Testimonial letter from Thomas Wirtel

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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 Thomas Wirtel. It is "Exhibit A-693" 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 6 pages.

Thomas Wirtel
233 Rosario Blvd.
Sante Fe
New Mexico 87501
July 30, 1983

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

I first encountered Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh through his many excellent publications. I was so impressed by his insights into the creative process as applied to the fine arts, that I took a leave of absence from my teaching position at the University of Illinois in order to take a closer look at this exceptionally gifted man and his work. I visited the Shree Rajneesh Ashram in Poona, India for seven intense weeks, and then returned to the U.S. much renewed as an educator, composer, and professional trumpet player.

This man introduced me to many new teaching techniques and methods which I have since tested out in my work with students and colleagues alike with enormous success. (See enclosed article.) Several visits to the Rajneesh Commune in Oregon have been a continued and intensified inspiration to me as an artist. Many hidden areas in my artistic abilities are now unfolding rapidly as a direct consequence of Bhagwan’s silent communion with me whenever I play or compose. I certainly consider him to be the primary influence on my own continued development as a musician and teacher.

During my second visit in March, 1983, my meditations in the presence of the Master reached a new level of depth. Aside from the direct benefits of these mystical processes I was surprised to discover that my technique as a trumpet player had made an unexpected spontaneous improvement. Upon return home, many longstanding problems and limitations with my instrument simply disappeared! I attribute these unexpected jumps towards growth and maturity to be a direct result of my meditations in the presence of the Master. I have been meditating for years on my own with gradual increases in awareness as a result of continued effort. When Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is present, meditation takes on an entirely new dimension which had previously been totally unknown to me. It is as if a door opens, and barriers simply dissolve, and one experiences a clarity and stillness which was previously impossible to obtain on one’s own.

The processes discussed above have had a profound effect on the quality of my personal and professional life. Most certainly, I have become more relaxed, and with this new relaxation has come the disappearance of friction in my relationships with colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Additionally, the quality, quantity, and efficiency of my work have been improved beyond all expectation.

I have just recently (the third visit to Rajneeshpuram, July 1983) enjoyed the priviledge of performing music in the presence of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh for seven consecutive days during the morning Satsang at the Second Annual World Celebration. I repeatedly experienced a Spontaneous heightening of artistic perception as a result of Bhagwan's presence while I was playing music for him. As with my prior experiences with him in meditation, it is as if a new door opens, and previously unknown artistic directions become immediately present and available for use. These experiences are no mere illusion or self-deception. These performances were recorded, and I have had a chance to review them in depth and with a sober critical ear.

Accordingly, the purpose of this letter is to verify that Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh is a man of rare and deep insight into the processes which produce works of art; and most certainly, it is my sincere recommendation that he be welcomed to stay in the U.S.A. as long as he wishes to be here.

Enclosed is a summary of my qualifications for your review.

Sincerely yours,
[signed]
Thomas Wirtel


Included in Wirtel's enclosure is a clipping from the Dallas Morning News, a story of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra receiving a Rockefeller Fund grant to allow them to hire a composer-in-residence, namely him. It can be read as an image but the low quality is not suitable for an OCR rendition into editable text (errors + omissions ≈ 50%).


(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.)