In 1966 and 1967 Desani published anonymously a regular feature in the Illustrated Weekly of India called Very High and Very Low. In his best eclectic style the series was published fifty three times. Desani discusses in depth world history, comparative religious and philosophical topics, world politics, social commentary, a great many world figures past and present. He runs the gamut from travelogues, personal spiritual quests, everything from why does his laundry person ruin clothes by beating them on rocks to ‘siddhis’ (powers) allowing for the ability to survive the dissolution of the Universe. He deals intensely with the Nadi texts, writings of which I have written here. I am given to understand by Todd Katz that this collection of the Illustrated Weekly articles is complete. Todd has made these available in pdf form linked here. I have written about the Nadi texts mainly here and in the immediate post preceding this one.
These came to Mr. Katz, as I understand, in the form of copies probably printed from a microfiche. (He didn’t tell me and I didn’t ask.) He did say somewhere that they were only available in that form. I suspect that someone, perhaps a devotee of Desani, supplied them – besides the point, of course. Anyhow Todd typed them into a 281 page pdf and asked me to proof read them. I did. Readers, should they find any errors, should fix the blame for those on this writer, not Mr. Katz. Desani’s writing is esoteric in the extreme when about religion, philosophy, yoga, the Nadi shastras themselves. His use of Sanskrit, and other languages used in India requires a mastery I do not possess. Todd Katz is a master, however and readers should understand that. Desani’s writing is unique, his own. It is full of digressions, parenthetical remarks, asides, and such. It is lively, absorbing, actually ‘fun’ to read him. He never disappoints and always, always keeps his reader in mind. (One could compile a dictionary out of the arcane words and concepts he troubles himself to translate, render in a way that the general public can absorb, understand.)
Finally, as I’ve mentioned several times there is a ‘lost’ manuscript of Desani’s called “Rissala“. I am reliably informed that the “Very High and Very Low” columns are a major part of that manuscript.
Every truth seeker, will find something of interest here, will come away replete with new knowledge, understanding – more importantly. I hope this will serve to renew an interest in his contributions to world literature. I doubt there is anyone in India, the world, who is a greater treasure of the practice of true Yoga, Love of the Lord, of the Divine Father, the Divine Mother. I’ve also made some comments about “Very High and Very Low” here at Tackingintothewind.net.
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