Her Grace Bhumi dd (ACBSP) is one of ISKCON’s early pioneers. She joined at the tender age of 19 and has served Srila Prabhupada’s mission since then as a leading book distributor and cook. She has never taken anything for herself, but now she needs help.
Recently Bhumi was diagnosed with ovarian cancer which has resulted in bone osteoporosis and a fractured spine. She has used up all her life savings paying for expensive medical treatment. Now, unable to even pay her rent, she faces the danger of eviction.
When Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, Pradyumna was ill, Srila Prabupada personally paid for his treatment out of his cherished book fund: “Offer Pradyumna my blessings and congratulate him on his coming back from the hospital. Please take care of him as best you can. You have not said anything how his hospital bills have to be paid. I have already written to you that if need be, then I can pay something from my book fund.”
Letter to HH Satsvarupa Maharaja, April 1968
When Yamuna dd became sick, Srila Prabhupada had her stay in the room next to his, and he personally supervised her care.
In these ways, Srila Prabhupada taught us by his personal example the great value of taking care of Krishna’s devotees:
*”But in the lower stage, a…, the devotee is concerned with the Deity worship, but he does not take much care of the devotees. But when one is advanced further, he can see Krsna and His devotee also. Isvara tad-adhina. Tad-adhina means devotees. Devotees are always under the service of Krsna. So anyone who is giving service to Krsna, we should take care of them also.” *Lecture on The Nectar of Devotion — October 23, 1972, Vrndavana
Remembering Srila Prabhupada’s precept and example, I appeal to ISKCON’S leaders to take this opportunity to give loving support and care to their god-sister, Bhumi dd, who is undoubtedly dear to Srila Prabhupada.
I also appeal to the hundreds and thousands of householders to remember our highest duty is to give charity:
*”To give charity is one of the householder’s main functions, and he should be prepared to give in charity at least fifty percent of his hard-earned money.” SB 1.9.27*
Even though we are engaged in family life and material enjoyment, one powerful way of purifying our consciousness is by giving charity:
*”Pure consciousness can be revived by the process of sacrifice, charity, pious activities, etc.” SB 4.26.24*
If the charity is given to qualified devotees then the return is huge, both materially and spiritually:
*”In the sastras charity was offered to persons who deserve to accept charity by dint of spiritual enlightenment.” SB 1.12.14*
*”**Money given in charity to a suitable person is guaranteed bank balance in the next life. Such charity is recommended to be given to a brahmana. If the money is given in charity to a non-brahmana (without brahminical qualification) the money is returned in the next life in the same proportion. If it is given in charity to a half-educated brahmana, even then the money is returned double. If the money is given in charity to a learned and fully qualified brahmana, the money is returned a hundred and a thousand times, and if the money is given to a veda-paraga (one who has factually realized the path of the Vedas), it is returned by unlimited multiplication.”** -SB 2.3.17 purport *
*”It is said that the Lord is most pleased when He sees one engage in the service of His devotee. He does not need any service from anyone because He is complete, but it is in our own interest to offer all kinds of services to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. These services can be offered to the Supreme Person not directly but through the service of brahmanas and Vaisnavas. Srila Narottama dasa Thakura sings, chadiya vaisnava-seva nistara payeche keba, which means that unless one serves the Vaisnavas and brahmanas, one cannot get liberation from the material clutches.” SB 4.21.39*
*”By serving the servant of God, one can please God more than by directly serving the Lord. The Lord is more pleased when He sees that His servants are properly respected because such servants risk everything for the service of the Lord and so are very dear to the Lord. The Lord declares in the Bhagavad-gita (18.69) that no one is dearer to Him than one who risks everything to preach His glory. By serving the servants of the Lord, one gradually gets the quality of such servants, and thus one becomes qualified to hear the glories of God.” SB 1.2.16 purport*
When a devotee like Bhumi suffers it fills me with sadness, as she has given her life to the Lord’s service. However, if we, the devotee community, can see Krishna’s hand in the situation and reciprocate properly with Him, this can become a wonderful opportunity for her to feel our love and appreciation, and for us to simultaneously increase our own good fortune both materially and spiritually. Sitting in the bank our money will simply devalue; spent on new devices, holidays, restaurants, etc. our money will simply bind us more tightly to the cycle of birth and death. But when we use our fleeting wealth to serve Krishna’s dear devotees, we increase our own spiritual and material good fortune.
So I humbly appeal to both ISKCON’s leaders and grihastha community to give generously to Bhumi’s appeal. She only needs $30,000 to meet her medical and living expenses. I am sure if Srila Prabhupada was personally present he would be contributing from his book fund to help her. Imagine how pleased he would be when he sees us following in his footsteps and prioritizing the welfare of sincere devotees like Bhumi.
Below is a link to her GoFundMe campaign. Please take this opportunity to serve her and do yourself the greatest good:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/bhumi
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88618
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