SRILA PRABHUPADA REVISED - RIDICULOUS!

1/3/99

Reply to Dravida dasa's writing "Changes in Krsna Book Explained"
by IRG Int.

Basically there is no need to reply to the writing "Changes in Krsna Book
Explained" (CIKBE). Every devotee who bears just a little devotion for Srila
Prabhupada in his heart should be able to see through this document (posted
on the Chakra website). But for the sake of those still blinded by false
party spirit, confused by the association with hopeless change-vadis, and
those obsessed with the wild determination to hurt themselves by trying
to justify even the not justifiable, we are writing this reply.

A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY

It has been admitted by one of the revisers, that Srila Prabhupada never
asked to re-edit and it is generally known, that His Divine Grace always
opposed needless changes and became very furious when some change-vadis
tried to "enhance" his books.

"To my knowledge, Srila Prabhupada never asked us to re-edit the book.
As you know, and as we kept in mind while doing the work, Srila Prabhupada staunchly opposed needless changes."
(Jayadvaita Swami's Letter to Amogha Lila 1986)

The author of CIKBE states, that Srila Prabhupada forbids unnecessary
changes. Nevertheless there are hundreds and thousands of completely
unnecessary modifications in the Krishna book! To change "the child of
mother Yasoda" to "Mother Yasoda's child" & etc. etc. etc. is completely
unnecessary. It is weird that we have to point this out. What to say of
the hundreds and maybe thousands of modifications affecting the meaning of a
sentence! The author states, that Srila Prabhupada forbids unnecessary
changes. But at the same time he goes on and on to produce one reason after
another to "justify" completely unnecessary modifications!

Here are the reasons produced in favor of the modifications not according to
Srila Prabhupada's dictation. It is said that the modifications are
justified...

...on the sake of clarity, conciseness, or smoothness.
...on Srimad Bhagavatam from Srila Prabhupada.
...on Bhagavatam Sanskrit text and translation not from Srila Prabhupada.
...on grammatical grounds.
...on the editor's opinion that Srila Prabhupada meant not what he said.
...on modern English.
...on the editor's view that Prabhupada forget to mention essential
things.

Srila Prabhupada didn't want his books revised. But the reviser knows
better? More than once he uses the phrase that a modification is "100%
justified". There is not even a GBC resolution about the revision of Srila
Prabhupada's books! Nobody cares? The books of Srila Prabhupada are the very
foundation of ISKCON! Srila Prabhupada never said, that his books have to be
re-edited according to his other books, the manuscripts, tape recordings &
etc. What to say on the basis of grammatical grounds, modern English, the
editor's questionable views & etc. There is NO AUTHORIZATION to revise the
books!

MONA LISA'S SMILING NEEDS REVISION?

What would happen if someone would copy the original Mona Lisa picture and
would claim that his picture now is the revised original from Da Vinci?
It is weird to even think about such a deed, isn't it? But basically the same
happens to Srila Prabhupada's very books. The Mona Lisa reviser would say,
"I used the sketches from Da Vinci, I studied his other paintings, I was his
assistant, I used better colors and better technics than the master, my
picture is better than the original Mona Lisa." Then he would conclude: "I
will continue to treasure the old Mona Lisa, but I will also continue to
regularly look at the revised Mona Lisa, confident that her smiling reflects
more closely what Da Vinci intended to draw."
What would happen to such a guy? He would be a laughing-stock! "Call the
madhouse! What a fool! What a rascal!", the people would say, "Da Vinci
revised! Laughable!"

Srila Prabhupada revised! Ridiculous!

Where will this revision madness end? Next editor, next revision. Next
editor, next revision. And so on. Why not revise the writings of other
acaryas? Why not revise the whole vedic literature and invoke the ultimate
change-vadi heaven?

WHY THE ORIGINAL EDITIONS ARE THE BEST TREASURES FOREVER

The original editors...

...had the authorization of Srila Prabhupada to edit his books.
...were members of the former enthusiastic and expanding ISKCON.
...were followers of Srila Prabhupada and not supporters and followers of
dubious imitators.
...were able to inquire from Srila Prabhupada directly.
...didn't believe Srila Prabhupada to be someone like a ghost, a
disembodied being & etc.
...had all the tapes and transcripts available (and in better quality).
...had Srila Prabhupada who would read, bless and approve their editions.

WHY THE REVISED EDITIONS ARE BUILT ON SAND

The revisers...

...don't have the authorization and order of Srila Prabhupada to
(repeatedly!) revise his books.
...are members of a dark and ailing ISKCON, buried in scandals and
deviating in so many ways.
...are followers and supporters of horrible impostors and deviants.
...lost their connection to Prabhupada, thinking him to be someone like a
ghost.
...rely on old, barely audible tape recordings and old transcripts.
...don't know about all the verbal instructions to the editors of Srila
Prabhupada.
...don't have all recordings and transcripts available.
...are offending Srila Prabhupada with their work and the various
justifications for their work.

The revisers themselves have to admit that the original editions are
treasures; these editions are eternal, wonderful, they are working and
therefore there can't be a true need nor an authorization for revision. This
means that they themselves admit doing something unnecessary. And worse:
They are causing so much trouble and loss with their needless activities,
even for true blue ISKCONers.

The revised books are NOT better, NOT needed, NOT ordered and they bear THE
STIGMA OF DOUBT, for the revisers and their revisions are NOT PERFECT, as
admitted by Dravida himself. The original editions are approved by Srila
Prabhupada and therefore they are beyond any doubt and this is very
important.

"But ignorant and faithless persons who doubt the revealed scriptures do not
attain God consciousness. For the doubting soul there is happiness neither
in this world nor in the next."
Bhagavad-gita, 4.40 (original edition)

COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE TROUBLE

The book revisions cause so much trouble. And we don't know what's to come
next.

Because the BBT books were wrongfully revised...

...the devotees are forced to print and to publish the original editions
of Srila Prabhupada's books themselves. This produces loss for the BBT and
hampers its ability to publish big books, new first class translations of
vedic scriptures and to build new temples.

...the BBT lost millions in useless and offensive court cases, wrongfully
trying to stop the bona fide publications of the devotees.

...the devotees and Prabhupadanugas can't and don't want to buy and
distribute this books from the BBT. But they would distribute tons of books
if the books were bona fide, even if they are not willing to obey to the
deviations of the GBC. Again millions and millions are lost for the BBT.
And millions of books aren't distributed.

...thousands of devotees are forced to look into this hurting and
disgusting book revision issue.

...chaos, fighting and offense emerge.

All this is completely unnecessary. The original editions are OK. They are
bona fide, they are treasures, everyone loves them and is happy with them.
IS IT REALLY WORTH to cause all this loss and trouble and risk the own
spiritual life for some most questionable revised editions? It is said "by
their fruits ye shall know them" and the fruits of the revisions are very
bitter and unpalatable as we have demonstrated above. And we did not even
consider all the side effects like diminishing book sales.

It is fascinating to see how people are 100% sure to do the right thing, the
good thing, but IN REALITY they give rise to the completely opposite effect.
This is a common disease in our world. And there are many examples for this
in history. But as devotees we should be able to check this, question our
own activities, sincerely JUDGE BY THE RESULTS and CORRECT THE SITUATION.

What's at stake here? Think about it! What's at stake?

It's simply the reputation of a few revisers who did something needless
without authority. Even their reputation could be saved, if they would
humbly correct themselves.

CONCLUDING WORDS TO THE REVISER

Stop revising the books and return to the originals. Stop hurting yourselves.
Can't you see that you are digging your own grave; a dark, cold and clammy
one? A grave with the revised books as tombstones which nobody wants to
visit. When the people pass by they would look at it with disgust and tell
their children to avoid it. Don't grow the man eating plants from
change-vadi loka in your garden. First they may look like the bhakti-lata,
but as soon as they start to bite you and the innocent pilgrims, one must
remove them. Otherwise they will prepare to have a big lunch soon and you'll
be lunch No.1. Simply publish the original treasures. So many people are in
need of this true jewels. Why not use your learning to write and edit your
own books? Who wants you to risk your spiritual life with needless and not
authorized revisions? Who is this bad adviser? Better not to listen to him.
Thank you.

"So, when you change, then the authority is lost. Just like in our society,
sometimes they do something nonsense and they say, 'Prabhupada said.'
(laughter) They are doing that. We know that. It is deteriorated like that.
Therefore Krsna said, sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah kaunteya: 'And in due
course of time, this yoga was lost. Therefore I am repeating the same
thing, old philosophy to you.' So it requires like that." (750509rc.per
Conversations)

More Book Revisions
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada!

More Book Revisions Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

More Book Revisions
Chant Hare Krishna and be happy!