I was upset with myself. As usual, he was right. Yet I sensed there was something more, something in the way he looked at me...
But he was smiling now. "Don't let it bother you, kid. You're doing fine."
"Whew," I thought, happy to forget about it.
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.