SRILA PRABHUPADA ON CHANGING AND EDITING HIS BOOKS

“They cannot change anything –
The next printing should be again to the original way!”

Yasodanandan: Sometimes they appeal that “We can make better English,” so they change like that, just like in the case of Isopanisad. There are over a hundred changes. So where is the need? Your words are sufficient. The potency is there. When they change, it is something else.
Svarupa Damodara: That’s actually a very dangerous mentality.
Yasodanandan: What is it going to be in five years? It’s going to be a different book.
Srila Prabhupada: So you… What you are going… It is very serious situation. You write one letter that “Why you have made so many changes?” And whom to write? Who will care? All rascals are there. Write to Satsvarupa that “This is the position. They are doing anything and everything at their whim.” The next printing should be again to the original way…. So you bring this to Satsvarupada. They cannot change anything. (Srila Prabhupada conversation, June 22, 1977, Vrindaban)

SRILA PRABHUPADA ON CHANGING AND EDITING HIS BOOKS

From: Rob Horton <x@xxx.xx>
To: ‘mahasrnga dasa’ <xx@xxx.xx>
Subject: RE: Conversation regarding book changes

Hare Krsna Mahasrnga prabhu, Srila Prabhupada has been consistent over the years in his instructions on editing, that they should be, as he wrote in a letter to Rupanuga Prabhu in 1970: “Our editing is to correct grammatical and spelling errors only, without interpolation of style or philosophy” (Los Angeles: February 17, 1970).
Almost exactly two years later, Srila Prabhupada had his publishing contract with Macmillan Publishing Company modified under the revisions clause, no. V. to say that revisions were allowed only with the consent of the author, and he initialized this.

Even Garuda das’ group of intellectuals who were complaining to the BBT-I re changes, did not seem to GET this principle! After contacting Garuda das, Ajit Krishna das writes…

“…Garuda Prabhu first said he more or less agreed with me (on no changes). But a few days later he wrote this:

‘I’ve looked into every one of the changes in the BGAII with the help of an extremely competent devotee. My conclusion: I can accept up to 25% of the editing, and even some of it very good. But at least 75% of the editing was totally unnecessary, even intrusive. With just the 25% of valid editing, no second edition would have been necessary.’ (Garuda Dasa, Facebook post, May 2020)

Garuda says he can accept 25% of Jayadvaita Swami’s editing. And then he wants to do some editing himself. First we had Srila Prabhupada’s Gita, then we had Jayadvaita Swamis new edition, and now Garuda might take over Jayadvaita Swami’s role as a posthumous editor, and then we will have a third.

It should be obvious that Garuda Prabhu’s attempts will not settle the matter. Intelligent devotees are against all sorts of posthumous editing. Why? Well, first of all because of the above mentioned reasons. But also because no matter how well-articulated your reasons are for making a certain change you cannot get Srila Prabhupada’s approval. And that is certainly needed.

This affair can only be settled by reference to an absolute principle. We are fortunate to have this principle. It is called arsa-prayoga. It means that we cannot make any changes to the acaryas words (without explicit instructions from the acarya himself). This settles the matter. There is nothing further to discuss.

But as long as we have conditioned souls taking up roles as authorities on the editing of Srila Prabhupada’s books there will be disagreements as to what constitutes a good, or the best, editor, and what constitutes a good reason to change. One editor will reject the other editors, and new, differing editions of Srila Prabhupada’s books will be published. 

My position is, therefore, that this dispute cannot be settled with reference to conditioned souls no matter how good they are at editing. It can only be settled by reference to an absolute principle – arsa-prayoga.” Ys, Bal.

From: mahasrnga dasa <xx@xx.xx>
To: Rob Horton <x@xxx.xx>
Subject: Re: Conversation regarding book changes

Any changes after Prabhupada;s vapu left, is offensively illegal and the fools doing it will have to pay heavily in their next lives.
Mahasrnga dasa.

On Friday, September 4, 2020, Rob Horton <x@xxx.xx> wrote:

From: Ranjit dasa…
“The original editor, Hayagriva Das has passed away. Really the difference is simply between a Hayagriva edit and a Jayadvaita edit. I give no credence whatsoever to the idea that any attempt was made to change the philosophy.” What a load of RUBBISH!

Hayagriva das edited Srila Prabhupada’s books WITH Srila Prabhupada, as a book editor does and the final manuscript was presented to the publishers, authorized & approved by Prabhupada, as he lectured every day from the same books.

Jayadvaita & others have ‘edited’ (read changed) Prabhupada’s books AFTER His pine Grace departed, which is illegal. That’s why BBT-I had to declare Prabhupada a ‘writer for hire’ and remove him as the ‘author’ to illegally steal the copyrights from real BBT. Only ‘Proof-Reading’ was required for future print runs, to correct any spelling, typographical or possible grammatical errors!

Yfs, Balaram das

————-

From Damaghosa Prabhu: Below we have three separate quotes by Srila Prabhupada where he simply and convincingly Shows us neophytes that we cannot change-anything he says or writes. If one accepts Srila Prabhupada as Acarya and Vedic authority, then by principle, one cannot touch one word of the Acaryas writings. If one does so, that means his knowledge is imperfect, and he is a “demon” as Srila Prabhupada himself- calls him-be he a disciple or whomever. He is a demon, not a devotee !! Strong words to keep us off the sentimental platform of neophytes.

This book change business is 100% demoniac ! And anyone who follows in that way, is similarly possessed. And if one doesnt like these conclusions, then go find yourself another guru, because he or she is not a follower of A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, OR the Vedic parampara system.

Prabhupāda: Yes. So we shall discuss again. So the same thing, it is chalked out by Kṛṣṇa, and by paramparā system we have understood this philosophy. Evaṁ paramparā prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ [Bg. 4.2]. So keep this paramparā system. This Vyāsa–pūjā is paramparā system. Vyāsa–pūjā means to accept this paramparā system. Vyāsa. Guru is the representative of Vyāsadeva because he does not change anything. What Vyāsa–pūjā… What Vyāsadeva said, your guru will also say the same thing. Not that “So many hundreds of thousands of years have passed away. Therefore I will give you a new formula.” No. There is no new formula. [see how Jayadvaita and Dravida differ here from Srila Prabhupada?]The same Vyāsa–pūjā, the same philosophy. Simply we have to accept it. Then our life will be successful. Thank you very much.

Now we have to accept knowledge from Vedas, Vedic knowledge, not this rascal’s knowledge. Rascal knowledge is that “Yes,” as soon as he comes to the imperfect point, “yes, we are trying.” You are trying. What is this trying? Trying means that your knowledge is imperfect. And another rascal will come, he will say, “Now here is the perfect.” [Jayadvaita swami and Dravida das] And ten years after, another rascal will come,” No, this is not perfect. This is perfect.” This is going on. This is called scientific advancement. This is… Advancement means… But we don’t change our Vedic knowledge. We do not say, “Now, Kṛṣṇa, five thousand years ago, said like this. Now we are advanced. We change this line.” Of course, others are doing. [jayadvatia and Dravida] In the scriptures… Just like the Christians, they are changing the words. But you cannot do that. Then where is the authority? If you change the word of the scripture, then where is the authority of the scripture? Just like in lawbooks, there is some law made already. Whimsically you cannot, I mean to say, erase the words and put something that “It should be changed like this.” That will not be accepted. Law, if there is change… Actually, there is no change. There cannot be change. Real law means there is no change. Just like day and night, it is coming. The fortnight, the dark period and the light period, it is coming for millions and millions and time immemorial. The same law is going, going on. You cannot change. So as soon as you change, that means it is imperfect. You Change.

So Vedic laws are not like that. You cannot change. Five thousand years ago Kṛṣṇa said, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja: [Bg. 18.66] “You give up all other religious principles. Simply surrender unto Me.” We are preaching the same thing. No change. No change. There is no possibility of change. Then how Kṛṣṇa is authority? So change means imperfect knowledge. This very change. And perfect knowledge… You will find that one who is very experienced medical practitioner, he gives you a prescription, and you visit him again and again, he gives you the same prescription unless you are cured. His prescription is so nice that he doesn’t change. But a nonexperienced physician, every time you go, he will change the prescription. But actually, those who are experienced, he knows “This is the disease, and ultimately this medicine will cure. So let him repeat that medicine.” So our is that platform. Harer nāma harer nāma harer nāmaiva kevalam [Cc. Ādi 17.21]. We repeat only. We don’t change: “Now hari-nāma is not curing so let me add, instead of Hare Kṛṣṇa, ‘John Kṛṣṇa,’ if I may.” No. No “John Kṛṣṇa.” (laughter) That same Hare Kṛṣṇa must be repeated. And you will be cured. So change means imperfect knowledge. No change means that is perfect knowledge. So we follow that no change policy. No, not that because I think I have become now advanced, I change this to that. That mean I am not advanced. My knowledge is imperfect. Therefore I am changing.

Srila Prabhupāda’s instructions on editing are in his books themselves

http://www.prabhupadanugas.eu/news/?p=41018

More proof for not changing the books

[Room conversation, December 29,1976, Bombay]

Prabhupāda: You can show Bhagavad-gītā.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: A very authoritative presentation. For example, here’s the original Sanskrit śloka, word for word…

Guest (3): For example, sāṅkhya-yoga. You have a separate book? Then sthita-prajñā. You have a separate…?
Prabhupāda: No separately. It is there in the Bhagavad-gītā.
Guest (3): But that way, your volumes are dealing with each chapter of Gītā?
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Each śloka. Each chapter.
Guest (2): No, no. Not inside the book. Different volumes. Like eighteen chapters, but eighteen volumes.
Prabhupāda: No, no.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: No. It’s in one book. Twelve hundred pages
Guest (3): And the interpretation is by you yourself?

Prabhupāda: Yes. Not interpretation. I am explaining as it is. You can read one.
Guest (3): Have you tried to compare with Gītā written by Gyaneshvara, or by Vinoba Bhave or by somebody else?

Prabhupāda: According to Bhagavad-gītā, if you don’t follow the instruction of Bhagavad-gītā, you may be very learned scholar, whatever you write, it is lost. We follow that principle. As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā, evaṁ paramparā-prāptam imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ (BG 4.2). Find out this Fourth Chapter.

Guest (2): Have these books been reviewed in foreign papers?
Prabhupāda: It is very widely read.
Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: For example, in the Fourth Chapter (BG 4.2) Lord Kṛṣṇa says,

evaṁ paramparā-prāptam | imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā | yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa

Prabhupāda: Kṛṣṇa says that this Bhagavad-gītā has to be received by the disciplic succession. And sa kālena yogo naṣṭaḥ parantapa. Because that disciplic succession is now broken, that yoga system is now lost. So all these interpreters, they are interpreting in their own way. Therefore it is lost. So there is no use of consulting this lost version.

Guest (3): So you just give it as it is.
Prabhupāda: That is… Therefore my Bhagavad-gītā is named Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. No interpretation.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Each word is the original Sanskrit śloka, English transliteration, word by word meaning, so there’s no room for manipulation. There’s a translation and purport. Every book that Śrīla Prabhupāda has written has the same format and each book is illustrated. [Room conversation, December 29,1976, Bombay]