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Prayer Request for Gokulananda dasa

The Unfortunate Passing of an ISKCON Youth

At Vaisnavas C.A.R.E., we are sad to announce the passing of Gokulananda dasa
(Kevin Michael Simmons) on Friday, June 20, 2008. Gokulananda was a former student in the New Vrindavan and Mayapur, India Gurakulas. He took his life by suicide in Marina Del Rey, California (U.S.). He was 36 years old and had been living in Los Angeles for the past 5 years.

We offer our deepest condolences to his mother, Mahidhara dasi, as well as his sister Jayanti dasi and brother Nanda Kishore dasa.

A memorial service was held in Marina Del Rey on Sunday, June 29. We are humbly asking for your prayers asking for strength and peace for his loving and grieving family members as well as his dear friends. Kindly send in your prayers to be posted for the shortened life of a special devotee that ended tragically. We thank you in advance for your sincere words of comfort for those closest to Gokulananda dasa.

For more information, please write to: chaitanya.mangala@gmail.com

August 15, 2008

Please accept your humble servant Gokulananda, who took his life to remove himself from the pain of this material existence, in part due to the pain inflicted upon him by dispicable individuals that tormented Gokula and other Gurukulis.

I remember Gokula from my days as a Gurukuli in New Vrindavan and experienced the pain and suffering that has tormented all Gurukulis who lived through this period. Oh Lord, please give me the strength to carry on and never forget those Gurukulis who have past on to a better life at the Lord's feet.

Richard Villa (AKA Sarathi)

July 27, 2008

Dear Sriman Gokulananda Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to you.

Although I never met you personally, the fact that you attended Gurukula at such a young age means I feel nothing less than in total awe of you, respecting you as one of the greatest souls who ever took birth on this planet in this ever so difficult age. It pains me to no end to learn what you and the other Gurukulis at the time had to silently endure at the hands of mean-spiritedness and gross ignorance in the name of so-called devotional service.

I was a young brahmacari in ISKCON in the early 70's, and although I joined the movement fresh out of High School at 18 years old, I had (and have) nothing but total respect and love for all of you Gurukulis, knowing you to be the rare jewels of our movement and so very very dear to Srila Prabhupada. What happened to you and many of your peers is absolutely despicable and beyond all belief and comprehension. I'm so very very sorry for that. You all deserved so much better - the very best in fact - as Prabhupada himself so much wanted for you, without a doubt. Unfortunately, you were failed miserably - one of the greatest tragedies of all time.

Despite this great travesty of justice, Lord Krishna knows and sees all -- and surely, without a shred of doubt, your suffering will be transformed into the highest spiritual joy, by Srila Prabhupada's divine grace and love. Prabhupada will never forget or forsake you, even though you have suffered so much in this rotten material world.

My humble prayers, respect, and love go out to you, Dear Prabhu, and to all of your friends and family members who love you so much. Ultimately, there will be a happy ending to this story for sure, Dear Godbrother, and to all those who know and love you, because you always have Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna on your side.

Thank you so much for coming to this world to bless us all, and I only wish that I could have helped and served you while you were here among us in physical form. Surely Prabhupada is now caring for you, and all your pain and suffering are finished for good. This is my humble prayer and wish for you.

Once again, all glories to YOU, Sriman Gokulananda Prabhu - and may your family and friends be pacified in the knowledge that your life served a great purpose here on Earth and that you're now bathing in the ocean of divine love that you so rightly deserve.

Best wishes and love to you always.

Your ever-respectful servant,
Padmapani das

July 10, 2008

Dear Lord Narsimhadeva,

You so lovingly remove all the obstacles on devotional path. Kindly shower
all Your mercy on Gokulananda Prabhu and all his loved ones.

Kindly protect all the devotees in ISKCON and outside so that everyone can
happily serve Your divine mission of spreading the Holy Name everywhere.

Aspiring to be the servant of Your servants,
Ram Vilas das

July 4, 2008

Dear Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundara,

Please shower Your divine mercy on Gokulananda das, who unfortunately took his own life. Please remember all the services he has done for You, his good intentions, his enthusiasm and his friendship with devotees. You always see the best in everyone, so please help his soul to reach a better destination. Please also give comfort to his family and friends, who must feel very shocked after his passing away. Let them always find shelter in Your Holy names.

Your servant,
Kalindi d.d.

July 2, 2008

I humbly offer my prayers at the lotus feet of Sri Krishna begging Him to allow Gokulananda receive guidance and mercies from the Lord to continue his devotional service in the eternal abode. Lord please grant peace, solace, strength to the grieving mother, sister, brother and friends of Gokulananda.

Always in need of Your mercies.
Your servant,
Sriji dasi

July 2, 2008

My dear Lord Krsna,

I am begging You to please show Your unlimited mercy to Your servant, Gokulananda dasa, who was raised as Your devotee since the beginning of his life. Apparantly, he was so unhappy within this material world of suffering that he chose to end his life at an early age. We are certain that You will consider all of the devotional service he has performed within his life and bless him so he does not have to suffer so much for this untimely death. Please show him Your beloved mercy. Please, Lord Krsna, grant courage, strength, and wisdom to his mother, and family and friends who must be missing him terribly at this time of separation. Please help them all to chant your holy names, the source of all spiritual strength, which is a direct link to Your lotus feet.

Your humble servant,
Sangita devi dasi (ACBSP)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (U.S.)

July 1, 2008

I humbly pray at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Gaur Nitai to please shower Their most merciful protection and guidance to Gokulanand Prabhu. I humbly beg to give eternal place to him under the shelter of Their most divine lotus feet.

Your servant,
Sacitanuja Das

July 1, 2008

Beloved Srila Prabhupada, and Sri Krsna, Please place this lost soul into Your protections so that he may be again happy in devotional service, and relish the lotus feet and protection that they give. My prayers go to Gokulananda dasa and his family who must be anxious. But know that the prayers of the Vaisnavas can give peace, calming the suffering hearts. So please except this prayer that the Lord will give you all Krsna Consciousness to help you and your loved one back home, back to Lord Krsna and Srila Prabhupada's lotus feet.

Lilavilasini dd

June 29, 2008

My Dear Sri Sri Gaur Nitai,

I am humbly praying they You will protect and guide Your devotee Gokulananda dasa and allow him to continue on his spiritual journey in service to You. Please shower Your unlimited mercy upon him and give him shelter in the soothing shade of Your lotus feet. Please also give spiritual peace and strength to his loving family at this most difficult time.

Your humble servant,
Jusaniya devi dasi

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