Heehs has turned a synonym for scholarship

Lately a sense of disillusionment was hovering over the ability of language in unveiling what is true, and thankfully, Raja Marathe’s Letter to Peter Heehs restores hope. Candid and forthright and couched in a prose that evokes envy, this missive is a sure indicator that Supermind is possible.

It looks like some major dramatis personae are still waiting in the wings and so, a word about his antecedents would have gone down well. It is very difficult to disagree with Marathe barring, however, at a few points:

[I strongly feel that therefore you should repudiate your entire preface and stop all distribution of the books with this preface, even though it will cost you some money and loss of face; and publicly apologize for these remarks and assuage the hurt feelings of several earlier biographers and their admirers.]

Heehs is entitled to his opinion and creative freedom, and there is no reason why any one else would advise him.

[(I may comment that you may reflect as to what original thinking you yourself have done in your life)]

Well, this rhetorical dig could easily pass off as a friendly jibe but for its too pointed strike. Taking someone who is avowedly an historian to task for original thinking is inappropriate.

[The law of Karma: My perception is that as a result of these actions and your earlier dismissive attitude towards the inmates for the last 30 years in the Ashram, you have a lot of accumulated karma; and are paying the price for it by getting in turn dismissed, insulted and put down by other Ashramites... my understanding is you are paying the price for it right away in this life itself.]

Such a reward and punishment formulation has been repudiated by Sri Aurobindo.

[Thus the book represents your relationship with Sri Aurobindo which you have chosen to make public. The book is as much Peter Heehs' biography as Sri Aurobindo's, in fact more so. It is really the biography of your relationship with Sri Aurobindo. It is obvious to anyone that reads this book that this "guru-shishya" relationship is troubled and far from perfect.]

If we apply the logic of "the death of the author is the birth of the reader," then this book is every reader's biography as well.

[My suggestion to you is that you should offer to work (and work) in the dining hall washing dishes, or do some what some may others consider as lowly menial work like washing lavatories. I have done personally done this kind of work in Amma's ashram in kerala and it has done wonders for me and my ego.]

Heehs has turned a synonym for scholarship and his work must continue unhindered. What works for Marathe may not be applicable to his friend howsoever close he may be. (Besides, Heehs might have already amassed lots of 'sanchita' to bank upon by driving taxi etc. early in his life, to go by Marathe's own logic.) [TNM 10:19 AM ]