He told them to pay particular attention to bulletin boards around
engineering and computer science departments. He told them to invite
certain seekers to meditate with him (at SUNY Purchase on the east
coast and at a rented hall in Oakland, California, on the west
coast). It was no secret what type of person Rama wanted to attract.
Many of his posters found at universities across America contain
this message: "All workshops designed for individuals 29
and under."
According to one disciple who left the group in 1993, Rama's recent,
indirect recruiting method attracted roughly four hundred new disciples.
When a group of disciples' parents--known as the "Rama Mamas"--
found out about Rama's active quest for fresh material,
they alerted the press. Articles began to appear: The Santa Fe
New Mexican, "Controversial guru coming to Santa Fe", 3/24/92;
Santa Fe Reporter, "Computer Cult: Is the Leader Here?", 3/25/92;
Heart Dance: The Bay Area's Most Comprehensive Events
Calendar for Contemporary Human Awareness, Spirituality &
Well-Being, Editorial: "RAMA? UH-OH", 4/1/92; The Daily Californian
(UC Berkeley), "Zen master a fraud, followers say", 6/26/92;
San Francisco Chronicle, "Yuppie Guru Finds Cash in Computers:
Devotees pay $3,000 a month to sit at his feet", 7/30/92;
The Philadelphia Inquirer, "As guru's disciples hit town,
critics cry beware: Truth and light, the followers promise.
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