MAITRI

We started publishing in 1972 - almost 24 years ago - a quarter of a century. During this period a erratic stream of small magazines were produced with the dedicated help of many friends and subscribers.

The Children of Atlantis was the first effort, followed by contributions and co-operative work with The Tibetan Friendship Newsletter, which then evolved into ‘The Bodhisattva Path’ later to be followed by 17 issues of Maitri. Further developments resulted in The Lapis Project , Pax Cultura - - and eventually Indlovu . A complete Archive of these publications can be consulted - and most of the material is on deposit for research at The South African Library in Cape Town.

The present situation is structurally similar to a bottleneck, or as North American terminology would describe it - a log-jam. (Of epic proportions. ) I have been gathering material over the past few years - documenting and researching in European Libraries - and placing a great deal of material into the jaws of a computer, with the result that there are some 6,000 pages of unpublished material, piles of Photostatted articles, illustrations, visual resources and thousands of slides, plus extensive database bibliographies, and addresses. ***** This Work can only continue through Subscribers who will be mailed with latest issues and special printouts - and also open access to the complete Archives, which interfaces again, with the various Projects below.

Though over the past 25 years there has emerged a network of friends engaged in this Work - sometimes this has not only been a co-operation between individuals and groups, but also involved organisational structures, i.e. co-operative arrangements between social bodies.

Since my return in October 1995 - after a stay in Italy for three years I have been deeply moved by the potential in the new South Africa. Sure, there are problems, as in any process of dynamic growth - but especially the last Summer spent in Cape Town filled me with great hope. Looking back over the wide and wonderful, creative network of friends who have been involved on various levels with personal and social transformation, in so many diverse ways - it has always been a driving theme of mine, that we create some form or body to give outward expression to this network. At the moment there are some interesting developments which could act as an impetus for this movement.

Amongst culturally minded created types there is an understandable natural antipathy towards organisation. But a purely individualistic stance is also not very productive. Developments are taking place within The Ministry of Culture, for example the White Paper published this year. There is always a need for new structures and routes of communication - basically cultural, through which we can keep in touch.

This beautiful, large Studio in the garden of the home of Sean and Julia Joint, where I presently inhabit the Garden Cottage, is an excellent venue for creative Projects over the Summer and into 1997. There are many possibilities which we can set into motion - ideas are welcome and the Space can also be hired for groups, small functions, meetings and especially for creative work. Here are some ideas in the pipeline.

I would like to run a silk-screen and hand-painted Fabric Workshop, based on 30 years of experience, with particular emphasis on using symbolic imagery. Unfortunately resources are very limited - so that the only way around the around the financial problem is to form a co-operative, in which everyone can find a level at which they are prepared to participate.

An initial investment of minimum of R50 would get this project moving. Telephone for details.

Please let us know if you are interested and we will give you times and cost as soon as details are worked out.

The Mandala Principle, is transmitted in its more extreme esoteric forms by Lineage’s within Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and other Asian religions. But the Mandala principle has always appeared in a wider range of popular cultural forms, for example in the Depth Psychology of C.G. Jung and his School and in the Art Forms of most cultures. We will create Mandalas or Yantras out of our own experience, sometimes working with the Dream. No Art experience is necessary.

There will be a series of theoretical evenings, illustrated with slides, which all participants are asked to attend. As the process unfolds - work can be continued at home, and a flexitime system will allow participants to present their work on an individual basis, or in smaller groupings. We have a group exhibition of the results in The Studio.

We will also look at all resources available, e.g. bibliographies, visual material and so on.

Having been trained as Art Teacher, I am very keen to teach Oil Painting in a spacious and experimental way, concentrating of visual symbolism. Buy yourself a small set of oils and some brushes and come on a wonderful enriching experience. Time and date to be established.

can be attended informally, as each evening will deal with a separate subject. Private Readings will personalise this process. Starting from Monday 18th November 1996 at 8.30 p.m. R15 donation asked.

A MAILING LIST of Projects and Publications is being developed - it would be wonderful if you could contribute to the expense of postage, printing and envelopes - with any small amount. URGENT - PLEASE NOTE!!!! If possible, please confine all telephone calls for the above mentioned Projects to between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily, as the telephone serves important domestic and other work related matters. There is also an answering machine, please leave a message.

Dr Lewis Thomas, 'Late Night Thoughts', Oxford University Press.

Dear Friends,

There is very little that needs to be added to the above quotation by Lewis Thomas. But I shall do so, nevertheless. We talk about the New South Africa, and the Rainbow Nation, but many of us are avoiding the hard work that lies before us. We have to connect the columns and construct the cathedrals. And we cannot achieve this work as individuals. We need to organise, and I always use this word in its original context of organic. Our social structures are organic, just as they manifest in the ecological interface we see operating in Nature.

We need to communicate and we need to share resources. But, do we want to organise, communicate and share resources? Competitiveness and selfishness is so embedded in our way of life, the triumph of ‘Homo economicus’ leaves very little space for the ethical establishment of common boundaries. There is very little co-operation because everyone has a price, and is selling a commodity. This is not a noble manner for human beings to conduct themselves - and we must be honest enough to admit that a continuation of this strategy is the basic cause of the crisis of our day - e.g. the exploitation of natural resources in the name of profit.

In an address before the United Nations, General Assembly on November 10th 1961, Pandit Nehru continues this theme:

There is an immense depth of truth in these words by Nehru. The blame is on each individual but can be seen reflected in the negative national and international programmes of the media, who follow the attitude that good news is not news at all.

We started publishing in 1972 - almost 24 years ago - a quarter of a century. During this period a erratic stream of small magazines were produced with the dedicated help of many friends and subscribers.

The Children of Atlantis was the first effort, followed by contributions and co-operative work with The Tibetan Friendship Newsletter, which then evolved into ‘The Bodhisattva Path’ later to be followed by 17 issues of Maitri. Further developments resulted in The Lapis Project , Pax Cultura - - and eventually Indlovu . A complete Archive of these publications can be consulted - and most of the material is on deposit for research at The South African Library in Cape Town.

The present situation is structurally similar to a bottleneck, or as North American terminology would describe it - a log-jam. (Of epic proportions. ) I have been gathering material over the past few years - documenting and researching in European Libraries - and placing a great deal of material into the jaws of a computer, with the result that there are some 6,000 pages of unpublished material, piles of Photostatted articles, illustrations, visual resources and thousands of slides, plus extensive database bibliographies, and addresses.

The social nature of the network - exchange of information and so on.

Though over the past 25 years there has emerged a network of friends engaged in this Work - sometimes this has not only been a co-operation between individuals and groups, but also involved organisational structures, i.e. co-operative arrangements between social bodies.

Since my return in October 1995 - after a stay in Italy for three years I have been deeply moved by the potential in the new South Africa. Sure, there are problems, as in any process of dynamic growth - but especially the last Summer spent in Cape Town filled me with great hope. Looking back over the wide and wonderful, creative network of friends who have been involved on various levels with personal and social transformation, in so many diverse ways - it has always been a driving theme of mine, that we create some form or body to give outward expression to this network. At the moment there are some interesting developments which could act as an impetus for this movement.

Amongst culturally minded created types thete is an understandable natural antipathy towards organization. But a purely individualistic stance is also not very productive. We have problems, for example, with the current situation emerging from The Ministry of Culture. In Johannesburg, for instance, I sense a great amount of fragmentation. Perhaps this is a personal observation, but discussions with other firends seem to bear the observation out. Cape Town has the advantage of a geographical heart - a few hours spent at Nino’s on Greenmarket Square and one can bump into a few dozen friends. So, there is a need for new structures and routes of commication - basically cultural, through which we can keep in touch.

-----------------------------------

SHORT TERM: RED ALERT.

My personal needs are very basic, a bed or mattress to sleep on, and some daily nourishment. But as a self-appointed facilitator in this project it is impossible to operate without a COMPUTER. And because of my nomadic lifestyle, a laptop is the only alternative. If there is anyone out there who can lend a simple computer for the period I am in Johannesburg - that would be most appreciated. In the meantime, to raise funds for the laptop - I am preparing a series of Workshops, lectures and hopefully other activities - which you will be informed about in time. Morna Cornell and John Trafford have offered a Garden Cottage in their home in Yeoville - and running costs to operate the Project from that site will be about R750 per month. From October, I hope to re-locate in Cape Town, through to March 1997 - with an unbroken continuation of Projects there.

The Long Term Project would involve a major cultural database on the Internet - a sort of Virtual Reality (coup de Mond), Ministry of Culture in CyberSpace. This Project, would, in an enlightened country such as The Netherlands, and others, most likely receive Government Funding - but as such it seems as if creative visions will not be radiating out of the bureaucratic control of the present Ministry of Culture.

As a great number of members and friends are as yet not linked to the internet, but plan to do so, usual snail-mail routes of communication will have to be used, i.e. newsletter through the post. Or in some cases, by Fax.This is an immediate short-term priority which once again brings me back to the need to be wired, as soon as possible.

It is necessary to count heads, so to speak. At the moment there is no name or label to the network, though its objectives are obvious to those who have participated in its history. Also as in all organic systems, there are some functions which are more outwardly orientated, and in our case, some than are more inwardly looking. This state of affairs will result in some form of subdivision of activities. And hopefully, a fertilisation between different cultural surfaces. There is, after all, a quality of social and cultural engineering in this work - or as Joseph Beuys called it: ‘social sculpture.’

A few years ago, there was a very interesting project called IDEA BANK. The aim was to get people to submit ideas that could be stored and gestated into action. I like the idea. Ideas as to what the network should be called, and what projects should be set into motion, will have to emerge once a communications network has been set up. Which brings me back to the counting of heads.

Please say YES - I/We are interested in this Project. Fill in the Form and make a Donation towards running expenses, and the Newsletter and eventual Magazine that we hope will also surface from the collective creative unconscious. If you cannot make a donation - no matter - just sign up. Also there are many friends who are supporters and updated subscribers - to whom a note will be attached informing them that they are in credit - so to speak.

If you are incapable of making any financial contribution whatsoever - but still wish to belong to the network - please do not despair - and fill in the form. You will still receive a FREE NEWSLETTER, and be kept on the MAILING LIST for interesting events, lectures and workshops by other members. In this case it would be appreciated if you could offer any time or services, e.g. typing, word-processing, artwork, layout etc.

Yours Sincerely

Samten de Wet.

Hoping that all is well. As usual, sorry for the long silence. I can only resort to the usual excuse that Mercury must be Retrograde, or some such similar astrological conjunction which has resulted in my sitting next to a pile of about 60 addressed envelopes, for the past few months, with no enthuisiasm whatsoever to write the letters necessary to fill them.

Recently in that delicious magazine UTNE READER I read that: "...over a thousand oddballs were the subject of a 10-year study by psychologist David Weeks.

Here, I thought were words close to my heart and even closer to my present state of existence! Perhaps I have taken an early retirement, to be honest, a definite disadvantage in this Day and Age.

To go back - semi-settled in a small garden (ex-servants rooms)cottage in the home of Julia and Sean Joynt in Constantia. There is also a Big Studio in the Garden and this may open many possiblities for doing Workshops, and even Art Groups. Silkscreening will start up next week. Thanks to the great kindness of Michael Cope and Julia Martin, (who shared their beautiful home and made a space available for the month after I returned to Cape Town) - and gave me a computer for my 50th birthday.

Thanks to the invitation of Dave Lewis Dei, I am having my first exhibition at Gallery Mau Mau in Cape Town, opening on Sunday 23st February at 6 p.m. (Place that date in you Diary instantly) and running to the end of March. I am shattered by the amount of work that I have to find frames for and/or mount, without any proper tools. Where there is a Will there is a Way, as they say. We can always resort to Presstick and the walls!

To backtrack a bit, seeing that I have not caught up with my correspondence - Thanks to Gail Meneses and Nel Skinner for the wonderful hospitality in EAST LONDON. In PORT ELIZABETH Thanks to equally wonderful hospitality of Norman, Bronwen and Lillian Kaplan, also saw Michael and Sharon Vincent of Jasmine Films Fame. Most of the time was spent catching up on some excelent visual video intake. In October - helped Cater for Groot Constantia Gallery, Jennifer Stodel and Joanne Attenborough. Opening, Creative Arts Diary.

NOVEMBER - The Main Event was my 50th Birthday Party in The Studio ... and the most extraordinary gift was a 486 Computer from Mike Cope and Julia Martin.

DECEMBER - was the arrival and departure of Giorgio Faraggiana from Turin. We have a splendid time socialising and networking and he also managed to fit in some excellent academic connections. His Aunt, Rosemary Vosse was overjoyed to see him - as were many friends in Cape Town and Johannesburg who met Giorgio for the first time. A Cannon BJC-210 Bubble Jet Printer was added to the Computer and we are now set to move into Red Alert Action Station for 1997. The Twinkly Sea Project has came and went, and because of the above-mentioned State, I could not gather up the energy to attend.

JANUARY - 2nd January, I gave a short eight-minute interview live on ‘In the Pink’ the Gay and Lesbian Radio slot which is transmited over BUSH RADIO, a Community Radio Station. Thanks to Lucinda Jolly for organising that. Everyone is still settlibg down after the holidays - and I spent most of this month working alone madly and with great gusto. Continue to achieve some work at The South African Library, but only on Friday when I spend a few hours in town.

The next issue of Maitri (Number 7) is about to wing its way to you, as promised in last letter, plus a reprint of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s booklet, a small booklet on The !7th Karmapa - and a New Creative piece - MEATING THE MOTHER MANDALA. With Computer & Printer there is an avalanche of material nearing completion - which according to circumstances, may or may not be printed.

Received from Jeunisse Park: The Entheos Institute, Tel: Rustlers Valey (051) 92.3939. email: [email protected]. Entheos brought Terence MacKenna to Rustlers in October for a weekand also produce a Newsletter.

LINKS to the Internet and WWW are still being desired. where the main work is being published electronically. Modem, a telephone line, a server account - difficult for one infected with nomadic tendencies.

The Alchemy Page - Sited, it seems in Glasgow, Scotland, it offers a variety of texts and Internet links relating to alchemy, including lists of publishers and book dealers specializing in alchemical and hermetic books. The site is Managed by Adam McLean. Email: [email protected]. The Website is at: http://www.levity.com/alchemy

Address: 15 Kier Street Glasgow, G41 2NP United Kingdom. Tel: (0141) 429.5614

http:// users.aol.com//GreenStStn/index.html

THE ALEXANDRIAN - http://cosmopolis.com/

PHANES PRESS - http://phanes.com/

http:// www.geocities.com/athen/1581/jung.html

http://www.arches.uga.edu/~nautis/jung.html

SONGS OF PRAISE FOR DONATIONS, Gail and Theo Coetzee, Hugh Bingham, Chris Hirnet, Fietke Lught, Jenny Halliday, Este Hartford, Albert van Zyl.

WINDOWS, is the name of the new CD by Michel Sanchez, co-creator, co-artist and co-composer of DEEP FOREST. The first solo album by Michel, described, as usual, as a white witch doctor, international sonic surfer, cyber forester and techno-tribalist. Available from TOMATO RECORDS, you can email them on: [email protected] or: Tomato Records, 111 East 14th St. New York, NY 10003, USA.

Hillman, James, The Myth of Analysis, Harper, New York, 1992. I find James Hillman one of the most infuriating and exciting Thinkers of the 20th century. His ‘The Myth of Analysis’ is a classic of is kind.

Another book I am enjoying immensely is ‘The Lost Language of Symbolism,’ Vol. 1. The Origins... H. Bayley. Not another book on symbolism! No, Bayley illustrates his fascinating book with 0ver 700 Watermarks of the paper-makers and printers of early Europe, embedded under the surface of the texts. He calls these Emblems "thought-fossils." Originally published in 1912, it has just been republished by Bracken Books, London 1996.

SUPERNOVA Edizioni, C.P. 58, Rialto, Venice 30100 Italy, have brought out Italian translations of Athol Fugards, Road to Mecca, and Siwe Banzi is Dead, plus works by Douglas Livingstone, Wole Soyinka, Jeremy Cronin, etc. The Editor,Translator and Publisher is Armando Pajalich, an English Lecturer at The University of Venice.