ent of the "outside world" we should adopt the shrewd powerful
personality of a warrior, whereas within the safe environment of a
Centre meeting we should adopt the gentle, trusting personality of a
child. Nor did I mention the details of Rama's spiritual etiquette,
some of which he described in his tape, "Welcome To Lakshmi" (see
Appendix B).

"Rama teaches us a combination of spiritual paths like Taoism,
mysticism, and Christianity." I did not describe what might happen at
a typical Centre meeting. Rama, who usually arrived about forty
minutes late, might begin with a discourse on the teachings of Lao Tzu,
Castaneda's Don Juan, or Christ. Then, couching parables in modern
terms, he might proclaim: "Short is the path of the fast lane on the
freeway to enlightenment." Or he might say: "As the coyote tries to
catch the road runner, so too tries the seeker to comprehend the life
of a fully enlightened teacher through rational means."

He might make the several hundred disciples laugh with: "Many are cold
(called) but few are frozen (chosen)."

He often lectured the men in the Centre that our untamed sexual energy
had been stunting the spiritual growth of our sister disciples. He
often lectured the women in the Centre that they needed to learn how to
emotionally detach themselves from men. And he often lectured both
sexes that he attracted very powerful souls, that we were way too
powerful for our own good, and that we had been making him physically
ill by relentlessly attacking him in the inner world.

He lectured, too, about the inevitable eclipsing of the world's
spiritual light, a process which seemed to be perpetually accelerating.
"Haven't you been feeling it?" he asked.

"Yes, Rama," came the inevitable response. "I feel it."

Rama quoted Chaucer, Roethke, and Shakespeare. He also told a story
(from The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury) about a Martian who,
when approached by humans, transformed into the object of their
desires. The Martian became a woman's dead son, for instance, until
someone else walked by. "I am like the Martian," said Rama. "I am
constantly being called upon to fulfill your desires."

Rama might question disciples with a portable microphone, a la Phil
Donahue. "Why don't you share what you saw tonight," he said, roaming
the aisles. He seemed to enjoy interrupting us when our response was
spiritually or grammatically incorrect.

Then Rama sat in front of the auditori