Suresh dasa, Sep 03 Maryland, USA: I have been viewing a number of the videos on BBTedit.com. I want to know why Srila Prabhupada’s books were changed? I like the way the verses (that I have memorized) sound in the original editions of “Bhagavad-gita As It Is” and find some of the newer translations in your revised edition honestly annoying, even if they may be now truer to what you say are the original Sanskrit. There was a beautiful poetry in the first edition of “Bhagavad-gita As It Is” that seems somewhat absent now, and in some ways sometimes even cumbersome to read.
I also find it annoying that most of Srila Prabhupada’s original disciples’ opinions on changing his books were not only ignored, but also treated as unimportant. Jayadvaita Swami states on one of his videos that he did consult with persons whom he felt were important, regarding making changes. He also goes on to state that most of the devotees would not understand the changes being made.
In some ways he treats the devotees like little children, who can’t understand. I feel this attitude is very condescending. A lot of the problems, myths, and controversy have taken place due to the secrecy that has existed in the making the changes and the lack of participation permitted by the devotee community at large.
There seems to be an autonomous group that makes most of the decisions for the devotees in ISKCON, without their input or permission, and with little accountability, and then they seem surprised when many devotees refuse to go along with it. There has always been a take-it-or-leave-it attitude by this group anyway – why would anyone think things would now change?
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