The return of the Hare Krishnas

[Sanity Claws]

Back in the 1970s, I remember seeing Hare Krishnas in many public places, like the airport, subway. They seemed to have disappeared from NYC sometime in the 1980s. I had forgotten about them until the last month or so when I saw them in a few places in NY and Washington.
Has anyone else noticed that they seem to be enjoying a resurgence? If you've noticed it, what do you think account for its resurgence? The shift?

[I Have A Dream]

1. Interesting. No, I haven't noticed any in my area. nt

[Sanity Claws]

12. Coming soon to a town near you....

I clicked on your profile and see you're in PA. I've seen them in NYC and DC so they should getting to PA soon. I usually hear them before I see them.

[I Have A Dream]

16. I'm in Western PA near Pittsburgh.

:)

I look forward to seeing them around these parts when it happens.

[rosesaylavee]

2. I always wondered what happened to them...

I don't know why but remembered being highly annoyed by them back then. Never liked anyone telling me what to think - Hare Krishnas, Baptists, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. They had cool graphics on their handouts though... I remember that more than whatever their message was. :P

[Sanity Claws]

7. It seems that they disappeared from your world too

Let us know if you start seeing them again.

[Fire Walk With Me]

3. They have a large Center on Venice Blvd., in Los Angeles.

I remember that they also resided in the old Fisher mansion in Detroit, at least when I was living in Detroit. I've met them on the (Los Angeles) 3rd Street Promenade and made donations.

They aren't as visible as when they were allowed in airports..but they're still there.

:shrug:

[Sanity Claws]

8. I have to check out whether there are centers nearby

In DC, they were in the Smithsonian mall as part of an festival on July 4th.

[Cleita]

4. They used to sing on a street corner of Westwood Village every Friday evening

back in the eighties. With their saffron robes and percussion instruments, singing and dancing, it was a sort of street theater thing back then. It was part of the scene in the village, one of the few places in Los Angeles that people strolled around in the evening after work.

[Sanity Claws]

9. They are not dressed quite the same

I remember the saffron robes and shaved heads back in the 1970s. They seem to be much less uniform in their dress. I guess that applies to all of us now.

[conscious evolution]

13. The robes and all are for the devotees

that take vows.Very similar,in a way,to monks in a monastary.
Most krishnas do not go that route.

[Sanity Claws]

14. Then I'm not seeing devotees

I know they are connected with the Krishnas because Hare Krishna publications are displayed.

[conscious evolution]

5. They never left Atlanta

They have a Temple around the corner.
They have a good size following here.I have been to kirtan there several times and the place is always packed.
They also have a good feed the hungry program going.All krishna temples do.One of Sri Prabuhbatta's last mandates for the temples was to feed anyone was hungry.If any one here has an over abundant garden they will always welcome donations.
Many temples also have vegetarian restuarants that only ask for a small donation if you can afford to.If you can't its free.

They also rent space for space to other groups or individuals involved in various esoteric or spiritual activities and classes.

I doubt the shift has affected them much.They have been operating in the higher levels for quite some time.What is probably happening is the shift has affected you.As your energies shift upwards you are going to be drawn to and\or notice others who already are there.That is probably why they caught your EYE.

[Sanity Claws]

10. Perhaps.

I've noticed that my reaction is different. When I first saw them, I was a plaid-wearing Catholic high school student and considered them weird and would laugh in derision. Later I was annoyed by them. Now, I am fascinated by them and want to hear more of the chanting. I wouldn't mind participating in the chant and getting carried away on the wave.
I'm going to keep my eye opened for them.

[murielm99]

6. I had a funny and enjoyable encounter with them on St. Patrick's

Day.

We all walked in the parade in Naperville IL with my son, who was running for city council. There was a whole crew of Hare Krishnas in the parade, two entries in front of us. They had a flatbed truck with people singing and dancing, and a large group of people dancing behind the truck. My son's girlfriend and I were a bit surprised to see them in Naperville, which is the epitome of suburban yuppiedom.

Behind the Hare Krishnas was a car with tall, skinny guy walking next to it. The skinny guy was wearing a white sweatsuit and a costume that was a white mailing envelope at the top. The envelope and the accompanying car reminded everyone who was participating in the program to mail in their tuition to Illinois' colleges by April 30th, in order to lock in their fees at the current rate. It was a cute, clever costume to advertise a good program. Envelope guy had to be at least 6'6" and was very skinny.

We were right behind envelope guy, with a pickup truck and several people distributing literature for my son's campaign.

The Hare Krishnas were having a great time singing, dancing and playing their instruments. Envelope guy was having a great time, too. It did not take him long to join the Hare Krishnas and to sing and dance with them. He just could not resist the music. I think everyone was enjoying the spectacle of envelope guy dancing circles around the Hare Krishnas. They welcomed him.

My son's girlfriend and I had a hard time concentrating on passing out literature because we were laughing and enjoying the dancing so much. It was good laughter, not derisive laughter.

At the end of the parade, the Hare Krishnas were in a parking lot off to the side, still dancing, playing and singing. Envelope guy was still with them. I am an old hand at political parades, as you can see from my signature pic. It was a bit cold that day, but it was one of the most enjoyable parades I have ever walked in.

[Sanity Claws]

11. The joy of dance and music

Orange robes on St. Patrick's Day -- Oh No! I hope they wore something green. ;)

As a kid, I thought their music was cacophony. Now I feel the music and am curious about the chant.
The scene you described seemed so joyful. I would have loved to have seen it.
I hope your son won the race for city council.

[conscious evolution]

15. The hare krishna hare krishna tantric

is but one of many that they do.
Their tantrics have big power.

BTW,they are a buddha school consumation path.Anyone on a Bhodisiittva path should not take part in their tantrics.As I've said before the two schools don't mix to well.

If you want to know more google ISKON
Also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2Re-Ai5OY

[murielm99]

17. Most of them were wearing something green, or something

that was a print. I forgot about that!

Their garb was traditional for them, but the colors were different that day. My son's girlfriend noticed it right away.

My son did not win his race. There were eight people running for four seats. He came very close, which is pretty amazing for a novice politician. He received a lot of respect, some union and newspaper endorsements. I think he will win in two years. One paper said his results were not bad for a 27-year-old who came out of nowhere. I guess they didn't realize that he was born into a family of Democratic foot soldiers.

[juno jones]

18. I hope their leadership is better now.

I just got done reading 'Monkey On a Stick' about the Krishnas in general and their leadership in particular in the 70's and 80's.

It sounds like the founder was a genuine guru and the practices he established were effective, but the post-guru leadership fell into a life of increasing luxury and decadence fuelled by money obtained thru sales of drugs and those infamous airport panhandlers.

If they are spiritually focused this time around, as their teacher taught, I wish them luck.

[Sanity Claws]

19. that explains their absence!

I wasn't aware of the history. Thanks for the update.

[get the red out]

20. That sounds familiar

That sounds like something that has happened in many religious organizations. At first on a good path, then someone wants and gets power and money. It might be some sort of Earth script for religions.

[conscious evolution]

21. Thanks for that title

I will look it up.
I do remember there was controversy surrounding their airport adventures.I have always thought it was a manufactured issue started by the crazy christian riechwingers.After all,polytheism does break a couple of the judeo-christ-islamic top ten rules.
Doesn't surprise me that drugs were a problem.High energy paths like ISKON do have a tendency to attract dark angels.Sort of goes with the territory.The thing is,however,that such souls are always revealed for what they are.Always.Thats how Sheva works.

These days their main fund raising activitys seem to center around educational activities.Here is a link to the Atlanta temples site- http://www.sdcatlanta.com/
One thing is for sure.I know a couple of teachers there and they are certainly not getting rich off of the classes they teach.And if the temple leaders are getting rich then they are hiding it well.And I don't mean in just the traditional sense either.In a nieghborhood full of light beings and workers such attempts would be seen through in very short order.

[catzies]

22. My mom went with them for a little while in the 70s. She was also a Meher Baba lover.

My hippie childhood exposed me to a lot of different things.

I tell people I know the Lord's Prayer, the Passover Haggadah, AND the Hare Krishna chants.

George was my fvorite Beatle, he loved Krishna, and that's good enough for me. I have an mp3 of George's recording of a chant called Gopala Krishna, and every day on my afternnon walk I chant along with it.

Krishna chants have always been soothing and comforting for me since I was little. That's why I still chant today.