Stephen Gaskin was an American counterculture Hippie icon best known for his presence in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco in the 1960s and for co-founding "The Farm", a spiritual commune in 1970.
16 Facts About Stephen Gaskin
2.
Stephen Gaskin was a Green Party presidential primary candidate in 2000 on a platform which included campaign finance reform, universal health care, and decriminalization of marijuana.
3.
Stephen Gaskin was the author of over a dozen books, political activist, a philanthropic organizer and a self-proclaimed professional Hippie.
4.
Stephen Gaskin's writing class evolved into an open discussion group known as Monday Night Class, which involved up to 1500 students.
5.
Stephen Gaskin spoke about his experiences with psychedelic drugs and paranormal experiences, and lectured about the importance of ecological awareness.
6.
Stephen Gaskin went to prison in 1974 for marijuana possession, because some members of the community had planted several marijuana plants on the nearby "Martin farm" property, against his recommendation.
7.
Stephen Gaskin brought a lawsuit challenging the legality of mass retroactive disenfranchisement under the Tennessee Constitution in the case Gaskin v Collins.
8.
In Volume One: Sunday Morning Services on the Farm and earlier talks, Stephen Gaskin produced a substantial body of spiritual teaching.
9.
Stephen Gaskin's ideas are now contained in books and tapes of the Sunday Morning Services which were published by the Book Publishing Company on The Farm.
10.
Stephen Gaskin was the first recipient of the Right Livelihood Award in 1980 and was inducted into the Counterculture Hall of Fame in 2004.
11.
Stephen Gaskin was awarded the Golden Bolt Award by The Farm Motor Pool, and won the Guru-Off, racking up 77 points to Krishnamurti's 73.
12.
Stephen Gaskin continued to work as an international activist, writer and speaker until a few months before his death.
13.
Stephen Gaskin's topics ranged from humorous advice on all aspects of communal life and farming to modern communications, the counter-culture, spirituality, drug law reform, and social and ecological issues.
14.
Stephen Gaskin was a drummer in The Farm Band, an early Jam Band which toured in the 1970s and 1980s.
15.
Stephen Gaskin's last published works were revised and annotated versions of Monday Night Class and The Caravan.
16.
Stephen Gaskin died on July 1,2014, from natural causes, in his home, surrounded by family.