CHAKRA Article by Krishna Kanta dd - Vancouver

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Help from Vancouver to Orissa in memory of Srila

Prabhupada

By Krsna Kanta devi dasi

Particularly moved by the various

reports given on CHAKRA by Bhima,

Basu Gosh, and Mukunda Madhava

Prabhus, I contacted Jaya Govinda,

our previous temple president but

current temple authority, about what I

thought would be a way to gather

some funds to help the situation there.

 

The goal would be to contribute

towards the “food for life” endeavor in

Bhubanesvara, thus helping the

devastating aftermath of the powerful

cyclone which destroyed lives, homes,

basic supply of food and drinking water

to over 20,000 people on the coastal

area of Orissa.

 

At first I thought that presenting the

above mentioned reports on

Prabhupada disappearance day would

be a good start.

 

On that special day, I first quoted the

pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and Srutakirti when he felt that so many

devotees were in ecstasy picking up Srila Prabhupada at the airports

but felt that he didn’t experience such intense feelings as all those

devotees jumping up and down in ecstasy. Later, however, Srila

Prabhupada asked Srutakirti if he liked serving him personally and of

course Srutakirti prabhu expressed that he certainly liked serving

Prabhupada very much!! Then Srila Prabhupada responded: that is

love, explaining that singing, dancing, jumping up and down... so

many things can be done, but that he, Srutakirti, was actually doing

something tangible, isn’t that real love !

 

The point is that love means doing something, doing service; that is

what love means.

 

The idea was that we could all offer some contribution to this very dear

food for life program of Srila Prabhupada, especially after hearing of

the emergency help required right at about the time we are gathering

for Prabhupada ‘s disappearance day.

 

However, on that particular day I was advised to keep it on a personal

level, and to canvass at the following Sunday feast program.

 

So I did just that, right after the Sunday feast lecture, I quoted specific

passages of the reports from Bhubanesvara,. particularly the stories

where the devotees got down from the big trucks distributing

prasadam to villagers who thanked them with tears in their eyes. Also, there

was the testimony of the

old mataji who, for three days, was stuck holding tree branches after being

tossed 30 feet above the

ground by a tidal wave. She was so happy to finally receive Krsna prasadam

from the devotees.

 

To my surprise, as I was mentioning various local individuals who had

immediately pledged at my place

of business upon hearing these reports, various hands started to raise from

the audience, pledging 10,

50, 100, 200 dollars. One person even pledged 500 dollars! Devotees’ hearts

were touched!

 

I also mentioned this year’s three major consecutive floods in Mayapura, for

which I also wanted to

contribute with whoever else would like to participate.

 

About 2500.00 dollars has been sent so far through the Mumbai foreign

contribution fund and soon

something will be sent to Mayapura as well.

 

Hoping that this report will inspire more temples and individuals in the

western hemisphere to join forces

for this important and emergency situation as our Vancouver yatra has

attempted to do.

 

your servant in Srila Prabhupada’s service,

Krsna Kanta devi dasi

 

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