Another "new" Transactions book
Rumors that ULT was going to put out their own version of the complete stenograpic reports of the Blavatsky Lodge appear to be true. Gomes' edition, published in Europe was expensive. Sometime this year the Theosophy Company will come out with one at about half the price.
A ULT associate (not me), wrote to ULT-LA to inquire:
"We received, regarding their publication of the Transactions, the quite enigmatic reply from ULT-LA, "tell anyone who asks, 'yes.'"
Replies to This Discussion
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
It is a good news that an edition at half the price is going to come out. Already pdf copies are in circulation among some theosophists who downloaded it when it was available on a server by someone some time ago.
My hope is why not the book be made available as a pdf file for free. Also since HPB paid for the transcription, she is the owner of the manuscripts and no one else.Why not scan them and upload to a server and since the original is in beautiful script, we can all enjoy the original. Anyone listening???? If scanning help is needed, it is available for free. Just holler.
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Permalink Reply by Heidi Ann Maycroft on
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Thank you M K Ramadoss, for the information.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
Thanks.
When one reads about the full background to the transcripts, one is shocked to say the least. They were discovered about 10 years ago and finally published in a book form and it costs about $100. Most theosophists are not fat cats who could afford to spend so much on the book and no wonder someone took it on him/herself to scan and was uploaded to a server and many downloaded it for free and then the website was taken down possibly due to some complaints. So the pdf file is making rounds among interested theosophists. Attempts were made to impress on the 'custodians' of the manuscripts to make a pdf file available for free. Looks like they came up with the idea of a book at half price - which would be $50.00, which would still be pricey. Unless one puts on the hat of a theosophist and taking off the hat of a business person, such important material can be disseminated most effectively and efficiently to theosophical students. It seems it is not going to happen any time soon.
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Permalink Reply by Jon Knebel on
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Where in the Theosophical teachings does it teach you to call people "fat cats"?
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
I just looked up the meaning of 'fat cat'. Here it is:
fat cat - a wealthy and privileged person
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a person who has become lazy or self-satisfied as the result of privilege or advantage.
I believe you meant it in the pejorative sense.
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Joe said "These are out of copyright and in the public domain...but we should not make a copy of either book, either the $50 or the $100 one and post it."
I agree. This whole idea, to me, smacks of dishonesty.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
You have the excellent idea.
From the accounts of how the book was published, several people worked on it and hence several photocopies of the original professional transcript exist and if anyone can get their hands on one them, we can scan it and upload it here.
I hope someone who has a copy of it would provide it. From the sample page I have seen, the original is in excellent script and hence very legible to read.
Once it is posted, it will open up to anyone who wants to comment on any part of it.
Pricey theosophical books is definitely an issue of late; recently I found Geoffrey Hodson’s book - Light of the Sanctuary - which is out of print is sold for up to US$600.00 and most theosophists, especially outside the Western world cannot afford it.
Joe Fulton said:
How many people have access to the manuscripts? I'm sure that if someone managed to get a copy into our hands we could put it up on the site for all to access.
These are out of copyright and in the public domain...but we should not make a copy of either book, either the $50 or the $100 one and post it.
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Please,
All:
I read this with a tear; why strife within our community (?)
Jon Knebel said:
Where in the Theosophical teachings does it teach you to call people "fat cats"?
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I would like to point out that high prices on certain items, books, curios, artifacts, recordings, etc., goes across most Metaphysical/Spiritual organizations, and Theosophy is no exception. Also, I politely suggest that it might not be the wisest move to denigrate the wealthy patrons of an organization, if one wants their cooperation in free or lower prices on certain items.
The fact is, wealthy patrons have helped keep the occult and metaphysical traditions alive through the centuries, on the physical plane. Blavatsky was well kept by well-to-do people as she went about her work and they have kept Theosophy and it's branches going financially through the decades. Membership dues and the sale of books, etc. alone, certainly would not pay the bills at the Wheaton Estate, Adyar or Krotona in Ojai, CA.
Even though this site is monitored by many Theosophical groups, and others, it's probably best to contact the people involved directly if one wants free or low cost fees on certain PDF downloads.
Geoffrey Hodson was mention by M K, so I checked Amazon and found a number of his books on sale there for quite reasonable low prices, used. Although, "Light of the Sancturary," his personal diary, is now going for US$699 dollars! And only 2 left. I would contact one of our own members, Bill Kleidan, who not only studied with Mr. Hodson, but runs a website devoted to him. I'm sure he can give the reasons why the book is so high priced and perhaps give some advice as to how to obtain it in PDF format at a lower price, or how to contact the publisher to advocate they issue a low price paperback.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
Your points are well taken.
Pricing of some of the recent theosophical publications should be of concern to all publishers and anyone interested in making theosophical materials easily available to earnest students (most of whom are making a living day to day) and they should be within the reach of most of them, especially in the countries outside the West.
It is my hope that everyone in the publishing decision making chain should become very sensitive to this issue.
As for Hodson’s Light of the Sanctuary which goes for $699.00, getting hold of a pdf file is not a big deal. It is finding a copy from the publisher so that one does not violate copyrights.
From what I have learnt, there is no current plan to reprint it. I have already made attempts to see if the publisher will come up with an electronic solution. Let us keep tuned.
Michael A. Williams said:
I would like to point out that high prices on certain items, books, curios, artifacts, recordings, etc., goes across most Metaphysical/Spiritual organizations, and Theosophy is no exception. Also, I politely suggest that it might not be the wisest move to denigrate the wealthy patrons of an organization, if one wants their cooperation in free or lower prices on certain items.
The fact is, wealthy patrons have helped keep the occult and metaphysical traditions alive through the centuries, on the physical plane. Blavatsky was well kept by well-to-do people as she went about her work and they have kept Theosophy and it's branches going financially through the decades. Membership dues and the sale of books, etc. alone, certainly would not pay the bills at the Wheaton Estate, Adyar or Krotona in Ojai, CA.
Even though this site is monitored by many Theosophical groups, and others, it's probably best to contact the people involved directly if one wants free or low cost fees on certain PDF downloads.
Geoffrey Hodson was mention by M K, so I checked Amazon and found a number of his books on sale there for quite reasonable low prices, used. Although, "Light of the Sancturary," his personal diary, is now going for US$699 dollars! And only 2 left. I would contact one of our own members, Bill Kleidan, who not only studied with Mr. Hodson, but runs a website devoted to him. I'm sure he can give the reasons why the book is so high priced and perhaps give some advice as to how to obtain it in PDF format at a lower price, or how to contact the publisher to advocate they issue a low price paperback.
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ModeratorPermalink Reply by M K Ramadoss on -
There are many books published by TPH and other theosophical publishing houses which are out of print and but still in copyright. Many of them are not going to be reprinted any time soon due to lack of business viability.
Even though print-on demand technology is picking up, unless a sizable quantity is printed, it results in a high cost and puts the books out of reach of most average theosophist. Hence this not going to work. Making theosophical publications available to theosophical students is critical in the current trend of dwindling membership world-wide. To me, the most cost effective way is to make them available in electronic form, not through Kindle or other electronic readers.
This is a policy issue that theosophical publishers need to address. I hope some of them are reading what is going on here and I hope to see some quick movement. Inaction is not a solution and is not going to help theosophical movement or students of theosophy.
M K Ramadoss said:
Your points are well taken.
Pricing of some of the recent theosophical publications should be of concern to all publishers and anyone interested in making theosophical materials easily available to earnest students (most of whom are making a living day to day) and they should be within the reach of most of them, especially in the countries outside the West.
It is my hope that everyone in the publishing decision making chain should become very sensitive to this issue.
As for Hodson’s Light of the Sanctuary which goes for $699.00, getting hold of a pdf file is not a big deal. It is finding a copy from the publisher so that one does not violate copyrights.
From what I have learnt, there is no current plan to reprint it. I have already made attempts to see if the publisher will come up with an electronic solution. Let us keep tuned.
Michael A. Williams said:
I would like to point out that high prices on certain items, books, curios, artifacts, recordings, etc., goes across most Metaphysical/Spiritual organizations, and Theosophy is no exception. Also, I politely suggest that it might not be the wisest move to denigrate the wealthy patrons of an organization, if one wants their cooperation in free or lower prices on certain items.
The fact is, wealthy patrons have helped keep the occult and metaphysical traditions alive through the centuries, on the physical plane. Blavatsky was well kept by well-to-do people as she went about her work and they have kept Theosophy and it's branches going financially through the decades. Membership dues and the sale of books, etc. alone, certainly would not pay the bills at the Wheaton Estate, Adyar or Krotona in Ojai, CA.
Even though this site is monitored by many Theosophical groups, and others, it's probably best to contact the people involved directly if one wants free or low cost fees on certain PDF downloads.
Geoffrey Hodson was mention by M K, so I checked Amazon and found a number of his books on sale there for quite reasonable low prices, used. Although, "Light of the Sancturary," his personal diary, is now going for US$699 dollars! And only 2 left. I would contact one of our own members, Bill Kleidan, who not only studied with Mr. Hodson, but runs a website devoted to him. I'm sure he can give the reasons why the book is so high priced and perhaps give some advice as to how to obtain it in PDF format at a lower price, or how to contact the publisher to advocate they issue a low price paperback.
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