Changes and Books
This is a topic that, while I have touched on in the past, I never made a full or direct post. And yes, it is a sensitive topic, but it's time I spoke out.
One day I was reading devotee posts on facebook and came across one that made me chuckle. Referring to Bhagavad-Gita, the poster wrote, from my memory: "What happened to the 'Pandu do'?" :) Many of us chuckled because it rhymes. For that reason, it made this verse stick in my mind from day 1 of first reading Prabhupada's BhagavadGita. Apparently I was not the only one. Matter of fact, it likely did for most people. And it was removed from the edited versions. Gone.
Once in the 1980's, I had an experience. It was a baby's birthday party. Quite a few parents were there. At one point the adults sat in a circle and took turns reading a bit of Srimad Bhagavatam.
It came 'round to my husband's turn, and he read. When he was done, someone stopped everything and asked, "Why did you read it THAT way?" My husband replied: "What do you mean?" And the devotee repeated himself. To which my husband said: "Because that's what it says." Next they compared books. Low and behold, the book my husband was holding had different words than the one the other devotee had in his hands.
Then they asked around to the rest of the devotees, plus checked the books on the temple room shelves. Some had one version of the verse, others had a different version. These book changes were just starting to show up to the regular devotees, therefore it was new to us. No one knew what to think, so we all just went on with the gathering. But that doesn't mean it was taken lightly. It just needed time and research. However, I have not followed up on what each devotee there, did or believed, so don't ask me. :) I just know it has became a huge topic.
Another time, around 1982, There was a big meeting in the Detroit temple with major authorities. When we asked what the meeting was about, we were told it is private, we are not meant to know. Hmmm Prabhupada said there are no secrets in this Movement, but what can be done. So we all went about our day as these meetings continued. My husband and a brahmacari/priest were asked to their personal servants of prasadam/ blessed food. And they did.
My husband came home after doing this service for a couple days, and looked unhappy. Finally I got it out of him - what was the problem?. He said that he saw something that seemed off. While serving them prasadam, my husband and the brahmacari did not talk to them, which may have caused them to be some type of invisible, I don't know, but in this case it ultimately turned out for the good - truth came to light.
Turned out that this was a meeting on book changes. When the authorities who were present disagreed on a change, what word meant what, they did not turn to the Pandit's or etc to get their answer. They voted. Not that turning to pundits is acceptable either, but here they were voting on ancient scripture where shakyaveshavatara Srila Prabhupada all ready gave us the meaning! And instructed us not to make any more edits or nor change a thing. Yet they wanted to change. sigh This is not the Vedic way.
For decades I've been hearing complaints, and rightly so, but I felt we needed to DO something. And the little guy or gal often does not have much power to create change, tho many get credit for desiring change. Now there is a petition to sign to actually help create that change - and your signature counts! I will put that link below. The other thing we can all do? Refuse to buy books that aren't truthfully authored by Srila Prabhupada.
REFERENCES and RELATED POStS
Book Change Evidence
Petition to Sign
Buy Unchanged, Unedited, Original books by Prabhupada here
