Spiritual Care at the Dead End

Hospice Outreach

Note: Names have been changed to protect identities and the name of the hospice has been deliberately left out.

Compiled by Lila Sundari Devi Dasi

After what seemed like hours, the doctor finally entered the ward. Freida desperately scanned the doctor’s face for any signs of hope. Unfortunately, there were none. Freida waited for the doctor to speak. “I am sorry,” the doctor started. By now Frieda’s heart was palpitating. “We have now done everything that is medically possible. We do not see any chance of recovery anymore. Now it’s only a matter of time…” Freida felt the blood draining from her face, and her body go numb. Her lips were trembling. Before she could process this information, the doctor continued, “We can suggest several end of life care options…”

Unfortunately, this is the story of thousands around the world. In one sense, there is nothing more certain than death for every living being. A select few know of their impending end sometime before they die, as the great Parikshit Maharaj did. Out of these, a few opt to spend their last days in a hospice.

Here is where the devotees come in!

At the instruction of His Holiness B.V.V. Narasimha Maharaj, H.G. Padma Locan Prabhu launched the hospice outreach at Gita Reading Society. H.G. Padma Locan Prabhu, H.G. Renuka Mataji, H.G. Vraja Lila Mataji, H.G. Karuna Mataji, H.G. Subhanana Mataji and H.G. Sewa Kund Mataji are a part of a team that routinely visit and care for patients at a day hospice in Singapore. Patients are ferried every morning to the hospice. The devotees’ day starts with helping the patients from the vehicle to the hospice premises.

Prasadam is cooked by Renuka Mataji, Karuna Mataji, Subhanana Mataji and Sewa Kund Mataji and served to the patients. Patients either honor them independently or are fed by Prabhu or the Matajis.

Devotees have found creative ways to infuse Krsna Consciousness into the different games and activities that are used to engage the patients. For example, they play musical chairs with the patients. The music they play for the game include songs such as George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord” or Boy George’s “Hare Krishna”.

Padma Locan Prabhu does Yoga and Mindfulness meditation with the patients. He asks the patients to close their eyes and relax. Then he slowly describes a beautiful blue colored boy with curly black hair. The blue boy holds a flute in his hand and sports a peacock feather on his head. Sounds familiar? The boy is there to help them out. The participants are asked to meditate on feeding their blue friend some food and then eating the remnants themselves.

Another activity that patients participate in is making flower garlands. Patients are taught how to make garlands. After these garlands are made, they are collected. Later on in the day, they are offered to their Lordships.

Which program can be complete without kirtan? Karuna Mataji sings and Vraja lila Mataji plays mridanga, as patients follow. Some patients are so intense, Padma Locan Prabhu says, as they sing the Holy Names.

A hospice is a place that provides care for terminally ill patients. A day hospice where patients spend their waking hours in, is a place that provides activities to engage the patients, so they do not find life meaningless. This is done by games, and other engaging activities. What better way can there be to make life meaningful than Krsna Consciousness?

Hospice outreach is certainly a service for the tough. “Not everyone can handle this,” Padma Locan Prabhu says. “Some devotees enthusiastically took up this service but dropped out after what they saw here.” After all, these are seriously ill patients. They are suffering as their body deteriorates. For example, some patients come in so heavily medicated and drugged. They take a lot of medication such as morphine, to deal with intense pain associated with terminal illness. At other times, family members are so fed up watching a loved one suffer that they decide to give additional medication. And then, there are the inspiring stories…

When Hang Kiat was about to leave his body, his family members held a vigil. They invited the devotees to join in. The devotees sang kirtan. Padma Locan Prabhu had the opportunity of slowly whispering the Holy Name to Hang Kiat’s ear, as he passed on.

Mithun George, another patient, had slipped into a coma. The devotees sang kirtan for George, although he was from a Catholic family. While still in coma, George suddenly shouted “Rama! Rama! Rama!”. He then fell silent. He left his body a few hours later. His family members later told the devotees that he used to be a Hindu before he converted. He was very interested in the Ramayana.

The family members were so grateful to the devotees, and so happy that George had chanted Lord Rama’s names before he left.

All this has created a positive impact at the hospice. “The staff really like the devotees,” Padma Locan Prabhu says. “They really want us to come. We can see that.” Further, the dedicated service of the devotees has been rewarded with a Certificate of Appreciation by the hospice for 5 years of service. This is truly an inspiration for all of us. It is natural for devotees, and even others in general to turn to the Lord in times of dire need. The devotees serving at the hospice have really brought Krsna to the lives of those at the dead end, for whom there is no other hope…

Rather than living in denial, let us embrace this reality with full courage, and prepare for the final examination of life with the weapon of devotional service – upasana astra.