Allen Connects with Swami Bhaktivedanta

The next morning Allen Ginsberg came by with a check and another harmonium.  Up in Prabhupada’s apartment he demonstrated his melody for chanting Hare Krishna, and then he and Prabhupada talked.

Allen: I was a little shy with him because I didn’t know where he was coming from.  I had that harmonium I wanted to donate, and I had a little money.  I thought it was great now that he was here to expound on the Hare Krishna mantra—that would sort of justify my singing.  I knew what I was doing, but I didn’t have any theological background to satisfy further inquiries, and here was someone who did.  So I thought that was absolutely great.  Now I could go around singing Hare Krishna, and if anybody wanted to know what it was, I could just send them to Swami Bhaktivedanta to find out.  If anyone wanted to know the technical intricacies and the ultimate history, I could send them to him.

He explained to me about his own teacher and about Caitanya and the lineage going back.  His head was filled with so many things and what he was doing.  He was already working on his translations.  He always seemed to be just sitting there day after day and night after night.  I think he had one or two people helping him.