Prabhupada's
Books Must Change
By Hari Sauri Dasa
I am not sure who the devotee is that Ananda
prabhu is referring to in his text, but I appreciate his stout defence of Jayadvaita
Maharaja, who was indeed given a mandate by Srila Prabhupada to edit his books to
increasingly better standards. He trusted that he was competent to do this without
changing the message. Having worked with Maharaja on the BTG for a year and also having
gone into detail with him in the early 80s on the update of the Bhagavad-gita, I can
certify that Jayadvaita Maharaja is meticulous in preserving Srila Prabhupada's message
while presenting it in the best way possible. 
In case anyone has anyone doubts that this on-going work of improvement should be done,
here's what Srila Prabhupada himself said in the last few weeks he was with us. This is
part of a conversation that took place when Harikesa Maharaja arrived from Germany with
some newly printed books for distribution in Germany and Europe: a clear confirmation that
Prabhupada wanted his books to be corrected:
Rm. Conv. October 10 1977: [After seeing new books printed by Harikesa Swami]
Prabhupada: "So here is a intelligent boy. Why he should rot here,
typewriting? (break) Whatever deficiency are there, that is excused by Guru Maharaja. Go
on printing, go on printing. Deficiency will be corrected, next, next, next. I printed
Bhagavata in that way, many defects. "All right. Whatever is printed, that’s
all." But these are first class. There is no defect. German printing is very pure.
They have got the first-class machine. So we have got so many centers. Wherever cheaper
and better printing can be gotten, we may take from there. That’s all right. Thank
you."
This is clear and it is probably the last direct instruction from Srila Prabhupada
regarding the continual improvement of his books: "Whatever deficiency are there,
that is excused by Guru Maharaja. Go on printing, go on printing. Deficiency will be
corrected, next, next, next. I printed Bhagavata in that way, many defects. "All
right. Whatever is printed, that’s all."
CHAKRA 23-Apr-98 |