I was in a cult.

I don't recall him saying that specifically, but I was there when he said it. I also made sure it was repeated to a large audience when I selected that video as the feature presentation at nightly "satsang."

I'm sure I cheered when he said it. Just like I cheered when he disparaged marriage, children, education, careers, jobs, bosses and so many other things; anything that might distract even the slightest attention from him. Just like I cheered when, soon after a rat was discoverd in a batch of Coca Cola, he compared those things to Coca Cola and mocked me for loving them so much that I'd "suck the rat" to get every last drop.

Just like I cheered when he said "the whole world is heading in one direction and I am the only one heading in the opposite direction." I even cheered when, after living under a vow of poverty, chastity and obedience to him for nearly ten years and long after he was fully steeped in western materialism, he blamed his over-the-top narcissism and grossly sociopathic world view on his eastern upbringing. He could have said anything and I would have cheered.

 

Actually, I did that, too. I cheered when he mocked me (and humanity by extension) by implying that I was so confused that I'd think a cookie with sh*t (a metaphore for all those things) baked into it was the best cookie ever. Or the time I gleefully repeated one of his jokes in which the punchline was a doctor saying "you're not eating properly" to a patient who shoved a vegetable up his... It had to be funny because he told it.

I was in a cult.

I'm not anymore and so I watched the Superbowl. Along with over 200 million others and over 60% of my countrymen. I enjoyed it. My team (except for the Detroit Lions who came so close) won. I enjoyed Patrick, Travis, Taylor, Usher and his highly talented and accomplished guests.