Livia,

The truth was often exactly opposite your proposition in that the ashram premies were the most responsible, and sometimes capable, ones around.  I know I was "tapped" by our new community coordinator, Ron Bator, who came to Vancouver and noticed that I and a few other stalwarts were generally eagre and willing to get involved, do whatever needed to be done.  We ashram residents weren't in any way "misfits" compared to the community premies.  Everyone was just a young, hippieish type with low-end jobs for the most part.  The way I see it, the ashram just formalized our committment to not strive for success in the world but we were stuck there by one thing only: a sincere effort to take Rawat seriously. 

I also disagree entirely with your suggestion that Rawat's message was ambiguous.  He made it abundantly clear through his own words and those of his unmistakable delegates that the ashram was for people who could or would step up to the plate.