Theos-Talk Archives (October 2006 Message tt00249)

Carlos writes:

"It is obviously expensive to keep your websites updated....Where do 
you get the money for that?"

Well, it is even MORE expensive to collect books, material and do all 
the research that I do.  Since 1968, I have worked on these projects 
and I have supported them thru my own funds earned by ...  working.  

I have never kept track of the total amount of money expended on my 
Blavatsky work.  I would suppose thousands and thousands of dollars 
of my own money has been devoted to this project.

When I was still a student in college, I supported Walter Carrither's 
Blavatsky Foundation sending $50 per month to help support Walter's 
research and work.  50 dollars may not sound like alot of money but 
in the 1970s and when I was still a student that was alot!!

Before the advent of the world wide web and the creation of my 
website, I used to spent hundreds of dollars photocopying material 
for correspondents and inquirers who wanted various items, rare books 
from me, etc.

I remember maybe 10 or so years ago, spending hundreds of dollars to 
make a few copies of my 3 volume compilation of HPB's Esoteric papers 
and send these copies to people like John Cooper in Australia, Dallas 
Tenbroeck in California, etc.

To obtain microfilm, microfiche, etc. of rare material is also 
expensive.  

To help with John Cooper's project on HPB's letters, I had collected 
microfilm of dozens of old spiritualist magazines, etc. and had 
duplicate copies ready to send to John when he died.  Instead I gave 
the material to TS Wheaton since at that time I assumed they would 
continue with the letters project.

I spent more than $3000 to prepare copies of THE THEOSOPHIST, LUCIFER 
and THEOSOPHY magazines to send to Kessinger Publishing so they could 
reprint them.

I had photocopies made of many of HPB's letters to Judge and sent 
them to various people including Grace Knoche.

etc. etc.

I have made some money back from the sale of my books as well as 
other books but took all of that money and recycled it back into all 
these projects.

I say none of the above to brag but since YOU ASKED I am telling 
Theos-Talk readers the true story.

Why have I done all of this?

To create doubt about Theosophy?  To cast doubt on HPB and the 
Masters?

That is your cynical evaluation.  And I suppose nothing would change 
your belief.

But I assure other open-minded readers that I have done it because of 
my "love" of Theosophy and Blavatsky.  And my firm conviction that by 
providing open access to ALL material, pro, con and neutral on 
Blavatsky, Theosophy, etc. that students may have a better chance to 
discover the "truth".

I have always wanted to study all of the material for myself with no 
one else determining what I should read or not read.  With no one 
else censoring material or dictating what it is proper for me to read 
or believe.  That is why on my website and in my books I provide 
material that some would probably suppress.  But if I want full 
access to all the material so I can determine for myself what is 
what, then I believe others should also have that access.

Now I know there are other devoted students and researchers who have 
done the same as I have.  The Edmonton people have spent thousands of 
dollars and probably thousands of man hours collecting and publishing 
material.  No doubt, they reprinted Emma Coulomb's entire pamphlet so 
other students, researchers could read the pamphlet for themselves! 
etc. etc.

I have also of course had help from a number of people that I 
consider my co-workers who have helped me by volunteering TIME to 
various Blavatsky projects.  They weren't paid for that.  They did it 
I suppose because they too have an interest in Theosophy and 
Blavatsky.

And I suppose I will continue to my dying day working on more 
Blavatsky projects and my website.

Daniel
http://hpb.cc