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Subject: Words From George Harrison

Everybody is looking for Krishna.

Some don't realize that they are, but they are.

Krishna is God, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be.

As God is unlimited He has many Names.

Allah-Buddha-Jehova-Rama: All are Krishna, all are one.

God is not abstract; He has both the impersonal and the personal aspects to His personality which is Supreme, Eternal, Blissful, and full of Knowledge. As a single drop of water has the same qualities as an ocean of water, so has our consciousness the qualities of God's consciousness... but through our identification and attachment with material energy (physical body, sense pleasures, material possessions, ego, etc.) our true Transcendental Consciousness has been polluted, and like a dirty mirror it is unable to reflet a pure image.

With many lives our association with the temporary has grown. This impermanent body, a bag of bones and flesh, is mistaken for our true self, and we have accepted this temporary condition to be final.

Through all ages, great Saints have remained as living proof that this non-temporary, permanent state of God Conciousness can be revived in all living Souls. Each soul is potentially divine. Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita: "Steady in the Self, being freed from all material contamination, the yogi achieves the highest perfetional stage of happiness in touch with the Supreme Consciousness." (VI,28)
Yoga (a scientific method for God (Self) realization) is the process by which we puirify our consciousness, stop further pollution, and arrive at the state of Perfection, full Knowledge, full Bliss.

If there's a God, I want to see Him. It's pointless to believe in something without proof, and Krishna Consciousness and meditation are methods where you can actually obtain God preception. You can actually see God, and Hear Him, play with Him. It might sound crazy, but He is actually there, actually with you.

There are many yogic Paths - Raja, Jnana, Hatha, Kriya, Karma, Bhakti - which are all acclaimed by the Masters of each method. Swami Bhaktivedanta is as his title says, a Bhakti Yogi following the path of Devotion. By serving God through each thought, word, and deed, and by chanting His Holy Names, the devotee quickly develops God-consciousness. By chanting

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

...one inevitably arrives at Krishna Consciousness. (The proof of the pudding is in the eating!)

I request that you take advantage of this book Krsna (http://www.krsnabook.com), and enter into its understanding. I also request that you make an appointment to meet your God now, through the self liberating process of Yoga (union) and give peace a chance.

Signed George Harrison, 31/3/1970
See original signature at:
http://www.acbspn.com/share/georgesig.gif

http://www.krsnabook.com/george/

GEORGE HARRISON might have been part of the world's most famous pop group, but he made up for the over-exposure of his early years by fiercely protecting his private life in the post-Beatles period.

Harrison found solace in Hare Krishna
He often said that he did not seek fame or riches, and it was the pursuit of his own space - and something more - which led to his interest in Far Eastern religion.

For much of his life Harrison has been a devotee of Hare Krishna - an interest which was emphasised last year at the trial of Michael Abram, when it emerged that the star had shouted a mantra at his attacker.

The ex-Beatle told the trial: "[Abram] stopped in the centre of the kitchen and started shouting and screaming. I made a decision to shout back at him. I shouted at him `Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna'."

His attacker was indeed confused - so much so that he thought the musician was speaking "in the devil's tongue", and redoubled his assault.

For Krishna followers, the chant is a core principle of their beliefs.

The mantra is supposed to cleanse the mind and free devotees from their anxiety and illusions in their worship of Krishna, the supreme being.

Harrison himself said he chanted Hare Krishna continuously for 23 hours while driving from France to Portugal.

"It gets you feeling a bit invincible," he said of his mammoth chanting session.

He once claimed the mantra had saved him as he took a nightmare plane journey during an electrical storm.

In the Beatles Anthology, Harrison reflected on his search for religion saying: "When you've had all the experiences - met all the famous people, made some money, toured the world and got all the acclaim - you still think `is that it?'.

"Some people might be satisfied with that, but I wasn't and I'm still not."

He developed an interest in India after meeting the renowned musician Ravi Shankar, reputedly at a party hosted by actor Peter Sellers. Harrison told Shankar he wanted to learn to play the sitar. He was invited to India to study the instrument, and agreed to stay for six weeks.

He and his then wife, Patti Boyd, flew to Bombay and checked into the Taj Mahal hotel under a false name, after he had, on Shankar's advice, cut his hair and grown a moustache.

During his stay, during which he visited Kashmir and Varanasi, he learned basic sitar techniques and met the master musician's disciples. His studies and the country had a deep effect on his music and his beliefs.

Boyd also became fascinated and attended a lecture on spiritual regeneration in London.

She later convinced Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Lennon to attend a 1967 appearance by spiritual guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at the Park Lane Hilton.

The band subsequently had a private audience at which he invited them to a ten-day course on his Transcendental Meditation technique in Bangor, north Wales, and also for a three-month stint at his ashram in Rishikesh, India.

But the Maharishi's relationship as their spiritual guru was short-lived. After allegations about his conduct, the group left the ashram.

Shortly afterwards, Harrison developed an interest in the Krishna movement. He met its founder, A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, when he became a house guest of the Lennons in 1969.

Harrison once reflected: "I always felt at home with Krishna. You see it was already a part of me. I think it's something that's been with me from my previous birth."

He showed his devotion to the sect on his post-Beatles hit My Sweet Lord, in which parts of the mantra are repeated.

Shankar's friendship with Harrison led to the pair working together on their fund-raising extravaganza The Concert For Bangla Desh.

The idea was to raise cash to ease the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the east of the Indian sub-continent, where a military crackdown had been ordered in East Pakistan, causing 10 million refugees to spill over the border.

Harrison convinced Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan to perform at the show, in Madison Square Gardens, New York.

The event, on August 1, 1971, raised 243,418 dollars for the United Nations Children's Fund to help youngsters in Bangladesh.
(Text PAMHO:4939353) ---------------------------------------

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Founder-Acarya of the Hare Krishna Movement
By the grace of Krsna, you have already realized to some extent about the necessity and importance of Hare Krsna movement in the world. Similarly, if John also does so, it will be a great event. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (11-30-01)

Los Angeles, 16 February, 1970
Sriman George Harrison
c.o Apple Record Co.
London
England

My Dear George,

Please accept my blessings. I am so much obliged to you for your valued cooperation in spreading my movement of Krsna Consciousness throughout the whole world. I beg to acknowledge receipt herewith of your contribution of $19,000 (nineteen thousand dollars) for publication of my book, Krsna, now going to the press within the week.

Please note that every farthing of this money will be employed in the service of the Lord, and the Lord is so kind and grateful that He will bestow upon you benediction at least ten times more than that you have done for Him. It does not, however, mean that Lord Krsna is like a business man, and He bestows benediction when He is profited by our service. The Lord is full in Himself; He does not require our service, but if we render service unto Him in love and devotion, such action enriches our very existence.

The example in this connection is given that when a man decorates his face, he does not feel much enjoyment because he cannot see his own face. But he enjoys his beautiful face when it is reflected on the mirror. In other words, when a living entity, by rendering service to the Lord, feels happy, the Lord enjoys the situation.

Under the pressure of illusory energy, especially in the age of "Kali," all the people of the world are unhappy; but I am sure if they take to this simple chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
under the guidance of Lord Caitanya, certainly they will be happy.

I know that both you and John are very good souls. Both of you are pledged to do something for the peace of the world. By the grace of Krsna, you have already realized to some extent about the necessity and importance of Hare Krsna movement in the world. Similarly, if John also does so, it will be a great event.

John and his wife were very kind upon me when I was staying at Tittenhurst Park as their guests. I always prayed for them to Krsna for understanding this great movement. Please inform him this message on my behalf. I have dreamt something very nice about John which I shall disclose in proper time. In the meantime, please ask him to cooperate with this movement as you are doing, and he will be very happy.

Please try to understand the philosophy of Krsna Consciousness in a nutshell: Every living entity has a dormant propensity to love somebody other who is very excellent in his opinion. Everyone of us therefore wants to love somebody else, attracted by his different varieties of opulences. Somebody loves some other either on account of riches, power, popularity, beauty, knowledge, or renunciation. But this loving propensity for somebody else is fundamentally meant for the supremely rich, powerful, popular, beautiful, wise, and unattached Lord Krsna.

Everyone is hankering after loving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but none of them has the right information. By Krsna Consciousness movement we want to broadcast this information that if anyone reposes his loving propensity upon Krsna, he will immediately feel full satisfaction, as much as he feels full satisfaction by supplying food in the stomach. Otherwise, everyone will be frustrated.

Please try to understand this simple philosophy by critical analysis, and I hope by the grace of Krsna you will be a great servant of His in fulfilling His desire that He may be known by His Holy Name in every village and every city all over the world, and thus the people will become happy.
Hope this will meet you in good health and shall be very much pleased to hear from you.

Your ever well-wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
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