Jayaradhe

one of her computer art work of Srila Prabhupada

Jayaradhe dasi departed from this mortal world on 1/4/2003 [still uncertain of date]. She is an old Srila Prabhupada disciple, initiated in 1972, in San Francisco. The following are tributes to her from devotees, and some of her inspiring writings.

Some articles from Jayaradhe-

Her ecstatic description of Radhastami festival -

"The abhiseka arch was a joy to watch the assembly of, with magical little white lights and loads of asparagus fern and palm fronds and large deciduous branches. A woman named Carol created beautiful rings of flowers and greenery for this gazebo, as well as many many huge and wonderful vases for the temple room. This temple uses a lot of ginger flowers which look like the crests of some exotic birds. The Deities looked absolutely wonderful this day, and the abhiseka went on for a very long time, as there were so many substances to offer." [for the rest of the story]

Her dream of Srila Prabhupada-

"His grand humbleness was contagious; we felt awed to be so close to him–yet no one could come near him in his depth of humility. He was friendly and available and was gifting us with his casualness. We felt at once completely at ease with him and also internally flustered (which he was aware of), digging for speech and yet reveling in his presence, his being. I felt like a child set loose in a candy shop, who doesn't know how to take full advantage of this one time enormous opportunity, because his hands can hold only so much, and his belly even less. These were all delicious feelings; all feelings in connection with Srila Prabhupada are sublime. It was pure joy, sheer happiness on an ecstatic level, to be there with him so intimately." [for the rest of the story]

Her Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada, 2001-

"You gave your followers a full-hearted glimpse into the world of harmony, practicable even for those of us extremely conditioned by lifetimes of dysfunctional, hurtful treatments by self and others. When we understand and follow your lead we actually experience the sublime, the world of devotion, where everyone is equal, and united in their equal desires to practice devotional service." [for the rest of the offering]

Her auto-biography sketch- page 2

Her open-heart website- open heart website

Gems of wisdom from Jayaradhe's writings-

I was in San Francisco on Valencia Street when Bhutatma waspresident and I assisted him behind the scenes in pujari room and also cooked and other things Deity-related. I remember painting and decorating our beautiful Kartamisan. I remember when Vaiseka joined,a devotee to the core already, he had long wavy hair and was so skinny and very happy and everyone on the streets seemed to know him on harinam. I left quickly after the terrible ghostly incidents in that ex-morgue, but that's a whole other story.

I remember the wonderful Jayananda being so fatherly, making sure the women daily got either fresh bunches of parsley on their plates in the morning, or raisins, for iron, and I remember him hanging around the flowers a lot, and one time we got a family outing, some of us, in a
big old box van I think, to Naranarayan's land a bit north, and on the way back Jayananda spotted a persimmon tree. Well, Jayananda got out and offered that whole tree, so that anyone who came by would benefit--that was typical of him, always thinking of others, and always taking creative, unconventional means to spread the mercy around. He and the boys got back in the van and presented us with a huge brown bag full of the plumpest juiciest persimmons--my first
taste of those fruits--and we just feasted all the way home. He was such a fun kind of person.

Then New Jagannath Puri, around 76. I dressed Gaura Nita, Krta Karma dressed Jagannath, and Kamatavi dressed Radha Gokulananda. I simply adore Madanasini, too, and also Krta Karma.

Anyway, about the eccentrics in Berkeley, you oughta see my town. Population only 3000, but what a mix of characters. But at least we don't get the screamers, like I used to hear on Stuart Street. I only went to Berkeley Christmas Eve, first time in years, and it was much understaffed but the Dieties were dressed exquisitely. I didn't get to
see Madanasini, think she was at her parents. Well, enough rambling for now, again, thanks for this great oasis, your servant, Jayaradhe

*

I chanted seven more rounds. This was quite hard for me as I am very short-winded due to what may be pneumonia. I remembered how kind Krsna is, and how my belief in His kindness has got me through these years, when sometimes I am and have been so ill from chronic disease
that I can not rise early enough in the morning to do much sadhana before it is time to help my daughter with her home schooling.

Thus I live on the strong belief that Krsna carries what I lack and preserves what I have, and (as a dear friend recently wrote to me), also takes away what I don't need. The number of rounds I do may fall short of the mark, but still if it is a stretch for me, I feel Krsna
takes that very much into account. Like anything else, it really is a matter of consciousness and conscience; we can fool ourselves or not; that is our choice. I would like to keep stretching ever more, so that the chanting again becomes second nature, so to speak, and I will be
more prepared for the time of death too, whenever that will be.

Being plagued by miseries can be the ideal base from which to practice discipline; I know, as I often am overwhelmed by physical distress, and I suppose to some large degree I allow it to overwhelm me. So the idea I think is to strike a balance, an honest balance, within oneself as to how much one really is able, practically, to do. One of the great thing Srila Prabhupada taught us was to be practical. And to do the needful. And to do whatever it takes to always remember Krsna and never forget Him.

Rather than torment myself over my lacks, I like to take it to Krsna, and tell Him how small and weak I am, and ask Him to help me become stronger in my focus and sadhana. I now pray these things every evening before I go to bed.

If Krsna is the most compassionate, and Srila Prabhupada is the most compassionate, why not we should be kind to ourselves (and each other)regarding our efforts?

New York! Yes, for the first time that place sounds quite attractive
to me. I remember when I joined the temple one of the first things that puzzled me was why the devotees lived in the cities (this was Minneapolis where I joined), and they replied, perfectly, that now was the time for being among the people and spreading the glories, and that later would come the real country, Goloka Vrndavan. that was
enough to convince me.

*

This important issue of respecting each other, which is so basic and essential to reminding ourselves of the awesome greatness of this gift of learning how to see Krsna everywhere, and of learning how to engage our daily awareness so that all that we do connects with service to Krsna and to the One who has been telling us about this divine Flute-player.

But repeating the same thing over and over does lend itself to lack ofconsciousness behind the words, which reminds me of when someone asks "How are you?" expecting the standard: "Fine, thanks", or a reply of similar effect. People are often taken aback when the question is considered literally, and answered in kind! Srila Prabhupada urged
devotees to express things in their own words, and to try to see things in different lights. This is like holding a jewel to the sun and turning it at different angles to perceive the myriad of colours coming from this same jewel. Of course, parroting is fine when the words are sublime. But there is also the tendency in the recovering
Mayaholic, conditioned person, to slip into unconsciousness of one's words, if heartfelt application is not applied. Creative conscious prayerful application allows one to access the heart, and dispels cliches – for even the sublime standard greeting can become a cliche.

Variety of expressions refresh us all, and reflect our own uniqueness as devotees, or (in my case) aspiring devotees. That is why we do not simply quote Srila Prabhupada, but we also engage in discussion. The value in this mix is beyond measure, as far as the music we play in our own and each other's hearts, what to speak of reaching the heart
of our Divine Lord.

*

Thank you for affirming the right and responsibility of every
Bhaktivedanta to speak the truth on behalf of guru and Krsna, to speak, as Srila Prabhupada said according to one's realization. Imperfect we may be, but the message is perfect, and as long as we do not taint that message, then the message is conveyed perfectly.

I remember my first visit to a temple. It was a small temple in San Jose, California, and I found myself the willing captive of a brahmacari or grhastha, after the feast. I do not remember him telling me any philosophy. I only remember that he told me wonderful stories
of Krsna. He told me about how He had sucked out the life of Putana witch, and how He had expanded Himself into so many Krsnas so He could dance with each gopi. I did not understand that he was talking about God. But I was immensely attracted to this Person who obviously had
great powers, and attracted to the images, which stuck with me, those early pictures of baby Krsna on Putana's breast, and Devahuti's painting of the rasa dance. I believed the stories. One may say that this was a strange way for a devotee to introduce a new guest to Krsna
consciousness, but it worked for me, and a couple of years later when I started attending a temple regularly it was Krsna Book that was handed to me first, and I would sit after prasadam at a low table and eat this book for dessert. Krsna surely directed that devotee to give
me what would attract me. If he had dished out philosophy at that time, I would have viewed it as something I didn't need to hear from outside myself.

As a new devotee, under the loving friendly and fatherly guidance of Govardhan prabhu, the temple president, we went out six days a week, all day, distributing Back to Godhead magazines, with no competitiveness to spur us on, only real zeal, to share these matchless gifts. Collections were merged (we tried to get at least the token quarter, but also gave them away), and counted up at the end of
the day. We five were thrilled at the number of BTG's that went out each day, no matter how few or how many. Anyway, back to the point, about preaching according to our own levels of realization, I remember feeling so encouraged by this instruction that I was undaunted. Even when posed with a difficult question, I was able to say with such
confidence that I was believed: "I don't know the answer to that one, but you can be sure it is found within the books of Srila Prabhupada!"

And on that basis only, the questioner would be inspired to contribute and accept a magazine. We had wonderful Sunday feast programs, with many intelligent students from St. Paul University. And me with not a squeak of college education at the time, nor many weeks in the movement. I be ramblin', as Mahaksa says, so will now close and wish you all outstanding health and enthusiasm for hearing, chanting, remembering, and sharing. Now that I have taken more time to randomly open letters here and there in this group, I am finding this to be a real haven, and feel peace entering my heart. Thank you, all! thirsting for more and more nectar, Jayaradhe dasi

more, including a auto-bio sketch- page 2

Tributes-

From Dinadayadri dasi-

My relationship with Jayaradhe began a couple of years ago through the Vaisnava Council forum. I admired her forum writings very much, and a personal e-mail correspondence also developed. She was one of those people that when I got to know her, I felt as if I had known her forever. Her writings would inspire in me real transcendental feelings of love for Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krsna. Only a very spiritually advanced soul can invoke such feelings in another person, and this was all done via the medium of cyberspace and later handwritten letters when she could no longer tolerate sitting in front of her computer due to debilitating illness. I cannot imagine what it would have been like if I had been able to associate with her in person. To meet her in person had become a very happily anticipated goal of my life, and I can only weep at the sense of loss that I will now be unable to fulfill that goal in this lifetime. But wait, perhaps that is not quite true, for these days I often feel her presence very close to me. I believe the bonds of spiritual friendship and sisterhood that we shared can transcend the boundaries of time and space -- Jayaradheji, you have proven this to me. Hare Krishna! All glories to His Divine Grace Our Beloved Srila Prabhupada!

Lamenting your separation, with all my love,
Dinadayadri dasi

from Visoka dasa

Jayaradhe will always live in our hearts. She was such a sweet soul and sincere disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and she was like a real sister to me, although I only met her on the internet. I’m sure she’s still serving Krishna in the same way, making beautiful art work for Him, and writing beautiful poems for Him. I pray to her in the spiritual world. We can remember her by reading the many gems of wisdom she left behind for us, and her beautiful art work. In this way, by memory of her wisdom and compassionate nature, we are always in association with Jayaradhe. I miss her greatly. -Visoka dasa

more tributes on page 2

Please send any correspondence you've had with Jayaradhe, or more tributes to email below.

Jai Jayaradhe dasi!