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EDITORIAL  I Want To Shave My Head BY MADHAVANANDAÊDAS EDITORIAL, Sep 15 (VNN) — "Srila Prabhupada, I want to shave my head and recieve a spiritual name like the rest of your disciples" George Harrison requested. This was after Nanda Kumar Prabhu was astounded to see the high degree of affection that Srila Prabhupada had just displayed for George as he looked in on their conversation together. (George, being naturally humble kept his distance and Prabhupada kept telling him to come closer until he convinced him to come and sit next to him whereupon he grabbed him, held his head to his chest, and ruffed up his "Beatle" haircut. (From Memories Of Srila Prabhupada Videos by Siddhanta das. We should all be so fortunate to have such love from Srila Prabhupada. "No, I want you to keep your hair and the name George Harrison and sing Krishna Conscious songs, is Ravi here?". "Yes". "Bring him with you tommorro and I will teach you". Soon thereafter George produced "Living In The Material World" and all proceeds of the sale of that album went to the 'Material World Charity Trust', the legal entity that purchased 'Bhaktivedanta Manor' for Prabhupada, the 55 room English Tudor Mansion and large acreage estate in Hertfordshire, UK 1973. If one studies the body of work of George Harrison one will find Krishna Consciousness throughout his songs. Listen to them all carefully, your love for Sri Krishna, His part parcel living entities, & his creation will grow. Like the six goswami's, George was respected by everyone, the gentle and the ruffians. He was the perfect musician and songwriter. Srila Prabhupada declared at the time of his departure; "He was my Archangel". More of George's close disciplic relationship with "the Swamiji" is revealed by Shyamasundar Prabhu, who is Prabhupada's longest standing personal secretary, in Memories Of Srila Prabhupada videos. George never required recognition in the material way others do. He was always content to find his pleasure from within, as Sri Krishna advises: "The yogi whose mind dwells on Me within, and sees me everywhere, obtains complete satisfaction and fulfillment from within." (Srimad Bhagavad-Gita). Also Srila Visvanatha Chakravarti Thakur, an important Acharya in our Guru Varga (line of disciplic succession), explains the neccessity of satisfying, under all circumstances, the desire of the spiritual master; as the ESSENCE of perfection in the disciple. "Yasya prasdad Bhagavat prasado, yasya a-prasadad.. na gatir kuto pi"... : "How can one achieve the goal if he does not please Sri Guru, the spiritual master? There's no question of obtaining the highest goal. Yet simply by satisfying Sri Guru and recieving his favor one automatically pleases the Supreme Lord in the highest realm of the spiritual kingdom". (Sri Guruvastakam/Eight Prayers In Glorification Of The Eternal Spiritual Master) Sriman George Harrison Prabhu performed such invaluable service to Sri Gurudeva in a multitude of ways. His transcendental songs completely pleased him. Brahmananda told us in 1970 that when Prabhupada first heard "Govindam, adi purusham..." sung by Yamuna devi, that was produced and promoted by George, that he sat in deep meditation listening, and as they began to play it, just when the Karatals begin in the second section he heard a deep moan of happiness and ecstatic love that Srila Prabhpada could not hold back. We all know that for the next 8 years he wanted that recording played as he had darshan of Their Lordships in whatever Temple he was in. For me, he was my Vartma Pradaksha Guru (one who introduces you to Sat Guru), since it was he who concieved of and produced the 45 rpm "Hare Krishna Maha Mantra" record in the summer of 1969. He powerfully fullfilled the desire of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to spread K.C. throughout the world. In England and Europe the music was #1 and when it reached the radio stations in the USA myself and countless others experienced a pivital moment. Almost as if we were waiting to hear it, I remember the excitement; "what's that!! Turn it up! Shh! Listen to that (as the maha-mantra was broadcast worldwide for the first time. Something inside the faithful listeners awoke. Prabhupada and his students (disciple George included) had mercifully introduced millions to The Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu whose plenary portion is The Lord In The Heart. Disciple George made it happen. It was not an accident that George was a great devotee in a great position to greatly affect the masses. He was just humble like Srila Prabhupada and therefore he didn't require the adulation the whole world craves. This humility and ability to resist the temptation to find faults with others is rarely achieved and perfectly exhibited by the Six Goswamis Of Vrindabana, and is emphasized by the Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in His eight written instructions; Sri Sikshastakam: Above all other instructions "Wear this verse around your neck"; the Lord said. "Trinad api sunicena, taror iva sahisnuna, amani-Na, mana-Dena, Kirtanya Sada Hari" One can always hear, vibrate, and spread the Holy Names of the Lord by keeping himself in a humble state of mind, seeking No agrandisement for himself whatsoever, and always offering all respect to others." George Harrison was at the pinnacle of musical artistry and yet everyone who knew him says the same thing. He was never conceited. He was always humble, respectfull, and soft spoken. He never had an 'air' about him. When Crissy Hynes of the Pretenders introduced him at the awards show she finished the introduction by saying: "and here he is... "Mr. Hare Krishna". She's the only rock star today wearing neckbeads. Everyone knew he was a Sat devotee of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. Afterwards she says that George said to her; "Thank you for kindly associating me with Lord Sri Krishna". When Tom Petty sang with his group in concert in the US before leaving to play at 'The 'Concert For George', in England, just before performing George's excellent song; "Isn't It A Pity", he said; "I know he's looking down on us all right now, the world's a better place because he was here". George's last wish before departing this world was that we would "Be good to each other." How right on. So similar to Prabhupada's instruction: "Your love for me will be evidenced by how much you cooperate with each other". A vaishnava is endowed with good character qualities, this is the standard of judgement, not the outward dress. Although his musical expertise was every much a part of the creative genious behind the Beatles success, he didn't fuss when the press, public and band members declared the songs were written by Lennon and McCartney. He was a giver, a healer, a center of influence so powerful yet uninterested, as I've already said, in recognition from the material realm. Almost everytime George Martin; sometimes referred to as 'the 5th Beatle', is asked if he has any regrets at all with his work, he says; "I regret not giving George more credit, time and song space. As I look back that was the one mistake I made". When someone is unassuming, it's easy for a loud person to be heard over him, but for that reason alone we need to promote those very persons and allow them to be heard. They are our leaders. They are the brahmins, forever dear to the Lord. The world is full of loud "Me Me Important Great Best" people, and it's the cause of the world going in the wrong direction. George Harrison was indeed my God-brother, just as valid and important as others like Vishnujana Swami, another Devotional-Music Genious and powerful general of Lord Gauranga's army. Let's remember that Lord Chaitanya's Movement is The Movement Of The Congregational Chanting (to make melodious sounds with the voice) Of The Holy Names Of The Lord. To think that he wasn't in complete knowledge, initiated, or advanced, is not right. Sri "One should never be irreverant to those who are spreading the glories of the Holy Names throughout the world". Bhakti-Rasamrita Sindhu by Srila Rupa Goswami, the chief disciple of Lord Chaitanya. I don't know if Kulashekar mentioned this in his article More Than My Disciple, but he told me that after the album containg the song HERE COMES THE SUN, (written by George) came out, he was speaking with him and George asked him; "Did you hear the song 'Here Comes The Sun'??" "Yeh, it's great!" "You know it's about you guys don't you?" 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