Examining the Examiner of Srila Prabhupada’s Books
His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, reverentially known as Srila Prabhupada, is the Founder-Acarya (spiritual master/ guru) of ISKCON (the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or Hare Krishna movement). His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami, an ISKCON-authorised guru and Director of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), admits to having made large-scale changes (running into the thousands) to Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is:
“And if the integrity of the books is in doubt, then everything’s in doubt. […] We should all be concerned about the integrity of Prabhupada’s books. […] I’ve undertaken a really large-scale revision […] How do you know we didn’t mess up?”
- HH Jayadvaita Swami
Jayadvaita Swami is, therefore, a person who wields immense influence over the integrity of Srila Prabhupada's books, shaping what will be read as being the words of Srila Prabhupada for generations of devotees to come. Given this influence, it is only right and proper for us to examine Jayadvaita Swami’s integrity. And that is exactly what this book does.
In particular, we examine the following claim made to establish Jayadvaita Swami’s suitability for having undertaken this “really large-scale revision”:
“Since Srila Prabhupada's departure, Jayadvaita Swami has taken part in no philosophical heresies (and has spoken out against several), he has maintained his spiritual vows, he has served Srila Prabhupada steadily.”
- bbtedit.com
And this examination is done using only the words of Jayadvaita Swami himself and those whom he accepts as bona fide authorities.
