Skip Stone explains that the hippie way and culture had laid dormant untill the early 90's and that since than it has been reborn in the form of neo-hippism.
How The Hippies & Their Spiritual Quest Began...
Hippies & Eastern Beliefs
In September of the 1966 George Harrison of The Beatles went to India for six weeks to learn how to play the India instrument called the sitar with artist Ravi Shankar. While there, George was inspired by the beliefs held by the local Hindu people.
When George return back home to the States he would inspire all the Beatles to come on another trip to India to study Transcendal Mediation under the direction of Hindu guru, Bhagwan Dass.
This would have a strong and lasting effect on George, so that in 1975 George Harrision would dedicate his life to the monotheist branch of Hindu called The Hare Krishnas. Paul McCartney and his wife Linda would also be inspired and thus would take up a form of Hindu belief, as well as become passionate Vegans.
The remaining Beatles, would be less inspired and impressed with this visit. John Lennon was vocal in expressing his lack of zeal for the expereince. John distrust all religious leaders, as his songs would often express, though he would be consider a source of spiritual inspiration to many. On June 25th, 1967 The Beatles debuted their song, "All You Need Is Love," on network television. This greatly inspired the counterculture that was thriving in the Haight-Ashbury district at the time, thus the famous term was born, 1967 The Sumer of Love.
Hindu and Buddhism have a key belief called Ahimsa which translates into English as, "Do No Harm To Any Living Thing." This belief was and is a big appeal to the hippie culture because it promotes, peace/non-violance and basically be as kin or one with all nature and all living things.
One of the greatest Hindus to have ever lived, and one of the greatest men was Gaundi. He was a pioneer is teaching and living non-violance. He also taught Social Justice. Because of all this, Gaundi has been and continues to be a great source of inspiration to the hippie culture. The attention drawn from Bhagwan Dass and his vist by the Beatles by media and press inspired and opened the door for other Eastern religions to gain interest in America.
As mentioned, The Hare Krishnas. Also, there are many branches of Buddhists and Dharma centers, as well as neo-Hindu religions such as The Vendanta Society, which mixes Eastern and Western religious beliefs together. Many of these groups also have inspired and contributed to the organic and natural food lines.
Go On To The Next Page To Continue Reading!
