Author: Alex J.

Source: http://adi-vani.org/articles.php?articleId=128

Ultimate, it goes for editorial ... But they are doing without any authority. - Srila Prabhupada

I read with interest the recent article "Hidden Co-Authors", wherein we find the following statement:

"The problem of hidden co-authors
even occurred during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Some
disciples deviated from the honest relationship between Srila
Prabhupada as author and the disciples as editors. Such persons changed
his manuscripts and printed books without his permission and knowledge."

The statement ties into something that
I've been thinking about for the past few months. In January of 2007 I
read an article entitled "Distinguishing Srila Prabhupada's Original Books from Changed Ones"
in the Sampradaya Sun. A few months after that, I had an exchange with
someone about the 1968-72 version of the Teachings of Lord Caitanya
(TLC) versus the 1974 version. At the time, I was somewhat "defending"
the 1974 version. 

As far as I understand, in 1974 an edited version of the TLC was put
out by the BBT. I had assumed that the editing was done with Srila
Prabhupada's approval, and that it was perhaps even overseen by Srila
Prabhupada.

I eventually read an article entitled "Teachings of Lord Caitanya 1968-72 to Present Comparison",
wherein Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu compares these two versions of the
TLC. I found the article quite interesting. In it he writes: 

"...the 1968 and 72 Editions of TLC are the same. After that
(1974) many changes took place. Srila Prabhupada didn't really like
those changes and wanted that the original TLC be printed again. That
didn't happen and now we have over 1,108 changes in the TLC. In other
words the whole TLC was re-written."

One of the changes that Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu points out in his
article, is the removal of a section of text that included the
following excerpt about Lord Caitanya:

"... He was strict-like a thunderbolt-with those of the renounced
order who cheated by the method known as 'drinking water underwater
while taking a bath on a fast day.'"

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu also mentions the removal of this section,
in his audio seminar "The Cure of Souls in Vaisnava Communities":

"But you'll find this statement by Srila Prabhupada in the
original...ah preface, or introduction to the Teachings of Lord
Caitanya. It was a big one, that first, the first printing of that that
came out. It was taken from some lecture of Prabhupada where he talks
about...ah...the strictness of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And he mentions
that Lord Caitanya...ah...would, would uh...he was very merciful, but
where he drew the line...uh as he says here: 'I cannot tolerate'...he
could not tolerate was someone who cheated by the method of drinking
water under water while taking a bath on a fast day. Then he goes on to
say how he dealt with Junior Haridasa in this matter. When, uh when
ah...that was re-edited by Hayagriva, he removed that, that paragraph.
I was all "I knew I read this somewhere"...I was looking for it for it
in the context of thinking about this. I finally saw somebody had the
old original Caitanya Ca...uh...Teachings of Lord Caitanya, with all
the bad spelling and the cap...the weird capitalizations and
everything, but there it was. So, I've...I've notified the BBT, and
I've been told that it will be restored in the...new edition. Again
somebody will say "You're changing Prabhupada's books", but...uh...as
all these cases, we're just putting back what somebody else took the
liberty to take out. That's what he said 'drinking water underwater
while taking a bath on a fast day'. I assume that means a nirjala
ekadasi or something."  

It seems from the above excerpt, that Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu feels
that the removal of that paragraph from the TLC was not a good idea.
This is only one change among those that Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu
documents. What about the other portions of text that somebody seems to
have taken the liberty to change or take out?

My understanding is that Mother Govinda devi dasi worked under Srila
Prabhupada to create some images that were part of the original version
of the TLC.  In a text available on the Internet, entitled "Istagosthi January 19, 2003 in Honolulu Hawaii", she states: 

"Teachings of Lord Caitanya originally had five or six
black-and-white drawings. In those days we couldn't afford to print
color. So, Gourasundar and I did five or six black-and-white drawings,
and Srila Prabhupada very meticulously went over them. He told us
exactly what to put. (…) Now, those drawings were all removed from the
subsequent edition of Teachings of Lord Caitanya, the drawings that
Srila Prabhupada personally oversaw. He was quite distressed by this.
He said, 'Why have you removed those drawings? I had those done. Why
did you remove them?'"

Both Mother Govinda devi dasi and Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu are
asserting that changes were made to the original TLC, and that Srila
Prabhupada wasn't pleased with those changes. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu
also mentions one change that he seems to see as being for the worse.
Is it possible that the 1974 version of the TLC contains changes that
Srila Prabhupada didn't like?

In an article entitled "Editing the Unchangeable Truth", Jayadvaita Swami states:

"In 1974 the BBT published a second edition of Teachings of Lord
Caitanya, again revised for English by Hayagriva. (He revised the book
entirely from the published text, without benefit of the original
manuscripts, by then lost, or Srila Prabhupada's Caitanya-caritamrita,
not yet written.) The second edition used Sanskrit diacritical
spellings, and with Srila Prabhupada's permission Nitai Dasi supplied
transliterations for many Sanskrit verses given in the first edition
only in English."

In an article entitled "In Touch with the Supreme Consciousness", Jayadvaita Swami states the following about the 1974 TLC:

Dear . . . .

Regarding the text of the book ["Teachings of Lord Caitanya"], you write,

> I would be even more happy to hear that Srila Prabhupada's 
> original words would be put back into the TLC. . .

In this regard: Though the edition the BBT currently publishes is
not the original one, this second edition was edited by Hayagriva
Prabhu during Srila Prabhupada's physical presence and published with
Srila Prabhupada's explicit approval. The editing was done in perhaps
1972 or 1973, and this edition was first published in, I believe, 1974.
The BBT has not revised it since.

Does that change your thoughts about it?

Jayadvaita Swami is asserting that the 1974 version of the TLC was
published with Srila Prabhupada's explicit approval. The implication
seems to be that Srila Prabhupada approved of the editing and changes
that gave us the 1974 version of TLC. Did Srila Prabhupada approve of
these changes? Did he approve of the removal of certain drawings? Did
he approve of the removal of the section about "drinking water underwater while taking a bath on a fast day"?
Did he approve of the other changes documented in Srimad Bhagavatam
Prabhu's article? Was Srila Prabhupada made aware of the scope of these
changes before the 1974 version was published?

I originally assumed that the edits which gave us the 1974 TLC, were
like the edits to the first three volumes of the Srimad Bhagavatam,
which Srila Prabhupada brought with him to America. Srila Prabhupada
had the three-volume "Delhi Bhagwatams"
published in India, and subsequently he had those three volumes edited
and put out by the BBT. I assumed that in the same way, the 1974
version of the TLC was edited under Srila Prabhupada's supervision, or
at least with his approval. 

But Mother Govinda devi dasi and Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu both
assert that changes, which displeased Srila Prabhupada, were present in
the revised version of the TLC. When I read Mother Govinda's and Srimad
Bhagavatam Prabhu's statements, they seem to be describing a situation
where changes were made to the TLC without consulting Srila Prabhupada.
Mother Govinda describes Srila Prabhupada as being "quite distressed" by some of these changes.

How to understand this? Do we have a recorded statement where Srila
Prabhupada approves of the changes to the TLC that gave us the 1974
version of that book, or where he requests that the book be re-edited?
Or perhaps a recorded statement where Srila Prabhupada expresses either
his appreciation or displeasure for the changes present in the 1974
version? 

When I first read Jayadvaita Swami's two articles, wherein he
mentions the editing that gave rise to the 1974 TLC, I tended to accept
his assertions. After reading Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu's article, it
was certainly clear to me that there were significant changes made to
the 1968-72 TLC. Did Srila Prabhupada want all of those changes? Was he
okay with them?

I assumed that since Jayadvaita Swami wrote what he did about the
1974 TLC, he must have had some reason for doing so. I assumed that
there must be a recorded statement where Srila Prabhupada explicitly
approves the 1974 version.

I haven't yet found such a statement from Srila Prabhupada. I've
emailed Jayadvaita Swami about it, asking for his help in locating such
a statement. Jayadvaita Swami has written that Srila Prabhupada
approved of the 1974 edition of the TLC, and in his personal response
to my email, he has no specific reference to support this.

According to an article
by Jayadvaita Swami, the TLC was first published in 1969, rather than
1968, and the original editing was done by Satsvarupa and Rayarama
Prabhus. In the "Notes" section of the same article, Jayadvaita Swami writes the following in connection with the original TLC:

"Satsvarupa did preliminary editing, as he did on all the books for which he is listed. Here Rayarama was the main editor."

In an article entitled "Arsha Prayoga Part II", Locanananda Prabhu writes: 

"In the late 1960's, Hayagriva had similarly offered to redo some
of Rayarama's editorial work, thinking himself more academically
qualified than his godbrother, but Srila Prabhupada did not approve of
his proposal. Although Hayagriva was an accomplished professor of
English at Ohio State University, contrary to his opinion (and that of
today's BBT managers), Srila Prabhupada affirmed that academic
credentials are not the primary qualification to edit transcendental
literature. In his reply to Hayagriva, he wrote:

"'Rayarama may not be as qualified as you are, but his one
qualification that he is fully surrendered to Krishna and his spiritual
master is the first class recommendation for his editing any one of our
literatures, because editing of Vedic literatures does not depend on
academic education.' (Letter to Hayagriva dated 1-15-68)

"It is evident from his letter that Srila Prabhupada considered
his early editors to be fully competent because they were depending
upon Krishna and the spiritual master to give them the ability to
perform their service. His Divine Grace was very satisfied with the
quality of their work and, to show his appreciation, he later wrote to
Hayagriva, 'I want your company always for editing my writings very
nicely.' As far as we have been able to ascertain, he never
contemplated having anyone redo the work of his earlier editors."

In the above quoted section from Locanananda Prabhu's article, Srila
Prabhupada expresses appreciation for the work of both Rayarama and
Hayagriva Prabhus. Even though Srila Prabhupada appreciated Hayagriva
Prabhu's editing, do we have evidence that he requested that Hayagriva
re-edit the 1968-72 TLC, which had apparently already been edited by
Rayarama and Satsvarupa Prabhus? After all, Srila Prabhupada did also
express appreciation for Rayarama Prabhu's editing.

In his previously-mentioned article, Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu also asserts:

"There are many letters by Srila Prabhupada praising devotees for
their editing work. Starting in 1975 Srila Prabhupada didn’t seem so
pleased anymore."

Is it possible that Hayagriva Prabhu made changes to the 1968-72
TLC, without Srila Prabhupada's permission, and in ways that Srila
Prabhupada would disapprove of?

There seems to be some evidence for that sort of editing by
Hayagriva Prabhu, in connection with another of Srila Prabhupada's
books:

Srila Prabhupada: (...) Now do the needful. Otherwise
everything will be spoiled. These rascal editorial... That Easy
Journey, original, this (indistinct) Hayagriva has changed so many
things. 

Tamala Krsna: He actually took out the whole part about
their going to the moon being childish. He deleted the whole section.
(June 22, 1977, Vrndavana)

According to Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhu's article, it seems that
sections of text were also deleted from the original version of the
TLC. Was this a good idea?

Things seemed to running in such a way that it was possible for
editors to make changes to Srila Prabhupada's books, and then to have
those changed books published, without informing Srila Prabhupada:

Yasoda-nandana: In the Gurukula we were teaching
Isopanisad 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. They're changing so many
things. We are wondering if this is necessary. I will show you today. I
have kept the book. 

Srila Prabhupada: I know that these rascals are doing.
What can be done? How they can be relied on? 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… He's a dangerous, who maintains these rascal
with this work. He'll 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…
But they are doing without any authority… (June 22, 1977, Vrndavana)

In "Editing the Unchangeable Truth", Jayadvaita Swami states:

"Also beginning from the early 1970s, the BBT began publishing
Srila Prabhupada’s books in versions revised so extensively that they
deserved to be called 'second editions.' The first of these were
re-edited versions of Easy Journey to Other Planets (1972) and Sri
Isopanishad, both revised by Hayagriva Dasa on the grounds that the
English editing stood in need of substantial improvement."

Jayadvaita Swami identifies both of these books as having been
originally edited by Rayarama Prabhu. In the "Notes" section of the
above-mentioned article, Jayadvaita Swami writes the following, in
connection with the two books mentioned in the above quoted excerpt:

"The revised editions of these books came under criticism in a
discussion between Srila Prabhupada and some disciples in Vrindavana on
22 June 1977. With reference to a judgment by Srila Prabhupada, the
discussion was later entitled 'Rascal Editors.'"

Is it possible that the 1974 TLC is a result of a similar type of
editing to that which gave us the revised editions of Easy Journeys to
Other Planets and Sri Isopanisad? There is also a letter from Srila Prabhupada to Satsvarupa, from December 23rd, 1967, where Srila Prabhupada states:

"I have already written to Rayarama about Lord Caitanya's
Teachings, that there is no need of editing the final manuscripts.
(...) I also do not like too much editorial work. This too much
editorial work on Gitopanisad has created some misunderstanding between
the editorial staffs. Anyway, in future, one man should edit it and be
sufficient for our printing. And I do not want that Lord Caitanya's
Teachings should be edited again and typed again and waste time in that
way."

We also have a letter to Rayarama Prabhu from December 21st, 1967,
to which Srila Prabhupada seems to be referring in the quoted excerpt
above. In the December 21st letter, Srila Prabhupada writes:

"I am anxious to know about Damodara. What happens to him.(...)
It is understood that the finished MSS. of the Teachings of Lord
Caitanya is with him; whether he has delivered this final MSS. to
Brahmananda for printing purpose? Please inform me about this.

"Too much editing is not required. If Satsvarupa has already edited it, there is no need of further editing." 

These appear to me to be fairly clear and powerful statements from
Srila Prabhupada about further the editing of the TLC. Do we have a
recorded statement from Srila Prabhupada, post-1967, where he requests
that the TLC be edited again? Was Srila Prabhupada made aware of the
extent of the changes and deletions that are present in the 1974
version of the TLC?  

I would be interested to learn more about this. Also, perhaps
someone might be willing to re-print the 1968-72 TLC, sometime in the
near future?