Publication/Distribution of Books by ISKCON Gurus
BY: RADHANANDA DASA
Dec 20, 2011 — INDIA (SUN) —
CONTENTION: BBT should be publishing only Srila Prabhupada's books
REBUTTAL: Srila Prabhupada during his manifest presence allowed BBT to publish books by his disciples
1) The Hare Krsna Cook Book: Recipes for the Satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
Author(s):Krsna Devi Dasi
Publisher:The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
Publication date: 1973
This book was published by the BBT in 1973 during Srila Prabhupada's manifest presence, which suggests that Srila Prabhupada approved the publication of books authored by his disciples.
2) Srila Prabhupada specifically asked Svarupa Damodara Maharaja (brahmacari at that time) to write a book on The Scientific Basis of Krishna Consciousness which was published by the BBT.
"That is the perfection of life. I have therefore asked our chemist friend, Dr. Swaroop Damodara das Brahmacari to refute the theory that life comes out of matter. This is not the fact, rather, matter comes out of life. We have discussed this point very broadly and Swaroop Damodara is convinced that everything comes from life, Krsna – aham sarvasya prabhavo/ mattah sarvam pravartate. [Bg. 10.8]. So, I've asked Swaroop Damodara to invite Ramananda Rao to come and join him to present this revolutionary theory to the learned advanced scientists. We know it certainly that matter comes out of life. Simply we have to present this thesis in chemical, technological words. Svarupa Damodara has already written one small booklet, "Krsna Consciousness, Purely on a Scientific Basis.''
(Srila Prabhupada Letter to Niranjana, Brooklyn, May 21, 1973)
Some of the existing classics that will be lost if BBT were to relinquish the publication rights because they were not authored by Srila Prabhupada:
Cantos 11 and 12 of Srimad Bhagavatam by Hrdayananda Dasa Goswami, et al.
"The Forbidden Archaeology by Michael Cremo
A commentary on Brhad Bhagavatamrta by H.G. Gopiparana-dhana Dasa
"Sri Vyasa-puja" – collection of offerings to Srila Prabhupada by devotees published every year
Mechanistic and Nonmechanistic Science by Dr. Richard L. Thompson
Divine Nature by Michael Cremo, Mukunda Goswami
Vaisnava Verse Book: A Compendium of Vedic Verse by Rohininandana dasa
CONTENTION: Fulltime devotees / brahmacaris should only be distributing Srila Prabhupada's books
REBUTTAL: Srila Prabhupada during his manifest presence allowed full time devotees to distribute books authored by his disciples along with distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books.
Ramesvara reading the BBT publications to Srila Prabhupada:
Ramesvara: 487,000 Perfection of Yoga, 263,000 Krsna Consciousness Is Authorized, 10,000 cook books, Hare Krsna Cook books, 4,000 Gopal coloring books,
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation on 1976 Book Scores -- January 16, 1977, Calcutta
Three of the books mentioned above are not authored by Srila Prabhupada. That they were printed in the thousands means that full time ISKCON devotees must have distributed them. Srila Prabhupada didn't express disapproval. Indeed, he specifically instructed that these BBT printed cookbooks (authored by Krsna Devi Dasi and published by the BBT) be distributed by full time ISKCON devotees:
Srila Prabhupada called me and said, keep a book. I get many ideas, write them down and consult with management. He outlined a plan for book distribution here in Bombay: Saturday and Sunday, a sankirtana party from 5 to 8 p.m., girls with selling carts on the beach. Also, reprint small books,
go door to door, girls selling cook books, make good connection with the people.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => I70: 3. Krsna is Everywhere January 1 - August 30,
1974
CONTENTION: ISKCON Gurus who want to distribute their books should start their own movement / temples without any support or backup of ISKCON's name and resources
REBUTTAL: Srila Prabhupada didn't want his disciples to ever leave ISKCON. This was one of his last instructions. Srila Prabhupada wanted his disciples to write books, he allowed BBT to publish them and had full time devotees distribute books authored by his disciples as shown above.
More quotes Srila Prabhupada wanting his disciples to write:
The first duty of a person in the renounced order of life is to contribute some literary work for the benefit of the human being in order to give him realized direction toward self-realization.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 2.2.5
"You ask one question about the nature of books I want you to write as my disciples; on this point, Krsna consciousness is not limited. Persons like all of the Gosvamis wrote so many books, Visvanatha Cakravarti, and all the acaryas wrote books, and still I am writing books. Similarly, also my disciples will write. So any self-realized soul can write unlimited books without deviating from the original ideas." (Letter to Satsvarupa, February 28, 1972)]
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Poetic License
"By writing according to our realization we become more and more convinced and all doubts are destroyed."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, 75-11-15)
"Everything is there in our books; so learn it and put in your own way by reproducing. You are also materially well-educated so reproduce what I have taught in your own language. These things are new thoughts in your western countries, everyone will be interested. Writing is also required. Let it be published first in our BTG, then sometimes they may be printed into books also."
(Srila Prabhupada letter, 72-5-1)
"Realization means you should write, every one of you, what is your realization. What for this Back to Godhead is? You write your realization, what you have realized about Krishna. That is required. It is not passive. Always you should be active. Whenever you find time, you write. Never mind, two lines, four lines, but you write your realization. Sravanam kirtanam, writing or offering prayers, glories. This is one of the function of the Vaisnava. You are hearing, but you have to write also. Then write means smaranam, remembering what you have heard from your spiritual master, from the scripture."
(Srila Prabhupada lecture, 72-14-8)
ACCUSATION: H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami forces his disciples to distribute his books
REBUTTAL: An excerpt from the original "one million" letter from H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja:
"Please go on reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, and mine also may be read and distributed as auxiliaries to Srila Prabhupada's books."
The use of word ‘may' suggests that distributing books of his holiness is recommended as an "optional" activity auxiliary to distributing Srila Prabhupada's books.
ACCUSATION: H.H. Bhakti Vikasa Swami takes personal royalties
REBUTTAL: His Holiness doesn't get any royalties from BBT nor does he get any royalties from Bhakti Vikas Trust. On the contrary at the end of each financial year any funds in the BV Trust that are not needed for upcoming printing are transferred to ISKCON temples.
