Samuel L. Lewis
c/o Consulate USA
Bank Square, Lahore, Pakistan
My dear Norman:
[?] go to Abbottabad to get ore samples or analyses to bring back therefore
and also to report to investors, Chamber of Commerce, etc. If you are not
otherwise engaged I want you in. Then back to Rawalpindi for any finalities.
Have no idea as to how long this will take and have instructed the consulate to
hold my mail unless I am kept at Abbottabad, in which case they will forward
some there. I am leaving my typewriter behind; and when I depart will leave it
here anyhow.
We have at least found projects, any one of which may succeed: Texas
enterprise representation here; my agricultural research and its result; the
major’s spiritual healing and Sufism; project for Ambassadors-at-large
covering also tourism and representation of Pakistan abroad. Besides this I
have my writing and while I feel confident of turning out good books will have
to seek markets. Dorothy Blackhurst always told me she could locate publishers
but unfortunately all she and David seem to be doing is getting ill. I have
written to Bob Slice, for I could use him. You see I may have to incorporate
especially for my lecture work on the Orient, etc. and will need a sort of
financial secretary. He would remain fixed.
Barkat Ali encouraged our rental or purchasing of a car which might be a
station wagon. This might not come until we succeed in getting money. The Major
has been a very successful spiritual healer and yesterday he was given
instruction on Cancer, with emphasis thereon. I have written a letter to Rudy
Olson, 166 Geary St. in this regards. I feel confident we may come and this
mission would succeed financially. We have agreed that any increment would
necessarily to a driver and station wagon or??? I have told him about you (i.e.
the Major).
My next confident is John Betts at 772 Clementina who may have to act as my
factotum and guardian of my things even when I get some sort of home. This is
all premature but if we get going I am overlooking nothing. I realize that this
is all conjecture but after my flying trip though India and what happened and
my spiritual and social elevation since my return plus a continual line of
excellent conferences with every kind of American technician, etc. I am feeling
quite optimistic.
At the worst we might prepare you for India when we leave. I have written
Joe di Angeli, a jeweler friend of mine on Columbus Ave, placing an order for
Rani Devi, a disciple of Swami Ramdas, whom I think visited the Academy with
the Swami. I may have referred to this before. What I did not tell Joe was the
possibility of building up an import silverware business, a matter I may
discuss with you—not him—when I first return. We are also considering
having the Major market his own rugs.
Now the grapevine at lunch is this: Nehru is said to have Throat Cancer and
I stated above the Major has been given the faculty of healing Cancer
spiritually. We hope to discuss this at ‘pindi and even offer the Major’s
services free on condition we get diplomatic visas for short visits. One cannot
foretell, but this could be IT, or nothing might happen. It does mean our
uncertainties for a while as to time and place: However I still want mail to
the American Consulate and I have left instructions how to forward same if I
remain away long.
Outside of this I am tired. Too much is expected of me; I am given little
consideration for answering my mail or packing; now I not only have to pack for
‘pindi but also for the possibility of the Major moving during my absence.
But I have yet to meet anybody who says I hall not see the President and I
even dreamed it now. This means a “wait,” unless, of course, we get some
news from Texas. We want to coordinate these things: Now I have to write
guessing letters add three days because I can even send out a tracer! The
Consulate is also closed.
All predictions by seers is that I shall return in July, not May, but will
gain everything I want. This looks fine but you can’t eat paper. I can still
steer on my own, but with the opportunities coming up I can’t manage. So I am
praying, but the predictions are so overwhelming—both for the Major and
myself—it is going to prove either that mysticism and occultism are right and
substantial or there is a mightily big spoof: So hold on. If the mail catches
me I’ll write more, but otherwise you have to hold one for two weeks. I am
reading Suspense mysteries. That is fine—but in real life!
Tomorrow is a feast and holiday which I am supposed to celebrate provided I
get transportation. If everything here is clear I have failed to communicate
rightly. But if the intuitions and not wishes are working, there are a lot of
silver linings; let’s hope so.
Sufi Ahmed Murad Samuel L. Lewis
P.S. I am getting famous and popular all over, but you can’t live on
that.
First page missing—ED (Sep 1, 1964?)
There are very few Americans who have had the real training and disciplines
of the Asian philosophies. And those who have not cannot fathom the alterations
in mental outlooks and mental habits. Now the universities are absolving
themselves from the bunk put out at the American Academy of Asian Studies. No
doubt that was needed for a start. But Europeans are few and far between who
understand Japan or India or Islam. And now for the first time we are getting
Hindus to present Hindu culture without bringing in a lot of hog-wash about
Kant or Hegel or Schelling, or even Spinoza.
The mind-training one gets in Asiatics transforms the mind and sometimes the
body. It not only renovates and rejuvenates, it quickens and to degrees the
person who has not gone under the processes cannot understand.
The amount of bunk put out on science in certain countries by literary
persons is tremendous. But instead of further diatribes I am busy doing
something. The ability comes neither from money nor college degrees, but from
perceptions common to Sufis, Yogis, and Zennists who have had disciplinary
training regardless of whether they ever read books or attended class
lectures.
Where Karl Marx took poverty and Buddha suffering, on smaller scales I am
facing the problems of spray poisons (my minor) and famine (my major project).
The problem of spray poisons has been faced socially and analytically. It has
not been faced scientifically and synthetically. I am going to Dr.
Chaudhuri’s tonight to a dinner for Judith Tyberg. They rave about the
philosophy of integration and are as adept in actual integration of your
next-door neighbor. The integrative mind (the race problem is but a tiny facet)
sees in an overall picture and has a medicine chest at his disposal. This will
have to be worked out in the laboratory for sprays.
As to the famine in India, etc. I have now gone to all the agencies dealing
with it, and all the groups concerned and find not a single critical
opposition. This is mostly because of the inability to function
integrationally. No one has yet been successful in handling the sudden
monsoons, any more than any one has been successful in harnessing the rivers of
China. China happens to have the very worst rivers in the world—the Yellow
(Hoang-Ho) and Yang-tse. Our social philosophers either ignore the fact that
previous regimes could not handle them; or they come out with subjectivities
which are nullified be the next flood.
Engineers, not sociologists, know the limits of their craft. The Yang-tse is
the only large river in the world that has a gorge halfway down instead of at
the source, or where flood waters would do no harm. The Indians invented the
tank (it is a Sanskrit word) but have not gone ahead.
Sociologists overlook the harm done by the goat, rodents and insects. Whole
civilizations have gone down because of these, but one is not going to waste
time on it. Time is consumed on remedies and I am not one of those who admire
Vinoba Bhave who has gotten huge acreages for peasants—of deserts.
Now to show you how integrational approaches operate. All dialecticians have
assumed a successful construction of the Assouan Dam with resulting prosperity
to UAR and loss of face to the US for not performing this work. This is nothing
but superficial, editorial dialectics based on well-wishing or bad-wishing and
has nothing to do with objective facts with what we call the “real
world.”
Landau also called me down for mentioning the names of those explorers who
had recovered ancient cases. Americans have long since made two surveys of
these cases, and helped recover a lot of formerly used agricultural lands. The
so-called “anti-communist” but nonetheless dialectical press and the
pro-communists alike keep this covered.
The Germans have been undertaking one of the greatest recovery engineering
projects in the history of the world, also kept from the public view by both
“leftists” and “rightists” and their removal from UAR is going to set
that country back. It is a bland and blind assumption of all dialecticians that
there is a superabundance of engineering and mechanical skill, which is nothing
but wishful thinking. This country has wasted billions of dollars in foreign
aid because there is not enough skilled labor to operate constructions. When
Shelley was congressman I got a proposal to him to send our unemployed skilled
labor abroad but the AFL-CIO opposed it. After Lim Lee reads this I can
re-propose it. There is no need to spend millions on job retraining when this
skilled labor we have is needed all over the world.
Finally the Great American achievements, which I shall skip to get to the
next point. Hassan Hashim laid before me not only his experiences but also his
projects to develop Sudan. They fit in so exactly with the plans discussed in
Cairo with the head of the Farm Delegation (since removed and we think framed),
that I went over to the University of California to learn that a team of UC men
had already been to Sudan, completed the survey exactly where Hashim and I
independently thought there should be a dam and irrigation projects, etc. Not
only that this plan would obviate the wasting of millions of dollars being
collected, almost fraudulently collected for the Abu Simbel recovery.
I am not going into the history or geology of this country because our
spokesmen and “experts” know too little. If you think I have been
frustrated, balked, etc. you should meet some engineers. I have been treated
with silken gloves compared to them.
The State Department has by now squashed more surveys and known accumulated
knowledge that we can surmise. It is not only the Sudan survey, it covers the
world survey on salinity and the world survey on basing foreign aid on
aptitudes. And if a small person like myself already has had direct access to
such things, how about those who have been in better positions?
I am taking Hashim to the campus Tuesday and we shall telephone you before
returning to the city for we shall be on the campus late. This comes to the
next project, his plan roughly, to which I most heartily concur:
1. We should go ahead at once and construct the needed dam or dams in Sudan,
employing at least 90% Americans of Negro stock. All skilled workers should be
Americans (Negroes) or nationals (Sudanese). As there may not be as many Negro
engineers available, some Whites might be used but not more than 10% of the
total. This should assure on the one hand a successful engineering
project—much easier than Assouan or Hoover Dam, but produce Afro-American
friendships far more than all our meetings, parades, protests and
conferences.
2. We should immediately stop fund collecting for Abu Simbel, and publicize
our program in so far as it may win accord both with our own people and
foreigners.
3. It would compel UAR to desist from its imperialistic efforts in Africa
which are just as imperialistic as anybody else’s and bring out a “Black
Africa” below the Sudan. The more skilled people of African origins or
descent, the more we shall come into the motherhood of Humanity, mutual
recognition and concord and stresses upon achievements rather than policies.
4. The supporting of these Dam constructions by agricultural and other
secondary efforts is drawn from “California Desert Agriculture” which lays
down programs which could be successfully adapted in Sudan. We can atop the
Chinese and Russians easily by such methods, but we cannot stop them by
propaganda.
This is quite incomplete, but points in the direction of the World
University, a real Multiversity, and joint operations between Nations and
peoples without a lot of flimflam and comments.
There is still the missing note from Ghana which has not been received.
There is lots of double-crossing going on. In calling Nasser an
“imperialist” note should be taken that Ghana has Israeli experts and is
keeping out representatives of all the larger powers of whatsoever approach. If
I can get reports from Julie Medlock and link them with Hashim’s, they will
cover a very large portion of the earth-outside of Europe and South America.
No conclusion is made here other than the compilation of facts and reports.
If anything is wrong it will show up in events, not in so-called “logical”
confutations. The University of California, in all its branches, has collected
a lot of material ignored by the power-structure. The removal of Strong was
necessary. All the Chinese are now being roused to support the Free-Speech
movement because the administration has subtly or openly been racially
minded—remember my first report—why jump CORE and leave the Trotskyites
alone?
This year I know of three conferences on the world religions, none of which
will be dominated by American newsmen and European diplomats. There is always a
first time … to be continued,
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
First page missing—ED (November 1964?)
Now this comes after the meeting in your house with the disciple of Richard
Robinson. Like most people she is satisfied with verbal and social niceties and
not with the real solution of real problems. But I can’t blame a college
student who has to pass and who, if she brings in unwelcome material, no matter
now true, has to face hazards in the social sciences; but always a degree in
the natural sciences which work on objective honesty and integrity.
The other day at the World Affairs Council the chair turned on the expert
and told him to his face he did not know what he was talking about, and
introduced a State Department courier. This was entirely out of order and
entirely played into my hands. In the first place it is time for some Americans
on occasions to listen to some men who have lived in foreign lands and even
done that terrible “treasonous” act of turning native. If you become
a traitor that is understandable and you will be front page publicity and if
you come back to the United State after turning traitor you have a life reward
and won’t have to bother about anything. But if you try to make friends with
Africans and Asians by becoming one of them, you are out. But the chair refused
to be counted out; he had lived among the people and the “expert” of course
could not, or he would not have become an “expert.”
This also gave me the opportunity to be closeted with the courier who
confirmed my attitude on every point. Asia Foundation is strongly for this
policy of sitting down with Asians and discussing things; so are scientists;
but the press, the “experts” and the State Department are not, and the
confusion is growing. Not even the Buddhists here have had any talks on the
actual religious of Vietnam and Cambodia. Who cares about humanity; we just
want “peace,” whatever that means.
Anyhow this has resulted in more and more welcomes from Chinese about whom
you don’t hear much. And the other night I talked on “Buddhist Masters I
have met here”, covering 1920-1940. If the American Academy had been a real
institution they would have let me submit a paper—not one of them would. They
did not grant such material and I have found the same reflected elsewhere. But
I had a larger audience than expected and present were the representative of
the Dalai Lama and the Korean Master, who is a real master. And I gave out some
Dharma Transmission material which is not secret, and never became secret until
the “experts,” especially the English and German ones, took over. As they
gave and give college degrees, that is all that matters. Power is more
important than truth and men die in swamps because power is more important than
truths. Only I don’t know whether it is Allah or Karma that brought the
floods to S.E. Asia and I expect more. Until we make peace with our neighbor,
we can’t have peace and we will not make peace with our neighbors.
This trip is in anticipation of the UN meeting her next year when all the
“experts” will try to corner the UN delegates. That happened in 1955 when
one of the biggest men in the UN spent all his spare time with me and the
“experts” were wondering where he was. I expect more of it. There is hardly
a country of Asia of which I have not good historical and other knowledge and
this disconcerts “experts.” You can go right up to CIA. My accumulation of
information does not fit in with State Department philosophy—and I don’t
know what State Department philosophy is. You can understand my hostess last
night saying that State Department Philosophy used to mean returns on
investments of the Dulles family but now we don’t know whose investments are
involved—at least we did before.
This is not sarcasm. This is the terrible factual-truth. And it is awful to
see everybody run to cover when I ask, “How is it that this person was
permitted to visit the ashes of Lord Buddha in Japan and nobody else? to be a
guest of honor at the Imperials Gardens and nobody else?”
Now I am coming out with some most uncomfortable anecdotes. The greatest Zen
Master was Hui-neng or Eno about whom everybody tales and on whom the Fungs
have given us an admirable translation. Hui-neng was a wood-cutter; he never
entered the meditation hall, yet submitted a Gatha which the Master accepted at
once and thus he received the patriarchal-transmission of Zen.
I also was a wood-cutter and had an experience and submitted a Gatha to Soto
Zen Master Ishida of Fihiji Temple years ago. He accepted my Gatha. But what
chance has a wood-cutter or a flunky? No more then than now, no more now than
then. The hypocrites who praise Kabir, the cobbler, would never permit Kabit to
come into their midst and the proof is simple—it happens to me, and to other
“me’s.” Wood-cutters and cobblers don’t belong to the elect—until
after they are dead a long time, then everybody rushes to their tombs and
weeps.
The spiritual transmissions of all peoples are cosmic, impersonal, definite
transforming experiences, and more real than anything else. But they throw one
out of step with society, especially with prelates, and disturb the
church-systems by which small groups are corralled apart from other groups, and
there is no humanity or brotherhood. And so some adopt “humanity” and
“brotherhood” as slogans, but only as slogans. The greatest Buddhists I
know within fifty miles have all disappeared from society and would welcome
Denny Bufano a thousand times before welcoming a properly robed prelate.
Swami Ramdas left society to “rely on God.” He never missed a meal and
was praising God until he realized that people were feeding him on account of
his robe. So he took off his robe and never after dressed other then the same
way as the common people with whom he lived. When he came to the Academy he had
the normal dress of the people of North Kerala State. He never dressed as a
swami, or a sadhu or pundit.
China will come into the UN. It will have to come in. The Chinese are wrong
in everything, in my opinion, but one—and that is the most important. They
will sit down with you. They may insult you, they may flatter you, they may
attack you, they may feed or bribe you, but at least they will sit down with
you. We Can’t! and we don’t know we can’t but we can’t. The
rejection of proposition 14 is not a reflection on our people, it is an
unveiling of them, we have substituted the slogan, the aphorism for the truth.
“All men are created equal” and “One Nation under God with liberty and
justice for all.” No nation has such slogans, they are perfect—in words.
And the perfection in words is substituted for the perfection in truth, in
spiritual realization.
This week I shall have to run the gauntlet with VIPs and it is being done
with complete indifference. The death by heart-failure of so many of my closest
associates has impelled or compelled me to adopt another attitude which does
not bring for popularity but does bring vitality, energy and devotion.
Early in life I was initiated on the path of brotherhood and as a devotee of
brotherhood I have met, I guess, more people than most men outside of politics.
But I have been met on all sorts of levels. Gavin, after speaking on human
brotherhood, rudely brushed aside my own career of working with share-croppers
(Negroes) one day and seeing diplomats a few days later, both as equals. It is
only recently that some humanitarians have gone into the South and work and
live as equals with “peasants.” But there was a reward in it—they had the
most beautiful voices. And someday real talent scouts are going to go through
the South and bring in people which would make the Ed Sullivan show look like a
bunch of amateurs. And before that at one time I was a semi-professional critic
who helped start some of our most famous names in the music world on their
careers—whereupon they disowned even knowing me!
The last few days I have had a few invitations to let out some of the
history of the past: I have kept diaries and today discovered a man to whom I
can safely leave records. He has lived in Southeast Asia and knows what it is
about from both ends—having lived with the people and then snubbed when he
returned. It is this question which I am going to pose before the VIPs. So we
shall see.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Sam
June 15
My dear Thea:
This is written from the home of life-long friends who now live in
northwestern Pennsylvania. I shall remain in this general district for a while
and if timing is right, will miss the Republican National Convention and crowds
of people with whom I do not wish to associate. Indeed if I did come it could
probably be only to join some protest group and I am too busy today involved in
constructive offers to unite with merely negative movements.
It has been necessary to walk out on a lot of people and this has been my
fortune. There is no use in being a Stephen Foster or a Van Gogh. Instead I
have stuck like my namesake, Morse, who persisted and finally won out on all
sides. I walked out on a lot of people and was in danger of becoming
anti-social or a misogynist when three women—two of whom you know—came to
rescue. A long time after, at the beginning of May “then the fun began.” It
began, perhaps, with the first whole visit I have been permitted with my fairy
god-mother, Miss Ruth St. Denis—whose various secretaries and press agents
would not let me keep or even make appointments with her and yet I have more
liberties in her apartment than in yours! You see it was Miss St. Denis who
first brought Sufi Inayat khan to this country and I have been in a sense,
“eternally” in debt to her. Furthermore I have done exactly what she wanted
without visible communication something that our pseudo-mental telepathists
cannot understand. They have no idea of a universe of heart vastly superior to
men’s ego minds, and capable, in a sense, of performing “miracles.”
I won’t say what happened in June. It was the complete reversal of all my
earlier externalities and shows beyond question the operations of karma—not
the ego-exempt stuff that you were taught at the Academy but the real law of
real cause and real effect from which only “bodhisattvas” are exempt. This
covers so many things I won’t write and won’t talk.
Hawthorne wrote The Great Stone Face which is the real American epic,
that whenever there are problems we are going to be “saved” by
Glamour-Puss. We have never been saved by Glamour-Puss and probably never shall
be but this is so written in the face of popular America that as a Nation we
shall have to pay a terrible price. If you look at those Americans who have won
Noble Prizes in peace or science, you won’t find a single Puss among them and
some of them have been martyred and socially ostracized but this pattern will
continue although the coming generations show less of it.
Anyhow during the month of May so many doors opened that I am glad to be
with friends awhile to get a focus and clear picture as well as to continue
some of my former efforts before starting on new ventures.
Today the door which I wanted open in Washington is open wide and it looks
as if I can push it further. My theme, “How California Can Help Asia”,
slightly modified by “How America Can Help Asia” is being considered
seriously now in this country.
This is nothing to what is going on now in both wings of Pakistan where,
however, I am something of a glamour-puss myself having the “right”
ingredients. This is something we do not wish to understand. But while the
“resolution” was going on two independent events happened in connection
with the University of California—the reversal of one “expert” in regard
to Sufism and the replacement of a European professor of Oriental Philosophy by
an American who immediately opened the door for me when the evidence was
overwhelming and it is overwhelming covering too many things.
During this period I had to celebrate and among other things with Bill
Hathaway and Connie Luick. And thus I learned about the Coffee place on Polk
near Jackson, which looks so much like Yvonne’s dream that I was amazed. For
I have an independent dream to host some UN delegates next year with a grand
coffee reception and God-willing this may be done. I am not sure but that I
shall be crossing the country again later on but not with my own money. For
there seem to be lots of pots of gold on the horizon and I am waiting for
instructions and also for transference of funds.
One of the main series of events will include the spiritual healing mission
of Major Sadiq. I am not going to press this any more for a most amusing series
of events took plane. I have five projects covering five different subjects
which are connected for the most part in geographies but not always in
subject-matter and those have all led to one single office connected with the
upper echelons of the University of California.
In the meanwhile I have been spending some time at the Baptiste studio and
one result is today I can kneel and weed, plant and transplant with no
pains, creaks or cramps in those bones and muscles which disturb every gardener
and farmer. One does not try to find any fountain-of-youth but the scientists
and occultists are coming to similar conclusions; only they do not
demonstrate.
Gavin progressed my horoscope and while I cannot decipher it all—he did
mostly a long range and not an annual forecast—it looks good. I am no longer
lonely or have to be but have to make every moment count—which does not bar
parties and celebrations put only bars useless waste of time.
I wish I could make you see a way to health and joy—you have had
opportunities and ignored them. Too many people have lost spontaneity and this
is a cause for sadness. I guess I run around close to preaching but I had to
see people cooped up and suffering from pains and inhibitions.
Faithfully,
Sam
The Pukhtunistan Times
Puck is working for his Ph.D. He has found a thesis and is beginning his
research on the Papaluks.
For centuries, ever since it was decided that anybody could rule Egypt who
was not born here, the country was under the Mamaluks. You can find their
ruins, their historical monuments and their remains all over.
Puck has had several experiences with the Mamaluks. Generally just when he
came along the llamas would have trouble with their veils or hoods. Somehow or
other they would just slip off when he came in view. Not that he was looking,
and of course the good ladies never look, nor the bad either. But maybe Puck
emits an odor due to his bad temper and/or temperament which gives out a
warning signal. Anyhow it has not mattered much, whether in Lahore or Allahabad
or Allahisgood or Cairo, the llamas knew he was coming and that as always just
the moment when they adjusted their veils, hoodahs, covers or what not.
It is true that when Pack was in certain places he prayed that they put the
veils back on. Indeed he confesses to having written it. It is a lot of fun
looking at forbidden fruit; it is still more fun having forbidden fruit look at
you.
By the time he got to Karachi he was bashed. He wanted to see Syed Abdul
Mayhem and you can be sure Syed Abdul Mayhem was not in and Mrs. Abdul invited
him for tea pronto and there he was sitting in a Muslim home with a beautiful
woman who spoke still more beautiful English. And there was the former
Ambassador to the US. Puck never did get to see him. Puck has a pile of letters
from him apologizing he had just been called elsewhere. But his wife was not
called elsewhere. In fact she was not called, in fact she did the calling
herself. And Puck has never refused an invitation from an Ambassador’s wife
and there he was sitting in an almost palatial home with a women who had more
dignity that the princesses Puck has met (who never had any dignity thank God
and Subhan Allah), having tea and food and listening to the most intelligent
conversation with a most beautiful woman who beat Park Ave and Dior at the same
time and Muslim women are not supposed to have any rights.
Well this might go on forever. American men could not revolt against their
wives but they could against their hats and did. The Mamaluks decided to put
the veil-makers out of business. Of course they compromised. It would never do
to admit they did not like to play hide-and-seek; in fact they play modified
forms of it now. And between us in serious top-level conversation with men, or
more particularly holy men and most particularly men who are called “holy
men” but don’t confess to it, they don’t believe in veils at all but they
believe in hide-and-seek, very, very much.
But now with the veils off the Mamaluk business has lost its amour and
history has been written, so Puck is going into the Papaluk side. He can assure
you it is just as honest, sincere, noble, spiritual, foolish, asinine, crazy
and double-talking as the Mamaluk, only nobody else ever thought of doing the
research.
P. Puck
106 Ethel Ave
Mill Valley, CA
June 15, 1958
My dear Norman:
I am writing you in pretty strict confidence. The carbon enclosed is that of
a letter to my chief (but not only) contact in the State Department. This is by
arrangement.
Now I wish to tell you that I did not and could not take part in the
Watts-Woods-Gainsborough imbroglio because I am primarily an American and my
Asian studies have been and will continue to be oriented toward promoting
good-will for the United States in foreign parts. I do not believe any of these
gentlemen, and some others who have been teaching at the Academy have any such
interest or understanding.
For instance, the last part of the letter to Mr. Seamans includes reference
to a book on the history of Siberia. I do not know too much about the history
of Siberia but the criticism contained should show any unbiased person that I
have some background. These backgrounds are as large as the backgrounds in
philosophy, arts and “spiritual disciplines” and cover as many years study
and training.
Thirty-five years ago a charlatan came to San Francisco and lectured on
Central Asia and I came away thoroughly convinced that I knew too little of the
Geography and History of Central Asia, indeed of all Asia. I took no pains to
discuss this with the audiences which included many of my close friends of the
time … in fact only once did I come out of my shell.
In 1940 I was compelled to speak publicly at a great reception in the home
of Mrs. Holbrook on Filbert St. The place was packed with VIP and wealthy
personages and I was rather reticent. But my mentor, one John D. Barry, now
long since gone, was there and I had to speak to defend his honor. I found that
only one person there knew anything of the history of Asia. He was a retired
army general and he backed me to the hilt. I have not been so fortunate since
so I talk around what I know rather than tell.
But even if a man mastered all knowledge, he could not be at all places at
once. Therefore it is important, I feel, to have the “right” type of people
serve America in distant parts. It is interesting to find the State Department
selecting two representatives to champion America who would not be permitted
much liberty in some parts of the Onion. The chief attack on both of them was
not what went on in the States, but what went on in South Africa.
Actually even partly educated people in India, of all ages, know for more
about world politics than one finds elsewhere; and they do not know much about
the history of India. I was actually able to disarm some critics by my
knowledge of this subject, and even more to forestall them. I believe that if
you ever go to the Orient you could make some fine counter-attacks, or
“blitz-krieg” attacks which would win you audiences.
My next lecture will be given on June 28, not June 21, at 240 Sixth Ave. The
subject will be “Sufism, Vedanta, Yoga and Zen.” It will be based more on
experience than is usual with public lecturers. I am in a rather optimistic
mood because now, after 30 years, the European Sufis will listen to me; and in
a much shorter time the actual American Buddhists have asked me for the
knowledge that was communicated to me by actual abbots of actual living
Buddhist faiths. A little encouragement goes a long way.
I do not at the moment intend to include anything on Esoteric Buddhism as it
is a little more deep and profound that even the material to be presented
above. This is mentioned only because I find occasional “Esoteric
Buddhists” who have no authority for their pronouncement soother than that
people like complexities and confusions. Even Shingon looks like that at first,
but in the end it has the marvelous merit of being entirely reconcilable to
almost every phase of human knowledge—even to Jung who has given us a rather
lop-sided picture of one of its facets as being the whole.
This lecture will be in the home of Mrs. W. Hoeffner who is one of the
oldest of my friends (in both sense of the term) and who has considerable
knowledge on Reincarnation which I am sure she will be glad to share. So hope I
can see you there and then. 8 o’clock unless we make some other earlier
arrangement.
Cordially,
Sam
Probably will be at academy on Saturday morning June 28
106 Ethel Ave.
Mill Valley, Calif.
June 15, 1958
Harry W. Seamans,
Liaison Officer
Public Service Section,
Department of State,
Washington, D.C.
My Dear Mr. Seamans:
Ordinarily it might not be in place for a citizen to write to his
government, or its officials, in a matter of book revive—which this
communication essentially is but some recent events have caused me not only to
wonder but to sit back half in dismay.
I have hesitated to make any strong criticism of the policies of the State
Department and I doubt if I shall now. But it seems to me that there is
something missing either in the Intelligence Service, or in the information or
lack of proper briefing has already caused some rather dramatic events.
I refer here especially to the reception the Vice-President of the United
States received in certain Latin-American countries where both the Government
and the people are presumed to be “friendly.” I believe they are friendly
and I agree entirely with Mr. Nixon that the hostilities shown against him were
started by relatively few people.
My own experiences and my contacts sometimes with VIPs of foreign lands have
led me to conclude that there are in many sorts of the world nuclei of highly
trained specialist who know both how to arouse mobs, and to direct large masses
of disturbed people as they will, and thus often against the Unites States. For
reasons which I have never been able to fathom the government, the State
Department and the Intelligence Services seem to rely upon dignity and morale,
if not moral standards as part of their equipment. There is certainly no
objection on my part, but when the continuance of such attitudes, or policies,
leads to attempts on the body and even life of a high official of the American
Government, some sort of protest may be in order.
Years ago when I was doing my first political writing and was especially
keen upon exposing Fascism, I came upon the other type of subversives who
proclaimed: Fascism Is Capitalism Plus Murder.” I wryly told my
collaborator: “These people leave cut the Capitalism.” Of course some
violent or untoward act will no doubt cause a world reaction, but for the
moment I should prefer to see the life, limp and body of our high officials
safe.
An American In India was written by Saunders Redding in 1954. He was
a cultured American of African ancestry, and therefor of dark skin. He was,
from the apparent standpoint of the officials in power, thoroughly briefed. But
this briefing I protest was highly unrealistic. So long as we continue to adopt
the qausi-Marxian doctrine that the world is and must be divided into two camps
and utilize quasi-Marxian psychologies in our techniques, we fail to align with
us hundreds of millions people of this world who are even more anti-Marxian
than we are, but who do not think in our terms.
Mr. Redding was wells briefed on how to meet presumable communist
anti-American efforts. But his briefing did not include what Ambassador Mehta
has told us ever and over again: send to India Americans versed in Emerson,
Whitman and Thoreau. He ran into unexpected opposition and criticism which he
was not able to meet. I quote from page 262:
“You have not considered the communication of those vicious writers whose
obscene books are in our stalls. You have not considered the immoral moving
pictures which are shown in the cinemas! Why? Why do the Americans send us such
vulgar and worthless books and pictures to us? He stood defiant, challenging
and dramatic.”
I think I have already reported that there were too many signs of Russian or
subversive moneys invested in the sale and promotion of cheap American
literature, and even in the cinema houses of India and Pakistan. The vast
majority of Asians whom I contacted believe that the vast majority of Americans
are immoral. And I meet all kinds of people whom neither Mr. Redding nor Mr.
Carl Rowan—of whom more below, contacted.
The fact is that there are two distinct anti-American movements in the
Orient which we are constantly confusing. (1) Is a relatively small number of
communist organizers who, when it comes down to fine points, know nothing of
Karl Marx and who are totally anti-Marx but not anti-Marxist. It is forgotten
that Marx declared he was not a Marxist and he had a very dim view of
“champions of the proletariat” who never did any hand work.
(2) People who either have inferiority complexes or wish to defend their
religions and traditions and seek compensation. They find this in what they
consider are the loose manners of the American Public. They have little direct
information but what information they have comes mostly from American sources
(cheap Publications), and very slightly from left-wing groups of doubtful
veracity and authenticity.
None of this helped Mr. Redding very much and he seems to have returned to
America a rather stunned individual.
Carl T. Rowan, of the University of Minnesota, went later and was briefed in
much the same manner. But Mr. Rowan was already known in certain parts, was
more informed and much more quick witted. Nevertheless he was also oriented in
the same two-way matrix or thinking, born in Russia and flourishing in the
United States, which overlooks the basic fact that India is still basically a
“Ricardo” Nation, and the people who produce to not comprehend the foreign
ideologies of many sorts, which are presented to them.
There is no criticism of Mr. Rowan’s conclusions. There is criticism of
the continued outlook in much of our press, trying to foist a choice upon
people who have long dwelt in political darkness, which is foreign to their
ways of life.
Cradle of Conquerors: Siberia. This is Library of Congress catalog card
Number 50-8407. By Erwin Lessner.
I am mentioning this book here because the great authority for
anti-Americanism in India has been K.M. Panikkar. Mr. Panikkar has written
books which I have adjudged to be full of lies (and I use that wore
unashamedly), and information of doubtful validity. But as I had no access to a
good book on the history of Russia in Asia, I have not previously been able to
point out his shortcoming.
Mr. Lessner shorts that the expansion of Russia toward the east was
accomplished in a manner at which even the Spanish and Portuguese would blush.
I have never read anything like it excepting in the stories of the great
pirates of the Spanish Main.
Unfortunately the vast majority of American students have been psychologized
into believing that the world has mostly been peaceful and even
prosperity—for which there is not an iota of evidence. Nowhere has “Man’s
Inhumanity to Man” been more marked than in the history of Siberia and
nowhere does one find a multitude of factual evidence to show that, even if the
Americans are “Immoral”; they are not and have never been as immoral as Mr.
Panikkar, and his coworkers.
Up to and including the period of the Crimean far, I would say that Mr.
Lessner’s book should be a must for all who go into India, or into any
Bandung country and have to meet criticism of any kind whatsoever.
I regret that Mr. Lessner has not been a careful scholar in that part of the
history of Siberia for which ready material is available. He seems to have
completely overlooked the advance of General Kaufman into Central Asia, and
the need for this advancement from any angle. And there is no reference at all
to Yacub Bey (curcum 1872). I must state these weaknesses because it would give
an intelligent Panikarrite (if such one exists) a chance to meet such criticism
from an American.
I have refrained from taking any part in political campaigns and would like
to consider myself an American, first, and then a partisan. But when I see what
I call unnecessary failures and dramas and went to do something about it, where
can I turn?
I faced all kinds of groups in India and my first public address ended by
applies to the crowd not to mob my chief interrogator! After that it became
easier and easier. Indians and Asians in general do not expect Americans to be
acquainted with their history, religion, philosophy and ideals.
In closing I wish to recommend a young American, also of African ancestry,
who may be preparing to go to the Orient some day and who has been studying the
history, religion, philosophies and ideals of Asians for some time. Such a
representative or agent of this country could render invaluable service, I
think.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
106 Ethel Ave.,
Mill Valley, Calif.
June 18, 1958
My dear Norman:
I am enclosing copy of a letter to one Carl T. Rowan, a gentleman who
obtained some fame before he was sent to the Orient. I think he tried to be
fair but there was no way in which he could be fair. For he was conditioned, as
most Americans are, to “think” in two-way logistics, and therefore the
world must be divided between the “right” and “wrong.” Or at best
between the black and white with room for the grays but not for the reds or
blues or greens or yellows.
I think I have hit the nail on the head in this letter in that I have
concluded that Americans without Vedantic background or some-thing similar
simply cannot fathom the “weird” operations of the Asian minds, whereas
there is nothing to it.
I don’t know how much you have learned of Vedanta, either theoretical or
operative. I will not confute the Advaita however it is presented although my
own orientation has always been toward the Sankara view. Even Aurobindo offers
much more hope than due the traditionalists of any portion of the European or
American worlds. But there are motivations and operations which seem to me to
be much “higher” and definitely more effective.
I am sending you this not to win any arguments but in the hope that it may
give you ideas that will enable you to hold jobs effectively. The extreme ease
with which I got into high places either in the government offices or temples
or shrines or ashrams stands in marked contrast to the efforts of some
people.
I am sending a copy of this to the Indian government, and may write also to
Vice-President Radhakrishnan.
I am also learning more about different kinds of Orientalists in this area.
Unfortunately the “personnel” situation is no better elsewhere than at the
Academy and I think if this continues so the United States will continue to
fail. Professor Moore made an ass of himself at UNESCO, and there were a lot of
well placed “Orientalists” who did not even attend his sessions and if they
had it would only have been to debunk him, not because he can be debunked but
because they make a habit of doing it.
It is most unfortunate that promotions are made by grades and not by
districts of specialization so that a Czech was placed at the head of the
Japanese section in one department I know—he had the sense to resign; and at
another place a specialist on China has control of the Indian affairs and I
mean control.
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
December 16, 1959
My deer Norman:
I do not know whether you have heard, but I shall be leaving this part of
the world shortly. I go down to Hollywood now for two weeks and will be back at
the latest early in January. I do not know whether I shall be seeing Jim or
not. My Santa Barbara chum will be visiting his mother shortly and his home is
only a few blocks from Jim’s.
I am therefore asking that you please return to me as soon as possible the
books you have borrowed from me. It is not necessary that I be here.
You may do me one favor, if you will. I shall be staying in Cleveland quite
a while and I understand you have some folks there. Can you give me an
introduction? For your information, the social group I shall be staying with is
quite mixed racially.
I may be lecturing and doing research work in Cleveland. Doors are opening
rapidly for me even here in San Francisco now, perhaps for the first time in my
life. I am making excellent contacts, of all kinds. And also getting more
introductions for a lengthy journey abroad.
One thing I do not wish is going away parties. Anybody that can buy an extra
bottle or get me a present can do much better by contributing to charity
abroad. It is very hard to understand the great poverty I have seen and what I
expect to see further of in other lands.
Wish you and everybody at East-West House, or whatever it is, Merry
Christmas.
Sam
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
January 15, 1960
Dear Norman:
I am enclosing copy of a letter to Gavin. When I returned from my trip I was
invited to certain affairs and then taken to task. It has taken three years to
break down these criticisms, which became easy as I broke them down one by one:
the glamorist who wanted his ideas accepted and did not want any facts; the
philosopher who did not want to hear anything detrimental to his ideas; the
poseur who wanted to lead and was afraid of being exposed, etc. All of this
shows insecurity.
Now I am no longer concerned with opinions as my kind of people are coming
to the top, and perhaps all over.
My trip out of town the other day was to a lady who has been in the Orient
and who knows rather intimately many of the teachers who have been at the
Academy. She has been especially disenchanted with the Aurobindo Ashram which
may be 90% racket and 10% ashram. They don’t even hold Haridas in high regard
there—which may turn out to be lucky for him.
She has become in India a disciple of the teacher of a friend of mine and in
Japan of Mrs. Sasaki, if she was not already that before she left. She was very
well received, much better received than some people of esteem or self- esteem
who occupy platforms.
I don’t know how much you have heard of Claude and Breck. She met them and
told me a great deal. There is a vast difference between Zen and something
called “Zen” by people who have not studied it or been disciplined in it.
Last Sunday’s Chronicle had a review of three books, two by Chinese and one
by Japanese, concluding that we Americans could not take up Zen as we were
unconditioned for it. But the fact is that both Mrs. Sasaki has passed the
tests and there is a valid Zendo on Bust St.
The experience of facing the unknown and untested is good for both Claude
and Breck. But as Zen is a part of Buddhism—the “authorities” to the
contrary notwithstanding, it requires a non-ego or anti-ego outlook which is
hard for most of us. If they can but get a glimpse of these things it will be
wonderful for them and they will grow. Anyhow they are learning that what they
“thought” has little to do with “facts” or “truths.’
Sam
January 12, 1960
My dear Gavin:
My experiences today confirm my reasons for not wishing any parting
celebration. I have made a trip around the world and have struck high places,
perhaps higher than any American civilian before. I came back and was not
received even with courtesies by people you know—and by over-courtesy from at
least one person you do not know. The events of the past two weeks have made me
conclude that when there is lack of courtesy there is lack of security. The man
who is stable, who has knowledge, whose feet are on the ground has nothing to
lose by giving his ear to others. The person who refuses interviews is
insecure, he has weaknesses which he wants to hide and the very process of the
hiding reveals his weaknesses. For if he opened himself up then he would not be
suspected; but as soon as he closes his ears and mind you can be pretty sure
that he has not much within.
The one man who receive me with over-courtesy was Richard Park of Cal. You
may have heard about him from June Spaulding. Park was not well received by the
public, he did not draw audiences, he did not get any messages
over—here. But since my return he has been accepted by the UN
committees dealing with village problems of the Orient, and by the Fulbright
committees on Foreign Relations dealing with Pacific problems. His rise has led
to a number of his friends and pupils being seated in positions on the UC
Campus and I have found that their points of view coincide very closely with my
own—though his would place them alongside of at least six people whom you
admire who have never permitted me to express myself, or if so, given summary
rejections.
A real Whitman would not overlook anybody. A pseudo-intellectual must
overlook as many people as he can. The rise of name-brand names, is no
different in advertising and Oriental studies. We have the same
gimmicks—charm, adjectives, suavity, civility, finesse. None of these
indicate wisdom, not even knowledge.
There is one man at Cal. who is even more “undiplomatic” than I am and
he was the one who, coming out of nowhere, was invited to secret Cabinet
meeting in foreign lands. He has no suavity, no saccharinity and what is more,
no double talk. We call double-talk “diplomacy” and you cannot point out a
single event in the last 20 years or more where a single victory has been
gained by a single nation in the use of this suavity, this finesse, this
saccharinity. And what people call “diplomatic” is nothing but verbal
cheating. The verbal cheats are, of course, headed by your unfriend Nixon, but
Gavin, you yourself like the same mannerisms in others, which is your right,
but which is not part of my life. Therefore no celebration.
Imagine going up to the Academy and saying “I am a Yogi.” Why, they
don’t exactly throw you out, but try it. I have and with one exception, a
shutout. They are all fine men (none Americans) who have all the “diplomatic
talent.” Well twice today this subject came up at “hard boiled Cal,” and
the profs. (God bless them) wanted to hear more. The idea of an American Yogi,
an American Sufi allured them and they want to see me again.
I have found that the very persons who would not let me express my views
themselves have no standing, either on the Cal. Campus, or in the Orient or in
Washington. They are loved by the metaphysical people; they are loved by the
audiences they charm, without informing. They have remarkable ability to
mislead, not because they have any intention of misleading, but they have lost
the faculty of following, of listening. A pseudo-Hindu, putting on a costume
and calling himself “Swami Bullshitananda” will be highly received by some
of your friends. This is history. A true representative of Asian holy men,
dressed to appear not-different—because true holy men are never clowns or
outlandish, have no chance.
Fortunately today I ran into one Hindu after another and especially in the
presence of profs. I had allies—although I did not need them. In particular
one young man who came to this country because he had been hired as guide for
the UCLA students in India and had seen them go through the third degree over
there turned on me and he found I had the right answers on every point. I never
once went into opinion; I always went into experience, and fact.
So I prepare to leave here knowing that when I return I shall be welcomed by
a new regime which wants experience and fact and no baloney—no matter how
sugarcoated. So I have one or more institutions teaching Asiatics, based on
knowledge, sincerity, information and not on charm, décors, grace and
“diplomacy.”
I was rather surprised also to receive a gift from a Prime Minister—you
can guess. I am also getting ready to greet a real Zen Master.
On the other hand I see no reason to restrain from communicating to anybody
that does not believe that communication is a one-way street. There is little
difference to me from Billy Graham who shouts and the non-Billy un-Graham who
croons—both have paralyzed ears and perhaps paralyzed hearts, too. But there
is no cause to be “against” them. Only people who insist on having one-way
traffic cause opposition because they are opposed to their own inner beings.
Senzaki used to say: “When you see with your ear and hear with your eye,
you have probably it.” I don’t know one detractor who has learned to “see
with the ear,” and I don’t know one from whom I want any more than their
opening up give-and-take, speak-and-listen, and actually “golden rule”
without mentioning it. I don’t think you can name a single detractor, not
only men but of anybody that can fill these simple principles.
Therefore no farewell celebrations. Therefore only hope.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 9, 1960
Dear Norman:
This is being written on the typewriter of Mrs. Katherine Peck which shows
how small the world is. I do not know how well you are acquainted but she has
been a disciple in Sufism for a long time and was a friend of the late Fatha
Engle who was a fellow student of mine in very early days.
We were together all day yesterday and she has graciously loaned me this
machine until my new one arrives. She tells me that K. has quit her jobs and
has evidently not paid her phone bill because it is temporarily disconnected.
So I’ll have to write. But evidently some of your friends know some of my few
acquaintances here for the grape-vine has been at work.
I visited the Library yesterday with my proposal to catalogue Asian Books
and will probably start before the week is over. Now that I have a machine,
too, I am going over my work on Zen. I visited the Zendo in Los Angeles though
Soen Nakagawa was not there at the time. The work of the late Nyogen Senzaki
will continue and I am inclined to believe, will continue with him. There seems
to be an increasing interest in Zen for I have inquiries now from Columbus and
also from Gloucester, Mass. I don’t know how long I shall remain here.
I have letters to visit Wooster—the Agricultural Experimental Station, and
Michigan U. and will probably make these before I go to Columbus, where I
should prefer the advent of Spring weather as my contacts are chiefly botanists
and horticulturists.
I notice that the steamship line on which I expect travel, the Khedevial,
has an office here so I shall visit them shortly. Am at a Motel on Euclid above
30th but will continue to use my friends, the Harrises for mail, until I am
sure about my staying here. Mrs. Peck took me to her home which is lovely but
this place has the advantage of easy access to Down Town; and outside talks on
Oriental philosophy, my main job is to catalogue the White Library; and to
continue my writing.
I do not know what your intentions are concerning the Orient so do not know
how much I can help. It may be hard for you to realize that Academy is very
small potatoes. If I mention names it will look like a personal matter. If
names are not mentioned it is hard to estimate or evaluate why Asians don’t
take much stock in them. As private philosophers this is one thing; as for
getting jobs for graduates it is another and it is the last with which I am
concerned. My visit to Michigan U. Will be concerned with that.
In January I received my appointment as official representative of the Sufi
Brotherhoods of India and Pakistan. Nobodies will continue to ignore such
appointments and the Brotherhoods, of course, are quite unaware of the
nobodies. I also have my written credentials from at least two Zen Roshis and
these are recognized. Even Dr. Kato confided that I had proven to him my
position in Zen; and Mrs. Fernandez, one of Senzaki’s old disciples, prodded
me on this, too.
He used to challenge the Christian ministers to debate, being now an
anti-missionary and he argued with everybody and everything in sight and then
left for the Orient.
The moral of this story is that when you want a “good” school in
Oriental “philosophy,” select a European émigré. He was the first and
since his time we have had endless troupe of Europeans “explaining” Asia to
us.
The history is different: He ultimately did become a real esoteric
Buddhist and a prophet. All his prophecies came true and he also died a wise
man whom nobody believed. He became a male Cassandra.
The quest on is why do Americans follow such people.
The case of the Unyogi. He was a friend of youth who graduated from
Cal. and could not get a job because he was a Hindu. Another friend met him and
said “How’s the Yogi today.” “I am not a Yogi.” “Well, Yogi, how
are you doing?” “I am not a Yogi and I am not doing, I cannot get a job.”
“Good-bye, Yogi, think it over.”
So the Hindu thought it over. Opened a center. In three months a rich widow
was financing him. In six months he had a large following. In one year he
eloped to New York with his beautiful blonde secretary leaving the rich widow
behind. When I last saw him in New York he had a large following.
I have undergone a lot of “Sufi Yoga” at times and this has given me
unusual hidden strength. I have demonstrated it occasionally more at not
getting tired than in performing feats. One I was asked to help three men move
a piano and it was done to our mutual surprise (loaded on a truck). The owner
told me his troubles. He was a Dr. X, a great pianist from Vienna but he could
not get either pupils or concerts. What to do?
“You are a doctor? You come from Vienna? You are a
psychologist!” “But I am not a Psychologist, I am a musician.”
“Yes, and you are starving. This is California. You come from Vienna, you are
a Doctor. You must be a Psychologist.” As in the case of the Unyogi, the
Doctor is no longer starving.
So I am going to add a lot of anecdotes to my manuscript. And this will keep
me from delving into the not so private life of Norman McGhee Jr.
Sam
March 11, 1960
Dear Norman:
This is not what I came to Cleveland for or is it? My dearest friend here is
one Mrs. Paul Harris (Viola) who lived in San Francisco 1920-3. We were fellow
students in Sufism. She came here to be married and we have carried on a very
desultory correspondence but have from the very beginning been close friends
and allies.
She introduced me to Mrs. Catherine Peck with whom I spent at least one
whole day and in whose company I have been when not working or researching.
Catherine introduced me to Ruth Lavender in whose house I was yesterday and
today I go to Mrs. Nicholas’ place. Tomorrow I am going to meet one Mr.
Norman McGhee. Say, who started this? It is not in my plan-book or itinerary
but here it is.
Kathleen seems to have disappeared though I wrote her a letter with a
stamped return envelope in it. And I understand … no, I am not writing your
biography and even less am I a private eye or a public one.
I suppose I’ll stick around Ohio for at least six weeks and then trapayze
to Washington. I have a lot of ideas which will go into my writings. This is
Mrs. Peck’s machine. I purchased a new one which has not yet arrived.
I sent out several reports on Arabian literature and am thinking of some
follows-up. But I am now reminded of early anecdotes.
The Case of the Angry Hungarian. Nobody knew his exact name but if
you find the old Literary Digest he was called “Trebisch-Lincoln.” He is
supposed to have been born a Jew and from his emotional nature I am inclined to
agree. Anyhow he became a Baptist missionary and came to this country of
another faith but still a missionary. Then he got tired of being a Christian
and found the faith too superficial. So he became a Buddhist but there was
never a Buddhist like him. Instead of threatening you with hell he threatened
you with further incarnations. He liked meditating but he liked arguing
more.
He stormed into Senzaki’s—I do not remember whether it was the
Mentorgarten or Zendo. There were about 70 people each meeting. He just took
over and then he took out. He pretended to be both Hinayana and Mahayana and as
Hinayana never ate after noon. Then he broke with Senzaki and started his own
school. When the members were arguing I found him in a corner eating! So I
stayed with Senzaki-san while nearly all the faithful “Aryans” went out
with Trebisch-Lincoln who called himself “Dr. Ruh.”
The Californianian (as against the Californian) always belongs to a New Age.
He may have a new religion which will invariably be wound up with metaphysics
or the Orient and sometimes with both. He chafes at traditions, or at least
with the tradition of traditions. He got rid of the hats for men. He elected
strange men for Governor who are not understood elsewhere and also nearly
elected more strange men like Upton Sinclair. You find some of the best writers
and poets among them, but more the zest for new ventures in the arts. So we
have Schoenberg, Stravinsky and a host of French composers in our midst, whose
capital was Santa Barbara and whose social leader was Leopold Stokowski,
etc.
The children of the New Age hold to no racial outlooks. They accept
reincarnation and many believe they adhered to other strains in other lives.
USC grudgingly had dark men on their team and never gave them credit; UCLA
welcomed them and gave them even too much credit, winning ball games but not
always placing their heroes on professional teams. Stanford answered with
Armenians. Everything rigid broke down or is breaking down. A good San
Franciscan knows how to use chopsticks. The opposition to Chinese in San Mateo
County came from outsiders; the same with the opposition to the dark-skinned in
Marin.
You come out to San Francisco and you are more Californianian than an Yvonne
who is almost a hill-billy Californian. You belonged and she did not. So I am
not too anxious to see you live in Cleveland. The dark people are not so
different from elsewhere, but the pale-faces are and I might find it difficult
to adjust with the type of European backgrounds of many of the whites. This is
the State of Lausche and Lasalle and the Tafts.
Your father wants you in his business. I think it would be good for you to
learn it not only because ultimately you might be having a fine income, but
because he is willing you start a branch in SF or in many places. We talked
somewhat about investment opportunities. You may or may not be surprised that I
have taken the card of an SF investment firm with me to represent them in other
parts of the world, wherever opportunities are. I know a lot about
opportunities aboard and even in parts of California. It is only I am not a
Jupiterian; or at least not a Taurus person.
From the business point of view and also because it would make him happy you
may be able to assent. But I cannot see you living in Cleveland long. I can’t
see you fit here, I don’t think you want to; and I can see you fit equally in
the San Francisco and Los Angeles regions and equally in parts of Africa and
Asian.
As I said in the beginning advice can be the activity of the failure, the
ignorant, the stupid and not necessarily the effort of the wise. I only admit
to one fault on your part, which is lack of anchorage. But the details I leave
up to you and the rest of your career up to you. Frankly too must change might
disturb you and it would certainly disturb me so far as you are concerned. I
think you have your own dreams and visions and they may be as pregnant as any
anybody else may have concerning you.
Kathleen Woods has flit into the unknown.
Cordially,
Sam
March 13, 1960
My dear Norman:
Any fool can give advice. Anybody, especially the failure, knows exactly why
the other fellow has not succeeded or knows what measures he may take to
succeed. This is often true when the first party does not want success so much
as satisfaction or happiness. These are not quantitative.
I have met your father. Naturally we have had a long talk end we are to meet
again. He is both successful and busy. I should imagine that he has very strong
Jupiterian influences in his horoscope. I believe it is Jupiter rather than
Taurus that may be contributing to his ways, for his body is not Jupiterian and
his mind is very much so. If you ever had his horoscope cast I believe this
world be born out. It may be that Jupiter is his Ruler.
The Jupiterian sees an ever expanding universe. He is not concerned with
small things. He is not even concerned with large things that are static. He
must be dynamic. He might even be nervous and your “successful” father,
with his unJupiterian body could readily belong to the ulcer-prone careerists
who must keep going, and even more when they are successful than when they are
not.
I did not “psych” your father. On the weak side he is, or appears to be
a lonely man. He would like to love you. He almost looks and acts unanimal-like
even more than un-spiritual-like. But his visions are marvelous and they
attract me more than any of the above facets which must not be called
faults.
I suppose the first near line of difference between us came from an innate
spirit of Californiana. The positively worst bit of gossip that I heard about
me stemming from the AAAS studies was that I was not a Californian and was only
pretending to be. This is utterly stupid and only a sense of humor prevents me
from being angry about it. Like so many critical persons they do not take the
other fellow’s past into account, not even his failures. I had plenty of them
but nearly all of them, as well as some early successes were wrapped up in
Californiana. I am eligible to the Joseph Henry Jackson prize in literature.
He, and the late Charles Caldwell Dobie knew about my early efforts and were
most encouraging and both died without fulfilling their years, robbing me of
two of my best patrons in an age when I had few friends and many opponents.
But they knew about my writings and researches into Californiana—one book
and a number of articles. I did all the research and a collaborator typed and
synthesized. Innumerable interviews and almost as innumerable journeys here and
there brought me into touch with certain classes which belong to the State,
whether citizens or immigrants. Without going into full details, you definitely
belong.
There may be some truth about your father’s health. The same program
continues. I was with the Reeses Sunday. He used to live on East Boulevard but
they are now in the SE part of town. We became very friendly and they even
offered to have me stay with them. On account of location this is inadvisable,
but that is the only reason. I like them but as I surmised, my time is being
more and more taken up. He referred to your father’s questionable health,
saying he knows him very well.
There are some things I must add to my book “East meets West” and that
is the implication that “North Meets South.” I can only do that sketchily.
My objections to parts of Africa are due to one simply fact and facto and that
alone—very few white people could stand the climate of parts of West Africa.
Nonetheless I expect to go to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington.
I did run into another Cal. man the other day who has just come back from
Libya and I expect to see him tonight.
At this moment I see a strange object in the sky—a warm, rounded figure,
radiating light and heat. It seems to have an antipathy to snow. I could not
even take a long walk before breakfast today but may later.
Finally I want to note something here—that is, there are not too many
emotional adults in this world. We grow or rather age with our bodies, and
minds; but stability does not come and I would not say it is a “must”
either. Stability alone is not adulthood for I can name some very stable
persons whom you would say they belong to the stable with the other asses.
Maturity involves dynamic stability or equilibrium and fore-sight. Gee, I hate
sermons but guess I throw a few around.
Cordially,
Sam
March 25, 1960
My dear Norman:
After getting a strange go-bye at the Greyhound Station, I began trying the
Cooper Travel Agency next door to your father and they have arranged my trips
to Ann Arbor and Central Ohio (Wooster and Columbus). I go to Ann Arbor Monday
after the forthcoming Institute on China and India.
So far I have been most fortunate in meeting the “right” persons for me.
I understand that one Indian professor Saha wants to meet me. The other night
the chief speaker, purportedly representing India, was one Prof. B. S. Gilani.
After the question period I asked: “Didn’t you come originally from
Iraq?” “Yes.” “Do you belong to The Family?” The answer was
“yes” and I have met his cousin, who now languishes in prison.
Back of this Norman, is something that I have not been able to impress on
thick-headed professors, or maybe it was my own fault, but I know far more
about Asia than almost anybody around and am not in the least impressed today
by negative reactions. I am not only getting positive reactions fast but go to
Ann Arbor to meet Prof. Richard Park who was so long in Berkeley and who has
been from the start a close friend and ally.
I have been able, inhibited, to prove by talks and instructions, what I was
not permitted to present in San Francisco, either in lecture halls or schools
or to anything and anybody excepting to Magana Baptiste, and by indirection to
Walt. But here they ask what one knows.
After my talk last Sunday the men who arranged Alan Watts’ lectures here
say t hey want to have me give a talk on actual mystical disciplines—which
can do and may do if date can be arranged. And it is certain that I have been
able to size up the White Library—which will be done favorably, but I know
the faults. I have also been able to meet a real American Imam here and will
see him soon again. All of this helps.
I dropped in to see your father yesterday. Actually or by pretense, he
referred to a bad heart and does not think he is going to remain here long. He
wants you to come here very badly. I still feel wrong to interfere or
over-suggest. I do think you can learn about the investment business and the
more I see of the world the more opportunities. I am only afraid of a gimmick
to keep you here; I did not say so. Yes, you can and maybe do belong in the
investment business but I can’t see you remaining in Cleveland any more than
I can see myself not going to Asia. It is the same “eye” that sees these
things…. Of course I see endless opportunities in many places but that is
something for you to decide. I am already indirectly tied up with a company in
San Francisco which restricts its operations to backward parts of Asia (in the
financial sense).
Now if you wish to go to India or Pakistan later even I can get you good
introductions and contacts. Indeed if you went to India you would be doing me a
favor, actually. My pal in that land, Mr. P. M. Kabali of Bombay, is looking
for American capital, and he has fingers on everything. He is both a leading
aviator and engineer and I can only repeat his first words to me: “I am a
Bhakti and a Brahma and wish to be your guide.” He is a very noble spiritual
character and combines India 2000 B.C. and 2000 A.D. without leaving off the
4,000 years between.
I also see many opportunities in Pakistan but I am sure you would be fine
with Kabali and this would satisfy all your spiritual urges as well. Of course
if you went to India and got stuck I can even tell you what to do and you would
not be stuck.
I am only representing financiers by verbal agreement; that is I have
permission to represent them to get agents, not to deal for them on any basis
but to make linkages. Then if I succeed we can settle this when I am home. On
the other hand, once you are trained by your father and wish to take
geographical steps I feel it would be proper to suggest other introductions to
you.
Received a nice letter from Mrs. Gale Darling who is coming home. She is a
good friend of Spiegelberg.
Sent the Rudolph Schaeffer School copies of Oriental exhibits in the
Museum.
Showed your letter to Mrs. Peck who was glad to read it and sends her
regards. She leaves Sunday and will be gone during April so I may not see her
again. But the possibility of my coming this way in the future have gone up and
up.
I’ll now look up Karamu House: Virginia is in Iowa and nobody knows when
she will be back.
Finally I am happy you see your karma. You at me, I feel like a Punjabi and
have been stuck in a Jewish (mostly) body. The rest of me feels like a Japanese
and my smallness increases that, too. This makes integration natural. I have
given a talk on the use of the X-ray, ultra-microscope, blood-tests and what
not to show the folly of anthropomorphizing a lot of stuff that won’t hold
up. It is only the ego-eye-of-ugliness that makes all sorts of divisions and
distinctions. I even prefer money-mad people. Of course as I have known the
Chinese from infancy, racial barriers weren’t there until forced from outside
and then they did not stick. St. Paul had an awful time trying to get Jew,
Greek and barbarian together. The first Mosque was largely built by an
American: the first call-to-prayer by a Negro—that should have put the Arabs
in their place, but unfortunately did not.
Anyhow am feeling fine despite the unusual weather—the hottest and coldest
on record the same week; and wet most of the time. Best regards and wishes.
Samuel
March 31, 1960
My dear Norman:
Today I received a flock of mail. I have written to Jim as I found a
thriving School for Asian Studies at Ann Arbor. The undergraduate level
corresponds to what the Academy has been trying. At the graduate level you do
your own research, unsupervised and it has to be original—that is the only
requirement. There is plenty of room for that.
There are also a lot of Asians at Ann Arbor (Michigan U). Many are exchange
students and a few are exchange professors. I met a lot of them through the
International House. I have some literature around but want to keep it.
However, you can write to Michigan U if you are interested. Only this would
bring you too near home.
No, I would rather not have your father see my mail. A Sufi is one who is
trained to see from several points of view. I do not know whether your father
is transparent. The fact is that the mystic learns to “see” through all
sorts of people and sometimes rather quickly. The eyes, the walk, the gestures,
the speech, all tell him something. This is very different from the
intellectual view of a mystic philosophy. You only see the outside.
The Academy has had an unfortunate history. You get men there who are not
Americans and often not Asians either and they are accepted on their
personalities, not on their validity. Then in my case they deny that I am a
Californian or know anything. Well I knew there was plenty of money for Islamic
studies at Ann Arbor and I did not go there to meet students either. I learned
that moneys that should and could have gone to San Francisco have gone to Cedar
Rapids and Washington. You can thank those good dear Asians, Alan Watts and Rom
Landau.
Sometimes I wish you were in Cleveland and saw me work at the Library or can
explain Ibn Khaldun’s “Muqaddimah” which I am reading. In the case of
Sufism, you simply cannot look the books up either by catalogue or country. You
will find very few books on “Sufism” in the files and I can show you
anywhere from 4 to 10 times as many books about Sufism or by Sufis in the
stacks and prove it.
The conference in India and Asia was a marvel. All the speakers on China had
been there. All the speakers on India were either Hindus or American, Really,
it can happen here! Nobody got by because the audience liked him; nobody
got by who did not have valid information. Yes, it can happen here.
Anyhow I am getting nice letters from the World Affairs Council in SF.
I think we have come to an understanding. You would please your father to
learn the investment business and to assure yourself of income. But outside of
all other considerations I am positive even here you would do much better
elsewhere. I see all sorts of possibilities in California anyhow.
I get letters from Jim Pike regularly, evidencing that he is lonely. But it
is very hard to help someone who will not appreciate his own virtues.
Mrs. Peck evinced some antagonism to Pak Subuh. I don’t know much about
this movement but it is of some concern that so many of Alan’s former
devotees went over to it. Why? In what way does it help? As far as I could
see—and I could be way off—Alan never gave any disciplines, exercises or
things to do and these were really wanted. Locke has fine potentialities but
after running along with Gary Snyder, he and a lot of other folks made this
jump into “nowhere.” Or maybe into somewhere.
Socially Sufism offers prospects not in Zen for it does not stimulate
retreats so readily and it does stress brotherhood, so that all peoples can
come together regardless of any external differences. Of course I am great on
propaganda-blarney, but I can hold my own, given a chance. And more so lately
because every time one meets a real spiritual teacher it is was if “something
new were added.”
I guess I’ll have to try to reach K. by letter—and not depend too much
on the grapevine; and will send more news whenever my fingers ache—although
you can see I am not yet too adjusted to this machine.
Earn while you learn.
Samuel L. Lewis
April 24, 1960
My dear Norman:
I am about to leave Cleveland for Washington. My stay here has been both
edifying and strange. The strangeness has taken forms which may interest
you—at least in part they concern yourself and I shall mention these first,
though they may seem delicate.
Your father has moved to Euclid & 106th Sts. This is near the corner
where I transfer to go to the Lavenders. Ruth Lavender is the
Secretary-Treasurer of the small group of students of Sufism: I also had to
transfer often at 55th and Woodland. As I was completing my external affairs on
East Boulevard yesterday I thought I would walk through the Park—the weather
at last was fine—and saw your father’s new office, quite modern and in a
better location.
From all I can here he is prospering fine but more and more wants to teach
you the business. He is coming to LA and wants to see you there—indeed I
guess you are going. In the meanwhile I am hearing mare from India and have had
to take over a small deal myself. Ordinarily I don’t like to do that but the
closeness of ties is one thing and indirectly it involves much more.
I am hoping, or wishing—and this is not wisdom but it might be—that you
might learn from your father and apply the knowledge and the investments in
parts of Asia to universal satisfaction. True within a few hours I shall be
closeted with the State Department and it may throw more light or a different
light upon what I am saying. But I also realize the “iron fist” which none
of us wants and a gold prison is not much better than an iron one too. I
don’t think your father can hold you here and I certainly don’t want to see
you here. I want you either in California or Asia. (That’s a mighty big spot,
son.)
My other affairs here came out to some satisfaction. I have a good picture
of the library. I have interested several persons in Sufism and also met some
college students who come from Sufi families. Seeds are sown in several parts
of this State to mutual satisfaction:
My scientific ventures were most successful although in a strange way
perhaps more esoteric than the Sufi ones. I happened upon the men with the most
information and incidentally the most zest along the very lines with which I
hope to promote better American-Asian relations. Indeed if there is anything
blueprinted for me in the ethers, that is it and I am getting both more
confident and more assured here:
All of this seems to point to an unusually long journey, but with no
assurance or certainty. I have lots of heavy business in Washington, New York
and Boston, before leaving.
My next address will be
c/o E. W Hathaway
350 E: 76th,
New York 21, N.Y.
I have not heard from either Dr. Baker or Gavin for some time and “fear”
in both instances but for different reasons.
Cordially,
Samuel
5/12/60
My dear Norman:
I have your letter of the 5th and note your meeting with your father is
coming off as he scheduled. I am glad you are going to Cleveland to pick up the
loose ends of business. But my coming to New York gave me another look on life.
I find there has been a natural integration here through time-processes and
perhaps with side-kicks from the Puerto Ricans who seem to push others into
mutual understanding.
Perhaps you have met Elsa Gidlow—I am sure you have—and you may also
know Isabel Quallo. My host, Bill Hathaway, Elsa and Isabel all have in common
that they were born in Hull, England. I walked into the Quallo residence and
made myself at home, rather to the consternation George, the son, who had never
heard of me—and then I am a pale-face, too! But before the night was over I
think we established a healthy relationship. Isabel and I have an almost
brother-sister feeling which is deep and real and we should be seeing much of
each other.
Edward Jones is the darkest person I know, but outside of his skin he looks
and acts and is shaped like a combination of a Caucasian and a Senzaki. He also
seems to feel his incarnation is for a purpose. I have not offered much
spiritual help here; I do not want to start a movement but I have not found one
I should wish to strengthen. The Ramakrishna Society is not prosperous and some
of the metaphysical ones are.
Heard a lecture on Yoga and Zen Sunday night wherein the speaker, an Indian,
took some strong swipes at Alan Watts. This is now a habit and I may meet other
such people tomorrow night at the Zen Institute. But Isabel is friendly to Alan
and was surprised that David, Locke & Co. should be running off to Subud.
Or maybe they have reformed??
Gavin should go to France. He does not consult his intuitions, or advice or
even his horoscope—which last is almost unforgivable. I have heard from Dr.
Baker. Often I write my Puck letters, but what is said in jest often comes to
be true. My first application resulted in a free courtesy visa. I stand in far,
far better with cultural attachés and even foreign governments than people
around San Francisco chose to accept.
I did spend one night with a Pakistani going over papers on Oriental
philosophy written by “brand names” from Canada and Great Britain, who are
so famous they can make all kinds of mistakes and nobody can answer them. No
wonder Asian lands do not love us.
The World Trade Fair is on and I see more and more opportunities if you care
to go to certain lands. I think there are many wide open areas and the more I
see, the more opportunities appear. I ran unexpectedly into Mohammed Ali Mirdad
who has a home at 1553A Pine St. You may know him. He is in charge of the
Indian section.
My travel agent arrives tomorrow and he will fix a date for my departure.
Good luck,
Sam
June 23, 1960
Dear Norman:
I am writing without knowing whether you are in San Francisco or Cleveland.
If you are in Cleveland part of this letter may be ignored.
I have not had a simple time getting arrangements to sail. I visited some
cousins and the next thing I am back to work. They are professional flower
growers. I do make trips, chiefly to Boston but sometimes to New York and may
even go to Banger, Maine.
My life is also complicated by the Japanese situation. My old campaign,
“Asia versus phant-Asia” is beginning to bear fruit. Generally speaking I
get the approval of Asians, no matter what country; but it is hard to convince
certain classes of Americans about this.
One great exception is in this region and especially among graduates from
Harvard, of whom I meet a great many. They are interested in facts, facts and
more facts, personalities and implications are of little importance. So we come
to understandings very quickly.
Now I am writing asking for a favor—but only if you are in San Francisco.
Amy, daughter of my cousin Joseph Matz, of Brookline, is coming to San
Francisco. She may (or may not) be there when this letter reaches you, wherever
you are. Presuming you would be in Cleveland, I did not give her a note to you,
or to the East-West House.
She is a college girl, apparently very intelligent, broad and of a world
outlook. We came to a quick understanding—but I found this common to all of
my younger relatives with one notable exception. She is interested in
psychology, cha-cha, Japanese and Chinese meals, modern art and Zen. I have
given her an introduction to Della Goertz and if you are still in SF will you
kindly telephone Della if you would like to meet Amy.
In the past my relatives have been many broad and universal and Adolph, with
whom I am now staying, only went with integrated groups and that was years ago.
Amy is so thoroughly modern in everything I could sense.
I must say that she, and others, felt confused by Alan Watts. The last book
of his that I look through has no real beginning and end and is not
historically correct. Just a hodge-podge of things he has thrown together.
Instead I would like her to go to the Zendo and also meet Kato.
I received a nice letter today from Congressman Inouye who is anxious to
establish a real Academy of real Oriental Studies in Hawaii.
Cordially,
Samuel Lewis
Morland House
16, Sharia Kemal ed din Salah
Kasr el Doubara
Cairo, UAR
October 3, 1960
My dear Norman:
I should like to entitle this epistle, “This is it” but I understand
that the sage of Mill Valley has taken out a copyright on that title. Exactly
what it means I don’t know and as we do not have TV here and would not get
“Divorce Court” anyhow, we shall have not further reference to that person
or title excepting with the best of poisonous good will. For I am delightfully
sorry to tell you that among those living and otherwise one Rom Landau and one
Alan Watts certainly do not stand in well with the Foreign Service. And a good
deal of this letter will be pointed against the continued use of Europeans as
“authorities.” On Asian subjects, and here Islamic in particular. Of course
if you want to get your degree it is one thing but you have already gone
through the agonies of appealing to the State Department, which grand portion
of the American Government does not seem to grant that all men were created
free and equal to perjure themselves and others and have stubbornly refused to
believe that some Europeans who write excellent books about the Orient of Islam
necessarily know what they are talking about.
It is just a month since I arrived here under circumstances which no
professor of the AAA Studies could possible admit, only the American and UAR
governments deciding between themselves quite different from Prof. Hugo Von
Plotz of Heidelberg, Leyden and Cambridge what my credentials are and either I
was able to fool them—but I can’t fool the professor—or else they have a
very distorted view about Islamic knowledge.
As it was Labor Day I hied me to Al-Azhar University where I go occasionally
and have made an offensive and defensive alliance with a colored boy from New
York. The part that is offensive is that what we have agreed on is quite out of
line with Prof. Hugo Von Plotz. Besides you meet queer kinds of dark faced
fellows at Al Azhar, the man from Senegal being particularly kind and
particularly cultured acting like he had a flock of PhDs. And quite capable of
communicating with you on all kinds of subjects which would be over the heads
of Dixielanders and would be particularly disturbing to Hugo Von Plotz.
The Americans who sojourn in this pension (glorified boarding house with
French pronunciation) have found that both Al Azhar and the Americans here
uphold the dignity of Duncan McDonald whom Von Plotz rejects utterly and
absolutely; and one finds out soon that MacDonald is recognized all over and
Von Plotz and Arberry not at all.
On top of that there is a dim view that if you got your credentials in
Islamics from any California University you did not get your credentials and
you really did not get your Islamics. Pacific and UC are particularly
black-listed but the AAAS particularly under the aegis of A.W. was so far off
the beam that mere attendance is liable to make you suspect. For the
instruction of phant-Asian nonsense out of the minds of the various Von Plotzes
who taught these hardly results in the establishment of any real relations. Jim
Pike made various peregrinations and escaped, though I know not what. And
Claude may have learned something through I know not what either.
After visiting Al-Azhar, Labor Day being over, I went to the American
Embassy and American University here. I got introductions fast and furious and
they still come fast and furious. The plans worked out by and with Harry Nelson
of City College have not only been accepted, they work and this curious person
has been as rapidly received into places where he could not possible go as he
was Japan and everywhere else, Von Plotz notwithstanding.
I do not intend here to relate about my scientific experiences. They began
essentially at the graduate level and now I am meeting the top scientists here
as I did in Japan and India and furiously busy in the exchange of
information.
My one difference at the American U was my objection to Von Plots-X teaching
that Islam felt because the Sufis eschewed politics. Of course as the great
Moguls and the greatest Sultans were Sufis, we have to teach history as Von
Plotz does or you won’t get your degree. Having met Sufis in so many high
places in India and in so many foreign services in Washington I am, perhaps,
the greatest deluded American, but it is these delusions that get you places,
mon friend, my ami.
Well one day I was at the Vegetable Experimental Station where I can’t go
and the head, one Fouad Rizk said: “I have a great treat in store for you,
you are to meet a member of Tarik, he has heard all about you.” So I met M.R.
Billah and it was pre-love at first supersight and it has been ever since. By
the second time we met we were talking crazily about mystics and states and
stations which Von Plotz insisted went out of style years ago and then I quoted
Billah’s grand sheikh and soon was reporting which seems to indicate that I
may be meeting members of the Rifa’i of Whirling Dervish Order. This,
probably later in the month.
Then I have been it the National Research Centre where I can’t go and meet
the top scientists and those crazy people are all interested in the deeper
aspects of Islamic mysticism. Of course every lawyer and merchant will tell you
these went out of style centuries ago and no thinking man pays any attention to
them.
The other day I met a beautiful girl. I often meet what I call beautiful
girls. The chemistry that they study is confined strictly to the test tube and
not to the face or hair. If you had been in my place you would either have been
converted to Islam or joined the faculty at once. She brought me a Coke—which
is almost the national drink but I dote on their tea and Turkish Coffee, so she
said I was a funny American. I said: “You are so right and I am going to
prove it.” “How?”
“In the first place I have another name, Ahmed Murad.” She almost
dropped the coke bottles. I did not let her recover. “Then I am
darveeeeeeeesh.” She almost dropped herself, but I let her recover. “Then,
over at Al-Azhar they said I was madzub spiritual mad, and I told them they
were right I was madzub.” The professors who never heard of Von Plotz Stopped
talking about Wheat proteins and Monosaccharide equilibria and all that
scientific jargon which is nonsense to Von Plotz and we discussed Sufism but I
told them that I was following the Prophet in order to see that people had full
stomachs. This does not give me a PhD. in Islamics but keeps me on the verge of
becoming a Saint. The Sufi saint is not like a Christian or Buddhist who must
be 100% virtuous; he just has to be 100% alive.
Now I found in a short time that two very great scientific problems have
been solved at the research Center and I shall be writing to the US about it.
The pro Israeli people don’t like that for they hold that God made the
Jews—or was it Jehovas—and the devil created Nasser (they have forgiven
Hitler). I haven’t even started but I have also communicated that the
Americans have solved some scientific problems and I let them know how and why.
This give me free coffee—at least, every time I call on an American or Arab
and as the coffee at this pension is week, in the a.m. I grab all the
interviews I can and do I scrounge coffee.
As I don’t drink cokes I have another pause to refresh, or disturb. I am
near a Mosque. It has a loud speaker. The Imam loud speakers or even cans his
sermons for everybody without hearing distance. Then the band begins to play
and it is as calm and peaceful as any portion of bedlam.
The political situation is different today. There are nations in Africa
which are adopting the same policy as South Africa, only in reverse. This is
naughty-naughty. “Britons, never, nahver, nevaire shall be slaves” but
watch out or they will lose the vote. I myself am against everybody, and I mean
everybody. There were Nations in Africa, just as much as anywhere. The Frahnnsh
and the British and Belgiums went in and busted them. Instead of restoring
those Nations everybody wants to continue along the lines of the colonialists
while damning colonialism. So instead of there being a proper culture
Nation-like Dahomey might presumably be, races and cultures are divided
according to the provinces the Europeans established and groups are compelled
to divide on one side and become aligned with comparative strangers in the
other. I refer to the M’Sai in Uganda and Kenya. But that is the trouble in
the Congo. These people had different historical backgrounds and are being
forced together, and separated from French Congo, etc. Why? What we call self
determination is within limits. Africa should be divided, in my opinion, by
cultures, languages, traditions and not by bound areas established by European
imperialists. So I don’t agree with anybody.
That is a speech. I make one every day here and the fools around here
listen. Of course Von Plotz never comes to Egypt. He is too great on authority
on the Near East to bother.
I wrote Jim Pike today. I also sent him an old ragged 5 piaster piece and a
Turkish coin. He will get more but I can only enclose a little at a time. He
gave me a lot of news.
If you see Donna you can tell her I still love her and to prove it I am
getting further and further away. And if you see Cathy Marshall tell her I only
quit dreaming about her because in the Near East we have different kinds of
dreams. This may make her curious, or furious or spurious.
Well Ved is gone and it was his own fault. He was just as subjective as any
Von Plotz whom he could not accept. He also talked about a dream world and
never respected people or movements. We have to learn about real Asia. I am
going to see the Indian Cultural attaché tomorrow and we will talk the real
thing. I am also acting as liaison between the Indian and the American cultural
attaches.
I am also studying modern American philosophy to introduce it to the Orient.
Can do. I have a bunch of universities on my agenda.
I went to the Pakistani Consulate for a Visa. I was given a long
questionnaire. I filled it, I overfilled it. The clerk challenged my answers. I
walked out and wrote a letter to the Consul General in SF sending a copy to the
Pakistani Ambassador. The next morning I got an emergency call from the
American embassy. I went over to the Pakistani Embassy. The clerk stood at
attention, gave me my passport book with Visa and then saluted and stood at
attention until I left the building. Ah, you don’t know Ahmed Murad Chisti,
Whose existence Von Plotz denies and of course European professors cannot be
wrong. Actually I did not know whether to break into a fury or burst out
laughing. Only Egyptian without negro blood don’t laugh and the African’s
with thick lips do.
Her I met a Tigre.” He is a man, not an animal. His name is Hasan and
comes from Ethiopia. He has the real Semitic features and does not look a bit
like a Jew or Negro and even less like an Armenian. He has the same Semitic
features you find in books on Anthropology and nowhere else.
Yesterday Julie took me out. She is a Baltic and married to an Arab. We went
to the bazaars but our contact was not in. We walked down the gold Bazaar where
you can get genuine absolutely pure gold of 24-K, 18-K and 14-K, especially
that last. I did not see anything I wanted excepting some little Kurans in gold
and thought of Florie Leonard. £10E. No. We started to walk out. £2E. An
Egyptian pound is about $2.20. Wow, down to 20% of the first price without even
an effort to bargain. These people aren’t Syrians.
Oh yes, I pulled a terrible stunt in Beirut for which I am gloriously
shamed. When the ship landed a flock of men came on board. Were they customs
were police inspectors? Guides? Give up? They were barbers.
They came into every meeting, knocked on every door and made themselves
nuisances all over the place. Finally one man insisted on knowing why I had no
time for a haircut. “I am Ahmed Murad, derveeeeesh.” His jaws dropped. He
dropped is tools. He dropped his kit. His knees saged. “I am Ahmed Murad,
derveeesh. Come, I give you free hair cut.”
The folks came back from Baalbek that night. “Oh, you had a haircut. Now
much? “Nothing.” After a while the Chief Engineer came in. “Oh, you had a
haircut, how much?” Nothing. For Free.” Then the Chiefs assistant came in.
“Oh, you had a haircut. How Much? “Are you kidding. Nothing.” Ahmed
Murad, changed back to Sam Lewis became a hero and was given a hero greeting
when he left the ship and got in as a VIP.
Prof. Plotz will never believe it but they did not go through my bags and
met down to one bottle and one carton of smokes. Yes, I got in and that is one
of the mysteries that go on. But Allah is great only most people don’t
believe in Allah or don’t believe enough.
There is a Sufi working at the Hotel Semiramis next door and he has
nominated me for saint ship. This is a little tough but he wins the arguments
because he is the only one who can speak well in both Arabic and English and
maybe he fudges in translating but I get the benefit of it.
Wednesday we walked all over Cairo visiting one historical Mosque after
another. My fantastic ears heard Sufi chanting but I have such an occult power
that my guide also heard and told people. This is a fine way to repudiate Von
Plotz who says it cannot be. There just ain’t any more Sufis of dervishes and
if there are you cannot meet them. He didn’t.
Finally the dollar. I went to the chamber of Commerce but politics so
dominated the talk that I think one can do better in India than here. I don’t
wish that way. This country is full one can do better in India than here. I
don’t wish to get into political fights where a victory means absolutely
nothing. Besides I have such intelligent intellectual discussions on science
and Sufism. That is enough.
I may be here a while yet. This is about the 20th letter for one day. And my
mail expense is going to be in the neighborhood $3.00 for postage. This is my
record. I have not even started my work in art and other doors are opening too.
I have not reported to the American Friends of the Middle East, either. I may
after concluding business at the information Bureau.
Dear Gavin took a nose-dive, and news concerning Dr. Baker is not clear.
Despite the bravado here I am really working on a lofty level of intellect and
love. “Hoping you are the same.”
Sam
P.S. After writing. Interviews here show substantial support for campaign to
remove European intermediation in teaching of Islamic and Asian cultures.
October 17, 1960
My dear Norman:
I am about the lower the boom. It must be done in an intelligible and
intelligent matter. I have never taken up the problem of your appealing to the
State Department but I already have the answer. We have just acknowledged a
number of African Nations. Now I wonder if we are going to start classes in
presenting their culture and for this purpose look around for graduates of
Uppsala and Heidelberg and Leyden and Oxford, and finding displaced Europeans
give their jobs. “Only in America” is this done. There is a glamour to
Uppsala and Heidelberg and Leyden and Oxford, but I have still to meet a single
Oriental who will admit it. Stubborn fellows these Asians. They simply will not
agree that this Uppsala and Heidelberg and Leyden and Oxford have the best
Orientalists. They have their own ideas. Indeed I have just been to the Indian
information office and could give you the names of some Europeans admired in
India but I have same doubts as to whether you have heard of many of them.
No doubt any American can go to Uppsala and Heidelberg and Leyden and Oxford
and get a PhD in some Oriental subject. They can even go to Yale and Honolulu
which pose the top American “authorities” on India preaching and teaching
what never was heard in India in its many thousands of years of culture. Well
the State Department and Central Intelligence, darn it, agree with the Asian
Neutralists and not with our “allies” and if you have gone to Uppsala or
Heidelberg or Leyden or Oxford, of if you have had teachers from these places
even with PhDs in Asian subjects the State Department does not recognize them.
It is as Prof. Chatterji put it: “Why, if you Americans wish to insult, it,
why don’t you do it yourselves instead of inviting Europeans to do it for
you.
The AAAS is not even on the black list, it is not on any lists. Whatever
persons who have gone there and offered degrees and whatever degrees are
confirmed by other schools or institutions may be all right. But it is time
that we have a few more schools that teach Asian-Asian subjects and not
phant-Asian subjects.
Thursday I expect to go to the American University here and put a stingaroo
in their hands. I just read their “text-book” on the Dervishes. It was
written in Cairo. Period. Did the writer go around to see if there are any
Dervishes? There was no need to. He just got out a lost book written by
“brand-names” who went to Oxford and Leyden & Co. and copied from them
and from a few others. That’s it so of course there are no Dervishes and
those that are are fakers and nobody ever heard of them, and they are having a
big parliament and I have been to Al-Azhar and they are going to bring me to
meet them after I mail this.
This is typically-typical and “Only in America” can you find this
excepting that the Russians have far outclassed us in stupidity requiring all
engineers to qualify in Marxist-Leninism even if they don’t do too well in
Math and Mechanics! There is no school in Central California which stands well
in the good graces of the Stands Department although I think San Jose State is
sincere but they have only a small staff.
The news is coming in too thick and fast for me to keep up. My University of
California connections have gotten me in good graces and I have long and
pleasant tales. The other day the Federal Government sent two agricultural
experts to look me up and they are reporting me to the one man I am hoping to
advertise, namely Dr. Fireman who was in charge of the saline laboratories in
Riverside. This is a long and complicated series of pleasant stories.
Then the man who as Consul-General Hussein in San Francisco will be here
shortly as Ambassador. I have just been to see the Cultural Attaché. This
pension is the meeting place of the Japanese and Indians and strange people
these, they welcome me whole heartedly, as do the Arabs. And so whether the
ghost of the Academy cares or not, I may do something when I return. My
immediate plans are to establish a branch of the World Congress of Faiths, but
it is possible that the Foreign Service may wish me to do other things.
For I am prepared and preparing to introduce American philosophy and poetry
into other countries, and on a high level. I have now the support of several
universities and important (to me) men in the U.S. After all I have studied a
long, long time and may have collected some knowledge, if not wisdom.
I was for years interested in schools for Asian studies. I still am. But in
the United States graduate studies mean individual effort and research, not
just listening to an authoritative teacher insisting that the philosophy he is
propounding is not dogmatic, when as he presents it, it is nothing else. None
of the Asian philosophies are dogmatic but some men who present them are—or
rather within the United States, the great majority of so-called teachers are
and the great majority are neither Asian-born nor American-born and don’t
think this isn’t know where it should be known.
A good deal of the vote to recognize China was a protest against some
American methods. I am hoping to present the UAR side of the picture. This side
may have faults, but it has never been presented and I am so amazed by the
progress here that I cannot point to anything among excepting in the political
field which is outside my domain anyhow. Science, art, culture, social progress
are tremendous considering the time and the handicaps; I should better say
stupendous. Which does not mean that other Nations are not, or cannot do the
same. I simply do not know about them and haven’t time to investigate.
Oct. 18. It is my birthday and I am going on a trip to Suez. I do not know
what I shall learn but I understand it is will be my first introduction to
industrial Egypt. So far I have only pamphlets and statistics.
My accomplishments here have been restricted by one thing and one thing,
alone—the heat. It began to cool off at the end of September but October got
hot again.
Every day I have adventures and sometimes they are startling—excepting, of
course, when it is too hot. Yesterday morning I visited Al-Azhar, the
historical university and showed them the book on “Sufism” published by the
American University. The upshot was that they promised to introduce me to the
real Sufis here. There are more Sufis on earth than all the Mystics of all
other schools combined and multiplied by ten, and we simply ignore then. Rom
Landau is not the only “authority” who denies their existence. The worst is
Grünebaum of Chicago, but they being big men are listened to. I ran into Sufis
all over the place when I was in Pakistan and India. Just before I left SF I
was called into the Indonesian Consulate for an official farewell—the whole
staff were Sufis. When I visited the Sudanese Embassy in Washington I asked the
information clerk—a beautiful blonde, of course, if she knew about the
dervishes. She never heard of them. She asked her superior and he answered:
“How do you know I am not one?” This gave her a shock.
I got the same answer here from the American “authority” at the
University and I got quite another answer from the top scientists who, of
course as everybody knows(!) are anti-mystical. Only they aren’t and this is
a big story by itself. But yesterday the office manager at Al-Azhar said I had
given proof of my knowledge of Sufism and he himself will introduce me
tomorrow, October 19.
I left Al-Azhar to go to the Indian Information Office and there they gave
me a special (I found out later) card to the opening of their Art Exhibit which
takes place tomorrow night. This hotel is the rendezvous of the Japanese and
Indians and the Indians are inviting me to their land and I don’t know how I
can make it all. But I am studying Indian philosophy very carefully now and
have learned of schools which have never presented their case in the U.S. I am
also studying their reaction to Western philosophy. Their great weakness, as I
suspected, is that they do not know too much about our real great thinkers—I
don’t mean the advertised brands. You probably have heard and maybe much
about Santyana, but I doubt whether you know too much about Charles Pierce.
Their view on Semantics is short and tierce. “We have been teaching that
for 2,000 years.” But try and convince Hayakawa. That man turned down
absolutely both my papers on science or rather actual scientific research by a
quasi-semantic method; and my papers on the relation of semantics to Indian
teachings without even glancing at them. Wrong author. This “wrong author”
stuff is for the pretenders, the egotists. You know the story of the Greek
scientist, and the Physics Dept. at Berkeley—how they pigeon-holed his
correspondence and the next thing he got a top-level job from the federal
Government. There has been too much of that nonsense.
Only those non-sense mongers don’t realize (or maybe they do) how insecure
they are. A secure scientist is one of the finest men talk to but I guess so is
a secure person anywhere. It is the insecure who reject and especially a
priori.
I visited the bazaars here largely to try and buy something for Dr. Baker
and also some art goods for Rudolph Schaeffer. I found that if one buys gold
you have travel importing into the US and if you buy pure silver you have a
tough time getting it out of UAR. So the present for Dr. Baker will have to be
shipped from Pakistan. The other things will be shipped later for I do not
intend to disgorge until I am about ready to leave here.
When I return I hope to cooperate to have real institutions in the United
States engaged in cultural exchange; and if they go into metaphysics, mysticism
or anything beyond materialism, have it on a universal and not personal basis.
Neither science nor mysticism is a person and the strange thing in
California—you don’t find it at all in Massachusetts—is that we tie
ourselves to some personality and think we have found wisdom. The surest proof
is that by tying ourselves to somebody it is a proof we have not found
ourselves.
The Indian Art Exhibit will be of contemporary paintings. I have already
seen a joint contemporary UAR—U.S. exhibit, very good, very encouraging.
I met Dr. Chandrasekhar here recently. He is the top demographer who speaks
on family planning and population control. He was most happy to learn I had
been in his Berkeley audience.
Actually I doubt very much whether I shall return with blood-and-thunder. On
the one hand I have too much information and even, perhaps, a greater
accumulation of Asian esotericism than most people; and by reaction, a
thundering herd of humor. By “esotericism” I mean not so much secret stuff
as valid disciplinary teaching which has been kept away from the general public
by a mass of metaphysicians and uninformed instructors who, because they were
not admitted inside the door deny the existence of doors.
Perhaps Claude and Breck have returned. I don’t know how much “wisdom”
they have inquired. But it is so easy to communicate Zen, the real Zen with the
Japanese; and equally I am finding it quite easy to communicate a la Sufi with
the Arabs here. And as for the Indians, there is nothing to it. But also I have
my American philosophers—Keyser, Pierce, Reiser, Sorokin, to present; and
more when I return. I am living in a new world, or rather the new world, brave
or not; I am 64 today, but don’t feel any age.
A few weeks ago the young desk clerk here offered to walk “me around”
Cairo. We would walk. We did. At 2:30 we rested. At 3:30 he was famished. At 5
I was still going. The secret? It is something very simple but not believed; I
gave up trying to make people believe but I have not given up using it. The
price? Like all very, very, veddy esoteric things it is free, and that makes it
more esoteric because what you get for free you don’t value!
Cordially,
Sam
November 19, 1960
May dear Norman:
I do not often hear from San Francisco so it will be only on unusual
occasions that I write, although, darn it, the unusual happens everyday.
Yesterday I went to the famous Khan-i-Khalili bazaar and got it as you can read
by the attached.
During the week I met one Prof. Dubois, a colored chap who has matriculated
in the New York universities but also went to Oberlin for music. He looks like
one of those grand geniuses who are appearing more and more. He is going to
teach Sociology here and during his vacations study the Sociology of the black
races.
I told him about the West Americans, especially from the Senegal and near-by
who are blue-black and have all the refinement of the French without the
decadence. There is no use in denying that sometimes the “imperialists” did
confer benefits. I have not seen any of the signs of decadence in those
visitors who come here but I have seen some who are undereducated and
pretend—this you have in the South too.
We agreed that one should not lump African peoples and that untold harm has
come from this misconception. Here there is total integration—I mean it
covers everything. The chief difference is that people with darker skins and
thicker lips laugh more, and more heartily, but otherwise it is hard to see
differences—and they are ignored anyhow.
My experiences here are so totally different from what my ill-wishes
foreboded that there is no relation at all. Indeed I may go so far as to carry
on open war-fare against some people whose credentials have no foundation in
the US, but who are highly esteemed, who indirectly are causes of riots and
outbreaks elsewhere. It looks innocent enough-when you are up close, but
don’t think that men—let us say like Landau—are not known elsewhere and
the continued use of such types in the US results only in resentment against
the US.
There is a review of a book by Koestler who has soporifically examined a few
Zennists and Yogis. He has gone up against all those phonies whom Spiegelberg
is praising and debunked them. But I don’t think either he or Spiegelberg has
really sat down and chatted with Dr. Radhakrishnan or the great Swamis, or
even—as man to man with Swami Ramdas. And as for t he Sufis—50,000,000 of
us—maybe more.
I attended the first reception of Ambassador Husain from India the other
day. He used to be in SF. I was the only one there who knew him. What a time! I
was introduced as a Sufi; wham! I had more people talking to me—one whole
delegation there, all Sufis from the Ambassador to the lowest clerk. I talked
to all the Indian and Indonesian—women. The other women were not interesting
and besides they went away their boyfriends—the whiskey server, the gin
server, the cocktail server.
Sincerely,
Sam
Cairo, U.A.R
January 18, 1961
My dear Jack:
I have received an astrological Christmas Card from Gavin but cannot figure
it out and the moment I do not intend. There is no question I am “in.” I
realize thoroughly some of the reactions to some of my mail, that some people
will accuse me of braggadocio and what not and that I am in over my head.
The fact is I am in where nobody goes, where God knows how much money is
collected in the U.S. and never gets here. Today I got my top interview in the
Embassy and the diplomat agreed that with the exception of the American Friends
of the Middle East (A.F.M.E) Y.M.C.A. and CAME practically nobody is doing
anything. I even pointed out certain groups that were collecting and for
themselves—a racket if there ever was one. He agreed that it would be
valuable if I reported to the Income Tax Intelligence and I certainly shall.
I leave here on February 16th and arrived in Karachi on the 26th. My mail
from Feb. 15 (this end) and March 5th should be c/o Consulate, U.S.A., Karachi,
Pakistan. After that c/o Abdul Rahman, K-482, Old Kunj St., Abbottabad Hazara
Dist., N.W. Pakistan.
I am having a tremendous number of adventures all thrown at me at the same
time with Dervishes, Muslims, university professors, the U.S. Embassy and what
not. I can’t keep up with it so am not giving you all details. Besides I have
to make a literary break-down sending my horticultural notes to one person
(Harry Nelson, City College), my scientific notes to John Wingate or whosoever
may be interested or concerned, my Islamic notes to Mrs. F. Leonard 765 Sutter
St., my political notes to World Affairs Council on Powell St., my over-all
notes to A.F.M.E., 323 Geary St., my special notes to Rudy Olsen, 166 Geary
St.
I have had no bank returns for some time. I have plenty of money and all the
funds I have asked for have arrived. I have also asked for funds for Pakistan
but the arrival of my Diners Club material means that I can charge to the Bank
of Italy for hotels and what not in Pakistan which may cost more but will be a
relief. Sometimes the credit between charges and bill is a great relief.
Anyhow I sent money aforehand to the Diners Club and told them why and they
were very appreciative. My middle name is not “Adventure.” It is my first
name. I am pretty sure I shall be traveling all year arriving at Penang about
the beginning of 1962. I hope to be home by June next year. But anything can
happen and usually does. The important thing is now that the political
attaché here has accepted everything. And to hell with the fund-collections
and European professors of “Orientialism.” And this means even going to
court. I am not fooling.
My two worst enemies were Rom Landau and Mrs. Ivy Duce, bitter enemies of
each other. Mrs. Duce tried to destroy me. I mean actually, yet step by step I
have cultivated the friendship of her husband’s best friends who have been my
best boosters. And Terry Duce is here now! I have grape-vined to him. I
get and use the grape-vine. But I hesitate to write much because whatever I say
may be regarded as exaggeration.
I think I have had my own.
The first friend I gained here was Paul Keim of Berkeley. He has a beautiful
secretary named Katie. I often call on Katie. Today it was about dancing and
the introducing of Cha-Cha (the dance, not the bird) on TV. Real serious
because the TV manager is a friend of mine and now I must see him, again no
nonsense.
Well I told Katie I could not stay because a beautiful Egyptian woman wanted
to give me a newspaper review. It was true. I got it.
Everything I do here is news. Now I have been meeting or will meet Sufi
Sheikhs. Ulema, the Chargé d’Affaire of Iraq, possibly President Nasser, the
chief lay Muslims and this in addition to all kinds of scientists and what now.
I am busily busy.
I cannot make out my Income Tax without the report of the Wells Fargo Bank.
If they send any papers to Clementina St., please open. The financial report on
my earnings should be air-mailed, but the long stock-report in a big envelope
should be filled.
With the Diners Club Card I can now get along in many places without
worrying too much over the forwarding of funds and if I fall a little short
have meeting the Income Tax, I can make this up with the credit so I won’t
have to pay my hotel bills right off. Indeed at this writing there is not a
cloud in sight, the complete over-reversal of previous years. The whole
question is how well and how much I can handle what is in front of me.
I still have the Indonesian and Saudi Embassies to visit and to resume my
work at the National Research Center. And I have to write for the Soybean
Foundation one group which is willing to sponsor me, praise Allah! The only
thing is the uncertainly of my return to the States. My friends in Southern
California have recovered their property and may need me—and even you, when I
return. I can’t give details because I don’t have them. Never was the world
so bright; the only thing is my ability to hold relations together.
You can grape-vine or show this to Gavin. I don’t care. He will be
realizing step by step his foolishness in turning on me and when he finds out
what the real diplomatic boys think, it may shock him. Behind all the nonsense
the really real diplomats don’t act like the parlor-cocktailers think. Some
work is being done. It is a grand and glorious thing now to see the U.S.
Government as concerned as the UAR is. The Agricultural Department was
easy—they see things as they are. And to find more and more in the State Dept
so is really wonderful.
I bet I missed a lot of news and even my own affairs but I can’t think any
more.
Cordially,
Sam
Dear Norman: Not only everything I have tried has turned out successful but
a lot of other things too. It is too late to turn back and the top men in the
Embassy are giving me every consideration and then some. I have had to overcome
obstacles, internal and external but think this has been done. I believe I
shall be heard when I get back to California but if not, I might go to Ohio. I
have plenty to do in both States and not maybe, either.
February 16, 1961
My dear Norman:
I am in Port Said. Claude helped me with my bags this morning. Did you hear?
Last week I was talking to a friend in the American University and a man passed
right in front of me: “Claude!” He “did not hear. “Claude!” He
turned around and we fell in each others’ arms. You can yell here in the
street and as for men embracing, it attracts less attention than a horse.
Anyhow we saw something of each other. We left going around the opposite ways
and here we meet. Just like that. We had a few meals together and we did walk
around the bazaars a good deal. He was able to see me with the dervishes who
work in some of the bazaars on metals, chiefly silver, copy and iron.
We went through the Muski and Khan-i-Khalili bazaars which are the most
picturesque part of Cairo. There many old folk arts have been preserved, many
techniques inherited, perhaps from Bagdad and Damascus, and a few all the way
from ancient times. There are a few things which go back indefinitely, but, of
course, most culture is Islamic, in all directions.
I don’t want to write too much here on my adventures, or escapades. First,
it would be showing off. Second, I can’t charge so much for my lectures if I
say everything excepting I can get wound up and go on and on.
Claude is aware that I have been accepted by the Dervishes. In fact they
gave me my farewell tea. I always get farewell teas, by the inhabitants of
whatever country I visit and they are usually most cordial. Up to now the
“professors” did not believe me, but the “professors” had better look
out, and I am not kidding or doodling. There was an attack yesterday on the
USIS library and I guess parts of the embassy. I long predicted it.
About an hour before I finally broke down the opposition or the inertia
about having more Arabs teach us about Near East Culture. We always preferred.
Von Plotz who is a compendium of several European mis-fits, at least one of
whom you know and one did not dare ever say anything against Von Plotz because
in the first place you would not get your degree, and in the second place “we
did not want to offend the Asians.” But old as I am I have still to find many
or almost any European who is admired by the Asian Asians in regard to Asiatic
culture.
Sometimes it may be due to jealousy, more likely it is due to the fact that
we are so sentimental about displaced Europeans that we give them jobs with
good pay and the Arabs would like to have some of those jobs—and I don’t
blame them, I have been running back and forth between Arabic and American
society and the pieces don’t fit.
I don’t know how many courses you have had on something called
“Islam.” Think nothing of it. The facts and the courses don’t fit. Islam
is exceedingly complex and from certain points of view all the lies about it
are true, just as the lies about all religions may be true—and still utterly
unimportant. I have found three basic forms of Islam which decidedly over-lap
but I doubt whether any professors in the Bay Area teach much that would fit
any of them.
Anyhow the Arabs like what I do and now the Americans too so there are only
the newspaper men and some professors but they are well placed. However I
don’t want to talk about these things, I wait to talk about “us,” meaning
you and not me.
I have been approached by A. M. Attia; P. O. Box 236, Cairo asking me about
the possibilities of American investments in the UAR. I don’t know what your
father would think. He felt kindly toward Africa and offhand the best
opportunities seem to be on the other side. But I am not in West Africa and
other than a few reports on Nigeria and Liberia, I know nothing. Politics so
dominate the scenes that one finds little about agriculture or economics.
There is no question but that the UAR is a growing industrial country and
there are on the face of it great opportunities here. These opportunities are,
however, limited, because there does not seem to be a clear cut picture of what
foreign passions and foreign corporations can do in the way of investing; I
don’t know what assurance they have. The Belgian situation is very complex
and just as
unclear as it is complex. Neither do I know what the government is offering
to investors I do know that they want most of the people employed here to be
locals. On one of the ventures which Mr. Attic has in mind: all the employed
here would be locals—fop management would not be so considered. The other
venture is not quite so clear but I shall tell you about that first.
Mr. Attia thinks there is a great future in Soy Beans. He has traveled all
over the Orient and coming from a neutralist country this has been possible. He
has seen plenty and believes in the future of this crop. This year, I
understand, Russia and China failed to come to expectations with the result
that the American Beans boosted high. Soy Beans don’t grow too well here at
present on account of a pest, but efforts are being made to control the
pest.
What Mr. Attic has in mind; however, is not so much the growing as the
marketing and processing of this legume. The Japanese have all kinds of food
products from Soy which are not usually found elsewhere. Clifton Clinton tried
to emulate them without much success. But I believe that today one can derive
plastics from them at low costs.
I also believe there is a great future in Soy Beans but I am neither urging
up to be interested or not. I think Attia has in mind a considerable building
of an import and export concern which could ship the beans, or their
bi-products, from the centers of production to the market. Anyhow if you are
ever interested I have given you his address. I think this may be the first of
several opportunities where you might run back and forth between East and West
and still gather in sheckles.
The other thing he has in mind is to get the products of the bazaars on the
American market. There is a dollar shortage here and it will remain until some
of the leaders face realities. They are so concerned with methods or niceties,
they fail to examine the things they have here which will sell elsewhere. I
have with me in my bags, for example, perfumes, hand cymbals, scarabs, and
three types of silver work—one with Arabic letters, one with Egyptian
figurines and the other plain art. The former I intend to leave in Pakistan but
that is not certain, the second is destined at the moment for Mrs. Margaret
Lee, No. 9 Chinatown Lane—Chingwah’s wife or ex wife and partner; the third
for Gumps. I may ship them later on when I have the chance. I think they are
all excellent work.
I have already sent some things to the Rudolph Schaeffer School at Utah
& Mariposa St. and only hope they have gone forward and can arrive without
trouble. The things for the School, however, are large objects, copper and wood
and brass. There are not only these types of things here but many more. The day
Claude and I walked around we even found a large number of very valuable
Oriental pieces for which I should like to save my money.
I am off hand dreaming of a separate trip to this region, taking in a trunk
of gifts and taking out a trunk of “trinkets,” gifts or museum pieces or
merchantable goods. This is a long way off but many of my dreams come true.
Actually all my projects here succeeded in the main, two-minor ones being
sidetracked and the others going over too big for me to handle. I left on
excellent terms with hundreds of folks, including the whole American Embassy
staff; I may come back with fire and thunder or with meekness and mildness but
I shall come back with communicable knowledge to replace the dross that is
peddled by all kinds of people who get by because they can get by.
Right or wrong I shall no longer be timid.
Claude leaves for Damascus but does not expect to be in S.F. for a long time
and I don’t expect to be for a longer time. My presumable address is
c/o Abdul Rahman; K-482 Old Kunj St.,
Abbottabad, Hazara Dist., West Pakistan.
Pardon me if I seem to want to have you get rich and me get wise, but this
is also a cover up.
P.S. Just before mailing met two Beatnik like boys; guess wherefrom? Anyhow
I expect to give them introductions to India, etc.
Faithfully, Sam
2273 California Street
San Francisco 15, Calif.
March 25, 1961
Dear Sam,
I have been reading with great interest all your letters and have even been
passing them on for relevant friends to read and return. I am particularly
interested in your exploits now that you are in Pakistan because as you know,
my Major interest is India.
As a matter of fact, I am presently giving serious consideration to
enlisting in Kennedy’s recently established Peace Corps providing I can get a
teaching position in India. I would also be interested in having your opinion
of how this Peace Corps idea is being accepted by other than Americans over
there where you are. If at the same time you could perhaps suggest how I might
come upon a working or teaching position over there I certainly would
appreciate it. The Peace Corps has not yet printed up formal applications but
my name is in for one as soon as they are printed. Also I have applied for the
American Friends Service Committee project called “VISA” which is
attempting to do just about the same thing that the Peace Corps is with the
exception that the individual has to provide as much of his own expenses as
possible. That always seems to be the hitch—particularly so since I am no
longer employed.
As you know I was selling cars for Van Etta motors but as of January 31st
things (meaning sales) got so bad than fully half of the sales force was let go
and we have not been recalled yet. Which is really all right though because I
was getting thoroughly fed up with the whole mess. It would have been nice,
though, to have cleaned up my debts with a little left over before quitting.
With regard to my possible interest in a commercial venture like the import
export business, I must in all sincerity admit to you that the very idea of
business leaves me very cold indeed. For many years now I have been trying to
kid myself to the idea that I like business and making money, but
unfortunately, perhaps, I do not. If I could get a position teaching over there
in conjunction with some manual labor at a subsistence salary that would be
enough for me. Then I would have an opportunity to do some serious
contemplation or the like and begin to discover myself. With regard to Dad, I
will pass along the suggestion but I frankly doubt if he is in a position to do
much about investing in the UAR or the soy bean crop. But I’ll leave it up to
him to decide finally.
Your chance meetings with Claude must have been enjoyable indeed. He wrote
me from Egypt to the effect that he would be returning in the fall and also
told a bit about his many experiences. Evidently, one can make it some way or
another if he just will but of course, it helps to have a little help
also.
I haven’t seen Gavin lately but I understand he is now chauffeuring a
wealthy woman in Sausalito in return for his board and lodgings and a little
spending money. In the recent issue of Holiday devoted entirely to San
Francisco, he, along with Roger Summers, had a full page spread. I’ll try and
send you a copy if I can find one; they are completely sold out here in SF.
Much to your surprise and pleasure (?) not a word that I could see about the
Academy etc..
I ran into Pierre Grimes the other day who said to give you his regards the
next time I wrote. Continued success in your projects and by all means, keep up
that flow of meaty letters. (Inshallah)
Yours truly,
Norman
Evening April 1, 1961
My dear Norman: I have met one Prof. Barker in Lahore. Prof. Connaught here
in Abbottabad. The first graduate from Berkeley, the second from Stanford. They
have both had run-ins with the teachers who were at the Academy, especially a
Landau. They praise the Fulbright scholarships because they are open only to
Americans, not to European misfits who give out private opinions instead of
facts. But the Fulbright scholar must pay his way to the job. The new Peace
Corps they say is not valid because it is for people who are too young, without
experience. They also say that knowing a language beforehand is a limit because
you can learn much more rapidly with and from the people and you need other
credentials and experience to get along with Asians, which they say is most
important. Anyhow I have written Senator Engle and will follow up.
Here you find a lot of jeeps and what I call “Plymouthive civilization.”
There are mostly American cars; in the big cities mostly European but I guess
they can’t take the hills as well.
I am suggesting a negative about investing in Egypt or indeed any part of
Africa but Nigeria and Liberia. The people are too unsettled and there are no
firm laws or customs guaranteeing private investment. Here I have already found
a lot and have written to Conlon & Associates, 310 Clay St. They have
already made a survey of parts of Asia. I believe there is much mineral wealth
here. And against the “authorities” I have personally seen a good deal of
the wealth of the Moghuls. I am at times tired of the need to correct so many
“authorities” on what is not true. We have not been objective about the
Orient and we have had to face mobs more recently in Cairo where I saw it
personally; and in Rangoon where it was coming to us—but that is another
story. We are always being “shocked” and retreating—just now in Laos.
Sometimes we may learn to do two things: (a) take the lead; (b) get our facts
straight.
I am glad to know Gavin has improved himself. I have had to write strong
letters. He always took the pat of my critics. Well those sad phony Europeans
have made a few other enemies as above and in general the State Department of
USIA does not like them. I went over this concerning your personal
credentials.
I have already spoken to “saints” here and have met all kinds of Sufism,
and inshallah shall continue. I ran into Dervishes unexpectedly in Luxor,
Alexandria, Port Said, Aden and Karachi. It is the same old, but true story. I
spoke on Sufism to Saints—something never done before. I am lined up to
lecture on “Islamic philosophy and modern Science.” I have already an
exceedingly full program. Another of those non-existing Sufis who holds a high
place in the government. I met another yesterday heading the movement for Basic
Democracy. Mrs. Selim Khan, widow of the first consul-general from Pakistan to
S.F. lives here and we had an enjoyable day. In a few days Abdul Sattar comes
here from S.F. to remain three months. I have already been entertained by his
family.
In Karachi, my old contract, M.A. Cheema, has been promoted to Joint
Secretary of Food & Agriculture. I have written to Lyallpur where the
agriculture experimental station is. I am lined up for all kinds of things for
all kinds of people. My host in Mensehra, the next town north, was the “Pooh
Bah” there, master of all trades and I mean just that. He is a close friend
of Lady Ravensdale, head of “The World Congress of Faiths” which I hope to
establish in S.F so people can study the real regions as they exist today.
Pierre ought to come to one of my lectures, especially the one of “Sufism
and Modern Logic.” I could not give it in California but I could around
Cleveland and Boston and of course, here and Indian and Malay will be easy.
I think I wrote you I had seen part of the Moghul treasure. I have looked
further into mineral resources and folk-arts. I am meeting everybody I can and
should. Perhaps another great spiritual teacher without a couple of days
despite Epoops Landau, Von Grünebaum and Koestler whom Jung says is perfect
whom Spiegelberg say is perfect and all Spiegle’s perennial or annual
“messiahs” have been attacked by Koestler which makes who what: Landau has
abolished the Sufis, Watts Buddha, and Koestler vice-president Radhakrishnan
who is scheduled to be president. Is he a Zombie or a man? Better consult the
Epoops.
It is spring here and very beautiful, flowers everywhere and know I am in it
for adventure. Have already been a principle speaker on the problem of Islam in
America. Now I shall get backing, inshallah. Besides which I have a few cards
up my sleeve which the Epoops have never heard of. Wait until I get home. And
that is not all.
Pleasant dreams.
Sam
P.S. All Americans so far have turned down my poetry, mostly by refusing to
read it. Here they want it and had. What to do? I am just one man and there are
only 24 hours in the day.
Rawalpindi
April 12, 1961
Dear Norman:
This is the temporary Capital and you can see from the contents of this
letter why I have sent it air-mail. So far as life is concerned the battles are
all over. I have just had another newspaper interview and I think the reporter
had his “eyes knocked out.”
I have been mostly the guest of Ansar Nasri and Q.U. Shahab; the first is
the director of Radio Pakistan here, the Second Secretary to President Ayub
Khan. Despite all your professors in California these men are disciples in
Sufism. The woods are full of them, I meet them all over. I don’t know
whether there are more than in UAR but I meet them and shall continue to meet
them.
Naturally Secretary Shahab objects to his being called non-existent by
non-American, non-Muslims who are “our” authorities on Islam and the Near
East. He is particularly opposed to the No. I non-American, non-Muslim who also
collects Federal funds as an authority. Who makes these men authorities? I
fought like hell in UAR on this point and this time it came from the most
official sources. As Chaudhuri’s teacher asked: Why do you Americans not only
lie about us, but you have to employ Europeans to do it for you? You not only
like, you insult us too. If you are going to lie, why don’t you do it
yourself?”
This is not a laughing matter; it is not a personal matter.
Tomorrow morning I am scheduled to meet President Ayub Khan, his request; I
am going to write some outlines on the relation of Islamic Philosophy and
Modern Science. By “Islamic Philosophy” I do not mean Greek philosophy in
Islam as taught by the EPOOPS, European Professors of Oriental Philosophy, not
one of whom is recognized in Asian Asia. My bellyaching is ended. I go to
battle with the press, with the authorities, with everybody.
There is going to be Islamic Culture in America; and along with that I hope
all Asian culture so we can deal with people and learn what it is all about. I
was asked what drew me here and I said: “gentlemen, I believed I am a
reincarnated Moghul.” Now that would never do in a class on “Islam” at
the University of California, or Stanford or Pacific or Von Grünebaum in L.A.
or the Champion Cantwell Smith. No such thing is possible in their “Islam.”
But, I was talking with Pakistanis and not one dissented. How come?
The President wishes to see my agricultural material, my scientific
material, the basis of my Islamic philosophy and perhaps my poetry. Secretary
Shahab and his friends went gah-gah over my poetry and I learned today that he
is the top literary man in all Pakistan. But, Norman I am in Asian-Asia. I
visited the palatial grounds in Japan and Thailand, something no other simple
citizen has ever had the privilege of, and today I was in the “White House”
grounds here. At the moment everything looks excellent, only I am besieged by
requests to write and need of making reports. I shall return to S.F. with
recognition or leave. But I have here comrades in arms who have had to face
those same Epoops, not only those you know but may you may not know on the
campuses of the University of California. The Departments of South Asian
Studies follow Harvard and are objective; the Near East Studies are a
compromise between Zionism and “Heidelbergism.” None of these men are
recognized in Asia; why can’t we let Asia speak for itself.
I am inclined to believe the American authorities will agree. They are
facing Muslims, and here Asians, not books on shelves. My report on
Pukhtunistan turned out to be pretty correct but nobody was there before me and
reported in “The Manchester Guardian.” I don’t want any more Laos and I
don’t want any more Burmese mobbing American libraries. But when have we
permitted the Burmese to speak for themselves? Can’t we realize U Nu is a
great philosophy in himself, and he has a right to believe in an historical
Buddha. Well Landau abolished the Sufis and Watts the Buddha-or did they? How
about karma? How about it?
I don’t know Urdu-yet. But I can eat rice and curries and pray in mosques.
I also seem to talk intelligently on many subjects but that may be because
these people are unlearned. It times I have to stop writing because of too many
assignments. I think I have all kinds of opportunities. My god-children in New
York—Dorothy and Ric, Bob and Adeline, are cooperating fully with and for me.
I am having so many objective experiences I am sure somebody will be accepting
my writings before long. I shall not be back within a year.
I have to keep a map before me all the time. I was in the village of
“Khaki” yesterday from which this word comes. I have an appointment
tomorrow, the first to look into mineral ores here. This is a beautiful
country, a sort of mixture of the coast Range and San Bernardino Mts. Further
north a little more like Colorado. I can see the western spur of the Himalayas.
Beyond that is the Indus and where the Himalayas, Hindu Kush and Karakorum
meet. This place is multilingual—Urdu, Punjabi, English and Pushtu and boy,
how they mix their tongues. They have not enough sports although there are
plenty of grounds and equipment here. The kids play. The young adults would
like to learn dancing and I am putting out feelers. I could start classes and
get rich because I am already well known but I wish to concentrate on
agricultural and spiritual problems. I found this aerogram and fortunately one
can get them here. But no enclosures. I send small coins (which are being
changed) to Jim Pike. Stamps are also being changed.
Me, I don’t change so much, or if so, I become both wise and foolish
together—it’s a lot of fun.
Cordially,
Sam
May 12, 1961
Lahore, Pakistan
Dear Norman:
This is for Claude and for anybody that wants shocking news. I am in. Every
one of my projects is succeeding. Some weeks back I was in the capitol, met
Secretary Shahab and had the blessed President Ayub over the phone. They added
two projects, one on Culture and one on Pakistani Culture.
Despite all your European experts this country is full of [?] and they
don’t like to be called non-existent. That damned ghost has gone to the U.S.
and pulled our legs good. We won’t take him [?] so he gives us our sown
medicine. The whole of Indonesia is [?] Sufis and all the top diplomats I have
met, and I have met plenty of spiritual brethren.
I have met all kinds of holy men and despite the experts, more come to see
me than I have gone to meet. This involves saints, sages and seers and of
course from the seers one gets glimpses of the [?]. I am living in the home of
one Major Muhammad Sadiq, a spiritual healer; we have the same teacher. He has
the healing faculty. People who go to Lourdes and not been cured come here. We
are very seriously considering a joint campaign in the U.S. to introduce Sufism
with demonstrations. Sufism is essentially based on love and not phenomena; the
phenomena is all an outcome of love. But this involves a sort of metaphysics
that has never been taught in the U.S.A.
In S.F. I was an s.o.b.; here I am “Sob,” or “Sufi Sob (Sahib) and am
honored all around. Tomorrow I give my first talk at the University, this trip.
More will no doubt follow. I spoke to maybe two thousand in a Mosque last
Friday and to two assemblages of Sufis ad I visited another assemblage last
night.
This even is to be a gala occasion. All kinds of celebrity big wigs are
coming. And tomorrow night a multimillionaire is giving a special dinner. I
have no doubt that there will be a well-healed campaign ultimately for the
Major and myself. I should lily to see the faces on Landau, Watts, Spiegelberg
and Chaudhuri when this gets under way, not to mention the Near Departments of
the universities—so-called. They are going to have to face the facts of life,
especially in this cold-war when our press which might as well be
communistically subsidized continues to regard us as non-existent or else calls
us “fanatics.” All the profs at the Academy excepting Satchia refused to
face papers on the Moghuls, and this material must be brought to the U.S. and
more.
I have to prepare for a totally different social and intellectual life: I am
not the least concerned with Beatnik-Zen. In fact indirectly I am indebted to
them, for the protest against that utter-nonsense has resulted in an invitation
to me from Malaya where it looks at this writing that I might be a guest of the
Prime Minister. This at a time when I am totally occupied with many
projects.
I cannot be concerned with reactions in S.F. or even in the whole country.
Americans do not know what Sufis are, what they do, how they are organized, and
much worse, who they are. They have no uniforms and whatever the prevailing,
opinion is as to how they dress and act, they are liable to dress and act just
the opposite. They are not under rules, protocols or conventions, they make
these things, they don’t follow them.
I am also finding out where the wealth of this land is, actual and
potential, and likely as not first hand. I don’t know what this all means.
On account of the heat and the great social pressure I am anxious to get
back to Abbottabad. There I should be able to confer with Abdul Sattar,
transferred from S.F.
Norman, I hope you can appreciate there is such a thing as karma; it is not
glorified nonsense offered by some metaphysician or upstart, but a law of this
universe; as we sow, we reap and this is particularly true of the people who
lecture on Karma. They get it most of all, sooner or later.
I don’t know when I shall be able to write again—after the next two
evenings my social and intellectual programs will be full.
Cordially,
Sam
Lahore,
May 14, I teenk (1961?)
Dear Norman:
I spent some time with my friends, the Knauths of Lombard St. San Francisco
while in Abbottabad, and I ran into Felix three times In Rawalpindi. Why?
Customs and frustration. He Wants to go mountain climbing and has been caught
in red tape. I am not mountain climbing but I feel like I was caught in a high
base camp and could neither return nor reach the summit.
I am writing first because after laying down careful instructions about my
mail it was sent to a bungalow where I was not, and where the people do not
read English and I am not even sure who sent it, but all my instructions were
ignored. Then I returned to Lahore, found the house completely locked and it
was only with some difficulty I could get into my bed room although the people
knew when I was coming and how. Now I am compelled to seek a tracer on my mail
which can’t be done right off because there is a national holiday on and I
don’t know who mailed it anyhow.
At Abbottabad I did secure some valuable mineral ores. Some of them have
been OK’d by the American geologists but not reported by the press, and one
other. I am bringing for assay and evaluation with the hopes it may have
economic value. I am also trying to arrange to get in a line of carpets.
Major Sadiq informed me he had no word from Texas although he has signed the
contract to be their representative here. We have been very fortunate in lining
up Shaokat Ayub Khan the elder son of the President, but here too, there is a
road block because he was shortly afterwards elected to Parliament by a big
vote and has been celebrating his victory rather than attending to business. He
is in partnership representing several European cars.
My horticultural and soil reports have been accepted by top officials and I
know what to do but they have not given me a letter which I am asking for.
Neither did I contact the President or Secretary Shahab. I got the run-around
and then a “No” and I was told the “no” did not mean “no” because
Shaokat said “yes:” This is what happened—quit reading fiction please.
I was taken to a most important Sufi, Pir Dewwal Shereef. He at once offered
everything to me and I am to be his representative in America. He wants me to
introduce Sufi with spiritual philosophy and healing. He has his organization
and headquarters in Rawalpindi. He has also been most successful in collecting
funds for Islamabad University and I have already written Berkeley for
reciprocal relations. This is a story by itself.
He is also the Pir of none other than Ayub Khan and visited him twice last
week. He refuses the refusal, sent me back to Lahore and told me to arrange
another visit both to him and the President. He will take care of things,
inshallah. This comes as a grand reaction against all Landau’s spoofing. I
don’t know what people can say when I return to represent the same Sufi
teacher as President Ayub has. But what we are concerned with is the official
recognition of either Major, Sadiq or myself or birth.
Meanwhile the Major has extended leave and we are moving, so he is away. I
hope to see him tomorrow and will inquire about my mail. But without word from
Texas or confirmations at Rawalpindi we are both stuck. The appointment of me
grape-vined around and now the whole host of Sufis is pulling for me all
over.
Besides I have seen both Dewwal Shereef and the Major perform some
miracles—the Pir causing the dumb to speak and the Major the blind to see.
The question is when shall we get the money and recognition promised us.
To make this more opaque, the Khalandar crossed my path twice recently.
Unfortunately he is now immersed in politics and I could get nothing more out
of him. He did make some predictions for me and they seem to be coming out
exactly excepting that he said I would be seeing Ayub last week—this did not
come.
God moves Himself in mysterious ways His wonders and His unwonders to
perform. After using all the official channels to trace my missing mail I went
into the USIA office and they had it and it was also a mystery as to how they
got it and why, but they did. So it showed up.
I am living near Shalimar Gardens where we had to move and have few comforts
or privacy. People want help and if you give it to them then somebody else
wants it. So this is Frustrationstan and I could write forever on that. Every
American here knows it, too.
These pressures counterbalance with the best inspirations of my life—and
in the heat. I wanna go home and can’t. And if you have any problem not money
or health the folks simply cannot understand it at all.
I have written Della about Alan—a long, complex letter. I would like to
psycho-analyze him and put him on the right path. I think I would shock him if
I told him how much I knew about his past. But I do not believe in foul
punches. He can be retrieved.
Well Major Sadiq heals Cancer and Blindness—you would think the
authorities would subsidize him to come to America and tell about certain
aspects of this land…. I am successful, too much so, in talking to college
students; I do not want the success. I want out and want to help you out.
Sam
May 29, 1961
My dear Norman:
Guaranteed to keep you in suspense! And in 1100 weather. I saw
Barkat Ali again and told him one does not mind good news, one does not mind
bad news, one does not mind in the least having bad things foretold and having
bad things happen, but the constant series of good “fortune” accompanied
either by an impasse or by bad events that was over-trying. Without going into
details he made some small promotions, all of which came true!
Major Sadiq would be home at 8 o’clock that night unexpectedly.
I was gaining in “healing powers”—whatever they are, it has worked out
that way.
Major Sadiq healed an authentic case of Cancer, last stages too.
The next morning he went off first to Rawalpindi to see Pir Dewwal Shereef
and then Shaokat, son of Ayub. I have not heard from either. But he brought me
a request that I do two things for the Pir in regard to the Islamabad
University. I have already done them. I don’t know what Rom Landau & Co.
are going to say about an University, financed by Sufis, and President Ayub is
one of the Chief disciples of one of them; and there is a good chance he will
get an honorary degree. Asia Foundation and American Friends of the Middle
East, not being staffed but former Europeans, have accepted the facts. I
don’t know what to offer our former brethren will think:
Now I am on call either to go to Kohat or Rawalpindi on short notice to
follow the above. Barkat Ali gave me two weeks and guessed rightly it was the
heat even more than the suspense. I can fail—wherein I shall be no worse off.
Maybe even better. But if there is success we should need one to four
persons.
I have written an editor giving him hell because he says Pakistani
spirituality was his country’s export. I asked him since when was he an
editorial on export? And what the revenue on words? This is frustration land
where everybody knows him and nobody does anything and millionaires cry because
there is no money available, and no one would dare to prospect the mountains
for wealth. I am living near a technical college and I wanted to visit it and
find out what the students learn. Alas, strike—it is closed. Besides how can
you expect a student with a pedigree to put on dungarees and have them soiled
with oil!
On the brighter side I not only spent yesterday with a most brilliant
beautiful woman, Khawar Khan, who is slated to be my chief disciple, but also
with her beautiful and brilliant chum. This looks very loving and lovely and
perhaps is. She now has ownership (she is not poor, Norman, old chap), of the
property that was Gandhi’s here and we are planning a big celebration to open
it for my spiritual work here. While this is dramatically a minor facet of my
work, it will establish the seed for my future ventures here—the spiritual
half—when I return. The scientific half is already established. And the
poetry gets its final review, presumable, next week.
Now I am going to ask you a favor. My last dancing partner Leonora and I
were and still are good friends, excepting for slight deafness on her part. I
don’t think there was ever any difference and I would like the Major to come
and help clear that. She lost all her men friends in a short period by death,
excepting me who was far away, and on account of my Asian propinquities there
was no romance. She then married a “Mulatto” and has since been involved in
some social melees. Now being far away and otherwise involved I may seem to be
apathetic. So I wish you would sometime go to “Launderesse” on Webster St.
Just below Shutter. Her husband’s name is Max Ponti. If you introduce
yourself, this will do me a world of good. It is all right to write endearing
letters, but a few hard facts would serve better. Actually I may even join
Martin Luther King’s movement when I return. I see no reason why not and you
can tell them this too. Only my “work” ostensibly is in Asia.
There I shall try the spiritual healing with my best friends who are
fundamentally psychiatrists. I may visit the Fungs in S.F. but more probably
later. If there is anything in this healing I shall have to function (will
prearrange organization with my attorneys), this is not what I have expected
but I am still keeping you in mind.
Yesterday I met a young man with a strange looking personality (he came from
Boston) but familiar accent. He told me he is a San Franciscan but has been
living in Mill Valley. Like all of us he has learned the universality of
frustration and inhibition.
Despite the heat I carry on—April 1960 with hardly a break in warm
weather—no wonder I wish to return. Then I have about three books to write.
Hildreth (of Mill Valley) asked me about Alan Watts, but I don’t like to
discuss the man. Between his conflict with the church and his last divorce, any
philosophical differences between us would be lost. This is unfair. Alan is a
lot soul in a psychological, not a spiritual sense. The “Alan Watts” of
Pakistan, one Parviz, went to Murree when I was there, called on Pir Dewwal
Shereef and in two hours (before my eyes) was transformed into any entirely
different kind of person. Such things are possible. We do not know the real
depths of real Asian philosophy and excepting the roving Paul Brunton; hardly
any Europeans or English do, or can.
Wish I had more determinate news,
Sam
June 11, 1961
Abbottabad, Hazara,
West Pakistan
My dear Norman:
The other day I started to 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 reactions 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, developed a superiority complex and fallen into the worst body traps
imaginable. Think nothing of it.
In this country also I have critics and also I criticize and this has
brought me into contact with:
Alfaqir Zulafaqir Ali Shah Nastan, Retired Tahsildar,
House Ho. 4509A, Anandpura, Gawalmandi,
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 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, enlighten Americans and demonstrate
spirituality; not to collect baksheesh. 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. 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
go 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 feel 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 powerful 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 trust worthy
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,
Sam
July 4, 1961
My dear Norman:
Salute to Flag. Attention: Hup. From that point you can be sure? Of
anything? My Abbottabad-San Francisco colleague, Felix Knauth should be back in
September and we may lecture on “Frustrationstan.” If I say it is bad it
will reverse and if I say it is good it will reverse and “The Comedy of
Terrors” is not over with me being the stage.
Major Sadiq. I am leaving for Rawalpindi trying to locate him. His
constant changes of movement are due to a combination of army and legal
matters. You are not a good Muslim if you don’t have at least two law-suits
on. This family has just three and the retainer is kept busy all the time.
They are closing? The house making it necessary for me to leave and I am
seizing the opportunities for farewell elsewhere and for an important (to my
host) visit.
Roving Envoy. My ideas have been turned down & cold? I have heard
of no less than three persons planning to some to the S.F. area alone and I
shall meet more, no doubt, scheduled to come to America: All former ideas are?
And the only thing you can count on are uncertainties possibilities,
plausibilities and frustration.
It is fairly definite that the heads of Islamabad U are coming and the oil
promises of the Major and the Khalandar seem to be back on the track.
Auguries. These have come out so exact that I shall have a report for
Prof. Rhine. They are unanimous for my success after I return and lots more. I
hate to write these things down. I can’t even say I shall not have additional
sources of revenue.
Dream Boat. Miss Khawar Khan is young, beautiful, rich, talented,
successful and spiritual. She should be married and one reason I am off is to
try to find her a prospective husband. But yesterday she put before me a plan
to come to America, to try for a PhD at either Stanford or California. Half
seriously, half-jokingly I told her that this was what I wanted and if the
marital plans did not come through here I was going to kidnap her myself and
introduce her to you and others.
Seriously though. She is an orphan. Her father never looked after her and
her mother’s kin are divided—full of advice, empty of action: Now I am not
only her spiritual teacher but socially almost her father. I am storing my
luggage in her home and may even live there a while. This used to be Gandhi’s
home in Lahore.
My Own Quarters. I have written also to Jack Betts at Clementina St.
and Steadman Thompson who is taken over the Baker residence on Delta. For a
while I may have to be traveling especially to Hollywood. This is complicated
too, that my mother is dying and may or may not be when I return. I can’t get
out that easily and am scheduled temporarily to arrive late on August 2nd.
My Own Future. I am very optimistic between the Islamabad U and
Sufism. I am going to write two books; at least one against Koestler and the
other: “How California Can Help Asia.” If anybody gives me a grant for
that, you get the grant, I’ll need you; so pray.
Lectures. I have so many I don’t know where to begin or end:
American Friends of the Middle East, World Affairs Council, certain branches of
the University of California, Fritzy Armstrong, Walt Baptiste and possibly
service clubs. I have pretty well cased the Orient. I have the whole Foreign
Service with me. The new cultural attaché is not only with me in my projects
but is sore against the European professors who got the jobs he was seeking in
American Universities (Orientalia). My old story over again, complicated by
contemporary “Tellerism.”
If you ever have the chance, please drop in at the Curry Bowland; tell the
Lees that I am winding up my affairs and hope to be back soon. But there is
still some question as to whether I shall be bringing back Uranium, Diamonds or
Fool’s Gold. It is certain that Uncle Louis kept a lot of real honest
Orientalia from being presented at his school.
I am meeting the right people and when I return I shall open to for the
“right people” more than perhaps you know. I think I am an expert. All the
scientists from the USA agree, but not the cultural people & press
representatives. They either regard me as a near-god or totally ignore me. That
is right, perhaps. Of course I have the pictures. I met a band of wandering
dervishes and showed them my picture. One demanded it; I said no. His face
dropped but his comrades caught on. I insisted on autographing it. Everybody
was happy—excepting the people who insist there are no Sufis. 50,000,000 of
us, but this can’t be. No wonder we can’t win any cold war. We do
everything in Asia but ᾀ?meet the people.” But that’s me. Wait and
see.
Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti
Samuel L. Lewis.
2273 California
San Francisco 15
July 19, 1961
Dear Sam,
I’m fascinated as usual by your recent experiences, particularly so since
everything seems to be working out so well for you. Let’s hope it
continues.
I’ve been thinking over your offer (?) to come to Pakistan in the employ
of your friend, the Khalandar. I wonder though, what sort of an arrangement
could be possible with him? I’m interested, as you know, in astrology and am
quite experienced in being involved in some project that attempts to spread
understanding and promote well-being in these troubled times. I have not heard
from the Peace Corps yet (I imagine it’s because there is no project in India
to date) and the more I learn of it, the more I’m convinced it’s some sort
of political football the State Department is using. I’d really like to go to
Cuba and see for myself what is happening. Our invasion of Cuba this spring
really showed me what we’re like.
With regard to your friend, if you think I could be of some service to both
him and myself I am very willing to fly there to talk with him. At your
suggestion I am writing him today. As a clairvoyant he should have no trouble
discerning my worth and perhaps I can also judge him a little.
Just got a letter from Claude who is in Bristol. He expects to be back in
this country by fall. He refers warmly to the relationship called marriage.
That being the case, he may be slightly delayed.
Incidentally, what happened to your romance? I was of the opinion you were
going to be married when you got over there?
Gia-fu is inquiring about a teaching position in Japan this fall so
everything is on the move. Right now he is at Hidden Villa Camp in Los
Altos.
Gavin looks better than I’ve ever seen him. He lives with a wealthy (?)
woman (and cultured too) on Clayton Street. I’ll mention what you said to him
about astrology and see what he says.
Drop me a line soon and let me know what your friend has in mind. I want to
make a move soon.
Yours truly,
Norman
Rawalpindi, July 21, 1961?
My dear Norman,
“A comedy of errors,” I arrived in this city to run into Selim [?] of
S.F. who is supposed to be in [?] and said “Brother, move over.” It is a
question as to which is most unbelievable: the implied and occult which gives
us “miracles” or the “why we don’t behave like human beings.” I have
been in Pashtun country (Pashtunistan) where I am not only not supposed to have
gone but its human behavior is exactly as I have been describing it plus it
fits into more of our [?].
Major Sadiq. I had some [?] news in the last mail. He is always
somewhere else. All majors from its quarters are in the [?] He has not seen any
of the big boys and they are all away. The [?] is everywhere else and all my
life’s hopes have been laid aside into the indefinite.
Mark Hamid. This is worse. A business associate sold out his retail
outlet, pocketed the money and disappeared. I looked in vain for him and then a
strange thing happened: smack into his secretary in this big city! Anything can
happen and this man who was all set to set us up is compelled now to go to
court and finally [?] part Major Sadiq has only the law send on.
The Khalandar. Ditto. Also has business partners sold him out or
flattened. This leaves us holding the bag. Now let us see what is in the
bag:
Prof Jaffar, head of Antiquities Peshawar after looking for him in
vain I found him and we had a lovely hour ending on “The Universality of
Spiritual Experience and What It Means in Art.” This is something refused by
Uncle Louis and all European professors of Orientalia. It is time to include
Koester and Newman.
Prof Durrani is in the US and I shall try to locate him via the
Consulate in SF and Embassy in Washington.
Salinity and Soil Erosion. I think I have the answers on some of them
to these problems. Taking them up with the Embassy in Karachi.
Other problems. A lot, lot more. Now I am self-confident. But I am
wondering who will take one in house. I must see:
A. Chamber of Commerce, Pine St. James Tulsa
B. Conlon & Associates Investors, Clay St.
C. California Ave and also City Hall
D. State [?] Bureaus, Ferry Bldg.
E. Academy of Sciences, G.G. Park
F. American Friends of the Middle East and Asia Foundation
G. World Affairs Council, Powell St.
H. Consulates of India, Pakistan, Iran and Egypt.
This is only the beginning.
My writings. Accepted here. I don’t know what it means. Go to Lahore
Tuesday. Also to see my dear [?]
[?] and hope to get outside help and I need you terribly but I haven’t
much money at the moment. I also know I shall get writing assignments. There
are articles here about insanity in Hollywood. I have something. I am going
there and going after money myself. You hold on.
I doubt now if I can get back before August 4. I shall have to notify Jack
Betts and Steadman Thompson. It has become a universal “Do it yourself.” I
now have the complete good-will of the staffs both American and Pakistani
foreign affairs offices in Pakistan. The monsoons have come and the heat has
abated. But I still have to face oodles of red tape.
There is one thing omitted here and it is stronger and more important that
anything and everything else: Universal Love and Brotherhood.
God bless you., Sam
July 27, 1961
My dear Norman:
I read your letter to the Khalandar who keeps going back and forth between
Rawalpindi and here. He is liquidating his business assets so he could get cash
and has some more high-powered people behind him. What this means in dollars I
do not know but he will naturally answer you directly; or else dictate a letter
through me after he goes home. His female relatives live here and his
sister’s husband works at some distant place.
All my affairs are prospering excepting my romance went the same ironical
way as all others. Engaged or not, something happens just when I am ready to
walk up the aisle. This one was no different but I have been successful
socially in just those places where I thought we would be functioning together.
I have lately received a nice letter from president Ayub’s press secretary;
and another one came today from the Joint Director, Radio Pakistan.
I have made my first visit to Peshawar and am loaded with invitations to
speak at Universities (Islamic Philosophy and Modern Science) as well as
continue my scientific endeavors. All Pakistanis have accepted everything and I
have done what they thought is right. All Americans here not in government
service have become my friends and we are unanimous about the “Peace
Corps.” It is based on the assumption that they, our fellow Americans have
failed. But there is my old dictum; “Our authorities on Asia are American
newsmen and European professors and never, never must they be European newsmen
and American professors.” So we shall see the work of professors belittled or
bypassed and mama’s darlings with high IQs sent into villages where the
people may not speak Urdu and where there is no sanitation or utensils and
plenty of bugs and heat. Besides they will demand religion and what we learn
from a hodge-podge of Canadians, English, Germans and Polish Zionists—there
never was and there never will be—a constipated fly; or what they call
“Islam.”
Every president has his “realism”-strictly private vintage and any
resemblance to facts is coincidental. I ran into Sufi after Sufi at Peshawar
also, mostly among the big profs and again among the police officials. Tonight
one of the men who knows criticized Nicholson who was the teacher of Arberry
who is the sponsor of Rom-Rum. This is “unheard” of in the West, but some
of these men who Arabic and Persian, too, besides being Muslims (or they think
they are).
It is very certain that you meet all the qualifications that the Khalandar
wants—public relations, interest in Oriental teachings, occultism, etc. As a
clairvoyant he has given me a series of pictures, but many of these have been
substantiated or confirmed by others. I did not ask for details about you, but
this will come. Personally I feel you are right, whether you come to Pakistan
or we meet you in California.
I have now written to Rudy Olsen, 166 Geary; Fritzi Armstrong; Bessy Fuller
Turner; and the Baptistes. Thus the grapevine will get to Gavin anyhow. Your
report is much more optimistic about him than some others; I hope it is so.
I heard about Claude through my friend, Jack Austin, the Chief British real
Zen instructor. I have had another letter from Satya Agrawal whom I am to join
in October. He has asked for Bill Swartley’s address. “Uncle Louis” might
know.
Besides the Khalandar my own spiritual brother, Major Sadiq wants to come to
America and offer his spiritual healing and work for the Sufi spiritual
brotherhood. I have met so many holy men—this is Shangri-La and no
nonsense—it is the district where the Vedas were first recorded. There is
almost a unanimous sentiment that the spiritual teachings of Orient will soon
be presented in a valid fashion to the American people.
Dorothy is now a mother. They are not doing well and my affairs are so much
better I need a good America representative. I know they have failed to
appreciate my social and intellectual as well as spirituals advances. Abdul
Sattar, long Consul-General in S.F. is here too. I start my day at 6 A.M. It is
now 9:15.
If Gia-fur gets to Japan I should like to know so I might see him; also give
him some introductions.
All the seers, saints and Sufis seem predicting wonderful things for me and
I don’t get any bad news, but strange to say this does not bring elation. It
also comes when I am getting wonderful poetic inspirations and it is a fair
chance I shall be famous for this before leaving Pakistan. Most of my poetry is
mystical, deep and a sort of blending of Sufis and Vedic cultures and
knowledges which I do have despite any, all and sundry European professors of
Oriental cultures, East is East and West is West and someday I’ll tell you
about the girls here. I am rereading the Arabian Nights and it certainly means
much more now.
Well, we’ll pull for you. I keep Jim acquainted with my correspondence
with Satya but have not heard from him. If you do no hear from the Khalandar
soon, you will be hearing from me.
Sam
August 1, 1961
Dear Rudy:
This letter is full of surprises. The Khalandar has put a strong business
proposition to me to travel with him, all expenses paid, via PIA. I told him I
could not join him before either Penang or Singapore and he has
agreed—tentative date about March 1962.
He has already arranged a lecture tour for me in a district I do not know,
but I think it is toward Baluchistan. Then I return to Abbottabad, check out
and lecture in the Peshawar region.
Mail arriving after August 25 should be c/o consulate, U.S.A. Peshawar; and
after September 10 c/o Major Sadiq, 2 Elgin Road, Lahore. I should be in New
Delhi the first week of October. Have written the Indian Tourist Bureau
inquiring whether I can enter by rail from Hyderabad Sind. If no, I shall have
to book passage from Karachi to Bombay by ship. I shall advise as soon as
possible an answer to this inquiry. I did enjoy my last sea voyage.
Then should be on land in India and arrive in Colombo. Passage from there to
Calcutta—Dacca, etc. will depend upon my luggage. Must try and get some
freight forwarder to unload some of the stuff from Bombay, etc.
After the two lecture tours must follow up at Lahore, then complete Pakistan
work.
Khalandar has outlined another big travel trip and says PIA will take care
of expenses but first we should be in California, both parts, for some time. I
have told Ivy Duce that the Sufi-Sufis are now going to have something to say
about Sufism. Not only is the Khalandar’s money raising campaign successful,
but I have not even started with my two big trumps—the heads of the Pakistani
government and the big-wigs I met at Lahore. Everything looks very propitious.
But the turn of events from constant frustration to constants success does not
sit too easily psychically.
I understand there is a growing movement in S.F. to welcome the Khalandar
for his spiritual astrology. But I wish to keep both spiritualism and
spirituality for the forefront and must keep you informed. The old night from
one-way cultural movements and of our accepting European professors of oriental
philosophy or also charlatan “Swamis” is over; and it is hard to realize. I
am writing now at great length to Washington; have some congressmen with me and
I think “ins” in the state Department. My forecasts were success after
October. Apparently there are two quite different influences of, or co-existent
with planets-annual and annular; and great cycle—that of Saturn being 28
years etc. Apparently these Saturnian influences are now leaving me for the
rest of my life, inshallah.
If you have time will you either lend this to Norman McGhee, East-West
house, 2273 California; or if you find the number in the phone book, let him
know. We expect to have Norman and also an Urduist with us. That financial goal
is large and ample for several persons even without collections in California.
I am also letting more and more friends and acquaintances know of plans. I am
both eager and tired and with some very big programs in front of me. Everything
that Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan said to me and for me and for the world is
coming true and I doubt whether anything or anybody can stop. I also have met
too many holy men here. The whole of life is becoming justified and justifiable
regardless of all and sundries. Objective honesty will always win in the end
and I think of my name sake, Samuel Morse, who did not give up and finally made
all grades.
I am also trying to get book consignments to Walt Baptiste and others. The
Khalandar has his special healing in addition to the astrology and
spirituality. We are in for it.
I have a strong feeling of good receptions by the American Friends of the
Middle East and World Affairs Council; maybe even by Asian Foundation. But I am
going to demand time on the air and also for an objective presentation of
Sufism at the universities. I am putting pressure on the State Department.
There are fifty million and maybe more or us and what appears in most books and
by all European lecturers is the nearest nonsense.
At the other extreme folk-Islam is something which most Muslims ignore and
equally men who want to write “best sellers.” We do not know the beliefs of
the “common herd” and so have no hold on them. At this, too, I overplay
cards here. Again there are great vaccua into which nobody goes; or else, if
Americans, they are ignored by the press and so-called “Central
Intelligence.”
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad
P.S. I am now waiting for a mineral report on this region. The mountains are
full of wealth and nobody doing anything—yet. This country needs some capital
but it needs more home initiative and work.
Hollywood,
August 23, 1961
My dear Norman:
I don’t know or care how things are among the Potomac but with Sam Lewis
alias Ahmed Murad and a lot of other things, everything has been coming along
wonderful since I have seen you. The only matters not exactly perfect are
related to the health of aged relatives, which is just normal.
I do not know how many people I have met but everybody has been cordial and
cooperative if not downright enthusiastic. Called at UCLA, Scripps Institute in
La Jolla, UC Riverside, the Salinity Laboratory, various Chambers of Commerce,
and newspapers and have full cooperation along the line with requests that I
submit articles. If this goes through I may be “made.” Have phoned the
former Mayor of L.A., but not the present one—and this was also on the +
side. I guess I must have something and all the more because everybody is
looking either for “solutions” or “messiahs” and in some matters I fill
the bill.
I have had one letter from my chum in Santa Barbara. He lives near Jim and
will be gone until the end of the week. But I ought to go to S.B. Saturday
because then I can spend Sunday with Jim so I’ll let him know today by mail
(at least). I have to stop at Salinas on my way but think I can accomplish
everything coming into S.F. at night and going then to Clementina St. just for
the evening.
I am enclosing a check for Forty Two Dollars ($42.50) Fifty Cents. The extra
money is for another garbage can for Loren and if this be not enough will add.
I also assume the obligation to pay extra for garbage (I have always done
that).
When I return I should appreciate if you and some of the boys at East West
House can help me move—they will be paid. If for any reason this is refused,
then we have a feast at the Curry Bowl, but at the moment I am in pretty good
financial position. The only problem is an international complication, but my
net assets at the moment are high. This is apart from any other affair.
Yvonne and Della have talked about a reception for me and Thea and Yvonne
have separately asked if I can bring Jim up. I presume this would limit it to a
weekend but I’ll see Jim and can guarantee his fare—at least. Besides any
friendship involved I have considerable business at Santa Barbara and so will
be occupied during the day while Jim is at work. Otherwise I have oodles of
diary reports from the above visits. I both took notes and was given a lot of
literature, informative and technical, which I have not yet read.
My first book is presumably, “How California Can Help Asia.” My second
one will be “The Lotus and the Universe,” a refutation of “The Lotus and
the Robot.” Then I have some scientific research writing and all this apart
from diary and lectures. Tomorrow I shall try the World Affairs Council in L.A.
and may go on to Whitter. This means Pasadena on Saturday and then exit. Will
have to write again—also to Jack Betts, about my arrival. I think Jack will
help me move.
Cordially,
Sam
Lahore,
October 22, 1961
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?
Sam
October 23, 1961
Dear Norman:
Early morning. Major Sadiq is back from Rawalpindi. He came in last night
and told me all his affairs terminated successfully. They kept him very busy
but he did meet a friend of President Ayub and was told that the President is
anxious to meet him.
What was more surprising and I guess edifying is the news that my name and
fame is growing in this country. It is very hard to contrast the welcome I get
at universities and the even greater welcome I have had at the hands of social
and commercial leaders and in another sense, from man of all ranks.
I got along at the Academy until one night six of us went to hear Ambassador
Mehta of India at the Palace Hotel. I think the group included Alan, Sophie,
Lotus, Kaufman and two others, but am not sure. There were a lot of big shots
there, including Justices of the Supreme Court and Supervisors.
Mrs. Lucretia Del Valle Grady came and selected one person out of the
audience of 300 to introduce to the Ambassador. It was he, or rather it. When I
returned to the table I got it. End of near beautiful friendships. You would
have thought I had committed a big crime.
I think any intelligent person could have asked how come and how can I get
on the band wagon. Of course “there are no Sufis” and nobody bothered to
look into Mrs. Grady’s backgrounds. Her ancestors were among the original
California-Californians coming in before history was written. (The Del Valles).
Her husband played a very big role in both industry and international politics
and has been Ambassador to at least Greece, Iran and the sub-continent. They
were very, very close friends of Hasan Nizami the biggest Sufi leader in India.
I hope to see his family soon.
If Alan or Uncle Louis had ever paid the slightest attention to facts they
could have built that Academy. But no, they had to have their cake, even if it
got stale without eating.
I do not know of course, whether the meeting tomorrow will lead to any such
institution. I want to talk it out with Mr. Metz of Asia Foundation today. It
is certain that when I have no money I am full of ideas and when I shall have
it, inshallah, I shall be open to ideas. I only hope I am not leading you down
any blind alley but I can assure you no spirituality or spirituality or
spiritualism without sound material backing, and this seems now to be coming
first.
The Rose season hare is about to begin again.
Sam
2 Elgin Road
New Delhi, Lahore
November 2, 1961
My dear Urmila:
Thank you very much for your wire. I knew something is wrong. Actually
everything is mixed up. I felt there must be illness but I have asked Bank of
America and also the Embassy to intercede because I can cannot tell the
condition of my finances.
You see the Indian Government, uncertain of what kind of visa to give one,
has equivocated. I met the High Commissioner and he promised me every sort of
cooperation. That was three months ago! I had an awful time tracing where my
passport was and fortunately have the complete cooperation of the Embassies in
Karachi and New Delhi, plus the Consulate here due to extraneous
circumstances.
While receiving no mail, no money and no passport, I stepped into a
communist cell. That started things. You can readily understand that when those
great Orientalists (!), Uncle Louis, Rom Landau, Alan Watts, not to say Fred
Spiegelberg deny the existence of the Sufis, that naturally made their Khankahs
the best places to hide out. Actually the U.S. if full of Uncle Louis’s and
Rom Landaus, and your experiences are typical, not rare.
Well I stepped into one and then this fun began. I have long passed the
50,000 mark in my audiences. I am greeted everywhere but when the commies
sabotaged the meeting being held in my honor it was time for the American
authorities to really wake up. After all, I was an incident and accident. What
they are hunting for is the Peace Corps.
Actually I am in excellent health, I have not been in financial
difficulties—only I can’t balance the books without my papers and am
getting every kind of material help from Sufis and Sufis and Sufis of whom
Uncle Louis, Rom Landau and those boys on the Berkeley campus never heard.
Perhaps there is even more sympathy for Satya on my part. The mail may
contain news as to whether my own mother is dying. Please send anything on to
me at the above address. I shall wire when I am ready to come and have
temporarily reserved rooms at the Hotel Airlines where I have spent many happy
hours.
Samuel L. Lewis
Sam
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Lahore, West Pakistan
November 10, 1961
To Norman McGhee
Copy to Jack Betts
My friends:
For God’s sake and my own please do something for me. Emergency and how.
The Consulate here is closed now for three days which means I can do nothing in
Lahore. For weeks I have been under surveillance by the communists. Taking
advantage of that nonsense taught by Rom Landau plus a bunch of Zionists and
Europeans that there are no Sufis, the communists have successfully penetrated
them here and held me up to derision.
On the one side this has meant immerse popularity and success in everything
I have tried and more than I have tried. Local papers please don’t copy,
these things are all unusual. It is not only E. Phillips Oppenheim, it is
Talbot Mundy and anything like Talbot Mundy is impossible though he warned of
communist infiltration in esoteric circles. But Lowell Thomas said no and that
is that.
I have had, I think, but am not sure, exactly one letter in this house where
I live. I got three letters, all misdirected. No other mail. I do not know
where my passport is, I do not know where my mail is, I do not know where my
money is. Fortunately the non-existent (go to Cal., Stanford, Pacific, UCLA,
they are nonexistent) Sufis include rich and powerful men and I am not in
financial need though my postage bill is enormous. My postage runs up to five
times the daily wage of the laborer.
Passport. I long ago applied for a Visa to India. I have heard
nothing, but the other day I accidentally found a letter misdirected to the
American Friends of the Middle East; Unfortunately I had given them a scathing
for not answering my mail. They could at least have expended courtesies.
Trap That Shut. Just before that I had asked the Library at USIA
headquarters to send me a fictitious letter to see if my mail was being
watched. So far no letter.
Mail to Friends in India: S. Agrawal. I don’t know where Satya is.
I got a wire but no mail from Urmila—why the wire, why no mail? No answers
and if the mail or money has been forwarded I don’t know what has
happened;
Mail to Embassy in India: I began early in September to write to
Fulbright, than to Engle. By-the beginning of October I had written to Jack
Shelley, Congress Inouye, twice to Bowles, three times to Murrow, ditto
Satevepost, twice to Newsweek, etc. Nothing; I have also written twice
to Bank of America to send me checks on to both addresses above. Bye-bye
blackbird.
I am writing separately to the Bank of America. I don’t know what to do; I
can get cash here from American Express but I have no idea of my balance and am
afraid to just write out checks. But having financial support I am not in this
kind of need.
In any case I would appreciate, Norman if you could do the following:
a. Telephone Trust Department Wells Fargo and tell them I have not signed
their deposit slips because I have not received anything. Also tell them I have
notified Ellis & Levy because I have been compelled to add to my will—my
papers here go to Robert Stice now in New York. You can have my files, Norman,
if I never get back. I Am Serious.
My own attorney, John Rockwell, in San Rafael has been notified. I have also
written my friends, Harry Nelson to try to get something to the Examiner but
God knows when the American press ever listens. We lost Tibet, Laos, Viet Minh,
Vietnam and now Afghanistan is much in the stew bemuse the press does not
recognize reports from civilians.
I had to report all I could to the Consulate because Mrs. Kennedy is coming
and a top commie is on the “welcoming committee.” Fortunately the
non-existing Sufis have been busy. The non-existing Sufi police tipped me off,
the non-existing Sufi police also sent me a message through non-existing
dervish who is in the house; they are watching those who are watching me. One
guy was arrested yesterday; the chief spokesman is now on the police list to be
picked up, but the top bananas are “untouchable” movie magnates buddy-buddy
with Eric the “Red” Johnston and the Mayer family. This stuff was all
reported before, by the ABC team years ago, and briefed to me, not by me,
1956—no takers. Who supports nobodies against “untouchable”
movie-magnates!
Jack, please visit the Bank of America at 9th & Market and ask them for
my balance and air-mail it to me c/o American Consulate, Bank Square Lahore
(put in bill for cumshaw whatever you want because I don’t owe nobody from
nothing provided I can find the Rupees they sent me to India.)
The Embassy at New Delhi swears they have no mail for me. I Don’t
Believe It.
Also please call either or both of you, to San Francisco and find out
Has he received any mail from me?
b. Has he answered any?
This is at least my fourth run-in with communists—American press puhleeze
don’t copy. But I have sent to Newsweek and at least my mail gets out—I
teenk.
Well I asked for drama and I have it and more than I can take: I have been
successful in all ventures, but in addition to my own affairs I am frightened
about the Peace Corps and so is everybody else. How in God’s name can a bunch
of Europeans, Canadians, Zionists and Englishmen teach anybody about the
“Islam” of Pakistan? There is, to begin with, more caste stuff than India
ever heard of. The chief exercise is, rising from your seat and sitting again,
and you gotta do it, because everybody salaams and when you get to the
tops—and damn it, I am at the tops, you, are like a general that is
compelled, absolutely, to return all salutes and this never comes by companies
or corps, but everyone individually. And I can’t go out without handshake and
blessings. All that nonsense about “Ah Yaint, a saint” is true here,
Ripley.
Oh we got it at Pearl Harbor, of that there is no doubt,
And afterwards we watched and watched, we kept on watching out—
The Chinese they were different, but at a steady gait,
Then began to filter in a bit, and penetrate and infiltrate;
The Russians learned the lesson—they learned by a mistake,
If mixing in with people helped, they would not have to make
A great world war, for they could win, and winning was a cinch—
Take up this infiltration and progress inch by inch.
The Americans could watch and wail, but they had protocol—
They could beat their enemies in war, but could not climb that wall—
That wall that is insurmountable, the wall must not be scaled—
Now tell me, gentle brothers, just wherein have we failed?
Sheikh Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti or just
Sam
November 27, 1961
My dear John:
The name on the envelope is, of course, not my name and is used only to test
the mails. There is more than enough tampering with my mail. The Embassy at
Karachi purposely sent a letter to me at my address—not received—and copy
in the official pouch received. Another letter was sent to the consulate, not
official, and all it said was that the contents of a certain letter were noted.
Nothing more. I have not received a single letter from an Indian source other
than one top official on another subject. Nor an answer to any of the 15
letters sent abroad on the main subject. But later letters using the Consulate
as address were promptly answered. So I have not the slightest idea from
official of nonofficial sources whether my reports have been accepted or
appeared on public or private or otherwise.
This has had the beneficent effect of compelling the Embassies to recognize
my existence. Indeed one can go further. Thanksgiving Day was shared with a
number of Americans. There were $100,000 per annum technicians in the room, all
representatives of operative organizations connected in some way with Foreign
Aid. But when the subject of the history and art and folklore of the region
came up, whom do you suppose they turned to? There they are USIA and OIC and
Ford & Rockefeller and God knows what, doing their work and presumably
doing it well and knowing so little of the backgrounds of Pakistan. It was both
a feather in my cap and a cause for tears. And if the senior technicians know
no more than they know, how about the Peace Corps?
Once an idea takes hold emotionally in our country, little can be done. I
saw how the UN was pushed over. Now we are paying for the UN army in the Congo
and Russia has sent its agents to the three conflicting groups and is making
friends and we are just supporting the UN army and not making friends. The same
is with the Peace Corps and others—to gain the will of the people through
commentators and editorials is not going to win any cold war. The enemy are
infiltrating and they annexed more territory last week and there is nothing to
stop then. I got in every country by knowing the religion, history, folk-lore,
etc. But who has recognized it?
My friend in Malaya may be dying. He has been my chief mentor. He knows and
he has been the victim of knowing and inability to communicate and it has
literally broken him. He has lived in every country in Eastern and Southeastern
Asia, known most of the languages and most of the top people—and so far as
the Dulles spionagists are concerned he does not exist. This is “Central
Intelligence.”
The other day I was compelled to write nine letters at the suggestion of the
consulate. I received one answer, but it was not oh joy and it was not an
answer. I have a friend who is a Khalandar who has “Second sight.” He
described minutely what is going on and said he had no letter from me.
Fortunately Prof. Rhine of Duke has consented to meet him, if and when he comes
to the U.S., but with this evident tampering of the mails, any step in any
direction is most difficult.
The Alternative is to come home and here again second sight, if there is
such a thing, is playing its part: The Sufi seers are unanimous that my friend,
Major Sadiq, will get a position with the New Agricultural Development
Corporation and we shall be together in American and other countries, perhaps
even traveling together.
Now I made three serious mistakes at Karachi: (a) The cultural
attaché refused point blank to give me time; (b) the mail departure sent my
letters back (c) the agricultural section refused to answer my mail. These
mistakes “on my part” were unforgiveable and I have reported to both
Senators. Now my paper on Agriculture in Pakistan has been accepted for
publication both in Urdu and English and fortunately the Agricultural men of
the OIC have accepted my tentative reports. I have written much more technical
material to my friend Harry Nelson, Greenhouse, City College, S.F. and to
Giannini Hall, Berkeley. I am mind also to revisit some of the officials here
and with this possibility with Major Sadiq the doors are opening wide. The most
important decision will come up this week. For that reason I am not moving.
“They say” I shall go to India after all but having no mail nor
notification of any kind I was compelled to report to the Postmaster General.
My erstwhile enemies reported that I was a spy, also an American intelligence
man and it evidently infiltrated, or was given to people in the postal and
other departments. Nothing else can explain the mix-ups.
There is mother serious point, too. Who are the experts on Islam and Asia? I
finally received—for the first time—a letter from an Orientalist. They all
ignore me and are big shots in our colleges and universities and are not
graduates of American schools either. This man, a Canadian, is our top No. I
man on Islam; the No. 2 man is Briton, the No. 3 man is a German and the next
ten are mostly Zionists. He asked me to pint out factual errors and I went to
town. I have even sent a copy to the top officials of Pakistan. The man’s
opinions may be excellent—I am not concerned with them—but his facts and
sometimes his statements have no objective validity at all. Too many professors
speak of “Muslims” as Hitler spoke of “Jews,” the term being merely the
verbalization of some intentional emotion with no objective validity.
That is why I hope to come home and write “Lots of Lotuses” in answer to
Koestler’s The Lotus and the Robot—which is based on superficial
observation and strong dialectical evaluation.
In this dilemma I have gone so far as to write Ellis & Levy, if they are
anything for me to send it to you. The last letters concerning my mother was
that she may not last long. I do not know what effect this will have on my
return but certainly now even if she dies. I should be back before any will
comes to probate.
Occasionally also I have given your address for mail, but mostly not so. I
have been under terrific strains due to uncertainties, but am gaining more and
more popularity and “fame” here and assurance if I return I shall be well
looked after. In any case I would like a home and preferably in Marin, even
Fairfax. I feel I have something to give, something to write. The main
alternative might be Berkeley to go back to college, or S.F. if a part-time job
is offered. But I wish now to write even more than to use my green thumbs.
I still have some scores to pay off. The expulsion from an American college
through the animosity of a European without being permitted to state my case or
present my credentials must come out into the open. And between you and me I am
going to clear up the forceful expulsion from Fairfax, though I think this can
be done peacefully. In certain ways I am no longer the person I have been and
integrity must be part of my life. More important is that America and Asia
cannot get together excepting by America and Asia getting together. The
investors were here this week—the usual, rhetoric, oratory, emotionalisms and
few facts, few concern developments. One does not know what is gained from such
things. Now it is late and besides I must purchase a new ribbon.
Cordially,
November 27, 1961
My dear Norman:
I am in a most strange position not even able to call it a predicament; the
bases of which were seen when I was in Abbottabad and saw the Khalandar daily.
I did receive a letter from him, not in answer to my own, in which he opened up
more thoroughly on myself, but not on himself. And at the moment it would
appear that we must meet in person either in Lahore or Rawalpindi. Meanwhile
Prof. Rhine has expressed his willingness to meet him or any other Sufi
“occultist.”
There is nothing definite to show that I may not have ultimately in the U.S.
the full cooperation of the Khalandar, Malik and Major. In the case of the
first two there should be independent funds and in the case of the latter
governmental funds. If all their plans go through I simply shall not be able to
handle the programs myself, and I must find some persons whom I can trust to
help out, they being paid of course.
Therefore I have kept in touch with Bob Stice on the East Coast and
yourself. Bob’s last letter was adverse to my coming to the U.S. via New York
and my meeting with the saint yesterday was positively in the affirmative of my
coming to the U.S. by Japan. This may mean, or compel a stopping off in
Honolulu. For Sugar research I welcome this, but for Comparative religions,
there is going to be a fierce outbreak.
I have written, at his request, a confutation of Prof. Cantwell Smith’s
subjectivities and I am going, inshallah to do the same with Lahore, Von
Grünebaum and a lot of other people who are misinforming us all over the
place. It is awkward, terrible and delightful to have to explain to all the
technical and cultural “experts” about the history and art of this region
when they are sent out here presuming to know these subject matters themselves.
But most fortunately there are two marvelous combinations of circumstances.
Mr. Kibble is, like yourself, a mixture of white and black, and he is one
step ahead of you in having married a Brahmin girl. Not only that, but, she is
the secretary of the top Agricultural technician here, while one is the chief
cultural attaché which is delightful and puts all eggs in one basket, and than
some. For practical purposes he is you here.
The Saint did the rest with regard to Major Sadiq and if the predictions
he—and all the other saints, living here or elsewhere, have given, Major
Sadiq will soon be transferred and promoted and we shall combine the
Agricultural and spiritual missions.
After visiting the Saint I called on my friend the Malik who insists he is
going to liquidate his holdings and come to the U.S. At the moment I know of no
better person than yourself, Bob Stice being No. 2, to act as guide for him.
But there is a strange side to it. If you ever see Donna tell her I have found
Jupiter. She will know what this means, and by golly I never saw such a
Jupiterian Jupiter…. Incidentally the only people who haven’t psyched me
thoroughly are the astrologers and I think it is because they can’t know
Uranus and Neptune as some westerners know them.
The investors are still here and I may write to Conlo Co. This door is still
open. I can give information but will not draw conclusions. This, of course, is
an experiment. You can write my own name on the envelope if, as and when you
answer, addressing it to Lahore unless otherwise notified.
Sam
December 12, 1961
Copy of letter to my friend Myra Kingsley
My dear Myra:
In your last letter you asked if you could do me a favor and in a sense you
can do me a favor.
I have not seen the star-gazer who read my palm and disappeared saying I was
impossible. In one of Marie Corelli’s stories the same incident occurred. I
admit I am impossible, but with that different meaning. Neither have I heard
from the Khalandar but then I don’t usually hear from nobody no how and the
mystery of what happens to my mail is something I have given up worrying about
it and am turning to better things.
I don’t know what the stars say for me. Both the Munshi here and the
Khalandar promised me a better December. Well there is just one way in which
December has become better.
A lady has walled into my life. Now don’t jump. In the first place she
rather resembles a person I know who has the initials M.K. This of itself is
nothing—all important people today must have the initial K. or they aren’t
important. Of course like Nkrumah it may be a complex but it has to be. The
K.K.K. are gone but K&K&K rule things, the stars and Allah willing. So
when this lady resembled M.K. was itself satisfactory.
I have not gone into details but she was born on the cusp of Aquarius and
Pisces, is 53 years of age, from port Townsend, Washington.
She sooner or later appeared in S.F. worked on the Chronicle and her private
enemies are the same as my private enemies, right off. Anybody that was ever
associated with one “Uncle Louis” Gainsborough is on her black list though
she did not know that the sundry entourage of that worthy are not on speaking
terms with each other. But she did come to Asia and stayed at the Aurobindo
ashram.
Now in my private eternal war against protocol I have, of course, my own
special protocol against European professors of Orientalia and American
newspaper men. She obviously could not be a European Professor of Orientalia;
indeed she loathes European Professors of Oriental Philosophy, so you can guess
her profession. Just like that. Only I did not have to eat crow. She is on a
one woman rampage against her fourth estate Brethren.
It seems she suggested to the cultural attaches here that they should bring
the American experts on Islam together with the Pakistanis, Worthy idea. Then I
performed the most scurvy trick of my whole life—no exceptions. I impelled
one of the USIA staff to look up the authorities on Sufism in their own
library. He found three—non American, non-Muslims, of course. They agreed,
nearly, on the spelling. That is all they agreed on and I think this is one of
the dirtiest and best ways of exposing these phonies. I did not stop there. I
took two Sufis to the lady. One is Major Sadiq, my host, who has third eye
vision and that intrigued her. The other was the Malik, my Jupiter-Jupiter who
wants to get rid of his encumbrances and take his lakhs of rupees, make them
into dolls and come to the U.S. Any resemblance between the Major and Malik and
what either of the three authorities say is wrong on Sufian is not, and of
course they don’t agree with each other. This is a low, sneaking way of
upsetting the apple-cart. You know what “we scientists” say: When ze
facts disagree wiz ze zeory bad for ze facts.
I think MK would descent on account of Jupiter’s Jupiterian accumulations.
Anyhow the lady now has my poetry, my prose and my humor. She also psyched me
all right, but the next night I showed her the difference between my Uranian
and Neptunian personalities; vive la difference.
All of which points to a kind of Merry Xmas and what is coming. Her position
and that of one other person in my confidence is, where is the money coming
from; and mine is, where am I going to spend what I have. Anyhow I am now doing
research in dinetics and getting praise for my favorite food, at last.
This would indicate I have Venus trine. I remember the Khalandar telling me
that after December I might be into Venusian complexities. But I don’t wish
to jump, for there are possibilities of partnerships, collaboration, etc. and
there is something big going on not only inside of me but outside. Within 48
hours I should be having conferences and am guest of honor at a shindig on the
15th. For my old friends will not, for the most part, seriously consider that I
am a sort of saint or holy man here and that I give lectures only to those in
the top-most rank, all of whom have recognized me. This is compelling Amaricans
to sit up and take notice. As I told one, “Sure I am crazy, but I have the
same madness every day, while the other people are same one way yesterday, the
second today, the third tomorrow and next week another king of sanity. If that
is sanity I prefer to be mad.”
Actually I met a spiritual mad-man yesterday. He wanted money and in two
seconds boy did he land back to sanity. Only protocol forbade this and I was
not able to do what he and I both wanted, in the presence of witnesses.
It is very hard on me with no clear picture of where to proceed and every
human effort in every single direction thwarted. It should be in my chart and
today I am blaming Uranus but don’t know. And all the while the Sufis,
saints, sages, sadhus and seers cheering me no end. “I wanna go home.”
Marry Xmas and Happy New Year.
Sam
February 15, 1962
Bombay
My dear Norman:
I hope this finds your feeling well. I am, for the most part, but between
warm weather and successes there is little time to rest. I leave early in the
morning for Cochin and then the Anandashram for what may be a relaxing period.
I hope to go further into my Indian sadhana and tapas as has already been
achieved in Sufism.
Regardless of S.F. I am now regarded as an important person in both Sufism
and soil-and-food problems. The work started with Satya Agrawal has progressed
by leaps and bounds. I do not get turned down either in seeking appointments or
in getting ideas over. This year so far, nobody: Pakistani, American or Indian
has turned down a single item. And my experiences are a vast combination of
Paul Brunton, Talbot Mundy and TCM.
But I am writing on another matter. On my last trip here I became friends
with Ali Mirza and I looked him up immediately when I reached Bombay. He has
three daughters and one son all of whom he wishes to send abroad for higher
education. I omit here reference to the second daughter who wishes to go ahead
with musical training and to go to London therefore.
Hidayat is the boy, but the second in the family. He is just finishing the
second year of college and wishes to come to the US for his degrees in
Mechanical Engineering. At the moment the list has been restricted to two, Case
and UC Berkeley, and that is why I am writing.
Now if he goes to Case we have mutual friends and I believe they would be
glad to assist him as to housing and other matters. But you may have some
suggestions. If he goes to UC, we shall try the International House. Richard
Park is now in India and returns in June to establish a branch of Asia
Foundation which assists in such matters. Here because the boy is also
interested in writing and public speaking Asia Foundation would be a natural.
Meanwhile USIS is helping in what it can.
There appears to be no financial embarrassment or complication. The father,
being a railway official, has travel concessions, some of which hold in the US
also and he may come after the boy. Also, and perhaps with him the oldest girl.
While the three younger ones are “conservative” in their
outlooks—pleasures, music, etc., the older is of the new generation. I do not
think she will come to SF but if she does she will fit in. She wants to train
for teaching and social science and I have suggested Columbia first, then
Michigan, although with no finality. But I mention this because the father
might just want his family closer together.
The younger girl definitely has her heart set on S.F. She wants to be a
ballerina and that is one of her best bets. But she also wants to do some Art
study and again those could easily be combined in S.F. I keep the interest not
only because they are friends but I may be “coming home” although at the
moment I don’t know exactly where “home” is.
Although I am going south I shall probably not look up Ragavan. After all
when I write Nehru or Radhakrishnan I got prompt answers and it was very easy
for me to call on Radhakrishnan and Bannerji (who is now chief of protocol).
But the “Academy teachers”—my god, excepting one or two, they can’t
associate with humanity.
At Poona I visited Dilip Koomar Roy twice. He has a nice ashram and a good
reputation today. The “mother” over in Pondicherry could not take Indira
Devi who did something unforgivable—developed faculties the Mother does not
have and cannot give! I don’t want to go into it, but all this stuff is both
laughable and tragic.
The Silent Meher Baba is having a successor trained. He is going into the
“silence” soon. He has prepared—collected funds and followers, a
beautiful young girl attendant and a mass meeting to set off the event. This is
spirituality. Baba himself has changed his headquarters and I ran into a man
from S.F. in Poona: “Sam, my God, what are you doing here?” The Baba-ites
are very anti-Academy, especially Watts and Landau. But then everybody is
against who hasn’t and most haven’t. And if one has, the hasn’ts turn
against him en masse.
That is why I have accepted at least one home in Asia. Why fight? I know
what can be accomplished and am prepared to do it. I have met more saints,
sages, soothsayers, Sufis, sadhus and sannyasins than I guess any other
American. So what? So one becomes objective, factual, honest, no pretense and
finally the scientists accept him. Now the Foreign Service and Ripley, even a
couple of editors! But I have a pile of documents and oodles to do, so won’t
say more.
If you have any suggestions write to me; if you have been away or have not,
don’t bother so much.
Cordially,
Sam
Lahore, April 8, 1962
Dear Friends:
This letter is really for Norman McGhee and should be forwarded to him
whenever possible. If Claude is around please have him read it.
The news is fast and furious. In a few days I hope to be visiting Rawalpindi
with my friend and host, Major Sadiq. We have at least three big projects which
will bring us to California, presumably in the next two months. The nature of
these projects may not concern you, although at least one will—but our
present plans are these:
If anything (not everything but anything) goes right, we will fly to San
Francisco which maybe our temporary headquarters. We plan to rent or purchase a
car and will need a driver. I have recommended Norman for many reasons and some
of them have been contained in the correspondence between us. While our main
trips will be between California and Texas we shall sooner or later have to go
east, in particular to Cleveland. So we are going to stress every means
possible to have enough funds for those two purposes—a car and driver.
Of course I know other persons who will make good or even better drivers but
we simply cannot take them into confidence on our projects. Even if we have as
many as four or five projects so far as Norman is concerned there will not only
be no secrecy but he will be “in.” He has both backgrounds and sympathy as
well as abilities. My next best “man” as a matter of fact is one Robert
Stice who has gone to New York. There is one objection to him—he can’t fit
into a small car, if we decided on a small car! But even in the matter of
choice of cars, Norman has his experience and he would have our trust.
Trip to the Orient. If we are at all successful I might remain in the
U.S. and Norman might get an opportunity to come to Asia on at least one of at
least three bases. We should rather our projects materialize. All the burden is
on us, not on anybody in S.F. True, I have one or two other fellows in whom I
have confidence and trust but I do not know enough of their skills.
India. Even if Norman reneges or refuses and wants to go to India I
have a big open door for him—he would have to pay his way no doubt but I can
help him if he is willing to help some others. Purchases of things would be
made in San Francisco by me. One of these would lead to top level people in
Bombay. The other to top level people in Hyderabad.
Claude may remember the Princess who accompanied Swami Ramdas. Well she gave
me money for purchases and if Norman (or somebody else) wishes to go to India,
he could carry these things. The purpose of this would be to help the person
get proper introductions. Although the Princess and other people we met are
disciples of Swami Ramdas, if the voyageur wished to go to other Ashrams or
follow other Swamis, this could be done.
In this connection I am also enclosing copy of letter to a San Franciscan
whom you may know.
East-West Relations. Among other things we are bringing sorer real
spirituality and spiritualism. My own position among the Sufis is very, very
high today. I also have some material on the relation between Zen and Hinduism
which has never been given out. My visits to ruins have convinced me that Zen
was the central theme in Buddhistic practice long before Bodhidharma. I have
plenty of objective evidence for that. (Some of you may have met by
“Brother” Paul Reps who is functioning around S.F.)
Norman is concerned with a run-in with Prof. Cantwell-Smith. I am all out
against subjectivists, no matter how well placed. I have met so many thousands
of Sufis, some in the topmost ranks and their existence is denied by this sort
of professor. It is a joke and one for which we are paying dear. The Muslims of
India are almost solid behind Krishna Menon and are anti- U.S. Why not? We deny
their existence—it is as simple as that!
Well I don’t bellyache, I just want to reach Norman man and strike him
with opportunities.
Samuel Lewis
4120 Geary Blvd
San Francisco 18
California USA
April 18, 1962
Dear Sam,
Just returned from Mexico last week thoroughly convinced that my former plan
to live in Cuba for a few years have been frustrated. I’m not quite sure why
I was not granted a visa but after 5 months wait in Mexico I was told I had
been refused. During the interim we took a jaunt (hitch-hiked) to Yucatan,
Quintana Roo, British Honduras, Guatemala, Chiapas and Oaxaca. Needless to say,
the situation all throughout Mexico and Central America is explosive. In
Guatemala an actual revolt was in process with the streets of the capital city
filled with burp gun carrying soldiers and tear gas etc, etc. As I read in the
paper it appeared that Mexico may be next. If not now it won’t be long.
In any event I have no definite plans for the future (Peace Corps???) and am
very interested in your arrangements with major Sadiq and the US tour with a
chance of visiting India. My funds are almost depleted at the present but if
you know the right people that is no insurmountable difficulty. So please let
me know what chances your plans have for fulfillment so I won’t go and commit
myself to another project.
Best of luck in everything,
Norman
July 26, 1962
My dear Norman,
Yesterday was a hot and eventful day. I expected forebodings which were not
believed I was held up again by the [?] office and finally the new Consul who
has been ill went to bat for me so I try again this morning. Those bastards
held me up when I wanted to go to India; just red tape and bureaucracy.
Much more pleasant was my meeting Mr Levy the Execution Officer. Although I
have met almost everybody about the staff this was the first meeting with him.
As he was an educated New York mulatto I talked at length about you. Then I
received your letter of the 19th; the intention is always right and I have some
tips about the Peace Corps. [?] the above, the solution “father was
right.”
I have two or three more tips for my “How California Can Help Asia” and
an introduction to Guy Atkinson who did much of the emergency construction work
in Pakistan. Talked to an editor who may be interested in my writings; also
to another research scientist; after that two meetings with local writers who
are interested in my efforts and more date the last two hours.
Spent a whole afternoon with Khawar and see her again tomorrow. We are very
close and this definitely establishes a relation I would like to hold to
certain young women, for instance many of whom you know; details will help.
Psychological matters. These are just the things I am needing to face. In
fact my ticket will include a trip to Hollywood and San Diego. My uncle and
aunt live between the two and there is an SOS to see them. My best friends in
Hollywood are practicing psychologists and I am sorry I could never get them
and Blanche together. I feel strong enough to face the problems of the day. If
you feel weaknesses about yourself I feel they are practical rather than
egocentric. Even the [?] outlet to express yourself. You are much better fitted
than many I have met at Foreign [?]. Not only has the Satevepost complained
that there are jobs begging but also the office [?] came around the Consulate
yesterday.
I am glad that you took up the problem of Laura. So much talent in our
country goes to waste and I know there are few good practical technical
librarians.
You have relived me at least in part about a place to stay. Jack Bills hs
not been successful. I have not heard from Steadman Thompson who now occupies
the Dakar Delta St house. I shall probably land “light” sending most of my
stuff by freight and then not stay too long. But I shall acquaint you with my
conferences in SF and for that matter you may come along. After that it looks
like a rest in SF—three [?] self –possessed, self-assured and confident.
And I know a [?] insight more about this part of the world that I have been
permitted to talk about. I was the “expert” until certainly prominent
citizens died and then some e.g. the McMahon and Durrel brs. Not the Chinese
and Indians are now fighting and both are right according to premises.
But no country sticks to the same principles in all situations.
I should arrive about midnight August 4-5 at the airport in San Mateo Co. I
don’t know how long it will take to get through customs, etc. Am Express is
arranging to give me Travelers Cheques and I should have sufficient cash until
I call my bank, etc.
Sam
June 28
My dear Norman:
Life is anything but what we like to think it is and one part of me feels
like a heal—and the other part is a heel or will be. We shall see. I did not
see the President and all efforts to have Major Sadiq given an appointment have
¿failed?—because nothing is final here. The National Assembly is meeting and
many delegates have criticized the government strongly on just the points for
which I wished a conference. There is a terrible glamour here in, behalf of
something called “Islam” which has no relation whatever to Mohammed and
Qur’an and covers every type of human selfishness.
I was sent for by the Pir of Dewwal Shereef, the Murshid of the President
and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. What happened there upon is almost
impossible to communicate. Oh there was nothing complicated about it. The whole
scientific side has been reported and the political side has been given to the
Foreign Service. But you never read the story of “The Goose Girl” which was
made into a play by Humperdinck—it is not produced any more. The wrong person
certainly could not be….
But this wrong person has already been appointed as field representative of
the projected Islamabad University and so far every step has been successful.
Dr. Kirk of Princeton is the cultural attaché here and we are certainly
“brothers under the skin” in so far as non-American, non-Asian Professors
of Oriental subjects are concerned and then some. We had a complete
understanding. This work is not so much out of my hands as beyond me—I am
only a single person. The American Friends of the Middle East may take over.
Along with this I have been confirmed as the Chief Sufi Teacher for the
United State of America—and along with that been conferred as a healer. I
have tried nine times to heal people and have been successful nine times. But
now I have not only been given increased knowledge as to Sufi and spiritual
healing but the whole door of Deaf-therapy has been opened to me and this will
require some research. I am ready both here and there.
Along with this my future was told by Pir Dewwal Shereef exactly the same as
Pir Barkat Ali exactly the same as Munshi Bashir exactly the same as Shah Sahib
exactly the same as the Sufis at the tomb of Data Ganj Baksh exactly the same
as the Khalandar exactly the same as the Sikh in Delhi, etc. I am going to
write this to Prof. Joseph Rhine at Duke before the dates of events.
Anyhow—and this is all conjecture, without exception they say I shall become
famous, rich and successful and also married. I am not counting on such fortune
but if it comes I may have to take you and Bob Stice under my wing directly
without depending on anybody else.
It is certain that the Khalandar has gone off into politics. On the other
hand my host for the moment, Malik Hamid is still determined to liquidate and
come to the US, and if he will unbend—and he may have to, a door will open.
Then Pir Dewwal Shereef and his treasurer, S. Noon, are planning to come to
America. They have money and have been successful in raising money. He (the
Pir) is a great spiritual healer, etc. and will need services after arrival.
Next the story of Major Sadiq is so complicated, so full of pathos,
success—and frustration that I cannot say anything. He has been stationed at
Kohat unwillingly and is most not there. There has been an invasion by Pathans
who come for his spiritual healing on such a grand scale the General of his
sector wants to remove him. And the Pir of Dewwal Shereef also wants him to
come to America for his healing; and he, the Major, wishes to come to put
through a very large commercial deal. However he was in an auto accident (only
the car, not the riders) and so he missed me at both Lahore and Rawalpindi and
his wife has been elsewhere, the house is locked up with my possessions and
communication bizarre to say the last, i.e. Snafu.
I am booking to return from Karachi tentatively on August 20; I am writing
to both you and John Betts at 772 Clementina asking for assistance in finding a
temporary place. If I can got an apartment I shall pay rent and leave my things
there; otherwise will leave things with Betts and after a short visit to Marin
(my attorneys go to Well Norman, you can see from this my life is mysterious
and not yet clear. Every time I think I may hit the jack pot, I get a snag and
every time I think I have overshot, something unexpected, often new, turns up.
No doubt at the moment it looks like personal success, but that is not what I
wanted or aimed at. But the growing optimism of all the saints, seers,
soothsayers, Sufis, psychics and such makes me hesitate to make any conclusion.
The great point here is the almost unanimous agreement between and among them;
people who have no visible means of common contact.
This does not help you and at times I feel like a bloated ass.
Miss Khawar Khan is 26, beautiful; very successful and very rich. She is
supposed to get married and her family thinks I am standing in the way. The
only thing I have said: If you don’t get married I‘ll:
a. Act as go-between myself
b. Take you to Peshawar where I know a list of fine outstanding engineers
with a spiritual background.
c. If these fail, a Passport, Visa and East-West House. In any case I’ll
win.
I take her to Sufi Barkat Ali Thursday—then Friday to Rawalpindi, then to
Pir Dewwal Shereef, Murshid of the President and Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court. Oh, I forgot, there are no important Sufis today! Not even
Sam
June 11, 1962
To the Honorable Hugh Betts and Jack Wine, with a carbon for Norman
McGhee:
There comes a time in the lives of all us when… Anyhow a special messenger
came summoning Plentypetentiary Puck and we to come to Murree the summer
capitals I leave on Friday. What this will lead to I don’t know for I can
turn out to be anything from healer to a conquering hero.
Last Friday I called on Sufi Barkat Ali and told him what was happening to
me, to wit:
I am not crazy with the heat. Instead I am thriving on it. It is over 100
now. Everybody is weltering. The only difference is that they now have an
excuse for doing nothing and the rest of the time they get along without any
excuse.
I seem to have put the calendar in reverse, as you are aware. I may also
have put the Khalandar in reverse, but all his four minor predictions have come
true.
One of these is that I have some kind of magnetic healing power. I had been
successful in seven cases out of seven. So Sufi Sahib said: “I have a fever.
Time’s aswatin.” And in five minutes jumped up off his cot feeling well.
I have had to spend a lot of time with my beautiful disciple, Miss Khawar
Khan whom I take to Barkat Ali next Thursday and this should complete my
business here for the while. She has also been ill and says I have removed
pains from her. The upshot is that I wish to call on some physicians, probably
Drs. Fung, and submit to a glandular or other check to ascertain if there is
any scientific basis.
The other day I called on my friend, the Munshi, and he said he was
expecting me. He told me that I have a Venus in mid-heaven in very favorable
position all around, that things would improve for me, that I should leave here
toward the end of July and arrive in California here I come the first week of
August.
Again I got verifications for that night a messenger came from ‘pindi
summoning me to Murree, the summer capital. The immediate destination is Pir
Barkat Ali. All my efforts on his behalf have been successful so far. I thought
he had put himself out on a limb on this healing stuff.
Now the question is where is my pal the Major; when is he going to get out
of his miseries? And is he going to get the recognition and financial backing
that the seers foretold? I should be pretty skeptical but new the things
foretold me are coming true so much I may even become credulous.
I have had little news and know nothing of family mattes except a rumor, I
realize also that the strange experiences may cause others to say I am
“tetched” (you know this is true but not in the sense they mean.)
Incidentally:
Puck: why is it that we call horses by Arabic names and you Pakistanis call
them by English names?
Quetta Guy: That is no problem. You look at the horse’s heads, mouth,
etc., so you give them Arabic names. We look at their rear ends, which
explains. This ought to be clear.
Another reason for not rushing home is that SF is way out in front. Have you
some rabbit’s foot? The Munshi has promised me a good-luck charm. I believe
in the recesses of my luggage there are now a lot of good-luck charms. We shall
have to vacuum my bags when I return and then go into “scientific
testing.”
I may connect with the Major Saturday. He has two homes and is near neither
of them. If I say the balloon is bust, it may come out different. But the seers
say I am going to accomplish one or two things near miracles before I leave. We
shall see. I am a miracle myself and can’t explain.
I am suffering from this interminable hot weather but I have become immune
and physically, though not physically; my health is fine. There are a lot more
things here in my repressed Shangri-la Report. I don’t know what you can do
for me and I don’t know what I can do for you but I want to see you as soon
as possible even to have you come to the airport. Although I am temporarily in
debt, it is my own money only involved. Theoretically two groups should be
doing something for me before I leave. The first man who promised to help me is
now three months behind because he got into politics (Malik Hamid) . As I said
in the beginning ¿everything? is?
And on the more serious side I am now regarded as one of the Sufi teachers
and unanimously as their chief delegate to the U.S. Anything can happen. If I
wanted to pun I should say: “you pray for me and you can prey on me.” After
all I have no home or family only … hurry up … somebodies say cupid is a
coming and at my age?
Sam
September 15, 1962
My dear Haridas:
I am answering your note of the 14th and may deliver this in person. The
answer is given in order to save time. The attendance is in part an answer to
your question of plans. These plans are slowly forming. I have not been able to
contact the American Academy and am not going to take any University of
California courses. It is true I am toying with some more work at the Rudolph
Schaeffer School, but this is in connection with the fourth book I have in
mind, which is outside the subject-matter of our immediate communication.
I have in mind at the moment two books. The first is “The Lotus and the
Universe” which starts out by being-anti-Koestler. It proceeds on to Indian
fundamentals. It is about time that an American writes a book on philosophy
growing out of spiritual experiences. The stores are full of books on “Zen”
by people who know nothing about Zen; and the cultural institutions are full of
non- Indians “explaining” philosophies which did not reach India in the
19th century.
When I entered your country I told the Customs men: “Ask me all the
questions you want. I have all the answers.” “All the answers.”
“Yes.” “Such as?” “Tat twam asi.” “He does know all the answers,
let him though.” He told me he was the disciple of Swami Malaraj
Ranganathananda, the secretary of the Ramakrishna Order between whom and myself
there is a deep love of a nature which cannot be understood by dualistic
people.
I immediately got in touch with Bannerji and Dr. Radhakrishnan who were not
at that time granting interviews. I want to say here that I have been an errand
boy for Mrs. Grady, widow of our Ambassador, for years. We do not have to see
each other to communicate and I know exactly what to do. Both Bannerji and the
President know this but I am not going to waste time with either Americans or
Europeans who “teach” something called “Indian Philosophy” of which
they have not the slightest inkling.
Satya Agrawal lives at D-17, Lajat Negar III, New Delhi 14, one of the three
new vast areas being opened up toward the Kutb Minar and airfields. You would
not know the city. I saw very little of Satya and from the dualistic point of
view he was very rude. But from the Advaita point of view he turned me over to
his friend Mithal and here was a soul with whom and toward whom telepathic,
sympathetic and higher forms of communications and communion were operative. I
never had to ask him where to take me—this also happened at Agra and
Hyderabad, to say the very least. I was taken to more places in India without
either wishing or thinking—spontaneously—which is something neither our
European nor American mentors of “Oriental philosophy” can possibly fathom.
The same is true of my meeting with President Radhakrishnan. It was completely
and absolutely Advaita, and so nearly all my Sufi experiences.
How California Can Help Asia. This is largely a scientific book. I am
not going to discuss the contents. My methods of obtaining material are a
combination of Vijnana and Prajna (which the Sufis call kashf). Again I am not
going to discuss this.
The integrational motif is only one of several levels in Indian psychology
but it is much higher than any used by any pale faces anywhere. Above that is
something else, much vaster universes—which we shall have to consider.
I caught Jim Pike on a personal question and he had to recognize a faculty
of which most students of Asian philosophies have only words. Thea has not only
gotten rapid answers to two questions (answers by action) but mere thought has
brought instantaneous relief.
I am considering visiting Donna. I spoke to Isabel today asking if she
wanted to go—I don’t want to go alone. If you can drive use OK, otherwise
Greyhound. I think it is time to open Donna up to the real spirituality. Alan
gave lectures and Subud gave openings and stopped there. We take refuge in
words.
Both by Sufi Pirs told me I would be received with a grand welcome (which
has been true) and that my enemies would be getting on my bed wagon. This last
is astonishingly true and very hard to adjust to. But it must be faced. We
don’t know the Oriental mysticisms and we live in worlds of narrowness even
when we think we are broad.
I have ordered a TV set from your friend. Florie told me about channel 9 and
I think that is enough. I’ll know this week whether I can plunk out fifty
bucks in one piece or two—it won’t be more.
There is lots more here than meets the eye. However you are a subject of
such analysis. As people don’t integrate they don’t see the whole of you. I
am going to take analysis (not you) by the horns and whack it. We build nothing
by tearing apart.
As to the future of society, I am not concerned excepting that I am willing
to accept others. One of my closet friends is all heated up over the nuclear
experiments. Actually I see only one side—which is his. The same is true in
other matters. I would like to differ from Jeffers who saw the world had no
place to go but down. But how many will ex and—not “look up”—looking
up, whatever that is, never healed a heart.
Sam
September 16, 1962
My dear Norman:
The red ribbon is used to save wear-and-tear and I am going into the matter
of more ribbons, etc. Monday.
I am enclosing copy of letter to Haridas Chaudhuri in hopes that you may get
a glimmer of my present outlook. It is not only East vs. West, and Capitalism
versus Communism—it is even more (to me) Aristotle versus Hegel, neither of
whom in my mind is able to explain the world as it is.
From here the story splits into the external or scientific venture and the
internal or occult venture. Neither the Greeks nor Germans can understand a
Ramakrishna or Dr. Radhakrishnan, not to say a Sufi or Swami Ramdas. After all
in the last century the Philistines had reached some conclusions absolutely and
today these absolutes are gone and gone forever. But the methods used in
Physics are not yet used in Anthropology or Universal Psychology.
The logics of the past are entirely disproved. They do not explain and they
are all based on egocentricity. So I find a world of explanations today which
fit neither the facts I have accumulated about nature (science) nor about the
self (mysticism). The scientists, being non-egocentric, are so easy to get
along with though one may have to go deep. The metaphysical people, including
practically all the “gentlemen” of the press, politicians, and most social
philosophers explain away rather than explain.
The scientists whom I have met recently know exactly what is wrong with
Russia—they are making supremely serious errors in soil treatment and
planting. This has nothing whatever to do with land-ownership, mechanization or
farm economics. Trees do not respond to dialectics.
I can make one single criticism of our social order and let it go at that:
Why isn’t Univac used to balance the budget, pay off the national debt and in
general solve financial problems? The “East” is way off base on scientific
matters and the “West” is way off base on finance matters.
The rise of Nkrumah is that of a man who is off base in neither but he errs
in making himself a Messiah at a time the world is so full of Messiahs that his
claim will be disputed all over, though he has far more acumen that most or all
the others. What we fail here to understand are the (a) full import of
integration; (b) universal harmonization.
The first may be accomplished by the working of the human mind, the second
not so. All the students of Oriental Philosophies fail to get an inkling into
direct perception and use it. There is nothing “hidden” but the way to
uncover is so unusual to all the Western minds that we are stuck. I heard some
Negroes shouting at the white race—perhaps followers of Elijah Mohammed. Now
the more “we” have condemned Russia the more we have become dialecticians;
and the more this sort of thing is done the further we are from
“integration.”
Stick a Cucumber in a Melon Patch and see what happens. We narrow
integration. We don’t even accept it biologically. But it is all over all the
Mathematical sciences and techniques, all levels. The most rabid Southerner, in
building a bridge, utilized an integrational formula he will not apply to
racial problems; and the most acute Russian or American engineer will not
generally apply the integrational pattern, which he must use in
engineering, to other matters.
For example the Department of South Asian Studies gave me the name of one
Prof. Sophir who has long lived in India and teaches about its Geography. I
failed to find him in either Berkeley or Sacramento but when I returned found
some brochures (1962) latest reports on the soils of India. Yesterday stuck in
San Rafael I found one Prof. Schoonover whom I have been chasing all over the
world and he gave me a copy of his very recent findings on the soils of
India.
I shall be glad to discuss the contents, but here I mention the methods
because it is one thing to admire Sri Aurobindo for his “over mind” and
“supermind” and it is another thing to function in and with them.
The Lotus and the Universe. The first chapter will be on the Matrix
of Indian Psychology. Sri Aurobindo takes a lot of things for granted without
explanation and nobody has examined these points. However I find it is pretty
necessary to take these things for granted also. Otherwise he is not
functioning “overmind” and “supermind” at all.
My theme shall probably be:
Raksha destruction
Asura analysis (Gr. ana + lusis)
Manusha description,
report Mind
Gandharva Vijnana, integration
Over-mind
Deva Ananda, bliss
unification. Super-mind
After explaining the next chanter will be “Vedantic Christianist” and it
has a bunch of hidden treasures and I think some shockers. After all I can
explain the whole of the New Testament through the Indian matrices, the above
and that from two or three Upanishads, without evening winking an eye.
The first shapers of “The Lotus and the Universe” will be
“Aurobindic” and the next ones will be “Pure Advaita” and then Sufic.
Of course after—and only after I explain the Indian matrices, shall I tackle
Zen. As I have been initiated into Zen—no claptrap and no books—I know that
Zen is based on Buddhism is based on Indian Psychology, and how and when and I
am not the least concerned with Western objections.
The West is divided into two schools of (un) thought which may be called
Aristotelian and Hegelian. The first is lost in words and the second in
fantasy. Modern Science is based on the differential integrational approach
which is easily and automatically reconcilable with Indian matrices, so much so
that nobody—certainly not Koestler—has disproved Huxley.
Now on the personal side. My relations with Papa Ramdas were both direct and
indirect. The indirect concerns Paul Brunton, Rama Maharshi and Upasni Maharaj.
My relations with Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda reached another height which I
would prefer to tell in person—because it overlaps the Sufi adventures.
My Sufi adventures were not only absolute and complete but their aftermath
has been just as absolute and complete. I stand today perhaps the most
universal Sufi in history—though it may take years to come out—linking
three separate areas of the world. The story of Egypt, India and Pakistan, or
rather the stories are so long and diverse, far more than Paul Brunton,
Yeats-Brown and L. Adams Beck combined.
The first sign to open up this work was given in a recent experience in
Sacramento which followed predictions to details and the same took place today.
This refers to my private life, for the moment.
I met about 6,000 people in Egypt; 80,000 in Pakistan; but in India was
usually a member of audiences before Swamis and Pundits. These Swamis and
Pundits are attracting huge audiences. They must be considered outside the
realm of all the self-styled “holy people” such as Shivananda, Mayamayee,
“Maharshi” (who was here), Meher Baba, etc. These Swamis and Pundits
address peoples of all races and mostly cultured folks. It is the college
graduates who are studying Gita seriously and on a scale which we can hardly
realize here. Whatever may have been said of on Indian Renaissance it is quite
different today. The Gita is being studied by Sufis and intellectuals (I mean
non-Indians) on such a vast scale that even seeing is not believing.
Koestler and the metaphysical Katherine Mayos cannot grasp India. Sure it is
full of faults—or rather Indians are full of faults. India is in the hands of
people who recognize the Vijnana and Prajna levels.
I write this so we can take it from there.
Faithfully,
Sam
Sept. 22, 1962
Dear Norman:
I might have stolen the audience last night but although generally I have
the answers, I do not have to questions. And if a point had been pressed:
“What is your program?” I could have been caught. But people are not astute
and don’t ask such a thing.
Kashmir is a sore point on this planet—everybody has their sore point. A
friend of mine went there and returned saying that all the people cared about
was bread and God and not about politics. He has able to do this because he had
“the secret password” which is not a password at all, but the key to human
hearts. One of the girls said I was like a newspaper man; sure I can give
reports but I have the keys to peoples” hearts and would not stir if I did
not.
How do you think I turned a hostile audience into a mad anti-communist mob?
Nobody has ever asked me but the life I saved happened to be my own. So someday
I may write my memories. They will show among other things, that it is useless
to know the future. People do not understand, you will be shunned, and when the
climax comes everybody is so busy “hating” the enemy that there is no time
for you.
The biggest difference I have with the speaker is when he throws out the old
by-line: “They know how to solve their problems.” Humbug—a cover for a
four-letter word. What are the problems? And when they are solved is there any
more happiness?
The people of Islam have to have clothes or else. The people of South India
and the Pacific Islanders who are not Christians do not. The question of
clothing is subjective although the economist-babblers insist that food,
clothing and shelter are the three big things. But the natives of our
south-west and the Egyptians (historically) are hot particularly interested in
shelter. Shelter from what? Economic status would not be changed by a fur
coat.
The problem to be “solved” in Iraq is Kuwait; and in Pakistan is
Kashmir; and in the Near East, Palestine; and all Germans would like to push
the Poles back. I broke with the Marxists because I say:
According to Karl Marx man has no loins;
According to Freud man has no stomach.
When I was young all the extreme left-wingers were free-lovers and today the
communists are the most respectable, but not respected people on earth. How
come? What is a “problem?” “What is a solution?’
The speaker hit the nail on the head three times but he did not want that
approach. One was when you asked about the Leopard Society. On the other hand I
am not going to be convinced that you have to have Pan-Africanism any more than
I have been convinced about Pan-Islam or Pan-America. Instead of “solving”
problems it creates new difficulties. People aren’t going to have more bread
or money by parades of this kind.
With tremendous effort on my part I have practically gotten a contact on two
situations:
All the great mystics and esotericists of the world.
The best soil scientists.
I don’t want to talk too much about the first until you are willing to
have me open up. You asked about the Leopard Society. You may have asked about
Yogis. But there are more Sufi Dervishes than all the esotericists of all the
other schools and types multiplied all over; they have individually more
prestige and power, but they are pulling their pinches because the world
accepts God only as a nebulous thought, a mechanical cosmic-control that is
more by human lips, and not as Reality.
The next is the matter of soil problems. The whole earth is denuded. And I
wish to continue this and your African situation by showing you the programs of
the whole Affairs Council, etc.
Emotions solve nothing.
The Failure of Russia: This has come from two or three sources, not
one of which is economic or psychological, and therefore not news:
The weather was unusually cold in much of Siberia, causing crop failures.
(Note: S.F. also has had unusually cold heather—whose fault is it?)
The soils of Ukraine along with those of Iowa are the best in the temperate
climates. We made botches by adopting the Iowa program elsewhere and the
Russians made botches by adopting the Ukraine program elsewhere.
What Has Stopped Fighting:
The Locusts in West Asia.
The Cotton Moth in the Near East.
So our papers are full of stuff on Cancer and Infantile Paralysis, etc. Then
we stop the bugs by spraying and begin to get diseases from poisons and start
campaigns elsewhere.
The Failure of China:
Same old story—sudden droughts, sudden floods, unexpected changes in
climate.
You can have all the social revolutions in the world and run from extreme
Fascism to extreme Robotism and these things go on. “Science” is today too
concerned with conquering(?) “space,” etc. and has become extremely
non-humanistic.
At this point Nkrumah comes in and at this point everybody including the
Nkrumah-ites ignore Nkrumah because:
He is of the wrong race and place
He is putting 2100 in 1962.
When you combine these it is impossible. It is all right for the Russians to
accept as facts the harvests of 1975; for the Egyptians to accept as facts the
deductions from the completion of Assouan Dam; for everybody to accept Aldous
Huxley seriously with science-fiction. But here comes a strange man with
science-non-fiction, and I mean just that, and zooie! or zowie!
So I give you two choices—which you can ignore because I have no right to
push you:
Come and investigate the real mysteries of the real God.
b. Get in contact with the groups around Nkrumah.
P.S. I was sent into America from one of the top Sufis of the world. My
spiritual brother was sent to Accra on a similar mission.
Stop and consider. There’s more here than meets the eyes.
Sam
Sept. 26, 1962
My dear Norman:
The other day I wrote the letter attached in reflection on the meeting last
week. I told Sam I have no time for reflection or action on any local matters,
and I was not even directly interested in African affairs because they are
beyond my capacity. But I am tied up, doubly, behind the scenes with Nkrumah
and if he represented the Ghana leader it was in accord with my present policy
to cooperate.
Now few people here understand that I am dealing with big problems. The
problems are too big for them to comprehend and besides this they deny to me as
an individual capacity therefore. This becomes silly because everywhere I have
become the companion of the top scientists dealing with food problems in almost
every aspect and I am not concerned with public reactions.
When I saw 600,000 homeless in Karachi I went almost mad (or maybe it was
becoming sane)—what to do! The events leading to mass hysteria and migrations
still go on and will go on, undisturbed by any and all political philosophies
of whomsoever. An editorial never saved anybody’s life and editorials have
led to wars and massacres.
I mention this because unfortunately Isabel stole from me the one thing I do
not have—time. Metaphysical people in general cannot envision mass suffering
and mostly they don’t care anyhow. The stuff going out as “Zen” by a lot
of comfortable—call them bourgeois if you want—has nothing to do with the
Buddha’s great concern with mass poverty, illness and want. He even deserted
his wife and family and came up at least with an answer. More important than
the answer was his concern. Few are actually concerned with mass suffering.
Engels was and Marxists are not, etc.
The spiritual measure of a man is his horizon—how far do his sympathies
extend. Nothing else. Spiritual awakening and suffering are the two things that
enlarge us.
The other side is that I am doubly tied up with Nkrumah. Nobody here really
knows about the Sufis. It is ridiculous. I have the same spiritual teacher as
Ayub and I have just written to the new Vice-President of India who is also a
disciple in Sufism. We represent God-in-action. Most people either deny the
existence of God (and why not, I see nothing wrong here?) or else they make of
Him everything else—a policeman, grandfather, boogaboo, Justice of the
Supreme Court, scales operator, etc. There is no serious consideration of God
in and with His actual attributes. These attributes manifest in human
operations.
One of my Sufi colleagues went to Accra. At the same time my closest
American colleague sent all his stuff there. This binds me because I do not
work separately although here it does. Naturally European professors of
“Oriental” philosophy know nothing of American professors of American
philosophy—and none of them know of the Sufis.
Sam
P.S. Some of your Nigerian contacts may know of the Sufis (dervishes). They
may even belong.
February 16, 1963
My dear Norman:
People who make mistakes are human; people who repeat them are fools. There
was only one person in that category last night and he, on the surface, was the
most hones and sincere. But honesty and sincerity do not win causes. We have to
deal with humans as they are and the psychological assumption at the same time
that policemen are sadists and the “public” is noble is self-defeating.
Sometime it may be—and it certainly was in Mississippi that the public are
sadists and the police not so much so.
I particular recommend your reading the chapters on the Utopians. Gavin was
a small potato in it—when it came to the firing line—I mean getting out and
doing. The greatest saint in it was one Hugh MacBeth about whom I can tell you
a little and if you go south and even find John Anson Ford he can tell you a
lot. It is a worthy story.
From the standpoint of “points of order” and also practicality I think
that some people do not realize the simple meaning of C.O.R.E. and in that
simple meaning you have a grand opportunity. Let others worry about this school
or that. In the end this will be determined by pressure group voting rather
than principles.
Of course I may be wrong, but there was the tendency for the meeting to go
into two opposite directions. The paper that you read should have been
discussed. It was by-passed. That is where the “humanitarians” and humanity
part. The “humanitarians,” working on noble principles ignore the actual
opinions of actual people. It is to me utterly ridiculous that a man of African
descent should have the gall to praise the civilization of the Greeks above
all. It is obscurantic. It is based on the supposition that the culture that
turns out the most artisans and architects in a single direction are the
highest people on earth.
Today we have added the E.Q. or Empathy Quotient to psychological tests and
there is no particular relation between the I.Q. and E. Q. Americans always
rank high on I.Q. and generally low in E.Q. Now suppose one were to come up
with H.Q.-Happiness Quotient. That would bring a different story.
I am very much opposed to making Africans into Greeks or Europeans or
Americans, or Americans, or any kind of “whites” for two reasons:
a. The whole environment is opposed to that.
b. By the time it is accomplished if it could be, the “rest of us” will
probably have abandoned our culture for something else. And it would be a
matter of insanity to see Africa as a “new Europe” in an age when Europe
itself was either destroyed or had become a “new Atlantis.”
The Chinese are different. If you get the honors and communications that
Paul Fung gets from Red China you would be in the hoosegow. But because it is
“religion” he is safe. I have seen Japanese spies operating as Buddhist
priests and Russian paid spies operating as Islamic pilgrims and nobody touched
them. Why not? Do you think the Chinese community is pro-Red? Do you think it
is anti-Red? The most obvious fact is that the Chinese community is the Chinese
community and this automatically makes them oppose our Cuba police because when
it comes to patriotism they have a closed front.
In other words, the whole thing is simple: We have taught here, my
country right or wrong—may she be right—but my country right or wrong.
This has converted most of the world and we are not going to unconverted
them
I am not concerned whether Castro has the majority of people behind him. I
am concerned that we are interfering in the politics of other Nations. If
anything is accomplished at this Central American session of Presidents, we are
both in the doghouse. I don’t think we’ll be there.
Sam
April 1963
Dear Norman:
It is my conclusion that the greatest opposition to integration lays among
mature widows and divorcees. I ran into this years ago when I first learned
about theosophy and they taught brotherhood on the one hand and root-races on
the other, which made it impossible even for “God” to unite humanity.
I do not know a single male at the moment who is much against integration
but easily half the women whose paths I cross. Of course at my age, there are
many more women coeval than men and they may be nice to me, etc. But also they
make me exceedingly uncomfortable with their attitudes. I guess a psychologist
would say they have a repugnance to bedding with dark-skinned men and they
carry out that into other fields.
Many of our elections are determined by these mature, sedate and even
comfortable ladies. The DAR is, of course, an extreme group but I think if you
went out to the club women here in general, you would find a lot of that. These
women beat Stevenson and are now against Rockefeller. They are our real
conservative,.
But they are safe. Nobody boycotts them. Nobody parades against them and
indeed even their churches are seldom touched. I don’t know if this suggests
anything, but parades and strikes and boycotts never phase them, and mostly do
not touch them at all.
They have in common that they are unhappy, and mostly they are secure and I
guess all the poodle owners are unanimous against CORE. Personally I think some
church demonstrations would do more good than store demonstrations, and putting
the Protestant ministers on the spot will, perhaps, be more effective than
pressure on “big business.” Anyhow the above is my experience.
Sam
May 2, 1963
My dear Norman:
As you hinted you might like a letter, it might as well be done for there is
something serious in the answer if not in the semi-request.
In 1915 I met Prof. Cassius Keyser and became his disciple in mathematical
philosophy. This led to an understanding of integration. I later re-studied
integral calculus and asked myself, “Can’t this be applied to philosophy
and psychology as well as to mathematics?”
In the course of years Keyser did this with philosophy and in part with
religion. But the internationalist movements in psychology are very feeble
indeed. The Hindus teach four states of consciousness which we may call waking,
dreaming, sleeping and transcendent. I call the dream state the One-Eye
consciousness, and the transcendent Three-Eye consciousness.
In Grimm’s Fairy Tales One-Eye and Three-Eyes are made into villains. But
the fact is that in many parts of the world peoples are One-Eye, or sometimes
One-Eye and Three-Eye together. From the standpoint of the spiritual
integration—which not even Aurobindo completed, there is no reason to accept
waking as more important than dream, or working as more important than rest.
The application of universal integration to particular problems leads to
some curious situations and one of them is this:
The Negro people in the United States excepting in “backward” areas have
come to accept almost in toto the waking-dialectic-Aristotelian pseudo-logic
complex or matrix which passes as “Western Civilization.” From the
standpoint of chemistry or from a pure anthology, there is nothing to indicate
that this W.C. is superior, or not, to alternatives. Spangler in The Decline
of the West pointed this out.
But the internationalists in America are running into the danger of being
mere anti-analytical-Western Civilization people than real internationalists.
The Africans who belong to a number of cultures, each with its own rationale,
have many psychological approaches and matrixes, sometimes different from each
other but all contrary to W.C.
There is no question that so far as he goes Elijah Mohammed is right, but
actually he does not go far at all. He ignores in toto the Mongols, Malayans
and the mixed Americans, all of whom have their cultures and psychological
rationales.
Dr. Oliver Reiser discovered an integration which first would overcome the
differences between the Russians and Americans (both white and dialecticians),
then between them and the integrated Americans (of several types) and finally
of the integration of this complex integration with the Asian peoples. And this
is mentioned because the leader in it is Nkrumah, and in it are Russell,
Lillienthal, Pauling and Radhakrishnan to mention no others.
This is only an introduction.
Sam
May 1963
Dear Norman,
Despite a satisfactory interview with chancellor Strong Friday, and even
more cordial sessions on the Berkeley campus, the continual struggle goes on
inside between the “prophetic” side and the philosophical side. The
philosophical side is based on upholding certain principles which man wants to
see in operation and the “prophetic” side is to use the senses and not the
mind. But these senses immediately operate with instinct and intuition; they do
not operate by themselves.
I am still apathetic about Cuba and more ignorant than apathetic. This
apathy has two causes:
My mind cannot concentrate on Asia and anything else.
I see no universal program anywhere but just multi-varied forms of
opportunism. Perhaps opportunism will win out but I am not quite reconciled to
it.
The point of view I am trying to present is not that Kennedy is right or
that Castro is right, but that Asians by and large object to our interfering in
the internal affairs of other countries. We have established corrupt Christian
governments over Buddhist peasants in Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Asians see us
trying to establish a corrupt Christian government in Cuba, the only difference
being that the masses there are also Christians of sorts.
The Peace Corps is regarded as an Intelligence Agency and not as an economic
or educational agency. This may be argued but the impact on the masses abroad
is that it is an Intelligence Agency, and that it may be used as imperialists
used to use missionaries.
The tremendous censorship we have, broken only by Lederer, hides from us,
let us say, the events in Burma and Indonesia. When we sent the Peace Corps to
Burma they immediately expelled all private American agencies, some of which
have done excellent work. I can’t say that any government agency of ours has
done excellent work because AID, the best one, has had its efforts
dead-ended.
There was complete agreement between Asians contacts and Americans who have
been in Asia—there is no heart-communication. I am now showing a few of my
pictures showing me where no Americans have been or gone, and I don’t know
any languages. Suppose I were to ask you—and it would be better to ask
yourself—what things move you to change your mind? Never mind anything else,
just what things move you to change your mind? Well, 90% of our Americans,
moved by factors A, B, and C, go abroad with the assumption that Hindus, Thais,
Laotians and Malays are moved by logic, honesty, facts and forceful suasion and
they are “shocked” when they find that Hindus, Thais, Laotians and Malays
are moved by factors A, B, and C, the same as they are. Thus we put up dead end
calls all over.
Eric Hoffer seems to lean toward a Pan-Europe, which is his right. I don’t
think Americans should to too determinant in what happens to Europe. But I
challenge him and anybody to prove that the sub-citizens of any of our Southern
States are not equal to or even superior, let us say, to a majority of the
inhabitants of the Balkan countries and maybe others. If he wants to think that
being a European is superior and to indulge in mental genocide, I for one, as
an American, protest. I object to these Europeans downgrading any of our
people.
I object to second and third generation Americans hounding tenth and
fifteenth generation Americans because they don’t like their skin or
something. If this is genius, if this be philosophy, do not be surprised if
this land is constantly losing good-will abroad.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc-CORE
1088 Fulton, St.,
San Francisco 17, Calif.
August 1, 1963
Radio Station KQED,
Channel 9,
San Francisco 5, Calif.
Dear Sirs:
Your station has enough interesting programs to warrant watching these as
often as possible. It is also proper that unusual viewpoints be presented
although being unusual itself should not be confused with being educational and
sometimes unusual programs are anything but educational.
One deplores without resenting the appearance of Eric Hoffer on your station
last night. One can be assured that you are going to have more listeners too to
this series and they will not always be enamored with some of the remarks.
Geniuses who have been persecuted are signaling lacking in sympathy and empathy
toward other victim; of other persecutions and this speaker is certainly among
those.
It may be no virtue on my part but I am one of millions of Americans who
want to ban the bomb and we both resent and appall the attention paid to
certain European exiles who are seeking to compensate for their failures and
failings by trying to dictate what our national policy should be in this
direction. The vast majority of scientists, and I myself am a scientist, do not
want Dr. Teller or anybody like him to tell us—they should thank God we give
them an asylum and show a little humility.
We have had a great World War and one of the elements leading toward it was
that some Europeans with dictatorial tendencies were telling themselves and the
world that certain types of Americans were sub-standard humans although these
Americans have contributed much to many branches of cultures. And I for one
object to European exiles telling American audiences that other types of
Americans are substandard humans.
For example next year there will be Olympic Games in Tokyo and some of the
Americans whom Eric Hoffer does not believe have reached the modicum of
evolution, whatever that is—are going to win prizes in world competitions.
The Schmeling fiasco ought to have ended that but evidently Eric Hoffer is not
interested in sports or in the sporting attitude.
I must confess after a long study of histories that the people that were
downgraded have never been guilty of racial homicide on a large scale and
certainly not mentally.
Now Russia and America are planning to pool their resources (?) to reach the
moon and let their own people down. It might me wonder whether I should not
revive one of my Puckisms: “Get rid of K and K and K.K.K.”) You don’t
have to take this seriously but after all I have seen the Washington skulls and
have lived in the South.
It would be a cinch to write articles and have them published abroad. I am
too concerned with something else at the moment.
The money spent for Israel could replenish the South and the money spent in
S. E. Asia could renovate Washington and the money throw away elsewhere could
solve all our difficulties but things aren’t done that way. The show must go
on. One wonders!
Sam
Congressman Powell and you differ, but I don’t trust C.P. too much. And
the morning headlines are not very enthralling. Clemenceau said: “War and
peace are things too serious to entrust to diplomats and generals” but whom
else do we entrust them to?
September 21, 1963
Dear Norman:
I am very glad to see you back. I am now at 58 Harriet ST., downstairs from
where I used to live, having three rooms of my own (there is a spare
davenport—I haven’t bed clothes yet but if a friend does not supply these
will order some more. Only there are a lot of extra expenses.
I hope you understand I am concerned with about four movements all based on
Integration. It is not the use of the word “integration” as, let us say,
Haridas Chaudhuri employs it—although I think that is a good word anyhow.
It is a forty years since my first spiritual teacher counseled me to work
for the brotherhood of man, beyond race, caste, creed, religion, anything. Lots
of people have taken these things verbally, but when one has a restless spirit
he wants the realities, not the words. We also have a prayer: “Raise us above
the differences and distinctions which divine men.” The Sufi
teachings—which aren’t studied here at all—explain why there are
differences, what causes them and how to overcome them Again this is easy
verbally.
I once made enemies by declaring a President of the United States a
murderer, and still today do not see this otherwise. In the Chinese canon, in
theory, the head of the State was supposed to look after everybody and was
responsible for the irresponsible loss of life and property of his people.
When the now Senator Seltonstall was Governor of Massachusetts there were
some anti-Semitic outbreaks with loss of life. Bishop Bromley Oxham (a near
saint) wrote the Governor: “You are responsible for the murder of these
Jewish victims; I accuse you of being the murderer.” The Governor replied:
“You are entirely right. I am calling out the National Guard and if another
Jew is hurt I shall consider myself the culprit until the real criminals are
apprehended and punished.”
We don’t hear much of these stories today. They would be incomprehensible
in some sections anyhow. When Grant was President he insisted that the Negroes
have rights. This is all forgotten, put away.
The other day I was telling a friend (whose name is “White” of all
things) of the waste in foreign aid. He said, “I am against all foreign aid
to any country whatsoever until every last Negro in this country has a vote and
a job. It is not only hypocrisy, it is a terrible drain on our economy to have
billions of dollars to throw away elsewhere and let our own citizens live
without jobs and homes.” We agreed that we would both vote for the man that
came out on this issue.
Vietnam is kept in the public eye to keep our attention from Guiana,
Zanzibar, Somaliland and Sudan where we are stacking the cards against
ourselves. I am particularly concerned with Guiana because there is a weak side
to Hindus, that some of them are more anti-“black” than we are. Only there
they are leftists (?) and here the KKK are rightists (?) which is awkward
Then there is British Columbia. I bet you don’t even know what happened
there. Well history is not news and I am going out now to find for myself. No,
they have not put in a Castro but what happened is just as much, or more
against our accepted pseudo-principles. So the papers did not even mention
here—“freedom of the press.”
I have to see that beautiful young woman on the campus before I can report
more to you about her.
Sam
October 10, 1963
Dear Norman:
I have your new address and it may be that I’ll look you up—no
assurance, when I come to Berkeley next week.
I have three errands. One you may not like. KPFA persistently has refused to
give me an interview after a blanket rejection of a paper submitted five years
ago on “The Religion of Vietnam.” It was returned without even being
glanced at. Now everybody is weeping crocodile tears over the poor Buddhists,
who are also being persecuted in mainland China and who, from even the Buddhist
point of view, do contain all kinds of persons who can get in—just like
here.
The next is because some of us had some objective experiences in S.E. Asia
which did not accord with Dulles & Dulles and we are deciding to dedicate
our notes and memoirs to either the University of California or some other
institution which is willing to examine some excellent source material which
the State Department has refused to admit existed at all. This is not a pretty
picture. Now Senator Lodge has stepped from “realism” into reality. Can
somebody tell anybody what a S. E. Asian Buddhist believes in? I can tell you,
you not only did not learn that at the academy you would not learn it in the
universities either.
The next you will like. Up at Mendocino a very beautiful young woman gave
lessons in Basic Dancing and from that I have worked out a complete methodology
not only for the instruction of the physical body but for overtones in
education and religion. This may not be hard because my god-daughter has asked
for it. She may, or may not, be coming this year but my companion expects to
come. By a strange and wonderful series of events he and his wife are now
living with the goddaughter in Lahore.
It is almost impossible to describe this plan to anybody who studied
Oriental philosophy with Europeans. But it is not difficult to explain it to
people interested in art, dancing and even gymnastics who have not.
Very apathetic over local politics. Would probably vote for Moore because I
don t see any life in the “white” candidates excepting one whom I used to
know years ago! But then I knew Mancuso and he seems to have as much life as a
pall-bearer.
In the same mail I got a letter aimed at you. I did not answer because you
cannot convince an introvert. But I am sorry you did not read “Glory Roads”
because CORE has almost the same virtues and same weaknesses as the moribund
Utopian Society. The interest in petty matters disturbs me because they will go
on anyhow and overlooking your own grand plans is exactly what the Utopians
failed in. They landed down in local neighborhoods. The world went on.
October 25, 1963
My dear Norman:
Yesterday visited Lorraine because I may be able to get her a small
part-time job. It is uncertain on both sides. One upshot is that I may write to
the realty company about the forwarding of mail. Hugo says his own has not been
received.
Lorraine told me she may go to Iowa late next month and stay over the New
Year, that her relatives want her to remain but she would rather be here or
Seattle.
She tells me you are not satisfied with CORE. Remember I showed you “Glory
Roads” which you did not read. Luther Whiteman and I made a number of
predictions, and I think all of them came true. This made us neither popular
nor rich, but the same principles operate.
CORE is so much like the Utopian Society which started with a grand fanfare
and ended up in tiny political and personal matters and ran itself into the
ground without its enemies doing anything.
Besides this there is a great chasm between the sober thinking
representatives of African nations and the emotional, uncontrolled methods used
by their co-racists here. It is the American habit, both black and white, to
want to lead others, to show them and not to learn.
The awarding of the Peace Prize to Linus Pauling prompted me to write a
letter that he has been cooperating with Nkrumah in a real effort to
ban-the-bomb, etc. He is willing to follow an African and even some of your
erstwhile colleagues are not—only verbally.
Last week also I saw a picture on African folk-arts. At the moment the
“peasants” there are so far ahead of us in certain things that we cannot
catch up in a generation. Next week I may or not be involved in a debate over
foreign “aid.” By this time I have met a lot of other Americans who
have been or lived abroad. Our doghouse is getting large, roomy and noisy and
someday we may break out and not just over Mme. Nhu either.
I was held up on my last visit to the campus too long to try to see you. Run
over occasionally but never sure, pretty busy here. I have no phone.
Cheerio,
Sam
Isabel has been bothering Lorraine to get at me. Wotta person.
McGhee (Norman)
1508 Spruce Berkeley 9
Dec. 4, 1963
Dear Sam,
Just a quick note to let you know I’m still alive. As you probably know it
is much quieter here in Berkeley—which suits me just fine. I am attempting to
devote a little more energy to the inner side of life now and let the outer go
for itself for a while if possible in an attempt to figure out my next best
move. In this regard I have now seriously resumed my study of Astrology. In
addition to studying on my own I also attend Gavin’s class at his place at
7:30 every Wednesday night. The trouble with that is, of course, is that Gavin
rambles so and there is very little order to his teachings.
I’ve been having a little trouble finding the right books to study since
the ones in the library are always out. No doubt I’ll come by your place some
day in an effort to borrow whatever ones you have. Surprisingly enough, Gavin
does not have very many, having sold them when times got rough.
By the way, in the event you’re in need of any more blankets in the
presence of winter in SF, please let me know. I also have extra dishes,
silverware, pots and pans, sheets, etc.
Lorraine has fled to Iowa for six weeks. Is Isabelle still pursuing you?
It’s so wonderfully quiet over here that I’m completely out of touch with
all the old s intrigues. But would be glad to get some started over here. Where
is that beautiful young girl on the campus?
By the way I still want to read “Glory Roads” so I’ll borrow it again
if it’s all right with you. Now I have peace and quiet and can settle down
and get something done.
I enjoy all you letters very much although I have been most derelict in
answering them. In case anything comes up my phone number is Th 8-6390.
Norman
December 6, 1963
Dear Norman:
I went to the Indian Consulate to show them a pacer on “Kennedy and
Gandhi” and they liked it and told me where to mail it. Indians do not react
to me the same as Americans and Europeans. If I show the latter anything on
India, it is 100% nix, and if Americans it depends on their profession and I
can tell from the profession how they will react on Oriental matters. But your
latter requires a long answer, so here goes:
Some time ago in quick succession I received letters from any closest
companion, Major Sadiq, and from my god-daughter, Miss Khawar Khan, each
telling me of plans to come to this country, and for some rather practical
reasons, I relate to the stories to you. The Major may even come very soon, but
he did not tell me how, except I am sure he will fly by Pakistan Airlines, but
this will bring him only to Tokyo or London, and I don’t know which. He has
to go to Texas and I do not know whether this will be before or after his
California visit for obvious reason connected with the flight.
He wants to visit all parts or California covering a very thorough
agricultural program. This means in addition what I know (horticulture), animal
husbandry. I am coming to Berkeley to get the best means of touring the State
and so far as I can see the best way would be to hire or rent a car.
Major Sadiq may be coming on this own account, or because of the Sufis or
for the government, and in each case the amount of money at his disposal would
be different. But if we take the bus—the train and air are out, we should
have not only money to pay the car rental (not very much), but for a driver. I
got in touch with my pal, Bill Hathaway, but he is now working at a fixed spot
and cannot move, for a month’s hire would not be enough to warrant a change.
Bill has always been interested in Sufism.
I cannot make an offer at the moment because the financial requests were
indefinite but I know we should cover nearly all the non-mountainous parts of
California. While this has been going on all my projects have
integrated—“How California Can Help Asia,” “A Program for Pakistan”
and finally “Project: The Garden of Allah.” I am to go into conference on
the latter Tuesday and so far have been getting the best encouragement of my
life. It is a very big project which first the American Friends of the Middle
East will consider and then sponsor to Ford Foundation for funds. This means I
should visit Berkeley Monday, going to two buildings to meet representatives of
and in Agriculture.
The letter from Khawar indicates she would be coming after the next semester
and as she wants to get a PhD in Islamics I have recommended either the Middle
East Institute Washington or UCLA. She has films of the holy cities (Mecca and
Medina) and there is already a sponsor for their showing plus a big conference
in March. I am not worried about shutting her over, and that is not an
immediate project anyhow.
But in her last letter she said also that the Major and she along with
leading Sufis were planning to raise moneys to help me. I but in an enormous
amount of time copying for them and working out two complete plans for the
teaching of Sufism anywhere, and even the mail costs (nearly all by air) are a
very heavy burden.
In any event I shall telephone if I come over Monday. As the Major is
traveling in Pakistan too, I cannot write and this idea or a car and driver is
my own. I would like your reactions. I have one other pal in mind who is also
interested in horticulture but as he is deaf I don’t trust his driving, and
felt if he Major has the funds and you were willing, you could at least tour
the State, earn a few pennies and learn some things.
I also mention this because not only is Sufism a closed book here, but a
good deal of the occult wisdom fits in nicely with and explains Astrology. I
have no books but there is a lady here, a widow, whom I have known for years
whose husband was the only occult Astrologer I have ever met, who was advanced
in both directions and she may have books.
Gavin assumes—and I think entirely wrongly—that the hypothetical
teachings of Jung are either wisdom or science. His animus-anima are entirely
wrong and he has contradicted almost everything he says in his Astrology in his
“The Cycle of Sex.” For there he has sex related to hours, and in Astrology
should be on one plane connected with Venue aspects, and on another with Uranus
and on another with Neptune who are not polar opposites (from the occult point
of view.) Uranus and Neptune are easily explained by anybody with real
knowledge of either Sufism or the cosmic metaphysics underlying both Hinduism
and Buddhism. I can assure you this is practically unknown to any and all
Europeans, not matter who or what. It is not learned in the schools and it is
only now that a few Europeans are becoming humble enough to learn from the real
wise of the real Asia, and most of them are Scandinavians, not Germans,
Frenchmen or Englishmen.
When President Kennedy was assassinated I immediately went to Gavin with a
testimonial and he took this to a TV station where he was on a program. But
while we both foresaw the event our reactions were different. I am reading the
Arabian Nights which I do perennially and Jack and Jacqueline seem to be a
prince and princess half out of these tales and half out of Grimm. I liked them
but this has nothing to do with the functions as chief executive of a great
Nation.
What appalled me was the evidence that Americans do not really believe in
God. A Wise God knows exactly what can and should happen, and we are always
putting the effrontery of man over the Divine Wisdom. I can show you something
in Qur’an which illustrates the point.
While there are some differences in the assassinations of Kennedy and Gandhi
the chief differences are in the after effect. India has taken hold of itself
spiritually and practically and it only does this after a tragedy. The attack
by the Chinese actually benefited India and hurt China. But the notable thing
about Fritzi was that she explained every aspect on the charts of Jack,
Jacqueline, LBJ and Uncle Sam, coolly, dispassionately and one can almost say
scientifically.
This Friday Della is giving a party but on the 15th I may be at Fritzi’s
again. Anyhow if I can see you Monday will give whatever more dope I can.
Did visit Lorraine once. I am also trying to get her a part time job which
will be ready in January, just enough extra pay not to change her social
status. Have not seen Isabelle and have even kept away from East-West House. I
think she did enough damage there but don’t want to say anything so keep
away. See Claude occasionally.
Will discuss the household things when I see you. Also should bring “Glory
Roads.” So I’ll place your letter in the book and keep it on hand.
The reaction on the race problem is double and therefore not solid. I
personally have little use for some of the places being boycotted. The news
today is that Congressman Smith is giving in a little. There is no question but
that if something is not done and done soon we are going to get more UN
setbacks. We do not seem to grasp that democracy is democracy and that when you
give people votes they might vote against all tyrannies including your own.
Recently when I challenged a speaker with the question, “What is the
Foreign Policy of the United States” he slumped into his chair. No matter
what he would say would contradict something he has already said.
That’s enough schmoose. Body in fine shape, but tongue still too
strong,
Sam
December 11, 1963
My dear Norman:
I enjoyed the other day very much. Yesterday called on Fritzi Armstrong. She
suggests that you come to her Friday meetings, after the first of the year,
which are devoted to Astrology and cost a dollar only. If you wish private
instruction it will cost considerably more and she is circumspect enough not to
encourage this until you are reasonably sure. This Friday Renee Taylor speaks
and the following one the Christmas Party. I expect to attend both functions,
and Gavin will be at the second. I am going to speak on Christlike people I
have met abroad.
On Sunday at 12:23 A.M. a boy was born to the Walt Baptistes. Could you
figure this one for me? Birth place S.F.
Yesterday also I was at a luncheon, filled with business men of what we call
a conservative type. And never does the line between the dialecticians (whom I
loathe) and the pragmatics stand out so clearer. Or as I have humorously
stated, the world line up will be between America and Russia on one side and
France and China on the other.
It was quite obvious that De Gaulle is going to use us to the hilt, we
paying for his armies and he paying for his produce and underselling us. At the
moment the ECM Nations are wealthy, there is no unemployment in many European
lands and they are all trading with the communist nations on a big scale.
All these business men and industrialists want to trade with Russia. They
all favor the wheat sale on any basis. They are not adverse to trading with
Cuba. They do not like to lose money by our subsidizing dictators who only run
off with the money afterwards anyhow, leaving them holding the sack. Therefore
for most practical reasons they are far, far more against the South American
dictator than they are against Castro and they are all hamstrung.
The press, and perhaps the army, but certainly the press, have emotionalized
the country to be against certain nations and rulers on no basis whatsoever. If
you want to preserve certain institutions you protect them and if you want to
protect Wall St. you protect investments. But investments are not protected by
spending money for dictators and the financiers lose more than anybody else.
Remember that Khrushchev said, he could talk to American capitalists but not to
American labor-organization people.
Another thing is that the Chronicle has a long article on Castro today. If
you and I go to Cuba we are traitors and if a newspaperman goes he is a
patriot; the same was true with Russia and Nixon, Nixon was a patriot and
Pauling was???
The fact is, Norman, we are living in a dream-world not made better by using
what is called “realism.” One of my predictions for World War II came by
watching the differentiations in trading between different Nations upsetting
balances of power, increasing goods on some markets and diminishing it on
others and not reading any editorials or much news. I proved my points both in
arguments and events. But I have withdrawn since from all peregrinations into
economics as such.
The World Market complex is nothing but surrealism. These manufacturers are
very pessimistic. They see the ECM nations grabbing all our markets, tariffing
against our goods and we help them further by refusing to sell to certain
countries we label as subversive. Russia never ever tried to steal our
markets even when most blatant. Now we are financing, no dictators, but our
business rivals. Hallelujah.
Germany is now trying, what she did not try before, to control the world
through markets and not through armies or politics. Both our political parties
are tied in with the Hearstian anti-communist dialectics. So is the AFL, so may
be the military. It is the “left” which is joining the “right” to break
up our system. “Maybe it ought to be broken up, but things aren’t working
like on paper. Peoples starve abroad and we are not allowed to sell them our
foods. ???this is enlightenment?? But I don’t know who’s.
The way things are today you may find Wall St. Journal way to the “let”
of even the most liberal press. I want unrestricted travel and trade.
Cordially, I hope,
Sam
December 19, 1963
My dear Norman:
Last night was spent one Ed Hunt, an old crony, who still works part time at
the Yellow Cab Co.
He has an idea for the training of artiste and artisans. He has found there
are some very, very intelligent and gifted Negroes working as cab-drivers, but
their ways are blocked in those fields in which he has been both a teacher, and
at one time an expert.
He believes he can train a small selected group to be successful in fields
from which they have been barred. So I am writing to you immediately to see if
you can arrange to call on him. I might go with you for the introduction but
then it would be between you.
My alternative concerns the Negroes at the Rudolph Schaeffer School, but
they are less mature and would not yet be able to hold down the career type of
jobs which he has in mind.
Cordially,
Sam
January 3, 1964
My dear Norman:
I should be visiting the campus next week both on regular business and on
another matter which may interest or even excite you. It is one of those things
which makes truth stranger and stronger than fiction.
I have received a very beautiful letter from my God-daughter, who has
expressed a desire to continue her studies in California. She wishes to get a
PhD in Islamics. I had written to UCLA and they gave me a very businesslike
cold answer; and to the School for Middle East Studies in Washington who gave
me a very cordial and warm answer. There were many reasons why I thought this
would be best but we need not go into that.
The third alternative, going to McGill was also aborted because Dr. Cantwell
Smith is going to Harvard and I do not favor Harvard in this direction.
However Khawar has written that she distinctly wants two things, either one
or both:
a. To be near me
b. To have the best weather because of her health.
These things point unerringly to the Berkeley campus and if that be the
will-of-Allah I shall therefore make the proper inquiries.
Sufism is, of course, totally unknown here and what is the worse, the
professionals want to learn it from one of their kind, which is impossible. The
greatest intellectual Sufis I know, and there are quite a few, either function
as scientists or legalists and never go around “teaching” their subject. If
they are teachers they always practice humility in spiritual matters.
This was evident in Egypt where PhDs used to congregate in the Sufi centers
to learn, and very humbly, from those who had advanced beyond them in spiritual
matters. If is even more striking in Pakistan where the most important PhDs in
Philosophy are either the most humble or the most sycophantic before the
Murshids.
The story here gets very complex and also very beautiful. What I am doing
here is becoming of supreme importance over the water in both the scientific
and mystical fields. Fortunately the scientists respond as quickly as the
nonscientists do not which seems to be part of our culture. Inasmuch as the
most beautiful letter from Khawar came in the same mail as a most delightful
one came from a man in England, there may be some truth, and when the people in
the western world are willing to learn—which at present they are not—you
can see a new and better universe.
There is no doubt but this year is going to see this country get its
comeuppance. It is notable that all occultists agree about the death of
President Kennedy. He was Siegfried and the world was picturing him as Parsifal
(or Galahad) which he certainly was not. And this is the sin of America—we
want Christ dressed as Apollo—something which was actually done onetime in
art.
Soon I may be arranging a date for my friend Eugene Wagner, who has lived in
Cambodia and Thailand, to meet people at the World Affairs Council. I have
checked his story with everybody I can meet from S. E. Asia, and the sum-total
seems to be this:
There will be another Bandung conference. The press, professors and State
Department unanimously agreed the last one was a failure; the only dissenter I
know was a business man who lived in Indonesia. The trip of Chou En Lai has
been the most outstanding success in diplomatic history. The Chinese have
reversed many of their policies. They are now tolerating religion.
So far as the Buddhist countries are concerned it is a cinch. We did have a
Buddhist in S. E. Asia (Dr. Kurt Leydecker) and while he was there, no trouble.
But the establishment could not stand for that and he was recalled. We don’t
associate with “Gooks” and the Chinese do and it is as simple as that. One
by one we have been invited out and while the State Department and Press hail
our achievements we get kicked out by “ingrates.”
Now Chou En Lai has been equally successful even to get the Sultan of
Morocco to visit his country. This means that you are going to see another
Bandung and everybody telling what they really think of our “Foreign Aid,”
the Peace Corps, American education, etc., and it won’t be what we read.
Somebody has offered to put up money for what might become an Ugly American
Society. The core would be Americans who have lived in Asia and Asians. They
could associate without need for diplomats, journalists or Europeans to
introduce them to each other. They could speak their minds. What is holding it
up is the Pakistani affairs such as the possible visit to Khawar and others who
are planning to come here. I can’t handle both.
The defeat of America by Russia at the Olympic Games will help. The
noncommunist diatribes we are going to get will help more. It may be a vapid
dream to hope for reality versus “realism.”
I may see Fritzi soon again about lectures, etc.
Faithfully,
Sam
1508 Spruce
Berkeley 9, CA
Jan. 14, 1964
Dear Sam,
What happened? I was looking forward to your visit and further information
about the possibility of your goddaughter visiting here. Or maybe you did come
and I was out. I have been bounceing around a bit lately.
I’ve decided to go back to school and get an elementary teaching
credential. I’ll be starting at the Dominican College in San Rafael on Jan
27th.
If you’re looking for work I think Barbara may be able to throw some your
way. You’ll just have to get a telephone—it’s hard to communicate
otherwise.
Hope to see you soon,
Norman
January 15, 1964
Dear Norman:
Every time I get a clear slate either another letter comes from Pakistan or
a friend of mine lands in the hospital. It seems that Fritzi’s statements
about Uranian influences have certain come true. Anyhow I saw her a moment
today. She expects to start a class on Astrology Wednesdays at 11 A.M.
continuing till 1:30, coffee, etc. served. She asked me if I would join and I
said it looks like yes, so I am informing you.
I have been studying the walk from a gymnastic, occult and mystical points
of view, and have pretty well delineated the planetary movements. I did this
years ago with the Voice. I shall keep this for the class. I do not wish to
lecture on it.
My companion, Major Sadiq, the spiritual healer, has now not only recovered
from his injuries but has had all his inoculations. But I do not know which way
he is coming or when or whether he is bringing mem-sahib.
At the moment I am pretty strong for Sukarno. You can bet his story never
goes to the public. At the last public debate a man who lived in Indonesia
demolished all the opposition; but it is rare to have an American who has lived
in Asia speak on Asia. This whole country lives on newspaper falsehoods and the
State Department swallows them. And while I see no wisdom in the CIA the reason
it is subject to attack is singly that it does not base its policies on
newspaper pressures.
I have put some cards on the table on Indonesia. Not only that I know what
the CIA does not know and I don’t think wants to know what is going on in the
Buddhist would. We have pan-a-mania, or just Pan (all) mania.
Talking about Indonesia. There is a restaurant, not far from East-West
House. I may have reported before. I took my friend, Betty Reeve of Mill Valley
but want to go again and order other foods. Trying to get to Berkeley Monday.
Have several important engagements next week. At least I have the knowledge of
Asia no matter how much I am turned down, but I think this is a new day.
So long until,
Sam
January 29, 1964
Dear Norman:
You can bet that everybody asks this busy person a favor or an errand and I
am resigned to that. My colleague, the Major, in Pakistan asks me to get ready
for some events but gives no time and I have to operate as his secretary here.
The Islamabad University is functioning the same and they do not have a
secretariat in our sense.
Went to the Universal Church Sunday—nice meeting with the Fung’s. But my
purpose was to give my friend Gary Barbara’s phone. Gary lives in Marin
County and I can positively vouch for him.
Friday heard Fritzi prognosticate. She sees plenty of fog but no war. I have
been to the Indonesian Consulate and gotten their Pancha Sila or Five
Principles. This is something we ignore entirely and while I am not too sure
whether I favor Indonesia against Malaysia, I do against any and all the big
powers of whomsoever.
This Nation calls for God and humanity to begin with, and this is something
we can verbalize but can’t understand. The U.S. is positively 100% on the
principle that and in a few days it will be other than that.
Well, we are on the ways to more shocks and the amount of apathy for the coming
election is surprising. I don’t mean among the noisy whom we label “left
wing” but among thinking people who are not usually associated with
politics.
The Egyptian Consul-General is going away and I am to see him after his
return. Gave him another piece of my epic poem. The big Arabic affair is on
March 7th.
Now you will be going to school but if I come to Berkeley may stick around
next time till late in the p.m. Only I am going to school now myself, as much
as I can.
Cordially,
Sam
1508 Spruce
Berkeley 9,
Jan. 30, 1964
Dear Sam,
I am in San Rafael MWF from morning till 6:0 pm. Tuesdays and Thursdays
I’ll be here most of the day. But anytime you’re over here, feel free to
come by and make yourself at home. The door is always unlocked.
Thanks for giving Gary Barbara’s number. She does need someone to do some
work over there now. I think she is planning to see your lady friend in San
Rafael sometime soon.
And let me know more about the Arabic affair on March 7th.
Yours,
Norman
January 31, 1964
My dear Norman:
Thanks for your schedule. The best time for me to visit the Campus is on
Tuesday but on alternate Tuesdays I have to be in the city at noon for World
Affairs Council lunches (this means next week). So it is possible that I may
come on the alternate week to the campus.
The Arab Conference takes place on March 7, Saturday all day cost $85.00
including Omar Khayaum luncheon (actually dinner). There will be three big
lectures and perhaps discussion afterwards. I am seeing Prof. Bertrand, one of
the speakers on the 11th because he taught at the American University at Beirut
which was also Khawar’s Alma mater.
One lecture is on culture, one on philosophy and one on art. I don’t know
the rest of the program. It is probable that Florie Leonard is working with
Nadja, the hostess group in this respect.
Tonight I shall hear Jacob Furring on Tibet along with his musical program.
He once gave this at the Academy.
I shall have other occasions to go to the campus so may take advantage of
your offer to visit your place if not yourself. Two projects which will require
my calling at the library. Leila Chandra, who works there is the daughter of an
old friend. Her father was a Hindu revolutionary.
Will be helping at the Chinese New Year Festival at the Universal Church
(Fung’s). Just got a notice in the mail
Guessed the Cleveland story before I read details. You should be able to
read between the lines.
Faithfully,
Sam
February 4, 1964
My dear Norman:
It seems to be written in the book of life that I am to be kept busy all the
time. As soon as the picture become clear, then another avalanche, only I seem
to be able to weather these storms.
On Friday four books on Sufism arrived. Three were by Hazrat Inayat Khan, my
first teacher. The other is a collaboration between sheikh Idries who lives in
London and the celebrated Robert Graves. I am taking this book next week to see
Prof. Bertrand of S. F. State. Graves is too big a person to be shoved off by
any Rom Landau and when the Arabs meet on March 7, he is going to get it if he
starts anything, funny or not.
There is a lot of material in these books, besides.
Then I received an unexpected and long letter from my god daughter, Khawar.
She says she is coming here only if I remain. Now I have no plans to leave but
a lot of Pakistanis are pressuring me, and even two homes have been built for
me. But I should refer to remain here at least until after the UN meetings in
1965.
It is to me fortunate that De Gaulle should come out for reality versus
“realism” which I have been harping about for some time. I don’t say he
is right but we have no policy at all and the State Department’s dictum that
our “policy” should be established by “consultation with allies,” is
the biggest big of nonsense and humbug. In nothing does humanity count; the
human being is not even a pawn in our battle against real or imaginary enemies,
the enemy of the day being the “ally” of the morrow.
There are two problems for Khawar. The one is financial, her obtaining a
job. I am asking that she get her credentials here for the discussions would be
academic but within two weeks I have to get a clear picture if not an
opportunity for her.
The big problem is sex. There are three distinct cultures in the Islamic
world, each claiming to be true Islam. One is in the Arabic world which was
very reactionary until Nasser came along and now reforms are going on all
sides. Another is that of Ayub, very conservative and caught in the tyranny of
words. They have adopted all the American gimmicks—you know, humanity which
excludes human beings; democracy which does not bestow any rights. And women
made very unequal.
The third is Soekarno which is open, liberal, democratic; moral and
spiritual and therefore to us very dangerous indeed. (Just read the reports on
Africa—one day it is communist, another day they are savages, another day
drug victims—I guest tomorrow it will be Martians.)
In South Asia there is no traffic between the sexes and even touching may be
regarded as immorality by the ignorant mullahs who control the more ignorant
masses. Purdah is usually the custom and some papers do not like even modern
dress—although they have failed to stop the young.
On the other hand we have no standard here. The Burton-Taylor situation is
known all over the world and the Chinese are taking full advantage of it. If
American wishes to “save” Pakistan from communism, the Chinese wish to save
Pakistan from the disintegration of the family encouraged by “America.”
The behavior between boys and girls which we may regard as normal and
natural is “unthinkable” in some parts of the world and I mean
unthinkable—we cannot realize it. The shock of readjustment is going to be
great and it will require considerable finesse.
I should be in Berkeley next Tuesday, the 11th unless something else comes
up, for the complex of “missions” is growing. Am now putting in spare time
at the Buddha Church (Fungs) on Washington St.; for much of the rest of the
month. “No time for surgeons.”
Cordially,
Sam
58 Harris St.
February 11, 1964
Art Hope,
San Francisco Chronicle
Sir:
You may now sleep in peace. I have found the American national anthem. It
will be played at both the Republican and Demarcation conventions and there
will be at least a premier here in 1968 when the UN or its successors or
assigns meet here. The them is:
Whatever You Can Do We Can Do Better.
The music and most of the words are already known so there will be no
problem here.
The Off-Beetles. We are a group of mature, ripened and aged
Entomologists and it is time that we be heard. But instead of appealing to the
squealers we are looking for PhDs, The D standing for “dowager.”
Our method is simple. We pick up a record and huddle, just as on the
football field. Then we go to our drums, tambourines, triangles, cymbals, etc.
and accompany, but do not play the record. That would spoil it. The public is
no more in on the secret than the quarterback allows them in.
We concentrate on an imaginary dancer and follow her footsteps. It’s all
in the mind. We are building up a repertoire, such as;
The Emperor’s New Clothes
The meeting of Goldwater and Khrushchev
Lady Godiva’s Beard
Disarmament And The Bridesmaids
The Silent Editor
Our final number is “Ecstasy.” We don’t even use instruments but just
concentrate and stare at the imaginary dancer until one of us starts
applauding. We all join in and that is that.
We are afraid to advertise, not with all the dowagers and the spring rush
coming on.
P. Puck
February 12, 1964
Dear Norman:
This is Lincoln’s birthday and the only soliloquy I have is to say that
the people who praise Lincoln dare not quote him any more than the people who
praise Christ dare quote Him. The world is going haphazardly toward dialects or
insanity, which mean the same thing. Dialectics supposes that the minds of some
men are capable of grasping the whole picture of the world and the minds of
others are not. This was denied by Marx himself and Marx himself broke with the
Marxists during his later years. He was entirely against self-praise or making
himself a hero to be worshiped. The whole world today is looking for super
maniac instead of superman heroes.
Today’s paper finds Drew Pearson saying that Nkrumah is the most in
popular man in Africa and that is just as sane as calling Kennedy a communist.
But this is the way human minds are un-working and a misstatement by a
newspaper man, any newspaper man is taken as truth. Christ fought the Scribes
and Pharisees and those clever scoundrels got out placards with the signs,
“Galilean thou has conquered” and everybody applauded, but who has
conquered what I don’t know.
If you study—and we don’t study, we just nod—Indian philosophy—we
would find that the universe is composed of Purusha and Prakriti, And if we got
this down to simple terms which no Till Eugelspiegel German can give you, it
would mean man and soil, or in economic terms, labor and land. It is that
simple and everybody is studying One Truth because there is only one Truth.
Now it happens that Sam is studying the Prakriti and not the Purusha. He is
neither psychologist nor economist. I have before me The Care of the
Earth by one Russell Lord and it shows (and even Herbert Spenser pointed
that) there is a constant movement toward disintegration of land values, values
here meaning potentiality for growing plants.
In 1958 I predicted a big Russian famine, and once before and also it came.
It had nothing to do with occultism, but just plain deduction from the
transference of chemical fertilizers. The earth needs food, the earth is alive
and the world today is divided between the organic and inorganic methods. The
Russians, British and Americans all use the inorganic, lead by the Shell Oil
Company and while we have crops, they do not have the vitamins and minerals and
seeming wheat stock-piling also benefits neither the eater nor the earth.
There is another war going on in S.E. Asia and it will never get in the
paper (and your precious KPFA absolutely refused me interviews)—between the
organic and inorganic schools of agriculture. Between the French, Americans and
Russians the natives had no choice. And they found that the F-Am methods
are the Famine methods and the Russians use the same.
The farmers are sometimes Chinese and the Chinese use organic methods and
have for ages. These revitalize and regenerate the soil. Russia today is stuck
and stuck bad and the whole country of Kazakhstan has become a dust bowl. And
in the Chinese-Russian [?]—and this won’t get into the press, is this
complete different agricultural approach.
The organic gardeners of S.E. Asia are completed and compelled by us and not
by communist propaganda to rely on the Chinese to keep their farms and fields
from being disorganized. The Indonesians hate solved this by
tank-farming—which is also successful and won’t get into the papers. I
shall stop here without going further, but sooner or later more and more
countries will turn against us if they have not already because there are
enough deserts. Since the Mexican revolution of 1910 which freed the slaves,
the lands have become totally devitalized and all political groups whatever and
whomsoever are pushing the country downhill, each in its own manner.
Now to go back to Purusha and Prakrit. We either accept God or don’t.
There are two classes of people who don’t accept the Living God—the
atheists and the anti-theists. The anti-theists are dialecticians who make God
one of the many, many thoughts which congregate in the cranium. Some have
called this “God” the noblest creation of man. It has nothing to do with
anything—it is neither the God of Scriptures nor of truth. It is the
scribe-God of the Scriptures and the Madison Avenue God of the day. You can
pray to this God forever and ever and ever. During the war I prayed three times
and the prayers were answered. So I asked the Living God, the Mahapurusha:
“Why is it that my prayers are answered and the Pope and fifty million
followers pray and there is no answer.” The answer came, “They pray to God,
you pray with God.”
The Academy began and continued with people who were afraid of the very
philosophies that they pretended to teach, Agrawal excepted, and of course,
Judith Tyberg was removed. But this is the same all over the western world. We
are “relativists,” which means we substitute words for realities.
If one went deep—and we avoid going deep like the plague—we could find
certain basic, ineffable principles operating ever and always. In another age
when a Jefferson or even a Paine was more active, these things would be
discussed, and Emerson came along and carried them to their logical unfoldment.
But logic is not enough, and it never has been enough. We can even experience
the atom today but we do not experience God or peace and we can’t unless we
change.
Peace has existed in this world in two places only: in the kingdom of Japan
and in the anarchy of the Eskimos, nowhere else. But nobody has written on this
because it would soil the show. In Japan you had policed peace and in
Eskimo-lands you had peace because there was no police. Neither of these people
accepted the man-created thought “God” which is a dialectic, metaphysical
deus ex machina.
Now I have found this God both in experience and in human beings. There is
nothing in common among these human beings expecting an intensity either of
love and compassion or peace or both. They have no particular religion and they
have many religions. They all have foresight and insight. They not only breathe
peace and peacefulness, they can in a certain sense “see” into the
future.
They are even found in certain governments. India I know and Indonesia and
Sudan and perhaps Thailand I suspect. There is no common religion, excepting
none are Christians. But in the next tier, those near peace, you find the
Scandinavians who are Christians by tradition but rapidly becoming
universal.
My own dictum is that Peace-is-Power. This cannot be proved by syllogism
or logic excepting in mechanics where it becomes obvious. But it can be proven
by experience of which Zen is one, one among many examples.
When one has this Peace he becomes master of time if not of events.
If I wish to increase the food supply of the world I dare not add to the
turmoil. So my picture of Cuba is simple—I am against all foreign aid to them
excepting sending in soil chemists and technical advisers, and leaving them
alone from this point on. There would be, of course, a period of austerity.
By organs gardening the Thai people have gone from a three-crop a year
program to a five-crop a year program in conditions not so favorable as the
ecology of Cuba. But I doubt very much whether politicians and dialecticians
will permit this. Cuba, free or otherwise, is in danger of adopting the same
program as did Mexico and denude itself. That is their problem. If they adopt
organic gardening we are doomed.
Faithfully,
Sam
February 22, 1964
My dear Norman:
You may not have thought it but by your bringing Marilyn to my rooms you
have done me a favor. In my “private” life there has been a complex over
the natural difference and confusion between identity-love and intensity-love.
I am not going into any philosophy here but it is probably that intensity-love
comes up with Venus aspects and some identity-love with Uranus aspects.
Considerable confusion has been caused by our dualistic interpretations of
Asian wisdom. Asian wisdom (which is the perfume but not the popular views)
stresses identity thought. But though some of your teachers expressed this in
the classroom they did not exhibit it in their lives. So we cannot comprehend
the identity-love when we meet or experience it.
Now Marilyn is of a different type and unless I prove to be mightily
mistaken she falls into the identity-love groups, appreciates identity-love,
comprehends identity-love, exhibits identity-love and desires identity-love.
This can cause her to be misunderstood and this is harder because the
identity-love people often have the greatest sympathy and comprehension.
I have been talking and arguing identity-love and it is not a subject
regularly arguable. It means there are lines of communication cut. Edna St.
Vincent Millay fell in her attempts to bridge these two kinds of love. Whitman
seems only to have comprehended identity-love although history makes it appear
that he had or wanted the other.
Teddi Schleicher, 26 4 Lake St., Altadena, is another case of identity-love
found in California. On Sundays she goes to the La Crescenta Vedanta Ashram but
she will not go to the Hollywood center where all the famous people congregate
because she is a meditative type. If I brought Teddi up here and introduced her
around there would be misunderstandings but now that there is a Marilyn there
will be less.
This will also give you a slight glimpse of Saadia Khawar, my god-daughter.
The chief difference is that I think Saadia is a saint, at least in embryo,
though she would deny it and regard it even as an insult to “real saints.”
But I write this to help you realize that there are spiritual types; and then
next we may be able to check these people in and with horoscopes.
Now a Sufi is supposed to love everybody but more than that he is supposed
to have wisdom. If you have an identity-love type and an intensity-love person
wants to marry the other (regardless of sex). You can’t go into philosophy
and metaphysics and point out differences—this is of itself a great sin. What
do you do?
This is where spiritual people make use of Astrology. The differences come
out in the charts and you interpret the chart and they may understand it. In
some Asian countries you can prevent the marriage if you see the incongruities
in the charts. Gavin and I both saw this when Joel was first engaged and we
suffered terribly knowing he would run off to a horrible marriage. Which is
exactly what happened. Then he married Alan’s daughter and that looks very
good.
So as there is Divine Love in everybody but in different degrees and
different phenomena, the best thing is to examine the kinds of love and light
which have been impressed on the personality and which are revealed in the
charts. I hope you can understand this. It will enable us to work together
easily in this field.
Faithfully,
Sam.
March 9, 1964
Dear Norman:
Yesterday was the anniversary or the opening of the Buddha Universal Church
and a film was shown of the building with a lot of remarks that “San
Francisco Knows How” and “only in American” could they have been such a
cooperative undertaking with people of all races and faiths joining it. The
fact is that just three Americans did much hard hand work and one is a
Vedanta’s, one a Buddhist and the other myself. There were two or three Negro
Christians around at times but I don’t recall any white Christians excepting
some engineers, steel men and riggers who came on special occasions and they
were not necessarily Christians.
At once the question rises if “San Francisco Knows How” and “only in
America” this could be done, why isn’t Grace Cathedral finished? etc.? It
does not occur to the filmmakers or to the press that Chinese think vertically
and Americans think horizontally. Americans analyze and form endless sects and
schisms, and Chinese synthesize and form “togetherness movement.” This is
certainly their history.
“Brain-washing” has nothing to do with communism. “Brain-washing” is
the effort to have Americans think synthetically instead of analytically. You
see the “Black Muslims” breaking up, we all break up. Every man is a king
to himself and the surrender of something we call “independence” and
“freedom” is regarded as a tragedy. Jesus Chris to may have said, “I am
the vine and ye are the branches thereof” but this is not, most certainly not
Christianity.
I have concluded that Westerns “think” horizontally, Hindus circularly,
Malayans spirally, and Chinese vertically and all have their methodology.
The Hitler argument was that Jews could not be scientists and so they were
not permitted to train as scientists. Well, America adopted aptitude attests
tests and they use them at City College. There are just two training schools
for hotel-workers in the country, San Francisco and Buffalo, and if you go to
CCSF you will find a lot of colored students studying in the course for hotel
workers and, probably doing all right. “Hotel-work” is proper (?) for them,
and “sciences is not.” So they go and study the hotel arts and sciences.
This would not be in the papers, of course, facts never are.
If there were any logic—and there is not—there would be 50% students in
the hotels, of “black” races and this has nothing to do with minorities. It
has to do with aptitudes. At one hotel I go to in Hollywood everybody is a
Negro excepting at the front desk and I never saw anybody say anything one way
or another.
If we are going to accept the “aptitude” approach which keeps the
colored boys out of the building trades and engineering and sciences where are
we going to put them? To me the hotel business in all its facets is
“logical” (I won’t say “just”—but logical under these premises.)
Now in the next few days I am going to take up some matters of world peace.
I attended the so-called conference on Arab culture, which is the same humbug
or having some professors come out as expert, no speeches from the audience and
questions dodged. So millions of people suffer because Americans have a
methodology based, not on knowledge, certainly not wisdom, and thus announce
“policies.”
This is one thing I am being compelled to tackle.
What I am not able to tackle is why there is no unemployment in any
industrial nation in Europe, and whether these nations are “capitalist,”
“socialist,” or “communist” is of no consequence. Portugal, Spain and I
think Greece do have unemployment, and of course all the Americans, but not the
Europeans regardless of the system. It would be some question to ask any and
all candidates why “only in America” there is so much unemployment. Why?
I saw Gary and asked him to phone Barbara. To be sure I took the matter up
twice. He said he would do this as soon as he went home.
Claude was also at the Church.
Finishing the paper not only am I apathetic but one can understand why with
all the commentators and politicians there the people of New Hampshire simply
don’t care; there is nothing to care about.
Sam
April 11, 1964
My dear Norman:
Some time ago I moved back into the “Symphony Under the Stars” rooms at
772 Clementina St. Most of the ceiling is still intact as Gavin left it. I have
seen him only once and he is getting older. On the other hand I met one of my
old school teachers and she remarked on my age: “Well, I have been to
Shangi-la.” So I go on and nobody accepts my philosophy but they wonder that
I am not growing particularly older and yet that is my philosophy.
The other day I met some of the New School Dancers and we had a wonderful
time with mutual understanding. It is as difficult to explain that
understanding. It is as difficult to explain that understanding in our
conventional terms as it is to translate Zuni or Chinese. But even Jim Pike is
beginning to think there is something there.
In a sense I have gotten into politics. Senator Fulbright’s new stand
caused me to lay cards on the table for Congressman Burton and he accepted
everything. This included several technical matters. Problems are easy to solve
but we in the US are solemnly dedicated to personas, no matter what we say and
an idea depends on the source rather than the content. The result is that I
have a continuous series of episodes of either up-ending speakers or joining in
up-ending speakers, but nothing constructive.
I now have a letter from William Vogt who has been fighting our land
wastage. He is coming here soon and wishes to see me. I also have the book of
Jonathan Garst. He and his brother hosted Khrushchev. By agreement we were not
to meet but go to different parts of the world. I know, from the contents of
his book, that I have accomplished what he wished—which is not what
governments and administrators wish.
I don’t know of a single foreign aid plan excepting by Ford
Foundation—and slightly in another direction by Asia Foundation and Fulbright
that can or will accomplish anything important. I do not wish to go into
details here, but everything is piecemeal.
The other day was walking on Jones St. and saw some African drums. I did not
like to discuss my flairs when I found it was Rockefeller Head Quarters. There
is a big segment of colored people out for this candidate. But I found that
their leader came from Ghana and not only that, was the hostess and companion
to Julie Medlock, my female alter ago.
What I do not understand is that a representative of Nkrumah would be doing
working for Rockefeller—I simply do not understand. Nkrumah may be off base
but he has programs; Rockefeller has just negations.
Outside of being for Burton I have little interest in politics but cannot
by-pass your report on the Kennedies and therefore am against Salinger without
being sure of where I shall turn.
What our politicians cannot even “conceive” is reality, and I mean
plain, simple reality without metaphysics. The Social Credit Party entirely
dominates Western Canada and the Labour Party will soon be dominating Great
Britain and we talk about “our allies” which is a pure “realistic”
abstraction, utterly fantastic and yet taken as “realty” by our press,
radio and politicians.
Nor can we conceive that the Chinese think we are psychotic and what we call
“brain-washing” is nothing but their (fruitless) efforts to make us think
as they do. The reciprocal is also true. We are pretty thoroughly brain-washed
outside the sciences, and even there we are. I know Chinese doctors who heal
Cancer, but do you think I can report here and give references, even though
this has nothing whatsoever to do with communism?
My phone is Hemlock 1-7419, until we get (brain-washed) into the numbers
racket. This even goes for Barbara.
Now the niece of my closest companion is also planning to come to the US. I
did not wish this because with my god-daughter, Khawar, coming, this is enough.
But she outsmarted me and allied for a Fulbright Grant so the matter is outside
my hands. The great wonder is how these very spiritual young women will adopt
themselves here. The whole universe in which they move is totally different.
They cannot understand why races do not mix without qualification and on the
other hand they could not understand why classes should mix without
qualification. Everybody has to learn.
Still two nights a week at art school, two nights at Baptist’s gymnasiums
dance classes and one night with Fritzi, one night generally home and one night
generally with Della, but always subject to change.
Have some big errands in Berkeley but don’t know when I can make it.
Cordially,
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
April 22, 1964
Dear Norman:
Hope this finds you well. I am writing at this time because the chances are
10 to 1 I shall be visiting Cleveland, perhaps at the end of next month and am
wondering whether we should get together on this, or any other point.
I was on the campus today and come again Monday but for the next few weeks
have little time. There are conferences about May 1, 7 and 17 which will keep
me busy. But Art school classes will be over soon and this relieves me a
little. Or if you want to come to dinner with me, advise—this can also be in
Berkeley.
Gradually I am hitting higher spots, being in contact with more and more
persons of prestige or even fame. My main reason for going to Cleveland—or
rather Pittsburgh and Western Penn. has to do with fertilizer experiments and
scientific problems; also for Sufism.
But I am beginning to explore the possibility of hosting some UN delegations
here next year. If I go to Washington or New York will go into more detail, but
here I am ahead of the story.
Today met one Stanley Davis who is a professional singer, recommended by one
of my pals. He is a higher intelligent person and I dislike this “racial”
factor in the arts and professions which causes labels, but at the same time we
agree that the music of North and North Central Africa needs some study. I have
a hunch other things will bring us together.
The paper talk on Zanzibar is nonsense. I have been for Swahili culture for
some time. The Swahilies wish to get together—it is as simple as that and
these people don’t give a hoot for any imperialists, Russian, American,
Chinese or British—their want to be themselves and to get together. Or as I
told Stanley—I have two plans for the Near East, accepted by Israelis, Arabs
and the UN but you betcha nixed by the United States, Great Britain and Bishop
Pike and his co-workers. Indeed I may be able soon to take some steps forward
here.
The food conference will take more attention but I am not optimistic. Henry
Luce is the keynote speaker—in other words more editorials, more aphorisms,
more sermons and more nonsense. The same is true of the latest World Bank
reports I have read—they have a lot to do with the mentality of the
commission, nothing to do with the human beings who inhabit the regions
surveyed. It could be worse. Actually my campus ventures were very good
indeed.
Cordially,
Sam
May 28, 1964
Dear Norman:
Today one Emily Hahn spoke at the World Affairs Council. Her scheduled
subject was China but she talked on Africa instead. The meeting was not
overcrowded, but they turned hundreds away. If possible I’ll come over
Tuesday, Visit KPFA, the campus and you, but will telephone first.
Well, Norman, the “Woim has toined” and everything looks bright. Have
had more good news this month than in a number of years combined. It seems that
there has been recognition on the campus in many departments and a call for
reports and projects and experiences. Everything that the AAAS would not even
let me submit has been asked for.
In addition I have been invited to go to New York and bring all my diaries
and manuscripts. But while this was going on my pal appeared and asked me not
to go until he returns. So I expect to get as far as Pittsburgh that is all and
go on later.
Then I got recognition from some editors both at home and abroad, and I love
to wait until funds arrive so I can get help. Gavin progressed my horoscope and
on the whole it is good, but I have not seen him.
Catherine Peck has been invalided and I won’t go to Cleveland until
certain matters are cleared.
Everything in and from Pakistan is also prospering. I leave Thursday
morning, June 4th.
Cordially,
Sam
June 15, 1964
Dear Norman:
I have been here over a week now, spending a good deal of time in truck and
flower gardening, and some orchard work. My friends have retired and own two
places—their ancestral estate, and this 24 acres which they are not trying to
develop.
This has been farm country—mostly dairy and Christmas trees and has been
prosperous. It is adjacent to the original petroleum section which has been
even more prosperous although to see the Pennzoil offices and plants you would
be amazed—they have so much to spend on advertising and so little to give
their employees suitable working quarters.
The land is hilly and to me very beautiful—forests, meadows, nurseries and
farms with large sections being set aside for picnic and resort areas. The
younger generations go to the cities, leaving a lot of places uninhabited and I
think property here is cheaper than anywhere else I have been, considering the
advantages. The disadvantage is, unless one uses wood, the winter costs of
keeping warm are high. Even oil is costly in this section considering the
amount that has to be consumed.
So a transformation is going on turning from an industrial to a resort
district and this is hurting some places. Actually nature made this section
more fit for manufacturing, as are Youngstown and Pittsburgh, but the trend of
the times probably means that industry will continue to look south and west.
There is certainly plenty of water here but on the other hand detergent and
other wastes are going onto rivers and great lakes. There should be proper
sewage disposal and I think they are behind here.
There is very little interest in politics. Johnson is mildly favored. The
anti-Catholic feeling is great and certainly extends to everybody near Kennedy.
But nobody cares for Goldwater. Scranton has few enemies but the question is
whether he has friends. People are against rather than for which seems to have
become our norm in politics. They are for the civil rights bill rather than for
integration. There was no objection to a radical bill, more radical than the
one passed for what they want here is to get the dispute over. Moderation here
means anti-conservatism rather than pro-liberalism.
I have written two letters to Cleveland. One to Mrs. Lavender who lives on
East Boulevard and whose late husband was a friend of your father. The other to
a Mrs. Ada Gibbons on the west side. Both will provide me with quarters. I have
to go to Pittsburgh and Wooster Ohio, some time and am writing letters to
arrange travel schedule.
The grapevine is that Virginia has not made good in life. I have not written
Mrs. Peck because she is invalided. She went to Japan with Alan Watts and came
back somewhat disturbed.
Most of my mail is not being forwarded, but the last days before departure
brought more favorable news—some things which will not be straightened out
until my return. I had planned to stay away until the end of July and want to
miss the Republican convention. It is not that there may be disturbances that I
wish to avoid—it is the kind of people who will be delegates who have to
verbalize platforms and determine policies.
One thing, however, is reflected in the press here and that is a recognition
that on the whole the intelligence of America has gone up somewhat and any
political venture that does not take this into consideration is doomed. Even
conservative folks here are more anti-McCarthy than anti-progressivism and I
think favor H. Humphrey for Vice-President. But there is little attention to
foreign affairs—these people are “Americans” rather than American.
My whole health is up and the exercises learned at the Walt Baptists studio
enable the body to do garden and farm work without pain or fatigue. I have done
a lot of kneeling, planting and replanting and not a twinge even.
I am being called on to determine some rather important procedures in
Pakistan which will also affect other lands, and am going to be slow, for my
attention is to food problems rather than policies, education or social
welfare.
The choice between Murphy and Salinger—or Luella Persons and Hedda Hopper
is certainly a “boon” (??) to democracy.
Sam
June 30, 1964
Dear Norman:
I leave Cleveland tomorrow for Pittsburgh; to return here, then go to
Wooster, then return, to go to Meadville, Pennsylvania, then return here to go
west.
Had a brief talk with your father who may want to see me later. The best I
can do is telephone as I am not sure of my residence or address. He has very
friendly and said you would be coming here in August.
Every person who has any color is liable to create legends and then the name
is attached to the legends. God is forgiving but society is not. Although
Buddha taught that all conformations are transitory and subjects constant
change and although Korzybski taught non-identity of so-called “self” with
so-called “self,” your pseudo history is “worse” than mine. Play a
dramatic role and society wants to recast you in that role always.
I did not have a chance to have a good talk with Mrs. Peck. Spoke at her
house Sunday to about a dozen people. It was tape-recorded and seems to have
gone over big.
In the afternoon had a most fortunate encounter with a former Pakistani, and
that may set the seed for future visits. In any case should be visiting the
International House near Western Reserve when I return.
The shadow stories about Virginia are tragic. This is, for me, a sour note.
The world is always sitting on judgment and on top of that there is no standard
from which to judge. To analyze is to condemn. I am sick of it.
My visit to Pittsburgh concerns Integration on a far vaster scope than is
being considered publicly. We are all analysts and our selfishness is defended
by calling it “individualism”—which is a fiction. The political
philosophy of the day is that every is everybody and we have to “do good.”
The Zen philosophy is that every is everybody and there is no “else” and
“love your neighbor as yourself” is automatic, not a maxim, not a
program.
Individualism in science has become specialism and it is becoming more and
more difficult for scientists to cooperate. The first role of “Project
Prometheus” is to stimulate this cooperation and recognition between and
among scientists.
Linus Pauling went “far out” and extended this cooperative and
integrative effort to the nth degree. He took part in the Accra Assembly. So at
Pittsburgh, at the outset, I should be learning:
Project Prometheus among scientists
The Accra Assembly and its aftermath
The whereabouts of Julie Medlock.
But I must warn these are all part of a big world view.
No one at the Academy dared go all the way with any Asian philosophy because
to go all the way would inset some precious superstition to which the
individual was attached. Dr. Radhakrishnan is President of India and is free
from superstition; he is concerned not only with the three above matters, but
has gone all the way in the directions in which my Pittsburgh host, Dr. Reiser,
is moving. This also includes mysticism and religion—in other words, world
understanding.
No doubt we are ahead of the age but we think we are moving in a direction
in which the world is moving. This is certainly borne out by sacred
scriptures—most of which were carefully preserved from class studies.
Temporary hubbub and turmoil are only privacies, not pretruths.
In Detroit there is de facto racial segregation. Here, although I seem to
want in districts almost entirely populated by “negroes” there is also
class distinction. In Detroit the rich and poor are pushed together making a
most ugly city. When the “mansions” and “huts” are separated, neither
looks so mean. On the whole this city seems “quieter” than most places.
The political situation shows madness. I have found nowhere any Goldwater
sentiment and the less the sentiment there more and more space is given to him.
Newspapers will have an editorial against him and then give columns to
communicators of whom one has never heard, trying to rouse a public to a
“tight race.” Actually it looks like a push over—
To me it all depends on the Vice Presidential candidates. But this does not
mean we are going to “solve” anything, only avoid worse situations. The
success of Labor in Great Britain makes all this noise and turmoil nonsense. It
is the Americans who live in dream worlds and insist they are realists. I enjoy
more and more my absence from previous campaigns.
Will be back late in July and will try to see you before you come to
Cleveland. I have more work on the campus.
Cordially,
Sam
July 14, 1964
My dear Norman:
I spent two hours this morning with your father. It was very cordial and
long drawn out, for he asked me as many questions or more on work affairs as
about you. He is satisfied I am an “integrationist” but actually I am on
many fronts. The projects concerning which I visited Pittsburgh begin with
iteration on an international field in the sciences, and then perhaps in the
arts and literature. And they end with a similar effort in philosophy and
religion. Outside of the race problems we are often more provincial than we
realize. Fen some of the “good” among us who think they are broad stop at a
certain point. Anyhow he was satisfied and kept on feeding me questions, some
suite tough.
He is uncertain now as to whether you are coming and exactly when for
evidently you are in Summer School. He was very satisfied with my reports but
came to the same conclusions from your letters. He realizes you have, or have
had, many sides and satisfaction cannot come by arguing, correcting or
advising. But I assured him that each side of you had matured and there was
really nothing to worry over.
I think both of us favor CORE over HAACP. I am not much for racialism, any
kind; and so far as America is concerned, at least the America of the future,
whether near at hand or far away, it must bring people together, especially
those semi-intellectuals who constitute CORE. He is wondering what will take
place when we have legal integration and democracy and thought that then NAACP
will have fulfilled its purpose. But I told him that CORE’s missions were
really vast and deep and could not be satisfied with legal or social
adjustments when there are moral and quasi-economic problems.
He is great on trying to prove “Negroes” have gland aptitudes and I am
equally great in trying to prove racists have not. I don’t know whether he
was convinced of my arguments that Asians cannot be mechanized quickly, that
they are not yet machinists and that they will not become so from protocol or
newspaper reports. The southern racists argue from the superiority of their
Northern brethren. It is certain where I lived by and large they were neither
mechanically nor intellectually advanced. They simply could not understand
certain things. I don’t believe our Senators Sorghum would understand a lot
of things they take for granted and strut because a purported fellow-racist
developed them. This is nonsense, but it works.
There is some anti-negro feeling in this city because of the Hough Ave.
delinquencies. I have been in those areas and never noticed anything, but
somehow or other people leave me alone. Yet they must occur and then multitudes
are blamed. But when I carried the questions further these people had the game
attitude toward several minorities, exempting always the Nordic types.
Whatever your father thinks on politics it is reflected all over.
Practically every type of intellectual is firmly anti-Goldwater, and regard him
as a product of another era. Almost the same attitude comes to the State of
Arizona which seems to be in the union but not of it.
I have moved about a good deal and never heard such unanimity. I have
thought it might be like Pres. Monroe who faced little opposition and then
none. Only I hope that no Kennedy is nominated for Vice-president. This would
rouse a lot of hostilities, quite a lot of different groups would renege.
Everybody says Scranton started too late but there is more ill-will against
Eisenhower than against Goldwater. When he was President a neutralist in world
affairs was either a coward or a scalawag and now he has come out as being
neutral—even despite his son and Milton. It means he is going to lose face
and if he campaigns for Goldwater he is going to get a heart attack. He does
not realize what the American people think or want. I guess he did not learn
much at Columbia.
The death of Thorez and the rise of British Labour may mean a fairly solid
European bloc mediating between us and communist China, with Russia: adopting
whatever it wants to. It is not a question to me or right or wrong, it is
simply that this is the way things are. The failure of newspapers to report
facts merely makes it worse.
I hope to have a Ghana report waiting when I return but am not sure. We
talked a little on African development and I have some ideas.
Your father showed me your office and I am sure he wants you with him next
summer. But he is very satisfied that you will make good as a teacher. For the
moment I am hoping you will select your own goals. Outside of food problems I
am not too sure of mine, so I can’t suggest overmuch. So far as foreign
policy is concerned I am not so much pro- or anti-Castro as anti-diplomats all
around. I even question tact as a virtue of much worth. And the way politics
tend here there is not too much to say for democracy, our kind.
The Norwegians have their own Peace Corps which is being welcomed in Africa
on a grand scale to help with agricultural education a job we should be doing
instead of deflecting against dialecticians.
Expect to be back by the 23rd and have several errands on the Berkeley
campus.
Sam
August 18, 1964
Dear Norman:
I have been in Berkeley several times and missed you by phone. But I also
missed you because everything in life is changing.
A life dedicated to Asian studies and not to private speculation about
peoples with whom one has not associated, is sooner or later to come the
attention of those peoples. This is the law of Karma. Today there is hardly a
country which has either not called on me for cooperation or which I have not
called upon. Indeed if I do not get financial assistance soon from Pakistan you
might find me going elsewhere.
I have a pack of stuff in my files, but I’ll stick to one. KPFA, under
Mrs. Thompson turned back my stuff without looking at it; or three times she
broke our engagement. This is in regard to Vietnam. With regard to Islam it is
just as bad, only in the case of Islam Rom Landau was a road-block and in the
case of Vietnam, Alan Watts was.
I am liable to soon throw a bomb and it will affect the election, too. I can
name the villain of the place in no uncertain terms and support my contention
with other living witnesses and some materials from my files. Of course so far
in foreign affairs the opinions of the big man who has not been there is more
important than the knowledge of the little men who have.
I met recently a Dr. Roberts who is colored, and wants to go to Pakistan.
This is fine but there is a misapprehension. I have just completed a book on
the Sahara and it seems wherever the white race has gone it has done the Nazi
trick on the black, and the caste system is everywhere and not just in India.
My whole life has been dedicated to the Brotherhood of Man. Nobody has
practiced it; the nearest among the “Aryans” being in Scandinavia.
I am surprised, but I am not “in” at the failure to stress in the recent
meet, the Russians beat the American palefaces almost every times and were
themselves defeated by the dark skinned almost every time. I think CORE should
pay attention to the Olympic try-outs. On the war-front, in the fox-holes there
may or may not be atheists but everyone is equal—to die for his country; or
in the Olympics—to strive for his country.
I must try to be in Berkeley again often, but if I am part of delegations,
will not be able to contact you.
Sam
August 19, 1964
My dear Norman:
I enjoyed meeting you yesterday and may call as soon as possible but you do
not seem to know what my jobs are. When I saw six hundred thousand (600,000)
absolute homeless people I one place (Karachi) I went almost mad and said to
the Sectary or the Minis of Agriculture: “What can we do to put these
displaced people on these empty lands?”
In a sense nothing else matters, to me. I have therefor devoted myself to
food problems. This leaves me on bad terms with practically every social
philosopher and sociologist and newsmen and most political leaders. And on the
other hand everybody who is concerned with food is for me.
The present plans we have are all disjoint. Many of them fail. I have gone
over—and won’t argue—all the chief engineering problems of Asia from one
end to the other. Social philosophers do not understand engineering problems
and make serious mistakes and will continue to make serious mistakes. Or when
an achievement is accomplished that does not fit in with their preconceptions
they act as if it did not exist.
I have seen three almost successful social experiments, none of which fit in
with any 19th century matrix and name-calling does not give any ideas about
them. So attempts to have them published have been rejected but this will not
always be. You can bet your bottom dime that Goldwater and the Trotskyites will
join in condemning them, through they are existing functional groups. And a lot
of “liberals” will pooh-pooh them, too, so I have found it best to confine
reports to engineers and agriculturists. For our opinions do not determine the
happiness of others and opinion people have always and will continue to push
their thoughts over the actions of others.
Prof. Adams came out boldly for Sufism being experience and this experience
transforms man, his character, his outlook, his visions. It is not necessarily
a different change from that produced by Vedanta or Zen.
One thing that happens—and it is the least important of any—is
“seeing” beyond coming time-space. In 1917 I was asked what I thought of
the “Russian Revolution: “If it fails it will last 50 years, if it success
it will last 200 years.” “You’re a communist.” But later when I said,
“ I don’t like flat lands,” then “You’re a fascist.”
Some of my poetry escaped a holocaust of 1949 when 25 years research was
destroyed. In it I predicted variously the horrible defeat of Japan, the
destruction of Hitler, the forming of the UN and its divisions into three
camps, etc. This method of foresight was “revealed” by Sokei An Sasaki who
preferred to abandon it and I have also chosen to abandon it. All I know is
that there is not going to be any Third World War despite our diplomats,
politicians and press. It is not in “the sphere.”
I am not interested in governments and very little in polity. I am
thoroughly against communism but if it came I would simply put on work clothes,
live in a commune and go back to hoeing unless the commissars wanted me to do
soil work (at any level) or crop work, any level. I don’t fear or hate
anything or anyone. It is simply that I have seen the scientific (not the
political) solutions of lots of problems.
Even Harlem—and I have lived there a little and been there several times,
is far above and beyond a good section of the world. I am opposed to these
“African Groups” but would be for their going to Africa an any capacity
whatsoever and doing anything. But would they accept Nkrumah? Or even
Kennyatta? I saw the latter last night on TV and am far more interested in him
than in China. This is because that part of the world is ecologically dear to
my heart and not because of racial sympathies. Superficially there is more here
in Kenya than in Pakistan and this is why I am interested in Pakistan, which
needs the doctor. Besides being actually a leader in the Sufi brotherhoods I
shall be received and accepted.
I have lived in the South and worked alongside of share-croppers (Negroes)
and for that reason I am sympathetic to the people who go to Mississippi. I
worked with a lot of colored men here, as an equal. Sufis are against agitation
for the sake of agitation and are also against exploitation. The present
society lauds “excitement” and there is a lot of confusion between about
four different movements called “the Negro problem.”
I am an absolute Integrationalist which does not mean I am opposed to
communities, only they must be voluntary and not legal.
Theoretically I am against your school ideas, but practically I am for them.
We enforce the same principles in the army that will be fighting in Vietnam,
and in the athletes who go to Japan. If we can bring one Hindu 10,000 miles to
go to school, than we can bring 100 Negroes 10 miles. After two or three
generations of your ideas, we might go back to neighboring schools. In any case
I hate segregation. I don’t like all—anything schools excepting for
religious purposes.
The accepted religion does not bring any moral or psychological discipline.
By “moral” I mean self-control, not a bunch of negatives.
My teacher taught that until man made peace with himself he could not have
peace with the world.
My apathy with present politics is enhanced by satisfaction with art and
science, artists and scientists. I don’t mean the upper levels here, but the
lower levels. It has always been that “the stone that was rejected has become
the cornerstone.”
My main difference with the politicians is that I have a program, they have
not. My main difference with many of the Negro leaders is that they do not seem
to have programs. I do not [?] their opportunism, that is art of human
behavior. As you teach school and accept responsibilities over human beings you
will change.
Abroad I found practically no difference between the behavior of Negro and
Caucasian official, excepting that at the low levels some Negroes are better
able to enter the local society. I think, but I do not know that such groups as
the Peace Corps are fairly integrated; if not they ought to be. But outside my
own fields I should prefer to follow, and outside of mysticism and horticulture
my opinions are not very important.
Sam
August 20, 1964
My dear Norman:
My first spiritual teacher, Hazrat Inayat Khan, taught that racial mixtures
would benefit humanity biologically, in the first place. There is also an
occult tradition that a new race would appear and how a new race could appear
by any traditional practices such as “Aryanism” or “Jewish Purity” or
continuance of caste, has been a mystery to me. In Hawaii and in Brazil we find
essentially new races appearing, the term “race” here being a biological
and not a social one.
This thing goes on all the time in the laboratory and I have seen wonders.
But it is no use talking about these wonders because emotional people and those
immersed in social problems do not understand scientific principles. This is
pretty much the same no matter what their social views are.
I any case perhaps from my teacher or perhaps from sentimentalism I am for
those very things in CORE for which they have been criticized and I am not
always for some things which are considered as “normal.” When I learned the
International it ended, “The International Party shall be the human race,”
and I have been opposed to nearly all communist movements because their
international party has not been, and even now shows no signs of becoming the
human race. Of course neither do other groups tend in that direction but at
least they don’t have slogans of this kind. They have each their own kind of
nonsense slogan.
I did not hear all the debate on KPFA. It differed from the one on Pest
problems which I attended in having too many speakers and not enough resolution
as to what they were seeking. Offhand I cannot and do not sympathize with those
who proclaim “Africa” and then go off and loot; or with anti-white groups,
because I am opposed to any movement of race against race on any basis.
The problem of the slums and especially Harlem is not a race problem. It is
a combination of the worst aspects of absentee landlordism. I have lived in
Harlem and I have seen it go through several racial phases but always the same
social vice. Today indicates outbreaks between Puerto Ricans and “Negroes.”
When I was last in New York, they were allies.
There is a danger of racial fascism, I don’t care what race. I am all for
those who go down to Mississippi on any basis. But the KPFA conference was
overlooked by some of the panel—they were able to speak their pieces fully,
it went out on the air, and there were both seen and unseen audiences.
Some of the reasons for listening are not pleasant. I am totally bored by
what goes on on most stations. The commentators have all wound themselves up in
self-importance. I am writing a paper on South Vietnam. It will be objected to
by all groups which are interested in objectives and not in facts. I told a
young woman recently: “Remember that Europeans are human beings, Asians are
thought- forms.” “I have learned that already.” And I do know that most
Asians are thought-forms, especially Vietnamese, Kashmiris and Tamils.
To me the KPFA panel combined some of the best brain-hearts anywhere with
down-right commissariats. Lenin studied for years and years in order to lead a
revolution and he killed as few people as possible in order to preserve the
social order he wished to take over. Castro killed capitalists, or
conspirators, no doubt, but I have not heard of any large scale looting there.
I don’t know much about Cuba, so my conclusions don’t count. I was in the
first Chinese revolutionary movement until Chiang took it over. There was an
edict against looting. Property owners were dispossessed but no property was
destroyed. Unfortunately this revelation was betrayed before it got far.
Non-violence without a study of Indian philosophy is a truism, not a truth.
If one has not a back ground into all Indian metaphysics, and he piece-meal
picks sectors, there will be trouble. Sri Aurobindo was a far greater seer than
Gandhi, though this means courting unpopularity. It is the Americans who have
made Bhave a saint. He has expropriated huge deserts from landlords.
The problems of Philadelphia, Harlem and Mississippi are all different. I
suspect you don’t like Elijah Mohammed because he has not said a word on
social justice. American Empires have failed because of lack of social
justice.
But I have to work on Vietnam about which I know something. We are going to
have a lot of Vietnam because throughout America, black and white,
“liberal” and “conservative” we do not grant actually the right to
exotic peoples to think in terms we have not conceived. The rot in S.E. Asia is
due to our blind faith in folk-heroes. The substitution for Robert Kennedy for
John Foster Dulles, in a sense, is that of Beelzebub for Mephistopheles. But so
long as we are, as a nation, stuck to hero-worship, it does not make much
difference.
KPFA refused, absolute, under Miss Thompson to even glance at my papers on
Vietnam. But then so did everybody else. My pal Robert Clifton died of a broken
heart over his total failure to report and have anything accepted by anyone. He
has a lot of friends who are my corroborators.
Between one group of people who will not permit honest criticisms or
objections and another group who will not consider social justice, I have no
choice. There are many ways out but Americans are totally unable to understand
them. We would not permit the President or Vice-President of India to partake
in our forums—I don’t car which point of view or station or anything. It is
only now that these views have at long last been presented at Berkeley. The
American Academy would have none of them, but then, nobody else would
either.
Sam
Even this communication is a luxury. The easiest places to establish utopias
are islands with sufficient rainfall. This has been true of Bali. It can be
true of Formosa (Taiwan), Ceylon and Cuba. So soon as these words are mentioned
than there are a lot of semantic reactions. Nobody sees the geography, or the
aptitudes or the people or their customs; everybody sees the government and
society. At least I do not predicate a Utopia for Haiti and Santo Domingo
because the moral levels are too low. (This has nothing to do with race, but a
long history of corruption and exploitation.)
Sociologists do not know what plants to sow for deserts, for over-moist
places, nor how to increase supplies of food elements which can be grown in
situ. They are too busy organizing and reorganizing. The Peace Corps is all
“right” if you want to cure measles for abolishing the spots one by one.
Neither North nor South Vietnam has today stability. The forces at work on the
negative side are very different—non-democracy in the south, floods in the
north—not reported, of course.
But every flood in India is reported and that makes it possible to work
there, to see what can be done, to hazard solutions based on our scientific
knowledge of the day.
I am writing up three utopias I have seen—they are real, they are growing,
they are prospering. They are nothing like “capitalism” or “socialism”
or “statism.” They all extend into new dimensions, all are writers of our
so-called “left,” “right” and “center” each of whom is trying to
foist its brand of dialectics on the world.
Include me out, Norman, I am too concerned with human sufferings to be
involved with subjective thoughts.
This has nothing to do with you personally. It is an overall soliloquy
against thoughts or pseudo-thoughts expressed by whomsoever. Someone said.
“If you are not a socialist at 15 you have not heart; if you are a socialist
at 50 you have no head.” But when you get into the international world these
words no longer have any meaning.
Faithfully,
Sam
September 4, 1964
My dear Norman:
I am sorry I could not contact you this week. I have listened to a number of
KPFA programs and my conclusion is that most Americans live too comfortable
lives to understand the problems and sufferings, or even the ways of lives of
others. And if I criticize KPFA, remember that the programs are sometimes
interesting enough and communicative enough to listen new. Of course the
international newscasts are value and among the best things on the air from my
point of view.
All my present outlooks are closely related to C.P. Snow’s “The two
cultures,” one which he calls scientific and the other literary; one which
leans on facts and personal activity, the other on abstractions and
value-judgments.
I rejected Marxist philosophy because it was based too much on subjective
dialectics, and all the personality insistence does not make a thought or idea
factual. This has resulted in complete rejection of almost every sort of
materialistic philosophy. Thoughts in people’s brains are not material or
materialistic though they may be so-called. And Karl Marx who had some heart
and some mind denied he was a “Marxist.” He believed in a dynamic,
evolutionary outlook and questioned whether even a single accretion to human
knowledge belonged to an individual.
Thus personally Karl Marx came very close to the Buddhist logicians who
denied the existence of things, and saw the dynamism of movements. Consequently
what is called “Marxist-Leninism” is verbally bunk and can’t by anything
but bunk.
This has nothing to do with the establishment of societies different from
our own. There are numerous societies which are subjectively labeled as
“capitalistic” “communistic, “socialistic” and when one describes
them one finds that one has to renege somewhere or other on his own
definitions.
Karl Marx started out with the theme of the abolition of poverty just as
Buddha started with the theme of the abolition of sorrow. Each reach
conclusions by subjecting himself to austerities and each gave the world
plausible solutions but to different problems. In each case while the
originator denied and denounced priest craft, under another name the priest
craft took over. Instead of the priests disappearing, the number increased in
the Buddhist lands. Instead of the state withering away it has become more and
more powerful and a lot of nonsense excuses are offered by power-hungry
individuals.
The more I listen to sociologists and social philosophers of any school the
more I am unable to understand what they are talking about. It is noticeable
that after proclaiming democracy, humanity, etc. it is almost impossible to get
an interview, let alone make a criticism.
Although at the moment all the doors are opening, I cannot predict my own
future. My closest Sufi colleague who is also clairvoyant (at a very high
degree) says he will be here at the end of October. He is engaged in spiritual
healing and is coming on both an agricultural and healing mission.
When I return to Pakistan I shall institute a new system of education,
beginning with children. Here I won’t even waste time talking. It is only
that a Sufi collects a lot of wisdom and has to carry it around. I knew the
Late Nyogen Senzaki from 1920 to 1957. Two weeks ago for the first time I was
able to find somebody who would take any of his teaching from me. What was
gained by so-called professors of Asian Philosophies to refuse even a single
living incident is beyond me.
My worst two enemies in effect were Rom Landau and a person I shall not
name. But they hated each other so-much that they even greeted me when the
other was around: Both claimed leadership on matters where I am considered a
top expert—abroad, only abroad, and they administered coups to each other.
When I return to Pakistan also I shall be functioning in that world
concerned with the experiencing and sharing of happiness. Only the Zen
Buddhists (the real ones) have any idea of that here. Claude and Della are now
both assiduous in their study of real Zen.
Love and Blessings,
Sam
Norman: This may give you some idea of the world in which I live which is
too stupendous for most people. That is why I cannot extend it. You may have
seen misery but the greatest I have seen by far was in Calcutta (next to worst)
and Karachi—600,000 homeless in one place. Problems are solved not by
emotions, politics or even rash economic measures without taking into
consideration the nature of the earth. Bhave, who takes deserts away from the
rich and gives them to the poor is a saint here. Unless one knows how to use
the land ownership is nonsense. The Arabs had that solved for centuries but the
combined pressures of dialectic socialism and dialectic capitalism have ended
that and all other near Edens. Ramdas was not only a spiritual teacher but he
has re-established a near- perfect economy. I have seen such places, and you
find Goldwater, the C.P., the Birch people and the Marxists-Leninists joining
together and easily influencing the “moderates.”
September 18, 1964
My dear Yvonne:
Incidents this week prompt a letter if only to communicate news. I am not
one to lecture on “The East and West” perhaps because I may know a good
deal more of both the East and West than most people. But there is one thing
that stands out: If a person claims to have psychological knowledge he is
welcomed in the East and snubbed in the West; and if he claims to have
scientific knowledge he is snubbed in the East and welcomed in the West.
There is very little difference between two men in the Orient insisting they
were insulted because I had some knowledge of how to do with salinity and
several women here who, crying over their affairs, seem to be looking for and
longing for help. In bot
h cases one gets a “How dare you.”
But now I have had a letter from Asst. Secretary of Agricultural George
Mehren that he is coming here and wants to see me. He is in entire accord with
my plans and researches. And one after another the citadels of unconcern have
been stormed, including at last a willingness on the part of a Social
Scientists even to see me.
And I can return to Asia at any time because my god-daughter has become
totally successful, wealthy and famous and wants me with her.
This stands in sharp contrast to incidents here, the last of which is the
news that Donna Ex-Pervier has pulled up stakes and gone to Texas. It is
strange and almost like a perversion that one can get neither the ear nor the
heart here on personal matters and here one can be besieged, especially if one
be a Sufi.
You can understand why here one goes more and more into food problems and is
more concerned about 50,000,000 Hindus near starvation than about local
politics. And if you think that these 50,000,000 Hindus are all of one’s
efforts, that is why my life has become almost secret.
Between the effuse and warm welcome of the scientists on the Berkeley campus
and the absolute non-welcome of the social philosophers, there has been one
battle after another and one victory after another in the Oriental departments.
Whereas the Academy, excepting Satya Agrawal and very little Haridas Chaudhuri,
neither wit, wisdom, logic nor knowledge were of any use. And it got tiresome
to be teaching professors in the Orient and have the pupils or their pupils
giving me the boot.
Within a few days a Sufi colleague became appointed to the chair of Islamic
Philosophy in the American University of Beirut; the disciple of a close friend
came to Berkeley and smashed a lot of “experts”; and Indians (in Berkeley
Indians not Germans and Englishmen teach their own philosophy and culture)
welcomed me all over the place.
At the moment I am not able to help others. I feel like a man who has
climbed the Himalayas and reached the top without food, something like the
ending of the Mahabharata, a book “experts” don’t even have to read.
I am going to be on the UC Berkeley campus Monday:
Agricultural Departments. I have yet to meet a single scientist, any
field who did not grant an interview either on the spot or at a fixed date. My
life-theme, “How California Can Help Asia” integrates many points heard by
speakers this evening but in a much larger field. Prof. Mehren, now Assistant
Secretary of Agriculture, is coming out here shortly and hopes to see me,
approving the general text of proposals. I have been there and I know what I am
writing and talking about.
Asian Department. There has been a strange institution in the United
States and “only in America” which has previously left the bulk of teaching
in the hands of Britons and Europeans. Americans were downgraded and Asians
often not even considered. Now some institutions have staffs composed of a few
Americans and many Asians and now the Berkeley campus has come around to this
point of view. I have addressed more study bodies than Speaker Unruh who was
selected by the National Government as an “expert” on university education
in Asia, yet being a horticulturalist and not a pedagogic, have hesitated even
to mention it. But the truth is that a two months visit abroad makes one an
“expert,” a two years visit makes one an “outcast.” I can prove this
easily within walking distance of your station headquarters.
Social Science Department. Interviews, appointments, letters, all
ignored. It was only after long struggles and appeals over their heads that a
single professor in the humanities (????) was willing even to consider and
appointment.
How in God’s name, or the devils, are we going to make friends with Asians
or any beings? I approve your stand on the Negro question, but I want all human
beings to be given full consideration and not in talkie-talk but in
everything.
I am to return to Asian in a few years to do a “Tolstoi,” but also to
lecture them on subjects to which we have closed, unfortunately, our ears,
eyes, and minds. In 1936 I was the “expert” on Asian problems; when the
late John D. Barry died, I was displaced immediately and thoroughly by
unfortunate émigrés from Europe. When I returned recently everybody asked me
… about Cuba! Who is right, China or India? My friends, there was no India to
1945 and I am an anti-communist. The question itself is a false question. The
history of China is factual whether we like it or not; the history of
“India” is a convenience and I love India.
A copy of this to my god-son, Norman McGhee. I would like to be a volunteer
reporter for you when I go away again. I have been in many places where our
Crown Princes (You can choose your party) have never been invited.
Sam
September 19, 1964
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Radio Station KPFA
Berkeley, Calif.
Dear Sirs:
I have just listened to your proposal to have new casts early in the morning
which is fine for me; indeed 7:30-8:00 A.M. is about the best time.
Then I listened to the reasons, etc. and your plans for volunteer news
reporters. And here is an unfortunate story, or rather series of stories.
For years I tried to reach your Station under former broadcast and program
management. I got so far as getting three appointment dates all broken after I
took the trouble to come to Berkeley. On top of that this was preceded by a
priori rejection of materials.
Now what did these materials consist of:
The actual history if the origin of the trouble in what we now call
“Vietnam” by an eye-witness who lived in every country in Southeast Asia
and who became, ipse facto, persona non grata to those strange bed-fellows, the
late John Foster Dulles and the famous U.C. fiction professor, Eugene
Burdick.
Then I tried to get a hearing for Islamic mysticism as part of supposed
Asian religion broadcasts. Refused a priori. Now I am one of the top
authorities in this field of the whole world, a colleague of mine is now in
charge of these studies in the famous American University at Beirut,
Lebanon.
I tried in vain to get news before a number of American newspapers,
broadcasting stations, etc. and my list of goose-eggs is tremendous. I give
three instances:
I warned in vain of impending plots against the American Embassy in Cairo
UAR. The warnings went unheeded, I witnessed the attack in persona and nobody
accepted anything.
I was in North Bombay during the Krishna Menon election and the main facts
and factors went unreported here.
I was in Kerala State during the last election and saw the communists in
action, know the factors and factions there.
Nobody would print anything, and we haven’t a friend in all Asia. And I
have met in person, I guess half a million Asians from prime Ministers to
peasants, both definitely included.
Sept. 19, 1964
Dear Norman:
This week has seen a radical change in potentialities. I have never believed
that the Asian mind was a figment or a series of figments in the imagination of
non-Asians—any more than I could object to Sinclair Lewis book—I don’t
remember the name on “Blood Royal.”
Nor do I consider spiritual attainment apart from the feeding of stomachs.
Each “grand” occasion in the life of Jesus preceded or followed feedings,
and his apocalyptic words, “Feed my sheep” should in my mind be accepted
variously so that the whole life is dedicated to Asian stomachs and American
hearts.
This last week I “struck oil” on all fronts. I go into no details.
Donna Pervier has pulled up stakes and gone to Texas, I presume to her
family. It is characteristic that in the Orient, in Pakistan in particular, any
attempt to help them in scientific agriculture is regarded as an insult and any
attempt to help them in psychological or sexual matters is regarded as most
noble; here it is exactly the opposite. No young woman here would listen to
this old bachelor and no woman there would not. And the agriculturalists have
sometimes there acted exactly the same as women in distress behave here.
That is why I have stood my ground for better or worse.
As a disciple in the real philosophies of the real Orient I see no hope
until the ground itself is regenerated, revivified, and enriched, which is not
done by any dialectical system be that of the anti-Marxist so-called
“Marxist-Leninists,” or the anti-Christ so-called Christians, or the
Anti-God social order in which we live. They all agree that when humans want
bread they give stones, each its own kind.
The future societies—and I have seen them—will transcend the present
ones similarly to the present day chemistry transcends that of a hundred years
back. But the “truth” will always be what Jesus said, “I am the vine and
years the branches thereof.”
Sam
1508 Spruce
Berkeley 9
Sept. 23, 1964
Dear Sam,
I’m glad to hear things are going so well for you. My the good fortune
continue.
As you know I am now teaching the sixth grade at Ross and consequently and
unfortunately won’t be here to greet you on your trips to Berkeley unless
they are o the weekend. I don’t even have a chance to talk to the KPFA
people about your letter until the weekend and then most of them aren’t
there. They called this week, presumably about your letter but I haven’t has
a chance to talk to them as yet. Have they called you yet? I will try to call
them during the day but it is difficult to do so.
Hope to get to meet your Sufi friend when he comes in October.
All the best till we meet again.
Norman
September 30, 1964
Dear Norman:
There is one thing which makes me sympathize with militant groups and that
is, that only in my militancy I have succeeded at all. Americans who think they
are following Gandhi accept the non-violence which is the Jain approach and
reject they satyagraha which was the soul of Ghandiism. Or putting it in the
words of Dr. Pandey who is now in charge of Indian culture on the Berkeley
campus, a lot of non-violence is nothing but cowardice.
One after another of the bastions I have been attacking has fallen. I am now
a sort of off-the-record adviser to professors on subjects where I was not
permitted to submit a paper at any level to any of the instructors at the
American Academy excepting Sayta Agrawal. My theme, “The Integration of the
Ancient and Modern in the Solution of India’s Problems” is much in line
with several world movements and I am now in the forefront of the battle for
Internationalism versus Differentiation in every direction.
That is why I am opposed to all groups and philosophies operating in the
“Western world” from dialectical communism to dialectical anti-clockism. I
have seen problems solved by both scientific and social measures, but not in
terms of the past, any more than we can explain radio-activity and atomic
fusion and fission in terms of the past.
An agent of “Mohammad Speaks” came here and the last copy left me
disgusted. The “white race” is the enemy! Nowhere, that the landlord, the
capitalist, the exploiter, the machine, the government is the enemy! They want
a stage so their bourgeois can exploit their Negroes and they want to be
subsidized for that. CORE is the only group that fits into the Internationalism
as above presented though it occupies only a narrow field thereof. I don’t
know who wrote “The International” but it used to end, “The International
Party shall be the human race.”
The complete trend in my direction or the complete harmonization of my
direction with the present trends means that both among the agriculturists and
Asians, everything I have stood for is receiving recognition or opportunity.
There will be a world meeting of religions in Southern California, and not all
your Landaus, Spiegelbergs and Watts can keep me out. And a report from one of
my colleagues in Washington concerning the logical internationalism for which I
have been battling has received the blessing of Lord Russell. We were doubtful
of him because all the rest of us accept the spiritual existence.
On the face of it two things are evident:
a. That no one can point to a single disciple of a single “Great Stone
Face” California spiritual (?) teacher who has had the spiritual liberation,
at least in any of the forms, and there are many forms, presented in the
magazine.
b. That as a nation we haven’t a single friend in Asia and we can’t and
don’t discuss Asian philosophies—inter pares—as we discuss European and
Jewish Philosophies.
Tonight I am meeting with a personal emissary of the Dalai Lama. His
Holiness has also contributed to the aforesaid magazine with his thesis of a
number of paths of development coming from Lord Buddha (and therefor other
paths not coming from the Buddha). He also has had to face the bastions of the
Genus Homo Californicus spiritualias, where the external personality means
everything and the internal is shamed.
Yes, there is every sort of answer to the problems presented by Mr. Ross,
and he and everybody else could have them. But so long as “We Californians”
wish our preceptors to look like Galahads (whether they act that way or not),
we are not going to find them, even in our midst.
The credentials of this person, long rejected and rejected almost entirely a
priori, have recently been examined and being examined accepted by one
institution after another. They are just as valid, just as much based on
experience and transferable experience as those of any instructor in any of our
real sciences, such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
But even the emissary from Nepal is having difficulties. He does not look
nor act the way “we” insist a lama should look and act, and people are
constantly telling him, not listening to him.
My friends, there is every answer to every problem at our door, be it in the
field of food, population or spiritual attainment. But we can’t choose our
preceptors in the later any more than in the former and get anywhere.
In September, 1965 the real teachers of real Oriental mysticisms are going
to be given the floor, even before bachelors and masters and PhDs. That will be
a wonderful day. The whole problem of this world is the division between the
question people and the answer people all over. The question people and the
right answerer more than the right answer. And there we stand.
I am hoping soon to be permitted to tell a few people about such things the
Krishna Mohan and Kerala elections—I was there. If one can’t do that, can
one try to present answers to more profound questions? Oh, the answers are here
all right, and free.
Faithfully,
Samuel Lewis
October 1, 1964
Radio Station KPFA
Berkeley, Calif.
Dear Sirs:
Last night I heard a wonderful program your station (you have a lot of
interesting programs but this one was most wonderful). It took place between 7
and 7:30 and I was preparing to go out. I think the speaker’s was David
Ross.
What interested me was the format and more than the format. He makes a
verbal appeal that man should look within, that man has much more to explore
than what we call the outer space. And he is wondering about the quest and the
answers. And then one wonders if this is a sincere appeal or a repetition of
innumerable facades made to gain name and fame.
In 1963 my check was returned, I did not have “credential” to attend the
Asilomar conference on Asia. This is perfectly true: I am neither a PhD in
Social Science, nor a British diplomat nor an American newsman, so I haven’t
“credentials.” But Prof. Pandey, now on the staff on the Berkeley campus
has concluded, rightly or wrongly, that I probably know more about India than
any living person. This is such an atrocious claim that nobody gives
interviews, excepting, of course, the personnel at the Consulate in San
Francisco and about everybody in India from the top to the bottom and
vice-versa. And you can continue it in other Asian countries.
I took Dr. Pandey to dinner and at dinner he told me he was a devotee of the
late Ramana Maharshi who is one of those rare persons who could answer
questions or enable you to answer your own questions. I became at one time the
disciple of Paul Brunton when he has the disciple of Ramana Maharshi and that
ipse factor immunized me against being accepted. I did not have the
“credentials” above including no degree from any European universities in
Orientation.
We have discussed very serious many problems associated with Indian
literature and Indian spiritual philosophies. And just before hearing the talk
as above I received, like a miracle, two books from the disciples of the
aforesaid Ramana Maharshi.
There is nothing secret about the publications. Indeed they come out
strongly for the validity of many methods and schools of spiritual development
and attainment and not just he “nice” programs of delightful looking
presentable human beings, especially those persons honored in California, but
not else her.
This immediately presents a difficulty. For the publication goes further,
names and criticizes our “heroes” or half-gods who have been made the
interpreters of Asian wisdoms, mostly of those in which they have not
participated at all.
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
October 14, 1964
Dear Norman:
I may or may not contact you by phone Friday night. I am going to see my
friend, Harriet Allison.
I had a wonderful time on the campus and a bad time. The bad time was
expected and fortunately I was warned before hand and you will understand the
situation. The campus outbreak was, and I am sure you suspected it, a revolt
against a super-government. If the university were operated on a civil service
basis, professors would be promoted on their own campus in their departments as
a result or seniority, or successful research.
But the university is growing and expanding and therefor this static system
would not suffice, and indeed it does not suffice. And because it does not
suffice and there are new departments, the inner circle can draft whomsoever
they want to fill special scholarship and grant and endowment posts regardless,
and if I used the word “fink” it might not be far wrong. And I can assure
you that before I came to the “fink” department I was tipped off in full
and I am fighting back.
Professors, some of them quite conservative, fully realize that they are
trapped by the system. Some who have done most marvelous work are neither heard
of by the public nor by the “finks,” and I may even take this up with
Congressman Burton, and ultimately with Governor Brown.
My own feeling is that for the safety of the nation as well as for the
psychological release betterment of individuals there should be far more, not
less, interest shown and demonstrated than now.
I have also broken with many of my close friends. Norman, there are only two
aspects of my left that matter—one is for humanity which I am doing through
the food research, and the other is the inner spiritual life—which is quite
different from the “cosmic consciousnesses for the bourgeoisie” which is
taught at the American Academy of Asian Studies and the Vedanta Temple. I am
far more devoted than others realize and now I am getting full cooperation and
encouragement. There is even a feeling that within a few years we may no longer
have food surpluses in the U.S. But I am one among those who are prepared
already for this eventually.
Now coming to the occult. I knew in 1910 that the world War was coming; in
1924 of the Great Depression but especially in 1926; and in 1936 about the date
of the War but Sokei An Sasaki showed me this in 1931. There is no substitute
for this which is vision and not wishing or willing. I cannot predict, of
course, that his present form of society will persist, only that I personally
feel no terror. I felt terror before. But these statements are only made in the
hopes that others may wish to learn how to “see” in manners much deeper
than those commonly accepted. Yet I am not in favor of propagandizing anybody
toward “my” from of university. I think everybody should be as free as
possible in his beliefs and ideas.
Sam
October 17, 1964
My dear Norman:
This fat is in the fire. On other occasions when I came to the Berkeley
campus I found myself a sort of hero for insisting that departments other than
those devoted to nuclear Physics and space research should be given some
consideration. For UC, one of the greatest institutions on earth, is also known
as the “War-mongering university” in many parts of the world. It has
undoubtedly done more for agriculture than any other institution but you would
never know this from public relations.
I left the letter from Dr. Radhakrishnan with the South Asian profs. Then
went to the USDA, Forestry Division, a few blocks east. Now, Norman, I don’t
expect super-human reactions, I expect human reactions. But when he found my
mission, Mr. Gleason there cancelled his other appointments until the inquiry
was handled. He saw at once what I am trying to do and gave full cooperation.
This happens more often than getting dates.
I can tell you the whole story of Prof. Soddy. He did an enormous amount of
research in chemical transmutations and thus became one of the fathers of
nuclear physics. His work was so successful that Andrew Carnegie gave
$10,000,000 to Glasgow U where he was researching. The money was to be used
“for scientific research.”
When the regents got it, they marked off $9,000,000 for social sciences, and
$1,000,000 for physical sciences, and they divided the latter so much that
Soddy could get a small grant. $7,000,000 was allocated to a research project
on how to fight socialism! Soddy was furious, and began investigating. He ran
up again the Bank of England. One of the greatest scientists of this or any
other age he died a broken and disheartened man.
Now it looks as if under the guise of getting money for “research” the
tops have selected schools that run “research departments” and it is there
where I am stuck and stuck hard. But with today’s paper and a big headline
that Senator McActeer intends to investigate, I have sent final letter to the
Chancellor, the department of “International Studies” and to congressman
Burton, waiting a few days for the next move.
There is no question that the recent squall was a protest against this same
hidden government. The University of California is a publicly endorsed
institution and belongs no more to the President than to the low student or
tax-payer. As no property damage was involved in these other outbreaks, and as
no complaints came to or though the campus police, you know darn well there is
hidden government and it is this some hidden government which has prevented me
from having an interview (I don’t mind the boot) and now senator McAteer is
investigating. If I get into public fight I have nothing to lose anyhow.
Sam
PS. Great Britain has voted for the Welfare State, Scandinavia is for the
Welfare State, Goldwater wishes and alliance with the Welfare States. Is you or
is you ain’t?
October 29
Dear Norman:
This is a dull day outside but “inside” not at all. The reactions on the
forty coming election reveal that we are being held in quite low regard abroad.
The recent victories in five countries of N.W. Europe by these favoring Welfare
States may belong to reality but hardly to American “Realism.”
China is going to walk into the UN because all the Nations which are not as
equal as others will vote that way, even those that hate and fear China.
Got a letter from Jim Pike saying that Chris Lovjieff is now in S.F. but
failed to reach him by phone. Mary Beth was in Santa Barbara but now in Big Sur
to see Dick Price.
Am invited to give a lecture on Buddhism which will be a sort or
tongue-in-cheek affair. Buddha was interested in human suffering and accepted
reincarnation. Most of our Veddy comfortable “Buddhists” care nothing of
human suffering and don’t accept reincarnation or morality or anything. And
the Cambodians don’t like us one bit.
Fortunately for me this is a “rotten borough” and I am too embroiled in
Asian matters but if prop. 14 passes I may be compelled to re-orient some
affairs. The same is true in Pakistan where the landlords and privileged are
trotting out Miss Jinnah to restore their privileges.
After the election we may gradually have to face the food and water problems
which are real and pressing and which politicians the world over are
avoiding.
Having a battle on the UC campus against the hidden government, and can’t
tell how it will come out. What connection it has with the present disturbance
is unclear but it may come out. It is a peculiar thing in America that
generally colleges are “hot-beds” of liberalism and college towns hotbeds
of reaction.
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
October 29, 1964
Radio Station KPFA,
Berkeley, Calif.
In re: India’s Food Problems
Dear Friends:
I have been enjoying your morning broadcasts very much because they are
about as objective as it is possible to get news.
But this morning certain reports were broadcast about contemporary policies
of the Indian Central Government to meet the emergencies of the day. While one
cannot protest against facts, there is the danger of accepting—and most icons
accept—that Hindus are blind followers of a “fate” which we
confuse with their law of karma.
A number of years ago one Paul Brunton, in his “Search in Secret India”
reported about the Radhosoamis who had established a society with an additional
dimension. Such efforts are rejected alike by all analytics and all
dialecticians of any outlook whatsoever. They insist—as the opposition
candidate for Presidency insists—that we must have an either-or choice.
This either-or choice is almost “unthinkable” to Indians but no one in
this country has give heed to the opinions of India’s greatest economists.
From our dialectical “far right” to our dialectical “far left,” our
Koestlerian commissars spurn all Yogis which point of view is not only
incomprehensible to them, it is inconceivable.
Since the rise of the Radhosoamis there have been several new establishments
combining elements of India’s traditional non-dualism with an international
social order which harmonizes and combines people of different outlooks and
different aptitudes.
I have lived in Kerala State where I saw such a society, “solve” all the
problems of the day—land reclamation, food supply, housing and poverty. The
methodology fits in with our traditional schemes as much as radio-activity
fitted in with Daltonian chemistry; and the society solves contemporary
problems much as nuclear physics solves (or does not) problems of the previous
century.
Unfortunately politicians and newsmen are the same the world over and it
takes some time and effort to influence what Snow calls “the other
culture.”
I don’t know if there is any relation between the rejection of the above
by certain departments of the University of California and the present fracas,
but some of the staff involved stand 100% against even receiving a report on
the above, much less considering it. But they are no different from the general
social outlook. The unlike is to be disregarded or opposed even when it
solves our most pressing problems. Somewhere in India you can find the
solution to all of India’s problems.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
November 5, 1964
My dear Norman:
Now that the election is out of the way we might get down to real business.
Our differences are geographical rather than psychological, but I am mindful
that my mind cannot comprehend and apprehend both racial and agricultural
problems and be successful in achievement. I am faced with what some would
consider “real” problems, chiefly of water and food, and sooner or later
the whole world, regardless of the various social philosophies, will have to
face the food and population problems. I am not going to waste time arguing
these points, as this would be time and effort away from accomplishments.
Besides the food and water problems, the whole drama of my “Real Asia
versus Phant-Asia” is coming to a climax. The refusal of the staff of the
so-called Institute of International Studies to give me even an interview is
morally and psychologically no different from the same procedure of the private
American Academy of Asian Studies and University of the Pacific. But the
University of California is a public institution and I am a life-time alumnus.
And any action on my part would compel the laying of cards on the table. A
defeat would not deter me in the least, for this battle of “Real Asia versus
Phant-Asia” has taken on actually an almost comic opera phase.
Buddhist World. This is the most important. The radio stations have
never permitted any actual presentation of the views of the Vietnamese or
Cambodians. Protests have been sent in vain to KPFA, KQED, the press and
everybody I know. If any American who had lived in these countries or any
national thereof had ever been permitted to speak it would not have mattered.
The world Affairs Council once went so far as to include one Vietnamese—on a
panel—where most of the time was taken up by other speakers.
Now I have just received an appointment from the world Buddhist Federation
to represent them here, to act for them in bringing out news and accumulating
data—i.e. rather a press agent than a legal or religious representative. But
by whole history in the Far East was long accepted in S.E. Asia though almost
unanimously rejected here. And so long as all the local Buddhist groups act in
opposition and rivalry to each other, it does not matter. I find Buddhists know
their religion even less than Christians.
Chinese World. The repercussions here have been greater and more
favorable. I am not going to detail it because this association—let us call
it—depends on dynamic activity not on theoretical philosophy. I do not know
if I can fulfill the invitations or eat the dinners that have been offered but
this week I hope, at least, to take part in the Birthday of Bodhidharama
celebrations in Chinatown. I have rather surprised some Chinese with a
knowledge of Buddhism which all your English, German and Beatnik leaders knew
nothing about.
Indian World. I hosted the head of the Indian Farm Delegation who
visited here a short while. I took him to the Consulate and there he ran into
first a fellow-countrymen and then two men who belonged to the same sub caste.
The result was a tea and a conference.
This conference brought out clearly what everybody in Asia knows and nobody
here. I won’t go into detail but my old witticism that “the experts on Asia
are American newspaper men and European professors” still holds. While we are
publishing news about famine, not only man present represents a district where
there has been a famine or food difficulty recently. And they all agreed that
the American habit of snubbing my on-the-spot report on the Krishnamenon and
Kerala elections was characteristic of this country.
Combine these three with the report below and you will see how and why China
is going to get into the U.N. China will come into the U.N. as an Asian nation
and if it holds out against Russia it will be accepted as the champion of Asia.
China has already entered into cultural exchange with three American countries
and more are on the way. Where do we have real cultural exchanges in the Asian
and African worlds? Only in Europe and South America.
Pakistan. By the will of Allah I ran plumb into the representative of
the “Pakistan Times” who is staying in San Francisco. The refusal on the
part of those subsidized professors in the Institute of International Relations
and certain connected Asian (?) Studies on the campus at Berkeley can become
news at any time. I know of at least one paper which would not only publish the
snub but would start an anti-American riot and attack on the USIS headquarters.
This has happened already (remember the Robert Kennedy incidents which I
related). I know and I have seen and I have warned—useless. But now the
ego-self is involved.
The building of the University of Islamabad is about to begin. The President
of Pakistan is on the Board of Regents.
UCLA I am about to go south to bring my materials to UCLA whereupon,
unless advised otherwise, I shall write to the Regents of U.C. and to the
Governor calling attention that not even the simplest courtesy has been granted
to a representative of a foreign university. It is only that the legislature
may be investigating them. Under the cover of getting funds for “research”
and sharing it with the scientific departments, some of these men are simply
subsidized professors, beholden to nobody, under no audit but with a veto
power. The scuttle-butt is that they actually represent a foreign power. I
would not care, if they would extend courtesies. In the case of Rom Landau one
of our diplomats was furious that we hired a European as an expert on Asia and
permitted him to attack our foreign policy. At times one may ask, “what
foreign policy.” I am pro-American, not anti-this or anti-that which seems to
be the order of the day.
Cordially,
Samuel Lewis
November 14, 1964
My dear Norman:
I don’t know how much this letter will influence you but at least it will
explain why I am being impelled, rather than compelled, to move about. People
talk about “Peace,” which means they do not want to be bothered. The
so-called “peace movements” are composed for the most part of those who do
not realize that life is full of dangers and what they are opposing is life,
not war. Very few are willing to look life in the face.
I do not know how much my private complexities are mixed up with the fracas
on the campus. A letter just received makes matters more dramatic if not
important. In previous years after the dictatorial head of Asian Studies
cold-shouldered me I found out in my absence he was thrown out of this
job—too many cold-shouldering.
Some people, very few, listened to my talks on my first trip to the Orient.
My second trip was greater and grander in every respect but also filled with
dander and intrigue. The ambivalence in the relations between Russia and the
United States, the “Tilsit” powers, causes people who want to have ideas
and policies and ignore facts, to change their grounds constantly. And there is
nothing more awkward than to have a mass of facts for one runs into the
“experts” who are always evaluating and changing their values too. This
will be until facts and humanity are given more consideration and if there are
any things that are not given consideration, it is facts and humanity.
The other day I had a most happy meeting with the head of the Indian Farm
Delegation. What happened from that point on is almost impossible to relate for
the incidents are about 100% contrary to both what was taught at the Academy
(excepting by Satya Agrawal) and what one reads in the press. So long as we, as
a country, rely on dispatches from UP and AP agents, often under the influence
of alcohol, and never acquainted with the vast complex known as India, we are
not going to help in matters of simple importance. There is nothing more
frustrating than to do anything of value over which people cry, such as trying
to help in case of famine, flood or drought. I have been through it again, only
antagonizing the tear-jerkers. And likewise those organizations which made
rather successful appeals for public funds and must have famines, floods and
droughts in order to squeeze out money from the public and pay their blonde
secretaries—and this is no sarcasm; it is one of the terrible tragedies of
the age.
But every time there is a rebuff there is a counter-activity by the laws of
karma which are not studied at all, certainly not by the theosophists,
Vedantists, most Buddhists, and those who hypnotize themselves into believing
they believe in karma. For after finding at last one professor who wants my
stories and facts I have been officially appointed as representative of the
World Buddhist Federation, and behind this are series of dramas that affect
multitudes and show the sham of most religious groups who are out to “save
souls,” not to help suffering humanity—the change of religion does not
affect this basic evil at all. Nobody dares to take on the ko-an of Lord Buddha
to face poverty, disease and aging.
Anyhow with another set of credentials I am leaving shortly for Hollywood on
multiple errands all of which have to do with promoting real peace and real
understanding in a real world, beyond the miasma of the tyranny of words and
human dis-consideration.
I play a game down there often fighting with them but Viktor knows I am
acting. Actually I should say that a visit there for you is a “must” and I
hope you can make the trip some time during vacation. In any event I expect
either to come and see you Sunday or to telephone for an appointment as soon as
vacation begins—at the moment I don’t know which it will be.
Anyhow I bought your Christmas present, so to speak. There are some
Ethiopians there and they have set up an African shelf. It is the best
collection of Africana I have seen, though small. I only regret I had just gone
all out for Thanksgiving and was short. So bought only two books, both dealing
with African histories and cultures. They are not very good but at least they
are.
One deals with the Hamitic-Haussa peoples about whom I have studied
previously. The other with the Swahilias about whom I have not studied. But
both soft-pedal the Zulus and Bantus, so the story is not complete.
We do not realize—indeed we ignore, that “white” supremacy came only
with the rise of mechanics and science, which is so recent that even at 1500,
there was nothing to show any European supremacy excepting in art and gunnery.
But I did not read these books to evaluate, only to enjoy the almost
fiction-like histories of peoples of whom I know too little. I wish to place
both in your hands, one for you to keep, and the other “ambivalent,” to
keep or give to one of the groups of friends interested.
I do find these people unable to understand heart communication. They want
intellectual appreciation and this involves me in polities. I am too deep in
Asia and at the moment in SE Asia to get mixed up in Africa, or Congo. After
all it has been Princess Poon who has asked me to go ahead, and my Asian
commitments are not only deep and involved, they are succeeding.
Yesterday Thea showed up at Fung’s church. I was very glad to see her. She
realizes now that I am functioning and today even more so. As I have hinted, I
have yet to give you the low-down on Oriental politics in SF. None of the
successive regimes at the Academy ever contacted the real powers that be here,
and I don’t mention their names. Real Taoism is not verbal.
Cordially,
Samuel Lewis
November 30, 1964
My dear Norman:
I have returned from a most successful trip to Los Angeles. It has taken
years but it is now becoming evident that when a person spends years studying
Asia and Asians he knows something about Asia and Asians. Just before leaving I
was fortunate to have meetings with two Ambassadors, and they gave me the keys
to the next step. One of these was Roger Hilsman and he told me what to do
next. Fortunately I already either know the key men or who the key men are.
Arriving at UCLA I was sent ultimately to the Dean of Studies. Without
looking up he said, “Do you know Princess Poon Diskul?” “Who do you think
sent me here?” Well, Norman, by the time we were through I had the keys to
much of South Vietnam and know also what to do next.
There are going to be some big sessions here on both Vietnam and China but I
don’t think I shall attend. Too many of the “experts” have refused to
grant me any appointment. Then this happened Saturday:
Sri Surendra Ghose, Deputy Leader of the Congress Party in the Indian
Parliament spoke at Haridas Chaudhuri’s Ashram. When the question period
started I arose and he answered: “Why you are the man I came to San Francisco
to meet.” That was a whale for some of those people to swallow including a
few you know, too. It was true, but I am tired trying to convince people about
these things.
Most fortunate for me—or was it karma?—Sri Ghose has been stopping with
Morse and Dorothy Erskine. I have known Morse for some thirty years. But
Dorothy’s mother, Sara Bara Field, was the leader of the young people of my
time when I held views and acted more or less in accordance with some of the
activists on and off the campus. Of course the radicals of one day are the
conservatives of the next, but that is not exactly true either. Remembering my
past I therefore do not condemn those who are close to the deep end. It is not
that my world is different; it is that it is much larger.
Not only was I successful in everything at UCLA, etc., etc.—and everything
else, but I walked down to Westwood Village to the Village Book Store and my
friend, Viktor.
You must meet Viktor. I met him originally because of his spiritual and
cosmic outlooks. But his bookstore is the meeting place for the real nationals
of the real Asia and the real Africa.
I am taking a course in college where we are going to be marked in party by
dirty hands and finger nails and we have accepted the challenge. I am not the
only older person there. This will enable me to go abroad and do lots more than
the Peace Corps. But fortunately both the agricultural departments of the State
of California and that of Washington have given me the green light. And locally
there is encouragement from all Asian groups. India has a pseudo-famine and
this gives one the opportunity.
You can understand how obstinate I feel that when all the big networks
refused first Phra Sumangalo and then myself any kind of interview on the S.E.
Asian complex, the announcer today could not place a single country! This is
the type of man who has the power to say “no,” or as I have said, our
foreign policy is very simple: the opinions of the big man who has not been
there always outweigh the opinions of the little man who has.
I did not like a lot of the features of some of the KPFA speakers who came
out for a black man’s party, a situation made more ridiculous in what I would
vote for almost any new face on the scene if he were running for U.S. senator.
I love puns, wisecracks and humor, but to have to choose between two men who
are adepts in these things in a serious election is utterly ridiculous.
Fortunately for me KPFA gives the approval to my Congressman (Burton) and
fortunately also this man and I see eye-to-eye on a tremendous area. There are
some things in local politics which are never expressed and if I told you it
would be better to keep silent and watch.
I left the socialists because their whole stress was on the factory system
when the majority of people, the vast majority were either on the land or
wished to be on the land. Of course I also read Marx and Engels, especially the
latter which makes it impossible for me to associate with those who insist that
all goodness comes from the “working class” when Engels was a capitalist.
But I am opposed to all classes and love Robert Burns’ “A man is a man for
a’ that.”
If I ever get any clearance in time will try to see you.
Cordially,
Samuel Lewis
December 13, 1964
Dear Norman:
I could not and would not attend the debate yesterday. All of the speakers
were “right” but analytical approaches and arguments have nothing to do
with Chinese points of view. The Chinese are imperialists, have been
imperialists, will be imperialists. They believe in cosmic evolution and think
they are at the top of the heap.
Personally I have no worry about them, for, age apart, I would be just as
happy or unhappy sweeping streets or weeding fields as in any other society.
I am concerned that both Americans and mainland Chinese have their very
separate but very definite “mind-purging” which each justifies, and to some
extent are justified on their own grounds.
In looking over the reports; not one of the speakers seems to have imbibed
the Chinese psychology. “We” are not the arbiters of this universe.
Unconsciously, among nations both China (always) and the United States (now)
act in this way. We can destroy China but we cannot destroy Chinese psychology.
The Chinese cannot destroy us but they can destroy our “psychology” because
we haven’t any.
I supported India against China but the logic was on the Chinese side. The
“law and order” was on the Chinese side. The Chinese have never had any
intention of crossing the Himalayas, but they do claim all trans-Himalayan
territories. Neither Russia nor America nor China nor Great Britain have ever
recognized the right or self-determination to the Turki people.
Even your most radical African colleagues ignore the same rights to the
peoples of Central Asia. There is no human consideration. A bunch of
self-opinioned socially select people argue over the fate of millions with whom
they have little contact or association. This is wrong in the first place.
I once wrote that “God and Rand-McNally are as interested in the
boundaries and people of Afghanistan as those in Italy.” I object to God and
Rand-McNally being over-ruled by anybody. To debate such matters is to deny the
existence of God no matter how often we go to church. The Chinese may be
imperialist, warmongers and what not, but they are. From that point, Norman, I
take my cue from Chinese with whom I associate and far more than anybody you
ever met going to any school of “Asian” studies. And tomorrow night I am
being presented socially by real Chinese who have and are not given any say
whatsoever on the questions debated yesterday. We white-race people of
so-called “left,ᾀ? “center” and “right” had better get off all our
cultural imperialisms.
Sam
772 Clementina St., San Francisco Calif.
December 13, 1964
Edward P. Morgan,
American Broadcasting Co.,
New York, N.Y.
Dear Mr. Morgan
In re: The People of Vietnam.
This is supposed to be the season of peace, good-will to men. There
is nothing more horrible in the minds of those who have not heavy military
equipment then the shibboleths and aphorisms with which we are trying to engulf
the world. As we do not mingle with the humanity we have no idea of the
horrible narcotic impressions we have given nationals of many lands with the
continual bombardment of bombastic phrases which have neither substance nor
vitality.
For years one listened to “Justice to the Jew” (never Justice
from the Jew); now we struggle to determine whether peoples who had
African ancestry belong to those of whom we have aphorized: “All men are
created (?) free and equal.” At least we have come to the point of discussing
the subject, with the possibility of some non-Americans coming to the
conclusion that there is a difference between humanity and mankind, and that we
Americans belong to mankind, no doubt but we do not belong to humanity, and
humane-ness.
Your profession, of course, is the worst in this respect for your
colleagues, no matter how famous, do not mingle with the masses. The cub, in
reporting on a fire, may get close to the scene. The foreign correspondence
is” above reproach” and is accepted with the same alacrity and faith that
the catholic devotee accepts the dictum of the priest. Once the AP or UP
reports, that is it and ranks are closed all the way from Fulton Lewis Jr. to
Drew Pearson in standing against any factual material by those who have been on
the scene.
Not once since the trouble started in S.E. Asia has any publication of note
nor any radio station small or large, given any attention to the viewpoint of
the Vietnamese, the Cambodian, the Laotian. What is the religion? What is the
social ideal? Want do they want?
Our completely one-way traffic USIS is not only in danger of being
demolished; it ought to be demolished. What right have we to barge into our
neighbors’ homes, demand they read our literature and pay not the slightest
attention to what they have, what they know, what they wish to preserve.
Our “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness” has long been supplanted by
“life, liberty and pursuit of security.” The Southeast Asians are given no
choice—if the mainland Chinese win they lose their liberty and if we win they
lose their “pursuit of happiness.”
It is awkward and awful that a citizen who has lived and loved the
masses—a realist, not an aphorism—has his ideas accepted seriously by the
most potent forces in Asia, and cannot get even an interview excepting from
those very persons which the fourth estate, the commentators, the editors
deride: the Army Intelligence and top brass.
A number of years ago I saw a letter signed by one Dwight D. Eisenhower,
President of the United States, in regard to bombing of Buddhist temples. “A
forgery”—was the unanimous reaction of the Embassy. How could a simple,
unknown have accepted to that which they have not and had not seen?
The terrible, lopsided reports of your colleagues on the faiths of S.E. Asia
only prompts one to ask, “Must we continue to spend and spend money and lives
to deprive people of the “might to pursue happiness.”
This is our policy. Even Roger Hilsman privately reported to me that this
part of your policy was wrong. We have to recognize the humanity, what they
are, what they believe, what they want. Who among us cares?
Back to the old shibboleth, the aphorism, “Peace on earth, good-will to
man.” What men?
During the Hitler period we struggle to prove Jews were humans. We have not
even bothered to consider whether Vietnamese, Laotians and Cambodians are men.
The Siamese (Thai) are an exception. They gave us a species of cat.
For God’s sake, look at Christ for a moment and not at the AP-UP
reports.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
December 15, 1964
My dear Haridas:
One purposely enclosed copy of a letter to my colleague, Christopher Hills.
He has been all over India, including a stay at Aurobindo Ashram, and has now
succeeded in bringing together the three movements I knew of which claimed to
be working for cosmic harmony through integrative processes. This ability alone
merits some attention. But I do not see how this can be proclaimed until we
rise above personalities and personalisms. And this is being done, not because
we have movements for the “brotherhood of man” but despite these movements.
There is nothing valuable gained by pretense at brotherhood. And the dismal
failure of the Baha’is is evidence of it. Their “Universal Temple” in
Illinois began as a ruin and remains as a ruin and not a temple.
It is not pleasant to remind you who were born in India of the importance of
the juncture of rivers establishing a holy place, as at Allahabad. There are
two and just two geographical environments for holy places into which I do not
intend to go now. But so long as Allahabads are merely the scenes of physical
movement and not of psychic and spiritual movements, we shall remain a divided
world despite all rhetoric to the contrary.
As indicated in the letter to Mr. Hills, I made the decision in life to
accept Sri Krishna and not the wealth, the prowess, the force, the fame of the
world. And when I return to your country, and even before, not only will “The
Dance of Universal Peace” be performed, but also the Flute-of-Krishna.
There is no intention here to warn your colleagues. The so-called
“American Academy of Asian Studies” not only denied my spiritual
attainments, but even that I was a Californian. This lie is having its natural
Karma, for the roots are deep here and my “How California Can help Asia” is
elsewhere receiving nothing but encouragement and accord.
What is more I have met the man who has been chief of intelligence who knows
all the religious and spiritual movements of the Far East, but all the groups
in this country that claim to be teaching Oriental religion and philosophies at
all levels. Nobody is going to graduate from any “American Academy of Asia
Studies” and get any State Department position, and may even have difficulty
with the Peace Corps until and unless a human position is reached. One does not
know what has been gained by denying a person his birthright and certainly the
karma of it is operative. It has been a shame that you do not recognize even
the ordinary working of ordinary karma.
There is nothing more needed than Vijnanavada but one thing and Vijnanavada
is undoubtedly the next step. That difficulty on the campus of the University
of California is nothing but an outcome of those straggling for
personality—leadership and those struggling for “truth” leadership and I
can assure you that truth will always win.
That which is beyond Vijnanavada is Ananda and Prajna into which one need
not go here. Karma operates and the wise man is indifferent to praise, blame
and fame. Soon the wheel will turn and this person will be on top. It is most
unfortunate that even the so-called “Maharshi” is welcomed and the living
Kabirs are rejected. You could rise, rise with the stream of truth, if you only
would.
Faithfully,
Sam
December 15, 1964
My Dear Norman:
Enclosed is a copy of letter to Haridas Chaudhuri. Integration is the order
of the day. I have seen it coming even before birth in the supreme order of
things. Racial integration is but one phase. I got out of “left-wing”
movements because “L’ International” ends, in English: “The
International Party shall be the human race.” It is not the human race and
every party, every power is against that. Previously I said, “Ethnocide is
wrong—if Jews are the victims.” It is not so wrong if somebody else is and
therefore I am against all parties in the Congo and Vietnam and elsewhere which
are permitting, on any basis, the slaughter of human beings. And everybody is
pointing to everybody else.
I am definitely for the rescue mission in Congo and against the United State
not for its Congo action but for its Mississippi on action. Theodore Roosevelt
said, “Pardakis alive or Rassuli dead” and got a kidnapped American out of
Morocco. I am for the army rescuing our citizens everywhere which mans
everywhere. And for all efforts on the part of anybody to rescue human beings.
My objection to Castro is his very anti-Marxian killing of his enemies.
Marxism is today so far from Karl Marx, just as far as Christianity is from
Jesus Christ. Marx was a humanitarian above and with all else. He wished to
destroy capitalism and power structures but never people; he wished to compel
people to be reborn.
For the moment it seems that a large section of the world welcomes Martin
Luther King and his non-violence and I am thoroughly for nearly all the non
violent methods used by everybody. Even if I do not agree with their ends I
agree with their means. The means being used today are to me right and
wonderful, only one cannot carry the load I am carrying: food human problems in
Vietnam, etc.
I was busy Saturday and have publicly and privately attacked any debate on
China at any level which excluded the Chinese and include the Luces. I
understand that your friend Felix Greene gave the Luces what they deserve. I
love Lucy and Luci, but the Luces belong in the same class of my private
Untouchables, as it us say, Chiang Kai Shek who utterly destroyed the Sun Yat
Sen Movement. Even now I am fighting to get Asians on panels discussing Asia
and Africans on panels discussing Africa.
At least one or two colleges in the South have now accepted this and thus
me, and I am going to be on the panel of a real conference of the real
religions of the real world next year Watts, Landaus and Spiegelbergs better
not apply.
Sunday night I met Willie Brown and Senator McAteer publicly and my
“nephew” Kermit Scott. I am leaving things to him and will try to see him
as soon as possible. Then I’ll telephone for an appointment.
This campus fracas is, to me, on the first level the struggle of human
beings against aphorisms, shibboleths, etc. on the next level it is the
struggle of our Declaration of Independence against Toryism. I am not going to
defend its leaders but certainly am not going to offend them. It is their age,
their struggle, their rights.
After seeing Kermit, Willie Brown and McAteer I’ll know my next step. But
today I have been accepted behind the scenes and we shall see. The efforts to
build up the brotherhood of man (reality—not aphorism) and to feed the
peoples of the world will go on. The blockage is in the hands of power-hungry
people who are against progress of any sort. Even our Chamber of Commerce
people recognize some communication with the Chinese—they are living beings.
And this is not the first or second instance of meetings on world problems
where one of the Luces has not been invited—they of all people. Who got them
in? Please forgive me my gripes. I’ll certainly forgive you yours.
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
December 23, 1964
Stephen H. Fritchman,
First Unitarian Church,
2936 West 8th St.,
Los Angles, Calif. 90005
Dear Dr. Fritchman:
When our good friend Harold Priebe introduced us on November 22, the day the
John F. Kennedy Memorial Service was being held, half in jest, half in earnest
the writer suggested the point of view of the Vietnamese and Cambodians and you
took him up earnestly. This has happened so seldom that one was almost aghast.
One goes to one brotherhood celebration after another: we have accepted the
Emperor of Japan as a world figure at the Olympic games; we are giving turkeys
to the unfortunate Americans of African ancestry in Mississippi; we have
elected very integrated congressman from Hawaii, but we are fighting a war over
people whom we have not actually admitted into the human race.
Once at one meeting there was a single representative from Vietnam. He was
not permitted to say much in the company of experts. The visitor has been
rebuffed so many times in trying to get Asian speakers before conferences on
Asia. Recently we had one at Berkeley on should we recognize mainland China,
but we have not recognized the Chinese. Despite their numbers and power here in
San Francisco, I cannot recall any Chinese of any outlook on panels concerning
China or Asia—but I have known of tax-payer’s money used to important
various European diplomats to tell us about Asia. With this background one has
rather dim feelings about the future of N.E. Asia.
Of course I believe in an Order of righteousness. Right after making the
appointment with Brother Harold, a letter was received from the World
Federation of Buddhists accepting my report. One cannot interest radio
stations, magazines, newspapers, anybody—we are fighting a war because the
opinions of the big men who were not there almost always outweighs the
experience of the little men who were.
In a short while Nicol Smith may speak here. He wrote “Burma Road.” He
then went to Tibet and warned and was socially ostracized—something which is
perennial in his life anyhow. Some Brand Names went to Tibet, lulled us, and
the Chinese mixed in. the same in Vietnam, the same in Laos, the same anywhere
and everywhere. This is our psychological if not our political foreign
policy.
We can compromise on having peace or good-will to men, but we cannot
compromise on our shibboleths and aphorisms. We have to have them. We have
Snow’s two cultures, and we are adamant—in the one culture the almost
absolute honesty of the somewhat discredited Moral Rearmament Movement; in the
other culture the absolute rejection of the came absolute honesty.
After these few minutes that Sunday morning, “the fun began.” In
astonishingly rapid order—the top men in charge of Intelligence in the two
areas affected, the chief of naval operations, combined with meeting men of
Ambassadorial level. Communion and communication were easy, as in the
science.
Then a request to appear on a panel at Claremont College next September when
the great problems of the world’s real great religions will be discussed on a
very serious level.
In other times I used to come periodically to Hollywood and speak for Rev.
Boland Stewart, mostly on the faiths of Asia or the actual methodologies of
these faiths. Many of the popular speakers have been embraced by the public
without having any roots in real Asia and have been called “fiction
writers” by the men now selected by the State Department to do the writing
for our universities.
It is very difficult to explain the religion(s) of Vietnam to these who have
had false interests, followed brand names, and done no study. The theme could
be very well simplified—but not taken too literally—the religion of Vietnam
is vastly superior to the Christianity being introduced; the clergy of Vietnam
are often vastly interior in moral behavior to the Christian clergy. This of
course, is a truism, not a truth. So there can be no prejudice introduced, one
hopes.
If you are interested I shall be glad either
To submit a paper which can be read by study or other groups.
To come to Los Angles to speak. As a rule I pay my own expenses other than
meals, because there is always personal business to carry on.
There is no need to answer quickly due both to the season and the
impossibility of coming until after January.
Assuring you that I enjoyed the Kennedy Memorial Service and was delighted
at the size of the attendance,
Sincerely,
Samuel Lewis
December 23, 1964
My dear Norman:
This is to express appreciation of the evening and to continue some matters
which are still in abeyance. For instance there is enclosed copy of a letter to
the First Unitarian Church in Los Angeles. This is the first man I have met who
has not been in S.F. Asia who showed open interest in the peoples and movements
of that region.
It has been awkward to find oneself totally opposed to one culture and on
terms of delicacy with the opposing culture, but recently I have been meeting a
growing number of rejected hermits whom society has chosen to ignore—those
who have lived with Asians, communed and communicated with them.
Shortly I am to meet Dr. Chaudhuri. The worst lie put out by the Academy was
that I was not born here but was moving under false credentials. Recently my
last living school teacher rose in wrath at some of these statements, not
because what I have said was correct but she knew that the lies about my
personality were lies and there are now reactions. Or as I have said about
Woodrow Wilson, too many people are so concerned with “humanity” they have
no time for actual men, woman and children.
The remarks made about having the experiences equivalent to those of
psychedelic potions (they are not necessarily “drugs”) have been borne out
by two events. I mention first the second. I left hurriedly and boarded a local
rather than express train so as not to wait in the rain. A moment later a young
girl named Janet got on. I was too excited in a sense, to ask for her address
but she wants to meet me soon anyhow so I’ll get it.
Janet is a true student of “Truth.” I think she went to the Academy in
its later days. She has never been satisfied with the personalisms and
personalities who have portioned out facets of so-called “Oriental Wisdom”
which are so disjunctive that one cannot make head or tail. The objective is to
look starry-eyed at the leader or teacher, to glare at other teachers and
leaders, and hypnotize yourself or let yourself be hypnotized into believing
you are somewhere near the threshold of transcendence. It is the same as the
usual superficial religious “conversion” which does not convert, or
transform.
She would have none of these things. She wanted evidence, within or without
and has never been satisfied with words, be they soporific, admonitional,
charming or empty platitudes. (e.g. the Pope and Peace.) I was able to
communicate to her in a few moments on the bus what I have not been able to
communicate for years even to and with people who think they know the know the
inside of this personality.
It is very refreshing to meet even a single real truth-seeker, who is
opened, who has ears, who has an open mind and heart; and she will be guided
because she is both guiltless and strange.
The other item was, of course, that after saying one could have the
psychedelic experiences without drugs or anything, the three examples were
offered in music and accepted. It is very seldom that people even give one a
chance. Their words remain in a different order from their experiences and this
is madness.
Behind that music are two powerful universes—and I mean universes, that of
the power itself as expressed in form, and in this instance music; and that of
the Silence which is the All-Power.
This is mentioned because the opposing powers of the world are all limited.
Sometime I may bring the fragments of my diaries which were saved from the fire
of 1949 which destroyed most of my writings and research. I had to begin life
all over in 1950 when I was well on in years but it has worked.
I was able to tell Janet in a few minutes a little more about Sokei An,
things almost impossible to present to anybody that has been influenced one way
or other by Alan Watts, whether for or against him, because they are pulled to
lower levels. The real levels indicated in the real teachings of real
Buddhism’s are beyond the ordinary, but are not no sensible Mondos either.
They are just as plain as other things but not in the same categories. You
cannot express Fluxions by Arithmetic or Einsteinian mathematics by
Fluxions.
The heart-language at the same time transcends in power, in purity, in
clarity, in wisdom. My part in the World War belongs to the realm of legends.
But two men believed me and one is Edward Lansdale, now chief of Intelligence
in Vietnam.
The simplest teachings of the Orient and in particular of India, posit three
bodies—physical, subtle and causal. It is one thing to posit, another to
function. Hitler was able to reach the subtle but was destroyed from the
causal. The world beyond that is non-dualistic and destroys everything or
nothing and even simultaneously.
This truth is in my poem “The Rejected Avatar” concerning the childhood
of Lord Krishna. Krishna means “darky” or even “niggerbaby.” Of course
the world and the Jagaon-Hindus won’t accept that: This is my only epic of
social revolt as against pure mysticism but it is also my favorite and I have
promised to copy it for your friend.
The poem is actually a little beyond the music offered. We cannot and do not
see that the great forces operating in this world are not great at all. Mao has
no power in this world excepting that given to him karmically by his enemies.
As most of his enemies are so rotten, this endows him with advantages he would
not have in an honest world. Nothing China has done has excited me in the least
(this from Chinese sources only), but instead of destroying him by truth, we
have the “Free Europe” and “Free Asia” movements which have substituted
life, liberty and the pursuit of property for life, liberty and the pursuit of
happiness.
It is easy to foresee when you see, and everybody who does not like what you
see attacks you. I was chased out of one group because I said there would not
be a social revolution in India by 1958, at least not a communist one. And the
communists will not succeed in India on account of Sri Aurobindo and others.
Haridas Chaudhuri is silent about the social and political views of Aurobindo;
Alan Watts was afraid of them.
At my last public debate I said: “All the views expressed by opposing
persons here are refuted in the single personality of Dr. Radhakrishnan.” The
President of India is the only person on earth who has not only been welcomed
in every country but at the highest levels, Pakistan alone excepted and only
partially so.
India is not going to persist either on Russian terms, or American, or
Chinese. Marxists do not read Marx and Leninists omit so much of Lenin. When he
was compelled to choose between killing and freeing his captured enemies he
cried and broadcast to the world: “Nothing in life has brought so much pain
to my soul as this compulsion but there is no choice.” There was none then.
It was a little like Congo. Karl Marx loved humanity and he was appalled by
poverty. He never sought power in governments; he did not believe much in them.
He wanted labor to control industry and industry thus to control government. He
died half angry and half brokenhearted, even when his so-called followers were
increasing in numbers.
Now everybody wants power and that power is not power. You cannot stop the
arguments and you can neither stop the disintegration of those who make them.
When they are gone other power-hungry people will do the same. The Arabs who
cry against American imperialism have made the Negroes in Sudan second-class
citizens. They are crying against our intervention in Congo but Bella is not
protesting against the slaughter of Negroes by his fellow-Arabs in Sudan. There
never should have been a Sudan. There has been little self-determination in
Africa. Read those books and see the historical determinism. The White and
Black races alike have disputed determinism for their own ends. Both split
races, make artificial boundaries, maintain turmoil and ignore the populace.
Leaders are afraid of criticism and opposition. Sudan protests against South
Africa and gets away with it.
After reading those books you will see why I want a Hausa nation and a
Fulani Nation and a Swahili Empire and a Zulu Empire and a complete change of
boundaries, etc. Everything now is artificial. But my personal work is Asia,
not Africa.
Don’t over praise those books. We have not heard too much of Mali (which
was great), Dahomey (which was “exciting”), the Zulu empires etc. The best
thing you did was that article on the dances. Havelock Ellis said you could
judge people by their dances. I agree. Therefore I would withhold final
judgment until I saw more dances, even joined in them. All God’s chillum not
only got wings, they have feet.
Love and Blessings,
Sam
Hope you can get a KPFA appointment for me.
December 31, 1964
My dear Norman:
This is a summation of a year which has ended on a high note and I knew it
would whenever a woman would step forward and defend me in public regardless.
There were two such occasions when my last living schoolteacher arose in wrath
at a public meeting and read my critic out of the room. There is such a vast
area between those who accept persons because they admire them, and the passing
out of valid information. Even Gavin admitted that this one had on encyclopedic
mind.
Actually it was based on something more, which came up in the last visit
that one could go through the experiences of LSD without drugs and this was
demonstrated, and may be demonstrated on a larger scale tonight, because
usually I am more “open” on New Years’ Eve.
The second woman to approve was my own sister and for the first time in my
life I received a loving greeting card from her and my brother-in-law which has
take a whole life-time, but with this accomplished and the above, one can look
with more assurance to the future.
Africa. Some time ago, meeting a State Department official I said,
“Disregard my card and credentials and imagine you are meeting Mr. Emerson
Whitman.” He did and we got things through very quickly. Which is to say that
when one has a cosmic point of view it is easy to go into particulars.
You may admire that book on the history of West Africa, etc. Actually I have
known much more of that region and did report to a colonel in GII during the
war who was the superior of General Lansdale, now in charge of Intelligence in
Vietnam. He would back up any statement made here. But the history of West
Africa is still to be written, and I find very few impassionate, unemotional,
objective persons covering the future of Africa on any basis. The election in
Nigeria and the war in Congo are the results of an agreement to disagree,
without taking the public into consideration, the pushing down of solutions as
from above by any and all, and the concentration on looking for villains rather
than saving humanity. No one looks for villains now in California Northwest; we
are trying to save people.
The book on East Africa contained a lot of unknown material for me but I
have long and uselessly argued for a Swahili culture and country as well as for
a Hausa-land, a Fulani-land, etc. None of the contenders wants anything like
that excepting, perhaps, Kenyatta, and I don’t know enough about him.
As to Sudan, I have not seen a single report I could accept, and the history
of the Mahdi movement is kept from us. We want our Landaus and Europeans to
tell us about a dream-world they call “Africa” and one regrets that even
the so-called “African” movements in this country go on regardless of
histories, cultures, or anything. One set of dreams is set up against another
and we believe we are working for “peace” and “freedom” whereas we are
not.
Berkeley Campus. Last night I was given a brochure suggesting a Hyde
Park on the Campus. How can I get stirred up if one cannot even have 1775
privileges? Far From seeing subversion all one can observe is the clamping the
lid on some very simple, elementary principles set forth in the Declaration of
Independence and Preamble to the Constitution. As for effective radicalism on
the Berkeley campus—if it ever got out of the professors themselves I have
still to see it. The radical emotionalism of the young yes, but
“leftism’?—of course I am not for leftism because I think cosmically, and
emotions are not thoughts. I guess Salvio is the only one who knows about 14th
St., New York, let alone the Village.
Vietnam. I have been howling and yowling for years. The Academy
rejected all proposals I have made, and then the press, the radio
stations—including your precious KPFA. But truth is truth and the only
difference between Sam Lewis and others is that this person had no job to lose.
Now for the first time I have been permitted even to submit a paper. But if I
write to the Embassy there, my communication will be accepted not because it is
basically true—and it is—but because I know personally the parties
involved. This is a disgusting way of getting things done.
I have again gotten a most favorable report from Princess Poon’s
assistance, but expect to be in Thailand by the end of next year unless
something other and big intervenes. I have whole sections of the Orient behind
me in encouraging my writing. Have written to Frank Church, etc.
At the moment neither the American groups nor the anti-American
dialecticians have anything to offer that is final.
Chaudhuri. After years of effort we have met, but as with Dilip
Koomer Roy before him, it was not as equals. It was as his superior, and
perhaps in the wisdom of the Orient I am his superior. Certainly as stated with
respect to LSD when one has had the experiences there is no difficulty, and for
the first time after years and years of study I was permitted to give an
instruction on the Upanishads in this country—it was very easy.
When I met Chaudhuri’s teacher I challenged him to a debate and he
surrendered unconditionally, something your Spiegelbergs, your Watts, your
Woods and your Landaus would never admit, and it does not matter.
India. Received two greeting cards, one from the head of the Indian
Farm Bureau and one from President Radhakrishnan. My next “target” is the
Vice-President who is a Sufi. Indeed in my last public row I challenged anybody
to support their contentions in view of the President and Vice-President of
India who are living persons not explicable by any current psychology.
As far as rounding up communists. The Indians are the last people in this
world who will accept what is called “communisms” here and they have real
communistic institutions which I am sure that Karl Marx would accept and most
“Marxists” disapprove, because Marx was a quasi-scientific philosopher and
Marxists are theologians spending more time looking for heretics than for
considering humanity.
We cannot explain India by Western nor Chinese thought, and we don’t want
the Indian view of things. I was forced out of one study group once by an
alliance between conservatives and dialectical materialists and they proved to
be 100% wrong, which does nobody any good. At least I have lived in parts of
Kerala, which is more than most reporters have, and have trampled over the
country-side, etc. Once I was almost read out of a meeting for merely making
such a statement. When facts disagree with dreams, to hell with the facts.
The doors are opening for all kinds of things when I return. Fortunately as
one meets more rejected Americans, some of whom have played vital functions in
world affairs, one becomes more and more assured. I hope to hear Nicol Smith
then he comes here shortly. He was the first victim.
Program: I have not moved one inch from my program to “eat, dance
and pray with peoples.” Havelock Ellis’” The Dance of Life and G.
Goerer’s African Dances formed the basis of my program and as people
are not acquainted with these works, communications is difficult. The last
visit to yours house brought one closer to this. I have no intention of
evaluating or devaluating Jazz because this assumes a norm whereby to measure
it and to me, this is nonsense. Years ago I spent some time in studying first
the physics and then the metaphysics of Sound. The world was not ready, and now
my research work has long since been destroyed (fire of 1949).
Universal Outlook is very hard from the standpoint of mind, very easy
from the standpoint of heart. The nearest mental efforts have come from the
Greeks, Germans, and Indians. These have in common their derivation from great
minds who had mostly economic security and so lost touch with humanity. That is
why I have so little consideration for dialectics, any and all kinds.
Much of the universal philosophy came from men who stepped outside of
society, saints or not, but usually recluses. This is true even today. My great
Sufi teacher is a peasant, something like Tolstoy but beyond Tolstoy does not
even write books which will bring him moneys. He has only two considerations:
God and humanity. He did not begin that way; he was aide-de-camp to Field
Marshal Auchinchek when the war ended. He gave up everything but his
spirituality.
The same was true of Nyogen Senzaki here. One cannot accumulate and be
universal, excepting in rare instances. When Akbar was Emperor of India, he got
off his throne whenever a dervish a appeared. We can’t do that, each of us
tends to have a leadership complex—not wrong in itself, but caught with
rivalries and oppositions.
The man downstairs here is a retired Mate, and also once was an IWW. He has
seen the world and become recognized to it. On the whole our outlooks agree
both from geographical and “metaphysical” experiences. Heaven does not
consist of collecting name, fame, power, weather or comfort—which does not
mean these are wrong but that they should be secondary.
Socialism. Outside the two Americas the great majority of nations are
already more, rather than tending, in this direction. Our editors are boasting
of the new president of Italy who has views which are excellent in this country
for cultural forums and nowhere else. The election in Chile has brought in—a
new group of civil servants. In 1910 we were aroused by a book called
“Barbarous Mexico”—two generations have passed and the peasants do not
yet own their farms—no question of expropriation—this is a vast country.
All the revolutions did was to take away the great church holdings.
The mate who has visited all Italy reports some things which we do not want
to hear: (a) that poverty is more widespread than we like to suppose; (b) that
the mechanical standard of living is higher or becoming higher in the Arab and
even in parts of non-Arab Africa than in Italy, Spain, Greece.
Food & Soil Problems. The Mate and I agreed it was better to
concentrate on food problems. We have in the world for practical purposes here
four cultures: American, Russian, Chinese and Indian.
The American and Russian cultures were alike built on similar rich soils of
Iowa and Ukraine, and the agricultural philosophies were based on these
particular rich soils rather than a universal outlook survey. This has lead
both to the denuding of the wealthy ground and to false adaptations of similar
programs elsewhere. And it hall the advances in Ecology, whenever these
discoveries are against “public policy” they are laid aside. The
degradation of soil values in the Dakotas, etc. and the floods in N.W.
California both arise from this source, but it is also the reason why
Khrushchev met his doom. I don’t know whether the new administration has
corrected it yet.
The Chinese have the night-soil program which is on the whole much better
but “not progressive.” But the Chinese until the last five years have had
no tree planting program and there is too often an uncalled for optimism that
mere tree-planting is going to produce an Eden. This program will prevent
further wastage and deterioration but it is not enough.
As the Chinese do not permit full-fledged criticism they are not going to
programs merely by optimistic Greene reports. It only means that from 20 to 50
years hence they will be safe from the same mistakes which plague America and
Russia (Belgium and Holland have solved these problems; being small they could
be “reality-istic” rather than “realistic”).
India is quite different. Its enemy is the waste dung-usage, and they know
it. India has all the answers but does not practice them. The real revolt in
India is and is going to be the young versus the old and not ideologies. It is
something like a huge Berkeley campus. All the answers to all the problems are
there but and establishment wishes to lead rather than to instruct.
The reforms in Indian agriculture are so huge and vast we cannot conceive
them, especially because we have such cock-eyed ideas of India anyhow. Indians
are both conservatives and socialistically inclined, and in their philosophies
it is easy. For the ideologies can be symbolized by geometric or mineralogical
symbols. But the Indians only by organic symbols—trees especially. You cannot
make a tree “think” like a triangle or vice-versa.
Conclusion: There is no “conclusion” or solution in a dynamic,
organic world, but when we come to the centers of our own being we find
something which enables us to perceive and become wise and hold ourselves
together. If we can hold ourselves together we can hold others together. We
love the words “wise” and “wisdom” but as I said to a pioneer in
integration (long passed from the scene): “The Americans think they fear
Stalin; whom they really fear is Gandhi.” He had been fighting a losing
battle up to that time, he “reversed his field” and became successful. But
I don’t say: “Go thou and do likewise” because this would demand your
accepting Martin Luther King, and you must remain dynamic.
Happy New Year and hoping to have an interview with KPFA Sometime,
Sam
1508 Spruce
Berkeley 9
Jan. 2, 1965
Dear Sam,
Have been trying to reach you by phone all week but no one ever answers.
I’ve arranged an interview for you with Al Partridge, general manager of
KPFA—which, if you’re willing, will be broadcast over the air. All you have
to do is call: TH8—6767 and set up a time with him. Use my name and he’ll
remember.
Your letter is much appreciated. Will comment on it when I see you.
Happy New Year, etc.
Norman
January 5, 1965
Dear Norman:
Thank you. I have been able to speak to Scott Kietch and he wants me to
submit two papers on “The Religion of Southeast Asia” with the possibility
of further series. In fact he seemed more anxious for me to “tell all” than
I was to speak, for the years have shown so many rejections by everybody
whomsoever, whatsoever.
I told him I only wanted to submit papers which would accord with the
Station’s policies. But the broadcast this morning opened right into my
hands, for it contained items that the Buddhists of the regions involved were
definitely anti-communist, and they are.
I have just received back a little booklet in which the Buddhists of Japan
have expressed their views on living problems. The best was one by my own
Roshi, Asahina. Buddhism very definitely is against acquisitive societies. Both
capitalism and socialism are acquisitive in different ways. But socialisms
offer better means for distribution, though not for production. Therefore he
favors amalgamations. These have already been accomplished in India, but again
we are kept in ignorance.
I must call to your attention that attacks on personality and views have
alike been repudiated by facts. The Indian government has seized communists,
legally or illegally. I knew ultimately they would not only be for
philosophical reasons but I have been behind the scenes.
I do not know which day I shall be in Berkeley but already practically every
night this week is taken up. May telephone Saturday but even this is
problematical at the moment.
It is only the Universities in this country which provide room for humanity.
Nowhere else do people of all races mingle—and this has left room for a huge
area of hypocrisy and tyrannies of words. I am keeping today’s paper because
of Myerson’s speeches. But no matter what he has said already the reporters
and editorial writers have twisted it outside of all semblance.
I have been with reporters at high level conferences and am yet to meet any
that can take two and two is four without them “interpreting” it. I wish
Jefferson were compulsory reading. The more talk about “humanities” the
less for Jefferson. Any young American who behaves in the slightest like his
forebears is taken to task all over. Anybody that wants a “Boston Tea
Party” is read out of society.
Now I have talked about ESP and the ability to enter into states of
consciousness without drugs. On New Years I was permitted to go a step further,
first in Della Goertz’ house (neither Della nor Claude were in the room
however), and then in another house. This is mentioned because these are steps
toward a universal consciousness which has all Power and whose nature is kept
hidden from man.
There is only one political issue in this universal consciousness and that
is Human Brotherhood. But there is another issue, and that is human evolution,
that the whole of humanity is evolving. But it is not enough to say it is
evolving like the theosophists, nor to teach it is evolving like the Aurobindo
people; we must observe it. And from the spiritual and occult point of view it
is so obvious that the young people of today are beyond those who reached
adulthood before the war.
They are capable, efficient and self-reliant in ways their immediate
forebears were not. Therefore they are more trustworthy, and they certainly
should not be restrained by the “antediluvians” which regard as every and
any type of self-expression as a social revolution. As I say, we should be
compelled to read Jefferson. If anything, the protestants represent tradition
and the administration and press mis-represent the Hegelian outlook which arose
in Europe only after our independence and glorified the State.
It is remarkable how those who want to limit the State from interfering with
business call in the State to enforce “law and order” when neither person
nor property has been injured. Some of my contacts are out to favor a Hyde Park
on the Campus. Do you realize, Norman, that means only to progress to 1910!
Another item is the proposal to adopt for the Negroes in Mississippi some of
the institutions that have been established in Israel. This will be the real
meat. This will be a real challenge, and I believe it will succeed. Once the
Negroes have cooperative communities it will compel the whole community to
respect and even imitate. This is the best suggestion I have heard, better than
the vote.
Again thanking you for your cooperation,
Faithfully,
Samuel Lewis
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
January 7, 1965
Assemblyman John L. Burton,
State Capital
Sacramento, Calif.
In re: Investigation of the University of California; The Universal
Versus the Provincial
References: Lim Lee, Kermit Scott.
Dear Assemblyman Burton:
With some bills introduced into the legislative hopper authorizing
investigation in campus activities, you will have some splendid opportunities
to extend yourself and express what may be deep in your heart.
These recent events have had some undoubtable merits. President Kerr has
recognized that there is a new generation of students who do not think in the
same manner as their predecessors. How could they? They have been exposed to
two factors which seem understressed in controversies:
a. The World War and the extension of television into world-wide outlooks
produces a generation which will have world-wide and not provincial outlooks.
Even if “free speech” were suppressed, the continuance of radio programs at
whatever level and at all levels produces nothing less than this same universal
outlook.
b. The invitation of students from all parts of the world produces a social
atmosphere which naturally manifests the brotherhood of man at the top levels
and it is impossible to prevent this.
From these, and also from the spiritual point of view, movements like CORE
and FSM are not signs of radicalism at all. They have nothing to do with that
European dialectical import of dividing us into “left,” “center,”
“middle of the road,” “right” and humbug nonsense which has displaced
the traditional Americanism from the Boston Tea Party to Wilson’s fourteen
points and Roosevelt’s “Four Freedoms.” The young people will not, and
cannot be strait-jacketed by our superficial collection of shibboleths,
aphorisms, egocentric propaganda, and double-double talk.
With so many foreign students on the campus, any interference with free
speech immediately upsets the work of USIA abroad. It has been bad enough that
so many USIA libraries have been mobbed. I can assure you that more will be
mobbed. Place me before a hearing committee under oath and some of your
nineteenth century minded colleagues will have red faces. We are not living in
a world of dreamy thoughts; we are living a world of flesh and blood human
beings and “all God’s chillun got wings” despite the defeat of
Proposition 14.
What do you suppose foments so many nations to want us to get out of Congo?
They don’t want Proposition 14 and they don’t want interferences with free
speech. As soon as a single measure is considered seriously by the legislature,
the anti-Americans will unload their propaganda, and successfully and step by
step we shall be edged out of other countries besides Vietnam and Indonesia.
In pursuit of my private projects connected with “How California Can Help
Asia” I had business to cross the campus many times. So long as the doors
were opened it was surprising and comfortable how so few students were
attracted to the Trotskyite and semi-Marxist camps. One cannot stop our
editors, commentators and dialecticians from calling CORE and FSM
“leftist.” They are in the very center of the sure movement toward
universal outlook which is in harmony with the UN outlook and the position of
the day. They are the most real of the most realistic.
True, I had some private objections to the Administration. When it comes to
economy, how are you going to have economy when the Chancellor was permitted to
spend public funds to import Englishmen and Europeans to address a seminar on
“Asia” held in Asimolar in 1963? The writer tried in vain to get a local
Chinese on the panel; not a chance. We have about ten Asian consulates here and
not one represented at the conference on “Asia.” No protest either from the
“economy bloc.”
The same was true more recently in a conference on “China.” Where were
the local Chinese? No protests from the “economy bloc.”
The writer has for some time favored the grill system of organization
wherein professors teaching any subject restricted to an area would have to
confer occasionally with other professors working in the same common area. UCLA
produced a fine book on “Thailand” but the writer was unaware that problems
of that area had been solved by teams from other campuses. President Kerr is
beginning to realize this.
There has been the most wonderful research performed by professors on all
campuses, held from public view. “Viewpoints,” the organ of the American
Friends of the Middle East, has recently had an article on the wonderful
development in adobe huts which will benefit the world; you never saw it in the
local press or even in the UC Publications. The same is true of so much work,
all over.
The professors who have done and are doing wonderful research have no chance
without publicity. There is always money for space and nuclear research. Even
salt-water conversion has been down-graded; and when it comes to problems of
reclaiming saline, marshy and brackish soils, no one speaks up. So the
professors protest and will protest against unequal emphasis, of their own work
not getting recognition and of administrations working on and for policies
rather than on and for accomplishments. Naturally the Academic Senate also
wishes full freedom.
So if there be an investigation, please see to it that all these protesting
or griping geniuses have their say. Your colleagues of limited outlook will
soon want to call a halt. And why is it that UCLA and other campuses did not
have the drama that Berkeley has. You can bring this out; you can stand for the
universal brotherhood, the universal opportunity and the Declaration of
Independence. On ne passe pas.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
January 12, 1965
Mr. Samuel Lewis
772 Clementina Street
San Francisco 3, California
Dear Mr. Lewis:
I would like to thank you very much for receiving a copy of your letter to
Assemblyman John L. Burton. Your analysis of the investigation of the
University of California was equal of any comprehensive report on the matter
that I have seen in print. In the past I have always found you to have thoughts
beyond the superficial and beyond the typical newspaper headlines.
I hope that from time to time you will continue to expose more people to the
great wisdom and understanding that you possess.
I am looking forward to talking to you again about not only the “Free
Speech Movement” but other matters as well.
Sincerely,
Kermit J. Scott
Project Director
Job Development & Employment
KJS/fr
cc: Assemblyman John L. Burton
January 13, 1965
My dear Norman:
In all the time you spent at the American Academy of Asian Studies you did
not receive what may be called the essence of all wisdom, that this Universe
has two aspects—one of motility and the other of a universe seemingly beyond
change.
In the different courses different words were used; the professors of one
area did not always comprehend or even care to comprehend what was taught
elsewhere and so some of the most precious but easily available elements of
divine, or human wisdom were withheld. Nor have I, as a person been able to
communicate at all, mostly being rejected—which does not detract from either
the verbal or the super verbal wisdom.
One of the things most stressed, especially by the Soto Zen Master I met
(who was the Roshi of Dr. Kato) was about these two universes and the same was
offered in public lectures by Master Seo now at Columbia University. Once one
grasps the reality of these, one knows that in the Mighty Universe beyond
turmoil, beyond change, beyond differentiations and differences and parties and
views one obtains Peace with everlasting life, by which I mean life
itself.
The Drs. Fung have given us their translation of “The Sutra of the Sixth
Patriarch” which stresses Prajna. Alan Watts had not the slightest idea of
what Prajna was and is and so could not communicate it. But I can assure you,
Norman, after meditating on this subject I went to the wrong building in
the University of California, ran immediately into the greatest authority in
the whole world on the subject which was the center of my concentration and
obtained in five minutes what I had expected to do in two hours.
This sort of “miraculous” thing has happened over and over and over. It
is only now that with the copy of the Fung version of “The Sutra of the Sixth
Patriarch” this happened so swiftly. It was followed by finally a successful
and most satisfactory interview at the Institute of International Relations,
which I had had to threaten because it has taken two and one half years what
ordinary courtesy has brought elsewhere in a few minutes.
And although it may be said that the concentration was on “Prajna,” this
is a discursive, analytical way of looking at it. For this
Universe-of-Infinite-Peace is, and one can draw on it; while I am mentioning an
experience, it is also to call attention to the production of dramas on this
Wisdom which will be given at the Buddha Universal Church beginning on Friday
the 29th which are a “must” for me. If you could understand this “real”
or super-world beyond the turmoil a lot of things would clear up including
ability to look into the future, in a certain sense.
It will be necessary to telephone KPFA again, after my manuscript has been
reviewed. One is satisfied to get that far. We do not comprehend the Chinese
and/or Indian viewpoints; how can we understand Indo-China? Thanks for your
hospitality.
Samuel Lewis
Sam
January 17, 1965
My dear Norman:
I wish to thank you for your hospitality for it saved me considerable time
and also brought “good luck.” This was in regard to my scientific mission.
And it is a comment on all the contemporary cultures that scientists can meet
and agreeing or not agreeing will be friendly. In this particular instance,
following an inner faculty, I ran into the right man, and conducted two hours
work in five minutes. As students of the American Academy were so led astray as
to man’s finer forces sometimes simple things cannot be conveyed.
This is also in line with the paper left at KPFA. To describe the points of
view of the people of S.E. Asia in our terms is almost impossible and certainly
has been ineffective. Negative arguments prove nothing; events go on despite
arguments. Marxists and imperialists alike are afraid of the points of view of
Oswald Spangler and these points of view have been exemplified again and yet
again.
I do not protest against the atrocities in Africa (by whomever or
whomsoever) because the world has not condemned atrocities, only atrocities by
inimical parties. And again you find the social philosophers and diplomats,
unlike scientists, unable to come together, to agree. I once saw several
attacked some Chinese leaders, thereby gaining their immortal friendship! It is
behind the scenes in what I am doing because both the attacks and cooperation
have been on Chinese, not American bases.
Green has left me cold. I listened only to the Chinese side when in UAR and
he contradicted even points of Chinese propaganda to prove his argument. In
1958 I was thrown out of a discussion group because of insisting that India
would not have a social revolution. Instead the Indians have thrown out the
communists. We do not know the Indians and people who do not mix with peasants
make statements largely untrue. Peasants all over the world wish to own land
and have enough to eat. Non-peasants make all kinds of arguments each from his
own point of view. The peasants are not consulted, and neither are the people
of Vietnam (nor Kashmir, etc.) consulted. Ideas are more important than
flesh-and-blood, and so I am in dissent with all the cultures and hope that
Africa will succumb neither to Europe, America, Russia, China or even Nasser
and Bella.
My spiritual teacher predicted that in the coming ages people of the black
race would become spiritual leaders, or else the saints would appear among
them. But what is needed is composure, ability to relax, be at peace inwardly.
Other than that I have no advice—everybody offers advice.
All social philosophers of almost every school fail to stem the tide of
denudation of living matter from soils. Social changes have not effect [on?]
the ground and led to Khrushchev’s overthrow. I do not want you to agree with
anything said here, now; but keep it and look at it in the future.
After two and a half years the Institute of International Studies agreed to
look over my notes. They are going to be in for it. I have met perhaps more
Asians than most people, and am only taken seriously by other Americans who
have met lots of Asians; all of us are in the doghouse. But I won’t give it.
When I return to the Orient my “Dance of Universal Peace” will be
performed, and perhaps, too the chanting of which you have just gotten a taste.
Will write or phone when I can come to Berkeley again, even to KPFA.
Sam
January 31, 1965
My dear Norman:
The other day I was in Berkeley and finally visited KPFA. Both Keitch and
the program director were unavailable and I had a short but cordial visit with
one Burton White. I think we agreed on everything, because to begin with I
granted the station’s right to censor and amend anything presented.
The week also showed—and there is always a first time—an article
appearing in C. S. Monitor and a letter in Cosmopolitan. One does not exult
because it may be wise to permit or even encourage most mobbings of USIS
libraries. For our publications certainly are not humanity-minded, and it is
easy to enrage a mob after dire things are said about them in even one of our
publications.
No doubt this week I shall be a hero at certain Asian consulates—they
exist you know, despite their practical non-recognition by all but one or two
groups. For example I heard Ambassador Sprouse who has returned from Cambodia.
“Everybody” was there excepting, of course, the commentators, the newsmen,
the radio and TV “experts” whom Sprouse belittled from beginning to end.
What is “worse” when he got through he made of Norodom Sihanouk a great
national hero and even a folk-lore hero.
Actually the same is reflected in the Chinese being expelled and I wish
everybody was expelled from Africa so that Africans would at least sit down
with each other without a lot of “expert” advice.
At the Sprouse meeting I contacted an “Ugly American” who has lived in
Nigeria and who gave what I consider the main difficulty in Africa—despite
the heavy rains in some places, the soils are so denuded of organic matter that
it is going to take some time to restore them. There is more hope among the
nomads who do not need so much water, and whose methods are not so detrimental,
but they do not occupy the best soil.
The main situation I ran into was on the Berkeley campus. Distributing my
article which praises the work done by certain professors, attention has to be
called that new ideas are shunned by so-called capitalist and communist alike,
each of whom is trying to exploit the new nations, calling them
“undeveloped” and trying to make them think and operate in a dialectical
manner, Marxist or anti-Marxists, instead of follow their own devices. Great
successes are shunned alike in the reports in capitalistic and communist
countries, and by the social scientists whenever they can get by. Many, many
problems have been solved, but the solutions must not be news. India will,
within a few years, probably be the third nation in scientific endeavor,
following only the United States and Great Britain—but I am not going to
waste time trying to proWill let you know when I come to Berkeley again,
Sam
Hugo Calderon was here yesterday. He has lost track of Lorraine.
January 31, 1965
Burton White,
c/o KPFA
Berkeley, Calif.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing the revised copy of the paper on “The Religion of South
Vietnam” which is a duplicate of the one left with Mr. Scott Keitch. I do not
evaluate it but am enclosing it for an additional reason:
Last night was the first public appearance of Master Yen Pei, a Chinese
Buddhist Abbot. There are several notable things:
1. Most of the things passed off as “Buddhism” here have no
authorization in historical or ecclesiastical institutions. They are very
welcome because it permits non-Buddhists to have a field day pointing to the
defects of “Buddhism.”
2. As the Chinese and some of their neighbors think in terms of the matrix
presented here and not in any of the dialectical terms pushed on an ignorant
public by the Chinese and American governments alike, the most significant
reasons for this Master coming here remain inexplicable and are as simple as
they are inexplicable.
Far from Bret Harte I have found the ways of the Chinese neither heathen nor
dark nor mysterious but simply not explicable or conformable to the so-called
ways of thought which we have inherited from the Greeks and Germans and which
we do not recognize as having inherited from them.
As we compelled the Chinese people to choose between two monsters and as we
confirmed the voiding of popular elections on the mainland, the peasants
accepted the opposition and threw out the despots. This does not exonerate the
despots but certainly gives our government and people no platform
whatsoever.
It is easy to understand Chinese, their politics, culture and regions, etc.
from the matrix presented in this paper. My welcome is constant evidence of it
and I am going to be with them on the forthcoming New Year. But I do not wish
to controvert here opposing ideas as to what should be our policy toward the
governments of the Chinese. I am interested in the people and not in some
figure of speech called “the people.” What they do is their affair, not
mine.
Last week, to my surprise, both the Christian Science Monitor and
Cosmopolitan published my letters, both arising from a hope, pretty slim, of
stopping further destruction of USIS libraries. It is also noteworthy Cambodia
ridded itself of the USIS and “Peace Corps” and invited “Asia
Foundation” to increase their operations. Again it is a matter of people
against government…. Will telephone at my own leisure.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
February 6, 1965
My dear Norman:
A week ago I wrote a letter enclosed, which I have not been able to mail.
It is not only Chinese New Year but I have been so drawn into a maelstrom of
Asian affairs that the whole life is lopsided and topsy-turvy.
There are forces and persons to whom we give no consideration, who are
either both anti-capitalistic and anti-communistic, or who are quite
unconcerned with either or both, but whose names and ideas are excluded from
the press and any ideas or thoughts they may have are never presented on
platforms.
One of the most obvious is the whole position of the actual people of
Vietnam. They don’t want us, they don’t want the communists, they want
their Buddhism and their peace and they can’t have it.
There are two large Asian movements which are also given no consideration
here. One is lead by Princess Poon and on the whole it wishes to preserve the
past, something neither the imperialists behind the Iron curtain or on this
side wish. Which does not stop them from having meetings, undertaking certain
policies, and even exert a force.
In 1936 we had a lot of conferences here in which it was insisted that we
must choose between Fascism and Communism. No other choice was permitted and
the whole went right on despite all the orations and it is going to go on now
despite all the orations and editorials, etc.
The most powerful group is the one to which I am allied for both political
and spiritual reasons. One of the greatest joys of my life was to find that the
political leader who was head of the viewpoint I was advocating was also a
great spiritual leader. If he had been approached at any time either the
American Academy of Asian Studies or something like that would thrive. There is
indeed an American Asian Friendship League, but it has not allied itself with
this leader or group.
Nobody at the Academy ever let me give out my personal experiences or tell
my personal contacts. And I do not know how to explain Chinese psychologies in
our terms. Alan Watts told me I did not understand Taoism and two Taoist
leaders told me I understood it better than most Americans. I do not know how
to verbalize the present underground, which does not prevent me from acting, in
the least. This explains why I am slow in following up KPFA.
Sam
February 14, 1965
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Hon. Phillip Burton,
House Office Building,
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Congressman Burton:
You will find enclosed copy of some correspondence in regard to Southeast
Asia. The only difference between the various administrations in regard to
foreign policy is that they put in different leaders while continuing the
policy of distrusting their own citizens, and while distrusting Americans
blindly assuming that they can win the trust of non-Americans, an utterly
vapid, useless and inane attitude, strengthened rather than weakened by the
worse psychology of substituting slogans, mottoes and shibboleths for
realities.
While the State Department and all its echelons blindly ignore letters, the
writer’s own plan has been accepted by the World Buddhist Federation, will be
published and broadcast and Asian peoples will begin wondering on an
increasingly larger scale why the American government continues to send out
unsympathetic and ignorant people to their lands, when and where friendships
could be established.
This is almost a sort of challenge because of the actions and attitudes of
your brother, Assemblyman John who, if he gets into difficulties can receive
such support that for the protection of the country, his attackers will be
silenced.
There is no use calling nonsense “realism” which does not make it one
whit closer to reality than anything else. In 1961 I was the only American
present at a gathering of foreign service people in Asia who knew the history
of the hinterland and the same seems to hold true for many parts—a situation
worsened because as soon as our representatives jump from the fiction of “The
Ugly American” to mingling with the people and learning their customs,
language, religion and anything else, they are dismissed and sent home
scattered and not in contact with each other.
This is the only country in the world that takes its Fourth Estate seriously
and derides or ignores those Americans who have lived, worked and associated
with nationals of other lands.
This is only skimming the surface. If Thailand accepts the French proposals
we are sunk. You cannot settle the world affairs by:
a. Shibboleths, slogans, policies antagonistic to the philosophies of
Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, J. Q. Adams, W. Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt
and Emerson—which is what we are doing.
b. We cannot solve any problems by substituting might for right.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
February 23, 1965
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Radio station KPFA
Shattuck Ave.,
Berkeley 4, Calif.
My dear Friends:
In re: Vietnam and Assemblyman Burton
Our comedy-tragedy goes on. The second-class human beings whichever way you
look at them, the Buddhists of Vietnam want out. They lose whichever power
dominates. They have no chance, they are condemned to limbo.
It is over seven years since the first efforts to have an interview with any
radio station or with the press—other than having articles rejected. In the
past few months my suggestions and reports have all been accepted by the World
Buddhist Federation and now my peace plan is going to be published.
Copy of this plan was sent to Dr. Malalasekera, at present High Commissioner
of Ceylon to London. He was once on the UN and was narrowly defeated in an
effort to become President. He was beaten because he criticized the United
States. He claimed—and he was entirely right—that our Foreign Office does
not trust its own citizens. I not only have proofs in my files, I have living
colleagues in this vicinity—all “Ugly Americans” get the some treatment,
excepting we are slightly appreciated by Asia Foundation.
Dr Malalasekera attacked us on two grounds, very solid grounds, very
scientific grounds, and we got mad. The Foreign Office still does not trust its
citizens.
I don’t know what the Legislature can do because I have written U Thant
also. I sent U Thant credentials and also had a copy of this letter for Dr.
Malalasekera. Any American who believes in the Americanism of Jefferson, Monroe
and Emerson—well, do I have to tell you?
Now I am opening the door for John Burton. Fortunately I have the ear of his
brother, the Congressman, so I am sending JB a copy. And if I am hauled up to
the legislature they are going to get a bombshell, for I shall challenge
Senator Hugh Burns.
I have been very successful all over Asia, with Asians. This meant (no
sarcasm, actualities) being ignored by the Embassies and USIA officials (one
exception). It meant being followed by communists. I have unwittingly gotten
into communist nests. I came within an inch of being a John Birch, no nonsense
and I don’t want it again, but I can’t help it.
When I returned I felt very patriotic. I wrote all the details and sent them
to leading magazines, the press, to the American Legion (at least two chapters)
and to the John Birch Society. All of them either rejected or ignored. The John
Birch people thanked me but said they were anxious to uproot the communists in
Washington and could not cover foreign lands. This is typical, and it is
exactly what the real communists want—go after ghosts and ignore human
beings.
This is mentioned because if I am to be grilled in defending John Burton I
already have the counter-grill. My program begins by wishing to make friends
with Asian peoples. I know their cultures, their histories, their religions,
all over. I keep on getting more honors from them and more being ignored here,
although I did take advantage of the fracas on the Berkeley campus to compel my
being accepted as a human being (again, not sarcasm, fact; have evidence and
proof.)
We do not study the cultures of Asians; we are not interested in their
ideas. We are 100% for these two:
a. Like Athens we must control the Delian League against these wicked
Chinese… so we can’t have equal partners.
b. We must not change the script of “A Connecticut Yankee at King
Arthur’s Court.” It was written by an American.
Well I am for Buddha, Christ, Emerson, and if this is treason, make the most
of it.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
February 23, 1965
My dear Norman:
I have been trying to get you because Hashim and now his colleague,
Mohammed, have information and ideas which should interest your father, and
possibly yourself, and I have not wished to do anything without consulting
you.
Today I heard Dr. Brandt of Stanford speak on Agricultural problems and he
also went over into the investment field. So I am preparing to take my friends
to meet him. They have lots of information, especially for opportunities.
Fortunately I can talk to and with Dr. Brandt.
My friend Harriet has been injured and is confined to her rooms—just got a
phone call tonight. She was with me when we studied under Dr. Kirby and later
she studied with him in Honolulu, too. His existence was ignored by Alan and
Uncle Louis. Kirby was the teacher of Dr. Malalasekera.
I would rather tell than write the story behind the story. I have complete
harmony with the real leaders of our Chinese community, know pretty well what
they want and am constantly getting for them. We don’t understand the Chinese
or the Buddhist psychology and we don’t understand our citizens who do.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Sam
February 28, 1965
My dear Norman:
I simply have not the time to try to get in touch with you. I have tried
again and again and reserved time for this but we don’t seem to get
together.
The Vietnam complex is now out in the open but it is going to be a shock to
everybody to have a situation when those of us who have lived, worked and have
contacts in the area involved are permitted to speak. One cannot help noting
how a little while back a defrocked English clergyman was accepted blindly and
absolutely as the interpreter of “Asian” cultures—no recourse. Now you
must not even mention his name, but this brings no information about Asian
cultures.
The extreme incident in my life was that of the psychiatrist saying I had a
rejection complex. Then after meeting the real masters of the real Orient and
seeing them by-passed by the public and she apologized. I do not know what
makes Americans run after a motley crowd of Englishmen, Europeans and poseurs
and think they are learning anything about the Orient.
The private lives of Elizabeth Taylor and Marlin Brando counteract any
propaganda we put out on morality. Asians are afraid we have come to destroy
their customs, morals and religions and there is not an iota of evidence to the
contrary. Even my published article about further mobbing of USIA libraries has
only resulted in further mobbing of USIA libraries and ultimately to the
dismantling of this organization outside of Latin American.
Every nation has the same foreign policy—self-praise and keep the public
in ignorance.
Now African problems have been presented to me and more and more. Having our
“phant-Asia” we have a lot of sentimentalists dreaming about an
“Africa” which is nothing but the subjective creation of semi-imperialistic
minds and has nothing to do with geography or humanity. True the Africans want
our colored and not our white people but for their Africa, not ours.
I have refrained from broaching any subject but I cannot keep my friends
waiting as some more doors have opened. I do not wish to write directly to your
father, but the opportunities look so good, that he would never forgive me if I
kept “secret” from him what is communicated to me. I beg for the last time
that you contact me.
Faithfully,
Sam L. Lewis
March 4, 1965
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Radio Station KPFA
Berkeley, Calif.
My dear friends:
When Dr. Malalasekera visited here—by-passed by all the press, radio and
everybody who is so busy propagandizing for the future of S.E. Asia, a news
gatherer approached this person and wanted some material. But a flashlight
shining on muddy waters does not clarify the waters and the statements made to
him, copy enclosed, are not very informative because as a Nation we Americans
are too concerned with policies and opinions and neglect basic events.
On one side are those who have substituted UP-AP, etc. for “God,” or for
the methods used by scientists. On the other side are those who applaud Felix
Green but are just as unconcerned with actual events as those to whom they are
expressing hostility. (I agree with this hostility because the uninformed
pacifists do not harm human beings, but they are no more informed and often do
not wish to be informed any more than the scions of murder alias war alias
anti-aggression.)
Tonight a friend of mine who has lived and worked in S.E. Asia is making a
modest proposal to do something public to recognize S.E. Asians as human
beings. We hope to have enough Chinese and Japanese present to interest a few
people, but know from the beginning that the most vocative Americans, any and
all camps, just do not seem to be able to sit down and listen to Asians. Even
severe anti-communists listen sooner to an “antagonistic” subversive
than to human beings who otherwise would be on “our side,” whatever that
means.
Even William Winter was never able to propose anything for his good
guys versus bad guys. We are not advocating “Asia for Asians”
but we want some Asians to tell us what they believe and what they want.
We agree (and we can be wrong) that about fifty years from now the Western
world will investigate what really has been happening in Southeast Asia and
why. Personal and documentary evidence at the moment so interferes with the
euphoria of “experts” it must be pigeon-holed.
One waits in patience for the public presentation by anybody of the actual
views of actual persons whose fields and towns serve as battlefields for modern
Romans and Carthaginians.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 7, 1965
My dear Norman:
The talks with my friend, Hassan Hashim of Khartoum, Sudan, put me in part
in the position I was thrust into in Lahore when the investors came there.
Pakistan is almost entirely in the hands of a combination of men with
feudalistic and early capitalistic outlooks, without any sense of social
democracy, and with convictions at the top that success comes by the
exploitation of “masses” by the privileged few. But like the feudal state,
and unlike the capitalistic state, the leaders are privileged and do not have
to have qualifications. They want to start with heavy industry, then light
industry, then folk industry, then natural resources.
My report began with natural resources, then folk industry and gradually up
and that is what we see for Africa. Africa is composed of the littoral, mostly
inhabited by “white” peoples; the deserts, mostly the same; the savannahs
mostly of mixed races, and the rainy sectors, mostly of “Negroes.” But the
ethnic analysis has a supreme fault that it implies skills or lack of them, and
this does not follow. For it would seem—from very cursory examination, that
some “black” peoples as in Uganda and Kenya, are certainly more advanced
than the “white” peoples of Africa or even than very large sections of
Europeans. If we look at them from the standpoint of skills, abilities and
education, we shall have to change our approach radically and get rid of a lot
of dead-wood words which have no meaning either in the hands of “God” or
investing capitalists.
Hashim has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia—a little in Kuwait and Iraq;
Nigeria, Sudan (of course), Uganda, Kenya, Chad, Equatoria with inroads to
Mali, Congo and other lands. For our present purposes we might as well agree
with the Afro-American groups who see the continent or sections rather than the
particular artificial nations that have arisen.
A very practical reason for this is that Hashim believes that the more of
our people of African descent we send, the easier it will be to open these
people to rapid development and still easier to stop Mao. We are simply crazy
if we think (and I know you do not) that our White-American Protestants, and
our press, can or will stop Mao in Africa. Indeed they are the ones helping him
for he can go forth and successfully endeavor to save the nationals from
American imperialism.
On January 25th the Christian Science Monitor published my warnings about
USIS libraries—which did not affect history in the least for the Foreign
Office accepts no suggestions from the people; and especially with the new
“Bandung” conference unless we really try humanitarian friendship, we, the
White Americans, are going to throw the whole world into a dither.
There are here three complete stories which overlap.
a. A Nile program which will go mostly into engineering and agriculture
and which we may take up on the campus. This is more in my field but Hashim
says these ideas will go in Nigeria, wants me to go there, and I have already
sent out feelers.
b. A development of natural resources program which reveals vast stocks
especially of Diamonds and Gold not yet touched. The Gold problem is one of the
moment and the proper handling of it will not only stop China but will assure
America of prosperity on the lines it has been advocating.
c. A commercial-investment undertaking which would integrate the above into
some larger ventures. This comes out of Hashim’s actual life and knowledge of
the resources and needs of each and all these countries.
I have heard from one source that there is capital available looking for new
markets and I have a sort of preliminary agreement but do not wish to take it
until we clear. For outside the personal elements, and your father will be
interested, Hashim feels that practically all engagements with the nationals of
Africa should be from amid our own “colored” people, not just some Uncle
Toms with the Peace Corps or USIA, or all through, generally, in every field,
and that the white man, especially the White Protestant should stay out of the
way. This would not prevent him from investing and earning, but he should not
be the front, indeed he will be an “affront.”
As a digression. I am not opposed to sending soldiers to Vietnam but I am
opposed to sending soldiers anywhere out of the country when we cannot
guarantee American citizens full rights. These Alabama incidents are keeping
our whole country back, especially the investment markets. If we should send
our army into Alabama and Mississippi it would change the opinions of masses
everywhere else. And this would be the best protection against expropriation by
Syria, Indonesia or any other land.
The present world situation would be eased by us if we could add to our
stock of Gold and of this Hashim knows much. He also knows where there are good
markets for textiles especially and from this point we could take it on.
It is slightly delicate for me because my “Project the Garden of Allah”
not only covers parts of Africa but he says it would particularly cover Nigeria
and he could like to set up offices in the Uganda-Kenya area, mostly
“colored” people, and in Nigeria where my own connections could be used. It
is too early and I have not wished to put myself on, nor deal myself out. I do
see tremendous possibilities and these should be taken up with Hashim and then
with your father. For Hashim has connections all over, excepting with a few
lands on the West Coast. I am again trying to find my friend who was Secretary
to the Ghana assembly to cover this sector.
I feel these should all be matters of investment and not of any government
pressures. I see no good from the USIA and “Peace Corps” which assume
patronizing approaches. And there are no signs that the aptitudes of the
Kenya-Uganda region are not only higher than many in Europe but even of sectors
of the United States. This would assure returns from regions which depend also
on skilled labor.
Of course this is only a sketch, my statements may have loopholes, the
vision may not be too clear, and there may be wishing. But anyhow it is a first
step and we might go from there. Anything above can be used as you pleased,
modified as you please, etc.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 7, 1965
My dear Norman:
This is at least my 16th letter of the day and I am writing in what looks
like almost Napoleonic fervor. I do not know whether you knew Princess Poon
Diskul who was one of the early teachers at the Academy, and it is certain she
was almost shoved out of the picture by Watts and Uncle Louis. Neither of them
considered either her family or her spiritual connections, nor the fact that
this is part of the intense reaction against the United States in the Orient,
for Americans seem almost unable to meet people of other races as equals.
Our “cold war” is a mass of idealism, propaganda and delusion. In any
event the Princess and her associates have accepted my “peace” proposals
which are not dialectical plans to be applauded by some safe and unsafe
committee in Sweden to make one world-famous while millions continue in danger
of warfare and tribulation.
The immediate aftermath was the visit of Dr. Malalasekera here, overlooked
by the press and State Department, as usual, and who is perhaps one of the most
gifted men in the world to intervene but who will hardly be acceptable to us.
In the meanwhile Princess Poon has caused Mao Tse Tung to lose face—the
details of which are kept from the press because “we” want to beat China in
an Occidental way—which seems to mean force and bloodshed and not by
wiles.
In the meanwhile some of the really peaceful Nations are meeting and Ben
Bella is coming out as a sort of real peace-hero. This is going to upset almost
every warlike nation—China and US, India and Pakistan, the Arab world and
Israeli, and Congo and its neighbors. If he accomplishes anything we lose face
for in front of the world we have our “Brotherhood of Christians and Jews”
(for blondes only) and we are kidding nobody.
I have seen President Johnson’s horoscope and it has every sign that if he
works for peace he will go as one of the great men of history; but if he
permits the Secretary of War—I don’t mean the present office-holder but any
Secretary of War, to dominate him he is going into tragedy, personal but not
necessarily national tragedy.
In view of this the need to pay some attention to commercial and
agricultural enterprises and get away from all these military efforts which win
nothing. For while I see a battlefield victory over China it will destroy
neither China nor even the leaders, for they do not lose face by being beaten
on the field; they lose face only when somebody pulls a trick on them as
Princess Poon just did.
If we beat China she might agree to any terms whatsoever because she has
done that before and always came out on top. I am not going into Chinese
metaphysics here but have not seen a single sign that Mao is not every bit
Chinese, far, far more than the Formosans or the former administration, and he
has in him the inheritance of thousands of years of culture. So I am writing
another letter on Africa which you can either send on or copy from in writing
to your father.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 24, Calif.
March 14, 1965
Radio Station KPFA,
2207 Shattuck Ave.,
Berkeley 4, Calif.
Dear Sirs:
I was very glad to hear Alfred Partridge speak for funds. I think I have
some money ready. It is going to be frozen for one purpose:
The Solution of the Problems of Vietnam
There is a far cry from Felix Green’s accusation “we are an uninformed
Nation” to having any information. A lot of us are merely masochists
disguised as humanitarians; we like it that way.
For eight years now I have been trying to get an interview with Radio
Station KPFA over Vietnam. I have letters on file of warnings of communist
infiltrations covering years, the source of which was denied any interview by
State Department or Press. After meeting one of the spiritual leaders of the
Vietnamese, and then traveling back a long, long way I have tried, and in vain,
to get any interviews with anybody. And I do not stand alone having as
colleagues a growing number of real, flesh-and blood “Ugly Americans.”
We are given the choice between “Doves” and “Hawks” in Vietnam. The
Vietnamese are given no choice at all. We, equally with “our enemies,” wish
to make them puppets.
I have said again and again and again: all you have to do to get a check is
to grant an interview on this matter. I am not going to wait much longer, for I
have found an organization in New York interested in the Vietnamese people. It
is not what I want for you entertain me and they do not.
I have fought a hard and losing battle for years to have relations between
Asians and Americans confined to Asians and Americans. Even last year the late
and not at all lamented ex-Chancellor Strong held a conference on “Asia”
(any resemblance to objective Asia being merely coincidental), in which he
refused point blank to have a Chinese speaker, or even with a single exception
an Asian on the program. Public moneys were spent to import British and
European “experts.” This was followed this year by a conference on
“China”, a la ancient British method, “Dogs and Chinese not
allowed.”
But by this time the rather influential and affluential Chinese community
here in San Francisco has found of “my martyrdom” and I have found they
were no more successful either. We have shut off this community. If station
KPFA were to permit a Vietnamese report or point of view, it might open some of
the purse-strings and heart-strings of this community.
In addition to finding an organization interested more in the Vietnamese
than in our “expert’s” opinions about Vietnam, there is now a world
university started which wishes to integrate the cultures of all peoples and
they have also appealed to me. What is going on physically in Selma still goes
on mentally and spiritually within too many of us. We do not see the humanity
even with lots of lectures on “humanitarianism.”
My “Peace Plan” for Southeast Asia has already been published in
Thailand and I know it will be accepted in Burma, Cambodia, India and Ceylon,
at least. For the rest one does not care. There are more views than “Doves”
and “Hawks.” In my single meeting with the Vietnamese it resulted in mutual
embraces.
I have since met other “Ugly Americans” who have been to S.E. Asia, and
to Vietnam. We are all neglected, we don’t count. The “left” and
“right” argue, or murder, the people of S.E. Asia are not even mental
figureheads.
I understand that there will be a lecture this spring on “The Cultures of
Vietnam.” This part of the world has civilization after
civilization—strings of them. But we love our “experts” more than we love
people. I am about to save my money for people and not experts, there have been
enough of them.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 14, 1965
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Norman McGhee Jr.,
1508 Spruce St.,
Berkeley 9, Calif.
My dear Norman:
I am addressing you formally because carbons are being made of this for
Kermit and Lim Lee, partly because of their closeness to the Burtons and partly
for reasons that are, I hope, more or less self-explanatory. I wish you would
keep this letter, especially if you disagree with parts of it because in a year
or two, checking back, you will find how objectively true it may be.
There is no intention here to try to convert you to Lord Snow’s philosophy
that we have two cultures, the scientific and the humanist. These are nothing
but the extension of the ancient Greek teaching of the differences between the
ignorant, the believers and the knower, the believers being half way between
the ignorant and learned. Today our scientific culture depends upon accumulated
knowledge, personal and impersonal; our non-scientific culture depends far more
on personalities and personalisms which need not be cumulative. There is also a
difference here, a fundamental difference between analysis and integration. And
if you look deeply you will find, whatever shortcomings there be, that I am a
radical Integrationalist on all subjects, all fields, not limited to a
branch of politics, philosophy or anything else.
At no time, excepting with Satya Agrawal, was I permitted to bring out from
a long accumulation of knowledge—fact gathering, historical study, actual
disciplines in actual Asian “esotericisms” anything at all but
superficialities. As long as we remain superficial we shall be divided, have
leaders which harangue against other leaders and have turmoil and dissension.
Hitler merely carried the “Leadership” complex to its most unlogical
undoing. Christ may have said, “Whatever ye do to the least of these my
creatures ye do it also unto me” which is most fundamental in Hindu
philosophy, contemporary chemical analyses in a multitude of directions, and at
least light-behavior patterns, 1965 doctrines.
Yesterday I went to the Asian-American Friendship League, a “nice”
social organization where people who have been to Asia, or Asians, are
permitted to speak—this is one step ahead of the Academy which has
“experts.” After the meeting there are the usual post-mortems and bull
sessions in which the speakers are torn to bits, only the pleasure of their
having been there being kept.
It did not take long because I obtained the reputation of being tactless,
undiplomatic and even dogmatic, and before Allah and Satan alike I wish people
to be informed and don’t give two cents for their opinions whether it agrees
with mine or not. The meeting yesterday ended as so many others
have—Americans rushing away feeling that this person would never get along
with Asians and the Chinese gathering around me and having a most wonderful
post-mortem.
One of those who remained is a Chinese professor. A few days after Alan
Watts told me I had failed to grasp the essence of Taoism and I assented, this
professor came to me and said I was one of the few Americans who grasped the
Tao. All the Chinese present accepted my explanation which is non-verbal but
easily demonstrable. The fact is that I was initiated long ago by a local
Chinese sage who is in a sense influential, affluent and totally self-effacing.
You never saw him at the Academy and I did get one letter from him trouncing
the whole place.
Outside the subject matter, which need not detain us, there were two other
topics at the table. I came out strongly with an attack on Chancellor Strong
and my ineffective efforts to have a Chinese speaker at the conferences on Asia
and on China. Very fortunately there was a fellow-victim, a woman doctor who
was also trounced for trying to have a Chinese speaker at these conferences.
Neither Luce’s lies nor his critics’ answers give us information.
The next point was the agreement by all Chinese that we are brain-washed. We
are not only in the Chinese sense but in the cosmic sense. Here again I can
illustrate this quickly in Chinese terms but know no way to translate it into
dialectical, dualistic English. And as we are stuck also with
personality-worship, either blindly or openly, we do not know we are
brain-washed. It is that in the sciences this doesn’t go, and therefore the
scientists of all nations are coming together. Here the subject divides.
I begin with the World University. Two separate communications were received
from this World University, which is an attempt to integrate all knowledge. I
did spade work in Cairo but “no one wants to hear it” because it interferes
with all sorts of private misconceptions. We do not like to hear that Belgium
is ahead of Russia in all sciences outside of Physics; nor that India is not
only ahead of China in all sciences but is ahead of Russia in most and ahead of
all Europe in quite a few. After this spade work in Cairo I saw for myself what
is being achieved in India. This knowledge is most unwelcome to two dialectical
groups fighting each other:
a. Those who uphold the “Judeo-Christian” ethic.
b. Those who believe China will defeat India and perhaps conquer her.
The World University has already placed in my hands a fertilizer problem and
behind the war in S.E. Asia there has long been a struggle between two
diametrically opposed schools of Agricultural Philosophy. Roughly speaking, but
only roughly speaking, these correspond to our “conservationists” and
“exploiters.” This is a technical matter totally incomprehensible to any
and all dialecticians who are not prone to rigorous thinking or detail
scientific experiments.
The next aspect of the World University is that there are several trustees
known to me, from all parts of the world. There are two Sufi colleagues among
them and as a culture we have given no opportunity anywhere for the Sufis.
Landau had me blacklisted and it is only slower, but very surely I am coming
back into graces. For the Sufis automatically come out for integrational
processes and are against all analytical and dividing methods whosoever,
howsoever.
April 5, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
At no time was this person given any consideration at the so-called American
Academy of Asian Studies excepting by Satya Agrawal. Most of the other
teachers, excepting Binken, either made claims or permitted claims to be made
which offered college degrees without a warranty of the corresponding increase
of knowledge and wisdom. I left in 1960 in disgust and practically nobody
excepting my fellow “Ugly Americans” have paid any attention. But all of us
Ugly Americans have gone through the same mill. One wonders if we should blame
the State Department and press when practically all society rejects us. Only we
are growing in numbers, strength and mutual cooperation.
The merest survey would show that Watts, Spiegelberg, Landau, and Chaudhuri
are in no streams of American culture and of these only Chaudhuri in any stream
of Asian culture and far, far less than he suggests or permits to be suggested.
He does not stand high at the Aurobindo Ashram and I doubt whether he would
accept their social, not to say socialistic program though it is much more than
that. And he has not aligned himself with the Orientalists who are rising in
revolt.
The Orientalists are almost unanimous against the State Department‘s
program on Vietnam. There is no reason why they should give it any respect
because they are not given any respect by it. The latest protests on Vietnam
are much more and they resemble the FSM more than the peace movements.
This person has always said the real fight will be between the professor and
the commentator. This is only part of the picture. The removal of the influence
of European professors, the press and the State Department—which is as
persona non grata to the cultural streams as they are to it, brings out new
pictures, and places this social outcaste in an entirely different position.
There is one thing in common between the spiritual movements of Asia and
that is the acceptance of the universal mind and the faculties of human beings
in being able to function in and with it. Some of your mentors affirmed it and
some did not. Which does not stop its operation. The first step has been the
accumulation of real Buddhist Masters here, so far pretty much ignored by the
public. We are taking our first step on the second Sunday in May where we
celebrate the Birthday of Lord Buddha at the Daibutsu in Golden Gate Park. This
is an effort toward friendship with Asians and a feeler toward the Vietnamese
people themselves. These people are largely Buddhists but their Buddhism is not
taught here at all and is reflected only in part by some Japanese groups.
Fortunately the Korean Master comes closer and we hope some people will be
curious in learning from him. It will be something to learn from a real Master,
and to ascertain not only what Buddhism really is, but to become aware of the
universal mind.
Saturday the Arabs met and I brought the copy of “Project: The Sahara
Desert.” This was first mentioned by my female counterpart, in a sense, who
lives in Ghana. But by the universal mind function I picked it up in Burlingame
and we are going ahead. This was the first big break.
The next big break came concerning the University of Cairo. They have a man
at Sacramento State and I shall go there with my epic poetry. It is at his
request. So I left the Arabs Saturday feeling that the day had been fine but I
expected trouble Saturday night because the Asian conference was in part under
Scalapino and Lipset of UC. Well, it never happened. Going to the South Asian
section, the chairman walks in: “Hello Dick!” “Hello Sam!” Like that.
Then the head of the steering committee reported. It was Richard Robinson of
Wisconsin, chief disciple of my lifelong friend, Robert Clifton, and most
bitter enemy of Alan Watts. This man wishes to be the leader of American
Buddhism and he will get full support of us Ugly Americans who have been unable
to get response but we are coming out more and more. I can assure you that
Robinson’s Buddhism is very little like anything in America, but very much
like a lot of Buddhism in Asia. He is now accepted by the universities and
intelligentsia and this is a big, big break.
But I had with me the report from the World Buddhist Federation and Princess
Poon. There is complete mutual understanding and my next report will also be
accepted I know intuitively just as the earlier ones were. I don’t know
whether you were at the Academy when Dr. Malalasekera was, but his departure
resulted in a bitter anti-American feeling. Watts and Spiegelberg aroused
antagonism all over the Orient, and now it is coming out. But they never got
into our university system, something I told you when the matter of getting
State Department connections came upThen I met an agent from Tuttle who wants
my manuscripts. There has been as much encouragement from the Asian Masters as
they were criticism from the European professors and the whole thing in my life
now is the ability to type.
There was a lot more favorable, completely reversing the events of previous
years, demonstrating the laws of karma. So I’ll skip to the last event. I was
sent, and it seemed to be by mistake, to the group on South Asian poetry. The
Indian supported Indian mysticism and the Muslim supported Sufi mysticism.
During the question period one of the top Orientalists asked a technical
question concerning mysticism and art-forms. Nobody on the panel could answer.
The question was thrown before the audience. When I spoke, the “solution”
was accepted and this by the top flight men, Indians and Americans alike. Not
only that, but the panel then threw questions at this person as the expert.
This was not before any public, or undergraduates and certainly not before
European professors or the press; these were the top men connected with Asian
studies all over the country and some outside too. It was the first time in
this country that this person has been permitted to talk publicly on what he
knows and it was accepted and lots more. Details will be omitted. When we meet
with other peoples as brothers as equals the world problems can be solved. I
have long said goodbye to the metaphysicians and phonies. Frank Catalina was in
the audience. There was no time to talk as some of the professors wanted to see
me. He has had Watts and Spiegelberg speak for him so I won’t waste time with
San Jose State. Nor does it matter. Soon we shall have the World University,
integrating human knowledge and friendships. Nobody is going to be left out who
has anything to contribute. One wonders what is gained by saying “No.” The
only difference between this person and his colleagues is that he has no job to
lose.
To be continued,
Sam
April 5, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 4, Calif.
My dear Norman:
Late at night I am writing you two or more letters, making carbons for
different purposes. Some time has been spent recently with Sudanese, and I feel
more comfortable with these people than any other group excepting Hindus. There
is a sort of spiritual affinity and understanding. We met one of the Cultural
Attachés who could not stay. He is preparing for the coming of a new
Ambassador. This Ambassador will no doubt be in S.F. in June and I should like
to help at a catered dinner something like that one last week. Personally I
should like to put up a pledge and then have others contribute something. The
details can be worked out.
This and some other matters have increased interests in part of Africa. But
anything said in this letter is not, as we say, ex cathedra, as another letter
may be. I agree with the Prime Minister, who said we did not kick the whites
out to bring in the yellows. I am afraid of outside industrialism and reject a
lot of stuff by anybody and everybody excepting from the Africans themselves.
Nor does the fact that I am organically connected with Ghana mean I am
necessarily in agreement with many of Nkrumah’s policies. The last words from
him indicate a retreat from dictatorship to spirituality. But we understand the
dictatorship more than the spirituality. I have not seen the same spirituality,
from any of the other American leaders, but it is not so obvious in Asian lands
and in Europe only occasionally from Scandinavia.
Anyhow I used this (not being always the model-saint; because I don’t
believe any saints are models) to attract some American girls and left it there
to receive suggestions from your good self or Kermit or anybody. I don’t know
if they have been left out like their brothers have, but again there have been
some religious elements in the social complex.
Watching the events of the day I learned that Booker Washington wanted
Negroes to work with their hands and Dubois opposed him and said they should
work with their brains. Here I differ—I think they should work with their
aptitudes—and this makes me more concerned with the Jack London Square strike
than with Selma. Selma seems too obvious, and the Oakland strike so insidious
(I don’t know whether this is right, it is only my reflection). If people
cannot get jobs when their aptitudes are high I see no peace or rest in the
world.
There was a broadcast tonight that the infiltration of Negroes does not
lower the prices of property. Sometimes it lowers the continuum of increases
that go on continually, sometimes it is the opposite, but the general effect is
social, not economic. And the legend is used by real estate agents to work both
ways.
One can only say concerning the Jack London Square strike that people who do
so well catering for our railroads show superiority, not equality and I have a
hunch if I were to visit the hotel sections at City Colleges the gradings would
bear this out.
In any case we are going to face an infiltration of a large sector of
African diplomats this June and we might as well be ready. Remember, the first
survey agent has already been here. Even if people remain hypocrites this Jack
London Square and other items should be cleared before summer, or else.
Now I have the material for “Project: The Sahara Desert.” The way in
which this came will be discussed in another letter. It means also that Hashim
and I will go together to the University of California with something
substantial. It has also excited the Egyptian consulate and others. It is big
and it fits in perfectly with my other projects like gloves.
I have been too excited over it to make a cool evaluation to go into any
letter written to your father. But this will come in time.
My whole program is booked solidly all the time. The interview with KPFA
came off well but I received an official report from Thailand the next day. I
also went to Divisadero St. and gave a contribution.
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
April 11, 1965
Hon. Phillip Burton,
House Office Building,
Washington 23, D.C.
Dear Congressman Burton:
Reality Versus “Realism” in SE Asia, continued.
Yesterday Dr. George Noronha of the S.F. College for Women on Lone Mountain
spoke at the American-Asian Friendship on why Americans are not liked in Asia.
There was a very large meeting and the writer agreed with the speaker on every
point.
It is a significant thing when a presumable Asian Roman Catholic takes
almost exactly the same stand as a Krishna Menon. He is as well aware as the
writer is that the TV and magazine publicity to our Cleopatrian pseudo-morals
has turned much of Asia against both Christianity and American social mores.
This is censored by our “free press” to a degree hardly conceivable, but
the censorship is just as alive and active as anything in Russia or Spain.
This morning’s Chronicle states that the Vietnamese Buddhists are
misunderstood in America. How can it be otherwise when we have
self-selected a lot of socially satisfactory persons as the spokesmen for the
faiths of Asian peasants with whom there is neither communion nor
communication. We have no relation with Asian peasants excepting to “teach”
them something. We simply have to “teach” them and change their standards
of living, and presumably their morals, whether they wish or not.
It was only a week since the real American Orientalists (who do not invite
the “experts” on Asia heard over TV, Radio, and in the press), have come
out pretty uniformly for anti-Hawk programs whether these are in conformance
with the “Doves” or not. The real American Orientalists who mingle with
real Asians and the Asians in our midst alike have no sympathy with the
“Mcblundie” programs. We can’t be on both sides of the Declaration of
Independence and Wilson’s Fourteen Points and at the moment we are adamantly
attached to both sides. As the conservative Dr. Noronha stated, nobody
in Asia will welcome South Africa as an “ally” under no circumstances or
considerations.
As to the Mekong development. The press comments are based on the blind
assumption that if we put up enough money Norodom will welcome us. Of course we
have to overlook the “Ugly Americans” here, especially those who have lived
in Cambodia. We are doing the best we can by overlooking the press and coming
out for the pilgrimage to the Buddha in Golden Gate Park on May 9, something
positive instead of something negative.
I think I have reported that the Asians and American Orientalists have
selected Dr. Richard Robinson as their spokesman for Buddhism. His outlook is
far, far from the travesty defamations passed out as “Buddhism” in the
press and on the radio and TV (especially the local stations). Until the
Government passes from “realism” to accepting the reality of this
man and his efforts, anything we claim we want to do for Asia, Southeast or
otherwise, can have no sincerity and will not be accepted in Asia as having any
sincerity.
According to Dr. Noronha, and to which I assent, if we were to adopt the
“Dove” program, China, not we, would lose face. We would get the applause
of practically all Asia, and a good deal of Africa. What we call “strength”
is weakness in the eyes of God. We are stamping on the teachings of Jesus
Christ (and Buddha) at every step. We are spitting on the images of Jefferson,
Emerson and Abraham Lincoln. We are disregarding humanity.
This person, long accepted in Asia, now finds himself in full accord with
the leading American Orientalists. He is still not in accord with British and
German “Orientalists,” and with the press or our so-called diplomats.
This is written largely because the UN is to have some kind of meeting in
this city soon. You should and I think you will be here. You might meet some of
the diplomats and other representatives of real Asian-African lands and some of
us stand ready to cooperate.
As before, please accept any of the above insofar as it conforms to your
efforts and discard or disregard the rest.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
April 11, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Mr. Radenzel:
Why “We” Are Losing in The Real Asia and the Real Africa.
1. On page 1A today there is an article “A Visit to the Fighting
Yemenis” in which it says: “The intensely devout Moselm (an obvious
misprint, or is it obvious?) Zeidis.” What makes them “devout” and not
fanatic. When we like them they are “devout” and when we don’t
like them they are “fanatic” and Asians and Africans just love that
kind of comment.
Page 13: “Peking’s Program to Woo Its National Minorities to
Communism.”
Page 11: “The 1965 Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of
Christians and Jews will go to Walter Hass.” This is a very worthy reward so
far as the individual is concerned, but what about the reactions of real Asians
and real Africans (there are such persons, you know).
Yesterday a real Asian, Dr. George F. Noronha spoke at the Asian-American
Friendship on “Causes of Misunderstanding between Americans and Asian
Peoples.” From his credentials, as he is attached to Roman Catholic
universities, he seems definitely on the conservative side, but just as
definitely he let it be known that the real peoples of Asia would not fight
against Russia and all, and if they had to fight between Russia and the United
States, and had no other choice, they would choose Russia.
If you put the pieces of the above items together you may be seeing the
Chinese sending out Islamic representatives to parts of Africa and Asia. What
counter-balance have we?
We are calling the Zeidis “devout” and their opponents, the orthodox
Sunnis “fanatics.” Yet if we study the Hadith of Mohammed, we can easily
see that the Sunnis, and in particular those of UAR and Algeria are patterning
their societies as close as possible to the actual life, behavior patterns, and
writings of Mohammed whom they regard as the Messenger of God. The Zeidis do
this verbally, the far-outnumbering cultured Arabs do this
institutionally. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are
ideals of the majority of Arabs, the Zeidis and Wahabis, being distinct
exceptions, with their social slavery of womankind, and their almost equal
social slavery of the working masses (call it by any other names).
We, of course, with our “brotherhood” limited to Christians and Jews,
what have we to say to Buddhists? to Hindus? to Muslims? Dr. Noronha brought
this out clearly.
How are we going to win the “fanatic” Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists to
our side or even to neutrality? Well, some of us Ugly Americans are trying. And
if you or your colleagues ever show the least interest in “How California Can
Help Asia” you would get out of your dream world of “realism” into that
marvelous unending panorama of reality. And I can assure you the UAR
representatives here are farther ahead of you in this. We are planning
practical things, not editorials.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
April 11, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
I hope you can make something out of this copy of letter to Ed Radenzel of
the Chronicle. The only way to stop the troubles today is some sort of
cooperation with those groups we insist on are our enemies.
When I was in India I challenged the teachers to point out a single event
since World War II, not answers in the folk-writings of India. No answer. Your
precious AAAS, whether on Broadway or Duboce would have nothing of it.
While “I” oppose communism politically already through integration, both
my scientific and spiritual colleagues are harmonizing with them, but on a
higher level which is almost impossible for these classes to understand:
a. European professors of Orientalia
b. Metaphysical people who are accepted as “authorities” on Asia
c. Newspaper men.
And it is almost impossible for the new people not to understand. I must
call to your attention, since you are studying Astrology, of the rise of the
Aquarians. They are totally different, easy to understand, easy to be
understood by and work on real premises, not on the pseudo-logics of the past,
or conclusions without premises.
In my poetry I see the world as a war between atheists and anti-theists. But
even the conservative Prof. Noronha questioned whether the Chinese, Buddhists
or even Russians are strictly speaking atheists. At the moment the press and
more and more politicians are assuming to roles of “god” and the
counter-karma is going to be terrible. Gavin sees this in the horoscope. But I
do not mean to say that the United States will not beat the communists. However
it will not be this United States.
The organizer of the Asian-American Friendship lost his audience to the
speaker. He is pro Chiang Kai-shek. In general the larger the audience the more
anti-Chiang it is. The speaker said that if we would stop fighting, the
Chinese, not we, would lose face. I know this is true. And if Mao sends some
Muslims to Africa, bye-bye blackbird. This is beginning to come out in the
universities—more later, I mean during 1965. We are going to have peace
through integration and brotherhood and not by aphorisms therefor.
Sam
April 18, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Dr. Paul Fung,
Buddha Universal Church,
720 Washington St.
San Francisco 11, Calif.
My dear Paul:
I greet you in the name of the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, and enclose
copy of letter sent to Thailand.
One has to meet the world and local situations with dispassion and
compassion. The local situations, which have increased in persistence through
the years, has been the very separative attitude of groups calling themselves
“Buddhist” and their companionate neglect of Buddhist literature. One does
not complain so much as one seeing the natural karma of this behavior pattern,
particularly found in America, and all over America.
There is a faculty and function called “Prajna” which enables man to see
his way clear through all difficulties and you will see that the first
difficulty cleared here has come in the restoration of the earlier pilgrimage
to the statue of Lord Buddha in Golden Gate Park. One presumes that you have
received a notice and invitation to join. Many groups will join, at first
unwillingly and from the dispassionate point of view one has to become very
indifferent to the slights to the real Lord Buddha by Buddhist groups
(so-called).
The heretical nonsense taught at the American Academy that “Buddha spoke
no word” has given rise to innumerable, non-communicative groups or sanghas
agreeing in this and substituting their own ego-thoughts for the perennial
wisdom. There is no need to argue over it for our universities have had the
perspicacity to see through it and to emphasize real study in real dharma which
is not under the aegis of Dr. Richard Robinson.
The other aspect of it is in the operation of karma. Any person who has
studied the real dharma would know that the United States is in karmic
difficulties for its intrusion into Asian lands and the present series of
wind-storms, floods and other calamities will continue. For a cosmic
disturbance does not necessarily break out on one’s doorstep any more than a
cable must be received in the locale of its sender.
The bifurcation in the interpretation of the word “Peace” makes peace of
either kind impossible. The advent of real Dharma Masters in our midst has
resulted much more in effecting studies in universities than in metaphysical or
church circles and the appearance of some of these Masters—who do not
necessarily look like Masters—in Golden Gate Park on May 9 will demonstrate
only that they exist and are here.
We have successfully put pressure on one single teacher here to give
instructions in the Sutras. Your Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch has already been
used as a study text, alas by others and not by yourself. Indeed copies of your
translation will be taken by this person to many parts but this in itself will
react because of the lack of suitable studies in it here.
The Masters and this person have in common, studying directly or indirectly
with the late great Master Tai Hsu. The American Academy, so called,
would never let this person speak of this or of his position in the dharma,
which is now accepted in all parts of the Asian world and by the Dharma Masters
here. This of itself means little because one does not aspire to leadership.
Indeed by the end of the year it is probable that this person will leave the
country again having many invitations to visit many parts of Asia, including
one from the Buddhist Headquarters in Thailand.
There is still a small debt unpaid—tickets to be returned—due partly to
the long lingering illness and finally death of my mother, who will be buried
tomorrow. Her history illustrates the ineffability and innumerability of the
law of karma; and by this law, when one sees clearly and knows that Samma
Dhrishthi means, the whole life is clear, from the present on into the
future.
It is with some regret that one may be seeing others teach the Diamond Sutra
and Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. A hungry world seeks food; now it is coming
from other sources, but it is bound to come. Our Wesak Day celebration is the
first manifestation and demonstration of pure Sangha activity in the sense that
Lord Buddha taught.
Faithfully,
Sam
April 18, 1965
My dear Norman:
On the Aquarian Age.
The other day I told Norman that we were in the Aquarian Age and he gave
some arguments. The point is that he does not know, and in general metaphysical
people do not know what is going on. The papers are filled with half-truths.
These are not 100% lies because they refer to actual events though they distort
them. But this is universally true and to know what is going on one would have
to see from all points of view, or else accept the reports of eye-witnesses.
The little event in the Civic Center yesterday is exemplary of Pisceans
versus Aquarians. It has nothing to do with left-center-right-nonsense, humbug.
True, there were those who call themselves Marxists, and I am not going to try
to convince them that Marx said he was not a Marxist. Marx was almost a
Buddhist in that he believed activities were the results of groups, not of
individuals and there is no doubt that we are coming into an age of
group-activity. This can be seen in the rise of synthetic chemistry, the new
science of ecology and in general the laws being unfolded in embryology and
genetics. But this group activity is alike very contrary both to what is going
on in China as well as in the Western nations excepting Scandinavia and
Yugoslavia. Even these countries are not aware of the new group-movements in
UAR, India and to some extent Algeria.
To me it is noticeable in the looks of infatuated lovers. In the age just
passing lovers had eyes only for each other and what is called love tended to
make them narrow, more self-centered and careless about others. The true love
of the past could be proven by real lovers becoming more considerate. But the
Aquarians have added another dimension, just as predicted. When I see the new
lovers, they are looking ahead, as well as at each other. They have a new
“space” venture. It involves a social consciousness but this is neither in
the Chinese or capitalistic sense because their sight determines their
philosophy, not their philosophy their sight.
One may not be able to prove an argument but in every effort to get
personality reaction the patterns proved themselves. Most of the so-called
“Doves” had little to offer but opposition to Washington or even praise for
the Viet Cong. The countermovement which used name-calling contained about the
most nondescript persons I have ever witnessed in a public place. At least the
fascists of an earlier day dressed well. While calling the “Doves”
wastrels, they did not even have clean signs—there was not a clean thing
about them.
To be an occultist one has to be as impersonal as in science. What disturbs
me is not the wrong we are doing in Vietnam as the wrong we are doing ourselves
by the karmic operations. If somebody really looked into occultism or the
depths of Buddhism, there is an absolute connection between Vietnam, the
tornadoes and the Mississippi.
I think I have written about Paul Harvey who saw divine retribution when
floods plagued China. Sure, and it is the same retribution which comes here.
China learned a little that she cannot be imperialistic and carry on—she did
not change but became circumspect; we do not change but do not become
circumspect. And it is to me silly to talk about the advances in China when I
hardly know a nation in the world, excepting Spain which is not advancing,
though in different degrees. People who wish cannot see.
I have failed to convince KPFA that the way to raise money is to take
humanity into consideration. There is plenty of money in the hands of liberal
Orientals who have been offended by Alan Watts, Greene and others. Why
Englishmen? Why not themselves? If KPFA would send for some representative of
some socially minded groups the money would follow.
Then there is the rise of one or two groups, which may be identical:
Aquarians and Ugly Americans. We now carry on all over the world, but differ
from the cooperatives in that we function in another dimension through another
dimension. We both commune and communicate. The death of my mother frees me a
little this week so I may attend a session on Africa on the campus
Wednesday—not yet sure. But so far as answers are concerned, they are already
here. The World Affairs Council is discussing the population explosion;
“we” are facing the food problems.
I have already been offered free passage, jobs and homes in the Orient, but
things are looking up here in all directions. The peoples of Asia, outside of
China, fear Chinese imperialism and wish their religions and traditions—some
of these are pretty awful but the people want them. Today America and China are
cooperating into compelling industrialization, trousers, cities and hard work.
God deliver Africa from both.
Sam
April 20, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
KPFA
2207 Shattuck Ave.,
Berkeley 4, Calif.
Attention Malcolm W. Roemer
My dear Mr. Roemer:
I have your letter of the 15th and it should be borne in mind that the
purpose of this correspondence has been to make suggestions which should help
you raise funds. I must again call to your attention that I live in a
Congressional District represented by Phillip Burton and an Assembly District
represented by John Burton; that they received funds and help from persons and
groups which have not been “tapped” by you and I merely wished to point out
that this person successfully “tapped” those groups, although in another
part of the State.
On May 8 there will be an Asian-American Friendship fund raising dinner in
which artists from Japan, China, Philippines, Indonesia and India will take
part. Two of those communities are opulent, two not important here and one
moderately so, but those people are not treated as Europeans are treated.
I am entirely in accord with your remarks about policy but I am not entirely
in accord with the methods used in persecuting these policies and one reason I
am not directly in accord is that consciously or unconsciously you have
offended peoples who might be with you.
I again call to your attention the Friends of Asian Arts who have been more
than successful because they are open to free association with Asian peoples,
Asians take part in the programs on Asia and they have been over-subscribed.
Not only that they are going to take full advantage of this person’s Asian
contacts to build their programs up further. And this is in contrast to several
other groups, purportedly operating in the field of Asiatica which have not
taken the actual Asians into their hearts and confidences and have failed
miserably to attract funds or the public.
Even with all that is going on in SE Asia while your time is open to all
views it is not open to all peoples to express those views. In this you are no
different from the rest of us, and again this is only important that a lot of
other forums (e.g. the University of California) do not depend on public
support and can afford to have others, besides Asians, express themselves on
Asian matters.
I do not know any occasion when any agency whatsoever in this State has
called in Chinese speakers (of any view) on European politics or Pan-American
affairs. I have the example of my own career that we got money even from the
Japanese and their full support because we opened ourselves to them and
with them, rather than at them.
The majority of people in this region who overwhelmingly objected to the
views of the
Knowland family have not felt free yet to contribute financially to your
support, and I have failed to convince you, that by opening up time to Asians,
and to others who may share your views, you could attract money.
In my private life, as matters stand, the least I am expecting is free
Passage to Asia where, within a short time I may meet no less than five Prime
Ministers, or persons of equal importance—that is an easy matter. It is not
an easy matter to communicate this effectively to radio and press. What is
more, Asians know this. Even now one of my colleagues is getting articles
published in Burma and Thailand—perhaps also in other lands in that region
but I do not get the publications thereof, who has found it impossible to
penetrate through any section of the Fourth Estate. These editors of faraway
lands are going to ask me questions when I arrive—perhaps early next year,
and they are going to be embarrassing to Americans of all views and ranks.
We “Ugly Americans” are now meeting each other in force as we discover
each other. We are not all poor but we do mingle as equal with Asians and
decidedly as unequals with our own countrymen. One is very sympathetic with the
Japanese and Chinese who are irked in having to listen to all sorts of
Caucasians speak on their cultures and their destinies. Everybody who has not
been to Vietnam has the air or print open, and those who have commingled with
the natives, with one or two exceptions are also just “Ugly Americans.”
In addition to going to Asia, I may run into parts of Africa and will
certainly help host some Prime Ministers and Ambassadors this summer. And there
are still too many gaps between real Africans and Afro-American friendship
groups.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Norman:
Will have to spend a lot of time in Berkeley this week, partly on food
problems and partly on Sahara Desert problems, etc. If I remain late will call,
but cannot tell. Hashim had to break his date this p.m. but not this a.m.
My mother has died and also I have been promised free ticket to Pakistan.
This will take me to Cairo and then I may run down to Khartoum. It may take a
while to probate the estate and my brother has been full of tricks but I think
he has overstepped himself. But this and other signs look to a promising
future.
The only thing accomplished by the profs at the American Academy has been to
get themselves ultimately in back graces.
Monday April 26, 1965
Dear Norman:
A number of months ago the commentator Paul Harvey, after a terrible tragedy
in China, said that this was the punishment of God upon a people who had
transgressed the laws of nature. Now this person has been trained in an
occultism of which the western world has had hardly an inkling until the last
few months. And in the “next plane” the disturbance which we have caused in
SE Asia reacts upon us and will continue to react upon us.
Just before this storm there was a broadcast by the Asst. Secretary of State
which from the occult view was one of the most horrible which ever came from an
American and by the laws of cause and effect was bound to re-act upon us.
I cannot, of course, impel or compel any study of real Oriental occultism on
this culture and equally I cannot help “seeing” a lot. Khrushchev was
partly right in saying that God is the only neutralist. The Bible says God is
no respecter of persons. The Divine Outlook is totally ignored here but
“my” plan based on it has already been accepted in SE Asia.
The situation is complicated or relieved by a claim today that Soviet
scientists have discovered some super-beings. To me all earthly “powers”
are not powers at all but some have the good sense to work with the laws of the
cosmos and some have not.
Yesterday, for the first time I know, somebody was permitted to speak on
Sufism. It was neither KPFA nor KQED. The Sufis are coming out of hiding.
“We” will probably control Africa. At least “we” are making tremendous
headway.
One can neither impose on the world the cosmic outlook of the Sufis nor of
the “Wise Men of the Far East” several of whom are in our midst, right here
now, and, of course by [?] of those who are more pleasant than [?] real
mysticisms of [?] made known. This has already happened at Columbia and I
presume at Chicago and UCLA.
This Cosmic Order which is based on absolute justice plus compassion works
slowly but it is now working a little more rapidly. The first outer evidence of
this will be seen in the celebration of Lord Buddha’s birthday in G.G. Park
on May 9. This is but an outer symbol. When the Ambassador from Sudan comes you
will see something else again.
Sam
May 2, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Morris W. Hirsch,
Department of Mathematics,
University of California,
Berkeley 4, Calif.
In re: Vietnam Rally
Dear Professor Hirsch:
As local news gatherer for the World Buddhist Federation, I am very much
interested in your proposed May 21 gathering. There is no question that the
methods now being used by the United States Government in Southeast Asia, and
elsewhere are quite contrary to:
The shibboleths, aphorisms and maxims we constantly repeat
The basic principles of foreign policy associated with great names and names
not so great, at least until 1900, and sometimes, after that date.
I am wondering whether it is possible to meet you before that time, but I am
going to lay some cards on the table, which very cards almost remove one from
the opposing camps, camps of people who have not lived and worked in Southeast
Asia, and who despite and regardless of their very different points of view,
have shown little evidence of regarding Asians, particularly Southeast Asians
as human beings, the same way as we regard Europeans as human beings.
Since 1947 I was made acquainted with the affairs and events in the region
involved by one Robert Clifton, also known as Phra Sumangalo. Unfortunately the
first letters sent were destroyed in a fire some time ago but during the period
since three of his associates have moved to San Francisco. Clifton himself
worked in every country of SE Asia, was well known to king and prime minister
and to all the leading Buddhists of all schools. But two visits to this country
did not get him a single meeting with any member of the Foreign Service, nor
with the press (excepting Mrs. Meyer in Washington), nor with the radio-TV,
until it was discovered he was a third cousin of Senator Fulbright by marriage.
Then all the doors opened to him but instead of accepting the welcomes he gave
up his citizenship and vowed never to return. He died of a broken heart—being
a relative of a Senator was to make all the difference in this land of
“justice, humanity and democracy.”
His last companion, the Buddhist Rev. J. Eugene Wagner, has traveled on foot
through Cambodia and Laos and taught English, like the famous “Anna” to the
royal family in Thailand—which has not guaranteed a single interview. But to
show our friendship with the Vietnamese humanity we have succeeded in
programming a pilgrimage to the statue of Lord Buddha on his birthday (Wesak
Day), in Golden Gate Park on next Sunday, May 9. We are doing this as much as a
gesture to the human beings who live in SE Asia as a ceremonial of a particular
faith.
My own “The Religions of Vietnam” has been perpetually rejected by
press, editors and radio-TV stations. Indeed at least one of the publicly
supported stations has recalled a charlatan to speak on “The Wisdom of the
Far East” which further inflames the human beings of Asia, but does not
concern us one bit.
I have with some difficulty succeeded in having memoirs accepted by your
Institute of International Relations. And most fortunately the “Buddhism”
which has been accepted on the campus is totally different from the
radio-TV-popular circuses which delight the public but which have no relation
to the faiths of human beings. Fortunately, too, the universities have combined
in a Summer Session, at Wisconsin U. this year which will present, for the
first time, real studies in real Buddhism under very qualified instructors.
This person received a terrible beating trying to get a Chinese speaker on
the seminar on “Asia” held under the auspices of the “late” and
unlamented Chancellor Strong. He did not invite even one of the ten
Consuls-General of Asian countries to take part in the proceedings but used
public moneys to import European diplomats and newsmen to tell us about
“Asia.” Only the Chinese protested, even “integrationist” did not
bother. As to the big gathering on “China” early this year, that was a
terrible insult to all Asians, to have to chose between a British communist and
an exceedingly untruthful American publisher—Chinese no more welcome than in
the Hong Kongs a few years back.
Even now, after two world wars, we play Wagner and R. Strauss music in
orchestras which have no less than three instruments originally invented in
that part of the world we call “Vietnam” without giving any credit to those
people—we give credit to the Germans against whom we fought, but not to the
Asian cultures. And how many people even know what “Vietnam” means?
As matters stand I shall be released from having to remain in this part of
the world before the year is out. This will give one opportunity to meet a
great many world leaders who may have the final say of “peace” and
“war” in many parts of Asia.
My own proposals have already been accepted by the World Buddhist Conference
and by Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, President of India. I want peace through
friendship, through humanity. But instead of the “Mekong River Project” I
am hoping to interest President C. Kerr in achievements already accomplished by
representatives of other UC campuses in actual Southeast Asia.
By worshipping with these people, by listening to them, by helping them with
their problems from their points of view we can establish a better world. But
by positive and energetic shibboleths and aphorisms we accomplish nothing. My
attendance at the gathering depends on whether you will have on your panel a
Vietnamese and Cambodian, not on fine speeches from even the most pleasant
persons who do not speak for the humanity of the region.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 2, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
The world moves and the law of karma also. I expect more internal
catastrophes so long as our foreign office decides it knows better than
“God” as to what should be done with the world.
I am enclosing a letter which is almost a threat—that I shall not
associate with the protesters on Vietnam until they have at least one
Vietnamese and one Cambodian on their panels. I am sick and tired of verbal
protestations for people we have never met and with whom we do not
associate.
Before I go away I hope to see Phillip Burton and even his brother and also
Kermit and lay down some facts particularly about persons whom I know and who
have a good deal to say about the future of Asia. The World Buddhist Federation
was dominated by Princess Poon Diskul, President Radhakrishnan, and the Dalai
Lama. We have ignored them on Vietnam.
I am going to lay down names and associations, unless John Burton is
arrested or arraigned before I leave—in which case some information will be
made public showing the great gap between reality and “realism.” I no
longer try to get acquainted with people here excepting the scientists. All
conferences on matters of food, soils and desert reclamation have been
successful. These people go by the facts and not by personality reactions.
This world is not going to follow either the one groups of imperialists who
do not deny the name; or the other group which thinks it may hide its
imperialism by calling the first group imperialist. It was not news, but it was
fact that the fighting between India and Pakistan was delayed for years because
of the locusts. Something of this kind will arise in Africa. The Chinese are
totally unable to deal with the actual problems of the African people (I
don’t mean the governments).
Successful social experiments are kept from public attention alike by the
conservatives and communists. Anything that succeeds which does not fit in with
their private dialectics is not published—but it happens and is happening
more and more. And if I don’t get my next annals published at least I shall
record them for posterity. And I am meeting more and more fellow Ugly Americans
who know about a real “Brave New World.” On the whole the FSM fits in far
more with the “Brave New World” than either of the dominant existing
societies.
Faithfully,
Sam.
May 5, 1965
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Al Partridge,
c/o KPFA
Berkeley 4, Calif.
My dear Mr. Partridge:
A number of things have happened since our meeting. One of these has been
the failure to impress your colleagues of a method used by some of us in Los
Angeles to elect a minority candidate. We won because we gave free play to all
these minorities, letting them run their own affairs and they brought us funds,
more than we needed. But this is exactly where not only KPFA, but the present
Peace for Vietnam and other crusading causes have failed.
My friend who has lived in Cambodia and Laos and who is a Buddhist monk and
therefore persona non grata with both “Hawks” and “Doves” and I
conspired; we have been entirely successful in reaching portions of the
Japanese and Chinese communities to express friendship for the peoples of SE
Asia. We are doing this through cooperative celebration of Lord Buddha’s
Birthday (Wesak Day) but we are doing this symbolically as a gesture of
friendship to and with the actual human beings who live in Southeast Asia,
especially that mélange of cultures and humanity whom we call
Vietnamese, who have no previous historical background, a point we do
not care to examine.
Anyhow this was done both as a gesture of friendship and to demonstrate you
can raise funds by mingling with human beings and not even bring up
brotherhood. In other words we have almost out-CORED CORE, the one group which
will have an endless future because it is not working within human
limitations.
Spent some time with Prof. Hirsh about the next protest meeting on Vietnam.
He needs financial help but when I spoke about having a Cambodian and
Vietnamese on the platform that was another matter. He was stuck.
Even now in face of all the troubles in the world the radio and TV stations
insist on calling in an Englishman of doubtful background (KPFA definitely
included) as the expert on the Wisdom of the East, therefore and thereby
excluding all financial assistance from the very groups who have supported
Assemblymen Brown and Burton.
Now I am awaiting another possible legacy and have been recalled to South
Asia, expenses paid and as many jobs as I wish. Also President Dr.
Radhakrishnan of India has written he is fully in accord with “my”
proposals for SE Asia. One is not going to waste time trying to convince
Americans when one can work with Asians. We can sit down with Germans of all
points of view, even with Russians, but we are unable to understand Orientals.
I hope to influence Prof. Hirsh through his knowledge of mathematics.
Last month the professors of Asian subjects, Americans, sat down with Asians
as equals and discussed a number of problems and also a number of solutions to
problems. As a human being with limited financial resources (though increasing)
and with access to a number of persons influential, affluential and otherwise I
have promised full support to this real integration of American and Asian
thought and therefore cannot and will not contribute to those who exclude
Asians from debates, conferences and panels on Asia.
I explained to Prof. Hirsh my defeat from the late Chancellor Strong who
refused to admit Chinese to the conferences on “Asia” and “China” under
his auspices. If he had so treated the Jews you would have heard it all over
the world.
This Saturday is the annual dinner of the American Asian Friendship League.
We manage to get along without British diplomats and professors and
“experts,” or State Department officials, or any newsmen whatsoever. We do
not even have time to talk about “brotherhood.”
When I leave this country I shall be meeting in person those who will have
the final say about the solutions of many Oriental countries and problems. They
have in common severe animosity against that Englishman whom KPFA and other
stations have adopted as spokesman for “Oriental Wisdom.”
Peace is wonderful. I wish I could have somebody with me when I meet these
arbiters or Dr. Radhakrishnan.
Faithfully,
Sam
Norman:
I told Prof. Hirsh about the protests against our 1812 war with England and
also about Abe Lincoln against paying the Mexican War debts. Even historians
don’t seem to know much history.
As a Muslim I don’t believe there is any God but Allah and refused to
accept any oath of allegiance to the Bird-watchers in the White House. Have
watched, almost with glee the “defection” of Indonesia and Cambodia and
Pakistan and Burma are close.
Even sedate City College here is stirring now and I am going there this
morning. The college students are the hope of the country. Why is it that the
Hyde Park of Britain, 1900, is regarded as “revolutionary” here? I
haven’t seen much radicalism anywhere.
May 11, 1965
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Hon. Phillip Burton,
House Office Building,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Congressman Burton:
I am writing this both as a report and prospectus. Notice has been received
of the first hearing on a family estate. As soon as the matter is settled I
shall be leaving this country and partly for a long time. Of course at the
moment I do not know whether there will be a court case and delay, or an early
departure—which would mean toward the end of the year. In any case I wish as
long an appointment as possible especially if I have knowledge or am embarking
on missions which would be of interest and benefit to you. For instance in 1956
I was entrusted on a mission to stimulate the anti-communists among the world
Buddhists, a mission that was of no interest to any Americans excepting the
local Asia Foundation and still is not. Most of the strife about Asia is
between the more or less “realist” Hawks and the almost totally hyperbolic
Doves who have no roots at all in the countries which they discuss.
A recent event on the campus of the University of California is very
illustrative. After I pleaded—in vain—it is always in vain, to have a
Vietnamese or Cambodian on the platform during the forthcoming rally on what a
lot of very noble, ideal and even spiritually minded people think is
“Vietnam,” a single Dominican crossing the campus was immediately hailed,
given a “soap box” and there was a spontaneous rally. The Dominican was a
real person and like all good Aryans, and we are still good Aryans though we
are equalizing with “Blacks,” we can see injustice where injustice exists
(among us, the believers in the “Brotherhood of Jews and Christians”).
Since then two other events have occurred in San Francisco, one in your
district, one on public property. The first was the annual Asian-American
Friendship Saturday at which 150 attended, there being no more room. There were
no newsmen or diplomats haranguing on “how to get along with Asians,” the
Americans and Asians just mingled and got along with each other and I know of
no social event in my life that was more satisfactory.
It contrasted extremely with the 1967 UNESCO fiasco in which we had to
listen to the speeches of newsmen, diplomats (usually European) and British
professors telling us how to get along with Asians. More time was given to the
Korean than to the single Hindu, and that Hindu was not even permitted to
answer questions.
And there would be no Vietnam, nor being asked to depart from Cambodia or
anything else if Americans were allowed to mingle with Asians without any
newsmen or diplomats around. I have been “converted” to absolute travel,
not only in Cuba, which is still a symbol of good Aryanism and “Brotherhood
of Christians and Jews” but anywhere and everywhere under God’s earth, this
“God” having the same name as our “God” but being more universal.
Then on Sunday we celebrated “Buddha’s Birthday” at the large Statue
in the Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. It was an overwhelming success
reinforced by the excellent weather. This Garden was started after our
Midwinter Fair of 1894 and in my earlier years we used to celebrate the
birthday of Buddha there (just as we used to go to Mission Dolores each year,
etc. as part of San Francisciana). With the use of the Buddhist churches by
Japanese spies, and then the war it was discontinued.
Then came the era of the “experts”—we still have them, popular men
with excellent social appeal who lecture on the religions of Asia, and are
accepted as representing such. This is still going on. So now we have two
completely different “Asian cultures”:
a. The press, the radio, the TV whose motives are excitement and popular
response, having brand names get up and shout on what are known as Asian
religions, Asian wisdoms, etc. which are excellent, hyperbolic, metaphysical,
nice and entertaining. They have nothing to do with anything on this earth,
“God’s” or otherwise.
b. The Universities which are getting down to valid, instructive studies and
whose ideas on Asian religions and on “Vietnam” have little or no relation
to the conflicting views of “Hawks” and “Doves” but are pretty close to
reality.
There is another group whom I call “Ugly Americans” who have lived at
some time in South or Southeast Asia. We are meeting each other more and more
and the speakers and leaders in the Asian-American Friendship Dinner belong to
this group. We are also infiltrating universities not directly concerned with
group b. but of course, in alignment with them.
Rejected entirely by Hawks and largely by Doves, my friend, Rev. Eugene
Wagner and I decided to restore the Buddha Ceremony. Wagner was the
secretary-companion of the late Rev. Robert Clifton who gave me a running
history of “Vietnam” until there was too much fighting. He was accepted all
over Southeast Asia and rejected almost totally here. So are the rest of us.
The appearance in San Francisco this year of “Masters” of all sorts of
Buddhist schools was sudden and almost unexpected. One from North China, one
from North Central China, one from East China and now Singapore, one from Korea
and one Kalmuck representing real Tibetan Buddhism. All joined forces with
us.
Also for the first time in history the Chinese “Buddhist Congregations of
America” and the Japanese “Buddhist Churches of America” joined in, and
if it was not a “little child” that led them, it was us “Ugly
Americans.” So we had in the Tea Garden a large and most surprisingly
successful “Buddha’s Birthday (Wesak)” celebration, with all Asians of
all types and groups joining together.
This, of course, has as yet had no effect on the popular press, radio and TV
who select nice Englishmen and other Aryans to tell us all about the Orient and
wonder why they don’t get the response of the Asian-Asians.
Now I have been recalled to Asia by the Asian-Asians and it is not a very
pretty story I am to tell that we Americans, while battling for or against
integration with our own minorities, have as yet no such battle regarding the,
shall I say, “Yellow Race” although this covers a little more than that.
Our dissident groups fight each other without too much regard of real humanity.
Hawks are murderers and Doves are hyperbolic metaphysicians. We do not even
know what “Vietnam” means.
In the meanwhile there will be a new Japanese Section in San Francisco and I
hope you get my point that when you speak here you will speak on the Japanese
culture and not on some metaphorical, metaphysical idealism of any Englishmen
or German purporting to be “Asian Culture.” At least the former Mayor of
Oakland knew better than that—he mingled with Japanese.
Then I am going to visit San Francisco City College and check on the growing
number of “Ugly Americans” now teaching there. One is an Anthropologist and
this is typical. Send an Anthropologist and a “Social Scientist” to a
country—and they will agree—on geography. Our Anthropologists live and
mingle with people and become one of them. Our “Social Scientists”
guinea-pig them. This is true of all views, all schools. The rise of communism
has led to the rise of Dialectics, and those people who claim to be
“Marxist-Leninists” are excellent Dialecticians and very poor followers of
either Marx or Lenin. Their critics are Dialecticians for this enables them to
establish philosophies without recourse to facts and human beings. Opinions are
all that matter and the more presentable the opinion-maker, the more acceptable
and that is why Nations are fighting each other and why there are internal
difficulties.
I wish to call to your attention that one of my final destinations in Asia
is the World University in New Delhi which will integrate the culture of the
world. The scientists of all Nations will gather, confer, collect knowledge and
seek answers to problems. It is a companionate effort to the Ghana Assembly—
some of the same people being in both. As God is God of all people and not just
of “Brotherhood of Jews and Christians,” so the scientists are meeting and
conferring. You are going to see a facsimile soon from the University of
California based on the same principles. Knowledge is knowledge if it is not
also power, and the people of knowledge will confer and harmonize while the
people of opinion will confer and combat.
We just had this recently when a man of tremendous opinion, Dr. Teller,
fought with a man of tremendous information, Dr. Carl Brandt of Stanford. Dr.
Teller, a physicist and cosmologist, gave himself the right to speak with
authority on problems of food and demography. Dr. Brandt has given himself no
such right to speak on Atomic sciences. But as we now are, any popular
metaphysician can get before the public. This has caused the calling of a
congress of scientific writers to see that there is system and order in the
popularizing of science news which is not possible under the present set-up,
although there are some instances of real popularization, rather small before
the tremendous press-releases in the name of the sciences.
Before the public could react on your vote on moneys for the Army, the
President contradicted the whole past policy of this country in the Dominican
Republic—at least to the degree of a tremendous reaction against him among
all sorts of people. So you need not worry about your district. I find quite
conservative citizens enerved by this latest move and this will react in your
favor.
And finally it must be noticed, despite all our “realists” that the
majority of people outside of communist Russia and China are now under
socialist governments of some sort. When you add together the number of noses
under these socialist governments we find that they are more than the number of
noses under non-socialist governments and if Germany goes that way it will be
even more.
As the word “socialism” has all sorts of meanings, it is hard to be
semantic but it is impossible to be honest and “realistic” both. The
withdrawal of Roger Hillsman from the government does not interfere with the
probability of the world acting just as he declared it would act and that we
must act. When you combine De Gaulle with the “socialists” and others, we
are getting to be in a very woeful minority. Even Spain trades with Cuba.
As I shall be seeing some of the most important key people on earth when I
travel—and without any difficulty whatsoever—I think we should meet some
time before I leave the country. In any event I shall keep Lim informed of
anything of importance. This will begin, I assure you, as soon as I reach
London and long before I get even to the Near East. I am also making very
careful measures that my memoirs will be in a proper place for the use of
future historians. This has already been proposed to, not by me.
The above dinner party and the successful Tea Garden ceremony are only outer
symbols. I have my tentacles all over the world today and also with a very
large number of “Ugly Americans” here. And with all of his bravado, Prof.
Burdick is keeping away from the Doves, letting his true colors out.
One thing more—lest one forget—I am still working for a joint
American-Mexican Agricultural experimental station for the mouth of the
Colorado River. I shall work to plant California crops in the Orient and in
return gather as much material—it is actually available right here in San
Francisco, for Coconut and perhaps Mango growing in this State or in Mexico
immediately adjacent thereto.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 12, 1965
Dear Norman:
I am enclosing a report to Congressman Burton. And since writing it, have
been closeted with three more Chinese with the same general feeling—that
despite all the “integration” hullaballoo, we have not come to include all
humanity. The exclusion of Chinese from debates or conferences on Asia is a
long-time policy here. It was exaggerated by the American Academy of Asian
Studies which you attended by a combination of subtle racism with personalism
and metaphysics rather than sound facts. Even now hardly anybody knows anything
about the “real” Vietnam.
The prospect of Alan Watts going around “teaching” about the wisdom of
the Orient was not confined to this area. The long list of professional
lecturers on “Confucianism,” “Taoism,” and “Buddhism” has
infuriated the very powerful local Chinese community. This is what KPFA (and
others) cannot understand and by this have cut themselves off from a most
prolific source of revenue.
The most superficial review of last elections shows that the Chinese in this
city are overwhelmingly against Knowledge and Chiang Kai-shek. When the Chinese
Consul-General was introduced at the dinner the other night he received little
applause and I noticed this came almost entirely from lackeys. The most of both
Chinese and non-Chinese present paid no attention to him.
And even now with all the hubbub on the Orient, we do not welcome the
Orientals in fact as we say in speech. Before the recent events a life-time
friend told me she had done everything she could for the Chinese and had
failed to win their friendship. I report I had done everything I could
with the Chinese and it was otherwise. Indeed I had two most friendly
conferences with them yesterday about future plans.
There has certainly been a sop to my ego in the report this morning on the
Free Speech Movement. When a friend of mine (whom you know) asked me about it,
if it was wrong, I said: “Yes, too conservative!” There is nothing
“radical” in demanding a Hyde Park and other than being emotional (just as
I was) I haven’t seen a single fault in Mario Salvio. Also I notice that
“liberal” Scalapino is 100% for freedom—freedom to speak for the
administration in the Vietnam situation.
The fact stands out that the students of the day are so far beyond their
elders, which means they are more than beyond—beyond the press, they simply
cannot be grasped by them. I am still for “The international party shall be
the human race” and for as much free trade and free travel as can be attained
and maintained.
With the first court hearing coming up next week I do not know my future
immediacy—whether complete freedom or a court trial.
Had to write Dr. Brandt of Stanford who was attacked by Dr. Teller, a wholly
emotional and to me, a vastly overrated man. We just had a case in which one
Dr. Rachel Carson, writing on scientific problems of which she knew too little,
upsetting a lot of apple carts. There was only one fault—the control of
pseudo-research by big industrialists, it was they and not the so-called
“poisons” that were and are to blame. It has taken years to recover the
harm done, but not so many as the years to recover the harm done by
pseudo-Orientalists.
Teller would be the last man to attack the industrialists for anything wrong
in food problem research. But actually it is the social scientists more than
the industrialists, who are to blame. They live and describe private worlds. An
anthropologist can describe India or Pakistan, no social scientist of any
school has so far.
Everything is happening to Johnson as I saw in the horoscope Gavin gave me.
I am all for the “Great Society.” I am all for all kinds of “Great
Society.” I think every nation should have its own “Great Society” in its
own way. I may have to write another letter about Ghana. Our censorship is very
simple, nothing like that of Russia or Spain—they print lies, we don’t
print news.
When I reach Chicago I hope to see my old friend, Rabbi Weinstein. He used
to ask: “Why is it that Americans are all 100% for socialism in Israel and
100% against socialism here?” But the future societies I see will not
necessarily be “socialism,” but a fourth dimensional moving, dynamic effort
on the part of people to solve problems by effort, not by formula.
Although I have been in Berkeley often and must be again, it has been
necessary to return to the city by night. And after all the above is my private
portion. As I must be in court I cannot attend the Vietnam protests—and would
not anyhow until they include Orientals on the platform. I am not for 50%
integration, I am for absolute integration. As Emerson said, “There are no
weeds in a botanist’s garden.”
Sam
He is one of my dearest and oldest friends and lives in Mill Valley. I
introduced you once at a party in Mary Beth’s.
Friday morning May 14, 1965
Dear John:
This is written in the hope that I may not be too “prophetic.” A number
of years ago we visited a party going on in the hills back of Mill Valley and I
said, “These are all my children. I sowed plenty of wild oats and did not
tell. That included … I pointed out a man: of obvious African ancestry. I
have always considered him my god-son and although we do not agree on lots of
things, one needs healthful influences and both brakes and accelerators to
control his car on the highway of life. There are far more harmonies, of
course. I was writing him a letter last night (copy enclosed) and stopped to
listen to William P. Morgan, speaker for the AFL-CIO. It is impossible to say
one was amazed or disappointed. He spoke with authority, of course, not only on
Free Speech but on the Berkeley events and on the forthcoming Vietnam
protest.
Now this man has prided himself as being extremely anti Joe McCarthy and it
sounded as if the shade of that departed maniac had written the paper. To say
it was terrible was not enough. It was historically a Daniel Webster on March
7. It was a betrayal of everything he ever has claimed to stand for and it was
obvious from the tone of his voice it had been put into his hands with an “or
else.”
I have seen this over and over again. We have it on Saturday afternoon in a
program called “Probe” where the speaker began by attacking the
“establishment” and now is busy attacking all other establishments.
With the coming of the UN have we are going to meet socially people with
totally different outlooks. Far from this world being all black and all
white—a point on which we and the Chinese seem to agree—there are a lot of
colors. I am connected with two or three universal movements. These are not
analytically universal, they are integrationally universal. All of them stem
from or with Bertrand Russell, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan or Mahatma Gandhi, or
allied with them in some ways.
I see Gavin every now and then and we are appalled at the President
following exactly what is in his horoscope—he had two choices and he has
taken one of these almost inexorably. Like the Tareyton smokers, he would
rather fight than switch. Toynbee has been so right—poor God needs help and
counseling but then this has been the history of the world anyhow.
Powerful forces are now going after all FSMs. Play “Egmont” Overture and
Symphony #3. They weren’t written for nothing.
Sam
May 20, 1965
My dear Norman:
I was surprised to receive a letter from a colleague today strongly
criticizing the President. This man is in some of the most conservative
professions, but he has reached the point that if we are to have peace we might
have to have a complete social revolution. He is totally anti-communist, but
very pro-Gandhi and he said what I have been thinking, about the sanity of the
President and his entourage.
People here do not realize that I covered the same ground as one of the
Sulzbergers and Arnold Toynbee, who says the American foreign policy is very
clear: In the beginning was the Devil and he controlled everything until the
United States came along and created “God” to fight the devil.
It is impossible to reconcile any social views and scientific views. The
latter are based on what happened, and the former on who was there and what it
means.
I have asked permission to speak on Vietnam at City College. This will be an
informatory talk only. I have refrained as not being enrolled but should be
back at Summer School.
There is a “Free Speech” movement on that campus. In one respect it is
not like Berkeley, as there has been racial integration almost to perfection.
But despite almost compulsory study of “humanities” it has been either
non-committal or conservative. It is certain that the foreign students almost
to a man have backed up this effort since our landing on Santo Domingo. Our
action there has roused them, and they are in the peculiar position of liking
Americans and despising our government. But they can’t yell against the
government so they are supporting “free speech” movements. In this sense
they are becoming more “radical” than those on the Berkeley campus.
Tuesday heard three Peace Corps returnees. They all suffered from
frustration and are bitter because their superiors accept no criticisms or
suggestions. And they were totally misinformed or wrongly briefed.
Monday I go to S.F. State to see one Lewis Webb. He does not know Dr. Hugh
Baker, but I want to have him meet me either in Dr. Baker’s or Dr. Lewis’
office. I am not going to conclude this letter. Instead I am writing to Edward
P. Morgan and enclosing answer. Have to go south on the 28th both on family
matters and several projects. May contract you before leaving or not,
Sam
The other night met again an old friend, a real teacher of Islam who was
also rejected by the “establishment” but has gradually come up. He was sent
for by the son of Elijah Mohammed and taught him the true Islam which resulted
in the defecting of that man. There was no time to ask him about Malcolm,
Etc.
May 21, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
William P. Morgan,
American Broadcasting Co., Washington, D. C.
In re: Free Speech Movements
Dear Mr. Morgan:
I am totally and absolutely so ashamed of your remarks that no effort will
be made to refute your total swallowing and wallowing in subjective dialectics
without the slightest examination into facts.
I am amazed that you who have been or have posed as a liberal do not grant
the right of youth to think. I am chagrined, although you have the right to so
express yourself, that you have attacked the viewpoints of Patrick Henry, the
Boston Tea Party, the New England Transcendentalist, Walt Whitman and Jesus
Christ.
The Lord knew what he as about in condemning the Scribes and Pharisees and
the world has not changed, excepting that now a new generation has come which
has accepted the shibboleths, the maxims, the double-talk, the mottoes of the
elders and wants to see them objectively demonstrated, which no older
generation ever wants.
I have had first access to events in Vietnam and events on the Berkeley
campus.
It is a pity to see all the old opponents of Senator McCarthy closing ranks
and accepting his position when there is evidence that youth really wants
freedom, humanity, democracy and special privileges to none. “I pledge
allegiance to the flat” but I’ll be damned if I accept what the pledge
says—this is the almost unanimous view of the press and State Department.
One only hopes that some of the UN delegates will investigate and learn what
your colleagues absolutely refuse to look at.
Before you face your Maker, you had better examine your criticisms of Joe Mc
and your attitude now.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 24, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
My interest in the Free Speech Movement comes in part because I was an
unwitting witness of events, such as the suppression of CORE and the lies that
found their way to the press. This whole history, resulting in the exoneration
of the students, shows how unreliable nearly all reports are and that we are
crushed between sets of lies. Most of the speakers have seen that between the
lies of the Chinese and the lies of the Americans there is nothing in the air
but war.
I had to go to San Francisco State today. It is a joke. Every one of the
so-called demands has been active on that campus for years. When I was there we
nearly staged a demonstration demanding absolute integration or else. But the
professors joined the students and there was no President, the active one
having gone to the American University of Beirut.
I am not going to whitewash the Free Speech Movement or its leaders but I
have still to find a single solid criticism of them. Indeed as I have told
others, their demands are actually very little but over-exaggerated.
As to the Vietnam protest that is something else. I still see an incomplete
attitude toward Orientals as there was formerly toward Negroes. Much as I
admire and even love Mailer, Thomas and Lord Russell, I never forget the
fighting is in Vietnam and I lost my best friend because he died of a broken
heart trying to inform us of what was happening. And my own wild experiences
are not taken seriously, nor are those of a number of people I know.
I visited S.F. State because a returnee failed in his efforts for the Peace
Corps, he goes to that institution and in another department is a professor
with all the answers. The Peace Corps is a combination of wonderful ideals and
not so wonderful brothers-in-law and the brothers-in-law dominate from the
reports of the returnees. All ended in frustration. I find even humanitarians
sometimes cannot stomach humanity.
I was trained early in life to accept non-Euclidean geometry. I was trained
early in life to accept other moral standards than those of Christians and
Jews. I object to communism, socialism and capitalism not because these systems
are wrong but because their advocates are not open minded in a world which is
growing and expanded mentally and spiritually as well as materially and
economically. The speech that Johnson gave that many applauded shows we have no
sympathy for Jesus Christ and his ideals, none whatever. We believe in money
and material and not in hearts—that is, on top.
The great thing I see is not agreement but the spiritual evolution. Patrick
Henry, Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine are not dead. They have come back to
be crucified but they can’t change.
I have two Indian luncheons this week and then go south. I may throw some
questions at the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India when he speaks
Thursday noon at the World Affairs Council. But even if I were to differ from
you when the shown-down comes I will die for the right of people to speak for
their ideals.
My picture has been in the Chinese papers. When I reach Pakistan I shall be
reviewed and if I speak out at all there will be an American demonstration.
This is something people here cannot understand. And even if I differ from
Felix Greene I think he is honest and I don’t think any of the important
speakers on others sides are honest—Scalapino, Burdick Lodge, etc. worst of
all addled Adlai.
I want to see you before the UN and give you some dope behind all the
American Academy. Who was behind Alan Watts and why? It is some story.
The truth will out when the Afro-Asian Nations meet. Now the story is that
Ghana is bankrupt, just as Indonesia is bankrupt, etc., etc. And we shall go
right on, living. Why our closest ally, Turkey, is making a treaty with
Russia.
Spain trades with Cuba. And in September I shall face the music at Claremont
College—which I hope to visit soon.
Sam
May 26, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Friendship Universal,
Box 990, C.P.O.,
New York, N. Y. 10001
Beloved Ones of God:
It is always with joy that one reads of efforts toward universal peace, but
one wonders whether it is possible for an American to begin with the Universal
Peace, and let his efforts and inspirations derive from the experience of Peace
itself. The late Mahatma Gandhi gave us Satyagraha and non-resistance.
Americans have accepted non-resistance which the Jains, but only the Quakers
among Christians accept, but they have not perceived the Satyagraha which was
the source of his strength and the source of the strength of all who believe
man can only make peace with the world when he has made peace with himself.
Our university professors, well ahead of the rest of the community, are
having a summer school at Wisconsin University with considerable emphasis on
Gandhi and also types of Buddhism which are followed in the various parts of
Asia—not the fictional “Buddhism” which prevail in America, accepted the
leadership of various socially acceptable persons who have no traffic either
with each other or with the Buddhisms of the living people of Asia.
Our Doves and Hawks contend. We have a gigantic conference on “China”
early this year wherein Doves and Hawks vied with each other, attacking each
other with zest—no Chinese were permitted on the platform. And now we have
innumerable sits-in and debates on something called “Vietnam” but the
Tonkinese, Annamese, Cochin-Chinese and their neighbors are given no more
opportunity than were the Chinese before them.
Christ may be in all—we think we believe, but then a non-Aryan, nay a
black Nkrumah calls the Ghana Assembly for Peace, where are we? Even Lord
Russell and Dr. Radhakrishnan joined in these efforts.
The sciences of the mind have advanced and the technologies of the world
have advanced here but the sciences of the heart are unknown; the greatest of
us would not be the servant and the lion and lamb may lie down together but we
shall not let a little child lead them. And until we do, whether the little
Child is Nkrumah or anybody else, we should look at this heart and at the
hearts and through the hearts of all and not just editorialize without
doing.
The efforts of Prof. Reiser of Pittsburgh and others have lead to the World
University at Delhi, spawned no doubt by the late Sri Aurobindo Ghose whose
followers have their own Universal Brotherhood working for peace. So one
wonders what will be.
We used to have vying faiths; the vying brotherhoods(!); now are we to have
vying peace movements? I hope not.
We shall no doubt have peace when Americans see the wonders in the hearts of
peoples of foreign lands and of “exotic races.” We have not examined the
contributions of the Vietnamese to universal culture. We do not study the
poetry of the Persians and we cannot build a Taj.
The prayer of all faiths will be given next month when the UN meets
here—ostensibly for peace, but they will be prayers for peace, not
prayers from Peace. So long as Peace and the soul are two, we cannot
have peace, we can only have sentiment.
If we Americans want peace we must disband our “Brotherhood of Christians
and Jews” and our “Great Books of the Western World.” We must appreciate
what every race and group and religion has contributed to universal culture by
more than just saying it—we must learn to have the heart appreciation.
This person leaves the country at the end of the year to perform “Dance of
Universal Peace” in India, where they will appreciate and understand that to
have peace we must have heart-humility before the religions and scriptures
which the late Mahatma Gandhi accepted. We cannot have half of Gandhi. We shall
have to learn the Satyagraha, and perhaps the hard way.
Please keep on what you’re doing and then join the peace movements of
other places and other lands and do not overpraise yourselves; this is fine for
self-satisfaction. In God we live and move and have our being.
God bless you,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 26, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My Dear Norman:
Much of my life is spent running from one campus to another. I am about
ready to visit at least UC Riverside, UC Los Angeles and Claremont. At
Claremont I shall be permitted to deliver papers absolutely barred at the
American Academy here who would take my money but never permit me to advance
knowledges which are well known and well accepted elsewhere. There persons who
stood in my way stood even more in the ways of the most informed Asians who
have ever visited this country, in particular Dr. Malalasekera who may be here
soon and who almost has the balance of power in the world’s affairs.
I don’t know how I got on the mailing list of “Friendship Universal.”
In the first stage of life I saw too many hostile religions. Then came the
period of “brotherhoods” each with its special exclusions. Now we have
“universal” peace and brotherhood groups all filled with leadership
complexes.
If one notes closely the Orientals have been excluded from the conference on
Asia, the conference on China and now the Dove-Hawk debates on SE Asia. And in
a similar way my relationship with “Friendship Universal” depends almost
entirely on their attitude toward the Ghana Assembly. My conclusion, after
meditation, is that this country can never have peace until it will play a
lesser role in peace movements and commend the peace efforts of others.
“We” have a leadership complex, not as obvious as those of Germans and Jews
but nonetheless it is there.
Today I go to a dinner for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.
I shall carry some credentials which he will recognize and which the
Consul-General of India has long since recognized, but locally one does not ask
for much. If a colleague arrives it will be easier, but he is in the same boat
being the representative of Vinobe Bhave in these parts.
Tomorrow I go to S. F. State. They never had any Free Speech Movement there
because they have free speech and integration and all the things which are
being put in the front page and what not. If you knew anything but S.F. State
you would know that I was not pulling any stunt in half suspecting that Salvio
might be too conservative.
The big joke is that while the Legislature and HUAC are combing Berkeley,
there are lots of students at State who are far to the “left” of Salvio and
there lots of students at State who are absolutely anti-communist but will
fight to the death for the right of revolutionaries to speak their piece. It
was pretty liberal when I was there and they tell me they have had some
successful revolutions since, and no publicity.
As for UCLA, there are too many “Ugly Americans” on the staff and too
many students from SE Asia and too many courses on SE Asia, so you don’t see
Scalapinos and Burdicks facing Marxists—the debates are open mostly to
Americans who have lived and worked in that area and to the nationals
thereof.
As to Claremont, they are calling for a conference on the world’s Faiths
and what more I shall find out. No more Watts, Spiegelbergs and Landaus; no
more Moores and English “Orientalists” but the direct word out of the
direct mouths. The head Buddhist has been kicked out of his own country,
according to today’s report from Saigon. But neither Dove nor Hawk, KPFA nor
KQED, nor KCBS wants any Buddhists even if Vietnamese nor Cambodians nor
anybody.
To me this all means inherent Aryanism no matter how soft. I don’t believe
we can have peace until the United States learns to follow, and we don’t know
how to follow. That is why I seem almost committed to Nkrumah and I am
committed to Dr. Radhakrishnan.
Two Jews living in England began the war against poverty over a century ago.
Neither belonged to the Jewish community. One, Disraeli became Prime Minister
of England. The other, Karl Marx, became a sort of minor Jesus Christ, his name
is used but his person and writings are ignored. There is no withering away of
the State, there is no withering away of the individual, quite the contrary.
And Marx’ terrible empathy has been forgotten in a melee of commissar and
other complexes which solve nothing.
Norman, we are going into a new dimension—it is as clear as that and as it
cannot be described in traditional terms and as I am not its messiah, I am
willing to follow.
Will contact you on return before the UN meets.
P.S. Just read an article on Haiti stating conditions are indescribable. We
will do nothing of course. There will ultimately be a communist revolution,
prompted by Castro or not. Then we shall step in. The show must go on.
Sam
June 5, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
KPFA,
2207 Shattuck Ave,
Berkeley 4, Calif.
Attention: Doris Sloan
Dear Sirs:
Thank you for your letter of the 1st. Ordinarily the matter might have
rested but I have been fortunate enough to have met the men who are heading the
so-called “Mekong River Development Plan” just as in previous years I was
informed of events in Vietnam long before the fighting took place.
My views are these: The Reports of the In-Situ Direct Experience Are of
Little Concern in the Class of Ideologies Which Follow.
As you can see by the copy of letter enclosed, opinions matter to us. I have
just completed a second visit to the campuses of the University of California
where there is a big hiatus between those who want to get into the news and
those who write the histories. The “experts” at Berkeley are not only
anathema to those of opposing views but also to the majority of their
colleagues with whom they do not associate.
As long as the opinions of our Profs Burdicks dominate over eye-witness
accounts, we shall see trouble in this world. I have protested and will protest
again against the exclusion of Chinese from conferences on Asia and China and
the exclusion of Vietnamese from consideration of that part of the world.
Fortunately many professors in American universities are now replying to this
person who has protested and will continue to protest against eye-witness
people being excluded and “experts” being included in so many public forums
and debates. This could not happen in the scientific culture; nothing else
seems to happen in the popular media.
Some time back I attended a KPFA forum on “Silent Spring.” Your station
conduct was excellent but the inclusion of so many “experts” not only
dimmed debate but makes the events following it esoteric when they should be
better known to the world. A professional spray operator has no chance between
PhDs. in sociological, economics and hosts of other subjects.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
June 5, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Edward P. Morgan and the News,
American Broadcasting Co.,
1124 Connecticut Ave., N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
Attention: Pat Patterson
Dear Sirs:
Returning home from a trip to Southern California the writer found your note
of 25th May and two charming broadcastings by Mr. Morgan. I think he is
fair-minded, objective as possible and humanitarian but still a member of what
Lord Snow calls “the other culture.”
The real struggle is not between the dialecticians of whatsoever view who
are keen in their interpretations and the scientists and their allies who are
most eager to record facts and carefully study them with or without
interpretations. And in the midst of the controversies now going on and
especially on Southeast Asia, this person has not only been kept informed by
friends who have been there (including a short visit by himself) he is
constantly meeting fellow Ugly Americans who are pushed aside while conflicting
interpretations argue over things of which they have no direct knowledge.
For years this writer was informed first by the late Robert Clifton who
lived all over Southeast Asia. The Universities have now accepted the
leadership of Prof. Richard Robinson of Wisconsin U. in the studies of the
religions and cultures of the Orient. He was the chief friend-disciple of the
aforesaid Clifton.
At the opposite end the writer has just been closeted with the men who are
to head the Mekong Development Survey, agriculturalists and engineers of the
University of California with whom Messrs. Scalapino, Burdick and the members
of Snow’s “the other culture” will have no traffic.
Given a problem of any portion of Asia outside the Iron Curtain, the writer
cannot only propose a “solution” but even point out the proper personnel
therefore—hard, dedicated professors and research workers. The President is
now calling on them. The writer has had years of experience not only in being
rejected, but in finding sources of “Ugly Americans” who have objective
answers, first hand knowledge of places and events and have long given up
trying to reach the public through press and radio. This Is Our
Problem.
This is not a reflection on Mr. Morgan’s excellent broadcasts or his
general philosophy excepting on this point.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
June 6, 1965
My dear Norman:
Have returned from a trip to Southern California. The first was in regard to
family matters and a big law-suit is looming. From childhood my folks preferred
my brother in everything and although I did share in my father’s estate to a
point in other matters I was always excluded in about everything. But my
brother who has hardly done an honest day’s work in his life, fabricated my
mother’s will disinheriting me and we are going to court.
Asia affairs have prospered in every direction. Today we have at least two
foreign policies, or perhaps three: one is shared with the press, one with the
military and the last, about which you hear little, is trying to work with
Asians themselves. I have now met a lot of my fellow “Ugly Americans.”
Dr. Malalasekera is coming who has in his hands almost the balance of power
for the whole world. Phony Buddhism is on its way out, but one does not know
what the next step will be. Soon the UN and “prayers of all religions”
which will be a big show but which will not bring peace. We don’t know
anything about peace.
Same Negro problem in Sudan as here which makes me feel disgusted. I can
only hope that Kenyatta and others will prevail and prevent Africa from being a
battleground between the UN and China. This will make the deliverance of South
Africa and Rhodesia impossible.
Have met many more “Ugly Americans” and some more Asians as well as two
Sufis at UCR.
Faithfully,
Sam
June 13, 1965
772 Clementina
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
There is something like vanity and egotism in this letter but it may be
wisdom and insight. Possessed of an aeonic memory and sensing certain avenues
of events which bear resemblance to spiritual clairvoyance but not psychic
clairvoyance, one is caught between streams of rejection here and streams of
acceptance abroad. But this is not a sad letter at all—step by step one comes
into contact with other rejected “Ugly Americans,” or as I also call them
“Lafcadio Hearns.” We are all over the place and I am going to let you in
not on secrets—they are not secrets at all, but those shut-out by two
opposing camps of dialecticians who insist that everybody must be in one or the
other of these camps. Roughly speaking this throws everybody into pro-Chinese
or pro-American groups, but also leaves a big loophole for the Gandhians and
others with whom I am at least potentially allied.
Within a year I should be out of the country but before then my manuscripts,
and especially autobiographical manuscripts will be given some consideration. I
begin with the Chronicle’s leading article on present day China with which I
heartily agree. To me China looks like Dante’s Purgatorio and the former
China like the Inferno and all my experience and contacts corroborates this.
Actually I see too much of the world either as Infernos or Purgatories. The
earlier “Paradises” have certainly been besmirched—e.g. Bali and Burma;
the coming Paradises belong to the not-news in which both groups of
dialecticians as all groups of dialecticians are silent. What I have seen in
Egypt and India are seeds of new cultures but others have found them
elsewhere.
As matters stand I shall have two big dramas to live through this year which
are presented before one goes to recent events: L.A. family lawsuit which must
come out in the open. And while the cards, in a certain sense, are not in my
hands, the table is and the more things are aired the better it is going to be
for me. My attorney has already contacted a “Sam Benedict” type of attorney
and one may even presume that underground “my” legend is going around and I
know my brother has a very bad reputation. The question is where the law stands
and a victory will place considerable funds in my hands over what I now have,
may have through writing and will have, as Muslims say, inshallah. And because
there is a possibility of some kind of fame at an early or later date, in one
sense I am writing you as a god-son with your full right to object to my
political conclusions but not that right to object to my spiritual and mystical
experiences. Anyhow I am fairly sure that you will accord to many of the latter
and as one of my social philosophy points is that there is both dynamic and
static “truth.” My static truth is based on my experiences and logics; my
dynamic truth is based on the thesis that other people have at least as valid
experiences and that there is a divine spark always in the young and that the
only way to esteem the young is to give them full rein.
Thus Mario Salvio has constantly attacked those persons and those policies
which have kept not only myself but many, many others repressed. And it is the
type represented by Scalapino and Burdick who represent to me much greater
dangers than the vociferous pseudo-Marxists or semi-Hitlerians in our midst.
The other event will be my appearance on the panel of a conclave on the
World’s Religions to take place this September at Claremont College. This
will be once and for all my opportunity to expose such institutions as the
so-called “American Academy of Asian Studies” and a lot of other efforts on
the same line where Imperialism ran rampant and is running rampant in offering
as Asian religions the subjective metaphysics of Englishmen and Europeans which
have nothing whatsoever to do with Asians and Asian cultures.
I shall not repeat my struggle with Strong but the fight against Scalapino,
Lipset and Burdick is not over and I may have to, in the name of either peace
or justice appear before the Legislature or other body to testify. The last
news was their refusal to see me on the grounds I did not have written
credentials but now I have the written credentials from the University of
Islamabad and I don’t think that will matter much but I can work both
underground and overground.
I remained out of the Dove versus Hawk fight because neither side would call
in Vietnamese. Or for that matter Chinese and when the Doves call in Alan Watts
and will not accept the point of view of the Vietnamese Buddhists all I see is
a struggle between two groups of subjective dialecticians which have no high
regard for humanity.
I have no use for the pseudo-Marxists. Karl Marx was not only moved by
poverty, he associated with Friedrich Engels who wrote a stirring diatribe on
the condition of the British working classes between 1840 and 1850. So far as I
know the conditions among them in Germany did not even reach that height until
recently. The Marxists-Leninists are followers neither of Marx nor Lenin. Lenin
said in the struggle between liberal democracies against autocracies one should
support the liberal democracies. But today both the Americans and Chinese
support out and out autocracies without any regard to the conditions of working
men and peasants. Therefore I am working on food problems and them alone and
cannot and will not be mixed up in dualistic anti-spiritual politics and
policies which will only divide and hamper the world. But I have no intention
to brandish the sword against the pseudo-Marxists because there is considerable
respect for Engels, and a sort of superman-view of Karl Marx even though I
differ from him sharply. With all his faults he was a humanitarian though he
sharply opposed the pseudo-ethics which riles Salvio. And rightly so.
The American Academy, and perhaps to some extent Asia Foundation, were
efforts on the part of the banking community (the most conservative socially)
to carry on campaigns by various means. But Asia Foundation mingled with Asians
and Uncle Louis & Co have stuck pretty close to phonyism. We have hardly
anybody that knows much about any Asian religion, but we also have a totally
different “Ugly American” point of view which is invading and conquering
our campuses.
I’ll complete the Academy view first. Bringing in sundry Englishmen and
Europeans is and has been a common practice. It still goes on. Asians are not
permitted to speak for themselves. At the one end we have pulled some
stunts such as the restoration of the Buddha pilgrimage.
The last thing before my recent trip south was to introduce a sad Peace
Corps returnee to an Ugly American professor in order to prevent further
frustration nonsense which is an absolute. We have to stick to our frustration
programs which means a lot of shekels under the guise of “fighting
communism” when it is often nothing but glamor and pocket books. Or as
Toynbee says, the American foreign policy is based on the existence of the
devil. And to fight the devil you appropriate lots of lots and there is little
sign of change here. The question is who is going to get that lots.
Princess Poon and Dr. Malalasekera left this city very antipathetic to our
society. Your report on the Kennedies is nothing but another stone
corroborating our predilection for handsome fronts, whether you read it in the
original form of “The Great Stone Face” by Nathaniel Hawthorne or through
all our despicable Madison Ave mores. The handsome man has it and Lafcadio had
to give up his citizenship to become famous.
With this year everything began to change. As soon as I reached UCLA I found
tremendous antipathy to Strong and his cohorts. There were men who have lived
and worked in SE Asia, associated with Asians and been rejected on the UC
Campus. Today There Is Not a Problem of All Asia in Which I Cannot Point Out
the Research To Correct It and the Men Who Could Do the Correcting on Some
Campus of the University of California.
And it is no good that President Johnson or somebody close to him knows
about this and Clark Kerr does not seem to be in the least concerned. When I
mentioned the grill-organization which I favor I found every single scientist
in favor of it but all said that the social scientists on the Berkeley campus
would never accept it. Indeed the other campuses are pretty firm against the
stooges who have taken the opposition in both the Free Speech and Vietnam
protests. However there are a lot of strong anti-communists, and this is
because they have been abroad, lived with and mingled with Asians.
The outcome was that I met a considerable number of scientists who have
lived and worked in Asia, become interested in Asian cultures and faiths and
who are working on the same or parallel lines in the programs to increase food
supplies. As a rule they are not social scientists at all, and the most rabid
are equally anti-communists and anti-Scalapino & Co. Anyhow somebody in
Washington has discovered them, somebody in Berkeley and the press choose
not.
Received a reply from ABC regarding my protest to Edward Morgan and he was
“shocked” at my snap-judgment. You will remember my protest against the
CORE arrest before the outbreaks, and my unwitting happening upon events. But I
have been working on Asian problems for years and years and this is called
“snap judgment.” And in the same mail a regret for my autobiography from an
editor.
Also letters from sundry campuses in regard to my Asian researches.
Now the news from Pakistan is the opposite. As above I have received written
credentials from the University of Islamabad. And everything from my
god-daughter gets better and better. She seems to be becoming wealthier and
more famous and her letters are all a person could hope to get. A few letters
from Sufis would make your pseudo-Orientalists ashamed.
In fact I happened upon two more of my non-existing Sufi brotherhoods when
visiting the University of Cal at Riverside and there is a lot more than this.
We have superficial attitudes toward LSD, peyote, etc., but we will not examine
the facets of cosmic consciousness taught by Sufis and Vedantists. So the Ugly
Americans are coming to the rescue. I met them all over the Riverside and UCLA
campuses and now got my first hooks into Santa Barbara.
Jim Pike now refuses to answer letters after everything predicted came true.
Thea, through Gavin, has sent for my help. I have refused. People should go to
those they venerate when they want help. I have to meet people off beat. A
picture at the Asia American Friendship luncheon yesterday did it. But if you
have a nice public presentation you don’t need credentials and you can be a
fraud. And if you are an Ugly American you haven’t a chance—till now.
I do not know what role I shall play at the Religion Gathering at the Cow
Palace. So long as we have prayers for peace we are not going to have peace. We
will pray and admire ourselves and think we are most wonderful and that
“God” is going to reward us and the wars will continue until we accept the
universal-humanitarian point of view.
I am gathering materials for a poetry reading at Taj when I next go. These
will include Whitman and Burns’ “A man’s a man for a’ that.” A
biologist would regard all this segregation-integration fighting as moronic. If
you want better plants you cross-breed. My spiritual teacher taught that.
Personally I am losing patience and also with the so-called revolutionaries who
forget the last line of “The International,” “The International Party
shall be the human race.” When I lived in the South the colored war heroes
had no political rights and the rejected 4-H whites controlled everything, and
still do in some places.
Though I know far more of SE Asia than the Caribbean, I think the Haiti
venture far worse. We have rejected all our American heritage and no one reads
President Monroe. If the only way to stop Castro is by arms, you will
understand why I call this country “anti-theistic.” Of course we are
getting in Vietnam exactly what the Mongols got—no lesson learned. But a
Nation which adopts policies fully opposite to those of its Founding Fathers
has little to be proud of.
My final note—and you can agree or disagree is that I firmly believe In
God We Live and Move and Have Our Being. My meeting with Sufis at Riverside
corroborates this and in general the receptions from distant places. I wish you
to keep these things in mind. This letter, of course, is emotional and subject
to all the weaknesses of an emotional appeal. Hope to see you some time during
your vacation.
Sam
June 19, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
The Triumph of the Ugly American
This will not be in the press, it will not be on the radio, but it will be
in the pages of history. In fact the history writing by Ugly Americans on the
UCLA campus has been ignored by Scalapino, Burdick & Co, and the more
recent selections of Ugly Americans from several campuses to go to Vietnam has
been ignored, is being ignored, will be ignored not only by Scalapino and
Burdick but all Doves and Hawks who would rather cut each other’s throats
than give the slightest attention to the living and unfortunately dying people
of Vietnam. Don’t think that racial prejudice is limited to certain
directions.
The rather just decisions as to UC “freedom” has come either because or
in spite of real investigations on the campuses. The exclusion of Asians and UC
professors from the conferences on “Asia” and “China” did not disturb
the Doves and Hawks who love debates between Felix Greenes and Luces and would
like to limit debates to such. Our foreign policy forced a choice between
Chiang and Mao following the rejection by both sides of a plebiscite which was
held, and the majority was squeezed out. Majorities are still squeezed out;
people do not count in debates unless they are “our people.” We are
concerned with ideas and ideologies and not facts, even if it means the social
murder of millions.
I have met the men who have long since gone to start the Mekong River
survey. They are dedicated men. They have lived with Asians unlike Burdick
& Co. They have worked with, not merely observed like Greene & Co. They
have studied the real religions of real Asia which do not bear the slightest
resemblance to the “Eastern Wisdom” of affable Englishmen and others which
have been palmed off on us as representing Asian cultures. Few Englishmen and
Europeans know any Asian cultures but we like their personalities. Why permit
facts, even a multitude of facts, to interfere with personalisms. We applaud
the degrading of Stalin and continue on with our acceptance of personalisms and
personalities. We have faith in somebody and that solves all problems, it is
merely the question as to the persons in whom we are to have the faith.
There is not a real problem of real Asia which has not found solution on the
campuses of the University of California considered as a Multiversity. Give me
the problem and I can point the solution and the persons involved. No
dialectician, no social scientist of whatever view wants that. He wants
something which will involve his personality, his leadership, his particular
metaphysical social philosophy.
There are people in Washington who know what is going on on the various
campuses. There are people in Berkeley who do not wish to know. The morning
report on the aftermath of the Free Speech Movement shows in general whatever
is true, whatever is right is bound to win out. My own view of the lack of real
radicalism on the campus is based on personal observation and is directly
opposite to the views of Senator Burns.
As all us Ugly Americans have been snubbed by the dialecticians of all
groups we welcomed the martyrdom of M. Salvio. He saved our necks. I have met
all kinds of people from top deans to lowly students interested in Asian
cultures, in Asian ventures, all levels, all subjects and even the most
conservative are strong for Salvio because Scalapino, Burdick & Co would
not recognize them. Now Washington has recognized them. I got a direct report
from and of Indonesia, and a fore-report of plans for all of SE Asia. This was
easy because of roots there. All of us who have roots there recognized and
communed and communicated. We have all met Princess Poon Diskul who was shoved
out of the American Academy here. She had to see her religion defiled. When
Judaism is defiled we are in arms, but when Buddhism is defiled we come out for
“freedom of religion.” It has been defiled and travestied and the next
thing the folklore, the customs, and the peoples themselves are defiled and
travestied.
We have to reject Felix Greene not because he is wrong but because the
thesis which justifies Greene is limited only to him. Others of us who have
lived and worked in other parts of Asia are rejected almost as much by
Greene’s admirers as by his enemies—or at least Burdick & Scalapino
recognize the existence of Greene.
But this is over. Sooner or later somebody will be interested in the real
events of real Vietnam—and neighboring states. Sometime some people will
report what the Vietnamese think and want. This cannot be done by newspaper
men, they are conditioned otherwise. It can hardly be done by social
scientists.
I had the satisfaction of a long interest with a graduate who is now
preparing for the Peace Corps. He is the first one who accepted my suggestions
and found himself moving from Ugly American to Ugly American who finally
introduced him to the Nepali who has prepared him for a career in that country.
This, to me, is the only way to act, and it has not been done much. Too many
returnees have been long on social dialectics and short on human
communications.
We are going to have some more travesties here in the name of “Peace”
which will not interfere with hostilities at all. I am not going to suggest
positive programs. They have already been instituted in New Delhi on a larger
scale than in Washington. As I have said, given any problem of real Asia I can
now point out the solution and the personnel who would be involved.
The only person coming here I am interested in is Dr. Malalasekera who also
teaches Buddhism which does not resemble radio-TV versions in anything. He
believes in spiritual transformations and spiritual deliverance. That was
Buddha’s teaching and will remain as such whether all the people we admire
teach otherwise and we applaud them. Norman, the show must go on but I am not
in it. My credentials have now arrived in writing, and I shall be busy at
Summer Schools— indeed after mailing this anything can happen, for there is a
meeting on the problems of Pakistan this afternoon.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
S. A. M.
June 20, 1965
My dear Norman:
After writing the letter below the news came that there is a revolution in
Algeria. The newspapers are so terrible and terrifying that they report it is a
struggle between the Russian- and Chinese-led communists there and another
report says it is an outgrowth of Islamic determinism, these reports being in
conflict.
There is no question that the Algerians are Muslims but they are not
necessarily anything like the “Muslims” described in universities by
Englishmen and their pupils. Neither are they necessarily like the Muslims we
meet. It is certain that most Muslims here are bourgeois-minded more than
religious minded. And in Algeria the peasants have probably had much more of a
religious than any class-conscious orientation.
This is proven by the reports from UAR that the great obstacle in the
reforms of Prime Minister Nasser has been the reactionary intransigence of the
peasantry. As we consider our thoughts about people as more important than the
people themselves we cannot know what is going on, we can only know our
thoughts of what is going on.
Men like Senator Burns are so indoctrinated with their own idea of blindness
to what they call “communism” they have no idea about real communism.
Today’s reports in the paper confirm my remarks, that the FSM was too
conservative. To believe in free speech, free thought and free travel does not
mean a man is a revolutionary at all.
Are we going to send troops to Algeria?
Sam
June 21, 1965
Dear Arthur Hoppe:
I have committed an unpardonable sin, one against the holy ghost-writers:
I Have Interviewed a Vietnamese Buddhist Leader.
Now for aeons I have been trying to get a paper or a radio program
concerning the Buddhist of Vietnam and my collection of goose-eggs is so large
I nearly had to get a special room just for them.
It seems that some of us Ugly Americans went to meet a leader of a Japanese
Buddhist sect (Nichirens) who was coming here. Some of us had already met him
in Japan. But as above his Buddhism has so little relation to “Buddhism” of
the “only in America” varieties that this added to my goose-egg collection
along with my friends, the Ugly Americans.
We learned—and this is going to hurt everybody but “only in
America” that the Nichirens are a Buddhistic school which teaches some kind
of Buddhism, is not a political party, does not wish to be a political party
and eschews politics no end. Of course this won’t be accepted here.
Anyhow I immediately phoned the City Desk at the Chronicle, gave the name of
the Vietnamese Buddhist leader, and told where he could be reached and
mentioned your name. I don’t suggest too long an interview, it will destroy
our “only in America” composures about Vietnamese, and should disturb the
Fairy Tales of Doves and Hawks whose controversies must go on.
Sincerely,
Sam
Dear Norman:
This for your KPFA friends who have nice views but accept AP-UP reports. It
ought to be evident now, with the total difference between the official and
newspaper views of the FSM movements that the press is never honest. But this
dishonesty of the press is recognized here and then denied abroad when and
where we accept their reports as if they were based on first-hand observations.
I consider this subject closed, but I do not consider closed the continuance of
rejecting eye-witnesses for important news media and commentators.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
June 24, 1965
My dear Della:
I did not mean to be rude yesterday but there is a terrible barrier between
us. In the real Buddhism one develops the faculty of Prajna and I am not
going to explain Prajna because you have gone from one teacher to another and
still do not seem to know much about it. When the War started I went to Mr.
Shibata who has the Daibutsu on Fillmore St. and said: “I regret this very
much.” “Why?” “Because your country is going to get one of the worst
beatings in history; it will be lucky if it is not destroyed entirely.” “I
don’t think so.”
Well, my dear, I know only too well that the vast majority of my American
friends would have agreed with Shibata and considered it rude on my part to
have made such a remark. History has borne me out and history bore me out
within a few minutes after I left the cafeteria. For Sir Zafrullah Khan came,
addressed us and concluded his remarks by saying: “This class ought to be
proud for you have in your midst a very celebrated man who represents Islamabad
University.”
Now Sir Zafrullah may have been right and he may have been wrong and this
was totally unexpected excepting that Prajna was operating. When Prajna
operates there is no self, no non-self, but a universal wisdom in which we live
and move and have our being.
This faculty has been very active for last week this one met another
Vietnamese Buddhist (whom we all ignore entirely during this horrible
situation) and before that the men who have gone down there to make the Mekong
River survey. And these men are also totally different from those we find
lecturing to the public.
It has been amazing to find all around “Ugly Americans” who have lived
in Asia, worked with Asians, understand Asians and are loved by Asians but
can’t make a dent in our consciousness. We talk of war and peace but we are
not going to have peace until we have some sort of human identity, some great
feeling of simpatico and empatico, and a recognition of something even deeper
and more fundamental than “the brotherhood of man.” I am not going to push
this further. Soon I hope to follow my fellow “Ugly Americans.” Too often
the stone which is rejected becomes the corner stone. When we recognize Christ
in the least we recognize Christ. Oratory, brand names, over-emphasized little
events, de-emphasized great events and we remain in turmoil. The New Age and
new outlook is upon us. My professors have gone much further in regard to
China, or foreign policy, etc. and I have already told you the FSM was
conservative excepting in its attack on our double-think, double-talk, and
schizophrenia. Peace is not a word or words, peace can only come with
far-vision and Creative Listening.
Sam
June 26, 1965
My dear Norman:
As soon as I get a clear new schedule I may be appearing in Berkeley and
this may be especially true of week-ends.
We have just completed a court on Pakistan and during a severe dispute
between the students therefrom I arose as an authority on Islam and they all
accepted it and made peace with each other. Their leader, one Aslam Shah, not
only lives near you but is a member of the Chisti Order of Dervishes with which
I also am connected.
We had in our class one Tarik Mohammed who is a social revolutionary but
more pragmatic than dialectic. He was successful in winning a discussion in
regard to China. Sir Zafrullah Khan also appeared but the night before at the
meeting of the Federalists he came out strongly for recognition of China
(please note “China,” not necessarily “red” China). There was no
opposition and in class while there was opposition it was all based on
newspaper dialectics, just poll-parroting the press.
Tarik and I did not agree on agriculture. I am not an economist or social
scientist and therefore did not oppose his programs but he without knowing much
about agriculture opposed mine. Only when he got into a fierce and endless
debate with Aslam Shah I arose and criticized what is called “Islam” today
which has little relation to the real and early Islam. I told him (Aslam) I was
not only a spiritual leader but intended to go back to Pakistan and work with
my hands and did not care what happened to me socially. But I was following the
Prophet and his companions who also worked with their hands and I challenged
him to point out anything in Islam—in the Qur’an or Hadith which encouraged
parasitism of any form. He was compelled to give in to save face and then Tarik
recognized what I am really trying to do so we had a most happy ending.
San Francisco State is not Berkeley. The instructors live in 1965, or even
1970—i.e. they lead their students. They based their conclusions on facts and
not subjective beliefs. It was the most wonderful time I have ever had although
in previous years I noticed the freedom on this campus which is “freedom”
and not a word to be used to prove something.
Pakistan has still to discover humanism and humanitarianism but it is worth
trying. It is to be noticed that the “bourgeois” Federalists are far more
in accord with Russia and China than the “laboring” AFL-CIO.
Sam
June 30, 1965
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
Today I ran into Della Goertz. I am very fond of her, but she has never once
permitted me to tell of my experiences, material or spiritual on my last very
dramatic visit to parts of Asia. Now the drama goes on, as you can see right
off.
I am not interested in China. I am utterly repelled by the American
Dictation, McGeorge Bundy who from the spiritual point of view cuts a horrible
figure. Sufis can read people’s mouth-sounds and their eyes and so can see
more of the Subtle Body which is taught by all religions and studied by none. I
am not going into any theory about the Subtle and Causal Bodies. I know their
realities and can tell from the sound where it is placed in the mouth and the
kind of luster or lack-luster from the eyes.
This man is self-obsessed and I greatly fear as to what will happen to him
on the Day of Judgment. We can stop communism tomorrow by calling for
scientific conclaves and food conferences and all sorts of cultural efforts.
But this would shut out the diplomats and editors, and that is what they are
most afraid of. I have not seen any Chinese propaganda which moved me in the
least but I have heard a lot of anti-Chinese propaganda which is so disgusting
that there is no other way to move.
As we believe whom we wish to believe and don’t care about facts we cannot
have peace or food-prosperity. Scientists are quite willing to cooperate with
Russians and even Chinese in fighting locusts, plant diseases and even floods.
The New World University at Delhi is open to all Nations—the Chinese will
stay out but not because they are excluded.
We did have a discussion on the Himalayan boundaries and my view that both
sides were entirely right, according to the documents one accepts was upheld.
At the moment it seems that the Chinese want to “save face” rather than
territory but we do not understand that. On the other hand they are thoroughly
anti-Marxist in their allying themselves with reactionary nations and not with
liberal democracies—a point wherein they severely differ from Lenin who said
that whenever a liberal democracy fought a feudal or dictatorial State he would
preserve at least benevolent neutrality or go even further. This is gone, Marx
is gone. Lenin is gone but that does not mean that the new is no good; that
must be tried out.
Sam
Look! The President has sent for Morse-re Morse!
July 17, 1965
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
This is largely a report on Vietnam, although I am not the least bit
optimistic about it. Nor am I sure that the points will go over. For the
Western world has been influenced almost entirely by two thinkers: Aristotle
and Hegel, and practically all persons of importance in this country with the
exception of Justice Douglas, and perhaps Senator Gruening, are so under this
influence they do not see different, because they cannot see different. We are
broken up into “leftists” and “rightists” and we think the whole world
is so divided and leave no provision for alternatives.
Besides we have our “experts” on the Orient who are often as not
Occidentals, Occidentals who have no Asian roots; or else men who have sold
out. And I am more concerned with their spiritual self-betrayal than their
social betrayal.
I had the experience of Alan Watts telling me I do not understand Taoism and
I am positive I do not understand Taoism Occidentalis at all. It has nothing to
do with Chinese psychology; it is besides, derivative and not direct. You can
see the same thing that Martin Luther King has adopted the negative side of
Gandhi. Krishna said, “Therefore fight, O Arjuna” but your nice English and
German teachers of “Oriental Philosophy” have established a whole gap
between Western concepts and Asian realities. This person has been a guest in
the royal palaces of Japan and Thailand and the Presidential Mansions of India
and Pakistan, but his influence over Americans is almost zero, and it has
become a matter of indifference plus….
This plus appears in the last article in “Reader’s Digest” for July
where a Seeress has predicated a great spiritual revolution which will end
warring sects. Scientists are today beginning to examine theologies
objectively, but I do not know how to communicate this either to the Orthodox
or to those Americans who think they learned something Oriental from Englishmen
and Europeans. The Peace Corps returnees only corroborate that. I can teach and
have taught several Oriental teachings to Orientals.
The Taoism taught at the American Academy is negative at best. Once I was
initiated into the Chinese “Occultism” by a quite famous local leader whose
name remains almost unknown in certain circles. He was positively anathema to
the so-called American Academy of Asian Studies and what he showed me was the
same Truth which underlies all faiths, all mysticisms, all wisdoms. But he is
not a negative man, if anything he is too positively positive and I bet 100 to
1 if he got into Alan’s classes he would flunk absolutely.
This makes it exceedingly difficult to present my own point of view on
Vietnam. To begin with it is not an individualistic point of view but a
“stream” point of view. It is not thought up apart from the thinking of
certain types of colleagues and streams of traditions, but it is felt
independently. Only there is such a thing as “right feeling” or universal
feeling which also you did not learn at the Academy.
Whether we lean on Aristotle or on Marx + Hegel, we are unprepared to
appreciate the hearts and minds of Asians. All of us, no matter what our
outlooks refuse to accept the changes going on in India. They do not fit into
our traditional ways, they do not follow Marxists concepts and although they
are, and they occur, you do not see them in the papers. All my reports were
rejected by all publications of all views and yet this is exactly what is being
taught today by the American professors of Orientalia.
So today we have two entirely different approaches which Lord Snow has
called “scientific” and “literary,” which are in effect, objective and
subjective and so we have the cultures of the universities and the cultures of
the press; and, of course, general confusion.
The whole background of the events in Vietnam were made known to me years
ago. It has the same appearance of the farce compulsion of the Chinese to
choose between Mao and Chiang, in which the majority of people voted
differently, but no matter how “we” may differ from Mao we have selected
the same background he has of compulsory choice between Mao and Chiang, no
other alternatives permitted.
But there is a difference between compelling the Chinese to choose between
Mao and Chiang and compelling the non-Chinese Vietnamese to choose between Mao
and Chiang. The Chinese did not wish either Mao or Chiang and we compelled them
to choose. We are also doing the same thing in Vietnam following exactly the
last chapters of “A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s Court.” In fact
we are far closer to Karl Marx whom we claim to detest than Mao is. But people
do not study Karl Marx. So called Marxists will not accept that “every
economic order has the seeds of its own destruction.” Marx would never have
stood for the bloodshed in Cuba or China, and he came out for the withering
away of the State and instead you have more Statism.
But the main point is our failure to accept Asian wisdom. It is real, it is
absolute, it is positive and it is ignored. The Chinese wisdom into which I was
initiated but never permitted to speak at the Academy or socially since the
War, has in it outlooks and elements of which we are aware. I was the
“expert” before the War, and since then it is useless and don’t claim to
be any expert, only I listened to Chinese teach me.
When we develop universal feeling, on any level, it is not necessary to use
words or even thoughts. And that is what we, as a culture, cannot appreciate.
The slightest sign, and sometimes no sign at all, and you know what to do, how
to act. The Far East has not produced discursive philosophers, but if you study
the researches of Lee, who won the Nobel Prize, you will find he operated from
the psychology of the universal Chinese wisdom—Yin and Yang in this instance,
of which there are many facets, to which we, as a culture, are not opened.
The speaker at the World Affairs Council tipped his hand off to me before
the meeting by a very few words. He is one of those superficial
“Confucianists,” devoid of feeling, favorable toward “squeeze,” perhaps
corruption which he would not regard as corruption and devoid of any humanism
or humanitarianism. But following our bent, he was full of righteous negatives.
We have to stop this menace and that menace, exactly as Mao says, exactly as
Hearst says, and we select our own menaces. There is one fact that dominates
all others today, the increase of population far beyond the increase in food
supply, following Malthus, and very few are doing anything. Mao simply
liquidated the landlords, but also he liquidated the taverns, corruption and
professional prostitution and I presume the opium pipe. He has voided the
negatives but not established the positive.
I know a lot of positive ways by which crops have been increased and not by
the formulae of economists. These have come by operations of agriculturalists.
The same thing is happening now as happened in California during the
depression, that all sorts of social experiments were kept out of the press by
socialists and conservatives alike. Some of them have now been assimilated into
the social order, some have disappeared.
But in the Orient, the censor. It may be a communist, it may be a
capitalist, but we have the censor. The ideas that men should have their own
vine and fig tree are reprehensible to Mao and Chiang alike. The people are
given no other alternative but Mao or Chiang or war and they don’t want Mao
or Chiang or war.
It has been hinted to me that there is a positive spiritual solution which
can go with social change. This is what Sun Yat Sen wished. I see no other
alternative now. It is only that the pressure of Asian nations is going to
compel, sooner or later, the rival Imperialisms of the present regime in China
and the whole stream of our subjective-culture here to listen. We have taken
the highway to destruction. The predictions are we shall lose. What I am more
concerned [with] is that we have refused as a culture the whole spiritual
tradition behind every faith and that is exactly what I was taught by the
Chinese Sage, the enemy of those teachers with whom you have studied. There is
a totally different outlook and I think it will win.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
P.S. I have telephoned my friend Betty and she will either write or phone,
but if I do not hear by Saturday, will phone her myself, in regard to a Real
Estate agent for you. As I shall be in Berkeley every afternoon I shall not be
able to go to Marin in person.
July 29, 1965
Dear Norman:
Betty Reeve phoned recently giving me the name of Horace Kagwin, real estate
agent, 206 E. Blithedale, Mill Valley, phone not copied down right but I think
383-8513.
The poets’ gatherings were quite successful. But they are interested in
what they call a “psychic” revolution and their social revolution is
against the mores and not against the property systems. Allen Ginsberg had some
trouble in the various communist countries. He feels the loss of liberty. The
communists, like ourselves, would say the Beatniks are concerned with license,
not with liberty.
I did not find much concern with the sufferings of mankind due to war or
poverty or injustice. They recognized injustice all right but from different
angles. They are always against the police.
What neither they nor their critics realize is that the Asians are afraid of
us because we come not only with arms but with moral outlooks totally different
from their own. Most Asians believe in family, most Beatniks do not and the
press plays lightly with what many Asians consider sacred.
I have copied one of my prophecies [“On the Closing of the Zen School in
San Francisco”—see “The Book of Cosmic Prophecy”—Ed]. The world is
always crying for someone to foresee and then crying at those who do foresee.
After a number of years I gave up looking into the future. Even Mme. Garrett
does not look too kindly on those who have unusual faculties. And Americans are
hardly at the threshold of the psychic and higher sciences. We are too
personal. The scientists go by evidence, the non-scientists by personalisms and
personalities.
I was initiated into the “Chinese Mysteries” years ago. People do not
believe it—excepting the Chinese, of course. Now I have been ordained as a
Buddhist Master and the credentials are large. My Zen credentials were not
respected. Where I differ from you Norman and differ profoundly is that I do
not believe Americans or Europeans have any part of Oriental cultures excepting
where they have been recognized by Asians themselves. We in America have
considered a lot of people as “experts” on Zen, Oriental philosophy etc.,
who have no part of Asian wisdom. The Buddhists are meeting soon to decide what
is really Buddhism and they have long rejected some well known Occidentals who
are regarded as “experts” on Asia, including KPFA and KQED whose
authorities on “Asia” have no standing in Asian communities.
There is even a grapevine that I should be called in on the Vietnam
situation. I would prefer to keep quiet. The Asians have been honoring or
confiding in me all along. And today I have to face another European expert on
Asian culture who is admired but “only in America” and England. The Asians
will have nothing to do with him. So it goes.
Sam
July 31, 1965
My dear Norman:
Last night I got sick so am writing rather than phoning. The illness seems
to be psychic more than physical causing some trouble in the throat making
speech difficult but I am staying home and taking care of it.
Just at this hour my “god-daughters” unloaded and this was expected.
Saadia’s problems in Pakistan are quantitative and the future looks very
bright. Betty’s are qualitative and she is worried stiff.
During the course of conversation she brought up the possibility of renting
their home and living in the City which was what I hoped might be done and you
obtain the place. She also liked the idea of setting up a telescope. There is
both a large porch and ample garden space which could be used and I am half
reserving next Friday and Saturday in case we should go there. But I have to be
in the city Friday night.
It is not a very large house but it can be added on—e.g. the porch as
above. Upstairs there are two bedrooms and bath. Downstairs a living room with
dining alcove and kitchen. Betty is concerned about the furniture whether you
could like that replaced, etc.
There is a garage which is used as a store-room. There is a large garden, a
small inner garden and a smaller garden. None of these is in too tip-top
condition and can be rearranged for anything you would want. I’ll leave it
from there.
I see that President Johnson is absolute 100% dedicated to two totally
different policies which bear no relation to each other. I have felt this ever
since the Briand-Kellogg pact of years ago, and it is also in my prophetic
poetry. This poetry foretold the world would be divided into three camps, and
it is. Nobody loves the Vietnamese people, that is why I am not too concerned
with peace rallies.
Was on the campus Thursday to hear one Prof. Bernard Lewis and will meet him
as soon as it can be arranged. Very little activity. One does not wish to flirt
with giving up citizenship—besides I am getting ready for my family law-suit.
I think I’ll have all the cards. Looks very good at the moment and my brother
is in for a series of shocks.
What the world needs is a team of super-psychiatrists. There is a difference
between reactionaryism, fascism and out and out psychosis and I think we are in
the last camp.
Sam
August 8, 1965
San Francisco 3, Calif.
My dear Norman:
I have just returned from Asilomar, half “kidnapped” by Della Goertz to
a Buddhist conference. Incidentally it was the best one I have ever
attended.
Imagine yourself in an audience which believes that the people of our status
quo are not only insane, but unsane and almost hopeless. The question is how to
adjust in this half “mad, mad, world.”
To begin with we have our “educationable” radio and TV stations
advertising an Englishman as spokesman for Oriental Wisdom. He may be a nice,
presentable man but nobody present was able to distinguish why this person
should be spokesman for the “Orient.” What Orient? What are we talking
about?
To make it worse the real Orientals feel not slighted, but left out. They
feel more adamant in propagandizing Buddhism and worked their religious and
metaphysical program out with amalgamation with present psychoanalytical
methods. There was no optimism, yet, that they are going to convince the press
and radio that they have some good spokesmen for Oriental psychology who know
lots more than the nice-sounding Englishman.
But no campaign is in sight. They find themselves in a land which had a
civil war, three amendments to the Constitution, numerous outbreaks and still
Negroes cannot register and vote. The backbone of the audience was what would
be regarded as conservative middle class people. But they find themselves so
far to the “left” of the left on race questions that they doubt the sanity
even of some rather rabid internationalists. To them the subject is not one for
debate, it is one for law enforcement and we are hesitating, in the minds of
the majority, to enforce laws against crime. Being for “law and order,”
there was not so much bewilderment but a determination to campaign against the
prevailing religions in order that the brotherhood of man be established and
hog-wash be ended.
While our “educational” radio and TV stations call on this Englishman to
“inform” us about the Orient, one of the speakers had made his own direct
research into the Buddhisms of Vietnam. He came up with a lot of answers which
have nothing whatever to do with the “educational-radio” Buddhism and still
less with the Buddhism of what we called “Madison Avenue.”
The logical deduction—and it worked, was that the whole assembly was very
much anti-Madison Avenue all the way through and looked so much more
“radical” than a lot of our “leftists” and “liberals” that one
might imagine himself, at times, to be in the midst of a super-revolutionary
group.
There was no protest when South Africa was equated to Goldwaterism. There
was some discussion whether it was worthwhile taking part in crusades in the
South, for there was almost a loathing against any and all forms of segregation
whatsoever, whomsoever, wheresoever. And again there was little sympathy for
those who want Americans to pull out of Vietnam, the sympathy being entirely
for the Vietnamese people themselves although there were degrees extending in
effect, as far as you wish to go.
So far as Buddhist teachings are concerned, there is such a reversal from
all the stuff taught at the Academy—real Buddhist views being presented by
real Buddhists and real relations being established with real people of real
Asia, all the way. My own views were presented and expressed by Dr. Richard
Robinson who has long since been selected by the universities—not by the
press, TV and radio or the Madison Avenue people, as the chief mention in
Buddhism. The universities and the majority of Buddhist devotees have taken
steps in realities which are outside the ken of our “realists.”
Goldwater was the devil and Johnson is a sick man needing psychiatric
treatment. And remember, Norman, this was an audience with very few
firebrands—we had one or two, but conservative people who insisted on free
speech and free expression.
I also telephoned my own friend, Norman Duxbury, hero and victim of a
thousand causes. I may visit him some time with my version of the Free Speech
and other movements. These young people are, in effect, his spiritual
grandchildren although I guess the majority never heard of him.
Being away I missed two phone calls from Mill Valley—will follow this up
as soon as possible.
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
July 2, 1966
Hon. Vance Hartke
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Hartke,
We once had a President of the United States. He was elected twice by
overwhelming votes and it was even suggested he try again. You don’t hear
about him anymore. He is best known for his maxim, Let us have lunch.
Sometimes that is why you don’t hear about him anymore. We just pass
Kellogg-Briand pacts and then send out armed forces.
One of the Salzburgers, Arnold Toynbee and the writer loved in the same
place within a short period. This was in NW Pakistan. To the State Department
and the Foreign Service the former two were men and the writer does not exist;
to the Pakistanis I am far more alive and important than the two famous
men—which can easily be supported by evidence but that would send us far
afield.
When he was in the UN, the Hon. Dr. G. Malalasekera, Ambassador from Ceylon
told that august body that they should be careful in trusting a Nation which
did not trust its own citizens. He was referring to friends of mine who in turn
warned about Japan and communist China. Our Foreign Service might, under
certain circumstances, head a Toynbee but it did not heed the men Dr.
Malalasekera knew and this includes also the “rape of Tibet” which could
easily have been prevented.
In the last two weeks I have independently sent out two letters seeking
Peace, not by leaning backward in a real or imaginary rocking chair like the
President of the United States but by sending first to an American lady who was
long secretary to the Ghana Assembly and now to a mutual friend to give him the
opportunity to present it himself to Dr, Malalasekera. We all had in common the
man who first warned of the Vietnamese complex and later died of a broken heart
trying to prevent hostilities. I have written my congressman, Hon. Phillip
Burton, that whenever he wants sworn deposition he can have them.
Recently I have taken the first step toward lecturing on “The Buddhism of
Vietnam” at my expense and a few days later I was suddenly asked if I knew
anything about the subject. So I am going to the University of California in
Berkeley to follow up the matter and if given the chance will bring out some
objective material shunned alike by “realists” and dialecticians. And
certainly at either of the putative talks I shall have with me in person or
documents corroborating witnesses. So our system of Justice runs in one
direction and our foreign policy in another.
My position is strengthened by a recent publication of “Reality-ism vs.
Realism” in the “World Federalist.”
My position differs from that of the “Doves” in that I have been granted
a long conference with the heads of the Mekong River Survey. I also had as my
hostess in Thailand none other than Princess Poon Diskul of the Royal Family
who later became President of the World Buddhist Federation. The Foreign
Service refused to recognize this or anything else accomplished by this person,
and as my memoirs are written and published you will be finding nothing but a
character out of “Sarkhan.”
Indeed if the lectures go through I shall begin by reading Shylocks’s
famous speech substituting a “Vietnamese” for a “Jew.”
I am glad to fill out the questionnaire but feel that the great questions of
the day are those of food and population.
Question 9 cannot be answered. I have seen foreign aid at work. I have seen
it wasted to support power-structures and I have seen it utilized to elevate
standards of living but one thing I have not seen, there is no way for a
citizen of this suppositious democratic America to report at all, favorably or
unfavorably. “Science,” the organ of the American Association for
the advancement of Science thought differently. An eye-witness is an
eye-witness and an American is an American. One reason you find so many
professors who are scientists protesting is because in our foreign policy an
eye-witness is not an eye-witness and an American is only an American if he
falls into the class of “acceptable by diplomacy” or fourth estate.
There is a revolution going on on our campuses. Students may cheat in
examinations but they cannot lie to their laboratory notebooks. And they see
diplomats lying to their laboratory notebooks, misinforming and misleading to
no purpose whatsoever, and innocent women and children dying. Add to that the
greater the extent of genocide the greater the emotional tear-jerking campaigns
on the air.
I can be questioned because I believe there is a living God who is witness
to the mass murder of His innocents and all the Herods and Caiaphas of the
present moment are not affecting what He sees and knows. As I have written in
“Realty-ism vs. Realism,” we must not consult the UN or “Sarkhans” or
nationals of the lands involved.
It is notable that the Catholic Church which presumably would be missionary
has shown at every point a solicitation for the poor Buddhist innocents of
Vietnam totally lacking in the foreign policy of either party. And this person
who has been a guest where neither Vice-President was even invited will keep on
protesting until he is heard, or his colleagues who have lived in pre-turmoil
SE Asia are recognized as human beings.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
July 2, 1996
Dear Norman:
It was not my intention to write you after our conversation but today I
learned that Virginia is the Virginia and there is no doubt that karma
is karma and if we have stories out of Algernon Blackwood we have stories out
of Algernon Blackwood.
A short while back Gina Ceminara spoke at Gavin’s. We paid to hear a
lecture on “Reincarnation.” We heard a long personal squabble between Gavin
and Lloyd Morain (there is karma there too). Finally I got up and spoke on
“Reincarnation” which was very rude. I would have been glad if somebody
else spoke on reincarnation. But there is a legend that scientists are not
interested and the fact is that scientists are not interested in buncombe and
most of our metaphysical people are peddling buncombe and fiction and will
continue to do so.
And it has been the scientists and not the metaphysical people or psychic
researchers who are interested in experience and evidence. The others just want
to talk about it.
More serious have been my relations with Buddhism and this is also connected
with karma and reincarnation. Here again the sages and top holy men take one
course and the metaphysical people and “experts” take another. The latter
will recognize anything but experience and evidence. Only now the scientists,
who are supposed to be anti-religious, have recognized Philip Kapleau and the
metaphysical people and “experts” have not shown much enthusiasm.
Anyhow Roshi Yasutani who guided Kapleau will be here shortly, in Mill
Valley, too, and I shall see you get a notice, if you are interested or not. It
is not that one is setting up Yasutani against “experts,” it is that the
New Age people want experience and evidence and not authoritative exhortations
which we love and pretend we are learning something about Oriental wisdom or
cosmic fulfillment.
And I understand Ruth Fuller Sasaki may be coming later on, too.
My class pal, Bill Hathaway, is coming and we may make the rounds. You met
him once or twice in Mill Valley at parties. First I am going to show him my
human side by introducing him to various lonely ladies. They are mature in age.
One of them has a beautiful daughter who is an awful problem but is you are
interested we can “slum” in San Rafael. Not that I can pull her out of the
mess but again there is some strange karma. Her grandfather’s names was
Samuel L. Lewis, we had the same mutual friends and even loved in the same
buildings and it was years before our mutual acquaintances became aware of the
fact. Not only that, but the widow, Mrs. Samuel L. Lewis, and I had almost the
same views on the same subjects and I was one of the few men at the funeral!
I am not in favor of playing tootsies and footsies with Zen Buddhism. It is
a nice game, no doubt. During the depression there was a great campaign against
playing the Nazi role of anti-Semitism. But is has been followed by making
jokes against Zen. I challenged one of the physicians at the Psychedelic
Conference when he said most of the drug victims were “Zen Buddhist.” All
right, we can play that game and gain the hatred of Asians. We do with Buddhism
and especially Zen exactly what we objected to others doing with Judaism.
On the other side I had a psychiatrists give me tests as laid down in “The
Tiger’s Cave” which is a translation of real Buddhistic works by on
Leggett. The psychiatrist found all the clinical tests were verified. But I am
not going to try to prove the validity of the Nirmanakaya Body to those who
make light of the Scriptures.
It is not only making light of Scriptures it is that we now have genocide,
that terrible game of wiping out any race, a crime if it be Jews, not a crime
if it be Africans or Vietnamese. After 30 rejections there are two
possibilities of my lecturing on Vietnamese Buddhism. When Vietnamese have
visited this city I have stolen them from their “expert” hosts and remain
one of the few men who have been embraced by one of their enlightened monks. I
don’t want to go into this but when Grandmaster Seo was here and looked over
everybody he decided this one knew more real Buddhism than anybody else. He
might know more real Buddhism but he is not an “expert,” and does not go
around putting on high parties in the name of a great religion and close his
eyes to mass murder in the name of I don’t know what.
It may interest you to learn that I was asked, if I spoke in Berkeley, would
I be willing to share the program with our mutual friend of the left. “Not a
bit, I will share the program with anybody that has lived with the Vietnamese
and respected them and been respected by them.”
Now I have built up a small African library which I shall give you o
condition. The condition is simply that I don’t need them next semester. If I
need them you may borrow, but if I don’t need them you may keep. I offered
them to Kermit but he did not avail. It is a wonderful thing to have, and it
makes one solid in his defense of the Hindu-Buddhist Cosmic Psychology which is
totally unknown here.
I learned this by Dharma-transmission from Sokei-an. Of course it could not
be so I was never permitted at the Academy to present any direct knowledge of
any direct experience. At the University it is now exactly the opposite; one is
urged always to present his actual knowledge and his actual direct experience.
We prefer genocide and I am not kidding about that.
I was introduced to this subject by my senior collaborator, long since
dead.
My colleague, who was secretary of the Ghana Assembly, left that country
when Nkrumah was overthrown. That man made the serious mistake of accumulating
wealth at other’s expense. Most of our Marxists never dare do what Karl
did—sacrifice his social position and standard for his ideals and live as an
equal among the poor and down-trodden.
Now I am making some efforts toward negotiations knowing many key-figures.
The “experts” refused to let me read letters from Dr Radhakrishnan. All
right, one just lets the karma continue. I find no spiritual principles in
politics. Marxists are not like Marx and he excluded them. He wanted to
eradicate poverty; that was his aim. I have seen poverty eradicated.
Fortunately in classes on Anthropology you are permitted to say what you
can’t in social? studies? Which are usually promulgations of theories, and
you must conform. But in Anthropology you report what is and not necessarily
what you think about it. One has found many berths among scientists.
Well, you may be finding berths among the scientists yourself so there can
be no complaint. I have no fixed program excepting classes on Monday and Friday
nights. There is a growing thread of young people here, of the unhappy. And one
is permitted to present his own direct knowledge of esoteric astrology which
neither Gavin nor Fritzi would permit. And they ate better than others. Only
one can use it clinically and it works.
Added to that one instructs in a lot of Asian sciences which have been made
esoteric and secret. Maybe better so. I guess I must know about thirty such
sciences. Let those who deny, deny; that is their pleasure. But let those who
want to learn, learn and they will find their freedom.
In closing I notice an add on “Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali.” Here we do
not present Aphorisms, we present methods, formula, Upaya, if you will, and
always actualities. The Mentorgarten originally organized by the direct
disciples of Shaku Soyen is in operation again and will continue until it is
feasible to do otherwise. The pictures of Shaku Soyen and Nyogen Senzaki form
the “altar.”
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
July 5, 1966
My dear Norman:
Very recent events prompt one to write, again. For there are now two
independent efforts to have me speak on “The Buddhism of Vietnam,” in
Berkeley and both of these efforts arose from quite different associations,
roughly speaking with LSD. The young are unhappy and I see more and more
happiness around and last night, for the first time, I was able to speak
forthright on my Shangri-La experience in South India. Not that one cares any
more, for the American teaching from the so-called “left” to the so-called
“right,” both inclusive is: the opinions of the big man are more
important than the experience of the little man. You just select a
different set of “big men.”
Two persons in the history of the world set out to destroy unhappiness. One
was Lord Buddha but as the popular belief is “Lord Buddha never said a
word,” instead of finding out what he taught we have Vietnam and the popular
leaders (rather misleaders) who alike refuse to examine the real teachings of
the real Lord Buddha are indirectly responsible for it.
The other name had a strange name mantra-wise. It was Karl Marx. He had a
name and he taught the law of karma in a social and economic way which his
so-called followers do not any more than the so-called followers of Jesus
Christ do not accept love. I am not here going into this point, for Karl Marx
said, “I am not a Marxist.” He never sought power, he never sought
authority, he never sought dogmatic leadership over others and his whole life
was dedicated to the ending of poverty.
Today poverty is ended in the sense as he saw it, but no Marxists study
Engels inquiries into the condition of the British working class just as few
Buddhists study Lord Buddha.
I am not proving anything but one, that unhappy people ignore the methods
which would avoid unhappiness and I am now fighting unhappiness like the
missionaries fight sin. My visit to San Rafael brought a case of misery very
similar to that of Yvonne Engle and I am sending Yvonne a copy of this. And
this was followed immediately by very bad news from Los Angeles and very
pressing news here. For instance my old dancing partner is here—you met her
daughter, I am not sure if you met her, confined to a wheel chair. I am up
working at 6 in the morning, as now.
Because the opinions of the big man are far more important than the
experiences of the little man we have the war in Vietnam and my colleague and I
discussed the total inability of eye-witnesses to get warnings over. Both
Robert and I failed utterly in getting any warnings though, in my case it was
mostly USIA mobbings and in his case it was Vietnam.
Now two independent moves are being made about my speaking on Vietnam. And
in each case it is possible I shall see Brother Scheer. But the backgrounds are
more interesting than the foregrounds.
Mr. Big Man said I could not possibly know Allen Ginsberg and the crowd
laughed at me. Then Allen shows up and embraces me. This got into the Berkeley
Gazette. This is the common thing that happens all the time. The world is full
of Allen Ginsbergs who embrace me and is full of Mr. Big Men who say this is
impossible and exactly the same thing happened when I met the spiritual leader
of the Vietnamese which could not be because Mr. Big Man said it could not be
and I am tired of this. And my fellow Sarkhanites are tired of it. We all know
that all of us little men who have lived with Asians and loved them and been
loved by them are always smothered by Mr. Big Man.
It began at the so-called American Academy for Asian Studies and it
continues now but because the young people do not respect their elders and the
elders respect Mr. Big Man whomsoever he is, at least the young are open.
I was at a mass poetry meeting led by Allen Ginsberg and he called out loud
for the appearance of Lord Maitreya. That was last year. I am not Lord
Maitreya but I have had the Bodhisattvic initiation which Mr. Big Man says is
impossible and everybody accepts Mr. Big Man and proof is impossible, not
permitted. But when the cards are otherwise and if I had gotten up and said I
was Lord Maitreya, or if I do it now the mob would accept because now Allen
Ginsberg would say yes.
But my Bodhisattvic Path is that of Fudo, which is one of cleansing and
purifying. I refuse to accept that Lord Buddha never said a word. I refuse to
accept that by breaking all the principles that Lord Buddha announced we can
find happiness but I am scientific enough to be open about it. Only it seems
that the young are not only further and further from Joy, all the power
structures, from “left” to “right” in and out of politics and those
power structures which are neither do not want Spontaneous Joy and this Nation
under God—way, way, way, under—is united against the kind of Joy
vouchsafed by Jesus and will not have the kind of Joy vouchsafed by Krishna,
only Allen would support the kind of Joy vouchsafed by Krishna.
Last night I asked my friends to ask the young in Berkeley what they would
think of a Pied Piper or a Peter Pan. I can deliver the former which all the
Mr. Men of all the American Academies and all the non-Academies for so-called
“Asian Studies” would reject, excepting those that contacting Robert
Clifton, Phra Sumangalo. They knew him, his honesty, his sincerity, his
devotion, and they know we are fighting a war because Mr. Littleman must not be
heeded. He gets in the way of all the Big Men of all camps, viva power, viva
fame, viva fortune.
Now we are going to have two comedy-battles. The one will take place, no
doubt, in Marin County. Roshi Yasutani is coming and will teach real
Zen—there is such a thing, you know. Then Mama Roshi may come and she is very
austere and you like Mr. Bright face who teaches exactly the opposite on all
things. How this can be may be peculiar. So we shall sit on the side lines.
When Nyogen Senzaki died he left a legacy and the essence of this has come
to this person despite all the rejections by all the Mr. Bright faces and all
the Very Unswamis. And in his last days Senzaki-san spoke against the
unfortunate puritanicalism which crept into Orthodox Zen. At the other extreme
you have the “eat, drink, and sleep with Mary” and when it comes to
Compassion, there is little Compassion Zen or Compassionate Buddhism and
genocide is all right if you don’t slaughter Jews. And between these two
extremes, both passing as “Zen,” I can see the carnage and have presented
plans for ending the carnage which can’t be because one belongs to the Little
men and not to the Big men and this is a democracy, whatever that means.
So we have the problem of carnage in Vietnam and the problem of unhappiness
here and the constant refusals of all those who prate love and brotherhood and
democracy to grant interviews. So the young come up and ask about joy and ask
about peace and they might even accept an old man whose chief virtue here is
that he has been rejected by everybody they detest. And maybe some of them will
want to learn some real teachings of the real Buddha, especially if it leads to
more joy and less unhappiness. Only for me the way to Joy did not come that
way, thought, it did come out of India.
I have two Indian gimmicks and the next stop will no doubt come next month
if I am permitted to attend the conference on Sri Aurobindo. Aurobindo is no
different from Christ or Marx. He taught and a power structure comes along and
grabs the reins and sets up Puritanism instead of Joy and everybody pays
obeisance to those who speak in the name of, and the world goes on its very
unmerry way.
I do not know how close you are to Scheer but both the Berkeley trends are
in that direction and I am more interested in the Berkeley possibilities than
the Marin ones, only you live in Marin and may be drawn into the family comedy
over “What is Zen?” and I hope to demonstrate—to the little people, the
Big Ones won’t listen—of the possibilities of Joy, Peace and Compassion.
Anyhow I have a Senator interested—he is not from California of course.
And I have sent one letter but and am ready for another which will give a jolt.
After 30 rejections I see no need to fight. The Doves are no different from the
Hawks excepting they oppose genocide but they don’t love Asians. Eves your
KPFA doesn’t love Asians, and I do.
I know what Asians want, and if I don’t know what the young want; the door
is open. Allen Ginsberg has introduced Mantra Yoga and I did not learn my
Mantra Yoga from any Spiegelberg, Watts, Chaudhuri, Uncle Louie or Scalapino.
Allen Ginsberg has already started the Mantra Yoga and I have three forms of
it—being no “expert’—and also the Yoga of Silence, Mauna Yoga, and I am
beginning to touch it.
And all those “experts” who always say the little fellow can’t have it
may face the karma which they lecture on and ignore and it is ironic. Buddha
gave us the law of cause and effect and he also pointed the way to Joy. Sri
Krishna gave the Joy; anybody can have it. This is awful on all power
structures all directions.
That is why I want the Africans to have Africa. I have reread “Africa
Dances.” It is not enough, of course, but it is possible to experience the
Joy. Only why not here?
As the “experts” do not have the occult sciences and as God, despite his
being buried deep, deep in the dungeon, can and does communicate to His lovers
and devotees, sooner or later all the apple-carts will be upset. Just wait
until I can go to Hollywood again. But now I have Berkeley—which I want; and
Marin Co. which I must witness.
And my autobiographies which will ultimately come out despite all the
Bigmen.
I have written to several of the leaders of the LSD movement. It is growing
because the “efflux of the soul is happiness (Whitman). No doubt one has to
go through all kinds of rejections, and these harden one, but as I write to Art
Hoppe: “If you can’t lick ‘em laugh at ‘em.”
Read O’Reill’s “Lazarus Laughs.”
Faithfully,
Sam
July 7, 1966
Jimgrim Pike
209 West Valerie,
Santa Barbara
Dear Jim:
I address thee thusly because some carbons are being made for your sundry
friends here, who can, if they wish, write to you and whom I am sure would
welcome you in these parts.
Nobody owes anything for apologies. There are two parts to this
communication:
If ye can’t lick ‘em laugh at ‘em
The opinions of the big man are always more important than the experiences
of the little man.
So I shall begin with the very biggest big man who rejected this person.
Yesterday I named him in a confidential conversation and said, “He is the one
responsible for this turmoil in Vietnam.” “I know it for I was his
confidential secretary when the event you describe took place. So we go on
our merry ways being rejected because our experiences are contrary to the
Beliefs of Mr. Big and Mr. Wanna Be Big and “Experts & Co.”
Last year the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion was formed. I
spent two hours on this subject: “Who is the egotist, the one who makes
claims or the one who denies claims.” The unanimous opinion of the scientists
who wish and who are studying religion is that the ones who deny others are the
egotistic, they are the Inquisitians who for torture the Galilees; they are the
ones who stand in the way of human progress.
On the campus today I said, “You know the first 20 men I met after my
return from Asia were all scientists and they accepted every report. Then I
tried to reason a “social scientist’—he would not even give an interview.
The “social scientist” is one of our big “experts” on the Orient. He
says so himself but the last times he tried to speak on the campus he got booed
and booed. The students don’t seem to agree with him. The State Department
does. So we kill—no, we ethnocide women and children. No, we don’t
ethnocide them, that applies to Jews only. Since the Vietnamese are not Jews we
do to them what the Germans did but it is not ethnocide because they are not
Jews.
I am sitting in the chair once occupied by my dearest friend and we
discussed our inability to stop a war in Vietnam. Of course we could not. We
have a lot of “experts,” experts on all sorts of Oriental things and none
of them have any following or respect in Asia. In fact today some of my best
friends are those who have been to Asia, studying Asiatic and mingling with
Asians and apparently knowing a lot about Asians.
Dick Baker is a big shot in the University Extension and on account of him I
have been studying Japanese Culture and LSD. The Japanese culture was not much
like that taught at the Academy. The class was full of little people, most of
them having been to Japan. And I did some dastardly, dirty, scoundrelly
tricks.
The teacher announced that we would discuss Alan Watts the next week. When
she came to class there was a large article on Phillip Kapleau on her desk. She
looked at it and put the Watts’ book away and said we would discuss Watts the
next week. The next week there was a copy of “Cat’s Yawn” on her desk.
She put the Watts book away and borrowed “Cat’s Yawn.” We never did
discuss Watts.
Of course this was not the American Academy or Society. A lot of people in
the class had been to Japan and respected real Zen and some of them are
slightly puritanical. They don’t admit that “Buddha never said a word”
and they don’t like Musical-bed-with-Alcohol Zen. The subject of Alan never
came up and everybody borrowed “Cat’s Yawn” of Sokei-An Senzaki.
Those disciples of Sasaki-san are the same kind of fools as the Zen Masters.
It was easy to glib, to con them into accepting this person as a satori-wallah.
But the “goode” social people will have none of that. I don’t have the
proper clothes, I don’t have the proper decor and I don’t make love to all
the ladies.
At the LSD conference one physician said that most of the victims called
themselves “Zen Buddhists.” I asked, “Wasn’t Salinger a psychotic and
confined to a hospital? In what way are the followers of Salinger and Kerouac
Zen Buddhists? Why don’t you look into real Zen? And why do you blame LSD for
the mental breakdowns of these men and their followers?” (This made me a hero
with the LSD people.)
Actually it was worse. I said, “Allen Ginsberg told me he had more Joy
without drugs than with them.” The chair said, “I just spoke to Alan and he
did not say anything of the kind.” The audience laughed at me. The day after
Allen showed up and seeing me in the distance shouted: “SAM” and rushed
over and embraced me to the discountenance of the audience. They went to him
and asked if he said he found more joy without drugs than with them. He said,
“Yes” and he kept on repeating “Yes.” This made me a hero with picture
in the Berkeley paper. But remember, Jim, the opinions of the big man are
always more important that the experiences of the little man, exception of
course, in the sciences.
Yes, I know the Word laws and my “Joy” which I was parading around the
LSD conference came from Papa Ramdas. People seem to forget that when Alan
Watts met Ramdas he did not last five minutes. And every time I got into an
argument out came, “Where’s your Joy?” I couldn’t out argue everybody
but I could out joy them and did.
On the last meeting I joined Allen Ginsberg in shouting mantrams and sacred
songs—as I have done before. And then began writing to the various
professors. This is a great democracy where the opinions of the big men are
always more important than experiences of the small.
Today I began studying Buddhist logic. That stuff denies this. It makes
everybody equal or unequal.
Well, a few of the people who have tried LSD and Gurdjieff are coming here.
I spoke on “The Ten Stages of Consciousness” as taught to me by Sokei-An.
Timothy Leary and his associates know five stages. They stop there. Sokei An
taught me ten stages. Alan Watts says “No” so it must be “no.” But now
the First Zen Institute accepts that maybe, perhaps, possibly I did study with
Sokei-An. (You don’t get any school credit for it. After that I could explain
any Scripture— verboten at the American Academy of course and verboten by all
universities where Germans and Englishmen teach “Oriental Philosophy”—but
not in Asian Asia where the people are dupes and listen to wild little men.
The next thing is to observe the unhappiness of everybody. It is increasing.
But a few people believe and I have even placed some Ramdas literature in their
hands and also proceed with Sufi teachings. By this time I am ignoring the
social nonsense of “experts” and don’t give a hoop or whoop for any
rejections. Three interpositions among the elite have been enough and if people
wish to go to popular lecturers for what they think is Oriental Philosophy well
and good. But where is their Joy? Where their Insight? Where their Wisdom? What
is there is unhappiness, and, of course marital infidelity. I am not concerned
with marital infidelity, I am concerned with unhappiness, with the possibility
of Joy, and all around one meets more and more dissatisfaction, uncertainty. So
I am teaching. And it is notable that the boys who have accepted me always run
upstairs. And the hours spent teaching are increasing and increasing.
All the “Yogi” egotists who are so popular have not all told had a
single disciple who has reached IT.
Thea is still in uncertainty. She ought to be in AA but won’t. The awkward
thing is that she does not see the suffering around her, either the war in
Vietnam or the burdens in my private life—my uncle who is in a tragic
position; my “elder sister” in Hollywood who seems to have accidents all
the time and relies on me; my long-time dancing partner who is here end I have
the privilege of taking her out—in a wheel chair and more and more of this
sort of thing right in front of one.
That is why I always hint of “Sciences vs. Buddhist,” for scientists
accept what other scientist accomplish and “Buddhists” reject what other
“Buddhists” accomplish. Lord Buddha—who never said a word because the
“experts” say so, was much concerned over human suffering. I read the
complete Tipitaka long before there was any academy end that is why I studied
with Alan W. to learn Mahayana scriptures. I have been put to tests over and
over again on Mahayana. Of course I satisfied all the Roshis—Zen, Kegon
Shingon, but not our “experts,” no, sirree, excepting Prof. Rickie Robinson
whom I may make my heir at law. This is a long, terrible and tragic history
because the opinions of the Big man are always more important than the
experiences of tee little men. Read “Sarkhan,” very biographical and
autobiographical.
I ran into a variation of the Thea-Yvonne complex when last in San Rafael,
and while this is not necessarily another burden, it is what one meets. And so
while one can delude himself into believing there was an historical Buddha and
he evidently gave us some wonderful formulae on sukha vs. dukha, or
“happiness” vs. “misery,” it is just possible a few people will believe
that. Or, as Dr. Malalasekera said, “We all can work out our salvation with
diligence.”
My early history will be in the first autobiographical sketch and there will
be more. I don’t care anymore about egocentric rejecters. You can have them.
Sooner or later they will have those experiences which will cause them to seek
enlightenment.
I spoke for Sri Aurobindo at the Psychedelic Conference and was widely
applauded. I met so many people who want Sri Aurobindo and don’t want Dr.
Chaudhuri and said so over and over. I wrote Haridas and said it was too bad we
cannot apply Sri Aurobindo’s teachings because we have put his personality
there.
My own experiences were duplicated over and over by a very wealthy lady in
Hollywood and I am to see her on my next trip. I don’t know what Jim got at
Pondicherry but if he got Enlightenment, than my humiliating apologies.
I am preparing for some talks on “Buddhism of Vietnam.” This was refused
30 times and I may have to finance it myself. I “busted” one meeting of
“experts” by bringing in a picture of Her Serene Highness, Princess Poon
Diskul with His Holiness, Pope Paul. That stumped the “experts.” They quit
then and there. But they will go on. We lost Tibet because the opinions of Mr.
Big were accepted over the experiences of Mr. Little; this is our foreign
policy.
Have you read Jean Dixon? Gavin’s efficiency is probably higher, and if he
did not reject my person I could fill him up. But last meeting, speaker Gina
Ceminara on “Reincarnation” became a battle royal between Gavin and Lloyd
Morain and it had nothing to do with “reincarnation.” I got up and told
Gavin that the scientists accepted and he and his friends rejected the efforts
to present memories of former lives and so long as they did that they could not
blame the scientists. The cults want money and power, not knowledge.
So far as your work is concerned you should learn to meditate. Real
Zen—which popular varieties do not resemble in the least—opens the Prajna
(insight) faculty and enables us to proceed in life. Everybody praises the
Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch here but few study it. It would spoil the show.
But at the same time it would open up the Insight to and in ever one. And this
would integrate the personality.
Now all this is negative and introductory. The basic mission is to help
people here in that part of existence which has not yet been integrated into
our culture. There are tremendous areas of Asian cultures which have remained
foreign to us, some of them being in a sense “esoteric” and some not but in
each case foreign.
Paul Brunton offered the way-of-breath, the way-of-light, the way-of-heart.
He was rejected in person but his books are accepted and this is a grave error.
Man is real; books are mostly the reflection of his mind. Thus the sciences of
breath, of heart, of light remain largely hidden or unknown. Not even Patanjali
Yoga is properly taught and I know over a dozen Yoga systems. Sufism is unknown
and I know many systems, etc. So even if there are years to come, the past
validates some effort to get known knowledge and to those who are unhappy,
unsatisfied, and feel incomplete.
The teaching involves real Esoteric Astrology—the use of techniques to
overcome deficiencies obvious from the horoscope. The simplest ways are from
heart, from walking, posture, etc. This I now offer and am not a bit interested
in all and sundry negations. If people know let them teach and demonstrate. So
one finds it easier with strangers. They do not put a lot of egocentric
barriers in the way.
Even if it be but curiosity, yet the sciences of, Breathing, Heart Awakening
and Attainment of Light-Consciousness are presented. This is different from
what others do. There are four (or more) mutually antagonistic Yoga schools
here. In this place which is Nyogen Senzaki’s Mentorgarten”
restored, there is no “guru.” One becomes teacher by being positive pole;
without the negative pole there is no cell, there is no battery, there is no
electricity. Magnetism can be developed on many planes, and is. And every time
I go to the Berkeley campus my diaries increase in value because the men and
women there examined what you have done, what you are. And the most obvious,
outside the scientific is realms (where there is never any egocentric
difficulty), is that this corpus manages to continue with vigor, with
magnetism, with brilliance. And this is a result of awakening all sorts of
levels end values which are asleep in others.
The doors are open on Monday night. Friday night is for Sufi disciples and
Bill Lee joined this group. There it is much more intense and in a way
personal, but not by dualistic methods. The Master of breath never has to
lecture, find fault, or call anybody into account. “By their breaths shall ye
know them.”
In the Sufi school one can teach the sciences of heart along with those of
breath. These are not understood here but they came out verbally at the
psychedelic Conference. Social people and people who want sex-without-sex, or
even sex-with-sax will vote for a popular spiritual teacher. But those who
study the sciences and culture in universities take those who have the
knowledge. This is what I am doing and hope to continue to do, and this does
not depend on any university degree or any social evaluation or only
“expertism” not based on heart-empathy, heart-sympathy, heart-union and
heart-communion When we awaken ourselves in ourselves external problems fall
into place. The real Kurukshetra is within.
Faithfully,
Sam
August 28, 1966
Dear Norman:
I am enclosing copy of letter to Haridas Chaudhuri.
Yesterday my friend Bill had a full insight to the parts that Love and
Insight play in one’s life. He remembers Donna quite well and kept asking
some questions and then I remembered you (I have a lot of old-old friends in
San Rafael). So I phoned.
There is always a question in my mind about Integration. I have never
accepted partial integration in any direction. As one lives longer one finds
too many American Americans whose ancestries may have been different but that
has nothing to do with them.
I mean this on all levels. For instance I saw a bright Negro, very dark, who
has a natural ability to attract white girls. I am always reminded of Sri
Krishna who was dark and attracted white girls and it took many, many centuries
before his spiritual eminence was recognized for this very reason. (We do not
study Indian history and literature as they should so we do not know.)
While the war is between “Hawks” and “Doves,” neither leaves any
room for the “Owls” and “Magpies,” the divisions among Asians. I am
about to write Washington based both on personal history. And contacts with
persons who have played leading roles in S.E. Asia. This may be my last effort
here excepting for the Institute for Democratic Studies in Santa Barbara. Doves
and Hawks alike are concerned with opinions and not human beings.
Doves and Hawks were both satisfied at the exclusion of Asians from
conferences on “Asia” and Chinese from conferences on “China.”
Scheer’s book is utterly subjective. It has nothing to do with peasants and
working classes, only the iniquities of power blocs.
As we do not study Buddhism we have no idea of certain faculties which are
beyond our sensual and intellectual prowess and cannot conceive that simple
peasants who have not been besmirched by technical education can read the
“ethers” and we cannot make any plans which these simple people cannot and
do not know. So it does not matter what policy we pursue, the peasants will
know it. We cannot conceive, much less practice and accept the fundamental
teachings of Lord Buddha that we possess enlightenment and therefore certain
faculties. And I have no intention now to try to convince anybody excepting
those in key positions. Someday, no doubt we will study the real Asian wisdoms
and discover how dumb we are.
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
August 29, 1966
My dear Haridas:
Thank you for your letter of the 19th. I have returned so as to be at the
next session of the Tuesday class. Judith was away the day I called and Leland
is on vacation. I was always jumping around between Hollywood, Santa Barbara
and Ojai.
The main thing learned at Santa Barbara is that we are now having real
cultural exchange and you will find copy of latter on this subject. Very fine
things are developing on the campuses of the University of California (all six)
which never got into the press.
I have now to make some reports also for the Institute for Democratic
Studies and am also, perhaps this morning, writing a letter to President
Johnson with peace proposals. My whole life and karma are the same—being an
eye-witness or knowing the principal actors has never been accepted, is not
accepted now. But no rejections stop the flow of life and this country has
become ridiculous in the eyes of the world.* As Dr. Malalasekera said: “How
can you trust a nation that does not trust its own citizens?”
*This is not a subjective reflection or samskara. It is based on one of the
world surveys of the Institute and the report is now in my possession.
The Temple of Understanding has been sending more and more cordial
responses. All of these arise from the same karma, that the little man who was
there counts for nothing before the opinions of big people. My experiences at
New Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri have been strongly substantiated by the previous
experiences of the dancer Ted Shawn and other non-political envoys.
They openly accept my presentations of Emperor Akbar and Prince Dara
Shikoh—which all of the so-called principles of the so-called American
Academy of Asian Studies rejected (a priori excepting Ernest Wood), and so a
lot of other institutions. But karma is karma and self-excusing does not
absolve from karma.
Now my next project—and that is why I mention this—is to go the leaders
of the Temple to respect, if not accept, Sri Aurobindo. You know, Haridas,
there has been a bit of revolutionary in me and you probably know that all
kinds of revolutionaries have accepted Aurobindo.
During the recent LSD conference the vast majority rejected the social
revolution for a spiritual revolution and 300-400 Americans joined in singing
Indian spiritual songs and mantrams! And it is this transcendent revolution and
none of your dialectical ones that attracts me.
My next step will be to try to reach President Johnson with a Peace
Proposal. Our good friend, Dr. Radhakrishnan long ago accepted my reports.
The history of Dilip Koomar Roy is an example of the transcendent
transformation of a person who was near us. My visit to Poona was full of
delights at all levels (including running into San Franciscans). I was told he
had become a saint but one visit was convincing. He illustrates Prema Yoga and
no nonsense about it.
Actually this has helped me with my own spiritual music which is a blending,
so to speak, of Sufism, Bhakti and Vedic elements. As the person is in a state
of selflessness I have no way of making a literary report. Indirectly I
reported to this Akbar Khan, the musician, who performs in this region. I heard
him once at Bombay but have no time for this sort of entertainment.
This is the age of Integration and there is no question about it. But it is
also a time of suffering to many of my friends in all directions and that
affects the social life.
Yes, it would be easy to write up either my visit to Koomar Roy or on
Integral Philosophy and Integral Yoga. As hinted above I was about ready to do
that anyhow for the Temple of Understanding.
Faithfully,
Sam
P.S. Princess Poon has come out in no uncertain terms against the American
drivel which passes for “Buddhism.” There is more to that than meets the
eye. I have had two reports from Americans who went to Thailand and complained
that those people were not following Buddha. You can guess where they got their
starts.
September 7, 1966
Norman McGhee Jr.,
229 Courtright,
San Rafael, Calif.
My dear Norman:
There is nothing more terrible than the slaughter of innocent women and
there is something almost equal terrible in the extreme callousness in this
country about it. Instead of empathy and sympathy we play games. Even the most
“radical” of the internationalists won’t go so far as to include the
whole race of flesh-and-blood human beings; we play games.
The news comes from Thailand of two visiting Americans attacking the local
Buddhism as having departed from the “true teachings.” This was easy for
them; they have wonderful instructions in “Playboy Buddhism” which is
prevalent here. When they met the real thing they reacted severely.
Now there are many people who are extremely indignant that we might have a
playboy for Governor and so express themselves. They are against
Playboyism—in politics. But when it comes to religion and especially the
religions of the Orient, they are all for Playboyism. The same people—against
Playboyism in the political and economic realm, which affects them— are for
Playboyism in the religious and philosophical realms of other people.
So the people of Vietnam have before them the bizarre choices of
Protestantism, Catholicism and Playboyism and of these three they fear
Playboyism most.
So Princess Poon Diskul who happens to be the President of the World
Buddhist Federation has come out in no uncertain terms against “Farangi
Playboyism” masquerading as the wisdom-of-the-East and the word has gone
forth to boycott the coming elections, not as you will no doubt conclude,
because these people are for or against communism—most of them would not care
less—but because they fear our Playboyism as much as our Christian
missionaries.
Therefore I caution you not to be elated at any small vote. It will not only
be a protest against imperialism—which you loathe; but also against
“Farangi Playboyism” about which we seem to have quite different ideas.
On September 22nd one speaks again on “Vietnamese Buddhism” (which is
far from “Playboyism”) and will be quite different to the size of the
audience. The purpose of the lecture is to get funds for the poor Vietnamese
orphans. Who cares! We want our “Playboyism” and never mind the poor
orphans.
This will be a combined effort of us “Sarkhanians” who follow the script
of Burdick and not of Mark Twain (“A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur’s
Court”) and although all of us abandoned Christianity we are more concerned
with “suffer ye little children” than with Playboyism, whether in politics
or religion.
This term “Sarkhanian” is purposely introduced. You did not know I have
a sort of “twin-soul,” a woman, a thorough “Sarkhanian” who has been
all over and, being an American, is thoroughly rejected by the press, by the
State Department and all dialecticians of any camp.
But is just happens that J. is the biographer of Lord Russell, that she is
living with Lord Russell now, that she has really been all over (but not
different from the local “Sarkhanians”); only Lord Russell believes her,
Lord Russell accepts her, Lord Russell will present facts, facts, facts and
still more facts and all the different points of view off all different
Americans—especially those who have not been there—and going to hit up
against stark realities.
It is not enough to oppose LBJ—he will get the upset of his career when he
hits walls of facts. It is that he is going to be thrown over by facts, by
data, and not by subjectivisms of any kind.
I am not playing games. Unlike my comfortable friends and all Playboys in
politics and religion, I had to live among 600,000 war refugees in a single
place and could not get out. My head indubitable got soft, but the heart grew a
little.
Faithfully,
Sam
September 7, 1966
My dear Mr. Hopkins:
One hopes this finds you better today and that when one comes to Santa
Barbara again one might bring out some information which may aid in promoting
the ideals of the Center.
One had long planned to speak again on September 22 on “Vietnamese
Buddhism” and so far as one is concerned this may be a “Swan-Song” with
total indifference. The last lecture was followed by a receipt of the World
Buddhist News Bulletin in which our good friend, Princess Poon Diskul came out
in no uncertain terms against the “Playboyism “ which masquerades as the
“Wisdom of the East” on radio, TV and press and which is just what
anti-Buddhists want. Indeed a good portion of my talk was just to read,
without comment, passages from Buddhist scriptures, most of which were
totally unknown by an audience, at least half of whom are under some delusion
that they know some “Buddhism.”
This might not be important but the declaration of Lord Russell throws a
different light on everything. His biographer is, perhaps, the closest
colleague I have in the world, with a lot of intrigue thrown in; contacts with
the real powers which control the real world and about whom I hope to inform
Linus Pauling—naming names, telling functions, etc.
There is, of course, the fact that real Buddhist posits Prajna; by Prajna
simple peasants (who are quite ineligible for degrees in “Oriental
Philosophy’) can pick up from the atmosphere all our thoughts, all our
schemes, as naturally as TV stations pick up programs. It is this innate wisdom
in man which will make man free—far beyond the efforts of Leary & Co.,
bringing the very freedom which all power structures whomsoever whatsoever
fear. And though we may proclaim, “Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth will
make you free,” too many are afraid of such freedom.
I have written at length to both Dr. Malalasekera and President
Radhakrishnan. In the latter case there are other elements and factors
involved. Fortunately, although the locals reject this, one has received and is
receiving more cordial letters and at least off the record I have become the
literary and literatures adviser for Judith Hollister’s “Temple of
Understanding.” Will advise when I can come to Santa Barbara again.
If Lord Russell and Princess Poon join forces….
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
The Sarkhanian Scoop
This is our first issue. As we are uncertain of our arithmetic, but not of
our facts, we can’t tell how many issues we shall have.
Uncensored Prevision of Lord Russell vs. LBJ
Lordy-Lordy: Mr. President, are you aware that on Jan. 1, 1955
Princes Ook, Pook and Look of Laos got to gather to formulate a civil war, from
which I tape:
OOK: Why should be fight?
POOK: We should not.
LOOK: Why not?
OOK: Who will pay for it?
POOK: The Americans.
LOOK: But we have no communists.
OOK: We have, I declare allegiance to Karl Marx.
POOK: Let’s go.
LBJ: I know nothing about it.
OIL R: But you sent money and arms.
LBJ: Yes, to prevent an invasion.
BIG BRAIN: What invasion?
LBJ: Any invasion?
THE MATH WHIZ: Who ever crossed the mountains before? And how
could they lug cannons?
LBJ: The communists are not nit-wits.
RUSS: So you fomented a civil war?
LBJ: With the best of intentions.
THE PHILOSOPHER: What section of Nietzsche are you quoting?
If you think this is nonsense, wait and see.
Then there is my fellow Sarkhanian who works across the street. He never met
Lord Russell. He tells me the Americans brought Foreign Aid for the
“starving Cambodians.”
They called on the King, Prime Minister, Chief of State, Heir apparent, Heir
dis-apparent, Heir anti-parent and general Poo-Bah of Cambodia.
Sihanouk, What have you brought me?
AID: Eight Cadillacs.
Sihanouk: Eight Cadillacs for my starving people?
AID: Yes.
Sihanouk: Fine. Now where are the roads? And where are
the chauffeurs?
Sihanouk kicked out AID and all our editors accused him of being a communist
sympathizer.
Watch for the next issue of “the Sarkhanian scoop.” Everything
based on history; nothing on press reports.
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco 3, Calif.
September 13, 1966
My dear Norman: The Holy Embrace of Women.
While thoroughly autobiographical this is an example of the vast
difference between Reality and “Realism,” a distinction, fortunately, which
does not belong to the Sciences. Scientists do not preach democracy and
scientists do not have to say, “Whatsoever ye do to the least of these, My
creatures, ye do it also unto Me. On the contrary, an enormous number of
adjuncts have come to the sciences just this way—they do not happen in the
non-sciences such as religion, metaphysics, social studies, etc., etc. yet. It
is only when a plague carrier comes we realize it.
The withdrawal of Bishop Pike from the scene will, I believe, belong to the
same category as the farewell addresses of various New England celebrities,
such as Theodore Parker and Ralph Waldo Emerson and is very much in the
background as one writes. Indeed a copy of this is going to the Center for the
Study of Democratic Institutions in Santa Barbara. For one has already crossed
the Rubicon of trying to reach the American people, but there is nothing,
absolutely nothing to reach the whole of humanity.
In the first scene you are concerned. Years ago there was a Sufi picture
called “The Thief of Baghdad.” As a country we are grossly ignorant of the
largest mystical movement in the world which embraces millions of real people,
but we turn instead to presentable savants, usually from Great Britain,
otherwise from the continent and thus are accredited with knowledges we do not
know. And the peculiar thing about it is that Sufism is concerned with the
Divine Experience—limited largely in this country to rear row Catholic
Sisters or wild-eyed people who belong nowhere. God is not permitted to select
His representatives???
The theme of “The Thief of Baghdad” came when a thief went to a Sufi:
“I love a Princess.” “Make of thyself a Prince.” Well this person has
made of himself a Prince—at least he was a guest of honor at the Imperial
Grounds in Tokyo and Baghdad where Vice Presidents and top commentators are
seldom admitted. But this has been a brother-sister love. When her Serene
Highness, Princess Poon Diskul last came to San Francisco she literally shoved
the VIPs out of the way to greet this “yardbird.” (Very literal, too. I
acted as a “yardbird” in the building of the Buddha Universal Church.)
When history is written about Vietnam I shall be in it indirectly. It was
easy to reach our official historian, it has been easy to reach the director of
the Mekong River project, it has been easy to reach the Buddhists; of all
schools, and some day somebody will look into my drawers and find the picture
of my “war hero,” Edward Lansdale, who was directly concerned with the
manifestation of that faculty which God has given to man (“Let Thy Light
shine before men”) but which we seek instead of manifest.
But Princess Poon is not one of the women referred to above and our
relations are aeonic although this will not be accepted in this culture
particularly by the dabblers in reincarnation.
The first of these embraces came from an Englishwoman. It grew out of a
mission, one from the late Henry Atkinson of the World Church Peace Union, and
its quondam appendage, “Society for World Peace Through Religion.” In 1928
an incident took place here in San Francisco which led to his urging me to
study all the Asian religions—which I have done despite your Watts, your
Spiegelbergs, Your Landaus and all the versions of “American Academy of Asian
Studies” and the loud effects of Prof. Northrup and Moore who could not
address a high-school audience in real Asia. In 1957 I was able to read this
man on his death bed, “Mission accomplished.” Before God it has been
accomplished; before man—one hopes.
When I reached London late in 1956 and told of my mission I was embraced in
public by Lady Ravensdale, President of the World Congress of Faiths, which I
joined at its very inception. While you are running around enjoying
sex-liquor-LSD “Oriental philosophy” I have not only studied but associated
with the top Oriental philosophers. This does not go here, nothing else goes
there.
Lady Ravensdale embraced me twice for very simple reasons; everywhere else I
got rejected excepting by the real American teachers of real Oriental
philosophies. And last December one received the worst calling down of his life
for not speaking when the scientists met. Why should I speak? We have our
“experts,” we have our liquor-sex-LSD “Oriental philosophies,” and
infants die by the millions in Asia, infants whose sin is that they were born
of another faith. (Who cares, let’s have another drink, and another
“trip.”)
I have told you about my god-daughter, Khawar Khan. Most of this letter will
be concerned with Julie Medlock but she will be the final piece. I refused
Julie’s request to attend a conference on International Philosophy. Three
direct run-ins with real communists (nothing like Hearst or Alsops, etc.); I
have refused to go out on a limb. So Khawar went to the international
gathering, read my paper and won first prize. Naturally I am respected … in
the Orient. This story can wait.
Then there is Rehana Tyabji. She is impossible, for she comes from a highly
placed Islamic family—very famous and important, and she is a Krishna
devotee. Everybody in our foreign service says this is impossible so they keep
away (true). Julie sent me there and we embraced. We embraced again when I
left.
Rehana also is impossible because she acts as Oracle for India. The Jewish
prayer books (never read by Jews) called for the Oracle and I could say a lot
more and this would bring up some mighty problems. Anyhow she functions and her
teacher also was the guru of the late Pundit Nehru who did not have any Pundit
because our newsmen say so and that is that. But I met him.
He was giving a lecture on the Bhagavad Gita when I entered. He was speaking
in Hindi. He turned to me and said, “You continue in English.” I did. This
would shock all our “experts” in Oriental philosophy especially of the
liquor-sex-LSD schools. If you know Mildred or Gail, they also know and can
vouchsafe for Rehana but you must know, Norman, that so far as Asia is
concerned the opinions of the big people who were not there are more important
than the eye-testimonies of little people who were.
There is a God of Justice, Mercy, Omniscience and Omnipotence Who often
manifests to little people. I have met a multitude of such persons, all
ineligible to speak at our conferences. When Robert Clifton died, Julie Medlock
entered my life.
I met Robert here in 1928 and the rejection of this man by our VIPs is the
basic cause of the trouble in Vietnam and it will go on and on. When you accept
sex-liquor-LSD Oriental Philosophy you are doing the same thing. Robert lived
in every country in S.E. Asia and died of a broken heart because we refused to
listen to him. He is already famous, elsewhere.
Julie also had lived all over S.E. Asia. Her story was corroborated when we
send a team to Cambodia, and Julie’s story in turn has been corroborated by
my fellow-Sarkhanians. What matter? We have “prosperity” and armies
continue to assassinate infants born of the wrong faith.
I am not going to tell you Julie’s stories. She has been the biographer of
so many men I have held in high esteem including my closest associate of the
moment (Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh).
You know I keep what one calls the sex side of life covered. Yet at soon as
Julie and I met alone we embraced. It was not that kind of embrace. It covered
all aspects of personality which can be explained by Oriental metaphysics or by
sections of the Epistle (I) to the Corinthians. But we do not believe in any
three bodies and we do not study them and they don’t belong to our
“realism” but they belong very much to God’s Creation, however you look
at it.
It is unnecessary to say more about Julie here. She is living with Bertrand
Russell. Lord Bertie wants to have a world judiciary on LBJ. The door is open.
We can reach Julie and she will give the acts to Lord Bertie and all the noises
of all the “realists” in the world will only make it worse. In a court of
law, at least sometimes eye witnesses are permitted, and all the big noises of
big men mean nothing.
Even Brother Scheer has never worshipped with the Vietnamese. I have but in
this “democracy” Sam Lewis does not count, nor my fellow-Sarkhanians. In
fact we are joining to present my speech on “Vietnamese Buddhism” on
September 22nd at 46 Waverly Place. I do not expect to have in my audience any
of the sex-liquor-LSD “Orientalists.”
With all your ideals, you have never lived with Asian peasants. I have. I
have lived with the people all over, I have eaten with the people, I have
prayed with the people. “Burma Surgeon” stinks; all over Asia I have met
devoted and dedicated Christians, many of whom have done more, sacrificed more
and no publicity. People who lived with peasants don’t count. This is
universal.
There is nothing wrong with “Burma Surgeon.” It is that our whole
culture is on the side of the Scribes and Pharisees, very much so. I have
hardly met an undedicated Christian missionary, at least not among the
Americans. There are some among the Americans who limit their Christianity to
their own sect and exclude others, but I have not met them. Holiness is not
based on having publicity and biographers. It is not based on hailing the Peace
Corps and ignoring AID or the University exchanges.
All these people more or less mingle with nationals.
There are some women I have not met to embrace. One was Edna St. Vincent
Millay’s “Renascence” which proves that God does not only manifest in
Asians these days.
If Robert Clifton died and Julie Medlock took his place in my life, then
Henry Atkinson died and Judith Hollister took his place. I have not met Judith.
We don’t have to meet. And her colleagues are now requesting that all our
American Academies, and all our European professors of Oriental Philosophy in
California and Massachusetts would never hear of—materiel which will enable
all people of all faiths to meet under one roof. I am looking forward to the
“Temple of Understanding.”
Sleep is a luxury today. One has seen so much poverty, so much exploitation,
so much enforced suffering. Every time you take a drink or LSD from our
“experts” in Oriental Philosophy, remember those dying children in
Vietnam—we cannot have our cake and it too.
One no longer cares what the reaction will be at my public lecture. My
memoirs are becoming valuable.
In a class in Anthropology the teacher gave a long story of how field
workers became acquainted with the peasants in part, of India. It took him six
weeks. “How long do you think it took me?” How long?” Five minutes.”
“Who taught you?”
There is nothing magic in it. But the persons whom I learned from are never
mentioned. They did the unpardonable; they left the prevailing religion for an
Asian faith and so their names were wiped out. But this is equally true of
devoted Christians who belong to a particular aspect of their religion; their
names are even more wiped out. We cannot present “democracy” and make such
distinctions.
I am hoping some Americans will listen to this representative of other
Americans and many, many Asians. Lord Russell will go into court with
documents, and we cannot abolish the documents with rhetoric. What is the
population of South Vietnam that we can prove what percentage really voted?
Faithfully,
Sam
772 Clementina St.
June 26, 1967
Dear Norman:
About ready to move from here I found an old address. I never see you around
anymore but if you are around you do not see me, for evidently we move in
different circles.
The failure of your generation to understand even the simplest principles of
karma do not detract from the karma, but from the generation. Your generation
had a token revolt and the next one has an active revolt. And among those in
revolt there is a much more serious consideration of karma. Even now you find
young people on Haight St. who know more of Oriental philosophies than some of
your mentors and their contemporaries.
Drama, both as tragedy and comedy came—the first serious illness
accompanied by success in two litigations. While I am in the apartment once
occupied by Gavin the landlady here is very such of an “agin’er.” She is
against Negroes on a block occupied by quite a few of them. She is against
foreigners and against even more the Hippies and now she has gone to be against
almost everybody, to the point that a tragedy is imminent. You can’t pay your
bills with such an attitude and fair housing or not, she would rather lose
money than take it from objectionable persons, and the taxes are due.
But although she wanted me out the Estate wanted it still more. My brother
wanted more money and he would not get it until and unless I did. He gave
threat of blackmail by having pictures taken of these rooms. But before it got
out the trustees released funds which may keep me in good shape even to the
point of now having a part-time secretary.
I have withdrawn from all Vietnam activity because of racial prejudice. I
have found most Doves are as anti-Yellow as many whites are anti-Negro.
Associating on rare occasions with Vietnamese when they visit, one finds
oneself very lonely indeed. We do not care what Vietnamese think or want, the
communists and Americans alike are set to liquidate them, each with a
power-propaganda. The majority of people are Buddhists, but not “our kind of
Buddhist” so they must go.
I have already made the first steps toward a Will and may dedicate my
manuscripts to the University of California at Los Angeles. They contact
documents of inestimable value when the world gets off its emotional high horse
and down to facts. We do not want facts, we want interpretations. And when
interpretations cause death to peoples with whom we do not mingle we are not
the least concerned. On this point the United State, China and Russia are all
in agreement.
I turned in illness from the frying pan of Vietnam to the fire of the Near
East. Having given years of study to the latter, I am out. An “expert” does
not have to know very much, just lecture. Having sat down with Zionists and
Arabs and UN officials and discussed almost every phrase of the present
imbroglio I am the last man wanted at the moment. But I met an old friend at
UCLA (who is becoming thus my legatee) who had the same experience in
Vietnam—the press, the foreign office, the peace groups, all shun him and
utterly.
There is one peace group here that indulges in the luxury of everybody
talking and everybody listening. When the scientists met they also adopted this
procedure. Non-scientists do not. They lean on personalities and
“expertism.”
Actually or symbolically my new residence will be referred to as Sarkhan
House. It will follow the matrices of “Sarkhan” and “The Ugly
American” and present to the young Islamic and Buddhist cultures which are
not being given out. And some of the young are interested. As they are against
power structures of all kinds they are willing to listen and learn. And in turn
many of them are already far deeper into the Yogas, the real Yogas, than
“experts” of previous generations.
I expect to take part in two conferences in August, one of the semanticists
and one with Dr. Chaudhuri. I am hoping we can get to realities. I have
fighting for years on reality versus realism. We are winning all
the arguments before the UN and losing the votes. There are a lot of “less
equal” Nations and they are showing their teeth.
I am even contributing to the study of African culture at UCS (Santa
Barbara) and hope to continue, but my mail drag is the Society for Eastern Arts
in Berkeley whither I go shortly—with my new part time secretary who is
helping me in all things.
If I get an answer from you will get an invitation to house-warming. I am
now too old to fool any more with dilettantes whom our society accepts as
“experts.” The savants and the holy men of foreign lands accept and respect
me and gradually this is seeping into the universities. If all goes right I
shall take an entourage to India in 1969 to the Gandhi centennial. There will
be no American, British and European “experts” to stop me there. I have
been on platforms before and shall again.
It is unfair to say that you are in the stars (Astronomy) while I am down on
earth (Food problems); this is hitting in the wrong place. Astronomy may have
effects on mind and heart which I do not know; I have never studied it.
Faithfully,
Sam
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco 94110
July 18, 1967
Dear Norman:
Appreciate your invitation but no parties. Still under the doctor’s care,
and after all, though I do not look like it, in my seventies!
At present eat very little meat, bread and excepting for occasional wine no
alcohol.
Generally go to bed “early.” Sam still on physical rehabilitation.
This house is at south end of Mission, one block beyond Army. Very nice
location opposite park. Planning two house warming parties next month, to be
catered by some Pakistanis.
Have to attend two seminars early next month: Semantics, down town; Sri
Aurobindo on Fulton St.
Have open house on Sunday nights generally with program on Buddhism or
Indian te Ching—quite different from what you will get elsewhere. Thursday
night Sufism. Expect either this week or next to have a Colored man who was
converted to Islam while on Peace Corps job in Africa.
Have many libraries, but all my astrological books apart. Don’t want them.
Will probably sell them at a very reasonable price, partly to get rid of
them.
Have an immense Zen inheritance, all kinds of manuscripts and plan to send
some to Tuttle soon. He is interested. Always in “trouble,” never a dull
moment. Now to Optometrist, just broke glasses. Thanks for invitation,
Sam
July 22, 1967
My dear Norman:
I am not going to try to convince anybody there is a Law of Justice in the
universe.
You will find copy of a letter just written which gives some news.
I never did get any response from KPFA any different from anybody else.
After some 33 rejections on a paper on “Vietnamese Buddhism” a real
Vietnamese Buddhist came to this City and would not let me introduce him
around. I have stopped writing on this subject because he has done it so much
better. But there is hardly a group here that has paid the slightest attention
to the Vietnamese Buddhists, who, after all, comprise the majority of the
people of that unhappy land.
Having ourselves joined the ranks of those who uphold injustice we cannot
and will not have it in this country. We simply do not believe in universal
justice.
On the one hand I have been plagued with medical expenses—this week my
last pair of glasses broke. On the other hand I am getting a much larger
allotment from parental estates than I ever expected; an increased excellent
response from Asian personalities on Asian matters; and a gradually increasing
audience of the young.
I am preparing some house parties. The first one will be modesty largely
because of the increased expenses of the moment. When these expenses are met
there will be larger and larger ones, I hope.
Last night I said, “What this country needs is not Black Power but
Black Wisdom. There has been a lot of it in the universe but it is not
recognized. There is some in the Lowie Museum in Berkeley and there was plenty
last night. I tried to unload my American library on Kermit and he never
bothered. So I have given it to the Department of Anthropology, University of
California, Santa Barbara.
We need some African restaurants too, with African food here, etc.
Sam
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
July 23, 1967
Art Hoppe,
S. F. Chronicle
San Francisco 19, Calif.
It Happened But It Cawn’t Be News
Dear Art:
Last night I went to Harding Theatre and saw one of the most remarkable
performances of my life. The first remarkable thing about it was that the
performance and for that matter the audience was so integrated, including some
mixed marriages. While the basis was African and Caribbean dances, they gave
their own modern choreography and “inventions.”
I should say from an intellectual point of view and from an esthetic point
of view it is the best thing since Katherine Dunham but had more African
materiel. The idea of black and white people sitting together, not to say the
rest of it, is not, of course news, Smustn’t.
What we need, Art, is a little less “Black Power” and a little more
“Black Wisdom.” Last night exemplified it and I should say that if God were
in the audience he would classify it alongside of Grand Opera and Ballet and
equal to either or both. But when man bites dog it is not news, Smustn’t.
The next item is the same. I received one answer from a pro-Zionist and he
wasn’t a cleric, you can bet. But I did receive a letter of encouragement
from the present bishop of Northern California. Only he is not less equal so he
can’t sit with me—who have sat with the top holy men of the whole world!
Anyhow I have a preliminary date with a man “on the other side.”
The experts are all yelping that Arabs and Israelis should sit
together and talk things over. The experts don’t sit down with anybody
or only talk and never listen. Kosygin is their model even when they pretend to
be anti-communistic. I shall keep on trying. I did succeed and that is why I am
“out,” but a copy of this goes to Congressman Burton and someday I
hope—it is a very dim hope, that he may be interested enough to either try to
get those on both sides to sit together or encourage those of us who are
trying. Vive le Slogan; Mort a l’ action!
Soon I am going to release some letters to the real Orient and it will start
some reactions and all the President’s horses and asses and men will not be
able to put Humpty-Dumpty (or Vice President Humpty) together again. God may
even help the excluded Sarkhanian-American to promote better world
relations.
Soon I shall go to a Semantic Conference. I am going to present a paper on
Zen Buddhism. It will probably be thrown out. It will not be my paper. It will
be part of a book written by the great Chinese Ch’an teacher of the century,
the late Tai Hsu. As the Semanticists have never forgiven me for having studied
with Korzybski’s teacher and friend, Cassius Keyser, so the “only in
America” Zen- experts have never forgiven me for claiming to have studied
with real Master of Oriental Wisdom. I am just waiting, and in glee for another
rejection, they all come!
Friday night went to a party and that Consul-General of India came in late
and began boosting me all over the place. East is East and West is West and
seldom do Orientals agree with Orientalists.
Anyhow in the daytime I went to the Japanese Consulate and got the usual
until the cultural attaché came in. He bowed all over the place and had his
associates on tenter-hooks. I have real documents of real Japanese Zen Masters.
This is awful. Of course I was kow-towed all over the place and did in turn.
But real cultural exchange with real Asians!
The Chronicle published a communications today giving the Vietnamese side of
Vietnam. How odd: Haven’t we enough “experts” and communists? Why should
the Orientals butt in? Well they have; they will.
And so long until Lowell Thomas rides again. Will keep you informed with
more not-news from time to time. “Aren’t we devilee!”
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc-Burton
P.S. Hours later. Having read the paper, listening to TV and radio it is
obvious that we shall have peace on earth when “expert,” commentators and
the foreign office listen to actual suggestions from actual “little” human
beings. This is almost asking too much. We would rather have fighting than
switch. This is country and much of the world has closed ears and so closed
hearts. In the meanwhile the young are coming here in ever increasing numbers.
Someday somebody is going to find this out.
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
July 26, 1967
Hon. John Sherman Cooper.
Senate Office Building.
Washington, D.C.
Dear Senator Cooper:
On Our Ignorance in Foreign Affairs
This letter is prompted by two things: (a) the attack on the United States
by President Nasser, and (b) the absence of any answer from President
Johnson—which follows in line with no answers for years from any person in
the State Department whatsoever. This follows the line of “Sarkhan” by
Burdick and Lederer and there is no sign whatsoever that we have learned
anything from either “The Only American” or its rather hush-hushed
sequel.
On August 6th there will be the first Open House Party here and it will be
limited to those whom I call “Sarkhanians,” who have lived and worked in
Asia and are totally ignored by our culture. A few years ago this might not
have mattered but we are today largely a nation of college graduates the
intelligence of multitudes has gone up and the Presidents and the general
policy of this Nation to divide the whole mass into (a) bureaucrats, (b) The
Fourth Estate, and (c) subjects excludes alike the from the universities, and
ever growing numbers who are considered less and less and less.
It a former letter mention was made of Dr. Galbraith going into opposition
and now your colleague Senator Fulbright has become even more vociferous. What
the bureaucrats ignore entirely and the press largely is the increase in the
number of intelligent people. And the down-grading of intelligence is as
indefensible as it is inexcusable.
Who Are Our Friends? When I came to Japan in 1956 full of enthusiasm
for Lafcadio Hearn and Townsend Harris, there was an open welcome from the
Japanese (all classes) and from the American colony but nothing but coldness
from the Embassy. Open strife took place between the colony and the bureaucrats
over the use of these two geniuses as the nexus of Japanese friendship. This
policy continues all over, the Embassies, the bureaucrats, the Foreign Service
do not know the Americans who are popular in Asia and don’t care. The USIS
has certain names they are supposed to propagandize and are limited thereby.
India. I mention this land because you have been there. But no
American may stress Samuel Higginbottam who perhaps did more than anybody for
that land until the recent work of Ford Foundation (also not to be mentioned).
Higginbottam was a Christian missionary and any emphasis on any missionary is
contrary to protocol because it just might stir up rival mission—just
might!
Nor must any American bureaucrat mention Mrs. Gertrude Emerson San who did
so much for Indian, peasant agriculture because she changed her religion.
Indians demand religion and our American Foreign Service adheres fairly closely
to the Russian line. We are always so afraid of communists. And in turn
communists do send in emissaries to pray and worship at mosques temples and
shrines something we dare not do.
In other words, we have a CIA but we have no Central Intelligence, we do not
have intelligence at all.
Vietnam. We have taken every course in that land excepting friends
with the people. It is not only against protocol and foreign policy to make
friends as above; our generals are treating this land as if it were an occupied
country. I must mention this because of the contrast below.
Yesterday a letter was received from a real Vietnamese Buddhist who is
teaching in this land. He is unnoticed by the bureaucracy and press, and is
noticed by the intelligentsia who are compelled to go more and more into
opposition, being treated like subjects by our foreign office.
UAR. I cannot stress too strongly the fact that I have sat down with
the leader of the pro-American in Cairo and this is going to be corroborated
soon by others who had the same experience—foreign office must pay no
attention, it doesn’t.
But I was also sought by the leader of the definite anti-communist
underground, a very powerful and totally ignored group. They begged me to
contact our foreign office. This is not done. Senator, citizens are
subjects. I did get in, too little and too late, with one Mr. Scott. All
this is in my diaries and these diaries are becoming more valuable as time
passes. The official historians have taken note, the foreign office would
prefer misunderstandings.
Arabic Cultural Relations. I think this is only country in the world
which employs non-Arab, non-Nationals to “teach” Arabic (?) and Islamic (?)
cultures. Not so much now as a few years back but still enough to continue
totally unnecessary misunderstanding.
If we had been smart we should have proposed an Arabic desk at the UN.
Russian is one of the “big languages” spoken by a “big Power.” Arabic
is the language of I understand fourteen (14) member-nations, but they are
“peasants.” If we believe in democracy we should like the lead in seeing an
Arabic desk at the UN along with Russian, French, Spanish, English and I think
Chinese. Fourteen nations, no! One Nation, if powerful, yes!
I myself hosts the Egyptian delegate herein 1955. Dr. Shawarbi, who later
was employed in the Washington and Maryland sectors. At the time he was an
exception. Why?
The Israelis are far more astute than we are. They have never taken the
insulting position of down-grading Arabic culture. We do not gain prowess by
insulting, all parties to a dispute.
Desert Reclamation. I have been engaged in this field for a long time
and see infinite possibilities therein in which Arab and Israeli could alike
benefit. This has been discussed with Zionists and Arabs and UN officials as
mentioned before. Foreign office not interested. Why not?
Spending and Riots. We have money to send rockets into space; we have
money to send men into space. A large sector of the press is interested, a very
small sector of humanity. The little people—now subjects, emotionally react
against this. If so much money for rockets and space men, not to say armaments,
why not for slum-clearance? For other kinds of jobs? etc. The president is
being forced out of his dialectical, horse-blinder “realism” into
Reality. He does not understand Reality.
At least Desert Reclamation projects could absorb tremendous numbers of
unemployed and keep heavy industry moving without resorting to war. But I am
afraid, Senator, if the State Department continues to treat citizens as
subjects, and this includes the President, we are both going to have to turn
elsewhere and face the rising emotions of those whose ideas are not welcomed
today. This is not a democracy, Senator, it should be. We have too many
educated people.
Why don’t we try to find out who are friends are abroad? Why don’t we
try to learn about those Americans who are admired in foreign lands?
The other night I went to a party given by Indians using American
talent—the reciprocal of what is also going on around here. The
Consul-General from India (Hon. Mohammed Yunus) came in late. “Why, Mr.
Lewis, Mr. Lewis the man who knows more about India than any other American.”
There were a number of “experts” in the audience who did not like that and
my protests only resulted in his wife joining him. This has been going on for
years.
My putative caterer, Mr. Calcuttavala asked me. “If you can sit down with
Arabs and Zionists and UN officials and talk over matters seriously why
aren’t you with the State Department?” “That is why!” Mr. Calcuttavala
himself has been employed in our Embassies. (I am not looking for a job. I am
over 70 and have sufficient income and my Asian researches are being accepted
slowly by editors.)
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
1229 East Blvd.
Cleveland 8, Ohio
Dec. 11, 1967
Dear Sam,
Arrived safely and soundly even though a little ruffled. Car broke down
several times, had to have 2 different motors put in and it took 1 month
instead of 2-3 days.
Dad is very much alive and kicking proof of which is found in the fact that
he has remarried (#3) again which puts him way ahead of me.
Sorry to hear of Gavin’s illness, I’ll have to send him a card. I now
have all the books unpacked and sadly realize that it will be many years before
I get around to reading them all. But I will be using them for reference, etc.
so I’m glad I bought them.
Your group seems to be very much alive which is more than I can say so far
about anything in this neck of the woods.
As I progressed further and further inland from the coast, I began to
realize it was like going back in time like a time machine. Cleveland is at
least 15 years behind the coast. St. Louis is 20 years behind. Denver is in the
19th Century.
Will probably be going to N.Y. soon for a breath of air. Keep me posted on
all the happenings. I don’t even know who got elected mayor and supervisor in
S.F. but what difference does it make?
Seasons greetings,
Norman
P.S. Want to buy some shares in Dad’s Mutual Company? N.M.
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 charging prices (or for that
matter charging) is inconceivable, impossible and just 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 going to believe that and I am grateful
to them for that. For every week more and more young 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
god-daughter 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 Joos
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 much trust in Englishmen.
Another one is dominated by an American lady, the only person on earth worse
than Sam. She has had the impertinence to be present in almost every land
facing 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
Tribune” 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 Tribune 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 Tribune, the Birchers and the Trotskyites agree.
Sometimes the Wall Street Journal dissents for they have to know the
“truth” to protect stock margins.
I am not going to write about these three real summit 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 by
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
12/18/68
Dear Sam,
Sorry to take so long answering your letter but I have moved to N.Y. and it
was awhile before it was forwarded.
I heard from Virginia Glenn (Alan’s advance guard) that she met you &
was very impressed with your work. Do you remember her?
I also recently heard ex-Dr. Alpert of Harvard (Tim Leary’s old accomplice
in the drug experiences) tell of his experiences that have caused him to give
up everything including his name (he is now Baba Ram Dass and lives in a hut in
the hills of Conn. and eats only one small meatless meal a day). Apparently he
is now a Yogi sent to teach here in the West. I was very impressed although, of
course, in the total scheme of things, he is still very much a novice.
I find your “Dance of Universal Peace” also appealing though I must say
that at present it is very remote from my life of attempting to bring some
economic viability to the Blacks slums of N.Y. (I am enclosing herein a booklet
describing my present job.)
I was also interested to learn that my god sister: Saadia Khawar Khan is now
here in the U.S.A. and in fact not very far from here.
Introduce us by mail and I’ll find some way of meeting her. Maybe she’ll
be in N.Y.C. one of these days. If so I’m @
N.L. McGhee, II
372 Central Park W., #2L
New York, New York 10025
UN 5-4501
Let me hear from you soon & give my best wishes to all the gang.
Happy Chanukah, Xmas, etc., etc., & Much Tej
Norman
December 21, 1968
My dear Norman:
I am very glad to hear from you and squeeze this letter in. You will find
enclosed copy from today’s paper of the work of some of our former
associates. I am opposed to any and all racial separatism excepting for study
purposes. I have taken courses on African Archeology and African Anthropology
and found little interest among these things by my so-called colored friends.
But I did run into complaints of Africans of the lack of consideration they
were receiving from dark Americans.
Sam has lived among peoples of all hues and cannot see any great differences
due to race. The stomachs of all men were created equal, if not free. Power is
a delusion no matter who tries to exercise it and wrongs are not settled by
other wrongs. Minorities have no right to make atrocious demands on majorities
and majorities have no right to exclude minorities from anything. There is a
moral law, or perhaps more than a moral law and our attempts to by-pass it does
not change it. Inayat Khan wrote: “Poverty is a sin and riches is a
crime.”
I do not see “white society.” I do see “capitalistic societies,” all
kinds of them, based on all kinds of principles. The new tendency is toward
communes of many sorts and there is a growth in this. I leave sociology and
economics to my colleagues but live in my own communes. These are not sex
things nor parasite things.
There is no excuse for slums and I refuse to look at the Apollo space rot.
If we have money to try to reach the moon we have money to quit litter-bugging
the earth. This outside our maintaining a war economy. I believe the
power-structures want this racial war, just as they like to see Arab and Jew
fight and Hindu and Pakistani fight.
You will never read the truth about San Francisco State in the papers or on
TV. I watched the Berkeley events. The majority did not count. I saw how the
presumable opponents KPFA and the Knowlands staged fake events which became
world news. There are plenty of places in California where there are both
African and American Negro studies. I am not going to bother. I know about them
because I visited campuses. Nobody wants truth; everybody wants to sit in the
driver’s seat.
Haridas Chaudhuri pulled his last stunt on me. There is now a real Hindu
Study group in Berkeley and some of the finest teachers are coming this way,
and soon. Also the Sufi Pir Vilayat.
I have kept on running into Virginia all the time. We met again the other
night at the meeting for Lama Govinda. Same old crap. He was tired out. This is
a privilege for superman; us peasants get scolded for being tired but superman
is always excused. We also saw “Infinite Compassion” in action. I am out
for finite compassion. “Infinite Compassion” goes even beyond “liberty,
democracy and humanity” in telling peasants to shut up and keep quiet.
I have seen Ben a lot lately and like him very much. He is a real man. He
also was at the Govinda meeting and dined with my friends—Virginia also.
Spiritual experience is not a matter of race, religion or scholasticism, the
last least of all. I shall now send you copy of “The Rejected Avatar,” one
of my poems that our dear friends of the so-called “American Academy of Asian
Studies” and its Chaudhurian rival, “The California Academy of Asian
Studies” never permit. They censor all knowledge and brainwash the students
which is in accord with present-day policies. My friend who went to Nepal soon
returned. We discussed his being brain-washed before going; he was and came
back totally dissatisfied. Anything anybody else can do we can do better and
our black brethren are joining the writes with a rival superiority claim.
Govinda and Watts met. Why not? They have all the credentials of an “Only
in America”—expert on Asia—one both in Germany, the other in
England and they graduated from the right schools. Hayakawa once proclaimed
Watts and Huxley as the great Zen Buddhists. They had the “right
credentials.” Ben has collected a lot of unfavorable material on him. He is a
champion of the “liberty-democracy-humanity-Peasants Shut Up”
School. He is contradicting all his writings but he, being privileged can do
just that.
Spirituality is concerned with the heart. The “experts” dare not meet me
and they stick their own egos and minds out all over. With a great Sufi and a
great Vedanta teacher coming here, we are going to show the young how far off
the “experts” were and are.
The spiritual experience is one that enfolds the universe and all creatures.
It is more than a verbal expansion-of-consciousness. It comes out from the
teacher in the forms of Love, Generosity, Compassion, Joy, Power, Magnetism and
even Peacefulness—Realities not crap-words. The new generations are
accepting Sam and his colleagues in opposition and contradiction to their
elders refusing him the floor. We are doing it with walking, dancing, chanting
and finally Darshan which none of these Europeans nor Chaudhuris can do. It
affects transformations. Sam is now not only spiritual teacher but father
and/or grandfather to a growing number of young people and this will grow
because they are seeking Love, Generosity, Compassion, Joy, Power, Magnetism
and even Peacefulness. This will climax on Christmas even this year as it began
Christmas even last year. You don’t experience Samadhi by graduating from the
right schools, even from the wrong schools.
Dr. Alpert would never answer my letters but I shall inform Dr. Huston Smith
of MIT about him. As the American national anthem remains: “Anything you can
do we can do better,” people who have never learned want to get out and
teach. I am one of the few persons who present Lord Buddha’s Yoga, and it is
very effective in increasing the capacities for Love, Generosity, Compassion,
Joy, Power, Magnetism and Peace and no nonsense. There are realities which the
“experts” shun; indeed they are afraid of them
We are not only getting in the universities—the churches and “experts”
want none of us—but even the Black Panthers are more open than we could be
lead to suspect. My allies are invading both Haight-Ash and Fillmore St. and
when they succeed with their “things” they will expose the shams of the
age.
The greatest spiritual authority on Universal peace when I was young was the
Irish AE and he spent all his time in trying to correct economic ills.
I am now hearing occasionally from Cleveland too, but have not answered most
of my Christmas mail.
I shall send your address to Khawar when the time is convenient. Now have
four secretaries, mostly voluntary but it looks as if things are changing. This
is no nonsense to say that Sam is operating both as Guru and loving Parent.
Love and blessings,
Sam
3/6/69
Dear Sam,
Thought you’d interested in a couple reprints I read recently. They fit in
pretty well with your comments in your last letter.
Glad things are going well for you. May be out that way next week. If so
I’ll look you up and you can fill me in on the latest.
All the best,
Norman
March 8, 1969
My dear Norman:
I was glad to get yours of the 6th with enclosures. At the present we are
planning a huge joint birthday party for four of my disciples and Gavin, March
21-23. We go to Gavin’s at 1703 Buchanan on Friday night and there is a
possibility of “everybody” being there. I understand now that some of my
old critics are relenting and I have no time for them because willy-nilly have
been drawn into the fight on San Francisco State College campus. The acting
president is a Sadist who has gone out of his way to persecute me, but when he
was up for the Marin Rod and Gun Club he was blackballed because he had pulled
this stunt on sons and daughters of wealthy families. He made all kinds of
excuses. He gets the mob to turn against a person, one after another and now
this is not working so well. I believe he could hardly pass a test in any kind
of culture.
On Wednesday one spoke at Sonoma State College and it was like walking into
the 21st century. They already have what the protesters want in other places.
Actually much of the foment is by the radio and TV people, backed by the press.
I have found, by and large, that students have been conservative but there is a
new age and honesty and objectivity are wanted. My objection to the African
students program here is that these studies are already in force on the Santa
Barbara and Los Angeles campuses at least, but you can’t tell anybody
anything. Groups just wish to fight. Some of the professors of African
anthropology are good friends of mine.
I am afraid I have already made up my mind on the material from “The
Public Life” and am totally in agreement on everything. It is only I have
little time for sociological problems. I have now a goodly and growing number
of disciples. We are planning for a hundred on my party on the 23rd, but am not
sure because I am now reaching more than this number of young people.
A copy of this is going to Yvonne. The death of Thea has brought us in a
sense, back together. But the plain fact is that these young women, and some of
my young men, are “Yvonnes.” Having had the doubtful career of having
inimical parents who also were not very loving to me, it is easy to sympathize
and more than sympathize. I laughingly call myself an “ersatz
grandfather.”
Today we started a study of Islamics in a course at California. The
Instructor was most sympathetic to Malcolm X—total agreement. Not being an
“expert” in ??Oriental Philosophy?? he accepted also my credentials and
objective reports. In fact the authorities are getting wise to humbugs with
whom you had to student because there were no others. But humbugs never
understand that the persons they insult may have friends and access to money,
etc.
I have combined Astrology with Yoga and Mysticism and demonstrate this in
dance patterns. It is my inheritance from Ruth St. Denis. The story is getting
out—elsewhere, of course. Although the dance class is very esoteric it has
about two dozen in it, and we are now ready for March 21-23. Will cook a curry
dinner, free.
Last week one of my disciples had a party, absolute integration and no
problems. If you keep the police and press away I think there is no race
problem.
From what I know of foreign affairs I am sure the reports in “The Public
Life” must be true as to domestic affairs. The first big tenement building
for Negroes in San Francisco, seven stories high, first had the first story
built and all occupied by relations of the politicians and builders,
white—and then they proceed with the upper stories while the lower floor was
occupied! As this was the first building, I cannot say about the others but it
has made one very apathetic.
The present head of San Francisco State College controls the semantic
movement; indeed he is the semantic movement. I had thought semantics would
help solve many of our today’s problems such as food supply, desert
reclamation, water supply, the use or non-use of spray materials, even the race
problems, but he sees to it otherwise and he has the authority of a pope.
Therefore one falls back on the spiritual philosophies and appeals to the
young and as one has been writing, the campaign to become a Pied Piper has
failed miserably—only the young attend! But more and more every single week
this year. I am inviting Yvonne both to this house and to my public gatherings
in Marin County. Sooner or later they will get into the press. Sam has already
been written up in Playboy (or written down in “Playboy”). At least
one is recognized, maybe for one’s faults, but one is recognized.
I just have a few hours to write now, always something to do.
My God-daughter in Ithaca may be here soon. My local God-daughter is a
wonder, really. So I am now becoming an ersatz grandfather instead of father.
Really I am often much older than many grandfathers although you would never
recognize it. Now a beard and pictures taken today. We shall see.
Love and Blessings,
Sam
cc-Yvonne Childs
3/12/69
Dear Sam,
Glad to get your letter bearing glad tidings of your on coming party.
As things go now, I should be there. I am leaving for L.A. this Friday and
will be there until the 19th at which time I’ll be coming to
S.F.
Sorry to hear about Thea’s death. When did it happen? Give my best regards
to Yvonne—it’ll be good seeing her again.
It will also be good to see my two God-sisters at long last—and you, too,
“Ersatz.”
Till then,
Norman
September 28, 1969
My dear Norman:
I am writing a letter which from one point of view is a tragedy but which
you may well take to be a comedy if not a hilarious farce. There is one thing I
have failed utterly to put over and that is that I am a four generation
Californian. Not only that a family reconciliation is to the mutual benefit of
each of us but we find ourselves unable to contribute to the benefit of those
who simply will not accept this simple fact, and I am therefore sending a copy
of this to Dr. Chaudhuri—it is a last hope for which I have no hope. But his
practical denunciation of the teachings of Sankara that Brahm is in all men is
becoming known publicly.
About fifty of us met this week to establish a valid study group to examine
the religions and cults of the day especially those dealing with Asia and
spiritual development. The Sri Aurobindo movement, and the rival California
School of Asian Studies and American Academy of Asian Studies were not even
mentioned! My secretary had a hard enough time making some suggestions
(accepted) and we both joined in arranging a possible program for Gavin Arthur.
Even Alan Watts has been suggested, knowing this will be controversial, not in
the local sense or seen but because he is anathema to a number of real teachers
of real Oriental philosophies. These philosophies are now gradually being
represented in this general region and none of the persons will have anything
to do with the “experts” connected with either of the above rival schools.
Indeed the colleges and universities take a very dim view of “claims” and
yesterday’s religious page had an editorial against the sermon.
Certainly the sermon is not yoga or spiritual and words do not indicate
spiritual wisdom. Dr. Chaudhuri’s two teachers, Prof. Chatterji and Dr.
Radhakrishnan, treated this person with a respect never given by any
“expert” or any teacher you knew but Dr. Binken and with one exception I am
the only Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society living in San Francisco.
All my efforts in every direction have been successful, wearing me out from
lack of help but certainly no longer from frustrations. My visit to Lama, in
New Mexico, must have been successful because some of their representatives met
my Sausalito God-daughter and her husband and were lavish with praise. The Lama
foundation has accepted this person and Richard Alpert, now known as Ram Dass,
as Gurus, and so far as rejected all the “experts” living in the San
Francisco Bay area. I cannot make this point clear; all my reports are ignored
by rejected and most of all by the rival Drs. Landrum and Chaudhuri who are now
both anathema to the leading universities and colleges. And they are demanding
Yoga-experience, not lectures, sermons, claims and book-readings.
The situation is utterly ridiculous. I have now a substantial income and the
price for a contribution is simply that I have some knowledge, and one
organization after another—all being composed of veddy “humble” clerics,
to have refused to admit this or accept any correspondence but one, which is
now engaged in a controversy. So instead of contributing I am purchasing copies
of “The Encyclopedia of Buddhism” published in Ceylon under the direction
of Dr. Malalasekera, and giving these to any institution or organization which
will accept the simple fact that I know a little perhaps of some of the wisdom
teachings of the Orient.
There is a rumor coming from some of the “experts” that I went to Asia,
studied under Masters, and deserted them. This shows the “moral and
spiritual” prowess of the VIPs. Last week I received a cablegram from my
chief Sufi teacher and an air-mail letter from my real Zen Master—and I am in
constant touch with the followers of the late Swami Ramdas. But no “humble”
teacher can accept simple facts and those that will not agree I am a
four-generation Californian cannot be expected to accept this, evidence or no
evidence. You need not be surprised to find not only one but now two whole
generations of younger people accepting this person’s physical history,
etc.
But the local scene is reflected on the world scene. For many, many years I
have been preparing to attend a real parliament of the real religions of the
real world. You need not be surprised that such convocations cannot take place
within the domains of this country—the State Department would never stand for
that! So I have to put up money to go abroad, and, as I have said, my financial
condition is somewhat better and is improving slowly and constantly. Last time
I sent representatives but now I must go in person with my chief secretary, Mr.
Mansur Johnson.
Mansur is one of the chief pupils and a close friend of Prof. Huston Smith
of M.I.T. regarded in some quarters as the best American born and educated
authority on Asian religions. Not being “humble” he accepted that this
person had “solved” his ko-an and he, Huston, had not, but I do not regard
this as important. I regard the rejection by the “humble”-experts as
important. And this will come to light at the convocations of Americans alluded
to above.
I am taking such notes preserved from fire and tragedy during the years for
this coming parliament and will go not with credentials of university
graduations but credentials, if you want to call them that, from real spiritual
teachers, alive or now passed under whom I have “studied” in this world,
plus, knowledges of scripture which few people have, least of all the
“professors,” present or past of the various “schools” of Asian
Studies?????????! The cards are on the table.
The cards are on the table. The younger generations accept this person with
glee when they discover he has been rejected by the “experts.” One of my
rejected epic poems is already accepted by a professor, of all places, San
Francisco State College and more is in the offing.
The disciples of the now gone Meher Baba have surprisingly accepted my
universal approach and the “esoteric methods” which I have taught. There
are Sufi yogas which are not nearly so hush-hush as Indian ones and generally
quite operative and effective. My spiritual training through music, dance and
chant is gaining and I am hampered by too many demands—no longer the
rejections of “humble” people and experts. These things will be
offered to the world in open meetings by spring-time and no nonsense.
I have a most beautiful group of followers, men and women, the former
dominating.
My Pakistani God-daughter has been here and returned to Cornell. If my plans
work, or rather if God’s plans work through me I should be coming
East—Washington or New York, and then to Istanbul, stopping at New York,
thence to Ithaca, Pittsburgh and Cleveland before returning West. This is a
long-range program by a person used to long-range programs.
I should like to have availed myself of the knowledge of the self-esteemed
“experts” but they are all too “humble.” I have my real integrative
program of East and West. I pummeled the Muslims on this and to my amazement
they accepted the criticism! Mohammed was not a prelate, not a landlord, not a
monarch but a humble working man with God-consciousness. And remember, Krishna
means—nigger-baby! (i.e. black). And my poem on this subject—which I
shall be glad to send you if you do not have it, is gradually being accepted
outside the “experts.” They want Spiegelberg’s “Indian Mystical
Practices” which you probably will not find anywhere in India!
That is enough noise for now.
Cordially,
Sam
cc-Chaudhuri
Sept. 28, 1969
My dear Norman:
This is a sort of private letter. The old CORE is gone. When I was living in
Cleveland my friends of African descent were opposed to all “race” holding
to the “human race.” While in one sense they were right, from the
standpoint of a flower grower color does not matter at all.
I have shown more interest in African anthropology and archaeology than many
people presumably of African ancestry. I see no sense in drawing conclusions
logical or otherwise. Recently some girls have been putting on African clothing
which I consider vastly superior to our own from any point of view. Some men,
too, but they are more timid.
On the whole I have preferred African and especially Nigerian music and
dancing to most, which proves nothing. It is a personal conclusion. But instead
of there being positive pride there are too many tendencies toward violence.
This helped Sam Yorty in L.A. I have known Sam since when and he is very clever
in cashing in on his opponents ‘mistakes.
I understand that some of my friends in Cleveland are related to Mayor
Stokes, but I shall be unable to visit that city until much later as written
you otherwise. We are having more and more, to me, useless race riots. I say
“useless” because nothing has been gained.
My own meetings are open to people of all races and religions and being
rather successful, they are never reported. Anything that is both unusual and
successful is never news. The poverty program knows no racial boundaries and by
keeping the races apart solidarity disappears. It makes one totally
indifferent. So I am applying the wisdom-teachings of Asia which were not
taught at all in the previous generation and they work, believe me they
work.
Love and blessings,
Sam
October 4, 1969
My dear Norman:
It looks as if I were piling it on. I forgot to write to you about “The
Oracle,” a publication mostly of my young friends. We have been wondering
whether you can give us any idea about helping to distribute it in the New York
Area.
This started out as a Hippie-Drug-Haight-Ashbury thing, then got to
Leary’s hands and now also my own people. The article written years ago by
me, “Toward Spiritual Democracy” has been published.
I am now being called on more and more and more by the young for all those
things which the so-called American Academy of Asian Culture and the rival
California Academy simply would not have. Now fortunately both are becoming
objects of scorn and ridicule. Alan Watts is still alive but he is not being
taken so seriously—nevertheless he is not being thrown out.
At the moment it looks as if some of us will be coming East in March on a
world mission. More later.
Sam
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
February 5, 1970
My dear Haridas:
In later life you will never be able to say I didn’t give you a chance. I
have always wanted a real Academy of real Asian studies in San Francisco where
I was born, despite a lot of unsubstantiated rumors to the contrary. Before God
Allah Ram or whatever you want to call him, we are going to have real cultural
institutions where the real knowledge and wisdom of the real peoples of Asia
will be offered at a price or not a price. I call your attention to an article
in today’s paper on miniature Moghul art. I do not know what has been gained
by trying to hide this culture from American peoples. It was real, and it is
now being given because it was real.
There are now so many institutions concerned with real Asian culture and
there is so much money floating around. It is regrettable that you have cut
yourself off both from the people and their money. Therefore, you should not be
surprised if some or all of your purported aims are being brought into
objective manifestation by others.
Faithfully,
Sam
London
April 6, 1970
My dear Norman,
This is written in London where my secretary, Mansur, and I just arrived
today from Geneva. The whole outlook is rapidly changing, and there are
possibilities from the legal standpoint alone which may enhance my efforts. For
my brother is either ill or dying and this may provide further release of funds
from the estate.
The old days of the so-called “American Academy of Asian (sic!) Studies
are over. Haridas has a much larger paper successor. It has far more opposition
in academic circles especially as the universities are now building up really
real Asian Studies. And we stand in as good with both the top Orientals and
Orientalists as we did not formerly.
But for the moment I do not wish to write about this. Very few people have
cosmic consciousness or world outlooks. Some gobbledy-gook and emotionalize but
deliver nothing. And one might ask—and the very top people are asking, “Why
not African and South American Studies?” It is certain I can visit Howard any
time. Met a Dr. Roberts who although the only Africander, so to speak in a vast
assemblage of Asians and Westerners, carried the day. All plans are set for a
real world congress recognizing many of the ignored cultures of Africa. It may
take place next year, or the year after. I think this will depend on funds—in
other words I believe a really world conference could better pay for African
representatives to visit the US than for a lot of us to try to go to Abijan or
Lagos or Zanzibar.
Here I am one up. I have at least done considerable study in African
archaeologies and anthropologies. I am as “in” with the universities today
as I have not been with the San Francisco societies and big shots and
experts, especially “experts” of whom you know many and who were
quite absent from Geneva. The charmers of old ladies have no place when they
have to meet real world leaders.
At this writing I have no schedule. The airfield strike may cause change of
plans. I should be in San Francisco not later than the 26th.
Everything is different now. We had a fine Spring Festival which was also
Gavin’s birthday. About 200 people participated in dances choreographed by
this person. This did not include onlookers and the technicians who televised
it. Since there two other plans have come up for televising: one from a man who
has MGM connections and the other is so stupendous, a real peace festival
without diplomats, newsmen, military and “experts,” but as both this and
the African program are themselves tremendous we are just resting.
Then there are the young and they are making this Pied Piper a Hippie Guru.
The young more and more. The top spiritual leaders of the real world more and
more. We met Princess Poon again but now she is being overshadowed by the
younger and more vigorous people, among them a wonderful representative of the
Dalai Lama.
I stayed about 10 hours in New York on the way to Switzerland, but could not
get you on the phone and the rest of the time was given entirely to relatives.
I do not know about my return schedule, because of the air field strike. We
presumably arrive in New York again on the 16th and are expected to go to
Boston and then to San Francisco immediately. This means I cannot even visit my
God-daughter who is at Ithaca, but if a possible change in the financial estate
warrants it, I may have to come to the East coast either in May or later on but
not in June or July. For a summer school is waiting for me where I am going to
teach oriental philosophies and spiritual dances. As I have said the real
Orientals and real Orientalists almost as much as San Francisco “experts”
do not.
We not only successfully laid the foundation for a new age type of spiritual
dancing, it begins to look as if this will occupy much of my later days,
provided the health holds out and the vigor continues. Actually, I was one of
the oldest persons at the world gathering at Geneva, one of the most vigorous,
and the man who became known as “he who writes the longest letters but makes
the shortest speeches and always to the point.”
I am scheduled to speak at least when I return to San Francisco. No doubt it
will cause my former detractors to gawk, but I have no time for them, no time
at all. I shall look up Kermit Schoo and Willy Brown and also the colored
secretary to Congressman Philip Burton.
I was just as successful with my plans for Palestine as I was not
previously. Profound apologies were received from top Rabbis and Protestant
ministers, and I have the very best contacts now for the whole real world, the
world of objective humanity.
Donna Provire showed up at the reception I gave to Pir Vilayat Khan, the
Sufi leader. She looks very unhappy. She is head of a specialty school for
young people in Sausalito. I hear from her but she seldom comes to me. Her
specialty is alcohol, not marijuana.
If you ever come west again, you will see my beautiful young men and women,
very beautiful. As I have written elsewhere, my efforts to become a Pied Piper
failed miserably, only the young showed up. At Geneva too, while others talked
about the young, they were attracted to Sufi Sam.
Well Norman, we have bigger and better things before us and cannot turn
back. I would not be surprised if my picture has not already appeared in a lot
of West European newspapers. I have a beard which makes me look like a cross
between a Hebrew prophet and Santa Claus.
If we are stuck in New York, will phone you, but really the schedule is
overfilled.
Cordially,
Sam
P.S. We are perfecting astrological dances among other things.
May 5, 1970
Norman McGhee II
372 Central Park W., #26
New York, N.Y. 10025
My dear Norman:
George Bernard Shaw said he believed he could convert a banker to socialism,
but a banker’s clerk, never. Perhaps in a similar fashion I may say, that I
have hopes to have some Asians or even Europeans to accept karma, but our
“only in America” experts on Asia, never.
We stopped off in New York a few hours both en route to and back from Europe
and tried in vain to reach you by phone, all hours, but in vain. It is very
different to meet the top orientalists and the top real religious and spiritual
leaders of the world than in trying to reach some socially accepted
“expert.” We had no trouble whatsoever in the efforts to communicate to,
from and with persons of all religions, races, languages and cultures. In an
international gathering I think we were the only ones who could do that.
Although there were many world famous people at the gathering in Geneva which
we attended. We were given absolute freedom to express ourselves but did not
because there were better known persons with common outlooks, outlooks
absolutely verboten in certain private institutions claiming to be
teaching “Asian Culture” here. You can bet that there was a notable absence
of “only in America” experts on Asia. Or as I have been saying, “When the
Gods arrive, the half-gods go.”
While Samuel Lewis and his secretary Mansur played but a small part in a
gathering of the world’s religions there were no restrictions, believe me
Norman there were no restrictions. Why, I even received an invitation to visit
Howard University whenever I wish.
I am speaking this Friday night on the international convention under the
auspices of The Temple of Understanding. We are building an institution
which may house all the different religions, or at least provide for their
usage. It is not a phony Baha’i Temple; it is a real effort on the part of
real religions and real leaders to get together to promote peace and
understanding, and there are many signs that this will be done.
In fact when we went to London we were honored guests at the headquarters of
the World Congress of Faiths and the Royal Asiatic Society. We also met some of
the most remarkable real Orientalists, and no nonsense.
When we reached London there was a cable that my brother has died. This may
mean a possible further increase in my rather ample income. But I hope to use
this money to promote world peace, at least in the Near East. There are now no
phony experts to stand in my way, believe me.
The latest news which may not surprise you is that the so-called Auroville
effort of the band wagon followers of the late Sri Aurobindo is not doing so
well. The leading self-appointed Hindu philosopher here has already promoted
other fiascoes. As you might expect he is willing to join any group provided he
is made the leader. Read what I said above about karma. This is not the first
time when I have seen the self-made great go through unnecessary dramas.
Before we left we had a celebration—the Spring Equinox and Gavin’s
birthday. 200 young people performed in dances originated and choreographed by
this unworthy person. In addition to the participants there were crews of
extras and technicians televising, and it is even possible in time these things
will be made public.
I have presented this material also to the young in England and in Boston.
Soon I am going to the state of New Mexico. This is a New Age, Norman, in which
pompous ignorance has no part whatsoever.
I am teaching not only spiritual dances derived from the real religions of
the real world, but the whirling of the spheres depicting the movements of the
planets, and rather successfully. We do not only do the whirls of the 7
traditional planets, we are depicting Uranus and Neptune and even in another
sense, Pluto.
The whole philosophy involved is that of the group-unit, of humanity rather
than the ego-individual. Naturally these do not appeal very much to older
people but to counterbalance they seem to have a tremendous appeal to the
young.
There were two groups omitted from the convention of the world’s
religions: the young and the African cultures. There is great concern over the
absence of the young, but as things stand now, I believe I can deliver them.
Everywhere one meets beautiful response and beautiful young people. And I mean
everywhere. My return was marked by increasingly large gatherings.
The other omission, that of the peoples and cultures of Africa, is also
under consideration. While I have done considerable studies in African
Archeology and Anthropology, and while it is probably more than that of many of
our most chauvinistic black brothers, it is actually far from being ample. This
was felt. There is an underground either to invite Africans, or actually to
meet in Africa next year, or soon. My main objection at the moment to meeting
in Africa is simply cost of travel and the weather involved, and I would
certainly cooperate to defray the expenses of any such people coming to our
shores or meeting in any more mutually acceptable region. As matters stand, I
am expected to visit the East coast again in the Fall. I already have an ample
crowd waiting for me in Massachusetts, enhanced by the fact that my colleague
Baba Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) is probably leaving the country soon to study
under a Sufi who resides in South America. There are such persons you know,
despite the denials by our expert friends at certain private institutions. I
think this is enough nonsense. I shall be glad to hear from you at your
convenience. My main objection to our present foreign policy is wondering why
we don’t join with the communists in a common effort to stamp out Buddhist
infants. Oh it is glorious, killing innocent babies. In a copy of a poem
written many years ago, and universally rejected, it is emphatically stated
that the philosophy and psychology of Hitler would become so embedded in the
human psyche that it would become difficult to eradicate it. Well we have it
now.
Let me hear from you at your convenience. Faithfully, your godfather,
Sam
