INSIDE NAMHATTA
News, Developments, Issues important to disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
The best "consistant policy" is that which Srila Prabhupada mandated. (Who are we to change it?)
In Response to Dharini Dasi: Capitalization Changes
BBT editors experimenting with dropping capitalization in reference to Krishna
Dear Prabhus, Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMHO.
A devotee friend forwarded to me Dharini Dasi's article, "Minor Case Or
Capital Controversy?"
In response to
that article, there are many things which can be said,
(and not only with relation to the points made concerning
capitalization), but sticking only with the objective of Dharini
Prabhu, the writer, I believe the most important to consider is this:
The Bhaktivedantas World Sankirtan Party and Inside Nam Hatta are hosted by Hansadutta das, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and trustee of The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Participate or learn more about World Sankirtan Party.
To Jayadvaita: In answer to the argument that the publication of Chaitanya-charitamrita was so rushed that there were many mistakes, making it necessary to go back and fix them now, we ask, So where is the order to go back and correct those mistakes? You cite this and that authority—karmi scholars, karmi publications—to justify downsizing, downgrading Krishna from "He" to "he" [see footnote], but can you produce the letter from Srila Prabhupada authorizing you to change anything after his departure? Is there a letter telling "My dear Jayadvaita, please ignore everything I have said to the contrary and go back and correct all my books, not just fix typos and grammar, but add and subtract text from translations and purports, and change their meanings"? We challenge you to show us the blank cheque from Prabhupada. Never mind all your reasons and explanations. It doesn't matter why you are changing the books: you have given so many justifications, including even "restoring" the books to the original words dictated by Srila Prabhupada, but it's not about WHY. What we need to see is Srila Prabhupada's authorization, plain and simple. Srila Prabhupada's instruction to you can be the only legitimate, satisfactory justification. more
- These are Srila Prabhupada's books.
- Srila Prabhupada stipulated that He wanted pronouns relating to Krsna to be CAPITALIZED in HIS books! (written in the English language).
That should finish whatever "discussion," and in essence, there should
not be any discussion since Srila Prabhupada, the author, Himself
stipulated what He wanted.
Of course we can take it further, in fact, very far, but why bother?
There can be so many reasons why Srila Prabhupada wanted such
capitalization to be used, one possibility being that our hearts are so
contaminated by impersonalism (and the rest) that Srila Prabhupada
wanted this use of capitalization related to Krsna to HELP US to have
(push into our brains/hearts) some sense of understanding of Krsna's
(most) elevated position because we are SO DULL-brained, materially
contaminated and IMpersonal, (and in our impersonalism and faulty
thinking, we feel we have the authority to negate Srila Prabhupada's
EXPRESSED instructions in this regard).
The Sanskrit language, Devanagari, is so named because it is the
language of the devas, (gods). Devanagari was spoken on this planet in
other ages before Kali, where at that time, the people KNEW the
extraordinary position of Krsna, as well as so much else; thus, for
such a language which was used by such elevated personalities, there
was no need of capitalization to show God's (Krsna's) greatness.
Of course for those other languages mentioned in your article, where
there is no capitalization of letters, then it is not implemented, but
in the English language it has been. But with Kali's progress we can
see more and more how God (Krsna) is being minimized, negated, and
"annihilated," our doing so within ISKCON as well.
Even if we don't think we "need" such capitalization, if Srila
Prabhupada, the author of such books, (and the Founder-Acarya of
ISKCON, through Whom we've been presented (on behalf of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's Guru Parampara) with the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sanatan Dharma
philosophy I assume we are all accepting - otherwise WHY would we be
considering ourselves to be Gaudiya Vaisnavas - WANTED (specifically
stipulated that He wanted) the capitalization, who are we to argue or
go against it?, unless we are thinking we "know more" than Srila
Prabhupada.
I'm including a letter I wrote to Jayadvaita Swami (with his response),
and my subsequent letter, but before I do that I wanted to address
these few things you said:
- "Our Sanskrit pandits will agree that some words are translated liberally rather than literally in order to preserve the essential meaning. As such, content is much more important than form."
Because of Srila Prabhupada's truly KNOWING Krsna, (and Sanskrit being
the language used in the Vedas describing Krsna), I can't agree with
your statement concerning Srila Prabhupada's "liberal" translation of
the words. Srila Prabhupada had COMPLETE REALIZATION of what these
words meant, as opposed to our "Sanskrit pundits" who have NOT realized
Krsna. So Srila Prabhupada's use of words in translation was based on
REALIZATION. (In this light, I point you to the example of
Ramanujacarya in questioning his mayavadi guru's explanation of "red"
when the guru translated the word "red - like a monkey's bottom" in
relation to the color of Krsna's Lotus Feet.)
You yourself said, "We need a consistent policy."
The best "consistant policy" is that which Srila Prabhupada mandated.
(Who are we to change it?)
According to other things you said, if we want to present Srila
Prabhupada's books in such a way that the public will (according to the
general mentality) like them, then we might as well rewrite the WHOLE
book and kick out Krsna entirely (as being God), or add in some "stuff"
to make him "more attractive" to the base Kali mentality that exists.
(Even now some devotees feel we should make it THREE regulative
principles - take your pick.)
You said, "Few would oppose changing book covers to increase their
appeal."
Of course someone might say, "Put on an enticing" (sex) picture, and
more people will be attracted, so we can get out more books, but I
don't think Srila Prabhupada would agree, although He would possibly
agree to a different picture of Krsna. BUT in some cases, Srila
Prabhupada did NOT agree with this, as in the case of Jadurani's
"better" picture of the Rasa lila picture (in the "Krsna Book") from
that of Devahuti Dasi's painting.
You said, "...let's not forget that a battle between capital and
minor-case pronouns is a battle over form rather than content."
If one thinks about it, content IS there through the use of
capitalization - showing the DISTINCTNESS of Krsna's position as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead!
Letter to Jayadvaita Maharaja and Nagaraja
Dear Jayadvaita
Maharaj and Nagaraj prabhu,
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMHO, I hope you are well.
Forgive me that I'm not a scholar nor do I have a Vedabase (or a
computer for that matter. I'm using the one at the library to email
this to you. I might add that for over 25 years, I was NOT able to read
any of Srila Prabhupada's books due to processing deficits I incurred
from head injuries sustained while serving within ISKCON - my getting
my head bashed up a couple of times while serving (alone) in Africa and
the Middle East. I'm also extremely aphasic, so if my use of certain
words is "off" that's also resultant from the aphasia which came also
from those injuries. So please forgive me for this, and hopefully what
I'm trying to say you will be able to understand even if I "mess up" on
a word or more, here and there).
Although I still am UNable to read/comprehend Srila Prabhupada's books
- although I have "advanced" to being able to read/comprehend things of
3rd or 4th grade reading level - I was made aware through an email sent
from one of our Godbrothers that there has been a decision made with
regard to stopping the use of capitalization for pronouns, etc., in
reference to Krsna, (including Srimati Radharani). I have only been
informed of this, and have not seen anything directly as an example. If
this is what has been going on, and is going to be used as "the
standard" in the ongoing production of BTG and Srila Prabhupada's
books, I am completely appalled.
Certainly there are non-devotee standards for writing, but when it
comes to Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, how, or where are
they "the authority" in this regard, especially when Srila Prabhupada
has given us HIS standard?, Srila Prabhupada's being OUR authority
concerning Krsna and how we are SUPPOSED to relate to and understand
Him, Krsna.
You have the Vedabase so you know the quotes from letters and/or
conversations. I don't have the Vedabase, so I can't supply the quotes,
but I know that some are there. I was sent some excerpt in this regard
from a letter and a conversation concerning Srila Prabhupada's
instructing such capitalization.
Between all the things which have happened, (and are continuing to
happen) within ISKCON, it seems we have to (appropriately) change the
"CON" part of ISKCON to International Society for Krsna CONcoctions";
in our case, concoction meaning to put aside (or reject) the desires,
instructions, or standard(s) which Srila Prabhupada has given, and to
put in or make up our own, be it that we are getting that standard from
some "professional" or other source.
WHY would we want to accept such "other" sources when we are accepting
Srila Prabhupada as Krsna's pure representative, "ambassador", Who (my
capital referring to Srila Prabhupada), in so many cases has set the
standards that we are to be accepting?, (even so in this particular
case). Are we willing to "throw away" that which Srila Prabhupada has
given to us; things to HELP TO PUSH WITHIN OUR MINDS SOME (proper)
understanding of Krsna's greatness, exalted position, and supremacy?
Because we ARE SO DULL to so many things, especially to Krsna and WHO
He IS, (and His position), we HAVE to make such distinction(s) to HELP
US! Dare we go into the other minimizations which have come over the
years within ISKCON?
Why would we want to accept the standards set by non-devotees (some of
whom may NOT even believe in ANY conception of God, impersonal or
personal), when it would
- go against the desires (even direct) instructions of Srila Prabhupada, and
- compromise the consciousness in relation to Krsna which Srila Prabhupada was trying to instill in us.
According to the opinion of most people, there is NO way God
would/could be some youthful "boy" possessed of blackish-bluish color,
(and of all things), dressed in yellow dhoti, with jewelry, a peacock
feather in His hair, and playing a flute! So are we going to follow
their standard and give up this understanding of Krsna's form,
(including His lila, guna, etc.) and accept that Krsna is either an
"it" (some force), or "an old man (with a beard, sitting on a (some)
throne," because, well, that's what some folks believe: It's THEIR
standard for God; (NOT ours).
But considering the so many other things going on within ISKCON -
standard of Deity worship gone down (with less offerings in some
temples, (including) less preps on an offering, devotees not showing up
to cook, do the arotike, even dress the Deities, etc.), devotees
getting PAID to "render 'service'", standard of overall quality of
Bhakti found in the movement gone down; including some/many devotees
NOT attending the sadhana programs, (some not attending ANY part of the
morning program), some not even chanting their prescribed number of
rounds, some NOT following all the four regs, INCLUDING SOME TPs, GBCs
and sannyasis, even though these devotees live IN the temples - I guess
this "lessening" of Krsna's exalted position by NOT showing His
distinctness/exaltedness through the use of capitalization should come
as no surprise.
I remember in 1970, (as Srila Prabhupada Himself had expressed), there
was "a disease" which "had been spread around the movement," its coming
through four of our Godbrothers due to some negative influence from one
or more of Srila Prabhupada's Godbrothers preaching wrongly to them.
Now we have SO MANY MORE diseases present within today's ISKCON,
(including what SOME of the ISKCON "in charges" say directly about
Srila Prabhupada).
Many of us are "jumping over the head of Guru" (in our case, His Divine
Grace, Srila Prabhupada), and now we've become so accustomed to this,
that we want to go further, by jumping over the head of Krsna through
minimizing His position, and making Him a "regular" ("common folk")
like us, by NOT making the distinction in putting capitalization in
relation to Him.
I would think any devotee possessed with any (even little) Bhakti -
even common devotee sense - left would know to NOT make such changes.
HOW could something like this EVEN BE CONSIDERED??? as it is SOOOO
PAINFUL to hear! For me to hear this, is simply showing that the
disease within ISKCON is running MUCH DEEPER than I reliazed, and it's
HORRIFYING!!!
It's said that we Westerners - maybe this applies to Americans only? -
like/have to do everything "big" or "bigger" than others, so I suppose
"bigger/better" than jumping over the head of Guru is jumping over (or
on) the head of Krsna, and so it seems that this level of consciousness
has been attained now.
I do NOT mean this to be offensive to anyone. I'm just so shocked to
hear that as Gaudiya Vaisnavas (aspiring to BECOME such), such a
proposal would even be thought of, what to be considered, and/or
(worse) implemented.
I hope all is well.
Your servant,
Mahavegavati Dasi
Hare Krsna
Jayadvaita Swami <Jayadvaita.Swami@pamho.net>
wrote:
Dear Mataji,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to
Srila Prabhupada.
Thank you for your input. While making editorial
decisions, it's sometimes helpful to have editorial feedback from
ISKCON devotees.
Hare Krsna.
Hoping this finds you in good health,
Your servant,
Jayadvaita Swami
http://www.jswami.info
Dear Jayadvaita Maharaj and Nagaraj prabhu,
Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMHO. I hope you are well.
Thanks for your reply. In this regard I would have to say that we KNOW
that THE BEST ISKCON devotee is Srila Prabhupada, who due to His PURE
devotion to Krsna and our Guru Varga, created ISKCON to spread Caitanya
Mahaprabhu's movement, (including the writing of His books to do so.)
So Srila Prabhupada already gave HIS editorial feedback decision in
this regard. (So in that sense, who cares what any of the rest of us,
including the editors think AFTER Srila Prabhupada has given HIS
SPECIFIC directions in this regard? BEST to DO what Srila Prabhupada
SAID! Then we KNOW we caN'T go wrong; right?)
And this would be what I would think the final and most valid argument,
(and please do NOT take this "disrespectfully" because it is not
intended in that way. I'm just not so good in expressing myself.):
- These are Srila Prabhupada's books,
- Srila Prabhupada stipulated that He wanted pronouns relating to Krsna to be CAPITALIZED in HIS books!
I would think these considerations should finish whatever "discussion,"
and in essence, why should there be any discussion, since Srila
Prabhupada, the author, Himself stipulated what He wanted?
I hope all is well.
Your servant,
Mahavegavati Dasi
Hare Krsna
Comments
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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