Authors: Steve Bohlert

Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Gosvami)
lived in India as an itinerant Hindu monk and later served as a Christian pastor in the Midwest. His intimate knowledge of traditional Radha-Krishna devotional practices and Christian spirituality inspires seekers to forgo dogmas, embrace life and progress on the path to full, intimate God-dess realization. He presents a rare, inspiring insight from a universalist worldview that is intellectually charming, philosophically invigorating and spiritually joyful. It inspires, increases our enjoyment in this life (and we’d like to add) in the next too.

Steve Bohlert’s hi-res PR image [JPEG, 250 KB].

CONTACT ADDRESS
PO Box 1360
Pahoa, HI 96778
USA

Telephone: (808) 965-7028
Email: sbohlert@gmail.com

WEBSITES
www.stevebohlert.com
www.radha-krishnaism.org

WRITING EXPERTISE
Steve Bohlert is available to comment on or help with stories on:

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STEVE BOHLERT’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND CREDENTIALS

STEVE BOHLERT’S BIO

Steve Bohlert (Subal Das Goswami)

Steve Bohlert helped lead the Krishna Movement to its early success (1967-74). Its founder, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, initiated him into Radha-Krishna devotion, and named him Subal Das Goswami. Bohlert served as associate editor and business manager of Back to Godhead magazine and started eight temples in North America, India and Fiji. He preached widely in Western Europe and India as well. In this context, Bohlert mastered his guru’s teachings. Still, he was not satisfied.

Bohlert lived in India for three years as an itinerant monk and gained firsthand experience of Radha-Krishna devotion in its homeland. While staying in Vrindaban, he was befriended and mentored by O.B.L. Kapoor, a prominent devotee, doctor of philosophy, retired professor, and author of over thirty books. Kapoor confirmed his realization that there is a higher level of devotional practice than that taught by Bhaktivedanta. Kapoor directed him to Lalita Prasad Thakur (1879-1980), the son and disciple of renowned nineteenth century reformer and Westernizer of Chaitanyaism, Bhaktivinode Thakur (1838-1914).

In 1974, Lalita Prasad initiated Bohlert into the esoteric practices of natural devotion. For a fortnight, he lived with Lalita Prasad and learned everything he needed to know. These teachings, gained by eight years of arduous study and practice, form the basis of Universalist Radha-Krishnaism. Although he planned to stay in India permanently, Lalita Prasad told him to preach in the West as his disciple.

Bohlert went to Honolulu to preach and got an estate donated to the Krishna Movement by the Ford Foundation. However, by the end of 1974, he resigned because of his dissatisfaction with the direction of the movement. He left the renounced life and reentered American society on Maui.

In 1988, Bohlert began his studies at San Francisco Theological Seminary and the associated schools of The Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. There, he learned critical interpretive techniques, theological perspectives, and spiritual practices which he later applied to Chaitanyaism. He learned how the church was reformed and is always reforming. Each generation contributes to its progress. Chaitanyaism is long overdue for major reform, now that it is in the West. Steve Bohlert has the courage, training, and insight to make the needed changes.

In 1991, Bohlert graduated with a Master of Divinity degree and received ordination as a pastor and teacher in the United Church of Christ. He served three churches in Iowa, North Dakota, and Michigan until 2002. In 2002, he began an independent eclectic ministry and developed it into Universalist Radha-Krishnaism.

When he moved to Hawaii in 2005 and intensified the natural devotional practices learned from Lalita Prasad, Bohlert found he could no longer uncritically accept his former beliefs. He applied the interpretive techniques learned in seminary to Chaitanyaism. He also instituted reforms such as those which underlie the United Church of Christ, one of the most progressive Christian denominations. Bohlert reformed traditional Chaitanyaism using a progressive, Protestant method of interpretation to develop Universalist Radha-Krishnaism.

In 1978, Bohlert taught at the Whole Life Center in Palo Alto, California. In 1979, he served as State Networker for the New Age Caucus in Los Angeles working with persons such as John Vasconcellos, Laura Huxley, Susan Anspach, and Theodore Rozak to promote a holistic, ecological vision. The Kent-Ionia Labor Council presented Steve Bohlert their 2004 Eleanor Roosevelt Award for work he did leading a living wage campaign as part of the ecumenical Call to Renewal in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also participated in the Grand Rapids Interfaith Alliance, Planned Parenthood of West Michigan’s Clergy Advisory Committee, and Concerned Clergy of West Michigan, which supports gay rights.

The Krishna Movement’s Back to Godhead and Brijabasi Spirit magazines published a number of Bohlert’s articles such as ‘Perfection in Yoga,’ ‘Be Humbler Than a Blade of Grass,’ and ‘Lord Chaitanya’s Mission and Precepts.’ He wrote monthly articles for church newsletters for eleven years. He also developed and maintains a website–www.stevebohlert.com–where he posts essays and blogs for several years. He and his friends recently launched the new Universalist Radha-Krishnaism website, www.radha-krishnaism.org. Bohlert is a dynamic speaker and has appeared on a number of radio and television shows. His autobiography is in process.

Steve Bohlert experienced life in a wide range of social, cultural, religious, and political contexts, which uniquely qualifies him to write this book. He is conversant with the subject in its traditional setting and deeply in touch with Western culture and thought.

Steve Bohlert and his wife live an off-grid lifestyle of voluntary simplicity in the jungle on Hawai’i, the Big Island, not far from where the lava flows into the ocean. This lush, virgin land and sea provide an ideal environment for his writing and spiritual practices.