Analog Photography

Analog Photography - Flower Power

I'm a tad nostalgic for the late 1960s and early 1970s. Remember all that chanting and consciousness raising. Too bad it intersected with the Vietnam War. What a strange time to be alive.

John M Poltrack

02 May 2023 — 3 min read

I missed being part of the Flower Power movement. It didn't seem prudent to protest the Vietnam War as an enlisted man, but I did have the opportunity to see some outdoor rock concerts. It was probably as close I came to living a hippie lifestyle in spite of my military haircut and Navy Exchange clothes. Let's take a look at some analog photography from that part of my strange life.

Give me a "F"

https://flic.kr/p/2iK25cE Social Closeness in the 1970s

P-Town (of course)

What I miss seeing these days are the Hare Krishnas. Where did they all go? Back in the day they were everywhere. They were in Provincetown of course.

https://flic.kr/p/rAJrV6 Provincetown, MA - probably late 1960s

San Diego Zoo

When I visited the San Diego zoo, they were there, chanting away. I miss those days. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is still in operation, but the street chanters seem to have disappeared. I sometimes wonder about the people in these photographs. All of them are now senior citizens in their late 70s. Do they still get together and chant? I know that I would. Keep going till you drop.

https://flic.kr/p/27Yf4uo Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna

An unlikely meeting

As I took this photo I was aware of the strange nature of this encounter. This must have been an interesting exchange of ideas.

https://flic.kr/p/27Yf1hS At the zoo

While I was photographing the Hare Krishnas, they handed me a card. I didn't go to the center which I now regret. I missed the chance for an interesting evening and free meal. I believe they mean meditation, not mediation.

https://flic.kr/p/2oxbTGd

Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō (南無妙法蓮華経)

I missed out on Krishna consciousness but I did get involved a bit with a Nichiren Buddhism group. In San Diego I saw a group of young people dressed as sailors, many were Japanese. They were attending a Buddhist convention and were chanting Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō which translates to "Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra" or "Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra". I knew a bit about this since it is mentioned in the film Cinderella Liberty. This chant is supposed to make things happen for you. I think that was how it was used in the movie. I like the idea of magic words to get things done.

https://flic.kr/p/2oxfQxi Buddhists chanting

Of course my limited spiritual knowledge was such that I knew if I chanted this over and over I was going to become enlightened. It seemed like a good strategy for surviving my remaining time in the Navy. Besides it enjoyable to chant, peaceful, contemplative. If you want a Christian chant try Kyrie eleison or choose an old standby like Om Namaha Shivaya.

I ended up the book and some prayer beads. I already had a sailor suit. I think I attended a few chants. However it was taking too long to reach enlightenment, so I just muddled through.

https://flic.kr/p/2ik7g7R

I still wonder why they were dressed in sailor type outfits. I've never been attracted to organizations that have a dress code which explains why I wasn't that excited about having to wear a uniform. I am out of uniform in the next photo, I was supposed to be wearing an undershirt, always the rebel.