Krishna dasa worked fulltime. Under the circumstances, Professor Bernhardt’s visit was the major “outside” engagement for Prabhupada during his Hamburg visit. Shivananda had met Professor Bernhardt months ago at the University of Hamburg after hearing of a Sanskrit and Indology professor on campus. Without knowing anything about the etiquette of dealing with a professor, he had entered Dr. Bernhardt’s office without an appointment.

“We are going to start a Radha-Krishna temple here,” Shivananda had told the professor. “Are you familiar with the Vedic scriptures?”

Although Professor Bernhardt remained strictly formal with Shivananda, he couldn’t deny an academic interest in Krishna consciousness. He had studied Vaishnavism, specializing in Indian religious festivals. So when Shivananda invited him to come and meet Bhaktivedanta Swami, Professor Bernhardt had eagerly taken the opportunity.

Professor Bernhardt, a well-dressed young man with wavy blond hair, sat patiently through one of Prabhupada’s kirtanas and lectures in the temple. Afterwards, in fluent English, he asked, “What about we here in the city who have cosmopolitan consciousness?” “What is this cosmopolitan consciousness?” Prabhupada asked. “They are killing the animals.” Prabhupada explained to him the universality of Krishna consciousness. “I am interested,” Dr. Bernhardt said, “‘to learn about the differences between the Sankarites and the Vaishnavas and their philosophies.” “Oh, yes,” Prabhupada replied. “I will teach you.” And they agreed to meet again at Prabhupada’s apartment.

Krishna dasa: A couple of days after Prabhupada arrived in Hamburg; Dr. Bernhardt came laden with gifts. He was very conscious of Vaishnava protocol. Even if he were in the Himalayas in this cold, horrendous weather, he would be freshly shaven and wearing a tie. He was very punctual and precise. Prabhupada talked with him, and the entire conversation was in Sanskrit. As a matter of fact, every now and then Prabhupada would put in a couple of words of English for our benefit. For three or four days there were continual meetings between Prabhupada and Dr. Bernhardt. They culminated in a statement by Dr. Bernhardt. He lapsed into English and said, “What you are saying is that all my knowledge is useless without devotional service.” Prabhupada said, “Yes, now you’ve understood.” Then Dr. Bernhardt said, “What you’re saying is that all my studies and entire library are just like an ass laden down with so many books that are ultimately pushing him to his grave.” Again Prabhupada said, “Yes, that is right.”

When Dr. Bernhardt remarked that he had been thinking of ISKCON as hippies since he had seen an ad stating that Allen Ginsberg was a member, Prabhupada took it very seriously. The next day he wrote Hayagriva.

From his conversation I understood that people are very badly impressed about Ginsberg, especially respectable persons, on account of his hippie tendencies. I of course supported our case that Ginsberg is a great friend of our society and we advise everyone to chant Hare Krishna, and I believe he also does so. Anyway, we should be very much careful not to publish anything in our paper which will give impression to the public that we are inclined to the hippie movement. In our papers nothing should be published which has even a small tinge of hippie ideas. I must tell you in this connection that if you have any sympathies with the hippie movement, you should kindly give them up.

Prabhupada’s third meeting with Dr. Bernhardt was at the professor’s home. This time Dr. Bernhardt confessed to Prabhupada that he did not agree with many points in Prabhupada’s translations of the Vedic literatures. He criticized the Vaishnava philosophy. He also told Prabhupada that he had no religious feeling for Krishna consciousness, since he considered himself a Christian. By the end of this meeting their relationship was becoming strained, and afterwards Prabhupada remarked that in none of their meetings had the professor even said Hare Krishna.

Ref: Folio, Prabhupada lila, preaching in Germany.
Compiled by: Mahavishnu Dasa.