OUT OF THIS WORLD

I just found out that Mother Vrinda left her body a couple of weeks ago in Kampala. I was fortunate to have her association in my first few years in ISKCON. In 1999 I joined Tribhuvannatha Prabhu’s travelling festival programme in the UK and Ireland and got to serve alongside her. She was such an inspiration: 100% dedicated to her service, joyful, tolerant, kind. I only wish I had been able to associate more with her.

I remember being in Ireland with her in December 1999. The festival crew were staying in a small two bedroom flat in Dublin in order to collect funds for the African tour. The men were in one room and the ladies in the other. This meant that Mother Vrinda had to share a small room with about three or four younger ladies. Naturally, this must have been difficult for the more mature Vrinda but she tolerated us for some time and then she came up with a solution: she would stay in the cupboard under the stairs! I felt terrible to see her so humble and austere and I begged her not to live in that cold damp place, but she really didn’t seem to mind it and was quite happy there.

I never heard her complain about any of the austerities that she regularly endured for her service. In the UK she would live in an old converted ambulance and take cold showers. But despite all her austerities, she never looked ragged at all – she always looked nice. It was like some mystic power she had.

At festivals, Mother Vrinda would run the shop, and while the rest of us might be having fun dancing in the kirtan, she would be standing outside selling books, incense, chanting beads, samosas etc. One time, after a big festival in the UK (maybe it was Camden Hall), Tribhuvannatha Prabhu asked me what I thought of the programme and I replied that I didn’t get to see any of the programme because I had been at the door greeting the guests all night. Then he said, laughing, “Oh, you did a Mother Vrinda!”

My friend Kirti and I were amazed at her service and her humility. She was always joyfully and busily engaged. She gave everything she had and she set a shining example for us to try to follow.

Her passing was sudden as she was hit down by a car. Perhaps Tribhuvannatha Prabhu needed some help wherever he is now and called for Mother Vrinda. I have no doubt that this is where she would want to be. Dear Vrinda – please save a place there for me too.