Mar 19, 2018 — QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA (SUN) —
Through the treacherous intervention of His editors, both version 1 (V1) AND version 2 (V2) of Srila Prabhupada's exalted Bhagavad-Gita As It Is (BGAII) have become sexist! Srila Prabhupada Himself however, being fully Krishna conscious, is NOT sexist. As always, Srila Prabhupada is fully situated in transcendence. But due to His editors' betrayal, He sometimes and unjustly becomes the subject of criticism in this respect.
Here is the evidence:
Srila Prabhupada's own typing of the Original Transcript (OT) of Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.23 reads:
"Work done in full Krishna consciousness by a person who is unattached to the modes of material nature, fully situated in transcendental knowledge, merges entirely into transcendence."
The punctuation is difficult to decipher, as it has been scribbled upon. But the expression "by a person" has clearly been crossed out. An editor's hand written attempt to restore "by a person" after "work done" is clearly visible on the left hand side. However the end result in both versions one and two is "man." This is sexism at its best and a gross and offensive misrepresentation of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is Thank you very much editor(s)! And please let us know what happens to a lady advanced in Krishna consciousness and the work she is performing.
Additionally, one may not only question but thoroughly condemn all unnecessary and whimsical changes introduced to this verse BGAII 4.23. Srila Prabhupada's rendition is just fine. It should therefore be left alone.
V1 & V2 4.23 coincide and unfortunately read:
"The work of a man who is unattached to the modes of material nature and who is fully situated in transcendental knowledge merges entirely into transcendence."
Wehave here on display, the undue pride of being covered by a male human body, whereas to be covered by any type of material body is an embarrassment for the soul, the soul proper being spiritually constituted. The pure existence of the soul is fully independent from any material covering and simultaneously blissful, eternal and full of knowledge or in Sanskrit language respectively: ananda, sat and cit. There is however no sexual activity in the spirit soul, whereas sex is considered the highest bliss in the conditioned stage. The conditioned soul is situated in a state of rebellion against and competition with God. Its condition is characterised by suffering, impermanence and ignorance. The intelligent person will therefore ask the question: "Where is the interest in staying in the prison house of the material world, covered by a material body?"
Besides that Srila Prabhupada clearly states that there is only one purusha, enjoyer, and that is Krishna. All others are prakriti or female.
The same reasoning would have to apply to Bhagavad-gita As It Is 4.18. The Original Transcript (OT) by Srila Prabhuada Himself, with minor adjustments, reads:
"One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is intelligent in the human society and he is in a transcendental position although engaged in all sorts of activities."
Whereas the sexist editor (s) want (s) us to believe that:
"One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men, and he is in the transcendental position, although engaged in all sorts of activities."
There is here clearly at work on the part of the editor(s), a policy of embarrassing and perpetuating prejudice against women. No need to say, this must be rectified at all costs back to Srila Prabhupada's original, pure and non-discriminatory message. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
