e edge of a
mountain, the five or six disciples probably did not see Rama handing
me a tiny stamp. On it was a picture of Mickey Mouse dressed as a
wizard, waving a wand.

I was slightly apprehensive. LSD was supposed to be a powerful drug.

"Chew it for a few minutes," Rama whispered.

It was as bitter as he said it would be. I soon noticed the deep blue
sky turn to bands of crimson and yellow and orange. I noticed the
lights of Palm Springs twinkle like stars thousands of feet below. I
noticed the mammoth peaks of Mount San Jacinto gradually fading away.
So stark and surreal was the scene before me, that I had to remind
myself that this was how the desert appeared at twilight ordinarily.

"How do you feel, kid?"

"Fine, Rama," I reported, enjoying the attention. "Nothing yet." About
fifteen minutes later he gave me another stamp when I found myself
noticing that I was noticing that I was noticing that I was

that i was

that

i

was

that hey

hey

hey
(hey)
((hey))
((((hey))))
((((((((hey))))))))
-* h e y * ------------ (it)
((it))
((((it))))
((((((((it))))))))
-* i t * ----------- (works)
((works))
((((works))))
((((((((works))))))))
-* w o r k s *-

I gazed at the lights of Palm Springs. I did not blink. I did not
breathe. I lost awareness that I was on a mountain. I lost awareness
that I was tripping. I lost awareness that I existed. The points of
light grew fuzzy and bright.

Time touched the mountain world. I blinked. I inhaled. I turned from
the light. "I am alive in this desert," I thought. Through the
powerful, rose-colored lens of the initial rush, the thought magnified
and blossomed into a stunning realization. I blinked again and exhaled.

I turned and saw Rama and the disciples. I knew that I was *seeing* on
a different level than they were. This made me happy. A large, silly
grin took hold of my face. The joy gradually receded, but the facial
muscles held. I knew the grin was out of sync. I laughed.

I turned to some rocks. I grew serious. "The rocks," I realized, "are
part of the Earth. The Earth is sacred." I did not realize, as I