Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Yamuna devi often experienced that rare quality of feeling an immediate connection of intimacy with her. She had the unique ability to bring out the inner devotional core of a person, often after a short association. Whether it be a friend of long duration or a humble cook or driver in her travels, she fully invested herself into their hearts and left them with a wealth of bhakti. Her nature was at once devoid of the desire for honor and recognition and relentlessly compassionate toward others. She truly personified the devotional maxim of ‘para dukha dukhi,’ unable to tolerate the discomfort of others. In one of her mice-eaten notebooks from Vrindavan, she carefully highlighted Srila Prabhupada’s comments from his Nectar of Devotion lectures describing a devotee’s nature:
Pure devotional service automatically puts one in transcendental pleasure. In the material pleasure, if I see you happy, I am unhappy; if I see you unhappy, I become happy. This is nature. I may say otherwise, but material nature is, if one is put into difficulty, then I become very happy, and if I am happy, others become envious. This is material pleasure. Whereas spiritual pleasure means that when one sees Krishnais happy, or a devotee is happy, the other devotee becomes happier. . . .This is the difference between spiritual pleasure and material pleasure. It is not difficult to understand. Material pleasure means if you are happy, I become unhappy; if you are unhappy, then I become happy. This is material pleasure. And spiritual pleasure means by seeing your happiness, I become happy. (Nov. 3, 1972)
Yamuna devi personified what it means to be spiritually ‘happy,’ and she freely and lovingly gave that gift to others throughout her life. In her later years, she devoted much of her time to the youth in Krishna consciousness, and her most cherished desire, expressed often and purposefully, was to show that the practice of Krishna bhakti held the highest attainment, the greatest joy and the ultimate reward of going Back Home, Back to Godhead. One of her often-used phrases, always given with a radiant smile was —- “Just take it.”
In the last years of her life, Yamuna began her memoir in earnest, though still hesitant due to her natural humility. She expressed her reluctance in the preface to her memoir.
In the field of writing, I have been known as a cookbook author and food writer. Though often encouraged by others and yes, even prompted from within to write, for over thirty years the autobiographical book project has been placed on the metaphorical back burner. Even though my reasons not to write the book changed over time, some excuses seem as if chiseled in stone. A few enduring ones are: I may not be a good story teller; I may be unable to write with resonance; I may be incapable of doing justice to its principal character, Srila Prabhupada; and finally, the most daunting—I may end up writing a stolid, egocentric I-Me-My book.
Srila Prabhupada instructed Yamuna devi on many occasions that it was her duty to teach others what he had given her. Over the years, many devotees requested her to write her memoirs, and ultimately she overcame her reluctance out of a desire to show that Krishna consciousness is accessible to everyone who takes to its joyous practice.
Unfortunately, she passed on to Srila Prabhupada’s service before she could complete her memoir, but a remarkable group of dedicated devotees are helping to complete what is now both a memoir and appreciation. Yamuna devi’s contribution to Srila Prabhupada’s mission reached far beyond the twelve years of his manifest presence with us for she not only served him and assimilated his teachings, she unreservedly dedicated her life to their practice and dissemination. The remainder of this brochure contains in Yamuna’s own words reflections on her life, dedication to Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. It is our great honor to have an opportunity to exalt the process of Krsna consciousness by celebrating the life of Yamuna devi, who personified not only how to ‘live’ a life of dedication, but how to lovingly and compassionately give it to others.
– Dinatarini devi dasi