Correspondence: Jayadvaita Swami / Mahasringa Das

Dear Mahasringa Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for your letter. Whether we agree or disagree on any given topic, I’m happy to hear from you and remember you. I’ve noted your point — that editing after the author’s departure is “offensive and unethical” — but I wonder on what authority you say this. In academic circles, it is not at all considered unethical. On the contrary, when responsibly done it is considered a valuable service. (See http://www.bbtedit.com/node/120.) And the history of our sampradaya shows editing of the work of a departed acarya done even by such an illustrious figure as Srila Jiva Gosvami. (See http://www.bbtedit.com/node/121.) Srila Prabhupada instructed his editors to make sure his books were free from mistakes. See http://www.bbtedit.com/node/20, http://wwwbbtedit.com/node/10,  http://www.bbtedit.com/node/260 And he never said “Until I leave this world.” (See> > http://www.bbtedit.com/node/13.)

I suppose we are supposed to believe that the author “approved” of all the editorial errors left in his books at the time of his departure. This is a belief I respectfully choose not to share. (See http://www.bbtedit.com/node/203.). In any case, I hope you’ll feel always enlivened by Reading whichever editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books you prefer. And I hope you’ll always buy them from the BBT and encourage other devotees to do so. (See http://www.BBTonly.com.) On this anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance: May we always feel a sense of friendship and a common cause in Srila Prabhupada’s service. I look forward to having your company again, at the earliest.

Hoping this finds you in good health,
Your servant,
Jayadvaita Swami

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Hare Krishna Ekanatha prabhu,

Could you please pass this along to JAS and Dravida prabhus.

The books are being edited by the BBT in the author’s name, meaning that whatever is being changed or added is supposed to be accepted as the author’s work. As we all know, this is highly offensive and unethical since the author is no longer here to approve of such changes. However, in the case Of citations, individual writers are at complete liberty to summarize works by an author providing that individual use the proper punctuation marks intended for that very purpose. This law of writing indicate to any learned audience that the quote being cited is not in entirety and that the provided source should thereby be consulted.
Thank you and I hope all is well.
Mahasringa dasa