Maharishi Das: Dear Devotees, Following on from my recent post re Edward
…I sent some Vridavan dust and a Bhagavad Gita with the maha mantra hand-written by me as Edward requested, special delivery. He has been diagnosed with lung cancer and his wife was in intensive care and not expected to survive. I suggested that Edward chant the maha mantra in his wife’s ear and sprinkle some Vridavan dust on her head.
I received a phone call from Edward today and he told me that he did as I’d suggested and then went out of the room for a while. When he came back he was told by the nurse that she had left her body. Understandably Edward was very upset and cried, but he told me he feels so grateful that he followed what I said. He told me that he could feel she left very peacefully and thanked me so much for all I had done. I said that he had served his wife nicely by doing what he did. Edward went on to say that while he chanted the mantra in his wife’s ear he could see her smiling and he felt very warm that he was actually doing something meaningful that would help her.
Edward explained that he is very scared of death. I replied that nearly everyone is scared of death, even if they say they are not; just as some are scared of flying. But there is no need to be scared in reality as we have been given something truly special. Edward agreed with me, he said, “Yes, yes, I now understand why you told me you were very grateful for the experiences you had in hospital.”
I told him that while we are alone at the time of death, we actually are not if we can remember Krishna. If we have faith in the Lord there is nothing to fear. Edward’s gentle voice came again, “It seems I have to become more serious, as I have lung cancer and will be living alone.” I said to him, “Do not worry, I am here for you and will assist you the best way I can.”
Edward said, “I now realise I have to embrace what you are telling me and this is a huge wake up call.” I felt very humbled, as this was a person who refused to take a book off me, but now was taking an amazing interest in spiritual life and was starting to grasp the importance and urgency to prepare himself. The reality is that we are all in the same situation, no one can escape death but we do not have to fear it, as the Lord loves us so much.
Edward reminded me again that I had to continue sending him the Harinama videos. He said, “If I were young, I think I would come out with you all, but with my health this is not possible.” I said, “Please don’t worry. I will continue to send the videos as long as my health permits.”
I said to Edward, “In the material world there is danger at every step. So, people should not think that they are dying or not dying. Everyone who has taken birth will die at some point and there is the constant danger of an accident; is this not true?” Edward replied, “Yes its very true what you say, but its a hard fact to face head on.” I said, “Think that the highest perfection of human life is to remember the supreme personality of godhead.” At the end of his life, it was so comforting to hear how seriously Edward was taking this all in.
Edward said, “Tell me more.” I said, “Everyone can hear from Krishna who Krishna is. The hardship is that we want enjoyment in this material world. That is the difficulty. For a true devotee there is no problem – as we understand we can be free of this burden. We realise not to worry about if we are dying tomorrow. We understand we are dying today and breaking out of the illusion of safety actually brings us real joy and solace that we have not to fear our body not being permanent.”
Edward cried again and said, “Thank you, thank you, Mik. Maybe by me chanting in my wife’s ear I have improved her situation.
This really helped me too, to hear someone who in his 80s and set in his ways was actually accepting the process shows its never too late. The devotee is so blessed. It is true that everyone can hear from Krishna what is Krishna. Where is the difficulty? The difficulty is that we want enjoyment in this material world and it leads us to brush aside what really matters and what we have to face at some point.
Edward said he feels greater peace that help is on hand and he has nothing to worry about and he is starting to feel that has someone by his side. Even though he is scared, he feels much more peaceful and stronger.
What I realise that so many times I have decided not to speak about who I am and what I do and what I follow, people quite often are so eager to hear the truth and take great interest and can feel our sincerity and honesty. As devotees so many of us have experienced so much in order to serve people are just so appreciative to hear from us and can feel so love as can we.
Hare Krishna
By Maharishi Das
I was rushing to leave for the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, when the phone rang. “Hi Mik”, said a gentle voice. “This is Edward. Are you OK?” “Yes, I am.”, I replied. “Why do you ask?”
Edward had been wondering why I hadn’t sent him any harinam videos from this weekend. I apologised and told him about the 50 year celebrations diverting my videography services.
I was surprised to hear from Edward, one of my older clients. He is aged 80 plus, and quite set in his ways. I had previously tried to give him a book, but he offered that he was a devout Christian, and politely declined the gift. Unperturbed, I decided to send him harinam videos for the next few months, unsure what the outcome may be.
My approach is always to be a kind and understanding friend to all. After all, if we shy away from others and remain in our little bubbles, how will we spread this ultimate love of Godhead? I could always sense Edward’s sweet sincerity.
Edward told me that he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer, and how also his wife had been taken into intensive care. At aged 82, her chances of survival were slim. I told him I was sorry to hear his news, and that I would offer a prayer for the best outcome.
“Mik, you are so gentle and kind. You really care for me, even though I’m just a customer.”
“No. You are more than a customer. You’re a wonderful spirit soul with Krishna somewhere in his heart. Are you willing to repeat the Hare Krishna maha mantra after me?”
Edward responded positively. “Yes, I would love to.”
It was exhilarating to hear dear Edward repeat the mantra from his lips with full force. Even though he had refused a book, I had prayed at the time that one day Krishna would win his heart!
Edward admitted that he was scared to be alone after 58 years of marriage. I reassured him that he has Krishna taking care of him, and told him how he had chanted so nicely. Edward laughed. “Did I really? I was just repeating after you. But I did feel so peaceful when I did it. I had been terrified at the possibility of taking care of myself with cancer, but after speaking with you, I feel at ease.”
“You don’t have to suffer. It is never too late to awaken one’s consciousness, and actually feel Krishna’s embrace. Krishna loves you more than you can understand. This is the perfection of happiness, unblemished by traces of distress. It is the key to ending the miseries of birth, old age, disease and death.”
Edward said that he could see from the faces of the devotees in the harinam videos that they were truly happy and he felt protection from watching them. The videos brought him great solace and he was anxious to see more of them.
I said I would send him some dust from Vindavan, and told him to put a little on his wife’s head. I also told him to whisper the maha mantra in her ear, to which he said he would love to do. I thought maybe now I could offer him the book which he had turned down previously. He gladly accepted it, asking me to handwrite the mahamantra in the front, as this would mean a lot to him.
Continuing the philosophy, I iterated that the chief aim of this life is to get rid of all miseries and enjoy happiness, but these two things don’t just happen by fruitive actions. Edward had seen the devotees in Oxford Street when he was younger, but had laughed at them, thinking they were weird. He now feels that after all these years, Krishna is winning him over, and sees that there is nothing weird about the maha mantra!
“Mik. You are a person that I trust. I know you and have spoken to you for years. You are very successful at what you do, and you almost died recently, but you choose to go out every Saturday. I appreciate there is something higher than material success in it for you.”
I have offered to see his wife in the hospital with a few devotees. My god sister, Tulsi Seva, said she would like to go as well.
At times I forget how powerful the holy name is, and how it touches people’s hearts; not only to those on the streets, but to the many who get to see the videos afterwards. Edward has agreed to chant one round and read a little every day, and will share whatever he has learned with his family members. Who knows what may transpire? All I know is that I must go out on harinam next week, Krishna-willing.