f a motel. I found myself
looking for cars from Rama's tour group. I found myself wondering
where the disciples--my friends--were and what they were doing. For
years we had been close, like a tribe. Suddenly I had an inspiration:
set out across America and rejoin my tribe! And how my spirit soared!
And through the sleepless days and nights, I searched Howard Johnson's,
Best Western, and Denny's parking lots across America for a black Turbo
Carerra.

I had not forgotten the problems with Rama. But I remembered him
telling me that through the good times and bad, we would always be
family. "And what family doesn't have problems?" I asked myself.

I drove south to Stony Brook but did not find the group, so in New York
City I paid a surprise visit to Tom. When I told him about my quest to
find my tribe, he seemed to understand what I was going through. But
he had left the Centre roughly nine months before and had no interest
in returning. That night I saw for the second time The Razor's Edge.
"Maybe I can rejoin the group and be independent at the same time," I
told myself as I began the drive west.

Days later, in San Diego, I was showering at the UCSD gym, when I asked
a guy if I could use some of his shampoo.

"Sure, Mark, take as much as you want," was the reply.

Wiping the soap from my eyes, I recognized Gary, a disciple who had
left Rama years ago. I was glad to see him. We decided to go for a
hike on Palomar Mountain. I told him during the ride that I had lost
my tribe.

He gave me an understanding smile. "I hear they have moved to Laguna
Beach."

"No kidding!" I said. "Would you like to go there instead of to
Palomar?" In less than two hours we sat eating cheesecake in Laguna
Beach. Suddenly I saw Paul drive by.

"They're here!" I exclaimed and chased the car down Pacific Coast
Highway. But I soon lost sight of my old friend from Stony Brook. I
walked back, polished off the cheesecake, and drove Gary back to San
Diego. The next day I returned to Laguna Beach. I decided to wait by
a twenty-four hour banking machine, an appropriate place it seemed to
stalk members of Rama's tribe.

Alexander and Marty soon appeared searching for cash. I was jubilant
to see them. They were wary of me. After a few minutes, though, they
seemed to forget that I was taboo (Rama had put me down at one of the
Centre meetings). They told me when and where the meetings were being
held.

They did not tell