Back in the late 60s, before I met Maharishi but after I had segued from the world of psychedelics to the world of substance-free realization, I got to see a live per- formance by the Firesign Theatre. If their name strikes no resonance with you, click "Next" now, because this rap may have no relevance for you.
I had gotten to know them because they were L.A. radio personalities and I -- albeit on a much smaller college radio level -- was, too. At the time (1967), they were considered pretty much the Gods Of Hip in the L.A. area. No matter who you were or how hippie you were, you liked the Firesign Theatre. I once witnessed the Grateful Dead and Tim Leary delay the announced starting time of one of their Acid Test gigs so they could finish listening to the "Wizard Of Oz" show on KPFK, on which the FS did their thing, live. The Firesign Theatre guys were into old-time radio. They *worshipped* the classic days of radio, and the live dramas cast out onto the radio waters by its stars. They could quote long passages from "The Shadow" and any number of other classic radio shows. But they were also completely out-there hippies, and so when it came to creating their own live radio shows, they did the classic radio schtick, but upgraded it to contain New Age (decades before such a term was ever invented) dialogue. Fans (who are probably the only ones still reading) know what I'm talking about. Anyway, springboarding off of their radio fame, the FS guys started giving "live radio" gigs around L.A. I man- aged to catch only one of them. It was titled, "Everything You Know Is Wrong." It was brilliant. Four guys up on stage, surrounded only by four stand-up microphones and a box full of sound props. It was intentionally like being there in the studio and watching the greats of classic radio create their shows live. Only with top-notch philosophers behind the mikes. I can't remember or relate to you any of the specific gags and philosophy they spouted that night, but I do remember the outcome. I walked out of the room completely *open* to the possibility that everything I knew *was* possibly wrong. I cannot say that about any "legitimate" spiritual teacher I've ever seen do their thing live. To this day, I am completely *comfortable* with the concept that everything I know is wrong. This idea causes me not the least bit of discomfort. In fact, I find some comfort in the notion. Go figure. Compare and contrast to many on this forum, who might be... uh...somewhat challenged by the idea that everything they know is wrong. Different strokes for different folks.
