An Authentic Life 1.1 for pdf - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

ation. I went to the local American Civil Liberties
Union lawyer to appeal the decision, but he agreed
with the judge that it wasn't right to chant in public
places or in the streets. Chanting in the streets was a
major evangelical activity of the Krishna movement
since its founding five hundred years ago.
A local hippie rock band offered to do a benefit
concert for the temple. I wrote Swamiji asking if it
would be all right for them to set up and play in front
of the altar. He replied that it would be fine since we
needed money by whatever available means as long
as it was done for Krishna.
It seems, “When we need money to carry on
Krishna's work, we can resort to any available means”
was the standard for all work in ISKCON. This attitude
of Swamiji’s was one of the main reasons
ISKCON became as corrupt as it did.
Realizing I needed experienced help for the
temple to become self sustaining, Swamiji wrote that
he asked another devotee to send me money monthly.
He also asked an experienced devotee named Umapati
to join me.
A hippie named Pat moved into the temple. He
was quite tripped out. Umapati, a veteran devotee
from New York also came as promised. One day, I
hitch hiked to Albuquerque to appear on a college radio
show. When I got back, Umapati was gone. After
some time, Joe and also Pat left.
I got a telegram telling me to call San Francisco
right away. Since I didn’t have a telephone, I went to a
pay phone and called the temple. Goursundar told
66