So, rather than consider that perhaps they have something to learn from Srila Prabhupada they changed Srila Prabhupada's words to fit their (ISKCON institution's) understanding. Of course, everyone is entitled to write a book and express their views. But, to change Srila Prabhupada's wording, and philosophy, in order to serve a particular philosophical agenda that is not Srila Prabhupada's- well, that seems ethically very questionable.
Below I share a brief piece about this topic that I wrote more than 20 years ago. If anyone is interested in the complete correspondence between the BBT representatives and I about CC page 1, I welcome you to write to me at
davidbwolf@satvatove.com
Hare Krsna. Jaya Srila Prabhupada... Caitanya-caritamrta- Page 1
On the first page of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila, Srila Prabhupada wrote "The direct disciple of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, who accepted Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti as his servitor. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who initiated Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the divine master of our humble self."
It is of course noteworthy that Srila Prabhupada, following Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami’s song Sri Guru-parampara, lists a disciplic succession wherein several of the spiritual masters did not receive formal initiation from their spiritual masters. Perhaps even more noteworthy is that Srila Prabhupada uses the word “initiated” to describe parampara relationships where no official initiation occurred, in reference to the relationships between Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and between Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji.
In the recently published edition of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the editors deleted the words “initiated” in the two cases cited above. A representative of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust explained that the weightiest argument in making this change to Srila Prabhupada’s words was the following: ”Leaving one or both ‘initiated’s will strongly imply that the use of the phrases ‘direct disciple’ and even ‘accepted [as his disciple]’ indicate formal initiation as we know it in ISKCON, which is far from the truth.”
Of concern is that the explanation for deleting the word “initiated” seems to be largely based on the understanding of the word “initiated”, “as we know it in ISKCON”. Perhaps when Srila Prabhupada used the word “initiated”, he did so deliberately, and the meaning of the term as it has come to be understood Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON is incomplete. That is, instead of making changes in this passage based on what we think Srila Prabhupada may have meant, it may be fruitful to consider that the current conception in the organization of the word “initiated” is not perfectly consistent with Srila Prabhupada’s understanding of the concept.
One way that this could be true is by referring to the definitions of initiation provided above. Perhaps was referring to initiation in the sense of “transmitting transcendental knowledge” when he used the word “initiated” to describe the relationship between Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
(Ramesvara) Robert Grant: This unauthorized editing has become unbearably painful, and anyone who blindly follows, based on false untruthful propaganda that these changes are authorized is being led astray. The current BBT trustees are wobbling on a precipitous path. None of them ever had direct instructions from or conversations with Srila Prabhupada about editing and about not changing his words. They are close to failing in their most important BBT service as fiduciary trustees to preserve Srila Prabhupada’s words
Your aspiring BBT servant
Ramesvara dasa
RSD: Who is are the current BBT trustees? The BBTI is a fake and bogus non sense organization. Why did you help create it?
Robert Grant: Thank you for your loving forgiveness as I try to make up for it.
I’m sorry when you send a comment without knowing the actual facts- something that often happens with so many FB posts. The BBTI has nothing to do with me. It was created after I relocated to NY at the end of 1986. Your emotional comments are misdirected.
RSD: You know everything! You did a lot of damage to the movement and orchestrated things behind the scenes. Let’s not get into it here.
On the first page of the Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila, Srila Prabhupada wrote "The direct disciple of Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, who accepted Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti as his servitor. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who initiated Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who in turn initiated Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji, the spiritual master of Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, the divine master of our humble self."
It is of course noteworthy that Srila Prabhupada, following Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami’s song Sri Guru-parampara, lists a disciplic succession wherein several of the spiritual masters did not receive formal initiation from their spiritual masters. Perhaps even more noteworthy is that Srila Prabhupada uses the word “initiated” to describe parampara relationships where no official initiation occurred, in reference to the relationships between Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and between Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji.
In the recently published edition of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta the editors deleted the words “initiated” in the two cases cited above. A representative of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust explained that the weightiest argument in making this change to Srila Prabhupada’s words was the following: ”Leaving one or both ‘initiated’s will strongly imply that the use of the phrases ‘direct disciple’ and even ‘accepted [as his disciple]’ indicate formal initiation as we know it in ISKCON, which is far from the truth.”
Of concern is that the explanation for deleting the word “initiated” seems to be largely based on the understanding of the word “initiated”, “as we know it in ISKCON”. Perhaps when Srila Prabhupada used the word “initiated”, he did so deliberately, and the meaning of the term as it has come to be understood Srila Prabhupada in ISKCON is incomplete. That is, instead of making changes in this passage based on what we think Srila Prabhupada may have meant, it may be fruitful to consider that the current conception in the organization of the word “initiated” is not perfectly consistent with Srila Prabhupada’s understanding of the concept.
One way that this could be true is by referring to the definitions of initiation provided above. Perhaps was referring to initiation in the sense of “transmitting transcendental knowledge” when he used the word “initiated” to describe the relationship between Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
(Ramesvara) Robert Grant: This unauthorized editing has become unbearably painful, and anyone who blindly follows, based on false untruthful propaganda that these changes are authorized is being led astray. The current BBT trustees are wobbling on a precipitous path. None of them ever had direct instructions from or conversations with Srila Prabhupada about editing and about not changing his words. They are close to failing in their most important BBT service as fiduciary trustees to preserve Srila Prabhupada’s words
Your aspiring BBT servant
Ramesvara dasa
RSD: Who is are the current BBT trustees? The BBTI is a fake and bogus non sense organization. Why did you help create it?
Robert Grant: Thank you for your loving forgiveness as I try to make up for it.
I’m sorry when you send a comment without knowing the actual facts- something that often happens with so many FB posts. The BBTI has nothing to do with me. It was created after I relocated to NY at the end of 1986. Your emotional comments are misdirected.
RSD: You know everything! You did a lot of damage to the movement and orchestrated things behind the scenes. Let’s not get into it here.
Govinda Dasi: Robert Grant Too late. They already failed.
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