The Future Standard For Srila Prabhupada’s Books

BY: PRAHLADA-NRSIMHA DAS

Oct 27, 2012 — USA (Prabhupada News) — All Jayadvaita and Dravida and company’s hard work in changing Srila Prabhupada’s books will accomplish only one thing. It will establish a future standard for Srila Prabhupada’s books. A standard that anything which seems (to a conditioned soul’s faulty mind and senses) as illogical, grammatically incorrect or able to be improved upon must be changed.

Even the covers and art must be changed on a regular basis to further reinforce this standard. This will over time devalue Srila Prabhupada’s authorized books and people will gradually loose faith in both Srila Prabhupada and his books. It will establish an understanding that Srila Prabhupada and his books are full of faults and thus not absolute truth.

People will view Srila Prabhupada’s books to be on the same level as any other book that is subject to the interpretation, addition and subtraction of a conditioned soul. They will be looked at as material things, not as transcendental Deities worshipable by all.

Prabhupada’s books are not the playthings of conditioned souls. No matter how intelligent and expert we are in the mundane so-called proper or improper use of the english language, or expert at using Programs like Photoshop to redo the art and covers etc. we are still imperfect conditioned souls, and thus everything an imperfect conditioned soul does or says will be imperfect.

Whatever a conditioned soul does is coming from the position of imperfection and faulty understandings influenced by the 4 defects of a conditioned soul. Srila Prabhupada has said in his Bhagavad-gita Introduction that “With these four imperfections, one cannot deliver perfect information of all-pervading knowledge.” Srila Prabhupada had blessed these books. He saw those covers, He read from those books.

If he wanted something changed don’t you think he would have asked for it? If he wanted the text or art changed he would have said so. He would have said I want my books to continuously change to fit whatever is current to the modern scholars and to even continuously change the covers and art according to the changes of style or whims of the different persons that will be in charge of the BBT.

But Prabhupada did not say this, he said:

From now on unless I order you do something change or in addition, go on with the usual standard way. You manufacture ideas and then I have to waste my time. I have given you everything already, THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO ADD ANYTHING OR CHANGE ANYTHING. Why you are asking these things? Who has given you such freedom?

(Letter to: Dhruvananda – Bombay 4 January, 1973)

I WILL HAVE TO SEE PERSONALLY what are the mistakes in the synonyms and also how you intend to correct them. I was not satisfied with the corrections that were made before. I saw some changes which I DID NO APPROVE. Nitai may correct whatever mistakes are there, but THE CORRECTED MATERIAL MUST BE SENT TO ME FOR FINAL APPROVAL. So reprinting the volumes will have to wait until the mistakes are CORRECTED AND APPROVED BY ME. In the meantime you can supply the standing orders whatever new volumes are published.

Yes, try to supply the damaged books to the prisoners. That is a very nice idea. The books should not be wasted, just for some small defect.

Please dedicate your life to publishing all our books. It is our most important work. I hope this meets you in good health.

(Letter to: Radhavallabha – Nellore 5 January, 1976)

There is a verse in Srimad-Bhagavatam that a book or poetry in which the Holy Name of Krishna is depicted, such language is revolutionary in the matter of purifying the material atmosphere. Even though such literature is presented in broken language or grammatical inconsistency or rhetorical irregularity, still, those who are saintly persons adore such literature.

They hear such literature, and chant it and adore it, simply because the Supreme Lord is being glorified in this literature. In other words, we are not meant for presenting any literary masterpieces, but we have to inform people that there is a fire of maya which is burning the very vitality of all living entities, and they should guard against the indefatigable onslaught of material existence. That should be our motto.

(Letter to: Krsna dasa  –  Los Angeles 13 February, 1969)

“one cannot defy the previous acaryas. THE FALSE PRIDE THAT MAKES ONE THINK THAT HE CAN WRITE BETTER THAN THE PREVIOUS ACARYAS WILL MAKE ONE’S COMMENTS FAULTY. At the present moment it has become fashionable for everyone to write in his own way, but such writing is never accepted by serious devotees.” (Antya 7.134)

Let us look at the qualification of Jayadvaita Swami, he has no education, he is a high-school drop out, the editors simply used him as a typist. Now let us look at the qualification of Hayagriva, who Srila Prabhupada chose to manifest his “Complete Edition” Gita through. Hayagriva was a university professor and poet and senior devotee in the movement, very much loved by Srila Prabhupada. As Prabhupada said Hayagriva is the best editor and Jayadvaita is the best typist.

That is all he was good at, he was a good typist. But since Jayadvaita was a flunky for Tamal Krishna, Tamal had pushed him on Srila Prabhupada and thus somehow or other after Srila Prabhupada’s departure this high school dropout typist has all of a sudden taken over the BBTI and Bhaktivedanta Archives and is being painted as some type of bigshot and is changing everything he can according to his own ideas.

One can clearly see this in the famous “rascal editors” conversation where Tamal is pushing for Jayadvaita and Srila Prabhupada relents by saying “he is good” but what is Prabhupada saying he is good at? He is a good typist thats it. If you make a thorough study of this conversation you will find that Srila Prabhupada is considering the situation from various angles of vision and considering various points.

Prabhupada begins by saying: “It is starting, what can I do…how to stop this how to check this… write one letter… And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to Satsvarupa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way.”

But we can clearly see, if we are paying attention to the flow of the conversation, that Srila Prabhupada is not satisfied in himself that if he writes to Satsvarupa and Jayadvaita that it will be resolved, because he then says “So how to check this? How to stop this?” and repeatedly says, “So what to do?”

If he was satisfied and it was actually resolved with Jayadvaita and Satsvarupa being on the scene then why would Srila Prabhupada still be lamenting for the fate of his books if he had full faith in them? Add why would he still be saying “So what to do?” So Jayadvaita Swami cannot hang his hat on this one statement of Srila Prabhupada as he tries to do! This is similar to the typical straw man arguments posed by Jayadvaita’s supporters, but in this case it is a complete lie and manipulation of the facts.

After Srila Prabhupada thinks about the situation further, he then comes to a FINAL CONCLUSION to resolve it. That FINAL CONCLUSION IS CLEAR: “They cannot change anything.” (Any normal sane person can understand this clear statement by our acharya and master). But knowing that his men are not going to listen to him, he has already stated “And whom to write? Who will care?” So one cannot say he had resolved the issue with simply saying about Jayadvaita Swami “he is good”, this is nonsense!

He resolved the issue in his clear conclusion by saying “They cannot change anything.” For Srila Prabhupada knew what will happen, that is why he said “whom to write who will care?” Otherwise If Srila Prabhupada had so much trust and faith in Jayadvaita Swami (as Jayadvaita would like for everyone to believe) why did he say this?

If Srila Prabhupada wanted this he would have said I want Jayadvaita in charge of my books and he should continuously change the text and art and covers and everything about them to be up to date with the ever changing materialistic laws of grammar and styles and everyone must listen to him. But he did not say this, he said “whom to write who will care?” indicating his lack of trust and faith.

Then Prabhupada concluded the issue as far as he was concerned by saying “They cannot change anything.” Thats it. But Jayadvaita Swami and his blind followers have interpreted this conversation in a very convoluted and wrong way and thus pulled the wool over the innocent devotees eyes.

Do not take my word for it, see for yourself. Read through the conversation, see in what order Srila Prabhupada makes his various points and statements. Read Srila Prabhupadas conclusion for your self..

On the 17th of February 1970 Prabhupada had blessed and authorized Rupanuga Prabhu to do editing work. In that letter Srila Prabhupada said “Our editing is to correct grammatical and spelling errors only, without interpolation of style or philosophy.” But Rupanuga Prabhu disagrees with Jayadvaita’s changes.

So this is the problem. One editor will always disagree with another, one stylist will disagree with another, one artist will disagree with another. Therefor there is no place anywhere where anyone can prove that Srila Prabhupada authorized Jayadvaita Swami or anyone else for that matter to change in any way Prabhupada’s approved finalized complete editions, post departure. In this way Srila Prabhupada had the final say on HIS own finalized books.

A month before this letter, Srila Prabhupada wrote to Satsarupa another letter saying clearly, that only “before finally going to the press” (not after) the transcriptions of his dictation tapes should be edited and revised. Srila Prabhupada never said that his finalized approved books should be edited post departure. And especially not after he is no longer here to authorize it.

Jayadvaita Swami also bases his position on this letter, where Srila Prabhupada had said “I wish that all copies, before finally going to the press, must be thoroughly revised and edited”. He has somehow understood this to say ‘after finally going to the press, must be thoroughly revised and edited’ but the letter clearly does not say this. Another typical Jayadvaita  misunderstanding of Srila Prabhupadas clear words. I guess he should change this letter too, like he does to all Srila prabhupada’s books.

Another very important point to take into consideration is that Srila Prabhupada prefaces the letter with the absolutely clear words “Regarding tape transcription” He does not say “Regarding editing my finalized, approved, complete books after I am no longer with you…”

What is the difficulty to understand this?

So this letter is not at all applicable to editing his finalized books. Srila Prabhupada himself has clearly said that this letter is “Regarding tape transcription:” only.

So when the head editor and scholar of the BBTI/BBP is not able to understand the absolutely clear words of Srila Prabhupada and is changing Srila Prabhupada’s books according to his conditioned soul understanding what is the fate of the BBT? What is the fate of Srila Prabhupada’s once pure and transcendental books?

Here is the letter in its total for your reference:

Los Angeles
25 January, 1970
70-01-25

Boston
My Dear Satsvarupa,

Please accept my blessings. I have not heard from you since a few weeks. I hope you are well and everything is going nicely there.

Regarding tape transcription: many devotees are ready to help in this matter. I want to send daily one tape, and to finish one tape transcription and editing it takes about one week. Under the circumstances, if there are four or five men transcribing, then at least four finished manuscripts come out per week. Many devotees are ready to transcribe; like in Detroit there is Bhagavan das; in Buffalo, Rupanuga; in Berkeley, Hamsaduta; as well as here, Devananda. But how to adjust things?

Do you think that their transcribing will help you, or do you want to transcribe yourself? I wish that all copies, before finally going to the press, must be thoroughly revised and edited so that there may not be any mistakes especially of spelling and grammar or of the Sanskrit names. So how to finish it, I do not know. So give me your directions about this immediately. Whether I shall send the tapes directly to you or to other centers who are ready to help?

How many pages and up to which chapter is the Krishna book finished up to now? How many pictures are ready? If you can let me know all these points, it will be very nice.

I hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

In this same regard earlier in that month of January on the ninth 1970 there is another letter from Srila Prabhupada to Satsvarupa saying the same thing:

“REGARDING TRANSCRIBING, I have written to Detroit if they can do it. In the meantime, I have engaged Devananda TRANSCRIBING THE TAPE and a primary editing also, and the copy can be sent to you for final editing and THEN printing.

We have to do things now very dexterously, simply we have to see that in our book there is no spelling or grammatical mistake. We do not mind for any good style, our style is Hare Krishna, but, still, we should not present a shabby thing. Although Krishna literatures are so nice that, even if they are presented in broken and irregular ways, such literatures are welcomed, read and respected by bona fide devotees.”

Since Srila Prabhupada is not physically present to authorize these ever increasing changes they are unauthorized and not blessed by him. These changes have not stopped with the text of his books, changing the text is bad enough, but to add insult to injury they are even constantly changing the covers that Srila Prabhupada personally saw and approved and were specifically blessed and meant to go on those books. As Srila Prabhupada said “THERE IS NO NEED FOR YOU TO ADD ANYTHING OR CHANGE ANYTHING“.

Please also refer to this article in this regard.

There is absolutely no way at all to say that these post departure changes are authorized or blessed by Srila Prabhupada!

This is the problem with doing things on the platform of philosophy, intellect, style or “I like it” and not out of fidelity to Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada said “It does not matter whether I like it or not.” We must simply stick verbatim to what Srila Prabhupada has given us we must not change anything! “Don’t change from this to that. That is your American disease. This is very serious that you always want to change everything.”

Every philosopher, intelligent man, grammarian, devotee with a new idea of how to change the style/cover/text of the books will differ from another. On this platform one can never ever come to the absolute truth. One can never ever say this is right or this is wrong! The only way is to simply stick to the way it was when Srila Prabhupada personally saw it and read from it and blessed it.

There is no other way. Any thing else will simply lay the premises that Srila Prabhupada’s books are the playthings for conditioned souls in so many ways. That standard of change, change, change until there is nothing left will be established… Thats all.

This reminds me of the Lila of mother Yasoda trying to bind Lord Damodar: No philosopher, yogi, intelligent or grammatically correct man or stylist can bind up lord Damodar, only the pure devotee like Srila Prabhupada can capture the lord and make Him be present in ones words/books. So how can a conditioned souls changes to Prabhupada’s books be as good as the books that Srila Prabhupada personally saw, blessed, read from, approved of, and himself distributed? Those edited “correct (according to their conditioned mind and senses)” versions of Srila Prabhupada’s books will never ever be able to capture the Lord and make Him present In those versions, no matter how much they change the words, the covers, and everything.

On the platform of intellect one may say “oh there are so many mistakes in Srila Prabhupada’s books”or “I can change the art and make it better”. But by that very statement one will simply succeed in binding oneself to Yamaraja’s plutonic kingdom for period of time that is unmeasurable by the same intellect one used to criticize and change Srila Prabhupada’s original approved and authorized books.

Someone else may just be a simple devotee that loves Srila Prabhupada and accepts what he does the same way the residents of Vrindavan, simple village dwellers, love Krishna. They are simple, they do not judge Him, criticize Him, change Him. They do not change His grammar, style or the way He dresses etc. They know nothing of whether He is God or if He is right or wrong or whatever, they just love and accept Him as He is.

They do not try to make Him more according to the laws of Dharma or mundane social rules. They do not try to change Him an any way. But the stylists, philosophers and logicians that know every letter of the Vedas and are expert in the rules of grammar will argue with Krishna and one-another forever and thus remain hopelessly lost in the material sphere. Their rope will never ever be able to bind Lord Damodar, it will always be too short.

They do not just simply accept and love Krishna as he is. So similarly these books that Srila Prabhupada has given us ARE KRISHNA! THEY ARE WORSHIPABLE DEITYS! We can not change the Deity as per our whims, but yet we allow this to Srila Prabhupada’s Books…

It is not important whether the mundane stylists, logicians and grammarians should like Prabhupada’s books or not. We do not care for them. Let them be beaten with shoes! Srila Prabhupada’s books are for the devotees not dried up grammarians, mundane philosophers or stylists. A real grammarian, scholar, philosopher or stylist will accept Srila Prabhupada’s books as they are, as they were, as they always should be.

One may say that there are still people joining this society with the changed Jayadvaita books. But so what? It is not about numbers of followers. Hitler, Kamsa and Ravana and so many other rascals also had so many followers that joined them. So if the standard of spiritual potency is to make lots of followers and get many people to join you and follow your doctrine then persons like Hitler, Kamsa, Ghandhi, Napoleon, Madonna, Jim Morison, etc. etc. who were much more successful at getting people to join them are then all to be considered very spiritually advanced. Furthermore what is the use of so many followers? Srila Prabhupada said boil the milk not water it down.

So let us consider these pints, take for example Jaganath Puri. Ask your self what would happen to someone if they went to Jaganath Puri and tried to change the Deity there?

We can make smaller Deity replicas and take Them home and worship Them. That is natural and fine. BUT we cannot change the standard look of the Deity. We cannot say we do not like the way Jaganath is painted (His Cover). We cannot cut out a Part of His Body (His Text) here and there and replace it with another thing we feel is more correct or we like better. Just imagine if we went into the temple of Lord Jaganath and became a pujary there and started to do this. What do you think would happen to that pujari? It is doubtful that he would live to see another sunrise. The brutal beating that devotee would suffer for his atrocities to the Deity I will not discuss in this article.

What about this scenario; if we would make our own changed version of Jaganath in the privacy of our own home and paint Him in some different way according to our feelings, likes and dislikes, sense of style or whatever. Even using the same type of paint and everything but still painted Him in a different way. What if we did not like a Part of Him so cut a Part of Him out, or felt that He was incomplete and so add something to Him.

Then lets say we were to go to Puri and tried to promote and distribute our changed version of the deity. We would be publicly beaten if we were to go to Puri and try to promote our changed jaganath. This is not the standard. This is not the Deity as it was given to us by Srila Prabhupada. One may argue “the deity is unfinished, he must be completed!” but that fool that tries to change the deity will simply be beaten, thats all. The standard is to make a smaller or larger version according to time place and circumstances for convenience of worshiping but not to change anything at all!

So may I dare to ask why we the disciples and followers of Prabhupada do not stand up for the Deities that Prabhupada has given to us for our worship, the same way the pujaries of Jaganath stand up for their Deities?

On another point, let us take a moment to examine what the scholars say about the original Pre 1978 editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books. All these below reviews are from scholars that read the 1972 Macmillan edition of the Gita that the BBTI/BBP ‘scholars’ like Jayadvaita and Dravida and company say are (and I quote) substandard, wrong, erroneous, offensive, insensible, embarrassing, and don’t make a damn bit of sense etc etc:

“I am most impressed with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s scholarly and authoritative edition of Bhagavad-gita. It is a most valuable work for the scholar as well as the layman and is of great utility as a reference book as well as a textbook. I promptly recommend this edition to my students. It is a beautifully done book.”
- Dr. Samuel D. Atkins, Professor of Sanskrit, Princeton University

“The scholarly world is again indebted to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Although Bhagavad-gita has been translated many times, Prabhupada adds a translation of singular importance with his commentary….”
- Dr. J. Stillson Judah, Professor of the History of Religions and Director of Libraries, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California

“…It is a deeply felt, powerfully conceived and beautifully explained work. I don’t know whether to praise more this translation of the Bhagavad-gita, its daring method of explanation, or the endless fertility of its ideas. I have never seen any other work on the Gita with such an important voice and style….It will occupy a significant place in the intellectual and ethical life of modern man for a long time to come.”
- Dr. Shaligram Shukla, Professor of Linguistics, Georgetown University

“There is little question that this edition is one of the best books available on the Gita and devotion. Prabhupada’s translation is an ideal blend of literal accuracy and religious insight.”
- Dr. Thomas J. Hopkins, Professor of Religion, Franklin and Marshall College

“I have had the opportunity of examining several volumes published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and have found them to be of excellent quality and of great value for use in college classes on Indian religions. This is particularly true of the BBT
edition and translation of the Bhagavad-gita.”
- Dr. Frederick B. Underwood, Professor of Religion, Columbia University

“No work in all Indian literature is more quoted, because none is better loved, in the West, than the Bhagavad-gita. Translation of such a work demands not only knowledge of Sanskrit, but an inward sympathy with the theme and a verbal artistry. For the poem is a symphony in which God is seen in all things….The Swami does a real service for students by investing the beloved Indian epic with fresh meaning. Whatever our outlook may be, we should all be grateful for the labor that has lead to this illuminating work.”
- Dr. Geddes MacGregor Emeritus, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy University of Southern California

“…As a successor in direct line from Caitanya, the author of Bhagavad-gita As It Is is entitled, according to Indian custom, to the majestic title of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The great interest that his reading of the Bhagavad-gita holds for us is that it offers us an authorized interpretation according to the principles of the Caitanya tradition.”
- Olivier Lacombe, Professor of Sanskrit and Indology, Sorbonne University, Paris

“The increasing numbers of Western readers interested in classical Vedic thought have been done a service by Swami Bhaktivedanta. By bringing us a new and living interpretation of a text already known to many, he has increased our understanding manyfold.”
- Dr. Edward C Dimock, Jr.  Department of South Asian Languages and Civilization, University of Chicago

“The Bhagavad-gita, one of the great spiritual texts, is not as yet a common part of our cultural milieu. This is probably less because it is alien per se than because we have lacked just the kind of close interpretative commentary upon it that Swami Bhaktivedanta has here provided, a commentary written from not only a scholar’s but a practitioner’s, a dedicated lifelong devotee’s point of view.”
- Denise Levertov, Poet

The leader of all Vaisnavas, Sri Narada Muni has said that the transcendental books of persons such as Srila Prabhupada are “a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.”

Since Jayadvaita Swami and company have established a standard policy to change everything according to his imperfect senses, the world will have to wait until Prabhupada’s books go into public domain (Generally this automatically happens to all books after 100 years of an authors disappearance) to rectify his changes to them and return them to the authorized blessed way.

BUT the problem will be that since Jayadvaita Swami has set the standard of disrespecting Srila Prabhupada so much, by constantly changing his books, there will be so many copy cat nonsense followers of his example, thus at that time there will be hundreds of unauthorized versions.

Devotees will simply fight with one another forever more about which version to read instead of preaching like Srila Prabhupada wanted. Now that ISKCON is painting Jayadvaita as some type of bigshot, many will follow in his footsteps and continue to change Prabhupada’s books more and more. What is the difficulty to avoid this horrible fate that we are heading towards by simply respecting Srila Prabhupada and the standard he set for his books of “no changes” & “there is no need for you to add anything or change anything”?

Just have one version, the version that Srila Prabhupada personally read from, approved of and blessed. In Jaganath Puri are there so many changed bogus versions of Jaganath? Does any one criticize Lord Jaganath as being less, incomplete, or imperfect due to not being changed once he was completed? Has Lord Jaganath changed at all in all these years? What is the effect of having one authoritative unchanged version of Lord Jaganath? What is the effect of having so many versions of something?

Let us think about this… What if the same thing that is happening to Srila Prabhupada’s books had happened to Lord Jaganath, do you think Lord Jaganath would still be worshiped in the same intense, loved and respected position He is in now? So how will Srila Prabhupada’s books be the law books for the next 10,000 years if they are always changing? How will future persons ever respect Srila Prabhupada’s books as directly coming from Krishna and to be trusted with ones life and soul? How will they be looked at as worshipable deities if they are always being changed?

“Just like the Christians, they are changing the words. But you cannot do that. Then where is the authority? If you change the word of the scripture, then where is the authority of the scripture? Just like in lawbooks, there is some law made already. Whimsically you cannot, I mean to say, erase the words and put something that, “It should be changed like this.”

That will not be accepted. Law, if there is change… Actually, there is no change. There cannot be change. Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going, going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect. You change.

So Vedic laws are not like that. You cannot change. Five thousand years ago Krsna said, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja: [Bg. 18.66] “You give up all other religious principles. Simply surrender unto Me.” We are preaching the same thing. No change. No change. There is no possibility of change. Then how Krsna is authority?

So change means imperfect knowledge. This very change. And perfect knowledge… You will find that one who is very experienced medical practitioner, he gives you a prescription, and you visit him again and again, he gives you the same prescription unless you are cured. His prescription is so nice that he doesn’t change. But a nonexperienced physician, every time you go, he will change the prescription.

But actually, those who are experienced, he knows “This is the disease, and ultimately this medicine will cure. So let him repeat that medicine.” So our is that platform. Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam [Cc. Adi 17.21]. We repeat only. We don’t change: “Now hari-nama is not curing so let me add, instead of Hare Krsna, ‘John Krsna,’ if I may.” No. No “John Krsna.” (laughter) That same Hare Krsna must be repeated. And you will be cured. So change means imperfect knowledge. No change means that is perfect knowledge. So we follow that no change policy. No, not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.3.15 – Los Angeles, September 20, 1972)

Srila Prabhupada read from these books, the scholars (a few of which are quoted above) read from these books, and they all loved them as they were. So how can anyone say we can make any improvement on them, or change them at all in any way? They were fine. Just like Lord Jaganath is fine. If we cannot learn to respect Srila Prabhupada and his books in that same way then how will we ever be able to respect Krishna?

There is a saying “fix it till it is broke”.

This could possibly be compared to the current problem with our food chain. Stupid men try to make foods better then Lord Krishna and Brahma made them by genetical engineering. Recent studies are gradually coming out that these GMO foods are harmful to our bodies. And now there is a big problem with these GMO foods, that they have crossbred with the natural original foods like corn wheat etc and now there is no more pure wheat or corn to be found on the planet and the harm cannot be undone! There have been a multitude of studies showing how these GMO foods cause cancer, deformity, birth defects and so many other diseases, and this is just what is being discovered now.

Give it a few more generations and see what horrors will come as a result. So similarly Jayadvaita Swami is setting this standard for the future. And these changes are going on like wild fire unchecked and destroying the books that Srila Prabhupada personally read from and blessed. Prabhupada never said that after he leaves this world, when he is no longer here to approve or disapprove of anything, his books should be unlimitedly changed.

Lets also look at this from yet another angle of vision. Due to these changes so many devotees have lost or are loosing their faith in Srila Prabhupada’s once great BBT.

The BBT is not even involved in publishing. The current “trustees” are not trustworthy because the BBT is not functioning as per Srila Prabhupada’s desires as written out in his BBT formation document.

Now all publications are done by the unathorized by Srila Prabhupada illegal organization called the BBTI (Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International). This was secretly started by Harikesa and his reason for starting this unauthorized organization was so he could take over the BBT without any one knowing or standing in his way (that was the purpose of having a name so similar – so the rank and file devotees would never know). The only flaw with his plan is it was not authorized by Srila Prabhupada, so he fell down. Now the current BBT “trustees” are caring this same sinister torch originally lit by Harikasa Swami.

What about the bogus nonsense Organization called the BBP (Bhaktivedanta Book Publishing)? The BBP is actually where all the funds that we send to the so called BBT (which is actually the BBTI) go.

Confused yet?

It gets even better… The BBP is run by an alcoholic smoker (whats that all about?).

Furthermore BBTI not BBT hold the copyrights for all these new unauthorized changed books that are printed and distributed by the simple, innocent, uninformed book distributors. So yes, you got it, that means that the changed book distributers are not working for the BBT or for Srila Prabhupada at all, they are working for a separate fraud organization never approved of or blessed by Srila Prabhupada.

This unauthorized organization is so bold that they are trying to dupe the innocent devotees by illegitimately printing the name BBT in and on the bogus BBTI books of Jayadvaita Swami. Also the money they collect and ignorantly send to the BBTI thinking it is the BBT, does not even go there it is usurped and rerouted to the nonsense organization called the BBP not to Srila Prabhupada’s BBT it goes to some (karmie nonsense smoker and drinkers) organization called the BBP.

I will not even get into the Bhaktivedanta Archives, a organization also run by Jayadvaita Swami that for 35 years has been suppressing hundreds of never before released audio recordings and other original material of Srila Prabhupada.

But Jayadvaita Swami and company have manipulated people’s minds so much that now the rank and file devotees look on the books that Srila Prabhupada authorized, approved and blessed as offensive and unauthorized. Such misuse of their power of intelligence is to be compared to Hitlers or Max Muller!

In Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita Introduction he says “One cannot say anything about the transcendental world without being free from the materially contaminated consciousness….So our consciousness is materially contaminated, we should know.” So what can a materially contaminated conditioned soul offer to Srila Prabhupada’s books besides contamination?

“Knowledge means what you accept as right, it must be accepted perpetually right. That is knowledge… Nobody can have real knowledge, because we are imperfect. Our senses are imperfect. That is our defect in the conditioned life. We have got four defects: we commit mistake, we become illusioned, our senses are imperfect, and we cheat. Because our knowledge is imperfect, still, we take the position of teacher; therefore we are cheater – not teacher, but cheater.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.44 – Los Angeles, December 22, 1973)

“if we hear from somebody who is not perfect, it is simply waste of time… it is not pure. It is adulterated.”

(Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.45 – Los Angeles, December 23, 1973)

“Even a so called great poet like Shakespeare cannot help us in writing transcendental literature. If you want to look at his verse technique for improving your use of language you may, but it is risky because their ideas will spoil your presentation of pure devotional service.” (Letter to: Citraketu das, 27 January, 1977)

So this is the standard that is being set. Any schmo, any conditioned soul, can change Srila Prabhupada’s books. All these changes are only accomplishing this one thing, this policy of change, change, change till there is nothing left. Since he will never give up his habit of changing Srila Prabhupada’s books, all these horrible things will come to pass, and we will have him to thank, I respect him from a distance.

But I will not support such nonsense! I will not be part of these offenses by buying changed books. I will be part of the solution not the problem. I will buy and distribute the original authorized blessed editions.

In this way, by not supporting the changes and supporting the blessed originals, I will work for the solution. The solution Srila Prabhupada himself has given: “The next printing should be again to the original way… THEY CANNOT CHANGE ANYTHING.” (June 22, 1977, Vrindavana)

So let us be faithful to Srila Prabhupada and personally read and distribute ONLY the original books!

You can download for free the original books of Srila Prabhupada on Krishnapath.org or other such quality websites, or purchase for your own reading hard copies of the original authorized editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books from Krishnastore.com. You can learn more about this issue by visiting the very nice website Bookchanges.com or liking on facebook the Original books of Srila Prabhupada page

First they came for the socialists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.

Then they came for Srila Prabhupada’s books, and I didn’t speak out because I was just a rank and file devotee that did not want to make waves.

Then there was nothing left for me or any one else, and it was too late because the standard of change, change, change, was already set.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Hare Krishna!

PS: What if I write a book and choose persons to help me edit and publish it and then it becomes a success, and goes on to be a success and sold BY THE MILLIONS for MANY YEARS. I want that book perpetuated! (and hopefully a lot of other people who appreciate it do, too)

Let’s say… I lectured out of that book DAILY for my whole life, I had it placed in every one of my authorized centers of learning, I gave it as a gift to EVERY dignitary that I met, I traveled with it around the world many times and lectured from it in over 32 countries, hundreds of scholars reviewed it and wrote letters of praise, THOUSANDS of my fans sold the books- some of them sold HUNDREDS A DAY- AND they all took the message in it to heart and completely TRANSFORMED their lives!

Let’s say I also fought back to get the rights to publish it myself from the first publishing house I had contracted to release it before I had the facility to do it myself, and heck- I even read it MYSELF every day- it was THAT INSPIRING! Wouldn’t you want to see THAT BOOK????

If  someone else wants to write a book on the same subject I did that is fine. But if they write a book completely based on my book and put MY name on it and it sells JUST BECAUSE OF MY NAME (hey, I was a great author!) but they are getting the prestige, fame, fortune, etc. from the sales AND they control the popularity of it OVER the book that I published myself, then I would DO SOMETHING about it! And I would WIN- because what they are doing ISN’T LEGAL!!! Now, what if I was already “dead”?? Then I would expect my children to stand up for my rights AND the rights of MY books!

Comments

1. A very persuasive article, but who among the decision makers will take it to heart? Actually, it should only require a single word from Srila Prabhupada to put a stop to all of these revisions. The fact that Srila Prabhupada said his books were qualified to be distributed unlimitedly and that so many scholars appreciated his writings is transcendental proof that no further editing was necessary.

   Here is another important reference: Srila Prabhupada’s letter to the German translator, Mandali Bhadra, dated January 20, 1972. The letter was written in response to other translators saying they could include grammatical discrepancies in their own work because it was present in Srila Prabhupada’s original work. This was particularly in relation to Srimad Bhagavatam, First Canto. Srila Prabhupada responded that “If one is too big, there is no mistake.” And again, “There may be discrepancies, but it is all right.”

   The disciple should not think there are mistakes in the books published by the spiritual master. When it was mentioned that a disciple saw mistakes that he thought should be corrected, Srila Prabhupada said, “He is the mistake.”

   The questions remain, “Who to write to? Who will care?” The answer thirty-five years ago was to write to GBC member Satsvarupa Goswami, ordering him that his books should not be changed. But Satsvarupa Maharaja was never able to stand up to others in position of power, even on the order of Srila Prabhupada. Could this inner conflict have been the cause of severe headaches that afflicted him for all those years? It would seem that the most that can be hoped for is that the original editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books will always be available for distribution. As more and more book distributors become convinced that this is the best way to spread the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, and that the revised (adulterated) books do not have the same potency, perhaps some of ISKCON’s leaders will wake up and come to their senses. (Locanananda dasa)

2. Concerning the letter to Mandali Bhadra, Srila Prabhupada was adamantly stating that the translators of his books should not think of themselves as big scholars but rather as humble servants of the spiritual master. They should not think it appropriate to include grammatical discrepancies in their translation work because they have seen such discrepancies in the original. Here is the text of the letter:

   “So far your telling me that some devotees consider that because there may be some grammatical discrepancies in my Srimad Bhagavatam, first canto, then they may also be allowed to translate with errors accepted, that is just like imitating Raslila. When you do all other things like Krishna, then you can do Raslila. So if these other writers can do like me and spread Krishna consciousness all over the world by becoming big Vedic scholars, then they can do. If one is too big, there is no mistake. Arsha-prayoya means there may be discrepancies but it is all right. Just like Shakespeare, sometimes there are odd usages of language, but he is accepted as authority. I have explained all these things in my Preface to First Canto.”

   This is very important instruction. Because of the magnitude of his literary achievement, it is inappropriate to see mistakes in the writings of the spiritual master. Srila Prabhupada stated elsewhere that even if one sees a discrepancy in the published writings of the acarya, it should not changed. This is the way by which the acarya is honored. This is the definition of arsha-prayoga. The converse is that if a disciple undertakes to revise the legacy of literature published during the lifetime of the spiritual master, it only serves to dishonor the acarya. Such an endeavor leaves the subtle impression that the spiritual master is subject to the four defects of conditioned souls. The mindset whereby one sees mistakes in the writings of the spiritual master and then introduces changes without proper authorization, and by which one inculcates this fault-finding mentality in the minds of innocent devotees, is defined as hellish intelligence because it diminishes the stature of the Lord’s pure devotee in the minds of his followers and in the eyes of non-devotee scholars to that of an ordinary man.

3. “Even if transcendental literature is written in faulty language, it is acceptable if it is written by a devotee, whereas so-called transcendental literature written by a mundane scholar, even if it is a very highly polished literary presentation, cannot be accepted.

   The secret in a devotee’s writing is that when he writes about the pastimes of the Lord, the Lord helps him; he does not write himself. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (10.10), dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te. Since a devotee writes in service to the Lord, the Lord from within gives him so much intelligence that he sits down near the Lord and goes on writing books.”

   Sri Caitanya-caritamrta -- 1975 Edition Cc. Adi-lila : Adi 8:

   The Author Receives the Orders of Krsna and Guru : Adi 8.39 : Srila Prabhpada’s purports

4. Sankarsana das says: The BBT holds the stance that their editing work has only attempted to present Prabhupada’s original manuscripts and record[ings] Who, but a self-motivated idiot, could fall for: “We are changing the books so that they are closer to Prabhupāda’s original words?” Śrīla Prabhupāda doesn’t want them “closer to his original words.” He wants them, except for obvious typographical errors, to be exactly the way they were when they were originally published! Is this not completely obvious to anyone who is not a self-motivated fool! - Pratyatosa Dasa (ACBSP)

5. **Unauthorised changes to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-Gita made by Jayadwaita swami**

   Note: spot the difference between the old version and the new.
   Here he has inserted **souls** and **they**
   Bg 4.34 (new version by Jayadwaita swami)
   Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized **souls** can impart knowledge unto you because **they** have seen the truth.

   Note: here he has ADDED a text which was NEVER there in the original.
   **Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life.**
   PURPORT Bg 4.34 (new version by Jayadwaita swami)
   The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam: the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help lead one to the right path. **Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life.** One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.

   Bg 4.34 ( Srila Prabhupada’s Original untampered version)
   Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized **soul**can impart knowledge unto you because **he** has seen the truth.
   PURPORT
   The Bhagavatam (6.3.19) says, dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam--the path of religion is directly enunciated by the Lord. Therefore, mental speculation or dry arguments cannot help one progress in spiritual life. One has to approach a bona fide spiritual master to receive the knowledge.

   The changes made are **very significant** because they change the **entire** meaning of the text.
   Diksa (transcendental Knowledge) is imparted by one self-realized person--the acarya (Srila Prabhupada)
   It is **one singular** person uttama-adhikari (Srila Prabhupada) that transmits diksa (see antya 4.192-4.194) into the madhyama-adhikaris heart. Krishna’s pastimes reflected in the heart of Prabhupada are transmitted (televised) in the Madhyama-adhikari’s heart when he chants offenselessly —this is transcendental knowledge(diksa).
   Therefore the plural words “The self-realized **souls** can impart knowledge unto you because **they** have seen the truth” are totally incorrect. The clever manipulation OF WORD JUGGLERY “they” means Jayadwaita swami wants to IMPOSE a new breed of so called INITIATING gurus in ISKCON—in spite of Srila Prabhupada’s clear instruction of July 9 1977 letter to the society of order to institute a Ritvik system (which incidently was NEVER revoked by Srila Prabhupada). The bogus initiating gunda “guru” brutes dismentled Srila Prabhupada’s system.

   Adi 1.35
   A devotee **must** have only **one initiating spiritual master** because in the scriptures acceptance of more than one is always forbidden.

   Next change, the ADDED text in the purport.
   **Nor by independent study of books of knowledge can one progress in spiritual life.**

   Srila Prabhupada’s books are not ordinary books of knowledge. Therefore this change is totally meaningless and unjustified. This are** not** Prabhupada’s words in the Bhagavad-Gita.
   Here it appears Jayadwaita swami is trying to manipulate the devotees into searching for a “guru” of the concocted 2/3 majority votes. Is it not?

   Srila Prabhupada and his books are not different.
   Adi-lila 1-35
   There is **no difference between the spiritual master’s instructions and the spiritual master himself**. in his absence, therefore, his words of direction should be the pride of the disciple.
   Note: Srila Prabhupada’s words of direction—-Srimad-Bhagavatam there is no difference between Srila Prabhupada’s Instruction and himself (the uttama-adhikari is powerful to give diksa from his books).

   SB 1.7.22 The spiritual master, **by his words**, can penetrate into the heart of the suffering person and **inject knowledge transcendental**, which alone can extinguish the fire of material existence.
   SB 2.9.8 the potency of transcendental sound is **never minimised** because the vibrator is **apparently absent**.

6. Jayadvaita’s Grammatical Embellishment program — Truth or Deception?
   By Yasoda nandana dasa, Los Angeles, California, August 24

   According to Jayadvaita Swami’s own convenient interpretation in the Sampradaya Sun on August 22, 2010:

   “…In the mid 1970s I extensively revised the first Canto, especially the first two chapters. Srila Prabhupada explicitly approved of this work, and the revised version was published in 1976…… In 1976 I also lightly revised the second Canto, already edited by Hayagriva Prabhu and published. After the “Rascal Editors” conversation, Radha-vallabha Dasa, then the BBT production manager, sent Srila Prabhupada samples of my second-Canto editing, and this is what led to Srila Prabhupada’s statement, in a letter dated September 7, 1976, “Concerning the editing of Jayadvaita Prabhu, whatever he does is approved by me. I have confidence in him.” The revised second Canto was also published before Srila Prabhupada’s departure…”

   Accuracy does seem to occur in his revised edited dictionary. The “rascal editors” conversation occured on June 22, 1977. But Jayadvaita claims that after this date [June 22, 1977] “Radha vallabha…sent Srila Prabhupada samples of my second-Canto editing”. Subsequent to this event the Grammatical Embelishment Acarya [JAS] now reveals that this led to the following “this is what led to Srila Prabhupada’s statement, in a letter dated September 7, 1976, “Concerning the editing of Jayadvaita Prabhu, whatever he does is approved by me. I have confidence in him.”
   
   1) So how does the event on June 22, 1977 in Srila Prabhupada’s garden in Vrindavana, India leads to a letter from Srila Prabhupada dated September 7, 1976?

   2) On June 22, 1977, Srila Prabhupada stated: Srila Prabhupāda: So you bring this to SatsvarÅ«pa. They cannot change anything…. Srila Prabhupāda: So you… What you are going… It is very serious situation. You write one letter that “Why you have made so many changes?” And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to SatsvarÅ«pa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way. [underline is mine].

   3) So far the Grammatical Embellishment acarya [Jas] has not been able to provide any verifiable credible evidence that Srila Prabhupada has ever given an order or instruction to go back to His manuscripts and re-write and change His books. Where is the evidence for his outlandish claim that he can change Srila Prabhupada’s books?

   4) Srila Prabhupada clearly says in the June 22, 1977 conversation that the “next printing should be again the original way”.  Has the Grammatical Embellishment acarya followed this directive of Srila Prabhupada? Has he complied with this directive of the acarya, Srila Prabhupada? Has he made sure that the next printing of the books, which had been unauthorizedly revised during Srila Prabhupada’s manifested presence, such as Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Nectar of Devotion, Krishna Book, Isopanisad, the first four Cantos of the Srimad-Bhagavatam should be “again the original way”?

   5) Not only has the Grammatical Embellishment Editor not complied with this order of Srila Prabhupada, but he now actively campaigns, harasses and threatens those who follow this directive of Srila Prabhupada and distribute the books which have been reprinted “the original way“ by KBI!

   6) Jayadvaita’s claim: “In the mid 1970s I extensively revised the first Canto, especially the first two chapters. Srila Prabhupada explicitly approved of this work, and the revised version was published in 1976.”

   7) Now let us follow Jayadvaita’s ruse and claim that his 1976 edition of the First Canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam had been approved by Srila Prabhupada. The “rascal editors” conversation states”

   Srila Prabhupada: That… Find this verse, munayah sadhu prsto ‘ham… [SB 1.2.5].
   Tamala Krishna: There’s no index. It’s not a new Bhagavatam. There’s no index in this Bhagavatam. Munayah sadhu…? “The Effects of Kali-yuga” chapter? Is that the verse, about the effects of Kali-yuga? No. (background talking, looking for verse)

   munayah sādhu prsto ‘ham
   bhavadbhir loka-maṅgalam
   yat kṛtah krsna-sampraśno
   yenātmā suprasīdati

   munayah—of the sages; sadhu—this is relevant; prstah—questioned; aham…”
   Srila Prabhupada: No? What is that? Sadhu? What is that? Munayah
   Tamal Krishna: Says, “sadhu—this is relevant.”
   Srila Prabhupada: Relevant?
   Tamal Krishna: That’s what it’s translated as, “this is relevant.” May be a mistake
   Devotee: It’s a mistake.
   Srila Prabhupada: Munayah
   Tamala Krishna: “Munayaḥ—of the sages; sadhu—this is relevant.
   Srila Prabhupada: The nonsense, they are… They are correcting my trans… Rascal. Who has done this? Munayaḥ is addressing all these munis.

   8) Now in Jayadvaita’s revised embellished Bhagavatam edition, as shown on his BBTI website as of August 24, 2010, we find the following:
   http://srimadbhagavatam.com/1/2/5/en

   Munayah- O sages; sādhu — this is relevant; pṛṣṭaḥ — questioned; aham — myself; bhavadbhiḥ — by all of you; loka — the world; mańgalam — welfare; yat — because; kṛtaḥ — made; kṛṣṇa — the Personality of Godhead; sampraśnaḥ — relevant question; yena — by which; ātmā — self; suprasīdati — completely pleased. (SB 1.2.5)

   Here we find the same mistake which Srila Prabhupada had criticized and disapproved of on June 22, 1977, wherein the word sadhu was translated as “this is relevant”. This shows that Srila Prabhupada did not approve of that version of the first Canto which Jayadvaita claims he had just edited and sent to Srila Prabhupada for his approval. Srila Prabhupada did not approve that version which was being read in his garden. He requested that the books, including that 1976 unauthorized revised edition, be returned the original way, i. e., the first edition.

   Srila Prabhupada specifically disapproved of the 1976 Srimad-Bhagavatam edition and its unauthorized changes which had just been read in His presence. He criticized and disapproved it as of June 22, 1977.

   Conclusion

   Unless the Grammatical Embellishment acarya can provide verifiable credible evidence from Srila Prabhupada, specifically after June 22, 1977, which would clearly show that Srila Prabhupada specifically and directly instructed him and /or any editor to go to His original manuscripts and revise and change His books, then the revisions and so-called “revised and improved” editions remain unauthorized? Where is his evidence from Srila Prabhupada and his authority to change the acharya’s original books?

   Srila Prabhupada on additions and alterations

   “…Guru-mukha-padma-vākya, cittete koriyā aikya. Everyone should do that. But if he makes addition, alteration, then he is finished. No addition, alteration. You have to approach guru—guru means the faithful servant of God, Krishna—and take his word how to serve Him. Then you are successful. If you concoct, “I am very intelligent than my guru, and I can make addition or alteration,” then you are finished. So that is the only. And now, sing further…” Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures, Canto 6: Lectures : SB 6.1: Lectures : Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.26-27 – Philadelphia, July 12, 1975

   The result of alterations and additions: finished

   “… Therefore we present Bhagavad-Gita As it is, no addition, no alteration. The same thing, AS SOON AS THERE IS ADDITION, ALTERATION, IT IS GONE, FINISHED…” Srila Prabhupada’s lecture, July 2, 1974, Melbourne, Australia

   “… It is not our business to amend the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or make additions and alterations. as it has now become a custom for many so-called scholars and Swamis who comment on the words of Bhagavad-Gita…” Srila Prabhupada’s lecture July 2, 1974, Melbourne, Australia

   Srila Prabhupada on changing

   “…The process of disciplic succession: from Krishna, Brahma, from Brahma, Narada, from Narada, Vyasa; from Vyasa, Madhva; from Madhva, Madhavendra Puri; Isvara Puri; from Isvara Puri; Lord Caitanya. Sa evam parampara. So in the parampara system, in that disciplic succession, you will find no change. The original word is there. That is the thing.

   They are not foolish to manufacture something new. What new? People are after something new manufactured by this tiny brain. What new can you manufacture? That is all nonsense. If you want real thing, then you have to take the old, the oldest. You cannot change anything…”
   Srila Prabhupada’s lecture- December 1, 1966, New York, NY, USA

   Dr. Patel: “…and now we are to define who is a rascal.”
   Srila Prabhupada: “No, rascal is meant, who has no authority. They are changing every day. They are changing. We don’t change. These rascals are changing. We… Over five thousand years ago Sukadeva Goswarni said that, As I have heard it I am explaining.’ That means time immemorial, the thing is, same thing is coming. There is no change, not that after a few days, , No, no. It was wrong. This is now right. ‘Again somebody comes
   Dr. Patel: “They are explaining the truth in their own way. That is the change of theory. But the truth is always the same.”
   Srila Prabhupada: “That is the truth of rascaldom, as soon as you change your position.”

   Conversation with Srila Prabhupada November 17, 1975 Bombay, India

   http://krishnaconsciousnessmovement.com/tradition.html

   Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service
   Yasoda nandana dasa