An Authentic Life v 1.2 - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

Bhaktivedanta would arrive at San Francisco International
Airport that afternoon. A motorcade would
form in Panhandle Park, and anyone who wanted to
go to the airport to greet Swami was to meet there
and bring a flower, fruit, or incense offering.
Carolyn and I went home to get incense and pot.
We picked flowers in Golden Gate Park, and walked
to the Panhandle, a strip of grass and eucalyptus trees
that ran between Fell and Oak Streets a couple of
blocks north of Haight Street.
Disciples from New York with long hair and
beards led chanting of the mantra--Hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare
Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. They
played bongos, congas, a kettle drum, hand cymbals,
tambourine, and a small pump organ called a harmonium.
Many danced. Carolyn and I joined in the
chanting, which lasted around an hour.
A devotee announced it was time to go to the airport.
We rode with people who also came to see
Swami for the first time and smoked a joint on the
way.
As we arrived at the airport gate where Swami
was to arrive, Ginsburg led chanting of the Hare
Krishna mantra as he played his harmonium. About
fifty people sat on the floor chanting while many others
gathered around to look in wonder and bemusement.
The chanting went on for about another hour. I
felt higher from it than I did from smoking pot or taking
acid. It was a natural spiritual high.
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