The Last Story by Christopher Pike Page B

nodded.

    "That is why you will enjoy meditation. After you meditate, your writing will be inspired.
    What do you write? Books?"

    "Yes. Scary books."

    He made a scared face. "Ohhh. You must be a scary person."

    I had to laugh. "It depends what time of the day it is."

    He laughed with me. "Scary books are good.

    Contrast in life is good. If everything was the same every day, it would be no fun. You cannot have great heroes without evil villains."

    I sat down. Roger raised his hand but didn't stand. The yogi nodded in his direction. "I have read that certain yogis develop amazing powers through meditation," Roger said. "They can levitate and move objects without touching them and even read people's minds. I was wondering if the meditation you teach develops these abilities?"

    The yogi played with a rose. "Why do you want these things?"

    "Everyone wants more personal power."

    The yogi acted surprised. "Really?"

    Roger spoke firmly. "Yes, which raises a concern of mine. Your followers look up to you. As you walked in, I saw many of them handing you flowers, greeting you as if you were some kind of guru.

    What do you have to say about that?"

    The yogi was a picture of innocence. "If people want to give me flowers, I can't very well throw them back at them." He waved his hand. "It doesn't matter to me what they do. I never ask for flowers."

    "You didn't answer my question."

    "Which question was that?"

    "Don't you think it's a mistake for people to give up their personal power? To you or any other guru?"

    The yogi was serious for once. "What power do you have? You have no power. The only power is in the divine consciousness. You don't even know how to breathe, how to keep your heart pumping. If the divine stopped doing that for you, you would be dead in a moment. We do not lose strength by surrendering our life to God, to a genuine Master.

    We gain real strength. And then these abilities you crave—if they come, good and fine.
    You will know how to use them for good. But we do not meditate to gain powers. They are an obstacle to divine realization, not a boon."

    "You equate God and a genuine Master," Roger persisted. "How can we know a genuine Master when we meet him?"

    "You can only know him or her in your heart.

    There is no other way."

    "I'm sure the followers of Jim Jones and David Koresh would have said the same thing,"
    Roger said.

    "Who are they?" the yogi asked.

    Roger snorted softly. "Can't you tune into that information?"

    The yogi paused. "They were cult leaders. Their followers followed them to their deaths."

    "That's correct," Roger said. "I'm sure you read about them in the papers. Anyway, such people are a menace to society. They delude the weak-willed, take their money, their possessions. They take over their whole lives. How do we know you're not planning to do the same with people here tonight?"

    "A genuine Master is like the sun, complete in himself. He needs nothing, asks for nothing. But for those who wish to stand and walk to the window and pull aside the curtains, he is there. He warms their path. He guides them, nothing more. He does not steal their lives from them. The opposite—he shows them how to live to their full potential."

    "But shouldn't we rely upon ourselves for guidance?"

    Roger asked. "What do we need you for?"

    The yogi was amused. "I don't know."

    "Is that all you have to say?"

    "It's all up to you. Just relax and enjoy."

    Roger crossed his arms over his chest impa

    tiently. He started to speak again but then thought better of it. I leaned over and whispered in his ear.

    "Those were good questions," I said.

    Roger shook his head. "You notice he didn't answer any of them."

    "He answered them in his own way," I said uncertainly.

    Someone behind us raised her arm. "Could you please tell us about the kriya you teach?
    What it is?

    How it works?"

    "Kriya and meditation go together. Kriya brings spontaneous meditation. You don't have to do anything. The mind