trigued but not convinced that in a future life I would attain
enlightenment, I kept one eye on Atmananda and the other on Anne.

"Everything can be classified according to its level of spiritual
evolution. Rocks and minerals are very primitive, whereas plants have
more developed auras. After thousands of years, the soul seeks an
animal incarnation. Except in rare instances, enlightenment occurs
through the human form only."

I grinned and wiggled my thumbs, figuring I was already ahead of the
game.

"Humans in their early incarnations are responsible for many of the
world's problems. But evolved people are not better than others. Are
college students any better than third graders?"

This diffused my concern that Atmananda's line of reasoning justified
the formation of an evolved elite.

"Karma is a cosmic feedback mechanism triggered by past actions. In a
universe governed by karma, few experiences are coincidental."

I supposed a lottery winner could have been a generous philanthropist
in a past life. But remembering the various times I had been robbed
while growing up in New York, I doubted that I had spent incarnations
as a mugger. Still, I liked his contention that it was karma's role
not to punish, but to educate.

"After thousands of human incarnations, you become ready to study with
an enlightened teacher. You may suddenly notice a teacher's poster.
You may have seen the poster many times before--only this time
something *clicks*."

I looked at the Transcendental and wondered if the Guru, who looked
like he badly needed sleep, could make something in me *click*.

Atmananda turned toward me, as if in response to my newest doubt, and
said, "An enlightened teacher can take a person through thousands of
lives in just one lifetime."

"What's the rush?" I thought.

"The sooner you attain enlightenment, the sooner you can help others
transcend this world of pain and suffering."

"How did he do that?" I wondered, unsure if he were addressing typical
doubts, or if he were actually reading my mind.

Atmananda continued to look at me. I found myself gazing, without
blinking, into his eyes... I began to feel as if I were floating...
somewhere far away I sensed my body breathing... I heard "bzzzzzzzz"
droning on and on and on...

He turned away, and I returned to normal consciousness.

"Holy cow," I thought. "He did it again!" Suddenly, I imagined that
he was a sorcerer and I, his apprentice.