Massive Changes to Teachings of Lord Caitanya

The Krishna Book: Over 15,000 Changes

Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead — commonly known as the Krishna Book — is Prabhupada’s summary study of the Tenth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. It was one of Prabhupada’s most cherished works, written to introduce Western readers to the transcendental pastimes of Lord Krishna.

A detailed comparison between the original edition and the revised version reveals over 15,000 documented changes. This staggering number means that virtually every page of the book was altered.

The changes include:

• Word substitutions throughout the text
• Sentence restructuring that changes emphasis and flow
• Additions and deletions of content
• Alterations to purports that affect philosophical meaning
• Removal of original artwork that Prabhupada supervised

Teachings of Lord Caitanya

The Teachings of Lord Caitanya, originally published in 1968, was one of the first major books Prabhupada produced in the West. It presents the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful incarnation of the Lord.

This book also underwent extensive unauthorized revision. The changes were so thorough that long passages were rewritten, restructured, and in some cases replaced with entirely different content. The editor apparently felt empowered to reshape the book according to his own understanding.

The Pattern of Revision

The Krishna Book and Teachings of Lord Caitanya follow the same pattern seen with the Bhagavad-gita revision:

1. The author is no longer present to approve or reject changes.
2. An editor decides the text needs “improvement.”
3. Thousands of changes are made without transparent documentation.
4. The revised edition replaces the original in print.
5. The original goes out of print, making it unavailable to readers.

Prabhupada’s Relationship with These Books

Prabhupada dictated the Krishna Book with particular care and affection. He often spoke of Krishna’s pastimes with visible emotion. The language he used — his specific word choices, his sentence rhythms, his emphases — all reflected his personal realization of these transcendental subjects.

Similarly, Teachings of Lord Caitanya represented Prabhupada’s presentation of his own spiritual master’s mission. The words he chose to describe Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings were deliberate expressions of the disciplic succession.

To revise these works after the author’s departure — especially on the scale documented here — is to substitute an editor’s understanding for the author’s realization. No editor, however well-intentioned, can replicate the consciousness from which these books were written.

Preserving the Originals

Krishna-books.com is committed to making the original editions of these books available. The original Krishna Book and the original Teachings of Lord Caitanya, as Prabhupada wrote and published them, remain the authoritative editions.