KUDA BUX [To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SiR,—Mr. Harry Price, in arguing that, because Kuda Bux was unable to " see " with his head tied up in a bag, his claims must be considered invalid, seems to be at fault on a point of logic ; the matter, as I understand it, was whether he could see with his eyes shut, and not whether he could do so with his head altogether enclosed. This may seem a small point, but, as Kuda Bux tells me that he depends upon breathing freely in order to be able to exercise what, if genuine, is a rather unusual form of extra-sensory perception, it is crucial to the validity or otherwise of what he professes to do. Thus, Mr. Price appears to be in the position of one who, when having an e'ectric motor demonstrated to him, would refuse to accept the fact that it worked because the experimenter insisted that the wires to the battery must be connected.
I hold no particular brief for Kuda Butt : I have not seen him work under test conditions ; but what he did before me was of sufficient interest to have warranted further and stricter investigation. And now that we are coming to recognise that Indian Yoga methods (whether the " Raja," or higher, or the " Hatha " or lower—and highly dangerous—kinds) can teach Western psychologists much about realms and forces of which, as yet, we have no inkling, it would be foolish to discredit a man on what, in point of fact, is a scientific mistake. The mind which is closed against admitting the possibility of a thing because it cannot understand it is in every way as unscientific as that which is credulous enough to swallow anything which is sufficiently unlikely—whether this be applied to chemistry, politics, fire-walking or psychism.—I remain, yours, &c.,
4r Harley Street, London, W. z. L. J. BENDIT.
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