Try to put this movement as cultural instead of religious
Kurma Dasa: Along with attracting young people to Krishna consciousness, the enthusiastic chanters, now comprising Bali-mardana, Upendra, Bill and sometimes a few hangers-on, also inevitably attracted the attention of the police. As the devotees drew bigger crowds, the police became more disturbed. First came the warnings. Don't you know it is illegal to chant on the street? Soon it was commonplace to be moved on. One Saturday night, as The Cross came alive, a large paddy wagon pulled up.Two burly policemen jumped out. Okay, who's in charge here? one snarled. Bill and Upendra turned and glanced sheepishly at their sankirtana leader and Bali-mardana spent the night in the Darling hurst lock-up. Consequently, Bali-mardana was obliged to appear in the Court of Petty Sessions. A report, along with a news clipping, Hare Krishna Sect Leader in Court was sent to Srila Prabhupada who replied with practical advice on 19 April 1970:
For the service of Krishna you are already in the jail for a few hours, so if possible try to put this movement as cultural instead of religious. Actually we are presenting the culture of Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita is well-known all over the world and it is widely read by scholars and philosophers especially. The religionists never read Bhagavad-gita. I have never seen a priest of another religion reading this book, but there are many scholars and philosophers all over the world who read Bhagavad-gita regularly. Even politicians and professional men read Bhagavad-gita, just like one Dr Rele, in Bombay. He also presented a commentary on Bhagavad-gita on the basis of medical science. I heard that Professor Einstein, the greatest scientist, was regularly reading Bhagavad-gita, and later on he became practically God conscious. By scientific research, he appreciated the wonderful cosmic manifestation, and as a scientist he admitted that behind this there is a very great brain and that is God. So practically it is not a religious study and we are presenting Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Anyway, you are getting a chance to preach amongst the students and that will be a very nice program. So even though the local law is prohibitive for chanting on the street, you can take advantage of the educational institutions. We are not concerned with any particular place or situation, but we take the opportunity of chanting and speaking wherever it is possible.
Prabhupada also mentioned in his letter that a young brahmacari, Tirthapada dasa, would soon be arriving from London.
Reference: The Great Transcendental Adventure by Kurma Dasa
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