I humbly ask that for this short blog that you forgive the self indulgence and possible ramblings, in health care you get many call’s late night call’s fall into one of two categories can you cover for a college or some sad news of someone passing away.
The chocked and tearful voice alerted me to the later, my college who had just been diagnosed with a terminal illness had a shorter time than the doctors had given; passing away the loss on the nursing team is devastating (yes health care staff have feelings too only were professional enough not to show them most of the time)
Bhakta Peter was however not only a work college but a devotee, when we first met he recognized the hair and immediately identified me as a devotee (I guess I can fool most people), a few weeks later with a tear in his eye he asked me why I hadn’t told him I was an initiated devotee (it never occurred to me)
Over the following few years we worked together he opened up, spoke of the different classes of Srila Prabhupada’s he had sat in, those early day’s at Bury place the craziness as the devotees moved into Soho Street. We rarely here these stories they are precious and reminded me of seva and the need to get real in my own Krishna Conscious life.
He had two regrets:
He was given the opportunity to get initiated by Srila Prabhupada; by Srila Prabhupada himself who was performing the imitation ceremony he often said I should of but I’m a rascal.
His second was leaving over what he later realised was a trivial almost stupid reason but in his heart he never left.
I remember with fondness how he would ask many questions, how he loved and looked forward to the small sweet’s I would take him having been offered to Sri Sri RadhaGokulananda; but most of all I loved his poetry.
Pondering and re-reading Srila Prabhupada’s words he had reflected on and putting them into poems; ow how I wished I had the forethought to record them; if only Srila Prabhupada’s words had pierce my own heart in such a way that it becomes my meditation as it had become Bhakta Peters.
The other day I listened to one of Srila Prabhupada’s classes he spoke of how there is never fall down in devotional life anything we do is of eternal gain; I am sure Srila Prabhupada and Sri Krishna will see the love Bhakta Peter had for them both.
Srila Prabhupada also explained that if in this life time we render seva but leave devotional life in the next life we are given better circumstances in a brahman family (not cast brahman but a true Krishna Conscious Brahman family) or a rich family (rich as in they understand and use their wealth in Krishna’s seva setting a fine example to follow)
I conclude by asking the devotees if they can offer a small pray for my dear friend that Sri Krishna and Srila Prabhupada will overlook all his mistakes and just see the kindness in his heart (I’m sure they already have) and that if for whatever reason he has to take birth again, this time he makes it.
Thank You
And Thank You Bhakta Peter friend and work college for inspiring me so much
Hare Krishna
Govinda Swami: Dear Friends
The health condition of my god-brother from South Africa, Shyamlal Prabhu, has deteriorated and become terminal. May I humbly request you all to pray for him.
He began losing his memory around April 2012. His doctors assessed that he has encephalitis. But by August that year he began having seizures and was ultimately diagnosed with brain cancer. 
The inspiration behind this song comes straight from the yoga text Śrī Īśopaniṣad and the purport given by the great bhakti-yoga teacher Śrīla Prabhupāda. Although I share my realizations on this mantra below, I recommend reading the book for yourself, no matter what your spiritual or philosophical background may be. 
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in Stockholm in September of 1973 
The meaning is within the words – Govinda, Gopi, Govardhana, Goloka Vrindavan. It is clear these are the greatest. Govinda is Lord Krishna, the protector of cows, Gopis are the highest devotees, Govardhana is the best servant, and Goloka Vrindavan (“go loka – the abode of the cows ”) is the highest destination . The meaning is obvious. There is nothing without the cows. They all serve cows. Cows are the dearest to Lord Krishna, they are His deities. This is the highest form of worship of Lord Krishna and available to only a very select few devotees. Even this knowledge is very rare – most people don’t understand the exalted position of cows, they see cows as animals. People who serve Krishna ’s cows are the most fortunate and achieve all results. 
This Sunday Srimad Bhagavatam class at The Bhakti Center was given by H.H. Radhanath Swami followed by wonderful prasadam from the Bhakti Buffet 
