772 Clementina St.
San Francisco, California
April 7, 1959
Maurice S. Rice,
Chief, Public Services Division, Department of State
Washington 25, D.C.
My dear Mr. Rice:
I have your letter of the 31st ultimo and am writing this just before attending a lecture by my friend Phra Sumangalo. We have compared notes and come up with the same or similar answers and we have no joy in our conclusions. Just as I have warned and written about Iraq he is coming to Washington to tell about the several lands of Southeast Asia with which he is familiar.
He has several differences with Burdick and Lederer. He has lived with the people, speaks some of the languages and gives firsthand knowledge. But what he knows has so far been of less importance than what some think. So long as knowledge and information are secondary to opinions, he does not see any bright future for the United States in Asia and he has few hopes of breaking this strange psychological attitude. We do not know who is responsible for it. It goes beyond party lines into our psyche and a dozen books. “Richer by Asia” does not make us richer.
So far I have very careful to keep all correspondence confidential. But we feel that if there are going to be more USIS libraries burned—and the chances are heavily that there will be—and further losses of friendly relations it may be necessary to come out in criticism of or even in opposition to persons and policies with which we should rather be friendly and with which we should like to cooperate.
Before I left this country I decided to follow the policies of Dr. Gardner Murphy of Menninger Institute and ask people what they believe.
In principle I would like to agree with Director Naughten. But I must call your attention to a recent article in the Saturday Evening Post in regard to foreign aid for Thailand which the author tried to veto. He does not mention Thailand but the incident he gave was this:
Despite all the claims by members of the Fourth Estate who were not there I have been on the ruins of a temple bombed in Bangkok and seen the letter of President Eisenhower acknowledging it and stating he would do everything possible to foster restitution. In this I met the man who is, in a sense, the almost hidden ruler of the country. Governments may arise and fall but the Spiritual Leadership is fixed.
There is nothing to which the Thai people are more devoted than to their religion. Without being fanatical, they are intense believers, believers in a sense which we do not psychologically comprehend. The one help they want more than anything else is the restitution of this temple.
Some subaltern of the President exercises the right of veto. What happens:
a. The Buddhist leaders know it and insist that if it were a Christian church building then it would have been restored. We restored bombed churches in the Philippines.
b. We are supporting Christian leaders in Korea and South Vietnam, countries which to some Buddhists, should be potentially or actually within their realm. This causes them to accuse us, rightly or wrongly.
c. It offers the Russians the opportunity to offer to rebuild this bombed temple and offer other aid of a similar kind and all Director Naughten’s excellent arguments are refuted by a single fact.
Now I lived a short while in Thailand and at the one end was a guest of member of the Royal Family and the other end lived right among the people. Neither Messrs. Burdick or Lederer can say that and I am wondering if director Naughten can. I asked them questions. The replies to these questions should be filed with Alan Dulles’ department and we should watch out. But from the other reports and suggestions already made, I am doubtful and even growing cynical.
The other day I met Ambassador Mohammed Ali. He turned out in the course of conversation that he is a member of the Anjuman of East Pakistan of which I am the American representative. The Pakistanis cannot understand, nor do any Muslims understand why we not only—I mean the State Department—validated a non- American anti-Muslim to speak as the “authority” on this religion at UNESCO in 1957, but apparently are giving their approval to Prof. Charles Moore of Hawaii to call a presumable parliament of religions in Hawaii in 1960. Islam as such will again be omitted because Prof. Moore is anti-Islam but I know one “spiritual” organization which will have a delegate, perhaps a leading delegate And this organization is controlled by Communists. I am not fooling, I am speaking from experience.
The Buddhist situation is nearly as bad. Phra Sumangalo has full authorization to speak therefore but I am also the American representative of two Japanese Buddhist sects and was introduced into one of them by the entourage of the Emperor of Japan! As I wished to represent Islam I could not therefore act in this capacity but I have full credentials. Still I am shut out because a professor, with the authority of our State Department, has a veto.
In India anyone who speaks specialized native languages is off-hand regarded as either a communist agent or a protestant missionary and the doors are practically closed in their faces. I shall write about this in my forthcoming book. But it is too bad I have to write a book and publish disclosures for that seems to be the only way to be accepted seriously.
Finally I wish to call to your attention, Mr. Rice, that I think I am the only American I have heard of that turned a mob on his communist hecklers. The methods I used ought to be on file and are not. We send people over and they are mobbed and then we send another kind over and they are insulted. I have the answers, was never mobbed or insulted, but do I have to make these things public in order to be considered seriously—and I do not mean personality—I mean my information.
I am sorry to have to write in this vein. I refused to have anything to do with critics of this government when they mixed up the Quemoy-Matsu situation with our nuclear weapon testing. The Tibet situation justifies my stand and in a larger sense the policies of the administration. But fighting communists is not enough.
I repeat in closing our two weakness in Asia, which are being extended now to Africa are:
a. Our surrealistic attitude toward native religions
b. Our silent assent to the flooding of the book marts (and to some extent the movies) with materials which are shocking and offensive to both the morals and mores of exotic peoples.
I found very little opposition to our economic-social order as such but when the above are added, we become unpopular even when the people would like to like us. Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
April 5, 1960
Cleveland, Ohio
Festival Folk-shop,
161 Turk St.,
San Francisco 2, Calif.
Dear Friends:
I am sending you this letter in duplicate so that you can hand one copy one to Milly or whomsoever you will. I am sending a third copy to a friend who will show it to Walter.
At the last moment leaving San Francisco I was compelled to change plans about carrying musical equipment with me. Ultimately this may not effect further business with you—on the contrary. And it is perhaps just as well as not that this change was made.
I am at the present engaged on an artistic, a literary and a scientific mission, all within the realms of specific cultural exchanges with specific countries. I cannot tell you exactly what those countries will be because I want to talk everything over with my contacts in the State Department; and other than saying I am going to Cairo, I am not sure myself.
Last night I attended a meeting called by Theodore Andrica of the Cleveland Press who functions as the President, or the Tsar, over the Ethnical Folk Arts movement here. As the President, he knows how to operate meetings, bring the different nationalities together, encourage and arrange programs, large and small, and keeps things moving on a high level.
There are many F.D. [Folk Dance—Ed] programs here on both radio and TV and I see innumerable dances that I would like to learn, or that I could learn, that might easily be taught, indeed that may already have been taught in California, but which, for the most part, do not persist in festival or cultural programs. Indeed there is a neat (look it up in the dictionary) presentation of the cultures of almost every valley and district, well done, etc.
You get here folk dances that are folk dances, both in being dances with historical and geographical backgrounds, and dances which are done by folks. There is little or no tampering.
At the very same time there are complaints on the part of the presidents himself that repetitious elements are boring and he acts always as the spectator rather than the participant.
I want to say here that I am strongly for those who wish to preserve cultural arts. I was very active in this years ago and that is how I met Sung Chang—in 1932. Ruth Prager I have known very much longer, our paths having crossed and re-crossed for long, long years.
On the other hand I see a number of difficulties. One is the problem of record versus tape. I mention this only because this may affect your business in the future, that you may be some day selling or renting tapes. For the purpose of timing and preserving old forms the tape is far superior to the record. But one still has the problems as to where to end patterns, repetitions, etc. It may turn out to be technical, too, and perhaps will be decided by popular trends.
Closely connected with this is the subject of live-music versus “canned music.” There is no question that here the live-music dominates because it is available. Offhand it looks like a closed subject, but on coming closer we have the greater problem of continuance of interest. And there is no question but that Ethnic forms are not being handed down. Let us say there are Estonian Dances, fine dances in every way. But there is intermarriage and some of the children do not look in that direction. What are you going to do now? Or there are people with little or no Estonian blood in their veins who want to learn these dances—what is to be done?
I am sure this is even more so of Polish dances. But those that I have seen are relatively simple. For instance, the Oberg—same music but much more simple dance and done progressively.
And again while I am strong for ethnic forms, the Yugoslav situation here disgusts me in the extreme. There are divisions in this city between the Orthodox, Roman and Uniate Catholics; there are divisions between all the different provinces. Not only do they not work together, but there is rivalry and add to that the pro- and anti-Tito forces.
Furthermore there is no effort to preserve American Square, Round or Longways dances and in the sense of being a Czar I think brother Theodore does not realize he is in the United States.
I am mentioning this to you because I should like to see Folk and Square dances added to the Olympic Games. The Greeks did it. We don’t have to have competition. When I was in Pakistan I heard “Road to the Isles” played as I have never heard it before. My home there is in a town called Abbottabad (I may be there again within a year) and the bagpipe band just returned from Glasgow where they had won first prize over all the Scottish organizations. (Read the history of “The Black Watch.”)
Preservation of ethnic forms is an ideal; brotherhood and peace are purposes. Against some California tendencies, Andrica’s slogan is: “You don’t learn Folk Dances on concrete and never was a folk dance created by people on concrete.” Perhaps this is a counter-irritant to something going on in California—which I do not like and which can play no part in building up peace and brotherhood. That is why, for my part, I see in Folk Festivals and Workshops the ideas and ideals which may be extended to other areas; or which may in the end branch out to becoming the bases for world folk dances.
There are many lovers of ethnic art who do not go all the way with Andrica and from them I heard that there may be a national folk-dance festival in Washington this year. I shall try to get more information in Washington through the State Department. But I have already written to Sue and Frank Clymer who have visited the S.F Bay region in the past.
Millie used to put on ethnic art festivals which were wonderful but she has integrated them into America. Danny has put on “ I am an American” affairs which are still more American and yet leave ample room for traditions. Here the traditions are so strong you don’t see America—and what is worse, you do see political, geographical and religious rivalries which I personally detest.
So I am coming up with no answers, just news. And if I wrote at length on other matters, there would be no bad news either. I reach Washington about the 26th and leave the country about June 10th.
Regards,
Samuel L. Lewis
Cairo, U.A.R.
January 24, 1961
Festival Folk Shop
161 Turk St.
San Francisco 2, Calif.
Dear Friends:
You will excuse me if I do not write on matters not directly connected with your business. Let me say that all my projects have shown far greater promise than I dreamed and I shall be quite welcome when I leave the U.S. next time for a return visit. Reports are made to persons directly connected with each adventure and to the San Rafael Journal- Independent.
As a roving alumnus of U.C. I met one Paul Keim here almost immediately after arrival. He has given me introductions but generally I have “worked” my way to other alumni people from Berkeley. Paul has a very beautiful tall blonde secretary—which may be protocol, but she has both brains and form and in some sense is the dynamo of the American colony. Her name is Katharine Thomas and the office is EARIS, Mobile Oil Building, Garden City, Cairo.
I learned that Katey teaches some groups in popular and Latin American dancing and in my last visit broached this subject. We did not go into details because most of the time was given to “official” matters. But she tells me there is interest in square-dancing here.
Now Katey and I have one difference of opinion which may concern or interest you. I personally believe the best dances for this region are the Balkan type and she thinks the square-dance will take hold. The Balkan type, to me, has the advantage of men and women dancing separately or together and the number of persons present does not matter. Furthermore I think the music is “catching.”
Anyhow I feel that she should have copy of the Folk Dance magazine. I am not placing an order at this time—although you may send if you wish, that is why I have given the address. I feel that they may need here back numbers and I am going to take this up also with U.S.I.A. and see if they can become interested and even stock their libraries with magazine in the folk- and square-dance fields. It is too much for me to handle now.
I am very satisfied I did not take my record player but I am also going to try and see if one of the Foundations or other groups will finance a tour. I can get into places where others do not go. I have already spoken before many thousands of people here and met thousands more. I dare not stress what happens because of some accusations thrown but I can assure you this is so. When I was in Washington before I learned that there was a fund for this purpose which needed only a thousand signatures for release. I would not benefit from it but think that either John could do wonderful work in promoting international goodwill if they could be financed therefor. There is a Yugoslav troupe here now and it is to be followed by a Russian ballet. But these do not meet the masses or help in the release of pent-up energies.
I am working also for the introduction of sensible literature here to combat the sex and filth which floods the markets and gives wrong ideas as to the nature of Americans. I am therefore going to see Katey again—I have to anyhow in the course of my regular pursuits. In the case of Folk Dance magazines, etc. many back numbers might be suggestive—with pictures of folk costumes and other matters.
I have recently shipped Peggy Almond some shoes for exhibition or for her disposition and expect to send lots more from Pakistan and elsewhere. But there is little in the costumery here which be of practical interest—ancient garbs restrict foot-work.
Yesterday I visited the Franciscan Fathers and learned more about traditional Christian liturgical music. Much of this has not been recorded and the same is even more true of the dervish chanting. This is really a subject for musicologists, but it is possible to combine—on account of equipment, studies in musics and the promotion of dancing. This will be for the future but if you have any ideas, especially any that would benefit any of you personally I shall be glad to cooperate.
I doubt very much whether I shall be back in the States until well into 1962 especially if the continued success of projects keeps me busy and moving. I hope to visit all parts of West Pakistan but do not promise to bring back the Pathan dances although I shall no doubt visit these people. If I can learn from them this will be all the more to the good.
If you wish to answer, I shall be in Karachi (c/o U.S. Consulate) from March 3-15 or so; and then my “permanent” mailing address in Pakistan will be
K-482 old Kunj St.
Abbottabad, Hazara,
West Pakistan
If there are other details or matters that would interest you I shall write. I did run into square dancing’s in Lahore but little in Pakistan before; if things have changed will let you know.
Faithfully,
Sam
Samuel L. Lewis
2 Elgin Road, Lahore, Cant.
November 6, 1961
To the Embassy, U.S.A.,
Karachi
Sir:
There are several matters which must be taken up, and their all happening together is a source of some confusion, to say the least.
Passport 1919228. On September 18 I mailed this to the Indian High Commissioner at Karachi, in pursuit of suggestions made to me by his assistant at Murree. The assistant said he would expedite. In all this time I have not had a single word from them. The only thing I have, other than the registration receipt is the hearsay statement passed on by your office to Mr. Dixon here by phone and to me by mail.
For my practical purposes this Passport has been stolen or lost and I do not feel any more comfortable by reading in the papers that there are rings engaged in this filching who are Indian subjects.
In any case, after visiting the Consulate I shall write New Delhi:
a. A letter to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to my friend Undersecretary Bannerji asking for the immediate return of the passport with or without Visa. For I am unable to proceed to other countries or to return home. (I have death facing me in two entirely different directions which makes it very awkward for me.)
b. A letter to the Hon. Syed Mahmud who was former Minister of External Affairs which I shall ask the Embassy in New Delhi to mail after reading.
In my last letter, also not acknowledged I told the High Commissioner I could now not use longer than a three-months’ visa. I shall of course, have to write various universities who begged me to visit them, to cancel such visitations.
Cultural Exchange. Despite the treatment in your Embassy and by Washington I have not only spoken to more than 50,000 persons (not 50,000 people, but persons, this does not count repeats) but have been most successful in all efforts to bring about a better understanding between Asian and Americans. This is because I studied Sufism with Sufis, Yoga with Yogis and Zen Buddhism with Japanese and not out of books or with non-American, non-Asian professors, something I have not been able to put over in the United States.
Mail And Money. This is an equal misfortune. My host in India had to go to his native village to see his dying father and no mail or money has been forwarded. As I have no passport I cannot proceed and I have had to ask both the Embassy and Bank of America in New Delhi to please try and trace these things.
Communists Here. I have kept in close touch with the Consulate and made detailed reports to Mr. Dibble. Now this house is being watched. In view of Mrs. Kennedy’s visit I shall try to get names and do anything Mr. Dibble asks, but we cannot afford to have any parade, etc. interrupted when some subversive is actually on the welcoming committee, etc.
In view of this also, I do not want to remain here and I cannot precede either. What am I supposed to do?
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
January 4, 1965
To the Embassy, U.S.A.,
Saigon Vietnam
Attention: General Edward Lansdale
My dear General:
You may remember me from our accord in the office of Colonel Harris during the War. I have since that time kept your picture in my desk but excepting with one or two talks with your mother, have only incidentally followed your career. Undoubtedly we have cross-trailed but whereas your name (and fame) have been made public, this person, working on principles totally at variance with those commonly accepted, has had to face the still strong bulwarks of dialectics (anti-Marxist it is true) but still dialectics which have long displaced American pragmatism and still more the Emersonian traditions which I claim to represent.
This week Nicol Smith speaks in public, the first of a fairly long line of Americans who have dared to mingle with Asians as equal human beings and who, by the changing of his personal psychology in dealing with those people, however successfully, has ostracized himself or been ostracized by a culture which insists in regarding Asians as lopsided Talleyrandians, which they undoubtedly are. Nor do I see any possibility of defeating Marx if we spend more time and energy in combating Spengler or for that matter Emerson and Dewey, which is undoubtedly the dominating done in our mores.
In going forward toward meeting Asians this person was influenced by Sir Richard Burton, Geoffrey Coerer and Fielding Hall. “The Soul of a people” need not be limited to Burmans and in this person’s private life it has not been limited to Burmans. A San Francisco audience was appalled when the deputy leader of the Congress Party in India pointed to me and said: “Why you are the man I came to San Francisco to meet; I came five thousand miles just to meet you.” Which is true and a lot more is true.
Before leaving the civilian service in 1945 I showed Col. Harris my “secret” diary in which the whole of the war was predicted and depicted, though much also was omitted. There is no way yet in which mystics can be taken seriously, even though it might end this battling and other battles easy and simply. We are unable just now to get out of Manichaean dualism and anti-communist dialectics. Anyone who dares to take Emerson seriously or Whitman’s “Song of the Answerer” is disdained. We want to “win” without knowing what we are fighting for.
Many years back I met Princes Poon Diskul in San Francisco. In a sense we are quite kindred souls—small, insignificantly looking persons with sharp and tart tongues and minds who have privately—or for that matter publicly—been recognized by the actual spiritual leaders of actual Asia. At that time I had no money and never dreamed we should meet as she kept on insisting, in Bangkok, which took place in 1956.
In that year I went to Japan, after long rejections by about “everybody” with regard to Asian cultures, and to my amazement was immediately welcomed into Zen monasteries; told I was two degrees in Zen above the famous Daisetz Suzuki; became English secretary to Roshi Asahina of Kamakura; was invited in turn to the Royal Cemetery, ashes of Lord Buddha on Mount Takao, and a guest of honor at the Imperial Gardens and Imperial Botanical Gardens in Japan, right after Mr. Nixon’s visit.
Another thing tried in Japan was to rouse more interest in Lafcadio Hearn and Townsend Harris and this also involved me in the battle between the American colony which favored such a policy and the Embassy, which like most Embassies, seems to be far removed from realities. This is not sarcasm, not in the least!
On my final day in Japan I was given in turn teas of honor by the Ambassador from Pakistan; the Genro; and the Japan Travel Bureau which latter accepted all suggestions and they are now in operation. I also carried from the then living Baron Nakashima a message to all Buddhist leaders. This was the first effort, by the Buddhists themselves to prevent communist infiltration. The American Foreign Service disdained it. But Asia Foundation recognized it and helped and it finally ended in Dr. Radhakrishnan’s visit to Japan (I think in 1957) . The President of India is a good friend and spiritual colleague.
Actually, General, I wondered on leaving Japan whether this was a “leg-pulling” or real. It has been so real that it has happened in every country visited, no exceptions and no attention excepting in extreme cases. These extreme cases involve rejection of warnings as to mob attacks on USIA buildings, and actual encounters with actual communists—who do not behave according to patterns laid down by newspaper commentators.
My only meeting with a Vietnamese bonze came out so differently from predictions that every written report has been rejected. Skipping details, I recognized the man as being “emancipated” and he embraced me though we could not speak each other’s languages.
Therefore when recently Princess Poon Diskul and her associate, Aiem Sangakhavaci wrote, asking for reports and suggestions, it was easy. This person has studied real Buddhism both from the literary and institutional point of view; and his perennial rejections by experts and by those whom Prof. Richard Robinson calls “fiction-writers” has elevated, rather than lowered his standing in actual Asia. These reports and suggestions have been accepted, and at least several of the top Buddhist leaders are known to me and they recognize that my Buddhism is based neither on speculation nor on blind acceptance of literary or lecture communications by non- American non-Asian whomsoever, whatsoever. And the statement made to me at Kamakura that this person was then (1956) two grades above the famous Daisetz Suzuki, was also accepted by one Dr. P. Seo, a Korean Master who now occupies Suzuki’s post at Columbia University.
The report today that the Buddhists in Vietnam do not want Chinese or communists is certainly true. One wonders if we can and will accept either the standpoints of Fielding Hall or of Whitman and Emerson. We need to know something about the human viewpoint from human beings. My own career has been based on praying, dancing and eating with people in various parts of Asia, rather successfully.
But another reason for writing is that this person has been called upon by no less than four anti-communist groups in various parts of Asia. The only time attention was paid was his latest, and I hope last, unwitting entering a communist nest. It was easy, for, for the most part communists meet in pseudo-religious places where they are safe from the prying eyes of “America Intelligence.” Twice this person was saved- in India and Pakistan, because he is a dervish and not because he is an American.
What one is most concerned with, General, is not the set-back in Vietnam but the patterns we insist upon pursuing which leave room for more setbacks. This person has met, perhaps, half a million Asians. In his last visit to Pakistan he addressed about 80,000 (eighty thousand) people in public meetings. Once, once there was an American present, a school-teacher paid to be there. One wishes one could say the same about communists; they covered almost every meeting until the counter intelligence of Pakistan got to work.
The later President’s statement: “It is not what your country does for you but what you do for your country” is another one of those aphoristic shibboleths, which seem to be at the basis of public policy. Sending his brother, the Attorney General, to Indonesia, resulted only in more anti-American outbreaks. You can’t warn or advise such people. They will not change and the country, this country of Jefferson, Whitman, Emerson and Dewey has to lose now—we won’t even accept Woodrow Wilson.
The main assignment of my life at present is to represent the University of Islamabad, being built at the new capital of Pakistan. It was planned to be the center of pro-American and anti-communist activity. How one can communicate this to a culture which knows little or less about Sufis and Sufism that can be surmised is difficult.
I can assure you that the reports given to me by Sufis about their efforts in the Iron Curtain countries manifested to me personally long before they become public news. The split between China and Russia was worked out in detail and I have never yet been able to get any governmental agency or person (with one doubtful exception) to take down the name of my chief Sufi contact. But I also can assure you that the methods used and usable are not far from those which were known to this writer before and during the war and which I was finally able to place before Col. Harris.
So long as we limit this world to “realism” and not reality, we are fighting enemies with their own weapons. “For God and country” becomes a shibboleth, not a reality; for we never ask if God is with us, we tell Him—and I can assure you there are ways of listening and following which, if once adopted, would take us from empty prayers to cosmic realities. Then it would be possible to make friends with all peoples, without in the least disturbing any of our institutions whatsoever be the type of these institutions.
My return to Asia will be as my last exits, on, from and with the top ranks. One can only pray that some Americans learn how to reach the hearts of exotic peoples. As I told one young lady here, on taking a new job: “Remember, Europeans are peoples, Asians are thought-forms.” “I have learned that already.”
Nothing above should be taken as either suggestion or criticism of particular approaches. What is wanted first is wisdom and understanding and policies can take care themselves; then one need not be troubled of staying or withdrawing.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94103
May 16, 1965
Dr. Geo. Mehren,
U.S.D.A.
Washington 25, D.C.
Dear Professor Mehren:
How California Can Help Asia and the S.E. Asian Crisis.
This is an abortive letter and suffers all the defects of such. For while rather successful and progressive in getting materials for my magnum opus: “How California can help Asia” three presumably different events have taken place recently requiring action, though not necessarily ego-action:
The President has called for programs to help the peoples of the regions involved; presumably what we call Vietnam and also the Mekong Valley development.
The free speech dramas—they are dramas without necessarily being crises—which bring to the surface more light than heat excepting in the press.
My own recall to Asia at a time when it would appear there can be another legacy making one free to travel anywhere, but especially to promote good-will elsewhere, and project: “Garden of Allah” which is derived from research, achievements and personnel nearly all from and of the University of California and its several campuses plus some excellent USDA work in this State (cotton, salinity, etc.)
Now an ordinary citizen of this country is not free to approach his foreign office and make any suggestions or receive any serious consideration. But the number of us “Ugly Americans” is large and growing as we meet each other. And it is deplorable, despite the late President Kennedy, that we cannot semanticize “What you can do for your country.”
The situation is more ironic because this person’s proposals were accepted by the World Buddhist Federation, and then he wrote to President Radhakrishnan of India and received a very encouraging personal letter from that great philosophy. Then the president of India makes a proposal and the State Department takes it seriously—but no private citizen no matter how much or whom he know can do that—with the State Department, and that is the crux of our failure abroad. A Nation which does not trust its own citizens is asking to trust and be trusted by foreigners—and it does not work that way.
Fortunately there are other events taking place here, the first being the UN convocations, which will bring to light certain American iniquities. And lest I be contradicted, I actually represent three Asian anti-communist movements none of which matters have been taken seriously by the State Department and most unfortunately the departments involved on the Berkeley Campus.
But most fortunately the work being done at UCLA in this direction is as objective and encouraging as some on the Berkeley campus is subjective and discouraging. And as UCLA graduates appear on the staff of San Francisco State University and other institutions, I am sure we can find the proper personnel who know a good deal about SE Asia.
Actually this started because of multiversity complexes and the lack of knowledge of what UCSD (Scripps) has been accomplishing in the region involved. And I beg of you, even if you ignore my person and suggestions, to look more deeply into the accomplishments of UCSD before the Federal Government spends one cent on another doubtful “foreign aid” project.
The next thing which came out of UCSD is more complex, but as important or more. This has to do with Algae research. Recently one of the professors of the Botany Department at UCB lamented over the lack of interest in cooperative Algae research. This is the first thing I noticed on return from abroad, that the Algae work at UCSD and UCR was not properly known to each other and now I find the excellent work at UCLA languishing. So we have already four campuses doing spot Algae research.
This occurs while my own projects and research have been integrated in a new World University at New Delhi which has on its potential staff men of many lands and their very first project is cooperative and international Algae research to help with the solution of food problems. This is long, technical and very badly needed and needed most of all in S.E. Asia.
I do not wish to speak more here about the World University excepting it begins as a Multiversity. There are so many ideas about the future of the University of California but I believe in the “grid-structure.” This is the basic plan for the World University and has been in force at the National Research Center in Cairo, U.A.R.
The integration of research first at the UC campuses and then as a national policy would save money and effort and also bring out solutions to problems. In another sense this has already been done in answer to “The Silent Spring,” a highly emotional though perhaps quite valuable work. I find here, from campus to campus excellent cooperation and coordination. And as one approaches real problems of reclamation of wastelands one of the first things necessary—and often far too much overlooked—is pest control by non-poisonous means.
It is too bad that the University of California, known for its advantage in the “destructive sciences’” (e.g. nuclear physics) and also for Hyde Park (not social revolutionary) outbreaks is not known for its remarkable contribution to many constructive sciences.
Even now the questionable policies of the State Department may be effecting the work of the medical men in Indonesia and elsewhere. It arises because personalities become more important than achievements and our failure to recognize the contributions of other peoples to universal culture and or insistence they are backward. There is nothing backward in UCLA musicological curriculum.
Any joint effort with foreign lands is delicate. It generally means we put up most of the money without being permitted to select the most of the personnel. And I wish to recapitulate contributions:
University of California. Unfortunately “Asian Survey” published on the Berkeley campus has done little to annotate the work done on the several campuses on the regions involved (South and SE Asia). And when a campus or a department can nullify the achievement of its colleagues it makes it either difficult for an outsider like myself to call it to public attention; or it becomes incumbent on one to do so.
I have broached a “California in Asia” something like “Princeton in Asia” and now nothing stands in the way of my personally contacting any and all Alumni abroad in the lands to be visited and sending as complete reports as possible to Alumni House so this information can be used not only for historical and financial purpose but to aid in the solution of problems by those who have solutions (as UCSD above.)
Actually much more will be done, will have to be done when a program for the reclamation of dry lands will be submitted to you, and others.
Private Endeavors. We have here in San Francisco “Asia Foundation” which has done excellent work, is generally admired by the nationals with whom they cooperate, but has seldom been given due publicity.
I also have at least one friend-colleague engaged in soil-fertilizer research in South Thailand producing three-five crops a year and setting an example which could be followed. If we join in a UN or SEATO project any such private accomplishments will be lost. We are far ahead of other lands in a number of soil sciences.
Ecology. This is a new and most valuable science. And it was wonderful to attend a mass lecture with hundreds in attendance—to leave before it was over, pass a much smaller “protest” meeting, spread all over the newspapers. But Ecology is taking hold and offers wonderful constructive solutions to both problems and commercial exploitations.
Non-California Work. I refer at the moment particularly to Ford Foundation and to Dr. Roy Donahue. His excellent work in India is appearing in books by himself and also with colleagues which offer wonderful bases for any agriculture undertaking in SE Asia. But as soon as we enter into UN or joint projects with foreign lands it is possible that Ford Foundation Asian Foundation and men like Donahue will be bypassed. (Other names will be included on suggestions for the dryer regions of Asia.)
Mekong Development. There are two hazards. Even granting we receive permission, how many engineers are there available that could work here. I have been fortunate to have had private meetings before and during the construction of both the largest projects in India and Aswan Dam which bring to light the paucity of capable personnel.
The main objections to any Mekong River project is our more or less uncertainty and ambivalence to the people of the region. True UCLA has recognized the contributions to music and dance. And UCB has accepted Dr. Richard Robinson of Wisconsin as the suitable director of Buddhist studies for this country. But these “Buddhist studies” are not those generally accepted in this land by press, publishers and especially radio. There is a big gap between popular pseudo-Buddhism and the real Buddhism. Fortunately the universities see clearly here but the State Department tends to ignore these matters.
The biggest obstacle is our “Brotherhood of Christians and Jews.” Even now while there are so many protest meetings on the Berkeley campus, on not one occasion has a Vietnamese or Cambodian been called to the platform by those claiming to be campaigning for “free Speech.” One does not like to campaign for “Universal Brotherhood” but certainly the doctors must and in conference on food problems there is no other policy possible. It is only that the Asians do not hear of what the doctors and food producers are doing, and they do hear every time they are excluded from “brotherhoods” and platforms. Therefore a copy of this is being sent to president Kerr and also to UCLA, so they can help soothe some of the personalism and personalities which stand in the way of cordial relations. Even the best thought out program cannot be enforced without proper human relations.
I shall have to visit UCR shortly and take in UCLA and later to Davis. We can solve the food problems of the world, and the University of California can and should be as famous here as in the fields of endeavor which have resulted in the granting of Nobel awards.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
772 Clementina St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
April 18, 1966
KRON TV,
929 Mission St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
Dear Sirs:
In re: Vietnam and the Buddhists
Your very interesting broadcast of yesterday brings up a single comment: How long can this Nation or any other Nation continue half-free, half dialectic. I mean now long can we continue to have an image of a Nation which in scientific research and in courts of law relies on the testimonials of human beings who have participated in experiences, and how far should it instead depend upon opinion-makers who have not had firsthand knowledge?
The image of America is based on sound facts which foreigners appreciate but in making foreign policy at the present time all trust is placed not on the basic facts but on the interpretation of those facts (hence dialectics) and whet is weighed is not the evidence but the opinions of people who have not always had access to that evidence.
To a certain extent in a court of law there is “one man, one vote,” but this is not applied to foreign affairs and least of all to the ersatz complexities of Vietnam. The situation is not complex, it has been falsely complicated.
The simple historical fact brings out these points:
a. The trouble in Vietnam after the removal of the French came when communists infiltrated the Buddhist monasteries.
b. The Buddhists in Vietnam on the whole are not more noble or more moral than the Christians or anybody else but they do rely more on meditation and the cultivation of “peaceful” sanctuaries. Indeed sometimes this sort of “peacefulness”—which we may even call “escapism” dominates their religion.
c. Princess Poon Diskul, now President of the World Buddhist Federation seized the records of the international organization to prevent the communists from doing so (as they did, for example, right here in San Francisco during the Spanish civil war.) This caused Mao Tse Tung to lose face, a fact known all over the world excepting “only in America.”
d. We have falsely made the strife into a dialectical left-right conflict therefore and thereby supporting the communist position.
e. Neither “Dove” nor “Hawk” has given any consideration of the Buddhists and quasi-Buddhists who are the majority in their own land.
f. There are in America two distinctly different sort of movements passing for “Buddhism.” One includes the majority of organizations stemming from the Orient, all of whom belong to the World Buddhist Federation and all of whom teach some aspect of Buddhism, noble or ignoble. Allied with them are the organizations of American scholars and professors found in many universities, headed by Prof. Richard Robinson of Wisconsin U.
There are also a number of ersatz and personality movements, some allied to and some not the World Buddhist Federation. But these are the once who get the majority of attention from the press and those are the ones who have been given radio- and TV-time and these are the ones misleading everybody.
The poor Buddhists of Vietnam know two things:
a. Their point of view is never (or very seldom) presented to the American public.
b. Discussions on their country are measured by the importance of the personalities presenting views and not on evidence.
As these poor (and perhaps ignorant) people are shut out from discussion concerning their own land and own future, they are very angry and rightfully angry with us.
Added to that is the fact—the Basic fact which we have refused to examine—that they are overwhelmingly anti-communist. If we took the slightest move to investigate the opinions of Buddhists in or out of Vietnam, this point would be clear. But we do not.
Here is a Nation which has a glorious type of jurisprudence, which has rendered some marvelous verdicts in recent jury trials, almost wholeheartedly refusing to extend that system to foreign affairs.
You will find enclosed a notice of the forthcoming celebration of Weak Festival, first in Golden Gate Park and then at the First Unitarian Church. Some of the personnel have been to Vietnam and nearly all of them to some portion of Southeast Asia and all of us were close friends and are close friends of eye witnesses. But as a group totally and absolutely excluded from panel (or other discussion) on Vietnam. And we are deluding ourselves that Asians do not know this.
The tragedy is that the present pseudo-psychological method, based on subjective anti-Marxist dielectrics, may be applied elsewhere and cause animosity, fear and worse. The awkward situation so far as the whole of the Fourth Estate and presumably the State Department has its own commandant. Thou Shalt not have any other form of Anti-communism before us.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
16th July, 1967
SUFI
Middle East Department,
13, Soho Square,
London, W. 1
Beloved Ones of Allah:
One is very much interested in your efforts to help the destitute and hungry at this time, but this person has been more interested for years in trying to prevent such occurrences.
While living in the Middle East he worked out a program of complete rehabilitation for Arabs, which was surprisingly accepted by Arabs, Israelis and especially UN officials, but not by the emissaries of what are being called “the imperialists.”
One believes in an entirely different approach which includes the idea of the complete rehabilitation of the Hedjaz, the transformation of the terrain into “gardens,” and the restoration of a green “holy land” with all details already worked out by the writer. In fact a meeting is being called in September for the first steps toward this.
As one has put his whole time, effort and money into this and has depended on the blessings and guidance of Allah one feels he is doing more for the Divine Cause by working on and for this larger program. While amelioratory measures may be needed now, there is a danger of continued conflict until all of us get into and work in the spheres of heart and divine guidance.
One does not see any gain from piecemeal efforts not inspired by the Ruler of the Universe. We have several such efforts being made now in the United States and this will go on and on until we respond to this Divine Guidance and get on the Straight Path.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
June 25, 1968
City Light Books Store,
261 Columbus Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94111
Messrs. Ferlinghetti, Ginsburg et al:
You will find here a carbon of a paper on “The Hippie Problem” which I am submitting to the International Society for General Semantics. I am hoping they will give it consideration but unfortunate past experience find one facing those who believe that some people are more equal than others.
It is most unfortunate. Early in life I committed a sin for which there has been no forgiveness. I studied in turn various branches of Mathematics with the late Prof. Cassius Keyser of Columbia. Friend and mentor of the then living Count Alfred Korzybski, he recommended that man’s, “Manhood of Humanity” which was read twice before the appearance of the later “Science and Sanity.”
With a proper background I was able to consume this whole book with difficulty the first time, with ease now after many years of study, sometimes in real, objective sciences.
I saw in “Science and Sanity” and an earlier Bertrand Russell “cures” for many ills, but not having a prerequisite university degree, every effort to use the matrices and principles of “Science and Sanity” was brushed aside. I did succeed once in addressing a group of scientists who wanted more; permission not granted by the directors of the Semantic movement.
One watches problem after problem arise and the limited usage of analytics and dialectics which have failed, and will continue to fail to solve “problems” (maybe we had better leave them to “the mob”). but neither the rejections by the “in groups” nor the refusal of the “out groups” even to look at Semantics, and especially General Semantics have altered my position.
I do not wish to go further into past history. The exclusion of the positions of Anthropologists at the Psychedelic Conferences, and the long time allotted to “in groups,” not scientists, made me feel that Allen Ginsburg was on much more solid ground than any of his opponents or critics.
The strange exclusion of Oriental culture from our society (perhaps following Mortimer Adler); the substitution therefore of “brilliant” western minds; and a regard for person rather than thought has been, will be most unfortunate. Now the young wish to change and they are changing it until we get rid of witchcraft.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
February 4, 1969
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
Julius Stulman,
President World Institute Council
777 United Nations Plaza
New York. 10017. N. Y.
Dear. Mr. Stulman:
I wish to thank you for your “Fields within fields … within Fields.” I am not a sociologist and any criticism made here is also subject to the refusal on that grounds and I could not answer such refusals. But although not a sociologist or economist, one has done professional research writing and later on amateur experiences. Practically all the latter reports were rejected and in general I find myself a belligerent with regard to Lord Snow’s “Two Cultures” with the scientists accepting nearly all my reports (and in turn I accepting theirs) and the great majority of non-scientists rejecting, mostly a priori. And I, in turn do not understand any dialectical outlooks.
But in spreading real Asian philosophies (not abstractions by Westerners) I have drawn a great many young people and they, in turn are interested in social problems, in “New Age” outlooks, in various types of communes, etc. etc. Therefore after writing this I am turning your book over to friends who control the publication known as “The Oracle”, printed in these parts.
Both under the tutelage of the late Prof. Cassius Keyser of Columbia University and also by myself, I put into practice his “Doctrine of Doctrines” drawn from his Mathematical Philosophy, and applied by him to religions and social philosophies and I did the same carrying it in person to geographical areas not touched by him.
After his death I came into control with Dr. Oliver Reiser of Pittsburgh whose general integrative outlooks and for that matter his Cosmic Humanism is very much in accord with my own life and experience.
H. G. Wells. I regret exceedingly that all at attention is paid today to dialectical, dualistic philosophies which I fail to see solve anything. Most of “Climbing to Mankind Solutions” seems, off-hand to be in accord with Wells’ later works and while pursuing broad programs have not reached his conclusion that without Heart a tremendous number of problems remain unsolved.
I fail to see where “Awaken consciousness” means anything so long as the life and works of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, retired President of India are by-passed. Many Americans (and I presume some Europeans) use the word, the term Integration, while excluding whomsoever they will. And we have not learned in non-scientific circles to become broad as the laboratory scientists did, to rearrange their whole outlooks and their thinking after the discovery of radioactivity. This has not changed the thinking of non-scientists much; it has changed the thinking of scientists considerably.
The difference between the Wellsian outlook and the Keyersian is that Wells acted as if he were a great thinker—which he was—but did not give leeway and scope to others who also might be great thinkers. While Cassius Keyser did just that and his use of the term “Integration” was that it was all-inclusive and left full opportunity for differences, agreements, variations or types of psychological behaviorism not conceived by the philosopher. Thus name-calling could never follow.
I do not know what “Awakening Consciousness” means. We are facing the Vietnamese across tables, Euclidean or non-Euclidean in structure, without any comprehension. Accepting Spengler—which is far worse than accepting Marx or even Satan, I have never had the slightest difficulty in communicating with Vietnamese, and this very simple fact has led to my exclusion from more groups then can be surmised. And when a Vietnamese came to this house unexpectedly the whole audience—all young, of course, were won over. There was a vast area of heart-understanding which diplomats, newsmen, the military and in general “power structures” cannot understand and worse, will not understand.
World Cultural Center. I do not understand this at all. To me offhand (and I insist it is just offhand) it does not look like a “World Cultural Center” at all. It is just like the present day seizure of the word “Integration” used by dialecticians and analysts, and generally excluding persons and projects of universal outlooks. It is an extension of American ideation—and I have no objection to American ideation, but American ideation is not “World Culture.”
Let me tell you of an experience. Years ago during the Lysenko-Mendel debates I presented a “solution” derived from Oliver Reiser’s philosophy. I was constantly called “out of order” by chairmen and speakers and almost as constantly won the majority of the audiences. But every effort to get this view publicized was turned down.
Years later I was visiting the Vegetable Research Center in Dokki, Cairo and there before my eyes I saw the successful operation of the Integrative Philosophy. But the reports were turned down. Zionist influence was too much and anything coming out of the Arab countries was spurned.
I also checked all the contributions of all Nations to all sciences and found the Arab world considerably ahead of the communist world, a most unwelcome conclusion. And I also saw Russian technologists going to Europe not to teach, but to learn, and that is “impossible” so it remains “impossible” end all have seen of so- called “World Cultural Movements” are verbal, selective and political, not objective, scientific and cosmic.
(Of course the Arabs also refused the Saltwater conversion processes of the Israelis.)
San Francisco politics is now in a turmoil. There are a number of programs for redevelopment. Nobody is criticizing any of these programs, but the people involved are in revolt: “We should like occasionally to make some suggestions for our own future and our own comfort.” And we are stuck, proclaiming the word (never the substance) “democracy” and imposing on others our plans, grandiose or excellent.
There is also a rise of communal living. These are of two types at the moment: democracy and autocratic. The autocrats invariably proclaim a new age, attack establishments, and are efficient at name-calling. But there is something in the commune that follows natural biological evolution. In fact I am working on an old manuscript in this field, written long ago and forgotten. But the basic principles are so close to those of Oliver Reiser were it not for the hard, hard, hard fact that I have studied Asian philosophy with Asians, it would look like plagiarism.
I am in favor of any “world institute.” I am not moved by organizations calling themselves “world institutes” which preclude suggestions or reports from most of the objective world. The Chinese, the Hindus, the Arabs and others have made many contributions. Where are they? Too many Americans unconsciously have been asking for unconditional surrender in the philosophical and psychological fields. We had to accept Raman and Bose, we shall have to accept others. We had to accept Lee without noting his real Chinese heritage.
When people who proclaim world outlooks show by living example their acceptance of something from Asians and other types of non-Occidental people, I shall become both interested and enthusiastic. But this is a new age here. The young are accepting Asian philosophies and African dances and clothing and without any pretense to “world views.”
Finally—and here I am letting myself open—I am at the moment cooperating with Miss Julie Medlock, Auroville, Pondicherry 2, India, but doing this more through doing than through literary encouragement. We have plenty of manuscripts, we have too little down to earth hard work.
Again thanking you for your manuscript,
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc-The Oracle
cc-Oliver Reiser
March 3,1969
410 Precita Ave.
Mr. Frank K. Kelly
Vice President
Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions
P.O. Box 4068
Santa Barbara, Ca.
Dear Mr. Kelly:
I have abstracted your name from World Union Focus. I am sincerely hoping that we can have a world union focus. Emerson has said “In a botanist’s garden there are no weeds.” A Christian may ignore “Whatsoever ye do unto the least of these my creatures ye do it unto me;” an Assayer dare not. A chemist or geologist would be called to account if he omitted reference to the “least of these.” Radioactivity appeared mostly in “the least of these.”
I do not know what democracy means and so have no clear idea as to what is meant by Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions. Years ago I was connected with the Roerich Museum in New York. They called for a world congress, not too different in form and tone from various world congresses which your Center and other Centers seem to advocate. I sent them a report with the theme that a man did not become a superman by being an official of his government or the then extant League of Nations. This proposition was derided; the “least of these” is too often of no account at all.
The upshot was that the Museum was soon divided into factions, the monumental work of the late Nicholas Roerich was totally smashed, his pictures disappeared, and the excellent work of himself and associates went to oblivion. This organization proclaimed as does the World Union Focus a belief in “Realms of Existence Above and Beyond.” Indeed most of its officials had some kind of esoteric training, but when it came to humanism and humanity only the important mattered.
This sort of behavior no longer avails; the young people, and indeed a whole new age type is manifesting particularly in California. In fact, if you will refer to the current number of Playboy my name is mentioned along with others worthy and unworthy in the article “Cultsville USA.” The young in ever mounting numbers are now asking for an American who has some training and discipline, but not connected with any power structure, to address them.
I have been to your Institute several times and the reaction is that a person’s experience should not interfere with another person’s importance. This has split our culture into two groups as Lord Snow has pointed out: in one the scientific, where a person’s experiences prevail over other persons‘ importance; and another where the opposite holds.
I am only writing this because it is a little confusing to see groups using the term Democratic with a meaning other than that of the dictionary, or indeed other than that in common usage. My whole life is a demonstration of Discovering Oneness. My autobiographies will no doubt be published after my demise or even before.
Years ago one Phra Sumangalo came here from Vietnam. Everybody and I mean everybody turned him down. He had been living there, spoke the language, but had committed the unforgivable sin of being converted from Christianity to Buddhism.
“Grandphra,” I said, “You and I are mere nobodies; together we have not been able to reach 30 people but there is not a king, prime minister, cabinet official, University professor, holy man, or for that matter peasant from one end of Asia to the other whom you or I could not meet if we have not met them already.”
“Too true, Samuel, too true.”
This very situation is very typical. One hopes under a World Union Focus it will change. I give one instance, only one out of many. I was sent on a peace feeler mission from Pakistan to India. Although it was just before India’s independence day and even the most important foreigners could not obtain interviews, I saw, in rapid succession, the Chief of Protocol, the President, the chief Vedantist, and the chief Sufi. Then I left Delhi in further pursuit of this mission. When I returned and called on the American officials, Embassy and USIS, I was berated and derided. The Hindus and Pakistanis then called in Kosygin. This is typically typical and I can give many other instances.
Are we going to have a “World Union Focus?” Are we going to have Democratic institutions? Or are we going to permit misunderstandings to continue with our Madison Avenue inflation of personalities who have not succeeded in establishing a sound friendship in and with any country in Asia.
I believe that people may be transformed by experiences in the “Realms of Existence Above and Beyond.” I would like to see some evidence that they are transformed by becoming officials of some international organization. If so, I owe many apologies (of, I have the answer already—I have seen people transformed who had to face the real poverty, the real starvation, the real misery of the real world.) But I have not seen any transformed by partaking in “Green Table” ballets.
In all sincerity
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
He Kwang Zen-shi
410 Precita Ave.
March 3, 1969
Mr. John P. Stockwell
American Humanist Association
125 El Camino Del Mar
San Francisco 94121
My dear Mr. Stockwell:
I recently received a very nice letter from you to which no reply was sent. Then I picked up a copy of World Union Focus and enclose copy of letter just written to them. I must confess that I am entirely in agreement with the principles of the American Humanist Association but in practice have encountered “some people are more equal than others.” The very éclat of these persons, their positions in society and in our culture, has made me fearful of participating in the proceedings of the organization. They are not only important people in our society, they have been very successful not only in my case, but in general, of winning by the simple device of personality judgment.
I am working closely (I hope) with Dr. Oliver Reiser of Pittsburg in his “cosmic humanism.” But here I encounter these very important persons who have been successful in deriding my person and background producing a Hobson’s Choice between an inferiority complex and open hostilities. I would probably succeed in the open hostilities because these very important persons have too many enemies, and as they have relied on value judgments rather than on logic they would be dethroned by their own psychology and this would be a pity. I am going to give one example.
A disciple of Cassius Keyser in Philosophy (derided and denied by these very important persons) I read considerably in Lord Russell and then proceeded to study Einstein. One of the remarkable things about Einstein was his all-inclusive consciousness (which reminds one of Discovering Oneness.) To me he represents an application of the words of Jesus Christ (nothing to do with religion) “Whatsoever ye do to the least of these my creatures, ye do it unto me.”
To give a single instance, Einstein’s consideration of Avogadro’s hypothesis in re space, material substance, pressures, etc., etc., was of great importance to him in the building up of his universal relativity fields, etc. His logic was not one of accumulating selected facts, omitting or deriding others, and of establishing a self- selected universality. His universality was all-inclusive and integrative—not some specialized use of the word “integrative” but integration as it was originally actually meant. When I approached these important or self-important persons in the humanist movement I was met with castigation and derision. Through the years they have self- defended their attitude and this has made me very wary of the Humanist Association. One of these persons is now constantly in the public limelight.
It was therefore to me very astonishing when a few years ago I attended meetings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and was also castigated . but this time for my silence. In one direction again and again on the carpet for silence and in the other again and again on the carpet for trying to present ideas.
At the psychedelic conference in 1965 I was permitted to speak; none of this nonsense about “liberty, democracy, humanity, and you shut up.” My theme was Joy Without Drugs. Efforts to make this public have been as successful with the young as they have been impossible with important or self-important Humanists. I do not think anything is gained by personality public squabbles. On the other hand it is highly immoral to accept a person’s money but never his ideas or inspirations.
This leaves me in a quandary. I seem to be entirely in accord with your outlook. I find the articles in the “Humanist” excellent. I find your relations with many of my colleagues wonderful. But how can I appear at your conclaves or meetings when my person is held to derision by important or self-important Humanists? I am for an all- embracing democratic humanism where we can sit down together on any level without nonsense.
Cordially,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
May 6, 1969
Consul General K. S. Bajpai
215 Market St.
San Francisco, Calif. 94105
Sir:
It was genuine sorrow on my part to see the passing of my spiritual colleague, Dr. Zakir Husain. One has tried again and again to get on the platform and lecture on this man and his work, only to be refused by those who have the name as being leaders in movements toward cultural and spiritual unity of the world. In fact I had written him recently preparing to send a disciple as envoy, a disciple who is going to India to study spiritual and traditional dancing.
Those of us who live in eternity and who remember “past lives” are now coming to the fore to help the young people who really want Indian culture and world cultural integration and who are not satisfied with manas and shankara and who want the experience and wisdom of Prajna, Vijnana and Ananda. This is a new day and new age.
You had on the platform my old friend, Dr. Lal. He will remember the late Ram Lal Channon. Channon was my “guru” almost in secular affairs. I began reading about Gandhiji in 1911 and knew all about him when he returned to India. So I was the only American, I believe, permitted have an interview with the late Villabhai Patel when he came to this city. He spoke on the need of Indian Independence to lead the world spiritually.
He was ill on the day I visited him and I asked him how could he accomplish it. He said, “I do not know.” One replied: “This one may know.” He put out his hands…. There is no use going into detail. The late President Dr. Zakir Husain illustrated the point.
We are going to have cultural integration, the integration of all cultures and knowledges. You can see it now. The Oracle came out the other day, entirely published by young people. When I met them they told me, “They are not the people of Sri Aurobindo, we are the people of Sri Aurobindo.” They are building real cultural integration, the integration of Stanley Lane-Poole, Flora Annie Steel, Prince Dara Shikoh, Emperor Akbar and a host of princes in Dharma. We are going to have a spiritual and cultural integration which will unite the world. We are having it and right here in America.
On may 5 we combined May Day and Wesak and a number of young people danced around the Maypole chanting RamNam. We gave as I told Swamiji yesterday Mantric Dances, Bhakti Dances, Yoga Dances, and on that occasion suppressed Dervish Dances. We are attracting more and more young people, and although this was a private affair we had one hundred and fifty young people as guests.
Sir, we are going to have Cultural Integration and no longer private selected groups carrying this name. In 1956 I was taken to the tomb of Humayun by Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Sani Nizami. He said, “This is the tomb of Prince Dara Shikoh.” I walked around it seven times and said, “Let us go.” He understood. The passing parade of intellectuals will not understand. We are going to have cultural integration.
I came to the headquarters of the Royal Asiatic Society in London. “What have you on Prince Dara Shikoh? “Never heard of him.” (An “expert” does not have to know much, he is an “expert.”) One received profound apologies.
A few years ago I said to the late Ruth St. Denis, “Mataji I have performed the first phase of Dance of Universal Peace at Fatehpur Sikri.” “That is interesting because Ted Shawn and I did the same thirty years ago.” The “cultural integration” people have refused to permit any lecture on Akbar or Fatehpur Sikri. This day is over. The young Americans want Indian wisdom and they are getting the Indian Wisdom, of Prajna and Vijnana and Ananda and no more manas and shankara, especially shankara.
One of the greatest privileges I have ever had was to have the window shut in my face a few weeks back when all the seats were sold at the Indian cinema showing in Berkeley. I was in ecstasy. It was a new age, and I am hoping to arrange with my friends to have Indian films shown to our young as part of the rehabilitation movement, for we need clean films, cultural films, noble films and your office can supply them. We have no time for sermons, lectures, presentation of “experts.” Heart seeks heart.
The Dance of Universal Peace is dedicated to some of your country’s leaders. One is now compelled to produce this oneself and is doing just that. It is the manifestation of Gandhiji’s dream. I am even lecturing on how to build up strength in the body and restrain it, so one becomes strong and practices Non-Violence. When the strength is transferred and transformed by Yoga at the wrist, light and healing power manifest in the hands and my housekeeper who is away, just performed a healing miracle by it. We have to be strong and never us it dualistically, and especially not from the platform.
When I last entered your country I told the customs people I had all the answers. “All?” “Yes, all.” “Such as?” “Tat Tvam Asi” “Let him in, he knows all the answers.”At the end they asked me, “Do you know Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj?” “What the heck do you think I am here for?”
When Swamiji visited the Berkeley campus they saw “Dara Shikoh” in action. Here is a man of presumably different culture and “religion” for whom I have not only the deepest respect but the deepest personal love and this was noticed. We are not playing games or fames in building up real cultural integration.
When I entered your country in January 1962 at the time preparations were being made for independence Day, I saw in rapid succession your predecessor, Mr. Bannerji, then Chief of Protocol; President Radhakrishnan; Swami Ranganathananda and Pir-o-Murshid Hasan Sani Nizami as well as Dr. Lal’s old friend Suri. I then left the city for awhile … this at a time others could not get appointments, and this Sir, is going to be the basis of real cultural integration. The young Americans are going to learn this.
The young Americans chant all the sacred phrases dear to Gandhiji, not just some of them. The young Americans come to me in greater numbers every week to study the scriptures, all of them, revered by Gandhiji. And the University of California is now doing marvelous integrational work, some of my life’s dreams (“How California can help Asia”) going on my wonderfully objectively, factually, no longer dreams.
I have already been called away to visit “communes” wherein there is full acceptance of the world’s faiths as revered and practiced by the late Mahatma and no superficial nonsense, heart-awaking. You must understand why I never have a day off and do not need it. And sometimes lecture on Emperor Akbar and his ability to get along with little sleep.
Now there are more young people publishing more papers calling for active, practical integration, the exchange of persons on a Tat Tvam Asi level, and of ideas and of yoga which is based on “union with God.”
Next month the University of California will have a seminar on poetry writing as effected by studying Asian philosophies. You already have “The Rejected Avatar” which has been published. There will come more and more of this; the poems are ready, and one does not care of the “rejections” of the past. The Oracle on sale is entirely controlled by disciples and colleagues, and no less than three publications—by the young, of course, have approached me.
We shall be glad to do our Hare Krishna dance, our Sri Krishna dance, our Ram Nam dances, and are now preparing real Yoga Om Namo Shivaya performances. And at least one of my young and very beautiful disciples is preparing to go to India to further a career.
My own financial security makes it now possible to travel any time, too, but I am waiting, for the need here to teach, instruct, inform and operate as a Murshid-Guru-Roshi, perhaps the first in history, keeps one overzealous and over-busy.
The late Dr. Z. Hossain was none other than “my self” in another body. I believe we stood for exactly the same things in all directions. Jai Hind!
Cordially,
Samuel L. Lewis
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Avenue
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
June 6, 1969
New Focus
Box 5146
Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103
Beloved ones of God:
You are just that and someday I hope you will recognize all other people may also be that. I have read over your letter and your appeal for funds. I should like to contribute but you won’t let me. I have still to find a religion, quasi-religious, or new outlook, or “New Focus” which answers letters. Money is always very welcome, knowledge is not so welcome. Knowledge to be accepted must come from the right people. I am still under the delusion that Walt Whitman had that all people are right people. I am not going to try and convince you that this may be true. But my pocketbook is very stubborn on this point.
You will notice on my letterhead two titles. One was conferred on me by a series of Saints known in the Orient as Sufis and disowned in this part of the world by famous Englishmen and Europe cans who are the experts on Asia. I dissent. But I would welcome any evidence from any member on your board of directors and I mean any member qualified to judge on living human beings having either cosmic consciousness or deep psy experiences…. In this line I must tell you before the living God and I repeat before the living God, that sitting in the presence of a Zen-Zen teacher, neither an Englishmen nor a European, that I saw and foresaw the whole rise and fall of Hitler and Mussolini and World War II.
I have had so many rejections in this regard during the years that I can speak and write with a Zen stick and I have been given a Zen stick by a Zen-Zen Master. When you and your colleagues get rid of your humility and become slightly curious like children, I shall be quite willing to send a donation provided you will accept the validity of reports. You don’t have to publish them; I am not demanding that. I am copying herewith a letter just received from Prof. Huston Smith of the Massachusetts institute of Technology. And as you have mentioned Professor Jacob Needleman let me say he is accepting my various poems based on cosmic consciousness and no nonsense.
I have friends and beloved ones in every faith in the world. They are my brothers. But I can no longer traffic or trifle except in a very serious manner; when man chooses to pick and choose in matters belonging to God he must face the karma favorable or unfavorable which follows. Love does not mean being negative; love means affection with wisdom.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.
Sept. 29, 1969
Ali Akbar Khan
School of Music
c/o Unitarian Church
Terra Linda, Marin County, Calif.
Dear Khan-Sahib:
As-salaam-aleikhum! I have before me the articles in The Oracle concerning your college; I have at times contributed slightly to this effort and, inshallah, will do more. But a new element has suddenly arisen in my life and I am leaving this in your hands.
I did have the privilege of listening to you in India. My whole life is dedicated to bringing East and West closer together through music. My first spiritual teacher was the late Hazrat Inayat Khan. Both through him and through two other sources I am most defiantly bound with the Chisti Sufis. I am most interested in your remarks concerning Tansen. I have always been a tremendous devotee of Emperor Akbar but the reputed “experts” on Asian culture have adamantly and absolutely refused permission either to lecture on him or write a paper on him or have any reference to him (and by the same token to the late President Zukair Hussein.)
For the sake of record, and it may be egotism, but I think there is something more. When I first visited Fatehpur Sikri I gave it out that I was a madman. I shall not relate the other details, but when we finished the tour I asked the guide where was the house of Tansen; he literally fainted because I knew intuitively (Kashf) all the places we had visited. Then I went inside the house and gave my Krishna chant which of course no “real Sufi” could possibly know.
Fortunately a wise God and the inherent sense of justice in human kind is pushing aside those very self-esteemed (humble) experts on Asia who would never permit any references either to Akbar or Tansen. This is new day and a new age and I am preparing to attend a parliament of religions next year, inshallah, and there out of the domains of our self-esteemed experts expect to address an assemble of the world’s great religious leaders on Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar, and Tansen.
I am today giving instructions on spiritual training through the dance. I also received today from Ajmir a picture of six Sufi saints, all of whom have manifested to me inwardly at some time or other.
In addition to the dance we are also chanting, and Allah, to Whom be all praise, is inspiring disciples and friends. Also out of the range of the formerly dominant “experts,” my poetry based on din and dharma is being accepted in the universities and colleges indicating a new day and age.
I have been twice to your college with the intention of making at least a small contribution and nobody paid the slightest attention to me. I am now not in the least offended but in view of the new situation that I am called upon to attend a parliament of the world’s religions next year, I leave it to your sense of justices to grant a reprieve and can almost solemnly promise that on my return I shall be glad to cooperate in whatever ways see may seem most feasible.
Faithfully and Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis,
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
November 22, 1969
The Sphinx
948 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, Mass. 02139
Beloved Ones of God:
The other day I received a very fine letter through David Sapp of The Oracle of Larkspur, California but failed to bring it with me. My week is divided between San Francisco and Marin counties.
We were favorably impressed—i.e. Phillip Davenport, the editor of The Oracle; Otis Mansur Johnson, my esoteric secretary who also works at times for The Oracle and myself. Mansur is continuing my earlier work of studying communes both from the integrative-spiritual and analytical-material points of view. Both of these men know considerable about tape recording, etc. and they have made immediate plans.
Mansur was a top student and later friend of Prof. Huston Smith of M.I.T. with whom I am in remarkable accord, but he is out of the country at this writing.
Present plans are for Mansur and myself to go to a conference of the religions of the world scheduled for Istanbul, Turkey, late in March. We have no details as to exact time, fare or airline schedule. This would mean, of course, a stop-off somewhere in the Eastern part of the country either before or after-preferably after, the event. This might add to prestige and would, of course, mean better weather.
But we would also have to arrange this not to interfere with our separate and joint plans to be in New Mexico to be guests of spiritual communes there. I think you will understand. So we are starting off as quickly as possible.
Hope this reaches you alright.
I have visited Boston in 1930 and again in 1960. My father was born there, but relatives are either scattered or separated by time. I also studied the Transcendentalists and am still a devotee of Thoreau (easy because we have outdoors still in the west) and Emerson.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad-Chisti
KQED
525 Fourth St.
San Francisco 94105
November 28, 1969
Dear Sirs:
In re: Atrocities in Vietnam, etc., etc.
A number of years ago, Dr. G. Malalasekera, a real Buddhist from Ceylon and a delegate to the United Nations, said concerning the United States, “How can we trust a nation which does net trust its own citizens?” Among other things, among some very, very hard facts which future history will uncover is that Dr. Malalasekera was a close friend of Rev. Robert Clifton of this country, an American who studied real Buddhism under real Asian Buddhists.
Rev. Robert Clifton lived 15 years in Vietnam before it was divided, functioning as a Buddhist prelate, recognized by Asian Buddhists. He came to this country twice to try to warn and inform the Americans of what was going on. He was turned down cold; cold cold cold by all and sundry. And his worst story was also confirmed to me by high officials of the State Department.
I am not going to tell my story here. I have found that one can easily mingle with Asians if one has studied Asian culture under Asians. He can have access to places and persons to whom newspapermen and writers in general are untouchable. I am not going to tell my story here. My paper on Vietnamese Buddhism was rejected 33 times; I gave up when I met a Vietnamese Buddhist who also tried to get articles published on Vietnamese Buddhism with no greater success.
My story will become public next year no doubt when I shall be permitted to address a Parliament of the real representatives of the real religions of the real world. Many of the top delegates are already acquainted with this person, and not a few who were acquainted with the late Robert Clifton.
Alas, I took seriously the remarks of the late President Kennedy, “It is not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” I am lucky to be alive today. I am not alive because of any intervention on the part of the foreign offices when I was in danger. I am alive because I belonged to some great spiritual fraternities not recognized as yet in this land—real people, real movements etc;—I will only say here that the late President Hussein of India was in many senses my spiritual brother.
If you contact Mr. Art Hoppe of the Chronicle, he will confirm that I often wrote to him, “Kill them all, the Lord will know his own.”
On Moratorium Day I was busy hosting a Vietnamese Buddhist in my own home. In January, I expect to put on either in my own home or in some public hall a benefit for the Vietnamese Buddhists. I received their pleas before this Pinkville series of atrocities was made known publicly.
I have long given up trying to reach any section of the 4th estate. Thank God that today an ever-growing section of young people prefer Reality to “realism” and facts to factions. The Vice President and the leading commentators each bound by their own narrowness will continue to fulminate from their separate ivory towers, and are alike in assuming that an over-educated public is still too ignorant to be informed.
No doubt I may have missed some of your programs where you may have either put a Vietnamese on the air or had a broadcast from real Asia. I am often out of the state. I am often out of the state lecturing to young people on the real cultures of real Asia. Thank God there are also other Americans being received more and more openly, who are also able and capable to inform the young of the real cultures of real Asia which they have learned from Asians.
No doubt this seeming protest may be overdrawn because I have not watched any television programs too attentively. But I have watched the so-called peace societies; the groups verbally concerned with world outlooks; the study of foreign affairs etc. etc. As far as the Vietnamese are concerned in general, there is no room for them at the inn.
The real atrocity is that no matter what our views are we will not sit at the feet of Asians; we will not listen to Asians. Glib talk about “allies.” From what this nation—all factions, all elements—have done to the splendid diplomat Carlos Romulo, why should an unknown expect better treatment? And I expect more atrocities until a section of the 4th estate will—just for ducks—listen to eyewitnesses or to nationals concern for the wholesale slaughter of their peoples by either communists or outsiders.
Christmas is coming. Now about peace and goodwill to mankind?
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Rev. He Kwang, zen-shi
Dec. 1, 1969
Mr. Bill Eilers
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Ave.,
NW Washington, D.C.
My Dear Bill:
East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet in the same places, but inshallah, they shall meet. The other night a Mr. Gange was in this house; he said he had been with Asia Foundation, and in the course of conversation he gave me your address. I have long ceased trying to operate publicly in international matters, but have thrown all my cards into a single venture, The Temple of Understanding whose headquarters are in your city. Whither I may visit according to their, not my own, plans and schedules. For they have called an international convocation of the world’s religions which will be held in March, and I am hoping to take at least my secretary Mansur Otis Johnson. Mansur has been a prize student and also friend of Dr. Huston Smith of M.I.T.
No doubt there is a danger of becoming cynical or skeptical. This culture, all branches and facets, i.e. of dialectical and subjective outlooks, has long since turned me down. My paper on Vietnamese Buddhism was rejected no less than 33 times by all and sundry. I did not give up; instead the ground was cleared so a Vietnamese friend tried the same thing with no greater success. On Moratorium Day I was too busy entertaining a Vietnamese “Zen” Master to bother with either side. Actually, the skepticism, the cynicism, the roadblocks of other days are over. My income is more than ample for an old bachelor. Family wounds have been healed; and my closest friends include the actual spiritual leaders of the actual historical religions of the objective world.
Some time ago I met Mr. Gange’s daughter Julie in class at the University of California. Almost immediately we become friends and soon she become one of my disciples in Sufi mysticism. She is also becoming one of my chief dancers. In 1965 I spoke at the psychedelic conference here on “Joy Without Drugs.” It was there that I met Dr. Huston Smith. A program of Joy Without Drugs introduces innovations anathema alike to traditionalists and revolutionaries. Worse, it is remarkably successful. And not only have I been successful, but my colleagues in other faiths have been even more successful in introducing facets of religion and spirituality based on human experiences and not on dialectical philosophies and theologies. Perhaps I would not be writing this excepting that I expect to be in Washington in accordance with the programs of The Temple of Understanding. I shall also have to see retired General Edward Lansdale. I believe we can have peace in Vietnam by very simple and easy methods which politicians and dialecticians simply cannot comprehend. This week we may have a party in connection with programs of the American Society for Eastern Arts which is also now doing very well here.
I hope you like your work and are making proper headway in it. With kindest regards,
Sam
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco, Calif.
January 10, 1970
KQED Newsroom,
524 Fourth St.
San Francisco, 94105
Dear Sirs:
I enjoyed your broadcast last night (I am not able to watch TV often) and am sympathetic to your appeal for funds. But I am going to try a little experiment:
An Arab Sufi who is a citizen of Israel is expected here hourly. I intend (perhaps along with others) to take him to all the radio and TV stations, newspapers, “peace” organizations, “world” organization, etc. This time we intend to take copious notes of the refusals and doors shut in our faces and even if it requires our own expense, to have the results publicized. I am not talking nonsense.
After thirty-three refusals of a paper on “Vietnamese Buddhism” I met several Vietnamese and we immediately become friends and then I watched them having their papers rejected! This is “realism.” Then I met a professor at the University of California and he accepted my paper without knowing that fifty ($50) dollars followed.
I am now signing up for a course on South East Asia where the professor, not a famous man, not an “expert” has lived. And in preparation therefore am rereading and taking notes from Gunner Myrdal and notice that he has the same banner I have used, used useless for years: “Reality,” not “realism.” Well, we have “realism” and have solved … nothing.
No, I do not propose that the mere meeting an Arab who is an Israeli citizen will solve anything. No, I am not blackmailing you to tape any interview, much less get on the air. This would uproot my motto. Still, if we can get an interview you will get a membership check.
Or, if by the end of February he does not appear here you will get check anyhow. I am not a blackmailer, I am not an expert, I am just one of a multitude of little Americans, “ugly Americans” if you will, who have been there and someday we are going to be heard.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Jan. 20, 1970
World Affairs Council
406 Sutter
San Francisco, CA.
Dear Sirs:
In pursuant of some recent correspondence, a meeting was held today with a young Arab who is a citizen of Israel. He has had to leave to complete his semester at a college in the state of Texas. After which he will return to this region. He intends to hold meetings in order to facilitate peace and understanding among the peoples of the Near East. We hope you will show some interest when he returns to this region.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Avenue
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
Jan. 23, 1970
Anderson Research Center
3968 Ingraham St.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90005
Beloved Ones of God:
I do not know how you obtained this address. It is very awkward to be frank, beautifully frank, but the writer happens to be perhaps the first person in the history of the world who has been ordained and initiated as a spiritual teacher by various schools of inner training and presumably development.
And there have been so many groups organizing in this country, groups of very recent vintage, that do not feel it within their scope or policy to accept hard and substantiable facts about others. Indeed, so many seem willing to accept a person’s money, but will not concede to either his knowledge or wisdom, that in most cases the only conclusion is to stand by and let karma take its course. The most outstanding example in recent years was the establishment of one Dr. Zitko in the state of Arizona, but one can name so many other groups, some very outstanding—for a moment or a few years.
Without naming anybody, this person offered a check provided the group would accept his substantiable and substantiated reports on telepathy and ESP in certain Eastern countries. The check was returned. Or, one can relate certain debates on reincarnation where this person was refused not only the stand but the floor until the participants in anger and frustration turned to him and asked his opinion. He said, “I am no authority, I am no expert, I only remember my past lives.” That terminated the session.
So little is known of the actual wisdom of Asia, and today there are more and more new movements relying far more on emotions then transmutation of consciousness. We can welcome such groups, but they hardly fit into our programs. But if curiosity should arouse you, we shall be very glad to write further.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
910 Railroad Ave.
Novato, Calif. 94947
March 3, 1970
KPIX—TV Station
Van Ness & Greenwich 94109
Attention Editorial Department:
Dear Sirs,
A pretty steady viewer of many of the programs on Channel 5 and especially the news programs, this letter is written to explain why this person will not send in opinions on any subject. Briefly, opinions are wanted but with regard to facts it is another thing.
You will find enclosed copy of letter to Art Hoppe of San Francisco Chronicle. I am certainly not going to ask you to accept either the news, the facts, or the opinions offered in this letter. But I shall certainly be writing Art on my next series of “innocents abroad” madventures. I have had plenty of them.
There is nothing more disturbing to an editor or commentator than to be told by an eyewitness that all the statements made are not correct. I once had an acquaintance who worked for KPIX, a very well known man. I used to sit attentively in his audiences and listen to his programs. He readily gave me interviews, but not once, never never never, did he accept an eyewitness report.
I had two kinds of eyewitness reports: the direct one of my own being; and the slightly indirect one of actual eyewitness reports in Laos, Cambodia, Ghana, Congo, etc. The simple fact is, and the horrible truth is, that all the channels of communication belittle the direct experiences of “ugly Americans”, whether these ugly Americans had the impertinence to be living in Africa, Asia or anywhere else when dramatic incidents occurred.
I am not going into this further, and one feels unhappy in supporting the contentions of the Vice President of the United States. Views may be more important than news, or news may be more important than views—a laboratory scientist does not lie to his notebook; a reporter does not have to have scruples on this point. When facts from eyewitnesses are bypassed, why should one indulge in opinions worthy or unworthy?
The people who are engaged in writing history rely on the in situ reports of actual eyewitnesses, rather similar to proceedings in law courts and criminal trials. I hope someday our channels of communication will become more objective, actually objective, not honest (one has no right to demand honesty of others) but objective.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
March 16, 1970
Mrs. Fritzi Armstrong
Metaphysical Astrological Bookshop
345 Mason
Dear Mrs. Armstrong:
As you are well-known as a teacher of astrology and related subjects, we wish to call your attention to a Spring Festival which will be held next Saturday, all day if possible, on a meadow near Lake Nicasio in the center of Marin county.
This festival is being held not only in honor of the well-known Gavin Arthur, but also for the curious reason that it is also the birthday of several of the disciples in the Sufi order. This Sufi order is a continuum of the spiritual brotherhood of the Islamic world, and is not to be confused with any legal organization founded in the West for presumably the same or similar purposes. Of course we welcome such movements but they are not organically the same, nor are their methodologies always traditional. But neither do we demand tradition.
The program will consist of four kinds of dances, basically:
1. Dervish Dances
2. Mantric Dances
3. Occult ceremonies
4. Astrological walks and dances
We call your attention particularly to the latter, in which the students of our Murshid, who is locally known as Sam Lewis, impart them to us. This is a far cry from any Holst. Indeed, the students in our esotericism are trained not only in traditional disciplines, but also in walks, breath-disciplines, dance, and eurhythmic movements, either to help fulfill and perfect what their charts indicate or also to correct what their charts counter-indicate.
Much of what has been called occultism—and there is no need to change this name—is no longer hush-hush. It means simply the science of bringing to the surface the hidden powers latent in man.
Shortly after this Spring Festival our Murshid will be leaving to attend a conference of all the religions of the world in the hopes of furthering peace and understanding. It would seem that often a person is only without honor in his own environment. Instead of protesting against this, one is seizing every opportunity to address assemblies in far-off places. But by this Fall, all these efforts and achievements may also be given out more openly publicly, God willing.
Faithfully,
Melvin F. Meyer
Secretary to Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.,
San Francisco, Calif.
April 28, 1970
The American Forestry Association
919 Seventeenth St. NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Dear Sirs:
When I returned here after a month’s absence I found your offer on “Knowing Your Trees” and not only am glad to be sending in check for Eleven ($11.00) Dollars but wish to know more about your organization, your offers, etc.
I am very much interested in this subject and have visited forest in many lands as well as experimental stations. On this trip Kew Gardens and Arnold Arboretum were revisited. And I hope to see the latter again in the not too distant future.
On the negative side, while thoroughly interested in ecology and reforestation, one finds these words appropriated today by sentimentalists and dialecticians who have been able to get control of the press and radio and greatly confuse situations.
The only answers are to have more real knowledge and to encourage pragmatic actions.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 5, 1970
Mrs. Marjorie Cooke Artus
Women’s Universal Movement
45 Tudor City Place—Apt. 1716
New York, N.Y. 10017
My dear Mrs. Artus:
I was very glad to have met you au face. I do not know of course how well you were received by the women at the conference, and perhaps this was not particularly important either. I did not then proclaim my own work, feeling that the time was not right. One might even express it rather cynically no doubt that while you are connected with the Women’s Universal Movement, I am connected with a Youth Universal Movement. On this point in general the young people will agree no doubt. Their elders may accept or gawk or react as they will, but I am rapidly becoming a universal Pied Piper, and events immediately after leaving Switzerland corroborate this mission and this claim.
In fact I am not only going to be directing a summer school for the young, for their spiritual development, but my chief colleague Baba Ram Dass has left the country. He is a much better known figure and also he has been better able, perhaps capable, of reaching multitudes of the youth. But he has gone away now to submit himself to some of the
spiritual disciplines which I have long since faced, and left a good deal of the United States so to speak under my potential guidance. This becomes both opportunity and necessity. In fact I shall be leaving shortly on the first of these missions, and later in the year will be directly involved in the most important of them.
There are two pieces of news however which I am calling to your attention. The first is a photostat of the affairs of Pondicherry where our good friend Julie Medlock has been involved. I do agree in one aspect of the divine mother, but I do not agree in the self- proclamation of such a one. I have my own srimati who was proclaimed by a huge majority of the actual holy men of India, and by many others. On this trip Mansur Johnson and I carried copy of Tao Te Ching which affirms that the real spiritual persons, the sages, do not indulge in self-proclamation.
Neither do I agree that anybody becomes a superman because his career involves a paid position with the United Nations. I believe the falsity of this and similar assumptions will lead to, or are already leading to, the failure of Auroville.
The next item will no doubt please you much more. I have been teaching spirituality thru the dance, an inheritance from the late Ruth St. Denis. During my absence a number of girls of mine invented, if you want to call it that, their own dance formats. They presented these at our May celebration. I found them most wonderful, most inspiring, and also in complete accord with the spiritual principles of women’s mysteries. It is not only unconsciously, but somewhat consciously, they are doing this. But I tell you, it was glorious, and I hope you are glad to hear that.
May 16, 1970
Miss Shotsy Wallace
The Foundation of Revelation
59 Scott St.
San Francisco, Ca.
My dear Shotsy:
I wish to thank you very much for sending me a copy of your letter of May 12, sent respectively to Carolyn and Judith Hollister. I think you have in the main touched the sore points and the high progress in efforts toward a temple of understanding. One might almost say toward the temple of understanding. There was one amusing situation to me extremely beautiful: that is when Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr of Tehran, purportedly representing Sufism, defended and praised Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, who was without doubt the Vivekananda of the conference.
While I agree in all your philosophical presentations without question, it is overlooked that the God, Who is Love, has never left this world without guidance. The fact that some of us have not known or recognized this guidance may be a shortcoming on our part, not on the part of others. I am about to leave for Lama Foundation in New Mexico where I shall be conducting a summer school for the young. I have just received a telephone call, long distance from Holland, concerning another summer camp for the young which will be conducted by my colleague Pir Vilayat Kahn. The communicant seemed to feel it was a pity that Pir Vilayat and Samuel Lewis would not be together geographically. On the contrary, I feel that our joint presence might overawe the young who wish to be, and perhaps are spiritually intended to be, more self-expressive. While the telephone conversation was going on my housekeeper returned from a women’s dancing class, all young, all my disciples. All doing things without my physical presence; all doing things which I feel are in the Divine presence, which alone is important. This is achievement, not doctrine; this illustrates and I believe before God, there will be more illustrations.
Sufism teaches that the soul has no age. True, there is a cosmic evolution, and I am hoping there will be a rise in curiosity at least which will cause young people to recognize the teachings concerning this cosmic evolution.
One of the most wonderful things in my life has been the complete understanding to, from and with Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, whom I believe well understands this cosmic evolution, but I hardly hold that movements are spiritual because they emanate from India. I have been to India. I have met innumerable self-realized souls, and hardly one of them is mentioned in our literature. But I have also met self-realized souls in other lands, and I still hold with Jesus Christ, and against all movements new and old, that “in the hour ye think least, the Son of Man cometh.”
If you think this is dualistic, please bear in mind I am doing just what you say: I am catalyzing, not leading, the young, but this is done from a standpoint of spiritual realization which I cannot and will not compel others to accept.
I think you would gain something if you called on nearby Church of Man with headquarters at 20 Steiner St., not far from you. I spoke to them last week on The Temple of Understanding. There has been more spiritual realization among these young people, quantitatively and qualitatively, than I have seen anywhere else on earth. They have their own path which is different from my path, but we agree absolutely, just as the Bible teaches, that the Grace of God manifests where it will, and not where personalities say it will or must.
I took with me many kinds of notes including the pre-vision of this conference. I cannot demand of others that they accept my psychic and spiritual insight. But I can demand of myself, and I do demand of myself, the acceptance of the spiritual and psychic insight of others.
Actually, my time has not yet come. It could mean a false saintship or a false martyrdom. Mrs. Artus spoke for a greater part for women in spiritual leadership. I have my own Srimati, or Holy Mother, whom I did not proclaim. I consider it more important, even most important, to have full respect to the divine visions given to Judith Hollister, who has not gone to the Himalayas, but who has never departed from divine guidance, divine vision, and divine grace.
Yes, I shall be glad to share anything further with you. My “Dances of Universal Peace” are now coming to me at such a rapid rate that I hardly have a free hour any time, but it just may be that this is what the living God wishes.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
May 23, 1970
John’s Studio
231 Valencia St.
San Francisco 94103
My Dear John:
I am happy to have your program for the end of may, although on the surface I can offer no direct material cooperation. I shall be leaving in a few days for Lama Foundation in the state of New Mexico where, among other things, I shall be giving instructions in my spiritual dances. Riding in the same station wagon will be my secretary Mansur Otis Johnson and Selima Davenport. I shall show them your program. They have becomes partners in Greek dancing classes at the Minerva and also at the University of California extension.
Mansur wishes to become a teacher in Greek dancing and I am very anxious for him to meet you. We also have in mind still the building up of our libraries (two or more). This matter had to be dropped because Mansur and I have been abroad. The conference originally scheduled for Turkey took place in Geneva instead. There we were happy to participate in an international gathering of the real leaders of the real religions of the world. I am happy to report that at the very outset I met the personal representative of his Holiness Pope Paul and cordiality was straightway established. The same was true in all the affairs of the conference, and I believe I made more headway than any other unknown there. in fact, there was such a vast difference between the attitudes of the real noble people of the world, and pretenders at all levels. After the conference we stopped first in London and then Boston and again were totally successful in and with all contacts both of the young and some rather famous people whom I need not mention here. But the reason for writing is that at the end of the conference I was approached by a worthy who has a plan for an international conference, coalescing the original Olympiad principle with an international folk dance festival.
This man, whose name is Norman Lourie, has lived briefly in Israel, Greece, and South Africa—he was born in the latter country and is one of those dissidents who felt he had to leave on account of the inhuman racial situation. I am hoping you will express some interest in this affair. It will not take place until 1972. all the items of your programs would certainly fit into the schemata. I do not wish to pressure you to do that, but I have long believed in world peace through the arts, and differ only that I wish to make these beliefs effective and not merely verbal.
My whole position in life has changed considerably. I am reaching more and more of the young. They are constantly coming here and I mean constantly, and this is not a figure of speech, it includes the situations at this very moment.
Please bear with me; there are only seven days in the week, and only seven nights, and sometimes I wish for a free one. I shall have to extend my dancing classes and start training people in my own work very shortly and then have to go on to other parts of the land for this purpose. When we return Mansur and I will call on you in regard both to your programs and records.
Cordially,
Sam
Samuel L. Lewis
May 24, 1970
Mr. Crist Lovdjieff
Mysticism Studies Center
1330 Rhode Island Street 94107
My dear Crist:
You may be surprised to hear from me after all these years. I am no longer concerned with dilettantists. I am seriously concerned with realities.
Never permitted to say my peace at an earlier period here, I went to the Orient and in particular to Japan, and had such an astonishing welcome I was called a liar. This being the normal wont of the “ethical people” of that age. Then I went again to the Orient, different section, and was given the same type of treatment and welcome. It did not mean a thing to the “realists.”
Years passed and I have been somewhat successful in my American mystical attainments—that is, a more than ample increase in emoluments. I am not going to tell what happened in between, and I have no intention to present anything to “realists.” Recently I have been to a conference of the real leaders of the real religions of the real world—no shams, no nonsense, and a single European professor of Oriental Philosophy who has since quite effectively expressed his admiration for this person. In case you want to know his name is Benz.
I have just read, almost by accident, about your seminar. It is impossible for me to attend for two active reasons. I am about ready to leave to conduct my own summer school in the state of New Mexico. Your erstwhile professors and friends and fellow students would never permit a mystic to talk on mysticism, I mean a real mystic. I don’t know if you would permit one now, and I am not trying to intrude, because there is no time for it.
Meeting the real leaders of the real religions of the real world, I found in a sense, there was plenty of room at the top. At least there was no pretense about ethical behavior by shams and shamans. Why, I was even kissed by the Greek Orthodox leader. Something must have impressed him. Our old friend Princess Poon was there. Evidently she has not the vitality of earlier days.
It was quite a different thing to have to face learned people and discuss openly subjects which have been hush-hushed by pretenders and pedants. Anyhow, there was rather a stirring aftermath. Welcomes from all sorts of people in distant parts of the world, involving my return at the earliest possible opportunity.
This is a new age Crist, in which honesty, experience, human and divine, and moral integrity, count. Artificial prestiges no longer avail.
My next endeavor is a program to promote peace in the Holy Land. I have at least contacted the personal representative of His Holiness Pope Paul—and many others—the real spiritual leaders of the real world. At the moment I am concentrating on spirituality through music and dances. It is attracting so many young people that I shall have to increase my endeavors when I return from summer school.
It was a marvelous thing to associate with mystics who have had cosmic experiences. While this has happened many times before, now it is out in the open.
My secretary and I were the only ones who were able to associate with the leaders of all faiths. We are promoting The Temple of Understanding, which involves the construction of a building which shall be “A house of prayer for all peoples.” This is a long story. In the end it may prove to be a beautiful story.
Naturally we would like to know what you are doing. But I shall be away during the entire month of June and so cancelled my Sunday classes. But I would thank you to send any information about your doings to my secretary Mr. M. Meyer at this address. I hope you are finding people more interested in mystical experience than in verbal dialectics of self- important “experts.”
God bless you.
Sam
Samuel L. Lewis
[undated]
410 Precita
San Francisco
Foundation for Religious Transition
P.O. Box 5146
Santa Barbara, Calif. 94103
Dear Sir:
I have received a brochure from you and verbally find it most interesting. But I am raising a question from the very beginning: How can my money be eligible when the rest of my personality is not? I find that people’s money is welcomed everywhere; the personality not so much.
To verbalize “Brotherhood of Man” is one thing; the practice of it is very rare. One could almost parody that one is not his brother’s keeper, because actually no one is the brother, really.
I don’t know whether you accept God or not, and I am not going to argue the point. I cannot understand why Dr. Pike is made a hero for writing in the P.S.I. field for almost exactly the same that Sir Oliver Lodge wrote on years ago; Lodge was either a villain or forgotten. There is such a thing as the acceptance of humanity. I do not demand this from others.
I am glad you are interested in the Psy Field. St. Paul referred to the psychic body and the pneumatic body. During the psychedelic conference here, I asked why there was so much attention to the psychic and none to the pneumatic.
Emerson has said, “In a botanist’s garden, there are no weeds.” A geologist who did not study all the rock structures of the whole earth would be deficient in his profession. The spectra of all chemicals has been examined; if new discoveries remade, it is normal also to examine them in some such fashion, But in the Psy field we ignore both the potentialities and actualities of “exotic” people. As for pneumatic possibilities, we ignore these entirely.
I agree entirely on the verbalization of Love. What does this mean in practice? Neither Dr. Stark nor Dr. Glock whom you have mentioned has ever answered a single letter from this person. Thus we have a “generation gap” as to the meanings of love. Heart cannot refuse heart when it is recognized, I cannot demand human consideration from you, but certainly find it impossible to encourage or contribute financially to those who want recognition from others but never give it themselves. There may be more in life than “precognition, retrocognition, clairvoyance, clairaudience, ESP, mystical encounters, cosmic awareness, healing, glossalalia, psychic phenomena, mediumship, poltergeist prophetic dreams, etc.”
I do not request humility. This age does not understand humility at all, but I can suggest a little curiosity and such curiosity on your part might result in a check from Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Reverend He Kwang
July 11,1970
Anderson Research Center
3968 Ingraham St.
Los Angeles, Ca. 90005
Dear Sirs:
I wish to thank you for brochure, though I must confuse I do not understand it. At one time I thought I understood General Semantics, and the late Cassius Keyser of Columbia who was a teacher and friend of Count Korzybski thought I understood General Semantics, but he was in a woeful minority. So I guess I do not understand General Semantics.
In classes at the San Francisco State College, of which General Semanticist Samuel Hayakawa is acting president (at least) I successfully demonstrated the efficiency of certain Asian non-Aristotelian types of logic, but that is as far as it went. So far, outside of the Universities, nobody has listened to any presentation of any non-European system of logic.
In the current issue of Science, June 26, 1970, there is an editorial in praise of Dael Wolfle. For a number of years, every time a complex issue becomes public I wrote to the General Semanticists, to Dael Wolfle and others. Mr. Wolfle always answered me and twice published my remarks. This has convinced me—And I mean convinced my ego—That there is a vast gap between the science of scientists and the word “science” as used by non- laboratory savants.
In other words, I have come to agree with Lord Snow that there are two kinds of culture, that of participants and that of evaluators.
I am regarded in practically all parts of Asia as a savant in the cultures of the people of Asia. I cannot understand what is meant by “Scientific Yoga.” It is like saying the finite infinite. So I am quite in confusion as to what you are trying to do. This is especially true when you have a title “Pleasures of Being Non-Verbal.” And being in confusion I hardly know what to say about your efforts, but thank you for the brochure just the same.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Ave.
San Francisco 94110
July 13, 1970
Mr. F. Clive-Ross
Perennial Book Service
Pates Manor, Bedfont,
Middlesex England
Beloved One of Allah:
As-Salaam-Aleikhum! All praise is due to Allah, Who makes possible final victories whether in lesser Jihads or greater Jihads.
For some little while I have been planning writing you a letter or article called “Peaks and Lama.” This is not a pun; this is an actuality, although I am sure our good friend Marco Pallis would have enjoyed every moment of his stay in a spiritual commune high in the Rocky Mountains. Here the word Lama is probably derived from a language of native Amer-Indians living near Taos, New Mexico. The mountain on which Lama is situated remains a holy peak to the natives of the region and there is extreme cordiality and cooperation between the aboriginal peoples and the spiritual Americans who have established a successful commune high in the Rocky Mountains.
Actually those people already call me Murshid. Also one night when a play was presented called “The False Guru” some people in the audience shouted “What do we care for a false Guru, when we have a true Guru in the audience.” And they so stampeded I had to get up and lead them all, actors and audience, in spiritual dances. You won’t read about such things in the press of course.
Later I called on the actors. They have been specializing in Greek drams but are planning to put on later, themes drawn from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Without going into further detail, there is every sign of our coming into a new, and really spiritual, age.
But the reason for writing is quite different. While I was conducting a rather successful summer school in the state of New Mexico, Pir Vilayat Khan was conducting a quite successful summer camp in the adjacent State of Arizona. And, he happened upon a man who had been looking for Sufis and did not know any were around. This man, Walter Bowart, wishes to be a publisher of spiritual books. He has great hopes and dreams, and apparently some fortune to back it up. In any event, he is leaving now to go to England. It is all like a dream, or series of dreams. Your book list excited him, but besides books and spirituality, his next greatest interest is: Glastonbury. So Mansur and I gave him your address which he has seized with avidity, and we are hoping he will be in your presence soon—Of course there is lots more of interest and excitement going on, but we think this is enough for one letter.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
July 13, 1970
Mr. Edszen N. Landrum
American Academy of Asian Studies, inc.
134- 140 Church St.
San Francisco, Ca. 94114
Dear Dr. Landrum
Wish to express here my thanks for the courtesy shown by your Dr. Sharma when we visited the rooms of the American Academy of Asian Studies this morning. It seems awkward that one has to thank for courtesy, but there are too many organizations and groups in this general field that assume goodwill is won only by stating their position without taking into consideration the backgrounds of the stranger.
This year I attended a summit meeting of the actual leaders of the actual religions of this world, and not only met but had cordial mutual relations established.
There is a need in each part of the world to acquaint the general public with the teachings of exotic faiths. Naturally what is exotic in one place may be well known in another. And it is certain that in America and in California most of all, there is a tremendous hunger for knowledge of Asian religions, and history and everything else. At the present time the Universities are filling part of the gap but only a small part. The average citizen, and especially those who have not graduated from Universities, have practically nowhere to go, and some of us are hoping there will be a place or places for non-Graduates to go.
I myself am recognized in Asian countries as a teacher of Sufi Mysticism. I am also recognized in the Far East as one proficient in Zen. In fact, last night we had a rather large gathering, perhaps a hundred people, who came to hear a real Korean Master. This was invitational. It we had had a public meeting we should not have had room.
This came at a time when we received another invitation of another group—there are so many of them—holding another “world conference” on the religions of the world. So far this has been a monopoly of Englishman, Americans, and Indians. Other people do not count, or do they?
At least the American Academy is offering courses covering cultures both of the people who count, and those who don’t count. But those courses seem to be restricted and what I feel is needed is courses and programs similar to your own, offered on a non- scholastic basis, but still requiring contributions from the audience.
I have been lecturing on Oriental philosophies, but the program has veered toward stress on music, dancing, mantras, and breathing exercises. As I am an accepted teacher of spiritual science in other lands, I am not the least concerned with any public or private reactions on claims. What I am concerned with is the need to reach more and more Americans, especially in the field of Scriptures, literature, and arts, perhaps more. I would therefore welcome any effort to reach the general public without taking into consideration scholasticism. After all the poet Kabir, the Prophet Mohammed, and the Acharya of present age, Sri Ramakrishna, could hardly qualify for many of the courses now being opened. I want to see Asian studies given to the world, even if upon a monetary basis.
Faithfully,
July 18, 1970
To Whom It May Concern:
Beloved Ones of God:
There must be something in the empyrean that I should receive five entirely separate invitations to come to Boulder, Colorado, from persons and groups that on the surface have nothing in common, but under the surface might have in common a zeal for the realities, and I mean realities, which may be verbalized as truth, peace, love, and brotherhood. But on the surface I am so occupied at the moment that I hardly have time for meals and sleep and no time for recreation of any sort.
I am very happy that a few people are beginning to realize that there are Sufis. In the worlds of God and Rand-McNally there are more followers of Sufism than of all other schools of mysticism and esotericism combined. This does not mean that because Sufis are heavy in quantity they are heavy in quality. I would deny that myself. But our culture has even refused to admit their existence; e.g. a recent review by the New York Times Book Editor. And I can assure you that the bigots who control our Near East study programs and our so-called East-West gatherings, wish this to continue.
In contrast to this, I wish to call your attention to a real East-West, real world gathering which took place near Calcutta under the auspices of my most wonderful friend Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj, now the leader of the Ramakrishna Vedanta Movement. This conference did not end until every single group which claimed it had a spiritual mission was given the floor and full scope to express itself and to answer questions. This is in such contrast to what has happened in America until recently that I have yet too much tongue-in-cheek to be as open and cordial as would be ideal.
The dominant teaching of the Sufis is that God alone exists. In the minds of the newspapermen and the graduates of European Universities who control so much of our “Asian” education, the Vedantists being Hindus and the Sufis being Muslims should be at each others’ throats. But if anybody ever attended a meeting where Vedantists and Sufis met you would find they behaved exactly as Emerson predicted and not as our Hearsts, Alsops, and Vice Presidents would presume.
I wish you all the love and blessing it is possible to extend and am more than with you in spirit. I need more time, time and not money, to prepare to attend future conferences. Nevertheless, I have far more faith and respect for each and all the men who I am told will occupy the panel, than I have either for our political leaders or savages in charge of communication, or others in prominence to the undoing of our culture.
I will agree with Walt Whitman that “In all men I see myself” and as I see myself already in Steve Gaskin and Swami Satchidananda, and Yogi Bhajan, and others, I feel that this must do for the moment to excuse the absence of the physical sharira.
Hare Krishna, Hare Rama, and As-Salaam-Aleikhum!
Samuel L. Lewis
July 24, 1970
Mr. E. H. Pullin
Assistant Director, Immigration Service San Francisco
Dear Mr. Pullin:
In re Chiranjiva. Inasmuch as my name is mentioned in the article on page five of today’s Chronicle, I wish to have it cleared. One of the followers of Chiranjiva, Sheila McKendrick, has mentioned my name, and I am known more or less to others.
I wish to call to your attention that the Sufi Orders contain more students of mysticism than all the other groups in the world, but most unfortunately they are excluded from our culture, and certainly I personally have been blackballed rather successfully by a number of famous, but “only in America” famous, non-Asian experts in oriental philosophy, who are now disappearing from the scene. Yes, I did ask Sheila McKendrick to represent me at the conference of the real religions of the world held under the auspices of The Temple of Understanding of Washington. But this year, God, or good fortune, made it possible for me to attend in person, and I can give you the list of the entire membership of those who went to Geneva early in the year, and accomplished something, which was not reported in, or by, the American press. Or as one wag put it, “Let’s invite a Communist next time and the American press will cover it.”
It is most unfortunate that Chiranjiva come under the sponsorship of Lou Gottlieb of Morning Star Ranch. This connection speaks of itself.
When it is stated that I represent the New Age, I represent the New Age in the sense of accepting all faiths, and all humanity, regardless of race, creed, color, sex, or any real or artificial divisions. Though as yet unrecognized, I have spoken from the pulpits of at least five of the world’s great religions, and have gone through the disciplines of them all. If anyone wishes to question this, I am ready at any time to face any examination in this regard.
At no time have I had to report to psychedelics, because in the real processes of real mystics, you can have joy without drugs. I spoke incessantly on “Joy Without Drugs” at the psychedelic conference held here is San Francisco a few years back. I was, of course, ignored, but since that time several of the most prominent persons at that conference, especially Dr. Richard Alpert (now known as Baba Ram Dass) and Dr. Huston Smith of M.I.T. have followed in my footsteps and become my most excellent friends.
Last week I began a series on The First Epistle to the Corinthians, which will be based on an elucidation of the three bodies as presented by Saint Paul. In this I intend to explain in detail the existence and function of the psychic body, taught by Saint Paul, but ignored by conventional religion. I believe there can be explanations which will fully explain the modern crazes for psychic and psychedelic experiences. I believe all of these are real, and I find nothing in modern cultures which disprove in any way the teachings of Saint Paul. I expect to present this work in Washington later on, and also perhaps at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, if Bishop Myers will grant an interview.
I consider it most unfortunate that so much of Asian culture has been in the hands of graduates of European Universities, even of those who have resorted to psychedelics rather than the deep spiritualities of the various faiths. This is not the first time a person from India may be arraigned. Many efforts have been made to bring us together. The only condition I would have accepted was the old Indian one, that if we got together and debated the loser would have to accept the winner as his Guru. I don’t think Chiranjiva could stand that. From what I have heard, and what I have seen of his followers, they could not last five minutes in any debate on spirituality, Indian or non-Indian. But I do not know whether this itself is a legal matter. This country having officially selected all kinds of spokesman for Oriental cultures—and I can name them—I do not see how a single case could be illegal, but of course I do not know.
Chiranjiva has asked me to come to see him. Having met a great many real great Indians spiritual leaders, and being considerably older in age, courtesy might have suggested him calling on me. In the case of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach of Jerusalem, when I told him I was 50 years older, he came to me, and we became great friends at a glance. I have many such great friends of all faiths, not symbolically but actually. I can name them.
I do not regard Lou Gottlieb in any sense the representative of anything noble or moral, or anti-psychedelic.
I think it is pity that the cultures of India should be dragged down. I am on excellent terms with the Indian consulate, the various departments of South Asian culture on the Berkeley campus, etc. if more encouragement had been given to the real culture of real India, there would be less such opportunities for questionable characters.
Yes, I am in protest against the foreign policy of the United States. We have cultural exchange with Communist Russia. We have cultural exchange with quasi-Communist Israel. We do not have such cultural exchange with the other lands of Asia. Besides this, I understand the departments of the University of California are languishing for funds. Indeed I myself am trying to raise scholarships for them.
Indeed, on account of the complexes in both the Near East and Southeast Asia, I think it is most necessary to have real knowledge of these lands. But there would be no opportunities for presence of questionable backgrounds to come here.
Sincerely and faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
cc Congressman Phillip Burton
cc Senator John Sherman Cooper
July 31, 1970
Radio Station KQED
Attn.: Dick Moore
Dear Sir:
It was very wonderful last night that you had a singer named Pranath, who not only put on what might be called an intelligent program, but was actually permitted to tell of his background.
The United States is to many Asians—not experts on Asia but actual Asian people—a very strange land. It is a country which seems to be spending billions of dollars verbally to prevent communists from expanding politically, and at the same time it has cultural exchange with Russia. It does not have cultural exchange with the non-communist Asian countries with some very bizarre results.
The singer said that his spiritual teacher was a great Sufi master. How can that be? There are no such people according to the professors and experts whom we have accepted as mentors of Asian cultures, and of course to those grand encyclopedic commentators about everything!?!
The late President of India Dr. Sukire Hussein was a disciple in Sufism, but every effort to get a lecture or a broadcast on him was turned down by everybody including your own station.
There is now the rise of a completely new outlook among the young and even many of our new college professors—not the old experts—are quite willing to support objective reality against the subjective realism of the important people. Early this year two of us went to Geneva to a conference of the real leaders of the real religions of the world, We had no difficulty whatever, not only in listening but even in communicating.
We were asked why we were not at conferences in Claremont, California, Honolulu, etc. Not a chance. Our great experts and “authorities” saw to that but the simple fact is that there are at least 40 million disciples in Sufism, which is probably more than all Zen Buddhists and Yogis of all schools combined.
We are not asking for any consideration whatever. Sooner or later the humanity will have to accept facts. Indeed the next two weeks there will be conferences here to help promote a program, a joint effort, of an Islamic Sufi saint and a Jewish mystical saint to promote programs for peace and understanding and spirituality through song dance and prayer. As this cannot possibly be—according to our standards—we are not going to say more here but with God’s help we are going to demonstrate and future generations will look askance at this era, blankly refusing to accept exponents of certain natures while even granting freedom of speech to their worst enemies in political philosophy.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
410 Precita Avenue
San Francisco, Calif. 94110
August 14, 1970
International Ideal City Project Re-Education Association
2065 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, California 94109
Dear friends:
I wish to thank you your invitation to attend dinner on August 22, but I have paid-up classes every Saturday.
I have been in this field a long time. Years ago with one Luther Whitman we wrote “Glory Roads,” or “The Psychological State of California.” It failed as a commercial undertaking. It succeed as a prophetic undertaking–-that is to say, practically all our predictions came true, and this repelled almost all involved. We only like predictions which confirm our own beliefs.
In the intervening years I have been personally engaged in a number of such affairs, and most of all, at this time, with Lama foundation in New Mexico. In fact, the chief director of Lama is now in San Francisco to see me.
I am making it a policy not to contribute anything to those organizations and groups which do not accept my place in the spiritual world. I am a validated teacher, validated in Asia and by Asians as above. I consider it a moral principle that people seeking funds should recognize the prowess of those people whose checks they accept. No group has a right to demand or request from others unless they in turn show a willingness to accept the prowess of others.
Not only that, we are doing what you wish to do. We have already been successful, both in communal organization and organic gardening. We are therefore interested in what you are doing, but we can no longer make sacrifice for others who will not accept what we are trying to do-–help the whole humankind spiritually, especially through song and dance. Fortunately we do not need funds, but equally we will never contribute to those who will not accept our merits.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
August 17, 1970
Anderson Research Center
3968 Ingraham St.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90005
Beloved Ones of God:
We wish to thank you for sending us the material concerning your center. It is quite evident that at the present time there is a revolutionary and perhaps real departure from solidified tradition. We represents the oldest continually organized movement of spiritual research experience and accomplishment, although we do not claim that the oldest is necessarily the highest or best.
It is very curious that the United States, with all its slogans, has assumed a superiority over other cultures. There are certainly at least three lines of a continuum in enlightenment, viz., Zen Buddhism, Vedantic Hinduism, and Sufism. All of them lead to experiences in cosmic consciousness and human liberation. If any word were to be used to describe them it would be “trans-verbal.” But we are the last ones to hold that these are the only directives towards ultimate liberation of the human spirit or to “trans-verbal” methods.
It happens that our own endeavors here include all these three lines of transmission. We have been recognized by the real Zen Buddhists of real Japan, real China, real Vietnam, and real Korea. We have been recognized by many of the top real Gurus and real Swamis of real India. We are in close touch with the spiritual brotherhood of operative Sufis. Even
Universities are coming to recognize and realize that these forms of Asian
culture have not been yet properly presented to the American people, excepting
on a few occasion; e.g. Phillip
Kapleau of Rochester New York.
Today we are exceedingly busy teaching real Oriental metaphysics—the metaphysics of Orientals; spiritual dances and actual meditative and concentrative practices of Asians, Etc.
We are not insisting that these are superior to other methods. We are insisting they are pragmatic and have been a source of great artistic creativity by many people of different parts of the world. Sufism has been called “the religion of the heart.” We believe there is plenty of room for psychic and intellectual endeavor, but these are not parts of our own efforts. We are concerned with the actual experience in love, joy, peace, and spiritual emancipation. As these are such great endeavors we have no time left for other undertakings.
We therefore thank you for your notice and if you wish to learn more about our work in this world, at home and abroad, we shall be glad to cooperate.
Love and Blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
910 Railroad Ave.,
Novato, Calif. 94947
September 17, 1970
Robert M. Hutchins
President,
The Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions,
Box 4546,
Santa Barbara, Calif. 93103
Dear Dr. Hutchins:
You have always been man I admired from afar, and still could admire you if you were not the director of an organization calling itself “democratic,” a term which I cannot understand at all. It seems to have nothing to do with human beings. For certainly of five appointments made four were peremptorily cancelled and the other, with the late Bishop Pike got exactly nowhere. As for my offer to turn over in situ material on the Basic Democracies of Pakistan where I have lived, I was not exactly insulted. For a “Jude the Obscure” to present materials seems to have only one result and it is not exactly “democratic.”
A few years ago a family lawsuit and its settlement left a substantial sum and my brother and I were at wits’ end concerning heirs. For example one group said that for ten dollars I could join them and meet the “great ones” of the world. I replied that having already been a guest of honor at the Imperial Palaces of Thailand and Japan and having had tea in the Presidential mansions of India and Pakistan, I saw no need to part with this money. They took it as an insult—it is, an “establishment” insult. A “Jude the Obscure” has no business telling anybody about such affairs, even if they were true. Wrong person—it is remarkable how “democratic institution” can distinguish.
My secretary who has been a close friend of Dr. Huston Smith of M.I.T. went with me to a peace conference in Geneva early this year, two absolutely unknowns and we were the only ones invited to dine with every single delegation. Rather “undemocratic,” no doubt, but quite true and now the real leaders of the real religions of the real world are extending every sort of cooperation. Chiefly in two gigantic ventures:
Direct filming and recording of little known ceremonies, music and
dancing.
Joint dinners of Israelis and Arabs, in particular Sufis, whom this
“democratic” land does not recognize at all although there are no doubt
more than 40,000,000-–yes, I mean forty million such beings.
Events lead me to propose a “peace” scholarship with the University of California based on Realities which have nothing to do with current subjectivism and dialectics miscalled “realism.”
I have had the “great honor” in this “democratic” land of having any paper on “Vietnamese Buddhism” rejected thirty-three (33) times, your institution among them. Then I met my old friend, now retired Lieutenant General Edward Lansdale and we decided, if I had the fortune, I should work for peace in Palestine. Immediately after that the Department of South Asian Studies, the University of California at Berkeley, accepted the paper on Vietnamese Buddhism.
Once I had a traveling-compare. His name was Gunnar Jarring. He said my plan for Palestine was the best he had ever heard. Period. Thirty-three rejections? Every peace group and every “church” but the Quakers threw out “Jude the Obscure” illustrating democracy. But a very “undemocratic” institution, the University of San Francisco, let me speak on “Water Problems of the Near East” and after I mentioned and described what was being done had been done by such University of California men as Milton Fireman and Paul Kaum and the departments working on saltwater conversion, the chair declared the meeting adjourned because the problems had been solved.
This proves neither Marx nor Hearst, neither the Vice President of the Ivorytowerists whom the V.P. opposes; it substantiates Lord Snow and illustrates his “two cultures.” Every paper written by this person on pollution to a scientist has been accepted and not a single one to a nonscientist has even been answered.
You may read more in the copy of the letter to the renowned Dr. Huston Smith of M.I.T., not exactly a Poverty-row institution. I have worked for years on “How California Can Help Asia” and now have found an editor-publisher who wants my things, etc.
All the “good” groups prove their democracy in accepting funds from everybody. I wish democracy had more to do with humanity.
Regretfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sept. 22, 1970
Mr. Gunnar Jarring
The United Nations
New York, New York
Dear Sir:
One realizes it is an unusual thing for a commoner to address a dignitary, but once we were traveling companions. It was on the train going from Luxor to Cairo, and you became interested in the program I had for the Near East. The program covered a number of different problems and potential methods of solution. It involved my own knowledge of the religions of the world and the scientific and technical solutions of many problems of the Levant, already solved by professors, scholars, and research teams associated in some way or another with my alma mater the University of California.
I later felt very much encouraged and received nothing but backing from your various colleagues whom I have met—and that was the end of the encouragement. All peace groups, so-called, especially those with reputed religious backgrounds, turned me down, but this is not a sad story, not at all.
Early this year due to great changes in my financial position (the American virtue) I was able to go to Geneva and attend a religious conference devoted to world peace. The first few days were marked by one apology after another from clerics because of the failures and refusals of their colleagues to answer any letters whatever. In about one week’s time I became so much of a hero that now I am receiving utter and absolute cooperation from some of the top religious men of the whole world—men of every religion. But no newspaper, no publication, no editor, no commentators!
What this last brood of conflicting self-styled problem solvers do not realize is that there is a new breed of humanity, consisting largely of university graduates who are interested in facts and truth, and not in personality-whitewashing and daubing. At Geneva, when the “great” Sir Zafrullah Khan was asked what he had to offer but oratory and emotions he sat down. But the young people at Geneva, and I have found the young people all over, want peace—by this I do not mean some enigmatic , obtuse word used in orations and essays by the famous. I mean amity, cordiality, and human consideration.
Now the young people in many religions are getting together and we have started a program of joint Israeli-Christian-Arab dinners, and other such events. I myself am a teacher of Sufism, which is called the mysticism of Islam, recognized by practically all the Sufis all over the world, but not by European and British Professors and their scions who deal with verbalisms and essays and have no connection with humanity. But I have found my methods and approaches are no different from those of the reigning Shah of Iran and perhaps with other human beings who consider human beings more important than the private thoughts and dialectics of the socially famous.
My next effort after writing this letter will be to visit the campus of the University of California and start a Peace Scholarship based on the social friendship between Israelis, Arabs, and others, and the recognition of the great professors of that university who have solved the problems of water resources, desert reclamation, saltwater conversion, road-building, and large scale construction of wonderful types of adobe huts.
I personally have thrown all my eggs into the basket of The temple of Understanding in Washington, which is seeking to build a house which will be a house of prayer for all peoples.
Tonight we do the “impossible” of putting on a joint Israeli-Christian-Arab dinner. Tomorrow we do the impossible of a joint Sufi-Yoga Dance festival. Then I leave for New York City, and may perhaps be reached through Father Haughey of the Roman Catholic magazine America. At Geneva I told people I was the incarnation of Lessing’s “Nathan the Wise.” Now the young people are working on a peace program based on this theme, or more properly the theme of Boccaccio’s “The Three Rings.”
I realize fully how red tape works, or impedes. I have not had a single answer from any prominent person who has been given a public award for his peace efforts. But that is the past. The young are associating with the young, and we are going to have some very non-violent peace programs instituted soon in this country.
If possible I may try to contact you at the UN buildings in New York, knowing full well how red tape stands in the way of any efforts of human beings to introduce peace and brotherhood.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
Sept. 23, 1970
Levi-Strauss and Co.
98 Battery St.
San Francisco, Ca. 94111
Dear Sirs:
This is just a report and we hope it may interest you, but it is not a request even for recognition.
My principal, Samuel L. Lewis, has become the heir to the estate of the late Jacob E. Lewis, who was so long connected with your firm. The money come into his hands at a time when he was not in particular need and the question became what he should do with them. He had written a paper on Vietnamese Buddhism which was rejected 33 times but was finally accepted by the Department of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of California. That week relations were restored with a former coworker now a retired General, Edward Lansdale, who is living in Washington, D.C., and writing a book on Vietnam. An agreement was made that Mr. Lewis would devote all his energies henceforth to peace in Palestine.
He has never been recognized in this part of the world and is not asking for any recognition become he belongs to a band of people which the future generations will recognize, and cause some shame. For example, there are constant headlines about Aswan Dam, an effort of the Communists, and there is never any mention of the successful Mangla Dam in Pakistan, built by a local corporation. Why local industries and local achievers should be bypassed has been beyond his comprehension.
It should be said here that Mr. Lewis has lived in both Pakistan and Egypt. While living in Egypt he had as travel companion one Gunnar Jarring of the UN, who said his proposals were the most sane he had ever contacted. On this point nearly all the so-called peace organizations differed, but there is no complaint on this point either.
Early this year Mr. Lewis went to a top-level conference of all the religions of the world at Geneva, Switzerland, and pretended he was an incarnation of Blessing’s “Nathan the Wise.” Evidently other people who listened to him drew quite other conclusions than the local groups who have never granted him any interviews. He received one apology after another from the top Rabbis and Ministers and they are all giving full cooperation in two endeavors:
A. Actual cultural exchange with many Asian groups who have been barred in this land, chiefly by that strange tribe, the non-American, non-Asian, experts on Asia. (Please note that Mr. Lewis is one of the few local fellows of the Royal Asiatic Society.)
B. His followers began to organize “Hallelujah! The Three Rings,” based on the story from Boccaccio which later was dramatized by the German Lessing. The activities of this group have already been recognized by Rabbis and clergymen—elsewhere.
Mr. Lewis has just established his own peace scholarship for the Department of Near East Language and Studies on the Berkeley campus. His peace plan calls for the recognition of the research and accomplishments of many engineers and scientists of the University or Multiversity of California.
Mr. Lewis has been very successful with his “Dances of Universal Peace”, this heritage, so to speak, from the late famous Miss Ruth St. Denis of Hollywood. He is introducing dances based on the spiritual aspects of all religions under the theme “Joy Without Drugs.”
Mr. Lewis has asked me to wrote, not for any personal assistance, but to hope having the Levi-Strauss Scholarship Fund, you will recognize the accomplishments of many quite unknown professors of the University and Multiversity.
Faithfully,
Melvin Meyer
Secretary to Samuel Lewis
Sept. 24, 1970
The World Institute Council
777 U.N. Plaza
New York City 10017
Dear Sirs:
I have received a copy of “Fields Within Fields….” and have been asked to comment on it. This is very difficult at the moment because I am preparing to depart for New York physically, which may make it possible to call upon you personally.
The superficial scanning would indicate you are actually operating in and with processes of integration. Actual integration, and not using that word as a subterfuge for various operations devious and otherwise.
A short comment will be made here, however, on “Evolution of the Mind and Human Potential.” Dr. Dunn has referred to Richard M. Bucke and his “Cosmic Consciousness.” Our culture pragmatically seems to have accepted as worthy just Englishmen and Americans and Hindus—the theories are always otherwise. Not only that, most persons who have written in this field have been more selective than savants in other fields.
For example, the anthropologist Dr. Meade has written an editorial against “mystics.” The word is not defined; the referents and about as obscurantic and antiscientific as could be. People with unpleasant dreams are called “mystics.” Great scholars like Dr. Radhakrishnan are ignored, and yet Dr. Radhakrishnan was selected as one of the seven greatest thinkers of the age.
There was an organization, started in Canada, virtually dedicated to Bucke’s and Walt Whitman’s “cosmic consciousness” but rejecting all objective evidence as to possibilities among humankind, and especially among the humankind other than a few self-selective and self-selecting Englishman, Americans, and Hindus. This in an age where much attention has been drawn to operative Zen Buddhism.
Al-Ghazzali, the Persian philosopher, wrote, “Sufism is based on experiences and not premises.” Sufism is a very basic form of Islamic mystic which terminates in cosmic conscious experiences. It has even been within the lives of the great Suleiman the Magnificent of Turkey and Akbar the great Mogul Emperor, but the study of Sufism has been practically barred in this land by an entente between British and European authorities, and pro-Israeli politicians.
Yes, I agree with the thesis of Dr. Dunn and with others. But honesty and both a scientific and mystical background makes me feel we should put more stress on living examples then on literary themes. Hoping to see you soon.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Nov. 16, 1970
Metaphysical Center
420 Sutter St.
San Francisco, Ca.
Dear Friends:
One has returned from a surprisingly successful trip to the East Coast. In fact, the very successes piled in so rapidly that we had to come West and will send representatives to New York and other places as soon as convenient. We also left a secretary there.
You will find enclosed a slip from our good friend Mr. Clive-Ross of England. At the earliest opportunity we want to acquaint you with Mr. Samuel Weiser of New York, if you are not already in touch with him. Mr. Weiser has a very successful New Age Book store, crowded with young people. But he is also republishing works on Sufism and Astrology and he occasionally publishes new age types of works on psychism and occultism.
We have made one slight change in our work here. Our dances of Universal Peace have been remarkably successful, overtaxing our ability. Indeed there will be a public bazaar in Sausalito in this regard on December 20. The Saturday night class is for those more advanced in mysticism and we are now rearranging our other classes, stressing astrology on Sunday afternoons and stressing the lighter aspects of our endeavors on Saturday afternoons.
We still think it is proper to have a special meeting for teachers of astrology only sometime to present to them our methods in both breathing and walking, but if you cannot arrange this, we will do it right at this house, not at one of your competitors. One feels that considerable amount of material regarded in the past as esoteric must be given to the public. We would rather do this in an orderly manner. We would rather do this in cooperation with extant groups, but we feel it has to be done in this New Age and would be glad to have any comments from you.
Dear Mr. Lewis.,
Re. the above, I get Clive-Ross’ lists every month & have been buying from him for about 10 years . Was in London in July myself.
Why this boost for Weiser’s. Most of their books can be obtained from us at the same prices & we now have 5 rooms, so please remember that I, too, am in the metaphysical book business.
Sincerely,
H.G. White
Nov. 20, 1970
Mr. H. G. White
Metaphysical Center 420 Sutter St.
San Francisco, Calif.
Dear H.G.:
I have noticed a footnote from you about our purchasing books from Weiser’s. I purchased books from only a single shelf—the shelf dedicated to Sufi literature, and not a single one of those books do you have.
I must call to your attention that Mr. Weiser himself is republishing Sufi books. These include some of the finest pieces of literature of all ages. They are not known to the general public. Some of them are hardly known to specialists.
No book of any kind was purchased that you have on your list.
I am still waiting a response for calling a meeting, a special private meeting of astrologers of this region. We have gone ahead with our astrological walks and dances and this program is going to be expanded into the field of rituals. So far this work has been confined only to disciples and applicants, but sooner or later it will become known publicly. We should prefer to work through existing organization such as your good self. We therefore hope that you will let us know if it is possible to call some private meeting of astrologers in the near feature.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis