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In this short exchange of letters, Merton discusses with Aiken the legitimacy of mystical states induced by psychedelic drugs.
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Click icons for links: ✓="Published | Library Record", ✉="Scanned" | 🗷="Scanned, Viewable Only at Merton Center"
| # | Date | From/To | First Lines | Pub ✓ | Notes |
| | y/m/d | Merton | | Scan ✉ | |
| 1. |
1967/07/12 (#01) |
TLS to Merton |
I want to express my appreciation of your paper. A NEW CHRISTIAN CONSCIOUSNESS, as excerpted in THE |
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practicing vs. theoretical mystics / Prof. Asrani of India - the "Inner Kingdom" and Sahaj State / response to Merton's statement that drugs could be a substitute for self-transcendence or love / Aiken sees LSD as useful
«detailed view» |
| 2. |
1967/07/12 (#02) |
TL[c] to Friends |
After 26 years in the practice of medicine, we retired in February 1964 to travel, lecture and share |
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enclosure to 1967/07/12 letter / lists titles of lectures given, such as: "Exploring Inner Space", "Reincarnation & Karma", "Psychedelics & Self-Realization", etc.
«detailed view» |
| 3. |
1967/07/12 (#03) |
other to Merton |
We were both born in Pennsylvania, 1n [sic] 1902, and have both graduated from Penn State University |
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Biographical statement of John W. Aiken, B.A., D.O. and Louisa V. Aiken, B.A., D.O. / enclosure to 1967/07/12 letter
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| 4. |
1967/08/14 |
TL[c] from Merton |
Thanks for your interesting letter of July 12. As you may imagine, I am having a hard time keeping |
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correspondence with Aldous Huxley and Gerald Heard about drugs / "you are right in saying that 'careful and occasional use' of psychedelics can be quite helpful." / Peyote as a way to "sacramentally" connect with Indians / latter day messianic cults
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