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Laxer, Mark Eliot

"Take Me for a Ride: coming of age in a destructive cult"


A devotee of Sri Ramana Maharshi and baseball, the Swami actually
is a good guy. He doesn't claim to be any better than the rest
of us. But he's happy. So maybe happiness can be learned?
Come and find out...We may hit you for a few bucks - but we'll give
you a good time...Lots of pomp and ceremony for you Western types
who can't accept that enlightened souls can look and act like normal
human beings..."
I liked the ad. I saw no reason why enlightened souls should not
look and act like normal human beings. I liked the way Atmananda
poked fun at the pomp and ceremony which had distanced Chinmoy
from many of his disciples. I also found Atmananda's deflated
view of himself a relief.
A number of Atmananda's advertisements, however, were of a more
serious nature. In the first issue, for instance (January, 1981),
he wrote: "1st WORKSHOP OF 1981...another exciting Castaneda
experience at UCSD...inspired posterers--here's your chance!"
In later issues, he repeatedly ran "The Experience of Luminosity" ad
(Issue #6; March, 1981): "DR. FREDERICK LENZ is a spiritual Benefactor.
Each month...he offers several free workshops to members of the San
Diego community. At these workshops he provides solid information
and techniques that will help you to gain inner peace and happiness.


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