An Authentic Life v 1.2 - Universalist Radha-Krishnaism

would not approach me. Always chant Hare Krishna
and it will save you."
Swamiji went to New York for three months to
teach his disciples there. He suffered a stroke which
almost killed him. His disciples were upset, and we
wondered how we would carry on without him.
Swami Chinmoyananda, an Indian who taught a
philosophy of becoming one with impersonal Brahman,
came to Haight Ashbury to give a talk. Several
devotees went. During the question and answer period,
I challenged things he said. I used quotes from
Bhagavad Gita, the main Hindu scripture, to back up
my argument and felt I did a good job of it. Some
devotees thought I was too heavy on Chinmoyananda,
but when Swamiji heard about it, he was
pleased.
When Swamiji returned to the Bay Area, the devotees
got him a house on Stinson Beach to recuperate in
relative seclusion. Kirtanananda, Hayagriva's former
gay lover from New York, came with Swamiji and
lived with him as his servant. Although no one was
supposed to see him without permission, Krishna
Devi and I went there by bus along with Upendra
who was going serve Swamiji.
Swamiji was glad to see us. He said, "I saw the
agents of death coming to take me away. But I prayed
that I live because my disciples need me. Krishna
saved me."
Swamiji seemed transfigured and more effulgent
than before. He asked me to lead some chanting. I
sang Hare Krishna to a melody we learned from a Ve-
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