Rah Lum Nah's usual question chalked upon the black board asked: "If art reflects it's master, then whom is it's slave?"

Thus the lecture began, in precise repetition, with the first counter question:

Question: "But does not art reflect society? It's statements coinciding with reality... no matter the style? Can not one look at all artists and their styles, put them together, and discover the path of an era?"

Rah Lum Nah: "Art not only reflects societies history at the time of it's inception, but art also drives society: For instance, an artist sees, hears or witnesses an act of violence, he then produces a motion picture displaying that violence; the largest percentage of it's content now reflects the very violence which inspired the artist. The viewer of this motion picture sees the violence as every day reality and soon becomes an artist in life; painting a canvas of the streets in his actions... another artist sees this magnified "new painting of reality" in those actions and soon paints another picture; writes another book; films another motion picture. On and on the cycle grows! In this way, both the artist and his patron become enslaved to art and it's companion... a degrading society!"

Question: "But, is it not true, that to keep art as man's slave, one must paint the good side of society or write and produce stories which end with successful and positive results. Can not art become man's slave... with society it's master?"

Rah Lum Nah: "Yes, in a matter of speaking, if art is allowed to progress with out check and balance to it's content, in the end, it will always deliver it's subject society into slavery of it's self . As art grows through TV, radio, and motion pictures, it has the power to change, corrupt, demoralize, and in general, bring society to it's knees!"

Question: "But, Rah Lum Nah, is this not a form of censorship? Is this not preaching an end to free speech?"

Rah Lum Nah: "My son, one does not desire the conclusion of free speech. Free speech is the corner stone of art in it's purest form! Yet, one must judge if free speech means uninhibited art; art that demeans; art that subjugates; art that breeds hate; art that plays upon the emotions of a minority peoples in a way that delivers hurt and pain; art that produces greed, hate, and violence into our children! Yes, free speech is of utmost importance... and, utilizing free speech, we must educate, teach, show, and demonstrate to those whom will become our future visionaries: how to paint visions which are strong, free, educated, helping, and loving! Yes! Good visions! We must teach that art can enslave through it's enticement to profit from man's weaknesses....."

Joe looked around as he listened to the mass of forty year old priestly men assembled in the small room of The Los Angeles Free Press. He realized, that once more, he and one other teenager were the only ones under thirty! New "Chosen" ones were allowed to attend only one of the Rah's personal teachings; he, on the other hand, had attended them all! He had been attending the political/social debates for several weeks, ever since he and Pauly received the ride into LA...

They were walking along, content with the cash in their pockets and food enough for several days, when an old, beat up station wagon pulled over.

"Heh, come with us. We're going to LA." A friendly voice in rag-tag face cried as he removed himself from the front seat..

Joe and Pauly ran over to the car amazed at the dress and mannerisms of it's occupants: Each of the four men--whom looked in their late thirties--had long hair and beards, flowing robe-type dress, beads and charms hanging from their necks and wrapped 'round their wrists, and their feet were sandaled...

When Joe saw those sandaled feet under their flowing robes, and heard the gentle, philosophical way in which they communicated, he was struck by the thought of the book his mother had given him: The Lord's Prayers.

"So, are you brothers journeying from the great city of San Francisco to Los Angeles?" The man asked .

"Yes, we are, but we're not brothers... just good friends." Joe replied.

"Are not all of Him; the sons and daughters of He and therefore brothers and sisters?"

"Well, I never thought of it like that."

"Well, my brothers, please seat your selves in the rear and we shall ensure your safe delivery to Los Angeles..."

Joe and Pauly soon were in the car and on their way. They could not believe they were riding all the way to LA... No walking! No waiting! No more nights on the side of the road! A straight shot deal! After they settled into the old but roomy and comfortable back seat, they offered five dollars towards the gas--which was more than happily received--and food from their reserves. As Pauly snoozed off, Joe listened with both ears to the soft and mellow conversation unfolding in the two front seats

"So, Rah Lum Nah is going to be there himself?" The driver asked the front seat passenger--whom seemed to be the one in charge.

"YES! For six weeks! And, he is opening the lectures to personal friends of The Order!"

"Does that mean we can bring whom we want!"

"Well, brother Shaom, I do believe that each one of us can offer admittance to one person each.... but, I do believe this is a great occurrence!"

"Oh yes, brother. Mighty is the word of He that sees all!"

"I look forward to His wisdom and power. He shall be speaking of life and it's meaning. We shall hear from his glorious lips the writings he has penned with much truth and compassion. Rejoice brothers, for we shall hear directly the way to discover our purpose in life... we shall see and hear from our Father himself.. the one and only Figure on earth whom can offer the gift of life and love..."

Harry, did I not just say: life, love, father, figure, truth, purpose? Were these not the words which Joe was searching the meaning of? Had not these gentle, robe-draped men, offered a ride to Joe and Pauly with gladness and enthusiasm? Joe could not believe his ears... was it for real? He would have to discover a way to attend this great and mystical gathering of brothers and sisters and learn for himself his future....

Harry, Joe in fact figured a way to attend.... With his remarkable communication skills, and his trial and error street education--which did not limit the use of "small lies and grand boast"--he was able to relate his trips as planned events "in the discovery of purpose and truth". From the Navaho Reservation to the Georgia woods, Joe built such an interest in his journeys that soon he was invited --"You shall be our guest to an awe inspiring event which will be greatly appreciated by a young man of such worldly travel."--by Shaom and Troupah themselves. They were going to attend the Rah Lum Nah visit!

"So, what does our young brother, whom has journeyed much for such a young pupil of the way, have to say about that?"

Joe was suddenly brought back to his place by the loud question which boomed across the room to land upon his lap. He had been lost in his mind thinking of his first chance meeting with Shaom; he did not hear all of the question.... and every eye in the place was intently focused on him. Joe could not detect if it was jealousy or respect that glinted in all of those keen eyes at the honor of the directed question by The Rah Lum Nah. He figured his best option was to give his answer to the original question...

"I have learned, that one can subjugate art for the better of mankind. I have learned, one must use and utilize all forms of art to deliver their message; by doing so, one masters more than art--one masters the people. And, if one masters the people, one has no fear of the loss nor gain of free speech! One controls free speech through art. Therefore, whom ever controls the vast majority of art--and it's messenger--controls humanity. Let the good control art and it makes no difference that it enslaves it's viewers, for their very enslavement can, and will, produce a strong and powerful society whom work for it's good!"

It was as if every one in the room had had a heart attack--en-mass: the silence and looks of astonishment conveyed shock! Even the Rah Lum Nah, whom was now standing upon his portable dais, had his eyes intently upon Joe's face. Joe was beginning to think he had said something wrong when suddenly, the Rah Lum Nah did something which had not been done since Joe began to attend the meetings: He invited Joe to come upon to the dais and sit with him... he had received the lessons well!

Joe soon found himself handing out tracks; Panhandling!; Recruiting; Looking up to Rah Lum Nah as a father figure!; Arguing with Pauly about his "infatuation with a religous/political movement which was brain washing people with it's art and words of false truth!

"Sir, your copy of the Rah track.... donation please... Sir, your copy of the Rah track... donation please.... Sir, your..." Joe was collecting nearly one hundred and fifty dollars on the week ends pushing tracks and collecting donations. On the week days, he handed out the two page Los Angeles Free Press and averaged sixty dollars. "Sir your copy of.."

"You still on this corner?" Pauly ribbed him.

"Hey, it's a livi.... Sir, your copy of the Rah tract... Donation please?" He collected seventy five cents and placed it in a leather bag he wore around his waste." What did you do today?"

"Hell, I partied--and I'm gonna party tonight!" Pauly said sarcastically.

"Hey, here's five bucks, put it away." Joe said, removing five one dollar bills from his pocket.

"Ain't they gonna say something about you giving me all this money?"

"As long as you don't tell them they won't know! Any way, the Rah said that we should love and share. That's what I'm doing... sharing with you--I damn sure don't love your ugly ass!" Joe said as he playfully punched Pauly in the chest. "Any way, I don't take a dime. I eat rice and vegetables cooked by the sisters twice a day. They gave me my own futon and a place in the old gym the brothers refurbished. And, I am learning a lot! That's the best part. I'm learning history and political science!"

"Yea, right. The only thing they want to teach you is how to collect money for them! Heck, I bet they live like kings...with steaks and lobster--while you eat damn gook food! You've been doing this garbage twenty hours a day for six weeks! GIVE IT $%^%#$% UP FOR CHRIST SAKE!" Pauly grumbled with a serious look splashed across his face.

"Look, every time you stop by you gotta say something! I'm just checking it out. You know? Like you checked that stupid language out! Hell, you sounded like a #$%$#$ doref! And, OK, I gave you hell.... but I got to see if this thing is it!" Joe replied to Pauly's sarcastic but well meaning statement.

"Well, I gotta go. This girl I just met is gonna meet me at the crash pad tonight!"

"Tomorrow is Friday--my best day-- stop by.... I'll give you twenty!" Joe offered.

"Well, I'll see you..."

"OK. Hey..." Joe yelled as Pauly walked across the street, "You keep your stuff together..."

On the way to the gym and his next "lesson", Joe stopped by the beach.

The beach was Joe's new place of power. He would sit upon an out crop of rocks and meditate like the Rah told him to every evening for twenty minutes. He would balance his Karma and complete his Wah. The Yin and Yang would then balance out and he would be one with nature once more. Then he would return to the gym and his study and chores.

As Joe sat upon his favorite rock, one that looked as if it had been warn smooth by twenty generations of Karma seekers, Joe looked upon the setting sun. Powerful and soothing, the sun was the balance of this wonderful galaxy; it not only supplied the energy for life to exist, but it also was source of the Rah's power! That is what Rah taught. The Rah said God did not exist. He said that God was in each one of us. He said we in fact determined our destiny. Joe remembered asking Rah: "if God existed in each one of us, if we determined our own destiny, then how did other self determining individuals effect us?" Rah said when he reached the level of Rah the answers would come as the rays of the sun. Rah said that we should share and give. Joe had asked Rah, "if we should share and give, then why did we not open a food kitchen or a place for the multitudes of wanderers to sleep in?" Rah said, when Joe reached the level of Rah, he would learn the answers to many of life's confusing questions; "we must first look after our selves," said Rah. Rah knew. Rah cared. Rah loved. Rah was reborn twenty thousand years... Joe only a handful, what did Joe know? When he got to the gym, he would ask...

The pounding of the surf awoke Joe. 'It was high tide!' He thought as he glanced at the stars. Rah had shown Joe how to gauge the universe by it's lights. It didn't look to good. 'Heck, it must be past 12 am!' He had fallen asleep! 'Man'... he thought, ...'I've been working and studying to much.' In the last week, Joe had worked the corner for over sixty five hours; when you added the amount of time for study and prayer.... heck he was lucky to sleep for more than four hours a night! He got up and ran towards the gym.

Harry, the gym was an old building the Rah had converted into his headquarters. The main area was nearly two hundred feet across by one hundred feet wide. On one side of the gym, measuring fifty by fifty, was the sleeping area. The same amount of space was used for the kitchen/dining area. The balance of the space was divided into sections for training, offices, and meditation. Eight foot plaster board walls separated each area. Finally, a space, seventy five by seventy five feet, was used as the living quarters for the Rah and his assistants; it had been specially refurbished at Rah's own commands. Joe had never seen it. It was off limits to all except Rah and his High Disciples. Joe was at first surprised by the fact that Rah lived in the city. Joe had recalled the conversation with Shaom and Troupah in the car; they said that the Rah was going to be in LA for a short time to give a special session or something. Joe soon learned he always lived in LA, and that all converts were taken to a meeting just like Joe was; where the same question was written on the board! When Joe questioned this discrepancy, he was informed that only the chosen were invited... and what would the chosen say if they were informed they were the chosen with out actually knowing the Rah? What would Joe have said? Would he have come? Shaom himself told Joe that by using the principles of "Art and the Way", disciples of Rah were able to recruit by deception--deception being the right way if it ended in the chosen discovering themselves! Yes, Joe had gone along with this explanation; remember his speech in the chosen meeting.... Control the Art; Control free speech; For the better of man; For the better of society; For the good of society; Society needed the Rah... the society for Rah!

Joe entered the building to a loud chanting that reverberated off the high ceiling. Classes, taught by The High Disciples Of Rah, were going strong. Joe knew how the new chosen felt... it was their first time! He could remember the excitement on the faces of the twelve chosen whom began with him. One at a time, for three days, they brought them to a Chosen meeting; until they had twelve---Then Wham! The power of the Rah! The funny thing was, out of twelve young disciples, only four were left after three weeks! But, Rah had informed Rouii--which was Joe's conversion name--that he could look forward to rapid advancement due to the fact that even the chosen sometimes did not make it do to there "still yet shallow minds". Rah had said that sometimes it takes three, four, even seven times--which was his very own sacred number--to feel the force of Rah! Joe had discovered the force in two days! Since, he had collected three times as much any one else; had recruited 18 people--of which 11 excepted their Wah and were earning funds for the community; had implemented several ideas which had produced revenues twice what they were before! Yes Joe was feeling great. Any day he would be taken off the streets to train.... that's what the Rah said!

As Joe walked over to the collections table--where all proceeds of the daily outside activities were deposited--Troupah suddenly appeared. "Rouii, come, we have been waiting your return"...

Joe walked over to the huge, oak and stained glass doors which led to the section he had never seen. As he walked, his heart began to beat: "Would he be chosen to move to the next level! Was this the day he would be given a better place to sleep and the right to teach?" Joe stumbled across the room in his haste to discover his reward...

The floor was covered in highly glossed, maple strips, and a large, carved dais of red cherry, shaped in the form of a lotus bloom, with large and plumply stuffed pillows, in black silk and satin billowing over it's petals, seemed to grow from the floor in the back of the room. Rah, dressed in a red and gold silken robe, sat cross legged and serene on top of the pillows. The lighting was soft and indirect and incense burned with the fragrance of a Catholic Church on Easter Sunday. Joe was impressed by the visual aspects of the large room.

Rah and four of his High Disciples--whom sat on the floor facing Joe--had their eyes sharply focused on Joe's face; watching his every reaction. After Joe gathered the visual image into a total picture and filed it away in one of his many files, the Rah spoke...

"So, my son, how goes your ministering?"

"Father Rah, it goes well."

"Why was our son so late for his duties?"

"Oh, I went to meditate by the sea and fell asleep."

"Does Rouii not enjoy the family of Rah?"

"Oh, no, no Father Rah. In fact my collections are up 20 percent since last week!"

"Then why does Ruii still talk with the outsider? Why does Ruii give the offerings of Rah to this lost soul?"

Joe was dumb-founded. Had they been spying on him? Why were they upset that he had simply fallen asleep? "Rah, Pauly is my friend. I have known him a long time. Besides, I work for those collections and do not take anything for myself."

"Yourself? Did you say "YOURSELF"! There is no "self" in the world of Rah! Only Rah!!! All that is is Rah! You are but one of the whole, and the whole must decide on the part!"

"What about the Way? What about sharing? What about truth?" Joe asked as his world spun once more into that vortex of let down and sadness....

"SHAOM!"

"Yes Rah?"

"Bring to Ruii the elixir of dreams..."

The chanting of thirty people, dressed in bright colored, silken robes, dancing to the sounds of various instruments held in their hands, continued to circle Joe in an alternating, fast and slow fashion. Behind Joe, whom sat crossed-legged on a silk covered pillow, two High disciples whispered in his ears...

"You of Rah... Rah of you... No friend other than Rah... No life with out Rah..."

Joe's mind was swimming in an ocean of color and fast moving, blurred vision. As if his mind had become a time-lapse motion picture camera, every time he turned his head, the objects in his vision followed in a bright and blurry stream. Sounds, sudden and sharp... then crashing.... then ebbing to a low rhythm of heart beats... then crashing in a crescendo of sound.... over and over.... reverberating... in his ears... whispers... those damn whispers... got to stop them whispers... . people... colorful... people... dancing... cymbals... tambourines... drum beats... movement... Where am I... What's that fragrance? Oh... Phoooo... feeling sick... trying to catch... breath... stop the noise.. please stop the noise.... heart beats... where are they coming from... bum..bump...bum..bump..bum.. bump... is that my heart? why is it beating so loud?....

"The Rah.. The Rah... Only The Rah...."

Screaming.. whose screaming?...

Joe awoke feeling he had been wrung through an old fashioned rolling-dryer. He was completely exhausted with a soft hum running freely inside his head. After gathering his thoughts and memory, he had this awful feeling he had been drugged and hypnotized. He slowly sat up and unconsciously began to feel the roof of his mouth with a swollen and dry tongue; deathly dry; dry paper dry... What's that... next to his Futon?... a small, wooden tray.. small... delicate.. bamboo legs...a cup of herbal tea! The tea, swirling mists of vapor and fragrance, enticing him with thoughts of refreshing, sweet, warm, quenching fervor... reaching over... lifting the cup... use both hands... sipping it's contents in even, short drafts... warm and liquid... thirsty... thirsty... Sounds... ebbing to and fro... Blurred vision... sharp.. intense.. colors running rapidly... blurring... one into another... lights.... Chanting... SOUNDS... sounds... Sounds... sounds... sounds... SOUNDS! voices...

After three days of a non-stop acid trip, Joe desperately wanted to come down... to end the motion... the sounds... the visions... THE WHISPERS...tearing into his file marked "Accident:Personal"... someone... something.. demanding answers... questions questions... questions.. NO! YOU! CAN!.... NOT! ASK! THAT!.... QUESTION!.... I AM... I AM... A MAN OF... RESPECT! FATHER?... DEAD!... ON THE GROUND!... BLOOD RUNNING.... AN OCEAN OF BLOODY RED AGONY!... BROTHERS NAME IS... YOU CAN NOT HAVE ME!!! THINK OF GINNY... WHAT? WHO IS WHO? GINNY? OH! NO DON'T THINK...

Something was pulling at him; grabbing his arms and legs...

"FIGHT!"

No sound uttering from his lips. Ears don't hear...

"SCREAM!"

"Something is eating me!"

"HELP! HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" No sound in his ears...

Joe screams again... he hears in his mind BUT NO SOUND COMES TO HIS EARS!

Pauly skittered to the ground behind the "gym"; he rolled over and looked to see if any of the security disciples had heard his tumble down the slope...

Confident he had entered the grounds to the rear of the building with out notice, he scooted to the stained glass windows which filled the rear wall like a multitude of scavenged church windows; windows which had been placed at odd angles into what ever space they would fit; a massive jig-saw puzzle of rich color and angles; heads under feet; arms over legs; abstract symbols mixed with written words. He scurried from one window to the next, looking for a clear opening,.... and then he saw one, a small sliver of clear glass! Peering through the crease of clear glass, Pauly was greeted to the sight of an orgy of sound and movement: A multitude of colorfully dressed zombies, dancing round and round a person lying on a group of pillows; the widows reverberating with blows of cymbals and drums... And then, the figure moved.. it was Joe!

Sharp sounds, occasionally breaking the stillness of the night and filtering to his position, had Pauly constantly looking over his shoulder in a den of mental paranoia; "Must be cats!" he murmured to himself...

It was nearly dawn and the ceremony had ended with Pauly going over his plan to rescue Joe for the hundredth time. After being tipped off to Joe's predicament by one of the many converts whom left the Order of Rah--"Seems that Joe is in some sort of bind over his friendship with Pauly. The Rah does not want Joe continuing any personal relationships, he wants to "wholly show him the way... Joe is too valuable to lose!"--Pauly had scouted the area. A door to the kitchen was always open. The problem was the kitchen was running full steam 24 hours a day! At first he decided to create a diversion of some kind, but after thinking of alternatives, he came to the conclusion that to do so would threaten Joe's life; he finally decided on using a robe from one of the defectors....

As Paul made his way to the kitchen, he grasped the white cotton robe tightly around his body. Grabbing an empty garbage can, he hoisted it onto his shoulder and walked into the busy kitchen. Once inside, he was at a loss as to his way to the room that Joe was in, all he had was his physical bearings as to direction. Placing the can next to several others, he just walked through the first door he saw and found himself in a large training area.

Disciples crowded around a table as a guy motivated them to collect, collect, collect every dime they could: "In Rah we go and build our world!" Pauly ignored them and, as if he were a disciple himself, he just walked through a large set of stained glass and oaken doors that led to the area he had seen through the window.

Joe is fighting Pauly... He is struggling .. He is screaming!

"Joe... Joe!" "Smack" "Joe!"

Pauly is worried if Joe continues to scream someone will discover them.. "JOE IT IS ME... PAULY!"

Joe looks directly into Pauly's eyes and, suddenly, with out a clue, Joe is up and running through the door screaming that "SOMEONE IS EATING ME" with Pauly right behind him!

Pauly sat on a large bean bag as he fed Joe--whom was tied down in a bed--some soup that had been mixed with a sedative the doctor had given him. They were in a house run by a group of people whom spent hours assisting those whom left the various cults, drug houses, and communesto recover from drugs and "bad trips". Paul had been at a lose as to what to do with Joe. Joe seemed to have enough LSD in his system to drug ten people. He would not, or rather he could not, get a hand on his own mind; kept fighting and screaming--even as Pauly carried him right through the entire group whom were doing their stupid chanting!

"HEY! YOU! WHO ARE YOU? YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO... HEY!... THAT'S RUII! WHERE YOU TAKING RUII.... TROUPAH.. TROUPAH!"

"GO $%$# YOURSELVES!"

Three weeks had passed by and Joe was his old self once more. Occasionally, he would have bad dreams, but otherwise, the incident was left behind in LA.

'You know, you kept saying someone was eating you!" Pauly said as he gave Joe this "I told you so" look. "You know if it wasn't for me, you would be a frigging loony toon..."

"You make it seem like I was nuts! Hell, so I agree that I was on some damn trip into the Outer Limits, but at least I checked it out!"

"Yea, you almost checked out!"

"OK, OK, I agree you rescued me! Now, lets see if we can get our selves to New Orleans... and then NY! Home! Home! Home!"

"Yea, that's a great idea! But, what about you getting even?"

"OH! Heck man, I'll figure something out... after this trip, I just want to forget fights, jails, arguments, and hate! Just want to see my mother! And Angie!"

"What about Aggie?"

"Paul, what do you think? Even though I've met other girls, Aggie is my love!"

"YOUR LOVY DUVY! HA! HA! Check you out! IIIIN LLLOOOOOOVVVVE!"

"That's the very reason I did not mention her! I knew your sorry ass would start that bull cause you ain't ever had a girl!"