149 174
ON “IMPORTANT SHIFT OR ALTERATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS”
204
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SALINGER, J.D. Two Typed Letters Signed, “JDS,” each to Robin Westen, con-
cerning her encounter with a “Zen master.” Each 1 page, 8vo. Each mounted at corners
with the original envelope in a separate frame.
[Windsor,VT], 31 January; 18 February 1984
[3,000/4,000]
January: “. . . Regrettable that you didn’t mention how a ‘Zen master’ came to your office. I didn’t
know there were any around. Roshis galore, for American export, and meditation monitors, etc., but
I’m a little suspicious of the credentials of ‘masters’. . . .”
February: “. . . Much as I sometimes would like to, I’m afraid I avoid correspondence—for the most
part, because I’m seated at the typewriter most of the day, and I frankly dread having to stay on when
I feel the day’s stint is over. . . . I’m in no way qualified to respond to the bit of data you sent along to
me. I suppose it’s true enough that most nominal changes of consciousness, or changes in the ways one
ordinarily perceives things, defy ready verbalization, and so perhaps the paucity of detail, pertinent
detail, in your letter is typical. . . . I do know that such experiences are prohibitively subjective and
personal, and it’s probably no wonder that they’re usually described by the person who has had the
experience with more emotion than intelligibility, more awe and rapture than a matter-of-factness that
might lead to some sort of assessment. So I believe that you, like countless other people who feel they
have had a momentary and important shift or alteration of consciousness, will have to come to terms
(verbal or otherwise) with your beach moment entirely on your own. If I were you, I’d avoid as much
as possible the glib opinions of martial arts masters and the other fringe persons and sources. . . .”