By the desire of one individual we see an amazing reciprocation from Krishna to which I was fortunate to have been a part off; it also constantly reminds me that the mercy of Krishna remains inconceivable (well to individuals like me any way).

I have been pondering an incident that happened a few years ago and although the reasons why I have never spoken about it since I once related the story to the temple president; I had made the mistake of interpreting it as service. It was pointed out that it was not and never will be service and although it was somewhat acknowledged I was following some basic instruction from my Guru Maharaja it was pointed out he does not have a say in what individuals do within a temple nor what is or is not service (I remain corrected in these points). My actions were not authorized by the temple president who’s instruction I am meant to solely follow rather than some instruction on how to use my work for expanding and sharing Krishna Consciousness from my own Guru Maharaja; because of these comments I have never spoken about it since and although I risk being ridiculed more I feel the need to share with you all and so am posting it here in the hope you will be as moved as me.

You see the individual concerned revealed to me just before he died that as his health deteriorated he had reflected on his life and had one regret that he had never spoken to a Hare Krishna he had seen them on the TV and was impressed. He had always pondered that may be they could answer some of the questions he still had; but he had been busy and now as his health failed God would not grant his this wish.

Living in a remote part of Wales he had concluded it would never happen it was difficult to get basic social services help and as far as he was aware NO Hare Krishna’s lived by or went their, I was asked to help out by the agency little realising the impact the next three months would have and the journey made by one who’s material body was failing fast; but who’s mind remained fixed and determined to ask and find out the meaning of life.

One of my colleges who were already working their had been asked about me she informed them of several things one being that I was   Hare Krishna.

As my first shift started I was asked if I would mind answering just some of his questions noting I was there to care for his health needs. An opportunity to speak about Krishna is never to be missed and as I previously have said the words of my Guru Maharaja remains fixed in my thoughts; so I listened and started to answer his questions.

By the end of the week he was instant that we held a class each day as would happen at the temple this way he felt he could learn more. As weak as he was he would ask many questions through the day. One day he asked why I chanted so quietly I can’t hear you properly please chant louder so I can hear (was I right to agree?); at times I would hear him chanting along with me.

It was difficult to get staff to go to such a remote place and so I had only a few days off during this time; I returned after one of these days off to find he had been rushed to hospital but at the family’s request I stayed on to help their mother who during this time had sat quietly in the corner listening; she started to ask some questions also I had not realised how much she had learnt.

After a week she was getting anxious being unable to see her husband so I suggested we went to visit after reaching the ward I suggested she go the rest of the way herself and I would remain close by so she can have some private time with her husband.

I was surprised to see her return just 10 minutes later he is asking for you and is quiet anxious to talk to you on an urgent matter (What could it be?); he lay their with the body rapidly failing he grasped me hand and spoke of how happy he was that Krishna had answered his prays telling me of his long held desire but wanted to ask one final question “Could one like him make it home and no longer have to suffer as he is now?”

This for me was the most intelligent question we talked for a short time and he said can I make one request can I have some beads like yours; I only had my own set of Japa beads at the time so feeling the urgency of the situation gave then to him so he could chant as we had done together each morning lamenting that I had never actually offered him any Japa beads.

His family several weeks later left a message for me via the office informing me that he died but that the beads I had given him remained in his hands, he had not let them go since I left and had become distressed if removed; the nursing staff reported to them he was doing some form of meditation on them from what they could see. The family made one request could he be buried with them? (Was I right to agree?)

Unfortunately the only person I shared this with was unimpressed as from their view point only service to the temple counts, but this was a remarkable individual he had never missed a class even though tired and critically ill, he listened and then asked some provoking questions whilst paying attention to my Japa in a way that I even now still don’t do; and YES! I am convinced that this was simply what he was doing when observed by the nursing staff.

I am even reminded of the reprimand for quiet chanting and for being late one morning “you have to lead by example so please give me a good example to follow” As I say for me a remarkable individual and my wish is that I too can have the intelligence to remain fixed and as the  material body fails take care of the spirit soul.