In 1971, whilst attending Sydney Boys High School, I attempted to read Ronnie Laing's first book, The Divided Self. Just mentioning the title of this book (which I later found out was the name, that the 19th. Century American philosopher and psychologist William James, gave to one of his own lectures - published in a book titled, The Varieties of Religious Experience - is enough to bring back all the excitement and freshness of that time; the excitement and freshness of that exhilarating first bite of the Forbidden Apple of the Tree of Knowledge!
It is no ('mere') co-incidence that at that time I was also making my first explorations into that other field of knowledge, curiously akin to the first; reductively referred to as 'carnal' (from the Latin word for 'flesh'). All True Knowledge is essentially - Knowledge of The Difference.
It is no ('mere') co-incidence that at that time I was also making my first explorations into that other field of knowledge, curiously akin to the first; reductively referred to as 'carnal' (from the Latin word for 'flesh'). All True Knowledge is essentially - Knowledge of The Difference.
To return to The Divided Self, I must admit, at that time I didn't really understand it! This does not surprise me. It was enough to at least try to understand what Ronnie was on about!
It was also enough to be seen to be 'reading' this book; along with other such 'in' books as Timothy Leary's The Politics of Ecstacy; R. D. Laing's 1967 book, The Politics of Experience; Herman Hesse's Steppenwolf - my favourite Hesse novel - Narziss and Goldmund; and of course Aldous Huxley's Island.
I had no idea at that time that I would in a few years find myself in London, living in a 'Laingian' psycho-therapeutic community!
More specifically, I lived for a total of approx. 3 and a half years in one of The Philadelphia Association's Community Houses in London. The house that I lived in was located at 74 Portland Rd. Holland Park, West London.
Dr. Hugh Alexander Crawford was the 'house therapist' at this particular therapeutic community; and was perhaps Ronnie's closest colleague at the time (1976-1979); he was certainly 'on a par' with Ronnie in terms of psychotherapeutic 'acumen.'
I wholeheartedly believe that Dr. R.D. Laing was a truly 'spiritual' person.
Dr. Hugh Crawford, I believe, was a 'spiritually advanced' person. He may even have been a 'sixth-plane saint.' More particularly, a 'salik-like pilgrim' of the sixth plane of consciousness. (for detailed descriptions of all types of 'god-intoxicated' souls, as well as other categories of 'spiritually advanced souls', see Dr.William Donkin's Magnum Opus - The Wayfarers).
I also believe that Hugh was a direct agent of Avatar Meher Baba. He revealed this to me in a number of ways. Firstly, in his handling of so-called 'schizophrenic' and 'psychotic' individuals. He treated them with the same respect and reverence that Meher Baba treated the 'masts' of India.
He made only one direct statement that I am aware of, in September 1979, to the effect that he was actually doing the very same work with us that Meher Baba was doing with the masts of India and elsewhere.
This disclosure came as a surprise to perhaps everyone but myself!
We were seated around the long table in the downstairs kitchen at 74 Portland Road, on a Monday or Wednesday night, when apparently 'out of the blue' Hugh made this pronouncement. Most of the residents who were present on that occasion did not seem to have any idea of what he was talking about, however, I immediately recognised the significance of Hugh's words; although, I must say, I was also somewhat 'taken aback' as Hugh had never so much as hinted to me that he even know of the existence of Avatar Meher Baba! And this, in spite of the fact that two years earlier in November, 1977, I had contacted the Meher Baba Association at Eccleston Square, London and made no attempt to conceal the fact.
I would be wearing my black velvet jacket with a Meher Baba 'button 'on the lapel, with a photo of Baba on it; Hugh could not have missed it! However, he said nothing, and gave no other indication over the next two years!
I can understand this apparent 'non-acknowledgement' now. There is an Eastern (perhaps Sufi) tradition of not revealing ones inner connection with (GOD) 'The Beloved.' It is also instructive to note that this was perhaps Hugh's last contact with us as a group. He soon after suffered a heart attack which presaged his 'passing' about nine months later - (see Rembering Dr. Hugh Alexander Crawford on his 88th. Birthday).
This experience in London completely reset my whole attitude towards the question of 'mental health' verses 'mental illness.'
Ronnie Laing himself had proposed a revolutionary new treatment approach to the so-called 'mentally ill.'
There is a very interesting, and I believe crucial connection between Avatar Meher Baba's work with the 'mad' and 'masts' and Dr. R. D. Laing's work with so-called 'schizophrenics' in London during the 1960's and 70's.
This connection could not be more transparent - the first 'ashram' or 'psycho-spiritual' community that Laing set up was in the very same building in East London that Mahatma Ghandi was staying in when Meher Baba visited him in 1931! Namely, Kingsley Hall.
For five years between 1965 and 1970, Kingsley Hall was not only a refuge and sanctury for persons undergoing extreme mental distress and acute personal transformation, but also served as a contact point for everyone interested in the 'counter-cultural' revolution which was currently taking place in London in the 1960's.
It will probably come as no surprise to you that I attribute this rapid unfolding of human creativity and spiritual wisdom to Avatar Meher Baba. And more specifically to the precise nature of the Most Intensive Work that He was engaged in at that time - that is, His Universal Work.
MeherStar
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