Theos-Talk Archives (July 2004 Message tt00381)

In a message dated 07/25/04 2:51:22 PM, AnandGholap@AnandGholap.org writes:

>Dear Danial,
>You asked members to visit following link.
>http://blavatskyarchives.com/introductory.htm
>When you visit this page first thing you see is picture of CD "Theosophical
>Classics" which contains all HPB's works. 
>Do you know who inspired it's production ? 
>It was me who had told two years back that all Theosophical writing should
>be digitized and had told how software can automatically do it. To that
>General Secretary of Phillipines Section Bro. Hao Chin, who published it
>wrote to me he would bring out CD. 
>
>Anand Gholap

That's very interesting. However, I was told by Carey Williams [Caren Elin] 
one of the writer/editors of "Reincarnation" -- (when she had returned from 
the Philippines some 10-12 years ago ... I forget the exact date, although I 
remember talking about the subject of digitizing HPB's writings with Caren at the 
ULT in New York sometime around 1990, while she was working with Sylvia 
Cranston [Anita Atkins] on the HPB biography) -- that she had arranged there for 
the digital transfer of the Secret Doctrine, along with all the other works of 
Blavatsky. 

This work, apparently, eventually culminated in the "Theosophical Classics" 
CD that you claim to have initiated the production of "two years back." 
Perhaps, all you did was anticipate the actual duplication and distribution of the 
CD that was finally assembled from digital work that could have begun ten or 
more years earlier. 

Of course, it could also be possible that that CD you refer to, is based on a 
different digitization production than the one Ms. Elin initiated (although I 
doubt it, as she often lectured at TS lodges when her work took her overeas) 
... But, when we spoke about such digitization, I anticipated using a version 
of searchable Adobe Postscript (such as PDF) that would have the same 
typographic fonts and diacritical markings of the original edition of the Secret 
Doctrine -- so that it might remain useful for the "intuitive student" who could 
read "in and around the words and between the lines" -- as HPB advised. 

As you may know, the digitized versions of the SD currently on CD's (that are 
similar to the digitized versions online) are relatively useless for such 
purposes. (As are, incidentally, the revised printed editions of the SD 
authorized by AB and published by the Theosophical Publishing House in Wheaton, 
Illinois.) 

Is it any wonder, then, why both AB's and CWL's interpretations of theosophy, 
along with their metaphysics, are in many ways contradictory to the teachings 
of the Masters as outlined by HPB in her original, carefully edited (under 
the direct overview and approval of the Masters, I imagine) Secret Doctrine 
galleys? Consequently, we have good reason to doubt whether AB and CWL, or AAB 
for that matter, ever got their metaphysical teachings from the Masters whom 
they claim to have directly communicated with. Someone's assertions based, 
possibly, on their self imposed psychic delusions, are no proof of their veracity 
nor are they above criticism -- regardless of their being "leaders" who, 
therefore, deserve our respect. (Vide, George Bush, for example. :-)

LHM