Death Divine- The Gateway to Spiritual Perfection

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Sangita-devi dasi

President/Co-founder of Vaisnavas C.A.R.E. As I put pen to paper to introduce this special work by Marijari-devi dasi, I am reminded of the many patients I have cared for over the years as a registered nurse specializing in end-of-life care. During their final months, weeks and days, many of my patients shared. their hopes, disappointments, achievements and regrets with me.

Most importantly, many of them expressed their profound religious beliefs and values. I became very fond of the patients I cared for and after they passed away, I often wrote about them in a personal journal that I kept for years. Writing about them enabled me to etch their memory onto paper with words. I recorded the many inspirational 'gifts' they had presented to me in return for the care I had given them.

Years later, when my focus of care turned toward the devotees of Lord Krsna, my journaling took on a new meaning. The servants of the Lord, after all, due to their heightened degree of surrender and subsequent spiritual realizations, have 'gifts' of a higher nature to leave behind. Those fortunate enough to stand at the bed-side of a terminally ill devotee who is preparing to leave this world cannot help but be in awe at the inner strength and unyielding faith exhibited by these courageous and devoted souls.

Being allowed to witness such a transcendental event gives way to expressions of deep gratitude for having been allowed a tiny glimpse into the intimate pastimes between Lord Krsna and His dear devotees. Such an occurrence is so divine that one gets an immediate awareness that the departure of a devotee is a transcendental pastime way beyond the realm of this mere mortal world.

As our society of devotees matures, we are inevitably faced with the responsibility of caring for our elderly and terminally ill. I am often asked how one should approach this unique service. If you, the reader, are ever given the opportunity to care for a devotee facing death, I encourage you to embrace it as a means to offer much-needed comfort to one who has given a lifetime in service to Lord Caitanya's movement. It is a rare opportunity to assist a soul in his or her journey back home, back to Godhead.

Being a caregiver is a service that should be embraced with wholehearted enthusiasm and appreciation. As confirmed in the stories you are about to read, both the patients and the caregiv. ers offer many 'gifts' to one another throughout their last journey together. Those who face their final days on this Earth graciously give to those left behind a treasure-house of knowledge and realizations by which to educate, inspire and heal. These 'gifts' are now extended to those fortunate enough to read about, and thus share, in these uncommon experiences.

Within the pages of this book, Manjarī shares with its readers the stories of several Vaisnavis who were told they had only months to live. Their experiences were real: their surrender extraordinary. These are the glorious stories of devotees who had everything taken from them through illnesses too powerful to overcome.

However, as you will soon read, when a devotee is told he or she has only months to live, something astounding happens. We have seen it many times in our hospice work in ISKCON. The vulnerable become strong and the steadfast become even more deter-mined. Why? Lord Krsna truly carries what we lack and preserves what we have. These are the special blessings given to one who has placed his or her life at the lotus feet of the Lord.

My gratitude goes to Manjari for doing this wonderful book so devotees everywhere can hear the transcendental pastimes of these devoted Vaisnavis who offered mind, body and soul to guru and Krsna. Their stories are meant to inspire-and that they do. These exceptional pastimes between Lord Krsna and His beloved devotees will enliven you to continue your devotional practices with enthusiasm so that at the end of this life, you too can return home, Back to Godhead.

One purpose of this book is to speak to those practicing Krsna consciousness by saying, "Yes, we know it is difficult to keep on going in spiritual life and to maintain your enthusiasm and conviction that you can be Kryna conscious at the time of death. Don't be disheartened. Just look at the glorious passing of these unknown simple devotees. Just see the special mercy Krsna gave them and how He was there for them at the crucial time of leaving the body. If they can do it, so can you." And for those who have not yet taken to spiritual life, we hope this book will evoke a desire to perfect your existence in this material realm by enquiring into this most crucial question-how to live and die to attain the topmost spiritual destination.

One question the readers may raise is, "Why only women? Men also die." The answer lies in the original idea for this book. I was writing to H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami on how to help the many devotee-women who felt discouraged in their spiritual endeavors. Being encumbered by differing attitudes towards women in spiritual life and their given position in society, and not fitting into the mold all too often promulgated-a 'serious fixed-up male temple devotee'-how could they think of attaining their desired spiritual destination?

Maharaja replied: "Confidentially (although I don't normally speak confidentially as it goes against the culture of love), my research shows that women are beating the men hands-down in how they leave the body. You can fool the whole world, but you cannot fool Krsna. He knows what is really in our hearts." Maharaja then suggested, "Why don't you write a book showing how gloriously the women-devotees are leaving their bodies? This will encourage them and also change the hearts of others where philosophy alone cannot."

I never dreamed Maharaja would not be here to see this book manifest. In supreme magnanimity, he opened his heart to give us a glimpse into the journey of his soul as it approached death and left the material body. Now all I can do is doubly offer this book at his lotus feet in deep, deep gratitude.

Gratitude also goes to the many devotees who helped me com-pile this book. To say 'thank you' to the authors of the chapters is a gross understatement. They were not used to writing, especially in the required length and detail. Most of them were also writing on the disease, suffering and passing of a much loved one.

As one author told me, "There wasn't a time I didn't end up crying when I wrote. I miss her so much." Yet something did compel them to write. They had witnessed something remarkable-the extraordinary events and mercy that take place when a devotee leaves the material realm and they wanted to share it with the community of devotees.

The Vaisnavis featured in this book reflect the wide range of backgrounds and situations people come from to Krsna conscious-ness. More importantly, it shows how any material situation is not a hindrance to receiving the full causeless and unlimited mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I also wish to extend a special thank you to my friends who en-couraged me to continue with this book through all the events in my life and years it took to manifest. You each gave a special contribution and have a special place in my heart which I pray will continue to nourish each of us in our spiritual paths and especially at the times of our passing.

Finally, I pray to the lotus feet of all devotees that you bestow your mercy upon me so I can also proceed to the final test of leaving the body with the same courage, determination and absolute conviction of the devotees featured in this book.