So true! I can't remember what I did last week, much less 3 years ago. The date of the lecture is less important than the fact that it speaks to a sudden awakening that collides with activity he undertook with Iskcon. McDermott's piece does a good job of pointing out why it matters.

But, on the topic of faulty memory, if you asked me if I spent 3 years in India in seclusion in an ashram, I'm certain I'd remember if I'd spent some amount of that time, maybe the majority, in the outskirts of London while also posting YouTube videos. I might not remember the exact dates or months, but somehow this kind of detail wouldn't slip my mind.