As of late, whenever I find myself in front of a television camera, which happens quite often the last few months, I always remind myself of Sri Swami Satchidananda’s admonishment just before the camera is turned on: watch your thoughts and analyze them to distinguish selfish from selfless ones, for selfish thoughts will bring you misery and selfless ones will leave you in peace (“A Yogic Preface to My Residua,” January 6, 2008). Is there any petty interest of mine that I am promoting by appearing on television? Am I unduly enjoying the attention I am getting? Is fame, no matter how limited to Istria or Croatia, getting to my head? So far, I have acquitted myself well, at least by my own reckoning. Am I deceiving myself in my selfishness, though? This I cannot tell with complete certainty, but I rather doubt it, for I have become more than assiduous in distinguishing selfish and selfless thoughts. Which is perhaps why my television appearances are likely to be somewhat dull, if not even dreary. This I cannot tell, either, for I have not seen any of my performances on the vaunted screen. Pace Sri Swami Satchidananda.

Addendum (July 21, 2016)

So many years later, I am more than sure that there was not a trace of personal interest in any of my public appearances in connection with crooked golf in Motovun. As soon as the project was abandoned by the investors, which happened soon after the global financial crisis struck, I pulled out of the fray. The only reason why I cannot shake crooked golf off to this day is that the former mayor of Motovun took me to court for libel and insult after I pulled out. Having been found guilty only of insult by the Croatian court, now I am awaiting the decision of the court in Strasbourg regarding the trampling of my human rights by Croatian courts, which are famous for their crooked ways. Judges and politicians are in tight embrace in this godforsaken country. At any rate, I have long refused to talk to journalists, let alone appear on television. Indeed, my struggle has nothing whatsoever to do with selfishness. Neither fame nor fortune are of any interest to me. When it all started a decade ago, I was concerned with Motovun and its inhabitants only. If there is any remorse I feel so many years later, it is that I have meddled in local affairs at all. In retrospect, I was not selfish enough back then. In other words, I was way too selfless for my own good. Alas, local affairs are none of my business. They should be left to the locals only.