Theos-Talk Archives (March 2011 Message tt00020)

Yes.
I thank you for your efforts.

Permit me a few questions, which I find to be interesting to forward:
1) What is understood by the term "theosophical publications"?

2) Are we only talking about publications containing the word "theosophy" or "theosophical",
or also other publications, and what about online books by Alice A. Bailey, Helena Roerich, or perhaps Guy Ballard?

3) And since the word theosophy by the founders was defined as "the exact science on psychology", we might ask whether there are any psychological publications, which augh to be made available?

- - -
On the word "Theosophy" defined as "the exact science on psychology" - see The Theosophist, Vol. 1, 1879 - http://www.theosociety.org/pasadena/theosoph/theos1a.htm#whatistheosophy





M. Sufilight


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: MKR 
  To: theos-talk 
  Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 12:21 AM
  Subject: theos-talk Digital files of publications


    
  Digital files of publications

  We have discussed the need to make all theosophical publications - new - old
  - out of print - available as digital files in pdf format.

  There are several advantages; starting with the low cost and ease of
  distribution world wide. Since the target audience for theosophical
  publications is very minuscule the scale of production normally associated
  with books and publications having millions of copies in circulation is not
  applicable to theosophical publications; nor business success is the prime
  objective of the publications either.

  For the student and researcher, there are two unique advantages which can
  never be achieved by any other traditional approach. Almost all the
  publications available can be stored in a single thumb drive and digital
  files are all searchable by any word or combination of words.

  So one can access almost all the publications available in a digital form as
  well as even a traveling student or researcher can search massive amount of
  material to aid in their research. This was not something that can never be
  done in pre digital age.

  This brings us to the availability of publications in digital format. Most
  of the theosophical classics are, thank God, out of copyright and most of
  them are available as digital files. This brings us to the publications
  which are still under copyright. Today, due to the convenience of storage
  and searchability, many of them are available in digital format in the
  private hands. When one buys a book, and finds that a digital file
  facilitates transportability and searchability, one can feed the book into a
  high speed scanner and in a short time you have a digital file for your use.
  So in practice, many of the important current publications are more likely
  available as pdf files in private hands and I suppose can be loaned by the
  owner of the book.

  There are various websites which list all publications available online.
  Would it not be nice if we can come up with a list of books which are not
  available yet as pdf files so that if anyone has a copy in their private
  collection, they may be able to privately loan it to a fellow student for a
  short time use. It would be a good idea to develop such a list so that an
  earnest student anywhere in the world will be able to access it
  instantaneously.

  The prime motivation of every theosophist should be to make it easy for
  anyone in the world to access theosophical information efficiently and
  effectively and with a minimal cost.

  MKR

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