An Authentic Life v 1.2 - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

archist, and Swami advocated the strict authority of
scripture and the disciplic succession of which he was
the current representative.
I often came to class with questions. Sometimes
Swami answered them during the lecture without me
asking. I felt like he read my mind. Other times, I
asked them during the question and answer period
after each lecture. Swami Bhaktivedanta seemed to
know what he was talking about and had an answer
for everything. He spoke with unequaled authority
and self assurance. He didn't speak of vague possibilities,
but of Absolute Truth.
Allen Ginsburg often came to the seven a.m. worship.
One morning, he sat on the storefront window
ledge putting on his shoes to leave. I asked, "If everything
is void, where do all these people and things we
see come from?"
He replied, "At some time before the beginning of
time, phantasmal noises and things started happening
in the void. They gradually developed until we got to
where we are now."
I didn't think his answer was satisfactory. It didn't
explain this variegated life or the experience that
when I peaked on acid and lost ego consciousness, I
came down as the same person again. The ego appeared
to be a permanent reality rather than a temporary
illusion.
Swami's explanation of the eternal soul and
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, being
the cause of all causes seemed a more plausible and
complete explanation of our origin. I decided I
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