The Thomas Merton Center at Bellarmine University

MERTON'S CORRESPONDENCE WITH:
Aiken, John W., Dr., 1902-

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Descriptive Summary

Record Group: Section A - Correspondence

Dates of materials: 1967

Volume: 4 item(s); 5 pg(s)

Scope and Content

In this short exchange of letters, Merton discusses with Aiken the legitimacy of mystical states induced by psychedelic drugs.

Biography

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Related Information and Links

Other Finding Aids

If the person in correspondence with Merton has full text records in the Merton Center Digital Collections, there will be a numeric link to them below.
   

Series List

This Record Sub-Group is not divided into Series and is arranged chronologically.

Container List

SeriesDateTypeTo/FromFirst LinesPubFull TextNotes
 1967/07/12 (#01)TLSto MertonI want to express my appreciation of your paper. A NEW CHRISTIAN CONSCIOUSNESS, as excerpted in THE  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
 1967/07/12 (#02)TL[c]to FriendsAfter 26 years in the practice of medicine, we retired in February 1964 to travel, lecture and share  enclosure to 1967/07/12 letter / lists titles of lectures given, such as: "Exploring Inner Space", "Reincarnation & Karma", "Psychedelics & Self-Realization", etc.
 1967/07/12 (#03)otherto MertonWe were both born in Pennsylvania, 1n [sic] 1902, and have both graduated from Penn State University  Biographical statement of John W. Aiken, B.A., D.O. and Louisa V. Aiken, B.A., D.O. / enclosure to 1967/07/12 letter
 1967/08/14 TL[c]from MertonThanks for your interesting letter of July 12. As you may imagine, I am having a hard time keeping  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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