YOGI, OTHERS SICK
Miss Maurer is one of about 2,500 young foreigners camped here. Most are Americans.
She said she plans to spread the "perfect knowledge" Maharaj Ji has given her "to the world because everyone needs it to be free."
Miss Maurer spends her days taking care of children in "Kid City," the camp's kindergarten. Many young foreign couples brought small children with them when they came to India to greet Maharaj Ji after his tour. abroad.
The young yogi was not in the camp Sunday.
"He hasn't eaten anything for three days," said Arthur Brigham, 22, of Denver.
Fasting?
"No," said Brigham."He's sick."
"He's having trouble with his liver," Dr. Edward Hanzelik of Brooklyn, one of the camp physicians, said.
As for the guru's followers, "We've been treating a lot of dysentery and colds," Hanzelik said, "and there have been some emotional problems."
He said the problems occurred "mostly in people who want to get closer to the perfect knowledge. When they are not close to the knowledge, they get depressed and unhappy," he said.
The devotees keep a busy schedule, rising at 4 a.m. for two hours of meditation before breakfast, one of the two meals of the day, both meatless.
All of the followers have regular duties in camp such as cooking, laundering, folding leaflets and working in such establishments as the "Divine Bank," where devotees change dollars to rupees at the legal rate of exchange.
Tammy Clemens, 22, a pretty blonde from Providence, R.I., runs the "Divine Employment Agency," which places the devotees in camp jobs. "I received knowledge nine months ago," said Miss Clemens, who studied art at Brown University and works as a draftsman. "Things have become clearer to me. I have learned patience."
Miss Jean Obert, 23, of Villa Grande, Calif., said "it's been good and bad. The bad things have been my own little freak-outs."
She explained that she had at times been depressed when she did not feel in complete tune with Maharaj Ji.
In New Delhi, 120 miles to the southwest, customs officials were still doing some meditating of their own about Maharaj Ji.
The Guru's critics claim he should be charged with attempting to bring into the country on Nov. 1 about $80,000 worth of undeclared currency, precious stones and watches.