Dr. Dahesh
Encyclopedia
Dr. Dahesh (b. in Jerusalem in 1909 – died in New York
in 1984) was the name-title and pen name
of Salim Moussa Achi (in Arabic
سليم موسى عشّي) founder of Daheshism
.
, Lebanon
.
He was a Lebanese
humanist, author, philosopher, and purported worker of miracle
s. By the age of 21, he had adopted the name Dahesh, Arabic for "inspiring wonder".
Dr. Dahesh established Daheshism as a religion in 1942. The spiritual message of Daheshism can be summarized in a belief in the existence and immortality of the spirit, reincarnation, the unity of religions and the spiritual causality and just reward (karma). His publishing career included essays, poetry, short stories, novels, and an autobiography, and exceeded 150 works.
Dahesh was imprisoned on September 9, 1944 and later on stripped of his Lebanese nationality
and exiled from Lebanon in 1944 during the reign of Lebanese President Bechara El Khoury
. In 1953, Lebanon, the newly elected President Camille Chamoun
restored his citizenship
.
Dr. Dahesh died in 1984, in New York
.
's Dahesh Museum of Art.
He also formed the Dahesh Library, the largest private library in the Arab world, known for its literary, scientific, and artistic holdings, and for its periodical collections. The Dahesh Heritage Center, also includes the offices of the Daheshist Publishing Company, on Broadway, New York.
Dr. Dahesh's Journeys Around the World
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1984) was the name-title and pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
of Salim Moussa Achi (in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
سليم موسى عشّي) founder of Daheshism
Daheshism
Daheshism is a religion established by Dr. Dahesh in 1942. He claimed Daheshism was a new religion based upon the Unity of Religions. He also established a Daheshism Calendar that starts with the 23rd of March, 1942, the date of the official establishment of the religion.Dr...
.
Life
Salim Moussa Achi was born in Jerusalem on June 1, 1909, and shortly after moved with his parents to BeirutBeirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
.
He was a Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
humanist, author, philosopher, and purported worker of miracle
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
s. By the age of 21, he had adopted the name Dahesh, Arabic for "inspiring wonder".
Dr. Dahesh established Daheshism as a religion in 1942. The spiritual message of Daheshism can be summarized in a belief in the existence and immortality of the spirit, reincarnation, the unity of religions and the spiritual causality and just reward (karma). His publishing career included essays, poetry, short stories, novels, and an autobiography, and exceeded 150 works.
Dahesh was imprisoned on September 9, 1944 and later on stripped of his Lebanese nationality
Nationality
Nationality is membership of a nation or sovereign state, usually determined by their citizenship, but sometimes by ethnicity or place of residence, or based on their sense of national identity....
and exiled from Lebanon in 1944 during the reign of Lebanese President Bechara El Khoury
Bechara El Khoury
Bechara El Khoury was the first post-independence President of Lebanon, holding office from 21 September 1943 to 18 September 1952, apart from an 11-day interruption in 1943...
. In 1953, Lebanon, the newly elected President Camille Chamoun
Camille Chamoun
Camille Nimr Chamoun was President of Lebanon from 1952 to 1958, and one of the country's main Christian leaders during most of the Lebanese Civil War ....
restored his citizenship
Citizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
.
Dr. Dahesh died in 1984, in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Art legacy
Dahesh began collecting works of art around 1930 and continued to do so for the rest of his life. Today, his art collection belongs to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's Dahesh Museum of Art.
He also formed the Dahesh Library, the largest private library in the Arab world, known for its literary, scientific, and artistic holdings, and for its periodical collections. The Dahesh Heritage Center, also includes the offices of the Daheshist Publishing Company, on Broadway, New York.
Literature
Dr. Dahesh authored many books :- 1. Repose of Death Original prose version in Arabic. Poetic version by Mutlaq Abd el-Khaleq
- 2. Words of Dr. Dahesh
- 3. The Song of Songs Tr. into French by Marie Hadad, to English by Marion D. Perret & A. Watani and into German by Gisela Hajjar & revision by W. D. Fischer
- 4. The Six Goddesses Tr. into French by Dr. Georges Khabsa
- 5. Astarte & Adonis Tr. into French by Marie Hadad
- 6. The Inferno of Dr. Dahesh (volume 1)
- 7. Lightnings & Thunders
- 8. Memoirs of a Dinar Tr. into French by Marie Hadad, into German by Gisela Hajjar & revision by W. D. Fischer & Sylva Brunner and into Spanish by Carmen Ruiz Bravo Villasante
- 9. Love Song
- 10. Anthology of Dr. Dahesh's Works
- 11. Emotions & Commotions
- 12. Arrows & Spears
- 13. Winged Imagination or The Life of the Moon Dwellers Tr. into French
- 14. Strange Tales & Wondrous Legends (4 volumes) Tr. of volume 1 into German by Gisela Hajjar & revision by W. D. Fischer
- 15. My Shattered Hand
- 16. River of Tears
- 17. Memoirs of Jesus The Nazarene (volume 1) Tr. into English by A. Watani & Fares Zaatar & English editing by Dr. Marion D. Perret. Tr. into French by Marie Hadad
- 18. The Secrets of the Gods (2 volumes)
- 19. The Lyre of the Gods (2 volumes)
- 20. The Correspondence between Dr. Dahesh & Dr. Mohammad Hussein Haykal
- 21. The Knell of Sorrows or the Lamentations of Jeremiah
- 22. Humble Supplications
- 23. A Writer of Prose & a Writer of Poetry (3 volumes) Original prose by Dr. Dahesh & poetic version by Halim Dammous
- 24. The Broken Heart
- 25. The Inferno of Memories
- 26. The Lyre of Orpheus
- 27. The Enchantment of Poetic Prose
- 28. My Songs
- 29. Fleeting Mirages
- 30. The Lyre of Sorrows or Soul Weeping
- 31. The Sharp Sword Gardens of the Gods Adorned with Roses of Paradise (10 volumes)
- 32. Recollections
- 33. Joys & sorrows
- 34. Songs of a Lover
- 35. A Wanderer in Life's Wilderness
- 36. River of Pleasures
- 37. Dust & Mirage
- 38. Spirit Singing
- 39. Winged Poems
- 40. The Lyre of Love
- 41. Songs of a Worshipper Paradises of the Goddesses Set with Sacred Lotus (10 volumes)
- 42. Lover of Nymphs
- 43. Illusory Hopes
- 44. Spring of Happiness
- 45. A Poet's Melodies
- 46. Lake Songs
- 47. Mountain of Pleasures
- 48. The Wood of Violets
- 49. The Singing Nightingale
- 50. Spring Songs
- 51. The Chants of Cupid
Dr. Dahesh's Journeys Around the World
- 1. First Travel - From the East to the West with Dr. Georges Khabsa. 1969
- 2. Second Travel - The Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Italy (Rome), Malta, Libya, Cyprus & Africa. 1970
- 3. Third Travel - Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Italy (Rome). 1971
- 4. Fourth Travel - Greece (Athens), Libya and Egypt. 1971
- 5. Fifth Travel - Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Rumania, Austria, Spain and Italy. 1971
- 6. Sixth Travel - Italy, France, Belgium, Holland, West Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway, England, Austria and Greece. 1972
- 7. Seventh Travel - Russia. 1972
- 8. Eighth Travel - Bulgaria, Rumania and Poland. 1972
- 9. Ninth Travel - France. 1973; France and Italy. 1974
- 10. Tenth Travel - U.S.A. (New York & Boston). 1976
- 11. Eleventh Travel - Morocco, Canada (Montreal), U.S.A. (Disney World and Cape Kennedy, Florida). 1976
- 12. Twelfth Travel - U.S.A. (California, Nevada and Arizona). 1977
- 13. Thirteenth Travel - Canada (Quebec), U.S.A. (Virginia). 1978
- 14. Fourteenth Travel - France. 1978
- 15. Fifteenth Travel - Twice to Greece. 1979 & 1980; Egypt (Cairo). 1980
- 16. Sixteenth Travel - Saudi Arabia, U.S.A. (Boston). 1980
- 17. Seventeenth Travel - France, Italy, Egypt, U.S.A.(Virginia) and Canada. 1981
- 18. Eighteenth Travel - France and Austria. 1981-1982
- 19. Nineteenth Travel - England (London), Italy, France (Paris), Canada, U.S.A. (Virginia). 1982
- 20. Twentieth Travel - England, India, France, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. 1983 (3 volumes)
Further reading
- For a comprehensive review, please refer to Lutfi Radwan, the former Chief Editor of the Egyptian Magazine "Al Moussawar" and his book "The Miracles & Wonders of Dr. Dahesh", 1997, ISBN 0-935359-44-3, The Daheshist Publishing Co., NY.
- And other works by Dr. Iskandar Shaheen's book:, "Dr. Dahesh: A Man of Mystery", 2001, ISBN 1-931126-01-1, both published by The Daheshist Publishing Co., NY.