An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

A guy who regularly came to the temple invited
the devotees to come to one of prominent yogi,
Swami Vishnu Devananda's classes. Swami was critical
and offensive to our religious beliefs as he misunderstood
them. I answered his challenges then left
with the other devotees.
We went to Griffith's Park on Sunday afternoons
to chant and have a love feast. We were well
received by many hippies who congregated in the
hills above LA. I preached regularly in the temple and
at Sunday feasts in the park. I was interviewed about
Krishna consciousness on a radio show broadcast
from a hip bar. Swamiji was well pleased with my
work and planned to be in L.A. soon.
I was serious about spiritual growth. Swamiji
taught abstinence from sex, except married couples
could do it once a month for procreation. I found this
difficult to follow since I was married to an attractive
woman whom I was accustomed to having frequent
sex with. I thought it would be easier not to be married
and not have sex at all than to be married and
follow the once a month rule.
I wrote Swamiji that I was interested in taking
sannyasa, the renounced order of life, which was celibate
and the highest of all the social and spiritual orders
according to the Vedic teachings. Swamiji
stressed renunciation for attainment of full Krishna
consciousness. Krishna Devi became upset when she
found out about this letter.
Swamiji quickly responded, “In my opinion,
your wife and yourself are nicely executing my mis-
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