By Graham M.SchweigThirteen scholars from the US and UK came together at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) in Berkeley, California during the weekend of February 21st through the 23rd for a historic symposium focused on preserving the literary legacy of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda. Entitled “The Posthumous Editing of a Great Master’s Works,” the symposium was organized by GTU faculty member Graham M. Schweig, and hosted by the Mira and Ajay Shingal Center for Dharma Studies and its Director, Professor Rita D. Sherma.
Julius Lipner, Professor Emeritus of Hinduism at the University of Cambridge, delivered the keynote speech. His insightful remarks were followed by a series of academic presentations and responses by Sanskrit specialist David Buchta from Brown University, and leading scholars of religion including, Professor Anna King from the University of Winchester, Professor Barbara Holdrege of the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Professor Jonathan Edelmann of the University of Florida. Scholar-practitioners from within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) added to the scholarly exploration of the posthumous editing issue, which for decades has stood as a major controversy within ISKCON.
Please note that a leading member of ISKCON's governing body was invited to observe, but due to schedule conflicts, had to decline. Also, certain leading members of the directorship of the Bhaktivedant Book Trust International, Inc. (BBTI) were invited to observe the presentations, but did not respond to the invitation.
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