Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Inc.

-C.A.R.E.

Counseling, Assistance, Resource, and Education
for the terminally-ill and their family

Kaumadaki devi dasi's Final Journey
Written by her friend
Kriyashakti devi dasi

Hare Krsna Dear Friends,

Please accept my most humble obeisance. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, our ever well wisher.

On this day of July 3, 2008 @ 5:45 PST our dear godsister, Kaumudaki dd, disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, has been lovingly guided by her spiritual master to depart this world, carried by the transcendental sound vibration HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA
KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.

In loving service
I beg to remain...

Kriyashakti dd

offer a prayer for Kaumadaki dd

Newsletter & Events

Another Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Seminar at the ISKCON Philadelphia Temple

Upon the request of many of the devotees who were unable to attend the V-CARE hospice seminar given last March in Philadelphia, we will be holding another seminar on Sunday, July 13, 2008. This new seminar discusses how we can give emotional and spiritual care to a dying Vaisnava.

Given by Sangita devi dasi, RN, CHPN, Certified Hospice Educator, the seminar will be from 10 a.m. until approximately 4 p.m. July 13^th is Ekadasi so we will provide appropriate snacks and drinks for participants, as well as an Ekadasi lunch at the temple.

Some of the subjects that will be discussed will be:

The history of the hospice movemen.

The special needs of Vaisnava patient.

Personal Death Awareness Exercises.

Discussion of Living Wills/Advance Directives.

The stages of dying.

The dying devotee�s Bill of Rights.

Experiencing a Terminal Illness

Exploring your innermost feelings related to death and dying

Typical anxieties experienced by the dying

Spiritual pain and issue

Communicating with one who is dying

Being a �Healing Presence"

Care of the Caregiver

Guided Imagery as a relaxation technique

In addition, this seminar will include role-play between participants. Students will be asked to sit in front of the class while one acts in the role of the dying patient and the other will be in the role of the caregiver. In this way, participants will have a chance to practice their communication skills before they are actually assisting a terminally ill devotee or loved one.

If you are interested in attending, kindly call the ISKCON Philadelphia temple at: 215-247-4106.

In Medical News

In Medical News�

Posted July 1, 2008

New Blood Test May Be Able to Detect Early Signs of Lung Cancer

A preliminary study presented at a recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting stated that a new blood test might be able to identify markers of lung cancer years before the disease becomes clinically manifest.

Patients who were followed after the test showed an 80 percent accuracy rate when they developed early signs of lung cancer just two years after the blood test predicted that they would. Since early detection of many other cancers have shown to lead to better outcomes, including fewer relapses and less deaths, this is a big step in lowering the number of deaths caused by lung cancer. In addition, this test would help the patients to need less aggressive treatments since the disease would be found in its earlier stages.

Lung cancer is usually developed from smoking cigarettes, long-term exposure to asbestos, and a family history involving close family members who died of lung cancer. This is good news for those who are fighting genetics with immediate family members who suffered from this illness.

Transcendental Nectar

Posted on July 1, 2008

Srila Prabhupada spoke the following words about the Bhagavad-gita As It Is:

(Reprinted from the BBT Photo Archives)

Just like we are trying to find out water in the desert.

That is the example, mirage, false... There is no water.

But the, the animal, he sees that there is water, vast water,

and he runs after it and dies. So here in this material world

also, every one of us, running after the false mirage,

that "There is happiness, there is happiness, there is happiness."

This is called material condition, and we are envious.

This is the position, and therefore Krishna begins the

Bhagavad-gita to get us out of this ignorance and enviousness,

and this is the basic principle of Bhagavad-gita.

More Transcendental Nectar...

Kaumadaki devi dasi's Journey Poems
Sent in by her friend
Kriyashakti devi dasi

All poem submissions

THE HOLY NAME

Out in the Nama Hatta Markerplace,
Lord Krsna's Holy name
is heard and sung ecstatically
since Sri Caitanya came.

The Master of the marketplace
is Nitynanda Ram.
The storehouse of the treasure there
is Srimad Bhagavatam.

And traveling representatives
with books go street to street,
disributing the holy Name
to everyone they meet.

Kaumadaki Dasi
2006

offer a prayer for Kaumadaki dd

V-CARE Hospice Room on the Gita Nagari Farm

Will Open Soon

Recently there was a surge of energy to purchase and decorate the first V-CARE Hospice Room located on the Gita Nagari farm in Port Royal, Pennsylvania where HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami departed from this world. He praised this farm as being sacred land where Srila Prabhupada had walked on its ground and watched the beautiful cows and bulls. Mother Kaulini dasi is the Temple President there and desired to begin with one nicely decorated room dedicated to those who wish to also leave their body on the farm where Sri Sri Radha Damodara reside.

With the help of many devotees across the U.S., donations of money and items were continually sent to decorate the room which now looks sparkling clean and beautiful with new furniture, lovely new linens, new dishes, Srila Prabhupada's books, and MP3 player, and a TV with a DVD player. The Arya family in Philadelphia donated many medical supplies as well. When a devotee has a prognosis of one month to live as told by their physician, they can spend their final month or so in this room listening to the sounds of the peacocks and kirtan from the temple room next door. To begin, we are requesting that any terminally ill devotee who chooses to come here bring one full time caregiver (a family member or friend) who will be relieved occasionally by volunteer devotees.

This Sunday, His Grace Madhava Pandit, RN, has agreed to paint the walls a clean white. After that, we will post photos of the completed room for all of you to see.

You will be quite surprised and happy to know that such a room exists now in the U.S. whenever a devotee is terminally ill and wishes to spend his or her final days in a transcendental farm community in ISKCON.

Thank you to all of the donors and to Mitravinda Prabhu, a disciple of HH Bhakta Tirtha Swami, who made calls and asked for donations for this wonderful project. We wish all of our donors happiness and peace in your Krsna consciousness. We could not have done this without your generosity and assistance and love for the Vaisnavas.

Thank you on behalf of Kaulini Prabhu and the Vaisnavas CARE Board of Directors.

Final Journeys

Submitted by Sarvabhauma Dasa,
August 4, 2006

The Transcendental Disappearance of Mother Kirtida devi dasi

Hare Krsna and pamho. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I did not know Mother Saranagati, but met her in Vrndavana when I interviewed her for a book about my godsister Kirtida Devi Dasi, who passed away in Dallas in June, 2001. Both these devotees had retired to Vrndavana in their final years and became close friends in the dhama. Although they originally hoped to leave their bodies in Vrndavana, each departed not Sri Vrndavana dhama, but in the West during the hot Vrndavana summer near their home temples, and - by Krishna's arrangement - in the physical association of their spiritual masters.

Mother Kirtida financed the bhoga for the Deity of Lalita Sakhi at the temple in Unchogaon for several years, and when Kirtida passed away, Mother Saranagati continued this service.

In an excerpt from my book, Elegant Saint: The Life of Kirtida Devi (to be published in early 2007)Saranagati discussed her service in Unchogaon:

Kirtida brought me here to U�chogaon and I fell in love with her spirit here, which was in the mood of Lalit�-sakh�. She used to supply the money for bhoga each month. There�s a story in the Old Testament about Elijah�s mantle falling on somebody, and I felt as if K�rtid�s mantle fell on me � so I have just carried on. It is my pleasure to try to keep her service going on here. We bring the food regularly, and I have taken Lalit� Devi a couple of outfits. During the winter, Lalit� Devi looked cold, so I had a couple of wool outfits made.

Saranagati personally assumed the expense for the bhoga and deity outfits in the little temple in Unchogaon, just as K�rtid� had done. When �ac�nandana Swami spent the K�rtika month in U�chogaon in 2004, he found that the new priest and assistants at Lalit�s temple � who have replaced �r� R�dh� Rama�a B�b�j� since he passed away � exhibited an unusally cordial mood toward the ISKCON devotees:

In the Lalit�-sakh� temple they are very kind devotees who immediately had a high opinion of us, most probably because of the services of Mother K�rtid� and Mother Saranagati. They were very respectful; in fact they did something that no one does in Vraja: they switched off the temple loudspeakers, just so that we could do our bhajan undisturbed!

More Final Journeys

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.

Cancer Information Website

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

And many more�

If interested, please click here

About Vaisnavas C.A.R.E.

Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. integrates the knowledge of caring for the terminally-ill with the spiritual wisdom given to us by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Inc. (aka V-C.A.R.E.) is a non-profit organization, based in the US, that is dedicated to providing Counseling, Assistance, Resources, and Education for the terminally-ill and their loved ones. Educational seminars for volunteer caregivers as well as healthcare professionals are provided for those interested in becoming part of this mission. An online course is included in this website that can give one a basic understanding of caring for the terminally-ill and their family. See our get to know us page for further information.

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

Srila Prabhupada often reminded us that we can visit the holy dhama with the speed of the mind. Now, thanks to modern technology, we can have daily darshan of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and the Asta Sakhis in Sri Mayapur dhama. Please click here and see wonderful videos of mangala arotika, greeting of the Deities, etc. Associate with Their Lordships with "mindspeed."

Visit Sri Vrndavana Dhama with a Click of a Button

Bhakti Rasa Prabhu
June, 2008

Dear Readers,
We are humbly asking you to kindly continue your prayers for Bhakti Rasa dasa who is preparing for his final journey from this world in a hospice facility in New Zealand. This is a photo of him at Rathayatra,along with his loving sister Hari Priya dasi. Hari Priya, her husband, Bhakti rasa's parents, daughter, and other family members, as well as loving devotees, have been caring for him for quite some time now as his illness has progressed. At this point he is growing weaker, but continues to stay enlivened about his Krsna consciousness and hearing and chanting of the holy names.

Please pray for this sincere disciple of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami as well as for his loving family and friends who have given him so much support. We will keep you posted as to how he is doing. Thank you so very much.

V-CARE Board of Directors

Offer a prayer for Bhakti Rasa

Living Wills/Advanced Directives
October 11, 2006

What medical interventions would you want done if you suddenly suffered a stroke that left you brain-damaged and unable to swallow? Would you want physicians to provide you with artificial nutrition through a surgically inserted feeding tube? If you were injured in a car accident and unable to breath would you want doctors to place you on a ventilator to breath for you? What if you had a severe heart attack and stopped breathing? Would you want to be resuscitated?

These scenarios occur every day to people around the world bringing to our attention the issues of end-of-life care and life-sustaining medical treatment. If one of these tragedies happened to you, would you be prepared to let your doctors know what you would want done (or not done) if you were unable to speak for yourself? Without having a written document to speak for you your family would be faced with some very difficult decisions. But, if you have prepared a Living Will, making your wishes known in writing, the burden of making such decisions would be lifted from your family and you would receive the exact care you wanted.

Briefly stated, a Living Will is a written record of your wishes concerning what life-sustaining medical treatment you would want (or not want) if you were ever unable to make these decisions for yourself due to an accident or terminal illness. It is a legal document (in some countries) that is signed, dated and witnessed (and notarized, if required in your area) and serves as an advanced directive should you be unable to express your desires at the time such treatment might be administered. Advanced directives are not meant to limit medical treatment, but are meant to speak for you if and when you are unable to do so yourself. A living will protects your right to die with dignity. It assures that treatment will be limited to comfort measures and pain management, including any discomfort that might occur as a result of withholding life-sustaining treatment.

Need to call devotees in another country and don't want to wake them up?

Go to the world clock website below to find out what time it is there.

Check Time Here
Outside Link

At V-CARE we highly recommend you visit the website below to learn more about pain management for cancer and non-cancer pain. They will even send you a catalog filled with printed matter such as newsletters, booklets, CD-roms, etc. that they will send you for no charge. (They even pay shipping). This is a wonderful site to become famliar with whether you are a medical professional or a layperson interested in being a caregiver to the terminally ill.

Partners Against Pain�

Keeping you informed about new developments in pain management.

In 1993, Purdue (a pharmaceutical company based in the U.S.) created Partners Against Pain^� (PAP) to forge an informational alliance among physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospice personnel, pain experts, patients, and caregivers in the fight to ease cancer and non-cancer pain. Purdue sponsors the award-winning website - www.partnersagainstpain.com- an invaluable resource that provides pain information, assessment tools, and support 24 hours a day.

"Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Hospice Flat" in Vrindavana is Re-finished and Available for Terminally ill devotees

By the mercy of our donors, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundara, and one devotee gentleman who did all of the work but wishes to remain annonymous, the Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. Hospice Flat in the holy dhama of Vrindavana, India has recently been refurnished, and stocked with new kitchen, bathroom supplies and comfortable furniture for any devotee around the world who is terminlly ill and wishes to leave his or her body within the auspicious holy dhama. This is the same flat previously known as the "Temporary Hospice." Since Yadunandana Prabhu asked Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. to take over this much-needed project, we have paid the rent and electricity monthly. Any terminally ill devotee can contact us at: www.vaisnavascare.com to make arrangements to spend their final days in the holy dhama. It is a studio apartment with a nice kitchen and private bathroom graciously rented to us by Pranada dasi and her husband.

We are asking anyone who needs the use of this flat to bring at least one full time caregiver (friend, relative, etc) with you to the dhama. Once there, you may choose your own type of care and physician to care for you.

We thank our generous donors who contribute to V-CARE for the maintenance of this flat in Vraja. We could not do this without all of you. We especially would like to thank the gentleman who worked so hard in re-furnishing this flat, but has requested his name be withheld. We pray that he receives the mercy of Srimati Radharani for what he has done in the service of Srila Prabhupada and his followers.

Yours on behalf of the Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. worldwide team of volunteers.

The V-CARE Board of Directors.

Jusaniya devi dasi
Jagarini devi dasi
Kaulini dasi
Nirakula devi dasi
Sangita devi dasi

See pictures of the flat below:

Momji's Devotional Painting

More of Momji's Paintings

Dear Devotees,

Momji, as she has been named by the devotees in Canada, who is the mother of Padmapani dasa, a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada, has just sent us another beautiful painting for all of us to see. Although she is elderly and her eyes are failing her, she still gets so much joy from painting pictures that glorify Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna. She is a very special devotee of the Lord and we are most fortunate to have her contribute to the Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. website. We wish her and her son the best in their Krsna consciousness and thank them for their continual gifts to all of us. We pray Momji stays well in all respects. Our thanks to Padmapani Prabhu for the special love and care he gives to his dear mother out of love, appreciation and duty as a true Vaisnava. May Lord Krsna bless them both in every way.

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

A Vaisnavi Living in Vrindavan Needs a Caregiver

Dear Sangita Prabhu,

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

I am writing this on behalf of Nanda Devi Dasi, a disciple of His Holiness Hrydananda Maharaja. At this time she was not able to write for her self. She lives at the MVT in Vrindavan and is suffering from MS. She needs a western mataj ,no nurse required, to come and stay with her and assist her. Cleaning is done by a cleaning lady. She needs help walking to the toilet once there she is ok, and help walking to the bathroom, she can bath her self and dress her self. She need western cooking done as that is easier for her to digest. She needs general around the house things done as she is not able. She would of course pay their way to Vrindavan, the person would stay with her. And of course some maintence money. Do you know of any one who would like to do this servce and can handle it well. She needs help now so the sooner they can come the better. Your servant,

Thakurani Devi Dasi

If you are interested in this service, please contact, thakuranidd@gmail.com

Deity Meditations

Posted July 1, 2008

Sri Hanumanji from the Bhaktivedanta Manor
England

We thank Her Grace Lilavilasini devi dasi (JPS)from Terne, Italy for submitting this beautiful photo.

Hanumanji, the monkey warrior who is the son of the God of the wind, spent his life devoted to Their Lordships

Sri Sri Sita-Rama and is still worshiped throughout the world as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance and devotion.

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...

WHILE I CAN SPEAK
By HIS GRACE ANUBHAVANANDA DAS ACBSP

Gifted to
Kaumadaki devi dasi

O my dear souls, while I can speak,
I must approach you, most humble and meek.....

With straws pressed in between my teeth,
I beg to Srila Prabhupada,
to kindly make me speak.....

Please hear my friends my final request,
when it comes the time for so called death......

Please just cry out jaya Prabhupada,
with all of your hearts,
right now and as my soul departs....

Tears of love now feel my eyes,
as in my soul I realize,
Srila Prabhupada is with us,
he shall answer our soulful cries,
to please him with our meager lives.

So please cry out Jaya Prabhupada,
there is no need to lament or sob,
all I can remember now, is Krishna, God,
as I cry out to you all, chant Jaya Prabhupada........

It feels like soon my soul shall leave,
but I swear to you, no need to grieve,
for in Prabhupada I deeply believe,
who sits right near to answer my need....

Jaya Prabhupada, please cry out,
and feel his most ecstatic love
for his surrendered crowd
and let there be no doubt.....

Please believe me, I'm being sincere,
I think pretty soon, I'm leaving here,
and so my friends, all I want to hear,
is Jaya Prabhupada, loud and clear!!!!!

This fallen soul is foolish as can be,
yet he cries out Jaya Prabhupada,
feeling Prabhupada's victory.....

of coming to us praying for a guide,
so just throw up your hands,
and release your foolish pride.......

there is nothing left to do,
but cry out our Lord Krishna's Names,,
when all wisdom makes it's reign.....

lost we are with out Prabhupada's mercy,
so let us just accept it,
and stop this useless cursing,
not knowing is the worst thing....

I now fall down at Prabhupada's feet,
who made me speak what he wanted to speak,
always feeling most humble and meek,
just cry out Jaya Prabhupada,
knowing he is all we need!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prabhupada is our life and soul,
that is all we need to know,
and cry out Jaya Prabhupada,
with all of your hearts,
to fully bless this fallen soul,

as he blissfully departs,
back to Krishna's Supreme abode,......

no!!! don't you have any doubt,
these most dear cries please loudly shout,
Jaya Prabhupada!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaya Prabhupada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jaya Prabhupada!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
everywhere, all about!!!!!!!!!!

I just pray to Prabhupada's Servant's most sweet,
just give me your association,
which alone makes life complete,
feeling near Prabhupada's blissful Lotus Feet.

when we just trust in Lord Krishna's
and Prabhupada's Lotus Feet,
all shall be revealed ,in our time of need,
this faith alone makes life succeed...

This poem was written,
because death feels so near,
and forgetting Prabhupada and Krishna,
is all that I fear,

so this final request,
I just want you to hear.

When crying out Jaya Prabhupada,
we get Prabhupada's presence,
who is always in union with Krishna, God,
bestowing life's highest blessings.....

We get the greatest mercy,
when praising Krishna's Servants,
They are the only means,
to get Lord Krishna's mercy.

This is the scripture's conclusion,
it is not a concocted illusion,
it is only Krishna's pure Servants,
who deliver every solution.

They alone know Krishna in truth,
as the Supreme Personality,
Who plays the sweetest Flutes,
and by Krishna's Will alone,
everything does move...

But not knowing Prabhupada,
and his most exalted position,
where would we all be,
would we know of Lord Sri Krishna?
would we know just why we're existing?

What do we really have to grasp,
that we know shall always last,
it is Prabhupada alone,
who gave us Krishna's Hand,
to carry us across this dead wasteland.

But forgetful we are,
this is our plight,
so let us cry out for Srila Prabhupada,
with all of our might,
for the rest of our life.

Knowing his mercy won't fail us,
knowing his mercy is forever,
living in his books, pictures and servants,
only getting better and better and better...

So please just cry out Jaya Prabhupada,
who gave us Krishna's Names to chant,
so we may deliver all around us,
to pure love's ecstatic trance,

to eternally feast and sing and dance.....

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

Lectures

Mother Kirtida�s Disappearance Day
A Talk by Giriraj Swami
July 8, 2002
Dallas

Before coming to the program here, I took the opportunity to visit Mother Kirtida�s last room in Rasikendra Prabhu�s house and to hear from him and Mother Padadhuli about their experiences with her. But it was really after they left the room�after everyone left the room for a few minutes�that I was able to have my own experience with her. Then, alone in the room with her, I felt like crying, and the words to a song came in my mind.

The song has great significance to me. Its lyrics are in English, and it was sung by our godbrother Mangalananda Prabhu many years ago. At that time, I used to listen only to the songs that Srila Prabhupada had given us, the ones in Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas, but someone had handed me Mangalananda Prabhu�s tape. Around April of 1977, in Bombay, I became very sick. Srila Prabhupada was there at the time, living in his new quarters on the top floor of the west tower in Juhu. For two or three days I was practically just lying on the floor in my little office, and I thought, �Let me listen to the tape.� So, there was one song that very much affected me, and after I heard it the first time I would listen to it again and again.

During that period, Srila Prabhupada himself was very ill, and we knew that he would probably be leaving soon. I was thinking, �What will happen after he leaves?� Once I even thought, �What will happen to me?� Prabhupada had always protected me; and in his own way Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja had also protected me, but at the time Goswami Maharaja wasn�t the GBC there anymore. So I was thinking, �What will happen to me after Prabhupada leaves?� and I would listen to the tape over and over again.

So, when the other devotees left and I was alone in Mother Kirtida�s room, the song came back in my mind. The words are about going back to Godhead. In 1977 when I would hear the song I would think of Srila Prabhupada going back to Godhead. In one sense I would be happy, because obviously he was going back to Godhead�although in one sense he was already back to Godhead. And I also felt, �This is also my destination. One day I am also destined to go to the same place.� But after that period in 1977 I never listened to the song again, because I was afraid it would bring back the memory of those days too strongly, and even until today I haven�t listened to it again. But when the devotees left Mother Kirtida�s room, the words to the song came to me. It begins with a wonderful description of what devotees are like, what they�we�do, and what happens to us, what result we get:

Selflessness relieves distress

Gentle rains of happiness

Put out the burning fire of life

Transport the soul beyond all strife

Past starry night and cruel death

For those who give their living breath

Upon their lips the holy name

In praise of he who came

To them a store of bliss is known

And hidden worlds to them are shown.

And then there is a beautiful description of the spiritual abode, the life that is our goal:

Where the Supreme Lord fills every eye

Sweet jubilation fills the sky

As dancing milkmaids and cowherd boys

Play in forests green with joys

Of bael and jackfruit lily white

An endless full-moon nectar night

Of dancing magic loving smiles

And gopi damsels� playful wiles

They sport in lotus lakes with He

Whose glances taste of ecstasy.

That is the song, and in 1977, when Prabhupada was so ill, I would listen to it again and again. I knew Prabhupada was going, and I knew this was my goal and destination, but I had no idea when I would reach it. Then, somehow, at that moment in Mother Kirtida�s room this morning, I felt, �Yes, it is possible at the end of this life��which seems inconceivable to me, because of all my disqualifications and attachments. But now, reflecting on how is it possible that someone like me could get such an idea from Mother Kirtida, I got an answer: It is by her mercy and the mercy of her lords and masters. But it�s all by her mercy; her mercy is so strong that it is even more powerful than my attachment to the material world. At that moment, by her mercy, I felt that somehow I was gradually letting go of that attachment to�loosening my grip on�the material world. And I feel confident that anyone who takes shelter of Mother Kirtida and through her, shelter of her gurudeva, Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, and through him Srila Prabhupada�anyone who does so can definitely go back to Godhead and be with them in the spiritual world at the end of this very lifetime.

Mother Kirtida ki jaya!

His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja ki jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Nitai-gaura-premanande hari-haribol!

More Lectures

Inspirational Artwork by Annapurna devi dasi Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (U.S.)
Submitted May 29, 2008

"Krsna is always remembered, and His name is always chanted by millions of devotees, but the devotees never become saturated. Instead of becoming disinterested in thinking of Krsna and in chanting His holy name, the devotees get newer and newer impetus to continue the process. Therefore Krsna is ever-fresh. Not only Krsna Himself, but also Krsna's knowledge is ever-fresh. The Bhagavad-gita, which was imparted 5,000 years ago, is still being read repeatedly by many, many men, and still new light is always being found in it. Therefore, Krsna and His name, fame, qualities -- and everything in relationship with Him -- is ever-fresh."

(Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 22)

Our special thanks to Annapurna devi dasi for sharing her beautiful artwork with our readers from around the world. It enlivens them, inspires them, and helps them to happily continue in their devotional service. Thank you, Annapurna.

More poems and painting by Annapurna devi dasi

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.

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.

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

A Devotee's Father in Italy has an Auspicious Departure

Dear Prabhus,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his mercy to his devotees.

For the past five years, a nice devotee named Akarsini Radhika dasi and her wonderful mother, took care of Akarsini's dear father who suffered from a heart condition and cancer. Relentlessly his daughter and loving wife cared for him day and night without complaints and did the needful to make him comfortable and feel loved. He just passed away a couple of days ago. We wish to thank them for all they did and to tell them how much of an example they are for the rest of our Krsna consciousness society. Akarsini Radhika, a devoted disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami, did her duty as a fine daughter should and helped both her sick father as well as her exhausted mother. They live in Bari, Italy.

Below is something Akarsini wanted to share with all of you. At the bottom, if you wish, kindly post a prayer for her father and the family to recovery from such a long ordeal.

My father had always been inimical toward Krsna Consciousness because I'm his only child and he never wanted to say Krsna. At the very most he said, "Krish". But at the end of May while he was very very sick he became more accepting and said Krsna. He said I could read Krsna Book to him. I never thought this would happen. Then on different occasions I chanted for him and in the night I did the evening program loudly. He never complained. One night he was lamenting for the pain and I asked if there was something which I could do for him and he said: "Chant!". My mother and I were both very surprised. He also
started saying "Krsna" every time I asked him to.

The last day of his life he could not eat, he could not even drink.The only way he could get hydration was to let him suck on a piece of cotton immersed in water. All day he just took caranamrita from the Rome temple and from saligrama silas. He also took all kinds of mahaprasadam. The day of his departure he listened to Srila Prabhupada's recording all day and in the night at 10.30 p.m. he entered into a coma-like state and from then on I chanted next to his ear until the he left his body.
Thank you so much to all the devotees because all of this could not have happened without your causeless blessings and prayers. My mother and I thank you all very very much.

Your servant, Akarsini Radhika devi dasi
Rome, Italy

We at Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. are humbly asking you to please post a prayer for Akarsini and her mother who lovingly cared for their husband and father for five long years. They are examples for all of us. Please send your loving prayers HERE

Newest Prayer Requests

New Prayer Requests

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.

Offer a prayer for Gokulananda

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

Ask a Nurse

June, 2008

Question: �I was very sad when I read about another ISKCON youth in our movement who committed suicide. How unfortunate for his family, especially his mother. Being the mother of teenagers, can you please explain what brings one so young to the point of suicide and what are the signs we, as parents, should be looking for�?

Answer: (Compiled by Sangita devi dasi, RN, CHPN, Certified Hospice Educator) It is difficult to comprehend that suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 10-24, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk factors for suicide in this young population group include substance abuse, depression, and mental illness, such as bipolar disease and schizophrenia. Another risk factor for many includes social isolation. This is caused when children isolate themselves from their peers or other youth ridicule them and subject them to isolation. Young people may be dealing with:

Living Wills/Advanced Directives October 11, 2006

Partners Against Pain�

Keeping you informed about new developments in pain management.

Living Wills/Advanced Directives
October 11, 2006