With the recent “Hands Off” demonstrations in cities across the USA, I was reminded of the massive demonstrations of the 1960s against the Vietnam War abroad and the social injustices in the USA. Usually, people, including a good number of counterculture hippies, who opposed such things were also inclined to embrace some sort of spirituality, including Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada noted this. And devotees often appealed directly to this intended audience.
The hippies rejected the standards of their parents, their religion, and their government. Many who grew up in the comforts of suburban homes realized that their cushioned lifestyle would not bring them genuine happiness. They instead embraced free love, drugs, peace, and rock music. But soon, many discovered the counterculture was also not a viable solution to life’s problems. In their search for meaning, the early recruits to Krishna Consciousness were practically all hippies.
And so, at peace demonstrations, devotees passed out flyers entitled “The Peace Formula.” In the hippie neighborhoods, they proclaimed, “Chant Hare Krishna and stay high forever. No more coming down.” In those early days of the Hare Krishna Movement, Prabhupada began the “Sunday Love Feast” – again, the title appealing to the hippies. Prabhupada jumpstarted the Krishna Movement in the West by being relevant, inclusive, and empowering. After meeting Srila Prabhupada in 1971, and being a hippie myself, I wrote a poem describing him as “the most sublime revolutionary” – a title which he happily accepted.
As stated in the Sri Isopanishad (text 11), one should learn transcendental knowledge and the culture of nescience; simultaneously, learning about dharma and adharma (what is pious and what is impious) side by side. Prabhupada wrote, “Srimad Bhagavatam states that in the Age of Kali [the present degraded age of cheating, greed, and hypocrisy], thieves, rogues, and fourth-class people who have neither education nor culture capture the seats of governments to exploit the citizens. This is a symptom of Kali-yuga that has already appeared” (Caritanya Caritamrita, Adi 17.141).
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