This was Prabhupadas Gita, and yet, here a GBC treated it like poison, like it was a deviant political

statement to give class for that (banned?) Gita.

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[Posted Sep 11, 2009]
History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita
Ameyatma das - Sep 1, 2009
from post at Sampradaya Sun
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, USA Dear Jnanagamya Prabhu, please accept my obeisances. All glories to the savior of the worlds,
Srila Prabhupada. Prabhuji, I have not had time lately to follow this story on the Sun, but I was forwarded your reply, and since we
have known one another for many years I felt compelled to respond.
Not all of Srila Prabhupadas disciples share Jayadvaitas and the formal GBC decisions to
make so many changes to Srila Prabhupadas books. We see a very real and holy
sacredness in the books that Srila Prabhupada personally gave approval of and used in
lectures for years.
I am not opposed to correction of a limited few and obvious grammatical errors, but I have
been opposed to the massive Gita changes since the very beginning, long before I knew
there were massive changes in the editing, or what all the changes were.
We were in Detroit in the early 80s when a number of the GBC members held a closed
door secret meeting where they discussed the changes to Srila Prabhupadas books. At the
time of the meeting they would not even tell us what the meeting was about.
On regaining the rights to his unabridged Gita, Srila Prabhupada gave Ramesvara instructions regard future printing. In those
instructions it is my understanding that there was absolutely no mention by Srila Prabhupada that the wording should be Changed!!!
Prabhupada had used that Gita for years. He gave classes from it, and we have no record of him ever asking that massive changes be
made. That it be edited and changed to make it perfect. Where are such orders from Prabhupada?
Ramesvara, at the time, told the artists, including myself, what changes Srila Prabhupada requested, and it was concerning the
paintings. Ramesvara never mentioned to us, and we also knew the BBT proof readers and editors as well at that time, and they never
mentioned any order by Srila Prabhupada to edit the wording. The only instruction Ramesvara told us, either the same day Prabhupada
gave the instruction, or just days after, was that he wanted many more paintings.
Srila Prabhupada ultimately wanted 108 full color plates, but told Ramesvara that in the next printing there should be Minimum 54. 54
is 1/2 of 108. Ramesvara told us that Prabhupada wanted, in the next printing, a minimum of 54 color plates.
But, there was no BBT printing until the early 1980s, when the mass changes to wording were made. I was still in Detroit when the
new changed printing came out. It had been many years since the last MacMillan prints were made. ISKCON / BBT had either run out,
or very low on Gitas, so, this printing was long awaited and long needed. When I got the new Gita, the first thing I noticed was the
changed cover. That bothered me, as Srila Prabhupada had not asked for the cover to be changed. He wanted new paintings to be
added, but had told Ramesvara not to change the existing ones. Why the cover was changed? Then, I immediately thumbed through to
look at the paintings. The paintings were the first thing, because I knew what Prabhupada told Ramesvara, to increase them, 54
minimum. I was shocked and bewildered. There were not more paintings, there were no 54 paintings, there were far FEWER color
plates.
And, worse, the disciplic succession was taken out of that printing. In the MacMillan Gita, aside from Srila Prabhupadas picture, there
is Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Gaur Kishore, and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur. But, in the new changed Gita there was only
Srila Prabhupada. All the other Acharyas had been removed. My heart sank. And, I knew that very second that Srila Prabhupada was
not pleased with that new botched reprint. This was NOT what he asked for. A few weeks later Ramesvara visited Detroit, where I was
living, and I made an appointment to see him privately. I asked him, point-blank, why the past Acharyas were removed? His face
remained stern and quiet, then I reminded him of Srila Prabhupadas instructions to him, that there be minimum 54 plates, and yet,
this new changed Gita had fewer prints? Ramesvara took the defensive and became immediately angry. He raised his voice and said,
Ameyatma, you are not a Preacher. You are not a real devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu because you have no understanding how to
Preach. He said that that instruction by Srila Prabhupada was not practical. And that what Srila Prabhupada really wanted, more then
increasing the number of color plates, what he really wanted was More Books distributed. Ramesvara argued that adding color prints
to 54 would have raised the cost of printing so high that no book distributors would be able to sell it. To keep the costs below $3.50, so
that book distributors could sell at $5, he not only did not increase the color plates, but he purposefully took many out, to reduce the
cost, to keep the costs lower.
But, I countered that Prabhupadas order was to be followed, and that we should not try to think we are more intelligent. If we simply
follow what he wanted, then the result will be perfect. If we thwart what he wanted, then no good result will come.
This logic simply made Ramesvara raging mad with anger. He pounded his fist on the table and repeatedly shouted, You are not a
Preacher, Ameyatma, you are not a book distributor and therefore you are not a real devotee of Lord Chaitanya, therefore you have no
understanding. Because you dont distribute books, you cant know what Prabhupada wants. He said he wanted more pictures, but a
preacher knows he really wants more books. You are simply a fault-finder, finding fault with the real devotees of Chaitanya, and
finding fault with the real preachers. And, then he went on lecturing me how I was so fallen, and boasted how he was now an Acharya,
and that I was committing a great offense by trying to find fault with him about his decisions.
That meeting left a black rotten taste in my mouth. This was the attitude and mood behind the printing and changes of the new Gita! At
the time I had absolutely no knowledge that there was even one grammatical change made, what to speak of en mass. All I knew was
the attitude behind the changes to what Srila Prabhupada said he wanted was wrong. Srila Prabhupadas instructions were thrown out,
what he wanted was thrown out, and other opposite changes occurred.
From that day onward, I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the new changed Gita, and as I said, it had nothing to do with the
changed edits that Jayadvaita made. I had my own separate reasons for rejecting the new Gita. The taking out of the past Acharyas
was proof enough to me that Ramesvara was the one who had no real understanding. And, his angry, defensive attitude during our
Go for genuine!
Questi on Mark Over the Revised
Books Gadadhara das
One is a book that Srila Prabhupada might
have approved of or he also may not have
approved of. There is a large question mark
hovering over this one, and we will never
know the answer. But we are 100% sure
that [the original edition] is authorized.
more
History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita 1
meeting finalized my conclusion, that the new changed Gita was not at all pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. Thus, I kept my original Gita
ever since, and for years had no other Gita at home.
Years went by, and sometime around 1996 or '97 or so, while [I was] living in Alachua, Virabahu was visiting Alachua. He was GBC for
Alachua at the time. We were old friends back before he had become a guru and then GBC, so I invited my old friend over to my house
for a program. He agreed to come and probably 50+ devotees came for the program. On arriving, he asked me for a Gita so he could
give Gita class. I handed him my original MacMillan copy.
Now, at the time I had avoided the controversy over the changes that Jayadvaita made. I simply did not want the new changed Gita
due to the above reasons. But, many years had gone by, and in '96-'97 I wasnt even thinking about it. When I handed Virabahu the
Original Gita, his out-reached hand jerked back when he saw it was the original Gita. He then looked at me incredulously and said,
Why are you handing me this Gita? I wasnt into politics, I had no idea what his problem was. I said, Whats wrong, this is the only
Gita I have. He said, What? I cant give class from that Gita. Then he turned to others in the room and said, Can someone go home
and get me a BBT Gita. This created a bit of a stir, and one devotee come over to me and asked what sort of political statement was I
trying to pull off by handing Virabahu an original Gita? Another told me that was so uncool and fallen of me to try and force Virabahu to
give class from one of those Gitas.
That was it. Before then I had avoided the Changes controversy. But, what the HELL was going on? This had been my One and Only
Gita for nearly 25 years at that point. It was the SAME (version) Gita that Srila Prabhupada had given classes from all over the world
for years. It was the SAME Gita that he fought for to get back the full printing rights to. This was Prabhupadas Gita, and yet, here a
GBC treated it like poison, like it was a deviant political statement to give class for that (banned?) Gita.
We know of no instruction by Srila Prabhupada asking us to make massive changes to that Gita. When he won back the full printing
rights to HIS Gita, He only asked that we increase the number of color plates, he Did NOT ask that we edit it and change verse after
verse after verse. Until that day I had no idea what the controversy was over the changes, I had my own reasons for rejecting the
new changes. But, after that, I could see, again, a sick attitude by those who supported the changes. Virabahu jerked back his hand
and would not even touch the original Gita, as if it were poison to him. Others told me it was a political statement to give a class from
that Gita. GREAT then, I will make it a political statement in their eyes, if that is how they see it. This is the SAME Gita Srila
Prabhupada spoke from, had read to him, gave classes on. And, they wont even touch it, seeing it as poison.
So, you have your way of seeing things, and may side with Jayadvaita, but not all Srila Prabhupadas disciples see it that way. Some
do get upset and terse in their language at times, but that does not negate the underlying issue. It is simply an easy cop out for you to
label us all as fallen fault-finders. For those who disagree, over the years we have had no voice, and so it gets very frustrating in
dealing with those whom we disagree with. The GBC has, formally, stood behind the changes, and they are the ones who have
politicized the issue, as I saw personally in the actions of Virabahu, who jerked his hand back and refused to touch Srila Prabhupadas
original Gita, and refused to give a class using the same version that Srila Prabhupada himself used. He is the one who made a bold
political statement that night, I simply didnt have any other Gita, I wasnt trying to make any such statement, but he and his followers
did. And, I do not agree with their political views. I consider his view, his actions, and those the GBC and Jayadvaita Swami as deviant,
politically based, and fallen.
Here is excerpt of what Srila Prabhupada had to say about those RASCALS who make numerous changes to his books:
YASODA-NANDANA: In the Gurukula we were teaching Isopanishad class to the children. So we took [break]
Prabhupada and the words which the recent edition of the Press is wrong. Many changes were brought. They were trying
to make better English, but sometimes, to make better English, I think they were making philosophical mistakes also. There
is no so much need of making so much better English. Your English is sufficient. It is very clear, very simple. We have
caught over 125 changes. Theyre changing so many things. We are wondering if this is necessary? I will show you today. I
have kept the book.
PRABHUPADA: I know what these rascals are doing. What can be done? How they can be relied on?
SVARUP DAMODAR: Its not the responsibility of the BBT trustee, to see these things dont change without Prabhupadas
sanction?
PRABHUPADA: And Ramesvara is indulging this. The great rascal is that Jagannatha? Hes there in Los Angeles.
TAMAL KRSNA: Jagannatha dasa?
PRABHUPADA: Maybe.
INDIAN DEVOTEE (2): Jagannatha-suta.
PRABHUPADA: Jagannatha-suta.
TAMAL KRSNA: No
PRABHUPADA: And the one rascal is gone.
TAMAL KRSNA: Nitai.
PRABHUPADA: It is starting. What can I do? These cannot These rascals cannot be educated. Dangerous. Little learning,
dangerous. So how to correct? The leader of these dangerous Radha-vallabha.
TAMAL KRSNA: Radha-vallabha?
PRABHUPADA: Hm. Hes a dangerous, who maintains these rascal with this work. Hell always have questions and
alteration. That is his business. That is American business. They take that always. What can I do? Ultimate, it goes for
editorial. They make changes, such changes.
See my note below, why Prabhupada was so much against Radha Ballabha, and what Prabhupada meant by he is maintaining these
rascals.
TAMAL KRSNA: Your original work that youre doing now, that is edited by Jayadvaita. Thats the first editing.
PRABHUPADA: He is good.
TAMAL KRSNA: He is good. But then, after they print the books, theyre going over. So when they reprint
PRABHUPADA: So how to check this? How to stop this?
TAMAL KRSNA: They should not make any changes without consulting Jayadvaita.
PRABHUPADA: But they are doing without any authority.
SVARUP DAMODAR: I think we should make whole survey, all books already printed, before printing the next batch and
check any mistakes so that it should be all corrected. Otherwise, if the scholars find out that there are so many mistakes in
the books, then the quality and the appreciation will be reduced.
GIRIRAJA (?): [indistinct]
SVARUP DAMODAR: Yes. We find so far that they are appreciating so much within the scholarly circle, and we want to
maintain that actually.
PRABHUPADA: Very serious feature. It is not possible for me to check, and they are doing all nonsense, freedom.
Hmm... this should be discussed. Prabhupada did not want them to make so many edits and changes, but, he says here, it is not
possible for him to check them, to stop them. That is an interesting statement. He cites Ramesvara later as being the director behind
all this, and Prabhupada wanted it stopped, but could not do so himself at the time - interesting.
YASODA-NANDANA: Jaya Srila Prabhupada.
PRABHUPADA: What to do?
TAMAL KRSNA: I think Svarupa Damodaras point, that all the books should now be checked before theyre reprinted
again And they have to be checked not by some so-called learned Sanskrit man but by a learned devotee. Just like you
always favored Jayadvaita because his Krishna consciousness
PRABHUPADA: Jayadvaita, Satsvarupa
YASODA-NANDANA: Bhakti-prema, Satsvarupa is there.
TAMAL KRSNA: So Bhakti-prema Thats a good solution.
PRABHUPADA: Yes.
History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita 2
History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita/ Inside Nam Hatta
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PRABHUPADA: It is very serious situation. Ramesvara is in direct

SVARUP DAMODAR: I think theyre working too independently without consulting properly.
YASODA-NANDANA: 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.
Note that Yasodanandana is speaking of changes to the English, and that Prabhupada agrees, he is opposed to such changes also, the
Sanskrit editing was also mentioned, but, the main changes made to Isopanishad were English changes, and that Prabhupada also
opposes this. Svarup Damodar was speaking of major editing, but, Prabhupada does not really discuss the idea, he does not really
agree to that idea, he is simply calling those who made the changes, RASCALS.
SVARUP DAMODAR: Thats actually a very dangerous mentality.
YASODA-NANDANA: What is it going to be in five years? Its going to be a different book.
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.
They made "so many changes", Prabhupada says, so the NEXT PRINTING SHOULD BE AGAIN TO THE ORIGINAL WAY." That is how
many of us feel today. Way TOO Many changes have been made, wholesale, we should simply go back to the original and respect the
SACREDNESS of Srila Prabhupada's work.
...
PRABHUPADA: So write them immediately that The rascal editors, they are doing havoc, and they are being maintained by
Ramesvara and party.
TAMAL KRSNA: Sometimes theres a fear that some word will be unpopular, and on account of desire to gain popularity or
acceptance, they lessen the strength of the word. They change the word. They choose a word which is more so-called
acceptable.
...
PRABHUPADA: So you bring this to Satsvarupa. They cannot change anything.
My dear Jnanagamya, what about this instruction by Srila Prabhupada? He said, next printing go back to the Original, and then he
says, They Can NOT Change ANYTHING. What about these words from our Guru Maharaj? regarding changes to his books????
PRABHUPADA: So on the whole, these dangerous things are going on. How to check it?
...
PRABHUPADA: So they are doing very freely and dangerously. And this rascal is always after change, Radha-vallabha. Hes
a great rascal.
(Conversation, Rascal Editors, and Morning Talk June 22, 1977, Vrndavana)
First, about Radha-vallabha: In 76, Srila Prabhupada came to LA and took a tour of the BBT offices. Prabhupada found that many
grihastas were being maintained by the BBT. So, Prabhupada said, no salaries, BBT was not to hire grihastas. He said all work was to
be VOLUNTARY. Grihastas, he said, should get outside job and work outside to earn income, then they can volunteer service for the
BBT in the evenings and weekends. And, brahmacharis, he said, they can do service and be maintained by the temple, but not the
grihastas. Besides, BBT was paying for their apartments, paying the temple for their meals, and paying them salary. Even though it
was stipend, living in poverty, Prabhupada on principal did not want BBT to maintain grihastas. All service to BBT must be voluntary.
This Jagannath Suta was grihasta, and BBT was paying him. Srila Prabhupada wanted him off BBT payroll. But, Radha-vallabha
rejected this idea. He argued with Prabhupada that these grihastas (including himself) were essential to the operation of the BBT, that
book publication, and then distribution will suffer and decrease if they follow what Prabhupada wanted. Prabhupada insisted, and [but]
in the end, Ramesvar and Radha-vallabha kept maintaining most of the grihastas, and that has been followed ever since.
Like the Archives, or Sura, etc., these grihastas are maintained by BBT funds, and Prabhupadas instruction was that all such grihastas
go work outside, maintain themselves, then do Voluntary SERVICE for the BBT. Prabhupadas instructions and orders were ignored,
disobeyed and thwarted and not followed. Radha-vallabha himself was grihasta then, and Prabhupada also wanted him to get outside
job, work and maintain himself, and just render SERVICE to the BBT. But, he and Ramesvara refused to obey Prabhupadas direct
instructions to them. Thus, months before Prabhupada departs, the last thing he has to say about Radha-vallabha is he is calling him
RASCAL, a Great Rascal, and he is also implicating Ramesvara, he is directing, he is behind all this.
When this Jagannath Suta was finally let go by the BBT, he got very upset and left ISKCON and became a born-again Christian and
began preaching against ISKCON, and against Srila Prabhupada. Just see.
But, what started this conversation? CHANGES to his books. 125 changes to the Isopanishad. Srila Prabhupada was not pleased at all.
He never said, oh, they found so many errors, good work. He never asked, oh, so many errors, what were they? He did not care what
changes they made, but, wholesale changes he was against. Only others are suggesting that they go through and make changes to his
books and try to make them perfect. Only others make that suggestion, and no where does Prabhupada actually agree, rather, he says
things like, What is to be done? What to do? And says, it is now starting. When he does state what HE wants, he says write a letter
and tell them NO CHANGES, and he says, Next Printing, go back to the ORIGINAL. Others suggested changing to make it so called
perfect but those were not Prabhupadas words, not his suggestion, not his request, not his order. His order is, NO CHANGES Go
Back To The ORIGINAL.
That is what so many of us want. We are fed up with all the changes, changes, changes. We see this conversation and we hear Srila
Prabhupada is not happy with changes, others suggest changes, but, he says NO CHANGES Go Back to the Original.
Devotees have been crying fowl for over 30 years, for at least the last 25, and the GBC calls us fault-finders, even when we have
presented our side in a civil and respectful way. So, devotees like Hasti are simply expressing their frustration in dealing with this. So,
he used sarcasm and you see that as fault-finding mentality. Sorry, after being ignored and labeled in derogatory terms for simply
wanting to see that Prabhupadas orders are carried out, No Changes, go Back to the Original we want his Sacred Works preserved
AS They WERE, otherwise, we see this conversation and we see how Prabhupada was upset, calling them all RASCALS, and we are fed
up. We point out they are rascals, and we are demonized. But, hopefully if you can get over Hastis sarcasm, maybe you can see the
real issue we have with the changes to the books.
Offer my respects to your dear wife, Maha Maya, by the way, we are now in Albuquerque running a preaching center here.
Aspiring to become your worthy and humble servant,
Ameyatma das
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History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita 3
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THE BHAKTIVEDANTAS - World Sankirtan Part y & Inside Nam Hat ta
History of Changes to Srila Prabhupadas Gita 4