Letters that help
The 18th of June, 1947
Mrs. Sophie Berg
New York City
Dear Disciple:
Thanks very heartily for your kind attentions.
Yes, I knew about the growing thing in my brain, but as usual, I never think of myself, and since I have no one to take of me, I must simply keep in toiling, and pick myself up when I´m down. My body is pretty sturdy yet. But it still is a material body, and it has a term of office, and at that it is luckier than I am, since I have a perpetual term to fulfill.
I had yesterday the package of nuts. It certainly was a treat. I had almost forgotten how they look, smell and taste. But what a nuisance it is to get things out of the Customs here, besides being rather expensive. The man who took it out from the Customs Office says he was five hours waiting for his turn, had to pay two Dollars fifty on it, and then lost his job because of the delays. Sorry for him, so now I have to make up with him. Decidedly, I do not want to receive anything from abroad. Once I received a shirt, and it cost me five dollars to get it out, while in Miami it had cost only three!...
Glad you found my articles in L´AUBE. They are signed Swami Jñanakanda, Aung Maung, and Anagarika Lhasshekankrakrya. That is the title I was known by when I visited N.Y. in 1933.
Yes, we do have all Europe humming with work. I usually find the right people at the right moment, and for the right place. I have Ambassadors and Legates, as well as Consuls in every country. Pretty soon, the whole world will be aflame with our Sacred Spiritual Renaissance. I am the great kindler now.
Re Mr. Berg´s trip, conditions will be better for him after July, and after the first week of August. Otherwise his voyage will be adverts. I said this not to trip to be pleased, but so as to have you all warned, and forearmed. When we meet he will see clearer into the future.
My trip to Asia is pressing. I feel like if I do not get the visa to USA, I will have to go anyhow. However, I would prefer to have that visa and see Mr. Truman and other higher Officials, as well as the UNO delegates for Asia ere I go East. This is most important because I want to swing Asia toward America. England cannot give us anything better than she has already given, and Russia must be prevented form coming our way. My representative in Rome has already approached the Vatican in the respect and it is possible that soon we will enter a Concordat for mutual respect and support. Communism is ruthless, and these demons know no scruples.
I do love music. Nothing special that I would like you to bring to me.
I really am neglecting my health too much. But my work is so absorbing, and the task is so trying and depleting.
I certainly want this Wesak Message printed forthwith. In France it is already under press, and press reports have it as one of the best contemporary contributions to Spiritual investigation and development. I intend having it published here in Cuba if you do not find ways to publish it in New York. I seem to need it before my starting for the East, because it characterizes my work in this tragic turn of history.
My health will be restored soon. In fact, I am not even a 100th % dead. My rest has restored my youth, so to say, and people say that I am like a chameleon. True, I am stubborn, but I still have a Mission to accomplish, and this comes first.
My book here is fast progressing. It may be out in two weeks if I can go down to the printers personally soon to make final indications. Here they don’t know a word of English, so it is al a guess work for them.
Since writing you last, I had a cable from Asia requesting my immediate presence at New Delhi. If Washington gave me a temporary visa, just to stay a few days in the States prior to my going East, a sort of transit visa. I would accomplish miracles galore. Do you think the lawyer can get this for me, at once? In this event your plans would have to be postponed, and carried out in the States, prior to my embarking for the Orient by plane. This change of program is somewhat awkward, but events are pressing, and I must be in India before the 15th of August.
I´ll leave my mountain “retraite” soon for events require my presence. Work is stimulating to me, and in India I´ll get cured only by breathing this peerless pure air of the Himalayan ranges. Yes, the war is around the corner, but we are pressing to avert it. If you read well the letter and assist me in my petition you will soon realize the importance of what I surmise.
Is the lawyer trustworthy? How do you see him? Has he the right contacts in Washington could he interest official quarters about my propositions? Can he, at least obtain a transit visa for me? This last point is important, because if this is not available, I´ll have to take a boat, and right away, since it would take me much more time to reach over there (Asia).
Rest assured about my health. It is improving fast. It is the climate in general under my present strain that is not suitable for me, specially Havana, and, of course the lack of proper diet. Drs. coaxed me into accepting radiotherapy. I let them have their way three days, then stood on my own and threw the whole business over-board. I do better on my own.
Well, I trust I´ll have more and better news from you are long. Best of wishes, and have my highest Blessings
Pr. OM Lind Schernrezig
The 25th of June 1947
Mrs. Sophie Berg
New York
Dear Disciple:
Just got yours of the 16th and I get the news.
My typewriter just went bang, so here I write on a stranger. May you understand it.
Mr. Berg may be able to go to Europe soon under more favorable conditions. Of course, he can go whenever he pleases, but on his own responsibilities. There would be no sense us helping people if they finally did as they very well whined.
I intend going to some Hot springs, from here. Havana is much too infernally hot for me right now. I simply cannot stand the heat. It is an oven. I will let you know where it is, soon, so that you may write to me directly there, since it is rather distant from the Capital. I want to go there more to get out of a dozen of Dr. friends here who want to make me believe that I am in a very bad health conditions, when the fact is they are trying to get a case on me to open up my innards or to just make me really sick. I´m simply bored with their silly self-sufficiency. Of course, they know nothing about me, except socially. I believe I´ll be able to break the shackles here in the first week of July.
I understand all you say. Rest assured that I know all these things, even though I do not always follow them. I often dissent with my own teachings, because one thing in to give for those who are going ahead, and another the needs of the one that has to remain behind to help others get ahead.
No use trying to send or bring anything to Cuba. It is all so expensive at the Custom house. Within the rotter conditions we live here the best is yet to buy things here if we can, and if there is any. Conditions are such that Lidice or the Unter den Liden must look like a paradise in comparison with the harrowing trials we have here in order to live. Just think of here, right in the backyard of New York! It is like being in central Africa!
I sent the cuts for the printing of the MESSAGE. If you do not do it, however. I will have to get them back. Here it costs $3.15 cts each page. It has about 100 pages, so we know what it takes, and my mind is set to have it made or I start for the States or anywhere else. Please inform me about your final decision as to this matter. Here, printers trust me and need no advance money. Still I have to pay them, and I do not like to run up bills. But I can always go-ahead printing books whenever I please.
Enclosed two copies, rather important. Please return them. They tell a tale.
I feel a little better, only the heat suffocates me, and the environment is simply atrocious.
Best of wishes, and have my highest Blessings.
P.D. – Did you get my copy of message to Mr. Truman? I´m sending you another one.
