Testimonial letter from Sw Dhyan Herbert

This letter is one of a remarkable series of over 2700 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 Sw Dhyan Herbert (Dr. Herbert Muck ). It is "Exhibit A-58" 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 original letter, written in German, appears first, followed by its English translation. The image on the right in the text box links to a pdf file with the whole original letter, the translation and a notary statement attesting to the validity of the translation. It has 4 pages.

PROFESSOR DR. HERBERT MUCK AKADEMIE DER BILDENDEN KÜNSTE INSTITUT FÜR SAKRALE KUNST SCHILLERPLATZ 3, A-1010 WIEN TEL (0222) 57 9516 KL. 41 LEHR- UND FORSCHUNGSGEBIET: VERHALTEN UND RITEN IN RÄUMEN FUNKTIONSPLANUNG BEDEUTUNGSANALYSE ARCHIV FÜR KIRCHENBAU 17 Juli 1983 Zur Person: Seit 1959 an dieser Akademh tätig in der Ausbildung von Architektur- und Kunststudenten sowie von Postgraduierten. Stellung: ordentlicher Hochschulprofessor, Institutsleiter. Fachgebiete:Theologie und Kunstwissenschaft, Semiotik. Tätigkeit als Theologe (ein Jahrzehnt Prediger an der Universitätdkirche), Liturgiewissenschaftier (zeitweise Mitglied der österr.Liturg.Kommission), Architektur- und Kunstwissenschaftler (viele Publikationen über Kirchenbau und Gegenwartskunst), Kommunikatuonstheoretiker und Semiotiker (seit der Gründung stellvertretender Vorsitzender der österr.Gesellschaft für Semiotik). Beteiligung an internationalen Forschungsprojekten. Veranstaltung zahlreicher Tagungen, Gruppenseminare, Raumspiele und Ausstellungen Begegnung mit Bhagwan: Im Rahmen interkonfessioneller und interkultureller Ritenforschung Aufenthalt im Raum Bombay. Von dort aus vier Wochen in Poona (Feber 1980), wo Bhagwan im Ashram lehrte. Kenntnis der Bewegungsmeditationen aus eigener Teilnahme und Einblick in die Gruppenarbeit. Einkleidung als Sannyasin auf den Namen Dhyan - Herbert zusammen mit meiner Frau. N ach Rückkehr Durcharbeitung der TonbandSammlungen und Bücher Bhagwans, zeitweise Fortführung der Meditationspraxis. Gutachten über Bhagwan: Berichte in Wissenschaftl. Arbeitskreisen und bei Akademietagungen. Vorlesung über Bhagwan im Rahmen einer interdisziplinären religionswissenschaftlichen Reihe an der Phillips-Universität Marburg (Juni 1982). Ausführliches Gutachten im Rahmen eines Memorandums an die U.S.Botschaft in Wien (26.Jan.1983)♦ Kriterien: Bhagwan wirkt als religiöser Katalysator. Seine Präsenz vertritt eine mystisch orientierte Religiosität (bedeutungsvoll in dieser Zeit juridisch doktrinär isolierter Religionen und Konfessionen). Er bietet Teilnahme an seiner Vision existenzieller Seinsfühlung (Maßstab ist die ontologische Wahrheit, Überwindung des Kritizismus). Der Ashram leistet eine Umsetzung in existenziell therapeuthische Praxis über ein Meister-Schüler Verhältnis als Durchgang zum Finden eigener Tiefenerfahrung(emanzipatorischer und therapeutischer Wert !/.Soziale Relevanz liegt in der interkulturellen religiösen Integration. Die Einbeziehung von Sufismus und Tantrismus bringt Anregung für Musik,Spiel, Tanz und alle Formen von Aktionskunst(Gestaltwert) [signed as Herbert Muck] (DHYAN HERBERT) translation Professor Dr. Herbert Muck Academy of Graphic Arts Institute for Sacred Art Schillerplatz 3, A1010 Vienna Tel: (0222) 57 95 16 KL.41 FIELD OF TEACHING AND RESEARCH: Behaviour and rites in rooms Functional planning Analysis of semantics Archives of church building Biography: Since 1959 active in this Academy in the education of Architecture and art students as well as postgraduates. Position: University professor; Institute director. Specialist Fields: Theology and the science of art and semeiotics Profession as theologist (Chaplain for 10 years at the University Church), specialist in liturgy (member of the Austrian Liturgical Commission for a while), specialist in the science of art and architecture (many publications on church building and contemporary art), theorist in communications and semeiotics (since its foundation vice-chairman of the Austrian Society for Semeiotics). Participation in international research projects, organisation of numerous conferences, group seminars, plays and exhibitions. Meeting with Bhagwan: In the context of interdenominational and intercultural research into rites a stay in Bombay. From there four weeks in Poona (February 1980) where Bhagwan was teaching in the Ashram. Knowledge of the moving meditations through participation and insight into group work. Initiation into sannyas in the name Dhyan Herbert together with my wife. On return thorough study of the collections of tapes and books by Bhagwan, occasional continuation of the practice of meditation. Opinions of Bhagwan: Reports in scientific work circles and at conferences at the Academy. Lecture on Bhagwan in the course of an interdisciplinary scientific religious series at Phillips University of Marburg (June 1982). Extensive opinion in the frame of a memorandum to the U.S. Consulate in Vienna (26 January 1983) . Criteria: Bhagwan functions as a religious catalyst. His presence represents a mystically oriented religiousness (significant in this time of legal and doctrinal isolation of religions and denominations). He offers . . participation in his vision of the existential feeling of being (the measure is the ontological truth, overcoming criticism). The Ashram achieves a transformation in existential therapeutic practice through a master-disciple relationship as a way through to finding the experience of one’s own inner depths, (emancipating and therapeutic value). Social relevance lies in the inter-cultural religious integration. The inclusion of Sufism and Tantra is a stimulus for music, play, dance and all forms of active arts (value to the creative arts). (signed) Herbert Muck (Swami Dhyan Herbert [followed by an Oregon notary statement to the effect that a) the declarer is fluent in English and German and b) can verify that the translation is accurate]

(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.)