Srila Prabhupada & George Harrison
Bhaktivedanta Manor, July 26, 1976
(Prabhupäda is very hoarse)
George Harrison: How do you feel?
Prabhupäda: I have old man's disease, cough and cold, so coughing. But still, work is going on, and I shall complete eighty years this month. September, eighty-one. So now, due to age, it is becoming little difficult.
George Harrison: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Anyway, by the grace of Kåñëa.... So how are you?
George Harrison: Quite good.
Prabhupäda: Chanting is going on?
George Harrison: Yes.
Prabhupäda: Thank you. That is our life and soul. Gåhe vä vanete thäke, 'hä gauräìga' bole òäke. Wherever you live, it doesn't matter, chant Hare Kåñëa. That's all. That is our only support. So bring food here.
Jayatértha: We should have the lunch here?
Prabhupäda: Yes.
George Harrison: All the devotees are looking really good.
Prabhupäda: Eh?
George Harrison: The devotees are looking great. Strong.
Prabhupäda: (laughs) Yes. Phalena paricéyate. By the result, one has to study. Yesterday, one devotee's father and mother came, Hari-çauri. She and his father were very pleased to see him healthy, bright.
Mukunda: They hadn't seen him for six years.
Prabhupäda: Six years, yes. So we are inviting everyone, "Come here. Such a nice house given by George (laughs). You live here comfortably, eat nicely, and chant Hare Kåñëa." We don't want any factory work.
George Harrison: No.
Prabhupäda: (laughs) Simply kartal and mådaìga. Still, people do not come. They'll prefer to go the factory, whole day work in the hell. (laughs) They prefer.
George Harrison: I suppose some day the whole of the world will just be chanting in the country.
Prabhupäda: That is not possible, but if some of the leading men, they take it seriously, then others will follow. Just like in our book, your signature is there, "Oh, George Harrison. Yes." They take it without any consideration. Kåñëa book. Yad yad äcarati çreñöhas tad tad evetaro janaù [Bg. 3.21]. If the leading man does something, then his followers also do. This is the way. So if some of the leading men of the world, they take this movement seriously, then people will be happy. There's no doubt about it. You have come alone, without any associate?
George Harrison: Just on my own.
Prabhupäda: That's all right.
George Harrison: It took me a while to find it. They're always building new roads everywhere and change the whole countryside. So I got a little lost.
Prabhupäda: You came here twice, right?
George Harrison: Yes, I've been here three times. Where will you be in India when you go back to India?
Prabhupäda: Most probably in Bombay. You have been in my Bombay?
George Harrison: I was going to go to Bombay. Yes, Bombay and Våndävana when they were just building.
Prabhupäda: Oh, Våndävana, if you come there, stay for some time.
George Harrison: Yes, well, ah, this December...
Prabhupäda: We have got very nice houses, both in Bombay and Våndävana. And Mäyäpur also. Wherever you like. You will not be very uncomfortable.
George Harrison: I was going to go to Bombay for a wedding. Some friends are getting married.
Prabhupäda: When?
George Harrison: December the fifth, I think.
Prabhupäda: Very nice season in Bombay. Best time.
George Harrison: You know, I think you met Laksmi Shankar, lady singer? Her daughter, who is also a singer, Viji, Viji Çré Shankar, and she's marrying a South Indian violin player, L. Shankar.
Prabhupäda: He's also Shankar?
George Harrison: Well, he's called L. Shankar. You know that South India they have a funny way around them, they have like a surname. He's just called L. Shankar. His brother is called L. Subhramanyam.
Devotee (1): George says he wants to spend some time in Våndävana.
George Harrison: I was only there for about thirty-six hours last time.
Prabhupäda: We have got now very good centers. Another gentleman, he's offering us a very good place at Mahäbaleçvara. That's one of the famous India stations. A very nice climate. So you can come and stay there. We have got now many good centers.
George Harrison: I'll come and see if you're in Bombay, because I'll be near where the temple is.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Bombay is just like garden. As good as your place here. No. Not so big. It is seventeen acres, and Bombay is five. Just go on. (prasädam being served) Give him whatever you have got to give. But don't give much. When he wants something more.... Waste not, want not. Give more, that preparation, you should give more. (laughter) That is called (indistinct). You can bring it, prasäda.
George Harrison: I'll just wash my hands.
Prabhupäda: You can wash here. The sink is there. Here is also water. You can put the bowls outside, here, so that there will be sufficient place. Our Indian system is like this. That's all right. Sit down, you also sit down.
George Harrison: I see you've done new books. You've been so busy, there's so many books.
Prabhupäda: Yes. There are already fifty-four, and another at least thirty books I have to finish before my death. (laughs) That I am.... Give him a puri. Where is Ravi Shankar?
George Harrison: He's in.... I think he's in New York. He'll be here the first of August, and then I think he's...
Prabhupäda: He has got his house there? In New York?
George Harrison: No, just a house in Benares. Benares. He doesn't have anything. He just stays in hotels.
Prabhupäda: I thought in Washington somebody told me that George Washing..., George Harrison has got his house here.
George Harrison: Yes, he had a little house here, but he...
Prabhupäda: No, you have got your house in Washington?
George Harrison: No.
Comments