Dear BTG Editors,
I always appreciate Back to Godhead, and when I receive a new issue, I read it cover to cover, and delight in the realizations, writings, and editorial skills of my many wonderful Godbrothers and Godsisters.
However, one article in your recent issue troubles me greatly. In “The Seven Wonders of Word”, the translation of the Siksastaka is quite different from Srila Prabhupada’s
translation. Instead of saying, “The sankirtan movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge...” it says “It is the life and soul of all education.” The meaning is changed; it is not as Srila Prabhupada translated it. Education is a mundane concept; transcendental knowledge is not.
Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak is the sacred core of our entire Krishna Consciousness philosophy; it is at the very heart of everything Srila Prabhupada taught. His beautifully eloquent translation of Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak has appeared in his books, his lectures, conversations and writings numerous times. At no time did he ever translate “transcendental knowledge” as “education.” The meaning is quite different. The understanding is therefore quite different from what Srila Prabhupada expressed.
Srila Prabhupada started Back to Godhead magazine in 1944; it is his own magazine. It should remain faithful to his own way of teaching Krishna consciousness. If someone wants to change, alter, clarify, recreate, or otherwise “improve upon” Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, they should do so elsewhere. They should not enter into the sacred territory of his own BTG-- or the sacred territory of his books either. It is like the young impertinent student standing before his teacher and saying, “I know how to say this better than you do.” This intellectual leprosy is already eating away at the core of our movement in other areas. Please do not allow it to contaminate his much-loved Back to Godhead magazine.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration,
Your servant, Govinda dasi, ACBSP
I always appreciate Back to Godhead, and when I receive a new issue, I read it cover to cover, and delight in the realizations, writings, and editorial skills of my many wonderful Godbrothers and Godsisters.
However, one article in your recent issue troubles me greatly. In “The Seven Wonders of Word”, the translation of the Siksastaka is quite different from Srila Prabhupada’s
translation. Instead of saying, “The sankirtan movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge...” it says “It is the life and soul of all education.” The meaning is changed; it is not as Srila Prabhupada translated it. Education is a mundane concept; transcendental knowledge is not.
Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak is the sacred core of our entire Krishna Consciousness philosophy; it is at the very heart of everything Srila Prabhupada taught. His beautifully eloquent translation of Lord Chaitanya’s Sikshastak has appeared in his books, his lectures, conversations and writings numerous times. At no time did he ever translate “transcendental knowledge” as “education.” The meaning is quite different. The understanding is therefore quite different from what Srila Prabhupada expressed.
Srila Prabhupada started Back to Godhead magazine in 1944; it is his own magazine. It should remain faithful to his own way of teaching Krishna consciousness. If someone wants to change, alter, clarify, recreate, or otherwise “improve upon” Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, they should do so elsewhere. They should not enter into the sacred territory of his own BTG-- or the sacred territory of his books either. It is like the young impertinent student standing before his teacher and saying, “I know how to say this better than you do.” This intellectual leprosy is already eating away at the core of our movement in other areas. Please do not allow it to contaminate his much-loved Back to Godhead magazine.
Thank you for your understanding and consideration,
Your servant, Govinda dasi, ACBSP
The word "education" is indeed from Prabhupada's original translation.
ReplyDelete