"As the soul evolves, it transcends desire and attachment,
which is the root of all suffering. Finally, enlightenment occurs."
Unaware that he was borrowing Hindu and Buddhist doctrine, and intrigued
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. I forgot about Anne
and carefully followed his words.
"Advanced seekers say that after they attain enlightenment they
will return to earth to help others. But most of them end up
choosing eternal ecstasy instead."