The Wishing Tree: Christopher Isherwood on Mystical Religion

I knew Chris for many years. He had a wonderful irreverence for rules and organized religion, but was a deeply spiritual man. By the end of his life, you could feel a warmth of heart that came from his spirit. Chris's approach to Vedanta is a delight for people who are interested in the true essence of religion. I also appreciate his sense of humor that comes into the writing, as when he talks about Swami Vivekananda sleeping in a railway car one night, then sits across the street from a lady named Mrs. George Hale. As Chris wrote, "Mrs. Hale was, fortunately, not a conventional woman.. She did not call the police and ask the stranger to move on. She did not even ring the servants to ask what he wanted. She noticed that he was unshaven, and that his clothese were crumpled and dirty, but she was aware also that there was a kind of royal air about him.... Mrs. Hale suddenly made a most intelligent guess; coming out of the house and crossing the street, she asked him politely,"Sir, are you a delegate to the Parliament of Religions?""She was answered with equal politeness, in fluent educated English..."