Karnamrita Das (Brian Soul) Departs

His son in law, Jai Baladev Das, wrote:

“With a heavy heart we’re sad to announce that Karnamrita Das (Brian Soul), disciple of Srila Prabhupada and father to Jahnavee Soul, left his body this morning due to Covid19. “He spent over a month in the hospital, originally for pneumonia and sepsis, fought for a long time, but at some point also contracted the coronavirus while he was there. 

Despite not being able to be there with him or communicate with him much because of the lockdown, we were able to arrange for kirtan to be playing for him the last couple days and at the time of his departure. Even in his near-unconscious state, the nurses heard him singing and they also became appreciative of the kirtan. The association of a devotee is so powerful that even in such a condition as he was, the power and love of the holy name shines through. We will miss him dearly, but know the soul is never vanquished and he has moved on to a better place. Please pray for his journey, that Krishna protect him and bring him back to the shelter of His lotus feet. Hare Krishna.”

[PADA: Karnamrita was one of the writers for the mid-1980s "Vedic Village Review," where he, Nityananda das, Rupa Vilas das, Yasodanandan das, myself and a few others were writing the first organized "ritvik" arguments. He was pretty much expelled from ISKCON for that reason. His last e-mail letter to me was many, many years ago, where he said he was gradually going blind and could no longer read computer messages. 

Of course now ISKCON is advertising his death as if he was part of their process and he was following their gurus. Fake news.

Anyway, he was a dedicated Prabhupada man and we are sorry that so many of them ended up being exiled and made into homeless refugees by the so-called living gurus. In any event, he is on his way to the next destination and we wish him all God speed in this regard. He was a good friend and fellow warrior in the cause of re-establishing Srila Prabhupada as the acharya.

Meanwhile, some "advanced devotee" (ok a GBC guru follower) wrote to argue with me that there is no virus, there are no people in the hospital, and the whole virus issue is a media made hoax. He sent me a photo of an empty hospital entrance. OK but we have no idea if that photo is real or relevant. 

And when I did not agree, he started insulting me, name calling and etc. Folks, there really is a virus out there, people really are in hospitals (we have several friends who work in these places), and this virus is actually making people get sick and die. And Karnamrita is simply another example. 

We hope that devotees take this issue seriously and do not act whimsically in this crisis, of course we think most devotees are taking it serious. Yet there are always a few conspiracy folks in the bunch. More than a few "Christian preachers" who denied the virus -- later died after catching it, or some members of their flock died. Of course, no one can check death indefinitely, at the same time we should try to avoid dying by being foolish, whimsical and careless. 

Anyway, good luck on your soul's travels Karnamrita das, you were not named "Brian Soul" for no reason. You were on the right side on this battle, and that is what Krishna will take into consideration mainly. ys pd]