Identity elements
Reference code
Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1963 December 19 (Creation)
Extent
2 page(s); Holograph (handwritten) signed letter.
Name of creator
Biographical history
Living in Karachi, Pakistan, Abdul Aziz can be attributed with sparking Merton's first interest in Sufism, an interest later shared with his novices at Gethsemani. Beginning their correspondence in late 1960, Merton and Aziz would exchange books and ideas. Aziz was introduced to Merton's work through Louis Massignon, a mutual friend. An important insight from these letters is Merton's response to Aziz's request for a description of his prayer life.
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Scope and content
First lines: "I am grateful to you for your detailed reply but as you had kindly mentioned therein that you would"... Contents index: Merton's hospitalization / Martin Ling / 8 Sufi conditions for Khalwa / Khalwa's traditional duration of 40 days / Orientalist contact for English translations of Sufis / Dr. Nicholas Heer of Yale - translator / requests Butler's «Lives of the Saints».
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Conditions of access and use elements
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Conditions governing reproduction
Languages of the material
- English