THE LIFE AND ART OF GEORGE HARRISON.
XI Second Thoughts / Harrison Beyond

"O son of Kunti, the non-permanent appearance of heat and cold, happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
THE BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS

"George Harrison remains entirely faithful to Krishna Consciousness."
DEREK TAYLOR, 1993

George Harrison has precious little future as a member of the Beatles. Something he first realized way back in August of 1966 when the Fabs played their last official note together at Candlestick Park. Although untold millions can still be generated by the mere rattle of the Beatles' aging vocal chords into a microphone the magic is long gone, the grandeur extinct. The nostalgia generated by such non-events as the Fabs' recent so-called "reunion" only whisper of the majesty that once was. Something George Harrison knows that better than anyone. He'll take the money if it's handy, maybe even turn up for a few perfunctory performances every now and again, but his heart isn't in it. Unlike Paul McCartney, the eternal, wide-eyed, fifteen-year-old with his head firmly fixed in the clouds, or the post-alcoholic Ringo Starr, Harrison disdains the fame-fix and has quite consistently from almost day one.
Despite the massive hype generated by both Apple, EMI, Capitol and ABC here in America the Beatles' latest recycled product line left millions cold, amongst them apparently, George Harrison, as Paul McCartney recently explained: "I think it would have been okay with me and John," says Paul. "And I think Ringo certainly would have been fine with it. I'd managed to make my peace with John a good few months before he was killed, but George hadn't. I'm not sure whether they weren't talking or what. But George did his big book , his life story, and [barely] mentioned John. Naturally [John was] upset. George is a very forthright character. He just says what he thinks. To tell you the truth, he wasn't really too keen on FREE AS A BIRD. He was saying to me, 'I sort of felt John was going off a bit towards the end of his writing.'"
For once it seems, McCartney's observations contain at least an element of truth. In terms of FREE AS A BIRD Harrison wasn't all that thrilled as he admitted in a recent interview. "I actually preferred REAL LOVE as a song; I thought the melody was more obvious."
Obvious perhaps, but not at all easy to work with. Apparently, the cassette version Yoko passed along was done on a wobbley four-track porta-studio, which are notorious for the noise they introduce to tape. Further, John double tracked the vocal and also included a very loud tambourine into the haphazard mix. Fortunately, producer Jeff Lynn linked up with a top computer man spending a few tedious days eliminating virtually everything but John's haunting vocal. The resulting track is quite remarkable considering the tribulations of its perilous beginnings.
"I really have no concept of myself, no image I'm trying to get across," Harrison has said. "I consider myself as much a film maker as I do an ex-pop star. I say 'ex' because to me pop stars are teenagers, and I'm not that for sure. I play a little guitar, write some tunes and make a few movies. I even do a little gardening, but none of those things are the real me. The real me is something else entirely, just like the real you."
So where then is George's heart when not on public display as the reluctant, retired, lead guitarist of the Fearsome Four? Today at fifty plus-years-old, what can he possibly look forward to waking up daily in his palatial Oxfordshire folly, Friar Park? Harrison is certainly a man who loves his family, but at least as far as his second wife Olivia is concerned, he merely stumbles along day-to-day as quizzical about his role as a husband and father as he is about being a quarter owner of the eternal Beatles/Apple cash cow. Even for those closest to him George has never been an easy man to warm up to.
Harrison, of course, is not without of interests and is not only an avid lay gardener, race car enthusiast and heathen sun worshiper, but also a man of letters, immersing himself in the production of several quirky films and over-priced, sumptuously bound memoirs. For a man whose financial circle is as wide as George's there are, of course, dozens of willing confederates who happily mingle with the man year-after-year as
quasi-friends/employees/escorts/keepers; career Apple man, Derek Taylor; Terry Doran (though he's gone now as the Tex-Mex Olivia apparently didn't approve of his 'flamboyant' lifestyle); ousted intimate, Dennis O'Brien; recovering drunk 'Legs' Larry Smith; handyman Robbie Caine; Deep Purple keyboardist, Jon Lord; sixties' never-was Joe Brown and many others even more unknown and less distinguished. As George sang on the GONE TROPPO track, WAKE UP MY LOVE, "Ain't no friends of mine who can swing me down that vine/Ain't no sense in what they do that is why I'm calling You."
Fortunately, George's saber-like cynicism rejects (at least privately) the advances of even this smarmy crowd. On the surface then Harrison's life approximates the same quagmire of unhappiness, puny intrigue, self doubt, tedium and hopelessness as any of us, but there is yet another side to this craggy-faced, former pop star. A presence that slowly and consistently fills the void carved by the mountain of empty adoration and materialism which surrounds him. And that, quite simply, is his near lifelong search for a conscious, transcendent connection to his own personal Godhead, the shining, rain cloud colored, flute playing Almighty Lord Sri Krishna.
Harrison recalls an early encounter in India that profoundly altered his then limited definition of success: "A yogi I met said, 'You are really lucky. You have youth, fame, fortune, health, but at the same time that's not enough. You want to know about something else.' Most people don't even get to the point where they realize there's something beyond that wall. They are just trying to get on top, to be able to eat, have a nice house, be comfortable and all that. I was fortunate enough to get all that in time to realize there's something else to life, whereas most people get worn out just trying to attain purely material things."
As one matures spiritually the tendency to deny the world mellows into a kind of fluffy acceptance that for better or worse, here we are and beyond our own internal work there's not really a lot one can do about it. Certainly the ability to meaningfully alter anyone other than one's self is implausible, if not impossible. And that is exactly what Harrison is doing these days, working on himself. Having long since given up his savage addiction to smoking he has also cut way back on the consumption of red wine, chicken, fish, and various other substances now taboo in light of his renewed spiritual aspirations.
"Krishna Consciousness isn't something I do in the road anymore," he stated during a New Zealand press conference in 198_. "It's something I do inside myself." Reduced to it's essence what we have then is a new provisional, 1997 George Harrison. A hollow, holy, walking, talking automan of the sly Beatle we once knew. The same way they move castles brick-by-brick from one continent to another, Jai Raj Hari's Son (George's sly Indo-version of his name) is being slowly relocated to the transcendental realm of Goloka Vrndavana, the Vaishnava's ideal of heaven. And he couldn't be happier.
His Holiness Mukunda Dasa Gosvami has not only been a true friend to George, but also his one consistent, inspirational link to ISKCON. He remembered Harrison's first encounter with Srila Prabhupada's blossoming movement.
"We had actually been in touch with George and John. I think they ordered about three hundred copies of the record Prabhupada made in New York in 1967. There was a general interest among the Beatles in what we were doing because at that time they were with the Maharishi. So that was an encouragement."
These days Harrison tends to avoid the media like the plague and virtually never gives interviews unless it's very directly in his interest. He has on occasion, however, made himself available to various devotees for private discussions on both his remembrances of his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada, and the engaging, expansive philosophy he brought to the West. "I had a copy of the Hare Krishna album with Prabhupada singing HARE KRISHNA with the devotees," Harrison told Satsvarupa Dasa Gosvami during the preparation of Bhaktivedanta Swami's extended biography. "I'd had the record at least two years. I got it the week it was pressed. I was open to it. You attract those things. I used to play that a lot of the time. I was chanting Hare Krishna long before I met Syamasundara, Guru Dasa and Mukunda. I was just pleased to hear the Hare Krishna mantra and have a copy of the record.
"And I knew about Prabhupada because I had read the liner notes on the album. Having been to India I could tell where the devotees were coming from, with their style of dress and shaved heads. I'd seen them on the streets of Los Angeles and New york. Having read so many books and looking for yogis, my concept of the devotees wasn't like other people, who think they have all escaped from a lunatic asylum in their pajamas. I was aware of [the movement] and that it was a pretty heavy one, much more austerities than other groups, like no coffee, chocolate, or tea."
Over the past year Harrison not only attended, but pretty much led the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Hare Krishna Movement's first trek into Britain held at the baronial Bhaktivedanta Manor in Radlett, outside London. Sitting in a large circle leading the collective chanting along with his old pals, Guru Dasa, Syamasundara, Mukunda, Malati Dasi and many others, Harrison played harmonium, and ignoring the whirling video cameras and Instamatics, closed his eyes and sailed away on the magic carpet of transcendental sound flying around the room.
Watching the video of the occasion one sees a late middle-aged man absorbed in his personal conception of God. One is reminded of the last time George appeared publicly with his devotee brothers under a great stripped marquee during the press launch of Apple's 'Radha Krishna Temple' album in 1969. An old newspaper account of the event reads: "The song starts very simply with one basic chant :

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna,
Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama,
Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

When the members finished Harrison [enjoyed] a typical meal, a combination of very spicy and sweet food washed down with coconut juice...
"George told us this was basically a devotional chant. "While the words don't alter, the tune it's sung to doesn't matter. You could sing it to COMING ROUND THE MOUNTAIN if you wanted. All I've done is shorten it. The actual meaning is not important, although they are various forms of addressing the Lord Sri Krishna. They are more a sort of magical vibration to bring about a spiritual awareness.
"God has many names, and while I've always believed in the existence of God, I never knew what to call Him. This is just another way of attaining spiritual communion... I'm not putting these people forward as being the only right ones in the world. I'm just bringing them to the attention of the public. If they like them, well and good; if not, it's not for me to say they're wrong.
"'Anyway,' he added, 'they aren't allowed to touch stimulants, and though I don't take spirits or wine, I do drink coffee and smoke... This is just another way of reaching God. Each person must decide for himself the way that suits him best.'
"For a final comment on the temple, I asked George what the rest of the Beatles thought of them.
"'Oh, they love them,' he laughed."
Derek Taylor too recalls the auspicious launch of Apple's strangest group: "We had a party organized by the press office in a large, rather wonderful garden down in Sydenham, London, SE25, and a very large crowd attended, devotees, Apple people and the media. I arrived early and was impressed to find a small group of devotees preparing themselves in a warm spacious Victorian Conservatory shaving each other's heads with safety razors and large quantities of lather and hot water."
Several months ago I received a call from Sandeep, the charming, twenty something son of heart specialist, Dr. Moody from suburban Washington. Apart from playing tabla and tamboura in the New Age band, Spiritual Sky, he is also a straight A med student and a dedicated Krishna devotee, as is his entire family.
Sandeep rang to tell me about his recent visit to Friar Park with his soon-to-be-guru, Mukunda Das Goswami. "Just before we drove through the front gates Maharaj warned me not to mention your name. I guess he felt George might be uncomfortable knowing you and I are friends."
"So what did you think of him?" I ventured, blowing off the old party line that I am somehow a terrible person for having written so many books on the Beatles.
"George is a very nice man," he continued. "He was very gracious and personable. We hung around the pool most of the day and then sat down to an amazingly authentic South Indian lunch."
"So, who cooked?" I asked, wondering how such an exotic repast could be materialized in gawky meat pie and potatoes Henley.
"His two ladies," replied Sandeep. And they weren't even Indian."
After lunch everyone sat around Harrison's large dining room table and talked. Out of the blue George looked at Sandeep and asked if he knew Zakir Hussain, the celebrated tabla player who had worked extensively with Harrison in the past.
"You bet," he answered. "He was my tabla teacher for some time."
"That's amazing," said George, "you really remind me of him."
Sandeep remembers there were several exquisite pictures of Krishna around the house noting that in his living room was a limited edition print by Canadian devotee artist, Vishnu Dasa. Called 'The All-Attractive Couple', the large color litho depicts Krishna and his consort, Radharani, in the pastoral forests of Vrindavan surrounded by sacred Tulsi plants and a gently flowing waterfall.
"George was particularly proud of that," remembers Sandeep. "He's definitely a very sincere devotee. He was anxious to hear what was happening in ISKCON, how various projects were going in India, news of the up-coming Srila Prabhupada Centennial and, of course, a good bit of philosophy. He's a very relaxed, open, honest guy. I don't know if he's like that with everybody, but he certainly was with us. He and Mukunda Maharaj are very tight."
Unlike many so-called pop religions that first touched down in the West in the late sixties, Gaudiya Vaishnavaism (Krishna Consciousness) not only pre-dates Christianity by at least three thousand years, but claims over two hundred million adherents worldwide. In spite of the popular right-wing Christian edict that this is some kind of concocted abomination, worship of Sri Krishna is undeniably ancient. Unlike many sentimental, Western religions the philosophy is so exhaustive and intricate a good measure of scholarship is required for even an entry level adherent. Taken to the extreme, Vaishnava Sanskrit texts are the subject of long established courses of study in major universities the world over. All facts well known to Harrison, if not the public at large.
The simple beginnings of the movement with Prabhupada coming to America in 1965 at the advanced age of seventy, alone and penniless to preach what he'd learned from his guru, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakisiddhanta Saravati Thakur, is indeed, touching. And the incredible explosion of Krishna Consciousness in the West unparalleled in religious history. As for Harrison, he was involved almost from the very beginning, first meeting the devotees in 1968 as cookbook author and devotee, Yamuna Devi recalls:
"When we arrived in London we decided the best way to make a splash was to reach the Beatles because they were the luminaries of the time. So we agreed we'd make prasadam apple dishes, and take them to Apple everyday to see if we could catch someone's attention. The prasadam went from the lower floor to the upper floors until everyone tasted some and they all became a little addicted. Eventually, we stopped sending the food and were notified, "Where is this Apple Hare Krishna group?"
"Ultimately we met George and when he realized we were into chanting Hare Krishna he really wanted to hear us. We started having good times at his house and he said, "I want to record this!" The first thing we did was the HARE KRISHNA MANTRA on a single with, I believe, SRI KRISHNA on the flip side. All this led to the larger project, the 'Govindam' album .
"Prabhupada was very happy with our involvement with the Beatles. We ultimately lived at John Lennon's estate for the Summer of 1969 and when Prabhupada finally arrived on September 11th he was very pleased."
Of the now historic sessions little has been written, for this was a time when Harrison, and indeed, all of the Beatles, were so busy working that scant attention was paid to chronicling the particulars of their many solo projects. Harrison, for his part, was so absorbed in what he felt to be his ultimate escape from the rigors of Beatlemania that even session photos were a hastily organized afterthought. He did, however, comment on the recording of the track, THE HARE KRISHNA MANTRA late in 1995.
"First I played the entire song on a pedal harmonium and then played my guitar through a Leslie speaker and had someone beat time with a pair of kartals and Indian drums. The devotees came in later to overdub the 'answering' singing. There were so many of them banging drums and singing it was very difficult to keep any kind of separation so the feeling of the recording is very much 'live'."
Dhananjaya Dasa, the burly, long time, Scottish devotee who had a great deal of association with George in the early days recalls Syamasundar approaching the guitarist for help in relocating the devotees who were busy renovating their new temple on Bury Place, near the British Museum.
"Syamasundar was very eager to have Bury Place turned into a proper temple and so the building became a construction site. He mentioned to George it was very difficult for us to live there because there was so much dust and noise. We had to put in several reinforced metal beams and all kinds of other work had to be done as well. He wondered if George could help us in any way and Harrison said, "I'll speak to John because he just acquired a big property and might be able to put you up." At the time George was living in Esher and didn't have a large house. He knew John's home was much bigger. He hadn't yet moved into Friar Park, otherwise I'm sure he would have invited us to stay with him. Anyway, John agreed. In fact he thought it was a really good idea. Lennon was incredibly favorable. He offered us five acres of land since the estate had seventy-two and he wasn't into farming or anything. When Prabhupada was told he said we should utilize this land for growing all of our vegetables and fruits."
Another devotee, the ever smiling, Tribhuvannatha Dasa, joined the Movement around the same time and remembers Harrison's almost total absorption in the benevolent, broad minded philosophy.

Tribhuvannatha Dasa: The first time I met him was when we went out to Friar Park to visit. He jumped on the back of our little green mini-bus and rode with us up to the house. We went inside and he played harmonium and led a kirtan . That was the very first time the devotees had been to the house as he had only just got it. We had a big kirtan and warmed up the place.

Geoffrey: How much was he into Krishna Consciousness?
Tribhuvannatha Dasa: I felt he was very much into it. We were staying there and a few things were going on. We were repairing the house, but also preparing for Ratha-yatra (Festival of the Chariots). I remember he used to go around chanting his rounds. We never used to disturb him. He seemed to be chanting a lot at the time.

Geoffrey: Was he purely vegetarian?

Tribhuvannatha Dasa: Yeah, definitely, because we used to have all our meals together. That seemed to be the main point of discussion with friends who used to come by. I remember one time Eric Clapton came, as did Peter Sellers. Peter was also very much into the philosophy. I remember one time when he met Prabhupada he did a full pranam on the floor in front of him. I also remember him talking in a silly Indian accent, which offended some of the devotees, but actually made Prabhupada laugh.

Geoffrey: What about Pattie? What was she like?

Tribhuvannatha Dasa: She always seemed very friendly. I used to take them prasadam after the Sunday feast and she generally came to the door. It wasn't like they wanted to stop and talk a long time, but they were always very polite and took the prasadam. One time George actually sent me into London in a Rolls Royce. I needed a lift back so he asked his manager, "Hey, take him with you."

Geoffrey: Was he ever playing his guitar?

Tribhuvannatha Dasa: I went to the studio when he made the record GIVE ME LOVE (GIVE ME PEACE ON EARTH). Ringo was there, I went with Mukunda. George had a bead bag with a small wooden Jagannatha in it. He was really proud. We were talking about chanting. Basically he had us listen to the record, he'd just mixed it, and was talking to Mukunda about chanting and said he had a surprise and pulled out this Jagannatha.

Geoffrey: But he ultimately became disillusioned with Krishna Consciousness, didn't he?

Tribhuvannatha Dasa: You say that, but I recently talked to a devotee that met him only a year ago and he said he seemed really fine.

Dhananjaya, who sometimes accompanied Prabhupada to Friar Park, also remembers George as an eager recipient of the master's unique philosophy.
"I recall we went to George's house once after a program in Reading. When we arrived Syamasundar couldn't find George, but he knew the layout of the house and where we should go to. So we waited for George and it was getting very dark. Anyway, he finally arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers and a big basket of fruit. George never came to see Prabhupada empty handed. He always wanted to bring something so he had been out buying some gifts. He presented these and then paid full pranams to Prabhupada.
"Srila Prabhupada then said, 'The purpose of the human form of life is to leave this world of darkness and go back to the world of light.' As he was saying this the room was getting darker and darker. Prabhupada was always expert in using nature or any situation he'd find himself in to preach. He said, 'This world requires illumination and the only illumination we have is from the sun and moon, so without the sunshine there'd be no life and be no light. And, of course, when the sun sets we need to call upon artificial illumination, electricity, fire. But in the world of light there's no need for any kind of artificiality.' George, of course, very much appreciated his ideas."
When considering Harrison's involvement with Bhakti Yoga most people think back to his so-called 'honeymoon' phase of 1969 and '70. The fact is, his most concentrated involvement may have manifested around the time he went on tour of America with Ravi Shankar in 1974. Photos from that period show George literally covered with embroidered Om signs as well as buttons depicting Krishna, Prabhupada and several other popular spiritual personalities. Certainly all the food backstage was purely vegetarian and George mandated that no drugs or alcohol were to be used in his presence.
Amazingly, on September of 1996 a tape recording of a conversation between Harrison and Prabhupada was found at the bottom of an old cardboard box in North Carolina. Intensely interesting due to the confidential tone of the talk George seems to let loose a torrent of emotion as regards both his sagging homelife and devotional practice.

George Harrison: I seem to keep going around in circles. Maybe it has something to do with me being a Pisces, one fish going this way and one going that way. I have periods where I can't stop chanting and other times where I turn into a demon and forget to chant.

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: You are not a demon, you are demigod! Somehow or other you were attracted to Krishna, so let Him help you.

George: I'm reading the Gita. I read it over and over, just one section again and again.

Srila Prabhupada: All the instructions are there. So, this is your duty now. By the grace of Krishna you are a very great personality. You are a young man, but Krishna has blessed you with such a high position, there are many young men who follow you.

George: In a way, when you really commit yourself to something it's like putting your head on the chopping block. Someone can turn around and chop it off, or you're lucky, and it doesn't get chopped off. I find the more commitment I make, even though it's a small one, I find it provokes bad reactions.

Srila Prabhupada: There is a saying, "If one is foolish and you give him good instruction he will become angry." Has it happened like that?

George: I feel a little animosity from people. In some ways the more committed you are, and the stronger you are in what you do, the stronger the animosity. Sometimes I get the feeling there's one person to whom it means something real and ten it doesn't mean anything to. I'm not sure how it all balances out.

Devotee: If you reach one person it's worth it.

George: But what if you don't reach anyone? If you only reach one person and by reaching that one twenty people are annoyed.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, preaching is very difficult. When one preaches, he must tell the truth. Just like Jesus Christ, people didn't like his preaching but he did not stop. That is another point. In preaching there is always the possibility of creating animosity. By the way, I have heard your new album, 'Living in the Material World' is being appreciated by many people.

George: There is one song in particular which was a direct result of the conversation we had when you came to my home and we talked about fame and fortune.

Srila Prabhupada: People are seeking after something spiritually enlightening. Especially in the Western World, that is a fact. Sometimes though people become angry. We have no reason to make enemies, we are simply teaching love.

George: There is one problem I've found when chanting, I start beginning to relate less and less to the people I know. I suddenly found myself on such a different level where it's really hard to relate. It feels as though I'm at a point where I should slow down or pull back towards those people in order to take them with me. The building up of the mantra and it's effect is so subtle. There's a point where I can't relate to anyone anymore. Maybe you don't have that experience.

Devotee: George is saying that when he chants he becomes spiritualized so it's difficult for him to relate to his business associates.

George: Not even that, my friends, my wife, anybody!

Srila Prabhupada: Your wife is very nice. She's a nice girl.

George: Yes she is, she's an angel.

Srila Prabhupada: Your wife is intersted in Krishna Consciousness, that is a very great advantage.

George: What happens is if I'm not into it too deeply, I'll come down to begin the day and be quite nice and off we go. The periods where I'm so deeply into chanting all the time I'll come down and I'm like Ravana . I'm not smiling, and I'm not particularly happy. It's like there's more urgency involved. Perhaps it's the realization that everybody's wasting their time doing mundane things.

Devotee: But while you were chanting you wrote these beautiful songs and it's proven by everyone purchasing them that they want to hear that.

George: The problem is where to find the balance, because obviously I know where I benefit from doing that. However, I'm benefiting so much that suddenly I'm out on a limb and it's hard to pull those people along with you. There's a point where suddenly I'm not going to know them anymore.

Devotee: George says it's difficult when you become spiritualized by chanting. He feels it's a dangerous position because he will be cut off from his audience, the ordinary people. He's afraid they will not understand him and he will not be able to take them with him to that point.

Srila Prabhupada: Yes, keep your balance. Don't spoil your position. Regarding your talent, it is not ordinary. You are getting money. It is not that you should refuse it. Our policy is not that you don't touch money. Krishna says we should do so many things and money allows one to do so.

George: We've just been making some music in California and one of the songs (it's Ravi Shankar's music) is based on the ten incarnations of Vishnu. It's a beautiful song. But I was wondering why there isn't anything in the lyrics concerning Krishna?

Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is not an incarnation, rather, Krishna is the origin of all incarnations. His incarnations are called "avatar" but He is "avatari". Therefore the song is a prayer to Krishna. It was composed by a great Vaisnava poet.

George: There is one song, it is simple and beautiful. It's in English and only has three lines. "I am missing you, Krishna, where are you? Though I can't see you I hear you flute all the while. Please come wipe my tears and make me smile." It's so sweet I'm sure it's going to be very popular.

Srila Prabhupada: When I entered this room I said, "All glories to George Harrison!" You have given us this center and Krishna will surely give you shelter at his lotus feet. You are very nice and sincere.

George: The Krishna Consciousness Movement is getting so big there's going to be a point where its going to need such fantastic management... At the moment we have Prabhupada who is the figure-head which everyone can draw energy from. Sooner or later though, everybody's going to be out there on their own and carry out what they've learned.

Devotee: We'll always rely on our spiritual master, even if he is no longer with us. We'll always take our strength from him.

George: I must go but I'll be back very quickly.

Srila Prabhupada: You are going alone or is someone going with you?

George: I go alone...Well a little bit of you will be with me!

Srila Prabhupada: My blessings to your wife. Thank you very much for your kindness.

It was during this intense period Harrison produced the two, now classic, 'Shankar Family and Friends' albums. The first featured Indian luminaries Ravi Shankar, Lakshmi Shankar, Kamala Charavarty, L. Subramaniam, Shivkumar Sharma, Fakir Muhammad and Alla Rakha. As for George's Western colleagues the album boasted such seasoned musicians as Ringo Starr, Tom Scott, Klaus Voorman, Emil Richards, Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Paul Beaver , Jim Keltner and Vinny Poncea.
Musically, the beautifully produced, nine track album featured such orthodox Krishna Conscious compositions as JAYA JAGADISH HARE which the charmingly illustrated liner notes refer to as, "An old Sanskrit song extolling the wonder, power and majesty of Vishnu in His ten incarnations, written by the poet Jai Deva of Bengal in the early twelfth century." Freely translated the "lyrics" are about as directly Krishna Conscious as you can get.
"In the form of the Fish (Matsya) you uphold the Vedas in the turbulent sea of destruction,
"O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"As the Tortoise (Kachchapa) you support this vast earth, denting your back,
"O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"In the form of the Boar (Shukara) you balance the earth like the crescent moon on the tip of your tusks, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"In the form of the Lion-Man (Narashigha) you rip open the breast of the Violent One (Hiranyakashipu) with the tip of the nails of your lotus hand, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"In the form of the Dwarf (Vamana) you deceive Bali, and with the sweat of your toenails sanctify the earth, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"Under the name of Parasurama you wash away the sins of the world with the blood of the warrior Kshatriyas, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"Under the name of Rama you destroy the ten-headed Ravana and restore righteousness in the four corners of the earth, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"As Balarama (elder brother of Krishna) you wear a blue robe on your bright blue body and conquer by the power of the plough, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"Appearing as the compassionate Buddha you decry animal sacrifice in Vedic rituals, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!
"In the form of the terrifying Comet (Dhumketu) you appear as Kalki with sword drawn to destroy the Aliens, O Keshava, Lord of the World! All victory to Thee!"
The remaining tracks too all speak directly of Krishna. One suspects that perhaps here was George's outlet for the new world of ideas he was experiencing through his practice. Interestingly, there was a single issued from the only marginally successful album, I AM MISSING YOU (KRISHNA WHERE ARE YOU). With vocals from the prolific Lakshmi Shankar the transcendental song speaks of the constant search of the devotee for association with his eternal object of devotion. An idea apparently, Srila Prabhupada enthusiastically embraced as ISKCON cinematographer Yadubar Dasa remembers.
"I was with Prabhupada in 1973 when George came to his room at Bhaktivedanta Manor. He had a tape he wanted to play Prabhupada, it was a song called, I AM MISSING YOU (KRISHNA WHERE ARE YOU). Not many devotees have heard that, it's a very nice melody with nice words. Prabhupada really appreciated it, he said, "Yes, this is the proper mood, looking always for Krishna." He was tapping his foot as he listened. He and George had a very nice relationship. They'd be alone in Prabhupada's room together telling stories and laughing. They had a very nice relationship."
The second album, 'Ravi Shankar's Musical Festival From India', features the cream of India's rich musical heritage and included many obscure, but beautiful instruments such as the Jal Tarang, Pakhawaj, Nakkara, Damaru, Khanjira, Ektara, Santour, Sarangi, Vichitra Veena and Shahnai. Here, however, the emphasis was more on India's musical culture rather than the strictly devotional piece the first album was. Still, there were various tracks in praise of Krishna including VANDANA and another called simply, BHAJAN.
When I interviewed Harrison back in 1983 I encouraged him to continue the series with yet more releases, but he only shook his head and commented it was too difficult to get the record companies behind them and thus, at least commercially, they were something of a waste of time.
As recently as mid-March of 1996 Harrison apparently found new inspiration for working with the now seventy-something master when it was announced he would soon be traveling to India to produce his mentor's latest record.
"The next Ravi record is for Angel," commented George, and it's going to be some spiritual music with Vedic chants. Angel [Records] did those big 'Chant' records with the monks, of course, but those monks chanting always remind me too much of being a Catholic. That stuff is spooky, I think, whereas the Indian stuff is going to be warm and sweet."
In early April of 1996 Harrison took a leap of faith by blowing his cover as a self-described, "Closet Krishna devotee," by going on a pilgrimage of all of the Vaishnava holy places in India accompanied by Mukunda and Syamasudara. While there, the beleaguered Beatle passed through Delhi and then braved the rigors of the accident strewn Aggra Road heading off for Vrindavan, some two and a half hours journey.
Checking into the exclusive Pritu Ashram, run by German heavy weight Pritu Dasa, he then faithfully performed Parikrama (or devotional circumambulation) of the holy places including the site of Radha and Krishna's rasa dance; the sacred Yamuna River; Srila Prabhupada's private quarters at the ancient Radha Damodar Temple, dead center in the heart of Seva Kund, considered the "spiritual hub of the universe" by devotees. Entering the modest stone courtyard of the temple George respectively took off his shoes only to have them stolen by one of the hoards of Vrindavan's bandit monkeys who lay in wait on rooftops and trees for unsuspecting pilgrims to set down a pair of sunglasses, a camera, or some other valuable which they then, remarkably, hold for ransom until they are paid an acceptable bribe by the unlucky victim. In Harrison's case he offered the dacoite, a bottle of Bisleri mineral water which was duly accepted and the shoes dropped unceremoniously onto the cobblestones below.
"There's no way he's going to be able to get that cap off for a drink," George joked.
"Don't be so sure," said Mukunda, "some of these monkeys in Vrindavan were great yogis in their last life."
Meanwhile, back at Pritu's Harrison and Co were attempting to get in a little sun bathing when they were interrupted by a local devotee/paparazzi named Angelo Dinoto, who positing himself on a neighboring rooftop, focussed his telephoto lens and was ready to shoot. That is, until the no-nonsense Pritu launched a brick in his direction, thus dampening Angelo's enthusiasm considerably.
For those interested in every possible bit of trivia regarding the former Beatle, I myself traveled around India in the company of a Bengali boy named Sandeep (not the tabla playing doctor's son) who shared the distinction of cooking for George along with a friend, Atul, while in Vrindavan.
"He really liked my chow mein," Sandeep told me. "He was very strict as well, making sure there were no onions or garlic used, which Vaishnavas don't take. He had very long hair and was surprisingly young looking. As far as his devotion is concerned, he wore tulsi beads around his neck, tilak on his forehead and quietly chanted on his mala beads. To be honest, nobody in India really knows who he is so he was just like any other Western devotee, which seemed to suit him just fine. He led a couple of kirtans at our Krishna Balaram Temple, which is a little unusual for guests. He was just a very nice guy. I remember him taking the time to tell me how much he liked my cooking, thanking me for my help and inquiring where I was from and if I had ever been abroad. All things considered, he was consistently unremarkable and natural."
In July of 1996 I happened to run into Pritu at ISKCON's annual Rathyatra Festival in New York. Although we had never met, he was happy to show me a large handful of photographs he had taken of George while staying at his place in Vrindavan. Here was Harrison resplendant in a white yogi suit complete with neckbeads, tilak and very long, shoulder length hair. Posing in front of the stone arches of the building was George with his arm around Pritu's young son, joking with Mukunda and Symasundar and, of course, Pritu himself. Most revealing, however, was a shot of George prostrating before the ashram's modest deities of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda. Not something the casual tourist would most likely consider! I asked the German devotee if it would be possible to get a few prints, but he immediately shot back that Harrison was very specific that absolutely no one should be given copies. Interesting too, was the fact that George himself took literally dozens of photos.
In talking, Pritu told me the reason George came to India alone was that neither his wife nor son especially liked the country. Certainly, when compared to the baronial lifestyle of Friar Park India is certainly vastly more modest. Still, it is more likely the gulf between George and his wife has more to do with philosophical differences than mere creature comforts. As a matter of fact, when Pritu presented Harrison with a vegetarian cookbook for Olivia George responded that it was he who would be using it, as he generally cooked for himself. Finally, Pritu informed me that George was so inspired by his sacred trek to the land of Krishna that upon returning home he indicated he would be penning several new songs in praise of the Dark Lord. Let's see.
These days, of course, George has forsaken most of the external signs of his interest in Krishnaism. But that by no means should lead anyone to believe he is not intensely serious about the process. As much as his fame, fortune and overwhelming talent are a blessing they're also a profound curse leading him to associate with a lot of dirt bag rock'n'rollers and other exclusively worldly minded types. By the same token, many devotees are a little too orthodox and aggressive for Harrison, who by nature, is a very laid back, introspective type. All of which leaves him sitting precisely in the middle of two very different worlds. His wife, apparently, has little interest in these matters although externally she espouses a passing allegiance to the tubby, Guru Maharaji as well as New Age Christianity. A fact which makes it difficult for George's so-called Bhakti creeper to flourish uninterrupted. Even his dear friend Ravi Shankar is now a very old man, physically frail and otherwise preoccupied by his recent young bride. As a matter of fact, with the exception of Mukunda, who visits him regularly, George is pretty much on his own as far as his inner life is concerned.
So what then does the future hold for Harrison? Were he to follow the strictest dictates of Vaishnavaism he would gradually remove himself from all worldly affairs (including family, friends and business) eventually forsaking everything to absorb himself fully in the fire of Krishna Consciousness. This, the most radical form of devotion called sannyasa, calls for absolutely no contact with one's previous associates, strict adherence to all rules and regulations and constant travel every three days to avoid attachment to any one place.
Will George ever actually reach this highest level of his chosen path? The idea is that by so doing, one quickly finishes up his business in this material world, extinguishes his karma and finally and forever travels back to Godhead where one enjoys eternally as an intimate associate of the Lord. Failing this, one is bound to return to this world, yet again, to further transverse the uncertain and rocky road of repeated birth and death (samsara).
If, in the end Harrison chooses to play out the remaining moments of his life as the grumbling laird of Friar Park, knocking around the place worrying about crab grass and crumbling mortar then so be it. Even if he totally turns his back on his glorious history as the world's first spiritually minded rock star there is no loss. Harrison, like all of us, will get as many new chances as required to finally embrace the shining ocean of truth that washes over everything, challenging, transforming and purifying everything in its path. As it has always been.