Concern over Preservation of Srila Prabhupada Vani

December 23, 1999

***Concern over Preservation of Srila Prabhupada Vani***

______

At the Bhaktivedanta Archives it has come to our attention that bootleg

versions of Bhaktivedanta Archives items and an MP3 version of the Srila

Prabhupada Tape and CD ministries are being sold to the devotee community at

large. While we appreciate the enthusiasm for distribution that accompanies

these efforts, the effect of these activities will be to severely hamper the

preservation of the vani of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Prabhupada.

A large percentage of the Bhaktivedanta Archives income derives from the

distribution of the kind of items that are being pirated. This income is

essential to the preservation of Srila Prabhupada's legacy and the simple

fact is that this preservation effort has a cost. This cost will not be

borne by the nondevotees (note for example the government and the

corporations that support presidential libraries). As disciples and

followers, we all have the responsibility to assist in this. With the

possibility of major and minor catastrophes ever-present in the material

world, we cannot take this responsibility lightly.

The Bhaktivedanta Archives currently has a mortgage obligation on the

building that houses the Srila Prabhupada collection. We also have to

maintain a staff of devotees to carry on the preservation activities, and

purchase the necessary equipment. Therefore if devotees purchase from

bootleg sources and not from the Bhaktivedanta Archives or authorized

distributors, much of this valuable endeavor will cease.

We do not wish to quarrel with devotees, but rather seek their cooperation.

With this in mind we encourage everyone who wants to assist in the ongoing

preservation effort to feel free to approach us. We can supply Bhaktivedanta

Archives offerings to any devotees who wish to distribute them, in the same

way we wholesale to temple stores, devotee mail order services, and

traveling distributors. We also urge everyone to purchase these items for

their own personal enlightenment.

We humbly request your cooperation in this matter for such bootlegging is

counter-productive to the preservation effort.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, whose mission is the light and hope of the

world!

Contact the Bhaktivedanta Archives at:

archives (AT) earthlink (DOT) net

1453 Tom Shelton Road

P.O. Box 255

Sandy Ridge, NC 27046

Phone: (336) 871-3636

Fax: (336) 871-3641

Check out our websites:

www.prabhupada.com

www.vedabase.com

December 24, 1999

As you may know from your records, I have purchased virtually all the books

that the Archives sells, while maintaining a monthly subscription from you

for videos and CD's. You could therefore, call me a ardent supporter of the

Archives, and someone who is not in the business of supporting other

splinter groups. I have repeatedly received the below referenced

advertisement for the MP3 product, and I was (am?) unfortunately of the

opinion this is a legitimate offer coming from those devotees(?) who sued

the BBTI, or rather should I legally say the BBT, and won a case in court

giving them permission to market pre-1977 print, voice et.al. of Srila

Prabhupada. So, am I right?

Nityananda Ram

>

> Ekanath.ACBSP (AT) bbt (DOT) se [Ekanath.ACBSP (AT) bbt (DOT) se]

> Thursday, December 23, 1999 8:01 AM

> COM: (BBT) Bhaktivedanta Archives Forum

> Concern over Preservation of Srila Prabhupada Vani

>

> [Text 2879932 from COM]

> -

> ***Concern over Preservation of Srila Prabhupada Vani***

> ______

>

> At the Bhaktivedanta Archives it has come to our attention that bootleg

> versions of Bhaktivedanta Archives items and an MP3 version of the Srila

> Prabhupada Tape and CD ministries are being sold to the devotee

> community at

> large. While we appreciate the enthusiasm for distribution that

> accompanies

> these efforts, the effect of these activities will be to severely

> hamper the

> preservation of the vani of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

> Prabhupada.

>

> A large percentage of the Bhaktivedanta Archives income derives from the

> distribution of the kind of items that are being pirated. This income is

> essential to the preservation of Srila Prabhupada's legacy and the simple

> fact is that this preservation effort has a cost. This cost will not be

> borne by the nondevotees (note for example the government and the

> corporations that support presidential libraries). As disciples and

> followers, we all have the responsibility to assist in this. With the

> possibility of major and minor catastrophes ever-present in the material

> world, we cannot take this responsibility lightly.

>

> The Bhaktivedanta Archives currently has a mortgage obligation on the

> building that houses the Srila Prabhupada collection. We also have to

> maintain a staff of devotees to carry on the preservation activities, and

> purchase the necessary equipment. Therefore if devotees purchase from

> bootleg sources and not from the Bhaktivedanta Archives or authorized

> distributors, much of this valuable endeavor will cease.

>

> We do not wish to quarrel with devotees, but rather seek their

> cooperation.

> With this in mind we encourage everyone who wants to assist in the ongoing

> preservation effort to feel free to approach us. We can supply

> Bhaktivedanta

> Archives offerings to any devotees who wish to distribute them,

> in the same

> way we wholesale to temple stores, devotee mail order services, and

> traveling distributors. We also urge everyone to purchase these items for

> their own personal enlightenment.

>

> We humbly request your cooperation in this matter for such bootlegging is

> counter-productive to the preservation effort.

>

> All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, whose mission is the light and

> hope of the

> world!

>

> Contact the Bhaktivedanta Archives at:

> archives (AT) earthlink (DOT) net

>

> 1453 Tom Shelton Road

> P.O. Box 255

> Sandy Ridge, NC 27046

>

> Phone: (336) 871-3636

> Fax: (336) 871-3641

>

> Check out our websites:

> www.prabhupada.com

> www.vedabase.com

December 24, 1999