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From the book "Simple for the Simple" by Bhakti Balabh Puri Gosvami
sent by bhaktin Erica
Excerpt from the Foreword by Sivarama Swami
Balabhadra Prabhu began to narrate the incidents of Ratna's personal realizations over the phone. I remember those calls distinctly. I was intrigued and would inquire, "Did she say any more?" Bit by bit certain details emerged and I witnessed a living picture of a Vaisnavi becoming self-realized. Before I could ask any more, before I could visit her again, she left. All of a sudden I found myself constantly thinking of Ratna. A simple devotee, who served the Vaisnavas and the mission of Srila Prabhupada, had clearly understood her svarupa and gone back to Godhead. She was not a sannyasi, not a guru, and not
a big book distributor. Yet by her simple faith, she seemed to have easily acheived the goal of life.
These thoughts began to haunt me all the more because I could not discuss it with her. Ratnaranjini was evidence of Srila Prabhupada's promise. "Chant 16 rounds, follow the regulative principles and you will go back to Godhead." Without extraneous effort, as a consequence of her service, it just happened. Automatically.
[...]
In this little book Simple for the Simple, devotees can share the short life history of a devotee, who walked among us and was like us. She was nothing extraordinary, nothing beyond our own abilties. She was a simple Vaisnavi who showed by example, that the goal of Krsna consciousness is for us all.
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Excerpt from Chapter One
Ratna very much liked serving the devotees, even in very small, seemingly insignificant ways. For example, she always kept good stocks of soap, toothpaste, shaving foam, razor blades, even Band-Aid plasters, bandages, antiseptic creams, needles and thread. In fact, practically anything that you could think of that may at some time be needed. She looked after the devotees like a real caring mother, trying to attend to all their little needs. The devotees also saw her as their mother. Prabhupada Prana prabhu has said on several occasions, "I had a mother in the material world before joining the movement, but when I came to Scotland and served in Karuna Bhavan, and was looked after by Mother Ratnaranjini prabhu, then I found out what a real mother is." Young Karuna Sindhu devi dasi came to Scotland with her parents from South Africa when she had just turned fourteen years old.
She has been in Scotland since then, and always says that she found a real, great and caring mother in Mother Ratnaranjini prabhu, and feels very proud to have such a mother and belong to her family. Karuna Sindhu devi dasi says that she always felt so cared for by Mother Ratnaranjini. Ratna would ask how she was every day in life, and made her feel so wanted.
Ratna always cared for the devotees like a real loving and concerned mother. She would be regularly heard calling the sankirtana men "her boys" and that the boys would be home soon, so prasad should be ready for them.
She always had the genuine mood of service to others, and never felt "put out" by having to serve anyone. Nothing was ever too much bother for her, she was always ready and willing to offer service. She definitely imbibed the real mood of serving the Vaisnavas and always carried this with her throughout her entire devotional life, always trying to teach this to others in her gentle way. She would say, "Troubles only come when we are not busy enough. When we are fully engaged, then where is the time for all the little so-called problems that the mind likes to try to disturb us with?" "Time is short and Srila Prabhupada has given everything we need to be fully engaged in Krsna consciousness, what else do we need? Nothing really, only that we have some ideas in mind and we dwell on them. Just work hard, busy all the time, then there is no time to listen to the mind."
She was always busy, busy, busy and always happy in her service, and that others could feel when associating with her. She was a good practical example of a simple, sincere, real servant of the Vaisnavas, guru and Krsna. To her, devotional service was a pleasure to perform, and she would regularly say, "We are so fortunate to be devotees and be allowed to engage in some little simple service. Millions upon millions in the world have never had such a great opportunity, so we should think ourselves very fortunate indeed and perform the service we are given with great care and attention, then our lives will be successful."
That was her mood, a mood of simple devotion and feeling that she was so fortunate to get the opportunity to offer a little service.
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Excerpt from Chapter Four
Another day, two devotees came from London to see Ratna, they were also very touched by her childlike sweetness and simplicity. They were asking Ratna for blessings. To this she replied, "Just chant Hare Krsna, that's all you need. Nothing else."
One of the devotees admitted her failure in completing her 16 rounds daily, as the intensity of japa brought on headaches. To this Ratna replied, "Just chant even more and more attentively and your headaches will go away."
"But Ratna, it's so difficult," came the response.
To which Ratna exclaimed, "No more excuses, just chant attentively as you promised, then all problems will be solved."
The devotees asked if she had any special words to offer them. Ratna responded, "There is nothing more special, just chant!" They asked if she had any special message for all her friends at Bhaktivedanta Manor. "Yes," Ratna replied. "They should all chant Hare Krsna too, then everything will be OK."
After the devotees left, Ratna turned to Bala and said, "They just don't want to chant the holy names, do they? That's the cause of all their problems. This chanting is so nice."
Excerpt from Chapter Five
She [Ratna] has done a great service to many by setting the finest example and how to pass the final test. By the wonderful mercy of her beloved spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, this soul, to all intents and purposes appears to have returned Home, back to Godhead.
[...]
She was always a very simple soul, never in any way complicated. She served willingly at all times, and was respectful to others.
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Simple for the simple, as Srila Prabhupada has said. "This Krsna consciousness is simple for the simple, but complicated for the complicated."
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Excerpt from Chapter Six
But through Ratna Srila Prabhupada has shown us his great mercy. He is with us, just follow his instructions, be a simple devotee and he will take you home, he will take you home. Some devotees present remarked, "She was always a very simple person, not complicated," and "She has given the women folk of our movement great hope, we can all go Home." Yes, each word a fact. She was a simple householder, just carrying out her day-to-day services in the best way she knew how. Never getting involved in any politics, just simple service to Prabhupada and the devotees.
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Excerpt from 'Personal Thought'
There is no need to go anywhere else, Srila Prabhupada has given everything, we just have to be very sincere and simple takers of the mercy he has given and is still giving, then we will achieve the same great end as Ratna, a simple lady, mother, wife and dasi; one who never received second initiation from Srila Prabhupada. She received her second initiation first from Jayatirtha prabhu, then after his leaving from Bhagavan prabhu.
After Bhagavan prabhu's departure, she just continued to follow what Srila Prabhupada has given us all, and as we can see, by Prabhupada's mercy and her following his instructions with a chaste, devoted attitude. There is no need to go running round looking everywhere for something special. That something special is Srila Prabhupada, the holy name and the process that he has given us.
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This book can be purchased at www.lalonline.com
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