Memories Of My Sweet George

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Memories Of My Sweet George

FROM HINDUSTANTIMES.COM

USA, Dec 10 (VNN) — by Mukunda Goswami

George Harrison, a very dear friend and one of the four Beatles,

was one of the few musical stars to fully embrace the principles

of transmigration of the soul, karma and many other elements of

Indian philosophy.

I first met George in 1968 and he immediately remembered the

letter that I had written to him before we actually met regarding

the 300 copies of the Hare Krishna mantra records, made by

Srila Prabhupada in 1966, that the Beatles had ordered. We

struck off instantly.

He was so humble despite being part of the world's most

popular musical group. What endeared me to him was his

spiritual commitment. George has probably done more than any

single popular cultural figure in history to spread Indian culture

around the world. He became a dear friend of India.

His friendships with Ravi Shankar, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and

the Hare Krishna Movement's founder Bhaktivedanta Swami

became part of his lifelong quest to improve the quality of his life

on earth.

In fact, some of his songs, All things must pass, The Lord loves

the one who loves the Lord, Living in the material world, The art

of dying, Here comes the sun, contain the essence of Vedic

knowledge in their lyrics. He included the Hare Krishna mantra

in his hit record, My Sweet Lord, a song that sold millions of

copies and was one of the largest selling records of all time.

Thanks in large part to George's music the Hare Krishna mantra

became known in every part of the world. I was a professional

musician from 1960-66 and so enjoyed discussing music with

him and even exchanged records. George believed in the

transmigration of the soul. He saw death not as the end, but ÿas

the same old mob going round and round and round.> His

perceptions of a state of being beyond and higher than ordinary

consciousness entered into his songs and altered millions of

lives. Many times George said, ÿEverything else can wait, but the

search for God cannot wait, nor can love for one another.> He

was first treated for lung cancer in the late '90s. He had sounds

of mantras playing all the time. I met him several times, and his

mood was one of thanks that devotees were with him in his last

days. I remember the time he visited Vrindavana in April, 1997.

He made a parikrama and stayed with me there in the house of

friend for about ten days. He toured Vrindavana several times

and was very inspired by the ISKCON Krishna-Balarama temple

and Srila Prabhupada's samadhi there.

-- The writer is emeritus member of the ISKCON Governing Body

Commission and was with George Harrison during his last

moments, chanting quietly.