Cigars and Japa Yoga

There was a period when I was very fond of good cigars--I liked Mexican sugundos from the San Andres Valley--similarly I was fond of japa (chanting on beads)--so I liked to chant on beads while puffing a cigar, and I did not see any harm in this.

Naturally, somebody would be offended--" People will think the Hare Krishnas smoke!" So what! They think we're child molesters, anyhow, and that we take contracts to murder someone, and that we're all on drugs, so we might as well smoke--better hanged for a dog as for a man!

A certain individual decided to lay into me about this, and conclude that I "shouldnt chant at all"He himself didnt chant at all, that was the fact. He was a very foul-mouthed person and was part olf what youo might call the perpetual administration of the Temple.

Temple Presidents and Administrators generally have a very low level of Krishna consciousness--because administration goes one way and Bhakti Devi goes another. And being on the GBC is like being on the Supreme Court--once on, you're on for life!