| Series | Date | Type | To/From | First Lines | Pub | Full Text | Notes |
| | 1959/09/02 | TALS | to Nicholas Heer | I have come to know you through Mr. Nooruddin Shoreibah (of 3, Ali Galal Street, Manial, Cairo - UAR | |
| editing of Hakim Tirmizi's work / Islamic mysticism / Sufism / al-Muhasibi / Kharraz / Junaid / Hujwiri / Louis Massignon / al-Kubra / Ibn Arabi / asking about state of research into Islamic mysticism in the U.S. / names of U.S. Orientalists |
| | 1959/11/18 | HLS | from Heer, Nicholas / to Abdul Aziz | Let me first apologize for not answering your letter of 22 September 1959 before this. I am | |
| sending article similar to introduction to <i>Bayan al-Farq</i> / Hakim Tirmizi / Tasawwuf / not much interest in Islamic mysticism in America |
| | 1959/12/17 | TALS | to Nicholas Heer | I am in receipt of your letter dated the 18th November and I am extremely grateful to you for | |
| Ithbat al-'Ilal / suggestions of what Heer should include in forthcoming book / Shah Waliullah of Delhi / manuscripts of Tirmizi's work / Ismail Sahib / obtaining Sufi works from various collections / Aziz's plans for book on Sufism |
| | 1960/01/25 | TALS | to Nicholas Heer | I had replied to your letter dated 18th November 1959 on 17th December 1959, and I hope you would | |
| manuscript of Ithbat al-Ilal of Hakim Tirmizi / obtaining other Sufi texts from various collections / "The World of Islam" dedicated to Prof. P.K. Hitti / requests list of Princeton Univ.'s oriental text series |
| | 1960/11/01 | TALS | to Merton | I am in correspondence with a Prof. Louis Massignon of Paris, the common bond of correspondence | |
| Islamic mysticism, Sufism / Christian mysticism - <i>The Ascent to Truth</i>, St. John of the Cross / Hindu Yoga / Fr. Paul Nwyia / Ibn Abbad / how to obtain Merton's books and other books on mysticism |
| | 1960/11/17 (#01) | TALS[x] | from Merton | It was a pleasure for me to receive your good letter and I am certainly grateful to our mutual | Yes |
| not sending <i>Seeds of Contemplation</i> due to early ignorance of Sufism that Merton hopes to correct in <i>New Seeds</i> / Husayn Mansur Hallaj and Rumi / Nwyia's book on John of the Cross and Ibn Abbad / recommended books / Imam Riza |
| | 1960/11/17 (#02) | HNS[x] | from Merton | to Abdul Aziz - very cordially T. Merton | Yes |
| [notecard with the poem, "Wisdom" and Merton's signature] |
| | 1960/12/20 | TALS | to Merton | I am extremely grateful to you for your very helpful and affectionate reply to my earlier letter. | |
| background on Imam Riza and the Shiahs / Merton's poem on "wisdom" / asks for background on Trappist Order, Our Lady of Gethsemani, and Our Lady of Fatima (origin of Fatima, a Muslim name) / background on Ibn Abbad of Ronda / Paul Nwyia |
| | 1961/01/30 (#01) | TALS[x] | from Merton | Your admirable letter of December 20th reached me promptly and I was deeply touched by your | Yes |
| Imam Riza - poem from Cincinnati Museum / Al Ansari / Taoism / Trappist life / solitary life at Gethsemani analogous to Sufis and orthodox Muslim community legalism / significance of Mary for Gethsemani and at Fatima / Islamic revival |
| | 1961/01/30 (#02) | other | from Merton | Here is the threshold of holiness in the dust of the road / Where mighty kings have laid their heads | |
| "Fragment of poem from the Tomb Cover of Imam Riza (Cincinnati Museum)", Xeroxed copy of attachment to 1961/01/30 letter |
| | 1961/03/08 | TALS | to Merton | I was greatly pleased to receive your letter last month and regret that due to official | |
| quotes Louis Massignon in stating Merton a "'simurgh', (a very rare bird) among [his] Order" / Muslim "Night of Power" / similarity between John of the Cross and Hakim Tirmizi / interest in mystical prayer in Islam / Imam Riza poem |
| | 1961/05/13 (#01) | TALS[x] | from Merton | It has been a long time since I received your good letter of March 8th. The books took a great | Yes |
| Titus Burckhardt on Sufism / reading Ibn Arabi to theology students / Sir M. Iqbal / criticism of John of the Cross and Moroccan mystic book / E. Allison Peers / Tawhid and Rhenish and Flemish mystics of the 14th century - Eckhart, influenced by Avicenna |
| | 1961/05/13 (#02) | other | | Like a jeweled peacock he stirs all over / With fireflies. He takes his pleasure in / Lights. He is | |
| poem attached to 1961/05/13 letter "THE MOSLEMS' ANGEL OF DEATH / (Algeria 1961)" |
| | 1961/09/24 | TALS[x] | from Merton | It is a very long time since I have had a letter from you and I am beginning to think that something | Yes |
| Sufi book on truthfulness / Henri Corbin's book on Ibn Arabi / Greek fathers and the <i>theoria physike</i>, "natural contemplation" / Wisdom (Sophia) / Kashf Al-Majub / sending Cuadra letter / nuclear weapons / Third World / situation in Pakistan |
| | 1961/11/15 | TLS | from Douglas, Elmer H. / to Nicholas Heer | Some time ago I received a letter from one of your correspondents in Pakistan, Mr. Abdul Aziz. He | |
| <u>Muslim World</u> containing Heer's four articles on "A Sufi Psychology" / Illal al-Ibadat / off-prints of Bayan |
| | 1961/11/18 | TALS | to Merton | 1. I am in receipt of both your letters as well as a copy of your open letter to Cuadra. In the | |
| Sirdar Iqbal Ali Shah / Kashf al Majub / Holy Names of Allah / "The Moslems' Angel of Death" (Azrael) / ascetic elements of mystic spirituality and the Incarnation / U.S.-Russia and Gog-Magog / nuclear war / Tawhid / Tirmizi / St. Basil / Aziz's biography |
| | 1961/12/24 | TALS | to Merton | I sent you a letter on the 18th November 1961 which, I hope, would have been received by you in due | |
| requests some of Merton's writings on the English Mystics and a study about Taoism and comparative themes in other mystical traditions |
| | 1962/02/23 | TALS | to Nicholas Heer | I was greatly pleased to receive your generous gift of 4 off-print copies of your English | |
| information about obtaining more Sufi works and translations / suggests translating ascetical treatises of Al-Tirmidhi / Illal-al-Ibadat / Shah Waliullah / Al-Qushary / writing to Merton / Louis Massignon / French Orientalist Prof. M. Molé's research on the Naqshpandi Order |
| | 1962/04/04 (#01) | TALS[x] | from Merton | Finally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none at | Yes |
| article on English mystics / letter about "the Giants" / Gog and Magog in the Quran / Sufi religious psychology / notes on mystical theology / Eckhart / St. Basil's influence on St. Benedict / formalism / Al Hujswiri / biographical notes from Merton / book against nuclear war |
| | 1962/04/04 (#02) | transcript | from Merton | Finally I must answer your letters, at least briefly. A brief answer will be better than none at | Yes |
| [same as other letter of this date, but from the collected Cold War Letters - Cold War Letters #67] |
| | 1962/04/04 (#03) | other[x] | from Merton | SONG FOR THE DEATH OF AVERROËS (from Ibn Al Arabi, after the Spanish version of Asin Palacios.) | |
| [Merton's poem "Song for the Death of Averroës," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter] |
| | 1962/04/04 (#04) | other[x] | from Merton | A LETTER TO PABLO ANTONIO CUADRA CONCERNING GIANTS [-] 1. [-] At a moment when all the | |
| [Merton's letter/essay "A Letter to Pablo Antonio Cuadra Concerning Giants," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter] |
| | 1962/04/04 (#05) | other[x] | from Merton | MISCELLANEA MONASTICA [-] THE ENGLISH MYSTICS. In regard to some recent books | |
| [First page of Merton's essay on "The English Mystics," signed with a note to Aziz enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter] |
| | 1962/04/04 (#06) | other[x] | from Merton | SAN JUAN DE LA CRUZ [-] C.D. CANTOR DEL AMOR DIVINO [-] ¡Cuán manso y amoroso | |
| [copy of the envelope sent to Aziz with a prayer card of St. John of the Cross enclosed with 1962/April/04 letter] |
| | 1962/06/21 | TALS | to Merton | I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your letter enclosing an offprint of your review-article on | |
| English Mystics - "Song for the Death of Averroes" / books on Sufi shrines and saints / John of the Cross and Tirmizi / St. Basil's ascetical works / translation of Hakim at-Tirmizi on mortification of desires |
| | 1962/12/18 | TALS | to Merton | I had replied to your letter on 21st June, 1962 in which I raised a number of queries but I have not | |
| thanks for <i>Breakthrough to Peace</i> book / John of the Cross / asks Merton what he means in <i>Ascent to Truth</i> by "'darkening' of all desire" and "analogical movement or attitude" / death of Louis Massignon |
| | 1962/12/26 (#01) | TALS[x] | from Merton | It is certainly true that I deserve your mild and kind reproach for being a poor correspondent. | Yes |
| Iqbar Ali Shah / Louis Massignon's death / Christian-Moslem dialogue / book on Nuclear war not published - sending mimeograph / Mary in the Koran / John of the Cross / detachment depending on self-knowledge / purifying effect of aridity |
| | 1962/12/26 (#02) | TALS[x] | from Merton | It is certainly true that I deserve your mild and kind reproach for being a poor correspondent. | Yes |
| [darker copy of 1962/12/26 letter / some parts easier to read on this one and some on the other] |
| | 1963/04/04 | TALS | to Merton | I am in receipt of your letter dated the 26th December, 1962 received by me in the first week of | |
| Merton's distinction between "exterior renunciation" and "interior detachment" / Islamic beliefs / John of the Cross / <i>Way of the Pilgrim</i> |
| | 1963/06/02 | TALS[x] | from Merton | Many thanks for your good letter of April 4th. I am sorry I have been so slow in replying, but I | Yes |
| Hakim at-Tirmizi translation / differences in soteriology / Islam and Christianity - different words talking about the same realities / Russian mystics and <i>The Way of the Pilgrim</i> / "Jesus prayer" and Sufi prayer parallels |
| | 1963/08/02 | TALS | to Merton | Many thanks for you [sic] kind reply of June 2nd. I delayed my reply awaiting the receipt of the | |
| asks about obtaining many other books / question of Muslims and "Salvation" / Aziz asks what are the tenants of the Christian faith / daily routine of solitary retreat / salvation of all faiths |
| | 1963/10/18 | TL[c] | from Merton | The delay in replying to your letter is due to three things: first, my desire to read the books you | Yes |
| Ahmad al Alawi - "speak[ing] the same language", more than those in this country / Martin Lings / Schuon on Islam - "exegesis of the Bismallah" / explains the Trinity / salvation for the good in all religions / the Philokalia / Merton's Khalwa / Simeon the New Theologian |
| | 1963/12/19 | HLS | to Merton | I am grateful to you for your detailed reply but as you had kindly mentioned therein that you would | |
| Merton's hospitalization / Martin Ling / 8 Sufi conditions for Khalwa / Khalwa's traditional duration of 40 days / Orientalist contact for English translations of Sufis / Dr. Nicholas Heer of Yale - translator / requests Butler's <i>Lives of the Saints</i> |
| | 1964/06/28 | TL[c] | from Merton | Only now am I getting around to answering your fine letter of last November or December. I know you | Yes |
| Pope Pius XI and salvation for non-Christians / Titus Burkhardt's book on Fes in Morocco / Khalwa and time in the hermitage / silence at Gethsemani / Orientalists for translation / Malaval in translation / John of the Cross and St. Teresa / Jakob Boehme / Achmad al'Alawi |
| | 1964/12/09 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | It was a pleasure to get your letter this morning. Certainly I hope to write you a long reply with | Yes |
| Fr. G. Basetti Sani, O.F.M. - book on Mohammed and St. Francis / Moslem-Catholic dialogue / Jakob Boehme / <i>Seeds of Destruction</i> / Ibn Abad de Ronda / hermitage / "idolatry of <u>concepts</u> as well as of graven images" |
| | 1964/12/09 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | It was a pleasure to get your letter this morning. Certainly I hope to write you a long reply with | Yes |
| Fr. G. Basetti Sani, O.F.M. - book on Mohammed and St. Francis / Moslem-Catholic dialogue / Jakob Boehme / <i>Seeds of Destruction</i> / Ibn Abad de Ronda / hermitage / "idolatry of <u>concepts</u> as well as of graven images" |
| | 1965/11/01 | TALS | to Merton | In your December reply to my X'mas and New Years greetings you had kindly promised to send me a | |
| A. J. Arberry's rhymed translation of Quran and Persian Sufis / review of <i>A Moslem Saint of the Twentieth Century</i> / Fr. Julio B. Sani / "Thomas Merton, the Mans and His Meaning" article / St. Bonaventure |
| | 1965/11/02 | TALS[x] | from Merton | I am really sorry for my long silence, and I know that there is no real way to make amends for it at | |
| not possible to keep up a good correspondence / sending Chuang Tzu adaptation / rendering of Ibn Abbad from French translation / living in solitude |
| | 1965/11/07 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | Yesterday, two days after sending off my letter to you, I received your letter. I was very happy to | Yes |
| relays impossibility of keeping regular correspondence / Arberry's translation of Coran (Koran/Quran) - Merton's personal use - chanting / Ibn Abbad / Chuang Tzu / liturgy book - <i>Seasons of Celebration</i> / thoughts about Merton bio in <u>Laurel</u> / thoughts on Catholic clergy / Nasafi |
| | 1965/11/07 (#02) | TALS[x] | from Merton | Yesterday, two days after sending off my letter to you, I received your letter. I was very happy to | Yes |
| relays impossibility of keeping regular correspondence / Arberry's translation of Coran (Koran/Quran) - Merton's personal use - chanting / Ibn Abbad / Chuang Tzu / liturgy book - <i>Seasons of Celebration</i> / thoughts about Merton bio in <u>Laurel</u> / thoughts on Catholic clergy / Nasafi |
| | 1965/12/01 | TALS | to Merton | I am in receipt of your two letters dated 2nd Nov. and 7th Nov. '65 respectively, the former having | |
| chanting the Quran / Merton's renderings of Ibn Abbad / Syed Idrees Shah / al-Junayd, mystic of Baghdad / Nasafi / Walayat (sainthood) / hermitage and meditation methods / suggestion for book on knowing God through psychological perspectives - psychoanalytic applications of ethics |
| | 1965/12/20 | TALS | to Merton | I had sent you a detailed letter on the 2nd instant which I hope you would have received by now. I | |
| reaction to idea for a book by Merton on "How to Know God", including suggested chapters on "Detachment, Mortification of desire etc. but psychological reasons should be given" / not treated in a dogmatic manner |
| | 1965/12/25? | TLS[x] | from Merton | I hate to resort to mimeographed letters, but it has now become completely impossible for | Yes |
| [labelled "A CHRISTMAS LETTER 1965 ABBEY OF GETHSEMANI KY"] |
| | 1966/01/02 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | I have your two kind letters of Dec. 1 and Dec. 20th and once again I will try within my capacity to | Yes |
| idea of writing another book on prayer / Ibn Abbad suggestions for book / Syes Idrees Shah and al-Junayd / Pierre Teilhard de Chardin / suicide of Dr. Molé / Malaval - quietists / Zaehner / daily routine as hermit / Merton's method of meditation |
| | 1966/01/02 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | I have your two kind letters of Dec. 1 and Dec. 20th and once again I will try within my capacity to | Yes |
| idea of writing another book on prayer / Ibn Abbad suggestions for book / Syes Idrees Shah and al-Junayd / Pierre Teilhard de Chardin / suicide of Dr. Molé / Malaval - quietists / Zaehner / daily routine as hermit / Merton's method of meditation |
| | 1966/01/26 | TALS | to Merton | As I read in the article about you in 'Laurels' that you saw the light of the day on 31st Jan. 1915, | |
| happy 51st birthday / suggestions about diet and thoughts on Merton's austere diet / Islam and images of God - idolatry / Syed Idrees Shah / Al-Junayd / Ali Hassan Abdul Qadir and patriotic nationalism / Neo-Platonic influences on Sufism / Malik Barkat Ali / nature of good and evil in Chuang Tzu / Dr. John Wu |
| | 1966/03/23 | TALS[x] | from Merton | Thanks for your find letter which I cannot answer adequately now as I am about to go to the hospital | |
| book of Idries Shah - converting letters to numbers (and vice versa), liked chapter on Nasruddin / Junayd and Zaehner's thesis on him / hints on diet / "not making mental images of God" and the "divine Oneness" in Islam |
| | 1966/04/04 | HLS | to Merton | My very dear good friend, I received your kind letter dt 23/3/66, while I was lying indisposed in my | |
| de Caussade / Ibn Abbad |
| | 1966/12/28 | TL[c] | from Merton | Your good letter reached me in this season of holy days and I have not failed to keep you in my | Yes |
| operation and slow recovery / Al Junayd / Zaehner and the western academic mind's scientific outlook, not attuned to the mind of the ancient / life as a hermit / visit from Algerian Sufi master Sidi Abdesalam / Sheikh Ahmad al Alawi / Bernard Phillips / R.M. Bucke Society of Montreal |
| | 1967/12/18 | TALS | to Merton | I have not heard from you since long time. I hope you would be keeping fit. I know you are very | |
| Dom François de Sales Pollien's books <i>The Interior Life</i> and <i>Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence</i> by J.P. de Caussade / Syed Hossein Nasr / Hakim Tirmizi and reading in solitude |
| | 1968/01/16 | TL[c] | from Merton | I was happy to receive your letter of December 18th. Also especially thank you for your greetings | Yes |
| Carthusian Dom Pollien / Caussade and similarity to ascetics of Sufism / blockage of Suez Canal / conferences for monks on Sufism / remarks about reading in solitude / sending the <i>Cloud of Unknowing</i> |
| | 1968/04/24 (#01) | TL[c] | from Merton | I want to say that some time ago I received the book of Seyyed Hossein Nasr safely and that I am now | Yes |
| Nasr's book "one of the very best books on Islam" / sending books on Zen Buddhism / <i>Mystics and Zen Masters</i> / weekly talks to Gethsemani monks on Sufism / sad state of the country and of the world |
| | 1968/04/24 (#02) | TLS[x] | from Merton | I want to say that some time ago I received the book of Seyyed Hossein Nasr safely and that I am now | Yes |
| Nasr's book "one of the very best books on Islam" / sending books on Zen Buddhism / <i>Mystics and Zen Masters</i> / weekly talks to Gethsemani monks on Sufism / sad state of the country and of the world |
| | 1990/12/04 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I had acknowledged with thanks the receipt on 30th August, 1990 of your kind letter dt. 25th Jan, | |
| |
| | 1991/10/29 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I heaved a sigh of relief to receive your long-awaited letter dt. 3/10/91 which reached me on 20.10. | |
| |
| | 1991/12/06 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | On receipt of your long-awaited letter dt. 3.10.1991, I sent you an aerogramme dt. 29.10.1991, | |
| |
| | 1992/07/26 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I acknowledge with deep gratitude and joy the receipt of your valuable gift of the book "Silent Lamp | |
| |
| | 1992/11/28 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I hasten to send you my sincere greetings on your forthcoming 75th birthday anniversary falling | |
| |
| | 1993/05/15 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I acknowedge with thanks the receipt of your kind and deightful letter dt. 10/1/93 (received on | |
| |
| | 1994/11/30 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I acknowedge with gratitude your last letter dt. 31/12/93 | |
| |
| | 1995/03/01 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | On 15th December, 1994, I went to the local post office to send you my hearty greetings on the 77th | |
| |
| | 1995/12/05 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | On 18th March, 1995, I sent you a detailed air mail lette acknowledging gratefully the receipt | |
| |
| | 1996/08/15 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I acknowledge with thanks the receipt of your kind letter dt 31.12.93 (but actually posted on | |
| |
| | 1997/02/16 | TLS[x] | from Shannon, William | My good friend, it has been a long time since I have written to you. I fear you have given up on me. | |
| |
| | 1997/04/15 | HLS[x] | to Shannon, William | I am glad that at long last you were good enough to find some time from your heavy preoccupations | |
| |
| | 1999/08/06 | TL | from Heer, Nicholas / to Rob Baker | Enclosed are copies of the letters from Abdul Aziz. In addition to the one I informed you of in my | |
| [to Rob Baker, Editorial Director of publishing house Fons Vitae in Louisville, Ky - published <i>Merton and Sufism: The Untold Story</i>] copying Jonathon Montaldo from Merton Center on this letter and sending copies of Aziz's letters / offers Merton Center originals when done |
| | 1999/08/23 | TLS | to Center from Heer, Nicholas | Thank you for your letter of 16 August 1999. Enclosed are the original Abdel [sic] Aziz letters | |
| sending original letters of Aziz to Merton Center |
| | 1999/09/18 | TLS | to Center from Heer, Nicholas | Thank you for your letter of 11 September 1999. I'm glad to know that the Abdul Aziz letters | |
| sending one more original Aziz letter |
| | undated/no/no (#01) | other | | My academic qualifications are of the highest order, being M.A., LL.B., I was a scholarship-holder | |
| "Bio-Data of Ch. Abdul Aziz, M.A., LL.B., Advocate and Consultant, Collector of Customs and Central Excise (retd.)" / retired in 1974 |
| | undated/no/no (#02) | other | | Ch. Abdul Aziz, whose letters sparked Merton's interest in Sufism, has lived all his life in Karachi | |
| background information about Aziz, with references to other works, created by W. H. Shannon for <i>The Hidden Ground of Love</i> |
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