From Bhakti Ananda Goswami: As I am chronically ill and disabled and live on a small disability welfare grant and foodstamps, I am not financially able to support this hospice program for Devotees. Once, before I became too ill to work anymore, I was a home hospice and respite care nurse and caregiver-trainer through a major nursing agency in California. Previously, for decades, I worked as a volunteer and then as a professional with severely mentally and physically disabled patients in extended care hospitals and in various other settings. Seeing the often terrible state of elder and disabled care here in the wealthy USA with its great infrastructure and available human services intervention programs, with their public concern for the health and welfare of all, it is painful to think of how difficult it must be in India to take proper care of those who are approaching their bodily death. Decades ago, when I was in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal, I was studying the relationship between religion and human rights, human services and social justice. It was a shock to me to learn how poorly some of the Vaishnava and other Hindu communities took care of their own Members. This inadequacy meant that Christians and Buddhists sometimes were meeting this need and converting the needy (and their families) in the process. In the case of desperate need among our Sisters and Brothers and other Family members in the Hare Krishna Movement, what is being planned and actually DONE for them, to meet their needs. The Material World is REAL, but temporary. Telling those who are suffering terribly that it is all an illusion is escapism. Dealing with the passing injuries and afflictions of life and the reality of bodily death takes REAL LOVE, which is the WORK of the truly compassionate. Talking about Divine Love is completely useless without any action. Love is realized in action, in caring service. Please, Dear Vaishnavas, dont just talk about GODS LOVE and then leave the critical care up to the Christians and Buddhists! Please support these Devotees, and any Others, in their caring for seriously ill Vaishnavas! Find some way to do it, even if only by offering-up your prayer intentions for them and their patients. For example, dedicate some rounds of japa or other prayer offerings for them. And share this request for help with others. Maybe someone that you share it with will be able to make a financial donation.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 03:45:44 +0000
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