Theos-Talk Archives (October 2006 Message tt00254)

Daniel,

It is impressive to realize that a person such as yourself has 
devoted so much personal time and energy to further the cause of the 
theosophical work and I for one appreciate your efforts very much. I 
may not always agree with your point of view, but that doesn't mean 
it is not as valuable as mine or anyone else's. Thanks for your 
excellent scholarship and your perseverance. 

Adelasie

On 19 Oct 2006 at 19:28, danielhcaldwell wrote:

> 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
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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