All articles by Jayadvaita Swami

BBT press release The "changes" for chapter two of Bhagavad-Gita As It Is will soon be online at www.BBTedit.com/changes. See the meaning Srila Prabhupada actually intended where the first edition said: working with the fruitive being situated in the fixed conception of the real self (text 1, purport) Neither Vedic knowledge nor modern science denies the existence of the spirit soul (text 17, purport) People will call you a coward even before your flight (text 34, purport) Restrictions are good only if one actually has a taste for Krsna consciousness (text 59, … [Read more...] about Online soon: “Gita changes” for chapter two

Concerning philanthropy and relief work, I recently came upon these words from Srila Prabhupada, which I pass on without comment.   Prabhupada: So immediately, first of all, He [Krishna] chastised. Asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase: "Arjuna, you are talking like a learned man, but you are a fool number one." [Bg. 2.11] Gatasun agatasums ca nanusocanti panditah. That means "If you had been actually pandita, learned man, then you would not have lamented for this body." Gatasun. "The body is neither a subject matter for lamentation, either living condition or dead … [Read more...] about Srila Prabhupada on relief work

BBT press release Now you can see "the changes" for chapter one of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, at www.BBTedit.com/changes. You'll see the revisions Jayadvaita Swami made to the purports, in the actual book where he made them. You'll also see the revisions made to the word-for-word meanings. (The translations were done separately.) Annotations give the reasons for most of the changes (and most often also tell what Srila Prabhupada’s original manuscript said). Images show relevant portions of the manuscript itself, as well as two sample pages. See the meaning Srila Prabhupada actually … [Read more...] about Gita changes for chapter one, now online

BBT press release The annotated scans for chapter one of Bhagavad-gita As It Is should be posted online at www.BBTedit.com within the next few days. The scans show Jayadvaita Swami's personal copy of the first edition of the book, with the revisions made to the word-for-word meanings and the purports. (The translations were done separately.) The included annotations give the reasons for most of the changes and most often tell what Srila Prabhupada's original manuscript said. Also included are images showing relevant portions of the manuscript itself. Regardless of one's point of view, … [Read more...] about Annotated scans for first chapter of Gita online soon

"Of snakes I am Vasuki," Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita (10.28). And then, in the next verse, "Of serpents I am Ananta." Hey, what's the difference between a serpent and a snake? What did Srila Prabhupada say about this? How did what he said get lost? And how did it get restored? You can find out here: How to tell one snake from another. It's another instructive video from BBTedit.com. … [Read more...] about New video: “How to Tell One Snake from Another”

In a new video posted on BBTedit.com, I discuss the source texts Srila Prabhupada drew upon when writing Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Here's the link: Srila Prabhupada's Sources. The 15-minute video, informative rather than polemic, includes several examples. Serious students of Bhagavad-gita As It Is may find it of value. … [Read more...] about New video: “Srila Prabhupada’s Sources”

What are the "original manuscripts" for Bhagavad-gita As It Is? The second and third of the three videos in which I answer that question are now online at BBTedit.com. These last two videos tell especially about the manuscripts for the middle six and last six chapters (and show what those manuscripts look like). The videos are informative, rather than argumentative. Hare Krishna devotees interested in the integrity of Srila Prabhupada's books may find these video worth watching. Also very much worth seeing are the annotated Gita scans that show the changes I made for the Introduction … [Read more...] about “Original manuscripts” explained: Parts 2 and 3 now online

Today marks one year since the passing of Sadaputa Dasa (Dr. Richard L. Thompson). To honor this occasion, Caranu Renu Dasi, a Krishna devotee with a doctorate in astrophysics, has decided to share some of her memories of him. She has posted them on her blog, and you can read them (and see some photos) here: Carana Renu's remembrances of Sadaputa She writes in her concluding sentence: "He was a true pioneer and I expect that, 10, 50, or 100 years from now, devotees in ISKCON [the International Society for Krishna Consciousness] will look back and realize, more than we do now, the … [Read more...] about Remembering Sadaputa

What are the "original manuscripts" for Bhagavad-gita As It Is? The first of three videos in which I answer that question is now online at BBTedit.com. This first video, sixteen minutes long, tells especially about the manuscripts for the first six chapters (and shows what they look like). The video is informative, rather than argumentative. Hare Krishna devotees interested in the integrity of Srila Prabhupada's books may find the video worth watching. … [Read more...] about What are the original manuscripts?