SRILA PRABHUPADA REVISED - RIDICULOUS!
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...
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...
WHY THE REVISED EDITIONS ARE BUILT ON SAND
The revisers...
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...
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)