Talk:Alfred Sorensen
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Why the article on Alfred Sorensen should not be deleted:
Although Sorensen was not a historically 'important or significant' figure in the sense of being a great statesman or captain of industry, nonetheless I still regard him a significant figure. He was a friend of some very important figures in contemporary Indian history, including (but not limited to) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as well as his sister and brother-in-law, Rabindranath Tagore and even an acquaintance of Gandhi. Indeed, Indira Gandhi sent a message of condolence to his funeral, recalling her memories of him. This makes him an interesting figure in the milieu at the end of British rule and the beginning of home rule in India, particularly in terms of Europeans within the Indian independence movement.
The Crank's Ridge community in Almora, where he made his home, is a small but important artistic and spiritual subculture amongst the British in India - an interesting field in itself. His friends there included writers and artists of note. Although, it is impossible to quantify his influence on these people it cannot be ignored, and his reflections on them are certainly novel.
This of course brings one to the nub or the matter - his books, which are very interesting documents and in my opinion make significant contribution to the writings on spirituality and advaita. Of course, teaching in Alan Watts' houseboat, Sorensen also played a role within the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 70s and early 80s. Perhaps, one should cut out the category 'Western Mystics' and 'Advaitin philosophers' altogether if we cut out Sorensen's contribution. To me that would be unwarranted and unfair censorship.--Evenmadderjon (talk) 15:32, 29 February 2008 (UTC)
