Testimonial letter from John S. Crandall
This letter is one of a remarkable series of over 2650 letters amassed in 1983 to support Osho's attempt to get permanent resident status in the US at the time of the Oregon ranch. The image is reproduced here with the kind permission of The Oregon Historical Society. Information about their collection of these letters and other supporting material -- the "Jeffrey Noles Rajneesh Collection", named for Osho's immigration lawyer Jeffrey Noles, who compiled them in 1983 and donated them to the OHS -- can be found at this page. The wiki is grateful to the OHS for making access available for these documents. For more information and links to all the letters, see Testimonial letters.
This letter is from John S. Crandall. It is "Exhibit A-355" in the Noles collection.
The text version below has been created by optical character recognition (OCR), from the images supplied by OHS. It has not been checked for errors but this process usually results in over 99% correct transcription. Most apparent "errors" are correct transcriptions of typos already in the original. The image on the right in the text box links to a pdf file of the original letter, it has one page.
 Member of Middle East Opportunities Association TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I am writing on behalf of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a very pious and learned man, whom I have the honour to be associated with. I have done much travelling in the Western and Eastern United States and have met and talked with many Interesting people. I am a member of the International Middle East Association, the American Entrepreneurial Association, and the World Institute of Health. Through these organisations I have corresponded with many professionals in the field of business, health, healing, science and building. I have an in-depth study of mankind while helping a PhD candidate research his anthropology thesis at my alma mater. And I can tell you that the man Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is all of these things in one. I have seen the results of his work here In this country and the reports of his accomplishment abroad. He is a world renowned figure who Is helping many from all walks of life to find themselves, calm themselves, to have peace and contentment and all of this within the soundest of beautiful bodies. I have witnessed this in the people that have associated with this great and humble man, through the programs and classes at his University and outside of the University. In my own personal life I have experienced these changes as well. This is my reason for this correspondence, gentlemen. I have not only seen the effects of Bhagwan’s teachings in others, I have experienced it personally , and everyone may do so at the Rajneesh University. This man is an asset to America if not to human kind. You only have to meet him once to know this. He has demonstrated exceptional capability in the Arts and Sciences. He radiates quiet calm and love, which can be felt in his presence, his teachings, students and devotees; some of the finest people you could meet on either hemisphere. He is a spiritual teacher and leader of great magnitude and could only bring abundant good to this country. Gentlemen, I importune on behalf of this great spiritual leader, scientist, entrepeneur. I ask you to be affirmative In your decision to grant this man a visa. He has worked a miracle in the mountains of Oregon, and we can use a phenomenon of such magnitude right now in this country. Let us hope the miracle of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is contagious gentlemen. Sincerely, |
(Please note: We assume that the above letter is still copyrighted, but we regard its historical interest to constitute a Fair Use exception for publication in this wiki.)
