Cockney accent.

"Ellaow," we echoed.

"WHAT... is your name!" he demanded, quoting from the movie Monty Python
and the Holy Grail.

"Sir Waff-noid," offered Sal.

"WHAT... is your quest!"

"I seek the higher worlds."

"WHAT... were you thinking about last night at 11:30!"

Sal blushed.

"Alas, my lad," said Atmananda, patting him on the shoulder. "You
won't reach the higher worlds thinking about that."

Atmananda showed us a poster. It read: "ECSTASY AS A WAY OF LIFE."
Also printed were details about a free lecture series, "With
Atmananda-Dr. Frederick Lenz." But before he sent us to Manhattan,
Atmananda inspired us, told us how to protect ourselves, how to change.

"Guru's mission," he said in a pacifying voice, "is to bring peace,
light, and bliss into a world that is rapidly heading towards darkness."

I realized that it was largely through Atmananda's lectures, and
through his appearances on radio and television--including a recent
appearance on the Phil Donahue Show--that Chinmoy's mission was being
spread. I felt important that I was a part of the operation.

"Your task is to see where to place the posters so that they will be
noticed by advanced seekers. To do this you will need to maintain a
very high state of consciousness."

We nodded solemnly.

"If you run into religious fanatics, be polite but firm. Do not let
them engage you in conversation."

We nodded again.

"By postering, you are helping Guru bring light into this world. But
Negative Forces will sense this and will try to inject you with doubts.
If you are attacked by the Forces, cry inwardly to Guru."

I was not too worried about non-physical creatures on the prowl. I had
a great deal of self-confidence, I assumed the Guru would protect me,
and I wasn't convinced that Atmananda's ghosts were real.

"I see that many will be helped as a result of today's efforts--
provided that Sal can muster the willpower to work and not just eat,"
he said, smiling warmly. "And don't forget to have a good time."

We meditated a moment.

"Guru put a special force on the posters," Atmananda said, breaking the
silence and handing the stack to my brother. Then he strutted around
us in a "silly walk" which I recognized from a Monty Python skit.

"Cheeriao."

"Cheeriao," we echoed, waddling down the driveway, imitating his
imitation. On the way to the train station, his words reverberated in
my mind: the path, spiritual, awareness, s