Diary 1963 - Murshid Sam's Living Stream

Diaries 1963-4And there is also the after-Goddard possibility of a retreat in the Santa Barbara region. I didfind one Dorrance Goddard living in Thetford, Vermont, and must write him soon.Excuse this long-winded and somewhat negative report. It is for the record. The worst part ofthe whole thing, to me, was the finale when Rev. JM listened to me. I should have preferred a rejection.I do not wish to disturb Roshi Suzuki here, but you are free to keep this communication private,limited or public as you are fit.It would be a great thing for JM to have some humility, otherwise he is going to repeat the historyof the late Tai Hsu, the Chinese monk, who wanted a monastery, and he went one way and theSangha another—result, nothing at all.One must end with Gilbert & Sullivan (“Life would be extremely flat, if you’re nothing whateverto grumble at.”)While JM negatives I’ll say:May all beings be peaceful,May all beings be blissful,May all beings be happy.SAMSunday was meditating about withdrawal from all groups. Since attending Sunday school asa child I have been treated as a novice almost everywhere and wasted more time listening to stuff Ialready knew and never being permitted to express, excepting under unusual conditions. But afterthe service to my surprise Rev. Too Lun summoned me and asked me to explain the Sanskrit termsboth to the Chinese and English. This is excellent, for I have no wish to be leader but equally disdainfloundering in uncertainty or ignorance.Lottie goes regularly and Christian Sigeliev is expected shortly.