Theos-Talk Archives (January 2011 Message tt00015)

Dear MKR,

What you wrote about certainly is a problem, but I consider it a
minor one. Book learning is not particularly useful; true spiritual
knowledge may come from a competent guru if one is fortunate to have
one, but even in the absence of a guru one can always rely on one's
higher self (the spiritual triad) for access to true knowledge. We
may agonize over issues like insufficient funds, inaccessibility of
materials we judge very important (e.g., the complete text of Book of
Dzyan), unavailability of good gurus in our geographical area, etc.,
but the higher self is always there ready to help free of charge
(provided we asked for help). Some people may grieve because they 
don't know Sanskrit or the Tibetan language and cannot read Oriental
writings in which presumably are hid the treasures of wisdom; but our
higher selves don't speak to us in Sanskrit or Tibetan--they speak in
our own language. And so forth. So perhaps yours is a $1 question. 

Max


--- In theos-talk@yahoogroups.com, MKR <mkr777@...> wrote:
>
> The $64,000 Question
> 
> I have purchased a book and I need an electronic copy to be loaded to my
> computer so that I can read it during my travel/vacation and also I may need
> it for reference when I write emails. For love or money, no electronic copy
> is available from the publisher/copyright holder. What am I supposed to do?
> Just put up with the situation and do nothing?
> 
> Let me take another scenario. I find this very expensive book which costs
> $95 plus shipping (this is not made up, The Judge Case book published in
> Canada costs this much) and I am in a third world country where this is out
> of reach to most theosophists and only super rich ones can afford it.
> 
> Everyone will argue that we cannot violate copyright laws (which are
> designed from a money making point of view and not with a view to
> distribution information). On the other hand, every theosophist knows that
> for every law, there are exceptions, even though exceptions come with
> certain potential costs and risks.
> 
> Today, very fast scanners are cheap. If you Google, you will find methods
> how with a digital camera, a camera stand and a $3.99 desk lamp and free
> software you can scan a book and convert it to a pdf file. If you are
> desperate, you may go ahead and get a pdf file made and be prepared to pay
> the â??Karmicâ?? and civil price.
> 
> In this situation, would it not be nice for theosophical publishers to come
> forward and make pdf copies available for free to download from Internet.
> This is very cost effective and we can follow the Shareware model in the
> computer program industry to support the costs of producing the books.
> 
> Will 2011 be the year that electronic publishing of theosophical materials
> is going to take off? It is entirely in the hands of elected leaders of
> theosophical organizations as well as authors of books. If status quo is
> maintained, you will see declining sales of hard copy publications and which
> will eventually make traditional theosophical publishing shut down for good.
> 
> Let us all pray so that we will all be beneficiaries of electronic copies of
> publications in 2011.
> 
> MKR
> 
> 
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>