The Krsna Consciousness Movement
Is the Genuine Vedic Way

After reading an article on the Krsna consciousness movement in the Los
Angeles Times (January 11, 1970), Srila Prabhupdda begins an unusual
correspondence with Dr. J. F. Staal, Professor of Philosophy and of South
Asian Languages at the University of California, Berkeley. ...

Excerpt From the Los Angeles Times Article

“Dr. J.F. Staal, Professor of Philosophy and Near Eastern [sic]
Languages at UC Berkeley and an instructor in Indian philosophy,
believes that the Krsna sect is an authentic Indian religion and that its
adherents are sincere. He attributes the Society’s rapid increase in mem-
bers to the tendency of today’s younger generation to reject organized
churchgoing while at the same time searching for fulfillment of a belief in
mysticism.

‘*He points out, however, that persons who turn away from Chris-
tianity, Muhammadanism, and Judaism have usually lost faith with the
personal god of those religions and are looking for a mystical religion
without absolutes.

“**These people in the Krsna movement have turned to Hinduism,
but, curiously, it isa cult that is highly personalistic,’ Staal said. ‘They ac-
cept a personal god, Krsna, and Christianity has that. I feel that they have
transferred some of their Christian background to a Hindu sect.’

‘*He also feels that they spend too much time chanting to develop a
philosophy. On these grounds he and others on the faculty turned down
the request to grant credit for an experimental course in Krsna con-
sciousness which will be taught during the winter quarter by Hans Kary,
president of the sect’s Berkeley temple.”’

90
