Official Release regarding George Harrison

[Guest guest]

Dear Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

Please find attached and below an official release that may help to clear up

some misinformation that has been distributed by the media. This was sent

world wide thru media outlets today.

 

Your servant, Anuttama dasa

 

 

STATEMENT

December 6, 2001

For Immediate Release

Contact: Anuttama Dasa

 

STATEMENT FROM THE HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT

REGARDING THE DEATH OF GEORGE HARRISON

 

"We are most disappointed in several untrue statements published in the

media about our dear friend, the late George Harrison. Many of these have

been unsubstantiated, unauthorized and disrespectful to George's family and

closest friends," said Ramai Swami, the chairperson of the Krishna

Movement's Governing Body Commission.

 

"It is wonderful the way people have stepped forward to express their

appreciation for the spiritual consciousness that George Harrison helped

spread. Now, at this particularly sensitive time, let us also be respectful

of his memory and not report inaccuracies. I do not know of any of his

estate being bequeathed to the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness, nor did Hare Krishna devotees perform the last rites for

George, nor have Hare Krishna devotees been involved in any distribution of

ashes," Ramai Swami said.

 

"As former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney requested, we ask that any reporting

about George Harrison's passing be sensitive to George's family and their

wishes. The love and appreciation the world feels for George should now

manifest by respecting his family's need for privacy and peace in this time

of great bereavement," he added.

 

Any questions regarding George and the Hare Krishnas should be directed to

the ISKCON International Director of Communications, Anuttama Dasa, or

Varshana Dasi at the Movement's UK headquarters.

 

PRESS RELEASE

December 6, 2001

For Immediate Release

Contact: Anuttama Dasa

 

HARE KRISHNA MOVEMENT

MOURNS DEATH OF GEORGE HARRISON

 

"The quiet Beatle" wrote songs in praise of Krishna over last thirty years.

 

 

Washington, D.C. -- Hare Krishna communities around the world observed

memorial services over the weekend for George Harrison, the former Beatle

whose personal spiritual search and devotionally inspired rock music helped

to introduce millions of young people to Indian spirituality.

 

"George Harrison has probably done more that any single popular cultural

figure during these past few decades to spread spiritual consciousness

around the world," said Shyamasundar Dasa, a Krishna devotee and personal

friend who was with Harrison in Los Angeles during his last few days.

 

A long time friend of the Hare Krishnas, George was inspired to do his part

to spread spiritual consciousness. His 1970 song, "My Sweet Lord" introduced

millions to the Hare Krishna mantra, which he gently interspersed between

choruses of the Biblical praise Hallelujah.

 

"Hare Krishna has a mystical side to it," Harrison said in a 1982 interview

published in the book, Chant and Be Happy. "It's more than glorifying God.

It's asking to become His servant."

 

Harrison first met His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the

founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

(ISKCON) in 1969, in England. They developed a close and affectionate

relationship and their association influenced George's music and

spirituality. In the same 1982 interview, Harrison said that his song, "The

Lord Loves the One that Loves the Lord," from the Living in the Material

World Album, was written about Srila Prabhupada.

 

Harrison also made significant contributions to support Prabhupada's work.

In 1969, he financed the first hard bound printing of the "Krishna Book," an

English translation by Srila Prabhupada of the Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth

Canto, that describes Lord Krishna's lila, or pastimes on earth 5,000 years

ago. In 1973, Harrison donated Bhaktivedanta Manor, a 17-acre estate outside

of London, to the Krishna society. The Manor has since become one of the

most

important Hindu shrines in Europe.

 

"When George gave us the Manor, he gave us more than a few buildings," said

Varshana Devi Dasi, ISKCON's UK spokesperson. "He provided a facility for

many thousands of people to come for spiritual instruction and to worship

God. Each year, over 15,000 British public school students visit the Manor

to learn about Vaishnava Hinduism," she said.

 

For many individual Krishna devotees, the music and lyrics of George

Harrison opened the door to a spiritual experience, and the monotheistic

philosophy of Vaishnava Hinduism.

"I remember looking at the picture of Krishna and Arjuna on the cover of the

"Living in the Material World" album, and wondering who are these divine

beings?" said Bhaktimarga Swami, of ISKCON Toronto. "That led me to Krishna

devotees, and for that I am eternally grateful to George."

 

"He was an inspirational figure for many of our generation," said Anuttama

Dasa, ISKCON Communications Director. "Knowing that a Beatle was saying

publicly that fame and money do not bring happiness gave my search into

eastern mysticism more validity," he said.

 

Weekend services at ISKCON temples included readings about Harrison's

meetings with Prabhupada and excerpts from his lyrics glorifying Lord

Krishna. Many temples put aside their traditional bhajans for the day to

listen to George's rock renditions of the Hare Krishna mantra and other

devotional songs.

 

"If you open up your heart

You will know what I mean

We've been polluted so long

But here's a way for you to get clean

By chanting the names of the Lord and you'll be free

The Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see"

 

--"Awaiting On You All"

from the album All Things Must Pass

 

 

 

 

# # #

 

 

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) belongs to the

Gaudiya-Vaishnava sampradaya, or denomination, a monotheistic tradition

within Vedic, or Hindu, culture. Better known as the Hare Krishna

movement, ISKCON was founded as an international religious society in 1966,

by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who spread the

tradition of devotion to Lord Krishna around the world.