the last ones consulted. (Where would I be without gripes?)

Cordially,

June 24

My dear Harry:

There is a certain type of man—and so far I have found them only in India or with mixed “Indian” blood—I do not know the face type, that is absolutely imperious, immovable, dictatorial and from my point of view impossible. They all have in common—and this is also unusual for people from this region, a capacity for hard work and effort which is not general. So they often get to the top.

My host here is one M. Yakub Khan who owns a drug store and around him and his partners several worthies gather from time to time. I would characterize there men as “imam” though is some respects they resemble our old “cracker-barrel” philosophers. The evenings are mild and when clear the number of persons who join them is sometimes liable to be large.

Last night one

Agha Faqir Shah (P.C. Retired) Land Acquisition Officer & Collector.

“The R x,” Link Road, Tarbela Dam Project,

Abbottabad P.O. Ghazi, West Pakistan

sought me out and I shall have a good deal to write about him below (this is my diary again). We discussed the dam and its possibilities and later on the Assouan dam, etc., etc.

We did not get very far when we were interrupted by a man who claimed to be not only “a” but “the” expert on Wheat, Rice and Sugar and I never saw such a bundle of negations in my life. We are passing through a series of international misunderstandings. This man sneered at all the experimental stations I have been too—it was always the wrong ones. He belittled everything being done and I certainly did not take the trouble to mention my contacts, nor the fact that M. A. Cheema who “briefed” me is regarded as the top No. 1 Agricultural Expert for Pakistan. Besides this man knew more.

He got everybody to laugh at me when I said there was 75-90% recovery from the Sugar Beet. I let him win the arguments and I told the Agha later that we utilized all the Sugar Beet and all the Sugar Cane but not all for Sugar. I did not ask for the “expert’s” name and he told me the top man from the whole world had come here and neither German, Russians nor Americans had been able to solve the “local problem.” But it was quite obvious to me the “local problem” consisted of non-receptive “experts.”

One has to begin with the food habit—I did not bring this up. A large percentage of “faminizism” in India has been due to the stubborn adherence to Rice and a restriction even of “Rice-and…. Here there is some stubborn restriction to Wheat. All right, the people must have Wheat. Now these have been migratory people, many having ancestors from distant places like Agha Shah above. They carry their eating habits into lands of different capabilities.

As the Agha well recognized, but the “expert” did not, there have never been thorough Soil, Hydrological or Geological surveys here. The main experimental station for Sugar and Wheat started in 1912. What have they solved? Other then knowing in rough that there is much fairly high pH, heavy soil here; one has not much more to start in with. Texas Seed Corn has failed, but has it? So far as I could tell from the “expert”—they have their own planting seasons, different. The soil chemistry is different. And the only fertilizing is done with Ammosulph. Now if you add Ammosulph to soil of high pH in warm, rainy weather, there is some chemical reaction, liberating the Ammonium ion and so you lose N. I am not going to discuss this with experts from exp. stations established from 1912 who have not found this out.

I am not enough versed in Genetics to have gone into the relation of new breeds and the best soil chemistry for them. But I do know I can discuss this rationally with the staff at the Forest Station above and I shall do something about it.

As to Sugar I refused to play my cards. So far as I can see, with a changing planting season, the whole process of photosynthesis is altered and, when on adds the problems put to me in UAR they are way off base. Next, the “expert” insisted that the machine system alone would solve the problem, that the cost of labor was too high and that a peasant economy was expensive and wasteful. The only answer to this I can see is to abolish humanity. It has survived some rather in inefficient systems and perhaps systems will always have a high degree of inefficiency.

I went into the Beet Sugar thing and this is too early to face economical but I again refused to play my cards with an “expert.” To utilize Cane Sugar in its entirety you have to have some machinery, not so much for Sugar extraction but for by-products and wastes. Look at the history of PABCO. Well, if “experts” don’t know these things it is too bad. Whatever way one turned he had a flock of reasons, always ending with “the world experts have been here and failed” and I can say whether the world experts have been here been here or not, you can’t convince stubborn minds and closed ears. I will later on try to by-pass such things.

As to Maize, he laughed at every statement I made and refused to take down the names of persons who had succeeded. As the S.P. is very proud of his own experiments I am going over this point with him. Perhaps the whole organic gardening philosophy is involved and maybe Hunza will provide a partial answer, but when I get to the “cracker-barrel” people in the “experts’” absence I shall tell them a thing or two.

How in God’s or the devil’s name can one introduce expressive machines into a land which has not good mechanics and where iron-mongers are held in low repute? So long as there are countries in which you have the gold is greater than silver is greater than copper is greater than iron, you reach an impasse. The Jewish Falashas in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) won their economic independence when technology reached that country because they had a monopoly on iron-smithing! (Jews, of course, never work with their hands, and lot of baloney still exists!)

All this time the Agha was trying to tell me of the Tarbela Dam on the Indus, the conditions under which it is being built. A very large-lake reservoir will be made and this will affect the water supply. Unlike the Assouan dam, although the temperature rises just as high, this is during June, July, August, when the greatest rains also come. The rain supply is more than sufficient to overbalance any loss by evaporation. And there are neither the technical difficulties of Assouan nor political involvements.

I think I have referred to a Nabob who wishes to see me, he controls the land on one side and four villages must be moved. But this is a minor obstruction because the villages can be moved more rapidly than the dam can be built.

Agha Faqir Shah lives very near me. Link Road is the main highway immediately to my right. He took me his home and we had some very long discussions, coupled with my favorite drink-Maxell House Coffee!

The first problem he put to me was where could he get literature on the color of flowers.

Now he has worked with fly Hydrangeas but tells me Alsuph is hard to get here and he has never used Iron sulphate. Besides, as I have said, the pH is high here. He could use Ammosulph but his objection to this was even longer than what I have heard from other quarters. He positively confirmed the peasants’ objections to it but then more in detail.

Outside my work in the fields common to us my largest project is in the philosophy of Integration. My leader in the U.S. is Prof. Oliver Reiser, Philosophy Department, Pittsburgh U. I have been trying to get him in touch with various philosophers in the Orient. As luck would have it, he has by-passed me in this. This will save me much time, the personal contacts having can made.

The Integral approach is compulsory in the engineering field, you cannot omit anything and many formulas are based on integrals. But the medical field is exactly the opposite. We have diagnoses and diagnoses and diagnoses but putting jig-saws back is not always accomplished. The Gestalt Psychology offers another approach in integration or near integration.

I told the Agha that I objected to the Hendelian approach because it did not take the soil chemistry; the auxin-problems are complicated with photosynthesis and related light problems; and the genetic factors seem to be quite different in different plants. I immediately gave him the address of Ohio State U. and if I can find it shall give him the N.Y. Horticultural Society. As I was warned in Karachi, They know little here about Agricultural literature, how to use abstracts, etc. If this cannot be handled by correspondence I shall look up Poole, etc. when I return. I do not know whether our agricultural attachés have Poole. I think I may find it at Dehra Dun but with delicate international feelings, you just don’t do things that way.

Indeed the Agha reacted just like S.P. when I mentioned Hunza. On top of that I looked up the scientific edition of Pakistan Quarterly referred to above and what they are doing in soil science is elementary. There is a part on Tobacco. The “exports” recommended Ammosulph and they got huge yields at very poor grade. My “expert” friend above told me that he was also skilled in this field. Now, Harry, in my aeonic existence I have worked this crop in the Carolinas and there were great debates there on fertilizations, soil chemistry and residual effects. When rejected foliage and stock plants are turned back into the ground as soil conditioners, the economic and qualitative loss to the soil is much lessened. There is some uncertainty whether there may or may not be some symbiosis or N fixation with this plant, too.

Experts here do not work the ground. They just give orders and the Soil Chemistry also reports a peasant revolt against Ammosulph. Undoubtedly I have been verbose here but I want to get everything down on paper. I am not pessimistic about anything. I may see the Agha before I mail this. I wish to see his garden, etc.

It is curious to have met two such men at the same time. The “expert” constantly interrupting, but I am sure he has also interrupted anybody sent here from abroad. I would not dare approach him on saline-tolerant [?]. And though I was sneered at for not yet going to Lyallpur and Peshawar, this is not going to affect my approach; it will largely acquaint me with more species, etc. I stop at this point and will either mail, or add.

June 21, 1961

Dear Tony:

I axed for it and the axe has descended. This is my diary entry. I have neglected it. I am writing some Puck stuff and more poetry. But the axe—give ‘em the axe. I axed for eating, praying and dancing. You can testify there is no God but God and Samuel had three principles. Tomorrow, for instance, the Chief Pathan’s secretary has asked us for tea. Between being Puck and accepting food and also as they have been in California, mostly Sacramento, this is a must and why not? I walk to the bazaar. One hour off, chai, gossip and sometimes sweets. I get two blocks more. La même chose, but there is no choosing chose. And so on. Sometimes I eat meals. I am sending for more dollars or rupees because I think I should have them but with this system they go for, very far indeed.

The infants call me “Tam bleeze.” This is supposed to make me want to chasethem. I don’t know how it got started but this is protocol. The infants must have called me “Tam bleeze.” Then the next groups and the groups are growing—natchna! natchna!, which means “dance” (same root as “Nautch”) so I natchna and natchna. Only the paths are stony and it is fortunately where and when I can find a grassy spot, or a courtyard. I dance with a brick on my head or I dance with castanets of I just dance. But it is the unanimous opinion of the sires that I must take tea with them, and of the children that I must dance for them. There are the Pathans, they are called “submitters” and if there are any people on earth who do more insisting than the Pathans I have yet to meet them. If they were not Pathans I might object, but again Puck axed for it and the axe has descended.

My friend Steadman has moved from Ohio to the home of the late Dr. Baker who was great on this Puck stuff. When she is dead, poor lady, but I would like some psychologist to explain—my pals are Pathans all over.

And what an argument in the bazaar. I mentioned “Pukhtunistan” and people pale “white.” It is a forbidden word. Nobody believes in it. I said: “You are wrong. Pukhtunistan is not part of Pakistan, Pakistan is part of Pukhtunistan. Who is your president, Ayub Khan, and what do you think he is? Who is his chief assistant? Lt. Gen. Sheikh? And wherefrom? Who is the top banana here? Who are the Murshids, the professors, the engineers, the scientists? Pathans, the whole bunch. They run East Pakistan, they run West Pakistan—can you name one honest man in office who is not a Pathan?” Boy, what a session! And my friend, Abdul Rahman from S.F just sits and laughs and laughs. He came from the Pathan district himself!

Of course now the combination gun-mit-boomerang which my –friend” Quetta Guy sold to the Afghans is working time. For once the protocol that only Russians may invade and the traffic down Khaibar Pass is one way only, has gotten upset, or maybe water is running up-hill. Anyhow the whole thing has gone back on the Afghans and they have sent for Ayub. Ayub has trouble of his own. Lyndon Johnson did not exactly perform puja to Rama but he might as well have. After all did not Prof. Von Plotz, on Iqbal day say: “I am most happy to address you on the celebration of the birthday of the greatest of Asia’s poets—Rabindranath Tagore!” What else can be expected?

It is Nixon all over. After he “converted” the Hindus we had to send Earl Warren to straighten out the mess. And we are getting it in South America. We cannot and do not conceive the value of religion. People want to be loved, but within confines. In last “Readers Digest” it tells of a church father who cleaned up one of the west villages in Pakistan. Wait until the Children’s Crusade Peace Corps come to a welcoming committee of mosquitoes, diseased eyes, raving mullahs and hungry peasants. They are going to ?teach? them how to weave. “What is your religion? Why? Why don’t you believe in Mohammed? Did you ever study Qur’an? How can you reject it if you haven’t studied it?

Well Ayub is a Sufi and so was Prof. Hussain who has been in California and has probably greatly impressed the “professors” who will continue to teach that there are no great Sufis and the downfall of Islam is due to the reticence of Sufis to take part in politics. Shall we discuss Basic Democracy? (which has the same meaning as “Shall we dance?” by Groucho). Only the Sufis and Church Fathers accomplish anything but it is anti-protocol to discuss such things.

I have seen a lot of valuable mineral ores and I have urged my young friend Arif Khan to make a list, giving chemical formula and richness of lodes, etc, and bring it to America. It may do some good if the Russian don’t come in. There are great China clay deposits and fine Silica ores. I am going to try to “sell” them to Japan. Years ago we had a man write on the “lives of the masters of the Far East“—humbug and fraud, but what a lot of people believed. Today we have our Von Plotzes; they are believed, and look at the tensions. A fact is a fact in science but in politics it is always “who dun it?” and then there in a question anyhow.

Ii is very hot in the plains and although it has been running around 100° the last days have cooled off.

Fine Peaches and Plums now on the market. Melons and Apricots are very cheap but the other fruits are surprisingly high—not for an American, but way out of line with peasant’s pockets. There are now poor grade Mangoes but the best thing from them is their juice. I amd going to try to start a campaign that Pakistanis offer this abroad instead of the splendid cocktails they offer to non-Muslims and earn disrespect for themselves all over the lot.

Abdul Rahman and I have planned some tourist. Next month we go to Muzzafarabad which is in “Azad Kashmir” which I want to see. Americans are not popular there now but wait until I meet those guys. Puck will pull the rug under their feet and Sam will prove they are not Muslims and they will have to take it. It is the same comic opera—their patience is always exhausted but the whole actual Islamic world is against them. If they resort to arms they will disprove that Islam is peaceful. If they try a Gandhian invasion it will be a joke; who is going to join them? They are not even united among themselves. Ask a Kashmiri what he believes in and he will probably answer either “Allah” or “Give me some more.” Starvation under any other term is not a bit more comfortable.

The news I get about S.F. is uniformly bad. It ain’t anymore. Something retains the name and politicians are in the City Hall. I am only hoping that the Curry Bowl or the Captain’s Galley will still be there. But my first appointment with you must be the Nugget on Post. St., if it is still left.

I must confess I miss TV with all its faults and will probably have one. But I must keep up exercise and will probably work with the Baptists if I live in that area. My friend Welley Miller, who became the dancing partner of Leonora Martin, has been ill and Leonora also lost her other best gentleman friend. Well I had two busted romances and the augurs, soothsayers, seeks and clairvoyants say one is coming up, only when I return. Aware the Ides of May!

The boys now have a big swing here. I said that was enough—foot-ball, tennis balls (for handball), softball. etc., as well as, let’s call it Quoits. And when I pass the Catholic School. Gosh I wish some diplomat come here, or a newspaper man arrive and see what a humble, bumble, stumble lone American can do—inshallah!.

June 25

Well, Harry, I am in a series of jams. I have more invitations than I can handle and am behind both in my creative writing and reports. I have again seen the Agha and there is no question we may come very close. I cannot vouchsafe for his methods of research in color-in-flowers. But I have seen some results of his cross-breading. He has some fine double Petunias—I don’t care for this flower in particular but I am always interested in breading results. He has some dark Dahlias. He sent to his son for some “blue-Dahlias” and bulbs were shipped air-mail but did not come up. He is proud of his dahlias, which flower seems to adopt itself to all kinds of Asian conditions. But I still have to see anything like those of the Pacific Northwest.

His Carnation-Pelargium crosses are really most interesting and varied. One never knows exactly what will come thereof and he still has to do some selective-straining (straining in both senses and no pun intended). But he has no cutting bench here and I have not asked him how he does his propagation work—it is not bad. His few fruit trees are decidedly the best here.

But what struck me most were his reports on Tomatoes. There used to be a selection—and it may have been a cross—leading to a spicy variety, very select here and which offered its flower when cooked. It may still be grown in the Peshawar region. Still more important was his report on perennial Tomatoes which are found in the Malakand area—I have not visited it yet but one of the reason of the present jam is the series of invitations to go into every region and I have not been able to program.

Meanwhile I have lost prestige with some of my cronies who look upon the “expert” referred to in the beginning as the top scientist. For my part I should say “God help him.” I have never seen any real soil-control experiment here and there are few complete reports—the rest on NPK and pH. As the “expert” says he has interviewed the top Rice, Wheat, Maize and Sugar men of the world—I can believe it and I can believe they got nowhere with him. He has two arguments against every suggestion; and, with the lack of organic gardening philosophy and the strained relations between the “Ammosulph experts” and the peasants, there is certainly a road-block here.

Fortunately this does not disturb me at all. For I have just heard from India. A most delightful series of events has brought a number of my friends together in New Delhi and they are planning some welcome for me. This is months ahead of time but it will give me an opportunity to program. My first host, Syed Mahmud, is now the head of the whole Islamic community.

Now my present thinking habits come from my studies under Cassius Keyser of Columbia, author of The Human Worth of Rigorous Thinking and other books. I have been working with his chief disciple, Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh. Reiser has been successful, independently, in establishing relations with Indian Philosophers. But my letter concerning friends happen to be those who are close to Reiser also socially and intellectually I may have my eggs in one basket.

If there is one way to arouse the Pakistanis it is to tell them that you will bring your stuff to India, and if there is on way to rouse the Hindus it is to take the opposite course. So if any “expert” tries the personality, phony-baloney stuff on me he is going to have to face some interesting events. Fortunately Dr. Hamid Khan, the Forest Botanist, has begged me for more sessions, and I shall try to clear and see him, but with many invitations and social events—I am just one man. I am going to lay some of these things before Asia Foundation, too. There is probably a lot more and with interruptions I don’t know how complete these reports are.

Cordially,

June 27, 1961

My dear Jack:

This is my diary entry. The bottoms of the pages will be left blank for notes before mailing. I do not wish to mail until I get my bank returns. At the moment there is a possibility of revaluation not in the direction of retrenchment but opposite. I have now been the guest of many people and even when I have remained my rooms in Abbottabad and gone elsewhere, through the kindness of friends my budget is small. Even now, it is early morning; I am up because at 7.30 I go for a free trip. The manager of the Government Transport Service has been very kind and hospitable. True, I am arranging to go in four directions: east, west, north-west and north-east from here. These are all into mountain areas, off the beaten paths and one does not know exactly what accommodations one will have. But I want to go not only for sight-seeing, but if I can break down the red-tape of some office-holding bastards, I might help build tourism here.

There is enough Indian blood in their veins so the pride and joy of life is to sit behind a desk. Any “good-cheese-blooded” Asian would rather get Rs. 200 rupees a month, just given a desk, free tea and some authority than get Rs. 500-1000 by working. My friends Arif Khan told me of his brother who is a mining engineer. That guy worked and got five times as much salary as expected. He is, of course, an outcaste, but he is having fun instead of being miserable. To be miserable is to be normal—I am still around Pukhtunistan. And where I go they speak Pashto, Hinkal, a little Punjabi and Gilgiti—the Peace Groups will learn Urdu and English and go forth; like young Galahads to find—well just wait until they do.

In addition to the above the news is very pleasant. Across the way Prof. Durrani, a Sufi and a big professor has just come. We had our preliminary talk last night. It was almost like falling in love. In the first place no professors are Sufis and no Sufis are professors see you, if you want your degree in Asian philosophy. In the next place he has a universal attitude and next he stresses love more than knowledge. Now it is all right for any ignoramus to stress love but for a professor who gets Rs. per mouth this is “unthinkable” and there are more “unthinkable” people here than you can imagine.

Then there is Agha Shah. He is in charge of the payrolls for the big dam on the Indus. He is interested in experiments in Floriculture. We have had a delightful time and he also lives quite close by. But we were interrupted constantly by a man who claimed he is in charge of all the Agricultural Experiments in the next district. The fact that all have failed means nothing. He has said be has met the biggest men in the world and they could not help. Actually they could not help “him.” I would not be proud of a lot of experiments that have failed. But he has authority, and he does not know that I have the low-down and am working in a sense, for this superiors.

So I worked out some reports for Prof. Hamid Khan, ex-University of California and Chief Forest Botanist in Pakistan. As luck, or Allah willed, I met the real Top Banana scientist of all the Frontier District, M.O. Ghani, from Peshawar. When I put to him the basic problems with Sugar, Wheat and Maize he agreed entirely. When I asked the “expert” to visit a certain garden here where they are growing top Maize he refused to go. This is “science.” But he does not know that the grower is a friend of President Ayub and got some of his materials from none other than.

For postscripts:

This grower is the S.P. Superintendent of Police, Sardar Rani. Now, Jack, I must advise you when traveling abroad the most important thing is to become acquainted with the top police. This is one of the first themes for my unwritten book, “Not So Innocent Abroad.” I have been threatened with arrest but with three police stations on my side, from tops to bottoms, and having eaten with the common copy, my erstwhile “enemy” has probably had a hard time finding someone who would deliver a warrant. Anyhow I have waited a long time for arrest and nothing doing.

Now as to Love. The new national anthem is “Ahmed Murad, Zindabad.” In each district there are crowds of kinds who expect entertainment. We in the U.S. are now spending a lot sending a vaudeville team here. But I am causing consternation in delivering unfair blows in the cold war—soft, ball, hand-ball, dancing, etc., but chief of all the swing I had put up in front of my rooms. Somehow or other kids like swings better than dialectics but this would be unfair to Khrushchev to introduce them. And as for hammocks—whoever brings hammocks here will become king. Anyhow wherever I go, a crowd of small fry, and a traffic jam.

Next I got a letter from India. As I have always said, some Hindus just done like Germans, Poles, Hungarians and Englishman teaching “Indian Philosophy.” This is complex because the philosophy is not and the pay is real. Why can’t we pay real Hindus to teach real Hindu Philosophy for real pay? Beloved, it jest ain’t done and this makes us popular but God knows where. So the Hindus have already notified me to a grand welcome, surprisingly. On top of that one of them is Surindar Suri, whom Lloyd Morain thought was his best friend, but Lloyd & Co. could not possibly interfere with any Ph.D. no matter what the Ph.D. said. And I don’t think Brother Gavin will relish hearing that the Hindus who have been in S.F. are getting ready to welcome me after my long efforts to see that some of them could teach Asiatics instead of European emigrés.

Incidentally I found the villain in my non-delivery of mail: the U.S. Consulate at Karachi. They sent everything back despite a double precaution on my part. This has been very awkward.

Interlude for breakfast. Now I am not only in a jam, a jam is in me. That’s a joke, son. Dog did not show up. I fed him already. To show you how poor the Muslims are here, dogs are treated well and cats nix. In Egypt, where the “pure religion” is taught, the cats are kings and the dogs scavengers. This has been since 60,000 B.C. and in China too, but here dogs are not curs, simply mongrels. I have to play every day with him, too; also push kids on swings and dance.

Yesterday I met Samuel Brown. He is not eligible for the Peace Corps. He speaks every language of Pukhtunistan and has been all over the place, even climbed high mountains and got into inaccessible valleys. But there is one thing he has failed in—he believes in God or Allah and not protocol. This makes him ineligible. It makes a lot of other Americans here ineligible and they are seeing top jobs going to enthusiastic young kids who won’t be able to answer the crazy questions put before them. Besides the Americans here believe baseball is more important than vaudeville shows. You see what happens to us poor saps abroad! So I am writing John Shelley without any idea that it will do any good. Brother-in-law has spoken.

On the other hand, my pal Sam, Sam Yorty, is now mayor of L.A. He is the king of the gripers and maybe I will tell him the Mish-mash-mush story of my life and he will use it when he runs for senator and he might even get in. It is possible that enough people will like ideas better than fancies…. Breakfast is over and dog is back and I will write some foot-notes and then leave.

K-482 Kunj St.

Abbottabad, Hazara

West Pakistan

June 30, 1961

Dr. C. Cutright and Associates

Ohio State Exp. Station,

Wooster, Ohio

In re: Horticultural Problems and the Cold War

Dear Friends:

There are a number of events in a crowded life which impel me to write to you.

Agha Faqir Shah is an engineer who has a home nearby. His hobby is solar experimentation in plants. I have asked him to write to your colleagues at Columbus. There is very little good literature here. When partition took place, all the good books were at Dehra Dun in Northern India, which I have visited before and hope to visit again. So men here do not know about Poole and in general even the best experimentalists do not know how to use pamphlets and reports.

This man is using mostly two methods–soil reactions and selections through breeding. His crosses have often resulted in very fine strains but not along the lines expected.

Soil Problems. I have just completed Geography of Living Things by M.S. Anderson, one of a series put out by Professor Frank Debenham of Cambridge University. I am so enamored of this book that I am going to purchase it and others of the series either for myself or for my friend, Harry Nelson, in San Francisco. It deals among other things with the grand food problems of the day.

The evening I met the Agha our conversations were constantly interrupted by a worthy who said he was in charge of all agricultural experiments in the next district dealing with Maize, Sugar, Wheat and Grain. He said he could get no help from the world’s great experts. I personally believe he himself is the great stumbling block and was able to find his superior, by accident (?) a couple of days later. This was one Dr. Ghani, chief of all scientific research in the Peshawar district.

The soil in all this region is predominantly alkaline, high K but there have been few analyses. Indeed I may have to bring a soil-testing kit next time I come. But I understand there is a German expert on Tea living near me who has made a detailed study of this subject. My first reaction to failures in Rice is that it is planted in soil of high pH. There is no good fertilization program and this has taken a most complex form. The farmers are in direct revolt against the Ammosulph approach. The Chinese farmers were successful in both Hong Kong and Thailand. Now only complete fertilizers are used in the former and only organics in the latter.

My own views are these–subject to correction, of course. In alkaline soils, at high temperatures, either Ca or K unite with the SO4–releasing Ammonia gas. When it rains there is much leaching, when it is dry much burning. The available N is much lower than expected.

In the next place–and I have heard this all over, Ammosulph is detrimental to soil organisms. There are not many organisms as it is in lands which divert manures. I am a very close friend of the S.P. (Superintendent of Police) here, who in turn is a friend of President Ayub. He has three compost heaps–night soil, buffalo dung, and vegetable wastes. I have suggested a partial combination of the last two and another pit for pine-needles. It snows here in the winter and they do not know about Mulches. He has already introduced the Persimmon and I have suggested mulches for both this and the Roses. But I shall tell him later of the Maize-mulches for the Roses such as your colleagues use on the campus at Columbus.

The S. P. knows nothing of the Hunza method. We have made some serious mistakes. Vice-President Johnson, in coming here, overlooked the whole agricultural community with its severe problems, concentrating on civic reforms. In this manure-wasting land there is no knowledge of Hunza. Each district or set of districts has its local language or idiom and most communication is through English, not Urdu. Our ”Peace Corps” is not going to be properly briefed and are headed for severe trouble. The only Americans here who know all the dialects are the Protestant missionaries and they are—because of our strange protocol—the last persons to be consulted about situations here. It is ridiculous, it is terrible and it is going to lead to worse situations.

Maize Experiments of the S. P. Last year he was most successful in getting five or more ears per stalk and his guesses were that the average height was about 8 feet. As the “expert” referred to above refused to meet him I am going to get a careful measurement of his field—number of stalks, how planted, manuring program, number of ears, size and even weight. I think a complete report of this kind might throw some light on local, and foreign situations. The Chinese and Japanese use night-soils plus, but here there does not seem to be any specific program.

Another thing is the general absence of check-plots in experimental stations.

Problems in Photosynthesis. This is my own conclusion. In UAR I was presented the double-reaction equilibria between Monosaccharides and Disaccharides. I had hoped for some solution here but the Sugar program is way out of kilter. Now during the months of July and August here where there should be a near maximum of light, one gets heavy rains. In fact I just had to shut the door because of a dust storm and these are usually followed by thunder-and-lightning. In any case whether there is a downpour or not, there is a diminution in light-hours.

My present view is that Sugars are encouraged in K-soils when there is much light. Diminution of light means less photosynthetic activity. On the other hand there are other elements needed and without proper soil analysis and correction, the Sugar problems will continue. The possibility of the Beet taking over in alkaline-encrusted soils has met with opposition here (there are some “Hindu” minds which are very stubborn and closed—I do not find this so in any other peoples). As my “expert” has rejected all reports from Utah, I am compelled to “do it yourself.” Unfortunately I have had no cooperation from our Embassy at all—I had nothing else but in UAR so I have written several letters of protest.

Strange Areas of Ignorance or Failing. The FAO is so full of red tape that when they sent Soy Beans seeds—60 varieties, they did not consider viability and only one strain grew. By the time they collected the seeds from all over and were ready to ship them, the seeds were out of season. Furthermore it is only possible to sow this crop in the pre-monsoon period (as now). There is neither water nor heat in the winter which must be used for truck-garden crops.

Also I found the Artichoke, which to some extent is salt-tolerant, being grown as an Ornamental Flower! And there is a hill-side near me, absolutely barren, with rich leaf-mold (“mined” by peasants) and no Grapes, no Strawberries and they have never even heard of the Blackberry!

Tomatoes. I have heard from the Agha referred to above, and confirmed by Dr. Ghani, the chief research scientists, that there are perennials in the district of Malakand. I expect to go there within the next two months and will obtain all information possible. There is also another Tomato, confined to the Pushtu people, which has a sharper taste and is used in curries. I shall try to get all the information possible, or even seeds (which, of course, would have to go through quarantine).

Pests. (You can pun here.) There is a constant near-war situation on the Afghan border. There is still more pressing danger of a Locust invasion. They have been seen in large quantities in Iraq and Iran but have not taken to flight and nobody knows which direction they will go. If anything important comes up I shall let you know. With the intense food problems of this region, we have the constant stress on near excitement among peoples reported I the papers.

Saline soils. This has undoubtedly been the problem of the country. Americans and others have come and had "conferences." These conferences are immediately followed by the Russians sending in "experts." But I was the first person to bring in crop lists of tolerant plants! Nobody else thought of that and Dr. Firemen from Riverside, California, will not be here until winter, at least. And when people grow Artichokes and ornamentals, don’t want Beets and won’t eat Asparagus, what to do?

Freeport opening. This is the best news possible for Pakistan, but they do not yet realize its import. Any success in this line means the opening of vast areas.

Desert Agriculture. I have been most fortunate in finding that the Chief Forest Botanist, one Dr. Hamid Khan, graduated from the University of California. I gave him the first list of plants—trees and shrubs, listed by the same university in its "Desert Agriculture" plus some few I know about from direct experience. I climbed the nearby mountain, referred to above, and found it largely unplanted but having Persimmons grow wild. I have suggested the Olive for hill tops and this has been approved by the various persons referred to herein. Butter costs as much as in the United States.

Oil sources. We are discussing Olive, Avocado, Cotton and Coconut. The Coconut could be better grown I East Pakistan. There is a species of wild Olive here and my friend, Dr. Rabbani Khan, has used it for grafting. I shall be calling on him after posting this and find out what progress he has made.

I have been asked by Dr. Ghani, the chief scientists, to inquire into a strain of Cotton which can be grown in saline soils—they have it in UAR. This will not only benefit the people here but if they concentrate on the seed for oil, etc. more than on the fiber as such, I think there will be universal benefit. I have turned over my other UAR notes to the chief Entomologist in Lahore. I gave him your name but hope to see him later.

The Avocado will be new here. I think it will take in general the same soil and conditions as the Mango. It will also provide some protein, and of course, fat. I suggested this formerly. But I have found that every single proposal I have ever made was also made previously by British horticulturists—and by-passed.

Water supplies. The Indus is being dammed. As the Agha referred to above is one of the chief engineers in these projects I have asked him a number of questions. Unlike the Nile, the Indus receives plenty of rainfall in July and August, diminishing water losses through evaporation. The evaporation problem has not been given serious studies by the enthusiasts in the UAR but here it may not arise. The Indus thus has two seasons—the melting snow, and the rainfall (monsoon) period.

Prunus fruits. I have seen all the varieties of Plum that I tasted I childhood. They are fine here in quantity and quality. There are just two main types of Apricot—those of deep color which are sweet but not firm, those much lighter, less sweet but excellent in texture. The Peaches so far have been of two varieties, fairly good tasting, firm but small. I understand the larger Peaches will come out later.

As they have a shortage of Sugar, canning and drying are both hazardous, but in the higher regions and again in Afghanistan and Turkestan I know drying is an old industry. Unfortunately there are terrific caste distinctions here—far worse because they try to hide them—and you cannot go into certain technical matters which concern operations of "low-born."

There are several types of what we should call "Cherry Plums." I have not seen sweet Cherries. But I have suggested the introduction of at least P. lyonii and P. ilicifolia from California during the coming years.

Pomes. There have been three "Apples" out, all smaller and quite different from those in our land and rather low in pectins as well as sugars. There are two types of Pears, just coming. One seems to be small and in large quantity; the other I have not yet seen but I am told it is excellent.

Gourds. There are numerous Melons and above all Vegetable Marrow. The Watermelon are little different from those in the US excepting there are no refrigerators. There are some smaller ones between the Watermelon and Cucumber which I have not tasted. Cucumbers are plentiful and good. Then there are all sorts of small sweet melons, some resembling those of the Sates, some quite different, especially in shape. They are very cheap and plentiful

Other fruits are quite different and not always good. The price of mangoes is held up until they are almost spoiled. Oranges and Bananas are expensive and not very good. I would suggest a larger bottling program for Mango juice, consuming the "seconds" which have not much edible material.

Nuts. Walnuts grow fine here but I have not purchased any. That is because of the large stocks of Pine nuts and Almonds—the last not too good, the former excellent. There are plenty of Peanuts (Ground nuts) but they do not look appetizing.

Vegetables. These are nearly all familiar. Plenty of Potatoes, Onions, Beets—Spinach is on and off, Lettuce and cabbage and Peas mostly in the winter. There are many Legumes, some not found in the US.

Erosion. This is the main problem I am taking back with e. The extent of eroded soils is tremendous. Of course I am going to follow up the Desert Agricultural situation. They know nothing of Opuntias on the one hand, or Fungi on the other. There is a grand need for tree planting, etc., etc.

I have already been extended most cordial welcomes to India and Malaya, and my social contacts have been of the best. I am not asking for shipment of seeds, literature, etc, until I can fix proper dates and places. I am hoping that my efforts will be integrated into a larger movement. I am not too anxious to carry on personal work, but I shall be pleased to place my notes and experiences in the hands of interested person.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 3, 1961

Dear Tony;

Page all psychologists, psychiatrists, psychometrists, psychics, psychos, also telepathists, telekinesists, grape vines and what have you. It comes from wearing a Pathan shirt and pretending to be Puck of Pukhtunistan. Well my pal, Abdul Rahman from Mission St. were walking through the bazaars whom two men accosted us, stopped us, blocked us, (lights out) and barred our way: Khalid Is Coming To Abbottabad! Why pick on us and like that? Maybe you will believe now some of the experiences I go through in this “Glossed Horizons” land.

1. I am now the guest of Akbar Rahman whom Puck calls Obdurate Rahman who took me to the Himalayas last week. Now we plan to go to Nathiagalli and Murree, then to Azad Kashmir. I have already written for reservations at Peshawar but not until July 20 and by that time Khalid should be here and then some.

2. Major Rabbani has moved to Abbottabad. He is a fellow-disciple of the same Sufi teacher and regards me as his elder brother. We get along capitally. The other night I said, “Come to see me at 5 P.M. and then I shall take you to the S.P. (Supt. of Police). We went out and while gone a note came inviting me to the S.P. that night (see first sentence). So we went and I met the S.P. from Lahore and we had a wonderful time.

3. Across the street has moved Prof. Durrani. This is impossible. He comes from a celebrated family which has provided hosts of Robin Hoods, caravan traffic cops and “kick out the other rascals” campaigners. He is a top Physicist, top Engineer and Sufi Teacher. We are as thick as the thieves from whom he has descended. I am meeting all kinds of Sufis and celebrities either through him or with him. He is taking me somewhere or other tomorrow night.

Meanwhile—go back to the first sentence and think of Puck—he has invited me to a complete tour of the Pathan country in August. So I am planning a quickie or not so quickie toward the end of this month and a careful repeat performance later on. This is necessary because:

4. I have been blocked in my work by a man who says he is the top scientific researcher in the next province and he sneered at my work. I determined to get around him and within 48 hours met his supervisor. Dr. Ghani of Peshawar and gave him some solid technical reports which were accepted on the spot and I have been given some very nice technical problems which are ?handled? by the UNO, FAO, FOA, FOE, and such and so the people starve while committees meet and confer and decide on policies and programs.

5. Meanwhile I have not only presented lists of crops but are working with the proper forestry and tree men and everything is going well excepting I am busy from 6.00 A.M. until… it is nearly 9 P.M. now.

I have written to the Alumni Assn. at Berkeley protesting against the teaching on the campuses that there are not Sufis and if so, they are unimportant men who never take part in politics. The same view is held here about the Pathans. Well I asked who is Ayub? As he is both Sufi and Pathan—what’s the use, the professor can’t be wrong. I am convincing people here that instead of being riled about Pukhtunistan they are part of it and had better wake up the fact: Who is President? Who are the Cabinet Members? Who are the Supts. of police? Who are the top scientists? Who are the Governors-General? Generally Sufis and Pathans—but don’t let that interfere with the press and intellectuals and book-writers and such. I think it did hurt some Urduists to have to admit they were being ruled by Pathans and that a large part of Afghanistan wants to accede—this way. If they have a fair election on both side of the border, exist Afghanistan, only the Urduists have no sense of humor and the Pathans, well, they more than make up for it. And they dance and the long-faces do not.

Life is both pleasant and hard. The kids all expect me to dance for them excepting those in the neighborhood who expect me to play ball. The arsenists (not arsonists) want to sit and damn Kennedy but they know I am not on good terms with the U.S. government and have a hard time getting letters answered so they don’t blame me; they just blame Kennedy and Johnson more! Then the intellectuals and sages and the non-clerical maulvis, maulanas, mullahs, katins, imams, ulema, kadis and others want to join in with the real Sufis and they listen to me a good deal. The evidence is so overwhelming I way become even compassionate when I present it. It is hopelessly ridiculous to ignore hard faces.

But I am still against sending over young kids with missionary spirits and no idea of God or religion to come here and in addition face hardship of which they have no inkling. True. “Readers Digest” told of what one Father did in part of this country. But it takes a great spiritual pioneer to do these things and ego-emotionalism and enthusiasm is not going to get anybody elsewhere. In fact if I were to remain here when they come the locals would probably subsidize me to try to convert them to Islam.

In the meanwhile a very gala invitation has been extended of which Puck refers to by Indian professors who agree that Germans, Poles, Hungarians, English and Basques are not the best teachers of Oriental Philosophy and besides this they would like to share the wealth. The reactions from my crusade against this nonsense in America are terrific all over, but not news. We are fortunate indeed that the communists are failing in production.

No wonder I am interested in Quadros. For the moment that man seems to have a world of sense, and maybe more than sense. We have become complicated and artificial and so ridden with clichés, slogans, banners and nice phrases that we have lost all contact with realities. There is hardly a speech read which has any meaning or else it has so many possible interpretations that it is worthless.

My last dancing partner, Leonora, had a most dramatic month. She lost her two best men friends through death and in the middle of it received three proposals of marriage from a business associate and finally accepted. I am relieved because in the last few years she has had a hard life. Deafness incapacitated her for most employment despite her efficiency and made her become a laundress manager. She has had nothing but troubles and worries. But me with my far-away determination could not be mixed in these things anymore and if I do marry—which is always possible, it should be to a woman who has a far-away attitude.

I now have two extremely contrary yearnings—to settle down in one place either to study or work with plants; to travel to certain parts of Europe: Sweden, U.K. and Spain, and to the West Indies. Maybe I may live long enough, but again I do not care and it is always possible I shall have some sort of recognition. I am getting it here and it look as if I shall in India and Malaya and East Pakistan—now he cards are all loaded for me and then some.

Morning. U Can, Twin: How to find lost handkerchiefs. My stock dwindled and dwindled and then some. Well last night I met a Khatib and he invited me to his mosque. So I looked for a skull cap, I have two. Here a hankie, there a hankie, everywhere a hankie pankie—trousers, luggage, bags and pockets, boy, did they show up—I mean, the hankies. Finally, in a wrong place, of course, my headgear.

July 5, 1961

Your Excellent Excellency Ruth:

Never were things in Pukhtunistan in such a mess—for the first time in history they are being a straightened out. You must know—the Epoop-protocol point of view, that the Pathans are ignorant peasants and never take responsibilities for anything. Durrani Sahib, about whom more below, took Puck to the next village, Kakul, where he met the landlord—a Pathan of course, exceedingly well educated with the sons graduates of European universities. We discussed the Pathans, also the Pukhtuns, also the Pushtuns. By then it was time to leave. We learned all about the peasants, the landlords, the tenures, the agricultural systems. etc.

Durrani took Puck to task—why did not you speak about yourself? Now Puck is a very (im)modest man who is quite willing to talk about himself when such dull subjects as Laos, Tunisia, Kruelchef, the Cold War and the next hockey game are being discussed—but, when it is Pukhtunistan—why Puck is amazed that a fellow should be willing to compromise with protocol or society. Finally Puck won his point.

Besides Durrani comes from a long line of Caravan Traffic Cops (or Robbers) and has the same relation to Robin Hood as Puck has to Willie the Snake. Besides Durrani has invited Puck to a person tour of Pukhtunistan late in August or so and of course this has been.... Anyhow Durrani the Pathan is the top scientist and the top Sufi here which is impossible and this change of impossibilities just goes to show.

Meanwhile Puck is not always seeing Durrani. Obdurate Rahman has been over. Puck twice gave him the Leprechaun sign—never again. Boy Puck is beginning to suspect he is just as much a bas…—illegitimate as Puck is. He acts, looks, and thinks like Leprechaun; even his accept is suspect. Anyhow he sent Puck off to Murree via Nathiagalli. Nathiagalli is at least 9,000 feet high. As soon as Puck arrived, up walks Malik Khyber—”What are you doing here? Why aren’t you visiting me at my home?” “But you are not at home.” “That is right.” “What are you doing here?”

Malik Khyber: This is my 14^th honeymoon. I am almost 80. But what a time I have supporting my relatives and the Pukhtunistan Mortuary Combine. Fortunately I am wealthy enough. Now please visit my home and family but don’t tell them where I am. I have left ample funds for them and I want to enjoy my honeymoon, a little.” So sooner or later off to Khyber, of a course. Even sometimes protocol and will agree.

We got to Murree. Puck thought he was incognita. He was until he entered a book store. He wanted some information about Ahmed Bashir Minto, formerly of S.F. We got just six wrong directions and started to turn back and whom do you think we meet, smiling at us? Some psychiatrist or psychometrist or psychic should look into these things. Anyhow we had a good long talk and a good long walk.

Next morning Puck visited the U.S. Embassy and gave them a heart-to-heart talk about Epoop (this in Murree). Then we visited the USIS Library. The astounding thing is that it was almost empty and with all the free parking space for bottom–up among a people who should rather sit down and do not even want rocking chairs.

After that Puck followed the dotted line to the Indian High Commissioner. Perhaps he was called High Commissioner because it is 7,000 feet up. He was not in. Puck wanted a visa form. “References?” “President, Prime Minister, Vice President, Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Internal Affairs, Minister of Infernal Affairs, Minister of External Affairs, Pres. Bank of India, President of Hindustani National Bank. “Is that all?” “What—I suppose you will want my granduncle’s maiden name, too?” Just then a door opened and out walked the High Commissioner himself: “What’s all this going on? Don’t you know to whom you are speaking? Potentate-Plenitolentiary Puck, International head of the Anti-Epoop Society. Give him what he wants. No, I’ll do it myself.” (please don’t have S.F. papers copy, they would not believe on a stack of stacks.

Now Puck is asking you indulgence so he can call on Felix Knath, also of S.F. who has been in North Pukhtunistan called “Baltistan.“ He has been mountain climbing. I must explain mountain arithmetic:

Newspaper man at 6,000”=Russian at 12,000”= American at 21,000”= Austrian at 24,000’ to get in news maybe.

Puck’s English: Nuclear physics = unclear physics

Russian arithmetic = Chinese mountains are climbed by proclamations

Arsonists will never set the world on fire

Puck is now going to read the news. Don’t say it does not influence him. What is eating him all the time; what is he eating all the time—Rusks.

Puck on the School Bill. Having been briefed by L. Leprechaun Puck is solidly for aid to parochial schools—the money will be used for education and books. And Puck is against aid to so-called public schools—for each one million dollars

$250,000 to architects, contractors and materials men,

$250,000 to carpenters, plumbers, masons, electricians,

$250,000 to physicists for sound prove rooms, air conditioning and maintenance engineers, leaving

$250,000 for teachers, maybe, including clerical help and window washing.

The buildings will be beautiful palaces so sprawled there will be no room for play-grounds. This is modern education and they want more money for it.

In Pukhtunistan we say: “Your parents pay taxes for schools for your kids or else we’ll double them” and that is that and you don’t have marble walls excepting sometimes marble is cheaper than wood.

Mountain Sickness. The report in the first paragraph is substantially correct. Lowell Thomas came this way and everything was perfume and roses. He did not climb, but he took shots and used rose-colored lenses. Now the objective reports I find and find substantiated are so different and they all corroborate one another. We have made our berth—the authorities on Asia must be American newsmen and European professor and never European newsmen and American professors.

“The Roof of the world” is inhabited by very mixed people with mixed languages and in general they seem to be followers of Agha Khan. There are many deficiency diseases and the people are not happy. They do not starve but they do not know how to make use of the green herbs at their doors. This is all the more astounding because between the Greek (Junani), Hindu (Ayurvedic) and Homeopathic schools, medicines are made from about everything that grows—then the prices become prohibitive. The Japanese and Indonesians eat the herbs and don’t run to the doctors.

Peshawar. By the time I get there I can just walk in. I have such a long list of people who wish to be my hosts I know I can’t fulfill such a program. My first visit will be strictly tourism—I hope my money comes soon, then I shall buy. My next will be professional and then I hope to see and even learn a little of the folk dances.

I have not been too well and seem very sensitive to atmospheric conditions. I actually have no bad news but am wondering how long it will be before Americans can become objective. I think the people will, on the whole, but the press—ow! and all the protocolians. “Protocolians of the world, disunite, when we get rid of you we shall be rid of our chains.”

July 7, 1961

My dear Horace;

This is my diary and please excuse me if I be verbose because I have a lot to record and only hope it will be interesting. Some days ago one Abdur Rahman, manager of the GTS, Government Transport Service, took over and in a rather humorous fashion arranged two trips for me. One was straight north 60 miles to a place called Sachal at the foot of the Himalayas and the other 40 miles east to Murree, the Summer Capital. This required us to go to Nathiagalli which is over 9,000 feet and then to Murree over 7,000—which I have visited before.

The road to Sachal was through scenery very much like the Arkansas gorge in Colorado. But the river comes suddenly out of the ground. This is a phenomenon I have seen in this valley, too, and around Rishikesh (where Yogis are supposed to congregate) where the Ganges comes out. I am pretty sure that there are general such phenomena and there is one river, the Saraswati which is supposed to go underground and come out at different times.

The one thing evident was the marked glacial effect. Not only were there many boulders (I once wrote on “Rock and Roll”—you roll rocks) but did I see them! But they are of totally different composition—some huge masses of pure Mica, some almost pure Quartz, some a Granite containing these two. One of two distinctly Basalt, and then all kinds fragmentary sedimentary and stratified deposits. The immediate reaction was that I feel like returning to study rather than to lecture or teach to learn more of Geology and Petrology, so I can enjoy the country.

I am not keen on languages and find it difficult to study them. And in these travels the local dialects are different, some being vestiges of very old Indo-Germanic speech, some brought in by invaders and some, like Urdu, hodgepodges of intermarriages.

I am met one Samuel Brown, a medical missionary, who is at war with the administration. He has visited almost every mountain and valley in north and north-west Pakistan. He knows all about the idioms, folk customs, etc. but be was cold-shouldered by Johnson and the “family” who have set up the American policy for Pakistan. The result is the different waves of popularity—and from the Pakistanis who are for almost any anti-administration American; and one from the Americans here, snubbed and by-passed. And in these trips everything I learned corroborated what he told me, down to fine points.

We are going to send youngsters here who are going into remote villages which won’t be described because their instructors have not visited them; the languages are not taught in the U.S. excepting Urdu and that not much and in general our “experts” are men ignored or loathed in Asia—most of them being Canadians and Europeans, or if Americans, newspaper men.

Any intensity I have has been increased by the return of Mrs. Knauth of San Francisco who returned from Baltistan in the North where she has been—her husband follows soon. They are raving mad at the reports given by Lowell Thomas. They assure me that conditions in Hunza, about which I should refer later, are not so glossy, although also not so bad. But a few news men can make it extremely difficult for scientists to send invalid reports and more evil is going to come from this source.

In the valley north from here where irrigation is possible Rice is grown and where it is not, Maize. The borderlines and sometimes property lines are planted with Apricot trees. Apricots have the advantage of being easily dried and there are few weevils in the cold winter. Also the kernels are used for nuts if sweet, for oil if bitter.

The streams abound with trout—so much so that they have an 8” limit and a catch of 6 per person, but by having a boy with one this means 12 per person. And the locals do not eat fish. I had no time for this but if I come this way again this may be important.

The road to Nathiagalli was very rough. There has never been any good geological survey and so little knowledge of the potential road-bed. There have been earthquakes and we saw a minor landslide. As we went East the pH lowered. We passed from the P. longifolia to Deodar Country and then two Pines with curved needles, which I would call “soft.” These continued up to Murree where the ground was impregnated with iron.

There is an annual Marguerite blooming all over, in the upper regions and a shrub which appears to be of the Hydrangea family, not in bloom. There were many tall Hickories and I understand they furnish good timber. The very steep slopes are still wooded—too hard to cut. But from Murree the hills are so barren. And neither is there any prospecting going on. This is in part to laziness and ineptitude. The government is offering subsidies for the discovery of new minerals.

I was just interrupted by my young friend, Arif Khan who is planning his reports on local minerals, etc., and we have a date for tomorrow. If this letter is not too long and there is a valuable addendum, it will be added. We did see one big black extrusion not far from here which looked as if it might be graphite or coal from a distance. There are many canyons which we could easily walk through not too far from here and water is available. So I hope we can do some hiking.

Murree and Nathiagalli were both established by the British. The former has two hotels, rather high-priced and luxury; and one hostel where we met some Boy Scouts from the U.S. There is a kind of wild Rose used as a hedge in both places. Snaps are out but not doing too well. There is one Lily which grows high up. Alpine grasses only.

At Murree we met a good friend, also from S.F. and I called at the American Embassy and Indian High Commission. It seems I have a high level invitation to India, rather a surprise, too, and the Commissioner was very cooperative and gave me papers, but I am liable to enter India by an untrodden path (so far as Americans are concerned). Both the Commissioner and Abdul Hamid here urged me to visit the Desert Research Station in Rajasthan. I shall probably get a more official invitation later from my friends in Delhi.

Murree is largely landscaped, but mountain tops. But I find here as elsewhere the slopes very steep but the crests rolling—very different from the Alps or higher Himalayas. They grow vegetables at Murree, I think largely for tourist consumption and the Cabbages are not doing well—the soil is acid with little leaf or humus. Whenever the slopes are not too steep they are terraced and grains grown. Meat in the wilder districts comes from hunting. I am told that leopards, tigers and bears abound but not one is curious where the slopes are over 45°.

I shall later go to Murree, I believe, to visit the Vegetable, Soil, Potato and Pest Control stations. At the moment there is great interest in Pest Control research at Peshawar where I am booked, presumably for the 26^th. When I returned I called on Abdul Hamid, the Forest Botanist, to discuss the Garst Plan—I think I have written, the Garsts were Khruschev’s hosts and they are agricultural engineers and experimenters. He has asked me to check on available literature at Delhi and Dehra Dun which I have visited before—I think I sent Harry some things but I may duplicate next rather than skip.

This morning I had an Indian Mango for breakfast. It has a thick green skin whereas the Pakistani has a thin yellow one, but it sticks. The fruit is sweeter, more tasty and much more easily removed from the stone. Nor is the stone as large in proportion to the size of the fruit. I may repeat purchases. I have been buying Plums. There are several very large sized ones on the market now, very delicious. One is a purple round one, one is still larger but nearer apricot-ish in color and flavor, and one looks almost like and Apple and has a slightly pomish taste, too, but very good.

Besides Abdur Rahman, I am also a guest almost every day of Prof. Durrani from Peshawar, who lives across the way. He is a great scientist, engineer and a teacher of Sufi mysticism. This is the name of a very famous Afghan family and he has invited me to go to many places in the Pathan country.

When I returned from abroad I created the character of “Puck of Pukhtunistan” and as life has gone on, I have not only become identified with this “character” but everywhere the Pathans (Pukhtuns, Pushtuns) have greeted me with open arms. If I wanted to pun, I should say the Pathans greet with open arms, the other with open palms.

I will not go into the Durrani discussions much here. I am preparing to lecture on “Oriental Philosophy and Modern Science” both in this country and India and perhaps in Malaya too. I have had general rejection in the U.S. but the man whose works I was going to introduce, Prof. Reiser of Pittsburgh has actually beaten me by being recognized already. Actually this will help me very much. About the last people to recognize this will be the USIS with its lofty, Tory-like attitude, bringing in only the most refined culture and arm. Boy, do they have money to give lectures on Richard Neutra, but none for baseball or basket-ball. We spend huge sums to entertain Americans and Europeans in Asia and called this “foreign aid.”

I also visit the S.P. or Superintendent of Police who is another Pathan and Sufi. I met his nephew last night who is an industrial chemist turning out fertilizers. I hope to meet him again.

The Garst plan calls for “urea” bases and not Ammosulph. There is a struggle going on between “experts” and peasants and it is getting worse. The Hunza system is not known here at all. It has the merits (and demerits), of organic gardening. My friend across the street who is hosting Dr. Durrani only added superphos to the soil but he uses sewage water for his plants as does my landlord. This is of course a sort of organic urea-base system. The S.P. is on the slopes and has to depend upon rain.

I am writing how much this is a “Lost Horizon.” It is not only in a rift valley-pass, but it has sporadic rains all the time, much more than any part of West Pakistan, so far as I have been able to find out, excepting maybe a few uplands which is not habitable. Yet the land is not fully cultivated and the mountains unplanted. I am going to check as much as possible on the details of the Maize growing here, using it as an example, to see how the different systems of watering and fertilizing work. This might provide some good objective material. Actually I expect to begin this on the 9^th.

No conclusions will be reached until I visit as much of the country around both Peshawar (which I hope to see this month and again in August) and Lyallpur—on my September schedule. I am not the least sanguine about acceptance by the press or diplomatic corps but I am pretty sure some agriculturalists and others will listen. But I hope to avoid half-cocked conclusions.

I have again been appealed to on the soil erosion problem. We have on one hand the extremely high-level UN representatives who are responsible to no one and on the other hand the farm boys who do things and then are forgotten or ignored. For my part I would not give the whole scheme of newsmen for a single farm-exchange youth and I think the Americans here in general agree. But how is one going to put this over?

I am waiting for Ayub’s work in Washington. I accept neither the American nor Pakistani reports. Not only do I mistrust the papers but they report the same events so differently sometimes it is hard to recognize the events. I also hope to go to “Azad Kashmir.” These people are rolling in mineral wealth and spending all their time and effort in politics.

You may be able to understand how difficult diplomatic and psychological relations are from a discussion I had last night. A group of college men asked me, without taking leave of my host, to join them at tea. I don’t think tea and discussions interest them so much as it gives an excuse for sitting down. Everything is an excuse for sitting down.

I told them I was interested in working on food problems. The economics professor said that the population problem was the main thing. I agreed. He insisted it was so. I told him that that was his profession and I had no idea as to what to do. He said it was an easy problem to solve and I said it was probably so, that every problem might be easy for those in that profession and impossible for those in quite different professions; that I knew nothing of economics but might do something about land and food problems.

He then tackled me on general soil problems. Every time I tried to be specific he dodged. I tried to make him face the actual agricultural problems of actual lands, places, etc. He dodged and insisted on generalities. He denied that the hills could be planted; I invited him to visit any hill with me and I would show him what could be done. “But that does not settle the saline soil problem” I answered: “You never asked me about that. But we Americans have solved such problems.” At that he went abruptly away just after having invited me away from the host referred to above, or even my conveniences.

I have found that the minds here are up in the air and difficult to pin. They do not define terms during discussions and constantly bring in irrelevant facts and factors.

These are things one really has to face. My previous visit to Dr. Abdul Hamid that morning was of exactly the opposite tenure.

I have just received a report from Singapore of some strange experiments by a friend of mine talking to seeds and cuttings and having them grow successfully. I am writing to him asking him to hold copies thereof so I can mail same to Harry later on. I have made also another tentative arrangement to leave Singapore for California in March. This means trying to complete my Indian trip by January, then East Pakistan and Malaya. This, of course, is tentative. My Indian plans at the moment are way beyond me, but I shall have to face them.

Cordially,

P.S. I shall leave this open in case I get a mineralogical report; otherwise should mail this p.m.

July 13, 1961

Harry Nelson,

Floriculture Department,

City College, San Francisco

My dear Harry:

I am sending a copy of this letter to Giannini Hall and in many respects it contains several important reports. I am doing this because they sent me to one Jonathan Garst. His brother was the host to Khrushchev in Iowa. The two of them are in a certain sense engineering-scientific-horticulturalists. Anyhow Jonathan gave me his plan for India and asked me to present it as he was going to Poland. I kept this plan intact but last week between the delicate political situations vis-à-vis the United States and Pakistan, and my complete friendship and cooperation with Prof. Abdul Hamid Khan, chief forest botanist and a graduate of Berkeley, I decided to unload it on him. It has proven to be very timely.

I am going to see Hamid this morning on another matter. M. Kusaka who was my guide when I visited the Royal Cemetery, Forestry Experimental Station, Nursery, etc. at Mount Takao in Japan, and whom I had met previously at the Ag. Dept. station in Tokyo in 1956 in touring these parts. He is my colleague through James Kinoshita. I have not met him but our lines are criss-crossing.

At the moment the Summer Session of the Forestry College at Peshawar is having its summer session immediately adjacent to my headquarters and I am having a number of small interesting sessions with the students. This is complicated by the vast differences between the problems and situations in West Pakistan and East Pakistan.

Garst Plan. This is to begin fertilizer factories using Urea base. Jonathan has worked it out showing that the cost of such factories would be considerably less than what is spent now for the purchase of food-imports. Off-hand I can only admire it for it is an alternative for several programs. But it differs from them in one respect—it is a comprehensive, integrating program and fits in perfectly with my philosophical ventures, which I may or may not report later on.

The situation is amusingly complicated to me because the chief in the Ammosulph production here, whom I have also met in the last week, is a nephew of my pal, the Superintendent of Police. I have already written a good deal against the Ammosulph approach and from what I hear the peasants are universally against it everywhere. My own approach is quite different.

I have failed to find any clear soil reports. Experiments are made without a clear picture of pH and such tests that occur usually confine themselves to NKP. This becomes more complicated because of nutritional and other deficiencies and lack of attention to Ca, and innumerable “trace elements.” There is also a fundamental difference in “grassland” and “forestry approaches” which have not been thought out.

But at the moment I am excited because there is going to be a new fertilizer adventure.

“Sargodha. The Provincial Government is considering the possibility of installing organic manure producing plants by using night soil as raw material in all big cities of the province.

The Agricultural Department officials who were consulted on the subject are in complete agreement with the Government’s views about using the city refuse for the manufacture of fertilizer. A circular letter issued by the Provincial Government states that manure and fertilizer could bring prosperity to the community by increasing agricultural production but certain institutions appeared to be ignorant of the importance of night soil or rubbish collected from the towns.”

This is to be very important and pleasing because of the preliminary report which follows. At the present time I am usually the guest of either the S.P. referred to above, or to his Paymaster who lives across the way. They are both, like myself, Sufis and through them I am meeting some of the top scientists and worthies, just as I did in Lahore. But we do not study actual mysticism or realize that these are the most practical and sometimes the only practical men in Pakistan. It is the commentators and the literary people who are the meta-physicians and who scorn realism (more below).

These gentlemen are very good friends of each other and they both are now using a special hybrid seed corn, the nature of which I have not ascertained.

Garden of the Paymaster.

I first went there to examine the maize on the 10^th. The seed was broadcast and used to fill in empty spaces. Last winter he mixed in Superphos and so far as I know he was the only man around here who did that. Roughly speaking he has a few more than a hundred stalks, but it is probable that the stand on the lot just below is his, too, which could almost double the stand.

It is perhaps the fastest growing Corn here too. He tells me he planted about the 1^st of June. There has been about 6” rain since then—a guess based on the measurements of the nearest station seven miles away. The stalks in the shade cover are about 7’ now. The others run from 4’-8’, the median bout 6’. There was one stalk about 9’ and it already has four ears coming, but mostly the ears were not yet out. Even tassel formation is not yet complete.

He has sunflowers average 10’-12’ but he does not know the food value for the seeds—these are eaten in many parts of India and seemed to be an important part of vegetarian diets. The Hollyhocks were averaging 8’. In general his plants do very good. His house is vined with Passiflora, and the fruit, which is incidental, is the most delicious of its kind I have ever eaten.

His pride are his Leeks. He planted them in March using Ammosulph—he did not use this on other crops. He has made four harvests, cutting the tops down and keeping the roots. He says he is able to supply his family and all his friends with them. They are cooked with the Rice or added to something like the Indonesian program which I mailed to you from UAR

He not only depends on rain, but on seepage water. This is a mixture of two kinds. His garden is situated at the base of the adjacent mountain. There is a characteristic here of water coming out at the plain-level as if there is limestone or other layer just within. But in addition there is a mixture of “seepage” from a few places on the hillside which means that much water has fertilizer value, urea-base. This is not measured but it undoubtedly gives the plants an amount of weak fertilizer comparable to the Ohio State program. He also has a storage tank which combines seepage and rainwater.

I visit this garden almost daily and there will be further reports according to progress.

Garden of the Superintendent of Police (S.P.)

He controls large properties. I assume that the estate he occupies is his official resident. Now owns lands around Peshawar and comes from an important Pathan family. He is also a friend of President Ayub who has given him his grapes and who usually visits him once annually to look at be crops.

Roughly speaking his Maize covers 3-4 acres. I do not know the boundaries or how much is under special “peasant” cultivation for the help. He has about four plots on different levels. Those below either benefit from water-run off, or were planted earlier. The Paymaster says he put in his seeds about 1^st of June and I should hazard that the S.P. began about the same time. At present the average height is about 4.” With some up to 7” but that in turn is sometimes due to shading from trees and not necessarily to vigor.

As reported before the S.P. has three composts—Leaf, Buffalo Dung and night-soil. The last is conditioned and is never used before six months. A mixer is made of these three and worked in, presumably with the plowing. The humus is the richest I have examined in Pakistan.

Last year the S.P. said he had the best stand in the valley. But he depends entirely on rainfall and water is therefore a limiting factor. We have been running about 3” per month. Which is said to be unusual. The nearest gauge is up the valley seven miles away.

Water here is generally that of streams which have their source in springs; or else is sewage. Most sewage is run down in streams or flumes toward the Rawalpindi section. This is not only temporary capital but is the center of truck gardening. The sewage is excellent for fruits but wakes havoc with vegetables. There are few good advisers.

These reports are of course, tentative. I have asked a good deal about the adjacent districts and when you add rides, have seen the entire valley. Mostly the stands are low but this may be due to later planting. However the soil seems quite sterile and with the limited rainfall the prognosis is not good. Peasants irrigate Rice, not Maize.

The Malnutrition Complex. I refer you to the list of Indonesian vegetables sent from UAR I already have reported that they do not use wild Mustard and Dandelions. My friends, the Knauths of San Francisco, have just returned from Baltistan and report goiters and other deficiency diseases. But they insist the people have enough to eat.

Yesterday I went to the Fruit Market I am eating assorted Mangoes and also a kind of Plum which is “pomish.” The skin is stripped like some Apples, the texture is firm and the taste is somewhat between the Prune-plum and pomes. I have seen more varieties of Plums here by far than anywhere.

I was able to purchase Kohlrabi, exceedingly cheap. This was my experience with Okra too. In general fruits (excepting Melons) are too high for poor people, but the reverse is true with vegetables. Not only that the fruit merchants rather let their stock spoil than reduce prices, but the vegetable people are different. May be this is because fruits are eaten raw and vegetables, excepting Tomato, Onion and Cucumber, are cooked.

Purslane. To my delight this is on the market as a vegetable. I think I’ll try to gather some when I return and cook it, etc. we certainly have it in abundance as a weed.

Ayub-Kennedy Meeting. As usual I am a “prophet” for the simplest of reasons. The great problem here is water-logging, saline infiltration and all the papers talk about is Kashmir, as if this country depends on it. I made some mistakes in past reports. I have found that even if the local press is unanimous it is wrong. They were advertising that the Russians were coming in here to examine mineral deposits—and now it comes out that American geologists are arriving. But worse, after there was an American-Pakistan conference on saline soils the papers unanimously reported the arrival of Russian experts. Then they reported that the Yugo-Slavs were coming in. I have never heard of Yugo-Slavia having a saline infiltration or where they got their experts.

I sent to the Alumni Association, Cal. a report from the USIS press releases of Lahore about Abis. in UAR where the U. C. Paul Keim has supervised the recovery 38,000 acres. When I tried to tell people here about it they felt grossly insulted.

I predicted that when Ayub and Kennedy got together, the first thing they would discuss is saline infiltration. This has taken place. And in talking to the forestry boys here they are very much concerned with erosion. And that is right. What good is it to add people and have nothing to feed them with?

The Commentators Versus the Scientists. This is the real world war, and it is not a cold war either. The British setting up of the “humanist” versus the “scientific” outlooks is universal. The press and “social scientists” stick to theories and fight each other; the scientists stick to facts and cooperate.

All those things which I have reported are of prime importance to the officials, and I certainly mentioned enough. I have even told you of the visit to the “White House” and Ayub asked through Secretary Shahab that I help introduce Pakistani culture into the U.S.A. None of the top sensible officials are going ga-ga over Kashmir or any other political or pseudo-political problem. If the press ignores me, Senator Engle is now listening. Actually I was bitten by the same bugs as his own daughter—our European “experts” on this part of the world.

When Murrow broadcast that he would welcome suggestions and criticisms, I wrote back doubting it. The worst reports on this part of the world have been broadcast by Lowell Thomas and if I know the profession, they would rather lambaste the President (any president) than find fault with each other. Thomas’s reports were totally superficial, if not actually untrue, and the worst of these was about the Hunza situation.

I have not yet the complete report from Felix Knauth who has just come back from Baltistan, but a compendium of all Americans here is the existence of absolute disgust. They were never heard by Johnson and Shriver, and I may have to go and make piece with Prof. Burdick, joint author of The Ugly American. The situations described were not true in S.E. Asia but they are certainly true here. All of us outcaste—creoles have exactly the same opinions, very similar experiences and we can’t get any recognition from our Embassy or generally speaking, from the press at home. It was Johnson’s mistakes that compelled the visit of Ayub. There are few places in the world that have more potentially arable waste-lands than West Pakistan; there are few places in the world more mismanaged than East Pakistan. Adjacent Burma gets three crops a year while East Pak. gets one.

-5 July 14

The latest reports came out that the United States is offering money to a new biological control lab, in Rawalpindi or Lahore. I did not go into details when I met the pest control people but should be in Lahore in September. Here there are not many pests besides Flies. There are two kinds of spray work being done around here and they have certainly controlled Ants and Mosquitoes. I have seen some Dragon Flies and the other night a large Mantis was outside my room. After a while he flew away, and it was a very graceful flight. I have seen some across the road, but have not examined them closely.

When I went to Murree there was a kind of Butterfly. It would close its wings and drop to earth like a fallen leaf. The other thing was at this season the actual larvae are green and the Butterflies were brown, but quite deceiving just the same. The way to tell is that so many look alike and one does not find the larvae resembling each other so much.

There is now a movement for proper control of both water supply and sewage. This should bring in sewage disposal in time and this may become a partial answer to fertilizer needs. I have also been watching the stands of Maize. Last night I went to Nowshera which is in the northwest corner of this valley. There, too, waters gush out from the base of the mountains in fountains, springs and gorges, very delightful. Most of the Maize stands were in rows, but not high. None were lush and it is obvious they depend on rainfall. It is cloudy at this moment and it is supposed to be monsoon season. I am told that the monsoon is very irregular and uncertain.

I am only interested in the Water-supply problem with regards to Kashmir. The politics remains outside my field. Whatever way it is settled it is certain that engineers have to take over. But the people here are not industrious. You do not see the peasants and never the city-dwellers along the Indus doing anything like the levee-workers on the Mississippi. Now they have to call the army out. Everybody expects others to do their duty.

There will be a research branch opening at the Agricultural College in Lyallpur on September 1st. I am scheduled to visit it and I should prefer to make it official as my friends have planned, rather than just make a personal call. I am at the moment in a crazy mix-up in exchanging dollars for rupees, When that is straightened out I expect to go to Peshawar and vicinity regardless of the weather. I am hearing more and more good things. Nowshera is near to Peshawar and I have a friend as manager in the DDT factory which I hope to visit.

I am told that about the first of August there will be an increased amount of fruits on the market, particularly Grapes which are just coming in. At Peshawar the story is that the fruits are in great quantity and very cheap. Some come from Afghanistan but there are border disputes going on—snafu. I want to see Khyber Pass which is historical.

Both the daily papers and American press reports—received from Lahore while writing, deal in generalities. Verbal love does not fill stomachs. And continued talks with Americans show a downright opposition to the “Peace Corps” but a warm welcome for the actual experts on saline soils and prospecting.

One of my next projects is the preparation of papers for lectures at the colleges. I have no unfavorable reports on any subject, and look to be home in about ten months.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 13, 1961

My dear Walt:

The more I think of you the more news I have to send to you. I shall try to make some sense of it.

Some weeks ago I met a Khalandar, Faqir All Mastana of Rawalpindi. I may have written to you about him. Anyhow I have written to several people in San Francisco. He is planning to come to California and we have more or less a tentative agreement to meet in Singapore and come the rest of the way together. This is by far from final, especially in view of other items contained in this.

Ali Mastana is a clairvoyant, much greater in degree than any I have met but I do not know if he is greater in kind. He sees, he knows, but he does not seem to get beyond the ego-states. There is no question that he has peered very successfully into my past; he has described cities and even people in the U.S. whom he has not met.

He wishes to speak on spiritually and not on religion. He claims to get all his directions from his own Pir-o-Murshid, or teacher. As to funds, this is not a mystery. He counts among his disciples the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (who I have met) and some heads at the PIA, the Pakistani International Airlines. In fact he is away collecting more money. He is not interested in getting money in the U.S. He says he has more than he made now and he is emphatic about wishing to spread spiritualism and spirituality.

Of this I am sure and if he has egotism or egoism it goes to faculties and not to fame or fortune. So far as he sees the way is clear for him and I have given him a number of hints. I may write more on this subject, but I have written to my friend, Rudy Olson, 166 Geary St. I have written to others but often no response.

This strange absence of responses from the U.S. has been coupled by a continual surge toward my meeting more holy people here. Until yesterday it has largely been a search by me; but now summonses are coming to meet holy people, especially in this general vicinity.

To begin with I have my one spiritual brother, Major Mohammad Sadiq, who is a healer and who both heals by his hands and also by magnetizing water and perhaps food. Evidently at one time he was stag aged in mass-healing. I do not know now but he still has been quite successful and on a scale that would have made Amy Semple or Oral Roberts envious. But he is a sober type, a military official, and quite capable of lecturing on mystical philosophy and human brotherhood.

My two chief friends in this city are the superintendent of Police and the Paymaster. I visit each often and we have high-powered discussions. It is needless to add that these discussions would go over the heads of all the Europeans and Northrups in the U.S. They would not know what we are talking about. It is the paymaster who is now arranging my trips to holy men.

The guest in his home is Prof. Durrani, head of the Physics Department and sometimes Engineering section, Peshwar University. It is unthinkable, inconceivable and impossible that abgreat scientist would be a mystic and vice-versa but as in the UAR it is so—at the tops one finds the tops. Durrani is a Murshid or teacher to boot and is regarded as a strange sort of holy man and authority. The Khalandar, Ali Mastana, lives about a block away and the Paymaster in between. Besides Prof. Durrani likes daytime, preferably morning visits and other people want evening visits.

One time Mastana said to me: “I am greater than you. I know more than you. I have more cows. I am a greater mystic, teacher, seer. I am greater than you in everything.” I said, “There is one exception.” “What can that be?” “I am a grater pupil than you are!” That did it.

When E. G. Browne visited the tomb of Shah Nimatullah, Persia’s more important mystic, he learned “That among the Gnostics there is no difference in sects.” So Prof. Durrani is not only a Sufi, he is one of the most complete Yogis I have ever met. I was telling him one morning. “There is a teaching derived from Abdul Kadiri-Gilani that even the Kadiri Sufis do not know. “That is absolutely correct.”

(This teaching is that Rama, Krishna, Siva, Buddha, Jesus and Mohammad all lead to the same Universal Oneself.) The Khalandar come by and he never said a word. He listened to Durrani listen to me and did not say a word. He had met the professor before and had acknowledged his superiority and there he was noting the prof. listen to me! Since then I have spoken to many Sufis and disciples in that house. Then I met another Khalandar there, a sober type who gave me his blessing. This is not verbal, it is a communication in heart-energizing and magnetization. I may meet this man again, but do not know.

Then last night the Paymaster took me to a Sadhu Baba, who is both a Sadhu and Sufi. He lives a few miles out of the next town below here (Havelian). He had heard about me and so I went. It was not hard to find him. We sat in attunement and it “took.” I was able to renounce the ego and get into both his breath- and heart-vibrations. I had previously gotten into Paul Brunton’s breath-vibrations, but not heart; and into the second Khalandar’s heart-vibrations, but not breath.

Sadhu Baba is quite an old man and very much respected. One of his disciples gave me a thorough massaging and I see this done in some places. I know it is wall practiced in Kashmir. I am hoping to go to Azad Kashmir soon and may look into such matters further.

This morning the professor returned and we had a most high-level discussion. He gave me a booklet, Whither Ye Sadhu and said he could give me more. I want these for you, but will not ship them until I have a collection. The contents are entirely spiritual. It is impossible to determine the boundary between so-called Sufism and so-called Sadhuism or Yoga. And perhaps this is just what we want.

I do not know whether I have written that a gala reception is promised me for India. However Indians and Pakistanis differ; they are entirely for me in my campaign that Asians should be given at last equal rights with Englishmen, Hungarians, Germans and Poles to tell Americans about Asia. No other land in the world is so stupid. And the thing is snowballing for a very large number of intellectual here are preparing to support me in India.

I am now firm and strong enough that I expect to go to universities and other places and demand objectivity. The strange speculations of these foreigners is not only a source of offense—endless offenses—to Asians, but is also a source of confusion. Then we like the Koestlers who come along and say the whole thing is blah. Koestler is only doing harm in America; elsewhere they don’t take him seriously. Lowell Thomas has also done tremendous harm by wrongly describing the mountain areas here. This is not only not a long subject but it is possible that we may arrange for Prof. Felix Knauth of San Francisco, now living in Abbottabad, to show slides of that area when he returns—this is a matter which will be taken up when his own schedule is clear.

Whither Ye Sadhu is a spiritual book and can hardly be read intellectually. It seems even more unintelligible (?) than Swami Ramdas’ The World is God but to those who pass tests and have gone through, it is quite clear. There is too much stress on Yoga as path, and not enough on Yoga as experience and accomplishment. But I must add one thing that Ayub has just said: we must beware of the intellectuals who discuss everything in detail and arrive at no conclusions or actions. This is about as for from truth as one can get.

Next morning. I learned that the Sadhu is none other than my friend, Prof. Durrani above. We had a grand meeting of highly intellectual Sufis late night, the elements of which would have been totally incomprehensible to any European prof. whomsoever. I may not mail this immediately because other things of interest are coming up.

Abbottabad, Hazara

July 19, 1961

My dear John:

I am writing this letter in triplicate, sending one copy to Mr. Stockwell Everts at the Embassy in Karachi. But I have decided that the only way to get action out of a Foreign Service is to get to Prof. Burdick in Berkeley, apologize to him and give him a lot of stories—and they will be stories.

The one thing that stands in the way is the complete cooperation I am getting from Senator Engle. But this has been made possible by two off-the-beat of factors. Someday no doubt the American Foreign Service which trust its fellow-citizens as alert human beings. Changes of Administration have not brought this about, and the types of psychological promotions we have do not increase wisdom, nor is there any accumulation of knowledges gained in practices within a country. A man or woman is promoted and whatever he has learned is dead ended.

Under the previous administration an Englishman went around India on a bicycle and he was summoned by the State Department and asked “What is wrong with our Foreign Policy?” The thing that is basically wrong with our foreign policy was and is and will continue to be: that these questions are asked of foreigners and not of our own people.

The Reverend X. lives in Pakistan, works in Pakistan, knows more languages of West Pakistan than any person I have ever heard of, including some top level experts in Asian languages, knows the hearts and minds of these people, but he is in the wrong profession. If he had been a newspaper man and toured these same districts superficially, took pictures and wrote a book, this would close the chapter. I have said before and I say again; “Our authorities on Asia are American newspaper men and European professors and never must they be European Newspaper men and American professors.” There has been a slight change in this but not much.

The Cultural Attaché has returned to Karachi. I was refused point blank an interview by his assistant. Nothing doing. Two weeks later I am a guest of Secretary Shahab, top intellectual of this country and he put to me very bluntly and rudely the same terrible question asked by Princess Poon Diskul in Thailand, Prof, S. C. Chatterji of Calcutta University, Prof. Rahul top Indian Mahayana Buddhist, Prof. A. A. Siddiqui in Lahore and Prof. Mohammed Hussein in Cairo and a lot of lesser lights. We made fools of ourselves wasting tax-payer’s money in 1957 in San Francisco with a convention under UNESCO, “How to bring Asians and Americans Together” and the only thing decided was to raise the salaries of the promoters. Americans and Asians were not brought together. And all the Rev. X’s in the world can’t overcome a few obstacles to normal, man-to-man speeches on the type of morality we have in our Jury System.

I have protested and will protest against this “Peace Corps.” We have our field workers here, all kinds of people from Asia Foundation and Protestant Missionaries to farm-exchange boys. We ignore them. The USIS press releases from Lahore report a speech given in San Francisco by one Mohammad Jamil, former president of the West Pakistan Chamber of Commerce.

He said: “The way to help us is not to send over experts to lecture us. I am convinced that the greatest benefit would come from sending over a working farm family, such as I visited in Kansas and Minnesota, and have them set up a model farming operation, the way you do it there, and show us how to make money from it…. If we were shown how to organize, I’m sure American farming techniques could be easily adapted in Pakistan.

The heading is the usual erroneous “Madison Ave” stuff: “Lahore Businessman says American Technical Advance can benefit Pakistan.” Certainly Technical Advance will help but the simple basic suggestion is overlooked and will be overlooked and will be overlooked. Asia Foundation tried something like that and was snowed under by criticism. You have to get “down to earth” and I shall try to see Mr. Jamil myself before I leave, for there will be nothing to stand in the way.

While this is going on, what are those nice chess-playing Russians doing? Making speeches? Lecturing the natives? They are doing the most simple, self- evident counter-measure than even a ten-year old would understand! They are sending in “experts,” every time there is a problem they send in “experts.” And in the entourage of these “experts” are at least one good Muslim who slips off to a Mosque on Friday, says prayers with the natives, particularly peasants and then tells them how wonderful the Muslim live in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and … Uzbekistan. It is simple, elementary and true.

I may have written to you that my chief social confidants here are among the police chiefs. Well I meet them and they give me the stuff off-hand of their experiences. They cannot, of course, tell the emissaries of a foreign nation. I had a counter-measure for this in the United States and with one exception was pooh-poohed all over the place; and I have yet to hear a Muslim, any Nation, who did not welcome my suggestion with open arms—and open hearts. I understand I am very popular here in Abbottabad. This may be a minor matter, but I do meet with and mingle with the people as no American newspaper man or European professor is capable of doing; but not necessarily any better than any other American who may be a professor, and certainly not so well as some Protestant missionaries.

The newspaper are constantly telling of more Russian “experts” coming and they will come and they will brief the peasants and our Peace Corps will come, and lecture, despite Mr. Jamil and they will not know how to pray with the people or talk to them in simple manner, on the human level. They will, of course, be welcomed by the Cultural Attachés who refuse others appointments, and by the Agricultural Attachés who don’t answer letters and the only way out would seem to be to go to Professor Burdick, which will be a last resort, and then all the State Department employees in this era of democracy, honesty, fair-dealing and humbug-slogans will run to cover.

Fortunately I had “two-strikes” on Senator Engle. You see the late Ambassador Grady accepted in toto my repots and his wife. Mrs. Eucretia Grady has given me every sort of encouragement. And then the Senator’s own daughter was badly handled socially by one of the European experts on Oriental Philosophy who rides high in California, but would not even dare to visit Pakistan.

All right the Peace Corps will come; also the Russians will come and this is a “cold war” in which the logistics of the hot wars are dropped.

The next thing I have told Senator Engle is that if tax-paid public servants of the American Government refuse interviews and cooperation with American citizens abroad, this could become an element of contention in the next election. Today I know of too many persons who would only be glad to use my facts.

Then there is our Ambassador here, Mr. Rountree. He has been away and I cannot put personal blame on him for negligence to mail. But talking to other Americans here we are unanimous that we are second class citizens. I have an introduction to the Ambassador. I am not going to use it. It is from my lifelong friend, Phra Sumangalo. He was an American citizen. He became alarmed about Southeast Asia; he did not get a single interview in the State Department or press. He gave up his citizens, returned to the United States—ah, that was different. Well, one of the persons who then permitted and interview with him was the same Ambassador Rountree! A nice way to get an appointment, and I won’t use it.

Well, we now have another cliché artist commentator in charge of USIS. He writes the same pompous editorials that he welcomes criticisms and suggestions. That is for home consumption. If I should place copy of my letter, and some of my facts before some of his rival commentators, there would be a hue-and-cry all over the country, for it would then get national hook-up attention. In other words, honesty, fact-finding and the objective approach used in the sciences, is to be by-passed whenever it interferes with protocol.

I am now being briefed by Sufis as to how to meet the communist hecklers in India. They have told me where I should be meeting them and how. The communists are ambivalent with regards to religion using it either way. This gives them a tremendous weapon because we use it no way. Protestant missionaries nix and Sufis nix. Only a Sufi happens to the head of the whole Islamic community in India, he was the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, a spiritual brother in an exact sense, but I was not permitted to use his name publicly in certain institutions in the U.S. As we go around promising that someday we shall look up the Sufis—which we shall continue to do a la Encyclopedia of Islam and European and Canadian experts and never mind the human beings!

I am also preparing now on my lectures, "Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science." The previews have been accepted by Prof. Durrani, head of the Engineering College at Peshawar, also chief Physicist of the region, also a Sufi Murshid or teacher. I am being given every facility by the local professors. This becomes more complex and important because of my forth-coming programs for India, East Pakistan and Malaya, all with excellent introductions and the best boding.

The way to meet the people is to meet the people. This has been done before. It was done most successfully in India by two American-Americans: Rev. Samuel Higginbottam who did more to stop communism than any other man, and Gertrude Emerson. The first is rejected by protocol because he was a Protestant missionary, the second because she change to become a Hindu. It is only Americans who stop there. Fortunately the Russians have no such achievement. I shall champion all Americans who accomplish anything.

The papers here are yelling that Kashmir is the great problem. The facts are that saline infiltration is the greatest problem of West Pakistan and the enormous rising birthrate and lowered death-rate in East Pakistan. Nothing is comparable to these and politics must go on.

On the simple side of the problem of malnutrition I am pleased to find that although the people ignore Mustard and Dandelion they do eat Purslane. There are many weeds which can help with many ills. What is needed here is a parliament of all schools of medicine and Herbology and a cataloguing of foods and medicines which can be obtained from common plants at low cost and added to the diet. Japan and Indonesia have already done this. But what can a simple American do? He can't go to his own Foreign Service, he has to go to somebody like Prof. Burdick. And I have already sent in sufficient reports to different departments of the University of California to substantiate anything I might have to say—and won't he eat it up!

I am sending copy of this to the Embassy and also to a leading national commentator. We are all cheering Ayub. When it comes to rational and effective action I am afraid what will happen will be just what happened to Mr. Hamid's speech. There is nothing that he has said that I have not written, recommended and yelled for. All the information I have is that the food:population ratio is getting worse in Russia and far worse in China. As the Russians "catch-up" in production (I can prove this is nonsense mathematically), they are overproducing people, and so on.

This is ironically counterbalanced by a greatly increased infant mortality in Africa and the absence of any sane, objective, and universally rational approach to problems. Everybody changes his yard stick indifferent areas.

Well, the "Peace Corps" is coming, the Russians are coming—and we shall see.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

July 24, 1961

My dear Rosemary,

This is the news. (Apologies to the man who patented this Phrase and to … will him, otherwise.)

As you know there are not Sufis and they are not scientists. Across the street from me is Prof. Durrani who is head of the Engineering College at Peshawar, the top Physicist of the section and a Sufi spiritual teacher. This is impossible you know at Cal., Stanford, Pacific, UCLA etc. Besides he is a Pathan and has a son following in his footsteps. Anyhow I had to go to Peshawar U. to arrange some lectures for me and before I even got started I was signed up by Mardan College, which shows what fools these people are, or something.

Then I left the Administration building and in the role of “Puck of Pukhtunistan” started off toward the Pashto Institute. I did not get far when I ran into Durrani’s son—how did he get there?—and he proceeded to guide me around. The meetings with the tops of the Pashto Institute with Puck of Pukhtunistan will make history. It is long and technical. Briefly the Russkis are sending in experts—one scientist and a big entourage, all Muslims. The Russians are non-religious, of course, so on Fridays the entourage distributes itself and visits Mosques, joins in prayer, shakes hands with everybody and then tells them how wonderful life is in Soviet countries for Muslims. They have pictures, the naughty men. So they pray and eat with the people just like Puck does which is anti-protocol but very effective and useless.

The Sufis have their own war against Russia but being fanatics and bigots and superstitious we will have nothing to do with them. Besides they can’t bore all Sufis because they don’t resemble what you read in the Encyclopedia of Islam or listening to the profs. I ran into them in UAR and find they have a huge counter-espionage system. While the Russians run around the Islamic world disguised as religions or something, the Sufis run around the Russian world disguised as Marxists. This is so anti-protocol that it is unthinkable, and I would ask you to forget it but it means such charming correspondence. The fact that it is entirely true has nothing to do with it.

So the Pathan Academy is starting a huge institute for the study of Central Asian Cultures—we can’t think of that. Hitler might but we must not do anything Hitler did because! Anyhow refugees and volunteers, who speak Cheena, Balti, Dard, Baluchis, Brahui, East Persian, Kashmiri, Gilgiti, etc, go on. This is very crude because while we are celebrating International Freedom Day in the U.S. calling for the liberations of the Letts, Lithuanians, and Estonians, to whom we added (protocol, you knew) the Hungarians, we cawn’t, can’t and cain’t have the Armenians, Leshgians, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Turkomens, etc., etc., etc. There is no God but protocol and he ain’t got no prophet.

The Americans have turned down this Institute cold so they will probably appeal to the Germans and this extremely ugly American will appeal to the Buddhists, etc. who have funds to throw around and much to learn from the study of these languages will go in where “Christians” do not dare go. The word “Christians” here excluded all and sundry Protestant missionaries who know and do and that is the worst thing possible.

Maybe I’ll tell you more about this someday but Puck of Pukhtunistan is now utterly triumphant and ever meeting deans and chancellors. We walked in the directions of the Durrani house but never got there. You see, darklink, Asian Foundation is doing something—that is very wrong not being “realists” and without waiting for the Children’s Crusade Peace Corps. And what they are doing would speak for itself, but there are no commentators and politicians connected with it and God save the king or President. I don’t know whether Asian Foundation tells the press or gave it up as useless.

They are very enthusiastic about the “Peace Corps.” Just as I am.

Then I met Ted Thatcher, U.S. 48. He is the chief Science Adviser at Peshawar University. You see a large number of universities have a real exchange program which is doing wonderful things or I am a liar. I have never presumed that one American on the spot was any better than any other American; but with the exception of newsmen they are ignored. I began with my beef and I will stick to it, that the farm buys who came over here and did things have been ignored. So many of our grand universities are doing things and big things without fanfare, meeting realities and meeting the people (and not just any hokum phrase about democracy and brotherhood).

We have here the I.C.A. program, the Fulbright program and the reciprocal college exchange. I am for all of them but for the latter much more. Unfortunately in our democracy some men are more equal than others and no Fulbright man is equal to an I.C.A., but a tourist or bum is more equal than a Fulbright man and everybody is more equal than a Protestant missionary. All of us are aware that the Russians are flooding Afghanistan with “experts” and propaganda. And as protocol has so long since established one-way traffic through the Khyber, it must be just that and no other. So the Muslim-Soviets will come—or rather than came. I have run into this myself but my source of information is very official—the police inspectors. They are my best friends all over.

Murrow has pontificated that he welcomes criticism and suggestions. He has united the whole American colony in disgust. He did something—I don’t know what—while I was on Shipboard which turned them all against him from the beginning. And my being refused an interview with the cultural attaché at Karachi was accepted without a murmur by Americans here who seem almost unanimously of the opinion: “we could have told you that.” And the intelligentsia say that it is useless and hopeless to give high-tension intellectual lectures to a few people and think we are communicating. We are wasting funds, duplicating and kidding on a large scale. Self-praise never brought about international sanity and protocol has long since discarded Talleyrand and Disraeli that if you want to rob others, praise them and keep on praising them and don’t put in a good word or any word about yourself.

Ted Thatcher’s work is road-blocked by protocol so I am going to see fellow Californian Dr. Abdul Hamid shortly so that these two fellow Californians can get together and work together. There is a lot in this which we shall skip. So I left Peshawar U. more than reassured.

I can’t wish to belittle our foreign service. They pulled me cut of a strange scrape. The Bank of America made a mistake in sending me a draft. The recipient bank here promptly stuck it in a desk drawer and it took two long distance calls for them to disgorge. I was stuck and did not know what the trouble was. I have written to S.F. but meanwhile I had to have cash. Here I am, owing nobody in particular, but money in five or six piles, all too small for operations. Anyhow I was able to cash $100 and this may keep me until funds arrive, but I don’t know when. In turn this has interfered with plans. I did some small buying in Peshawar and wish to do more. I purchased cards at the Peshawar Museum for the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design and the Chinese Buddhists Temple.

I am waiting now for a long objective report on mineral deposits here. I am not waiting for “experts.” I shall see Thatcher again, no doubt. And I certainly can recommend both him and Knauth as speakers.

Well the papers here are worse and the rumors—such as Bowles being on the way out—get around. And five times now the Russians have sent in experts here and I have still to see one. The only place we have crossed trails is at Mosques, and this, you know protocolly, is impossible.

Faithfully.

Samuel L. Lewis

July 25, 1961

Dear Bill,

A copy of this letter is going to Leonard Austin of San Francisco and any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly. For Puck has officially and unofficially met Maulana Abdul Qadir, Director of the Pashto Academy and Leonard will go around singing, “I told you so, I told you so.”

First the news. A prehistoric skull 1.750,000 years old found in Africa, proving the first man. My first impression was to send it to Harriet Anderson and sing, “That old Sweetheart of Mine.” But that mood—well what can you expect?

Next the news. I got into a financial jam. Bankamerica sent me a check or cheque or draft with one amount in writing and another in enumeration. Habib bank promptly took the check or cheque or draft and filed it away. This helped a lot but I don’t know to whom. After two long distance calls and a threat of calling off the Foreign Aid they returned it. I did not have enough money or time to go to Lahore, but this is Pukhtunistan and Puck got a free ride from the Forestry College at Peshawar and all is better that ends better. Anyhow they cashed a check and I got rupees which saved a lot of trouble. I got the cold shoulder in the hotel (Dean’s) until I was about to leave. Then I informed them of Puck and Ahmed Murad and they did not exactly grovel. Aren’t we devils! One rickshaw-wallah cheated me out of 1 rupee and then it was grape vined (by the loud speaker) that I was a Sufi. I got a free ride—just like that. Then I overpaid another taxi-wallah because I got more money at the bank than I expected. After which I looked for shoes and just as I entered the bazaar I was hailed in English and the man had exactly what I wanted at a price I was quite willing to pay.

Next more news. Saturday I went to Peshawar University and met one of the staff who immediately insisted that I go to the Pashto Academy. Maybe he thought, no he did recognize Puck. But before I got there I met the son of Prof. Durrani the Pathan-Sufi, Engineer, Physicist and everything and the boy took me around. I got in the crossfire of dinner invitations and lecture engagements and never did finish anything.

Well I met Maulan Abdul Qadir who—pardon my falling arches—is a Sufi and a scientist. We talked about Pashto, we talked about Central Asian languages, we talked about Austerlitz and had a long discussion on the need for Comparitive Iranian. You see the Hruskies are doing just that and these fanatical Sufis don’t like red-beards—Muslims should use henna—and they have a nickname for the soviet ears which is “swine,” based on a pun and they don’t want any of them. And we Americans who are so anti-communist????? that we want a united front or something, don’t recognize anybody that doesn’t recognize protocol.

You see darlink, as soon as the Russians heard about the “Peace Corps” they surrendered in the cold war, it is over. The very idea of those pampered manner’s darklings I-ists was too much. So they sent in some “experts.” “Experts” are always sent in. And those “experts” have entourages of Uzbeks, Turkomens, Tajiks, [?] Khirghiz and others and they go to the Mosques (communists don’t pray—protocol) and after the Friday Service they don’t show pornography—they leave that to our cinema—they show pictures of how wonderful Muslims are getting along in Sovietopia. This attracts a lot of people and is so against protocol and diplomacy it is beneath out notice. And besides praying with the people they eat with them. And they are just going to sit by and let the “Peace Corps” come in.

Meanwhile we are shedding tears over the Lotts, Lithuanians, Hungarians and Estonians and forgetting the Armenians, Lesghians, Azerbaijanis, Turks, Turkmens, Kazaks, etc., etc. because we believe all me are equal provided the provided is most important.

Maulana Abdul Qadir, the Sufi, proposed that we have refugee camps here too, for all these people fleeing from behind the Curtains and select as many as possible to teach us their language, then their poetry and music. Such an idea is outrageous. If it would just be Spanish or if the Luxembourgers only had to flee it would be accepted at once. So the Russians are doing all the research on Afghan Persian dialects and we are compelled to use their backs. Another victory for democracy!

I bought a Pashto book and was amazed and concluded it was a mixed language, but what was mixed with the Old Persian I don’t know. The Maulana says that in those mountains there is something like a Caucasus. There are three different Aryan groups represented—Dard, Iranians and Indian; also Chinese, Tibetan, and Turki. But in the manuscripts we might find more such as remains of Tokhari, and also Mongolian cognates.

We discussed at length the need for Comparitive Iranians and also for work on Buddhist manuscripts following Sven Hedin, Aurel Stein and Skrine. The U. of Michigan is sending over a representative. But I wish you would let Austerlitz know and the Maulana is very anxious to correspond with him or with anybody else you might suggest. In Baltistan there is Cheena which is a mixture to begin with, of Tibetan, Chinese and Dard.

He also says that Borushevski is not an isolated tongue and is not related to the speech of the Caucasus. There are cognates in the borderlands between Chinese and Russian Turkistan. All the tongues of this region show mixtures of and from base elements and they tend to graduate one from the other. So it is not surprising that though there are many common words between Urdu and [?] the languages are totally unlike. Some of these common terms are borrowed from Arabic and especially Persian.

He mentioned a lot of other tongues or which I know nothing. But he was ill and I am going to Peshawar perhaps twice more.

Puck: How die!

Prof. Mohammed: My God and a thousand welcomes. Yes.

Puck: But I have not asked for anything.

Prof.: Petition granted. When?

So we get to Mardan on September 4 to lecture and between August 15 and 30 will be another trip in that region too, so we are on our way. Boy, what greetings.

Then the Americans. The same thing. They were all overlooked by the Johnson-Shriver people and are they mad. I told the representative of Asian Foundation I could stick out my neck and fight the “Peace Corps” but he might lose his job. He said he would fight and wouldn’t lose his job. The way we overlook our citizen abroad who accomplish things. But let a fly-by-night reporter or a big politician come this way and it si world news—lots of trimmings and horse radish but no meat.

I am in the throes both of writing and creative writing. Prof. Durrani wanted my latest poem before it was completed. And the reactions I got are delightful. Another colleague in Lahore lined up during course of conversation and I have not even started at Abbottabad.

Visited the Gandara works at Peshawar museum. The big boys say they are Roman, not Greek! This is against protocol and for Bufano and boy won’t they eat it up.

Well I leave you on your won. Please write to Austerlitz and Adbul Qadir. I am going after the money for these projects. Carry On.

July 27, 1961

My dear Harry,

This is my diary entry and it will cover a hodge-podge. I remember the first time I heard you speak, about “thinking” and I am going to present a problem to you which certainly does not require any answer by mail. Indeed the problem is a compendium of reports.

I have to start with a gripe—against the Peace Corps. The fly-by-night politicians did not visit. Americans here did not observe what they are doing and overlooked the two things in which people are interested here—food and God. But food is more connected with land, land ownership, and development than just food for its own sake. People want “the good earth.”

Fellow San Franciscan Felix Knauth and his wife have returned from Baltistan. Baltistan is not far from the Hunza country which Lowell Thomas and his fellow newsmen treat as a sort of Shangri-la or paradise. I think I have hinted that mountain climbers and professors differ. (Our authorities on Asia are American newsmen and European professors and never, never must or can they be European newsmen and American professors—this is protocol and God save the U.S.)

They found nothing but goiter and deficiency diseases. People do not eat fish. There are wonderful fresh-water trout but I don’t know much about the trace-elements found in the fresh-water fish. Anyhow fish is not particularly liked. I ate all I could when I was in Peshawar recently.

There is a grand soil analysis program going on but it is restricted almost entirely to NKP and without too careful attention to pH either. This means that one does not know actually the content of the soil and more money can be wasted because of incomplete methods. I think I have told you the Russians have a more exact limited method of analysis.

Until I reported Purslane on the vegetable market I was downright disgusted with the lack of knowledge of edible weeds here. The whole thing is a series of vicious circles. Anyhow with lazy people I have concluded that there is more than plenty thyroid and perhaps other glandular trouble. No one knows what elements are absorbed into the food crops. And on the other extreme the different types of herbalists and schools of medicine know, and keep very esoteric and trade-secret the values of more plants than we realize. In fact even now I have been promised introductions on a high level when I visit Peshawar again later on.

Now this is the problem: Is it necessary or mustn’t we begin with more complete analyses, determine what trace elements are lacking, relate this to dietary needs, etc., and make an overall report and suggestions? This is a natural for Stanford research. Therefore, I again am proposing an almost seclusion for myself on return until I see you and get advice or whatever you may want to say.

Farm Advice Upper Level. I have already reported to you about the lower levels. The boys were by-passed by the State Dept. So were the men. The top man here is Ted Thatcher, U.S. ’48. He is theoretically over all the agricultural advisers and instructors on a huge exchange program—which I very much favor—between Colorado State U. and Peshawar U. But he is restricted to supervising the staff and the teachers of the live sciences at the university. He wants to meet Hamid Khan here and I am arranging to bring them together.

All the Americans feel they have been let down by the administration and made to look cheap. One Mr. Hamid of the C. of C. of Lahore spoke recently in San Francisco on the need of settling farm families in this land and have them work with the people. Incidentally I suggested exactly the same plan some time ago. Headlines: Pakistan welcomes American technical assistance. This is the eternal, infernal war between the publicity hounds and the intellectuals. It was the same when there was a demand for more science and math students and the press demanded more science, math, and language students with a corresponding increase of 90% in the language students.

I just received a letter from my friend Paul Keim who was successful in UAR in desalting 38,000 acres; perhaps in more when I left. He will be back on the Berkeley campus on August 19. Department of Engineering.

I got into a strange money-mix-up and had to go to the nearest American Consulate (BankAmerica made a mistake). I received a free ride from the Forestry Department, Peshawar U. Anyhow I got my money. I stayed at Dean’s Hotel and there we saw a Buddleia with a blue flower, shaped almost like a Lilac and one can much better understand the term “Summer Lilac” from this variety. Incidentally I have failed to report that there are Buddleias all over, whether escaped or this is their natural habitat I do not know.

Points or grown with leaders and look like small trees. The Zinnia is the most wide spread cut-flower at this season. They are firm but not tall. On the other hand—if you can stand a pun—the corn is Ze Amaze! I have seen plenty 10-12 ‘ feet high. The ground is too wet at the moment for me to make a survey. But the height can be deducted from the K content in the soil.

At the moment there are plenty of ears on the stand of my friend, the Paymaster. Under the corn there are Tomatoes. The fruit stands low, near the ground and the plants form a sort of umbrella over them. There is a good count but I think the rain may have washed off some of the coming buds. He is also experimenting with his Sunflowers. Although some are tall the corn-stalks are on higher,

I also visited the Supt. but the ground was too moist. In Peshawar the seeds or kernels were mostly broadcast. There are many who do not distinguish between the handling of Z. Mays and Sugar Cane. I am learning more about the latter, and there is a problem whether light-hours or heat or both produce the sugars. I believe, of course, that the K content helps but I cannot know details. As Peshawar is near Mardan; on my next trip I shall visit there for Sugar and then Malakand, for Tomatoes, etc.

The country toward the Indus is a wilderness. I once wrote, “There ain’t no industries on the Indus.” Even less is industriousness. Then one goes up the Kabul Valley and as one nears Peshawar the soil is more fertile but I could not compare it with Haripur below here. I saw many kinds of Melons. We were served cooked one of those pomish plums and they also tasted somewhere between our plums and apples—perhaps they have malic acid in them in quantity. They do not taste anything like our prune plums. I understand there will be more fruits in shortly and all kinds of grapes just beginning to appear. Also Apples, mostly like pippins.

I met the chief prof. of Entomology and we became friends but he had to cut his visit short. Actually he is disturbed on account of the locusts and I don’t blame them. Just add the locusts, borers, saline infiltration, water-logging, floods, lack of forests, malnutrition, etc. etc. and all the press is concerned with is Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir! If the locusts do come the public will not be warned as they are not warned about either the Indus or Ganges floods--just Kashmir, Kashmir, Kashmir! They are crying because the Indians control the head-waters and they are getting not under-supplies but floods!

My friend, Abdul Sattar, long time Consul-General in S.F. and one of my best friends is now here. I am meeting “everybody” all the time and have had a nice letter from the President’s press secretary and an important communiqué (that spelling makes it important) from the Joint Director, Radio Pakistan. I am signed up for all kinds of lectures and conferences. And on top of that for collaboration in lectures back home—and are they piling up. In the meanwhile my friends in India are gathering and with another friend, Dr. Radhakrishnan, now in first place—skip it. I don’t know how these things happen but they do. On the other hand I am being converted to enjoying cricket; this is awful.

These are just odds and ends for my own record and I hope you can stand them. I am hoping to return to college and study anthropology and more botanical sciences, as they say here, inshallah.

July 28, 1961

My dear Florie:

This is the news. Foreign policies are based on the assumption that all that all men are fools excepting politicians and commentators. Russia is free from that and we are stuck because, while holding to this attitude we preach something that we call “democracy” which has nothing to do with humanity.

I am in a strange monetary mix-up and it compelled me to go to Peshawar. I was given a free trip by the Forestry College boys. I met a lot of American, and my statement that the authorities in Asia “must be European professors and American newsmen and never, never American professors and European newsmen.” You can bet that the American professors unanimously feel they have been let down by the so-called “Peace Corps” propaganda: It implies that their work is ineffective.

I don’t know whether you heard Mr. Hamid of Lahore speak in S.F. He called for the establishment of farm families among the people here and that we should stop preaching. Nearly all the news one reads in the Press Reports from USIA are sermons. Nothing but ineffective, sickening, sugary sermons redound with self-praise—as if this wins friends. The Russians are not idle. They are sending in expects. These “experts” go to mosques and pray with the people and they eat with the people. So while the big boys are making lovey-dovey the Russians are just going to wait for our next move and do nothing. Well they are “in” in East Pakistan—where they were not scheduled to be; and they are not where the newspapers say they are.

There is absolute unanimity on the “Peace Corps” here. We are going to send over some bright young men and may be women, who can scale mountains, survey the land, calculate the distance of the stars, teaching weaving, mechanics and basketry to people who have little cloth or metal and the first thing that they are going to be met with will be what they think of Allah and maybe Mohammed and Jesus. And they will be about as ready to discuss these matters as they are to talk in Tibetan or Satchanese. There are only two things to discuss—religion and food-raising and that is just about what they won’t be prepared in.

I have been hammering away on the food situation and I have run into the delight of finding that the chief Botanist here comes from the University of California—he is Pakistani; and the chief science adviser is also a Cal. graduate but represents the Colorado State University and is over the teachers of the agricultural sciences. I am trying to bring them together. But so far as Johnson and brothers-in-law are concerned they do not exist. We are going to have the “Peace Corps.” We are going to snub the Americans in the fields; we are going to have the Vice-President praise Dr. Seagrave while he ignored in “toto” the American medical missionaries here and we think we are carrying on a war against subversion!

I sent a note to Ayub before he left—this is “unthinkable,” of course; well I received a nice answer from us press secretary after they returned. Abdul Sattar is here and we expect to discuss a real Pakistani-American cultural exchange. We have sent over a pianist to play in Karachi to help raise funds for the East Pakistani flood relief victims and nearly all his selections are by German composers. I don’t know what this proves and other than getting some moneys—which could be raised by other methods—we still have to establish real cultural relationships.

I am meeting a lot of Sufis—all the time. I met more in Peshawar—at the Pashto Academy and from the School of Engineering which is topped by one; and I have now a flock of invitations to speak in universities. All of this is off the record. The idea of an American circulating with the people and doing anything actually isn’t. But I am glad to hear that Dr. Barker, ex of Berkeley and a Muslim, is becoming famous and effective; only Russians can go to mosques but he is doing it anyhow and he is becoming successful, alhamdu lillah.

Meanwhile there has been a congress including American Muslims in Cairo. The Pakistani papers—and I say God damn them without any reservations—who are constantly yelling for a united Islamic world—give them no publicity excepting what they get from the Americans. It is sickening. In UAR there are some efforts to have world Islamic movements (actual) and here they are editorials and people believe then and the Muslims are being nicely divided by editors all yelling for their own private international Islam.

I am not writing to Dr. Hosny in Washington now. I shall wait until I see what funds are offered here for the presentation of Islamic cultures and then work for a united front of some kind—not a lot of hokum fund-raising for “mosques” by people who don’t care about prayers. It is certain that one or two important persons will be in San Francisco next year. They will probably be presenting spiritual aspects of Islam and Mohammed. They are dedicated to bring the world back to a recognition of a living God. I have written to Norman McGhee in detail about this, but also to several other persons, some of whom you probably know, others maybe not so. On the whole the people here have far more heart than the Arabs, but less real heads, or rather they won’t work. For the time being I see no other course than to accept the leadership of the Egyptians in Washington.

I am convinced I should buy more books. I have a large consignment in Lahore. When I go next, assuming my moneys are released, I shall add to the purchase and send them on to you. The life of Omar just completed is very satisfactory, but some of the smaller brochures not so good; in fact I may not send them. As a rule the larger books are better in every way.

I have had a second letter from Satya Agrawal for my trip to Delhi where I should be in August. But the other letters I receive, plus my feverish inspirations in poetry, keep me going. I have still a lot of tourism too, so I work from 6:00 A.M. till 9:30 P.M. excepting for a siesta and am not keeping up.

I believe the Russians will try to focus attention on Berlin while they penetrate elsewhere. Afghanistan and Burma are “soft,” and there are large communist movements among the Malays. We just can’t study Islam as it is or Buddhism as it is and consider the feelings of these peoples. It is not done.

There are Buddhist excavations going on in the Northwest and I hope to visit some of these places and also see Jamshyd Khan who visited S.F. a few years ago. Felix Knauth of S.F. came back from Baltistan and the reports he and others make of that country is in every way contradictory to what Lowell Thomas reported, so it can’t be made public. We hope to collaborate and throw a few bomb-shells around, and I am not fooling.

It is the Sufis who are taking the lead here, too, in counterespionage. This is a long story; besides the Sufis are always exactly what the books and professors say they are not.

It is now monsoon season and the Maize has been growing very rapidly, I am doing a little study of it. The papers are yelling about Afghanistan and Kashmir and the country faces most serious problems—floods, water-logging, erosion, locusts, hurricanes, malnutrition, etc. Ayub is back and won much acclaim, though I doubt whether he accomplished what the papers wanted and I believe he accomplished some things that the country needs.

This is all I can think of for my diary—and I have much poetry to write.

Faithfully,

Abbottabad

August 1

Mrs. Rosemary Benton, Librarian

World Affairs Council,

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear Rosemary:

I found an envelope addressed to you so I sending you my diary notes. Things are happening so fast, and apparently so favorable, that I am unable to keep up with my writings, consignments, etc. Abdul Sattar is in this region and I have to keep one eye for him; and the other eye for a mineral report which I have been promising for some time. These hills are filled with wealth and the most natural and simple way of obtaining capital and investments here would be through the same means which have made California, Colorado and Alaska in turn prosperous—but which is beyond the ken of many of the folks here.

The only comprehensive book written on this region was A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province by a British civil servant named Rose, Abott 1894. This was objective and on the spot recording. Now we have a whole bunch of “experts,” Europeans, Zionists and Canadians telling us about “Muslims” which tales are as subjective as Marx’s stuff, written in the same dialectical spiritual and totally untrue. The wiping out of the poor European Jews has not prevented well-known (and chiefly non-American writers) from having other whipping posts and we eagerly accept them and think we are learning something about Asia.

There is a team of American botanists working in this region. They record the plants, catalogue and inquire into their usefulness. As person amid? “There are no weeds in the botanist’s garden. But when it comes to sociologists, politicos and commentators and “humanists” there are plenty of weeds and often no garden. “All God’s chillum got wings” is simply untrue when we pass from plant and animal cataloguing and come to human beings.

I am now being accepted on an ever greater scale because I firmly believe that “All God’s chillum got wings.” I am faced with the utterly disgusting situation of having or seeing Protestant missionaries go through hills, mountains and canyons, cataloguing people, languages, geography and what not, and having them by-passed. Our so-called “Intelligence” and God save the U.S. And Russians coming in and cataloguing people, languages, geography and what not, printing books and having then the source of the best contemporary knowledge of this region. (Lowell Thomas is, of course, protocol stuff; Rev. Fishface won’t be accepted on a stack of bibles, and a mass of confirmations. This is objectivety.)

Now the Sufi-Sufis are tired of being whipping posts. I have just re-read “Lord” Cantwell Smith who seems to have demoted our European “experts” in this part of the world. I don’t think be could pass a grade school examination here on Islam or what Pakistanis think and especially about the Sufis. I’ll let the other matters passed and stick to the Sufis—or shall I say now $ufi$ because money is going to talk if truth does not.

The Sufi-Sufis, hearing that an American knows something about Sufis are raising funds. The interesting thing is that this is the third group of them. I have mentioned the others before, the big wigs in Lahore and the tops of the actual Pakistani Government in Rawalpindi. And I am going soon on two tours. The first is somewhere toward Baluchistan—I don’t know where but all expenses paid beforehand. The second will be around the Peshawar region, the University of Peshawar and Mardan College always booked and Kohat if I desire. So an American will be lecturing on the relation of Islamics to modern science and contemporary American thought—an American who could not get an interview—a priori rejected—by the cultural attaché at Karachi—this democracy.

Fortunately the USIA stuff in Peshawar is agog and I think I can get the Lahore people too. This is going to make some red-faces at Karachi or shall I tell Prof. Burdick?

The top Sufi, of course is exactly what Cantwell Smith, Rom Landau, Von Grünebaum and the U.S. boys say he can’t be: he is principal of the engineering college at Peshawar, the top physicists of the region, a Pathan and knows more about Indian philosophy than almost every Indian I have met, and I have met them, all our German, English and Hungarian ”authorities” to the contrary.

Mostly Sufis are exactly what we say they are not. The big wigs of all classes in Lahore who have been contemplating sending money and representatives to the U.S. and the top most government officials who have more or less the same idea. Incidentally I have been successful in placing a bug in Ayub’s ear, or portfolio. He used it and used it successfully—off the record, of course and I have received a letter of thanks.

Another Sufi is starting another counter intelligence movement through a school of Central Asian Languages. I am more hopeful here because I have met Prof. Austerlitz, top linguist at Columbia and know he will be interested even if “Intelligence” is not. He is collecting Asian refugees and trying to get them jobs teaching their languages, music and culture.

You know, Rosemary, we simply can’t re-invade Khyber Pass. It just is not done. All the invasions through history go one way. I believe firmly that the Russian chess-players are doffing at the Queen (Berlin) and are going around capturing pawns. I have run into their game too often, have too much first hand-knowledge and don’t care anymore whether I get rejected or not. If there is not God, there is Prof. Burdick and in our days of liberty, democracy and fair-mindedness apparently a piece of fiction carries more weight an all facts.

I had hoped with the new administration the poor peon-creoles here would be permitted to report or suggest. That is hog-wash. If I tell some commentators what I know, they will go the town and this would throw everything into the open to the Russians delight. Fortunately, too, I have a couple of pipe-lines and both Senator Engle and several congressmen are with me. I sent Saund a long and important letter because of the top-level invitations to India and because Jack Shelley sent my last letter to Mrs. Grady. God bless her. I think the members of the World Affairs Council will accept that the Grady’s who did meet big Sufis are at least as fair minded as all the Europeans and Zionists who tell us ??? about “Islam.”

So the money is being raised rapidly and it looks as if this Americans bum will be on the receiving side. I have stuck to objectively whether my ego sticks out or not and I meet the people, a few and en masse and this will no doubt continue. Pressures are tremendous but with social and financial acceptance my tours will be thrown into new light, or lime-light.

Actually I have asked for favors because, I do not know what I shall do or where I shall live but everything looks very fine, very fine indeed for me. Americans can make friends with Asians by meeting Asians and I think even Mr. Blum will agree to that. (Incidentally I shall probably run into Asian foundation a few more times—at least they sit down at round tables.)

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

August 9, 1961

My Dear Vocha:

I have your letter of July 30 written in Pasadena and I am taking it as a sort of challenge. I am sending a copy to Fred & Corinne and making another copy for my diary which never gets up to date. The days are full from early morning until 9:30 at night, complicated by a slight case of diarrhea—the first, thank God, I have had.

Much of my time is now spent getting ready to travel with the Khalandar, I have already written the folks about him, as he is a representative of both spiritualism and spirituality. He has helped me to the degree that since meeting him I have gotten rid, in a sense, of my worst enemy. She was a former friend of mine who did her utmost to destroy me—it is a long and horrible story. My Neptune square Moon has had the curious result that I have always been invited to big cities by women who started as my best friends—indeed I came to each at “her” invitation and it always ended the same—San Francisco (my mother); Los Angeles, Washington, Detroit, Berkeley and I think one or two other places. If I came of my own accord or at the request of a man or a younger woman it was different. The L.A. invitor is long dead and the N.Y. invitor more recently. I think the spell is broken. Anyhow the Khalandar both predicted and did.

When I first met him I placed the Schloss matter before him in passing. But there have been so many other matters, some of which will be described here. Although my personal affairs became much better, the Habib Bank refused the check sent from Bank America and I had to go a whole month without money excepting I got a free ride to Peshawar and there the Americans at the consulate helped me find a way out, which tidied me over. This was a mixture of nuisance and blessing. I met the head of the Pashto Academy and some of the Americans who are doing a bang-up job. No publicity of course and also ignored by Johnson and Shriver who are so zealous for their “Peace Corps” they paid no attention to accomplishments by veteran Americans in the field, and they are some veterans.

I have met a long procession of holy men, saints, and Sufis, perhaps nothing like it. Far more than Paul Brunton and perhaps more effectively so. And with the Khalandar’s predictions my friends grew and my enemies lessened in the U.S. For instance one of my enemies publicly insulted the daughter of Senator Engle. I don’t know whether this grapevined to him or not but he has become more sympathetic and cordial and accepts my reports. Congressman Jack Shelly has sent them to my “principal,” Mrs. Lucretia Grady and they are full of successful accomplishments by a neglected (by the press) American. I did tip off Sam Yorty and more recently sent a good report to Judge Saund. I am in touch with Chester Bowels’ office, etc, etc. In fact my long war against phony Orientalists seems nearly at an end.

Last week I again visited my friend Ghulam Rabbani Khan, one of the world’s leading authorities on religions in general and Islam in particular. The Asoka Rock Inscriptions are on his property. They are placed wrong on the maps so I went over them very carefully this time. I am not only going to make some reports on them but when I get to Arjunta (I hope) send in an objective statistical report which will be so out of variance with what has been written and writers strongly disagree with one another, that it will compel Orientalists to be effective.

I am reminded of the team of American Botanists working out of Peshawar. They study and collect and it is all objective and impersonal. They can’t drop “weeds” because they are useless. They tabulate everything. This is true science, but in the Oriental fields in general, we do not have much of it.

Well, the Khalandar, to prove his powers, either clairvoyanted or projected to the U.S. and he gave so many reports immediately that were correct. I was amazed. He described the City Hall in L.A. among other things and said he would go there. I have myself tested him on a higher plane and it came out [?] Schloss-Reinhold matter to him as soon as possible.

August 10

It is morning. The ribbon is nearly worn and it will be hours before I can buy another. I awakened feeling it is right and just to enter into an area of combat to help friends, especially the just ones of the world. I have failed miserably in efforts to follow the Gandhian trend and I sometimes wonder whether Nietzsche was not right who said: “A just war halloweth any cause.”

Only two or three times I have sailed forth using what might be called “esoteric methods.” There are sciences, so to speak, of prayers, mantrams and concentration, and if one is attuned to the spirit of the universe, one may be able to select, so to speak, help which may be forthcoming. Then there is prajna, which always shows the right way.

I must now instruct Fred and Corinne in the Sufi doctrines of the ego, from agitation to calmness to power, love and wisdom. And in the Indian psychology of the places of persons and beings in the universe of evolution, and what characteristics and faculties are evident. I am no longer concerned with anybody’s reaction in the U.S. It is not only that we have few deep friends in the Orient, it is that we are foolish not to look into the wisdoms and apply them. So I shall try to get the Khalandar—and others—to throw light on these situations.

By “others” I mean persons and forces the existence of which we have totally bypassed in the Western world and have become stuck with quasi-materialisms which hinder our progress in many directions. My standing here with some of the Sufis and disciples of Sufism would be incomprehensible in the West, but I am not concerned with my standing anymore; only the practical application of whatever this means.

Jacob’s ladder was no doubt a symbol but there is an intersession in terms and shrines—and even holy men. There are definite “telephonic lines” so to speak, between this world and the vast unseen. There is a complete guidance of love, beneficence, wisdom, compassion and even mercy. There are no problems excepting those which are manmade. There is a wisdom in having these manmade problems so that we, as individuals and societies can grow and grow. “Therefore fight, O Arjuna” must mean something more than poetry and in a sense each of us is Arjuna. But I am much stronger inwardly and outwardly than most of my friends, and perhaps even than most people. Frustrated all over the place, I have never delved into potentialities—excepting where I should hardly be believed yet.

The challenges that have been thrown at me have been answered by the poetry I have and am writing. I came here knowing I was Iqbal’s successor. I leave probably with the seeds of surpassing Iqbal and joining the ranks of others. It is too early and I have too much typing, too many responsibilities, too many problems, too many invitations. This does not mean that most of all will not be accomplished. But with signs of cracks in the inertia of certain parties and forces, I feel better.

I did send Ayub a suggestion. It was put into practice and worked out successfully, his secretary wrote. It was something so simple that only a child—or sage—could have thought it up. No newsman could possibly believe of accept it. They are more stuck with materialism than the Russians and more hide-bound than the reactionaries and don’t know it, more’s the pity. But it worked and will work again. This is all the more to be wondered because my introduction to Ayub was from the side of profundity and complexity, not of simplicity and practicality.

I hate to throw the challenge of patience. I have had to use it myself, but this was from compulsion. I know its value. But there is a time to reap as well as to sow and other than assuring you of my anxiety to throw all inner attention to the Schloss affair, we shall go on to other subjects.

My war with the commentators goes on. First William Murrow comes on the national hook-ups that he welcomes criticisms and suggestions. Ha! ha! Don’t make me laugh. Talk about “The Ugly American.” There are two things “we can’t” do: one is to entrust protestant missionaries especially in this Islamic country so when they go out—a la botanists—and collect data on peoples and geographies, nothin! doing, we don’t want to offend the Muslims. Instead we are going to send over I.Q’s who can parse verbs in Urdu and teach manual training where there is no wood and give lectures to people who have been lectured all over the place. I prefer to spill to Burdick than to Fulton Lewis, but with the Dull espion-age over, I am keeping quiet. Besides I trust Fulbright.

Joseph Alsop at least acknowledged so I took on Stewart. Stewart has written an article in Satevepost on Cuba. It is exactly like articles written by Muslims: Hero and Noblesse Oblige and Popular and Bigfame were undoubtedly to blame but they have done such wonderful jobs in Antarctica and Nueva Cocos and Christmas Island that we must hesitate to blame them and then he ends: We cannot permit the communist bloc to enjoy a monopoly of the technology of the oblique thrust, but we must find our own ways, believing from our own past and our own kind of society, for carrying the battle to communism.

I mention all this here not to tell about my private war with the commentators, but about G.S. as it is practiced, full of noblesse oblige and Bigfame can do no wrong.

The Sufi’s have not only pipelines to heaven, so to speak, but on earth. There are 50,000,000 of us, despite the Koestlers and despite all the encyclopedia and Cantwell Smith and Von Grünebaum and Landau and Zionist “authorities” on Islam. I was approached in UAR by a delegation of scientists, no less, who gave me the insight into their counter-espionage. American reaction: nothing doing. We will have nothing to do with fanatics, charlatans and can’t mix up with native religions. (The other side of the protestant missionary humbug.) I’ll tell you the whole story some day and it is some pumpkins.

Well here I have been closeted with another Sufi, who is a leading scientist, and he outlined to me his counter-espionage program with the oblique thrust against Bokhara and Samarkand and what he and his colleagues are doing. It was as welcome as the pollen in May to hay-fevered “intelligence.” Words, words, words. We talk about humanity and humanism but omit the human beings. Wasn’t I called on the carpet during the war for saying that Stalingrad was Verdun No. 2. Those West Point grads knew as much about the grand campaigns of Asian generals as I knew about their languages. This is “intelligence.” So I am coming out of the corner fighting and then some—all over the place.

If I get an answer from Stewart other than an acknowledgement I shall know the day has turned, but previously I wrote a letter to Satevepost telling them how the Russian spy system works here. I got my information from the topmost Police Officials. In India the Internal Security saved me from the commies. To the American “intelligence” I was seeking notoriety for myself. The Russians came in as Muslims and boy, what field days they have. We send an American Muslim to this country on a mission! Preposterous, oblique thrust or not. Just like Prof. Moore, who to prove he had no prejudice against the Muslims attacked the Christians openly—and he was “officially” the top American in religious knowledge. What fun I have! But I won’t give up the ship.

I write to Harry periodically because I am ordering books. In addition to normalcy I have ordered al the writings of Inayat Khan and also Shakespeare and Donne which I wish to study as pure poetry, for the words and lines, not for the stories, etc. I don’t keep a record of my orders but I leave it to him.

I expect to go to the Pathan country this week. I understand there is a movement going on to raise funds to help me and the Khalandar, with more emphasis on me. If I secure a nest egg, I wish to buy about a thousand dollars worth of books from Harry. I told him so. It is always possible that some of my writings, already turned over to Pakistanis, will be published and bring revenue and when I get to Lahore there will be a grand effort to raise funds to present real Sufism to the U.S. on a large scale with emphasis on healing, psychology, metaphysics, etc, etc.

My last poetry was dedicated to Prof. Durrani who has been a Sadhu, Sufi, physicists, physician, engineer and God knows what else including being an excellent father. (He is the second all-round man I have met, the first being the Mahayanist Dr. Leung Tat Sat in Hong Kong.) I can easily give talks on the relation of Modern Physics to the Oriental Philosophies and go on to other sciences. Even Durrani with all his Physics had not realized simple parallels. Now I stand in big with the big shots and little with the little shots.

Muslims need a good semantic overhauling. It is not only for religion, but for the whole international understanding. I told them they were trying to measure corn-stalks with a snake instead of a tape or ruler.

My alter ego Puck wrote that he favored federal moneys to Catholics but not to public schools. The public school moneys would go to the architects, materials dealers, gadgets, marble and glass and a lot of space because we have dispensed with stairs and ramps. We make fireproof buildings and then use the excuse not to have an upstairs in case of fire emergencies so the real estate people get in on top deals. No money left for the teachers! This is education.

I have a copy of head-coverings, some long shirts and pajamas and shoes on order so I can return as “Puck of Pukhtunistan.” Incidentally Puck, out of his inherited disrespect for his proverbial ancestor wrote:

Not Owed to Maurice Evans

End me your Lears.

I expect to be in Delhi early in October and India looks like more of the same and then some. I have to go to Pathan-land, then to lecture around the N.W. Frontier, then to Lahore by stages for lectures, conferences and what not. At least the embassy acknowledged one letter. They are now sending over “experts”—always ignore those here and start grand campaigns. The Russians are also sending in experts all the time—“Pakistan Times” was anti-American before and is now but the Forth Estate can do no wrong. I think it would take the whole American colony to refute the stuff politicians and newsmen give us.

Anyhow Paul Keim has returned to Berkeley. He did a job. If he were a Russian it would be spread all over the papers from the Atlantic to the Pacific. He is going to be a tower of strength to me on the campus but the old frustrating boys have long since been removed by revolutions of students and underlings. I look for a welcome there—excepting the Near East Dept. with its Europeans and Zionists—this is democracy and fair play and we continue to make wonderful speeches and offend the Asian-Asians

If I had more the comforting will be lost. Love to Bartlett and yourself

Samuel L Lewis

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad

August 15, 1961

My dear Harry:

I am trying to clear things up here in Abbottabad. This morning I arranged for my college lecture here and then got caught in a storm, falling down, breaking my umbrella and dirtying my clothes. The storm was great enough to come through the roof—when it is wet you can’t repair it and when it is dry there is no need.

I have written you under separate heading or rather have some enclosures and will try to get the things together but…. There is so much to do and so many details things get out of hand.

My Maize report is not too encouraging. People do not plan to get increased crops or calories or anything, but they want something which will require a minimum of work and attention. There is no coordination of planting date, light hours, heat or water supply, In general the crops that depended on rainfall either did not grow well or else, with plenty of K they get ”tall corn” but somebody else will “have to land them their ears.”

Aslam Shah, the paymaster, who usage sewage and seepage water, has the best results. The stalks run well over 10’ and about three ears each. The tomato underneath did well and his sunflowers, Hollyhocks and everything doing well. Outside of his place I only saw 2-ear averages, but this doesn’t mean that the ears will not set, as the male flowers have not always passed their peak.

S.P. has a lot of stalks running 8-10 feet but average only 2 ears. The rains came late though his soil is in good condition and at my last observance the Grapes were doing fine. His Zinnias are in excellent shape.

Elsewhere you sometimes have an average of 6; or less and not much returns. There has been no decent advisory work here and I have not had a chance to talk things over with the Food Inspector—but will still try. It seems to be there is unnecessary wastage of labour, land use etc. And with a people strong on the side of laziness and grand campaigns—”Plant More Tree” week—with parades and hullabaloo, but “let George do it.”

The great ornamental is the Lagerstroemia. This has a very long blooming season. For many weeks the whole trees are a mass of color, very delightful. I have never seen anything to equal them. Phlox and Salvia are also doing well now.

I had my final talk with Dr. Abdul Hamid, the Forest Botanist and will carry his messages to Peshawar. He is interrupted in Salix and Populus and wants me to look up soil research for them. There is also the problem of root behavior in trees. This becomes all important when one considers the water-logging areas. What kinds of useful plants can go in that area. I know when I lived in the South Sassafras tended to horizontal rather than taproots. Deep rooted plants are affected by the water table and presence of “salt.” The high water level in many areas is just the opposite of what has been described to me for Ohio, and what is no doubt true of other areas with increasing population and water usage.

The other subject we discussed at length was the Olive. The work here has been very haphazard and this in all directions—length of live, years to fruit, drought tolerance, soil and other adaptabilities, treatments to increase fruit, etc. etc. No good “case histories” of varieties, many lost and Olive has become just an Olive.

I do not know what assistance can be obtained in California to help these people out. The impatience often results in defeat in the long run.

You can see up to this point I do not have—and I guess a lot of professionals do not have—enough information on the water requirements of trees and related subjects. Then with the by-passing of pH, organic material in the soil and the “trace elements’ there is a long road ahead. At the moment I have no clear picture as to what to do other than carry the problems they have given me back home. After witnessing the faux pas of Iowa experts in south India, and they were experts according to accepted standards, I do not see easy “solutions,” but of course, could prove wrong.

I am leaving here next week, presumably for Waziristan where men are men and hunting seasons is all the year around. It has been very hot there and with the promise of pot-latch dinners my stomach is not too happy. But they want to see an unusual American. I can only tell you that in their country and among the Pathans generally it is “divided we stand, united we fall.” I am praying either for colder weather or an opportunity to exercise when I get there.

After that I go through the Northwest Frontier, both to colleges and farms and should be reporting. But anything can happen and generally does. At times I get tired yet there is a long road ahead.

Faithfully,

Abbottabad, Hazara

August 15, 1961

Prof. Alfred Cantwell Smith

Institute of Islamic Studies

McGill University

Montreal, Canada

My dear Professor McGill:

Although I own a copy of your Islam in Modern History in the States, I thought I would purchase another copy here to determine whether my views on this book have changed in the light of some very objective experience.

My basic training in Mathematical Philosophy cautions me to shun the usual dualistic reactions against any comprehensive work and still less to reach conclusions via such methods in regard to any religion as a whole. I long opposed the whole Hitlerian movement on the ground that no group of individuals could logically evaluate any doctrinal-institution and the term “doctrine” is in accord with the definition given in mathematical, though not always in metaphysical philosophy.

Indeed my own experiences with Islam have caused me to shun personally both dualistic reactions and universalizing personal delight or disgust. I have had plenty of both of these and they in turn make it much more delicate to criticize philosophically Islam in Modern History or any companionate work.

When I was in UAR I was approached by a group of scientists. “We are Sufis and we wish the American government would take more cognizance of us. We are 100% anti-material, the Russians are 100% materialist and you are just between us. They are totally dialectic, we are totally anti-dialectic and you stand halfway between. The Russians do not believe in a god, we firmly believe in God and you stand between us, so we are far more anti-communistic than you are or can be but you will have nothing to do with us. Why?”

The scientists then went on to describe to me their method of counter-espionage and counter-intelligence which it is almost impossible for a non-Sufi to understand. I have met other scientists who are Sufis also engaged in counter-intelligence and I mention this in part because you have placed in your work a number of “cosmic philosophies” in juxtaposition or opposition to each other.

I opposed Hitlerism in full. I did not believe a man or group could evaluate whole cultures and civilizations by any moral or immoral standard. Neither do I believe nor can I believe in “scapegoatism” and I am afraid that your book has made the “Sufi”—who is not a Sufi at all but a figment of imagination, the scapegoat. Indeed I have not found anybody who has refuted Prof. Titus Burckhardt’s claim that European writers do not understand the Sufis because they have not faced Sufi disciplines nor learned about Sufism from Sufi teachers.

It is a curious thing that when it comes to many religions of the world we go to a representative of that faith for some understanding. But with the Sufis we run to a book. There is a book on the dervishes written in UAR by an American who bought all the European books he could get, synthesized them and put out what is a textbook on Sufism, accepted by some colleges. This in a city where I alone met some six thousand (6,000) of them and there must be many, many more.

The “Sufi” then, is the scapegoat. The early Ottoman rulers areby-passed. The great Akbar and his family are ignored. The fact that “Muqadimmah” was written by a Sufi, Ibn Khaldun appears to be of no importance. Writers, both Islamic and non-Islamic are today praising Ibn Khaldun no end; he is regarded by many as the first “scientific” social philosophy, but the fact that he was a Sufi and that ”Muqadimmah” is filled with tasawwuf is treated most lightly.

I met the dervishes in UAR, my dear professor, through the scientists, through leading scientists. Not only that, I was many times a guest of the various top men at the National Research Center and received nothing but good-will from them in my outlines, “Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science.” Even those who were not members of the dervish orders were entirely in sympathy with the Sufi philosophy.

Great Britain is the home of cricket and the United States of baseball. Their psychologies suppose that every man shall have a time at bat; there is a sort of equal opportunity and absolute justice in these games. But when it comes to Oriental philosophies, certain living persons are given no chance at all.

One of your colleagues was adamant insisting that there are no important Sufis today, and another insists they do not take part in politics. When I was formerly in India I was the guest of the Hon. Syed Mahmud who was then Minister of External Affairs, and in cabinet rank. He is today the leader of the whole Islamic community in India. He happens to have been a spiritual brother of my own first Pir-o-Murshid, Hazrat Inayat Khan, whose remains are buried in the Dargah Nizam-ud-din Auliya in New Delhi.

I have recently received a special invitation from Sufis in the Andhra-Deccan section, men of the highest caliber who seem to occupy all the high offices formerly in Hyderabad State and more recently in the local or provincial governments. This was in India.

I have visited at least three Indonesian embassies and found most of the staffs, including two Ambassadors, were members of Sufi Orders.

No doubt there are decadent Orders. This is true whenever succession depends upon other considerations than passing spiritual tests—states and stages. But there are a number of Orders stemming directly or indirectly from Ghaus-i-Azam, Abdul Kadiri Gilani, which are not decadent. And, my dear professor, Sufi-Sufis consider this man and not Mevlana Raum nor Ibn l’Arabi or anybody else the greatest Sufi. He systematized the teaching. If you had access to his books, or lacking them, had any instruction from anybody that has been initiated into the Kadiri Order you could not have reached some of the conclusions that you now have.

I was very much surprised and of course delighted, when some of the staff of a leading American university said to me, “So you say you are a Sufi. Well, we want to learn all you know. Will you come and lecture here.” This is always usual in the scientific field but is rather a new departure and a very welcome one in “Asiatics” where personal prestige carries much weight.

We have today two distinct problems. One is how to check the expansion of communistic polity. The other is to know objectively and factually the philosophies, disciplines and even details of Asian religions as a whole.

My dear Leonora:

This is the news. It is August 17, evening and Feliz Knauth of S.F. and me also of S.F. have been to [R?]axila to look over the ruins. They have been cleaned up in spots. The Museum is in order and all objects d’art which did not find acceptance by the curator have been removed. Grecian, Persian and presumably Jewish things out. And the Greeks are shown to have become Buddhists. It is a pity that the Curator of Peshawar has conflicting views, or it is not a pity. I shall have to do some boning up before I leave Pakistan to say which one I accept, for they involve a lot of other stuff.

I wrote you the other day and then had my picture taken. Inasmuch as I shall have to mail you a picture, I can answer your letter—piker! This saves on postage but not dignity. It is the picture of Puck of Pukhtunistan as he will appear on certain Midsummer Night’s Eve.

I have just returned from a film, “A Night in Europe” or something which shows nightclubs and dancing. I still like the Spanish best, by far. Way behind the Russian. I don’t like the French nightclubs at all. Some days I dream of further traveling. I have two trips in mind—one to England and Sweden; another through the Mediterranean to UAR. But I won’t go alone any more if I can help it. I get tired of this single traveling and attention to so many details.

I may go into India overland from Hyderabad, Sind because few Americans have gone that way. I also hear that few Americans go to Waziristan.

Felix and I have not too much warmth toward the “Peace Corps.” Why do we ignore the veterans who have accomplished things? There are lots of them even though they do not always write books like Dr. Seagraves. And our position is hopeless. Nicol Smith of The Burma Road fame wrote a book on Tibet and made more prophecies; Lowell Thomas, ditto. “Everybody” read Lowell Thomas and you would get an idea from his writings that everything is safe and sound. But Lowell is the man whom the State Department and the press and the radio accept and he has misled the American public no end. But he is he, like “This is the news” Murrow who writes glowing speeches that he welcomes criticisms and suggestions. Sez you. In fact so many of my criticisms and suggestion have been accepted that I am planning to write to President Kennedy.

I just sent in a report to secretary Shahab criticizing one of our “experts” on the Orient and perhaps one of the men who briefed Lyndon Johnson. I think Johnson did some right things here but I have not found anybody who could point them out. He welcomes criticisms and suggestions and the whole Orient is furious with the U.S. with its maudlin sermons and self-righteousness. Well I got another letter today from a friend of another Prime Minister. La meme chose. We sit around the table and prove our position in Laos is logical, righteous, noble, and of universal benefit. The Chinese just infiltrate. After Laos, Cambodia. I would like to see some top-notch commentator or anybody who can tell what language is spoken in Cambodia, what race the people are, etc., etc.

Your letter indicates your life is a hodge-podge and I shall be glad when it is not a hodge-podge and you can sit back in an easy chair and say, “Ah.”

Why should the public library keep open? We don’t need no book learning no more. We can sit back and have the commentators tell us or just put the question to Univac. In Russia—and why should we follow Russia—they keep the libraries open to 10 pm all the time.

Well I don’t practice any Yoga regularly now, only irregularly. Everything is lovely and snafu and why not?

Ruark is probably right. People stay 5-10 years or more in a foreign land and what they accomplish is not a matter of record. Prof. Schmitzel may spend 15 years in Waziristan and Commentator Walter Blah-blah may spend three days and who does the State Department listen to? This is diplomacy. I am for the veterans and I am for trusting all Americans abroad, excepting professional newsmen. They guild lilies and whitewash snow and yet have the public ear.

I am hoping to send news from Waziristan and find out what the people want. I spoke to a big crowd at the college this week. I expect to speak to many more people and it is very likely I have spoken to more Pakistanis than any other American has.

I wrote to Stanford about the Sufis to a professor who is translating Sufi manuscripts. I said it was too bad we are treated as non-existent and that we have to go around and collect money to present Sufism to the American people because our universities insist we are non-existent. I told him—and it is true—that one leading “Orientalist” professor while still holding we were non-existent, was quite willing to accept an endowment from us. Now we have to show ourselves which is against our policy but it seems that dollars speak louder than words.

I have new stacks of introductions and I am told some of the people are overladen with cumshaw. Will accept. Will even try to get endowments. But none to the Mulsims who would not let me speak for them and none to any university which denies our existence. This is very awkward.

There are now three distinct movements among the Sufis to counteract the Russians and I don’t mean with lips and sermons and self-righteousness. I still have three or four months without spilling to Prof. Burdick and I have not given up hope that some Ambassador or Under Secretary will answer one of my letters. But I think I may write Kennedy. Bowles is too busy contradicting Rountree to answer me and Rountree is too busy contradicting Bowles and the Asian-Asians have given us up as hopeless but are quite willing to accept our f$o$re$i$g$n $aid$. And they are right. After all we have plenty of money to endow most players to perform before audiences of Greeks, French, Germans and Swedes all over the world. If the Armenians in Baluchistan are lonely we will send over a fan-dancer; and if the English stranded in Bhutan need entertainment we will send over some strip-tease girls. This is foreign aid.

I am still in a quandary over my own future in dancing. So many of my old friends have withdrawn and these many changes and introductions of made-up dances without social or historical background have loosened my interest. I feel very close to both Madelynne and Magana Baptiste for reasons I would be glad to disclose in person but not in writing. The present control of F.D. by a small group which organize all the clubs and direct everything and get the offices etc. puts the whole thing far away from folks. On the contrary I am more interested to visit certain lands where F.D. is continued.

I received a lot of information about the basis of the American Peace Corps. It is very different sending people to lands which have no grand cultural traditions and history or even religion than to impose, as I called it, the trouser-tractor-gadget-potter-clay arrangements with a choice between the blonde Americans and blonde Russians. Every day the problems of this land seem greater, the solutions are quite evident, but just as sure neither we nor the Russians are going to do any experting without a big hullabaloo about our particular social ways and no attention at all to the local ethos. This is more complex when it comes to minerals wealth which they do have here and how and maybe will do something. But now my attention is to packing, moving and visiting strange parts.

Cheerio,

August 22, 1961

My dear Harry:

This is my diary entry. I am assuming and presuming I shall be leaving Abbottabad tomorrow. The immediate destination is a place called Bannu which is the gateway to the tribal area known as Waziristan. The rulers or landlords called Maliks wish to see me and I understand I am the first American who has ever received such an invitation. Other Americans have gone for scientific, travel or political reasons, not just as men or friends.

I am expecting something like a potlatch welcome. As the country is hot, and I am told semi-desert or worse, I shall have to face heat as well as food. I don’t mind day heat but I am told I shall be given comfortable quarters and be well cared for. It is an adventure. And I am rather “flying blind.”

Some weeks ago Bank of America made a mistake in sending me money. The Pakistan Bank acted as if I personally had written out a bum check. It took weeks for me to get the funds and this cut down my tourism. And it was more weeks before either the Pakistan bank, the Consulate at Lahore or even the Bank of America cleared up the matter; meanwhile I did get my funds but only after threats. It is very awkward because I knew all the circumferential VIP’s and if I had done anything drastic a lot of heads would have fallen.

I have written asking that the bank release my savings and checking out and they are taking their time.

Meanwhile the Bank of American made another mistake. I worked ten hours trying to straighten my accounts and could not and then found the error was in the very last entry; either the BA or my legacy-money from Wells Fargo was reported wrong and I don’t know how much I really have in my checking account, and long distance letters have cleared up exactly nothing. It may pay to be ignorant.

The other day Frank Buchmann died. Well you can’t practice “absolute honesty” and “absolute love” here. They are totally contradictory. I have gone so far as to write Pres. Kennedy, the state Department and the embassy that the only way to clear one’s tracks is to tell Prof. Burdick, co-author of The Ugly American and that will bring action. I sometime hope to meet one American here who has had satisfaction from the Foreign Service. It is exactly the opposite in UAR. Besides I have written long ago to Ambassador Roantree and Under Secretary Bowles good honest letters. They both equivocated and since then have been hurling diatribes at each other. Who the heck are we arming against?

Just now I got the Garst plan back. I paid my last visit to the Forestry Station. They are interested in the alternative fertilization plans. But the money goes to Ammosulph and always goes to it and the peasants don’t want it and the soil organizations don’t want it and the monsoons get rid of it. The Garst plan is one alternative.

The other day I called on the Supt. of Police to invite him to my farewell dinner. His flowers are in excellent shape. Salvia, Phlox and Verbena doing wonderfully. But he has the best Zinnia collection I have seen anywhere and I have now seen plenty of Zinnias. The main groups are planted on both sides of the entrance and are so tall and thick they are like hedges. The stems are very long. You can see almost every conceivable color. But what struck me most are the varieties. On the one end you have very simple “singles” and on the other very complex “show” types. They remind me of the Dahlia in the early days. The variations were multifarious. Other than being planted in good -composted soils with plenty of leaf, no fertilizers and only rain for water. The K soil tends to good stems and has an opposite effect say, than on Pinks and Sweet Williams. Previously his Candytuft was in excellent shape. But we talked over private matters.

The S.P. did not show up at my farewell dinner. But at the last moment the Director of the Agricultural Exp. Station at Peshawar arrived. He is the uncle of one of my best friends here and was an excellent substitute—the dinner was all paid for anyhow. So I have a special invitation to go there. My immediate stop is Bannu which is semi-desert. Then to Kohat about which I know nothing. Then Mardan which is the center of the Sugar plantations. Then Melakand for truck cross. Then Peshawar, for fruit. Some day or other you will get some good reports.

But I was especially glad to see the Director for another reason. You have had my reports on Rawalpindi. Well the UN boys and maybe some Pont IV boys went to Iran and then started some new methods of preparing land. They got rid of the traditional irrigation ditches and waterways which had been in use for centuries and put in a modern method. The rains came. The dykes, the water channels, the top soil went and no crops! These things are never reported and that is why I say you cannot have “absolute love” and “absolute honesty.” Things like that are never reported. When you over-organize and impersonalize “expertism,” button, button who has got the responsibility?

This plus the rioting into Ammosulph and the way they plant maize, to avoid work shows what one is up against. Then the maize crop did much better, but that is because of seed selection.

My friend, Aslan Shah, the paymaster, has been promoted and is going away. He tells me that his beans have done excellently this year. Like a lot of roving C.S. people, he has scattered holdings. His sunflowers are about the best I have seen here, but it was new both to him and the B.P. that sunflower seeds could be food for human consumption. Last year the B.P. fed them to the hens and he said he never had better poultry. I don’t know too much but I am in a land where people seem to know much less.

The next Forest experiments are and shall continue to be on hormones for cuttings. I shall next visit the College at Peshawar and see what I can learn. But I am overburdened with introductions. I guess I have already spoken to more Pakistanis then almost any American, but I do it off the beaten track. There is a new USIA director coming to school. These people know or think they know all about the U.S. and lecture to Pakistanis. They are very restricted and don’t know it. Only Asia Foundations gets down and sits at round tables. In fact I am going to report to the Intelligence Section, Collector of Internal Revenue, about large groups who collect moneys to function abroad. Period. The overhead is. Period. Glorious rackets and no checking and it was one of the large chemical companies—Union Carbide, I think, which just saved UAR’s cotton crop; no Russians, no “experts,” no collection agency, but a solid American industry which had to function in the end. My blood boiling days are over; my jibing days are coming into fullness.

It will probably be impossible to lecture on tourism now. Only those Pakistanis who have been educated abroad want to take on responsibility and give our information. The rest want simply respect for their donations. When they get enough respect, they don’t have to inform anybody about anything.

I have, already, listed what I consider the grand problems of this country. What they need are either real dirt-farmers and farm-advisors with divers experiences; men who can talk to and with men. Today I am very tough-minded—after all I have written Kennedy. But the joker is that the tom boys here won’t tell technicians direct and when I get tip-offs I am the wrong guy. But I am not so wrong as a lot of other people who have been here longer: the longer the wronger. This is a situation I shall fight to the death. And enjoy it.

Cordially, Sam

Abbottabad, Hazara

August 23, 1961

Dear Ruth and everybody:

I am about to leave Abbottabad. It will be a strange adventure. I remember one mureed who long ago welcomed into her home persons who spoke about the masters of the Far East. Some of the speakers were friends, which did not prove or disprove the existence of “masters.” When I returned before she closed the doors on me. She did not want to hear about real masters; if they were conjectural, if they were fantastic, if they were metaphysical all right—but real ones—you draw the line somewhere.

In Rawalpindi I found one of Pir-o-Murshid’s compendium books, several together. It is expensive but I shall buy it before the day is over and carry it with me. Aslan Shah lives across the road. He says that he doubts if any Western person has met so many holy men and been blessed by them. This is my history. It will some day be accepted by the world. The mureeds follow exactly what Pir-o-Murshid wrote on “The Spirit of Guidance” in some of this early works—the so called disciples almost never accept the new teacher and the more they acclaim their adherence to teachings, the more they depart therefrom.

Aslan Shah lives across the way but he is moving soon to the frontier. Chief among his guests were Prof. Durrani, both a Murshid and one of the great scientists and engineers of the region. After a career of disguising his spirituality as a wandering Sadhu he disguised it by adopting the exact opposite way of life. The master, the saint, the superman is not bound by rules laid down by metaphysicians and speculators and they appear as they appear. In a few weeks I expect to be with Durrani again and through him present the teachings of Pir-o-Murshid to local Sufis of all grades.

Less than a hundred years before Aslam Shah the Khalandar has been living; living with female relatives while the head of the house is earning his livelihood in distant parts. But his real home is in Rawalpindi where we sleep tonight. Both the Khalandar and Durrani have tested me by methods which only the most advanced know and they have placed me where Pir-o-Murshid placed me but further along. I am not concerned nor are they concerned nor are the Sufis here concerned with personality-reactions against or about the instructions of Pir-o-Murshid. Inayat Khan gave out his teachings and instructions and they belong to the order of God. People who came along and want titles or leadership without the divine sanction may win popular acclaim but in the unseen it is not so. In the unseen it is as it was, but it is in accord with Hierarchy. We are going to present Sufism to America along with Hierarchy and along with realities. It is not the day of secrecy; it is still less the day of closed cults. We say and we insult God by praying, “the whole of humanity as one Single Brotherhood in the fatherhood of God.” We do not realize the effects of these insult-prayers.

I have long gone way beyond the boundaries of race, class, sect or sex. The whole humanity regardless is one and the Sufi Message will emphasize this one-self. But not by proclaiming any leadership in this emphasis. I am sorry for the divided followers of Pir-o-Murshid none of whom accept what he taught and wanted. Well Buddha gave out teachings and a certain group got hold of the Sangha and operated it for centuries but in the end the spiritual souls asserted themselves. Buddhism disappeared from India but it spread far and wide over much of Asia. Now we face the world situation—a message of love, brotherhood and glorification of God, and it will sweep the earth, inshallah.

Our immediate task, and it will proceed before nightfall, is meeting with wealthy and powerful people to discuss the introduction of Sufis spiritually and spirituality into America. Many doors are opening and some will open quite dramatically in the United States. I met wealth in Lahore and authority in Rawalpindi. Now the question is to organize these, and coordinate [?]….

I have seen Sufi healing and heal it can and does coordinate and cooperate with existing schools of medicine. I have seen the clairvoyant Khalander depict many places he has not seen and times which have not come. The percentage of accuracy say, as against the so-called Meher Baba, is tremendous. One does not like to presume phenomena for love and wisdom but phenomena can and will attract Americans. Add to that phenomena the ability to clearly delineate the problems, the pressures, the inhibitions and the pains of people, and who is going to stand in the way of such a message and such people? We want to win by love but we may have to demonstrate many phenomena.

Behind this of course, is exactly the same hierarchy of saint, master and Wali as is described in The Unity of Religious Ideals or originally in what were the Religious Gathekas used in the Universal Worship. The U.W. is based on the super-hierarchy which has made itself known and felt by separate living persons here and now who through their enlightenment or clairvoyance know these things to be true. As Pir-o-Murshid told Saladin Reps, “Many who are not my followers are much closer to the Message than those who call themselves my mureeds.” This is true, so undeniably true that it will be written in history and coming events, inshallah.

To this date there is no sign of any Murshid nor anybody invested with the title and authority. But equally all that Pir-o-Murshid wrote concerning healing and brotherhood is coming. These things which he described to me and predicted in 1923 and 1926 are coming true, and even more than that. In the next world anybody who has taken bayat can stand against Pir-o-Murshid’s words and in this world it will only be for a little while.

The struggling, suffering humanity has just the same sense of justice, honesty and fair play. The removal of these things within the Sufi realm did not result in any great growth. A perfect philosophy does not win hearts or even minds. The perfection must be in something more than the philosophy. All that Pir-o-Murshid wrote on Kashf in the Gathas has been discarded and the prayers are only shadows of the reality they present and represent. But the prayers are truths or truth and not petitions or affirmations.

The world is going to see a real love, a divine love, a divine manifestation in according to its capacity to receive. The Message of God will spread far and wide; no doubt outside of organization because organization places itself above and before God and nothing can stand above and before God.

The love which is real is not verbal; it is a living communication. I can only say here that in 1962, inshallah, Sufism will be introduced in a solid manner in America. Whether mureeds and especially their leaders will recognize it I do not know. A titular Murshid has a grand responsibility but if he does not accept what God has affirmed or hierarchy has affirmed or even what Pir-o-Murshid has affirmed … the Day of Judgment is ever present. I wish more people realize this… I shall break off, not close. There is no compulsion in Sufism.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

P.S. I have been to the cinema. There was a character made up so he looked tremendously like Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan—hair both fore and back, beard, clothing, speech, character. And when he played the Vina I could hardly constrain myself. It may have been just coincidental but [?]….

Peshawar

August 29, 1961

Mrs. Rosemary Benton, Librarian

World Affairs Council

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear Rosemary:

This is my diary and the report will have all the advantages and disadvantages of a personal record. I am, however, making a copy for Mr. Stewart Everts of the Embassy in Karachi and will probably show it almost immediately to somebody at the Consulate nearby. I am hoping some of the things recorded will be taken seriously and I am adding, for the sake of the World Affairs Council—and only indirectly for the Foreign Service, some of my experiences of the past.

There is a newspaperman who has published a book, Asia is my Beat and I don’t know whether to comment “beat it” or “how we were beaten.” There is a long uphill road in this part of the world. Lowell Thomas gave us a fantasy on Hunza and it is taking teams of American explorers and scientists to get the record straight. This will be that college students researching into Hunza will be informed and the public—which will continue to read Lowell Thomas and not the adventure books will remain uninformed. This is our “intelligence.”

Lowell Thomas gave us a book on Tibet which everybody read, Gene Stratton Porter up to date. Nicol Smith gave us a one and despite his Burma Road, nothing doing. That Thomas’ “facts” turned out to be fancies and Nicol’s fancies turned out to be facts mean nothing. The commies go there and we shall go on to read Asia is my Beat.

I am saying this because I was present when Papa Tara Singh met Nehru under “man bites dog” condition which in Asia is never, never, never news. I shall be in New Delhi in about a month and shall meet the men who arranged this meeting which will substantiate my reports. At that time I wrote in my diary that what happened would never be reported in the world and it was not and one of those men is a consummate liar. I leave you to choose.

Or the rumor that the Thais are looking around for a friendly relation with Russia because SEATO has not stemmed the communist invasion. When I was in S.E. Asia I wrote my cayenne stuff that I objected to SEATO because it did not include St. Helena and Uruguay. I doubt very much whether my newsmen would accept my reports with the royal family and how they reacted—some of it in my own presence; or my conversation with the leader of the opposition; or my meetings with the Mr. Big of Thailand. These things being “impossible” they could not be news. Besides what I was told and told very direct, is now coming out and we need more and more and more Laos-Chaos. In the early Spring, if not before, I shall be with my best friend who took the trouble to come to Washington to warn about Ho Chih Minh and not a cough in a carload—he was the trouble-maker. Then he returned to warn about Laos—he had just been working for the King of Laos—and la meme chose excepting, thank God and praise Allah, for Senator Fulbright.

Now I have been to the FBI many times and the usual question is “What do you know?” And I have been to the “Intelligence” and the usual question is “Who are you?” Some day we shall have an intelligent-intelligence which will operate like the FBI and do some screening afterwards. If you ever write my biography, go to Fort Mason and look at the heroes’ book, May 1945 and see my signature and ask how it got there. Right under Carlson’s raiders. But I was born on the wrong side of the trackless tracks.

My theme here is “Fifty Million Frenchmen can’t be wrong, but fifty million Sufis can’t be.” Amen. We have the only “intelligence” service in the world which rejects its own personnel to accept the “findings” of non-American, non-Asians concerning Asia. Yesterday I was in the Pashto Institute and pulled out the Encyclopedia Britannica on “Afghanistan”; you should compare it with the American Encyclopedia. They spell “Afghanistan” the same. Let’s change the subject.

Fifty million Sufis can’t be and I am having a social whirl from early in the morning until midnight with plenty of meals—almost too many and invitations all over the place. Someday I hope to convince some American in foreign service that their compatriot who was one of them in a former generation and wrote The Dervishes—J.P. Brown, should be taken seriously. Brown, being a mere subaltern had the “audacity” to visit the dervishes and write reports. This is not done, you know. I met more dervishes in U.A. than Billy Graham met of peoples there and … I have written a poem somewhere, if you want to call it a poem, “And the Burdick boys will catch you if you don’t watch out.”

I am quite ready to do a c to Prof. Burdick. I have many common friends with both Burdick and Lederer and in all honesty, objectivity and sincerity refused to meet them. But with Profs. Cantwell Smith, Landau, Von Grünebaum, “Warsawovitch,” “Gracowski,” “Minsky,” “Pinsky” and Oxbridge, not a chance. We are the only nation in the world, “only in America” do we see our people relying on non-Asian, non-American “experts.”

I have completed my first report to Secretary Shahab. Why should I go to Shahab? Why can’t I go to our Ambassador, or to the State Department? No, I have to go to the Arabs, Pakistanis, Indians, Burmese, Malayans, and Indonesians to talk facts. Fifty million Sufis can’t be and I am being entertained by them every minute.

Thank God both our Senators are cooperating with me—not on “realism” but on the problems of water supply, saline soils, desert agriculture and the great problems of a nation which is having a hard time standing up. Someday I may meet a Pakistani of importance who approves of our Peace Corps and someday I may meet an American editor of importance who will write on the achievements of Americans in Asia. We start writing off all Americans connected with religion in any way and end up by downgrading our real experts and technical men. I have already written of the countermeasures taken by Russians and am on excellent terms with the Security Police. Indeed it is the Chief Inspector General and one of the Justices of the Supreme Court who are taking the lead in financing the visit of non-existing Sufis to America. I have had to write to a number of Universities that because they have not recognized the existence of Sufis, moneys which would normally be sent for endowments and scholarships are now to be used in financing the trips of us non-existing persons.

Another reason you can understand why sanity is difficult is that President Ayub said “Islam should march with the times.” Result—and you might have guessed it—bigger and better parades. Islam is marching with the times. (This is quite in line with my original discovery of “Pukhtunistan”—“We want no more elections, we demand plebiscites.”)

Congressman Jack Hennessy has been turning my reports over to Lucretia Grady. Mrs. G. was only the wife of an Ambassador. “Some of my best friends are Sufis” which happens to be true of her and a couple of pictures in books will validate this. But this would make Cantwell Smith, Von Grünebaum, Landau, Minsky, Pinsky, and Warsawovitch wrong—so we discount even an Ambassador’s wife. This is “intelligence.”

Yesterday morning I first went to the Pashto Academy and have learned all about their plans for a Central Asian Institute. This group is not only organized by Sufis, they are working out a large and very sensible counter-espionage movement. There are three distinct counter-espionage movements lead by Sufis and it will be one of my jobs to bring them together. They all have the same purport and outlook but their methods are quite different. There is no use discussing these until we first accept that some, if not all the 50,000,000 Sufis are; and then examine the contents of Sufism—not from books by Oxbridge and Von Heidlehausen, but either go to the Sufis themselves or to the American J. P. Brown.

I am writing a long report on this to Columbia University and will send copy to the Department of South Asian Studies, Berkeley and perhaps to the American Friends of the Middle East. The latter group, at least, recognizes that there are Sufis (between my need for Eno’s, Sulphur Tablets and Milk of Magnesia I assure you these are Sufis and my stomach protests, but not too much).

Then I visited Prof. Duley, from Colorado State U., which dominates the agricultural advisory work. This country is roughly divided between Colorado State and Washington State. I may report later, or lecture on the work done by our Universities here and they are doing things. This country is, or wishes to be, 80% agricultural and perhaps should be. So we are going up and over the “Peace Corps” and they are going to be bombarded with questions about religion, negroes, God, religion, life in the U.S., God and religion and they are going to be “briefed” like V.P. Johnson and everybody knows it.

As to the technical side of this I keep writing to my friend Harry Nelson of City College and keep a complete record. Yesterday we discussed Soy Beans, Olives, Avocadoes, Small Fruit, etc., etc. Of course our “social scientists” will say UNO, FAO, UNESCO, UNICEF are taking care of these matters. Also, why a “Peace Corps?”

Later I went to an orphanage operated by Sufis (How come? They never accept responsibilities) and then a grand round of top professors and scientists, all Sufis and we discussed Sufism and the impossibility of having real cultural exchange between America and Asia because the Americans have a potter-clay attitude, the Russians have a potter-clay attitude (which we accepted, that’s right) but if Asians have a potter-clay attitude toward us—that is terrible, why don’t they solve their problems? This is what everybody asks of everybody else.

One professor had visited Europe, specially Leipzig and Heidleberg and I got a report first on the German attitude towards Oriental philosophy and the different reactions of East and West Germans. There is no doubt that communism is breaking down Orthodoxy if not religion in the East Sector and this often opens the doors to Oriental faiths. But the new generation of Germans are not “experts” in Orientalia and they are willing to learn. (Germans in America please don’t copy; why we may have to turn to Asia for “experts” on Asia!)

Of course this idea of having Asians teach us makes me popular and someday we may learn about Asian-Asia and get rid of Phant-Asia.

I have read several books down on village life in the Punjab. I have also visited many villages. I have also siestaed in huts and what-not and eaten food with my fingers with the natives. As I have written before all men are equal excepting women, sweepers, washermen, and villagers. And the number of second-class citizens in this “casteless” land, oh well, we have fun.

I may have written to you that I offered a suggestion to President Ayub which he not only accepted but put into practice and I received a nice letter from his press secretary. I have also had the privilege—and I foresaw it—of meeting one of his spiritual teachers. The meeting was, of course, impossible because there are no Sufis and dervishes have a lot of rules. Do you know what he said to me? “Come to lunch!” And I did. Of course this is only the outside of it.

I am therefore letting the Foreign Service see this. I have three awkward alternatives:

a. Go to Prof. Burdick. The way the Foreign Service reacted to this book of fiction stands n contrast to the way some civil servants react to facts. All he would have to do is go through my diaries and then write to the persons involved and the “Ugly America” would look like a primer. I don’t want this but the second alternative:

b. Go to Fulton Lewis Jr. This would put me on a national hook-up. I have my documentary materials. I would mention names and the next day William Murrow would either be impeached or resigned. “We welcome criticisms.” That is the biggest piece of downright nonsense and Murrow has gained the enmity of foreigners from all over. I have still to meet one who has anything but a fierce word for him. Criticisms and suggestions!

Well, we had an American pianist come to Pakistan and play Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky—also Samuel Barber, but how did he get in? The excuse was to raise funds for East Pakistan. The real thing is to entertain the Americans and NATOS abroad at our public expense. Raise funds? Why, in one week in the small town of Abbottabad more people saw “Europe by night” than attended these concerts—what is the difference between an American playing Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky and having Oxbridge, Minsky, Heidlebrun, etc., be our “experts.” It would undoubtedly be “unfair” TO THE Russian to have and American pianist play Grofé, Coplan and Elvis Presley—these things are not done, though they would attract maybe even millions of Pakistanis. I have heard more American music in one Indian film than has been presented by some of our ANTA booksellers.

c. Go to Senator Fulbright. This would be a last alternative and I would have to keep away from the Foreign Affairs Committee. For one peep out of me and Barry Goldwater would subsidize me for life.

Fortunately now I think the American Friends of the Middle East and enough persons and institutions accept objective reports. But I am standing in the forefront of a number of fellow-Americans, rejected even more than I have been, who can’t get factual reports and strongly supported suggestions before anybody. Those who mingle with Asian-Asians are the last ones we need. And I don’t think this will go on much longer. The President has asked for “realism”; I have asked him, “Why not reality”?

Of course I may apologize. It just may be that I will be receiving an answer from Karachi or Washington on one or more of these points. It is possible. Well, the Indians and some top Malayans are waiting for me, but meanwhile the Sufi-Sufis are all over the place. I have invitations and lectures and appointments more than I can handle. And I am “do-it-yourself” American-Pakistani cultural exchange. That’s enough now.

Samuel L. Lewis

Peshawar,

September 6, 1961

World Affairs Council of Northern California

421 Powell St.

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Friends;

This is my diary entry at this time. I continue to have an exceedingly prolix and busy social program due almost entirely to two reasons (1) my interest in and knowledge in soils, crops and food; my knowledge of Islamic culture and mysticism. All despite all our European mentors against whom I am crusading, nearly all the leaders here in every walk of life are disciples in Sufism; it makes my introductions and my becoming a house-guest a comparatively easy thing. The more candor and the more agreement on religious and philosophical attitudes, the easier it is to consider the social, scientific and other problems and interests of the country.

I am enclosing copy of letter to Senator Engle which contains some of the things I am either going to offer or “do it yourself” when I return. Although the President may be very sincere and earnest, I am never sure whether one means reality by “realism,” or some private approach to life which, so verbalized, is presumed to possess charm. Most often it is the other way around.

We do not realize how much neutralism is caused by our inability—rather than unwillingness—to sit down with Asians as we sit down with Europeans, even Russians. We seldom eat with them; until Mennon Williams went abroad we disdained to put on national clothing and we preach incessantly.

I have just been to Mardan to the excellently operated plantations of Jamshyd and Satter Khan at Takht Bhai. They have been to California and expect to come again; they have perhaps even visited you. If not I hope the next visit of one or the other will be more official. I do not wish to enter into the technical side of my visit which will be reported to Joint Minister of Food and Agriculture, M.A. Cheema. I have not been reporting at the moment to the University of California. It is sufficient to say that farming can be profitable, it can be scientific with or without technology, and it can be attuned to the needs of the people. It can be, but wherever politically minded men overshadow the doers, there is bound to be some shortcoming. I do not wish to go into that.

I can, of course, discuss the Sugar situation, the Maize situation, etc., and if it should be that you want me to address you on or off the record, especially on the record I should like first to visit Stanford Research Institution and take up some matters with them. For whatever one’s views, there are bound to be some emotional and sentimental factors which may or not be pertinent and over-all pictures are hard to obtain. In any case I have now a fair picture of most projects which pertain to the activities of a Department of Food & Agriculture, by whatever name it is called. And I will continue to go into such matters.

I have spoken before the assembled Student Body at Mardan College and tomorrow at the Urdu College, University of Peshawar. This latter lecture was easily arranged through the cooperation of Prof. Abdul Qadir, Principal of the Pashto Academy. I have to write a long report on the academy to the Department of Linguistics, Columbia University, copy of which will go to the Department of South Asian Studies, Berkeley; and details will be discussed with Mr. Watan of the AFME when I next reach Lahore.

Prof. Abdul Qadir is another leading Sufi and although a mystic, like most real mystics (about whom we know practically nothing) he is more reality-minded than realists are and we have had long discussions on counter-espionage in Central Asia, a matter I would be glad to report in detail.

I have withheld releasing my Passport for my Indian visa on account of the border situation here. I have been to Warsak Dam which is now operated by engineers who were students of Prof. Durrand, long time principal of the Engineering College, U of Peshawar, a leading physicist and homeopath, and a teacher in Sufism. He is one of the most profound mystics I have met—more profound than some of the leading Swamis in India and V President Radhakrishnan, having also been a Sadhu. I keep mentioning the particulars here of Sufi mystics and will mention more and more of them until we awaken to the uselessness of listening to Canadians, Europeans and Zionists as to the [?] of Islam. Zionists have every right to propagate Zionism but the seizure of so many channels of Islamic thought in the U.S. has made real cultural exchange and social candor almost impossible.

It is possible that Durrand may take me to Khyber Pass. When one is with him no papers are needed. But it is other Sufis who expect to come to the U.S. and present us with some facts of life. I certainly had the Vice-Consul here jump off his chair when I told him that it was a shame and disgrace to take our knowledge of Sufism from Canadians, Europeans and Zionists in a country where the President himself (Ayub) is a disciple in Sufism—and this covered quite a few Presidents and Prime Ministers. My final report on this will come from Malaya. And most of the Pakistanis who have been in the Bay area of late have also been disciples in Sufism and we go on and on listening to Canadians, Europeans and Zionists.

In fact I am going to propose seriously that no non-American professor be permitted to lecture to us on any country but his own without either

A degree from at least one university in the geographical sector about which he is permitted to give instructions, and degrees;

Or the official approval of one such government.

My invitations to India and Malaya have come almost entirely to protest against this utterly fantastic policy of having Europeans, etc., “teach” us about the Orient beginning with “Zen??” Buddhism in S.F.!

On the other hand these American scholars who have made social and other reports on Asia may be taken seriously. It is taking about six writers on Hunza—social scientists, natural scientists and explorers, to counterbalance the folly of Lowell Thomas. And as for Protestant missionaries! Unless they write books like Dr. Seagraves we are overlooking one of the grandest series of operations anywhere, by the most dedicated, self-sacrificing people. But it is hypocrisy to praise Dr. Seagraves and utterly ignore the work of his colleagues on this continent. And as for the Catholics, they have the best education system of all, but as most of them are not Americans, I am not speaking my piece here.

The hot weather is somewhat abating slowly. This is very hard to take. The Pathan hospitality is marvelous but I must confess I generally land at quite a different spot than programmed. I am at the moment at Green Hotel and have been at Dean’s and this gives me experience, etc. But I do not encourage tourism here. For one’s money there are better places by far—there is no coordination in anything. Before they advertised the Lahore region; now they advertise the mountain districts. The tourist lands in Karachi, far, far away and it is most difficult to get information as to how to reach the places advertised. It is chiefly “bums,” adventurers and explorers who go to such places.

I understand that there are now some American geologists around my “home,” Abbottabad, which I may re-visit next week or later. I have preliminary mineralogical reports, very, very fine. I must soon report to Secretary Shahab and then prepare for a “grand finale” at Lahore.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

September 8, 1961

My dear John,

It has been my fate or fortune to have been the guest of two men who hosted the Sulzbergers when they were in this part of the world and I have written to the N.Y.Times. There is a copy enclosed—I am not sure how clear it is, and there is something to add.

There is one thing that is definitely wrong with our Foreign Service. A number of years ago I heard a lecture in Mill Valley by a Hindu who came out boldly for neutralism and his ground was very simple: “The Russians eat with us and you don’t.” I do not think many of the audience got the full impact of it and certainly the Foreign Service has not.

I again gave a lecture before another college, with excellent results and three newspaper interviews. If Billy Graham or a newspaper man or a Russian had a quarter of the audiences I get it would be news and even world news. But a single American is ignored—at home. I don’t know how much longer this will be. On the surface I may seem speaking for myself but it goes much deeper.

There is one branch of our government which is going to take an earthquake to awaken and that is the USIS which has a stranger potter-clay attitude toward foreigners especially Asians. They are to be moulded; they are not to be studied, they are to be shaped. I had one talk at the Consulate in which the Vice-Consul blanched when I told him: “You probably learned about Islam from some non-American, non-Muslim who told you there are no important Sufis in the world and Sufis have never taken responsibilities and yet you are serving a country whose resident (Ayub) is a disciple in Sufism and I have met one of his spiritual teachers.” There is nothing to do but blanch; we don’t take cognizance of these things.

One professor after another has contacted American intellectuals and found that while they were nice they simply did not know how to learn from Pakistan. It was all one-way. I have been for foreign aid and I still am for foreign aid but a country that can finance an “artist” to come to Asia where they don’t like European music and give them Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky—what is that? We have no money to bring them American music or dancing even f it be profitable both commercially and diplomatically.

I had a long interview with one of the leading American professors here. He is stuck. He has been given a big job out of his field. He is not at his profession and he is not permitted to contact and confer with Pakistanis, only instruct them! They sent a “Peace Corps” organizer here and told me that he and his colleagues gave the “Peace Corps” man hell. We are going to send a number of “dedicated” young men into a part of the world where they have thousands of years of culture behind them, impose something on them which they have not asked for, and ignore what they have asked for.

It is universally agreed that the salinity problem is the worst and I am now writing to the heads of the Pakistani government to finance students to Riverside, California in both the undergraduate courses and the graduate school. The former is connected with the University of California, the latter with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and is for foreigners only. In diplomacy everything is important but the facts. Washington either does not answer letters or you get white-wash. But don’t assume that the Pakistani or UAR governments are any better. The scientists always so, the business men usually so, but as soon as a man becomes a government “servant” he serves protocol and not the public.

Anyhow after mailing I have another newspaper interview today and perhaps by that time I shall be given more publicity, in Urdu. The Urdu papers have been very fine. Those in English, despite these interviews, may or may not say anything. One was formerly pro-Russian and is still covertly anti-American.

My program has been upset by the disappearance of another host. This is not awkward because I am overburdened and it may enable me to get back on my original schedule. I have to return to Abbottabad to finish some work. Then to Rawalpindi on two important deals. One is regarding travelling companions and financial aid to me, either on my trip or when I return to the States. The other is to conclude my reports to the Central Government.

I have suffered somewhat because of the long heat spell. It has just rained and it is possible that this will cool the atmosphere. It is September now and everybody has promised good weather for this month. Some of my dreams have been thwarted because of the b order troubles with Afghanistan and some because of fine hospitality elsewhere. I hope to visit the experimental farm east of here (Peshawar) tomorrow. I have already met the manager. I am conferring with a rug merchant today regarding imports. I can’t afford to buy much at the moment because of uncertainties rather than lack of funds. And don’t wish to load my bags more.

I am also endeavoring to go to the bazaars and make some purchases of shoes and look around. Habib bank is next door to the hotel where I am momentarily—I am always somewhere else. I got my Bankamerica accounts straightened out. But not the Pakistani banks, although I have withdrawn my funds from Habib.

I hope to be able to leave here Sunday, but can’t tell. There are police regulations coupled with the complex friendly regulations I have with these people.

The main complaint all over is the lack of mingling. I have said this above and I say it again. We mingle even with the Russians. Unless the Peace Corps does some mingling—and I think this is very difficult for high I.Q.’s—we are going to lose more money on useless projects. That is why I am glad Congress pulled the purse-strings tight. The real problems of this country have been touched only superficially by us and self-praise does not win friends.

The comical thing is that now I am placed by the top Pakistani intellectuals as one of the world’s great authorities on Islam, and me, expelled from a college in California for having “false views” on the subject! I am not one of the world’s great authorities on Islam but I know more about it than any European I have ever met. Or Canadian—our present Mr. Big is a Canadian, despised all over the Islamic world. His predecessor was an Englishman, etc. I have to name the important American authorities to the diplomatic corps! They don’t know Americans are highly regarded in Asia!

My meeting with fellow-travelers—tourists, not politicians—brings out the same results and complaints. And on this side they are so anxious to bring in “tourists” that a real tourist is often given short treatment. But the business men are very hostile to the bureaucracy here. With all the reforms of Ayub the government is still full of persons of self-importance and no ability. They do not have chambers of commerce to any extent and no producer’s organizations. My plan for inducing our food processors to train apprentices from this part of the worlds has been commended both by Pakistani farmers and the agricultural experts from Colorado State. Soon I shall be moving into Washington State areas—if they approve my plans I shall shout them aloud when I return despite all the diplomats (who never mingle with the people) and Peace Corps and Lowell Thomases.

The Pashto Academy here is being highly regarded by its counter-espionage plans—rejected by our CIA of course. If Afghanistan goes the way of Laos, what a field day I shall have. It is time to listen to Mr. Little who has been there and not to Mr. Big who has not. As I said before, I am speaking for a lot of little Americans—tourists, adventurers, protestant missionaries, etc., etc.

While this is not directly for the Journal-Independent I hope one of their staff may read my stuff, intelligible or not.

Peshawar, NWF, Pakistan

September 8, 1961

Hon. J. William Fulbright

Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. Senate

Washington, D.C.

In re: Bringing Americans and Asians Together.

Dear Senator Fulbright:

This letter was long ago suggested to me by my life-long friend, Robert S. Clifton, now known as Phra Sumangalo, the Buddhist monk who became an ex-patriate. So long as he remained a United States citizen it was impossible for him to be taken seriously by the State Department and so-called CIA, and I attribute our loss of face in Laos largely due to this strange attitude of CIA and some other agencies. My own experience has invariably been that when I went to the FBI with information they asked me for the information and that when I went to the State Department or CIA they asked me about myself and ignored the information.

I was able a few years ago to give a full report to the late Ambassador Grady in San Francisco. Yet I could not get a facet of that report over to the officials in the foreign service and very little to our newspapers. When man bites dog in Asian, it is not and must (?) not be news. Indeed I am writing at this point only because of impending difficulties in Afghanistan.

I have named Phra Sumangalo and I have named the late Ambassador Grady (this can be substantiated by his widow). The rest of the names will be mentioned in the body of this communication; or if not named can be given. But Senator I am faced with a terrible dilemma and it is a terrible dilemma. If I go to Prof. Burdick of the “The Ugly American” fame or infamy he will have a field day with my diaries and you will see a mess of fiction-based-on-fact; then the Foreign Service will shudder. Fiction, yes; facts?? What kind of realism is this?

Or I can go to Fulton Lewis Jr. and in 24 hours would be on a national hook-up and some of our officials would be forced to resign or be impeached. I refer in the first instance to Ed. R. Murrow. He pompously and piously said he would welcome criticisms and suggestions. He evidently pulled some faux pas while I was on the high seas which made him very unpopular with the foreign colony here. When I did write him I got just the answer I expected—a long white-wash from one Mr. Chatrand, who has the desk for Pakistan and Afghanistan. He told me that if I would only talk matters over with the USIA officials, I would have a different view.

Senator, I arrived in Karachi and was point-blank and a priori refused an interview by the acting cultural attaché. This would not have mattered but since landing I have probably spoken to more Pakistanis than any unofficial American since the foundation of this country. I was given an ovation yesterday at Peshawar U, just as I have twice been given ovations at Punjabi U. But to get a USIA official to take me seriously, Senator, it is next to impossible.

Who are our USIA attachés? They are probably college graduates of high standing versed in the American way of life and able to lecture on it. But where have they learned about Pakistan and Islam? Unless they went to Harvard or Princeton, they probably studied under a Canadian, European, or Zionist professor, the only country in the world that has Europeans, Canadians and Zionists teaching “us” about Asia and Islam, and I can give you a list of top government people and high dignitaries in universities who do not like that at all.

I told Mr. Frisbee, the just retired USIA attaché at Lahore that in the United States outside of Harvard and Princeton, the Hartford Seminary gave about [?]. There they propose to convert Muslims to Christianity so their Muslims are real. But the “unbiased” Canadians, Germans, Englishman and Zionists take anything out of their heads they wish and there is no escape. Why, I was dismissed from a college because I differed from an expatriate European who talked about Islam and point blank refused to permit his students to utilize the late Dr. Duncan McDonald, one of the real great American scholars on Islam.

I have seen now in person one Vice-President make a fool of himself in India and another in Pakistan but no one seems to have examined the persons who briefed them. Have the person who brief Mr. Nixon on India or Mr. Johnson on Pakistan any standing in Asian-Asia? My dear Senator, if I were to list the people who have objected or protested against our strange subjectivism plus an equally strange magnification of degrees from European universal ties on Oriental subjects, your colleagues would become red in the face. I would probably be a hero to Hindt and Hickenlooper and Barry Goldwater would send for me. I can furnish you with the names all right and it is a long and ever growing list, and their conversations were not pleasant.

In 1957 federal funds were spent to organize a UNESCO gathering in San Francisco to bring Americans and Asians together. A highly touted Canadian there had no standing on this continent was introduced as the expert on Islam. The Iraqi, Iranian and American (myself) Muslims were ruled off the floor and after the conference I wrote to the Public Service section, Department of State, warning of an impending mob attack on the USIA library in Bagdad. It happened. No lesson.

I was in Cairo for six months and told the USIA officials I would have to leave. Every day you tell me we have two-way cultural exchange and every night the Egyptians deny it. You people won’t face each other, you are using me as a foil and I can’t stand it. This was after I had warned four times of an impending mob attack. Two hours after the USIA director assented I was probably right the mob came.

You may ask me how I get news. Senator, I am a member of Dervish Orders. They are found in many Islamic countries. They are a solid brotherhood whom we don’t recognize. Prof. Cantwell Smith, Von Reichenbach, Rom Landau and a bunch Zionists either deny their existence or belittle them. Yet one of the best books on the subject was written by one J. P. Brown, of our own foreign service (The Dervishes) and the late Ambassador Grady had his picture taken many times with the late Hasan Nizami of New Delhi who alone had 10,000,000 followers. Never mind our foreign services; the non-Americans say different and we swallow them blindly. And everybody from the Royal Family of Thailand to the heads of the UAR government knows this. It is incomprehensible.

There are some 50,000,000 dervishes in the world—maybe more, maybe less because many belong to more than one Order. They include Syed Mahmud who was once Minister of External Affairs in India and is now titular head of the whole Islamic community—all our Canadians, Germans and Zionists to the contrary. They include President Ayub and most of his cabinet. They include all the members of the Foreign Service of Indonesia I have yet to date, including all you may have met in Washington; and most of the Sudanese and Iraqi.

Through my Sufi brethren I have come upon three distinct counter-espionage movements behind the Iron Curtain. Through one of them I have had a report of China which almost makes the monk-nun report look like a whitewash—so terrible. But we officially take no cognizance of them, we call them “fanatics” though they include many of the top scientists and industrialists of the Islamic world. Just to mention one name—the late Maratab Ali Shah, a leading industrialist, almost the Mr. Big of Pakistan, and an associate of the Ford family. I was twice to his house as a brother-sufi-disciple, just before his death and expect to meet his family when I return to Lahore. This is just one, and I can give you names and names and names.

And I was dismissed from an American college for attempting to name some of those people by a European displaced person who is the No. 1 “expert.”

Again through my Sufi brothers. They include many of the leading security officials in this country. As soon as we proposed the “Peace Corps” these chess-playing Russians got busy (reports from them). They began sending in “experts.” The “experts” first went to the Mosque to pray—a good Islamic custom, then they told the devotees about the wonders of Islam behind the Iron curtain, passed out pictures and shook hands. This is something Americans can’t do; strictly anti-protocol? Why! Even in the midst of a cold war we are bound by a lot of nonsense.

I was in India and where do you think the comrades met? At Shrines and tombs and ashrams. They have full control of one famous ashram from which they can send out “holy” men all over the world. Fortunately the FBI took my report, the CIA did not. Indeed one of my best friends in India, another Sufi, is the Edgar Hoover of that country or was when I was there.

Incidentally, Senator, I am one American who turned a mob on the communist hecklers and they had to flee for their lives (at Simla). Now I see that men who were mobbed by communists have been given very respectable jobs in Washington. But it happens that I know something of Indian history, philosophy, religion and psychology and I did not learn these things either from Germans or Northrups, but either the hard way or from Indians. Indeed I am invited now to India because I have been urging that now non-American be permitted to lecture on Asian subjects without the approval of at least one Asian government or university. And why not? Why should Heidelberg, Leiden, Oxford, etc be given preference over Benares or Calcutta, or for that matter Minnesota or Princeton?

Many of the Americans here complain that they are given no opportunity to mingle with Pakistanis and the Pakistanis complain that American officials do not mingle with them. Or, if an American happens to be a Protestant missionary, it is assumed and wrongly that he is “fishing” for his mission or sect and so while we praise Dr. Seagraves, we equally ignore all his colleagues who have as yet no time to write books. Some of the finest scientific work I know is being done by Protestant missionaries; if the shadow of their efforts were accomplished by newsmen, they would be integrated into our culture.

When I go to India I shall be closeted with Dr. Radhakrishnan:

I can talk to Dr. Radhakrishnan or any professor or swami [?] about Indian religion and philosophy, and have; but not with [?] and Northrups—who have no standing in India.

b. I was the only outsider at a dinner wherein Master Tara Singh “surrendered” to Prime Minister Nehru. I wrote then that it was such a “man bite dog” affair that it would be published in detail. It was not. The truth about the incidents have been kept under cover. I intend furthermore to bring out the man who arranged the meeting—a top Sufi. I was there.

I have been “there” many times. I have seen the Royal Cemetery in Japan, the first non-Asian. I have been a guest of honor in the Imperial Gardens in Tokyo and at the Emperor’s Botanical Gardens. I have seen the stupa over the ashes of Buddha in Japan. The same course of events in Thailand. The same in India, the same in Pakistan, the same in UAR.

I addressed as many Egyptians as did Billy Graham but was introduced, thank God, as “The American,” a sobriquet which I enjoyed. I want to bring Americans and Asians together. I want to see them sit down and discuss man-to-man. Yes, I am a member of the American Friends of the Middle East. They know all about my career.

The two things discussed here most are salinity and Islam. I saw Mrs. Eleanor Clay of the Dept. of Agriculture in Washington who sent me to Dr. Fireman at Riverside who gave me plenty of material which I turned over to Dr. Zohdi, Chief Soil Conservationist at Lahore, etc. I have told Chester Bowles that what he wrote about I would do. I am doing but his department and the Embassy are too busy denouncing each other (in their interpretations) to bother about an American who achieves.

I am now making my final horticultural reports to Mr. M.A. Cheema, Joint Minister of Food and Agriculture; and to Secretary Q.U. Shahab on other aspects of my mission here. It took Secretary Shahab five minutes to recognize me—someday I will get a USIA representative to, without going through the agony in Cairo.

I have been in holy places of Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism and shall probably continue. I have a large itinerary of universities to address. I am invited to Malaya by Phra Sumangalo who is arranging my appearance there with the Prime Minister. I literally stole two delegations of “neutralists” from the Russians and Czechs in Cairo—by very anti-protocol methods—beginning by admiring women’s dresses, etc.

I don’t know how much the Peace Corps will be trained as to the agricultural problems here. But all of us are sure and fear they will not know about Islam or the Moghul or other cultures which impregnate Pakistan and their potter clay policies with all the verbiage of democracy and brotherhood may make things [?] not.)

[?] to have to come to Washington. I have omitted many names here. [?]. Asians and Americans do not sit down together. Chester Bowles [?] things by attempting to associate with Indians. I [?] Ambassador Galbraith and as for Reischauer, I have been [?] to Japan for a generation.

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis Passport 1919228

Ahmed Murad Chisti

Peshawar, NWF

September 9, 1961

Hon. Q. U. Shahab,

Secretary to the President,

General Ayub National Park,

Rawalpindi.

My dear Mr. Secretary:

I have reached the furthermost point in my visit to this country and am gradually returning toward Karachi. I should be in India within a month, inshallah.

Tourism: This is positively the worst aspect of my visit here. I had hoped to introduce something of this subject into my country, but it is absolutely impossible. Since writing the article of which copy is enclosed I have spoken to four more tourists, two Americans and two “British” and they confirm my statements. There is not much concern for the “tourist” that any tourist that does not fit in with this imaginary person is given short-shrift as we say.

All the real tourists I have met fall into two classes and two only, although these classes overlap: (1) adventure-hunting-fishing type; (2) Islamic-historical-Asian culture type. Both abhor liquor, European dancing, and the kind of entertainment that is offered at luxury hotels. Both would like to see more Pakistani dancing, which fortunately we get at the cinema.

No letters or inquiries of any kind have ever been answered by your officials. Fortunately one receives courtesies, assistance and information from the GTS and railway people who are very kind and hospitable.

Cultural Exchange: I have been received most excellently wherever I have talked on “Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science.” Several newspapers have printed excerpts of my talks and I have another newspaper interview coming up. I hope to go into this subject in more detail in Lahore, etc.

Agricultural Missions: I should say they have been most successful and I shall be sending in reports to Joint Minister M.A. Cheema whom I hope to see again before I leave. My last report can not be made before visiting Lyallpur.

Islam in Pakistan: I have met, I am told, more holy men, saints, and spiritual teachers than any foreign visitor to date. My last was to Golra Shereef; very, very satisfactory.

Poetry: I am now engaged in one grand epic, “Rassoul Gita” and in several smaller ones. A few of the latter have been accepted for translation into Pashto.

Salt Water Conversion: I have material covering the latest projects in the United States which I hope to turn over to the proper authorities either directly or through your good services.

Return to Pakistan: This will be no doubt when Allah wishes.

Islam in America: I have now two offers of cooperation—one from Faquir Zulfaqir Ali Shah Mastana of Rawalpindi; the other through Major Sadiq of Lahore. Both hope to come to America either with me or later travel with me in the United States with rather harmonious programs of spiritualism and spirituality. A large number of high officials are interested in each.

As I hope to visit the East Wing after my tour in India everything here is, in a sense, inconclusive. But the cordiality and hospitality received with the above single exception, has been pretty universal.

When I am in Rawalpindi—probably next week—I shall telephone your office for any appoint or request; an appointment is only necessary in so far as you feel it is proper. Again thanking you for your hospitality and council,

I remain,

Peshawar,

September 10

Dear Friends of the World Affairs Council:

This is my diary rather than “the news.” I am enclosing a copy of a letter written to a famous person whom “I knew when.” I have had to write also to Senator Fulbright as a last resort. I have long been urged to this by my friend who failed to get my interview with the press or State Department and his warnings over Annam and then Laos have developed until he became a ex-patriot. He has turned to Fulbright in disgust and was accepted but not by the Dullas regime. Then, after he met Fulbright, the State Department and CIA hounded him, but not before.

I am in the awful dilemma of having to go to Burdick or what is worse Fulton Lewis Jr. The opening wedge is simple. Ed Murrow loves to preach and does not want any criticism or suggestions and the animosity toward him everywhere is great. I received a letter from one Mr. Shepherd in charge of Afghanistan and Pakistan political relations who told me if I only seriously conferred with the USIA officials I would have different views of their work.

No. 1 refused absolutely point blank to see me.

No. 2 the brush-off until I collared him and then only personal talk

No. 3 the brush-off

And here I am talking to thousands and thousands of people, getting publicity mostly in Urdu, sending in reports to members of the Cabinet, meeting bigwigs all over the place and unable now to make proper diary or other records – simply too much. I have spoken at Mardan College and at the Urdu section of the University of Peshawar on subjects for which I was declared totally uncredentialed in California led by the “expert” Rom Landau – the others are no better. I was not even qualified to be a student. And here I teach teachers on the same subjects!

I have visited the Americans who control the Department of Agriculture at the Peshawar U. and the chief advisers in the same field (from Colorado State). Have visited the fine Sugar Plantation at Mardan owned and operated by Sattar and Jamshyd Khan, both of whom have visited California and yesterday the Agricultural Research Station east of this city. Have visited Warsak Dam which is now operated by former students by my quondam hosts. Have long reports to make on the Pashto Academy (excellent) and the Peshawar U. (not excellent). And keep on meeting Sufi after Sufi in all walks of life—and we deny their existence. And they control the country!

I have learned considerable about the language and idiom complexes of this part of the world. I have seen agriculture at many, many levels; have discussed all of the problems listed in the letter to Chet Huntley, etc. I am not a social scientist and have not had time to review carefully recent books in these fields. But if anybody says there is no caste here—the more “shocked” people are over our treatment of Negroes; the more likely one is to find plenty of declassed persons in the weed pile! And I have just had an American teacher go into detail on the white-collar complex of most college students who want to be gentlemen.

Perhaps one of the most dangerous elements in the quasi-socialistic approach I have seen is that only too often promotion depends more on scholastic degrees than on work records.

I am sending a number of counter-proposals to entrain Pakistanis in California, mostly (a) undergraduate and graduate salinity research at Riverside (b) apprentice trainings by our food processing industries. I am ready to do all the interviewing myself, but at the moment have no faith in our newsmen who could accomplish this in a few editorials.

I have conferred on this with both the Afghanistan advisors and the research agriculturalists of Pakistan. Also with the actual growers and at least one food-processing man. This is a large complex study. The waste and shortage, the issues of packaging and grading and the great inefficiency in the whole food industry makes some resource imperative. However as Sugar is involved I should go to Stanford Research. Russia made a botch in the Beet industry, etc. by its very loose philosophy in the use of fertilizer and here I am pretty near an “expert” if there is such a thing as an “expert.”

Unfortunately I have had almost as much short-shift from the agricultural attachés as from the cultural people. In this nothing but cooperation. This makes me want to see Burdick. But why can’t we accept facts; must they be impressed only as emotional fiction. Fortunately our two senators would take me to here and there is no question of Congressman Hennessy (who after all is close to Mrs. Grady).

I have to complete my financial arrangements at Abbottabad then go to Rawalpindi, the temporary capital for some short but “heavy” conferences. I hope to track the American mining employers who are said to be stationed in Abbottabad (you can’t always accept rumors). But I get more and more of a most pleasant picture of a tremendous mineral wealth here about which little is done. Between oil and propaganda there is little real examination of basic facts and potentialities.

I avoid such matters as comparing India and Pakistan but do talk about UAR because that is in the people’s minds, an Islamic country. I do not know how much my reports will be considered but my manuscripts left in the U.S. have gotten nowhere. It is not easy to break into print and I have had located an agent.

After Rawalpindi I must go to Lahore for a still heavier program. I shall then try to record the people whom I may be meeting socially—it is a “400” list. Then go to Karachi and out. My “previews” for India are excellent and they are drawing together but then it is the one bug-bear—we teach there are no Sufis and my presumable hosts include Sufis who are friends of the Gradys and in one case an actual associate!

I may do a small amount of research on Buddhist art. I have visited some museums here but at present the “experts” are in conflict and an examination in situ shows it is very difficult to come to conclusions without a vast amount of knowledge which is hard to obtain – such as Indian stone architecture prior to this era. There is a conflict of opinion as to the relative Roman and Grecian contributions. I think we have been taught too loosely that Greeks are artists and Romans engineers. For my part it is not that simple. But it does affect that theories announced from this region. The Tuscan and toga elements make me lean toward the Roman view which the Pakistanis uphold, the Europeans generally support the Greek basis and there is some strong evidence for it too.

This city being the furthest inland, petrol is scarce and expensive so no taxis, just tongas. The buses and good are very cheap. I have visited the bazaars and bought folk-shoes, a couple of things for the Rudolph Schaeffer School and last night was given a prayer rug by a Sufi. I shall probably carry this with me, not ship, but I now have excellent bazaar-connections if one is interested. I expect to get some silverware from Abbottabad.

In the next two weeks there is also the complex of a travelling companion or two, both for Pakistan and for my journeys therein. If successful it will redound to my financial advantage. At Lahore I must confer with the AMFE, etc.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

Rawalpindi

Sept. 16, 1961

Dear [?],

I am using odds and ends of paper here to make some diary entries from [?] period. Each time I have purchased paper it has been of a different size and texture and there is a tendency to keep small remnants of each. In trying to cut down on my luggage—nine pieces – I am making every effort to get rid of waste knowing that I must keep letters, souvenirs and purchases with me.

During the last few weeks I have had many adventures. Have spoken before three colleges and had three newspaper interviews and should say, to date, that I have certainly spoken to more Pakistanis that most Americans. One of the chief barriers to cultural exchange is the almost protocol series of restrictions put on our advisers. This was particularly true of my last interview with Ted Thatcher, our Cal. Forest Entomologist and compelled to be chief adviser in agricultural instruction at the U. of Peshawar. He is getting a big salary for doing what he does not wish, had not yet seen a forest and the chief bugs he meets are those that invade his home. Nor has he met his aids and professional colleagues nor done anything he had wished to. Indeed on top of that he is now the compulsory instructor of “Peace Corps” apprentices who are coming here soon to be briefed and trained. The further I go into this subject the more doubtful are my opinions.

If the Peace Corps learn any language it will probably be Urdu which is a city language both in Pakistan and India. It was originally the language of the army, but later replaced Persian at the courts. It never became the language of the masses excepting through its gradual introduction into Islamic schools. The unschooled, the non-Muslims, the “scheduled classes” and in general the peasants do not speak Urdu—and they are the ones who need help. The rich, the cultured, even the school kids speak it and they don’t need help. Besides almost none of the help is coming in the lines of the problem discussed herein and before.

I am about the make my final report so Secretary Shahab and will make a long report to Secretary Cheema, the Minister of Food and Agriculture.

a. Salinity. This is the big problem here and the further I go the more it is emphasized. We are still “sending experts” here. I have found nobody who knows about the US. Dept. of Agriculture Research Lab at Riverside and few that know about the college there either. I have presented and will continue to argue for Pakistanis to send both undergraduates and graduates to that region for training and then for primary work in their own country.

So far as the U.S. Government is concerned, I have written my last warning to Senator Fulbright and given him three months to answer. Otherwise I am coming out in the open and have a grim choice between Prof. Burdick, Congressman Judd, and Commentator Fulton Lewis Jr. Any Foreign Service that reacts more strongly to the fiction of “The Ugly American” than to facts and personal presentations is schizophrenic. The CIA which bonered in Cuba had every reason to know about Laos and I warned four times about Cairo and once about Bagdad—no use. The whole emphasis is on superficialities.

b. Food Processing. I have discussed with the Americans at Peshawa—the principal at the University and Dr. Thatcher, with my friend Abdul Quddus Ravi at Rawalpindi and at Tarnab Farm and Takht Bhai (see below) and two editors about proposing to have at least 12 Pakistanis given apprentice training by our large corporations or farm organizations:

a. Prunus canning, b. Plums, c. Small fruits, d. Vegetables

e. Dried prunes, f. dried other fruits, g. canning and pickling; h. jam and jellies;

i. processing as Heinza; j. grading and sizing for the market; k. conditioning and preserving. There might be others. So far I have had nothing but favorable reactions.

Afghan Situation: Although this is or was basically political and intrigue, in practice it has resulted in the shutting off of fresh fruits from the Pakistani and India markets. The most important are the grapes. They had many good grapes, but the harvest had not reached its peak. Thompson seedless stood out. Most melons are off the market. There are several pears some of which I do not know and also varieties strange to us. With the exception of the one Pear—I will write further on this when I get out my notebook, there is little I can recommend. Many of the Apples are soft and mealy and I am inclined to believe those are mostly from districts where there is little frost or snow.

University of Peshawar is both one of the largest and poorly organized institutions I have seen. Some sections are integrated and some are run as separate institutions. The Agricultural College is in this last range. The students there have to take Chemistry, Physics and Botany in their own labs. This means duplication and especially between the Agricultural and Forestry College there is duplication. This is the worse because the Chemistry Dept. has good labs. The Mardan College has very poor labs, but those at Peshawar are fine.

At Peshawar if you go in for Engineering or Medicine, you take your two years of undergraduate work in the basic sciences at the university, but the Ag. and Forestry have duplicated colleges, labs, teachers, buildings, etc., all useless. Then these colleges have their special courses in history, literature (humanities, etc.) are separate and duplications—waste in every way. Why they should be so and the Engineering Colleges should be organized and integrated I do not know. Indeed the Civil, Elec. and Mechanical Departments do not duplicate any course of the other and they are not only highly efficient but controlled by personal friends.

I do not know whether I wrote about my visit to Warsak Dam. The operators are entirely engineers who were students of Prof. Durrani, one of my best friends. The dam is on the Kabul River. I often wondered why the river should go through a gorge canyon and not through Khyber Pass. Some stream must have gone through this pass once and been diverted, like our San Joaquin. It was comparatively easy to dam this river and get considerable power. There is a huge power station which looks like a science-fiction setting for Hollywood movies. Everything is duplicate and not only push button controlled but there is a control over the controls. Any repair work can be done by switching over and there are mechanical means of lifting any machines or dynamos up to one floor level where they can easily be reached and repaired. It was 1961. Now they are opening flumes and canals for the water. The presence of this dam and the forthcoming ones on the Indus may attract industry here but that is a long story, some elements of which may be recorded here.

My most interesting time was at the Pashto Academy which is thoroughly modern and operated like it were part of Columbia rather than Peshawar. Indeed I have to write a long report about it which I shall do from Lahore where I shall be going shortly.

Takht Bhai. I think I may have written you previously that I expected to visit the largest farm in Pakistan operated on modern lines. This was so. Sattar & Jamshyd Khan are Sugar producers. Before planning they manure their land and add superphos. They said they use a great deal of manure and I did see both buffalo dung and leaf-mould deposits in quantities. Sugar is a 10 month crop.

Maize does not do well and Sorghum comes in between. I am not surprised because this is high pH soil with K in abundance—good for sugar and starch crops, but others need K and P, not to say trace elements. Some Jute is grown also. Indeed I am interested in doing work on Malvaceae, etc. but this is only a hope and dream.

Time out

September 18, 1961

This is a diary entry, no copy to Satya. On the contrary please share it with the Connaughtons, Bill Hathaway, Yvonne, Norman and anybody and everybody.

It is very definite that this pupa is coming out of its skin; whether he is a moth or butterfly, pest or beneficial insect is to be seen. The story of “Mr. Isaacs” by Marion Crawford is that of a Sufi, originally of Jewish ancestry, who was protected by the Indian and Buddhist “mahatmas” and rishis, who fell in love with an English girl who was Episcopalian, but his lot was to work with the spiritual forces and not marry her! I have always said this would be the story of my life and it is the story of this trip.

Pir Azlan Shah, the Police Treasurer and Paymaster, said to me before we both left Abbottabad that I had probably met more saints and holy men than any other foreigner. What I have gone through makes Paul Brunton and Yeats-Brown look like amateurs. My talks at the colleges have been very well received and I have been promoted socially in a sense, rising in turn above the mullahs and maulvis to become an alim, rising above the “ulema” to become a dervish and Sufi.

My plans to visit Waziristan were stalled spiritually and instead of following the Khalandar I met one Pir Golra Shereef about 10 miles west of Rawalpindi who gave me the exact same blessing I had seen in a dream and in the same way. When we arrived at the shrine, there was a tremendous celebration going on. Then everybody crowded around the “Pir” and he was having a hard time dismissing them. Then an attendant came and told him a foreigner wanted to see him. He got up abruptly—his back was turned to me—and came up immediately and said in Urdu, “Come to lunch.” I don’t know much Urdu but you can bet I know the words about eats.

He then gave me the same blessing that all the holy men have given me, adding more about my work in America—each adds more. Then I went to Peshawar, then to Mardan and back to Peshawar where I was given the run around which proved to be the best thing possible. I had time on my hands and went into the Kabul Pub Store on Sadlar Road. I bought a few things for the Rudolph Schaeffer School in S.F. Then we got into a long confab over prayer rugs and carpets. I told him I would not buy because I have no home and therefore would not know the size of the rooms. He made me a most attractive offer which I accepted. Then he invited me to dinner.

I was not hungry that night a/c heat and he wanted to invite friends and delay the meal which suited me fine. We then got into the most complicated and sometimes heated discussions. They asked me why I could not assent to their terms and I told them I could not without the consent of Allah and my Pir-o-Murshid. They asked me who my Pir-o-Murshid is. I replied “Maulana Abdul Ghafoor of Dacca.” Absolute silence. Then one after another they came up and embraced me. It was unbelievable. They had doubted my stories and there was the evidence in front of them; they accepted them all and we had a most delightful departure.

Next day I called and was given a proper rug to take back to the U.S. which I may keep or donate to a mosque or use as a “come on” for business.

Then in three days running in three different cities I ran into one Mohammed Saufraz, a brother Sufi. The last time was in Rawalpindi. I went out to look for him—in the wrong direction—and there he was out looking for me—in the wrong direction and we bumped into each other.

From those I learned that my Pir-o-Murshid is in Lahore and I am expecting to see him tomorrow, Inshallah. Meanwhile we are planning to visit the shrine of Mian Mir.

Besides the plans of the Khalandar to come to S.F. there are those of my brother, Major M. Sadiq. Each wishes to bring Sufi spiritualism and spirituality to the States with emphasis on healing. This is going to make Rom Landau ?happy? There are no Sufis, of course, of course.

ps. Jim

Now I am getting frightened. The Khalandar had built up a fortune and in the last two weeks an uncle got it all away from him while he was busy at law-court fighting for a sister. It means that “Punjabi Scam” was making a fine living getting hold of dispossessed Indian properties and selling them to incoming Muslims. He sold them very cheap and sometimes, as in this case, to two persons. He let them fight it out and after collecting enough “opted” for India. So there was the Khalandar’s sister living in a house somebody else had also bought. With four legal codes and four languages in them, what complications. So the Khalandar went to help his sister and his uncle did that while this was going on. Nize peepul!

The Khalandar was in tears but I went and prayed for him. I do this without thinking. That night he rushed over to my rooms. It seems that a very wealthy woman, who is one of his disciples, is unloading her properties and offering him 50% not commission, but of the principal—and there he is back in the plunks—six figures!

Then I decided not to call on the Khalandar’s disciple, Abdus Ravi, but to go to Dawn Hotel to say good-bye to my Sufi brother, Mr. Huq, who operates it. This proved to be right as Ravi is in Lahore (I am to meet him here later anyhow). Huq was in danger of losing his hotel. A hospital wanted it and was greasing the judge-advocate. Nize peepul. So at least I prayed.

The next day there was an auto accident and the judge is hospitalized and the case transferred. These are wonderful coincidences.

Meanwhile they have been organizing a real Pakistani-American Cultural Exchange movement. They wanted me to inaugurate it but I could not come. I said I wanted to help and plan, the door opens, a maufti comes in and tells me that he had really come to see me, not the Major, that he wanted me to address the next meeting. Boy, that was it. It is to be Tuesday night and we are going to collect chips to introduce Sufism, spirituality, and healing into the U.S. as introductory wedges in real cultural exchange.

On top of that another dream is coming true. The Egyptian Sufis (they don’t exist but they make lots of noise and have lots of influence and affluence) want to align with the Pakistanis and also with the Americans. I was asked whether I would welcome UAR guests. Welcome them! I nearly fell over. So I have to go to the police tomorrow and then to the U.S. Consulate both to report and get help on my Indian trip. At the moment I am dizzy from the heat, welcomes, constant travel and ego-ego.

I forgot. Before leaving Abbottabad (Shangrila), the Khalandar introduced another man whom he said was one of the greatest clairvoyants in Pakistan. Well he got the picture in S.F. perfectly and was not a bit sentimental either. He told me I must be firm, honest, strong, truthful and this will defeat my enemies but said I had many, though not necessarily important ones. My firmness could defeat them. As for spiritual forces behind me and in all the blessings and predictions, this had better not be put on paper.

Finally another Khalandar slept in these rooms and insisted a great holy man had slept there before. The Major denied. The Khalandar said he was not a Pakistani, a foreigner who had come a long way and said the Major had better tell the truth. It was all right to play Puck of Pukhtunistan and have Puck play “Ah Yaint, a saint” but there is more in this than meets the eye. If I write it is ego; if I do not write the record is incomplete.

SLL

Lahore, Pakistan

September 18, 1961

My dear Senator Engle:

I did not expect to be writing you before leaving this country. The grapevine has it that I shall be having a reception in San Francisco and I may sometime be meeting you either through Yvonne or Mrs. Grady, or it may be worth your while to have a representative present should the World Affairs Council of Northern California or the American Friends of the Middle East program me. At the same time there is activity in Southern California and if I did not tell you before I saw my former neighbor Norris Paulson beaten by a former pal, Sam Yorty, in the Mayoral contest. I have lived all over California and if my past showed no laurels, there is a very different picture now.

I have already spoken to some 15,000 people in this country which is probably more than any unheralded person as ever addressed. My suggestion to President Ayub was utilized by him to his advantage. And I was rather amused on reaching Lahore that not only is a group of VIPs arranging a meeting for me, but this is exactly on the lines suggested by President Ayub himself, to promote real, two-way cultural and other exchange between the United States and Pakistan and no nonsense.

This is impossible at the present time. Imagine an American citizen going to a government servant and saying: “I bet 10 to 1 that you learned something called “Islam” from a professor who was neither an American nor a Muslim.” No taking. What kind of nonsense is this? I am now using my contacts in California protesting against my being kept off the air by an English educated man who never was in Asia, and yet has been put in charge of Buddhism and then all religions; and by being blacklisted in the college by a questionable ex-patriate who had a superficial education in Islamics and happens to be a friend of the sultan of Morocco? I continue and shall continue to campaign against our totally nonsensical reliance upon non-American, non-Asians to “brief” us on this continent. I have seen two Vice-Presidents make asses of themselves. I was greeted on a large scale in UAR, on a larger one here and have top invitations to India, Malaya and Indonesia. As to Thailand and Japan, I was a guest of honor in the palatial grounds of both countries and without “credentials”—whatever those mean.

I continue to harp on “Fifty million Frenchmen can’t be wrong: fifty million Sufis cannot be.” This country is in the hands of disciples of Sufism from President Ayub down but we take a lot of humbug from non-American, non-Asians and think we can reach the hearts and minds of these people. No, I am not going to predict any mobbing of libraries here. I hope I never have to again, but if I did it would not help anyhow. The greatest complaint I have had and heard from both Americans and Pakistanis is the lack of social intercourse. But how can Americans, who either are not interested or totally misinformed about real Islamic sociology and philosophy, talk. The ignorant ones at least would not make errors. The latter do and have and will make faux pas, and these will be by-passed by the top people.

I am giving a copy of this almost in despair to the consulate to ascertain whether either they or the USTA will send a representative to one of my gatherings, official or social. Some day someone will—some day—and they will see how it is possible to promote real heart-to-heart friendship and intercourse and stop a lot of nonsensical, non-communicative self-praise.

I am not belittling foreign aid. Far from it. But without public relations, there is often wrong emphasis. Sometimes accomplishments which impress or benefit the public—included the mass of peasants—is not "good copy" and when it is not "good copy" it is by-passes. The people here are not particularly interested in the scientific accomplishments of the United States excepting where it benefits them. They are at the same time much more spiritual than we are and much more self-centered even to the point of paranoiac. That is why, though I greatly appreciate president Kennedy's emphasis on "realism" I question how far "realism" is "realityism."

Tomorrow night some progress will be made toward establishing real, honest cultural exchange wherein Pakistanis will take measure to present to the United States their poetries, their philosophies, their medical and healing systems, their traditional and modern arts, etc. Jesus Christ has given us many parables about sowers. yet neither in our politic or agriculture have we followed these "truths." We pour our propaganda—not bad in itself—without regard to the sensitivities and sensibilities of nationals. This country claims to be "Islamic." We learn subjective Islamism from Canadians, Germans, Englishmen and Zionists—each with his own brand of subjectivism and present ourselves before peoples who have their different brands of subjectivisms, and none very measurably by the text book theories of the religion; and the folk-ways are totally different and often ignored.

If an American is a newspaper man he is taken over-seriously. If he is a missionary he is not taken seriously at all. But the Pakistanis—and a lot more Asians—have the deepest respect for a praying and prayerful man and no respect for a non-devotee. Now although the President has placed perhaps the best man as Ambassador for India, he has also places some newsmen who made fools of themselves on this continent in positions of authority and responsibility.

I have written to a large number of persons highly placed in our government, and receiving either no reply, or the worst kind of white-wash reply. I have written to Senator Fulbright. My complaint is simple and elemental—if I go to fiction-writer Burdick and show my diaries, he will write more books and then the Foreign Service will have to take notice. Fiction Yes! Fact, No! And Alsop will write more articles explaining or explaining away. Or I could go to Fulton Lewis Jr.—God save the mark—and there would be impeachments and resignations and I am not fooling. I have my references. I contact all kinds of people at all levels and the program ahead is based on just that.

Or I might write to Senator Dowd who sees communists in every corner. And it is better to see communists in every corner than hush! hush! There is trouble on the Asian side. If we had a few American Muslims we could go in and counter-balance the whole situation. We can't. The Russians can and so send in "Muslims" and it is easy and when their political and economic program does not work, this sort of propaganda is all too easy. And no counter-propaganda. And what does a nation, briefed by Canadians, German, Englishmen and Zionists, know about practicing and practical Islam?

Then there is Agriculture. I have had conferences at top levels with so many leaders in all branches of this science and industry. In UAR I was taken seriously. The Embassy here has ignored me, not replied to my letters and has and is compelling me to do legwork when I return to California. What are public servants?

At my own expense I have visited villages, farms, plantations and gone deeply into salinity, soil analysis, erosion, forestry, plant protection, crop improvement, introduction of new crops (particularly soy bean and avocado), etc. I have my diaries and have contacts with several important persons and institutions in the U.S. I shall go also to Stanford Research in regard to sugar, maize, and rice with the particular problems and inquiries presented to me by the proper people in this land. I also have contacted editors and heard their story.

But the main thing at the moment is what the Sufis are considering about communism. I have had so many reports from them and within the next 48 hours I expect to get more material which I can’t present to our so-called Intelligence because they deny the existence of these people or take one for a crack-pot, etc. As I wrote President Kennedy, it is a shame to have such subjectivism when he himself has hosted quite a few disciples in Sufism and if he wanted names I would give them. For the Sufis, though mystics, are more open-eyed than anybody else and the reports I have had both on what is going on behind the Iron Curtain and the counter measures which they are taking is splendid materialﾀ??for a Burdick, for a Dalles never.

The idea that Berlin might be a feint while Afghanistan is being occupied is at least an idea. And so on. I wrote William Winter years ago and I have stopped writing him—that I could tell the next moves because I have contacts. I have, thank God, been able to report to Chet Huntley (another old California friend, etc.).

Efforts at book writing have not been successful but every effort will be made. But while some editor is considering a manuscript the “enemy” will make their moves. I shall learn more in India where I go soon and much more in Malayan. I may have to go to Indonesia myself.

Here is a country with a grand government, all kinds of services, etc., but a private citizen who cannot even get some report taking seriously, is invited by a foreign nation to come and try to better intellectual exchange. It is nonsense but it is true.

Most people here are very anti-Russia. They claim to be more anti-Russian than we are. They would know nothing about dialectics excepting that some of our USIA libraries have a multitude of anti-dialectic books and a dearth of pre-American material. You may understand why I object strongly to ANTA and indirectly to USIA who can finance a pianist to play Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Tchaikovsky. Not even Grafe and Copland who wrote American-American music. You can understand why I sympathize with Judge Saund. Real foreign help yes, but nonsense, superficial boon-doggling no.

I follow the path of Richard Burton and Gertrude Ball in Islamic lands. Too bad so few of our diplomats know about them. I have made enough suggestions to pull the rug under the feet of many neutralist lands. Today I am faced with a choice—Senator Dowd or a foreign nation. I may have to try the Senator unless Fulbright answers. Washington and to some extent the Foreign Service here is too full of self-adulation. Do we have to have another Laos?

Sincerely,

Samuel L. Lewis

2 Elgin Road

Lahore Camtt.

September 19, 1961

To the Indian High Commission,

3 Hans Road

Karachi

Sir:

You will find enclosed:

2. Copies form of Application for Visa

2. Copies Incidental explanations requested

10 Rs. Pakistani

U.S.A. Passport 1919228

Passport photos of myself

These forms were obtained from your representatives at Murree.

I am not exactly sure of my residential address in India as my good friend, Satya Agrawal has moved. In the case of emergency mail would be sent at the embassy U.S.A., New Delhi. But I am writing Agrawalji in this regard.

I think you will find my reference quite in order and I have answered question with candor. One of my first hosts will probably be Dr. Radhakrishnan whom I hope to see at an early date; also some of you colleagues in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Faithfully

Samuel L. Lewis

Lahore, Pakistan

September 20, 1961

Rosemary Benton, Librarian,

World Affairs Council

San Francisco, Calif.

My dear Rosemary:

I am trying to catch up on my diary and am compelled to utilize any kind of paper I can purchase. In each city or town it is often different and this has led to the collection of odds and ends of which I am trying to get rid. This morning I am going to try to meet Col. Shahar Khan who is one of the heads of Punjab University. I was going to go there anyhow but last night I met this gentleman and he acted as chairman. I do not know whether he is Chancellor or what. But I am to arrange or try to arrange two kinds of lectures at this university, roughly on Islamic Art and Islamic Philosophy.

Last night I was the guest speaker of a group which is organized to study and spread the cultural and spiritual values of this country. Some day inshallah, we shall have two-way cultural exchange. We have plenty of money to subsidize pianists to play Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky but we have no money whatever to spend for the training either in school or on the job in situ of anybody who will study the cultures and folk-ways of foreign lands and thus promote real two-way cultural exchange.

When the Afghan pot gets hot, we shiver. The Russians send in Muslims and scientists who study ethnography, linguistics and stir up people in the Mosques. What is our answer? We shiver. We can’t send out Muslims as diplomats and I bet the Vice-Consul in Peshawar 10 to 1 that he studied Islamics under somebody who was neither an American nor a Muslim. Blasted face. This is diplomacy 1961 and this is the way to fight a cold war?

Now I have spoken to some 15,000 people which is not news because I did it by stepping out of line. I am living in the home of a man who has become a famous Sufi. Of course this can’t be—go to any college or university in California. This can’t be. He is also close friend of President Ayub. I never met the gentleman but I am always with friends of his and now I am embarking on exactly the program he has requested of me. That is to introduce the historical and spiritual cultures of Pakistan into America.

Anybody can learn these things excepting:

a. European and Canadian professors who teach? Asiatics?

b. Diplomats including the “Peace Corps.”

The Russians and Americans, bound by their rival potter-clay, trousers-tractors cum dialectics have stirred up other peoples. But despite the news it would seem that on the whole Russians and Americans are more peace-loving than the inhabitants of “peace-loving” nations who gather at Belgrade and decide to fight in Algiers, if they can only stop fighting each other. We have no formula! Russia has one and Nehru has all the rest. If anybody can find a formula for Algiers, Katanga and Kashmir at the same time, I bow before Almighty God or mighty man!

In Peshawar I not only was warmly received by cultural and Sufi leaders, I had the most astounding meeting with a Sufi, more dramatic than anything you can read in Paul Brunton or Yeats-Brown. To the skeptics I shall show the prayer rug I so received. It may be placed on exhibition at Gump’s’s or it may land in the Los Angeles-Hollywood Mosque. I can’t give it to the Muslims in S.F. because they learned from “Von Plotz” there are no Sufis and so believe.

Paul Brunton has written about a “strange encounter.” In three different towns in one week I ran into Mohammed Saufraz, a leading Sufi. The last time we both went out to look for each other way out of our destination we literally ran into each other in the streets. Some psychologist please explain. This gentleman is leading Sufi despite Von Plotz and is a high official in the telephone company, especially with the installation of long distance connections. Sufis are never practical, but of course, they don’t exist—which is putting a lot of Prime Ministers and Ambassadors in a strange position. This is diplomacy and cultural exchange?

Anyhow last night I got along fine and when somebody challenged I found they were not challenging me but other speakers. To really please an audience and have them come and greet you, one and all—well diplomacy died with Lodge and Root. Wilson was captivated by Clemenceau and now we leave Dale Carnegie at home and try the opposite to “influence people.” We do not study them.

I have not gotten answers from any of the big-wigs in Washington or at the Embassy and half in despair have written to Senators Engle and Fulbright. I am seriously thinking of going to Burdick—but there is a chance that with Galbraith in New Delhi I may get a serious reception. Yesterday I threw up the sponge, called the acting Cultural Attaché into the closet and gave him one suggestion. He is a Pakistani, not American, but he works for us. He hit the ceiling. I knew he would. When you understand this hearts and minds of these people which you can’t learn from Canadian, English, German and Zionist professors of Islamics, it is easy.

I have sent a copy of a letter to the Chronicle asking for an interview someday. No doubt I shall see Dr. Radhakrishnan. He is one of the directors of the World Congress of Faiths. I hope to confer first with Bishop Pike with regard to establishing a chapter in the S.F. Bay area where we can study the living religion, especially as explained by their proponents and not get some “unbiased” side-shows of non-American, non-Asians—and I am not kidding in the least. I have not abandoned the idea of a petition of a million names—and I mean a million names—to present to our President, Kennedy or not, asking for two-way cultural exchange with Asians. They have much to give us.

I am taking some technical material with me to the University and will stop here to see what happens, if anything. I know what these people want and some day we shall really meet Asians face to face. The big complaint I get form Pakistani’s at Peshawar was that Americans did not associate with them socially and the big complaint I got from Americans at Peshawar is that they are so red-taped they do not get opportunities to associate with Pakistani’s or see the country. I don’t know what this is because diplomacy is a strange beast.

I am writing several reports on this country. Although I am 90% satisfied verbally this does not appear so. The complaints are chiefly about a most subjective form of “tourism”—in the name of the “tourist” the tourist is ignored. The “tourist” is a free-spending, night-club roué who is seen in pictures. And if anybody thinks this sort of person wants to come to Pakistan he is crazy. So the “bums” and adventurers and mountain climbers, etc, who come here are discommoded to satisfy the non-existing “tourist.” I was unable to convince the Japanese of their error and they changed the system. Here to suggest is to criticise and to criticise is to insult. Outside of that no basic complaint.

My stubborn adherence to an E. Phillips. Oppenheim career continues. Last night I was the principle speaker at a gathering of intellectuals. The subject assigned to me—at the last minute—was “Spiritual Islam” How “only in America.” I would never, never (or hardly ever) be permitted to speak on this subject. But I was gradually raised to imam (not imam who knows the prayers), Khatib, alim and now dervish which is higher than alim and an alim is supposed to know everything. A dervish fortunately does not, but he ranks higher just the same. Everybody stayed behind to shake hands and I mean everybody. But the chairman happened to be Col. Shabhaz Khan and who is the colonel? Well he is the acting Chancellor at Punjab U. which is the top intellectual institution in the country—and which incidentally does not recognise the Von Plotzes and Epoops whom we sit google-eyed before.

Now it happened I had to visit the university on official business today so after going to the Art Department I was guided right into the uppity sanctum sanctuary, gave the colonel some literature on Salt-Water Conversion to start off and have a date for 12pm on Friday at his request.

Now Rosemary, I have always said that the authorities on Asia were European professors and American newspaper men and never, never must they be American professors and European newspaper men. In this I was wrong. I forgot Miss Cloudnine. She knows all about rishis, mahatmas, holy men, saints etc. They are all in the Himalayas. But it seems that the west end of the Himalayas is in Pakistan, not in India or Nepal. The mountains did not opt? Neither did the springs, caves and holy places. Many of them were and are in Punjab and most of Punjab is in Pakistan.

Despite Miss Cloudnine’s well as the Europeans professors and American newspaper men, I can say that the saints, holy men, seers and sadhus are on this side. I am not going to argue, I am arranging to bring one or two. So help me. You won’t recognize them; they don’t look a bit like those described by Miss Cloudnine. Among those whom I am not bringing are the top Physicist-Engineer, a Police Paymaster, and the very old, who are usually hajis; that is, have been to Mecca and are now veterans of tourism and don’t want to travel anymore.

Of course all these holy men are “fanatics.” This is easily explained – if they are Muslims they are “fanatics”—otherwise they are not. But I am Afraid that our European professors, American newspapermen and friends and relatives of Miss Cloudnine are going to have a shock. The chief fanatic of Pakistan is none other than General Ajub Khan. Of course he is not a fanatic. He is a very devout man in a way we can’t understand and would not understand unless we stop facing realism and come to facts—more easily said then done. Anyhow I have visited shrines and holy men whom he venerates which is an awful thing to say—and I agree with him—which is worse, because I am an American.

For the moment I am living in the house of Major Mohammed Sadiq. Like all seers, saints and spiritualists he does not preamble in the slightest, the presumptions of Miss Cloudnine. He happens to be a military man and military men are out! Positivul. God has nothing to say about holy men; that is for Miss Cloudnine & Co—or else for Prof. Schmeercase, who does not cross into Pakistan and finds them all over India.

Major M. Sadiq is a spiritual healer. Far from Miss Cloudnine’s followers he works closely with doctors and hospitals, especially hopeless cases. He has healed a large number of hopeless cases and they are on record. Most evenings between 5 and 6 you will see a crowd gathering here for either healing-by-touch or have his magnetized water. There are cases all the way to the Afghan border on one side and the Indian border on the other.

The “worst” about this situation – despite the European professors, American newsmen and Miss Cloudnine—is that President Ayub has faith in him, is a close friend and has consulted him on many occasions.

I have written to Duke University about psychic powers and ESP cases here. But again, you see the effect of Miss Cloudnine—authentic cases which would upset our equilibrium are not wanted. So in addition to Major Sadiq I am preparing to cooperate with the Khalandar who has faculties all over the place, or as I sometimes put it, facu£tie$. For both of these men are well healed, have all kinds of £$£$ and even if they collect on our side, they are more than protected here. So far as Major Sadiq is concerned, he does not charge and will only charge in America because we are so monetary minded and appreciate it more when we do pay. And he wants to establish a solid Sufi Brotherhood despite all the European professors and Miss Cloudnine.

The substance of this is that we need to get down to earth and away from “realism.” I am getting a smashing welcome to India and Malaya just on this point. The big complaint here about Pakistanis is that Americans don’t mingle with them socially and the big complaint by Americans is that they are hamstrung in every direction making social intermingling most difficult. This is foreign aid.

How do you want to make some money? Just start the Biophysical Association for the Benefit of the Orphans of South Waziristan. Put in some pictures of wretched orphans and appeal for funds. This is a grand racket. There are hosts of organizations collecting funds with massive mass appeal and tear-jerking that would make the missionaries of an earlier time look like rank amateurs, which they were. Pick up the magazines, listen to radio and television and you would find 30- 40 organizations engaged in international charity. Come to earth and you can point them out on one hand. There is more racketeering of which the American public is victimized than there is any idea and this in turn greatly impedes the functional organizations such are CARE, AFME, Asia Foundation and the World Church Service.

As you can see from this letter the curry agrees with me. Everything does excepting the heat and tourism. The heat is nearing its end. I did something terrible today. I went into the Tourist Bureau and asked how to get out of the country—I know but I just wanted to test them. (Horrible foreigner just as the lady was finishing an exciting newspaper item and the gents were gathering to joke with the lady—awful interference and bore, very rude and I did not get much help either. So I changed the subject and fortunately got some help, but even that only showed I was rude.) The Tourist Bureau is by far the worst feature in Pakistan and everybody knows it. Fortunately the Travel Agencies, railroads, bus and air lines are courteous and help.

Oh, there’s lots more but I have to hold back something so you will welcome

Samuel L. Lewis

September 22

I have been so busy during the last week that I could hardly get to the typewriter. I had to pick up what paper I could and am trying to get some notes down.

Takht Bhai is Persian for Mountain Spring. It has ruins of old Buddhist monasteries and cities. Most of the last nearby is owned and operated by Sattar and Jamshyd Khan. Months ago I informed you that I hoped to visit the best farm run on modern methods and this is it.

Sugar is their main crop. They plant only on rows and hills and never broadcast. Both rain and irrigation water is used. But we ran into a difficulty—their harvest was much greater than expected per average and there are not enough mills to handle the cane.

Sugar is treated as an annual, running 9-10 months and is staggered as much as possible to maintain an employment equilibrium. They use two composts, one of decayed vegetable matter and the other of buffalo dung. These are spread on the ground usually with or near the time superphosphate is added. They go in much more heavily for organics than is usual in Pakistan and also have green manure fields.

I had come from UAR hoping to find some solutions for some problems and here there was no problem about Sucrose or anything excepting on the economic side and there, there is no system. There may still be some trial-and-error in obtaining the maximum of Sucrose but the whole thing at Takht Bhai was combined with the handling of labor and proper utilization of soil.

They are still working in the dark as to soil analysis. It is known there is a maximum of K but not of N or P, but there is no work on trace elements. I should imagine Copper might be important but this is something to look up. The tendency is to use small modern machines. Thus they have three disks and these are kept at various places some distance from each other. These are disconnected for other machines such as harrows, plows, etc. The operators are happy and proud of their work but the tradition in this “casteless” society—boy! It is bad enough to have dirty finger-nails but even the kind of dirt is classified. No castes.

After everything has been systematized they run into the bugaboo of countless government controls. The farmer is free. Period. From then on the editor of Khyber Mail was particularly rambunctious. He thinks that Sugar can be a crop like Cotton in UAR and he may be right.

Other Crops. I have mentioned Sorghum and Maize. I found myself in one of the most beautiful orchard gardens I ever visited. If it had been more Persian it would have been a “paradise” but there were no fountains and few ditches. The predominant tree when I was there was a Pear, but I never found the local name of it or the variety. Somewhere around I have some seeds. It is the one that is very firm until it becomes overripe and is tasty during the hard period after its color has changed to yellow. The sugars reach a maximum and when it ripens the esters do not increase but very ripe it is still good with milk and sugar. Some are cooked for fruit salads and ice-cream dishes.

The Dates were just coming out. There were a few Bananas but in general Prunus and Pome fruits. Quinces or a Quince-type fruit is now on the market but I have not examined it.

The whole fruit situation is complicated by the Afghanistan, Pukhtunistan, on-again, off again cannotunderstand situation.

Tarnab Farm is supposed to be the largest successful experimental station in West Pakistan. Unfortunately the day I visited it all the soil men, chemists and fruit men were away and my putative host was the chief of the orchardists.

The tree stand in the landscaping was the best I have seen in Pakistan and so far as Eucs are concerned perhaps anywhere. If it were not for the host I should probably say it is one of the finest and best kept gardens anywhere. Unfortunately I could not get a soil program. The men are so specialized they do fine jobs, each in their own field.

It is between seasons for vegetables and usually there are two crops a year. Cabbage grows well but is not relished; Cauliflower is. Most green vegetables are not wanted and anyhow we are told to keep away from uncooked ones.

There is both interest and success in Potato-growing. In this sector the soil was not heavy and it is also over-abundant in K and I think these are prime factors in this crop. The general soil program—from the Vegetable point of view, was more or less the same as at Takht Bhai. But while at Takht Bhai Ammonium-sulphate is used, here other N-products are applied. They are still experimenting but the government pressure is on the Ammosulph side and there are going to be misgivings.

Plant Protection. Here at least I can make a report. At Takht Bhai they use aeroplanes in massive spraying and it is safe as the cane, of course, is not edible and the program is such that the work can be adjusted safely enough before the harvest period.

With regard to the Locusts. I wrote humorously or cynically that there had been an international conference to deal with this situation. The “experts” got together and the Locusts were not invited. When the “experts” went home to their various countries, the Locusts started their depredations as usual to the curse of every farmer and to the delight of the city poor who went around collecting and eating them. I understand they are very good but the invasion was around Karachi, and close to the sea-coast, far from where I have been.

Peaches are attacked by Siponaptera daddine (not sure of the names). There is a spray called “Dimicron” (?) which is 100% successful. Toxaphane, the next best is only 50% efficient and others less so. This attacks only Prunus fruits. For the Fruit Fly which is a general pest on all orchard trees they use Malathion, Dieldrin and Toxaphane.

There is Paralla potisilla (?), a hemobera which is controlled by aerial spraying with Endrin, very good. And Thibolrea enticatalla controlled by both Malathion and Endrin. These last two seem to be affective, will report later.

Prospectus. I have been most fortunate in having as chairman to my last talk Col. Shahab Khan who is now Chancellor of Punjab U. and with whom I have been closeted twice. This is opening a lot of doors for me. And there is a new Agricultural Corporation in charge of all future research whose Chairman is a close friend of my present host, Major Sadiq.

September 26

Dear Florie,

This is the news: You can breathe easily. My first consignment of books has already been shipped to me-I in S.F. sent by I-me in Rawalpindi. I don’t know why I did it but maybe the Jinns are on my side or yours. I was contemplating the same thing for Lahore. I await my bank mail which will determine how much more I may or may not spend.

I have been urged to purchase “The Lotus and the Robot” by Koestler but I am also persuaded more and more to write. The document came when I visited the Consular and USIA offices this morning. This time they had to take me into account. The Sufis may not exist but the Russians have not found that out and in they infiltrate. Only this time our paths crossed—where no American should be because there are no American Sufis and where no Russians should be because there are no Sufis anyhow and besides the Russians are godless.

Psychically we have crossed trails. I feel very uneasy as if some strong forces were pulling me home and I can’t come home for a while. The two Pakistanis who are my potential traveling companions are both concerned with spiritual and physical healing. I have seen miracles and I mean I have seen miracles. But both the Khandalar and Major Sadiq want to come to America. You would be a “natural” for them to meet.

At the moment in a way I have a “waiting list” for my prayers and I am not permitted to pray for myself. I do not wish to go into esoterics or sensitivities but some shrines seem to open the doors to heaven. I have met my Calcutta host here in attendance on our Pir-o-Murshid (Maulana Abdul Ghafoor) and he remembers my exact words when we visited the Dargah of Dadajan—“The doors of heaven have been opened for me.”

The American officials now recognize that I have spoken to many thousands of Pakistanis and certainly my interviews with the Chancellor of Punjab U. have been excellent. This E. Phillips Oppenheim incident pushes me back one day—which for the moment is no loss. I can’t move until I get my visa with the passport for India, the police OK and my money reports.

Now your problems are more or less the type that the Khandalar would like to face. And while sundry Pakistanis wish to help America spiritually and otherwise they come and ask me to pray for them and for me this is a most serious business. There are a few things in Islam—with all its faults—that are so magnificent that one can easily and readily overlook or forgive many of the faults. No matter how selfish a man is, he has great respect for prayer.

Now I come to your statement “average people are not really concerned with matters that are not tangible.” You should come to Pakistan. Hosts of people are only concerned with matters that are not tangible. That is why there is “foreign aid.” They don’t like to face things. You can go around to any tea shop or café and have a huge audience discussing religion or metaphysics or the coming of the Mahdi, but not on the question of salinity or desert agriculture. So I live two lives here as in the U.S. but they are exactly the opposite—I live the scientific life and preach or write about the spiritual and in the U.S. I live the spiritual life and discuss the scientific. Now I shall rest until after lunch and resume.

In my last days here I may have to make some heavy decisions. The copy of letter enclosed has some hints in it. Naturally I think it has awakened the Consulate here more than anything else. An American may suggest or warn or report and he is liable to get short shift. But there is o longer “Target You,” there is definitely target the Peace Corps. These people are not like the theoretical folks of books. I have differed from Landau yet I must admit that the criticisms he has made of many Muslims is true. Actually one has Punjabis, Baluchis, Sindhis, Pathans and others—and the Urdu culture is being imposed on them and we are studying Urdu culture which represents a very small number of people on this side and none at all of the East Wing.

I am encouraged enough not to work despite the long continued summer. This was the subject of my last talk with Mr. Watan of the AFME and with the consular staff body. The Consular people think I should be writing books and I guess very well I am going to check some editors of publications into giving me at least a chance.

I have still so many colleges to visit and what not. I cannot write on “the Real Pakistani” but I can write or talk on real phases of reality. The big gap is that those people do not live in time and the big weakness is the amount of Indian blood and folk psychology in their veins—with it inertia and lethargy which are treated as principles instead of as the absence of principles.

It took me some time to get over our weakness in cultural interchange. This will come out when the Peace Corps arrives. I do not see any easy time to them. They will have to face questions because these people like to debate and argue rather than do. This will not be opposition; it is part of the folkways and folklore. But they may react as if it were opposition and this will increase the opposition.

In a few days Parviz, the son of major Sadiq, will have his vacation and he will take me to the Shalimar gardens, the tomb of Jahangir and other places. I carefully collected postcards and mementos when I was here before and sent them to Rudolph Schaeffer—but since the adhesion of Spiegelberg and Chaudhuri I have never been permitted to speak on the Orient—before yes. As Spiegelberg and Koestler differ so much one of them is going to suffer when I return—make no doubt about it. But even if I refute Koestler—which I can—it will not leave Spiegelberg in a good spot. As to Chaudhuri, say anything, but the Sri Aurobindo movement is not what it is cracked up to be—the details I shall relate to you in person rather than by mail.

Lahore,

September 28

My dear Bob and Adelaide,

This is my diary and at the same time it is an SOS. And as it is full of favorable reports you may also think it is madness to be sending an SOS, but again it may be the natural thing. I have not heard from Dorothy and there is one thing wrong, that her horoscope has not worked out its promises, yet. And I had hoped not to have my manuscripts accepted so much as to have an agent. The denouement of all that is written below is that I have been urgently urged to write an answer to Koestler’s “The Lotus and the Robot” and by God, I shall. I may be able to get it published by that house in Vermont which concentrates on Buddhist material but should much rather get an agent or publisher in New York.

My life, after going through a complete “Mr. Isaacs???” of Marion Crawford, has become a compilation of Paul Brunton, Talbot Mundy and E. Phillips Oppenheim and anything that you find here that you don’t find in one of them will mean a forfeit on my part. Like Mundy the center of transformation has been and remains Lahore and like in the later works of Mundy there is a complex of occultism and communist infiltration. How much that man knew I don’t know but for years only Mundy and Brunton stood between me and absolute madness because I was rejected all over. And here it has been exactly the opposite accepting that the insistent American refusal to accept my reports seriously has prompted a grand commie effort and the plot to torpedo the Peace Corps—unheeded of course, would have gone the same way as the intrigues in Iraq and UAR.

Our strange and stubborn refusal to recognize the existence of Sufis is not only getting us into severe trouble, we might just as well give up the ghost. It is not communist infiltration which is destroying us, it is American non-infiltration. Our strange delusion that we can combine democracy and a superiority-complex potter-clay attitude is going to ruin our country. No amount of warning seems to penetrate the minds of editors and although I have written to the “Times”—having been the guest of the same peoples who hosted the Sulzbergers—and Satevepost—my present position is so extreme that I shall almost be compelled to dedicate my diaries to the John Birch Society!—but having nobody else to leave them to, in case of emergency I shall leave them to you. However—though we don’t accept occultism and mysticism seriously, it is they who are saving me. The same thing happened to my friend Nicol Smith who got into the same Talbot Mundy-E. Phillips Oppenheim complex in Tibet, without the Paul Brunton. But the U.S. accepted Jean Strattford Porter Lowell Thomas, and zoom. And it is taking about six writers to clarify the humbug Lowell Thomas did for the northern portion of this country. The king can do no wrong but the pen is mightier and smightier than the sword. A nation dedicated to peace, freedom. European professors of Orientalia and newspaper commentator experts cannot remain half democratic and half dogmatic.

I was in Abbottabad. Across the street from me lived Azlam Shah and the Khalandar. Each represented a different kind of Sufi, which are reflected by the Arabic words Hubbubiyat (Cosmos of Love) and Rububiyat (Cosmos of Power). They gave me exactly the opposite predictions. The Khalandar has offered to finance my return to America and inshallah it will be done and I think I have told you a little. For very practical reasons I must tell you more. This looks very Arabian Nights too and it is.

Rawalpindi Adventure. The Khalandar invited me to Bannu, Waziristan, which was just the place for Puck of Pukhtunistan. We got off a lot of letters and the Waziris began planning rival potlatch dinners, just as Puck had been writing. And if there is anything I fear in this long summer, which only just now shows any signs of abating, it is those feasts. But God was good.

Pir Azlam Shah Insisted I would not get to Bannu. I did not. Instead I had a dream and in this dream suddenly Secretary Shahab sent for me to see Ayub and it was an emergency. But when I got to Ayub he paid no attention to me. Instead his Murshid (spiritual teacher) came to me and gave his blessing and embraced which so startled me I awakened.

When we arrived at ‘pindi the Khalandar told me his own Pir-o-Murshid had appeared and forbidden us to proceed. He and his disciple Abdul Aziz asked me what I wanted to do and we went to Dirgah Gelra Shereef nine miles away. There was a huge celebration on (The Prophet’s Birthday)’ and I heard the same wonderful spiritual music as we have at Ajmir, never recorded—for which I want a tape recorder. After we performed the necessary we approached the attendant and asked him to go to the Pir.

There were more women than men at this celebration. Men go to mosques, women go to shrines. When the attendant approached the Pir and told him about me he immediately dismissed everybody, got up and said to me in Urdu, “Come to lunch.” Now Sam Lewis does not understand Urdu but he understands food in all languages. We went to the Pir’s room and instead of giving me lunch he gave me the exact blessings and instructions as in the dream! He went out but I dined with his disciples.

After returning I outlined with the disciple A.A. Arviz a long plan to send apprentices from Pakistan for training in food processing. I have still the article for you in mind but far better in objective form. I hope to write it when I get to Delhi.

Peshawar Adventures. At Abbottabad one Mohammad Zehdi had begged and begged me to address the Urdu College at Peshawar University. On my second visit there the Urdu people came after me so I arranged a lecture. But I had to go to Mardan which is a long series of excellent adventures in the agricultural complex. So I came to speak on “Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science.” The chairman was Prof. Maulana Abdul Qadir whom I met first in S.F. and then in Peshawar both off the record and then twice on the record and I have written to my friend Bill Hathaway and to Columbia U. about his next project—an Academy of Central Asian Studies.

This is, of course, crazy. Nobody ever went up the Khyber Pass. It is protocol that the Russians may infiltrate us, it is unthinkable, impossible and against international law that we anti-infiltrate, and we must not take the load off Berlin; what and put Clay out of a job and end NATO? We aren’t that mad. In general, she must proceed, but only in ze deep freeze, n’est-ce-pas?

Suddenly I was told I had to move. My host, Prof. Durrani, had disappeared. This is quite usual in Pakistan and someday I’ll tell you more about Durrani, although this seems more Yeats-Brown and more Yeats-Brown than Yeats-Brown. So I went to Green Hotel because the high priced Dean’s has no method of keeping you cool excepting the over-cooked air-conditioned dining room.

Having nothing to do I was almost pushed into the Kabul Carpet store. We wrangled and haggled—the proper thing to do—I made a small purchase. I came back. We made a larger contract—money, monnaie, l’argent, ze black market, etc.

Indeed with his brains and my money we figured an honest way to pay my next trip—just a few free ports with money exchanges, etc. and the carpets will start rolling (pun intended and all meanings true). So he invited me to dinner. I came, I was not hungry. He begged leave to delay to invite neighbors. The delays keep on piling, the neighbors too so by the time dinner was ready I had recovered from loss of appetite. Then a bunch of arguments and they threw the $64,000 question at me and I told them I could not proceed without my Pir-o-Murshid’s consent and when I got through I had to submit to a bunch of embraces—they were all the disciples of the camp Sufi teacher, Mualana Abdul Ghafoor of Bacca—how’s that for synchronization or something.

The Khalandar’s Tale (Put on your Scheherazade records and proceed.) When the Pir-o-Murshid warned him about Bannu he began to look after his business. It was spurlose varsankt His uncle, he got rid of everything including his Pakistani citizenship and opted for England, Lloyd’s and God Save the Queen. This was awkward.

It seems that when partition took place “Punjabi Pal” made his living by selling unoccupied homes. He not only sold them, he often sold them to more than one person. He sold a house to the Khalandar’s sister and to one other person and then opted for India and the National Bank of Hindustan (What’s this, a game? Yes!) So the Khalandar, like a good he-man went to bat for his sister and while he was so occupied his “loving unkie-wunkie” took care of the pounds, shillings, pence and rupees.

The Khalandar told me the whole story why we could not go to Bannu and asked me to pray. So I did.

Next night he rushed over to my house. A rich lady was getting rid of property—she had too much; and collecting rupees—she had too many, and was giving a 50-50 divvy with the Khalandar and when he got to the last figure to that hour by adding machine, abacus and Univac, he had long passed $100,000 and was headed for the stratosphere. So I have to wait to hear how the books balanced, and barring income tax Khalandar is now a [?] again. (This will be continued.)

The Other Khalandar came and foretold my future. All the saints, seers, Sufis, sadhus and sages are unanimous for Ahmed Murad Chisti that he is in for a great career in U.S. with troubles, rich widows, money and fans; so watch out, I may have to dedicate my diaries to you and also my biography.

Ye Tale of Mohammed Saufraz. He is a Sufi teacher of the Naqshibandi School. While I was busy—trapezing Peshawar, Abbottabad, Rawalpindi, he was doing the same. After we met the second time—out of nowhere—he said I should call on him in ‘pindi. I dodges that but walked in the wrong direction; he dodged too and we bumped into each other within five minutes after we started. More synchronicity and how does one explain it?

Huq Sahib manages Dawn Hotel at Rawalpindi. I knew intuitively I should say farewell to him so I came to his place instead of calling on my friends. It was right because the Khalandar and the Arviza were both away and I did not see my other friends at expected hours. He is a brother Chisti. He told me he was in danger of losing his hotel; a hospital had put in proceedings with baksheesh, cumshaw, rupees and silver into the hands of the “honest” Muslim Judge who had already decided the case. I prayed for my brother. The next day the “honest” judge was caught in a motorcar accident and is now a patient in the same hospital which cumshawed him. The case was transferred to another court.

Shabaz Khan is a retired colonel. He was chairman of the meeting which greeted me back to Lahore. It is wonderful all these meetings and greetings and greetings from “non-existing” Sufis. And who is the colonel? He is now Chancellor of Punjab University, the largest and best educational institution in Pakistan, and next to the American U. at Beirut the highest standing on the whole continent. Well I have called on the colonel twice—no newspapermen or European “professors of Oriental philosophy” present.

So the doors are open wide and I have some more conferences today about my further lecturing today here. Local papers don’t copy; must not.

The Communists: There have been two station breaks since starting this and they partly concern this. Fifty million Frenchmen can’t be wrong; fifty million Sufis cannot be. We have “realism.” The Russians did not import an Englishman to teach them Zen-Buddhism or a German to teach them Yoga; how come? This is “realism.” We don’t recognize the Sufis who are basically anti-communist. So the Russians have their agents here—the top banana is the same guy who was pulling stuff when I was here before. And if there is anything more “untouchable” than a newspaper editor it is a movie magnate. Our press will attack the Rockefellers, Fords, and even Texas millionaires—but the “sacred professions” of communication and hogwash, nevaire! This makes it a cinch for the Commies and I have a straight and actual story now. Although I have written as above no “Pope” ever accepts a criticism of another “Pope,” even if a rival, if he be in the same profession. So the Commies are doing exactly, exactly as we say they never, nevaire do and doing it quite well, putting on robes, a sack cloth, anything but praying and eating with the hoi polloi—verboten for diplomats. And who is going to win out? I can tell you some things about SEATO; after it breaks up my editor will listen. Ha! Ha! More treaties and more sermons and more infiltrations. The Chinese do not read English and trespass signs.

So betwixt and between. Anyhow the solution is agreed on. I shall write against dialectician Koestler and I shall need an agent somehow, or fight for a publisher. This seems clear. I have also a series of “I was there” which will be in answer to this correspondent who wrote “Asia is my Past”—I should say, deadbeat! I was there when Master Tara Singh surrendered to Nehru they are at it. I said then—with 40 reporters present—that I bet not one of them would really report. They did not, enabling both the big shots to get out. If the reporters had reported—oh well, that is another story. Truth, she is wonderful; too bad she is not used more.

Address letters to c/o S. Agrawal, Lajpat Nagar III, D-17, New Delhi 14 India.

Love and best from

Samuel L. Lewis

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

P. Puck and the rest

Lahore,

October 4

Stockwell Everts,

Embassy, U.S.A.

Karachi

My dear Mr. Everts:

It was the cooperation and sincerity of the Lahore legation in 1956 which turned me against “The Ugly America” and it is the cooperation and sincerity of the whole staff here which now deters me from going to Professor Burdick. But until our foreign services stops treating Americans abroad as subjects, we are going to have more Laos-Chaos and I know exactly what I am talking about. When I get to S.E. Asia I will get the low-down which will make Senator Mundt and Rep. Judd turn red and ferocious, only there is not too much difference between administrations. When the War started every little report I had for intelligence was taken down and when it was over my name was recorded on the heroes registrar at Ft Mason, Calif., immediately under Carlson’s Raiders. But in peace times the old “Wolf! Wolf!” complex is thrown at us Marco Polos—and I am not alone.

I must now thank the communists for making me famous. But I am indebted to the “ugly America” Rev. Samuel Brown, and he walked right out of the book into real life—native idioms, geography, commingling and bumping into commie spies but he was the wrong guy. Not being a Protestant missionary I am not quite an outcaste and I did run in to the communist, of course, exactly where our press says they won’t be, and always are. This is old hat, only this time the encounter was entirely accidental on my part. They were preparing to torpedo the Peace Corps and it going to be very easy until the Sam Browns and Sam Lewises are regarded as citizens and not as subjects.

I came to Lahore having addressed some 15,000 people in various parts of Pakistan. I did make and have some lectures “on the record” at the colleges, chiefly on subjects totally verboten when our colleges and universities employ some German, Englishman, Polish Zionist or Canadian to give the instructions in Islamics or other Orientalia. Can you name one non-America professor on these subjects that is accredited by any school on this continent? No wonder I had to ask your colleagues when he questioned the central government about “neutralism”—what else do you expect when we employ Canadians, Englishman, Europeans and Zionist to “teach Islamics and dogma to even our own graduates! No answer.

The Sufis “don’t exist,” despite the first Ambassador each form Pakistan and India (even Pradad had a Murshid I have found), and the Presidents of the respective countries. And I hope to teach Brother Dibble the facts of life. Not only do Sufis exist but they have faculties and powers which should arouse Duke University or the psychic researches (no takers). And they have some counter-intelligence systems which are not out of Sax Rohmar.

You will please advise your USIA officials—who would not give me a tumble—that thanks to the commies, and besides my on-the-record talks at colleges and universities, I have been given two big receptions and now the whole community is getting ready to give me a monster welcome Saturday night, one of the largest ever given to a foreigner. Even the attachés here are now interested. News is news. I spoke to more people in UAR as Billy Graham did and merely as “The American.” I have spoken to far, far more here. The grape vine from other parts is working in my favor and this is at least 50% telepathic but of course, we will have nothing to do with that! (I worked under an intelligence officer during the War and he knew all kinds of things we repudiate today. Why one thing in war, another in “cold war.”)

So far as the agricultural attachés are concerned, it would appear at this writing that another brother Sufi (they don’t exist!) is going to be appointed to the new Food & Agricultural Corporation and I am be working full blast without their cooperation or acknowledgement. I had it in UAR. Don’t think my Senator does not know about it and soon my other Senator and a lot of other senators. Instead of Burdick I shall probably go write to Mr. Marcy on my own. Or rather now there are some strong trends underneath to send some Sufis to America to present the actual spirituality and spiritualism of Islam to our people and carry on other missions, including this one on food. Well I gave the officials here their first list of salt-tolerant crops and am going back home with a bunch of problems on Sugar, Soils, etc., etc. But it won’t be Burdick, it will Marcy and even on the communists Dowd.

I had the story of “the commies” before from security police (also Sufi brothers). The Sufis don’t want communism and so far we have totally ignored the Sufis. I have placed some things in confidence to you but when I get home the whole picture will be put into retired admiral, Evenson, who is in charges of the Americans Friends of the Middle East in S.F. and whatever he does will be all right with me.

Well I turn back to the mob on the commies in the India—this is not news. And I stole some “neutralist” delegation for then in UAR and I run into them here as I did in India in a “most holy” place. I am going into India and shall have no difficulties about meeting Dr. ~Radhakrishnan or Mr. Nehru (I was there when Master Tara Singh swore “eternal fealty,” or the ailing President Prasad about whose Murshid I just read…. I am praying there will be some answers from Washington when I get there. All these letters to be addressed to the Embassy there. So we shall see.

Faithfully,

Samuel. L. Lewis.

Lahore, Pakistan

October 11

My dear Harold,

You may be very surprised to hear from me. I hope you are alive and that some of the weight of previous years has fallen from you. I told Dorothy that I believed there was a future for you in Pakistan and unquestionably there is a future for you in Pakistan. But I know that the legends about me have made the objective acceptance of what I am and what I am doing difficult. Briefly the Lahore Legislation is now receiving me as the Embassy did in Cairo (but not in Karachi). I have spoken I should say, to at least 30,000 Pakistanis due in part to my own accomplishments and due at the moment to my inadvertently running into a communist cell. This was of course where our protocol says it would not be. But the communists are no different here than in Hollywood or in Noel Sullivan’s but they do not shudder at the word “Peace Corps.” They are getting ready to torpedo it; a very simple process because we have arms but no armor. What will happen there may be beyond my control. However by their advertising me I have had a full program put on top of a full program, plus the fact that the Indians have not returned my passport with visa.

During the course of this letter I shall be interrupted to go to dinner with the Mayor of the Cantonment. Just before I left San Francisco, Mr. Russell Smith, former Vice-President of the Bank of America, tipped Luther Nichols of World Affairs Council off to me. This did not need much convincing, for L.N., in contradiction to all people who knew me earlier in life and all newspaper men whatsoever had seen me meeting with Prime Ministers, Ambassadors, Dr. Radhakrishnan, etc. He did not see me meet Mohammed Ali Bogra, intermittent Prime Minister of Pakistan and the man who selected General Ayub. That worthy made everybody in the room line up and shake my hands. In America this is braggadocio; in Pakistan I am tired from doing what I call “the arsenal exercise,” getting up and down from your seats. When a man finds generals and justices of the Supreme Court rising for him, it is liable to go to his head; or it may just be that those gentlemen know me better than you do.

I am not going to tell my story here. This is part of my diary, not my reminiscences. I came here on two big missions, both of the larger than some organizations or commissions take up. As to my cultural missions, it is now recognized and I find the Foreign Service one by one admitting they do not know the culture of Pakistan. I have just written a reply to Burdick and Lederer who peppered the Satevepost with absolute lies. And so long as our press and CIA do not trust its own citizens we cannot win any cold war. This is about my fourth brush-in with the communists. Now the Americans, after Laos and Cuba, cannot afford to pull any more faux pas of this kind. I did not know about Cuba; I did about Laos. I warned four times in Cairo about the impending mob attack and told the staff I could not stand being pulled apart by Arabs and Americans who never sat down together.

The last man I saw when I left Pakistan, the first man I saw on return was M.A. Cheema who is now Joint Minister of Food & Agriculture. I asked him the forbidden question: “What do you want?” I have been working o the saline soil and desert agriculture problems with side issues of tomatoes, soy beans, fruits and avocados, with much more to come up. In UAR I was the constant guest of top scientists. In this country I wrote Ayub a suggestion which he put into practice in USA and got a fine letter of thanks. This would be “unthinkable” at home. The road block thrown at me by the compilation of Canadians, Europeans, Englishmen and Zionists who teach us Asiatics and Islamics is smashed even if I have to investigate every university and phony peace organization in the country. Can do and know what I am doing.

My specialty is agricultural literacy. Research workers do not know how to use libraries and librarians do not know the sciences. Give me a problem and if there is an answer in the USA I’ll get it and—it, I do. I brought him the first line of saline tolerant crops, etc.

In S.F. I met one Jamshyd Khan who operated the largest successful farm in Pakistan. I had to go to Mardan to deliver a lecture at a college on a subject verboten to me in California with its Zionist, English and European “experts” on Asia. The Khan farm is not far from it although in our country it would be considered a plantation. I know something of soils and had two courses on Organic Chem., not sufficient, perhaps, to understand thoroughly the growing of Sugar Cane, but enough to know certain things. In UAR I found the chief Plant Physiologist beginning a series of experiments on photo periodicity and light quantities on the creation of sucrose, etc. in the cane. Of course the answer is not ready. The sugar problems in the UAR are complex. The soil is fine for Beets but not so good for Cane. The Cotton Moth thrives better on the Beets than on Cotton. So an impasse. I thought I would find an answer here.

The Khans have a thoroughly up to date plantation. But alas, the mills process the cane in proportion to the acreage, not in proportion to the crop! This leaves them stuck. They have partly gotten around this by staggering their plantings. I have sent or am sending a pretty full report on this to my friend, Harry Nelson, Greenhouse, City College.

Now sugar is in short supply here. The Beet, which tolerates saline soils to some extent, is shunned because the theoretical recovery is less than from the cane. But they are running into the same problem as in UAR, the formation of disaccharides, etc., and in the end I found the percentage of profitable recovery about the same. Added to that, there is as yet little done to industrialize cane wastes.

Just as Iron and Coal may be associated, so Sugar and Fruit. The Indus Valley has the Sugar and the Kabul Valley the Fruits. Now we come to a hodge-podge combination of comic opera and tragedy. Unlike the Khans there is little staggering in plantings and the harvests come of a sudden. The result is often an oversupply. In the case of the Pear, they have a hard Pear which is somewhat like both an Apple and a Quince and can be picked for there are large percentages of Sugars and Esters and the acid content is small; the same with pectin although there is some pectin. This lessens as the fruit “ripens”; a long slow process. In the harder stage it would be wonderful for canning. But no canning factories excepting one small one.

The mango is the great fruit here. The seconds are marketed and often rot rather than being sold at a low price. There is no grading as in our canning industries. Actually these seconds should be turned into Mango Juice. The latter is excellent and if a little ginger or such flavoring were added it would make a wonderful dish. There is a mango-ginger sauce served to me by my good friend the Mayor which is wonderful. It functions like our applesauce.

Pakistani farmers have one-track minds. If one plants a crop another plants the same. So there is an oversupply of Mangos, Apples, Sweet Lemons (which we do not have) and a dearth of Grapes which come most entirely from Afghanistan. That country also supplies most Cucurbits excepting Watermelons. There is no system, no grading, no anything.

An Agricultural Development Corporation has just been formed and I met the Chairman. I did not get I on the ground floor; I got there before the cornerstone had arrived. But my good friend and host, Major Sadiq, may be drafted to work in that department at a better salary and with better opportunities than he has as an army officer.

I have worked out a plan for the training of about a dozen Pakistani apprentices: Canning companies, Calpack, Prunus fruits, Small fruits, other fruits, Vegetables, Heinz, Food & Agr. Machinery Corp. at San Jose, etc., etc. After I had the plan worked out I found myself the guest of a man engaged in the food processing industries living in Rawalpindi. His home was full of magazines which gave me ideas. I now have discussed them at length at the Consulate; notes were taken and will be passed on to Secretary Freeman who arrives this week.

Farm mechanics and processing machinery. The general policy is to give people 1761 and 1961 models. Nothing in between. This country is full of engineers, empty of mechanics. So are most countries. The whole foreign aid program, the whole cold war, in fact, overlooks this. I told somebody I measured the standards of countries by their telephone system. We are way out and don’t know it. I had a chance to do leg work research in UAR on a lot of subjects. My conclusions are not the same as those of the press.

The British have a magazine devoted to this subject and I find there is a glut on the market of outdated processors. Why should not Pakistan, and other countries, get some earlier models? I had a long talk with the McCormick people in India in 1956 on this—or rather conferences. We realize that anything that does not fit into protocol and propaganda is to be rejected, business or no business. While we are very busy giving aptitude tests for everybody from pre-kindergarten kids to candidates for housing in coffins, the Japanese are making careful aptitude surveys of farmers and peasants and then bring them just those improved tools which they can use, and repair.

Even countries which seem to have little buying power (often nonsense) may be sold with outdated machines and simpler ones. Not only is there a dearth of skilled mechanics here but there is caste and caste and caste. This is something. In UAR at least nobody necessarily looked down on an iron-monger or peasant. In Lebanon the answer is simple: "How much does he earn?" Here it still is: "Who was your grandfather?"

Actually this country is full of mineral wealth. The American geologists are making surveys and I hope to have some ores later on in S.F. for assaying including Uranium. At the present moment it looks as if I shall not go to the Far East and may return this way. This means I shall have a more complete report on minerals—and this is going to be a wow! This will bring the country dollars or credits. With these dollars or credits—if a program is rightly worked out—the older time models of John Deere, McCormick, Food & Agric. machinery and the whole canning and processing and grading industries could be sent here. They have not even simple grading devices.

I went into details today at the Consulate with the idea of sending about a dozen apprentices to California. I have written to James Wilson at the C. of C. and also to others. When I return I shall also go to Stanford Research which has done excellent work on Rice and Sugar.

I don’t know how much interested you are in these matters. There is a big world of pioneering here and a marvelous world of opportunity. There is no problem about meeting people; indeed our Americans here fail to take the opportunities they have to meet people.

I have met the farm Advisors in Peshawar University who come from Colorado State although one is a U.C. graduate. In this district they are from Washington State. I may not complete my tour of agricultural experimental stations. When I see things done wrong or not done at all there is a tendency to react strongly. Gross errors have been made of omission and commission. The more illustrious the body handling affairs the more difficult it is for an unattached person to correct or criticize. The mistakes I have seen in growing Strawberries and the even worse mistake of growing the Artichoke as a flowering ornamental are small compared to the errors concerning Soy beans One is left to laugh, cry or get mad. Fortunately I do have connections in unexpected places. But I am not writing books on these matters. I shall have enough to do if I can write against Koestler ("The Lotus and the Robot") or the newspaperman's "Asia is My Beat." The next generation will look at my exploits as I do those of Sir Richard Burton (who gave us the real "The Arabian Nights"). But already the grandchildren in age are appearing and acceptance is much easier in some quarters.

In a few days I shall be 65 and don't look it. At the Mayor's house where I have been to dinner they are discussing the next mass meeting for me and the preparations to get full publicity in the Urdu papers. The main English paper is anti-American. In fact it was definitely pro-commie when I was here before but the gentlemen of the press pay obeisance to each other, cold war or not cold war. Anyhow I have the USIA publicity people on my side which is a great gain. And on Saturday in the morning I have the university for a farewell (I hope) address. Here I just enter a campus grounds and it means an invitation to address the students. So I have not had much tourism except what is incidental.

My host, the Major, took me to his farm which contains a palace. He is doing some experimenting and I suggested Cotton and Tobacco to find he was growing Tobacco and Cotton. Also some rare oil seeds. I have suggested an herb and medicinal garden as he works closely with so many physicians. There are four schools of medicine here and among and between them they have concoctions from about every herb that grows and then some. But far from having medical "trusts" here there is no organization or coordination; just hit or miss. A great opportunity for some enterprising people.

My invitations to India and Malay are exactly the opposite of what would be expected of me and I should rather wait until I return. My reputation among the actual Asians is absolutely contrary and contradictory to that among the non-America "Orientalists" who are our mentors.

In fact one reason for my being invited to India is my campaign (a failure so far) that 50% of the teachers in Indian philosophy should be Hindus. The other is that many want to hear me talk on subjects where I have been road blocked at home. However that is over. I have friends, friends in high places and more than would be expected of me. I am not mentioning them here. I spoke to more Egyptians than did Billy Graham and was introduced simply as "The American."

Well, Harold, I have been to "Shangri-la." It is, as one might suppose, near or in the Himalayas but not necessarily when Miss Cloudnine—who has never been there—insists. The mountains did not divide at the time of partition. I have met a lot of people we regard as mythological or unreal. They foretold my story of the beginning of this month. If the rest of the story is correct I shall be well received when I return and this time, despite my age, be married. Either this seeing in the future is hokum or real, but one thing stands out—the unanimous agreement. If this week means anything, it is a portent. Anyhow, my mail has been sent to India so I can't find out what the home and American reactions are. Next I have to write another speech, then reports. But it is wonderful to have been accepted seriously by so many people, both the big—the very big; and the small—the very small.

My own benefactors here happen to be immensely wealthy although our friendships were based on quite independent factors and processes and at no time I have sought the company of "big shots" with any motive.

There is nothing particularly private here and I leave it to you whether we should confer on my return. My love to Dorothy and yourself.

Samuel L. Lewis

PS. My host, Major Sadiq, is a spiritual healer. I have seen him work miracles but only in the presence of physicians who kept case histories! This is exactly the opposite of what one might expect. I hope he can soon come to California and demonstrate.

October 11, 1961

My dear Jack:

This is my diary. I am very tired and also behind in my work. The tiredness comes from relaxation which in turn comes because it is the end of summer and my body now feels normal after a long, long warm spell. It still hits 90° in the daytime but there is not much energy in it.

Snafu and then some. The Indian High Commissioner has not sent my Visa and I sent a tracer to the Embassy and found the man had been transferred. So I am sending another tracer. This means I am off beat and off schedule. It also means that my Pakistani rupees have gone down and my dollar reserves up. But I have a permit to cash checks as the American Express and for the moment am not spending much. So I pray and smuggle and hope it will be all right. If you can’t use will redeem on return at Eastern daylight standard black market normal quotations. (consult univac).

Then the Snafu is shamued. I have two big mass meetings coming up Saturday. Thank God and praise the devil. The commies have done more for me—or maybe it was fate, kismet. Three men told me previously that I would undergo a rapid change of events at the beginning of October. It has come, and how. I have the amalgamated union of saints, seers, sages, Sufis, sadhus and psychometrists working for me. They say that on my birthday I will have more luck and it may even strike my pocket book favourably.

What is fame? Anyhow now the American Foreign Service is agog. They are finding out what they don’t know. How the devil can you learn about Pakistan from a bunch of non-American, non-Asians who teach without ever having visited this country? It is Tarfuristan to begin with and that is only the beginning. There are some Americans here who know something and that invalidates them. If there is anybody that the CIA does not want to hear it is the Americans who have been there—notoriety seekers, of course. Laos chaos here we come.

I spoke to 20,000 people last week and when I walk around this district people come for blessings. It is only the little kids who did not hear me that ask for bakshish and every now and then I drop 2 annas which is about 5c U.S.A.—aren’t we generous!

Then I have found my two hosts are very wealthy. Major Sadiq took me to his farm near here. He has other lands. This one has a palace on it and he is going to repair it. He is quite a good business man when it comes to farming. He asked for suggestions and I put out Cotton and Tobacco, both of which he has. I spoke against Sugar Cane and he may drop it because he is losing money. I have suggested an herb and medicinal garden. He works with doctors and there is no system here for getting these things. He evidently owns lots of land and besides him being a big shot in the Army he is also as a Sufi and again as a landlord and again as a healer.

My other host is Mr. Ahmid who is the Mayor of this section. He has at least four cars but they are rather family owned. They have three generation families here. Grandpa rules the roost. He is arranging my Saturday night meeting as he did the last one. I had to write out my speech which may not only be put in the papers (the last one was) but brochured also. I am writing Delhi to send me any mail they have because it may be highly important. So far it has been highly important. That’s a pun son. (My other pun is that I prefer bulletin boards to bullets). I have been writing every which-way to big shots and old friends tell them what is going on.

On top of that the business consultant at the legation accepted my plan for training technicians in food processing. He took notes and may pass them on to the Secretary Orville Freeman who is expected here this week. This was some pumpkins at it; it is my prize so I have written it to some old friends but I am going to hot-foot it when I return.

When the Consul-General sent me to American Express to exchange Dollars for Rupees I placed my tourist plan before them. I got sick and tired being given the gate or go-by the Pakistanis. Wow! Did he eat it. So I have another project to present or sell and can do, when I return. This will also require some lecturing to closed audiences of tourist bureaus.

As I look back now I think this covers everything.

a. Romance went flat. Girl met old sweetheart.

b. Folk dancing got nowhere, but then this was to be taken up when I reach Karachi. It is possible I shall return via Karachi and New York.

My return is complicated by this Khalandar-Mayor Sadiq deal. They both want me to collaborate and travel with them. They both have Rupees. Major has the good-will of President Ayub. Both have disciples on the Supreme Court. The Khalandar has two disciples, top officials in the Pakistan Airlines. I had hoped they would get together. Anyhow I see now reason to return via Japan and if I travel with Major Sadiq we would stop off at Egypt; but with the Khalandar I should fly.

My long war against these European professors of Oriental philosophy is liable to close in triumph. They mislead us regarding Asia and the Russians take every advantage. Imagine no Sufis here! And 20,000 the other night all connected with Sufi Orders. And this only for the Cantonment, not for Lahore. As Secretary Qudratullah Shahab is away I may write President Ayub a final report. Why not?

I shall next finish my book-buying and ship them to Clementina St. I have no idea of residence. The aforesaid disorganised union of saint, sages, seers, Sufis and sadhus foretell good fortune and marriage when I return. As they don’t know each other and have not met and three of them got the beginning of October, I am beginning to be satisfied. Besides America has a lot to learn about the occult and mystical side of Sufis which you won’t get in books.

The other night the lights went out. I took my flash and said to the guests, “Well Allah Nuri” (God is light). They went on immediately. Today they went out at the Army camp and the Major said: “The other night the lights went out and Sufi sahib said: ‘Allah Nuri’ and they went on.” The lights immediately went on! This is good copy if it be not good occultism, picks your choice. Sometimes not only Lady Luck is with you but more.

I want to visit Shalimar gardens again but gosh, to find time. I was supposed to relax today. I did get in the walks, one to a shrine. This is some story about shrines which I shall not relate here. I am hoping that either the Major or the Khalandar hurries so we might do something about Gavin. Of course “you asked for it” just as my own money-troubles here. I wanted the experience, I got it.

I donno from nothin about the World Series. But I am now in good with the Press section USIA so will consult tomorrow. Of course Time will be out Friday. Newsweek has accepted my first brochure so I have given them my whole story. I have given Satevepost hell for publishing another Burdick-Lederer stuff, all of which is wrong so far as UAR is concerned and the same partly here. But the big man who ain’t been there is always better than the little man who has. I criss-crossed the commies twice in UAR, but broke protocol—I always do, so you know what. This is the way to fight the cold war? I have sent for the mail address to the Embassy in Delhi hoping somebody has recognized me. But for you, unless otherwise, send mail to S. Agrawal. Gosh, I can’t tell where I’ll be or what…. I expected to go to the “Shalimar Gardens” today but could not. They are on the objet d’art enclosed.

October 13

My dear Rosemary:

This ought to be the news. Anyhow it is my diary. I am stuck. Weeks ago I applied for an Indian Visa. I had met the Asst. High Commissioner. I filled out the questionnaire and although I did not put down my grandfather’s maiden name but I did offer as reference almost everybody but Nehru. Now I have to air-mail to Delhi. I have written the American consulate before—with a prayer. My one contact in Karachi has gone to Murree and I suppose my letter to him may be forwarded rather than read. If for any reason it was opened and read I have a chance. Then the AFME long-distanced to Karachi. The call went through and it was red-tape recorded, if you know what I mean. And I am tired—having a full program to begin with—all this and heaven too and then some. I don’t know when to begin or end but I have to diarize.

Every night I meet somebody who has been in the Sufi center captured by the commies. Of course this did not happen because the vast array of non-American, non-Muslims who said this cannot be are the authorities. I was solemnly told that they never discussed me and that is all I hear excepting my closest friends, the Majors (I guess I’m the minor) and the Mayor get in for licks. And tomorrow I have two overwhelming meetings—which could not possibly be. For in the morning I address the top scholars in Islamics and notices have been sent to all the leading institutions. They don’t hire Europeans but they do hire UC graduates which is horrible because he was never intended for the job he got here by the Near East bunch in Berkeley and he was intended by the South Asian bunch. Which is “realism.” Anyhow I hope to see my fellow-sufferer Abdul Rahman Barker who was helped also to get out because he was interfering with the non-American, non-Asian experts in Orientalia.

Of course this did not happen but I am telling this to my diary. I visited the tomb of saint Mian Mir. I got stopped several times by people who knew me in Abbottabad or who have heard me here. Everybody wants my blessing but the bakshish-wallahs. I should not have gone to the tomb. It is all right for commies to go—I was cited there and a howl of protests went up, why should the tomb guardians permit a Feringhi to trespass on holy grounds. But between my bakshish and my prayers and my explanations the tomb guardians have been on my side, which shows the effectiveness of insidious, invidious American conspiring propaganda.

Then I went to another saint’s tomb. This one has been written off the record because the saint did not reveal himself to the commies. It is unfair for saints to take sides in the cold war or any war—excepting, of course, occasionally when they are “on our side.” Saints are supposed to serve Allah and who gives the orders to Allah! Anyhow when I went to the saint known as Data Ganj Baksh whose real name was Ali Hujwiri—drop it. No self respecting former student of any European Prof. in Orientalia would possibly believe—anyhow I got in the grand game of hand-shaking, embracing and blessing which shows how easy it is for me to fool Asian-Asians.

Even the Americans here are now taken in. Two days ago I spent over one hour with the commercial attaché on the plan I hope to submit to the S.F. C. of C., the Canners league and others about the training of apprentices in the food processing industries. Not only that, he took down notes and may submit them to Secretary Freeman who is due not later than tomorrow. Every point was approved down to details.

Now, as I can’t get out I wanted to change dollars for rupees instead of doughnuts. I had a letter to American Express, the manager of whom I had already met through one of my non-existing Sufi brothers. The cashing was a cinch. Then I placed before him my Tourism plan which has been snubbed by the Pakistanis. Because their “normal” Americans are strictly Bevhills and Losvegas. Anything else is a special case. But the American Express Manager, who is an American, not a European, favoured everything down to the fine print and little punctuation marks. So at his behest I shall call at their offices when I return and give them the low-down and high-up on a lot of points on tourism which others have not considered.

The next morning I called on Press Secretary Morlock. That --- fool kept me over an hour when we wanted a ten minute interview. Alas for his inefficiency; I did not learn who has won the World Series. What are they there for? Instead I told him about my meetings and we discussed what that grand “anti”-communist Pagler would never dare touch—the super millionaire leaders of the left of the left bank. And by the way, he does live on the left bank of the Canal! I never thought of it until now! It is my old theme song: “Who ever saw a commissar in overalls!” The working-classes are fur, fur away but the lies that go out about America, they are there.

But Morlock and others seriously realize the problems that the Peace Corps are going to face and the fear is mounting that they will not be prepared. Without Laos even we have learned nothing from the disastrous visits of two Vice-Presidents and very little from the Japanese welcome¿? to a President’s Press Secretary (actually the worst type of diplomat in existence). Earl Warren was not mobbed. Let’s forget that!

The heat has abated—I mean weather—and my health is up again. But otherwise “the heat” is on. Between the Indians on one side and the reds on the other and the welcomes from mobs of non-existing Sufis and the reaction against Russia and for America—from the wrong place, of course, means I am going up in the hearts of some countrymen. And now the Indians want me; they prefer me all around the Prof. “Von Plotz” our “expert” in such matters!

My host may be transferred to the new Agricultural Development Corp. which will be of great use to me. Etc. Will probably write as soon as I can, advising whether I am inflated, deflated, reflated or flated by the forthcoming meetings. No, this ain’t Beatric Fairfax but it is to be continued.

October 16

Dear Jack:

This is my daily diarrhea or diary and I feel in a pun-ish, punnish manner, such as saying “Happy Birthday to Me” for that event is on the 18^th. I have not followed the prognostications of the saints, seers, sadhus, Sufis and sages who said that Saturn would be off my belly or backbone on that date. So far he has shown no signs of it. I did get an official report that the Indians are “working” on my visa and here I am without a passport, etc. The one nickname I never objected to was “Sorowy Lewis.” You can see that left me with the same initials and fitted into my pun-ish punnish ways. But alas, this one never took. I have been called all kinds of things but the best way to avoid an offensive, offending name is to “do it yourself.”

I did not name all the members of the cabinet in my references because two have retired and one is dead since I was there last. But maybe it is like my description of the UAR civil service:

First requirement—be suspicious.

Second requirement—be efficient (the two are identical).

I am writing another letter to the Bank of America to release more Indian rupees because today is payday for us. I have also written to my friend Satya Agrawal and to the Embassy to forward mail here.

The news:

I have now spoken to about 50,000 people. These crazy birds never heard of Prof. Von Plotz, excepting the top bananas and they would not give “him” a visa for anything. “Only in America” we just luv his nice voice and his sw-eet smile and he can’t possibly be wrong. This is due to the combination of the Grace of Allah and the commies, but most of this has to be given to the latter who advertised me all over. Now the Urdu papers are taking me up. Not the top “Pakistani Times” which used to be commie operated and still one high muck-a-muck is there. But the American press—and especially the veddy, veddy anti-commies will continue to quote “Pakistan Times.”

Maybe I have been howling my head off. And my mail went astray and “Newsweek” sent me a very favorable letter and Satevepost sent me an acknowledgement. They were supposed to answer to New Delhi. So I have told “Newsweek” all. I already did for Satevepost especially after they put that b.s. article of Burdick and Lederer. You know my friends, Leonard Austin and Gavin Arthur, who did not otherwise see eye to eye both promised to introduce me to those gentlemen. I am still waiting. A big name plus commies is worth all the truth in the world. Still if these are signs aforehead it may be something. Pray for me, pray for me, prove for me, anything.

All my other mail to various Senators (whom I hunch will answer) and to Washington authorities (place your bets) is directed to India. This is my fifth encounter with the red-reds who aren’t going to bomb us but prick us to death and we have no come-back. The more we look for another Pearl Harbor, the more they will infiltrate and we can’t do that—protocol you know.

But all men are not diplomats or editors. The Legation here has accepted my plan for apprenticing In the Food Processing industries and I have written to the C. of C. on Pine St. The American Ex. has accepted in toto my tourism plans. This is very encouraging.

I am more interested to find out if Sulzberger of N.Y Times and do-it-too-Murrow will answer. If that guy does not, there is going to be some fur flying and it won’t be mine. I did write Chet Bentley but again the answer, if any, is at New Delhi. So I have written to send some mail here as I don’t know when I leave.

While I am here with no rent to pay my rupees go along way.

Now Sunday some people came here to see what it was like to meet the American whom my former teacher, now commie, was attending. By the time the evening was over I got another lecture to a woman’s college. The teacher who is arranging this is very beautiful and sometimes I get in places where “I ain’t so dumb.” I have spoken to girls’ audiences before.

When there is a mixed group they either sit behind a screen or way in the background and don’t like to speak. But again, the commies are in and I have been warned I am going to be challenged. As it is a School of Domestic Science (although college graduate level) I shall speak for ye good old U.S.A. (and gas and electricity are cheaper in California.) I guess I’ll try to electrify them and give them plenty of gas anyhow.

I have spoken to so many colleges now and met so many people that this neck roll of “Ah Yaint, a saint” operates like a reality. I bet I can lick old President Harding when it comes to hand shaking. And free tea! No wonder I went out. My friends Paul Reps and Bryn Beorse could not stand the stomach hospitality—they looked at it as hospital-ity.

Lahore is a very beautiful city and now “the heat is off.” Next I have to go to the man who acts as Mayor here. He is also a big shot in the In(f)ternal Revenue. I have to make out some forms even though I never earned anything excepting Rs.10 given to m by a Sufi teacher, but as “there are no Sufis” I guess I won’t have to declare that. Besides it was in a mosque for preaching.

I also have to have some pictures. Well I asked for it. I am still hoping for acknowledgment by the press in S.F. I have written to a lot of big-shots and maybe, just maybe, I can get an interview with a cosmopolitan daily. Meanwhile they prefer to quote from commie-controlled newspapers than take first hand stuff from citizens abroad. This is the way to win the cold war, for the Russians. Well profits are profits, and it is the American movies that are paying the commie’s here. Quite a story. I never left Hollywood. And I don’t’ know when I shall be where, beware,

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lahore,

October 18

My dear Vocha and Bartlett:

This is my birthday and under other circumstances I should be “The happiest man in the world.” Actually it is a comedy of errors with comedy beating the errors all over. The Indian officials have held up my visa so I am sitting without a passport, with my money in two other places, with my mail directed to two other places, with my expenses way, way down while I am here but with no reports not knowing what kind of budget I have and compelled to “trust” hoping. Yet something has been thrown at me—and after and at a time I am offered nothing but the greatest of courtesy and consideration, that I do not know what to do.

While I did not meet President Ayub, over the phone he expressed his wish that I assist in introducing the culture of this country into the U.S. Now so much money and assistance has been offered I do not know where to begin or end. I am throwing the ball back to his Excellency and according to his personal, or official decision, my future may go up and up and up, at a time when it is going up and up and up. This makes it most difficult to get anything into a focus. I shall come back to that.

The whole upshot of communist infiltration into Sufism has been on the one hand a vast increase in both lecture opportunities and offers; and on the other the extreme seriousness which is given both to my personality and ideas. This is such a reverse to the long years of absolute and a priori rejections that it is hard for me to remain stable.

I have written to New Delhi to forward any mail on hand up to next week. If there is not a letter from Ed Marrow there is going to be a real flare-up and I do not mean maybe. To be summarily rejected and ejected at the Embassy and within one month to be in “The White House” naturally brings up the question, “How come?” The two letters from his services in Washington were pale white-each with a perfume which becomes a stink. I have talked and talked now to so many attachés and they admit they do not know what passes for “Islam” in these parts. And yet the masses are fanatical over “Islam.” Which calls up G. S.

I have certainly gained the good-will of both Pakistanis and Americans that it is time to face this utter nonsense of calling in Europeans to “explain” Asia to us. Already there are rumblings of difficulties with the so-called “Peace Corps.” The Americans have their stooges with questions that will not be answered. If the “Peace Corps” people do not resign we shall soon see anti-American outbreaks. The papers are filled with articles calling for a “united Islamic front.” There will be no such thing. The Egyptians have called for such action again and again but Pakistan sends neither delegates nor reporters.

I spoke to 10,000 people last week. It was a falling off from the 20,000 the week before. But the 20,000 were disciples in Sufism—which our non-American, non-Asians tell us has no strength; and the 10,000 were Sunnis and Shias with more enthusiasm than education. On top of that we had another Sufi Prime Minister visiting the White House last week. How much longer this travesty of honesty will go on I do not know.

Newsweek definitely accepted my first report and Satevepost tentatively. This was fine because their answers were supposed to go to India and reached me here.

This coming Saturday I discuss with the Asia Foundation my plan for training apprentices I the food-processing industry. This was tentatively accepted at the Legation and notes were taken for Secretary Freeman. I have sent same to C. of C. in S.F. but by the guile of writing it to “Mr. Big” who is my friend and letting them get the copy. I am putting all the pressures now on friends, arming them with facts and facts.

Last week I also visited American Express Co. which will cash checks for me until I get out. And they accepted in toto my plan for tourism—which is pliable and can be used for any part of Asia, or even more extensively. I got nowhere with the Pakistani authorities. I am to be present it at New York or S.F. whichever I reach first.

I meet people in the streets all over and this always means another lecture. I have tentatively agreed to speak at the Govt. Art College next week where my topic will be on the meaning of architecture and the decorative arts in the world of today. There will be a special plug for the Rudolph Schaeffer School in San Francisco and for all the movements which extended from Sullivan of Chicago. I shall also speak on the relation of the Keyser-Reiser philosophy to these movements, in regard to space, movement, harmony, etc., etc.

Now I have had three offers of collaboration from Sufis here. All of them occupy positions in society so out of line with what is taught in the U.S. it is totally and absolutely ridiculous. I was almost ashamed when I mentioned Sufism that one of the attaches went out and purchased a book by the English Arberry. Oh, yes, if you want your degree you had better. He offers an excellent approach to the ideal philosophy of a thousand years ago and tells you absolutely nothing of today. Yet I have been to Ashraf, which is in Lahore and world famous for its stock of books on Sufism. And the city is full of Sufis, some right within short walking distance of the Legation.

All of the men who want to come to the U.S. are independently wealthy—and this excludes all the big men I have met previously. The amount of money they have expressed willing to put forth in their efforts is staggering. For the moment I do not know where to begin but shall write President Ayub.

Universities. I have written and will write against the American college and university method of honoring degrees in Orientalia from Canada, Great Britain, Holland, Germany and even sundry parts of Europe over such degrees in either Asian or American universities! I was challenged about the availability of Pakistanis to speak English. I remember that old Sokei-an was rejected because his English was not good enough but when I visited a leading university I found a Hungarian refugee, Jewish on top of that, in charge of Islamics and his English would make Sokei-an of Senzaki sound like Wilson or Churchill! Whom do you think we are fooling?

I can name school after school and professor after professor begging for money to further their courses in comparative religion or Orientalia who never answer letters but beg and beg and beg. What is one supposed to do?

I spent a whole hour with one of the USTA officials on the subject of valid interchange in the in the cultures of Pakistan and U.S. and he did not know much about Pragmatism, G.S., Peizce, Keyser or Darcy. (What am I going to tell Ed Murrow?) So I went down to the library. I had to spend over an hour in the library with the Chief on the relation of modern psychoanalysis methods with oriental and religious ones—this was more delectable because there was communication. I found that the library, like the others I have visited, may have actual books on Asiatica but their works on modern philosophy are tops. I am reading one and read the article on Semantics. The writer was so objective and so much against the ‘”General Semanticists” that I glanced to see his name Rappoport! Knock me over with a feather and bake me for a clam.

I have told Asia Foundation and the American Friends of the Middle East that the last thing I propose is to raise funds for any rival organisation. Now what to do? I need Semanticists; this country needs Semanticists. Maybe I’ll write Rappoport but I shall distinctly insist that no Californians are wanted or admitted unless they have degrees in at least one basic science, and not psychology! I have cried for chemists, physicists, even medical doctors. The description of operational methods is not operational. (Incidentally all the articles on Logics and modern movements are very, very good—and this does not mean I shall agree with them.)

I am now strong enough to go to the Berkeley Campus and compel the Near East section to accept facts. The Department for South Asian Studies does. I shall continue to argue for the true integration of Zen and Mahayana. I don’t care what the whole kit-and-crew of Englishmen and Europeans say; if instead of looking inside their heads they examine some of the ruins here, it is so obvious that Meditation Buddhism existed long long before Bodhi-dharma, and the architecture reflects the philosophy. And incidentally we had quite a discussion on the relation of architecture to both philosophy and function at the Arts College. (I am already known now for my talks on Arabic art and I am not expertﾀ??but I am far, far from a speculator or an opportunist.)

Visited Shalimar yesterday. It is lovely at this time of the year. Had the time to observe details. The advanced engineering there proves beyond a doubt that Europeans had very little to do with Taj. I went over the brick work, the cornices, the fountains and engineering, with wonder and admiration.

Just now an interruption. I have to speak Friday at a woman’s college of Domestic Arts and Sciences. The teacher under whose auspices I function is in the art department. Actually there is an under-current of Russian vs. U.S. which I think I can handle.

How far the arts can be used in the betterment of world understanding I do not know. Certainly the last word has not been said by either East or West…. We visited a saint’s tomb and by intuition I picked up his character. Although a Sufi, he used veritable Zen methods and had some of the greatest disciples in this part of the world.

There is some discussion of the future, agitation over wars and what not. As I have observed, it is the “peace-loving” nations that are busy killing off each other at the moment.

If the physicists and chemists since 1894 had been like the professional humanists, sceptics and literati, there would have been no radium, no atomic sciences, no radionics and electronics. It was by observation and acceptance of the “unusual” that the keys to the behaviour of the usual were found. Even today all inorganic chemistry is taught with the same approaches as organic chemistry. Where does life begin?

I have seen enough sages and mystics and Khalandars to know that we have not studied the “rare-earth” types or the radio-active types among human beings. We talk about anti-Aristotalianism but are bound by the same time and space-psychologically. The possibility of their being spaces and spatialities around us comes in the words but not in the consciousness. There may be many kinds of fourth-dimensional consciousness according to our definition of fourth-dimension. The possibility, nay the probability of unusual types coming to America may set off some commotion. We shall, of course, try to “normalise” them. But radioactivity is now ubiquitous and people with strange faculties may not continue as did the one-eyed man who got into Wells’ kingdom of the blind. We cannot have world understanding so long as we wish to remain ourselves the measuring sticks, the callipers, the micrometers. The Russians and we are both trying to potter-clay the rest of the world. And all propagandists put mikes in their mouths and wax in their ears. I fear for the Peace Corps.

“Time” had an excellent article over the comparative agronomics of the Iron Curtain and the West; this was very objective and may put a crimp on those parrots who emote that Russia is ahead in that and this and the other. Objective studies, impersonal and honest, are needed and they can be our strength.

I am not going to worry anymore about receptions. I wanted the strength of integrity and honesty. Now I am getting, inshallah, the strength of moneys. If they are released here they are not going into the hands of the emotionalists, the ego-centric and the sycophants. I think each philosophy should be examined on its own merits or demerits; and each type of exotic or aberrational personality at its own merits or demerits. To be democratic does not mean to reduce us to a common clay. (I sound like Stevenson at times and maybe I ought to.)

It looks like 10 days more here and I am only hoping I can catch up with my typing. Only I do not know what mail may be awaiting me, and après news le deluge! (Wow, that ought to be patented.) Incidentally, news about Gavin very shaky. Have written Hugo, hoping he is still with us. Well his prophecies have come true.

I only hope I can return this side up.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lahore,

October 22

My Dear Norman:

This is my diary. It is late at night. I have had to remain in Lahore. The Indian foreign office, not knowing whether to grant me a 3-month or 6-month visa has equivocated by granting neither and I am stuck while bureaucrats bureaucrat. This has knocked my schedule sky-high but it is also showing signs of knocking my pocket-book sky-high. For there is one thing very certain about these non-existing Sufis. They certainly have it in the pocket-book as well as in the heart.

Today I reap my karma about phant-Asia versus real Asia. I am, of course, assuming that the people who are going to fête me and promise what I am going to write about are real. Let us start with accepting their bank-accounts as real. Charles Moore and Louis Gainsborough, of course, deny that there are Sufis but would be quite willing to receive some of their largess.

The Khalandar. In this country a man fights for his sister, not for his wife. When partition took place and the Indians left here (the other side did the same) some Louis the Bimp got hold of properties, sold them right and left, and then left and right, collected and opted for the opposite side with plenty of plenty. This put the Khalandar’s sister in a fix because she has been living in a house also sold to somebody else, and on the same day, so nobody knows who has the property and Brother has been in court going to bat.

My conclusion is that I shall probably return to Pakistan after India and Malaya and return via Karachi and New York unless there is some break. I have so written to the Stices.

Major Sadiq is in more or less of the same fix and in the same general district. He is my host and brother Sufi. He owns plenty of plenty. I have been to one of his farms and there is a palace on it. He showed me the palace and told me its history. It is now managed by one of his brothers.

He has also introduced me to the head of the new Agricultural Development Corporation and may be transferred therein. We are trying to get the President’s promise and blessing to send him to America. As the Major has been in Rawalpindi he may even have called on Ayub. If so this will be added before being mailed.

Malik Abdul Hamid Khan has plenty of plenty, far more than the others. He and the Major are my hosts. He told me he has no family any more but one son who is now well heeled. We have invited the American Legation, the A. Friends of the Middle East, Asia Foundation and the ICA to a tea Sunday to discuss real two-way cultural exchange. I do not know how many will come. The Malik will provide the food. The Malik will provide everything but ideas. The Americans may offer ideas. This is not done you know but we doo’d it.

Mass Meetings. Between the Major and the Malik I have had two mass meetings, one of 20,000 disciples in (non-existent) Sufism. The other 10,000 of Shias and Sunnis. Meanwhile I am invited to Sufi gatherings and to colleges.

Boy, you should have been with me today. Nothing but lovelies, a whole college of them and I the speaker and only one other man there. And did I get an ovation. The girls were much more intelligent than the boys whom I have addressed. And I was in wonderful form. With the abating of the heat my health has reached perfection. Besides I have had with me the unamalgamated association of saints, Sufis, sadhus, seers and sages some of whom did not go to college and none of whom went to universities in Europe, England or Canada. How come! Anyhow they psyched me for this month and it is coming out exactly.

But when the Malik put his stuff to me the other day—my birthday too—I nearly fell over. He has offered so much in the financial way, but gives two years to work out the program. So Sunday we meet and discuss. Already President Ayub has given his ideas; we now need his blessing.

Dr. Robert Blum was injured here when he was going to Ayub to get ideas. Anyhow tomorrow I meet Mr. Metz at Asia Foundation and place before him my idea for apprentices in certain industries. The legation backs me up. Everybody backs me up now. No Uncle Louies, no Landaus, no Spiegelbergs, just Americans and Pakistanis and they are with me to a man, and woman. And we ought to meet some conclusion on Sunday.

Anyhow, so far as you are concerned I shall look in all directions Mr. Kibbee, the USIA director here is also of African descent and is the only USIA man I can positively recommend. Instead of filling the people up with Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Tennessee Williams he gives them folk songs and square dancing. He actually mingles! He does not sit in an ivory tower and use microphones. It is almost impossible to believe. He really wants to win the cold war.

Next week I have been informed will be my investiture as a Sufi Murshid. This is going hard on my erstwhile personal enemies in the S.F. Bay area. This had a long history. I entered the Sufi center (which could not be) and found it occupied by commies. Why not? Under our European professors who give us the degrees these people don’t exist or are knaves and fools. What better place for a hide-out; and for plotting against the Peace Corps. Well Lewises rush in where fools and angels alike fear to tread. They attacked me; the non-existent Sufis gave me a feast; they attacked me some more; the non-existing Sufis gave me a party; the attacks continued and the non-existing Sufis gave me a mass-meeting. And so on.

Now with the accumulation of popularity, fame and éclat, this possibility of financial support comes up. Well the unamalgamated society of Sufis, sadhus, saints, sages and seers have long predicted it and given me their blessings. I cannot walk anywhere without being greeted.

Rom Landau may talk about Baraka but he has never been here and he would not believe if he saw; he would say it is a put-up job.

Well I’ll do the praying and we shall see. But if there is an overflow $$ as well as an overflow audience, I know Barkis is willing, meaning you. Just sit tight; this is still a prayer and not a promise, but the Ides of October have been excellent.

And 65 or not, give me another college of lovelies. Won’t you join me?

S A M

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lahore

October 25

My Dear Harry:

So much has happened during the last month that I feel it imperative to go over all my notes and reports. My journey here is the result of my reading too much fiction concerned with the region and so much of my life is now concerned with events either paralleling that fiction or so much more exciting or interesting, at least to me that I want to re-write and revaluate. In short, fame is already here and prosperity looks very close. I have spoke to over 50,000 people and there is another mass meeting for me Tuesday at which time I shall either be given a title or official recognition. These titles and recognitions are hardly the type one can get from a university abroad, accredited or not; and if it were not for the accidental or divine walking into the communist cell, some of the deeper parts of my nature would not have come out. But the Legation here is with me and not only with me in this but in my not so merry mix-up.

Weeks and weeks ago I applied for a visa for India. Not only whether to grant a six-months or three-months visa. They slept over it. When finally the American Friends of the Middle East, the Embassy and delegation got after them they passed the buck to New Delhi. On top of that I have had no word from New Delhi and I am half afraid they may do the same thing as the Karachi Embassy did, send my mail back! Then the fir or fur will fly, because by this time both our Senators know what I am doing and am up against.

By favourite accident I did receive two letters which were sent to my Abbottabad address. One was from Newsweek accepting my report on communist infiltration, which happened before I walked into it. But it is the most unfortunate thing even in the cold war that a newsman’s imagination may start a war, but if Protestant missionaries saw a whole army enter another country, it would mean simply that Mr. Alsop, or his brother, would write another article complaining the situation. The old adage, hit-them-where-they–ain’t is one we cannot officially accept and those darn nice, protocol observing communists would not do anything like that, despite Korea, Viet Minh, Laos and Afghanistan, and pushing young parolees, what’s the next article and go and build your bomb shelter which means more money for the account people. You don’t see Russians building bomb shelters here because that is honestly what they won’t do. We have mind players out-fielding and they are bunting and they keep on bunting and bunting and we have no real short stops (indian variety).

Peace Corps and Peshawar University. We have a fine bunch of men from Colorado State U. and they have intelligence and experience and all tied up tightly in red tape. Ted Thatcher, graduated from U. C. in Forest Entomology and this is badly needed but what is he doing? Arranging scientific courses and training Peace Corps! They have some system at the University. The Forestry and Agriculture Colleges give all their courses each separate from the other and so duplicate each other and the rest of the campus. The Engineering colleges duplicate nothing, sending their students to the really well equipped physics and chem. labs and requiring the upper division students to walk from one building to another for such courses as sanitary engineering, dam building etc. It is terrible to say they make these men walk—even 100 yards!

Salinity. Thank God the experts have been here. Now Germany is sending experts. Russia has been sending them in since before I arrived and is still sending them in. The leading paper using English, “Pakistan Times” was pro-communist and is now just anti-American. They have blamed us, through misprints for every error made by anybody and everybody in Katanga. I still have visit Riverside and will go more deeply into saline tolerant plants. I understand there is one variety of cotton. This information I may be able to get at Berkeley, too.

Food Processing. I had a bright idea after visiting Takht Bhai for sending a dozen Pakistanis to the S.F. Bay region to learn different types of food processing—canning, packing, grading, etc. My idea became brighter and brighter. Anyhow after I walked into the Communist net suddenly everybody began to listen to me on everything and this idea took on. Notes were taken and soon passed to Secretary Freeman who has been here.

I have since written in detail to James Wilson of the C. of C. and also discussed it with Asia Foundation. Many of our big corporations such as Calpack, American Can, Citrus Industries, etc. give money to Asia Foundation, etc. to help Asian students. Now I suggest they train apprentices from this country and get some kind of income tax alleviation. But if they invest, or if machinery is sold here there would be the proper type of personnel. I would not only be glad to discuss this with you, I think it may be a must before I go down to San Jose, or even visit Stanford Research.

I have also written to my foster sister’s husband who is an old hand in the field. I do not expect or need answers through the mails but I need conferences before I run off unprepared to any of the industries involved.

Afghan Situation. I am not getting into the politics. Until the break between the two countries Afghanistan grew practically all the melons, Grapes, Cucurbits and other items. There is no diversified farming here. When the crops are too great there is spoilage; when too small there is depression.

The University of Peshawar is one of the largest in Asia and perhaps the most poorly organized. There is duplication so much I can pun Botany-Botany who’s got Botany. Boy you never saw a place with so many Botany teachers—four different departments that I know of and I did not look around. This includes only those who use English in the class room!

I visited Warsak Dam, the whole staff of which has been trained by my friend, Prof. Durand. He is a fiction-like character in himself. His existence belies our whole teaching about Islam and India, mostly by big men who do not go there, and whose knowledge, outside of books, is totally superficial. And incidentally I have had the not too enjoyable experience of breaking down every one of the Americans here to find they do not know much about Asiatics and are given little chance to learn after they get here.

Pashto Academy. This has by far the best and most scientific section. It is directed by my friend, Maulana Abdal Qadir whom I met in San Francisco years ago. He has been most cooperative in arranging both lectures and social contacts. My theme, “Oriental Philosophy and Modern Science” has gone over everywhere.

Takht Bhai. I have written that I expected to visit the best farm using modern methods. It is owned and managed by Sattar and Jamshyd Khan and my existence there was definitely idyllic. Sugar is a 10 months crop. Takht Bhai is Persian for mountain spring, and there used to be a big spring from which water was drawn for the Buddhist monasteries on one of the hills within the Khan’s land. The places have long since been in ruins, but excellent architecture. I only hope I can visit the place again for a longer stay, for many reasons.

The Khans plant only on rows and hills and never broadcast. They stagger the planting to establish a rhythmic program for their workers, the most happy I have seen in Pakistan. They use two composts, one of decayed vegetable matter and the other buffalo dung. Those are spread on the ground and superphos is added before planting. This family goes in much heavier for organics than is usual in Pakistan. They also have an excellent system of green manuring.

The soil is known to be high in K but low in P and N. This shows up in poor Maize and not much better in Sorghum.

I stop here and am going to Lyallpur to visit the Agricultural Research College and may continue tonight or tomorrow night.

October 26. I am now in Lyallpur living up to my new nickname, Tarfusan. My affairs have become so complex I simply can do nothing but sit by but when I return, if I return to Lahore tomorrow, I shall have to get the diplomatic circles running—no mail, no money, no passport, no visa, and on the other hand another grand public mass meeting coming up. The plane changed its schedule without notification. I came by express bus several hours later and did find my putative host at a late hour. He was Prof. of Agricultural Engineering but went into private business some time back. The motto could be “Tarfusan mindabad” but I hate to translate that.

Takht Bhai, Sugar. In my original notes I wrote that I thought Copper would help in the solving of certain two-way equilibria in Sugars and information thereof. Since then I have had this confirmed from a book on Soils which I left behind. I got this from the USIA library and it has so many important notes—not lengthy, but important, I shall copy them out verbatim. Magnesium also seems to play a role here, but to a lesser extent.

The Khan brothers have worked out an excellent system giving dignity to what has been caste. And if there is any place you have caste it is outside India where, not being recognized, it is not unlawful. The chief librarian at USIA complained to me that since working for the Americans as librarian he has lost caste and face. Because they pay him well it is even worse for then he is a materialist and that makes him unsure of his salvation. So he gave up his religion and that put him further outside the pale. You see, Harry, I can’t resist a pun—to counterbalance Basic Democracy there isGold Democracy.

But at Takht Bhai everyone is given dignity and the man who was the proudest was operating tractors and plows. These damned fools—instead of purchasing the latest equipment which are exceedingly technical and for which it is difficult to get parts and mechanics, they have gone out and bought 1940 models and operate them at less cost and with easier repairs and parts. Business is business, no caste, no dignity, and prosperity for them is not around the corner, it is here.

Neighbors please don’t copy. Complain and ask for foreign aid.

I had two long talks with the Editor of “Khyber Mail” in Peshawar on the Sugar industry. We have the answers in America, but between the political complications, “There is no god but protocallah” and the casteless societies, what a job! Also what an opportunity!

Paradise Regained. The Khans have the most beautiful garden I have ever been in. Eden style. I did not see anybody there, not even a snake, but just one horse and sometimes his groom. The dominant fruit is a pear. It is firm and hard but sweet. Easy when unripe it is not acrid, and even when ripe there are some pectins in it but the sugars are greater. The esters increase with ripening and it changes color very, very slowly. I saved some seeds and I hope I don’t forget to smuggle them. The great advantages of it include firmness for packing, long period of edibility; the variations of taste do not decrease palatability. It is excellent with milk and sugar. But if the canning industry ever gets it you will see a “revolution.”

The Dates were just coming out. There were a few Bananas but several Prune and Pome types. There is now a Quince-like fruit on the market but I have not examined it. Okra was grown in profusion but it looked like an ornamental. Outside of Roses I do not recall any flowers in particular, the place being one of Trees and Shrubs, not herbs and vines.

Tarnab Farm is supposed to be the largest successful experimental station in West Pakistan. The tree stand is equal to anything I have ever seen, and the best Roses anywhere. Unfortunately all the soil men, chemists and fruit men were away including my putative host, so I do not know either the supposition of program.

It was between season for vegetables. They have two crops a year. Cabbages do fine but are not relished. Cauliflower is and the market is now full of them. Their methods of cooking and serving are quite different from ours and they do not seem to have as much sulfur and gas. At least I have never smelled them nor had any stomach distress from overeating. Green vegetables are not grown much. The Pakistanis do not care for them and the Americans do not eat raw vegetables. (Incidentally, Tarfuzan missed the best Tomatoes growing country. When you are a guest, try to get away. They treat you wonderfully; you have a superb time and then have to fight your way out.

Plant Protection. At Takht Bhai they use aeroplanes in massive spray operations. This is safe on cane but would hardly do for edibles. With regard to Locusts you may remember I told you there was an international convention. The bugs were not invited so they came after it was all over to clean up. The result was feasts for the poor of cities who ate the Locusts but curses from the Farmers. C’est la guerre.

Peaches are attacked by Ispenoptera dadkhine (not sure of the names). There is a spray called “Dimicron” which is 100% successful. Toxaphene, the second best, is only 50% satisfactory and other sprays less so. The Fruit Fly is the general pest and they use Malathion, Dieldrin and Toxaphene, all of which are satisfactory.

There is Paralla potiasilla (?) a homopter, controlled by aerial sprays with Endrin, very good. And Thibolrea enticatell, controlled by Malathion and Endrin. These last two seem effective on most pests.

There is both interest and success in Potato-growing and I must say this is a fine cooked vegetable. The soils around Tarnab are lighter in texture and have sufficient K. At Takht Bhai they have the two manures and superphos before planting and Ammosulph later, but at Tarnab other fertilizers are used but could not get report because soil man and chemists were absent.

The book above referred to is much concerned with the humus problem and even in today’s paper there is attack on modern methods which destroy humus. This is very serious.

My Host, Major Sadiq is not only a military man but a spiritual healer. He has performed miracles—and I can call them miracles, for strange to say they only seem to occur in the presence of a medical doctor. The other "cures" have not impressed me but some may be real.

He took me to one of his farms and I learned he is a very wealthy man. (I also adopted another nickname for my return: "Cashinova and his home-coming." For instance he has a whole palace on the farm he took me to. He asked me for advice and I told him Tobacco and Cotton. He beamed. He has a fine and small stand of Tobacco. The Cotton plants were excellent, equal to any I have seen. The whole ecological world agreed with me and they have three-story buildings for housing insects of various species, but this has resulted in a tenement problem. He has done no spraying, but all other plants were remarkably free from pests.

Well Harry, you learned me well, for I spoke against Sugar especially broadcasting, and Maize and Sugar does not pay and Maize tarfued. I also urged two crops a year, but he has his winter Wheat and it is doing well. My suggestion is for an Herb and Medicinal Plant farm of which there are none in Pakistan. The Major is a friend of many doctors—there are four schools of medicine and all herb gathering is incidental and accidental. I see a grand opportunity here. I warned against competing with ordinary crops such as Rice, Maize, common fruits, but he could use a few Olives and might try Avocadoes.

The trouble with these visits is that everybody wants me to become a farm adviser and “I wanna come home”—but read above!

Yesterday was a holiday. World Series cricket game. Everything is not wrong here. And we are introducing basket-ball!

I have revisited the tombs of Jahangir and Asaf Khan, and Shalimar Gardens. These were, in a sense, a gigantic WPA program, putting a multitude to work. The tomb region has strictly formal gardens, basically lawns, a few trees, practically no flowers, and only a modicum of engineering. The brick work is not so good but there is excellent marble carving and some fair painting. The Shalimar gardens were a dream. The general outlay is the same but the lawn is the backdrop to the trees. In both places the Ficus formed the foundations, functioning somewhat as our Live Oaks on the East Coast and undoubtedly being very aged as well as extending shade. But at Shalimar the spaces between are filled with varieties of smaller trees and large shrubs. Palms are found in both. At Shalimar you have Oleanders and of several colors.

The Coleus was not very presentable, sometimes. The Croton excellent. Phlox were going out and Roses were just coming in. The Roses are pruned as if they were shrubs. In Japan they are treated as vines. This means there is often a mass of lower branches, some not too healthy. But I have seen few evidences of the “Persian Rose” method. This is the use of leaders and trimming away branches.

Lahore is undoubtedly one of the great garden cities of the world. I have not been able to fill my program. Since contacting the consulate I have been publicly attacked and publicly acclaimed. I have a third presentation coming up next week. I hope it is the last. I have not only spoken at colleges for men only and educational institutions but addressed between 200-300 lovelies last week. And I brought the house down. It was just after my birthday—my passport says I am 65, but I do not look or feel or act like it. Anyhow the lecture must have been a success for next night I came home to find six other lovelies waiting for me. They want me to go to their college, but “for reasons of state” I declined.

In the meanwhile I have been the guest of Malik Abdul Hamid Khan who is the “ill-Rogers” Mayor of the Cantonment socially and the Doheny financially. He is very anxious to liquidate some or all of his holdings, turning the rest to his family and coming to the U.S. He has oodles, the Major has plenty and I am also awaiting the strange figure—Pir Khalandar Alfaqir Zulfaqir Ali Shah Nastan—who walks right out of the Arabian Nights. He also has a large sum which he wants to translate into ze dollaire and travel in the U.S. He has few disciples, two tops in the Pakistan International Airlines and another as Justice of the Supreme Court.

Anyhow we are awaiting word from his nibs, ze President and Field Marshal Ayub Khan and in his hands my fate awaits—heads, Cashinova, tails Casinova. (The pun remains.) But the home-coming, I am Tarfuzan.

For “light reading” I am going over Grass, the 1948 USDA book. It is so different now. I enjoy it thoroughly and find it excellent reading.

I have a letter from John Thomas Howell. I sent him a check to contribute to wild-flower preservation and I am to see him also after I return but you first, my dear Alfonse. I have written my exploits to the American Friends of the Middle East, World Affairs Council, South Asian Department of U. C. and on special subjects to other contacts in the Bay Area. Also more recently to Washington. Newsweek accepted my tentative report and Satevepost acknowledged one. But with my mail astray I don’t know what. Anyhow I have given all the dirt to Chet Huntley whom I know when.

I am now in Lyallpur and spent the morning at the Agr. Exp. College. It is connected with Punjabi U. The soil man refused absolutely to give me any information. A few moments later I met Prof. Larson, exchange man from Washington State, and before I could ask him any questions he put the whole thing in front of me, just like that! However, for details I must go to their headquarters in Lahore, so there will be a follow-up program….. I found later that the soil man is not a graduate of these parts and, as I suspected, a refugee. This is not against him but his psychology was neither “Islamic” (i.e. hospitable) nor scientific. But even the Washington State reports are not sufficient and if this kind of thing continues there will be waste in experimentation and appropriation (especially the last.)

My relations with Dr. Abdul Ghafoor Kausar, Plant Pathologist, were of exactly the opposite nature. He is a graduate both of Punjabi U. and Minnesota. He gave me Investigations of Plant Diseases which I shall either mail or bring. Roughly speaking they go in more for Disease Control here and Pest Control at Tarnab. Neither is there too much duplicating in all branches of science. But here there is a university attached, the laboratories are clean and well-equipped and the students whom I met looked dignified and much more serious and scientific minded than any of others in Pakistan. This I think is at least partly due to the combination of the guidance by Washington State (Carl Larson as above) and that most of the profs have had terms abroad either in research or exchange under some U.S. program.

I was guided by Prof. Ashraf who is both Botanist and Plant Pathologist—this I think is excellent because sometimes today men become such specialists that they do not always get together. We had somewhere along the line discussions on that. The reason Australians do not evaluate them is because there are diseases at home. Because seeds and not cuttings are shipped and because of the rigid quarantine of other lands one finds far better Rose in this sub-continent, America and even south Europe than in their homeland. The same is true for other reasons of Acacias. On the other hand—verifying books I have read, Ashraf assured me that California Pines grow much better Down Under. No wonder landscaping in Calif. Is devoted to “septentrional” trees and there they use our things.

Prof. Kausar understands the relation of diseases to trace elements. Sulphur is in short supply. With the high pH there has never been any experimenting with raw S and my visit may lead to this. There has been only limited work with Gypsum. While our books are filled with data on cation exchange there is little on anion exchange. Here the anions are usually dioxides (in saline soils) and carbonates in dry soils. There is need for study and correction. (My, am I getting technical and an expert, but on God knows what!)

This leads—and it was my deduction—to diseases of Cucurbits, Downy Mildew in some parts, Powdery on the Plains, the latter being corrected by Sulphur compounds. Copper compounds are used, of course, in corrections but there is no report on either of these in the soils and the method of adding Iron Sulphate also by sprays has been very effective. Remember this is high pH, Potassium soils. I have copied the name of Commonwealth Scientific & Research Industrial Research Organization, 314 Albert St., East Melbourne, C.2. I shall try to find more at the Embassy or Legation in New Delhi. I think you should have their Botany books. Please make a note and remind me when I return.

But the great thing—and they call it The Eighth Wonder of the World comes in cross-breeding Grasses of different Genomes. Harry, I got an eye-full—pun Eye-full-tower and no nonsense. They crossed an annual Millet which grows 20’ with a perennial Napier grass and have a 24’ (twenty four foot) “mulatto” which gives seven or eight crops a year hay. It is sterile but can easily be reproduced by cuttings, acting in this way as a perennial. I never saw anything like it.

They crossed Sorghum vulgare with Sudan Grass producing a breed which the cows enjoy, sweetening the milk. Differing from Tarnab their Sorghum is very, very sweet and its products are used as an alternative for Sugar Cane. This opens up vast possibilities. The whole field of crossing grasses thus presents itself, and what may come therefrom. If I did not complete the survey of this place it was because of the emotional effects and vast possibilities.

I don’t know whether to wait and add more or send this as is. I am waiting for my host, former Agricultural Engineer Sheikh Mahabood Alia but I certainly want to see more of this place. We had a long discussion on the need for botanical and agricultural literature and a shorted one on Avocados, but I see no good in sending seeds here with incomplete reports. So far as the literature is concerned, if I return by New York I shall take this up at once.

Good-bye for the moment,

November 1, 1961

My dear Florie:

Please, this is Sam Lewis, not E. Phillips Oppenheim and I beg you to Ripley although it may look like Baron Munchhausen. I am still in Lahore, My passport she is, but where she is two Embassies, one Consulate and one High Commissioner cannot say and I cannot leave without it. Unless I go straight home. Which is also possible.

My money she is, but where she is is a question. No mail has been received but the Embassy at New Delhi. My mail she might be but where she might be dunno from nothin’. No word from Satya Agrawal, and I have had to send long distance and special mail to Delhi to locate Agrawal, to locate my mail, to locate my passport, whether I get a short, long or intermediary visa to India.

Then the communists. There being no Sufis what better place for them to hide. And they have been after me. The result was two vast mass meetings and a lot of other meetings, but last night they were at least particularly successful in sabotaging a third mass meeting, so that the audience was much smaller and the ceremonial was definitely and deliberately interfered with. So even if our Zionist and European professors of Islamics deny the existence of the Sufis, the political attachés have had to admit they are. And then the Sufi teacher went back to Dacca, coincidentally at the same time the Peace Corps. As the conspiracy, if so it can be called, was against them and not particularly against me, we shall see what we shall see and I am either mad or made.

The last letter received came by mistake from Newsweek which accepted my reports. I have written two senators, three Congressmen, five letters to the State Department and four to publications and commentators—at least. No answers excepting again by mistake, one from Senator Kuchel was sent to Abbottabad. As I am an American and a presumable vote, I think Tom Kuchel is more likely to listen to me than the sundry Europeans and Zionists who insist that Sufis ain’t, no matter what non American University they graduated from.

I have long passed the 50,000 mark in my audiences. I have spoken to so many college students. Now many, especially girls, have been coming for advice, which is out of my line. And some want to be my Sufi disciples, a matter which I look upon with extreme delicacy because mysticism is mysticism and not psychoanalysis or psycho synthesis.

Finally the wealthy Sufi has offered to come to my aid and this time I am accepting and accepting openly and fully. Bearing the full consequences and if Allah wishes we have a mosque or anything else it may come but not in the way man insists, only in the way Allah wishes.

I have been to Lyallpur and saw some wonderful advances in Agronomy and Agriculture. I have since visited the CIC staff and am satisfied with the personal but hopelessly akilter with the methodology—red tape and protocol. This leaves me with a free field.

I have already met the head of the new Agricultural Development Corporation and the second in command wishes to see me and soon. This means a letter to Admiral Evenson. I have about completed my survey but it looks now as if I shall come back after a sortie into India and Malay. I wish it and everybody wishes it; this means coming back by New York and, unless we fly, it means stopping in UAR again where I shall continue earlier efforts and perhaps see Asara, inshallah.

My physical health has been fine partly due to better weather, but emotionally and psychically I am hard put. I else have the enigma of my mother not knowing whether she is alive or dead and if dead, whether I have been summoned home.

I have now spoken to over 50,000 people and am not counting any more, assuming that many of my audiences here will include repeats. I have given some …[?]. My own…[?]. This afternoon hope to visit one of the shrines again. I am learning a lot about Baraka from firsthand experience. End of Diary.

November 5, 1961

My dear Uncle and Aunt:

Recently I adopted the nickname of “Tarfuzan.” Tarfu is the old war word “Things are really fouled up.” Never in my life have things ever been so fouled up but please don’t come to any decision, for I did not say that things were bad. I cannot complain about my health and in some ways I cannot even complain. As I have said, ”I asked for it.” I did not want boredom; I haven’t got boredom.

In the month of August I met the Asst. High Commissioner of India and asked about a visa and he said he would help me. Bye-bye-blackbird. I trusted him, this dear trusting soul of me and I filled out one of their forms, no two and sent six pictures and money, fortunately registered and I have the registered receipt. That’s all I have.

Tomorrow I shall write to the former Secretary of State and the present Asst. Secretary of State (or rather “Ministry Foreign Affairs”). Of course home I don’t know nothin’ from nobody. And I have a friend in parliament but he is leader of the opposition and if he ever heard, wow! So I can’t leave Pakistan, I can’t go home—unless, which is quite probable, I get special diplomatic immunity—and, of course, I can’t proceed to other lands.

Mail. My host in India has disappeared. I received a wire from his wife that he had to see his dying father. That’s all I received. He gave me three addresses and I have written to all three to have my mail forwarded. No soap.

Money. I had the Bank of America send me rupees both to the host and to the Embassy. Yes! No! where, oh where has my doggy gone? Anyhow I have written to their representative in Delhi saying that not only haven’t I not gotten the Rupees, but I have not dollar reports either.

The Consulate he gave me an introduction to American Express. Actually I was “in” all ready because one of my spiritual brothers had already introduced me. So they agreed to cash checks. But when one does not know one’s balance, one hates to go ahead. I am sure it is ample. But, and besides—if anything is clear or later in this letter I have failed to communicate.

Meanwhile another spiritual brother, Major M. Sadiq, has been looking after me in his home so all I have to spend money for is mail, clothing, mail, mail, more mail and reading matter and still more mail. In the meanwhile also my fellow-conspirator and spiritual brother, Malik Abdul Humid Khan has come to my rescue with Rupees so I stand up and with no net expenses here and income on the U.S. side, I must have a substantial balance, (from my father) excluding my own money which I have not touched and for which John L. Rockwell has the bank book in San Rafael.

To make things more Tarfu, my credit cards—Bank of America and Diners Club should be in the mail not forwarded. With then I could go to several luxury hotels, and just sign slips. Hold everything—that is only the beginning. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet.

Communism. My best friend had been in an accident. So I called on him. This is what happened: He asked the Major for his car and driver but the Major restricts this to local trips and official business because he needs it. So kind-heart I.N., who is the owner of a chain of cinema houses, loaned his car and driver. A smash-up and my friend blamed the Major, he did not blame I.N.’s driver whose carelessness caused the accident. Again I.N. came to the rescue. He paid the hospital bills, and he paid the doctors and he kept my best friend in his name—and brainwashed him.

You see, my loved ones, I.N. is head of the c.p. in Pakistan and is boson-buddy of Nikita the Fat, the anti-Salin, anti-dictator Big Brother. And I.N. began using my friend for a front and did it work, and how. Then innocent me stepped in and the fun began.

It was obvious I was an agent of the FBI, the CIA, the Army Intelligence and everybody else, a fake and a fraud. Only they said this in English so the local saps would not understand. Right up in front was a man we shall call the Murshid and he knows English, But this is the “mysterious East,” and he can read minds brainwashed or not. Two days later the Murshid gave me a grand public reception. The next day he and the Major gave me a grand public reception. That made I.N. and his gang mad and they tooted me all over the place.

Meanwhile on my previous visit I had met a lot of industrialists, generals and big-boys and among them as Editor Maulana Shereef. So the Maulana got me a mass meeting and I spoke before 20,000 people. That did not go over with the commies a-tall a-tall. They kept on advertising. Soon I was being visited by all kinds of people of whom I never heard and actually I don’t take any stock in. We should call them fanatics and ignoramuses. Only they are all anti-communist and they arranged me another mass meeting.

The communists then blamed the Malik who has had the misfortune of being successful. I.N. is also successful and any resemblance of his place to what Mount Hollywood used to be is, and it is no coincidence, exactly the same lay-out. The rich man is all right if he is a c.p. boy. So the Malik began adding to my social affairs and now my rupees and clothes. As he is a manufacturer of household goods, he has promised me the stove, iron, everything excepting a second-hand refrigerator which I can get much more cheaply if I bring it in on my next trip which can do.

Well, beloved ones, the Karachi Embassy had returned my mail—you know that. They had refused me interviews in two departments but now they suddenly came to life. This was too much. The c. p. story is the same as in 1956. Ws talked it over here in detail. I had a bunch of stuff “in my portfolio” and the press and State Department turned everything down which the legation had told ma. This is the way we fight the “cold war.” Actually the commies infiltrated the press—which can do no wrong; sold the American filth literature and show the worse movies they can get. They don’t need profits. They get them of course, because they are subsidized by Moscow. Every Protestant missionary has been up in arms but we don’t touch those things. We won’t touch local religion, and we won’t touch Hollywood and Eric Johnson, so you figure out where the communists are; it’s simple and a cinch and while we are looking for them where we think they must be, likely as not they are in the searching party. This is the “Cold war.”

In the meanwhile every time I go to a campus it means another lecture. I can speak to anybody and everybody and do and did and it is not a matter of record and Washington has never accepted any of my achievements and I am being watched and the Major is being watched, and the Malik is being watched, so at least the Legation here is aroused.

I had been tipped off first about the communists by a Protestant missionary named Samuel Brown whose name I specifically want in my records because it is time to wake up to the fact—although I think it is impossible that sometimes Protestant missionaries are more honest than newspaper man. Everybody will admit this and forget it so what they say or know is pushed aside while we listen and accept as gospel truth the rumblings of big commentators and reports who weren’t there. This is the way we fight “the cold war.”

Then the police chiefs gave me a big story. It was official from the Pakistan’s end point, but not from the American standpoint and of course CIA can’t listen to this stuff, so another Cuba and Laos, chaos here we come, Actually this is such old hat to me you have no idea. Anyhow if the State Department did not accept and the press Newsweek did and that is the last news I have had from America. Anyhow I have written Newsweek further.

While this was going on with several trips to American Express I presented them my ideas for Tourism which I have tried to place before the Pakistan Tourist Bureau and Pakistan Airlines ever since I arrived. “Sold American!” They took in six minutes what I had failed to get over in six months and they asked me to call_, at S.F. or New York wherever I go first. The more I talked the more they liked the idea.

And being unable to get out of the country I bought a plait ticket to Lyallpur. The airline changed the schedule without notification. Good old Tarfusan. Anyhow I did get to Lyallpur and saw what the Americans are doing and got the surprise of my life. This is technical but wonderful. I am not supposed to get in on such things so always do all over the world.

My most there as one Shaikh Maheboob Alai who owns a big textile mill among other things. Well when I left the college I got a tanga (horse drawn cart) and asked for Shaikh Maheboob Alai and was taken to the textile Mills. I begged out and they locked the doors and telephoned and no Shaikh Mahebood Alai was home. I gave the tanga his address but they would not let me out. They had no less than ten conferences and while the last one that I could take was on I walked out and headed for the police station. There I explained and the tangawallah followed not having his money. The police told him to take me to the home of Shaikh Maheboob Alai. We were followed by a car and by this time I was not comfortable. A^` man got out and told me he was Shaikh Maheboob Alai. He was a young man; the other was old. But I said his was Tarfu, not tragedy. The elder son of the old Shaikh was his partner in a different textile mill, one turning out wool etc., the other rayon, etc. In the end things cleared up all right and I had a nice ride back, plus meeting a man who wants to be my host. I said no; he pleaded, and then I found he is the cousin of the Minister of Food and Agriculture who was any first host when I landed in_. Karachi.

Now Major Sadiq may be transferred and we are hoping to come to the U.S. together although two other men have expressed such wishes and put up the money. Only the money is in rupees and it depends on the State Bank here whether they can change the rupees into dollars. This gets complicated but please remember for the while I am Tarfusan. Anyhow through the Major I have met the No. 1 man in the new Agricultural Development Corporation and the No. 2 man wants to a see me.

In a few minutes I am off to meet another general. You can understand why I have written Elliott: “Vindication not revenge.” Sooner or later I get out into print. When the editor, Maulana Shereef, collects all the stuff about the Major and myself I go to the U.S. Govt. Press Agents here for reports and advise. Now they are all for and with me. I have written to the City Halls in both L.A. and S.F. and to a lot of people and I am hoping something will be accepted, but without mail I can’t tell anything.

For Ladies Only. Next a beautiful young woman called on me and soon I was addressing a women’s college and met the whole student body. It was also my best talk and they gave me a rousing ovation. The next night a bevy of girls from another college called to see me. Now although there is “purdah” or curtain that keeps women away from men, especially foreigners, no sir, not I, sir…. This is not as wonderful as it seems; they give me their problems. There are few professional psychologists here.

I have been interrupted twice since starting. I have had arrangements with the Foreign Service for some people to send mail to two places, but still I will try c/o Embassy U.S.A., New Delhi. Only with the Karachi experience I don’t know. There are persons inside the embassy there watching out for me. The news is that Kennedy is coming. This will be wonderful.

It looks now as if I shall return via Karachi, UAR, New York but don’t know when etc.

Love,

November 5, 1961

Dear Friends:

This is partly auto-biographical partly business or as the pun which just walled in says ought-to-buy-ographical.

I never was in such a mix-up in my life but don’t need money, sympathy or help. I am stuck in Lahore without my passport, mail or funds. A tracer shows no mail arrived at the Embassy in New Delhi, but after the Embassy at Karachi returned all letters to sender I am not sure. My host there has disappeared and so all efforts to trace mail or money sent to him have resulted in exactly nothing, Add to that I stepped into a communist cell and they have been after me ever since.

I might have known but protocol that all protestant missionaries are self-seekers and all newsmen skillful observers and if a dozen missionaries saw an army, think nothing of it; and if a drunken reporter has deliriums of red, call out the army, navy, marines and coast guard. It was simple for the reds—we deny the existence of Sufis though I have met thousands upon thousands. So the reds infiltrate and are waiting for the Peace Corps. I won’t go into that.

I am protected by rich Sufis so have no hotel bill and get pin money besides which means my dollars and Indian rupees are unspent.

Major Sadiq with whom I am staying is a spiritual healer. We are waiting for two things: (a) occult report on our hands and horoscopes; (b) release of his person to go to the U.S. on a healing (and other) mission. Without going into confidences—I do at knew whether they are secret or riot, I shall want:

1. At least one a copy of the Gospel of St. Thomas. If there are several versions a copy each of all versions.

2. If you can locate “Pistis Sophia,” the Gnostic scripture, please do so.

3. If there are any recent recoveries printed on the same generals subject, they also.

I do not wish any Red Sea Strolls or any material presumably prior to the birth of Jesus. This will be on his healing and occult side.

It may be now that we shall land in New York. If so I would want such books delivered there—this applies only to these. I may, of course, pick them up in an occult or other book store in that sector, but somewhere along the line I would like you to write me. This only when I am sure of my arrival in either New York or California.

I have purchased a good may Sufi books hero and may buy, or receive Hindu and Buddhist literature further on, but this is a different matter and I should prefer you handle all purchases for me later on, even though I pay for them in rupees myself, to cover shipment collation, etc. until I know where I shall be living.

I have spoken to over 50,000 people here, exclusive of repeats of which there have been many. Although all the seers saints, Sufis and sages portend fine future I still am standing the middle of enigmas. Well, I asked for it; my only prayer has been one for delivery from boredom.

Cheerio,

Samuel L. Lewis

S A M

Lahore November 6, 1961

Dear John:

This is an emergency latter which does not need any answer. You will excuse the formalities. Within one month I shall either be a damn fool, dead or a hero, and while I am betting on the latter, it is only “intuition” and nothing more. I am sending a copy of this to Jack Betts on Clementina St. My attorney, John Rockwell is being informed as best I may. I do know letters get out and I am compelled to ask some people to write to Lahore, where I am not supposed to be. The backdrop is that I have unwittingly stepped into a communist cell. This is not the first time either. It is my fourth run-in with them and so far as the Lahore consulate is concerned they have been entirely cooperative as they did before. Before I returned to the U.S. entirely briefed and if I ever got my foot inside a door I was lucky. The answer was “no” anyhow.

One item. The two largest papers here were then controlled by communists and I was asked to bring a report to the Wall St. Journal, The latter paper was having a crusade: ”Save the world by Christian missions” and they told me point blank they were not interested in Islamic countries. Ayub, not we, cleared up the situation partly. It is a long and horrible story that communism here is supported at the same time financially by American interests and the Russian government. Why was the ABC world survey of a few years ago buried? I have never gotten this point over even to people employed by the NBC. I am going to skip that now but when one walks into the home of the top commie who is also the top film distributor and a few others things, wow!

No Mail: I have looked over my letters since the beginning of September. Answers were to go to the Embassy U.S.A., New Delhi. They swear they have not received a word. I got three letters all by mistake addressed to Pakistan:

a. Favorable response from Newsweek which accepted my quite objective report on communist activities here.

b. A formal acknowledge by a slip from Satevepost.

c. A much belated letter from Scanter Kuchel on technical matters (Salt water conversion and the Garst Plan).

I am waiting in hope that the post man comes today otherwise I shall have to take most unusual steps to trace mail. As the Karachi Embassy, despite my registrations, sent all mail back, I do not trust the clerks. Not only that I have already had my experiences in UAR finding NATO nationalists employed by certain neutralists countries and oh, boy, if we ever meet I can tell you what this means, But the game can be played both ways.

Other mail and my money was supposed to go to my friend Satya Agrawal. To play it safe I heaver asked the Bank of America to send me rupees to both places. Nothing stirring.

Passport was mailed weeks ago to Karachi after I had been promised by the Asst. High Commissioner that I would get it back in 10 days. I gave them 20. It is now 50 days. I can’t go on. On the one hand I have top invitations to Malaya and there has been an impending death in my family but no mail from any point and I can’t go into India to check. I am now planning to go to Ceylon where the Indian High Commissioner as one of the best friends I have on earth. Not only that I have a very big shot friend in Ceylon. I won’t say anything more about him here excepting he was the last host of one M. T. Kirby who went mad trying to tell America of Japanese plans on Pearl Harbor. And at Penang is my friend Phra Sumangalo who tried to tell the Dulles espionage fraternity first about Vietnam and then about Laos. He only lived and worked there and speaks all the languages. He gave up American citizenship.

And look at me. I tried in vain to prevent anti-American attack in Cairo. I could not got through. I tried before. It is useless. This was the third attack on a USIA library which I knew about beforehand.

My theme song is “50 Million Frenchmen can’t be wrong, 50,000,000 Sufis cannot be.” Of course they don’t exist despite Ayub and the Prime Minister of Sudan and three entire Indonesian legations I have visited, but their rupee and meals, and financial and social support I am getting are very-real.

Agricultural Mission has absolutely succeeded in all points. I have been sending details to Harry Nelson but the last month I have not had an hour of peace.

Fame: I have long since passed the 50,000 mark in audiences. I do not add repeat performances. An effort is now being made to collect press items. Even the USIA has recognized this and will cooperate. I believe I have done more to promote real exchanges then all the commissions here. But that is noting. We select high type man, with marked abilities and give them roller top or flat top desks, a flock of secretaries and assistants and beautiful offices, air-conditioned and what not and then a million forms to fill out and that’s where they stay and what they do and they get paid for it and I met just one happy American—one who was actually permitted to take part in agriculture research (I must say it was tops).

Communism. Inasmuch as we deny the existence of Sufis or spit at them, what better hide out? But they made one mistake. They accused me of being an agent, me! Who can’t even get answers from Washington. You should see the answers I have gotten—Republicans or Democrats the same. “I’m in love with a wonderful guy” meaning them-selves. No action. Same for the Ambassador.

The political attachés have my life story and they are very much concerned now, and my autobiography is going to be published in short from soon and perhaps in larger form latter. Actually, John, toy success is due to hard work, meeting communists, study, meeting communists, mingling with the people, meeting communists, knowing about Islam, meeting communists, meeting tremendous numbers of high officials, meeting communists and meeting communists. They have blasted me all over the place which has meant so many meetings and social calls and what not and another general yesterday morning and I shall probably know all the generals, etc. through their kind assistance. Oh Yes, don’t forget to all my success and fame have come through meeting communists and meeting communists.

Well that happened in India when I went to a grand Yoga Center. There was no Yoga there. The pane lecture on Yoga was on Karl Marx and the lesson for the day was a description of America by Karl Marx which was read and applied as if the truth today and I don’t knew when Marx ever visited the U.S. Oh yes, some very respectable professors give courses on this Yoga and you get credit for it and I am not fooling.

Indeed if, and when I get to Penang I shall check on a “Maharshi” who came to S.F. and collected money, gave lectures, collected money, got disciples, collected money and collected money. His “ashram” is in the vaults of the Bank of Penang and here again I am not kidding.

Cold War. The Russian plan is simple—infiltrate, infiltrate, infiltrate. Well we have OIC, Fulbright, USIA, etc., etc., and hardly any of them have met Pakistanis socially outside of work-hours and the opposite holds true and I have even been in “The White House.” I think the Russian plan is to carry on experiments to mislead us. They are not building bomb shelters.

I wish to say at this point, that all this comes from too much E. Phillips Oppenheimer early in life. Sometimes this is spiced, or spiked with Peer Gynt.

Atomic Fallout. One reason for writing is that this is to me the real danger. The Russians are trying experiments so we shall put money into counter-experiments and bomb shelters (on which they don’t waste anything) and infiltrate, often, as here, this being done with indirect American financial aid.

I had a long conversation (for once I listened) to the top Entomologist in UAR who gave a picture of biological world equilibrium. It was fascinating but now it is becoming prophetic to me I am very much in fear that population control will come via this very hazardous route. Even today there was news of a strange malady in South Africa due to this cause.

In 1927 I was working as a clinical clerk for doctors in Portland, Oregon. The doctor tried every known test on his brother-in-law and could not come up with one answer other than the symptoms. I said, “That is easy.” “What is easy?” “Your Brother-in-Law?” “What about him?” “His Profession. “ The man was an X-ray operator and in those days there was no protection. This started my principal, long since dead, on studying the effects of X-Ray, radioactivity, etc. And this was long before World War II.

As I told you I have felt even the most radical statements of Protestants are short. Now it is coming out that there is Radio Active Cobalt and Radio Actives Molybdenum. Nonsense, then everything is radio-active and our modalities are not, in my opinion, competent to measure all dangers. They check on a few elements. How about radio-active Potassium, etc.? No, John, I quite agree with you and fear with you, and I believe the danger is not atomic war but atomic fall-out and I think there must be something in it. For it is certain that the one item mentioned by both the USIA Information News and the Pakistani press is just this.

True, for the moment population is going up but I think there will be halt if there has not already been one.

The reaction here in my behalf grows; it is only when and where am I getting mail. It is long past the hour when the postman should have come. This means another day on edge. I must write to the Embassy in New Delhi and also to Newsweek.

I am not asking anybody to pray for me or anything. I feel optimistic. The Sufis have a counter-intelligence system. We don’t recognize them but they do us. I supplied the name of one big shot today (not the Mr. Big) because he might be on the committee “welcoming” Mrs. Kennedy. May be this is all for my good, whatever that means.

There is nothing private here and I don’t know what to say or suggest or anything. I am afraid about General Walker and I despise the John Birch boys, but the life I am presuming I wish to save is my own.

Faithfully,

Over: Important.

Dear Jack:

I am in the screwiest of the screws. I don’t even know what is happening. I have had to write to an Indian High Commissioner in Ceylon to force the return of my passport which I am told—no evidence—is being held in Karachi. And if I do not get it today I shall be starting some real trouble inside India. The leader of the opposition is an old friend of mine, etc. And this is just what I don’t want.

Money: This is just as screwy. I once sent you a check asking you to send me a registered letter with some bills in it. I do not remember what happened but

a. If you mailed it to Karachi, bye-bye-blackbird. They either returned or “lost” all my mail despite every precaution. And after having trouble with the people in the agricultural and USIA sections, I was spurned by the Embassy officials. Then when Ed Murrow asked for criticisms and suggestions, I was spurned and it looks also as if my original reports on communists were spurned.

b. I have asked the Bank of America to send me rupees to Satya Agrawal who has disappeared.

c. To assure myself—and oh boy, look, at me now—I also had them send rupees to the American Embassy in New Delhi. I ain’t got plenty of plenty.”

Mail. Despite letters, long distant calls, requests to call on the Agrawals, etc, I have exactly nothing from anybody in India!

Yesterday I was able to give the legation the name of one big shot who has become the leader against my friends and myself because he might be on the “welcoming committee” for Lady Jacqueline. Nice baby.

In the meanwhile: More big shots, so many I can neither remember their names or not. The press is pulling for me (i.e. the Urdu) and now the USIA boys are joining in collecting my press notices.

In a prison cell I sit though I must enjoy the view

For the millionaires are coming to my aid,

And the awful things I write are still absolutely true,

When I want some things the bills are all marked “paid.”

Tramp, tramp, tramp the mail ain’t coming,

Cheer up comrades, let sing,

Some day we’ll resume our bumming,

Just now we do not need a thing.

Please, if you can, mail some kind of acknowledgment—airmail post cards will be cheapest, writing to me,

Samuel L. Lewis Samuel L. Lewis

c/o Consulate U.S.A. c/o Embassy U.S.A.,

Lahore, Pakistan New Deli, India

I am writing a number of test-letters for this purpose. I don’t think the whole country has rejected my reports and are not answering.

Lahore

November 8

Pakistani House,

San Francisco, Calif.

Dear Friends:

This is my diary entry. I have just returned from a visit to a Qur’anic school nearby. It is almost impossible to convey my position here in Lahore, and to a considerable extent in Pakistan. For the record I must put it down as having gone through the stages to Alim, Dervish and now Wali. My acquaintances in San Francisco or indeed in America will not understand this.

I have been living with one Major Sadiq, and we have been hoping that it could be arranged for him to come to America on some mission and include in that his presentation to the American people of (a) spiritual Islam; (b) his divine healing. He is very well known as a healer and many people swear he can perform miracles. I myself have seen miracles and strange to say, all of them in the presence of attending physicians who kept case-histories. This is exactly the opposite of what skeptics would presume.

Anyhow he is very close to President Ayub.

At the moment he is in line for one of two new positions. One would be with the new Agricultural Development Corporation and his selection thereto would be of infinite help to me. For practical purposes I have completed my mission in this field.

The other appointment would bring him closer to the subject discussed above, and here was a miracle. We had to go to a house of a very important man. As soon as he came in he introduced us to his sister; and who, pray was his sister? Mem Sahib S. Itaat Hussein! Well soon we were talking all about San Francisco and she was surprised to learn that the two closest friends of the former Consul-General are now living respectively in Rawalpindi and Abbottabad. I think I reported that I spoke to Sahib Itaat Hussein over the phone in Karachi but I have not returned there. Anyhow this made all the rest of the evening very smooth and each person present felt something had been accomplished. Of course the full fruits cannot be ascertained at the moment.

Now I have run into two tremendous complications. One is that the Indian Embassy has neither granted nor denied me a visa and has kept my passport, while my putative host in India has disappeared with my mail and money. The other is that I ran into a communist cell disguised as a Sufi Center. This last caused many attacks on my person and mission and even greater response on the part of the public. I have long since past 50,000 in my audiences and I do not count here repeats of which I have had many. It is an enigma to be compelled to remain here without any of those things a traveler expects to have: his papers, his money and his mail.

The immediate result has been the complete cooperation of the Sufi leaders here. And then the story divides between those things which belong to religion and spirituality—this story could remain until one speaks before a group or has a meeting.

The other is practical. There is a determination on the part of several well-to-do Sufis to come to America and preach Islamic and Pakistani cultures from points of view which have never been presented. Such effort would not conflict in the least with the Canadian-American Islamic League and the Imams. But it will certainly conflict with several mushroom movements in America claiming to be Islamic.

The possibility of bringing in, or raising money inside of America will no doubt raise the cupidity of some persons who are more concerned with Mosques than with prayer or Allah. I have to mention this because when it comes down to facts and money, there will much more likely be a diversion to Sacramento and Los Angeles than San Francisco. Naturally everybody needs or wants both. But we hardly expect your office to be compelled to reach any decision on these delicate points and we feel that the city you visit during prayers and festivals should not be subject to any pressure whatsoever.

Lahore is at this season one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

I have purchased over Rs. 300 at Ashraf alone which have been sent to San Francisco (packages include also books from the London Book Store of Rawalpindi and Peshawar). The next purchase will be a book recently printed in Great Britain, a compendium of Islamic prayers.

I have visited four or five agricultural stations, spoke at at least six colleges, and have a fair view of West Pakistan outside the whole Beluchistan-Makran areas. I do not intend to subscribe to any magazines until I return and have a permanent address. Neither am I planning any lectures elsewhere, such as AFME or World Affairs because I may have one or more Pakistanis with me when I return and any public appearances would depend upon this and accompanying circumstances.

As-salaam aleikhum.

Samuel L. Lewis

Ahmed Murad Chisti

Lahore

November 9

My dear Harry,

I am back to certain diary entries but if you think there is anything placid or unusual, forget it. Today a man was arrested. It may never get in the papers; it won’t go down in history. He is one of the ringleaders of the enemies who has been after me because I have spoiled their show. If any American newspapers or government agents has accepted a single report of mine (outside of Newsweek) I am still to learn and I don’t know for the moment how I can learn excepting by spending more and more for mail—and I spend about $50 a month now! Almost my only expense.

The Sufis whom we don’t recognize and for God’s sake don’t go to a dictionary, you won’t find a thing—are counter-spying for me and they are counter-spying against the communists and we won’t wake up to realities; we are stuck with “realism” and ignore Ayub and the Prime Minister of Sudan who are disciples in Sufism, into which I do not care to go here. To me any man has the full right of his religion or irreligion.

Anyhow I cannot walk anywhere without being stopped and greeted and I am considered a sort of half-saint because there was never an American like me. But I continue to talk to Pakistanis and to some Americans and they all fear for the Peace Corps.

I returned Grass today and got excited at two books I found, new editions to the USIA library. One is the second edition of Fundamentals of Ecology by Eugene P. Odum. It is full of stuff I need or at least do not know.

The second is also a second edition, Irrigated Soils. I took this book out to see if it had any material on the water requirement of trees, a subject with which I have been bombarded in many places. I opened it at random and found a chapter “The Salt Problem.” It has a wonderful chart in it.

Now I was at the library for a very different reason. I have had no mail at all excepting the letters wrongly addressed and I had not even gotten my library card and I want them to mail it to see if the mails are tampered with. But I had an appointment at a place called Charing Cross where OIC, Washington State and American Express are on one side of the street and Ferezson’s printers, publishers and stationers are on the other.

I called at OIC and showed them the book and the answers to several of the local problems. Then I went to Washington State and fortunately found Prov. Svenson in (nice name, n’est-pas?). I also saw several people at OIC. There was complete agreement that the U.S. has answers to the majority of problems of this country, excepting, of course, the ego blockages to communication, and also that these blockages to communication are the largest hindrance toward any rational form of development.

I had a long talk with Svenson, showing him the chart which offers saline tolerant crops, etc. This is also from the Saline Lab. at Riverside but contains more practical information than the material they gave me. The bibliography at the end of the chapter is most valuable for me and I may start things if, as and when I can go to the New York Horticultural Society again or another suitable place.

Then I took my new theme up with Svenson:

Amonium Sulphate-Czarnozem-Iowa methods versus Organics-Podsol-Texas methods. This is a generality which resolves to some extent the organic versus inorganic methods. The Iowa soils have deep faces with considerable organic material down a long long way; sandy and dry soils are not so favored. The work done on soils and soil faces is not always integrated to plant nutrition. I don’t want to discuss this here but I do wish to refrain from discussing it too much or from writing until I see you. It is possible that the Academy of Sciences in G.G. Park or others might be interested; or again, if life permits, I might return to the university and do some stuff.

But I ran into another bit of E. Phillips Oppenheim “Fools for Luck” the other night. My host, Major Sadiq is up for promotion or transfer or both. He has been semi-drafted for this new Agricultural Development Corporation about which I have written. We were taken to the home of the man in charge of Civil Service Personnel. Here the C.S. is about half-way between the English and Chinese-Confucius system—you have to know a lot of things which have little to do with your job.

Well the host brought in his sister who at the moment is managing his household for him. She is the wife of a former Consul-General of Pakistan who is an excellent friend of mine. The whole evening turned out to be most cordial, harmonizing and promising.

At this writing it is the almost unanimous opinion of the Pakistanis that something good and big is going to happen to me. At the moment I wish anything would happen.

When my own work was completed today I took out a young man who wants to study Journalism and I told him about Edith Nourse’s department (remember her father had been one of my teachers). So we visited Asian Foundation and the American Friends of the Middle East. When I got to the latter place there was a letter for me from the Indian High Commissioner. I had earlier been to the American Consulate and suspected my mail had been tampered with. I have only had two letters wrongly addressed, and two letters returned—since I have been in Lahore. I still don’t know what has happened to mail presumably addressed to India and I don’t know from nothin’ about money and passport. I am not in politics but am more and more nervous about the Peace Corps. If these things happen to innocent me, what will happen to them? or am I that innocent? Anyhow I have something to live for. I hope I know what I am doing.

Cordially,

Lahore, Pakistan

November 12, 1961

Prof. C. Cutright

Ohio State Agricultural Experimental Station

Wooster, Ohio

Dear Professor Cutright:

This letter is written in dramatic circumstances, with more and more drama going on. A strange mélange of no money, no mail and no passport and being under constant surveillance of communists is no fun. I have positive evidence of inefficiency in both our Embassies at Karachi and New Delhi, and the legation here in Lahore (though they have been most kind and cooperative). I do not wish to go into these things here other than they compel me to remain and there is no financial worry due to support by wealthy patrons, and even offers of jobs, writing or scientific should I remain.

Even more to my advantage is that my host, Major M. Sadiq has been nominated to the new Agricultural Development Cooperation and there are signs of his receiving this appointment. I am hoping that it may be possible for him to come to America to represent this organization. In this case we might appear together in your presence.

You will pardon me, perhaps, for saying I am a firm believer in Providence and that I do not believe there will be a third world war, in the usual sense. Rather I feel the danger of fallout, biological and other equilibrium being upset and my earlier “prophesies” have turned out to be true which is the reason for writing this letter.

Long ago I wrote to my friend, Harry Nelson, in San Francisco, that there were conferences to fight the Locust plagues but that the Locusts had not been invited. Now this country is facing the worst plague of its existence at a time it cannot afford to do so. The salinity problem is overwhelming in itself. The Afghan border is closed, causing financial losses to that country and so great an absence of fruit here that one pays American prices. This I can afford, but with a country suffering from malnutrition, politics must go on.

All the newspapers have been harping on is Kashmir, Kashmir. Every time the Pakistanis threatened to invade, the Afghans come this way creating a comic opera impasse, but we’ll skip that.

The whole problem of Foreign Aid in Agriculture is what I wish to report on here. I met one Prof. Ted Thatcher, Forest Entomologist, now working for the Colorado State University as an exchange professor in Agriculture. Colorado State has the Frontier Area and Washington State has Lyallpur and Lahore (I hope someday to meet your colleagues on the other side if and when I can proceed.)

Ted is an outdoor man. He has not seen a forest and hardly a bug since being assigned to his post by the OIG. Rather he is engaged in training me to teach classes in Horticulture. His superior is spending his time re-organizing the Agricultural Department or College at the University of Peshawar. The very first problem is an uncertainty as to whether it be an Agricultural College—or a Department. As a College it is one of the most wasteful institutions on earth. There are complete Botany Departments at the Ag. College, the Forestry College, and the Junior Division, Science Department of the University, enabling botanists to have good jobs and laboratories to have poor facilities. And as I did not visit the sections on Medicine, there may be still another Botany section there!

None of the Colorado State Men get down to earth or deal with living problems “of which this country ain’t got nothing but.”

When I came this way, I met the Washington State Men. Now, Professor Cutright, if you were given a job here you would have to have at least one secretary, a staff, a telephone which nobody could use without your permission, etc. Then you would have to fill out forms on what you were doing, how you were doing, why you were doing and would also have to have at least weekly staff meetings. The office staff should be efficient in their knowledge of English, typewriters and office machines and procedure. They would not have to know anything about Food, Agriculture or Science. Take it from there! The Colorado men are placed in their milieu and like Shah Jehan in his last days they look at their Taj and weep. Here the Washington State Staff go back and forth spending time and money in station wagons, petrol, etc. There is very little time to be “down on the farm,” and none to mingle with the nationals.

Now these are all splendid fellows. I haven’t met a single American outside of the diplomatic circles who is not thoroughly efficient, capable, wise, far-seeing and bound up with red-tape and protocol.

There have been innumerable conferences on the Locust problem. There are always conferences, more conferences and re-organization. I had a wonderful time visiting the Sugar Cane area and have recorded some rather technical things. My intention has been sooner or later to visit Baton Rouge. In my forced stay here I have availed myself of the facilities of the USIA library and have reported these books both to the Washington State and OIG agricultural attaché. These books are available and they knew nothing about them having no time to visit the library.

Soil Fertility by Millar. His material of fixation by algae I find very valuable to be followed up.

Fundamentals of Ecology by Odum, University of Georgia. This book is of extreme value to me especially when the reader is a traveler. The best materials so far has been on the increase of Sucrose in Canes and the Algae Culture. I have been the guest of Prof. Tamiya in Tokyo whom he quotes often.

Irrigated Soils by Thorne & Peterson of Utah State. This continues the keys to solutions of a multitude of problems which Pakistan is facing. I have shown it to the OIG and Washington State staff so they could borrow it when it is return.

All these books, though somewhat technical, have tended to arouse and stimulate under emotional conditions and bring about joy under tension.

Now the facing of the Locust problem is fundamental to all the problems here and it being nearer to you, I shall go into it in more detail. In India I have that although there was proper equipment, sprays, dusts, etc.; the peasants were never trained in the temperament, wind or moisture factors. And after my sad experience with several organizations collecting funds in the U.S. to combat these evils one can just sit and stare.

Although this country is “Islamic” and not Indian, the fact is that there is far more casts here than anywhere else. It is deeply engrained in the people. When the Indus was in flood only the army could carry sacks. So with the Locusts all over they are crying because they have not enough aeroplanes! Every time an aeroplane is used to dust, the Sugar people are in jeopardy.

It is regarded as “inconceivable” to do any work. The idea is to get a desk job. Karachi is the victim of the plague and Karachi is full of unemployed. But does anybody gather the beggars, unemployed, etc. and take them around spraying, dusting, or poisoning? This would hurt their pride and rather than hurt their pride one of the largest cities in the continent is now facing mass starving, or else the people are going around catching and eating locusts (I understand they are quite palatable). And say, sir, that you were to come here, you would spend your time organizing and lecturing—no time for using the fly-spray or knapsack-spray in situ, no, this would be done in the lecture hall!

Socially the most dramatic event took place two weeks ago. I brought a mureed along. “I cannot afford ever to be stopped by these charlatans who dominate Asian studies here. It is more than my life and career that is at stake. I am taking the Upanishads with me and shall challenge anybody and everybody to explain them.”

There was a special speaker, Sri Surendra Ghose, Deputy Leader of India’s Congress party and representative also of the Aurobindo Ashram. It was even with difficulty that I got the Consul General of India to attend. After a wonderful address the meeting was thrown open. I arose and never even got to ask a question: “Why, why you are the man I came to San Francisco to meet. I travelled five thousand miles just to meet you!” There was tremendous silence. Not a word from the audience of pretenders and metaphysical people.

This was true. When one is on the spiritual path it is as Pir-O-Murshid has said, “He whom the world holds is smaller than the world and he who holds the world is greater than the world.” There are now in India two gigantic organizations which are the cosmic outlook. The one led by Sri Surendra Ghose covers all intellectual and artistic endeavors of man. The other comes from the Ashram of the late Ramana Maharshi.

There is a magazine called “The Mountain Path” and it has won the good-will of all the real spiritual movements I have ever heard of: The Zen Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, the Yogis, the Vedantists, the Sufis, and even our “Brother” Pir Zade Vilayat Inayat Khan—all working together. It excludes all those movements of pretense where the self-imposing leaders have not had cosmic experience. And it happens that so far as California is concerned more and more people of this region are going back and forth.

These are only high-lights demonstrating the truth of the Moral Laws, the manifestation of Divine Grace and the re-utterance of the biblical admonition which the world has always defied: “The stone that is rejected is become the corner stone.”

Among those that have rejected are some professors of the University of California in Berkeley. The University has a law that political parties cannot collect or even solicit funds on the campus. After being rejected by the Institute of International Studies, I crossed the campus to see Norman, who lives on the other side. “Norman, something very filthy is going on. There is a law prohibiting the soliciting of funds. They have permitted the Goldwaterites and the regular Republicans, all the Democrats, the Socialist Labor Party the Trotskyites and even the independent Marxists (meaning the communists) to solicit funds and have arrested the leaders of the only group not a political party, CORE. I don’t know what it is but I expect trouble.”

This never gets into the papers. I have not only witnessed events, but heard the taping by an independent radio station. The public reports on the press and broadcasting statements are miserable concoctions. No wonder the faculty backed the students. It is not free speech that is at stake, it is the despotical assumption of power by an administration that has befuddled and misled the public in so many directions. It may seem the dismissal or resignation of no “important” persons.

Norman is now teaching school and is quite sober. This is in part due to his belief that the causes in which he is interested are serious.

Down at UCLA I found a group of African students who have their own class library and I have purchased two books for him for Christmas. It shows how little we know of African culture and history. Actually, the same is true of Jews. But the Jews have suppressed their histories in order to attain certain ends. For instance, it is regrettable that we have had campaigns on “Justice for the Jews” but never hear “Justice from the Jews.” Many Jewish kingdoms have been destroyed because of this.

In working for Gen. Landsdale as above in GII work, I resurrected the history of several Jewish countries. But even then I knew of African Negro countries whose histories are closed books.

Naturally all the above are less than scientific ventures which go on. When one feels one works for God, sometimes he seems to feel he is working with God also. And that hierarchy mentioned in literature is true. What we must face today is that the objectivity of it is actually rejected by theosophists, metaphysicians and others and accepted by many in our foreign service who have had to face realities when they are in strange countries.

The final struggle up to this moment has been to try to present real Buddhism to people. We have all kinds of so-called Buddhist Movements each extracting what it wishes. We have the prominent Americans, Richard Robinson of Wisconsin, and Richard Gard of the USIA who have written fair books, the latter honest but superficial, the former honest and profound. But the hardest thing to do is to get Americans to accept Americans as having knowledge of Asia; the only thing harder is to get people to study the actual literature on teachings of the Asian wisdom. Only now it is coming out, but it is coming out. At the risk of social ostracize I finally convinced a few people they ought to read, if not accept, the actual words of Lord Buddha, as these appear in print. The whole audience did a “repentance” act—at the risk of discarding “brand names”—a few people are now studying Buddhist literature.

During this period there was in San Francisco one Korean Master, B. Seo. He is now at Columbia University occupying the position once held by Prof. Daisetz Suzuki. Unlike Suzuki he has had the spiritual realization and he is one of the most profound and lovable persons I have ever met. If you ever stop in New York, try to visit the University or the Japanese Center on West 9^th St. and see him. It would be worth it.

May God bless and help you in everything.

Faithfully,

Samuel L. Lewis

S. A. M.

Sufi-Ahmed-Murad-Chisti

Lahore

November 15, 1961

My dear Audley:

This is my diary entry of the time and I am writing to you because perhaps both the professional and personal elements may be of some interest. It is not particularly a personal letter to you and may be shared with others.

I remain in a perplexing situation, that despite letters, wires and long distance calls, the whereabouts of my passport is a mystery; most of my mail has been held up (objective evidence) and on draft also. This may be due to inefficiency, it may be due to mistakes on my part but all these things have happened since I walked into a communist cell.

The story of communism here was briefed to me in 1956 by the then Legation at Lahore whose “unbelievable” story was rejected by their superiors and my own efforts to reach someone in the U.S. met with the worst rebuffs in my life and I have had some rebuffs. The chief villain is still the same person. On the other hand I have friends or allies among the police, including the security police—in manners so contrary and contradictory with what is taught in the United States that this alone has caused many to set my reports aside. But the story is parallel to my Indian adventures—also pushed aside, that it is becoming more and more grotesque.

And it is all the more weighing because friends of mine told me about communists in Tibet, Vietnam and Laos; and I myself warned and warned the USIA officials in UAR of a plot against them, and to put it, I was “worn” out. I bade them good-bye because I could not stand being pulled apart—which happens in every Asian country anyhow. Some day we shall get out of “realism” and into reality.

The picture is all the more lopsided because I have still to have any rejection by any scientist at any level whatsoever. The division of the “thinking” of the West into humanism and science well illustrates the point. As soon as I part from the scientists I pray or guess, and when I am with the scientist, we’ll let the record speak for it.

My survey in Pakistan emotionally and intellectually stopped with my visit to Lyallpur. There I saw such wonderful work being done with Grass-breeding that my tense emotions, though delighted, could take no more. Since that time I have had conferences and meetings with the representatives of Washington State and OIC. I expect delicate tensions with the OIC but that never happened. Any contrary or critical stories about that organization became magnified by the remarks made to me across the desks. They know what is right and what is wrong to the n^th degree, but try to put this over with someone of the “humanist” tradition—newspaper men, commentators, diplomats and metaphysical people. You can’t.

The worst thing is what may be called the “semantic blockage.” And one immediate example is the Locust plague now going on which I long ago foretold in my letters to Harry Nelson—perhaps to you too. This blockage is so great that is liable to overwhelm the nation. What is equally great and almost unfathomable is to try to put this point over to those who call themselves “semanticists.” They are almost the last persons in the world to face reality. However, I am going to ask you a favor: do you know Mr. Pallou, scientific teacher at San Rafael High, and is he available? As he is one scientist who was interested in semantics, I should like to meet him and place the whole matter before him. Because if we do not remove this semantic blockage we are merely going to waste millions—and we are wasting millions—in foreign aid.

I have already written to Washington that I wish to testify under oath and only under oat on some matters.

Pakistan had an international conference with the nations to the west in regard to forthcoming Locust plagues. They did not have one with Afghanistan because the nations are not on speaking terms. They had one with India terminated because of the Kashmir complex. The Locusts were not invited anyhow. Politics must be and the way these “peace-loving” and “unaligned” nations deal with problems makes the Russians look like olive branch bearers. At least the newspapers are—they do not look—they are that way. The demand for Kashmir has been so great that hosts of Locusts have been permitted to invade and destroy.

Between the politics on one hand and the caste-nonsense on the other, a good section of this nation is being destroyed. Add to that the goat, salinity and soil erosion, and you can see what the government is up against.

They had a Tree Planting Week—parades and parades. In Japan the Emperor goes out and starts planting. In China Mao Tse Tung does that. In America every Mayor and Rotary Club would be out. Here the Rotary Club would have a speaker on Tree Planting. This is the Garden City of the world—nothing but parks and gardens—and I never saw one person plant one tree during the Tree Planting Week. I do not know whether you can realize this psychology or what we are up against. But with it, the Locusts have a free hand and the papers are yelling against Nehru. It is just like poison-gas being blown the wrong way.

Now the Peace Corps are coming and they have no intimation either of this psychology or what passes for religion here or of the social antipathy to labor or the type of accommodations they will get in huts. In East Pakistan there is practically no drainage and sanitary problems are rife in addition to poverty, lethargy, fatalism and behind it long ages of malnutrition-monodiet of white rice, tempered by spices, not by the greenery found all around. The Indonesians, under similar conditions, studied all the edible weeds and greenery—they even cook Water Hyacinths!—but not in East Pakistan.

Add to that the communists waiting for them, disguised as Muslims and I am not very happy. I am even more unhappy because the press and State Department overlook the farm boys and the work done by the specialists of OIC, Washington State and Colorado State here. What I saw at Lyallpur on new breeds of grasses was almost worth coming to Pakistan for.

Have just returned “Grass,” the USDA book of a few years back which today—after experience and travel, I find elementary and introductive. We have hardly touched the ABC in this field. Maize alone could consume volumes, why go further.

This letter, of course, is for your colleagues or anybody else. My healing, thank God, is good but I do not know when or where or how to proceed. Too much E. Phillips Oppenheim early in life.

Cordially,

Samuel L. Lewis

P.S. This letter came to an end when a delegation of visitors arrived. I have been asked to write “A Survey of Contemporary Agriculture in Pakistan” to be published in both Urdu and English.

November 17, 1961

My dear Harry,

I am writing here some thoughts to myself and putting them in the diary.

I have before me Fundamentals of Ecology by Odum and am copying a note an page 33: