B. Radha-Govinda: Definitive – “As It Is”

Definitive: “As It Is”

BY: B. Radha-Govinda

Dec 25, 2010 — ALACHUA, FLORIDA, USA — Hare Krsna.  All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Between phone calls from various devotees around the US, as well as some devotees in Alachua calling me, I was informed there was an article (“Mind Blower“) on Sampradaya Sun, regarding my asking a question (Sunday, December 5th), to clarify which edition of “Bhagavad-Gita As It Is” we were being asked by Alachua’s temple president, Mukhya prabhu, to sponsor. I asked for clarification which edition was being sold so I could make the decision whether or not to sponsor three cases of BG.

Prior to my asking the question, one devotee told me it was the original BGs that were being sold. I thought there was a possibility the devotee might be correct since there were pictures of the cover of the pre-1978 BG on a poster, which seemed to “confirm” what this prabhu was saying.

In my wanting to make sure whether the information was correct or not, (as it was my understanding that ISKCON only allowed the edited versions), and my not wanting to put myself into a position of obligation for making a pledge for purchasing three cases of BGs if they were the changed versions), I asked my question.

Having practically no computer access, thus, only now being able to get to a computer to see this (and some other articles devotees referred me to), I’m replying with the following to help make some things clear, since whoever posted this article, wrote some information which is (let’s say), a bit “fuzzy”.

This devotee wrote, “B. Radha-Govinda was warned not to disturb the Sunday program or she would be banned. This she got in an email from Mukya dasi, who also said, and I quote, that the original Bhagavad Gita As It Is is “unauthorized”!”

Since Mukhya prabhu did not use the word “banned” or “unauthorized” to me, either verbally or in her (Dec 6th) email – although from the last line in Mukhya prabhu’s email, getting “banned” can be implied – I don’t know if the devotee writing the above meant that he’s “quoting” from Mukhya prabhu’s email to me, (or he rephrased into his own words what he thought Mukhya prabhu meant), or he meant that Mukhya prabhu specifically said/wrote this (the original Bhagavad Gita As It Is is “unauthorized”!” to him directly, or to what was said/written to another/other devotee(s), and then related to him.

Other than Mukhya prabhu’s reply given (over the microphone, thus heard by other devotees present) in the temple, to my Dec 5th question, Mukhya prabhu’s Dec 6th email to me, and my receiving her verbal confirmation the next time I saw her in the temple, when I asked if she had received my Dec 8th email reply, Mukhya prabhu and I have not had any further discussion about the issue. (I come to the temple only on Sunday and once in the week for Mangal Arotike when another devotee takes me, since I don’t drive, and go when this devotee goes and takes me.)

I will include Mukhya prabhu’s email to me (she sending a CC of her email to Tamohara GBC, Ramiya VP, and Krsna Keshava – I don’t know his position – prabhus, and my reply to her, so what Mukhya prabhu wrote to me (and what I replied) can be seen “as (it) is.”

Based on the response given to my question – which is properly reported in the “Mind Blower” article – I chose to not sponsor the three cases of the edited editions of the BG. In seeing the articles written by other devotees posting their dissapointment in regards to their purchasing what they thought were the original editions, their later finding out they had instead bought the edited editions, I would have also felt disappointed had I made such a purchase.

— On Mon, 12/6/10, Mukhya devi dasi wrote:

From: Mukhya devi dasi
Subject: ISKCON temple conduct
To: rgswami108@yahoo.com
Cc: “Kesava Das” , “Ramiya das” , “tamohara”
Date: Monday, December 6, 2010, 3:35 PM

Dear Mahavegavati prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We are requesting you to refrain from calling out during Sunday feast announcements when our temple is full of devotees and guests.
It is not meant to be a question and answer period, neither is it a forum for your political viewpoints.
As you are well aware ISKCON of Alachua subscribes to GBC regulations, as was Srila Prabhupada’s desire. Therefore we naturally distribute BBT books, as I am sure you are also well aware.

I see that you are a sincere devotee wishing to deepen your connection with Krishna and Guru. But if our structure does not fit into your idea of what the Krishna consciousness movement should be you might consider practicing Krishna consciousness somewhere else.
Please respect our rules so that I don’t have to take further action.

your servant,
Mukhya devi dasi

Dear Mother Mukhya prabhu,

Hare Krsna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. PAMFO I hope your sadhana and bhajan are going well.

Thank you for your email:

First off, it seems you’re confused. You’ve written to me using the wrong name. My name is Radha-Govinda Swami. I haven’t used Mahavegavati for years now. Bhaktitirtha Swami, the GBC under whose GBC jurisdiction I was serving, had me take sannyas from him. (I’ve kept my vows to this day, although I rejected the sannyas from him and retook the sannyas from another Gaudiya Vaisnava sannyasi guru who was connected with Srila Prabhupada. (Just to make it clear, it is not Narayan Maharaj. I have no connection with him.)

Second, regarding my specific question, “Which BG are we sponsoring?”: My question had nothing to do with (as per your words), “political viewpoints.” I wanted to purchase three cases of Srila Prabhupada’s original BGs to have them sent to another devotee who would distribute them in another city where there is no temple. (I would have paid the postage.) Whoever made the poster for sponsoring cases of “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” put up the cover picture of Srila Prabhupada’s pre 1978 “Bhagavad Gita As It Is” on the poster; thus a question. (If you have a picture up of apples, the person assumes you are selling apples, so…)

I asked so that I could make  for myself a decision (right then and there) whether to sponsor some cases of books from the temple, to send to this devotee, (even if a little higher than the price per case of “BG As It Is” that I usually pay), or to purchase the original BGs from elsewhere. I have no “problem” making a donation of a little extra money on a case of books which might be slightly higher in price if they are Srila Prabhupada’s original books, but I don’t want to purchase a case of books that are changed. For you it’s “politics”: For me it’s not. It’s a matter of my preference of which BG I want to distribute. (And, by the way, to this day, there are people taking and reading Srila Prabhupada’s original books, including Muslims in the Middle Eastern countries, some of these people becoming devotees.)

So this had nothing to do with “political viewpoints,” but my wanting to find out which BG it would be if I made the purchase for sending to this devotee. I hope that this should not be a problem for you that I have my specific preference as do other devotees who have made the choice to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s original books. I don’t believe that I’m in violation of your rules regarding my having a preference for distributing Srila Prabhupada’s unchanged books. (After all, we were distributing this specific BG while Srila Prabhupada was present on the planet.)

You write, “As you are well aware ISKCON of Alachua subscribes to GBC regulations, as was Srila Prabhupada’s desire. Therefore we naturally distribute BBT books, as I am sure you are also well aware.” I was under the understanding that you don’t distribute Srila Prabhupada’s original BG, yet there were pictures (only) of Srila Prabhupada’s original BG, so as there was a confusion on my part, that’s why I asked the question. Often when people are buying something, they will ask a question about what it is they are buying. Why would you have a problem with my question?

“I see that you are a sincere devotee wishing to deepen your connection with Krishna and Guru.”

Let’s let Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna be the judge of this.

Your statement, “But if our structure does not fit into your idea of what the Krishna consciousness movement should be you might consider practicing Krishna consciousness somewhere else.”

I’ll let you figure out the reasons for your statement. As we all – meaning, to those devotees to whom you have included on this email – know, Krsna consciousness can be practiced anywhere, whether there is a temple or not.

For those of us who accept our Gaudiya Vaisnava Parampara, the practice of Krsna consciousness is a matter of accepting Srila Prabhupada’s instructions into our heart and following them. The temple worship is there for helping us to have the association of other devotees, and to facilitate our being able to do so. In the ultimate end, our practice is really a matter of our specific surrender and desire, which can be accommodated anywhere.

You write, “Please respect our rules so that I don’t have to take further action.” To my understanding I am respecting your rules. If you feel differently, please come to me immediately and let me know. (I’m not always able to get to a computer. I can assure you that if you come personally to me to say something to me, if you are upset with me for some reason, I won’t bite you. I’ll probably just pay obeisances to you if I feel I’ve done something wrong.) “By your words “take further action,” I’m assuming you mean you will ban me from the temple. If this is your intention, I personally don’t appreciate being threatened, especially by a Godsister (as I assume we are serving our same Father, His Divine Grace, Srila Prabhupada), even if we may not agree on all points of how to render such services.

I hope all is going well.

May we be safely situated under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet, Those of our Guru Varga, the Vaisnavas, and Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

With love,

B. Radha-Govinda
Hare Krsna

Govinda Damodara Madhaveti Govinda Damodara Madhaveti

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare