A READER'S FEEDBACK
 
In the last issue we published the letter of Shri Krishna Chaitanya Das in which he called Back To Godhead a sloppy magazine. In this issue we print excerpts from his letter and the reply of BTG India editor Syamananda Dasa. Krsnna Caitanya's points are in italics.
 
Prabhupada said Back to Godhead is backbone of ISKCON. Are your articles only to focus on neophytes? 
 
Our Reply: Here is what Srila Prabhupada says about who the readership of BTG should be :
Source: Conversation in Boston, Massachusetts on December 24, 1969.
 
Srila Prabhupada: The Krsna consciousness movement is composed of four different stages. The first stage is to understand one's relationship with the Godhead, or Krsna. Because at the present moment the conditioned souls have forgotten themselves, they have forgotten their relationship with Krsna. Actually, the relationship is there eternally, but under the influence of maya, everyone is thinking "I'm something of this material world" and identifying himself with his body. So, we have to awaken them from that illusory existence, which they're not. This identification with the body is the whole mistake of the modern status of life. I don't say "of the modern civilization," because this mistake is coming up since the creation of this material world. Sometimes it is in greater degree, and sometimes in lesser degree. In Satya-yuga the same condition was present, but in lesser degree. But in Kali-yuga the condition is in greater degree.
 
So, the first business is to awaken the conditioned souls from their illusory position, in which they're thinking, "I am this body, and everything in relationship with this body is very important." (Janasya moho'yam aham mameti) This idea is illusion: that "I am this body and anything in relation with this body is mine." I have a special relationship with a certain woman, so I think, "She is my wife; I cannot do without her."
 
Or another woman, from whom I have taken birth: "She is my mother." Similarly, my father, similarly my sons. In this way I think of country, society, at the most humanity. But all these things are illusion, because they are based on bodily relationships. yasyatmabuddhih kunape tri-dhatuke … sa eva go-kharah: those who are living according to this illusory condition of life-they are compared to the cows and asses.
 
So, our first business is to wake up the general mass of people from this illusory condition of life. BACK TO GODHEAD is especially meant for that purpose. We are pushing forward BACK TO GODHEAD to the general mass of people so that they can come to the first status of enlightenment.
 
Then there will also be those who are becoming enlightened, who are coming forward: "Swamiji," they may say, "please make me a member of your society. Please initiate me." When one comes forward, understanding his position, he is in the second stage-training in how to awaken one's dormant love of God.
 
That is another stage-training. So sambandha, abhidheya … Then, when one actually has love of Godhead, he can understand the higher status of loving exchange between Radha and Krsna and the residents of Vrndavana. This is the third stage.
 
And the fourth stage is the paramahamsa stage, when one is always enjoying. premanjana-cchurita bhakti- vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti: when one is completely merged in the ocean of love of Godhead, he'll relish in any condition of life, because Krsna is present. Krsna is present" means that Krsna's name is present, His form is present, His lila is present, His paraphernalia is present-everything is present. Krsna is not alone. We are not impersonalists. As soon as we say "Krsna," that means Krsna is there with His name, fame, opulence, entourage, pastimes, and so on.
 
So, BACK TO GODHEAD generally deals with the first two stages of understanding: to awaken the relationship, and to train people. Of course, our aim is to come to the highest platform of loving exchange, but generally we are dealing with the mass of people.
 
Therefore, our propaganda should be how to convince people by reasoning, by philosophy, by science, and by argument that they're in an illusory state. These politicians, these scientists, these philosophers-they have no advanced knowledge. Their ultimate goal is reached if they can do some humanitarian work, some welfare work. Vivekananda, Aurobindo, and so many others are doing this welfare work. And the yogis-they are trying to be self-satisfied by meditation. But nobody is concerned with God, or Krsna. Nobody is concerned. This is the position of the world. So under the circumstances our first business is to, to awaken people from this illusory condition. They are thinking, "I am this body," and that the greatest well-being is taking care of that body or bodily relationships. So we have to take them out of that illusory condition. That should be the policy of our BACK TO GODHEAD.
 
And as far as the editors are concerned, they are supposed to know all these conclusions ….
 
It is a very important thing, BACK TO GODHEAD. If our movement is going to be recognized as a scientific God-conscious movement, then this BACK TO GODHEAD will be referred to as authorized scripture. Therefore, we have to prepare it in an authorized way. Nothing nonconclusive can be introduced in BACK TO GODHEAD. That should be our policy.
 
2) How is your magazine going to help full-time or serious devotees elevate? As I see articles are mostly for new people. There is no much of advanced philosophy.
 
Our Reply: The first answer has covered this question. Still you may be interested to know that 'How I came to Krsna Consciousness' and 'Hare Krsna People' have been traditionally the most popular features, so are 'Vedic Perspective' and 'Lessons from the Road.'
 
3) I have never seen any article of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja or Bhaktivinoda Thakura or any other prominent Gaudiya Vaisnava acarya. As you see the prominent magazines of the Sri Sampradaya highlight more on the teaching of Alvars, their acaryas, and various satras like Visnu Purana, Garuda Purana, and other Upanisads and Smrtis. Why don't we do that as well? How will poeple come to know about our Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy?
 
Our Reply: We would surely like to present satras as we have done recently with our Bhagavatam, Ramayana, Tulasi, Holyname, and other special issues. 
The articles by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja and Bhaktivinoda Thakura need editing as the English style is old and difficult. Currently, we lack the resources to do so.
 
4) How do you compare your magazine with 'The Harmonist' and the 'Krishna Kathamrita Bindu. Probably you know about them!
 
Our Reply: We have to serve within the boundaries put up by Srila Prabhupada's instructions.
 
5) Why do you publish articles by devotees who seem to be on a quite neophyte level (atleast their articles show like that)?
 
Our Reply: Srila Prabhupada wanted to encour age his followers to write.
 
6) I see that many of your articles repeat quite often. This is sometimes disgusting. Is not spiritual world unlimited? Then in that case the news from the spiritual world should be unlimited and ever fresh. 
 
Our Reply: Could you please point them out so that we can take a note of this for the future? 
Perhaps you are pointing to the articles that we take from the international BTG. We do so because we don't have sufficient Indian authors.
 
7) As I am a subscriber and a devotee of ISKCON, I expect that our magazine should be the best in regards to the content. And at least in India we should publish more of philosophical articles about our various acaryas and their various literatures. As we see many people at least after spending four to five years in ISKCON do not still know about the main associate of Mahaprabhu and even great works of our acaryas. As people find no time to read Caitanya-caritamrta, at least our magazine should help them to know about Lord Caitanya and His associates and about various other great literatures of prominent acaryas. If not so, then I fear that down the years our magazine might become like another coffee-table magazine. Sorry to say that!
 
Our Reply: I agree that we publish less articles about Lord Caitanya. We will work on that, but BTG is not a substitute to reading Srila Prabhupada's books nor it is meant to be so.
 
So kindly forgive me If I am improper in my speech. Your efforts are glorious. This is only because we as servants of Prabhupada understand the importance of Back to Godhead Magazine. Prabhupada used to write more of philosophical articles in his magazine in the pre-ISKCON era. Prabhupada's words of making this Back to Godhead magazine the best in the world does not mean that it should reach each and every person, but that it should help every reader to approach Krsna better; or even a single soul Back to Godhead.
 
I expect you answer my queries and not shun it.
 
I have tried to answer your queries and I hope that you may appreciate the effort. If h owever, you are not satisfied do let me know. We take your feedback as that of a well-wisher and will definitely try to accommodate your views in the future issues.
 
Thank you once again . I remain,
Your humble servant,
Syamananda Dasa