George Harrison saw beyond illusions

HARRISON. Got the big message.

George Harrison, the Beatles’ lead guitarist, passed away in 2001. In a statement, his family said, “He left this world as he lived in it—conscious of God, fearless of death and at peace, surrounded by family and friends.” He often said, “Everything else can wait, but the search for God cannot.” Not only was he a musician; he was also a philosopher. Some quotes from Harrison:

It’s all within yourself—no one else can make you change.

As long as you hate, there will be people to hate.

I remember thinking that I just want more, and this isn’t it. Fame or money is not the goal. To know how to find peace of mind and happiness is something you don’t just stumble across.

Most people’s reality is a big illusion. You succumb to the illusion that “I am this body”—that I’m not really George. I am this living thing that, at this time, happens to be in this body. If you are having a miserable time, look for the light. The light is within. That is the big message!

All religions are branches of one big tree. It doesn’t matter what you call Him, as long as you call. Just as cinematic images appear to be real but are only combinations of light and shade, so is the universal variety a delusion. With their countless forms of life, the planetary spheres are but figures in a cosmic motion picture. A man’s values are profoundly changed when he is convinced that creation is only a vast motion picture—and beyond it lies his ultimate reality!

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