[PADA: We were mentioning bogus book changes in our 1980s "PADA newsletter" which was noted by various people, and lead to myself and a few other devotees making a "BBT steering committee" to address book changes. This lead to the BBTI lawsuit in 1997, which really brought this issue out to a lot of people's attention, and made them realize there was a major change being made to the books.
Ever since then there has been an ongoing struggle to get the originals printed. We are glad more and more people are waking up to these unauthorized changes, better late than never. Of course we would argue the whole post-1977 bogus guru process is unauthorized, and these book changes are simply another part and parcel symptom of many other changes that they made without authority.
As Srila Prabhupada says, bogus rascals will re-write the Vedas and fill them with their own commentaries and concoctions, as such these bogus writers are destined to the lower regions. And the people who support these shastra re-writers share in their karma. ys pd]
DAVID NRSIMHANANDA SHAPIRO
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020
I always assumed that every word that I read in a BBT book was authorized by Srila Prabhupada. Despite overhearing occasional chatter to the contrary, I did not pay much attention to the detractors. For decades, I was a mushroom in the cellar. By Prabhupada’s mercy, I gradually woke up from my illusion to find myself in the company of a fringe minority.
The rest of Iskcon was living in a different paradigm. I was no longer welcomed in the Matrix. By Krishna’s inconceivable mercy, I found my way back through the labyrinth. This is my story.
Background:
As the founder, director, and engine behind Iskcon Television from the late seventies onwards, I was an integral part of the international preaching effort. I not only produced shows worldwide, but I was responsible for collecting the funds from the zonal acaryas who were benefiting from monthly receiving new programs in the temples under their jurisdiction. Financial transactions are where the spiritual rubs right up against the material. You really get to see the attachments to money and power.
To say that I had difficulty collecting from some leaders is an understatement. Despite agreements and fulfillments, they held onto their currencies without regard for keeping promises and putting me into awkward situations and prolonged anxiety. I earned a hard-learned lesson: what you see is not necessarily what is true. Krishna was teaching me: look under every rock. Unfortunately, I was a slow learner.
When the Bhagavad gita was republished in 1983, I paid no attention. Actually, no one paid much attention. I mean, “No one.” The manuscript had been sent to some GBC’s, but these many years later, all admitted to not reading it.
Ramesvara was the North American BBT Trustee (although the books were never published from the Trust; always from Iskcon Los Angeles). He had ordered it edited. Prabhupada had authorized errors and mistakes to be corrected. Ramesvara also didn’t read through it.
A few GBC’s had met in Detroit and talked about some changes with the chosen editor, Jayadwaita Swami, but they just scratched the surface. Ultimately, there were thousands of changes - some doing exactly as Srila Prabhupada had requested by fixing mistakes. However, there were many changes that reached far beyond Prabhupada’s mandate. Even “The Blessed Lord” was replaced by “The Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Strange that no one noticed, but reading Srila Prabhupada’s books was never a priority for most in those days. Making disciples was the main focus of the preaching. The changes were, well, small change, to the bigger picture of growing ever bigger followings.
Implosion and Distraction
In 1986, Iskcon imploded. The zonal acaryas fell like so many Humpty Dumpty’s. Entire countries like France were decimated. (They never recovered.) From falling down with God brother's wives -- to marrying disciples -- to murders, Iskcon lost its groove. A convention was hastily convened to salvage the carnage. Godbrothers (no sisters, sorry) who had wanted to be guru’s finally saw their opportunity. The GBC “opened up” the doors to guruship to a few more selected leaders.
These sannyasi’s already had their own flocks, and they soon turned them into their disciples. It wasn’t long before a new order evolved, but the powerful position of guru / GBC was still held tightly by an inner core. The door on including more guru’s slammed nearly shut. No one was paying much attention to what had been happening with the books. Temples were going bankrupt.
Sheer determination by many temple presidents kept the deities served and the temple doors open. Gradually, a sort of stasis was established by the early 90’s. With an uneasy peace in most places, there was time to contemplate.
Revelation and Ostracism.
The machinations of the 80’s paved the way to ritviksim. Faith in the Iskcon guru’s had been lost by many Prabhupada disciples. Prominent sanyassi’s turned to Narayan Maharaja who capitalized on the unhappiness and he started preaching in the US and other countries. Then an Australian devotee, Madhudvisa, (not the orginal ACBSP disciple) dropped a bombshell. He had meticulously compared the MacMillian 1972 Gita with the revised edition. There were nearly 5000 changes!
Gradually, a few devotees began to lobby for the changes to be rolled back, but they were all labeled “crazies” by the BBT managers and the Iskcon leadership. “Don’t listen to them; they are envious snakes.” By 1998-9, those “envious snakes” had launched a lawsuit against the BBT, and the BBT after an expensive fight, had to settle. Krishna Books was born and conferred with the rights to publish / distribute the Mac72 Gita. In return, Hansadhutta and others resigned as lifetime BBT trustees. The lawsuit was costly. That’s a lot of books.
But these “malcontents” were still maligned by the established order of Iskcon. Jayadwaita had been authorized by the BBT to do the editing, and he did a great job according to them. The BBT International (BBTI) had been formed as a corporation to hold all the copyrights to Prabhupada’s books. It isn’t a trust though that word is in its name. It promised to return all the copyrights to the actual California trust set up by Srila Prabhupada when the ritvik case over the Long Island temple is resolved. That case has been going on for over twenty years. Lawyers have long ago advised the BBTI that there is no jeopardy from that case.
The rest of Iskcon was living in a different paradigm. I was no longer welcomed in the Matrix. By Krishna’s inconceivable mercy, I found my way back through the labyrinth. This is my story.
Background:
As the founder, director, and engine behind Iskcon Television from the late seventies onwards, I was an integral part of the international preaching effort. I not only produced shows worldwide, but I was responsible for collecting the funds from the zonal acaryas who were benefiting from monthly receiving new programs in the temples under their jurisdiction. Financial transactions are where the spiritual rubs right up against the material. You really get to see the attachments to money and power.
To say that I had difficulty collecting from some leaders is an understatement. Despite agreements and fulfillments, they held onto their currencies without regard for keeping promises and putting me into awkward situations and prolonged anxiety. I earned a hard-learned lesson: what you see is not necessarily what is true. Krishna was teaching me: look under every rock. Unfortunately, I was a slow learner.
When the Bhagavad gita was republished in 1983, I paid no attention. Actually, no one paid much attention. I mean, “No one.” The manuscript had been sent to some GBC’s, but these many years later, all admitted to not reading it.
Ramesvara was the North American BBT Trustee (although the books were never published from the Trust; always from Iskcon Los Angeles). He had ordered it edited. Prabhupada had authorized errors and mistakes to be corrected. Ramesvara also didn’t read through it.
A few GBC’s had met in Detroit and talked about some changes with the chosen editor, Jayadwaita Swami, but they just scratched the surface. Ultimately, there were thousands of changes - some doing exactly as Srila Prabhupada had requested by fixing mistakes. However, there were many changes that reached far beyond Prabhupada’s mandate. Even “The Blessed Lord” was replaced by “The Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
Strange that no one noticed, but reading Srila Prabhupada’s books was never a priority for most in those days. Making disciples was the main focus of the preaching. The changes were, well, small change, to the bigger picture of growing ever bigger followings.
Implosion and Distraction
In 1986, Iskcon imploded. The zonal acaryas fell like so many Humpty Dumpty’s. Entire countries like France were decimated. (They never recovered.) From falling down with God brother's wives -- to marrying disciples -- to murders, Iskcon lost its groove. A convention was hastily convened to salvage the carnage. Godbrothers (no sisters, sorry) who had wanted to be guru’s finally saw their opportunity. The GBC “opened up” the doors to guruship to a few more selected leaders.
These sannyasi’s already had their own flocks, and they soon turned them into their disciples. It wasn’t long before a new order evolved, but the powerful position of guru / GBC was still held tightly by an inner core. The door on including more guru’s slammed nearly shut. No one was paying much attention to what had been happening with the books. Temples were going bankrupt.
Sheer determination by many temple presidents kept the deities served and the temple doors open. Gradually, a sort of stasis was established by the early 90’s. With an uneasy peace in most places, there was time to contemplate.
Revelation and Ostracism.
The machinations of the 80’s paved the way to ritviksim. Faith in the Iskcon guru’s had been lost by many Prabhupada disciples. Prominent sanyassi’s turned to Narayan Maharaja who capitalized on the unhappiness and he started preaching in the US and other countries. Then an Australian devotee, Madhudvisa, (not the orginal ACBSP disciple) dropped a bombshell. He had meticulously compared the MacMillian 1972 Gita with the revised edition. There were nearly 5000 changes!
Gradually, a few devotees began to lobby for the changes to be rolled back, but they were all labeled “crazies” by the BBT managers and the Iskcon leadership. “Don’t listen to them; they are envious snakes.” By 1998-9, those “envious snakes” had launched a lawsuit against the BBT, and the BBT after an expensive fight, had to settle. Krishna Books was born and conferred with the rights to publish / distribute the Mac72 Gita. In return, Hansadhutta and others resigned as lifetime BBT trustees. The lawsuit was costly. That’s a lot of books.
But these “malcontents” were still maligned by the established order of Iskcon. Jayadwaita had been authorized by the BBT to do the editing, and he did a great job according to them. The BBT International (BBTI) had been formed as a corporation to hold all the copyrights to Prabhupada’s books. It isn’t a trust though that word is in its name. It promised to return all the copyrights to the actual California trust set up by Srila Prabhupada when the ritvik case over the Long Island temple is resolved. That case has been going on for over twenty years. Lawyers have long ago advised the BBTI that there is no jeopardy from that case.
Fast Forward
The SABHA passed a proposal last year that requested the GBC to appoint a board of editors to review all of the changes made by Jayadwaita Swami and make recommendations. Garuda also organized a symposium of both Vaisnava and non-Vaisnava scholars to write and present papers on the issue of what are the academic standards regarding posthumous editing. That symposium took place in February 2020 at the Graduate Theological Union.
A BBTI manager was invited to observe -- but chose not to come. An informal meeting had taken place in Washington D.C. mediated by Iskcon Resolve. Out of that meeting, a decision was made to form an editorial board from recommendations made by the GBC. The BBTI put together a board which later became a six person panel - RRP.
The BBTI decided to make the panel advisory. They kept their own editorial board amongst themselves. The panel is to decide principles and guidelines for making changes in the books. They have been formed since January, but their is code of confidentiality imposed upon the panel. No one really knows what they have done or are doing.
The Present Challenge
Jayadwaita Swami formally resigned from the BBTI. I say formally because he is still very much involved. He is continuing to make suggestions for changes. He recently didn’t like Srila Prabhupada’s use of the word “sanguine” and suggested that it was incorrect. Prabhupada had typed that word himself in a draft. Dravida agreed and, in another example, added that he was doubtful that Prabhupada’s use of the word “integrity” was proper.
He has changed numerous words verifiably written by Srila Prabhupada that he “feels” are not what Prabhupada meant to say. The incessant drive to “improve” Prabhupada is without the authority of the author. Author. Authority. I hope that the panel (RRP) can influence the BBT editorial board to end this madness and let Prabhupada speak for himself.
Prabhupada picked Hayagriva as the editor of the Gita. Prabhupada read and spoke from that Mac 72 edition for five years. Anyone has a right to pen their own Gita. Certainly, they would not want someone to change it to “sound better” or “make more sense” without their permission. Jayadwaita Swami himself admits that he has no authority from Srila Prabhupada to edit the Gita.
In "Responsible Editing” he writes," "To my knowledge, Srila Prabhupada never asked us to re-edit the book," (Mac ‘72) in a reply to Amogha Lila in July 1986. Srila Prabhupada often expressed his concern that we have the “change disease.” I want to read a BG that I know has been fully authorized by Srila Prabhupada. I don’t want to be presented with a Gita that has someone else’s words. The BBT should put Jayadwaita Swami’s name on the front cover of the revised Gita as the editor because that’s the truth.
What you are reading in the 1983 revised edition does not contain all Srila Prabhupada’s words or the words of his editor (Hayagriva) who worked closely with Prabhupada to produce that Mac ‘72 edition.
Epilogue
I have known and been friends with Jayadwaita Swami since working at Tiffany Press, Brooklyn, 1971. I care for him and all my Godbrothers / sisters. I am hardly the only one speaking out against the unauthorized changes. Nine GBC sponsored the SABHA proposal to have the GBC select the RRP members.
They and others are also concerned. Ramesvara, the NA BBT Trustee throughout Srila Prabhupada’s presence, said that not reviewing the revised edition was the single worst mistake in his life. Rupanuga, an early disciple, GBC, and former BBT Trustee, has written volumes about the offenses made by changing the books. Ekanatha, protector of Bhaktivedanta Archives, is against all except fixing the errors and mistakes.
Bhutatma, currently working on re-editing a book with the BBT, has been trying to convince the BBT managers that their editing went way too far. Urmila dd has voiced her strong adherence to the principles of arsa prayoga which goes so far as to say to leave the books even with the mistakes.
Visnumurti, the guardian of Prabhupada’s vani, Gargamuni dasa, Govinda dasi, Shyamasundar dasa, Gurudas dasa, Dhanajaya dasa, Garuda dasa, Pancharatna dasa, Bir Krishna Goswami, Hrydayananda Goswami, Atmanivedana Swami, Bhakti Dhira Damodhara Swami, Bhakti Bhagavatamrita Swami, and so many others join the cacophony expressing doubt about the validity of Jayadwaita’s changes.
The time has come to take their voices to heart. There is a disconnect. It is between those who think they can improve upon Srila Prabhupada and those that like him as he is, and the book, Bhagavat, as it is (with only errors and mistakes corrected).
The SABHA passed a proposal last year that requested the GBC to appoint a board of editors to review all of the changes made by Jayadwaita Swami and make recommendations. Garuda also organized a symposium of both Vaisnava and non-Vaisnava scholars to write and present papers on the issue of what are the academic standards regarding posthumous editing. That symposium took place in February 2020 at the Graduate Theological Union.
A BBTI manager was invited to observe -- but chose not to come. An informal meeting had taken place in Washington D.C. mediated by Iskcon Resolve. Out of that meeting, a decision was made to form an editorial board from recommendations made by the GBC. The BBTI put together a board which later became a six person panel - RRP.
The BBTI decided to make the panel advisory. They kept their own editorial board amongst themselves. The panel is to decide principles and guidelines for making changes in the books. They have been formed since January, but their is code of confidentiality imposed upon the panel. No one really knows what they have done or are doing.
The Present Challenge
Jayadwaita Swami formally resigned from the BBTI. I say formally because he is still very much involved. He is continuing to make suggestions for changes. He recently didn’t like Srila Prabhupada’s use of the word “sanguine” and suggested that it was incorrect. Prabhupada had typed that word himself in a draft. Dravida agreed and, in another example, added that he was doubtful that Prabhupada’s use of the word “integrity” was proper.
He has changed numerous words verifiably written by Srila Prabhupada that he “feels” are not what Prabhupada meant to say. The incessant drive to “improve” Prabhupada is without the authority of the author. Author. Authority. I hope that the panel (RRP) can influence the BBT editorial board to end this madness and let Prabhupada speak for himself.
Prabhupada picked Hayagriva as the editor of the Gita. Prabhupada read and spoke from that Mac 72 edition for five years. Anyone has a right to pen their own Gita. Certainly, they would not want someone to change it to “sound better” or “make more sense” without their permission. Jayadwaita Swami himself admits that he has no authority from Srila Prabhupada to edit the Gita.
In "Responsible Editing” he writes," "To my knowledge, Srila Prabhupada never asked us to re-edit the book," (Mac ‘72) in a reply to Amogha Lila in July 1986. Srila Prabhupada often expressed his concern that we have the “change disease.” I want to read a BG that I know has been fully authorized by Srila Prabhupada. I don’t want to be presented with a Gita that has someone else’s words. The BBT should put Jayadwaita Swami’s name on the front cover of the revised Gita as the editor because that’s the truth.
What you are reading in the 1983 revised edition does not contain all Srila Prabhupada’s words or the words of his editor (Hayagriva) who worked closely with Prabhupada to produce that Mac ‘72 edition.
Epilogue
I have known and been friends with Jayadwaita Swami since working at Tiffany Press, Brooklyn, 1971. I care for him and all my Godbrothers / sisters. I am hardly the only one speaking out against the unauthorized changes. Nine GBC sponsored the SABHA proposal to have the GBC select the RRP members.
They and others are also concerned. Ramesvara, the NA BBT Trustee throughout Srila Prabhupada’s presence, said that not reviewing the revised edition was the single worst mistake in his life. Rupanuga, an early disciple, GBC, and former BBT Trustee, has written volumes about the offenses made by changing the books. Ekanatha, protector of Bhaktivedanta Archives, is against all except fixing the errors and mistakes.
Bhutatma, currently working on re-editing a book with the BBT, has been trying to convince the BBT managers that their editing went way too far. Urmila dd has voiced her strong adherence to the principles of arsa prayoga which goes so far as to say to leave the books even with the mistakes.
Visnumurti, the guardian of Prabhupada’s vani, Gargamuni dasa, Govinda dasi, Shyamasundar dasa, Gurudas dasa, Dhanajaya dasa, Garuda dasa, Pancharatna dasa, Bir Krishna Goswami, Hrydayananda Goswami, Atmanivedana Swami, Bhakti Dhira Damodhara Swami, Bhakti Bhagavatamrita Swami, and so many others join the cacophony expressing doubt about the validity of Jayadwaita’s changes.
The time has come to take their voices to heart. There is a disconnect. It is between those who think they can improve upon Srila Prabhupada and those that like him as he is, and the book, Bhagavat, as it is (with only errors and mistakes corrected).
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