Hare Krishna Gurudev,

Please accept my humblest obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad!

I hope and pray you are recuperating well after your long travels.

HpS - Six weeks of travel, maybe not strange, six weeks of recovery!

I missed you in India but kept up with the blog while in dham. I read VDM whilst there and it penetrated my heart and mind in the most blissful of ways. Radharani’s mercy allowed me stay an extra week (after sweating out a fever for 3 days) and I was allowed to finish Kartik there. Went to all the goswami temples a few times. Raas Purnima night was the most phenomenal. My heart couldn’t take it all in and tried to swallow the mercy at the same time... I met my godsister Govinda Promodini. She was the sweetest!! Singing in Srila Prabhupad’s Samadhi which was the most humbling of opportunities. Thank you for your mercy!

Gurudev, I don’t know if you heard of a girl who left her body a few days ago in Govardhan in a car accident. She was a friend of mine and sooo steadfast in her devotion. She was from Brisbane although Indian-bodied (Braja Vallabhi dd).  We spent a lot of nights at Radha Ramanji and she was just so absorbed and always in mood of service. I got back to DC Thursday and she left her body Saturday in a car accident en route to Radha Kund... and my heart’s been heavy since.  She had a glorious departure, but the separation stings (she was 23 years old). I chanted on her behalf and have been feeling great dependence on the Lord.  My chanting has been more solemn. BG slokas have been so comforting. In a way, I am grateful to be thinking of Krishna and His beloved Radha and Shri Vrindavan Dham, albeit in the saddest of cirumstances. It has helped me ever so slightly reprioritize while simultaneously making me aware of my extremely conditioned state and how entangled I am.

HpS -  I am also very sad... but of course, to leave the body in Vraja is the greatest thing on the way to Radha-kunda!   You will see her soon. Such separation is only temporary. Carry on her work. here.

I pray for your grace and mercy gurudev. In light of recent events, I still find it hard to be honest to myself, and to ask for help. I want to surrender but don’t know how. I don’t think I even pray properly.

I beg for your forgiveness and simultaneously, for your shelter and strength.  Please keep me engaged and sheltered at your feet.

Thank you for you causeless mercy.                                       

Your insignificant and struggling servant,

Sugopi dd

HpS - Thank you for the letter. We are also trying ot recover from the travel. We push oursleves too hard sometimes. Chant Hare Krsna and be.... natural.  Here we go to NGD Friday night program.