Hare Krishna dear Gurudeva

please accept my humble obeisances

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada

All Glories to your life of service to Srila Prabhupada, the Vaisnavas, and to Lord Krishna

Thank you SO much Gurudeva 🙏

I have not been able to have a coherent conversation with my father this past year, he was diagnosed with dimencia in 2020.

My Mom called to give me the chance to speak to him on speaker-phone before they stopped life support and I thanked him for all that he has done for us, asked Lord Krishna to help and protect him in his transition, and chanted one mahamantra.

HpS - We chanted one round looking at his picture.

In the family photo I am at the top, then my father Michael, my brother Joshua, my mom Fay, sister Anna, and brother Anthony.

Josh and Anna live in Virginia and Mom and Anthony live in West Virginia.

My Dad was born in Richmond, Indiana 9/28/49.

HpS - Wow I am old enough to be his big brother!

Mom and Dad met when he was in the Navy stationed in prince fredrick maryland in 1972 i believe, and Married in 1973.

He took a civilian job as a base mechanic in maryland, and then transfered to a base in sugar grove west virginia in 1978 when i was 6 mo old.

This base was the hub for dish and satellite communication for the navy for the entire east coast i was told.

He joined the Army reserves as well and was a staff sergeant for i believe over 30 years.

I feel like my Father had a fair amount of trauma in his relationship with his father that affected his self image for the rest of his life, but he has always been very humble, supportive and caring, putting others first in just about everything.

HpS - Super!!! Certainly hope and expect that he is going to take birth in relation to Lord Caitanya.

Cecilia is doing well, thank you!

I saw my family over Christmas, and this year gave each of them a copy of ‘Beyond Birth and Death’ by Srila Prabhupada. We also read this book together start to finish on my birthday i think 5 years ago.

I've brought Mom and Dad to Sadhu Sangha in boone, nc, and we spent Gaura Purnim at New Vrindaban in west virginia I think 5 years ago.

Other than that I have not been a huge help since moving away from home at the age of 18, but have done a variety of home repairs each time im back to spend Christmas together with them.

Gurudeva i feel like i have yet to really achieve inner peace or surrender and this limits how helpful i can be, But Krishna can use anyone to help others, especially those who have surrendered.

HpS - If we are peaceful enough to chant 16 nice rounds and follow the four principles well, then that is quite an accomplishment.

Quite!

Uddhava had not achieved 'inner peace'. After he saw the Gopis and Brajavasis he was perturbed in his heart. He wanted to have the level of love for Krsna that they had, not just Dvaka vasis.

Of course, they are all liberated souls and so our level of inner agitation may be fear of death of our gross or even subtle body.

What is the cause of your inner agitation?

Being in Dvaraka and not Braja?

Dying?

I hope i have addressed all of what you asked without being too long winded about it. I had 11 rounds done before todays Bhagavtam class on 1.10.19, and want to get 16 done before class tomorrow or soon.

thank you for your Mercy and guidance and valuable time Gurudev! hope all is well with you and your health. Nitisara and I were hoping that we may get the opportunity to visit you in India.

HpS - We don't know our worldly destination, but just got ticket to go back to Nashville February 26th.

Jaya Prabhupada! Jaya Gurudeva!

your servant and disciple,

Loka Bandhu Rama Dasa

HpS - ASA -- Thank you! Krsna and Srila Prabhupada certainly thank you.