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EDITORIAL September 5, 2000 VNN6207 Comment on this story Hladini Was A Pure Devotee BY CINTAMANI DASI, DETROIT EDITORIAL, Sep 5 (VNN) — Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. There was never any doubt in my mind that Hladini was a pure devotee. I had association with her in New Vrindavana in 1972. I had my own Deities of Lord Jagannatha and remember her admiring Them and wishing she also had a set. Shortly thereafter, Silavati gave her a small set. She was TOTALLY absorbed in love and service to Lord Krsna. She had a 14 hour service schedule the last time I was with her at Bahulaban farm at New Vrindavan in 1983, but actually she was serving 24 hours a day. She would dream of Lord Jagannatha at night, cook wonderful prasada (sometimes out of meager ingredients), do aratis, sewing, cleaning, etc. Two years in a row we painted the Jagannatha Deities for the Rathayatra there. At that time she lived in a small attic above the temple. Most of the devotees had moved to the new temple. I stayed back to help Hladini take care of the large Lord Jagannatha Deities and the five small sets. She had all the saintly qualities--humble, hardworking, modest, friendly, and free from lust, anger and greed. Once I accidently came across a notebook in which she wrote letters to Lord Krsna. They were very advanced and she was embarrassed I had read them. She was Hladini, the blissful potency, all loving. I have never met anyone like her, and I considered her my mentor, although she would have laughed if I told her that. So many times we would laugh ourselves silly when Mother Rupa would tell us some of the crazy things that were happening on the farm. She also developed a strong taste for reading the Caitanya-caritamrita. Of all people I never thought she would leave the farm and her beloved Jagannatha Deities. But she developed a preaching spirit. I had moved to Detroit and the next thing I heard was that she was in Africa. Why such a valuable devotee was placed in such a dangerous country, I would like to know. She was my inspiration and a truly beautiful devotee. She was first and foremost an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Being an obedient servant, she took sannyasa from Kirtanananda, who she thought was representing Srila Prabhupada. She was a rare soul and needs to get the honor she deserves. (Cintamani dasi can be reached at: Srinandan@aol.com.) Comment on this story  Contact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
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