Perhaps Atmananda had been happy to forget about it too because he
began giving me other things to think about. He gave me the task, for
instance, of starting a meditation club at my new school, the
University of California at San Diego (UCSD). He understood that by
controlling a university club, he gained legitimacy, prestige, and
unlimited access to free lecture halls.

I saw no harm in Atmananda's request. We were, after all, using the
club to help Guru. So I set out to find three full-time students who
were willing to sign up as the club's officers.

"Hi!" I said, approaching one student. "I'm starting a meditation
club and was wondering if you might be interested in helping out."

"What's a meditation club?"

"We're going to have guest lecturers teach Zen and relaxation--you
know, stuff like that."

"Sounds cool, dude, but I'm already relaxed."

"Great--but maybe you could take a moment and help people who are not."
And so, by soliciting signatures from those not particularly interested
in meditation, I became the club's sole proprietor.

Meanwhile, Dana designed, Rachel mostly payed for, and Atmananda
"zapped" the new stack of posters, which I then placed around UCSD, San
Diego State University (SDSU), and the neighboring communities. The
talks went well, and I soon handed out many maps to the Centre.

Before the potential recruits arrived, Connie spent hours cleaning the
Centre. According to Atmananda, this was something her soul loved to
do. My soul, he pointed out, loved to greet people.

"Howdy--I'm Mark!" I said.

"Hello," she replied. She was graceful and alluring. "I'm Mandy."

"This one," I thought, "is gonna need some heavy protecting."

During the lecture, Atmananda predicted that the world would enter a
spiritual dark age in 1985. "The darkness will last for thousands of
years, and it will become increasingly difficult to meditate and to
think clearly. Spiritual warriors will need to band together under the
protection of a guru who can fight the Negative Forces and forge a path
toward freedom and Light through a world turned murky and grey." Then
we had cookies.

After several public meetings at the Centre, Atmananda invited those
who were interested in studying with Chinmoy to stay afterwards.

"What do you do for a living?" Atmananda asked each of the three.

"I'm a flight attendant," said Mandy.

"I know a few things about flying," Atmananda interjected.

"I cane