Submitted by His Holiness
Giriraj Swami on May 8, 2008
My dear Guru Maharaja,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada and
Your Divine Grace. I don't know if any
other devotee has sent you this,
but please see the attached file.
Your humble servant
Ramanuja das
Srila Sridhara Svami writes in
his commentary on
Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.1):
ugro
'py anugra evayam
sva-bhaktanam nr-kesari
kesariva sva-potanam
anyesam ugra-vikramah
"Although very ferocious, the lioness is
very kind to her cubs. Similarly,
although very ferocious to nondevotees like
Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very,
very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlada
Maharaja." |
Newsletter & Events

April, 2008
His
Grace Dharmasetu dasa and his team
are Finding Great Success Giving
Final Journey Seminars to the Hindu
Community in San Diego, California
(U.S.)
The
Final Journey Seminars in the
San Diego area, organized by His
Grace Dharmasetu dasa, have become a
great success. The conference room
where they are held at a nearby
hotel are filled to capacity and the
line up of speakers deliver almost
three hours of valuable information
to the attendees. The half hour
lunch break is also wonderful—
delicious prasadam
(sanctified food) from the Hare
Krishna temple, is often served
outside on the sunny patio. Here is
a list of last year's impressive
presenters:
-
Welcome: Ravi Sahay - The
inspiration behind the Final
Journey Seminar.
-
Religious Concerns: Dharmasetu das -
Purohita in San Diego for 30 years.
-
Funeral Services: Debbie Allen: 26
years of experience in death-care
services.
-
Medical/Hospital Concerns: Dr. Jay
Thomas – Clinical Medical Director
at San Diego Hospice and Associate
Clinical Professor of Medicine at
the University of California, San
Diego School of Medicine
-
Legal/Estate Planning: John Preston
- One of the most sought after
Estate Planning attorneys in
California with over 26 years
experience.
-
Financial Planning: Sandeep Varma
-Named one of the top 100 financial
advisors in America. Voted the best
financial advisor firm in San Diego
for client satisfaction.
-
Vera Kripalani – attended last
year’s seminar too.
-
Social Security: Lloyd Watnik –
Retired consultant with over 27
years of experience working with the
Social Security Administration.
Dharmasetu Prabhu explained, "The
seminar offers a chance for a
Questions & Answers session after
lunch that gives everyone the
opportunity to ask as many questions
as they desire. One issue that often
arises is the desire for our
community to develop a single source
for this information that could be
accessed at anytime when someone
needs it.
I gathered together a team of
friends, clergy, and mortuary
executives to put together a package
of essential information that
answers the two questions:
1. What to do
and whom to call if a loved one
passes away?
2. How do you
know if you your estate and assets
are safe in the event of an untimely
death?
Out of the meetings came a brochure
and
The
Final Journey Seminar.
We are extending an open invitation
to all Indo-Asian families in San
Diego County to attend this
informative and free seminar. The
Final Journey Seminar is
solely for the purpose of
disseminating information. All of
the participants are volunteering
their time and energy."
In a
recent correspondence with
Dharmasetu Prabhu, he told us that
he freely distributes our book, The
Final Journey--Complete Hospice Care
for Departing Vaisnavas (Torchlight
Publishing) by Sangita devi dasi
(Susan Pattinson, RN, CHPN), to all
who attend. We are grateful
and honored to play a small part in
his highly successful service to Srila
Prabhupada and the San Diego
community.
The
Final Journey Seminar
committee is planning to hold next
year’s free seminar around the same
time, the third weekend in January.
We’ll keep you posted.
Thank you again to all of this
year’s attendees and speakers. For
further information, please contact
Dharmasetu Prabhu at: dharmasetudas@yahoo.com
Here
are a few comments and pictures from
attendees of last year's seminar:
A
convenient venue and the information
was absolutely necessary to have and
know.
—Dr. Dhruv Dhupa
Good seminar. Professional
environment and very pleasant. —Himanshu
Upadhyaya
It was a really great team and the
content was perfect. I enjoyed all
the speakers.
—Gopalan Raghunath
Thank you. I really appreciate you
taking the time to educate people.
—Janani
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In Medical News

Submitted April 18, 2008
By: Sangita devi dasi
(Susan Pattinson, RN, CHPN,
Certified Hospice Educator)

According to two studies presented at the
American Heart Association International
Stroke Conference, 2008, patients who
present at the hospital with stroke symptoms
at night and on weekends are more likely to
die in the hospital than those treated
during regular business hours and on
weekdays.
In off hours,
patients suffering hemorrhagic strokes had a
higher rate of death of 27.2% versus 24.1%
for regular hour patients. Many other
studies across the U.S. also show the same
results. These statistics come from Mathew
J. Reeves, PhD, professor of epidemiology
(diseases) at Michigan State University. The
same was also true for victims of ischemic
strokes.
This
"off-hours and weekend phenomenon,"
acccording to Reeves, points to quality of
care as an issue.
"If hospitals
look at their staffing and care practices on
weekends and off hours, one should be able
to correct these differences," Reeves
stated. "It could be that specialists are
unavailable or more difficult to get hold of
and there is less staffing in terms of
nursing care and rapid access to certain
procedures on the weekend." |
New Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Hospice Room
now being furnished in
Gita Nagari
Farm
in Pennsylvania (U.S.)
With the assistance of HG Mitravinda dasi,
the Board of Directors for Vaisnavas CARE is
in the process of organizing and decorating
one room in the Gita Nagari Farm building to
be used for terminally ill devotees. We are
humbly begging for donations of Laksmi for
furniture that needs to be purchased such
as:
-
Twin bed
-
Night stand
-
Side table Lamp
-
MP3 player
-
Comfortable chair by bedside for devotee
to read to patient
-
Small, round dining table with 2-4
chairs
-
Krsna conscious DVD's
-
MP3 bhajans (calming ones)
Other items are already being collected by
the devotees, such as:
-
Srila Prabhupada's books
-
Small TV with DVD player
-
Clean, fresh linens/blankets
-
Wheelchair
-
Canes
-
Walker
-
Latex gloves
-
Incontinent pads (disposable and
washable)
-
Combs/toothbrushes/
toothpaste/lotions
-
Heel pads for comfort
-
Framed posters of Krsna Lila
We still need:
-
2-3
more bed pillows
-
large
floor pillows that pile on top of one
another for visitors.
-
One large
framed picture of Srila Prabhupada
-
Curtains
-
Bedside Clock or wall clock
-
Long, door mirror
Our thanks to Mitravinda dasi, a
Philadelphia disciple of HH Bhakti Tirtha
Swami, for making calls and humbly asking
for donations for this needed cause. HH
Bhakti Tirtha Swami was one of the original
Board of Directors for V-CARE and this was
one his desires for Gita Nagari.
Our thanks to the following devotees who
have pledged donations:
1. Annapurna dasi and Len Cohen-Philadelphia
3.
Mahadhana
dasi-Waterbury,
CT
2. Atmarama dasa-Philadelphia
4.
Charanya &
Srinivasan from State College, Pennsylvania
(U.S.)
5. Raj and Archana Arya-Philadelphia
6.
Srinivasan and Charanya Ganesan from State
College, Pennsylvania (U.S.)
(Please let us add your name and city to the
above list!)
Please send any items to donate, checks, or
supplies to:
Kaulini dasi (T.P. of Gita Nagari Farm)
RR 1, Box 839
Port Royal, PA 17082
USA
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Inspirations
Submitted by Sriji devi dasi,
Winston-Salem, North Carolina (U.S.)
A generous king
once ruled in the land of Andhra. Every
day two
beggars used to come to him for alms and
he always gave them food and
money.
On receiving the alms, one of them, the
older one, used to say: "God
provides." The other beggar, the younger
of the two, would say: "Our
king provides."
One day the king gave them more money
than usual, whereupon the older
man cried out lustily: "God provides."
This annoyed the king who
thought: "It is I who am feeding him and
he keeps saying: 'God
provides, God provides'. It is time he
learnt who his real benefactor
is."
The next day after he had given them
alms he asked the beggars to go
by a little-used road instead of their
usual one. "I have provided for
one of you," he said. "God will provide
for the other." He made sure
that the one who always praised him went
first. He had ordered that a
purse of gold be kept on the road in the
beggar's path so that he
would find it.
But as the beggar walked down the road
he wondered why the king had
sent him that way. "Perhaps he wants me
to enjoy the privacy of this
road," he thought. "It is indeed a
beautiful road and so broad. One
can walk with eyes closed." And he
closed his eyes. As a result he
missed seeing the purse. It was spotted
and picked up by the other
beggar who was coming behind him.
The next day the king asked the beggars
whether they had found
anything on the road he had sent them by
and he looked meaningfully at
the younger man. But the beggar shook
his head. "It was a beautiful
road," he said. "But I did not find
anything on it." "But I did," said
the other man. "I found a purse of gold.
God provides."
Now the king became even more determined
to show the older beggar that
he was their true benefactor. So while
the beggars were going away he
called the younger one back and gave him
a pumpkin. The pumpkin had
been hollowed out and filled with silver
coins. But the beggar did not
know that. On the way he sold it to a
baniya (merchant) for a few
coins.
The next day the king asked the beggars
if anything eventful had
happened the previous day, looking
meaningfully at the younger beggar.
"Nothing," said the beggar. "Except that
I earned a few more coins
than usual by selling the pumpkin you
had so generously given me."
The king tried hard not to show his
dismay. "And you?" he said to the
other beggar. "Did you too earn more
than usual?"
"I certainly did," said the beggar. "As
I was passing by a baniya's
shop he called me and gave me a pumpkin.
When I went home and cut it I
found that it was full of silver. As I
always say, God provides."
— A folktale from Andhra Pradesh
MORAL: When God wants to give anything,
he gives by one means or
other. The fruit of our karma
(actions).......whether good or
bad.......we get with astounding
precision.
Submit an
inspiring story
More Inspirations
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The Final Journey
Complete Hospice Care for Departing
Vaisnavas
Order
Book
It
was a delight to read The Final
Journey—Complete Hospice Care for Departing
Vaisnavas by Susan Pattinson, RN (Sangita
devi dasi) for three reasons. First, her
obvious professional knowledge and
experience in hospice care make this book a
serious presentation on the subject. Thus it
will serve as a practical tool for all
concerned, as well as a reminder of how
sensitive and qualified one should be for
this service. Then, departing spiritualists
can derive great benefit from modern
medicine as it is applied to hospice care.
As a spiritualist herself, the author also
gives us inspiring and useful insights on
the importance of a good death. She goes
deep into subjects like compassion toward
spiritual pain, respect for one’s spiritual
desires and convictions, importance of
prayers and holy association, and relevant
scriptural quotes. Finally, this book offers
great hope to the aging Vaisnavas and will
inspire members of our society to cooperate
for this noble service of caring for others.
—Gopaswami
dasa (M.D., Qualified in Hospice Care
Read more... |
|
Become a V-CARE
Volunteer
It is explained in The
Nectar of Devotion that "A person
who is unable to bear another's distress is
called compassionate."
Presently,
Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Inc. has a database of
devotee volunteers who offer their
assistance, within their own communities,
for those who are facing imminent death.
Since 2001 our number of volunteers have
increased worldwide. We continue to
expand our Vaisnava network by raising
awareness of its inevitable need. Our hope
is that our team of volunteers will
eventually stretch around the globe to reach
any devotee who is in need, regardless of
where he or she resides.
Read more... |
Cancer Information Website

Submitted by
Dr. Shyama vallabha Prabhu, Vrindavana,
India
We
recently learned about a valuable
website called, OncologyChannel, that
offers a wealth of information on
various cancers, their causes, treatment
options, etc. What makes this site
especially helpful is that you can
easily watch videos with a click of a
button to learn more on the subject.
These informative videos explain
complicated subject matter in an
easy-to-understand format. Some subjects
include:
-
Breast cancer
-
Gastric cancer
-
Lung cancer
-
Leukemia
-
Lymphoma
-
Ovarian cancer
-
Prostate cancer
-
Skin cancer
Some examples of “Quality of Life”
videos on this site include:
-
Anticipatory grief: Preparing for
the death of a loved one
-
The
Power of Visualization
-
Losing a Parent
-
Balancing the Caregiver's Burden:
Knowing when to seek support
-
The
Impact of Pain on Sleep
-
Informed Consent: Understanding Your
Rights as a Patient
|
ISKCON Mayapur
#1: Visit beautiful Mayapur while
listening to a bhajan. See birds flying
over the Ganges River, Swans, ISKCON
devotees on Harinam and many lovely
paintings of Krsna lila.
Go to video
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Final Journeys
He is Here
(Part 1)

Spoken in Houston Temple
on
the Disappearance Day
of Srila Prabhupada
by Sangita devi dasi
__________________
I first met Srila
Prabhupada's devotees in 1969 in San
Francisco. By Srila Prabhupada's grace I was
taken to the temple. I was fourteen years
old, and I did not take to it at the time. I
was too involved in enjoying my teenage
years. But Srila Prabhupada never gave up on
me. We may think
that we find our spiritual master, but
actually the spiritual master comes and
finds us. Srila Prabhupada made so many
arrangements. A year later I met the
devotees again in Philadelphia, and then in
1972, when I was sixteen, I moved away from
my family. I wrote to Srila Prabhupada and
asked him what I could do to serve him. When
I look back at it now, I had no idea what I
was really asking. He gave me some nice
instruction, and I moved into the Los
Angelestemple. I was initiated the following
year, in 1973, at the age of seventeen. In
those days they gave second initiation very
quickly because they needed pujaris.
So a few months later I became a pujari
in Los Angeles.
Eventually I was
asked by Jayatirtha Prabhu to go to Hawaii
to take care of Panca-tattva there. I could
say that in Los Angeles as well as in Hawaii
I was always in the right place at the right
time, because I saw Srila Prabhupada many,
many times. He spent so much
time in Los
Angeles, and when I moved to Hawaii he spent
a month there, and later he visited Hawaii
many times. There was no telling when you
would walk around the temple grounds when he
would suddenly appear, or come into the
kitchen, for example, and ask what I was
cooking for him. There were so many nice
exchanges. I did not come
early enough in
the beginning of the movement to have the
mercy that some of my Godsisters had when
they traveled with him. But still, with
Srila Prabhupada, it is like finding out
what the taste of the ocean is. All you need
to do is taste one drop and you know what
the entire ocean tastes like. It is the same
with Srila Prabhupada. You needed just one
glance, one smile -- he did not have to say
anything -- and you knew his mercy, his
unlimited mercy.
I can tell some
stories. One time in Hawaii he was giving
class. At that time he was taking his
morning walks at the beach park, Ala Moana
Beach Park, and that is when he made his
famous statement about surfers, because
there were surfboards on so many of the
devotees' cars in the temple parking lot.
And after he gave class all the devotees
would hit the waves. So when Srila
Prabhupada saw the surfers in the water at
Ala Moana Beach Park, surfing in the waves,
he made that famous statement: "You call
them surfers. I call them sufferers." And
then he added, "They will all take birth as
fish." So when everyone came back from this
morning walk and told the other devotees,
the next day there were quite a few empty
cars without surfboards!
One thing that
happened during that visit was that Srila
Prabhupada called a big GBC meeting.
Ambarisa Prabhu, still Bhakta Alfred Ford,
had just donated the new temple in Hawaii,
and as many of you know, it is quite a large
mansion. It is a beautiful property with two
acres of gardens. So Srila Prabhupada called
all the GBCs to come, and he was taking his
first walk around the grounds. The GBC men
surrounded him wherever he went. I was just
this young nineteen-year-old pujari
girl, feeling very, very insignificant. That
was my proper position. I remember sitting
in class and praying to Srila Prabhupada,
"If you
just give me one
look, just look at me one time, then my life
will be fulfilled." I felt very unnoticed. I
was very immature and needed some attention
from Srila Prabhupada, so I prayed like this
during class. "If you just look at me one
time, my whole life will be
complete." Then
class ended and Srila Prabhupada got up from
the vyasasana and all the GBCs and
sannyasis were following him, singing "Jaya
Prabhupada" walking out of the temple room.
I had already gotten up and was near the
doorway of the pujari room, so
Srila Prabhupada
had to pass by me as he was leaving, but I
was several feet back in the pujari
room. Srila Prabhupada stopped at the
entrance, turned, and looked at me. He
folded his hands, his eyes lit up, his face
broke into a big smile, and he looked me
right in the
eyes and nodded
as if he was pleased. That was the first
time that I realized that Srila Prabhupada
hears our prayers. The guru does hear
us when we pray. Even though it was a few
years after I had joined the movement, I
would say that that was the moment that my
spiritual life began -- when I realized that
Srila Prabhupada is in the heart and that he
does hear us. There is a special
relationship.
Over the years
there were other incidents. I went back to
Los Angeles, and we always just tried to get
the mercy. We cleaned his room. We arranged
the flowers for his vases. This was all
while he was on his morning walk. The women
were very encouraged because we
had heard this
one story that on a morning walk in India
some of the sannyasis had been saying
something about what the women's position in
ISKCON should be. Srila Prabhupada just
listened. While he was on his walk, his lady
disciples had stayed behind and cleaned his
entire room, made the vases, dressed the
Deities, and cleaned the altar. When he
returned from his walk and saw his lady
disciples, he said to the sannyasis,
"Yes, but if you associate with these women
you will go back to Godhead." So we were
very encouraged. He was always very sweet,
but he especially gave his gentle,
supportive mercy to his Goddaughters. He
knew that we could not handle the other type
of mercy.
Anyway, I do not
want to dwell so much on past stories,
because after all Srila Prabhupada is still
with us. That sounds almost cliché, but it
is true that he is still here and that he is
still guiding us and smiling when we
accomplish something for him and make some
advancement. And
he chastises us in his own way when we fall.
But he still always picks us up. We can
stumble and fall, but he never lets us stay
down too long.
(Continued on Part 2)
More Final Journeys |
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Lectures
 |
Preparing for Life’s Ultimate Test
A Talk by Indradyumna Swami
April 23, 2008
Wallingford, Pennsylvania
The subject matter of the verse this
evening is obviously death. The
verse is certainly not the kind you
would expect at a sweet home program
like we’re having tonight. But I
choose it because I wanted to honor
Mother Sangita’s devotional service.
Everyone here knows that she is
helping terminally ill devotees make
a transition from one body to
another—or better yet, from their
temporary bodies to their eternal
forms in the spiritual world.
For a materialistic person the
prospect of death is frightening.
Why? For the simple reason that they
have little or no understanding of
what transpires at death. It’s
understood that people are afraid of
what they don’t know. Many people
are afraid of the dark because they
can’t see what’s happening around
them when the lights are off. In the
same way, they are afraid of death
because they are in the dark about
what happens.
But devotees of the Lord aren’t in
the dark—they know what happens at
death. The Lord explains in the
Bhagavad-gita:
dehino ’smin yatha dehe
kaumaramh yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
“As the embodied soul continuously
passes, in this body, from boyhood
to youth to old age, the soul
similarly passes into another body
at death. A sober person is not
bewildered by such a change.” (Bg
2.13)
Death is only a change of body. Life
continues, so essentially there is
nothing to lament. Even if one
doesn’t go back to Godhead, if one
has lived piously one gets a much
better birth. Krsna says to Arjuna
on the battlefield of Kuruksetra:
yadr-cchaya copa-nam
svarga dvaram apa-vritam
sukhinah ksatriyah partha
labhante yuddham idrsam
“O Partha, happy are the
ksatriyas to whom such fighting
opportunities come unsought, opening
for them the doors of the heavenly
planets.” (Bg 2.32)
In Jagannatha Puri the cremation
ground near the beach is called
svarga-ganj, the gateway to
heaven. It is understood that a
pious person may be elevated there
after death. A devotee who has not
yet fully awakened his Krsna
consciousness may also go there.
In May 1977, Srila Prabhupada wrote
posthumously to his disciple
Jayananda Prabhu, “I so hope at the
time of your death you were
remembering Krsna and as such, you
have been promoted to the eternal
association of Krsna. If not, if you
had any tinge of material desire,
you have gone to the celestial
kingdom to live with the demigods
for many thousands of years and
enjoy the most opulent life of
material existence. From there you
can promote yourself to the
spiritual world—but as you were
hearing krsna-kirtana, I am
sure that you were directly promoted
to Krsnaloka.”
Going back to Godhead is the desire
of every devotee. In order to
achieve that, a devotee knows he has
to practice Krsna consciousness
seriously, so the Lord can be
remembered at death. You could say
that the most important moment in
one’s life is the moment of death.
That may sound odd, but it’s a fact
because our consciousness at death
determines if we take birth again or
go back to Godhead.
yam yam vapi smaram bhavam
tyajaty ante kalevaram
tam tam evaiti kaunteya
sada tad bhava bhavitah
“Whatever state of being one
remembers when he quits his body, O
son of Kunti, that state he will
attain without fail.” (Bg
8.6)
Read more...
More Lectures
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If you have a photo of the
Deities in your temple or home that you
would like to share with our readers, please
send it to:
jusaniya@vaisnavascare.com. Please
include your name and where the Deities
reside.
More pictures...
|
What is
?
Do you need help as a caregiver to a
loved one and you need it now?
Caregiving.com is a very helpful
website for those of you placed in
the position of caring for a loved
one in your family. It guides you
through managing the stress involved
in caring for someone who is
chronically or terminally ill. It
will guide you through making
various decisions for you and your
loved one.
When caring for an aging relative, you may feel life has turned
upside down.
You may find yourself asking:
Why me?
Why now? What now?
At Caregiving.com, you may find many
of your answers.
Caregiving may be one of the hardest
roles you'll ever have; this website
tries to help you play your part
with dignity, graciousness and
wisdom by providing an online
support group, a caregiving forum
where you can reveal your emotions
to others who may feel the
same way, as well as joining a book
club.
Among other helpful tips, Caregiving.com will help you to care for
yourself.
We help you take care of you
with tips, ideas and suggestions.
Visit
www.caregiving.com to see
if it can offer you some help in
your role as a caregiver to your
relative or dear friend.
|
|
Memoriam
Mitravinda dasi
On Tuesday, April 22,
2008, Mitravinda dasi left this world in the association of
devotees and the holy names of Lord Krsna in Alachua,
Florida (U.S.). We at Vaisnavas CARE pray she is at eternal
peace seated at the lotus feet of His Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada. We pray she is guided by Their Lordships Sri Sri
Radha and Krsna forever. We wish that Her Grace Mitravinda
dasi is at peace serving her spiritual master eternally.
Please pray for her family and close friends who are now
feeling thoughts of detachment at this time.
On behalf of the worldwide volunteers of Vaisnavas C.A.R.E.,
The Board of Directors of V-C.A.R.E.,
Jagarini devi dasi
Jusaniya devi dasi
Kaulini devi
Nirakula devi dasi
Sangita devi dasi
More Memoriams...
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Congratulations

April, 2008
Congratulations to Ramsharan dasa (Rajesh
Anant Kadam), a disciple of HH Radhanath
Swami from the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in
Mumbai, for successfully completing the
Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. distance learning course.
Ramsharan Prabhu works in the Spiritual Care
Department at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital and
is active in many aspects of devotional
service to his Guru Maharaja and Srila
Prabhupada. The list includes:
*Writes the
Nursing School Spiritual Care curriculum
*Lectures to
all three levels of nursing students on
"Spiritual Care in Nursing."
*Organizes
and serves at the Eye Camp in Barsana
*Serves the
patients within the hospital as well as in
the Community Health Care Department.
*Serves
within the newly developed Palliative Care
Department as a Palliative Care Counselor.
We are very
honored to add Ramsharan Prabhu to the list
of worldwide devotees who have completed the
VCARE online distance learning course. We
pray it helps him in his wonderful service
to Guru and Krsna and that one day we can do
more to assist him.
We wish
Ramsharan Prabhu our best wishes and prayers
in his divine devotional service-- now and
forever.
On behalf of
the Vaisnavas CARE Board of Directors
Sangita devi dasi
President, Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. |
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Inspirational Artwork
By: Annapurna
devi dasi, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (U.S.)
May
4, 2008
During
Lord Krishna's time on this Earth
over 5,000 years ago, He performed
many incredible pastimes to protect
and impress His friends, the gopas
(cowherd boys) and the other
residents of Vrindavana. He was the
killer of the demons and the
protector of His devotees.
More
poems and painting by Annapurna devi dasi
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Newest Update
on
Bhakti Rasa Prabhu
4/5/08
Dear Readers,
This is an
excerpt from the latest letter from Bhakti
rasa Prabhu's sister, Hari Priya dasi, from
New Zealand. She very kindly sent me an
update on her brother's condition. Please
continue to send in your prayers for this
wonderful devotee and his dedicated sister
and family. By Bhakti rasa Prabhu's example,
he is showing our entire society of devotees
how to leave this material world with
dignity and in a Krsna conscious mood. His
sister is teaching us all how to remain
close and dedicated to one who is on his or
her final journey. We thank them both for
all they are showing us.
Your
servant,
Sangita devi dasi
Bhakti
rasa Prabhu and his devoted sister, Hari
Priya dasi from New Zealand
Dear Sangita didi,
All
glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.
Just
letting you know that Bhakti rasa is
still doing well, he still isn't eating
but his conscousness is quite fixed. He
can still walk around a little but with
his walking stick. He isn't afraid and
is quite happy. We are both
concentrating on our spiritual life. I
have everything that is needed for him
and are more or less ready. I love being
with him. He looks quite effulgent these
days although his body is getting
smaller.
He takes his rounds very
seriously and avoids any mundane talking,
even our parents now sit and watch a Krsna
conscious DVD with him as they want to do
what ever he needs, to help him. They aren't
devotees but they have respect for what we
follow, it also goes for our other brother
and sister.
There are also a number of devotees who are
regular visiters who come to support him.
They may only be able to come for one hour a
week to read for him but they are doing what
they can. Candravali, his daughter, and
her Mum, Sri Kari visit him every day and read to
him, plus there are the two devotees, Madhu
Pandit prabhu and Harsarani didi have been
of great support to him and still are. My
husband Vanamali is also here now and
visiting every day spending a few hours with
him.
Your servant,
Hari Priya
dasi
Beautiful painting by Hari Priya dasi
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Momji's Devotional Painting
Momji,
affectionately called by the devotees, is
the dear mother of Padmapani dasa who runs
the
Prabhupada Connect website.
Click on the
thumbnail to see a larger version of the painting
and others by Momji.
A note from Momji
I
wish to thank all the devotees of
Vaishnavas Care for all the help and
support in every respect. I cannot
express my gratitude enough.
I also thank you for helping others in
need. I'm sure that Prabhupada is very
proud of you.
Best regards to you all.
Hare Krishna.
Love,
Momji
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To our readers at
Vaisnavas C.A.R.E.,
I was given this poem on the subject of
listening. It was written by Ralph
Roughton, a man I never met, but one who
obviously knows the true meaning of
being a good listener. Being a good
listener is a large part of being a good
caregiver to a patient. It is also a
skill to be used everyday with every
person we speak with. I hope this helps
you the next time you are asked to
listen to someone who really needs you
to hear what they are saying.
Your servant,
Sangita devi dasi
On Listening
By Ralph
Roughton
When I
ask you to listen to me and you start by
giving advice, you have not done what I
asked.
When I
ask you to listen to me and you begin to
tell me why I shouldn't feel that way,
you are trampling on my feelings.
When I
ask you to listen to me and you feel you
have to do something to solve my
problem, you have failed me, strange as
it may seem.
Listen!
All I ask is that you listen, not talk
or do...just hear me.
When you
do something for me that I can and need
to do for myself, you contribute to my
fear and inadequacy.
And I can
do for myself. I'm not helpless. Maybe
discouraged and faltering, but not
helpless.
But when
you accept as simple fact that I do feel
what I feel, no matter how irrational,
then I can quit trying to convince you
and get about the business of
understanding what's behind this
irrational feeling. And when that's
clear, the answers are obvious and I
don't need advice.
Irrational feelings make sense when we
understand what's behind them.
So,
please listen and just hear me. And if
you want to talk, wait a minute for your
turn, and I will listen to you.
Comments by our
readers |
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A
disciple of Srila Prabhupada Needs
Assistance
By
Dr. Murari Gupta,
Miami, Florida (U.S.)
Hare
Krsna Prabhus,
Please accept
my dandavats. All glories to your
service. All glories to Guru and
Gauranga!
Hope you are
well in Krishna's service.
I am writing this letter because
there is a devotee who is a disciple
of Srila Prabhupada, who is
incapacitated by an advanced case of
disease known as Parkinson's
disease.
He attends every program at the
Miami temple, everyday of the year.
This devotee is 61 years old, is not
in a wheelchair, but currently has
partial right-sided paralysis. He
lives on the same block as the Miami
temple, perhaps 50 meters away, and
limps over to every morning and
evening program. He has
very advanced Parkinson's disease
that is not responding to any
medication. He needs assistance
dressing, bathing,etc.
We have the funds to pay for a
devotee to be his servant/assistant,
and assist him in these difficult
times. We are only interested in a
devotee, as a companion and servant,
and one who is interested in
attending every morning program. The
weekends will be free, and the
salary is negotiable, but we can pay
up to 400 dollars per week.
If you would
like further information, please
contact me by calling
1-305-281-3633. Kindly ask for
Murari Gupta das.
If anyone is willing to take on this
great service, I will be eternally
indebted to this great soul.
Please write
to me at
dr.murarigupta@hotmail.com
Your servant,
Murari Gupta das
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Complementary Therapies
Ayurvedic Health Practice
by Dauji Krsna devi dasi
(Dhyana
Strayhorn)
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Ayurveda, which literally
means the knowledge and wisdom of life, is the traditional healing
system of India. Often called the mother of all healing, it
originated in India over Five thousand years ago. Being a
completely holistic healing system Ayurveda treats the whole person
and not just the symptoms. It targets the root cause of disease and
when that is removed health is restored.
Ayurveda views health and
disease as the end result of how we relate to the world, in terms of
our beliefs, perceptions, thoughts, and feelings. These
cognitive and sensual modes ultimately determine our actions.
Actions in harmony with our inner nature create health, while those
inharmonious with our inner nature create disease. Ayurveda is the
science of developing greater harmony with our environment through
all of our senses, which are our door ways to the outside world.
Ayurveda assists us in
journeying back to optimal health by balancing the five elements in
the body and mind through the use of herbs, diet, colors, aromas,
lifestyle adjustments, yoga, and meditation. Along with other
five-sense, rejuvenative, and cleansing therapies, Ayurveda helps
nourish our bodies while calming our minds from the stresses of
modern daily life.
Ayurveda holds that we as
human beings actually have the inner wisdom of self healing within
us, and that by nature we are healthy. This state of being can be
attained again by living in tune with nature. Our inner nature is
called our constitution or prakruti (mind/body type), and is an
individual blend of the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The
unique balance of these three energies within us was determined at
the moment of conception, and remains with us the rest of our
lives. This constitution determines what is in harmony with our
individual natures, and what will cause us to become out of balance
and diseased. Knowledge of our constitution determines how we react
to various foods, colors, aromas, and general life habits.
Ayurveda is considered the
healing side of Yoga. In turn, Yoga is the spiritual side of
Ayurveda. Both Ayurveda and Yoga strive to help a person reconnect
to their true nature. Together, they encompass a complete approach
to the well being of the body, the mind, and the spirit. It is said
that the highest Goal of Ayurveda is to keep people healthy while
pursuing their spiritual goals.
THE FOUNDATION OF AYURVEDA
According to Vedic cosmology, the world is
made of five elements: Air, Ether, Fire, Water and
Earth. These are also the elements of which our bodies are composed.
Your constitution (mind/body type) is a fundamental and unique
balance of these elements, and is broken down into three basic
energies called Doshas. These energies are named Vata, Pitta and
Kapha. The balance in each individual is different; hence, each
individual has his or her own special set of challenges and gifts.
For this reason no two programs are identical, and each person's
path toward optimal health is unique.
Vata
The Vata dosha is composed
of the air and ether elements. This means that it possesses
qualities that are similar to both these elements. Vata is very much
like the wind: It is light, cool, dry and mobile. In the body, those
people with a Vata nature experience more of these qualities. Their
bodies tend to be light, their bones thin, and their skin and hair
dry. They often move and speak quickly. When out of balance, they
may lose weight, become constipated, and have weakness in their
immune and nervous systems.
These same qualities of Vata
are also reflected in the personality. Those with a Vata nature tend
to be talkative, enthusiastic, creative, flexible, and energetic.
Yet when out of balance, they may also become easily confused and
overwhelmed, have difficulty focusing or making decisions, and have
trouble sleeping. This becomes more apparent when they are under
stress. They are challenged by cool emotions like worry, fear and
anxiety.
In order to bring Vata into
balance, programs are designed that emphasize the opposing qualities
of warmth, heaviness (nourishment), moistness and stability. In the
diet, this is reflected in the consumption of cooked grains such as
rice and cooked vegetables as well as the intake of warm milk with
spices. Pungent herbs like ginger that increase internal heat and
nourishing herbs like ashwagandha bring balance to Vata.
Pitta
The Pitta dosha is composed of the fire and
water elements. Fire is more predominant, and those people with a
predominant Pitta nature have many of the qualities of fire within
them. Pitta tends to be hot, sharp and penetrating. It is also
somewhat volatile and oily. The oily nature of Pitta is related to
the secondary component of water. People with a Pitta nature reflect
these qualities. They tend to feel warm, have somewhat oily skin,
penetrating eyes, and sharp features. They tend to have moderate
weight and good musculature. When out of balance, they tend toward
diarrhea, infections, skin rashes, and weakness in the liver,
spleen, and blood.
These qualities are also
reflected in their personalities. Pitta people tend to be highly
focused, competitive, capable, courageous, energetic, and clear
communicators, who get right to the point. They like to solve
problems, and, when under stress, they dig in their heels. However,
they can also become overly intense and speak with a sharp tongue.
They make great friends but feared enemies. Emotionally, they are
challenged by the heated emotions of anger, resentment, and
jealousy.
In order to bring balance to
Pitta, programs are designed to emphasize the opposing qualities of
coolness, heaviness (nourishing) and dryness. Cool spices like
fennel are recommended in the diet along with foods such as raw
vegetables, cooked rice, wheat, and most beans. Sweet herbs like
shatavari are used to nourish the body, while bitters like dandelion
root temper the fire.
Kapha
Within the Kapha dosha there
is a predominance of the water and earth elements. Like these
elements, Kapha tends to be cool, moist, stable, and heavy. In the
body these qualities manifest as dense, heavy bones; lustrous,
supple skin; low metabolism; and large, stocky frames. In addition,
those with a Kapha nature tend to feel cool. When out of balance,
Kapha individuals are prone to gaining weight and tend to have
weaknesses in their lungs and sinuses-- where there is an
accumulation of mucous. Those of Kapha nature are also very prone to
non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
The elements of water and
earth are also manifested in the personality. The heavy, stable
nature of Kapha is reflected in a steady personality that is not
prone to quick fluctuations. Those with a Kapha nature handle stress
very well, often not even noticing that it exists. They don't like
change, are generally conservative, and would prefer to keep things
just the way they are. Those with a Kapha nature are also comfort
seekers. This relates to the soft, watery nature of Kapha. Too much
comfort, however, can lead to a lack of motivation and a feeling of
becoming stuck. When Kapha is out of balance, the heavy emotions of
depression and lethargy result.
In order to bring balance to
a Kapha nature, the opposing qualities of lightness, dryness, and
warmth are recommended. Grains such as quinoa and amaranth are
recommended, as well as hot spices like cayenne pepper. Lots of
vegetables and very little nuts or dairy are prescribed. Cleansing
herbs like guggul, and pungent herbs like clove bring balance to
Kapha.
In brief,
Ayurveda uses the principal of Curing that like
increases like and opposite increases opposite. So by using
the opposite qualities in Nature-- such as a cold disease with hot
foods, herbs, oils, heat producing yoga asanas etc.-- healing will
take place.
To contact Dauji Krsna go to:
http://satvaayurveda.com/
More
Complementary Therapies
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Newest Prayer Requests

Two New Prayer
Requests
May 9,
2008
Dearest Devotees,
I am
humbly asking for your prayers and
blessings for our dear Mother Sangita
(co-founder of Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. and
author of The Final Journey Complete
Hospice Care for the Departing Vaisnava).
She has given so much of herself to help
others who are suffering despite her
failing health. Sangita devi dasi is a
disciple of Srila Prabhupada and has a
great love for him and is always
thinking of how to please him be serving
the devotees. Please pray that the
Lord will help her to always focus on
Him and to take away or lessen the
immense pain she is feeling.
Please pray for strength and peace for
her.
Your
servant,
Jusaniya devi dasi
Phoenix, Arizona (U.S.)
Offer a
prayer for Sangita
May 9, 2008
Dear Vaisnavas,
I am
humbly asking all of you to kindly pray
for Kalindi devi dasi, a beloved
disciple of HH Bhakti Caru Swami.
Kalindi, who lives in Houston, Texas
(U.S.) just went through a very serious
open heart surgery. Her husband phoned
me to tell me she came out of the
surgery just fine. Now comes the most
difficult time--recovery. Please pray to
our dear Lord Krsna to give her the
strength to do what is needed to recover
from such an ordeal. Please let her know
that she has a large, extended family of
devotees around the world who care about
her. Please ask the Lord to help her
spiritually, physically, and emotionally
so she may continue her service to her
Guru and Lord Krsna.
Your
servant,
Sangita
devi dasi
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania (U.S.)
Offer a
prayer for Kalindi
More
Prayer Requests...
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Update
Gopi Lila devi dasi
Dearest
devotees, friends and family,
Please accept my respectful obeisances. All
glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I just received a late night call from HG
Malati prabhu. As many of you know Gopilila
Devi has been suffering from Cancer for the
passed several months…
Malati has just told me the most sad news
that our beloved god sister Gopilila Devi,
(disciple of HH Radhanath Swami) has left
her body. As I have heard she was in the
company of her family and many devotees from
the Boston Temple community at the time of
her passing.
Gopilila Devi, wife of HariBhakti and mother
to Gopal Bhatta das (age 9) and Vrinda Devi
(age 5), was a very special member of our
very own Columbus community for about 2 ½
years before moving with her family to
china. Before coming to Columbus, Gopilila
and family lived in New Vrindavan for many
years serving their lordships Sri-Sri
Vrindavan Chandra and the entire New
Vrindavan community. Gopilila Devi was
especially fond of the cows and did lots of
service for Vrindavan Chandra’s cows in New
Vrindavan. Gopal Bhatta, was born in a small
house right across the street from Sri-Sri
Radha Vrindavan Chandra’s temple and Vrinda
devi was born in a house 1 block away from
Sri-Sri Radha-Natabara’s temple here in
Columbus.
There is so many wonderful memories I am now
flooded with hearing of her passing. I am
shocked and sad to think of being separated
from her in this world, my heart and deepest
concern go out to her family, Husband
HariBhakti and young children at this
difficult time.
I humbly request that all the devotees
please offer your loving prayers that lord
Krishna Protects Gopilila’s loved ones and
quickly carries her back to the shelter of
his lotus feet.
Your Aspiring Servant,
Rasa Vilasini d.d.
Offer a
prayer for Gopi Lila... |
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Lighting One Candle at a Time...
Submitted by Sangita devi dasi, RN, CHPN on
May 8, 2008
In a recent issue of Oncology Times (www.oncology-times.com),
a journal for those working in the field of
caring for patients with cancer, they
explained, "The world of poetry is a means
of expression and source of comfort for many
who care for cancer patients."
This sparked an idea which may assist some
of our readers who have survived cancer or
have cared for someone who passed away due
to a diagnosis of cancer. If you would like
to submit your writings about your
experience surviving cancer or being a
caregiver to a loved one who passed away
from cancer, we are asking you to send your
realizations to:
jusaniya@vaisnavascare.com. Your deep
feelings and spiritual awareness may help
spark someone else's similar emotions and
spiritual realizations. Through
connecting with one person, you may then
connect with another person, and one more
after that. It is like lighting a candle,
then lighting another one with that flame,
and then, using the same flame to light a
candle for someone else, in order for many
people to open up and see further inside
themselves. You need not express your
experience in poetry form, but through any
genre you choose. .
To write about your experience, you need to
truly get in touch with your own experience.
It may help to keep a journal or write short
notes or just a sentence or two about what
you are going through now or went through in
the past. This is your beginning. As you
start to better understand yourself, it will
become easier to understand others. It is as
simple as that! Look inside your own heart,
then try to look inside someone else. You
will soon see how much easier it is to touch
the emotional and spiritual part of even a
stranger.
Someone you have never met, possibly living
across the globe, will read your heartfelt
message, and thank you somehow for sharing
it with him. |
Would any
others like to help start a Cancer
Support Group on V-CARE?
May,
2008
Dear
Readers,
Hare
Krsna. We ask you to kindly read the
letter below from Bhakta Wil and to
hear his story of how he just went
through chemotherapy to fight his
cancer. He is looking for others who
also went through fighting cancer,
even if it was done using other
methods than chemotherapy, or those
who are going through fighting
cancer right now. In this way, all
of you can form a support group to
share stories, get to know one
another, give one another guidance
and help, etc. Please read his
article and if you desire to be one
of the first on the list to start
this group with Bhakt Wil, please
write to
jusaniya@msn.com.
Thank you so much. This group will
help so many who need the courage
and strength from others who
understand.
Your
servants at Vaisnavas C.A.R.E.
Hare Krsna!
My dear Prabhus, Matajis, didis,
Recently I completed treatment for
cancer. It was very arduous time for
me
and my caregiver. I only wish I knew
of this website during my treatment.
But the Lord has brought me to it
now; perhaps it's now I need it the
most.
As I said I completed treatment, but
now that it's all over I have been
feeling very stressed out and
depressed. I try to do japa, but my
concentration is very low. I seem to
be getting stressed out over that as
well. Is there anyone who has
experienced this as well? I would
like some advice to get back on the
ball as they say.
I should mention that I'm a social
worker and am very interested in
working with the terminally-ill and families. So if there is some sort of
volunteer work I could offer, please
let me know.
Thank you for
this service,
All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Yours in service,
Bhakta Wil.
Please send discussions
here and they will be posted.
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Transcendental Nectar
Submitted on May 6,
2008
"This Krsna consciousnesss
movement is meant for the purpose of
understanding God. The spiritual master
is the living representative of Krishna
who helps externally, and Krishna as
Supersoul helps internally. The living
entity can take advantage of such
guidanc | |