A Historical Account of the young "Saleem el-Ashi"

[Mario]

I was policing the "airwaves" as I usually do, looking for anything new and exciting (or not) that might have been published about Doctor Dahesh and I landed on a interesting page that featured excerpts from a book called "The First Well — A Bethlehem Boyhood," written by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra (who passed away in Baghdad on Dec. 12, 1994) and which was translated by Issa J. Boullata. This book was published in 1987.

The words I read on this page confirmed a theory I had about Doctor Dahesh. And before I continue, perhaps I should give a synopsis of my tenure with Doctor Dahesh.

Firstly, I became aware of Him at a very early age, however, I was never able to get close to him — too many hurdles.

I met him — finally— after 1970 (please forgive me, as I don't remember the exact dates, which I have posted somewhere else on Daheshville).

After that, I might have seen him 3 or 4 times.

Then, in 1979 (I believe) I would visit him regularly in Beirut.

And between 1980 and right up to his untimely death, I would be blessed with the privilege of being within his closest inner circle, as well as being one of his points of contact. I saw and heard a lot during this (what I consider to be a) "crash course." And the majority of what I have learned has been shared on Daheshville.

Still, I didn't know everything there was to know about Him. In fact, not once did he mention the details I would later reveal in "Innocent in Chains — The Notes." And in all candor, there was so much going on and to do during those days, that very little time was left for what seemed to be non-pressing matters. And please remember, when Doctor Dahesh passed away, I was not yet 24 years old.

Years would pass and a couple of projects (such as his autobiography "Innocent in Chains") would constantly haunt me.

And so I began to weave a story. But I had nothing, really, other than what I have heard, and read. And none of it gave me clues as to what happened during his early years.

One theory I was throwing about in my head was the idea that the Doctor might have (for real) presented himself as a "Magician."

In other words, that he was — as far as the public was concerned — a brilliant Magician who performed great feats of magic. Then, and still in the realm of my imagination, he would go to Paris and perform his famous "trick" before the faculty of The Sage Institute, and thus receive a "Doctorate" and that he would have done that solely for the purpose of branding himself and acquiring perception of value — in the same manner he would wear elegant clothes or publish beautifully produced books that featured themes that still give some people the wrong impression about him. But (I think) he did it, anyway, to attract people to him.

And, thus, he was a master at marketing as well.

Therefore, imagine you are sent to this Earthly realm in order to redeem certain Spiritual Fluids and that there would be a limit to how much "assistance" you would get — as a prophet. Thus, you have a Mission to accomplish, but you have to use whatever means you have — without breaking either ethical and legal laws or without relying on "Miracles."

That is why, I had always imagined him going into the "business" of "Magic" (as in "prestidigitation" — a noble art-form) and later gain wide acclaim, which then would lead to him revealing his true identity to a chosen few.

That aside, I heard one time that he like motorcycles (I believe he either went to a showroom or show) and that particularly intrigued me (especially that my own father had a Harley at 16, which was only two years after he was thrown out of the house, where he never returned... and I rode a motorcycle for a brief moment — a friend let me ride his 125 cc honda motorcycle with clutch and all... sometime in 1979... I loved it. But I always assumed the Doctor would have frowned on the idea of motorcycle riding. So you can imagine my surprise... )

Anyway, what I found today kind of gives my theory some legs to stand on (assuming, of course, that the author's account was truthful).

And I quote:

It was in those days that I heard the adults speaking about Saleem al-Ashee (a friend of my eldest brother, Murad, at the time), who had a small shop on Manger Square for renting and repairing bicycles. The began to call him Saleem the magician because of the wonderful tricks he performed in evening parties to entertain the elders of the town. When I first saw him, he was a short young man with a unsmiling lean face and amazing big eyes that shone brilliantly*

*This self-taught young man soon became a legend because of the amazing feats of hypnotism he performed and his ability to communicate with the spirits through his sister, was a medium. This happened after he had gone to Jerusalem and then to Beirut, where he called himself Dahish Bey and then Dr. Dahish and founded a religious group known as the Dahishiyya.

[Loup Solitaire]

Question?

I recall your posts about you personal experiences with Dr Dahesh. But I am curious, when did he ceased to perform the mysterious acts that might cause people to wonder about his personal powers? And those persons that we have discussed on occasion, the ones who inherited his possessions, do you have any personal knowledge of what mysterious things they may have seen him do?

I see the book is available through AMAZON. I think I'd like to read this.

[Loup Solitaire]

Another Question

Have you ever found anything that identified the precise location of the Sage Institute? And whether there is a surviving organization?

[Mario]

I recall your posts about you personal experiences with Dr Dahesh. But I am curious, when did he cease to perform the mysterious acts that might cause people to wonder about his personal powers? And those persons that we have discussed on occasion, the ones who inherited his possessions, do you have any personal knowledge of what mysterious things they may have seen him do?

Jabra's interpretation of what he saw (or heard of) was a typical reaction.

I think I wrote about one instance where my high school teacher — a very educated man — said something to the effect of "I don't know how Dahesh does it, but whatever he does, the Devil is definitely behind it!"

At which point I said "Have you read his books?" which surprised the Devil out of him and he went "books? What books? He wrote books?!"

My point being is that I don't think he ever stopped performing Supernatural Phenomena (otherwise known to us as "Miracles").

The only difference, perhaps, is that with time, and as he migrated towards being a published author, the setting for his "demonstrations" (let's call them) might have become more intimate and he would strictly see people on a one-to-basis (so to speak. I say that because, I am sure, sometimes, you might have had a gathering of a couple of people)

It makes sense: In the beginning, and because you don't know where to start from (or perhaps you were instructed by the Spirit to start "there"), you appeal to the masses (somehow or via Spiritual Directive), then as word about you spreads and the "right" people begin to seek you out, you begin to adjust your delivery method to suit your schedule and life's demands in general. You start having spokespeople, also and those you rely upon to do things you no longer have time for.

Have you ever found anything that identified the precise location of the Sage Institute? And whether there is a surviving organization?

No, we have not. We tried. But I am not surprised because many of these places sprung during this period of interest in the paranormal. And I do believe that these people were genuine in their intentions and that they thought they were scientific in their methodology. And it is ironic that Doctor Dahesh would seek a diploma from an organization whose activities was nothing he believed in: he didn't believe for one second that any man or woman could communicate with the Spirit, or bend metal from a distance, or whatever... unless that person was part of a select group known as the Prophets. And I know this might annoy some people — especially those who — themselves — cannot do any of those things (telling the future, bending metal, ...) that they believe others can do.


Plus, and going back to the physical remnants of the Sage institute (aside from the pictures of the Diploma) I can write in detail about the school I attended in Beirut, but you'll never know it ever existed when you visit what used to be the site of the mighty College de La Salle, with its majestic buildings and trees.

Hopefully, one day we'll find some clue, somewhere. In the meantime, I am glad to report that the river Seine is still there!

[Loup Solitaire]

Another Thought

As a result of your posting about this book, I thought I would google, "1940's literate Beruit". I got some interesting hits. This caused me to think that maybe there may be other references to Dr Dahesh imbedded in literature written in that period.