I am of the opinion that no publisher will accept the Notes. They are far too difficult even for the averagely intelligent reader (they are more difficult than I think you suspect—as I expect you will find when you start going into them in detail), and they assume also that the reader is acquainted with the Pali Suttas.[1] This makes their appeal extremely limited, and no publisher can expect to cover his expenses if he publishes them. The sole reason for having them in print (or at least duplicated by cyclostyle) is to make them available for the chance reader (one in a million) who would benefit. I think, therefore, that it would be a waste of effort to approach any publisher with them.
On the other hand, the idea of cyclostyling them is probably good. I am prepared[a] to do the stencilling myself (I have done it before), and in my present condition it has the advantage of being a sedative form of occupation (if I can't do meditation, then stencilling the Notes is no worse than lying on my bed). Of course, if you should happen to be successful in getting the necessary support for printing the book in the immediate future, there will then be no need for me to do the stencilling.
If you have no objection, I should be interested to read what Huxley has to say about his chemically produced marsupials of the mind. It is not a matter of importance to me, but simply a curiosity; and on damp days I am sometimes glad of something to read.
[54.a] Provided, of course, I can continue to persuade myself to stay alive (I say this in order not to commit myself absolutely—it is a safety valve). [Back to text]
Editorial note:
