Dear Śrīla Prabhupāda,
Please accept our humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
In an early letter to the editors of Back to Godhead, you wrote, “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.”
These words continue to guide editorial decisions about what articles are suitable for publication in the magazine. The devotees who review the articles received from around the world consider fidelity to the teachings of sādhu-śāstra-guru the most important consideration, often summarizing their opinion with a simple “No objection.” That means the article is free of philosophical deviations.
One way BTG guards against apasiddhānta is to require whoever writes for it to have accepted the philosophy of Kṛṣṇa consciousness as you presented it to us, having received it from the predecessor ācāryas in our line. An article by an “outsider looking in” may sometimes appear in the magazine, but care is taken to ensure that such articles contain no statements that might mislead readers about our philosophy.
Back to Godhead has a solid group of excellent writers who steadily contribute articles. Not only have they published many books, but their long experience in writing for BTG has made them sensitive to what is appropriate for the magazine.
Because BTG is your magazine, everyone involved in producing it strives to offer their service in a way that pleases you. We know that your satisfaction must be the overriding principle guiding our decisions in all areas related to publishing the magazine.
Since your glorious departure forty-nine years ago, the world has naturally changed in numerous ways, as has your movement, with many thousands of devotees now affiliated with an ever-increasing number of ISKCON temples around the world.
BTG has had to adapt to change over time. Many factors have combined to put BTG in a much different situation than it was in at its height in the 1970s. We servants of yours at BTG are determined to press on, but the future of your magazine is unclear. A small group of devotees have taken on the challenge of increasing appreciation for BTG, endeavoring to inspire more and more devotees in your worldwide movement to support it and distribute it. While they are having some success, including garnering testimonials from ISKCON leaders, much more progress is needed to ensure the longevity of Back to Godhead.
We pray that you guide us in our efforts to offer this service at your lotus feet. Hare Kṛṣṇa.
Your servants at Back to Godhead