We both started to laugh , softly at first . Soon our giggles had turned to guffaws . Julian certainly had not lost that wicked sense of humor that had kept me entertained so long ago .
As we relaxed in my cluttered but comfortable living room , I couldn ' t help but notice the ornate necklace of wooden prayer beads dangling from his neck . " What are those ? They ' re really beautiful ." " More about these later ," he said , rubbing some of the beads with his thumb and index finger . " We have much to talk about tonight ."
" Let ' s get started . I could hardly get anything done at work today I was so excited about our meeting ."
Hearing his cue , Julian immediately started to reveal more about his personal transformation and the ease with which it was effected . He told me of the ancient techniques he had learned for mind control and for erasing the habit of worry that was consuming so many in our complex society . He spoke of the wisdom that Yogi Raman and the other monks had shared for living a more purposeful and rewarding life . And he spoke of a series of methods to unleash the wellspring of youthfulness and energy he said every one of us has slumbering deep inside of us .
Though the conviction with which he spoke was clear , I began to grow skeptical . Was I the victim of some prank ? After all , this Harvard-trained lawyer was once widely known within the firm for his practical jokes . As well , his story was nothing less than fantastic . Think about it : one of this country ' s best known trial lawyers throws in the towel , sells all his worldly goods and treks off to India on a spiritual odyssey , only to return as a wise prophet from the Himalayas . This could not be real .