Quote from Franklin Merrell-Wolff: An American Philosopher and Mystic
Franklin Merrell-Wolff: An American Philosopher and Mystic: A Personal Memoir
by Doroethy B. Leonard
Xlibris Corp, Bloomington, Indiana, 2016 292 pp.
Franklin Fowler Wolff was born on July 11, 1887. He began his life in this world by showing consideration for others by not arriving until two o'clock in the afternoon. His parents had recently moved to Pasadena, California. His father, Benjamin Franklin Wolff, was a Methodist minister. Brother Wolff, as Benjamin was called, held pastorates at Monte Vista, Glendora, Santa Fe Springs, Whittier, Artesia, Santa Maria and Lancaster (all in California).
Franklin says,
My father was of German descent (originally from the Gutenberg area of Germany, where they belonged to the agricultural community). He was born in Pennsylvania and later moved to eastern Ohio. At the time he became a minister, it was the policy of the Methodist Church to move the clergy around to different charges, or towns or parishes.Benjamin Wolff was a conscientious father who was a strong influence on young Franklin. Throughout Franklin's lifetime, he too was conscientious and diligent in his everyday thinking and living. He was hardworking, and he was scrupulous. In addition, one could sense his power. According to a longtime associate with the Methodist church, Benjamin Wolff was quite well-known and liked by everyone. Franklin was proud of his father's accomplishments (pp. 1-2).
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The First Realization -- I Am Atman
In 1922 . . . This day James (Pryse) and Franklin were deeply involved in a discussion about the Vedanta technique of discriminating Self from non-Self. Franklin frequently thought about this, but suddenly he "got it."
It was much more than an intellectual experience. He profoundly experienced the Self, or Atman, and truly Realized "I am Atman." This experience resulted in a change in outlook that persisted throughout his lifetime. This prepared the ground for further inner experience, although he did not yet know this (p. 68).
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Franklin's Close Friendships: Joel Morwood, Amit Goswami, Mael Melvin, Beverly Olipant
. . . It was here (the rustic Gregg cabin) that he (Joel) began to write his book, Naked Through the Gate: A Spiritual Autobiography. Joel spent two or three years there, visiting Franklin almost daily. Joel today still continues to have a deep affinity for Franklin's spiritual or transcendental philosophy." (pp. 249-250).
-- submitted by Jennifer Knight
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