"I have time," I said. "I'm sorry about your son."
Mr. Kohl asked about Rama and the organization.
"I know what you're thinking," I said. "But Donald was not involved
in a cult. We're not like that. Rama teaches us to accept
or reject his recommendations based on our own perceptions.
He teaches us that he's no more important than anyone else."
I did not mention that Rama had distributed to each devotee a
larger-than-life poster of his face.
"Rama asks that we help cover the cost of room rentals and things like that.
But we're in charge of our own money." I did not tell him that Rama
actively sought gift money to supplement the skyrocketing "tuition."
Nor did I tell him that Rama worshipped and had named the organization
"Lakshmi," the Hindu goddess of beauty and prosperity.
"Our goal is to teach people to meditate." I did not mention Rama's
stated interest in finding students from his past lives, filling stadiums,
and starting a world religion. Nor did I mention that Rama actively
pursued these interests. He payed many thousands of dollars,
for instance, for promotional photographs featuring a back-lit aura.
He shifted his advertising copy and name to reflect a growing
sentiment that gurus were out while Zen masters were in (he called
himself "Zen Master Rama").
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