Why George Harrison Was Known as the Spiritual Beatle

"The Beatles exist apart from my self. I am not really Beatle George. Beatle George is like a suit or shirt that I once wore on occasion, and until the end of my life people may see that shirt and mistake it for me." -- George Harrison

I was working as a musician in the 1970s, and very late one night during a recording session at Capitol Records, George Harrison just sort of wandered in and sat down to listen. Since he knew the producer of the session, he decided to stay for a "few minutes." We all sat and talked, drank a few beers, and sang background harmonies together... for the better part of five hours. I can report to you that the above quote depicts exactly how he showed up that evening. He was not wearing his Beatles identity, he was just a guy named George, hanging out like a kid with some of his buddies in a garage band.

Back then, I was just starting to get a clue about my spiritual reality, but without a doubt, George was already there. He has often been referred to as "the spiritual Beatle." Looking back at that evening, I can see why. He was totally unimpressed with his own fame. Why? Who he knew himself to be had nothing to do his name, fame, money, or for that matter, even his body. He didn't take himself too seriously because he knew who he really was... and who he wasn't. With that clarity, who others thought him to be didn't much matter. George Harrison had discovered the reality of the self he shared in infinite presence and thus had broken free from that which binds most people to their egoic self.

It was ironic: Here I was, a real nobody, struggling to be somebody, and there was George Harrison, a real somebody, acting like he was really nobody. I didn't get the full impact of this irony until many years later when I realized that the closer we get to identifying with our own divine nature (the authentic self) the further we get from identifying with the trappings of the material world and the attachment to ego-based thinking.

How about you? Have you ever taken yourself a bit too seriously, thinking that who you are is actually defined by what you look like, how much talent you have (or don't have), how well known you are (or aren't), or how much money you have (or don't have)? Those are all "garments and labels" you wear during the course of your stay here on this planet, but it's not who you are. At the end of the day, when it's all said and done, you will turn all of that back in just like a car you had on lease. You aren't your name, your personality, your job, your money, your body or even your feelings! In other words, you came in with absolutely nothing and will leave with absolutely nothing except for the karmic energy you brought along and created during your visit. The self you are is 100 percent divine essence -- pure light, individuated. So, you could say that the self you really are travels "light-ly." That's an amazing realization to have, isn't it? It also helps put things in perspective. So, do you see yourself as a nobody struggling to be somebody, or are you somebody (infinite intelligence, individuated) who in truth knows you are nobody? I bet you'll be thinking about that one all day long.

As a mindfulness practice consider the following:

• Take a moment and think of all your possessions (or lack of), your assets (or lack of), your body and what it looks like, your personality, your feelings, your reputation, your talent, and your job. Do you define who you are by means of these things? In and of themselves, these things are neither good nor bad, they "just are."

• Consider the idea that the aforementioned things serve a wonderful purpose because the self couldn't be expressed in the human condition without them. But also understand that they exist apart from the self you are.

• Try now to visualize all of these things as a garment in which the true self travels through life, gaining all of the experiences you've come here to have.

• Enjoy the journey, and while you may wear it well, don't get too attached to the garment -- remember, it has to be returned to the manufacturer.

Note: This writing is an excerpt from my book, "The Art of Being - 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life." Used with permission of the publisher.

www.DennisMerrittJones.com

 

 

 

Follow Dennis Merritt Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/DMerrittJones

Comments

[Macklyn]

07:15 PM on 01/06/2012

A very nicely crafted article with wisdom at the end, Thanks

[deckerfam]

07:52 AM on 11/12/2011

Personal wealth can result from a manifestation of the vast abundance in the universe. Intent and how one uses elects to use their riches is a completely different story. There is no negativity in material gain as long as we return to the whole rather than greedily accumulate to benefit only ourselves. The trick is remembering to share generously whatever has been bestowed upon us by our creator. Thank you for the gentle reminder, Michael. Brightest Blessings from Sedona, Arizona.

[Dennis Merritt Jones]

11:41 AM on 11/12/2011

Hi Michael...­what a great point you make in saying there is no negativity in material gain. The practice is about staying connected to Source in a manner that allows us to freely and joyfully circulate our good with others. "Having "stuff" is a great thing as long as it doesn't own us or define who we think we are.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply!

Peace, Dennis

[David4FreePress]

04:40 PM on 11/11/2011

I think everything is energy, a variable. Life is defined by how we use energy.
Maybe what we are is everything that we do with our energy.

[OverseasVet]

02:02 AM on 11/12/2011

We are nothing but DNA molecules interacting with the environment. All the energy we have is used for and by that DNA. There is nothing more.

[David4FreePress]

03:28 PM on 11/13/2011

Thank you Vet

[Dennis Merritt Jones]

11:47 AM on 11/12/2011

I agree with you! As conscious beings we are also energy conductors...we do indeed direct the energy that moves through us by means of our thoughts and beliefs...and of course what we do with that energy does determine how we interface with life and therefore determines how we define ourselves!

A great point for discussion. Thank you David.

Peace, Dennis

[David4FreePress]

03:27 PM on 11/13/2011

Thank You Dennis. Now I guess I have to read the book about George.

[merlinspinoza]

10:32 PM on 11/10/2011

the inner light http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVOyHabYvbA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blt-Jqw2jBU&feature=related

http://www.tm.org/blog/people/george-harrison-2/

[mose joseph workman]

10:24 PM on 11/10/2011

this article is a big shrug of the shoulders. if you're looking for a meaningful encounter with the spiritual beatle, check out joshua greene's "Here Comes the Sun: The Spiritual and Musical Journey of George Harrison".

[Dennis Merritt Jones]

11:51 AM on 11/12/2011

Hi Mose...perhaps you missed the essence of the article which really about how we each define ourselves. George offers us a great template by which to live. The article is really about you and me, not just my encounter (as meaningful as it was) with the genius of George Harrison.

Peace,
Dennis

[loveisallthereis]

11:28 AM on 11/10/2011

The Self has no favorites. It doesn't mind being forgotten for the sake of an illusion. It is the rock of nothingness we can always count on and return to again and again because we never left it to begin with.

How on earth can one ever leave oneSelf? There is no egoic self and another authentic self. There is only one Self, sometimes under the influence of ignorance but eternal and non-dual nevertheless, the biggest invisible elephant in the room.

[deckerfam]

07:21 AM on 11/12/2011

There is a difference between ego and authentic self. For example, ego presides when your feelings are hurt; authentic self suspends judgement.

[loveisallthereis]

08:50 AM on 11/12/2011

it seems you misunderstand me. of course there is a great difference between the self under the influence of ignorance (egoic) and the same self with knowledge (authentic). But it is still the same self. People are under the mistaken impression that there is some alien egoic entity that they must slay in order to be free, but that is exactly the kind of separatist thought that keeps it locked in place. The Self is the source of everything we experience, including the ego, it has no problem with any of it. Once seen from the point of view of Self the ego, the mind, the vasanas and samskaras are no impediment to Truth.

[momoluvsu]

09:04 AM on 11/10/2011

Dennis Merritt Jones,
thanks so much for writing this. The ideas you expressed are very important at this time in history. Fame and reputation are aspects of life which I suspect one doesn't become aware of how imprisoning they are until one either loses them, or sheds them. Thanking again for sharing this story.

[Dennis Merritt Jones]

09:05 PM on 11/10/2011

When George wrote and recorded "All things must pass" I have a hunch he was also talking about many of those labels we so easily mistake for who we think we are. Often we fail to see the "passing" of certain things that represent external power as good, but I so agree with you...sometimes that is what it takes to truly be free!

Thanks for your reply!

Peace, Dennis