Sharing through food and conversation
by Mindy Messenger
the Daily, March 9, 2005
"A lot of people lose faith in the world," says Harivilas das, co-founder and manager of My Sweet Lord Cafe. "And those are the people I made this cafe for. Those are the people I'm trying to reach, whether they're wealthy or homeless."
A devote Hare Krishna, Harivilas opened the restaurant located on the Ave and above 55th three years ago. His main goal in creating the warm, brightly-lit My Sweet Lord Cafe was for it to be a safe environment for people of all walks of life to share knowledge and philosophies while eating healthy food.
Defying classification, My Sweet Lord Cafe seems to fall somewhere between a soup kitchen and vegetarian restaurant. The doors are open to everyone, though guests seem to consist mainly of travel-weary youths and those recently graduated from college.
The only payment Harivilas expects for his food is conversation and hearty laughter. Monetary payment is not expected, though most visitors donate the same amount they would pay at any other restaurant.
Although most guests make a donation to show their gratitude, the restaurant mainly operates from funding through the Hare Krishna Temple of Sammamish, Washington and The Great Northwest Charitable and Educational Foundation.
By sharing food with others instead of charging, Harivilas hopes to teach through example what he calls "the value of cooperative endeavor." He believes that hording resources—such as money or food—creates poverty. When people share those resources with each other, poverty and ill will towards humanity is eased.
Don Porterfield, a friend and fellow Hare Krishna, helped Harivilas to open the cafe.
"Harivilas is the one with all of the ideas," Porterfield explains. "Opening this restaurant was one of his long-time dreams, and he had been excited about it for a long time."
Although Harivilas can be found chopping vegetables and directing volunteers on most nights, the white haired Porterfield takes over on Friday nights where he blasts music from Van Morrison.
The name "My Sweet Lord" comes from a George Harrison song famous for it's connection to the Hare Krishna movement. Harivilas had met Harrison, a member of the Beatles, in 1969 and was so deeply impressed by the kindness and spirituality Harrison exuded that he wanted to honor him.
"Harrison raised spiritual consciousness through song, and I'm raising spiritual consciousness through food, so the name fits the restaurant well." says Harivilas.
Small and oblong, the restaurant is split in half by a white counter that Harivilas and his volunteers use to prepare the food. Opposite the counter is a tidy row of eight small tables that allow guests to watch and converse with the cooks while waiting for their meal. Simple and clean, the restaurant walls are painted a pale bluish-green with bright yellow trim around the windows. Unobtrusive lights line the edges of the ceiling, working with the painted walls to create the impression of dining in an open, sunny field.
The diners seem to be comfortable in the cramped tables as they lean towards one another and converse. Loud laughter echoes over the crescendos of Krishna inspired music.
Not only does Harivilas manage the cafe, but he also cooks and prepares the vegan and vegetarian food with the help of other Hare Krishna volunteers. There are no menus listing a variety of foods for guests to choose from—one vegan meal is offered each day, with a side of yogurt or another dairy product for vegetarians. The meals change each day, though they usually consist of a salad or vegetable side dish, grain, soup and a spice-brewed tea sweetened with honey.
At the far end from the door and visible throughout the entire restaurant, hangs a framed picture of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder and spiritual master of the Hare Krishna. The picture is embedded in a shrine-like structure where Goverdhan Singh, volunteer and member of the Hare Krishna movement, makes an offering of the daily meal in order to bless the food before serving guests.
Harivilas explains that in order to show appreciation for the food provided by God, Krishnas make an offering to Swami, who is known as the guru of the Krishna movement.
"We are unable to offer food directly to God, but A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami is our window to God and so we make an offering through him." says Harivilas.
But despite the Hare Krishna philosophies threaded throughout the restaurant, Harivilas and his volunteers do not believe in pushing their beliefs onto others.
"I enjoy coming here not just because the food is good," said frequent visitor Benjamin Swatez, "but also because they respect everyone's philosophies and beliefs."
Waving his hand towards Anne Gibbs, a young woman in a poncho with a large dog at her feet and Ty Chi, a young man in a patchwork cap, Swatez adds that the restaurant is also an excellent place to meet new and interesting people.
"I just meet these two today, and I can tell we're going to be good friends." says Swatez of the young man and woman sitting next to him.
Harivilas and his other volunteers encourage questions about the restaurants founding philosophies and the Krishna movement to those who step through the doors of My Sweet Lord Cafe for the first time. However, they are also eager to discuss matters ranging from natural supplements to the connection between Hunter S. Thompson and the comic strip Doonesbury.
"I really want people to come here and share with each other. Not just food, but knowledge and experiences. People can come here, eat good food, feel good vibes and then leave feeling refreshed," says Harivilas.