As a philosopher and poet from Canada, Robin Woodsworth Carlsen has shown a remarkable perception-perhaps unique among Western writers and journalists-of the meaning of the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the spirit that has been determining the course of its evolutionary ascent under the leadership of Imam Khomeini.
The impressions that Imam Khomeini made upon this Canadian writer are by no means unique. In fact what he describes is the experience of thousands or perhaps millions of human beings who have had an opportunity to encounter the great charisma, charm, and faith emanated by an authentic disciple of Islam. Only that he has described it more eloquently than others and so well that this account represents an authentic historical document and testimony.
The following has been extracted from his full account of meeting with Imam Khomeini, the greatest Islamic spiritual leader, during his third visit to Iran since the Islamic Revolution:
When Imam Khomeini was coming in from the entrance door I thought there was a great thunder of spirituality. It was as if there was the spirit of life was hidden in that brown dress; black turban and white beard in a way that all those who present were infatuated with him. I felt all of us were diminuend at his presence and it was as if no one was there in that great hall except him.
He was a great amount of rays that was penetrating into the spirit and heart of everybody; he destroyed all the criteria which I thought they could help me define his character and assess his position. He affected me so much so that I felt I was overwhelmed by his body and spirit.
When he sat on his chair I thought he was radiating a special kind of energy which was similar to a thunder at which if you looked carefully you would know that a kind of absolute calmness was hidden; it was because Imam Khomeini was very serious and steady.
You could find him very calm and quiet as if there was a special kind of stable energy running through his body and of course it is the same energy that eradicated the previous regime of Iran all at once. Now is it possible that such a man be like the other common men? … I have never seen a great man like him or equal to him. The least I can say is that he was like one of the God’s prophets or he is the Moses of Islam and he came to expel the Pharaoh of his country.