410 Precita Ave.

San Francisco, Calif. 94947

January 22, 1969

Mrs. Bhakti Engle

928 Mission Drive

Camarillo, Calif. 93010

My dear Sheika:

Your last report was received with great joy. One cannot help contrast the short trip of a few disciples from this region with the long trip of others, also from this region, to India. Those who went to India had long instructions which they promptly ignored and have, if anything, caused some confusion for Vilayat. Those who went to southern California had few instructions and did everything excellently. They have accepted “There is no Teacher but God. We all learn from Him.”

Mansur has also had the great privilege of hearing and meeting Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, one of the truly great men now living on earth. Even Samuel was surprised to find a large number of his disciples and friends attending a public meeting of Swamiji yesterday in Berkeley.

There are several questions about the ways in which we can cooperate to help Pir Vilayat. A letter has been written this morning to Wheaton, Illinois, with regard to his Summer Camp for the young this year. I have not the slightest doubt that it will be very well attended.

Now comes a very serious matter. During the course of years, there has not been a proper secretariat, especially with regard to the sacred readings. There has been no proper responsibility. At least two and probably four or more private corporations have gotten hold of these writings and either varied them or misused them. The initiatory processes upon which Sufism is based have been defiled and defied. There are at least two ways out:

One is to see that as many Gathas, Githas and other sacred papers get into the hands of a secretariat which trusts Pir Vilayat and which Pir Vilayat trusts. Vilayat understands or presumes that a fairly large sector of the sacred readings is in your hands. My requests have been not for any papers but for a list of what you have, and this list would also get into the Pir’s hands etc.

It is very necessary for our immediate purposes that we have a complete set of Githas, but please do not send anything until we check and re-check with your list.

There would also be the question of copying the sacred papers. Vilayat has told me he could do this, but it would be an additional burden on him at the present time, for reasons you may understand intuitively.

Two, both Vilayat and Samuel are giving to the public practices and methods not found in the writings of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. This follows the traditions of Sufism. “God is the only Teacher, we all learn from Him.”

In the original bayat ceremony, which has since been changed, the neophyte agreed to accept the teachings first of Four School Sufism—Kadiri, Naqshibandi, Sohrawardi, Chisti. Then, the teachings of other schools of Sufism. Not only has this not been done, but Pir Vilayat has drawn upon himself extremely egotistic criticism for following the wishes of his father and traditional Sufism, rather than adhering to the literal interpretations of Western legal bodies carrying the name or rather miscarrying the name “Sufi.”

Three, in addition to re-assimilating and organizing universal Sufi teachings, we have learned from God and earned from God teachings and methods to answer the needs of the day. For my part I have directly all the deeper esoteric practices of Inayat Khan himself. Also various other Sufi teachings. Also various yoga practices, spurned by contemporary “experts.”

Vilayat’s work in meditation and mountain climbing is totally and absolutely in harmony with my present instructions in Walking, Dancing, using the Centers … real Darshan.

All this and more attracts a growing number of young people. Preparing to lecture on “Asian philosophy,” a surprising number of doors are suddenly opening. But I should like to center instructions and methods on papers of Hazrat Inayat Khan which I do not now possess. I am wondering what can be done so that we can properly organize and retain for future generations instructions and studies which I am told you have.

Any suggestions or response on your part will be welcome.

The Khankah is now being restored after a small fire hero. We shall next fix our barn so that if the family comes here, the boys could be accommodated with sleeping quarters. We intend to do this anyhow.

Love and blessings from Mansur and myself,

Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti

June 12, 1970

Bhakti Engle

928 Mission Dr. Camarillo

Beloved Sheika:

We wish to thank you for your letter of May 27th. We are in transit in the psychological and social sense. The total attendance at all audiences slowly increases. The income from various sources public and private increases. This means a revaluation of life and efforts on our return.

I have upmost faith in Kristofer Ingerbretsen. When we return we shall have the details of the board meeting. We wish to coordinate. At the present time also Vilayat’s camp is being prepared in Arizona with my personal representative, Wali Ali Meyer, in charge. It is possible that the financial secretary, Naqib Daniel Lomax, may be there.

We do not wish to adopt a policy for the fall until we hear the reports of the meeting in North Hollywood, Vilayat’s camp, and the successful San Francisco Holy Man’s Jamboree. Sufism is no longer going to be a private thing. We are beginning in the era for the fulfillment of the prayer, “May the Message of God reach far and wide.”

Apparently it has been a period of random harvest, for my brother’s death was followed by that of mother Mary Meyer and then of Khalif Edward Connaughton. It is impossible to keep up with all events and persons. We now have world contacts and Mansur and I may be going to New England again, in the Fall, Inshallah, and also to other places in the Eastern states.

We must be home by July 4th so we can celebrate Pir-o-Murshid’s birthday on the 5th. Our plans are roughly to leave Albuquerque on June 29th, taking 2 days or so to go to North Hollywood to see Bibijan. Then to come to Camarillo, staying or not, according to circumstances. There are now three cars of us, but when we reach California we may split. We should prefer to go up the coast road, stopping, however, at the Sun and Earth on the way.

At this writing, praise to God, most things are in excellent shape: membership, audiences, spiritual growth, finances, and great progress in music and dancing, at least, not to mention other things.

Love and Blessing to you all.

Samuel

Dec. 21, 1970

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fraley, Sheika Bhakti Engle

928 Mission Dr.

Camarillo, Ca. 93010

Dear Fraleys and Grandma, Beloved Ones of God,

Samuel will first send you the “bad” news. He has just returned from the doctor, having contracted an infection while in New York City. This infection has been aggravated because of his lack of rest. Many good hearts have warmth, love, and sympathy for him but beautiful though this goodness be, it does not always result in assistance coming. Yet for the first time one sees the possible termination of long periods of overwork for many or no reason.

Yesterday we had our Dervish Bazaar and it was surprisingly and totally successful, praise to God. This success had been foreseen by one of the disciples who has been blessed with insight and foresight. She was also one of the directors of the undertaking. As she had foreseen, despite the bad weather, it was over-crowded and financially successful. Perhaps the most outstanding item of success came with the pottery, now being manufactured at the Khankah. But everything else was successful too.

Newspapers and television representatives were there and may return. There is no reason also for not having the work of our spiritual choral group recorded on tapes and discs. Everything looks as if that will be done. Everything looks as if Vilayat will have a much larger attendance than may have formerly been presumed.

All our other undertaking a seem to be on the way to success, inshallah.

Love and Blessings,

Samuel L. Lewis