Keep it up Hema! You have set an example!

By Jaganmohini Devi Dasi

My response to ‘Second Generation Devotee Conferred with a National Legal Award in Kuala Lumpur‘

Few days back as I took a short break to quickly browse through the titles of recent articles in this forum, there was one article that caught our attention. 

Dear Hema, the brief extract narrating your award story intrigued me to read the full article. Being inspired by your story, I felt, I must respond to you and so today I set some time for it.

I was indeed moved by your life story not because of award, but it had much more to offer to several who have embraced Krishna Consciousness in their life. For many it could be a moment of joy or just an appreciation because of award, but I see this award as an instrument for recognition of a wonderful example of application of KC in work place. But for this award, many would not have known your astute approach adopted in your work place that was as a result of several years of effort of real time practice of Krishna Consciousness.

You spent your childhood in ISKCON atmosphere, but adopted a natural and simplistic approach to bhakti yoga. Without trying to be anything artificial or anybody other than yourself, you were influenced by the positive aspects of the culture. As you mentioned,

‘The concept of ‘I, me, and myself’ is non-existing in my team as we vouch for each other and ensure that we swim and steadily keep each other afloat together, as a team. I learnt this concept through my wonderful up-bringing in ISKCON.’

To put into practice even a small aspect of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam, it needs persistent sacrifice through self-less approach.

You represent an individual representing the majority population living in this world and dealing with work culture that is moving very fast to keep up with competitive globalization challenges. You represent women community who normally grab attention of people in general only for wrong reasons while their finest contributions are rarely appreciated and encouraged. Most importantly you represent women in Krishna Consciousness who are seen more from a perspective of theoretical varnashrama dharma and accordingly guided but with no practical concrete direction given to them with regard to excellence in service especially in a noble working atmosphere like yours.

You have set a practical example of substance for all the above categories.

Your excellent upbringing which you credit to your single parent mother (great lady!) and other guardians are Lord Krishna’s special grace upon you which you received it through your spiritual master H.H. Jayapataka Swami.

It was only through the above pillars of your life as you have gracefully and rightly acknowledged, you became positively ambitious about your career and pursued higher studies and reached a position that you are today.

How many women practicing KC receive such encouragement?

Your life appears so naturally unfolding to serve your guru as your life and soul all for the right cause, that is to help push forward the teachings of Lord Caitanya to people at large. Your gurumaharaj might be very pleased with your service.

If my spiritual master was physically present, even he would have been very proud of his spiritual niece as I recall in this regard one of his room conversations with devotees in 1999. He gave a practical perception of Krishna Consciousness and having received this direct counselling for the first time, it changed our thinking of Krishna Consciousness and they were indeed different from what I had gathered before from other sources.

I share excerpt here for your pleasure.

He said, ‘Being spiritual is not just going to temple, church or mosque for few hours during the week and the rest of the time you forget about it. It is not like that. It is not a one-hour job. It has to be applied every day, every moment and in every face of our life, even in office…..you have dedicated that work in order to serve the Lord; In this way, there is meaning and purpose and hence you will want to do it very nicely. Suppose you want to cook, something for offering to the Lord, then your consciousness is already oriented in such a way that you have to put the right amount of salt. You cannot do it just haphazardly……Because generally when things are done with attention, the result is good. Similarly, when you go to office, you go in time, not necessarily to please the boss, but because you are doing this to please the Lord. Thus in this way, one becomes very responsible in one’s activity and one will not indulge in anything unwanted. These are the applications of devotional principles.”

So your award as a direct outcome of applying devotional principles is significant today.

At present, religious issues are predominantly a disturbing factor in several nations, leading to violence, bans and protests. At such a time a journey to human excellence based on Krishna Conscious  practice can stand apart and nothing can come on its way. So from futuristic perspective at individual level it makes sense to focus on this scientific practice with a broad mindset. This can also validate the meaning of ‘Krishna Consciousness is a way of life’. As such every religion claims this, but their practices don’t help them evolve beyond the three of the four religion goals, and hence it is not easy to proclaim superficially, that religion is a way of life. But the uniqueness of Krishna Consciousness is its prime focus on the fifth dimension goal that is love of God, so this is the motivation that can help to evolve beyond the lower goals. Of course an appropriate grooming during childhood and youth can contribute significantly later towards the scientific practice of Krishna Consciousness for human excellence.

Dear Hema, we are sure you will continue in your journey of excellence and render service as a counsellor (practicing!) for future generation.

Kindly hold on to your pillars tightly and don’t give up.

Who knows, there could be another Tulasi Gabbard in the wait at Malaysia!!

It is grand disciples like you living outside a monastery, who can practically demonstrate to the society that Krishna Consciousness is a way of life or it is applied spiritual technology and that it is a journey towards human excellence and through this example carry the flag of our guru parampara and Lord Chaitanya with pride.

All the best to you Hema, and we pray to Lord Krishna that He continue to inspire you within to climb higher in the path of practical bhakti yoga.

Hope someday in the near future by His desire we shall meet.

All glories to Sri guru and Sri Gauranga!

Hare Krishna!

Your servant

Jaganmohini devi dasi (Disciple of H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada)