George Harrison & Srila Prabhupada
Bhaktivedanta Manor, August 22, 1973
George: There is one sort of problem in a way, that I found when chanting all the time, and that was that I start being able to relate less and less to all the people I know. I mean then it’s, there’s only times when I see people like Çyämasundara or just a few people. Then, that’s okay, but most of the other people... I suddenly found myself on such a different level that it’s hard to relate and then it's like it feels as though it’s a point where I have a decision of either slowing down and pulling back towards those people in order to try and pull them with me, or maybe if, because I’m not ready to go, or just cutting the thing off and just going completely. You know what I mean? Just in day to day things. The more and more, the buildup...
Prabhupäda: Material management.
George: But the buildup of the mantra and the effect is so subtle in a way that there’s that point where I just can’t relate any more to anybody. Maybe you don’t have that experience.
Çyämasundara: He says that when he chants he becomes spiritualized so that it’s difficult to relate with his business associates, colleagues.
George: But not even that, to my friends, even to my wife. I mean to anybody. You know, it’s...
Çyämasundara: And it’s sometimes difficult to see...
Prabhupäda: But your wife is very favorable. She is nice girl.
George: Yes, she’s an angel. In a way she is okay.
Prabhupäda: If wife is favorable then that is a great advantage.
George: But you see what happens is, this is also what Terry was saying yesterday, is that... You know, like if I’m not into it too deeply then I’ll come down to begin a day and I’ll be quite, say, do this, okay, and off we go to do... But the days, the periods when I’m so deeply into that, chanting all the time, then when I finish chanting, I come down, I’m like Rävaëa. (Prabhupäda laughs) You know, I come down and I’m not smiling and I’m not particularly happy because I’m saying, “Do that! Get that! Why is this!” You know? There’s like there is more urgency involved. The realization that everybody is wasting their time and everybody is doing mundane things which are, and you know, just having a little bit of mundane fun.
Çyämasundara: But when you were chanting you wrote the song and it’s proven by people’s purchasing all those songs that they want to hear that.
George: Hm. But the problem is this, where to find a balance. Because obviously I know where I benefit by doing that. But I’m benefiting so much that suddenly I find I’m out on a limb and it’s hard to be able to pull those people with you. You know there’s a point where suddenly I’m not going to be... I’m not going to know them any more.
Çyämasundara: Is it that it’s difficult when he becomes spiritualized by chanting he feels it’s a dangerous position in a way because then he will be cut off from his audience. From people who will, the ordinary people. He’s afraid they will not understand him. He will not be able to take them with him to that point. So he has to find a balance.
Prabhupäda: Yes, you keep balance. You keep balance. Don’t spoil your position. Keep your position but... Just like external, internal. Raghunätha däsa Gosvämé, yes, when he was Raghunätha däsa at home. He became attracted with Caitanya Mahäprabhu. So immediately he wanted to leave home and go with Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Caitanya Mahäprabhu advised, ”No, no, don’t do it. It is not required. You externally you remain as you are. You are a rich man’s son, you have got management, zamindary.” And he was good manager. “Kåñëa will help you.” So badge loko babu ha. Antha nistar badge loko babu ha. Within you just keep yourself always Kåñëa conscious. Outside you just deal just like ordinary man. This is the tactics. Because your talent is not ordinary talent. So you are getting money. So why should you refuse to get it. No? Money can be utilized for Kåñëa. Our policy is not that, that you don’t touch money. Why not? For Kåñëa’s sake you have to do so many things. So money is called Lakñmé. When I heard that this village is Lechmore... Lakñmé-more. (Laughs) More Lakñmé. So Lakñmé is, according to Vedic idea, Lakñmé-Näräyaëa. You understand Näräyaëa?
George: Lakñmé?
Prabhupäda: Lakñmé. Lakñmé means fortune, Goddess of fortune. And Näräyaëa means the Supreme Lord. So we worship Näräyaëa.
George: Näräyaëa.
Prabhupäda: Näräyaëa. Kåñëa’s another feature, Näräyaëa. Viñëu. Kåñëa is the original Supreme Lord and He has expansion, many expansions. We are also expansions, living entities. Eko bahu-syäm. He has expanded. Just like father expands by many sons. Similarly, God has expanded in many parts and parcels. Viñëu form is the original form. Sväàça, it is called sväàça. Personal expansion. Viñëu. And we living entities, we are vibhinäàça. Exactly our position is not on the God’s platform. On the servants', God’s servants’ platform.
George: Did you say Viñëu is the first?
Prabhupäda: Kåñëa.
George: The first expansion?
Prabhupäda: No, first expansion is Balaräma, Baladeva. From Baladeva there are four expansions. There is Väsudeva, Saìkarñaëa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha. Then from Saìkarñaëa, next expansion is Näräyaëa, four-handed. That is Viñëu form.
Comments