A Miraculous Event in New York City

Tompkins Square Parks Hosts A Revolutionary Spirit

In 1966, years before New York welcomed a monk from India named the Dalai Lama, another shaved-headed monk in saffron colored robes graced New York city. Having come to New York as an offering of service to his own spiritual master, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, sat alone in Tompkins Square Park in the East Village under a tree and performed a mantra meditation, from which a world-wide spiritual revolution would soon blossom.

The 60's were rife with revolutionary rhetoric, but this monk's message was about personal internal growth, rather that trying to manipulate one's fickle external environment. It was about truth, love and equality on the spiritual level. It was about how to incorporate a daily practice, forging spiritual concepts into one's daily experiential reality. It was not a new message, but one of singular potency, being delivered by a monk who had humbly perfected the process. Some people saw him glow. All religions were valid he taught, if sincerely practiced and were free of misguided interpretations.

As in any field of endeavor, finding a qualified and willing mentor is crucial for making progress. He gave his time freely to everyone fortunate enough to approach him.

Having come to America with $7 in his pocket and trunk full of holy texts, after a year of struggling to maintain in the city, a diverse group of mostly young New Yorkers, became his students - to hear an ancient message of self and God realization, descending through holy sound.

Soon his students rented a small storefront at 26 2nd Avenue for holding lectures and performing kirtan, musical mantra meditations. With the continued growing support of friends and followers, in the next 11 years, Swami Prabhupada circled the globe 12 times in spreading the mission. He established over 100 temples, translated and commented on 70 books, (now in multiple languages and millions published) while guiding 5,000 student disciples. This happened in 12 short years from the time he arrived in America in 1965 at age 69, until 1977 when departed from this world at age 81, having been teaching, translating and setting a flawless example of joyful non-stop devotional service up until his last breath.

Support From Across The Pond

Early on, one of Swami Prabhupada's friends and followers, was a young man from the UK, who was born in 1943 during WWII. At just 19 years old, world-wide fame and fortune quickly descended upon him as a guitar player in a band called the Beatles.

Swami Prabhupada and George Harrison had a nice friendship, as well as guru-disciple relationship of sorts. When asked by George if he should shave his head and move into a temple ashram, Srila Prabhupada advised him it was better to continue on as a musician, to continue his service and glorify the Supreme in his own way. George did that wonderfully through is music and life. He also made donations for printing the "Krishna Book" and for a temple property outside of London called Bhaktivedanta Manor - which to this day is lively temple/ashram with tens of thousands of grateful congregation members.

The Manor Remembers

The Bhaktivedanta Manor residents and congregation fondly remember George Harrison for his generous gifts of spirit and resources. The following video was made in his honor, as a short documentary on his life and service.

Ultimately we are all connected as brothers and sisters, because we emanate from the same Source.

We are all on a unique but common journey, and spiritual victory for one, is a spiritual victory for all. One brave soul's journey gives all of us more heart. I hope you will enjoy the story of our dear brother George.

Another Remembrance

Although I personally never met George Harrison, the following is a short video offering, dedicated to the memory of our common mentor, guru and guide, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada.

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