I personally don’t focus on the Guru issue because I was given inner guidance not to. However it will be resolved is not within my scope of understanding or actions. It’s not that I don’t see the obvious problems, and I never bought into it for even a moment–so I didn’t suffer so much as others. But the pain of seeing Prabhupada’s movement torn apart still hangs in our hearts, and thus many devotees are angry, emotional and even vicious. It is understandable. The “warriors” who stood up for what is right will be counted, for sure.

My focus is the book changes simply because that is what I was given guidance to address. Truthfully, I didn’t even want to have to deal with it–with all the warring factions, etc. Srila Prabhupada clearly told me, “You have to ; they will listen to you…” So because Srila Prabhupada has given me the instruction within my heart, to very specifically defend his original books, that is the direction I wanted to have this discussion go. Yes, there is a new website up regarding book changes. And yes, these discussions should permeate the entire society. Not that I expect any great changes in BBT or Jayadvaita Swami. I dont. The REAL issue is leaving enough information for the future devotees so that the original books are available, and not lost in the myriad of editions that will abound in another 100 years. I believe it is of utmost importance for every Prabhupada disciple, to educate themselves on the book changes, become aware of it, and to write about this issue. I believe it is important to leave a large body of information, so that in future scholars can easily access the truth from the writings of Srila Prabhupada’s sincere disciples. Yes, it is a tragedy that all these things have occurred.
But we must console ourselves somewhat by understanding that this is a new and totally alien philosophy in the Western world–and it is the antithesis of everything the West stands for. I think it is a miracle that Srila Prabhupada did everything as wonderfully as he did, and in such a short time–And he also often said what a headache it was to deal with the aggressive, change-oriented, Western mentality. (And that “most of them will have to take birth in India to complete their Krishna consciousness)”
He did the best he could with what he had to work with….US!
More highly refined spiritually exalted souls are no doubt coming in, reinforcements in Lord Chaitanya’s army. The children, the youths, many of them will be more capable to presenting Krishna consciousness in a purer fashion, because they themselves are much purer than our generation. They have softer hearts and lack the element of ruthless ambition so rampant in the elders and leaders of our generation–both inside Iskcon society as well as outside.

At this point in time, with many of us leaving for other lokas, the most important thing we can do is leave behind us accurate information for posterity. And from my perspective, the focus is on preserving the original books and making as much noise about that as possible.

Yes, it is a glorious thing that these original books are again being printed and now distributed. But even amongst Prabhupada’s disciples, there is a great deal of complacency and even ignorance about these book changes. More devotees need to write about, speak about and express their heartfelt opinions on this issue. There is a new website that someone wrote me about. I will check the URL and print it on my page.

Thank you Prabhus for all your incredible enthusiasm and for your support. The more we can work together, the more we can accomplish. Please try to overlook one another’s flaws and understand that we are really on the same page–just caught up in different “paragraphs”!
about an hour ago · Delete

Govinda Dasi: http://bookchanges.com/ This is the website, it needs to be developed. Just as BBT is promoting their book change propaganda with videos etc, this needs to be done by those of us who feel the need to defend
Srila Prabhupada’s original books. Rather than quarrel, let’s make a plan to go forward with this important work…
about an hour ago ·

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The original editions WERE lost for over 20 years–that is, they weren’t available at all.
Only very recently have these original books become available again after over 20 years–and then only because of a million dollar court case. A court case that was instigated by BBT (as plaintiffs) and one they lost, and one that cost BBT over a million dollars. Yes, Prabhus, they spent over a million dollars defending the edited editions, and lost in court anyway. They were forced to settle, and therefore these original books are now being published and made available.

Perhaps each devotee should have both editions, read them and compare them, and then it can become practical realization and knowledge–not theoretical. That would enable everyone to come from the platform of direct and precise understanding. Please read both editions of the Gita, and see what your opinion is.
Yesterday at 4:21am · Delete