Absolute Reality

Who was Dr. Alfred Aiken?

Dr. Alfred Lewis Aiken (1897 – 1968) was born in Norwalk, Connecticut. He was the son of Alfred Le Grand Aiken and Ella (Randell) Aiken.

As a young man Alfred Aiken attended Norwalk High School. During World War I he served in the Army Dental Corps at Camp Martin, New Orleans. While in the South he continued his education at Tulane University of Louisiana, where he received the degrees of D.D.S (1919) and B.S. (1921). While attending Tulane University he was assistant to the Professor of Radiology and in charge of the X-Ray Department. Following this he studied medicine at Temple University, and received the degree of D.C., at the National Eclectic Institute. While at Temple University he received an appointment as Assistant Professor of Chemistry. He then went on to receive his M.D. degree from Old Physio Medical College, West Virginia in June 1923.

His career began with newspaper reporting. Following this he held a Civil Service position at the Bacteriological Laboratories of New York City. Subsequently he became a professor of Massotherapy and Naturopathy in the School of Rational Therapy in New York.

Relocating to Alabama for a time he was both Superintendent of City Schools at Parrish, Alabama and also proprietor of the Aldrich and Parrish Theatres. While in Alabama he became a licensed dentist and practiced general dentistry for a time and then specialized in pyorrhea work.

Eventually he returned North to complete his studies in drugless methods, and became a licensed dental surgeon in Connecticut. He practiced general drugless healing for a time instead of dentistry.

Dr. Aiken was president of the District Teacher's Association in Alabama and was president of Xi Psi, Phi. Dental Fraternity; President of Tau Delta Chi Fraternity; a member of Dreamer's Club; of the Academic Club, and the Masonic Fraternity. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a Knight Templar, a Shriner and a member of the Eastern Star.

Dr. Aiken was an intense lover of the great outdoors. He was Scoutmaster of Troop 2, Boy Scouts of America, in Port Chester, New York. He first became interested in Scout work as assistant of Solon H. Borglum, the famous sculptor, who was Scoutmaster of a troop at Stamford, Connecticut.

After World War I, he became a metaphysician. He left his practice and went to California to write plays and poetry. During World War II he was inducted into the Army where he examined thousands of potential soldiers prior to deployment. After World War II he lived in Hell's Kitchen where he wrote That Which Is and The Unchallenged Self in 1954.

Dr. Aiken conducted and tape recorded Lectures, Forums and Seminars on Reality from 1955 to 1968 throughout the United States, Canada, England, Africa and Switzerland. While Reality was uppermost in his thoughts, he also enjoyed the theatre as an actor, writer, director, and producer.

Seminars

Dr. Aiken would dedicate an entire week probing the depths of Reality and Self Identity. It was a complete immersion in Truth. Individuals invited to attend these sessions would ask questions on Absolute Reality that Dr. Aiken would answer. He would explore the implications raised by the questions and bring out a clear sense of Reality, Life, Love, Existence. Today recorded sessions of Alfred Aiken's original week-long Seminars (presented from 1955 thru 1968) are offered four times per year. Hillier Press recommends that Seminar applicants be familiar with Dr. Aiken's writings and/or recordings.

Forums

Forums were two hour talks on Absolute Reality given by Dr. Alfred Aiken in a question and answer format. The nature of questions asked determined the direction of the discussion.

Lectures

Lectures were one hour sessions open to the public. They offered general presentations about Absolute Reality centering on a specific theme.