03/09/98 - 1681

External Representative of Supersoul

USA (VNN) - Letter from Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das to Hridayananda dasa Goswami

Dear Hridayananda Swami

PAMHO, AGTSP!

I basically agree with your concept of editing Srila Prabhupada's books. I might well be even more conservative as well.

It is pointless to try to represent post-humous changes as the original author's work. That is what has been done by Jayadvaita Swami and others.

Although appearing innocent, I find that it is the sort of conspicuous disrespect to our Guru Maharaja that one would not expect from an experienced disciple such as Jai Advaita Swami.

I would think that scholars of the present day as well as those to appear over the next few thousand years would be very interested to pore over the original hand typed un-edited transcripts of Srila Prabhupada's writing that was later edited by Hayagriva das into the volumes that He accepted as books by His authorship.

If there are reversed verses, Jayadvaita Swami could append a separate study guide of items that his scholarship has led him to believe to be errata.

Mis-spellings and punctuation errors could be appended by placing the correction in heavy type-face within parentheses so that the reader could distinguish between the original volume that was AUTHORIZED BY SRILA PRABHUPADA and what was found to be a typographical error.

I would also assume that un-edited transcripts of His lectures should be made available. Facsimile editions of his complete and un-expurgated letters, would also have historic and scholarly significance for the ten thousand years that lie ahead.

As a collector, I have a VERY complete facsimile of the original serial edition of the Arabian Nights as translated by Sir Richard Burton, the 19th century linguist and Indian and Arabic scholar.

There are eight thick volumes. Each volume is composed of approximately 40% of text and 60% footnotes and alliterative commentary as well as complete source notes containing varying opinion on the points made in the author's text.

Should we accord the works of Srila Prabhupada who distinctively assembled Guru Shastra and Sadhu within the covers of a series of comprehensive books less stature and historic veracity than a 19th century translation of the Arabian Nights? Can we really say "yes!" to such a dishonorable proposal?

Since I have known you to be a man of integrity and scholarship, I naturally turn to you in the effort to restore Srila Prabhupada's books (warts and all) to the condition in which they were when he proclaimed them to be complete.

Please encourage Jayadvaita Swami to withdraw his "corrections" of the work of his Transcendental Master.

He can publish his views in a separate volume under his own name so that scholars of the future will have even more substance to "chew on" when they become fatigued in their attempts to comprehend the purpose of Bhakti.

As for ourselves, is it not true that Srila Prabhupada intended for the Books change us,not for us to change the Books?

If the weed has grown along with the creeper, then it is up to us to puzzle it out so that the future generations may not be shortchanged by our folly or worse, form a council of scholars each fifty or one hundred years to "bring the works of Swami Prabhupada" up to date!

Once having set such a precedent, who is to stop it, control it, or even guide it once we are gone?

Will we ache with remorse one thousand years from now when we see in full, the mistake that we have made while enmired in the knowledge that rectification no longer can be done?

Please be a stand for the integrity of the Sacred Texts entrusted to our care.

When Moses brought the Tablets etched by the Finger of God, would Jayadvaita Swami have peered over his shoulder making corrections to the Ten Commandments as well?


i beg to remain your humble and eternal servant,

Nara Narayan Vishwakarma das

>
> > From: Hridayananda dasa Goswami
> > Date: Sat, 7 Mar 1998 10:00:24 EST
> > To: krishna@lis.net.au
> > Subject: Re: Re: Re-Editing Srila Prabhupada's Books?
>
> > Dear Madhudvisa Prabhu,
> > Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila
> > Prabhupada. Thank you for your letter. I appreciate your
> > intelligent arguments, and your absolute dedication to Srila
> > Prabhupada. I think you have made many good points, and I am not
> > against your viewpoint. My only hesitation is when it becomes
> > clear that Srila Prabhupada's original dictation has been changed.
> > One solution might be to keep Prabhupada's books exactly as they
> > were published when he was present, but then to put in footnotes
> > explaining what the editors think was really meant. In that way,
> > everyone could be satisfied. What do you think of this? Hoping you
> > are well, Your servant,
> >
> > Hridayananda dasa Goswami