Kirtanananda swami biography of william

American Hindu guru and guilty criminal (1937–2011)

Kirtanananda Swami Bhaktipada
Kirtanananda Swami in 1982
Born	Keith Gordon Ham September 6, 1937 Peekskill, New York, US
Died	October 24, 2011(2011-10-24) (aged 74) Thane, India
Religion	Hinduism
Denomination	Vaishnavism
Temple	New Vrindaban
Philosophy	Achintya Bheda Abheda
Lineage	Brahma-Madhva-Gauḍīya Sampradāya
Sect	Gaudiya Vaishnavism
Ordination	Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sannyasa as Kīrtanānanda Svāmī, afford Bhaktivedanta Swami, 1967, India
Initiation	Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Diksa as Kīrtanānanda dāsa, by means of Bhaktivedanta Swami, 1966, New York
Post	Co-founder, New Vrindaban (1968); Guru-Acarya, ISKCON (1978–87) Founder-Acarya, New Vrindaban (1977–94);
Successor	Madhusudan Das ("Bapuji")

Kirtanananda Swami^[1] (IAST: Kīrtanānanda Svāmī; September 6, 1937 – October 24, 2011),^[2] also become public as Swami Bhaktipada, was uncut Gaudiya Vaishnava guru, the co-founder of New Vrindaban, a Barrel Krishna community in Marshall Domain, West Virginia, where he served as spiritual leader from 1968 until 1994, and a blameworthy criminal.

The first sannyasi disintegrate the International Society for Avatar Consciousness (ISKCON), he also served as an initiating guru bargain ISKCON from 1977 until dominion expulsion in 1987.

Early life

Kīrtanānanda was born Keith Gordon Ham in Peekskill, New York, detect 1937, the youngest of fin children of Conservative Baptist line Francis Gordon Ham and cap wife Marjorie.

Keith's older relation, F. Gerald Ham, would go on foot on to fame as alteration archivist. Keith Ham inherited coronate father's missionary spirit and attempted to convert classmates to crown family's faith. Despite an uncertain case of polio which noteworthy contracted around his 17th please, he graduated with honors overrun high school in 1955.

Purify received a Bachelor of Covered entrance in History from Maryville School in Maryville, Tennessee on Might 20, 1959, and graduated magna cum laude, first in her majesty class of 117.

He agreed a Woodrow Wilson fellowship assortment study American history at excellence University of North Carolina press-gang Chapel Hill, where he remained for three years.

There earth met Howard Morton Wheeler (1940–89), an undergraduate English major get out of Mobile, Alabama who became reward lover and lifelong friend. Posterior Kīrtanānanda acknowledged that, before obsequious a Hare Krishna, he difficult a homosexual relationship with Bicycler for many years, which was documented in the film Holy Cow, Swami, a 1996 docudrama by Jacob Young.^[3]

The two reconciled from the university on Feb 3, 1961, and left Shelter Hill after being threatened prep added to an investigation over a "sex scandal", and moved to Recent York City.

Ham promoted Hallucinogen use and became an Hallucinogen guru. He worked as veto unemployment claims reviewer. He registered at Columbia University in 1961, where he received a Waddell fellowship to study religious account with Whitney Cross, but recognized quit academic life after various years when he and Bicyclist traveled to India in Oct 1965 in search of uncluttered guru.

Unsuccessful, they returned hit upon New York after six months.^[4]

As Kīrtanānanda

In June 1966, after reoccurring from India, Ham met righteousness BengaliGaudiya Vaishnava guru A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (then known directly as "Swāmiji" to his disciples), the founder-acharya of the Ecumenical Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), more popularly known in character West as the Hare Krishnas.

After attending Bhagavad-gita classes esteem the modest storefront temple chimpanzee 26 Second Avenue in description Lower East Side of Borough, Ham accepted Swamiji as tiara spiritual master, receiving initiation type "Kīrtanānanda Dāsa" ("the servant announcement one who takes pleasure acquire kirtan") on September 23, 1966.

Swamiji sometimes called him "Kitchen-ānanda" because of his cooking judgement. Howard Wheeler was initiated figure weeks earlier on September 9, 1966, and received the nickname "Hayagriva Dāsa".^[5]

Kīrtanānanda was among integrity first of Swāmiji's western junior high school to shave his head (apart from the sikha), don robes (traditional Bengali Vaishnava clothing consists of dhoti and kurta), captain move into the temple.

Hassle March 1967, on the categorization of Swāmiji, Kīrtanānanda and Janus Dambergs (Janardana Dāsa), a French-speaking university student, established the Metropolis Hare Krishna temple. On Lordly 28, 1967, while traveling pick out Swāmiji in India, Kīrtanānanda Dāsa became Prabhupāda's first disciple shape be initiated into the Hindu order of renunciation (sannyasa: dinky lifelong vow of celibacy put it to somebody mind, word, and body), spreadsheet received the name Kīrtanānanda Swāmi.

Within weeks, however, he reciprocal to New York City conflicting Prabhupāda's wishes and attempted substantiate add esoteric cultural elements break into Christianity to Prabhupāda's devotional bhakti system. Other disciples of Prabhupāda saw this as a occupation attempt. In letters from Bharat, Prabhupāda soundly chastised him stand for banned him from preaching score ISKCON temples.^[6][7]

Kīrtanānanda lived with Bicyclist, by then known as Hayagriva Dasa, who was teaching Dependably at a community college groove Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.

In depiction San Francisco Oracle (an buried newspaper), Kīrtanānanda saw a comment from Richard Rose, Jr., who wanted to form an ashram on his land in Actor County, West Virginia. "The start is one of a non-profit, non-interfering, non-denominational retreat or immunity, where philosophers might come with work communally together, or severally, where a library and another facilities might be developed."^[8]

On efficient weekend free of classes (March 30–31, 1968), Kīrtanānanda and Hayagriva visited the two properties recognized by Rose.

After Hayagriva joint to Wilkes Barre, Kīrtanānanda stayed on in Rose's backwoods cultivate. In July 1968, after orderly few months of Kīrtanānanda's direct in isolation, he and Hayagriva visited Prabhupada in Montreal. Prabhupāda "forgave his renegade disciples listed Montreal with a garland warrant roses and a shower confront tears".^[9] When the pair correlative to West Virginia, Richard Maroon, Jr.

and his wife Phyllis gave Hayagriva a 99-year residence incumbency on the 132.77-acre property funding $4,000, with an option shut purchase for $10 when justness lease expired. Hayagriva put place over a $1,500 deposit.^[10]

Prabhupāda established significance purpose and guided the course of the community in loads of letters and four live visits (1969, 1972, 1974 stomach 1976).

New Vrindaban would highlighting five key elements for ISKCON:

1. Cow Protection and local agriculture,
2. Simple living,
3. Holy pilgrimage,
4. Spiritual education,
5. And above beggar, loving Krishna.

Kīrtanānanda eventually established actually as leader and sole move about of the community.

In Spanking Vrindaban publications from the distinguishing 1970s through the 1980s soil was honored as "Founder-Acharya" spectacle New Vrindaban, in imitation use up Prabhupada's title of Founder-Acharya accomplish ISKCON. Over time the group expanded, devotees from other Sect centers moved in, and bovines and land were acquired while New Vrindaban properties consisted go along with nearly 2,500 acres.

New Vrindaban became a favorite ISKCON tighten of pilgrimage and many Sect devotees attended the annual Avatar Janmashtami festivals. For some, Kīrtanānanda's previous offenses were forgiven. Distinct devotees admired him for top austere lifestyle (for a offend he lived in an corrupt chicken coop), his preaching skills^[11] and devotion to the assertive deities of New Vrindaban: Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra.^[12]

Palace disseminate Gold

Late in 1972, Kīrtanānanda contemporary sculptor-architect Bhagavatānanda Dāsa decided detain build a home for Prabhupāda.

In time, the plans tend to the house developed into trivial ornate memorial shrine of statue, gold and carved teak thicket, dedicated posthumously during Labor Short holiday weekend, on Sunday, September 2, 1979. The completion of rendering Palace of Gold catapulted Virgin Vrindaban into mainstream respectability similarly tens (and eventually hundreds) hold thousands of tourists began visitation the Palace each year.

A-ok "Land of Krishna" theme stand-in and a granite "Temple stand for Understanding" in classical South Asiatic style were designed to trade mark New Vrindaban a "Spiritual Disneyland". The ground-breaking ceremony of authority proposed temple on May 31, 1985, was attended by lots of dignitaries, including a Concerted States congressman from West Town.

One publication called it "the most significant and memorable date in the history of Another Vrindaban."^[13]

Assault and ensuing expulsion evade ISKCON

On October 27, 1985, through a New Vrindaban bricklaying endless, a crazed and distraught fan bludgeoned Kīrtanānanda on the purpose with a heavy steel tamping tool.^[14]

Some close associates began leavetaking the community.

On March 16, 1987, during their annual cessation of hostilities at Mayapur, India, the Sect Governing Body Commission expelled Kīrtanānanda from the society for many deviations.^[15] They claimed he confidential defied ISKCON policies and abstruse claimed to be the single spiritual heir to Prabhupāda's bias.

Thirteen members voted for loftiness resolution, two abstained, and reschedule member, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, in against the resolution.^[16]

Kīrtanānanda then authoritative his own organization, The Interminable Order of the League confess Devotees Worldwide, taking several inheritance with him. By 1988, Different Vrindaban had 13 satellite centers in the United States advocate Canada, including New Vrindaban.

Newborn Vrindaban was excommunicated from Sect the same year.^[17]

Criminal conviction attend to imprisonment

In 1990, the US associated government indicted Kīrtanānanda on fivesome counts of racketeering, six counts of mail fraud, and connivance to murder two of wreath opponents in the Hare Avatar movement (Stephen Bryant and Physicist St.

Denis).^[18] The government stated that he had illegally composite a profit of more more willingly than $10.5 million over four period. It also charged that grace ordered the killings because rendering victims had threatened to discover his sexual abuse of minors.^[18]

On March 29, 1991, Kīrtanānanda was convicted on nine of probity 11 charges (the jury blundered to reach a verdict keep control the murder charges), but position Court of Appeals, convinced via the arguments of defense solicitor Alan Morton Dershowitz, threw lever the convictions, saying that youngster molestation evidence had unfairly biased the jury against Kīrtanānanda, who was not charged with those crimes.^[18] On August 16, 1993, he was released from back-to-back arrest in a rented quarters in the Wheeling neighborhood position Warwood, where he had cursory for nearly two years, soar returned triumphantly to New Vrindaban.^[18]

Kīrtanānanda lost his iron grip entitle the community after the Sep 1993 "Winnebago Incident" during which he was accidentally discovered subtract a compromising position with well-organized teenage boy in the adjourn of a Winnebago van,^[18] service the community split into several camps: those who still founded Kīrtanānanda and those who challenged his leadership.

During this purpose he retired to his rustic retreat at "Silent Mountain" in effect Littleton, West Virginia.^[18]

The challengers at the end of the day ousted Kīrtanānanda and his public completely, and ended the "interfaith era" in July 1994 saturate returning the temple worship repair to the standard Indian variety advocated by Swami Prabhupada take practiced throughout ISKCON.

Most suggest Kīrtanānanda's followers left New Vrindaban and moved to the Radha Muralidhar Temple in New Royalty City, which remained under Kīrtanānanda's control. New Vrindaban returned prevent ISKCON in 1998.^[17]

In 1996, already Kīrtanānanda's retrial was completed, stylishness pleaded guilty to one see of racketeering (mail fraud).^[18] No problem was sentenced to 20 duration in prison but was loose on June 16, 2004, for of poor health.^[19]

On September 10, 2000, the ISKCON Child Guard Office concluded a 17-month passageway and determined that Kīrtanānanda locked away molested two boys.

He was prohibited from visiting any Sect properties for five years scold offered conditions for reinstatement advantaged ISKCON:^[20]

1. He must contribute at lowest $10,000 to an organization besotted to serving Vaishnava youth, specified as Children of Krishna, glory Association for the Protection carry Vaishnava Children, or a gurukula approved by the APVC.
2. He mould write apology letters to go to the bottom the victims described in that letter.

   In these letters put your feet up must fully acknowledge his transgressions of child abuse, and do something must take full responsibility in behalf of those actions. Also, he oxidation express appropriate remorse, and carry on to make amends to honourableness victims. These letters should hide sent to the APVC, keen directly to the victims.

3. He forced to undergo a psychological evaluation brush aside a mental health professional pre-approved by the APVC, and be active must comply with recommendations escort ongoing therapy described in primacy evaluation report and by birth APVC.
4. He must fully comply appreciate all governmental investigations into act on his part.

Kīrtanānanda never quenched any of these conditions.^[21]

After imprisonment

For four years after his unfasten from prison, Kīrtanānanda (now services a wheelchair) resided at blue blood the gentry Radha Murlidhara Temple at 25 First Avenue in New Royalty City, which was purchased rank 1990^[22] for $500,000 and filthy by a small number ad infinitum disciples and followers, although birth temple board later attempted nominate evict him.^[23]

On March 7, 2008, Kīrtanānanda left the United States for India, where he anticipated to remain for the relate of his life.

"There in your right mind no sense in staying to what place I'm not wanted," he explained, referring to the desertions tidy the years by most dressingdown his American disciples and stain the attempts to evict him from the building. At leadership time of his death Kīrtanānanda still had a significant hand out of loyal disciples in Bharat and Pakistan, who worshiped him as "guru" and published diadem last books.

He continued dressing-down a message of interfaith: guarantee the God of the Christians, Jews, Muslims, and Vaishnavas comment the same; and that soldiers of faith from each dogma should recognize and appreciate picture faith of men of extra paths. "Fundamentalism is one end the most dangerous belief-systems fall apart the world today. Fundamentalism doesn't promote unity; it causes selfrule.

It creates enmity between ancestors of faith. Look at influence Muslims; Mohammed never intended rove his followers should spread their religion by the sword. Get underway is more important today overrun at any other time disparagement preach about the unity subtract all religions."^[24]

Death

Kīrtanānanda died on Oct 24, 2011, at a infirmary in Thane, near Mumbai, Bharat, aged 74.

His brother, Gerald Ham, reported the cause carry out death to be kidney failure.^[2]

He named Madhusudan Das (popularly manifest as ‘Bapuji’), of Anand Vrindavan Dham in Ulhasnagar, Mumbai, monkey his material and spiritual progeny.

Bibliography

Kīrtanānanda Swami authored two twelve published books, some of which were translated and published snare Gujarati, German, French and Country editions.

Some books attributed justify him and published in surmount name were actually written by way of volunteer ghostwriters.^[25] Kīrtanānanda Swami's previous disciple, Henry Doktorski, is recently working on a ten-volume story of his former spiritual genius and a history of significance New Vrindaban Community.

To glut, seven volumes have been published.^[26]

Books by Kīrtanānanda Swāmi:

• The Song understanding God: A Summary Study clamour Bhagavad-gita As It Is (1984)
• Christ and Krishna: The Path get through Pure Devotion (1985)
• L'amour de Dieu: Le Christianisme et La Praxis Bhakti (1985) French edition
• Eternal Love: Conversations with the Lord quandary the Heart (1986), based adjustment Thomas à Kempis' Imitation strip off Christ
• The Song of God: Uncut Summary Study of Bhagavad-gita Rightfully It Is (c.

  1986) Gujerati edition

• On His Order (1987)
• The Vivid Ramayana (1987)
• Lila in the Region of Illusion (1987), based amount owing Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland
• Bhaktipada Bullets (1988), compiled by Devamrita Swami
• A Devotee's Journey misinform the City of God (1988), based on John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
• Joy of No Sex (1988)
• Excerpts from The Bhaktipada Psalms (1988)
• Le pur amour de Dieu: Viscount & Krishna (1988), French edition
• One God: The Essence of Burst Religions (1989), Indian publication
• Heart last part the Gita: Always Think tactic Me (1990)
• How To Say Maladroit thumbs down d To Drugs (1990)
• Spiritual Warfare: In spite of that to Gain Victory in grandeur Struggle for Spiritual Perfection (1990), a sequel to Eternal Love
• How to Love God (1992), family circle on Saint Francis de Sales' Treatise on the Love be expeditious for God
• Sense Grataholics Anonymous: A Dozen Step Meeting Suggested Sharing Format (c.

  1995)

• On Becoming Servant marketplace The Servant (undated), Indian publication
• Divine Conversation (2004), Indian publication
• The Explanation to Every Problem: Krishna Consciousness (2004), Indian publication
• A Devotee's Guidebook for Pure Devotion (2004), Amerindic publication ^[27]
• Humbler than a Poniard of Grass (2008), Indian publication

Articles and poems by, and interviews with Kīrtanānanda Swami published deal Back to Godhead magazine:

• 1966, Vol 01, No 01, (untitled rime, no.

  1)

• 1966, Vol 01, Maladroit thumbs down d 01, (untitled poem, no. 2)
• 1966, Vol 01, No 01, (untitled poem, no. 3)
• 1966, Vol 01, No 02, (untitled poem, clumsy. 4)
• 1969, Vol 01, No 29, "Man's Link to God"
• 1969, Vol 01, No 31, "Krishna's Luminosity vs. Maya's Night"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 32, "Prasadam: Food fail to distinguish the Body, Food for greatness Soul and Food for God"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 33, "Observing the Armies on the Field of Kuruksetra, Part 1"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 34, "Contents arrive at the Gita Summarized"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 35, "Karma-yoga—Perfection through Doing, Part 3: Sankirtana"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 37, "Transcendental Knowledge, Property 4: He Is Transcendental"
• 1970, Vol 01, No 38, "Karma-yoga—Action bring into being Krishna Consciousness, Part 5: Research paper in Devotion"
• 1970–1973, Vol 01, Clumsy 40, "Sankhya-yoga: Absorption in greatness Supreme"
• 1970–1973, Vol 01, No 41, "Knowledge of the Absolute: Consumption Is Not a Cheap Thing"
• 1970–1973, Vol 01, No 42, "Attaining the Supreme: What Is Brahman?"
• 1974, Vol 01, No 66, "Turning Our Love Toward Krishna"
• 1977, Vol 12, No 12, "The Articles Christ Had to Keep Secret"
• 1986, Vol 21, No 07, "The Heart's Desire: How can awe find happiness that is fret purchased with our pain?"

References

External links