Requiem for Kusakratha prabhu

[Guest guest]

Dear prabhus,

Hare Krsna! Please accept my humble obeisance. All glories to Srila

Prabhupada.

 

"The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but

because of those who look on and do nothing." Albert Einstein.

 

His Grace Kusakratha prabhu was not a person who did nothing.

 

Since the day he joined Srila Prabhupada's Hare Krsna movement Kusakratha

prabhu was a tireless worker against evil. Remaining a brahmacari throughout

his entire Krsna conscious career and following in the footsteps of Srila

Prabhupada and the previous acaryas, Kusakratha prabhu produced an immense

body of literature for the benefit of the world by translating into English,

hundreds of books written by our preceding acaryas. I am sure that many of

these books have also been translated into other languages for the welfare

of persons of those who do not read English. The subject matter in these

'gems' is so relishable as to make one forget one's material existence.

 

 

Kusakratha prabhu received formal initiation in New York on July 21/22 1971

although he had alreday surrendered (the REAL initiation) before that. Srila

Prabhupada said,

 

Prabhupada: "Kusakratha. Kusakratha. You know the rules and regulations?

What are they"?

Kusakratha: No meat-eating, no gambling, no illicit sex, uh, no

intoxication.

Prabhupada: "Which you like best? (laughter) Which of them"?

Kusakratha: You are reading my mind, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: (laughs) "All right. Don't do that again".

 

We wrote a homage glorifying our illustrious godbrother Kusakratha prabhu

when we first found out that he had cancer some years ago. We wanted HIM to

know that we appreciated him and his unflinching service to Srila Prabhupada

BEFORE he left his body.

 

We met Kusakratha prabhu in 1979 in Los Angeles and he gave me a gift

although we were unknown friends at that time. It was the Sri

Nityanandastakam which is so well-known now. That was the beginning of his

translation

 

In later years it became known to me that some of the leaders within the Los

Angeles community were causing great inconvenience to our dear godbrother

Kusakratha prabhu by trying to have him forcibly removed from his apartment.

This went on for a long time and ultimately he took shelter of Sri Krsna's

dhama in BRndabana.

 

During those Los Angeles times he underwent a lot of criticism, ridicule and

censure from those godbrothers of his who were supposedly "in power". He was

also looked down upon and criticized by others who were envious of his

prolific writings. Now of course, some of those people will say kind words

at his passing.

 

Kusakratha prabhu was always considered an eccentric personality by those

who prefer to unthinkingly follow the leader (the 'Sheeple'). But isn't that

always the case with a genius? It would be far better then, for us to

realize that genius and befriend him when he is among us, than to simply

speak some laudable words at his funeral. How long will it take us to adopt

the culture and behavior of real vaisnavas and for that behavior to actually

shine in our hearts? Better to relinquish the struggle for corporate ascent

now and strive for purity of heart by recognizing the great souls like

Kusakratha prabhu while they are among us.

 

When Srila Prabhupada was physically among us, the majority of his disciples

always considered themselves as simply the servants of the Acarya. None that

I knew, ever thought of themselves as 'gurus'. We were all just here to help

the Acarya push on his mission. Yet after Srila Prabhupada's tirobhava,

there was (and still is) a mad rush to acquire the coveted positions of

guru, (or GBC, TP, etc). Kusakratha prabhu NEVER had that in his mind. He

never wanted followers or disciples or a leadership position and in fact

shunned desires for prestige or honor. He was always content to remain the

faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada, acknowledging that Srila Prabhupada is

ALWAYS here... for those servants who can understand that. Kusakratha prabhu

simply continued hearing, chanting and serving, just as he had during Srila

Prabhupada's physical presence. Why should anything change? At death (and

after) there is no meaning to 'GBC, guru' or anything, other than

'Krsnadasa'.

 

Death, like old age and disease, will surely overtake us all at some near

future point. When I visited Kusakratha prabhu in September last year we had

a nice sanga together and he told me how the throat cancer was affecting

him. He could not speak for long, because he said that that made him weaker.

But the amazing thing is that he was in no pain from any of the cancer. And

I have heard that that was still the case!

 

What more could anyone ask for than a life devoted to Srila Prabhupada's

service and a painless death? It is obvious that Radharani and SRila

Prabhupada were very pleased with their humble servant, Kusakratha prabhu.

 

ys

Kusakratha prabhu's servant.

 

 

 

 

-----------------

Dear Maharajas and prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances _/\ò_. All glories to Srila

Prabhupada!

 

I just received this message from Dhananjaya prabhu at the MVT

regarding the departure of His Grace Kusakratha prabhu:

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

I want to inform you that our dear godbrother Kusakrata prabhu left this

afternoon at 8 minutes before 4 p.m. that is at 3.52 p.m. on 7-10-2005 in

MVT flat number B14.101 - Padma Sambhava's flat.

He passed away very peacefully in the presence of Aindra prabhu & his kirtan

group & other assembled vaishnavas who were chanting the Maha Mantra very

sweetly.

Krishna Kumari the local RN was also present.

His passing was confirmed by Dr Parikh who resides at the MVT.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada,

Dhananjaya das

General Manager

MVT Vrindaban