Naresvara alias Norman D’Costa: helped to destroy the Singapore book printing
“BBT Only” Day – or – “BBT Bluff” Day?
Re-posted from Sampradaya-Sun
BBT Bluff Day
BY: DRAVINAKSA DAS
Mar 14, 2014 — USA (SUN) — Why is the BBT using fear and intimidation to try and sell their adulterated products? If things were actually ok with the BBTi what is the need to threaten devotees into submission? Why are customers leaving the BBT in droves and buying the original books?
Let’s set the record straight. The BBT sued Hansadutta, not vice versa. And they lost. Then they sued him again and lost. They lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in these lawsuits that could be used to print books. Why did devotees join Hansadutta’s side in the lawsuit? Because the BBT was adulterating Srila Prabhupada’s books against his order, and the original teachings were becoming lost.
In the last 30 years the BBT operated an active campaign to vilify Srila Prabhupada’s original teachings, even telling devotees they were offenders to read his original works that he had authorized himself. This has had bizarre effects. A friend of mine handed an original Bhagavad-gita As It Is as a gift of love to one of these brainwashed souls. The person started shaking and backed off like a Vampire in front of a cross!
Who owns the copyrights? The copyrights of the changed books are not owned by the BBT. They are owned by BBT International and the author is not A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, but an “author for hire.” Why are these books by an author for hire? Because Srila Prabhupada did not write them. Only the original unadulterated books have their copyrights owned by the BBT, and His Divine Grace is listed as the author in the copyrights.
Like it or not, KBI is authorized to print the original books and has become the primary source of high quality reprints. Devotees have donated and loaned their personal funds to keep the teachings from being lost. The KBI team must be commended for their dedication and perseverance. Under difficult conditions, always being threatened by the BBT, they have produced an impressive portfolio of Srila Prabhupada’s original literature, available at reasonable prices.
So why is BBT kvetching now? They own the copyrights. At any time they could print the original, authorized books at the same quality and at a cheaper price. (They do larger print runs and get better prices than KBI at the printer.) If there is a big demand for the real goods why complain? They created the mess. Srila Prabhupada never asked them to change everything.
Now the bar has been raised. Better quality at a better price from KBI. It’s time for the BBT to stop whimpering and get the presses rolling, with the original books.
March 14: “BBT Only” Day
BY: SUN STAFF
Mar 13, 2014 — CANADA (SUN) — The following announcement has been issued by BBT Chairman, Naresvara dasa:
“BBT Only” Day
In cooperation with the ISKCON GBC, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is marking March 14 as the first annual “BBT Only” Day.
This is a day to remember the following important instructions from Srila Prabhupada:
He formed the BBT to serve as his exclusive publisher.
He wanted all his books purchased exclusively from the BBT.
His Divine Grace gave those instructions in a letter addressed to all ISKCON temples. The letter was dated March 14, 1974.
March 14 this year will be the fortieth anniversary of that letter.
Every devotee and congregational member of ISKCON should become familiar with that letter and have its importance clear in mind.
“BBT Only” Day is also an opportunity for devotees to remember – or learn about – the value the BBT adds to Srila Prabhupada’s mission in ways other than by publishing books. For example, the BBT. . .
gives large grants every year for construction and renovation of ISKCON temples (current project: the new temple in Mayapur)
provides funding for the Bhaktivedanta Institute
supports the BBT Sanskrit School started by Gopiparanadhana Prabhu in Vrindavana to train new Sanskrit editors and translators
funds the Bhaktivedanta Archives
If you’ve received a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s historic letter, please post it on your bulletin board (or on your wall or fridge). You can also find it online at the “BBT Only” website: www.BBTonly.org.
In 1969, while visiting ISKCON Press, the forerunner of the BBT, Srila Prabhupada said, “This is the heart of ISKCON.”
A devotee said, “You are the heart of ISKCON, Prabhupada.”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “And this is my heart.”
May Srila Prabhupada’s heart be dear to the hearts of us all.
Thank you.
Naresvara Dasa
BBT Chairman
PS: How can you tell a BBT book? By the logo. Books published by others may look nearly the same. But only books published by the BBT display the BBT logo. So look for the BBT logo. It’s your guarantee that what you’re getting comes genuinely from the only publisher authorized by Srila Prabhupada to publish his books: his BBT.
Frequently Offered Objections
Those who won’t like our message are likely to raise some objections. Here are some we’ve heard, along with answers.
1. Objection: Srila Prabhupada wrote, “All printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval.” Krishna Books, Inc., is also printing with BBT approval. They have a license from the BBT. So what’s the problem?
Answer:
It’s true that KBI has a license. That license was wrung unwillingly from the BBT by a former trustee who had badly fallen from the principles of Krsna consciousness. Though fallen, because of a legal technicality he could still legally claim that he was a trustee – in fact, the only trustee – of Srila Prabhupada’s book trust. So the BBT settled the matter by giving that license to the new company he formed – KBI.
When Srila Prabhupada spoke of printing “with BBT approval,” such an unwillingly granted license hardly seems like what he had in mind.
KBI has legal approval. It does not have spiritual approval.
No court can give anyone spiritual authority or declare invalid Srila Prabhupada’s desire that the BBT serve as his exclusive publisher.
2. Objection: What’s this about “BBT only”? Srila Prabhupada’s original BBT has been hijacked, and now the books are published by a newly concocted, unauthorized organization called BBTI.
Answer:
During Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence, “the BBT” consisted of a worldwide group of BBT entities, all publishing under the authority of Srila Prabhupada and his global “BBT trustees.”
Those entities are what we informally referred to (and still do) as “the North American BBT,” “the Latin American BBT,” “the Indian BBT,” and so on.
In America, in fact, when Srila Prabhupada was physically present his books were all published by ISKCON of Los Angeles, publishing under the BBT’s name and authority.
This same arrangement – various BBT entities publishing Srila Prabhupada’s books around the world – still continues today.
The BBTI serves as the BBT’s licensing agent to license these various other BBT entities in a legally orderly way – a suitable and much-needed function.
But the BBT International doesn’t actually publish books at all. The local BBT entities do, just as during Srila Prabhupada’s physical presence.
3. Objection: The BBT lost all authority when it began publishing “changed books.”
Answer:
For extensive answers to arguments about “the changed books,” please see www.BBTedit.com. And if you prefer the earlier editions, fine – follow Srila Prabhupada’s instruction by buying them from the BBT.
4. Objection: The BBT does not give 50% of its proceeds for construction, the way Srila Prabhupada ordered.
Answer:
True. The standard we’ve come to is 25%. And that’s a higher percentage than the BBT ever gave when Srila Prabhupada was physically present.
In fact Srila Prabhupada told Harikesa Dasa that 25% would be acceptable.
Why? Suppose it costs you a dollar to make a book. Then you double the price and sell it to the temples for two dollars. Then you give 50% (1 dollar) for construction and the other 50% to reprint the book. Now all your money is gone. Where then will you get money for reprinting books in larger numbers? Where will you get money for printing new titles or books in new languages? And when inflation drives printing prices higher, so that the book you printed for a dollar now costs you $1.20 to print again, so that you get fewer and fewer books for your money, what will you do about that?
So we use 50% for reprinting, we give 25% for construction, and – almost incredibly with such a small percentage – with the other 25% we increase print runs, print new titles, expand into new languages, keep up with inflation, give grants to the Bhaktivedanta Institute, train new translators and editors, support the Bhaktivedanta Archives – and more.
By the way: How much do publishers outside the BBT give for ISKCON construction? And how well does 25% compare with zero?
The general answer to all these objections is that one should follow the orders of the spiritual master, not look for excuses.
Visiting ISKCON Press, the forerunner of the BBT, Srila Prabhupada said that this was his heart. Every devotee should have this image embossed in his mind.
Those who would try to undermine or explain away Srila Prabhupada’s “BBT only” instruction are sticking a knife into his heart. Devotees should understand this too.
5. Objection: BBT books are more expensive. Why should we pay more when we can get books cheaper elsewhere – and in that way distribute more of Srila Prabhupada’s glorious books?
Answer:
BBT books are in fact very economical. But they do cost more.
Why? Because we follow Srila Prabhupada’s order to sell books to ISKCON centers at twice what the books cost us.
Unlike most authors, Srila Prabhupada didn’t expect any royalties from the sales of his books. But you can think of that extra cost – that markup – as Srila Prabhupada’s royalties. That extra price you pay goes to finance larger print runs, produce new books in new languages and new media, preserve and catalog the manuscripts, audiotapes, and images in the Bhaktivedanta Archives, help fund the Bhaktivedanta Institute, build and renovate ISKCON temples.
By buying elsewhere, you can certainly save some money – but only by disobeying Srila Prabhupada’s direct written instructions and depriving him of his “royalties” – the share of the proceeds he asked be given to expand the BBT’s work of book publishing and temple construction.
If you’re a sincere follower of Srila Prabhupada, which matters more to you – sticking to Srila Prabhupada’s instructions or saving a buck?
The sincere follower makes the spiritual master’s orders his life and soul.
(Text PAMHO:26202534) ————————————–
——- End of Forwarded Message ——
Please Note: Naresvara alias Norman D’Costa (a real nerd) also called Nerdesvara helped to destroy Srila Prabhupadas book printing in Singapore.
Please see: BBT Vs. Hansadutta Court Case Singapore 1992-1996
1) That they are CHANGING Srila Prabhupada’s books and DO NOT want to stop means NOBODY SANE will believe in WHATEVER they say. The very FACT that they are TRYING to attract devotees TO LISTEN TO THEM for buying CHANGED BOOKS means the sales of the books have DROPPED to a CATASTROPHIC level.
2) These people have NO SHAME – AT ALL!. They want Srila Prabhupada as “worker for heir”. What is their VALUE?
3) Mere propaganda talk that Srila Prabhupada wants you to support BBT does NOT work: devotees have WISED-UP over the years. NOBODY who is SANE will support the bunch of CROOKS who CHANGE Srila Prabhupada’s books.
“A devotee should have intelligence to know who is deviating. Surrender by your intelligence but don’t surrender your intelligence.” (SP to Bali Mardana, 1974)
4) We want to see AUDITED ACCOUNTS from 1977 onwards to 2014 for the BBT. BBT is NOT a personal property of a group of individuals to MAKE MONEY for their OWN POCKETS. WHERE ARE THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS?
IF they do NOT produce this for the devotees to see IN PUBLIC that means there is BIG TIME FRAUD?
AUDITED ACCOUNTS will show:
1) Income
2) Expenditure
3) Salary
4) Expenses
To give devotees some idea of HOW they EXPLOIT others BY taking MASSIVE SALARIES just take a look here at Bhaktivedanta Manor – salaries UPTO £60,000. (SALARIES OVER ONE MILLION POUNDS)
Bhaktivedanta Manor Accounts SALARIES
http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=38907#comment-24810
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/Accounts/Ends49/0000259649_ac_20111231_e_c.pdf
Approach from COMMON-SENSE point of view:
1) When these GANG OF CROOKS want to REWRITE Srila Prabhupada’s books they can NOT be classifed as devotees.
2) When these dogs call Srila Prabhupada “worker for hire” they are NOT devotees:
http://www.iskcon-truth.com/iskcon-crime.html
3) When these gang of goons usurp Srila Prabhupada’s BBT for SCREWING MONEY they are NOT devotees.
WHERE ARE BBT AUDITED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTS FROM 1977- 2014? DO THESE ACCOUNTS EXIST? THE DEVOTEES HAVE THE RIGHT TO SEE IN PUBLIC. WHY HAVE THEY HIDDEN THIS FROM DEVOTEES?
ULTERIOR MONEY SCREWING MOTIVES?
pamho agtACBSP,JAGANATH MISRA MAHOTSAVA KI JAI,VISNU MASA KI JAI.
You see how the guna and karma are working,you didn’t practice vaco vegam manasa krodha vegam jibya vegam udarapastha vegam and now you are going to become a agly abominable animal.
This is ignorance forgetting the yuga dharma duty by thinking everything is here and everything will finish here but they never understand that they have to change their own false ego by making it real because they are fake therefore whatever they are doing will be fake until they will become ghosts or animals then they can understand the big mistake they done by misuse the gift of human form of life.
agtSP ys haribol
Pretty sure whoever ‘tagged’ the mugshot with Norman D’Costa’s name got it wrong! That ain’t him unless he’s been hitting the Botox!
@Downunder das: Botox purified, thank you.
Ha ha that’s more like it. Put a Red costume on him and he could be Santa Clauss!
GBC Resolution # 307…. 2010 (What a joke!)
Minimum Standards for High-level Posts
Whereas GBC members and others holding prominent posts in the society are highly visible representatives of Srila Prabhupada and his society;
Whereas our society’s reputation suffers when its leaders are not held to high standards of personal and professional behavior;
Whereas it is incumbent upon those charged with evaluating candidates for appointment to such posts to do whatever is possible to make sure that the recent conduct of such candidates is of a suitably high standard;
Whereas there need to be clear expectations when evaluating potential GBC members and candidates for other prominent posts;
RESOLVED:
Henceforward, a devotee shall not be approved to serve as a GBC Member, RGB Member, Regional Secretary, Zonal Secretary, Project Director, other Officer of an International ISKCON project, or Temple President of any ISKCON center, if, as determined by the appointing authority, within the ten years preceding the appointment he or she:
a. Seriously deviated from the standard initiation vows; or
b. Whether within the ISKCON society or not, was responsible for a financial impropriety that put significant funds or other assets at risk; or, who risked legal consequences through the improper handling of funds and assets under his or her control; or, whose unauthorized actions caused a loss of significant funds; or
c. Engaged in serious criminal activity according to the law of the land; or
d. Otherwise engaged in an act of moral turpitude, as defined in the ecclesiastical discretion of the GBC, and/or the law of the jurisdiction in which the devotee candidate resides.
While screening candidates for such positions, appointing authorities, whether individual officials or groups, must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the above principles are upheld. Such efforts must include seeking from the candidates full disclosures of any activities they have been involved in during the previous ten years that could be considered as falling within the clauses above as well as references of good character from friends, employers, supervisors, associates, and others who are personally familiar with the character of the devotee candidate, as the situation may require (e.g. working in close proximity with children, etc