“Cool” Swamiji

Another area of discomfort was the culture gap between Prabhupada and his first followers.  Hayagriva writes how devotees had to explain what the words “fuzz”, “acid head” and “pot” meant.  But once Swamiji heard the terms defined, he understood it perfectly and said that Krishna consciousness was better than any drugs, and was not illegal.  With marvelous ease, Srila Prabhupada accepted the fact that many of his followers and congregation were hippies.  He bridged the gap and reduced it with specific compassion for the hairy ones who had somehow or other come to hear him.  Prabhupada assured them, “Your frustration and confusion is a good sign because you have rejected the material way of life.”