Religious Integration of ISKCON by Academia (Part Three) – BBT and BBTi

BY: GOPINATH DAS

Sat, Apr 2, 2011, Italy – In the first essay titled Religious Integration of ISKCON by Academia, I was addressing the dangerous and treacherous subtle influence of ‘toning down’ (in other words-watering down) pure teachings of our Acharya (Gaudia Vaisnavism) with already imbedded, academically contrived religious pluralism by academia, in the name of uplifting ISKCON to pseudo ‘Raganuga sadhana platform’, that would allegedly ensure our acceptance and survival in the world of today.

In the second part, I was addressing (already imbedded) unauthorized academically contrived secular educational system in ISKCON, which replaced the gurukula system that was established by Srila Prabhupada, and the subsequent creation of the CPO by the individuals who were the actual child abusers in order to protect themselves.

In the third part I would like to address the illegitimate formation of BBT INTERNATIONAL (BBTi) that took over the publishing rights and finance as well as including members whose purpose is to incrementally change books that were written by Srila Prabhupada and previous Acharya’s, in order to amend the Absolute Truth to their ‘politically correct’ preferred religious homogenization / integration of ISKCON, via Academically contrived consortium called Interfaith.

The purpose for the creation of illegal BBTi is as follow. In order to legally shield themselves from these unauthorized changes they devised a nefarious plan wherein Srila Prabhupada is legally termed as simply a mere hired author by the BBTi, consequently giving all the book rights that were written by Him to the individuals (Trust) who “hired” this simple author (Srila Prabhupada), hence giving them carte-blanche to do with them as they please.

This scam is based on the same system that the GBC lucratively implemented (after Srila Prabhupada`s departure) when they incorporated the unauthorized ISKCON of West Bengal Corporation, which has its own charter, Laws, and BY-Laws that are diametrically opposed to the charter of the original incorporation of ISKCON by Srila Prabhupda in the USA.

By incorporating this dummy “ISKCON of West Bengal Corporation”, they were able to legalize their hijacking of Srila Prabhupada original ISKCON.

Similarly, by formation of unauthorized BBTi they ensured that they have total control over Srila Prabhupada`s books and they obtained complete legal protection for these atrocious systematic book changes.

For the purpose of history it has to be noted that “alcoholic / smoker / womanizer” Gopal Batta dasa is playing a key role in the formation of this unauthorized corporation called BBTi. He holds the position as Chairman of this fraudulent BBTi (despite his inability to follow the four regulative principles), and he is one of the strongest supporters of the systematic homogenization of Srila Prabhupada`s books via avaricious hands of Jayadvaita swami.

We were all exposed to stealthy / incrementally, superfluous (unaccountable) book changes by BBTi, in particular Jayadvaita Swami and his friend Dravida dasa on the pretext that the books are being edited in the intent to satisfy the needs of Academia.

Only in the Bhagavat-Gita alone there were more than five thousand changes up to this day. That means that nearly every verse in the Bhagavat-Gita has been in some way changed / altered by imbedding subtle undertones in the actual meanings of these verses and/or purports.

Recently, I came into a possession of the DVD that was created by the BBTi in the attempt to publicly rationalize / sanitize these unauthorized changes. In the interview, among others, one of the trustees of the BBT puts forward rationale to these unnecessary changes; he posits that the purpose for these changes is the need to conciliate the world of Academia in order to facilitate the so called acceptance of these books within the academic circles.

When the BBTi’s “Pleasing Academia rationale” for the book changes did not achieve the desired bamboozlement of the rank and file devotees, by quieting them down, they devised the latest “rationalizing scam” of claims that they are changing the books back to the real original state.

Jayadvaita swami went as far as recreating an elaborate time table scheme in attempt to bewilder devotees with his false claim that Hayagriva prabhu never worked under the supervision and approval of Srila Prabhupada on the original edition of Bhagavat-Gita. His “imaginary chronological” article titled – “Book Changes: History Backs the BBT” was briefly posted on the Sampradaya sun.

However, this deceptive article backfired on Jayadvaita Swami, when his article was completely and chronologically refuted by Madhudvisa prabhu in article titled Jayadvaita’s Smoke and Mirrors which was a response to what appears to be a planned, conscious and intentional lie on the side of Jayadvaita swami.

Comically, after Jayadvaita swami`s lie was publicly exposed on Sampradaya Sun by Madhudvisa prabhu, Jayadvaita swami successfully petitioned Sampradaya Sun editors to remove his deceptive article, in the attempt to minimize his exposed embarrassment.

Furthermore, in order to understand and analyze the actual character of this devotees in question, it is imperative to bring out to the attention of the community of Vaisnavas, that Srila Prabhupada`s books are not the only one that are being mutilated. The books from the previous Acharyas (six Goswamis etc.) are not exempt from the itchy hands of BBTi.

Dark origins and history goes back into the early 90s when BBT requested Vrindavana resident, an Indian scholarly ISKCON devotee by the name of Satyanarayana prabhu, and Gopiparanadhana prabhu to work on the translation of the Sandharbas that were written in Sanskrit by Goswamis, with the intent that BBT would print the English translation.

Satyanarayana prabhu and Gopiparanadana prabhu went ahead and started with the translations of the important works by the Goswamis for the benefit of an English speaking world. After they successfully translated Sat Sandharba by Srila Jiva Goswami, it became apparent that Srila Jiva Goswami`s explanation in regards to the origins of the soul (Jiva Tattva-jiva’s fall from the spiritual world) differed from the understanding of some ISKCON`s leading Academic devotees.

When this anomaly was brought forth to the attention of the BBT (Jayadvaita swami and others) and ISKCON leading Academic devotees such as Hridhayananda goswami, they made a seriously compromised decision. They instructed Satyanarayana prabhu and Gopiparanadhana prabhu to remove (in their eyes) questionable explanation on Jiva Tattva.

Satyanarayan prabu was shocked at their request and he expressed his unwillingness to change Srila Jiva Goswami’s work. He explained that the works of the previous Acharya’s are sacred and is inappropriate and highly offensive for anybody to change and alter their words. He insisted that the books should be presented and translated as they are. The BBT powers that be gave Satyanarayana prabu an ultimatum; you do as you are told or leave ISKCON. As a real brahmana he really did not have any choice but to leave, since the other option was that he has to dirty his hands in order to stay.

Once out of ISKCON he published the translated Sandharbas as they are, for the benefit of an English speaking Vaisnava community.

On the other hand Gopiparnadhana prabhu kowtowed to the pressure by the BBT, since he was financially dependent and maintained by them. When the time came he did exactly what he was told.

At that time Jayadvaita Swami stated that “The Previous Acharya`s will say what we want them to say” Years after, Jayadvaita swami came to (dis)honor and live up to his above mention words.

We are all familiar when BBT (Gopiparanadhana prabhu) translated and published the book from Srila Sanatana Goswami titled Brihad Bhagavatamrita.

The important point that the rank and file devotees are totally unaware of is that the BBT just as they demanded to remove (Jiva Tattva) section of Sat Sandharba a decade earlier, again intentionally decided to omit a particular “in their eyes sensitive and controversial” section of the book, wherein Srila Sanatana Goswami is explaining the fall of the spirit soul (jiva).

The reason for this serious transgression of removal (in the name of responsible editing) of Srila Sanatana`s Goswami`s words form his own book is simple. His explanation of the fall of jiva (tattva) also went against the official GBC resolution on this particular philosophical conclusion.

Unfortunately, humble, brahamana vaishnava Gopiparanadhana prabhu being maintained by the BBTi, (just as Mahajana Bhisma due to accepting maintenance by Duryodhana), become implicated in this offence to Sanatana Goswami.

Powers that be become pleased by Gopiparanadhana`s prabhu loyalty to the institution and his choice of dirtying his hands and rewarded Gopiparanadhana prabhu with the rubberstamped approval by fraudulent ISKCON to become a full fledged initiating spiritual master within the institution as well as BBTI chief drunkard / smoker Gopal Bhatta even funds Gopiparanadhana’s Sanskrit School located at Govardhana.

Similarly, BBT also tried to meddle in to the publication of Srila Bhaktivinoda`s Jaiva Dharma. Again just as in the above two incidences, when Jaiva Dharama was translated by Sarvabhauma prabhu and edited by Keshidhamana prabhu, BBT did not wanted to publish the book after it came to their attention that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur`s explanation on Jiva-fall from the spiritual world- Tattva also differs from the official GBC resolution. They were working on the removal of the controversial Jiva Tattva section.

Luckily the original editor of Jaiva Dharma Keshidhamana prabhu decided to proceed with the printing of original book as it is, by himself. Despite the threats from the BBTi he was successful in printing the original book. We can safely assume that Keshidhamana prabhu will never have any opportunity to do the service for the BBTi ever again. However we do offer him our warm and heartfelt gratitude for standing up to them and providing us with Jaiva dharma AS IT IS.

BBTi`s dark history clearly characterizes that Jayadvaita swami and his co-conspirators have absolutely no moral fiber whatsoever. They change, create, re-create and re-interpret their rationale for their capricious editing with such a remarkable sociopathic ease that is frightening.

If their objective is to appease the Secular Academic world they would be better off providing a definitive work rather than a constantly changing ‘work in progress’ which only displays their inconsistent and changeable state of mind.

B Radha-Govinda provided us with an excellent example of above mentioned characteristics off BBTi in her article titled Jayadvaita Swami: Is He on the mental platform?

In her article she writes;

“Regarding Jayadvaita Swami and the question, “Is he on the mental platform?” my question comes because not only does Jayadvaita Swami change certain things in Srila Prabhupada’s books, but he makes changes to the changes he (JAS) has himself already made.

To give one example, over the years I saw a few different changed versions of Bhagavad-gita As It Is (Was), and there were different “renditions” to the BG 2.1 verse, although Srila Prabhupada’s translation was already so clear and beautifully expressed that the reader has a very vivid, heartfelt understanding of Arjuna’s feelings from the verse, which read:

“Sanjaya said: ‘Seeing Arjuna full of compassion and very sorrowful, his eyes brimming with tears, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words’.”

Despite the (pre-1978) word for word translation, krpaya – ‘by compassion’, avistam – ‘overwhelmed’, asru-purna – ‘full of tears”; akula – depressed’; iksanam – ‘eyes’; visidantam – ‘lamenting’, one of Jayadvaita Swami’s edited (slaughtered) renditions of this verse read,

“Sanjaya said: ‘Seeing Arjuna his mind depressed, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words’”.

One has to assume Jayadvaita Swami was, at a later point, dissatisfied with his own editing because he changed his own (edited, “subtracted”) rendition of this verse to read more according to the original translation in Srila Prabhupada’s pre-1978 edition of Bhagavad Gita As It Is. This updated/renewed/changed verse read,

“Sanjaya said: ‘Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words’.”

That was again changed, the final, most current rendition reading,

“Sanjaya said: ‘Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, his eyes full of tears, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words’.”

Although in the pre-1978 BG, in the word for word translation the word “depressed” is given as the translation for “akula,” although Jayadvaita Swami uses the word “depressed” in his edited translation of this verse, in his editing of the word for word translation, there is no word “depressed” used there. (Please note the difference between the two word for word translations with asru-purna-akula given below to mean ‘full of tears’ and the pre-1978 BG’s word for word translation, asru-purna – ‘full of tears’; akula – ‘depressed’.)

krpaya -’ by compassion’, avistam – ‘overwhelmed’, asru-purna-akula- ‘ full of tears’; iksanam – ‘eyes’; visidantam – ‘lamenting’.

So one may have to question whether it is a matter of mental platform being the reason for Jayadvaita Swami’s (re)editing his own published editing of Srila Prabhupada’s books, or whether he’s doing so to keep a job for himself.”

B.Radha-Govinda`s article clearly establishes the fact that the latest rationale of BBTi and Jayadvaita swami (his apologist included) that they are changing Srila Prabhupada`s book to its original version is just another sham. As we can see in the above mentioned article (documented evidence) that Jayadvaita swami is continuously changing the books as he feels like it at the particular time, and that has absolutely nothing to do with Srila Prabhupada`s ‘original’ work.

Another perfect example of the cheating mentality of BBTi can be seen in Rupanuga prabhu`s (acbsp) exposé of BBti titled Gita Cover-Up Alert or Buyer Beware

For the complete article go to http://prabhupadavision.com/2011/03/iskcon-academia-part-three/