(George Harrison on tour, 1974)
David Lawrence: It was tremendous. In fact, one boy we found listening to the George Harrison record. You can tell George this if you like. He was listening to the record quietly in the music room that we have at our school with the big speakers, you know. Lots of noise. And he was reading these words. And he put the words down. And I was watching him...
Prabhupāda: "I am in material world."
Prabhupāda: That is a very nice song.
David Lawrence: And he sat there, and he was praying. And I didn't interfere. And he came out of the room after having turned the record player off. I said, "Well, you know, what were you doing in there?" And he said, "This, this record has been a complete experience to me." And that, if George could know that... It was tremendous, really tremendous to see this happening. George's record is so devotional, you know. It's really beautiful.
Prabhupāda: I talked with him about this material world in his house... When?
Devotee: Oh, it was last August, I think. Or July.
Prabhupāda: Last... I went to his house at Henley on the Thames.
David Lawrence: Henley on Thames.
Prabhupāda: He's a nice boy, very nice boy. His wife is also very nice. Patty?
David Lawrence: Patty, yes.
Prabhupāda: She's also devotee.
David Lawrence: Pass that on, please, to George. He should be very excited, I think, about that. This is very good. I'd like to thank you very much for giving of your time.
Prabhupāda: You are welcome because you are sincere student searching after... I am prepared to help you any time.
(break)
Prabhupāda: Asati mā sad gama. The Vedic injunction is, "Don't stick to this asat (temporary). Try to come to the sat, eternal." Tamasi mā jyotir gama. These are the... "Don't remain in the darkness. Come to the light."
David Lawrence: That was one track on George's record which really, really got through to our boys, I think. "Light, is it? Light of the World."
Devotee: "Light, there is, Light of the World."
David Lawrence: Really...
Prabhupāda: So his record has become very successful.
Devotee: Number one everywhere. In America.
Prabhupāda: Now, even they are appreciating.
David Lawrence: Very successful even with one boy, you see. That's success, isn't it?
Prabhupāda: Yes, yes.
Devotee: He likes to hear it.
Prabhupāda: "I am in material world."
Devotee: We get letters from all over the world addressed to George Harrison care of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Temple London. (laughter) From Poland, from behind the Iron Curtain even. Russia, China, every place, they send.
Prabhupāda: And he has mentioned my Bhagavad-gītā in my name also.
David Lawrence: Yes.
Prabhupāda: In the in...? What is that?
Devotee: In the insert, in the record insert.
David Lawrence: Yes. In fact, when they picked up my copy of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, which was on my desk, two or three boys immediately said, "Ah, that's on the George Harrison L.P."
Prabhupāda: He has very intelligently connected.
David Lawrence: Yes, yes. It was there.
Prabhupāda: This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement with his...
Devotee: He doesn't want to do it overtly because they will think he is crazy. So he's doing gradually.
David Lawrence: Very gradually.
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupāda: And what is that song, "I am not the same..."?
Devotee: Something. "I'm not the same..."
Prabhupāda: "I have changed."
David Lawrence: Oh yes. "I've changed."
Devotee: "Somehow I'm..."
David Lawrence: "Somehow I've changed."
Devotee: Yes. "My friends all criticize me for the change, but I don't care."
Prabhupāda: But he's not loser. He's gainer. (laughter) He's gainer. That he can understand. And he's determined. He says, "Even if I am loser, I don't mind."
David Lawrence: If commercial success went, he wouldn't worry.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
David Lawrence: Well, I mean these sort of riches is just unfathomable, aren't they?
Prabhupāda: Hm.
(Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, London, July 12, 1973)
Devotee: George is also again smoking and drinking.
Prabhupada: Ācchā?
Devotee: Because he always has to keep that kind of company in order to produce his records.
Prabhupada: No, no, he is very nice boy. I have studied. Very good boy, George. He showed me in Bombay. He came to see me in Bombay.
Devotee: Just recently?
Prabhupada: No, last year.
Devotee: Two years ago.
Prabhupada: He is keeping Jagannātha within his beadbag and chanting.
Devotee: Just before I came to India, Mukunda met him for about two hours. He said he was very friendly, and he would arrange a ninety-nine-year lease for us and give us the right to the...
Prabhupada: No, he's always good boy.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, Sanand, December 25, 1975)
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