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VEB, not GBC, Advised Against Book by Malati dasi Posted August 27, 2010 In a statement by Krishna Chandra das posted on Chakra August 9, 2010, the following assertation was made: "Just one week before Aindra das left his body in Vrindavan his long-awaited book was to have been published. I believe that the GBC had requested him not to release it, warning him that if he did so, he might have to leave ISKCON." It is always a good idea to check facts before making any assertive statements. In this case, the statement is a conjecture. After carefully checking, I would like to present the following statement from GBC executive committee member Hrday Chaitanya das: "Last year on Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day Aindra prabhu was interrupted in his speech because the leaders felt it was inappropriate. If I do not mistake, Gopal Krsna Maharaja stopped him, or at least tried to stop him. "Soon after, during the VEB (Vrindavan Executive Board) meetings, the VEB requested Aindra prabhu not to publish his book; otherwise, there would be some restrictions put on him. Please note that this request came from the VEB, not the GBC. The GBC were not in any way involved. "This year, after leaving his body, the subject of the printing of Aindra prabhu's book came to the attention of the EC, and the EC requested the VEB to deal with it. The GBC-EC expressed to the VEB their opinion that if the book were published and it was deemed to be necessary, they would respond to it later."
In other words. as it often does, the GBC deferred the matter to local management, deeming the matter a local issue, and had no further participation.
Everyone loves Aindra prabhu. He was a sadhu, and sadhus are always unconventional. Having left his body, he is celebrated as a saint, and many GBC members wrote heartbreaking remembrances of him, yet I believe that he was banned from giving classes in ISKCON Vrindavan. Just one week before Aindra das left his body in Vrindavan his long-awaited book was to have been published. I believe that the GBC had requested him not to release it, warning him that if he did so, he might have to leave ISKCON. The maturity of a society is measured by how it deals with critics. To rule out criticism is a sign of fear or lack of faith. Truth does not need to be defended. It is sva-pramanya (self-luminous). A sincere searcher on the way home invites other opinions, wants to consider them thoroughly and will then make a decision in his heart. Only children have to be protected from unorthodoxy. In ISKCON it seems to me that it is only allowed to write books that are exactly in line with the given opinion. As long as there is no culture of free discussion we will not attract thoughtful souls to our Bhakti movement, but only people who are looking for dependence.
I am still hoping that the devotees around Aindra prabhu will have the courage to publish it and that the GBC will not censure it.
[Editors' note: Thank you to everyone who responded to Nandini Radha's request. The lyrics below include both the Bengali words and the English translation] In response to Nandini Radha dd's request, I found the following Bengali lyrics with English translation on Sacinandana Swami's "Saranagati" website:
Mama Mana Mandire
mama mana mandire raha nisi-din O Krishna Murari, day and night You dwell in the temple of my heart, Sri Krishna Murari.
bhakti priti mala candana Devotion, love, flower garlands, and sandalwood; please accept, O please accept them, delighter of my heart!
jivana marana tava puja nivedana In life or in death I worship You with these offerings, beautiful one, O enchanter of the heart!
eso nanda-kumar ara nanda-kumar Come, son of Nanda Baba! O son of Nanda Baba, I will offer You an arati ceremony with the lamplight of my love.
nayana yamuna jhare anibara In Your separation, the waters of the Yamuna River flow incessantly from my eyes, O holder of Govardhan Hill!
vandana gane tava bajuka jivana
May I pass my life absorbed only in singing Your praises, O Krishna Murari, Sri Krishna Murari!
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Response to Krishna Chandra by Malati dasi Posted August 24, 2010 In a statement by Krishna Chandra Click Here, the following assertation was made: "Just one week before Aindra das left his body in Vrindavan his long-awaited book was to have been published. I believe that the GBC had requested him not to release it, warning him that if he did so, he might have to leave ISKCON." It is always a good idea to check facts before making any assertive statements. In this case, the statement is a conjecture. After carefully checking, I would like to present the following statement from the GBC EC member, Hrday Chaitanya das: "Last year on Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day Aindra prabhu was interrupted in his speech because the leaders felt it was inappropriate. If I do not mistake, Gopal Krsna Maharaja stopped him or at least tried to stop him. Soon after, during the VEB (Vrindavan Executive Board) meetings, Aindra prabhu was requested (by the VEB) not publish his book otherwise their would be some restrictions put on him. *Please note: This request came from the VEB, not the GBC. The GBC were not in any way involved. This year, after leaving his body the subject of the printing of Aindra prabhu's book came to the attention of the EC and the EC requested the VEB to deal with it. The GBC-EC expressed to the VEB that they were of the opinion that if the book is published, and then it is deemed to be necessary, we'll respond to it later."
In other words. as it often does, the GBC deferred the matter to local management, deeming the matter a local issue and had no further participation.
“The changes” for chapter four of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is are now online at www.BBTedit.com/changes. You'll see:
Also:
Also included is the complete manuscript page for text 34. Check it out.
The changes for the Preface, the Introduction, and the previous
chapters are already online. See them all at www.BBTedit.com/changes.
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