Theos-Talk Archives (April 2000 Message tt00008)

D.Caldwell/M.Graye wrote:
> 
> Dallas you wrote:
> 
> > Daniel:
> >
> > I think you make an error ?
> >
> > I did not promote any publisher.   I said secure the ORIGINAL
> > WRITINGS.
> 
> Dallas, this is what you originally said in part:
> 
> "If accuracy is desired the best way to secure this is to go
> direct to the ORIGINAL (un-edited) text of HPB's
> books and articles."
> 
> "The BOOKSHOP at BLAVATSKY.NET can provide the
> original texts reproduced by photographic processes, so there is no
> editing or interpolation of opinions.  The student is placed
> directly in relation with HPB and her writings. . . ."
> 
> What were you saying here?  Surely you were suggesting if not firmly
> stating that one can secure "the ORIGINAL (un-edited) text of HPB's
> books and articles" at "The BOOKSHOP at BLAVATSKY.NET."
> Isn't that what you were trying to convey?  Is this not "promoting" to
> some degree the HPB volumes sold at BN?
> 
> MODERN PANARION and the edition of the VOICE sold
> by BN are definitely edited and contain hundreds of editorial changes.
> This is not just "my opinion", is it?  It is a fact that anyone can
> determine if they have access to the ORIGINALS and then
> compare those to these two edited works sold by BN.
> 
> You know this and yet you were promoting (indirectly) these two HPB
> titles at BN by your own words.
> 
> You also wrote:
> 
> "After HPB died several of her students, in time, claimed to be
> able to "correct" her writings, and proceeded to do this.  Also,
> most of her writings . . . were amended and edited without any
> notes to advise readers of the changes made. . . ."
> 
> You also know (or should know) that when you wrote this,
> that these two works under discussion (sold at BN) were
> "corrected," "amended and edited without any notes to advise
> readers of the changes made."  Why didn't you mention these
> facts to everyone reading your email?
> 
> How would inquirers, new students and even older (uninformed)
> students know that these two works sold by BN were edited with
> hundreds of changes?  Your email certainly didn't inform them of these
> facts.
> 
> Dallas, you ALSO certainly promote both MODERN PANARION and
> the TC edition of the VOICE by constantly quoting from these two
> volumes.
> 
> You don't quote from the de Zirkoff edition of the SECRET DOCTRINE or
> G.R.S. Mead's edition of THE SECRET DOCTRINE, do you  Why don't you?
> Is something wrong with these editions?
> 
> Concerning the edition of the VOICE published by the Theosophy
> Company, you reply:
> 
> "The VOICE is a verbatim reproduction in reset type of the 1st
> edition of the VOICE that Mr. Judge printed and issued in New
> York, I believe it was in 1893.  We have both noted this.  It was
> not claimed to be a reproduction of HPB's original edition of
> 1889.  A few changes in orthography and spelling in the FOOTNOTES
> were noted and explained;  but there was nothing there that would
> impair the meaning of the original printed text as far as I could
> see. You may hold another opinion."
> 
> Oh, so it is just a matter of opinion.  By this do you mean it is a
> very subjective matter?  That there are no verifiable facts that
> any two or three or four sensible persons could agree on?
> 
> Here are my observations of the Theosophy Company's edition
> of the VOICE.  These are facts which anyone can verify if he or
> she will do the necessary work.
> 
> 1.  This edition is not an "un-edited" reproduction of the ORIGINAL edition
> as
> HPB published it in 1889.
> 
> 2.  In fact this edition has hundreds of changes in orthography, spelling,
> etc. when compared with HPB's ORIGINAL.
> 
> 3.  And these hundreds of changes are not just in the FOOTNOTES as you
> seem to believe or suggest but also are in the main text.
> 
> 4.  To use your own words, this edition was "amended and edited without
> any notes to advise readers of the changes made. . . ."
> 
> This is not just my opinion but are facts which anyone can confirm if they
> desire to do so.
> 
> Again you write:
> 
> "A few changes in orthography and spelling in the FOOTNOTES
> were noted and explained;  but there was nothing there that would
> impair the meaning of the original printed text as far as I could
> see. You may hold another opinion."
> 
> It is not that clear to me what your mean by "a few changes".
> Putting that aside, I will simply state again that there are
> hundreds of changes and that is not some subjective opinion
> but a verifiable fact.
> 
> You seem to suggest that you noted the "changes" between the
> ORIGINAL as approved by HPB and this later edition published
> when HPB was dead and gone and concluded "there was nothing there that
> would impair the meaning of the original printed text as far as I
> could see."  Dallas, this is not THE ISSUE that we were originally
> discussing.
> 
> Your original words were:
> 
> "If accuracy is desired the best way to secure this is to go
> direct to the ORIGINAL (un-edited) text of HPB's
> books and articles."
> 
> You said "go DIRECT to the ORIGINAL."
> 
> Why not heed your own advise and go DIRECT to the ORIGINAL
> of the "Voice" published in 1889?  Why go through the laborious
> process of comparing hundreds of changes in the edited TC text with the
> original
> as published by HPB?  This too me is pretty INDIRECT.
> 
> Just go to the ORIGINAL as HPB published it.  To do that one should
> avoid all edited versions INCLUDING THE THEOSOPHY COMPANY'S
> EDITION.  One can do this by either obtaining a copy of the original 1889
> edition
> or by purchasing a copy of the photofacsimile sold by Kessinger Publishing
> on the Internet at:
> http://www.kessinger-publishing.com/catalog/titles/ISBN_0-7661-0202-5.html
> 
> My above comments on the TC edition of the Voice can be similarly
> applied to MODERN PANARION.
> 
> If the student of HPB's writings wants to read "the ORIGINAL (un-edited)
> text"
> of HPB's articles, AVOID "THE MODERN PANARION."  The text
> in some of the articles in this 1895 volume is terribly multilated.
> 
> I really hope that the Theosophy Company will pull these two multilated
> volumes
> out of circulation and reprint a photofacsimile of the 1889 edition of the
> VOICE
> and compile and publish an accurate and faithful transcription of HPB's
> articles covering
> the time period 1874-1884.  If the Theosophy Company can publish
> photofacsimiles
> of the originals editions of ISIS, the SD and the KEY, WHY can't they
> produce one of the VOICE?
> This is a great puzzle to me.
> 
> Daniel
> 
> -- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com
> 
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       Forgive me for I'am a neophyte but aren't ALL texts suffering
from a form of mutilation and interpretation?I ask sincerely if H.P.B.'s
recordings are mean't as aguide at least to the uninitiate like me?
        Thanks Scott

-- THEOSOPHY WORLD -- Theosophical Talk -- theos-talk@theosophy.com

Letters to the Editor, and discussion of theosophical ideas and
teachings. To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message consisting of
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