60 Harriet St.,
San Francisco 3, Calif.
May 9, 1954
Sir S. Radhakrishnan,
Vice-President of India,
Government offices, New Delhi, India.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing here with a paper called “Bharatism” which has been written with the hope that it may be a step toward alleviating the misunderstandings which have arisen between our respective nations.
I am, Sir, an old friend of the late Ram Lal Channon of this city, whom I had known for many years. At the present time I am studying with Dr. Haridas Chaudhuri of the University of Bengal and disciple of Sri Aurobindo Ghose. I am also known to Mrs. Henry Grady of this city, wife of the Ambassador.
While the point of view of the article enclosed is as if it were, my own, it has been written to exemplify the possibility of an American understanding some of the vast underlying spirit which may be connoted by the word “Bharata.” While you, Sir, are being accepted by leaders in the West as a great intellectual leader, the specific principles which you have been advocating are, as yet, not so well understood.
I was therefore delightfully surprised to learn that you uphold Bhagavan Das and Aurobindo as among the great philosophers of the world, a point on which I am totally in accord.
I have also written an epic for India which I am going to revise because of the added knowledge gained by studying with Dr. Chaudhuri. The title is “Siva! Siva!” It has been read by members of the local consulates all of whom are my good friends.
It is quite possible that my private affairs may result in my obtaining sufficient funds to be used in promoting international good-will. I have, in my life, faced the disciplines of Sufism, Yogi and Vedanta, perhaps something rare in the career of an Occidental, yet remain, in many respects primarily an intellectual, quite capable of enjoying your writings and such works as “Contemporary Indian Philosophy.”
May I conclude by saying’ “Jai Hind.”
Faithfully.
Samuel L. Lewis
106 Ethel Ave.,
Mill Valley, Calif.
November 19, 1957
Hon. S. Radhakrishnan,
Central Government of India, New Delhi, India
Dear Vice-President Radhakrishnan:
I have been gradually purchasing your writing and more recently those of Ambassador Boyles. Although at the present time I have yet to abstract a number of articles from my diary, and even to write two books, there are so many avenues by which the ancient-wisdom-teachings of the East may be synthesized with the modern-wisdom-teachings of the West, that one at least desires to make notes while inspirations are fresh in mind.
I only wish to call one incident to your attention here. While visiting the Forestry Station at Dehra Dun, I asked may host: Show me Shiva and Shakti in that tree!” He didn’t answer and when these were translated into modern botanical terms, he was overjoyed. Much later I copied a number of notes of the work of the Jagadish Bose Foundation which I did not visit last year.
Some months ago I gave a complete report to the Gradys and saw the late Ambassador just a short while before he left on his final voyage. He had become almost saintly, and perhaps more than almost. India did leave a final and very beautiful mark on him.
I am writing just a few reflections on the recent UNESCO conference held in San Francisco. Time does not permit a private citizen to get off lasting and valuable reports with any immediacy to all his friends and contacts in foreign lands. I could have gone as representative of no less than five publications, but choice instead, to represent the Chisti Sufis.
The plenary sessions were excellent and I think did much to promote real appreciation of Asia by Americans and a little of the United States by Asians. I have too high opinion of Madame Pundit to escape being one of the throng who wished to be drawn into her enthusiastic if not inspired remarks. Considering her as one of the greatest woman of all time I can make, and again do not wish to make any evolution.
My studies in Vedanta have led me to utilize a scaffold of
Sattva integrative outlook
Rajas descriptive outlook
Tamas .. analytical outlook
This may not be true, or it may be, but it is one I apply.
The section which was to devote itself to Religion and Philosophy as a means of bringing the United States and Asia together was managed and directed, to say the least, by Dr. Charles Moore. I know you have cooperated and no doubt corresponded with this man. His zest, his interest, his desires far outweigh both has actual knowledge and sagacity. When I said to him: “This reminds one of Fatehpur Sikri!” he looked at me rudely and said: “What are you talking about?” He refused to permit me to ask any questions from the floor, but as this was also true of the man who had come from Katmandu and others of equal importance, there is nothing to add.
106 Ethel Ave.,
Mill Valley, Calif.
19th June, 1958
My dear Dr. Radhakrishnan,
An outburst of temper is very strange motivation for resuming a correspondence. From the context it should not happen at all. But it did. There were no witnesses but “God” and He quickly showed me the “right way” so no one was hurt, perhaps not even my ego.
I have been reading avidly everything written about India since 1953, no matter what the subject or who the writer. This covers a vast array of materiel into which it is not necessary to go. Recently the Mill Valley Public Library has added several new books and I have been especially interested in those written by men of African lineage who have been briefed and sent forth to combat the Propaganda of “racism” in the United states. Of course they have been ineffective. They have not been keen enough to note that they were challenges mostly by persons who themselves have been guilty of “racism” or its equivalent.
They have been especially obtuse in their reactions to Prime Minister Nehru. The remarks by one Carl T. Rowan of the University of Minnesota, and representative of “The Minneapolis Tribune” brought forth this wrath. When it subsided I was compelled to draw these conclusions, not very flattering to my country:
1. The Scribes and the Pharisees are no different today than they were at the time of Jesus Christ and it is doubt whether any remarks of that time cannot be equally applied today. Scribes almost universally have a “guinea-pig” attitude of humanity. This is not greatly altered whether their political views coincide with those of the Kremlin or Mr. Malan of America of even your country. I have a rather dim view of the Press of your country. Mr. Rowan gives me to understand that there is a near censorship but I have never anything witnessed a censorship which did not permit the publication of facts favorable to the government and its leaders. When the Press does not print the most favorable reports, one wonders when there can be objectivity.
2. The whole Western world has failed to take into consideration the meaning of the word “Pharisees.” It has two possible translations but they agree in meaning. The one is that if it is of Hebrew derivation it means “dividers” and if it is not it means “Presianists.” But the Persians themselves were dualists—or dividers. And I think that nearly all the Western world, and this certainly includes both Russian and the United states are “dividers.”
3. When Russians and Americans and Europeans are not downright dualists, they tend to be dialecticians. Of course Marx claimed to be a dialectician, although a good deal of his material is based on objective observation and objective research (of Engles). Marx’s methods have not been transmitted to his so-called followers; the philosophy based on his thought, and therefore derivative of it has survived. In other words we can almost certain expect of the Western world both a philosophy and a psychology based on dualism, dialectics and differentiation, or analysis.
4. Asians, by and large, have made “reality” other than the immediate sense-world. They tend to be Eclectics, Synthesists, Internationalists, etc. This is not immediately observable or noticed in debates or in symposium.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad
Radhakrishnan [date unknown, first page missing]
1.”The Lotus and the Universe” is in answer to Koester’s “The Lotus and the Robot.” It is based on spiritual experiences of peoples I have met, or at the most it goes back to Sri Ramakrishna. It is in defiance of the dialectical methods, of the blind acceptance in America of bizarre interpretations of the folk-ways of Chinese monks a millennium back as exemplifying “Zen”; and of presenting instead factual evidence with living or recently late persons.
2. “How California Can Help Asia” is more ameliorative because all the scientists and infusionists met have not only been receptive but actually cooperative. The difference between the scientific-man and pragmatic-man on the hand and the dialecticians and metaphysicians on the other, is very pronounceable.
I am doing all the spade work myself and am living according to the standards of your predecessor. He is a man whom I not only have admired, but whose “spiritual biography” was fed to me piecemeal in sundry places.
Most fortunate has been my experience with regard to the Soil Problems of your land. With a strange immediacy, veiled by Jung’s “synchronicity” I have met in sundry parts of the world one expert after another who has been concerned with the soil problems of India and also have received from various quarters mostly your own country and mine, practically all the most recent materials. My first paper, “How Organic Gardening is Stopping Communism in Kerala” has been demanded by the scientists—snubbed by the dialecticians, metaphysicians and press, so far. But I think that day of negativity is drawing to a close.
It is not only that Prime Minister Nehru has been “shocked” by the turn of events (I am not so sure), but I am quite sure that a number of Americans are awakening to realities, realities they have not heretofore faced. I have long since heard Prof. Rostow, whom I admire, and his world is coming to the fore, though he has to face the same quandaries expressed above.
Details in these matters are being discussed with the Department of South Asian Studies, University of California, with the Consulate of India here in San Francisco, and shortly I hope with Asia Foundation, whose present director, Mr. Russell G Smith, is former employer, and a later “patron.”
I am also delighted to see the progress of movements dedicated to Integration. It seems quite clear now that the efforts of Sri Aurobindo and those of contemporary philosophers in this country are being united, though in strange ways and sometimes in strange places (e.g. Ghana).
No answer is necessary to this communication, as I realized you are both a very much occupied and dedicated man.
Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
772 Clementina St.
San Francisco, Calif. 94103
3rd October, 1966
To His Excellency Hon. S. Radhakrishnan.
President of India
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi 4, India
Your Excellency:
It had not been my purpose to carry on any further correspondence after the receipt of your kind letter of September 16. It was very encouraging, no doubt and was carried to be used on some errands at dr. Hutchin’s Center for the Study of Democratic Institute at Santa Barbara.
The original intention was to visit the celebrated scientist. Dr. Linus Pauling who feels that there is a higher intelligence guiding this world; and along with that to propose Peace principles, which may be acted upon, including more of the human beings who live in Vietnam and adjacent countries, and less of ideas which come from afar.
This meeting was delayed due to the transfer of Bishop Pike to that Institution and an agreement that a meeting should be held with most of the staff instead of with each individual separately. One is also encouraged because Bishop Pike is playing a large role in and for the Temple of Understanding of our very good friend, Mrs. Judith Hollister and I have been asked to serve as cultural advisor. For although unknown to the country at large and rejected (till recently) by most of the Universities, from the literary as well as “by attainment this person has some pretty good views from the Peak.
Although generally acting in the Fudo role, one manifested more of Kwan Yin and Samantabhadra in speaking on “Vietnamese Buddhism,” a subject which will also be discussed at the center after almost unanimous rejection by any and all Americans of any and all views anent the poor Vietnamese peasants.
It is notable that in visiting the University of California at Santa Barbara as well as in telephonic conversations with the center, there was a remarkable favorable response to studying the Sciences of Breath, which are only emotionalized or superficially treated in this land. Whereas our metaphysical and theological friends emote and stop, the scientists wish to learn more. And in my next missions this subject which I call “Pranavada” will be opened. (The Sufis call it “Pasi Anfas.”
One returned suddenly to the devotion at our good friend Sri Haridas Chaudhuri’s Ashram to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday.
There was an excellent address by the Cultural Attaché, Consul Dhar of the Consulate here in San Francisco. He also reminded us of the Centennial Jayanti for the Mahatma in a few years and I shall write to Mrs. Hollister and her associates on this point. This is largely due to the acceptance by the Temple of Understanding of the Scriptures of all religions. It is also in line with Sri Chaudhuri’s talk on Gandhi’s universality.
The second reason for returning was to pay respect to Sri Haridas as a representative of the Integral Yoga and Integral Philosophy of Sri Aurobindo. As written elsewhere, one decided to “the dew-drop melts into the shiny sea” experience and by melting into Sri Aurobindo one came into the Vedic consciousness.
I have inferred to the Flute-of-Krishna. I know this flute in two aspects:
a. Krishna plays upon the devotes, whereupon he becomes a flute and the music of the universe pours through him.
b. The devotee plays upon Sri Krishna whereupon he experiences the different planes of consciousness as described, for instance in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Or in the blessed Gita.
Some day no doubt the metaphysical and theological people will listen to some mystic or other and stop writing confusing articles about experiences, which they have not had. It is certain at the moment that the scientists accept these experiences and the metaphysical and theological people do not.
The strength of His Holiness, the Pope, comes in washing peoples feet. I know a man who is very skilled at cleaning sewers and drains and emptying human excrement and cleaning floors—that is how I met our mutual friend Swami Maharaj Ranganathananda. I wish some American could learn from that.
Love and blessings,
Samuel L. Lewis
(Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti)
Jan. 25, 1970
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
“Girija”
30 Edward Elliot Road
Mylapore, Madras. 4
Dear Dr. Radhakrishnan:
I hope this finds you well. The celebration of Indian Independence Day brings forth the rosiest promises of the life. You may realize that until recently celebrations of Asian holidays in this land was in the hands of a group verbalized as “exports,” men proud of their prowess, fame-seekers, etc., with very little knowledge of anything outside their own careers. Now the Indian students themselves have taken over the celebrations of their own Independence Day. The old faces are no longer there. It would seem, so to speak, that humanity is coming into its own, and one looks forward with great hope to the possibility not only of real cultural exchange, but even more, toward the solution of the problems of the day, when those who have the answers will no longer be thwarted by gentlemen of self-esteem posing as experts, and receiving plaudits when often they themselves are very ignorant.
There is no need denying that India has problems, but I don’t think this is important of itself, or a danger either to your people or to the world. The first speaker yesterday was Swami Swahananda. He is a direct pupil of our very good friend Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj. I have a very difficult time listening to him, seeming to become all tears, and all heart in his presence. Perhaps this is as it should be. We have had too much verbalization, and too few accomplishments.
The next speaker was a Dr. Lal of this city, a very old friend, who has also been a guest of your country. While he spoke on science in contemporary India he failed to answer my question as to whether he had been to Poona or knew about the contemporary progress in certain sciences in your country. This was most unfortunate, as he was making a plan for humanism, and he failed to recognize the very high intellectual standards of the majority of the audience. Many in the audience knew far more of this subject matter. His plea for humanism failed therefore. Personally I think many of the students really accept the spiritual philosophy which has been so well preserved in your land. In any event, the young people have accepted my own background and foreground in the wisdom of your land, something some of your more nature by age countryman have refused even to examine. This means for me personally a new career in those fields to which my life has been dedicated. Coupled with this is the possibility of two further inheritances, which cannot be shared, because those who want financial help simply will not accept the prowess of another person, they prefer to go without money.
This is insane, because there is now a national campaign led by a former professor from Harvard University, now known as Baba Ram Dass. His birth name was Richard Alpert, and he was one of the top intellects of the whole country. He has been to India, and experienced spiritual transmutation and transformations so often verbalized, so seldom experienced by those of manas-ahankara outlooks. I think sooner or later the world must recognize the infinite potentialities of humanity itself fulfilling the predictions of the late Aurobindo and many others, but not always in the manner the books declare.
Tentatively the next project is the conference of The Temple of Understanding. Throughout my life it seems I have been drawn into such projects, but have not been able to attend the conferences. Today I feel that emotional and spiritual security so necessary to help promote something more than the verbal nonsense called “peace with justice.” You will readily assent that the true peace is a power within that comes in and with spiritual awakening. In the past months I have contacted more and more spiritually awakened persons of all faiths, and by the term all faiths I mean no figment of hyperbolic imagination but actual persons and personalities who have come this way; plus actual personalities of higher evolution exactly as predicted by the late Sri Aurobindo and rejected by the followers of the some sage. I have no intentions to impose upon cultists the Biblical statement, “The stone which is rejected is become the cornerstone;” or the teachings of Shankaracharya who unlike most Hindus and non-Hindus, recognized Brahm in everybody.
My immediate activity has been the successful raising of consciousness of the young by means of Dervish and Mantric dances. This is real Yoga. In fact I have had to close my dance classes on account of the large attendance, and my next projects include training teachers to go out and help others. To me, what is necessary has been the integration of Emperor Akbar and Mahatma Gandhi, but the noisiest of the so-called integrationists reject even the existence of Emperor Akbar. This comes also at a time when difficult Indian dance teachers here, contrary to the cultists, are proclaiming Akbar. We ourselves have been most fortunate in gaining the adhesion of an Indian dances teacher who found the young people most amenable in accepting both her dance patterns and the devotional doctrines and mantrams behind them.
A copy of this letter is, among others, being sent to Prof. Richard Kozicki of the University of California who has been compiling all the literature which would make possible of my theme How California Can Help Asia. Of course to perfect this it would need the counter-theme of How Asia Can Help California. There is every sign this is coming about and much more. We are coming I believe into an age of objectification of Vijnanavada and Anandavada. Indeed this is The New Age.
With all assurances of good will,
Most Sincerely,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti
April 27, 1970
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
“Girija”
30 Edward Elliot Road
Mylapore, Madras 4 India
Dear Ram:
There are dramas in life and sometimes they are cosmic comedies.
My secretary and I have just returned from a month’s absence. We went first to a conference of all the world’s religions held under the auspices of The Temple of Understanding with which you are acquainted. It was really a marvelous undertaking: to have the real religions of the real world coming together. Coming together under and with their actual leaders, coming together in spirits of love and devotion such as has seldom occurred in the history of the world. Indeed to me the only thing missing, if you went to call it that, was your personal presence.
The role of Vivekananda was fulfilled, and marvelously fulfilled, by our wonderful good friend Swami Ranganathananda Maharaj. He performed even a finer role even Swami Vivekanada did at Chicago years ago. He has always talked and talked incessantly about Vivekananda, but for years he has been my Vivekananda. He won the good will of all, and was undoubtedly the dominant figure, the dominant figure amid and among some of the finest spiritual leaders of the living world.
There was also present our god friend Princess Poon Diskul Pismai. She was given also some prominence, but is getting old. Besides this, there were many other Buddhists there, the most influential being the representative of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, whose very atmosphere and magnetism illustrated and demonstrated the true pure Dharma which us beyond and above words and thoughts and means and ahankara.
There was a large delegation from India, all sorts of representatives apparently financed by the Birla Family. We met the Birla family on the accord day and have them copy of our “The Rejected Avatar.” He was so moved that the next day he sent his son with thanks.
There is a far cry from the mere repetition of “Hare Krishna …” and the divine spiritual realization which is possible for all men. Uniting them to, in, with, into Sri Krishna in reality. This to me is the Yoga. Neither the subtle gymnastics nor the obtuse books represent to me any yoga, but I feel a whole world is evolving; mankind is becoming more intelligent; and the young Americans of the day innately know more about the Dharma than the intellectuals of the previous generation. We met so many spiritual leaders and also received profound apologies from leaders who have disdained to acknowledge correspondence while proclaiming verbally, but not otherwise, spiritual and moral philosophies. This will no longer do. It is an age which demands, and will receive, honest, integrity and nobility. There were too many personalities present who had such honesty, nobility and integrity. Besides that they were the very ones selected to be the board of directors for the coming year—I should say without a single exception.
Real honesty, real integrity, real morality are coming to leadership, and this is a great step forward.
After we left Geneva we went to London and were given receptions at the Royal Asiatic Society and World Congress of Faiths, your good friends. We also met a number of outstanding Orientalists, especially Marco Pallis who is so beloved by all. Much of the rest of the time was spent with the young, with the New Age young who have taken to our spiritual dances with a zest hardly foreseeable by more mature personalities. There is no question that the youth of today are keenly concerned with spiritual development. East and West are no longer so far apart.
Our return only furthers this possibility. We were the guests of a new East West center in Boston. Massachusetts. Although our coming had not been advertised we had such large audiences we expect to return, and also to contact in better fashion the Vedanta Temple in that region. Everything points to hope, and better possibilities for better human relations. Once we remove the emotional orators and rather pompous commentators out of the picture we can look for a better world. The young will bring it.
Before leaving we had a Spring Festival here, quite unadvertised, in which 200 young people joined in the spiritual dances, mostly Sufic and Mantric. We are having a May Day Festival as a homecoming. We are also working for real peace, to bring together the common people of warring lands, without any interference by meddling emotionalists and ignorant diplomats. With God’s help we think this can be done. With all love and appreciation of your life’s work.
Faithfully,
Samuel L. Lewis
Sufi Ahmed Murad Chisti