i return to poona april 1989

the world here has changed
many new people have come and the atmosphere is totally different
as the orange robes have disappeared into normal western attire
and people are looking more settled and less excitable
just accepting their daily routine meditation
the air of excitement to become enlightened receding far into the distance

they have settled and accepted enlightenment was not for them
but content being here with bhagwan

as soon as i arrive i check into a hotel and get feelers on how things are
asking quietly who is in the management
if neelam tathagat manu zareen swabhav were still around and in power

yes…they are i am told
and they already know i have arrived back in poona

the slow walker is back…they have spies everywhere

i wait for a few days and understand their new rules on clothes
the way things were now
i must remain as invisible as possible
and plan to bow down when i see them
and show respect and my new change in attitude
that i have changed and respect their authority
as they are only doing bhagwans work
and have dedicated their lives to him

wearing my loose kung fu black clothes
i reach the ashram gateless gate and as soon as i walk down
the guard greets me
we were waiting for you today…you are back…go in for a meeting

i meet manu and humbly bow to him
saying how happy i was to see them and grateful for allowing me in
and that i was now a changed person

manu is happy and blesses me and spreads the message around that
i have become a good boy and have started to behave myself
my taoist approach to bow down and bend like a tree is working
keep bending whenever i see these troublemakers
they love to have their egos polished

i walk in and can see neelam and tathagat look sternly
and unhappily at me from krishna house office
they would keep an eye on me
without looking towards them i move on quietly
and reach for my first silent inner bow at lao tzu gate

gurudayal singh who has always been my close friend
from the very first day i came to poona
laughs loudly and rushes to hug me
so happy to see you back…always remembered you
i see you walking slowly behind the buddha grove
many nights when i sleep

you are back we must celebrate
he tells me haskie is in poona…she loves me and we were very close
he rushes to haskies room in krishna house

haskie comes running and hugs me
oh rajneesh my love oh rajneesh my love you are back how wonderful
lets walk together and grabs my hand under her arm and walks slowly
it feels so good to see her and i am really happy that she is here

both gurudayal and haskie have loved me
know of my ordeals here in the ashram
and make it a point to make me feel welcomed
they make all efforts to speak well of me to lani and david and yogi
their goodwill helps me to smooth out my way
haskie is extremely warm and abundant
open and vibrant brazilian
and rebellious and fiery in her way

i am back again

for my beloved friend laughing buddha gurudayal singh
who always gets the joke before it is even told
i hear him laughing on his way out 9 january 2005

two young italian men talking on the greyhound bus
an old american lady ignores their conversation at first
but she listens in horror as one italian says
emma come first…den i come…two asses dey come together
i come again…two asses dey come together again…
i come again and pee twice…den i come once a more
the shocked old lady indignantly says you foul mouthed italians
in this country we do not talk about our sex lives in public
the surprised italian exclaims
he coola down lady…imma justa tellun my friend howa to spella
mississippi