Present Time Memories of Hladini devi dasi
BY: RUPA RAMESVARI DEVI DASI
Sep 17, 2012 — USA (SUN) — Present Time Memories of Hladini devi dasi on her disappearance day.
Only very recently I have encountered a particularly nauseating assertion concerning Hladini and Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj. I was a close personal friend of Hladini's from early on in New Vrindavan, before her arranged marriage with Vahna das. And after she moved to Africa to preach, we kept in touch with multiple exchanges of letters. I knew her and her nature, quality of commitment and practice of devotional service quite intricately over a very long period of time. And on her nature and her heart, I feel especially well grounded to make a comment. We confided extensively in each other just like very close sisters, which is what we were in Srila Prabhupada's family.
It was through her letters I started developing a more comprehensive appreciation of Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj. In honesty, I must say I knew very little personally about Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj. In fact, in over 40 yrs of attempting to follow Srila Prabhupada, I only know with any detail of about five Godbrothers with any depth, and even of them I would be reluctant to say I know them very fully or completely. It has been the nature of the formality of our tradition in regard to single student associations.
Of course, I knew of Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj and his enthusiastic preaching and always found reports of his activities enlivening, inspiring even. And that was true of many of the outstanding front line preachers of Srila Prabhupada's movement. But I did not know him much at all in any personal way.
I am well aware, as are we all, that one of the greatest forms of sense gratification in this age of quarrel and hypocrisy is scandal—where it really is or is not. It is also one of the great detainers or deflectors of sincere faith that can be wielded. Actually, real Bhakti cannot be stopped by any means. The constitutional desire of the soul will eventually reach such a pitch in each individual that it must be sought out: and Krsna, the Master of Maya, will always help such souls from within and without.
It has all along been part of the nature of my relationship, and appreciation for Hladini to point out her extraordinary devotional qualities and deep regard for devotees, to which I was so often and for so long an intimate witness. I have nothing to say of others' suspicions. I only want to discuss the person I know better than any other person on this planet.
Hladini would under no circumstances have had any illicit connection with ANY Godbrother, let alone Srila Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj. That is really all I have to say: other than I am sorry for the pain of the heart others must be feeling to have reached such a miserable suspicion or to have believed it.
Thank you for letting me be heard.
