Please accept my humble obeisance's, All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Gurudeva, I apologize that I haven't checked in for quite a few months.
ASA - AGTSP!!! Yeah! You should! What's the news? Without news from you we suffocate!! 🐵 🐷
I have been trying to be better at keeping in touch. I always feel awkward sending a message when I do not have a good reason to. I know that you are busy and your time is occupied in serving Prabhupada, ISKCON and the devotees.
HpS - ASA -- Don't worry about TB's comments above, but just write to say, Hello, I'm associating with..., I'm chanting 1, 16, 35 rounds a day...
My sadhana is stable. I am chanting, worshiping, reading, listening and eating. I must admit it is not always enthusiastic, but it stable. I have also have had the great fortune of being able to help answer the questions of some brand new devotees online.
HpS - Super, Super, Super!
Materially, I am still teaching linguistics at the local university. It has been taking quite a bit of time and energy, especially with distance teaching.
HpS - That poetry which does not describe the glories of the Lord (He is the taste in water) is a waste of time.
Materially, there is also something that I would like to mention and then ask a question about.
On January 26th of this year, my mother, after years of struggle with physical and mental illness, decided to forcibly leave her body by hanging herself. I was able to be present with the body for the cremation and place garlands from the bodies from Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari and Tulasi leaves from Sri Giridhari's lotus feet with her corpse.
I wanted to ask your advise on whether or not having a sradha ceremony for her. I know it is very late to it, but I have not been if it is appropriate for someone who has committed suicide.
HpS - We can always chant some Japa, Kirtan, read SB-CC, in front of a picture of her. Would have been best if you did it as soon as you got the news. Even now we chant with the hope that she can here us. Good benefit for her. With your effort she is going up.
In life I had been able to serve her prasadam and bring her to the temple to see the Deities and the devotees. I am not sure if you remember, but she also came to the temple when you gave a talk at the San Diego the last time you graced this city with your presence. In death, as I mentioned, prasadam was placed with her body. I have tried to do what I was able to help her to be more Krishna conscious.
I still have material attachment and I know how she suffered in this life, especially in the months leading up to her suicide and I want to be able to do something to ease her current suffering. I know that she greatly appreciated when a sradha was held for her farther when he left his body and it was also a good preaching opportunity.
HpS - Again, Japa etc in front of her picture. SB 10.47.63
I also know that the brahmin who did the sradha for my grandfather commented that normally devotees do not have sradhas.
In short, I want to ask if it is appropriate to have a sradha ceremony for her because of the way she left this life, if my desire to help ease some of her suffering in appropriate and, ultimately, if it is even appropriate for a Gaudiya Vaisnava to have a sradha ceremony for a family mentor.
HpS - Same answer. Chant for her! She came so close to Lord Caitanya, that unless she is a very mean person, she will go up!! Take birth in Nabadvipa????
Find ways to put Krsna in your classes (BG 10)! Thank you.
Your servant,
Nityananda-rama dasa
