A Review of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism by Daniel Cooper Clark

Steve Bohlert — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:41:31 +0000

Daniel Cooper Clark is one of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s original New York disciples. We met at the 26 Second Avenue temple in January 1968 when I visited there from my Santa Fe temple. We later worked together closely at Back to Godhead and the New Age Caucus. I sent him a pdf manuscript of my new book and asked him to write a review. This is what he said:

Steve Bohlert has dared to break the shackles of fundamentalism to deliver a much-needed re-visioning of an ancient religion of India, giving it new life for those of us in a multicultural 21st Century world.

He has extracted the essence of Bengali Vaishnavism, and while staying true to its person-ality, has planted the seed back into the human body,

so we may again receive the Original Blessing.

I do not hesitate to call Steve Bohlert a prophet, not only as one gifted with spiritual insight, but also as one who foretells the future — of a path that must be something like he sees it or not be at all.

That is, without such a re-birthing of Vaishnavism, its soul will never plant roots in the world at large. The orthodox will of course decry it and condemn him. “The dogs may bark, but the caravan will pass.”

My Initiations

Steve Bohlert — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 06:32:21 +0000

Since the question of my initiation has come up again, let me tell you a little story about myself by way of analogy. In 1976, I received an unaccredited BA in General Studies through Study of Religion and the Whole from Paideia, a university-without-walls in San Francisco. This was based on my experience with ISKCON discussed through the lens of “A Social Construction of Reality.” I demonstrated that my understanding was comparable to that of a person with a BA.

When I applied to San Francisco Theological Seminary (SFTS–PCUSA), a fully accredited school, they accepted me into their masters program. I took the Graduate Record Examination and scored well, had ecclesiastical recommendations, and seemed like the kind of person they’d like to have in their program since I did not fit their typical Presbyterian student profile. They welcomed diversity and encouraged diversity of opinions in class as well. The United Church of Christ (UCC) welcomed me with similar openness.

On the other hand, I received Harer nam from A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami in 1967, diksha in 1968, and sannyas in 1970. Now, some of those who have been initiated in “traditional” parivars do not accept these initiations.

In 1974, I received siddha-pranali initiation from Lalita Prasad Thakur, who accepted me even though he knew Swamiji’s lineage was made up because he knew I was sincere, determined, and qualified with no other resort. He never tried to re-initiate me out of respect for Swamiji, just as SFTS never tried to make me a Presbyterian and accepted my unaccredited BA. However, those in the Saraswati line do not accept this initiation or Lalita Prasad Thakur.

This sort of leaves me as a free agent not having to please either camp. In this way, I can think and say what I please as the Spirit leads me. Aloha.

Universalist Radha-Krishnaism » A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

A Review of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism by Daniel Cooper Clark

My Initiations