Testimonial letter from Sw Veet Chitten
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 Sw Veet Chitten. It is "Exhibit A-1501" 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.
 Medina Rajneesh TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I write with reference to and in support of the visa application of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. First let me establish my own credentials: I studied English Literature for five years at the University of Leeds, England. After graduating with a First Class Bachelor of Arts degree I was awarded a two year research fellowship, specializing in contemporary literature. It is with this background that I feel entitled to argue that Bhagwan is "a person of exceptional ability". In volume alone, Bhagwan's performance is exceptional. He has more titles in print than any other living writer, an enormous output. This prolific body of work comprehends a major contribution to world religious literature, both as a commentary on the major world religious traditions, and then also as a significant addition to those traditions, certainly unequalled in this century, if indeed ever. For, as even the most cursory reading of His work shows, Bhagwan offers His insights not merely in the dry manner of an academician, but as one who KNOWS of the Godliness which is the constant theme behind His every word. It is this, the essential quality of His written work that is both the core of Bhagwan's literary genius and also of course that which pre-eminently qualifies Bhagwan as a religious leader of major stature; it is the reason that I joined His religion and became one of His disciples. Reading His books and hearing Him speak with such compassionate authority on so wide a variety of topics, it eventually became clear to me that I had at last found a teacher who could truly teach that which is worth knowing. His stature as a religious leader is also witnessed by a quarter of a million followers, and for myself after more than four years as one of His disciples, my conviction becomes stronger. Visiting Rajneeshpuram again, I am reminded, and my connection with Bhagwan is reinforced. I find a truly loving, a truly religious community, guided by Bhagwan, by His vision and His teachings, an expression of that which is possible on this earth when this earth is loved. [signed] |
(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.)
