Now And Then (We Miss You)

“I don’t have great musical or lyrical ability.”

This is not a statement you would expect to hear from a former Beatle. However, we can’t even accuse an erstwhile ‘Big Fab’ of false modesty, because the late George Harrison, ‘quiet’ by reputation, (although he could talk for England if needed) was genuinely self-effacing. While no-one would agree with the verdict George gave on his own talent, he was the shyest and most uncomfortable of the four Beatles with fame and attention. Yet had he still been with us, the remarkable Liverpool musician might have found himself thrust back into a little more limelight than he had bargained for at the age of 80.

Self-Effacing

For, as we have all seen and heard, renowned film director/producer Peter Jackson has (somehow) managed to seamlessly interface deceased ‘Fabs’ John Lennon and George Harrison with (thankfully) still earth-bound Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr in a technological masterpiece of a music video that poignantly showcases what is being billed as the last ever Beatles single.

It was, notably, Jackson’s mastery of Artificial Intelligence learning that allowed him to restore to crystal clarity a haunting vocal track dreamed up – and tentatively laid down – by Lennon in the Seventies. Not only that, but the New Zealand producer’s dab-hand digital-age dexterity gave the ‘Fab Four’ a leg-up to ‘get back to where they once belonged’, namely the top of the UK singles charts, with John’s wistful composition ‘Now and Then’.

Musically Timeless

Now and then, young or old, (dead or alive), The Beatles are still current.

So how does our dear departed George fit so flawlessly into this state-of-the-art virtual resurrection? Paul McCartney has made it known: “We had kept George’s guitar parts [to the song] from 1995”  – allowing George’s musical presence  to be duly felt alongside late John’s. The pair’s posthumous input just needed to be pitch-perfectly meshed with Paul and Ringo’s larger-than-life current-day contributions. (As a previous Beatles ditty goes ‘We can Work It Out’) But McCartney wanted to channel something a bit deeper and more personal than finely tuned AI-effects. “I thought I’d like to do a slide guitar solo in George’s style. It’s a tribute to George” he proclaimed. And yes, a living Beatle sublimely communing beyond time and space with his long-gone bandmate through a soft but evocative slide guitar solo is nothing short of magical.

Because, as we know, George was the most spiritually advanced of the Beatles. So, on 29^th November 2023, the 22^nd anniversary of his death, we are assembled in remembrance of the somewhat reluctant star’s mystical journey here at Bhaktivedanta Manor, the extensive Hertfordshire estate he donated to the bourgeoning Hare Krishna crusade in 1973. ‘The manor,’ as the grounds’ beautiful central Mock-Tudor house is affectionately known, still stands tall, not just as a monument to transcendence, but as the movement’s functional UK HQ, and a base from which Krishna Consciousness has steadily flourished over the last fifty years.

Sacred Ground

Today’s commemorative event is not so much focussed on extracting reminiscences from the substantial shot of Beatles nostalgia poured liberally by our mainstream media onto this crispy cold November. It’s more about carefully decanting to an audience pre-warmed by the manor’s own prasadam (sanctified food) an authentic taste of a spiritual nectar legacy distilled to purity over the years. 

But before this evening’s accolade begins, let us quickly zoom in on the point at which Peter Jackson’s AI wizardry, as so adroitly applied to the Beatles saga, intersects with the UK Hare Krishna’s own back-story. Jackson directed and produced the 2021 multi-award-winning documentary series ‘Get Back’. Significantly, the super-skilled filmmaker (who among us doesn’t remember ‘Lord of the Rings’?) strategically placed one of the six UK Hare Krishna founding disciples, Shyamasundar dasa, in ‘Get Back’ opening scenes. The then-young American devotee was one of very few people invited into Twickenham recording studios while the ‘Fab Four’ were rehearsing and recording in front of rolling cameras for what was to become a 1970 album and feature film called ‘Let it Be’. Shyamasundar endeavoured to be unobtrusive while watching the world’s greatest rock-band plying their trade that January day. But Peter Jackson, when creating his revealing 2021 chronicle ‘Get Back’, didn’t want anyone to overlook a 1969 pioneering Hare Krishna breaking high-profile ground. Not even one doing his level best to lie quietly low at that mega-moment in time. The top producer not only showed serenely self-contained Shyamasundar dasa softly chanting and meditating in close-up high definition, but clearly subtitled him as a ‘friend of George Harrison’.

A Friendship Forged

Was the insightful director aiming to illustrate how open George especially was to the then innovative influences of Eastern mysticism on Western popular culture? Or was he subtly trying to convey that the onetime tight foursome was, in fact, at spiritual and existential crossroads (and about to morph into four separate individuals who would shortly go their own sweet ways…)

Whatever your take on it, we are gathered here tonight, on this site so generously gifted by George as a direct result of Shyamasundar dasa’s enterprising spirit, persuasiveness, and his perhaps unrivalled ability to capture the Beatles’ full attention during one of their well-earned afternoon work breaks.

Ever-forthright Lennon challenged:

“Alright, what’s it all about then?”

And…. “Somehow Krishna takes over my tongue”.

So Shyamasundar wrote in Volume 1 of his autobiographical trilogy ‘CHASING RHINOS WITH THE SWAMI’ (published 2016)

Chasing Rhinos Trilogy (Early Christmas Gift?)

[To obtain a copy, please scroll of the bottom of this page]

He confidently held court, presenting his (transcendental) case with utmost conviction to the most prolific pop-group on the planet.

And the rest, as they say, is Hare Krishna history.

Bhaktivedanta Manor will now be taking us on a virtual voyage charting George’s spiritual development with an exclusive screening of ‘My Sweet Lord – The Spiritual Journey of George Harrison’ – a show that premiered February 2023 at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic to mark what would have been the local lad’s 80^th birthday.

My Sweet Lord

On the very day George Harrison would have turned octogenarian – Saturday 25^th February 2023 – Angie Elmore of Northamptonshire was one of a coach-full of lucky ‘Day Trippers’ who whizzed up to Liverpool from the manor on an exhilarating expedition to whip up a distinctive Hare Krishna flavour within the fabled port city in recollection of one of its most famous sons. As part of this highly animated ‘MAGICAL MYSTICAL TOUR’ troupe Angie helped bring harinam (congregational public chanting) to Liverpool’s streets.  She also sang kirtan (call-and-response chanting) in the Beatles Museum on Matthew Street.

Kirtan in the Beatles Museum

As Angie was unable to attend the sold-out Philharmonic performance back in February she is, of course, doubly excited to be at the manor today, declaring:

“It is great to get the chance to catch up with what we didn’t get to see then.”

Isn’t it just.

A group of seasoned onstage kirtaneers create a lively yet sacred ambience as we settle into our seats.

Setting the Scene

Senior devotee Sakshi Gopal das welcomes us one and all, setting a warm verbal tone for what is bound to be a truly immersive experience.

Setting the Tone

“George Harrison was a pioneer, and he did a lot to bridge the gap between Western and Eastern culture” says Sakshi Gopal das “Hare Krishna – good example, vegetarianism – good example, yoga – good example. I’m not sure where racing driving fits in with East-West relations” he jokes “but racing aficionados would think, George was a cool guy, so what else is he into?”

Bridging the Gap

We are swiftly *transported back to February’s Philharmonic with an on-screen extended medley of music, stories, lyrics and interviews with George, all wonderfully interwoven by our compere, Leicester Krishna Temple President Pradyumna das (*and no, this time Peter Jackson isn’t involved in fusing (even recent) past with present).

Time Travel

Not only did Harrison add a distinct layer of other-dimensionality to the lives of many with his work, but he often hinted at realms higher than this material plane we find ourselves upon. His track ‘The Art of Dying’, for instance, tackles in rock orchestra style the Hindu-aligned subject of reincarnation and the need to avoid rebirth.

Looking Beyond the Material Realm

Members of tribute band ‘The Inner Light’ bear well-honed testimony to Harrison’s considerable musical and lyrical ability as they perform a polished selection of his most memorable compositions. Tunes given a top-class airing tonight include the classic love ballad ‘Something’ (originally written with Krishna in mind), and the upbeat ‘Here Comes the Sun’ (anthemic during the covid pandemic). A rousing rendition of ‘My Sweet Lord’ has everyone on their feet, clapping, dancing and singing. In a grand finale the entire crowd engages in kirtan, singing the Hare Krishna maha mantra with energy and commitment.

Rocking The Crowd

Denise O’Dwyer of Hertfordshire, who has attended the manor’s George Harrison anniversary evenings for the last few years, enthuses: “This event has grown year on year. It’s always charming, moving and a celebration of the spirit of George Harrison.”

Let’s hope there are many more memorials to come and may we evoke that same spirit, not just now and then, but forever….

To let George have the final words:

“The answer is how to get peace of mind and how to be happy. That’s really what we are supposed to be here for, and the difficult thing is that we all go through our lives and through our days and we don’t experience bliss. It’s a very subtle thing to experience and to be able to know how to do that is something that you don’t just stumble across.  You’ve got to search for it….”

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To find out more about Shyamasundar dasa and his adventures with The Beatles, please visit:

www.chasingrhinos.com

NB All three volumes of ‘Chasing Rhinos with the Swami’ are available in UK.

For further information please contact

radha.mohan@krishnatemple.com