Hi Thorin,

Yes, we are very well.  It's kind of a drag being in the states at the moment -- very surreal.  Bush is telling us he will save us from danger, and Cheney says to vote for Bush or die!  So, on that front things aren't going so well, but personally, things are fine.

Sorry I'm not able to meet your friend, but I understand.  I wouldn't have to tell them we were once in the same cult, however.

Your post reminded me that when I was living in the Chicago ashram I took vacation time to go to Hans Jayanti festival in Florida (maybe the same one you were going to).  Anyhow, when co-workers asked where I was going, I said (half truth) "camping in Florida."  People laughed.  Who goes CAMPING in Florida?  It remids me that where I live we have a Dairy called "Berkeley Farms," and their advertising slogan is "Farms?.....in BERKELEY??? (There are no "farms" in the completely urbanized Berkeley, CA).

Anyhow, I just didn't know how to explain that we were going to a "festival," to camp out in a swamp, and sit on the ground and listen to Rawat blather on about nothing and then get up and waddle-dance to some horrid music while we "blissed out."  On some level, I knew it was all hogwash, and it was in those situations whn I had to explain it to someone, (or rather avoid doing so) that it was the hardest to keep those thoughts from coming to the surface.

Premies should all ask themselves:  if what Rawat is offereing is so beautiful, natural and wonderful, why is it that it is so hard to tell anybody about it?  And when you do, if ever, why do you always feel a little dishonest?  Why is it you can't tell the person everything about it, like about darshan, and arti, and about how you think Rawat is the source of the experience you have, etc.  Don't you feel a little sheepish saying that he just gives techniques and provides "inspiration?"  On some level you know that's false and yet you have to say it anyway, right?  Is this why you so rarely tell anybody about Rawat?