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In America alone there are two hundred thousand hippies. This figure represents the regulars only. Besides these, there are a vast number of others who are periodical hippies; that is, who take up a hippie's life for a few months and then again go back to the same old world. There are many centres where such experiments are being carried out -- where people are taking LSD, and all these drugs under strict scientific observation.
In the book, DOORS OF PERCEPTION, Aldous Huxley has mentioned that only after taking LSD could he visualize how ecstatic could have been the experiences of Nanak and Kabir. Otherwise, when we read Kabir describing that he hears anhad nada (divine music) constantly going on, sees nectar raining, sees the sky overcast with clouds and begins to dance inebriated by the continuous downpour of nectar, we usually feel that it is mere poetical fancy -- because as far as we are concerned, we do not ever see any clouds filled with nectar or nectar pouring down, nor do we hear any divine music. But upon taking LSD such sounds do come to be heard which were never before even dreamt of. Such downpour starts as was never witnessed before. and the mind becomes so light and fresh as never experienced before.
The fourth unique thing about the hippies is their faith in expansion of consciousness through drugs. I feel that all these four stand-points of the hippies are original.
Now, what is my personal reaction to this matter? I would like to give it in brief. The hippies have formed a number of small communes. These communes represent the alternate society. They say that there is a society which comprises the yes-men, the warmongers of Vietnam, and of those who claim Kashmir as theirs; and there is another, completely different society belonging to them, which does not lay any claim whatsoever. The members have no conflict with anyone in Vietnam. They are in no way involved in any dispute in Kashmir, and they have no ambition to occupy the citadels of power in the metropolises. According to them, there is one society belonging to us which believes that future holds out great possibilities, and another which is theirs, the slogan of which
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