Diary 1963 - Murshid Sam's Living Stream

Diaries 1963-2Anthropology Dept. Etc. After leaving Strong went to this department to show them copy ofThe Religion of Java by Clifford Geertz. This is another one of those things. This book was publishedby U. C., written by a U. C. professor who lived among Asians and has written a detailed, factual,objective report and it has no standing! Fellow victim, fellow-sufferer but the ladies there did notexactly embrace me physically. It increases my prestige when I find these things out. In the otherparts of the campus Geertz is unknown, just a long string of the real Americans who go to real Asiaand have real findings.Paul above said, “Sam, do you know what is wrong?” Then he put his hand over his heart.But we spend billions of dollars and get nowhere and here is one of our top foreign aid men in totalagreement.Next step is to meet Prof. Mendelbaum, authority on India. He was away. (Note: Puck had hishand here. Have two friends who work for the department. Honesty is always the next to the bestpolicy. The first is, be successful.)Then showed the people in the S. Asian and Far East Departments my picture at the stupa ofBuddha.Comparative Religions. Some time ago I placed before Swami Kriyananda a plan for studyingSepher Ha Zohar and comparing it with Indian materials. He wants collaboration but said he couldnot find a peaceful place—and he goes around as a Swami!Strong placed before me his detailed plans and this means I can go to California and work on apaper which would get recognition. There is no problem for me.Chaudhuri. In preparing to meet Strong I found a lot of excellent material on Sri Aurobindo,and planned to send it. Bat I received a letter from Haridas setting forth his plans so have writtenhim in some detail.The way he was treated at the last conference on Asia was a shame, and I am half afraid itwill happen again so will soon be taking this up. People ask me if I am using him, yes. Why not?He presided at the funeral service for the Indian Consulate showing he has official approval. But ifMoore or Northrup show up I am willing to face arrest. The counter balance is simply I shall go inthe Murshid’s robe and then people will watch. So I am going to write Strong about people with realcredentials or else.On the agenda also is letter to Shahab. Am playing my cards one by one but having them, thereis no fear. Now have practically every Asian community in S.F. for me, whatever that means … stoppinghere.Visit to UAR consulate excellent so plan for Terry Duce all in order. Check arrived, making upfor definite of last two months.