Simple for the Simple

Description

The wonderful account of Ratnanga’s leaving her body. She left her body from a brain cancer within a period of 2 years.

Ratnaranjini was bedridden for about two years and during that time was deeply absorbed in reading, hearing and chanting. Sivarama Swami writes in the foreword about her last months:

QUOTE:
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 achieved 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.