January 29, 1967 : San Francisco
Guru Dasa: When we knew that the Swami was coming to San Francisco from New York, we decided to introduce him to thousands of our fellow members of the counterculture by sponsoring a charity rock concert and dance at one of the venues that were so popular at the time.
The evening of the Mantra Rock Dance, January 29, 1967, I walked into the empty ballroom and yelled, "Hare Krishna!" The transcendental sound echoed off the walls. The rest of the devotees came over to the hall early to take tickets, cut oranges, and decorate the stage with flowers, cloth hangings, and paintings and posters of Lord Krishna. I saw the empty concert hall gradually fill up with life - soon it was bustling with sounds, smells, lights, and joy. Of course Lord Chaitanya was there too, as were all the demigods, who relish attending functions such as this.
Then Swami Bhaktivedanta entered. He looked like a Vedic sage, exalted and otherworldly. As he advanced towards the stage, the crowd parted and made way for him, like the surfer riding a wave. He glided onto the stage, sat down, and began playing the kartalas. Again the sound vibration entered my heart, and I felt warmed. Others listened, then started softly singing in unison and weaving in dance. The hall filled with the holy names. Swamiji beamed down on the crowd. Everyone was cheering, bowing, clapping, swooning, jumping, chanting, and in a general state of bliss.
Finally the chanting ended in a wild crescendo. The Swami then rose slowly, and with hands and palms folded in pranams, he walked down from the stage. Again the throng parted and - respectfully, ecstatically - let him through, some bowing and some even taking dust from his feet. Swamiji addressed the crowd, "Thank you very much for attending this gathering. This Hare Krishna mantra is transcendental sound vibration. It is so easy a child can do it. Mantra means mind deliverance. Simply by chanting with us, your life will be sublime."
The evening of the Mantra Rock Dance, January 29, 1967, I walked into the empty ballroom and yelled, "Hare Krishna!" The transcendental sound echoed off the walls. The rest of the devotees came over to the hall early to take tickets, cut oranges, and decorate the stage with flowers, cloth hangings, and paintings and posters of Lord Krishna. I saw the empty concert hall gradually fill up with life - soon it was bustling with sounds, smells, lights, and joy. Of course Lord Chaitanya was there too, as were all the demigods, who relish attending functions such as this.
Then Swami Bhaktivedanta entered. He looked like a Vedic sage, exalted and otherworldly. As he advanced towards the stage, the crowd parted and made way for him, like the surfer riding a wave. He glided onto the stage, sat down, and began playing the kartalas. Again the sound vibration entered my heart, and I felt warmed. Others listened, then started softly singing in unison and weaving in dance. The hall filled with the holy names. Swamiji beamed down on the crowd. Everyone was cheering, bowing, clapping, swooning, jumping, chanting, and in a general state of bliss.
Finally the chanting ended in a wild crescendo. The Swami then rose slowly, and with hands and palms folded in pranams, he walked down from the stage. Again the throng parted and - respectfully, ecstatically - let him through, some bowing and some even taking dust from his feet. Swamiji addressed the crowd, "Thank you very much for attending this gathering. This Hare Krishna mantra is transcendental sound vibration. It is so easy a child can do it. Mantra means mind deliverance. Simply by chanting with us, your life will be sublime."
Reference: By His Example - Guru Dasa
Recently Added
Trending Today