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PART II: CONFESSIONS

CHAPTER 6

MY TOUR ABROAD IN THE WEST

'The lover remai! !oli"ar# amo$ %eo%le a& mi$le! i"h "hem a! li""le a!a"er i"h oil(' ) R*mi(

FO++OWIN, m# &e-i!io a& "he -all o. ,o&/ I le." I&ia i 0102 "o !o3o*r i "he

We!"er orl&/ !"ro$ i "he -o*ra$e o. "he mo!" 4li!!.*l -omma& I ha& re-eive&

.rom m# M*r!hi& a& i "he $lor# o. "he o4le o43e-" he ha& aa5ee& i m# !o*l(

Na"*rall# i" a! a $rea" -ha$e i m# ei!"e-e "o leave I&ia/ "he mo!" !%iri"*all#

aa5ee& la&/ a& !"ar" .or "he We!"/ a& e!%e-iall# .or Ameri-a/ "ha" mo&er

home o. ma"erial %ro$re!!( I" a! "he ver# o%%o!i"e o. "he &ream I ha& 3*!"

e%erie-e&( The $rea" a-"ivi"# o. "he %eo%le a& "he ra%i&i"# o. "hi$! i $eeral/

"he r*!h o. ma-hier# a4ove/ 4elo/ a& all aro*&7 "he "ra!i"orie!! o. a..air!7

me r*i$ hi"her a& "hi"her .or "rai! a& -ar! i"h e!%a%er! a& %ar-el! i"heir ha&! 8 all "hi! 5e%" me *&er a -om%le"e !%ell o. !ile-e a& 4eil&erme"(

I" a! a! i. I ha& $oe "o !lee% a" home a& ha& .o*& m#!el. i a 4a9aar o

aa5ei$( B*" 4ei$ a S*.i I ver# !oo 4e-ame a--*!"ome& "o "hi! -ha$e o. li.e 4#

a""*i$ m#!el. "o m# !*rro*&i$!/ a& I .o*& "ha" "he# ere i&ee& "r*e lover!

o. D*#a/ "he ma"erial orl& a4o*" hi-h R*mi ha! ri""e i hi! Ma!avi(

Ever# ra-e a& a"io ha! i"! i.a-#/ #o*"h/ a& a$e/ a! al!o i"! 4ir"h a& i"! &ea"h(

A& 3*!" li5e ever# i&ivi&*al i" eve *&er$oe! "he evol*"io oe %a!!e! "hro*$h

&*ri$ "he &i..ere" !"a$e! o. li.e( For .rom a %hilo!o%hi-al %oi" o. vie all "he !o!

o. "he orl& are li5e li""le -hil&re/ a& "heir mo!" im%or"a" a..air! are o. o

im%or"a-e "ha a -hil&'! "o%( A! a e a"io Ameri-a a"*rall# a%%ear! -hil&i!h

oi$ "o i"! #o*"h/ al"ho*$h i"! ma"erial %ro$re!! i! %ro%or"ioa"el# a! $rea" a! "he

!%iri"*al %ro$re!! o. I&ia( B*" Ameri-a i! a la& o. %romi!e7 i "ime i" ill ri!e "o 4e

a i&eal -hil& amo$ "he -hil&re o. ,o& a& a lea&er o. re.orm(

I" a! ver# har& .or me "o 5ee% a 4ala-e 4e"ee m# mi!!io a& m# %ro.e!!io/

hi-h ere !o &i..ere" .rom ea-h o"her( O "he oe ha& I ha& "o 4e a "ea-her/ a&

o "he o"her a& ar"i!"/ a& e!%e-iall# "he i"er%re"er o. a ar" hi-h a! !o li""le

5o a4roa&( Thi! -o*l& ever 4e *&er!"oo& 4# a %eo%le a--*!"ome& ol# "o loo5

a" "he e"eral a!%e-" o. "hi$!( I" a! o" a! i I&ia here a4ir/ "he $rea" %oe"/

%rea-he& hile he !a" eavi$ a" hi! loom7 here ,*r* Naa5 "a*$h" i"hi hi!

%ri!o( For !ome o. "he $rea"e!" "ea-her! "he Ea!" ha! %ro&*-e& ere al!o ma!"er! o.

m*!i-/ !*-h a! Nara&a/ T*m4ara/ Bhara"a M*i/ Ta!e/ T*5aram/ S*r&a!/ Amirh*!ra*/ Mira4ai/ Avi-ea/ a& Fara4i(

Al!o/ 4ei$ a !"ra$er/ i"ho*" a# i.l*e-e or $oo& i"ro&*-"io!/ hi-h a "ea-her

ever re;*ire! i "he Ea!"/ i" a! a lo$ "ime 4e.ore I 4e-ame a-;*ai"e& i"h "he

ri$h" %eo%le( I &*e "ime/ 4# "he mer-# o. ,o&/ m# %a"h a! o%ee& a& I -am i"o

-o"a-" i"h "ho!e i"ere!"e& i m*!i-(

A" .ir!" I %er.orme& a& le-"*re& o m*!i- a" Col*m4ia Uiver!i"#/ ii$ "he

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arm -omme&a"io o. !everal %ro.e!!or! a& !"*&e"!( Thi! a! "he 4e$ii$ o.

m# %ro.e!!ioal -areer i "he We!"/ a& I !"ar"e& o a "o*r -om%ri!i$ earl# all "he

ell)5o -i"ie! o. "he Ui"e& S"a"e!/ here I !%o5e a" *iver!i"ie!/ 4e.ore

i"elli$e" a& a%%re-ia"ive a*&ie-e!/ o %hilo!o%h# a& m*!i-( Thi! &*ali"#

hei$h"ee& "heir i"ere!" i m# or5/ a& a! I $re .amiliar i"h "he Ameri-a

%eo%le I 4e$a "o reali9e "o m# 3o# "ha"/ &e!%i"e "heir -ommer-ial "re& a&ma"eriali!"i- am4i"io!/ ,o& ha! o" &e%rive& "hem o. "ha" "rea!*re hi-h i! love(

Their hear"! are eve a! o*r! al"ho*$h "heir ar"i.i-ial li.e ma5e! i" more &i..i-*l" .or

"hem "o a-hieve "ha" %ea-e hi-h e -a !o ea!il# a""ai i "he -alm o. "he Ea!"(

The# al!o have a !"ro$ &e!ire .or !%iri"*al %ro$re!!/ .or a! .ar a! ma i! -o-ere&/

i" ma""er! o" he"her he 4elo$! "o "he Ea!" or "o "he We!"7 i "ime he i! ievi"a4l#

a""ra-"e& "o "ha" e"eral So*r-e o. +ove hi-h -a ever 4e el*&e&(

Whe I arrive& i Sa Fra-i!-o I .o*& m*-h "o i"ere!" me "here/ a& m# &e!ire

.or "he revela"io o. "r*"h ha& i"! o*"le"( I have ever a%%rove& o. "he i&ea o.

mi!!io or5/ e!%e-iall# a" "hi! %erio& o. h*ma evol*"io he a e aa5ei$ i!

immie" all over "he orl&( I e!-a%e& "he a%%eara-e o. 4ei$ a reli$io*! 9ealo" or

oe ho i!he! "o -over" %eo%le/ .or I 4ore "ha" me!!a$e o. *iver!al "r*"h hi-h

o*l& harmoi9e Ea!" a& We!" 4# !%rea&i$ "he i&ea o. *i"# a& hi-h i! S*.i!m(

I !%o5e a" "he *iver!i"ie! o. Ber5ele# a& +o! A$ele! i Cali.oria/ here m#

m*!i- a& m# &i!-o*r!e! o %hilo!o%h#/ a! e%re!!e& i "he realm o. ar"/ a""ra-"e&

m*-h a""e"io( Al"ho*$h m# %ro.e!!ioal "o*r &i& o" %ermi" me "o &o a! m*-h a! I

o"heri!e -o*l& have &oe/ #e" i" a! "he ol# mea! o. .*l.illi$ m# mi!!io/ hi-h

ha& o o"her !*%%or" "ha "ha" o. ,o&( Thi! "o*r ai&e& me $rea"l# i e!"a4li!hi$

"he S*.i Or&er i Ameri-a/ i"h "he .olloi$ o43e-"! a" hear":

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I $ra"e.*ll# re.*!e& "hi! %ro%o!al/ .or/ 4ei$ a S*.i/ I &i& o" -are a4o*" a%%eara-e!/

4elievi$ ala#! "ha" "he !el. a! "he oe &e%e&a4le !"a.. o. li.e7 hile m*!i-/ 4ei$

m# ver# reli$io/ a! m*-h more "o me "ha a mere %ro.e!!io/ or eve "ha m#

mi!!io/ !i-e I loo5e& *%o i" a! "he ol# $a"ea# "o !alva"io(

M# a!!o-ia"e!/ amo$ hom ere m# "o 4ro"her!/ Mahe4oo4 ha a&

M*!hara.. ha/ a& m# -o*!i M*hamma& Ali ha/ re&ere& "heir *"mo!"!ervi-e 4# &evo"i$ "hem!elve! "o "he e!"a4li!hme" o. "he S*.i Or&er hi-h/ i &*e

-o*r!e/ a! !e" o a .irm 4a!i!( A! m#!"i-i!m ha& hi"her"o 4ee ma&e a hi&&e a&

e!o"eri- "hi$ 4# !ome "ea-her!/ ho "a*$h" i" ol# "o "ho!e ho 4elo$e& "o "heir

o ra-e/ reli$io/ a"io/ or -la!!/ i" a! m# "a!5 "o im%re!! *%o "he orl& "ha" i"

4elo$e& "o "hem all7 a& "ha" a! I ha& a-;*ire& i" .rom ma/ I m*!" im%ar" i" a$ai

"o ma/ i"ho*" ;*e!"ioi$ hi! ri$h"/ hi! -a!"e/ or hi! -ree&(

A."er m# Ameri-a 3o*re#i$ I -ame "o E*ro%e a& vi!i"e& E$la&/ here I

imme&ia"el# !o*$h" .or m# o -o*"r#me i "he ho%e o. !eei$ .amiliar .a-e!

o-e a$ai/ a! I ha& 4ehel& !o .e !i-e leavi$ I&ia( B*" "o m# $rea"

&i!a%%oi"me" I &i!-overe& "hem "o 4e "he ver# rever!e o. m# e%e-"a"io!7 !ome

!eeme& "o 4e avoi&i$ "heir .ello -o*"r#)me %*r%o!el#/ a& "he o"her! ere !e"

o 5ee%i$ "o "heir o -li;*e( Thi! reveale& a ro$ i.l*e-e o. We!"er -*l"*re

*%o "heir live!(

A" la!"/ 4# -o"i*al e..or"/ I $a"here& m# !%iri"*al .ello! .rom amo$ "he

E*ro%ea! aro*& me/ a& "he!e %rove& "o 4e more a" oe i"h m# !o*l "ha m#

o %eo%le( I .o*& m*-h more !#m%a"h# a& re!%o!e .rom "he E$li!h "ha I ha&

ever e%e-"e& .rom "he he i I&ia( Their $e"le a& -o*r"eo*! a"*re reveale& a

!har% &i..ere-e 4e"ee "he Ol& Worl& a& "he Ne( B*" "here a! li""le -*rio!i"#

-o-eri$ I&ia a& her %eo%le/ a& I .o*& i" ver# &i..i-*l" a" .ir!" "o -ome i"o

-o"a-" i"h mi&! o%e "o %hilo!o%h#(

I" a! o heari$ "he voi-e o. "he S*..ra$e""e! "ha" I .el" a e reli$io o. !eari!i$/ hi-h o*l& 4ri$ .ree&om "o ome i all %ha!e! o. li.e( Wome !eeme& "o

me "o 4e %re%are& .or !-ie-e/ ar"/ reli$io/ a& %hilo!o%h#/ hile her !*..eri$ i

li.e al!o 4ro*$h" her earer "o "he i&er .iel&! o. i"elle-"( I !a a la-5 o. harmo#

4e"ee me a& ome/ o. "ha" harmo# *%o hi-h "he "r*e ha%%ie!! o. a"io!

&e%e&!( The !e-re" o. "hi! !a& !"a"e/ hi-h i! *5o "o ei"her !e/ lie! i "he la-5

o. "ho*$h" -*l"iva"io a& i "he &e!ire .or orl&l# $ai a" "he !a-ri.i-e o. all el!e/

hile 4o"h !ee! m*!" mee" o "he !ame %lae o. evol*"io 4e.ore "he i&eal %ha!e

-a %o!!i4l# 4e rea-he&(

I a%%eare& !everal "ime! i %*4li-/ a& eve"*all# 4e.ore ro#al"#/ a& "h*! %re%are&

"he $ro*& .or !oi$ "he !ee& o. S*.i!m i E$la&( A S*.i P*4li!hi$ So-ie"# a!

e!"a4li!he&/ a mo!" e-e!!ar# or$a .or "he %ro%a$a"io a& mai"ea-e o. "heOr&er/ .o*&e& i"h "he la*&a4le o43e-" o. %*4li!hi$ or5! o 4o"h a-ie" a&

mo&er m#!"i-i!m/ %hilo!o%h#/ reli$io/ ar"/ !-ie-e/ li"era"*re/ a& m*!i-(

M# 3o*re# "o Pari! a! more .or m*!i- "ha .or %hilo!o%h#( Thro*$h "he 5i&

e..or"! o. !*-h .rie&! a! De4*!!#/ "he .amo*! -om%o!er/ I a! a4le "o -arr# o*" m#

mi!!io "hro*$h "he me&i*m o. m# ar" i"h $rea" !*--e!!( A! m# lo$ !"a# i "he

We!" a! ell a! m# -lo!e .rie&!hi% i"h !everal m*!i-al !-holar! ha& "raie& m# ear

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"o We!"er m*!i-/ I e!%e-iall# a%%re-ia"e& "ha" o. Fra-e/ hi-h i! !o .*ll o. love a&

emo"io( I !%o5e a" "he M*!i-al Co$re!!/ "he M*!ee ,*ime"/ a& a" "he Uiver!i"#(

The !e!i"ive a& i&eali!"i- "e&e-# o. "he Fre-h hel%! "o &evelo% "ho!e ;*ali"ie! o.

"he hear"/ hi-h are a""*e& "o &evo"io( Their Ca"holi- "raii$ al!o i.l*e-e!

"hem "oar&! "he &evo"ioal a!%e-" o. or!hi%(

M# vi!i" "o R*!!ia !"r*-5 ao"her -hor& i m# a"*re/ .or i" re-alle& "he Ea!" "o mea$ai( I .o*& "he %eo%le o%e 4o"h "o mo&er %ro$re!! a& a-ie" "ho*$h"( I me"

"he lea&i$ m*!i-ia!/ %oe"!/ a& li"erar# me/ ho %rove& "o 4e a4!or4e& i "heir

or5/ a%%re-ia"ive/ 5i&/ a& ho!%i"a4le/ all o. hi-h %romi!e! m*-h .or "heir

a"ioal a&va-eme"( Their voi-e -*l"iva"io a& 5ee i"ere!" i all a!%e-"! o. ar"

e!%e-iall# %lea!e& me( Thi! -o-er !ho 4# ma# %romie" R*!!ia! ma&e a

la!"i$ im%re!!io *%o me( I al!o .o*& "here "ha" Ea!"er "#%e o. &i!-i%le!hi%

hi-h i! a"*ral "o "he a"io here reli$io a& !el.)!a-ri.i-e are !"ill i ei!"e-e/

al"ho*$h "he 4i$o"r# o. "he Or"ho&o Ch*r-h !"a&! i "he a# o. "he hi$he!"

!%iri"*al aa5ei$(

Be.ore I -o*l& 4ri$ m# me!!a$e o. %ea-e "o "he re!" o. E*ro%e "hi! &i!"re!!i$ ar

-ov*l!e& "he orl&(