Umm…what was I saying?”
“Something about the potential heights of existence and
borrowing money and your robe being dirty.”
He looked momentarily worried. “You think I should have
helped that kid out?”
I laughed. “I think maybe he should have helped you.”
He laughed loudly. A German man with a thick red beard sat
down at the table with us and joined in laughing although he had no
idea what he was laughing at. This would have been fine with me
except for the fact that his laugh was louder and longer than either of
ours. There seemed to be an inordinate number of German sanyassis
and I wondered why. Perhaps it was just a preponderance to blindly
follow where no man has followed before. Just for the hell of it, I
asked him what he thought.
“It is because we Germans have the determination to do what it
takes to change the world,” he said. “Soon the time will come when
the bad elements of the planet will be eliminated und we will be able
to set out fixing the planet. We are a powerful movement! We are
revolting!”
“I agree with you,” I said, “But I don’t get it. How exactlydo you
all plan to change the world? I mean exactly.” There was a significant
pause. A stocky Kiwi woman at the table next to us came to the
rescue. She made no bones about taking charge of a situation left
teetering by two men who hadn’t yet learned the stock answers.
“The numbers of our membership are growing exponentially,”
she said. We have centers all over the world, and in most major cities.
Haven’t you noticed how many people are seeking spiritual
alternatives nowadays? How holistic attitudes are prevailing? How
people are starting to reject technology? It’s only the beginning, of
course, but in a few years the Great Fast will occur, and then the real
change will come.”
“So what if this ‘Great Fast’ never happens?” I asked.
“Oh, it will. You can be sure of that. All the great prophets have
pointed to a great cataclysm coming around this time in history.”
“Your entire plan rests upon a prophesized cataclysm.”
“Yes,” she said. “A great flood maybe.”
“With Omniraja as Noah? And ourselves as the animals?”
“So to speak,” she said calmly. “But enlightened animals.”
“Listen, I hate to point out what should be obvious,” I said,
exasperated, “but what makes you think that you’re these great
BIG AMERICAN BREAKFAST
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