Theos-Talk Archives (September 2010 Message tt00070)

The recent publication of HPBâs discussions in the London Lodge has brought
to light serious defects in continuing to use the traditional publishing
model. Twelve to thirteen years of time was lost and the end product was too
pricey since most theosophists are not wealthy and it is defeating the very
purpose of publishing books which is to reach as many people as possible.
[Recent publication of Joy Millsâ book on Mahatma Letters also follows the
traditional model and is not inexpensive.]

What is shocking is that no one in the chain of publishing decision making
seemed to be sensitive to the issue of several years of delay in publishing.
We do not know if the author of the book was also sensitive to this issue
and what he tried to do address this issue.

Once the book preparation work started, it should have been serialized in
one of the serial theosophical publications so that we all need not wait for
the entire book to be ready and printed and bound for purchase.

Internet is the big elephant in the room today. It is central to
communication and distribution of information and only a recluse living in
the jungles of Amazon can be ignorant of it. Why no one in the decision
making and production of the book did not take steps to use Internet to
speed up the release of the material to theosophists. We may be dealing with
Ancient Wisdom, but need to use modern tools to reach our audience.

The publishing debacle should be a wake up call to all theosophical
organizations who want to publish material to reach theosophists. If
theosophy were to reach the world at large, we need to take full advantage
of the modern technology without which we would be doing a disservice to
Humanity.

Hope this msg gives some impetus to those who are calling shots in
publishing.

MKR

There is no religion higher than Truth


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