Where does one go in a tremendous city like Calcutta to find insider information? I recalled India's golden rule: do the opposite of what would be normal anywhere else.

Enlightenment, and the death which comes before it, is the primary business of Varanasi.

Respect was one thing. Survival was another. It was important that I kept my priorities in the right order.

Calcutta's the only city I know where you are actively encouraged to stop strangers at random for a quick chat.

The pursuit of illusion is not about studying for prizes, or for study's sake. There's no right or wrong, no pass or fail.

A journey of observation must leave as much as possible to chance. Random movement is the best plan for maximum observation

My father looked on in disbelief, overwhelmed that his son had been taught to eat glass and relish it.

You know, " he said, his voice making me feel cold in spite of the heat, "this city can get ahold of you and pull you back no matter how hard you try to climb out. Like a grave.

Informed by our sad experience of history, we require nothing short of a foundation for lasting democracy.

Even technology companies get good news sometimes.

As I grew older, I came to feel more responsible for any hardship or trouble my career caused my family.

In terms of having high hopes that the level of consciousness will get higher and higher, yeah.

The Dutch look like a huge jar of marmalade.

My future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades.

I now know myself to be a person of weakness and strength, liability and giftedness, darkness and light. I now know that to be whole means to reject none of it but to embrace all of it.

From time to time there are going to be things that occur that are acts of God that cannot be prevented.

An 'unintended pregnancy' could be a wonderful surprise, not planned but welcome. Why should the government be in the business of 'preventing' a surprising but welcome pregnancy