A critique of Caitanya Caranas

analysis of SPs writing style.

(A senior devotees comments in blue.)

What he heard: "Srila Prabhupada's books are not systematic"


What I [Caitanya Carana dasa] spoke:

I was talking about how we all have two sides within us - the creative side
that comes up with ideas and the critical side that evaluates and often
censors those ideas. When I spoke about these in the context of writing,
one person asked which side Prabhupada's books came from: creative or
critical?

I explained that they were from the creative side - technically, they are
examples of stream of consciousness writing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stream_of_consciousness_(narrative_mode)
I appreciated that it's extraordinary that words just spoken once into a
dictaphone have such profound wisdom, still, they don't have the systematic

This is so mundane and immature. SP himself said that it was Krsna dictating to him,
and that he himself was amazed by what was in the books, that he was not the
author, etc. This has been confirmed on more than one occasion (see quote at end).
If it is stream of consciousness it is Krsnas.


development of thought regarding a point from beginning to end in one
place, as we might see in books of systematic theology such as Bhaktivinoda
Thakura's Jaiva Dharma or Chaitanya Shikshamrita. That's why if we want to
teach people the basics of KC, we may need some courses that compile his
teachings on basic topics together.

Again, Srila Prabhupada is translating the Gita, Bhagavatam, and Caitanya
Caritamrta, he has to translate the books according to how they actually are written
by Vyasadeva and Krsna Dasa Kaviraja not according to how someone else thinks
they should be organized.

So is the BBT going to publish a new edition of SP books, the way they should have
been done if Caitanya Caran had written them - in an organized way?

Isnt amazing that so many became devotees by reading Prabhupadas
disorganized" writings. And all the glowing reviews by scholars of his books - I
guess they didnt realize how disorganized of a thinker SP was - maybe it was his old
age and dementia creeping in. No wonder the devotees in Bangalore were
(figuratively) throwing shoes at Caitanya Caran.

To those who objected, I quoted how Australia's number one book distributor
told me that he is skeptical of stories wherein people say that they just
read one Prabhupada book and started chanting 16 rounds, following 4
regulative principles, applying tilak, wearing dhoti-kurta etc.

This is weird. I dont know anyone who has said that. But I know MANY devotees,
self included, who joined being convinced of the philosophy after reading SPs
(disorganized) books. And, in 1977 in Vrndavana TKG made the point many times to
Prabhupada that almost everyone who joined came because of SPs books.

Caitanya Caran characterizes Prabhupadas books as unsystematic. On his site he
only offers his own systematic books. Would a follower of Prabhupada do that?
See screen shot at end.


Below Prabhupada describes Who is the author of his unsystematic books.

Do you know that every day even I read my own books?

(Bhagavat Prabhu narrates the following history.)

Prabhupada said, "Can you quote this verse?"

The two of us looked at each other, and I thought, "Tamal Krishna Goswami will
quote the verse," but Tamal Krishna Goswami thought I was going to do it. Neither
of us knew the verse.

Prabhupada said, "Just see. You are not reading my books. Every day you have to
read, study, and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must
know everything, chapter and verse. If you do not know, how will you preach?
Unless you know my books how will you teach these men? Do you know that every
day even I read my own books? Do you know why I read my books?"

We didn't want to venture any answer.

Prabhupada said, "I read my books every day because even I learn something new
when I read my books. These are not my books. I do not write these books." It
seemed as if something mystical came over him at this point. He said, "Every
morning, when I sit here to write my books, Krishna comes personally and dictates
to me what to write. I simple take dictation from Krishna to write these books.
Therefore, when I read them, even I learn something."

The way he said it was so dramatic that we felt the weight of his words. I was
thinking, "I'm speaking with a person who's speaking with God, who's right next to
God. I'm only one person removed from God. He's so close." Yet I knew, because of
the state of my own consciousness, how far away I actually was. But by some grace, I
was being placed right next to God by being with Prabhupada. It was amazing.

-- Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern-day Saint (Volume 1, Tape 13, pg. 322)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUF06drRq6c