The way my mother and father brought me up was very nonsecular. The most we (my brother and sister) ever experienced of religion was Christmas with the occasional "Happy Hanukkah!" from my stepfather who felt a need to represent his background. But there was really never much said about it. The time of year was really about giving and trees with ornaments and if it was cold enough (we lived in Los Angeles) a fire in the fireplace. When I was 16 I got very ill and was told I could either stay in a hospital for one month or stay at home for 2. I chose home so at least I could have my Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan records to listen to. But my collection of music wasn't very big at the time so I started to read Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. It was a perfect escape from the static situation I was in and I devoured it whole. Then I started to listen to the radio and came across a philosopher named Alan Watts who in a soft and cool English voice spoke about the eastern version of spirituality without an airy attitude. It impressed me. Got me to think about life. Another day, on the same radio station, an American voice came on named Ram Dass who really "spoke to me". He told stories about his life and his car and getting very high but not on drugs and that really impressed me. He was like a very cool Uncle who knew what "it" was all about and that's when I really started to listen. In the following year I went with my best friend from High School to visit the Vedanta Temple in Hollywood where I would meet my teacher and other people who perhaps without their knowing it would be like an extended family to me and to all of them I am ever grateful. That was the beginning of the journey that has lasted me all my life.
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