A Vaishnava Friendship.

By Shyama devi dasi

I don't remember exactly where I met Krishna Premavati the first time; either in the Dublin centre or the temple at Inis Rath, I met her along with Monty her husband. It was unusual to see this elderly couple coming to Krishna Consciousness, as most of the devotees I knew were young, in their twenties or, at the most, late thirties. They were both from accomplished backgrounds; Monty beginning as an accountant, had then trained people in theatre how to project their voices and was also an Alexander Technique teacher. Krishna Premavati had been a nurse and then later ran an agency, recruiting nurses from different parts of the world. She had also been a follower of Buddhism and was head of a Buddhist organisation for Ireland. They were both well-travelled and had lived in Knightsbridge London, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Gozo, Malta.

An unusual story of how they were introduced to Krishna Consciousness: ISKCON had owned a building in Belvedere Place, Dublin, which the devotees used as an ashram and temple. Looking for a place to live in Dublin, Krishna Premavati bought this house, not knowing it had been the temple previously. As she and Monty first looked around the house, they came across a room which struck them as having a special, very peaceful atmosphere - they decided to keep this room for meditation. Then when KPV moved in, she used to receive mail addressed to the Hare Krishna Temple and didn't know what to do with it, just kept it aside, until one day Monty said he knew one of the Hare Krishna people, having met Prabhupada dasa distributing books on O'Connell street. So he took the mail to Prabhupada dasa who in turn took Monty to the temple on Dame Street and introduced him to the devotees there. Monty started reading books about Krishna consciousness and visiting the temple regularly. Eventually he gave Krishna Premavati a copy of the Bhagavad-gita and brought her along to the temple. They found out that the 'special' room in their house had been the Temple Room, where the devotees had worshipped Krishna daily.

I remember KPV next coming to Belfast when Monty had come to stay at the temple; she would visit for weekends. I was impressed at how she would come and take part in the early-morning devotions at the temple and was keen and inquisitive to learn the practices of Krishna Consciousness, even though she was seventy years of age. After a while Christine, as she was then, moved up to Belfast and became part of the community. I'd have some friendly little exchanges with her, we'd do shopping together for the temple or some other service over the years.

Then in Christmas 1997, she approached me and asked me if I would help her in her spiritual life and if we could meet regularly and talk about these things. I felt it showed her great humility in coming to me, younger than her own daughter, to give her guidance. I felt quite taken aback that she would ask me and also privileged that she would consider me worthy enough to give her advice. Here was someone who had been a very successful businesswoman and knew her way around the world, and then there was I who had come straight out of college and into the temple ashrama.

We would meet on a regular basis, and KPV would talk to me about her doubts and difficulties in spiritual life and also the good things that she was experiencing in her practice of Krishna Consciousness. Over the years I came to learn about her great faith in chanting the holy name of Krishna and in prayer. How determined she was to take to Krishna Consciousness as best she could! I could see at times, it was difficult for her to accept things, especially cultural aspects, having taken up this new tradition late in her life. It wasn't so easy for her to adapt and change, but she always tried her best in these matters.

KPV would do things in a thoughtful way. Always wanting to please her guru and Lord Krishna, she would do her different services with utmost care and attention; I especially saw that in her care of Monty when he became ill with Alzheimers disease and was taken into a nursing home and how she cared for him with devotion, making sure everything was done nicely for his comfort and also that he regularly heard the holy name and received prasadam . KPV always felt extremely grateful to Monty for having introduced her to KC and expressed that gratitude by taking care of him through ten years of illness until his passing away in 2004.

Being an intelligent person, KPV would often ask me challenging questions. I had to learn to be tactful in my answers, as she was older than me and it is difficult to accept things from a younger person. She wouldn't accept pat answers, so I would have to think deeply about the essence of Krishna Consciousness and how to express it in a way which would help her to understand certain points. In this way I feel she helped me in my Krishna consciousness, and I learned that the relationship of teacher and student benefits both parties.

Even though she often had difficulties in her relationships with the devotees KPV would say that the devotees were by far the best people she had met in her life. I learned to see that devotees may sometimes have awkward personality traits, but that these are really superficial and that I have to see beyond them to their efforts to overcome these difficulties, and to the sincere desires in their hearts.

Last July, KPV was diagnosed with lung cancer. Immediately she started making enquiries about the possibility of going to Vrindavana (Lord Krishna's birthplace) to pass away and that was always on her mind; even she had booked her ticket to go and the plans fell through. Because at this time in one's life it is easy to become distracted from spiritual practises due to weakness and illness in the body, I tried to help her by fixing up her mp3 player so that it would play continuously in her bedroom and she would be able to hear the chanting of the maha mantra or lectures by her spiritual master; so there would always be some spiritual atmosphere in her home she could easily focus in on. She would like to have Krishna book and Bhagavad-gita read to her and the devotees to chant with her. I would print out relevant verses from the scriptures that would help her to face this most difficult time, to give her some solace. At times she would be very fearful but she said to me that when she would think of Krishna and chant, the fearfulness would subside.

It was, of course, very intense for Krishna Premavati, but also for those who were trying to care for her, as understandably she could become irritable and demanding, as her health deteriorated, and she could be sharp when things were not done quite to her liking. I found this hard at times, but it made me realise that we have to overlook such things and that it was important to set aside my bruised ego and continue to help that person who is crying out for Krishna. I also had to overlook my own health difficulties, which seemed insignificant in comparison to what KPV was facing.

At times KPV felt quite hopeless and abandoned by Krishna, she spent some time in the hospice and it seemed like she might have to go into a nursing home, which was her worst nightmare, but then she received a phone call from her good friend Kalyani in Carrick-on-Shannon saying that she and the devotees there would be willing to take care of her in Carrick and could make all the necessary arrangements with getting proper medical care and assistance.

It all happened quite suddenly, her move to Carrick and it was a bit of a shock for me that someone who had been an important part of my life and service was gone. It seemed like she had been whipped out of my life; I felt empty for quite a while and emotional whenever I thought of KPV. I managed to make a trip up to Carrick to see her. She looked so bright and happy even though her body was disintegrating and couldn't do much for herself. She was so glad that I had come to see her. The devotees were taking such good care of her and it seemed like the right place for her to be. Her room was filled with fresh flowers and pictures of Krishna and Radha Madhava from Belfast temple.; and there was a Prabhupada lecture playing on the MP3 player.

KPV passed away a couple of weeks later on 14 April while her son and daughter were visiting her from Italy and USA. She was surrounded by the love and care she received from the devotees in Carrick. She revealed to a friend, a few days before she passed away, how she had previously not believed Krishna would take care of her at this time in her life but now she said 'Krishna is here' 'Krishna is here', she was feeling Krishna's presence at the end of her life.

My realisation from the whole experience was how Lord Krishna is so expert and how He achieves so many things in one situation. Through Krishna Premavati's illness He brought out the love and care between devotees and KPV, and showed us how Krishna personally takes care of everything and attends to the desires of His devotees. KPV really did not want to die alone; her great desire was to have the devotees there at that time to help her think of Krishna until the very end. And Krishna arranged it all for her.

Her daughter remarked to me that her Mum was so bright, alert and radiant, even though she was in a lot of pain and discomfort and she hoped that her own death would be like that. If you get the opportunity to care for someone with a terminal illness I would say you should take it, as you learn so much from the experience, especially if we try and give them Krishna which is the greatest gift.

Photographs: Top - Krishna premavati and UTV presenter Kate Little, working together on a programme about life as a devotee of Krishna.

Middle: Shyama and Krishna premavati at a temple study-group.

Jubilation!

A rare and very welcome visit from Gopi-manjari and her family is expected this weekend.

Gopi was one of the 'pillars' of the Belfast temple for several years, before ruthlessly deserting us to live in America. She's still badly missed. So it will be a happy reunion on Sunday, also with her husband, Lalita-madhava and baby son, Madhava.

Gopi will give the talk at the Sunday Feast, this Sunday. As you might expect from the photo, her talk will be on the subject of Yoga - the relationships between the different kinds of yoga, and how they can be used to support the topmost jewel of Yoga - bhakti. Gopi will sit in a normal cross-legged position while giving her class.

Gopi teaches yoga in Washington DC and introduces her students to the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita and the practise of kirtan as an important part of their yoga practise. If you happen to live in Washington you can find her here: Hot Yoga.

So, come along, if you can, to hear Gopi speak. Lalita-madhava, will lead us in kirtan afterwards, for the refreshment of our inner selves. We look forward, as always, to seeing you!

Sunday, 17th June.

Class - 4.00 p.m.
Kirtan -4.45 p.m.
Vegetarian Feast - 5.20 p.m.

Growing Up With Bhagavad-Gita.

Gopi-manjari devi dasi wrote this piece. Gopi grew up in England and actually met Srila Prabhupada when she was a baby. Although she went through turbulent times as a teenager, she landed on her feet as a very fine devotee and served in the Belfast Temple for several years. A power-house of energy, she pulled off quite amazing feats for the pleasure of Radha-Madhava, including Their beautiful new altar, and new kitchen. It was a sad day for Belfast when she left with her American husband to live in America...

Photos show Gopi's son Madhava das enjoying the pictures in Bhagavad-Gita.

My mother's words echoed within my mind, as the kids in school bulled and teased me for being Indian. The timeless teaching from the Bhagavad-Gita, spoken through my mother gave me solace, “you are not this body’ she said, “you are an eternal spirit soul, no one can hurt you within”. I remember repeating those same words when my brother and sisters would pick on me at home, “I don’t care, you can’t hurt me,” I would shout back, “I am not this body”!

As teenage years crept up, the suffering I faced either it be due to hormones, taking drugs, or sheer loneliness became thick. I would question, why is there so much suffering, what is the purpose of life, why is there so much external show and falseness in this world. Again the ancient teaching from the Bhagavad-Gita that my mother taught me surfaced to my consciousness. Karma—every action has an equal and opposite reaction, if you cause pain to another then it will come back to you, and vice versa if you do good, it will also come back in a reward. One's suffering is a reaction to ones past activities, if not in this life then in one's next life.

Reincarnation—Knowing that there was life after death, and that the activities that I carried out in this life, would predestine my next life as well as the happiness and distress I would face. Having this knowledge empowered me to take responsibility for my present life, instead of trying to escape my suffering through intoxication and other external means, I discovered that the Bhagavad- Gita became a source of great comfort and solace for me. It's contents being one of deep philosophy and theology satisfied my questions and search for the truth. It's literal meaning, “the song of God”, is a conversation between Lord Krishna (God), and Arjuna (his devotee), it takes place by a battlefield on the onset of a fratricidal war. The challenges and dilemmas that Arjuna faces is similar to the challenges we face in our lives. I like to see that the Bhagavad-Gita is a song of God sung to me, to help me through my difficulties and struggles.

The Bhagavad-Gita is a book of theology; it discusses God and our relationship with Him. The different processes of connecting with God are delineated in different paths of yoga which conclude in bhakti or love and devotion to the Divine. That pure spiritual love gives one peace and satisfaction and is the love that we all seek in life. In this journey of life I have become a seeker of that Pure Love, I would like to end by sharing one of my favorite verses from the BG. “ To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with Love, I give them the understanding by which they can come to Me”. (BG 10.10)"

Special Feast and Kirtan This Sunday.

There's to be a special feast and kirtan, in the temple, this Sunday, in honour of our dear friend Krishna premavati, who passed away a few weeks ago. Madri and Shyama will be cooking the feast and including some of Krishna premavati's favourite prasadam dishes. As Madri and Syama were both very close to KPV, they are glad to be doing this on her behalf and would like to invite anyone who knew her to come and take part.

I'm sure anyone who knows Madri and her cooking will be there anyway! It's a while since Madri cooked in the temple, but her feasts are unforgettable.

This picture shows Krishna-premavati at last year's Ratha-yatra festival, shading Srila Prabhupada from the sun.

Praghosa das will also be visiting the temple on Sunday, and speaking on Bhagavad-Gita. So please, one and all, feel welcome to join us.

Letter From Anuttama.

We've just received this very nice letter from Anuttama das, in Washington, sympathising with the loss of our Krishna-premavati. Anuttama is a senior member of ISKCON and Communications minister on the Governing Board Committee. Thank you Anuttama!

Dear Devotees in Belfast,

I am saddened to hear of the departure of Krishna Premavati devi dasi. I was fortunate to have met her during a short visit to Belfast several years ago. Although brief, my time with her was memorable. We had several conversations, I visited her home, and she took me to visit herhusband, who was living in a care facility.I was deeply impressed by her aristocratic mannerisms, her sharp intellect,her composure, her beautiful Krishna conscious home, her compassion, and her enthusiasm for her spiritual practice.She was a devotee who exuded confidence in Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada. She made me feel I was in the presence of a woman who was highly educated, confident, well-connected, artistic, and, to put it in a brief American term, "classy".

Although I only knew her for a few short days, I will miss Krishna Premavati devi dasi. Certainly, you will all feel her loss very acutely. She was an important part of your community and she brought life and energy to the temple and sanga. While you will miss her, you are blessed to know that through your friendship, love, and shared services you were able to bring each other closer to Krishna, our Supreme Friend and shelter. The time you shared together was based on Krishna, and thus was built on love and mutual care. That love undoubtedly helped her be steady on the path of bhakti. By connecting each other to Krishna you gave her--and she gave you--the greatest gift. There is no better way to show love...there is no better way to bless a friend...there is no better way to find solace in a loss...than to know that while we were together we brought each other closer to home and to our Supreme Beloved Lord.

Your servant,
Anuttama dasa

Spiritual Retreat.

We've just had a festive few days with our guest Jiva-doya das from Bhaktivedanta Manor, in England. Jiva-doya is a teacher at the Manor, teaching courses in Bhagavad-Gita and taking charge of the new bhaktas in the temple there - a sort of novice master. We have really enjoyed his classes and kirtans.

I can't remember where J-D is originally from - Croatia, I think, or maybe Czech. Shame on me for forgetting!

On Sunday, Jiva-doya led a spiritual retreat at the temple, for our extended community. That was an especially nice day.

We gathered at 7.15 a.m. in the temple-room for kirtan, after which Jiva-doya began with a class on the theme of the retreat "Living Vaishnava Culture". Beginning with his definition of 'culture' as; 'an appropriate and supportive environment for transformation', he led us to discuss how to create such an environment for the transformation of our selves in love of Krishna.

In the following classes, we discussed the importance of shravanam - hearing and reading about topics connected with Krishna and examined the obstacles we experience in attempting this. Kirtanam - chanting the sacred names of Krishna, naturally followed on, as the most important ingredient for cultivating the heart.

As well as being a boost for the spiritual "batteries", it was good just being together all day, with the other retreat members. It brought us closer together; deepened our friendship and helped us appreciate each other more as devotees. In a community, it's easy to get annoyed with each other and notice the glaring faults of our fellows, but here in the retreat, it was clear to see the sincerity of each devotee and their true motivation of wanting to please Krishna.

By the time the Sunday Feast guests had all assembled, the temple was overflowing; it was a tight squeeze for the final tumultuous kirtan, but we danced anyway!

Jiva-doya was an excellent retreat-leader; well-prepared and personable, he brought out many interesting and thoughtful points from our workshops and was concerned to help each of is in our spiritual development. Many thanks JD!

Eulogy for Krishna premavati.

His Grace Ravindra-svarupa das, Krishna premavati's spiritual master, sent this eulogy to be read at her funeral, which took place in Dublin earlier this afternoon. It very nicely sums up KPV's personality, which we are all going to miss.

I am much saddened by the passing away of Krishna Premavati. I did not expect it to come so soon; I had hoped that somehow I would get a chance to see her at least one more time. My wife Saudamani had been planning to fly to Ireland this week.

I always looked forward with pleasure to being with Krishna Premavati: I found her to be an exceptional interesting and remarkable devotee. She had come to Krishna consciousness late in her life, and I was impressed by how completely she committed herself to the process. She was already a person of notable achievements. She knew how to pursue a project with great resolve,and she applied a sharp and inquisitive mind to the task. As she studied Krishna consciousness, she would write down her doubts and her questions, and then bring them to me for discussions and resolution- sometimes long discussions.

She had a deep attachment to the Deities at the Belfast temple and to the temple itself. She had strong convictions and a strong sense of right and wrong. I understood that she on occasion stepped on toes in her desire to see that things were done correctly as she saw it, but in any case her motive was always a determination to see that Krishna was served nicely. Those who knew her heart saw that she did everything out of love for Krishna and Prabhupada.

She was generous and a loyal friend to devotees. And she always dressed with care and a simple elegance that was a testimony to her concern to always represent Krishna nicely.

Even though she had been separated from her husband Monty, out of gratitude for his introducing her to Krishna consciousness, she gave him dedicated care during his long illness with Alzheimer's disease, often expressing her concern to keep him in contact, someway or another, with Krishna. Somehow she persistently accomplished this with prasadam and the Holy Name.

Krishna Premavati had wanted to go to Vrindaban to leave her body, but circumstance did not permit it. No matter: she left this world with the care, comfort, and association of devotees, and her future is very bright indeed.

I want to express my gratitude to the devotees in Ireland who have shown so much concern for her and who have cared for her. I am everlasting indebted to you. You manifest the mercy of Krishna.

The manifestation of such devotional association in this world gives full assurance of Srila Prabhuapda's statement that we are eternal associates. In that case, for now we shall feel the absence of Krishna Premavati, but we may look forward in confidence to our eventual reunion at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna.

May Lord Krishna give all blessing to Krishna Premavati-devi dasi. All glories to Krishna Premavati! All glories to the Vaishnava devotees of the Lord!

Ravindra Svarupa dasa

Krishna-prema-vati devi dasi Passes Away.

Just to let our congregation know that our dear god-sister, Krishna-prema-vati left her body early this morning at about 1.30 a.m. She was being well cared for by devotee friends in Carrick and they were with her as she passed away.

KPV was in her early eighties and found out that she had lung cancer several months ago. This picture of her was taken not long after she had been told she would not have much longer to live. KPV's friends have all been impressed at her calm and Krishna-conscious preparing for death; she loved to have devotees come and chant with her or read to her and even when it was a struggle for her, she would still try to chant Krishna's holy Names.

I'm sure she would appreciate your prayers on her behalf.

Hare Krishna!

An Old Friend Passes On.

We were sad to hear that Samba, an old friend of ours, passed away last week. Actually, Samba was everyone's friend; a gentle and jolly devotee. At Belfast temple we used to see him when he came to visit his mother who worked for the Archbishop of Armagh. He would always pop in to see us too. He will be very much missed.

But as we all have to depart this world at some time, I don't think Samba would have wished for a better transition. He was surrounded by his family, by devotees and by the sublime sound of the chanting of Krishna's sacred names. Srutakirti from Bhaktivedanta Manor wrote a moving account of the final moments, which you can read here. The following is an excerpt:

"Everyone, including family members and hospital employees, remarked what a wonderful passing it was. Samba was very peaceful throughout. When we were getting ready to leave the room Samba’s sister came up to Amekhala and me, to tell us that a man in the far corner of the room had been sitting all day with his dying wife. He wanted to thank us for the chanting. I walked over and sat next to him. He said the chanting was so beautiful, ‘just like the singing of angels’."

We send our condolences to Samba's family and to his dearmost friends.

The Vaishnava Voice.

Good news! Kripamoya has a blog. And a very good blog, it is. You can find it here.

His Grace Kripamoya das is well known to the devotees as one of the longest-serving, most dedicated teachers of Krishna consciousness in Britain. He's inspired and helped many hundreds of people in their spiritual journeys and attracted many a heart to Krishna by his beautiful singing in Kirtan. Now, in his blog The Vaishnava Voice he writes his thoughts and realisations on a variety of topics connected with Krishna consciousness.

It's good to see someone of Kripamoya's maturity and breadth of experience writing for devotees. I think many of us wish there was more of this sharing of experience in writing. We have many lectures and classes to listen to, but the written word can be more intimate and more developed than the spoken. As we struggle and strive to practise a high order of spiritual life to which most of us weren't born and bred, it's heartening to read the realisations of our elders. Hurrah for Kripamoya!

Kripamoya has a special place in the hearts of Belfast devotees; he was one of the first people ever to bring Krishna's message here, many moons ago, long before there was a temple or community of Vaishnavas in these parts. He's been a good friend to us over the years, helping us through difficult times and rejoicing with us in our successes.

He's promised to tell us some of his adventures in Belfast in his early days of preaching here. So watch this spot!

More Favourite Gita Verses...

...from Belfast devotees.

Bhagavata devi dasi

Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform --do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me. BG9.27

I like this verse because it is so practical. Anyone can do it. We all have to eat, or work, or raise a family and instead of doing these things for ourselves, we can do them for Krishna (God) and so become purified and develop our love for the Supreme Person. When I recite this verse to people of other faiths, they always like it, appreciating the 'do-ableness' of it!

Tsvety Donovan

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.”
Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 18, Text 65

I like this verse because it clearly and concisely explains how to worship God.
It is done all the time: “always think of Me…” It is not that you forget about your everyday duties, such as going to school or work and sit and think of the Lord. It is through offering the results of our activity to Him, remembering that it is by His mercy that we are maintained: obtain sufficient food, shelter, joy and enlightenment.

The main reason I regard this verse as one of my favourites is because it teaches the basic principle in worshipping God- devotional surrender to the will of God, not our own will for material prosperity and well-being of ourselves and our families. The irony is that when we actually surrender, everything we worried about before- prosperity, maintenance and so forth is properly taken care of by the sweet mercy of the Lord. Not only this, in the end, we achieve Him alone, who is the source of bliss, eternity and supreme knowledge.

Nina Donovan - (Tsvety's mother independently chose the same verse as her daughter!)

Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. Thus you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this because you are My very dear friend.
Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 18, Text 65

This is my favourite verse from Bhagavad-gita because it gives me the farthest perspective of life and ultimate goal of my existence. It also shows me the way how to achieve that goal. This is the most perfect meditation, which purifies you and constantly reminds you of the Source of bliss, knowledge and eternity. Its result is most perfect and you finally find peace and satisfaction what you have been looking for all your life.