Thank you Dahesh Museum...

[Mario]

Here is the latest New Yorker Magazine article...

http://www.newyorker.com/critics/art...8craw_artworld

I am not faulting the New Yorker Magazine.

Except that the article is rather disrespectful of Doctor Dahesh and cites a few untruths, starting with the claim that he sold the collection to the Zahids (as per the article).

Lastly, once again, the Directors and staff, when asked, have pleaded ignorance of "Doctor Wonder's program for the the Universe."

Oh, and by the way, I really did not appreciate Peter Schjeldahl use of the term "Dr. Wonder" in that context, thus clearly projecting an air of sarcasm. Nor did I appreciate his referring to Daheshism as a cult.

But, can we blame him?

Incidentally, the New Yorker contacted me in order to see if I would provide them with photos of Doctor Dahesh. I said not if we don't get a chance to tell our side.

According to the article, the Museum is once again looking for new space...

The Jews wandered 40 years in the Desert, despite the fact they admitted they were wrong and asked Moses for forgiveness...

[Ziyad]

cites a few untruths, starting with the claim that he sold the collection to the Zahids (as per the article).

OK, so if he did not sell them the collection, I assume that they inherited it upon his death.

But I was wondering : why did Dr Dahesh chose the Zahid family to inherit him ?

Did they contribute to expanding the collection in the previous decades ? Did they support him financially before his death ?

And knowing what we know now (the fact that they did not properly manage the inheritance, or at least the spiritual part of Dahesh's legacy), isn't is surprising that the Dr did not perceive their bad fluids if any, and did not predict what was going to happen ?

If we trust his decision, maybe the Zahids were the right choice and they'll come to their senses at the appropriate time.

[Mario]

OK, so if he did not sell them the collection, I assume that they inherited it upon his death.

Correct. They are the principal inheritors of his estate.

But I was wondering : why did Dr Dahesh chose the Zahid family to inherit him ?

Anything that the Doctor did had to do with specific reasons, including past reincarnations. Nothing was done randomly.

Did they contribute to expanding the collection in the previous decades ? Did they support him financially before his death ?

Absolutely. All from their own pockets.

As for Doctor Dahesh, he paid his own way and always lived modestly.

However, the Daheshist Message was funded by many Daheshists, including the Zahids who served their Daheshist Mission as any true Daheshist would have—as did many others to the extent of their financial abilities.

And knowing what we know now (the fact that they did not properly manage the inheritance, or at least the spiritual part of Dahesh's legacy), isn't is surprising that the Dr did not perceive their bad fluids if any, and did not predict what was going to happen ?

Well, let's make sure we are clear on a couple of things, and you can perhaps find similar quotes of mine on Daheshville:

The Zahids, legally and morally, have the right to throw whatever they inherited from Doctor Dahesh in the ocean and no one, and I mean no one, has any right to interfere.

As for "bad fluids."

We all have them. And I don't ever wish anyone to get the impression we are labeling or judging anyone.

On the other hand, we are identifying specific behaviors that are potentially destructive to the image of the Daheshist Message.

Such as... for example... my saying, publicly, on the record, that Doctor Dahesh was never a prophet and that "these Daheshists" that's what "they say."

And, while we're on the record, may I ask you to google my name (either "Chakkour" or "Mario Henri Chakkour" (do an advanced search if you don't mind).

Now, see the amount of links you get?

Good...

My name is on many thousands of books that are sold worldwide through a mainstream publisher.

In the acknowledgment section, I write these words:

Last but not least, Salim Moussa Achi ("Doctor Dahesh"), founder of the Dahesh Museum in New York City, author, poet, and beloved guiding prophet. Your passion for the arts and unconditional respect for true artists were an inspiration as well as a model to aspire to. Shortly before your untimely passing, you said to me: "Just follow your inner vision." Those words became the constellation that has guided my journey ever since.

The best thing any person can do is be the best ambassador they can be for his or her cause. This is not a competition. The idea here is to always be better than... oneself.

And nothing can justify publicly disavowing the Beloved.

Now, as to issue of him not predicting...

How about we think of it this way:
He gave them their test... their "cross" to bear, for reasons we might never know... or maybe they are written on pages hidden in a vault somewhere...

If we trust his decision, maybe the Zahids were the right choice and they'll come to their senses at the appropriate time.

Maybe the Zahids were absolutely right and they had instructions to do exactly what they did and to say what they said.

That, however, does not preclude those who are watching (and who are not privy to the details) from raising a peaceful voice of dissent. Everyone, basically, is tested...