Almost 25 years after Sangita Devi Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, founded Vaishnavas C.A.R.E., devotees around the world are being invited to join a special “Reading Club,” hosted by the Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. International Team. The club will collectively read Sangita Devi Dasi’s “The Final Journey,” a complete and comprehensive hospice care manual written to help train devotees to assist Vaishnavas at the end of their lives.  

All English-speaking devotees around the world are invited to join weekly reading sessions of “The Final Journey,” which will begin on Sunday, September 29th, at 12 p.m. EDT. The sessions will be conducted over Zoom, and participants will have the option to follow along on the screen or read along using their own copies of the book (link for purchase below).

In addition to founding Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. and authoring this incredible book, Sangita Devi Dasi was also instrumental in opening the Bhaktivedanta Hospital (formerly Bhaktivedanta Hospice) in Sri Vrindavan Dham along with Giriraj Swami. 

Author Sangita Devi Dasi with her ground-breaking book.

Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. (Counseling, Assistance, Resources, and Education) was founded to lend support to terminally ill devotees and those in need. It is an international educational program and support system for patients and loved ones facing acute, long-term, or chronic illnesses and end-of-life situations. Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. offers support, comfort, guidance, and educational instruction for patients, family members, caregivers, and those who wish to learn the art of hospice caregiving. 

“As members of our temple communities around the world get older, more and more of our fellow devotees are facing the reality of needing end-of-life care after being diagnosed with incurable illnesses,” said Taravali Devi Dasi, a Palliative Care Nurse and President of Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. International.  “This is an inevitable part of life that none of us can escape. Who among us will not one day require this kind of care, dignity, and support? It’s a deeply personal concern for all devotees, and having been personally mentored by Sangita Devi Dasi, I increasingly see the need for devotees to come together and learn these valuable skills.”

By taking part in this weekly “Reading Club,” devotees will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of hospice care for the dying with the spiritual wisdom of Krishna consciousness as taught by Sangita Devi Dasi and inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s example. Since its first edition was released almost two decades ago, “The Final Journey” has become the “end-of-life handbook and guide” for Vaishnavas around the world.

The book has long been “mandatory reading” for the nursing staff at a Catholic-based, in-patient hospice facility on the West Coast of the U.S. Over the years, “The Final Journey” has guided thousands of family caregivers and their terminally ill loved ones when faced with end-of-life decisions regarding treatment, medications, and comfort care options for devotees. 

There is no cost for devotees to join this “Reading Club” but registration is required.  Additionally, once registered, devotees will have the option to purchase an e-book version of “The Final Journey,” or a physical copy through Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. here.

For those who want to join this special Reading Club, please register here.

For more information, please visit the Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. International website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Vaishnavas C.A.R.E. Latin America can also be found on Facebook.