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about the influence of drugs and violence on today’s youth and on his children in particular. Philip explained that Carl Jung said that when man loses touch with his heart and his connection with his fellow man, he falls into darkness. Jung thought that the cure was compassion and unconditional love. Philip thought that the clearest expression of this unconditional love was in Sai Baba’s service programs. Working for a respected studio that produced educational films for television, funded by the Dutch government, and sponsored by the eight churches in Holland, he assured me that their interest was first and foremost education, not profit.
I learned that Philip was one of Holland’s most respected documentary filmmakers and that his studio, Ikon, was equally respected for doing high-quality, educational documentaries. Philip and I decided to work together and take a proposal for the film to Swami. We set off to see him in January 1992 to ask permission to film the documentary.
In the wink of an eye, Philip, his wife Louise, Sharon, and I were in India, and the unusual coincidences, which Carl Jung called “synchronicity,” became increasingly apparent. The day aer our arrival, Swami had us in for an interview.
Asking for Permission
Swami materialized vibhuti for the ladies. He turned to a young man, about twenty years old, who looked frazzled. “What do you want?” asked Swami. The young man was from Denmark and spoke in English. “Swami, I just learned about you two weeks ago and have had many experiences. I have been a heroin addict and am now in rehabilitation. I have been trying to stop, and you are helping me.” Swami replied, “I know, I know, I know. What do you want?” Swami frequently asks this question, reminding us to keep in mind what we want out of life and to strive diligently for it. Swami reminds us that our life is like a block of ice in the hot sun, melting very quickly, and that “time waste is life waste; don’t waste time.”
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