Common masses follow people who are identified as ‘great’ in the social perspective. (Yad yad acarti sresthas tad tad evetaro janah…)

​Srila Prabhupada’s dealings with George Harrison

Srila Prabhupada(to George): Whatever a great man does common men follow and on this basis he encouraged him to help Krishna Consciousness movement

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. Krishna 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. – July 26, 1976 London.

“Whatever leading persons act, people in general follow them. Sa yat pramäëaà kurute. If the leading person says, "It is nice. It is all right," the others also accept it. So by the grace of God, Krishna, you are leaders. Thousands of young men follow you. They like you. So if you give them something actually nice, the face of the world will change.” (Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison - September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst.)

“So we are training these boys and girls to Krishna consciousness according to the Krishna science. Anyone can take advantage of it. It is a very nice thing. So you also try to understand, and if it is nice, you take it up. You are after something very nice. Is my proposal unreasonable? (chuckles) You are all intelligent boys. Try to understand it.”

(Room Conversation With John Lennon, Yoko Ono, and George Harrison - September 11, 1969, London, At Tittenhurst.)

Prabhupada was very practical in his dealings with George

When George asked if he should shave his head and try to live like the other devotees, Prabhupäda replied that he should continue to be a singer. "If you tell people to chant Hare Krishna," Prabhupäda reminded George,        "they will do it."

Trying to strike a relationship

For a long time the devotees had been thinking of ways to get the Beatles to chant Hare Krishna. To the Beatles' Apple Records Studio they had once sent an apple pie with Hare Krishna lettered on it. Another time they had    sent a wind-up walking apple with the Hare Krishna mantra printed on it. They had even sent a tape of one of their kértanas and had received a standard rejection letter from Apple Records.

Srila Prabhupada’s vision to engage the famous Beatles in devotional service

Prabhupäda envisioned a world revolution in consciousness-spearheaded by the Krishna conscious Beatles.

“It is understood from your letter that Mr. George Harrison has a little sympathy for our movement, and if Krishna is actually satisfied on him surely he will be able to join with us in pushing on the Samkirtan movement throughout the world. Somehow or other the Beatles have become the cynosure of the neighboring European countries and America also. He is attracted by our Samkirtan Party and if Mr. George Harrison takes the leading part in organizing a huge Samkirtan Party consisting of the Beatles and our ISKCON boys, surely we shall change the face of the world so much politically harassed by the maneuvers of the politicians.”

On January 11 Srila Prabhupäda wrote another letter to the devotees in London, expressing more ideas of how George could best serve Krishna. I am so glad that Mr. Harrison is composing songs like "Lord whom we          so    long ignored." He is very thoughtful. When we actually meet, I shall be able to give him thoughts about separation from Krishna, and they will be able to compose very attractive songs for public reception. The public            is in need of such songs, and if they are administered through nice agents like the Beatles, it will surely be a great success.

Srila Prabhupada treated the Beatles as unique

Although George and John were about the same age as most of Prabhupäda's disciples, Prabhupäda considered them çreñöhas, respected leaders.

Srila Prabhupada dealt with the wealthy Beatles cautiously

“If this boy cooperates with our movement, it will be very nice impetus for after all, he is a monied man. These monied men have to be very cautiously dealt with in spiritual life. We have to sometimes deal with them on account of preaching work; otherwise, Lord Chaitanya Mahäprabhu has strictly restricted to mix with them for Krishna Conscious people. But we get instruction from Rupa Goswami that whatever opportunity is favorable for pushing on Krishna Consciousness we should accept.”

Prabhupäda dealt with George cautiously, but encouraged him to chant the Lord's name, take His prasädam, and surrender all his works to Him.

Asking George to help him in printing Krishna book

Prabhupäda told Syämasundara to ask his friend George for a donation. Syämasundara, who had always been careful not to ask George for money, was hesitant. But Prabhupäda insisted, and Syämasundara gave in. George agreed, but regretted it afterward. Then Syämasundara began to feel sorry. After all, he hadn't really wanted to ask George, and George hadn't really wanted to be asked.

When Prabhupäda heard of this, he invited George to see him. George told Prabhupäda that every day people were asking him for his money.

But when Prabhupäda explained the importance of the Krishna book and how George's donation would be devotional service to Krishna, George dismissed his regrets. He also agreed to write a foreword to the         volume.

On another occasion Srila Prabhupada said:

"I told George to give his money to Krishna," Prabhupäda said, "not that he had to give it to Krishna by giving it to me, necessarily, but that somehow or other he must spend all of his money for Krishna."

Finally George volunteers

Before leaving, George assured Prabhupäda that he would help him increase his temples. Later Prabhupäda commented, "George is getting inward hope from Krishna."

Srila Prabhupada brings out social issues while discussing with government representatives:

Examples:

Prabhupada spoke about secularism and told the Governor that it is the government’s duty that they see that everyone is following their religion properly. Check hypocrisy. Srila Prabhupada proposed to the Governor that we will open a Varnasrama college and train few people as pure brahmanas and your role would be to check that everyone acts as per sastra.

While speaking with the Governor, Srila Prabhupada didn’t directly preach to him about following Krishna Consciousness but how he could help the society by his contribution. – April 20,1975 Vrindavan.