Thursday 20 October 2016

Tuesday, October 18th, 2016

Mumbai, India
  
Lament Not
  
“One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again.  Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.”  Bhagavad-gita 2:27

We received the news today that a very prominent member of our community, known not just in Mumbai but globally, passed away in Bhutan.  Nataji, as everyone knows him, died from heart failure and he had the biggest heart.  He was a generous devotee and he was dear to his guru, Srila Prabhupada.

As the verse above from the Gita indicates “we will be back and so there is no need to lament.”  Over the course of four and a half decades, many senior men and women got to know Nataji.  He was very kind to all.  He had compiled reading material on bhakti-yoga in the business place.

Condolences to his family.  We may try to pay heed to the words above by Sri Krishna, “Do not lament,” in regard to his going.  Based on his magnanimous disposition, Nataji will march on to the subtle greener pasture of the spiritual world.  Therefore, why lament?  But, a notion of self-pity is natural, as he’ll be missed.

Funeral rites will be tomorrow in Mumbai, with a procession beginning at his home.

For my evening, I had every reason to rejoice.  I usually dream about giving presentations to young enthusiasts of the bhakti movement.  One hall got filled up at 8 p.m. with fresh young monks in training.  They came to hear “Tales from Trails.”

May the Source be with you!


3 km

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