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It's October of 1967.

Keith Ham, also known as Kirtana Nanda, strides into the Manhattan Harri Krishna Temple

with his head high and a blissful smile on his face.

The room is packed with Krishna devotees dressed in colorful robes and beaded necklaces made

from tulisi wood.

The beads are sent to protect the wearer from bad dreams, accidents and attacks by weapons.

In a room filled with colorful garm, Keith stands out.

Instead of robes and beads, he's dressed in black with a white clerical collar around

his neck.

The room is tense, but when Keith steps to the front and raises his palms, it goes silent.

He loves being able to quiet a room without saying a word.

He knew when he arrived back from India three weeks ago that his priestly attire and new

ideas would be controversial.

But he's not presenting the ideas as his.

He's saying he's acting on orders from Swami Prabhu Pad, the founder of the movement.

He tells them that the Swami had a vision.

He realized they needed to become more mainstream in order to expand.

And he sent Keith back to New York to spread the word.

It's all a lie, but it's good for the movement.

At least that's what Keith tells himself.

...