07/14/98 - 1911 (see also VNN story# 1825)

BBT Delivers 2 Million Books 1997

USA (VNN) - by Bhagavat Dharma das

Dear Paramadvaiti Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You wrote, "Copyrights of the holiest books on Earth [Srila Prabhupada's books] in the hands of [the BBT or anyone else] are ludicrous."

Srila Prabhupada wrote, "I specifically formed the BBT to invest in it exclusive rights for the printing of all literature containing my teachings, writings and lectures."

You wrote, "Every disciple in our family has the right and duty to . . . publish. . . his Guru to his heart's happiness."

Srila Prabhupada wrote, ". . . all printing of ISKCON literature must be by the BBT or under their sanction and approval."

Now you write, "You have to go beyond his letter. You have to go to the essence."

Forgive me, but I have a hard time believing that the "essence" of what Srila Prabhupada wanted is the opposite of what Srila Prabhupada said.

I'd also rather not respond point by point to letters that mix suggestions worth considering (publish books on the Internet) with name calling ("foolish kids") and scattershot accusations.

But finally you write, "But last and not least the books must get out there to the conditioned souls. That is the key issue." We agree. That's why last year the BBT supplied more than 2 million of Srila Prabhupada's books in 70 languages last year, for distribution to the conditioned souls.

Thank you. Hare Krishna.

dasanudas Bhagavat Dharma das