Steve, I'm sure that, i given more occasions, I would have enjoyed the company of the redoubtable Bro. Turyiananda. I've read about him and read your recounts and he sure was a formidable figure. Also, I understand he took up very seriously the role of guardian of Lake Shrine, which probably avoided the possible degradation of a spiritual place into a public leisure place like many others.
It's interesting the episode about Erwin Rommel. It must have the German 'Iron Cross', since he was not Gestapo, rather Panzer division (tanks). Rommel was an incredible warrior. during the 1st world war he was a lietenant and led a small company very far into the Italian enemy lines, taking prisoners 9000 Italians. As a general under Hitler, he nearly conquered all northern Africa, and was eventually defeated only because Hitler privileged the sending of fuel and supplies to the Russian front. his moniker was 'the desert fox'.
He was probably the most legendary of the military commanders in the 2nd WW. Apparently he did not denounce to Hitler the conspiracy which resulted in the failed assassination of the Germand Fuhrer, and so, since he was so popular, hitler proposed to him that, if he would have committed suicide, he would have saved his family.
My grandfather was an officer in the french army an fighted agaisnt Rommel in North Africa. He met him too in that context.
He had the highest possible esteem for this general : smartest and more aristocratic man he ever met.
